Norm Architects have completed an interior renovation in the danish countryside. Located in the unspoilt nature of North Zealand, just an hour out of Copenhagen, the stunning scenery surrounding the house calls for slow days spent by the sea.

Architect : Norm Architects

Location : Denmark

Year : 2018

Area : 200 m2

Lead Architect : Linda Korndal

Interior Architect : Laura Bilde

From the architect: Scandic-Bohemian feels and barefoot luxury is found in this renovated and modernised coastal home in a quiet and secluded corner of Denmark, where Japanese zen aesthetics and danish cottage style charm come together, boasting subtle, nordic luxury and eclectic design elements.

Portraying the simple beauty of things related to nature, the sensuous, natural elements possess a key role in the interior of the house and the blurred lines between inside and outside. The ambition to bring nature into the space comes from a wish to reclaim a connection with naturean ambition shared by many people in todays increasingly digital and urbanised world.

Materials in the house are natural with colours kept in soil-, stone- and wood-nuances, with a faint touch of blue and green tones in the handmade ceramics and soft linen. Various furniture, sculptures, design elements and art pieces add a more refined and international sense to the house, and the surrounding nature flows through the panoramic floor-to-ceiling windows and is further emphasised through references in colours, tactile surfaces and patinated objects.

Dark and light nuances are bridged by subtle midtones in the furniture and bespoke elements, creating a balanced look and feel. The soft and minimal settings are harmoniously accompanied by picture-perfect ocean views.

Boasting all-natural, rich materials, the house gives you the feeling of being in the middle of nature while inside the house. Custom interior elements make up timeless, well-tailored solutions, and understated decor reflect the surrounding landscapes, with oak wooden plinths, bronzed brass lamps, Noren (Japanese fabric dividers), objects, ceramics and art pieces collected on travels by the owners, all of which embody the same design language and earthy palette.

The sculptural lamp in the entree is custom-made for the house, made in bronzed brass like the bedroom and guestroom lamps from Apparatus and Workstead. Sculptural objects are from Artelleriet, and the living room couches are from Living Divani (designed by Piero Lissoni). A lot of the ceramics and art pieces are hand-picked and collected by the owners on their travels around the world.
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HA NOI  Dozens of embassies and international organisations marked the World Environment Day (June 5) by signing a Code of Conduct on Combating Plastic Pollution.

The signatories include Austria, Belgium, Canada, Denmark, the European Union, Finland, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Slovakia, Sri Lanka, Sweden, Switzerland, the United Kingdom and the United States of America as well as 16 UN agencies, funds, programmes, offices and World Bank.

By signing the Code of Conduct, the international partners have committed to assessing their current office practices related to single-use plastic and instituting operational changes to minimise their plastic waste footprint. All the signatories agreed to engage their staff in reducing plastic waste and encourage their partners to adopt low- or no-plastic waste-emitting options.

Through this joint action, international partners in Viet Nam seek to act as change agents in reducing plastic pollution and raising awareness about its negative effects on humans, animals and the environment.

The campaign, spearheaded by the Embassy of Canada in Viet Nam, seeks to raise awareness on the negative impacts of plastic pollution while advocating changes at the behavioural, institutional and policy levels to reduce the amount of plastic waste generated in Viet Nam.

Ping Kitnikone, ambassador of Canada to Viet Nam, said as international partners, they had the privilege to work in Viet Nam and had a collective responsibility to reduce their plastic footprint in the beautiful country and preserve its environment for future generations.

Deputy minister of Natural Resources and Environment Le Cong Thanh said Viet Nam appreciated the actions of the international partners to join the country in combating plastic pollution.

Viet Nam has been making efforts in this regard; for example, bettering its capacity in sorting, collecting and treating plastic waste and improving public awareness on plastic use, Thanh said.

The signing ceremony was the highlight of the Plastic Pollution Advocacy Campaign, which is a joint campaign involving embassies and international partners working in support of Viet Nams sustainable development.

For the past few months, 26 embassies and international partners have been actively engaged in this multi pronged campaign. Another key element of the campaign has been constructive dialogue with Vietnamese leaders to discuss policy options that will have long-term positive effects on plastic pollution in Viet Nam.

In addition to this, an online campaign, #CountdownPlastic, has been running on the social media platforms of the Code of Conduct signatories to call for public action on reducing single-use plastic in peoples daily lives and at workplaces.

Some 300 million tonnes of plastic are reportedly produced around the world every year, half of which are used to produce single-use items, such as shopping bags, bottles, cups and straws. One million plastic bags are used around the world every minute.

Viet Nam is among the top five source countries for the eight million tonnes of plastic dumped into the worlds oceans every year.

Plastic waste slowly degrades over time and breaks into smaller pieces called micro-plastic, which usually end up in the oceans and from there, potentially enter the food chain.

According to a report launched at the World Economic Forum 2016, in a business-as-usual scenario, the worlds oceans could contain one tonne of plastic for every three tonnes of fish by 2025, and by 2050, it is estimated that there will be more plastic than fish (by weight).  VNS
HA NOI  Renowned Vietnamese and international belly dancers will give an excellent performance at the Viet Nam Open Belly Dance Festival 2018, set to take place at ai Nam Theatre in Ha Noi from June 8-11 along with a string of diverse activities.

The event is seen as an opportune occasion for belly dance lovers to share experiences with a number of well-known belly dancers from Italy, South Korea, China, Singapore, Malaysia, Chinese Taipei and Ukraine.

They are regarded as belly dance masters capable of spreading knowledge of belly dance performance skills and inspiring their trainees.

The Professional Belly Dance Competition is the highlight of the festival, which is open to dancers of all ages nationwide and around the world. Contestants will compete in 16 different categories based on their different levels and styles.

The jury board includes Son Sun-mi and Lee Ji-eun of South Korea; Sophia Kong, Jo Peh and Zoe Tan of Malaysia; Rania Rachel of Singapore, and Shulling Tseng of Chinese Taipei.

A number of impressive performances by Vietnamese and international belly dancers will be introduced at a Belly Dance Gala Show scheduled for the same day as the competition which is on June 9.

For this festival, we not only bring the most beautiful, skillful dancers in the world, but also, even more important is that we bringin master dancers and teachers of many internationally famous belly dancers, said dancer Ha Van, head of the organising board.

They can share knowledge, technique and inspiration by the best methods and also cater to the style of their own students.

All proceeds from the event will be delivered to street knight groups in HCM City as thanks for their bravery in hunting down criminals.

We are very happy to introduce belly dance workshops instructed by masters Cinzia Purificato of Italy, Angella Kim of South Korea and Alina Kudinova of Ukraine.

Purificato is an international belly dancer, teacher and choreographer, based in Italy and appreciated for her power and charisma on the stage. She teaches, judges and dances in many countries.

Kudinova, a beautiful belly dance star, comes from Ukraine. She has conquered many big belly dance festivals. She possesses a strong sense of rhythm, music perceptivity and the ability to express emotion well through her graceful dance steps.

Kim follows modern/classical oriental and fusion style. Since 1999, she has studied drama professionally. She has performed, taught and judged as a master dancer at many festivals around the world. Thanks to the impressive and professional method that she uses to teach, communicate and motivate, her students find out their passion and artistic style on their own.

The festival will also sees the performance of Dolphiny, one of the top Egyptian tabla players in China, who has been studying and playing the Egyptian tabla professionally for nine years. His showmanship and style is a mix of Egyptian and Turkish techniques, because he finds one more powerful while the other one has more interesting rhythm structures.

After the Viet Nam Open Belly Dance Festival, Van and her partners will join hands to organise the Ahlan International Belly Dance Festival in Ha Noi in October.  VNS
HA NOI  Pianist Anna Grot and violinist Polina Borisova from Russia will present a classical music performance as part of the framework of the annual programme Arts Ambassador in big cities on June 6-8.

The event is being held by the Russian Centre for Science and Culture in Ha Noi, in collaboration with the Saint Petersburg House of Music, to mark the National Day of Russia.

The concert will feature outstanding pieces created for violin and piano by world famous composers including Nikolay Rimsky-Korsakov, Franz Liszt, Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky and Alexander Glazunov.

Due to their outstanding talents, the young artists have won prestigious awards at numerous music competitions in both Russia and throughout the world.

Musical star: Violinist Polina Borisova.

Borisova was born in Ryazan, in 1988. When she was four, she started her music education at childrens music school. In 2007, Polina finished the Chopin Moscow State College of Music Performance. In 2012, she graduated from the Tchaikovsky Moscow State Conservatory and in 2014 graduated from post-graduate studies. Since 2015 she has worked as an assistant lecturer at the Moscow Conservatory. She is laureate of various international competitions.

Grot was born in 1990 in the town of Chekhov in Moscow. She graduated from the Central Music School at the Moscow Tchaikovsky Conservatory. She is a winner of many international competitions. Honored Artist of Russia, Professor Andrei Pisarev, remarked on her as a brilliant virtuoso and artistic qualities, a bright temperament, a developed and mature musician.

Through the unique performances, the Arts Ambassador concert offers an opportunity for Vietnamese music lovers to learn more about Russian classical music, said N V Shafinskaya, director of the Russian Centre for Science and Culture in Ha Noi.

The event also contributes to strengthening the traditional friendship between Viet Nam and Russia as well as enhancing mutual understanding between the two peoples.

The concerts will take place on June 6 at the National Music Academy (Ha Noi), on June 7 at the Nguyen Hien Dinh Tuong (Classical Drama) Theatre (a Nang) and on June 8 at the HCM City Music Academy (HCM City). Entrance is free.  VNS
HA NOI  In Marianne Smolskas new series entitled Phu Du (Ephemeral), delicate monochrome motifs of skulls, wilted flowers, brambles, roots and chrysalises intertwine with embroidery on handmade Lao and Vietnamese paper.

Her solo exhibition is ongoing at the ong Phong Gallery at 3 Ly ao Thanh Street, Ha Noi.

Inspired by David Bowies death, this ballpoint series is a reflection on the frailness of life, the passing of time, the inescapable aging of the body and the wounds of bereavement that have to be tended, nursed and even stitched up.

The bare threads, fragile lifelines, webs or seams, sometimes caught in brambles, seem to seek to capture a pattern before it disappears. And when they are simply stretched or suspended, these strands seem to weave links between worldsthe world in which the artist lives, Viet Nam, and the one from which she comes, France, but also between the word here below and the one beyond.

The delicate illustrations embroidered by Smolska not only revive French and Dutch 17th century Vanitas, allegorical works of art in the form of still lifes about death and the futility of human passions, but also elements of Vietnamese culture through the use of organic paper and celestial motifs.

In her raw, nearly flayed embroideries, Marianne Smolska does not seek to conceal the injury. She re-stitches it; she re-clothes the dead, decking them with black, blue and blood red flowers and embroideries, and heals the wounds, remarked art critic Isabelle Capron.

At the heart of this hypersensitive work are sewing baskets, thread and needles. The baskets belonged to her grandmother and mother, who recently passed away. It can seem as though the artist didnt want to lose the threadby holding onto it, she prolongs the never-ending chain of womens work and prevents the dead from fading into oblivion.

Organic, frail, poetic, but also stormy, these embroideries on paper are seams, stitches and even erasures, she says; as though the artist wanted to retrieve from death that which it had taken from her and sublime grief. Through this work Marianne Smolska brings us to touch grace, Capron said.

Smolska was born in 1969 in France. She has studied the social sciences and anthropology. In 1994, she left anthropology and turned full time to painting and graphic arts. At that time, she travelled to Naples, Italy, and settled in a studio.

In 2011, she travelled to Viet Nam for the first time and in 2013, she returned to the country and decided to live and work in Ha Noi.

The exhibition will run until June 23.  VNS
HA NOI  Popular Vietnamese architect Vo Trong Nghia has joined the 2018 Venice Architecture Biennale with an outdoor sculpture made of bamboo.

Named Bamboo Stalactite, the sculpture is made of 11 softly cut triangular columns forming an impressive bamboo structure, which serves as a resting area. Each of the columns consists of pillars and arches in hyperbolic form. Majority of the structure was prepared in Viet Nam before being carried to Venice for completion. As many as 8 workers completed the structure within 25 days in May under the guidance of Vietnamese and Italian architects.

Nghia designed the iconic sculpture to be made entirely out of bamboo, his favorite construction material, demonstrating the exceptional aesthetic and technical results that can be achieved using the medium.



The dense bamboo mesh of the pavilion canopy provides an effective shading effect which, together with a number of orange lounge chairs, helps create a pleasant and relaxing free space overlooking the Venetian Arsenals water basin.

Nghias pavilion is composed of a sequence of vaults made by bending and assembling a large number of bamboo stalks, firmly bound together using only natural fiber strings and ropes. Though lightweight and airy, the pavilion actually resembles a sort of protective and welcoming cavern marked by a number of wooden stalactites running from the floor all the way to the ceiling.

The fragility of bamboo has helped create varied architectural spaces, creating a link with the beauty of nature, light, wind, and the sea, Nghia said. This is why Bamboo Stalactite has easily become a landmark, even in such a small space.

Structurally, the construction resembles other larger works of Nghia, such as the Ting Xi Bamboo Restaurant in China and the Castaway Island Resort in Viet Nam. However, the Bamboo Stalactite pavilion is possibly even more iconic in its simplicity.

The structure can also serve as a communal space and its fragile structure means it can be installed anywhere, in both rural and urban areas.

The theme of the Biennale Architecture 2018 is Freespace, which according to the events website is meant to describe a generosity of spirit and a sense of humanity at the core of architectures agenda.

"With the theme of Freespace, the Biennale Architettura 2018 presents for public scrutiny examples, proposals, elements  built or unbuilt  of work that exemplifies essential qualities of architecture which include the modulation, richness, and materiality of surface, the orchestration and sequencing of movement, revealing the embodied power and beauty of architecture," the site says.

The event, which runs until November 25, gathers dozens of participants from all over the world.

Nghia has received numerous international prizes and honours, including the World Architecture Festival Award, the ARCASIA award, the WAN 21 for 21 Award, and the FuturArc Green Leadership Award, among others. In 2012, he was named Architect of the Year in Viet Nam.  VNS
HA NOI  Minister of National Defence General Ngo Xuan Lich has praised the official visit by Defence Minister of the Republic of Korea (RoK) Song Young-moo, saying it would create stronger changes in bilateral national defence.

During talks with Minister Song yesterday, Lich said the visit would facilitate the effective implementation of the Joint Vision Statement on Defence Cooperation through 2030 signed in April 2018 between the two defence ministries.



It would also help maintain good ties between the two countries and in particular its armies, contributing to strengthening political trust between the them, he said.



Lich, who is also a Politburo member and Vice Secretary of the Central Military Commission, expressed support for denuclearisation on the Korean peninsula and confirmed the importance that Viet Nam attaches to stable and long-term ties with the RoK.



Song, said the RoK appreciated Viet Nams position and central role in ASEAN as well as the Southeast Asia.



Viet Nam was given importance and considered a bridge for the RoK in launching the New Southern policy in the region, he said, adding that during President Moon Jae-ins Viet Nam visit in March this year, both sides committed to more cooperation.



Both sides agreed to bolster bilateral defence cooperation in the near future in human resources training, national defence industry, and also to search for the remains of servicemen missing in action, and addressing post-war bomb and mine consequences.



They also discussed issues regarding regional and global security.



Concluding the talks, the two defence minister witnessed the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding on logistics support in the United Nations peacekeeping mission, natural disaster humanitarian and support between the two defence ministries.



Minister Song Young-moo leaves Viet Nam today.  VNS
CA MAU  A plan to turn a lake into a nature reserve has hit a snag due to blood clam farming.

Some 640 households in the three districts of Phu Tan, Cai Nuoc and Tran Van Thoi around Ca Mau Provinces Thi Tuong Lake make a living from seafood, with 30 per cent of them involved in blood clam farming, Lao ong reports.

For years, they have ignored request from the provinces authorities to remove their blood clam farm constructions so as to turn the 700ha lake into a natural reserve.

New oyster farm constructions keep emerging despite warnings from authorities, as blood clam farming is their only means of earning a living.

Some farmers have been making billions of ong per year. Thai Van en, a farmer in Phu Tan District who lives on the lake, earned more than VN1 billion (US$43,900) in 2017 after investing VN520 million ($22,800) into raising clams.

Even those that were hired to raise the sea creatures for others have made good money, about VN200,000 ($8.8) per day.

We know raising blood clams is banned in the province, but we dont know how to survive without it, said a local farmer.

We would only leave if the State deliberately wants to acquire the lake, he said.

As a result of the booming seafood business, the lakes water surface area has sparked disputes between farmers.

Some make money by selling or renting their parts of the surface to others, while some intentionally harvest blood clams from others farms.

Farmer Thai Phuoc Loi has had 20 years of experience in clam farming and owns 8ha of the lakes water surface area. The large farm was accumulated over the years by different generations of his family.

We bought [different parts of the lake], and also sold some to other farmers, he said.

The rental fee and purchase price of the lakes water surface area varies, depending on the location and flow of water, he added.

Authorities of Phu Tan District are aware of this water surface business, but they dont know how to deal with it.

We have not been able to develop any preventive measures or effective solutions for the matter, said Nguyen Truong Son, vice chairman of the districts Peoples Committee.

There are already 60 households that make a living out of the lake in one of the districts communes alone, not to mention people from other districts who rent parts of the lake, he said.

Turning Thi Tuong Lake into a natural reserve seems a long way down the road. On the bright side, some farmers, like Thai Van en in Phu Tan District, said he would consider giving up his blood clam farms to turn the plan into reality.

If such a natural reserve is proven to provide benefits for local residents, some of my farmer friends and I will be willing to move out of the lake and return our water surface area to the State, he said.  VNS
SFAX  More than 50 migrants drowned in the Mediterranean on Sunday, the majority off the coasts of Tunisia and Turkey, while Italy marked a sea change in its policy.

Tunisian authorities said 48 bodies were recovered off the countrys southern coast, close to the city of Sfax, while 68 people were rescued.

"The boat had a maximum capacity of 75 to 90 people, but there were more than 180 of us," said Wael Ferjani, a Tunisian survivor from the southern region of Gabes.

While water leaked into the boat, some passengers jumped into the sea and drowned, he said.

The latest death toll was published around 7pm (1800 GMT), after the search and rescue operation had ended for the day.

The hunt for survivors would continue on Monday morning, Mohammed Salah Sagaama from Sfaxs naval base said.

Tunisians and migrants regularly try to cross the Mediterranean to seek a better future in Europe, with 120 mainly Tunisians rescued by their navy in March after trying to reach Italy.

In October, a collision between a migrant boat and a Tunisian military ship left at least 44 dead, in what Prime Minister Youssef Chahed called a "national disaster".

The latest shipwreck is the most deadly in the Mediterranean since February 2 when 90 people drowned off the coast of Libya, according to the IOM.

Syrian children drowned

Across the Mediterranean, nine Syrians including seven children drowned when their vessel sank off the coast of Turkey.

The group were travelling in a speedboat intending to head illegally to Europe, when the boat hit trouble off the coast of the southern Antalya province, state media reports said.

The oldest child to drown was 14 and the youngest just three, according to the Anadolu news agency.

Six adults were reportedly rescued including a couple who lost five of their children in the disaster.

Turkey was the main sea route for migrants to Europe in 2015, when more than a million people crossed to Greece. That year 3,771 people were recorded as dead or missing in the Mediterranean by the United Nations refugee agency.

So far this year, 32,601 migrants and refugees have survived the sea crossing and 649 have been recorded as dead or missing.

A deal struck with the EU in 2016 has drastically reduced the amount of people trying to make the sea crossing, although observers say the numbers have been ticking up again in recent months.

Italy marks policy shift

The focal point for Mediterranean migration in recent years has been Italy, where more than 700,000 migrants have arrived since 2013.

On Sunday the countrys new hardline interior minister, Matteo Salvini, headed to Sicily, one of the main landing points for those rescued at sea, to push his anti-immigration agenda.

His predecessor signed a controversial deal with authorities and militias in Libya -- the key departure point on the route to Italy -- which has driven down overall arrival numbers by 75 percent since last summer.

But Salvini has pledged to go further still, vowing to cut the number of arrivals and speed up deportations.

"The good times for illegals is over -- get ready to pack your bags," he said Saturday at a rally in Italys north.

The latest arrivals, some 158 people, were rescued by a humanitarian boat and reached southern Sicily on Friday.

Meanwhile Spanish maritime rescue units said Sunday they have picked up 240 migrants since the start of the weekend, with one person reported drowned.

Migration will be high on the agenda Tuesday when EU interior ministers meet in Luxembourg and discuss the blocs contested Dublin rule, under which would-be refugees must file for asylum in the first member country they enter.

Many of those landing on the Mediterranean coast see their arrival point as a pathway to their final destination, but the Dublin rule and tightening border checks have meant migrants are increasingly stuck in southern Europe.  AFP
BERLIN  Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu embarks Monday on a three-day European tour in Germany set to be dominated by strategic differences on Iran, as leaders attempt to rescue the nuclear deal after US withdrawal.

With partners in Berlin, Paris and London still reeling from President Donald Trumps decision last month to exit the hard-fought 2015 accord, Netanyahu is expected to seek European cooperation on a still-to-be-determined Plan B.

The aim to prevent Iran from developing any kind of nuclear capacity was always the foundation of international policy on Iran, Israels ambassador to Germany, Jeremy Issacharoff, said ahead of the visit.

Issacharoff said that despite differences of opinion on how to achieve the aim of hemming in Iran on nuclear matters, we share the same goal.

Germany, France and Britain are three of the signatories of the 2015 Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) between world powers and Iran, aimed at keeping Tehran from acquiring nuclear weapons.

Netanyahu, who has railed against the deal which offers sanctions relief in exchange for strict limits on Irans nuclear activities, will hold talks with Chancellor Angela Merkel in Berlin in the late afternoon, followed by a joint news conference.

He will continue on to Paris for meetings with French President Emmanuel Macron on Tuesday and British Prime Minister Theresa May on Wednesday.

Not perfect

In the face of the US retreat, all three leaders strongly defend the agreement as the best way to head off a regional arms race and have vowed with Russia and China, the two other signatory countries, to keep it alive.

German Foreign Minister Heiko Maas huddled with his Chinese counterpart Wang Yi on Thursday and insisted that Berlin "wants to maintain the nuclear agreement and make sure Iran maintains it too".

At the same news conference, Wang launched an unvarnished attack on US reliability in global affairs under Trump.

"It is a truism of international law that international accords must be respected... (and) major countries must set an example, not do the opposite," he said.

Supporters also fear the reimposition of US sanctions could hit European firms that have done business with Iran since the accord was signed.

Merkel has acknowledged that while European powers see the JCPOA as the best guarantee against an Iran with nuclear weapons, it is "not perfect".

The Europeans have proposed hammering out a supplementary deal with Tehran covering its ballistic missile programme as well as its interventions in countries such as Lebanon, Syria, Iraq and Yemen.

Western powers view Irans meddling as destabilising for the region while Israel sees it as a direct threat to its existence.

"I will discuss with them ways to block Irans nuclear aspirations and Irans expansion in the Middle East," Netanyahu said last week of his European meetings, noting the issues were "crucial to Israels security".

Israel is considered the leading military power in the Middle East and believed to be the only country in the region to possess nuclear weapons.  AFP
TOKYO  The Chiba District Court on Monday commenced the trial for a man accused of murdering a 9-year-old Vietnamese girl last year.

Yasumasa Shibuya, 46, was arrested on April 14, 2017 on suspicion of dumping the body of Le Thi Nhat Linh, a third-grader living in Matsudo town.

The same day, Japanese police served a new arrest warrant on the man, charging the suspect with murder and abandonment of the victims body, after tests results showed that DNA taken from Shibuya matched those of samples found on the victims body.

The trial is open to public. More than 60 out of the 400 queuing people were allowed to enter the courtroom.

Linh disappeared shortly after leaving her home on foot for her school on March 24, 2017.

Her body was found two days later in Abiko, Chiba. She is thought to have been choked to death, based on marks found on her neck.

Shibuya was head of the parents association at the elementary school in Matsudo which the victim attended. He lives about 300m from the victims home.  VNS
As we mentioned would be happening today in a recent article, the Museum of Flight in Seattle, Washington moved the fuselage of their Boeing B-52 Stratofortress from its long term storage site at Paine Field in nearby Everett. The massive airframe, 159 4 from the tip of the nose to its tail, rolled out from Paine Field on a specialized low-loader trailer in the early hours of Sunday morning for the 28 mile journey to her new home. She exited Interstate 5 nearby Boeing Field just before dawn, with a fringe of red on the scattered clouds overhead. The fuselage then made its way down Marginal Way, which runs beside the museum. A crowd of people watched her progress and cheered her in as she arrived. The transport technicians then unloaded their unusual cargo, and slid the fuselage in beside the Museum of Flights Aviation Pavillion, where she will remain until builders construct the plinth for her final resting place in the Vietnam Memorial Park this summer. Then the museum will reassemble the strategic bomber ahead of the Memorial Parks opening this fall. For those interested in contributing to the construction of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Park, please click HERE.

Congratulations to all at the Museum of Flight in reaching this milestone on this significant project. This B-52 has spent nearly a quarter century isolated in a remote corner of Paine Field. Now she will get the attention she deserves, and veterans of the Vietnam War (and their families), will have a place to visit for quiet introspection in the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Park.
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In a little less than two weeks my family and I will be enjoying a long weekend on the Yucatan Peninsula of Mexico. While June is not the best time of year to get huge numbers of neotropical migrants it did work out perfectly for us in terms of when we could go and find a really good deal to take advantage of. A three-day weekend is not nearly long enough to really delve into all of the Yucatan Peninsulas amazing endemics but I do hope to pick up a few and part of the criteria for the resort we chose had to do with if there was habitat that looked decent for birding.

Having never birded in Mexico at all I was initially concerned about identifying the myriad species that can be seen. But my experiences in Belize and Honduras give me a good basis in the birds of the region and I have plenty of time to study and learn what to expect with the endemics. But rather than just use field guides for visual field marks and xeno-canto for sounds I have discovered a fun way to help me prepare that also contributes to citizen science in a small but noticeable way. Im using the relatively new quiz feature on eBird!

The concept is simple. You pick a region and date and if you want to do a sound or photo quiz. Then you go through twenty examples, choosing one of four options for each item to identify the bird in the image or sound clip. (You can also select None of the above and this answer is correct surprisingly often.) Then you learn if you got the answer right or wrong and, this is important, you rate the photo or sound clip before you get the next quiz. You can also tag the photo with additional information, like if the bird is in the hand or if there is a watermark added by the photographer. Its fun, surprisingly addictive, and helpful to eBird in that you are helping to rate the millions of data points eBird users have loaded onto their servers.

The quizzes not only help you figure out what birds you need to study because you get them wrong but also give you a good idea as to what birds to expect on your travels. Ive realized that if I am going to see and identify a Yucatan Flycatcher I had better study Dusky-capped Flycatcher and Brown-crested Flycatcher. Those Myiarchus flycatchers can be a real pain.

So far the best I have done is seventeen out of twenty. Must. Keep. Practicing.

I find that the photo quizzes are most useful when you use a field guide to review your wrong answers at the end of the quiz so you can figure out what you did wrong and learn the field marks for the next quiz. Hopefully, Ill do better than 85% correct when Im in Mexico. But if you start seeing some sketchy eBird reports in mid-June from the Yucatan Peninsula youll know why!

Once I start regularly getting at least 90% correct Ill move onto the sound quizzes. Wish me luck, both on the quizzes and when I get to Mexico!




Change of Auditor

Sydney, June 4, 2018 AEST (ABN Newswire) - In compliance with ASX Listing Rule 3.16.3, Hastings Technology Metals Ltd ( ASX:HAS ) (the "Company") advises that effective today, PricewaterhouseCoopers has been appointed auditors of the Company.In accordance with section 327C of the Corporations Act 2001, a resolution will be placed at the 2018 Annual General Meeting to ratify the appointment of PricewaterhouseCoopers as the Company's auditor.The change follows the resignation of the Company's previous auditor, HLB Mann Judd, in accordance with Section 329(5) of the Corporations Act, effective today.The Board wishes to thank HLB Mann Judd for the service provided over many years.About Hastings Technology Metals Ltd

Hastings Technology Metals Ltd (ASX:HAS) (FRA:5AM) is advancing its Yangibana Rare Earths Project in the Upper Gascoyne Region of Western Australia towards production. The proposed beneficiation and hydro metallurgy processing plant will treat rare earths deposits, predominantly monazite, hosting high neodymium and praseodymium contents to produce a mixed rare earths carbonate that will be further refined into individual rare earth oxides at processing plants overseas.

Neodymium and praseodymium are vital components in the manufacture of permanent magnets which is used in a wide and expanding range of advanced and high-tech products including electric vehicles, wind turbines, robotics, medical applications and others. Hastings aims to become the next significant producer of neodymium and praseodymium outside of China.

Hastings holds 100% interest in the most significant deposits within the overall project, and 70% interest in additional deposits that will be developed at a later date, all held under Mining Leases. Numerous prospects have been identified warranting detailed exploration to further extend the life of the project.

Brockman Project

The Brockman deposit, near Halls Creek in Western Australia, contains JORC Indicated and Inferred Mineral Resources, estimated using the guidelines of JORC Code (2012 Edition).

The Company is also progressing a Mining Lease application over the Brockman Rare Earths and Rare Metals Project.

Hastings aims to capitalise on the strong demand for critical rare earths created by the expanding demand for new technology products.


Interim Update

Melbourne, June 4, 2018 AEST (ABN Newswire) - Australian Securities and Frankfurt Stock Exchange cross listed iSignthis Ltd ( ASX:ISX ) ( FRA:TA8 ), the global leader in RegTech for identity verification and transactional banking/payments, is pleased to provide the following business update.PERFORMANCE RIGHTSThe Company has received numerous questions from shareholders and analysts regarding the performance rights and revenues. The Company will not make commentary on this matter prior to the milestone date, noting that the milestone date set under the prospectus in 2014 is the end of June 2018. The performance milestone outcome will be reported post audit. However, unaudited revenue will be reported with the 30 June 2018 Appendix 4C quarterly update, due no later than 31st July 2018. This will provide preliminary guidance as to revenues and likely outcome of performance share issue.MERCHANT UPDATEAs reported on the 26th April with the 31st March 2018 Appendix 4C quarterly update, the ISXPay contracted book value continues to grow, with contracted value now in excess of AUD$550m GPTV per annum. The GPTV processed by the Company did not experience the growth expected by the Company, due to a number of unforeseeable technical issues, as previously reported.The Company is pleased to announce that it has resolved the upstream technical issues reported with the 31st March 2018 Appendix 4C. The resolution has entailed the addition of parallel supply networks to reach core banking and card services, thus ensuring that the Company is not dependent on any one network to process traffic. Whilst network crashes, such as what occurred on the entire core Visa UK & EU network last week(see Note below) are unavoidable, the ability to minimise outages in our supply networks to reach the card and banking core networks is critical.The resolution of the supply side network technical issue, which previously limited our coverage and servicing of some of our contracted merchants, will very shortly no longer affect the processing of payments to (foreseeably) any of our contracted merchants in the EEA area. Several merchants will be enabled or switched to the parallel network from end of this week, albeit at a higher cost base in the short term. The resolution of the technical issue, which also previously prevented the Company from processing the volumes of some of its contracted merchants at maximum throughput capacity, will shortly also allow the Company to crystallise the full potential gross profit from each contracted merchant.The Company notes that use of these parallel supply network means that it is still diverting some of its traffic in the short term to these higher cost suppliers, until its own lower cost Tier 1 network to Visa, Mastercard and JCB is completed fully, which is expected to take a further 12 weeks. The completed Tier 1 connection is necessary to ensure that the Company controls its own supply chain, and can scale services elastically based on demand, whilst managing costs.The ability for the Company to divert traffic to other suppliers, even once it has its own Tier 1 connections, is an essential design feature of the resilient ISX network. This ensures that the Company can offer our merchants maximum processing uptime to our merchants in the event of upstream supply issues on the ISX core network.The above resolves the separate coverage and throughput issues, with merchant processing in both Australia and the European union now possible at volume for the foreseeable contracted volumes.Note:To view Glossary, please visit:About iSignthis Ltd

iSignthis Ltd (ASX:ISX) (FRA:TA8) is a hybrid monetary financial institution and also a RegTech leader in remote identity verification, payment authentication with deposit taking, transactional banking and payment processing capability. iSignthis provides an end-to-end on-boarding service for merchants, with a unified payment, electronic money and identity service via our Paydentity(TM) and ISXPay(R) solutions.

By converging payments and identity, iSignthis delivers regulatory compliance to an enhanced customer due diligence standard, offering global reach to any of the world's 4.2Bn 'bank verified' card or account holders, that can be remotely on-boarded to meet the Customer Due Diligence requirements of AML regulated merchants in as little as 3 to 5 minutes. Paydentity(TM) has now onboarded and verified more than 1.5m persons to an AML KYC standard.

iSignthis Paydentity(TM) service is the trusted back office solution for regulated entities, allowing merchants to stay ahead of the regulatory curve, and focus on growing their core business. iSignthis' subsidiary, iSignthis eMoney Ltd, trades as ISXPay(R), and is an EEA authorised eMoney Monetary Financial Institution, offering card acquiring in the EEA, and Australia.

ISXPay(R) is a principal member of Mastercard Inc, Diners, Discover, (China) Union Pay International and JCB International, an American Express aggregator, and provides merchants with access to payments via alternative methods including SEPA, Poli Payments, Sofort, PRZ24 and others.

Probanx Solutions Ltd, a wholly owned subsidiary of iSignthis Ltd, provides API based access to CORE Banking solutions, SEPA Core, SEPA Instant and SEPA business scheme, for neobanks, banks, credit unions and emoney institutions, and provides a bridge to the Eurosystem's Central Bank of Lithuania's CENTROLink service.
Hungary's parliament is set to debate draft legislation Tuesday that would shut down organizations and even imprison people who help illegal immigrants, in a move that has alarmed human rights groups as well as the European Union, of which Hungary is a member.

The draft, put forward by Prime Minister Viktor Orban's ruling right-wing Fidesz party, is known locally as the "Stop Soros" law.

The proposed new legislation would make several basic human rights activities illegal. Helping refugees fill in forms, distributing information to asylum seekers about how to claim refuge, or organizing professional networks to help migrants could result in a possible jail sentence as punishment, according to the Hungarian Helsinki Committee, a human rights group.

The bill will be voted on in a week and could be law within a month, according to the Hungarian Parliament's website.

The government has been waging a campaign to vilify Hungarian-born billionaire investor George Soros as a threat to national security, in a drive which many believe has anti-Semitic undertones.

"EU law clearly sets out that while the asylum procedure is going on, asylum-seekers have the right to stay in the country," the Hungarian Helsinki Committee said in a statement. "The Hungarian government, instead of heeding widespread international outcries, raises the stakes."

Immigration featured prominently in April's election that saw Orban returned to power with a crushing landslide.

Hungary's EU partners are trying to persuade Budapest to drastically modify the new law, and the issue is likely to feature prominently on the agenda of the German Foreign Minister Heiko Maas when he meets Hungarian Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto in Berlin on Monday afternoon.

"The people of Hungary have made it clear that they do not want Hungary to become an immigrant country," a spokesperson for Hungary's interior ministry told CNN. "They have made it clear that they want to live in security, and that they expect and support the government's introduction of further measures in the interest of Hungary's security, and prevention of the organization of illegal migration."

Barrier of barbed wire

Hungary came under major international fire in 2015 when it erected a fence topped with barbed wire to keep out refugees fleeing war in Iraq, Syria and Afghanistan.

More than 391,000 refugees crossed into the country in 2015. That number dropped to just 203 in 2018, according to the interior ministry.

"The EU must take action to make Hungary stop threatening human rights and civil society," Fotis Filippou, the campaigns director for Europe for Amnesty International, told CNN. "These proposed laws fly in the face of EU law and international law."

A spokesperson for the European Commission, the EU executive, said Brussels was waiting to see the final draft before deciding on what action it will take.

In May the Budapest branch of Open Society Foundations, which was founded by Soros, announced it was leaving Hungary for Germany because of the difficulty working in the former Communist country.
REDDING, Calif.-- Redding Police say a habitual offender is back behind bars, again.

Police say that 25-year old Spencer Taylor has been to the Shasta County Jail 32 times since 2009.

Redding Police made 26 of those arrests.

The most recent arrest happened Saturday.

Officers say Taylor stole several items from a local hotel.

One of the stolen items was a firearm. Taylor was arrested after police recognized him from hotel surveillance video.

He was booked into the Shasta County Jail and faces six felony charges.

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Note: An observation: Both Italy and Poland have experienced being under the thumb of an oppressive government. America has been "free" since 1776, and yet, we are far more complacent about the government telling us how to live our lives. The Italians and Poles are raising holy heck over mandatory vaccines and draconian penalties. Maybe those who remember history are not willing to repeat it?



Mam taka nadzieje.

###

Thousands of people in Warsaw protest against compulsory vaccinations

Thousands of people in Warsaw took part in a protest against compulsory vaccination for children. The demonstration was organised within the framework of the International Day Against Vaccinations. In Poland, the anti-vaccine movement grows stronger and there are more and more supporters of non-vaccinations for youngsters. Health authorities are concerned that such campaigns are having a serious negative impact on public health. It comes as the number of measles cases quadrupled in Europe in 2017, with 35 fatalities, according to the World Health Organization.
A North West London Collaboration of Clinical Commission (NWLCCC) Groups spokeswoman said while the waiting times were "longer than we would like," it was lower than the average national waiting time average estimated by a parent-reported survey at 3.6 years. 

The concerns were revived after Westminster's local authorities published its waiting lists on May 24, finding families in the central London borough were waiting as long as a year for diagnosis, despite waiting time guidelines of three months.

Parents are complaining of waiting as long as five years for an autism diagnosis for their child, and are grappling with a "postcode lottery", according to the advocate mum behind Hillingdon Manor School .

The recent Department of Health report entitled, The Prevalence of Autism (including Asperger Syndrome) in School Age Children - found that the increase in children identified with Autism was 31 per cent higher in the most deprived areas of Northern Ireland - several of which are in Derry. 

Current resource does not meet the level of demand within the Trust and this has been highlighted to the HSCB and DoH.

Commenting on the waiting lists, a spokesperson for the Western Trust said: The demand for Autism assessment and intervention for both children and adults within the Western Trust has increased significantly and this trend continues.

The figures were obtained by the Journal after a recent report revealed that the number of school age children - 993 - who have come through the assessment process and been diagnosed with Autism and Asperger Syndrome in the west, has increased by almost 50 per cent over the last five years, despite intake numbers remaining static.

A further 394 children and 55 adults are currently undergoing the assessment process within the Trust.

At present there are 493 children and 81 adults across Derry, Limavady, Strabane and the wider western region, waiting to begin assessment to detect if they are on the Autism spectrum.

The Western Trust has confirmed that the numbers referred for assessment and intervention has risen dramatically. And this has now prompted Trust representatives to relay concerns to both the Health and Social Care Board and Department of Health.

Almost 600 children and adults are waiting to be assessed for Autism locally, with health officials warning resources cannot meet the soaring demand. 

Our Anne Dachel is creating a compendium of the changes in schools around the world as children grow sicker and less able to learn in traditional settings. Special education is exploding, school budgets crumbling and teachers and students alike are suffering. How long can this go on before we see actual collapses in programs? Or before parents of typical kid (both of them, ha ha) tell the special education programs to stuff it? Below are 15 stories from just last week. I especially like that one with the headline that an Ohio Autism School CELEBRATES its 20th year. Yes! Celebrate!! You'll be here foreverrrrrrr!!!!!!! K

There were complex reasons for the delays, including increased demand for the assessment which had increased "significantly" in the last few years due to wider awareness about autism, the NWLCCC spokeswoman said.

More families may believe their children are on the spectrum.

Healthcare professionals were also more knowledgeable and better trained to detect the signs.

After Anna Kennedy's two sons were turned away from mainstream education, she and her husband re-mortgaged their house to open Hillingdon Manor, a specialist school for pupils living with autism spectrum disorders.

The school began with 19 pupils in 1999. Now her boys are adults it hosts about 190 students.

Hillingdon Manor provides education, specialist therapies and psychological treatment for young people aged 3 to 19, many of whom also have learning difficulties like dyslexia.

On Thursday (May 31) she asked her social media followers how long they had waited for their child to receive a diagnosis and was flooded with hundreds of messages from frustrated parents. They told of waiting times from anywhere between months to seven years. 

I have had 200 messages since 6pm yesterday across #socialmedia about waiting for #autism diagnosis Our #charity submitted results of survey 2000 replies submitted to #DeptofHealth in 2013 Feels like #groundhogday parents sharing same concerns and wait times poss slightly worse!...

Waiting a long time for a diagnosis meant a window for early intervention could be missed, Kennedy said.

"It has an impact on the child, it has an impact on the school, which doesn't know what they are dealing with. It has an impact on the siblings, and obviously the family."

While some parents she encountered over her years campaigned did avoid seeking a "label", others told her of being dismissed.

Some were told their children had behavioural issues or that their parenting was poor, but then a diagnosis came many years down the track, she said.

One of Kennedy's sons was diagnosed by health professionals at four, but the family was not informed and only learned about it by accident at school when he was seven.

"That was obviously very stressful."

A National Autism Society (NAS) survey found one in 10 parents said they ended up paying for a private diagnosis. 

June 1, 2018, IN Public Media: Dyslexia: Finally Finding Time In The Spotlight

A law that takes effect in July requires schools to screen students for dyslexia.

The hope is if students are identified early, schools will be able to intervene and better accommodate them. 

Dyslexia was first defined in Indiana law in 2015  just three years ago. The numbers vary, but anywhere between 10 and 20 percent of kids live with the learning disability.

Binnion says the passage of a dyslexia bill this year is a huge step forward. It requires all schools to screen kids in kindergarten, first, or second grade for key traits associated with dyslexia, and, every school corporation will have a reading specialist trained in dyslexia by 2019.

Its far better, the earlier IDd and the earlier remediated, the better theyre going to be, Binnion says. You probably are not going to see their dyslexia rear its ugly head unless its some other like, right and left or something like that.

June 1, 2018, U.K. Guardian: Our schools are broke  so why arent we talking about it?

Michelle Gay is the headteacher of Osborne primary, a 270-pupil local authority school in Erdington, on the north-eastern edge of Birmingham. In total, 25% of her pupils are categorised as having special educational needs, 39% have a first language other than English, and 43% are eligible for free school meals.

Osborne primary has an urgent issue: a lack of money. Ofsted rates it as a good school with outstanding leadership, and since 2016 its numbers have been expanding: in September 2019 it will take on another new class, but Gay wont have enough money to pay for a new teacher, so the teaching will be done by existing staff. She says she needs at least 13 classroom assistants to help children who need extra support  not least those who need help with English  but only has 11. The school used to get about 100,000 a year from Birmingham city council and other agencies to pay three staff who work on child protection and supporting parents, as well as counselling children with mental health issues. 

Children with special needs are being pushed out of state schools. The curriculum is being stripped back to its basics. And the stuff that desiccated minds would have you believe is unnecessary guff  art, music, drama  is the first to go. Yet grammar schools will reportedly benefit from a new 50m expansion fund.

May 31, 2018, Dallas Morning News: We can improve school safety by identifying kids with severe antisocial behavior and offering help

Gov. Greg Abbott was at Dallas ISD headquarters this week to deliver 40 recommendations to improve school safety in the wake of the recent Santa Fe shooting. 

Although several recommendations focused on making schools safer by strengthening security and increasing law enforcement presence, what is critical is that the proposal included a resounding call for improving mental health assessments and services.

Steps in this direction would include providing mental health evaluations that identify students at risk of harming others or themselves, increasing mental health training, improving mental health crisis response, and most notably the expansion of Texas Tech University's Telemedicine Wellness, Intervention, Triage and Referral Project, which seeks to identify junior and high school students who show a risk of committing violence. 

Efforts aimed at identifying individuals who exhibit severe antisocial tendencies and providing them the services they need should be a high priority, and this should not be limited solely to teenagers. In fact, it goes much further back. As my own research in the Journal of Criminal Justice has shown, conduct disorder, mental illness and antisocial behavior in early childhood left unaddressed can have long-term adverse impacts on children, their families and society at large. 

May 31, 2018, Christian Science Monitor: Discipline and special ed: Schools work to reduce suspensions

Educators are being asked to pay more attention to equity in their discipline policies. While the focus remains on reducing suspensions for students of color, the number of special education students being suspended is also of concern to advocates.

Last month, the Department of Educations Office for Civil Rights published a report showing that students with disabilities made up 12 percent of enrollment in 2015-16, but accounted for 26 percent of students who received an out-of-school suspension and 28 percent of students who were referred to law enforcement or arrested.

Troubling statistics are among the reasons more states are taking action. Tennessee lawmakers just passed a bill banning the spanking or hitting of special education students; Washington State, which is facing a lawsuit from the American Civil Liberties Union, is promising changes to its policies by the fall.

Lindsay E. Jones of the National Center for Learning Disabilities says its time to address the issue. Theres no evidence to suggest [students with disabilities] should have more behavior issues, she says.

May 31, 2018, ABC13 Toledo, OH: Autism Model School Celebrates 20 Years

It was originally started by parents of children with autism who didn't have any other place to turn to educate their kids. Autism Model School is celebrating 20 years of working with children within the autism spectrum.

The Model school was part of the Ohio's Community School's Pilot Program and is now one of the longest running Charter Schools in Northwest Ohio. The school uses evidence based programming that specifically treats the educational challenges of children and teens living with autism.

Model started with just under 30 students and now it has 110 with a waiting list of 60.

May 31, 2018, (UK) Nottinghamshire Post: Worry over increasing number of home school educated children in Nottinghamshire

The number of home school educated children in Nottinghamshire has doubled in the last four years.

The figures have alarmed the councils chairman for children and young peoples services, who has written to the Secretary of State for Education outlining the serious concerns over the increasing numbers of children and young people being withdrawn from mainstream education to be home educated.

In his letter to Damian Hinds MP sent this week, Councillor Philip Owen has also pressed the minister for the urgent mandatory registration of all home educated pupils.

Councillor Owen said: There has been an alarming rise in the numbers - in September 2017, 523 children in the county were registered as home educated, but as Year 11 students get set to leave school, this figure has risen to 714, with total numbers more than doubling in under four years. 

In the majority of cases, where parents and carers choose to school their child at home, known as elective home education  the education is suitable and the children and young people are safe.

There are, however, a small, but growing number of cases where we consider this not to be the case and/or there is a potential safeguarding risk.

In terms of safeguarding, the council has identified a significant number of pupils over the last two years who have been withdrawn from school for a range of inappropriate reasons which include persistent low attendance, unresolved bullying, and social, emotional, mental health or special educational needs which are not met.

Councillor Owen added: If the numbers of home educated children and young people continue to grow exponentially, we will need additional resources to monitor the suitability of education and to fulfil our statutory duty.

May 31, 2018, (UK) Sutherland Echo: Plans to transform former Sunderland school into support base for children with special needs



A former city school site could become a support base for children with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) under new council plans. 

A PRU cares for pupils who are unable to attend a mainstream school or access special schools in the area.

A 500k Government grant will be provided to the council following a consultation with parent groups, schools forums and relevant bodies. 

May 31, 2018, Falmouth (ME) Forecaster: Scarborough, South Portland face school budget challenges

With difficulty passing budgets in the past several years, recent turmoil over the recall of three School Board members and the resignation of a popular principal, Scarborough residents are probably wary of another budget fight stretching through the summer.

Although less dramatic, South Portland residents are considering a school budget that proposes an increase of 4 percent that was described as challenging by the superintendent.

Both South Portland and Scarborough face rising costs and higher taxes as residents prepare to vote June 12 on fiscal year 2019 school budgets that would take effect July 1.

The net budget proposal of $44.9 million seeks an additional $2.5 million in taxes next year, a nearly 6 percent increase, although the increase in expenditures is only 2.9 percent. Superintendent Julie Kukenberger in April said it covers only essential services.

The budget is driven by the increasing needs of students who require individualized programming and services  an increase of $375,000  as well as an additional kindergarten teacher at Pleasant Hill School due to an enrollment increase  a cost of $75,000  and an increase in salaries and benefits for staff.

May 30, 2018, Danbury (CT) News Times: Brookfield finance board tackles third budget proposal

Under the second version of the budget, town spending would have increased 0.75 percent, while school spending would have increased 4.7 percent. Overall spending would have risen 3.5 percent and the property tax rate would have increased 4.7 percent.

Most of the hike in the school budget has been attributed to a rise in special education costs, cuts to state aid and contractual salary increases.

May 30, 2018, Cadillac (MI) News: Ribbon cutting for Autism Center of Michigan

Parents of children with autism will have access to more services provided by Autism Centers of Michigan at their new location at 932. N. Mitchell St. The provider of Applied Behavior Analysis services has provided in-home services locally for two years. An increase in demand prompted the new location in Cadillac, now one of five locations statewide.

"We are treatment providers," said Jon Timm, clinical director of Northern Michigan. "We are not diagnostics. We develop treatment plans to help children learn appropriate behavior and develop skills to reduce their problem behavior. If we can reduce one problem behavior, we've created an impact ... Even having a child that yells all the time, if we can adjust that, we can change entire lives."

May 30, 2018, GetWestLondon: Children are waiting over a year for an autism diagnosis in Westminster

Children are waiting over a year for an autism diagnosis in the London borough of Westminster .

The figures are set against a backdrop of what are thought to be even longer waiting times around the United Kingdom, while advocacy groups wait for the Government to fulfil its pledge to start publishing the figures.

A report to its health and wellbeing board tabled on Thursday (May 24) warned there will be a growth of demand for autism support services.

The board heard that more support needed to be offered to families to help them find services to help them while they waited.

In 2015, the National Autistic Society (NAS) launched its Autism Diagnosis Crisis campaign, calling for the Government to reduce waiting times.

A study of just over 1,000 parents nationwide in 2012 found they reported waiting 3.6 years, on average, for an autism diagnosis from the first time they approached health professionals with worries. The waiting time parents reported waiting four years for an Asperger's diagnosis.

Half of all respondents to a NAS survey said getting a diagnosis took a long time and was stressful. One in 10 said they ended up paying for a private diagnosis. 

It highlighted waiting times for referral to autism diagnosis of over a year in 2017/18 in south Westminster for children aged over 4.5 years, and 41 weeks for those referred in central and north Westminster.

The waiting lists included referrals from parts of Kensington and Chelsea and Hammersmith and Fulham too. Hammersmith and Fulham has now exited the triborough shared social services arrangement.

The report said referrals to the Child Development service's Autism pathway increased by 80% since 2012/13.

However there had been little increase in service capacity in the last ten years to keep pace with demand, it added.

Nearly a fifth of Westminster school pupils are recorded as having special educational needs, amounting to 3,641 pupils.

There tended to be significantly more boys than girls in Westminster affected by autism spectrum disorders, in line with London and the UK.

The report noted diagnosis delays could cause stress to families. While they were able to obtain services while they waited, it suggested more support could be offered to them during that time.

There are 559 children and young people aged 0-25 registered with their GP with autism in the borough, but the report noted this was said to be an undercount.

It warned if pace continued in line with population growth, the rates of autism would generate "a larger absolute burden on the national and local health economy."

May 30, 2018, (UK) Yorkshire Post: School funding boost announced by minister



Hundreds of millions of pounds in funding has been announced to help improve provision for children with special educational needs and disabilities.

The Government has provided 680m to create 40,000 more good school places in primary and secondary schools, building on the 825,000 new school places created since 2010.

The Department for Education said the new allocation also included a 50m funding boost for councils to create additional school places and top-end facilities to cope with growing demand for services.

The boost could help create around 740 more special school places and provide new specialist facilities to support children with complex needs, such as sensory rooms and playgrounds with specialist equipment, a Government spokesman said.

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Promoted by Best Western Hotels & Resorts Children and Families Minister Nadhim Zahawi said: This funding will help to create thousands more school places across the country, with a clear focus on transforming the experience of education for children with special educational needs or disabilities. 

Schools in Yorkshire and Humber will also benefit from an extra 3m to improve facilities and build more school places for children with special educational needs. But Labour was critical of the announcement.

Shadow Education Secretary Angela Rayner said: Our schools finances are approaching breaking point, yet the Government can only re-announce old policies and old funding.





May 30, 2018, New York City 1 TV: Charter school network accuses city of unfairly denying special ed to students

At the Success Academy Bronx 2 Middle School, teachers identified 13 students who needed special education this school year. But the city's Education Department only approved help for one of them.

Success Academy, the city's largest charter school network, is now alleging discrimination by the Education Department.

"This year it's felt almost like a foregone conclusion that despite all of the compelling evidence, what the evaluation says, what the outside providers have to say that it's unlikely that our kids are going to get the support that they deserve and are entitled too," said Danielle Hauser, Success Academy Bronx 2 Middle School's principal.

Charter schools are publicly funded but privately run. They must apply just like public schools to get students approved for special education services and the extra funding that comes with it.

Success Academy says the city's special education office in the South Bronx is not treating all students equally.

According to city figures, that office approves special education for 80 percent of the public school students referred for the instruction but for only 42 percent of Success Academy students referred.

And Success says its applications for the help often languish.

In the South Bronx, 66 percent of public school students are granted hearings within 60 days as required by federal law.

But just two percent of Success Academy cases are heard on time.

In fact, Success Academy students wait an average of 170 days for a hearing.

One student waited a year. 

"We try our best to accommodate and our teachers are flexible with their time, their free time to go above and beyond but we cannot meet the full mandate of services to contract with a speech provider, etcetera," Hauser said. 

Anne Dachel is Media Editor for Age of Autism.


















Date: 10 March, 2018.

Place: Cape Coral, Florida State, United States.

A couple of months ago, on 10 March, a very strange incident was reported in the city of Cape Coral, Florida.

According to an anonymous testimony published on Mutual UFO Network (MUFON) online database, a local resident affirmed to have been abducted by around seven aliens while he was alone in his house.

I was in the bathroom and then I heard a knocking on the window. When I looked, there were around seven aliens standing there. I had only seen one at a time in the past two years, but this time they were all together, the abductee affirmed. He also informed that the beings tried to drill implants in his body. Implants were flying up to me, trying to drill themselves into my skin, he asserted.

The Florida resident also said he is devastated and wants to be helped, since it was a very traumatic experience for him. I have a friend that saw this event too. Also, their [the aliens] slim is still on the window. You can check it out. I have several implants in me. I really need help; they are ruining my life, he expressed. Please call me as soon as possible. I can't check my email so you can only call me, but please help me! They are hurting me every single night. I'm a 38-year old grown man and I tell you this is not a joke! he added.

The American citizen then described the eerie things the apparent interdimensional alien entities usually perform on him. They make all trees turn into demon-shaped beings. They make faces in my clothes and they electrocute me, too. They also bite me hard enough to make me bleed, he claimed.

I have so many friends and family that have seen the aliens and the things they do. Please help me! It is getting bad enough that I want to kill myself. They [the aliens] make my life a living hell, you have no idea, he commented.

Draw your own conclusions

For more information: https://mufoncms.com/cgi-bin/report_handler.pl?req=view_long_desc&id=90684&rnd=








Consultations are being facilitated by well-known agricultural employer lobbyist Hill & Knowlton Canada

OTTAWA - Migrant agricultural worker organizations across Canada are outraged at closed door consultations on changes to the agricultural stream of the temporary foreign worker program which have shut out workers, and which refuse to focus on worker concerns. The federal government began invitation-only meetings with big business lobby groups in late May. Migrant worker groups have either been invited late or not at all, despite repeated requests to be part of the discussions.

It would be unthinkable for the the federal government to craft regulations that might affect womens issues and not invite women to the table, but they feel comfortable excluding migrant agricultural workers and their advocates from rules and policies that deeply impact their lives. Its unbelievable, says Joey Calugay of the Immigrant Workers Centre in Quebec. Migrant workers deserve a seat at the table, and they want the right to permanent status upon landing.

Migrant workers in the primary agriculture stream are restricted to working only for the employer listed on their work permit. They are in large part allowed to only live in employer-controlled housing. In some provinces they are excluded from, or face restrictions on collective bargaining, and are often exempted from minimum wage, overtime hours, and other basic employment standards. Employers are allowed to fire and send migrant agricultural workers home if they are injured or fall sick. Workers pay most taxes but often cant get full access to EI, CPP or other entitlements. This is why migrant agricultural worker organizations across Canada are unified in calling for permanent residency status on arrival, as well as full labour rights and access to social entitlements.

The power imbalance between migrant agricultural workers and employers is well documented, and any meaningful reforms must begin with conversations with migrant workers and their organizations at a time and place where workers can participate, in a language they are comfortable in, and with guarantees that there wont be employer reprisals, adds Diwa Marcelino of Migrante from Manitoba.

These consultations, which include federal and provincial policy makers, are being facilitated by Hill and Knowlton Strategies, a lobbying firm that has represented the interests of agricultural employers throughout Canada. This is a gross conflict of interest. In 2017, Hill and Knowlton lobbied Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada 53 times, often on behalf of different employer and employer lobby organizations.

There are no migrant workers in the rooms for these conversations, its mostly employers and its being facilitated by their own lobbyists. How can any meaningful changes that reflect the needs of migrant workers come from this process? asks Syed Hussan of Migrant Workers Alliance for Change from Ontario. We are calling on Minister Hajdu and Minister Hussen to step in and restart this process, this time with migrant worker involvement, and ensure that we are discussing permanent status on landing as a solution.

Migrant workers grow food, and feed families, their lives deserve respect and their work deserves our admiration and support which must include their involvement in decisions that impact their lives, said Byron Cruz from Sanctuary Health in Vancouver, BC. The fundamental problem with the temporary foreign worker program is the lack of immigration and labour rights, and the first step to correcting it is access to permanent residency status on arrival.

AVAILABLE FOR COMMENT
American Airlines says it has become the first US passenger carrier to offer a cargo product in Cuba with the launch of a mail service, including letters, parcels and express to and from Havanas Jose Marti International.

American currently operates four daily flights from Miami  scheduled to increase to five daily in October  and a daily fight from Charlotte Douglas International Airport. The Miami flights are operated with Boeing 737-800 aircraft and the Charlotte by an Airbus A319.

American also flies passenger-only services from Miami to Holguin, Santa Clara, Varadero and Camaguey.

As the leading US carrier to Cuba we are excited to launch cargo service to the island, said the carriers vice president for cargo operations, David Vance.

Our teams on the ground in the US and in Cuba have worked hard to make this a reality. This new service will benefit families in both countries.

Express carrier FedEx had been poised to be the first US cargo carrier in Cuba, but in September last year asked for a postponement of its planned freighter service until June. It cited difficulties in finding suitable ground handling services, customs clearance problems and warehousing space as well as concerns about a change in policy by President, Donald Trump.

It had initially hoped to start a five-times-a-week service between Miami and Matanzas/Varadero in April 2017, following the February signing of an inter-government deal to re-establish scheduled air services between the two countries for more than 50 years.

Under the new arrangement, each country can operate up to 20 daily round trip flights between the US and Havana, and up to 10 daily round trip flights between the US and each of Cubas other nine international airports.

Read more airline cargo news
One of the most important results for the Amur Gas Processing Plant of technological equipment with innovative Schneider Electric products will also be the opportunity to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
Canadian service centers are beginning to react to the Section 232 tariffs implemented by President Donald Trump's administration against steel imports from the country by halting shipments to customers in the United States.



In the current circumstances, it is prudent to temporarily suspend shipments to the US until such time as there is some clarity on the duration of the tariffs, Farjess Inc president and chief executive officer Feroz Jessani wrote in a letter to customers dated Thursday May 31.



Another Canadian service center source, who declined to be identified, told American Metal Market on June 4 that his company had also notified its US customers that it would temporarily stop shipping to them. Our margins arent enough to absorb 25% Section 232 tariffs, he said.



The US ended Section 232 exemptions for Canada, the European Union and Mexico and imposed 25% tariffs on imports of their steel products effective June 1. Canada has threatened to impose retaliatory tariffs on US steel products and on a broad array of US agricultural and manufactured goods beginning July 1 if the Trump administration's tariffs remain in place.



Canada ships more steel to the US than any other country, supplying 16.5% (nearly 5.68 million tonnes) of the 34.47 million tonnes that landed on domestic shores in 2017, according to data from the US Commerce Department's Enforcement and Compliance division.



Canada is also the biggest destination for US steel exports, taking in nearly 4.68 million tonnes (49%) of the total 9.55 million tonnes of product shipped abroad by domestic mills during the period, the latest Commerce data show.



American Metal Markets hot-rolled coil index was at $44.03 per hundredweight ($880.60 per ton) on May 31, roughly flat compared with $44.05 per cwt a week earlier, with market participants attempting to figure out whether Section 232 tariffs against Canada, Mexico and the EU would prove short-lived or have a lasting impact on the market.



There is considerable uncertainty at the present time on the impact of these tariffs on the North American steel industry, Jessani wrote, adding that he hopes the US and Canadian governments can resolve their differences in a timely manner to avoid harming the North American steel industry.



Brampton, Ontario-based Farjess Steel supplies hot-rolled coil, hot-rolled pickled and oiled, cold-rolled, galvanized, galvannealed, Galvalume and pre-painted steel to manufacturers and distributors, according to its website.



The Canadian service center source added that he hoped the trade spat between the US and Canada  the largest trading partner for most domestic states  would not last long, predicting that the two countries would resolve their differences within a month. But if they don't, the damage to the trade relationship could prove long lasting, he added.



As a result, this Canadian service center source said his company was evaluating its options should Canada retaliate against the US companies from which it sources steel.



This is going to hurt Canada. But its going to hurt the States too. Maybe Hawaii is not one of them but Ohio, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin  this is going to hurt.



The US could help smooth tensions by not insisting that Canada  whose troops serve alongside US forces and with whom the US has the longest unsecured border in the world  is a threat to national security. Thats a joke. Lets say what this is  punishment for not getting a deal on Nafta, this source added.









Editor's note: This story was updated on June 5, 2018, to correct the US steel export figures for 2017. The original figures included in the story were for the first quarter of this year.
Deep in the Nigerian rainforest, there was once an immense kingdom surrounded by a huge earthen wall and moat. Built during the Middle Ages, this great African kingdom was larger than many contemporary kingdoms of its time such as Baghdad or Cairo or Rome. Yet, nothing of this vast kingdom survive today save for its fortification walla structure so enormous that its construction was a feat that was bigger in scale than that of the Great Pyramid of Giza. The BBC calls it Africa's largest single monument.

Photo credit: Jeremy Weate/Flickr

Sungbo's Eredo, the fortification, is essentially a moat and an earth wall alongside it, that together run in a circle for a length of about 160 kilometers encompassing an area of more than 4,000 square kilometers. The Eredo's earthen bank rises 70 feet in the air from the bottom of the moat. Its walls are unusually smooth, but now covered with moss and creepers. Overhead, trees arch across from either side turning the moat into a dark green tunnel through the forest.

So enveloped is it by vegetation, you could almost fall into it before you knew it was there, wrote Barnaby Phillips of the BBC. When he visited the Eredo in 1999, his guide had to hack their way through the jungle vegetation.

Archeologists believe the Eredo was built about a thousand years ago to serve as a boundary wall for the ancient Ijebu Kingdom. The kingdom itself is very little known, other than the connection to Bilikisu Sungbo, its powerful ruler and a childless widow, whom the locals believe was none other than the legendary Queen of Sheba. That final part is obviously a myth, since Bilikisu Sungbo and the fabled Queen of Sheba is separated by at least 2,000 years.

Photo credit: Jeremy Weate/Flickr

Sungbo's Eredo lies only an hours ride away from the metropolitan city of Lagos, yet few Nigerians, let alone outsiders, have heard of it, and fewer still have visited it. Frank Bures laments that even Nigerian archaeologists are less than enthusiastic about field work.

Interest in the Eredo flared up briefly about two decades ago, when a team of Nigerian and British archeologists headed by Dr. Patrick Darling successfully mapped the structure. Since then the Eredo has sunk back into the forest and faded into scientific and media oblivion.
Posted on: June 4, 2018 1:14 PM

This article is also available in Portuguese

Este artigo tambem esta disponivel em portugues

The General Synod of the Igreja Episcopal Anglicana do Brasil  the Anglican Episcopal Church of Brazil  (IEAB) has approved changes to its canons to permit same-sex marriages. Civil same-sex marriages have been legal in Brazil since 2012. In a statement, the Province said that the move would not require liturgical changes, because gender neutral language had already been introduced into its service for the solemnization of marriage in the 2015 Book of Common Prayer.

The move was overwhelmingly carried by the Synod members with 57 voting in favour and three against. There were two abstentions.

Canonical changes were approved in an environment filled by the Holy Spirit and with mutual love and respect, the Province said in a statement. It was preceded by long, deep and spiritual dialogue. This dialogue formally started in 1997, but had been going on much earlier, and reached the whole Province since then through indabas, conferences, consultations, prayers, biblical and theological publications.

The Primus of the Scottish Episcopal Church, Mark Strange, and the Bishop of Huron from the Anglican Church of Canada, Linda Nichols, were amongst international guests present at the Synod.

We affirm our commitment with the Gospel of Jesus and our belonging to the Anglican global family, the Provinces statement said. We also hope to keep walking together with those who disagree with us as we discern how to better respond to the challenges ahead of us in our contexts.

The outgoing Primate of the IEAB, Bishop Francisco de Assis da Silva, said: I felt the decision was a result of the Holy Spirits presence and work. This widens our boundaries, allowing us to be more welcoming to the diversity of people in our country.

The Churchs Provincial Secretary, Arthur Cavalcante, who is himself in a same-sex civil union, commented: I feel proud to witness this historic day for the Church of Brazil, which is also the day we celebrate IEABs 128th anniversary. We stand as a lighthouse at a time this country and the world faces so many difficulties, such as religious fundamentalism and intolerance. I finish my term as Provincial Secretary feeling completely overwhelmed.

Responding to the decision, the Secretary General of the Anglican Communion, Dr Josiah Idowu-Fearon, said: The churches of the Anglican Communion are autonomous and free to make their own decisions on canon law. The Episcopal Church of Brazil is one of 39 Anglican provinces covering more than 165 countries around the world.

I understand that this is the third time that the issue has been discussed by the Synod of the IEAB and so its decision to approve changes to canon law on marriage is not a surprise.

There are differing views about same-sex marriage within the Anglican Communion but this decision puts the Episcopal Church of Brazil at odds with the majority position that marriage is the lifelong union of a man and a woman. This is a move away from the faith and teaching upheld by the overwhelming majority of Anglican provinces on the doctrine of marriage. The Anglican Communions position on human sexuality is set out in Resolution I.10 agreed at the Lambeth conference of 1998 and will remain so unless it is revoked.

It is my deep desire to see the churches of the Anglican Communion remain committed to walking together in the love of Christ in spite of deeply-held differences and to work out how to maintain unity and uphold the value of every individual. It is important to stress the Communions strong opposition to the criminalisation of LGBTIQ+ people.

In making the move, Brazil becomes the third Anglican province to change its canons to permit same-sex marriage. The US-based Episcopal Church was first to authorises same-sex marriages in Church in 2015. At their meeting and gathering in Canterbury in 2016, the Primates of the Anglican Communion described the move as a fundamental departure from the faith and teaching held by the majority of our Provinces on the doctrine of marriage.

Despite the further deep pain throughout our Communion caused by the move, the Primates said that it is our unanimous desire to walk together, but they added: given the seriousness of these matters we formally acknowledge this distance by requiring that for a period of three years The Episcopal Church no longer represent us on ecumenical and interfaith bodies, should not be appointed or elected to an internal standing committee and that while participating in the internal bodies of the Anglican Communion, they will not take part in decision making on any issues pertaining to doctrine or polity.

The second Province to amend its canons to permit same-sex marriage was the Scottish Episcopal Church (SEC) in June last year. When the Primates met in Canterbury last October, the Primus of the SEC, Mark Strange, said that the decision was ours to take as a self-governing province of the Anglican Communion.

He added: However, I recognise that this decision is one that has caused some hurt and anger in parts of the Anglican Communion and that the decision taken at the last Primates Meeting, which was to exclude our brothers and sisters in the [US-based] Episcopal Church from debate on doctrine and from chairing Anglican Communion committees, is a decision that now also pertains to us.

In a narrow vote in July 2016, the Anglican Church of Canada voted to amend its canons to permit same sex marriage. Under its constitutional rules concerning matters of doctrine, the 2016 vote does not take effect unless it is carried again when the Synod meets again next year.

Last month, the Anglican Church in Aotearoa, New Zealand and Polynesia agreed moves to retain its doctrinal position on marriage; but said it would now allow priests in New Zealand to conduct blessing of same-sex civil unions. The move was seen by many as a compromise position and was put forward by a group established to ensure that people with different convictions on issue of sexuality could remain in the Church.

In their January 2016 meeting, the Primates asked the Archbishop of Canterbury to appoint a Task Group to maintain conversation among ourselves with the intention of restoration of relationship, the rebuilding of mutual trust, healing the legacy of hurt, recognising the extent of our commonality and exploring our deep differences, ensuring they are held between us in the love and grace of Christ.

The Task Group continues to meet. One of the proposals to emerge from its work is for a season of repentance and prayer across the Anglican Communion from Pentecost 2019.

A Igreja Episcopal Anglicana do Brasil muda seus canones para permitir o casamento de pessoas do mesmo sexo

Membros da Igreja Episcopal Anglicana do Brasil votam para mudar o canon sobre o casamento durante a sessao do Sinodo de Sabado.

Foto: IEAB

This article is also available in English

Este artigo tambem esta disponivel em ingles

O Sinodo Geral da Igreja Episcopal Anglicana do Brasil aprovou mudancas nos seus canones para permitir o casamento entre pessoas do mesmo sexo. O casamento igualitario ja e legalizado no Brasil desde 2012. Em uma de suas declaracoes, a Provincia do Brasil afirmou que esta mudanca nao exigira adequacoes liturgicas, porque a linguagem inclusiva de genero ja estava introduzida tambem no ordinario do casamento desde 2015, na nova edicao do LOC-Livro Comum de Oracao.

Esta mudanca foi aprovada pela maioria dos membros do Sinodo com 57 votos a favor e 3 contra. Nao houve abstencoes.

As mudancas canonicas foram aprovadas em um ambiente inundado pelo Espirito Santo e amor e respeito mutuo, afirmou a Provincia. Foi precedido por um processo de escuta e dialogo longo, profundo e espiritual. Este dialogo comecou formalmente em 1997, mas informalmente ja existe desde muito antes. Toda a Provincia participou desse processo atraves dos indabas, conferencias, consultas, oracao e muitas publicacoes biblicas e teologicas.

O Primaz da Igreja Episcopal da Escocia, Mark Strange, e a Bispa da Diocese de Huron, da Igreja Anglicana do Canada, Linda Nichols, estiverem presentes como convidadas internacionais entre outras.

Nos afirmamos nosso compromisso com o Evangelho de Jesus e nossa pertenca a familia global Anglicana, afirmou a declaracao feita pela Provincia. Nos tambem esperamos nos manter juntas e juntos no caminho com aquelas/es que discordam de nos, na medida em que nos discernimos a melhor maneira de responder aos desafios que esta em nossa frente em nossos contextos.

O Primaz da Igreja Episcopal Anglicana do Brasil que esta deixando este servico neste Sinodo, Bispo Francisco da Silva, disse: Eu sinto que a decisao foi o resultado da presenca do Espirito Santo e seu trabalho. Isto amplia nossas fronteiras, e permite que nos sejamos mais hospitaleiros no acolhimento da diversidade de pessoas que compoe nossas comunidades e pais.

O Secretario Provincial Arthur Cavalcante, ele mesmo vivendo uma uniao civil com uma pessoa do mesmo sexo, comentou: Eu sinto orgulho desse testemunho dado neste dia historico para a Igreja do Brasil, que e tambem o dia em que celebramos os 128 anos de presenca da Igreja neste pais. Nos permanecemos como um farol num tempo em que este pais e o mundo enfrenta tantas dificuldades, como o fundamentalismo religioso e a intolerancia de todos os tipos. Eu termino meu mandato como Secretario Provincial sentindo-me plenamente realizado.

Em resposta a esta decisao, o Secretario Geral da Comunhao Anglicana, Dr. Josiah Idowu-Fearon, disse: As igrejas da Comunhao Anglicana sao autonomas e livres para tomar suas proprias decisoes sobre a lei canonica. A Igreja Episcopal Anglicana do Brasil e uma das 39 Provincias Anglicanas espalhadas pelo mundo, nos 165 paises onde estamos presentes.

Eu entendo que esta e a terceira vez que esse assunto e discutido por um Sinodo da Igreja, entao essa decisao de mudar o canon sobre o casamento nao e uma surpresa.

Ha diferentes visoes sobre o casamento de pessoas do mesmo sexo dentro da Comunhao Anglicana, mas esta decisao coloca a Igreja do Brasil em conflito com a posicao majoritaria das igrejas da Comunhao sobre o casamento ser uma uniao perpetua entre um homem e uma mulher. Este e um passo que se afasta da fe e dos ensinamentos sustentados pela grande maioria das provincias anglicanas sobre a doutrina do casamento. A posicao da Comunhao Anglicana sobre a sexualidade humana esta esclarecida na Resolucao I.10 acordada na Conferencia de Lambeth de 1998 e permanecera assim ate ser revogada.

E meu profundo desejo ver as igrejas da Comunhao Anglicana permanecendo comprometidas em caminhar juntas no amor de Cristo, apesar das profundas diferencas e engendrar maneiras de manterem-se unidas e defender o valor de cada individuo como tal. E importante salientar a posicao firme da Comunhao sobre a descriminalizacao das pessoas LGBTIQ+.

Ao dar esse passo, o Brasil torna-se a terceira Provincia Anglicana a mudar seus canones para permitir o casamento de pessoas do mesmo sexo. A Igreja Episcopal nos Estados Unidos foi a primeira a autorizar este ato na igreja em 2015. No seu encontro em Cantuaria em 2016, os Primazes da Comunhao Anglicana descreveram essa atitude como um afastamento fundamental da fe e dos ensinamentos existentes na maioria das nossas Provincias sobre a doutrina do casamento.

Apesar da profunda dor sentida na Comunhao causada por essa decisao, os Primazes disseram que e nosso desejo unanime de caminhar juntos, mas eles acrescentaram: dada a seriedade dessa materia nos formalmente reconhecemos esse afastamento fazendo um pedido que por um periodo de tres anos a Igreja Episcopal (dos EUA) nao podera mais representar a Comunhao em organismos ecumenicos e inter-religiosos, nao podera ser nomeada ou eleita para nenhum comite executivo e, mesmo participando nos organismos internos da Comunhao Anglicana, nao podera tomar parte em qualquer decisao sobre qualquer materia pertinente a doutrina ou governanca.

A segunda Provincia que mudou seus canones para permitir o casamento de pessoas do mesmo sexo foi a Igreja Episcopal da Escocia (SEC) em junho do ano passado. Quando os Primazes se reuniram em Cantuaria em Outubro passado, o Primaz desta Igreja, Mark Strange, disse que a decisao foi nosso direito para tomar como uma provincia autonoma da Comunhao Anglicana.

Ele acrescentou: Entretanto, eu reconheco que esta decisao e uma daquelas que provoca dor e raiva em muitas partes da Comunhao Anglicana e que a decisao tomada na ultima reuniao dos Primazes, que foi de excluir nossas irmas e irmaos da Igreja Episcopal nos Estados Unidos do debate sobre doutrina e de poder dirigir comissoes na Comunhao Anglicana, e uma decisao que agora tambem nos afeta.

Em uma votacao apertada em Julho de 2016, a Igreja Anglicana do Canada votou uma emenda aos seus canones para permitir o casamento de pessoas do mesmo sexo. Por causa das regras constitucionais que legislam as questoes de doutrina, a decisao nao pode ser efetivada a menos que seja levada ao Sinodo novamente no proximo ano.

Mes passado, A Anglicana em Aotearoa, Nova Zelandia e Polinesia acordaram por manter sua posicao doutrinal sobre casamento, mas disse que permitiria clerigas/os de Nova Zelandia oficiar bencaos para uniao civil de pessoas do mesmo sexo. Este passo foi visto por muita gente como uma posicao que tenta harmonizar as diferentes posicoes e foi proposta e levada a frente por um grupo que foi estabelecido para garantir que pessoas com diferentes conviccoes sobre a questao da sexualidade possam permanecer na Igreja.

No encontro dos Primazes em Janeiro de 2016, eles pediram ao Arcebispo de Cantuaria para designar um Grupo de Trabalho para manter o dialogo entre nos com a intencao de restaurar relacoes, reconstruir a confianca mutua, sanar o que esta ferido, reconhecer a extensao do que nos e comum e lidar com as nossas profundas diferencas, garantindo que elas estejam sustentadas entre nos no amor e na graca de Cristo.

O Grupo de Trabalho continua a se encontrar. Uma das propostas que sairam do mesmo foi uma temporada de arrependimento e oracao em toda a Comunhao Anglicana, a partir da festa de Pentecostes do ano de 2019.
Posted on: June 4, 2018 4:28 PM

The Tasmania Diocesan Synod has approved in principle the sale of up to 108 properties to fund redress for victims of abuse in Australia. The proposals were put forward by Bishop Richard Condie as a way of raising the $8 million AUD (approximately 4.6 million GBP) the diocese needs to pay towards the National Redress Scheme. Under the proposals adopted by the Synod, parishes and communities have until the Autumn make submissions about any properties on the list that should be excluded. The final decision will then be taken by the Diocesan Council in December.

The Synod endorsed a package of measures to fund the Redress Scheme, including diverting 25 per cent of Diocesan and Parish investment funds ($2.8 million); 25 per cent from the net proceeds of sale from 108 Anglican properties ($4.7 million); and direct contributions from parishes ($1.1 million).

Bishop Richard described the move as a decisive step today to make a significant sacrifice for survivors of sexual abuse in our organisations. He added: Today is a great day for survivors of sexual abuse who have been damaged by the historic failures of the Anglican Church in Tasmania to care for children. Our Synod has taken an historic step in voting to adopt a course of action which will provide redress for survivors of sexual abuse. Our people have shown they are fully committed to providing restorative justice, recognition and support to survivors of sexual abuse.

He added: we have previously expressed our desire to opt in to the National Redress Scheme. We welcome the announcements that both the National Anglican Church of Australia and the Tasmanian State Government have decided to join the Scheme. These decisions provide us with the mechanism we needed to join.

Synods decision makes sure that we can participate fully in the National Redress Scheme and is a sacrificial commitment to providing justice to survivors of sexual abuse. Lives have been destroyed by past failures of people in leadership within our church. Today we stand united to do our best for those people.

With Jesus as our model of costly sacrifice, the Anglican Church in Tasmania has shown it is fully committed to redress, whatever the cost. Jesus Christ took on the punishment for the sins of the whole world, sins that he did not commit, so that he could provide restoration and forgiveness.

It seems to me the costly sacrifice that our church people are prepared to make is exactly at the heart of our faith.

The diocese has appointed a Probity Manager, Harvey Gibson, to independently review any submissions received about properties that should be excluded and to ensure that the processes undertaken by the Diocesan Council are fair and open to scrutiny, Bishop Richard said.
Posted on: June 4, 2018 3:18 PM

The President of Uganda, Yoweri Museveni, has pledged government funds to help re-build the Anglican Martyrs Shrine at Namugongo. His comments were made as a reported four million pilgrims descended on the area yesterday (Sunday 3 June) for Martyrs Day services. Reports indicate that an estimated 700,000 of them were at the service at the Anglican shrine. The museum at the Anglican site re-opened after refurbishment ahead of a visit by Pope Francis in 2015. There are now plans to improve the shrine itself.

We are going to build this place. We have done a lot at the museum and we will continue, he said, according to the Daily Monitor newspaper. Here, the place is slippery and people may fall. We have to build here as we did there [the Roman Catholic shrine] at your friends place.

He said that the Roman Catholic Church had a longer history of marking Martyrs Day; but that the Anglican Church had been waking up to the opportunities since it was made a public holiday. Some of you do not know that the majority of the Martyrs were Protestants, he said, according to The Tower Post. You used not to pay so much attention to this day but now you are awake. I congratulate you. We are going to develop this place like that of your brothers because I have noticed that the gradient here is too steep.

Archbishop Stanley Ntagali, Primate of the Anglican Church of Uganda, escorts President Yoweri Museveni at the Anglican Shrine in Namugongo yesterday (Sunday).

Photo: Anglican Church of Uganda, via Facebook

The Bishop of Basingstoke in the Church of Englands Diocese of Winchester, preached the sermon during the service. Bishop David Williams, who grew up in Uganda, said to them: On this day, 45 young men refused to renounce Jesus Christ. As pilgrims and visitors, are we ready to say the same that until the last breath we cannot renounce Jesus? We all came here because we need to rediscover the anchor of the Christian church.

In addition to President Museveni, dignitaries at the service included Prime Minister Ruhakana Rugunda, Speaker of Parliament Rebecca Kadaga, and opposition leader Dr Kizza Besigye.

The service yesterday was one of a number of events to commemorate the anniversary.

A soldier from the Uganda People's Defence Force has been arrested after four soldiers were shot at a camp a short distance from the Namugongo shrines. UPDF spokesman Brigadier Richard Karemire told the Daily Monitor that a corporal shot four of his colleagues and was arrested immediately. He said that the four injured soldiers had been taken to hospital and were out of danger.
The Royal Anguilla Police Force is investigating the circumstances surrounding a shooting incident which occurred in North Side at the junction of North Side Road and the True Eyes Road Sunday 3rd June, 2018 around 10:00pm.

As a result of the incident a 29 year old male who resided in Brimigen received a gunshot injury to his upper body which resulted in him being taken to the Princess Alexandra Hospital for medical attention where he was pronounced dead on arrival. The name of the decease will be provided in a subsequent release by the RAPF.

As the Police continues their investigation into this matter they are appealing to members of the public who may have been in North Side at the junction of North Side Road and the True Eyes Road, and may have witnessed this shooting incident or have any information regarding this shooting to contact the Valley Police Station with such information. The telephone number is 497-2333 and asks for the Criminal Investigation Department or to speak to any Police Officer of their choice.

Additionally information can be sent via the RAPF Tips Website by logging on to www.gov.ai/911 which is a secured website.

The Commissioner of Police and members of the Royal Anguilla Police Force would like to extend sympathy to the grieved family and friends of the deceased.

A Family Liaison Officer has been appointed to the family.
MIAMI (May 25, 2018)  Caribbean hoteliers are being advised to ensure European Union (EU) General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) compliance. During a recent webinar hosted by the Caribbean Hotel and Tourism Association (CHTA), Brian Kent, Chief Executive Officer and Co-Founder of Flip.to, explained that the GDPR imposes a strict set of requirements on how and why companies collect and use personal data. CHTA emphasizes that sound data privacy protection practices are essential for every business regardless of GDPR.

Companies now have to provide the right to individuals to know what data a company has about you, he disclosed. It also is requiring  that a company thats handling your data is doing it in a really secure way as well as being really good stewards of it. Kent said the regulation does not restrict companies from using data, but ensures that personal information is protected and that individuals have rights related to their personal information.

GDPR protects the privacy not only of EU citizens worldwide but also of anyone who is party to a transaction while in the EU. Failure to comply with the new regulation can result in financial penalties ranging from 10 million, or two percent of annual revenue, up to 20 million, or four percent of annual revenue.

Given the growing concerns about corporate security breaches and mishandling of personal information, many organizations are taking a new look at their existing policies for handling and protecting information in their client databases.

The hospitality industry is particularly vulnerable to data breaches, said Frank Comito, Director General and CEO of CHTA. From reservations and payment processing to rewards programs and guest services, hotels and other businesses have multiple touch points with customers during which customer data is exchanged, he explained.

We are taking the education of our members seriously regarding the new regulations on protecting personal data, said Comito. We are also actively encouraging them to become knowledgeable about the tools, systems and practices they can employ to protect data and be good stewards of personal information.

According to Kent, hoteliers may not be able to continue using their marketing databases if they are not GDPR compliant. He explained they must be able to deliver data to anyone who asks for his or her personal data. If they ask to remove themselves from your databases and your partners databases, you have to be able to go back to them and give them an answer saying yes, were doing that and a time frame of when thats going to happen.

In the long term, Kent said companies will need to shift their thinking and have more personal conversations that serve the needs of travelers. Thats also a really good thing because if youre doing that, its not just about getting into compliance with GDPR, its forcing you to become a better marketer. It also means youre building and nurturing relationships.

The new regulation, which came into effect on May 25, 2018, will be a hot topic at the upcoming Caribbean Hospitality Industry Exchange Forum (CHIEF), happening at the Hyatt Regency Miami from June 22 to 24, and will be tackled during one of the Professional Development Sessions at the conference.

CHTA believes that new practices offer an invaluable benefit to guests and the businesses themselves as it will allow them to continue to provide outstanding customer service, while also ensuring the security, privacy and safety of guests.
Samuel Umtiti and the Manchester United transfer delivered in code

News that France international centre-half Samuel Umtiti has agreed a new five-year contract with Barcelona should disappoint tabloid-reading Manchester United fans. Umtiti, who joined Lyon for 25m in 2016, will remain at the club until 2023.

But on March 4 2008, the Daily Star told readers: Lionel Messi furious at Barcelona as Samuel Umtiti agrees deal with Man Utd. The source for the Stars total balls was Spanish website Diario Gol. Of it, the Star says in a story published on March 4 and headlined Man Utd News: Messi chooses Umtiti replacement: Diario Gol often make sensational transfer claims. Many of them are repeated verbatim in the Star.

One month after Umtiti had agreed to join Man United in the Star, the Metro announced: Samuel Umtiti sends clear message to Manchester United during Barcelonas victory over Roma. This message was delivered not by email, rather by a gaol for Barcelona. The story has nothing to do what Manchester United. These are its lowlights:

Samuel Umtiti sent an emphatic message to Manchester United during Barcelonas comprehensive 4-1 victory over Roma in the first leg of their Champions League quarter-final Umtiti, who has been heavily linked with a 53million move to United in recent weeks, appeared to double Barcas lead in the 55th minute. However, replays showed it was another own goal from Roma.. Kostas Manolas got the final contact on the ball but this didnt stop Umtiti wheeling away to claim the goal by grabbing and pointing at Barcelonas crest on his chest. Sorry, United

Sorry United? Sorry, Metro readers, more like.

Over in the Sun, Umtiti was off:

Manchester United close in on Samuel Umtiti signing as Barcelona refuse to meet French internationals demands  March 26 SO LONG SAM  Barcelona already looking at replacement for Samuel Umtiti, with Manchester United closing in on French defender  March 29

Meanwhilein the real world:

Such are the facts.

Anorak

Posted: 4th, June 2018 | In: Back pages, manchester united, Sports, Tabloids Comment | TrackBack | Permalink
One Year After London Bridge and still no talk about Islam

A year ago Islamists murdered eight people in an attack at London Bridge. A year on and the BBC says the eight died. Yesterday at a remembrance service for the victims, their loved ones lit candles at the Southwark Cathedral service. In attendance was the Prime Minister, the mayor of London and members of the emergency services. The talk is of love, the hashtag #LondonUnited and placards declaring London more united than ever.

The murdered fought back. Londoners set about the three murderers with skateboards, chairs and beer bottles. Roy Larner heard the killers shouting This is for Allah! as they burst into the pub where he was drinking. Fuck you, Im Millwall!, he told the killers, a trio that one eyewitness referred to as the three Muslim geezers. Larner punched them. They stabbed him eight times. He lived. Romanian baker Florin Morariu hit one of the killers over the head with a crate. Ignacio Echeverria saw the killers stabbing at a woman. He hit them with his skateboard. The murdered him. Geoff Ho also went towards the violence. The bastard in the Arsenal shirt came at me first. I think I got a hit in on one of them, but either he or his accomplice got me with a shot to the throat, said Geoff, but either he or his accomplice got me with a shot to the throat.

When the religionists attacked, Londoners were not cowed. The names of these brave people who fought back should be all over the Press.

We should also be talking about why it happened. Can we talk about Islam and the killers humanity hating ideology? Only willing fools and bastards blame these murders on all Muslims. The discussion should be about violent Islamism. How can be confronted by more than pub glasses if it is not debated freely? Tackling the killers nihilism does not mean giving into hate. What happened was not normal, so lets not make it appear so by our passivity.

The threat is real and active. The Guardian looks at prisoner release dates and foresees a surge in the number of convicted terrorists being released from prison in 2018. How should these people be handled?

And how can further attacks be prevented? The Daily Telegraph says MI5 will share intelligence with head teachers. This will stop students becoming turned on to violent Islamism.

The people murdered in the attack were: Christine Archibald, 30 (from Canada), James McMullan, 32 (London), Alexandre Pigeard, 26 (France), Sebastien Belanger, 36 (France), Xavier Thomas, 45 (France), Kirsty Boden, 28 (Australia), Sara Zelenak 21 (Australia) and Ignacio Echeverria, 39 (Spain). Lets think about them  and how we can stop the poison that killed them.

Anorak

Posted: 4th, June 2018 | In: News Comment | TrackBack | Permalink
Dozens die in two migrant boat disasters in Med Off coasts of Turkey and Tunisia

(by Patrizio Nissirio) (ANSAmed) - Rome, June 4 - At least 57 migrants have died in two separate incidents in the Mediterranean amid heated political debate around migrants, arrivals and expulsions.



48 bodies were pulled out of the sea at dusk on Sunday off the Kerkennah islands in Tunisia, after naval units intervened to rescue a fishing boat allegedly carrying up to 180 migrants, including around 80 from other African countries.



In all 68 migrants were rescued in the operation, raising fears that the death toll could actually be much higher.



In a separate incident six children and three adults are known to have drowned in the Aegean after their motorboat sank off the Turkish coast close to where three-year-old Aylan Kurd lost his life in summer 2015, becoming the symbol of the global refugee crisis. Turkish news agency Anadolu reports that the boat ran into difficulties in Demre in an area popular with tourists. Five migrants were rescued and one person is still missing. The boat was probably heading to the small Greek island of Kastellorizo, opposite the Turkish coastal city of Kas. The identity and nationality of the migrants has not been made known. Meanwhile Spanish sea rescuers were busy rescuing 240 migrants who had set sail from north Africa on board 11 separate vessels. The rescuers reported one person drowned after saving 41 migrants from a sinking vessel. In 2015 nearly a million refugees mostly from Syria crossed the stretch of sea from Turkey to Greece in search of safety and a better life in Europe. Since then the number of arrivals along the so-called Balkan route has dropped significantly thanks largely to a controversial agreement with Turkey. However, there has been a reverse trend in recent months with critical situations registered particularly on the Greek island of Lesbos. According to UN estimates 660 migrants have died so far this year in the attempt to cross the Mediterranean, while a total of 22.439 people have arrived on European coasts. (ANSAmed)
RABAT - Catholic and Moroccan, but without rights. Kamal and Loubna, a young couple from Tetouan in the north of the country, have denounced their ordeal following their decision to convert from Islam. They say it is impossible to officialise their marriage because they have been refused a civil status certificate needed for a registry office marriage. "When you are a Christian, you lose all rights," says Loubna.

"You don't have the right to documents for you or your children, no passport, simply because you have chosen another religion." "Professing another faith in Morocco means becoming Mr No-one," adds Kamal. The couple married before Adam Ribati in a Catholic rite in Rabat, with activists from the Moroccan association for rights and religious freedoms as their witnesses. The couple have been asking for the documents needed to get married for six months," NGO chief Jawad El Hamidi said. "This is unacceptable in a country that calls itself democratic." El Hamidi shines the spotlight on the religious minorities in Morocco pending a new papal visit after the one made by John Paul II 30 years ago. "We suffer the lack of recognition and we have many cases testifying to violations and vexations in every city in Morocco.

Even booking a room for a party becomes an ordeal. We hope the Holy Father honours us with a visit, we have lots to tell him." Not even the Association itself has an easy time. "We are still waiting for official recognition, the prefecture in Rabat has accused us of 'attacking the State and Islam' and we are waiting for the verdict," El Hamidi said.
Dublin reform proposal disliked by at least 12 countries Such as Balkans and Austria, leaders summit may end current path

(ANSAmed) - LUXEMBOURG, JUNE 4 - At least a dozen countries are said to want to reject the draft Dublin regulation reform presented by the Bulgarian EU presidency, for different reasons.



The draft will be analyzed on Tuesday in Luxembourg by European interior ministers ahead of the leaders summit in late June. The four Visegrad countries and the Italy-led Mediterranean front (where there is, nevertheless, some willingness to negotiate shown by Greece, Cyprus and Malta, while it is still unknown what Spanish socialist Pedro Sanchez wants to do), as well as three Balkan nations have said that they are against it - the latter on the part concerning obligatory relocation of asylum seekers, diplomatic sources say. Also against the proposal is Austria, while the Netherlands has a great deal of questions on it and Slovenia is expected to change its position after the electoral victory of the anti-immigration Slovenian Democratic Party (SDS). Ready to work on the current draft is instead Germany and France, along with another group of countries including Luxembourg.



However, the support of Paris and Berlin might not be enough to move forward in the direction taken over the past two and a half years, with five EU six-month presidencies involved. Some sources say that the current path may be abandoned during the EU-28 leaders summit, to later start over with the Austrian presidency and a focus on securing external borders and deportations. (ANSAmed).




TEL AVIV - Israel intends to seek compensation from the Palestinian National Authority for the damage to agriculture and nature in the Negev desert caused by incendiary kites launched from Gaza. On Sunday the premier's office said Benyamin Netanyahu had given national security adviser Meir Ben Shabbat a mandate to put in place a mechanism whereby compensation is detracted from monthly customs tax reimbursements to the PNA. The immediate damage to crops has been estimated at several million Shekels (over 1 million euros), while the environmental damage has not yet been calculated. Israeli farmers must battle against an average of 10 deliberately started bushfires a day.

Overall 2,800 hectares of land have been burned along the 40-km border over the last few weeks.
Jordan prime minister facing the axe as protests continue Protests spread across country, no violent incidents reported

(ANSAmed) - AMMAN, 4 JUNE - Thousands of protesters gathered near the prime minister's office in west Amman overnight, demanding the government resignation with the crisis of recent amendment to the income tax law escalated out of control.



Several sources said that king Abdullah could sack prime minister Hani al Mulki government in the coming hours after protests spread across the kingdom for the fourth day in row.



Local media have reported that a meeting with king Abdullah is expected later with the troubled premier, amid talk of possible resignation of the premier.



Demonstrations were largely peaceful but the government mobilized a strong security force to prevent the situation from spinning out of control.



Protests were reported in northern city of Irbid, Ramtha, Jerash, and central region including Zarqa, Salt as well as the impoverished southern parts of the country.



The rallying cry of protestors has been about sacking the prime minister, dissolving the parliament and pulling out the controversial income tax law.



In west Amman, crown prince Hussein, son of King Abdullah arrived amid the protestors late in the evening in a surprise twist of events and spoke to security officers in order to avoid clashes with police, Petra news agency said.



A recent meeting between Mulki, MPs and labour leaders failed to put an end to the crisis, as the government said it will not withdraw the law due to its commitments to the IMF.



But a group of 80 MPs signed a petition vowing to reject the bill, which aims at broadening base of income tax and generate up to JD300 million a year in revenues. Jordan heavily depends on borrowing from creditors to maintain its economy going as well as donations from allies, but an increasing spending budget has seen the government unable to cover for its expenditure and is facing difficulty paying salaries of public servants, said Mulki during his meeting with MPs.



Jordan has no natural resources and depends on services sector to provide its economy with revenues, but the political turmoil has lead to big drop in performance of most sectors and put thousands out of work, while many companies were forced to shut down. (ANSAmed).




AMMAN - Prime minister Hani al Mulki resigned on Monday following a brief meeting with King Abdullah after protests spread across the kingdom demanding his axe in light of controversial IMF guided income tax law, official sources announced.

"The king has accepted the resignation of al Mulki and his team have already left the royal palace," an official source told ANSA. The King has asked economist and former minister Omar al Razaz to form a new government.

Meanwhile, police commander Fadel al Hmoud said at least 42 polcemen were injured during the protests around Jordan, claiming that many of the injuries come as a result of gunfire.

He noted that some protesters carried firearms and weapons, and that at least 60 people were arrested.

At least eight Arab nationals, including 6 Syrian nationals were arrested during the protests, he told reporters in a press conference earlier on Monday.

Jordanians have vented their anger at the prime minister for proposing the income tax law amendment as well as increasingly heavy taxation regime that saw Amman ranked as the most expensive city in the region.

Jordan king holds the constitutional powers to fire and hire governments at his wish. Protestors have vowed to continue demonstrations against the law, as long as it remains up for debate in the parliament. But the prime minister insisted during a recent meeting that the law is request from the IMF in order to allow Jordan receive more funding in order to pay for salaries of the public sector.

Recent figures showed that foreign debt stood at 96.5 percent of the GDP, while figures have shown the economy will remain struggling under current conditions.
Tunisia 'stunned' by Salvini on 'exporting convicts' Tells envoy of 'deep amazement'

(ANSAmed) - TUNIS, JUNE 4 - Tunisia on Monday said it was stunned by Interior Minister Matteo Salvini's remark that the North African country "often exports convicts". The Tunisian foreign ministry received the Italian ambassador and voiced its "deep amazement" to him, a statement said.



It said the remarks "do not reflect the cooperation between the two countries in the field of immigration management and indicate an incomplete knowledge of the various mechanisms of coordination existing between the Tunisian and Italian (secret) services to tackle this phenomenon".(ANSAmed).




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AJW Group, that has offices in Dubai, has appointed Andy Fleming to the position of Head of Quality.

In his new role at the world-leading specialist in the global management of aircraft spares, Fleming reports directly to Technical Director, Martyn Haines. Amongst Flemings responsibilities will be ensuring that AJWs Quality Management System continues to meet and exceed the very highest customer, statutory and regulatory requirements.

Christopher Whiteside, President and CEO of AJW Group, said: Quality is integral to AJWs DNA. We know that the only way to stay ahead in this highly competitive industry is to deliver exemplary customer service on time, every time. Flemings appointment to Head of Quality affirms our commitment to putting quality, innovation and efficiency at the heart of everything we do.

On his appointment, Andy Fleming said: I am delighted to be joining AJW as Head of Quality and am looking forward to bringing my experience to the maintenance and continuous improvement of AJWs quality management systems.
Latest News

Etihad Airways raises US$1.2 billion in first sustainability-linked loan Etihad Airways has raised US$1.2 billion in the first sustainability-linked loan (SLL) tied to environmental, social and governance (ESG) targets in global aviation.

Air Cargo needs cooperation, safety, sustainability and modernisation IATA has urged the air cargo industry to continue working together at the same pace, with the same levels of cooperation as during the COVID-19 pandemic to overcome future challenges and build industry resilience.

Joramco to exhibit at MRO Europe 2021 Joramco, the Amman based commercial aircraft maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) facility and engineering arm of Dubai Aerospace Enterprise (DAE), will be exhibiting at MRO Europe 2021, the premier annual European conference and

Survey reveals impact of pandemic on global aviation leaders More than 60% of the worlds aviation leaders believe the pandemic will discourage people from joining the aviation sector, according to the first worldwide survey of leaders in aviation since the Covid-19 crisis.

Inmarsat installs its 1,000th activation of Jet ConneX Inmarsat has celebrated the 1,000th installation and activation of its Jet ConneX inflight connectivity solution.
The French aerospace association, Gifas, has launched a Middle East branch (MEFAN), which is now entering its operational phase. Vincent Chappard reports.

Setting up MEFAN in Abu Dhabi follows the success of Gifas first two international branches in North America and South East Asia.

MEFAN brings together French companies that are established in the Middle East and are members of the French aeronautics and space industries group.

Gifas has more than 391 members, from major prime contractors and system suppliers to small specialist companies. They cover the full spectrum of skills, from the design, development and production of aerospace systems to marketing, maintenance and operation.

Gifas members are active in all sectors of the aerospace industry, including civil and military aircraft, helicopters, engines, missiles and weapons, satellites and launch systems, UAV, large aerospace, defence and security systems, equipment, subassemblies and associated software applications.

Dassault Aviation CEO, Eric Trappier, has been Gifas chairman since June 2017.

Mikail Houari, Airbus president for Africa and the Middle East, who oversees MEFAN, said: Our new move is a direct result of the authorities strategic desire to prepare for the post-oil era. We are pleased to support the strong dynamism of the region in the aerospace sector.

Two major UAE programmes  the Dubai tourism vision 2020, which aims to reach 20 million visitors a year by the 2020 World Expo, and the Abu Dhabi 2030 plan  drive this decision toward diversification and sustainability.

GIFAS wants to support the local industrial development policy, helping its member companies who wish to grow in the Middle East.

MEFAN has three missions: to connect up French aeronautics companies interested in the region; to inform interested parties by making documentation available on the zone; and to assist members in their development.

Today, MEFAN has nearly 30 members based in the UAE, with major global players including Airbus, Thales, Dassault, Safran, and MBDA, and many small and medium enterprises (SMEs) whose know-how constitutes a strong added value for their local partners.

Our network remains relatively young and building a partnership takes time, said Houari. We are working to bring our industries closer together.

To achieve this, MEFAN relies on the various specialised events and shows in the region, including the likes of IDEX, the Dubai Air Show, the Bahrain International Defense Conference, and the Kuwait Aviation Show, where it organises networking activities.

GIFAS had a strong presence during the last Dubai Air Show at the French pavilion, which Houari described as an important milestone.

By bringing industry closer to the local aerospace market, Gifas wants to contribute to the construction and development of a competitive and state-of-the-art regional aviation industry, underlined Houari.

Gifas is determined to provide a global and coordinated answer to the UAEs ambition of transforming its aerospace industry into the cornerstone of its economic and scientific development.


The International Air Transport Association (IATA) called for governments to facilitate the growth of global connectivity by avoiding creeping re-regulation, maintaining the integrity of global standards, and addressing a capacity crisis.

The call came in the IATA Director Generals Report on the Air Transport Industry at the 74th IATA Annual General Meeting (AGM) and World Air Transport Summit.

On aviations core mission to deliver safe, secure, accessible and sustainable connectivity, the state of our industry is strong and getting stronger. And with normal levels of profitability we are spreading aviations benefits even more widely. But there are challenges. Smarter regulation needs to counter the trend of creeping re-regulation. Global standards must be maintained by the states that agreed them. And we need to find efficient solutions to the looming capacity crisis, said Alexandre de Juniac, IATAs Director General and CEO.

Re-Regulation

The deregulation of the air transport industry that began in 1978 in the US ignited global changes that enabled the spread of air transports benefits. Competition saw the price of air connectivity fall making air transport much more accessible. In 1978 the average person flew once every 6.6 years. Today the average is closer to once in two years.

A creeping trend of re-regulation, however, puts the gains of deregulation at risk. Citing regulatory actions from around the world, de Juniac noted that regulatory over-reach now includes attempts to prescriptively regulate passenger compensation, seat assignments, the ticket options that can be offered to consumers and prices charged for various ancillary services.

Regulations must add value. In assessing that, regulators must recognize the power of competition and social media to safeguard consumer interests. Governments should not distort market effectiveness with regulations that second-guess what consumers really want, said de Juniac.

This is the spirit of IATAs smarter regulation campaign which asks governments to align with global standards, take into account industry input and analyse the costs of regulation against the benefits. De Juniac noted that one of the most exciting current regulatory developments is the sweeping review of US commercial regulations with the aim of keeping only those where the benefits outweigh the costs to both travelers and the industry.

Global Standards

De Juniac called for a vigorous defense of global standards that have guided the safe and efficient development of aviation. We must take governments to task. It is unacceptable that global standards are being ignored by the very governments that created them, said de Juniac.

De Juniac noted several examples:

India taxes international tickets in contravention of ICAO resolutions

States are planning new environment taxes even as the ICAO-brokered Carbon Offsetting and Reduction Scheme for International Aviation (CORSIA) is about to commence as the global market-based measure for managing emissions

Nearly two decades after the Montreal Convention 1999 was agreed it is not universally ratified. Its important modernizations apply in only 130 states

There is not 100% compliance with Chicago Convention Annex 13 requirements for complete accident investigations. Of the approximately 1,000 accidents over the last decade only about 300 accident investigations have been concluded with published reports

Infrastructure

IATA urged governments to find sustainable solutions to ensure the infrastructure needed to meet growing demand for connectivity.

We are in a capacity crisis. And we dont see the required airport infrastructure investment to solve it. Governments struggle to build quickly. But with cash-strapped finances, many are looking to the private sector for solutions.We need more airport capacity. But be cautious. Expecting privatisation to be the magic solution is a wrong assumption, said de Juniac.

The privatisation of airport infrastructure has not lived up to airline expectations. As customers of many airports in private hands, airlines have far too many bitter experiences. Travelers also sense the problem. According to Skytrax, five of the top six traveler-preferred airports are public. Motivated by our members frustration, we did our own performance benchmarking. Privatized airports are definitely more expensive. But there is little difference in efficiency or investment levels compared to airports in public hands, said de Juniac.

The results of airport privatisations run counter to the results of airline privatization which saw the cost of travel drop dramatically. Airlines do not accept that privatizing airports must lead to higher costs. And neither should consumers or voters. How can making the transport infrastructure more expensivewhich means less competitivebe a legitimate public policy objective? said de Juniac.

While IATA research did not reveal a one-size-fits-all solution to ensure sufficient, fit-for-purpose and affordable airport infrastructure, it did point towards positive experiences for consumers and airlines with variations of corporatisation.
Rolls-Royce is celebrating after the first member of the Trent family to enter service, the Trent 700, has completed its 50 millionth flying hours.

This achievement, equivalent to flying around the world more than one million times, occurred while around 380 Trent 700 powered Airbus A330 aircraft were in flight around the world.



A team of colleagues watched the clock tick over, drawing on data delivered by Rolls-Royces Airline Aircraft Availability Centre in Derby, UK, where engineers use pioneering data analytics to monitor the health of Rolls-Royce engines across the world, 24 hours a day.



This milestone, which underlines the popularity and dependability of the Trent 700 engine, comes as Rolls-Royce uses the experience gained from developing and operating the engine to prepare for the entry into service of the Trent 7000, the exclusive powerplant for the A330neo, later this year.



The Trent 7000, the seventh member of the Trent family, brings together experience from the Trent 700, architecture from the Trent 1000 TEN  the latest version of the Trent 1000 engine  and the latest technology from the Trent XWB, the worlds most efficient large civil engine.



The 68-72,000lb thrust Trent 7000 will deliver a step change in performance and economics compared to the Trent 700. Benefitting from a bypass ratio double that of its predecessor, the Trent 7000 will improve specific fuel consumption by ten per cent, and will significantly reduce noise.

The Trent 700 was the first member of the Trent engine family and has played a significant role in transforming Rolls-Royce into a truly global company. With 1,600 of the engines in service today, representing 36 per cent of Rolls-Royces installed widebody fleet, the Trent 700 has been Rolls- Royces best-selling engine, helping to increase its widebody market share from 13% in 1995  when the engine was first introduced  to more than 50% by the early 2020s.



The Trent 700 continues to make waves as it prepares to power the first flight of the Beluga XL, Airbus next-generation super transporter aircraft, later this year.

Dominic Horwood, Rolls-Royce, Director, Customers and Services  Civil Aerospace, said: The Trent 700 is an iconic engine. As the first of the Trent engines it set an extraordinary precedent that helped redefine Rolls-Royces role in the civil aerospace sector and we are thrilled to celebrate this milestone.

As we prepare for the entry into service of its successor, the Trent 7000, this is also a great reminder of the strong foundations on which that engine has been built.
A UAE Space Agency delegation has taken part in Space Ops 2018, a prestigious international forum for discussing advanced and technical areas of space exploration hosted by the French Centre National dEtudes Spatiales (CNES) at the Palais du Pharo in Marseille.

SpaceOps took place between May 28 and June 1, and was opened with a series of welcome messages and highlight talks by international dignitaries, including: H.E. Dr Mohammed Al Ahbabi, Director General of the UAE Space Agency; Jean-Yves Le Gall, President of CNES;Jean-Luc Beuzit, Senior Research Officer at the Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique and Director of the Laboratoire dAstrophysique de Marseille; and William H. Gerstenmaier, Associate Administrator for the Human Exploration and Operations Directorate at NASA.

Leading the UAEs delegation is H.E. Dr Mohammed Al Ahbabi, Director General of the UAE Space Agency, who delivered a speech on the UAEs ongoing projects, including the Mars Hope Probe, Mars Scientific City, the UAE Astronaut Program and the Space Agencys ambitious long-term mission and vision.

During his speech, H.E. Dr Al Ahbabi said: From communications to financial operations, agriculture to accurate weather forecasting, remote sensing to navigation  outer space and its applications are playing an increasing role in the activities of all nations and their peoples daily lives. For this reason and many others, our commitment to the sector extends back decades, well before the establishment of our Space Agency. For example, the UAE was an early and active member in the development and application of a number of regional and international satellite and radio-communication regulatory frameworks.

H.E. Al Ahbabi went on to discuss the importance of the UAEs mission to Mars, saying: Scheduled to launch in 2020, the Mars Hope Probe will be the Arab worlds first interplanetary spacecraft to be developed. Once the Probe reaches the Red Planet and discovers more about its atmosphere, we will be sharing this information with more than 200 scientific institutions and research centers for analysis. By studying the atmosphere of Mars, we will learn why it became dry and learn how to protect our planet from the same happening.

SpaceOps 2018 provides an opportunity to promote the exchange of technical and administrative information on various aspects of space operations, such as mission design and management, human systems and operations, ground systems and other key elements of peaceful space exploration and utilisation.
US crude production climbed to 10.47mbpd in March.

Opec ministers from Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Kuwait and Algeria along with their counterpart from non-Opec Oman met unofficially in Kuwait on Saturday.

London: Oil prices fell on Monday as US production hit a record high and as Opec members considered boosting supply.

Benchmark Brent crude oil lost $1.26 a barrel, or 1.6 per cent, to hit a low of $75.53 before recovering a little to $75.69, down $1.10, by 1035 GMT.

US light crude was 40 cents lower at 65.41 a barrel. The US contract lost around 3 per cent last week, after a near 5-per-cent decline the week before.

We are going into summer, the high demand season, and I think we are going to see a fall in US crude oil inventories, but shale oil output is growing, said Tony Nunan, risk manager at Mitsubishi Corp.

US crude production climbed in March to 10.47 million barrels per day (bpd), a monthly record, data from the Energy Information Administration showed last week.

US drillers added two oil rigs in the week to June 1, bringing the total to 861, the most since March 2015, energy services firm Baker Hughes said on Friday. That was the eighth time drillers have added rigs in the past nine weeks.

Arab oil ministers agreed over the weekend on the need for continued cooperation between members of the Opec and other big producers to balance global supply, Kuwaits state news agency KUNA reported on Sunday.

Opec ministers from Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Kuwait and Algeria along with their counterpart from non-Opec Oman met unofficially in Kuwait on Saturday.

Opec meets formally on June 22 to set oil policy. It is expected to agree to raise output to cool the market amid worries over Iranian and Venezuelan supply and after Washington raised concerns the oil rally was going too far, Opec sources familiar with the discussions told Reuters last month.

Saudi Arabia, effective Opec leader, and Russia have discussed boosting output to compensate for supply losses from Venezuela and to address concerns about the impact of US sanctions on Iranian output.
The actress, who will be making her South debut with the Rajinikanth-starrer, opens up on her role and experience.

Mumbai: Feeling intimidated while working with Rajinikanth in Kaala was obvious for Huma Qureshi, but the actor was surprised by the megastar's down-to-earth nature.

Huma will be seen working with the 67-year-old actor for the first time in Pa Ranjith's upcoming film, which features Rajinikanth as a powerful don living in the slums of Dharavi.

"What I found out about Rajini sir is that he is such a spiritual person, he is so simple. Sometimes, you think the person's image is what he is, but he is far from it. He talks fondly about his past, his journey of becoming an actor from a bus conductor.

"It's nice to know that a person, who has seen massive stardom, is still humble and knows where he comes from," the actor told PTI.

Huma said that despite being one of the most successful stars of India, Rajinikanth does not bring his stardom on the sets.

"I was very intimidated, even before we started working I was aware that he is such a massive star, and I didn't know what to expect. But once we started shooting, I realised what a simple person he is despite being a huge star.

"The director's word is final for him, and I learnt so much by just observing him. Not even for a moment did he carry his stardom on sets," she says.

For her, the journey of Kaala began post the release of her 2017 film Jolly LLB 2 when she got a call from actor Dhanush, Rajinikanth's son-in-law who produced the film.

Huma then flew to Chennai for the narration and fell in love with the story.

Talking abut her experience of working with the film's director, Huma says, "I think Ranjit sir as a director has a strong political voice which comes across in the film, which I personally enjoyed. I like working with people who have some belief. It doesn't have to be my belief but it feels good to be a part of something which is different from the usual stuff happening around."

In a classic Rajinikanth film, there is often little scope for a female character to perform but Huma says Kaala is different.

"It is a quintessential Rajinikanth film but at the same time, it is not a film where women are seen in just accessory roles, where you are just singing and dancing and looking pretty."

"They are doing a lot more from a performance point of view. When you see the film, I promise you won't be disappointed," she adds.

Though the 31-year-old actor is tight-lipped about her role in the action-drama, Huma insists it was a challenging feat.

"I never thought I would be able to pull off a character like this had it not been for the support of the entire direction team as I was speaking a language I don't know - Tamil.

"The first three-four days were difficult. You struggle with your lines and try to find a rhythm. For every film, you take four-five days to understand the vision. But credit to the team, I felt at home. It was fun and an amazing learning experience."

Kaala, which also features veteran actor Nana Patekar, is scheduled to release on June 7.
Incidentally, this tradition of allegation and counter-allegation of which party is anti-women is not new.

New Delhi: As the Modi government stepped up its women empowerment campaigns  beti bachao, beti padhao and lets empower women among others, the Congress unleashed a social media campaign on Facebook and Twitter  #Misogynistic Modi and How BJP disrespects women. It may be recalled that during the election campaigns in Karnataka, Prime Minister Narendra Modi had launched a direct attack on the Congress calling the party anti women for blocking the triple talaq Bill. In Congress social media campaign, the video opens with the words  Misogynistic Modi or M-for misogyny. It starts with the Prime Minister addressing a group of housewives and saying: Patidev jab chai mangte honge to turant chai de deti hogi toh ghar mein jhagde bhi kam hote honge (since you all serve tea the moment your husbands ask for it, there are probably fewer arguments at home). The video then cuts to the Prime Minister comparing Congress Rajya Sabha MP Renuka Chowdhurys loud laughter to something he last heard on TV while watching Ramayana in an obvious, but veiled reference to demoness Surpanakha. The Congress video then takes one back to a 2012 public rally at Himachal Pradesh where Mr Modi while referring to Sunanda Pushkar asks the crowd  Wah kya girlfriend hai. Apne kabhi dekha hai 50 crore ki girlfriend? (What a girlfriend. Have you ever seen a 50-crore-girl friend?), he told the crowd referring to Tharoor who was inducted into the government as minister of state for HRD. Mr Modi, who was then the Gujarat chief minister was referring to the allegations of Shashi Tharoor actively negotiating the sweat equity for Pushkar in the Kochi IPL team in 2010. Then, of course, the video shows clips of English dailies where he allegedly described the then Congress president, Mrs Sonia Gandhi as a jersey cow and her son, Rahul Gandhi as her hybrid bachhra.

Alleging that Misogyny runs deep in the BJP & RSS, the Facebook post goes on to show finance minister Arun Jaitley, RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat and others making sexists remarks. The RSS chief is shown saying  Marriage is a contract. A womans role is to take care of the house. A mans role is to take care of her needs. The video ends with the question  How can women of India hope for equality under the leadership of misogynists?

Incidentally, this tradition of allegation and counter-allegation of which party is anti-women is not new. A few months ago, Rahul Gandhi had said, You know who the parent organisation of the BJP is? It is the RSS. It is their idea that as long as women remain silent, they are good. The moment a woman opens her mouth, they want to shut her up. To this Union ministers Sushma Swaraj and Smriti Irani had promptly lashed out at him. Ms Swaraj had said, Rivals call BJP anti-women party but it gave four women CMs and four women governors (sic). There are six women Cabinet ministers. Ms Irani had said that the women of Gujarat and the nation would not forgive the Congress leaders perverse mentality. She had said, His (Rahuls) mentality is such. The RSS works for the development of the nation by keeping everyone together. Is this our cultureShould we support a person who insults women?
Last year, New Zealand became the first Western country to sign a cooperation agreement with China on the Belt and Road policy.

'Five Eyes' is an exclusive club of spy rings from Australia, New Zealand, Canada, UK and US that collaborate to intercept information for diplomatic, security, military and economic needs.

New Delhi: The shadowy US-led Five Eyes worldwide spy alliance may be developing cracks and currently runs the risk of a collapse due to increasing concerns regarding the growing Chinese influence on New Zealand, which is one of its members. Incidentally, New Zealands Government Communications Security Bureau (GCSB) was entrusted with the task of spying on India and then passing on the information to the United States National Security Agency (NSA).

Five Eyes is an exclusive club of spy rings from five countries  Australia, New Zealand, Canada, United Kingdom and the United States of America  that collaborate to intercept information from other countries to be used for diplomatic, security, military and economic benefits.

Voicing concern on the influence China has started enjoying in New Zealand because of increasing economic ties, a very recent report prepared by experts in a workshop organised by the Canadian Security Intelligence Service (CSIS) said: New Zealand governments have also encouraged China to be active in New Zealands region, from the South Pacific to Antarctica: initially as a balance to Soviet influence, as an aid donor and scientific partner, and since 2014 as part of the diversification of New Zealands military links away from Five Eyes partnerships.

Last year, New Zealand became the first Western country to sign a cooperation agreement with China on the Belt and Road policy. The report adds: New Zealand is valuable to China, as well as to other states such as Russia, as a soft underbelly through which to access Five Eyes intelligence.

During a Congressional hearing of the US-China Economic and Security Review Commission on April 5, Peter Mattis, a leading China expert in the US, who had also served as an international affairs analyst for the US government, testified:

...at some level the Five Eyes or the Four Eyes need to have a discussion about whether or not New Zealand can remain given this problem with the political core.... He also later said, Extricating New Zealand from these military groupings and away from its traditional partners would be a major coup for the Xi governments strategic goal of turning China into a global great power.

An NSA (of US) document marked top secret and dated April 2013, says that as part of a joint effort, GCSB provides diplomatic communication to NSA on India, Pakistan, China, Japan, Vietnam, etc. In return, NSA provides raw traffic, processing, and reporting on targets of mutual interest, in addition to technical advice and equipment loans, the document said.

Publicly admitting its spying role in its 2013 annual report, GCSB explained that the alliance helps compensate for our small size and lack of global reach, and enables New Zealand to be a better informed player on the world stage than would otherwise be the case.

The spying effort is conducted by using satellite and telephone communications interceptors, hooking into target countries internal communications systems by installing listening posts in diplomatic buildings and interpreting information obtained by member agencies. Other methods included bugging computers and smartphones after infecting them with highly sophisticated malware.
Besides Ankit Saxena's friends, Dr Kafeel Khan, who was charged with infant deaths in UP in 2017, helped attendees at Iftaar meet.

New Delhi: Barely four months after losing his 23-year-old son Ankit Saxena who was stabbed by the family of his Muslim girlfriend in west Delhis Raghubir Nagar, his father organized an Iftaar gathering to send out a message of love and peace.

Yashpal Saxena, father of Ankit, organised the iftaar gathering for about 200 people.

When Ankit was stabbed in a busy west Delhi street and attempts were made to communalise his death, Yashpal Saxena's appealed to all to not to make any "inflammatory statements".

"Yes, those who killed my son were Muslim...but every Muslim can't be branded for this. Don't use me to spread communal tension, don't drag me into it...I appeal to everyone not to link this to religion and vitiate the atmosphere," Yashpal Saxena was reported as saying.

Four people were arrested after the young photographer was attacked and stabbed by his girlfriend's parents, uncle and 14-year-old brother on a road leading to his home as they objected to their relationship. The charge-sheet has been filed and the hearing will take place in July.

Besides Ankit's friends who helped Yashpal Saxena make all arrangements, Dr Kafeel Khan, who was charged with the death of infants at a state-run hospital in Gorakhpur in 2017 and recently walked out of jail, was among the attendees on Sunday.
Karnataka CM H D Kumaraswamy said the two states of Tamil and Karnataka must resolve the issue through dialogue.

Bengaluru: Actor-politician Kamal Haasan on Monday met Karnataka Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy to discuss the contentious Cauvery water sharing issue.

Expressing contentment over the meeting, Kamal Haasan said, "I see hope in the conversation with Kumaraswamy, the way forward will be found by people sharing similar mindsets.

Addressing a joint press conference after the hour-long meeting, Kumaraswamy said the two states of Tamil and Karnataka must resolve the issue through dialogue, a report in The Indian Express said.

The issue of Cauvery water sharing is one of the key points of conflict between Tamil Nadu and its neighbour Karnataka.

Last month, actor-politician Rajinikanth asked the new government in Karnataka to release to Tamil Nadu its share of Cauvery river water as mandated by the Supreme Court.

However, responding to the superstars remark, Kumaraswamy said, I request Rajinikanth, please come and see the situation in our dams, what has happened to our farmers. After seeing that, if you (Rajinikanth) still want water, let's discuss."
Talking to media in Kolkata, Javadekar said alongside studies, a child needs physical education, life skills and value-based education.

Javadekar said,'The government has decided to reduce the NCERT syllabus by half as it is 'cramped.' (Photo: PTI)

Kolkata: The Union Human Resource Development (HRD) Ministry has decided to reduce the NCERT syllabus by half as it is 'cramped', said HRD Minister Prakash Javadekar on Saturday.

He said, "The government has decided to reduce the NCERT syllabus by half as it is "cramped."

Talking to media in Kolkata, Javadekar said alongside studies, a child needs physical education, life skills and value-based education.

Reportedly, the minister said that the draft of a new National Education Policy will be tabled before the Union Cabinet by the end of this month.
The JD(U) core committee met in Patna on Sunday ahead of a meeting of the NDA scheduled later this week.

JD(U) general secretary Pavan Varma said, Kumar is the face of the NDA in Bihar and that is why he is the chief minister. (Photo: File/PTI)

Patna: The Janata Dal (United) core committee met in Patna on Sunday ahead of a meeting of the National Democratic Alliance scheduled later this week, after which a senior party leader said Chief Minister Nitish Kumar is the face of the NDA in Bihar.

Kumar, also the JD(U) national president, held the core committee meeting at his residence.

JD(U) national general secretaries K C Tyagi and Pavan Varma, who arrived from New Delhi, poll strategist Prashant Kishor and a few other state leaders took part in the meeting.

The meeting assumes significance as the BJP-led NDA, which the JD(U) joined in August last year, is scheduled to hold a meeting in Bihar on June 7.

During the NDA meeting, to be attended by Kumar, the coalition partners are likely to discuss their strategy in the state for the next Lok Sabha polls.

Emerging out of the chief minister's residence after the meeting, Varma told reporters, Kumar is the face of the NDA in Bihar and that is why he is the chief minister. JD(U) is the largest constituent of the coalition".

Varma's remark assumes significance amidst speculation in political circles in Bihar that the JD(U), which has only two Lok Sabha members, might press for a seat-sharing arrangement commensurate with its strength in the Bihar assembly where it has about 70 MLAs against nearly 50 of the BJP.

Besides the JD(U) and the BJP, the NDA in Bihar comprises Ram Vilas Paswan's Lok Janshakti Party and Upendra Kushwaha's Rashtriya Lok Samata Party.

The BJP had bagged 22 out of the 40 Lok Sabha seats in the state in 2014, when the JD(U) had fought separately.

However, in the wake of the poor show by the BJP in a number of bypolls recently, its allies have started voicing the need for better coordination within the NDA instead of a "big brotherly attitude" displayed by the senior coalition partner.

Asked about Kumar's renewed demand for special status to Bihar, Varma said, "The party had never given up the demand. To fight for this legitimate right of the state is the JD(U)'s commitment".

He, however, declined to divulge the details of the consultations held with Kumar.
'We highly appreciate such kind of positive remarks,' Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson Hua Chunying said.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi had said the two Asian neighbours have shown 'maturity and wisdom' in managing issues and ensuring a peaceful border, adding cooperation between the world's two most populous countries was expanding. (Photo: Twitter/@MEAIndia)

Beijing/New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi's positive remarks in his keynote address at the Shangri-La Dialogue last week that Asia and the world will have a better future if India and China worked together with trust, has received praise from the communist nation.

The Shangri-La Dialogue in Singapore is Asia's top conference on defence and strategic affairs.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi had said the two Asian neighbours have shown "maturity and wisdom" in managing issues and ensuring a peaceful border, adding cooperation between the world's two most populous countries was expanding.

Indian and Chinese troops were locked in a tense 73-days standoff last year when Indian troops entered the Doklam plateau to stop the Chinese military from constructing a new road, which New Delhi viewed as a serious security concern because of the access it provides to Beijing.

Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson Hua Chunying said she welcomed PM Modi's comments. "We have noted the positive remarks made by Prime Minister Modi on China-India relations. We highly appreciate such kind of positive remarks," Hua said.

In April, Prime Minister Narendra Modi went to China where he held an informal summit with Chinese President Xi Jinping. Even then too, in his remarks at the delegation-level talks, PM Modi had emphasised the global leadership role the "two major powers" India and China could play.

"In the last 1600 years, the economies of India and China have contributed about 50 per cent of the global economy," PM Modi had said.

Hua said that the two leaders indeed had "in-depth exchange of views on the international landscape and bilateral relations and reached many consensus."

India and China have been treading cautiously on expanding their influence in Asia and beyond without bumping into each another. The China-Pakistan Economic Corridor or CPEC, however, passes through parts of Pakistan-occupied Kashmir.

The 50 billion dollar corridor that connects Kashgar in western China with Gwadar port in Pakistan, spanning 3,000 kilometres, is one of the pain points in ties between India and China. India has protested against China's CPEC push from the very beginning.
On the Indian side about 35 villages have been affected in fresh firing and shelling, the report said.

On May 29, the DGMOs of the two countries had agreed to fully implement the ceasefire pact of 2003 in letter and spirit forthwith to stop border skirmishes along their borders in J&K. Representational Image)

Srinagar: Less than a week after the Director Generals of Military Operations (DGMOs) of India and Pakistan agreed to implement the ceasefire pact of 2003 in letter and spirit, active hostilities again broke out between the border guards of two countries early Sunday.

Two Border Security Force (BSF) jawans were killed and seven civilian injured in ceasefire violation of Pakistani border guards in Pargwal sector of Akhnoor area of Jammu and Kashmir, the officials in Jammu said. Firing and shelling by Pakistani border guards was reported also from neighbouring Kanhachak area.

They said that the Pakistans Punjab Rangers resorted to unprovoked and indiscriminate firing along the International Border (IB)  called Working Boundary (WB) by Islamabad- at around 2 am on Sunday. They targeted a BSF Border Outpost (BoPs) and civilian areas in Pargwal sector of the IB at 2 am, the officials said.

The BSF said that its assistance sub-inspector S.N.Yadav and constable V.K. Pandey were injured in the Pakistani firing. They were rushed to a nearby medical facility but succumbed soon, a spokesman o the paramilitary force said in Jammu, the winter capital of Jammu and Kashmir. The spokesman added that the BSF retaliated to Pakistani firing effectively and strongly.

BSFs Inspector General (Jammu Frontier) Ram Awtar while commenting on the latest ceasefire violation said that Pakistan has yet again proved that it cannot be trusted upon. As you all know Pakistan never keeps its words. It is not reliable and trustworthy as after DGMOs talks agreeing for ceasefire they have resorted to unprovoked and indiscriminate firing both at our BoPs and civilian areas in Pargwal and Kanhachak areas , he told reporter in Jammu at the sidelines of wreath laying ceremony of the two slain jawans.

It was not a sniping, but ceasefire violation, in which two of our jawans sustained injuries and later attained martyrdom. We have given a strong and befitting reply, but so far the damage across the border could not be ascertained, he said. He added, We did not target the civilian areas across the border, but only retaliated to cross border firing. Replying questions, he said there were no fresh inputs of attempt of infiltration amid ceasefire violation by Pakistani border guards. A report from Jammu said that the exchanges of small and medium weapons and mortar guns involving as many as ten BSF BoPs are going on since Sunday morning.

On the Indian side about 35 villages have been affected in fresh firing and shelling, the report said.

It is not yet known if there have been any casualties on the Pakistani side too. Islamabad has not reacted to the Indian charge, so far.

On May 29, the DGMOs of the two countries had agreed to fully implement the ceasefire pact of 2003 in letter and spirit forthwith to stop border skirmishes along their borders in J&K. After weeks of flare up, the two military commanders had reviewed the situation along the Line of Control (LoC) and the IB during a conversation over the special hotline.

The hotline contact was initiated by the Pakistani DGMO. Following the conversation between Indias DGMO Lieutenant General Anil Chauhan and his Pakistani counterpart Major General Sahir Shamshad Mirza, the two armies issued identical statements saying both sides agreed to implement the ceasefire understanding reached between them in November 2003.

After the announcement and guns falling silent, the jubilant border dwellers in Jammu region, both on the IB and the LoC, had started returning to their homes which had been abandoned by them amid intense clashes between the facing troops in May. On the Pakistani side too, the hope that they would be allowed to live normal life again had rekindled among border residents.

According to the Indian officials, the Pakistani firing and shelling which had continued for nine days in May in Arnia, RS Pura, Ramgarh, Samba and Hiranagar sectors of the IB had claimed the lives of two BSF men and ten civilians whereas scores others were wounded. With these deaths, they had said, the toll in Pakistani firing during ceasefire violations along the IB and the LoC in the State had risen to 46 including 20 Army and BSF personnel.

The Pakistan authorities had accused the Indian Army and BSF of violating ceasefire agreement 1,050 times in 2018 alone, resulting into the death of 28 civilians and injuries to 117 others.

The decision to observe the ceasefire agreement and stop cross-border firing was widely welcomed within India and Pakistan and also by some other countries including the US and China.

Beijing had while commending the two countries for it expressed hope that the two neighbours will properly resolve their differences. We commend the positive actions taken by both sides, Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson Hua Chunying had told media briefing in Beijing on May 31. She had in response to a question said, We hope that both sides could properly resolve their disputes through dialogue and consultation and maintain regional peace and stability.

A day later (June 1) the US also welcomed the decision and said that normalization of relations between the two South Asian neighbours is imperative for peace in the region. State department spokesperson Heather Nauert had said in a statement on Thursday The US welcomes reports that the militaries of India and Pakistan have reaffirmed their commitment to fully implement the 2003 ceasefire along the Line of Control (LoC). She had added, The normalisation of relations between Pakistan and India is vital to both countries and the region.

Meanwhile, Jammu and Kashmir chief minister, Mehbooba Mufti, has appealed India and Pakistan armies and border guards to hold dialogue again to stop firing at borders as people on both sides are dying.

Ms Mufti who was among the first who has welcomed the two countries DGMOs decision said that the latest ceasefire violation is unfortunate. Its unfortunate that this has happened even after DGMOs held dialogue. People on both sides of the border are dying. The DGMOs should hold dialogue again. This bloodshed must be brought to an end.
Citing a proverb, Yadav said, 'With empty stomach, people have now understood that the BJP does not mean business.'

Yadav claimed that the people of not only Uttar Pradesh, but of the entire country were upset with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) as other than making promises it 'did nothing else'. (Photo: PTI | File)

Lucknow: Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav on Monday asked if Prime Minister Narendra Modis recent visit to Indonesia and Malaysia during the month of Ramzan was an attempt towards international appeasement of the minority community.

During an interview with PTI, he claimed that the people of not only Uttar Pradesh, but of the entire country were upset with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) as other than making promises it did nothing else.

Citing a proverb, Yadav said, With empty stomach, people have now understood that the BJP does not mean business.

Asking the BJP to restrain its leaders from making absurd comments, he said, The BJP should learn to face defeats or else they will be not be able to digest the outcome of the 2019 Lok Sabha elections in which the Opposition will stage a comeback.

Slamming the BJP for accusing his party of practising minority appeasement, the Samajwadi Party chief said, Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath says he does not celebrate Eid as he is a Hindu. The BJP charges us with practising Muslim appeasement. Modi has just visited Indonesia and Malaysia during the month of Ramzan. Is it an attempt towards international appeasement of the Muslims?

Adityanath had reportedly said that he is a Hindu and does not celebrate Eid, drawing sharp criticism from the Opposition.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi was for the first time on an official visit to Indonesia - the worlds most populous Muslim-majority nation - last month. He has visited Singapore twice and Malaysia once in 2015.

Modi also visited Indonesias grand Istiqlal Mosque, the largest in southeast Asia, with President Joko Widodo.

Indonesia is not only the worlds most populous Muslim country, followed by India, but the third largest democracy. Hindus comprise 2 per cent of Indonesias population and form close to a 90 per cent majority on the island of Bali.
The Congress, the third constituent of the erstwhile Grand Alliance, is, however, quiet on aligning with the JD(U) again.

New Delhi: Signifying new political alignments at work, Union minster Ram Vilas Paswan, whose Lok Janashakti Party is an NDA constituent, met BJP chief Amit Shah on Sunday and put forward a request for special status for Bihar, a demand made by chief minister Nitish Kumar just a couple of days ago.

The duo had been on opposite sides of the political divide just a year before, with Mr Kumar being the chief minister of the JD(U)-RJD-Congress Grand Alliance and Mr Paswan as an NDA minister in the Union Cabinet. Things have changed since then and after Mr Kumar joined the NDA, both leaders have developed a very good working relationship, sources said.

As far as special status for Bihar is concerned, we have been demanding it. Bihar is a backward state, so the status must be granted to it. Government must listen to our pleas, Mr Paswan told this newspaper.

Mr Kumars move of seeking special status at a meeting of the National Development Council (NDC) last week despite the same being rejected by the Niti Aayog and his questioning demonetisation, though he had praised it earlier, had sparked speculation of the JD(U) chief trying to do a Chandrababu Naidu on the Modi government. The TDP chief had exited the NDA over demands for special status for Andhra Pradesh.

However, JD(U) sources scotched such rumours saying that though the chief minister was likely to keep putting pressure on the Centre and even go to the extent of organising protests and rallies against the Modi governments policies, he was unlikely to exit the NDA till the general elections.

Any such call will be taken after the 2019 general elections after analysing who has got how many seats, a senior JD(U) leader, who did not wish to be named, told this newspaper.

He maintained that it was not possible for the JD(U) chief to work with the RJD. Former deputy chief minister and RJD leader Tejaswi Yadav have also made some scathing comments on Mr Kumar going to the extent of calling him a turncoat.

It might be recalled that since joining the NDA, the JD(U) has suffered a series of poll reverses, chief among them being the bypolls in Araria and Jokihat where the RJD romped home to victory.

The Congress, the third constituent of the erstwhile Grand Alliance, is, however, quiet on aligning with the JD(U) again.
Mufti said that conditional ceasefire and offer of talks made by the Centre was a opportunity to separatists to stop bloodshed in the State.

Srinagar: Jammu and Kashmir chief minister, Mehbooba Mufti, on Sunday urged separatists and all other shades of political opinion in the restive state to come forward and respond positively to the Centres dialogue officer.

All political parties and other shades of political opinion ought to play their role in getting people of the state out of the unending cycle of violence. The government is ready to hold talks with all including Pakistan and separatists to find out lasting solution to the imbroglio peacefully, she said. She made a fervent appeal to separatists and others to seize the opportunity asserting that the people of the state particularly the youth are suffering enormously due to turmoil and there is urgency of coming to their rescue. We all need to give them a safe, secure and peaceful future, she said while speaking at a convention of her Peoples Democratic Party.

Referring to the all-party meet convened by her in Srinagar last month, the Chief Minister said that the idea behind it was to find ways and means to get the State out of the difficult situation it has been caught due to unending violence. We at the meet decided to ask the government to declare ceasefire during the holy month of Ramzan. Our request was conceded and with that we made beginning. Now the onus to take it forward lies on all other political parties, she said. She said that ceasefire and offer of talks made by the Centre was an opportunity to separatists to stop bloodshed in the state.

There are other parties which are not in the mainstream, and if they have some other agenda, they have an opportunity if they want to stop bloodshed, Ms Mufti said.



We always say that there has to be a political solution to the problem of Kashmir and the Army, CRPF or police cannot resolve it. It can only be resolved politically thorough dialogue. And when there is an offer of dialogue from the Centre, I request all stake holders to come forward to save J&K and its economy, she said.

Ms Mufti wanted the political parties and other stakeholders to ponder over No matter on which side of the divide youth get killed, the ultimate loss is of the state and its people. She said, We all have to put our heads together and play a positive role towards putting an end to this loss. If this opportunity is lost, there will be nobody left there tomorrow to plead our case.

The chief minister also said that good neighbourly relations between India and Pakistan are in the best interest of the people of J&K as these have direct bearing on them. When they fight it is the people of the state particularly those living in close proximity to the border who suffer. When even arch rivals North Korea and South Korea can meet to resolve why cant India and Pakistan,?, she asked.

Separatist leader and Kashmirs chief Muslim cleric Mirwaiz Umar Farooq had earlier on Saturday said the incidents in which Kashmiri youth have been killed or injured in the use of force by security forces do not augur well for the Centres reported plan to hold dialogue with separatist leadership and Pakistan.

Nobody is against (holding) dialogue. We also favour resolution of all issues through peaceful talks. But you need to create atmosphere conducive for such an engagement, he said adding that the killing of Srinagar youth after he was over ran by a CRPF vehicle on Friday and other incident of violence and reprisals involving the Army and other security forces reported from various parts of the Valley during past few days will not be any helpful.

While speaking to this newspaper, the Mirwaiz said, Before you wish to hold talks you need to create a favourable atmosphere for it. Today, Kashmiri youth are being targeted with bullets and pellets and now you have started killing them by running your vehicles over them. Talks can be held but only when you change the policy of using military might to suppress the voice of people in Jammu and Kashmir.
James Olivers story was doubted but paranormal experts say they were blown away when results showed he was not lying.

However, despite being asked who the future President of the US is going to be, he denied giving an answer. (Representational Image/ Pixabay)

A man who claims he is from the year 6491 but has got stuck in 2018 when his time machine broke down, allegedly passed the lie detector test.

James Olivers story was doubted but paranormal experts say they were blown away when they put it to test because results showed he was not lying!

Oliver claims he lives more than centuries in the future but was sent back in time.

Following his bizarre claims, paranormal YouTube site APexTV carried out an experiment where Oliver managed to pass every question.

Your years are different to mine, he says in an anonymous video which blurs out his face, adding, Where I'm from, the years are longer.

My planet is further away from the sun than yours is, so it takes longer to get around.

However, he adds that they have gifted mathematicians who work to calculate their years from those from other civilisations.'

Interestingly, the self-claimed future man has a Birmingham accent, with a US twang. Oliver even went on to add that there have been more species of flora and fauna that have been discovered and that there are fights brewing between humans and aliens. His story resembles the film plot to Back to the Future storyline, where Marty McFly gets stuck in the 50s after he runs out of plutonium to power his machine an old DeLorean car.

Oliver went on to add, during the test that global warming is going to get worse. He also said there is a United Nations style system of planetary leaders to ensure peace.

Not only that, Olivers shocking claims include befriending aliens as well. I have personal relationships with a few of them, I have friends I'd consider aliens. They are a nice lot, they are. Don't be quick to judge, he said.

He further added that his closest friend is from another galaxy.'

However, despite being asked who the future President of the US is going to be, he denied giving an answer.
The Sena leader claimed 'trickery' of EVMs led to the BJP's victory in Palghar and said it was nothing short of a 'scandal'.

The country 'does not' want the duo of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and BJP president Amit Shah, but could 'accept' the Congress or JD(S) leader HD Deve Gowda, Raut said. (Photo: File)

Mumbai: In one of the sharpest attacks after the recently held Lok Sabha bypoll in Palghar, Shiv Sena MP Sanjay Raut on Sunday described his party as BJP's biggest "political enemy".

The country "does not" want the duo of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and BJP president Amit Shah, but could "accept" the Congress or JD(S) leader HD Deve Gowda, he said.

"The Shiv Sena is the biggest political enemy (rajkiya shatroo) of the BJP. The Sena's radical Hinduism would prove problematic for the BJP," he said in an opinion piece written under his 'rokh-thokh' (straight forward) column published in party mouthpiece 'Saamana'.

Sanjay Raut is the editor of the Marathi daily.

Taking potshots at the BJP, Raut said the BJP paid tribute to its late MP Chintaman Wanaga by defeating his son, the Sena candidate, in Palghar.

The bypoll was necessitated by the death of Chintaman Wanaga.

Since the Sena is the main political opponent of the BJP, the latter's plan is to weaken the Uddhav Thackeray-led party while staying in power with it, he alleged.

"Hence, the BJP's plan is to stay with the Sena in power and try to weaken it by using power and money. The BJP used its resources to ensure Shiv Sena's defeat in the Palghar Lok Sabha bypoll (held last month)," Raut said.

The Sena leader claimed "trickery" of EVMs led to the BJP's victory in Palghar and said it was nothing short of a "scandal".

"On the day of voting (May 28), complaints of EVMs malfunctioning were reported from at least 100 locations. The Election Commission rejected the Shiv Sena's request for extending voting hours, but a similar demand of BJP candidate Rajendra Gavit (who won the seat) was accepted," he alleged.

He claimed that every polling station, where extension for voting was given, reported an "average 100 extra votes to the BJP nominee and cumulatively BJP's votes increased by some thousands. But some 60,000 voters could not vote".

"After the voting, the district collector declared 46 per cent turnout, but the figure went up to 56 per cent the next day (when final figure was announced). It means 82,000 votes increased overnight", he said.

Sanjay Raut claimed that the BJP has appointed people with RSS links to key constitutional posts and controlled the election procedure.

He also referred to the setback suffered by the BJP in the just held Lok Sabha and Assembly bypolls in some states.

"The BJP managed to win the Palghar Lok Sabha bypoll but it lost many other Lok Sabha and Assembly bypolls. This shows winds of change are blowing in several parts of the country," he said.

"The bypoll results indicate beginning of the BJP's downfall," said the Rajya Sabha MP.

He charged that "the country is in such a state of mind that it can accept the Congress or Deve Gowda, but does not want the Modi- Shah duo".
BJP leader Nitin Gadkari met the MNS chief with the same purpose.

Mumbai: Senior BJP leader and state cabinet minister Vinod Tawde met Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) chief Raj Thackeray Monday morning. The meeting took place at Mr Thackerays Dadar residence, Krishnakunj. Both leaders were together for almost an hour and while both have denied that there was any political discussion, the buzz in political circles is that the BJP tried to rile the Shiv Sena through the meeting.

As state culture minister, Mr Tawde met Mr Thackeray and invited him to the Natya Sammelan (annual Marathi theatre convention) in Mulund. Mr Thackeray was also invited for the June 7 condolence meeting on the demise of agriculture minister Pandurang Fundkar.

While both reasons were official, it is being said that the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is disturbed over the Senas continual reluctance to its proposal of an alliance. With Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray having decided to go it alone in the coming elections, the BJP, on its part, is trying to mount pressure on the Sena leadership. Mr Tawdes meeting Mr Thackeray is being perceived as a move in that direction.

During the 2014 Assembly elections, BJP leader Nitin Gadkari met the MNS chief with the same purpose. At the time, there was buzz that if the Sena ditched the BJP, the latter would go with MNS. But that did not work out. So, Mr Tawde meeting Mr Thackeray at a time when the BJP-Sena alliance looks shaky could be a repeat of the moves made in 2014, believe many in politics.
The Syska LED Smartlight is the first step to an increasingly smart home.

Smart homes are quickly becoming a common place in India and Syska is one of the brands that is pushing for it to become a normality.

Syska has recently announced the LED Smartlight and one of the most interesting features is that it pairs with Amazons Alexa voice assistant. The Pune based brand launched the WiFi-ready LED Smartlight that is compatible with Amazons Echo Dot or Echo Dot Plus smart speaker that works in conjunction with Alexa smart assistant.

There are a variety of voice commands on the Syska LED Smartlight that can help make life a bit smoother. For example, if it's evening, all you got to say is, Alexa, turnthe light to warm white. If you need the light to be turned brighter, the same can be done. One can also setup routines such as Alexa, start my day so that your one command can trigger multiple actions by Alexa from switching on your bedroom and bathroom lights simultaneously.

In addition to using voice commands, users can also download the Syska Smart Home app to control the lights. The App lets you choose your shade of light from a palette of a million colour combinations. You can also set wake up alarms which will switch on the bedside lamp. Being WiFi enabled, you can perform these operations from anywhere, like switching on the porch light as you approach your home.

The 7 watt Syska Smartlight fits in a standard lamp socket and costs Rs 1,799. It may not be the cheapest solution, but this is the first step to tomorrow's increasingly smart home.

Click on Deccan Chronicle Technology and Science for the latest news and reviews. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter.

--IndiaTechOnline
The launch of these highly anticipated devices can be viewed on YouTube and Twitter.

In less than a couple of hours, Motorola will take the wraps off the Moto G6 and Moto G6 Play in India. The Lenovo-owned Motorola brand will be showcasing the handsets at their launch event in Delhi. Motorola has partnered with Twitter India to live stream the event and fans from all across the globe can tune in to see the launch of these two handsets on Moto Showtime.

Rachna Lather, marketing head, Motorola Mobility India, said that through this partnership with Twitter India, they will be unveiling their new products  Moto G6 and Moto G6 Play in an entertaining and engaging manner.

The launch will also be shown on YouTube. To check out the live video stream of the Moto G6 and G6 Play launch, click play on the window below.

In a statement released by Motorola, the brand states that people can tweet #Motog6 and #Motog6play to utilize the custom emoji and check out the live conversations in a single view.

Taranjeet Singh, country director, at Twitter said that they were excited to collaborate with Motorola for their special live stream experience to celebrate their latest mobile phone launch on Twitter. The launch is scheduled to begin at 11:45 on June 4, 2018.

The Moto G6 features a 5.7 Full HD Max Vision display delivers vivid colours and fine details. The handset comes with the highly talked about 18:9 aspect ratio with a ratio of 1080 x 2160 pixels. The 3D glass back stands out among other premium smartphones. It comes loaded with a Qualcomm SDM450 Snapdragon 450 chipset and an Octa-core 1.8 GHz Cortex-A53 CPU. It comes in two options, 64GB with 4GB RAM and a 32GB variant with 3GB RAM.

It comes with a dual camera setup on the rear with a 12MP and 5MP shooters. The front-facing camera is rated at 8MP. The handset comes fitted with a non-removable 3000mAh battery. The Moto G6 will be available in different colour options such as Deep Indigo, Silver, Blush and Black.

As of now, the price is not available, but one can expect it to be priced competitively in the mid-range smartphone segment.

(Source)
Trump is due to meet with Kim Jong Un on June 12 in Singapore with Pyongyang's nuclear arsenal high on the agenda.

'The North appears to have brought in new figures... as the previous officials lacked flexibility in thinking,' the source said. (Photo: AFP)

Seoul: Seoul is monitoring developments in the North's military, it said on Monday after reports Pyongyang replaced three of its top military officials ahead of a summit with the United States.

President Donald Trump is due to meet with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un on June 12 in Singapore with Pyongyang's nuclear arsenal high on the agenda and reports said that the reshuffle could be aimed at taming the military.

Late last month the North's state media revealed that Kim Su Gil had been appointed as director of the military's powerful General Political Bureau (GPB), replacing Kim Jong Gak.

According to Yonhap news agency, which cited intelligence sources, the chief of the general staff Ri Myong Su has also been replaced by his deputy, Ri Yong Gil. And defence minister Pak Yong Sik has been succeeded by No Kwang Chol, previously first vice minister, it added.

The wholesale reshuffle would be unusual if confirmed, Seoul's unification ministry said.

"We will monitor related developments," ministry spokesman Baik Tae-hyun told reporters. Pyongyang's military, known as the Korean People's Army, is immensely influential in the North and a centre of power in its own right, symbolised by the way Kim is habitually flanked by generals on one side and civilians on the other when attending major ceremonial events.

According to researchers at NK Leadership Watch, the change at the top of the GPB "represents a continuation of tightening Party control over the KPA". The political bureau could be in a position to resist policy decisions by the leadership or try to profit from future South Korean economic aid, it said.

But new GPB director Kim Su Gil was a "highly trusted" lieutenant of leader Kim Jong Un, it added, who appointed him to the Pyongyang party committee -- once a powerbase for his uncle Jang Song Thaek -- after having the older man executed for treason in 2013.

Reports said the wider changes could be aimed at preventing objections in the North's senior military ranks to any sudden changes in the country's nuclear policy. No Kwang Chol, the new defence minister, was known as a "moderate", Yonhap cited the intelligence source as saying.

"The North appears to have brought in new figures... as the previous officials lacked flexibility in thinking," the source said.
To document your observations based on the events that occurred after the conclusion of service is wrong, says Asif Ghafoor.

Islamabad: Flexing its nuclear muscle, Pakistans military on Monday said that there is no space for war with India as both the countries possess nuclear arsenal, but warned that its desire for peace should not be mistaken for weakness.

Director general Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) Major General Asif Ghafoor accused India of violating the 2003 ceasefire and targeting civilians and alleged that 1,077 ceasefire violations had been carried out by the Indian Army this year.

Our defence, our desire for peace, should not be mistaken for weakness. Pakistan wants to abide by the ceasefire agreement, Major General Ghafoor said at a press conference.

War happens when diplomacy fails, he said, adding that the two sides were in touch with each other over bilateral issues but India backed out of having a dialogue.

The Indians have to realise and understand where they want to go (in the future) We are two nuclear powers, and there is no space for war, he added.

Major General Ghafoor said a special hotline contact had been established between the director-generals of military operations (DGMOs) of Pakistan and India last week, but India violated the ceasefire agreement after May 29.

If India fires the first bullet and no harm is incurred, we will not respond. If India fires the second bullet, then we will give a befitting response, he warned.

On the revelations of former Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) chief Asad Durrani, Major General Ghafoor said that the former had retired from the service due to political reasons and had penned his observations.

To document your observations based on the events that occurred after the conclusion of service is wrong, he added.

Major General Ghafoor said that Lt. General (retired) Durrani did not obtain a no objection certificate from the Army before publishing a controversial book along with former RAW chief A.S. Dulat.

Lt. General Durranis name has been put on the no-fly list and Pakistan Army has ordered a court of inquiry to investigate his claims in the book  The Spy Chronicles: RAW, ISI and the Illusion of Peace.

The book sparked controversy in Pakistan and there were accusations of treachery against the former spy chief because of his candid views on various matters of regional and global concern.

Various political parties voiced their reservations over it, with former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif demanding an emergency meeting of the National Security Committee over the issue.

The book throws light on the perspectives, assumptions and observations of the two spymasters on Kashmir; Hafiz Saeed and 26/11; Kulbhushan Jadhav; surgical strikes; the deal for Osama bin Laden; how the US and Russia feature in the India-Pakistan relationship; and how terror undermines the two countries attempts at talks.

In the book, Lt. General Durrani makes an assessment that the ISI probably learnt about Osama bin Laden and he was handed over to the US according to a mutually agreed process. Mr Dulat maintains that the assessment from the Indian side is the same. That he was handed over by Pakistan.
by Sumon Corraya

The Bangladesh Christian Association remembered the bloodiest attack against a Catholic church. In June 2001 a bomb exploded in front of the Church of the Most Holy Redeemer. Seven of the ten victims were children. A climate of impunity increases the risk of other crimes against religious minorities. Muslims, Hindus and Buddhists express their solidarity.

Dhaka (AsiaNews)  Seventeen years have passed since the bloodiest attack against a Catholic church in Bangladesh took place. Yet, the victims have not obtained justice, this according to the Bangladesh Christian Association (BCA), which yesterday held a rally in Dhaka.

Christians gathered to remember the attack on 3 June 2001 against the Church of the Most Holy Redeemer in Baniarchor, Diocese of Barisal, which left ten people dead, including seven children, and another 50 people wounded.

Those present criticised the authorities for their neglectful attitude. After all these years, no one has yet to be charged in connection with the attack. For them, the reason is clear: "It's because we are a minority".

In 2001, a bomb exploded in front of the church during Sunday Mass. The parish priest at the time was Fr Domenico Pietanza, a Xaverian from Italy. After the attack, he and Peter Boiragi, father of one of the victims, filed a complaint against person or persons unknown.

Police investigations later found that the attack was the work of Harkat-ul-Jihad-al-Islam (HUJI), an Islamist group banned by the authorities in 2005.

Shaikh Abdur Rahman, leader of the fundamentalist movement Jamaat-ul-Mujahideen Bangladesh, who confessed to his involvement, was the mastermind.

Police eventually arrested mufti Abdul Hannan, head of the HUJI. The latter was eventually sentenced to death for numerous crimes and executed on 12 April 2017.

Although the authorities arrested 29 persons involved in the church case, they never completed the investigation.

Christians were not alone at the memorial meeting. Hindu, Muslim and Buddhist leaders were also present at the protest, which was held in front of the National Press Club in the capital.

Organisers also used the event as an opportunity to remember the murder of Sunil Gomes, a 71-year-old Catholic merchant killed in front of his shop in Bonpara, a village in the Diocese of Rajshahi, as he made his way home from Sunday Mass.

"The government seeks out Christians and other minorities only during the elections, said Fr Jerom D'Rozario, who was present at the gathering. They want to use us as a vote bank, but when we are persecuted we do not get justice."

"We are citizens of this country and we want security, he added. We ask the government to shed light on what happened to the church in Baniarchor."

BCA president Nirmal Rozario agrees. "We want the police to complete the investigations and carry out indictments. The lack of justice in cases of persecution encourages perpetrators to commit other crimes."

Nony Mondol, 60, knows this. He lost his only son Jhontu in the attack. The lad used to go to Sunday Mass without eating before, he told AsiaNews. He was very devout, but the bomb took away his innocent life.

Mojid Mollick, a Muslim leader, expressed his "solidarity with my Christian brothers, and asked that justice be done. He too slammed "radical groups that try to attack minorities to make the country unstable".

For Hindu leader Rana Das Gupta, "religious minorities become easy targets during elections. In 2001 an election campaign was underway. Fundamentalists carry out such acts to destabilise the country. For this reason, we ask that the government give us protection".
Announcement made by the official Pyongyang media, without specifying the date. No comment from the government of Damascus. The two countries have maintained solid commercial and military relations for years. Syria and North Korea are subject to isolation and sanctions. Assad would be the first international leader to visit North Korea.

Damascus (AsiaNews / Agencies) - Syrian President Bashar al-Assad will visit North Korea and meet with his leader Kim Jong-un in Pyongyang. According to the official North Korean agency KCNA the Syrian leader will be the first head of state and government to visit the country and be received by his absolute master.

KCNA did not indicate an official date for the meeting. However, the announcement comes just days before the historic and eagerly awaited meeting between Kim and US President Donald Trump, first cancelled by Washington and then re-entered on the agenda. The face to face meeting between the White House leader and the Pyongyang dictator is scheduled for June 12th.

Announcing Assad's visit to North Korea, KCNA relaunches the words spoken by the Syrian leader. He would point out how "the world welcomes these exceptional events" that characterize the Korean peninsula "thanks to Kim's wise guidance".

Contacted by the main international press agencies, the Syrian government and Assads closest collaborators did not want to comment on the news released by the Koreans.

Pyongyang and Damascus have been maintaining strong strategic and commercial relations for decades. For some years the two countries also shared relationships and knowledge in the military field. A relationship that has continued in these years of civil war in the Middle Eastern Arab state.

A relationship that also fuelled suspicions of chemical weapons trafficking from Pyongyang to Damascus. Several reports by the UN and the South Korean government would confirm these exchanges in the recent past.

Analysts and experts also recall how North Korea made a significant contribution to the construction of a nuclear plant in Syria. The structure was bombed and destroyed in 2007 by Israeli fighters.

Both Syria and North Korea are subject to isolation and sanctions: Pyongyang for its atomic program in violation of international law and Damascus for the atrocities committed by the government military in the context of the war. Since rising to power in 2011, Kim has never met an international leader within his country. He made only one official trip abroad in recent weeks, when he travelled to China  North Koreas main ally - for a face-to-face meeting with President Xi Jinping.
by Samir Khalil Samir

The problem with Islam is the almost undistinguishable mingling, of politics and religion, which distorts the latter. Common citizenship between Christians and Muslims. A frank dialogue not for proselytism, but for love of the truth of man and woman. The testimony of Christians in Arab countries. A guideline from the great Egyptian Islamologist.

Cairo (AsiaNews) - A more beautiful way of living together as brothers and sisters of a single human family; a rejection of violence and regression into the past; a commitment to respect the citizenship of all, without dividing the rights between Christians and Muslims. This is the message and the invitation that Fr. Samir Khalil Samir, the Jesuit and global expert on Islam, addresses to "Muslim friends" with the call to distinguish politics from religion. To mark his 80th birthday, a convention held in his honor at the Pontifical Oriental Institute. Fr Samir also traces the outlines of the fundamental witness of Christians in the Arab world.

1. Islam is not just a religion: it is a totality

"Islam, unlike Christianity, is not just a religion: it is a totality. This is its strength and its danger. It can become an empire, a dictatorship, because nothing escapes Islam: the economy, politics, the military aspect, the relationship between man and woman, precise gestures in prayer, the way of dressing, everything! Everything is Islamic!

"This is a strength a power, but it is also a handicap, it is Islams greatest difficulty. By mixing religion, politics, economy and power, religion loses its essence. This is what I try to explain to Muslim friends: as long as there is this mingling - and it is likely to be for eternity - it will be difficult for Muslims to find a complete humanist line.

2. The problem: mixing politics and religion

Mixing politics and religion has happened to all religions, at some stage. Often Muslims criticize me by saying, "So, what about the crusades?", adding things that are inaccurate and untrue. I reply: "You are talking about a phase of history, but let's go to the root. Take the Gospel, and find me one passage in which Jesus says 'fight them, kill them, do not let them escape', as it is written in the Qur'an "(2: 190-191; 4: 89; 9: 5; 9: 123; etc. ). This is the big difference! Men are all similar, but the founding text is essential.

Jesus does not say "an eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth" (Leviticus 24:20; Exodus 21:24), like Moses. On the contrary, He says: " You have heard that it was said, Eye for eye, and tooth for tooth. But I tell you, do not resist an evil person. If anyone slaps you on the right cheek, turn to them the other cheek also. And if anyone wants to sue you and take your shirt, hand over your coat as well. If anyone forces you to go one mile, go with them two miles. Give to the one who asks you, and do not turn away from the one who wants to borrow from you."(Matthew 5, 38-42).

To those who come to say: "But then, you submit to him, to the Muslim!" I answer: "No, I overcome the provocation, to help him understand: it is the gospel vision of Christ, his original project.

Instead, Muhammad's original plan is a political project, which uses religion and faith - but it is political. Islam is unable to distinguish between the two dimensions. There are trends that want to dissociate politics and religion, but these are criticized. They are told that what they bring forward "is not Islam".

This also happens in other religions. Just think of Hinduism - which I believed to be the perfect pacifism - and of what happens in India today: every day there is an attack against Protestants, Catholics, Muslims. There is difficulty in distinguishing religion from political and economic culture.

3. "Religion belongs to God, but the nation to all!"

In 1919, in Egypt, there was a revolution against the British. The leader of the opposition, the famous Saad Zaghloul, to gather all the Egyptians - Muslims, Christians, Jews, unbelievers  to rise up against them, launched the slogan: "Religion belongs to God, but the nation to all!" (Ad- din li-llah, wa-l-watan li-l-gami ').

Copts and Muslims joined arms against the British who invaded Egypt. It was a national issue, not a religious one. It was not a conflict between Muslims (ie, Egyptian) and Christians (ie British), but a purely political conflict.

This was the real revolution of mentalities. We fought then shoulder to shoulder. And we also lived shoulder to shoulder, Muslims, Christians and Jews. In proportion to their number, there were more Christian ministers than Muslims; the same at all levels of social, economic, cultural and political life. The Jews felt at home, and the biggest shops were theirs.

Religion is a personal affair, between God and I. No one has the right to interfere. This distinction of the sectors is fundamental, it is what I personally try to suggest in Islamic-Christian dialogue. If we talk about Islam, Christianity and Judaism, we do not talk about Jews, Muslims and Christians: let's talk about the project. Is it a pure project, valid for all human beings, or is it a "tribal" project? Until we understand this, I fear there will be no peace.

4. The periods of liberalism in Islamic history

Throughout history, there have been periods of inclusive respect for everyone, especially in the Abbasid period, between 750 and the year one thousand. We were all together, some were disciples of others. As a result, everything became politicized.

Later, in 1800, we rediscovered this possibility of cohabitation, with an opening up to the middle of the 20th century; but then the Islamist tendency returned. The return to a more liberal era is possible, but it is not foreseeable in the short time.

Now we have even gone from intransigence to terrorism. And it is a purely Islamic terrorism. Those who kill do so in the name of Islam, not in the name of Arabism or nationalism, but against those who are not "perfect Muslims": Shiites, Yazidis, Christians ... And this current has also arrived in the West. I fear that Europe is oblivious to the immensity of danger.

Recently, it a proposal was put forward in Britain that sharia be applied to Muslims, and not English law! If Britain accepted something like this - if everyone had his own law: Christians, Jews, Hindus, etc. - then there would be no country, there would be no nation.

The fundamental principle to be implemented is this: the distinction of the sectors. Politics applies to everyone, we all decide together and we make mistakes - and we correct them - all together. Faith is a personal fact. If you want to be an atheist, you have the right to be. I think you are missing out on a great deal, but that is your business. You have the right to be an atheist, as I have the right to be a believer, and the other to be a Muslim or a Buddhist, etc. This is lacking in the Islamic vision.

5. To help Muslims regain their former liberalism

Christians must help Muslims (and other religious or ideological groups) to remember these principles: it is not just a Christian principle, it is a humanistic principle. We are all "Italian", "human", man and woman. I have no authority over a woman, nor does a woman have authority over me. We are all under one authority, that of the law and - if you so believe - under that of God.

If the Constitution divides Christians and Muslims, or woman and man - as, unfortunately, since 1971 the Egyptian one does - there is no longer equality and there is no longer citizenship! This concept of citizenship was "the" major request of the Synod for the Middle East that took place October-December 2010, but it was not possible to transmit it to the Muslim population.

The inequality between Muslims and non-Muslims, men and women, rich and poor, the various social classes, etc., are the causes of the retardation at all levels in many countries. The constitution and the laws apply equally to everyone, and there should be no distinction between the members of the country and the nation!

6. Salafism is the scourge of Islam

The Salafist tendency is the current scourge of Islam. This tendency consists in thinking that the solution to the evils of Islam is a return to the seventh century origins of Islam and it takes various forms and names: Wahhabism, from a certain Muhammd Ibn 'Abd al-Wahhab (1703-1792), who lived in Najd in the center of Arabia; the Salafis, born in Egypt in the late nineteenth century, with the desire to reform Islam returning to the model of the first companions and successors of Muhammad; the Muslim Brotherhood, movement created in Egypt in March 1928 by Hassan al-Banna.

These groups share a vision which sees no distinction between the seventh and the twenty-first centuries. What was valid then is still valid today. Yet 14 centuries have passed, and the mentality has changed, and continues to changes day by day. How can we say "let's go back to practicing what was done at the time of the Prophet", as the Salafis say? It cannot be done. You have to have common sense and logic, and it must be criticized, respectfully of course! but criticized nonetheless, because I know that whoever applies this idea does so convinced that this is the word of God  and it is applied with force and violence!

So, I should help him, saying: "Reflect with me, let's reflect together". Our mission is to help reflect, and they must decide. I cannot decide for them, but I cannot ignore that they are thinking with non-contemporary criteria. It is a commitment to information and openness, not to impose something.

This is the message that I personally send to Muslim friends. Without aggression, I say: "My brother, I love you so much. See how you can make a family, loved and loving, structured; See how you can build an industry that is for the benefit of the poor ". We need to balance everything, think globally. And, after all, we are all human beings, members of the same family that can be our nation, the Egyptians, the Italians ... but not a family that divides.

7. Christians of the Arab world: our mission

When the word "Muslim" is used, it is opposed to "Christian". It is true that I think of evangelization, but not to convert, rather to announce the Gospel, as a project of liberation! If you think this message helps you be better, take what you want from it. But I am not attempting to make you a Christian. We are looking for a more beautiful path. If you see one, follow it - but on the condition that there is never someone who suffers, who pays the price.

I would like to conclude with what we wrote in the Special Assembly for the Middle East, at the Vatican, on December 2009 8:

"Relations between Christians and Muslims have to be based on two principles. On the one hand, both must be seen to be citizens of the same country and homeland, sharing the same language and culture, not to mention the same fortunes and misfortunes of our countries. On the other, Christians must see themselves as members of the society in which they live and working on its behalf as witnesses of Christ and the Gospel. Oftentimes, relations can be difficult, mainly because Muslims frequently mix religion and politics, putting Christians in a precarious situation of being considered as non-citizens."( 68).

"Our responsibility, therefore, is to work, in a spirit of love and loyalty, to establish equality for every citizen on all levels - political, economic, social, cultural and religious - in harmony with the constitutions of the majority of our countries. In faithfulness to one's nation and the Christian spirit, we face a lived reality which is laden with daily challenges, not to mention declarations and threats from certain movements. Where we note the rise of fundamentalism in many countries, we also witness the readiness of a great number of Muslims to resist this growing religious extremism."( 70).

I conclude with the declaration to the world of the Second Vatican Council, October 28, 1965: "The Church regards with esteem also the Moslems. They adore the one God, living and subsisting in Himself; merciful and all- powerful, the Creator of heaven and earth, who has spoken to men."(Nostra Aetate, 3).

This is the Christian vision, which, in my limited knowledge, seems to me to be the most open of all the others.
by Mathias Hariyadi

Yesterday, the police found weapons and dangerous rudimentary explosive material on a university campus in Pekanbaru. The alleged mastermind of an attack against local police has been arrested. Civil society groups want the government to cleanse the public service of Islamic extremists.

Jakarta (AsiaNews)  "Higher education must be free of radicalism, said Muhammad Nasir (pictured), Indonesian minister of Research, Technology and Higher Education, the day after a major counter-terrorism operation at the Riau State University in Pekanbaru.

Yesterday afternoon, Densus 88, an Indonesian Special Forces counter-terrorism squad, stormed the homes of students enrolled in the Department of Social and Political Sciences (FISIP), where they found weapons and dangerous rudimentary explosive material.

Three people were taken into custody. One of them is Muhammad Nur Zamzam, a former student suspected of having ties with Jamaah Ansharud Daulah (JAD), Indonesias largest terrorist group linked to the Islamic State (IS) group.

Nur Zamzam is suspected of masterminding the attack against the Pekanbaru police headquarters on 16 May.

Terrorism in universities is a new phenomenon for the country. In view of the situation, Minister Nasir has recommended firing any students convicted of crimes related to radicalism or the promotion of extremist ideologies against the state.

In a statement addressed to Indonesian President Joko Widodo, Prof Bagas Pujilaksono, a lecturer at Gadjah University Mada (UGM), the nation's oldest and most prestigious university, expressed deep concern over the growth of Islamist ideologies on university campuses.

For Pujilaksono, young minds can be easily influenced. Young people are sensitive to radical ideas, intolerance and theories contrary to Pancasila, the pluralist state ideology, and national unity. "Such ideas should be stopped and eliminated. The state must do the work."

Meanwhile, civil society groups have called on the authorities to cleanse the public service of employees who espouse Islamic extremism.

The case that has sparked public outrage concerns the widow of Budi Satrio, a terrorist linked to the attacks against three Christian churches in Surabaya (East Java).

A few hours after the attacks against the Christian community, a bomb exploded ahead of time in the familys flat, in Sidoarjo.

Two of her children died in the blast, whilst her husband was killed in the subsequent operation by security forces.

Lukman Hakim Syaifuddin, Minister for Religious Affairs, later confirmed that the terrorists widow, Wiqoya, 48, works in his ministry. "She works at the East Java Office in Surabaya," Syaifuddin said.
Ecumenism is increasingly becoming a necessity and a desire, as shown by the various joint prayers and the many ecumenical meetings that took place last year around the world. Let us not forget to start from prayer, so that it is not human plans that indicate the way, but the Holy Spirit. Also, The sufferings of many brothers oppressed because of their faith in Jesus are also a pressing invitation to reach an ever more concrete and visible unity among us. The ecumenism of blood.

Vatican City (AsiaNews)  Pope Francis met today in the Vatican with a delegation of the German National Committee of the Lutheran World Federation and the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Germany.

Conscious of the growing communion between Catholics and Lutherans, the pontiff said that ecumenism "will continue to mark" their path, "not with the enthusiasm of running ahead to reach coveted goals, but walking patiently together, under the gaze of God."

In his address, Francis mentioned "with joy" his visit to Lund, in Sweden (pictured), last year on the occasion of the Common Commemoration of the Reformation, when both sides saw "that the five hundred years of history  sometimes very painful  in which we have been opposed and often in conflict, have left space, in the last fifty years, to a growing communion.

"Thanks to the work of the Spirit, fraternal meetings, gestures based on the logic of the Gospel rather than human strategies, and through official Lutheran-Catholic dialogue, it has been possible to overcome old prejudices on both sides. With the help of God, we hope for a future in which we strive to overcome completely our divergences. We must move ahead.

Ecumenism, he added, is increasingly becoming a necessity and a desire, as shown by the various joint prayers and the many ecumenical meetings that took place last year around the world. Let us not forget to start from prayer, so that it is not human plans that indicate the way, but the Holy Spirit.

"[W]e are also called to alleviate together the miseries of the needy and the persecuted. The sufferings of many brothers oppressed because of their faith in Jesus are also a pressing invitation to reach an ever more concrete and visible unity among us. The ecumenism of blood.

"Let us support one another in the journey, also by carrying forward theological dialogue. [. . .] Some themes  I think of the Church, the Eucharist and the ecclesial ministry  merit precise and well shared reflections. Ecumenism also asks not to be elitist, but to involve as many brothers and sisters as possible in the faith, growing as a community of disciples who pray, love and proclaim.

"May the Lord accompany us, so that our Christian being may be more centred in Him and courageous in its mission; so that pastoral care may be enriched with service and, in its various dimensions, be more imbued with an ecumenical spirit."
by Peter Geremia

One of the accused asked to be able to provide a new deposition, identifying the group that planned the killing and the motive. PIME missionary: "After the waves of assassinations and the long night of martial law, let us pray that the sun of justice and peace will shine in Mindanao and throughout the country".

Mindanao (AsiaNews) - Seven years on and no one has ever been charged for the murder of Fr. Fausto "Pops" Tentorio, a missionary of the Pontifical Institute for Foreign Missions (PIME) for over 32 years in the Philippines. The 59-year-old priest was killed on the morning of October 17, 2011, at the parish of Our Lady of Perpetual Succor in Arakan, North Cotabato (Mindanao). Fr. Tentorio was in the crosshairs of the army because of his activity in favor of the Manobo tribals threatened by the exploitation of the mines. In December 2017, the identification of two senior army officers and other suspects in the murder had marked a turning point in the investigation. The new heads of the Department of Justice (Doj) in Manila have appointed a new team of prosecutors, which this month should initiate preliminary investigations and decide which defendants will be issued arrest warrants. The trial is due to start soon in court. Fr. Peter Geremia, PIME missionary in Mindanao, sends us this latest update.

Fr. Fausto was killed on October 17, 2011. Since then many investigations were held on and off, but no conclusion in court. The new administration of President Duterte started in June 2016 and promised to reopen the case. On March 31, 2017 the Department of Justice (DOJ) appointed State Prosecutor Peter L. Ong to conduct an in-depth re-investigation with financial assistance from the Asia Foundation.

This new prosecutor reviewed all previous testimonies and new testimonies were added. He came to Arakan and Kidapawan several times with his team for ocular verification and with great skill he proved the validity of key testimonies. On October 20, 2017 he signed his report with his findings and conclusions:

To dismiss the charges against the 2 Muslim suspects, Jose and Dima Sampulna, which were included in the first complaint filed by the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) on February 10, 2012.

To file a new complaint for Murder against the following:

Jimmy and Robert Ato (suspected hired killers) Jan Corbala (a Commander of a group of tribal warriors called Bagani) and 3 members of his group. Nene Durado (identified with the Ilaga fanatic group of Christian Settlers who fought against Muslims and Tribals since 1970s and even now continue to take over more and more lands of the Tribals) Former Arakan Mayor Romulo Tapgos and 2 Arakan businessmen. Lt. Col. Joven Gonzales and Major Mark Espiritu (2 military officers in command of the 57th IB and the Special Forces Units at the time of killing of Fr. Fausto).

The report of Prosecutor Ong was published on November 2017 and the news caused reactions both in the Philippines and abroad. The key witnesses and their families were rushed into safe houses under the Witness Protection Program (WPP) constantly guarded like prisoners. Then there was another delay until May 2018 due to the change of the DOJ secretary. Finally the new DOJ secretary Menardo Guevarra appointed a new team of prosecutors who should start their preliminary investigations this month of June and decide which of the accused will be issued warrants of arrest, then the trial in court should start soon. Also in May of this year, one of the accused proposed to give additional testimony identifying the group that planned the killing of Fr. Fausto and their motives. This may contribute to restrain such groups accustomed to killing with impunity and show that the practice of impunity may not last forever. We are grateful to the State Prosecutor Peter Ong and his team who were able to revive the case, even though we were about to abandon it as another unresolved case or a lost cause.

On the other hand, we are worried because the DOJ now is giving priority to many other cases which the military filed against suspected New Peoples Army (NPA) rebels and their supporters. This is part of the implementation of Martial Law in Mindanao, which started with the siege of Marawi and was extended up to December 2018. Many soldiers from Marawi were sent to our areas and they are now deployed in the rural communities looking for NPA rebels or supporters, while the killings of drug suspects continue in urban centers.

On January 11, 2018 the DOJ issued the list of 600 suspected terrorists. Among them many farmers and community tribal leaders, particularly in Arakan and nearby areas, including several friends of Fr. Fausto. These are civilians always seen in their farms and in community activities, but now they are accused of having participated in ambushes and attacks led by the NPA rebels. Some of them were arrested, a few killed, and many are hiding and cannot work in their farms and their families are facing starvation.

Also church people are now questioned, like Sr. Fox, an Australian nun, 27 years among the poor in Mindanao who is facing deportation for joining farmers rallies. In Luzon, Fr. Mark Ventura, a Diocesan priest, 27 years old, was shot near the altar after Sunday Mass on April 29, 2018. He was known for his involvements with the Indigenous People, just like Fr. Fausto. Another priest was killed in Luzon last December, Fr. Marcelito Paez, 71, killed after helping release a political prisoner.

In this context of martial law in Mindanao and killings nationwide, what significance can Fr. Faustos case have? We still wonder what kind of justice can be obtained for Pops, we hope to be able to clarify the real motive for his killing and identify the groups responsible. Can this also challenge more people to seek justice for many more EJK victims and Human Rights violations? After the waves of killings and the long night of martial law, we pray for the sun of justice and peace to shine in Mindanao and all over the country, particularly among the population of Tribals, Muslims and Poor Farmers and Workers who are victims of chronic injustice and unpeace.

The Diocese of Kidapawan, along with other churches and civilian sectoral representatives, have launched a Peoples Peace Summit last November 29, 2017 and now continue to implement the Peoples Peace Agenda (PPA) with concrete plans of action involving civilian sectors as peace builders. We start by proposing our PPA to all armed groups, both government and rebel forces, and to all civilian authorities. Then we ask them for their peace agenda or their initiatives or suggestions for justice and peace.

Can this gradually change the culture of conflict and violence into the culture of justice and peace? If we could only realize that all are losers in war while in peace all can be winners We believe that we can solve peoples problems through dialogue and peoples participation and we civilians can do more for peace than all the armed groups. If we could only mobilize our human resources and if we could use the budgets that are wasted in war by both sides, then we can save many lives and we can develop communities where all can contribute for the needs and happiness of all.

We continue to pray and move heaven and earth for justice for Pops and all the EJK victims.

In the name of all Pops friends,

FR. PETER GEREMIA, PIME
Boost Juice teams with Bega on Vegemite smoothie marketing campaign





Australian Juice bar business Boost Juice has entered into a new marketing campaign with Bega to bring the country a Vegemite flavoured drink.

The Vegemite Boost is a smoothie that combines chocolate, vanilla yoghurt, banana and a hint of Vegemite.

Claire Lauber, managing director of Boost Juice is excited to bring this unique and never before offered smoothie flavour to the Australian public.

Vegemite really is a quintessential Australian favourite that many of our customers grew up with, she said.

The Vegemite Boost will be available in boost stores nationally from 4 June 2018 to 1 July 2018 as part of Boost Juices new Aussie Milk Bar range which also includes other Aussie classics such as rocky road and cookies and cream.

Bega Cheeses $460million acquisition of food giant Mondelez Internationals Australian and New Zealand grocery and cheese business in 2017 included the Vegemite brand.

The Vegemite brand has a history spanning over 90 years. Its story began in 1922 when the Fred Walker Company, which would later become Kraft Food Company, hired a young chemist to develop a spread from one of the richest known natural sources in the Vitamin B group brewers yeast.

The founder of Boost Juice Bars, Janine Allis, noticed the fad of the juice bar when on holiday in the United States in 1999. In 2000, Allis opened her first Boost Juice Bar in King William Street, Adelaide while she was on maternity leave.
Borrowdale Free Range Pork wins top award





Gooralie Farm at Goondiwindi supplies leading organic meat company Arcadians free-range pork brand Borrowdale, which has just taken out the Australian Pork Limiteds prestigious Steak Your Claim competition.

Run by Mark and Charisse Ladner, Gooralie runs 1000 Large White Landrace cross sows, turning off all-in all-out at 22 weeks to Borrowdale specifications. They also do a whole carcase to butcher trade under their own Gooralie brand.

Gooralie is the longest-standing RSPCA-approved pork producer in Australia and an Australian Pork Industry Quality Assurance certified free range farm.

The annual competition, run by industry peak body Australian Pork Limited, aimed to discover the nations best pork steak.

For the first time, all three winning steaks came from Large White Landrace crosses.

Borrowdale said in a statement the pork loin steaks were expertly assessed in blind judging according to very specific criteria.

The winner was judged on colour, visual appeal, marbling of the raw product, aroma, flavour, juiciness and texture.

The fact that Borrowdale Pork won the 2018 Steak Your Claim competition proves the effectiveness of using the highest standards of ethical production. The result is the superior flavour and tenderness of pork that is all perfectly natural, said Paul da Silva, marketing manager, Borrowdale Free Range Pork.

Second place went to Westpork, Western Australia, while NSWs St Bernards Free-Range Pork was third.

Westpork produces more than 35 per cent of WAs pigs, with 14,000 sows spread across 10 company farms and five contract growers.

St. Bernards was named after the original farmhouse, which still stands proudly on one of the main properties today. Farmed in the Riverina and the Northern Grampians.
Food delivery apps used by more than two million Australians aged 14+ according to Roy Morgan





New research from Roy Morgan shows nearly 2 million Australians aged 14+ (9.8%) now use Uber Eats, Menulog/Eatnow.com.au, Deliveroo or one of the many other meal delivery services in an average three months.

The research into Australians and their eating habits focused on the emerging phenomenon of meal delivery services such as long-standing Australian service Menulog which began in 2006 and has since merged with Eatnow.com.au and newer entrants including UberEats, Deliveroo and Foodora which have all appeared in Australia since mid-2015.

Unsurprisingly city-dwellers (12.6%) are far more likely to have had their meals delivered than those in country areas (4.5%). Women are marginally more likely to use meal delivery services (10.2%) than men (9.4%).

Australias younger generations have taken keenly to meal delivery services with 16.1% of Millennials/ Gen Y (aged 28-42 years old) having used a meal delivery service in an average three months compared to only 4.5% of Baby Boomers and just 3.6% of Pre-Boomers.

Metrotechs favour Uber Eats ahead of Menulog, Deliveroo and Foodora

The take up of meal delivery is not just about age, certain communities have really taken to meal delivery  as Roy Morgans unique geo-psychographic segmentation Helix Personas shows. 22.5% of those living in a Metrotech community use meal delivery services  predominantly young, single, well-educated, inner-city professionals.

Although just two years ago in April 2016, the service has quickly taken off. Uber Eats is used by 16.4% of Metrotechs putting it ahead of Menulog/Eatnow.com.au on 13.4%, Deliveroo on 7.3% and Foodora on 3.8%.
Woolworths moves on product packaging will impact suppliers





Supermarket giant Woolworths has pledged its commitment to phase out selling plastic straws, and plastic packaging in fruit and vegetables in its latest announcement on the stores sustainability initiative.

Anyone providing the supermarket with drinks that come in a juice box will have to re-think how they package, as plastic straws are sucked out of Woolworths shelves.

On the eve of World Environment Day, Woolworths Group CEO Brad Banducci made the announcements today at an industry sustainability event hosted at the Groups headquartersin Bella Vista, Sydney.

New initiatives include:

By the end of 2018, all stores within the Group in Australia and New Zealand will no longer sell plastic straws  saving 134 million plastic straws from going into circulation each year.

With the nationwide phase out of single-use plastic shopping bags on 20 June 2018, Woolworths Supermarkets will offer a new green reusable shopping bag  with a lifetime replacement offer  for customers to purchase. All money made from the sale of the Bag for Good in FY19 will go towards the Junior Landcare grants program.

In an ongoing effort to remove unnecessary packaging in produce, Woolworths is committed to trial the removal of plastic packaging on a further 80 lines over the next year. This will build on the 140 tonnes of plastic saved in the fruit and vegetables range in the last year.

Woolworths Supermarkets want to have a 100% food waste diversion partner by the end of 2018.

Woolworths will lead the establishment of a new Packaging Coalition Roundtable bringing together government, NGOs and key industry partners including Unilever, Nestle, Simplot, VISY and the Australian Packaging Covenant to find ways to move towards a circular economy in Australia.

In the last year we have seen a shift towards more sustainable attitudes from our customers and the momentum is growing, with recent research showing a 15% increase in Australians now saying that taking care of the planet is important to them, said Banducci.

Todays initiatives represent further small, but important, steps in our commitment to make positive change happen. We understand the journey towards a more sustainable future has its challenges, but together with our customers and industry partners we are committed to moving our business, our country and our planet towards a greener future, he added.

Apart from Banducci the panel included Angus Harris (co-CEO Harris Farm Markets), Anthony Pratt (executive chairman, Visy Australia & Pratt Industries), Claire Peters (managing director, Woolworths Supermarkets), Clive Stiff (CEO Unilever, Australia and New Zealand) and Paul Klymenko (CEO Planet Ark Australia Foundation).
By Sean Gallagher, Director, Centre for the New Workforce, Swinburne University of Technology

from www.shutterstock.com

In 2015, Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull welcomed us to the ideas boom, launching a National Innovation and Science Agenda to

drive smart ideas that create business growth, local jobs and global success.

In January 2018 the specially-created independent statutory board Innovation and Science Australia (ISA) released its report Australia 2030: Prosperity through Innovation. Its a document that has been described not as a roadmap for action, but more of a sketch with detours, dead ends, and red lights which should be green.

The federal governments May 2018 response to this report adds further disappointment. The response fails to seize the opportunity to deliver a properly funded and connected education, research and innovation system.

Australia is left with a series of well-meaning but disparate programs that only get us part way to ensuing that Australia thrives in the global innovation race.





Read more:

No clear target in Australia's 2030 national innovation report





Action is required

Today, we sit at the dawn of the fourth industrial revolution where virtual, physical and biological worlds are merging. Sophisticated cognitive and automation technologies will transform our world in ways difficult to imagine. These technologies are increasingly able to perform human tasks better, faster, and more cheaply.









Office of the Chief Scientist





But it is the emergence of vast, expanding digital platforms and the ecosystems they support that will have a more profound impact on the future of work. Their ever-increasing complexity and accelerating change means constant disruption is the new business as usual.

If we are to respond to the changing nature of future work, we need to build a world-beating national innovation ecosystem, especially by equipping Australians with skills and experience relevant to 2030. As we transition into the digital economy, that means technical, digital and STEM skills are vital. (STEM refers to science, technology, engineering and maths.)

Growth in STEM jobs is 1.5 times that of non-STEM since 2005, yet we continue to produce non-STEM graduates at higher rates than those in STEM. The performance of our kids at school  particularly in maths and science  has declined against international benchmarks.

Clearly, strategic intervention is needed: this is where ISA should come in.





Read more:

PISA results dont look good, but before we panic lets look at what we can learn from the latest test





Nothing new on education

The ISA report recommendations on education cover:

better training for teachers, particularly STEM teachers

preparing students for STEM degrees and jobs

improving student achievement in literacy and numeracy

interventions to reduce educational inequality

improving our vocational education and training (VET) system.

Yet none of these education recommendations were directly supported by the government: only in principle or noted support was offered in the response document.

While school education in Australia is the constitutional responsibility of the states and territories, the Australian government never shies away from using the funding carrot to leverage school policy outcomes for the betterment of the country.

For instance, full marks go to the federal government supporting STEM education through the Education Councils National STEM School Education Strategy 2016-2026, and for funding several excellent STEM education projects and initiatives. So why not fund increased numbers and quality of STEM teachers?

Likewise, the urgent need to support the Vocational Education and Training (VET) sector to help it drive innovation, automation and new technologies, and provide businesses with requisite skills training is absent. The Skilling Australians Fund  the governments main VET policy instrument and a welcome apprenticeship initiative  does little to transition the existing workforce through VET.

Funding for R&D is unclear

Turning to research and development (R&D), the government supports the ISA recommendation to enhance AI and machine learning capabilities  absolutely essential in the digital economy. However, there was no additional funding in the 2018 federal budget beyond existing digital technologies program.

At face value, the raft of funding commitments in the budget for R&D looks promising. But are the funds in addition to existing commitments, or a re-labelling of existing funds?

A persistent criticism from industry of government support is the continual chopping and changing of policies and programs, both in name and content.

ISA recommended extending export support programs, which is sensible given the solid evidence that they work. However, in its response the government merely said they are supported in principle, with no further funds forthcoming.





Read more:

What was missing in Australia's $1.9 billion infrastructure announcement





What about the future of work?

Agile approaches, exponential organisations, freelance economy, and Industry 4.0 are rewriting the rules of how economic value is created.

The ISA report aims to provide comfort about how to create employment opportunities towards 2030, but it speaks more to the past than to the future. Knowledge work  a main focus of the report  will increasingly be performed less by people and more by machines, creating vast workforce transformation challenges for industry.

The closer we get to 2030, the less the ISA view of the future will be true. Emerging evidence already contraindicates this view.

For work done by people, data from the United States and Australia already show enormous growth of freelancers, including operating from co-working spaces. Modelling suggests this trend will continue.

In parallel, business are becoming more agile. ANZ is completely restructuring itself to look more like 150 start-ups, and downsizing in the process. NAB is sacking 6,000 staff  including many knowledge workers  and replacing them with 2,000 technology specialists and digital workers. All large companies are expected to follow.

Dissociating work from jobs

In the emerging freelance economy, work is increasingly being dissociated from jobs on digital platforms like Upwork. And as more companies go agile, they will have fewer employees but have a larger workforce, leveraging the freelance economy through these platforms.

The upshot? People will increasingly need to create their own work opportunities rather than expect to get a traditional job.

Developing digital skills is essential, and the ISA report rightly focuses on them. But in the highly disruptive and dynamic environment of digital platforms, the core worker skill set will be competent risk taking. Diversity of experience combined with continuous learning are essential ingredients.

Alongside investments in teaching, we should be investing in opportunities where students  from secondary to tertiary education  can learn-by-doing in emerging futures of work.

It is for others to discuss the merits of whether these disruptive changes to the economy and employment should be allowed happen or not. But New York Times columnist Tom Friedman sums up the certainty of the approaching tech disruption perfectly:

Whatever can be done, will be done. The only question is, Will it be done by you or to you? but it will be done.

The inexorable and exponential rise of sophisticated technologies in the digital economy  the Australian economy  will impact all work and change all jobs. We need to be investing in this future for our children.

And we need the government to support and fund a well-integrated innovation ecosystem to incorporates education, research, industry and government.

Beth Webster receives funding from the ARC and the Victorian Government.

Sarah Maddison is a member of the ARC College of Experts.

Sean Gallagher does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.

Originally published in The Conversation.
Hi all,



Quick question re: the BVB. My fiance (currently having her Partner Visa processed) got a BVB for two trips we were taking in March and May, and we were lucky enough to get a multiple entry visa that expires in early July.



We've returned from the second trip, but still have a month left on the BVB. Rather than forking out for another BVB, would we be allowed to take another short trip before our current one expires?



If so, would we have to tell the DIBP? If so, how would we go about it?



Cheers,

Robbie
You're misunderstanding then.



She does not need to go offshore. She can stay in Australia.



The tourist visa will cease once she stays the 90 day stay period and does not leave, and the BVA will take over. That is how the system is designed. It is NOT the visa expiration in 2019 like you believe. I've already cited the source of the definition that the expiry when she is ONSHORE is the stay period ending, which again can be seen in VEVO.



Literally all she has to do is not leave and she will be fine. She never had to leave once after the 820/801 application was made.



But don't believe me, everyone else that has said it, or the immigration website itself. That's your choice to continue spending money and having her leave, further stopping the bridging visa designed to allow her to stay in Australia from going into effect.
Email Dan Walters of CALmatters at dan@calmatters.org. CALmatters is a nonpartisan, nonprofit journalism venture committed to explaining Californias policies and politics. For more columns by Walters, go to calmatters.org/commentary.
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Central Oregon Coast Summer Programs Include Lighthouse Tours, Guided Walks

Published 06/03/2018 at 6:05 PM PDT

By Oregon Coast Beach Connection Staff





(Yachats, Oregon)  An amazing array of summer activities on the central Oregon coast are happening in and around the Yachats area, where the outdoors as well as a famed lighthouse play a major part. The Cape Perpetua area is hosting a huge of number of guided walks or programs, often daily or every weekend. The Heceta Head Lighthouse will be open for daily exploration. To top it off, the enormously popular daily kayak tours of Beaver Creek near Ona Beach return for the summer.

Every Monday throughout the summer you can Walk with a Ranger at Cape Perpetua. These guided hikes are approximately one hour, on easy to moderate trails starting from the visitor center. Learn secrets of the cape and local flora and fauna from a retired chief park ranger. They happen each day 12 p.m.

On Fridays and Saturdays beginning June 15, the campgrounds at Cape Perpetua will be offering special programs. If youre going camping with the kids, they will be excited about Junior Ranger evening programs being offered at various campgrounds along the central Oregon coast (call visitor center for times and locations: 541-547-3289.)

Starting June 9, just about every day in the summer (except Wednesdays) features free guided tours of the Heceta Head Lightstation near Florence. These take place 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. The lighthouse, built around 1894, will be open for you to explore as the guide tells you about its illustrious history and how it worked. Heceta Lightstation is 14 miles south of Yachats on US 101. $5/vehicle/day use fee or valid OSP parking pass or Oregon Coast Passport. 866-547-3696.

Starting July 1, the Beaver Creek Kayak Tours take people on a daily sojourn around one of the central Oregon coasts most beloved riverways. They begin at the Beaver Creek Welcome Center, located 1.2 miles east of Hwy 101. Beaver Creek Road is between milepost 148 and 149 on Hwy 101 directly across from Ona Beach State Park (about 15 miles north of Yachats). Tour length is four hours total, with an estimated 2.5 hrs. of paddling. Participants may not use their own kayaks, paddles, or PFDs.

Paddling on Beaver Creek through a freshwater marsh is the perfect way to enjoy nature in a peaceful, tranquil environment. The marsh is home to many types of wildlife, especially migratory birds and waterfowl. The tour will pause often to point out interesting natural and cultural features in the park. This tour is great for beginners and kayakers of all levels. The creek is slow moving and not affected by ocean tides. The Beaver Creek Marsh offers participants an incredible opportunity to glimpse at the complexity and biodiversity of a healthy wetland marsh ecosystem.

They run 8 a.m. to noon just about every single day until September 3. There are 10 kayaks available for this outing, seven singles and three tandems.

The cost is $20 per person: reservations can be made online at oregonstateparks.org. Yachats Hotels - Lodging for these events - Where to eat - Maps - Virtual Tours



















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LAGOS, Nigeria - The first Edelman Trust Barometer for Nigeria shows that 78% of Nigerians still trust the media, despite the rise in 'fake' news. The study predominantly measures trust in media, business and government.

Release of Edelman Trust Barometer in Nigeria.



People define media as both content and platforms, so nearly seven in 10 worry about false information or fake news being used as a weapon.



Declines in trust

Social capital

The 2018 Edelman Trust Barometer was conducted for Nigeria by Edelman Intelligence to test the level of trust among Nigerians in the four mainstream institutions of government, business, media and non-governmental organisations.This contrasts, however, with the global trend whereby trust in the media is on decline especially due to the rise of fake news and post-truths occasioned by the growing social trend of citizen journalism and the influence of social media as an alternative but unregulated source of information.According to the global data from the report, media is now the least trusted institution; distrusted in 22 of 28 of countries.Edelman Trust Barometer is the annual global trust and credibility survey conducted by Edelman Intelligence, the independent research arm of the Edelman  the worlds largest PR firm with presence in 65 countries across the globe The survey measures trust in the four mainstream institutions of society, like government, business, media and non-governmental organisations.Since 2001, Edelman has been measuring trust in the four critical institutions in 27 countries, but this year is the first time Nigeria has been included in the survey.These were some of the highlights of the 2018 Edelman Trust Barometer unveiled in Lagos, on Thursday 31, May 2018 at Eko Hotel & Suites, Victoria Island, Lagos. The presentation of the report in Nigeria by Edelman was organised by Chain Reactions Nigeria, Edelmans Exclusive Nigerian affiliate and preferred West African partner. The theme was, The Battle for Truth.Further breakdown of the report for Nigeria indicated that Nigerians also trust NGOs, assigning an 81% score to the sector; while their trust for business is 62% and 60% for government; while 72% of Nigerians generally voted that trust matters in everything.Comparative analysis of the report with African countries such as South Africa, Egypt and Ghana, amongst others, also showed Nigeria finishing third highest in trust for the media and NGOs respectively; fourth highest in trust for business, and seventh highest in trust for government.Speaking at the presentation of the global data from the report, Edelman South Africa managing director, Jordan Rittenberry, expressed concern that the overall global assessment of the four mainstream institutions showed declines in trust about business and non-governmental organisations in 14 of the 28 countries sampled, and therefore called on key decision makers in the respective organisations to be deliberate in building their trust asset through increased investment.Over time trends have shown there is low trust in business and non-governmental organisations, so it is important that people in these institutions pay more attention to how the citizens trust them, he stated.Rittenberry added that, media is now least trusted institution as a result of the menace of fake news, which he noted has moved from being just a phenomenon to a key factor in shaping perception.People define media as both content and platforms, so nearly seven in 10 worry about false information or fake news being used as a weapon, he declared.Chain Reactions Nigeria managing director and chief strategist, Israel Jaiye Opayemi, said the inclusion of Nigeria in the annual survey for the first time in the 18-year-old history of Edelman Trust Barometer was in fulfillment of the companys promise last year to ensure Nigeria was in focus among the nations sampled annually by Edelman.Trust sits at the heart of social capital. For those who were here last year, we made a promise that Nigeria would be included in the 2018 deck of the Edelman Trust Barometer.Speaking on the Nigerian data from the survey which showed that government was the least trusted of the four institutions of the Nigerian society, Opayemi cautioned that, rather than condemnation, government requires help from communications professionals to help redesign the architecture of government communications in Nigeria.Let us therefore help those in government articulate the job descriptions, skill sets and requirements for the office of strategic communications in all government houses at the federal and state levels. Such offices must be presided over by professionals in strategic communications who will work with journalists, policy analysts, digital analysts, and infographics specialists, amongst others.That office is not just about putting the President and the Governors in the news; it is about asymmetric communications. The structure being used to run government communications in most government houses is not only dysfunctional but also outdated, Opayemi stated.He therefore advocated engagement of communications professionals by key occupiers of government positions like the president and governors, in order to overcome the challenges around trust and credibility assets of government.Opayemi said trust in NGOs was indicative of the fact that people acknowledge social interventions and humanitarian services rendered by non-governmental organisations in Nigeria, especially during some of the major disasters the country has witnessed.He however cautioned, that businesses and governments are already sitting in what he called, the cusp of the neutral zone and so must urgently improve on their trust asset so they do not slide into what he called negative zone.From what we have seen in the survey, Nigerians place a high premium on trust. It is therefore important for the business leaders to ensure that the company is trusted; that it communicates regularly with clients and customers, and their products and services are of high quality. They must also communicate regularly with employees and the CEOs must champion the effort, he stressed.Dignitaries at the presentation ceremony cut across the four mainstream institutions of the Nigerian society such as government, business, media and non-governmental organisations as well as the Nigerian marketing communications sector.
Authorities in the breakaway region of Somaliland should desist from detaining and harassing journalists covering a conflict with Puntland and lift an operations ban on two television stations, the Committee to Protect Journalists said.

 sergey Mayorov via 123RF

TV bans

Two journalists, Abdirahman Keyse Mohamed, also known as Tungub, and Mohamed Ahmed Jama, also known as Bidhaanshe, were arrested on May 27 and May 28, respectively, in the town of Las Anod in the contested Sool Region, according to Yahye Ahmed, the executive director of the Somaliland Journalists Association, and Guleid Ahmed Jama, the chairperson of the advocacy organization the Human Rights Centre.Abdirahman told CPJ that he and Mohamed were detained at a police station in Las Anod until May 30, when they were transferred to the main detention centre in the city. Neither was charged and they were not brought to court until yesterday, when they were granted bail and released, Abdirahman told CPJ. This is in contravention of Article 27 of Somaliland's constitution , which stipulates that arrested individuals must be produced in court within 48 hours.Abdirahman, a reporter with the privately owned Bulsho TV, told CPJ that local authorities did not explain why they had arrested him. In a May 26 report, he had interviewed members of the public about the conflict between Puntland and Somaliland, Abdirahman, Yahye, and Bulsho TV's deputy manager, Abdirashid Nour Wais, told CPJ.On the morning of May 28, police had prevented Abdirahman and other journalists from covering a local council meeting about the conflict between the two regions. Abdirahman said the officers also broke his camera. He was arrested later that morning at the Bulsho TV offices in Las Anod, he told CPJ. Mohamed, a journalist with privately ownedSBS TV, told CPJ that he was arrested while covering a demonstration in Las Anod.On May 29, Somaliland's information ministry banned SBS TV and another privately owned station, SOMNews, from operating in Somaliland, according to Guleid, Yahye, and a government statement The Ministry of Information accused the stations of inaccurate reporting and carrying out a "propaganda war" against Somaliland, according to the government statement and a statement by the Human Rights Centre. The ministry ordered the police to close all SOMNews and SBS branches in Somaliland and threatened individuals that send information to the two stations with legal action, according to the government statement.Though news gathering operations were banned in Somaliland, viewers in Somaliland could still access the satellite content of the two stations yesterday afternoon, according to Guleid."During times of conflict, the government ought to be creating a conducive environment for journalists to communicate diverse information to the public, not stifling the press," said CPJ Africa program coordinator Angela Quintal from New York. "We call on the Somaliland authorities to lift the operations ban on SOMNews and SBS TV, and to stop detaining and harassing journalists."Somaliland and Puntland have both vied for control of the Sool region for over 10 years. In recent weeks fighting over the disputed region has taken dozens of lives , according media reports.On May 28, anti-Somaliland protesters took to the streets in Las Anod in support of Puntland and the Mogadishu-based government of the Federal Republic of Somalia, according to reports by Reuters and the privately owned Garowe Online . In a press conference the same day, the Sool regional police commissioner, Abdirisak Mohamed Faarah, told journalists that authorities had arrested 57 protesters, including the two journalists, according to a statement from the Human Rights Centre. The regional police commissioner also said police were looking for two more journalists in connection to the demonstrations, according to Yahye Ahmed and Guleid. CPJ could not immediately establish the identity of the other two journalists.Somaliland's minister of information, Abdirrahman Abdullahi Farah, did not respond to a call and text messages from CPJ on May 29. A spokesperson in his office, Yonis Ali, on May 29 referred CPJ to the government statement issued on the shutdown of the two stations. He did not respond to questions May 30 asking for clarity on the legality of banning the two television stations nor did he address questions about the arrests of the two journalists.Somaliland Deputy Police Commissioner Abdirahman Liban Fohle on the morning of May 30 said he did not know why the journalists were arrested and asked CPJ to call him back later in the day. He did not respond to a call and two text messages in the afternoon. CPJ could not reach Sool Governor Abdi Khayre Dirir.The arrests of the two journalists and the shutdown of SOMNews and SBS operations are not the first action the Somaliland government is taking against the media in connection to the conflict in Puntland. According to a statement from the Human Rights Centre, parliamentarians on May 23 banned unauthorised press conferences and meetings in the Sool region.
Whats required

Value in Africa

This rapid growth has been supported by the continents burgeoning mobile phone industry. Africa is home to 1.28 billion people . It comes second only to Asia-Pacific region in terms of unique mobile subscribers. Forecasts suggest that there will be well over a billion mobile subscriptions on the continent by 2022. Its not surprising, then, that mobile phones have become the platform of choice for people in Africa who engage in e-commerce.Its important that the growth of the digital economy  including e-commerce  involves and benefits Africas small and medium business sector, which is the acknowledged engine of economic growth on the continent. Small and medium enterprises make up more than 90% of businesses in most African economies. This makes them the biggest employer and a big contributor to the growth of the regions middle-class population.But not many small and medium enterprises will be able to benefit much from e-commerce and developments in the digital economy as a whole without the development of proper digital innovation ecosystems.In the natural world an ecosystem refers to a community of living organisms in a given area and the complex relationships that exist between them and their environment. So an innovation ecosystem includes all the players and environmental factors that facilitate innovation. In e-commerce these include idea generators, trading platform developers, seller, buyers and those that provide surrounding support services.The manner in which these different players are connected and interact among themselves and with their environment creates an innovation ecosystem. And when these connections function well, innovation ecosystems can help to deliver economic and social benefits to a country.Several elements are needed for an innovation ecosystem to be successful.A facilitation platform or hub is crucial. Innovation centres, universities, industry bodies and individual firms can all act as platforms or hubs. Some good examples exist. Apple is one; it lets individuals and other companies develop and publish apps which they can then sell through its app store.Complementary resources and capabilities are also vital. These include knowledge resources, technology-related skills and funding to support the creation and commercialisation of products and services. This helps to ensure that each member of an innovation ecosystem derives value thats greater than what it can generate alone.Small and medium enterprises can work together with members of the ecosystem that specialise in knowledge creation through research and development  universities, for instance. In this way businesses gain the knowledge they need to develop high-quality technical products or services. Trust is also crucial. It can be fostered by focusing on information, knowledge sharing and investment in skills. If small and medium enterprises employees are equipped with specialised technical skills, for example, theyll be more likely to trust the technological and service solutions offered by another player in the ecosystem.Adaptability, sustainability and the ability to scale up matter in any innovation ecosystem.There are already a few well-known hubs in Africa doing this kind of work. Kenya has the i-hub . This gives tech entrepreneurs the physical space to connect with others in their field. It also hosts workshops related to product development; provides mentorship and offers business support services.Uganda is home to hive-colab , which provides similar support infrastructure and services to the countrys tech entrepreneurs.And AfriLab helps to coordinate innovation hubs across the continent. It does this by creating platforms, organising events and supporting projects that bring its members together. This is a good example of collaboration, knowledge sharing and capacity building in an innovation ecosystem.Innovation challenges are another valuable way of pushing for such ecosystems. The MTN Entrepreneurship Challenge is one example. Its a pan African competition which challenges students to develop digital applications or smart solutions aimed at solving problems facing the continent. It brings together entrepreneurs, students and investors.Events like this offer an easy, affordable way for entrepreneurs  including those in the small and medium enterprises space  to participate in the development of home-grown innovations, to promote them for the benefit of society, or both.More of these initiatives are necessary if the continent is to develop innovation ecosystems that really bolster its invaluable small and medium enterprises.
[East Africa]

Police commander Martin Okoth-Ochola. Photo: Facebook

Since taking office in March, Ugandas new police leadership has begun to address the many allegations of torture by police. But its actions have yet to go far enough. Unless the police, the directorate of public prosecutions and the judiciary take more systematic actions, defendants currently detained on the basis of confessions coerced under torture could proceed through the courts and allegations of mistreatment may resurface. That would be a horrific miscarriage of justice.

The new Inspector General of Police, Martin Okoth-Ochola, has formally reinstated Nalufenya detention facility to its previous status as a regular police station. Nalufenya was notorious as a location from which detainees often came to court bearing open wounds from torture. Many of its former detainees have detailed in the press their horrendous and heinous treatment at the facility in the hands of both the police and other security outfits. Okoth-Ochola also formally disbanded the dreaded Flying Squad, a police unit also well-known for abusing suspects, and moved the commander to another post. But there has been no indication of interest in an open and transparent investigation of the numerous allegations of torture by the Flying Squad or at Nalufenya.

Much more remains to be done. Changing Nalufenyas status without dealing with the structural and systemic abuses that occurred there amounts to little more than a superficial effort to improve the image of the police, similar to past efforts. It gives a false sense of commitment to resolving the deep institutional malaise under which Ugandas police have operated and is a facile, public relations move.

And the Flying Squad was just the most recent of a string of police units with abusive and corrupt reputations, and followed the previously disbanded units Operation Wembley, Violent Crimes Crack Unit and Rapid Response Unit. Those units were all disbanded after public outcry over their horrific treatment of defendants and at times, of the general public. Yet the Flying Squad maintained their vicious outlook, practices, facilities and in large part, personnel.

For more please see

https://www.hrw.org/news/2018/06/04/take-serious-not-symbolic-steps-refo...

Maria Burnett, Director

East Africa and the Horn
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BRISTOL TOWNSHIP >> Bucks County District Attorney Matt Weintraub has announced the creation of a reward fund to help solve three killings in Bristol Township. The reward through Bucks County Crime Stoppers was funded by donations from State Rep. John Galloway, State Rep. Tina Davis and the law firm of Stark & Stark. The unsolved cases are the murder of...
Hempel Group, parent company of Crown Paints, has signed an agreement to acquire German paint manufacturer J.W. Ostendorf.

JWO owns French paint manufacturer Renaulac, which now becomes a key asset for the Hempel Group, strengthening access to the French market.

The deal also brings with it the appointment of Joe Devitt, CEO of Crown Paints, as the new top executive in Hempel Decorative Europe. Devitt will be responsible for bringing Crown Paints and JWO together, aligning the businesses, sharing knowledge and expertise.

Devitt said: Both businesses are passionate about paint and about serving our customers. We share many business values and our market coverage, know-how and production facilities are extremely complementary. The joint venture is well placed to drive consolidation in the highly competitive market of decorative paints and I am looking forward to working with JWO to further enhance our product offering throughout Europe.

Henrik Andersen, Hempel Group President and CEO, said: Our decorative business is relatively new and has therefore naturally been a bit overshadowed by the companys two other strategic business areas, Marine and Protective. This is now over. With JWO now sitting alongside Crown Paints we have significantly grown our decorative business and sent a signal that we are ready to do more  in Europe and globally.

I have great expectations for the collaboration between JWO and Crown Paints and I am confident that the companies will continue to develop and grow the Hempel familys decorative business in Europe.
| BY Ricki Green |

How will Australia perform at Cannes this year? In the lead up to the Festival, Campaign Brief will be showcasing the work we hope will impress the judges

BWM Dentsu, Sydney

Most people living with Motor Neurone Disease (ALS) end up paralysed and unable to communicate with anything but artificial computer voices, pre-recorded messages or words mechanically stitched together. All of which sound unnatural. Powered by breakthrough voice cloning technology BWM Dentsu created Project Revoice, a program to digitally recreate the unique essence of any voice and give people with ALS the ability to speak freely and naturally, even after they physically cant. To launch this life-changing program we recreated the voice of Pat Quinn, co-founder of the ALS Ice Bucket Challenge, and created a platform where patients across the world can back up and recreate their own voices, forever changing the way people live with ALS.

BWM Dentsu, Sydney

Australia is at the top of Americans bucket list, but despite being Australias national airline Qantas was struggling to get more people Down Under. By analyzing numbers from the U.S. State Department BWM Dentsu discovered a key local insight that no one in the travel industry talked about  3 out of 5 Americans dont have a passport. So BWM Dentsu gave them one. With a simple promo code mechanic the agency deducted the full cost of a new passport from tickets to Australia. This simple promotional twist got instant global media attention resulting in 150% increase in ticket sales to Australia.

BWM Dentsu, Melbourne

Every 20 minutes a teenager is reported missing In Australia. In the search for missing persons, the first 24-hours are the most critical, but traditional alerts are failing to reach the public in time  particularly teenagers. So, BWM Dentsu created a new social media tool to assist Queensland Police with missing person investigations. Sent through Snapchat, Disappearing Person Alerts instantly notify the public when someone goes missing near them. Using the native functionality of Snapchat, the alert communicates an informative and emotive message, Help find John Citizen before he disappears. Launched in conjunction with the 2017 National Missing Persons Week, Disappearing Person Alerts continue to be used today as a powerful policing tool.

BWM Dentsu, Melbourne

Every Christmas, kids go hunting for their gifts, ruining the surprise of Christmas morning. So, Pacific Shopping Centres created a cardboard box with such extreme levels of boringness, it could make any toy invisible to tiny humans. Each box was made in a specially calculated boring brown and stamped with dull words like toilet paper and laundry powder. Then, at gift wrapping stations, each gift was given its own boring box. Now parents can smuggle presents home and hide them in plain sight without any risk of being discovered. And thats how Christmas was saved, using a cardboard box.

BWM Dentsu, Melbourne, Columbus
| BY Ricki Green |

In the lead up to World Oceans Day on Friday 8th June, Corona will take to the world stage in a continued effort to raise awareness around the eight million metric tons of marine plastic pollution thats dumped into our oceans each year. In partnership with 100 islands protected ambassador Chris Hemsworth, Corona is hijacking iconic symbols of paradise, including their OOH billboards in Melbourne, London, Santiago, Bogota, Santo Domingo and Lima. The activation led by PHD Media working with partner agencies Traffik, Monster Children and Fuel Communications.

At Federation Square, Melbourne, Coronas From Where Youd Rather Be OOH billboard featuring Chris Hemsworth surfing a beautiful ocean wave, will be juxtaposed by a 1,580kg wave of waste, to alert Aussies of the amount of plastic going into Australias ocean every hour. Over the course of Oceans Week, the brand will take plastic waste collected from in and around Melbourne and build them on top of the billboard, essentially polluting their own advertising with plastic.

The activation brings to life new research commissioned by Corona, which reveals that three quarters of Australians (74%) underestimate or have no idea about how much plastic is entering Australias ocean but when confronted with the amount of plastic entering our waterways, the majority of Australians (89%) said they will make an effort to reduce their consumption of plastics.

Says Andy Vance, marketing manager, Corona Australia: Corona is on a mission to protect paradise and plastic pollution is the most visible issue affecting paradise today. Our ads usually showcase paradise the way we assume it to be, pristine and beautiful, but today its increasingly hard to find a beach without plastic. Through our work with Parley, we hope to reverse this trend. In the lead up to World Oceans Day, Corona wants to remind the world that we all need to protect our beaches to continue enjoying them by hijacking iconic symbols of paradise.

Additionally, Corona and Parley are unveiling a limited-edition Hawaiian shirt design that incorporates plastic pollution imagery into the pattern. The Hawaiian shirts are available in three colours and can be purchased at wslstore.com/corona starting on World Oceans Day. Proceeds from each Corona Hawaiian shirt will go to Parley for the Oceans to help support its mission to protect our oceans.

Last month, the partnership also saw the brands change the name of the Corona Bali Pro World Surf League event to Corona Bali Pro-tected to make the point that even the most remote and aspirational paradises around the world are suffering.
| BY Ricki Green |

The Australian Government has today announced $60,000 USD in an initial round of financial support for a landmark eco-tourism initiative to support the sustainability of the Pacific Island nation of Palau. The small island nation with a population of 20,000 is seeking to overcome the negative impacts on its environment from the 160,000 tourists that visit annually and encourage visitors to think about their impact on the environment, globally.

The financial commitment will go towards furthering the efforts of the Palau Pledge, a world-first program, launched in December last year by Host/Havas, which has seen the country redesign its immigration policy and landing procedures to encourage visitors to become more environmentally-conscious while they travel.

The Palau Pledge, which nabbed one of three Black Pencils at this years D&AD Awards, involves all visitors to Palau being asked to sign a personal promise to Palaus children, stamped in their passports at immigration to protect and preserve Palau for future generations. The content of the Pledge was written with the help of Palaus children, and developed in collaboration with Palaus Government.

The Pledge positively reinforces Palaus environmental laws and traditions and its conditions are enforced throughout the country. Visitors who ignore the promise may be subject to penalties, including fines for offenses committed.

Australias minister for foreign affairs, Julie Bishop, minister for international development and the Pacific, senator Concetta Fierravanti-Wells, senator Penny Wong and senator Claire Moore today visited Palau to see the difference the Pledge is making first hand in preserving Palaus pristine environment and ancient culture. Bishop announced details of the grant provided by the Australian Government, which further strengthens the countrys ties with Palau.

Following the success of the Pledge since its launch late last year, Bishop announced the Australian Government is investing an initial $60,000 USD to support the next phase of its implementation in the country. The grant will go towards funding the new Pledge Business Accreditation Program that will engage Palaus private sector to help further the reach of the Palau Pledge in the community, engaging visitors in a positive way and communicating the aims of the Pledge. It will also help them ensure compliance with Palaus strict environmental laws and customs.

Says Bishop: I am delighted to confirm that the Australian Government is supporting the Palau Pledge initiative to help preserve the beautiful and pristine natural environment of Palau for future generations. This work is an example of how Australian and North Pacific nations can collaborate to maintain a peaceful, prosperous and stable region.

The Palau Pledge is rooted in Palaus traditional practice of environmental stewardship and was created by Host/Havas, in partnership with the Palau Legacy Project, a local group that works alongside Palaus government to help communicate Palaus conservation message. Despite its status as the worlds 13thcsmallest country, Palaus tourist numbers have rapidly increased in recent years due to its extraordinary array of unique natural wonders and remarkable landscape.

The Australian Governments investment in the Pledge also enables The Palau Legacy Project team to continue to work with the grassroots conservation community and marine research organizations based in Palau, to help ensure greater understanding of the initiative and longer-term success of the Pledge, with a hope that it will also be a trailblazing program to be rolled out in other countries around the world.

Says Tommy E. Remengesau Jr, president of Palau: We are grateful for the support from the Australian Government and Host/Havas which will make a significant difference in furthering the messages and aims of the Palau Pledge. Preserving our natural world is an important part of Palauan culture and The Palau Pledge is a truly innovative approach that brings to life our traditional wisdom in a way that our visitors can understand. This investment provides us with a strong foundation to build on the success of the Palau Pledge and engage our private sector in a long-term partnership to preserve our environment for future generations. The Palau Pledge has already made an immediate impact on visitors and the citizens of Palau, encouraging greater awareness of the responsibility we have to our children and our childrens children.
| BY Ricki Green |

DDB Sydney has announced the appointment of top international agency leader Priya Patel to DDB Sydney managing director.

Patel most recently worked as a consultant for David Jones, and prior to that was managing director of Y&R in London.

Says Andrew Little, CEO, DDB Australia: It gives me great pleasure to welcome Priya to the DDB Group in Australia. With extensive brand advertising experience and a proven track record in new business, she is the right person to lead DDB Sydney to continued success into the future.

Highly experienced in the management of large teams and key client relationships, Patel has worked across top UK and International brands including Harvey Nichols, Philips, Virgin Media, Marks & Spencer, BBC, Lloyds and Bank of Scotland.

Says Patel: I started my career as a grad at DDB London, and I absolutely loved it. Coming back to that DDB culture was a huge drawcard. They look after their people and really grow talent.

In addition to driving success on new business and large accounts across telco, retail, finance, FMCG, technology and media, Patel has a passion for creating bespoke agency people and culture programs.

Says Patel: I firmly believe in the importance of building relationships and teams over time, and thats something Im really looking forward to doing at DDB.

Im really excited to be joining Andrew and such a talented team, and getting stuck into working on some big, famous accounts.
| BY Ricki Green |

The Victorian Government has today launched a campaign called Deadly Questions in support of Australias first-ever Treaty legislation, via Clemenger BBDO Melbourne.

As Victoria embarks on a path to Treaty, research has shown many Victorians feel they know little about their States Aboriginal heritage or Aboriginal affairs in general. But along with their lack of knowledge, Victorians also dont feel comfortable asking questions for fear of offending or appearing ignorant.

Deadly Questions provides a platform for Victorians to get much needed answers and opens up a conversation between non-Aboriginal Victorians and the Victorian Aboriginal community at a pivotal moment in the States history.

Through the campaign website, people can ask questions, anonymously if they wish, and these questions will be answered by Aboriginal Victorians  responding via text or video.

To launch the campaign, some famous Aboriginal names have signed up to answer questions including musician Adam Briggs, elders Aunty Pam Pederson, Aunty Joy Murphy and Uncle Kevin Coombs OAM.

Outdoor, social and digital advertising features some starter-questions designed to get people thinking about what they might like to ask.

Says Josh Smith, executive director at Aboriginal Victoria and a Dunghutti man: For us, and for Aboriginal Victorians, this campaign represents hope. Hope for change. Hope for recognition. And importantly, hope that we can move forward as a State and as a nation united.

Never before has there been a forum like this to provide a deep understanding of Aboriginal cultures, and we look forward to joining Victorians in a conversation that needs to be had.

Says Evan Roberts, executive creative director, Clemenger BBDO Melbourne: This country has a long way to go to get to Treaty, but by creating an environment to talk about the issues that currently divide us we hope to unify Victorians in support of one.

Deadly Questions has launched across TV, OOH, the Deadly Questions website and social.

Victorians can ask their Deadly Question at deadlyquestions.vic.gov.au and take a step forward in fostering a greater understanding of Victorias original culture.

Clients: Aboriginal Victoria

Executive Director: Josh Smith

Director, Office of the Executive Director: Andrew Gargett

Strategic Communications Advisor: Drew Higgins

Manager, Office of the Executive Director: Jack Register

Senior Communications and Events Manager: Amy Hattam

Champions: Richard Frankland, Adam Briggs, Jarman Impey, Tiriki Onus, Aunty Pam Pedersen, Aunty Joy Murphy, Ben Abbatangelo, Uncle Kevin Coombs, Carissa Lee, Natarsha Bamblett, Nakaya Frankland
| BY Lynchy |

In The Philippines over 35,000 children become victims of road accidents every year, mainly from playing on the streets.

Johnsons Baby has been advocating the importance of outdoor play in a childs holistic development for many years. So BBDO Guerrero and Johnsons Baby co-created Playstreet, a campaign that urges drivers to slow down and drive more safely on streets where children play.

Parents were invited to sign up their kids playstreets to be marked on Google Maps and Street View with monsters that are inspired by childrens drawings. The interactive map can be accessed on www.playstreet.ph on any device and can even be downloaded unto the Google Maps mobile app, so drivers can navigate using the map to drive safely around Playstreets.

The monsters were also brought to life on actual playstreets with 3D street murals that interact directly with drivers. This campaign was also supported by social media ads, PR coverage, and on-ground events. Most importantly, data gathered from this campaign was sent to local government officials and GPS app makers to appeal for more street signs and alerts.

J-anne Gaurino-Aruta, Senior Brand Activation Marketing Lead for Johnsons Baby franchise said: We continue to encourage more parents to work together to make every playstreet in the country a safe place for children to play.

BBDO Guerrero Creative Chairman David Guerrero shares, Our main goal for Playstreet is to make streets safer so that kids can play longer outdoors. And we are proud to be working on this important initiative.

Credits:

Creative Chairman: David Guerrero

Executive Creative Director: Federico Fanti

Creative Director: Rachel Yulo, Liz Castaneda

Associate CD + Illustrator: Nico Zapanta

General Manager: Ombet Traspe

Copywriters: Frances Cabatuando, Rachel Yulo, David Guerrero

Art Directors: Michelle Co, Federico Fanti, Bern Cordora, Liz Castaneda

Designers: Gab Garcia, Franco Villaflor

Freelance Illustrator: Jano Gonzales

Head of Digital: Roshan Nandwani

Innovations Director: Anna Bigornia

Digital Experience Manager: Oleg de Leon

Digital Trainee: Marcus Ramos, Miguel Sietereales

Production Company: Flare Manila

Head of Integrated Production: David Wright

Editors: Myles Capareda, Rutherford Celino, Natalia Burgos

Client Service Director: Ethel Datario

Account Director: Kaye Sordan

Senior Account Managr: Jeshia Abjelina

Account Manager: Dorcas Torres
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Sunday, June 3, 2018 at 11:53PM

By Gadjo Cardenas Sevilla

Microsoft is reportedly buying GitHub which is a leading resource for global software development. "GitHub hosts code for 27 million software developers working on 80 million repositories of code, according to Bloomberg. The deal is apparently expected to be a billion dollar blockbuster deal which is expected to get a formal announcement tomorrow June 4.

GitHub is a critical service used to help develop everything from iPhone apps to websites. Microsoft owning this resource gives it a powerfull foothold in the future of software development. While GitHub is a huge code repository used by Apple, Amazon, Google and many others. Microsoft is also a major contributor to GitHub and a natural fit as a steward of the service.

Microsoft has opened its doors to Linux and open source software. Its future is in Azure IoT, which are is the software as well as microprocessors that run billions of future connected smart home, IoT and connected devices to which Microsoft's CEO Satya Nadella has said, "The whole world is now a computer." Azure IoT, is not expected to run on Windows but on a version of Linux, which fits in nicely with what GitHub is all about. This is clearly a move by new Microsoft under Nadella's guidance. The company has embraced openess and collaboration and even fosters a love of Linux and Open Source development.

GitHub has also become a social network and community for developers, something that Microsoft could benefit from in its portfolio, specially since the company has given the green light to various beta-testing and insider programs to test and debug new versions of its software. The reach that existing users of GitHub will offer Microsoft is extensive.

An infusion of capital from Microsoft as well as the focus on security and accountability can make GitHub even better even if initial skepticism from developers as to Microsoft's motives for purchasing the service.

Source: Bloomberg
Alanna Kelly

A Glenmore family watched as a baby deer took its first steps.

The fawn was first spotted curled in a ball at around 6:30 a.m. on their driveway off Glenmeadows Road.

Sylvie Boback said at first they thought the fawn might have been injured, but the mother returned just after 9 a.m.

The mother came by, sauntered over to see the little baby, pushed it from its behind, and the little baby got up on its little legs, she said.

The little one was very wobbly and stumbling as the mother cleaned it off.

It was spectacular to see, Boback said.

She said the deer was either born on the sidewalk outside of her front door or the mother was able to move the fawn there.

Mother deer and the fawn walked safely off the property.

Unfortunately, it was so early in the morning we couldnt get many of the neighbours up to come and take a look, Boback laughed.
Photo: Contributed Photograph of Jordan Mooney, 24.

The mother of a 24-year-old man who was found dead said her son will be remembered as the fun-loving person he was.

Jordan Alexander Mooney went missing after he was last seen leaving a house in the Dilworth area on Sunday night.

The search for the Vernon man tragically ended when his body was found near his abandoned car in McKinley Landing.

Tammy Mooney, his mother, said he was a special person.

[Jordan] touched the hearts and lives of those who knew him, she said. He will forever be remembered for the fun-loving person he was.

Mooney wants to say thank you to her son's friends who were out looking for him, handing out posters and offering support.

Thank you to all of our friends and family, she said. The outpouring of love and support has been overwhelming.

Const. Lesley Smith said there was no criminality involved in the death and the investigation is being led by the BC Coroners Office.

Central Okanagan Search and Rescue along with Kelowna RCMP spent six days scouring the area around McKinley Road where his vehicle was found on Wednesday.

A special thank you to the SAR teams who searched endlessly to find him and bring him home, said Mooney. Also to the RCMP, especially the missing persons unit.

Words cannot express how grateful we are.

A GoFundMe fundraiser has been created to help cover the cost of funeral arrangements for the family.
Photo: Contributed

RCMP were called to a six-vehicle crash on Highway 97A and Fenton Rd in Enderby BC over the weekend.

It happened just before 7 p.m., June 1.

Police say traffic northbound was stopped for a vehicle that was attempting a left-hand turn. A white Ford pick-up failed to stop in time, causing a chain reaction where several other vehicles then rear-ended one another.

"Three of the vehicles that were involved in the collision veered off the road in an attempt to avoid the collision, however, the vehicles were unsuccessful and collided with both stationary vehicles and on-coming southbound traffic," stated Const Kelly Brett from the Vernon North Okanagan RCMP.

According to police, a red Chevrolet pickup travelling southbound was towing a boat at the time it was struck, causing the pickup to lose the boat and trailer which ended up in the ditch.

"It is very fortunate there were only minor injuries with one person being transported by BC Ambulance Service to the local medical facility," stated Brett.

One driver was given a ticket for following too close.

Property in the area sustained moderate damages.

Anyone with any information is asked to contact the Vernon North Okanagan RCMP at 250-545-7171. Or remain anonymous by calling Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477, or leaving a tip online at www.nokscrimestoppers.com. You do not have to reveal your identity to Crime Stoppers. If you provide information that leads to an arrest, you could be eligible for a cash reward.

"The Vernon North Okanagan RCMP is reminding motorists to stay alert as the roads become increasingly busier in the summer months," stated Brett. For more Summer Safe Driving Tips visit the BC RCMP website here.
Photo: Contributed

UPDATE

The Crown entered a stay of proceedings in the case on March 11 after the complainant was unable to testify.

The offence was stricken from the sex offender registry, and Caron is no longer designated a long-term offender.

ORIGINAL

A new trial has been ordered for a man convicted of sexually assaulting a 21-year-old woman outside an Armstrong church in 2014.

Joseph Vance Caron, 49, was convicted on May 1, 2015 of sexual assault, choking with intent to commit the indictable offence of sexual assault and uttering a threat to cause death or bodily harm.

A Supreme Court of British Columbia judge sentenced Caron to six years and three months in jail. Caron was also declared a long-term offender.

Caron launched an appeal of the conviction on three grounds, two of which were thrown out.

However, it was argued successfully that the trial judge erred by "misapprehending evidence material to the assessment of the appellants (Caron's) credibility."

(1) his assessment of the appellants demeanour; (2) the appellants ability to remember details of a chance encounter that occurred almost two months before his arrest; and (3) inconsistencies between the appellants evidence and some of the physical evidence left at the scene...

Justice Gregory Fitch granted the new trial stating in his decision that "The appellant (Caron) was entitled to have his credibility evaluated in a manner untainted by misapprehensions of the evidence going to the heart of the judges reasoning process. In my view, that did not occur in this case. As a consequence, a new trial is required.

"In the result, I would allow the appeal, set aside the convictions and direct a new trial before a court composed of a judge and jury."
Photo: Trevor Honigman

A 29-year-old Vernon man is in custody following a two-vehicle hit-and-run accident May 30.

The incident happened just after 2:00 p.m. on Highway 97 near Stickle Rd.

A Blue GMC pickup had rear-ended a white Honda Civic. The driver of the pick-up failed to stop and continued to drive southbound on Highway 97 where the pick-up then collided with a Ministry of Transportation Vehicle which was working on the highway at the time.

The driver of the truck fled the area on foot prior to police arrival and was not located.

Sunday RCMP arrested the man on a property in the Spallumcheen area without incident. Police says the man is facing possible charges of dangerous operation of a motor vehicle, driving while prohibited and failing to remain at the scene of an accident.

He was scheduled in court today.
Photo: File photo

Marie Van Diest, fought back tears while reading a letter she wrote to the judge, expressing how her life has changed since her daughter Taylor Van Deist was murdered in Armstrong in 2011.

"I would give anything to spend one more day with my beautiful Taylor."

Also in the courtroom was Matthew Foerster, who was charged with first-degree murder of Taylor in 2014.

Foerster was sentenced to life in jail with no eligibility of parole for 25 years; however, he successfully appealed that conviction and a new trial was ordered.

Instead of going through a new trial, Foerster elected to enter a guilty plea to the lesser charge of second-degree murder.

The new sentencing trial started on June 4 with crown and defence asking for a joint submission of 17 years with no chance of parole.

"It's like adding salt to the wound," says Marie Van Diest, adding that there are new elements being added by Foerster's defence lawyer that she has never heard before.

Taylor was murdered in 2011 while walking near the railway tracks on Rosedale Avenue. She was only 18 years old and was headed to a Halloween party.

Taylor was found barely alive with at least six severe injuries to her skull, bruising, intrusions and fractures.

"She was severely beaten," said the crown prosecutor, adding that Foerster brought a shoelace which at one point he forcefully put around Taylor's neck.

The defence claims Foerster started drinking at noon that day and was mixing beer, hard alcohol and drugs before approaching Taylor.

The defence says Foerster pulled over in Armstrong after driving from Lumby because he 'realized' he was probably too intoxicated to drive and should try to 'walk off' some of the booze.'

While the Crown and Defence went through the graphic details of Oct. 31, 2011, Marie, along with her family cringed.

Marie admits that while the defence spoke she wanted to get up and leave the courtroom.

It could take until Wednesday for the judge to make a final decision on a sentencing.

The mother of Taylor explained during a break she hopes the judge gives Foerster the maximum sentence possible for second-degree murder.
Photo: Revelstoke RCMP Car stolen from Sandman parking lot.

A classic car was stolen overnight Saturday, and the Revelstoke RCMP are seeking the public's help in locating it.

Sometime between the evening of June 2 and morning of June 3, a blue-and-white 1969 Chevrolet Camaro 427 was taken from the parking lot of the Revelstoke Sandman Hotel.

The vehicle's identification number is 124679N648614, and its license plate is B35476.

Anyone with information is asked to contact Revelstoke RCMP at 250-837-5255 or visit the Revelstoke Crime Stoppers website here.
Photo: Contributed Spring melt led to the closure of trails along BX Creek.

Parts of the BX Creek trail system have reopened.

The RDNO has re-opened BX Creek Trail from Tillicum Road to the closest bridge washout downstream.

"Please note that the trail will remain closed off Star Road due to water levels and public safety hazards," stated Keith Pinkoski parks manager. "The BX Creek Trail at the North-East end of the BX Ranch Dog Park will

remain an unmaintained open space, users are encouraged to exercise caution."

Residents are reminded to keep a safe distance from streams and creeks until all water levels return to normal.

Rising water levels from spring melting led to the closure of BX Creek Trail, behind the BX Dog Park, and the BX Creek Falls trail at Tillicum and Silver Star Road.
Photo: Google Maps

Police are seeking the public's help after a woman's body was dragged from a Vancouver Island river last week.

The grisly discovery was made Thursday evening on the Puntledge River, in Courtenay.

RCMP and the BC Coroner's Service are investigating the death.

Anyone in the area who noticed anything suspicious is asked to call RCMP at 250-338-1321 or CrimeStoppers at 1-800-222-8477.

 with files from CTV Vancouver Island
Hamilton County Trustee Bill Hullander received the State of Tennessee Outstanding Trustee of the Year award.

The award honors selected Tennessee trustees for their exemplary service to the state of Tennessee and to the citizens of Hamilton County.

The Trustee of the Year award was presented at the 2018 annual Trustee Conference that was held in Chattanooga.
June Jordan, 91, of Chattanooga, went home to be with the Lord on Sunday, June 3, 2018.

Mrs. Jordan was born and raised in Chattanooga. She was a member of Our Lady of Perpetual Help Catholic Church and graduated from City High School. She and her husband, Hugh, were charter members of the Cherokee Camping Club. June will always be remembered as a loving and dedicated homemaker.



June is survived by her son, Stephen (Jennifer) Jordan; granddaughters, Christy Forrester and Sarah (Brandon) Fryar; great-grandchildren, Easton, Mason and McClain; and sister, Dot Hodgkins.



She was preceded in death by her husband, Stephen Hugh Jordan, Sr.



Funeral services will be at 1 p.m. on Thursday, June 7, at the Valley View Chapel of Chattanooga Funeral Home. The family will receive friends prior to the service from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.



Burial will follow at Chattanooga National Cemetery.



Arrangements are by the Valley View Chapel of Chattanooga Funeral Home, Crematory & Florist,7414 Old Lee Highway, Chattanooga, Tn. 37421.


The smaller and smarter that phones and devices become, the greater the need to build smaller circuits. Forward-thinking scientists in the 1970s suggested that circuits could be built using molecules instead of wires, and over the past decades that technology has become reality.

The trouble is, some molecules have particularly complex interactions that make it hard to predict which of them might be good at serving as miniature circuits. But a new paper by two University of Chicago chemists presents an innovative method that cuts computational costs and improves accuracy by calculating interactions between pairs of electrons and extrapolating those to the rest of the molecule.

Current models tend to overpredict conductance, but our theory outperforms traditional models by as much as one to two orders of magnitude, said Prof. David Mazziotti, who coauthored the paper.

Everything from better computer chips and batteries to greener ways to produce chemicals depends on discovering new kinds of chemistries and materials, and scientists increasingly look to computers to search for new combinations more efficiently. Instead of trying permutations one by one, they can run models that predict the best options.

But its a delicate art, because in many cases these calculations can consume computing time alarmingly fast. In molecules with a lot of interacting electrons, you can very quickly end up with the computation size increasing exponentially with the size of the molecule, Mazziotti said.

Mazziotti and graduate student Manas Sajjan set out to simplify, creating a method for predicting molecular conductivity that uses the interaction between two electrons to represent all of the interactions. To take one example, for a particular molecule the traditional method might require computing with 10 24 variables, whereas ours has 10 9 variablesa quadrillion fewer variables, Sajjan said. Thats the difference between a problem for which you need a supercomputer versus one you can do on a laptop.

This choice allows an unusual but powerful approach. Existing theories for molecular conductivity assign a set number of voltage applied to the molecule to predict a number for the current that could then flow through it. Sajjan and Mazziotti flipped this paradigm on its head. They fixed the current first, and then computed the voltage. This turns out to be much more accurate: When they checked their method with a well-known molecule, they saw it outperformed traditional methods by one-to-two orders of magnitude.

Whats important is its really rigorous. Even with the conduction theres still a one-to-one mapping with the many-electron system, Mazziotti said. The process of making sure that the two-electron system still represents the many-electron system is a very challenging problem thats been around for 50 years, but he said its worth the struggle.

Almost all of the big problems that people are trying to solve involve working with materials that are difficult to explore with traditional methods, he said. If we can better predict the conductivity, we can more effectively design better molecules and materials.
Perl said the firms reputation has been further damaged by a May 2 filing by ICC staff attorneys alleging Lincoln Towing committed 831 violations of the states towing law over eight months. The filing was posted on the agencys website and its findings reported in the Tribune and other local media.
The headquarters building has cement floors, metal and glass accents throughout and amenities that would remind one more of an Apple store than a corporate headquarters. McDonalds CEO Steve Easterbrook said thats exactly the point: to have a building that reminds employees everyday to be creative and think outside the box  a quality that Easterbrook has admitted the company didnt do enough of in the past. Oprah Winfreys Harpo Studios once stood on the site McDonalds now occupies, but there are no visible reminders of the propertys former use.
McDonald's has long been seen as a symbol of Western culture and capitalism - particularly in communist countries. (Dhiraj Singh / Bloomberg)
Bolt opened and managed the iconic Bar DeVille in Ukrainian Village before it closed in 2017. The cocktail den was known as one of Chicagos most influential bars and credited with creating a blueprint for other cocktail bars serving serious drinks but low-key vibes. While a new location of Bar DeVille is still in the works, Bolt, Matt Eisler and Kevin Heisner (of management group Heisler Hospitality) pounced on the opportunity to open another concept when the space became available.
You don't need an excuse to drink, but this week you've got a good one. Monday through Sunday, thousands of bars and restaurants around the world are pouring creative spins on the Negroni  a classic Italian cocktail made with Campari, gin and sweet vermouth  and donating a portion of the proceeds to various charities. The drink may taste bitter, but you'll get the sweet satisfaction of giving back. Check out the novel versions at these 12 Chicago spots, or visit negroniweek.com for a full list of participants.
Something happened tonight. Something bad. Our husbands arent coming back, Viola Davis says in the trailer. Were on our own. They stole a lot of money, and now people want it from us.
Aster borrows from all over the place, with unusual confidence and purpose. His best images play spatial games between Annies miniatures and the goings-on in the real house. Each time Aster cuts to a shot of the spacious semifurnished treehouse behind the family home, the one emitting a ghostly red glow from a space heater, its just as arresting as the previous time. Above all, theres Collette, who sometimes can overdeliver a dramatic moment or an aghast reaction, but in this storytelling context shes fabulous. Its a fierce performance with a human pulse, racing one minute, dead still the next. If Hereditary isnt quite up to the horror-debut level of The Witch, its still a pretty remarkable experience. And now I think I need to pet my dog, or listen to some Gershwin, or something.
Oh, and we also get occasional visitations from Jeanne dArc (Ty Easley), who first appears as a shiny lady to the young DEon in the vineyards of Burgundy owned by her father. (Since the Chevalier used feminine pronouns at the end of her life, this review will do the same.) In taking the Maid of Orleans virginal life as a model (no small feat in the licentious world of Versailles), DEon certainly kept the mystery of her true gender alive  so much so that there was actually a betting pool on the London Stock Exchange as to whether she was a man or a woman. (According to the doctor who examined her after her death at age 81, the Chevalier possessed male genitalia.)
WL: Ahhh, there goes Nina again asking logical questions and expecting answers. I found William/MIBs near death compelling, though I still feel uncertain about what his motivation is. After so many years playing bad guy, hes willing to fight to the death? Did the Ghost Nation warriors kill fake-Maeve? They didnt seem to be in a killing mood when they told the real Maeve that their paths are all connected. The show likes to play around with chaos and order. I wonder if Maeve will stick around if only because she has more tricks to show us above her ability to remain alive despite .50-caliber gunfire. As for Ford, I think his giant brain is the source of the corruption. Once he downloaded himself in Bernard, he left the system. But how can Bernards hard drive mind have enough space for both Bernard and Ford, when Peter Abernathy could barely function with the Magic 8 Ball in his head? So many questions!!!
"I would like to say this has a been a very difficult week," a solemn Gilbert told the live studio audience. "A lot of people have been hurt by this. I will say that I'm proud of the show we made. The show has always been about diversity, love and inclusion, and it's sad to see it end in this way. I'm sad for the people who lost their jobs in the process. However, I do stand behind the decision that ABC made."
His findings help explain a 2014 GRACE report on Bob Jones University, one of the most visible evangelical colleges in the country. The study showed that 56 percent of the 381 respondents who reported having knowledge of the school's handling of abuse (a group that included current and former students, as well as employees) believed that BJU conveyed a "blaming and disparaging" attitude toward victims. Of the 166 people who said they had been victims of sexual abuse before or during their time at BJU, half said school officials had actively discouraged them from going to the police. According to one anonymous respondent, after he finally told the police about years of sexual abuse by his grandfather, a BJU official admonished him that "[you] tore your family apart, and that's your fault," and "you love yourself more than you love God." BJU officials declined to comment for this article.
It used to be common practice for a maternity ward to keep newborns in a nursery, but now babies typically stay with the mothers in a bassinet. That way the mom is learning the babys cues right away and bonding, Slade said. At first, when we dropped the nursery, there were a lot of customer service issues and complaints from the moms that they couldnt get a nap. But I never hear complaints now because rooming in is more of the expectation.
Liz took some time learning how to move on from the life she used to know, she wrote. She was stuck. Thandi, her roommate, had no problem at all. From the start she said there was no point being sad at what she couldnt change. I read that, wishing my heart could catch up like Thandis did in two pages. But everyone takes their own time to keep their mind and soul in sync. Knowing that my mom wasnt coming back home was difficult to even imagine. I had to accept that life would go on without her, but only if I moved on.
What to see and do: Fly into Dubrovnik and wind your way into Montenegro on roads that hug the cerulean Bay of Kotor. Located deep within the massifs of the Dinaric Alps, the fortified coastal town of Kotor has 14th century ramparts-best explored at sunset, when the golden light bounces off Romanesque churches and into the shimmering waters. Then take a day to hike either of the two looming peaks in Lovcen National Park, where the views of the craggy landscape once caused George Bernard Shaw to wonder, "Am I in paradise or on the moon?"
We want to take people out of their own cars, said Ziegenmeyer. He said the service could help people decide to use their own cars less often, and perhaps do without a second car. He said MOIA is talking with cities in North America about bringing the service here, though he could not say which ones.
Since the Civil War, most coins have contained the motto In God We Trust, but it wasnt until 1955 that a law was passed requiring the saying to appear on all U.S. currency, according to the U.S. House of Representatives website. Rep. Charles Bennett, a Democrat from Florida, introduced the bill that would later become law, arguing that the motto would serve as a constant reminder of the countrys spiritual faith. He and others evoked the ensuing Cold War as reasoning for why it was important to include the motto on U.S. currency.
Bucio, who also served on the Chicago Police Department for several years, died May 28 while searching for a man who had fallen off a boat on the South Branch of the Chicago River near Ashland Avenue. The father of two young sons was separated from his partner for a brief period and pulled from the water before he was pronounced dead at Stroger Hospital about two hours after the initial dive.
The man was one of 16 people shot in Chicago on Monday and early Tuesday. Six of them were shot on the West Side in less than four hours, including a triple shooting in the Lawndale neighborhood that left one man dead. The six were all shot in the Harrison Police District, the citys most violent.
Bucio, 46, a 15-year veteran of the Fire Department, died a week earlier after jumping into the South Branch of the Chicago River near Ashland Avenue to try to save a man who had fallen off a boat. Bucio was pulled from the water after he was separated from his partner and was later pronounced dead at Stroger Hospital. Investigators continue to examine the circumstances of what happened in the river. Friends of the missing boater say they have found his body, but authorities have yet to confirm that.
He was a guy for whom politics meant nothing because he promoted me  a lifelong Democrat  to the position of chief of the criminal division, said Gino DiVito, a practicing attorney and retired judge who worked under Carey. He was a quick learner, he got it, and he was intent on always doing the right thing.
And if you look at what he said, he said something to the effect like, What do I get?  Stupid thing to say. But hes sort of saying  hes gonna make a U.S. senator, which is a very big deal, Trump said. If you read his statement, it was a foolish statement. There was a lot of bravado.  Plenty of other politicians have said a lot worse. He shouldnt have been put in jail.
I thought through so many scenarios in the beginning of May, if this was going to fall apart, of who was going to wear the collar for it, House Republican Leader Jim Durkin said Sunday on WGN-AM 720. And, at the end of the day, all of us would.
President Donald Trump speaks during the Coast Guard Change of Command Ceremony on June 1, 2018, at the Coast Guard Headquarters in Washington. Some experts say the assertion by Trump's lawyers that the president cannon obstruct justice is untrue. (Olivier Douliery / Tribune News Service)
The McCarthy era had similar exaggerations, but they were built on a far more solid foundation. There were indeed figurative witch hunts back then, but there were also witches  witches who gave the Soviet Union nuclear secrets and warlocks who swore allegiance to a foreign power and the cause of overthrowing the U.S. government. Today the larger cause is simply Donald Trump, a victim-saint-martyr in need of a large cause arrayed against him to justify his excesses. Thus the Deep State is like the pigs head Beelzebub in Lord of the Flies, a demon conjured to justify opposition to it. Its like the McCarthy era in a timeline where there was no communist threat to support it.
To understand the evolution of macaroni and cheese is to realize that the pursuit of the cheapest protein possible has been a longstanding quest of the American food system. At times, cheese itself has shared a similar trajectory. Cheesemaking, which began 10,000 years ago, was originally about survival for a farm family or community: taking a very perishable protein (milk) and transforming it into something less perishable (cheese) so that there would be something to eat at a later date. Many of us today think of cheese in the context of tradition, flavor or saving family farms, but a basic goal  whether a producer is making farm-made cheddar or concocting the cheeseless dairy product Velveeta  has always been getting as much edible food from a gallon of milk as possible.
Moodys Investors Service continued last week to warn that the states pension crisis, the growth of unfunded liabilities and debt service and burdensome benefits for state workers are consuming a greater share of annual revenue than is the case in any other state. Illinois would need to raise taxes again or put less money into the pension funds  both terrible options  or it will face daunting pressure during the next fiscal year. The state is likely to reach or exceed a point at which 30 percent of revenue will go toward these fixed costs, roughly triple the median level for other U.S. states.
This spring and next spring and the next, many of these students are striding across graduation stages and accepting diplomas. What a great achievement each students graduation is: Many of these scholars are the first generation of their families to attend college. Now theyre on the cusp of success. Who knows how many had never thought theyd be able to afford college before this program?
Phillips said he welcomes business from gays and was willing to sell the couple a pre-made cake or other baked goods. But he said it would violate his religious freedom if he were compelled to use his creative talents for an event he regards as a violation of the laws of God. (Phillips, by the way, also refuses to make cakes for Halloween on religious grounds.)
720 Ardsley Road, Winnetka: $6,999,000 | Listed: Sept. 13, 2021



This six-bedroom English Tudor home has four full bathrooms, two half baths, built-in features, period millwork and sits on 1.5 acres of rolling landscaped grounds on a private road. The kitchen has hardwood floors, an island, a butlers pantry, custom cabinets, a double oven and space for a table. The home has an office, a library, a Great Room, a Family Room, a Living Room and a Dining Room. Four fireplaces, a wet bar, and a finished basement complete this home, which was designed by the renowned architect Benjamin Marshall. The property also has an in-ground pool, a patio, a hot tub and an attached four-car garage.



Agent: Sarah Elder Lyons, Compass, 847-436-4351



*Some listing photos are virtually staged, meaning they have been digitally altered to represent different furnishing or decorating options.



To feature your luxury listing of $800,000 or more in Chicago Tribunes Dream Homes, send listing information and high-res photos to ctc-realestate@chicagotribune.com.



Join our Chicago Dream Homes Facebook group for more luxury listings and real estate news.
Alberts was sentenced to two years of probation, must pay $1,440 in fines and fees and was ordered to undergo sex offender treatment and to have no contact with the victim, according to court records and Judge Sharon Prather. He also must register as a sex offender for life, McHenry County Assistant States Attorney Rita Gara said.
To be clear, reports that I made two trips to Von Maur (a store I have loyally patronized for years) and attempted to return merchandise that I had not purchased are absolutely false, Pihos said in the statement. And while the events leading to these charges were a misunderstanding, I have chosen to move forward  to put this awful matter behind me  rather than endure a public trial that would ultimately come down to my word against someone elses. I trust that my long history of service to the community  service guided always by integrity and generosity  speaks for itself.
Fernando Barron, 42, of Round Lake, was taken into custody on two active warrants May 23. Police received a report of a man sleeping in a car in the 200 block of Hyacinth Lane. A check showed an active arrest warrant on a domestic battery charge in Lake County and another for failure to appear in a traffic court case in Palatine. He is free on bond and is next scheduled to appear in court on the battery charge June 14.
On June 14, more than 30 employers from throughout the area will be on campus for the Second Chance Job and Resource Fair. The event, which is free to attend and open to the community, runs from noon to 3 p.m. in room B- 203/204 of the Triton College Student Center (B Building), at 2000 Fifth Ave., River Grove.
This comment is to the person who called in Pants on fire: This person really likes President Trump. My condolences to him. You want to know why Trump lies? Think back. Remember when he took office and he said Obama had all sorts of microphones around the area in the White House? He never proved it. Hes all talk. When he said he lies, yes we agree with him because he talks out of both sides of his mouth. If he ever had a comment, hed change his mind in the next day or two. We will remember in 2020.
I live on Grass Lake Road where the bridge crosses over the Chain OLakes near Blarney Island. It seems that the illustrious Lake County is out there again rebuilding the bridge that was just worked on about five years ago. They put a walk lane or a bicycle path across there. Now there are signs up that the roads going to be shut down to one lane. They put up some temporary lighting and its going to cost millions of dollars. It seems that the rail that they put up there and the walk path is falling in. If you drive over the bridge, you will be amazed to see that the left side of that walkway, all the safety features are all bent and twisted. Whos responsible? Is it Lake County Highway Department, the engineer or the contractor? I know this is going to cost millions of dollars. Our Lake County taxes are crazy already. And thank your paper for carrying Talk of the County. I love it.
The residents have been well served by you being a part of its operational team in a myriad of capacities at Public Works, and for the last 15 years an integral part of the villages management team, Czerwinski wrote. These professional accomplishments, while significant, were on top of your community involvement at special events and in community leadership and support capacities.
Orenchuk said the panel is a group of professionals that normally would not visit Mundelein and they focused only on data and industry trends. Mundelein paid $20,000 for the Urban Land Institute to visit the corridor, review related documents and write a report. The organization does not accept all requests.
This project shows that when you get different government agencies together and you have a vision, you can make it into a reality, said Suzanne Hart, of Naperville, president of the Forest Preserve District of Will Countys Board of Commissioners, in the release.
After asking for blessings upon military members and their families, Ronald Gregorio addressed veterans directly. "You are brave," Gregorio said. "Because of love of country, you volunteer; because of love of freedom, you volunteer; because of love of family and friends, you volunteer."
Stewart noted theyre working around available park space when placing booths, as trees and bushes in Scoville Park continuously grow and landscaping changes. He said they try to avoid placing groups with opposing viewpoints, or who are competitors, next to each other to keep things friendly. A booth Bingo game encouraged fest-goers to check out a wide variety of booths.
Maine Township officials are currently exploring ways to increase security at Town Hall, which is located in Park Ridge. Options that were presented to the board in March included hiring armed security guards, and purchasing metal detectors, an X-ray machine for bags and parcels, a visitor management system, which would track visitors and print ID badges, and a buzzer system for the front desk and entrance.
Guy was clocked driving 96 mph in a 70 mph zone near the 2.5 mile marker on the Indiana Toll Road by state trooper Alaa Hamed, the release stated. When Hamed, who was sitting in his fully marked police car, pulled out to pursue Guys 2018 Ford SUV, he accelerated to 110 mph, Wojas said. Guy, the lone occupant of the vehicle, was pulled over at the 8-mile marker and failed to identify himself to Hamed, after which he fled, according to the release.
She said the charter school will have a capacity for 250 students. She said negotiations are still ongoing with Ivy Tech, 1440 E. 35th Ave., to use its shuttered Gary campus for the charter school until construction is completed, likely in April, 2019.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported in December that life expectancy in the United States declined for the second year in a row in 2016. U.S. life expectancy peaked at 78.9 years in 2014. It fell to 78.7 in 2015 and to 78.6 in 2016. As the British Medical Journal pointed out earlier this year, this decline is the culmination of a decades-long trend. In 1960, the United States had the highest life expectancy of any country in the 35-member Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD), which comprises the worlds richest countries. Back then, Americans on average lived 2.4 years longer than residents of the other OECD countries. We started losing ground, though, in the 1980s. Our life expectancy first fell below the OECD average in 1998. Now it is 1.5 years lower than the average of the 35 countries.
He loved his job and he felt a very strong responsibility to his duties, Murphy said. He was working up until about two weeks ago and he actually felt that he was letting us down because he couldnt be there to help us test our new radio network in the next few weeks.
Colorado's love for SUVs is stronger than ever, even as climate warms
By Alexander Chipman Koty

China will slash import tariffs on a range of consumer goods, the State Council announced on May 30.

The tariff cuts, which will go into effect on July 1, 2018, will substantially lower tariffs on goods such as apparel, cosmetics, cleaning products, home appliances, fitness products, and some healthcare products.

In total, tariffs on 1,449 categories of goods will be lowered.

Significant changes include import reductions on:

Apparel (including clothes, shoes, and hats), kitchenware, and fitness products from an average of 15.9 percent to 7.1 percent;

Aquaculture products (including fishing products) and mineral water from an average of 15.5 percent to 6.9 percent;

Cleaning products, cosmetics, and some healthcare products from an average of 8.4 percent to 2.9 percent;

Household appliances (including washing machines and refrigerators) from an average of 20.5 percent to eight percent;

Various types of fruit and vegetable juices from 10-30 percent to five percent; and

Some types of jewelry from 35 percent to 10 percent.

The complete list of tariff reductions can be found here (in Chinese).

Business Intelligence from Dezan Shira & Associates

The move is reminiscent of last years round of tariff cuts on nearly 200 types of consumer goods, which took effect December 1, 2017. Those tariff cuts also affected widely-used consumer products such as milk powder, diapers, cosmetics, and other household goods.

Further, China recently cut tariffs on imported vehicles, effective July 1, 2018.

Although the US has been pressuring China to cut tariffs on imports, the latest round of tariff cuts do not appear to be a concession in the trade dispute. Rather, they are part of Chinas supply-side reform policy, which seeks to spur domestic consumption and encourage Chinese firms to move up the value chain.

Most of the product categories affected by the new tariff cuts are in relatively low-value industries, such as simple apparel manufacturing. By decreasing tariff protection in these industries, the government hopes to incentivize investment in higher-value sectors that benefit from generous state support, such as high-tech R&D and manufacturing.

In addition to contributing to Chinas economic restructuring, the tariff cuts will help satisfy Chinese consumers demands for foreign products, which they generally consider to be of higher quality and more reliable than domestic options. The move also gives the Chinese government credibility as it attempts to position itself as a defender of free trade and globalization.
Alaska officials and business leaders highlighted China's increasing importance to the U.S. northwest state as China has been its biggest trade partner for years, the KTUU TV channel said over the weekend.

Alaska has traded heavily with China and sold lots of commodities to Chinese consumers, such as timber, lead and gold mineral ores, as well as petroleum, state officials said.

Among them, seafood is the biggest export item by far. "Seafood comprised almost 60 percent of that (Alaska's total exports to China), so almost US$800 million worth of Alaska seafood (are) going to China," KTUU quoted Nicole Kimball, vice president of the Pacific Seafood Processors Association, as saying.

"That's probably in the realm every year of 800 million to 900 million pounds (about 363 million to 408 million kilograms)," said Nicole Kimball.

In 2017, Alaska exported US$1.32 billion worth of goods to China, or about 26 percent of Alaska's total exports to the world market valuing US$4.93 billion, according to data from the U.S. Census Bureau's Foreign Trade Division.

Sarah Leonard, an official with the Alaska Travel Industry Association, said Chinese tourists contribute a lot to Alaska's economy as they tend to stay longer and spend more than tourists from other countries.

Chinese travelers represent about 3 percent of Alaska's tourism market, and more are coming each year, she said.

They tend to travel in the off season, and this offers a boost to local tourism businesses, Leonard explained.

"Alaska is just scratching the surface of the Chinese market, and looking for opportunities to create more revenue and opportunities for Alaska businesses," she said.
The Belt and Road Initiative has already produced several tangible results, which will continue to boost revenue growth of both Chinese and foreign companies, while improving their ability to execute big-ticket projects, an executive of CITS American Express Global Business Travel said.



"This grand initiative will not only rejuvenate ancient trade routes, but also further open up markets and accelerate economic integration on a transparent, equal and innovative ground," Kevin Tan, vice-president and general manager of the travel firm's China operations, said.

The B&R initiative, proposed by China's leader, envisages infrastructure networks and economic ties connecting China to the rest of Asia and to Europe, Africa and the wider world, Tan said.

"It will no doubt drive economic growth and efficiency, social welfare and customer satisfaction in all the countries and regions participating in the initiative," Tan said.

Forty percent of companies and organizations in the initiative's footprint have reported plans to expand business travel budgets because of the opportunities presented by the humongous project, Tan said, quoting data from the CITS American Express Global Business Travel 2017 China Business Travel Barometer.

"China is on the way to become an important economic entity in the world and will shape the future of the global economy to a degree that we can currently not yet predict," Tan said.

Like Tan, many executives from multinational companies have a firm belief that the initiative will provide fresh momentum to global economic growth.

A consensus has developed among them that the Belt and Road Initiative is "not just China's initiative, but also a global opportunity", he said.

Karel van de Pijpekamp, CEO of International SOS China, a firm specializing in medical and travel security assistance, said the undertaking has great potential for Chinese companies and foreign companies to work together. He called on MNCs to imbibe the "philosophy" of the initiative.

As China's role on the world stage becomes more significant, the country is making a constructive contribution to global economy, said van de Pijpekamp.

Cooperation based on the Belt and Road Initiative needs to be gradually deepened, from a single aspect to multifaceted ones, Rachel Duan, president and CEO of GE China, said.

A breakthrough in models of global cooperation would be achieved through joint efforts in market development, financing and operation, Duan said.

According to David Wijeratne, growth markets center leader of Pricewaterhouse-Coopers, one of the global Big Four professional services firms, those partnerships can prove to be beneficial for both Chinese and foreign companies in many ways.

"Gaining knowledge through foreign partnerships can help Chinese enterprises further develop expertise, and enable them to enhance global credibility in the infrastructure sector," Wijeratne said in an article published on the World Economic Forum website.

"For foreign companies, a collaboration with Chinese companies in infrastructure projects in third-party countries can help open up access to its large domestic market. Furthermore, foreign companies can partake as a private investor in projects that are risk-guaranteed by Chinese institutions, with an improved risk-return ratio," Wijeratne wrote.

Wijeratne cited successful partnership examples, wherein foreign multinationals have become established equipment suppliers to Chinese engineering, procurement and construction companies and have thereby benefited from a boost in orders both in third-party markets as well as in China.

"Many of these foreign companies also possess previous experience in large-scale projects in developing countries that are more complex. This is typical to B&R projects, with foreign companies able to contribute by establishing connections with local stakeholders, as well as having prior knowledge of managing an infrastructure project in developing countries," Wijeratne wrote.

This can help reduce operational risks, which may be otherwise further enhanced especially when operating in less familiar business environments, he wrote.

Ever since the country proposed the B&R Initiative, trade and investment relations between China and its partners have been strengthening, official data showed.

Trade volume between China and other B&R economies expanded 17.8 percent year-on-year to 7.4 trillion yuan (US$1.14 trillion) in 2017, according to the Ministry of Commerce.

China's exports to countries and regions involved in the initiative increased by 12.1 percent in 2017 from one year earlier, while imports from the economies rose 26.8 percent year-on-year, according to the commerce ministry.
Experts have confirmed that objects found in Yunnan Province are stone meteorites, one day after videos recorded their fiery entry into the atmosphere on Friday night, reports thepaper.cn.

Bright light briefly lit up the night sky over Jinghong City in Yunnan Province. Some people captured the event on videos that they shared online, speculating that the light might have been from a burning meteorite.

"It is hard to tell whether it is a meteorite just by judging from the videos", said Wang Xiaobin, director of the seismological bureau in the Xishuangbanna Dai Autonomous Prefecture in Yunnan Province.

Meteorite hunters found the first meteorite on Saturday. "It is a fresh stone meteorite, quite perfect," said Jiang Wei, deputy director of the Committee for Meteorite Scientific Investigation, China Association for Scientific Expedition.

Authorities are asking for the help of local people to locate more meteorites for research purposes.




Guangdong province, which is on the front line of China's war on drugs, will continue to launch campaigns targeting criminals who use, sell or traffic narcotics in the months ahead, a senior security official said on Sunday.

The announcement came as the nation remembered Lin Zexu, an imperial envoy during the Qing Dynasty (1644-1911) who is seen as a heroic figure in the fight against the opium scourge fueled by foreign traders in Guangdong.

Starting on June 3, 1839, Lin had workers burn more than 1,150 metric tons of opium collected in Humen, a small town at the mouth of the Pearl River.

More than 1,200 officials, police officers, residents, volunteers and students gathered in Humen on Sunday for a grand commemoration ceremony.

"The event demonstrates Guangdong's determination to fight drugs," Lin Weixiong, deputy director of the Guangdong Public Security Department, said at the event.

He said combating drugs and associated crime is a tough, long-term mission and pledged that police across the province would redouble efforts to ensure a better environment for residents, investors and tourists.

In the first quarter of this year, Guangdong police seized more than 4.1 metric tons of drugs, mostly crystal meth, and detained 3,490 suspected traffickers, including residents of Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan.




You are here: China

Nearly 4,000 police and fire fighters are battling forest fires in north China's Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, local fire authorities said Sunday.

A fire broke out at around 10 a.m. Saturday in an ancient forest in the northern area of the Greater Hinggan Mountains in the region.

Another fire in a national nature reserve was found at around 5 p.m. Ongoing high temperatures and drought increase the risk of forest fires in the mountains.

Local authorities are considering artificial precipitation if necessary, according to the Inner Mongolia Meteorological Bureau.
The Chinese tax authority has started investigations on tax evasion practices in the film and television industry. Any illegal activities uncovered will be punished in line with the law, the State Administration of Taxation said in a statement released on Sunday.

The statement is in response to recent heated online discussions that Fan Bingbing, a famous Chinese actress, might have evaded paying tax through only reporting a fraction of her total income as stated on a payment contract.

The remaining part of her income, which is larger than the reported amount, however, was paid through separate privately-signed agreements, a way to avoid tax payment based on much higher income, according to the online accusations.

The investigation started in Wuxi, East China's Jiangsu province, the tax administration said, and further measures will be taken to prevent similar cases and enhance law enforcement.

Earlier this week, Cui Yongyuan, a famous cultural critic and former CCTV anchor, posted on his Weibo account photos of the contract for a four-day shoot involving Fan.

Fan Bingbing Studio issued a statement Tuesday, accusing Cui of violating Fan's legal rights and interests by publicizing the contracts and leveling insulting remarks toward her.

Cai Daotong, director of the Law School of Nanjing Normal University, said that the tax authority has the obligation to investigate whether there are illegal activities during the tax reporting process.

"It might be a single case, or a hidden rule within the film and television industry."

But once it has been proved, the tax authority has the duty to pursue the tax payment and also a fine for delaying payment. The case will be sent to police for further investigation if relevant people are suspected of crimes, Cai said.




An increasing number of new moms are reviving the traditional approach to neonatal nutrition, but they need more help from professionals.

Although China has seen greater awareness of the benefits of breastfeeding in recent years, the country still lacks qualified professionals and support staff members.

Now, to meet the rise in demand, authorities are formulating guidelines to provide training programs and favorable policies.

Experts say breastfeeding is highly beneficial, noting that mother's milk promotes sensory and cognitive development and protects infants against infectious and chronic diseases. In addition, exclusive breastfeeding reduces infant mortality by boosting immunity to common childhood illnesses such as acute diarrhea and pneumonia, and also promotes rapid recovery.

The recruitment and training of a greater number of support staff members is designed to prevent new mothers from falling prey to a variety of illnesses and common problems that have arisen as a result of the shortfall in qualified postnatal practitioners.

"If there is one thing that would prevent me from having another baby, it would be the horrible memory of breastfeeding for eight months after giving birth," said Lu Lu, whose son will be 3 in August.

The boy was born prematurely at 35 weeks, so he was sent to the neonatal intensive care unit for special treatment immediately after birth. Unfortunately for Lu, the lack of early skin-to-skin contact between mother and child resulted in her mammary glands malfunctioning and failing to produce enough milk.

Health risks

The day after she gave birth, Lu's breasts became swollen and tender.

"A TCM (traditional Chinese medicine) doctor placed scalding hot towels on my breasts, saying it was a common way of treating the condition, which usually occurs in the first days after delivery when the mammary glands begin to work," the 33-year-old recalled. Lu knew little about health matters, so she didn't object.

However, two days later, the pain in her breasts intensified and she realized that the treatment was making her condition worse.

In response, Lu's mother introduced her to a retired doctor who was well-known for giving neonatal nursing lectures in Beijing.

"She gave me a breast massage, which is said to be very useful," Lu said. "But my breasts soon became as hard as rocks and I also developed a fever after the treatment."

It wasn't until Lu attended the Haidian Maternal and Child Health Hospital in Beijing, which houses the country's leading breast surgery clinic, that she was diagnosed with severe peracute mastitis - sudden onset, severe inflammation of the breast - which may have partly been a result of the inappropriate treatments she had undergone. The condition, which can cause fever, acute soreness and even abscesses, was so serious that she had to be hospitalized.

"During pregnancy, I conducted lots of research on delivery and infant nursing, but not on breastfeeding," Lu said. "It happened so unexpectedly; I thought breastfeeding was instinctive and most mothers would not have problems feeding their baby."

During the eight months Lu breastfed her son, the problem recurred about 10 times.

"All the suffering I endured resulted in other problems, such as depression, which, in turn, made breastfeeding much more difficult and a very unhappy experience," she said.

In March, Zhu Dan, a well-known TV anchor, used her Sina Weibo account to relate similar problems she had while breastfeeding.

She also complained about the shortage of qualified breastfeeding consultants, and urged women to share the contact details of consultants who had treated them. Within a day, the post had received more than 3,000 replies.

Common problems

According to Wang Shicui, a self-styled breastfeeding consultant in Beijing, many new mothers experience similar problems.

"Not every mother will encounter severe conditions such as mastitis, but nearly all will have common breastfeeding challenges, ranging from low milk supply or engorgement (swollen breasts) to an impaired milk ejection reflex or the baby refusing to breastfeed. That's why our service is so popular."

Wang has no medical training; instead she gained experience through years of practice, and has become proficient at helping new mothers produce sufficient quantities of milk and relieving mammary duct blockage through massage. Despite her lack of qualifications, Wang's methods have often been successful and she always has a steady stream of patients.

"In our social circle, certificates mean nothing but reputation," she said, adding that most of her clients are introduced by women who have benefited from her services.

Her door-to-door service costs 500 yuan ($78) for a two-hour session, excluding the transportation fee. It's a profitable business, and in the past six years, Wang's consultations and apprentice training program have enabled her to buy two large apartments in Beijing.

'Phony solutions'

While Wang is well-respected, some unqualified practitioners may be endangering their clients, according to many observers.

"China has an extreme shortage of professional consultants, and many mothers are grasping at phony solutions that might put them at higher risk," said Dong Mingzhu, the mother of twin girls, who co-founded the Homebase for Breastfeeding Mothers, one of China's biggest internet platforms for the dissemination of knowledge about mother and baby care.

Shortly after giving birth, Dong realized she had problems producing enough milk so she looked for a solution on the internet.

"I was astonished to discover that lots of Chinese mothers were having problems breastfeeding, but there were few sources of reliable information available," she recalled.

In response, she began collecting clinical research papers and studies, and sharing them via internet platforms. More women joined her activities, and in 2009 the Homebase was founded by tens of thousands of women from more than 100 cities across China. Nearly 10 years later, its website and accounts on Sina Weibo and WeChat have more than 1 million members.

Qualifications

Unlike countries such as the United States and Australia, where pediatricians, nurses and people with related backgrounds can gain certificates from the International Board of Certified Lactation Consultants, China has no equivalent professional qualification. Instead, licenses are issued by private training institutions, and many practitioners begin providing services after just one or two weeks' training.

Statistics based on thousands of questionnaires collected nationwide every five years as part of the National Health Survey show that the proportion of children age 6 months or younger who were breastfed exclusively was 58.5 percent in 2013, a significant increase from 27.6 percent in 2008.

However, according to Zhang Yue, director of the Children's Healthcare Department at the Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, discrepancies in research methods mean it is difficult to establish if China has already reached the World Health Organization's target of raising the rate of exclusive breastfeeding in the first six months of life to at least 50 percent by 2025.

The picture is undoubtedly better than a few decades ago. Research shows that in 1990 the exclusive breastfeeding rate for children age 4 months or younger in Beijing fell to 13.6 percent as a result of many factors, especially the rising use of baby formula, she said.

To address the problem, the WHO and UNICEF launched the Baby-friendly Hospital Initiative in 1991, and China's more than 7,000 hospitals took part until 2002.

More recently, to foster wider adoption of breastfeeding, the 2015 Advertising Law of the People's Republic of China emphasizes careful monitoring of the promotion of baby formula and punishments for false claims.

In addition, the national health authorities provide annual training about breastfeeding to medical professionals nationwide, and all hospitals allied to the Baby-friendly Hospital Initiative are required to offer consultations via hotlines.

"Despite this, medical professionals are working under great pressure because of a shortage of resources. Many have very limited time to provide consultations, let alone a personalized service," Zhang said. "Both the public and the government need to make the effort to build a professional training system for people-oriented services to support breastfeeding."

Education shortfall

Liang Qi, a breast surgeon at Chengdu Women's and Children's Central Hospital in Sichuan province, said medical schools do not offer lectures about the treatment of postnatal problems such as severely swollen breasts or malfunction of the mammary glands, and breast surgery specialists have conducted little related research.

"Those doctors focus on illnesses such as breast cancer and severe inflammation. We have a severe shortage of personnel to help mothers handle basic breastfeeding problems to prevent them turning into a serious illness," he said.

The outpatient department of the hospital's breast surgery clinic sees about 30,000 patients annually, and about 40 percent have inflammations as a result of inappropriate treatment during breastfeeding.

"Many use a wooden comb to scrape oil over their swollen breasts, which is a treatment from ancient times. Others were treated incorrectly by 'consultants'," Liang said.

Since 2012, the Homebase for Breastfeeding Mothers has taken the initiative by gathering together experienced support service providers and mothers passionate about promoting breastfeeding.

"We have used their experiences to devise standardized procedures and produce guidelines to train more practitioners," Dong said.

The group continues to post accredited research papers online, along with practical advice from doctors and other practitioners in the field. Moreover, in recent years, about 40,000 mothers have attended lectures given by qualified professionals and 3,000 breastfeeding consultants have been trained.

"As the benefits of breastfeeding become better known, more young mothers are trying to feed their babies on their own, so support services should be better regulated as soon as possible and treated with more respect," said Ning Ping, director of the breast surgery clinic at the women's and children's hospital in Chengdu.

The clinic is planning to cooperate with private groups to hold seminars to promote the exchange of medical knowledge and experience between doctors and providers of breastfeeding services, who have been invited to observe postnatal nurses at work and learn from them, he added.

Zhang, from the CDC, said the National Health Commission is drafting a strategy to establish a breastfeeding certificate system, and consultancies will be opened in hospitals involved in the Baby-friendly Hospital Initiative to provide mothers in need with reliable, personalized services.




The People's Liberation Army Air Force has begun training its pilots a new airstrike tactic that involves all of its best fighter jets.

An Air Force aviation unit in northwestern China, the first to use the PLA's most advanced fighter jet, the J-20, has recently been performing joint tactical exercises with J-16 and J-10C aircraft, according to the Air Force.

In the exercises, the radar-evading J-20s take advantage of their situational awareness and stealth abilities to seize air superiority. Then J-16s and J-10Cs launch long-range precision strikes against land targets.

The J-20 has displayed not only overwhelming air combat superiority in the drills, but also a crucial ability to clear the path for and coordinate combat with other types of fighter jets, the Air Force said in a statement. It added that many pilots in the unit are able to fly all of the three top planes.

He Xing, a pilot taking part in the drills, was quoted by the statement as saying that the unit's pilots are trained to operate J-20, J-16 and J-10C to familiarize themselves with the aircraft and get to know their strengths and weaknesses.

"Then we will be able to know how to use the advantages of a certain type of plane to complement other models and how to make the best use of each aircraft," he said.

Yang Wei, chief designer of the J-20 at Aviation Industry Corp of China, said in a China Central Television program about the exercises that the J-20 was designed to carry out strike operations to help obtain air combat superiority.

The J-20, the first of China's fifth-generation combat aircraft, made its maiden flight in January 2011 and was declassified in November 2016. It started to be commissioned to the Air Force in 2017, becoming the third stealth fighter jet to enter service, after the United States' F-22 Raptor and F-35 Lightning II.

It has been sent to take part in a series of combat exercises and has practiced beyond-visual-range aerial fighting maneuvers during the drills, according to the Air Force.

The jet bears the important responsibility of clearing a path for other aircraft in an air battle, according to Zhang Hao, head of an Air Force flight-testing center that has deployed the jet.

The J-16 and J-10C are also among China's latest combat aircraft and were developed by Chinese designers. They were delivered to the Air Force around 2017, according to the Air Force.




It was a Friday, during the five-minute countdown from the last class when pupils are required to study by themselves, and Lin Meiyuan - sitting at the back of the classroom, anxiously waiting to pack up her backpack - dashed out the moment the bell rang.

She was heading to the bus station to embark on a three-hour trip that would include three transfers, bound for her mother's home in Zhucheng, Chongqing municipality.

Despite the long journey, the girl said some of her happiest hours were spent en route, anticipating the reunion with her mother.

Lin has been a boarding student at the Third Xipeng Primary School, located in the municipality's outlying Xipeng county of Jiulongpo district, since the age of six.

Like millions of other children from migrant families, Lin had to separate from her parents, despite her mother's determination to keep the girl at her side until Lin graduated from the kindergarten and entered elementary school.

When gaining admission to local primary schools in Zhucheng proved impossible, the mother had no choice but to send her daughter to the boarding school in Xipeng, where Lin's grandparents live.

In 2012, Lin became one of the school's 200 boarding students, one third of the student body overall.

In her dormitory, Lin and her five roommates are required to get up at 6:10 a.m. and go to bed at 8:30 p.m. Older students, who are more familiar with the school's rules and principles, are encouraged to offer a hand to the younger ones.

Six years on, Lin has grown from a newcomer to a senior student. Every morning, she gets up soon after the morning call, makes her bed, gets dressed, brushes her teeth, washes her face, sweeps the floor, and wakes up her younger roommates.

Despite being a veteran student, Lin can still be brought to tears by the weeping of a homesick classmate, which in turn causes others in the room to sob, unable to hold back their pain any longer.

Lin's mother had supposed her daughter would adjust to her new surroundings and no longer cry by the end of her first month at the school, just like she did when she was in kindergarten. But she was wrong.

Though they have little time to talk after the sumptuous dinner Lin's mother cooks on Friday nights, and not much communication on weekends when the mother is working overtime, Lin still feels greatly attached to her mother, and can't help but weep silently each time she returns back to school alone.

The Third Xipeng Primary School has opened a multimedia classroom for "left-behind" pupils to contact their families via video chat. However, a teacher from the school, speaking on the condition of anonymity, said the best communication remains the daily presence of parents.

"A mother told me she was heartbroken every time when she made a phone call to her child, who told her that they had nothing to talk about," the teacher said.

Though the mother said all her efforts were made in pursuit of a better life for her child, their prolonged separation has created a distance between the two, the teacher explained.

Fortunately, from 2012 to 2016, the number of left-behind children across the country showed signs of decline, as the size diminished by more than 5 million. At the Third Xipeng Primary School, the number of boarding students has shrunk from 200 in 2010 to 45.

China's State Council issued a circular in 2016 to tackle the problem of left-behind children, attempting to bring as many as possible under the guardianship of their parents and to leave no children under the age of 16, especially those from the remotest and least developed areas, to grow up alone. At the same time, local communities are required to oversee and ensure the growth and education of left-behind children.

At 12 years old, Lin says her biggest dream now is to be admitted to the Longshan Secondary School in Zhucheng, located not far from her mother's home.




You are here: China

New analysis by Southwestern University of Finance and Economics and the Center for China and Globalization suggests Sichuan's capital, Chengdu, has become the third most popular city in China among young people looking for work, behind only Beijing and Shanghai.

The survey has found that Chengdu has become the most sought-after city for work among those born after 1995, overtaking Shenzhen and Guangzhou.

Monthly salaries in Chengdu rank 6th nationwide, with people earning an average of 6,859 yuan per month.

Over 100,000 graduates with a bachelor's degree or above chose to find work in Chengdu this past year.




A court in east China's Zhejiang Province on Monday upheld the death sentence for a woman who started a fire that killed four members of the same family in 2017.

At 3 p.m., Zhejiang Provincial Higher People's Court announced that it rejected the appeal for leniency by Mo Huanjing, a former nanny for the family of Lin Shengbin.

"The previous verdict and the application of law are right. The sentencing is appropriate," the court said.

The court has sent the case to the Supreme People's Court for review of the death sentence.

Mo set fire to Lin's apartment in Hangzhou City on June 21, 2017, killing Lin's wife Zhu Xiaozhen and their three children, according to the Hangzhou Intermediate People's Court in early February.

The higher court said it stood by the death sentence despite the fact that Mo took action after setting the fire that could be considered for leniency and eventually turned herself in.

"Mo's motive was abhorrent, highly vicious and dangerous to others. The consequences of the crime were severe and detrimental to public safety," the court said.

According to the February verdict, Mo was a gambling addict and had long been in debt. She started working for Lin in September 2016. From March 2017 to June 2017, she stole jewelry and watches from the family worth more than 180,000 yuan. She also borrowed 114,000 yuan from Zhu to "purchase a house," but gambled the money away.

On June 22, 2017, Mo decided to further gain Zhu's trust by lighting a fire and putting it out. However the fire spread fast, and Zhu and her three children died of carbon monoxide poisoning. The fire also caused economic losses of nearly 2.6 million yuan (410,000 U.S. dollars).

Mo escaped from the apartment and called the police.

She was also convicted of theft, sentenced to five years in prison and fined 10,000 yuan.




Hans Morgenthau, in writing about the post WWII, said, that public opinion is in some ways incompatible with diplomacy and politics. Firstly, he said, elections and public opinions have considerable constraints on the speedy disposal of issues, which a more authoritative and centralized process won't face. Second, the public can be easily manipulated as people are emotional.



Both those arguments are now currently flying around in Italy as both sides accuse each other of a massive betrayal as the EU prepares for a crisis that it has not faced in decades and that might make the Greece crisis and even Brexit look smooth and orderly by comparison.

The Italian President Sergio Mattarella initially said he could not appoint Paolo Savona, the name put forward by the winning parties, and invited Carlo Cottarelli of the International Monetary Fund, to form a government, which was almost certain not to be able to continue and win a vote of confidence in parliament. Next, he went back and invited the parliamentary candidate put forward by the two parties. Savona is still in the cabinet, in a different post. But the damage was already done to the reputation.

This entire episode has Italians questioning why even have elections when the decision of the majority of the people will be changed for the status quo by a non-elected president and the external banking sector and industries. The current joke going on in Italy now is that even a monarchy and feudalism was better than this. At least the leaders dressed better.

This is an enormous political gamble, which did not go down well for the left and will definitely empower the right. The majority of the people in Italy is now skeptical of the EU, and that's putting it mildly. They feel betrayed by the European nations up north, who invited migrants, but did nothing to share the burden. They are fed up with endless lines of austerity and the chronic underperformance of the economy and unemployment of the Italian electorate.

The braying liberal German and French media, politicians and bureaucrats from Brussels are adding to the siege mentality felt in Italy. Italians frankly now consider their government to be betrayed and controlled by elites. Which, despite being a simplistic view, is not entirely false, as all they can see is their government and laws being controlled by people who are not Italians. It's a feeling of abject colonization, a word, which is extremely common in Italian social media circles these days.

The election of a populist government didn't just happen in a vacuum. Italians, just like the Greeks and the British, want to exit the Eurozone, and they shouldn't even be there, as their economy has stagnating for over ten years. But the major mistake on the part of Brussels was to frame the entire argument on the basis of the economy.

The market decides who stays in the EU, and how they are run, and if the country doesn't agree, well, no choice. That worked with Greece, but Italy is ten times bigger. The more the EU wants to change the reality, the more it looks like an empire forcing its will on hapless commoners. As the leftist economist and former Greek finance minister Yanis Varoufakis said in the Guardian, the only way the Italy issue could have been resolved was to have the Italian parties form a government and fail.

Instead, the EU paved the way for a bigger backlash. It is a battle against time, as one cannot simply force an entire population to stay in a union which they don't want to be a part of and which is, for good or for bad, making their lives miserable.

It could be avoided. If in a new election the standard centrist technocratic Italian government comes into force, then the entire confrontation would be avoided. As of now, the Italian political scenario is heading towards long term instability anyway.

The risks are vast. Both left and right-wing parties have said in the eventuality of a fresh election, they would run with one single platform -- getting out of the eurozone. "It won't be an election," Matteo Salvini was quoted in the Wall Street Journal, saying that a new election would essentially look like a referendum, determining whether Italy is ruled by foreign forces.

If that threat comes true, and if Italians vote against the single currency, it would wreck the EU as a single political entity. Ultimately, it will prove that one can have idealistic aspirations, but the reality of having different countries bound together is utopian. Not reading history is wrong, but misreading history can be fatal.

Sumantra Maitra is a columnist with China.org.cn. For more information please visit:

http://www.china.org.cn/opinion/SumantraMaitra.htm

Opinion articles reflect the views of their authors only, not necessarily those of China.org.cn.
 Flash

China issued its first blacklists for violators of airline and railway safety rules on Friday to promote social honesty, safeguard security and order, and discourage future troublemakers.





The Civil Aviation Administration of China issued the blacklist, which consists of 86 violators, and banned them from air travel for a year starting on Friday.





The list is based on the punishment issued by police around the country. On the blacklist, 64 of the violators were found to be carrying banned or dangerous substances, including replica firearms, knives, bullets and lighters.





Fifteen violators used fake IDs or impersonated others when boarding a plane, two disrupted flight order, two obstructed security checks and three smoked during flight.





Other offenses that could also lead violators to being banned include fabricating and purposefully spreading false information on airline safety status; forcing entry onto airplanes or runways or into cockpits; interfering with or assaulting airline staff or damaging airline property; and stealing property from other passengers, according to the administration.





The blacklist was first published on the administration's website on May 23 to give the violators a week to appeal. The administration said on Friday that the blacklist took effect without any changes.





The air travel blacklist came exactly one year after a 36-year-old female PhD student from a prestigious university in Wuhan, Hubei province, angrily beat an airline clerk at Wuhan Tianhe International Airport.





The security footage of the incident went viral online. The student, identified by her alias Zhang Dan, said she was frustrated after missing her plane and later apologized for her actions. She was detained by police for 10 days on an assault charge.





Also on Friday, the Railway Customer Service Center of China issued its first blacklist consisting of 31 people who seriously violated China's railway regulations. They will be barred from buying train tickets for 180 days, and the ban will start next week.





According to the list, 21 of the violators were punished for smoking on trains, traveling without tickets or failing to pay the ticket fee upon arrival. Ten of the violators were punished by police for reselling tickets, using false IDs for privileged seats or disrupting public order and railway safety, which resulted in a major negative social impact.





Zhang Xiulan, a professor of social development and public policy at Beijing Normal University, said the blacklists are necessary to uphold social morality, ethics and honesty.




 Flash

Russian President Vladimir Putin's upcoming state visit to China is of great significance to the planning of the next-phase growth of China-Russia relations, said China's top diplomat Wang Yi on Sunday.

Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi made the remarks while meeting with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov on the sidelines of the Formal Meeting of the BRICS Ministers of Foreign Affairs.

President Putin is scheduled to pay a state visit to China on June 8-10 and attend the Qingdao Summit of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO), said Wang.

It will be President Putin's first visit to China in a new presidential term and it will also be the first time for President Xi Jinping and President Putin to meet each other in this year, which will be of great significance to the planning of the development of China-Russia relations in the next phase, said Wang.

China is willing to enhance coordination with the Russian side in order to ensure that the visit will be successful and fruitful and inject strong impetus into the development of bilateral relations, he said.

For his part, Lavrov said Russia attaches great importance to President Putin's upcoming state visit to China.

Russia is pleased with the progress in preparations for the visit and stands ready to make joint efforts with China to ensure that the visit will meet its expected goals, said Lavrov.

During the talks, the Chinese foreign minister also said that faced with an ever-changing international landscape that is full of uncertainties, China and Russia, as comprehensive strategic partners of coordination, should further strengthen coordination and cooperation to uphold the fundamental principles of international relations, maintain international fairness and justice and protect the overall interests of emerging markets and developing countries.

China and Russia should make joint efforts to ensure that the SCO Qingdao Summit, which will be the first such summit after the SCO admitted new members, continues to promote the "Shanghai Spirit", achieve positive and practical outcomes and send out a message of solidarity, said Wang.

The two countries should strengthen strategic coordination on the platform of BRICS cooperation, hold well the Formal Meeting of the BRICS Ministers of Foreign Affairs and make good political preparations for the upcoming leaders' summit in July, Wang added.

Lavrov said that Russia fully agrees with China in its thoughts about the current international situation and is willing to strengthen coordination with China in multilateral mechanisms such as the SCO, BRICS cooperation, the Group of 20 and the United Nations.

Russia will make joint efforts with other emerging market countries to oppose unilateralism and protectionism and to safeguard world peace and stability, said Lavrov.

During their meeting, the two foreign ministers also exchanged views on the situation on the Korean Peninsula and agreed to further enhance coordination and cooperation to make efforts towards and contribute to the realization of a nuclear-free Korean Peninsula of lasting peace and stability.
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The Israeli air force launched an air strike on Gaza on Sunday night for the third time over the past day, amidst a new round of escalation between Israel and Gaza militants.

A military spokesperson confirmed in a statement that fighter jets struck 15 sites in Gaza, saying the attack was a response to the firing of rockets towards Israel earlier.

In the Israeli attack, the air force hit a rocket and weapons manufacturing and storage facility in the central Gaza Strip and other sites in the region of Khan Yunis in the southern Gaza Strip, the spokesperson said.

In addition, an urban warfare training facility was bombed in the neighborhood of Shuja'iyya, and infrastructure belonging to the Hamas naval forces was struck too.

Since Saturday night, rocket fire exchange from Gaza and Israeli air strikes were resumed after a few days of calm, threatening to break a de facto cease-fire that halted mutual fire last week.

Also on Sunday, Israel struggled to put out fire caused by kites with incendiary devices launched by Palestinians in the besieged enclave.

The escalation came after Israeli forces shot and killed at least 122 Palestinians since the demonstrations started a months ago, most of them killed during protests in the vicinity of the fence to protest the blockade imposed by Israel and the inauguration of the new U.S. embassy in Jerusalem.
 Flash

A German police officer on Sunday shot a knife-wielding man at the center of Berlin, which reportedly had no connection to terrorism.

Armed police officers cordoned off the area around the Berlin Cathedral following the incident. Police later said they shot at a man "rampaging" in the church, hitting him in the leg.

The police said the man was a "hooligan," who was "acting aggressively," but said there was no reason to suspect terrorism.

The suspect was a 53-year-old Austrian man, according to German news agency DPA. He was taken to a local hospital, and a police officer was wounded in the crossfire.
NATO launches E. Europe exercises

China Daily | Updated: 2018-06-04 07:31

VILNIUS, Lithuania - Around 18,000 troops from 19 mostly NATO countries began annual US-led military exercises in Poland and the Baltic states on Sunday to boost combat readiness on the alliance's eastern flank.

The eighth Saber Strike maneuvers, which run until June 15, come after it was revealed Poland is considering a proposal to welcome a permanent deployment of US troops to the country.

A Polish defense ministry "information document" emerged this week showing that Warsaw could spend between $1.5 to $2 billion (1.3 to 1.7 billion euros) to help cover the cost of stationing a US tank unit in Poland.

The proposal triggered immediate criticism from Moscow, with the Kremlin insisting that any such deployment "will not benefit in any way the security and stability on the continent".

The US leads a multi-national NATO battle group in Poland. Germany, Britain and Canada command three others in nearby Baltic states Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania, where Saber Strike maneuvers are planned.

"They (NATO battalions) will be specifically tested during Saber Strike, it demonstrates the alliance commitment to one another," US Brigadier General Richard Coffman told officials at ceremonies on Sunday in the Lithuanian capital Vilnius launching the exercises.

The exercises demonstrate "the enhanced flexibility of ground and air forces to rapidly respond to a crisis. This allows for the right presence where we need it," he said.

The US army also set up a new European headquarters in Poland in May 2017 to command some 6,000 of its troops deployed in NATO and Pentagon operations in the region.

The move was one of the largest deployments of US forces in Europe since the Cold War.

Further cementing strong defense ties with Washington, Poland signed a $4.75 billion contract in March to purchase a US-made Patriot anti-missile system, in its largest-ever weapons deal.

Moscow complained about the prospect of the deployment of Patriot systems in Poland and Romania, which it says violates a 1987 arms treaty and could be tailored to shoot missiles at Russia.

Agence France-presse

(China Daily 06/04/2018 page12)
CAIRO - President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi was sworn in on Saturday as the President of Egypt for a second term until 2022, state-run Nile TV reported.

In a ceremony held in the parliament, Sisi took the oath as president with the words "I swear to protect the republican system, to respect the constitution and the law, to safeguard the people's interests, and to preserve the independence of the nation and the unity of lands".

Air force fighter planes drew the Egyptian flag across the sky in red, white and black smoke, while helicopters buzzed over the former military chief's motorcade as he approached parliament early on Saturday.

The ceremony was attended by cabinet members, top security officials, Grand Imam of al-Azhar Ahmad el-Tayyeb, Coptic Orthodox Pope Tawadros II, and Grand Mufti Shawki Allam.

Ahead of the speech, the swearing-in ceremony started with the national anthem and a celebratory 21-gun salute.

"We managed to cross very difficult stage toward a future with more stability," the president said after taking the oath.

After focusing on the economic reforms in his first term, Sisi added he will give the priority in the coming four years to health and education issues.

"Education, health and cultural issues will top my priorities through launching a number of national mega projects and programs aiming at improving the living standards of the Egyptian citizens," the president said.

"Leading a country like Egypt is really great and difficult," he added in his speech to the nation.

The president reiterated that "Egypt will carry on its efforts for promoting the international ties in light of partnerships".

"The Egyptian state will constantly boost its balanced relations with all regional and international parties, within the framework of partnership and exchange of interests," he said.

'Common ground'

Referring to the different segments and religious affiliations in Egypt, President Sisi said that "acceptance and creating a common ground among us will be my top priority in order to attain consistence, social peace as well as political development".

"I am a president for all Egyptians, those who agree with me and others who do not," he added.

"I will not exclude anyone from this common space except those who choose violence, terrorism and extremist thought as a way to impose their will," the president stressed.

Tariq Fahmy, professor of political sciences at American University in Cairo, said the president's speech constitutes "a work plan for the coming term, because it included several pillars that will be the base for the government's performance in the following four year".

The expert believes that President Sisi will give more attention to social cohesion after economic reforms were adopted in the first term.

The speech also pointed out that economic reform and fighting terrorism, the country's two major endeavors of the last four years, will be advanced as main approaches for strengthening stability of the country, the expert reiterated.

Sisi won his second term with 97 percent of the votes in Egypt's 2018 presidential election.

His first oath was performed at the Supreme Constitutional Court in 2014.

The last presidential inauguration held at Egypt's parliament was in 2005, when ousted President Hosni Mubarak was sworn in as president for the fifth and last time.

Xinhua - Reuters

Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi speaks at his swearing-in of the second presidential term in Cairo on Saturday.Reuters

(China Daily 06/04/2018 page11)
Surveys hail the rise of the robot taxis

By Hao Yan ( China Daily )

Updated: 2018-06-04

Chinese customers in general have warmed to autonomous driving vehicles this year, while more younger people preferred human driverless taxis - but experts are divided on the challenges that automakers face.

A Deloitte Global Automotive Consumer Study found, in its latest report released in June, that the Chinese market has the lowest percentage of consumers who think fully autonomous driving vehicles will not be safe in Asia-Pacific region, and this level of doubt is seen decreasing.

The study found that only 26 percent of Chinese respondents believed robot vehicles wouldn't be safe, significantly lower than 62 percent in 2017. The latest figures for China, indicating that its consumers are more flexible when it comes to the disruptive changes brought by new technologies in this area of the auto industry, puts it well in front of Japan, South Korea, India and Southeast Asia.

German consultancy Roland Berger came up with similar findings, saying China topped its Automotive Disruption Radar, a trend which had contributed to pushing driverless mobility from concept to reality.

"Robot car services, without human drivers, are the future of the taxi and car hailing industry and that's becoming very clear," said Ye Liang, a Shanghai-based principal in Roland Berger Consultancy China. "This is where mobility service providers, including DiDi Chuxing, are heading and they are working on it aggressively," he told China Daily.

Robot car services are chauffeur-less taxi riding services provided by completely autonomous driving vehicles.

This kind of new service attracted a total of 80 percent of Chinese car users' preferences, well beyond the 55 percent global average, when asked for the first time in an Automotive Disruption Radar survey.

Customer interest in new mobility services has jumped this year, and the numbers of young Chinese who would switch from car ownership to robot car services, if they cost less, rose from 10 percent to 40 percent. The German consultancy's Automotive Disruption Radar, released in April, is a biannual analysis of market trends related to disruption in the global automotive industry.

It surveyed 13,000 car users in 13 countries including the United States, Germany, the United Kingdom and Sweden.

"The automaking giants are also getting themselves prepared for the next biggest trend, by taking over mobility service providers, to avoid ending up as hardware providers," Ye said.

He added that carmakers who became suppliers to and serviced "brandless fleets," would make much thinner profits while losing direct contact with end users.

Some ambitious automakers are dipping their toes in no-chau! eur car sharing services. Daimler AG and BMW Group have bought Car2Go and ReachNow, and are providing services with Smart and BMW i3 and Mini vehicles respectively.

The two German luxury carmakers announced earlier this year they would merge their worldwide car sharing business Car2Go and ReachNow, to better defend their market positions against new mobility service providers including Uber and Didi Chuxing.

The Deloitte report found that consumers said they would feel more comfortable riding in an autonomous vehicle, if it belonged to a brand they trusted. Non-traditional automotive companies are trusted more than the traditional ones among nearly three-quarters of those Chinese surveyed, according to Andy Zhou, a Shanghai-based partner of Deloitte Consulting. The Deloitte survey found that 53 percent of Chinese respondents selected new autonomous vehicle companies as the most trusted to bring the technologies to market, while 28 percent chose traditional car makers and 19 percent sided with existing technology companies.
Muslim Nations Sunder Religious Liberty

NEW YORK, June 4, 2018 / Christian Newswire / -- Catholic League president Bill Donohue comments on the findings of the U.S. State Department's 2017 document, "International Religious Freedom Report," which was released on May 29 (his remarks focus exclusively on the state of religious liberty in Muslim-run nations):

The results are not encouraging. In most nations where Muslims rule, religious liberty is either crushed altogether or it barely exists. Of the 15 nations from the Middle East and North Africa, only four--Egypt, Jordan, Libya, and Tunisia--have any religious liberty safeguards. Iran has the worst record. Of the 5 nations from South and Central Asia (the last five on the appended list), only Bangladesh is comparable to the four from the Middle East and North Africa in providing for some semblance of religious liberty.

We expect communist nations like North Korea to oppress people of faith, but when the rulers of a world religion do so--in the name of God or their spiritual leader--it is all the more disturbing. Fortunately, the record of the two other monotheistic religions, Christianity and Judaism, is quite good.

When people are punished for converting to another religion--including imposition of the death penalty--we are dealing with evil. We look forward to seeing how Secretary of State Mike Pompeo handles this problem. We certainly wish him all the best.





selective summary , taken verbatim, of the U.S. State Department's International Religious Freedom Report, follows:

Algeria

The constitution provides for freedom of conscience and worship. The constitution declares Islam to be the state religion and prohibits state institutions from behaving in a manner incompatible with Islam. The law grants all individuals the right to practice their religion as long as they respect public order and regulations. Offending or insulting any religion is a criminal offense. Proselytizing of Muslims by non-Muslims is a crime.

Bahrain

The constitution declares Islam to be the official religion and sharia to be a principal source for legislation. It provides for freedom of conscience, the inviolability of places of worship, and freedom to perform religious rites. The constitution guarantees the right to express and publish opinions provided these do not infringe on the "fundamental beliefs of Islamic doctrine." The law prohibits anti-Islamic publications and mandates imprisonment for "exposing the state's official religion to offense and criticism."

Egypt

The constitution describes freedom of belief as "absolute" and specifies Islam as the state religion. It also enshrines the principles of sharia as the primary source of legislation, which local lawyers stated creates potential legal ambiguities with regard to the freedom of belief guaranteed in the constitution. The constitution only provides adherents of Islam, Christianity, and Judaism the right to practice their religion freely and to build houses of worship.

Iran

The constitution defines the country as an Islamic republic, and specifies Twelver Ja'afari Shia Islam as the official state religion. It states all laws and regulations must be based on "Islamic criteria" and official interpretation of sharia. The constitution states citizens shall enjoy human, political, economic, and other rights, "in conformity with Islamic criteria." The penal code specifies the death sentence for proselytizing and attempts by non- Muslims to convert Muslims, as well as for moharebeh ("enmity against God") and sabb al-nabi ("insulting the prophet"). According to the penal code, the application of the death penalty varies depending on the religion of both the perpetrator and the victim. The law prohibits Muslim citizens from changing or renouncing their religious beliefs.

Iraq

The constitution establishes Islam as the official religion and states no law may be enacted contradicting the "established provisions of Islam." The constitution guarantees freedom of religious belief and practice for Muslims, Christians, Yezidis, and Sabean-Mandeans, but not for followers of other religions or atheists. The law prohibits the practice of the Bahai Faith and the Wahhabi branch of Sunni Islam.

Jordan

The constitution declares Islam the religion of the state but safeguards "the free exercise of all forms of worship and religious rites" as long as these are consistent with public order and morality. The constitution stipulates there shall be no discrimination based on religion. The constitution and the law accord primacy to sharia, which includes a prohibition against Muslims from converting to another religion, although conversions of Muslims continued to occur.

Kuwait

The constitution declares Islam to be the religion of the state but states freedom of belief is "absolute." It declares the state will protect the freedom to practice one's religion, provided such practice does not conflict with established customs, public policy, or morals. Defamation of the Abrahamic faiths (Islam, Judaism, and Christianity), publication or broadcast of material the government deems offensive to religious groups, and practices the government deems inconsistent with Islamic law are prohibited by law.

Libya

The interim constitution states Islam is the state religion and sharia the principal source of legislation. It accords non-Muslims the freedom to practice their religion and bans discrimination based on religion. The internationally recognized Government of National Accord (GNA) remained in office, but it did not control the entire country.

Morocco

The constitution declares the country to be a Muslim state with full sovereignty and that Islam is the religion of the state. The constitution guarantees freedom of thought, expression, and assembly, and says that the state guarantees to everyone the freedom to "practice his religious affairs." The constitution states the king is the protector of Islam. It prohibits political parties, parliamentarians, and constitutional amendments from infringing upon Islam. The criminal code prohibits undermining the faith or enticing a Muslim to convert to another religion.

Oman

The Basic Law declares Islam to be the state religion but prohibits discrimination based on religion and protects the right of individuals to practice religious rites as long as doing so does not "disrupt public order or contradict morals." According to the law, it is a criminal offense to "defame" any faith. Proselytizing in public is illegal.

Saudi Arabia

According to the 1992 Basic Law of Governance, the country's official religion is Islam and the constitution is the Quran and Sunna (traditions and practices based on the life of the Prophet Muhammad). The legal system is based on sharia as interpreted within the Hanbali School of Sunni Islamic jurisprudence. Freedom of religion is not provided under the law. The government does not allow the public practice of any non-Muslim religion.

Tunisia

The constitution declares the country's religion to be Islam but also declares the country to be a "civil state." The constitution designates the government as the "guardian of religion" and obligates the state to disseminate the values of "moderation and tolerance." It prohibits the use of mosques and other houses of worship to advance political agendas or objectives, and guarantees freedom of belief, conscience, and exercise of religious practice.

United Arab Emirates

The constitution designates Islam as the official religion. It guarantees freedom of worship as long as it does not conflict with public policy or morals. It states all persons are equal before the law. The law prohibits blasphemy, proselytizing by non-Muslims, and conversion from Islam.

Western Sahara

The Kingdom of Morocco claims the territory of Western Sahara and administers the estimated 75 percent that it controls by the same constitution, laws, and structures as in internationally recognized Morocco, including laws that deal with religious freedom. According to the Moroccan constitution, Islam is the religion of the state, and the state guarantees freedom of thought, expression, and assembly. The constitution also says the state guarantees to everyone the freedom to "practice his religious affairs." Moroccan law penalizes the use of enticements to convert a Muslim to another religion, prohibits criticism of Islam, and prohibits political parties from infringing upon Islam.

Yemen

The constitution declares Islam the state religion and sharia the source of all legislation. It provides for freedom of thought and expression "within the limits of the law," but does not mention freedom of religion. The law prohibits denunciation of Islam, conversion from Islam to another religion, and proselytizing directed at Muslims.

Afghanistan

The constitution establishes Islam as the state religion but stipulates followers of religions other than Islam are free to exercise their faith within the limits of the law. Conversion from Islam to another religion is considered apostasy, which is punishable by death, imprisonment, or confiscation of property....

Bangladesh

The constitution designates Islam as the state religion but upholds the principle of secularism. It prohibits religious discrimination and provides for equality for all religions. The government provided guidance to imams throughout the country on the content of their sermons in its stated effort to prevent militancy and to monitor mosques for "provocative" messaging.

Maldives

The constitution designates Islam as the state religion, requires citizens to be Muslim, and requires public office holders, including the president, to be followers of Sunni Islam. The constitution provides for limitations on rights and freedoms "to protect and maintain the tenets of Islam." The law states both the government and the people must protect religious unity. Propagation of any religion other than Islam is a criminal offense.

Pakistan

The constitution establishes Islam as the state religion and requires all provisions of the law to be consistent with Islam. The constitution also states, "subject to law, public order, and morality, every citizen shall have the right to profess, practice, and propagate his religion." The courts continued to enforce blasphemy laws, whose punishment ranges from life in prison to the death sentence for a range of charges, including "defiling the Prophet Muhammad."
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Dental Caries Treatment Market report offers Market Size, Dynamics, Regional Market Share, Top Key Players, Latest trends, Growth factors, Industry Stats, Historic Market, Business Intelligence, Business Research Reports, Competitive Intelligence 2013 to 2017 and Forecast 2018 to 2024

Development of the dental caries treatment showcase is because of increment in sugar-based solution and way of life changes. As per World Health Organization (WHO), the instances of dental caries are declining because of increment in mindfulness and developing self-human services in the created nations. The expansion in number of dental mindfulness is one of the most recent patterns expanding dental caries treatment showcase are the hampering the dental caries advertise. The expansion in caries generally happens in the kids, bring down financial gathering, and the new outsiders.

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Dental Caries Treatment Market is segmented on the basis of product type, drug class, end-user and geography

On the basis of product type, dental caries treatment market is segmented as:

 Dental Restoration

o Indirect Restoration

o Direct Restoration

 Dental Reconstruction

o Dentures

o Implants

o Abutments

o Crowns

o Bridges

 Endodontic

o Permanent Sealers

o Files

o Obturator Devices

o Others

 Infection Control

On the basis of drug class, dental caries market is segmented as:

 Antimicrobial Peptides

 Expectorants

 Probiotics

 Oral Corticosteroids

On the basis of end-user, dental caries market is segmented as:

 Hospitals

 Clinics

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Owing to increase in dental caries prevalence, the dental caries market is expected to witness remarkable growth during the forecast period. The antimicrobial peptides are expected to hold maximum share in the overall treatment market for the dental caries owing to its high effectiveness. New technologies that are evolving in the market such as mineral-binding micellar drug delivery system are developed which binds to the tooth surface and releases the encapsulated drug. The investment of companies in developing such technologies are also expected to contribute maximum share in the dental caries market during the forecast period. Advancements such as usage of CAD/CAM technologies in dental implant technologies expected to boost the dental caries treatment market.

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Based on geographical regions, dental caries market is segmented as five key regions: Latin America, North America, Asia Pacific, Europe, and Middle East & Africa. Currently, North America expected to contribute more for dental caries treatment market due to prevalence rates of dental caries. According to World Health Organization (WHO), in North America 90% of the people are diagnosed with dental caries. Factors such as lack of knowledge and lack of awareness among people about the prevention will hamper the market growth in regions like Asia-pacific.

Some of the market players in the dental caries treatment market includes Sanofi (France), Abbott Laboratories (U.S.), Bayer AG (Germany), Eli Lilly and Company (U.S.), Bristol-Myers Squibb (U.S.), Merck & Co, Inc. (U.S.), AstraZeneca Plc. (U.S.), Dr.Reddys Lab (India), Novartis AG. (Switzerland), Dentsply Sirona Inc. (U.S.), 3M Company (U.S.), Danaher Corporation (U.S.), Zimmer Inc., (U.S.), Straumann AG (Switzerland), and Henry-Schein Inc. (U.S.) to name a few.

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Market Overview:

Precision Farming or Precision Agriculture is a process of identification and management of variability of any farm and variability of productivity. There are various factors such as soil, weather, water and vegetation which varies from place to place and these factors also plays very vital role in crop growth and farming success. Most of the farmers are aware of this but they lacked the tools to measure and manage these variations. Thus, it has been found in various studies that, precision farming can help to supply the equivalent amount of food to the rising world population and helps farmers to achieve a greater suitability, higher productivity, economic benefits and environmental protection.

The major factor driving this market is high adoption of technologies in agriculture, need of more efficient farming, increasing government interest towards promotion of precision farming among other whereas factors such as need of technical experience along with high internment are some of the restraints of the market.

The Global Market of Precision Farming is expected to grow at US ~$7 billion by end of forecast period with compound annual growth rate of 12%.

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The precision farming is trending and more farmers are approaching it, because it make optimized use of available resources and focus on improve the quality and quantity of crops at same time minimizing the cost of production. Earlier precision farming was limited due lack resources, knowledge, and technology the growth was put onto hold. However, with change of time, strong technology infratsrucer was deployed, along with strong IT backup service.

The precision farming have helped the farmers to achieve a productivity, flexibility, and environmental protection and market will expand more in coming years. Looking at this phenomenal growth, Market Research Future recently gave out the market insight till 2022. According to this MRFR analysis the global Precision Farming Market is expected to reach USD $7 billion and set to grow at CAGR of 12% during the forecast period.

Key Players:

AGCO Corporation (U.S.)

Deere & Company (U.S.)

AG Leader Technology (U.S.)

AgEagle Aerial Systems (U.S.)

Aglytix Inc. (U.S.)

AgGateway (U.S.)

Precision Planting (U.S.)

AgJunction Inc. (U.S.)

Agribotix (U.S.)

Dickey-John Corporation (U.S.)

Raven Industries,

Topcon Positioning Systems, Inc.

AquaSpy, CropMetrics

Farmobile, Granular

IBM Watson

Segments:

The Precision Farming market has been segmented on the basis of-

By Components - Hardware (Displays, Sensors, Drones, GPS Systems, Mobile Devices among others), Software (On Cloud, On Premise) and Service (Managed Services and Professional Services)

By Application - Yield mapping, Quality mapping, Soil properties analysis, Inventory Management, Labor management, Crop Scouting among others.

Regional Analysis:

North America is dominating the market of Precision Farming. High technology adoption and development in the field of agriculture is the main factor helping the market to grow. Also, presence of top global players in U.S. and Canada is giving competitive advantage to the North America. Europe stands as second biggest market in terms of revenue generation. Countries such as U.K., Germany, and France are some of the leading in Europe region also, government of these countries is supporting the technology adoption in agriculture, helping the market of precision farming to grow. Asia-Pacific has emerged as fastest growing market. Countries such as China and India where most of the population is dependent on agriculture are opening to accept the new technologies in their farming process leading to high demand for the precision farming equipments.

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Trend:

December 2017- Maharaja Institute of Technology under the Maharaja Research Foundation in association with Agriculture Department, Government Karnataka. The Institute conducted, one day workshop on precision farming. Around more 1000 of farmer have attend the workshop explain the importances, advantages, and how technology playing an important role in precision farming.

Industry - Competitive Outlook:

Key players are approaching new techniques and affordable devices in the precision farming. The same would improve market performance. Heavy investments are made by major players in the R&D sector.

The prominent players identified in the market of Precision Farming are- AG Leader Technology, Arguable Aerial Systems, Aglytix Inc., Ag Gateway, Precision Planting, AGCO Corporation, and Deere & Company.

Table of Contents

1 Market Introduction

1.1 Introduction

1.2 Scope of Study

1.2.1 Research Objective

1.2.2 Assumptions

1.2.3 Limitations

1.3 Market Structure:

1.3.1 Global Precision Farming Market: By Components

1.3.2 Global Precision Farming Market: By Application

1.3.4 Global Precision Farming Market: By Region

2 Research Methodology

2.1 Research Type

2.2 Primary Research

2.3 Secondary Research

2.4 Forecast Model

2.4.1 Market Data Collection, Analysis & Forecast

2.4.2 Market Size Estimation

2.4.3 Market Crackdown & Data Triangulation

3 Market Dynamics

3.1 Introduction

3.2 Market Drivers

3.3 Market Challenges

3.4 Market Opportunities

Continues...

List of Tables

Table 1 Global Precision Farming Market, By Components

Table 2 Global Precision Farming Market, By Application

Table 3 Global Precision Farming Market, By Regions

Table 4 North America Precision Farming Market, By Country

Table 5north America Precision Farming Market, By Components

Continues...

List of Figures

Figure 1 Research Type

Figure 2 Global Precision Farming Market: By Components (%)

Figure 3 Global Precision Farming Market: By Application (%)

Figure 4 Global Precision Farming Market: By Region

Figure 5 North America Precision Farming Market, By Components (%)

Continues...

About Market Research Future:

At Market Research Future (MRFR), we enable our customers to unravel the complexity of various industries through our Cooked Research Report (CRR), Half-Cooked Research Reports (HCRR), Raw Research Reports (3R), Continuous-Feed Research (CFR), and Market Research & Consulting Services.

MRFR team have supreme objective to provide the optimum quality market research and intelligence services to our clients. Our market research studies by Components, Application, Logistics and market players for global, regional, and country level market segments, enable our clients to see more, know more, and do more, which help to answer all their most important questions.

Contact Us:

Market Research Future

Office No. 528, Amanora Chambers

Pune  411028 Maharashtra, India

Phone: +91 841 198 5042

Mail: sales@marketresearchfuture.com
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Market Scenario:

The Global Microgrid market has been evaluated as growing market and expected that the market will touch high growth figures in Asia-Pacific region during forecast period.

Microgrid Market are the system used to generate and control flow of electric power to commercial, industrial, and federal government consumers. It provides benefits over traditional grid system namely reliability, carbon emission reduction, diversification of energy sources, and reduction of cost associated with power generation. Due to these benefits, industries and end-user sectors are willing to implement microgrid technology to produce green energy. Fort Carson, Santa Rita Jail, Hartley bay, and Fort Collins, are some of the popular examples of a microgrid system.

The global key market players such as Lockheed Martin Corporation, ABB Ltd., Microgrid energy LLC, Anbaric, and other industries are offering wide range of products and services to their end-user industries. In November 2016, ABB Ltd., a leading company operating majorly in robotics, power & technology markets, has signed a memorandum with IIT Madras to develop microgrid for rural electrification by utilizing natural non-fossil resources and battery energy storages. Other prominent company Homer Energy LLC, a leading provider of microgrid software services, has launched new software which is capable of optimizing design process of microgrid and other distributed power generating systems with least cost options. These growing advancement in product categories and high involvement of small & large market players in developing microgrid systems & software services is creating high growth opportunity for microgrid market in the upcoming future.

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Taste the market data and market information presented through more than 40 market data tables and figures spread over 100 numbers of pages of the project report. Avail the in-depth table of content TOC & market synopsis on The Global Microgrid Market Research Report -Forecast to 2022.

Key Players for Microgrid Market:

Some of the major players in Global Microgrid Market includes Lockheed Martin Corporation (U.S.), ABB, Ltd. (U.S.), Anbaric (U.S.), S&C Electric Company (U.S.), Homer Energy LLC (U.S.), Microgrid Energy LLC (U.S.), Power Analytics Corporation (U.S.), Siemens AG (Germany), Eaton Corporation PLC (Ireland), General Electric Company (U.S.) and others.

Segments for Microgrid Market:

Global Microgrid Market can be segmented as follows:

Segmentation by Types: off-grid, smart grid, hybrid grid, and others.

Segmentation by End-Users: Healthcare, education, industrial, military & defense, electric utility and others.

Regional Analysis of Microgrid Market:

North America is expected to dominate the Microgrid market during the forecast period 2016-2022. U.S. among all other countries in North America holds the largest market share for microgrid products due to its increasing microgrid capacity among other regional economies. Also, the growing industrialization & requirement of effective electrification in the region is fuelling North America dominance in the microgrid market. In Europe, with growing investment by government & key players to improve energy security and reliability is increasing the growth for microgrid market in the region. Furthermore, Asia-Pacific is expected to be the fastest growing Microgrid market during the forecast period 2016-2022 due to rising government initiatives for creating awareness about renewable energy sources and high demand of microgrid machines in military & defense sector.

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Target Audience:

Raw material providers

Microgrid system manufacturers

Energy storage providers

Hardware providers

Research & consultancy

Government & utilities

End-user sectors

Technology investors

Study Objective of Microgrid market:

To provide detailed analysis of the market structure along with forecast for the next five years of the various segments and sub-segments of the global microgrid

To provide insights about factors affecting the market growth.

To analyze the microgrid market based on various factors- porters five force analysis, mega trend analysis, macroeconomic indicators etc.

To provide historical and forecast revenue of the market segments and sub-segments with respect to four main geographies and their countries- North America, Europe, Asia, and Rest of the World (ROW).

To provide country level analysis of the market with respect to the current market size and future prospective.

To provide country level analysis of the market for segment by types, end-users and sub-segments.

To provide strategic profiling of key players in the market, comprehensively analyzing their core competencies, and drawing a competitive landscape for the market

To track and analyze competitive developments such as joint ventures, strategic alliances, mergers and acquisitions, new product developments, and research and developments in the global microgrid

Table of Content

Executive Summary Research Methodology

2.1. Scope of the Study

2.1.1. Definition

2.1.2. Research Objective

2.1.3. Assumptions

2.1.4. Limitations

2.2. Research Process

2.2.1. Primary Research

2.2.2. Secondary Research

2.3. Market Size Estimation

2.4. Forecast Model

Continues...

List of Tables

Table 1 Global Microgrid Market, By Type

Table 2 Global Microgridmarket, By End-User

Table 3 Global Microgridmarket, By Regions

Continues...

List of Figures

Figure 1 Research Process

Figure 2 Global Microgrid market: By Type (%)

Figure 3 Global Microgrid market: By End-User (%)

Continues...

About Market Research Future:

At Market Research Future (MRFR), we enable our customers to unravel the complexity of various industries through our Cooked Research Report (CRR), Half-Cooked Research Reports (HCRR), Raw Research Reports (3R), Continuous-Feed Research (CFR), and Market Research & Consulting Services.

MRFR team have supreme objective to provide the optimum quality market research and intelligence services to our clients. Our market research studies by Components, Application, Logistics and market players for global, regional, and country level market segments, enable our clients to see more, know more, and do more, which help to answer all their most important questions.

Contact Us:

Market Research Future

Office No. 528, Amanora Chambers

Pune  411028 Maharashtra, India

Phone: +91 841 198 5042

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Now, Mary was pretty much done for no matter what, but if she didn't stop using her sister's organs, she might take Jodie down as well. That left their parents with three options: 1) Just kinda, you know, chill on the whole thing, letting both twins die in three to six months, 2) separate them right away, letting Mary die but giving Jodie a good chance at a normal life, or 3) separate them only when it was truly necessary, which would more than likely kill Jodie along with Mary. The parents, devout Catholics, chose the "Jesus take the wheel" route, to which their medical team responded, "Wait, 'Let's do nothing' wasn't really an option," and kicked the decision up to the English court system.

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There is precedent for this kind of thing. In 1977, a Jewish couple in Philadelphia faced the same conflict. Torn between killing one daughter outright and dooming the other by not doing so, they left the decision up to rabbinical scholars, who determined that separation was permissible because the "weaker" twin was already "designated for death" (also the title of our least favorite Steven Seagal movie).

Jodie and Mary's case worked its way through the courts, ending with the Court of Appeal's decision to proceed with the surgery. Mary passed away the day after the operation, and Jodie has since grown into a healthy teenager who happens to have a hell of a "two truths and a lie" strategy up her sleeve.
Constance Hall has proudly flaunted her post-baby bump just days after giving birth to her son Raja Wolf.

The outspoken mummy blogger, from Perth, and her husband Denim Cooke welcomed their first child into the world on May 28.

Taking to Instagram, Ms Hall shared a series of candid videos of herself to encourage other mothers to also celebrate their post-pregnancy bodies.

She said new mothers often feel the need to cover up after giving birth - but she wanted to break the stigma by revealing her post-baby tummy.

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Constance Hall (left pregnant with her son and right post-baby body) has proudly flaunted her post-baby bump just days after giving birth

The outspoken mother welcomed her baby boy Raja Wolf via a Caesarean-section on May 28

'Do you know what's funny about having a baby? When you're pregnant, you're all like, flaunting and cradling your tummy,' she said.

'And the minute you have your baby, you're like "hide that s***". But like, we should cradle our post-birth tummy.'

Ms Hall, who documented her pregnancy on social media, said she will continue to publish intimate pictures and videos of her post-baby body.

'I'm just going to be stroking it and poking out in photos and flaunting it everywhere I go because it's still my tummy, just because there's nothing in it,' she said.

'Well there's a little poo in it, but that's another story that is operation and painkillers, constipation, you name it.

'Anyway, I love you tummy, even though you still look six months pregnant, you made me a baby.'

Ms Hall shared a hilarious photo comparing herself to Kate Middleton after giving birth

Ms Hall and her husband Denim Cooke welcomed their first child together on May 28

Her latest post comes just days after she shared a hilarious photograph comparing herself to Kate Middleton following the birth of her baby boy.

In a tongue-in-cheek post, Ms Hall shared a side-by-side post showing the reality of her birth in contrast to the Duchess of Cambridge, who looked immaculate just hours after welcoming Louis in April.

'Oh god Kate... the things they expect of us royals. I hear ya babe I hear ya,' Ms Hall posted, alongside a photo comparing the two couples.

Ms Hall shared the exciting news of Raja's birth via a Caesarean section on Instagram.

'Raja. Born at 2.46pm 38 weeks 4.2kgs. We couldn't have dreamt a more perfect baby,'Ms Hall wrote alongside a picture of her breastfeeding her newborn son.

'Love you so much Denzy. We are blown away with support from you all.'

The proud parents shared the exciting news of the birth via Instagram after the mother delivered their son Raja via a Caesarean section

Taking to Facebook, the doting father spoke fondly about his wife and their son.

'Raja Wolf Cooke-Hall was born today at 2.46pm. At 9lb 5oz and 56cm tall he is perfect in every way,' Mr Cooke said.

'Con is sitting up in bed breastfeeding him at the moment and I couldn't be prouder of her strength and bravery and throughout this entire pregnancy.

'Raja is absolutely adorable and feeding already and about to nap. He has barely cried and seems really content. Fingers crossed he remains chill.

'Thank you for all the well wishes and thank you to my beautiful wife for this amazing gift ... you are a warrior woman and this child unites our crazy clan.

'I feel so lucky I could jump over the moon. Oceanz [sic] of love to you all.'

Mr Cooke was seen getting changed into medical scrubs as his doting wife documented the hours leading up to the birth on Instagram.

The doting mother, from Perth, shared an adorable photo of her bundle of joy

The father (left wearing medical scrubs before the birth) cradled his new baby boy Raja

Just one day before giving birth, the mother penned an open letter to her then-unborn baby son.

Taking to Instagram, the mother-of-four wrote a heartwarming letter to her baby boy as she braced for the highly-anticipated arrival of her fifth child.

'Dear baby in my belly. We get to meet you. And here's a couple of things I want you to know,' she said.

'The minute your dad and I got together we knew you were coming. We talked about you, joked about you and even picked out some names.

'Your dad told me he'd had a sign from the gods... I smiled, took another sip from my wine and proceeded to comb out his dreadlocks.

'We don't know anything about you, you might be wild and challenging of everything society throws at you like us or you might wear a suit, brush your hair and get four degrees.'

The mother and her husband Denim Cooke welcomed their first baby together on Monday

She said she didn't care whether her unborn child is 'tough and tumble sporty boy like your dad or an emotional artsy person like your mum.

'Or you could always be both.. You might even decide you don't want to be a boy. We don't care. We just want you,' she said.

'But what I do know is that last night your dad told me that the hardest part of this extremely painful pregnancy for him has been watching me in pain and not be able to take that pain away from me and swap it for himself.'

The baby boy has become the latest addition to the humble family - including seven children, two pet dogs and 'two madly in love parents'.

The Perth mother already has four young children with her previous husband Bill Mahon

The couple tied the knot in an intimate wedding ceremony in January, surrounded by their seven children

Earlier this month, Ms Hall revealed her decision to deliver her baby via a C-section after her last vaginal birth took five months to heal

'This huge chaotic family of soon seven kids, two dogs and two madly in love parents has a place for everyone. Your place for the time being is in my arms,' she said.

'And I simply cannot wait to sniff you.'

Earlier this month, Ms Hall revealed her decision to deliver her baby via a C-section after her last vaginal birth took five months to heal.

'I've decided against a Vbac (vaginal birth after delivery,' she said on May 9.

'I read some terribly sad stories and incredibly empowering ones, the decision came down a couple of factors, mainly body damage,' she said.

'My worst Vag delivery took five months to heal from, my C-section took three weeks.

'I'm not justifying my decision, in 2018 Queen make decisions about their bodies, no justification needed. But this one took a lot of back and forth.

'So when I heard him tell me that he'd prefer I had a C-section I fell a little more in love with him. It's my decision, but his opinion counts.'
A 25-year-old woman who miraculously survived a freak skydiving accident has revealed what it's really like living with a spinal cord injury.

Emma Carey, from Queensland, was told she would spend the rest of her life confined to a wheelchair following the horrific Switzerland incident in 2013.

But against all odds, the young woman found the strength to walk again just one year after she plunged from the sky.

Despite her remarkable recovery, Emma explained the intimate symptoms of her injury, including bladder incontinence.

Taking to Instagram, she shared a seemingly ordinary mirror selfie - but on a closer look, her denim shorts are covered in urine.

Emma Carey (pictured) has explained the story behind her seemingly ordinary mirror selfie. The young woman has been living with a spinal cord injury where she suffers from bladder incontinence

The young woman was told she would spend the rest of her life confined to a wheelchair following the horrific Switzerland incident in 2013

'This is what I look like every. single. day. Multiple times a day,' she said.

'I think because I can walk, people tend to think I have completely recovered from my spinal cord injury but the truth is I still have many lasting effects, one of them being that I am completely incontinent with both my bladder and bowels.'

At first, Emma said she would hide out at her home so her friends and family would never find out about her problem out of fear of judgement.

'I was so embarrassed by this and tried to keep it a secret. I didn't leave the house because I was so worried that people would find out,' she explained.

'I wouldn't tell anyone why I had to be near a toilet at all times. I wouldn't let anyone see my catheters or pads.

'I would run away and hide every time I had an accident. It was exhausting trying to keep it a secret, so instead I just didn't let anyone close to me.'

The photograph taken just moments before Emma landed on her stomach with her instructor on top of her. She was left with a broken spike, shattered pelvis and spinal cord crushed

Emma was told she would be confined to a wheelchair for the rest of her life. But against all odds, she found the strength to walk again just one year after the horrific skydiving accident

But despite her insecurities, Emma said she soon realised she needed to accept the new part of her life whether she liked it or not.

'It wasn't long until I realised that if I was going to get upset and angry every time I peed myself, it would mean that I would be upset and angry every single day of my life,' she said.

'For the rest of my life. And that's when it hit me.. I survived a bloody skydiving accident. I don't know how or why but I know that it certainly wasn't to live a depressing life. I owed myself way more than that.'

Now five years on, Emma said she has since learned to embrace her condition where her 'bladder can only hold 100mLs before it leaks'.

'I don't think I have a single friend that hasn't seen me pee,' she admitted.

'I tell people about my incontinence generally within 10 minutes of meeting them. And now I'm posting a picture of my pee covered pants to over 100,000 people without a second thought.

Emma has been documenting her carefree lifestyle on social media - and she has since accepted the new part of her life

Five years ago, Emma's parachute and emergency chute became tangled during a dive and choked her instructor, who became unconscious

Despite suffering severe injuries, Emma learned to walk again as she made a remarkable recovery

'The point of this isn't for sympathy or for praise, it's to show you that it is completely and entirely possible to not give a single sh** about the things that people expect you to care about.

'Just because we have grown up to believe that certain things are taboo or shouldn't be spoken about, doesn't mean that they are.

'Just because people think you should feel embarrassed about something, doesn't mean you need to. Just because people might judge you on a certain thing, doesn't mean you need to care. How you feel about certain situations is entirely up to you.

'If you own your life and all your "flaws", they will never be able to own you. It's the most freeing thing in the world.'

Five years ago, Emma's parachute and emergency chute became tangled during a dive and choked her instructor, who became unconscious.

The subsequent free fall saw her land on her stomach with her instructor on top of her. She was left with a broken spike, shattered pelvis and spinal cord crushed.

Eventually, she began physical therapy at a Sydney hospital, which was when she slowly and steadily learned to walk again.
If you're looking to find love as a singleton it might be time to pack your bags and jet off to the United States.

Las Vegas has been named as the number one place to find your next great love, with 37 per cent of people surveyed by Expedia admitting they've found a partner there.

One woman who would thoroughly agree with that statistic is Chasity Jones, 21, who swiped right to find her fiance Bradley Hobbs, 23, two years ago.

One woman who would thoroughly agree with that statistic is Chasity Jones, 21, who swiped right to find her fiance Bradley Hobbs, 23, two years ago (the couple pictured)

Las Vegas has been named as the number one place to find your next great love, with 37 per cent of people surveyed by Expedia admitting they've found a partner there

The Nevada-native met her Australian beau in 2016 when by chance he visited the city for a night while touring America.

'We matched on Tinder but we didn't actually get to meet up while he was in Vegas,' she told FEMAIL.

'We continued talking to each other after he left the States and before long he was asking to fly me out to Australia.'

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'We matched on Tinder but we didn't actually get to meet up while he was in Vegas,' she told FEMAIL

Understandably her friends and family were a little bit nervous at her flying halfway across the world to meet up with a man she hadn't met before

Understandably her friends and family were a little bit nervous at her flying halfway across the world to meet up with a man she hadn't met before.

'There were definitely a mixture of responses. Some were encouraging, others said I should absolutely not go. My mum was actually really enthusiastic, she just wanted to talk to him on the phone before I went,' Chasity said.

'After our meeting I flew back out there in April and moved out permanently in August, 2017.'

For Chasity, Las Vegas is undoubtedly a good place to meet someone - mainly because its vibrancy attracts a whole variety of people

Actually, Chasity is so into hiking that's how Bradley proposed just three weeks ago

For Chasity, Las Vegas is undoubtedly a good place to meet someone - mainly because its vibrancy attracts a whole variety of people.

'So many people come to the city. There is honestly something for everyone here. And lots of people are travelling in and out of the city,' she explained.

'We're moving back there in a couple of months. Outside of the Strip the scenery and hiking is also incredible.'

'We were walking along a track and found a spot near a waterfall. He had this speech prepared - it was very sweet,' she said

Actually, Chasity is so into hiking that's how Bradley proposed just three weeks ago.

'We were walking along a track and found a spot near a waterfall. He had this speech prepared - it was very sweet,' she said.

'We went back to the States over Christmas and got fake married at the Las Vegas Chapel - but posted on Facebook as though it was real.

'The real wedding will be in Vegas though!'
Any fledgling modelling career inevitably involves a regrettable photo shoot or two.

Marley Bennett, from Easton, Bristol, tweeted a snap of a packet of tobacco, claiming to be the model used for the warning that smoking can cause impotence.

He said it was 'definitely a mistake' to have posed for the image in a tweet that began circulating on Twitter, with users comparing it to the scene from the classic sitcom Friends, in which Joey poses for an advert about sexually transmitted diseases.

But Marley's followers needn't feel too sorry for him, he's not actually the model in the photograph, just a very striking lookalike.

Marley Bennett, from Easton, Bristol, tweeted a snap of a packet of tobacco, claiming to be the model used for the warning that smoking can cause impotence

He said it was 'definitely a mistake' to have posed for the image in a tweet that has gone viral

The man in the image is shirtless, with a concerned expression on his face as he glances at his crotch in the image.

The warning, which appears on cigarette and tobacco packets in the UK, reads 'smoking increases the risk of impotence'.

Marley shared the tweet on Saturday, posting: 'With the benefit of hindsight, accepting this modelling job was definitely a mistake.'

Marley, pictured, who works for a Labour MP, was inundated with messages from new fans

Twitter users found the post very amusing, with one saying she was 'pleased' when she picked up a packet with the image

His likeness had everyone convinced, with over 60,000 people liking and retweeting it.

People got in touch to say they'd bought cigarettes with his face on in Italy, Texas and Latvia.

Many smokers even said they liked it when they got packets with his picture on it.

One tweeted: 'I'd like to formally apologise for referring to you as ''the dude looking sadly at his d*** cos it doesn't work'' when discussing favourite smoking warnings with friends.'

Many compared it to the scene in Friends when Joey poses for an advert about sexually transmitted diseases

'If it helps at all, I'm always pleased when I get your one x' another posted.

A third wrote: 'Who thought putting a thoughtful cute guy on the pack would discourage smoking?!'

'As someone who goes ''Yay! I got the impotent man one!'' this tweet cheered me immensely,' a fourth said.

Another posted: 'My friends in Texas liked that one so much they took photos.'
A teenage girl claims a pair of denim shorts she ordered online arrived with enormous rips to the crotch - much to the horror of her father.

Lucy Kearney, 18, a waitress from Belfast, Northern Ireland, placed an order on clothing website Pretty Little Thing to get some summer outfits for her family holiday to Malaga, Spain, but was shocked when she unwrapped her distressed white shorts.

Lucy says the plain white shorts she had ordered were covered in rips to the crotch and the back pockets, leaving her skin and underwear on display when she put them on.

It was in stark contrast to the picture on the Pretty Little Thing website, which shows shorts that are artfully frayed at the hem - but without visible holes.

After showing her family the state in which the shorts arrived, her horrified father banned her from wearing them, and Lucy returned them for a refund.

Upon opening the package Lucy claims that the plain white shorts that she had ordered were covered in huge rips over the crotch and bottom area

Despite initially being annoyed that her shorts arrived unwearable, Lucy quickly saw the funny side after showing her friends and family (the original shorts seen on the PLT website)

Lucy Kearney, 18, from Belfast, Northern Ireland, placed an order on clothing website Pretty Little Thing to get some summer outfits for her family holiday to Malaga

Lucy said she can see the funny side, and joked that she wouldn't be surprised if these shorts became part of the excessive ripped garment trend soon.

Lucy said: 'When I opened the shorts I was just confused - they looked like they'd been ripped up by a bear!

'Initially I thought they had sent me the wrong product, but they looked the exact same, just covered in rips.

'I then showed my family and they started laughing, but my dad just turned to me and told me I wasn't leaving the house in them.

'But as soon as I saw them I knew they were going straight back - they had rips all over and they would be a very indecent wear!

'But knowing the current fashion trends, I wouldn't be surprised at all if people started wearing shorts like this.'

Despite initially being annoyed that her shorts arrived unwearable, Lucy quickly saw the funny side after showing her friends and family.

She said: 'I was leaving for my holiday the next day, so I was annoyed that one of my staple items had arrived in this state.

Now Lucy sees the funny side in the shorts and even admits she wouldn't be surprised if these shorts became part of the excessive ripped garment trend soon (rips seen to rear

'But after showing my friends and family the shorts they quickly made me see the funny side of it, and now I think they're hilarious.

'All of my friends had a good laugh at the photos of me in the shorts, but my brother and dad were definitely taken aback!

'I've now returned the shorts, so they definitely won't be worn by me.'

A spokesperson for Pretty Little Thing said: 'I can confirm our customer service team have offered a full refund and we will be looking into this further. We apologise to the customer for any inconvenience caused.'
She celebrated her 92nd birthday in April, but it seems the Queen has no intention of slowing down just yet.

The monarch has increased her workload by 25 per cent, a new study reveals, with her eldest son Prince Charles clocking up the most engagements in 2018 so far.

Research conducted by Write Royalty shows the sprightly nonagenarian has already completed a mind-boggling 125 engagements since January.

The report, based on Court Circular information, shows that Prince Charles topped the list of the busiest royals with 83 engagements in May alone, closely followed by Princess Anne, Prince Edward and Prince Andrew.

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Not bad for 92! The monarch (pictured in January) has increased her workload by 25 per cent, a new study reveals, with her eldest son clocking up the most engagements in 2018 so far

The Queen's surprise appearance at London Fashion Week in February (left) and at the Royal Maundy Service in Windsor in March (right) helped mark a busy start to 2018

In fifth place is the Queen, followed by the Countess of Wessex, Prince William, the Duchess of Cornwall, the Duke of Gloucester and the Duke of Kent.

Prince Harry did not make the top ten, having been busy planning his wedding, and neither did the Duchess of Cambridge who recently welcomed her third child, Prince Louis.

Charles, 69, has had a busy few months with royal tours of Italy and Greece, totalling 83 engagements in May and counting.

According to Write Royalty's Patricia Treble, the Queen's increased workload could be down to the debilitating cold that forced her to cancel a series of engagements over the same period last year.

May proved to be the busiest month of 2018 so far, accounting for 400 engagements, Treble notes.

The monarch, pictured with Prince Charles, at a star-studded concert to celebrate the her 92nd birthday at the Royal Albert Hall on April 21

The Queen hosts a Garden Party at Buckingham Palace on May 31. So far she has carried out 125 engagements in 2018 - up 25 per cent on the same period last year

'The quartet of Prince William and Kate, Duchess of Cambridge, as well as Prince Harry and Meghan Markle (now the Duke and Duchess of Sussex) had a quiet May,' she said.

'William and Kate were spending time with their young children, including new baby, Prince Louis, born April 23. William completed 15 engagements while Kate did just one, going to the royal wedding.'

The news follows a recent study published in The Times, naming Princess Anne as the 'busiest royal' for the second time after clocking up 455 official engagements in 2017.

At the age of 67, the Princes Royal put her younger family members to shame with a dizzying roster of UK gala dinners, receptions and charity events in 2017 - as well as a further 85 engagements overseas.
Johnny Depp has sparked concern among fans after 'unrecognisable' snaps showed him looking gaunt and 'ill', however his changed appearance could largely be down to ditching his 'guyliner'.

The veteran actor, 54, seemed to be make-up free in snaps with fans in Russia that were posted to Instagram last week.

And celebrity make-up artist and owner of Pouts & Pinups Stacey Whittaker told Femail that ditching his signature smokey eye has had a huge impact on Depp's face.

'Usually Johnny Depp has a cool grunge style, however here he is not sporting his signature smudged guy-liner, which makes his eyes appear smaller,' she explained.

'Dark eyes can look harsh as we get older, but Depps normal sultry looking eye would never overpower his face and would actually give him more definition and colour.

'Without his attention-grabbing guy-liner it makes his eyes seem tired and dull, and his skin extremely pale, whereas liner would brighten and bring out the whites of the eye.'

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Johnny Depp appears in a photograph with a fan taken in St Petersburg, where he performed on Wednesday night

Johnny Depp pictured in 2016 wearing eyeliner at the premiere of Alice Through the Looking Glass in London

Make-up free Johnny Depp with a fan in Russia last week (left), and wearing a slick of eyeliner at the People's Choice Awards in 2017

Depp is keen on a slick of 'guyliner' both in and out of costume as Captain Jack Sparrow (left). Right: Sporting smudged eyeliner in London in 2016

While fans are used to seeing Depp wear heavy make-up for his role as Captain Jack Sparrow in Pirates of the Caribbean, his love of eyeliner extends to his personal life.

He's regularly seen on the red carpet or at photocalls for his films, wearing a smudge of black kohl on his bottom eyelids.

Concerns for the Pirates of the Caribbean star arose a few days ago when he posed for two photographs with female fans at the Four Seasons hotel in St. Petersburg before a performance with his band, The Hollywood Vampires.

The women shared them excitedly on social media afterwards, sparking comments over Depp's appearance.

Fans took to social media to express concern over Depp's drastic appearance in the St. Petersburg photos

A third image, taken in Moscow last week during a visit to a state museum, provoked more concern. Depp is pictured with one of the museum's staff

Others said the actor looked 'sick', 'weak' and 'thin' after seeing photos from him in Moscow

'I think that my hero looks ill,' said one concerned admirer on Facebook, while another added that he 'looks thin'.

'Others did not seem to recognize the Pirates of the Caribbean star at all.

'F*** me is that Johnny Depp?' remarked one Twitter user.

His European tour with the band comes as his seemingly endless legal woes continue.

During his visit in Moscow, Depp also visited the Mayakovsky museum where, in one image, he looked happy and healthy as he posed with staff

During his visit to the museum, Depp left a note to staff to say he was 'humbled' by their hospitality

Depp has been embroiled in a legal dispute with his former management company for months.

He claims they mismanaged his millions and left him vulnerable, a claim they insist is not true.

He is also being sued by former bodyguards who claimed that he forced them to work in a toxic environment at his home and that they sometimes had to act as a babysitter for the star.

Depp is pictured performing in Moscow on Monday, May 28. He is touring with his band The Hollywood Vampires

Some of the men worked for him during his marriage to Amber Heard which ended in astonishing acrimony and accusations of alcoholism, drug addiction and domestic abuse.

Depp denied her claims of physical abuse and his daughter and ex-partner Vanessa Paradis spoke out to defend him, insisting it was not true.

Heard was given a $7million divorce settlement after they parted ways. She donated it to charity.

Depp is pictured in June, 2017, at Glastonbury festival in England when he had a full head of hair and fuller face
Meghan will be looking to get tips from the Queen as she prepares to conduct her first joint engagement with Her Majesty in Chester.

The new Duchess of Sussex, 36, will be joining the 92-year-old monarch to open the Storyhouse Theatre and attend a lunch in the city next Thursday.

The pair will also open the Mersey Gateway Bridge in Widnes, Cheshire, on the same day.

This is expected to be Meghan's first official engagement without Harry, and among her first appearances following their honeymoon.

The new Duchess of Sussex is set to conduct her first joint engagement with the Queen in Chester next week

Harry and Meghan have not been seen in public since Prince Charles' 70th birthday celebrations at Buckingham Palace last month, just three days after their wedding.

However, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex are expected to appear on the Buckingham Palace balcony with the rest of the royal family during the Trooping the Colour parade this Saturday.

The pair are believed to have jetted off on their honeymoon last week, with reports that they have chosen Fairmont Jasper Park Lodge in Canada as their destination.

According to TMZ, the new Duke and Duchess are staying at the 6,000 sq ft Outlook Cabin which has been dubbed 'The Royal Retreat'.

The Queen will be accompanied by Meghan to open the Storyhouse Theatre and attend a lunch in the city

Previous royal visitors include King George VI and the Queen Mother, who stayed there in 1939, and Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philip, who visited in June 2005.

Other famous names who have visited the spot include Anthony Hopkins, John Travolta and Bill Gates.

It had previously been reported that Harry and Meghan wanted to 'hit the ground running' when it came to their royal duties following the wedding.

Aides are promising that the second half of this year will be incredibly busy for Harry and Meghan when it comes to official visits.

Meghan and Harry were last seen in public at Prince Charles' 70th birthday celebrations at Buckingham Palace last month

The Duchess of Cambridge attended several engagements with the Queen in 2012, although not immediately after her wedding. She joined the monarch and the Duchess of Cornwall during a visit to Fortnum & Mason

The pair are already scheduled to visit Sydney in October for the Invictus Games.

The couple are expected to then continue their tour Down Under to include visits to New Zealand, Fiji and Tonga.

The newlyweds are also expected to undertake a couple of short overseas visits before the start of the summer, including a two-day visit to Dublin.

However, it appears that Meghan will be learning the ropes from the Queen ahead of overseas visits later in the year.

While the Duchess of Cambridge joined the Queen on several engagements in 2012 after marrying William, her first official engagements as a member of the royal family were not with the monarch.
She has had a busy month of engagements, and is fresh from an official visit to the Dominican Republic.

But Queen Letizia looked fresh-faced and relaxed to attend a lunch with the Ukrainian president, Petro Poroshenko and his wife, Maryna Poroshenko on Monday.

The 45-year-old, who rarely puts a sartorial foot out of place, wore a relatively informal ensemble of a short sleeved jumper with a voluminous floral skirt to welcome the visitors to Zarzuela Palace in Madrid.

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Queen Letizia of Spain put on her usual radiant appearance as she joined her husband King Felipe for lunch with the Ukrainian President

Queen Letizia wore her fitted navy top tucked into an A-line maxi skirt with a wide coordinating belt.

The skirt featured a pretty floral pattern and was cinched in at the waist with a wide

Letizia, who is mother to Princesses Leonor, 12, and Sofia, 10, completed the ensemble with a pair of navy blue pumps and a bouncy blow dry.

The 45-year-old consort, who rarely puts a sartorial foot out of place, slipped into a floral ensemble as she welcomed the visitors to Zarzuela Palace in Madrid

Meanwhile her husband Felipe, 50, put on a dapper display in a pinstripe suit and blue tie as posed alongside the group prior to the reception.

They were joined by Ukrainian President, Petro Poroshenko, 52, who is on an official visit to Spain.

His wife Maryna Poroshenko upped the glamour in a fitted black dress which featured statement shoulder pads, accessorising with a drop necklace and heeled pumps.

The group posed for pictures before proceeding to lunch at the palace.

Letizia (middle right) was joined by husband King Felipe (right) for lunch with the Ukrainian President, Petro Poroshenko (left) and his wife, Maryna Poroshenko (middle left)

They were joined by Ukrainian President, Petro Poroshenk, 52, who is on an official visit to Spain and his wife

The group posed for pictures before proceeding to lunch at the Palace of La Zarzuela in Madrid

Over the years Letizia, a former newsreader, has worked hard to help causes she is passionate about

Over the years Letizia, a former newsreader, has worked hard to help causes she is passionate about.

These include education, innovation, rare diseases, and particularly in nutrition, working closely with the UNs World Health and Food and Agriculture Organizations.
They share the same megawatt smiles, blue eyes and blonde hair.

But good genes aren't the only thing Lady Kitty Spencer has in common with her late aunt Princess Diana, as these uncanny images show.

As reported by Who What Wear, the 27-year-old model and socialite has been stepping out in a series of stylish ensembles that bring to mind some of Diana's most memorable looks from her years in the spotlight.

From a show-stopping mermaid gown to a figure-hugging LBD, these images are proof that fashion runs in the family.

Scroll down for video

Diana made headlines around the world with her blue sequinned Catherine Walker dress featuring a daring thigh split (left, in 1990); while her niece turned heads in a similar design by Temperley London (right, in 2017)

The blue Temperley London jumpsuit Kitty wore to the Walpole British Luxury Awards in November was strikingly similar to Diana's headline 'mermaid' dress by Catherine Walker, worn in Vienna and London in the early nineties.

Dolce & Gabbana model Kitty is the eldest daughter of Diana's brother Charles, 9th Earl Spencer, and grew up in Cape Town before returning to the family seat at Althorp, Northamptonshire in 2012.

She was recently named as an ambassador for luxury jewellery brand, Bulgari, and has appeared in a string of high-profile fashion campaigns as well as numerous runway appearances.

Kitty, who is signed with Kate Moss's former modelling agency Storm, is regarded as one of the most eligible young women on London's social scene.

Diana's show-stopping blue and white Catherine Walker dress (left, in Melbourne in 1988) boasts a similar pattern to Kitty's Bardot dress (right, in London in 2015)

Known as the 'revenge dress', Diana stunned in a slinky LBD by Christina Stambolia at the Vanity Fair party at the Serpentine Gallery in 1994 (left); and 24 years later, Kitty wore a similar figure-hugging frock for the Bvlgari FESTA Gala Dinner at Banqueting House (right)

All white on the night: Diana's 1989 'Elvis dress' was festooned with beads and featured a stylish bolero (left) ; while Kitty's modern take on the look was simple and sleeveless (right)

The Princess of Wales wore a shimmering square neck mini dress for a performance of Swan Lake at the Albert Hall (left); it bore a striking resemblance to Kitty's Dolce & Gabbana runway look during Milan Fashion Week in February 2018 (right)

Diana wore a pretty blue and purple floral dress for her wedding rehearsal at St. Paul's Cathedral in 1981 (left); while Kitty's take on the flower trend was this sweeping green gown from Dolce & Gabbana (right)

Diana wore this dazzling green dress for a banquet at Claridges Hotel in 1988 (left); and 20 years later Kitty stunned in an emerald number for her cousin Prince Harry's wedding (right)

But in a recent interview with The Times she played down her party girl reputation, saying: 'I think Im seen as more of a social person than I am.

'I prefer my own company. I live on my own and my dream evening is cooking and being in bed by 10pm.

'Ive just come back from a weekend on my own in Geneva. I took a pile of books and ignored my emails. I loved it.'
Cambridge students today celebrated the end of exams by spraying each other in the street with Champagne - despite the tradition being banned by the university.

Excited undergraduates popped bottles in the city centre as they marked the end of the gruelling study period - and the start of their summer holidays.

Residents were spotted dodging around the groups of revellers as they kicked off their end-of-term partying.

Excited undergraduates popped bottles in the city centre as they marked the end of the gruelling study period - and the start of their summer holidays

They were snapped spraying each other with bottles of Champagne to mark the end of exams

A notice in the city centre outlined the university's policy towards the 'spraying'. It explains that the tradition is banned and students in breach of the rule could face a 175 fine

Meanwhile university proctors were seen keeping an eye on proceedings, although they did not appear to intervene.

While bottles of Champagne and sparkling wine were favoured by most, others were seen spritzing their peers with rose and cans of lager.

Some were watched by their parents as they took part in the playful celebration.

While bottles of Champagne and sparkling wine were favoured by most, others were seen spritzing their peers with rose and cans of lager

Students beamed and laughed as they kicked off their partying following the end of exams

Parents and friends looked on as they doused each other with cans of beer, pictured

University proctors were on hand to keep an eye on the proceedings but did not appear to intervene

What are the limits on post-exam celebrations at Cambridge University? In a notice about post-exam celebrations, Cambridge University students were reminded that they are banned from certain activities. Examination rule 14 says: 'Candidates shall have regard for the welfare of others.' The following is considered a breach of this rule: Throwing food, e.g. milk, flour, eggs etc.

Throwing paint, dye, glitter or material that marks and cannot be brushed off.

'Spraying' in the street.

'Spraying' on a University site in areas from which it has been banned. Advertisement

The university banned so-called 'trashing', where students throw flour, eggs, milk and alcohol at each other, in 2012.

This was following complaints from local residents.

The university also wanted to ensure an atmosphere of calm remained for students still finishing their exams.

A notice warning students of their behaviour reads: 'In recent years some celebrations have gone beyond what is acceptable and caused annoyance to people and damage; unacceptable litter and mess requiring special cleaning; complaints from members of the public and the University.'

Examinations Rule 14 states candidates should have 'regard for the welfare of others, including the general public, at the end of examination sessions.'

It says they should avoid noise, littering or damage, especially with food or drink.

It explains that those who indulge in behaviour deemed to be in breach of university rules - including 'spraying' and 'trashing' - could be fined up to 175.

Students snapped the action on their mobile phones as they threw the alcohol across the street

One young woman tried to block her face as her friend prepared to pop another bottle

One young man tried to run away from his friend - but she soon caught up to him

The group chose a quiet street for the tradition to avoid becoming a nuisance to others

A student in a white t-shirt cowered from his friend as he shook the bottle of fizz into the air

Onlookers watched and filmed as the friend continued his attack with the sparkling wine

After escaping from the onslaught, the man was hit again when his friend emptied a bottle on him

Two young women teamed up to take on their friend, covering him with cans of beer

This student appeared resigned to his fate and allowed himself to be soaked with a bottle

An undergraduate can't help but smile as she sprays her friend with a new bottle of fizz

The students appeared well-armed, clutching bottles of Cava to use in the street battle

Two women found themselves cornered against the bins when their friend opened one of his bottles
Five more suspected cases of Ebola have been detected by health officials in the Democratic Republic of Congo.

Some 25 people are feared to have died already after contracting the lethal virus in the African nation, according to the World Health Organization.

Three new cases have been recorded in Bikoro in the north west of the country, where the current outbreak began at the start of April.

Another two have been documented in Wangata  another town in the same region, according to the DRCs health ministry.

The virus, considered one of the most lethal pathogens in existence, decimated West Africa and killed more than 11,000 people in the 2014 pandemic.

Officials in the DRC have already branded the fresh outbreak, which has seen 50 suspected cases, a public health emergency.

International help has poured in as aid workers battle round-the-clock to contain the outbreak, first declared on May 8.

Medical charity Medecins Sans Frontieres opened a new treatment centre in Mbandaka, a port city on the river Congo with around 1.2 million inhabitants.

At least three people were taken in there on Friday for treatment, according to an AFP reporter.

The current Ebola outbreak began in the poorly-connected region of Ikoko-Impenge and Bikoro. It has since travelled 80 miles (130km) north to Mbandaka. There is fears it will spread to Kinshasa 364 miles (586km) south on the river, where 12 million people live

A mass vaccination campaign has also begun and all neighbouring countries have been placed on high alert.

The new suspected cases come after an infectious disease expert claimed the Ebola outbreak in the DRC has the 'potential for rapid expansion'.

Dr Derek Gatherer, a virologist from Lancaster University, warned last week that the fresh outbreak is reminiscent of the 2014 Ebola pandemic.

Where did the new outbreak begin?

The current Ebola outbreak began in the poorly-connected region of Ikoko-Impenge and Bikoro. It has since travelled 80 miles (130km) north to Mbandaka.

Dr Gatherer said there is a major concern it will spread to Kinshasa 364 miles (586km) south on the river, where 12 million people live.

The city, which is the capital of the DRC, has an international airport with regular flights to European cities Zurich, Frankfurt and Brussels.

In an editorial for a scientific journal, Dr Gatherer wrote: The current outbreak has the potential for rapid expansion in numbers.

He added: Mbandaka is a port on the River Congo, the main arterial transport link from DRCs capital Kinshasa to inland cities.

With poor to non-existent provision of running water, sewage and electricity, the similarities with the urban situation during the west African outbreak are obvious.

The risk of transmission to Kinshasa  central Africas main megacity  either by river or by air from Mbandakas regional airport, is a major concern.

Writing in the Journal of General Virology, he also warned the question of how to prevent future Ebola outbreaks remains depressingly open.

Dr Gatherer described the DRC basin as Ebolas heartland. The virus - endemic in the country - is named after the Ebola river.

Some 25 people are feared to have died already after contracting the lethal virus in the African nation (aid workers pictured in DRC)

The current outbreak

The current outbreak of Ebola is caused by the Zaire strain.

There has been 50 probable cases since the beginning of the outbreak in April but only 37 have been confirmed in lab tests. The five new suspected cases add to that total. A further update on the number of cases so far is expected to be released this week by the WHO.

Twelve deaths from Ebola have been confirmed so far, including two health care workers. Another two have been confirmed to have the virus.

In its last situation report, released Friday, the WHO said 724 contacts have been recorded and are being followed up actively.

'Our country is facing another epidemic of the Ebola virus, which constitutes an international public health emergency,' the Congo Health Ministry said earlier this month.

A smaller outbreak last year

DRC escaped the brutal Ebola pandemic, which was finally declared over in January 2016 - but it was struck by a smaller outbreak last year.

Four DRC residents died from the virus in 2017. The outbreak lasted just 42 days and international aid teams were praised for their prompt responses.

The new outbreak is the DRCs ninth since the discovery of Ebola in the country in 1976.

Health experts credit an awareness of the disease among the population and local medical staff's experience treating for past successes containing its spread.

DRCs vast, remote geography also gives it an advantage, as outbreaks are often localised and relatively easy to isolate.

Neighbouring countries have already been alerted about the new outbreak of Ebola, which can cause severe bleeding.

DRC borders Angola, Zambia, Tanzania, Uganda, South Sudan, Central African Republic, Rwanda, Burundi and the Republic of Congo

At least 25 people are feared to have been killed by the deadly virus in the African nation, according to the World Health Organization (UNICEF workers pictured in DRC)

Measures taken by neighbouring countries

Kenya - which doesn't border the country  earlier this month issued warnings over the possible spread of Ebola.

Thermal guns to detect anyone with a fever have been put in place along its border with Uganda and at the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport.

Concerned health officials in Nigeria, which also doesn't border the DRC, have put similar measures in place to keep its population safe.

Ebola is often fatal if untreated - around 50 per cent of patients die. It is transmitted to people from wild animals and can be spread from human to human.

The outbreak comes after the World Bank stated last year that Earth isn't ready for an 'inevitable' pandemic, after stimulating four possible scenarios.

The research was done in an attempt to assess why the global response to the Ebola pandemic was so sloppy and to fill those gaps before another disaster strikes.

Criticised aid efforts

The 2014 international response to the Ebola pandemic drew criticism for moving too slowly and prompted an apology from the WHO.

But international aid teams have moved much quicker in response this time - with vaccination campaigns already underway in several regions.

Hundreds of locals and frontline health workers in Bikoro, Iboko and Mbandaka have already been given the experimental vaccine, known as rVSV-ZEBOV.

Currently, there are no proven Ebola vaccines - but the rVSV-ZEBOV has been shown to be effective in trials in Guinea during the pandemic.

But will a mass vaccination programme help?

However, a study by scientists at Kent University published earlier this month argued mass vaccination programmes wont stop Ebola outbreaks.

Writing in the Frontiers in Immunology, they revealed that controlling an outbreak of the virus depends entirely on surveillance and the isolation of cases.

Five other experimental drugs will be used as part of clinical trials to examine their effects in protecting against Ebola, the DRC's Health Ministry has said.
Most parents will agree that children raise their stress levels. Now it appears that having more than two can significantly damage a mothers health.

The more children a woman has, the greater the risk of heart attack, stroke and heart failure, according to a study led by Cambridge University.

Those with five or more children were 40 per cent more likely to have a serious heart attack in the next 30 years compared to women with one or two children.

Most parents will agree that children raise their stress levels. Now it appears that having more than two can significantly damage a mothers health

Pregnancy and labour put strain on the heart, while children are stressful and stop mothers looking after themselves properly, the researchers suggest.

Cambridges Dr Clare Oliver-Williams, who led the research, said: We know that pregnancy and childbirth put a tremendous strain on the heart, and raising children can be very stressful too.

We dont want to add to the stress people have in their everyday lives but equip them with the knowledge to do something about it.

Scientists from Cambridge and North Carolina studied data from more than 8,000 women from the United States, who were aged between 45 and 64.

Having five or more children was also associated with a 30 per cent increased risk of heart disease, the major cause of heart attacks. They were a quarter (25 per cent) more likely to have a stroke and almost a sixth (17 per cent) more likely to have heart failure than mothers of one or two.

The researchers found women who had between three and four children were more likely to have serious health implications, but the most significant increase was in those with five or more.

Women who have had miscarriages were found to have a 60 per cent greater risk of heart disease and were 45 per cent more likely to go on to have heart failure.

But this is likely to be the result of underlying health problems that increase the chances of pregnancy loss, the researchers said.

Unlike previous studies which suggested breastfeeding helped protect against cardiovascular disease, it found this did not have an impact on the heart health of mothers.

Those with five or more children were 40 per cent more likely to have a serious heart attack in the next 30 years compared to women with one or two children

In Britain, 3.5million women are living with cardiovascular disease  the same number as men. According to the British Heart Foundation, heart and circulatory disease causes more than a quarter of all deaths in the UK, around 160,000 each year.

It is hoped the findings will help to identify those more at risk to take preventative action.

Dr Oliver-Williams said: The number of children a woman has had is an easy sign of whether a woman is at greater risk.

We all know its hard to take care of your health when you have children, but hopefully this research can help show how important it is and, perhaps, having children can provide some extra motivation.

The research will be presented today at the British Cardiovascular Society conference in Manchester.

Professor Jeremy Pearson, associate medical director at the British Heart Foundation which funded the study, said: While its perhaps not surprising that having more children can mean that mums have less time to look after their own health, this research brings home just how important it is for everyone to keep an eye on their heart health, particularly busy parents.

Research like this reminds us that  regardless of the stereotype of the overweight, middle-aged man having a heart attack  heart disease strikes men and women alike. As the major cause of heart attacks and strokes, heart disease cruelly tears families apart.
More than two thirds of breast cancer patients a year could be spared the ordeal of chemotherapy after one of the biggest breakthroughs in the last two decades.

Around 123,000 women in the US and 23,000 in the UK are diagnosed with hormone receptor-positive, HER2-negative, axillary node-negative early-stage breast cancer (HR+HER2-AN) each year.

But for 69 per cent of these women, they do not need to go through chemotherapy and only require a daily pill  such as tamoxifen  to stop their cancer returning after surgery.

Remarkably, the researchers believe that these women can be easily identified via a simple genetic test that is already widely available on the NHS and approved by the FDA.

Oncologists have hailed the decade-long study, which involved more than 10,000 women and was led by Montefiore Medical Center in New York. The results were presented at the largest cancer conference in the world.

The study found that a majority of women with the disease need only a daily pill to stop their cancer returning after surgery

HR+HER2-AN is the most common type of breast cancer and accounts for half of all cases.

These women, whose cancer has not yet spread to their lymph nodes, will first have surgery in the form of a lumpectomy or mastectomy to remove the cancer, and may receive radiotherapy.

Then comes hormone therapy pills such as tamoxifen, which block or slow down signals in the body that trigger the growth of cancer cells, and are typically taken for five years.

Patients often also have four to six months of chemotherapy after surgery, to kill any remaining cancer cells. This is supposed to ensure their cancer doesnt return, but it can come with debilitating side effects.

This is vital for those with the highest risk of their breast cancer returning after surgery, but it comes with side effects such as hair loss, sickness and fatigue.

However, about 69 per cent of women actually fall into a lower risk group, known as intermediate. For these, the benefits of chemotherapy have always been less clear cut.

Ready-made sauces boost disease risk to women Home cooks who do not make their entire meals from scratch could be almost tripling their risk of getting the most aggressive form of breast cancer, a study claims. Scientists have warned against turning to convenient ready-made sauces, such as those used on pasta dishes, and industrially produced baked goods. They have been found to be part of a so-called inflammatory diet, along with red and processed meat, high-fat dairy products and eggs. A study of almost 2,000 women by Spanish researchers found those who ate the most inflammatory foods were 39 per cent more likely to develop breast cancer than those who ate the least. And they were 2.72 times more likely to develop the triple-negative type, which is much more aggressive and difficult to treat. The key may be to make your own food from scratch, the study suggests. Foods such as onions, garlic and tomatoes, which are found in home-made pasta sauces, are anti-inflammatory and may reduce breast cancer risk. Professor Adela Castello, who led the study at Carlos III Health Institute in Spain, said: Some of the most inflammatory dietary components are present in pasta, rice and flour, and bad fats such as cholesterol, saturated fats and trans fats, present in convenience food, industrial baking and sauces. But she said only women who eat large amounts of unhealthy food need to worry. Dr Emma Pennery, from Breast Cancer Care, described the findings as intriguing. But she added: Theres a long way to go until weve connected the dots to properly understand the effect a high inflammatory diet might have on breast cancer risk. Advertisement

Traditionally, it has been up to doctors to decide if they should have the harrowing treatment. The results of the new study, however, show that these women do not need chemotherapy.

It found that after nine years of taking daily hormone therapy pills, the survival rate for these patients was 93.9 per cent, which is almost exactly the same as the 93.8 per cent rate if women had undergone chemotherapy too.

Figures for those whose cancer returned were also almost identical.

Women in this intermediate group can be accurately identified with a genetic test, known as the Oncotype DX test, which detects 21 genes in breast cancer tumours and grades their risk of the disease returning from zero to 100.

The study found chemotherapy is unnecessary for all intermediate women  those with scores from 11 to 25.

The TAILORx study also found women older than 50 with this form of breast cancer and a score of up to 25 did not need chemotherapy. Under 50s with a score of up to 15 can also be spared the treatment.

Previously, only women with scores between zero to 10 could skip chemotherapy.

Dr Alistair Ring, a consultant medical oncologist at the Royal Marsden Hospital in London, last night described the study as the most significant breast cancer breakthrough in 20 years.

It is a significant step because it is about avoiding a treatment that, for most people diagnosed with cancer, is what they all fear being suggested to have, he said.

Our chemotherapy use will drop. As an oncologist, on Monday in the clinic, I will offer less chemotherapy that will not be of benefit to patients and that is very reassuring to know that when I am offering patients chemotherapy, they are likely to benefit from it.

The genetic test, which takes two weeks to return results and has been widely available since 2013, costs 2,580 ($3,450), and the NHS gets it for a reduced rate.

For 69 per cent of these women, they do not need to go through chemotherapy and only require a daily pill  such as tamoxifen (pictured)  to stop their cancer returning after surgery

Rachel Rawson, clinical nurse specialist at charity Breast Cancer Care, said: This life-changing breakthrough is absolutely wonderful news as it could liberate thousands of women from the agony of chemotherapy.

Every day women with certain types of breast cancer face the terrible dilemma of whether or not to have the treatment, without hard facts about the benefit for them.

Side effects, such as hair loss, severe pain and infertility, can be utterly devastating and linger long after they walk out the hospital doors.

The results were presented during the plenary sessions at the American Society of Clinical Oncology conference in Chicago, which is for research with the most potential to change patient care.

Lead author Dr Joseph Sparano said: Our study shows that chemotherapy may be avoided in about 70 per cent of these women when its use is guided by the test, thus limiting chemotherapy to the 30 per cent who we can predict will benefit from it.

Chemotherapy typically costs 4,500 ($6,015) per patient, so the findings could save money for both the NHS and tens of thousands of women battling the cancer in the US.

Dr Otis Brawley, chief medical and scientific officer for the American Cancer Society who was not part of the study, said: 'I'm delighted.

'I've been worried for a long time about unnecessary treatment for cancer, and unnecessary side effects from chemotherapy.

'Now with these genomic tests, we are finding that we have multiple types of breast cancer, perhaps several dozen and we are being able to tailor our therapies to the type of breast cancer every woman has.'
It's hailed as the magic number to reach every day if you want to stay fit and healthy.

But health officials say we dont have to notch up 10,000 steps... a brisk ten-minute walk could be just as good.

They want people to increase the intensity of their walking, rather than just focus on the distance.

Public Health England says ten minutes of brisk walking - around 1,000 steps - can cut chances of an early death by 15 per cent

Just ten minutes of brisk walking  around 1,000 steps  can cut our chances of an early death by up to 15 per cent, according to new guidance from Public Health England and the Royal College of GPs.

One in five middle-aged adults in England are physically inactive, meaning they do less than 30 minutes of physical activity a week. Nearly a third  31 per cent  blame not having enough time, while around a quarter say they are too tired to exercise regularly.

Health officials say a daily brisk walk is a simple and effective way to increase heart rate and improve overall health.

The official recommendation for adults is to carry out 150 minutes a week of moderate to vigorous physical activity. Doing this much exercise has been linked to a reduced risk of type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease and some cancers.

In a Public Health England poll of 3,000 adults, 87 per cent said they already walk more than ten minutes a day  although only 54 per cent said they walk at a brisk pace.

The Government agency has now created an app  Active 10  which measures time spent and the intensity of walking, as well as distance.

Professor Paul Cosford, medical director of PHE, said: Managing all the pressures of everyday life can mean that exercise takes a back seat, but building a brisk walk into your daily routine is a simple way to get more active.

Taking a brisk ten-minute walk each day will get your heart pumping, improve your mood and lower the risk of serious health issues. It comes after a study found older people who walk at a brisk pace were 53 per cent less likely to die from a heart attack or stroke than those who dawdle.

One in five middle-aged adults in England are physically inactive, meaning they do less than 30 minutes of physical activity a week (file image)

For those of any age, keeping up a fast or average speed  between 3 and 4.3mph  cut the risk of death from any cause by more than 20 per cent over a 15-year period, researchers found.

Professor Helen Stokes-Lampard, chairman of the Royal College of GPs, said: Small, often simple, lifestyle changes can have a really positive impact on our health.

There has been a substantial rise in patients who have developed multiple long-term conditions in recent years, and many of these, including type 2 diabetes and heart disease, are linked to not being active enough.

Most fitness trackers, such as the Fitbit, encourage users to walk 10,000 steps a day. It is believed the concept originated in Japan in the run-up to the 1964 Tokyo Olympics when a pedometer  called Manpo-Kei, which translates as 10,000 steps meter  became popular among the health-conscious.

A spokesperson for Fitbit said the device can be worn to help people achieve this target.

She said: 'Fitbit starts users off with a 10,000 step goal as it adds up to about five miles a day for most people, which includes about 30 minutes of daily exercise  satisfying the recommendation of at least 150 minutes of moderate exercise per week.'
A shaking mouse cursor, slow scrolling speed and repetitive online searches could allow computers to spot early signs of Parkinson's or Alzheimer's disease.

Research by Microsoft found a link between a trembling mouse cursor and online searches suggesting people have Parkinson's disease.

They say people's online data could one day be used to spot early warning signs of the brain diseases and lead to quicker diagnosis.

Scientists looked at data from more than 31 million Americans using the Bing search engine to try to work out the behaviour of people who might have the conditions.

They suggest the shaking caused by Parkinson's and memory loss of Alzheimer's patients are symptoms which could be noticed in people's online activity.

Software could even be developed to spot the diseases before another person notices it, and to warn people to visit a doctor, the researchers say.

Microsoft and scientists at Duke University hope their algorithms could one day spot early signs of Parkinson's disease and lead to early diagnosis and better treatment

Researchers from Microsoft and Duke University in North Carolina looked at how much people's mouses shake side-to-side or back-and-forth while they try to make normal movements.

Repetitive searches could be memory problems

They also used data from Microsoft's Bing search engine to show when people searched the same things online over and over again.

This could point to memory problems, which are a symptom of the brain degeneration in both Parkinson's and Alzheimer's.

Around 127,000 people in the UK are thought to have Parkinson's disease  approximately one in 500 people  and more than 520,000 people have Alzheimer's, which is the most common type of dementia.

Both are incurable degenerative brain diseases which tend to worsen over time and cause changes in people's behaviour and can make patients reliant on care.

One of the main symptoms of Parkinson's is uncontrollable shaking of parts of the body, often the fingers.

The researchers identified 703 people who potentially already have Parkinson's  those who search for things like 'just diagnosed with Parkinson's'.

They now plan to compare those people's online activity to that of volunteers who have a confirmed diagnosis.

It is hoped that, if the algorithms can correctly identify people who already have Parkinson's or Alzheimer's, they could pave the way for software that can one day spot it before it has been diagnosed.

Computers could spot warning signs before people

Computers could notice symptoms earlier than a patient or family member then alert people and advise them to go to a doctor, the researchers suggest.

Because the computer algorithm would have been analysing the person's activity for a long time  people in the study were watched for 18 months  there could be extra information to help with a diagnosis.

Lead author of the study, Dr Murali Doraiswamy told the Wall Street Journal: 'Both of these conditions in their very early stages can be very hard to differentiate from a host of benign conditions, so the misdiagnosis rate is high.

'[With computer data] you can see how someone is changing over time, which might give you greater sensitivity and accuracy in making a diagnosis.'

Not a breach of privacy

Those who were monitored in the original study did not know they were part of it, but researchers say the data is anonymous and it was not a breach of privacy.

Addressing concerns about people's privacy being breached, Dr Doraiswamy added: 'This type of data is generally considered acceptable to analyze because its de-identified, so theres no privacy issues.'

Microsoft and Duke University's research was published in the journal npj Digital Medicine.
Zapping a man's private parts with a mild electric current could be a real turn on, scientists claim.

The unlikely therapy is the latest cure for erectile dysfunction.

Tests revealed men with performance problems in the bedroom got their sex drive back after just a few weeks of treatment.

Volunteers had two sessions a week for a month  each one lasting 15 minutes.

Two tiny electrodes were placed on the genitals and a power-pack used to generate a current.

And while the remedy may sound shocking, the only sensation volunteers felt was a mild tingling as the current passed through tissue.

Tests revealed men with performance problems in the bedroom got their sex drive back after just a few weeks of treatment

Is the treatment already used?

The technique, called functional electrical stimulation, has been used for nearly 40 years to treat other conditions, such as multiple sclerosis.

Many MS sufferers suffer a condition called drop foot, where they struggle to lift their foot properly from the ground due to the damaging impact of the disease.

But firing a low-level current into the leg 'reawakens' muscles and nerves that control this movement.

Stroke victims too can benefit from the same therapy.

The devices used cost around 3,000 each.

Now a team of researchers in Brazil has tried out the stimulation therapy on men with impotence who did not get better taking drugs like Viagra.

Erectile dysfunction: The facts

One in ten men suffers erectile dysfunction at some point in their lives.

Some studies suggest more than a third of those over 40 are affected.

Although drugs like Viagra have revolutionised treatment, around 35 per cent of men who take them see no improvement.

These patients are often left using cumbersome vacuum devices, or undergo surgery to have penile implants that can be inflated when needed.

HOW DOES A ZAP TO THE GENITALS WORK? Two tiny electrodes were placed on the genitals and a power-pack used to generate a current in the Federal University of Health Sciences in Porto Alegre, Brazil, study. And while the remedy may sound shocking, the only sensation the 11 volunteers felt was a mild tingling as the current passed through tissue. The other 11 patients were given a placebo. The technique, called functional electrical stimulation, has been used for nearly 40 years to treat other conditions, such as multiple sclerosis. The low-level current into the leg 'reawakens' muscles and nerves that control this movement. It's not clear exactly how mild electric jolts boost sex drive but animal studies show it can trigger a process which leads to an increase in levels of nitric oxide, which dilates blood vessels and boosts blood flow to the genitals. Advertisement

But a tiny jolt of electricity could be a better solution.

How was the study carried out?

Researchers at The Federal University of Health Sciences in Porto Alegre, Brazil, recruited 22 men, aged 40 to 65, with severe erectile problems.

None were on Viagra-like drugs at the time and all were asked to attend clinic twice a week for a month for treatment.

But while half got the genuine electric shock therapy, the rest received a dummy, or placebo, treatment, where the electrodes were attached and a red light lit up on the power-pack but no current was generated.

Sexual response in both groups was measured using a recognised scale, called the International Index of Erectile Function.

The results, in the latest International Journal of Impotence Research, showed those given the dummy treatment saw little or no change in their scores.

But of the 11 given a small charge, three regained the ability to get spontaneous erections, five saw significant improvements in the scores on the index and the last three saw no response to the treatment.

It's not clear exactly how mild electric jolts boost sex drive but animal studies show it can trigger a process which leads to an increase in levels of nitric oxide, which dilates blood vessels and boosts blood flow to the genitals.

An 'interesting' study

Dr Geoff Hackett, chairman of the British Society of Sexual Medicine, said the treatment could potentially help some men but only if much larger studies prove it really does work. He said: 'There are a few unanswered questions.'

Dr David Goldmeier, sexual medicine expert at Imperial College London, said: 'This is an interesting study.

'But the number of patients is small and there was no long-term follow up to see if the benefits lasted.'
Scores of furious medics have taken to Twitter to blast Jeremy Hunt on the day he has become the longest-serving health secretary in history.

Hunt has now overtaken fellow Tory Norman Fowler, who served from 1981 to 1987, having already passed NHS founder Aneurin Bevan in February.

However, Mr Hunt's five year and 274 day-reign has seen him weather a series of political storms and also some of the worst performance statistics on record.

Waiting times in A&E have ballooned to their worst ever levels over the past winter and hundreds of thousands of patients have been left waiting longer than 18 weeks for routine operations. Concerned medics have repeatedly warned the cash-strapped NHS has 'no more to give'.

Doctors, nurses and politicians took to Twitter last night and in the early hours of this morning to condemn Mr Hunt's controversial tenure - with one angry user claiming it is the 'main reason the NHS is in crisis'.

Jeremy Hunt today overtook fellow Tory Norman Fowler, who served from 1981 to 1987, having already passed NHS founder Aneurin Bevan in February

Taking to social media in the early hours of this morning, Dr Sukaina Hirji, an NHS GP, branded Mr Hunt's tenure as 'not a great record'

JUST HOW STRETCHED IS THE NHS? Waiting times at over-stretched A&E units are at their worst level since records began, according to official figures in April 2018. Experts said the NHS was in the grip of an 'eternal winter' and many hospitals are still struggling to cope with the unprecedented pressure. Health and Social Care Secretary Jeremy Hunt was forced to admit it was the 'worst winter ever' amid a severe outbreak of flu and cold weather. Chiefs cancelled thousands of operations in a controversial move to ease pressure. And experts have suggested this may be the only option to stop a crisis next year. The latest monthly data from NHS England also shows that waiting times for routine operations, such as knee and hip replacements, are at their highest since 2004. And violent assaults on staff have risen by 10 per cent in a year  partly driven by frustration with waiting times. Advertisement

Professor Stephen Hawking backed campaigners taking legal action over Mr Hunt's plans to 'Americanise' the NHS last year.

He was responsible for a controversial contract for junior doctors in England that sparked the biggest walk-out of doctors in NHS history in 2016.

And Mr Hunt was forced to cancel tens of thousands of operations this winter as hospitals delayed non-urgent operations to try and ease the unprecedented crisis.

Waiting-time performances in A&E units hit their lowest level in 14 years last winter - even worse than the previous winter, which was branded a 'humanitarian crisis'.

Staff described patients 'dying prematurely' in corridors before they were seen as furious medics begged for extra funding to cope with the pressure.

Dr Sukaina Hirji, an NHS GP, branded Mr Hunt's tenure as 'not a great record'. She tweeted: 'The legacy of Jeremy Hunt: a recruitment crisis of doctors and nurses, record staff shortages, bed shortages, longer waiting lists, routine op cancellations.'

Dr Ben White, a critic of the Health and Social Care Secretary, yesterday offered an answer as to how the 52-year-old has managed to keep his role.

Dr Ben White, a critic of the Health and Social Care Secretary, yesterday offered an answer as to how the 52-year-old has managed to keep his role

DOES THE NHS RECEIVE ENOUGH FUNDING? Campaigners have argued for years that the NHS is strapped of cash and desperately needs more funding to cope on a day-to-day basis. it is now in the midst of its worst financial crisis in a generation, they warn, as the health service struggles to function on a tightly-constrained budget. A&E waiting times have soared to record levels, tens of thousands of patients have had to wait outside casualty units for treatment and dozens of trusts have reported they have no free beds this winter. NHS England has been allocated 123 billion this financial year from the Budget - but further cash injections have been asked for. Last November, Chancellor Philip Hammond promised the health service a 2.8 billion cash injection over two years  but this was a third of what experts demanded. Health trusts across the country have reported severe financial constraints in recent years as chiefs tightens their purse strings. Advertisement

In a scathing attack, he explained how Mr Hunt has 'effectively under-funded, down-sized, out-sourced and fragmented the NHS as asked'.

He posted the answer in a tweet that began: 'In case you wondered why Jeremy Hunt still has his job despite the worst tenure in history'.

His followers shared similar views.

Heidi Dodd, a nurse in Billingshurst, responded to his tweet and urged Mr Hunt to 'face the real people who live with the consequences you are responsible for.'

In February, Mr Hunt surpassed the tenure of Aneurin Bevan, the Labour founder of the NHS - which celebrates its 70th anniversary next month.

But his new accolade, which has seen him pip Mr Fowler to the top spot, has also seen him receive the wrath of politicians and the public.

Labour's official Twitter account, which has more than 600,000 followers, chipped in to 'mark the occasion by compiling just a few of his best bits'.

It mocked-up a 'hall of shame', with a mosaic portrait of Mr Hunt that included some of his TV interviews since he began the role in September 2012.

Twitter user Michael, who goes by the handle @therightarticle_, wrote that Jeremy Hunt becoming the longest-serving health secretary is the 'main reason the NHS is in crisis'

WHO ARE THE FIVE LONGEST-SERVING HEALTH SECRETARIES? 1. Jeremy Hunt - Conservative 4 Sept 2012 - present - 5 years 274 days 2. Norman Fowler - Conservative 14 Sept 1981 - 13 Jun 1987 - 5 years 273 days 3. Aneurin Bevan - Labour 3 Aug 1945 - 17 Jan 1951 - 5 years 167 days 4. Kenneth Robinson - Labour 18 Oct 1964 - 1 Nov 1968 - 4 years 14 days 5. Sir Keith Joseph - Conservative 20 Jun 1970 - 4 Mar 1974 - 3 years 258 days Source: GPOnline Advertisement

The two-minute-long clip, published yesterday, also featured some of the statistics that have been released in the past two winter crises.

David Lammy, Labour MP for Tottenham, also joined in the mock celebrations for Mr Hunt. He tweeted his 'congrats'.

'Since you've been in the job, the number of people waiting more than four hours in A&E is up 842 per cent,' Mr Lammy continued.

He also added that the number of people waiting longer than a fortnight for urgent cancer treatment has more than doubled.

Twitter user Michael, who goes by the handle @therightarticle_, wrote that Jeremy Hunt becoming the longest-serving health secretary is the 'main reason the NHS is in crisis'.

And Twitter user Socialist Voice, a 'hard left militant', drew up a mock board game called 'Jeremy Hunt's Operation' to celebrate his tenure.

Instead of listing body parts, it gave the options of 'blaming nurses' and privatizing several aspects - two actions Mr Hunt has been criticised for.

Mr Hunt took over from Andrew Lansley, who was spectacularly sacked by David Cameron today because of his failure to push through NHS reforms.

Heidi Dodd, a nurse in Billingshurst, responded to Dr White's tweet and urged Mr Hunt to 'face the real people who live with the consequences you are responsible for'

Twitter user Socialist Voice, a 'hard left militant', drew up a mock board game called 'Jeremy Hunt's Operation' to celebrate his tenure

Despite his fierce critics, Mr Hunt, MP for South West Surrey, has been behind major plans to cut the number of baby deaths and injuries in childbirth.

And in his first speech since taking charge of social care in January, he outlined a blueprint to transform care for the elderly, who are too often treated as 'tasks on a to-do list'.

But many medics argue his tenure will be remembered for funding cuts on the NHS that has led to the health service buckling under unprecedented pressure.

Mr Hunt tweeted this morning. He wrote: 'Sometimes time has flown, at others its been achingly slow, but every second of last 5+ yrs has been a privilege.

'Thanks for being extraordinary in so many ways: much more impressive than a long serving Health Sec are the staff who have devoted 10, 15 or 20+ yrs to patients.'

Labour's official Twitter account, which has more than 600,000 followers, chipped in to 'mark the occasion by compiling just a few of his best bits'

David Lammy, Labour MP for Tottenham, also joined in the mock celebrations for Mr Hunt. He tweeted his 'congrats'
How aspirin helps to fight bowel cancer has been discovered by British scientists.

Experiments on tumours taken from patients found the painkiller blocks the 'power station' that fuels the disease.

Known as the 'nucleosus', it lies at the heart of cells - within the nucleus that contains the DNA.

Activation is known to drive tumour formation - and dysfunction has also been linked to Alzheimer's and Parkinson's diseases.

Experiments on tumours taken from patients found the painkiller blocks the 'power station' that fuels the disease

Hope for newer treatments

Around 41,300 people are diagnosed with bowel cancer each year making it the fourth most common cancer in the UK.

The breakthrough by Edinburgh University researchers could lead to new treatments for a host of conditions based on aspirin.

The drug can cause internal bleeding and certain types of stroke. Long term use is not advised.

The team say the study paves the way for the development of safer therapies that mimic aspirin's effects.

Dr Lesley Stark, of the Cancer Research UK Edinburgh Centre, said: 'The nucleolus is a highly dynamic, sub-nuclear organelle.'

She said its main function is being the hub of protein factories but it also acts as a critical stress sensor and coordinates the body's response.

Dr Stark said: 'We are really excited by these findings as they suggest a mechanism by which aspirin may act to prevent multiple diseases.'

Blocking tumour growth

Aspirin has anti-inflammatory properties and is recommended to reduce heart attack risk.

Previous studies have revealed if it is taken over a long period of time it can protect against several kinds of cancer including those of the bowel, breast, lung, prostate gland and stomach.

Scientists are increasingly turning to aspirin in the battle against cancer.. The theory was it hinders platelets - cells that help the blood to clot - from protecting tumours.

To investigate the possible mechanisms further, Dr Stark and colleagues looked at the action of the drug on bowel tumour growth.

They found the painkiller blocks a key process linked to tumour formation. Regular use is known to reduce the risk of colon cancer but the reason has not been well understood.

The researchers focused on the nucleolus - testing the effects of aspirin on cells grown in the lab and on tumour biopsies removed from bowel cancer patients.

They found the drug blocks a chemical called TIF-IA - a key molecule which is essential for the structure to function.

Not all bowel cancer patients respond to aspirin. The study could help pinpoint those most likely to benefit.

THE SYMPTOMS OF BOWEL CANCER, WHICH DEVELOPS FROM POLYPS IN THE COLON AND RECTUM Bowel, or colorectal, cancer affects the large bowel, which is made up of the colon and rectum. Such tumours usually develop from pre-cancerous growths, called polyps. Symptoms include: Bleeding from the bottom

Blood in stools

A change in bowel habits lasting at least three weeks

Unexplained weight loss

Extreme, unexplained tiredness

Abdominal pain Most cases have no clear cause, however, people are more at risk if they: Are over 50

Have a family history of the condition

Have a personal history of polyps in their bowel

Suffer from inflammatory bowel disease, such as Crohn's disease

Lead an unhealthy lifestyle Treatment usually involves surgery, and chemo- and radiotherapy. More than nine out of 10 people with stage one bowel cancer survive five years or more after their diagnosis. This drops significantly if it is diagnosed in later stages. According to Bowel Cancer UK figures, more than 41,200 people are diagnosed with bowel cancer every year in the UK. It affects around 40 per 100,000 adults per year in the US, according to the National Cancer Institute. Advertisement

The future of treatment

Dr Stark said: 'A better understanding of how aspirin blocks TIF-IA and nucleolar activity provides great promise for the development of new treatments and targeted therapy.'

Previous research has suggested a low-dose 75mg daily aspirin over many years can reduce middle aged people's risk of stomach, oesophageal and bowel cancer by about a third - and lung, prostate and breast cancer by ten per cent.

People at increased risk of these cancers - for instance due to family history - and not likely to bleed have been advised to discuss with their GP if they might benefit.

Dr Stark said the findings published in Nucleic Acid Research have 'great significance.'

She said: 'These data have far reaching implications for understanding of the anti-tumour effects of this agent.

'In summary, the data presented here open up new avenues of research into nucleolar regulation.

'They also shed further light on the complex mode of action of aspirin and related non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs).'

First developed to treat arthritis pain, aspirin belongs to a class of drugs called NSAIDs (non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs), as does ibuprofen.

These drugs dampen inflammation by blocking pain-producing chemicals called thromboxanes.

Aspirin differs from paracetamol, which has no anti-inflammatory effect and works on a different pain trigger, the chemical cyclooxygenase.

The research was funded by the Medical Research Council and the Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council.

Worldwide Cancer Research, Bowel and Cancer Research and The Rosetrees Trust also supported it.
Some 11 million Americans are taking the wrong medications to manage their stroke and heart attack risks, according to new research.

According to previous guidelines devised in 2013, 56 million Americans should take stain medications to combat the build up of bad cholesterol in their blood.

Many more take a dose of aspiring or blood pressure medication on a daily basis to help to reduce their risks of heart disease and aneurysms.

But the last draft of these guidelines was written based on a large, but old dataset.

The new research - and subsequent guidelines - from the American College of Physicians suggests that many people are over-medicated, but that black people in the US are both most at risk of stroke and heart disease often under- medicated.

Blood pressure medications, statins and aspirins have been shown to lower risks of heart disease and stroke, but the drugs are over- or under-prescribed to Americans, study reveals

Heart disease has long reigned supreme as the top killer of Americans, and stroke is not far behind at number five on the list.

Collectively, the two conditions are responsible for nearly 750,000 deaths a year in the US, striking fear into the hearts of many and prompting nationwide prevention campaigns.

Chief among the initiatives to prevent these deaths was the development of guidelines as to who is at risk for what, and how they should be medicated.

The result was the 2013 Pooled Cohort Equations (PCEs), a set set of calculations that helps doctors recommend prescriptions.

According to those calculations, 56 million Americans needed statins to keep their cholesterol from reaching dangerously high levels.

Earlier this year, more than 100 million Americans were reported to have high blood pressure, too, according to the American Heart Association.

But many experts argued that the PCE math was off, and based on outdated data.

The numbers that set of guidance was built upon included information on people who were aged any where between 30 and 62 years old - in 1948.

Furthermore, the sample of patients was predominantly white - even though black Americans are at a higher risk of both stroke and heart disease than their white peers are.

So, researchers at Stanford University decided to give the guidelines an early revamp.

Based on their calculations, about 20 percent of Americans are at risk for one form of heart disease - atherosclerotic heart disease. But, according to the research, far more than that are taking drugs to prevent the condition, unnecessarily.

High cholesterol is one of the best predictors of heart disease and stroke, and statins among the best preventative treatments for either.

But the remarkable drugs are not without their own risks, causing upset stomachs, muscle pain and mental fuzziness in some people.

Similarly, aspiriin helps to stop the blood from clotting, reducing the chances of both stroke and heart attack.

However, in the process of reducing the risks of heart attacks and strokes from clots, aspirin may actually raise the risks of having a stroke from bleeding out, as it interferes with the ability of blood to clot.

It can also cause ulcers and gastrointestinal bleeding and some find they are allergic to the medication.

The new research indicates that some people may be getting more these drugs than they need, and, with them, a false sense of security.

Meanwhile, black Americans - who have a 1.3-times higher risk of fatal stroke and a 1.5-times greater risk of fatal heart disease than whites - are actually mostly under-medicated, suggesting that stigma and inaccessibility of treatment remain major obstacles to the health of this community.
You dont consciously notice the danger signs: they are too subtle. But your nose and brain do.

They constantly sniff for trouble on people around us  in the form of illness and infection  and tell us when to avoid them, for fear of catching their illnesses.

So suggests emerging research by Mats Olsson, a professor of neuroscience at the prestigious Karolinska Institute in Sweden.

He has found that our noses tell us instinctively to avoid people who are in the earliest stages of an infection  even before they show any physical signs of illness.

Fact: Our noses tell us instinctively to avoid people who are in early stages of an infection

In a study he led, published last year in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 22 volunteers were injected with harmless bacteria that activated their immune systems as though they had caught a contagious bug.

After a few hours, smell samples were taken from them and given to 30 people to inhale, along with samples from uninjected people. The participants were then asked to rate the volunteers smells for likeability, while their brains were monitored by an MRI scanner.

Samples taken from the injected volunteers were rated as far less likeable, although the participants couldnt describe why.

The brain scans revealed that when the volunteers smelled the infected samples, there was heightened activity in an area called the intraparietal sulcus  involved with filing sensory experiences into our memory  labelling the smells owners as people to avoid.

Professor Olsson believes that we instinctively do this to avoid catching their bugs. He says: The human brain is actually very good at discovering infection and this motivates avoidance behaviour.

Other research he has done indicates that peoples repulsion to disease odour may stimulate a mild immune reaction, to protect them further against disease.

Emotional disgust is there to keep us healthy, he adds. It may also exist to keep us reproducing healthily.

Protection: Research indicates that peoples repulsion to disease odour may stimulate a mild immune reaction, to protect them further against disease

Professor Olssons research helps to explain why a study by biologists from Tomsk University in Russia, published in the Journal of Sexual Medicine in 2012, found that healthy young women were significantly more likely to rate as unpleasant or even putrid sweat samples taken from men infected with gonorrhoea than samples from men who were uninfected.

But what exactly are we sniffing out? A study in March claimed to have the answer: its a protein that plays a crucial role in our bodies defence systems, called tumour necrosis factor (TNF).

The TNF protein signals to tissues in the body to become inflamed, in order to produce chemicals that fight infections.

U.S. biologists at Wake Forest University in North Carolina have discovered that when TNF prompts inflammation in infected people, it also changes the chemical signature of their body odour, by subtly altering the normal ratios of chemicals that comprise it.

This changed signature may be interpreted by others as an avoid sign, to prevent disease spreading, says Dr Patrick Millet, who led the research, published in the journal Brain, Behavior, and Immunity.

He hopes to learn to read these chemical messages in detail as a new way of providing early diagnoses of illness. Meanwhile, a British scientist believes that she can already achieve this, to diagnose Parkinsons disease long before symptoms start.

Professor Perdita Barran, an analytical chemist at the Manchester Institute of Biotechnology, was inspired by Joy Milne, 67, who made headlines last year by demonstrating that she could discern a distinct odour on people with Parkinsons.

In the Eighties, Joy complained to her husband, Les, then in his mid-30s, that his sweat smelt bad. Ten years later, he was diagnosed with Parkinsons.

Joy, a retired nurse, only linked the distinctive odour to the disease after meeting people with the same smell at a support group for the charity Parkinsons UK.

Since then, Professor Barrans team has collected more than 800 samples of sebum, an oily substance secreted by the skin, from volunteers. In those with Parkinsons, preliminary tests have found significantly raised levels of several molecules. These could create a unique diagnostic nose-print for the disease, says Professor Barran. Her full results are awaiting publication.

It seems we can detect good health from each other, too.

Two years ago, researchers asked 82 women to rate the attractiveness of sweat samples taken from 42 men. The University of Stirling study, published in the journal Appetite, found that samples from men who habitually ate the most garlic were rated the most pleasant, attractive and least intense-smelling.

Why should this be? The study suggested that garlics antioxidant and antimicrobial properties may foster low levels of inflammation and this may be transmitted through sweat as a sign of robust wellbeing.
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At least 25 people have been killed and hundreds of others hurt after a volcano in Guatemala exploded in a fiery display of ash and lava.

Volcan de Fuego, which translates to 'volcano of fire', exploded just before noon on Sunday, 27 miles from Guatemala City, in a hail of ash and molten rock before lava began flowing down the slopes and across homes and roads. It is the second time the volcano has erupted this year.

The volcano, known to be one of Central America's most active, has destroyed homes and blanketed nearby villages in soot as it sent clouds of ash six miles into the air.

Search and rescue operations for the missing and dead were resuming this morning using heavy machinery and shovels, after they had to be suspended due to low light and dangerous conditions last night. An undetermined number of people are still unaccounted for.

Eddy Sanchez, director of the country's seismology and volcanology institute, said the flows from the eruption reached temperatures of about 1,300F (700C). Experts said the eruption ended after over 16 hours of activity, but warned that it could resume again.

A huge cloud of ash erupts from Volcan de Fuego - Volcano of Fire - in an explosion which has killed at least 25 people

A rescue worker helps a woman covered with ash after Fuego volcano erupted violently in Guatemala

A volunteer firefighter carries a child to safety in the aftermath of Sunday's huge volcano explosion in Guatemala

A police officer carries a baby to safety in El Rodeo as the volcano explosion threw ash over the surrounding area

Guatemalan National Army personnel evacuate a victim of the eruption as the surrounding area is blanketed by ash

Volcan de Fuego exploded Sunday 27 miles away from Guatemala City, killing at least 25 people and injuring 20 others

Volcano Fuego is one of the most active in Central America, pictured belching ash and rock

Fidelina Lopez, right, is consoled by her daughter Claudia in a shelter near the Volcan de Fuego in Alotenango

Firefighters in Alotenango pray as they respond to the enormous volcanic eruption in Guatemala on Sunday

The volcano exploded just before noon and lava flows follows hours afterwards, the thick cloud of ash pictured from Alotenango above

The eruption sent lava flows into nearby areas and covered communities in clouds of ash

A rescue worker carries a child covered with ash after the volcano's eruption on Sunday

In this image the Volcan de Fuego can be seen spewing lava from its crater on Sunday

A Guatemalan rescue team worker carries a girl in El Rodeo, Escuintla, during the rescue operation on Sunday

A worker from the National Coordinator for Disaster Reduction of Guatemala assists people in El Rodeo, Escuintla

A group of workers from the rescue teams of Guatemala help a wounded person in El Rodeo, Escuintla

An aerial view taken on Monday of the area around the volcano covered in ash after Sunday's explosion

Cars and vehicles damaged by the eruption of the Fuego volcano in San Miguel Los Lotes, a village in Escuintla

A picture taken on Monday shows the damage to homes and vehicles caused by the volcanic eruption yesterday

Police officers carry out search operations during the eruption of the Fuego volcano in Guatemala

A man stands on the roof of a house in the ash-covered village of San Miguel Los Lotes in Escuintla after the eruption

A rescue worker carries a child covered with ash after Fuego volcano erupted violently in Guatemala on Sunday

A thick cloud of ash spews out of the Volcan de Fuego as seen from near a petrol station at the foot of the mountain

Firefighters regroup after working on the evacuation of residents near Volcan de Fuego in Alotenango

The eruption has already killed 25 people, CONRED, the government's national coordinator for disaster reduction, said late on Sunday.

The eruption of the 3,763-meter (12,346-foot) volcano sent ash billowing over the surrounding area, turning plants and trees grey and blanketing streets, cars and people.

Sacatepequez television showed images of the volcano's damage including the charred landscape and three bodies lying partially buried in ash-colored debris from the volcano.

Among the fatalities were four people - including a disaster agency official - killed when lava set a house on fire in El Rodeo village, and two children who were burned to death as they watched the volcano's second eruption this year from a bridge, Cabanas said.

Another victim was found in the streets of El Rodeo by volunteer firefighters and later died in an ambulance.

Hilda Lopez said the volcanic mud swept into her village of San Miguel Los Lotes, just below the mountain's flanks. She still does not know where her mother or her sister are.

She said: 'We were at a party, celebrating the birth of a baby, when one of the neighbors shouted at us to come out and see the lava that was coming.

'We didn't believe it, and when we went out the hot mud was already coming down the street.'

Israel said on Monday it was sending emergency aid worth $10,000 to Guatemala to buy emergency equipment including medication, food and blankets.

A Briton said he felt 'fortunate' to have escaped harm after he trekked to the base camp of Acatenango, which lies around two miles from the deadly Volcan de Fuego, the day before the explosion.

Richard Fitz-Hugh, a backpacker from Beaconsfield, Buckinghamshire, said: 'It was fine then, erupting as normal with lava flows but it was a lot worse today.

'We knew it was active, it's all part of the experience, you go up and see the lava, that's the point of climbing Acatenango.

'We heard there were a couple of people who were coming down early this morning when it started raining small volcanic rocks up to the size of your palm.

'I don't know anyone who has been physically harmed [on Acatenango], but obviously it wouldn't be completely safe being up high today - I'm sort of fortunate that I did it before.'

British backpacker Richard Fitz Hugh's view of the volcano after he trekked up a neighbouring mountain

Ruth Rivas, who says she has two missing children, is consoled by a neighbor in a shelter near the volcano on Sunday

Distraught locals flee El Rodeo village while covered in ash after the volcano erupted around 12pm on Sunday

The 'Volcano of Fire' blows out a thick cloud of ash, as seen from Alotenango, Guatemala on Sunday afternoon

A police officer carries a baby away from the damage left by the Fuego Volcano in El Rodeo

A soldier takes a rescued child covered with ash to a hospital after the eruption on Sunday afternoon

Police officers carry away the body of a wounded man who is covered entirely in ash

A volunteer firefighter carries away a child following the eruption of the volcano in El Rodeo

Around 20 people have been hurt in the volcano eruption and undetermined number of people is missing, a fireman pictured being evacuated from Porvenir village after the explosion

Police wearing protective masks block access to the village of Porvenir after the eruption blanketed it in ash

Police carry an evacuee in Alotenango as the eruption of one of Central America's most active volcanoes sent locals fleeing

Neighbors gather outside a temporary morgue near Volcan de Fuego in Alotenango Sunday

The volcano in Guatemala is pictured at night after it erupted violently on Sunday afternoon

A view of the damage in the village El Porvenir, Guatemala, after clouds of ash exploded from the top of the volcano

Around 3,100 people have been evacuated from nearby communities into shelters.

Rescue teams of firefighters, police and soldiers went into the affected areas, particularly the village of El Rodeo which is located at the foot of the volcano, to rescue as many people as possible and recover bodies covered in ash.

The eruption affects an area home to 1.7million people. Ash has affected not only Guatemala City but the departments of Sacatepequez, Chimaltenango, Escuintla, and the popular tourist destination colonial town Antigua.

Guatemalan President Jimmy Morales said he would issue a declaration of a state of emergency to be approved by Congress and urged people to heed warnings from emergency officials.

The capital's international airport has also been closed due to the danger the ash poses to planes.

As the area is still reeling from the damage of the eruption, the volcano is still spewing lava, according to Eddy Sanchez, the director of the National Institute for Seismology, Vulcanology, Meteorology and Hydrology of Guatemala.

Rescue efforts have been suspended until Monday morning as darkness and rain take over the area, according to municipal firefighters' spokesman Cecilio Chacaj.

Ash is seen on the streets and buildings of popular tourist destination town of Antigua Sunday

Soldiers sweep the ash-covered tarmac at La Aurora International Airport which was closed because of the eruption

The airport in Guatemala City had to close its runway so that soldiers could clear away the ash from the volcano

People were trapped outside La Aurora international airport which closed after the eruption

Drivers make their way through a light rain of volcanic ash, as the Volcan de Fuego erupts, in Guatemala City on Sunday
Gregg Miller is the man who became a millionaire by finding and filling a need in the marketplace for artificial dog testicles

It's sounds nuts because it is - but it has also made Gregg Miller a fortune.

The 64-year-old from inventor and entrepreneur Missouri has managed to make millions with his invention of testicular implants for pets.

Called Neuticles, the silicone balls for male dogs are designed to replace testicles after dogs are neutered so that their overall appearance doesn't alter.

The dog balls have proved to be so popular, Miller says he has sold more than half-a-million sets of the rubbery things - for around $130 each.

The idea came to him in the mid-1990s soon after he had bought a bloodhound puppy named Buck.

He refused to neuter the pet but one day his best friend went missing after smelling the scent of a female dog in heat.

It left Miller beside himself with worry and took a further four days before Buck was found.

Since the company's launch in the mid-'90s, Miller has become a millionaire selling 500k sets

Neuticles are prosthetic dog testicles that help 'hesitant pet owners overcome the trauma of altering and allow their beloved pet to retain its natural look and self esteem'

It was at that point Miller decided it was best to get his dog neutered or face the chance of Buck running off again and again.

He asked his vet if there was a way to give his dog implants 'so Buck can maintain his God-given natural look.' The vet told him that the idea was 'the craziest damn thing I've ever heard of.'

But it didn't sound crazy to Miller and that was when he first came up with the idea for Neuticles.

He is still convinced that Buck noticed something was missing after being neutered and would look back at him as if to say 'They're gone. What happened?'

Miller created the product with the help of a veterinarian who thought he was 'crazy' at first. He eventually convinced 32 local investors and after another five years things took off

The fake testicles are made from silicone and come in a variety of sizes

Miller says that not long after Buck (pictured) had been neutered, he went to clean himself and appeared perturbed, as if he noticed his 'manhood' was missing. It motivated Miller to create Neuticles

Despite laughing in his face, the idea clearly resonated with the veterinarian who then contacted Miller a few days later to give the idea a go - and the two of them began working on a prototype.

He, along with a group of 32 local investors spent more than $100,000 to develop Neuticles. 'I maxed out my credit cards and then maxed out the mortgage on my home,' he told CNBC.

The tests on 30 initial pets worked without any problems and the first commercially implanted Neuticles went into a dog in 1995.

'My parents thought I was absolutely crazy,' Miller says. 'Everybody that I knew thought that was the sickest thing you could possible think of. Printers would not even print my material.'

For five years the business lost cash and Miller claims that at one point he was down to a single working light bulb at one point which he would move from room to room depending on where he was working.

Miller says he's provided more than 500,000 pairs of Neuticles over the last 20 years. The average set costs a little over $300, but some custom jobs have been more expensive

Miller pictured with his bulldog, Humphrey. The bizarre company has made Mr Miller a very rich man  although he admits there are still many critics

Miller claims that it isn't just dog owners who desire this product but the dogs themselves

But then he began to market the product by advertising in dog magazines.

He did radio interviews and even offered free Neuticles to listeners. He also managed to build up a network of veterinarians and then finally the business began to boom. 'I was getting literally anywhere between 250 and 500 responses a day,' he says.

The original Neuticles were made from a hard plastic-like material but customers complained their dogs made a 'clunking' sound when they walked or sat down.

So instead, silicon was used, which is what the soft balls are made from nowadays for around $470-a-pair.

Neuticles come in 11 different sizes to fit a variety of pet. One client even spent $2,800 on a watermelon-sized custom set for an elephant in a zoo.

Once in a while, Miller has to pinch himself when he realizes how successful but also how lucky he has been. He says it is not uncommon for him to be driving down the highway to see one of the billboards he has put up advertising his company.

'When I'm driving my brand new car, and I pass the billboard, I get this rush that is indescribable,' he says. 'I mean, it's a feeling of 'Wow.''

He calls his home 'The house that Neuticles built', and he has room for a sauna, special room for his fancy cigar collection, space to park his new Mercedes, and Las Vegas slot machines.

Miller's idea might have been crazy but it was original enough to make his fortune.

He believes that the invention has encouraged more pet owners to neuter their dogs. 'Their dogs don't have to be turned into eunuchs anymore, and, to me, that's priceless.'

Miller has built a house that he loves complete with Vegas slot machines and a cigar room
The days of prime ministers staying in power for more than a decade are over because the era of 24-hour news has shortened the shelf life of politicians, Gordon Brown says

The days of prime ministers staying in power for more than a decade are over because the era of 24-hour news has shortened the shelf life of politicians, Gordon Brown said yesterday.

The former Labour prime minister, who occupied 10 Downing Street between 2007 and 2010, claimed the hourly news cycle meant voters got bored quickly if they were stuck with the same personalities.

He also suggested that the constant invasion into politicians private lives made it hard for them to survive.

Saying the country would never again have a prime minister serving 11 years like Margaret Thatcher, Mr Brown told the Hay Festival: There will be no ten years of any other prime minister again.

The 24-hour nature of news moves so very quickly and people get bored very quickly with personalities. They find out about them and move on.

It is so invasive and everything about your personal life is investigated  I am fed up with that personally, but that is how it is.

He said it was no longer possible to have a long political career like William Gladstone in the 19th century, serving 12 years as prime minister.

He added: People have got a shelf life in politics. You have probably got six years at the top of politics and that is about it.

Saying the country would never again have a prime minister serving 11 years like Margaret Thatcher, Mr Brown told the Hay Festival: There will be no ten years of any other prime minister again'

Politics is a very different game You will not have people who will have ten or 20 years at the top of politics in the future.

Britains longest-serving prime minister was Sir Robert Walpole, who was in office for 20 years in the 18th century, followed by William Pitt the Younger, who served for a total of 18 years in two stints as prime minister between 1783 and 1806.

In recent years, Tony Blair was in power for a decade, while John Major and David Cameron both lasted for six.

In his speech yesterday, the pro-European Mr Brown also said he did not believe Britain would succeed in leaving the EU.

But he called on politicians to tackle the issues that caused people to vote for Brexit before turning to a second referendum.

He said: I believe we will be in Europe in the next few years and I believe we can win this argument.

If you go into a second referendum and have not dealt with these issues I am raising, then we are not well prepared. We have got to prepare.
Kim Jong-un has axed his top three military officials as he tightens his grip on North Korea's army ahead of a meeting with US President Donald Trump.

The dictator has replaced the 'inflexible' officers with men who are seen as being 'loyal to him and no one else', analysts say.

The reshuffle could also be seen as supporting efforts by the tyrant to jump-start economic development and engage with the world.

Citing an unidentified intelligence official, South Korea's Yonhap news agency said No Kwang Chol, first vice minister of the Ministry of People's Armed Forces, had replaced Pak Yong Sik as defence chief, while chief of the general staff Ri Myong Su was replaced by his deputy, Ri Yong Gil.

Kim Jong-un has axed his top three military officials as he tightens his grip on North Korea's army ahead of a meeting with US President Donald Trump. No Kwang Chol (left), first vice minister of the Ministry of People's Armed Forces, has replaced Pak Yong Sik (right) as defence chief, sources said

Chief of the general staff Ri Myong Su (left) has been replaced by his deputy, Ri Yong Gil (right)

North Korean state media previously confirmed that Army General Kim Su Gil had replaced Kim Jong Gak as director of the KPA's General Political Bureau.

Kim Jong Un is preparing for a high-stakes summit with Trump in Singapore on June 12, the first such meeting between a North Korean leader and a sitting U.S. president.

Kim's motivation remains unclear but analysts said the shake-up allows him and the ruling party to tighten control over the Korean People's Army (KPA) at a critical time of international engagement and domestic development.

'If Kim Jong Un is set on making peace with the U.S. and South Korea and dealing away at least part of the nuclear programme, he will have to put the KPAs influence in a box and keep it there,' said Ken Gause, director of the International Affairs Group at CNA, a non-profit research and analysis organisation.

'This reshuffle has brought to the fore the officers who can do just that. They are loyal to Kim Jong Un and no one else.'

North Korean state media previously confirmed that Army General Kim Su Gil (left) had replaced Kim Jong Gak (right) as director of the KPA's General Political Bureau

Trump revived the Singapore summit on Friday after cancelling it a week earlier.

The United States is seeking a negotiated end to North Korea's nuclear weapons programme and U.S. officials believe there was some dissension in the military about Kim's approaches to South Korea and the United States.

Trump wants North Korea to 'denuclearise', or get rid of its nuclear arsenal, in return for relief from economic sanctions. North Korea's leadership is believed to regard nuclear weapons as crucial to its survival, while Kim has said he plans to focus on economic development.

The U.S. official did not identify the three ousted military officials.

The White House, State Department, CIA and Office of the Director of National Intelligence did not respond immediately to requests for official comment.

South Korea's unification and defence ministries declined to confirm the report, while an official at the Unification Ministry said the government was watching the North's leadership very closely.

Kim Jong Un (pictured) is preparing for a high-stakes summit with Trump in Singapore on June 12, the first such meeting between a North Korean leader and a sitting U.S. president

South Korean foreign minister Kang Kyung-hwa had a 15-minute phone call with U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo on Monday to discuss the upcoming summit between Kim and Trump, the foreign ministry in Seoul said.

Given the military's secondary role in the North's nuclear and missile programmes, the moves are likely more about installing a younger, even more trusted cohort of officials who Kim Jong Un can rely on as he confronts a variety of domestic and international issues, said Michael Madden, a North Korea expert at Johns Hopkins Universitys 38 North website.

'The nuclear weapons are a side issue,' he said.

The moves are likely linked in part to Kim Jong Un's drive to have the military take a bigger role in critical infrastructure projects. That could explain why newly appointed director of the KPA's General Political Bureau, Army General Kim Su Gil, accompanied Kim Jong Un on a field guidance trip to a beach tourist zone with other officials, Madden said.

Trump wants North Korea to 'denuclearise', or get rid of its nuclear arsenal, in return for relief from economic sanctions. North Korea's leadership is believed to regard nuclear weapons as crucial to its survival, while Kim has said he plans to focus on economic development

Kim Jong Un is also likely expecting to receive more international economic aid and investment soon as part of the ongoing talks and he wants to prevent corruption that plagued some past projects, Madden said.

All of the newly promoted officials are younger than their predecessors, including 63-year-old Ri Yong Gil, who is 21 years younger than Ri Myong Su.

'This points to two things: the consolidation of Kim Jong Un's power as the sole leader of North Korea and strengthened cooperation between the North's party and military as the country works towards further economic development,' said Yang Moo-jin, professor at the University of North Korean Studies in Seoul.

'They're all young but capable people,' Yang said.

Lower-level U.S.-North Korean talks to prepare for the summit are continuing but have made only 'halting progress', according to a U.S. official briefed on the discussions.

That official said U.S. negotiators' efforts to press for definitions of immediate, comprehensive, verifiable and irreversible denuclearisation by North Korea had run into opposition from the White House.

In a remarkable shift in tone eight days after cancelling the summit, citing Pyongyang's 'open hostility', Trump welcomed North Korea's former intelligence chief, Kim Yong Chol, to the White House on Friday, exchanging smiles and handshakes.

Yonhap reported that Kim Yong Chol had transited Beijing on Monday on his way back to Pyongyang from the United States.

All three of the new military officials have at least some experience interacting with foreign delegations, a factor that is critical as Kim seeks to line up meetings with leaders from the United States, China, Russia, and Syria.

'They are shaping these guys up because there is going to be a lot of foreign interaction,' Madden said. 'They know to sit there and not get too drunk at the parties ... they know how to behave themselves.'
A curious eagle-eyed Canberra local has spotted a glaring error in the national coat of arms at the High Court of Australia.

Garry Lee, who has lived in the national capital for 40 years, identified the mistake while taking some visitors on a trip around Canberra. Mr Lee had had been exploring the upstairs courts and walked behind the coat of arms when he noticed that something seemed funny to him.

So can you see what's wrong?

The national coat of arms at the High Court of Australia (pictured) where Canberra local Mr Lee noticed an error. The kangaroo and emu are supposed to hold the shield

The High Court of Australia (pictured) located in the nation's capital, where Mr Lee took a group of visitors to showcase what Canberra has to offer

After his visit, Mr Lee went home and did some research to find out if his inkling was correct.

'I noticed that there was a gap between the shield and the two animals  the kangaroo and the emu,' Mr Lee said.

'It says that the animals are supposed to support the shield.'

The national coat of arms symbolically represent aspects of Australian history. Notably, the shield represents the states that form the nation and 1901 Federation. The native animals - kangaroo and emu - hold the shield with pride.

The shield is held by the kangaroo and emu to symbolise a nation moving forward, as neither animal can move backward easily. The coat of arms also ties the Australian nation to the Commonwealth, signifying Commonwealth authority and ownership.

It was reported by the ABC that artists Les Kossatz and George Baldessin designed the coat of arms at the High Court. During the design stage Baldessin died, leaving Kossatz with the task of finishing and implementing the artwork.

Australia's current coat of arms (pictured) shows the kangaroo and emu holding the shield, effective from 1912

The previous national coat of arms from 1908 (pictured) features the Saint George Cross

In an interview in 1979 Kossatz said Baldessin's death changed the design. 'Unfortunately we were just at the end of the design stage when George died  I decided that, okay, I could take it on. I felt an obligation to take it on too because of our very close friendship,' he said.

'But it meant finding a new technique. I couldn't use George's technique. I tried and I'm just no good at it  so it took a long time for me to come up with a technique where I could feel as though I was still being true to the group design but at the same time being able to carry it out in my particular manner.'

Professor David Headon, a foundation fellow at the Australian Studies Institute at the Australian National University, spoke to the ABC about the role of the coat of arms, in history and for the future.

Professor Headon said that the national coat of arms is open to interpretation and that we are already onto our second version. Overall, the current national coat of arms does a good job of representing Australian values

Professor Headon believes that by comparison, the ACT coat of arms is not representative of Canberrans. He has called for its change arguing that it doesn't represent the welcoming and accepting nature of the nation's capital.

"Nothing could be less representative. It's ludicrous. We don't even have any castles," he said.

The ACT coat of arms (pictured) designed in 1928 by C. R. Wylie has two swans holding the symbolic shield. Expert Professor David Headon wants it changed
Manchester bomber Salman Abedi was able to buy the materials for his suicide device on Amazon

Major retailers such as Amazon will be ordered to alert MI5 and police to suspicious purchases in a crackdown designed to prevent a repeat of last years terror attacks.

MI5 will also hand teachers, social workers and council staff the details of 20,000 people believed to a threat to Britain as part of a new strategy calls Contest.

Under the Government plan, businesses must raise the alarm more quickly if they fear a person is buying goods or equipment that could be used to carry out an atrocity, such as stockpiling chemicals or knives or acting strangely when hiring a vehicle.

It comes after the Mail revealed that Manchester bomber Salman Abedi was able to buy the materials for his suicide device on Amazon.

22-year-old jihadist Abedi is believed to have used false names to buy key components yet had them delivered to the same address.

He assembled the bomb before detonating it at an Ariana Grande concert in May last year, killing 22 people.

The measure is part of a step-change in the UKs counter-terrorism strategy, which aims to prevent extremists bringing bloodshed to the streets.

Home Secretary Sajid Javid will use his first keynote speech on security today to unveil radical new plans to bolster the war on terror and keep the public safe.

They will include MI5 sharing sensitive information about suspects more widely with local police, longer sentences for terror offences and calling on firms such as Google and Facebook to do more to tackle extremist content.

MI5, MI6 and GCHQ will also recruit up to 2,000 spies to help survey more potential terrorists, while police and security services will be handed tough powers to arrest suspects before they have finalised their plans.

The Government launched a shake-up of the UKs counter-terrorism strategy, known as Contest, after extremists carried out atrocities in Westminster, Manchester, London Bridge and Finsbury Park, leading to the loss of 36 lives.

Prime Minister Theresa May laying some flowers during a ceremony on Sunday to remember the victims of the London Bridge terror attack one year on

An official inquiry by David Anderson QC in December found only three of the six terrorists were among 23,000 extremists on the security services radar.

Only one was under active investigation by MI5.

He concluded the Manchester bombing might have been averted if two pieces of relevant intelligence about Abedi had been interpreted differently by MI5.

He also said there needed to be increased cooperation between MI5, police and the private sector to improve the detectability and even the preventability of purchases of potential explosives precursors by would-be terrorists.

Major retailers such as Amazon will be ordered to alert MI5 and police to suspicious purchases

Mr Javid will say stricter standards will be expected of firms to close down safe spaces exploited by terrorists, adding: That includes faster alerts for suspicious purchases.

Currently, firms must alert the authorities if an individual attempts to purchase regulated chemicals or poisons.

But Mr Javid is expected to drum home that other products, including household items, can be used for bomb-making or as weapons, and the importance of tipping-off the authorities faster.

Whitehall sources have specifically said they want web giants such as Amazon to alert the security agencies when customers are filling up their baskets with suspicious materials, such as unusual quantities of chemicals, fertilisers or gas cylinders.

The latest drive reflects concerns over a sharp reduction in the time between the conception and execution of plots.

It comes as a deluge of convicted terrorists are set to be released on to the streets.

Analysis by the Guardian found more than 80 of the 193 sentences for terrorism offences between 2007 and 2016 will run out this year.

On BBC1s The Andrew Marr Show yesterday, Mr Javid confirmed MI5 will be expected to share more intelligence.

He said: Not just with counter-terrorist police but neighbourhood police, with local government...to make sure that theres a much higher chance of...disrupting plots a lot earlier on.

He will add that public and private organisations must unite against the menace of terrorism.

Sajid Javid will today say he absolutely supports the Prevent counter-radicalisation programme. He will say the reporting strategy  criticised by some as a Big Brother operation  is vital in stopping the vulnerable being brainwashed.
Whitehall warnings that a no-deal Brexit could lead to crippling shortages of food, fuel and medicine were described as Project Fear on speed last night.

A leaked Whitehall assessment predicts a Doomsday Brexit if the UK leaves the EU without a deal next year.

A source said it anticipates that the port of Dover would collapse on day one, adding: The supermarkets in Cornwall and Scotland will run out of food in a couple of days, and hospitals will run out of medicines within two weeks.

Senior Brexiteers also rubbished the warnings. Jacob Rees-Mogg said there was no reason why a no-deal Brexit should cause shortages unless the UK decided to impose onerous border controls

The source said there was nothing the UK could do if France or other EU countries decided to impose draconian restrictions at the border in the event of a no-deal departure, telling The Sunday Times: If, for whatever reason, Europe decides to slow down [the supply of goods], then were screwed,.

The analysis looked at three scenarios  mild, severe and one dubbed armageddon.

But the Department for Exiting the EU, whose officials are said to have drawn up the analysis, disowned the warning last night.

A senior source at the department described the claims as hysterical, adding: We have wide-ranging plans for contingencies and we are confident the events described are implausible.

Senior Brexiteers also rubbished the warnings. Jacob Rees-Mogg said there was no reason why a no-deal Brexit should cause shortages unless the UK decided to impose onerous border controls. He added: We would be free to import food, medicines, fuel etc as we wished and the EU could only stop this if it were to impose sanctions, which is not a credible thought.

Except in limited fields, such as arms sales, an exporting nation, in the absence of sanctions, has no legal mechanism to obstruct trade. Hence the Whitehall document is Project Fear on speed.

Former Tory leader Iain Duncan Smith said some officials appeared to be frozen in the headlights, adding: They should be planning for what happens if there is no deal, not scaring the pants off each other.

We need people with imagination and courage, not frightened rabbits.

Fellow Tory Conor Burns said: Do the authors of these reports realise how supine and pathetic they make our country look to the rest of the world?

The group-think of the last 45 years makes too many incapable of seeing that the EU is not the cause of all good.

Home Secretary Sajid Javid said he did not recognise the doomsday scenarios.

He told the Andrew Marr Show on BBC1 yesterday: I dont recognise any bit of that at all, and as Home Secretary I am deeply involved in no-deal preparations as much as I am in getting a deal.

Im confident we will get a deal.

From the work I have seen and the analysis that has been done, those outcomes... I dont think any of them would come to pass.

Home Secretary Sajid Javid said he did not recognise the doomsday scenarios

Meanwhile, DUP leader Arlene Foster gave her clearest warning yesterday that she would withdraw support from Theresa Mays minority government if ministers tried to push through a Brexit deal that left Northern Ireland with a different status to the rest of the UK. It emerged last week that ministers have considered proposals to give Northern Ireland a special status to let EU and British regulations on goods operate side by side.

Mrs Foster told Sky News: For us, our only red line is that we are not treated any different from the rest of the United Kingdom, that there are no trade barriers put up between Northern Ireland and our biggest market which, of course, is Great Britain.

Thats what we will judge all of the propositions that are brought forward [against].

I have confidence that she knows she cannot bring forward anything that will breach that red line or we will not be able to support them.

 Britain should continue to align itself with EU rules on goods exports, according to a report out today, backed by Brexit supporter Lord Lamont.

The Open Europe think-tank urges ministers to adopt a twin-track approach to future trade with Europe, in which manufacturers would continue to follow EU rules while the services sector would go it alone.

In its foreword, former Tory chancellor Lord Lamont says many manufacturers will continue to make their products to European standards, but Britains services sector, which accounts for almost 80 per cent of the economy, is too important and globally-focused to be a rule-taker from the EU.

Lord Lamont said the twin-track approach deserves consideration and could be better than leaving the EU without a deal.

The report says it is worth giving up some control over goods, arguing that in some highly regulated manufacturing industries, even US firms followed EU rules.
This is the incredible moment a driver avoided a nasty collision after dodging a car that had lost control on a slippery highway.

Dashcam footage shows the car spinning out of control just metres away from the vehicle before smashing into the car in front of it.

The driver skilfully avoided both cars as they headed towards him.

(Pictured) This is the incredible moment a driver avoided a nasty collision after dodging a car that lost control on a slippery road just in front of him

Dashcam footage reveals a car losing control and skidding just metres away from the driver - on the opposite side of the road - before smashing into the car in front (pictured)

After his lucky escape, the driver continued up the highway before pulling over.

Poor weather and wet road conditions on the busy New Zealand highway contributed to the crash.

The man was driving to work from Auckland to Whangarei when the accident happened at Smeatons Hill - an area known for car crashes.

'I decided not to overtake the silver Nissan in front due to the poor weather and road conditions and previous serious accidents on this section of road,' he said.

'A grey Ford Falcon travelling south lost control on the wet road and spun into the car in front of me,' he said on ViralHog.

The drivers were trapped and badly injured before being cut out of the wreckage by emergency services.

Both drivers have since recovered from the accident, according to the Dashcam driver.

The driver skilfully dodged both cars that were heading right for him (pictured)

The driver (pictured) was on his way to work when the accident happened
Vikki Campion wears the pants in her relationship with Barnaby Joyce and there is a lack of affection between the couple, a body language expert claims.

The former Deputy Prime Minister and his new partner accepted $150,000 from the Seven Network to tell their side of the political scandal in an interview on Sunday.

In the interview, which aired less than two months after baby Sebastian was born, the couple aired their dirty laundry to 614,000 Australian viewers.

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Mr Joyce, 51, and his former media adviser spoke out about their affair on Channel Seven's Sunday Night program with reporter Alex Cullen

Weighing in on the controversial interview, body language and voice expert Dr Louise Mahler said Ms Campion's body language suggested a lack of love for the politician.

'There were no signs of affection between them,' she told The Daily Telegraph.

'They are two people, not a couple, doing the best in a bad situation.'

Dr Mahler also noted Ms Campion walked in and sat down before Mr Joyce.

She said this suggested the former media adviser took the lead in the relationship.

Ms Campion said she considered getting an abortion and even bought the medicine

Ms Campion said she had been threatened by 'conservatives' within the National party to terminate her pregnancy

Vikki Campion said she was pressured to get an abortion by conservative politicians after becoming pregnant with Barnaby Joyce's baby (Pictured: baby Sebastian)

Dr Mahler also noticed Ms Campion often interrupted Mr Joyce, even turning her body away from him throughout.

She said this was a sign the couple argued often.

Despite putting on a brave face, Ms Campion appeared to be struggling with the pressure of the situation, Dr Mahler said.

In the interview on Network Seven's Sunday Night program, Ms Campion revealed she was told to have an abortion by 'God fearing conservatives' within the National party.

'They came to me and they said 'You're pregnant and you have to get an abortion'. And they said 'If you don't, they're going to come after you',' she said.

Mr Joyce admitted to 'living a lie' by continuing his public relationship with his wife while secretly being involved with Ms Campion (Barnaby Joyce is pictured with his estranged wife Natalie, and their four daughters in 2015)

Mr Joyce is pictured with former staffer turned partner, and their newborn son Sebastian

'And I said 'It's too late, it has a heartbeat'. And they said 'if you don't, they're going to come after you'.'

Mr Joyce said those that had threatened Ms Campion were the 'absolute scum of the earth'.

'Their contribution to it is they're going to try and make an incredibly difficult situation almost unbearable by saying to you that, 'Woman, you will do this if you want a career in this place'. And that's your Australian parliament,' he said.

Ms Campion said she took a pregnancy test in winter 2017 which confirmed she was carrying Mr Joyce's child.

'I felt overwhelmed by the complexity of the situation we had caused ourselves,' she said.

Mr Joyce said as he doesn't believe in abortion, he knew at that moment he would lose his job as Deputy Prime Minister.

The body language expert said Ms Campion showed a lack of affection towards the politician

Vikki Campion is pictured with baby Sebastian after she gave birth to him in April

In the interview Mr Joyce admitted to 'living a lie' by continuing his public relationship with his wife while secretly being involved with Ms Campion (together)

Ms Campion said she considered getting an abortion and bought the medicine to go through with it.

'I tried, and I couldn't go there,' she said.

After driving interstate from the Australian Capital Territory she 'walked in and then walked out' of an abortion clinic, ultimately deciding to keep the child.

Ms Campion said she was told by doctors shortly before she fell pregnant that she would not be able to have children.

The couple controversially accepted a $150,000 sum from the Seven Network to tell their side of the political scandal

Mr Joyce admitted to 'living a lie' by continuing his public relationship with his wife while secretly being involved with Ms Campion.

He refused to comment on his estranged wife Natalie and his four daughters, saying that was 'completely private'.

Ms Campion said she was hurt that Mr Joyce had said Sebastian's paternity was a 'grey area'.

'It was a decision we made together,' Mr Joyce said of his comments, before she rebutted: 'I didn't tell you to say it was a ''grey area''.'

Mr Joyce is estranged from his wife of 24 years Natalie and their four adult daughters as a result of the extramarital affair that forced him to quit as Nationals leader and Deputy Prime Minister.

The backbench MP for the New South Wales seat of New England told the Seven Network he had let his family down.

'I failed, I failed, I failed, I failed, I failed,' he said.

The former accountant's salary has also halved from $416,000 to $203,000 after the affair raised character questions about the Catholic, family values politician who had last year campaigned against gay marriage.

Despite the personal and political pain the relationship caused her boyfriend, Vikki Campion said that was the price of love.

'I couldn't help it. You can't help who you fall in love with,' she said.
Barnaby Joyce and his mistress Vikki Campion clashed on television when asked about the suggestion the former deputy prime minister may not be baby Sebastian's father.

Campion, who gave birth to the couple's child on April 16, contradicted her boyfriend's suggestion it had been a mutual decision to describe the paternity of the unborn boy as a 'grey area' in bid to distract the media in Canberra.

After Mr Joyce had said 'it was a decision we made together', his 33-year-old girlfriend cut him off, creating the tensest moment in the Seven Network's $150,000 paid interview.

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Barnaby Joyce and his mistress Vikki Campion clashed on television when asked about the suggestion the former deputy prime minister may not be baby Sebastian's father

'I didnt say use the words "grey area",' she told the Sunday Night program.

Ms Campion, a former News Corp journalist, explained her boyfriend had made suggestions he wasn't the father after receiving a series of questions from the media.

'At that point, he was getting these questions from journalists saying, "Look, were hearing its not your baby" so the bigger scoop for them would have been that it wasn't,' she said.

However, the first-time mother, whose affair with Mr Joyce ended his 24-year marriage to his estranged wife Natalie, wasn't happy with the media coverage suggesting someone else was the father of the baby.

Campion, who gave birth on April 16, contradicted her boyfriend's suggestion it had been a mutual decision to speak about the pregnancy in bid to distract the media

'I was deeply hurt by the "grey area" headline. Definitely,' she said.

In early March Mr Joyce told Fairfax Media the baby due in April would be raised as his but conceded the identity of the potential father was a 'grey area'.

This was five days after had he resigned as deputy PM and Nationals leader, leading to a front page 'grey area' headline in News Corp's The Daily Telegraph the next day.

ABC comedy writer Gerard McCulloch saw the funny side of the couple's situation.

'I fear Barnaby's long-term future in this relationship is a grey area,' he tweeted.

ABC comedy writer Gerard McCulloch saw the funny side of the couple's situation

Another critic, Sophie Clark, mocked Mr Joyce for blaming someone else for getting Ms Campion pregnant.

'Obviously, Barnaby Joyce saying his baby's paternity was a "grey area" was someone else's fault. Obviously,' she said.

Studio 10 personality Sarah Harris, who started her television career with 7News in Brisbane, questioned the value of the $150,000 paid interview.

'Seven won't be happy with last night's Barnaby ratings: 631,000 in capital cities,' she tweeted.

The Sunday Night interview was out rated by Nine's Sixty Minutes, which had 747,000 viewers.

The OzTam ratings also showed the Barnaby Joyce interview was a turn-off to viewers, with 882,000 people in the capital cities tuning in for Seven's House Rules only for 251,000 to switch off once Sunday Night aired.

Another critic, Sophie Clark, mocked Mr Joyce for blaming someone else for getting Ms Campion pregnant
Theresa May is preparing to relax tough visa restrictions on foreign doctors

Theresa May is preparing to relax tough visa restrictions on foreign doctors in the face of a Cabinet revolt led by Sajid Javid.

The new Home Secretary yesterday went public with his concerns about restrictions on skilled workers that are blamed for fuelling a shortage of doctors in the NHS.

In his first major TV interview since his appointment in April, Mr Javid also made it clear he was prepared to speak out on wider immigration policy, which has been the preserve of Mrs May since 2010.

He revealed he has already torn up part of the Home Offices hostile environment policy blamed by critics for the Windrush scandal  and refused to endorse her long-standing policy of reducing net migration to the tens of thousands.

In a direct challenge to Mrs May, he even suggested he would support the removal of foreign students from the immigration figures. On foreign doctors, Mr Javid said it was a fact that there were a number of doctors that are qualified, that our NHS needs, that are being turned away.

The problem has been blamed on visa restrictions for skilled workers that were introduced by Mrs May in 2011.

The Home Secretary said: I see the problem with that and it is something that Im taking a fresh look at. I know a number of my colleagues certainly want me to take a look at this and that is exactly what Im doing.

Last night, Whitehall sources suggested that Mrs May was now willing to allow a very controlled change in the rules to prevent foreign doctors with job offers being turned away.

A source said it was an area where the PM accepted change might be needed  and suggested a relaxation of the rules could be approved in the coming weeks.

The move could help quell a backbench  and Cabinet  revolt on the issue.

Dozens of Tory MPs are said to have signed a letter to the Prime Minister calling for a rethink of the rules, while Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt, Chancellor Philip Hammond and Business Secretary Greg Clark are all said to have raised concerns about the issue.

Campaigners say the annual quota of 20,700 Tier 2 visas available for skilled workers from outside the EU is preventing the NHS and some businesses recruiting the staff they need.

The British Medical Journal, which is campaigning on the issue, says more than 1,500 foreign doctors were refused a visa between December and March despite having job offers from the NHS. Sarah Wollaston, Tory chairman of the Commons health committee, said applying the visa cap to doctors makes no sense at all.

Mr Hunt announced plans to open five medical schools this year as part of a drive to make the UK self-sufficient in doctors by 2025. But he is pushing for a temporary easing of restrictions in the short term.

Mrs May, who was home secretary from 2010 to 2016, has continued to keep a tight grip of immigration policy since moving to Downing Street.

Mr Javid yesterday made clear he was willing to challenge her on issues where he believes the policy is not working

But Mr Javid yesterday made clear he was willing to challenge her on issues where he believes the policy is not working. During an appearance on the BBC1s The Andrew Marr Show yesterday, he ducked three invitations to endorse the Governments flagship target of reducing net migration to below 100,000 a year, although he acknowledged it was a Tory manifesto commitment and would stay.

Mr Javid also indicated that he favoured removing students from the target. Mrs May has fiercely resisted the move for years, despite Cabinet pressure, believing the public would view it as fiddling the figures.

But Mr Javid yesterday agreed there was a perception problem with targeting the tens of thousands of foreign students coming to Britain, who he said were great for our universities.

Asked if the policy came across as being not very welcoming, he replied: I empathise with that point, and it is something Ive long considered.

The Home Secretary also revealed that he had already dismantled part of the so-called hostile environment policy towards illegal immigrants, which was blamed for some of the problems suffered by members of the Windrush generation of immigrants and their children.

He said he had suspended rules banning illegal immigrants from opening bank accounts because I am not sure the data that we have is accurate enough.

Mr Javid repeated his opposition to the phrase hostile environment, which he described as a negative term, a non-British term.

He said he would be looking very carefully at other elements of the regime, but added: I do want to absolutely maintain a distinction and say we will absolutely welcome those people that are here legally, theres no question of that, but if youre here illegally we will clamp down on you and we will not tolerate it.
Laura Hinton, chief people officer at PwC

An accountancy firm has become the first of the Big Four to refuse all-male shortlists in an attempt to bring in more female executives.

Price Waterhouse Coopers (PwC) has put a UK-wide ban on candidate lists for workers coming into the firm at a senior level that do not include any women.

While 48 per cent of PwCs staff are women, they earn 43.8 per cent less on average than their male colleagues.

Laura Hinton, chief people officer at PwC, said: Diversity in our recruitment processes is something weve been focused on for some time and as part of this we are ensuring we have no all-male shortlists and more diverse interviewing panels.

PwC, which specialises in tax and advisory services, recently set a target to recruit 50 per cent women and 50 per cent men in all of their recruitment drives. The firm also has a sizeable 35.9 per cent pay gap for its Black Asian and Minority Ethnic (BAME) employees.

The move comes as it emerged that the three other companies which make up the Big Four  Deloitte, KPMG and EY  had all called for greater diversity on their candidate lists.

Last month Bill Michael, KPMGs UK chairman, said the firm had a no tolerance policy towards all-male recruitment lists.

Agencies that put up candidates for future positions at the company would have to provide diverse shortlists if they wanted to retain their contracts.

KPMG said in the past it had easily found female talent where agencies had failed.

A spokesman for KPMG said: We will be intolerant of firms that provide us with non-diverse shortlists.

Weve also made it clear we expect greater efforts around the other areas we report on for our own employees such as ethnicity, sexuality and socio-economic background.

In recent gender pay gap figures it was revealed that women at KPMG earn 42 per cent less than men on average.

One common reason cited for the difference in men and womens pay packets is that fewer women are in better-paid executive roles.

Price Waterhouse Coopers (PwC) has put a UK-wide ban on candidate lists for workers coming into the firm at a senior level that do not include any women

While Deloitte and EY do not have an outright ban on all-male candidate lists, they said they too look for a diverse range of employees.

Following compulsory gender pay reporting rules which came into force following a Government consultation in 2016, companies with more than 250 staff must declare their gender pay gap.

As a result many financial services companies are reconsidering their hiring policies. Price comparison website GoCompare recently insisted on an all-female shortlist for an executive position. It comes as it was revealed last week in a report that top executives had been using pitiful and patronising excuses to keep women out of boardrooms.

FTSE company chiefs claimed women dont want the hassle of top jobs and could not deal with complex issues. The report, backed by the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, then published a list of the worst culprits after it emerged ten of the UKs biggest firms lacked a single female board member.

On the same day as the report, the Treasury picked the only man on a shortlist of five for a role on the Bank of Englands monetary policy committee.

The appointment of the academic, Jonathan Haskel, sparked fury from womens campaigners.

The Treasury said in a statement: We actively contacted 44 women to apply for this role, 80 per cent of those interviewed were women and the majority of those on the interview panel were women. The final appointment decision was based on merit.
A woman has been left fighting for her life after she and her son were attacked in a suspected hate crime.

The pair were assaulted at around 2pm on Sunday in Bolton, Greater Manchester.

Police officers attended and established that a woman and her son had been assaulted by a man before he fled the scene.

The woman was taken to hospital for treatment before she deteriorated. She is now in a critical condition.

A mother is fighting for her life after being attacked with her son in Bolton, Greater Manchester (road pictured)

Greater Manchester Police said the incident is being treated as a hate crime and no arrests have yet been made.

However, police have withheld the ethnicity of both victims and suspect. Police have also not given their ages either.

In a statement Superintendent Steve Howard of Greater Manchester Police said: 'I understand that there will be concern from members of the public when they hear about this incident.

'However I want to assure them that we currently have officers searching for the person responsible.

'Based on the information we have at this stage, we are treating this incident as a hate crime.

'If anybody witnessed what happened or has any information that they believe can assist us then please contact police immediately.'

Anybody with information should contact police on 0161 856 5757, quoting incident numbers 1266 and 1722 of 03/06/18, or the independent charity Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555 111.
This is the bizarre moment a driver crashes into a bookcase desk in the middle of a Texas highway.

Driver Greg Beauregard was cruising along a San Antonio highway when suddenly two vehicles in front of him swerved violently out of the lane, revealing a giant wooden bookcase desk standing in the middle of the road.

Beauregard was caught by surprise and slammed smack into the furniture, causing it to fall apart into bits and pieces along the highway.

Greg Beauregard was cruising along a San Antonio highway when he crashed into a giant wooden bookcase desk standing in the middle of the road

Beauregard realized he was in for trouble when the two cars ahead of him suddenly and violently swerved out of his lane

With barely seconds to react he screamed 'Jesus Christ f***!' as he headed towards the giant bookcase standing in the middle of the lane

The shocking crash was caught on his dash camera and shows the moment he yelped as he smashed into the bookcase desk.

As he sped towards the furniture without swerving away he screamed 'Jesus Christ f***!'

The crash took place on Friday around 3:20pm.

After yelling in surprise the driver slowed down to inspect the damage of ripped wood along the highway.

He then calmly drives away from the scene.

Beauregard uploaded the video Saturday saying: 'Gotta watch out for those wild desks running all over our San Antonio highways'.

It is not clear how the bookcase ended up in the highway in the first place.

Incoming! The violent crash was captured on his dashboard camera on Friday afternoon

With just a second to react, the driver drove smack into the furniture, causing it to break and collapse into wooden bits and pieces
A sweet and heroic Great Dane dubbed Barkley spends his days happily serving as a therapy dog for wild horses rescued from neglected homes, auctions and kill pens around the world.

The Instagram account SkyDog Sanctuary shows incredible photos and videos of the dog and horses spending time with one another at the picturesque ranches located in Mariposa, California and Bend, Oregon.

Charming footage seen on the social media page shows trainers helping care for the horses and donkeys as the dog interacts with them and even provides hugs and other gestures.

'When Barkley the Great Dane met Bodhi son of Goliath and Red Lady  The love and respect between different animals is so inspiring and glorious,' one video caption read.

Barkley the Great Dane works helps to heal rescued wild horses and donkeys at the SkyDog Sanctuary

The sweet dog is seen in photos and video watching over the horses and donkeys at the ranch

The affectionate Great Dane even gives the horses and donkeys hugs

The heartwarming Instagram page currently has over 10.9k followers

'Its a joy to witness... the cutest souls in the world meeting for the first time.'

The happy horses are seen grazing and wandering freely around the open fields alongside rescued friends.

The patient and gentle 'ranch manager' Barkley spends time with the wild mustangs and donkeys when he's not napping or playing with his human owners.

'Barkley keeping watch over rescued mustang Rhys as the sun goes down at skydog malibu - sleep tight and thank you for following us,' a caption below a photo of the Great Dane looking out for the horses read.

Another heartwarming aspect of the ranches is that managers employ individuals in addiction recovery and working in 12 step programs - as well as veterans, its website states.

'Ranch manager' Barkley spends time with the horses when he's not napping or playing with his human owners

The 501c3 non-profit aims to reunite mustang families and form new bonds between the horses brought in

A top priority of SkyDog Sanctuary on social media is to promote adoption for the wild horses through the Bureau of Land Management.

Furthermore, the 501c3 non-profit aims to reunite mustang families and form new bonds between horses brought in.

'We believe that wildness matters, that family matters and that there is a better way to manage these mustangs on public lands to ultimately prevent more ending up at risk in bad places,' the website states further.

'Our biggest, most important mission is to shine a spotlight on ALL these issues and make mustangs a talking point across the US. We want people to know the facts about what is happening to OUR wild horses.

'Using social media, local and national press and celebrity friends we can show how special, valuable, unique and beautiful wild horses are and stop them being rounded up, held in pens for their lives or - even worse - sent to slaughter for their meat.'

Barkley is seen above gently interacting with a donkey at the SkyDog Sanctuary
Defence minister Tobias Ellwood broke ranks yesterday to publicly demand a statute of limitations for Northern Ireland veterans  despite the Government already ruling it out.

Mr Ellwood, who served with the Royal Green Jackets in Northern Ireland during the 1990s, said he did not want somebody knocking on his door about his actions decades ago.

The veterans minister called for a line to be drawn under historical probes into British troops and hoped that following a consultation on the issue common sense will prevail.

Tobias Ellwood served with the Royal Green Jackets in Northern Ireland during the Troubles

His intervention comes after ministers scrapped plans put forward by ex-defence secretary Sir Michael Fallon which could have seen troops handed an amnesty.

The Government believes it cannot do this without IRA terrorists spared from investigations too, an option which would not be accepted in Northern Ireland.

But this position has caused fury within the Cabinet, with Defence Secretary Gavin Williamson privately warning that former soldiers now face a witch-hunt.

Mr Ellwood suggested he would use the Government consultation into legacy issues on the Troubles to push for a halt to prosecutions against former troops.

Speaking to John Pienaar on Radio 5 Live, he said: I served in Northern Ireland, I was on operations, I knocked over a few milk bottles when I was there, to put it lightly. I dont want somebody knocking on my door.

I dont want anybody asking for any members of my platoon that I served with to be asked questions on something that happened so many years ago.

Mr Ellwood said he would personally like the Government to consider a statute of limitations which could act as an effective amnesty.

Mr Ellwood said he was disappointed at a recent ministerial decision to backtracking on offering an amnesty

He said: I personally would like to see this considered but its not for me to make that judgment.

It does make sense to draw a line at some point to say that investigations have taken place to their conclusion, and unless there is compelling evidence put forward to a very high court, that we then close the books on that particular matter.

However there is a consultation taking place, these arguments will be put into that consultation and I hope common sense will then prevail. He said at the moment the police were knocking on the doors of people who were in their 80s, adding that cannot be how we should look after our veterans.

When challenged on whether he could retain his ministerial post despite speaking out against Government policy, Mr Ellwood insisted he was able to submit his own thoughts on the issue to the consultation.
The Commonwealth Bank will pay a $700million fine after systemically breaching anti-money laundering and counter-terrorism financing laws.

The settlement between financial intelligence agency AUSTRAC and the bank will also see it pay $2.5million in legal fees, subject to Federal Court approval.

CBA admitted to 53,506 breaches of anti-money laundering and counter-terrorism laws, relating to the late filing of reports on transactions over $10,000 through its 'intelligent deposit machines'.

It also admitted 149 suspicious matter reports were filed either late or not all - and to breaching obligations to check on 80 suspicious customers, the ABC reported.

CBA chief executive Matt Comyn described the $700million settlement as 'a clear acknowledgement of our failures'.

The Commonwealth Bank will pay a $700million fine after breaching anti-money laundering and counter-terrorism financing laws (stock image)

CBA chief executive Matt Comyn described the $700million settlement as 'a clear acknowledgement of our failures'

'This agreement, while it still needs to be approved by the Federal Court, brings certainty to one of the most significant issues we have faced,' he said.

'On behalf of Commonwealth Bank, I apologise to the community for letting them down.'

The settlement was on Monday welcomed by the federal government.

'I congratulate AUSTRAC, its CEO and legal team for their engagement with me which has enabled this matter to be resolved in such a successful and speedy way,' Federal Attorney-General Christian Porter said in a statement on Monday.

'This agreement, while it still needs to be approved by the Federal Court, brings certainty to one of the most significant issues we have faced,' said CBA chief executive Matt Comyn (pictured) said

Addressing the $700million agreement, Mr Comyn said it 'brings certainty to one of the most significant issues we have faced'

Home Affairs Peter Dutton said CBA's disregard of its anti-money laundering and counter-terrorism obligations had allowed criminals to exploit its systems and put the Australian community at risk.

'This very large number of breaches over several years is unacceptable and should never have been allowed to happen,' Mr Dutton said.

Treasurer Scott Morrison said the law was non-negotiable, especially when it came to the country's largest financial institutions.

'The government is serious about enforcing any breaches,' he said.

The bank also admitted 149 suspicious matter reports were filed either late or not all - and to breaching obligations to check on 80 suspicious customers (stock)

CBA chief executive Matt Comyn (pictured) apologised to 'the community for letting them down'

'Banks should be leaders in ensuring their systems cannot be compromised by criminals seeking to launder money or finance terrorist activities.'

Labor opposition assistant treasurer Andrew Leigh said the size of the fine reflected the gravity of CBA's wrongdoing.

'Again it reinforces the call we have been making for the last two years for a royal commission,' Dr Leigh told Sky News.

'We have seen from CBA alone, scandals ranging from children's bank accounts to charging dead people for work that hadn't been done.'

Treasurer Scott Morrison said the law was non-negotiable, especially when it came to the country's largest financial institutions
Controversial fire safety advice given to Grenfell Tower residents to stay put during the inferno is still in place in all the high-rises nearby.

On the night of the blaze last June, terrified residents dialling 999 were instructed to stay in their flats in the 24-storey block rather than risk the flames and deadly fumes.

This stay put advice  which was slavishly adhered to by the emergency services for almost two hours  has been blamed for contributing to the deaths of the 72 victims.

Controversial fire safety advice given to Grenfell Tower residents to stay put during the inferno is still in place in all the high-rises nearby

Despite this, the Daily Mail has learnt that the policy is still in place in all the tower blocks close to the burnt-out remains of Grenfell Tower in North Kensington, west London.

Warning signs insist that in the event of a fire residents should initially be safe if they close their doors and windows.

These signs are identical to the safety advice notices which were in the communal corridors in Grenfell.

The policy was widely criticised at the Grenfell Tower Inquiry last week by relatives of the victims.

Paulos Tekle, whose five-year-old son Isaac died in the blaze, told the public inquiry how neighbours urged the family to flee, but during numerous 999 calls over two hours he was repeatedly told to stay put  until he was ordered abruptly to get his family out immediately.

But by then the fire had spread, the buildings only stairwell was filled with smoke and, in the chaos, Isaac became separated from his parents.

Mr Tekle, his wife and their three-year-old son survived, but Isaacs remains were found on the 13th floor. He was one of the youngest victims of the blaze.

Last night, residents of the towers around Grenfell described the decision to keep the disputed policy as madness and absolutely criminal.

Many witnessed the speed at which the flames enveloped Grenfell on June 14 last year, and said there is no doubt they would flee immediately if there was a fire in their tower block.

Marcus John, 28, who lives in Dixon House, said: I lost two cousins in the Grenfell fire. This advice should be changed after what happened.

'Its nearly a year on since the tragedy and nothing has changed.

A resident of Hazlewood Tower added: The stay put policy is absolutely criminal. It would be suicide to stay in the flat if there was a fire. This advice is just madness.

'I would just leave the building. I would disregard the advice on the wall.

They should review what they are telling people. The fire brigade came to visit the block last year.

'They told us the best thing to do is stay in our flats. But I dont think this is the right thing to do.

Fire advice on a sign at Hazlewood Tower near Grenfell advises residents to stay in their flats

A woman who gave her name only as Gloria, who lives on the 19th floor of Frinstead House, said: I saw the Grenfell fire from beginning to end. I saw people jumping to their deaths.

I never thought I would see something like that in my life. It will stay with me my whole life.

'If there was a fire and I stayed in this building I would end up jumping to my death like they did.

The people who run this block keep threatening residents with fines for dog mess, but they dont seem interested in fire safety.

We dont even have a proper fire escape.

Prior to the Grenfell blaze, tower block residents were told to stay put because the perceived wisdom is that fires in individual flats can usually be contained.

But the use of flammable cladding on the outside of Grenfell  installed as a cheaper option during a refurbishment programme in 2015  caused the fire that started on the fourth floor to spread at an alarming rate until it engulfed the entire building, with dense plumes of black smoke filling corridors and the only staircase.

An in-depth expose by the London Review of Books last week concluded that the stay put advice caused nearly all of the 72 deaths.

Kensington and Chelsea Council, which was responsible for Grenfell, said it continues to tell residents to stay put in all its tower blocks on the advice of fire chiefs as none of the outside walls on its high-rises has cladding.

A spokesman for London Fire Brigade said: Our advice remains the same, and that is to stay put if a fire breaks out in another part of the building and you are not being affected by the fire, heat or smoke.

If you leave your flat you could be rushing into dangerous smoke, the fire itself or firefighters using equipment to bring the fire under control in another part of the building.

Stay put advice may be temporarily suspended for a limited number of buildings with [flammable] cladding.

The fire brigade added that there are about 100 buildings in London where the stay put advice has been suspended.
Boris Johnson could be forced to rebel against Theresa May if she decides to whip a vote on a controversial third runway at Heathrow, it was claimed.

Even though politicians are usually given a free vote on infrastructure issues, the Prime Minister could impose a three-line whip to ensure her MPs attend the vote on the much-debated runway later this month.

At least 30 Conservative MPs could rebel against Mrs May and vote against the proposed third runway if given a free vote.

But if Mrs May does impose the whip on the vote, MPs such as Boris Johnson could be forced to vote against the government.

Scroll down for video

Theresa May could impose a controversial three-line whip on the runway vote later this month

It is feared at least 30 MPs could go against Mrs May if they received a free vote on the topic

Mr Johnson, who was appointed Foreign Secretary by Mrs May, was elected MP for Uxbridge in 2015 and has been a fervent opponent of the third runway.

He has previously declared the project a disaster and claimed he would lie down in front of bulldozers if the plans did go ahead.

If Mrs May whips the vote, which will be held within 21 sitting days, the foreign secretary could resign if he rebels against the government.

Trade minister Greg Hands, who is MP for Chelsea and Fulham, is also in a precarious position as he has long opposed the runway.

According to the Daily Telegraph, the pair may be taken abroad on official business in order to circumvent a whipped vote.

The Prime Ministers rumoured plans to whip the vote on Heathrows runway has attracted criticism from several senior Conservative MPs.

Former education secretary Justine Greening told the Daily Telegraph: I hope that the Government honours the commitment it made previously to have a free vote. A lot of MPs who fundamentally believe this is a bad thing will be left with no choice but to vote against a Government whip.

A senior Tory, who is also against the third runway, told the paper: It would be a serious mistake, Boris and Greg would be left with no choice but to have to resign. It would be an act of self-harm by the Government.

In March, transport secretary Chris Grayling said work on a third runway could begin within three years.

Chris Grayling predicted that if Parliament backs the expansion, the project will start around December 2020 - when the Brexit transition period ends.

He told BBC Radio 4s Today programme that this relies on planning consent being given by the time the UK formally leaves the EU in March 2019.

Even if Theresa May does impose a three-line whip, Boris Johnson could rebel against the party line

Plans published in January also showed how the M25 could be moved into a tunnel below a third runway.

They would see the motorway shifted 150 metres west - and lowered by seven metres.

The runway would be raised between three and five metres, and pass overhead. The consultation document also suggests the runway could be cut by 300 metres to 3,200 metres long. However, it does not set out exact flight paths informing residents where noise will be concentrated.

MPs are expected to vote on the plans - first proposed as long ago as 2003 - later this year.

The airport expects the total cost to be around 14billion, some 2.8billion less than originally suggested.

Planners have also set out suggestions for changes to terminals. Terminal 2 could be extended to the east, Terminal 5 to the west or a new satellite could be built near the runway.

The third runway was due to cost about 16.8 billion, but Heathrow claims it can complete the project for 14 billion. The airport insists that landing charges - currently around 22 per passenger -

will remain close to todays levels.Airlines had expressed concerns that the fees could be hiked to fund works.

Willie Walsh, the boss of British Airways parent company IAG, has urged the Government to make Heathrow provide a detailed breakdown of its costs to ensure passengers are not ripped off. After years of setbacks, the Department for Transport says it is on track to publish final proposals in the first half of the year ready for a vote in Parliament.
Disgraced Tory politician Jonathan Aitken is to become a Church of England deacon and volunteer as a prison chaplain.

Mr Aitken was jailed in 1999 for lying on oath in a libel case against The Guardian.

The ex-Cabinet minister sued the newspaper after it said he allowed aides of the Saudi royal family to pay his 1,000 hotel bill at the Paris Ritz in September 1993, but it produced evidence that showed he was lying.

Mr Aitken, pictured, was jailed in 1999 for lying on oath in a libel case against The Guardian

Mr Aitken, 75, became an active Christian while serving seven months in jail. After his release he studied theology.

Mr Aitken said he will work in prisons around London. I feel Ive got the energy for it and, above all, Ive got the calling for it, he told The Sunday Times.

He will be ordained as a deacon  the first step towards becoming a priest  by the new Bishop of London, the Right Reverend Sarah Mullally, later this month.
A hipster realtor from Brooklyn was caught on camera yelling racist insults at a black bouncer and Hispanic man in the early hours of Friday morning.

Chris Giardina, 29, was filmed by a bystander after being thrown out of a bar in the Bushwick area of the city.

Giardina loses his cool early-on in the six minute long clip and as the estate agent can be heard using the n-word at a bouncer and various other expletive-laden epithets - all while the Hispanic man continues to film the entire meltdown.

Chris Giardina, 29, left, was caught on camera hurling racist insults including the n-word, at a bouncer, right, and another man outside a Bushwick, Brooklyn performance space

Giardina, pictured, worked for MyspaceNYC but he was fired over the weekend

'Touch me again you f****** n*****,' Giardina can be heard shouting.

Incredibly the bouncer remains calm despite the goading.

He then turns to the man shooting the footage and starts unleashing further vitriol against Latinos: 'Yeah I said it, 'cause he's punching me you f****** s***!'

Giardina, who is originally from Boston, appears to be on the phone summoning the police and encouraging them to arrest the doorman claiming he was punched by him after leaving through the wrong door of the venue The House of Yes on Wyckoff Avenue.

'Get a cop here now or I'm going to end up burying this black guy,' Giardina threatens.

Giardina appears to be on the phone trying to get police to arrest the doorman, who he claims hit him after he exited the wrong door as he left House of Yes venue

Giardina can be clearly seen on camera getting in the face of the bouncer

'I will bury you,' he then continually shouts at the bouncer. 'You hit me in the face like a dirty, f****** black person. You'll lose your job and you'll lose your house. Trust me.'

'What is this, Harlem?' asks Giardina attempting to further enrage the bouncer who manages to keep his cool throughout the uncomfortable encounter.

Giardina worked as a real estate agent for hipster apartment broker MySpace NYC but has since been fired by the company for his racist outburst.

'I was very disappointed in the video to say the least,' principal broker Shawn Mullahy told The Post. 'I was embarrassed and saddened by it. It's not in line with the company culture or values.'

Giardina told the New York Post that although he was drunk at the time he was not a racist because someone else used the n-word first.

At one stage Giardina claims the bouncer hit him and he threatened to 'bury' him. 'Youll lose your job and youll lose your house. Trust me,' he yelled

'The word that I used, that I'm embarrassed by using, was being thrown around the entire time. It was already in the air,' he told The Post. 'It doesn't make me a racist; it makes me an idiot.'

He said he couldn't recall anyone else using the slur against Latinos, however.

Giardina also suggested that the video was 'manipulated' to make him look bad. He claimed that the crowd outside the bar was 'actually on my side' until he started dropping racial epithets.

There were no arrests, according to police.
Nobel Peace Prize winner Malala Yousafzai speaking at the World Economic Forum in January

She won worldwide acclaim and a Nobel Peace Prize for her work as an advocate for girls education.

And Malala Yousafzai has now decided to take on former Guardian editor Alan Rusbridger after her Oxford college banned parties on campus.

Lady Margaret Hall, where Mr Rusbridger is principal, put a stop to the college bops in April after one student arrived at a themed party dressed like Harvey Weinstein.

The 20-year-old was recently elected as college social secretary on a manifesto which promised to bring back the bops, which typically involve boozy nights and fancy dress themes.

An email sent to students by college deans claimed there was a problem within college around responsible drinking and party behaviour, according to student paper Cherwell.

The message said the bops will be banned indefinitely.

The Nobel laureate, who ran a joint campaign with student Tiger Akawin, promised to organise Bop Liquer and Bop Pizzas for parties, as well as hold non-alcoholic events.

Miss Yousafzai, who narrowly avoided death in 2012 after being shot by the Pakistani Taliban for campaigning over girls rights to education, was voted social secretary in May and will start her new role in October.

It comes after another Lady Margaret Hall student was disciplined after turning up to a college fancy-dress party as Professor Stephen Hawking.

The man, who has not been named, rolled in on an office chair dressed as the world-famous physicist but was swiftly thrown out and reported to university authorities.

College activists accused him of using disability as a punch line and said it was disrespectful to parody mobility aids.

The student, who is studying a science subject, created his costume for the Dress As Your Degree party at Lady Margaret Hall on Saturday.

Bops are themed college parties, which typically involve fancy dress.

Former Guardian editor Alan Rusbridger

In the past, Oxford Student Union has issued guidance on bops, warning against themes that are racially or culturally insensitive themes or intentionally cause offence.

Miss Yousafzai is currently studying Politics, Philosophy and Economics at the Oxford college.

When she was accepted into Oxford last year, college principal Mr Rusbriger congratulated the talented student on Twitter.

When she was accepted into Oxford last year Miss Yousafzai, tweeted a screenshot of the confirmation.

She said: So excited to go to Oxford!! Well done to all A-level students - the hardest year. Best wishes for life ahead!

Miss Yousafzai revealed she had received a university offer conditional on achieving three As at A-level, but did not name the institution.

She admitted attending an interview at Lady Margaret Hall, saying: It was the hardest interview of my life. I just get scared when I think of the interview.

Alan Rusbridger, the former Guardian newspaper editor and now principal of Lady Margaret Hall, tweeted a welcome to Miss Yousafzai.
The caller, claiming to be someone to do with the Liberal Party, sported a decidedly theatrical Scots accent.

Too theatrical for Jack Hurley, canny editor of the West Somerset Free Press, who recognised the man on the other end of the phone as someone he had interviewed on numerous occasions in his capacity a local MP  not to mention leader of the Liberal Party.

I think you are Jeremy Thorpe, challenged the local journalist.

The ensuing pause was followed by embarrassed bluster, evolving in an instant from North o the Border to cut-glass Etonian.

The person stalled a bit, then he admitted who he was, Mr Hurley later recounted. He said he desperately wanted to keep the story out of the paper.

It was October 1975 and the beginning of a scandal that would destroy Thorpes career. Pictured: MP Jeremy Thorpe at Old Bailey

That story was undoubtedly the most sensational ever broken by Mr Hurleys newspaper: an off-duty AA patrolman called Ted Lethaby had been driving across Exmoor with his wife and another couple when out of the foggy night emerged a man standing in the road, covered in blood and hugging a dead dog, a Great Dane.

My dog has been shot  and all because of a book I wrote about Jeremy Thorpe, the man told Mr Lethaby. He was Norman Scott, Thorpes gay ex-lover, and the dog, felled by a single shot, was Rinka.

It was October 1975 and the beginning of a scandal that would destroy Thorpes career and culminate four years later in his trial at the Old Bailey on charges of procuring a murder and conspiracy to murder  the so-called trial of the century  in which he would be sensationally acquitted.

It was that courtroom drama retold last night on BBC1 in the concluding episode of A Very English Scandal, starring Hugh Grant as Thorpe and Ben Whishaw as Scott.

The series has rekindled huge interest in a story that has never quite gone away, despite Thorpes long-ago descent into political obscurity, and death in 2014 at the age of 85.

That cod-Scotsman phone call made by the stylish, patrician Liberal leader and aspiring Westminster powerbroker as he struggled desperately and clumsily to contain a crisis that would soon overwhelm him sums up Rinkagate, as the affair became known: sordid, sinister but also darkly comic.

The whiff of Establishment cover-up has always hung heavily over the scandal, with the suspicion that Thorpe (Eton and Oxford) who was twice-married and had a young son, Rupert, was saved from prison by friends in high places.

Indeed, a BBC Panorama investigation in 1979 alleging that MI5 and the Metropolitan Police were aware from the early 1960s of Thorpes status as a security risk due to his homosexuality  then illegal  was shelved by the Corporation and was shown for the first time only last night.

And now Rinkagate has received fresh impetus, with the disclosure that a cold-case investigation into the affair ordered in 2016  triggered by a new witness coming forward has been botched spectacularly by the police force undertaking it.

Norman Scott, key figure in a scandal involving British politician Jeremy Thorpe

Gwent Police called off their inquiry into the circumstances surrounding the shooting after concluding that Andrew Gino Newton, the man who shot Rinka (and who may have intended to kill Scott before his gun jammed) was dead, and therefore unable to shed fresh light on events. Except, as the Mail reports today, that Mr Newton  now glorying in the not exactly forgettable pseudonym of Hann Redwin  is in fact very much alive and kicking, living in plain sight in the Surrey commuter town of Dorking. Or at least he was, until he vanished at the weekend following the discovery by journalists that he wasnt dead.

References to Hann Redwin abound on the internet, including articles from 1994 reporting the inquest into the death of his then partner Caroline Mayorcas, who fell 900ft to her death while climbing the Eiger with Mr Redwin/Newton. The coroner concluded there was no evidence of foul play.

The detective work required to establish such facts (ie a quick search on Google) appears to have outstripped the capabilities of the Gwent force, which, now thoroughly humiliated, is having to exhume a case it considered buried.

Mr Newtons resurrection follows the claim by a London antique gun dealer and sometime criminal called Dennis Meighan that he was promised the equivalent of 140,000 in todays money (pilfered from Liberal Party funds by Thorpe, it is said) to kill Scott.

The offer was allegedly made during a meeting in west London by the late David Holmes, Thorpes closest friend and an assistant treasurer of the Liberal Party. Also said to be present was Mr Newton, a professional pilot and friend of Meighan, who had selected him for the job.

Meighan claims that after travelling to Devon to shoot Scott he bottled the hit, fearing locals in the pub where Scott was staying would remember him because of his London accent.

He says he returned to London and handed over the re-activated Mauser pistol he intended to use in the murder to Mr Newton.

Angry that he was now having to deal with Scott, Mr Newton nevertheless accepted the role and proceeded to befriend his target by claiming he had been sent to protect him from shadowy forces in the corridors of power seeking to silence him.It was while driving Scott across the lonely wilds of Exmoor that Mr Newton seized his opportunity, stopping the car and drawing his pistol. Scared of the dog, he shot Rinka, before  according to Scott  pointing the gun at his intended victim, only for it to jam. Panicking, Mr Newton drove off, leaving the terrified and distressed Scott to be discovered by Mr Lethaby.

Mr Newton was subsequently jailed for two years for possession of a firearm with intent to endanger life but escaped a charge of attempted murder. He gave evidence against Thorpe at the latters trial in 1979.

Writing in the Sunday Times yesterday, former Panorama reporter Tom Mangold described how he bumped into Meighan while his walking his dog in a West London park in 2014. Meighan, who appeared to know who Mr Mangold was, then related his extraordinary account of his alleged involvement in the conspiracy.

He claimed to have confessed to his role in the Seventies but following a meeting with three unidentified police officers, he was presented with a redacted statement to sign that absolved him from any involvement and which omitted any mention of Jeremy Thorpe. Mr Mangold says he is in no doubt that Thorpe benefitted from the scales of justice being tilted in his favour.

His documentary shows that MI5 maintained copious files on Thorpe and the Met hid its own files on the Liberal leader in a senior officers private safe.

Scott, now 78 and living in the West Country, is critical of Gwents failure to pursue the cold-case inquiry, saying the force effectively did nothing to uncover the full truth behind what he regards as an attempt on his life.

He now claims to have been not only exploited by Thorpe but raped. Describing himself as a naive and virginal 19-year-old at the time of their meeting in 1960, he has said: Jeremy Thorpe raped me and put his hand over my mouth. I was a virgin. Id had girlfriends, I didnt know what gay sex was. Jeremy Thorpe took advantage of me in every way a human being could. I was bowled over by his generosity. I didnt know then he was grooming me.

Until his death Thorpe, who went on to marry twice, maintained that his relationship with Scott had been merely one of affectionate friendship, and not physical. Scotts attempts to publicise what he regarded as his unjust treatment by Thorpe fell largely on deaf ears  by design or otherwise.

MI5 had been tipped off by the FBI about a homosexual encounter involving Thorpe during a visit to the United States but the Security Service appeared curiously reluctant to delve into the implications of Thorpes secret life, and his potential as a target for blackmail.

Brought to trial with three alleged accomplices, Thorpe adopted a strangely confident approach to the trial. Having resigned as Liberal leader, and lost his seat in the 1979 general election, he nevertheless believed in some kind of political rehabilitation.

Gwent Police called off their inquiry into the circumstances surrounding the shooting after concluding that Andrew Gino Newton (pictured), the man who shot Rinka (and who may have intended to kill Scott before his gun jammed) was dead, and therefore unable to shed fresh light on events

The Mail reports today, that Mr Newton  now glorying in the not exactly forgettable pseudonym of Hann Redwin  is in fact very much alive and kicking, living in plain sight in the Surrey commuter town of Dorking

He was aided in his fight by two men: his Oxford contemporary and defence counsel George Carman, and the trial judge, Mr Justice Cantley, whose summing up must rank as one of the most biased in English legal history.

Addressing the jury, he said: I now turn to the evidence of Mr Norman Scott. You will remember him well. A hysterical, warped personality, accomplished sponger and very skilful at exciting and exploiting sympathy. He is a crook. He is a fraud. He is a sponger. He is a whiner. He is a parasite.

Not surprisingly, Thorpe and his co-defendants were acquitted. But his hoped-for rehabilitation never came. He had become an embarrassment to his party and was largely shunned by its leadership.

He ended his life wracked by Parkinsons disease, musing on what might have been in his rural home, comforted by the loyalty of his second wife Marion, the former Countess of Harewood, until her death nine months before his own.

Thorpes first wife, Caroline, whom he married in 1968, died in a road accident ten days after the 1970 general election.

Norman Scott refuses to forget or forgive. Surviving on a tiny state pension, he blames Thorpe for the majority of his woes  his suave, patrician nemesis.

Thorpe may have died but even now, from beyond the grave, hes still trying to own a part of my life, he said. After Exmoor, I wasnt sure Id survive, much less thrive, but I have. Jeremy Thorpe took my twenties and thirties away from me and tried to take my life. I wont let him take any more.

And he added: If the papers ever say, Norman Scott has killed himself, itll be a lie. I wouldnt, and I wont.

More than 40 years after that dark wet night on Exmoor, the ghost of Rinka is still with us  but now, at last, the full story and the extent of that audacious cover-up may be about to emerge.
Syrian president Bashar al-Assad plans to pay a state visit to North Korea, the Norths official news agency says.

It would be the first time North Korean leader Kim Jong-un has hosted a head of state since assuming power in 2011 and comes as he is involved in a flurry of diplomatic activity.

No date for Assads visit was mentioned by the North Koreas KCNA state news agency. It quoted Assad as saying: I am going to visit and meet Kim Jong-un.

Syrian president Bashar al-Assad plans to pay a state visit to North Korea, the Norths official news agency says

It would be the first time North Korean leader Kim Jong-un has hosted a head of state since assuming power in 2011 and comes as he is involved in a flurry of diplomatic activity

Assad was also quoted as saying that he was sure Kim would achieve the final victory and realise the reunification of Korea without fail.

Syria and North Korea have been accused of co-operating on chemical weapons, but both deny the accusations.

A UN report leaked in February accused the North of making 40 shipments to Syria between 2012 and 2017 of materials including acid-resistant tiles, valves and pipes that could be used to make chemical weapons.

Assad has been accused of using chemical weapons during the nations seven-year civil war.

Kim met Chinas president, Xi Jinping, in China in March and May, and is expected to attend a summit with President Donald Trump in Singapore on June 12.

In April, Kim became the first North Korean leader to set foot in the South since the end of the Korean War in 1953 when he shook hands at the border with South Korean leader Moon Jae-in.
For those who have sometimes believed as many as six impossible things before breakfast, add one more.

VistaJet, which offers private jet flights to well-heeled clients, on Friday launched a new service offering Alice In Wonderland tea parties in-flight for the children of the one percent.

The parties, along with other kids packages with spy or movie star themes, start at $4,000, plus the minimum hourly fee of $12,000 to charter one of VistaJet's planes, according to Bloomberg.

The company collaborated with London-based children's party impresarios Sharky & George on the program, marketed as Adventures In The Sky.

VistaJet , which offers private jet flights to well-heeled clients, on Friday launched a new service offering Alice In Wonderland tea parties in-flight, as seen in this promotional image

A boy drinks from a bottle labeled 'Drink Me' in this promotional image of the service

One of the Sharky & George performers who hosts the high-flying tea parties is seen above

'Once on-board, boys and girls can get into costume and will be guided through the Alice in Wonderland story by one of our trained entertainers,' the description on VistaJet's website reads.

'For the duration of their flight, children will have the chance to play games and try themed crafts and activities tailored to their age and interests.

'From hosting their own Mad Hatters Tea Party, through to flamingo croquet with hedgehogs as balls, and the Contrariwise game, where everything is done back-to-front and the wrong way around.'

Another package, Movies In The Sky, gives children the Hollywood treatment, filming movie scenes in front of a green screen during the flight.

The service includes sweet treats for a whimsical tea party, as seen in this promotional image

Kids can also work on Alice In Wonderland-themed crafts and games during the flight

VistaJet has a fleet of 72 ultra-long range Bombardier Global and Challenger business jets

The service transforms the chic business jet cabins (above) into whimsical play spaces

The third package, The Secret Mission, takes kids through 'a Kingsman-inspired training program' led by a 'sharply dressed in-flight spy chief' before sending them on a mission to foil a criminal plot.

The packages are only available to VistaJet's subscription members, who often use the service to jet out of town with their families.

Matteo Atti, executive vice president for marketing and innovation at VistaJet, told Bloomberg that a quarter of the company's flights have children on board.

'We saw the opportunity to build something incredibly special for our younger passengers,' he said.

'If you can trust us with your family, you can trust us with anything,' said Atti.
Police are looking to arrest 41-year-old Tramaine Marquese Poole who its believed to be responsible for a murder and a shooting

Authorities are offering a cash reward for information about the whereabouts of a Connecticut man wanted in connection with the fatal shooting of a 28-year-old woman who was shot and killed as she sat in a car with her son and daughter.

The U.S. Marshals' Violent Fugitive Task Force is offering up to $5,000 for information leading to the arrest of 41-year-old Tramaine Marquese Poole.

Authorities say Poole is wanted for questioning in the shooting death of the woman who was shot in New Haven Thursday night.

Her 11-year-old and six-year-old children were in the car with her.

Authorities have not named her to protect her children's identities. Officials say they believe she was targeted.

Tyekqua Nesbitt, 36, from New Haven was shot and killed. It's believed Tramaine Marquese Poole is responsible for the killing which occurred last week

In another incident, Poole's 36-year-old wife was shot three weeks ago but managed to survive the incident.

The wife and the woman who was killed, Tyekqua Nesbitt, were best friends in New Haven.

'They deserve answers,' Nesbitt's twin sister Tashauna Nesbitt, told WTNH. 'They don't have a mom anymore. We have to fill that spot for them now.'

Police said Poole may be wearing a dreadlocked wig to disguise his appearance.

He is about 511 tall and weighs about 160 pounds. He has short dark-brown hair, brown eyes and is clean-shaven. He has tattoos on both arms. He may be wearing a disguise, including a dreadlock wig.

Tyekqua Nesbitt's two children, a six-year-old boy and 11-year-old girl were in the car when their mother was shot dead

Nesbitt is seen here playing with her two children who witnessed her murder. She was also best friends with Poole's wife who has not been named, but who was also shot but survived

Poole's wife was shot days after Poole obtained a restraining order against her, the New Haven Register reported.

Poole told the court that he was concerned for his safety and being set up, as his wife had allegedly threatened him in the past.

He wrote that he wanted to protect himself as he was 'afraid of her temper,' the newspaper reported, however the restraining order was dismissed when Poole failed to pick up the papers from the court.

The U.S. Marshals' Violent Fugitive Task Force is offering up to $5,000 for information leading to Poole's capture.
Behind-the-scenes footage of Tom Cruise's actual HALO jump for Mission Impossible - Fallout has been released.

Paramount Pictures released the two and a half minute clip on Sunday, showing the intensive preparation that went into performing and filming the risky jump in the United Arab Emirates.

Cruise, who often performs his own stunts, is believed to be the first actor to do a HALO jump for a movie.

The military technique stands for high altitude, low open, and Cruise jumped from 25,000 feet requiring an oxygen mask to stay conscious.

Cruise jumped from a military transport plane at 25,000 feet for the risky HALO stunt

The scene was filmed at sunset, giving the crew just a three minute window each filming day

The scene was filmed by a cameraman (foreground) wearing a head-mounted camera who jumped a few feet before Cruise (rear), making it crucial to avoid a mid-air collision

Cruise had to position himself right in front of the cameraman to get the footage for the film

To prepare for the stunt, the studio built a giant wind tunnel for rehearsals.

To prevent Cruise from passing out, the crew built a special breathing mask prop that was functional for the jump.

The scene was filmed by a cameraman wearing a head-mounted camera who jumped a few feet before Cruise, making it crucial to avoid a mid-air collision.

To make things more difficult, the scene was filmed at sunset, giving the crew just a three minute window each filming day to get the jump right.

In the end, the entire scene lasts just half a dozen seconds in the new movie, the sixth installment in the franchise.

Cruise (right) often does his own stunts for movies and has been injured in the past

The studio built this giant wind tunnel for the cast and crew to rehearse for the jump

In this other stunt for the movie, Cruise broke his ankle jumping from one building to another

Cruise successfully pulled off the HALO jump with no mishaps, but wasn't so lucky on another stunt, when he broke his ankle jumping from one building to another.

The actor has pulled off death-defying stunts in other movies in the franchise as well.

In Mission: Impossible 2, Cruise actually climbed up the side of a Utahs jagged Dead Horse Point cliffs hundreds of feet in the air for the intro scene.

In Ghost Protocol, he scaled the Burj Khalifa in Dubai, the world's tallest building, with suction cups.

And in Mission: Impossible Rogue Nation, Cruise clung to the side of an Airbus A400M Atlas military transport while the plane took off over England.

In Mission: Impossible 2, Cruise actually climbed up the side of a Utahs jagged Dead Horse Point cliffs hundreds of feet in the air for the intro scene
New figures have found that heroin has is skyrocketing in popularity in Sydney, with use of the dangerous narcotic reportedly increasing by 50 per cent in the last five years.

Drug hotlines have allegedly suffered the brunt of the problem with an influx of drug-users seeking help. The issue has a familiar ring as it revives memories of the 1990s when the narcotic was a scourge in Australia's biggest city.

Experts have identified a link between addiction to pharmaceutical drugs, such as opioids, and the growing likelihood of users succumbing to illicit drugs.

New figures find that use of heroin (pictured) has increased by 50 per cent in Sydney in the past five years

Van Cao Tran, 45, was arrested for allegedly importing 16kg of heroin into Sydney from Thailand in May (pictured)

'People become dependent on pharmaceutical opioids, then (authorities) crack down on what they can use. Where do they go for more treatment?  the illicit market,' Harm Reduction Australia president Gino Vumbaca said.

'If you've got a dependence on prescription opioids, you don't want ice,' Mr Vumbaca continued.

While ice has dominated the national hard-drug market in recent years, it seems this trend will likely change as opioid addicts turn to heroin.

Police are targeting and tracking the supply of heroin with Drug and Firearms Squad commander Peter McErlain warning that opioids are 'highly addictive'.

In May, Van Cao Tran, 45, was arrested for allegedly importing 16kg of heroin into Sydney from Thailand. The drugs which amount to $8 million were seized from an apartment in Cabramatta, hidden in Children's clothing.

Mr Tran will face life in prison if found guilty of the charge of commercial importation.

The 16kg of heroin which amounts to $8 million was allegedly hidden in children's clothing in Cabramatta apartment, Sydney's South-West (Van Cao Tran pictured)

Experts believe that many opioid addicts jump ship to the illicit drug market, with heroin being the top choice as an opioid replacement

During the deadly '90s sourge Cabramatta was at the centre of the problem. The 5T street gang dominated the local area using standover tactics to control local businesses and maintain their trade.

In the two decades that followed, Sydney saw a vast improvement in the problem. In one year there were almost 3000 cases of heroin incidents, brought down to about 1000 in 2001.

However, as reported by The Daily Telegraph, the figures are increasing again with 1097 people caught last year.

Family Drug Support Australia chief executive Tony Trimingham acknowledged that heroin-related calls are on the rise. Mr Trimingham said, 'Heroin has doubled, from about 4 per cent of calls up to 9 or 10 per cent.'

The resurgence of heroin use in Sydney worries many that the city is facing a revival of the deadly '90s scourge
While Joe Biden keeps busy on his campaign trail, the discussion about his potential 2020 presidential run has come up again, and the former vice president isn't ruling it out.

Biden and his political backers said he will make the final decision before the year's out and after the November election period, multiple sources told NBC News.

The Democratic politician also recently sat down with Reverend Al Sharpton for a PoliticsNation segment, where he spoke further on the matter.

When Sharpton asked Biden what it would take for him to consider running for president, he provided mixed responses, but ultimately explained that he is open to candidacy.

Biden responded: 'I'm really hoping that some other folks step up... I think we have some really good people. Rev., Barack always asked me that question. He said, "What's gonna make the decision?"'

Former Vice President Joe Biden recently sat down with Reverend Al Sharpton for a PoliticsNation segment, where he spoke about the possibility of a 2020 election run

Biden and his political backers said in a new statement he will make the final decision before the year's out and after the November election period

He added: 'I gotta be able to look in the mirror, and if I walk away, and know I'm not walking away because I'm afraid, worried about losing, or that I just don't want to take on the responsibility.

'I gotta walk away knowing that there is somebody who can do it and can win, because we've gotta win.'

In recent months, Biden has been actively campaigning for several high-profile Democrats ahead of midterm elections.

While doing so, Biden added that his top priority is keeping his family together, three years after his his son Beau's cancer death - which he said his family continues to reel over.

'For me, Rev., it's selfish, but it's about putting my family back together. I lost my son, my son, Beau, he left a hole in the heart of everybody in the family.'

US President Donald Trump (L) greets former Vice President Joe Biden and former President Barack Obama after being sworn in as the 45th president of the United States on the West front of the U.S. Capitol in Washington, U.S., January 20, 2017

Vice President Joe Biden and Dr. Jill Biden are seen at the Inauguration Ceremony of United States President Barack Obama, US Capitol, Washington DC, America on January 21, 2013

The former US Senator also lost his first wife, Neilia Hunter, and the couple's daughter, Naomi, in a car accident back in December 1972 while Biden was Senator-elect.

'It takes time to come back,' Biden went on to say. 'I'm surprised how much time it took because I've been through this before, I got a phone call after I got elected saying my wife and daughter have just been killed.'

His two sons, Beau and Hunter, were also in the car, but survived the crash.

When speaking about his family, he said: 'I gotta just make sure that's all in place,' and added: 'Look, no man has a right to say, "help me become president."'

Donald Trump said on the possibility of Biden running that he would 'kick his a**'

Trump recently slammed the likelihood of Biden running in 2020 while speaking at an annual Gridiron Dinner in Washington.

The president went on a name-calling tirade and called Biden 'Sleepy Joe' and assured that he would 'kick his a**.'

Trump previously feuded with the former vice president back in 2016, and deemed him to be not 'very bright.'

In March, Trump also took to Twitter writing: 'Crazy Joe Biden is trying to act like a tough guy. Actually, he is weak, both mentally and physically, and yet he threatens me, for the second time, with physical assault.

'He doesnt know me, but he would go down fast and hard, crying all the way. Dont threaten people Joe!'

During his talk with Sharpton, Biden said on the topic of Trump: 'I will just say, we are fundamentally different.'
French swimmer Ben Lecomte is set to take on giant waves, sharks and a pile of floating garbage the size of Texas in a perilous quest to swim across the Pacific Ocean.

Faced with an epic 5,500-mile (9,000km) adventure, his bid to become the first swimmer to accomplish the daunting feat begins in Japan and is expected to take more than six months, finishing in San Francisco.

Part adventure, part scientific research, Lecomte and his eight-person support team will conduct a host of marine experiments as they seek to raise awareness of ocean pollution and plastic contamination.

After swimming across the Atlantic Ocean in 1998 he promised himself 'never again', but Lecomte felt compelled to take on the monstrous Pacific after starting a family.

Two days after turning 51, Lecomte will enter the waters off Japan's east coast on Tuesday, after which the swimmer will be at the mercy of the elements.

French swimmer Benoit 'Ben' Lecomte, who previously swam solo across the Atlantic in 1998, is facing an epic 5,500-mile solo swim across the Pacific

The danger of sharks and paralysing jellyfish also lurks - but the Texas-based architect tweaks the nose of fear.

'I like to push my personal limit and try to find what that is,' Lecomte told AFP in an interview aboard his yacht.

'I'm like a tiger in a cage going around and around,' he added, after seven years of planning.

'The mental part is much more important than the physical. You have to make sure you always think about something positive or you always have something to think about.

'When you don't have anything to occupy your mind it goes into kind of a spiral, and that's when trouble starts.'

Lecomte plans to swim for eight hours a day, burning more than 8,000 calories.

The rest of the time he will rest, sleep and eat on the 67-foot support boat Discoverer that will drop him back in the water at the same spot he exits every day.

Lecomte, who will wear a wetsuit, snorkel and fins, is no stranger to adventure.

'Pollution of the ocean has a big impact,' said the father-of-two, who will be gathering oceanographic and medical data for 27 scientific organisations, including NASA.

'When I was little and I was with my father walking on the beach, I didn't see any plastic, or hardly any.

A map of the proposed swim from Japan to the west coast of the United States

'Now every time I go with my kids, we see plastic everywhere,' added Lecomte, who will also wear a device to test levels of radioactive material from the tsunami-hit Fukushima nuclear plant.

'It made me think what (the) future for my kids is going to be like. It's a problem we created and there is a very easy solution to start reversing it - single-use plastics for example, if we stop using them that will make a big change.'

Lecomte leaves from Choshi fishing port in Chiba prefecture - the same starting point as Frenchman Gerard d'Aboville when he rowed solo across the Pacific in 1991.

But Lecomte will actually be in the water, potential shark bait.

'In the Atlantic, I swam for five days with a shark following me, its fin circling,' shrugged Lecomte, who previously suffered nasty stings when jellyfish got caught in his snorkel.

'Everybody thinks of 'Jaws' but I'm more afraid of cold water and being in pain, and needing to fight that, than sharks.'

Part of his daunting swim takes him through the Texas-sized Great Pacific garbage patch that floats between Hawaii and California, where tangled plastic poses extra dangers.

His team will collect water samples to learn more about the build-up of micro-plastics littering the area.

Two days after turning 51, Lecomte will enter the waters off Japan's east coast on Tuesday, after which the swimmer will be at the mercy of the elements

But Lecomte knows the application of science - and a boat stocked with 2.8 tonnes of food - will only get him so far.

'What is going to be difficult is every morning going back in the water (because) you hit a wall, normally after 4-6 hours,' he said of the mental challenge.

'I try to disassociate my mind from my body and everything that happens to my body - pain or cold, I try to put aside.'

'I have a schedule of what I'm going to think about for those eight hours... it's always about keeping my mind occupied.

'I will remember a family birthday for example and the trick is to engage all your senses - try to remember the wind on your skin, how the sun felt, the smells.

'Then 'boom', you are back in that moment reliving it and your body is just on autopilot.'
A man who died after he was allegedly hit over the head with a hammer by a crazed attacker he tried to help, has been remembered as a 'lovely chap... who paid the ultimate price'.

Mick Horne, 54, was allegedly attacked by Murray Deakin, 20, in a violent carjacking near the town of Bega, in south-east New South Wales, on Friday afternoon.

A former police officer, Mr Horne is believed to have been attacked after pulling over to help Deakin. A female passenger escaped from the car uninjured.

Less than an hour earlier Deakin had allegedly stabbed his grandmother Gail Winner, 69, to death and left his grandfather Tom Winner, 71, fighting for life in hospital.

Tributes flowed for Mr Horne after he passed away in hospital on Sunday night, with many locals around the Bega region praising his work with the local police force.

Michael Horne (pictured with his wife Mel) died in hospital after allegedly being attacked with a hammer by Murray Deakin. Police allege Deakin stabbed his grandmother to death less than an hour earlier

Mr Horne (right, with his son Tom) is believed to have pulled over to help Deakin when he was allegedly attacked. A former police officer, Mr Horne was remembered as a 'lovely chap'

Murray Deakin (pictured) allegedly stabbed his grandmother to death on Friday afternoon

'He sure was a lovely chap and thought he was doing the right thing and paid the ultimate price. So so sad RIP Mick,' one tribute read.

'So sorry to hear the sad news thoughts and prayers for Mick Hornes family. He was a wonderful man,' another person wrote.

'Thinking of Mick and family so very sad... prayers of strength and love,' one local posted.

Deakin faced Batesman Bay Local Court for the third consecutive day on Monday, where he was expected to have his charges upgraded to two counts of murder.

It's alleged that after attacking his grandparents with a knife, Deakin fled the scene in their car.

He allegedly drove down the coast towards the town of Bournda before dumping the vehicle.

Roughly an hour after emergency services became aware of the alleged knife attack, Deakin is alleged to have flagged down Mr Horne and savagely attacked him.

It's alleged he Mr Horne in the man in the head with a hammer, leaving him with the critical injuries that lead to his death in hospital on Sunday afternoon.

Police will allege Deakin stabbed Mr and Mrs Winner about 3.30pm on Friday, before leaving the scene and causing a frantic five-hour police manhunt.

Wearing just a hospital gown and shorts as he faced court on Sunday, Deakin said the words 'I'm sorry' as he was led from the courtroom by police, the ABC reports.

Deakin allegedly attacked his grandparents Gail, 69, and Thomas Winner, 71, inside their home (pictured) in the town of Bega, in south-east New South Wales, on Friday afternoon

Police dust for fingerprints at the Bega home where Deakin was reportedly living with his grandparents

It was not clear what Deakin was apologising for.

Deakin, who was reportedly staying with his grandparents, allegedly attacked both of his relatives multiple times with the knife.

Mr Winner, who was also suffering from stab wounds, made his way out onto East St and attempted to flag down a passing motorist.

When emergency services arrived at the home they reportedly found Mrs Winner in a critical condition.

She was rushed to South East Regional Hospital, but died later that afternoon.

Mr Winner was airlifted to Canberra Hospital and remains in a critical condition.

During the second alleged attack on the vehicle, a female passenger was able to escape unharmed.

Deakin was refused bail and is expected to reappear in Batemans Bay Local Court on Monday

Deakin then allegedly drove off in the car, before crashing 500 metres down the road and going into bushland.

Police called in helicopters, negotiators and special tactical operatives to capture him and arrested him at about 8.20pm.

Deakin did not apply for bail and it was formally refused. He is due to reappear in the same court on Monday via video link.
A father has been jailed for more than 41 years for killing his nine-year-old son with a 'brutal process of torture' that lasted months and saw the boy burned with cigarettes.

Canberra man Graham Stuart Dillon pleaded guilty last year to murdering his son Bradyn in 2016.

When Dillon appeared in the ACT Supreme Court on Monday, he was jailed for 36 years for the murder, and a further five years for grievous bodily harm charges, including choking and threatening to kill.

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A father has been jailed for more than 41 years for killing his nine-year-old son Bradyn (pictured) with 'brutal process of torture' that lasted months

Canberra man Graham Stuart Dillon (pictured) pleaded guilty last year to murdering his son Bradyn in 2016

Bradyn died from serious brain injuries in 2016 after he was repeatedly bashed in the head.

The nine-year-old's death was not the result of one attack, but repeated attacks over a period of months, Nine News reported.

The boy was burnt with cigarettes, punched and tossed across the room in a 'brutal process of torture' inflicted by his father.

His father inflicted the torture on his son to punish him for naughty behaviour including telling lies and eating lollies without permission, the court heard.

Dillon delivered the final blow to his son February 15, 2016 when he punched and kicked the boy until he was unconscious.

Bradyn was so severely injured in the attack, he suffered bleeding to the brain.

Dillon (left) delivered the final blow to his son Bradyn (right) on February 15, 2016 when he punched and kicked the boy until he was unconscious

The boy was burnt with cigarettes, punched and tossed across the room in a series of brutal attacks inflicted by his father Dillon (Dillon's tattoos pictured)

Dillon failed to phone emergency services for help for hours after the attack, instead Google searched what to do if someone was knocked out.

Dillon then shopped online, and visited a pornography website while his son lay unconscious on the ground.

Bradyn was unconscious on the floor of the Jacka home in Canberra for hours before an ambulance arrived and rushed him to hospital where he later died.

'The offender evidently made unsuccessful attempts to revive Bradyn, but did not call for emergency assistance,' the court was told.

After he was sentenced to 41 years in prison on Monday, he was taken back into police custody.

Dillon will be eligible for parole in 2048.

Bradyn (pictured) lay unconscious on the floor of the Jacka home for hours before an ambulance arrived and rushed him to hospital where he later died

Bradyn's mother covered her face as she left the courtroom on Monday following Dillon's sentencing
A landscaper who gave Malcolm Turnbull the middle finger in a pub and sparked an online fundraising drive has been charged with attempted murder.

Nick Gordon, 26, was arrested on Sunday at a house at Brisbane's south side after reports of a disturbance.

He was charged with attempted murder and contravening a domestic violence order - only a fortnight after he was kicked out of Brisbane's Cardindale Hotel after he gave the Prime Minister the finger during a politics in the pub event.

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A landscaper who did accused Malcolm Turnbull of pushing in at a pub and sparked an online fundraising drive has been charged with attempted murder

That incident inspired former Labor senator Sam Dastyari to set up a Go Fund Me page which raised $1,079 to pay his $756 fine for public nuisance.

Gordon, who accused Turnbull of pushing in at the pub, had earned praise from Sunrise host David Koch, only for those plaudits to be withdrawn the next day when footage emerged appearing to show the Prime Minister didn't push in.

On Sunday, police charged him with attempted murder following an incident at a Carina Heights house, in Brisbane's south.

Queensland Police alleged that shortly after midnight on Sunday, they were called to a house on Chataway Street following reports of a disturbance.

On arrival, police found a woman in her 30s with significant facial injuries and cuts to her hands.

Gordon, who police allege was known to the woman, was arrested at a nearby address in the same suburb of Carina Heights.

The man, known to his mates as 'Bluey', is expected to appear in the Brisbane Magistrates Court today.

He was charged with attempted murder and contravening a domestic violence order - only a fortnight after he was kicked out of Brisbane's Cardindale Hotel after giving the middle finger to the prime minister

Nick Gordon accused Malcolm Turnbull of pushing in at Brisbane's Carindale Hotel last month
CVS is accused of pressuring local pharmaceutical companies to give them the right to fill cancer-drug prescriptions.

The pharmaceutical chain manages prescriptions for millions of Americans but is reportedly trying to strong-arm their way into the lucrative business of cancer-drug prescriptions.

Ohio local pharmaceutical companies say that the chain has sent unsolicited faxes to cancer doctors using confidential patient information in an attempt to have prescriptions filed through them, according to The Columbus Dispatch.

Pharmacy chain CVS is accused of intimating and pressuring cancer patients to use their prescription services rather than rely on oncology clinics

However CVS denies being involved in such practices.

Josh Cox, the pharmacy director for the Dayton Physicians Network, a large oncology practice in Ohio, says CVS has tried to bully their way into overtaking cancer drug prescriptions in his state.

Cox said a CVS representative called him and told him he was breaking the law if he didnt transfer a particular patients prescription to the chains mail-order pharmacy.

Josh Cox, the pharmacy director for the Dayton Physicians Network, says the chain has tried to bully its way into overtaking the cancer drug prescription business in Ohio

Cox knew such a claim was false as he sits on the Ohio State Board of Pharmacy.

'I was told it was against the law for our pharmacy to fill the prescription, which was very disturbing to me, because not only is that certainly untrue  there are no federal or state or local laws that dictate where a patient can get their prescription  but it took the whole trolling of prescriptions to a whole new level,' Cox said to The Dispatch.

This isn't the first time CVS has tried to hit at local pharmacists in the Ohio area.

The pharmacy chain has been accused of using its power as Ohio Medicaid's lead pharmacy-benefit manager for its own devises.

CVS allegedly cut reimbursements to competing retail pharmacies and even sent them letters offering to buy them out.

Ohio pharmacists also say that CVS misuses its access to Medicare patients' information to push them towards opting for the chain's mail-order and retail services.

The chain defended itself Friday saying: 'It is not our policy or practice to mislead or intimidate patients or providers'

Now CVS and other similar chains are being fired at by patients and hospital administrators who say that the mega pharmacies force cancer patients into the mail-order services, which often end up becoming expensive and confusing for the patient.

'It was deeply disappointing to me that the process of trying to acquire business, so to speak, had devolved into intimidation tactics among pharmacies,' Cox said.

CVS hit back against accusers on Friday.

'It is not our policy or practice to mislead or intimidate patients or providers,' spokesman Mike DeAngelis said in an email.

'It is common for CVS Caremark to fax prior authorizations and refill requests to providers. A patients specialty prescriptions may be moved to CVS Specialty if a client has switched to a preferred or exclusive network when making a change to their plan design. Patients are notified in advance if their plan sponsor chooses to make such a change,' he added.
Hundreds of litres of beer, wine and spirits has been intercepted en route to 'dry' communities in Australia's far north.

Police officers and drug detection dogs searched 38 vehicles - carrying a total of 124 people - at the Stuart Highway crossing into the Adelaide River region of the Northern Territory over the weekend.

A staggering 289 litres of alcohol was seized and subsequently destroyed in the searches, including 21 casks of wine, five bottles of bourbon, three bottles of rum and five crates of beer.

Officers called the sheer quantity of illegally trafficked liquor 'unprecedented.'

Hundreds of litres of beer, wine and spirits (pictured) was intercepted en route to 'dry' communities in Australia's far north over the weekend

Police officers and drug detection dogs searched 38 vehicles - carrying a total of 124 people - at the Stuart Highway crossing into the Adelaide River region of the Northern Territory (pictured)

Acting Superintendent Stephen Martin of the Northern Division expressed disbelief at the idea that smugglers would be willing to drive some 14 hours just to cheat the state's alcohol laws.

'It appears that some community members are prepared to conduct a 1700km round trip from Lajamanu to Darwin specifically to purchase liquor to defeat liquor restrictions,' said acting Supt Martin.

Most of the alcohol was believed to be destined for the small towns of Lajamanu and Kalkaringi, in the central western region of the Northern Territory.

The operation was planned as part of a crackdown on illicit substances in the area in support of the Adelaide River Races, an annual horse-racing carnival.

The operation was planned as part of a crackdown on illicit substances in the area in support of the Adelaide River Races, an annual horse-racing carnival

Police set up a zone at the crossing, targeting vehicles that were there to attend the Races as well as those that were just passing through.

A total of 143 grams of cannabis was also seized, and police made a number of arrests for drug and traffic infringements during the roadblock operation.

'This is great work by police targeting the supply of illicit substances into liquor protected areas,' acting Supt Martin said.

'We will continue to work to reduce the harmful impact that alcohol and drugs can have on the whole NT community.'

There are more than 100 places in the Northern Territory where alcohol is totally banned under the law outside a licensed premises.
A passenger on Qantas' newly launched 17-hour non-stop flight from Perth to London has amazed aviation experts by not moving for the entire flight - not even to use the bathroom.

The man's incredible endurance came to light in research conducted by the Charles Perkins Centre at the University of Sydney, which used wearable special devices to monitor activity on the journey.

Amazed researchers even double-checked the equipment which was attached to the passengers wrists and thighs to make sure there was no mistake.

One passenger on-board the 17-hour non-stop flight from Perth to London did not move for the whole flight - not even to use the toilet

The Qantas 787-9 Dreamliner (pictured) first took off on the new route in March, making history as the first non-stop flight from Australia to Britain

'The one thing we couldn't believe was how little [he] moved. One subject took zero steps,' said Professor Stephen Simpson from the Charles Perkins Centre at the University of Sydney.

The man, who was flying business class, said he was so comfy he had little reason to get up from his chair - which turns into a bed during the flight.

The Qantas flight, hosted on the 787-9 Dreamliner, made history as the first non-stop commercial flight between Australia and Britain.

It featured a range of measures to increase passenger comfort, with famous chef Neil Perry working extensively on cabin lighting, temperature, meal timing and the menu.

Qantas worked hard to create a comfortable flying experience on the new route, with adjustments to cabin lighting, temperature, meal timing and the menu

The University of Sydney is conducting research on passenger activity and jet lag on the flight from Perth to London.

The research hopes to gain greater insight into jet lag. Passengers were asked to record how they felt on the flight with regards to activity, sleep and posture changes.

From the pilot survey of 20 passengers, the long-haul flight was rated 2.2 on a scale for jet lag severity, with eight the most severe mark.

The research has found that passengers who maintained a normal routine in-flight were likely to feel better when reaching their destination, said Simpson. However, those who moved around the plane were more likely to struggle with jet lag.
Locals have spotted crocodiles in Northern Territory lake since March this year

The young girl was standing 15 metres from the trap as her mother watched on

Mother-of-three in disbelief as she spots young girl standing near crocodile trap

A mother-of-three had a moment of disbelief after sighting a young girl standing knee-deep in crocodile infested waters at a local park.

Melinda MacMillan was on a family outing to Sanctuary Lakes, in the Northern Territory suburb of Palmerston, on Thursday afternoon when she saw the scene unfold in front of her.

The girl, who is believed to be 10, was seen standing in the water just a few metres away from a crocodile trap, as her mother calmly watched on.

The girl (pictured far right) was seen wading in and out of the water, just metres away from a crocodile trap

'I'd taken the kids down to the park to look for NT rocks and I saw her,' Ms MacMillan had told Yahoo7.

'I said, "Oh my God, there's a girl in the water".'

The girl's mother was seen sitting nearby, unfazed, as she waded in and out of the water several times, sorting out her fishing rod.

'You can see the girl's mother was right there sitting on the bank just looking at the ducks she didn't seem fazed at all,' Ms MacMillan said.

Photos taken of the incident show the girl standing only 15 metres from the trap.

Palmerston Council was made aware in March of the crocodile occupying Sanctuary Lakes, and has since put a trap in place.

The crocodile has been spotted at Sanctuary Lakes since March this year

A council spokesperson said that there has been an attempt to capture the animal, yet it was the responsibility of Crocodile Capture and Management to do so.

The council addressed the matter in a Facebook post in march, warning the residents.

'Residents are urged to be 'croc wise', stay away from the water's edge and not to allow dogs to swim in the lake,' they posted.
A cow has been shot dead by police in front of two horrified young children and dozens of motorists on a gridlocked highway.

A father of two girls, aged three and four, said he saw the 'aggravated' steer scuffing its hooves, seemingly about to charge at cars.

'All of a sudden a cop comes out from between the cars with a rifle and shot it in the head. He then walked up closer to it and shot it in the head again - in front of everyone,' the man, named as Robert, told the New Zealand Herald.

'I'd literally just said to my girls, ''Hey look, there's a cow,'' and then, bang, that happened. It was surreal... Afterwards my 3-year-old stuck her head in the car seat and covered her face as she was a bit scared and didn't understand.'

A cow has been shot dead in front of two young children and dozens of motorists on a gridlocked highway amid fears the animal was set to attack

Robert said that although it was 'pretty sh**' to witness, it was a better result than the cow charging into someone's car.

Many others agreed.

'Safer for everyone that they shot it, instead of trying to herd it somewhere first and then shooting it. Kids will get over seeing a cow being shot,' one wrote on Twitter.

'Maybe shouldn't have shot the cow dead but the cop made the right call. Two young human lives vs one cattle,' another said.

Police said officers on Saturday made several attempts to get the cow off State Highway 1 - just south of the Auckland suburb of Silverdale.

'Situations like this are dynamic and fast-moving and Police are required to make decisions in a matter of seconds to ensure the public are kept safe,' a spokesman said.
West Ham United's new manager Manuel Pellegrini and his wife are recovering after being held up by armed robbers who shot at police before escaping.

The couple were mugged on Saturday evening as they headed to a restaurant with friends in the Chilean capital Santiago.

The men stole a handbag thought to belong to Carola Pucci, Pellegrini's wife, before shooting at cops who tried to stop them and speeding off in a stolen Porsche Cayenne later found abandoned by police.

The terrifying incident happened near a shopping mall called Casa Costanera in an upmarket suburb of the Chilean capital called Vitacura.

West Ham United manager Manuel Pellegrini (pictured) and his wife are recovering after being held up by armed robbers who shot at police before escaping

No-one was hurt in the drama, despite the violence shown by the armed robbers who threw road spikes down to stop police chasing them after one fired his weapon.

A police helicopter was mobilised in the hunt for the criminals, whose car was eventually found in a suburb of Santiago called Conchali.

Officers also recovered the handbag they stole, which reportedly belonged to Pellegrini's wife although police would only confirm it belonged a woman and would not say if it was Carola's or the female friend she and her husband were with.

They also confirmed the Porsche, taken just a fortnight ago, had false numberplates and said they suspected it had been stolen to order so it could subsequently be used to commit other crimes.

The West Ham manager and his wife were targeted seconds after they parked their car and started walking towards the unnamed restaurant where they were due to have dinner.

The couple were mugged on Saturday evening as they headed to a restaurant with friends in the Chilean capital Santiago (file picture)

Pellegrini and his friends are said to have tried to calm the criminals down while they pointed their weapon at them and demanded their valuables.

The armed robbers were intercepted by police as they tried to run to their car.

Local police chief Gonzalo Munoz confirmed: 'They fired two shots at officers and threw road spikes down to stop them following as they sped off which resulted in a police car being damaged.'

No arrests have yet been made.

The owner of the stolen Porsche told local media on Sunday: 'I can't understand how these sorts of things are happening and you can't even go out for dinner without being robbed like this. It's very serious.'

Pellegrini, appointed as West Ham's new manager in May, thanked Chilean police who are known as Carabineros - in a tweet.

He said: 'Congratulations to @Carabdechile for their speedy and brave reaction.

'I'm also thankful for the help of locals. I hope they give the Carabineros more resources to solve the problem of delinquency as soon as possible.'

Local Pedro Hernandez replied: 'Criminality has bee out of control in Chile for some time. That's the perception citizens like me have.'
A waiter rescued two trapped policemen from their crashed van - just weeks after saving a leading industrialist who was allegedly pushed in front of a train.

Riyad El-Hassani, 24, lifted the injured officers out of the overturned vehicle as they feared it would burst into flames in Limehouse, east London.

His friends shouted: 'Hero, you're needed again' and he raced over to help the men.

Video footage shows Mr El-Hassani climbing onto the side of the vehicle, reaching into the open door and pulling the officers up to safety.

It comes just weeks after he saved Sir Robert Malpas who was alleged pushed onto the tracks at Marble Arch Station.

Video footage shows Mr El-Hassani on the side of the vehicle, reaching into the open door and pulling the officers up to safety

Riyad El-Hassani, 24, lifted the injured officers out of the overturned vehicle as they feared it would burst into flames in Limehouse, east London

A waiter rescued two trapped policemen from their crashed van - just weeks after saving a leading industrialist who was allegedly pushed in front of a train

The waiter told The Sun: 'They looked in shock and one had a badly injured arm.

'I took one officer's seat belt off because he could not manage it and I lifted him out before getting the second officer out.

'I was worried about it catching fire. They were lucky not to be seriously injured.'

In April, Mr El-Hassani came to the rescue of Sir Robert, 90, who was left lying on the tracks after the apparently unprovoked attack.

The former Eurotunnel chairman was saved by a heroic bystander who leapt down and threw him back on to the platform like a sack of potatoes.

The rescuer said the pair came inches from death as a train thundered towards them at a central London Underground station.

As I approached the Tube line I could hear panicking, screaming and running, he said.

I thought it was a terrorist attack. As I ran, I saw an elderly man in the middle of the underground track.

It was at least 1.5-metres deep and I could see the train coming very quickly. I barely stopped to think and jumped down on to the track. It saved the mans life.

Sir Robert Malpas, 90, was left lying on the tracks after the apparently unprovoked attack

I threw him on to the station platform like a sack of potatoes. As I turned to the left I could see the train coming near my face.

I ran to get out and it stopped another five metres further along. The man was bleeding a lot, there was blood coming from his face.

I started screaming for napkins, towels, anything that would help and people gave me tissues and all sorts of things to stop the bleeding. It felt like 15 minutes later that the emergency services and the police came.

Sir Robert, who was knighted in the Queens birthday honours on his retirement, remains in hospital after suffering a nasty gash to his face.

He is a former captain of British industry, rising through the ranks to become chairman of chemicals giant ICI and Cookson, the materials technology group.

He served as a link between technology and business with roles on the Engineering Council and other advisory bodies.

Sir Robert lives with second wife Lady Joan in Wandsworth, south west London. The alleged attack took place at Marble Arch station.

Mr El-Hassani, who works at the luxury Dorchester Hotel in Mayfair, added: I later found out the man involved was a Knight of the Realm.

I knew it was not a fall. People said there had been a scuffle with another man who was arrested. Yesterday, a 46-year-old man, from Leyton, east London, appeared in court accused of two counts of attempted murder.
The political stench of the Barnaby Joyce affair has followed Malcolm Turnbull to a small country town where a persistent fly kept hovering around his face.

The Prime Minister's attempts to shoo away the annoying insect proved futile during an outdoor media conference today at Trangie, in north-west New South Wales.

At one point during a joint media conference with his Nationals deputy Michael McCormack, Mr Turnbull tried blowing away the fly and shooing it repeatedly with his left hand as it kept landing on his face.

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The political stench of the Barnaby Joyce affair has followed Malcolm Turnbull to a small country town where a persistent fly kept hovering around his face

Mr Turnbull's Minister for Infrastructure and Transport had just been asked about an assertion by Vikki Campion, his Nationals predecessor Barnaby Joyce's girlfriend, that she was pressured to have an abortion by Nationals staffers.

'If there are allegations that people are making, perhaps they should take that up on a personal level with the people they're levelling the allegations against,' Mr McCormack told reporters on a farm 467km north-west of Sydney.

As Mr McCormack addressed the question, Malcolm Turnbull shooed away a fly next to his nose with his left index finger and moments later with his whole hand.

Moments earlier in the media conference, Nationals Agriculture Minister David Littleproud shook his head and blew away another fly.

The Prime Minister's attempts to shoo away an annoying insect proven futile during an outdoor media conference today at Trangie, in north-west New South Wales

As Nationals leader Michael McCormack (left) addressed question about Vikki Campion, Malcolm Turnbull (centre) shooed away a fly next to his nose with his left index finger and moments later with his whole hand

It came the day after the Seven Network broadcast Vikki Campion's claim that 'God-fearing conservatives' within the Nationals had pressured her to have an abortion.

'They said "you're pregnant, and you have to get an abortion", and I said "it's too late, it has a heartbeat" and they said "if you don't, they're going to come after you",' Ms Campion told the Sunday Night program.

The couple's $150,000 paid interview with the Seven Network has been condemned by the former deputy prime minister's own side of politics.

It went to air six weeks after Ms Campion gave birth to baby Sebastian.

The boy was the first child for the former News Corp Australia journalist, 33, and the fifth for her 51-year-old former boss, whom she fell in love with in 2016 while working as his media adviser.

The incident occurred the day after the Seven Network broadcast Vikki Campion's claim that 'God-fearing conservatives' within the Nationals had pressured her to have an abortion
A mother whose dying wish was to pass away at home, surrounded by her two children, has peacefully passed away after her final wish was granted.

Kelli O'Brien, who was 47, had battled stage four brain cancer for over a decade. The mother of two had endured five surgeries since 2006, one in which part of her brain was removed.

Mother of two Kelli O'Brien (pictured) was granted her final wish, passing away from stage four brain cancer in the comfort of her home. She is pictured with daughter Meg (left) and son Ryan (right)

Since 2006, Kelli endured five surgeries and had part of her brain removed due to the deadly cancer

Kelli's story gained attention when she fought for the right to die at home. She wanted to be surrounded by her 16-year-old daughter, Meg and 18-year-old son, Ryan, away from the hospital.

Kelli found life in hospital demoralising, as she knew her children were running the household by themselves in New South Wales.

'It's heartbreaking when the kids ring me and tell me they are crying themselves to sleep,' she told A Current Affair.

Kelli was able to spend her final ten weeks in the comfort of her home after she fought to leave the hospital

Her daughter Meg (pictured left) is 16 and still at school, while Ryan, an apprentice, is 18 (pictured right)

Kelli opened up to A Current Affair, telling them she was 'desperate' to be at home with her kids, not in hospital

Through A Current Affair, the Minister for the NDIS managed to send Kelli home to her family and fulfill her dying wish

The frustrated family had contacted the National Disability Insurance Scheme, in a desperate bid to get Kelli home to her kids. The family, however, were disappointed by the lack of response and turned to A Current Affair.

A few days after a Current Affair got in contact with Dan Tehan - the Minister for the NDIS - Kelli had been sent home, fulfilling her dying wish.

Kelli spent ten weeks at home in comfortable surroundings, cherishing her final moments with her children.

Kelli had spent more than six months in hospital as the NDIS had not approved her funding to die at home
A Russian billionaire has accused British custom officials of losing and damaging several rare treasures from a 600,000 collection of antiques.

Alexander Ivanov, who is best known for owning the world's most expensive Faberge egg, made the claim after his items were seized on their way to Germany.

The art collector has now threatened to sue over the 'outrageous vandalism', and even claims that two of the items were sold at auction by HM Revenue and Customs.

His prized possessions were seized as they were transported to Mr Ivanov's Faberge museum in Baden-Baden, Germany.

Alexander Ivanov (pictured), who is best known for owning the world's most expensive Faberge egg, made the claim after his items were seized on their way to Germany

Custom officials were said to be investigating whether or not the correct VAT had been paid for each item.

Mr Ivanov told The Times: 'I am now discussing with my lawyers the possibility of suing British customs.

'Some people have tried to discourage me, saying that it's nearly impossible to win.

'But we need to try, because now I see that any person can easily be unfairly victimised by the government.'

Mr Ivanov is among the world's richest art collectors, amassing the world's largest Faberge collection which is valued at more than 2billion.

The Russian was among the country's first entrepreneurs to trade in computers in the late 1980s, quickly establishing a successful venture.

He soon began collecting artworks with his vast wealth, taking a particular interest in Faberge eggs.

Mr Ivanov soon gave up on his business ventures and went into art dealing full time, with his personal wealth valued in the billions due to his collections of antiques.

As well as Faberge items, he has also built up a portfolio including dinosaur fossils, per-Colombian gold and vintage cars.
Barnaby Joyce's embarrassed daughters could suffer mentally following his tell-all interview with lover Vikki Campion, according to an expert in human development.

The former Deputy Prime Minister and his new partner accepted $150,000 from the Seven Network to tell their side of the political scandal in an interview on Sunday.

In the interview, which aired less than two months after baby Sebastian was born, the couple aired their dirty laundry to 614,000 Australian viewers.

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Mr Joyce admitted to 'living a lie' by continuing his public relationship with his wife while secretly being involved with Ms Campion (Barnaby Joyce is pictured with his estranged wife Natalie, and their four daughters in 2015)

Barnaby Joyce with his family at Parliament House, Canberra in 2005

Mr Joyce is pictured with his former staffer turned partner, and their newborn son Sebastian

Human development expert Associate Professor Michael Nagel told the Daily Telegraph he felt for the former Deputy Prime Minister's daughters Odette, Caroline, Julia, Bridgette and mother Natalie.

'I can only imagine that interview would have been very painful, if they saw it, heard about it or see it replayed in the news,' Dr Nagel said.

'Any time anyone goes through a marriage breakup it's very difficult for anyone involved.

'Seeing your family's trials and tribulations played out on a national scale, for those involved, I would be concerned about them.'

Similar concerns were expressed by viewers on social media.

'5 minutes in, and how sorry do you feel for Barnaby's ex-wife and daughters. Having to watch Barnaby and his Mistress bathe their love child. Barnaby's level of selfishness is unrivalled,' wrote one person.

Another said: 'I feel Natalie and her 4 daughters may disagree but what do they matter. Here is her husband and their father playing father and partner of the year when he was never even around for them. This interview - a slap in the face to them.'

Mr Joyce, 51, and his former media adviser spoke out about their affair on Channel Seven's Sunday Night program with reporter Alex Cullen

Weighing in on the controversial interview, body language and voice expert Dr Louise Mahler said Ms Campion's body language suggested a lack of love for the politician.

'There were no signs of affection between them,' she told The Daily Telegraph.

'They are two people, not a couple, doing the best in a bad situation.'

Dr Mahler also noted Ms Campion walked in and sat down before Mr Joyce.

She said this suggested the former media adviser took the lead in the relationship.

Ms Campion said she considered getting an abortion and even bought the medicine

Ms Campion said she had been threatened by 'conservatives' within the National party to terminate her pregnancy

Vikki Campion said she was pressured to get an abortion by conservative politicians after becoming pregnant with Barnaby Joyce's baby (Pictured: baby Sebastian)

Dr Mahler also noticed Ms Campion often interrupted Mr Joyce, even turning her body away from him throughout.

She said this was a sign the couple argued often.

Despite putting on a brave face, Ms Campion appeared to be struggling with the pressure of the situation, Dr Mahler said.

In the interview on Network Seven's Sunday Night program, Ms Campion revealed she was told to have an abortion by 'God fearing conservatives' within the National party.

'They came to me and they said 'You're pregnant and you have to get an abortion'. And they said 'If you don't, they're going to come after you',' she said.

Mr Joyce admitted to 'living a lie' by continuing his public relationship with his wife while secretly being involved with Ms Campion (Barnaby Joyce is pictured with his estranged wife Natalie, and their four daughters in 2015)

'And I said 'It's too late, it has a heartbeat'. And they said 'if you don't, they're going to come after you'.'

Mr Joyce said those that had threatened Ms Campion were the 'absolute scum of the earth'.

'Their contribution to it is they're going to try and make an incredibly difficult situation almost unbearable by saying to you that, 'Woman, you will do this if you want a career in this place'. And that's your Australian parliament,' he said.

Ms Campion said she took a pregnancy test in winter 2017 which confirmed she was carrying Mr Joyce's child.

'I felt overwhelmed by the complexity of the situation we had caused ourselves,' she said.

Mr Joyce said as he doesn't believe in abortion, he knew at that moment he would lose his job as Deputy Prime Minister.

The body language expert said Ms Campion showed a lack of affection towards the politician

Vikki Campion is pictured with baby Sebastian after she gave birth to him in April

In the interview Mr Joyce admitted to 'living a lie' by continuing his public relationship with his wife while secretly being involved with Ms Campion

Ms Campion said she considered getting an abortion and bought the medicine to go through with it.

'I tried, and I couldn't go there,' she said.

After driving interstate from the Australian Capital Territory she 'walked in and then walked out' of an abortion clinic, ultimately deciding to keep the child.

Ms Campion said she was told by doctors shortly before she fell pregnant that she would not be able to have children.

The couple controversially accepted a $150,000 sum from the Seven Network to tell their side of the political scandal

Mr Joyce admitted to 'living a lie' by continuing his public relationship with his wife while secretly being involved with Ms Campion.

He refused to comment on his estranged wife Natalie and his four daughters, saying that was 'completely private'.

Ms Campion said she was hurt that Mr Joyce had said Sebastian's paternity was a 'grey area'.

'It was a decision we made together,' Mr Joyce said of his comments, before she rebutted: 'I didn't tell you to say it was a ''grey area''.'

Mr Joyce is estranged from his wife of 24 years Natalie and their four adult daughters as a result of the extramarital affair that forced him to quit as Nationals leader and Deputy Prime Minister.

The backbench MP for the New South Wales seat of New England told the Seven Network he had let his family down.

'I failed, I failed, I failed, I failed, I failed,' he said.

The former accountant's salary has also halved from $416,000 to $203,000 after the affair raised character questions about the Catholic, family values politician who had last year campaigned against gay marriage.

Despite the personal and political pain the relationship caused her boyfriend, Vikki Campion said that was the price of love.

'I couldn't help it. You can't help who you fall in love with,' she said.
Israel has shown Britain secret files said to prove Iran wanted to build a nuclear bomb as it bids to kill off the international deal with Tehran.

Evidence shared with the UK is said to include a memo handing responsibility for enriching weapons-grade uranium to the Iranian defence ministry.

The material was part of a haul of 100,000 files snatched by the Israeli security service Mossad from a Tehran warehouse in January, according to the Times.

Israel's PM Binyamin Netanyahu is planning to use the fruits of the audacious raid to undermine support for the nuclear deal struck in 2015, which eased sanctions in return for a halt to weapons development.

He will press the case for abandoning the pact when he meets Theresa May in Downing Street during a trip to Europe on Wednesday.

Israel's PM Binyamin Netanyahu (pictured) is planning to use the fruits of the audacious raid to undermine support for the nuclear deal struck in 2015

Theresa May (pictured on the way to church in her Maidenhead constituency with husband Philip yesterday) has reiterated her commitment to the Iran nuclear deal

Donald Trump has already declared that the US will withdraw from the pact and threatened sanctions on businesses that continue to trade with the regime.

However, the EU has vowed to save the agreement, saying it still represents the best chance of preventing Iran from developing nuclear weapons.

Mrs May yesterday reiterated her 'commitment' to the Iran deal in a phone call with Saudi Arabian Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman.

Mr Netanyahu will reportedly argue that the terms of the accord were breached because Iran did not disclose the scope of its previous efforts to become a nuclear power.

A senior Israeli intelligence officer told the Times: 'What Iran told the International Atomic Energy Agency about its capacities was almost comical compared to what we have here.

'Iran said there had only been feasibility and scientific studies but what we see is that Iran ran a fully fledged nuclear weapons programme and that it followed directions from the political levels.'

Donald Trump has already declared that the US will withdraw from the pact and threatened sanctions on businesses that continue to trade with the regime

One of the key memos is from the Iranian atomic energy authority to the defence ministry.

Said to date from 2001, it authorises the military to take over the task of enriching uranium hexafluoride (UF6) by centrifuges from 3 per cent to more than 90 per cent.

The higher level of enrichment suggests an intention to create a weapon.

The document was reportedly signed on behalf of the Iranian army by Amir Daryaban Ali Shamkami, who is now military adviser to Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.
Brussels is threatening to block Britain from 'rolling over' existing trade deals with other countries in the latest furious Brexit row.

The EU has made clear it will not support the UK keeping the same terms with trade partners such as South Korea unless there is a deal on the Irish border.

The latest tactic emerged as pressure grows on Theresa May to secure a breakthrough in the fraught negotiations before a crunch summit in just over a fortnight.

But Angela Merkel's Brexit envoy has already dismissed the prospects of an end to the bitter standoff - warning that 'no one is expecting' significant progress.

David Davis (left) and Michel Barnier (right) are engaged in fraught negotiations over Brexit

The EU has been ratcheting up its rhetoric for weeks as it looks to force more concessions from Britain over trade and customs arrangements.

Ministers are scrambling to find a way to avoid a hard border between Northern Ireland and the Republic.

But Brussels is insisting on a backstop customs arrangement that would essentially keep the province within its jurisdiction - something Mrs May has said the UK will never accept.

The EU is now using existing trade deals with other countries as leverage by refusing to agree to the terms being retained by Britain until a divorce package is finalised in a legal text.

The move could mean International Trade Secretary Liam Fox could have just weeks to negotiate the continuation of free trade agreements before they expire on March 29, 2019.



An EU official told The Times: 'We will inform third countries once there is sufficient certainty about the outcome of the ongoing negotiations on the UK's withdrawal, which also cover any transitional arrangements'

'This notification should take place after signature of the withdrawal agreement.'

Tory MP Marcus Fysh said Britain was being 'held over a barrel' and should already be negotiating bilateral agreements.

SNP MP Angus McNeill, who chairs the International Trade Committee, said the Government was being made to 'look like amateurs'.

A Department for International Trade spokeswoman said:'We have held discussions with more than 70 nations to ensure continuity in our trade agreements as we leave the EU.

'None have displayed any interest in disrupting trade flows or in erecting barriers to trade that do not currently exist, whatever the terms and timing of any implementation period agreed with the EU.'

Pressure is mounting on Theresa May (pictured at church in her Maidenhead constituency with husband Philip yesterday) to secure a Brexit breakthrough

Meanwhile, Germany's Brexit envoy has given a withering assessment of the prospects for a breakthrough when EU leaders gather at the end of this month.

Brussels has insisted progress is crucial in order to push ahead with the outline of a wider trade deal that should be settled by the next summit in October.

But Peter Ptassek said: 'My personal impression: Not many are expecting very much now. If this is so, October would then have to solve ALL problems (withdrawal, NI, governance, future ) in one go. Odds still unclear.'
This is the chilling moment Britain's youngest female terrorist was filmed on a 'reconnaissance' mission at MI6 HQ as she planned a devastating attack there with her own family.

Safaa Boular, 18, was today found guilty of planning a gun and grenade assault on the British Museum and the MI6 headquarters after becoming radicalised by an ISIS fighter in Syria over the internet who told her he wanted to marry her.

But she was also supported by her hardline fundamentalist mother Mina Dich, 44, and older sister Rizlaine with the family forming Britain's only all-female terror cell.

Even after Safaa was arrested she made phone calls to her sister from behind bars urging her to carry on the plot through coded messages about a 'Mad Hatter's tea party'.

Rizlaine, 22, was later shot by anti-terror officers as she and friend Khawla Barghouthi were arrested last year in a raid in Harlesden, north west London.

Now all face jail when they are sentenced over the coming weeks, with Safaa set to return to the dock in six weeks and the other three due in court on June 15.

Safaa Boular, 18, has become the youngest woman convicted of a terror plot in the UK and jurors saw chilling photos from her phone including a picture taken outside the MI6 building, with the court hearing the sisters were deciding which buildings to target

Safaa, pictured here on CCTV while on 'reconnaissance' around London, also wanted to attack the British Museum with a machine gun and grenades

Boular, left, will be sentenced in around six weeks while friend Khawla Barghouthi, right, who admitted failing to disclose information on an act of terrorism is to be sentenced on June 15

Mother Mina Dich, left, helped with reconnaissance trips and bought knives and sister Rizlaine, right, planned to carry on the terror attack plans after Safaa was arrested

Safaa was trained online by her fiancee Naweed Hussain, a British Pakistani who joined ISIS in Syria in June 2015. He urged her to attack the Palace of Westminster before he died in an air strike.

Boular made no reaction in the dock as she was found guilty by a jury after two days of deliberations.

Judge Mark Dennis QC put off sentencing for around six weeks for a report to be compiled.

The schoolgirl originally plotted to join him in Syria where they would don suicide belts and 'depart the world holding hands.'

But the plans were foiled when her passport was seized after she was arrested at the airport after a family holiday in Morocco.

She was kept in custody as police uncovered details of her plans to carry out a kamikaze attack at the British Museum with grenades and firearms.

Following her arrest, Safaa encouraged her older sister Rizlaine, 22, to pick up her mantle and launch a knife attack at the Palace of Westminster.

Her mother, 44-year-old hardline fundamentalist Mina Dich, also encouraged her daughters to carry out atrocities and even drove Rizlaine around tourist hotspots and bought a selection of knives and a rucksack.

Rizlaine was shot and wounded by armed police as she and a friend were arrested at an address in Harlesden, north London, on 27 April last year.

Dich was arrested as she visited Safaa at a Kent detention centre later the same day.

The mother and Rizlaine admitted engaging in preparation for terrorist acts while another woman, Rizlaine's friend Khawla Barghouthi, 21 admitted failing to disclose information about an act of terrorism.

Safaa normally wore a full-body burka but donned Western clothes throughout her trial in an attempt to convince jurors she had spurned the twisted fundamentalism that made her a so-called 'Sister of Terror'.

Her mother had brought up Safaa and Rizlaine up as strict Muslims in a home that was 'all Islam,' the Old Bailey heard.

Safraa had never met ISIS fighter Hussain face to face, but he persuaded her to send him intimate pictures of herself and they were set to marry in a bizarre Skype ceremony.

He instructed her to stab strangers outside the 'cultural jewel and most popular of tourist attractions.'

When it became clear they would never meet after police seized her passport following an airport stop, their focus switched to an attack in the UK.

The sisters, pictured left at a younger age before they were radicalised. A picture was found on her phone that is thought to show all four women posing in burkas

Safaa Boular (left), 18, has been convicted of being part of an all-woman terror cell with her mother and older sister. Safaa was trained online by her fiancee Naweed Hussain (right), a British Pakistani national who joined ISIS in Syria in 2015 only to be killed in an air strike

Meanwhile, she had contact with a de-radicaliser in December 2016 and signed a form promising not to contact her sister or Hussain, although she secretly continued to speak to both.

In March 2017, just one month before Rizlaine Boular's planned knife attack, the teenager was heard laughing at the Westminster Bridge atrocity, although she denied it.

Senior National Coordinator for Counter Terrorism Dean Haydon described Boular as mature for her age, confident and devious in the way she secretly plotted.

But since being held in custody at Medway Secure Training Centre, Boular insisted she had changed.

She told jurors she has turned her back on her radical past and taken to wearing Western dress.

Safaa normally wore a full-body burka but donned Western clothes throughout her trial in an attempt to convince jurors she had spurned the twisted fundamentalism that made her a 'Sister of Terror.'

Her mother had brought up Safaa and Rizlaine up as strict Muslims in a home that was 'all Islam,' the Old Bailey heard.

The girls were allowed to wear just headdresses with Western clothes - until Dich caught Safaa was caught chatting to boys on her mobile phone when she was 13.

The enraged mother forced her to wear a full-length burka and took her phone away.

Pictures of a gun and grenades sent to her by Hussain were found on Boular's phone

Boular also plotted knife attacks along with the gun rampage, and Sainsbury's kitchen knives were seized by police after they were bought by Rizlaine and her mother

Safaa called Childline and ran away from home in 2014 after feeling 'crazy, jealous' at schoolfriends who could talk to boys and 'wear what they wanted'.

But by now Rizlaine had become increasingly radicalised in the toxic atmosphere home where it was normal to blame the sins of the world on the 'kafir' and the decadence of the West.

Two months after Safaa ran away from home in August 2014, Rizlaine was stopped in Istanbul and flown back to the UK after she tried to join ISIS there.

By the time of the Paris attacks in November 2015 Safaa too was fully radicalised and in contact with prolific ISIS recruiter Umm Isa Al-Amriki who was living there.

Al-Amriki was part of a team who were persuading young women from around the world to join them in Syria as fighters and mothers of a new generation of jihadis.

'As I was covered up I faced a lot of discrimination and a lot of people calling me names in the streets here like ninja, umbrella and postbox,' said Safaa.

'But there, the women are the same.

'She showed me videos where it was Eid in Islamic State and they would give sweets to children and the children were very happy and they were well looked after and everyone was equal.'

Among the hundreds of online ISIS friends she developed was British jihadi Hussain, whom she first got in touch with around three months before being stopped at the airport.

They never met face-to-face but chatted extensively over social media, with Hussain sending dozens of photos, including images of himself at the scenes of executions.

Boular said she was 'flattered' when Hussain confessed his undying love.

Pictures have also been found on Boular's phone showing inside the various properties the women used including homes in Harlesden, Lambeth and Clerkenwell

A wall-mounted television screen can also be seen within the living room of one of the properties where the plots against Western culture were made

'IT'S GOING TO BE LIKE A TEA PARTY': THE CODED PHONE CONVERSATIONS BEHIND PLOT Recorded telephone calls between the siblings whilst Safaa was behind bars showed her encouraging Rizlaine to 'carry the torch forward in her stead' Several chats made reference to 'a party' - basic code for an attack. Rizlaine told her younger sister on 24 April: 'It's going to be like me and a few sisters and stuff and we're just gonna have fun. 'It's basically gonna be like a tea party and stuff.' She added: 'It's gonna be fun it's going to be on erm Thursday we're gonna have this party.' The prosecutor said the girls went on to make several references to 'Jannah', or paradise, and 'referred to a Mad Hatter's Tea Party and Alice in Wonderland.' Rizlaine later claimed a friend 'knows a few recipes for some amazing cakes'. 'So hopefully we can have it really fancy, proper like English tea party, kind of thing,' she added. Safaa could then be heard suggesting the 'Alice in Wonderland theme'. Dich drove her eldest daughter around major London landmarks near Westminster Bridge in her silver Vauxhall Astra as the pair carried out 'hostile reconnaissance' the following day. On 26 April, the pair were seen buying knives and a rucksack on Wandsworth Road, southwest London. Dich then carried out a series of U-turns in an attempt to throw counter terror officers off her trail as she drove home to Armada House in Lambeth. Rizlaine travelled to her friend Barghouti's home in Harlesden the following day where they discussed and practised carrying out a knife attack. She voiced concerns that she would be too small to target a group of males and would opt instead for women or a man on his own. Rizlaine also told Barghouti: 'If I get tasered I'm asking that Allah gives me a heart attack.' Barghouthi then asked: 'How are you going to do it? What if they are faster than you?' Boular replied: 'I'll put the knife into (inaudible) heart instead.' Police moved in to arrest the pair and Rizlaine was shot and injured. Advertisement

She explained that her marriage to Hussain consisted of 'this kind of online ceremony' involving two witnesses and a Sheikh acting as her guardian because she had no say.

'It was something I didn't really understand and I just went along with it,' she added.

Hussain had sent some of the same images to a Page 3 girl he had also tried to lure to Syria.

But it was Safaa's intention to meet up Hussain and 'to offer her services, together with her life, to engage in acts of terrorism'.

They openly discussed Safaa wearing a suicide belt to use if threatened by non-believers.

'Don't eva b hesitant 2 pull da pin ok,' he instructed.

'Ur honour is worth more than any kaafirs life.'

The teenager later asked 'is it us' versus an image of President Obama, prompting Hussain to call him a 'filthy kalb', or dog.

Referring to former US President Barack Obama, he asked her: 'How will y kill him. If u had da choice.'

Boular claimed she would 'shake my hand with Mr president' accompanied by two explosion emojis.

The pair also bonded over their shared love of TV quiz shows 'Deal Or No Deal' and 'The Chase.'

Around 3,000 was sent to Rizlaine to fund the journey of both women to Syria.

Safaa was interviewed after she was stopped at the airport on 19 August 2016 and told police she had intended to go to Syria and live under sharia law

Her passport was seized and during a search of her home in Vauxhall officers confiscated a phone she said she had been using to contact Hussain.

Two days later Dich alerted the police to report Safaa and Rizlaine missing.

Rizlaine and her mother bought the kitchen knives during a shopping trip alongside innocuous items including a cake taster, pictured

More pictures from Boular's phone show gym equipment and a messy kitchen

Given the fact that both girls had previously expressed a desire to travel to Syria, officers quickly mounted a search and located them at a northwest London hostel.

By the end of the year MI5 had deployed role players to chat first with Hussain and then, following his death last April, Boular.

Without travel documents Safaa turned her attentions to plotting a terror attack in Britain.

Both Hussain and Safaa spoke of planning an ambush in involving grenades and guns.

Safaa wanted to cause carnage at the British Museum and in December 2016, she was spotted in full Islamic dress carrying out reconnaissance outside the MI6 building near her home, strolling up and down past the entrance and snapping a selfie.

The family was bugged at their home and they were recorded laughing about over the Westminster Bridge attack.

Safaa giggled as she sarcastically that she wanted to take flowers to the site where five people died on March 22, 2017.

Dich guffaws as her daughter says: 'Mum, if they put flowers there can we go and put flowers there as well and candles?'

Boular was told of Hussain's death by a trained role player from the security services claiming to be his commander in Syria.

All three women can be heard wailing and crying at the news before one of them says: 'Rejoice! He is a martyr.'

Rizlaine then tells her sister: 'Hey listen, many people envy you. You should be jealous of what he had.'

All three can also be heard praying in Arabic, with Dich heard commenting that Hussain 'is in Paradise'.

Rizlaine told her sister and: 'He's waiting for you' and Dich told the sobbing teenager that they were 'so proud' of her.

She said her daughter 'should be happy' that Hussain had been martyred.

The teenager replied that she was.

'Thanks to God,' she said, adding: 'I love him so much.'

She was charged over her failed attempt to go to Syria just over a week after Hussain's death, on 12 April, and remanded into secure accommodation at Medway Secure Training Unit in Kent.

A subsequent search of her home revealed a secret phone stashed inside a cushion which had been delivered by Hussain's sister, Tahzeem, in a heart-shaped box from her home in Coventry.

Rizlaine told police back in August 2016 that she had intended to travel to Syria with her younger sister but she was formally dropped from the investigation in December of that year.

There was no indication Dich had played any part in Safaa's radicalisation or activity and investigators considered her to be just like any other concerned mother when she reported the girls missing.

But they then found extremist material on her phone in late 2016 and it quickly became apparent she not only encouraged but took an actively role in her daughters' terrorist plots.

Recorded telephone calls between the siblings whilst Safaa was behind bars showed her encouraging Rizlaine to 'carry the torch forward in her stead'

Several chats made reference to 'a party' - basic code for an attack.

Rizlaine told her younger sister on 24 April: 'It's going to be like me and a few sisters and stuff and we're just gonna have fun.

Knives were found inside the rucksack seized by police after Rizlaine was arrested

'It's basically gonna be like a tea party and stuff.'

She added: 'It's gonna be fun it's going to be on erm Thursday we're gonna have this party.'

The prosecutor said the girls went on to make several references to 'Jannah', or paradise, and 'referred to a Mad Hatter's Tea Party and Alice in Wonderland.'

Rizlaine later claimed a friend 'knows a few recipes for some amazing cakes'.

'So hopefully we can have it really fancy, proper like English tea party, kind of thing,' she added.

Safaa could then be heard suggesting the 'Alice in Wonderland theme'.

Dich drove her eldest daughter around major London landmarks near Westminster Bridge in her silver Vauxhall Astra as the pair carried out 'hostile reconnaissance' the following day.

On 26 April, the pair were seen buying knives and a rucksack on Wandsworth Road, southwest London.

Dich then carried out a series of U-turns in an attempt to throw counter terror officers off her trail as she drove home to Armada House in Lambeth.

Rizlaine travelled to her friend Barghouti's home in Harlesden the following day where they discussed and practised carrying out a knife attack.

She voiced concerns that she would be too small to target a group of males and would opt instead for women or a man on his own.

Rizlaine also told Barghouti: 'If I get tasered I'm asking that Allah gives me a heart attack.'

Barghouthi then asked: 'How are you going to do it? What if they are faster than you?'

Boular replied: 'I'll put the knife into (inaudible) heart instead.'

Police moved in to arrest the pair and Rizlaine was shot and injured.

Dich was arrested as she visited Safaa at the Medway detention centre later the same day.

Boular, of Lambeth, southwest London, denied two counts of engaging in preparation for terrorist acts but was convicted of both charges by the jury.

She remains in custody and will be sentenced at a later date in around six weeks pending reports.

Rizlaine Boular, of Clerkenwell, central London, admitted preparing for an attack in the UK using knives or other weapons.

Hussain, pictured, was killed in an air strike before he could meet Boular but his 'fiancee' believed he was in 'paradise'

The British Pakistani national joined ISIS in 2015 and met Boular online where he convinced her to send him illicit images of herself

Dich, of Lambeth, southwest London, admitted assisting her in preparation of such an attack.

Barghouthi, of Harlesden, northwest London, admitted failing to disclose information about an act of terrorism.

Those three will be sentenced on 15 June.

Sue Hemming, Head of the CPS Counter-Terrorism Division, said: 'Safaa Boular's intention was to cause serious injury and death.

'She first planned to do this in Syria by detonating a suicide belt with her fiance by her side.

'When she was prevented from travelling her focus switched to an attack on the British Museum where there would be a large crowd.

'Once Safaa was remanded in custody her sister Rizlaine Boular took forward the plan with the help of Mina Dich and Khwala Barghouthi.'

She added: 'They all present a danger to the public and will be sentenced for their actions.'

Meanwhile authorities failed to steer Britain's youngest female terrorist plotter away from the clutches of Islamic State recruiters despite some clear alarm signals.

Prevent, the community counter-terrorism programme, did not become involved with Safaa Boular when her older sister Rizlaine tried to become a jihadi bride in 2014, when the defendant was aged 14.

Counter-terrorism chief Dean Haydon said: 'We did consider Prevent at that time but when she (Rizlaine) came back from Turkey. She then married and settled down and had a young baby and as a result of that she changed her life around.

'Because she was becoming more stable in the UK she turned her attention from travelling. We had no evidence she was either seeking to travel or getting involved in activity.'

The British Museum, pictured, was another tourist attraction targetted by Boular and her family

A knife seized by police during their raids on the all-female terror cell in London

Mr Haydon, who is senior national coordinator for counter terrorism, said Prevent and social services did not become involved in Safaa Boular's case until two years later.

By then, Boular had already been radicalised online and was living in a 'dysfunctional' family.

Boular, then aged 16, had an online marriage ceremony with IS fighter Naweed Hussain and had been persuaded to exchange explicit naked selfies with him.

In August 2016, police considered her mother Mina Dich as a concerned parent after she helped stop her daughters from travelling to Syria.

But by December, it became clear from the contents of her phone that Dich held extremist views of her own, and social services were called in to act.

Mr Haydon said: 'As a family unit, they are pretty dysfunctional.

'On the evidence we can see they had access to a vast amount of extremist material.

'There was a major safeguarding issue we had to manage. It did involve social services, local authorities, schools, education and family courts trying to safeguard the wider family.

'But despite all that activity it was quite clear Safaa was still continuing with her attack plans.'
Russia is waging 'full spectrum warfare' on Britain using tactics straight out of the Cold War, a major new report today warns.

Targeting the West with fake news and hacking is as important to Vladimir Putin's plans as his military might, the study says.

The Kremlin is using hackers, trolls, paid protesters and misinformation as part of an attempt to destabilise the West, according to the study by Russia expert and Tory MP Bob Seely.

Mr Seely compared the approach to a Russian doll - with at least 50 tools of state power are being used in a bid to interfere abroad.

Under Vladimir Putin (pictured in Moscow a week ago) Russia is waging 'full spectrum warfare' on Britain using tactics straight out of the Cold War, a major new report today warns

Yulia Skripal (pictured a fortnight ago after being released from hospital, was poisoned with the nerve agent Novichok alongside her father Sergei Skripal - a former Russian spy turned informant for the British security services

And he warned that Mr Putin's modern warfare strategy will threaten Britain 'for years to come'.

He said: 'From fake news aimed at Europe to the propaganda of RT, and from the occupation of Crimea to the streets of Salisbury, Russia is waging a very modern kind of conflict on the West - as well as on the Russian people themselves.

Russian acts of aggression against the West under Putin? Feb 2014 Russian forces seize control of Crimea from Ukraine  sparking worldwide condemnation. But Vladimir Putin initially denies sending in troops to the area, insisting the little green men who appeared in Russian uniforms were actually local defence forces. Russian forces also entered and stoked war in eastern Ukraine. 2016: Russian hackers target the US elections  spreading fake news to meddle in the outcome and hacking Hilary Clintons campaign teams emails. Special Counsel Robert Mueller is investigating the claims and so far 19 Russians have been hit with sanctions for cyber-attacks. April  May 2017 French presidential candidate Emmanuel Macron says his campaign has been targeted by groups in Russia and Ukraine. The leading centrist was running against far-right candidate Marine Le Pen, who was calling for closer ties with Moscow. March 2018 Former Russian spy Sergei Skripal and his daughter Yulia are poisoned on the streets of Salisbury. The pair are slipped Novichok  a deadly nerve agent manufactured in Russias lab rooms at the height of the Cold War. Theresa May says Russia is behind the attack, but the Kremlin launch a massive disinformation campaign questioning whether the UKs security services can be trusted and suggesting Britain carried out the poisoning itself. Advertisement

'Putin's tactics owe much to the "active measures" practised by the KGB during the Cold War, subverting truth to undermine our faith in our institutions. He seeks to demoralise and divide us.

'The coming years will test our resilience in multiple ways.

'If we are to counter Russian aggression and deter future attacks on us and our allies, understanding Contemporary Russian Conflict is a crucial first step.'

Mr Seely said Mr Putin and his cronies believe the Western system, based on the rule of law and universal human rights, is 'antithetical to Russia and that the West is an adversary'.

The report was published for the Henry Jackson think-tank and comes from Mr Seely's work as an expert in Russian warfare rather than his role as an MP.

He offers a new definition of the type of warfare waged by the Kremlin, dubbing it'contemporary Russian conflict'.

It comes in the wake of growing alarm in the West at the threat posed by Putin's Russia.

Britain blamed Moscow for the attempted murder of ex spy Sergei Skripal and his daughter Yulia on the streets of Salisbury earlier this year.

The pair were poisoned with Novichok - a Russian made nerve agent developed in the Cold War.

But despite evidence clearly pointing towards the Kremlin's involvement, Russia denied responsibility and wages a misinformation campaign to muddy the waters around the issue.

The Russian ambassador suggested Britain may have been behind the poisoning and questioned whether the UK's security services can be trusted to tel the truth - views which were swiftly parroted online.

Meanwhile, Russia is alleged to have targeted both the French and US Presidential elections by spreading fake news to try to sway the vote.

Tory MP Tom Tugendhat, chairman of the Commons foreign affairs committee, added: 'Up until now, the West has been without a definition of Russian warfare in all its complexity and sophistication.

'Bob Seely has now provided us with an approach based on common understanding of the threat we face.

'I will be raising this with the other select committees that are investigating Russian activity in the UK.'

Hilary Clinton and Emmanuel Macron both had their presidential campaigns targeted by Russian hackers who wanted their opponents to win
Britain faces a heightened terror threat as it faces a huge surge in the number of convicted terrorists due for release from prison in 2018 - including Anjem Choudary

Britain faces a heightened terror threat as it faces a huge surge in the number of convicted terrorists due for release from prison in 2018 - including Anjem Choudary.

The hate preacher, who inspired around 100 British jihadis including London Bridge killer Khuram Butt, could be given parole this year.

Choudary is among the 80 people jailed between 2007 and 2016 who could walk free - 40 per cent of the 193 extremists sent to prison in that period.

The British former lawyer was jailed in 2016 for five and a half years for inviting support for ISIS and is currently in a special 'prison within a prison' inside HMP Belmarsh in south-east London.

Before his trial he spent five months on remand in custody, meaning he has now served almost half his sentence - usually a trigger for release.

Butt was a known associate of Choudary before he, Rachid Redouane, 30, and Youssef Zaghba, 22, drove a van into crowds last year.

They were shot dead by police as they stabbed people at Borough Market.

Choudary's other supporters included Michael Adebolajo and Michael Adebowale, the murderers of Fusilier Lee Rigby, and suspected ISIS executioner Siddhartha Dhar.

Home Secretary Sajid Javid will today announce a 'step-change' in the UK's counter-terrorism strategy which aims to prevent extremists bringing bloodshed to the streets.

New policies will include longer prison sentences being introduced for those convicted of terrorist offences, including a maximum 15 years for watching jihadist propaganda such as beheading videos and bomb-making manuals on the internet.

Richard Walton, who was head of Scotland Yard's counter-terrorism unit for five years, told The Guardian, who conducted the study: 'Terrorist prisoners released on licence place a resource burden on both specialist counter-terrorism detectives and on mainstream policing.

Home Secretary Sajid Javid will today announce a 'step-change' in the UK's counter-terrorism strategy which aims to prevent extremists bringing bloodshed to the streets

'Former convicted terrorist offenders are a worrying risk pool for MI5 and counter-terrorist policing. Intelligence is often insufficient to gauge whether they have any intent to reoffend owing to their recent incarceration. Those intending to reoffend also often 'lay low' for a period as they know that there will be close attention on them after release.'

In April the government revealed 700 prisoners, including Islamist or far-right ideologies, are considered a risk due to their extremist views

The government's new counter-terrorism strategy will boost intelligence cooperation between MI5 and police as well as the private sector.

The plan, to be dubbed Contest, will seek to ensure 'that there are no safe spaces for terrorists, no safe spaces internationally, in the UK or online,' Mr Javid is expected to say in a keynote speech.

'The threats are evolving. We must evolve too,' he will say to an audience of counter-terrorism experts, according to excerpts released by the Home Office.

The new strategy 'incorporates the lessons learnt from the attacks in 2017 and our responses to them'.

Under the new blueprint, the security services will be alerted to suspicious purchases more swiftly.

The government want firms to raise the alarm as quickly as possible if they have evidence of unusual transactions - such as someone stockpiling large amounts of chemicals or acting suspiciously when hiring a vehicle.

Javid will also identify 'extreme right-wing terrorism' as an increasing threat and note similarities to the Islamic State group.

It will be his first major speech on security since becoming home secretary in April following the resignation of Amber Rudd over the Windrush immigration scandal.

The son of Pakistani parents who emigrated to Britain in the 1960s, he will touch on his own background to address the issue.

'There's one other thing that Islamists and the far right have in common,' he will say. 'As a Home Secretary with a name like Sajid Javid - I'm everything they despise.

'So the way I see it, I must be doing something right.'
Theresa May (pictured in Maidenhead yesterday) scramble to find a way through an impasse in Brexit negotiations in Cabinet and with the EU

Britain should follow EU rules on goods after Brexit - but must demand freedom for the services sector, an influential think tank said today.

The blueprint laid out by Open Europe said Switzerland could be a model for how the UK interacts with the bloc on trade in goods.

But the think-tank - headed by Michael Gove's former aide Henry Newman - warned that Britain should not give up its 'comparative advantage' by binding areas such as financial sector to Brussels rules.

The report comes as ministers scramble to find a way through an impasse in Brexit negotiations in Cabinet and with the EU.

The conclusions were highlighted by David Davis's chief of staff Stewart Jackson on Twitter today.

Mr Newman attacked 'hardline leavers and extreme remainers', saying they did not represent the majority of people and businesses and threatened the chances of a deal through their 'intransigence and refusal to compromise'.

'It's nearly two years since the Brexit vote, but the UK Government still doesn't have a clear vision for our EU relations, and Brussels is delaying the talks while refusing to discuss anything between a Canada-style deal and the Norwegian option,' he said.

'Meanwhile we have spent months discussing a possible customs union which would neither resolve the Irish border nor guarantee frictionless trade.

'Open Europe's blueprint recognises that the UK is too big an economy to be a rule-taker in areas like financial services, while accepting that we can get a very good degree of access in goods by giving up a limited amount of control.

'The country decisively voted to leave and we cannot be 52 per cent out and 48 per cent in, but we can and should aim for a close economic relationship with our nearest neighbours.'

The report, Striking a Balance: A blueprint for the future UK-EU economic partnership, said it was worth giving up some control over goods, arguing that in some highly regulated manufacturing industries, even US firms followed EU rules.

The Open Europe think-tank is headed by Henry Newman, a former adviser to Michael Gove (pictured jogging in London today)

David Davis (left) and Michel Barnier (right) are engaged in fraught negotiations over Brexit

It said Britain should leave the Customs Union but remain closely aligned outside, suggesting this would 'significantly contribute to removing friction at UK-EU borders' including that between Ireland and Northern Ireland.

However, it said that trying to replace the Single Market for services would mean the UK giving away 'too much control over its economy, for too little gain'.

It notes: 'This broad approach should be acceptable to the EU, which already allows countries like Switzerland and the Ukraine very high levels of access to the Single Market in goods, in return for their broadly following the EU rules.

'Our view is that, if a solution like the one we suggest is not acceptable, the future model should be based around a Canada-style free trade agreement with additional aspects bolted on, rather than approached from Norway-style Single Market membership with elements removed.'
MI5 will hand teachers, social workers and council staff the details of 20,000 people believed to pose the biggest threat to Britain after a slew of terror attacks in the past year, it was revealed today.

Sajid Javid also said that 25 Islamist-linked plots have been stopped since 2013 - an average of one every two months - and said those who commit terror attacks while calling themselves Muslims are 'twisting their faith'.

The New Home Secretary also called on British Muslims to use their 'unique role' to root out more extremists in their mosques and communities.

In a powerful and personal speech he said: 'These people want to destroy the values we hold dear, and undermine the freedoms that make us who we are.

'And there's one other thing that Islamists and the far-right have in common. As a Home Secretary with a name like Sajid Javid - I'm everything they despise. So the way I see it, I must be doing something right'.

He also revealed the growing threat from right-extremists and said police and MI5 has stopped four attacks in the past year as well as warning about the continuing terror threat in Northern Ireland.

Sajid Javid today revealed the number of foiled terror plots in Britain in the past five years revealing the scale of the threat from ISIS-inspired jihadis and the increasing danger of right win terrorists

The Government launched a shake-up of the UK's counter-terrorism strategy, known as Contest, after extremists carried out atrocities in Westminster, Manchester, London Bridge, Parsons Green and Finsbury Park, leading to the loss of 36 lives.

Mr Javid gave his thanks to Muslims who are fighting extremism in Britain but urged them to do even more.

He said: 'It would be absurd to say the actions of a tiny handful represent a peaceful religion shared by more than a billion people. Although we all share the responsibility for tackling terrorism, there's a unique role for Muslims to play in countering this threat.

Sajid Javid says after Charlie Hebdo attack his budding artist daughter, 11, asked: 'Do they want to kill me?' The new Home Secretary revealed his daughter had asked if Muslim terrorists wanted to kill her. Sajid Javid was with his 11-year-old daughter at an event commemorating the Charlie Hebdo massacre in 2015. He had the difficult conversation with her where he explained that 12 people died because jihadis didn't like the fact that they did a cartoon of the Prophet Mohammed. She then asked him whether because she loves drawing: 'Do they want to kill me?'. Mr Javid said today: 'I had to explain that these murderers called themselves Muslims. That they were invoking the religion of my parents, and my grandparents, and countless generations of Javids before them. 'Of course, I know they are not true Muslims, but there's no avoiding the face that these people self-identify as Muslims.' Advertisement

'British Muslims up and down the country are leading the fight against Islamist extremists by throwing them out of their mosques and by countering their poison online and on the streets. It is incredibly powerful when young Muslims turn their backs on the preachers of hate.

He added: 'We need to offer compelling alternatives to the narrative of hate. Whether it's Islamist extremists, with claims our shared values are incompatible with the religion of Islam. Or hateful extremists of far right, who feed off narratives of Islamists to attack our multi-ethnic society'.

The secret services will now declassify top secret reports on suspects as they fight threats from ISIS-inspired jihadis, right-wing extremists and in Northern Ireland.

New Home Secretary Sajid Javid has promised there will be 'no safe space' for terrorists in Britain as part of a new strategy called Contest.

For the first time MI5 - Britain's homeland secret service - will widely share details on the 20,000 people they suspect are a terror threat as they battle to disrupt plots.

This sensitive information will go to local police, teachers, Whitehall departments and local authorities including social services in the hope they will flag up suspicious behaviour before it is too late.

Mr Javid said: 'This Government is absolutely committed to doing everything possible to tackle terrorism.'

He stressed the new intelligence-sharing model would include strict safeguards and only involve the passing of basic biographical details.

'One of the lessons from 2017 was that we need to work more broadly and share that data more locally,' he added.

Today Britain's terror level remains at severe, meaning the police and secret services expect there could be a terror attack at any time.

The review of terror policy came as a deluge of convicted terrorists including Anjem Choudary are set to be released on to the streets.

Measures will include:

MI5 sharing sensitive information about suspects on their radar more widely with neighbourhood police, teachers, Whitehall departments and local authorities to make it easier to disrupt threats.

Longer prison sentences being introduced for those convicted of terrorist offences, including a maximum 15 years for watching jihadist propaganda such as beheading videos and bomb-making manuals on the internet.

Beefed up security in crowded places, such as sporting and concert venues, in a response to the attack at Manchester Arena.

Police and the security services will be handed tough new powers to nip terror plots in the bud by arresting and jailing suspects before they have finalised their murderous plans.

Reducing the vulnerability of critical infrastructure, including measures to improve detection of the 'inside threat' of jihadists getting jobs at Britain's airports.

Calling on technology firms, such as Google and Facebook, to do more to tackle extremist content posted online.

Recruiting up to 2,000 new spies for MI5, MI6 and GCHQ to help keep far more potential terrorists under surveillance.

The secret services and police are currently monitoring the 3,000 most dangerous people in Britain - but require help to monitor up to 17,000 more.

Manchester bomber Salman Abedi was able to buy the materials for his suicide device on Amazon

MI5, MI6 and GCHQ will also recruit up to 2,000 spies to help survey more potential terrorists, while police and security services will be handed tough powers to arrest suspects before they have finalised their plans.

Major retailers such as Amazon will be ordered to alert MI5 and police to suspicious purchases in a crackdown designed to prevent a repeat of last year's terror attacks.

Staff will be expected to report any stockpiling chemicals or knives or people acting strangely when hiring a vehicle that could be used to maim and murder.

Manchester bomber Salman Abedi was able to buy the materials for his suicide device on Amazon but was able to use false names to buy key components yet had them delivered to the same address.

He assembled the bomb before detonating it at an Ariana Grande concert in May last year, killing 22 people.

The measure is part of a 'step-change' in the UK's counter-terrorism strategy, which aims to prevent extremists bringing bloodshed to the streets.

Analysis by the Guardian found more than 80 of the 193 sentences for terrorism offences between 2007 and 2016 will run out this year.

Hate preacher Anjem Choudary, who inspired around 100 British jihadis including London Bridge killer Khuram Butt, could be given parole this year.

The British former lawyer was jailed in 2016 for five and a half years for inviting support for ISIS and is currently in a special 'prison within a prison' inside HMP Belmarsh in south-east London.

Before his trial he spent five months on remand in custody, meaning he has now served almost half his sentence - usually a trigger for release.

Mr Javid will use his first keynote speech on security today to unveil radical new plans to bolster Britain's war on terror and keep the public safe.

Sajid Javid joined Theresa May and Sadiq Khan on the first anniversary of the London Bridge terror attack in London on the eve of his new terror strategy

Britain must keep close links to EU post-Brexit Sajid Javid has issued a stark warning about the risk of weakening UK-EU ties on security. The Home Secretary said it would be 'wrong and reckless' to advocate any 'unnecessary reduction' in co-operation. He described how all of the European counterparts he has met so far are in favour of continuing and even deepening links on counter-terrorism and law enforcement. He said: 'They rely so much on the intelligence and information we provide. 'There's not going to be a single European interior minister that would want to explain ... after an attack, how it could have been stopped if the British had still been involved, perhaps with some secret intelligence. 'The benefits are both ways. We all benefit.' A host of measures and tools have come under scrutiny following the referendum in 2016, and questions over post-Brexit arrangements intensified in the wake of terrorist attacks in the UK and Europe. Senior figures in policing and counter-terrorism have highlighted the role played by the European Arrest Warrant, a legal framework introduced to speed up the extradition of individuals between member states; the Second Generation Schengen Information System (SIS II), a database of real time alerts; Europol, the EU's law enforcement agency; and the European Criminal Records Information System (ECRIS). The Government is seeking a bespoke deal on security co-operation with the EU. A blueprint published last year called for a 'comprehensive' framework to be underpinned by a new treaty. Giving his first keynote speech on security since his appointment in April, Mr Javid said: 'We have always been absolutely clear that although we voted to leave the European Union, we are as committed as ever to European security. 'We want, and we need, a deep and special security partnership with the EU after we leave. And the EU needs it too. 'There is not a single European interior minister who wants to reduce the level of co-operation on security that we have now. 'When the British people voted to leave the European Union, they were not voting for us to stop working with our European allies to keep everyone safe. 'So it would be wrong and reckless for anyone to advocate any unnecessary reduction in this co-operation.' Advertisement

An official inquiry by David Anderson QC last December found that only three of the six terrorists involved in the attacks were among 23,000 extremists on the radar of the security services but only one was under active investigation by MI5.

He concluded the Manchester bombing 'might have been averted' if two pieces of 'relevant' intelligence about Abedi had been interpreted differently by MI5.

The former independent reviewer of terror legislation also said there needed to be increased cooperation between MI5, police and the private sector 'to improve the detectability and even the preventability of purchases of potential explosives precursors by would-be terrorists'.

Mr Javid said stricter standards will be expected of businesses to close down the 'safe spaces' that are exploited by terrorists.

He said: 'That includes faster alerts for suspicious purchases, improving security at crowded places across the UK, and reducing the vulnerability of our critical infrastructure.' Currently, firms must alert the authorities if an individual attempts to purchase chemicals or poisons which are regulated.

But the Cabinet minister drummed home to retailers that other products, including everyday household items, can be used as bomb-making components or weapons and the importance of tipping-off the police or the security services faster.

Whitehall sources have specifically said they want web giants such as Amazon to alert the security agencies when customers are 'filling up their baskets' with suspicious materials, such as unusual quantities of chemicals, fertilisers or gas cylinders.

It is understood the Government is already working with companies to help stop attacks using items bought online or in store.

But the latest drive reflects concerns over a sharp reduction in the timeframe between the conception and execution of terror plots as attackers are radicalised to the point of violence within days or weeks.

Speaking to BBC1's The Andrew Marr Show on Sunday, the first anniversary of the London Bridge van-and-knife attack, Mr Javid confirmed MI5 will be expected to share more intelligence with other organisations.

He said: 'Not just with counter-terrorist police but neighbourhood police, with local government in some cases, to make sure that there's a much higher chance of finding some of these extremists and disrupting plots a lot earlier on.

'Some of the work that came out of [the Anderson review] was to say that information that the intelligence services have, they should share it a lot more early on, so that when other organisations get hold of it they perhaps can do more with it, you know, at that very, very early stage.'

He believes that by passing details of suspects onto local police officers, councils and Government departments, action can be taken to deal with extremists before they turn to violence.

Mr Javid said that public and private organisations must 'unite against the menace of terrorism', insisting there had been a 'step-change in the threat'.

He will warn that the biggest threat is from jihadists, inparticular the so-called Islamic State, but that the dangers of far-right terrorism was 'increasing'.

He said the warped groups were 'more similar than they like to think. They both exploit grievances, distort the truth, and undermine the values that hold us together.'

The Home Secretary will also set out steps to enhance the use of data to track suspects by police and MI5.

MI5 and police are running more than 500 live operations involving roughly 3,000 'subjects of interest' at any one time.

In addition, there are in excess of 20,000 people who have previously been investigated and who could again pose a threat.
There was a surprise visitor to Waterloo station today as a President Trump impersonator posed in a mock-up of the Oval office to promote the global release of James Patterson and Bill Clinton's book, 'The President is Missing' in London.

Bill Clinton and author James Patterson have teamed up to write a novel about a president who disappears as he tries to prevent an apocalyptic cyberattack.

And the former US president believes the work of fiction could happen in reality.

A President Trump impersonator poses in a mock-up of the Oval office to promote the global release of James Patterson and Bill Clinton's book, in London

Readers may be surprised to see one experience Mr Clinton knows of well turn up in the novel  impeachment

At London's Waterloo station, a US President Trump lookalike poses for photos at a copy of the Oval Office on Monday, June 4, to mark the release of new book, The President is Missing

Urged to collaborate by Washington lawyer Robert Barnett, who handles book deals for both of them, Mr Clinton and Mr Patterson drew on their respective backgrounds in completing a 500-page novel that topped Amazon's best-seller list before publication.

Mr Patterson is among the world's most popular and prolific fiction writers, and the novel is a fast-paced narrative, with brief chapters and dramatic plot turns.

Almost looks like the real thing: the impersonator relaxes in his mock Oval office, at Waterloo station in the capital

Mr Clinton, a newcomer to novel writing whose previous books include the million-selling autobiography My Life, did not need a lot of research to tell readers what it is like to sit inside the White House Situation Room or to be briefed on a possible terrorist attack, or to imagine slipping away entirely.

'Jim wanted it to be authentic,' Mr Clinton said. 'Which means: A, the physical setting has to be authentic. B, the procedures had to be authentic, and the interplay between the president and the staff and all the world leaders and everything had to have the feel of reality, and even how the Secret Service works.'

Readers may be surprised to see one experience Mr Clinton knows of well turn up in the novel  impeachment, as faced by President Jonathan Lincoln Duncan, whose foes allege he endangered national security.

The story line will surely revive an historic low point of his White House years, when he was impeached in 1998 by the House of Representatives, but acquitted by the Senate, on charges stemming in part from his affair with White House intern Monica Lewinsky.

But Mr Clinton expressed little concern about mentioning impeachment. In the novel, Duncan notes that a president can be impeached for anything, 'It doesn't have to be a crime'.

James Patterson (@JP_Books) and I think weve come up with three of the most frightening days in the history of the presidency with our thriller The President is Missing. See what others are saying. pic.twitter.com/trOPUacGmA  Bill Clinton (@BillClinton) May 14, 2018

Mr Clinton said he wanted to present accusations which, if true, would merit removal from office.

'We (also) wanted to show something that if you were going to testify to Congress, or if you were going to do a full blown news conference, that you have to  I don't care how good you are  you have to sort of do a prep run, you have to test it, you have to have people who work for you just pounding the living daylights out of you,' Mr Clinton said.

'We went back and forth on that chapter,' Mr Patterson said.
Tom Arnold has branded his ex-wife Roseanne Barr a racist conspiracy theorist.

Arnold said the last six months of tweets Barr sent out shows she is a deeply prejudiced person who believes in some outlandish theories.

He compared her behavior to Trump, who he also branded 'racist', but admitted he had no idea that Barr was such a big fan of the President.

Tom Arnold told his ex-wife Roseanne Barr to 'get off Twitter' while branding her a racist conspiracy theorist on Monday

Arnold admitted that he no longer speaks with his ex, but said the last six months of tweets from her account shows she is 'obviously' racist

Barr looked disheveled and angry at her Utah home on Sunday as the comedian confronted a news van that was parked outside

Arnold spoke out in an interview with Good Morning Britain a week after his ex-wife was sacked by ABC and the reboot of her Roseanne show was canned following a tweet in which she compared a former Obama adviser to an ape.

While Arnold admits that he has not spoken to Barr in years, he said her social media clearly shows what kind of person she has become.

He said: 'I see her social media and she's one of those conspiracy people, there's a lot of them in America.

'Our President, you know, he's a racist, he feeds into this conspiracy stuff, there's so much anxiety in our country.

'I see her social media and I'm like "Oh my God she thinks Donald Trump is about to arrest Hillary Clinton, Barack Obama and send them to Guantanamo".'

Arnold also appealed to Barr to 'get off Twitter', which had vowed to do shortly before being sacked, before restarting her feed just a few hours later.

Arnold wrote for the show in 1988 and married Barr in 1990 but would divorce in 1994

Arnold worked as a writer for the original Roseanne show in 1988, married Barr in 1990 and then got divorced in 1994.

This is not the first time Arnold has spoke out about the controversy surrounding Barr. Just a day after she was sacked he spoke to Anderson Cooper's AC360 show.

'I was not surprised by what went down and that the show was cancelled,' Arnold said during that interview.

'I had a feeling this would happen when there was news of a reboot.'

'This monkey thing is something that she tweeted before about black people, it's a meme that she and thousands of her alt-right fans do. They love to call black people monkeys, it's not a one time joke,' Arnold explained.

'They can do this because we have a white trash racist president. That's a fact!'

Arnold shared his disgust with how Trump was only concerned with how the media had treated him when news of Barr's tweets made their way to him.

But the comedian was sure to distance Barr from Trump, insinuating that the president didn't truly care for the actress.

Arnold shared details about his several decade long relationship with both Barr and Trump and told Cooper of how Trump reacted when meeting with Arnold at a 2005 Oscar dinner party.

'Oh my god, you've married up in the world,' Arnold claimed Trump said to him about his new wife at the time, Shelby Roos.

'Then he says to me, 'Roseanne was disgusting'.'

Arnold previously appeared on AC360 to share that he wasn't surprised when ABC pulled the plug on the 'Roseanne' reboot

Arnold shared his disgust with how Trump was only concerned with how the media had treated him when news of Barr's tweets made their way to him

'Oh my god, you've married up in the world,' Arnold claimed Trump said to him at the 2005 Oscar dinner party. 'Then he says to me, 'Roseanne was disgusting''

Just earlier, Arnold made comments to The Hollywood Reporter, claiming that Barr wanted to have the show cancelled which he reiterated on CNN

'It had to happen,' Arnold said to THR. 'And I am going to tell you the truth, she wanted it to happen, if you saw how her tweets escalated this weekend. If it hadn't happened yesterday, this season would have been so awful for everyone every day because she would have felt like she was [being] taken advantage [of], just like when I left the show.'

The actor shared that if Barr's phone would have been taken away, the chances of something to this degree happening would have been reduced.

'ABC lost maybe $1 billion from this; this show was grinding out money hand over fist and they lost it all because somebody didn't say, 'Get that phone out of her hand,'' Arnold said. 'She's not going to go on TV and say these things. But you put that phone in her hand and she is a loose cannon'

'ABC lost maybe $1 billion from this; this show was grinding out money hand over fist and they lost it all because somebody didn't say, 'Get that phone out of her hand,'' Arnold said. 'She's not going to go on TV and say these things. But you put that phone in her hand and she is a loose cannon.'

Arnold wrote for the show in 1988 and married Barr in 1990. They divorced in 1994 with Barr claiming he abused her. Yet he received $50million in the settlement.

'I said look, someone has got to tell her that Donald Trump doesn't carry his own phone,' he added. 'He may say the tweet, but someone is typing it in.'

Arnold felt that Barr needed a 'shield' or 'someone to wrangle her in and take her phone.'

The 65-year-old actress was widely condemned after she tweeted that Valerie Jarrett, who is African-American and advised Barack and Michelle Obama, looked like the 'Muslim brotherhood & planet of the apes had a baby'

Barr shared her disgust with the segment when someone tagged her in a post about it

He even wrote up a statement for the actress to post on her Twitter.

He said: 'I wrote a whole thing for her a month ago and sent it over [to the crew] that said, 'I am going to take a step back, it was fun at first, but now I can see how much negativity there is out there and people are getting hurt and I am going to take a step back and I am hoping my fans will too,' and then if her crazy tweets came out, she could point to that and say, 'But I have taken a step back.''

The 65-year-old actress was widely condemned after she tweeted that Valerie Jarrett, who is African-American and advised Barack and Michelle Obama, looked like the 'Muslim brotherhood & planet of the apes had a baby.'

President Trump himself also weighed in on Wednesday, writing: 'Bob Iger of ABC called Valerie Jarrett to let her know that 'ABC does not tolerate comments like those' made by Roseanne Barr. Gee, he never called President Donald J. Trump to apologize for the HORRIBLE statements made and said about me on ABC. Maybe I just didn't get the call?'
This is the terrifying moment a cougar attacks and kills a pet cat on the front porch of a suburban house in Florida

The clip was caught on a home surveillance camera facing the front driveway of a home in Naples in southwest Florida, an area with a high population of wild cats.

The minute-long clip shows a seemingly calm day as birds can be heard chirping in the background of the suburban street in the wooded area.

The calm picture turns into horror as we suddenly see a terrified domestic cat run into view as he is tackled by a cougar in a horrifying grapple.

The cats blood-curdling cries can be heard as the wild predator locks the animal in it's mouth and bites into him before carrying the dead animal out of view.

The video was posted online in January with the warning: 'Keep your animals safe if you live in an area like this'!

Naples, Florida is an area that is highly populated by roaming wild cats in search of prey.

The home surveillance footage shows the animal suddenly appear as it tackles a domestic cat in the front yard if a home in Florida

Sickening screams can be heard as the cougar clutches the cat in it's mouth before it carries it away. The video was posted as a warning to pet owners in the area to keep their animals safe

One social media user claims that she never allows her cats to leave her house because of the fear that they would be attacked in similar scenarios.

Another said that there are lots of big cats in Naples and that 'lots of animals walk around including bears and panthers.'

One user mused: 'Guess if you loved your pet it would be kept inside.'

There have been many reports of similar happenings of animals including dogs being attacked and mysteriously going missing in the area.
Brothers of Hamengkubuwono plan to expel his daughters from the palace when he dies

The future of Yogyakarta lies in a state of uncertainty after the Sultan's closest family members revealed plans to oust his wives and daughter from power when he dies.

The Sultan's brothers are reportedly furious with his controversial decision to leave the sultanate to his eldest daughter rather than a male descendant, which breaks centuries of tradition.

Hamengkubuwono X, a popular figure in Indonesia, is seen as a progressive leader after putting women in leading positions in a country that is home to the world's largest Muslim population.

GBPH Prabukusumo warned that if Hamengkubuwono's eldest daughter Princess Mangkubumi is elected ruler when he dies that she will be evicted.

'We have made a family commitment that we will not fight now,' he told BBC.

'But when the sultan has left this world, we have an agreement with the people that we will drive his wife and his daughters out of the palace.

'They will be evicted, as they are no longer members of our family.'

Princess Mangkubumi is line to take over the sultan's position traditionally held by men

Hamengkubuwono's wife Queen consort Gusti Kanjeng Ratu Hemas will also be driven out, the sultan's family says

The situation in Yogyakarta has been this way since Hamengkubuwono made the announcement back in 2015.

He changed his daughter Pembayuns name to Gusti Kanjeng Ratu Mangkubumi, meaning The One Who Holds the Earth, a name historically given to the sultans heir.

He also made the title of the monarch gender-neutral by getting rid of the moniker Khalifah, meaning God's Steward, a title that can only bestowed upon men.

Woman previously never held positions of power in the Yogyakarta Palace

Heir apparent to the throne Princess Mangkubumi (left), seen here with sister Bendara

At his 70th birthday celebrations two years ago members of the royal family refused to attend over the ongoing feud.

A cousin, Kanjeng Raden Tumenggung Jatiningrat, told AFP: ' A female sultan is an impossibility.

'One symbol in this palace is a rooster  so if we have a queen should we change it to a hen?'

Hamengkubuwono has five daughters and no sons.

Hamengkubuwono's cousin Kanjeng Raden Tumenggung Jatiningrat said it is 'impossible' to have a woman as sultan

They were all sent overseas to study in Europe, America and Australia and now hold various leadership positions in the palace that were once the domain of men.

Princess Mangkubumi says she is unfazed by the prospect of ruling the kingdom on Java island as, being the oldest sibling, she is used to the sense of responsibility.

Hamengkubuwono will also be remembered for discontinuing royal polygamy when he ascended the throne in 1989.

Javanese tradition has seen previous kings have multiple wives and concubines.

Polygamy is legal in Indonesia. Some Muslim men believe having more than one wife is a sign of virtue.

But Hamengkubuwono has stayed loyal to Queen Gusti Kanjeng Ratu Hemas, who is a senator in the national parliament.

He too holds significant political power, to the point of nearly running for president with Indonesia's biggest party Golkar in 2009, such is his public popularity.

He decided against it but has held a position in office since 1998 when he was democratically elected governor of Yogyakarta.

In 2012, a law was introduced that included provisions declaring the Sultan to be the city's ex-officio governor.
Buyers who risked being called 'crazy' to snap up properties in the aftermath of one of Australia's worst natural disasters have been rewarded seven years later.

House prices have risen dramatically in Brisbane suburbs hit by the devastating floods in 2011.

The floods claimed the lives of at least 35 people in Queensland, and $440 million was spent on the recovery effort.

Analysis by RiskWise Property Research show property prices in flood affected areas have risen at a faster rate than the rest of the city.

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Buyers who risked being called 'crazy' to snap up properties in a horrific natural disaster zone have been rewarded. The Brisbane suburb of Yeronga, pictured during the floods, has seen growth of 42 per cent

Analysis by Riskwise Property Research showed prices in one suburb doubled and 12 suburbs experienced growth of more than 30 per cent

Prices in one suburb doubled and 12 suburbs experienced growth of more than 30 per cent.

RiskWise CEO Doron Peleg said statistically floods only happen every 50 years making the gamble worth the risk.

'After the 2011 floods the perception among property buyers was these areas would be looked at negatively and prices would fall, or at least deliver very poor capital growth' Mr Peleg said in a statement.

'But our research has shown the reality is completely different and the demand for them has eclipsed the negative perception.

One woman said people thought she was 'crazy'when she risked buying a property impacted by floods. The suburb of Milton is pictured under water in 2011

'Also, statistically floods like those in 2011 are a once-in-a-50-year event and that makes these homes a risk people are willing to accept.'

Properties in the suburb of Fig Tree Pocket, impacted by the floods, increased by 52.7 per cent compared to the average of 26.7 per cent.

Four other suburbs - Bulimba, Yeronga, New Farm and Tennyson - experienced property growth of more than 40 per cent.

Mother Ayelen Mazar-Moreira told the ABC people thought she was 'crazy' when she took the plunge to buy a $350,000 property in an area impacted by the floods.

'We weren't in the housing market until we bought this house, and so for us it was definitely an opportunity to get into the housing market because of the price and the location,' she told the publication.
A hero who fought off ISIS terrorists and was horrifically injured during the attack on London Bridge and Borough Market a year ago has got engaged to 'his soulmate' who 'friend-zoned' him just days before the attack.

Journalist Geoff Ho, 41, recently got down on one knee in Paris to his long-term friend Cecile De Alenca, 37. She was 'the first face he saw' after waking up in intensive care after his throat was cut during the atrocity.

Mr Ho, was watching the Champion's League final in the Black And Blue restaurant with his friends when three Jihadis began their onslaught of terror that killed eight and injured a further 48.

Geoff Ho, 41, a journalist has said he's found his soulmate in a long-term friend Cecile De Alenca, 37 (pictured on Lorraine today)

The shocking image of Mr Ho holding his t-shirt to his throat to stop bleeding was widely circulated after the attack

Mr Ho, the City editor for the Sunday Express, was hailed a hero after he charged at the attackers, buying crucial time and potentially saving lives before emergency services arrived.

He was stabbed in the neck and his Adam's apple was severed as the knife narrowly missed major arteries.

But a year on, the hero is optimistic about the future.

He had met his fiancee, Ms De Alenca at a Kung Fu class and the pair were long term friends before becoming romantically involved.

Speaking on finding love after an attack on ITV's Lorraine this morning, Mr Ho said: 'She's the one. I'd been trying to go out with Cecile for a while. Just before London Bridge, days before, it was the bank holiday weekend and Cecile had a barbecue and she'd friendzoned me.'

Ms De Alenca, who joined him on the breakfast show, said 'My first thought when I heard [about the attack] was "I need to go to hospital". I thought he could have died and I started asking myself questions.'

She then visited him every couple of days for the remainder of his time in hospital, fighting off queues of people there to see him.

Mr Ho also discussed the widely circulated image of him on the night of the attack.

Lorraine praised Mr Ho for his heroism in the attack and for his 'perfect proposal' in Paris

Mr Ho, was placed in intensive care following the attack and was visited by queues of people while in hospital (pictured)

He said he 'hates' the picture of him holding a t-shirt to his neck and being assisted by a police officer, because of the 'distress and worry' it caused to all his friends and family.

Lorraine also praised the hero's 'spot on' proposal, as he told her he got down on one knee in Paris and proposed in Ms De Alenca's native french.

The couple said they would be getting married in Nice, but are yet to pick a date for the big day.

The couple were also joined by their dog, Tino, who Mr Ho thanked for helping with his recovery

Mr Ho was a regular visitor to Borough Market and often went in on his way home from work

Mr Ho also shared that the couple's dog, Tino, was helping him to recover by going on regular walks, talking and playing and even joked he the pooch might be best man.

Speaking yesterday, the one-year anniversary of the attack, Mr Ho praised the police, ambulance service and NHS on twitter, saying he wouldn't be here today if it was not for them.

He also thanked the 'off duty guys who ran towards danger that night to help others' telling them 'you're the best'.

The couple, who met in Kung Fu class, want to get married in Nice, France

Mr Ho has also said how he's found happiness after the attack and that he gets on better with his family and friends now more than ever, as an 'in your face' to the terrorists.

'Tragedy cuts through everything. It wipes away all the extraneous, unworthy, unnecessary things and it just leaves the truth' he told the Sunday Express.

'She [Ms De Alenca] is my soulmate. Just waking up with her in the morning... she is the first person I want to see in the morning, she is the last person I want to see at night. I cannot imagine life without her. She makes me happy and she makes me a better person.

'Now I tell my friends when it's not working out for them with a girl, "Don't worry, you can break out of the friend zone. Just don't do anything as drastic as I have, which is to fight Islamic State."'
The Brexit revolt in Labour's ranks escalated further today as London Mayor Sadiq Khan urged MPs to defy Jeremy Corbyn and vote for close ties to the UK.

Labour's most senior elected official said the party's MPs should be 'brave' when controversial Lords amendments to flagship EU legislation return to the Commons.

Mr Khan said the series of votes - due next Tuesday - will 'define' today's generation of MPs.

Labour leader Mr Corbyn will order his MPs to vote against peers' plans to keep Britain inside the European Economic Area (EEA) - seen by Brexiteers as tantamount to staying in the EU single market.

The Brexit revolt in Labour's ranks escalated further today as London Mayor Sadiq Khan (pictured yesterday at a memorial for the London Bridge attack) urged MPs to defy Jeremy Corbyn and vote for close ties to the UK

Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn (pictured yesterday at London Bridge) will order his MPs to vote against peers' plans to keep Britain inside the European Economic Area (EEA)

Urging MPs to defy the whip, Mr Khan said the vote was 'more important than party politics'.

Invoking the memory of Labour MPs such as Robin Cook Mr Khan told the Guardian: 'The last vote of this significance was the vote on the Iraq war  when there were brave MPs from all parties who did the right thing and voted against the war regardless of the consequences.'

Khan himself was not in the Commons at the time of the Iraq vote, having only become an MP in 2005, and so did not take part in the revolt he is promoting.

He added: 'Parliament has the opportunity to reject the Tories' shambolic and reckless handling of Brexit and preserve our prosperity for the next generation  if MPs are brave.

What are the 15 Brexit wrecking amendments passed by peers Here are the 15 Brexit Bill defeats inflicted by peers: Forces minsters to try to seek a customs union with the EU Keeps EU law relating to employment, consumer and environmental protections Keeps the EU Charter of Fundamental Rights Removes right of ministers to challenge EU law kept by the UK Allows Britons to bring legal cases when their rights, enshrined in EU law, are flouted Limits the scope of the Government's so-called Henry VII powers Gives Parliament a meaningful vote at the end of talks Gives parliament a veto on the Government's negotiating position Ministers must report on what they are doing to ensure refugee families reunited within Europe Ministers must abide by 1998 Good Friday Agreement Reaffirms that the UK can keep EU laws and stay in EU agencies Gives parliament a veto on the exit day Ministers must try to keep the UK in the EEA and therefore the EU single market Extends how EU laws will be trawled through by Parliament Enshrines EU environmental protections Advertisement

'My message to my former colleagues in parliament is: don't think about the headlines, your career or the campaign groups when deciding how to vote  think about your constituents and vote for what you think is in their best interest.'

The 15 amendments passed by peers include an effort to keep the UK in the EU single market and a custom union after Brexit - in defiance on the PM's red lines.

Another is designed to ensure the UK cannot leave the bloc unless a final deal is approved by parliament.

A further tweak would ensure the EU's environmental principles are enshrined in UK law.

As debate over the re-writes continues, former peer and Composer Andrew Lloyd Webber laid into the House of Lords yesterday for defying the 'will of the people' over Brexit.

Lord Lloyd Webber stepped down from the chamber last year to focus on his music, saying his work meant he was rarely able to attend.

His famous hit shows include Cats and Phantom of the Opera.

Appearing on BBC One's Andrew Marr show, Lord Lloyd Webber said he felt the amendments to the EU Withdrawal Bill had been 'wrong'.

'I do not think that you can possibly be part of an unelected house and vote against the will of the people, that seems to me to be wrong,' he said.

'It's a difficult one, I myself felt that the House of Lords had become really very political.

'I joined it 20 years ago and I was put in then, and it was a very different place.'

As debate over the re-writes continues, former peer and Composer Andrew Lloyd Webber (pictured on the Marr show yesterday) laid into the House of Lords yesterday for defying the 'will of the people' over Brexit

The opposition to Brexit in the Lords has sparked calls in some quarters for the unelected chamber to be abolished altogether.

The Commons is due to start considering the Brexit Bill again over the coming weeks.

The latest rebuke for peers comes as Theresa May's negotiations with the EU reach a crucial stage.

A leaked Whitehall assessment has claimed Britain could suffer shortages of food and medicine within weeks of a 'Doomsday' no-deal Brexit.

It said the port of Dover could collapse almost immediately, and raised the prospect of food and medical supplies being flown into Cornwall and Scotland by the military.

But David Davis's Brexit Department played down the fears insisting a 'significant amount of work' had gone into planning for 'no deal' and 'none of this would come to pass'.
Billionaire philanthropist George Soros has urged the EU to compensate Italy for its influx of migrants.

The Hungarian-born US financier said the recent rise of Italy's right wing League party - now in a coalition government with the populist Five Star movement - was partly due to Europe's 'flawed' migration policies that 'imposed an unfair burden' on the country.

He also warned the EU it will 'dig its own grave' if it tries to 'teach Italy a lesson' amid the political turmoil in the country and fails to appease Italy's new Eurosceptic government.

Italy has become the focal point for Mediterranean migration in recent years with more than 700,000 migrants arriving in the country since 2013.

Soros said refugees were now no longer able to move on to northern Europe and the situation Italy found itself in was 'unfair and also financially very burdensome'.

Billionaire philanthropist George Soros (pictured) has urged the EU to compensate Italy for migrants landing in the country

The 87-year-old hedge fund owner, writing in Italys Corriere della Sera newspaper, said: 'Until recently, most refugees could move on to northern Europe, where they wanted to go.

'But since September 2015, both France and Austria closed their borders and the rescued migrants were stuck in Italy.

'This situation was not only unfair but also financially very burdensome at a time when Italy was economically lagging behind most other European countries.

'That was the main reason why Lega Nord, in particular, did so well in the recent elections.'

He suggested that the problem 'cannot be addressed by forced resettlement, but only by the EU financially compensating Italy for the migrants that land there.'

Soros added that the outcome of the next elections in Italy 'will greatly depend on how the EU responds to the turmoil in Italy'.

'There is a strong inclination in Europe to use the occasion to teach Italy a lesson,' he said.

But he added: 'If the EU follows this line, it will dig its own grave by provoking a negative response from the Italian electorate, which would then re-elect Movimento 5 Stelle and Lega Nord with an increased majority.'

'Rather than trying to teach Italy a lesson, the EU should ask itself "What can Europe learn from the turmoil in Italy?"

'Historically, Italy has always been the strongest supporter of the EU because Italians didnt trust their own governments. And with good reason: Italian governments had a tendency to be corrupt and follow policies that didnt serve the interests of the people.

'But the EU must not punish the Italian people for the sins of its governments.'

Italy's new hardline interior minister Matteo Salvini (pictured) has said 'common sense' is needed to stop the country from being 'Europe's refugee camp' as he visited a migrant centre in the south

Soros, who pledges thousands each year to help migrants, is dubbed the man who broke the Bank of England after he bet against the pound on Black Wednesday in 1992.

He is also bankrolling Best for Britain, a campaign group dedicated to moderating and ultimately reversing Brexit.

In May, he warned it could take five years for Britain to fully quit the Brussels bloc because of legal wrangling.

The financier suggested the Brexit vote could be reversed and the UK could decide o stay in the EU after all.

Last week, Hungary put forward controversial proposals dubbed the 'Stop Soros' bill to hand out jail sentences to citizens caught assisting illegal migrants.

The bill suggests that individuals or organisations that help migrants submit requests for asylum when they are not entitled to protection be punished with up to a year in prison.

It came after Soros's Open Society Foundations (OSF) announced it would be moving to Germany, leaving behind what it called 'an increasingly repressive political and legal environment' in Hungary.

Children among the dead as 50 drown in the Mediterranean More than 50 migrants drowned in the Mediterranean on Sunday, the majority off the coasts of Tunisia and Turkey. Tunisian authorities said 48 bodies were recovered off the country's southern coast, close to the city of Sfax, while 68 people were rescued. 'The boat had a maximum capacity of 75 to 90 people, but there were more than 180 of us,' said Wael Ferjani, a Tunisian survivor from the southern region of Gabes. While water leaked into the boat, some passengers jumped into the sea and drowned, he told AFP. More than 50 migrants drowned in the Mediterranean on Sunday, the majority off the coasts of Tunisia and Turkey. The Tunisian coastguard is pictured on patrol off the northern town of Bizerte in May The latest death toll was published around 7pm, after the search and rescue operation had ended for the day. The hunt for survivors would continue on Monday morning, Mohammed Salah Sagaama from Sfax's naval base told AFP. Tunisians and migrants regularly try to cross the Mediterranean to seek a better future in Europe, with 120 mainly Tunisians rescued by their navy in March after trying to reach Italy. In October, a collision between a migrant boat and a Tunisian military ship left at least 44 dead, in what Prime Minister Youssef Chahed called a 'national disaster'. The latest shipwreck is the most deadly in the Mediterranean since February 2 when 90 people drowned off the coast of Libya, according to the IOM. Across the Mediterranean, nine Syrians including seven children drowned when their vessel sank off the coast of Turkey. The group were travelling in a speedboat intending to head illegally to Europe, when the boat hit trouble off the coast of the southern Antalya province, state media reports said. Map of Tunisia locating the city of Sfax and Kerkennah island, close to where the bodies of many migrants were recovered on Sunday The oldest child to drown was 14 and the youngest just three, according to the Anadolu news agency. Six adults were reportedly rescued including a couple who lost five of their children in the disaster. Turkey was the main sea route for migrants to Europe in 2015, when more than a million people crossed to Greece. That year 3,771 people were recorded as dead or missing in the Mediterranean by the United Nations refugee agency. So far this year, 32,601 migrants and refugees have survived the sea crossing and 649 have been recorded as dead or missing. A deal struck with the EU in 2016 has drastically reduced the amount of people trying to make the sea crossing, although observers say the numbers have been ticking up again in recent months. The focal point for Mediterranean migration in recent years has been Italy, where more than 700,000 migrants have arrived since 2013. An AFPTV video screen grab shows the Habib Bourguiba University Hospital in Sfax, Tunisia, where victims of a migrant shipwreck were taken on June 3, 2018 On Sunday the country's new hardline interior minister, Matteo Salvini, headed to Sicily, one of the main landing points for those rescued at sea, to push his anti-immigration agenda. His predecessor signed a controversial deal with authorities and militias in Libya -- the key departure point on the route to Italy -- which has driven down overall arrival numbers by 75 per cent since last summer. But Salvini has pledged to go further still, vowing to cut the number of arrivals and speed up deportations. 'The good times for illegals is over - get ready to pack your bags,' he said Saturday at a rally in Italy's north. The latest arrivals, some 158 people, were rescued by a humanitarian boat and reached southern Sicily on Friday. Meanwhile Spanish maritime rescue units said Sunday they have picked up 240 migrants since the start of the weekend, with one person reported drowned. Migration will be high on the agenda Tuesday when EU interior ministers meet in Luxembourg and discuss the bloc's contested Dublin rule, under which would-be refugees must file for asylum in the first member country they enter. Many of those landing on the Mediterranean coast see their arrival point as a pathway to their final destination, but the Dublin rule and tightening border checks have meant migrants are increasingly stuck in southern Europe. Advertisement

The text of the 'Stop Soros' bill and posted on parliament's website, said: 'Those who provide financial means ... or conduct this organisational activity (for illegal immigration) on a regular basis will be punishable with up to one year in prison.'

'We need an action plan to defend Hungary and this is the STOP Soros package of bills,' the interior ministry said in a comment accompanying the legislation.

It comes as Italy's new hard line interior minister Matteo Salvini said 'common sense' was needed to stop the country from being 'Europe's refugee camp' as he visited a migrant centre in the south.

The new deputy prime minister in Italy's populist coalition government travelled to Sicily, one of the country's main refugee landing points, to push the anti-immigration platform that propelled him to power.

'Italy and Sicily cannot be Europe's refugee camp,' he told a crowd of supporters under the blazing sun in the southern Sicilian town of Pozzallo, a migration hotspot.

'Nobody will take away my certainty that illegal immigration is a business... and seeing people make money on children who go on to die makes me furious,' he added.

His comments came as more than 50 migrants drowned in the Mediterranean on Sunday, with 48 bodies found off Tunisia's southern coast and nine Syrians - including seven children - killed when their vessel sank off the coast of Turkey.




French security forces today destroyed two illegal migrant camps in Paris  evacuating some 1000 mainly young men in the process, including some who want to get to Britain.

CRS riot police arrived at the normally picturesque Canal Saint Martin, in the east of the capital, soon after dawn, with orders to move anybody found sleeping rough.

Scores of charity tents had been pitched alongside the water, causing a safety and public health hazard, but they were soon removed.

Then some 600 Afghans  some English speakers who want to settle in the UK  were bused to 'processing centres' on the outskirts of Paris.

A worker usew an excavator to clean up a migrants' makeshift camp along the Canal de Saint-Martin at Quai de Valmy in Paris

More than 500 migrants and refugees were evacuated on early June 4, 2018 from a makeshift camp that had been set up for several weeks along the Canal

Another camp some two miles north of the canal, in the Porte de Poissonniers, was also 'evacuated', according to local police, as some 400 mainly Africans were moved on.

'There was no resistance in either case  those involved cooperated fully,' said a charity worker at the scene.

'The migrants are being taken to temporary centres  mainly gyms  and then officials will help them work out their next move.'

Two men drowned in the canal last months, and others have been injured in fights between rival gangs  so increasing pressure on the authorities to act.

Most of the migrants come from Sudan, Somalia and Eritrea, and have made dangerous journeys down through Africa before taking boats from Libya to the European mainland.

French gendarmes guard migrants during a clearing out of a makeshift migrant camp along side of the canal Saint Martin

Scores of charity tents had been pitched alongside the water, causing a safety and public health hazard, but they were soon removed

A French CRS anti-riot policeman checks a tent during the evacuation of the makeshift camp

Migrants prepare their belongings prior to the evacuation by police of their makeshift camp along the Canal de Saint-Martin on Monday

Workers clean up a migrants' makeshift camp along the Canal de Saint-Martin at Quai de Valmy in Paris

Employees remove tents to clear out a makeshift migrant camp after it was evacuated

They want to claim asylum in countries such as Britain and France, claiming that they have suffered persecution or been otherwise ill-treated in their own homelands.

Today involved the 36thand 37th migrant camp evacuations in Paris in the past three years.

They followed President Emmanuel Macron's pledge to speed up the asylum process, and to deport those who failed.

His Interior Minister Gerard Collomb announced two weeks ago that camps in Paris would be razed, in line with the demands of a tough new immigration law.

Anne Hidalgo, the Socialist mayor of Paris, has appealed to the government for more help, after removing some 28,000 migrants from camps since 2015.

French gendarmes check tents as they clear out a makeshift migrant camp alongside the canal

French gendarme gestures to a migrant as they clear out a makeshift migrant camp on Monday

French gendarmes look on as migrants walk out during a clearing out of a camp on Monday

Residents and local business people based around the camps regularly complained about the camps.

The Paris authorities have blocked off parks and other public spaces, leading to the use of canal towpaths as camping sites.

Many of the migrants in Paris would previously have headed for Calais, but security has been stepped up in the Channel port town, making life far harder for those trying to get aboard ferries and trains heading for the UK.

Migrants board a bus before they are transported to 'processing centres' on the outskirts of Paris

An anti-riot policeman stands guard in front of migrants sit aboard a bus after being evicted
Australia's Qantas Airways said it plans to change its website to refer to Taiwan as a Chinese territory, not an independent nation, but that it needed extra time to comply with the request from Beijing.

China's aviation regulator in April gave three dozen airlines a May 25 deadline to remove references on their websites or in other material that suggest Taiwan, Hong Kong and Macau are part of countries independent from China, a move described by White House as 'Orwellian nonsense'.

Self-ruled Taiwan is claimed by Beijing as a Chinese territory, and has become one of China's most sensitive issues and a potential military flashpoint. Hong Kong and Macau are former European colonies that are now part of China but run largely autonomously.

Australia's Qantas Airways said it plans to change its website to refer to Taiwan as a Chinese territory, not an independent nation (file picture)

Qantas and some other airlines had requested at the time for an extension to decide how they would respond to the request.

At the International Air Transport Association (IATA) annual meeting in Sydney on Monday, Qantas Chief Executive Officer Alan Joyce said his company planned to comply with the request, although the company needed extra time.

'Our intention is to meet the requirements. It is just taking time to get there,' Joyce told journalists on the sidelines of the meeting.

The CEO of Qantas' international unit, Alison Webster, said the decision was not influenced by Qantas' partnership with China Eastern Airlines Corp.

'I don't think the relationship makes any difference to how we review our response,' Webster said.

She said Qantas only needed extra time to make the change because 'we have some complexity to work through'.

Self-ruled Taiwan is claimed by Beijing as a Chinese territory. Pictured is Taiwan's capital city, Taipei

'This is not just Qantas Airways, this is the Qantas group that has to be adjusted,' she said. Due to the technology behind Qantas' websites, 'it takes some time for us to get to grips with changes that need to be put into the program', she added.

Australian Foreign Minister Julie Bishop expressed her concerns about Beijing's request for airlines to no longer refer to Taiwan as an independent country, but noted that Qantas was free to make its own corporate decisions.

'Private companies should be free to conduct their usual business operations free from political pressure of governments,' Ms Bishop said in a statement on Tuesday.

'The decision of how Qantas structures its website is a matter for the company.'

Air Canada, Lufthansa and British Airways are among the other carriers that have made changes on their websites after China's request. China said on May 25 that 18 carriers had changed their websites.

'As difficult and sensitive a decision as this is, our view is that we will comply with the Chinese government requirement,' Air Canada CEO Calin Rovanescu said at the IATA meeting.

'We're not making any political statement. Airlines have enough issues to deal with,' he added.

American Airlines has not made changes on its website, saying it was following the direction of the U.S. government.

'We received the notice but then the United States has replied and we're following the direction of the U.S. government,' CEO Doug Parker said in Sydney. 'Right now it's between our government and their government.'
A kangaroo that was shot in the head with an arrow had to be euthanised after the arrow was unable to removed without causing pain to the animal.

The kangaroo was found by a visitor at Canunda National Park, in South Australia, last week, ABC News reported.

National Resources South East (NRSE) Lower South East district manager Ross Anderson said National Parks SA staff assessed the damage to the kangaroo.

The kangaroo tragically had to be euthanised after staff concluded that removing the arrow would cause unbearable pain for the already-suffering marsupial.

The kangaroo was found by a visitor at Canunda National Park, in South Australia, last week

'The damage inflicted by the arrow was too great to have been able to heal properly, and the kangaroo would have been in a great amount of pain,' Mr Anderson said.

'Unfortunately we had to euthanise the kangaroo.'

In response to the unfortunate euthanisation of the kanagaroo, the NRSE reiterated the harsh penalties individuals can face if they were to kill or injure an animal.

Under the Animal Welfare Act in South Australia, a person who is found to have killed or injured an animal faces a maximum fine of $50,000, or four years' imprisonment.

Under the National Parks and Wildlife Act, individuals face a $2,500 and six months jail under the National Parks and Wildlife Act.

Carolyn Jones from RSPCA SA told ABC that they received five or six reports about animals being injured by arrows or crossbow bolts.

'We are appalled by these incidents, which cause enormous pain and suffering to animals,' she said.
Lee Ridley's biggest fan, his 91-year-old grandmother, has spoken of her pride at the 'little lad who never felt there was anything he couldn't do'.

Comedian Lost Voice Guy, who was born with cerebral palsy and is unable to speak, was named the winner of Britain's Got Talent last night.

Ethel Foster struggled to hold back joyful tears as she spoke of Lee's unwavering belief in himself as he overcame everything life has thrown at him to become Britain's new favourite comedian.

'The thing about Lee is that he knows he is disabled but he doesn't think as though he's disabled,' she said.

It comes as it was revealed that the comedian was given his big break in the cut-throat industry by star stand-up Ross Noble.

Mr Ridley - who also wowed Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn before his big break - first had dreams of becoming a journalist and studied at the University of Central Lancashire.

Lee Ridley - pictured with Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn - is unable to speak and uses a voice machine during his comedic performances

Mr Ridley is pictured with comedic role model Ross Noble before he found fame on Britain's Got Talent

The winner - pictured as a child at Christmas - used to believe there was nothing he couldn't do before he became a comedian

The comedian - pictured at university with his friend Hayley Fisher - has topped Britain's Got Talent with his unique brand of comedy

Lee Ridley's biggest fan, his 91-year-old grandmother Ethel Foster (pictured), has spoken of her pride at the 'little lad who never felt there was anything he couldn't do'

Mr Ridley - pictured on stage with Dec on Britain's Got Talent - has topped the competition after getting his first big break in front of Ross Noble

Winner: Lee Ridley, who performs under the stage name of Lost Voice Guy won the 2018 series of Britain's Got Talent on Sunday night

He wowed Noble after going to watch the comedian's gig in Ridley's home city of Newcastle in 2012, with the Geordie asking Ridley to be his warm-up act.

His grandmother said: 'If anyone ever said to him "I don't think you'll be able to do that" his response would be "Yes I can, man."

'When he decided to enter Britain's Got Talent we were all so proud of him just for doing it because there's nothing that lad won't try.

'But not for a second did any of us think we'd be watching him win it. It's a lot to take in but I can't say how proud I am of him, I'm still a bag of nerves from watching the final but it's brought us such happiness.'

Before he found fame as a comedian, Mr Ridley (pictured during his time at university) had a reputation as somebody who enjoyed going out clubbing

The comedian topped Britain's Got Talent and was hailed as role model to people with cerebral palsy

Before he found fame on Britain's Got Talent, Mr Ridley wanted to become a journalist (he is pictured during his time studying at university)

Mr Ridley was an aspiring journalist before he became a comedian and raced to the top spot of the talent show

Lee was brought up in the village of Medomsley, County Durham, by his dad David, 61, who has recently retired as a sales rep for the Mars confectionery company and mum Janet, 62, who is a former cancer nurse.

His younger sister Nicola Roberts, 33, - who the young Lee was fiercely protective of - works in an administrative role at Newcastle University.

Mrs Foster, who was widowed 10 years ago, told how Lee refused to allow his childhood to be blighted by cerebral palsy, which only became evident when he was aged two.

He became ill in her home, running a high fever and had to be taken to Newcastle's Royal Victoria Infirmary where there was initially a fear that he may not survive.

Final three: The comedian, 37 - who suffers from neurological condition cerebral palsy which renders him unable to speak, made the final three with fellow comedy act Robert White and singer Donchez Dacres

How Lee Ridley got his first gig with comedian Ross Noble after doing an impression of Stephen Hawking Funnyman Ross Noble, pictured in 2009, was left in stitches thanks to Ridley's impressions after the pair met in 2012 He won over the nation and made history by becoming the first comedian to win Britain's Got Talent last night. But Lee Ridley has been winning over crowds with his sharp sense of humour since impressing a famous stand-up six years ago. He wowed Ross Noble after going to watch the comedian's gig in Ridley's home city of Newcastle in 2012. He left the Have I Got News For You regular in stitches with his impression of scientist Stephen Hawking, who used similar technology to speak electronically. According to the Guardian, Ridley approached Noble after watching one of his shows and challenged him to a competition over who could do the best Stephen Hawking impression. He so impressed the professional that Noble ended up asking him to become his warm-up act. Fellow Geordie Noble was quick to celebrate with Ridley after the win and tweeted: 'So pleased a comedian has finally won #BGT and a Geordie comic at that. Congratulations to @LostVoiceGuy well deserved.' Advertisement

Mrs Foster said: 'They didn't know he had cerebral palsy until after he had to go for his immunisations. Our Janet thought he had a bit of infection in the mouth because he was dribbling a lot.

'He was a lovely baby, he seemed fine but something happened when he was about two-year-old and was just starting to walk

'He took poorly one night when he was here in my house and they took him straight to hospital in Newcastle and it turned out that he had what they thought was cerebral palsy.

'He was poorly that night, he was hot and sweaty and that was the first sign something was wrong.

'He was in the RVI for about six weeks and all wired up, you have no idea.

'When he came home he had a hole in his tummy and the doctor said he didn't think he would survive but he came through it although he had to be nursed day and night, our Janet had a really hard time looking after him.'

The family never made any attempt to try for any compensation pay out because as a cancer nurse his mum believed the medical profession should stick together.

Mrs Foster said: 'Janet was a nurse at the time and she wouldn't hear of trying to get any compensation. She always said doctors and nurses had to stick together.'

Pictured: Caretaker David Mole who is the caretaker at the apartment blocks where Lee Ridley lives

Despite being Lee's biggest fan Mrs Foster has revealed she has never seen his act around the pubs and clubs of Newcastle - because it's too blue.

Mrs Foster, of Dipton, County Durham, chuckled: 'He's a bit naughty in his act around the pubs and clubs, he uses a few naughty words.

'His mam says I wouldn't want to go and see him in Newcastle. She says it's because my eyes are bad and I wouldn't be able to see him properly but I know what it really is! It's all the naughty words because they know that I don't like them.'

She and her son Selby Foster and his wife Joanne were glued to the TV for the final on Sunday night.

She said: 'My son was here and my daughter in law and we were all squealing and shouting, my daughter in law was crying her eyes out.

'I said to my daughter all along 'he's going to win he's going to win' but I couldn't go down to London, I get too nervous, I'm 91 I couldn't face it because of that.

'I am so proud of him because I think he is so positive, when he says he is going to do something he does it.

'He's never let his disability hold him back though, he's as hard as nails

'He's always having tumbles with him beinga but unbalanced. The night before he had to go on Britain's Got Talent for the final he had a fall, he fell over in ther hotel, he trips over quite a bit.

'His mum was worried he wouldn't make it to the final but he wouldn't hear of that, there was no way he was going to miss it.

'When he was little you had to watch him like a hawk in case he fell and hurt himself, he was always bumping his head.

It is unknown if Ridley has a girlfriend - and he has previously discussed his difficulties being literally unable to 'chat up' women - but he has posted pictures on Instagram with a woman he describes as 'my invisible one'

'He was always being taken to Shotley Bridge Hospital near us getting plastered up and then he'd be out running about again.

'He was a lovely bair, he used to try and look after his sister when she was a toddler because there was just the two of them.

'He was never able to talk. He was always onto computer things to help him talk but he achieved more than anyone would ever think.

'He went to university when he grew up, he was there five years and did a bit of journalism and then got a job with Sunderland Council.

'I was flabbergasted when he started doing comedy. I said 'what are young going into that for? You're getting 10 an hour working for Sunderland Council!'

'But he knew what he was doing. He was always a funny lad and he was always laughing.

I used to look after the pair of them, Lee and his sister, and they'd take all the cushions outside into the garden and jump about on them.

'He has loads of friends, some of them disabled and some not, and he was always one for making people laugh.'

Mrs Foster said she was struggling to come to terms with the fact that the little boy she and her late husband Eddie helped to bring up had hit the big time.

Shwe said: 'I can hardly think about what the future holds for Lee, it's so hard to think about him being famous. I looked after him when his mam went back to work. My husband would bath and shower him and brush his teeth.

'He's had to overcome more than most people in life and look what he's achieved. He's such a wonderful lad and I can't wait to see him.'

Lost Voice Guy has also spoken of his trouble 'typing up' women because it takes too much time between thinking of something clever to say and then writing it down

Ridley has cerebral palsy which has left him unable to speak but he has never let this hold him back, telling the Independent in 2014: 'I play on my disability on purpose to take away some of the stigma and to show people that it's alright to laugh. So I think that helps get people on my side. By the end, hopefully they just see another guy telling jokes.'

'It was my mate who suggested that comedy might be a good idea', Ridley told the newspaper in 2014. 'I couldn't see how it would work but I'd always enjoyed stand up though so the idea stuck in the back of my head. Eventually I decided to give it a try because I knew I'd regret if it I didn't.'

The 37-year-old switched from his job as a communications advisor at a city council to becoming a full-time comedian, after he found himself pleasing crowds with his witty one-liners.

'I'm here to tick some boxes and make you all feel awkward,' is a typical introduction by Ridley.

But not everyone was as quick to find his comments funny. When he auditioned for The X Factor in 2012  a mischievous turn in which he typed the lyrics to R Kelly's 'I Believe I Can Fly' into the app, then stood back and mimed  he was met with blank faces.

Luckily that wasn't the case when he tried out new material for Britain's Got Talent judges this year.

Ridley, left and right leaving the Hammersmith Apollo last night, could not hide his delight at the victory as he celebrated with family and friends

David Walliams hailed Ridley as 'the best stand-up' he'd seen.

Born in Durham, Ridley has lived in Newcastle all his life and began touring his comedy show in 2012.

He previously trained as a journalist, earning an undergraduate and Masters' degree at the University of Central Lancashire before working for local newspapers in Cumbria and the north east.

He also worked in communications for Sunderland City Council but it was an encounter with comedian Ross Noble that set him on the path to stardom.

According to the Guardian, Ridley approached Noble after watching one of his shows and challenged him to a competition over who could do the best Stephen Hawking impression.

He so impressed the professional that Noble ended up asking him to become his warm-up act.

Fellow Geordie Noble was quick to celebrate with Ridley after the win and tweeted: 'So pleased a comedian has finally won #BGT and a Geordie comic at that. Congratulations to @LostVoiceGuy well deserved.'
Deadly doors and cladding coupled with advice to victims stay in their flats as Grenfell Tower was engulfed by fire caused a 'disproportionately high loss of life', the inquiry into Britain's worst blaze in living memory revealed today.

Expert witness Dr Barbara Lane decried the 'stay put' advice given by the emergency services to residents trapped in the burning building as a 'total failure' and 'substantially to blame for the tragedy'.

Dr Lane, a chartered fire engineer who works for design consultancy Arup, revealed it took one hour and 11 minutes for the authorities to change their minds and start an evacuation.

But by then there was little hope of escaping the tower, which was engulfed in flames in just 20 minutes.

Dr Lane also spoke of a 'culture of non-compliance' at Grenfell, which had there were more than 100 non-compliant fire doors, a firefighting lift that didn't work and a tinderbox cladding system and draughty windows that accelerated the blaze.

72 people died at Grenfell in June last year - the worst fire in Britain for a generation - and for the next 18 months expert witnesses will piece together how and why it happened.

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'Stay put' advice to Grenfell Tower residents from the emergency services that was in place for almost two hours after the fire began was a 'total failure' according to an expert witness. Pictured are ambulance teams at the scene of the blaze

Dr Barbara Lane said it was clear the 'stay put' plan was a failure after 30 minutes but it stayed in place for for another 80 minutes

Today's hearing revealed how the building's cladding system and sub-standard safety features meant that the fire spread through seven storeys within seven minutes, and 19 storeys within 12 minutes.

As well as the shocking decision to tell residents to stay in their flats and keep calling 999 it also emerged:

Dr Lane, pictured, is a fire expert for a design consultancy who set out the safety failures at Grenfell and how they contributed to the fire

A firefighting lift did not work, which meant firefighters had to walk up and down the block's 25 storeys to fight the blaze.

Key players involved in the 2016 refurbishment had not ascertained how the new cladding system would behave in a fire.

Tests showed the materials forming the cladding system, individually and together, did not comply 'with the recommended fire performance' set out in guidance for a building of that height.

The windows lacked fire resisting cavity barriers and were surrounded by combustible material. Up to 100 fire doors did not comply to fire rules, with some lasting as little as 20 minutes rather than the required 60.

The 'stay put' advice from the emergency services was in place for almost two hours and was repeatedly told to those inside ringing 999 for help.

Dr Lane's damning report said it was clear the stay put advice had 'substantially failed' after just 32 minutes and that it was 'unclear' why people were not told to flee the blaze sooner.

She added total evacuation should have happened 46 minutes after the fire was reported.

Dr Lane added black smoke had already appeared in the ground floor by this time and had reached the stairwells just 15 minutes later, meaning there was a 'need for the total evacuation of Grenfell Tower'.

Dr Lane also found the cladding system on the outside of Grenfell Tower was 'so conducive' to the spread of fire it did not support the 'stay put' policy

She also claimed that the key players involved in the 2016 refurbishment had not ascertained how the new cladding system would behave in a fire.

Tests showed the materials forming the cladding system, individually and together, did not comply 'with the recommended fire performance' set out in guidance for a building of that height, the report said.

Residents were asked to stay in their flats until after 2am but by then the tower was largely alight from top to bottom

She wrote: 'Additionally, I conclude that the entire system could not adequately resist the spread of fire over the walls having regard to height, use and position of the building.

'Specifically, the assembly failed adequately to resist the spread of fire to an extent that supported the required 'Stay Put' strategy for this high-rise residential building.

'There were multiple catastrophic fire-spread routes created by the construction form and construction detailing.'

The windows lacked fire resisting cavity barriers and were surrounded by combustible material, meaning there was a 'disproportionately high probability' of fire spreading to the cladding, she added.

The report also claimed key players involved in the 2016 refurbishment were not aware of how the new cladding system would behave in a fire.

Dr Lane wrote: 'I have found no evidence yet that any member of the design team or the construction ascertained the fire performance of the rainscreen cladding system materials, nor understood how the assembly performed in fire.

'I have found no evidence that Building Control were either informed or understood how the assembly would perform in a fire.'

Neither the Tenant Management Organisation nor London Fire Brigade recorded how the cladding would respond to a fire in their risk assessments, she said.

Poorly performing fire doors 'contributed significantly to the spread of smoke and fire to the lobbies,' Dr Lane found.

She wrote in her report that this failure 'would have materially affected the ability or willingness of occupants to escape independently through this space to the stair'.

'Non compliant' fire doors were also blamed for the spread of the flames while firefighters 'may have contributed' by leaving doors open

It would have also hindered the ability of firefighters to rescue many people on the tower's upper floors.

In 2011, the Tenant Management Organisation - which ran the building - replaced 106 flat entrance fire doors. None of the doors on any of the 120 flats - including the 14 not replaced - were compliant with the fire test evidence relied upon at the time of installation, Dr Lane found.

These shortcomings would have had a number of consequences, including failure to prevent the spread of smoke and flame by leakage through gaps between the door leaf and door frame.

Another failure of an 'unknown number of doors' to self-close after an occupant escaped would have allowed 'immediate' spread of fire and smoke.

The lobbies could therefore not be used as a 'safe air environment' by the fire service bridgehead, forcing it to remain below level 4 until 7.30am.

'This greatly reduced the time available using breathing apparatus, and so the time available for rescue on the upper floors, and particularly above Level 15.'

Firefighters may also have contributed to the spread of fire and smoke into the stairwell by leaving doors ajar as they fought the blaze, Dr Lane found.

Pictured: Inside one of the flats after the devastating fire at the tower block last June

She wrote: 'I have identified the fact that the firefighting operations in response to the multi-storey fire may have contributed to the failure of the stair fire doors to prevent fire and smoke spread.

'Current evidence indicates some of the stair doors were ajar as firefighting hoses were running from the stair into the lobby. However, I currently do not know the number of doors involved, nor which specific doors, nor for how long this opening may have occurred. I cannot yet conclude whether this made a significant contribution.'

In one case, a fire door to the stairwell was held open by a body, the report said.

The expert's evidence also blamed the building's windows for allowing the fire to spread to the combustible cladding, which led to its rapid spread up the tower.

She said the window frames were not protected with fire resistant barriers but instead with 'combustible materials' allowing the blaze to expand unchecked.

Another of her conclusions was that key bodies involved in the refurbishment of Grenfell Tower understood how the new cladding system would behave in a fire, a report has said.

In the report Dr Lane said: 'I have found no evidence yet that any member of the design team or the construction ascertained the fire performance of the rainscreen cladding system materials, nor understood how the assembly performed in fire.

'I have found no evidence that Building Control were either informed or understood how the assembly would perform in a fire.

'Further I have found no evidence that the (Tenant Management Organisation) risk assessment recorded the fire performance of the rainscreen cladding system, nor have I found evidence that the LFB risk assessment recorded the fire performance of the rainscreen cladding.'

Dr Lane is a fellow at the Royal Academy of Engineering and also serves as a visiting professor at the University of Edinburgh.

It has since emerged the policy is still in place in all the tower blocks close to the burnt-out remains of Grenfell Tower in North Kensington, west London.

Warning signs insist that in the event of a fire residents 'should initially be safe' if they close their doors and windows.

These signs are identical to the safety advice notices which were in the communal corridors in Grenfell.

The policy was widely criticised at the Grenfell Tower Inquiry last week by relatives of the victims.

Paulos Tekle, whose five-year-old son Isaac died in the blaze, told the public inquiry how neighbours urged the family to flee, but during numerous 999 calls over two hours he was repeatedly told to 'stay put'  until he was ordered abruptly to get his family out immediately.

But by then the fire had spread, the building's only stairwell was filled with smoke and, in the chaos, Isaac became separated from his parents.

Mr Tekle, his wife and their three-year-old son survived, but Isaac's remains were found on the 13th floor. He was one of the youngest victims of the blaze.

Last night, residents of the towers around Grenfell described the decision to keep the disputed policy as 'madness' and 'absolutely criminal'.
Stephen Frears, the director of the acclaimed BBC drama A Very English Scandal, has questioned the point of reopening an investigation into the attempted murder

The director of A Very English Scandal has questioned the reopening of the 2015 Jeremy Thorpe attempted murder case - as the investigation descended into farce last night.

In an astonishing turn of events, police were first forced to admit that the prime suspect in the plot to kill Thorpe's gay ex-lover is actually still alive.

Millions have been gripped by the BBC's account of the affair, A Very English Scandal, starring Hugh Grant, which ended last night.

Now Stephen Frears, the director of the acclaimed drama, has questioned the point of reopening an investigation.

Speaking at the Hay literary festival, Frears said: 'I don't know what they are investigating.' Asked whether there should be a wider inquiry, he said: 'What are you going to investigate?

'Most of the people are dead ... there's nothing to investigate. They got off, you just have to accept the limitations of British justice.'

Embarrassed officers raced to Andrew Newton's Surrey home to confront him yesterday, they found he had vanished, leaving the humiliated force empty-handed.

But Newton was seen walking to the house he is believed to share with Patsy Frankham on Saturday, after a spot of shopping. Neighbours also confirmed he is alive and well but he fled the cul-de-sac hours before police arrived on Sunday.

MailOnline revealed on Friday night that Newton was alive and using the alias Hann Redwin, but police appear to have turned up looking for him 48 hours later.

The developments raise the prospect of a fresh prosecution in the 40-year-old case. Ex-Liberal leader Thorpe was acquitted in 1979 of plotting to kill his former lover, Norman Scott.

Hugh Grant played Jeremy Thorpe in the recent BBC drama A Very English Scandal

Andrew Newton was suspected of trying to kill Liberal leader Jeremy Thorpe's (pictured) gay ex-lover Norman Scott more than four decades ago

Andrew Newton (left in 1976) is suspected of trying to kill Liberal leader Jeremy Thorpe's gay ex-lover. In 2004 - the year police said he died - he was photographed wearing a thong, top hat and tails (right), at the Skin Two Rubber Ball fetish convention

Investigators believed former airline pilot Newton died 14 years ago and prosecutors abandoned the case as a trial could not be brought.

But a simple Google search would have revealed he is now calling himself Hann Redwin and been photographed at a fetish convention.

The revelation throws open the extraordinary affair which rocked the nation in 1975 with detectives probing whether Mr Newton plotted murder.

Last night, Norman Scott, 78, the intended victim, said there has been 'a lot of skulduggery' and it is time for the truth to come out.

'I just don't think anyone's tried hard enough to look for him, I really don't,' he said. 'There must be people who knew him and there would surely be a record of him dying.

'I thought [the police] were doing something at last and soon found out that absolutely they weren't, they were continuing the cover up as far as I can see.'

Police officers are pictured knocking on the door of Andrew Newton's Dorking home where he has been living under a new identity - to find he has vanished

Reporters are pictured trying to speak to Newton's partner Patsy Frankham, but Newton is nowhere to be seen

Thorpe was the MP for North Devon for 20 years and leader of the Liberal Party for two years during which he was offered a cabinet post by Edward Heath.

He was accused of hiring a hitman to murder his former secret lover in 1975 but was acquitted alongside three other men after an Old Bailey trial.

After his death in 2014, Dennis Meighan, now 71, claimed he was offered 13,500 by Mr Newton and a 'representative' of Thorpe to silence Mr Scott.

The MP feared he would air details of their affair, which took place at a time when homosexuality was still illegal.

Andrew Newton  the man who allegedly tried to kill Liberal leader Thorpe's gay ex-lover Norman Scott  is living under the alias Hann Redwin in Surrey. He is pictured last week

Despite the huge fee, equivalent to 140,000 today, Mr Meighan went to the police and confessed to his and Thorpe's involvement.

But he claimed both their roles were covered up to protect the senior politician, potentially by shadowy elements with the Establishment.

A fresh police investigation codenamed Operation Velum was launched by Gwent Police, because they had no links to the original saga.

But the case was dropped a year later after officers told prosecutors that Mr Newton, the only person who could back up Mr Meighan's claims, was dead.

He is said to have taken on the role of hitman after Mr Meighan - an old school friend - withdrew and was convicted of shooting the former model's Great Dane Rinka in 1976.

Mr Scott claims he escaped death after Mr Newton then turned the gun on him, but it jammed at the vital moment.

Mr Newton gave evidence for the prosecution at Thorpe's trial for conspiracy to murder and was ultimately jailed for possession of a firearm.

Ben Whishaw, pictured centre, playing Norman Scott in A Very English Affair

In a statement, Gwent Police said: 'We have now revisited these enquiries and have identified information which indicates that Mr Newton may still be alive.

'As a result, further enquiries will be conducted to trace Mr Newton to assess if he is able to assist the investigation.'

Yesterday, a plain-clothes detective made the 160 mile trip to Mr Newton's 500,000 home near Dorking, Surrey.

Accompanied by a uniformed constable from the local force, the officer knocked on the door but received no answer.

Neighbours revealed Mr Newton has been living there under his new name for several years with his 61-year-old partner Patricia Frankham.

The former nurse at nearby Leith Hill GPs practice bought the property in 2014 before retiring last year.

On Saturday, Mr Newton was photographed dressed casually in a blue shirt and jeans as he returned from a shopping trip.

Yesterday, a plain-clothes detective (pictured background) made the 160 mile trip to Mr Newton's 500,000 home near Dorking, Surrey

But, according to posts online, people who knew him described him as 'a seriously strange man' known for his 'distinctly short shorts'.

One resident said: 'She's the sweetest, loveliest neighbour you could ask for. Nobody would have a bad word to say against her. She worked at the GP surgery for years and everyone there loved her and didn't want her to leave and now it looks like she's got a boyfriend who was on the wrong side of the law.

'What I don't understand is why it has taken this long for the police to arrive. Patricia moved here a few years ago and you would also see him coming and going.'

Gwent Police did not respond to requests to explain why it took up to eight officers a year to conclude Mr Newton was dead.

Accompanied by a uniformed constable from the local force (pictured), the officer knocked on the door but received no answer

Evidence of his name change can be found with a Google search after the death of his girlfriend in 1994 dragged him back into the spotlight.

He gave evidence at an inquest after Caroline Mayorcas fell to her death while climbing in Switzerland the previous year. Police ruled out foul play.

Using the relatively unusual name Redwin, he then surfaced again three years ago in a magazine article about aviators who use Redhill Airfield.

In 2004 - the year police said he died - he was photographed wearing a thong, top hat and tails, at the Skin Two Rubber Ball fetish convention at West London's Hammersmith Palais.

In a BBC4 documentary also broadcast last night, Mr Scott said there were at least five often outlandish plots to kill him.

He said these included being dropped from a helicopter and thrown down a Cornish tin mine, adding: 'It is laughable, but it's also very, very serious'.

Speaking from his remote Devon home, Mr Scott said he is convinced there was 'absolutely conspiracy to murder'.

Empty handed: Both officers were left disappointed after no one answered the door of Andrew Newton's Surrey home

'Because the truth hasn't come out, there's a conspiracy to murder me and it won't seem to go away and I have to see it through,' he added.

In February 2017, Mr Scott was sent a letter by a senior prosecutor who said the case was closed as the suspect is dead.

She wrote: 'Various key witnesses are now deceased, including Andrew Newton, who according to Mr Meighan was in the meeting during which the contract was agreed.'

Asked whether there is no conspiracy, he replied: 'No, I know. That's why a guy held a gun to my head and killed my dog and left me to make a fool out of myself the rest of my life.

'People not believing in me - but I believe in myself and I know a lot of people do, a lot of my friends do.'

Yesterday, Mr Meighan, who lives in west London, branded the police reinvestigation 'crazy', adding: 'It's all been said'.

He told the Daily Mail: 'I don't really want to talk about it. I have enough of talking to people.' Earlier, he branded the BBC drama ' a load of cobblers.'

In 2014, he told a newspaper he confessed to his role in 1975 but was given a prepared statement to sign which cleared him and removed any reference to Thorpe.

Norman Scott, pictured in his Devon home, said he is outraged that neither Andrew Newton nor Denis Meighan have ever had to face justice despite publicly admitting their roles in the plot to kill him

He said: 'It also cleared me completely. It was a cover-up, no question, but it suited me fine.' It meant he did not give evidence at the Old Bailey.

The three men who went on trial with Thorpe for conspiracy to murder were Liberal party deputy treasurer David Holmes, businessmen George Deakin and John Le Mesurier.

At his large detached home overlooking Swansea bay in Port Talbot, Wales, Mr Deakin told the Mail on Sunday: 'I have nothing to say'. Mr Holmes and Mr Le Mesurier are dead.

A spokesman for the Crown Prosecution Service said it is waiting for a new file from police.
Chris Grayling insisted tonight he was 'very sorry' about rail chaos left by the failure to successfully deliver a new nationwide timetable.

The Transport Secretary announced a 'special compensation scheme' for passengers mired in delays and cancellations on the Northern Rail and Govia Thameslink rail companies.

And he promised furious MPs there would be an inquiry into why the rail industry believed it could implement the new timetable just hours before it collapsed into total chaos.

Mr Grayling was met by shouts for him to 'resign' by furious MPs who battered him from both sides of the Commons.

Earlier he was warned by Tory grandee Sir Michael Fallon today he had to 'get a grip' of the debacle if he was to save his job.

And he was left red-faced as his own diary clashes left him cancelling and delaying meetings with furious MPs.

Labour shadow transport secretary Andy McDonald demanded Mr Grayling resign tonight as the pair faced each other in the Commons.

A nationwide timetable shakeup was supposed to have begun on May 20 but a shortage of trained drivers, late upgrades and other problems have left the network in crisis.

Reduced timetables were rolled out today in a bid to phase in the upgrades but dozens of services were still late or did not run at all.

Chris Grayling (pictured in the Commons tonight) has insisted he was 'very sorry' about rail chaos left by the failure to successfully deliver a new nationwide timetable

The Transport Secretary (pictured during a heated Commons statement tonight) announced a 'special compensation scheme' for passengers mired in delays and cancellations on the Northern Rail and Govia Thameslink rail companies

Sir Michael Fallon (file) today warned Transport Secretary Chris Grayling he must 'get a grip' of the rail chaos if he wants to keep his job as Transport Secretary

Mr Grayling told the Commons: 'As few as three weeks before the timetable was to be implemented, GTR themselves assured me personally that they were ready to implement the changes.

'Clearly this was wrong and it is totally unacceptable.

'The rail industry has collectively failed to deliver for the passengers it serves.

'It's right that the industry has apologised for the situation that we are currently in and that we learn the lessons for the future.

'But right now the focus should be on restoring reliability of their service to passengers.'

He insisted: 'I get the train every day. I am as fed up with this as everybody else.'

Earlier, Sir Michael told how the patience of commuters is 'running very thin' and there is 'real anger' as train lines have been hit by hundreds of delays and cancellations.

In an outspoken attack, the ex-defence secretary tore into the chaos on the railways and hinted that Mr Grayling's job could be on the line if he cannot get the crisis under control.

It comes as furious MPs slammed Mr Grayling for cancelling meetings with them over the disastrous timetable overhaul on Northern Rail and Govia Thameslink today.

Anger is boiling over after both operators introduced interim timetables this morning which saw hundreds of services officially axed after weeks of disruption.

But Mr Grayling has been inundated with so many requests his office has started cancelling some meetings and pushing them all back until tonight.

Sir Michael said the revamp has been a 'disaster' and that serious questions hang over how it happened.

Asked if the fiasco could cost Mr Grayling his job, Sir Michael told BBC News: 'Clearly the Transport Secretary has to demonstrate today that he has the situation on board and is ready to start using all his powers to put this right.

'Commuter patience is running very thin there is real anger in the villages  people rely on these trains to get them to work on time.'

Labour MP for Wigan Lisa Nandy tore into Chris Grayling for cancelling meetings with MPs

Labour MP Catherine West revealed her meeting with the Transport Secretary has been canceled

Tory MP for Welwyn Hatfield Grant Shapps said he might end up being late for his meeting to discuss the rail chaos with Chris Grayling because the trains are cancelled

The Tory MP Grant Shapps chronicled his delayed train journey on Twitter - pointing out that the rail line was blaming the delays on a shortage of train drivers

Sir Michael, whose Sevenoaks constituency has been hit by the chaos on Thameslink, said Mr Grayling must act to stop the crisis on Britain's railways.

He said: 'This is now week three and it is becoming a scandal.

'My constituents can't get to work in London, their children can't get to trains to school, and we are now into more cancellations even with the emergency timetable.

How did the Northern Rail and Govia Thameslink travel chaos happen? Here are the main event surrounding the railway commuter chaos May 20: Train operators across the country overhaul their timetables. Northern Rail and Govia Thameslink see the biggest changes to their timetables. Late May: The overhaul sparks chaos with hundreds of trains cancelled or delayed on a daily basis. Northern Rail faces calls to be stripped of its franchise while Manchester Andy Burnham accused Transport Secretary Chris Grayling of being 'asleep at the wheel'. June 4 Northern Rail and Govia Thameslink introduce an interim timetable to try to get on top of the crisis. The changes see hundreds of services axed from the timetable. Northern Rail apologise to its customers and says it will give them compensation. Advertisement

'It really is time now that ministers get a grip of this and force Thameslink to get on and run a decent service  if necessary borrowing drivers from other companies who know the routes.'

He said he will be leaving Mr Grayling in 'no doubt as to the real, raw anger of my constituents' at his meeting with him later today.

The Tory MP added: 'All his was supposed to be an improvement  that was supposed to be the point of the new timetable, and it has turned out to be a disaster.

'The secretary of state is in charge and (my constituents) are very clear that Government in the end has to intervene and sort this out.'

Sir Michael added: 'There are a lot of questions now about how this ever happened in the first place, why it wasn't properly prepared'

He also suggested that ministers consider stripping Thameslink of the franchise following the crisis.

Services across large stretches of the north and south of England have been plunged into crisis after a botched revamp along Thameslink and Northern came into force on May 20.

The changes brought havoc - with commuters complaining they did not know about the changes and hundreds of services delayed or axed.

The two line save today unveiled a new interim timetable as the scramble to try to get on top of the crisis.

But the move has seen hundreds more services officially cancelled.

Commuters (pictured today struggling to get on a train in Bolton) have complained that their lives have been hit by disruption after the botched rail revamp

Labour MP Lisa Nandy, whose Wigan constituency has been hit by the Northern Rail cancellations, said: 'The DfT did not foresee the large numbers of MPs who would want a meeting, or that they might need to make a statement.

'Is there any understanding of the scale of this crisis in Whitehall?'

The PM's spokesman said the crisis is 'totally unacceptable' and Northern Rail said passengers will be given compensation amid growing anger at the chaos.

A group of MPs representing constituencies along the affected lines will meet with the Transport Secretary this evening to discuss the crisis.

In a letter to some of the MPs, Transport minister James Heappey tells MPs they have been unable to accommodate a significant number of colleagues at this stage' and urges them to pick another date for the meeting.

Labour MP Lisa Nandy said: 'Where I have just come from in the north of England, railways have basically ground to a halt.

'It has been a complete crisis for the last two weeks  constituent can't get to work, people's lives are being ruined.

'And I'll be looking for a sign, at least, from the Transport Secretary, that he understands the scale of this crisis.'

Labour MP Lisa Nandy (pictured left) is among a delegation of MPs who will meet with Transport Secretary Chris Grayling to vent the fury of commuters at chaos on the trains. Tory MP Bim Afolami (pictured right) will also meet Mr Grayling to express his concerns about the Govia Thames link Railway service

Speaking to the BBC Radio 4's Westminster Hour, the MP for Wigan said that MPs will be using their ten-minute slots with the Cabinet minister to 'put across the very many grievances that date back to two years ago when he awarded the franchise to Arriva Rail North'.

Anger has boiled over Northern Rail introduced a new timetable on May 20 which saw hundreds of services axed, delayed and cancelled.

Andy Burnham, the Mayor of Greater Manchester, said Northern is in the 'last chance saloon' amid the chaos and called fro 'substantial' compensation to be paid out to commuters.

Northern's managing director David Brown said a compensation scheme will be unveiled imminently.

He said: 'We will be putting in place a compensation package. We will definitely be doing that.

Train fares could be based on the quality of service under new proposals Commuters are being asked whether they believe it should be cheaper to travel on routes with slower, less regular and more basic trains Train fares could be based on the quality of service under radical new plans being consulted on. The rail industry is looking at ways to overhaul ticket prices to make them fairer without spending any more money. Commuters are being asked whether they believe it should be cheaper to travel on routes with slower, less regular and more basic trains. While better services would become more expensive. Other possibilities include abolishing peak and off-peak fares so passengers are charged the same throughout busier and quieter periods. Or giving discounts to regular travellers and reducing prices for e-tickets but increasing them for paper tickets to reflect the difference in transaction costs. The consultation is being launched by the Rail Delivery Group (RDG), which represents the industry, alongside passenger watchdog Transport Focus. They will use the responses to produce a report containing proposals for governments to consider. The ticketing system is underpinned by regulations which are unchanged from the mid-1990s, and have not kept pace with technology or how people work and travel. Around 55 million different fares exist, including long-standing anomalies such as charging a peak-time fare when half a trip is on an off-peak service, and split ticketing, where it can be cheaper to buy several tickets for a single journey. RDG chief executive Paul Plummer said he wants to create 'an easier-to-use fares system'. He went on: 'Reforming the rules about how tickets are sold and bought has the potential to transform the buying experience for customers, making it easier for people to be confident they are getting the right ticket. 'These reforms support what the industry is already doing to make improvements to fares alongside record investment in new train carriages, upgraded stations and extra services.' Research commissioned by the RDG found that only one in three (34%) passengers are 'very confident' they bought the best value ticket for their last journey, and just 29% were 'very satisfied' with the ticket-buying experience. Advertisement

'We believe that's only right to give the people that are our loyal customers some recompense for the discomfort that we've caused them.

'We are working on that and we will be finalising that in due course.'

However he suggested the compensation scheme will be limited to season ticket travellers.

Commuters who use one off tickets to catch a train can apply for compensation if it is 30 minutes late, he told BBC Breakfast.

This would appear to fall short of the significant compensation scheme demanded by Mr Burnham in a letter to Transport for the North.

He said: 'Northern have already left people seriously out of pocket and turned their lives upside down with their chaotic services.

'I have heard countless stories of people forking out for taxis, hire cars, hotels and extra childcare but unable to get compensation for it.

'Now that Northern are unilaterally cancelling thousands of services - that many season ticket holders have already paid for - passengers must be properly and fully compensated.

'There must also be a general reduction in fares for all passengers on routes affected by these changes.'

He added: 'Northern are set to benefit financially from this emergency timetable. It is the company, and not the passengers, who should pay the price for their mismanagement.

'As far as I am concerned, this emergency timetable represents the last chance saloon for Northern.

'They are causing too much damage to the economy of the North to be allowed to inflict their miserable, unreliable services on us any longer.

'If they are not providing the promised new May timetable by early August, then steps should be taken to strip the franchise from them.'

Northern has apologised and last Friday evening introduced an 'interim' timetable, starting on Monday, removing 165 trains - 6 per cent of services.

Areas affected include Manchester, Liverpool, Blackpool and the Lakes Line between Oxenholme and Windermere.

Meanwhile, Govia Thameslink Railway (GTR) - which consists of Southern, Thameslink, Great Northern and Gatwick Express - has also come under fire for chaos on its tracks.

London Mayor Sadiq Khan said disruption to GTR services is damaging the 'international reputation' of the capital and said the firm should be stripped of its franchise to run services.

On Friday GTR saw almost one in 10 (9 per cent) of its trains either cancelled or more than 30 minutes late.

Northern's record was even worse at 16 per cent.

Mr Grayling has said he is in 'regular discussions' with train operators but the new timetable will ultimately deliver hundreds more services.

Some 20 MPs representing constituencies affected by train disarray along the Govia Thames Link line have written to Mr Grayling to demand immediate action to tackle the crisis.

Tory MP Bim Afolami , who represents Hitcham and Harpenden in Hertfordshire - where Govia Thameslink Trains have been hit by repeated cancellations - tweeted the letter out.

Manchester Piccadilly station was deserted today as commuters stayed at home after trains were hit by long delays and cancellations

Northern's managing director David Brown told BBC Breakfast today that a compensation scheme will be unveiled imminently.

It tells Mr Grayling: 'We urgently need to give clear assuarnces to our constituents that the Goveent is tackling this as a priority.

'We therefore ask that at our meeting you provide us with clean information on how the situation was allowed to get to this point, what the department is doing right now to rectify this situation, and what plans the Government has in the longer term to resolve the many significant problems with this franchise.'

Andy McDonald MP, Labour's Shadow Transport Secretary, said: 'We've been saying for weeks that Grayling has been asleep at the wheel on major issues.

'He's clearly ultimately responsible for all of this, wherever the deficits lie in terms of failing to prepare for a train crew to be in the right place at the right time.

'And he seems to forget that he's also responsible for Network Rail.

'But what he shouldn't be doing is blaming timetablers who are working so hard trying to pull this round.

'It's his responsibility for all of this and it's just characteristic of his attitude to all of these difficulties that the railway industry is facing by blaming other people rather than looking in the mirror.'
This is the incredible moment villagers and forest officials teamed up to rescue a wild leopard after it became trapped inside a well using a ladder in central India.

The dramatic scene unfolded when locals spotted the three-year-old wild cat struggling to stay afloat in a 20 foot deep well in Dhundi village near Satpura Tiger Reserve in Madhya Pradesh.

After locals raised the alarm, they were joined by forest rescue services and after working together they succeeded in coaxing the leopard out of the dwelling by lowering a makeshift wooden ladder into the water.

Mobile phone footage shows the group carefully lowering the bamboo ladder, which was about six metres long, inside the well as the leopard continues to splash around the water.

The wooden contraption is submerged for several minutes before the leopard begins to ascend the rungs of the ladder to safety before swiftly darting off into the nearby forest.

After the ladder is lowered into the 20 foot deep well, the leopard can be seen climbing up and reaching the top. He then makes a very quick exit

Locals spotted the leopard submerged in the water after it fell into the well while searching for food. The villagers raised the alarm and animal rescue teams were called

The leopard was believed to have fallen into the well when it was searching for food and water.

Lokesh Nirapure, assistant director of forest services said: 'I instructed my staff to arrange ladders and some ropes. When I reached the spot, the ladder was ready.'

Villagers and forest rescue teams worked together to lower the makeshift ladder into the well. Wild animal sightings are said to be common in the area because of deforestation

An attempt was made to save the leopard with a rope but it failed as the wild cat was not able to pull itself up

'As mercury rises, the wild animals stray into human habitats in search of water. The villagers said this leopard had been also been spotted several times near the water bodies and wells recently.

Leopard sightings have become more common in the area as the drought pushes the big cats into human habitats in search of food and water.

Another leopard was also rescued from a well using the same technique last month, after it had fallen into a well near Satpura Tiger Reserve in Chhindwara district in the Northern part of India.
An axe-wielding Palestinian was shot dead trying to breach the Gaza-Israel border on Monday, the Israeli army said.

Troops thwarted an 'infiltration attempt' by 'two terrorists who damaged the security fence and were armed with an axe,' the army said in a statement.

Soldiers 'fired towards the terrorists, killing one of them,' it added.

The army circulated a picture of what it said was the axe lying on the ground near the border.

The second Palestinian, who was with the man, fled after they damaged Israel's security fence, a military spokesman said.

An axe-wielding Palestinian was shot dead trying to breach the Gaza-Israel border on Monday, the Israeli army said

There was no immediate confirmation from the health ministry in Gaza.

Since March 30, Israeli troops have killed more than 120 Palestinians during mass demonstrations along the Gaza border, drawing international condemnation.

The latest death brings the number of Palestinians killed since then to 125.

The vast majority have been killed during weeks of protests along the border.

On Friday, Razan al-Najjar (pictured), a 21-year-old medic was shot dead in southern Gaza

Palestinian mourners carry the body of 21-year-old Razan al-Najjar during her funeral

Protests peaked on May 14 when at least 61 people were killed as tens of thousands approached the heavily fortified border in a demonstration coinciding with the controversial opening of the US embassy in Jerusalem.

No Israelis have been killed.

Israel says many of those killed were Hamas members and militants trying to breach the border and launch attacks under cover of the protests.

The United States has expressed support for Israel's actions.

The Palestinians say most of the dead and the thousands wounded were unarmed civilians against whom Israel was using excessive force.

A Palestinian protester holds a tear gas canister in his mouth during a demonstration along the border with Israel in the southern Gaza strip

Burnt ground and trees are seen on the Israeli side of the border between Israel and the Gaza Strip

On Friday, a 21-year-old female medic was shot dead in southern Gaza.

More than two million Palestinians are packed into Gaza, a narrow coastal enclave where unemployment is high and poverty widespread.

Israel withdrew its troops and settlers from Gaza in 2005, but maintains tight control of its land and sea borders, citing security concerns.

Egypt also restricts movement in and out of Gaza on its border.
A British adventurer has set off on an attempt to become the first person to swim 2,000 miles around the UK.

Ross Edgley, 32, left from Margate Harbour on Saturday to swim the 2,000 miles - circumnavigating the British mainland in around 100 days.

He hopes to travel between 20 and 30 miles per day without touching land - only stopping to sleep on his support boat.

Ross Edgley, 32, left from Margate Harbour on Saturday to swim the 2,000 miles - circumnavigating the British mainland in around 100 days

He will swim for two six-hour bursts everyday in a clockwise direction from Margate, finishing at Tower Bridge in London on September 9.

To prepare for the amazing feat, Ross has been eating between 10,000 and 15,000 calories per day.

He said: 'It's the equivalent of swimming the English Channel every day.

'But I know my body can take it; I know I can be the first person in history to achieve it.'

He hopes to travel between 20 and 30 miles per day without touching land - only stopping to sleep on his support boat

His trip, which will be documented on the Red Bull website , will see him swim 30-50km every day until he reaches the finish line on September 9

Edyley will swim up to 40,000 strokes per day, for a total of 2.4 million strokes

But Lincolnshire-based Edgley's mission isn't just about pushing his own body to its limits, he hopes his efforts will also encourage others to step outside of their comfort zone.

He added: 'I want to inspire people to get out there and challenge themselves - maybe try your first open water swim, sign up for a triathlon, or your first park run - find something that you didn't think you were capable of and prove yourself wrong.

'I've got unfinished business in the water'

'Earlier this year I attempted to swim from Martinique to St Lucia while tied to a tree.

'I'd aimed to swim 40km point to point, but the current was totally against me and kept dragging me back. Even though I didn't reach the shore, I actually swam over 100km in the end.

'So I phoned up the Royal Marines when I returned to the UK and asked if I could swim for 48 hours straight, just to see what I've got in the locker.

Edgley's has previous when it comes to challenging himself with fitness-based adventurers - having climbed Mount Everest in one sitting

'The swim went really well and I hit 126km. One of the Marines mentioned the idea of swimming around the entirety of Britain - something that's never been done before - and I thought, 'why not?' I also can't write a book and call it The World's Fittest Book without being able to back it up in a big way!'

Talking about the UK swim he said: 'I want to complete the swim in 100 days'

'By looking at my swim metrics and comparing them to people who'd rowed around the entirety of Great Britain, I was able to estimate 100 days as a target.

'Oddly enough, in very bad conditions, my open water swimming times are the same as those of the rowers. A friend of mine named Sean Conway once swam the length of Great Britain in 135 days. I'm looking to do more than double that distance in less time.'

'It's going to be a game of chess with Mother Nature - you can swim hard, but you need to swim smart.'

'I can't touch the shore, not even once; it needs to be done in the spirit of a true adventure. For the best output. I'll need minimal waves, predictable currents, feeding stations along the way - we're working with RNLI and the coastguards for those - and mundane weather, enough sun exposure to warm up the sea but not enough to get frazzled. The weather and the tides have to play ball.'

Edgley's has previous when it comes to challenging himself with fitness-based adventurers.

He once climbed the height of Everest on a rope in one sitting and swum 100km in the Caribbean in just 32 hours whilst attached to a 100lb log.

In May of this year, the 32-year old saw his nutrition and fitness guide, The Worlds Fittest Book, quickly become a Sunday Times bestseller.
A list of the most dangerous nightspots in NSW has been revealed, with one coastal city getting a whopping 38 reported violent assaults at two of its pubs last year.

The western suburbs of Newcastle on the NSW coast came in at number one and number ten on a list of the 14 most violent licensed venues in NSW last year.

The Sydney Junction Hotel in the Newcastle suburb of Hamilton came in at number one on the list with a shocking 25 reported assaults in 2017.

A list of the most dangerous nightspots in NSW has been revealed with one coastal suburb getting a whopping 38 reported violent assaults at just two of its pubs last year

The Sydney Junction Hotel at Hamilton came in at number 1

The Munich Brau Haus at The Rocks in Sydney came in at number two

The Coast Hotel at Coffs Harbour came in at number four

The King Street Hotel in Newcastle West came in at number ten with 13 assaults.

Nine Sydney pubs are also included on the list, which counts the total number of assaults police were called out to attend in 2017.

TOP 14 (ranked by number of assaults) 1. Sydney Junction Hotel - Hamilton (25) 2. Munich Brau Haus, The Rocks (21) 3. Ivy - Sydney (19) 4. The Coast Hotel - Coffs Harbour (17) 5. The Sunken Monkey Hotel - Erina (15) 6. Amaroo Hotel - Dubbo (14) 7. Sugar Lounge - Manly (14) 8. Coogee Bay Hotel - Coogee (13) 9. Home Nightclub - Sydney (13) 10. King Street Hotel - Newcastle West (13) 11. Scruffy Murphys -Sydney (13) 12. Beach Road Hotel - Bondi Beach (12) 13. Camden Hotel - Camden (12) 14. Penrith Rugby League Club (12) Advertisement

The venues on the list will now be subject to more stringent regulations on their liquor licenses as well as being closely monitored by authorities and will have to pay an increased licence fee due to risk based loadings.

The NSW Government operates the Violent Venues Scheme which gives licensed venues a grading from level one being the most violent to level three depending on the number of alcohol related assaults that are reported over a specific period.

The most dangerous clubs on level one of the scheme are the Sydney Junction Hotel in Hamilton near Newcastle with 25 assaults.

The Munich Brau Haus in The Rocks came in second with 21 assaults and the Ivy in Sydney third with 19 assaults.

These venues will need to have a lockout of 1.30am, cannot serve alcohol 30 mins before close, cannot serve shots after midnight, and must have a ten minute sales break every hour or distribute food and water to guests.

The Amaroo Hotel in Dubbo came in at number six

Coogee Bay Hotel came in at number eight
Theresa May suffered a blow today with a poll suggesting 69 per cent of Tory activists want her to quit before the next election.

The proportion who say the PM should go now has risen by 11 per cent over the past month, according to a survey by the ConHome website.

The grim findings come as Mrs May faces mounting criticism over her handling of Brexit - with anger at her 'negative' approach and negotiations with the EU apparently deadlocked.

Meanwhile, bookies have installed Environment Secretary Michael Gove as favourite to take over.

The ConHome poll asked grassroots Tory members if and when Theresa May should announce her resignation

The ConHome poll asked grassroots Tory members if and when Mrs May should announce her resignation.

Some 24 per cent of the 1,188 who responded said she should go immediately - up 11 points on last month - while 45 per cent said she should depart before the country votes again.

Just 37 per cent said Mrs May should not resign, down from 34 per cent last month - with 2 per cent saying they were not sure.

The combined figure of 69 per cent wanting Mrs May to quit by 2022 is nearly as high as the 71 per cent recorded in the aftermath of the disastrous snap election last June.

Mr Gove, who has seen a dramatic revival in his fortunes since his leadership campaign flopped in 2016, is the 7/2 favourite with Ladbrokes to take over from Mrs May.

He was ahead of Jacob Rees-Mogg on 4/1 and Boris Johnson on 10/1.

Yesterday former Cabinet minister Priti Patel accused the PM of 'negativity' as she raised doubts about her approach to Brexit.

Mrs Patel told The House magazine that the Conservatives had become 'lazy' and she heard 'too much relentless talking down' of Britain's economy.

Asked if having Remain supporters Mrs May and Chancellor Philip Hammond at the top of government was part of the problem, she said: 'I have to say, originally I thought it wasn't. But I think it's fair to say that there's something in that. There is absolutely something in that.

Mr Gove, who has seen a dramatic revival in his fortunes since his leadership campaign flopped in 2016, is now the 7/2 favourite with Ladbrokes to take over from Mrs May. He is pictured out running in London today

The grim findings come as Mrs May (pictured at church yesterday) faces mounting criticism over her handling of Brexit

'I actually resent the negativity.'

Hedge fund boss Crispin Odey said Mrs May should be replaced by Mr Gove to see the country through negotiations with the EU

Mr Odey told the Observer the Prime Minister could not make decisions and would not see Brexit through.

He said Mr Gove - one of the architects of the Leave campaign - should take over at the head of a much bolder administration that was prepared to break EU rules before Brexit.

Mr Odey, who previously donated to Ukip before switching allegiance, said: 'Michael has got lots of attributes that make him a non-traditional Tory.

'He is very aware that he has to appeal not just to the wealthy, but also more broadly.

'I don't think May can carry Brexit through any more.'
A retired engineer who sent racist and threatening emails to six MPs - including some with an image of a noose attached - has been given a nine-week suspended jail sentence.

David Hall admitted sending six grossly offensive messages, including one warning Labour's David Lammy to 'remember what happened to Jo Cox' and others saying four Tory MPs deserved to hang for 'treachery' over Brexit legislation.

The 72-year-old, of Windsor Gardens, Castlecroft, Wolverhampton, had denied six charges of sending grossly offensive and menacing messages, but changed his plea to guilty at Walsall Magistrates' Court.

Pictured: Pensioner David Hall as he arrived at Walsall Magistrates' Court for his trial today

The court was told the Ukip supporter was cautioned for threatening behaviour in 2011 after getting involved in an altercation while putting political leaflets and posters on lampposts near his home.

The pensioner sent emails last December to Nicky Morgan, Dominic Grieve, David Lammy, Anna Soubry and Heidi Allen, in the wake of an EU withdrawal bill vote in parliament.

Hall, who appeared in the dock wearing a leather jacket, slacks and slip-on shoes, also sent an email to Wolverhampton MP Eleanor Smith last July, calling for her to be put on 'the first banana boat' to the 'jungle clearing you came from'.

Mr Lammy and Ms Morgan attended court and had been expected to give evidence against Hall until his change of plea.

Disturbing: Ukip supporter Hall hounded MPs with racist abuse following a debate on Brexit

Opening the facts of the case against Hall, prosecutor Matthew Brook said the email to Ms Smith was sent after she made critical comments about the Black Country's flag, which bears an image of chains.

The court heard that the email to Mr Lammy read: 'I would like to give you a friendly warning. As you attack the White population of Britain in your aims to gain Black Supremacy in this country, remember what happened to Jo Cox.

'I AM NOT ONE OF THEM but there are those out there who would like to see you suffer the same fate. Be careful!!'

Labour MP Jo Cox was murdered in her Batley and Spen constituency by Thomas Mair in 2016.

Another email was sent to several MPs after a parliamentary vote on an amendment to the EU Withdrawal Bill last year.

Littered with capital letters and exclamation marks, the email had the subject line 'YOUR BACK STABBING TREACHERY' and read: 'You deserve to be HUNG for your attack on our democracy yesterday. WE VOTED OUT OUT OUT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! and your attack on the British VOTE to leave the PARASITIC FRAUDSTERS in the EU amounts to an act of TREASON.

'In WW2 you would have 'SWUNG' for this act of TREACHERY - You join a long list of British TRAITORS - MAY YOU BURN IN HELL FOR ETERNITY.'

'Very pleased': Former education secretary Nicky Morgan, pictured leaving court today, was one of Hall's victims and said she was very pleased with the outcome of the hearing

As well as being handed a jail term suspended for 12 months, Hall was ordered to complete 25 days of rehabilitation work and pay 735 in costs and a victim surcharge.

Sentencing Hall, chairman of the bench Paul Wooding said: 'This was a series of highly offensive emails sent to public servants involving a racial element.

'For these reasons we deem it so serious that it has crossed the custody threshold.'

Before sentence was passed, defence lawyer Adil Khan told the court Hall had been angered by comments linking the chains on the Black Country's flag to the slave trade.

Hall declined to comment as he left court.

After the sentencing, Mr Lammy tweeted: 'This morning I was in court to see David Hall, the man who wrote to me about me meeting the same fate as my late friend Jo Cox MP, plead guilty.

'What he did was an abhorrent and wicked thing to do and he is lucky that he got off with a suspended sentence and isn't going to prison.'
A couple have been left in shock after their one-year-old son was administered with the wrong syringe during a routine scan and almost died.

Jessica Newsome and Blake Campbell's son Declan was rushed to Nepean Hospital, in Sydney's west, earlier this year after falling head-first from his cot.

Declan was seen immediately by doctors, who advised the parents they would need to do a CT scan to investigate the huge bump which had appeared on his head.

Because of his age, they were told he would need to be sedated, 9 News reported.

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Declan (pictured) almost died after he was injected with the wrong syringe at Nepean Hospital

Declan fell out of his cot back in February giving him a lump to his head, which led to his parents taking him to hospital

Things took a horrific turn when Declan was mistakenly injected with a syringe that turned his lips blue and caused him to stop breathing for 90 seconds.

'He was just limp. He was just nothing. He went straight pale. I said to the doctor 'something's wrong'. He just picked the kid up and ran,' mother-of-two Ms Newsome told 9 News.

Ms Newsome said the staff member began to cry, knowing something went wrong, and Declan was rushed away and placed on a metal tray for urgent treatment.

The problem was recorded on the discharge papers, which revealed the doctor administered the wrong syringe to Declan.

'In emergency, ED doctor accidentally administered 12mg of intravenous Suxamethonium instead of administering 12mg of Ketamine to child.'

According to NPS MedicineWise Suxamethonium is used to stop your muscles moving during surgery or medical procedures and ketamine is a medical and veterinary drug that kills pain.

Suxamethonium is far more powerful than ketamine.

According to the discharge papers, both syringes were in the same tray.

Jessica Newsome and Blake Campbell's son was injected with a syringe that turned his lips blue causing him to stop breathing for 90 seconds

Declan's parents were shocked to find out their son almost died after being administered the wrong drug.

Ms Newsome called Mr Campbell in a panic, telling him what had happened to Declan.

'Just go for a quick CT scan just to make sure he had no problems and it happened to turn out to be he nearly died,' Mr Campbell said.

Declan's parents were shocked to find out their son almost died after being administered the wrong injection

Dr Peter Thomas, Director of Medical Services, Nepean Hospital spoke to Daily Mail Australia saying the hospital had apologised to Ms Newsome and Mr Campbell.

He said the hospital was working on a clinical review to reveal exactly how the mistake was made, and to ensure it wouldn't happen again.

'Nepean Hospital has apologised to the parents of a 12 month old baby for giving him the wrong medication prior to a CT scan and will meet with the family to fully disclose the findings of a clinical review of their son's care,' Dr Thomas said.

'The mistake was immediately recognised and action taken to counter the effects of the drug.

'While the baby was in the emergency department, the treating doctor apologised for the mistake and provided full disclosure, explaining to the parents what had happened and a social worker provided support to the parents.

'The Director of the Emergency Department also met with the parents that day and apologised.

'The baby recovered and the Hospital will implement the recommendations of the review to prevent the mistake from happening again.'
The Parkland school officer who was seen on surveillance video hiding as Nikolas Cruz opened fire in students inside Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School is breaking his silence.

Scot Peterson tells The Washington Post that after one of the school security guards radioed in to him after hearing gunfire he thought it was just a childish prank.

'Probably a few kids acting like idiots,' remembers Peterson, who had been told by the guard it sounded like a 'possible firecracker.'

Peterson admits however that when he got closer to the building where Cruz was he immediately realized it was not firecrackers, but gunfire.

He still maintains though that despite not going into the building, he did everything he could at the time.

'How can they keep saying I did nothing? Im getting on the radio to call in the shooting,' says Peterson.

'Im locking down the school. Im clearing kids out of the courtyard. They have the video and the call logs. The evidence is sitting right there.'

Coward cop: Scot Peterson is breaking his silence in an interview with The Washington Post, four months after he failed to engage school shooter Nikolas Cruz

Openbing up: He will also be interviewed by Today in two segments airing later this week, saying that he regrets not going in to stop Cruz and calling the students 'my kids'

Peterson will also be speaking on Today this week, and on Monday the NBC morning show previewed that interview, in which he could be seen bumbling when asked to explain why he did not go in the school.

'I'm humanin the perfect world, oh, I would have said, "Oh, yeah, I know there was a shooter in there. Let me go to the third floor. Find this person,"' says Peterson.

'You knowat that point if I would have known, I mean, knowing what I know today, I would have been in that building in a heartbeat, I mean, like I said, it was my kids.I didnt knowI wrack my brain. I go, "Why?"'

By the time the first gunshot victim was discovered, six minutes after that report of firecrackers, the massacre was over.

Peterson tells the Post that when he saw his girlfriend Lynda Rodriguez that day he said: 'I couldnt get him. It was my job, and I didnt find him.'

He did not enter the building however to even try and locate Cruz, saying that he had been trying to search for the gunman for most of the massacre and did not near Cruz's location until the end of his deadly rampage.

'I was trying to figure it out,' explains Peterson.

'I was scanning for the shooter, looking over the windows, the sidewalk, the rooftop. I thought maybe it was a sniper like in Las Vegas. I just didnt know.'

He was outside the building for close to a minute.

'I could have come in over here,' says Peterson while watching a simulation of the shooting.

'I could have got him while he was reloading. If Id just heard more shots, maybe I would have known where they were coming from.'

Peterson maintains that he heard only 2 or 3 rounds of shots, despite Cruz having fired off a reported 150 rounds of ammunition.

'They keep saying I did nothing, a coward,' says Peterson at one point in the interview while catching up with a friend.

'I just didnt know. Why didnt I know to go in?'

On the scene: He says that he thought it was 'idiots with firecrackers' after the gunshots were first radioed in, and began looking for a possible shooter (Peterson above on February 14)

Moving out: Peterson also pushes back on the idea that he was a 'coward,' saying he did get to work and try to locate the shooter after that radio call came in

Prior to the shooting, Peterson had by all accounts been a exemplary employee.

An internal memo on Scot Peterson's personnel file shows that he earned the distinction in May 2012, and was given the honor in large part for his work with the students.

'Your district has recognized you as an exemplary deputy who has made a difference in the community where you serve,' reads the memo.

Performance evaluations included in that same file also show that Peterson received glowing performance reviews.

And in March 2017, Peterson was nominated for Deputy of the Year.

'Throughout 2016, Deputy Peterson conducted numerous investigations. He always went the extra step and followed through on each case and conducted thorough follow ups,' wrote the recommending officer.

'The crimes he handled including property crimes, assaults, and batteries, aggravated assaults, and narcotics violations. His investigative skills resulted in numerous arrests and recovered property.'

The recommendation also noted that Peterson 'uses appropriate resources at his disposal, including mental health professionals and investigators from the school board.'

His recommendation for that honor came in the wake of his last annual review.

It also said that Peterson was expected to 'continue to produce the high level of service to the students and staff at his school' while recommending her 'seek specialized training related to his duties as an SRO.'

Deputy Peterson was the only armed guard present on February 14 when the rampage started, Broward County Sheriff Scott Israel said at he time.

Peterson's actions were caught on video during the massacre, which ranks as the second-deadliest shooting ever at a U.S. public school, carried out by a lone gunman wielding a semiautomatic AR-15-style assault rifle.

'What I saw was a deputy arrive at the west side of Building 12, take up a position and he never went in,' said Sheriff Israel, referring to the building on campus, popularly known as the 'freshman building,' where authorities said the bulk of the shooting occurred.

Israel told reporters the shooting in the Fort Lauderdale suburb of Parkland lasted six minutes, and that Peterson arrived at the freshman building about 90 seconds after the first shots were fired, then lingered outside for at least four minutes.

Asked what the deputy should have done, Israel replied: 'Went in. Addressed the killer. Killed the killer.'

Peterson has not given a reason for why he did not enter the building, Israel said.

Neither the deputy nor any representatives could immediately be reached for comment.

Israel said he would not release the video at this time and may never do so, 'depending on the prosecution and criminal case' against Cruz, the 19-year-old former student who is charged with 17 counts of premeditated murder in the assault.

Authorities have said that Cruz, who was expelled from Stoneman Douglas High last year for unspecified disciplinary problems, made his getaway moments after the shooting by blending in with students fleeing the school for safety.

Police officers arriving on the scene from the adjacent city of Coral Springs thought the gunman was still inside as they searched the building, based on a security camera video feed that they mistakenly believed was showing them real-time images but was actually footage from 20 minutes earlier.
The police chief tasked with dismantling sophisticated cocaine syndicates operating out of Sydney's ritzy eastern suburbs says buying cocaine is 'just like ordering pizza'.

Detective Chief Inspector Stuart Bell said almost one kilogram of cocaine had been seized by police in an operation specifically targeting the dealers.

Police Strike Force Northrop, which has been in full force since last year, has led to the arrests of 79 alleged cocaine dealers.

'It's just like ordering a pizza,' Inspector Bell told Nine News who were granted permission to film his team carrying out a number of arrests.

'They ring up, order the cocaine and it gets delivered to a location.'

'While the demand is high, we'll continue to run these types of investigations.'

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79 people have been arrested in Sydney as police sting targets 'dial-a-dealer' cocaine syndicates

The syndicates are alleged to have used a central phone number for customers to contact and organise a drug drop at a location of their choice

Inspector Bell on Friday said his team had retrieved about 2000 phone numbers from the alleged cocaine dealers' phones.

Alleged customers whose numbers were saved in confiscated phones received a surprising text message from NSW police.

'This phone number has been ID'd as part of a NSWPF Cocaine investigation in the Sydney area. If you have any information please contact Crime Stoppers on 1300 333 000.'

Whilst people were under no obligations to respond to the text message, police were encouraged by the fact that some did.

Detective Bell says contacting people at the bottom of the syndicate has the potential to open up an array of new leads, and develop current cases.

Almost an entire kilogram of cocaine, with a street value of $300,000 has been seized

Police Strike Force Northrop are continuing to work on dismantling the elaborate cocaine syndicate

As well as the cocaine kept off the streets and people arrested, over $177,000 has been seized.

In the second phase of the operation, which is currently in motion, undercover officers track and watch deals as they occur.

The team is divided, with some being on foot and others in a car.

In separate motions, the two teams engage the two participants. One group takes the seller whilst the other confronts the buyer.

In a single bust, police seized 25 bags of cocaine worth $7500.

The success of the operation speaks for itself, with rumours swirling that it will soon be implemented in busting ice dealers across New South Wales.
The Mormon missionary jailed in Venezuela over bogus claims of government espionage has spoken of his prison hell and how his new wife was electrocuted and tortured to elicit a false confession about her American husband.

In an exclusive interview with DailyMail.com, Josh Holt said he's 'grateful to God' he and Venezuelan wife Thamy Caleno, who was also jailed, survived their two-year ordeal.

Speaking from his home in Riverton, Utah, Josh tells how callous Venezuelan intelligence operatives roughed him up and terrified him with staged fake executions.

And the 26-year-old recalls how he navigated his way through a violent prison riot at the notorious El Helicoide prison in Caracas, was forced to defecate on newspaper in his cockroach infested cell, didn't shower for two years and changed his body clock to avoid contact with violent gangsters and killers during the day.

SCROLL DOWN FOR VIDEO HOLT TOOK IN PRISON

Mormon missionary Josh Holt (at left after his release and at right while he was in prison) said he's 'grateful to God' he and wife Thamy Caleno survived their two years trapped in prison in Venezuela over bogus claims of government espionage

Speaking from his home in Riverton, Utah, Josh, pictured above with his wife Thamy, tells how callous Venezuelan intelligence operatives roughed him up and terrified him with staged fake executions

'It was as close to hell as you can imagine,' said Josh, taking a deep breath. 'We're lucky to have made it out alive. When I first got there I was terrified and became very ill.

'They threw me in a tiny cell barely big enough to fit a bunk bed in with no toilet. I had to crap on newspaper on the floor and pee in a bottle, the stench was unbearable.

'In the first six months I dropped 60lb in weight, I had bronchitis, scabies, kidney stones and hemorrhoids and the only medical attention I was given was a shot of pain killers.

'I was in constant pain in my stomach and one of my teeth split in two. I had agonizing tooth ache for three months and didn't once see a dentist or receive medication.'

Josh has shared his astonishing story with DailyMail.com just a week after meeting President Donald Trump at the White House and returning to his home in Salt Lake City, Utah, where he was greeted by hundreds of jubilant family and friends.

But while Josh describes his own personal hell, his wife Thamy, who he had only wed two weeks prior, also reveals how she was brutally tortured by members of Venezuela's feared spy agency Bolivariano de Inteligencia Nacional (SEBIN).

Tightly clasping Josh's hand and breaking down in tears, Thamy recalled: 'They covered my eyes, wrapped my arms in newspaper and electrocuted me with a taser, and they put the ends of my fingers in a pencil sharpener. I was so scared.

'They wanted me to sign a confession that Josh was part of an espionage plot, that he led a CIA team sent to undermine the Venezuelan government, that he had killed people. I just cried and refused.'

Josh and Thamy were released from a Venezuelan prison last month and returned home to Utah on May 28. They're pictured above with Josh's family. Back row, from left to right, is Josh's brother Derek Holt, father Jason Holt, mother Laurie Holt, and sister Jenna Holt. Front row, from left to right are Thamy's daughter marian and Nathalia, Josh and Thamy

Josh, an eagle scout, is a member of The Church of Jesus Christ and the Latter-Day Saints in Utah. He's pictured above with his family after finishing a two-year mission in Everett, Washington

Josh met Thamy, 27, in January, 2016 on Mormon.org, a religious community website.

'At first we spoke in English and then when she found out I could speak Spanish we really hit it off,' said Josh.

'It was a relationship not confused by physical attraction, she was very beautiful, but we connected mentally and spiritually.'

Josh, an eagle scout, is also a member of The Church of Jesus Christ and the Latter-Day Saints in Utah.

He had just returned from a two-year mission in Everett, Washington, where he became fluent in Spanish.

Josh and Thamy continued to talk on the phone daily, before arranging to meet in the Dominican Republic.

It was May, 2016 and Josh didn't waste any time.

'We'd been there for three days and I got down on one knee and proposed,' recalled Josh.

'At first she was like, "What are you doing, get up", then she burst into tears. It was a very happy moment.'

Thamy said with a smile: 'His hands were shaking, it was very strange to me what was happening, he was nervous, but I was very happy.'

A month later in June Josh booked his flight to Venezuela to marry his true love.

'We were in love, it was very exciting and it was all moving very fast,' he said. 'We got married on June 11th after four days in Caracas.

'We had to wait in line at a government office and we went in to this room with our paperwork and sign something and we were married. It was nothing big, only Thamy's family was there.

Josh met Thamy, 27, in January, 2016 on Mormon.org, a religious community website for like minded Mormons. They married in June of the same year

'We went back to her cousin's apartment to celebrate afterwards, it was a special day.'

Josh says the couple then went on a week-long honeymoon to Coche Island in the Caribbean between Isla Margarita and mainland Venezuela.

On their return the couple stayed in Ciudad Caribia, a government-owned housing development in Caracas where Thamy lived, while awaiting her US visa to be approved.

On the morning of June 30 Josh was woken abruptly by his new wife at 6am.

'She had this terrified look on her face,' recalled Josh. 'She told me, "Josh they're breaking into the apartments". I wasn't sure whether she was talking about the police or criminals.

'That's when I started hearing people screaming and kids crying, we were pretty scared and we began to pray.'

The police were searching apartments for men and Josh believes the officers, who referred to him as the 'gringo', had purposely targeted him.

'It was as if they knew about me, they knew I would be there,' he said.

The police then burst into Thamy's apartment, looked at Josh's passport and quickly left.

But 45 minutes later a larger group of officers, most armed with rifles, came back and demanded to see Josh's phone and baggage.

They also removed Josh from the apartment.

Thamy says it was then the officers searched the property from top to bottom, but found nothing.

Joshua Holt, 26, flew into Salt Lake City International Airport on Monday night with his wife Thamara Caleno and her daughter just two days after being released from the Venezuelan prison

An exhausted but grateful Holt arrived home to be greeted by his grandmother Linda Holt who draped an American flag around his shoulders as they embraced

An exhausted but grateful Holt arrived home to a tearful, cheering crowd holding signs with messages including: 'We never gave up'

Unbeknownst to Josh and Thamy the police planted an AK-47, an imitation M-15 assault rifle and a pineapple grenade in the apartment  items they hadn't discovered in the initial search.

Then at some point a senior female officer demanded $10,000 from Thamy  a blackmail which Josh's parents regret not knowing about.

Shocked Thamy refused and the officer said, 'Then this is my house'.

Corrupt police even brought in 'witnesses' from other apartments in the block to see the weapons and testify in court.

Officers trawled through Josh's phone as well and discovered photos of him and his family out hunting and carrying guns.

They also found Josh's concealed carry permit from the state of Utah.

'They discovered I owned guns at home in America and that's when things changed, they became really suspicious,' said Josh. 'They said I was part of some big CIA plot to attack Venezuela.

'They had put me in the back of an old pick-up truck, they were doing mock executions, dry firing at me, hitting me over the head, roughing me around, calling me names.

'They said, "You Americans, you're racist, we're gonna beat you like you beat the blacks".'

All Josh could think of is that the police intended to kill him.

'I'm thinking they're playing Russian roulette with me, messing with me until they finally do it and dump my body,' he said.

And if Josh's day wasn't already bad, while he was being transported to prison shots rang out.

Friends and family tearfully hug and greet Holt after he flew into Salt Lake City on Monday night

Josh helped his wife Thamara Caleno down the escalators at Salt Lake City airport after they both received medical treatment following their imprisonment

Holt exchanged long hugs with his friends while the crowd sang 'The Star-Spangled Banner' as they took over the airport terminal on Monday

The pick up truck he was in pulled over and the officers jumped out and began shooting.

'They got into a fire-fight with some local criminals, they started shooting, they told me to get down then had me hide behind the wheel of the truck, it was crazy,' Josh recalled.

Josh and Thamy were taken separately, first to a police station, and then to the El Helicoide facility, where the couple would be held for the next two years without trial and with little hope of release.

Guards held them in a room full off people and they had Josh and Thamy watch as they beat and tortured people with fists and sticks.

'They were threatening me for information, they had a video camera on me, asking me why I was here, what I was doing,' said Josh of his interrogation.

Thamy's was worse, however.

Thamy, who speaks only a few words of English, spoke through the couple's attorney Carlos Trujillo, who translated.

She said: 'They tortured me because I wouldn't sign a piece of paper. They yelled at me and tried to confuse me to turn me against Joshua. I just cried and cried.'

After four days of being stuck in a waiting room at the headquarters of SEBIN Josh and Thamy were taken to a court where a judge jailed them for 45 days while their case was investigated.

Josh was thrown in a tiny cell barely big enough to fit a bunk bed.

It was so hot Josh sat there in his underwear.

He recalled: 'They brought me this food in a Styrofoam box, it was rice and chicken. I picked out 45 pieces of rice and said once this is gone I'm done.

'It was daunting, I just kept playing over and over asking why did this happen. But I just kept thinking I have to be strong.

'They had me in that room for two weeks to break me down, they just wanted me to suffer. I didn't see anyone in that time other than the guards, no one from the US Embassy came to visit. In fact I didn't see anyone for the first six months.'

The couple was eventually moved into general population at El Helicoide.

The notorious prison is a vast pyramid-shaped 1950s shopping mall that was converted into the headquarters of SEBIN  now a crumbling symbol of Venezuela's slump into authoritarianism.

'We finally got our freedom,' an exhausted but grateful Holt said as he arrived home to a tearful, cheering crowd holding signs with messages including: 'We never gave up'

Holt was reunited with his stepdaughter Nathalia when he arrived back in Utah on Monday night

Holt was greeted by Caleno's daughter from a previous relationship, 7-year-old Nathalia Carrasco, who has been living at his mother Laurie's home since February

It serves as an interrogation and torture pen for prisoners and political activists.

Male and female inmates are regularly beaten and tortured here with reports claiming conditions are so bad that some prisoners were forced to eat pasta mixed with human excrement and had tear gas powder shoved up their nose.

Josh remembers the conditions being torture enough.

The foul stench of urine and feces hung in the air, and Josh recalls how he often struggled to breathe amid the seething heat.

After two weeks he was moved from his tiny one-man cell to a larger, but still small room with six other men - gangsters, murderers and political activists.

There in that dank cell he spent almost 24 hours a day.

The inmates had bunk beds with thin mattresses but no toilet or wash facilities.

'The cell was dimly lit, like a dungeon and there was seven of us in there,' Josh said.

'We had to lay newspaper on the floor and take a crap. We peed in a bottle. Imagine the stench after the bottle was filled.

'There was no exercise yard or walking around, we only ever went outside if we were going to court. They gave us an hour every day at 9pm to shave, use the rest room have a shower. A shower was pouring cold water over your head with a cup.

'But that hour was more like five minutes, you had guards shouting at you, moving you along.'

For Josh, though, the time was precious, because amazingly he was able to see his wife.

'Every night I would see Thamy to receive two large bottles of water and tell her I love her and give her a kiss, small mercies,' he said.

'Man, that was a long vacation,' Holt joked as he thanked everyone who helped him and his wife Thamara Caleno eventually get released from the jail

Josh also trained his body to sleep during the day and be awake at night.

He explained: 'It was easier that way, Thamy did the same. She was badly beaten by one of the women in her cell, it was better to avoid people, avoid conflict.'

As the days and months went by Josh would hear from other prisoners, some who had TVs, that the Venezuelan government was describing him as an American spy.

'They were saying I was the head CIA boss in Venezuela, a military pilot, because I had almost got my pilot's license, and a terrorist. They said I was sent by Obama to take over Caracas,' Josh said.

'They also accused me of killing someone in Venezuela in April. I was literally gob-smacked, it was laughable, I was a Mormon missionary not an international spy.'

The couple had over 20 postponements to court dates, with their trial looking less likely to happen every day.

'No evidence was ever presented, the judge and the prosecutor would fight. There was no end in sight,' Josh explained.

Due to the prison's lax security Josh was able to buy a cell phone through another inmate who had it smuggled in.

It was a crucial line of communication with his family that helped him get through the ordeal.

He kept the phone secret and only used it to send text messages or send videos from within his cell.

'It was a real life-line,' said Josh.

Josh's mother Laurie Holt was the person responding to most of her son's messages.

She said it helped the family deal with Josh's predicament.

Caleno's daughter from a previous relationship, 7-year-old Nathalia Carrasco, who has been living in the US since February greets her sister Marian who traveled with the couple from Caracas

Josh walked out of the airport with his mother Laurie Holt (left) and the rest of his family on Monday after returning to Utah

'We would feel guilty if we did anything, we became hermits, I just did not want to go outside,' she said. 'We stopped going out to dinner, movies and stuff like that.

'Not only did I feel guilty because of Josh's situation but we'd been asking people for money to help us with the lawyer, so it didn't seem right having a nice dinner.'

Laurie added that Christmases, birthdays, Thanksgiving and Mother's Day had been 'horrible'.

'You can't function as a parent knowing that your child is locked away in a hell-hole. We'd get these videos knowing that he's suffering,' she said.

One of the occasions when Josh felt compelled to make a video to post on social media came six months ago when a riot broke out at El Helicoide on the eve of a highly controversial presidential election that opponents denounced as a fraud.

Josh and a few other inmates barricaded themselves inside their cell to avoid being attacked or being caught in the cross-fire when government forces try to retake the prison.

Josh was visiting with Thamy in the hallway, some of her friends from outside were also there.

He made a video using the smuggled cell phone, in which he was visibly distraught and suggested his patience was running out with the US Government.

Josh said on the video: 'We don't know what to do. We need help from the people of Venezuela and also the people of the United States.'

Josh said the riot was 'scary'.

'There were four women in the cell with me and one of my neighbors, we locked ourselves in and put the bed against the door,' he said.

'We felt under threat, people were going crazy, smashing the prison up, we didn't know what was going to happen.

'I made the video to see if I could get help to the prison. My life was in danger and I was like, enough is enough.

Josh Holt, his wife Thamara and her daughter were pictured boarding a plane at the airport in Caracas, Venezuela on Saturday

Holt met with President Donald Trump in the Oval Office on May 26 after being released from prison in Venezuela

'I felt like the US Government had abandoned me, I didn't know what was going on and all I heard was we're trying and we're working on it. But nothing seemed to happen, my case never got sent to court for trial.'

The US Government did eventually step up and senior politicians must be credited for pushing for Josh and Thamy's release.

'Relying on each other and relying on our faith, that's what kept us alive,' said Josh. 'We'd pray, we'd fast, read the scriptures. We just tried to trust in God.

'Later on we had four visits a week where we could talk and make plans and that helped a lot, it felt like we did have a future.

'Of course there were times where there were negative thoughts, depression, but you just have to fight through them.'

Then one night a prison supervisor paid Josh a visit and said, 'maybe you might be released tomorrow'.

Josh didn't get too excited - in the past he had been cruelly pranked by prison guards.

But this time it was true.

Members of the SEBIN escorted Josh and Thamy to the airport and within hours they were deported to Washington being checked out by Trump's personal physician.

The couple then met with Trump.

Josh recalled: 'It was pretty cool, he said I was a remarkable young man but too be honest all the press were brought in straight away so there wasn't any small talk.'

Holt's parents, Laurie and Jason Holt, were on hand when their son met the president at the White House on Saturday last week.

Thamy and Josh, pictured after their release from prison, had married just days before their arrest in Venezuela in 2016

Two days later Holt landed back home in Salt Lake City, Utah, and was greeted by a large crowd of family and friends, some holding signs in English and Spanish saying 'We never gave up' and Let Freedom Ring'.

Holt's grandmother, Malinda, draped an American flag around her grandson's shoulders during the emotional homecoming as the crowd sang the national anthem.

For Holt, being back home on US soil surrounded by his family as a free man has still yet to sink in.

Now over week after the release mom Laurie says her son's sparkle is beginning to return.

'Everyday I can see his personality come back, the happiness, the dark circles leaving. It's good to have him home, he's not going anywhere anytime soon,' she added.

Laurie credits the Trump administration for pushing for her son's release, saying President Obama 'did nothing' to help.

She especially wants to thanks Utah Senator Orrin Hatch who was instrumental in the release.

Josh is now keen to start a family with Thamy, to add to her daughters Marian, nine, and Nathalia, seven.

'I want to get a job first so I can put food on the table,' he said. 'It was so unreal to be home hugging my mom and dad and at the same time presenting to them my wife who they hadn't yet met.'

And Josh isn't shy when admitting he's thrilled to have his creature comforts back.

'I loved that first hot shower, I took about 30 minutes, and wow sleeping on a comfy bed for the first time in two years,' he said.

He added: 'We have to thank everyone that supported us, everyone that prayed for us, that put our names in the temples. Everyone that was there for us and in the end thank God, he was the one that got us through it.'
James Ring, 21, pleaded guilty to the manslaughter of Aria after denying her murder at Maidstone Crown Court in Kent

A father who furiously shook his two-month-old daughter with 'severe and excessive force' as he struggled to feed her has been jailed for eight years.

James Ring was alone with baby Aria at his home in Dover, Kent, when he lost his temper in frustration.

Just two weeks earlier the 21-year-old had swung his hand back and struck the newborn to the back of her head as she lay on a changing mat.

On that occasion, her mother immediately stepped in, only to be told by Ring that he was simply winding her.

However, he later admitted he hit her because he was 'a little frustrated' by her crying.

But having shaken her on January 7 last year, he claimed the tiny baby, weighing just 7lb 9oz, had simply gone limp as he cradled her in his arm while trying to bottle feed her.

Maidstone Crown Court in Kent heard he denied in repeated interviews with police that he had either hit, dropped or shaken her.

Despite medical evidence to the contrary, Ring kept up his pretence until just days before his trial was due to start today.

Having denied charges of murder and manslaughter, Ring finally confessed to shaking his daughter in the 17-minute period they were alone together.

His plea of guilty to manslaughter was accepted by the prosecution.

The court heard shaking Aria with such force caused a bleed to her brain and the effect was either immediate or within seconds.

The injury was so severe and irreversible that her family was told she was unlikely to survive and her life support was switched off two days later on January 9.

Prosecutor Philippa McAtasney QC told the court Ring was interviewed on three occasions before being charged with Aria's murder in November.

He was specifically asked about shaken baby syndrome and had 'every opportunity' to tell the truth but chose not to.

'He said she seemed absolutely fine and then went limp. He was in a panic because he didn't know what had happened and maintained that he had not hit, dropped or done anything to harm his baby daughter. He said he had not lost his temper,' said Miss McAtasney.

James Ring was alone with baby Aria at his home in Dover, Kent, when he lost his temper in frustration

'The injury was consistent with shaking and the force used was likely to have been excessive and severe. It would have caused her to go limp immediately or seconds after the force was applied.

'James Ring was not being truthful when he said his daughter was fine and then suddenly went limp for no reason.

'The truth is that this defendant has known since he did it on January 7, 2017, that he caused the injury and death of his tiny, defenceless baby daughter by shaking her.

'He has kept that truth to himself until last week when he entered his plea of guilty to manslaughter.'

Doctors also found evidence of an old impact injury caused when Ring struck her head but this would not have been fatal, added the prosecutor.

She also refuted Ring's legal team's argument that Ring, who was unemployed, was 'at the end of his tether'.

Aria was born prematurely in November 2016 and weighed just 4lbs 9oz.

She spent several days in hospital but was said to be developing well after being allowed home.

Her family described the tot as 'precious, perfect and beautiful'.

Ring, however, was said to be immature, lazy, prone to telling lies and 'always on his Xbox'.

Doctors also found evidence of an old impact injury caused when Ring struck her head but this would not have been fatal, added the prosecutor

He and Aria's mother, who cannot be identified for legal reasons, also argued about his watching of pornography.

As doctors at the William Harvey Hospital in Ashford, Kent, and London's Evelina Hospital fought to save Aria's life, he was said to be emotionless while the youngster's mum, described as doting and loving, was hysterical.

The court heard that she also told them of the earlier incident when Ring had struck his daughter to her head.

Jailing him, Judge Philip Statman said that despite support from family and ongoing help from health agencies, he had ignored 'the cardinal rule' of not shaking a baby.

'On January 7, 2017, you were left alone with baby Aria. At a time when you were feeding her you shook her, and shook her with catastrophic consequences.

'You knew when you did so just how vulnerable baby Aria was at that age should she be shaken...You knew exactly how a baby should be handled and supported.'

Judge Statman added that Ring was in total denial up until he finally revealed just five days ago what he had done to his daughter.

He also told him that while he may have been tired and stressed, he was not at the end of his tether.

Of Aria's mum, who was sobbing in court, Judge Statman praised her courage and ability to care for her.

'The effect of Aria's death is utterly impossible to quantify. It is against the natural order for a baby to leave before a mother in this way,' he added.

'It goes without saying that no sentence by this court can bring baby Aria back. No mathematical exercise could come anywhere near the pain and distress that a case of this nature causes.'

Family members were in tears as they left the courtroom.

The prosecution offered no evidence to the charge of murder.
The Jeremy Thorpe case, one of Britains most notorious political scandals, could be reopened after police were forced to admit that Andrew Newton, the hitman suspected of attempting to murder the Liberal MPs gay lover Norman Scott, is still alive.

However, when officers rushed to Andrew Newtons home to confront the alleged assassin, they found that he had vanished, despite being spotted walking to the Surrey home he is believed to share with companion Patsy Frankham over the weekend.

The Jeremy Thorpe case, one of Britains most notorious political scandals, could be reopened

MailOnline also revealed on Friday that Newton had been using the alias Hann Redwin after neighbours had confirmed that he was alive and well, but had fled hours before the police arrived on Sunday. These developments could result in fresh prosecution in the 40-year-old case.

The Jeremy Thorpe scandal was retold in the BBC three-part-drama, A Very English Scandal which came to an end on Sunday night and millions watched the former Liberal MP, played by Hugh Grant, acquitted for plotting to kill his former lover, Norman Scott (Ben Whishaw) by hiring Andrew Newton, played by Inbetweeners star Blake Harrison. But who was Jeremy Thorpe?

Norman Scott arriving at Old Bailey, who claimed to have had a love affair with Jeremy Thorpe

Jeremy Thorpe

Born John Jeremy Thorpe on April 29, 1929, in South Kensington, London, to former lawyer and Conservative politician John Henry Thorpe and Ursula Norton-Griffiths, played by Patricia Hodge in A Very English Scandal, Jeremy was the youngest of three children.

After being educated at Cothill House, the Oxfordshire school that prepared boys for schooling at the prestigious Eton College, the Thorpes relocated to Surrey in 1939 with the Second World Wars imminence and a year later, the children were sent to Boston to live with their aunt in America.

On his return to the UK in 1943, Jeremy started at Eton where he was somewhat of an annoyance to the other students by parading the famous and important people his family associated with and the traditionalists by resigning from the cadet force.

He was also vocal about his intention to marry Princess Margaret, at the time the second in line to the throne. Although his time at Eton was marred by his fathers death in 1944, at the age of 57, he did win a cup for his violin playing and considered a career as a violinist.

After Jeremy secured a place at Trinity College, Oxford, he began 18 months of National Service but was later discharged after collapsing while attempting an assault course. He then worked as a teacher before attending the university.

Despite reading law, his interests were political and Jeremy went on to seek office at first in the Oxford University Liberal Club and was elected as its president in 1949. Having been accepted as a potential Liberal parliamentary candidate, he was adopted as North Devons candidate in 1952.

Jeremy Thorpe, wife Mrs Marion Thorpe and their son Rupert Thorpe pictured here

Following this, in need of income, Thorpe was employed as a chairman of a science discussion programme, called The Scientist Replies and then an interviewer on a current affairs show, This Week.

Juggling this with his political duties had resulted in Jeremy garnering recognition in terms of celebrity in the 1950s, during which he was leading a secret homosexual life, which was illegal at the time in the United Kingdom.

Jeremy Thorpe won the North Devon seat over his Conservative opponent in 1959 and as an MP, worked to improve employment and established an informal organisation called Winnable Seats, which directed energy and funding to particular constituencies.

In the 1960s, he was considered as the next logical Liberal Party leader after Jo Grimond announced that he would be stepping down. However, he found himself at odds with the Young Liberals who were advocating policies far left to that of the Liberal mainstream.

Despite poor performance, these criticisms were stifled when Jeremys wife Caroline was killed 10 days later in a car crash after the election and for much of the year after she died, he was dedicated to planning a permanent memorial for her.

After becoming fully engaged in politics, Thorpe married Marion Stein, a concert pianist and she cared for Jeremy and Carolines son, Rupert Thorpe who went on to become a freelance photographer. In the 1970s, with the government in a hung parliament, the Liberals were forced into a coalition with the Conservatives.

In the months after the 1974 election, as well as being deflated by the outcome, Thorpe was preoccupied by the threat of his former lover Norman Scott, who made a complaint against him and revealed that they had been involved in a sexual relationship.

Jeremy Thorpe arriving at the Old Bailey court where he was tried for incitement to murder

Jeremy Thorpe scandal

Although Jeremy Thorpes homosexual activities were investigated by the police, no action was taken against him and the information was added to his MI5 file. Thorpe also survived a party inquiry into his relationship with Norman Scott due to the riding instructor and would-be models allegations.

Then known as Norman Josiffe, he met Thorpe in 1961 when he was a groom for one of Jeremys friends and although the meeting had been brief, Scott travelled to London to visit the House of Commons and ask the Liberal MP for help.

While Thorpe acknowledged that a friendship had developed, he denied a physical relationship, while Norman stated that the politician had seduced him that very night. Thorpe then made several attempts to find Scott work and because of this, Norman grew resentful.

In A Very English Scandal, this resentment is transformed into something playful and a joke is made out of the number of times Norman Scott had asked Jeremy Thorpe for his National Insurance card.

Ben Whishaw seen here as Norman Scott with Hugh Grant as Jeremy Thorpe, in the BBC drama

Scott even met with Thorpes friend Peter Bessell, played by Alex Jennings in the BBC drama, who went on to pay him a 5 retainer to keep him quiet after convincing Norman that his threats could be perceived as blackmail.

Norman married in 1969 but it ended a year later. He then moved to the Welsh village Talybont where he befriended Gwen Parry-Jones to whom he recounted his mistreatment by Jeremy Thorpe and after a bout of depression, Norman began to tell his story to anyone who would listen.

In fear, it is alleged that Thorpe requested that Scott be silenced and through his friend David Holmes intermediaries, Andrew Newton, an airline pilot, was paid between 5,000 to 10,000 to kill Norman.

During this time, it is also thought that the MP procured 20,000 from a Liberal Party fundee, but the money went straight to Holmes, instead of the party.

Even though Thorpe denied that the money had been used to pay Andrew Newton, the hitman made a bungled attempt to shoot Norman but ended up killing a dog that Scott was looking after at the time. He was then arrested for possession of a firearm, but this news was not widely publicised.

Jeremy Thorpe trial

In 1976, Norman Scott who was in court on a minor social security fraud charge, said that he was being hounded because of his previous relationship with Jeremy Thorpe. As this accusation was made in court and therefore, Scott was protected from libel laws, it was reported by the media.

Newtons trial began in March of the same year and Scott repeated his allegations against the Liberal MP. While Andrew Newton was sentenced to two years in prison, Thorpe was not incriminated but The Sunday Times went on to print Jeremys answer to Scotts allegations under the heading of The Lies of Norman Scott.

Hann Redwin, formerly known as Andrew Newton, poses at the annual Skin Two Rubber Ball

The Jeremy Thorpe case trial started on May 8, 1979 and lasted for six weeks, before Mr Justice Cantley and the MP was defended by George Carman. After Thorpe and the others chose to remain silent and refused to testify, the closing remarks by the judge emphasised Thorpes public record, while referring to Scott as a fraud.

In a 2014 BBC documentary, an antique firearms collector called Dennis Meighan said that he had been hired by an unidentified senior Liberal to kill Norman Scott for 13,500, but had passed on the job to his associate Andrew Newton and given him the gun.

Meighan revealed that he was asked to sign a prepared statement which left everything out that was incriminating, but at the same time everything I said about the Liberal Party, Jeremy Thorpe, et cetera, was left out as well.

This resulted in the indication of the existence of a conspiracy and in 2016, the Avon and Somerset police passed their files to the Gwent Police to be reviewed amid the original investigation, but the conclusion that the police came to was that Andrew Newton had died.

Norman Scott, who is still alive, is pictured here on his farm in Devon, England in 2014

Jeremy Thorpes last public appearance was in 2009 at the unveiling of a bust of himself in the Grimond Room at the House of Commons. He was then confined to his home and was nursed by Marion until she died on March 6, 2014. He survived her by nine months, dying on December 4, 2014.
A large shopping centre in China was turned into an inferno over the weekend after a fire engulfed it for more than two days.

Over 1,000 firefighters and 200 fire engines were sent to the six-storey building to put out the flames in Sichuan Province.

No casualties have been reported.

Fire engulfed the large shopping centre in Dazhou, China's Sichuan Province, for over two days

The flames first started in the basement in the evening of Friday and quickly spread out

1,057 firemen and 219 fire engines were sent from nearby cities to Dazhou to put out the fire

The fire occurred in the Tatuo Market, a wholesale market in the city of Dazhou that sells clothing, fashion accessories, home appliances, etc.

According to Dazhou Fire-fighting Department, the blazed started in the basement at around 6pm on Friday.

The basement has a cold storage warehouse occupying more than 4,000 square metres (43,055 square feet), said the authority.

The rest of the basement, measuring more than 10,000 square metres (107,639 square feet), is reported to have separate small warehouses storing general commodities.

The local fire-fighting department was it was 'extremely difficult' to put out the blaze

The Dazhou authority said firefighters had to break into individual stalls and warehouses

The group of firefighters nap on the street after trying to put out the fire for dozens of hours

The flames quickly spread from the basement to the upper floors, which contains three storeys of small shops, another storey of warehouses and a karaoke parlour on the top floor.

Dazhou Fire-fighting Department said it was 'extremely difficult' to put out the fire because firefighters had to break into stalls and warehouses one by one to control the dangerous situation.

The officers also had to take turns every 20 minutes due to the high temperatures and toxic gases inside the burning building.

The blaze was put out at around 10pm on Saturday but it reignited one hour later after commodities caught fire under hot smoke.

The fire broke out at a six-storey mall in Dazhou, south-west China's Sichuan Province

Flames were said to burst out in multiple places on the first and fourth floor and the floor boards on the ground floor partially collapsed under the high temperatures.

The authority continued to send firefighters and fire engines to the scene.

According to Sichuan News, 1,057 firefighters and 219 fire engines had been dispatched from nearby cities to Dazhou to help battle the massive inferno as of Sunday afternoon.

The fire was completely put out as of 11am local time today - 65 hours after it had started.

Footage released by Dazhou Internet Propaganda Office shows residents lining up the street to thank the firefighters as they finished their mission and left the city this afternoon.
Theresa May moved to stamp her authority over immigration policy today after new Home Secretary Sajid Javid raised doubts about key parts of her legacy.

Downing Street insisted ministers were 'absolutely' determined to cut net migration below 100,000 a year.

The pledge comes after Mr Javid gave only tepid support for the target during an interview over the weekend - leading to suspicion in Westminster he was plotting to scrap it outright.

Pressed repeatedly on whether he backed the goal, he merely noted that it was a Tory manifesto commitment. The promise has been a flagship Tory commitment for a decade despite support in the Cabinet being threadbare beyond Mrs May herself.

Downing Street insisted the immigration target remained in place despite Sajid Javid (pictured giving a speech today) giving tepid support during an interview over the weekend

Tory backbenchers have urged Theresa May (pictured at church with husband Philip yesterday) to relaxed visa rules in order to tackle staffing shortages

Mr Javid also said he was considering whether students should be taken out of the immigration figures - a prospect that has been firmly rejected by Mrs May.

And he signalled a U-turn over the cap on visas for NHS staff recruited from outside the EU.

The Prime Minister's spokesman told a briefing for journalists today that it would 'take time' to hit the target but it remained in force.

'It is a long-standing manifesto commitment,' the spokesman said.

'I think the public are clear that they do want migration reducing to sustainable levels.'

The spokesman also said that visa routes are 'always under review' amid concerns about the ability of the NHS to recruit foreign doctors under the current monthly quota system for Tier 2 visas.

'Currently around one third of all tier 2 places go to the NHS and there are now record numbers working in the NHS,' the spokesman said.

'Visa routes are always under review and we are monitoring the situation in relation to visa applications for doctors including the monthly limits through the tier 2 visa route.'

Dismissing the prospect of students being removed from the immigration targets, the spokesman said: 'The Government is absolutely clear that international students are greatly valued by the UK and we remain committed to ensuring our top universities are a magnet for talented students from around the world.

'We have been very clear that there is no limit on the number of genuine students that can come to study here but we need to be able to plan for the services they need so it is important we have a full picture of who is arriving and who is leaving.'

Appearing on the BBC's Andrew Marr show yesterday, Home Secretary Sajid Javid said he 'saw the problem' with the cap on non-EU staff coming to fill posts in the health service

A group of Tory backbenchers wrote to Mrs May last week warning the Tier 2 rules were fuelling staff shortages in the NHS.

Asked about the issue on the BBC's Andrew Marr show yesterday, Mr Javid said: 'I can see the problem with that.

'It is something I am taking a fresh look at.'

Pressed repeatedly on whether he personally believed in the 'tens of thousands' target for net annual immigration, Mr Javid merely said it was in the Tory manifesto.

'I'm committed to our manifesto but what that means is that over the next few years I'll be working towards reducing net migration and bringing it to lower sustainable levels,' he said.

Mrs May has faced repeated calls to exclude foreign students from the push to cut net migration. Scottish Conservative leader Ruth Davidson is among those to have urged the change.

In another apparently split from the premier, Mr Javid said he 'empathised' with the calls and it was 'something I would like to look at again'.
Adam Bennett served with the United States Air Force in Greece, Italy and Spain

The family of a Second World War veteran who died after a carer beat the 91-year-old, breaking his ribs and puncturing a lung, have filed a lawsuit against an assisted living facility.

Adam Neil Bennett died on August 18, 2017, at WellStar Kennestone Hospital, in Marietta, Georgia, several days after he was beaten.

Mr Bennett, who served with the United States Air Force in Greece, Italy and Spain, moved to the area to be closer to his family after the death of his wife Nancy in 2008, according to an obituary in the Ithaca Journal.

Landon Terrel has admitted to police that he beat the elderly man to death while caring for him at Sunrise at East Cobb, a center in Marietta for people with Alzheimers and other forms of dementia.

The 369-pound carer was booked in Cobb County jail on a felony murder charge, according to an AJC report.

Last Wednesday, the dead mans family filed a lawsuit, alleging that the carer and other workers were not adequately trained, leaving employees stressed.

Personal injury attorney Stephen Chance told AJC that on some nights, Mr Terrel was the only staff member available to look after 20 residents at Sunrise.

Landon Terrel, above, was booked on a felony murder charge

Mr Chance said the center put Mr Terrel in a hopeless situation, and he justifiably became frustrated with Mr Bennett and unjustifiably got violent.

In a statement to AJC, Jenn Clark said the elderly man's death was a terrible tragedy and we are still deeply saddened by this loss.

She added: Under no circumstances do we tolerate the alleged behavior, which goes against our high standards of care and service.

The lawsuit does not ask for a specific amount of compensation. However, Mr Chance said that the family wants answers. They dont want this to happen to anyone else.

Mr Bennett paid $227 a day to stay in the facilitys memory unit, according to the lawsuit.

On its website, the Watkins, Lourie, Roll & Chance law firm said that fortunately, the state of Georgia has taken steps to increase elder abuse reporting and has formulated regulations to protect nursing home residents.

'It is mandatory for nursing home employees to report abuse, neglect or exploitation of residents; failing to do so can result in a criminal misdemeanor.

Adam Neil Bennett, 91, was living at Sunrise at East Cobb, Marietta, but he was beaten, and died in hospital after suffering a punctured lung and broken ribs

In a statement on behalf of the center, Jenn Clark said Mr Bennetts death was a terrible tragedy and we are still deeply saddened by this loss

There are measures in place, recently passed through the Georgia Legislature, that require comprehensive criminal background checks for those wishing to work at nursing homes and assisted living centers.

But, said Mr Chance, the law would not have prevented Mr Bennetts death as Mr Terrel did not have a criminal background.

Tributes posted by friends in response to the death of the 91-year-old, a member of the Rotary Club and the Ithaca Yacht Club, where he loved to sail, included that he was 'modest and a very kind gentleman with a ready smile.
Sajid Javid today issued a stark warning to Brussels that damaging security ties to secure a better Brexit deal for the EU would be help terrorists.

Unveiling a new counter terrorism strategy today, the Home Secretary said it would be 'wrong and reckless' to advocate any 'unnecessary reduction' in co-operation.

Britain has insisted throughout the Brexit negotiations security need not be threatened because many of the partnerships and institutions lie outside the EU.

Mr Javid described how all of the European counterparts he has met so far are in favour of continuing and even deepening links on counter-terrorism and law enforcement.

Sajid Javid today issued a stark warning to Brussels that damaging security ties to secure a better Brexit deal for the EU would be help terrorists

He said: 'They rely so much on the intelligence and information we provide.

'There's not going to be a single European interior minister that would want to explain ... after an attack, how it could have been stopped if the British had still been involved, perhaps with some secret intelligence.

'The benefits are both ways. We all benefit.'

A host of measures and tools have come under scrutiny following the referendum in 2016, and questions over post-Brexit arrangements intensified in the wake of terrorist attacks in the UK and Europe.

Senior figures in policing and counter-terrorism have highlighted the role a series of Europe-wide security structures:

The European Arrest Warrant, a legal framework introduced to speed up the extradition of individuals between member states

The Second Generation Schengen Information System (SIS II), a database of real time alerts

Europol, the EU's law enforcement agency

And the European Criminal Records Information System (ECRIS)

The Government is seeking a bespoke deal on security co-operation with the EU.

A blueprint published last year called for a 'comprehensive' framework to be underpinned by a new treaty.

Senior figures in policing and counter-terrorism (including Met Commissioner Cressida Dick, pictured yesterday at London Bridge) have highlighted the role a series of Europe-wide security structures

Giving his first keynote speech on security since his appointment in April, Mr Javid said: 'We have always been absolutely clear that although we voted to leave the European Union, we are as committed as ever to European security.

'We want, and we need, a deep and special security partnership with the EU after we leave. And the EU needs it too.

'There is not a single European interior minister who wants to reduce the level of co-operation on security that we have now.

'When the British people voted to leave the European Union, they were not voting for us to stop working with our European allies to keep everyone safe.

'So it would be wrong and reckless for anyone to advocate any unnecessary reduction in this co-operation.'
This is the hilarious moment a man is spotted using a beach umbrella as a sail as he is spotted surfing on Komsomolsky pond in Russia.

The unnamed daredevil can be seen in the footage, taken on the onlookers phone, saluting and smiling as he 'brolly surfs' along the water through strong winds in the south-western Stavropol Krai region.

The onlooker, Grigoriy Grishin, was travelling in his boat alongside the funnyman and recorded his unusual sailing method, posting it online later on.

The surfer can be seen struggling to hold the brolly in his hands due to the very powerful wind that day.

Local authorities condemned the man 'dangerous' actions and stressed that such activities might be 'risky for people's lives.'

The unnamed daredevil can be seen in the footage, taken on the onlookers phone, saluting and smiling as he 'brolly surfs' along the water through strong winds

Despite this, Grishin remained impressed by his resourcefulness.

He said: 'This looks really cool.'

Stavropol where the brolly surfing took place has a 'Central Park', one of the biggest city parks in Russia, covering up to 12 hectares.
A black physician has shared video of the shocking moment she was called a 'n*****' by a white woman at an upscale Orlando, Florida resort.

Dr. Covey Banks wrote on Facebook about how she was verbally assaulted by a white family at the Omni Orlando Resort, simply for suggesting they not let their kids pee in the pool.

The incident happened around 10pm on May 26, as Banks and her family were playing in the pool.

At one point, she heard a little girl tell her mother than she wanted to use the restroom. The mom looked around and then told the girl to go in the pool, Banks said.

A black physician has shared video and pictures of a white family verbally assaulting her family at an Orlando, Florida resort last month

Dr. Covey Banks says that the white family started splashing and yelling at her relatives when they suggested their kids not pee in the pool

Banks said she then pointed the location of the restroom out to the mother, who responded by saying 'You don't know what MY daughter is saying'.

After that, Banks said the mother told her kids to start splashing her family.

Eventually, Banks says the mother got her kids and left the pool saying 'come on, let's leave these black b*****s'.

While the mom and kids left, Banks said a woman who appeared to be the family's grandmother stayed around continuing to call them 'black b*****s' over and over again.

Banks even caught the grandmother calling her the n-word in one video which she uploaded to Facebook.

The video shows her talking to the grandfather, when the grandmother all of a sudden starts walking back to the pool, yelling at them.

'Come on leave the n***** alone,' she yells at her husband.

A woman who appeared to by the grandmother of the family was caught on video calling Banks the n-word

At one point, the woman tried to hit the phone out of Banks' niece's hands. Banks swatted her away, an the woman looked at her arm as if she had been injured

The white couple in the video have not been revealed. The grandfather, right, said 'next time don't come to Florida'

'That don't hurt me neither, sweetheart. That just show your ignorance. That name don't bother me,' Banks responds.

The grandmother continues to yell 'black n*****' into Banks' camera.

'Next time don't come to Florida,' her husband says.

Then the grandmother is seen trying to hit the camera out of Banks' neice's hand.

'Don't touch my niece!' Banks yells, swatting the woman away.

'That's going to assault,' the grandfather says threateningly.

'Bye, you're drunk, and so are you, get out of here,' another person off camera says to the white couple.

Afterward, Banks says she complained to the hotel security, but they only talked to the white family to hear their side of the story.

That's when Banks and her family decided to call police.

'Guess who they went to first? I went over to the officer, said Im the one who called, and that they were the ones yelling, making threats and using racial slurs. The officer said we got 2 calls and 2 cars are being dispatched. Ill talk to them and you can talk to the other officer when he gets here. Go stand over there and wait,"' she recalled.

When the other officer arrived, Banks said he asked if they wanted to press charges, but told them she would be arrested too for scratching the grandmother's arm.

'She screams, curses, yells racial slurs, obviously under the influence, swings at my niece but she got a scratch on her arm for being stopped and well BOTH be charged?! 2/3 officers were rude and completely unprofessional,' she said.

On top of that, she says the hotel let the white family stay another two days.

'My niece saw them going into their room, which was in the same building and on the same floor as ours and my kids were frightened when we seen them at the pool later Sunday evening,' Banks wrote.

Since she posted about the incident on Facebook, the hotel has issued a statement saying they don't condone that kind of language and have personally apologized to Banks.

'An incident occurred at our resort in Orlando last weekend. Two families staying with us got into a dispute and one family used racial slurs. The use of such language is completely unacceptable and it will not be tolerated at our hotels and resorts. We are sorry this horrible event occurred at one of our properties and I have personally apologized to Dr. Banks,' , Omni Hotels & Resorts President Peter Strebel said.

While no one has been arrested over the incident, local police will be referring the report to the Osceola County Sheriff's Office for possible charges.

The white couple have not been identified.
A 16-year-old girl was killed and five other people were injured when two boats collided in southeast Missouri over the weekend.

Cali Murphy, of Poplar Bluff, was killed in the Sunday night crash. She was pronounced dead at a local hospital.

The Missouri State Highway Patrol said the accident happened when a boater veered into the path of another vessel on the Black River about eight miles north of Poplar Bluff.

Cali Murphy (pictured), 16, was killed and five other people were injured when two boats collided in southeast Missouri over the weekend

Murphy, of Poplar Bluff, was killed in the Sunday night crash. She was pronounced dead at a local hospital. The Missouri State Highway Patrol said the accident happened when a boater veered into the path of another vessel on the Black River

Matthew Rushin (pictured), 32, received moderate injuries. He was operating the boat that Cali, Shannon and Kirk were riding in

Authorities told KFVS that they recommended charging Braden Bollinger, 27, with three counts of boating while intoxicated resulting in the death of another, resulting in serious physical injury and resulting in physical injury.

Bollinger and Brady Smyth, 50, Kirk Murphy, 35, and Shannon Sisson, 32, were all seriously injured.

Three of the victims were flown from the scene and the others were transported in ambulances.

Matthew Rushin, 32, received moderate injuries.

Authorities said they recommended charging Braden Bollinger, 27, with three counts of boating while intoxicated. Bollinger and Brady Smyth, 50, were in one boat. Kirk Murphy (right), 35, Shannon Sisson (left), 32, were in the second boat. They were seriously injured

Cali (pictured) attended Poplar Bluff High School where she had just finished up her sophomore year

Police said the first boat, a 2003 Alweld, was traveling downstream and was being driven by Bollinger with Smyth onboard.

Bollinger's boat reportedly veered into the path of the other boat, a 1987 Shoalrunner, that was driven upstream by Rushin.

Cali, Kirk Murphy and Sisson were in the boat with Rushin.

Bollinger's boat hit Rushin's vessel head on and the occupants of both boats were ejected.

Cali attended Poplar Bluff High School where she had just finished up her sophomore year.
Donald Trump said Monday on Twitter that he has the power to issue a presidential pardon  to himself.

But he insisted that he's not about to do that because he's innocent of every allegation lobbed at him as a consequence of the wide-ranging special counsel Russia probe.

'As has been stated by numerous legal scholars, I have the absolute right to PARDON myself, but why would I do that when I have done nothing wrong?' Trump tweeted.

'In the meantime, the never ending Witch Hunt, led by 13 very Angry and Conflicted Democrats (& others) continues into the mid-terms!'

Presidential counselor Kellyanne Conway blew up at reporters minutes later, venting that Trump is only talking about a self-pardon because journalists are fixated on the 'hypothetical' scenario.

Donald Trump said Monday on Twitter that he has the power to issue a presidential pardon  to himself

The president answered Washington's latest constitutional question with a tweet, saying he has the power of the self-pardon but would never use it because 'I have done nothing wrong'

Presidential counselor Kellyanne Conway told reporters at the White House that they're spending too much time obsessing over a pardon scenario

'Has he been convicted of a crime?' she demanded to know at the White House.

'He tweeted about it because youre all covering something thats a hypothetical exercise. Thats what you do. I wouldnt say you do it well, but you do it often.'

Conway took a less contentius tone during a televised interview just before her scrum with the larger press corps  who stood waiting between her and the West Wing.

'We were promised Russia collusion,' she said on 'Fox & Friends,' but Democrats are 'still trying to get in his way' and ignoring his policy achievements.

'This whole exercise of whether he will pardon himself is a ridiculous question on its face,' Conway declared, 'because you would pardon yourself if you've done something wrong.'

Rudy Giuliani said Sunday of President Trump: 'He has no intention of pardoning himself'

Trump lawyer Rudy Giuliani said Sunday that a Trump-pardons-Trump scenario is 'not going to happen.'

'The president has no need to do that. He's done nothing wrong,' the former New York City mayor said on NBC's 'Meet the Press' program.

Giuliani admitted such a controversial move 'would probably lead to immediate impeachment.'

Preet Bharara, the former U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York who was fired by Trump, said it would be 'outrageous' if the president pardon himself.

'I think it would be outrageous for a sitting president of the United States to pardon -- I think if the president decided that he was going to pardon himself, I think that it is almost self-executing impeachment,' he said on CNN's 'State of the Union.'

House Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy, a Republican, also weighed in against the idea.

'I don't think a president should pardon themselves,' he said on CNN.

No president in American history has pardoned himself. The presidential pardon power is broad but not limitless, some legal scholars say.

Giuliani argued Trump can do it but won't.

'He has no intention of pardoning himself, but that doesn't say he can't,' he told ABC's 'This Week.' 'I think the political ramifications of that would be tough.'
Thomas Markle Sr was spotted getting a $10 trim and a $5 shave at Mexican barbershop Peluqueria Rosarito on Sunday

He suffered a heart attack less than three weeks ago but Meghan Markle's father already appears to be making a good recovery.

Thomas Markle Sr, 73, looked to be in good health as he visited a barber in his adopted hometown of Rosarito in Baja California.

The retired lighting director spent Sunday afternoon at Peluqueria Rosarito, a unisex salon, where he treated himself to a $10 trim and a $5 shave.

A source told DailyMail.com that Markle appeared 'happy' and was seen smiling to himself as he left the establishment.

'He looked really good,' the onlooker said. 'He seems to have lost a bit of weight and he was very chatty with the barber.'

So fresh, so clean: The 73-year-old left the barbershop showing off his new 'do

Shave and a haircut: Thomas Markle Sr visited Peluqeria Rosarito for a $5 shave and a $10 haircut on Sunday

The retired lighting director is seen getting his hair blow-dried by a hairdresser in his first public appearance in weeks

Snip, snip, snip: A source told DailyMail.com that Markle appeared to be happy and was 'very chatty with the barber'

Above is the unisex barbershop in Rosarito, Mexico - a beach town approximately 30 miles south of San Diego

Markle has been barely seen since announcing he would not be walking his 36-year-old daughter Meghan down the aisle in Windsor on May 19.

He had planned to be at St. George's Chapel but pulled out citing ill health just days before  too close to the ceremony to change the printed programs which carried his name.

The 73-year-old claimed to have suffered a heart attack two weeks before the wedding, even though he was pictured purchasing two McDonalds Happy Meals in Los Angeles and a bucket of KFC fried chicken 24 hours after the coronary allegedly took place.

A week before the wedding, he was revealed by the Mail on Sunday to have been setting up staged paparazzi photos with LA-based paparazzo Jeff Rayner, 44.

The incident, friends told DailyMail.com, left him 'embarrassed'.

He then revealed, via his favored outlet TMZ, that he had suffered a heart attack  telling the website the coronary had been brought on by his two eldest children, Samantha and Thomas Jr, squabbling in the Press.

Then with just three days to go before the ceremony, he said that he needed an emergency operation to insert three stents and would definitely not be in Windsor for the big day.

His decision not to travel means he is still to meet new son-in-law Prince Harry, although sources in Los Angeles claim that could change in the near future.

In a statement released before the wedding, Meghan said: 'I have always cared for my father and hope he can be given the space he needs to focus on his health.'

On his way home, Markle stopped by an Oxxo convenience store where he picked up some milk and sodas

Sources say the Duchess of Sussex's father has been in good spirits and seems to have a lost a bit of weight

The father-of-three had not been seen in public since the royal wedding, which he watched at an Airbnb in Baja Malibu

Despite claiming to have watched the ceremony from his hospital bed in San Diego, California, Markle instead spent the big day cloistered in a $31-a-night Airbnb in Baja Malibu  a scruffy gated compound less than two miles from his home.

The stay is understood to have been set up by close friend Lori Davis, 38, who exchanged anxious messages with owner Charlotte Jane, 36, over his wellbeing and was keen to ensure the property contained a frying pan.

Markle eventually returned home on the Monday after the wedding, driven in by Davis who has since boasted of being akin to a 'surrogate daughter' to the septuagenarian.

He, Davis, and her 10-year-old daughter Jocelyn took a brief trip across the border to San Diego the following day for a Chinese lunch but since then, the 73-year-old has maintained a low profile.

Markle is understood to have been visited by Davis during his self-imposed seclusion, with Alejandra Madrid  a friend and former neighbor of Davis's  telling DailyMail.com that the pair routinely 'help each other out.'

Madrid said: 'Tom and Lori have been friends for a long time. He's a nice man. I've met him a couple of times but I don't know him that well.

'They're friends because of Jocelyn  he liked Jocelyn and he helps her out with Jocelyn. She would tag along and he would buy her whatever she wanted for Jocelyn.

The single mom added: 'Lori is real kind, she's real kind to everybody - if you can get her to come out of the house. She hardly ever comes out of the house, she's always in her house.'

Markle, whose outing also included a visit to an Oxxo convenience store close to his home where he purchased milk and what appeared to be sodas, has lived in Rosarito since 2011.

The town is home to up to 30,000 American expats, among them Long Beach native Davis and her mother Paris, 62, - many of them drawn to the area by the low cost of living and spectacular Pacific views.

Markle has yet to meet his son-in-law Prince Harry since he did not attend his daughter's wedding

Thomas Markle did not attend his daughter's wedding to Prince Harry on May 19 and pulled out citing ill health just days before

Father-daughter: The Duchess of Sussex Meghan Markle, 36, and her dad

But Rosarito does have a dark side and, along with neighboring Tijuana, has one of the highest murder rates in Mexico.

In the run up to the Royal Wedding, local headlines focused on the carnage  the result of an ongoing turf war between the Jalisco and Sonora cartels.

One noted that 1,000 people had been murdered in Baja California in the first five months of 2018 while another reported on the discovery of a man's dismembered corpse inside a tamale truck in nearby Tijuana's Zona Norte.

The wedding itself, which was screened at 4am local time, appeared to have passed Rosarito by  with the streets deserted and no evidence of parties.

One that had been planned at a coffee shop near Markle's home was canceled following his decision to pull out.
This is the moment a British climber cheated death after falling more than 30ft in the dead of night in a Spanish mountain range and miraculously landing on a tiny ledge.

Police said the 69-year-old man was able to call his family in the UK to ask for help and was eventually rescued. He had suffered a foot and rib injury, exhaustion and hypothermia.

'He was found at 2am, lying on a shelf in a very precarious position and with the real possibility of falling into the void below,' said a spokesman for the Spanish Civil Guard.

Scroll down for video

The man, who had used his phone to alert family in the UK, was found on a ledge by the Spanish Civil Guard

Rescuers set up a small survival tent when he was discovered at 2am

At 5.15am, the 69-year-old was eventually hoisted to safety by helicopter

The Brit had gone out mountaineering in the Picos de Europa on the borders of Asturias, Cantabria and Castilla and Leon, one of the most stunning national parks in Spain and Europe.

Its dramatic rocky mountain peaks rise to well over 8,000 ft and it has deep vertical gorges.

The climber was out on Picos de Europa which borders Asturias, Cantabria and Castilla and Leon

Rescuers say he suffered a fall in the area known as 'Las Minas del Rabico' at about 11pm on Saturday night and had to endure hours trapped on the ledge.

Thanks to a special app on his mobile, he was able to alert his family back in England, allowing the Consulate to raise the alert with the Civil Guard.

The Civil Protection Rescue Group then went out with the police to search for him and he was found at 2am on Sunday.

'The mountaineer, who was doing the route alone, became disoriented by the fog and took another route that goes up to the Torre del Llaz, ' said the police spokesman.

'He slipped and fell about ten metres down the sheer slopes and landed on the ledge.'

Rescuers used ropes and an anchor to save him and set up a small survival tent until he could recover some of his strength with food, warmth and water.

At 5.15am, he was eventually rescued by an emergency helicopter via a hoist because of the difficulty in reaching the rocks.

The man was taken to the port of Pandetrave before going on to hospital for treatment.
President Donald Trump unleashed a series of tweets about 'bad trade deals' while going after China, Mexico, and Canada  after Canada's prime minister blasted his 'totally unfair' use a national security waiver to tax that country's metals.

In one tweet, Trump went after both China, a rival on both trade and on the world stage, and Canada, a frequent collaborator and close U.S. ally.

'China already charges a tax of 16% on soybeans. Canada has all sorts of trade barriers on our Agricultural products. Not acceptable!' Trump tweeted.

Trump also defended the trade war underway, after Mexico and Canada vowed to hit back at an array of U.S. products, and the European Union pointed to a long list of potential U.S. product targets after the Trump administration declined to grant the nations waivers for new 25 per cent tariffs on steel and a 10 per cent tariff on aluminum.

President Donald Trump unleashed a series of tweets about 'bad trade deals' while defending new tariffs on Mexico and Canada

'The U.S. has made such bad trade deals over so many years that we can only WIN!' Trump wrote Monday.

On Sunday Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau continued to slam the new tariff policies, calling it 'insulting and unacceptable' to say Canada is a threat to the U.S.

The administration imposed the tariffs under a 1960s national security law that gave the president to lay down tariffs to product the nation's security.

The Canadian prime minister fought back against the White House rational that the tariff policy was made to bolster U.S. security, invoking blood spilled by the allies on the battlefield as he did when first denouncing the tariffs.

'The idea that we are somehow a national security threat to the United States is quite frankly insulting and unacceptable,' he said on NBC's 'Meet the Press.'

Trump brought up Chinese taxes on U.S. agricultural products

Trump defended the trade war after nation's hit by the tariffs vowed to hit back

'The idea that, you know, our soldiers who had fought and died together on the beaches of World War II on the - and the mountains of Afghanistan, and have stood shoulder to shoulder in some of the most difficult places in the world, that are always there for each other, somehow - this is insulting to them,' he said in an interview from his Parliament office in Ottawa.

'The idea that the Canadian steel that's in military, military vehicles in the United States, the Canadian aluminum that makes your, your fighter jets is somehow now a threat?' he asked.

Trump said Mexico, China, and Canada have treated U.S. farmers 'unfairly

I am working with like-minded Republican senators on ways to push back on the president using authorities in ways never intended and that are damaging to our country and our allies. Will Democrats join us?

The plan is facing Republican opposition. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell and House Speaker Paul Ryan have stated their disagreement.

'I hope we pull back from the brink here because these tariffs will not be good for the economy, and I worry that it will slow, if not impeded significantly, the progress we were making economically for the country,' said McConnell at a conference in his home state of Kentucky.

Canada is America's largest source of imported steel, accounting for about 17 per cent of U.S. steel imports by volume

When asked what President Trump wanted out of the new tariffs, Canadian Prime Minister told NBC's Chuck Todd: 'I don't know.'

McConnell said he is 'not happy about the prospects of a trade war.'

White House economic adviser Larry Kudlow said Trudeau is 'overreacting.'

'To say that this is an attack on Canada is not right,' Kudlow told 'Fox News Sunday.'

White House National Trade Council director Peter Navarro framed the issue as a matter of national security, echoing the language of his boss.

'This particular action on steel and aluminum is not about unfair trade practices,' Navarro told Fox Business. 'It's about national security.  Without an aluminum steel industry, we don't have a country.'

Farmers have not been doing well for 15 years. Mexico, Canada, China and others have treated them unfairly. By the time I finish trade talks, that will change. Big trade barriers against U.S. farmers, and other businesses, will finally be broken. Massive trade deficits no longer!
An al-Qaeda bomb-maker was carrying three knives when he was arrested just yards from the gates of Downing Street claiming he had a 'message' for Britain's political leaders, a court has heard.

Khalid Mohammed Omar Ali, 28, was planning to stab police officers and politicians when was intercepted by armed officers just yards from Downing Street on 27 April last year, jurors were told.

A court today heard he allegedly left his family to make bombs for the Taliban in Afghanistan in 2011.

Khalid Mohammed Omar Ali, 28, (pictured) was planning to stab police officers and politicians when was intercepted by armed officers just yards from Downing Street, jurors were told

After five years, he returned to his home country to deliver a deadly 'message' to the government, jurors were told.

When he was arrested by British armed police near Parliament on April 27 last year, he was carrying three knives, the Old Bailey heard.

Prosecutor Brian Altman QC told jurors Ali's potential targets included MPs, police and the military.

He said: 'On Thursday April 27 last year this defendant, Khalid Ali, was arrested by armed police officers in Whitehall in Westminster.

'When he was searched he was found to be in the possession of three knives of varying lengths which he had only bought that same day.

'Two knives were found in right and left pockets of his jacket. The longest was removed from the waistband of the tracksuit trousers he was wearing.

'The defendant went there armed with three knives for one reason only - to launch a deadly terror attack to strike at the very heart of this country's democracy by killing a police officer, a member of the military or even a Parliamentarian.

'Chillingly, but for the interception of the defendant by police, he would have carried out yet another murderous terror attack in Westminster.'

Mr Altman said security cameras had tracked Ali's route from West Ealing to Ealing Broadway and on to Victoria on the District Line Tube to the most 'sensitive and iconic' part of the capital.

He told jurors that just four weeks before, Khalid Masood had driven at pedestrians and stabbed a police officer to death in Westminster.

In his police interview, Ali said he wanted to 'deliver a message to the leaders and decision-makers of this country', the court heard.

He called for the West to leave Muslim lands, for Palestine to be returned, and for the West to release prisoners of war, while claiming the knives were for his own protection, Mr Altman said.

The prosecutor said Ali had told police he was loyal to the Taliban and al Qaida.

He allegedly left his home and family in the UK in 2011 and joined the Taliban in Afghanistan, fighting British forces.

The American FBI found his fingerprints on components of bombs in two large caches uncovered in January and July 2012, the court heard.

Mr Altman said: 'In his interviews, not only did he admit this, but also at one stage admitted to detonating devices maybe more than 300 times, although he later backtracked on this.'

Ali returned to Britain in November 2016 and by March last year had begun planning his attack, jurors were told.

On March 18 of last year he joined a Stand up to Racism march from Regent Street through to Whitehall where he showed an interest in the area and the police guarding it.

The following month, on 22 April, Ali travelled into London where he reconnoitred sensitive areas including the MI6 building in Vauxhall Cross as well as Westminster Bridge, the Houses of Parliament and Whitehall which was the area he chose for his fortunately failed attack some five days later.

Ali, from Tottenham, north London, denies engaging in preparation for a terrorist act on or before April 27 involving purchasing knives and travelling to London.
President Trump singled out Republican Sen. John McCain this morning as the reason that he was unable to fulfill a campaign pledge to repeal and replace Obamacare more than a year after taking office.

Trump did not hammer the ailing senator by name in a tweet talking about his running tab of accomplishments 500 days into his four-year term in office.

However, he said that his health care agenda would have been done 'except for one person' as he argued that his administration is still chugging along.

President Trump singled out Republican Sen. John McCain this morning as the reason that he was unable to fulfill a campaign pledge to repeal and replace Obamacare more than a year after taking office

Trump did not hammer the ailing senator by name in a tweet talking about his running tab of accomplishments 500 days into his four-year term in office

Trump has repeatedly chided McCain, sometimes by name, for the healthcare debacle

McCain was the sole GOP no vote when Republicans moved to overhaul the health care system last summer. But the Arizona lawmaker's opposition to the partisan measure after rushing back to Washington was a shock that Trump has not gotten over

McCain was the sole GOP no vote when Republicans moved to overhaul the health care system last summer. Susan Collins and and Lisa Murkowski also lent negative voices to the Senate debate.

The Arizona lawmaker's opposition to the partisan measure after rushing back to Washington was a shock, and one that Trump has not gotten over.

He has repeatedly chided McCain, sometimes by name, for the healthcare debacle.

His relationship with the former GOP nominee for president has become even more strained since a White House communications staffer suggested during a staff meeting that McCain's vote no longer matters because he's dying soon anyway.

The comment that leaked out of the White House drew a swift and stern rebuke from both sides of the aisle, particularly after the aide, Kelly Sadler, declined to apologize in public.

Republicans eventually gutted the individual mandate portion of Obamacare via the tax reform bill the president signed into law in December.

And Trump last week signed legislation giving terminally ill patients the 'right to try' experimental drugs that have not been approved by the FDA.

'This is my 500th. Day in Office and we have accomplished a lot - many believe more than any President in his first 500 days. Massive Tax & Regulation Cuts, Military & Vets, Lower Crime & Illegal Immigration, Stronger Borders, Judgeships, Best Economy & Jobs EVER, and much more...' Trump tweeted in an acknowledgement of the progress on his agenda that he has made with the help of Republicans in Congress.

He added: 'We had Repeal & Replace done (and the saving to our country of one trillion dollars) except for one person, but it is getting done anyway. Individual Mandate is gone and great, less expensive plans will be announced this month. Drug prices coming down & Right to Try!

In an interview with the Daily Caller celebrating the arbitrary anniversary, counselor to the president Kellyanne Conway added that 'people are more prosperous, theyre more secure, the country is more respected on the world stage. Everything from the consumer confidence among small business owners, manufacturers, consumers, major employers in this country, is up.'

She said the one drawback had been 'not having enough votes to pass even more legislation more quickly.'

On Fox & Friends on Monday morning she said that Trump is 'making such great strides in a short order' because there is now a 'businessman in the White House.'

'You have a master negotiator and deal-maker and disrupter,' she insisted. 'Everybody else had been a politician. And that includes President Obama.'

She said that while Obama was 'looked upon as a change maker, yes we can, hope and change, it's this president who has actually been making major changes.'

'And people who deny the objective economic metrics at this point, really sound very petty and very peevish,' the senior White House official added.
A zoo keeper sent a dominant male lion scampering away in fear - using just his slipper.

In the highly amusing video, owner Oleg Zubkov breaks up a scrap between the pride of lions at his park in Ukraine.

In the footage, filmed at Tagan safari park in the Crimea, the big cats are seen picking on one of the group's smaller females.

Oleg notices the dominant male approaching the scrap and decides to intervene.

He climbs out of his open safari vehicle and strides towards the group, apparently unconcerned for his own safety.

The pride growl threateningly at the young female but the hospitality ends almost instantly after Oleg makes a surprise intervention.

Standing right in the middle of the crowd of deadly beasts, he takes his slipper off and waves it around in the air.

Safari park owner Oleg Zubkov strides towards the pride to break up the scrap

The females back off before he launches the shoe at the powerful-looking male.

The leader of the pack, once so intimidating, scampers away in fear with its tail between its legs.

Oleg picks up the slipper and once again launches it, this time at a female lion.

Using just a slipper he stops the dominant male from attacking one of the smaller females at his park in the Crimea in Ukraine

'They are being naughty and so here comes the magic slipper,' he says.

'This is a scary weapon,' he adds, addressing a group of tourists looking down from a viewing platform.

Zubkov continues talking to the pride leader: 'Behave yourself! I will not treat you like a lion. I will spank you!'

While he is dealing with the male, one of the other, smaller lions creeps off to take shelter behind the safari car, clearly terrified of the slipper.
An Indian sweet shop worker has been accused of raping his boss's four-year-old daughter before knifing her to death.

A man called Virender, 24, is accused of murdering the child at his home and attempting to cover his tracks by hiding her corpse in a container at his mother's house.

According to police, Virender - also known as Bholu - then calmly returned to work.

Chilling CCTV footage allegedly shows Virender and the girl walking away from the shop where he worked in Asaoti, around 50 miles from New Delhi, in the north Indian state of Haryana.

Chilling CCTV footage shows Virender, 24, apparently leading the girl away from a shop where he worked in Asaoti, around 50 miles from New Delhi

Virender, who had worked for the family for nine years, can be seen apparently leading the girl from the sweet shop on Thursday afternoon.

When the missing girl's parents raised the alarm later that evening, Bholu volunteered to help search for her.

But suspicion fell on him when a neighbour said they recalled seeing Bholu walking with the girl and told her parents.

The search party descended on his home and following a confrontation with his mother made the gruesome discovery, according to reports.

A medical examination confirmed the child had been raped before being killed.

The girl's father told reporters Virender had allegedly played along with the search, saying he wanted the attacker to hang for the murder of his daughter.

Investigators pictured holding the girl's body. It is alleged that Virender knifed the child to death at his home and attempted to cover his tracks by hiding her corpse in a container

Bholu, who is married, has been arrested and is being questioned by police.

Police officer Devender Singh said the accused man was arrested under child protection and sexual offences legislation.

He said the force was using CCTV video, forensic evidence and eyewitness accounts.

The issue of rape and child rape in India has made international headlines.

According to the latest crime figures, of rapes reported in 2016, 13 percent of the victims were aged 11 or younger, and in 94.6 of these cases the offenders knew their victims.
The mother of the Korean Air 'nut rage' heiress walked free from custody after a court rejected claims she abused employees, sparking public anger.

Lee Myung-hee, 69, the wife of Korean Air chairman Cho Yang-ho, was released from police custody late Monday after the Seoul Central District Court refused to issue an arrest warrant for her.

'I am sorry,' she said during the hearing, according to the Korea Times.

It was a rare piece of good news for the family, who have found themselves the object of public anger following a series of scandals.

Lee Myung-hee (pictured), the wife of Korean Air chairman Cho Yang-ho, was released from police custody after the Seoul Central District Court refused to issue an arrest warrant

Lee's two daughters, who held management positions at South Korea's national carrier, became viral sensations for temper tantrums which were dubbed the 'nut rage' and 'water rage' scandals online.

Her older daughter Cho Hyun-ah made global headlines in 2014 for kicking a cabin crew chief off a Korean Air plane for being served macadamia nuts in a bag rather than a bowl. She later served a short prison sentence.

Earlier this year, her younger sister Cho Hyun-min was accused of throwing a drink at an advertising agency manager's face in a fit of rage during a business meeting.

Their father, Cho Yang-ho, issued a public apology over the 'immature' behaviour of his offspring and removed his two daughters from their management roles.

Cho Hyun-ah (left) made headlines in 2014 for kicking a cabin crew chief off a Korean Air plane for being served macadamia nuts in a bag rather than a bowl. Cho Hyun-min (right) was accused of throwing a drink at a manager's face in a fit of rage during a business meeting

Authorities have since launched a flurry of official probes into the family's reported abuse of workers, as well as allegations of smuggling and violations of immigration law.

Cho Hyun-ah was questioned for 15 hours until early Tuesday by tax authorities as part of an ongoing investigation into allegations she used Korean Air flights to smuggle foreign luxuries.

Lee, 69, faces multiple allegations of assault against drivers and housekeepers from her personal staff as well as construction workers renovating her home and building a Korean Air-affiliated hotel.

The alleged abuses range from cursing and screaming at employees to kicking, slapping and even throwing a pair of scissors at them.

Lee arrives for questioning on her arrest warrant at the Seoul Central District Court on Monday

A video that emerged last month showed a woman, reportedly Lee, shoving a female construction worker and throwing a pile of documents on the ground.

But the court said there was a low risk of Lee fleeing or seeking to destroy evidence, and that the charges were disputable.

'I'm sorry for causing trouble,' Lee said as she left a police station in Seoul.

But a torrent of criticism of the court decision was posted online.

'If Lee Myung-hee curses at you, judge, and throws a pair of scissors at you, would you likewise refuse to issue an arrest warrant?' read one, drawing more than 1,000 likes.

The presidential Blue House website was also flooded with angry objections, with one writing: 'The court has become a puppet for chaebol' - the name for the family-run conglomerates that dominate the South Korean economy.
A New York state senator has caused a stir by skydiving over the weekend to support injured veterans after it emerged that he has claimed more than $1million from an NYPD disability pension.

Sen Marty Golden was seen jumping out of a plane during the Skydive for Vets event on Long Island.

'We're going up there for the right reasons. For our men and women in the armed services who got hurt,' Golden tells an interviewer in a video posted on YouTube.

New York state Sen Marty Golden (pictured in white) has caused a stir by skydiving to support veterans after it emerged that he has claimed more than $1million from an NYPD disability pension

Marty Golden was seen jumping out of a plane during the Skydive for Vets event on Long Island

Within a matter of seconds, the 67-year-old senator is seen skydiving down from an altitude of at least 2,500 feet

'We're doing a great job here helping our veterans across the great city and state of New York,' he adds.

But some Twitter users didn't see it that way.

One user said: 'Another politician abusing pension disability.'

Another called Golden 'one of the slimiest people in NYS politics' for drawing on the pension and 'getting kickbacks for his family'.

Some Twitter users accused the senator of 'abusing' his pension disability

The video then cuts to the small plane taking off with Golden and the crew.

As the aircraft continues to gain altitude, Golden is heard saying: 'Team Golden on the way up. We're gonna have fun. Can't wait to do this.'

Golden and an expert instructor are then seen getting out of the aircraft as they prepare to jump.

Within a matter of seconds, the 67-year-old senator is seen skydiving down from an altitude of at least 2,500 feet.

Golden's daredevil activity comes as he receives a disability pension from the NYPD.

According to the New York Daily News, Golden has received more than $1million in tax-free pension money since 1983.

That year was when Golden suffered a severe injury to the knee after he was struck by a car while making a narcotics arrest.

Golden's daredevil activity comes as he receives a disability pension from the NYPD

The ex-cop has received more than $1million in tax-free pension money since 1983

In 1893, Golden suffered a severe injury to the knee after he was struck by a car while making a narcotics arrest. The Republican senator is paid a monthly allowance of $2,777 along with his base salary of $79,500 as a state senator. He's seen with his skydiving instructor

Golden's spokesman John Quaglione said the skydiving event was in keeping with the senator's 'extraordinary career in public service' both as a policeman and politician

The Republican senator is paid a monthly allowance of $2,777 along with his base salary of $79,500 as a state senator.

Golden's spokesman John Quaglione told the newspaper that the skydiving event was in keeping with the senator's 'extraordinary career in public service' both as a policeman and politician.

'Senator Golden skydived, to support our veterans, in tandem with an instructor and his landing was of no impact to his legs,' Quaglione said.

Golden was elected to represent Brooklyn's 22nd Senate District in 2002. He's currently the vice chair of the Majority Conference.
Vladimir Putin has invited North Korean dictator Kim Jong Un to travel to Russia in September, it has emerged.

Moscow said the tyrant may visit Russia as part of an economic forum held in the far eastern city of Vladivostok in September.

The Kremlin's invitation comes days after Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov visited North Korea. Kim is also due to meet US President Donald Trump in Singapore on June 12.

Meanwhile Putin has blamed political ructions in the US for difficulties in arranging a summit with Trump.

Vladimir Putin has invited North Korean dictator Kim Jong Un to travel to Russia in September, it has emerged

The Kremlin's invitation comes days after Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov visited North Korea (pictured)

The US President said in March the two leaders would meet soon. But since then already fragile ties between Washington and Moscow have been strained further by the conflict in Syria and the poisoning of a former Russian spy in Britain.

Putin said last month the proposed summit was beset by problems and was not working out for now.

Asked by Austrian broadcaster ORF why it was taking so long to arrange, he said: 'You have to ask our colleagues in the USA. In my view it is the consequence of the fierce domestic political contest in the United States.'

Putin, who gave ORF an interview ahead of a visit to Austria on Tuesday, did not elaborate.

Kim is also due to meet US President Donald Trump (pictured) in Singapore on June 12

Trump is under pressure from special counsel Robert Mueller's investigation into whether Russia meddled in the 2016 U.S. election and whether there was collusion with Trump's campaign - something both he and Moscow deny.

'In one of our last discussions, Donald said he is concerned about the danger of a new arms race. I agree with him entirely,' Putin said in a short extract released ahead of the full interview, to be broadcast on Monday evening.

Apart from mentioning the U.S. withdrawal in 2002 from the Anti-Ballistic Missile Treaty, Putin did not elaborate.

Trump made a similarly vague reference to the issue in April, when he said 'Stop the arms race?' in a tweet that also mentioned providing 'help' for the Russian economy.
A Russian court on Monday sentenced a Ukrainian journalist to 12 years in a strict regime penal colony after he was found guilty of espionage, in a case Kiev has condemned as 'politically motivated'.

Journalist Roman Sushchenko, who worked for Ukrainian state news agency Ukrinform for more than a decade, was detained in Moscow in 2016.

Russia's FSB security agency accused him of serving in Ukrainian military intelligence and gathering state secrets.

Sushchenko, who had pleaded innocent, told AFP he would appeal the 'unjust' verdict delivered by Judge Oleg Muzychenko of Moscow City Court.

Roman Sushchenko was found guilty of espionage after Russia accused the journalist of collecting secrets for Ukraine intelligence

He will appeal the charges after being sentenced to 12 years in a strict regime penal colony

The 49-year-old reporter's lawyer, Mark Feigin, earlier told AFP that prosecutors had asked for a 14-year sentence, out of a maximum of 20 years.

Kiev last week slammed the trial, with the Ukrainian foreign ministry spokeswoman Mariana Betsa calling the case 'politically motivated'.

The case comes amid a recent uptick in violence in the conflict between Ukrainian troops and Russia-backed separatists in eastern Ukraine that broke out following Russia's annexation of Crimea from Ukraine in 2014 and has killed more than 10,000 people.

Sushchenko was working as Ukrinform's Paris correspondent at the time of his arrest and the news agency said that he was detained while visiting Moscow on holiday.

In his final speech in court he said he was framed by the Russian security service, his lawyer told Interfax news agency.

Feigin earlier suggested Moscow and Kiev could be planning a prisoner exchange since a journalist working for Russian state news agency RIA Novosti is now in detention in Ukraine awaiting trial on treason charges.
Terrified witnesses have revealed a man shot inside a Colorado nightclub was completely 'covered in blood' after an off-duty FBI agent accidentally fired his gun on the dance floor - but the man responsible didn't offer any help to the victim.

Footage of the ordeal showed the FBI agent's gun falling from his waistband and onto the floor as he did a backflip in front of a crowd at the Denver club late Saturday night.

The gun fired when the agent went to quickly pick it back up and it shot another clubgoer in the lower leg.

Bystanders who rushed to help the injured man say the agent didn't follow up with the victim or help render first aid.

The cellphone footage of the incident shows the agent holstering his gun, raising his hands in the air and walking away.

Scroll down for video

Footage of the ordeal showed the FBI agent's gun falling from his waistband as he did a backflip in front of a crowd at the Denver club late Saturday night. The gun fired (above) when the agent went to quickly pick it back up

Heather Schiraldi and her fiance David Laferriere were two of the people to help treat the injured man, according to Denver7.

They said at the time they were 90 percent sure the loud pop they heard was a gunshot and immediately thought there might have been an active shooter.

Laferriere said he made eye contact with the victim but didn't immediately know that he had been shot.

'We didn't hear anything more, so we assumed it wasn't a gunshot until the victim grabbed his upper thigh and started screaming, 'Someone call 911',' he said.

Schiraldi added: 'I thought my fiance had been shot so I was panicking. When I realized it wasn't him, I was still panicking, because there was a man covered in blood over there.'

Their quick-thinking friend tied his belt around the victim's leg in a bid to stop the profuse bleeding.

The couple said they had no idea the bullet had come from an agent's gun until much later when the footage of the incident surfaced.

Heather Schiraldi and her fiance David Laferriere were two of the people to help treat the injured man. They say the agent didn't check on the victim or offer to help

The gun fired (pictured above) when the agent went to quickly pick it back up and it shot another clubgoer in the lower leg

The gun fired after the agent did the backflip and then went to pick it up and holster it

'We were here all night... until the whole situation was taken care of. As far as I'm concerned, (the agent) made no effort, whatsoever, to take care of the victim, even though he was probably the best trained of anyone there to take care of the victim,' Laferriere said.

Schiraldi said after she viewed the video she was fuming.

'I was very angry. It was like, what was this FBI agent doing?' she said.

'Why are you doing a backflip?... I think that's everyone's reaction. I was just angry because I didn't see him at all after that. He didn't help the victim.'

The victim is now recovering in hospital from non-life-threatening injuries.

The agent was taken to police headquarters for questioning and then released to an FBI supervisor.

Denver Police said Monday they were awaiting lab results to see if alcohol was a factor.

Prosecutors will determine whether the agent will face any charges as a result of the shooting.

His name has not been released and the Denver FBI declined to comment.

The incident unfolded at the Mile High Spirits Distillery and Tasting Bar in Denver
London has launched a world first busking scheme which uses contactless payments.

The scheme was launched by Mayor Sadiq Khan on Sunday and is allowing street musicians in the capital to accept non-cash payments with contactless cards, wearable technology and chip and pin.

Mr Kahn's 'Busk in London' programme has joined forces with information technology firm, iZettle, to roll-out the scheme across the city.

Charlotte Campbell, pictured performing in Camden Market, has been trialing the scheme

Busk in London and IZettle's scheme is allowing buskers in the capital to accept non-cash payments with contactless cards, wearable technology and chip and pin

Charlotte holding a contactless card reader which she uses to take payments

The musician has placed a sign at her performance area at Camden Market advising people to 'tap to pay' if they want to make a 2 donation. Pictured a man making a contactless donation

Mr Khan said at the launch of the scheme: 'Now, more Londoners will be able to show their support to the capital's brilliant, talented street performers.

He added that the city was 'a powerhouse of music'.

Charlotte Campbell, a full-time busker who has been trialling the technology for two weeks, said she had noticed a 'significant' increase in contributions.

'I believe if street performers like myself don't adapt to the cashless society we are edging towards, we're at risk of becoming a dying art,' she said.

The project allows performers to set a fixed amount of money to donate and accept contactless payments from passers-by.

iZettle and Busk in London have also pledged to make the scheme available to more charity organisations, NGOs and small businesses.
This is the young British tourist who plunged 65ft to his death at the same Majorca hotel where a 19-year-old Scottish barmaid fell from a balcony just five weeks ago.

Thomas Owen Hughes, 20, was found lying dead below the Eden Roc apartment block in Magaluf yesterday morning around 11am.

He was initially described by police on the island as Irish - but this morning, they said he was British.

The building where he was found is where Scottish teenager Natalie Cormack died in April after falling from a seventh-floor ledge.

Thomas Owen Hughes (left), 20, was found lying dead below an apartment block in Magaluf yesterday morning around 11am. The building where he was found is where Scottish teenager Natalie Cormack died in April after falling from a seventh-floor ledge

Investigators said they believed Mr Hughes fell to his death after mistaking the apartment Eden Roc block (pictured, right) where he fell for his holiday hotel

Investigators also said they believed he fell to his death after mistaking the apartment block where he fell for his holiday hotel.

Mr Hughes is understood to have been staying at Magaluf's Universal Hotel Florida, virtually next door to the Eden Roc block.

Sources at the local Civil Guard, the force investigating Mr Hughes in conjunction with a local court, said today they believed the death was a tragic accident.

One said: 'Investigators suspect he may have mistaken the building he fell from with his hotel which is just a couple of doors away and jumped over a wall at the end of a corridor thinking the corridor continued the other side.

'The only thing the other side of the wall was a drop of around 65 ft.

'Investigations are continuing but there is nothing at this stage to suggest his death was the result of a crime and suicide appears to have been ruled out.'

The results of the autopsy - which was due to be carried out today in the island capital, Palma - have not been revealed.

Mr Hughes (pictured) is understood to have been staying at Magaluf's Universal Hotel Florida, virtually next door to the Eden Roc block

Police have not said what time they think he died and whether he had been drinking in the run-up to the tragedy. He had only arrived in Majorca with friends the day before he was found dead.

Friends took to Facebook today to express their shock at what had happened.

Jake Broderick, said: 'Devastating news RIP Tom Hughes, one of the nicest lads around.

'Someone who I may not have been the closest with but someone who I've known the majority of my life through primary and high school. I'm thinking of all of his family and close friends.'

Georgie Liddy added: 'Such sad news. Such a young age. RIP Tom Hughes. Makes you realise you've got to make the most of your life. Thoughts go out to family and friends.'

The dead man describes himself on Facebook as a former pupil of Rhosnesni High School, also known as Ysgol Rhosnesni High School, in Wrexham, north Wales.

Natalie Cormack, a 19-year-old Magaluf worker from West Kilbride, Ayrshire, laid undiscovered for several hours at the same apartment block where the latest Briton holidaymaker died before she was found dead on April 27.

She lost her balance after trying to get into the apartment block when she found the door locked and discovered she didn't have her key.
President Donald Trump vowed he can save the American farmer with the new trade deals he's negotiating with countries around the globe.

His promise comes after Canada, Mexico and China have threatened levies on American agriculture goods in response to new U.S. tariffs and American farmers, who helped put Trump in the White House, worry they will take the brunt of the international anger at the president.

Trump has made trade relations a priority of his administration with the deal-making president wanting to negotiate better agreements on a variety of products, including steel, soybeans and other products.

President Trump reassures American farmers who are concerned about international levies on their agricultural goods

President Donald Trump vowed he can save the American farmer with the new trade deals he's negotiating with countries around the globe

Beijing threatened to raise tariffs on goods like soybeans, corn, beef, oranges, and tobacco in the wake of the president's threat of $50 billion levy on their goods

'Farmers have not been doing well for 15 years. Mexico, Canada, China and others have treated them unfairly. By the time I finish trade talks, that will change,' Trump promised in a tweet Monday morning. 'Big trade barriers against U.S. farmers, and other businesses, will finally be broken. Massive trade deficits no longer!'

Trump's trade and tariffs battles and the uncertainty of how the war will play out is adding to the farmers anxiety.

Trump won the presidency with the help of farm-heavy states like Pennsylvania, Wisconsin, Ohio, and Indiana.

U.S. agricultural exports are worth about $140 billion a year. Canada and Mexico import about $39 billion in farm products while China's share is $20 billion and the European Union brings in around $12 billion.

All of these countries have threatened retaliation over Trump's tariffs.

Signs are not promising.

The Trump administration is expected to release its list of Chinese goods being levied around June 15.

And Beijing threatened to raise tariffs on goods like soybeans, corn, beef, oranges, and tobacco in the wake of the president's threat of $50 billion levy on their goods.

China reiterated its threat on Sunday in the wake of the Trump administration saying the trade war was 'on hold' and then back on again.

Beijing pledged any tariffs on their goods would nullify any trade deal reached between the U.S. and China.

'If the United States introduces trade sanctions including tariffs, all the economic and trade achievements negotiated by the two parties will be void,' said a statement on Sunday from the Chinese government, which was carried by the official Xinhua News Agency.

Mexico threatened tariffs on lamps, pork legs and shoulders, sausages and prepared foods, apples, grapes, cranberries, cheeses and other goods

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is threatening retaliatory tariffs on the U.S.

Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross is currently in China to talk trade.

And former Iowa Governor Terry Branstad was appointed U.S. ambassador to China in part because of his agricultural ties.

He has echoed the administration's position that America has gotten the short end of the stick from China.

"We've had a situation for many years where China has not treated American companies fairly and the trade deficit has grown and grown and grown," Branstad said in March.

He has pushed for China to open its markets more to U.S. agricultural exports, which would give Trump a win to brag about and likely boost his chances of winning farm states like Iowa in the 2020 election.

Meanwhile, negotiations with Canada and Mexico regarding the North American Free Trade Agreement are turning toxic as those countries weigh retaliation against Washington for the new steel and aluminium tariffs.

That payback could include high new levies on American agriculture products.

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau repeated his retaliation talk on Sunday.

'We're putting the same kinds of tariffs exactly on steel and aluminum coming from the United States into Canada,' Trudeau told NBC's 'Meet the Press.' 'We're also putting a number of tariffs on consumer goods, finished products for which Canadians have easy alternatives.'

Farmers helped Donald Trump win the election in 2016

U.S. agricultural exports are worth about $140 billion a year

Mexico also vowed a tax-per-tax in response to the new steel levies but in addition to taxing steel, Mexico will place tariffs on lamps, pork legs and shoulders, sausages and prepared foods, apples, grapes, cranberries, cheeses and other goods.

Trump has made Mexico a favorite boogeyman during his presidential campaign and administration, vowing to build a wall between the two countries that Mexico will pay for and calling immigrants from that country criminals.

Mexican President Enrique Pena Niet has been just as critical of the president, calling his attacks on Mexico 'offensive and unfounded.'
A convicted Australian paedophile hiding in Brazil with a fake identity lived a luxury lifestyle drinking cocktails at a picturesque tourist beach before his death.

Christopher Gott, 63, died on Thursday after four months in a coma following a fiery car crash which injured 17 people and killed a toddler.

Gott, who convinced local authorities he was Daniel Phillips, lived a life of simple pleasures and luxury while Australian authorities tried to bring him to justice.

According to news.com.au, Gott spent his time drinking caipirinhas on Copacabana Beach and taught English to Brazilian boys for a number of years.

The glamorous world of Daniel Marcos Phillips, whose real name was revealed to be Christopher John Gott after a tragic car crash, has been revealed

He was known as a friendly man who taught English and enjoyed drinking caipirinhas, Brazil's national cocktail (pictured right) at Copacabana Beach

Gott fathered three Brazillian foster children, all who are reportedly struggling to deal with the revelations of his twisted past.

Foster son Daniel told a Brazillian TV network he lived with Gott for six years and considered him a father figure who helped raise him and two other young men.

Daniel said Gott paid for his education, although none of the three were formally adopted.

'He was a fundamental person in my development, he helped me a lot, until I turned 21,' told Brazil's Rede Globo TV program Fantastico.

'That's why it's a very difficult thing for us - it's complicated.'

Christopher John Gott's passport identified him as 68-year-old Australia Daniel Marcos Philips until authorities discovered it was a fake

He was confirmed dead on Thursday from multiple organ failure by Rio authorities after being in a coma following a car crash (crash scene pictured)

The crash killed an eight-month-old baby and injured 17 other people. Pictured is the scene after the crash

His true identity eluded Brazilian police for days following the crash, until they took a copy of his fingerprint as he lay comatose and sent it to Australian officials.

The Australian Federal Police then revealed the injured man was a convicted paedophile they had been hunting for more than two decades.

In 1983 - when Gott was 29 years old - an indecent assault unfolded at a Melbourne school where he taught.

He later moved to Darwin in the early 1990s when his sexual attraction to underage boys heightened.

Gott would invite boys, some of whom were students he had taught, into his home where they would watch pornography. He would then sexually molest them.

Gott's 22-year run from police came to an end on on January 18 after the driver of a black Hyundai mowed down the 63-year-old and 16 others at Copacabana Beach (pictured)

He was sentenced to six years behind bars in 1994, but served only two.

In 1996 he was released subject to strict parole conditions, but vanished after catching a bus through the desert to Adelaide.

Gott initially told police he was going to live with his parents in Melbourne, but they told officers they had disowned the convicted paedophile.

Brazilian police were investigating Gott's role at an international school in Rio but said there is no evidence he molested children in Brazil.

In a statement to AAP, the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade said it was providing assistance to the family of a man who died in Brazil.
The senior official tasked with planning the president's Singapore summit has reportedly been keeping key details about the June 12 meeting from the Twitter-happy president.

According to CNN, Joe Hagin, a deputy chief of staff to the president who has been running point on logistics for the historic face-to-face between Donald Trump and Kim Jong-un, regularly keeps sensitive information from the commander in chief so it doesn't end up on Twitter.

An incident at the end of 2016 when Trump, then the president-elect, jumped the gun on a deal with Boeing to remake Air Force One led to Hagin's cautiousness, the news network reports.

'Remember Boeing,' he is said to tell colleagues of his process.

Joe Hagin, a deputy chief of staff to the president who has been running point on logistics for the historic face-to-face between Donald Trump and Kim Jong-un, regularly keeps sensitive information from the commander in chief so it doesn't end up on Twitter

Since then Hagin has kept details of major security operations, like the summit last year at Mar-a-Lago between Trump and Xi Jingping, away from the president.

The Boeing blabber caused the cost to build the new fleet of government planes to go up beyond what the company suggested it would offer.

White House officials also told CNN that Hagin, a veteran of the Bush administration, has also been frustrated with the general disarray that accompanies planning in the Trump administration.

They recalled him saying: 'This would never happen in the Bush administration.'

White House Press Secretary Sarah Sanders did not dispute the characterization of Hagin's feelings to CNN. She noted that Hagin remembers the previous Republican administration 'after they had been there for eight years,' however.

'You're going to go back to your most recent recollection,' she said. 'At the same time, I think it's fair to say that there are plenty of things that have happened that you would say wouldn't have happened in a Bush administration, but I don't think that's necessarily a negative. This is one of the reasons Trump was elected, to do things differently and to change Washington.'

Trump and Kim Yong Chol pose in the Oval Office after Trump accepted the letter. Trump told reporters afterwards that it was a 'nice letter' but then said he hadn't yet read it

Sanders also said that Hagin is not explicitly keeping Trump out of the loop.

'It's just not how Joe Hagin operates,' she said.

She told the outlet, 'I've worked very closely with Joe and it's just not how his mind thinks or the way that he operates.'

U.S. officials other than Hagin have been panicked over the logistics of pulling off the meeting between Trump and Kim on considerably short notice, especially after it was briefly called off.

'There's really not a lot of time. We've lost quite a bit of time that we would need in order to -- I mean, there's been an enormous amount of preparation that's gone on over the past few months at the White House, at State, and with other agencies and so forth,' an official told reporters the day Trump called the summit off.

'But there's a certain amount of actual dialogue that needs to take place at the working level with your counterparts to ensure that the agenda is clear in the minds of those two leaders when they sit down to actually meet and talk and negotiate, and hopefully make a deal.'

The Oval Office confab with Kim Yong Chol stretched out 'Because we found the whole subject matter very interesting. And because I really think they want to do something'

The official said in statement that Trump later contested on Twitter, 'And June 12 is in 10 minutes, and it's going to be -- you know. But the President has said that he has -- someday, that he looks forward to meeting with Kim.'

Trump changed his mind about the summit days later after a delegation of North Korean officials came to Washington on Friday to present him with a sealed letter written by the country's dictator.

'This was a letter presentation that ended up being a two-hour conversation,' Trump told reporters on the South Lawn following an Oval Office meeting with North Korea's Kim Yong Chol, Kim Jong-un's point-man on negotiations.

After a week of uncertainty over the June 12 summit, the afternoon's events locked in Trump and the 33-year-old leader of North Korea for a high-flying meeting next week in Asia.

'We'll be in Singapore. It will be a beginning,' Trump said. 'I don't say, and I never said it happens in one meeting. You're talking about years of hostility, years of problems, years of really hatred between so many different nations.'

But he said, 'I think you're going to have a very positive result in the end.'

North Korean envoy Kim Yong Chol talks with U.S. President Donald Trump as Secretary of State Mike Pompeo looks on after a meeting at the White House

Trump said Friday after receiving the delegation of North Korean officials that he would move forward with a June 12 nuclear summit in Singapore

COME BACK NOW REAL SOON: President Trump and Secretary of State Mike Pompeo say goodbye to Kim and other North Koran officials
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The death toll from Guatemala's volcanic explosion has risen to 69 as a hot flow of mud, ash and gas swept down from Guatemala's Fuego volcano on Monday following a new explosion in the morning.

The second explosion hindered rescue efforts today as disaster workers pulled bodies from the brown sludge that engulfed the village of El Rodeo, after the volcano near Guatemala City exploded in a fiery display of ash and lava on Sunday.

A 5.2-magnitude earthquake also shook the Guatemala coast on Monday although no damage was initially reported and it was not felt in the capital.

The death toll rose from 25 to 38 on Sunday. Now the director of Guatemala's National Institute of Forensic Science says that 69 bodies have been recovered following the eruption.

The bodies were recovered in the hamlets of Los Lotes and El Rodeo and Fanuel Garcia said on Monday that only 13 of them have been identified so far. Many have been pictured caked in ash.

A government volcanologist said 'everything is totally destroyed' and said the landscape had 'totally changed' after the eruption.

The morning eruption also halted rescue efforts on the southern slopes of Fuego, although emergency workers have pulled 10 people still alive from ash drifts and mud flows.

Volcan de Fuego, which translates to 'volcano of fire', known to be one of Central America's most active, destroyed homes and blanketed nearby villages in soot as it sent clouds of ash six miles into the air, in its second eruption this year.

Search and rescue operations for the missing and dead were resuming this morning using heavy machinery and shovels, after they had to be suspended due to low light and dangerous conditions last night. An undetermined number of people are still unaccounted for.

Cars and vehicles damaged by the eruption of the Fuego volcano in San Miguel Los Lotes, a village in Escuintla

A partial view of a victim of the Fuego volcanic eruption who was found caked in ash on Monday

The feet of one of the victims are seen buried under the ash as the death toll from the eruption rose to 38 on Monday

An aerial view taken on Monday of the area around the volcano covered in ash after Sunday's explosion

The feet of a victim caked in ash in San Miguel Los Lotes, a village in Escuintla, after the Fuego volcano erupted on Sunday

A police officer stumbles while running away after the Fuego volcano spewed a new pyroclastic flow on Monday

A victim lies amid the ash as the volcanic eruption on Sunday was followed by a new explosion on Monday

The eruption sent lava flows into nearby areas and covered communities in clouds of ash

A picture taken on Monday shows the damage to homes and vehicles caused by the volcanic eruption yesterday

Smoke billows today after a second explosion on the volcano in Guatemala hindered rescue efforts on Monday

A man stands on the roof of a house in the ash-covered village of San Miguel Los Lotes in Escuintla after the eruption

The body of a victim lies entangled with felled trees blanketed by heavy ash after the volcanic eruption in Guatemala

The Fuego volcano in eruption, seen from Alotenango municipality, south-west of Guatemala City, on Sunday

A police officer stumbles while running away from a new pyroclastic flow from the Fuego volcano on Monday

A police officer runs away as a hot flow of mud, ash and gas sweeps down the mountain on Monday morning

Smoke billows from the ash-covered slopes of the Fuego Volcano taken from San Miguel Los Lotes, a village in Escuintla

An aerial view of lorries and buildings covered in ash after the volcanic eruption near Guatemala City on Sunday

The day after the volcano's eruption, its biggest in more than four decades, residents in the capital Guatemala City woke to sweep ash from rooftops and streets.

Technicians were assessing whether the runway at the international airport was clear enough to restart commercial flights.

The eruption of the 3,763-meter (12,346-foot) volcano sent ash billowing over the surrounding area, turning plants and trees grey and blanketing streets, cars and people.

Eddy Sanchez, director of the country's seismology and volcanology institute, said the flows from the eruption reached temperatures of about 1,300F (700C). Experts said the eruption ended after over 16 hours of activity, but warned that it could resume again.

Sacatepequez television showed images of the volcano's damage including the charred landscape and three bodies lying partially buried in ash-colored debris from the volcano.

Among the fatalities were four people - including a disaster agency official - killed when lava set a house on fire in El Rodeo village, and two children who were burned to death as they watched the volcano's second eruption this year from a bridge, Cabanas said.

Another victim was found in the streets of El Rodeo by volunteer firefighters and later died in an ambulance.

Hilda Lopez said the volcanic mud swept into her village of San Miguel Los Lotes, just below the mountain's flanks. She still does not know where her mother or her sister are.

She said: 'We were at a party, celebrating the birth of a baby, when one of the neighbors shouted at us to come out and see the lava that was coming.

'We didn't believe it, and when we went out the hot mud was already coming down the street.'

Israel said on Monday it was sending emergency aid worth $10,000 to Guatemala to buy emergency equipment including medication, food and blankets.

A Briton said he felt 'fortunate' to have escaped harm after he trekked to the base camp of Acatenango, which lies around two miles from the deadly Volcan de Fuego, the day before the explosion.

Richard Fitz-Hugh, a backpacker from Beaconsfield, Buckinghamshire, said: 'It was fine then, erupting as normal with lava flows but it was a lot worse today.

'We knew it was active, it's all part of the experience, you go up and see the lava, that's the point of climbing Acatenango.

'We heard there were a couple of people who were coming down early this morning when it started raining small volcanic rocks up to the size of your palm.

'I don't know anyone who has been physically harmed [on Acatenango], but obviously it wouldn't be completely safe being up high today - I'm sort of fortunate that I did it before.'

Police officers carry out search operations during the eruption of the Fuego volcano in Guatemala

A huge cloud of ash erupts from Volcan de Fuego - Volcano of Fire - in an explosion which has killed at least 25 people

A rescue worker helps a woman covered with ash after Fuego volcano erupted violently in Guatemala

A volunteer firefighter carries a child to safety in the aftermath of Sunday's huge volcano explosion in Guatemala

A police officer carries a baby to safety in El Rodeo as the volcano explosion threw ash over the surrounding area

Guatemalan National Army personnel evacuate a victim of the eruption as the surrounding area is blanketed by ash

Volcan de Fuego exploded Sunday 27 miles away from Guatemala City, killing at least 25 people and injuring 20 others

Volcano Fuego is one of the most active in Central America, pictured belching ash and rock

Fidelina Lopez, right, is consoled by her daughter Claudia in a shelter near the Volcan de Fuego in Alotenango

Firefighters in Alotenango pray as they respond to the enormous volcanic eruption in Guatemala on Sunday

The volcano exploded just before noon and lava flows follows hours afterwards, the thick cloud of ash pictured from Alotenango above

A rescue worker carries a child covered with ash after the volcano's eruption on Sunday

In this image the Volcan de Fuego can be seen spewing lava from its crater on Sunday

A Guatemalan rescue team worker carries a girl in El Rodeo, Escuintla, during the rescue operation on Sunday

A worker from the National Coordinator for Disaster Reduction of Guatemala assists people in El Rodeo, Escuintla

A group of workers from the rescue teams of Guatemala help a wounded person in El Rodeo, Escuintla

A rescue worker carries a child covered with ash after Fuego volcano erupted violently in Guatemala on Sunday

A thick cloud of ash spews out of the Volcan de Fuego as seen from near a petrol station at the foot of the mountain

Firefighters regroup after working on the evacuation of residents near Volcan de Fuego in Alotenango

British backpacker Richard Fitz Hugh's view of the volcano after he trekked up a neighbouring mountain

Ruth Rivas, who says she has two missing children, is consoled by a neighbor in a shelter near the volcano on Sunday

Distraught locals flee El Rodeo village while covered in ash after the volcano erupted around 12pm on Sunday

The 'Volcano of Fire' blows out a thick cloud of ash, as seen from Alotenango, Guatemala on Sunday afternoon

A police officer carries a baby away from the damage left by the Fuego Volcano in El Rodeo

A soldier takes a rescued child covered with ash to a hospital after the eruption on Sunday afternoon

Police officers carry away the body of a wounded man who is covered entirely in ash

A volunteer firefighter carries away a child following the eruption of the volcano in El Rodeo

Around 20 people have been hurt in the volcano eruption and undetermined number of people is missing, a fireman pictured being evacuated from Porvenir village after the explosion

Police wearing protective masks block access to the village of Porvenir after the eruption blanketed it in ash

Police carry an evacuee in Alotenango as the eruption of one of Central America's most active volcanoes sent locals fleeing

Neighbors gather outside a temporary morgue near Volcan de Fuego in Alotenango Sunday

The volcano in Guatemala is pictured at night after it erupted violently on Sunday afternoon

A view of the damage in the village El Porvenir, Guatemala, after clouds of ash exploded from the top of the volcano

Around 3,100 people have been evacuated from nearby communities into shelters.

Rescue teams of firefighters, police and soldiers went into the affected areas, particularly the village of El Rodeo which is located at the foot of the volcano, to rescue as many people as possible and recover bodies covered in ash.

The eruption affects an area home to 1.7million people. Ash has affected not only Guatemala City but the departments of Sacatepequez, Chimaltenango, Escuintla, and the popular tourist destination colonial town Antigua.

Guatemalan President Jimmy Morales said he would issue a declaration of a state of emergency to be approved by Congress and urged people to heed warnings from emergency officials.

The capital's international airport has also been closed due to the danger the ash poses to planes.

As the area is still reeling from the damage of the eruption, the volcano is still spewing lava, according to Eddy Sanchez, the director of the National Institute for Seismology, Vulcanology, Meteorology and Hydrology of Guatemala.

Rescue efforts have been suspended until Monday morning as darkness and rain take over the area, according to municipal firefighters' spokesman Cecilio Chacaj.

Ash is seen on the streets and buildings of popular tourist destination town of Antigua Sunday

Soldiers sweep the ash-covered tarmac at La Aurora International Airport which was closed because of the eruption

The airport in Guatemala City had to close its runway so that soldiers could clear away the ash from the volcano

People were trapped outside La Aurora international airport which closed after the eruption

Drivers make their way through a light rain of volcanic ash, as the Volcan de Fuego erupts, in Guatemala City on Sunday

City workers sweep volcanic ash brought by the Volcan del Fuego, in Guatemala City Sunday

A woman sweeps volcanic ash brought by the Volcan del Fuego, from the sidewalk in Antigua
President Trump's new ambassador to Germany is under fire for saying he wants to 'empower' conservatives across Europe and calling himself a 'big fan' of the right wing chancellor of Austria.

Richard Grenell, who was confirmed by the Senate only in late April, gave an unrestrained endorsements of conservative activists in an interview with Breitbart London, an arm of the conservative U.S. website.

Germany is requesting a 'clarification on whether the statements were actually made in the form they were given' following Grenell's explosive comments, which also included blasting the 'failed policies of the left'

'There are a lot of conservatives throughout Europe who have contacted me to say they are feeling there is a resurgence going on,' said Grenell, who was a vocal political supporter of Trump's during the campaign before he got nominated.

He also singled out the right wing young chancellor of Austria, Sebastian Kurz  calling him a 'rockstar.'

New U.S. ambassador to Germany Richard Grenell is under fire for saying he wants to 'empower other conservatives throughout Europe'

'Look, I think Sebastian Kurz is a rockstar. I'm a big fan,' Grenell said. Der Spiegel reported Grenell has invited Kurz to lunch. Kurz has been a prominent opponent of refugees fleeing the Middle East in Europe.

Some of Grenell's other comments are being taken as a suggestion that he is working to stoke opposition to centrist German Chancellor Angela Merkel, who has clashed with Trump on immigration, climate, and trade.

'I absolutely want to empower other conservatives throughout Europe, other leaders. I think there is a groundswell of conservative policies that are taking hold because of the failed policies of the left,' Grenell said.

Germany is seeking 'clarification on whether the statements were actually made in the form they were given,' according to spokesman Christofer Burger. Grenell's first visit to the German foreign ministry, set for Wednesday, now will give him a chance to 'explain how he wants his statements to be understood.'

'Look, I think Sebastian Kurz is a rockstar,' said Grenell of Sebastian Kurz, Austria's chancellor

Grenell has been a vocal supporter of President Trump

'The American ambassador in Germany has just implied that he would like to unseat the current German government,' wrote London School of Economics professor Anne Applebaum, Vox reported.

Ambassadors usually try to stay out of party politics where they are serving. Tweeted Democratic Sen. Chris Murphy of Connecticut: 'When I raised concerns to Grenell about politicizing this post, he personally assured me that once he became Ambassador he would stay out of politics. This interview is awful - Ambassadors aren't supposed to "empower" any political party overseas.'

Grenell Grenell was confirmed by the Senate in late April, after a public push by President. Sen. Jeff Merkley of Oregeon held up the vote, citing Grenell's 'tweets attacking both prominent Democratic women and prominent Republican women' and 'dismissing' Russia's election hacking.

Grenell, who is gay, won support from the Log Cabin Republicans during his confirmation fight.

Grenell also took heat for appearing to threaten German companies on his first day on the job, when he tweeted about President Trump's decision to pull out of the Iran nuclear deal.

'German companies doing business in Iran should wind down operations immediately,' Grenell wrote.
A 59-year-old man has been murdered in his own home by three knife-wielding thugs.

The burglars made off with just $70 in the robbery-gone-wrong, which police said occurred on Wednesday, reports NBC.

Ira Faulkner was stabbed in the abdomen, the NYPD said. He was rushed to Lincoln Hospital in the Bronx, New York.

Tragically, he later died of his wounds.

Another man, 54, was also stabbed during the burglary but his wounds were not fatal, police confirmed.

The robbers had entered Faulkner's apartment building on Intervale Avenue in the Woodstock neighborhood where they demanded money from the occupant.

Footage shows three men who are suspects in the murder inquiry of Ira Faulkner

The robbers took $70, stabbed Faulkner and fled, police said.

In CCTV footage, three men are seen near to the time the crime was committed.

Police have made no arrests and the investigation is ongoing.
Channel Seven has released the second part of their bizarre interview with former Deputy Prime Minister Barnaby Joyce and his partner Vikki Campion.

Mr Joyce stepped down as Deputy Prime Minister after details of his affair with his former staffer Ms Campion became public.

She gave birth to the couple's son Sebastian in May, and on Sunday night the couple appeared in an interview with Channel Seven's Alex Cullen - netting them $150,000 which will be placed into a trust account for their son.

The interview was much-maligned for not addressing important questions including whether or not the couple used public money while carrying out their secret relationship or if Mr Joyce helped Ms Campion get a lucrative job working for the Nationals.

Channel Seven has released the second part of their bizarre interview with former Deputy Prime Minister Barnaby Joyce and his partner Vikki Campion

Mr Joyce stepped down as Deputy Prime Minister after details of his affair with his former staffer Ms Campion became public

She gave birth to the couple's son Sebastian in May, and on Sunday night the couple appeared in an interview with Seven's Alex Cullen

The second part of the interview revealed on Monday details the insults Ms Campion received after it became public that she was carrying Mr Joyce's child.

'I'm a rent-a-root,' Ms Campion said while making quotation mark signs with her hands.

Mr Joyce also furiously slammed allegations the couple had used public money to travel together.

'They have investigated this to death. I've had like 160 inquiries and at this point not one, not one, has come up saying 'Oh, this is a problem'.'

He said it wasn't news of Ms Campion's pregnancy that forced him out of office but rather sexual harassment allegations which had been made against him.

'This is garbage and the purpose of this, I believe, was to force me out of my job.'

Ms Campion's expenses are also being investigated.

'They have found that they actually owe money,' she said.

Mr Joyce also spoke about allegations the couple had used public money to travel together (Pictured: Mr Joyce and his estranged wife Natalie)

Mr Joyce said it wasn't news of Ms Campion's pregnancy that forced him out of office but rather sexual harassment allegations which had been made against him (Pictured: Mr Joyce, his estranged wife Natalie and their four daughters)

Ms Campion claimed she took a pay cut to work for Mr Joyce and the National party

Addressing claims high-paying jobs were created for Ms Campion with other Nationals politicians in order to allow her to stay in close proximity to Mr Joyce, she said she took less money to work with the party than her previous job.

'I actually took a big pay cut. My wage actually dropped significantly,' she said.

Ms Campion also revealed she didn't receive maternity leave after leaving her job in parliament.

Former Tasmanian senator Jacqui Lambie said on Monday night's Q&A that she was worried about Mr Joyce's mental health.

Ms Campion also revealed she didn't receive maternity leave after leaving her job in parliament

Ms Campion's expenses are also being investigated. 'They have found that they actually owe money,' she said

'This is beyond a midlife crisis. This is not the Barnaby Joyce I know. I am concerned about his mental welfare.

'My heart is going out to him and both of them. But if you can't keep it in your pants you're going to pay the price.'

Channel Seven reporter Alex Cullen took to Twitter to address criticism of his interview.

'I'd like to make it clear that [questions] about [Mr} Joyce's alleged taxpayer funded travel rorts and claims of sexual misconduct were asked in our [interview],' he posted.

'The response to these questions was the same as we've heard time and time again. Vehemently denied hence nothing new.'
The White House said Monday that it's 'looking into a claim from two Democratic members of Congress that Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Scott Pruitt used a government aide to help him shop for a used luxury mattress at President Trump's Washington hotel.

'Certainly looking into the matter,' Sanders told DailyMail.com during a White House briefing, quipping: 'I couldn't comment on specifics of the furniture used in his apartment.'

The two top Democrats on the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee outlined the unusual duties of taxpayer-funded scheduling assistant Millan Hupp in a letter obtained by The Washington Post.

Maryland Rep. Elijah Cummings and Virginia Rep. Gerry Connolly wrote to the panel's chairman, South Carolina Republican Trey Gowdy, demanding that he issue a subpoena for EPA records. The Oversight committee is investigating Pruitt's management of the agency.

Scott Pruitt is under fire for multiple questionable uses of taxpayer money during his tenure at the Environmental Protection Agency; Pruitt staffer Millan Hupp (right) was tasked with helping him purchase a used luxury mattress, among other unusual duties

'Certainly looking into the matter,' Sanders told DailyMail.com on Monday about Pruitt's situation, quipping: 'I couldn't comment on specifics of the furniture used in his apartment'

Pruitt directed Hupp, his director of scheduling and advance, to help him purchase a Trump Home Luxury Plush Euro Pillow Top mattress, according to Cummings and Connolly.

A standard queen version of the luxury mattress, without a box spring, costs $1,399 before tax and shipping. A standard king costs $1,750.

It was one of many unique tasks Hupp performed for her boss, which saw her scout apartments in D.C. neighborhoods and arrange his family vacation to California over the New Year's holiday so the Pruitts could watch the Oklahoma Sooners play in the Rose Bowl.

Pruitt is under fire for multiple questionable uses of tax payer money during his tenure at the EPA, including $3.5 million on his own security, $10,000 to redecorate his office, using his security detail's flashing lights and sirens to make a dinner reservation at a posh D.C. restaurant, and and building a $43,000 soundproof booth in his office.

Hupp described her work in an interview with congressional investigators as including an array of personal tasks, including booking non-work flights with Pruitt's personal credit card.

Trump International Hotel in Washington, D.C. opened in September 2016, but its brisk business appears to have resulted in cast-off mattresses already

She said she remembered Pruitt 'has spoken with someone at the Trump Hotel who had indicated there could be a mattress he could purchase, an old mattress he could purchase,' and that the administrator 'had expressed interest in securing a matter' to her.

Hupp said she did not recall if Pruitt got his bedding but asked to confirm that 'it was not for use at EPA,' she replied, 'Not to my knowledge.'

The Trump International Hotel does allow guests to buy Trump-branded furnishings, but it does not appear to sell used mattresses. A receptionist referred a Post reporter to Tempur-Sealy corporate offices, which sells the same ones used at the Trump Hotel by mail order.

SCOTT PRUITT'S SCANDALS IN BRIEF Ex-Oklahoma attorney-general Scott Pruitt had never lived in Washington D.C. until he became EPA Administrator last year. But his scandals now include how he: Paid just $50 a night to stay in a condo owned by an energy lobbyist's wife but only when he was in town (and called it 'market rent');

Had his door battered down by Capitol Hill Police because he wasn't responding and claimed he was 'napping' - on a weekday afternoon;

Allegedly demanded flashing lights and sirens to get through traffic because he was late for dinner;

Also allegedly demanded a bulletproof SUV with run-flat tires - and a bulletproof desk;

Got a desk 'bigger than the Resolute' and a soundproof phone booth to stop officials hearing his calls;

Had his security chief reassigned, allegedly for questioning his demands;

Allegedly had other officials moved or reassigned for questioning his spending;

Claimed to know nothing about pay raises given to two key aides he brought with him from Oklahoma; when the White House turned them down, officials found a loophole;

Booked private jet flights and got authorization afterwards when it was too late to turn them down;

Used flights through hubs so he could then get home to Oklahoma more cheaply from there;

Got first class flights, with officials claiming he had 'threats' and needed to be kept from ordinary passengers - but only concrete example was someone shouting 'you're f***ing up the environment' in Atlanta Airport;

Officials looked into getting him $100,000-per-month private jet from NetJets;

His spokesman falsely claimed he had a 'blanket waiver' to fly in first;

Missed a flight en route to Morocco and spent a day and a night in Paris instead;

Took his round the clock security detail on his vacation to the Greek islands and Turkey;

When he was questioned about his $50-per-night deal by Fox News said it was 'unfair to ask.'

Used an aide to help him shop for a used luxury mattress at the Trump International Hotel in Washington Advertisement

Hupp has been at the EPA since March 2017, according to her LinkedIn profile, and before that was a political consultant in Tulsa, Oklahoma.

Barely three years ago, she worked at an Embassy Suites hotel near the Nashville airport.

She now makes $114,590 in Pruitt's personal office, The Washington Post reported in April. She got a 33 percent raise after the 26-year-old staffer oversaw an extensive housing hunt for Pruitt.

At times, she did this work office hours, a former EPA employee and others who interacted with her told the Post. Ethics experts say that kind of activity constitutes a violation of federal rules.

Pruitt told a House panel Hupp performed the apartment hunt 'on personal time,' but she told investigators she did some of it during work hours and used her official agency email at times in her search.

She said she was not compensated for this service.

Pruitt is under investigation for renting a Capitol Hill condo  for which he paid $50 a night whenever he was in town - from a lobbyist who worked on energy issues.

She was also protective of Pruitt's public image.

In May, Hupp insisted that a town hall event in Nevada, Iowa, for farmers, that was open to press and the public, should not include any questions from the audience.

Organizers objected that the event was marketed to the public as a townhall meeting.

'With a crowd of 300 people plus open press, we have to stick with the questions we currently have,' Hupp replied via email.

Pruitt described Hupp in his congressional testimony as 'a longtime friend,' and she told investigators 'I would consider him a friend of mine, yes.'

But federal rules bar a federal employee from making 'a donation or a gift to an official superior' and bar a federal official from accepting 'a gift from an employee receiving less pay than himself.'

Asked if she took leave from work when she occasionally looked at apartments during office hours for Pruitt and his wife, Hupp told committee staffers, 'I did not.'
Fikri Yarasir, 53, had been deported and barred by German government officials after he was jailed for ten years for importing heroin from his native Turkey into the city of Frankfurt in 1997

A Turkish crime lord moved to the UK to set up one of Britain's biggest heroin smuggling rackets after he was kicked out of Germany for international drug trafficking.

Fikri Yarasir, 53, had been deported and barred by German government officials after he was jailed for ten years for importing heroin from his native Turkey into the city of Frankfurt in 1997.

But after his release from prison moustachioed Yarasir - nicknamed 'Mario' due to his likeness to the videogame character - moved to the Derbyshire market town of Glossop where he set up a pizza takeaway Yummies and began a new drug smuggling operation.

Police acting on a tip off kept watch on Yarasir and followed an HGV from Dover to a warehouse in Salford near Manchester where he was seen unloading the drugs hidden inside a cargo of tables.

Officers raided the premises and found 210kg of heroin in 420 half kilo blocks worth an estimated 63million.

The drugs had come from Istambul in Turkey and were due to be taken to Rhyl in North Wales, where the drugs would be prepared before being sold across the North of England.

Yarasir was jailed for 25 years last April but details of his background emerged today after the last of his gang was jailed.

Officers raided the premises and found 210kg of heroin in 420 half kilo blocks worth an estimated 63million

Prosecutors said he appeared to be involved in the purchase of a factory in Turkey worth 1m even though he claimed to be earning as little as 12,000 a year in the UK from 2011 to 2017. It is not known how he was able to settle in Britain.

Detective Inspector Lee Griffin of Greater Manchester Police said: 'The lengths this group went to to try and conceal the drugs, cover their tracks and evade police capture, would have been impressive had they not failed at simple hurdles like leaving fingerprints and traceable bank transfers.

Brian Kennedy, 36, of Fife in Scotland, who was in charge of the logistics to bring the drugs into the UK (left) and Ahmet Taskin, 45, of Glossop (right)

Drug mules Paul Livesey, 46, and his partner Kathryn Fearon, 33, both of Gorton

Steven Hindley, 28, of Kinmel Bay, Rhyl (left) and David Mulligan, 27, of no fixed address (right)

'Drugs, in particular heroin, have a detrimental effect on the communities that the majority of people work so hard to uphold and ruin the lives of those most vulnerable and their families.

'We are constantly building a better picture of illicit activity and those who profess to be sophisticated criminals and will continue to do everything in our power to find those who attempt to make a profit from putting others in harm's way.'

Police began their investigation named Operation Cartoon in October 2016 after surveillance officers observed a number of interactions between a group of criminals including a cash deal for the purchase of a fork lift truck.

Fikri Yarasir a Turkish crime lord (pictured following his arrest in Germany in the 1990s)

Last August Yarasir was seen meeting an articulated lorry, with a Turkish registration plate, and leading it to the industrial unit where he and one of his takeaway employees were seen moving the cargo of furniture inside.

While the warehouse was unattended, officers entered the unit and found 42 tables in a side room with cellophane around them which looked 'untidily and hurriedly stacked'.

They broke open each one they found a void between the top and underside, revealing 10 x 500 gram bags containing heroin. Forensic tests proved the heroin was of such high purity that it would yield a street value of around 63million.

On the same day, officers entered a lockup in Rhyl and discovered equipment set up for a 'bash house' - a place where drugs can be diluted with other substances to increase value in onward supply. It included a hydraulic press for compressing drugs into bespoke fabricated moulds.

Enquiries revealed a business called 'Freight Forward Ltd' was set up to help the gang import the drugs into the UK - with the only customer being Yarasir.

Financial checks showed large amounts of money being paid to 'Freight Forward Ltd' over several months which was linked to Yarasir.

Pictured: The drug storage unit at Salford where the heroin was seized by police officers

A couple were used as drug mules to transport money to Turkey on various occasions, a few days at a time, taking large amounts of cash with them and returning to the UK with significantly lighter luggage.

Officers worked out that the missing weight was the cash they were spending, which totalled around 372,500, all on behalf of Yarasir who was arrested at his takeaway.

Yarasir denied wrongdoing claiming he had been gaining 'intelligence' on his co-accused with the plan to become a police informant. He claimed he has been 'exploited' by his employee Ahmet Taskin and a Korean woman living in Spain, who he knew as a customer at his takeaway.

Yarasir denied wrongdoing claiming he had been gaining 'intelligence' on his co-accused with the plan to become a police informant

But he was convicted of conspiracy to import heroin and conspiracy to supply heroin after a two month trial.

Sentencing Judge Martin Walsh said Yarasir played a 'leading role' and was responsible for buying and selling the heroin and communicating with other members of the gang.

He added: 'Those who seek to profit from the misery caused by greed and the callous disregard for the welfare of individuals and the society in which they live must expect to receive substantial sentences of imprisonment.'

'There must have been others, including those at a high level, who remain undetected and who were involved in the carefully planned and executed scheme of importation.'

Brian Kennedy, 36, of Fife in Scotland, who was in charge of the logistics to bring the drugs into the UK was jailed for 18 years. Drug mules Paul Livesey, 46, and his partner Kathryn Fearon, 33, both of Gorton were jailed for 15 years and nine years respectively.

Ahmet Taskin, 45, of Glossop was jailed for 13 and a half years. David Mulligan, 27, of no fixed address was jailed for 17 years and Steven Hindley, 28, of Kinmel Bay, Rhyl was jailed for 15 years. All were convicted of drug offences.
The teenage prostitute at the heart of a police sex scandal that rocked several police departments in California was arrested and placed on a medical hold, and she managed to video it.

Jasmine Abuslin, who is known as Celeste Guap, was arrested around 7am Sunday by Richmond Police after they received a call of a domestic disturbance.

Once Guap was placed inside the police cruiser, she still had a phone on her and managed to Facebook live at 7:40am.

In the short clip she says 'Help me! This is the idiot  Richmond police department,' before she's heard also directing her supposed boyfriend in the street to call people for her.

Richmond Police (left) arrested Celeste Guap (right) on Sunday following a domestic disturbance, she was able to Facebook live from inside the police cruiser

Guap, real name is Jasmine Abuslin, exposed a police sex scandal in California's Bay Area

Guap claimed to have had sex with dozens of police officers, including some while she was underage. Some officers were charged criminally for their alleged involvement with Guap

The officer that she just captured on Facebook Live walks around to the back of the cruiser to take her phone away.

He is heard saying 'She had a second phone on her.' After he takes it she lets out a blood curdling scream, and shouts 'Why did you take my phone!'

The Richmond Police, one of the departments previously embroiled in the scandal, then posted to Twitter regarding her arrest.

'RPD officers answered a disturbance call from Ms. Jasmin Abuslin at her Richmond home, at 7 am.'

'They met with difficulty sorting out the conflict between she and her boyfriend. Officers placed Ms. Abuslin on an emergency medical evaluation hold because of her words and behavior,' the tweet from the Richmond Police Department account read.

Guap alleged she had sex with dozens of police officers from several departments including Richmond, Oakland, Livermore, Contra Costa County and Alameda County.

Abuslin is the daughter of a police dispatcher and worked as a child prostitute under the street name Celeste Guap

She said some of her sexual encounters with officers happened while she was underage. Several officers were terminated as a result of an investigation, and several were charged criminally.

The scandal first came to light in September 2015 when an Oakland police officer committed suicide and left a note implicating several of his fellow officers.

On Saturday Guap spoke at a rally for sex workers rights , but was not arrested as a result of her speech, according to the sex worker advocacy group Bay Area Pros Support.

'We know that Celeste Guap was picked up by the police this morning,' a representative of Bay Area Pros Support said in a statement to the East Bay Times on Sunday.

'Celeste's lawyer is aware and involved, but we do not 'officially' know where she is. We do not trust them to keep her safe or treat her with respect. The police need to know that the community is watching them. Until she is released all eyes are on them,' the group added.

The shocking allegations against the officers prompted the firing of several from different law enforcement agencies across the Bay Area.

Guap successfully sued the city of Oakland for $1million in 2017.
Russian broadcasters have been accused of Photoshopping a smile onto Kim Jong-un in a recent broadcast of his meeting with Sergei Lavrov.

In a clip, shown on Russian state TV, the tyrant can be seen beaming with a wide grin.

But pictures from the same event show him stone-faced throughout while shaking the Russian Foreign Minister's hand.

The dictator met with Mr Lavrov in Pyongyang on Thursday, just weeks before a planned meeting between the US and the North Korean regime.

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The North Korean leader could be seen grinning in a segment filmed for state-sponsored channel Russia 1

Real photos of the same moment showed Kim looking stone-faced as he shook the Foreign Minister's hand

Although Kim and Lavrov were pictures laughing and joking with one another at times - when shaking hands the North Korean dictator appeared stern

Although Kim did crack a smile during other parts of the meeting, the photos and footage of the moment he posed for the cameras during a handshake with Lavrov show him looking stern.

But a segment about the meeting during the programme 'News of the Week' on pro-Putin TV station Russia 1 featured a still of Kim smiling alongside Lavrov.

A photo of the same moment published on the official Twitter of the Russian Foreign Ministry also shows Kim being grim.

Bloomberg Moscow deputy bureau chief Scott Rose tweeted: 'Russian state TV, rising to the occasion, photoshopped a smile onto North Korean leader Kim Jong Un at his meeting with Lavrov.'

Russia 1 has been contacted for a comment.

The host of the show is Dmitry Kiselyov, who has been called a Putin propagandist and claims the US is in league with terror group ISIS.

Lavrov became the first top-ranking Russian to meet with the current head of North Korea.

Lavrov reportedly invited Kim Jong-un to Russia. In return Kim thanked him for the invitation and asked him to convey his greetings to Vladimir Putin and the Russian people.
Johnny Depp is said to be in 'good health' and there is no reason for fans to be concerned about him, sources close to the star say after he was pictured in Russia looking worryingly thin and pale last week.

Despite an onslaught of concern over the actor's appearance including fears that he may be 'ill', a source tells DailyMail.com that he has no health problems.

Depp himself has not commented since photographs which were taken in St. Petersburg last week emerged.

In them, he appeared smiling with two Russian fans in the lobby of the Four Seasons hotel.

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Johnny Depp is pictured in St. Petersburg over the weekend. It is the latest in a string of photographs of the star in which he appears pale and gaunt but despite his drastic new appearance, sources close to him say he is in good health

They were posted innocently by the women who appear in them but quickly went viral as others picked up on his stark appearance.

Depp, 54, is not believed to be filming for any forthcoming project.

Speculation that his drastic weight loss may have been due to his participation in Fantastic Beasts 2.

The production wrapped in December but Depp had to shave his head and bleach his eyebrows to play Gellert Grindelwald.

Another suggestion was that he looked so different because he was not wearing his signature 'guyliner' but in the photographs it appears as though he is just not to the same heavy-handed standard fans may be used to.

Depp is currently touring Europe with his band the Hollywood Vampires.

On Monday night, he will play in Berlin at the Zitadelle museum.

In a newly surfaced photograph with a fan, Depp appears in the same t-shirt but a different hat

This was the image which shocked fans when it emerged on Saturday. It was posted by Russian fan Ekaterina Kurta

Afterwards, the tour will travel to Sweden, where the band will play two shows, before moving on to Denmark, Finland, Poland, Prague, and Germany before going to the UK at the end of the month.

They will play three shows there then will go back to Germany before finishing in Rome in July.

The tour began on May 17 in upstate New York.

Not long before the St. Petersburg pictures were taken last week, Depp was seen in Moscow posing happily with staff at a state museum after a low-key visit between shows.

They seemed unconcerned about his appearance and happily shared photographs of his visit online.

Depp is pictured with another fan at the Four Seasons in St. Petersburg last week

Possible explanation: Depp shaved his head and bleached his eyebrows to reprise his role as Grindewald in Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald. It wrapped filming in December and he has scarcely been seen since then . The film comes out in November

In videos of him performing, he appears to be in fine form.

Depp's shocking appearance comes after a month of accusations of bad behavior including claims of sustained drug abuse and alcoholism.

In a lawsuit against the star filed last month, two former bodyguards described having to act as babysitters for him. One claimed that he had to once wipe a 'substance' from the actor's face in a nightclub.

It was also claimed that he spent the day 'smoking and drinking' on the set of City of Lies, formerly known as LAbyrinth, in which Depp plays a LAPD detective investigating the deaths of rappers Notorious B.I.G. and Tupac Shakur.

Depp looked every inch one of the undead as he posed for snaps with fans on the Russian leg of a world tour this week

During his visit in Moscow, Depp also visited the Mayakovsky museum where, in one image, he looked happy and healthy as he posed with staff

A third image, taken in Moscow earlier in the week during a visit to a state museum, provoked more concern. Depp is pictured with one of the museum's staff

The production wrapped filming last year and Depp was praised by some for his conduct on set including a handful of extras who said he 'couldn't have been nicer'.

It was however alleged that he asked a production staffer to punch him during one incident.

According to sources cited by Page Six, Depp allegedly asked the staffer to punch him and said he would give him $100,000 to do so.

His representatives did not comment at the time.

Depp is pictured in June, 2017, at Glastonbury festival in England when he had a full head of hair and fuller face
A group of Japanese governors have launched a petition to allow babies to cry in public.

The troupe of 13 male politicians from across Japan have clubbed together to fight for the rights of infants in the country.

At present, Japanese parents who allow their babies to cry on trains or in restaurants are frowned upon as it is considered against convention to put up with noisy children.

But the 'We Love Babies Project' is aiming to break down the wall of silence and get shops and restaurants to display stickers in their windows stating 'it's okay to cry'.

Two babies crying loudly during an annual baby crying contest in which sumos try to get infants to cry

Japan is so notorious for its intolerance of noisy tots that some shops even display stickers condemning the behaviour.

'Japanese society still tends to make their mothers and fathers feel sorry for people nearby when their babies start crying,' Governor Eikei Suzuki told a gathering of politicians.

'We want to change that social situation.'

Japan is in the midst of a fertility crisis - with the number of newborn babies falling rapidly year-on-year.

In 2017 the number of newborn children dropped to a record low of just over 946,000.

A recent survey of Japanese people aged 18 to 34 also found that nearly 70 percent of unmarried men and 60 percent of unmarried women arent in a relationship.

Shinzo Abe, the prime minister, has widely advocated the creation of a more family-friendly society as a way to help revitalise the economy.
Former President George H.W. Bush has been discharged from a Maine hospital after being treated for low blood pressure and fatigue.

A Bush spokesman tweeted Monday that the president 'deeply' appreciates the care and good wishes he has received.

Last Friday, the 41st president tweeted a cheerful message from his hospital bed while reading a book about himself and his late wife.

Former President George H.W. Bush has been discharged from a Maine hospital after being treated for low blood pressure and fatigue. He posted this photo of himself reading George & Barbara Bush: A Great American Love Story on Twitter last Friday

Bush said the book is 'a wonderful walk down memory lane' and 'another reminder of how lucky' he has been in life. His wife Barbara Bush died in April at age 92. They had been married for 73 year

The 93-year-old posted a picture of himself reading George & Barbara Bush: A Great American Love Story.

Bush said the book is 'a wonderful walk down memory lane' and 'another reminder of how lucky' he has been in life.

His wife Barbara Bush died in April at age 92. They had been married for 73 years.

The hospitalization caused Bush to miss out on a Memorial Day parade in Maine that he traditionally attends

The day before his hospitalization, Bush attended a pancake breakfast at the local American Legion hall (left)

Bush was taken to a hospital on May 27, just seven days after he had arrived for the summer in Maine

The hospitalization caused Bush to miss out on a Memorial Day parade in Maine that he traditionally attends.

Last Monday, he said in a tweet that he regretted missing the event earlier that day in Kennebunkport, down the road from his summer home.

He also said he's 'forever grateful not only to those patriots who made the ultimate sacrifice for our Nation - but also the Gold Star families whose heritage is imbued with their honor and heroism'.

Bush was taken to a hospital on May 27, just seven days after he had arrived for the summer in Maine.

The day before his hospitalization, Bush attended a pancake breakfast at the local American Legion hall.

His former national security adviser, retired Air Force Lt Gen Brent Scowcroft, joined them.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu warned German Chancellor Angela Merkel today that Iranian meddling in the Middle East could touch off massive new refugee flows to Europe, as they clashed about the future of the nuclear deal with Tehran.

At the start of a three-day European tour dominated by strategic differences on Iran, Netanyahu charged that Tehran has been able to bankroll a growing military presence in countries such as Syria and Yemen because sanctions had been lifted in exchange for its halt in nuclear enrichment activities.

Iran wants to "basically conduct a religious campaign in largely Sunni Syria but try to convert Sunnis," he said at a joint press conference with Merkel.

"This will inflame another religious war -- this time a religious war inside Syria and the consequences will be many, many more refugees and you know where exactly they will come," he said.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu began a three-day European tour in Berlin, meeting German Chancellor Angela Merkel

More than one million asylum seekers, with Syrians making up the biggest group, arrived in Germany since 2015, creating deep new political divisions in the country and shrinking Merkel's ruling majority in her fourth term.

Germany, France and Britain are three of the signatories of the 2015 Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) between world powers and Iran, aimed at keeping Tehran from acquiring nuclear weapons.

Benjamin Netanyahu told Angela Merkel that Iranian meddling in the Middle East risked causing a new wave of refugees to Europe

Netanyahu, who has long railed against the deal, will continue on to Paris for meetings with French President Emmanuel Macron on Tuesday and British Prime Minister Theresa May on Wednesday.

All three countries have vowed to try to salvage the hard-fought accord since President Donald Trump announced the US withdrawal from it last month.

The European powers argue it is the best way to head off a regional arms race and have vowed with Russia and China, the two other signatory countries, to keep it alive.

Merkel insisted that the Europeans and Israel were "united by the goal that Iran must never get a nuclear weapon" but acknowledged deep differences with Netanyahu on "how we can best achieve this".

She defended the nuclear accord as ensuring "at least for a certain time, that Iran's activities are under control" noting that Tehran had been "on the brink of having a nuclear weapon" before the deal was signed.

But she acknowledged that a supplementary deal with Tehran covering its ballistic missile programme as well as its interventions in countries such as Lebanon, Syria, Iraq and Yemen was needed.

"But we believe that this can be achieved with tough negotiations," she said.

Asked about Iranian supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei comments on Twitter Sunday calling Iran a "malignant cancerous tumour", Merkel said Germany and its partners had "repeatedly and with great clarity told Iran that we will stand up for Israel's right to security".

Western powers view Iran's involvement in its neighbours affairs as destabilising for the region while Israel sees it as a direct threat to its existence.

Foes Iran and Israel have been kept at bay for decades. However, an unprecedented May 10 escalation in Syria that saw Israel bomb alleged Iranian targets after blaming Tehran for a rocket barrage has sparked fears of open war.

Israel is considered the leading military power in the Middle East and believed to be the only country in the region to possess nuclear weapons.

The visit to Germany, traditionally Israel's closest European ally due to the enduring responsibility Berlin accepts for the Holocaust, comes at a time of further diplomatic tensions.

Merkel has repeatedly criticised expanding Israeli settlements in occupied Palestinian territory as destructive to long-thwarted hopes for a two-state solution.

She nevertheless defended Israel's right to retaliate against rocket attacks from Gaza amid the worst military flare-up in the beleaguered Palestinian enclave since a 2014 war.

Netanyahu thanked Merkel for her efforts to fight a resurgence of anti-Semitism in Germany stemming from homegrown extremists and the massive influx of Muslim asylum seekers since 2015.

Alexander Gauland, a leader of the far-right Alternative for Germany, the biggest opposition party in parliament, unleashed a storm of protest at the weekend when he described the Nazi period and the Holocaust as little more than a "speck of bird shit in over 1,000 years of successful German history".
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The three women who were found dead at alleged serial killer Stewart Weldon's home in Massachusetts last week have been identified as local missing women.

America Lyden, Ernestine Ryans and Kayla Escalante were named by Hampden District Attorney Anthony Gulluni as the three victims found last Wednesday at Weldon's Springfield, Massachusetts, home.

Lyden, 33, was reported missing in December last year but had not been heard from by her family since last June. It is not clear how long Ryans, 47, had been missing. Escalante was the youngest victim at 26. She had been missing since December.

Authorities have not yet revealed how or when they died but they say it is 'unlike anything they have ever seen before.

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Stewart Weldon appears in court in Springfield, Massachusetts, on Monday June 4 to face a second kidnapping charge

The victims, L-R: Kayla Escalante, 27, had been missing since December. America Lyden, 33, vanished last June and Ernestine Ryans, 47, was also missing. A fourth woman was found in the car Weldon tried to flee police in. She has not been named and is in hospital with grotesque' injuries including stab wounds and rape injuries

HOUSE OF HORRORS TIMELINE Sunday May 27: Weldon is arrested after leading police on a chase after they tried to pull him over for a routine traffic stop because of a broken taillight. At the end of the chase, a 25-year-old woman in the passenger seat claims he had been keeping her as a sex slave. She is taken to hospital with 'grotesque' injuries and he is charged with sexual assault and kidnap. Tuesday May 29: Weldon appears in court and denies the charges Wednesday May 30: Police search his home after being alerted to it by his mother who told them there was a foul smell. They find the first two bodies. Thursday May 31: Police find third body at the home. They also find a child who is alive. Monday June 4: Weldon is charged with second count of kidnap Advertisement

Their bodies were found after Weldon's mother called police to report a foul odor at the home on Wednesday, May 30.

He was not at the home at the time, having been arrested several days earlier after trying to flee police when he was pulled over for a broken taillight. He took police on a high speed chase which ended with him crashing into a cruiser.

A 25-year-old woman who was in the passenger seat the time later told police they had saved her life and that he was keeping her as a sex slave. She was taken to hospital with 'grotesque' injuries including stab wounds to the abdomen. She had also been hit with a hammer.

At the home where the bodies were found, police also found a child alive. It is not clear what Weldon's relationship the child is.

After being pulled over for the taillight, Weldon was initially charged with one count of kidnapping, one count of sexual assault and other traffic related offense.

On Monday, he was charged with a second count of kidnapping. It remains unclear if those charges apply to the woman and the child previously found or if a fifth adult victim may be involved.

Weldon has a long history of violent crimes stretching back more than a decade.

In September 2006, he was jailed in Maywood County for a year for attempted theft and burglary.

He was out of jail for just over a month before he was jailed again in October for a burglary and probation violation in 2008.

Weldon is pictured in court on Monday to face a second kidnapping charge. It is not clear who the alleged victim in that case is and if it may be a fifth woman whose involvement with him has not yet been reported

Stewart Weldon is pictured in court in Springfield, Massachusetts, on Tuesday to face a second kidnapping charge

Police are pictured using a ground penetrating radar at Weldon's home in Massachusetts to look for more victims after three dead bodies were found

Escalante (left) would have turned 27 on May 31, the day the third body was found. She was a proud young mother who appears to have gone missing in December. It is not known how long Ernestine Ryans (right) had been missing

He had a few more run ins with the police over the years and was recently arrested again on October 14, 2017, near Forest Park in Springfield, Massachusetts.

Weldon, 40, was arrested after being pulled over for a broken taillight last Sunday. Police were already searching the home where the bodies were found after being alerted to it by his mother

Police had stopped him for reckless driving but the police report reveals he was also arrested for assault with a dangerous weapon, resisting arrest and assault and battery of a police officer during the violent confrontation.

After his arrest last Sunday, Weldon's aunt said she believed something 'snapped' in him.

She said she felt sorry for the 'girl' he'd been keeping as his apparent sex slave but was glad that she was alive.

'When I saw what had happened to that girl, I said that boy is sick he really is.

'At least he gave her some water to stay hydrated.

Something had to snap for him to turn like that,' his aunt Hannah Weldon, 63, told DailyMail.com.

The woman's injuries were horrifying.

They include a possible fractured jaw and scabbed over wounds which, police said, indicated prolonged abuse.

When police caught up arrested him on May 27, she told them they had saved her life and that she did not think she would have survived him.

She remained in hospital on Friday as authorities continued to search the property where the bodies were found.

They used ground penetrating radars as part of the search in a grim hunt for more bodies. According to Weldon's aunt, he and the woman have two children together; a six-month-old baby and a girl.

The baby is believed to be the child who was found but police are yet to confirm details of their identity.

Investigators work at Weldon's home in Springfield, Massachusetts, on May 31 after being sent there by his mother
Democratic lawmakers told President Trump on Monday in advance of his summit with Kim Jong-un that they would not back a 'bad deal' with North Korea just to make peace with the isolated regime.

In a letter to Trump top-ranking Senate Democrats said that any agreement the U.S. makes with North Korea must be permanent and include a provisions that ban the development of ballistic missiles, in addition to nuclear weapons.

'If President Trump meets with Kim Jong-un and receives a deal that truly lives up to these principles, he will have made the world a much safer place. But if he tries to reach a deal with Kim Jong-un, just for the sake of reaching a deal, and the agreement fails to live up to the principles we've laid out, then he'll have been bested at the negotiating table yet again,' Sen. Chuck Schumer said on a call with reporters.

Democratic lawmakers, including Chuck Schumer, warned President Trump on Monday in advance of his summit with Kim Jong-un that a 'bad deal' with North Korea would be unacceptable

The demands laid out by Schumer and other Democrats who signed onto the letter nearly mirror the provisions that President Trump has said must be a part of a similar agreement with Iran.

He left an international accord with Tehran last month because it did not live up to those standards.

Schumer voted against that agreement, negotiated in 2015 by the Obama administration, when it came before the Senate for many of the same reasons he says he'd oppose an agreement he deems to loose with North Korea now.

Since Trump took power, however, Schumer has changed course.

The Senate Democratic leader said that Trump should have left the Iran accord in place and given it time to work out.

He argued Monday that the Iran nuclear accord is not entirely similar to what he's asking of Trump.

'Iran did not have nuclear weapons or a functional ICMB [intercontinental ballistic missile]. North Korea has both,' he said. 'So the danger to the United States is so much the greater here. The danger to the Pacific region is so much the greater.

'And that's why having a really strong permanent settlement here in North Korea for agreement is so, so important.'

Schumer said on the call, 'We very much hope that he will be able to achieve a lasting and strong agreement.'

If not, as Trump has said he will, Schumer argued that the president 'needs to be willing to walk away' from the negotiating table.

'The president has talked tough when it comes to North Korea, but more important than any tweet, more important than any comment about the size of the big red button, will be the president's willingness to stand strong and secure a strong and enduring deal.'

Schumer said that Democrats in the Senate will not provide the sanctions relief necessary to strike a deal with North Korea unless it includes a provision that says Pyongyang must dismantle or removed every single one of its weapons.

That includes ending uranium enrichments and permanently dismantling all test sites and destroying the related facilities.

North Korea must also end its ballistic missiles tests and agree to anytime, anywhere inspections.

Should Pyongyang engage in any violations of those terms, the agreement would also have to call for snap-back sanctions.

Schumer cautioned Trump not to enter an agreement that 'fails to live up to' the principles that he and other Senate Democrats are laying out.

The demands laid out by Schumer and other Democrats who signed onto the letter nearly mirror the provisions that President Trump has said must be a part of a similar agreement with Iran

Sen. Bob Menendez of New Jersey told reporters on the call that a bad deal 'risks putting security allies at risk' while warning that the 'art of diplomacy harder than the art of the deal.'

Trump has to be prepared and able to engage in credible and patient diplomacy, he said, in order to get anything other than 'a flimsy framework' that does not have a chance of lasting success.

'It is in fact precisely because we're serious about American national security,' he said, 'that we need to be serious about defining success.'

Menendez cautioned, 'If the president signs onto any deal, simply because he wants a bad deal, would be a mistake.'
An eight-year-old boy has died after an accident at a friend's pool in Texas.

On Friday night Kristi Petit of Fort Worth, Texas, got the call that her eight-year-old son Gage had been in an accident at a friend's pool.

According to the Dallas Morning News, police were called because Gage Petit had sustained head trauma, but police didn't provide further details on what caused the trauma.

Gage Petit, 8, smiles at the barber in an undated picture from his grandmother's Facebook page

Kristi Petit, left, at her son's bedside at Cook Children's hospital, in a picture she shared on Facebook

Kristi Petit announced her son's passing with this simple message on Facebook. She later said he died in her arms.

Gage was rushed to Cook Children's Hospital in Fort Worth where his mother stayed by his side until late Saturday night when she announced his passing in a gut wrenching Facebook post: 'Gage passed away peacefully at 11:20 pm. His little body just fought till he was too tired. I'm at a loss.'

She later elaborated, sharing that 'Gage suffered an unimaginable passing after being forced under water.

'The swelling in his brain caused an anoxic brain injury which caused his organs to begin shutting down.

'The doctors told me the medications they were giving him were causing more damage to his lungs and to his heart and not helping but just prolonging his journey.'

Officials say a cause of death has not been determined.

Gage Petit, in an undated photo from his grandmother's Facebook page is being remembered as a rascal

A GoFundMe page has been set up to help Kristi pay for expenses including a funeral for her son

Now a friend has set up a GoFundMe page to help Kristi, a single mom, pay hospital bills and pay for the funeral.

They have raised more than $10,000 since first posting on Sunday morning.

Kristi took to Facebook again late Sunday to thank her friends for their support and to send a heartfelt message to her son, 'Gage, Mommy loves you. And there will never be a day I don't cry because I want to see your infectious smile or hear you ask, "Hugs and kisses Mama?" Thank you for saving my life. Thank you for being my Rootie Tootie.'

She ended her tribute simply, saying, 'I'll never get over this.'
Law enforcement sources named the suspect as Dwight Lamon Jones after the 56-year-old killed himself when police surrounded his Scottsdale motel room on Monday

Police have found two more bodies in Arizona that they believe might be related to a suspected gunman's killing spree after it emerged that his victims had apparent ties to his bitter divorce battle.

Law enforcement sources named the suspect as Dwight Lamon Jones after the 56-year-old killed himself when police surrounded his Scottsdale motel room on Monday morning.

Later on Monday, police were called to a home in the nearby town of Fountain Hills following reports of a possible double-homicide.

Police suspect the two bodies found at the home may also be linked to Jones.

Investigators have not yet confirmed a motive for the initial four slayings but sources told NBC they may be linked to Jones' eight-year divorce battle from his wife.

Court records show his wife filed for divorce in 2009. The case was finalized in 2011 but it continued to drag on until last year because they couldn't agree on alimony payments and child support.

Authorities on Monday revealed they had strong evidence that linked Jones to the killings of a Jonbenet Ramsey forensic psychiatrist on Thursday, two paralegals on Friday and the death of a hypnotherapist on Saturday.

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A suspect who may be linked to a series of murders in Arizona in recent days was surrounded by police at the Extended Stay Hotel in Scottsdale on Monday morning (above)

Dr Steven Pitt, a prominent forensic psychiatrist who assisted in high-profile murder cases including the JonBenet Ramsey mystery, was found dead near Scottsdale on Thursday

Veleria Sharp (left) and Laura Anderson (right) were shot dead on Friday at the law office where they work, which focuses exclusively on mediation and family law litigation

A fourth professional, Marshall Levine, was found shot inside a Scottsdale office building shortly after midnight Saturday

Dr Steven Pitt, the psychiatrist in the Ramsey case, had carried out a court-mandated mental health test on Jones in the early years of his divorce battle.

Pitt was the first victim found dead near Scottsdale on Thursday and witnesses reported hearing a loud argument and gunfire outside his office.

According to court records, Jones' wife was represented during their divorce by Elizabeth Feldman. The local attorney is a partner at the law firm where the two paralegals were killed.

Feldman was not believed to be at the office when paralegals Veleria Sharp, 48, and Laura Anderson, 49, were gunned down.

The suspect was also believed to be seeing a therapist at the same location where the fourth victim, Marshall Levine, was found shot dead on Saturday night. It is not clear if the 72-year-old was Jones' therapist.

Police were trying to make contact with the suspect at the motel when he opened fire on them

Police managed to track the suspect to the Extended Stay Hotel where he had been living for some time on Monday.

Authorities were trying to make contact with him when he opened fire from his room.

They gassed the motel room and sent in a robot where officers found the suspect had died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound.

Phoenix police Sgt Vince Lewis said officers were in the process of evacuating the surrounding motel rooms when the suspect started shooting.

None of the officers returned fire.

The hotel raid came after authorities identified a fourth professional found fatally shot in the three-day span of killings.

Police had initially confirmed the first three murders were related but were working to find a connection to the fourth.

Police had earlier said Pitt's killer was described as a bald man wearing a dark-colored hat with a short brim. They released a sketch of the suspect.

Law enforcement sources told ABC News that police gassed the motel room and sent a robot. Police said once the robot entered they found the suspect had committed suicide

Police surround the hotel where the suspect wanted in multiple killings was staying on Monday morning

Sharp and Anderson were shot Friday inside a law office. Police say one of the women managed to walk to an intersection to seek help despite a gunshot wound to her head. She was taken to a hospital where she died.

Officers followed a blood trail back to the office and found the other woman. She was pronounced dead at the scene.

In the Levine case, Scottsdale police received a call Saturday about a man found fatally shot inside an office. Hoster did not identify the caller but said the person knew the victim.

The killing occurred in an office park that houses mostly therapists and counselors.

Pitt, the first victim to be killed, had assisted in the investigation of the 1996 death of six-year-old JonBenet Ramsey, who was found dead at her home in Boulder, Colorado.

A decade later, he helped Phoenix police in the Baseline Killer investigation as they sought a man who was later convicted of killing nine people.
Politicians in France have proposed introducing a new law to fight fake news in the run up to an election next year.

The draft law, designed to stop what the government calls 'manipulation of information' in the run-up to elections, will be debated in parliament Thursday with a view to it being put into action during next year's European parliamentary polls.

The idea for the bill came straight from President Emmanuel Macron, who was himself targeted during his 2017 campaign by online rumours that he was gay and had a secret bank account in the Bahamas.

Under the law, French authorities would be able to immediately halt the publication of information deemed to be false ahead of elections.

The legislation was proposed by Emmanuel Macron himself after he suffered at the keyboards of fake news peddlers during the 2017 Presidential election

Social networks would have to introduce measures allowing users to flag up false reports, pass their data on such articles to authorities, and make public their efforts against fake news.

And the law would authorise the state to take foreign broadcasters off the air if they were attempting to destabilise France - a measure seemingly aimed at Russian state-backed outlet RT in particular.

European governments have struggled to work out how to respond to the fake news phenomenon, not least after accusations of Kremlin meddling in France and the US presidential vote that brought Donald Trump to power.

The British government has set up a 'fake news' unit, while Italy has an online service to report false articles and the European Union is working on a 'code of practice' that would provide guidelines for social media companies.

France wants to go further - though not as far as neighbouring Germany, where social networks face fines of up to 50 million euros ($58 million) under a controversial law which critics say is overly draconian.

Some opponents fear French authorities could use powers in the new law to block embarrassing or compromising reports.

The French Presidential election in 2017 was characterized by a spreading of misinformation

'It's a step towards censorship,' said Vincent Lanier, head of France's national journalists' union, the SNJ. He labelled the bill 'inefficient and potentially dangerous'.

The government insists measures will be built into the law to protect freedom of speech, with only reports that are 'manifestly false' and that have gone viral - notably with the help of bots - taken down.

'Reducing freedom of expression is not the idea at all. On the contrary, it's to protect it,' said Culture Minister Francoise Nyssen.

Leaving fake news to spread would be a 'direct attack' on journalism, she argued.

But for Jerome Fenoglio, editorial director of Le Monde newspaper, the legislation carries too big a risk of suppressing information in the public interest.

'Elections should be a time of great freedom - these are periods when important information emerges,' he said, noting as an example the fake jobs scandal that torpedoed the campaign of presidential frontrunner Francois Fillon last year.

'We should be worried about an authoritarian regime winning power in France in the future and the methods it might use,' he said.

Others worry the law could backfire by giving extra credibility to reports labelled 'fake' by the authorities amongst those convinced the government is out to hide the truth.

Fabrice Epelboin, who teaches media studies at Sciences Po university in Paris, predicts 'catastrophic consequences' of the legislation which he says 'is already seen as a law of censorship'.

'It will only reinforce a sense of defiance towards the press and politicians who are already very discredited,' he warned.

The far-right followers of Marine Le Pen were accused of spreading fake news throughout the 2017 election

Far-right leader Marine Le Pen, whose followers stand accused of spreading fake news, is among those who have spoken against the bill, asking: 'Is France still a democracy if it muzzles its citizens?'

The EU, for its part, has said it does not want to create an Orwellian 'ministry of truth' and will not legislate on fake news.

In France, there are also questions about how the law will work in practice.

Judges will have just 48 hours to rule on an urgent request to take down a report.

Legal expert Vincent Couronne says the law is 'not only imperfect and unnecessary, but also dangerous for the peace and diversity of public debate'.

It will turn judges into 'arbiters of true and false', said Patrick Eveno, a media history professor at the Sorbonne university.

As for potentially kicking out foreign media, Fenoglio is deeply uncomfortable with the idea, not least given that Le Monde is blocked in China.

'I cannot defend measures under which it's considered normal to block all kinds of information because it's considered close to a foreign government,' he said.
President Donald Trump had more than prison reform on his mind when he met with Kim Kardashian in the Oval Office last week.

He thanked the reality star and her husband Kayne West for boosting his popularity with African-Americans, a group that is not a strong supporter of his presidency.

Two sources familiar with the conversation recounted it to Bloomberg News.

Trump received only 8 percent of African-American vote in 2016, compared to the 88 percent who supported Hillary Clinton.

Reality star Kim Kardashian met with President Trump in the Oval Office in May to pled for a pardon for Alice Marie Johnson, a 63-year-old grandmother

Kim Kardashian didn't speak to the press when she left the West Wing of the White House

Kayne West praised President Trump on twitter in April for having 'dragon energy'

Kardashian met with Trump and White House adviser Jared Kushner in separate meetings for an hour at the White House on May 30 to make her case for a presidential pardon for Alice Marie Johnson, a 63-year-old grandmother serving a life sentence without parole for a drug offense.

Trump hasn't mentioned Johnson's case although he issued a pardon for conservative commentator Dinesh D'Souza since that meeting.

'The president's considering a number of different pardons and communtations and when we have an announcement on that we'll let you guys know,' White House press secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders said when asked about Johnson at her Monday press briefing.

Additionally, Trump has publicly mulled pardoning Martha Stewart and commuting the sentence of former Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich.

Kardashian's pitch didn't get immediate traction with the president, Bloomberg reported.

Trump did tweet a photo with Kardashian featuring their Oval Office meeting.

'Great meeting with @KimKardashian today, talked about prison reform and sentencing,' he wrote.

The star of 'Keeping Up with the Kardashians' told Mic News the meeting went well.

'He really understood, and I am very hopeful that this will turn out really positively,' she said.

About a month before Kardashian visited the White House her husband, rapper Kayne West, praised Trump in a tweet: 'You don't have to agree with trump but the mob can't make me not love him. We are both dragon energy.'

He later revealed that his 'Make America Great Again' hat is signed by Trump himself, posting a picture of the accessory.

Trump later retweeted the message and wrote: 'Thank you Kanye, very cool!'

The president then praised him a few days later at a rally in Michigan.

'Kanye West gets it  when he sees African American unemployment is the lowest in history, you know, people are watching,' Trump told a crowd of supporters.

Kim Kardashian thanked President Trump for meeting with her

The president has not mentioned a pardon for Alice Marie Johnson

In December of 2016, Kayne West actually met with President Trump

West got some social media grief for his posts and Kardashian took to twitter to defend him.

'Now when he spoke about Trump...Most people (including myself) have very different feelings & opinions about this,' she wrote.

'But this is HIS opinion. I believe in people being able to have their own opinions, even if really different from mine. He never said he agrees with his politics.'

In a separate tweet Kardashian reiterated that she loved and respected her husband.

'Kanye will never run in the race of popular opinion and we know that and that's why I love him and respect him,' she said.

Trump later credited the April tweet from West with raising his approval rating among African Americans.

'Kanye West must have some power because you probably saw I doubled my African American poll numbers. We went from 11 to 22 in one week,' Trump said May 4 at the National Rifle Association's annual conference in Texas.

He didn't offer details on where he got those statistics.

A Reuters tracking poll shows Trump's approval among African-Americans rose by six points - from 12 percent in April to 18 percent in May.

After her meeting with Trump, Kardashian tweeted: 'I would like to thank President Trump for his time this afternoon. It is our hope that the President will grant clemency to Ms. Alice Marie Johnson who is serving a life sentence for a first-time, non-violent drug offense.'

Johnson was imprisoned for life in 1996 for drug dealing and money laundering after her 15 accomplices all testified against her and had their own charges dropped - despite Johnson's minor role in the cocaine ring. It was her first offense.

Kim Kardasian arrives at the Trump/Kushner home after her White House meetings in May

Ivanka Trump arrives home on the night Kim Kardashian joined her and Jared for dinner

Kim Kardashian leaving the Ivanka Trump and Jared Kushner house

Kim Kardashian at the Trump/Kushner house with Ivanka and Jared

After the meeting, Kardashian left the White House and headed for Jared Kushner and Ivanka Trump's Washington D.C. home.

Exclusive photos taken by DailyMail.com show the reality star walking inside and laughing with the First Daughter and her husband.

Kardashian, who appeared on Trump's NBC show 'The Apprentice' in 2010, said she voted for Hillary Clinton in the 2016 election.

She arrived at and left the White House for her meeting last week in a black SUV, wearing all black except for yellow stilettos.

She did not make an attempt to engage with a pack of press staking her out.
Israel's embassy to the USA posted a mocking response featuring a quote from Mean Girls in response to a series of vitriolic tweets from Iran's Supreme Leader.

Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei lashed out at Israel on Sunday, calling the Jewish state the 'cancerous tumor' that must be 'removed and eradicated.'

But Israel soon fired back with the official Israeli Embassy page posting a Mean Girls GIF of main character Regina George saying: 'Why are you so obsessed with me?'

Khamenei leveled harsh criticism at Israel for its handling of the recent deadly protests on the Gaza border in which 121 Palestinians were killed.

Scroll down for video

Iran's supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei called Israel a 'cancerous tumor' on Monday

The Embassy of Israel to the United States posted an inflammatory reply featuring a GIF of Mean Girls main character Regina George

'For Iran, the Palestinian cause is not a tactical issue, nor is it a "political" strategy. It's an issue of beliefs, an issue of the heart and an issue of faith,' Khamenei added.

The Twitter spat comes just hours after Khamenei revealed on Monday that Western demands for limits on Iran's ballistic missile programme are a 'dream that will never come true'.

Tensions between Iran and the West have resurged since President Donald Trump pulled the United States out of world powers' 2015 nuclear deal with Tehran, calling it deeply flawed.

European signatories are scrambling to save the accord, which they see as crucial to forestalling an Iranian nuclear weapons, by protecting trade with Iran against the reimposition of U.S. sanctions to dissuade Tehran from quitting the deal.

Under the deal, the Islamic Republic curbed its disputed nuclear energy programe and in return won a lifting of most international sanctions that had hobbled its economy.

One of Trump's demands - which European allies back in principle - is negotiations to rein in Iran's ballistic missile programme, which was not covered by the nuclear deal.

Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei again said this was non-negotiable. 'Some Europeans are talking about limiting our defensive missile programme. I am telling the Europeans, 'Limiting our missile work is a dream that will never come true,' he said in a televised speech.

Khamenei had earlier called out Israel on Twitter over their treatment of Palestinians during the recent deadly Gaza border protests

Khamenei was speaking out in defence of Palestine after 122 people were killed by Israeli fire in the unrest in Gaza that flared up in March

Trump also objected that the 2015 deal did not address Iran's nuclear work beyond 2025 or its role in conflicts in Yemen and Syria. Though committed to the deal, European powers share Trump's concerns and want broader talks with Iran to address the issues.

'Our enemies have staged economic and psychological... warfare against us and new American sanctions are part of it,' Khamenei told a gathering to mark the 29th anniversary of the death of Iranian revolutionary leader Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini.

'Tehran will attack 10 times more if attacked by enemies... The enemies don't want an independent Iran in the region... We will continue our support for oppressed nations,' he said.

Khamenei said Iran had no intention of curbing its influence in the Middle East and urged Arab youth to stand up to U.S. pressure.

'Young Arabs, you should take action and the initiative to control your own future ... Some regional countries act like their own people's enemies,' he said in an allusion to U.S.-allied Gulf Arab states who have supported rebels fighting to topple Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, a close ally of Tehran.
President Trump's lawyer Rudy Giuliani is taking a break from defending the president from Robert Mueller's investigators to attend a high-level conference in Israel on real estate investment.

Giuliani, the former New York Mayor, is an 'important guest' at the 'Globes' Capital Market Conference' in Tel Aviv, which will feature top investors and predictions about which way the U.S. real estate market is going.

The event is billed as one of three 'market maker' events, the Hebrew-language Globes reported.

Giuliani is listed as a featured speaker.

Rudy Giuliani, former New York City mayor and current lawyer for U.S. President Donald Trump is scheduled to appear as a speaker at an event in Israel on capital markets and the direction of real estate markets

Another speaker listed is Eduardo Elsztain, who runs the highest valued Argentine business empire and is a top Jewish investor, and is the controlling shareholder of IDB Group.

Giuliani isn't known as a major player in real estate, although his boss, President Trump, amassed large holdings in hotels, casinos and branded properties to assemble an empire estimated to be worth 2.8 billion by Forbes.

Chaim Katzman, the controlling shareholder of Gazit Globe, former Israeli foreign minister Tzipi Livni, and Nadine Baudot-Trajtenberg, the former deputy governor of the Bank of Israel, also are scheduled to appear.

Giuliani is scheduled to appear at the event in Tel Aviv on Wednesday. On Sunday he said it would be 'unthinkable' for President Trump to pardon himself

In this handout photo provied by the Israeli Government Press Office (GPO), Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu meets with former Mayor of New York City Rudy Giuliani on March 3, 2011 in Jerusalem, Israel. Giuliani spoke Tuesday night at Haifa's Chamber of Commerce and Industry's 90th anniversary celebration

Eduardo Elsztain, founder and chief executive officer of IRSA Inversiones y Representaciones SA, speaks during the LatinFinance Argentina Financial Summit in Buenos Aires, Argentina, on Thursday, May 11, 2017. He is set to speak at the same Globes financial conference where Giuliani is slated to speak

According to the Israeli report, there will be a special session at the meeting on global real estate investment trends, along with forecasts about financial markets and oil and gas markets.

It states that the event will hold discussions about 'forecasts for the US market, the hottest real estate investment trends, and how the political changes will affect the markets.'

Giuliani has been in regular contact with Trump, who maintains ownership of his family real estate empire, although it is now run by Trump's two adult sons and an executive.

Giuliani continues to conduct a series of interviews defending President Trump

He says the two keep their discussions to legal matters, although he also said in May there was a 'good chance' North Korea would release three Americans being held captive  something that happened soon afterward.

For the last several weeks Giuliani has amped up attacks on special counsel Robert Mueller, amid talks about whether the president will agree to submit to an interviewer with prosecutors.

On Sunday Giuliani told the Huffington Post that Trump could have 'shot James Comey' and still not be indicted, due to his team's interpretation of the Constitution, in reference to the FBI director Trump fired in his first year.

Attendance is listed as invitation only.

On Sunday, Giuliani also called the idea of a presidential self-pardon 'unthinkable,' although Trump tweeted Monday he has an 'absolute right' to do so.

'Pardoning himself would be unthinkable and probably lead to immediate impeachment,' Giuliani told NBC's 'Meet the Press.'

'And he has no need to do it, he's done nothing wrong,' Giuliani added.
Johnny Depp returned to the stage in Berlin on Monday night to put on an energetic performance with his band the Hollywood Vampires after shocking fans with his pale and gaunt appearance over the weekend.

Despite having his well-being questioned by fans who said he looked 'sick' and 'weak' in a handful of recent photographs, Depp, 54, was in high spirits as he performed at the Zitadelle Museum in Berlin.

With a healthy application of his signature eyeliner and no hat to hide the remains of his hair (he shaved the sides last year), Depp posed for photographs backstage and was pictured smiling as he arrived at the venue smoking a dark brown cigarette.

Earlier, a source close to the star told DailyMail.com that despite his drastic appearance which was laid bare in photographs over the weekend, the star was in good health and there was no cause for the widespread concern.

On Saturday, photographs emerged of Depp in which he appeared somewhat frail.

Johnny Depp was in high spirits as he performed in Berlin on Monday night. The actor was sporting more color and more eyeliner than over the weekend when his appearance worried fans

Depp is pictured in St. Petersburg last week. It is the latest in a string of photographs of the star in which he appears pale and gaunt but despite his drastic new appearance, sources close to him say he is in good health

They had been posted online innocently by two fans who met him in St. Petersburg, Russia where Depp played a show last week.

While they merely intended to share their photographs, the images went viral and attracted fears over the Pirates of the Caribbean actor's welfare.

They were posted innocently by the women who appear in them but quickly went viral as others picked up on his stark appearance.

Depp, 54, is not believed to be filming for any forthcoming project.

Speculation that his drastic weight loss may have been due to his participation in Fantastic Beasts 2.

Depp is pictured with his bandmate Alice Cooper on stage in the grounds of the Zitadelle museum in Berlin on Monday

The production wrapped in December but Depp had to shave his head and bleach his eyebrows to play Gellert Grindelwald.

Another suggestion was that he looked so different because he was not wearing his signature 'guyliner' but in the photographs it appears as though he is just not to the same heavy-handed standard fans may be used to.

Depp is currently touring Europe with his band the Hollywood Vampires.

On Monday night, he will play in Berlin at the Zitadelle museum.

In a newly surfaced photograph with a fan, Depp appears in the same t-shirt but a different hat

This was the image which shocked fans when it emerged on Saturday. It was posted by Russian fan Ekaterina Kurta

Afterwards, the tour will travel to Sweden, where the band will play two shows, before moving on to Denmark, Finland, Poland, Prague, and Germany before going to the UK at the end of the month.

They will play three shows there then will go back to Germany before finishing in Rome in July.

The tour began on May 17 in upstate New York.

Not long before the St. Petersburg pictures were taken last week, Depp was seen in Moscow posing happily with staff at a state museum after a low-key visit between shows.

They seemed unconcerned about his appearance and happily shared photographs of his visit online.

Depp is pictured with another fan at the Four Seasons in St. Petersburg last week

Possible explanation: Depp shaved his head and bleached his eyebrows to reprise his role as Grindewald in Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald. It wrapped filming in December and he has scarcely been seen since then . The film comes out in November

In videos of him performing, he appears to be in fine form.

Depp's shocking appearance comes after a month of accusations of bad behavior including claims of sustained drug abuse and alcoholism.

In a lawsuit against the star filed last month, two former bodyguards described having to act as babysitters for him. One claimed that he had to once wipe a 'substance' from the actor's face in a nightclub.

It was also claimed that he spent the day 'smoking and drinking' on the set of City of Lies, formerly known as LAbyrinth, in which Depp plays a LAPD detective investigating the deaths of rappers Notorious B.I.G. and Tupac Shakur.

Depp looked every inch one of the undead as he posed for snaps with fans on the Russian leg of a world tour this week

During his visit in Moscow, Depp also visited the Mayakovsky museum where, in one image, he looked happy and healthy as he posed with staff

A third image, taken in Moscow earlier in the week during a visit to a state museum, provoked more concern. Depp is pictured with one of the museum's staff

The production wrapped filming last year and Depp was praised by some for his conduct on set including a handful of extras who said he 'couldn't have been nicer'.

It was however alleged that he asked a production staffer to punch him during one incident.

According to sources cited by Page Six, Depp allegedly asked the staffer to punch him and said he would give him $100,000 to do so.

His representatives did not comment at the time.

Depp is pictured in June, 2017, at Glastonbury festival in England when he had a full head of hair and fuller face
A Massachusetts justice has denied a bid to block the release of a 70-year-old convicted child rapist from a treatment center for sexual offenders.

Wayne Chapman has been civilly committed for the last 14 years after his prison sentence ended in 2004.

Chapman, who was convicted of child rape in 1977, is now set to be freed after two examiners concluded he was 'no longer sexually dangerous'.

On Monday Justice Scott Kafker ruled that Chapman's victims do not have the right under state law to prevent him from being released.

Convicted child rapist Wayne Chapman will be released from a treatment center for sexual offenders after he was deemed 'no longer sexually dangerous'

'The petitioners, victims of Chapman's horrible crimes, are understandably upset and frightened by the possibility of Chapman's release,' Kafker wrote in the ruling.

'Each qualified examiner conducted an examination of Chapman and concluded he was no longer sexually dangerous.'

'Chapman is entitled to be released according to the laws of the Commonwealth.'

The convicted rapist has filed four petitions to be discharged from the Massachusetts Treatment Center since his prison sentence ended.

On Monday Justice Scott Kafker ruled that Chapman's victims do not have the right under state law to prevent him from being released. Chapman is pictured here in court

Chapman has been civilly committed for the last 14 years after his prison sentence ended in 2004. He was convicted in 1977

Convicts can be civilly committed to the state facility if it is found that they suffer from a 'mental abnormality or personality disorder' that makes them likely to engage in sexual offenses, according to the Boston Globe.

They can only be released if two independent 'qualified examiners' determine that they are no longer a threat to society.

Chapman was interviewed for an hour each by examiners Gregg Belle and Katrin Rouse Weir in May.

When Belle asked Chapman if he was worried about 're-offending', he replied: 'On occasion, but rare', according to reports obtained by WFXT.

The convicted rapist has filed four petitions to be discharged from the Massachusetts Treatment Center since his prison sentence ended

Belle then asked Chapman if he was a pedophile.

'Depends on whose definition,' he replied. 'In my definition, no.'

Chapman has not received sex offender treatment since 2015.

The examiners determined, based on his age and health, it was unlikely that Chapman would re-offend

But Belle and Weir determined that, based on his age and health, it was unlikely that Chapman would re-offend.

Chapman was convicted of raping two boys in September 1977 and sentenced to serve 15 to 30 years in prison.

The following year he was convicted of assaulting four boys in 1974 and 1975.

Court records say Chapman lured young boys into the woods by pretending he was searching for his missing dog and then sexually assaulted them.

Chapman was also linked to the disappearance of a 10-year-old boy named Andy Puglisi, who was last seen at a public pool in 1976. He was never charged.

Attorney Wendy Murphy, who represents four of Chapman's victims, has already said she plans to appeal.

Massachusetts Governor Charlie Baker's office also spoke out against the decision.

'The administration does not support the release of Mr Chapman and plans to file legislation to increase penalties and improve court proceedings for sexually dangerous persons,' a statement read.

A release date for Chapman has not yet been set.
The valedictorian at Bell County High School in southeastern Kentucky drew cheers when he quoted President Trump.

But just as quickly, everything changed.

Ben Bowling, 18, said to the crowd: 'This is the part of my speech where I share some inspirational quotes I found on Google.

'Don't just get involved. Fight for your seat at the table. Better yet, fight for a seat at the head of the table' - Donald J. Trump.'

Ben Bowling delivered the valedictory address to Belly County High School on Saturday

The crowd went wild and cheered. Kentucky is Trump country, President Trump carried the state with almost 80 per cent of the vote in 2016.

Then, Bowling revealed who he was actually quoting saying: ''Just kidding. That was Barack Obama.'

The room got suddenly quiet and a lone rang out 'boo'.

He was quoting then President Obama's 2012 commencement address at Barnard College.

He told the Louisville Courier Journal, that he 'didn't mean anything bad by it'.

'I just thought it was a really good quote,' Bowling told the paper. 'Most people wouldn't like it if I used it, so I thought I'd use Donald Trump's name. It is southeastern Kentucky after all.'

Ben Bowling graduated with a 4.2 GPA and plans to study medicine at the University of Kentucky

Bell County High School principal Richard Gambrel told the New York Times that Bowling is 'very politically aware', and that overall people liked the speech.

'Most of them probably got the joke,' Gambrel said of the graduation crowd.

He did point out that nobody really knew who Bowling was quoting, 'It proves that people don't read or pay attention.'

Bowling graduated with a 4.2 grade point average. He will go to the University of Kentucky in the fall where he plans to study biology and get a degree in medicine.

'I'm really excited to go to college,' Bowling said. 'There's more freedom in college and there's also way more places to eat in Lexington.'
Police are hunting Rehan Khan after a mother and her 11-month-old baby were stabbed at their home in south-west London last night

A suspected knifeman being hunted by police after his estranged wife and their one-year-old baby were stabbed was facing deportation for domestic violence, a friend has said.

Detectives are searching for 25-year-old Rehan Khan following the attack at a house on the Oriel housing estate in Feltham, south-west London last night.

A friend has named the victim as Khan's estranged wife Salma and claimed Pakistani national Khan faced being booted out of the UK over a previous alleged attack.

Ms Khan, who is said to be a British national originally from Belgium, is understood to have four children, including an 11-month-old baby with Khan.

Her friend, who gave her name only as Samina, said: 'I saw him run away, he ran so fast. I just saw blood. He carried on to the motorway.

'He didn't injure the other kids. He tried to kill her and kill her son, of course [her other sons] said "don't kill my mummy".

'She didn't even have time to raise a panic alarm. she didn't give that chance to be rescued.'

This is the disturbing scene of the latest violent attack in London, which left a one-year-old baby fighting for his life and his mother, who is in her 30s, in hospital

Police are trying to trace a man who lived at the address in Feltham, south-west London

The victim's friend claimed Khan's application for a UK visa application was rejected five days ago.

She said: 'He was not living in the house... He used to beat her. Five days ago he applied for the indefinite leave to remain visa through his wife because his wife is a British citizen.

'She reported he used to be a beater and harasser in the past and the court rejected it.'

The 11-month-old baby remains in a critical condition today while his mother, 32, continues to recover in hospital.

A Met Police spokesman said of Khan: 'He is known to frequent the Hounslow and Isleworth areas, and has links to Newham, Slough and Hammersmith & Fulham.

'Enquiries continue to establish whether he had been staying at the address in Swinfield Close.'

Dozens of police officers descended on the scene and a helicopter helped in the search for the attacker last night.

A neighbour said the woman has older sons, of primary school age, who begged the attacker not to kill their mother.

Forensics officers were at the scene today, where the woman victim is said to have lived with her baby and two young sons. Police are trying to trace a man who also lived at the property

Forensics officers were drafted in today in the latest investigation into violence in the capital

Another witness added: 'It was like when you're watching a horror film and you hear blood-curdling screaming of absolute terror. That's what it was like. It was horrific.'

Another local resident added: 'It was quite distressing to hear the screaming and then I saw the police ripping down the fence literally about ten seconds and the guy ran away.

'When they came out I saw a paramedic cradling the baby out. The police officers were getting distressed - one was crying as well because of what he had seen and his colleagues were consoling him.'

Shocking pictures from the scene this morning showed blood on the white walls of the house at the centre of the police investigation.

A police tent could just be seen in the back yard and the upstairs windows were still open and a bedroom light was on.

The terrace backs on to a little mound of grass on the Oriel Estate and a part of it was behind a police cordon.

The scene was taped off by detectives investigating the double attack this morning

Local residents said they heard screaming from the house before the police arrived

Myrtle Cantwell, 62, who has lived on the estate for 38 years, said: 'The air ambulance was hovering and there was lots of police.

'The police came by and banged on the door where it happened. The lady next door came out and ushered them in. I could see the police vans and the sirens but I stayed indoors.'

Neighbours told how police ordered them to go inside and lock their doors as the drama unfolded at around 7:15pm last night.

Local resident Gary Fletcher, 63, said next door neighbours of the victims witnessed their injuries.

He said: 'They ran out screaming. One was pointing to his stomach so I presume he saw the stabbing.'

A woman who lives nearby said 'We heard it was a personal issue.'

A police helicopter was seen circling overhead as police hunt a man over the stabbings

Officers with dogs (left) scoured the area of west London for evidence that could help find the attacker while the air ambulance raced the victims to hospital (right)

An air ambulance landed close to the scene at a school and took the injured pair to hospital

Another mother-of-three, who asked wished not to be named, said: 'They just moved to the area recently - three or four months ago they moved to the Oriel Estate.

'We didn't sleep last night. It's especially shocking for mothers. It's totally cruel.'

Police said they were called to the home after reports of concerns for the well-being of the occupants.

The little boy remains in a critical condition this morning. The woman is also in hospital though her injuries are not believed to be life-threatening.

The Met Police said officers are now looking for a man who is known to live at the address and the three are believed to have been known to each other.

Police remained at the address overnight as investigators sealed off the crime scene.

Police remained at the scene into the night investigating the double stabbing

Forensics officers scoured the scene of the double stabbing in west London into the night

A Scotland Yard spokesman said: 'Work continues to establish to circumstances of the incident but at this early stage it is believed the parties involved were known to each other.

'A crime scene has been established and officers remain at the scene.

'Officers from Hounslow CID investigate. There have been no arrests and enquiries continue.'

Anyone with information is asked to contact Hounslow Police on 101, tweet @MetCC or call Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.
Former U.S. Navy Machinist's Mate Kristian Saucier is suing former president Barack Obama and fired FBI director James Comey for selectively prosecuting him in a case about mishandling classified information

A former U.S. Navy seaman who spent a year in federal prison for photographing a classified area of a nuclear submarine plans to sue former President Barack Obama and fired FBI director James Comey for selectively prosecuting him.

Donald Trump issued a presidential pardon this year to Kristian Saucier, whose lawyer Ronald Daigle told Fox News on Monday that the pending lawsuit will also name the Justice Department as a defendant.

Daigle says former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton was given a free pass by avoiding prosecution for mishandling classified information on her infamous private email server.

Saucier, 31, believes Comey and Obama should be held responsible for treating him unequally.

'They interpreted the law in my case to say it was criminal,' he told Fox, 'but they didnt prosecute Hillary Clinton. Hillary is still walking free.'

'Two guys on my ship did the same thing and werent treated as criminals. We want them to correct the wrong.'

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Saucier and his lawyer say Obama and Comey should be held responsible for his unequal legal treatment since they sent him to prison while failing to prosecute Hillary Clinton

Clinton, the Democratic Party's 2016 presidential nominee, was let off the hook despite operating a private, unsecured email server that housed classified files while she was secretary of state

Daigle told Fox News that his legal strategy includes drawing attention to 'the differences in the way Hillary Clinton was prosecuted and how my client was prosecuted.'

'Theres a two-tier justice system and we want it to be corrected,' he said.

Saucier admitted in 2016 that he had taken photos inside the USS Alexandria while it was docked in Connecticut seven years earlier.

He said he wanted to show his family where he worked, but now acknowledges he was wrong to take the pictures.

Federal prosecutors persuaded him to plead guilty by threatening to paint him as a resentful serviceman who risked the security of the United States and then destroyed a camera and a computer to hide the evidence.

But Saucier believes prosecuting him was a politically motivated decision driven by the Obama Justice Department's desire to appear tough on the kinds of crime it was sweeping under the rug when Clinton was their investigative target.

'They used me as an example because of Hillary Clinton,' he said Monday.

Saucier's pardon drew eyeballs to his post-incarceration plight: He said the only job he could get after his release from prison was as a garbage man.

Saucier expressed his gratitude towards President Donald Trump after he was pardoned in early March, 2018

Trump often compared Saucier's and Clinton's cases while he was campaigning for the White House, saying it was unfair that his rival got off scot-free while the Obama administration threw the book at the sailor

Saucier maintains that the pictures he took inside the USS Alexandria submarine were meant to be souveniers

Trump often mentioned Saucier's case during the presidential campaign as he clobbered his rival Clinton for using an unsecured home-brew email server to handle sensitive information while she was America's top diplomat.

'They took the kid who wanted some pictures of the submarine,' he told a crowd just days before his November 2016 election. 'Thats an old submarine! Theyve got plenty of pictures, if the enemy wants them, theyve got plenty of them.'

'He wanted to take a couple of pictures. They put him in jail for a year.'

'We've never been in a situation like this,' Trump added, before pivoting to bash his Democratic opponent: 'And then she's allowed to run for president!'

Saucier, of Arlington, Vermont, was a 22-year-old machinist's mate on the nuclear-powered attack submarine when he took the photos.

His lawyers said he knew the photos would be classified but he wanted to show his family what he did in the Navy. He denied sharing the photos with any unauthorized recipient.

Clinton's case was the subject of bipartisan acrimony. Comey, then the nation's top cop, announced in July 2016 that his agency had wrapped up its probe of the classified material on her private server and determined that it would be improper to prosecute her.

Watch the latest video at <a href="//video.foxnews.com">video.foxnews.com</a>

Former sailor Kristian Saucier is pictured with his wife Sadie (right) and baby daughter; he said as a felon, the only work he could get after his prison release was a job as a garbageman

Republican cried foul, but later cheered Comey when he told Congress just days before the election that a new cache of emails had been located  necessitating a reboot of the investigation.

That step came after DailyMail.com reported on the existence of a laptop that had belonged to the disgraced former congressman Anthony Weiner, whose wife Huma Abedin had been Clinton's deputy campaign chairwoman.

Clinton and her attorneys deleted more than 33,000 emails from her server before handing it over to law enforcement agents. Those messages were never recovered.

But some of the material that was forwarded to Weiner was also classified.

'Somehow,' Comey testified last year in a Senate hearing, 'her emails were being forwarded to Anthony Weiner, including classified information, by her assistant Huma Abedin.'
The White House revealed on Monday when President Trump would have his first meeting next week with Kim Jong-un in Singapore as it shored up plans for face-to-face talks between two leaders.

Sarah Sanders, the White House press secretary, told reporters assembled for her regular news conference that Trump and Kim would meet at 9 am in Singapore on June 12, which is 9 pm EDT.

'The advance team in Singapore is finalizing logistical preparations and will remain in place until the summit begins,' she said in a progress report.

During the briefing, her first since President Trump played host to a delegation of North Korean officials last Friday at the White House, the president's spokeswoman declined to reveal the contents of a letter that Kim's emissary delivered.

She echoed the president's claim before he ever opened the envelope, however, that it had been an 'interesting' read and said that preparations are 'continuing to move forward.'

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President Trump and Kim Yong Chol pose in the Oval Office after Trump accepted a letter from Kim Jong-un on Friday. Trump told reporters afterwards that it was a 'nice letter' but then said he hadn't yet read it

President Donald Trump said Friday after a meeting with the North Korean officials that he would attend the June 12 summit that he hopes will result in a nuclear non-proliferation accord with the hermit nation.

The officials came to Washington, after spending several days in New York, to hand-deliver a letter from Kim to the U.S. president as the two sides worked to come to an agreement on the broad strokes of the deal they intend to hammer out next week, and possibly after that, during formal talks.

'This was a letter presentation that ended up being a two-hour conversation,' Trump told reporters on the South Lawn following the Oval Office meeting with North Korea's Kim Yong Chol, the point-man for North Korean nuclear talks. Trump said that the meeting stretched out, 'Because we found the whole subject matter very interesting. And because I really think they want to do something.'

'This is a very good meeting. This was a meeting where a letter was given to me by Kim Jong-un. And that letter was a very nice letter. Oh, would you like to see what was in that letter! Would you like it? How much? How much? How much?' he said, pretending to be an auctioneer taking bids from reporters.

Trump accepts the personal letter written by Kim Jong-un from envoy Kim Yong Chol. Trump used both hands to take the letter, as is the polite tradition in Korean culture

Trump meets with Kim Yong Chol (far right) and Kim Ju Sung, (second from right) an interpreter with North Korea's Ministry of Foreign Affairs, after the letter ceremony on Friday

The Oval Office confab with Kim Yong Chol stretched out 'Because we found the whole subject matter very interesting. And because I really think they want to do something'

Several minutes later he seemed to reverse himself, claiming that he had not opened the envelope. 'No I didn't. I haven't seen the letter yet. I purposely didn't open the letter. I haven't opened it,' he told a journalist.

'I said, "Would you want me to open it?" He said, "You can read it later,"' said Trump, apparently referring to the North Korean envoy.

'I may be in for a big surprise, folks! So long, everybody,' he said, retreating back to his office.

After a week of uncertainty over the June 12 summit, the afternoon's events locked in Trump and Kim Jong-un for a historic meeting next week in Asia.

'We'll be in Singapore. It will be a beginning,' Trump said.

'I don't say, and I never said it happens in one meeting. You're talking about years of hostility, years of problems, years of really hatred between so many different nations,' he asserted. 'But I think you're going to have a very positive result in the end.'

North Korean envoy Kim Yong Chol talks with U.S. President Donald Trump as Secretary of State Mike Pompeo looks on after a meeting at the White House

Trump said Friday after receiving the delegation of North Korean officials that he would move forward with a June 12 nuclear summit in Singapore

COME BACK NOW REAL SOON: President Trump and Secretary of State Mike Pompeo say goodbye to Kim and other North Koran officials

We'll be in Singapore. It will be a beginning,' President Trump told reporters on the South Lawn after the foreign officials' departure

A week prior, Trump called off the summit in a terse letter to Kim after the dictator's regime assaulted the vice president and attempted to dramatically shift the terms of a pact with the U.S.

Trump on Friday said that both he and his counterparts are 'over that, totally over that, and now we're going to deal.'

'We're meeting with the chairman on June 12. And I think it's probably going to be a very successful, ultimately a successful process. We'll see,' the U.S. president added.

Former North Korean spy chief Kim Yong Chol led the North Korean delegation that met in the Oval Office with Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and Trump.

The officials spent just over an hour at the White House before the president personally escorted Kim and his associates to their vehicles, pausing several times as he did for photo ops, before delivering an update to the press.

Former North Korean spy chief Kim Yong Chol led the North Korean delegation that met in the Oval Office with Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and Trump this afternoon

They spent just over an hour meeting at the White House before the president personally escorted Chol and his associates to their vehicles and paused for a photo op before speaking to press

The warm display indicated that Trump planned to resume talks with Kim on June 12 in Singapore

The warm display indicated that Trump planned to resume talks with Kim Jong-un after abruptly halting them last week.

Moments after their departure he said the face-to-face would happen as planned.

'You people are going to have to travel, because you'll be in Singapore June 12,' he told assembled press.

Trump said the initial face-to-face would be more of 'a get-to-know-you kind of a situation' for he and Kim, who met on two prior occasions in Pyongyang with Pompeo.

'And I think we would be making a big mistake if we didn't have it,' he said.

The U.S. has stipulated that any deal with North Korea has to have a baseline of complete and verifiable denuclearization.

'I think they want to do that. I know they want to do that. They want other things along the line,' Trump on Friday said.

Kim is seen approaching the Oval Office on Friday alongside White House Chief of Staff John Kelly

The North Korean delegation arrived at the White House via a back entrance

Kim is seen entering the building through the president's private living quarters behind Kelly

Trump said last Thursday that that he'd 'like to see a total denuclearization in as quick a period of time as is practicable.'

'You're talking about machinery, you're talking about things that can't necessarily happen immediately but they can happen in as rapid a fashion as they can happen. That's what I want to happen,' he said.

He commented that just one sit-down with the communist country may not be enough to ensure it doesn't pose a nuclear threat, lowering expectations for what might come out of the summit.

'I want it to be meaningful. It doesn't mean it gets all done at one meeting. Maybe a second and third and maybe we'll have none,' he said. 'It's in good hands. That I can tell you.'

Asked Monday about the possibility that denuclearization would be a phase-in process, Sanders would not go further, telling reporters, 'I'm not going to go ahead and predict a meeting that hasn't even taken place yet, and I can't get into the ongoing diplomatic talks.

'But I can tell you that they've been positive, and we're looking forward to the meeting in Singapore.'

Trump tweeted that his administration is having good meetings with representatives of North Korea on Thursday

The president is expected to meet June 12 with dictator Kim Jong-un in Singapore, and he said Thursday that the summit will 'hopefully' happen as scheduled

Kim Yong Chol is the most senior North Korean official to visit the United States since 2000, when Vice Marshal Jo Myong Rok traveled to Washington to meet with then-President Bill Clinton in the Oval Office.

U.S. officials also met with their counterparts last week in demiliterized zone between North and South Korea and in Singapore.

'Discussions have been very positive, and significant progress has been made,' Sanders on Monday said.

The timeline for denuclearization and how inspections would be carried out were among the largest sticking points as Trump looked ahead to the nuclear summit.

Sanctions relief for North Korea was also in question.

'Our policy hasn't changed, and as the president stated, we have sanctions on, they're very powerful, and we would not take those sanctions off unless North Korea denuclearized,' Sanders on Monday said.

Senate Democrats had warned earlier in the day on a call with reporters that while Trump has 'broad discretion to lift sanctions' on North Korea that he can expect the opposing party to fight him tooth-and-nail if he tries to implement a 'ham-fisted deal' that does not necessitate permanent denuclearization and an end to North Korea'a ballistic missile program

'If the deal doesn't live up to these standards, then the president should not expect Democratic support in the Senate if he tries to lift sanctions to implement the agreement,' Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer said.
A murdered Brazilian woman's ex-lover is reportedly looking for love on Tinder in Rio de Janeiro just one month after her body was found floating in a river.

The body of 38-year-old Brazilian national Cecilia Haddad was discovered in the Lane Cove River on Sydney's North Shore on Sunday April 29.

Her ex-boyfriend Mario Marcelo Santoro moved his flights forward and flew from Australia to Brazil the weekend Ms Haddad's body was discovered.

The body of 38-year-old Brazilian national Cecilia Haddad was discovered floating in the Lane Cove River on Sydney's North Shore on Sunday April 29

A person purporting to be Mr Santoro (pictured) is using his picture and name on dating app, Tinder, to find love in Rio de Janeiro

Now one month after the murder, a person purporting to be Mr Santoro is using his picture and name on dating app, Tinder, to find love in Rio de Janeiro.

The Tinder profile was being used near Botafogo near Brazil on Saturday, The Australian reported.

Tinder is the most popular dating app for single millennials and can connect people with the touch of a finger.

Mr Santoro has been named by the police as a person of interest in Ms Haddad's murder, but not a suspect.

Mr Santoro has been named by the police as a person of interest in Ms Haddad's murder, but not a suspect (pictured together)

Ms Haddad's body (pictured) was found floating in the Lane Cove River on Sydney's North Shore on Sunday April 29

Mr Santoro reportedly told police he would travel back to Sydney to assist the police in their murder investigation after Ms Haddad's body was discovered near Woolwich (pictured)

Mr Santoro reportedly told police he would travel back to Sydney to assist the police in their murder investigation.

New South Wales Police said he had not yet travelled to Australia nor made contact with officers.

'We definitely would like to speak to him but there's definitely other people in Sydney we would like to talk to,' the source told Daily Mail Australia.

Mr Santoro recently claimed he had 'placed himself at the disposal' of NSW police, but he is yet to be formally interviewed.

Police originally treated Ms Haddad's death as a suicide, but a murder investigation was launched when they discovered weights in the pockets of her clothes

Mr Santoro's aunt in Brazil said he travelled home early at the request of his mother.

The aunt said Mr Santoro's mother called him back because his father suffered a heart attack and was in hospital.

Police originally treated Ms Haddad's death as a suicide, but a murder investigation was launched when they discovered weights in the pockets of her clothes.
Fire safety advice to stay put in Grenfell proved to be tragically redundant within just half an hour of the fire breaking out, a damning report found yesterday.

Residents were told to stay in their flats by the London Fire Brigade  even as flames spread to the top of the 24-storey building in just 12 minutes.

Fire safety expert Dr Barbara Lane said the advice was already questionable within 21 minutes of the first 999 call at 12.54am.

Inferno: Grenfell Tower in flames last year after a fire started in the tower block in Kensington

By 1.26am the advice was utterly redundant as the inferno raged out of control.

Despite this, the policy was not formally abandoned until 2.47am  almost two hours after the fire started in the kitchen of Flat 16 on the fourth floor.

By this stage corridors and staircases on the upper floors were boiling hot and the immediate physical pain and toxicity of smoke prevented escape.

The report, released by the inquiry yesterday, raises troubling questions about the response of the London Fire Brigade on June 14 last year.

The Mail has revealed that the advice is still in place at all the nearby high-rise towers.

Dr Lane said that the fire service was aware that the blaze had spread to the outside of the tower at 1.13am and watched as it rapidly engulfed the building.

However, firefighters in the tower were still advising residents to stay in their flats or in another flat on that floor, she wrote.

Dr Lane found that conditions on the stairs and the corridors were largely free from smoke for the first 35 minutes and therefore tenable for escape.

She concluded that residents should never have been told to stay in their flats because of the blocks structural flaws.

Fire safety advice pinned up at Hazlewood Tower, which is near Grenfell, advising residents to stay put if there is a fire

The stay put advice had effectively failed by 1.26am, around 32 minutes after the first 999 call.

Then at 2.06am, the fire brigade upgraded the disaster to a major incident  but continued to tell residents to stay in their homes for a further 41 minutes.

The LFB then changed its policy to a full evacuation  although it is not known how they got this message to those stuck in the building, the report said.

It also remains unclear why there was such a gap between the advice being rendered redundant and the fire service changing tack.

The ultimate consequence was a disproportionally high loss of life, Dr Lane wrote.

This was a kitchen fire escalating to an almost all-building fire, compromising the fundamental basis of the stay-put strategy.

'I am particularly concerned by the delay from 2.06am, when a major incident was declared, to 2.47am.

The long-accepted advice for tower block residents was stay put if there was a blaze because experts believed that fires in individual flats can usually be contained.

But the flammable cladding on the outside of Grenfell allowed the fire to spread quickly from flat to flat.

Dr Lane found there was no evidence that the LFB knew of the combustible nature of the cladding.

She recommended that blocks of flats have an automatic or manual means of sounding an evacuation alarm.

There also needs to be serious and urgent consideration to changing the approach in buildings covered with combustible materials.

Another expert, Professor Jose Torero, said that during the early stage of the fire evacuation was not free from risk but can be considered a better strategy than stay put.

But some 70 minutes after the start of the blaze firefighters were outside the bounds of conventional practice, his report said.

Richard Millett, QC to the inquiry, said about 187 occupants had evacuated by the time the stay-put advice was formally abandoned at 2.47am.

Matt Wrack of the Fire Brigades Union said it was clear firemen faced an unprecedented catastrophe and did their utmost on the night to save as many lives as they could.

Grenfell's ground zero: But what did start the horror? By David Wilkes for The Daily Mail Released for the first time yesterday, these images reveal the charred and mangled remains of the inside of the flat where the Grenfell Tower inferno began. Walls and ceilings are blackened and kitchen appliances sit scorched and warped out of shape inside fire-ravaged flat 16 on the fourth floor. What was left of the fridge freezer  which it was previously suggested by police was to blame  is visible, along with the washing machine, microwave and other items, including one identified in an official report as possible kettle and another as possible toaster. Sliding doors which separated the kitchen from the living room, which was reduced to the same ghostly appearance, are gone. Niamh Nic Daeid, Professor of Forensic Science at the Leverhulme Research Centre at the University of Dundee, made two visits to Grenfell, during which she was provided with access to flat 16. In a report released yesterday, she told how firefighters also captured images of the inside of flat 16 on the night of the fire with a thermal imaging camera. The bedroom: The fire tore through the house in Grenfell tower The living room: Furniture destroyed by the flames lies in tatters The kitchen: Worktops lie in tatters after the flames engulfed the flat Firefighter Daniel Brown, who broke down the door of the two-bedroom flat, said that black smoke billowed out. Professor Daeid said it was possible to say that the origin of the fire was in the southeast corner of the kitchen and that it is more likely than not that this was in or around the area of the tall fridge freezer. But she said there was insufficient information to pinpoint the cause of the fire. Advertisement

Quick, quick! It's burning: The first desperate 999 call

A terrified 999 caller begged firefighters to race to Grenfell Tower, saying: Quick, quick, quick! Its burning.

Behailu Kebede raised the alarm after he woke to find a fire in his fourth-floor kitchen.

He woke neighbours, called 999 and told the operator in a panicked voice: Come quick, please.

This is a transcript of the one-minute 40-second call.

999 OPERATOR: Fire brigade.

Mr KEBEDE: Yes, hello, theres a fire... Flat 16, Grenfell Tower.

999: Sorry, a fire where?

Kebede: Flat 16, Grenfell Tower. 999: Whats the postcode?

Kebede: W11 1TG. Come quick, please.

999: I have to get the address.

Kebede: Flat 16, Grenfell Tower, W11 1TG.

999: The fire brigade are on their way. Are you outside?

Kebede: Yes, Im outside.

999: The fire engines are on their way. How many floors have you got there?

Kebede: Its the fourth floor. Quick, quick, quick, quick, quick! Its burning.

999: Yes, I know its burning but theyre on their way already. You have only just called. As long as youre ok?

Kebede: Come quick.

999: Yes. You wait outside.

Kebede: Im outside.

999: The fire engines are on the way. They will be there soon. You have only just called us. It will take a minute.

Kebede: [indecipherable]

999: Hello? Can I let you go? Youre outside?

Kebede: Yes Im outside.

999: Bye.
Former foreign secretary Jack Straw revealed yesterday he had examined private files belonging to Norman Scott.

The Labour grandee said the extraordinary secret files went into intimate details about the relationship between Jeremy Thorpe and his lover.

Then a special advisor, Mr Straw compiled a memo on the scandal in 1976 to be forwarded to the then prime minister Harold Wilson.

It comes as police went to the Dorking home of Mr Scott's would-be killer Andrew Newton to find the alleged gunman had vanished as his partner, Patricia Harding, said that he was 'probably on the other side of Paris'.

Mr Straw said he was told to go through the files to help Thorpe find out if there had been a political plot to prosecute Scott for social security fraud.

File photo dated 1967 of then Liberal leader Jeremy Thorpe who was caught up in a scandal now being brought to TV by Hugh Grant

Wilsons former aides disagree and claim Mr Straw was unwittingly being used by Downing Street to gather evidence of Thorpes homosexuality.

Describing the files, Mr Straw said: There were all sorts of pockets marked secret.

We opened these pockets and there were statements made very many years before 1976, going into all sorts of details about the contact between Scott and Thorpe which went well beyond their use of social security numbers.

Mr Straw, pictured left last year and right in the 1970s, was unwittingly being used by Downing Street to gather evidence of Thorpes homosexuality

They included graphic details... and when and where they had had sexual encounters. It was very odd to think that all of this had been written down in longhand by a social security clerk in Barnstaple, he told The Guardian.

In the mid-1970s Mr Straw was a special adviser to Barbara Castle, the social security minister. Thorpe was under pressure to resign from his position as Liberal leader following rumours that he was gay.

It was claimed Scott faced prosecution over a minor benefit fraud as a way of airing claims of a gay affair. Thorpe had contacted Wilson and claimed he was completely innocent of any wrongdoing and said Scotts prosecution for social security fraud for 14 and 60 pence had somehow been a put-up job, Mr Straw said.

Newton (pictured) was at the centre of a police inquiry after he was accused of attempting to kill Thorpes ex-lover Norman Scott

Wilson was predisposed to believe Thorpe, but asked us to look through the files.

Mr Straw claimed the then prime minister was naive about sex, adding: Wilson had a boy scouts attitude to sex  he really didnt understand those urges.

He added: The documents seemed to back up Mr Scotts claims that Thorpe withheld his national insurance cards. It was later claimed details of Mr Scotts records were tampered with and others leaked but Mr Straw said: This is categorically untrue.
A baby boy has been discovered at a farmers' market in China after apparently being abandoned by his parents in a handbag.

The infant, presumably less than a month old, was left beside a vegetable stall in a Sanshui city market last Wednesday after his parents reportedly had an argument.

Video footage of the heart-breaking incident in Guangdong Province shows a man and a woman leaving two large bags on the ground - one carrying the boy and one containing clothes and a tin of milk formula.

A man and a woman leave their baby boy and a bag of clothing in market in southern China

Market employees are shocked to find a crying baby boy in the abandoned handbag

According to Guangdong Public Channel, several stall owners preparing to open for business heard crying noises and traced it to the large bag on the ground.

Upon opening the bag, they were shocked to find a newborn inside. A second bag left beside him contained several pieces of clothing and a can of milk formula.

'The baby was crying loudly, but when he saw us, he stopped crying,' one of the stall owner was quoted saying.

The couple allegedly had an argument and abandoned their baby, according to another stall owner.

The shop owners also stayed with the baby until the police arrived.

A man and a woman were filmed riding a scooter and entering the market at about 3am on May 30, just before the market was set to open.

After a brief conversation with another man, they are seen riding towards the market exit.

The woman, who was in the back seat, placed two large handbags on the ground and left hastily.

The couple did not leave a note or contact information in either of the bags.

The woman in the back seat of the scooter is seen placing two large handbags on the ground

The child, presumably only a month old, is sent to Xinan Welfare home and is unhurt

After leaving the bags next to the vegetable stall, the couple left the market hastily

The boy, presumably only a month old, was sent to Xinan Welfare Home the same day he was found. He is reportedly unhurt.

'We hope the parents will contact the police and take the child back,' a spokesperson from the welfare home said.

'The parents are just too cruel,' the market owner told reporters. 'If you decide to have a child, you should be responsible for it.'

The incident is still under police investigation.

Abandoning a child is illegal in China and is punishable by a fixed-term imprisonment or detention of no more than five years, according to Chinese criminal law.

It is unclear if the parents would be prosecuted.

Child abandonment remains one of the biggest concerns in China today.

Chinese orphanages have seen a falling number of abandoned children since 2005, but officials estimate some 10,000 unwanted children are still received each year, according to Reuters.
People in south-west China were left stunned as a blazing meteorite illuminated the night sky of Yunnan Province on Friday night.

Footage of the spectacular phenomenon shows the meteorite shooting across the sky in a flaming path as it enters the earth's atmosphere at about 9:41pm.

The meteorite then smashed into a villager's home, leaving a hole on its clay roof, according to state broadcaster CCTV.

A blazing meteorite illuminated the night sky of Yunnan province in China on Friday night

A blazing meteorite puts up a dazzling light show for lucky witnesses in Jinghong city

The meteorite then smashed into a villager's home, leaving a hole on its clay roof

'There was a loud noise,' said Mr Yan, a villager in the autonomous prefecture Xishuangbanna. 'It almost sounded like a plane.'

'The entire sky lit up and it seemed that something was falling from the sky,' he said.

The video, filmed by witnesses in Jinghong city, shows a bright white object accompanied by a fiery orange tail curving through the sky, putting up a dazzling light show.

The entire city skyline was seen lit up for a split second as the meteorite passed through the night sky.

The video filmed by witnesses shows a bright white object curving through the night sky

The city is lit up for a split second as the blazing meteor passes through the night sky

The cosmic rocks appeared to be around the size of an egg, and have a shiny black surface

It ended up hitting the clay roof of a villager's house in the suburbs, leaving bits of debris scattered in the area.

Each cosmic rock appeared to be around the size of an egg, and has a shiny black surface with patches of grey substance showing underneath.

The Xishuangbanna Earthquake Administration stated that the sighting has a 70 per cent chance of being a 'small fireball meteor', according to China News.

After preliminary investigations at the village, experts from Beijing confirmed the small rocks to be ordinary chondrites, according to the CCTV report.

'There was a loud noise,' said Mr Yan, a villager in the autonomous prefecture Xishuangbanna

The clay tiles that were smashed into pieces by the falling meteorite on Friday night

Ordinary chondrites are rocks that originate from asteroids and are called 'ordinary' as they comprise about 85 per cent of all meteorites that were found on Earth, according to Science Trends.

'This chondrite is also a stony iron meteorite, meaning that it had flown through the atmosphere in a specific orientation,' Beijing Planetarium senior engineer Zhang Baolin told CCTV.

'This rock is in very good shape and condition and will provide great scientific research value,' he said.

'Meteorites found in such pristine condition are very rare,' he added. 'They are discovered perhaps only once every year.'
Distressing footage has emerged online showing a squirrel being tied up to a beer bottle and whipped by a farmer in southern China.

Apparently, the red-bellied squirrel had been caught eating corn on the man's farm and was being punished for that. The animal can be seen struggling to break free and twitching in pain.

Web users and animal rights group have slammed the man's act for abusing such a defenceless animal.

A squirrel is tied to a beer bottle for stealing crops in a farm in Guizhou, China (left). It twitches its body in pain as the farmer whips it with a twig (right), as a viral video shows

The three-minute-long footage has been circulating on Chinese social media platforms since it was first uploaded on May 31.

The incident was reported to be in Guizhou Province, according to a local media account on Weibo.

The red-bellied animal, also known as Pallas's Squirrel, mainly feeds on leaves, seeds and fruits.

It was tied onto a green glass bottle with strings as the man beat it with a twig continuously.

'Why are you stealing from me? Go steal my cousin's,' the man said in local dialect.

'We don't have enough corn for ourselves. Now you want some too?' He added.

The tree squirrel twitched its body and opened its claws as the man hit its stomach.

It's unclear if the squirrel survived at the end.

The red-bellied squirrel is tied tightly around its neck and fails to break free (left). The video has caused an uproar among web users since last Thursday (right) when it was first uploaded

Keith Guo, press officer at PETA Asia, has expressed concerns over the public's awareness of animal protection in China.

'This is yet another reason why China needs an animal-protection law.

'Such abuse is why PETA is on the ground to raise awareness of all animal-welfare issues,' commented Mr Guo.

Web users have also been enraged as they questioned if the man has mercy towards harmless animals.

'It's just a tiny squirrel, what's the point to beat up the little animal?' said QiCM.

Alanyuwo asked: 'What gives the man the right to whip a squirrel?'
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Elon Musk's SpaceX lit up the night sky over Florida with a record breaking launch this morning.

The firm fired one of the largest communications satellites ever launched into orbit to provide internet to developing nations.

The 5.4-ton (4,900kg/10,800lb) spacecraft, dubbed SES-12, will beam TV, data, and other communications services across the Asia-Pacific region and the Middle East.

It was flown beyond Earth's atmosphere atop one of SpaceX's reusable Falcon 9 rockets in a launch early Monday morning from Cape Canaveral, Florida.

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SpaceX has fired 'one of the largest communications satellites ever launched' into orbit to provide internet to developing nations. Pictured is the rocket as it launched from Cape Canaveral, Florida, early Monday morning

SpaceX had already used the rocket's first booster stage to launch the US Air Force's X-37B Orbital Test Vehicle back in September.

The company flew it for a second time today as part of its goal to use rocket stages multiple times in a bid to cut the costs of its trips to orbit.

The booster was not recovered for a second time and was instead allowed to crash into the ocean.

The Falcon 9 blasted off from Florida's Cape Canaveral Air Force Station at 5:45am BST (00:45 ET) and successfully deployed the SES-12 satellite 32 minutes after lift-off.

Today's launch was SpaceX's 56th Falcon 9 rocket flight  the company's 11th flight this year and its fifth launch for Luxembourg-based telecom company SES.

It fired off from Florida's Cape Canaveral Air Force Station at 5:45am BST (00:45 ET) and successfully deployed the SES-12 satellite 32 minutes after lift-off.

'SES-12 is a uniquely designed satellite that will allow telephone companies, mobile network operators and internet service providers to deliver more reliable cellular backhaul and faster broadband service,' SpaceX said in a statement.

Today's launch was SpaceX's fifth for Luxembourg-based telecom company SES. The SES-12 satellite, pictured as it was released from the Falcon 9's second stage, will provide broadband and direct-to-home TV services to regions across the Asia-Pacific and Middle East

The 5.4-ton (4,900kg/10,800lb) gadget, dubbed SES-12, will be used to beam TV, data, and other communications services. Pictured is the Falcon 9 rocket during Monday's launch

'From its orbital position, SES-12 will also be pivotal in supporting government efforts to bridge the digital divide through connectivity programs and provide television operators with additional capacity to deliver more content and higher picture quality to meet customer demand.'

The rocket's first stage was an older Block 4 version of the Falcon 9 rocket, but its second stage was the new Block 5 variant  the latest and final model of the rocket.

Martin Halliwell, chief technology officer for SES, said at a pre-launch press conference last week: 'The first stage is a Block 4, and the upper stage is a Block 5.'

The SES-12 satellite was flown beyond Earth's atmosphere atop one of SpaceX's reusable Falcon 9, which included a new Block 5 booster  the latest and final model of the rocket. It launched early Monday morning from Cape Canaveral, Florida

The rocket fired off from Florida's Cape Canaveral Air Force Station at 5:45am BST (00:45 ET) and successfully deployed the SES-12 satellite 32 minutes after lift-off. Pictured is SES-12 with Airbus engineers during the satellite's construction

Praising the Block 5, he added: 'We get a lot of performance from this vehicle. It's such a powerful upper stage. That engine is a monster.

'So five seconds more to burn, a little bit more fuel, and it completely changes the dynamics of the project.'

The latest rocket features numerous upgrades compared to its predecessor, including stronger landing legs, better landing control and improved reusability.

The rocket looks similar to previous Falcon 9 iterations, aside from a new interstage ring, raceway cover and landing legs  which are all painted black.

Today's launch was SpaceX's 56th Falcon 9 rocket flight  the company's 11th flight this year and its fifth launch for SES. Pictured is the rocket on its launchpad in Florida prior to its flight on Monday

SpaceX confirmed the successful deployment of SES-12 in a tweet early this morning. The firm frequently live-tweets its rocket launches

SpaceX is run by billionaire Tesla and Paypal founder Elon Musk (file photo)

The black paint is part of the rocket's new thermal protection system, which makes it highly flame resistant and rapidly reusable.

SpaceX estimates the Block 5's improved features will reduce launch costs from 45 million ($60 million) to 37 million ($50 million).

The firm launched the Block 5 for the first time on May 11 following a botched attempt the day before in which a flight was aborted less than a minute before lift-off.

The craft, carrying Bangladesh's first communications satellite, the Bangabandhu 1, blasted off from the Kennedy Space Center at Cape Canaveral in Florida.

Block 5 Falcon 9 is said to be the 'final iteration' of the reusable rocket, with potential to handle far more launches than its predecessor, and could one day be used to carry astronauts to space.

Musk has referred to the Block 5 as the 'finished version' of SpaceX's Falcon 9, as it has been designed to endure up to 100 flights in a single lifespan.

SpaceX had already used the rocket's first booster stage to launch the US Air Force's X-37B Orbital Test Vehicle back in September (pictured)

This is part of SpaceX's wider goal to make launching rockets similar to commercial flights, where they 'can be flown again and again'.

The rocket was initially scheduled to blast off on May 10, but the firm was forced to delay the maiden voyage after the rocket threw the abort signal 58 seconds before launch.

Announcers said at the time that the Block 5 rocket and its payload were 'in good health' but that it would use the following 24 hours to check what 'threw the abort today'.
A major physics experiment has detected a 'ghost particle' that shouldn't exist.

Dubbed the 'sterile neutrino', the mysterious particle passes through matter without interacting with it at all.

The particle was first spotted in the mid-1990s in an experiment that left scientists baffled. However, until now, the result of that experiment couldn't be replicated.

If the latest study is confirmed, it could transform the foundations of particle physics.

It could also help solve cosmic mysteries like the existence of dark matter  an unidentified substance that makes up roughly 27 per cent of the universe.

A major physics experiment has detected a 'ghost particle' that shouldn't exist. The Mini Booster Neutrino Experiment, or MiniBooNE, in Chicago fired beams of muon neutrinos at an oil tank to try and detect the presence of sterile neutrinos

Neutrinos are one of the most abundant particles in the universe. As you read this, trillions of neutrinos are travelling through your body.

The particles have almost no mass and rarely interact with matter, meaning they are unlikely to have any impact on the particles of your body, and earning them the 'ghostly' description.

As waves of neutrinos pass through space, they will periodically 'oscillate'  switching back and forth between one 'flavour' and another.

Physicists have already identified three 'flavours' of neutrino: muon, electron, and tau  but in recent decades, several scientists have hypothesised about the presence of a fourth type of particle, the 'sterile neutrino'.

Discovering an additional form of neutrino could help to explain the mysterious origins of dark matter.

Researchers working on the MiniBooNE believe they have observed neutrinos oscillating into hidden, so-called sterile neutrinos, which are impossible for the detector to identify

'That would be huge; that's beyond the standard model; that would require new particles ... and an all-new analytical framework,' Kate Scholberg, particle physicist at Duke University told LiveScience.

The hypothetical sterile neutrino has mass, according to the researchers, different from the other types.

Along with this, it interacts only gravitationally, making it extremely difficult to detect.

But, it can be caught by observing its influence on the other types of neutrinos.

This is what happened during an experiment at MiniBooNE (Mini Booster Neutrino Experiment) at the Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory (Fermilab), located near Chicago.

The MiniBooNE experiment involved firing beams of muon neutrinos at an oil tank.

Some of those neutrinos oscillated into electron neutrinos, which produced flashes of light that researchers were able to record using detectors inside the oil.

The oscillation rate is predictable, so even a few extra electron neutrinos would be a result.

The researchers saw 2,437 interactions, about 460 more than predicted.

WHAT IS A 'STERILE' NEUTRINO? The sterile neutrino is a hypothetical fourth type of neutrino. So far, there are three known types of neutrinos, known as 'favours'. These are muon, electron, and tau. A fourth type would have mass  different from the others  and interact with gravity. Studies have suggested it can be 'caught' by observing its influence on the other types of neutrinos. Most recently, researchers working on the MiniBooNE (Mini Booster Neutrino Experiment) in Chicago believe they observed neutrinos oscillating into sterile neutrinos, and then back to particles in the detectable realm. If discovered, the sterile neutrino could help to explain the mysterious origins of dark matter, and even resolve issue of the universe's matter and antimatter imbalance. Advertisement

Discovering a fourth 'flavour' of neutrino could help to explain the mysterious origins of dark matter, and even resolve issue of the universe's matter and antimatter imbalance (Stock)

The results mirror those seen in the Liquid Scintillator Neutrino Detector (LSND), an experiment at the now-decommissioned Los Alamos National Laboratory in New Mexico back in the mid-1990s  the only other experiment which has detected the presence of sterile neutrinos.

'We have two very different detectorsand we have the same results,' MiniBooNE physicist En-Chuan Huang said.

Both experiments found more neutrino detections than are possible to explain with the Standard Model's description of neutrino oscillation, researchers claim.

Researchers working on the MiniBooNE believe neutrinos are oscillating into hidden, heavier, sterile neutrinos which are impossible for the detector to identify, before they oscillate back into the detectable realm.

The latest findings brought the MiniBooNE team to a 4.8 sigma result, when 'discovery' in particle physics demands five-sigma.

If these results are confirmed, it could help to explain the existence of dark matter.

Like the hypothesised sterile neutrinos, dark matter only appears to interact with regular matter via gravity.

This shared trait is why sterile neutrinos are one of the most plausible candidates for dark matter.

Although dark matter has never been directly observed, scientists are confident that it exists, predominantly because of the gravitational effects it appears to exert on galaxies in our universe.

Dark matter, which is invisible to light and other forms of electromagnetic radiation, would explain a number of inconsistencies in the observable universe.

For example, the Standard Model suggests stars on the fringes of a spinning, spiral galaxy should travel slower than those located close to the galactic centre, where visible matter is more concentrated.

However, in reality, observations have shown stars orbit more or less the same speed  regardless of where they are found in the spiral galaxy.

Scientists believe the gravitational effects of an unseen mass, slowing the speed of the stars at the edge of the spiral galaxy, could explain the perplexing phenomenon.

Identifying the particle that makes up dark matter would be a monumental discovery.

According to Professor Scholberg, if the LSND and MiniBooNE were the only neutrino experiments undertaken on Earth, scientists would be updating the Standard Model to include some sort of sterile neutrino at this very moment.

However, the problem is that other major neutrino experiments have not detected the same anomaly that both LSND and MiniBooNE have observed.

Dark matter: The mysterious substance that makes up 85% of the universe that scientists cannot confirm Dark matter is a hypothetical substance said to make up roughly 85 per cent of the universe. The enigmatic material is invisible because it does not reflect light, and has never been directly observed by scientists. Astronomers know it to be out there because of its gravitational effects on known matter. The European Space Agency says: 'Shine a torch in a completely dark room, and you will see only what the torch illuminates. Dark matter is a hypothetical substance said to make up roughly 27 per cent of the universe. It is thought to be the gravitational 'glue' that holds the galaxies together (artist's impression) 'That does not mean that the room around you does not exist. 'Similarly we know dark matter exists but have never observed it directly.' The material is thought to be the gravitational 'glue' that holds the galaxies together. Calculations show that many galaxies would be torn apart instead of rotating if they weren't held together by a large amount of dark matter. Just five per cent the observable universe consists of known matter such as atoms and subatomic particles. Advertisement

As recently as last year, the IceCube particle detector at the South Pole failed to turn up any evidence for sterile neutrinos.

Researchers working in Antarctica performed two independent analyses which determined with 99 per cent certainty that the eV-mass sterile neutrino does not exist.

Francis Halzen, a University of Wisconsin-Madison professor of physics and principal investigator for the IceCube Neutrino Observatory, said: 'Like Elvis, people see hints of the sterile neutrino everywhere.

'There was this collection of hints, and theorists were convinced it exists.'

After analysing roughly 100,000 neutrino events at the IceCube particle detector at the South Pole (pictured above) in search of the 'sterile neutrino,' scientists working on the project concluded that no such particle exists

It is possible the anomaly detected in the LSND and MiniBooNE could be the result of the way neutrinos interact with the experimental setup, which is not yet not understood.

However, it is entirely possible researchers working at particle detectors around the world will now have to explain why their experiments are failing to produce evidence of the sterile neutrinos which are being spotted in Fermilab and Los Alamos Lab.

'There are people who doubt the result,' Professor Scholberg said, 'but there's no reason to think there's anything wrong [with the experiment itself].'

If that's the case, scientists may have to revise their entire understanding of the universe.
Ancestry.com now holds the genetic code of more than five million people  the largest private database of DNA in corporate history.

The company also holds the most expansive stockpile of human spittle, which is used to run the DNA tests, with some estimates placing it in the hundreds of gallons.

The firm says it has state-of-the-art security systems in place to prevent hacking and security breaches of its genetic database.

So far, it has successfully managed to avoid any devastating privacy scandals or leaks.

However, a three-month investigation from the Tampa Bay Times has uncovered a pattern of breached promises to customers and security concerns with the Utah-based company.

Customers can send in a sample of their spittle to AncestryDNA, which then estimates their origins to more than 350 ancestral regions around the world

Hackers last year managed to infiltrate RootsWeb, which is owned and operated by Ancestry.

The unidentified cybercriminals stole the login details of some 55,000 Ancestry customers who used the same email and password combination on RootsWeb.

The RootsWeb situation was certainly unfortunate, Ancestry chief privacy officer Eric Heath admitted to the Tampa Bay Times.

Despite the breach, Heath says RootsWeb was a completely separate system from the databases where Ancestry holds sensitive customer information, including DNA data.

That data is stored in the cloud, he explained, using an encrypted system which can only be unlocked and accessed using the key held by Ancestry.

RootsWeb has since been shutdown by the company.

However, the successful cyber attack shows the vulnerability of online companies.

EMEA Chief Technology Officer at network and computer security firm RSA, Rashmi Knowles said she would always advise people to proceed with caution.

If your password is stolen, it can be updated, but this isnt the case with genetic information  you only have one genetic identity, so if this is stolen there are potentially much more serious consequences, she told MailOnline.

No matter how secure the organisation, no one is completely risk-free, and if breached, genetic data could be sold on hackers without your consent, or the characteristic data it contains could be used to hijack your online accounts.

Theres even a possibility that hackers can amend or even delete genetic data in some cases, which could have serious implications for the victim and the level of healthcare or even health insurance they could access in the future.

Ancestry helps customers trace their family tree, using a huge database of historical records. In the example above, Ancestry has looked into Prince William (Stock Image)

Hackers successfully managed to infiltrate RootsWeb, which is owned and operated by Ancestry, and stole some the login details of some 55,000 customers (Stock Image)

Like other DNA testing companies, Ancestry uses customers spit for its genetic analysis.

The company, which reported revenue of $1 billion (747 million) last year, uses third-party firms, like Illumina, to turn the white blood cells and cells from the spittle into machine-readable code.

The entire process takes around four days to complete, after which Ancestry uses the code to analyse the ethnicity of the customer.

According to chief privacy officer Eric Heath, Ancestry is the only entity in the chain capable of connecting the DNA processed by third-party firms, with the individuals who mailed in the samples.

Privacy is basically our top priority here, Heath said.

In terms of security, you know, we are very cognisant that without our customers trust, we do not have a business.

HOW DO FAMILY HISTORY DNA TESTS WORK? Ancestry's test uses microarray-based autosomal DNA testing, which looks at persons entire genome at more than 700,000 locations via a sample of saliva. Analysis of the DNA data provides a prediction of the locations of ancestors from 26 separate world-wide populations including Great Britain and Ireland, Europe, Scandinavia, Asia and South and North Africa. The AncestryDNA autosomal test targets the last few hundred or thousand years. This makes it easier for people to learn more about their more immediate family history. Ancestry and other consumer-focused genetic testing companies use a spit sample. This is because it is one of the easiest samples for customers to take themselves (Stock) Another service that offers DNA testing is BritainsDNA. It offers a range of options, including tests that look purely at a persons fatherline, or surname line. The site also offers tests that traces a persons motherline along every known mitochondrial DNA branch, consisting of more than 3,000 markers Mitochondrial DNA is a smaller than the Y chromosome, containing fewer letters, so these markers account for all known mtDNA lineages. Elsewhere, the All my Ancestry test uses more than 250,000 autosomal markers to discover a persons recent ancestral mix. It can reveal if someone has a Native American ancestry, or how far a genome spreads across Europe. It compares the data to a set of reference samples of known ancestry, including 4,000 individuals from 200 populations from all over the world. This test shows which population a person is closest to, genetically, and what proportions of their ancestry are from each of seven continental level groups. Other tests include discovering the genetics of a persons eye colour, and whether a person carries a red-head variant gene  even if they dont have red hair. Advertisement

However, concerns have been raised around the database of genetic data Ancestry holds on its customers  unless they specifically stipulate otherwise.

The company database now includes genetic data from more than 5 million people, up from 2 million in mid-2016, according to their figures.

Not only does Ancestry store the genetic code, it also keeps the raw DNA samples as well.

Privacy lawyer Joel Winston has criticised the company for its terms and conditions, which he argued enable Ancestry to exploit consumers DNA for the rest of time.

According to Winston, Ancestrys terms and conditions are long, and somewhat boring, but people should read them.

They make a big deal of stating that you own your DNA. But they are taking a worldwide, perpetual, royalty-free license to do what they want with your DNA and your actual genetic sample that they keep in storage.

Ancestrys Eric Heath branded the claims inflammatory and inaccurate.

Jennifer Lynch, a lawyer with online privacy watchdog Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF) said one of the biggest concerns with Ancestry and other DNA testing companies is whether their policies will change over time, with the arrival of new management, for example.

Future owners could overhaul the companys privacy protections, she cautioned, including Ancestrys promise not to share personal data with insurance companies.

This could provide a lucrative new way to monetise its hoard of genetic data.

Ancestry officials insist this will never happen, however the companys own terms and conditions make it clear that policies could change in the future.

Customers will be contacted about any such changes, after which they have a 30-day window to opt-out or cancel their account should they want to avoid the new policy.

'We have the right to modify these Terms or any additional terms that apply to a Service at any time,' Ancestry stipulates.

Security expert Rashmi Knowles said: When being asked to provide such a highly sensitive level of personal information, you need to think carefully to decide if the benefit outweighs the risk.

If you do choose to provide genetic data to an organisation, its vital to check what you are agreeing to when sharing it, as you may be unwittingly giving access  or even consent  to share this data more widely than is needed, even to other third party organisations.

The key is to understand the risks and make an informed choice about how and what data you share.
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A fascinating new interactive map reveals what Britain looked like during the last ice age.

The map reveals where corridors of ice and glacial lakes formed 22,000 years ago, during the peak of the ice age, when a half a mile-thick ice sheet covered Britain and Ireland.

Dubbed Britice, it allows people to type in their postcode or city to look at how their area was affected and see nearby landforms.

These include enormous glacial lakes, shown in light blue, and areas where rocks and sediments have been deposited by glaciers, shown in brown.

A stunning new interactive map reveals what Britain looked like during the last ice age. Users can type in a place name or postcode to see how it was impacted by ice 22,000 years ago. Use your mouse wheel to zoom in and reveal new details

There have been at least five documented major ice ages during the 4.6 billion years since the Earth formed.

The last one took place in the Pleistocene Epoch which began 2.6 million years ago. The ice age peaked 22,000 years ago and lasted until about 11,700 years ago.

The map of the glaciated British landscape, created by scientists at the University of Sheffield, contains more than 170,000 landforms from over 100 years of field investigation.

It is the most complete overview of glacial landforms to date, according to researchers behind the project.

The landforms featured in the map were left behind when a vast ice sheet covered the UK during the last ice age, carving its way through the country and leaving geographical scars that are still present today.

Researchers looked at these marks to track how the ice sheet grew, flowed and eventually disappeared during a this period when average temperatures across Europe dropped 5C (9F) below today's temperatures.

This was enough to stop snow and ice in northern regions from melting during the summer months, covering much of Scotland, Wales, the midlands and northern England in perpetual ice.

Project scientist Dr Jeremy Ely said: 'The landform information tells us about how the last British-Irish ice sheet behaved.

The online map shows where corridors of ice and glacial lakes formed in the United Kingdom 22,000 years ago, when a kilometre-thick ice sheet covered Britain and Ireland. The coverage of the ice sheet is shown in this image by the lighter colouration. The last ice age peaked about 21,000 years ago and ended about 11,500 years ago

The online map highlights different geographical features using a range of shaded lines and colours. Areas where water has pooled to form enormous glacial lakes are shaded in light blue, while regions of moraine - a mass of rocks and sediment carried and deposited by a glacier - are coloured brown. Pictured is how the North Yorkshire Moors looked 22,000 years ago

Areas shaded in yellow in this snapshot of Northern Ireland show subglacial rib regions - sculpted ridges formed by moving ice. Green areas show regions from which rocks known as erratics were carried long distances by glacial ice flows and meltwater. These areas are dubbed erratic source areas. Green lines show where their erratics were carried

During the last ice age, temperatures dropped so far that snow and ice in northern regions from melting during the summer months, covering much of Scotland, Wales, the midlands and northern England in perpetual ice. The new map reveals that the furthest southern region affected by the geological event was Cambridge, which was covered by a huge glacial lake (blue)

'We can see how it dammed rivers, creating large glacial lakes which covered Manchester, Doncaster and Peterborough.

'Corridors of fast flowing ice, known as ice streams, flowed toward the east over Edinburgh and toward the west over Glasgow.

'Ice also covered the entirety of Ireland, flowing through the Irish Sea, where it coalesced with Welsh ice, causing it to flow southward toward the Isles of Scilly.'

The online map highlights different geographical features using a range of shaded lines and colours.

Pink lines on the map show glacially streamlined bedrock, which have been eroded by ice and water flow. Grey lines show a cirque, a bowl-shaped depression on the side of or near mountains carvedout by ice. Crag and tails are revealed by yellow lines. These are a tadpole-shaped landforms developed by glacial erosion of rocks on unequal resistance

22,000 years ago ice covered the entirety of Ireland, flowing through the Irish Sea, where it coalesced with Welsh ice. This image shows southern regions of Ireland, with erratic sources and their flows of rocks in greem while subglacial ridges are depicted in yellow. Brown shows regions of moraine

Routes where huge lumps of rocks were carried, typically by shifting glacial ice, are called erratic pathways and are shown as dark green lines on the map (left). Red lines show eskers, which are long ridges of gravel deposited by meltwater, while channels burrowed by meltwater from the ice sheet are delineated as light blue lines

The landforms featured in the map were left behind when a vast ice sheet covered the UK during the last ice age, carving its way through the country and leaving geographical scars that are still present today. This image shows the sheer extent of ice coverage over northern England and southern areas of Scotland

BRITAIN DURING THE LAST ICE AGE The last Glacial Maximum was around 22,000 years ago when much of Europe was covered in ice. During the ice age, which ended about 11,500 years ago, ice covered about 30 per cent of the land in the world. In Britain, glacial ice and waterflows spread as far south as the Bristol Channel. Average temperatures were 5C (8F) colder than they are today, allowing a one-kilometre-thick sheet of ice to cover much of the country. The temperature remained below 0C all year round in northern regions, particularly Scotland, allowing the sheet to remain on the land all year. Ice connected Britain with Scandinavia, allowing a host of large wildlife to roam free between the UK and mainland Europe. During this period Britain would have seen the likes of woolly mammoths, giant deer and wolves roaming its icy planes. Large glacial lakes covered Manchester, Doncaster, Newcastle and Peterborough and much of the country was uninhabitable for humans. Corridors of fast flowing ice, known as ice streams, flowed toward the east over Edinburgh and toward the west of Glasgow. All of Ireland was covered in ice, which was flowing through the Irish sea where it met Welsh ice and then flowed south toward the Isles of Scilly. Much of Scotland, Wales, the midlands and northern England was covered in perpetual ice. Cambridge, which was covered by a huge glacial lake, was the most southern region to be heavily affected by the icy climate. Over time the ice and its hefty waterflows carved out the land of Britain, forming geological scars that can still be seen today. These include glacial ridges sculpted by moving ice and winding flows of rock that travelled for miles across the country. Advertisement

Areas where water has pooled to form enormous glacial lakes are shaded in light blue, while regions of moraine - a mass of rocks and sediment carried and deposited by a glacier - are coloured brown.

Routes through which huge lumps of rocks were carried, typically by shifting glacial ice, are called erratic pathways and are shown as dark green lines on the map.

Red lines show eskers, which are long ridges of gravel deposited by meltwater, while channels burrowed by meltwater from the ice sheet are delineated as light blue lines.

The map shows that a glacial lake (light blue) formed around the north-west corner of East Anglia around the rectangular bay and estuary known as the Wash. This was kept from flowing into the North Sea by glacial lake dams (dark blue)

Northern Scotland featured an array of erratic sources (green regions) that pumped rock along winding rivers of glacial meltwater (green lines)

The Britice project, funded by the Natural Environment Research Council, has seen researchers work for six years to model the build-up and retreat of the last British-Irish ice sheet. This image shows what Wales would have looked like

The Britice project, funded by the Natural Environment Research Council, has seen researchers work for six years to model the build-up and retreat of the last British-Irish ice sheet.

The programme has involved more than 70 scientists from around the world who have visited 28 different islands and collected more than 15 tonnes of samples from 914 sites.

As well as the online map, a physical accompanying map poster has been distributed to all secondary schools in the UK to assist pupils studying glacial landscapes and processes as part of their GCSE and A Level studies.
Is there a universal language that could let us speak with aliens? Some researchers believe so.

Humanity has long been fascinated with the idea of extraterrestrial life - leading to the creation of films such as E.T. and alien.

However, the 2016 film Arrival, following a linguist tasked with communicating with aliens, may be the closest to the truth, experts say.

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At a 'Language in the Cosmos' workshop at the International Space Development Conference researchers discussed how to communicate with intelligent aliens. Pictured: E.T. from the 1982 film

At a 'Language in the Cosmos' workshop during the International Space Development Conference in LA last week, researchers discussed the best ways to communicate with intelligent aliens.

Douglas Vakoch, the founder and president of Messaging Extraterrestrial Intelligence (METI), began messaging extraterrestrial intelligence in late 2017.

The group held the day-long workshop with the goal to create more-intelligible messages to aliens by examining how humans talk with one another.

Linguist Noam Chomsky has said that if aliens visit Earth, they will believe that humans all speak the same language, according to New Scientist.

He argues that a universal grammar underscores all human language, and therefore will be indistinguishable to an alien ear.

'Chomsky has often said that if a Martian visited Earth, it would think we all speak dialects of the same language, because all terrestrial languages share a common underlying structure,' said Vakoch in a statement on the workshop issued by the organization.

'But if aliens have language, would it be similar to ours? That's the big question.'

HOW WOULD A 'UNIVERSAL LANGUAGE' WORK? Merge is a basic principal in linguistics developed by Noam Chomsky. He describes Merge as a cognitive function that allows someone to take two things and build a thing that is the set of the two. This can look like combining individual words and repeating them over and over again to form complex sentences, constructing a 'universal language'. 'You got an operation that enables you to take mental objects [or concepts of some sort], already constructed, and make bigger mental objects out of them,' Chomsky said in 2004. 'Thats Merge. As soon as you have that, you have an infinite variety of hierarchically structured expressions [and thoughts] available to you.' Chomsky believes that Merge formed language itself, as part of a 'Great Leap Forward'. 'Some small genetic modification somehow that rewired the brain slightly [and] made this human capacity available. And with it came an entire range of creative options that are available to humans within a theory of mind,' Chomsky said. Researchers have theorized that universal grammar on Earth, developed through Merge, would also extend to alien languages. Advertisement

METI International organized the workshop and topics included how to communicate with extraterrestrials, and if we would be able to understand them. The 2016 film Arrival (pictured) follows a linguist tasked with communicating with aliens, similar to the linguists speaking at the workshop

At the workshop, Jeffery Punske from Southern Illinois University, Ian Roberts from the University of Cambridge, and Chomsky argued that because there is universal grammar on Earth, that grammar would extend to extraterrestrial languages.

Roberts and his colleagues suggest that a process called 'Merge' - combining individual words and repeating them over and over again to form complex sentences - could also be found in alien languages.

By transmitting these messages into space, the process is similar to mathematics. Vakoch elaborated the idea of using mathematics as a common basic language in a separate talk.

However, Gonzalo Munevar from Lawrence Technological University argued that aliens would have different brains than humans, if they had brains at all, and therefore there is no guarantee they would understand any communication from Earth.

KEY DISCOVERIES IN HUMANITY'S SEARCH FOR ALIEN LIFE Discovery of pulsars British astronomer Dame Jocelyn Bell Burnell was the first person to discover a pulsar in 1967 when she spotted a radio pulsar. Since then other types of pulsars that emit X-rays and gamma rays have also been spotted. Pulsars are essentially rotating, highly magnetised neutron stars but when they were first discovered it was believed they could have come from aliens. 'Wow!' radio signal In 1977, an astronomer looking for alien life in the night sky above Ohio spotted a radio signal so powerful that he excitedly wrote 'Wow!' next to his data. In 1977, an astronomer looking for alien life in the night sky above Ohio spotted a radio signal so powerful that he excitedly wrote 'Wow!' next to his data The 72-second blast, spotted by Dr Jerry Ehman through a radio telescope, came from Sagittarius but matched no known celestial object. Conspiracy theorists have since claimed that the 'Wow! signal', which was 30 times stronger than background radiation, was a message from intelligent extraterrestrials. Fossilised Martian microbes In 1996 Nasa and the White House made the explosive announcement that the rock contained traces of Martian bugs. The meteorite, catalogued as Allen Hills (ALH) 84001, crashed onto the frozen wastes of Antarctica 13,000 years ago and was recovered in 1984. Photographs were released showing elongated segmented objects that appeared strikingly lifelike. Photographs were released showing elongated segmented objects that appeared strikingly lifelike (pictured) However, the excitement did not last long. Other scientists questioned whether the meteorite samples were contaminated. They also argued that heat generated when the rock was blasted into space may have created mineral structures that could be mistaken for microfossils. Behaviour of Tabby's Star in 2005 The star, otherwise known as KIC 8462852, is located 1,400 light years away and has baffled astronomers since being discovered in 2015. It dims at a much faster rate than other stars, which some experts have suggested is a sign of aliens harnessing the energy of a star. The star, otherwise known as KIC 8462852, is located 1,400 light years away and has baffled astonomers since being discovered in 2015 (artist's impression) Recent studies have 'eliminated the possibility of an alien megastructure', and instead, suggests that a ring of dust could be causing the strange signals. Exoplanets in the Goldilocks zone in 2017 In February 2017 astronomers announced they had spotted a star system with planets that could support life just 39 light years away. Seven Earth-like planets were discovered orbiting nearby dwarf star 'Trappist-1', and all of them could have water at their surface, one of the key components of life. Three of the planets have such good conditions, that scientists say life may have already evolved on them. Researchers claim that they will know whether or not there is life on any of the planets within a decade, and said: 'This is just the beginning.' Advertisement

A traditional approach of using mathematics to communicate with extraterrestrials has no proof of working, as demonstrated by the 'golden record' NASA sent aboard its Voyager craft to help alien life understand humanity.

The records include maps, images and charts along with 117 pictures, humpback whale sounds, greetings in 54 language, a 20-minute 'sound essay' of life on Earth, and 90 minutes of music.

However, Rebecca Orchard and Sheri Wells-Jensen at Bowling Green State University in Ohio say it could simply confuse alien lifeforms - and show them humanity likes to argue.

Voyager 1 is currently 13 billion miles away from Earth, travelling northward through space.

However, it will be 40,000 years before it comes close to another star system.
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Apple has unveiled new controls for limiting how much time customers spend on their devices as the company tackles criticism that its devices are becoming increasingly addictive and distracting.

iOS 12 will include a better do not disturb feature, and more control over notifications that appear on screen, along with a new 'screen time' feature that tells users exactly how much they are using their device and a 'memoji' that allows people to make animated versions of themselves.

Apple boss Tim Cook unveiled the new iOS 12 software at the firm's Worldwide Developers Conference in San Jose as part of a raft of announcements.

Apple also unveiled a much improved Siri AI, and better performance for older phones, along with new software for its Watch and TV.

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Apple boss Tim Cook unveiled the new 'digital health' software at the firm's Worldwide Developers Conference in San Jose alongside new versions of the software that powers the Apple Watch, Apple TV and Mac.

WHAT DID APPLE UNVEIL AT ITS DEVELOPER CONFERENCE? iOS 12 for iPhone and iPad including performance boost for older phones, new apps to limit screen time, and improved animoji WatchOS 5 including a new walkie talkie app and improved fitness tracking TvOS update adding support for Atmos surround sound and new screensavers from the International Space Station Advertisement

The new features are designed to show people exactly how much time they are using their device for - and help limit it.

Craig Federighi, Apple's senior vice president of Software Engineering, unveiled the new software 'designed to better help you manage your time.'

The free iOS 12 update will include a better do not disturb feature, and more control over notifications that appear on screen, and new grouped notifications.

There is also a new screen time feature to tell people how much time they are using their device - and the ability to block or limit apps.

The event kicked off with a David Attenborough 'Life on Earth' sketch voiced by Stephen Fry.

'Today is all about software,' Cook said.

'We now have over 20 million Apple developers around the world.'

The firm's app store now has over 500 million visitors a week, and developers have now made over $100 billion from selling apps, he added.

Apple's new 'digital health' apps: They will include a better do not disturb feature, and more control over notifications that appear on screen, and new grouped notifications.

Cook also said he believed coding should be taught in every school when talking about the firm's Swift programming language.

Craig Federighi, Apple's senior vice president of Software Engineering, unveiled iOS12, a free software update available later this year.

HOW WILL APPLE MAKE YOU USE YOUR PHONE LESS? Apple today unveiled a major overhaul to ensure people use their phones less. The features will be part of a free iOS 12 update available later this year, and include: Screen Time The Screen Time feature gives users greater control over how they spend their time on the phone, displaying insights into their weekly activity across various apps. It shows users how much time their spending on apps, how their use breaks down through the day, how often they're picking up their phone and more. There is also a new Screen Time feature to tell people how much time they are using their device - and the ability to block or limit apps. App Limits Apple now lets users set time limits for specific apps. Users can set their own limit and receive reminders letting you know time is almost up. Users can set limits for individual apps within iOS 12, stopping them from being used at certain times of the day Parental Controls Parents can now easily view their child's activity across devices in the Screen Time app. There, they can view how their child is spending their time in specific apps, as well as set time limits for each app. They can also set certain apps to always be on, such as the Phone app. It can be managed remotely from an iPhone or an iPad. Individual app limits can be set using the new apps, and they will also reveal exactly how much time users are spending in every app Do Not Disturb Apple is rolling out a new Do Not Disturb feature for bedtime that lets you wipe clean your notifications before going to bed. Now, users will only see a blank screen and when they wake up in the morning, they'll be greeted with simplified notifications, and they can tap when they want to see more. Another new Do Not Disturb feature lets users set a timer for when they want it to expire. Users will have better control of the downtime when they are not shown any notifications in the the new iOs 12 oftware Notifications Users can now 'fine tune' their notifications and change the settings so that specific notifications only show up in the notifications center and turn other notifications off altogether. Siri will also suggest that users turn off some notifications if the user hasn't opened the app in a while. A new grouped notifications tool will categorize app notifications by apps and topics. Users can swipe on a group of notifications and choose to view them later, removing them from the lock screen. Advertisement

WHAT'S NEW IN APPLE'S MOJAVE MACOS UPDATE? Apple previewed macOS Mojave. It boasts a new Dark Mode. A new Stacks feature organises messy desktops by automatically stacking files into neat groups. Familiar iOS apps, including News, Stocks, Voice Memos and Home, are now available on the Mac for the first time. FaceTime now adds support for group calling, and the Mac App Store gets a full redesign featuring rich editorial content and the addition of apps from top developers, including Microsoft, Adobe and others. Advertisement

He began by taking aim at Google's Android, pointing out just 6% of users are on the latest version - compared to 81% for Apple's iOS.

'We are doubling down on performance with iOS 11,' he said.

'We are making your device faster and more responsive.

'iOS 12 will be available on all the same devices as iOS11.'

On older devices such as the iPhone 6S, performance will be up to 70% faster, he said.

Apple has also boosted its augmented reality software, amid rumours it is developing AR spectacles.

The new ARKit includes shared experiences, and the ability to read faces.

The firm has been working with Lego to develop software that can recognise Lego creations and bring them to life on screen.

Siri has also got a major upgrade, and app developers will be able to use Siri for the first time.

Third-party apps will now be able to let users invoke Siri for commonly used tasks, much the way competing assistants from Google and Amazon long have.

Before, Apple had limited third-party access to a handful of categories, such as messaging, while excluding competitors to Apple's Music service, for instance.

The software update will also let people group similar tasks together into shortcuts that can be accessed by simple phrases like 'heading home.'

Saying the phrase can be set to open Apple Maps to find the best route home and launching a radio app.

Animoji have also been updated, with the ability to create your own, and to sense tounges.

Animoji can also now be used in a new FaceTime that allows group chats for the first time

The new 'memoji' feature allows people to create an animoji in their own likeness

Users will also be able to create their own shortcuts for Siri, teaching it the phrases they want to use.

They can use a new 'shortcuts' app to create the shortcuts they use.

The firm also overhauled its iBooks app, now called Apple Books, Stock and memo recording apps.

APPLE'S WATCHOS 5 UPDATE Apple showed off watchOS 5, with a host of new features including Activity Sharing competitions, auto-workout detection, advanced running features, Walkie-Talkie, Apple Podcasts and third-party apps on the Siri watch face. 'We're thrilled with the positive impact Apple Watch is having on people's lives,' said Jeff Williams, Apple's chief operating officer. 'Apple Watch is helping our customers stay connected, enhance their fitness and, in many cases, detect life-threatening conditions. 'With the launch of watchOS 5, we're excited to introduce new activity and communications features that will take the Watch to a whole new level.' Apple showed off watchOS 5, with a host of new features including Activity Sharing competitions, auto-workout detection, advanced running features, Walkie-Talkie, Apple Podcasts and third-party apps on the Siri watch face. Auto-Workout Detection For the most popular workouts on Apple Watch, auto-workout detection provides an alert to start the correct workout and gives retroactive credit. This feature also offers a reminder to end workout sessions after a period of inactivity if the user forgets. Walkie-Talkie watchOS 5 introduces Walkie-Talkie, an entirely new way to communicate with voice and just a tap of the wrist. A fun and easy way to quickly get in touch with friends and family, this new watch-to-watch connection is fast, personal and can be activated between any compatible Apple Watch users around the world over Wi-Fi or cellular.* Auto-workout detection provides an alert to start the correct workout and gives retroactive credit Enhanced Notifications Notifications from third-party apps can now have interactive controls and be used without needing to open the app: for example, a Yelp reservation notification will have the option to modify the time or change the number of guests right from the notification. Student ID Cards With watchOS 5, Apple Watch replaces Student ID cards. With a raise of the wrist, students can gain access to places including the library, dorms and events, and pay for snacks, laundry and dinners around campus simply by adding their ID cards to Wallet on Apple Watch. The programme launches with Duke, the University of Alabama and the University of Oklahoma this fall. Johns Hopkins University, Santa Clara University and Temple University will bring the capability by the end of the year. Advertisement

The firm is also supporting third party navigation apps such as Waze and Google Maps for the first time.

Animoji have also been updated, with the ability to create your own, and to sense tongues.

Apple also overhauled its Watch software, with a new walkie talkie app and boost Siri capabilities.

The firm showed off a new version of its augmented reality software for developers

Apple boss Tim Cook is unveiling the new software at the firm's Worldwide Developers Conference in San Jose alongside new versions of the software that powers the Apple Watch, Apple TV and Mac.

Last month Google unveiled a similar tool  soon to launch for its Android operating system  which will enable users to monitor how often they use their phone.

Apple's event is traditionally used to give an early look at the next version of all Apple's software platforms before they are released to the public in the autumn.

The firm has also updated its photos app, making it easier to use AI to search for images

The firm's app store now has over 500 million visitors a week, and developers have now made over $100 billion from selling apps, he added.

Apple's new wireless charging mat AirPower, which was first announced alongside the iPhone 8 and iPhone X last year and has been slated for release in 2018, could also make an appearance.

However, Apple is also likely to hold its traditional iPhone event in September to reveal the next version of its smartphone, and the firm could choose to also discuss its other hardware products then.

The iPhone maker is also expected to release a substantial update to its augmented reality platform for developers, ARKit 2.0,Bloomberg reported, citing sources close to the situation.

Other substantial hardware upgrades, such as new MacBooks and an Apple Watch, are more likely to be rolled out later this year.

Apple CEO Tim Cook speaks during the 2018 Apple Worldwide Developer Conference (WWDC) at the San Jose Convention Center on June 4, 2018 in San Jose, California. The WWDC runs through June 8.

The event, which will open with a keynote from Apple chief executive Tim Cook, is also expected to feature a first look at new versions of software that power the Apple Watch, its Mac computer line and Apple TV.

Apple is said to be working on updating the MacBook Pro and 12-inch MacBook. It's also working on a new MacBook Air. But those announcements will likely come later this year

As part of the update, Apple will let users play augmented reality games against each other in the same simulated environment.

It will allow people to save and share the location of users and AR objects. It may also include several new Animoji.

ARKit 2.0 will serve as a teaser for what may be coming in Apple's AR headset, which experts say could hit the shelves as early as 2020.

Loup Ventures analyst Gene Munster wrote in a recent post that he expects the iPhone maker to release 'Apple Glasses' late in 2021.

Munster believes Apple's recent moves around augmented reality signal that the firm is focusing more and more on the prospect of AR glasses.

'We believe AR is real and Apple will be a beneficiary,' Munster, who is a long-term Apple analyst, wrote.

'We need to have tools and data to allow us to understand how we consume digital media,' Tony Fadell, a former senior Apple executive told Bloomberg.

'We need to get finer-grain language and start to understand that an iPhone is just a refrigerator, it's not the addiction'.

Earlier this year, major Apple investors Jana Partners and the California State Teachers' Retirement System, or CalSTRS, penned an open letter to the firm saying it must offer tools to help children fight addiction on its devices.

At the time, Apple promised to add more 'robust' parental controls to monitor the use of its products.

APPLE'S IPHONE ADDICTION ROW Two major Apple investors have urged the iPhone maker to take action to curb growing smartphone addiction among children, highlighting growing concern about the effects of gadgets and social media on youngsters. New York-based Jana Partners LLC and the California State Teachers' Retirement System, or CalSTRS, said in open letter to Apple that the company must offer more tools to help children fight addiction on its services. By seeing nothing but gray could be a quick trick to leaving your phone on the table instead, as certain colors can evoke emotions  and it seems Silicon Valley knows how to use them Among their proposals, they recommend the company enhances mobile device software so parents have more options to protect their children's health. Collectively the pair control $2 billion (1.5 billion) worth of Apple shares. Advertisement

Meanwhile, other, bigger updates like a redesigned home screen and AI features for the Photos app won't arrive on iPhones and iPads until next year.

Apple is still reportedly working on updating the MacBook Pro and 12-inch MacBook laptop. It's also reportedly working on a new MacBook Air.

Those announcements aren't expected to happen until later this year, Bloomberg said.

Among other products in the pipeline, Apple is working on a redesigned iPad Pro with Face ID, as well as a pair of new Apple Watches that are the same size as previous models, but feature a larger, edge-to-edge display, similar to the iPhone X.
The US Navy and researchers from Florida Atlantic University have revealed plans to develop autonomous robotic 'drone battleships' that can launch underwater and aerial attacks in order to protect US coasts.

Last month, FAU was awarded $1.25 million by US Navy for research for unmanned marine vehicle platforms.

The five-year project will undertake research in support of autonomous marine vehicle platforms for coastal surveillance, coastal surveys, target tracking and protection of at-sea assets.

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The US Navy and researchers from Florida Atlantic University are developing 'motherships' that can launch aerial and underwater drones to protect the coast

'Our focus will be on developing a multi-vehicle system that can safely and reliably navigate coastal waters with a high level of autonomy while performing assigned tasks,' said Manhar Dhanak, director of SeaTech, the Institute for Ocean and Systems Engineering in FAU's Department of Ocean and Mechanical Engineering.

The researchers plan to develop new software to better improve multi-sensors and collision avoidance, as well as simultaneous localization and mapping (SLAM).

The 'motherships' will also serve as a 'docking station' for submarines and aerial drones.

'Fostering collaborative partnerships in scientific research is essential to ensuring that the United States remains at the forefront of innovation and technology,' said Stella N. Batalama, Ph.D., dean of FAU's College of Engineering and Computer Science.

'We are very pleased to continue our relationship with the Office of Naval Research. This latest grant will enable us to develop important technology that will help to secure our U.S. coastal waters and our assets at-sea both nationally and globally.'

The ships will also function as training and education for graduate and undergraduate students in ocean engineering.

The US Navy hopes that similar protoypes will become more common.

Unmanned vehicles in the ocean and sub-surface are far less expensive to operate and maintain than manned vehicles.

Automated sensors can maintain near-constant awareness and coverage, and the constant surveillance provides better data collection. They also have the potential to improve productivity, and most importantly, keep human sailors away from danger.

The Navy has also recently developed the Sea Hunter drone warship, a self-driving, 132ft drone warship that can hunt down enemy submarines and travel thousands of miles at sea while obeying maritime laws.

The prototype can reach speeds of 27 knots and uses cameras and radar to track its location and spot other ships.

The anti-submarine drone could join active naval operations as early as this year, ushering in a new era for military warships.
Scientists say the weird orbit of strange bodies called 'detached objects' on the edge of the Milky Way are not caused by Planet Nine.

Astronomers have debated whether an elusive ninth planet orbits beyond Pluto for years, with many suggesting an undiscovered world may be lurking on the outer reaches of the solar system.

Scientists now say bumper car-like interactions at the edge of the solar system explain the dynamics of 'detached bodies' such as the minor planet Sedna.

Researchers believe smaller objects such as asteroids could be crashing into Sedna which significantly changes its orbit.

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Scientists now say bumper car-like interactions at the edge of the solar system explain the dynamics of 'detached bodies' such as the minor planet Sedna (pictured)

The minor planet, which was discovered in 2003, orbits Earth's sun at a distance of eight billion miles but appears separated from the rest of the solar system.

One theory for its unusual dynamics is that an as-of-yet-unseen ninth planet beyond Neptune may have disturbed its orbit and other detached objects.

But now, researchers from the University of Colorado at Boulder, led by assistant professor Ann-Marie Madigan, calculated the orbits of Sedna.

They found it may be affected by other detached objects jostling against each other and space debris in the outer solar system.

'There are so many of these bodies out there. What does their collective gravity do?' said Professor Madigan.

'We can solve a lot of these problems by just taking into account that question', she said.

Researchers are due to present their findings at the 232nd meeting of the American Astronomical Society between 3rd - 7th June in Denver.

Detached objects like Sedna get their name because they complete humongous, circular orbits that bring them nowhere close to big planets like Jupiter or Neptune.

How they got to the outer solar system on their own is an ongoing mystery.

Astronomers have debated whether an elusive ninth planet (artist's impression) orbits beyond Pluto for years, with many suggesting an undiscovered world may be lurking on the outer reaches of the solar system

WHAT IS SEDNA? Sedna is a minor planet that was discovered in 2003. It orbits Earth's sun at a distance of eight billion miles but appears separated from the rest of the solar system. Detached objects like Sedna get their name because they complete humongous, circular orbits that bring them nowhere close to big planets like Jupiter or Neptune. How they got to the outer solar system on their own is an ongoing mystery. One theory for its unusual dynamics is that an as-of-yet-unseen ninth planet beyond Neptune may have disturbed its orbit and other detached objects. Scientists now say bumper car-like interactions at the edge of the solar system explain the dynamics of 'detached bodies' such as Sedna. Researchers believe smaller objects such as asteroids could be crashing into objects called Sedna which significantly changes the orbit. As space debris interact in the outer solar system, the orbit of these objects tightens and widens in over time, researchers say. Advertisement

Using computer simulations, researchers calculated that these icy objects orbit the sun like the hands of a clock.

The orbits of smaller objects, such as asteroids, however, move faster than the larger ones, such as Sedna.

'You see a pileup of the orbits of smaller objects to one side of the sun,' said Jacob Fleisig, an undergraduate studying astrophysics at CU Boulder.

'These orbits crash into the bigger body, and what happens is those interactions will change its orbit from an oval shape to a more circular shape', he said.

Essentially, this means that Sedna's orbit goes from normal to detached entirely because of small-scale interactions.

Detached objects like Sedna (pictured) get their name because they complete humongous, circular orbits that bring them nowhere close to big planets like Jupiter or Neptune

Researchers' observations corroborate research from 2012 which found the bigger a detached object gets the further away its orbit becomes from the sun.

The findings may even provide clues to the extinction of the dinosaurs, researchers say.

As space debris interact in the outer solar system, the orbit of these objects tightens and widens in over time.

This cycle could end up in shooting comets towards the inner solar system - including in the direction of Earth.

'While we're not able to say that this pattern killed the dinosaurs, it's tantalising', said Mr Fleisig.

PLANET NINE: ORBITS OF OBJECTS BEYOND NEPTUNE SUGGEST 'SOMETHING LARGE' IS THERE Astronomers believe that the orbits of a number of bodies in the distant reaches of the solar system have been disrupted by the pull of an as yet unidentified planet. First proposed by a group at CalTech in the US, this alien world was theorised to explain the distorted paths seen in distant icy bodies. In order to fit in with the data they have, this alien world - popularly called Planet Nine - would need to be roughly four time the size of Earth and ten times the mass. Researchers say a body of this size and mass would explain the clustered paths of a number of icy minor planets beyond Neptune. First proposed by a group at CalTech in the US, this alien world was theorised to explain the distorted paths seen in distant icy bodies. Its huge orbit would mean it takes between 10,000 and 20,000 years to make a single pass around the sun. The theoretical Planet Nine is based on the gravitational pull it exerts on these bodies, with astronomers confident it will be found in the coming years. Those hoping for theoretical Earth-sized planets proposed by astrologers or science fiction writers - which are 'hiding behind the sun' and linked with Doomsday scenarios - may have to keep searching. Advertisement

Planet Nine was first theorised by experts at Caltech in 2016 when they spotted that a group of icy objects on the edges of the solar system have tilted orbits.

They suggested the orbits of these lumps of ice - so-called Trans-Neptunian objects (TNOs) - were warped by the gravitational pull of a ninth planet in the solar system.

The objects had elliptical orbits that pointed in the same direction and were tilted 30 degrees 'downward' compared to the plane in which planets circle the sun.

While Planet Nine has never been spotted, a number of astronomers - including scientists at Nasa - have since released research that supports the theory.

In a paper published last month, experts led by the University of Michigan described a distant object that they spotted in 2014 that could be as large as a dwarf planet.

The rocky body, dubbed 2015 BP519, peaked the team's interest because its orbit is unusually tilted away from the plane that most objects that orbit the sun lie.

They used computer simulations of the solar system to explore how this strange trajectory may have arisen.

Simulations where our star system had eight planets did not reproduce 2015 BP519's tilted orbit.

When researchers added a ninth planet that matched the properties of those proposed by the Caltech researchers, the simulation reproduced 2015 BP519's current orbit almost exactly.

In 2016, researchers examined the orbits of six objects in a distant region of icy bodies stretching beyond Neptune. The objects had orbits that point in the same direction and are tilted 30 'downward' compared to the solar plane in which the eight planets circle the sun

'It's not proof that Planet Nine exists,' Professor David Gerdes, an astronomer at the University of Michigan and a co-author on the new paper, told Quanta.

'But I would say the presence of an object like this in our solar system bolsters the case for Planet Nine.'

The study adds to piling evidence for the existence of Planet Nine, though astronomers remain latched to their telescopes in search of the object.

In October 2017 Nasa weighed in on the debate, highlighting five different lines of evidence pointing to the existence of the object.

It said that imagining that Planet Nine does not exist generates more problems than it solves.

Dr Konstantin Batygin, a planetary astrophysicist at Caltech in Pasadena, whose team is closing in on finding Planet Nine, said: 'There are now five different lines of observational evidence pointing to the existence of Planet Nine.

'If you were to remove this explanation and imagine Planet Nine does not exist, then you generate more problems than you solve.

'All of a sudden, you have five different puzzles, and you must come up with five different theories to explain them.'

Researchers are now using the Subaru Telescope in Hawaii in the hopes of finding Planet Nine, and hope that its detection will also shed light on its origin.
A Chinese engineer has designed a two-wheeled car of the future based on a 1961 Ford model.

Self balancing two-wheel cars, known as gyrocars, have been around for over 100 years, but have failed to catch on.

Zhu Lingyun hopes to change that with his gyrocar design, inspired by the 1961 Ford Gyron.

The two-wheeled vehicle doesn't have a steering wheel or acceleration pedal, and is instead controlled by a computer mouse and 24-inch screen.

The car can also drive autonomously, and could go on sale by 2020, its inventor claims.

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A Chinese engineering company has designed a two-wheel car inspired by the 1961 Ford Gyron. The 1703 prototype is undergoing testing in Bejiing

WHAT IS A GYROCAR? A gyrocar is a two-wheeled automobile that is different than a bicycle or motorcycle. In a bike, balance is provided by the rider. In a gyrocar, it is stabilized by one or more 'gyroscopes' - a spinning wheel or disc. Some older models were balanced by two small legs to support it when it wasn't moving. Advertisement

Beijing Lingyun Intelligent Technology Co plans to build the car for public use, and the vehicle is already undergoing testing in China.

'I was told by a potential investor that I have zero chance to make the idea work,' Zhu, 40, said to Bloomberg after a test drive of a prototype called the 1703.

'But I firmly believe this is the future of urban transportation because it is exquisite, energy-saving and easy to manage. I have to make it.'

Zhu and his startup Lingyun hope to have the car on the market by 2020.

He first spotted Ford's Gyron on the internet five years ago, and immediately wanted to build his own.

The car was on the May 1961 cover of Car Life magazine and then displayed at the Detroit Motor Show.

The two-wheeled vehicle doesn't have a steering wheel or acceleration pedal, and is instead controlled by a computer mouse and 24-inch screen

In 2014, Zhu started Lingyun with $470,000 in investments and three employees. The company is now worth $60million

In 2014, Zhu started Lingyun with $470,000 in investments and three employees.

The company is now worth $60million.

The Gyron had two seats and a tail fin and never went into production.

FORD'S FUTURISTIC GYRON Ford's Gyron was a futuristic two-wheeled gyrocar unveiled in 1961 at the Detroit Motor Show as a concept car. One wheel was at the front and the other at the rear like a motorcycle and the car was stabilized by gyroscopes. The two occupants of the vehicle were seated side by side and, when the vehicle was stationary, two small legs appeared from the sides to support it. Ford's original car, the Ford Gyron (pictured), had two seats and a tail fin and never went into production. Zhu's car is a single-seater that is about 10 feet long and can reach speeds of up to 62 mph The original fiberglass concept was destroyed in the 1962 Ford Rotunda fire. Only the studio model remains today, it was sold at an auction in December 2012 for $40,000. The car was on the May 1961 cover of Car Life magazine and then displayed at the Detroit Motor Show. Advertisement

Zhu's car is a single-seater that is about 10 feet long and can reach speeds of up to 62 mph.

'On most occasions, a car is used by a single person, so a car for one person has market prospects,' said Li Jianwei, who led Sequoia Capital's investment into Lingyun in 2014.

'As long as they can prove that their vehicles are reliable and safe, the government will gradually accept it. We took this as a long-term investment.'

The 1703 prototype can drive autonomously or can be controlled by the smartscreen.

A promotional video shows a woman applying lipstick and checking her iPhone as she drives around a parking lot.
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The 9-metre long (30 ft) skeleton of a unidentified type of dinosaur, believed to be be that of a new species, fetched more than $2.3 million at an auction staged on the first floor of the Eiffel Tower in Paris on Monday.

The remains of the prehistoric predator  which is 30 feet long and 9 feet high - were discovered at Morrison Formation site in Wyoming in 2013, and is known only to belong to a large, carnivorous dinosaur.

Scientists who have studied it say there are several differences with known species.

The 9-metre long (30 ft) skeleton of a unidentified type of dinosaur, believed to be be that of a new species, fetched more than $2.3 million at an auction, and the owner has pledged to put it on public show

WHAT MAKES THE MYSTERY DINO UNIQUE? In 2016, when the skeleton was being prepared by European specialists, that scientists noticed that the skeleton presented major anatomical differences from known allosaurs: it has more teeth and a more substantial pelvis with a broad suture between the pubic bones, while the scapulae (shoulder blades) are more elongated and there are also differences in the bones of the skull . Advertisement

'The buyer is French and he told me before the sale ... 'if I get it, I would present it to the public' and this is amazing,' auctioneer Claude Aguttes said.

'Everyone will be able to see it, it will soon be lent to a museum, it will be studied by scientists, everything is perfect.'

The creature would have been 'a ferocious carnivore,' Eric Mickeler, Aguttes' valuation expert for the sale, told German press agency dpa, adding that the prehistoric creature had a long and storied life.

'This one is unusual in that it lived for a long time, that is, we can tell from its bones that it died at an old age,' he said.

'It had accidents along the way, it had fractures that healed... but it didn't die from them.'

The buyer and the seller, identified only as a British businessman, were both unnamed.

The sale had been expected to fetch up to $2.1 million.

French auction house Aguttes, which had previously sold a mammoth skeleton and that of another dinosaur, had said before Monday's sale that the buyer might be able to name the new species, sparking objections from a U.S. scientific association.

The skeleton presented major anatomical differences from known allosaurs: it has more teeth and a more substantial pelvis with a broad suture between the pubic bones, while the scapulae (shoulder blades) are more elongated and there are also differences in the bones of the skull.

The Society of Vertebrate Paleontology, had argued in a statement this might run counter to naming rules.

It called for the auction to be cancelled, saying that private ownership could limit the reach of scientific study even if the skeleton was then released to researchers.

'We urge you to reconsider and cancel the sale of this scientifically important skeleton, they wrote.

'Our concern is that scientifically important vertebrate fossils are part of our collective natural heritage and deserve to be held in public trust.

'Fossil specimens that are sold into private hands are lost to science.

Some of the proceeds from the auction will go to two charities working with endangered species, including cheetahs and ocean wildlife.

The buyer and the seller, identified only as a British businessman, were both unnamed.

French auction house Aguttes, which had previously sold a mammoth skeleton and that of another dinosaur, had said before Monday's sale that the buyer might be able to name the new species, sparking objections from a U.S. scientific association.

'The skeleton was discovered in the course of excavations a carried out in 2013 at a site on the Morrison Formation, an Upper Jurassic geological sequence laid down 155148 million years ago that covers much of the western United States and that is one of the world's richest sources of dinosaur fossils,' the auction house said.

It was only in 2016, when the skeleton was being prepared by European specialists, that scientists noticed that the skeleton presented major anatomical differences from known allosaurs.

The found it had more teeth and a more substantial pelvis with a broad suture between the pubic bones, while the scapulae (shoulder blades) are more elongated and there are also differences in the bones of the skull (see the scientific reports included in the catalogue).
Non-stop flights between Sydney and London appear to be a step closer after Qantas revealed it is close to ordering ultra-long-range jets to carry out the job.

The Australian airline says it is looking to close the traditional 'tyranny of distance' between Australia and global financial centres such as the British capital by 2022.

And the carrier explained how it is considering an order for ultra-long-range jets such as the Airbus A350 and the Boeing 777X to carry out the service, which is expected to take 20 hours and 20 minutes.

Non-stop flights between Sydney and London appear to be a step closer after Qantas revealed it is close to ordering ultra-long-range jets to carry out the job. Pictured is a Qantas 787 Dreamliner, which is currently flown on the Perth to London route, which began in March

Earlier this year, Qantas began the first non-stop flights between Australia and Europe by linking Perth and London.

And speaking at the International Air Transport Association gathering in Sydney, Qantas chief executive Alan Joyce confirmed more would be revealed about ultra long-haul routes soon.

He said: 'I think we'll get to the stage where, technically, we will know where the aircraft are going to be in the next few months.'

Mr Joyce also confirmed that a purchase decision on jets to fly the route is expected next year, if the business case stacks up.

Qantas has not announced how many ultra-long haul jets it will order, but Mr Joyce said it could be a 'reasonable-sized fleet' given that potential routes include Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane to London, New York and Paris or Frankfurt.

Ultra-long-haul flights are aimed primarily at business travellers and can allow airlines to charge a 20 per cent premium over one-stop rivals, according to industry data.

Airbus's first customer for the ultra-long-range A350-900ULR, Singapore Airlines, confirmed last week that it would launch 19-hour flights from Singapore to New York in October.

Airbus is already developing a range of ultra-long-range jets. The first customer for its A350-900ULR model is Singapore Airlines

It has ordered seven of the jets, which carry more fuel than a typical A350-900.

Airbus chief commercial officer Eric Schulz said: 'I would not pretend we would sell 1,500 airplanes like this, but I would say a reasonable assumption could be in the neighbourhood of 50-100 airplanes total.'

Sydney to London is an even more demanding journey and Qantas wants to do it with more passengers than the 161 business and premium economy seats that Singapore Airlines plans to use on its ultra-long haul routes.

And Mr Schulz said Airbus was considering development of an ultra-long-range version of the A350-900 or the larger A350-1000 to suit Qantas and a handful of other potential buyers.

The Australian carrier is also looking at the Boeing 777-8, expected in service in 2022.

Boeing Commercial Airplanes marketing vice-president Randy Tinseth said it was studying making planes lighter or increasing take-off capacity to close the range gap.

He told Reuters: 'We need to make sure in any of these cases that we build an airplane that has what I call legs - it not only works for one customer but works for many.

'So the investment we make makes sense and then they have an airplane that will have a finance market for it... A one-off doesn't ever seem to work.'

A rendering of a Boeing 777X long range aircraft. Qantas could purchase this model for its ultra-long-haul fleet

And as planemakers look to modify designs, airlines and airports are also looking to adapt facilities.

Qantas is offering pre-flight yoga classes to Perth-to-London passengers in its lounge and has adapted its menu in all classes.

The Perth to London route has sold better than expected, particularly in premium cabins.

Sydney Airport CEO Geoff Culbert said the airport was considering the construction of special arrival lounges for ultra-long-haul flights.

He explained: 'At the moment, 70 per cent of the world's population is reachable from Sydney on one direct flight.

'Once those aircraft come to market the entire population of the world will be reachable in one flight. It is just an amazing step change in aviation.'
The Foreign Office (FCO) has issued a warning to British holidaymakers to avoid large gatherings in Turkey during the presidential and parliamentary elections on June 24.

It said that the elections may result in rallies and demonstrations around the country.

The FCO also advises against all travel to within 10km (six miles) of the border with Syria and to the city of Diyarbakir.

The Foreign Office (FCO) has issued a warning to British holidaymakers to avoid large gatherings in Turkey during the presidential and parliamentary elections on June 24. Pictured is the capital, Istanbul

The Post Office recently named the Turkish resort of Marmaris as offering one of the best-value breaks for Brits in Europe.

Local prices remain low because of competition between restaurants and bars, keen to attract tourists back after a lean couple of years, the Post Office said.

Turkish police, meanwhile, are investigating the deaths of two British holidaymakers after they were found dead on May 28 in their tent during their camping holiday in the Turkish Riviera.

The bodies of Natasha Amanda-Jane Layman, 45, and James Samuel Bryers, 50, were discovered by camp workers after they grew suspicious when the couple hadn't been seen for 48 hours.

Ms Layman and Mr Bryers arrived at Gunluklu Bay, a resort on the Turkish Riviera just west of the popular harbour city of Fethiye, two days earlier.

Their autopsy revealed they died of an overdose and a small amount of heroin was found near their lifeless bodies, according to local Turkish reports.

Tayyip Erdogan, Turkey's most successful modern politician, is a polarising figure among his own people after 15 years of rule in which the country has seen strong economic growth but also arrests and purges following a failed 2016 military coup.

Turkey's President Recep Tayyip Erdogan addresses the members of his ruling party in Trabzon, Turkey, March 25, 2018

Erdogan has picked prominent ministers to run for parliament later this month, strengthening the ruling AK Party's chances of winning a majority but putting their future role in government into question, party officials say.

Many cabinet members including the energy, defence, foreign and interior ministers were named last week by the party to run for parliament in the June 24 poll, where the Islamist-rooted AK Party faces a stiff challenge from an opposition alliance.

While boosting the list of candidates, the move could affect the shape of the future cabinet because lawmakers will not be able to hold ministerial posts under the new presidential system, unless they resign their seats.

The party, in power since 2002, remains Turkey's most popular political force, but recent opinion polls have suggested it could struggle to win an absolute majority, even with the support of its nationalist MHP ally.
Mel Gibson was pictured dining at his 'favourite' Sydney restaurant on Thursday, after arriving in Australia on a mystery trip.

The Hollywood heavyweight cut a relaxed figure in casual clothes while sporting a bushy beard at Mr G's steakhouse, and the restaurant shared snaps to Instagram last week.

At one point, the 62-year-old posed for fan photos with fellow diners.

'Look who popped in for dinner last night': Mel Gibson cuts a relaxed figure in a tight black T-shirt and jeans as he poses for fan photos at his 'favourite' Sydney restaurant

The official Instagram account for Mr. G's gushed over his visit on social media.

'Look who popped In for dinner last night @mrgsdoublebay the one and only Mel Gibson FREEEEEEDOOMMM!!,' the caption read.

Another snap shared by restauter Evan Hansimikali showed a beaming Mel alongside a young fan.

'Mel's back at his favourite Sydney venue,' Evan captioned.

The Hollywood star looked slightly buff while wearing a tight black polo shirt and jeans.

High spirits: The Hacksaw Ridge director looked tanned and appeared to be in high spirits during the outing

The Hacksaw Ridge director looked tanned and appeared to be in high spirits during the outing.

It is unclear what prompted his visit Down Under.

The actor's ties to Australia include him having moved to Australia at 12-years-old, and having studied at the prestigious National Institute of Dramatic Art.

He also attended St Leo's Catholic College in Wahroonga.

The trip comes after the Oscar winner was pictured arriving in Atlanta in April to film a new project with girlfriend Rosalind Ross, 27, and their one-year-old son, Lars.

The movie star and Rosalind began dating in 2014.

They welcomed Lars on Friday, January 20, 2017 in Los Angeles.
Charlize Theron, 42, attended a weekend event with her mother Gerda Theron and her daughter August, two, in Los Angeles on Sunday.

The mother of two looked youthful while wearing a polka dot shoulder-less top and studded ankle boots.

Also with the star was her mother Gerda, who held one of her kids.

Bonding time: Charlize Theron, 42, had some babysitting help from her mother while attending an event in Los Angeles on Sunday

The actress was carrying a bouquet of flowers and a black leather 'Diorangeles' designer handbag.

She accessorized with big, black squared shades and a dark, brim hat.

August was sporting an adorable pink dress and a big bow in her hair. She had shiny, pink sneakers on her feet.

They couldn't be closer: Charlize has revealed that she saw her mother shoot her abusive father dead when she was 15

The actress and her mother have a bond that not a lot of mother and daughters have. The blonde beauty actually saw her mother shoot her abusive, alcoholic father dead when she was just 15.

The Monster star was home from boarding school when her mother was forced to shoot her husband Charles in self defense after he abused and threatened the pair, drunkenly wielding a gun as he came after them.

The South African authorities did not charge Gerda with any offense and the mother and daughter remain very close.

Charlize, who adopted her son Jackson in 2012, rarely speaks about the traumatic experience after revealing it in an interview with Diane Sawyer in 2004, according to Us Weekly.

Help: The star suffers from sleep problems and revealed that her mother has sought to combat the issue by buying her marijuana

The South African bombshell also revealed that her mother supplies her with marijuana.

The actress suffers from sleep problems and has revealed that her mother has sought to combat the issue by buying her the drug, which is now legal in the state of California.

During an appearance on Jimmy Kimmel Live!, Charlize said: 'I'm always willing to try anything. You got one life to live, why not?

'I have really bad sleep [patterns] and so does my mum. We do take sleep medication and I was saying to her, 'Maybe we should try a sleeping strain, something that could help with sleep'.
She was left heartbroken and humiliated after cheating 'boyfriend' Grant Crapp got together with Tayla Damir during Sunday night's recoupling ceremony.

But Love Island Australia's Cassidy McGill isn't giving up as she vows to win back the resident lothario.

'I don't know what it is about f**k boys,' the 23 year-old revealed in an interview with NW on Monday, 'but I love to be like, 'I'll tame him.'

'I love taming f**kboys!' Love Island's Cassidy vows to win back cheating 'boyfriend' Grant after ditched her for Tayla at the recoupling ceremony

However, the busty barmaid from Melbourne, who ultimately paired off with shaggy-haired model Elias Chigros, has her work cut out.

Despite his assurances to remain faithful, Cassidy was left in tears as the torn electrician, 22 accepted Tayla's offer to couple up.

And the amorous new pair wasted no time in getting up close and personal.

'If some girl comes up to my guy, I will fight!' The humiliated 23 year-old struggled to hold back the tears as the new couple got touchy-feely in record time, with Grant placing a hand on Tayla's leg

But Tayla better watch out as Cassidy promises to come back 'fighting.'

'If some girl comes up to my guy, I will try to fight,' she said. ''I may [have to] get territorial. It's Love Island, not 'Friend Island!

'Normally, I wouldn't put bros before hoes but I am genuinely [here] to find romance and friendships are a bonus,' Cassidy added. 'It's not the other way around. So if I have to step on other people's toes.'

Happier times: Grant has found himself torn between Cassidy (pictured) and Tayla

It's the latest twist in the Love Island triangle which has seen Grant branded the show's villain, with fans ever drawing comparisons to Married at First Sight villain Dean Wells.

Several internet memes have surfaced declaring that Grant is 'Australia's new Dean'

'Well we all saw this one coming,' one fan commented below a meme comparing the two reality TV villains.

Dean Wells 2.0? Grant sent fans into a MELTDOWN as they compare him to the Married At First Sight villain

'He might even be worse,' another added.

While on Married At First Sight, Dean infamously plotted an 'affair' with Davina Rankin while still paired with Tracey Jewel.
She's been vacationing in a tropical locale for the past week.

And on Sunday, Amber Heard took to Instagram to show off her derriere in a skimpy white swimsuit as she hugged a palm tree.

The 32-year-old actress had her hair pulled back in two french braids.

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Fun in the sun: She's been vacationing in a tropical locale for the past week. And on Sunday, Amber Heard took to Instagram to show off her derriere in a skimpy white swimsuit as she hugged a palm tree

Sweet summertime: The 32-year-old actress had her hair pulled back in two french braids

Heard, who has a history of humanitarianism, recently took it upon herself to help save a life.

She asked her nearly one million followers to contribute to the care of a 12-year-old Syrian refugee named Weam.

'She's currently suffering from a deadly disease and desperately needs our help,' the Justice League star said on Instagram.

Luxe life: Heard posed with her arms outstretched as she took in the sweeping ocean views

Amber explained that the girl 'needs a blood transfusion' and that her medical care would cost 'a $1,000 dollars a month.'

The star of the forthcoming Aquaman said she was inspired by Weam's 'beautiful, bright, optimistic soul.'

Heard has partnered with Crowdrise to help foot the little girl's medical bills.

Saving a life: Amber is in the process of raising money for a 12-year-old Syrian refugee named Weam. 'She's currently suffering from a deadly disease and desperately needs our help,' the actress said on Instagram. Heard has partnered with Crowdrise to help foot the little girl's medical bills that cost upwards of $1,000 a month

The Austin native, according to Us Weekly, is currently dating Heidi Klum's ex-boyfriend Vito Schnabel.

This is the first man that Amber has dated since her on-again, off-again relationship with Elon Musk ended in a February.

Heard was formerly married to actor Johnny Depp from 2015-2017.
Kanye West opened up about his diagnosis with bipolar disorder on his new album.

At the release party of 'Ye' in Jackson Hole, Wyoming, the 40-year-old rapper debuted several tracks including one called 'Yikes' in which he tackled his mental health.

'That's my bipolar shit, ni**a, what? That's my superpower, ni**a,'West raps on the track, saying his condition, ain't no disability. I'm a superhero! I'm a superhero!'

There has been a great deal of speculation on West's health over the past few years but this is the first confirmation of an official diagnosis.

Opening up: Kanye West revealed he was diagnosed with a 'mental condition' on Thursday; (pictured at his Ye album release party in Jackson Hole, Wyoming)

Bipolar disorder is a mental health disorder that can cause sufferers to experience episodes that shift between extreme highs called mania and lows called depression.

According to the National Alliance on Mental Illness, about 2.6 percent of the US population suffers from the condition.

In his song off the seven track album - his first since 2016's The Life Of Pablo - Kanye raps: 'You see? You see? That's what I'm talkin' 'bout, That's why I f*ck with Ye. See, that's my third person.

The album's artwork even features a picturesque mountain scene with the words 'I hate being bipolar it's awesome' in neon green.

Kim Kardashian West wrote on social media, 'Kanye shot the album cover on his iPhone on the way to the album listening party.'

Superpowers: The superstar waxed on about his 'mental condition' by adding: 'But like I said on the album, its not a disability, its a superpower.'

Truth tea: The album's artwork even features a picturesque mountain scene with the words 'I hate being bipolar it's awesome' in neon green

On Thursday, West opened up in an interview with radio host Big Boy and explained: 'I had never been diagnosed until I was 39.'

During the interview, West admitted to going back and reworking the album after his controversial TMZ appearance where he said: 'slavery is a choice.'

'It was just too sensitive,' he explained.

He added that he felt 'so blessed and privileged because think about people that have mental issues that are not Kanye West, that cant go and make [an album] and make it feel like its all good.'

'Think about somebody that does exactly what I did at TMZ and they just do that at work, right? But then Tuesday morning, they come in and they lost their job and they cant go back and make that. Thats why God put that on me at age 40,' he continued.

West' album Ye is currently number one in 41 countries.

Genius: Kim Kardashian West wrote on social media, 'Kanye shot the album cover on his iPhone on the way to the album listening party.'
She told Oprah Winfrey years ago that she and her husband James Brolin would 'usually stay in bed every Sunday.'

And when she swung by the Chanel Dinner Celebrating Our Majestic Oceans, A Benefit For NRDC on Saturday, Barbra Streisand looked chic and elegant.

At the Los Angeles bash, the blonde 76-year-old draped a dressing gown-like black wrap over a matching outfit.

I'm The Greatest Star: When she swung by the Chanel Dinner Celebrating Our Majestic Oceans, A Benefit For NRDC on Saturday, Barbra Streisand looked set to hit the sheets

Barbra slipped into a pair of open-toed shoes that revealed her black-painted toenails and clasped on a beaded pendant.

The two-time Oscar-winner - who is the only artist to top the Billboard 200 in each of six consecutive decades - went for a natural look as far as makeup was concerned.

She flashed her signature smile for the cameras from beneath what legendary magazine editor Diana Vreeland once called 'that Nefertiti nose of hers.'

Though James was not photographed with her at the party, Barbra's beefcake movie star stepson Josh Brolin swung with his pregnant third wife Kathryn Boyd.

Go To Sleep: At the Los Angeles bash, the blonde 76-year-old draped a dressing-gown like black wrap over a matching outfit

Josh cut a raffishly handsome figure in a pewter grey suit, going without a tie and leaving a couple of dress shirt buttons undone over his chest.

Meanwhile, his assistant-turned-spouse, who at 30 is 20 years his senior, draped her svelte frame in a sequin-accented white gown.

Saturday night's celebrity-strewn Chanel party was thrown at the Los Angeles home of NBCUniversal Vice Chairman Ron Meyer and his wife Kelly.

You're The Top: Barbra slipped into a pair of open-toed shoes that revealed her black-painted toenails and clasped on a beaded pendant

Barbra, who once swore off commercial concerts for over a quarter-century, released a new live Netflix special this past Thanksgiving weekend.

Entitled Barbra: The Music...The Mem'ries...The Magic, the filmed concert included a guest appearance from Ray Oscar-winner Jamie Foxx.

He had co-starred on her 2016 duets album Encore: Movie Partners Sing Broadway, crooning Climb Ev'ry Mountain from The Sound Of Music with her.

On her 1973 TV special Barbra Streisand...And Other Musical Instruments, she had sung the duet Cryin' Time with Ray Charles, whom Jamie won his Oscar for playing.

Hello, gorgeous: She flashed her signature smile for the cameras from beneath what legendary magazine editor Diana Vreeland once called 'that Nefertiti nose of hers'

Her studio album immediately preceding Encore was another duets record called Partners - on which she sang with old hands like Stevie Wonder and Billy Joel as well as newer faces including John Mayer and Josh Groban.

Barbra, who in decades past did duets with the likes of Judy Garland, Donna Summer and Frank Sinatra, also found herself singing on Partners with Blake Shelton.

In a week, Barbra will swing by Netflix FYSEE - where the streaming giant plugs its products for the Emmys - and speak onstage with Jamie, Variety reported.

Famous names flocked to Netflix FYSEE, such as Jane Fonda and Lily Tomlin, who were there to promote their sitcom Grace And Frankie.

Let's Hear It For Me: The two-time Oscar-winner - who is the only artist to top the Billboard 200 in each of six consecutive decades - went for a natural look as far as makeup

There is an old connection between Jane and Barbra.

Barbra was offered the female leads in the films They Shoot Horses, Don't They, Klute and Julia, but rejected them - only for Jane to take them.

They Shoot Horses, Don't They? earned Jane her first Oscar nomination, Klute her first Oscar win and Julia yet another nod for the prize.

'As I say to Jane Fonda: "I'm responsible for your career." Because I turned down those movies and she got them and she was wonderful in them,' Barbra told Elle.
David Campbell has slammed Vikki Campion's tell-all interview with former Deputy Prime Minister of Australia Barnaby Joyce.

The Today Extra host accused the controversial couple of 'not being prepared' for their interview which aired on Channel Seven's Sunday Night.

Speaking on his Channel Nine breakfast show on Monday, the 44-year-old said: 'You know what questions are coming, have them prepared.'

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'They weren't prepared!' Today Extra's David Campbell slams Vikki Campion's 'train wreck' interview with Barnaby Joyce

'She worked for the [Daily] Telegraph, she was a journalist. You know what questions are coming, have them prepared! I mean you know what's coming... and you worked as a media advisor.

He continued: 'And Barnaby this is not your first rodeo so come on, it was an absolute schlamozzle.'

Earlier in the discussion, David added: 'It was hard to watch two people, who just said so many things that just didn't feel right.'

Hot topic: David discussed the controversial couple (pictured) along with co-host Deborah Knight and newsreader Amelia Adams on Today Extra on Monday

Presenter Amelia Adams weighed in, describing the interview as a 'train wreck,' while Deborah Knight expressed sympathy for the couple's newborn baby Sebastian.

'Sebastian is going to watch this when he is old enough and I feel for him, and I feel for Barnaby's family as well,' Deborah said.

Unimpressed: Presenter Amelia Adams weighed in, describing the interview as a 'trainwreck'

Barnaby Joyce and Vikki Campion broke their silence about their relationship in a paid interview with Channel Seven's Sunday Night.

During the chat, the two explained the $150,000 payment will be put in a trust fund only accessible to their son Sebastian.
Charlie Taylor is out, and now a new female contestant is flying to Mallorca to shake things up on Love Island Australia.

Francoise Draschler, 28, will arrive at the villa later this week.

At the end of Sunday's episode, 9Go offered a sneak peek of the sexy new singleton from Melbourne who describes herself as a 'new toy for the boys'.

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'I'll be a new toy for the boys to play with!' Meet Francoise Draschler, the sexy new Love Island singleton set to stir things up in the Spanish villa

'Now we have six happy couples... but not for long, because a new girl is on her way!' the voice over guy announces.

Seconds later, Francoise appears onscreen in a skimpy leopard-print bikini and introduces herself to fans.

'My name's Francoise, I'm 28 years old, I'm from Melbourne and I am a marketing manager,' she says.

Phwoar! Charlie Taylor is out, and now a new female contestant is flying to Mallorca to shake things up on Love Island Australia

'What I've got on the other girls is the knowledge and a little bit of power of seeing what has happened in the villa thus far.'

Later, the brunette is seen parading her figure in a midriff-baring swimsuit while delivering a thinly-veiled threat to the other women.

'I'll be a fresh face and a new toy for the boys to play with!' she says confidently.

'I'll be a fresh face': At the end of Sunday's episode, 9Go offered a sneak peek of the sexy new singleton from Melbourne who describes herself as a 'new toy for the boys'

Francoise has shared several scantily-clad photos of herself on Instagram in the past.

In one daring snap, she poses topless while covering up her ample assets with green vine leaves at a vineyard.

In another picture, she shows off her pert derriere in a blow-up paddling pool.

Daring! Francoise has shared several scantily-clad photos of herself on Instagram in the past

Rear view: In one daring snap, she shows off her pert derriere in a blow-up paddling pool

It comes after Charlie Taylor was eliminated from Love Island on Sunday's episode after Kim Hartnett chose somebody else.

Speaking to Daily Mail Australia, the rugby player, 22, admitted he was surprised by her decision to send him home.

'I trusted Kim (to couple-up with me) and I thought she would have at least had a conservation with me if she wasn't going to choose me.'
Nothing Like A Dame

Rating:

The British Soap Awards

Rating:

Picking celebrities to invite to an imaginary dinner party is a popular game to play with friends. Anyone who watched Nothing Like A Dame (BBC2) will have instantly added the four feisty ladies featured to their guest lists.

The one-off programme celebrated the work and friendships of Dames Judi Dench, Maggie Smith, Joan Plowright and Eileen Atkins.

Filmed at the chocolate box Sussex home of Dame Joan, the actresses discussed their early careers, marriages and plans for the future.

They may have cabinets groaning with Oscars and Baftas, but hearing them talk about their insecurities and the stage fright they still suffer was an eye-opener.

Nothing Like A Dame celebrated the friendships of Dames Judi Dench (pictured), Maggie Smith, Joan Plowright and Eileen Atkins

Dame Judi described her fear as the petrol that drove her to give a good performance. All had been told they werent pretty enough by casting agents at some point in their career.

Dame Eileen turned down the chance to play the lead in Shakespeares Antony and Cleopatra as she thought she wasnt attractive enough. Dame Judi said people openly laughed when she was cast in the role and added. I was a menopausal dwarf . . . so thats how I played her.

It triggered another memory for Dame Maggie, who revealed that she was once cast as a Chinese boy in a play at The Oxford Playhouse. You can imagine the make-up, she giggled.

As the women shared their memories, viewers were treated to glorious footage of them in their younger days.

Later, Dame Maggie admitted shed never watched a single episode of Downton Abbey. They gave me a box set  I should get a move on or I wont last long enough to see the wretched thing.

While all displayed sharp wit and a wicked sense of humour, the story Dame Judi told of being patronised by a young paramedic, after being stung on the bottom by a hornet, was the highlight of the show.

Offended at being asked: Do we have a carer? she shot back: Oh, f*** off, Ive just done eight weeks in A Winters Tale at The Garrick.

Despite a combined age of 337, the dames all hoped to carry on working as long as possible, although as Dame Maggie mischievously pointed out to Judi: You get all the parts.

Dame Joan joined in the ribbing of her friend, saying the only roles she gets offered are something Judi Dench hasnt got her paws on yet.

The British Soap Awards saw Eastenders romp home with several trophies as the show outstripped its rivals

Director Roger Michell did a beautiful job with his gentle, hands-off approach, which led to a marvellously entertaining programme. With so many stories to tell, I only wish they had been given a whole series.

Many fine thespians started out in soap and The British Soap Awards (ITV Saturday) celebrated the best in the field.

Filmed at Londons Hackney Empire, its fair to say that the occasion lacked the glitz or glamour of the Oscars or Baftas. The red carpet was a sea of fake tans, fake boobs and tattoos known as tramp stamps as the stars of the soaps headed in to see if theyd bagged a gong in any of the 16 categories. Hosted by Phillip Schofield, it went on for two hours, during which time most of the awards blurred into one.

The event was live  we know this because Phil reminded us every five minutes, warning us of the perils of live TV and how things are prone to go wrong. Its almost as though he hoped for a stage invasion or a streaker, just to liven things up.

Watching the soap stars mouth Whos that? every time one of the not very well-known presenters took to the stage became more entertaining than the awards themselves.
He's been forced to present the hit ITV series on his own after his sidekick, Ant McPartlin, entered rehab and stepped down from TV commitments following a drink-driving arrest.

And Simon Cowell thanked Declan Donnelly for his solo hosting as he pulled out all the stops for Sunday's live final of Britain's Got Talent.

As the series came to an end, with Lost Voice Guy winning the show, Simon took a few moments to congratulate and thank Dec for doing an 'outstanding job' on his own.

Impressive: Simon Cowell thanked Declan Donnelly for his solo hosting as he pulled out all the stops for Sunday's live final of Britain's Got Talent

The head judge, 58, said: 'I just want to say, to you Dec, you have done an outstanding job this week. Seriously, thank you.'

Dec appeared touched by the sweet words, as he humbly put his head down and quietly muttered: 'Thank you.'

The Geordie star, 42, was then met with hugs from fellow judges Alesha Dixon and Amanda Holden.

Sweet: As the series came to an end, with Lost Voice Guy winning the show, Simon took a few moments to congratulate and thank Dec for doing an 'outstanding job' on his own

Humble: Dec appeared touched by the sweet words, as he humbly put his head down and quietly muttered: 'Thank you.'

Simon's sweet praise comes after Britain's Got Talent fans demanded that Dec won the series after he pulled out all the stops during the finale with a VERY energetic opening.

The presenter, 42, opened the show with all the finalists as they put on a lively performance for viewers and the judging panel made up of Simon, David, Amanda and Alesha.

And despite trying to find Britain's most talented act, Dec showed off his own talents as he danced with a top hat and even did a headstand.

TV family: The Geordie star, 42, was then met with hugs from fellow judges Alesha Dixon and Amanda Holden

Exciting finale: Simon's sweet praise comes after Britain's Got Talent fans demanded that Dec won the series after he pulled out all the stops during the finale with a VERY energetic opening

Going solo: He's been forced to present the hit ITV series on his own after his sidekick, Ant McPartlin, entered rehab and stepped down from TV commitments following a drink-driving arrest earlier this year

In fact, so much so, that the routine sent fans into meltdown as they demanded that the presenter be crowned the winner.

One person said: 'Where can I vote for Dec as my winner of #BGT.'

A different fan put: 'Dec is the real winner tonight #BGT #bgtfinal2018.'

Talented: Declan Donnelly did not disappoint as he pulled out all the stops for Sunday's Britain's Got Talent with a VERY energetic opening

Impressive!: The presenter, 42, opened the show with all the finalists as they put on a lively performance for viewers and the judging panel (pictured doing a handstand)

Another person commented: 'Can we vote for dec to win tonight? #BGT.'

While a different viewer added: 'Can I vote Dec to win #BGT? That entrance was great.'

Meanwhile, Dec's praise comes after his troubled sidekick, Ant McPartlin, was pictured looking healthy and happy as he walked his beloved dog Hurley in a London park on Thursday.

Dec's got talent!: And despite trying to find Britain's most talented act, Dec showed off his own talents as he danced with a top hat and even did a headstand
Nasser Sultan hinted last week that he's in the early stages of dating his former Married At First Sight co-star Alycia Galbraith.

And the 51-year-old seemed to have a certain someone in mind on Saturday when he treated himself to a pedicure during an indulgent pampering session.

The personal trainer appeared to be in great spirits as he flicked through a gossip magazine while relaxing at USA Nails in Paddington, Sydney.

Getting pampered for a special someone? Married At First Sight's Nasser Sultan, 51, treated himself to a pedicure after revealing his new 'romance' with former co-star Alycia Galbraith, 28

The former reality TV star kept his look low-key for the casual outing, wearing a simple navy bomber jacket and grey joggers.

He seemed to be deep in thought as he sat back in his chair, while a beauty therapist tended carefully to his feet.

Clearly keen to to stay up to date on the latest MAFS gossip, he was seen reading about Troy Delmege and Carly Bowyer's romance in OK!

Nasser's outing comes after he sensationally revealed he and Alycia were a 'couple'.

Shock romance! Nasser's outing comes after he sensationally revealed that he and Alycia were a 'couple' after appearing on Married At First Sight together

Casual look: The former reality TV star kept his look low-key for the casual outing, wearing a simple navy bomber jacket and grey joggers

Living the dream: He seemed to be deep in thought as he sat back in his chair, while a beauty therapist tended carefully to his feet

Speaking to Daily Mail Australia on Sunday, Nasser announced: 'I'm meeting Alycia's mum next week!'

Although Nasser admitted the two were not officially an item just yet, he made it clear that he had romance in mind.

'We're very good friends right now and would make a very good couple,' he said.

Catching up: Clearly keen to to stay up to date on the latest MAFS gossip, he was seen reading about Troy Delmege and Carly Bowyer's romance in OK!

Time to go: After his pampering session, Nasser slipped his socks and trainers back on

On Friday, Nasser and Alycia put on an intimate display at Italian restaurant Big Mama's.

Nasser was pictured holding Alycia's hand and kissing her cheek as she smiled.

He wrote on Instagram, 'Friday night couldn't get better than this! With my gorgeous Alycia', before adding the hash tag: 'Wine and dine'.

That was quick! Speaking to Daily Mail Australia exclusively on Sunday, Nasser revealed, 'I'm meeting Alycia's mum next week!'
She's the busy mother who regularly commutes between Sydney and Melbourne due to her filming commitments on Neighbours.

And on Sunday, Jodi Gordon (nee Anasta) stepped out in Double Bay with her adorable four-year-old daughter, Aleeia.

The actress and model, 33, was all smiles as she spent quality time with her only child while running errands in the upmarket suburb.

Who are those flowers from? Jodi Anasta looked effortlessly chic carrying a bouquet of pink roses while running errands with her daughter Aleeia, four, in Sydney's Double Bay on Sunday

Jodi shares her little girl with ex-husband Braith Anasta, who she split with in 2015.

The Logie Award winner cut a casual chic figure in figure-hugging black trousers and a matching blazer.

Jodi opted for comfort during the weekend outing, trading in her high heels for a pair of black flats.

Keeping it casual! The Logie Award winner cut a casual chic figure in figure-hugging black trousers and a matching blazer

Pretty and pink! Jodi was noticeably seen carrying a large bouquet of pink flowers as she went about her errands

She accessorised with a luxury cross-body bag and styled her hair in loose waves.

Jodi was noticeably seen carrying a large bouquet of pink flowers as she went about her errands.

Later on, she was spotted heading to Woolworths and Kidstuff to stock up on family essentials.

Stylish! Jodi accessorised her look with dark sunglasses, a cross-body bag and black flats

Like mother, like daughter! Aleeia looked liked Jodi's mini-me in a cute coat and black boots

Lucky girl! After looking at several toys on display in Kidstuff's front window, it appears Jodi agreed to by Aleeia a small present

Running errands: Later on, she was spotted heading to Woolworths to stock up on essentials

After looking at several toys on display in Kidstuff's front window, it appears Jodi agreed to by Aleeia a small present.

The little girl looked delighted with her gift, a Play-Doh Mr. Potato Head set.

Jodi later took a call on her mobile phone, as Aleeia skipped happily alongside her famous mother.

Multi-tasking mama! Jodi was seen holding bags and the bouquet while also using her phone

Home again: The busy mother regularly commutes between Sydney and Melbourne due to her filming commitments on Neighbours

What a treat! It comes after Jodi threw her daughter a lavish 'high tea' for her fourth birthday party in Sydney's Darling Point in March

It comes after Jodi threw her daughter a lavish 'high tea' for her fourth birthday party in Sydney's Darling Point in March.

The soap star told Daily Mail Australia last year that co-parenting with her ex, Braith, is 'wonderful' because they 'have a great dynamic'.

Following their split in 2015, Braith welcomed a second daughter, Gigi, with his new girlfriend Rachael Lee .
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Kaia Gerber and Bella Hadid walked in Alexander Wang's early summer runway show on Sunday night in NYC.

Both models looked fierce as they made their way across the expansive South Street Seaport Pier 17 rooftop in over-sized leather jackets, shorts, and lace lingerie.

The collection, available from September, was inspired by Wang's parents who immigrated to the United States in 1972, and boasts a series of chic ensembles complete with an array of cutting edge shapes and textures.

Model behavior: Kaia Gerber walked in Alexander Wang's early summer runway show on Sunday night in NYC

Gerber, 16, walked the runway in sturdy boots and tube socks, while displaying the model prowess she has nailed since kicking off her career at such a tender age.

Her jean shorts, which hit just below her naval, were belted at the waist and paired with a lacy bralette. Kaia also wore a moto jacket, bolo tie, printed bandanna, and a pair of biker gloves.

Hadid, 21, walked ahead of Gerber in the same boots and tube socks. Her head was wrapped in a black bandanna, and hanging from her left hand was a shimmering purse that said 'Thank You,' repeated five times.

She too was flying the flag for the millennial troop of models, as she tore up the runway with her famous piercing gaze while displaying her flawless skin with extremely minimal make-up.

Zeitgeist: The San Francisco native played Childish Gambino's hit single This Is America as the models took their final strides

Biker babe: Kaia's jean shorts, which hit just below her naval, were belted at the waist and paired with a lacy bralette

Tough stuff: Gerber also wore a bolo tie, printed bandanna, and a pair of biker gloves

'This was about liberation:' Wang said backstage to actress Sandra Bernhard: 'We like to say we take our work very seriously, but not ourselves'

Gal pals: Kaia and Bella posed together after the show

Natural beauty: Behati Prinsloo strut down the catwalk in a cutout jumpsuit and white heels

Storming the runway: The models were showing off their lithe physiques in the various stylish ensembles

Behind Bella was Behati Prinsloo, 29, who strutted down the catwalk in a cutout jumpsuit and white heels.

Alexander ended his first outdoor runway show with a bang. The San Francisco native played Childish Gambino's hit single This Is America as the models took their final strides.

'This was about liberation,' Wang said backstage to actress Sandra Bernhard. 'We like to say we take our work very seriously, but not ourselves.'

Vogue chieftain Anna Wintour accentuated her tennis-toned figure in a fitted scarlet and navy dress, reliably shielding her face with massive sunglasses.

Wow: Models hit the runway in the designers latest designs; Anna Ewers on the left

Wang gang: The collection, which will be available come September, was inspired by Wang's parents who immigrated to the United States in 1972

A vision: Behind the scenes, fresh-faced Kaia was being preened to perfection with her youthful glow enhanced with dewy touches of minimal make-up

Stunner: Like the other models, Behati's fresh make-up meant the clothes were the real stars of the show rather than the fleet of A-list faces

Making a splash: Alexander ended his first outdoor runway show with a bang

Captive audience: Model Rosie Huntington-Whiteley didn't walk the show, but she did arrive in custom Alexander Wang

Strike a pose: Kaia pictured backstage before the Alexander Wang fashion show

Jourdan Dunn draped her endless legs in a pair of sheer tights, pulling on a legless black jumpsuit that showed off her enviably svelte frame.

Natasha Lyonne lashed her legs in a split LBD, flinging on a matching overcoat that fell nearly to the ground and carrying a diagonal-striped clutch.

Pusha T, in the middle of a public feud with Drake, layered a thick-looking midnight blue coat over an Alexander Wang sweatsuit.

The lady herself: Vogue chieftain Anna Wintour accentuated her tennis-toned figure in a fitted scarlet and navy dress, reliably shielding her face with massive sunglasses

When you got it: Jourdan Dunn draped those vertiginous gams of hers in a pair of sheer tights, pulling on a legless black jumpsuit that showed off her enviably svelte frame

Arm in arm: Natasha Lyonne lashed her legs in a split LBD, flinging on a matching overcoat that fell nearly to the ground and carrying a diagonal-striped clutch

Beaming: Pusha T, in the middle of a public feud with Drake, layered a thick-looking midnight blue coat over an Alexander Wang sweatsuit

Chanel-lo! Going off-brand the next day, Bella was looking stunning in a grey suit with a Chanel belt
Mel Gibson spent much of his childhood growing up in Sydney, Australia.

And the Hollywood star is currently spending some time in his home city.

On Sunday, the 62-year-old was spotted catching up with old friends over lunch at a cafe in the upmarket suburb of Double Bay.

Braveheart's back in town! Mel Gibson, 62, cut a casual figure on Sunday as he stepped out for lunch in Sydney, Australia

Back in town: Possibly still recovering from the long-haul flight from LA, Mel appeared somewhat weary as he stepped out to meet some friends

Possibly still recovering from the long-haul flight from LA, Mel appeared somewhat weary as he stepped out to meet some friends.

The Braveheart star kept things casual in a white shirt teamed with baggy blue jeans.

He sported his trademark bushy beard and shielded his eyes from the sun while dining outdoors at trendy eatery, Indigo.

Fun in the sun: Mel sported his trademark bushy beard and shielded his eyes from the sun while dining outdoors at trendy eatery, Indigo

Cool and casual: The Braveheart star kept things casual in a stonewash shirt

Tasty! It appeared the Mad Max star may have been missing Sydney's world-famous cafe food, as he tucked into his meal with vigour

The Patriot! The Australian-raised actor was doing his bit to support cafes in his home city

It appeared the Mad Max star may have been missing Sydney's world-famous cafe food, as he tucked into his meal with vigour.

He was also seen strangely sucking from the spout of a teapot.

Mel's partner Rosalind Ross was nowhere to be seen and it is unclear whether she or the couple's 16-month-old son Lars have joined him in Australia.

How bizarre! Mel was also seen strangely sucking from the spout of a teapot

Where's Rosalind? It's unclear whether Mel's partner accompanied him on the trip Down Under

It seems millionaire Mel may have picked up the tab for lunch because he was seen brandishing his wallet while leaving the cafe.

It's the second time Mel has been spotted out and about in Sydney over the past few days.

On Thursday, the Oscar winner was pictured dining at his 'favourite' Sydney restaurant, Mr G's steakhouse.

Mel's shout? It seems millionaire Mel may have picked up the tab for lunch because he was seen brandishing his wallet while leaving the cafe

Aussie roots: The actor was born in New York to an American father and an Irish mother, but his paternal grandmother was Australian

It is unclear what has prompted Mel's latest visit to Australia.

The actor was born in New York to an American father and an Irish mother, but his paternal grandmother was Australian.

Mel moved Down Under with his family at the age of 12, going on to kick-start his film career in the country with roles in Gallipoli and Mad Max.

National treasure: Mel kick started his film career in Australia with roles in Gallipoli and Mad Max

Hitting headlines: Mel's reputation took a hit after an antisemitic rant back in 2006

The father-of-nine relocated to Los Angeles in the early 1980s before becoming one of the world's most successful actors.

After an antisemitic rant and a well-publicised battle with alcoholism, Mel was unofficially blacklisted from Hollywood for years.

However, he returned to the spotlight in 2016, directing critically-acclaimed war drama Hacksaw Ridge.
She's become the darling of Broadway thanks to her adaptation of her movie Mean Girls as a musical for the stage.

And on Sunday night, Tina Fey won another award for the show when she picked up the prize for Outstanding Book of a Musical at the Drama Desk Awards in New York.

The star, 48, looked incredibly stylish at the event wearing a bold navy and white check trouser suit with a chic Mark Cross Sara purse.

In the spotlight: Tina Fey, 48, looked incredibly stylish at the Drama Desk Awards in New York Sunday night in a bold navy and white check trouser suit by Escada and Mark Cross Sara purse

Broadway darling: The SNL and 30 Rock alum picked up the award for Outstanding Book of a Musical for her adaptation of her movie Mean Girls as a musical for the stage

Her tailored jacket featured pockets on either side and large gold buttons.

The trousers were flared and fell to the floor covering her shoes.

The SNL and 30 Rock alum wore her shoulder-length brunette locks styled in loose waves and swept back from her forehead and carried a pale blue purse.

Unfortunately for Fey, though, Mean Girls missed out on the top prize of Outstanding Musical, losing to SpongeBob SquarePants.

Accessorized: Tina carried a lunch box style handbag by Mark Cross that matched her suit by Escada perfectly

Feted: Laurie Metcalfe, 62, who was nominated for her performance in the play Three Tall Women, attended the event in a short-sleeved red dress with a side slit

Roseanne star Laurie Metcalfe attended the event in a short-sleeved red dress with a side slit.

She added matching peep toe sandal heels and statement pendant earrings.

The actress, 62, was nominated for her performance in the play Three Tall Women in which she stars with Glenda Jackson and Alison Pill.

Angels In America co-stars Andrew Garfield, 34, and Nathan Lane, 62, also walked the red carpet at the awards show.

Both actors took home gongs - Garfield for Outstanding Actor In A Play and Lane for Outstanding Featured Actor In A Play.

Also nominated was their co-star, actress Denise Gough, 38, but she didn't win her category.

Angels In America co-stars Andrew Garfield, 34, and Nathan Lane, 62, each took home gongs - Garfield for Outstanding Actor In A Play and Lane for Outstanding Featured Actor In A Play

Pals: Garfield also posed for photos on the red carpet with his co-star, actress Denise Gough, 38

Big win: Andrew won Best Actor in a Play on Sunday night for his role in Angels In America

Star of the Great White Way: Gough looked lovely in a midnight blue one sleeve dress with plunging neckline and a slit at the front of the skirt

Veteran British actress Diana Rigg, 79, who has a supporting role in the musical revival of My Fair Lady looked fabulous in a colorful patterned silk duster and hot pink silk scarf.

She added a black top and black pants with shiny black flats and a statement gold and emerald pendant necklace.

Kate Rockwell, a supporting actress in the Mean Girls musical, posed for photos in a sleeveless floral gown with plunging neckline and spaghetti straps.

Sunday's Drama Desk Awards took place one week before the biggest night of the year for Broadway, the Tony Awards next Sunday June 10.

Vibrant star: Veteran British actress Diana Rigg, 79, who has a supporting role in the musical revival of My Fair Lady looked fabulous in a colorful patterned silk duster and hot pink silk scarf

Pretty: Kate Rockwell, a supporting actress in the Mean Girls musical, posed for photos in a sleeveless floral gown with plunging neckline and spaghetti straps

Boss babe: Tina has won numerous awards this Broadway season for Mean Girls: The Musical
She spent the day celebrating her daughter North West's fifth birthday with friends and family.

But it was back to work for Kim Kardashian on Sunday night, photographed in a private jet en route to New York City ahead of the Council Of Fashion Designers America (CFDA) awards.

There as the recipient of the first Influencer Award, the 37-year-old was joined by sisters Kourtney, 39, and Kendall Jenner, 22.

All aboard! Kim Kardashian headed to new York City with sisters Kourtney and Kendall to receive first CFDA Influencer Award on Sunday night

'Over the past decade, Kim Kardashian West has mastered the meaning of influence in the digital age,' said CFDA Chairwoman Diane von Furstenberg in a press release.

Kim's prestigious award comes after the star not only maintains a social media following of over 200 million but also runs fashion and beauty brands.

Some of the reality star's ventures including: KKW Beauty, KKW Fragrance, Kids Supply, Kimoji, her app and site.

2018 Influencer Award recipient: 'Over the past decade, Kim Kardashian West has mastered the meaning of influence in the digital age,' said CFDA Chairwoman Diane von Furstenberg in a press release

Kim's Instagram Stories photo saw her caption 'CFDA' with a plane emoji.

The shot saw her wearing a grey crop top and bike shorts while sisters Kourtney and Kendall stunned in their sweats.

The mom-of-three's former assistant Stephanie Shepherd and fashion designer friend Virgil Abloh was also on board too.

Not her first time: Kim is regularly seen in the fashion scene (pictured between models Bella Hadid and Kendall Jenner at the 2018 MET Gala)

And while many are already congratulating Kim on the prestigious award she'll receive at Monday's fashion night of nights, some industry designers are less than impressed.

'Its ridiculous,' said one fashion insider to the New York Post.

'Im just completely baffled. What is she influencing? People to have a very false sense of beauty and body?'

Does Kim deserve the award? 'Im just completely baffled. What is she influencing? People to have a very false sense of beauty and body?'

Not impressed: 'She doesnt have a style worth emulating. She has her evening look, which is to be sexy and provocative, and very, very unremarkable casual clothing. Its nothing memorable'

And another insider couldn't help but agree adding that Kim lacked any personal style.

'She doesnt have a style worth emulating. She has her evening look, which is to be sexy and provocative, and very, very unremarkable casual clothing. Its nothing memorable.'

The CFDA, named the Oscars of fashion, is made up of a council including designers Carolina Herrera, Diane von Furstenberg, Ralph Lauren and Zac Posen.

Reunion: Some of the models attending will include: Karlie Kloss, Gigi Hadid and Kendall Jenner

This year, Naomi Campbell will receive the Fashion Icon award and the evening will be hosted by actress Issa Rae.

Presenters will include Cate Blanchett, Lupita Nyong'o, Claire Danes and Busy Phillips.

Some of the models attending include: Kendall Jenner, Gigi Hadid, Ashley Graham, Rosie Huntington-Whiteley, Irina Shayk, Lily Aldrige, Emily Ratajkowski, Chanel Iman, Imaan Hammam, Stella Maxwell, Karlie Kloss and Kaia Gerber.
She welcomed her second child in February.

And on Sunday, Behati Prinsloo made her return to the catwalk for an Alexander Wang show in New York.

The 29-year-old Namibian beauty flaunted her post-baby figure in a black blouse with cut out panels and semi sheer fabric paired with baggy black harem pants.

Runway queen: Behati Prinsloo made her return to the catwalk for an Alexander Wang show in New York on Sunday a little over three months after birth of her second child

Behati walked the runway with her long hair loose and in a pair of white sandal heels.

The Victoria's Secret Angel is married to Maroon 5 frontman Adam Levine, 39.

They share two daughters, Dusty Rose, born in September 2016, and baby Gio Grace, who arrived on February 15.

Stunner: The 29-year-old Namibian beauty flaunted her post-baby figure in a black blouse with cut out panels and semi sheer fabric paired with baggy black harem pants

Showstopper: The Victoria's Secret Angel walked the runway with her hair loose and with minimal makeup, showcasing her natural beauty

Prinsloo and Levine began dating in 2012 and wed in 2014 before welcoming their first little one together in September 2016.

Last month, the rocker took to Instagram to send a glowing message to his wife for her birthday, writing: 'The Queen turns 30 today. Shes a legend. Shes THE baddest.'

He added: 'In just a few years we have laughed and loved harder than most. I wake up every morning thankful that it wasnt all a dream. Heres to a thousand more years. I love you @behatiprinsloo with everything I got.'

Mom of two: Prinsloo is married to Maroon 5 frontman Adam Levine. They share daughters Dusty Rose, born in September 2016, and baby Gio Grace, who arrived on February 15

Top model: Prinsloo became a Victoria's Secret Angel in 2009 and has walked in nine consecutive Victoria's Secret Fashion Shows
Fans have criticised House Rules judge, Laurence Llewelyn-Bowen for his 'arrogant' behaviour on the controversial renovation show.

On Sunday night fans took to the official House Rules Facebook page to air their grievances about the frequent on-air spats between the British interior designer and TV rookie, Drew Heath.

'I think Laurence is too rude to Drew, and needs to rein it in. An apology wouldn't go amiss!' one user commented.

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'I think he is too rude to Drew, and needs to rein it in!' House Rules judge Laurence Llewelyn-Bowen faces fan backlash for 'arrogant' behaviour

'Every time Drew opens his mouth, he is shut down by Laurence. Surprised he hasn't told them to stick it yet,' another fan wrote on Facebook.

While another fan wrote: 'Tonight he (Drew) just kept his mouth shut - Lawrence is all about Laurence!'

Laurence continued to draw the ire of fans on social media well into the evening and was even branded a 'very arrogant man' by one outraged fan.

Speaking to TV Week this week, Drew defended his co-stars actions and assured fans the outspoken Brit is just 'looking for a rise.'

'I think Laurence is too rude to Drew, and needs to rein it in. An apology wouldn't go amiss,' one user commented

'Every time Drew opens his mouth, he is shut down by Laurence. Surprised he hasn't told them to stick it yet,' another fan wrote on Facebook

'Tonight he (Drew) just kept his mouth shut - Lawrence is all about Laurence!' one viewer wrote

'Hes experienced and professional in television and I am not,' the 49-year-old judge explained to the publication.

'So I think sometimes he believes its kind of fun to play with me,' Drew added.

This comes after the two outspoken judges clashed on last week's episode of House Rules after contestants Sean And Ella's 'Industrial Scandinavian' renovation received a perfect score.

They bickered over the effectiveness of the bathroom and then continued the argument into the kitchen where they disputed the origin of the couple's 'Scandinavian' inspiration.
Jourdan Dunn attended Alexander Wang's early summer runway show on Sunday night in NYC.

The 27-year-old model rocked a black romper and custom AW shades to the rooftop event at South Street Seaport's Pier 17.

Dunn sat front row alongside fellow British model Rosie Huntington Whiteley.

Invite only: Jourdan Dunn attended Alexander Wang's early summer runway show on Sunday night in NYC

Jourdan arrived to the fashion show in sky-high heels and tights.

She paired her all-black ensemble with gloves, silver bangles, and a tiny fur clutch.

Dunn's glam included a sleek ponytail, a nude lip, and a bold brow.

Monochromatic moment: The 27-year-old model rocked a black romper and custom AW shades to the rooftop event at South Street Seaport's Pier 17

VIP: Dunn sat front row alongside fellow British model Rosie Huntington Whiteley

The collection, which will be available come September, was inspired by Wang's parents who immigrated to the United States in 1972.

'This was about liberation,' Wang said backstage to actress Sandra Bernhard. 'We like to say we take our work very seriously, but not ourselves.'

Models Bella Hadid, Kaia Gerber, and Behati Prinsloo all walked the runway.

Tough broad: Bella Hadid walked the runway in leather shorts, a motorcycle jacket, and a printed bandanna

Biker babe: Kaia Gerber made her way down the catwalk in tiny jean shorts and a bralette

Alexander ended his first outdoor show with a bang.

The San Francisco native played Childish Gambino's hit single This Is America as the models took their final strides.

'The show was sick, Alex you killed it,' Jourdan said on Instagram.
They are the stunning women who are part of racing's elite.

And Michelle Payne, Kate Waterhouse and Georgia Connolly all stepped out for the launch of the Melbourne Cup tour on Monday.

Michelle Payne showcased her sensational stems in a flirty, red mini dress that featured gold stripes.

Fashionable fillies! Michelle Payne showcased her sensational stems in a flirty, red mini dress

The 32-year-old proudly accentuated her trim and toned pins in a pair of black heels and added a touch of class to the outfit with a black trench coat and matching gloves.

The jockey completed the look with a fascinator atop her wavy brunette locks.

She also posed for the cameras proudly hold the Melbourne Cup trophy, which she had won back in 2015 while riding Prince Of Penzance to the finish line and becoming the first woman to win.

Stunning stems: The 32-year-old proudly accentuated her trim and toned pins in a pair of black heels and added a touch of class to the outfit with a black trench coat and matching gloves

Champion! The jockey completed the look with a fascinator atop her wavy brunette locks

Racing elite: Kate, the daughter of racing legend Gai Waterhouse, put on a fashionable display for the event (pictured with Michelle Payne)

Kate, the daughter of racing legend Gai Waterhouse, put on a fashionable display for the event.

The 35-year-old turned back the clock in a 1950s inspired dress with a striking polka dot pattern.

Her frock featured long sleeves, a high neckline and a cinched waist that accentuated her statuesque figure.

Retro chic: The 35-year-old turned back the clock in a 1950s inspired dress with a striking polka dot pattern

Elegant: Her frock featured long sleeves, a high neckline and a cinched waist that accentuated her statuesque figure

She teamed the look with a vibrant hot pink hat, black strappy heels with pantyhose.

The 2018 Flemington Ambassador Georgia Connolly attended the launch in true racing style, riding a horse.

She looked very official in her official Victorian Racing Club jodhpurs, blazer, boots and top hat.

Horsing around: The 2018 Flemington Ambassador Georgia Connolly attended the launch in true racing style, riding a horse

She looked very official in her official Victorian Racing Club jodhpurs, blazer, boots and top hat

Georgia was looked very proud to be representing the racing club as she smiled for the cameras.

The trio posed were all smile as they for a snap together as the racing ambassador, standing in the centre, held on to the Melbourne Cup trophy.
She called him the 'best boyfriend' during a night out on Sunday evening.

And Lee Wilkinson had lived up to it that afternoon, when he saved her from the side of the motorway after her car broke down.

Sharing the ordeal on Instagram, Gogglebox star Scarlett, 28, took a snap from the carriageway while Lee made a 160-mile round trip to Pontefract to pick her up.

In trouble: Scarlett Moffatt's 'best boyfriend' Lee Wilkinson traveled 160 miles to save the 'stranded' star after her car broke down on the motorway

Scarlett - who had been travelling back from Spain following a trip with a friend - first shared her car woes with a snap of the broken down vehicle while taking shelter inside a service station.

'Broken down on the motor way - 1 hour we've been sat here,' the I'm A Celeb queen wrote, along with a laughing emoji.

After hearing her pleas for help, Lee leaped into action and offered to rescue Scarlett, with the star then sharing a smiling selfie to confirm her stranded status would end soon.

Cosy: After her unlucky day, Scarlett shared a loved-up selfie of the couple looking happier than ever, and called her on-again beau the 'best boyfriend ever'

Oh no! Scarlett first shared her car woes with a snap of the broken down vehicle while taking shelter inside a service station

Throwing a thumbs up for the picture, a casually-clad Scarlett added: 'When your boyfriend is driving all the way to Pontefract to pick you up #stranded.'

After arriving home that night, the couple tucked into a much-needed takeaway pizza, with the presenter taking a sneaky snap of her model beau tucking into his well-deserved treat.

After her unlucky day, Scarlett shared a cosy selfie of the couple looking happier than ever, and called her on-again beau the 'best boyfriend ever'.

'Yasss home': The couple then tucked into a much-needed takeaway pizza, with the presenter taking a sneaky snap of her model beau tucking into his well-deserved treat

In the loved-up picture, the Saturday Night Takeaway star flashed her signature pout and her ample cleavage.

Many fans have been questioning her fresh-start with the fitness hunk, taking the opportunity to share their concerns with the TV host, following her vitriolic rant about him only a month before.

'Cant believe youve taken that wazzuk back!' wrote one disgruntled fan, alongside one of her Instagram pictures.

Saucy: On Thursday, the buxom reality star shared another busty snap, this time during a meal during a trip to Amsterdam

Other questioned why the star would consider taking Lee back after she accused him of cheating on her, with another fan commenting: 'Why have you taken that guy back you know your never going to relax always thinking is he talking to someone else and he probably will be.. You rake [sic] care of your '

'That rat will always drag you down. Know your worth' a third worried fan said.

Scarlett has decided to give Lee a key to her County Durham house along with gifts from her Amsterdam trip.

'Best gf in the world': The loved-up photo comes after Scarlett decided to give Lee a key to her County Durham house along with gifts from her Amsterdam trip

Lee captioned that Scarlett was 'the world's best girlfriend' as she treated him to chocolate and cologne - plus a sweet key chain featuring a picture of the couple.

Scarlett sparked claims of a reconciliation when she hid her Facebook relationship status, after changing it to 'single' following her split from Lee.

She is believed to have dumped Lee when his ex-girlfriend of two years, Sam Irving, claimed he had sent her pleading messages while he was still with Scarlett.

On again? Scarlett sparked claims of a reconciliation when she hid her Facebook relationship status, after changing it to 'single' following her split from Lee

It is understood that he 'cried over how unhappy he was' with the star.

According to The Mirror, Lee's ex alleged that she was still seeing him in January, a month after he went public with his romance with Scarlett.

Lee denies that there was any crossover between the two relationships, but Scarlett branded her ex a 'cheating pathological liar' and ended things.

'Liar': Fans took the opportunity to share their concerns with the TV host about her decision to reunite with Lee, following her vitriolic rant about him only a month before (pictured)

Scarlett jetted back from her heartbreak holiday last month with her pal Liam, instead of boyfriend Lee, and it was later confirmed that her beau had been given the boot during the trip.

The star lashed out at Lee in April, writing on Facebook: 'Just always seem to choose cheating pathological liars... I just choose lying cheats its a skill.'

A representative for Scarlett declined to comment when approached by MailOnline at the time.

A source told The Sun Online at the time: 'Scarlett is no mug  as soon as she gave Lee the boot she told her pals there was no way she would let him ruin her holiday.'
She's spent the past week enjoying a family half-term break in a mystery location.

And Holly Willoughby shared a rare snap from her holiday on Monday as she prepared to return to work on This Morning, going make-up free as she cuddled up to her adorable son Chester, three.

The TV presenter, 37, beamed as she wrapped her arm around her son, captioning the shot: 'A week of sunshine and this... now back to @thismorning... see you at 10:30! Xxx'.

Family time: Holly Willoughby shared a rare snap from her holiday on Monday as she prepared to return to work on This Morning, going make-up free as she cuddled up to son Chester, three

Holly revealed her natural beauty, with her blonde locks pulled off her face, and showed off a nude manicure as she pulled Chester close for the selfie.

The television personality has three children with her TV producer husband Dan Baldwin; Harry, nine, Belle, seven, and Chester, three, and is currently in the process of creating her own lifestyle blog, Truly.

Holly's new blog will incorporate six lifestyle areas  home, fashion, baby, wellness, living and travel.

Back to work: The TV presenter, 37, was back at work on Monday after her half-term break, hosting This Morning with co-presenter Philip Schofield

The website is expected to promote a new clothing range, as well as a homeware line similar to one she set up with Dragon's Den businessman Peter Jones.

The lucrative project, launching in the autumn, is tipped to double her fortune, which already stands at 10 million.

The new project closely mimics Goop, the website set up by Gwyneth Paltrow in 2008, with Goop also having six lifestyle 'pillars' wellness, travel, food, beauty, style and work.

Busy: The television personality has three children with her TV producer husband Dan Baldwin; Harry, nine, Belle, seven, and Chester, three (pictured in February)

In addition, the Oscar-winning Hollywood actress sells her own skincare products alongside fragrances, vitamins and a fashion range.

A friend of Holly said: 'This is a big deal for Holly. She is creating a lifestyle site  a one-stop shop for all you need to lead a good life.'

Holly is one of ITV's most popular stars, appearing on Dancing On Ice, ITV2's Celebrity Juice alongside presenting This Morning alongside Phillip Schofield.
As one of the White Knight Foundation most well-known celebrity ambassadors, it's no wonder Karl Stefanovic took centre stage at the charities' annual charity gala in Sydney this Friday.

The Today Show star, 43, looked decidedly chic as he cosied up fiancee Jasmine Yarbrough, 34, clad in a navy slim-line suit and black tie.

He completed his red carpet attire with a crisp white shirt and a pair of brown lace-up boots.

Always by his side! Karl Stefanovic was all smiles as he cosied up to fiancee Jasmine Yarbrough at the White Knight Foundation charity gala in Sydney on Friday (pictured L-R: Jasmine Yarbrough, Karl Stefanovic, White Knight Foundation director David Roberts, youth violence survivor Liam Knight)

Spotlight-loving Jasmine was also dressed to impress, turning heads in a gold turtle-neck smock dress and black heels.

Making sure not to draw attention away from her knock-out frock, the glamazon sported an understated hairstyle and minimal jewelry.

She completed her look with a black clutch bag and a pair of pointed-toe pumps.

In good company! Karl beamed alongside White Knight Foundation director David Roberts at the exclusive event

Mingling: Karl mingled with fellow guests before taking the stage to deliver his speech

The enamoured duo were also joined on the red carpet by White Knight Foundation director David Roberts and youth violence survivor Liam Knight.

Jasmine has been spotted on Karl's arm at a myriad of charity fundraisers since they went public with their relationship last year.

The pair, who met at Sydney boat party in December 2016, made headlines earlier this year when they exchanged vows at a commitment ceremony.

Following his glittering red carpet arrival, Karl took the stage to deliver a speech about his involvement with the White Knight Foundation

While Karl and Jasmine have so far remained mum on the status of their upcoming nuptials, they are rumoured to have already booked a wedding venue in preparation for their big day.

Earlier this month Woman's Day claimed that the wedding will take place at the Beverly Hills Hotel in California, with $100,000 being allocated to flowers and a celebrity guest list.

A source reportedly explained of Karl and Jasmine's choice of venue: 'They're pretty well-known at the (Beverly Hills) Hotel, and the staff were bending over backwards for them.

The Nine personality shares three children with his ex-wife Cassandra Thorburn.

For a good cause: Karl is one of the charity's major celebrity ambassadors, having featured youth violence survivor Liam Knight in an episode of 60 Minutes
Andi Peters was overwhelmed while presenting a competition segment on Good Morning Britain on Monday, as he spotted a nude sunbather in shot.

The promotional clip was thrown into chaos, as Andi struggled to stay composed, while filming on a sandy beach in Lloret de mar in Spain.

The 47-year-old was unable to stifle his laughter as he announced how to enter the 100,00 giveaway while attempting to block out the naked sunbather with his body.

Bet he wishes he was back in the Broom cupboard: Andi Peters was overwhelmed after spotting a NAKED sunbather as he presented segment on Good Morning Britain on Monday

What would Edd the Duck say? A glimpse of the nude person was visible for a second

He told the camera: 'The reason I am grinning  hopefully I am standing in exactly the right place to block the nudist who is right behind me.

'Yes, that's right there is a nudist. Look.'

Viewers would probably have been none the wiser had Andi not informed them of what lay behind him.

He then jokingly ducked down, as if to reveal the nudist's modesty, before a cheeky emoji appeared on screen.

Fits of giggles: The 47-year-old was unable to stifle his laughter while attempting to block out the naked sunbather, with an emoji used to cover the person up (pictured)

Andi who was hilariously thrown by the incident, continued to chuckle as he finished the segment, before once again teasing the naked sun worshipper.

Elsewhere, a guest on the show was blasted for 'double standards' by viewers, after suggesting performances by male strippers like those seen on the Britain's Got Talent final are fine - because women aren't aroused by their routines.

Journalist Rebecca Reid argued that women find male strippers 'hilarious' when watching them at hen parties or in films like Magic Mike.

Female strip clubs, meanwhile, she said were 'incredibly depressing', because men do find watching exotic dancers sexually arousing.

Piers Morgan said suggesting women aren't aroused by male strippers was 'poppycock', and was backed up by viewers who took to Twitter to insist Reid's argument revealed a clear double standard.

The debate came after male strippers from the stage show inspired by hit movie Magic Mike performed on the Britain's Got Talent final, leading to criticism from some viewers, who said the performance was inappropriate on a family show.

Elsewhere, guest on the show was blasted for 'double standards' by viewers, after suggesting performances by male strippers like those seen on the Britain's Got Talent final are fine - because women aren't aroused by their routines - but Piers called it 'poppycock'
Jennifer Hawkins has become one of the country's greatest success stories as a model-turned-entrepreneur.

But the striking blonde Miss Universe winner has revealed she rejects the high life, adding she prefers to have 'humility.'

Speaking in The Daily Telegraph on Tuesday, the entrepreneurial 34-year-old was candid in her remarks about her life.

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'I don't really live that celebrity lifestyle': Model Jennifer Hawkins has revealed she rejects the celebrity lifestyle

'I don't really live that celebrity lifestyle, that celebrity world,' the JBronze founder told the publication.

'I don't live like I'm hiding from people...Who I am is who I am,' she added.

In the interview, the leggy beauty said she likes to retain a sense of 'humility,' and is 'grateful' for the life she is living.

It comes after the stunner posted an eye-catching image to Instagram Tuesday, in which she's wearing a Gothic inspired PVC skirt.

Paring the shiny skirt with a low-cut black singlet that showed off her cleavage and tanned skin, the smiling beauty posed on a staircase.

Family time: Jennifer recently revealed her plans to start a family with her husband of five years, former model turned builder Jake Wall

Keeping grounded! Last month, the JBronze founder shared snaps of herself enjoying a nature walk with her husband

Jennifer recently revealed her plans to start a family with her husband of five years, former model turned builder Jake Wall.

In an interview with BW magazine, she said: 'We would definitely love to have a family, the timing though is something you have to keep between your husband and yourself, it's important to keep that private.'

The couple have been together since 2003 and tied the knot in 2013.

The Myer model recently shared images of herself and her hunky beau trekking though Ku-ring-gai Chase National Park, near Sydney.

Sporty chic!The Myer model recently shared images of herself and her hunky beau trekking though Ku-ring-gai Chase National Park, near Sydney




They've had an incredible year of fame and fortune, thanks to the success of last year's breakout summer series Love Island.

Yet as the show returns with a new batch of hopefuls, reality TV stars Jess Shears, Dom Lever and Jonny Mitchell have laid into the popular ITV2 franchise.

Jonny said he felt like the Majorcan villa was a 'prison' while Dom shared his regrets about having sex on the summer dating series, which returns on Monday evening.

Love Islanders: Jess Shears joined the stars of last year's Love Island on This Morning on Monday

Love rat Jonny - who was famous for 'pieing off' girls - said on Monday's This Morning: 'People think it's just a holiday lying on a beach or in a villa. But its basically like a prison.'

Jonny left the week before the final after being introduced as a newbie in the same week as Chris Hughes.

He had very little success in finding love, leaving both Camilla Thurlow and Tyla Carr heartbroken, but now says that he 'cringes' when he watches it back, and finds it 'painful'.

Back on TV: The stars (including Dom Lever, left, and Jonny Mitchell, right) laid into the show as the new series prepares to come back

And even though Dom is now engaged to marry fellow contestant Jess, he says the show ruined his career as a careers advisor.

'My career was over [when I left the show],' Dom confessed. 'I worked with children so I could never go back to that job after having sex on TV.'

He went on to say: 'I told Jess not to pick me - I wanted a summer of fun. And now look at us.'

Having a joke: Dom admitted his regrets about having sex on TV, while Jess said it felt comfortable

Success story: The late arrival of Jess led to trouble between the two and Jess and Dom's romance soon flourished

But Jess confessed: 'I was in it for a husband. Last attempt before I asked my mum to set me up.'

On whether she regrets having sex on TV, Jess replied: I dont think so. Both of us after it happened were like "oh god!" But if you are a consensual adult and you want to, and you feel comfortable, its a natural progression of a relationship.'

She admitted: 'You forget about the cameras, they are so small. 8 weeks this year is too long.

Getting married: Dom proposed to Jess after just three months together

Going strong: Though the show was ultimately won by Amber Davies and Kem Cetinay, Jess and Dom have had one of the strongest relationships

Jess and Dom have been one of the success stories of last year's series - which was ultimately won by Amber Davies and Kem Cetinay.

Along with Camilla and boyfriend Jamie Jewitt, they are one of the only couples to have remained together.

Dom proposed to Jess in September after a whirlwind three months together. They will wed in front of just 30 people in a Mykonos venue they have now booked.

Welcome back: Jonny said that he thinks of the villa like a 'prison' one year on

Reality stars: They were joined by Danielle Sellers, who enjoyed a short stint on the show

Jess was a late arrival on the island during the 2017 series, which broke up his partnership with Montana Brown.

Danielle Sellers was also a newbie, and admits she found that scenario especially hard.

'When you go in so late, you have to tell them day 1 youre in love with them otherwise you wont get the chance.'
Scott Disick and Sofia Richie have reportedly split after Kourtney Kardashians ex was spotted getting close to a mystery woman at Kanye Wests Ye listening party in Wyoming.

Lionel Richies daughter is thought to have initiated the break-up by confronting Disick, who calls himself Lord Disick, about cheating.

A source told People that Richie couldnt take it anymore.

'He goes in waves of partying really hard and then will have his good days and it's just very toxic behavior.'

According to TMZ, 35-year-old Scott attended Kanye Wests listening party in Wyoming and told guests that he was single.

Scott Disick and Sofia Richie reportedly split after Kanye West's Ye listening party in Wyoming

The Keeping Up With The Kardashians personality was also photographed embracing a mystery woman, with the outlet reporting that the pair were flirty and touching each other during at least two of Kanyes songs.

Meanwhile, the 19-year-old model was posting on social media from Nobu, Malibua thousand miles away.

Another source told Us Weekly that while the breakup happened after the Ye listening party, the trouble started before, when Richie learnt about Disicks alleged cheating incident in Miami, which caused huge problems in their relationship.

The same source went on to say that this was the reason Disick went to Wyoming, and being photographed with another girl was the icing on the cake for her to break up with him.

Disick was also seen in Kim Kardashian's Instagram story from her husband's listening party.

The pairs relationship attracted significant attention from the media, partly because of the 15-year age gap, but also because of Disicks on/off history with his ex, Kourtney Kardashian, with whom he has three children from a nine-year relationship.

Here is all you need to know about the Scott Disick Sofia Richie relationship timeline including when they first met and made the relationship Instagram official.

Kourtney Kardashian's ex was reportedly telling the guests in Wyoming that he was single

Scott Disick and Sofia Richies relationship

Rumours of a romance between Scott Disick and Sofia Richie were first kindled in May 2017, when both attended the 2017 Cannes Film Festival.

Disick arrived with then rumoured girlfriend, Bella Thorne but was seen getting flirty with Richie on a yacht during the festival.

At the beginning of June 2017, Richie was seen FaceTiming Disick in LAX.

Rumours swirled for months until September 2017, when Disick and Richie made it Instagram official with several romantic Instagram stories, a video of them kissing and a picture of a dessert that said: Congratulations Scott and Sophia [sic].

By October 2017, however, the relationship hit its first speed-bump after Richies father, music legend Lionel Richie, revealed he was scared to death and in shock that his teenage daughter was going out with a sex-addict father-of-three.

'I'm scared to death, are you kidding me? Have I been in shock?! I'm the dad, come on,' he told Us Weekly at the time.

That month, the couple were seen canoodling in Miami on a jetski and posting romantic posts on Instagram by the beach.

In November 2017, Kylie Jenners ex Tyga posted a photo on Instagram suggesting Disick was still using dating apps such as Badoo, despite dating Richie.

In the post, Tyga inserted several crying with laughter emojis and two skull and crossbones.

In December 2017, the couple made several public appearances including at the Art Basel Kick-Off party and the Haute Livings VIP Pop-Up opening in Miami.

Scott Disick and Sofia Richie went public with their relationship back in September 2017

However, that month they were also seen getting into a heated argument at the Kith X Daniel Arsham event.

All was OK by January 2018 though as the couple were spotted out and about in California. Throughout the month the pair chronicled their relationship with numerous Instagram updates.

By the end of the month, Richie was seen spending time with Disicks three children, Mason, eight, Penelope, five, and Reign, three.

By February, Disick and Richies relationship was KUWTK official as Kardashian momager Kris Jenner interrogated Kourtneys ex about his love-life, asking: Are you dating one person? Just one?

Are you going steady? she went on, before finally asking Disick outright: Is it Sofia?

Jenner also addressed the age elephant in the room: 'Wait, so how old is she?' Because I really don't know. Is she Kylie's age? 20?'

By March, rumours that Disick was still obsessed with ex Kourtney started making the rounds, while Lionel Richie reportedly banned Disick from attending his Hand and Footprint ceremony in Hollywood.

Richie got closer to Disicks family in April, when she helped him babysit his three children.

The couple were together until the beginning of June 2018, when Richie reportedly split with Disick over his 'cheating'

Things looked like they couldnt be any better at the end of the month when Disick surprised Richie with rose petals on their bed.

By May, Kourtney also thought Richie was a good influence on Scott and the children.

'Sofia is helping Scott be a better, healthier person,' the source told People. 'Kourtney feels confident that Scott and Sofia takes good care of the kids. Scott is a great dad when he has his life together.'

However, by the beginning of June 2018, Disick and Richies relationship was reportedly on the rocks after Disick was spotted embracing another woman at Kanye Wests Ye listening party in Wyoming and allegedly telling people he was single.

Meanwhile, Richie was hundreds of miles away in Malibu. By June 3, the relationship was over.
Australia's most celebrated culinary personalities gathered to attend the SecondBite Waste Not Want Not Gala in Melbourne on Monday.

Ash Pollard, 32, led the star-studded event's red carpet as she was joined by the famed MasterChef judges.

The radio personality, who shot to fame during her stint on My Kitchen Rules in 2015, dazzled as she posed against the media wall in a metallic floral blazer.

A star-studded affair! Ash Pollard dazzles in a metallic floral blazer as she she joins the MasterChef judges at SecondBite Waste Not Want Not Gala in Melbourne

Leaving the statement piece to do the talking, the blonde bombshell paired her look with a simple black knee-length skirt.

Ash's otherwise conservative look was given a sultry edge thanks to the addition of a lace bra, which was clearly visible peeping out beneath her blazer.

Completing her look, she accessorised with minimalist ankle-high heeled boots and a simple black clutch.

Loud and proud: The radio personality, who shot to fame during her stint on My Kitchen Rules in 2015, dazzled against the media wall in a metallic floral blazer

Cooking pals: At one point, the star flashed her pearly whites as she posed alongside former MasterChef contestant Sara Oteri

At one point, the star flashed her pearly whites as she posed alongside former MasterChef contestant Sara Oteri.

Also in attendance saw the MasterChef judges George Calombaris, Gary Mehigan, Manu Feildel and Matt Preston.

The famous four were all smiles as they playfully posed together in a series of fun-filled shots.

No judgment here! Also in attendance saw the MasterChef judges George Calombaris, Gary Mehigan, Manu Feildel and Matt Preston

Say cheese! Snapped against the media wall, the cooking stars were all smiles as they posed together in a series of fun-filled shots

Kitchen ready! Not straying far from their famous culinary attire, George Calombaris and Gary Mehigan chose to wear aprons for their red carpet appearance

Opting for an eye-catching outfit, Matt Preston stood out in a purple checkered jacket with a polka dotted scarf tied around his neck.

Not straying far from their famous culinary attire, George Calombaris and Gary Mehigan chose to wear aprons for their red carpet appearance.

Also looking ready to whip up a dish, My Kitchen Rules judge Manu Feildel was spotted wearing a black chef uniform shirt with jeans and brown lace-up shoes.

Famed comedian Mick Molloy also showed face at the star-studded event wearing a blue suit and striped tie to match.

Checked in! Matt Preston stood out in a purple checkered jacket with a polka dotted scarf tied around his neck

What's for dinner? Gary Mehigan was seen beaming from ear to ear against the event's media wall in his ready-to-cook ensemble

He means business! Also ready to whip up a dish, Manu Feildel paired a black chef uniform shirt with jeans
She isn't shy admitting the dancer is 'The One' after confirming their whirlwind romance just four months ago.

And Gemma Atkinson, 33, looked happier than ever when she enjoyed a pub lunch with her beau Gorka Marquez, 27, in Manchester on Monday.

The casually-clad lovebirds left their date holding hands, completely swept up in the passionate throes of their romance just four months after confirming their romance.

Must be love: Gemma Atkinson and Gorka Marquez left their lunch date holding hands after the Strictly Come Dancing star admitted the Spanish dancer is 'The One'

Former Strictly Come Dancing star Gemma cut a casual figure in her white T-shirt, cut-off jeans and accessorised with a patterned scarf.

Dressed equally casually for their date, Gorks sauntered out of the venue in his jeans, burgundy trainers and addidas hoodie.

Gemma giggled her way through lunch, proving she was every inch as besotted with her boyfriend since their love first took off four months ago.

Laughing it off! Gemma giggled her way through lunch, proving she was every inch as besotted with her boyfriend since their love first took off four months ago

Honeymoon period! The lovebirds left their date holding hands, completely swept up in the passionate throes of their romance just four months after confirming their romance

Gemma and Gorks were also joined by The Hits Radio stars Gethin Jones and Dave Vitty to celebrate the airing of their first show.

Their lunch gathering shortly follows Gemma admitting Gorka is 'The One' in a cosy exclusive chat with MailOnline.

The former Hollyoaks star confirmed her relationship with Gorka in February on Valentine's Day, finally ending weeks of speculation regarding a potential romance.

Going strong: The couple showed they have gone from strength to strength as they enjoyed an intimate pub lunch

Special romance: Gemma confessed their unique chemistry is what makes their love burn brighter than her former flames

And speaking to MailOnline, Gemma confessed their unique chemistry is what makes their love so special.

'I think its just the fact that we get on so well,' she said. 'All relationships have special qualities otherwise you wouldnt be with that person in the first place, but Gorka is like my best mate.

'He genuinely is my best friend but obviously were in a relationship. Hes very supportive and understanding of my career, and Im very supportive and understanding of his. It works well.'

Here he comes! Gemma was so excited for her work pals to meet Gorka that she pointed him out when he made his arrival

Session! Gemma and Gorks were also joined by The Hits Radio stars Gethin Jones and Dave Vitty to celebrate the airing of their first show

Introductions: The Hollyoaks star was delighted to introduce the Spanish dancer to all of her co-stars at the radio in Manchester

She added: 'I hope he's the one, otherwise I wouldnt be with him.'

Reflecting on their rapidly developing romance, Gemma insisted her relationship was strictly platonic during the show as they focused on winning the Glitter Ball with their respective partners, Alijaz Skorjanec and Alexandra Burke.

But the pair soon gave into their feelings after setting off on the annual Strictly Come Dancing UK tour in January.

Looking good: Former Strictly Come Dancing star Gemma cut a casual figure in her white T-shirt, cut-off jeans and accessorised with a patterned scarf

What a man! Dressed equally casually for their date, Gorks sauntered out of the venue in his jeans, burgundy trainers and addidas hoodie

Good fun: The Hit Radio trio enjoyed their coffees while chatting, clearly enjoying each other's company

'Its actually quite awkward and embarrassing because there was all this speculation that we were together when we actually werent,' she explained.

'Obviously I liked him but we werent together so it was quite embarrassing to read this stuff and I thought I hope he think it doesnt come from me! But I didnt see him throughout the whole experience.

'I was with Alijaz and he was with Alexandra. The only person you see is your partner so it wouldve been impossible to start a relationship at that stage. It was when we left the show and went on tour that we realised we got on.'

Together: Aside from her romance, the radio personality has forged close working relationships with Gethin and Dave

Astonishing: Their lunch gathering shortly follows Gemma admitting Gorka is 'The One' in a cosy exclusive chat with MailOnline

While Gemma's romance with the Spanish dancer is owned in no small part to Strictly, she dismisses persistent claims that it is directly responsible for the collapse of pre-existing relationships.

'I dont think the show is to blame for anyones relationship breakdown,' she said. 'It just depends on the individuals.

'If youre in a job and youre not happy in your relationship then it can happen either way, whether you work on Strictly or work for your local council. I think it literally begins with the strength of the relationship to start with, really.'
She's had her hopes of ballroom stardom dashed now that Strictly Come Dancing bosses have placed a ban on reality TV personalities competing in the show.

But Sam Faiers still had plenty to smile about as she hit the beach during her family holiday to the Turks and Caicos Islands on Monday.

The former TOWIE star, 27, slipped into a leopard print one-piece as she enjoyed the sun, sea and sand with her baby daughter Rosie, seven months, in a sweet snap posted to her Instagram page.

Fun in the sun: Sam Faiers slipped into a leopard print one-piece as she posed with baby daughter Rosie, seven months, during her family holiday to Turks and Caicos on Monday

The Mummy Diaries personality showed off her tanned legs in the high-cut swimsuit, and pulled her brunette tresses off her face in a high bun.

The mother-of-two accessorised with gold hoop earrings and tinted shades as she posed with a huge grin on her face.

Little Rosie looked elated as she giggled away in the sweet social media snapshot.

The mother-daughter duo have been enjoying their sun-soaked break at Beaches Turks & Caicos with Sam's long-term boyfriend Paul Knightley, 30, and son Paul, two.

Fun in the sun: The former TOWIE star, 27, has been enjoying her Caribbean break with baby Rosie, son Paul, two, and long-term boyfriend Paul Knightley, 30

Mummy and me: The Mummy Diaries star has been treating her followers to a plethora of envy-inducing snapshots from her family break

Sam will most likely be disappointed after it emerged on Sunday that BBC producers are placing a ban on reality stars appearing in this year's series of Strictly Come Dancing.

A show source told The Sun: 'Certain reality celebrities have been peddling these stories about being 'in talks' for the show when they have never been approached.

'Bosses are now fed up of hearing the same people bandying around their own names just to shift a few copies of some weight-loss DVD.

'In light of this, they've put in place their own reality star ban to stop them from cashing in on the show.'

Representatives for the BBC were contacted by MailOnline, but have declined to comment.

No disappointment here: Sam had her hopes of ballroom stardom dashed now that Strictly Come Dancing bosses have placed a ban on reality TV personalities competing

Cuties: The doting mother has been making the most of some quality family time with her little ones during their week away

A source close to Sam had claimed the reality star was in talks to star on this year's series of the show.

The insider told MailOnline last week: 'Sam is currently in talks to appear on this year's Strictly Come Dancing, however there's a concern that it may clash with her filming commitments for the upcoming series(s) of The Mummy Diaries.'

Sam's show The Mummy Diaries has been a big ratings hit over two series for ITVBe, with the latest run also co-starring her sister Billie, 28.

The source went on to say that big plans for the third series of the reality show could rule Sam out of Strictly.

They added: 'There's a potential that Sam will be filming the next series of The Mummy Diaries in LA, which would rule her out of taking part in this year's show.'

When contacted a representative for Sam declined to comment.
She insisted she wasn't going to constantly name check her famous dad after Marcel Somerville wouldn't let the other Love Islanders forget his musical roots.

Yet in upcoming scenes as Love Island kicks off on Monday, Dani Dyer wasted no time on name dropping actor Danny Dyer when she spent time getting to know Jack.

The Survival Of The Fittest star shamelessly squeezed her claim to fame in their conversation to try and impress the hunk and the pair grow increasingly close already.

Get it out of the way! Dani Dyer shamelessly name dropped EastEnders actor dad Danny as she grew close to hunk Jack

She told Jack: 'My dad... Let's just get it out the way. My dad's Danny Dyer.'

The EastEnders star's daughter dropped the bombshell when she was discussing her own career ambitions to follow in her dad's footsteps by pursuing a career in acting.

She elaborated: 'Ive always wanted to do acting. My dads an actor. Having that in your family, when youre on set, it was weird for me, being brought up with it, I thought I like this.'

Looking good: Dani caught the eye in a striking white bikini after entering the villa

Guess who: Unable to resist the temptation, the Survival Of The Fittest star shamelessly squeezed her claim to fame in their conversation to try and impress the hunk

We had no idea! Dani told Jack: 'My dad... Let's just get it out the way. My dad's Danny Dyer' (Danny pictured in his EastEnders role Mick Carter)

Name check! The EastEnders star's daughter dropped the bombshell when she was discussing her own career ambitions to follow in her dad's footsteps by pursuing a career in acting

The actor's daughter, who is on the lookout for love not lust, said she had no choice to mention her actor father as she claimed it would come out eventually.

'I had to bring up my dad, I knew sooner or later that I would mention who my dad was. And it was actually a really nice reaction,' she added.

'Usually boys get a little... they start getting all "gangster" and they start quoting films. He didn't quote one quote and I thought "thank God for that".'

Sound familiar? Dani insisted she wasn't going to constantly name check her famous dad after Marcel Somerville (pictured) wouldn't let the other Love Islanders forget his musical roots

Luckily for Dani, her famous roots certainly made an impression on the stationery sales manager as Jack gushed how much he loved the EastEnders actor.

Reflecting on their date, he said: 'When Dani told me that her dad's Danny Dyer, I just thought "what?" I'm not going to lie to you, I love him as an actor.'

Although its early days, the pair seem to be growing increasingly close already after setting their sights on each other on the first day.

Reveal: She elaborated: 'Ive always wanted to do acting. My dads an actor. Having that in your family, when youre on set, it was weird for me, being brought up with it, I thought I like this.'

Result! Dani's famous roots certainly made an impression on the stationery sales manager as Jack gushed how much he loved the EastEnders actor

Jack divulged: 'First impressions of Dani, shes really pretty. Shes really easy to get on with. I think shes lovely.

'Where were quite similar. I just felt instantnot awkward, I can talk to her, have a good chat. Again you just dont know. I really like her. I fancy her.'

Only a stationery sales manager could have come up with Jack's unusual idea to woo Dani's affections.

Really? The actor's daughter, who is on the lookout for love not lust, said she had no choice to mention her actor father as she claimed it would come out eventually

The Love Island hunk mulls over offering the aspiring actress a lifetime's supply of highlighters for when she's learning her scripts.

He said: 'To be fair Im going give Dani a lifetimes supply of highlighters so that when shes learning her lines for her acting, shes going to think of meshe cant forget me then can she?

'I really like Dani, I do. Honestly, just talking to her. I get too emotional too quickly. When I like someone I dont really hide it.

Could it be love? Although its early days, the pair seem to be growing increasingly close already after setting their sights on each other on the first day

'I just want to talk to them, and I want to be with them. I think shes really nice, I think Danis really nice and I like her a lot.'

The series has got off to a steamy start but as soon as the five couples are happily paired up, a sixth eligible male sauntered into the villa to stir things up.

Caroline then explains: 'In 24 hours, he will be coupling up with one of your girls, leaving one of leaving one of you single and vulnerable. Because you know the rules. To stay on Love Island you have to be in a couple.

Smitten already? Only a stationery sales manager could have come up with Jack's unusual idea to woo Dani's affections

'Im going to leave you lot to get to know each other. Dont forget in eight weeks time the public will be voting for their favourite couple. That couple could stand to win a massive 50,000 and be crowned the winners of Love Island 2018.

Kendall admitted the Love Island hunks are already feeling the heat as she noticed the boys were 'panicked' by the revelation.

She said: 'All the boys seem quite panickedwell obviously thats natural.'

Happy! The series has got off to a steamy start but as soon as the five couples are happily paired up, a sixth eligible male sauntered into the villa to stir things up

But it's not only the men who are already turning against each other as female friendships already come into question in gripping scenes.

Laura and Samira instantly hit it off but they soon realise they have both set their eyes on the same man  personal trainer Adam.

Samira admitted: 'I kind of fancy Adam. I dont know whats happened because when he came in I was like "I fancy him but hes not my type." But like, I think I fancy him quite a bit.'

Female fight: But it's not only the men who are already turning against each other as female friendships already come into question in gripping scenes

Laura echoed: 'I really like Adam. For me, I need to get in there. He is looks wise pretty much dead on what I would like. I don't want to like the same person.'

Casting aside her friendship with Samira, Laura later remarked ruthlessly 'may the best woman win'.

She said: 'Me and Samira have become really close so it gets a bit awkward when you then realise that you both potentially like the same boy. Its all going to kick off I think. Let the best woman win.'

Adam, who initially finds himself drawn to Dani, Laura and Kendall, declared there is 'so much choice'.

Oh dear: Laura and Samira instantly hit it off but they soon realise they have both set their eyes on the same man  personal trainer Adam

He said: 'There literally is so much choice. Everyones completely different as well.'

Ahead of Love Island, Dani vowed not to make the same mistake as Marcel as she claimed she wouldn't constantly refer to her claim to fame.

The reality star name checked her famous dad during her brief stay in South Africa while filming dating series Survival Of The Fittest.

I don't want to be the new Marcel! she said. I know [voice-over man] Iain Sterling is going to get off on that. I don't want to be called Marcel - of course I don't.

Now, when I look back at Survival, I look back and am like, Oh Dani!, but at the time it was funny. The thing is, it is always going to be cringey, of course it is. People are always going to cringe, but he is my dad and I can't really do much about it. I'm not going to go out and scream about it.

Love Island starts at 9pm on Monday 4 June airing on ITV2.
Irina Shayk was spotted out with her daughter and a friend in New York City on Sunday.

The 32-year-old model was almost completely covered up, sporting a black turtle neck, black skirt, and black knee high boots all while pushing her little girl Lea, one, in her stroller.

The girlfriend of Bradley Cooper was also seen chatting on her cell phone.

Sunday Funday! On Sunday, Irina Shayk, 32, headed out for a family walk with daughter Lea, aged one, around New York City

The Russian beauty had on black sunglasses, and her hair was pinned back in a lower bun.

While strolling with her kid, who was covered up with a pink blanket in her stroller, she was seen sipping on Boxed Water, and talking on her cell phone.

She took turns pushing their daughter with a female friend. The Vogue favorite was wearing a white jean jacket with bluejeans and sneakers.

They looked to be enjoying their time. They were casually chatting as they went on their stroll.

Keeping a low profile: The model ensured she kept stylish by wearing a casual, all-black ensemble

One person noticeably missing was The Hangover star himself. He's often seen out and about in the Bigle Apple with his lady and little girl.

He actually did spend time with his women earlier on Sunday. The duo headed out for a family walk around the West Village in New York.

Keeping a low profile, the pair dressed casually for the afternoon outing.

Family first: In March of last year, Irina and Bradley welcomed their first child together, daughter Lea

The model ensured she kept stylish by slightly tucking in her sweater and exposing her white drawstring. She paired chunky Adidas sneakers and accessorized with shades and a backpack.

Irina sported a natural makeup complexion, complete with a touch of gloss on her lips. The new face of Versace was also seen carrying around a bottle of boxed water.

Bradley also rocked a navy ensemble for the walk.
They've taken the idea of a destination wedding to a whole new level with their extravagant week-long celebration on the Indonesian island of Nihi Sumba.

But after saying I do, Brody Jenner and his new wife Kaitlynn Carter are finally bringing the party to a close.

The two marked the end of their nuptials by releasing baby turtles into the ocean, explaining that the animals 'were rescued from local markets'.

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Making memories: Brody and Kaitlynn Jenner release baby turtles 'rescued from local markets' at their wedding in Indonesia over the weekend

Horrific: Kaitlynn shared a picture of the baby turtles - an endangered creature - in a cup

Explanation: Brody wrote that the turtles were 'rescued' from local markets

Back where they belong: Hopefully the tiny creatures will survive their ordeal

Pictures showed the tiny creatures in cups, before the newlyweds gently placed them in the surf.

While catching wild turtles for sale is forbidden by law in Indonesia, demand for the endangered animals remains. Indeed turtle meat has long been seen as a delicacy in Bali and was traditionally eaten as part of religious ceremonies, although in recent years religious leaders have advised against the practice.

The turtle release came after the couple wed on Saturday on the island of Nihi Sumba inIndonesia.

Though Brody's father Caitlyn Jenner was not there, her ex-wife Linda Thompson - who is Brody's mother - was and so was Brody's brother Brandon.

Mr and Mrs Jenner: Brody Jenner has said I do to longtime girlfriend Kaitlynn Carter

Scene of the ceremony: The two wed on the beach with stunning views of the ocean

The 68-year-old former Olympian was reportedly 'too busy' to attend the nuptials as she has been in Austria, where she attended the Life Ball with gal pal Sophia Hutchins, 21.

According to TMZ, Brody is 'deeply hurt' that the former Bruce Jenner did not make the wedding.

It did not appear that half-sisters Kylie or Kendall Jenner were there either and no Kardashians attended.

It's over: The couple dubbed their extended celebrations 'Jenner Island'

But Brody has said he was very happy to walk down the aisle with the pretty blonde even if several members of his family were not there to support him.

'I'm looking forward to living the rest of my life with Kaitlynn,' Jenner told the site earlier.

'Hopefully not too much changes. But having the ring and the commitment, that's really exciting.'

Nice location: The Nihi Sumba resort looked idyllic and romantic with luxurious grass-roofed huts that had floor-to-ceiling windows

A place to unwind: The bedroom was roomy with a bed, two chairs and writing table

After the wedding, he gushed to People magazine that marriage 'feels awesome. I honestly feel like weve been married for five years already!'

He rhapsodized that 'I am the luckiest man on earth to have Kaitlynn by my side.'

Kaitlynn dished to the magazine about the reception, where Indonesian cuisine was served: 'It was the most dreamy, incredible night ever.'

The blushing bride confided in People: 'We were out until 4 a.m.! It was so much fun.'

So much to celebrate: Caitlyn's ex-wife Linda Thompson shared this image from the festivities before the actual wedding

There had been four days of festivities before the big ceremony.

The resort looked idyllic and romantic with luxurious grass-roofed, wood floor huts that had floor-to-ceiling windows.

'We're just excited to celebrate spending the rest of our lives together,' Jenner told People weeks before the wedding. 'I can't wait to marry Kaitlynn.'

The two met at a party in 2013.

'I was going after her,' Jenner said. 'She's an amazing girl.'

Added Carter: 'He was really honest about what he wanted, no messing around, and I found that really charming and refreshing. Pretty soon after we started dating, I thought it could be for life.'

In 2016, Jenner proposed at the same resort on Nihi Sumba where they would wed.

'I'm glad we took our time to get to know each other,' said Carter of the long engagement. 'We know for sure that we can work through things and that we want to be together.'
Is the Australian celebrity wedding of the year about to kick off?

It certainly seemed that way on Monday evening, when Tim Robards carried two mystery suitcases ahead of his impending nuptials with Anna Heinrich.

His candid snap comes as wedding guests, including his groomsmen and Anna's family, arrive in Italy.

Heading to the wedding? Tim Robards carries two mystery suitcases ahead of wedding to Anna Heinrich... As their best men and bridesmaids arrive in Italy

Tim, 35, captioned the mysterious snap, 'Dude, wheres my car? Lucky for Anna she had two hands free and thought she would giggle & snap away at this unique scene of chivalry... I guess its not dead... hehe.'

Meanwhile, his groomsmen, Luke Khoury and Dean Stannard, jetted to Europe ahead of the big day.

Luke and Dean join the numbers of friends and family flocking to Italy in recent days.

On May 25th, Anna's mother, Judith Henrich, jetted to the pasta capital with the father of the bride.

Sisterly love: Anna's sibling, Andrea Heinrich, joined fellow wedding guests in Italy

Groomsmen incoming! Luke Khoury (left) and Dean Stannard (right) descend on Italy ahead of the wedding

The proud parents posted a picture of Venice on social media yesterday.

Meanwhile, the bride's sisters Andrea and Charlotte Heinrich, have been lapping up the European sunshine in Rome and Praiano.

The twosome have stayed tight-lipped about details of their wedding - but it looks like their ceremony could take place any day now.

Topping up the tan: Anna couldn't help grinning as she lapped up the Italian sunshine ahead of the wedding

Wedding watch is on! As the couple's friends and family land in Europe, it's only a matter of time until they tie the knot

Did Anna reveal her wedding venue? Fans are CONVINCED the Bachelor star shared pictures of the destination she will tie the knot with Tim

While her future husband deals wiht the luggage, Anna has been topping up her tan ahead of the momentous occasion.

On Sunday, bride-to-be Anna also caused a stir in Instagram when she shared images of a beautiful Italian hotel, which some fans suspected could be the couple's wedding venue.

The genetically-blessed blonde a series of photos on social media of what appears to be the grounds of a stunning hotel.
She returned from a luxury Indonesian getaway with boyfriend Josh Barker on Monday.

And having ditched her makeup and hairbrush for two weeks, Elyse Knowles made a bee-line for the hairdressers upon her return to Sydney.

Taking to Instagram to document her fresh tresses, the 25-year-old was all smiles as she snapped her stylist make final touches to her new look.

'She's blonde again!' The Block's Elyse Knowles makes a bee-line for the hairdressers

'She's blonde again!' The Block star captioned a stunning selfie of herself while standing at the salon.

Having touched up her roots and opted for a platinum blonde colour, the stunner proudly showed off her new locks to her 883K followers.

The reality star is just back from a fun vacation at a luxury resort.

Last Thursday, the model showed off her fit physique and fresh visage while relaxing in the jungle with her beau.

New 'do! The Block star posted a stunning snap of herself while at the hairdressers

Wild thing! Elyse showed off her model figure in a snakeskin bikini with her beau Josh Barker

Elyse shared two snaps of the pair on her Instagram page as they celebrated his birthday.

'Happiest of birthdays to my number 1 @barks11,' she captioned the post.

In the second snap, the bombshell posted a picture of Josh standing shirtless as he applied wax to his surfboard.

Sweet snap! Elyse shared a picture of birthday boy Josh standing shirtless as he applied wax to his surfboard

Tropical oasis: Elyse skipped the war paint a during her luxury getaway

Completing her caption, she added: 'Every adventure I have with you is one we will remember forever. Enjoy surfing in Sumba Mr.'

Last Wednesday, the star looked very much in holiday mode, once again makeup free, while doing yoga by the beach in Sumba.
His mother Madonna loves to call herself a rebel and it seems as though the apple doesn't fall far from the tree.

The 17-year-old was pictured drinking what appears to be a pint of Guinness in a Mayfair pub on Sunday, despite being a year under the legal age.

The youngster, whose father is director Guy, continued to show off his new Forties-inspired, yet smarter look for the outing.

Rocco Ritchie, 17, enjoyed a pint of Guinness in a Mayfair pub on Sunday, despite being underage... as he continued to show off smart retro look

Making his own style rules: The youngster, whose father is director Guy, continued to show off his new Forties-inspired, yet smarter ensemble for the outing

Rocco was pictured with a host of friends outside the bar as they engaged in a lively conversation.

Dressed in a beige suede jacket, the teen also wore a shirt and striped tie. He wore a dark green pair of trousers as he enjoyed his night out.

The celebrity offspring - who was once well-known for his shaven head - ensured no hair was out of place as he slicked back his brunette tresses away from his face.

Something to say: Rocco was pictured with a host of friends outside the bar as they engaged in a lively conversation

Smart: The celebrity offspring - who was once well-known for his shaven head - ensured no hair was out of place as he slicked back his brunette tresses away from his face

Doing his own thing: Dressed in a beige suede jacket, the teen also wore a shirt and striped tie. He wore a dark green pair of trousers as he enjoyed his night out

It's not the first time Rocco has been pictured drinking in a pub.

Back in December, the teen, who turns 18 in August was seen out in Soho, after his father had won the right to keep Rocco in London, where he enrolled in college.

Previous reports suggested the teen had been eyeing up a move to New York to follow in the footsteps of his close friend Brooklyn Beckham.

Study: Back in December, the teen, who turns 18 in August was seen out in Soho, after his father had won the right to keep Rocco in London, where he enrolled in college

Not to be: Previous reports suggested the teen had been eyeing up a move to New York to follow in the footsteps of his close friend Brooklyn Beckham

Following a bitter custody battle, the Like A Virgin songstress captioned the post: 'Wish they Never Had to Grow Up!!! Or lose their Innocence.'

Things have vastly improved now between Madonna and her son.

MailOnline has contacted a spokesperson for Madonna for further information.

Time keeps moving: Following a bitter custody battle, the Like A Virgin songstress captioned the post: 'Wish they Never Had to Grow Up!!! Or lose their Innocence'

Enjoying himself: Rocco could be seen gesticulating to his pals as they enjoyed the evening
Alessandra Ambrosio, 37, took a weekend flight out LAX in Los Angeles on Sunday.

The bombshell managed to look amazing even while she was dealing with the hustle and bustle of traveling.

The 5ft9 model sported a cute green coat over that was over a black tee and paired with blue jeans. Also noticeable was the gold band on her wedding finger even though she has already split from fiance Jamie Mazur.

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Keeping it simple: Alessandra Ambrosio, 37, slipped into a black tee, and blue jeans, accompanied by a cute, green over coat while arriving at LAX Sunday. She also had a gold band on her wedding finger

Still as pretty as ever: Even though the Valentino model is heading toward 40, she still looks as good as she did a decade ago

She topped the look off with black and gold leather sneakers while her brunette hair flowed freely.

The mother-of-two kept her cool and didn't smile or pose for pictures as she made her solo entrance. She shares her two children, daughter Anja, nine and son Noah, six, with ex Jamie.

The couple announced their split in March. They were engaged for a decade. Neither have confirmed or denied the breakup.

Onto the next: Alessandra announced late last year that she was giving up her Victoria's Secret Angel title

Stunner: The Brazillian bombshell was spotted arriving at LAX in Los Angeles all by herself on Sunday

Five years ago, the beauty quickly told E! things were going fine amid similar reports of a split.

There must not be much bad blood between the two former lovebirds. Ambrosio was actually snapped meeting with Mazur earlier this week for a group dinner at Nobu Malibu.

The former Victoria's Secret model, who announced late last year that she was giving up her Angel title, slipped into a tan dress with enough sheen to faintly resemble a nightie.

The way they were: She shares her two children, daughter Anja, nine and son Noah, six, with ex Jamie. Seen here in November

She matched the dress to a comfortable-looking coat, teetering on nude stilettos and wearing her luxurious brown hair down.

One of the friends accompanying her on her night out was her silver fox publicist Milan Blagojevic, who had slipped into a black leather bomber jacket.

Alessandra folded herself into the front passenger seat of a gleaming black car with a couple of her friends, running a hand through her hair as they headed off.

In the driver's seat was Brazilian movie producer Raul Guterres, whom she has been seen out with more than once since her purported split from Jamie.
She described herself as a 'curvier bombshell with extremely big boobs' in an interview with Esquire in 2015.

And model-actress Charlotte McKinney showed off the assets that made her famous at Malibu beach house party thrown by a cosmetics company on Sunday.

The beautiful 24-year-old wore a white blouse unbuttoned to her navel to flash her generous cleavage, proving that she's not a fan of bras.

Beautiful view: Model-actress Charlotte McKinney showed off the assets that made her famous at a Malibu beach house party on Sunday

And she teamed her revealing top with white micro shorts to display her long legs as she and her tattoo artist beau Nathan Kostechko, 38, took in the view of the Pacific from a balcony.

The buxom beauty, who co-starred in 2017's Baywatch, had her hair styled by Dritan Vushaj who side-parted her long blonde tresses and left them free to cascade down her back.

Charlotte was expertly made up in smokey and gold tones with a pink pout by celebrity artist Carly Fisher.

Ample: Charlotte flashed her ample cleavage in the revealing ensemble

Leggy lady: Her gorgeous gams were on center stage

Stunners: She posed with fellow beauty Audrina Patridge

Fancy: Audrina rocked a striped skirt for the event

Nathan was very casual by comparison in a white T-shirt and blue jeans. He sported dark wavy hair, designer stubble and a small goatee.

Charlotte and Nathan are still a relatively new couple. They were first spotted together in December and have been going strong since then.

Meanwhile the Florida native, who first shot to fame as the busty blonde in Carl's Jr's Super Bowl ad in 2015, is transitioning to an acting career.

Not a fan of bras: The beautiful 24-year-old, who was with her tattoo artist beau Nathan Kostechko, 38, wore a white blouse unbuttoned to her navel to flash her generous cleavage

Flaunt: She flaunted her enviable figure at the party

Admiting his girl: Nathan was very casual by comparison in a white T-shirt and blue jeans. He sported dark wavy hair, designer stubble and a small goatee.

Aside from Baywatch, she also had a role in Flatliners 2017.

Charlotte also appears in First We Take Brooklyn with Harvey Keitel.

It was released in the U.K. in February and the Netherlands in March but has yet to set a U.S. release date.
Jesse Williams is calling his estranged wife 'greedy' and claims she is lying about expenses for their two children.

The Grey's Anatomy star has been embroiled in a nasty custody battle with Aryn Drake-lee, who recently filed a request to increase support from $50,695 to $73,369 per month.

According to TMZ Jesse, 36, responded saying that Aryn's filing includes 'wildly inflated' numbers such as $25,000 a month on college savings.

'Absurd': Jesse Williams has slammed his estranged wife for being greedy after she filed a request for more spousal support after $50,695 per month was agreed to in January

Jesse and Aryn share two children; Maceo, two and Sadie, four.

The actor disagrees with the request and claims that future college savings is outside the court's jurisdiction because when the kids go to college they'll be 18 and child support will end at that point.

The actor believes Aryn, who he split from in April 2017, is inflating the expenses in an effort to get more spousal support.

The duo were married for less than five years, which means Jesse's ex is only entitled to support for half that time.

Expenses: According to TMZ Jesse, 36, has responded saying that Aryn's filing includes 'wildly inflated' numbers such as $25,000 a month on college savings. The duo have two young children

Legal woes: Jesse's estranged wife Aryn filed for more child support in April stating the actor can afford it as he makes at least $250,000 per episode on Grey's Anatomy

According to TMZ Jesse has called Aryn's financial demands 'absurd and greedy, and in no way related to the children or their needs.'

Jesse also details the former couple's agreement to give their children a simple life without extravagances and gives an example, saying that the kids' furniture is mostly from Ikea.

TMZ adds that the document states the actor is willing to pay 100 percent of their children's current private school expenses including tuition and tutors, if necessary.

Aryn filed last month requesting more money from the actor who was ordered in January to pay her $50,695 per month.

She claims the amount 'falls way short of covering expenses' for their kids and says 'she's paying 100% of the kids' bills right now'.

New couple alert: Jesse is now rumored to be dating SportsNet New York anchor Taylor Rooks, 26

The documents also state that Jesse can afford the support increase 'since he makes at least $250k per Grey's Anatomy episode'.

Aryn is also asking for '$200k to cover her legal fees' after Jesse agreed to pay $60,000 in January for her lawyers.

The January ruling had granted Jesse joint physical custody of the children, but increased the actor's child support from $33,000 to the $50,695.

Jesse was given custody of his children every other weekend, two days each week, as well as on Father's Day.

Meanwhile, Jesse is said to be dating SportsNet New York anchor Taylor Rooks, 26.

The pair were seen together at Kevin Harts comedy show at Boardwalk Hall in New Jersey last week, according to Page Six.

'They are eager to keep their romance under wraps. Hes been going through a difficult divorce, but hes found solace with Taylor,'a source told the site.

Date: The pair were seen together at Kevin Harts comedy show at Boardwalk Hall in New Jersey

The former couple called it quits last April after five years of marriage and were granted joint legal custody of their children last summer.

In January the actor was accused of introducing his children to his new girlfriend before the agreed upon time by his ex according to a report from TMZ.

Aryn had stipulations that laid out parenting procedures she wanted Jesse to adhere to, including agreed-upon nap times, agreeing to 'age appropriate viewing content,' and that 'neither parent will introduce a new intimate partner until the relationship has endured at least six months.'

Jesse was dating his Grey's Anatomy co-star, 37-year-old Minka Kelly but they reportedly split in January. Kelly repeatedly denied she had anything to do with the split.

Lawyer price: Aryn is also asking for '$200k to cover her legal fees' after Jesse agreed to pay $60,000 in January for her lawyers; (pictured in 2013)
He's that rare thing in Hollywood - a genuinely nice actor.

But when the cameras start rolling, Keanu Reeves is transformed.

The manically grinning star held a knife to Mark Dacascos's neck as they filmed action scenes for the third installment of John Wick on Monday morning.

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Action! Keanu Reeves grins manically as he holds knife to Mark Dacascos' neck on John Wick set in Manhattan's Grand Central Station on Monday morning

He's back! Now 53, Keanu is returning for the third time as the film's eponymous antihero

Taking over Manhattan's Grand Central Station in the early hours, hundreds of extras crowded in to film the hectic sequence.

They watched in mock horror as Keanu tackled Mark Dacascos's bad guy character in front of a group of schoolchildren.

Now 53, Keanu is returning for the third time as the film's eponymous antihero.

Evil, or just misunderstood? Taking over Manhattan's Grand Central Station in the early hours, hundreds of extras crowded in to film the hectic sequence

Early start: Taking over Manhattan's Grand Central Station in the early hours, hundreds of extras crowded in to film the hectic sequence

Big moment: They watched in mock horror as Keanu tackled Mark Dacascos's bad guy character in front of a group of schoolchildren

In the first film, ex-hitman John came out of retirement to track down the gangsters that killed his dog.

In the 2017 sequel, he returned to the criminal underworld to repay a debt, but discovered that a large bounty had been put on his life.

Hitman John will find himself on the run again in the forth-coming film, set in New York.

Here we go again: Keanu's character is forced into hiding when he finds out about a $14million contract on his life, then finds himself targeted for killing a man on Continental Hotel grounds

Professional killer: John's victim is believed to be a member of the High Table who ordered the open contract

Big names: Oscar-winning James Bond star Halle Berry, 51, is joining Keanu in the all-star cast, alongside Anjelica Huston, Asia Kate Dillon and Jason Mantzoukas

Keanu's character is forced into hiding when he finds out about a $14million contract on his life, then finds himself targeted for killing a man on Continental Hotel grounds.

John's victim is believed to be a member of the High Table who ordered the open contract.

Oscar-winning James Bond star Halle Berry, 51, is joining Keanu in the all-star cast, alongside Anjelica Huston, Asia Kate Dillon and Jason Mantzoukas.

Rounding out the cast of the action film - helmed by Chad Stahelski, who directed the first two - are Jason Mantzoukas, Ian McShane and martial arts master Tiger Hu Chen.
John Cena had long been adamant about not wanting a family, with many crediting his aversion to having kids as a major reason for his split from Nikki Bella.

But now the actor/wrestler is singing another tune, telling TMZ that he would 'love to be a dad' while seen leaving Mastro's restaurant in Beverly Hills on Sunday.

The Trainwreck star, 41, explained his change of heart, telling the site that he's just now 'realizing that there is life and life exists and it's beautiful.'

Change of heart: After long saying he wasn't the parenting type, John Cena told TMZ he would 'love to be a dad' as the site caught up with the wrestler while he was out in Beverly Hills on Sunday night. ABove John is seen in March

The WWE figure acknowledged that he had said the opposite in the past, saying: '... I realize very much that I have been steadfast in saying that I don't want children.'

Asked to explain why his opinion changed, he said: 'Because I dedicated my life to my work and now I'm realizing that there is life and life exists and it's beautiful and I think part of that is being a parent.'

Asked about how things are going with Nikki, the Florida native was positive but deliberately vague about the details.

'We talk to each other all the time, we're best friends,' he said, tactfully avoiding comments about the split or a possible reconciliation.

Staying quiet: Asked about things with Nikki, pictured above in 2017, Cena was deliberately vague, saying 'We talk to each other all the time, we're best friends' and nothing more

Reasoning: Asked to explain why his opinion changed, he said: 'Because I dedicated my life to my work and now I'm realizing that there is life and... part of that is being a parent.' Above John is seen hard at work during Wrestlemania 34 April 8

News of a reunion circulated via Us Weekly on Friday, with the magazine revealing 'the break was good for the pair.'

A source explained: 'Nikki called off the wedding earlier this month so she could have more time to make a decision with what she wanted in life.'

'Calling off the wedding was the right decision at the moment and their relationship only grew from it.

Better for it: News of a reunion circulated via Us Weekly on Friday, with the magazine revealing 'the break was good for the pair.' The couple are pictured at the April premiere of John's film Blockers, which was right before their split

'It didn't mean that any love was lost, or that they lost any feelings for one another, but they both have realized that they love each other and want to be with one another.'

The couple dated for six years, shocking people with news of their split in April.

At the time they told Us: 'While this decision was a difficult one, we continue to have a great deal of love and respect for one another.'
She recently rang in her 31st birthday at a water park with her husband Mark Wright.

And Michelle Keegan proved she has even more to celebrate about as she attended the launch of her new Very collection with Ashley James and Lilah Parsons in London's Shoreditch district on Monday afternoon.

The former Coronation Street actress accentuated her slimline frame in a figure-hugging denim dress, embellished with a trendy button-up feature.

New venture: Michelle Keegan proved she has even more to celebrate about as she attended the launch of her Very collection with Ashley James and Lilah Parsons in London's Shoreditch district on Monday

Adding to her petite physique, the soap star enhanced her height in a pair of strappy nude heels.

The Our Girl actress complemented her famously striking beauty with winged eyeliner, lashings of mascara and nude lipstick.

Michelle styled her glossy dark tresses into light waves, and accessorised with dainty necklaces.

All eyes on her: The former Coronation Street actress accentuated her slimline frame in a figure-hugging denim dress, embellished with a trendy button-up feature

Show-stopper: Adding to her petite physique, the soap star enhanced her height in a pair of strappy nude heels

Meanwhile, Ashley James - who deejayed at the event - flashed her leggy pins in a pair of vibrant pink shorts, and a tropical print T-shirt.

The Celebrity Big Brother star, 31, commanded attention as she wore neutral-toned makeup, and styled her mid-length platinum in a straight fashion.

TV presenter Lilah Parsons, 30, cut an elegant figure as she wore a chic white tea-dress, which was decorated with delicate lace embroidery.

Chic: The Our Girl actress complemented her famously striking beauty with winged eyeliner, lashings of mascara and nude lipstick (pictured with Simon Lennon and Patrick McNamee

All in the details: Michelle styled her glossy dark tresses into light waves, and accessorised with dainty necklaces

Made In Chelsea's Binky Felstead also made an appearance at the event, showcasing her incredibly slender post-baby body in a plunging coral mini dress.

Michelle recently revealed how she took inspiration from her own wardrobe for her latest collection for the online retailer.

Speaking about the collaboration to You magazine, she explained: 'I love the opportunity to design pieces that my friends, family and I would all love to wear.

Taking to the decks: Meanwhile, Ashley James - who deejayed at the event - flashed her leggy pins in a pair of vibrant pink shorts, and a tropical print T-shirt

Stunning: The Celebrity Big Brother star, 31, commanded attention as she wore neutral-toned makeup, and styled her mid-length platinum in a straight fashion

Stylish: TV presenter Lilah Parsons, 30, cut an elegant figure as she wore a chic white tea-dress, which was decorated with delicate lace embroidery

'As we get ready for holidays and exciting occasions, I have designed a range which has the flexibility to be worn all summer but I've also added that extra special dress for a big event.'

The actress also described how she likes a 'pared-down, feminine look' that her husband Mark Wright 'loves'.

She added: 'Im all about less is more  fewer accessories, less make-up, fewer bits and pieces.'

Stand-out: Made In Chelsea's Binky Felstead also made an appearance at the event, showcasing her incredibly slender post-baby body in a plunging coral mini dress

Star-studded: Pals Ashley and Binky appeared in high spirits as they posed up a storm at the event

Michelle's appearance comes after she came under fire again and again for her heavily made-up appearance on BBC military drama Our Girl.

Yet Michelle hit back at her 'sexist' trolls as she claimed women wear make-up in the army in a cosy chat with The Metro.

The brunette beauty told the publication: I remember when the building collapsed and I got a lot of grief because my eyebrows were still intact. Yeah, there are! Because they are tattooed! I cant dust them off.'

She went on: Everyone was saying, Oh shes wearing make-up and shes in the Army. You can wear make-up in the Army. And again, its such a sexist thing to point out. '

Businesswoman: Michelle recently revealed how she took inspiration from her own wardrobe for her latest collection for the online retailer

And again people in the Army have got micro-bladed eyebrows. I had girls who are in the Army tweeting me going Ive got my eyebrows micro-bladed.

Glamorous Michelle, who joined the cast in 2016, plays the fierce leader and leading lady Corporal Georgie Lane in Our Girl.

The ex soap star proved her dedication to the series when she jetted out to shoot gripping scenes in Nepal, South Africa and Malaysia during her time on the show.

Set in Nigeria, fans of the show will watch emotional Georgie return to the front line after losing her fiance Elvis.
His surprise appearance during the Britain's Got talent finale on Sunday sent fans into meltdown.

And now Channing Tatum swapped his suit and tie for a more low-key appearance on Monday as he left London's Global House in Leicester Square.

The 38-year-old actor, who made a shock cameo during a Magic Mike routine, looked effortlessly stylish in a palm tree print short-sleeved shirt after appearing on Capital FM.

Dapper: Channing Tatum swapped his suit and tie for a more low-key appearance on Monday as he left London's Global House in Leicester Square

The Step Up star, who starred in the all-male revue movie, teamed his summer shirt with a pair of tapered dark khaki trousers which fell to his ankles and drew attention to his leather brogues.

Sporting a natural glow, the actor, who appeared in jovial spirits as he made his way back to his waiting car with his brunette coif slicked off his face.

Channing's suave appearance comes after the former stripper sent fans into meltdown during Sunday's BGT finale as he made a shock appearance during a Magic Mike routine.

Style: The 38-year-old actor, who made a shock cameo during a Magic Mike routine, looked effortlessly stylish in a palm tree print short-sleeved shirt after appearing on Capital FM

Fashion fiend: The Step Up star teamed his summer shirt with a pair of tapered dark khaki trousers which fell to his ankles and drew attention to his leather brogues

The Magic Mike actor, who recently split from his wife Jenna Dewan, showed up on stage after a sizzling performance as a surprise.

Channing previously appeared via videolink, revealing that he wouldn't be able to make the live show or an appearance.

Yet it was soon revealed that he had been teasing his fans as he entered the stage to promote the UK stage version of Magic Mike.

And the cameo sent viewers into meltdown as they flocked to Twitter to share their shock over the unexpected debut.

Natural: Sporting a natural glow, the actor, who appeared in jovial spirits as he made his way back to his waiting car with his brunette coif slicked off his face

Wow!: Channing's suave appearance comes after the former stripper sent fans into meltdown during Sunday's BGT finale as he made a shock appearance during a Magic Mike routine

One person said: 'OMG Channing Tatum is just beautiful! (Picking my jaw up off the floor as we speak) #BGTFinal #BGT.'

A different fan put: 'That Magic Mike performance was something but seeing Channing Tatum appear at the end there was the highlight. What a treat. #BGT.'

While another account added: 'OMFG Channing Tatum is at the Britains got Talent final! Didnt expect that! #BGT.'

Despite his surprise cameo, Lee Ridley, who performs under the stage name of Lost Voice Guy, was crowned the winner of Britain's Got Talent.

Prankster: The Magic Mike actor, who recently split from his wife Jenna Dewan, showed up on stage after a sizzling performance as a surprise

Picture perfect: Channing and the Magic Mike Live dancers posed in front of Eros at Piccadilly Circus

Yet there's more exciting news in store for the Magic Mike franchise, which Channing announced to be coming to London later this year.

Magic Mike - which was originally a big screen film about a group of male strippers -- will come to the stage at the Hippodrome Casino from November.

He shared his excitement on Twitter later in the evening, saying: 'These guys killed it on @BGT to help us announce that #MagicMikeLive will land in LONDON in November.

'Get your tickets to the 1st #MagicMikeLDN shows and make sure youre following us on the newly launched @MagicMikeLDN. You never know what might happen!'
Nicole Kidman had some good clean fun with her Big Little Lies cast mates on Sunday evening.

The Oscar-winning actress posted a clip on her Instagram stories where she was bowling with Meryl Streep, Reese Witherspoon and Shailene Woodley.

The 50-year-old Australian star, captioned her post, 'Sunday night fun with our amazing #BigLittleLies crew.'

'Amazing' night: Nicole Kidman had some good clean fun with her Big Little Lies cast mates on Sunday evening. The Oscar-winning actress posted a clip on her Instagram stories where she was bowling with Meryl Streep, Reese Witherspoon and Shailene Woodley

Go Meryl! The wife of Keith Urban then posted a photo of herself, Zoe Kravitz and the rest of the cast cheering on Streep, 68, as she bowled

The ladies were holding bowling balls and looking very serious.

The wife of Keith Urban then posted a photo of herself, Zoe Kravitz and the rest of the cast cheering on Streep, 68, as she bowled.

And Kidman, who won an Emmy for her role on the hit series, was seen hugging Reese from behind.

Big Little Lies is currently filming its second season which will air on HBO in 2019.

Mates: And Kidman, who won an Emmy for her role on the hit series, was seen hugging Reese from behind

All kinds of activities: The ladies were also seen playing a game of pool

Worth the wait: Big Little Lies won't premiere until 2019; here the cast is seen in September

This comes after the BLL cast showed up in a big way in support of co-star Shailene.

Reese, Laura and Zoe got together for some girl time and see Woodley's new film Adrift.

All four of them shared a photo on Instagram of them posing outside the movie theater. They're flashing big beaming smiles while holding up their ticket stubs.

All four of the ladies kept it a casual affair in the fashion department.

Kidman was noticeably absent from the matinee film.

Each of their individual posts gushed about the film and Woodley's performance.

Sisterhood: The ladies of Big Little Lies show support for Shailene Woodley's new movie Adrift

Showing support: Reese posted on Instagram, 'What a night at the movies ! @adriftmovie Blew me away!'

Big Little Lies: Cast mates went to the movie theater to watch Woodley's new film Adrift

Witherspoon wrote in one caption, 'What a night at the movies ! @adriftmovie Blew me away!! Seeing this incredible true story , i was on the edge of my seat, cheering on @shailenewoodley & @mrsamclaflin who are stuck adrift on a sailboat in the Pacific Ocean.

'Shailene is outstanding in a rare performance of woman vs. nature that is not to be missed. You must see this movie!'

Woodley responded in her own post, writing, 'WHAT TRUE SUPPORT AND SISTERHOOD LOOKS LIKE. i feel so shown up for.'

Adrift premiered June 1, and follows the real life story of a couple stranded at sea after sailing into a devastating hurricane. The film, as well as Woodley and co-star Sam Claflin, have received good reviews.



Hollywood Royalty: Streep and Kidman with two child stars in Big Little Lies season two

As for Big Little Lies, after some tough negotiations, the hit drama will be back for a season two with all of the main players returning with significant pay raises.

According to The Hollywood Reporter, Witherspoon and Kidman will each receive major salary bumps, and will make around $1 million an episode. Co-stars Kravitz, Dern, and Woodley also got sizable raises as well.

On top of that, producers were also able to add one of the biggest names in Hollywood to the cast: Streep. She will play Mary Louise Wright, the mother of Alexander Skarsgard's character Perry Wright. Her character arrives in Monterey searching for answers after Perry's apparent death at the end of season one.

Fun look: Reese was on set on Friday with a sweatshirt that had the names of the BLL characters
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The premiere episode of Love Island's new season quickly became dramatic as show bosses added a huge twist by throwing muscle-bound hunk Adam Collard into the mix, moments after contestants had been coupled up.

On Monday night, viewers of the popular ITV2 show watched as one stunning bikini-clad contestant after another was paired with a potential love match, before they suddenly learned that a new man would be able to poach their partner in under 24 hours.

As 22-year-old personal trainer Adam  who stands at an imposing 6'5"  strode his way into the Majorca villa, he immediately shook things up by declaring that he had his eye on Dani Dyer.

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Shocking twist: Muscle-bound hunk Adam Collard was thrown into the Love Island villa as a wild card during the season premiere episode on Monday night, as he was introduced as the ninth contestant  after the girls had all been coupled up

Upbeat: When some of the contestants found themselves reluctantly paired up, Adam instantly threw a spanner in the works

Though captivating, the twist had viewers at home begging for more, when the episode ended before Adam had made his choice in a particularly juicy cliff-hanger.

'Are you kidding?' One viewer wrote. 'Who did he chose?', with another adding: 'How dare they leave the end like that.'

A viewer echoed this with: 'This cliff-hanger is going to be worse than the end of The Walking Dead season 6 man. I mean we all know he about to chose Dani.'

Others said: 'Why would they cut it out there? Is that a joke? Playing with my head already,' as well as 'What even was that ending? You can't do that! Literally been waiting since Christmas for this season and you drop that cliff-hanger.'

Catching the eye: Adam shook things up by revealing that he had his eye on Dani Dyer, already coupled with Jack Fincham

Another: After everybody was paired up, Love Island host Caroline Flack intoruced strapping hunk Adam to the contestants

Happy: Dani appeared to be content with pen merchant Jack Fincham until Adam became the proverbial spanner in the works

'[Caroline Flack] is that some sort of joke? Week 1 and you're leaving us on a cliff-hanger like that already?'

More enthusiasts said: 'You're making us wait until tomorrow? Are you having my life?' and 'why stop there?' while one fan said: 'I am seeing [the theatre show] Hamilton tomorrow, but looks like Ill have to cancel.'

During Monday night's debut, Dr Alex George was the most talked-about contestant on Twitter, closely followed by Eyal Booker and Dani Dyer.

Of the 565k tweets generated, 41k were about Alex, while 35k and 32k were sent out about Eyal anmd Dani respectively.

Surprise 11th contestant Adam initially found himself drawn to Danny Dyer's daughter Dani alongside blonde beauty Laura and petite brunette Kendall, declared there is 'so much choice'.

Of course, Dani had already been coupled up with pen merchant Jack Fincham, with whom she seemed relatively content until personal trainer Adam entered.

Bikini-clad: The contestants showed off their enviably toned bikini bodes as they met with their potential summer soulmates

Boys' chat: As they got to know each other, the boys of the house got together to discuss their feelings on the developments

Get it out of the way! Dani shamelessly name dropped EastEnders actor dad Danny Dyer as she grew close to hunk Jack

The Geordie lad's presence immediately put the other male contestants on edge, however Dani appeared conscious about rocking the boat so early into her tenure on the racy reality show.

Adam remained undeterred, pulling each girl away from their guys for private chats  and reiterating his instant attraction to Dani when it was their turn to talk.

Staring into the 21-year-old Essex beauty's eyes, Adam confidently told her: 'Obviously, you caught my eye when I first came in,' before reiterating in the Hideaway that he had a 'first look instant attraction to Dani'.

Twitter reaction: Love Island enthusiasts were eager to find out just who the hunk would pick yet were left disappointed when the show's ending failed to deliver

Angry fans: One fan said: 'I am seeing Hamilton tomorrow, but looks like Ill have to cancel'

But Dani restrained herself from being as enthusiastic in reaction to the idea of being stolen away from Jack, as she nonchalantly told Adam with a smile: 'If I got picked I got picked. I can't sit there and cry about it.'

She then turned the tables on Adam after awkwardly facing a series of probing questions as she asked him what he was thinking about who he would choose, before advising: 'Go with who you want to get to know.'

The barmaid and aspiring then raised a laugh from a pensive Adam as she complained that she's 'always the forbidden fruit', before quipping: 'Maybe I'm the banana.'

Viewers at home were significantly hotter under the collar when they caught a glimpse of Adam stepping into the shower.

It's all off: Adam Collard lived up to his hunky ways as he stripped naked during a steamy shower session on Love Island's opening episode on Monday

All eyes on him: Taking to Twitter, fans swooned over his appearance, with one stating: 'Adam can steal me any day any time wutttttttt #LoveIsland'

LOVE ISLAND 2018: MEET THE CONTESTANTS At it again: Dani has already tried to become a reality star this year Name: Dani Dyer Age: 21 Occupation: Barmaid Location: East London Claim To Fame: Aside from the fact that she made a 24-hour appearance on Survival Of The Fittest in February [she was sent home after the first challenge due to an injury], her father is EastEnders actor Danny Dyer. Rumours have swirled since her failed attempt at becoming a reality star that she was going to give Love Island a stab. Her dad is said to have been 'livid' that she had to leave Survival Of The Fittest, despite Dani admitting that he was 'very protective' about her going on the show in the first place. Past Relationships: Two serious exes and single for the last two years. 'Ive never used a dating app,' she admits. Biggest Turn Off: Dani admits that 'when a boy is far too full on' it sends her running for the hills. 'I hate when a boy asks you direct "do you fancy me?" You dont say that. I dont like cringe-worthy quotes or chat up lines. Dont chat me up!' Best Feature: Dani thinks her hair and her eyes are the best things about her. Worst Quality: 'Sometimes I'm a bit too much,' she admits. Doctor Dreamy: Alex admits being filmed 24 hours is 'worrying' Name: Dr Alex George Age: 27 Occupation: A&E Doctor Location: Carmarthen, West Wales

Biggest Turn Off: Alex admits that he doesn't like 'high maintenance girls'. Elaborating on this, the hunky doctor says: 'I think its brilliant to look good but spending three hours to get ready to go and walk on the beach is too much for me.' Past Relationships: A four year relationship. It ended three years ago. Alex is looking for love [but also fancies himself as a new TV doctor]. New to dating: Hayley is a self-professed inexperienced dater Name: Hayley Hughes Age: 21 Occupation: Model Location: Liverpool Claim To Fame: Hayley was once in an ITV advert [not for Love Island]. Past Relationships: One relationship and a self-professed inexperienced dater. She says: 'Ive only slept with one guy. I was with him for five years. We got together at such a young age, when I was 16. You just grow up, and grow apart. I knew the relationship was over before it was over. I dont think hell like seeing me on the show.' He's booked: Eyal is a model and has had 'quite a few' relationships Name: Eyal Booker Age: 22 Occupation: Model Location: London Claim To Fame: Eyal was once in a pop band called EverYoung. 'We had small time success and toured the country, built up a little fan base and there was fan girl hysteria,' he says. Biggest Worry: 'Im a bit nervous but I think anyone would be! My parents, my sister and my Gran might see something that they dont necessarily want to see. Besides that, Im excited,' he admits. Fasten Your Seat-belts: Laura is an air stewardess Name: Laura Anderson Age: 29 Occupation: Cabin Crew Location: Stirling, Scotland Looking For: Laura says she wants 'a rugged, real man' and 'someone that knows what they want'. Past Relationships: She admits to having had 'loads of boyfriends - nine' and that 'two have been in the public eye'. Thoughts On Cheating: 'I think its the lowest of the low. Its very selfish and arrogant. I have been cheated on, and I have cheated once,' she admits. Squeaky: Kendall worries her voice will annoy people Name: Kendall Rae-Knight Age: 26 Occupation: Retail Manager Location: Blackpool Worst Attribute: Kendall doesn't like her own voice, branding it 'high and squeaky'. Claim To Fame: She once won Miss North West and represented the whole of the North West in the Miss England final, which was in 2015. 'I stopped most of the pageants and modelling when I met my ex. Id probably do more modelling in the future,' she adds. Wind up: Niall isn't fussed about loyalty to other guys Name: Niall Aslam Age: 23 Occupation: Student and Construction Worker Location: Coventry Biggest Worry: 'Being the first one voted out. Ive also got a worry that Im going to get pied constantly,' Niall says. Thoughts On Loyalty: Niall doesn't seem too worried about swooping in on another guy's turf. He says: 'I dont care who a lad is if he is big, better looking, Im still going in there and Ill still rock up and try and chat up his missus. I wouldnt say Im a wind up, I just dont really think about consequences.' Good dater: Wes has 'never had a bad date' Name: Wes Nelson Age: 20 Occupation: Electrical and Nuclear Systems Design Engineer Location: Staffordshire Dating History: Wes declares that he has 'never had a bad date' and that 'they've all been pretty good'. Best Feature: His cheekbones apparently win him many a-compliment. Worst Quality: He's always late. Chequered past: Adam admits he has a history of cheating Name: Adam Collard Age: 22 Occupation: Personal Trainer and Gym Director Location: Newcastle Dating [And Cheating] History: Adam admits he's cheated before and that although he felt guilty about it he was young. He claims he 'gets a lot of attention' when he is dating someone and that he once walked out on a first date. Looking For: 'I like meeting people and talking to everybody so I think even if I do or I dont find Mrs Right, itll be fine,' Adam says. Loves the limelight: Samira has appeared on stage in Mamma Mia Name: Samira Mighty Age: 22 Occupation: West End Performer Location: London Claim To Fame: Samira says her experience on stage has given her a taste of stardom having appeared in Mamma Mia and Dreamgirls. 'Everyone in the West End knows everybody. So it will be a big shock when they see me on this show,' she says. Clumsy: Jack says he's a total klutz Name: Jack Fincham Age: 26 Occupation: Stationery Sales Manager Location: Kent Wosrt Date: 'I took a girl out to a lovely pub next to the Thames and I was trying to be cool, ordered some drinks for us and then as I put my hand up to pay for them, I knocked the drinks back on to the barman and they poured down him and smashed on the floor. He was fuming,' recalls Jack. Advertisement

Taking to Twitter, fans swooned over his appearance, with one stating: 'Adam can steal me any day any time wutttttttt #LoveIsland.'

Another echoed: 'Adam in the shower.... help me #LoveIsland.'

Intimated by his dashing persona, a third user - this time a male - penned: 'Even I am rattled by Adam. Just told my gf to close her eyes when he was in the shower.'

Adam's presence in the house also served to ignite something of a rivalry between Samira Mighty and Laura Anderson, who both expressed a desire to be swooped away from their partners by the statuesque hunk.

Due diligence: In the name of 'fairness', Adam privately spoke with each of the girls in the house before revealing his decision

Interested: Complicating things further, Samira Mighty, left, and Laura Anderson, right, have expressed their interest in Adam

Low-key: Samira downplayed her interest in Adam as she spoke with Laura about their shared attraction to the hunky model

Devastated: However, Samira admitted in the Hideway that she would be devastated if Adam eventually picked Laura over her

Before enjoying a one-on-one chat with Adam, Scottish flight attendant Laura, 29  who already came to be coupled up with Wes Nelson after stepping away from A&E doctor Alex George  spoke awkwardly with Samira.

The blonde beauty started as they styled their tresses in the communal bedroom: 'This is a bit awkward. I think that we both like Adam.' before asking for, and receiving, Samira's blessing to speak with him privately.

However, while Samira downplayed her attracted to Adam during their conversation, she struggled to temper her burning desire for the 'proper hot, proper fit' contestant as she spoke about him in the Hideaway.

Admitting that she liked what she saw  after stating several times that she felt no attraction whatsoever to 'nice guy' Alex, she said of Laura: 'It was all very polite... but if [Adam] picks her, I'll be like, "This is the worst!"'

Reluctant pair: Samira is currently paired with Dr. Alex George on the show, after both of them failed to be chosen by anyone

Initial coupling: The A&E doctor was initially coupled up with Laura when he selected her after none of the ladies chose him

Flight of fancy: However, 29-year-old Scottish flight attendant Laura quickly bailed on Alex when she laid eyes on Wes Nelson

Type: She appeared to be somewhat happy with her choice, until she disclosed to other contestants that he wasn't her type

And Laura showed that she was wasting no time, telling Adam that he was more physically her type than Wes, before a worried Wes interrupted their conversation and hauled her away for their own chat.

But her efforts eventually won out, when Adam  in the apparent name of 'fairness'  worked his way around to speaking with Laura, telling her: 'I fancy you; you're beautiful,' as she shyly smiled and thanked him.

After hearing Laura admit that she would have stepped forward for him had he entered the villa as a conventional contestant, Adam said in the Hideaway: 'She definitely fancies me. That would be one I could pick up easily.'

Samira, in particular, appeared eager be named the chosen one, as she ended up with Alex  who was relegated to the Subs Bench following Laura's rejection  when she failed to land the men she wanted.

Catching the eye: Model Eyal Booker immediately caught the eye of Hayley Hughes when he presented himself to the ladies

Steadfast: The pair soon hit it off, and appeared to be one of the show's steadfast pairings as they got to know each other

Eyes for you: Niall Aslam and Kendall Rae-Knight also appeared to fall for each other as soon as they met at the Majorca villa

Comfortable: The hopefuls were quickly comfortable in each other's company, even when Adam was introduced as a threat

Amid all of the doubt and second thoughts, two of the show's pairings appeared to quickly become strong and steadfast, with Eyal Booker and Hayley Hughes and Niall Aslam and Kendall Rae-Knight seeming happily coupled.

At the start of the show  as the bevvy of beauties Samira, Laura, Kendall, Dani and Hayley got to know one another in the Majorca abode  host Caroline Flack made her entrance in preparation for the first coupling up.

With the girls waiting in line in a hope to meet their Prince Charming, one by one the boys walked in eager to impress the ladies and bag themselves a summer soul mate.

And whenever one of the male contestants tickled their fancy, the girls were instructed to step forward, and as the game of love got firmly under way.

First stepping out in front of the bevy of beauties is student Niall Aslam, 23, who immediately caught 26-year-old Kendall Rae-Knight's eye.

Arms: After Adam was introduced to the ladies and expressed who he liked, Adam jokingly put protective arms around Dani

On the job: Once Adam was introduced to the villa, Laura wasted no time in making a play for what could be her third pairing

Next in to compete for the ladies' attention was Dr, Alex, who failed to make an impression on any of the girls despite his medical credentials, and admitted he hoped he could be paired with Scottish beauty Laura, 29.

Following Alex's disappointment, electrical and nuclear systems design engineer Wes Nelson, 20, arrived into the villa and immediately caught air hostess Laura's fancy.

After they coupled up, Alex was moved to the villa's Subs Bench until the end of the ceremony to decide who he would couple up with.

Model Eyal Booker, 22, was the fourth boy in and proved the most popular with the ladies as Dani, Samira and Hayley stepped forward. With his pick of the bunch, the Londoner paired up with fellow model Hayley Hughes, 21.

The fifth and final boy to enter the villa Jack Fincham, 26, sees Dani and Samira step forward for him. The stationary sales manager chose EastEnders actor Danny Dyer's daughter Dani, 21.

Guess who: Unable to resist the temptation, Survival Of The Fittest star Dani shamelessly squeezed her claim to fame in their conversation to try and impress hunky Jack during their chat

Unnerved: Niall appeared to be a little unnerved by the presence of Adam, even though Kendall assured him she was happy

Viewers instantly made the comparison between Essex boy Jack and The Only Way Is Essex veteran James 'Arg' Argent.

Taking to Twitter, one wrote: That guy in love island is definitely a combo of all the TOWIE lads in one - Mark Wright, Joey Essex and Arg i swear.'

While a second added: 'Jack is like a cross between Arg and Joey Essex.

Echoing many viewers on Monday night, a third commented: 'Is jack the love child of Joey Essex and Arg from TOWIE??'

Comparison: The comparisons between Jack (left) and TOWIE star James 'Arg' Argent (right) began straight away

Recurring theme: While many agreed that he and Dani had the right chemistry  most were taken by his similarity to The Only Way Is Essex star

Spotting the link: The links were instant and echoed by many across Twitter

Here we go: Others were quick to comment on Jack's apparent likeness to Arg on Monday evening

Likeness: It was considered that Jack was an easy shoe-in for TOWIE

After all the boys paired up, Alex was allowed off the Subs Bench and coupled up with Samira at the end of the ceremony.

Once in their couples, Caroline declared: 'We have our five couples. The choices youve just made could decide how long you stay in the villa.

'In your couples, youll spend time getting to know one another, taking on challenges together, living together and even sharing a bed together. Sound good, is it too soon to spoon?'

But of course, there was an immediate spanner thrown into the mix as Caroline declared: 'It almost seems a shame to complicate things, but this is Love Island.'

Name check! The EastEnders star's daughter dropped the bombshell about her famous connections when she was discussing her own career ambitions to follow in her dad's footsteps by pursuing a career in acting

Sound familiar? Dani insisted she wasn't going to constantly name check her famous dad after last year's contestant Marcel Somerville (pictured) wouldn't let the other Love Islanders forget his musical roots with his group Blazin' Squad

During the show's premiere episode, Dani wasted no time on name dropping actor Danny when she spent time getting to know Jack.

The Survival Of The Fittest star shamelessly squeezed her claim to fame in their conversation to try and impress the hunk and the pair grow increasingly close already.

She told Jack: 'My dad... Let's just get it out the way. My dad's Danny Dyer.'

The EastEnders star's daughter dropped the bombshell when she was discussing her own career ambitions to follow in her dad's footsteps by pursuing a career in acting.

She elaborated: 'Ive always wanted to do acting. My dads an actor. Having that in your family, when youre on set, it was weird for me, being brought up with it, I thought I like this.'

So popular: Dani has already proved popular with the men in the house and appears keen not to want to ruffle any feathers

Result! Dani's famous roots certainly made an impression on the stationery sales manager as Jack gushed how much he loved the EastEnders actor

The actor's daughter, who is on the lookout for love not lust, said she had no choice to mention her actor father as she claimed it would come out eventually.

'I had to bring up my dad, I knew sooner or later that I would mention who my dad was. And it was actually a really nice reaction,' she added.

'Usually boys get a little... they start getting all "gangster" and they start quoting films. He didn't quote one quote and I thought, "Thank God for that".'

Luckily for Dani, her famous roots certainly made an impression on the stationery sales manager as Jack gushed how much he loved the EastEnders actor.

Stand by your man: While Dani caught the eye of Adam as soon as he entered the house, she appeared keen to stay with Jack

Glamorous girl: The 21-year-old Essex girl showed off a series of glamorous looks during her premiere stint on the show

Reflecting on their date, he said: 'When Dani told me that her dad's Danny Dyer, I just thought "what?" I'm not going to lie to you, I love him as an actor.'

Although its early days, the pair seem to be growing increasingly close already after setting their sights on each other on the first day.

Jack divulged: 'First impressions of Dani, shes really pretty. Shes really easy to get on with. I think shes lovely.

'Where were quite similar. I just felt instantnot awkward, I can talk to her, have a good chat. Again you just dont know. I really like her. I fancy her.'

Only a stationery sales manager could have come up with Jack's unusual idea to woo Dani's affections.

Really? Dani, who is on the lookout for love not lust, said she had no choice to mention her actor father as she claimed it would come out eventually during her time on the reality show

Could it be love? Although its early days, the pair seem to be growing increasingly close already after setting their sights on each other on the first day

The Love Island hunk mulled over offering the aspiring actress a lifetime's supply of highlighters for when she's learning her scripts.

He said: 'To be fair Im going give Dani a lifetimes supply of highlighters so that when shes learning her lines for her acting, shes going to think of meshe cant forget me then can she?

'I really like Dani, I do. Honestly, just talking to her. I get too emotional too quickly. When I like someone I dont really hide it.

'I just want to talk to them, and I want to be with them. I think shes really nice, I think Danis really nice and I like her a lot.'

Stripped: Adam set pulses racing as he became the first contestant to strip naked on camera during the season premiere

Game for a laugh: When he entered the villa, Adam assured that he's not as serious as he appears on his Instagram account

Making the big reveal: At the end of the episode, he gathered the contestants together to announce his choice, which will be revealed on Tuesday's episode of the ITV2 show

Caroline then explained: 'In 24 hours, he will be coupling up with one of your girls, leaving one of leaving one of you single and vulnerable. Because you know the rules. To stay on Love Island you have to be in a couple.

'Im going to leave you lot to get to know each other. Dont forget in eight weeks time the public will be voting for their favourite couple. That couple could stand to win a massive 50,000 and be crowned the winners of Love Island 2018.

Kendall admitted the Love Island hunks were already feeling the heat as she noticed the boys were 'panicked' by the revelation. She said: 'All the boys seem quite panickedwell obviously thats natural.'

But it's not only the men who were already turning against each other as female friendships already come into question in gripping scenes.

Laura and Samira instantly hit it off but they soon realised they have both set their eyes on the same man  personal trainer Adam.

Smitten already? Only a stationery sales manager could have come up with Jack's unusual idea to woo Dani's affections

Drink: At the start of Love Island, the girls gathered by the pool with a drink as they shared their excitement about the show

Hanging out: The girls enjoyed some time by the glistening swimming pool ahead of meeting their potential love matches

Samira admitted: 'I kind of fancy Adam. I dont know whats happened because when he came in I was like, "I fancy him but hes not my type." But like, I think I fancy him quite a bit.'

Laura echoed: 'I really like Adam. For me, I need to get in there. He is looks wise pretty much dead on what I would like. I don't want to like the same person.'

Casting aside her friendship with Samira, Laura later remarked ruthlessly 'may the best woman win'.

She said: 'Me and Samira have become really close so it gets a bit awkward when you then realise that you both potentially like the same boy. Its all going to kick off I think. Let the best woman win.'

Adam, who initially found himself drawn to Dani, Laura and Kendall, declared there is 'so much choice'.

Happy! The series got off to a steamy start, but as soon as the five couples were happily paired up, a sixth eligible male sauntered into the villa to stir things up

Love rivals: But it's not only the men who were already turning against each other as female friendships came into question

He said: 'There literally is so much choice. Everyones completely different as well.'

Ahead of Love Island, Dani vowed not to make the same mistake as last year's contestant Marcel Somverville, a former member of Blazin' Squad, as she claimed she wouldn't constantly refer to her claim to fame.

The reality star name checked her famous dad during her brief stay in South Africa while filming dating series Survival Of The Fittest.

I don't want to be the new Marcel! she said. I know [voice-over man] Iain Sterling is going to get off on that. I don't want to be called Marcel - of course I don't.

Now, when I look back at Survival, I look back and am like, Oh Dani!, but at the time it was funny. The thing is, it is always going to be cringey, of course it is. People are always going to cringe, but he is my dad and I can't really do much about it. I'm not going to go out and scream about it.

Adam's big decision will be revealed when Love Island continues on Tuesday 5 June at 9pm, on ITV2.

Oh dear: Laura and Samira instantly hit it off but they soon realised they had both set their eyes on the same man  Adam
It's no secret that momager Kris Jenner loves to get her drink on.

And as she moves into her new $10 million Hidden Hills mansion across the road from daughter Kim Kardashain, the 62-year-old producer has just received the best house warming gift.

Taking to Instagram, Kris revealed friends Chrissy Teigen and husband John Legend as well as celebrity hairstylist Jen Atkins and her beau Mike Rosenthal had gifted her a champagne vending machine.

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They know her well! Kris Jenner received a champagne vending machine as a housewarming gift from Chrissy Teigen, John Legend, Jen Atkin and Mike Rosenthal on Monday

'Umm thank you @chrissyteigen @johnlegend @jenatkinhair @mrmikerosenthal,' she wrote.

'When a forklift shows up at my house on Monday morning with a Champagne Vending Machine and an unlimited supply of Moet Champagne i am jumping for joy!! And I'm not gonna lie a little drunk.

'I LOVE you guys thank you my beautiful friends,' she continued adding the hashtag, 'I love champagne.'

So much love! 'When a forklift shows up at my house on Monday morning with a Champagne Vending Machine and an unlimited supply of Moet Champagne i am jumping for joy!! And I'm not gonna lie a little drunk'

Friends: Kris has shared her love for Chrissy Teigen and her husband John Legend over the years

The photo saw a large forklift with the machine and many boxes of the beverage that retails for upwards of $45 per bottle.

There are only 16 machine's in the US with Kris one of the four proud owners to have one in their own home.

The machines are all custom orders and have to be approved directly by Moet Hennessy themselves.

Recieving the gift on Monday, Kris revealed she was already a 'little drunk' (pictured: Kris at her 59th birthday in 2014)

Mom's in town! Kris' gift comes after she moved into a new Hidden Hills pad across the street from daughter Kim Kardashian and her husband Kanye West

Other locations include hotels and bars in London, Vegas and New Orleans.

According to People, Kris' new Hidden Hills pad is just across the street from daughter Kim and son-in-law Kanye West.

Kris bought the six bedroom, eight bathroom home late last year for $9,925,000.

The 1.28 acre property also features a sprawling outdoor area, swimming pool, large backyard, theater room and gym.

She's got the space! Kris bought the six bedroom, eight bathroom home late last year for $9,925,000
She skipped her son Brody's wedding in Bali this weekend because of being 'too busy' due to a 'work commitment.'

But Caitlyn Jenner looked like she was taking it easy Monday in New York, where she was seen taking a relaxing stroll with very close friend Sophia Hutchins, 21.

The Olympian, 68, went for a classic look in a prim white blouse with blue jeans and sneakers, stopping into a few shops with her companion during their walk.

Spotted: Though she missed son Brody's wedding in Bali this weekend, Caitlyn Jenner didn't look worried while out in New York with companion Sophia Hutchins on Monday

Besides her rumored girlfriend Sophia wowed in white pants which hugged her legs and hips.

She teamed her ivory slacks with a black motorcycle jacket and nude sneakers for an on-trend touch.

Both ladies shaded their eyes with dark shades, Caitlyn opting for a wide cat-eyed style while Sophia chose round retro sunnies.

While walking around a fan noticed the KUWTK persona and gave her a quick hello.

Can't go wrong: The Olympian went for a classic look in a prim white blouse with blue jeans and sneakers

Fun in the sun: Both ladies shaded their eyes with dark shades, Caitlyn opting for a wide cat-eyed style while Sophia chose round retro sunnies

Clean cut: Besides her rumored girlfriend Sophia wowed in white pants which hugged her legs and hips

Instead of going to son Brody's nuptials to longtime love Kaitlynn Carter on the Indonesian island of Bali, Caitlyn attended the Life Ball in Vienna, Austria with Sophia as her date Saturday.

According to TMZ, Brody  who is Jenner's child from his marriage to Linda Thompson  was 'deeply hurt' that his parent didn't attend the wedding, with the LGBTQ figure choosing a 'lucrative business opportunity' instead of the ceremony.

It appears that opportunity was the Life Ball fundraiser for HIV and AIDS non-profit amFar, which promoted Cait as one of the evening's special guests online.

Caitlyn's decision shines yet another spotlight on the fraught relationship she has with her children.

Priorities: Instead of going to son Brody's wedding in Bali, Caitlyn attended the Life Ball in Vienna, Austria with Sophia as her date Saturday

Feelings betrayed: According to TMZ, Brody was 'deeply hurt' that his dad didn't attend the wedding, with insiders saying the LGBTQ figure choosing a 'lucrative business opportunity' instead of the ceremony

At the end of May, she told Broadly about struggling to stay close to her children: 'I spend a lot of time by myself here in the house.

'I have a lot of children, but sometimes just because of circumstances, maintaining a close relationship with your kids is very tough. They all have lives. They've all moved on.

We're just human beings; we're going to be here for a very short time. We come and we go and at the end, when it's all said and done, hopefully your family is going to be there.'
It's been 11 years since 'the Crocodile Hunter' Steve Irwin tragically died.

And the late conservationist's daughter, Bindi Irwin, took to Instagram on Monday to pay tribute to her father.

Bindi, 19, shared a post reflecting on Steve's marriage to her mother Terri, on what would have been their 26th wedding anniversary.

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'Soulmates forever': Bindi Irwin shared a heartfelt tribute to her parents on their 26th wedding anniversary more than 10 years after her Crocodile Hunter father Steve tragically died

The 19-year-old captioned a throwback snap of Terri and Steve: 'Soulmates. Forever. Happy Anniversary to my incredible parents. I love you so much.'

Steve died after being pierced in the chest by a stingray barb in 2006.

Widow Terri was left to raise eight-year-old daughter Bindi and two-year-old son Robert as a single mother.

Terri has previously admitted she still feels close to Steve, refusing to remarry or even go on date.

Tragedy: Widow Terri was left to raise eight-year-old daughter Bindi and two-year-old son Robert as a single mother after Steve was killed by a stingray barb to the chest in 2006

Terri, who hails from from Oregon, USA, met Steve in 1991 when she was visiting wildlife rehabilitation facilities in Australia.

Speaking to People Magazine in February, the 53-year-old admitted she wasn't looking for a new partner, explaining: 'I've already had my happily ever after.'

'I think its wonderful when people who have lost someone find love again, but I'm not personally looking, and I havent been on a date in 27 years,' she said.

'I've already had my happily ever after': While it's been more than a decade since her husband died, Terri claims she hasn't been on a date since meeting the former zookeeper

Terri and Steve married within a year of being introduced, on June 4, 1992.

The pair took over Steve's crocodile park together, renaming it Australia Zoo, and had two children together, Bindi and Robert, now 14.

'My dad is still very much my mum' s soulmate. And I think that no matter what, mum always says that they'll always be married,' Bindi previously told E!'s Daily Pop.

Meanwhile, Bindi appears to have found her own 'soulmate'. She has been dating boyfriend Chandler Powell for more than four years.
She recently revealed she had a 'growth spurt' while enjoying her baby moon in Palm Springs, California.

And heavily pregnant Home And Away star Esther Anderson showed off her huge bump on Monday as she edges closer to her due date.

The expectant mother bared her belly in a grey bikini top teamed with a black maxi skirt.

'Rounding our the day': Home And Away star Esther Anderson shows off her HUGE baby bump in a bikini after describing her pregnancy figure as 'all belly & boobs'

The actress took a selfie at her Californian home, and told her fans she was loving her 'transforming' body.

'"Rounding' out the day with my bump appreciation :) 1- Trying to look a bit sexy, 2- Realizing Im (sic) ridiculous, 3- Then wondering if I remembered to put oil on my belly this morning,' she wrote.

'Regardless..LOVE this body for transforming, rolling with all the punches and creating our precious bubba.'

Almost time! The expectant mother bared her belly in a grey bikini top teamed with a black maxi skirt

Esther announced she was expecting a child with her British beau, advertising executive Howard Moggs, in April.

Speaking to New Idea, the 38-year-old said of the Los Angeles-based couple: 'We're not spring chickens but we're so ready for parenthood!'

Esther, who married Howard in February 2017, also revealed to the publication she fell pregnant while she was filming her latest movie.

'We weren't actually trying the month I got pregnant, because I had a movie role. However, baby wanted to come join us!' she said. 'I was five months pregnant by the time we finished the film, so they were shooting around me.'

The Gold Logie nominee said she was in 'absolute shock and disbelief' when her pregnancy test returned a positive result.

Loving it: The actress took a selfie at her Californian home, and told her fans she was loving her 'transforming' body

'I didn't believe it at first, I was in absolute shock and disbelief, so I had to do another test. It was mind-blowing!' Esther added.

The brunette beauty explained at the time that she and Howard were yet to find out the sex of their baby and would prefer for it to stay a 'surprise'.

As a result, the couple are decorating their unborn baby's room in 'neutral shades'.

It's expected the baby will be born in Los Angeles, but Esther and Howard are yet to determine where they plan to raise the child.

The baby is due next month in July.
She recently returned from a trip to idyllic Mexico with her husband DJ Ruckus.

But it was back to work for Shanina Shaik on Monday, with the beauty attending the annual CFDA Fashion Awards in New York City.

At the event, the brunette beauty showed off her supermodel pins in a pair of tiny tassel playsuit by designer Kobi Halperin.

Legs eleven... out of ten! Shanina Shaik shows off her supermodel pins in a pair of tiny tassel playsuit at CFDA Fashion Awards

She teamed the attire with gold embellishments, including an intricate bejeweled belt that accentuated her slender midsection.

She also wore a matching headpiece in her tumbling brunette locks and boosted her already statuesque height with a pair of strappy stilettos.

Shanina's stunning figure doesn't come easily.

The model puts her lithe physique down to doing crunches, lifting small weights and drinking plenty of water.

She told Coveteur: 'Adding leg weights while working on Pilates moves creates a harder and more intense workout.

'I challenge myself and try to do 100 Pilates ab crunches without any pauses. You really feel the burn! You always have to make sure youre not using your neck and allowing your core to do all the work.'

Embellished: She teamed the attire with gold embellishments, including an intricate bejeweled belt that accentuated her slender midsection

Shanina swears by drinking green juices as an energy booster, but admits that she has a sweet tooth and is a 'huge' fan of desert.

The Melbourne stunner, who has strutted her stuff down the runway for Chanel, Oscar de la Renta and Tom Ford, confessed her love for chocolate chip cookie dough.

The glamourpuss recently tied the knot to her musician boyfriend, Gregory 'DJ Ruckus' Andrews, in a dreamy oceanfront ceremony in the Bahamas.

The lovebirds said 'I Do' on the island of Eleuthera, the same spot where they got engaged in 2016.

After the wedding, the A-list couple jetted out to the world famous LIV nightclub in LA, where they partied the night away with the liked of Bella Hadid and Hailey Baldwin.
Former Home And Away actress Cornelia Frances died aged 77 last week following a battle with cancer.

And on Thursday, a private funeral organised by her son Lawrence Eastland was held in Sydney to farewell the Australian TV icon.

Lawrence told Woman's Day on Monday about his loss: 'Mum was my best friend, we had no secrets. I was so proud of her. I'm keeping a candle burning in her honour.'

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'Mum is finally at peace': A private funeral has been held for beloved actress Cornelia Frances after her death from cancer aged 77. Pictured: Cornelia in her last days in hospital

Her most famous role: Cornelia played the villainous Morag Bellingham on Home and Away on-and-off between 1988 and 2017

Cornelia played the villainous Morag Bellingham on Home and Away on-and-off between 1988 and 2017.

She was also known for her acting roles on Prisoner, Sons and Daughters, and The Young Doctors, as well as for being the host of Australia's The Weakest Link.

Cornelia was diagnosed with bladder cancer in 2016, and although she underwent chemotherapy and radiation treatment, the cancer spread to her hip and spine.

'I'm keeping a candle burning in her honour': According to her son Lawrence Eastland, friends and family told lively stories and shared fond memories at the private funeral on Thursday

According to Woman's Day, friends and family told lively stories and shared fond memories of the late star at her private funeral.

Lawrence said he will miss his mother's smile the most, as well as her her generosity of spirit and her sparkling sense of humour.

Following Cornelia's death, Lawrence shared a heartbreaking photo of the veteran actress in her last days at Sydney's Royal North Shore Hospital.

'A very personal photo of my mum during one of her resting moments. She is so peaceful, soft and serene. I truly love this woman,' he captioned the photo on Instagram.

Lawrence added to Woman's Day: 'I was by her side, holding her hand when she took her last breath. She slipped away in her sleep. It was serene. There was no pain. I feel relieved that mum is finally at peace.'

'I was by her side, holding her hand when she took her last breath': Son Lawrence told Woman's Day magazine his mother's last moments were 'serene' and with 'no pain'

'Cornelia was loved and respected. She'll be sadly missed': Home and Away star Ray Meagher, who played Cornelia's on-screen brother Alf Stewart, often provided company at her bedside

Lawrence said that, in his mother's final months, friends and family members regularly visited her.

Home and Away star Ray Meagher, who played Cornelia's on-screen brother Alf Stewart, often provided company at her bedside.

Ray said last Tuesday: 'Cornie was an incredibly loved and valued member of our cast over many, many years.'

Lawrence's father, and Cornelia's former husband, Michael Eastland died of cancer four years before his mother was diagnosed in 2016.
Lee Pace revealed why he decided to come out as gay earlier this year on Monday.

The 39-year-old actor gave two reasons that encouraged his decision during an interview from February according to a new article in The New York Times.

One was his new relationship with a fashion executive and the other was landing the role of Angels In America's Joe Pitt - who struggles with his sexuality in the Pulitzer Prize winning play.

The truth tea: Lee Pace revealed why he decided to come out as gay earlier this year on Monday citing a new relationship and landing his role in Angels In America

During the interview with W magazine about his new role in the Broadway drama, Lee was asked about his sexuality by Brian Moylan.

'Ive dated men. Ive dated women. I dont know why anyone would care. Im an actor and I play roles. To be honest, I dont know what to say  I find your question intrusive.'

After the interview, he took to social media to clarify his response by posting: 'As a member of the queer community, I understand the importance of living openly, being counted, and happily owning who I am. Thats how Ive always lived my life...'

Earlier in that interview, The Hobbit actor also stated that he 'feels its important for gay actors to play the gay roles.'

Life imitates art: His new role of Joe Pitt in Angels In America has Lee playing a Morman law clerk coming to the realization that he is gay on stage

Which is in line with his acting credits as he had a breakout role as the transgender showgirl Calpernia Addams in A Soldiers Girl, made his Broadway debut in The Normal Heart, and portrayed the bisexual IBM executive of Halt and Catch Fire.

Add to the list his new role of Joe Pitt in Angels In America where he plays a Morman law clerk coming to the realization that he is gay on stage.

Joe waxes on at one point in the play: 'I want to live now. Maybe for the first time ever. And I can be anything. Anything I need to be.'

Earlier hints? Lee appears to have been identified as 'openly gay' by his Hobbit co-star Ian McKellen in a German interview, as translated through Google according to Jezebel

'I remember after it had happened, I was able to say that, Lee remarked.

'I can be anything. Once you say those words and the sky doesnt fall down, or the earth doesnt open up, a lightning bolt doesnt zap you. You really can be anything.'

About the decision to come out, Lee proclaimed: 'It feels nicer than I ever thought it would be.'
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She walked away with the Fashion Influencer gong at Monday night's CFDA Fashion Awards.

And even Kim Kardashian, 37, couldn't believe the style accolade, joking in her acceptance speech that she is 'always naked.'

The reality TV star looked typically sexy as she arrived at Brooklyn Museum in New York in a cream crop top and long skirt by Rick Owens, which showed off her taut tummy and hinted at her equally-daring braless display.

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She's arrived! Kim Kardashian, who is being honored with the Fashion Influencer award, arrived at the CFDA Fashion Awards in New York on Monday looking sensational

Bootylicious! Kim - who won the Fashion Influencer award (left) - wore a two-piece Rick Owens outfit which accentuated her hourglass curves and also featured an open back

The 37-year-old mother-of-three looked sensational in the two-piece ensemble which accentuated her hourglass figure.

Adding some Egyptian-style metallic accents, Kim donned two chunky gold wrist cuffs and statement gold rings.

Kim's hair, which was coiffed by her close friend, celebrity hairstylist Chris Appleton, was pulled back into a high ponytail with plenty of volume and texture.

Her beauty look, meanwhile, was the work of her friend and collaborator Mario Dedivanovic, who relied on a host of products from the award winner's own line.

'I wanted Kim to have her classic Kim K Glam look for tonights event and not veer too far off from what she is known for,' he said of his inspiration.

'To change it up a bit for the CFDAs tonight, I added gloss - KKW x Mario Lipgloss in Super Nude - to her lids and went for a darker lip than we normally go for.'

The makeup artist began prepping Kim's skin with a range of products by high-end beauty brand Rodial - a favorite of Mario's and Kim's - and then created a lasting base with the KKW Beauty Conceal Bake and Brighten Kit in Shade 7, which he set using the Baking Powder in shade Bake 2.

And of course, no Kim K makeup look would be complete without her classic contour, which Mario created using the KKW Beauty Creme Contour Sticks in Medium I and II.

The reality star's prestigious award comes after not only maintaining a social media following of over 200 million but also running multiple fashion and beauty brands.

Some of the star's ventures include: KKW Beauty, KKW Fragrance, Kids Supply, Kimoji, her app and site.

Bronze beauty: The KUWTK star was flawless with her long locks pulled up into a ponytail and showing off a bronze makeup look

Dream in cream: Kim is pictured leaving her hotel and on her way to the awards at the Brooklyn Museum

Golden goddess: Kim, 37, added metallic accents with two chunky gold wrist cuffs and statement gold rings

Ravishing recipient: Busy handed Kim her prestigious award

Funny girl: And Kim began her acceptance speech with the quip: 'I'm kind of shocked i'm winning a fashion award when I'm naked most of the time'

Protruding: Kim was obviously braless in her couture number

Star factor: Kim posed with sister Kourtney, 39, who wore a glittery black trouser suit by Christian Siriano with plunging open front

Catwalk sensation: Kim's sister Kendall Jenner dazzled in a pale lilac feathered off-the-shoulder Alexandre Vauthier number

Endless legs! The 22-year-old showed off her killer pins as she waved to fans outside the Brooklyn Museum

And Kim began her acceptance speech with the quip: 'I'm kind of shocked i'm winning a fashion award when I'm naked most of the time.'

Following close behind Kim were her sisters Kendall, 22 and Kourtney, 39.

Catwalk beauty Kendall stunned in a pale lilac feathery off-the-shoulder dress by Alexandre Vauthier which showed off her long slim legs.

Kendall wore her hair up in an elegant updo and added several inches to her frame in some pale mauve patent heels.

Meanwhile Kendall's model pal Gigi Hadid looked like a work of art in a multicolor Versace catsuit and red patent heels and matching lipstick.

The outfit appeared to include every color of the rainbow in a brush stroke design that looked like an abstract painting.

Attention grabbing: Gigi Hadid looked like a work of art in her multicolor Versace catsuit and red heels

Evening chic: Winnie Harlow and Nina Dobrev showed off elegant gowns in midnight blue while Kourtney Kardashian (center) sported a plunging suit with sequins

Who's who of fashion: Martha Hunt and Karlie Kloss kicked off the red carpet looking stunning in white at the event which is known as the Oscars of fashion

LBD with an edge! Actress Claire Danes who is pregnant with her second child wore a leather-look asymmetric dress

Red hot: Alessandra Ambrosio wearing Tommy Hilfiger and Naomi Campbell shimmered in bold ruby red looks

Also lighting up the red carpet were models Martha Hunt, Karlie Kloss who opted for stylish white gowns that flattered their statuesque frames.

The CFDAs, which stands for Council of Fashion Designers of America, takes place in New York every year to honor fashion's biggest achievements.

The council includes designers Carolina Herrera, Diane von Furstenberg, Ralph Lauren and Zac Posen.

Actress Issa Rae will be hosting Monday night's event, marking the first time a person of color has emceed the ceremony which has seen past hosts such as comedians Seth Myers and James Corden.

Tuxedo chic! Amber Heard, who donned Michael Kors Collection for the occasion, attended the event alongside Erika Jayne, Brooke Shields and Cate Blanchett, who all rocked androgynous looks in versions of black suits

Striking: Shanina Shaik put on a leggy display in black with glittering gold accents

Power pantsuits: Busy Philipps, Leomie Anderson and Diane Lane nailed it in colorful trouser suits with a sheen

Hello sunshine! Olivia Culpo was summer chic in a long yellow Rebecca Minkoff maxi dress with spaghetti straps

Golden girls: Singer Kehlani, designer Vera Wang and Irina Shayk looked fabulous in billowy yellow frocks

Standing out from the crowd: Kaia Gerber, 16, arrived in Alexander Wang boxer shorts, a striped shirt and sheer stockings

It's also the first time a woman has hosted the event since Tracey Ullman in 2009.

The night will see awards dished out for a variety of categories including designer of the year for womens wear, mens wear and accessories, and an emerging designer of the year for a newcomer.

Notable attendees this year include Cate Blanchett, Lupita Nyong'o and Claire Danes who will all be presenting.

Then there are also six special honorees, for lifetime achievement, media, good works (officially known as the Swarovski Award for Positive Change), contributions to the industry (the Founders Award), international designer (Donatella Versace is getting it this year), and Fashion Icon.

Beauties in black: Emily Ratajkowski oozed feminine chic, Rosie Huntington-Whiteley opted for something a little different and Rosario Dawson was slinky in black silk

Fashion forward: Jasmine Sanders and Ciara showed off their unique takes on the little black dress

Flawless! Lupita Nyong'o wore a Versace mini dress, strappy black heels and a beaded choker. Her makeup look was created by celebrity artist Nick Barose for Lancome, who said he 'wanted her makeup to feel vampy and opulent to echo her dress'

Colorblock chic: Tracee Ellis Ross was pretty in pink in a tiered skirt and strapless bodice with tie detail at the back

Angelic! Victoria's Secret beauty Josephine Skriver looked ethereal in a glittering blush Zuhair Murad dress with metallic flats

In the nude: Ashley Graham and Sara Sampaio (wearing J. Mendel) looks effortlessly glam in their flesh-colored gowns

Glowing! Lily Aldridge, Julianna Margulies and Rachel Zoe looked flawless in their white and off-white gowns

Coming up roses: Sarah Paulson and Lili Reinhart showed off romantic floral looks with strappy heels

She's electric: VS beauty Lais Ribeiro wows in a blue Cushnie et Ochs pencil dress and metallic heels and matching clutch

Winners are decided by ballots which go out to everyone in the industry considered a stakeholder and they can nominate anyone for the big awards.

The ballots go out again to the same crowd to decide the winners. The special honorees get selected by the CFDA board.

The evening is also a fundraiser for the CFDA which is the trade and lobbying organization for the fashion industry, and its various programs.

Tickets cost $10,000 and tables go for an eye-watering $70,000. Last year's event raised $4 million.

Statement: Issa Rae sparkled in a blue dress as she donned a belt with the phrase: 'every n***a is a star'

Top of the crops: Joan Smalls looked incredible as she flashed her toned tummy in a tiny white top and voluminous ballgown skirt

Playful in pink: Whoopi Goldberg and Gigi Gorgeous were girly chic in hot pink and bubblegum shades

Twinning: Designers Mary-Kate Olsen and Ashley Olsen opted for their statement dark hues

Strike a pose: Devon Windsor, pregnant Chanel Iman (wearing a Nicole Miller dress) and Maddie Ziegler looked glamorous in black evening looks

Chic: Elsa Hosk cut an elegant figure in her black suit with matching boots; she added a pink handbag

What a duo! Hamish Bowles and Anna Wintour graced the red carpet together

Chic footwear: Russell James rocked flip flops next to Donna Karan in sandals

Still going strong! Jerry and Jessica Seinfeld looked every inch the loved up couple

Still got it! Ralph Lauren and Ricky Anne Loew-Beer wrapped their arms around each other

Monochrome magic! Tao Okamoto was a vision in black and white

Youthful glow: Keith Lieberthal and Julianna Margulies had youthful glows as they made their entrance

Designer duds: Donatella Versace looked fabulous in a sparkling black number

Mixed patterns: Tommy Hilfiger and Dee Ocleppo wore amazing patterned ensembles

Vision in white: Rachel Zoe looked every inch the super stylist to the stars

Candy boss: Dylan Lauren - Ralph's daughter and owner of Dylan Candy bar - oozed glamour

Shoe boss: Kenneth Cole cut a dapper figure in all black

The Mighty O: Oprah Winfrey brought her megawatt star to the fete

Happy meeting: Issa - wearing a Sergio Hudson suit - hugged Oprah on stage

Fashion mogul: Michael Kors took to the podium to give a speech

Red hot recipient: Lee Daniels gave Naomi her much-deserved award
A man has been charged with more than 130 offences after a stolen car was spotted in Melbourne's north-west and allegedly linked to him.

The 34-year-old was arrested in St Albans on Sunday morning shortly after a Toyota Kruger, which had been stolen in May, was recognised by a member of the public in Taylors Lakes, police said.

A second car which had been stolen from a Keilor address earlier on Sunday, also was recovered and a man of no fixed address was charged with a string of offences, including motor vehicle theft and obtaining property by deception.
Plans to rehome or euthanise about 2500 brumbies in Victoria's alpine region has drawn the ire of mountain cattlemen.

The Mountain Cattlemen's Association of Victoria has urged the state government to protect the brumbies on the Bogong High Plains saying they are of cultural significance.

"The small mob of brumbies that run on the Plains - estimated less than 100 - cause minimal impact to that vast area, but are a significant part of the heritage that makes the Plains so special to visitors," president Graeme Stoney said in a statement on Monday.
TAFE needs to stop being seen as a lesser form of education than universities, a representative of some of Australia's top universities believes.

Vicki Thomson heads up the Group of Eight, representing some of Australia's most research-intensive universities.

"It is not true that only university holds the key to a future career," she told a parliamentary inquiry into the future of work.

While data shows a growing number of students are going to university, fewer students are turning to trades.

The message to students needs to be recalibrated away from the pressure on students to attend university and back toward the importance of any post-school education.

"TAFE must be returned to a position of value, seen as a respected and much needed partner in the post-secondary education (sector) and not treated as a lesser education stream," Ms Thomson said on Monday.

Ms Thomson also told the committee the university sector wasn't well equipped to help students through changing workplace needs.

Australia no longer has access to high-level strategic advice on economic forecasting like the now defunct Australian Workplace Productivity Agency had provided.
A man has handed himself in to police following a service station robbery in Perth in which he pretended to have a weapon, police say.

The 30-year-old allegedly demanded the attendant at the South Lake station hand over cash early on Saturday evening.

Almost 24 hours later he handed himself in at Fremantle Police Station - accompanied by a family member and carrying cash - where he was charged with one count of robbery and will appear in Perth Magistrates Court later on Monday.
Nearly 300 litres of alcohol has been seized and destroyed after it was intercepted en route to dry communities in the Northern Territory.

Police officers and drug detection dogs found 289 litres of the the liquor over the weekend while screening of 38 vehicles carrying 124 people into the Adelaide River region at the crossing of the Stuart Highway in the Northern Territory.

"It appears that some community members are prepared to conduct a 1700km round trip from Lajamanu to Darwin specifically to purchase liquor to defeat liquor restrictions," said Acting Superintendent Stephen Martin of the Northern Division.
The NSW government's handling of a toxic chemical spill in a Hunter Valley town has been labelled as "appalling" by the opposition.

Testing in May at Stony Creek and Swamp, near Maitland, detected concentrations that far exceeded the recommended level of PFAS for drinking water.

Heavy rainfall in March is thought to have washed the chemicals from a derelict industrial site into the nearby creeks, the Environmental Protection Authority said in a statement last week.

Nearby residents were warned on May 30 not to consume anything from animals grazing near local creeks and avoid eating home-slaughtered livestock that had access to the creeks.

Labor's Maitland MP Jenny Aitchison claims PFAS was detected at the now-derelict refinery at Rutherford two years ago but has been left untouched since the plant shut down in 2016.

"It just sat there ... for two years, it's too much of a risk," Ms Aitchison told AAP on Monday.

"It's appalling, it's a gross dereliction of her (Gabrielle Upton's) duty as minister for environment."

Ms Upton assured the community the government would do anything to make sure they were supported and lived in a safe environment.

"PFAS is an issue that I have my direct sight on," she told reporters in Sydney on Monday.

"We will be supporting communities in very practical ways ... We will always support the community through whatever concerns they have."

PFAS is a group of chemicals used in firefighting foam, which at least one US health agency says may increase the risks of cancer.

The NSW government argues there is no conclusive link.
Former deputy prime minister Barnaby Joyce has been branded a "pimp" and a "first class grub" by a senior NSW minister for selling his story to a commercial television network.

NSW Corrections Minister David Elliott took to social media after Mr Joyce's tell-all interview with former staffer turned partner Vikki Campion about their affair and new baby.

"Hey Barnaby, maybe YOU should be paying for Sebastian's education and health care, like every other Aussie Dad, instead of prostituting your story to raise money for a "trust" that he can access at his convenience," Mr Elliott wrote on Facebook.

Mr Elliott hash-tagged the post with "pimp MP".

The Liberal MP went on to describe Mr Joyce as a "first class grub" in the comments section.

"I love Celine Dion but didn't walk out on my family to chase her," he wrote.

"I know at least a few children who will suffer thanks to their father being a pimp."

Asked whether she condoned her minister's language, premier Gladys Berejiklian said it was "his personal opinion".

"I'll just leave it at that," Ms Berejiklian told reporters on Monday.
Former NRL flyer Semi Radradra has been named player of the final for his role in Fiji's 21-17 London Sevens rugby win over South Africa.

The victory means the Fijians lead the World Sevens Series 167 points to South Africa's 160 going into next weekend's final in Paris.

After being named man-of-the-match in the Fiji Barbarians' 63-45 victory over England last week, it was Radradra's first appearance in the national side since 2011.

The 25-year-old is in his first season in the French Top 14 after six years playing rugby league.

He represented Fiji in both codes at under-20s level and also played one rugby league Test for Australia in 2016 after qualifying through residency.

In February the ex-Parramatta Eels star signed a two-year deal with French first- division team Bordeaux, leaving rival club Toulon.

The Eels have struggled this season without Radradra, who in 2015 and 2017 was the club's leading try scorer.

It's reported Radradra is to make his Flying Fijian debut in the Pacific Nations Cup match against Samoa on Saturday.
NSW is standing by its push to protect brumbies in the Kosciuszko National Park, despite Victoria's environment minister describing it as a "recipe for disaster".

Deputy Premier John Barilaro introduced laws to state parliament in May that would prohibit the culling of the wild horses, as well as recognising their heritage value, drawing criticism from conservationists and politicians.

On Monday, Victorian Environment Minister Lily D'Ambrosio slammed the move.

"This is not a management plan, this is a recipe for disaster," Ms D'Ambrosio told ABC Radio.

"The decision of the NSW government to do a U-turn on the plans to strongly control the numbers on their side of the national park will certainly make it harder for our state to deliver on the outcomes that we wanted to achieve."

Responding to Ms D'Ambrosio's comments, NSW's Environment Minister Gabrielle Upton backed her state's policy and said she was open to meeting with her counterparts.

"This is a great way to get that balance right between taking care of our natural environment, protecting our environment and also taking care of an iconic species inside that national park," Ms Upton told reporters in Sydney.

Asked why she did not attend the announcement of the brumbies bill last month, Ms Upton said she fully supported the bill.

"It is the right way forward. It enables us an opportunity to take care of the sensitive national park that's inside Kosciuszko National Park, but also to make sure an iconic species is celebrated and is managed within that national park."
There are fears whales, dolphins and other marine life could be hurt as debris from a shipping container continues to wash up on beaches north of Newcastle.

Locals have collected dozens of bags of plastic material, jars, packaged food, clocks, nappies and sanitary items from 83 containers that fell off a cargo ship last Thursday night. About 30 more were moved or damaged.

The YM Efficiency was making its way from Taiwan to Sydney when it was hit by heavy swells about 30 kilometres off the coast of Port Stephens.

Port Stephens EcoNetwork's Nigel Dique and about eight volunteers have already filled at least 20 large bags of debris from Zenith and Box beaches.

"There were broken clocks, bits of structural plastic material, lots of jars and food items packaged in plastic," Mr Dique told AAP on Monday.

"I don't know what else was in these containers, if there was anything toxic, but certainly turtles and whales and large marine creatures think they are food and swallow the stuff."

A further 30 volunteers - including Julie Sims from Hawks Nest - found car parts, drinks, sanitary items and other plastics strewn across Jimmys Beach.

"It goes on and on and on - it is just plastic, plastic, plastic," Ms Sims told AAP.

The NSW Greens warned plastic poses a particular threat to marine life, including sea birds, whales, dolphins and turtles.

It has called on the state government to fast-track the clean-up to prevent further damage.

"The NSW coastline is a very busy maritime route, we should have excellent emergency response protocols but it looks like they have either failed or are grossly inadequate," Greens marine spokesman Justin Field said in a statement.

NSW Environment Minister Gabrielle Upton said the Australian Maritime Safety Authority, Roads and Maritime Services and the state's Environment Protection Agency were working with local councils to ensure all material was cleaned up.

The government says it will try recoup the cost of the clean-up from the ship's owner.

The ship's insurer has employed local company Varley to put skip bins out for residents to dispose collected rubbish and use a helicopter to find the debris floating at sea, local MP Kate Washington told AAP.

The Australian Transport Safety Bureau is investigating the incident.
For every resident of the tiny Pacific island nation of Palau, eight tourists come to visit.

The damaging environmental footprint of 160,000 visitors is something the world's 13th smallest island is trying to address.

Foreign Minister Julie Bishop, International Development Minister Concetta Fierravanti-Wells along with Labor's Penny Wong and Claire Moore are on a tour of Palau, Micronesia and Marshall Islands this week.

Ms Bishop on Monday announced a $78,700 contribution towards the "Palau pledge" - efforts to encouraging tourists and local businesses to be more environmentally conscious and sustainable.

Palau president Tommy Remengesau was grateful for the support.

"The Palau pledge has already made an immediate impact on visitors and the citizens of Palau, encouraging greater awareness of the responsibility we have to our children and our children's children," he said.

Among the pledge supporters are Oscar-winning actor Leonardo DiCaprio, billionaire Richard Branson and former US secretary of state John Kerry.

Australia's May budget included a record $1.3 billion aid investment for Pacific island nations, which are considered among the most vulnerable in the world to climate change as they grapple with rising sea levels and the increased frequency and intensity of cyclones and storms.
A Japanese-led consortium has proposed building a $200 million liquefied natural gas import terminal south of Sydney, with the NSW government claiming it will drive down prices.

The facility could provide up to 70 per cent of the state's gas needs by 2020, according to the NSW government which will consider the development application in coming months.

The consortium proposing the facility, Australian Industrial Energy, is made up of Japanese companies JERA, Marubeni, as well as Australia's Squadron Energy.

By 2020, AIE plans to ship 1.8 million tonnes of LNG into Port Kembla, enough to power 85,000 average homes for a year, NSW Trade and Industry Minister Niall Blair said on Monday.

Mr Blair described the proposal as a "game changer" for Port Kembla, the Illawarra and the entire state.

Australia is the second largest LNG exporter in the world.

However, restrictions on exploration production and producers selling gas to Asia in long-term contracts has left a gap in the domestic supply.

Asked why more wasn't being done to push local gas suppliers to sell more of the resource locally, NSW Energy Minister Don Harwin said importing the product would increase domestic competition and drive down prices.

He also pointed to the proposed Narrabri coal seam gas project in the state's north, which could supply half of the state's gas needs if given the go-ahead.

"NSW operates with a sensible gas plan that balances the need for gas exploration alongside appropriate assessment of community and environmental impacts," Mr Harwin said in a statement to AAP.
Australians have been urged to "put down the plastic", otherwise there will be more plastic than fish in the ocean by 2050, environmental campaigners say.

Although supermarkets have been phasing out single-use plastic bags, with bans in all states except NSW, Australians have to take personal action to reduce their waste, says Rebecca Prince-Ruiz, founder of Plastic Free July Foundation.

Every year each Australian produces 565 kg of household waste and 20 million tonnes ends up in landfill.

"Virtually every piece of plastic ever manufactured still exists in some form today," Ms Prince-Ruiz said in a statement on Tuesday.

Recent images from Lord Howe Island have revealed the impact of plastic waste on the birds living on the island - they are often found dead on the beach with a stomach full of plastic parts.

"Those visuals shock everybody, but people don't make that connection with their behaviour," Ms Prince-Ruiz said on World Environment Day.

In just over 30 years, the ocean is expected to contain more plastics by weight than fish, according to the foundation.

The campaigner said the prospect of going plastic-free can be daunting for many, putting them off making any changes.

But small actions can make big impacts, she said.

Last year, participants of the foundation's campaign reduced their landfill waste rates by 10 per cent, which translates to 10,400 fewer tonnes of waste in Ms Prince-Ruiz' home state of Western Australia.

"Making a difference is as simple as swapping out your usual disposable coffee cup with an eco-friendly version," she said.

Anyone who wants to make a change can sign up to the July challenge online, where there are resources to help make environmentally friendly lifestyle choices.

TIPS TO REDUCE PLASTIC USE

* Use an eco-friendly coffee cup

* Bring reusable bags to do your grocery shopping

* Bulk buy or get refills when possible

* Use beeswax wraps, or a reusable container, instead of gladwrap

* Avoid plastic packed products by choosing local produce and products in paper packaging
Australia's first bill for Treaty with traditional land owners is expected to be debated in the Victorian parliament.

Victoria is following in the footsteps of New Zealand and Canada in seeking a treaty between the government and Aboriginal people.

The bill was introduced to parliament in March, with traditional owners sitting alongside the state's political leaders in the Legislative Assembly.

The plan will establish by mid-2019 a representative body made up of 30 traditional owners, who will design a negotiations framework and create a fund to support groups who seek treaties with the state.

But the Greens, along with some Aboriginal Victorians are unhappy with the government's approach.

Northcote MP Lidia Thorpe has submitted a series of amendments to the bill, which has been listed for debate in the lower house on Tuesday.
Police are continuing to hunt for suspects after a man was charged with murdering Queensland man Sam Price-Purcell three years after his disappearance.

Michael Jay Evans, 36, from Leyburn has been remanded in custody after facing Toowoomba Magistrates Court on Monday also charged with misconduct of a corpse and arson of a vehicle.

Police do not know Mr Price-Purcell's whereabouts but believe he was murdered over an undisclosed debt.

An associate of Mr Price-Purcell, Evans is the first charged over the murder which police believe involved several people.

"Certainly, we believe there were a number of people involved in his actual murder and there was at least one other person who we believe is an accessory," Detective Acting Inspector David Nicoll said.

Mr Price-Purcell, 25, disappeared after leaving Mitchelton in Brisbane in February 2015 and police believe he travelled to Toowoomba before he was killed.

He was last seen getting into a distinctive yellow Holden Commodore SS sedan, and late last month police revealed they had seized a similar car for forensic testing.

Police have appealed for anyone with information about the murder, or the location of the body, to come forward.

Evans will face Brisbane Magistrates Court on September 10.
Three men are due to face court after a man was hospitalised with stab and slash wounds in an alleged assault in NSW's western region.

A 35-year-old man was allegedly confronted by three men as he walked outside a building in Argent Street, Broken Hill on Monday afternoon.

One of the men, allegedly armed with a knife, stabbed the man while the other two men allegedly held him down and assaulted him.

He suffered minor stab and slash wounds to his upper body and was taken to Broken Hill Base Hospital where he was treated.

Later on Monday officers arrested a 28-year-old man in Creedon Street, Broken Hill, while two other men aged 24 and 43, attended Broken Hill Police Station where they were taken into custody.

The 28-year-old man was charged with wound with intent, affray, malicious damage and armed with intent.

The two other men were charged with wound with intent and affray.

All three men were refused bail and will appear in Broken Hill Local Court on Tuesday June 5.
A man is in intensive care and a woman is in a stable condition in hospital following a stabbing attack involving four people in Sydney's north.

Police and ambulance officers went to Asquith about 10.35pm on Monday night following reports of people arguing and discovered an injured 28-year-old woman lying on a floor of an apartment.

A 32-year-old woman and a 33-year-old man were uninjured while police were told another man, believed to have been in the unit, had gone to Hornsby Hospital with critical stab wounds.

A crime scene has been established and the 32-year-old woman and the 33-year-old man have been arrested and taken to Hornsby Police Station, where inquiries continue.
The complete elimination of nuclear weapons in North Korea must be pursued in ongoing talks after next week's historic summit with the US, Australia's defence minister believes.

Marise Payne says the government is cautiously optimistic about the talks on June 12 between North Korean leader Kim Jong-un and US President Donald Trump in Singapore but is clear the meeting will be part of a process and not a one-off.

"If we are to pursue denuclearisation on the peninsula, and that is certainly part of this conversation, then it has to be verifiable and it has to be completely eliminated," she told ABC radio on Tuesday, adding sanctions would continue as a deterrent.
The mummifed corpse of a suspected murder victim found in a ramshackle home in on Sydney's lower north shore had been inside the property for at least 10 years, police say.

Bruce Roberts, who's been described as a recluse and hoarder, died of natural causes last July.

Cleaners sent to clear out his Greenwich property discovered the skeletal remains among his junk last Tuesday.

The remains were so badly decomposed a post-mortem examination was required to determine the gender and age, however, police now believe they are that of a man in his 30s.

NSW Police on Tuesday confirmed the body had been in the house for at least a decade.

Last week, Acting Superintendent Simon Jones said the cause of death was being treated as unnatural and suspicious, with the body showing "a number of injuries".

The remains belonged to Shane Snellman who was known to police for links to petty crime, according to News Ltd.

Mr Snellman was believed to have been estranged from his family for many years, with no missing persons' report having ever been filed.
Foreign Minister Julie Bishop has expressed concern about the decision to change the Qantas website to refer to Taiwan as a Chinese territory after pressure from Beijing.

Qantas chief executive Alan Joyce revealed on Monday that the airline is in the process of making the change after China's aviation regulator in April issued a May 25 deadline to more than 40 airlines to make the change.

Ms Bishop has reiterated her concerns about Beijing's request for airlines to no longer refer to Taiwan as an independent country, but noted that Qantas was free to make its own corporate decisions.

"Private companies should be free to conduct their usual business operations free from political pressure of governments," Ms Bishop said in a statement on Tuesday.

"The decision of how Qantas structures its website is a matter for the company."

China's aviation regulator in April ordered airlines operating in China to refer to self-ruled Taiwan as "Taiwan China" on its website, or risk facing legal action.

While many airlines quickly complied, Qantas and some American airlines including Delta and United Airlines missed the deadline.

Qantas was given an extension of time to make the changes, which have previously been blasted by the White House as "Orwellian nonsense".

"Our intention is to meet the requirements. It's just taking time to get there," Mr Joyce told reporters at the International Air Transport Association (IATA) annual meeting in Sydney.

The head of Qantas International Alison Webster said making the changes on the Qantas website was a complex task.

"This is not just a Qantas Airline, it's a Qantas Group piece that needs to be adjusted - the IT and technology that underpins our websites and the connectivity takes time for us to get to grips with changes that need to be put into the programming stages of that," she said.

Beijing has also pressured other multinational companies to change the way they refer to Taiwan, which is governed separately from China.

Qantas argues that the changes are in line with the Australian government's One China Policy.
The operators of a 7-Eleven petrol station in Brisbane have been fined almost $200,000 for short-changing workers and creating false records to cover it up.

The Fair Work Ombudsman has imposed a $32,130 fine on Avinash Pratap Singh, the part-owner and manager of the petrol station in Vulture Street, East Brisbane, while S&A Enterprises (QLD) Pty Ltd, of which Singh is a director, was also fined $160,650.

Singh and the company admitted paying workers as little as $14.14 an hour, and the company also gave the ombudsman false wages records.
Opposition Leader Bill Shorten is kicking into campaign mode in north-west Tasmania, as Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull takes his drought "listening tour" to outback Queensland.

Mr Shorten will visit Burnie with Braddon Labor candidate Justine Keay on Tuesday morning, after taking part in a town hall meeting on Monday night.

His visit comes hot on the heels of former prime minister Tony Abbott, who has been out spruiking Liberal candidate Brett Whiteley ahead of next month's by-election.

Braddon is one of five seats up for grabs across the country on July 28.

A Sky News-ReachTel poll released on Sunday shows Labor is in strife to reclaim the Tasmanian seat, with the coalition leading by a margin of 54 to 46 per cent.

Another by-election in the Queensland seat of Longman will also be hard-fought, with the coalition leading Labor by 52 to 48 per cent on a two-party-preferred basis.

One Nation preferences could be a crucial factor in the Brisbane-based seat, but leader Pauline Hanson is in the UK on a parliamentary trip, while her party implodes back home.

The by-elections will be held alongside those in Mayo in South Australia, and Western Australia's Fremantle, which were also caused by dual-citizenship problems for sitting members.

A fifth by-election in Perth was caused after sitting member Tim Hammond resigned for family reasons.

Mr Turnbull is focusing his attention on drought-stricken towns rather than the contests, joining senior National Party colleagues to meet community members in Blackall, who have endured a seven-year dry.
A 64-year-old man has been belted over the head with a metal tyre lever by two men who broke into his Newcastle unit and then robbed a taxi driver as they fled.

NSW Police said the men, aged 24 and 34, forced their way into a Merewether home on Monday afternoon, assaulted the man and hailed a taxi outside the complex.

The 37-year-old cab driver was forced to hand over money, along with the PIN to his ATM card, police said.

The pair was arrested less than two kilometres away at a hotel.

They will face Newcastle Local Court on Tuesday charged with numerous offences.
Pauline Hanson is facing potential sanctions over allegations she tried to punish One Nation colleague Brian Burston for refusing to vote the way she wanted.

The escalating internal war gripping the minor party comes as another former One Nation senator switches allegiances, warning Senator Hanson could be left with a party of one.

Senator Burston is launching an effort to have the One Nation leader hauled before the powerful Senate privileges committee over their spectacular falling out over company tax cuts last week.

He has written to Senator Hanson to warn it was a possible "contempt of the Senate" for her to pressure him into changing his vote on the tax bill, Fairfax Media reports.

Senator Burston has argued he struck a "handshake agreement" with Finance Minister Mathias Cormann to back the government's legislation, and could not go back on his word.

Senator Burston, who led the One Nation ticket in NSW at the last election, is also refusing to quit the party, despite Senator Hanson asking him to hand his seat "back to the party" because she'd lost confidence in him.

"I'm not going to leave," he told Fairfax Media.

"She can sack me if she wishes, or she can apologise and retract all the garbage she's said about me in the public arena."

Meanwhile, former One Nation senator Fraser Anning has joined forces with maverick Queensland MP Bob Katter in federal parliament.

Senator Anning replaced Malcolm Roberts as a One Nation senator in November last year, after Mr Roberts was disqualified for being a dual citizen.

He publicly split from the party and its leader within hours, after Senator Hanson demanded he step aside to allow Mr Roberts to return to parliament.

Senator Anning predicts the One Nation leader's only remaining federal colleague, Western Australian Peter Georgiou, will eventually be ousted.

"I predicted it to Brian about an hour after I got dumped; Brian and Peter and I, I said, within the next 6 to 12 months we'll all be sitting here talking about how we got dropped," he told the ABC's 7:30 program.

"[Peter Georgiou's] the next rooster for the chopping block."

Senator Georgiou replaced his brother-in-law, Rod Culleton, who also fell out with the One Nation leader before the High Court ruled he was ineligible to run for parliament.

Senator Hanson has escaped the political heat for a taxpayer-funded parliamentary trip to the UK and France.
Former Australian prime minister Kevin Rudd says Donald Trump is walking a potentially dangerous path with China and Europe on trade, but praised the US president for his "shake the tree and see what falls out" strategy with North Korea.

Mr Rudd, speaking on US financial TV network CNBC on Monday, said Mr Trump's stiff tariffs targeting China and Europe risked leaving America isolated.

He believes weekend trade talks in Beijing between US Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross and Chinese Vice Premier Liu He ended "pretty badly looking at the content of the Chinese releases".

"My friends in Beijing say we are actually starting to get to a dangerous zone in the possibility of effectively resolving that one with the Chinese, so I think there is some real warning signals with that one," Mr Rudd said.

Mr Trump could also receive a frosty reception from European leaders when he attends the G7 summit later this week in Canada, after the president last week announced stiff tariffs on European Union steel and aluminium.

"The danger diplomatically for the United States at the moment is you start to carve yourself off from the Europeans and the Chinese simultaneously," Mr Rudd said.

"There's a G7 meeting coming up in Canada this week and the French are already referring to this now as a G6 plus one.

"Their statements, before it started, was basically the Americans are right off the reservation here."

Mr Rudd praised Mr Trump for his North Korean denuclearisation strategy, which led to next week's summit with the rogue nation's leader Kim Jong-un in Singapore.

"The strategy is shake the tree and see what falls out of it in terms of what concrete measures the North Koreans may be willing to agree to, and then make a decision about whether you can live with it," Mr Rudd, president of the Asia Society Policy Institute, said.

"So against the alternative, which is us careening in the direction of conflict, I give the president a reasonable pass mark on this one."
Petrol giant On The Run has banned the use of reusable coffee cups from its stores across South Australia.

Citing food safety concerns and possible cross-contamination, the company has banned reusable cups from more than 100 of its stores across the state, directing staff instead to use disposable cups.

"Using 'keep cups' or other food containers brought to site is a food safety risk; we cannot control contaminants such as bacteria, mould, viruses or foreign objects which may be present," the company said in a memo to staff.
Mohammed Alaa al-Jaleel holds a feline patient on her back as an ultrasound probe is rolled across her pregnant belly at Ernesto's Cat Sanctuary that he runs in Kfar Naha, an opposition-held town in Aleppo province in Syria.

At an unlikely cat shelter in rebel-held northern Syria, Mohammed Alaa al-Jaleel gently holds a feline patient on her back as an ultrasound probe is rolled across her pregnant belly.

In a time of war, she is one of hundreds to have received medical attention at the makeshift animal clinic in Kafr Naha, an opposition-held town in Aleppo province.

"If you want to show mercy to people, start by showing mercy to everything else," says Jaleel, who runs Ernesto's Cat Sanctuary -- named after his favourite furry friend.

The 43-year-old, who grew up in Syria's second city Aleppo, has been mad about cats since he was a boy.

As a young adult in the city, he would drop by the butchers on his way home from work as an electrician to ask for scraps to feed street cats in his neighbourhood.

When war broke out in 2011, he put down his tools to become an ambulance driver to help ferry the wounded -- but never stopped bringing food to his feline friends.

Mohammed Alaa al-Jaleel, 43, has become known as the Cat Man of Aleppo.

As the war raged on and cat lovers fled the city, Jaleel was left with 170 cats to feed and a new nickname: the Cat Man of Aleppo.

With the help of donations from friends and social media fans, he set up his first cat sanctuary in the city.

But in late 2016, the regime ramped up its deadly bombardment of Aleppo's opposition-held neighbourhoods as it sought to regain control of the whole city.

"We started fleeing from neighbourhood to neighbourhood until, in the end, we escaped the city altogether," Jaleel recalls.

- Sukhoi, the cat -

Determined not to leave them behind, he and fellow feline fans managed to save 22 of the city's cats.

"We gave each family two cats in a plastic vegetable basket," Jaleel says.

Among them was Sukhoi, named after the stealth fighter jets of regime ally Russia.

"He would zip in and grab food from right under the noses of the other cats, just like a Sukhoi jet," he tells AFP.

Syria's war has killed more than 350,000 people and displaced more than half its pre-war human population, as well as many of its domestic animals.

The cats live in rows of marble cubes with cat-sized entrances engraved with names like Pouncer and Rose

After fleeing Aleppo, Jaleel set up his second shelter -- named after Ernesto -- in early 2017 and housed 18 of the 22 smuggled cats in the animal oasis.

"The cats don't just stay in just one house. They swap with each other and sleep in all of them," Jaleel says, referring to rows of marble cubes with cat-sized entrances, engraved with names like Pouncer and Rose.

Nearby, a grinder churns out streams of bright pink mincemeat that is then scooped out onto plates spread out on the ground for lunchtime.

Eyes closed, a cat with a stripy, light ash coat dips its snow-white nose in, nibbling away.

Cats feed on mincemeat at the shelter funded by online crowdfuning campaigns

But the shelter, financed by online crowdfunding campaigns, does more than provide twice-daily meals: it also serves as an animal clinic with its in-house vet.

"We treat all sorts of animals here for free: horses, cows and even chickens," Jaleel says.

During an inventory in January, he and his colleagues discovered they had handed out 7,000 medical prescriptions for free in less than a year.

- 'Really beautiful' -

Mohammad Watar was blown away when he brought in his cat for treatment after food poisoning.

"There are no vets where I live. I asked people and they pointed me to the sanctuary," he says.

The shelter also has an in-house veterinarian and cares for sick and war-wounded cats as well as other animals

"I was so surprised to find this kind of thing existed during this war we're all living," says Watar.

"I saw them treating all sorts of animals. It's really beautiful."

Still, war is never far away: the sanctuary's main building bears the marks of gun fire.

Last month, it cancelled a children's party after a young boy was shot near the shelter, according to its English-language Facebook page.

Footage posted online depicted a man in a cat sanctuary t-shirt carrying a child with blood streaming down his calf.

Even the shelter's cats are treated for war wounds, says the centre's vet, Mohammed Yusuf.

"Just like many people are wounded by all the different weapons in the area, animals too suffer the same injuries," he tells AFP.

Some stay under observation at his clinic for weeks, but not all get the treatment they need.

"We're living in a war and facing severe shortages of veterinary medicines for wounds as well as vaccines," Yusuf says.

In a time of death and destruction, the pride of the sanctuary is its ability to carry out sonograms of animal mothers-to-be.

"We examine them and diagnose how many foetuses there are and when they are due, and we prepare to welcome the new births," Yusuf says.
Reports say the North Korean reshuffle could be aimed at taming the influential military

South Korea is monitoring developments in the North's armed forces, it said Monday after reports Pyongyang replaced three of its top military officials ahead of a summit with the United States.

President Donald Trump is due to meet with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un on June 12 in Singapore, with Pyongyang's nuclear arsenal high on the agenda.

Reports said the reshuffle could be aimed at eliminating resistance to the peace overtures.

Pyongyang's armed forces, known as the Korean People's Army, are immensely influential in the North and a centre of power in their own right, symbolised by the way Kim is habitually flanked by generals on one side and civilians on the other when attending major ceremonial events.

Late last month the North's state media revealed that Kim Su Gil had been appointed director of the military's powerful General Political Bureau (GPB), replacing Kim Jong Gak.

According to Yonhap news agency, which cited intelligence sources, the chief of the general staff Ri Myong Su has also been replaced by his deputy, Ri Yong Gil.

Defence minister Pak Yong Sik has been succeeded by No Kwang Chol, previously first vice minister, it added.

The wholesale reshuffle would be unusual if confirmed, Seoul's unification ministry said.

"We will monitor related developments," ministry spokesman Baik Tae-hyun told reporters.

According to researchers at NK Leadership Watch, the change at the top of the GPB "represents a continuation of tightening Party control over the KPA".

The political bureau could be in a position to resist policy decisions by the leadership or try to profit from future South Korean economic aid, it said.

"Both of these things lend themselves to creating alternate power centres," it noted.

But new GPB director Kim Su Gil was a "highly trusted" lieutenant of leader Kim Jong Un, it added, who appointed him to the Pyongyang party committee -- once a power base for his uncle Jang Song Thaek -- after having the older man executed for treason in 2013.

- Hardliners vs moderates? -

Reports said the wider changes could be aimed at preventing objections in the North's senior military ranks to any sudden changes in the country's nuclear policy.

The country remains technically at war after hostilities in the 1950-53 Korean War ended with an armistice rather than a peace treaty, and Kim's father and predecessor Kim Jong Il expounded a "Songun" or "military-first" policy that is a foundational plank of the North's ideology.

Pyongyang has long argued that it needs nuclear weapons to protect itself against a possible invasion by the US.

Yonhap cited the intelligence source as saying No Kwang Chol, the new defence minister, was known as a "moderate".

"The North appears to have brought in new figures... as the previous officials lacked flexibility in thinking," the source said.

But analysts said the personnel change was more likely a response to an internal matter.

"It's meaningless to divide North Korean officials into hardliners and moderates," said Kim Dong-yub, a professor at the Institute for Far Eastern Studies at Kyungnam University.

The personnel change was probably intended to implement the new economy-centred policies, he said, and officials with a better understanding in the area had been appointed.

No had formerly overseen the military's financial issues as the chair of the Second Economy Commission, Kim said.

"It looks like they needed someone who can have a firm grip on the military and dynamically push ahead with the new policies amid changes in US-North Korea relations," he added.
Prostitution has been legal in New Zealand since 2003, thanks to a campaign spearheaded by Catherine Healy, who has now been recognised in the Queen's Birthday honours list

A former sex worker was made a dame in the Queen's Birthday honours list in New Zealand on Monday, in recognition of her services to the sex industry.

Catherine Healy was instrumental in bringing about New Zealand's 2003 decriminalising of sex work and the introduction of some of the most liberal prostitution laws in the world.

But the 62-year-old said she was surprised at the honour, which officially makes her a dame companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit.

"It's not something I would have expected," she told Radio New Zealand.

"In fact, I always say I expect to be arrested at dawn, not to have this kind of tremendous honour and I was just very affected, very touched."

Healy has led the New Zealand Prostitutes Collective since 1989 and her honours citation said she had built it "into a globally respected public health provider".

She spearheaded the campaign for the 2003 law reform which allowed brothels and street workers to operate legally.

The reform meant sex workers were covered by employment, health and safety laws, giving them rights they had never previously enjoyed.

Healy said her new title showed how much attitudes had changed.

"This honour, and to have it given to me, is about saying, 'Okay, it's okay, you can come in from the cold, you and yours'," she told the national broadcaster.

New Zealand awards honours twice a year -- at New Year and to mark the official birthday of Queen Elizabeth II in early June.

Other recipients honoured on Monday included former prime minister Bill English, who was made a knight.
California, the most populous US state, is taking steps to tackle a nationwide resurgence of sexually transmitted diseases

A billboard on Sunset Boulevard in Hollywood screams out a stark warning: "drug-resistant gonorrhea alert!"

The words are set against a black background and accompanied by a microscope shot of the gonococcus bacteria, which causes the illness now running rampant in California.

Sexually transmitted diseases have made an alarming resurgence across the United States, where 2016 saw a record two million cases of chlamydia, gonorrhea and syphilis, including 628 cases of congenital syphilis.

But California, the most populous US state, stands out for its willingness to tackle the crisis head-on, with cases of the three ailments up 45 percent in 2017 from five years ago.

Thirty babies were stillborn amid 300 reported cases of congenital syphilis, more than in any other US state last year.

"These are incredibly alarming numbers," said Heidi Bauer, chief of the STD control branch of the California Department of Public Health. She said it amounts to an epidemic.

Congenital syphilis had been essentially eliminated from the United States, as it had in developing countries such as Cuba, Thailand and Moldova in the former Soviet Union, said Jeffrey Klausner of the UCLA school of medicine.

Michael Weinstein, head of the AIDS Healthcare Foundation NGO, warns that current US efforts to curb the rise of sexually transmitted diseases do not go far enough

"But you know the fact that congenital syphilis is roaring back in the states and in California is a shameful reminder of our inadequate public health programs," he said.

The cases of the stillborn babies are 100 percent preventable and this is "a slap in the face," he added.

Herein the problem seems to lie: the US health system is more reactive than preventive. And there is a lack of prevention and public awareness campaigns in a society in which people do not like to talk about sex.

- Government not a help -

The striking billboards in Los Angeles are sponsored by an NGO called the AIDS Healthcare Foundation, which aims to prevent or diagnose HIV and provide medical care for those who have it or other sexually transmitted diseases in free clinics.

Another sign about syphilis shows a torso ravaged by open wounds.

The foundation's president, Michael Weinstein, said the NGO's campaign has boosted visits to its clinics by 50 percent in Los Angeles.

By comparison, in south Florida, where cities such as Miami Beach or Fort Lauderdale as considered hotbeds of STDs, such campaigns are barred because they are deemed to be bad for tourism.

"You educate, you prevent, you test. You treat. You contact partners," said Weinstein. "We're not doing any of those things adequately."

The discouraging figures will keep rising and "the government is not helping," he warns.

The financial crisis of 2008 -- at the time STDs were not of particular concern -- led to deep cuts in health care spending, so many clinics shut down.

Add to this an increase in poverty, homelessness, drug use and pregnancies undertaken without proper healthcare -- all considered risk factors for congenital syphilis.

California has the world's fifth largest economy but the budget for fighting STDs is a paltry $20 million, which includes money that comes from the federal government.

"There's a fire burning in California. And when a fire is burning, you don't ask how much it costs to put it out. You supply whatever's needed to put it out," said Weinstein, insisting this is not happening in the case of STDs.

He said most of the NGOs patients are under age 25, and that with gonorrhea and syphilis -- which are harder and harder to cure because of bacteria's resistance to antibiotics -- a higher proportion of cases involve gay men.

- Not enough talk about sex -

Sex education is mandatory in California schools.

Californian health education teacher Leticia Jenkins believes that talking to students about sex is essential

Many teachers are reluctant to talk about it, but not Leticia Jenkins.

She speaks of it freely to her high school freshmen in the Los Angeles suburb of North Hills, who are working on posters to draw attention to STDs.

They use precise scientific language and are not at all skittish. They write down symptoms of STDs and ways to treat or prevent them. Jenkins said STD figures are out of control these days, and that talking about sex is essential.

Students work on posters about sexual health at James Monroe High School in the Los Angeles suburb of North Hills

"Schools don't talk enough about sex. We do," said Jenkins.

Some students said that in fact they do not talk about sex with their parents.

"They're old," said Norberto Osorio, 14 -- although he had talked about sex with his older brother.

"We didn't talk and I wouldn't like to talk now. I think it would make us both uncomfortable," fellow student Jessie Flores said of his parents.

"I didn't know any of this stuff before I had her," the 15 year old said of his teacher.
Yau waived her right to appeal and chose to serve out her sentence

Two Hong Kong independence activists who were stripped of their status as lawmakers in 2016 were sentenced to four weeks in prison Monday for their role in a fracas that disrupted proceedings in the city's parliament.

Baggio Leung and Yau Wai-ching belong to Hong Kong's embattled independence movement, which is calling for the semi-autonomous city to split from China as its freedoms come under threat from Beijing.

The pair were told they had "directly hurt the dignity of the legislative council" by judge Wong Sze-lai, who went on to grant them bail pending appeal.

They were both held in custody after the sentencing while the court awaited their bail money. Yau later waived her right to appeal and chose to serve out her sentence.

Calls for Hong Kong to split from China have incensed Beijing and the past two years have seen a crackdown on any expression of pro-independence views.

Yau, 27, and Leung, 31, are the latest activists to be given jail terms on protest-related charges.

They had pleaded not guilty to unlawful assembly and attempted forcible entry after trying to barge into a legislative council meeting in November 2016.

The duo had been barred from the main chamber pending a court decision over their disqualification from parliament.

They ran into the chamber, and after security bundled them out, they and their supporters tried to push their way into a committee room to which the disrupted session had been moved.

Hong Kong's parliament witnessed chaotic scenes in November 2016 as newly-elected pro-independence lawmakers deliberately misread their oaths, and later attempted to force their way into a committee room

In the ensuing chaos, they clashed again with security, with at least three staff taken to hospital and police called in.

Despite being elected by the public, the pair were never allowed to take up their seats after protesting at their swearing-in ceremony.

They deliberately misread their oaths of office, inserted expletives and draped themselves in "Hong Kong is not China" flags.

Beijing intervened to ensure they were not given the chance to retake their oaths by issuing a special "interpretation" of Hong Kong's mini-constitution.

The ruling said that any oath-taker who did not follow the prescribed wording of the pledge, "or takes the oath in a manner which is not sincere or not solemn", should be disqualified.

After the interpretation, Hong Kong's High Court ruled to bar them both.

Former UK foreign secretary Malcolm Rifkind said the prison sentences handed out to Yau and Leung were "deeply disturbing".

"It is difficult to believe that former lawmakers would have been punished by imprisonment for such relatively minor offences in other countries," he said in a statement issued by Hong Kong Watch, an NGO that monitors the city's freedoms, of which Rifkind is a patron.

Hong Kong is set to mark the 29th anniversary of China's crackdown on democracy protesters in Beijing's Tiananmen Square with a vigil in Victoria Park on Monday evening. It is the only place on Chinese soil where the anniversary is openly marked en masse.
Aso is the richest minister in Abe's cabinet

Japan's Finance Minister Taro Aso said Monday he was returning a year's salary after his ministry scrubbed public documents related to a cronyism scandal that has dogged Prime Minister Shinzo Abe.

But he ruled out resigning after it emerged ministry officials had removed hundreds of references to Abe, his wife, and Aso from documents related to the sale of state land at below-market prices.

"I am voluntarily returning 12 months of my salary as a cabinet minister, as this problem has hurt public confidence in the finance ministry and the administration as a whole," Taro Aso told reporters.

But he added, "I am not thinking about stepping down", as he announced the findings of the ministry's in-house probe.

Aso is the richest minister in Abe's cabinet because of his family's massive fortune made in the mining business. He also earns some 30 million yen ($274,000) a year as a cabinet minister.

Aso said the ministry had penalised around 20 officials, imposing pay cuts in some cases and issuing verbal reprimands to others.

"Officially approved administrative documents should never have been altered and submitted to parliament. I find this extremely regrettable," he said.

Abe told reporters he wanted Aso to stay on to ensure lessons were learned from the scandal.

"We should conduct a through review of how to keep public documents and take measures to prevent a recurrence," he said, adding that he wanted Aso "to take leadership in this and fulfil his responsibility."

The scandal revolves around the 2016 cut-price sale of state-owned land to a nationalist school operator who claims ties to Abe and his wife Akie.

The penalised officials include Nobuhisa Sagawa, whose office helped alter key documents related to the controversial land sale. He has since resigned.

Giving sworn testimony in parliament soon after he quit the ministry in March, Sagawa denied any involvement by Abe or the prime minister's office in falsifying the documents.

But the senior bureaucrat declined to answer detailed questioning about how and when documents were altered, saying he was under criminal investigation.

Prosecutors last week decided not to press charges against him.

Abe also faces a second cronyism scandal in which the opposition alleges he used his influence to help an old friend open a school in a special economic zone, bypassing cumbersome government regulations.

Abe, in power since late 2012, is in no imminent danger of losing his job, but the scandals have affected his popularity.

A new opinion poll released Monday showed voter support for his cabinet down 1.6 percentage points over the past month to 39 percent, the lowest level since he took office.

The finance ministry, considered the most powerful in Japan's bureaucracy, has also been rocked by a sexual abuse scandal that forced the resignation of a senior official.
Militants are stepping up their headline-grabbing assaults on the heavily fortified capital

At least seven people were killed in a suicide bombing Monday near a gathering of top clerics in Afghanistan's capital Kabul, roughly one hour after the group proclaimed such attacks a sin, police said.

The blast in the western part of the city, near universities and a police academy, was claimed by the Islamic State group and is the latest demonstration of the militants' ability to carry out attacks in the heart of Kabul, which is now the deadliest place in the country for civilians.

The bomber detonated at about 11:30 am (0700 GMT) at the gates of Kabul's Polytechnic University, police and officials said. The Loya Jirga tent where thousands of clerics from across Afghanistan were meeting is on the campus.

The tent is a huge venue often used for top religious or government gatherings. "Loya Jirga" means "grand assembly" in Pashto.

Most of the casualties were civilians.

"According to our initial information, seven people have been killed including a policeman. Nine others have been injured, including two policemen," police spokesman Hashmat Stanikzai told media.

Interior ministry spokesman Najib Danish confirmed it was a suicide attack, and said the bomber had been on foot when he detonated his explosives at the university gate.

Interior ministry spokesman Najib Danish confirmed it was a suicide attack

Police spokesman Stanikzai said the blast was outside the tent.

IS claimed the attack via their Amaq propaganda agency.

Both the Taliban and IS have stepped up their headline-grabbing assaults on the heavily fortified capital in recent months.

Roads around the university were quickly blocked by security officials after the blast, with heavy traffic jams building as many commuters headed home due to Ramadan, the holy Islamic fasting month, during which government offices close early.

Shortly after the first blast, a second explosion was heard, but police said it was a sticky bomb in a market several kilometres away which wounded an unspecified number of civilians.

- Civilians bearing the brunt -

Local media said thousands of clerics had gathered at the Loya Jirga tent for the meeting of the Ulema Council, Afghanistan's top religious leaders.

Roughly an hour before the attack, they issued a fatwa against the ongoing conflict in Afghanistan, where the Taliban have been fighting an insurgency for nearly 17 years, while other militant groups have also been carrying out attacks.

The Ulema Council -- seen by the militants as having some links to the government -- termed suicide attacks and explosions "haram", or prohibited in Islam. They have issued such fatwas in the past.

"Executing, financing and supporting such acts are against Sharia law," they said in a statement tweeted by the government.

Fighting in the name of jihad in Afghanistan, where the majority of the population is Muslim, has "no legitimacy" in Islam, they added, calling for peace talks.

"As the war in which tens of people die on a daily basis is prolonged... then both sides, the government and the Taliban, should come to the negotiation table and put an end to the calamity."

Washington condemned the attack on the clerics and scholars.

"Today's attack targeting civilians and those religious leaders working towards peace in Afghanistan exposes the terrorists' inhumanity and contradicts the Islamic principles and legitimacy they claim to defend," State Department spokeswoman Heather Nauert said in a statement.

President Ashraf Ghani in late February proposed peace talks with the Taliban. The group has not officially responded, but deadly attacks have proliferated since then, particularly in Kabul.

The capital accounted for 16 percent of all civilian casualties last year, when 1,831 civilians were killed or wounded nationwide, according to the United Nations.

The myriad attacks since 2017 included two of the deadliest in the city since the US invasion in late 2001 -- a truck bomb on May 31, 2017 that killed more than 150 people, and an ambulance bomb on January 27 this year which killed more than 100.

The UN has warned that 2018 could be even deadlier.

Many fearful residents have restricted their movements as a result, afraid to linger in bazaars or to become trapped in traffic during rush hour, a prime time for attacks.
The US has urged China to make 'a full accounting' of the 1989 Tiananmen Square crackdown, prompting a furious response from Beijing

China's information blackout about the crackdown on the 1989 Tiananmen protests took a new turn on Monday: users of a popular social media app could not send each other money transfers alluding to the anniversary date.

Open discussion of the brutal crackdown is forbidden in China, where hundreds -- by some estimates more than a thousand -- died when the Communist Party sent tanks on June 4, 1989 to crush a student-led demonstration calling for democratic reforms.

The United States called on China on Monday to disclose how many were killed, drawing a rebuke from Beijing, which brands the protest as a "counter-revolutionary rebellion".

Foreign news broadcasts on commemoration events are usually blocked while survivors and the families of those killed are put under surveillance or forced to travel out of Beijing as the anniversary approaches. Security prevented an AFP photographer from approaching the square on Monday.

Social media is also heavily controlled, and on Monday users of the ubiquitous WeChat application were unable to exchange "red envelopes", or money packets, valued at 89.64 yuan or 64.89 yuan, indicating the date of the anniversary.

A "system busy. Try again later" message appeared every time AFP journalists tried to complete a transaction involving the sum, but the service functioned smoothly if the amount was changed, suggesting deliberate censorship.

Hong Kong is the only place on Chinese soil where the anniversary is openly marked with a famous annual vigil

People in China use clever tactics to circumvent censorship. When dissident Nobel laureate Liu Xiaobo died of cancer while in custody last year, people posted candle emojis as a discreet tribute. Those wanting to allude to the #MeToo movement have used emojis and the Chinese characters for rice and bunny, which are "mi" and "tu".

Chinese search engine Baidu did not yield any results for the term "29th anniversary of Tiananmen massacre" during the past week and posts on any commemoration events were missing from China's Twitter-like microblogging platform Weibo.

The Chinese government has "spent enormous amounts of resources" to enforce a "thorough and all-encompassing" erasure of information linked to the incident, William Nee, a China researcher at Amnesty International Hong Kong, told AFP.

"This year, it might be incrementally more effective, since the government has increased self-censorship on WeChat groups and has become better at using artificial intelligence to proactively ban what it deems to be problematic photos."

Tencent Holdings, which operates WeChat, could not be reached for comment.

- 'Commemorate the struggle' -

Several prominent bloggers and activists were forced to go on "vacation" under police escort ahead of the sensitive date.

Dissident democracy activist He Depu told AFP that two policemen drove him to a hotel in the Yellow Mountains, a popular tourist resort in central China, on May 31, and he will only be allowed to "checkout" on Tuesday afternoon.

Activist Hu Jia said two national guards drove him from Beijing to a hotel in the centre of Qinhuangdao, a beach resort about 300 kilometres (180 miles) east of the capital on June 1.

"This is already my 14th year of being forced to take a vacation on June 4. But, wherever I am, I fast the whole day and light candles to commemorate the struggle," he said.

"After all, I feel lucky... to be a survivor. On this day 29 years ago, the bullets flew over my head. I also feel saddened... because so many people died, but China is still stuck in 1984 in terms of (political) progress."

- US demands death toll -

Families of pro-democracy protesters killed in the 1989 bloodbath have recently written an open letter urging President Xi Jinping to acknowledge their suffering and "re-evaluate the June Fourth massacre".

The semi-autonomous territory of Hong Kong is the only place on Chinese soil where the anniversary is openly marked with a famous annual vigil that took place again on Monday.

US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo issued a statement urging China to "make a full public accounting of those killed, detained or missing" in the massacre.

Pompeo quoted Liu Xiaobo as saying: "The ghosts of June 4th have not yet been laid to rest."

China lodged a formal diplomatic protest over Pompeo's remarks.

"The Chinese government has already come to a clear conclusion regarding the political disturbances that occurred in the late 1980s," Chinese foreign ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying said.

Pompeo's statement is "groundlessly accusing the Chinese government and interfering in China's internal affairs. The Chinese side is strongly dissatisfied and resolutely opposes this," Hua added.
IAEA chief Yukiya Amano says the body has had access to all nuclear sites in Iran it had needed to visit

The head of the UN's nuclear watchdog called Monday on Iran to ensure "timely and proactive cooperation" with inspections mandated under the 2015 deal with world powers over its nuclear programme.

Speaking at the first meeting of the IAEA's board of governors since US President Donald Trump threw the future of the deal in doubt in May with his decision to withdraw, Director General Yukiya Amano said the agency had had access to all sites in Iran that it needed to visit and that "Iran was implementing its nuclear-related commitments".

However, echoing language in the agency's last report on Iran in May, Amano said that "in some cases, there existed room for Iran to provide us with more proactive and timely access, but such cases are not uncommon in safeguard implementation".

While the IAEA itself has not given any more detail on these cases, it is understood that one recent inspection at a research facility was held up -- but still carried out within the necessary time limits.

A senior diplomat in Vienna, where the IAEA is based, said recently that the agency's language was aimed at "encouraging (Iran) to go above and beyond the requirements" of the deal.

Tehran could, for example, invite inspectors to sites they had not demanded access to, the diplomat said.

Asked about the presentation that the Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu made in April on Iran's nuclear programme, Amano said that the agency had "carefully" watched Netanyahu's press conference on the topic and had "an initial exchange of views as a follow-up".

"We have just started to look into the information," Amano said, adding he expected it will take "a long time" to analyse.

Iran's regional arch-foe Israel has long been opposed to the 2015 Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) and in April Netanyahu unveiled an intelligence trove on Iran's alleged nuclear ambitions.

However he did not present evidence that Iran had actively worked to obtain an atomic weapon since the deal was struck.

The other signatories to the JCPOA have been scrambling to find ways to keep it going since Trump's announcement that he would pull out and reinstate US sanctions.

Last month, a senior Iranian official said Trump's actions had left the landmark accord in "intensive care".

As its price for staying in the deal, Iran has demanded European powers present an "economic package" that would mitigate the effects of US sanctions.

Tehran has threatened to restart its uranium enrichment programme at an "industrial level" if the 2015 pact falls apart.
Ouattara is under fire for suggesting that constitutional changes allow him to stay in office beyond 2020 when his second term expires

An opposition coalition in Ivory Coast has rejected any prospect of a third term for President Alassane Ouattara, lashing it as "anti-constitutional, unacceptable and unattainable."

Ouattara came to power after a bloody five-month crisis in 2010-11 and is now in his second term, which ends in 2020.

"The new constitution authorises me to do two terms from 2020. I will only make my final decision at that point, on the basis of the situation in Ivory Coast. The overwhelming priorities are stability and peace," Ouattara said last week in an interview with magazine Jeune Afrique.

In a communique, a large opposition coalition, Together for Democracy and Sovereignty (EDS), blasted his statement as "pure provocation of the Ivorian people."

"The idea of a third term, as the current head of state knows, is anti-constitutional, unacceptable and unattainable," EDS chairman Georges Armand Ouegnin said in the statement.

Ouattara and his supporters say that under changes to the constitution in 2016, of which he himself was the architect, the starting point for presidential terms is now zero -- that his two election victories in 2010 and 2015 do not count.

This interpretation is contested not only by the opposition but also internationally, although some commentators see it as a tactic by Ouattara to tamp down quarrels within his party over his succession.

EDS is a coalition that gathers civil society groups as well as the Ivorian People's Party (FPI), the party of former president Laurent Gbagbo.

Gbagbo refused to step down in 2010 after losing the election to Ouattara. He was forced out after violence between supporters of the two rivals that claimed several thousand lives, and is now on trial in The Hague for war crimes.

Constitutional changes that critics say are designed to let presidential incumbents retain power have been unfolding or are under discussion in a range of African countries, including Burundi, Chad, the Comoros and Togo.
Semi-autonomous Hong Kong has seen tens of thousands gather at the candlelit vigil in Victoria Park since 1990

Crowds assembled in Hong Kong on Monday in memory of the victims of China's Tiananmen Square crackdown but young activists are increasingly questioning the annual vigil's relevance.

Semi-autonomous Hong Kong has seen tens of thousands gather at the candlelit vigil in Victoria Park since 1990, while any mention of Beijing's brutal crackdown on students calling for democracy on June 4, 1989, remains strictly censored in the mainland.

Organised by the Hong Kong Alliance in Support of Patriotic Democratic Movements in China, a group of veteran campaigners, the vigil has always had the democratisation of China as its central message.

However, since mass student-led Umbrella Movement rallies failed to win political reform for Hong Kong in 2014, more young activists and students have turned to "localism", which focuses on local identity and autonomy and tends to reject any associations with China.

Some pro-independence activists call for a complete split from the mainland.

As a result, student unions in Hong Kong have boycotted the Tiananmen vigil for the past three years.

"China's progress for democracy is really slow, and rather hopeless. If (the democracy movements of China and Hong Kong) are interlinked, wouldn't that in turn negate Hong Kong's progress?" the president of the University of Hong Kong's student union, Wong Ching-fung, told local media last week.

A public opinion poll by the University of Hong Kong found that the proportion of people who think Hong Kongers have "a responsibility to instigate the development of democracy in China" has dropped from 58 percent to 56 percent this year.

The proportion of those who believe Hong Kongers do not have a responsibility to do so has climbed steadily since 2014 to 31 percent this year.

Although tens of thousands still turn up to the park, numbers have fallen and small alternative events are popping up around the city.

However, those who were there Monday said they still felt a duty to pay tribute to the demonstrators who had died when Chinese authorities sent in tanks to crush a peaceful seven-week sit-in to demand democratic reforms.

Hundreds -- by some estimates more than a thousand -- were killed.

"If it's not discussed, and the younger generation does not know about it, the memory of June 4 will weaken after a while," teacher Karen Hung, 38, told AFP at the vigil.

Retiree Sammy Au, 71, said he did not feel the vigil was about democratising China but was a tribute to the "selfless" acts of the students who died.

"If I were the last person remaining, I would still come out," he told AFP.

The vigil came as two pro-independence former lawmakers were given four-week jail sentences Monday for participating in a fracas in the legislature in 2016.

A number of activists have been prosecuted on protest-related charges since the 2014 rallies as concerns grow that Hong Kong's freedoms are under threat from Beijing.
People receive the bodies of loved ones in the Tunisian town of Sfax on June 4, 2018

Tunisia's navy scoured choppy waters Monday for survivors and victims of the Mediterranean's worst shipwreck in months, with the UN migration agency warning more than 100 people may have been killed.

A total of 68 survivors were rescued Sunday off the coast of Sfax in southern Tunisia, while 48 bodies were recovered according to Tunisia's defence ministry.

A survivor told AFP that more than 180 people were crammed onto the boat -- double its capacity -- when it started taking on water and sank.

"The search operation restarted at 4:00 GMT with the help of nine navy units, one helicopter and divers," Mohammed Salah Sagaama, commander of Sfax's naval base, told AFP.

Six hours into the search no more bodies had been recovered, he added, saying the search efforts were hampered by strong winds and limited visibility.

A spokesman for the International Organization for Migration, Flavio Di Giacomo, said 60 bodies had been recovered.

The shipwreck is the deadliest in the Mediterranean since February 2, when 90 people drowned off the coast of Libya, according to the IOM.

Map of Tunisia locating the city of Sfax and Kerkennah island, close to where the bodies of many migrants were recovered on Sunday

So far 10 Tunisians have been identified among the victims and 14 people from other African nations.

Crowds gathered in Sfax on Monday as they waited for news of friends and relatives, while others collected coffins containing the bodies of those who had drowned.

A crisis centre was set up following a government meeting led by Prime Minister Youssef Chahed, to support victims' families and survivors.

- Young 'lives in danger' -

The IOM spokesman said the death toll from the latest disaster could more than double, with around 50 people unaccounted for.

"We have 112 as an estimate of migrants who lost their lives," Di Giacomo told AFP.

Each passenger on the fishing boat paid between 600 and 1,000 euros ($700-$1,170), he added.

Tunisia's prime minister called for greater efforts to dismantle "as quickly as possible" the "criminal networks that profit from these young people looking to emigrate and putting their lives in danger".

Tunisian authorities are hunting for eight suspects, all of whom are from the Kerkennah archipelago close to Sfax, an interior ministry spokesman said.

West African migrants were among the victims and Di Giacomo said the IOM has recently seen an increasing number travelling from Tunisia to Europe.

"Tunisians usually arrive with small boats, carrying no more than 50 migrants; in the past month we have started to see these big boats," he said.

The Sfax incident came as nine Syrians including seven children drowned on Sunday when their vessel sank off the coast of Turkey as they were trying to reach Europe.

People wait to receive the bodies of loved ones in the Tunisian town of Sfax on June 4, 2018

Spanish maritime rescue meanwhile said one person was reported drowned, while 240 migrants were rescued over the weekend.

More than 650 people have been recorded as dead or missing in the Mediterranean so far this year, while at least 33,270 have survived the crossing to Europe.
Displaced residents from the Libyan town of Tawergha camp in the desert some 20 kilometres (12 miles) from their home

A new accord has been struck for thousands of displaced Libyans to return home to a town that sided with former leader Moamer Kadhafi in the 2011 revolution, the country's unity government said Monday.

Fayez al-Sarraj, head of the Government of National Accord, welcomed the reconciliation deal signed late Sunday by representatives of the pro-Kadhafi town of Tawergha and nearby Misrata, 240 kilometres (145 miles) southeast of the Libyan capital Tripoli.

"The return of the inhabitants of Tawergha to their town will mark the start of the return of all Libya's displaced and exiles inside and outside the country," Sarraj said on the GNA's Facebook page.

The 35,000 residents of Tawergha, a town which sided with Kadhafi right up to his fall, were evicted after his overthrow and have since been kept in camps on the outskirts of Tripoli or scattered across Libya.

Living in wretched conditions, they have been the frequent target of attacks by militiamen, especially from Misrata -- a city that lost hundreds of lives in the revolt against Kadhafi.

A date has yet to be announced for the return of residents to Tawergha.

An earlier accord with a return date of February 1 saw hundreds of families in cars turned back at roadblocks manned by militiamen from Misrata who control the town.

Since then, the displaced have camped in the desert sleeping in tents donated by UN agencies or shelters provided by nearby towns.
Duterte's previous comments on women, including rape jokes, have resulted in angry charges of misogyny against him

Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte drew condemnation Monday after kissing a Filipino woman onstage during his visit to South Korea, prompting outraged activists to call it "disgusting".

Duterte's previous comments on women, including rape jokes and incitations to shoot women guerillas in the vagina have resulted in angry charges of misogyny against him.

During the appearance late Sunday in front of a mostly Filipino crowd, Duterte called the woman onstage and pointed to his lips.

"Come here! Where's my (kiss)," Duterte said, instructing her to explain to her husband -- after learning he was not among the audience -- that they were engaging in a "joke".

"Don't take it seriously. It's just for fun, a gimmick," Duterte later told the crowd, who mostly shrieked in apparent approval.

But the women's rights political party Gabriela in a statement denounced Duterte for his "perverted way of getting back at his women critics".

"Gabriela views President Duterte's recent kissing of a migrant Filipina during his meet-and-greet with Filipino (workers)... as the disgusting theatrics of a misogynist president who feels entitled to demean, humiliate or disrespect women according to his whim," it added.

Duterte has fought publicly with powerful women who criticised his deadly narcotics crackdown and human rights record.

He labelled the now-ousted head of the nation's judiciary, Maria Lourdes Sereno, an "enemy" before her colleagues on the Supreme Court sacked her last month.

Duterte critic Senator Leila de Lima is behind bars on charges she insists are politically motivated after battling with the president.

In this case, the unidentified woman told the state-run Philippine News Agency in an interview that "there was no malice" to what the president did.

Duterte, who has a daughter by his current partner after splitting from his wife, is wildly popular at home but has angered many Filipinos for his allegedly misogynistic comments.

In the 2016 presidential election campaign Duterte sparked controversy over comments made on the rape and killing of an Australian missionary during a prison riot in the southern city of Davao in 1989 while he was the mayor.

"What occurred to me was they gang-raped her," he said then. "I was angry because she was raped. But she was so beautiful the mayor should have been first. What a waste."

In February this year he told a local audience foreign women did not attract him because they have a "queer odour" unlike Filipinas who were "fragrant".

A day later while meeting a group of former communist rebels Duterte joked he would have specific orders for how the military would treat female guerrillas.

"We won't kill you. We will just shoot your vagina so that if there is no vagina, it would be useless," he said.
The entrance to the Syrian city of Afrin, shown in this May 5 filer, and which Turkish forces captured from a Kurdish militia

Turkish troops are advancing on the mountainous Qandil region of northern Iraq where the leadership of the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) is based, a senior minister said Monday, as military operations are stepped up.

Several Turkish troops have been killed in the region in recent months during clashes with the PKK, although the authorities remain vague over where the fighting is taking place.

Interior Minister Suleyman Soylu told the state-run Anadolu news agency the target was the Qandil mountains, the PKK's key military base.

"Qandil is not a distant target for us," Soylu said.

"Right now several areas were taken under control, especially in the northern Iraqi region," he added.

Outlawed by Ankara and its Western allies, the PKK has waged a bloody insurgency against the Turkish state since 1984, and the army is battling the group's militants both inside Turkey and in northern Iraq.

"We are now 26-27 kilometres (16-17 miles) away. There are naturally clashes breaking out because it is a terrain we don't know. There are homemade explosive devices," Soylu said.

Turkish warplanes often bomb PKK hideouts in northern Iraq while the security forces sporadically launch cross-border incursions in pursuit of rebel fighters.

Last week four Turkish soldiers were killed in clashes with PKK fighters in northern Iraq, the army said in a statement.

President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has repeatedly threatened a major cross-border operation to dislodge the group from its strongholds.

"To us, it is a question of timing now. It is not a question of operation," Soylu said. "Qandil will become a safe area for Turkey. Nobody should doubt it."

It is in this area that the PKK's military leadership such as Murat Karayilan and Cemil Bayik are believed to be based.

Top PKK leader Abdullah Ocalan is serving a life sentence on a prison island off Istanbul following his capture in 1999.

The operations inside northern Iraq come as Turkey prepares for June 24 parliamentary and presidential elections.

Ankara earlier this year successfully carried out a major incursion into Syria along with allied Syrian rebels, taking the Afrin region from a Kurdish militia.
Saudi Arabia on Monday began issuing its first driving licences to women in decades, state media reported.

'The first group of women today received their Saudi driving licences,' the official Saudi Press Agency said.

'The general directorate of traffic started replacing international driving licences recognised in the kingdom with Saudi licences,' it added.

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Esraa Albuti, an Executive Director at Ernst & Young, displays her brand new driving license, at the General Department of Traffic in the capital, Riyadh

The move comes as Saudi Arabia, the only country in the world where women are not allowed drive, prepares to lift its decades-long ban on female drivers on June 24.

SPA said authorities started swapping international licences for Saudi ones in multiple locations across the kingdom, with women applicants made to undergo a 'practical test'.

It did not specify the number of licences issued.

The move is part of Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman's far-reaching liberalisation drive as he seeks to modernise the conservative petro-state.

A Saudi woman can be seen speaking to an officer before her driving exam in Riyadh

Footage posted on Twitter captured the moment when the first woman was given a driving license by officials

The self-styled reformer, who recently undertook a global tour aimed at reshaping his kingdom's austere image, has sought to break with long-held restrictions on women and the mixing of the genders.

Footage posted on Twitter captured the moment when the first woman was given a driving license by officials.

But casting a shadow on the reforms, Saudi Arabia last week said it detained 17 people for 'undermining' the kingdom's security, in what campaigners have dubbed a sweeping crackdown against activists.

Rights groups have identified many of the detainees as women campaigners for the right to drive and to end the conservative Islamic country's male guardianship system.

Authorities said eight of the detainees had been 'temporarily released' until their investigation is completed.

A Saudi woman test-drives a car during an automotive exhibition for women in the capital Riyadh last month

Nine suspects, including four women, remain in custody after they 'confessed' to a slew of charges such as suspicious contact with 'hostile' organisations and recruiting people in sensitive government positions, according to SPA.

Authorities accused the detainees of 'coordinated activity undermining the security and stability of the kingdom'.

Previous reports in state-backed media branded some of the detainees traitors and 'agents of embassies'.

Campaigners have dismissed the reports as a 'smear' campaign. The crackdown has also sparked a torrent of global criticism.
Senate leader Bukola Saraki, pictured at a corruption trial in 2015 in which he was later acquitted of all major charges. He is now at the centre of allegations, which he denies, that he hired and armed a gang of thugs to support his political career

The use of political gangs has returned to the spotlight in Nigeria after suspects in a violent armed robbery claimed they had been recruited by the leader of the country's Senate.

Twenty-two young men were arrested after heists on six banks killed 33 in the town of Offa, in the central state of Kwara, on April 5.

On Sunday, the police summoned Bukola Saraki, a former Kwara state governor and now head of the upper chamber of parliament, for questioning.

Five of those held "admitted and confessed" they were "political thugs... sponsored with firearms, money and operational vehicles" by Saraki and his successor as governor, Abdulfatah Ahmed, according to a police statement.

The gang allegedly operated for Saraki as political enforcers under the name Youth Liberation Movement or "Good Boys" but used the weapons and vehicles to carry out the heists, it said.

Saraki has rejected the allegation as "baseless" and claimed he was being set up.

Political enforcers -- free-wheeling gangs providing security for their boss at public meetings or intimidate opponents or more -- have a long and sinister history in Nigeria.

But the latest incident has fuelled warnings the phenomenon could increase in the run-up to elections in February next year.

"Even in the 1960s during the First Republic, we had 'Operation Wetie' in western Nigeria, where politicians used thugs to burn houses and kill their opponents," said Don Okereke, a security expert.

Since then, ethnic militia emerged such as the Oodua People's Congress in the southwest, the Bakassi Boys in the southeast and the Niger Delta Vigilante Service in the south.

Northern equivalents sponsored to do the bidding of political godfathers include Sara-Suka, Yan Daba and Kauraye operating in Gombe, Kano and Katsina states.

- Power struggle -

Okereke blamed the practice on a loss of values in society and widespread economic hardship as well as desperation on the part of politicians to acquire and cling to power.

"Our youths have lost their moral values for good behaviour. It's also a question of poverty and unemployment," he told AFP.

"The youths have become willing tools in the hands of desperate politicians who capitalise on their poor condition to achieve their political ambition."

Public affairs commentator Chris Ngwodo agreed: "Political thuggery is deeply entrenched in our politics because of the high stakes involved in the struggle for power.

"These thugs foment trouble, create tension and unleash violence on behalf of their patrons who are usually the big men, the senior government officials and politicians in society."

Over time they can move from threats, intimidation and ballot stuffing into organised crime -- or worse.

"That explains why there is a direct link between political thuggery, violence and organised crimes like armed robbery, kidnapping, cultism (gang membership) and assassinations," said Ngwodo.

Former members of the ECOMOG gang recruited by the ex-Borno state governor Ali Modu Sheriff then dumped when he left office have allegedly gone on to join Boko Haram.

The hardline Islamists, who funded their activities in their early days through bank robberies and extortion, have killed at least 20,000 people in northeast Nigeria since 2009.

Boko Haram has been repeatedly accused of having political sponsors, although no link has ever been established.

- 'Unwholesome practice' -

Lagos police recently warned parents about their children being recruited as political touts, given the risks of them falling into other criminal activities, including kidnapping.

Buhari is hoping to secure a second, four-year term of office at elections in February next year against a backdrop of worsening security from ethnic and religious tensions.

Eradicating the practice may not be easy given Nigeria's system of patronage politics and the lure of ready cash and status to legions of disaffected and jobless young men.

"The trend will continue as long as there are willing boys to do the bidding of politicians who have the resources to adequately reward them," said Ngwodo.

"As we move towards the 2019 election, we are going to see more manifestation of this unwholesome practice."

One way out is to make public office less attractive to reduce access to slush funds that could be deployed to hire thugs to serve selfish political interests, he argued.
Serena Williams pulled out of her French Open clash with bitter rival Maria Sharapova

Serena Williams announced her shock withdrawal from the French Open through injury on Monday just minutes before her scheduled fourth-round clash against long-time bitter rival and fellow Grand Slam icon Maria Sharapova.

The 36-year-old said she had suffered a pectoral muscle injury in her third-round win over Julia Goerges and "can't serve at all".

The 23-time Grand Slam champion added that she would stay in Paris for a Tuesday scan on the injury.

"I unfortunately have been having some issues with my pec muscle, and (it) has been getting worse to the point where right now I can't actually serve. It's kind of hard to play when I can't physically serve," she explained.

She was unable to say whether or not she would be fit for Wimbledon which gets underway in four weeks' time.

"I'm beyond disappointed," added three-time Roland Garros champion Williams who was playing in her first Grand Slam since winning the 2017 Australian Open while two months pregnant.

She was also in just her third tournament of the year after giving birth to daughter Olympia in September.

"I gave up so much time with my daughter and time with my family all for this moment. So it's really difficult to be in this situation."

Williams, whose absence from the sport has seen her ranking tumbling to 451, has not lost to the Russian since 2004, winning their last 18 matches.

It had been the most eagerly-awaited match of the tournament, coming just two days after Williams had blasted Sharapova's autobiography for being "100 percent hearsay" when it came to references about her.

"I think Serena hated me for being the skinny kid who beat her, against all odds, at Wimbledon," Sharapova wrote in 'Unstoppable'.

"Not long after I heard Serena told a friend, who then told me, 'I'll never lose to that little bitch again'."

- 'Sacrificed so much' -

Sharapova, the champion in Paris in 2012 and 2014, goes on to play a first quarter-final at the Slams since losing to Williams at the same stage at the 2016 Australian Open.

It was in Melbourne that Sharapova tested positive for meldonium after which she served a 15-month doping ban.

The Russian will face either 2016 champion Garbine Muguruza or Lesia Tsurenko of Ukraine for a semi-final place.

"I was looking forward to my match against Serena and am disappointed that she had to withdraw," said Sharapova in a statement.

"I hope she returns to the tour soon."

Despite playing just four matches in 2018 before Roland Garros, Williams played doubles in Paris with sister Venus.

They had been knocked out on Sunday by Andreja Klepac and Maria Jose Martinez Sanchez with the American sisters getting a 6-0 bagel in the final set.

Serena had gone into that match wearing her striking all-black catsuit but admitted she had had to tape her serving arm to try and protect the injury.

"Every match has been getting better for me. Physically I'm doing great," she said.

"I sacrificed so much to be at this event. I can only take solace in the fact I'm going to continue to get better.

"And I had such a wonderful performance in my first Grand Slam back."

However, her status for Wimbledon where she has been champion seven times, will only become clear once she has had an MRI.

"I made a promise that if I'm not at least 60 percent or 50 percent, then I probably shouldn't play," she added.

Serena's withdrawal completely over-shadowed the remainder of Monday's last-16 programme.

World number one Simona Halep, twice a runner-up, needed less than an hour to make the last-eight for the third time with a 6-2, 6-1 rout of Belgium's Elise Mertens.

"I was a little bit stronger in the important moments," said Halep who next faces 12th seed Angelique Kerber.

The German, a former world number one and two-time major winner, reached the quarter-finals for the second time with a 6-2, 6-3 win over France's Caroline Garcia.

Australian Open champion and second seed Caroline Wozniacki was knocked out by Russia's Daria Kasatkina 7-6 (7/5), 6-3.

Kasatkina will be playing in her first Slam quarter-final where she will face US Open champion Sloane Stephens.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu claims Germany it could see many more Syrian refugees if it doesn't quit the Iran nuclear deal

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Monday warned Germany that it could see many more Syrian refugees if Berlin fails to adopt a harder stance against Iran and quit the 2015 nuclear deal.

Tehran has been able to bankroll a growing military presence in countries like Syria and Yemen because sanctions had been lifted in exchange for its halt in nuclear enrichment activities, Netanyahu argued.

Iran wants to "basically conduct a religious campaign in largely Sunni Syria and try to convert Sunnis," said Netanyahu at a joint press conference after talks with Chancellor Angela Merkel.

"This will inflame another religious war -- this time a religious war inside Syria and the consequences will be many, many more refugees and you know where exactly they will come," he warned.

More than a million asylum seekers, with Syrians making up the biggest group, have arrived in Germany since 2015, unsettling some Germans.

Netanyahu's comments reflected the reason that had largely led to Merkel's poor score at general elections in September. The Israeli leader was in Berlin on his first stop of a European tour to persuade EU leaders to follow the United States and quit the nuclear deal.

Germany, France and the United Kingdom are three of the signatories of the 2015 Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) between world powers and Iran, aimed at keeping Tehran from acquiring nuclear weapons.

They have said that they remain committed to the landmark accord after US President Donald Trump pulled his country out last month.
The names of 18 fallen members of the media were inscribed on the journalists memorial at the Newseum in Washington

An AFP contributor investigating drug cartels shot to death in Mexico. An American freelance journalist fatally shot while embedded with South Sudan rebels. A blogger in Malta killed in a car bomb after reporting on corruption and cronyism.

These were among 18 fallen members of the media whose names were inscribed Monday on the journalists memorial at the Newseum, a Washington museum dedicated to the understanding of the importance of a free press.

The latest group, including eight women and two freelancers, represents a fraction of the dozens of journalists killed last year on the job but aims to draw public attention to the dangers faced those pursuing the news around the world.

The 18 who died "represent the much larger threat to all journalists, who face unprecedented dangers as they strive to provide information about our society, often in countries where press freedom is imperiled or nonexistent," said Jan Neuharth, chief executive of the Freedom Forum, the parent organization of the Newseum.

The memorial wall which was created two decades ago bears the name of more than 2,300 who died in newsgathering since 1835.

The latest group honored included Christopher Allen, a 26-year-old US freelancer shot in the head during a battle between the South Sudanese army and rebels. Government officials claimed he was not targeted.

Also included was Maltese investigative journalist Daphne Caruana Galizia, killed by a car bomb last October as she lifted the lid on widespread corruption in the Mediterranean country.

Holly Williams, a CBS news foreign correspondent, spoke at a ceremony honoring journalists killed in the line of work in 2017, hailing their courage

Added to the wall were two Mexican journalists slain following their investigations of drug cartels: Javier Valdez, the founder of weekly newspaper Riodoce and a longtime AFP contributor, shot outside his offices; and Miroslava Breach, a veteran crime and politics reporter found dead inside her car with gunshot wounds to the head.

Holly Williams, a CBS News correspondent who spoke at the ceremony, said those honored showed remarkable bravery in the face of adversity.

Williams said a number of the journalists killed "went about their work knowing that in doing so they were making themselves targets, and I'm humbled by that because it must take a kind of courage that I find frankly unimaginable."

Others listed on the memorial included Mohamed Abazied, Hawker Faisal Mohammed and Dilshan Ibash (killed in Syria); Shifa Gardi, Arkan Sharifi, Stephane Villeneuve and Veronique Robert (Iraq); Sudip Dutta Bhaumik and Gauri Lankesh (India); Nikolai Andrushchenko (Russia); Yameen Rasheed (Maldives); Maria Efigenia Vasquez Astudillo (Colombia); Kim Wall (Denmark); and Christopher Iban Lozada (Philippines).
Plastic problem: A landfill in Bulawayo, Zimbabwe, gives an idea of the mess in Africa

This year, plastic pollution is the main theme of International Environment Day, celebrated on June 5.

In Africa, 4.4 million tonnes of plastic are found in oceans and seas every year, according to United Nations figures from 2010.

An aerial view, taken on June 2, of the Niger river in the Malian capital Bamako, clogged with plastic waste

"Plastic, and waste management in general, is a very big problem in Africa," said Mohamed Atani, regional information officer for the UN environmental agency UNEP.

Spoiled seas: Plastic comprises most of the debris washed up on a beach near the South African city of Cape Town, whose fabled Table Mountain lies in the background

He described the problem of plastic pollution, which is gaining attention globally as it kills sea life and blankets swathes of the ocean surface, as "a danger for human health".

"Most of the plastic disposed in the ocean comes from the daily use of single-use plastics," said Atani.

Discarded plastic is a biohazard that can take decades to degrade. But at this site in Kampala, Uganda, women clean plastic bags which are sold to a factory that recycles them into home utensils such as basins, plates and cups.

The European Union this month proposed a ban on items such as plastic straws and cutlery.

While many western nations still dole out plastic bags in supermarkets, several African countries have taken the lead and banned them entirely, such as Morocco, Rwanda and Kenya.
The latest US airstrike against Shabaab jihadists occurred about 26 miles (42 kilometers) southwest of Bosasso, pictured

US forces have carried out their second Horn of Africa air strike in three days, killing another 27 Shabaab jihadists, the American military said on Monday.

The latest strike occurred on Saturday in Somaliland, about 26 miles (42 kilometers) southwest of Bosasso port in Puntland, a semi-autonomous region.

A statement from the United States Africa Command (AFRICOM) gave no further details of the operation but said it was carried out in coordination with Somalia's government.

On Friday, AFRICOM said a US airstrike had killed 12 militants from the Shabaab, an Al-Qaeda affiliate, about 30 miles (48 kilometers) southwest of Mogadishu on Thursday.

The Shabaab is fighting to overthrow the internationally-backed government in Mogadishu, to the south.

Somali commandos often carry out operations side-by-side with the American forces that train them. Air assaults and missile strikes have increased in recent months.

This was the 12th American strike against the Shabaab since the beginning of the year.

US forces also partner with the United Nations-backed African Union Mission in Somalia which has about 21,600 troops in the country.

Different Islamist groups are active in Puntland, including one that split from the Shabaab in 2016 pledging allegiance to the Islamic State group.

Somaliland declared itself independent from Somalia in 1991 but is not recognized by any country.

In May, deadly clashes occurred between forces from Puntland and those of Somaliland.
A memorial to victims of the shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida

The Florida sheriff's deputy branded a "coward" for failing to confront a school shooter has broken his silence and said he wishes he could have done more.

"It's haunting," Broward County sheriff's deputy Scot Peterson told The Washington Post. "I've cut that day up a thousand ways with a million different what-if scenarios, but the bottom line is I was there to protect, and I lost 17."

Peterson, 55, was the only armed deputy on the campus of Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School on February 14 when a troubled ex-student opened fire on his former classmates with an AR-15-style rifle.

Fourteen students died along with three adult staff members at the school in Parkland, Florida.

Surveillance video showed Peterson, a 30-year veteran of law enforcement, standing outside the building where the shooting took place but he never went in.

Peterson was forced to resign from the Broward County Sheriff's Office and was publicly denounced as a "coward" by US President Donald Trump and others.

Peterson's lawyer issued a statement in late February defending his actions but Peterson had not spoken publicly about that day until he was interviewed by the Post and NBC's "Today" show.

He was asked by NBC if he acknowledges having failed to live up to his responsibilities.

"I have to," Peterson said. "I live with that. You know, how could I not?

"I mean, I'm human," he said. "In a perfect world, I would have said, 'Oh, yeah, I know there was a shooter there. Let me go to the third floor, find this person.'

"Knowing what I know today I would have been in that building in a heartbeat," he said. "It was my kids. I didn't know. I wrack my brain, I go why?"

In the Post interview, Peterson said he was confused as to where the gunshots were coming from and took exception with people saying he did nothing.

"How can they keep saying I did nothing?" he said. "I'm getting on the radio to call in the shooting.

"I'm locking down the school. I'm clearing kids out of the courtyard. They have the video and the call logs. The evidence is sitting right there," he said.

"There wasn't even time to think," Peterson said. "It just happened, and I started reacting."

At the end of the day, however, "it was my job, and I didn't find him," Peterson said of the gunman.

The 19-year-old school shooter fired between 100 and 150 rounds in a rampage that lasted about six minutes before he discarded his weapon and fled the school by blending in with other students.

He was arrested shortly afterwards and has been charged with multiple counts of murder.

Peterson served as a "school resource officer" -- a member of law enforcement who provides security at a school -- for more than two decades.
US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo speaks during the Organization of American States (OAS) 48th General Assembly in Washington, where crises in Nicaragua and Venezuela are likely to dominate

The political crisis in Venezuela dominated the opening exchanges of the annual meeting of the Organization of American States on Monday, with Washington pushing for it to be suspended.

President Nicolas Maduro's government has already declared it will leave the forum, but US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo urged members to register a protest against last month's elections.

Maduro was returned to power in a vote that was largely boycotted by the opposition and denounced as an unconstitutional assault on democracy by Washington and most of Venezuela's neighbors.

Nevertheless, Maduro's Foreign Minister Jorge Arreaza was present as the OAS meeting opened to defend his government and to hear Pompeo reiterate the US call for Venezuela's suspension.

This, he said, "would show that the OAS backs up its words with action and it sends a powerful signal to the Maduro regime, only real elections will allow your government to be included in the family of nations.

Pompeo accused Maduro of "dismantling democracy" and urged more Latin American states to join the US in imposing increased economic and diplomatic sanctions on his administration.

"We call on all OAS nations to do this today -- regarding Venezuela -- and in the future wherever necessary for the good of the region and the world," he said, to applause from some delegates.

Arreaza protested that the situation in Venezuela was a domestic one, placed on the agenda of an international meeting "in a spurious manner" -- but other ministers disagreed.

"We must have a continent free of dictatorships," OAS Secretary General Luis Almagro, a stern critic of Maduro, said as he inaugurated the 48th annual meeting of the organization in Washington.

In order to formally suspend Venezuela, the OAS would have to convene an extraordinary general assembly.

But members will have a chance to chastise Caracas when they vote on a resolution that would refuse to recognize the result of the May election and, according to US officials, pave the way for further action.
First Lady Melania Trump will not be at President Donald Trump's side when her husband travels to Canada for the G7 Summit this week, or to Singapore next week for a historic summit with North Korea

She is known for her privacy and White House independence, often breaking with her husband's schedule. But Melania Trump's unusual 25-day absence from public view following surgery for a "benign" kidney condition has raised questions.

The first lady is scheduled to re-emerge in the public eye later Monday at a private reception for families of US soldiers killed in action -- her first public appearance since being hospitalized last month.

But the event is billed as closed press, only heightening speculation about why Donald Trump's wife is avoiding the cameras.

Melania Trump, 48, has not been spotted since May 10, when she joined the president in greeting three American hostages released by North Korea.

Shortly afterwards she entered Walter Reed National Military Medical Center for what the White House described as a benign kidney procedure.

Despite the operation's routine nature, Melania remained there for five days, returning to the White House May 19.

On Sunday her spokeswoman Stephanie Grisham confirmed that Melania will not accompany the president to the G7 summit in Canada, nor to planned North Korea nuclear talks in Singapore.

It is a noticeable shift from weeks prior to her kidney surgery, when she engaged in several high profile events.

In April, she represented the Trumps at former first lady Barbara Bush's funeral, rolled out her "Be Best" awareness campaign to help children, and orchestrated an elaborate state dinner with French President Emmanuel Macron and wife Brigitte.

Following her medical operation, her absence at events where the public has come to expect to see her alongside the president was well documented, leading her to take to Twitter to castigate reporters.

US First Lady Melania Trump is known to cherish her privacy, and has often broken with the schedule of her husband, President Donald Trump

"I see the media is working overtime speculating where I am & what I'm doing," she tweeted Wednesday, assuring she was "here at the @WhiteHouse w my family, feeling great, & working hard."

The tweet sparked a conspiracy theory that Trump himself may have written Melania's message, given that "working overtime" is a favorite idiom of the president when he tweets about the press.

Comedian Sarah Silverman re-tweeted the first lady's post, adding: "Who is this? where's Melania?"

The first lady skipped ceremonies including a Memorial Day wreath-laying.

And she was not seen Friday boarding the helicopter that shuttled the president, daughters Ivanka and Tiffany, and Donald Trump Jr to Camp David for a weekend retreat.

- Imagination 'running wild' -

The rumor mill has churned online.

Some have speculated she has moved back to New York City, or is cooperating with special counsel Robert Mueller, while others offer she may be healing after some secret plastic surgery.

Such a weeks-long disappearance by a modern-day first lady is indeed rare, said Ohio University history professor Katherine Jellison, an expert on first ladies.

"I'm amazed Mrs Trump has been able to do it," she told AFP.

The first lady is not an elected position, and Melania Trump is under no obligation to keep the American people abreast of her health, activities or whereabouts.

Several 19th century first ladies spent long periods out of view. But over the past half century it has become the public expectation that people know the basic narrative of the first lady's activities.

First Lady Melania Trump (seen here with President Donald Trump and their son Barron) has been out of public view for weeks

Melania Trump, never one to obsess like her husband about media attention, has laid low before.

She went quiet in March as a media storm raged about revelations that her husband's lawyer paid porn star Stormy Daniels $130,000 before the 2016 election to keep silent over her alleged affair with Trump years earlier.

White House silence, including about why Melania spent five days in hospital for a routine procedure, is only fueling the speculation.

"Without greater detail about her 'benign' condition, the public imagination is running wild," Jellison said.

"For most of the 20th century and certainly in the 21st century, a first lady hasn't had the option of not being a public figure -- regardless of unfortunate personal circumstances," Jellison said.
A handout picture from the office of Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei shows him greeting the crowd during a ceremony on June 4, 2018

Iran's supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei on Monday warned European leaders against their "dream" of Tehran continuing to curb its nuclear programme while finding itself under new economic sanctions.

"From some European countries we get the message that they expect the Iranian people to both tolerate the sanctions, deal with the sanctions, and go along with them and give up our nuclear energy activities and continue with the restrictions," he told an audience in a Tehran suburb.

"I would tell these countries that they should be aware that this is a dream that will never come true."

Khamenei was speaking nearly a month after President Donald Trump announced the United States was pulling out of the landmark Iran nuclear deal.

The remaining partners -- Britain, China, France, Germany and Russia -- have scrambled to save the 2015 accord as the US readies to reimpose sanctions on Tehran.

"The people of Iran and the government of Iran will never tolerate both suffering from sanctions and nuclear restrictions," said Khamenei.

"This will never happen," he said during a ceremony to mark the 29th anniversary of the death of revolutionary leader Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini.

The Iran deal paved the way for the partial lifting of international sanctions against the country, in exchange for Tehran curbing its nuclear programme for a number of years.

Khamenei and various Iranian political figures have already warned that Iran could leave the agreement if it no longer receives the economic benefits it signed up for.

Late last month the supreme leader outlined Iran's demands for it to stay in the nuclear deal.

But the remaining backers of the accord have limited power to protect Iran's economic interests in the face of US sanctions, with Trump showing little inclination to spare EU companies.

Shortly after Khamenei's speech, French automaker PSA announced it was pulling out of two joint ventures to sell its cars in Iran owing to the US sanctions.

Last week the chief executive of French oil giant Total -- a symbol of foreign companies' return to Iran after 2015 -- said the chances of winning sanctions exemptions were "very slim".
Khalifa Haftar, pictured in May 2018, launched an offensive on May 7 to "liberate" the coastal city of Derna

Libyan military strongman Khalifa Haftar said Monday that victory was near for his forces in Derna, the eastern city held by jihadists since the 2011 armed uprising.

Haftar's self-styled Libyan National Army launched an offensive on May 7 to "liberate" the coastal city, home to about 150,000 people and held by hardline fighters since the uprising that ousted dictator Moamer Kadhafi.

"Victory is near," Haftar said in a video published on YouTube, adding that his forces had "cleaned up" suburbs of the city.

LNA forces have laid siege to Derna for nearly two years, making it difficult for residents to access humanitarian aid.

The city is the only part of eastern Libya out of the LNA's control.

It is held by a ragtag coalition of Islamist and jihadist militias, including groups close to Al-Qaeda, hostile to both Haftar and the Islamic State group.

Haftar said that after its "liberation" his forces would deploy across the city to take control of all areas and infrastructure.

But he called on them to ensure the safety of residents and to put up defence barriers for additional security.

The strongman whose forces are backed by the United Arab Emirates and Egypt also prohibited his troops from taking "revenge", in particular against "terrorists" who surrender and give up their arms.

"It is necessary to respect legal procedures concerning prisoners and to deliver them to the competent organs," Haftar said.

Some members of Haftar's forces have been implicated in war crimes, including Mahmud al-Werfalli, a commander of the Al-Saiqa brigade based in Libya's second city of Benghazi.

On the humanitarian front, the situation in Derna is critical, according to the International Organization for Migration.

Since fighting began in Derna more than three weeks ago, "continued shelling and clashes" have forced at least 425 families -- about 2,125 people -- to flee the city, the IOM's Displacement Tracking Matrix said on Monday.

On Friday, the UN mission in Libya said at least 17 civilians, including two children, have been killed and 22 others, including seven children, have been wounded in the fighting since May 16.

It said the escalation in the fighting reached "unprecedented levels" last week and was getting increasingly close to densely populated areas.
An orphaned baby mountain gorilla photographed in the Virunga National Park in the Democratic Republic of Congo on September 10, 2016. The famed park has closed to visitors until 2019 after a wave of violence

Kidnappings and murder have forced the famed Virunga wildlife park in the Democratic Republic of Congo to close for visitors until 2019, the authorities said Monday.

Africa's oldest national park, famed for its population of mountain gorillas, has been plagued by the wave of violence that has been wracking eastern DR Congo for years.

"It is clear that the Virunga region is deeply affected by insecurity and that this will be the case for a certain time," park director Emmanuel de Merode said in a statement.

"So that Virunga can be visited in safety, much more robust measures are needed than in the past," the Belgian added.

"That will require very significant investment and that makes it impossible to reopen to tourism this year."

The park closed provisionally on May 11 until June 4 after the shooting dead of a ranger and the kidnapping of two British tourists in an attack by a local militia.

Park rangers look for gorillas in the Virunga National Park in this file photo from November 28, 2008. The famed conservation area has been closed until next year following a series of murders and kidnappings

The Britons and their driver were freed two days after the attack.

Then on May 21 two soldiers and a civilian were murdered by armed men who attacked a convoy driving through the park.

On April 9, five rangers and a driver were killed.

In the last 20 years at least 176 rangers have been killed in Virunga. De Merode survived an attack in 2014.

"We have called on a respected international security service to carry out an audit of our security measures," the park statement said.

Numerous militia and armed gangs roam North Kivu province near the Rwanda and Uganda borders fighting for control of territorial and natural resources.

Established in 1925 close by Lake Kivu and the Nyiragongo volcano, Virunga is home to about a quarter of the world's population of critically endangered mountain gorillas, as well as to eastern lowland gorillas, chimpanzees, okapis, lions, elephants and hippos.
This picture released by the British Metropolitan Police Service in London shows Safaa Boular

A London teenager was found guilty Monday of preparing an attack on the British Museum as part of the country's first all-female cell linked to the Islamic State group, police and prosecutors said.

Safaa Boular, 18, plotted the grenade and gun attack in her home town after the authorities intervened to stop her travelling to Syria to marry an IS fighter she had met online.

She is the youngest female to be charged with planning an IS attack in Britain.

Boular was only 16 when she made contact with British-born IS fighter Naweed Hussain, 32, discussing marriage and how they would don his-and-hers suicide belts.

But her hopes of joining him were dashed when she was stopped at the airport in August 2016 following a family trip to Morocco, and her passport was confiscated.

Instead Boular decided to plan an attack in Britain, detailing it in coded language -- grenades were "pineapples" -- to online contacts who were in fact undercover agents.

Hussain was later killed in a drone strike.

When Boular was charged with preparing terrorist acts in April 2017, she passed the baton to her sister Rizlaine, 22, and their mother Mina Dich, 44, who hatched their own plan.

The trio were taped talking about an Alice in Wonderland-themed tea party, which the prosecution argued was code for an attack.

Rizlaine and her mother were arrested after being tracked by police visiting potential sites around Westminster and buying knives.

They pleaded guilty to terror offences, along with a fourth woman, Rizlaine's friend Khawla Barghouthi, 21, who later admitted failing to alert the authorities.

Safaa Boular denied the plot but was found guilty on Monday after a trial.

Dean Haydon, Britain's top counter-terror police officer, said the plot "involved a family with murderous intent, the first all-female terrorist plot in the UK connected to Daesh (IS)".

He added: "All three women were filled with hate and toxic ideology and were determined to carry out a terrorist attack.

"Had they been successful, it could well have resulted in people being killed or seriously injured."

Rizlaine, her mother and their friend will be sentenced on June 15, although a date has not yet been set for Safaa Boular's sentencing.
The White House says a first meeting between President Donald Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un will take place at 9:00 am (0100 GMT) in Singapore on June 12

The White House said on Monday that a first meeting between President Donald Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un will take place at 9:00 am (0100 GMT) in Singapore on June 12.

"We are actively preparing for the June 12th summit between the president and the North Korean leader," spokeswoman Sarah Sanders said in announcing the timing of the meeting.

"We feel like things are continuing to move forward, and good progress has been made."

Sanders said that the White House "advance team" -- which features military, security, technical and medical staff -- were already on the ground in the Southeast Asian state.

They are "finalizing preparations and will remain in place until the summit begins," said Sanders.

She added that Trump is getting daily briefings on North Korea in the runup to the landmark meeting.

"I can tell you the president has been receiving daily briefings on North Korea from his national security team," said Sanders.

Experts have voiced concern that despite Trump's claim to be the world's greatest dealmaker, he knows little about North Korea, arms control or international diplomacy.

The on-again-off-again summit is expected to focus on US efforts to get North Korea to abandon its nuclear program.

The oppressive regime is believed to have developed a miniaturized nuclear device that could be placed on a missile that could strike the United States.

Washington has called that unacceptable and demanded North Korea embark on full and verifiable denuclearization.

With days to go before the meeting, it remains unclear whether Pyongyang is willing to take that step, or whether it is using the promise of talks as a way of easing Trump's "maximum pressure" campaign.

Trump last week said he no longer wanted to use that term and indicated that he was willing to embark on a lengthy series of talks that would ease pressure on the regime.

"I think it'll be a process," he said after welcoming top official Kim Yong Chol to the White House.

"It's not -- I never said it goes in one meeting. I think it's going to be a process. But the relationships are building, and that's a very positive thing."

Trump also said that there would be no new sanctions while the talks are taking place, although the White House was at pains to say existing economic sanctions will not be removed either.
US President Donald Trump's imposition of tariffs against Mexico has further raised tensions with the neighboring country led by President Enrique Pena Nieto, pictured

Mexico said on Monday it will file a complaint with the World Trade Organization over US tariffs on its steel and aluminum.

The economy ministry said it will "initiate a dispute settlement process under the umbrella" of the WTO, and that its actions will "continue to follow the state of international commercial law and will be proportional to the damage that Mexico regrettably received."

Both the European Union and Canada have already opened legal challenges to the United States at the WTO, the Geneva-based arbitrator of international trade disputes that is loathed by President Donald Trump who on Friday imposed duties of 25 percent for steel and 10 percent for aluminum against his allies.

Mexico submits that the tariffs, imposed on the grounds of national security, were not adopted in accordance with relevant WTO procedures and also violate the 1994 General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade.

Immediately following the move by Trump, Mexico said it would impose retaliatory duties on a variety of US goods, including steel and a host of agricultural products including apples, cheeses and pork.

Those penalties will remain in place "until the United States government eliminates tariffs imposed," Mexico's government said.

Other US allies have also reacted with fury and retaliation, with fears building of a global trade war.

Ottawa hit back with proportional Can$16.6 billion ($12.8 billion US) in tariffs on US steel and aluminum as well as consumer goods.

The tariff dispute comes as Canada, Mexico and the US try to reach an agreement to update the North American Free Trade Agreement in talks triggered last year by Trump's discontent with that deal.

Canadian Finance Minister Bill Morneau said Washington's decision to impose the tariffs had lessened the chances for a successful outcome of the NAFTA talks.

Mexican President Enrique Pena Nieto and his Canadian counterpart, Justin Trudeau, spoke as soon as Washington announced the new duties.

- Rising tensions -

"These unilateral tariffs, imposed under a false pretext of safeguarding US national security, are inconsistent with the United States' international trade obligations and WTO rules," Canada's Foreign Minister Chrystia Freeland said Friday after her country filed its WTO complaint.

Mexico has received backing in the dispute from its domestic business sector.

"We support the position of the Mexican government to impose the equivalent measure on diverse products," Mexico's Business Coordinating Council said of the retaliatory tariffs.

The group rejected "the protectionist measures of the United States government."

Mexican Finance Minister Jose Antonio Gonzalez Anaya said the US tariffs -- along with Trump's tweets against Mexico -- further raise tensions over the NAFTA review.

"It is very difficult to reach a negotiation when measures of this nature are suddenly taken," the minister said.

Ties between Washington and Mexico City have also been strained over immigration.

US media reported in February that the two sides shelved tentative plans for a visit to Washington by Pena Nieto as tensions persisted over a proposed border wall.

Pena Nieto had previously scrapped a visit in January last year because of Trump's insistence that Mexico pay for the wall, which he wants as part of his efforts to curb immigration.

The US is Mexico's largest trading partner, receiving about 80 percent of the country's exports.
Yemenis check the wreckage of an armoured vehicle after clashes between fighters loyal to the Saudi-backed exiled President Abedrabbo Mansour Hadi and Huthi rebels, near the coastal town of Hodeida, on May 29, 2018

A UN envoy was in Yemen on Monday for talks with Huthi rebels about de-escalating the fighting around the key port of Hodeida, a major entry point for humanitarian aid, a spokesman said.

Martin Griffiths was in the rebel-held capital Sanaa also to discuss a resumption of talks on ending the three-year war with the Saudi-led coalition, said UN spokesman Stephane Dujarric.

"The special envoy is discussing with the parties the steps they could take to de-escalate tension, including on Hodeida," said Dujarric, who did not provide details.

Yemeni forces, backed by Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, are closing in on Hodeida, a Red Sea port that the coalition maintains has been used by the Huthis to smuggle weapons.

More than 100 soldiers and insurgents have been killed in the battle for Hodeida in less than a week, according to medics and military sources.

Griffiths is due to report to the UN Security Council on June 18 on his peace efforts.

More than 22 million people in Yemen are in need of aid -- 8.4 million of whom are on the brink of starvation, according to the United Nations which considers Yemen to be the world's worst humanitarian crisis.

Since 2015, Saudi Arabia has been leading a military campaign to push back the Huthis and restore the internationally recognized government to power.

The conflict has left nearly 10,000 people dead in Yemen, already the Arab world's poorest country.
Inhabitants of the mainly Muslim PK5 neighbourhood demonstrate in front of the headquarters of MINUSCA, the UN peacekeeping mission in the Central Africa Republic, in Bangui, on April 11, 2018, where they deposited more than a dozen bodies of the victims of the clashes of April 10

A UN peacekeeper from Tanzania was killed and seven others wounded when their patrol was ambushed by gunmen in the Central African Republic, UN officials said Monday.

UN spokesman Stephane Dujarric said gunmen believed to be from the Siriri militia attacked the UN patrol on Sunday in the village of Dilapoko in southwest Mambere-Kadei prefecture.

One of the wounded peacekeepers is in critical condition at a Bangui hospital while three others were seriously wounded, he added.

Three other peacekeepers from the MINUSCA mission are being treated in the local town of Berberati.

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres strongly condemned the attack, which brings to four the number of peacekeepers killed in the Central African Republic this year.

MINUSCA has 12,000 troops and police deployed in the impoverished country, which has been struggling since it exploded into bloodshed after the 2013 overthrow of longtime leader Francois Bozize.

CAR President Faustin-Archange Touadera governs with the support of the large UN peacekeeping operation, yet can only claim to control a fraction of the country.
Trump loyalist Richard Grenell took up his post as US ambassador in Berlin less than a month ago

Germany on Monday said it had asked the new US ambassador in Berlin, outspoken Trump loyalist Richard Grenell, to clarify his reported comments on far-right website Breitbart that he wants to "empower" European conservatives.

A German foreign ministry spokesman said Berlin had "asked the US side for clarification" and that state secretary Andreas Michaelis would re-visit the issue at a pre-arranged meeting with Grenell later this week.

Grenell, who took up his Berlin post less than a month ago, was quoted by Breitbart London on Sunday expressing his excitement at a "European groundswell of conservative policies" that had come about because of "the failed policies of the left".

"I absolutely want to empower other conservatives throughout Europe, other leaders," he was quoted as saying in comments that German politicians and media judged unusually interventionist for a diplomat.

Lars Klingbeil, general secretary of the Social Democrats -- Chancellor Angela Merkel's junior coalition partners -- led a chorus of condemnation with a tweet in English addressed directly at Grenell.

"I know you are still quite new at your post, but it is not part of the job description of an ambassador to interfere in the politics of his guest country, Mr @RichardGrenell," he wrote.

Social Democratic lawmaker Thorsten Schaefer-Guembel tweeted that "European citizens don't need a Trump vassal to tell them who to vote for."

Belgian Guy Verhofstadt, who heads the European Parliament's liberal group, also weighed in.

"We have to defend Europe against Trump," he posted on Twitter.

"It's not up to his ambassador to influence our elections and steer our society. We respect the sovereignty of the US, they have to respect ours," Verhofstadt said, adding the hashtag "#GrenellRaus", German for "Get Grenell out".

- 'Ridiculous' -

The envoy also reportedly told Breitbart that "the election of Donald Trump has empowered individuals and people to say that they can't just allow the political class to determine before an election takes place who's going to win and who should run".

But he later took to Twitter to tone down his comments somewhat.

"The idea that I'd endorse candidates/parties is ridiculous," he wrote.

"I stand by my comments that we are experiencing an awakening from the silent majority -- those who reject the elites & their bubble. Led by Trump."

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, speaking at a press conference alongside Merkel in Berlin, said he had agreed to meet Grenell on his way to the airport later on Monday, but cautioned against reading too much into the encounter.

"I am going to meet him briefly at the airport. I wouldn't draw any meaning into that that just doesn't exist," Netanyahu told reporters.

Merkel for her part declined to comment on Grenell's remarks.

Grenell is also scheduled to meet with Austria's conservative Chancellor Sebastian Kurz on June 13 during his visit to Germany, the US embassy told AFP.

In the Breitbart interview, Grenell praised Kurz whose ruling People's Party is in a coalition with the far-right, and who has pushed a hard line on immigration.

"Look, I think Sebastian Kurz is a rockstar. I'm a big fan," Grenell was quoted as saying.

The Austrian government said in a statement the June 13 meeting was requested by both countries in order "to stay in contact with men trusted by the American president, in particular regarding questions such as trade policy and transatlantic relations."

Grenell assumed the post in Berlin in early May, which had been left vacant for 15 months, and on his first day tweeted that German companies should stop doing business with Iran as President Donald Trump abandoned the nuclear deal with the Islamic republic.

A 51-year-old gay former US spokesman at the United Nations and frequent commentator on conservative broadcaster Fox News, Grenell is widely seen as a hawkish supporter of Trump's "America first" stance.
Ben Bowling, valedictorian of his class at Bell County High School in the US state of Kentucky first told his audience a quote was from President Donald Trump, then revealed it was from President Barack Obama

A high school student giving a graduation speech in the US state of Kentucky offered a lesson in politics over the weekend with a well-timed bait-and-switch.

Ben Bowling, valedictorian of his class at Bell County High School in Pineville -- a tiny outpost in Kentucky's coal country - mentioned an inspirational quote during graduation ceremonies Saturday.

"'Don't just get involved. Fight for your seat at the table. Better yet, fight for a seat at the head of the table' - Donald J. Trump," Bowling declared.

Just as the audience began to loudly cheer in this deeply Republican corner of America, Bowling held up his hand.

"Just kidding, just kidding, that was Barack Obama," the 18-year-old said.

Obama, of course, was Trump's predecessor in the White House and a Democrat.

The cheering quickly faded. There was a sprinkling of chuckles and a lone half-hearted boo.

The online clip of the fleeting moment captured the US media's attention Monday, seen as emblematic of a political climate in which both sides think the other can do no right.

Bowling, who has granted no interviews since the weekend, except to The Courier-Journal newspaper of Louisville, said he thought the moment was lighthearted and funny.

"I just thought it was a really good quote," he told the newspaper. "Most people wouldn't like it if I used it, so I thought I'd use Donald Trump's name. It is southeastern Kentucky after all."

During the 2016 election, Trump won in this part of Kentucky that Bowling calls home by a 62 percent margin over his Democratic opponent Hillary Clinton.

Among other things, the Republican promised to bring back jobs in America's declining coal industry.

Obama delivered the quote Bowling cited during a 2012 commencement speech at Barnard College in New York.

"You are now poised to make this the century where women shape not only their own destiny but the destiny of this nation and of this world," Obama told graduates at the women's college.

"My first piece of advice is this: Don't just get involved. Fight for your seat at the table. Better yet, fight for a seat at the head of the table."
WASHINGTON (AP) - President Donald Trump's lawyers composed a secret 20-page letter to special counsel Robert Mueller to assert that he cannot be forced to testify while arguing that he could not have committed obstruction because he has absolute authority over all federal investigations.

The existence of the letter, which was first reported and posted by The New York Times on Saturday, was a bold assertion of presidential power and another front on which Trump's lawyers have argued that the president can't be subpoenaed in the special counsel's ongoing investigation into Russian meddling in the 2016 election.

The letter is dated January 29 and addressed to Mueller from John Dowd, one of Trump's lawyers at the time who has since resigned from the legal team. In the letter, the Trump's lawyers argue that a charge of illegal obstruction is moot because the Constitution empowers the president to, "if he wished, terminate the inquiry, or even exercise his power to pardon."

President Donald Trump, center, accompanied by Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, left, speaks to members of the media on the South Lawn outside the Oval Office in Washington, Friday, June 1, 2018, after meeting with former North Korean military intelligence chief Kim Yong Chol. After the meeting Trump announced that the Summit with North Korea will go forward. (AP Photo/Andrew Harnik)

Trump weighed in on Saturday on Twitter, asking "Is the Special Counsel/Justice Department leaking my lawyers letters to the Fake News Media?" He added: "When will this very expensive Witch Hunt Hoax ever end? So bad for our Country."

Mueller has requested an interview with the president to determine whether he had criminal intent to obstruct the investigation into his associates' possible links to Russia's election interference. Trump had previously signaled that he would be willing to sit for an interview, but his legal team, including head lawyer Rudy Giuliani, have privately and publicly expressed concern that the president could risk charges of perjury.

If Trump does not consent to an interview, Mueller will have to decide whether to forge forward with a historic grand jury subpoena. His team raised the possibility in March of subpoenaing the president but it is not clear if it is still under active consideration. Giuliani has told The Associated Press that the president's legal team believes the special counsel does not have the authority to do so.

A court battle is likely if Trump's team argues that the president can't be forced to answer questions or be charged with obstruction of justice. President Bill Clinton was charged with obstruction in 1998 by the House of Representatives as part of his impeachment trial. And one of the articles of impeachment prepared against Richard Nixon in 1974 was for obstruction.

Topics of Mueller's obstruction investigation include the firings of both Comey and former National Security Adviser Michael Flynn, as well Trump's reaction to Attorney General Jeff Sessions' recusal from the Russia investigation.

In addition to the legal battles, Trump's team and allies have waged a public relations campaign against Mueller to discredit the investigation and soften the impact of the special counsel's potential findings. Giuliani said last week that the special counsel probe may be an "entirely illegitimate investigation" and need to be curtailed because, in his estimation, it was based on inappropriately obtained information from an informant and former FBI director James Comey's memos.

In reality, the FBI began a counterintelligence investigation in July 2016 to determine if Trump campaign associates were coordinating with Russia to tip the election. The investigation was opened after the hacking of Democratic emails that intelligence officials later formally attributed to Russia.

Giuliani has said a decision will not be made about a possible presidential interview with the special counsel until after Trump's summit with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un on June 12 in Singapore.

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Associated Press writers Chad Day and Eric Tucker contributed reporting.

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Follow Lemire on Twitter at http://twtter.com/@JonLemire
WHISTLER, British Columbia (AP) - The United States was singled out by some of its closest allies Saturday over the imposition of tariffs that they warn will undermine open trade and weaken confidence in the global economy.

The dispute over U.S. President Donald Trump's new levies on steel and aluminum imports is driving a wedge in the G7 group of industrial nations.

Following Saturday's conclusion of a three-day meeting of G7 finance ministers, Canadian Finance Minister Bill Morneau issued a summary saying the other six members want Trump to hear their message of "concern and disappointment" over the U.S. trade actions.

U.S. Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin speaks at a news conference during a meeting for the G7 Finance and Central Bank Governors in Whistler, B.C., on Saturday, June 2, 2018. (Jonathan Hayward/The Canadian Press via AP)

Allies including Canada and the European Union are threatening retaliatory tariffs.

The G7 ministers urged U.S. Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin to deliver their message before leaders of the group's member countries meet next week in Quebec.

Ministers urged the U.S. to abandon the tariffs ahead of the leaders' summit before the move causes deeper divisions within the G7.

"The international community is faced with significant economic and security issues, which are best addressed through a united front from G7 countries," said the summary, which was agreed to by the attending ministers.

"Members continue to make progress on behalf of our citizens, but recognize that this collaboration and co-operation has been put at risk by trade actions against other members," it added.

Bruno Le Maire, France's finance and economy minister, was blunt in his assessment of the Whistler meeting, where ministers confronted Mnuchin.

"It has been a tense and tough G7 - I would say it's been far more a G6 plus one than a G7," said Le Maire, who called the tariffs unjustified.

"We regret that our common work together at the level of the G7 has been put at risk by the decisions taken by the American administration on trade and on tariffs," he said.

Mnuchin disagreed with Le Maire.

"I think there was a comment out there that (this was) the G6 plus one. It was not. ... We believe in the G7, it's an important group," Mnuchin said at his own news conference. "I'm sure that the president looks forward to coming to Canada and meeting all the other leaders with many, many important issues going on throughout the world."

Morneau, who presided at the ministerial meeting in Whistler, said even though the group found common ground on many subjects, G7 members are now forced to do whatever they can to persuade Trump to withdraw the tariffs.

"They actually are destructive. And that's consistently held across the six countries that expressed their point of view to Secretary Mnuchin," Morneau told reporters.

The U.S. president has said the tariffs are needed to protect U.S. steel and aluminum industries vital to the nation's security.

Morneau has called the tariffs "absurd," saying Canadian metal sales are no security risk to the U.S. He warns the measures will destroy jobs on both sides of the border.

Le Maire said it is up to the U.S. to take action to rebuild confidence among G7 members and to avoid any escalation during the leaders' summit next week.

That meeting, which will be hosted by Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, will be Trump's first visit to Canada as president.

Finance Minister Bill Morneau addresses the media during a meeting for the G7 Finance and Central Bank Governors in Whistler, British Columbia, Canada on Friday, June, 1, 2018. (Jonathan Hayward/The Canadian Press via AP)

U.S. Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin arrives at a press conference during a meeting for the G7 Finance and Central Bank Governors in Whistler, B.C., on Saturday, June 2, 2018. (Jonathan Hayward/The Canadian Press via AP)
GUATEMALA CITY (AP) - The latest on the eruption of a volcano southwest of Guatemala's capital (all times local):

9:25 p.m.

Firefighters in Guatemala say some people have been trapped by a deadly volcanic eruption but they have been forced to call off rescue efforts until morning over safety concerns.

Firefighters leave the evacuation area near Volcan de Fuego, or Volcano of Fire, in El Rodeo, Guatemala, Sunday, June 3, 2018. One of Central America's most active volcanos erupted in fiery explosions of ash and molten rock Sunday, killing people and injuring many others while a towering cloud of smoke blanketed nearby villages in heavy ash. (AP Photo/Santiago Billy)

Firefighter spokesman Mynor Ruano says pyroclastic flows have cut off roads leading to the area southwest of Guatemala's capital and they have not been able to reach it.

The rescue is being further complicated by rainfall and darkness.

Another spokesman for municipal firefighters, Cecilio Chacaj, says the rescue operation will resume in the morning.

At least seven people have been killed and 20 more injured by Sunday's eruption of the Volcan de Fuego, which lies about 27 miles (44 kilometers) southwest of Guatemala City. An undetermined number of people are believed missing, and officials fear the death toll could rise.

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8:50 p.m.

One of Central America's most active volcanos has erupted in fiery explosions of ash and molten rock, killing at least seven people and injuring 20 while a towering cloud of smoke blankets nearby villages in heavy ash. An undetermined number are missing, and Guatemalan authorities fear the toll could rise.

The Volcan de Fuego exploded shortly before noon Sunday. About four hours later, lava began flowing down the side of the mountain.

Video images show a charred landscape where a lava flow came into contact with homes. Three bodies lay partially buried in ash-colored debris from the volcano, which lies about 27 miles (44 kilometers) from Guatemala City. Other videos show residents walking barefoot and covered in muddy residue.

Hundreds of firefighters, police and soldiers are searching for the missing amid the still-smoking lava.

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5:25 p.m.

Authorities in Guatemala say six people have been killed and 20 injured by the eruption of a volcano southwest of the capital.

National Disaster Coordinator Sergio Cabanas says an undetermined number of people also are missing following Sunday's eruption of the Volcan del Fuego, which is 44 kilometers (27 miles) from Guatemala City.

Cabanas says four people died when lava set a house on fire and two children were burned to death while standing on a bridge watching the eruption.

Disaster agency spokesman David de Leon says about 300 people have been evacuated from nearby villages, which are being blanketed by ash as fiery smoke billows nearly four miles into the sky. Some ash also has fallen on the capital.

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3:15 p.m.

A volcano southwest of Guatemala's capital has erupted for the second time this year, setting off loud explosions and spewing ash nearly four miles into the sky.

The National Coordinator for Disaster Reduction in Guatemala said Sunday that fiery clouds of smoke were billowing from the Volcan del Fuego and that soot blanketed cars and houses in the nearby villages of San Pedro Yepocapa and Sangre de Cristo.

Lesser amounts of ash fell on Guatemala City, which is 44 kilometers (27 miles) from the volcano.

Volcan del Fuego is one of the most active volcanoes in Central America.

Volcan de Fuego, or Volcano of Fire, blows outs a thick cloud of ash, as seen from Alotenango, Guatemala, Sunday, June 3, 2018. One of Central America's most active volcanos erupted in fiery explosions of ash and molten rock Sunday, killing people and injuring many others while a towering cloud of smoke blanketed nearby villages in heavy ash. (AP Photo/Luis Soto)
WASHINGTON (AP) - First lady Melania Trump isn't joining her husband at the G7 summit in Quebec this week or planning to accompany him to the expected meeting with North Korea's leader in Singapore the week after, spokeswoman Stephanie Grisham said Sunday.

Mrs. Trump's decision not to go to Quebec is a departure from last year, when she made an international summit debut at the G7 meeting in Italy and followed up at the forum of G20 industrialized and developing nations in Germany. Spouses typically get together at events of their own during the meetings of world leaders.

The first lady stayed behind Friday when President Donald Trump, his daughters, eldest son and son-in-law went to the Camp David retreat for the weekend. She hasn't made a public appearance since before her five-day hospital stay in mid-May for treatment of a kidney condition the White House only described as benign.

FILE - In this Friday, May 26, 2017, file photo, U.S. first lady Melania Trump steps out of a car as she arrives at Chierici Palace, part of a visit of the G7 first ladies in Catania, Italy. Melania Trump won't be joining her husband at the 2018 G7 summit in Quebec or accompanying him to the meeting planned with North Korea's leader in Singapore following the G7. (AP Photo/Domenico Stinellis, File)

Grisham said earlier that the first lady has been meeting with staff and working on projects. Mrs. Trump is scheduled to join the president Monday in hosting a reception, closed to the press, for Gold Star families.

"She will not attend the G7 and there are no plans for her to travel to Singapore at this time," Grisham told AP.

The G7 summit will be held in Quebec on Friday and Saturday. The president plans to meet North Korean leader Kim Jong Un on June 12 in Singapore, the first leaders' summit between two countries that are still formally at war.
WASHINGTON (AP) - This was supposed to be the quiet time on Capitol Hill, but Congress returns to work Monday facing a showdown in the House over immigration while Senate Republicans are trying to stop an all-out trade war after President Donald Trump's decision to impose import tariffs on close U.S. allies.

Tensions are running particularly high as Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell is threatening to cancel the traditional August recess as he fights Democratic opposition to GOP priorities in a show of busy-work before the midterm election.

It's shaping up to be far from the typical summer slowdown when legislating usually makes way for campaigning.

FILE- This March 30, 2017, file photo shows the Capitol Dome at dawn in Washington. Congress returns to work Monday, June 4, 2018, facing a showdown in the House over immigration while Senate Republicans are trying to stop an all-out trade war after President Donald Trump's decision to impose import tariffs on close U.S. allies. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite, File)

"Another summer, another heavy work load," tweeted Sen. Chuck Grassley, R-Iowa, as he pushed to confirm nominations. "NOW is the time to vote on Fridays (even wknds!)." The Senate often is not in session on Fridays.

Congress faces a few should-do items in the weeks ahead. Topping the agenda is passage of the annual defense bill, which includes pay raises for the troops. It has already cleared the House. The Senate could begin consideration of its defense bill this week. But the Senate version carries a warning to Trump with a trade provision to block any White House plan to lift penalties on the China-based telecommunications company ZTE, which faces trade law violations over selling sensitive technologies to U.S. adversaries.

Trump's moves on trade are expected to consume conversations among Senate Republicans this week. They're worried about a wider trade war spiking prices for home-state businesses and consumers if Trump imposes steel and aluminum tariffs, as planned, on imports from Canada, Mexico and the European Union.

Republicans will be making the case to the administration that the tariffs could dampen the economic gains from the GOP tax cuts and sour the mood among voters as lawmakers are campaigning to protect the Republican majority in Congress.

Some Republicans are also hoping Trump simply changes his mind and doesn't follow through with it. But aides said others may be signing on to a bill from Sen. Mike Lee, R-Utah, that would subject all trade actions by the executive branch, including tariffs, to congressional approval. Rep. Will Hurd, R-Texas, said he would support a similar move in the House. "Congress has shared our responsibility when it comes to trade with the executive branch over the last couple of decades, and I think that's something that we need to re-evaluate," he told CBS' "Face the Nation."

Meanwhile, House Republicans face a self-imposed deadline Thursday for resolving an immigration standoff between GOP centrists who are forcing a vote on legislation to protect young immigrants who were brought to the country illegally as children and conservatives who want stricter immigration enforcement with money for Trump's border wall.

The centrists want to provide a way for the young immigrants to become permanent residents, which can lead to citizenship. Conservatives are opposed to creating a new pathway to staying in the U.S. permanently, equating it with granting amnesty to lawbreakers.

Speaker Paul Ryan, R-Wis., and Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif., are trying to craft a Republican-led bill as a compromise between the factions, but it's difficult.

House leaders plan a two-hour private meeting of GOP lawmakers Thursday morning to hash out whether talks among the party's factions have produced an immigration compromise that can win broad support. Underscoring the sensitivity of the session, staff is to be excluded.

They're trying to prevent the moderates from joining with Democrats to pass the "Dreamer" protections, which polls suggest are popular, but which would be a setback for GOP leaders and expose the majority to complaints from the conservative base.

Without a deal, the moderates say they'll push ahead with enough signatures on a so-called discharge petition to force the vote over the leadership's objections.

Hurd said moderates have the votes already, but are "engaged in conversations to figure out ... is there another path. I don't believe that there is."

Rep. Carlos Curbelo, R-Fla., said in an interview last week that he saw a 50-50 chance of those talks succeeding. He warned that if they didn't bear fruit, he and his supporters "fully expect" to continue pushing their petition.

Curbelo said the young immigrants must "be guaranteed a future in our country, meaning they cannot be exposed to deportation." He said, "They must have permanent status immediately and they must have the option of a bridge into the legal immigration system," meaning a pathway to citizenship.

The moderates' effort has won the backing of GOP Sen. John McCain, fighting brain cancer back home in Arizona, who tweeted on Saturday: "Congress can't ignore this critical issue - and the many lives it impacts - any longer."

Starting Monday in the Senate, McConnell has teed up votes on three nominees to serve as federal district court judges, including the first Hispanic lawyer whom Trump nominated for the bench, Fernando Rodriguez Jr. of Texas.

The selections are expected to receive bipartisan support, though more contentious votes are expected in coming weeks. Republicans have made it a top priority to get Trump's nominees on the bench, to the alarm of Democrats, who say Republicans are working to stack the federal judiciary with young ideologues who will shape it for decades to come.

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Associated Press writers Kevin Freking and Alan Fram in Washington contributed to this report.

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Follow Mascaro on Twitter at https://twitter.com/LisaMascaro
KABUL, Afghanistan (AP) - A suicide bomber targeted a gathering of Afghanistan's top clerics on Monday, killing at least seven people and wounding 20 shortly after the religious leaders had issued a decree against such attacks and called for peace talks.

Ghafor Aziz, police chief of Kabul's 5th District, said the bomber struck near the entrance of a compound where the religious body, known as the Afghan Ulema Council, was meeting. It was not clear how many of the clerics were among those killed or wounded.

No one immediately claimed responsibility for the attack.

Afghan security personnel arrive at the site of suicide attack in Kabul Monday, June 4, 2018. A suicide bombing targeted a gathering of Afghanistan's top clerics on Monday in Kabul, killing at least seven people and wounding nine. (AP Photo/Rahmat Gul)

Interior Ministry spokesman Najib Danish said one policeman was among those killed and two were among the wounded. Public Health Ministry spokesman Wahid Majroh said the 20 wounded were taken to different hospitals and that the toll could rise.

Around 2,000 members of the council had gathered for the meeting, which was held beneath a large, traditional tent. Aziz said the bomber struck near the end of the meeting, as the participants were about to leave.

Shortly before the attack, the clerics had issued an Islamic ruling, or a fatwa, declaring that suicide attacks are "haram" - forbidden under Islamic law.

The council called on the government, the Taliban and other militants to halt the fighting and enter peace negotiations. It was the first time in the 17-year war that the council has issued such an appeal.

Less than an hour before the attack happened, Ghofranullah Murad, a member of the council, read out a written statement from the gathering.

"The ongoing war in Afghanistan is illegal and has no root in Sharia (Islamic) law," the statement said. "It is illegal according to Islamic laws and it does nothing but shed the blood of Muslims."

"We the religious Ulema call on the Taliban to respond positively to the peace offer of the Afghan government in order to prevent further bloodshed in the country," it added.

The fatwa also said that killing people by any means - such as bombs and suicide attacks - as well as violent acts like robbery and kidnapping, are sins in Islam.

Hours after the meeting, the Taliban issued a statement saying that their jihad, or holy war, in Afghanistan is legitimate because it is being waged against U.S. invaders and their supporters. It called the Ulema meeting "an American process, which was planned, organized, financed and led by the invaders." It urged the clerics to instead side with the Taliban against the "occupation."

The Taliban nevertheless denied involvement in the attack. A powerful Islamic State affiliate has carried out a wave of attacks in recent months, and would also have been opposed to the fatwa.

U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres condemned the attack and reiterated that "no cause can justify such violence," U.N. spokesman Stephane Dujarric said. "Targeting civilians in this way is a clear violation of international law," he added.

Elsewhere in Kabul, three civilians, including a woman, were wounded when a sticky bomb attached to their car went off in the Koti Sangi area on Monday, said Hashmat Stanekzai, spokesman for the Kabul police chief.

The Taliban in April announced the start of their annual spring offensive, but in recent years, both the Taliban and the IS affiliate have carried out near-daily attacks through all seasons. The Taliban have managed to seize control of several districts across the country and regularly target Kabul, the capital.

Both militant groups seek to overthrow the U.S.-backed government and impose a harsh version of Islamic rule, but they are split over leadership, tactics and ideology. Their relentless assaults underscore the struggles that Afghan forces have faced since the United States and NATO concluded their combat mission in Afghanistan at the end of 2014.

Thousands of American troops remain in Afghanistan in a counterterrorism and supporting role. The Trump administration has sent additional troops to try to change the course of America's longest war.

Security personnel block the road after a suicide attack in Kabul, Afghanistan, Monday, June 4, 2018. (AP Photo/Rahmat Gul)

A member of security personnel stands at the site of a deadly suicide attack in Kabul, Afghanistan, Monday, June 4, 2018. A suicide bombing targeted a gathering of Afghanistan's top clerics on Monday in Kabul, killing at least seven people and wounding nine. (AP Photo/Rahmat Gul)

Security personnel attend the site of a deadly suicide attack in Kabul, Afghanistan, Monday, June 4, 2018. A suicide bombing targeted a gathering of Afghanistan's top clerics on Monday in Kabul, killing at least seven people and wounding nine. (AP Photo/Rahmat Gul)

Police officers guard close to the site of a deadly suicide attack in Kabul, Afghanistan, Monday, June 4, 2018. A suicide bombing targeted a gathering of Afghanistan's top clerics on Monday in Kabul, killing at least seven people and wounding nine, the police said. (AP Photo/Massoud Hossaini)

Security personnel attend the site of a deadly suicide attack in Kabul, Afghanistan, Monday, June 4, 2018. A suicide bombing targeted a gathering of Afghanistan's top clerics on Monday in Kabul, killing at least seven people and wounding nine. (AP Photo/Rahmat Gul)

Afghan bystanders watch the aftermath of a deadly suicide attack in Kabul, Afghanistan, Monday, June 4, 2018. A suicide bombing targeted a gathering of Afghanistan's top clerics on Monday in Kabul, killing at least seven people and wounding nine. (AP Photo/Rahmat Gul)

A police officer guards close to the site of a deadly suicide attack in Kabul, Afghanistan, Monday, June 4, 2018. A suicide bombing targeted a gathering of Afghanistan's top clerics on Monday in Kabul, killing at least seven people and wounding nine, the police said. (AP Photo/Massoud Hossaini)

Security personnel attend the site of a deadly suicide attack in Kabul, Afghanistan, Monday, June 4, 2018. A suicide bombing targeted a gathering of Afghanistan's top clerics on Monday in Kabul, killing at least seven people and wounding nine. (AP Photo/Rahmat Gul)
BERLIN (AP) - The nationalist Alternative for Germany party's co-leader said Monday he "regrets" the impression created by remarks in which he dismissed the Nazi era as "speck of bird poop" in German history, which drew condemnation across the mainstream political spectrum.

Alexander Gauland told a gathering of the party's youth wing on Saturday that Germans must take responsibility for 12 years of Nazi rule but argued that "Hitler and the Nazis are just a speck of bird poop in more than 1,000 years of successful German history."

Gauland's comments were defended by many in the party, known by its German acronym AfD, which entered the national parliament in last year's election on anti-migrant and anti-establishment sentiment and is now the biggest opposition party.

Alexander Gauland, co-faction leader of the Alternative for Germany, AfD at the federal parliament Bundestag, attends a congress of the party's youth organization ' Junge Alternative', 'Young Alternative', at Seebach, Germany, Saturday, June 2, 2018. (Alexander Prautzsch/dpa via AP)

But there were some dissenting voices. A group representing party moderates, the Alternative Center, said in a statement late Sunday that Gauland's comment sounded at best ambiguous and "this should not happen to a politician who has a minimum of instinct and sense of responsibility for our history." It called for a public apology.

On Monday, Gauland asserted in a statement that he had used the words "bird poop" to express his "deepest contempt for Nazism."

He said that "many saw the expression as an inappropriate trivialization" but "nothing could be further from me than to allow such an impression to arise."

"I regret the resulting impression," he added. "It was never my intention to trivialize or deride the victims of this criminal system."

Chancellor Angela Merkel's spokesman, Steffen Seibert, said Monday "it is shameful that we have to deal with such comments by a lawmaker in parliament" and that the government strongly rejects any downplaying of the Nazi era.

The general secretary of Chancellor Angela Merkel's party, Annegret Kramp-Karrenbauer, has argued that Gauland's comments reveal the true nature of a party hiding behind middle-class respectability.

Last year, prominent AfD member Bjoern Hoecke said Germany needs to perform a "180-degree turn" when it comes to remembering its past, and said the Berlin memorial to the millions of Jews killed in the Holocaust is a "monument of shame." And before last year's election, the 77-year-old Gauland said the country has a right to be "proud of German soldiers' achievements in two world wars."

Also Monday, AfD's leadership issued a statement expressing its disapproval of the singing by delegates at Saturday's youth wing meeting of the entire German national anthem - including the verse which begins with "Deutschland, Deutschland ueber alles" that was dropped after the Nazis' defeat.

Damian Lohr, the youth wing's leader, said he "takes note" of the criticism but argued that singing the verse isn't banned and that the hymn was "abused by the Nazis."
DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) - The state-owned Qatar Petroleum has signed an agreement to acquire a 30 percent stake in two Exxon Mobil affiliates in Argentina.

The agreement gives the Qatari oil and gas company shares in ExxonMobil Exploration Argentina S.R.L. and Mobil Argentina S.A. for exploration, drilling and production of unconventional shale oil and gas in Vaca Muerta in the Neuquen province in western Argentina.

Qatar Petroleum says the agreement that was signed on Sunday evening with Exxon Mobil in the capital, Doha, marks the first time the company invests in Argentina. The company did not disclose the value of the deal.

Qatar Petroleum is the world's largest producer of liquefied natural gas. The small, but wealthy Arab state shares the world's biggest gas field, located in the Persian Gulf, with Iran.
BERLIN (AP) - German Chancellor Angela Merkel said Monday she condemns a tweet from Iran's top leader saying that Israel is a "cancerous tumor" that needs to be removed and pledged to increase pressure on Tehran to scale back its military influence in the region.

Speaking alongside Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Merkel said Israel's security was a top priority for Germany.

The two leaders were asked about a tweet Sunday from the account of Iran's top leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, saying his country's "stance against Israel is the same stance we have always taken. #Israel is a malignant cancerous tumor in the West Asian region that has to be removed and eradicated: it is possible and it will happen."

German Chancellor Angela Merkel, right, and Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, left, address the media during a joint press conference as part of a meeting at the Chancellery in Berlin, Germany, Monday, June 4, 2018. (AP Photo/Michael Sohn)

The Twitter account is run by Khamenei's office and it's not known if he dictates the tweets himself. The quote is from several years ago.

Netanyahu called the tweet "quite extraordinary."

"Iran calls for our destruction, but it's also seeking nuclear weapons to carry out its genocidal design," he said.

Iran denies seeking nuclear weapons, and the U.N. says it has met its obligations under the 2015 nuclear accord with world powers, which requires it to curb its nuclear activities in exchange for the lifting of international sanctions.

Netanyahu was a staunch opponent of the deal, and welcomed the Trump administration's decision last month to withdraw from it. Germany, Britain, France, Russia and China, which also signed the agreement, have said they want to preserve it.

Merkel said "we sharply condemn what the Iranian leadership said," but at the same time reiterated her view that the nuclear agreement was the best way to prevent Iran from developing atomic weapons.

"We are not in agreement on all questions, but we are friends, we are partners," Merkel said of the visiting Israeli leader.

The other co-signers of the nuclear agreement met last month in Vienna after the U.S. pulled out of the deal, reaffirming their commitment to it.

Netanyahu suggested the deal was bound to collapse without U.S. involvement, but said he agreed with Merkel that "Iran's aggressions" needed to be kept in check.

"We have some disagreements, as you can see, but they're not really on goal, they're more on method," he said.

Netanyahu has argued that the economic relief provided under the nuclear deal has allowed Iran to expand its military interference across the region, where it backs the Syrian government as well as armed groups like the Lebanese Hezbollah.

Berlin was Netanyahu's first stop in a European trip to try and turn key allies Germany, France and Britain to his way of thinking on the Iran deal. French President Emmanuel Macron's office said France will insist on having a dialogue with Iran.

The possible unraveling of the nuclear deal has raised concerns that the U.S. or Israel might resort to war if Iran ramps up its nuclear activities.

Khamenei, who makes the final decisions on all major policies in Iran, on Monday warned that anyone who fires one missile at his country "will be hit by 10" in response, but dismissed fears of war as "propaganda" by the West.

Khamenei said in a speech that he has ordered atomic authorities to increase the country's nuclear enrichment capacity. The increase he detailed in his speech would not exceed limits set by the nuclear accord.

The supreme leader also reiterated his support for the country's ballistic missile program. One of the main objections made by critics of the nuclear deal was that it did not address the missile program, which Israel and Gulf countries view as a threat.

"Production of various missiles and missile power provides security," Khamenei said.

Earlier Monday, the director of the International Atomic Energy Agency renewed calls for Iran to provide "timely and proactive cooperation" in inspections that are part of the nuclear deal.

At a news conference later, Yukiya Amano said his statement was "not an expression of concerns or complaints, but rather an encouragement to Iran."

Last month, in its first report since the U.S. withdrawal, the IAEA said Iran continues to stay below the maximum level of uranium the deal allows it to enrich. The agency's report also said Iran appears to be fulfilling other obligations, but is slow when it comes to "complementary access" inspections.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu attends a news conference with German Chancellor Angela Merkel after a meeting at the chancellery in Berlin, Monday, June 4, 2018. (AP Photo/Markus Schreiber)

German Chancellor Angela Merkel attends a news conference with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu after a meeting at the chancellery in Berlin, Monday, June 4, 2018. (AP Photo/Markus Schreiber)

German Chancellor Angela Merkel, right, and Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, left, address the media during a joint press conference as part of a meeting at the Chancellery in Berlin, Germany, Monday, June 4, 2018. (AP Photo/Michael Sohn)

German Chancellor Angela Merkel, right, and Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, left, address the media during a joint press conference as part of a meeting at the Chancellery in Berlin, Germany, Monday, June 4, 2018. (AP Photo/Michael Sohn)

German Chancellor Angela Merkel, left, and Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, right, shake hands after a joint press conference as part of a meeting at the Chancellery in Berlin, Germany, Monday, June 4, 2018. (AP Photo/Michael Sohn)

German Chancellor Angela Merkel, left, and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, right, leaves a news conference after a meeting at the chancellery in Berlin, Monday, June 4, 2018. (AP Photo/Markus Schreiber)

German Chancellor Angela Merkel, right, and Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, left, address the media during a joint press conference as part of a meeting at the Chancellery in Berlin, Germany, Monday, June 4, 2018. (AP Photo/Michael Sohn)

In this picture released by an official website of the office of the Iranian supreme leader, Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei attends a ceremony marking the 29th anniversary of the death of the late revolutionary founder Ayatollah Khomeini, at his mausoleum, just outside Tehran, Iran, Monday, June 4, 2018. Iran's top leader says anyone who fires one missile at his country "will be hit by 10" in response, but dismisses fears of war as "propaganda" by the West. (Office of the Iranian Supreme Leader via AP)

In this picture released by an official website of the office of the Iranian supreme leader, Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei attends a ceremony marking the 29th anniversary of the death of the late revolutionary founder Ayatollah Khomeini, at his mausoleum, just outside Tehran, Iran, Monday, June 4, 2018. Iran's top leader says anyone who fires one missile at his country "will be hit by 10" in response, but dismisses fears of war as "propaganda" by the West. (Office of the Iranian Supreme Leader via AP)

Director General of the International Atomic Energy Agency, IAEA, Yukiya Amano of Japan, addresses the media during a news conference after a meeting of the IAEA board of governors at the International Center in Vienna, Austria, Monday, June 4, 2018. (AP Photo/Ronald Zak)

Director General of the International Atomic Energy Agency, IAEA, Yukiya Amano of Japan, addresses the media during a news conference after a meeting of the IAEA board of governors at the International Center in Vienna, Austria, Monday, June 4, 2018. (AP Photo/Ronald Zak)
CHICAGO (AP) - Patients with pancreatic cancer that hadn't spread lived substantially longer on a four-drug combo than on a single standard cancer drug, a rare advance for a tough-to-treat disease, researchers reported Monday.

The results indicate the powerful chemotherapy treatment known as folfirinox will likely become standard of care for the minority of patients whose pancreatic cancer is diagnosed early enough to be removed by surgery, experts not involved in the study said.

After an average three years of follow-up, almost 40 percent of the folfirinox patients were disease-free compared with about 20 percent who had the standard drug, Gemzar. Overall, almost two-thirds of folfirinox patients were still alive compared with almost half of Gemzar patients, unexpectedly good results, said Dr. Thierry Conroy, the lead author and a cancer specialist at the Cancer Institute of Lorraine in Vandoeuvre-les-Nancy, France.

This undated microscope image from USC via the NIH shows pancreatic cancer cells, nuclei in blue, growing as a sphere encased in membranes, red. In a rare triumph for tough-to-beat pancreatic cancer, patients who had surgery lived substantially longer on a four-drug combo than on a standard cancer drug, according to research released on Monday, June 4, 2018. (Min Yu/Eli and Edythe Broad Center for Regenerative Medicine and Stem Cell Research at USC, USC Norris Comprehensive Cancer Center)

Results were presented Monday at an American Society of Clinical Oncology conference in Chicago.

Dr. Richard Schilsky, the group's chief medical officer, called the research an "immediately practice-changing study" and said it's the biggest advance for pancreatic cancer in 25 years.

Folfirinox is already standard treatment for patients whose pancreatic cancer has spread.

The outlook has been bleak for patients with pancreatic cancer , an uncommon disease for which there is no screening. Symptoms including fatigue, weight loss and abdomen pain often don't occur until late, after the disease has spread.

About 330,000 cases are diagnosed each year worldwide, including about 55,000 in the United States. About half are diagnosed after the disease has spread; most die within a year of diagnosis and only about 6 percent survive for five years.

About 15 percent of patients are candidates for surgery; generally their disease was detected early and has not spread widely beyond the pancreas.

The new results are "reassuring for a disease where unfortunately on average people only live several months rather than several years. This is a new standard of care for this illness," said Dr. Andrew Epstein, an expert at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center in New York.

Nearly 500 patients at 77 centers in France and Canada were enrolled in the study from spring 2012 through fall 2016. They either received the four-drug combo through an IV every two weeks for about six months or Gemzar three times a month for six months. The study was funded by philanthropic groups in France and Canada.

Participants had early ductal tumors, the most common kind of pancreatic cancer.

Side effects are common for both drugs including low blood counts, fatigue and diarrhea, and they occurred more often in folfirinox patients. There was one death in the study in the Gemzar group.

Folfirinox and Gemzar are available as generics. Schilsky said both treatments are "pretty inexpensive" since the drugs are available as generics. Insurance typically covers both for metastatic cancer and gemcitabine for operable cancer, and it's likely it would cover folfirinox for operable cancer if guidelines are revised and it becomes standard of care, which several experts say is expected.

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AP Chief Medical Writer Marilynn Marchione contributed to this report.

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Follow AP Medical Writer Lindsey Tanner on Twitter: @LindseyTanner. Her work can be found here .

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The Associated Press Health & Science Department receives support from the Howard Hughes Medical Institute's Department of Science Education. The AP is solely responsible for all content.
PARIS (AP) - The United Nations has released its first educational guidelines on fighting anti-Semitism.

UNESCO, the U.N.'s cultural body, launched the publication on Monday in Paris in collaboration with the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe.

The guide, designed for young people, teachers and political leaders, was presented by Audrey Azoulay, UNESCO's director general.

UNESCO said the guide provides tools to strengthen the resilience of young people to anti-Semitic ideas and violent extremism, such as how to respond to anti-Semitic acts and words in school settings.

It also familiarizes educators with anti-Semitic stereotypes and conspiracy theories, as well as strategies to develop students' media skills so they can resist manipulation.

The guide was an initiative started under former UNESCO chief Irina Bokova.
CANBERRA, Australia (AP) - Australians will find fewer plastics on the shelves at most supermarkets as retailers bend to customer demands to reduce waste.

Retail giants Woolworths and Coles, which account for around 70 percent of the Australian supermarket trade, on Monday announced new goals to reduce plastic products and packaging in response to customers wanting a greener shopping experience.

Woolworths said all its stores in Australia and New Zealand will no longer sell plastic straws by the end of this year. It also will offer reusable shopping bags when it phases out plastic shopping bags on June 20, and will expand its program to remove plastic wrap from fruit and vegetable for another 80 products.

Coles has set a 2020 deadline to make its packaging recyclable and cut food waste by half.

Australian Environment Minister Josh Frydenberg on Tuesday said he was delighted that Australia's largest supermarkets were taking robust action to phase out single-use plastic bags.

Coles has committed to phasing out single-use plastic bags as well as reducing plastic wrapping on fruit and vegies and to replacing meat and poultry product packaging with recycled and renewable materials.

"This means billions of these single-use plastic bags and other plastics will no longer take up space in landfill or harm our environment," Frydenberg said in a statement.

The Australian government is also working to cut down on waste produced by ensuring that all Australian packaging will be recyclable, compostable or reusable by 2025 or earlier, he said.

Half of Australia's eight state and territories already ban single-use plastic shopping bags.

Another two states - Queensland and Western Australia - will join South Australia, Tasmania, Northern Territory and Australian Capital Territory with state-wide bans from July 1.

But the most populous states, New South Wales and Victoria - where more than half the Australian population live - are resisting change.

The European Union has proposed banning plastic products, like straws, to reduce litter spoiling beaches and ocean beds.
CHICAGO (AP) - A federal court has ruled that printing "In God We Trust" on U.S. currency doesn't amount to a religious endorsement and therefore doesn't violate the U.S. Constitution.

The Chicago Daily Law Bulletin reports the 7th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in Chicago made the ruling Thursday in a lawsuit brought by a self-declared Satanist, Kenneth Mayle. He argued that the motto propagates a religious view he opposes.

A lower court tossed the suit citing a Supreme Court decision that a motto on currency isn't something people display prominently and thus that people are not forced to publicly advertise views that clash with their own.

FILE - This Sept. 6, 2017, file photo, shows currency from a tip jar in New York. The 7th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in Chicago ruled Thursday, May 31, 2018, in a lawsuit brought by self-declared Satanist, Kenneth Mayle, that printing "In God We Trust" on U.S. currency doesn't amount to a religious endorsement and therefore doesn't violate the U.S. Constitution. Mayle argued that the motto propagates a religious view he opposes. (AP Photo/Mark Lennihan, File)

Mayle appealed to restore the suit, but the 7th Circuit refused, describing the phrase as a "historical reminder" of the nation's heritage.

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Information from: Chicago Daily Law Bulletin , http://www.chicagolawbulletin.com
PARIS (AP) - The Latest on Europe's migrant crisis (all times local):

6:10 p.m.

French President Emmanuel Macron says he wants to keep cooperating with Italy on migration issues, after the new Italian populist government detailed strategies for deporting migrants.

Demonstrators protest against Italy's vice Prime Minister and Minister of the Interior Matteo Salvini during his visits to a so-called ''hot spot" in the Sicilian port of Pozzallo, where many of the rescue ships dock, disembarking migrants who need to be fingerprinted and otherwise identified as a first step in the process of seeking asylum, Sunday, June 3, 2018. (Andrea Scarfo'/ANSA via AP)

The pro-European French leader told a news conference that "we will only be able to solve the large contemporary migrations by working together."

Macron listed better protection of European borders, common rules on asylum and closer cooperation between European countries among major challenges. He stressed that cooperation on the issue is in the interests of both France and Italy.

The leader of the right-wing League and interior minister in the new government, Matteo Salvini, vowed Sunday to expel migrants en masse, as people fleeing poverty and conflicts in Africa arrive in huge numbers to Sicily.

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2:10 p.m.

Hungarian civic groups are asking the government to drop a draft bill seeking to criminalize their work with asylum-seekers and refugees.

The Hungarian Helsinki Committee and Amnesty International said Monday that the bill "criminalizes humanitarian and legal assistance," threatening them with prison terms of up to a year.

Helsinki Committee co-chair Marta Pardavi told reporters that the bill, whose debate is scheduled to start Tuesday in parliament, "has no place in a civilized country, in the EU, in a state under the rule of law."

The bill is part of right-wing populist Prime Minister Viktor Orban's campaign to prevent Hungary from "becoming an immigrant country." Orban maintains that Hungarian-American billionaire George Soros and the civic groups he supports seek large-scale immigration of Muslims into Europe, charges they deny.

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9:45 a.m.

French police have evacuated around 500 migrants - mostly Afghans but some Africans - from a makeshift tent encampment in central Paris.

In the Monday dawn operation, buses will take them to lodgings in the Paris region where they can pursue asylum requests.

James Okafor, who fled Nigeria after being attacked, said he "will be very happy to leave" because it will help him meet officials who will decide if he can stay in France.

Others were apprehensive, since most of the migrants don't speak French or English.

Two migrants drowned last month nearby and fights at camps have led to injuries, increasing the pressure on officials to close them.

In three years, police have evacuated 28,000 migrants from Paris camps.

Migrants wait to leave during a clearing out of a makeshift migrant camp along side of the canal Saint Martin, in central Paris, France, Monday, June 4, 2018. French police have evacuated around 500 migrants, mostly Afghans but some Africans from a makeshift tent encampment. (AP Photo/Francois Mori)
BERLIN (AP) - Russian President Vladimir Putin is traveling to Austria on Tuesday on his first foreign trip since being sworn in for a fourth term in office last month. The visit, which marks the 50th anniversary of the start of Soviet gas deliveries to Austria, takes him to one of Europe's more Russia-friendly countries at a time when relations between the European Union and Russia are at a low ebb. It's his sixth official visit to Vienna.

EAST-WEST BRIDGE

Austria, unlike many other countries in the 28-nation EU, didn't expel Russian diplomats over the poisoning in Britain earlier this year of former Russian spy Sergei Skripal.

FILE - In this June 24, 2014 file photo Russian President Vladimir Putin attends a news conference after his meeting with Austrian President Heinz Fischer in the Hofburg Palace in Vienna, Austria. (AP Photo/RIA-Novosti, Alexei Nikolsky, Presidential Press Service)

Chancellor Sebastian Kurz in March pointed to Vienna's "traditionally good contacts" with Russia and said his government would use them to press Moscow to help clarify the nerve agent attack. He said Vienna was "of the opinion that it is important to maintain channels of dialogue."

That reflects widespread thinking in Austria, going back well before Kurz's current center-right government - Putin's last visit, in mid-2014, was one of his first to the West after Russia's annexation of Crimea from Ukraine.

Traditionally neutral Austria, which hosts U.N. agencies including the International Atomic Energy Agency, is not a member of NATO. Russian Ambassador Dmitry Lyubinsky recently told the Austria Press Agency that Russia appreciates "Austria's responsible position on questions of the international agenda."

POLITICAL FRIENDS

Putin will meet liberal President Alexander Van der Bellen as well as Kurz, a 31-year-old conservative who became chancellor in December at the head of a coalition with the far-right Freedom Party. That party's leader, Vice Chancellor Heinz-Christian Strache, says he also will meet Putin.

The anti-migration and traditionally euroskeptic Freedom Party has long taken a positive view of the Russian leader, with Strache and other leaders traveling to Moscow in December 2016 to sign a cooperation agreement with the main Kremlin party, United Russia.

BUSINESS TIES

Austria was the first western European country to sign a gas delivery agreement with the Soviet Union, on June 1, 1968, and Putin's visit this week coincides with that anniversary.

Today, gas and oil account for four-fifths of Russian exports to Austria, while Austrian exports to Russia include machinery and pharmaceuticals. Putin's last visit to Austria, in 2014, centered on the signing of an agreement between Austrian energy company OMV and Russia's Gazprom to build the Austrian section of the planned South Stream pipeline, a project that was later scrapped.

OMV is now among European companies involved in the planned Nord Stream 2 pipeline that would double the amount of gas Russia can send directly to Germany, skirting transit countries such as Ukraine - a project opposed by the U.S. and some other EU members.

QUESTIONING SANCTIONS

Austrian exports to Russia declined sharply after EU sanctions in 2014 were met by Russian sanctions.

In an interview with Sunday's edition of the Oesterreich newspaper, Strache said that "a rethink by the EU would be desirable, because the sanctions have above all damaged our Austrian economy." He added that it was time to end the "tiresome sanctions and normalize political and economic relations with Russia."

Austria will take over the EU's rotating presidency for six months in July, but there's little expectation of sanctions being lifted soon given that a peace plan for Ukraine is still far from completely implemented.

FILE - In this Dec. 18, 2017 file photo Austrian President Alexander Van Der Bellen, new Chancellor Sebastian Kurz and new Vice Chancellor Heinz-Christian Strache, from left, arrive for the swearing-in ceremony of the new Austrian government led by a conservative and a nationalist party in Vienna, Austria. (AP Photo/Ronald Zak, file)
MANILA, Philippines (AP) - Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte's mouth has landed him in hot water again, this time for kissing a married woman on the lips in front of thousands of his cheering supporters.

Duterte, known for his verbal outbursts and other antics, is being slammed by critics for the kiss, which took place Sunday during a town hall-style meeting with overseas Filipino workers in South Korea. One senator called the act "a despicable display of sexism and grave abuse of authority."

Duterte sought a kiss from the woman after he called her on stage to give her a copy of a book at the event in Seoul. When Duterte asked if she can explain to her husband that the antic was just a joke, and she said yes, the president leaned in and kissed her as thousands erupted in cheers.

In this video from PTV taken Sunday, June 3, 2018, Philippines President Rodrigo Duterte leans in to kiss a Filipino worker at the podium during a town hall-style meeting with overseas Filipino workers in Seoul, South Korea. (PTV via AP)

The state-run TV network aired the scene live in the Philippines.

While the woman has defended the kiss and said she was thrilled by her encounter, others said the president went too far.

"President Duterte acted like a feudal king who thinks that being the president is an entitlement to do anything that he pleases," said Sen. Risa Hontiveros, who asked the public not to pass judgment on the woman. "Even if the act was consensual, it was the president, possessed of awesome, even intimidating, power who initiated it."

The left-wing Gabriela women's party condemned Duterte's act, which it said underscored his "machismo and misogyny." The "macho spectacle," it said, "alarmingly makes sexual advances against women look right."

Aside from growing alarm over his bloody crackdown against illegal drugs which has left thousands of mostly poor drug suspects dead, Duterte has come under fire from women's groups for sexist remarks, including one where he told troops to shoot female insurgents in the genitals during a public outburst against communist guerrillas.

He has also publicly kissed women in the past, including at rallies during his campaign for the presidency.

The latest incident came near the end of a two-hour rambling speech, when Duterte offered the crowd a book about alleged corruption and abuse in the Catholic church. He pointed at two women.

"There's payment for this, a kiss. You in white, are you ready to engage in kissing? Come here," the 73-year-old Duterte said as he summoned the women to the stage.

One of the women gave the president a peck on the cheek. The other woman reached for the president's hand and put it on her forehead in a traditional gesture of respect for an elderly. But the president asked her to come closer for a kiss, pointing to his lips.

Amid the roar of the crowd, Duterte asked if the woman was married and if her husband was around. He inquired if she could explain to her husband that what they were about to do was just a joke.

She said her husband wasn't around and replied yes to the president's other question.

"Make him jealous," the president said.

Duterte then leaned in and kissed the visibly overwhelmed woman, who screamed in joy and covered her face. He then hugged her.

"Don't take that seriously," Duterte later told the crowd. "It's just to give people fun."

The woman, who is married to a South Korean and has two daughters, later said in a TV interview that she was thrilled by her face-to-face encounter with the president. She said there was "no malice" in the presidential kiss, which was meant to dazzle the crowd.
ATHENS, Greece (AP) - A lawyer representing eight Turkish servicemen who fled to Greece seeking asylum after the 2016 failed coup in Turkey says all his clients have been freed pending a ruling on their applications.

Omiros Zelios said Monday that the last of his clients was released from police custody last week. All are living in a secret location under strong police protection.

Greek courts have rejected repeated Turkish demands for their extradition, to face charges of alleged participation in the coup, arguing that they would not get a fair trial in Turkey.

This has soured relations between the neighboring countries, which are historic regional rivals.

So far, one of the Turks has been irrevocably granted asylum - despite efforts by Greece's government to block the decision. The others' cases are pending.
WASHINGTON (AP) - The Latest on President Donald Trump (all times local):

9:25 a.m.

President Donald Trump is defending his new trade policies, saying trade practices by other countries are "Not acceptable!"

Trump has imposed penalty tariffs on steel and aluminum imports from major U.S. trading partners, including Canada. And he has threatened tariffs on up to $200 billion in Chinese imports, moves that could trigger a global trade war as the targeted nations pledge to retaliate.

In a tweet Monday, Trump wrote: "China already charges a tax of 16% on soybeans. Canada has all sorts of trade barriers on our Agricultural products. Not acceptable!"

Senate Republicans are already concerned that the tariffs could dampen the economic gains from the GOP tax cuts and sour the mood among voters as lawmakers are campaigning to protect the Republican majority in Congress.

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8:23 a.m.

President Donald Trump is touting what he sees as his top accomplishments after 500 days in office.

On Twitter Monday Trump says: "we have accomplished a lot - many believe more than any President in his first 500 days."

Trump continued: "Massive Tax & Regulation Cuts, Military & Vets, Lower Crime & Illegal Immigration, Stronger Borders, Judgeships, Best Economy & Jobs EVER, and much more..."

Trump has signed substantial tax cuts into law and has successfully nominated a slew of conservative judges. Economic expansion continues and the unemployment rate has hit an 18-year low.

Illegal border crossings, as Trump measures them, have gone up since he took office and he is still seeking more funding for a long-promised wall along the U.S.-Mexico border.
PARIS (AP) - French financial prosecutors have opened an investigation after an anti-corruption association filed a complaint against French President Emmanuel Macron's chief of staff.

The prosecutors' office said Monday investigators will look into whether the rules related to conflicts of interests while in a public position have been respected.

The French association Anticor suspects Alexis Kohler, one of Macron's closest aides, of influence-peddling and conflict of interest in relation to his ties to the Mediterranean Shipping Company, or MSC.

FILE - This Monday, May 15, 2017 file photo shows secretary general of the Elysee Palace, Alexis Kohler, as he announces the nomination for the prime minister of France at the Elysee Palace in Paris, France. The French financial prosecutor opened an investigation after an anti-corruption association filed a complaint against Alexis Kohler, the French President Emmanuel Macron's chief of staff. (AP Photo/Kamil Zihnioglu, File)

Kohler has family links to the Geneva-based cruise company. He worked as a senior official in the finance ministry from 2014 to 2016. He then became chief financial officer at MSC.

He joined Macron's team following the May 2017 presidential election.
LONDON (AP) - A London teenager was convicted Monday of plotting an attack on the British Museum after failing in her ambition of becoming a jihadi bride in Syria.

A jury at the Central Criminal Court found 18-year-old Safaa Boular guilty of preparing acts of terrorism. Her mother and sister admitted helping her, making the case Britain's first involving an all-female cell of Islamic State group-inspired plotters.

Prosecutors said Boular plotted a grenade and gun attack in messages exchanged with an older IS fighter in Syria. She hoped to marry him, but he was killed in 2017.

This is an undated handout photo issued by the Metropolitan Police of Safaa Boular. A London teenager has been convicted of plotting an attack on the British Museum after failing in her ambition of becoming a jihadi bride. A jury found 18-year-old Safaa Boular guilty on Monday, June 4, 2018 of preparing acts of terrorism. Her mother and sister have been convicted of helping her, in Britain's first case involving an all-female cell of Islamic State group-inspired plotters. (Metropolitan Police via AP)

After Boular was arrested in April 2017 for trying to travel to Syria, she worked to enlist her older sister Rizlaine to carry out an attack. In phone calls with her sister and mother from prison, she used code words that referred to an attack as an "Alice In Wonderland"-themed tea party.

Rizlaine Boular, 22, said she knew "a few recipes for some amazing cakes" for a "proper like English tea party kind of thing."

Prosecutors said Rizlaine Boular bought knives and a knapsack and carried out reconnaissance of London landmarks with the sisters' mother, Mina Dich.

She and her mother pleaded guilty to terrorism offenses. All three will be sentenced later.

"This involved a family with murderous intent, the first all-female terrorist plot in the UK connected to (IS),"Metropolitan Police counterterrorism chief Dean Haydon said.

"As a family unit, they are pretty dysfunctional," Haydon added.

The British Museum houses important artifacts and art works acquired during the heyday of the British Empire, including the Rosetta Stone and sculptures from the Parthenon in Athens.
LE MARS, Iowa (AP) - Investigators have found at least 13 cases in which an Iowa judge improperly used language proposed by winning attorneys as his final court orders without telling attorneys on the other sides.

Retired Judge Edward Jacobson told investigators in a report released Friday that he thought his actions were common practice among other Iowa district judges and in South Dakota, where he'd practiced law before moving to Iowa. Investigators said that wasn't the case.

The Iowa Code of Judicial Conduct bars what in legal terms is called "ex parte communications" between a judge and one side's attorney.

Jacobson shocked Iowa's legal community in November when he acknowledged during a deposition in a divorce case that he often requested attorneys for the winning sides of cases to write up proposed language and email it to him. He said he'd made such requests at least 200 times in his 16 years on the bench, estimating he'd overseen about 2,000 cases.

Iowa State Court Administrator Todd Nuccio launched an investigation in March, after the deposition was brought to regulators' attention. He appointed Judge Robert Hutchison and former State Court Administrator David Boyd to review Jacobson's processes and to "document any questionable and/or improper practices found."

Jacobson told the investigators that neither side gained advantage in his rulings because he asked attorneys for proposed language only after he'd decided cases. He said he solicited proposed language in 200 cases but didn't get or use the language in all of his final orders.

The investigators said that allowing only one side's lawyers to propose language denied changes for the other side's attorneys to be heard. The investigators also noted that appeals courts would "have no reason to scrutinize the findings and conclusions of the trial court more carefully."

Hutchison and Boyd were not asked to determine whether Jacobson violated any laws or rules. It's unclear what the next step might be for Nuccio and his office. He didn't immediately return a call Monday from The Associated Press.

Chad Krastel's divorce case was among the 13 cases cited by the investigators. Krastel said in an email to the AP that "the judge 'wrote' the decree completely" in his ex-wife's favor. His lawyer, Roseanne Plante, said the report could bolster her plans to seek a modification of Krastel's child custody arrangement to gain him more time with his child,

Plante also said she is encouraging Krastel and other people to file complaints to have Jacobson's law license lifted.
SAINT-JUST-SAINT-RAMBERT, France (AP) - South African rider Daryl Impey won the hilly first stage of the Criterium du Dauphine on Monday, despite feeling unwell beforehand.

After completing the 179-kilometer (111-mile) trek from Valence to Saint-Just-Saint-Rambert in a little less than 4 1/2 hours, Impey expressed surprise at his performance.

"Since I woke up this morning, I didn't feel good. Even in the (team) meeting I said I was not well," said Impey, without giving more details. "I surprised myself. To win at the Dauphine is great. It's a big race."

French rider Julian Alaphilippe finished in second place, and Pascal Ackermann of Germany in third.

Impey's stage win moved him up to second place overall, two seconds behind Polish cyclist Michal Kwiatkowski, the winner of Sunday's opening prologue.

The second stage on Tuesday, 181 kilometers (112 miles) from Montbrison to Belleville, is another hilly route. The week-long stage race is a warmup for the Tour de France, which begins next month.

Impey held the Tour's yellow jersey for two stages in 2013. This year's Tour is from July 7-29.
LOS ANGELES (AP) - Associated Press Hollywood reporter Bob Thomas was on a one-night political assignment in June 1968 to cover Sen. Robert F. Kennedy's victory in the California presidential primary when mayhem unfolded before his eyes.

He heard pops of gunfire, then screams, and quickly rushed into the kitchen of the Ambassador Hotel to see what was happening. People stood in a circle, staring down at the concrete floor in shock. Thomas jumped up on a stack of kitchen trays and saw Kennedy on the floor, blood oozing from his head.

Thomas sprinted into the press room to find an open phone line to call in the story to his editors. The line was dead, so he tried again at a phone booth in the lobby and reached editor Bob Myers.

FILE - This June 5, 1968 file photo shows Sen. Robert F. Kennedy speaking at the Ambassador Hotel in Los Angeles, following his victory in the previous day's California primary election. The New York senator was shot just after jubilantly proclaiming victory in California's Democratic presidential primary election. (AP Photo/Dick Strobel, File)

"I've got a flash. Kennedy shot," Thomas said.

"Are you serious?" Myers responded.

"I'm serious. Kennedy's been shot," Thomas said.

Within moments, AP bulletins and story updates were transmitted to newspapers and TV and radio stations around the country, informing the world that Kennedy had been shot.

The AP filed numerous takes to the wire that night - the story broke just after midnight Los Angeles time - and did the same the next day when Kennedy succumbed to his wounds and the story became an obituary for the 42-year-old senator just five years after his brother was assassinated.

Here is some of the AP's coverage surrounding the assassination:

LOS ANGELES (AP) - Sen. Robert F. Kennedy, brother of the assassinated President John F. Kennedy, was shot in the brain early today just after he claimed victory in the California primary that he felt was the key to his own bid for the presidency.

Mayor Sam Yorty and Police Chief Tom Reddin told a news conference that a Sirhan Sirhan, 23, was traced through the .22 pistol used to wound Kennedy and five others, less seriously, and identification was made through a brother, Adel Sirhan, of Pasadena.

Even after the identification, Yorty said, the prisoner refused to identify himself. As the two city officials made their announcement, Kennedy lay in a hospital fighting for life. A doctor said he fears "the outcome may be extremely tragic," adding that a bullet evidently caused serious damage to the cerebellum, the part of the brain at the back of the head.

The New York senator was shot just after jubilantly proclaiming victory in California's Democratic presidential primary election.

The man accused of the shooting was captured on the spot and later identified as being a Jordanian born in Jerusalem, according to Mayor Yorty. He said Sirhan, who earlier had been arraigned as "John Doe" on six counts of assault with intent to commit murder, had four $100 bills with him and a newspaper story not favorable to Kennedy. He also, Yorty said, had a schedule of where Kennedy was speaking in June. His bail was set at $250,000. "Every right thinking person deplores this terrible tragedy," said Yorty.

The slender, dark-haired young man sat stonily silent for hours under police questioning, giving only a lone "yes" to one question. Finally he opened up, they said, and become quite talkative - "very cool, very calm, very stable and quite lucid." But he declined to discuss himself or the shooting.

A team of six surgeons removed all but a fragment of a bullet from Kennedy's brain. A second and less serious bullet remained lodged in the back of his neck.

Dr. Lawrence Pool, a New York neurosurgeon, said after talking with a member of the surgery team that the head wound "is much more serious than initially had been expected." He added: "There was evidently serious damage to the cerebellum, the part of the brain on the extreme back of the head on the right side; also to part of the right cerebral hemisphere ... and also to the mid brain, which is the main cable connecting the brain itself with the rest of the body."

"This mid brain deals with not only the function of motion in the arms and legs and sensation to the body but also with eye movements and even the life function itself, such as blood pressure, breathing and heart rate.

"So it's critical area and this was injured and this is why I fear ... the outcome may be extremely tragic."

Kennedy had proclaimed his win to about 2,000 supporters at an Ambassador Hotel rally and was taking a shortcut through the kitchen to a meeting with newsmen when shots rang out.

With stunning rapidity at 12:15 a.m., a man police described as a Caucasian, about 25, 5 feet 5 and 120 pounds, with dark hair and complexion, emptied the chamber of an eight-shot .22 pistol.

Kennedy fell, hit apparently three times. Five others near him were wounded, none as badly as the presidential candidate.

Kennedy lay for a time flat on his back in the kitchen, eyes open, a crowd milling around him. Some observers say they heard him say, as he was lifted into a police ambulance, "Oh, no. No. Don't."

Pandemonium broke loose. Roosevelt Grier, giant Negro tackle for the professional Los Angeles Rams, quickly grabbed the much smaller gunman, wrestled the gun from him and held him for police.

President Johnson and others around the nation, including Kennedy's rival on the campaign primary trail, Minnesota's Sen. McCarthy, expressed shock and sorrow. Johnson ordered the full resources of the FBI thrown into the case and ordered secret service protection for major candidates.

Kennedy was brought first to Central Receiving Hospital where a doctor said he was "practically dead" upon arrival. Physicians there administered closed cardiac massage, oxygen and adrenalin. "At first he was pulseless," said a doctor who treated him, "then his pulse came back and we began to hear a heartbeat and he began to breathe a little erratically."

The doctor, Victor Baz, said Ethel Kennedy, who accompanied her husband in the ambulance, was frightened, "she didn't believe he was alive because she couldn't see that he was responding. I put the stethoscope to her ears so she could listen and she was tremendously relieved. She was "very distraught but superb ... very edgy, but my own wife wouldn't have done as well, I don't think. She was gracious at all times."

Kennedy was taken to Good Samaritan Hospital near downtown Los Angeles. There, a team of six surgeons began brain surgery at 3:12 a.m. that lasted about 3 hours and 40 minutes.

Doctors said one bullet struck near the right ear and entered the brain. Another hit in the shoulder. A third apparently grazed his forehead.

Kennedy's press aide said after the surgery that no further effort is planned for removal of the remaining bullet fragment in the skull. "Some fragments of the bullet and bone went to the brain stem," he said, and the senator lost considerable blood.

Kennedy was moved, unconscious, to the hospital's intensive care unit. The surgery was pronounced successful in that it accomplished what it set out to do, remove most of the bullet.

Kennedy's personal physician was flying here from Boston. The actual surgery here was performed by Drs. Maxwell Ambler of the University of California at Los Angeles Medical School and Nat Downes Reid and Henry Cuneo of the University of Southern California Medical School.

In Washington, Atty. Gen. Ramsey Clark said the FBI is investigating every possible angle, and "according to information that I have at this moment we have no evidence of conspiracy."

Clark told a news conference, "It seems incredible that another such profound tragedy would strike the Kennedy family which has suffered so much from violence already." Clark was an assistant in the Justice Department when Kennedy was attorney general.

Kennedy aides said six of Kennedy's 10 children who accompanied him here are being returned to Washington on an Air Force plane arranged for by a campaign rival, Vice President Hubert H. Humphrey.

Kennedy, in his address to the cheering supporters just before the shooting, was in good spirits with the long primary campaign trail behind him. He looked tired, however, and was looking forward to a few days of rest at the Malibu Beach home of a friend.

Then the shots rang out. One witness said the shots came so close together that he could hardly believe they had been fired by one gun. This reporter heard the shots from an adjoining room and they sounded almost like a brief burst of machine-gun fire.

The gunman appeared in the kitchen area behind the bandstand of the Embassy Room, where Kennedy backers, including movie stars and students, were listening to their candidate's light-hearted victory speech. The gunman carried papers, which he spread out on a stainless steel table. One waiter described them as sketches.

The backstage area was crowded with waiters, press and others, and the man's presence caused little notice.

Kennedy finished his speech and began working his way off the platform and into the kitchen, followed by close associates and members of his family. His wife, Ethel, had been at his side during the speech, but she became enveloped in the crowd. Kennedy gazed around as if searching for her.

At that moment the gunman pushed through the throng, reached his arm around others in front of him and shot the senator.

Roosevelt Grier, beefy tackle for the Los Angeles Rams, grabbed the man's arm. Joe LaHive, a local Kennedy campaigner, wrested the gun away. Grier and Olympic decathlon champion Rafer Johnson lifted the assailant and spread him on a steel kitchen table. "Nobody hurt this man," one of the athletes shouted. "We want to take him alive."

Women were screaming, "Oh, no." ''God, God, not again."

Kennedy was stretched on the floor, his face covered with blood. "Give him room. Step back." Someone yelled. Kennedy seemed to hear nothing. His face was blank, his eyes staring sightlessly.

Grier, Johnson and two or three others held the gunman on the table 10 feet away. Screams began to be heard in the ballroom as news of the shooting spread to the campaigners, who had been cheering their candidate two minutes before. "Let me explain" the gunman shouted. "I can explain."

A priest handed Kennedy a rosary, and he clutched it in his hand, but the priest was jostled aside. Kennedy was given emergency treatment by a doctor summoned from the ballroom. Then he was wheeled on a stretcher to the hotel service elevator and put into an ambulance.

He was treated at Central Receiving Hospital, where the Rev. Thomas Peacha administered last rites of the Roman Catholic Church. Kennedy was then taken a few blocks to Good Samaritan Hospital, where he entered the intensive care unit.

The gunman, apparently unharmed, was rushed through the Ambassador lobby by police 10 minutes after the shooting. By this time the crowd knew that Kennedy had been shot.

"Kill him. Lynch him," onlookers shouted. They milled forward to get at the man, but the police ran him down the stairs next to the famed Cocoanut Grove night club and got him to the central jail.

Chief Reddin said there was only one suspect in the case, the man in custody.

The gunman carried no identification, Reddin said, adding that "We made a skin search of him, checking that he had nothing on him to take his life. We have advised him of his rights. He doesn't want a lawyer now."

Asked if the man was of Latin-American extraction, Reddin said; "I don't know. I can't tell." He added that he might possibly be of Eurasian extraction. "He sits there and says nothing," Reddin said. There were scraps of paper in the man's pockets, Reddin said, but he declined to identify them.

At first, Stephen Smith, the senator's brother-in-law, was believed to have been shot, but the report proved untrue. Wounds were suffered by; Paul Schrade, 30, a union official; Ira Goldstein, Los Angeles; William Wiesel, unit manager for the ABC network; a woman identified only as Mrs. Evans; Irwin Stroll, 17, Los Angeles.

President Johnson was notified of the shooting. There was no immediate comment from the White House.

Kennedy's opponent for the Democratic nomination, Sen. Eugene McCarthy of Minnesota, had retired to his Beverly Hilton Hotel room. He was awakened, and he went to his hotel ballroom to ask his supporters to pray for the life of Senator Kennedy.

Kennedy's brother, Senator Ted Kennedy of Mass., was reported to have arrived at Los Angeles International Airport and been flown by helicopter to Good Samaritan Hospital.

In Colorado Springs, Colo., Vice President Hubert Humphrey said "Our hopes and prayers are with Senator Kennedy and those others who have been the victims of this dreadful act of violence. It is a shocking and terrible thing that this happened. Our hearts go out to Mrs. Kennedy and the children and the families of the other wounded."

One of Kennedy's last acts before he was shot was to issue a challenge to Humphrey to engage with him in a duel for the Democratic nomination. Kennedy appeared to have ruled out McCarthy as a rival.

FILE - This June 5, 1968 file photo shows Sen. Robert F. Kennedy speaking his final words to supporters at the Ambassador Hotel in Los Angeles, moments before he was shot on June 5, 1968. At his side are his wife, Ethel, left, and his California campaign manager, Jesse Unruh, right. Football player Roosevelt Grier is at right rear. Associated Press Hollywood reporter Bob Thomas was on a one-night political assignment in June 1968 to cover Kennedy's victory in the California presidential primary when mayhem unfolded before his eyes. (AP Photo/Dick Strobel, File)

FILE - In this June 5, 1998 file photo, Associated Press reporter Bob Thomas stands on the spot where Sen. Robert F. Kennedy lay on the floor after he was shot in an Ambassador Hotel pantry precisely 30 years earlier in Los Angeles. Thomas was on a one-night political assignment covering Kennedy's victory celebration in the California presidential primary when mayhem unfolded before his eyes. (AP Photo/Reed Saxon, File)

FILE - This June 1968 file photo shows Sirhan Sirhan, right, a suspect of shooting Sen. Robert F. Kennedy, with his attorney Russell E. Parsons in Los Angeles. Associated Press Hollywood reporter Bob Thomas was on a one-night political assignment in June 1968 to cover Kennedy's victory in the California presidential primary when mayhem unfolded before his eyes. (AP Photo/File)

FILE - In this June 18, 1997 file photo, Sirhan Sirhan, left, listens as Steve Baker, right, one of three counselors at his parole hearing, reads the decision to not parole the man convicted of killing Robert F. Kennedy, in Corcoran, Calif. Mayor Sam Yorty and Police Chief Tom Reddin told a news conference in June 1997 that Sirhan, 23, was traced through the .22 pistol used to wound Kennedy and five others, less seriously, and identification was made through a brother, Adel Sirhan, of Pasadena. (AP Photo/Eric Paul Zamora, File)
BEIRUT (AP) - Syria's ambassador to Lebanon says his country wants Syrian refugees in its tiny neighbor to return home to help in reconstruction of the war-torn country.

Ali Abdul-Karim Ali made his comments Monday after handing a letter to caretaker Foreign Minister Giban Bassil from his Syrian counterpart related to Syrian refugees in Lebanon.

The letter by the Syrian foreign minister to Bassil came after the Lebanese official expressed concerns over a 2018 property law, known as Law 10, that some human rights groups say empowers authorities to confiscate property without compensating the owners or giving them an opportunity to appeal.

Bassil expressed fears that this would make many of the Syrians living in Lebanon stay here.

Lebanon is home to some 1.2 million refugees or a quarter of the country's population.
PARIS (AP) - French President Emmanuel Macron called on international donors to quickly make financing available for the Sahel regional counterterror force.

In a news conference in Paris with visiting Niger President Mahamadou Issoufou, Macron said money "now needs to be disbursed" to allow the five-nation regional force, known as the G5 Sahel, to keep functioning.

He said the European Union started financing the force last week and will provide equipment in coming weeks. He called on other donors like Saudi Arabia to meet their financial commitments. Issoufou expressed his concerns over the financial sustainability of the force.

Niger's President Mahamadou Issoufou, right, meets with French President Emmanuel Macron at the presidential Elysee Palace in Paris, Monday, June 4, 2018. Macron called on international donors to quickly making financing available for the Sahel regional counterterror force. (Jacques Demarthon/Pool Photo via AP)

Earlier this year, international donors pledged 414 million euros ($510 million) to help Burkina Faso, Chad, Mali, Mauritania and Niger set up a counterterror force to combat the deadly jihadist threat in the Sahel region.

In an interview to French television France 24, Issoufou said negotiations are ongoing for the release of two humanitarian workers who were kidnapped in Niger. He said Jeffery Woodke, an American abducted in 2016 and Jorg Lang, a German abducted in April this year, are alive.

Issoufou said "we have some news, we know they are alive. We keep working on creating conditions for their release."

He said he couldn't confirm their precise location but one probable hypothesis is that they are being detained in northern Mali.

Niger's President Mahamadou Issoufou, left, and French President Emmanuel Macron hold a joint press conference after their meeting at the presidential Elysee Palace in Paris, Monday, June 4, 2018. Macron called on international donors to quickly making financing available for the Sahel regional counterterror force. (Jacques Demarthon/Pool Photo via AP)

Niger's President Mahamadou Issoufou, left, and French President Emmanuel Macron hold a joint press conference after their meeting at the presidential Elysee Palace in Paris, Monday, June 4, 2018. Macron called on international donors to quickly making financing available for the Sahel regional counterterror force. (Jacques Demarthon/Pool Photo via AP)

Niger's President Mahamadou Issoufou, right, meets with French President Emmanuel Macron at the presidential Elysee Palace in Paris, Monday, June 4, 2018. Macron called on international donors to quickly making financing available for the Sahel regional counterterror force. (Jacques Demarthon/Pool Photo via AP)
CARPENTERSVILLE, Ill. (AP) - A Chicago suburb has rescinded a resolution that made English its official language.

Carpentersville's then-trustees said the 2007 measure was intended to encourage assimilation and discourage illegal immigration, The Chicago Tribune reported . Current village officials say the resolution only caused controversy.

"All we're doing tonight is righting a wrong," Trustee John O'Sullivan said before the vote to rescind the resolution. "We're righting an injustice that was clearly done by previous councils to make a point ... a very mean-spirited point that was specific to one group of people in the village."

None of the trustees who passed the original language measure remains on the Village Board. Many Spanish-speakers left the village about 40 miles (64 kilometers) northwest of Chicago in the wake of the 2007 resolution. After that, local and federal authorities cracked down on Latino gang members in the village and gradually Hispanic people began to trickle back.

Today, Hispanic people account for more than half of Carpentersville's population, up from about 40 percent in 2007.

The Rev. Dexter Ball said he hopes the end of the ordinance will bring the community closer together.

"We are the big melting pot," he said. "We're trying to bridge the gap. We have whites, blacks and Hispanics all working together. It's not perfect, but Carpentersville is a working model."

The decision to rescind the resolution is a welcome counter to the national agenda set by President Donald Trump, which aims to target illegal immigration, said Lourdes Torres, a professor of Latino studies at DePaul University.

"When you tell people you don't want them to speak their language, it's a proxy for saying you don't want them," she said. "The Village Board must be aware that the (Hispanic) community is valuable to them, so they're taking a more intelligent route, to support them rather than demonize them."

Some residents said they were unaware the resolution even existed. Village President John Skillman said the resolution made few concrete changes when it was implemented.

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Information from: Chicago Tribune, http://www.chicagotribune.com
MOGADISHU, Somalia (AP) - The U.S. military says it has carried out an airstrike in northern Somalia that killed 27 al-Shabab extremists.

The statement issued Monday by the U.S. Africa command said it assesses that no civilians were killed in the attack on Sunday about 26 miles southwest of Bosasso, the commercial capital of the semiautonomous Puntland state. The area has recently seen attacks on local forces by extremists aligned with the Islamic State group.

The Trump administration approved expanded military operations against extremists in Somalia, including al-Shabab, which is linked to al-Qaida and was blamed for the truck bombing in Mogadishu in October that killed more than 500 people.
MOSCOW (AP) - A Russian court convicted a journalist for Ukraine's state news agency Monday of spying and sentenced him to 12 years in prison.

Ukrinform correspondent Roman Sushchenko has been in custody since his 2016 arrest by Russia's top domestic security agency, the FSB. The FSB alleged he was a Ukrainian military intelligence officer collecting sensitive information about the Russian armed forces. Sushchenko denied the accusation.

Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko denounced Monday's verdict by the Moscow City Court as a show of "unprecedented cynicism." The Ukrainian Foreign Ministry demanded the journalist's immediate release.

FILE - In this Thursday, Oct. 6, 2016 file photo, colleagues of jailed journalist Roman Sushchenko display banners with his image during a protest in front of the Russian Embassy demanding his release in Kiev, Ukraine. A court in the Russian capital has convicted a Ukrainian journalist of spying and sentenced him to 12 years in prison. Roman Sushchenko, a correspondent for Ukrinform, Ukraine's state news agency, has been in custody since his arrest in 2016 by the Russian counter-intelligence agency, the FSB. Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko denounced the verdict made on Monday, June 4, 2018 by the Moscow City Court as a show of "unprecedented cynicism." (AP Photo/Efrem Lukatsky, File)

Harlem Desir, a media freedom representative at the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe, a top security and rights group, deplored the sentence and reiterated his call for Sushchenko to be let go.

The New York-based Committee to Protect Journalists also urged Russia to immediately set Sushchenko free.

Sushchenko's sentencing comes amid a bitter tug-of-war between Ukraine and Russia, triggered by Russia's annexation of Crimea in 2014 and its support for separatist rebels in eastern Ukraine.

Last month, Ukraine's state security agency raided offices of state-owned Russian media outlets and arrested the head of Ukraine's office of the Russian state RIA-Novosti news agency, Kirill Vyshinskiy.

Vyshinskiy was detained on treason charges pending an investigation. Moscow has angrily assailed his jailing as an attack on freedom of speech.
EL RODEO, Guatemala (AP) - Rescuers pulled survivors and bodies from the charred aftermath of the powerful eruption of Guatemala's Volcano of Fire, as the death toll rose to 69 on Monday and was expected to go higher from a disaster that caught residents of remote mountain hamlets off guard, with little or no time to flee to safety.

Using shovels and backhoes, emergency workers dug through the debris and mud, perilous labor on smoldering terrain still hot enough to melt shoe soles a day after the volcano exploded in a hail of ash, smoke and molten rock.

Bodies were so thickly coated with ash that they looked like statues, and rescuers were forced to use sledgehammers to break through the roofs of houses buried in debris up to their rooflines to try to see if anyone was trapped inside.

A firefighter carries the body of a child recovered near the Volcan de Fuego, which means in Spanish Volcano of Fire, in Escuintla, Guatemala, Monday, June 4, 2018. A fiery volcanic eruption in south-central Guatemala sent lava flowing into rural communities, killing dozens. (AP Photo/Oliver de Ros)

Fanuel Garcia, director of the National Institute of Forensic Sciences, said 69 bodies had been recovered and 17 of those had been identified.

"It is very difficult for us to identify them because some of the dead lost their features or their fingerprints" from the red-hot flows, Garcia said. "We are going to have to resort to other methods ... and if possible take DNA samples to identify them."

Hilda Lopez said her mother and sister were still missing after the slurry of hot gas, ash and rock roared into her village of San Miguel Los Lotes, just below the mountain's flanks.

"We were at a party, celebrating the birth of a baby, when one of the neighbors shouted at us to come out and see the lava that was coming," the distraught woman said. "We didn't believe it, and when we went out the hot mud was already coming down the street."

"My mother was stuck there, she couldn't get out," said Lopez, weeping and holding her face in her hands.

Her husband, Joel Gonzalez, said his father had also been unable to escape and was believed to be "buried back there, at the house."

Guatemalan authorities say they had been closely monitoring the Volcano of Fire, one of Central America's most active, after activity picked up around 6 a.m. Sunday.

The volcano has registered a number of minor eruptions over the years, and no evacuations were ordered as scientific experts reported the activity was decreasing.

Guatemala's disaster agency, Conred, issued a number of standard precautions, advising people to wear protective face masks, clean their rooftops of ash once the eruption was over and cover any food and water intended for human consumption. It also said to heed any recommendations from authorities. Guatemala City's international airport was closed due to the danger to planes.

Conred spokesman David de Leon said that around 2 p.m. the volcano registered a new, more powerful explosion.

Soon, searing flows of lava, ash and rock mixed with water and debris were gushing down the volcano's flanks, blocking roads and burning homes.

"It traveled much faster. It arrived in communities right when the evacuation alerts were being sent out," de Leon said.

Authorities scrambled to issue an evacuation order. Some communities emptied out safely. But in places like Los Lotes and the village of El Rodeo, about eight miles (12 kilometers) downslope from the crater, it was too late for many.

The fast-moving flows overtook people in homes and streets with temperatures reaching as high as 1,300 degrees Fahrenheit (700 Celsius), and hot ash and volcanic gases that can cause rapid asphyxiation.

Rafael Letran, a resident of El Rodeo, criticized Conred for not evacuating communities earlier.

"When the lava was already here they passed by in their pickup trucks yelling at us to leave, but the cars did not stop to pick up the people," Letran said. "The government is good at stealing, but when it comes to helping people they lack spark."

De Leon said the disaster agency followed protocol.

"As soon as we received the information around 6 a.m. that the volcano was in an eruptive phase, the protocol was initiated to verify with different sectors and also talk to the communities, to community leaders. ... We had the information from our scientific service, and they told us the trend was that the activity was diminishing," he said.

In El Rodeo on Monday, heavily armed soldiers wearing blue masks to avoid breathing in ash stood guard behind yellow tape cordoning off the disaster scene. Helmeted workers carried bodies away on stretchers, and smoke was still rising from some parts of the ashen landscape strewn with boulders and other debris.

President Jimmy Morales traveled to survey the disaster area.

Emergency crews in helicopters managed to pull at least 10 people alive from areas cut off by the flows. Conred said 3,271 people had been evacuated.

___

Associated Press writers E. Eduardo Castillo and Peter Orsi in Mexico City contributed to this report.

Boris Rodriguez, 24, who is searching for his wife, cries after seeing the condition of his neighborhood, destroyed by the erupting Volcan de Fuego, or "Volcano of Fire," in Escuintla, Guatemala, Monday, June 4, 2018. The volcano exploded Sunday, sending ash high into the sky and lava flows cascading into rural hamlets on the mountain's slopes. (AP Photo/Oliver de Ros)

Firefighters carry a body recovered near the Volcan de Fuego, or "Volcano of Fire," in Escuintla, Guatemala, Monday, June 4, 2018. A fiery volcanic eruption in south-central Guatemala sent lava flowing into rural communities, killing at least 25 as rescuers struggled to reach people where homes and roads were charred and blanketed with ash. (AP Photo/Sonia Perez)

A resident cradles his dog after rescuing him near the Volcan de Fuego, or "Volcano of Fire," in Escuintla, Guatemala, Monday, June 4, 2018. A fiery volcanic eruption in south-central Guatemala sent lava flowing into rural communities, killing dozens as rescuers struggled to reach people where homes and roads were charred and blanketed with ash. (AP Photo/Luis Soto)

A resident cries after she was safely evacuated from her home near the Volcan de Fuego, or "Volcano of Fire," in Escuintla, Guatemala, Monday, June 4, 2018. A fiery volcanic eruption in south-central Guatemala sent lava flowing into rural communities, killing at least 25 as rescuers struggled to reach people where homes and roads were charred and blanketed with ash. (AP Photo/Luis Soto)

Rescue workers walk on rooftops in Escuintla, Guatemala, Monday, June 4, 2018, blanketed with heavy ash spewed by the Volcan de Fuego, or "Volcano of Fire," pictured in the background, left center. A fiery volcanic eruption in south-central Guatemala sent lava flowing into rural communities, killing at least 25 as rescuers struggled to reach people where homes and roads were charred and blanketed with ash. (AP Photo/Luis Soto)

The carcass of a duck blanketed with heavy ash spewed by the Volcan de Fuego, or "Volcano of Fire," lies on the ground in Escuintla, Guatemala, Monday, June 4, 2018. A fiery volcanic eruption in south-central Guatemala sent lava flowing into rural communities, killing at least 25 as rescuers struggled to reach people where homes and roads were charred and blanketed with ash. (AP Photo/Luis Soto)

Volcan de Fuego, or Volcano of Fire, blows outs a thick cloud of ash, as seen from Alotenango, Guatemala, Sunday, June 3, 2018. One of Central America's most active volcanos erupted in fiery explosions of ash and molten rock Sunday, killing people and injuring many others while a towering cloud of smoke blanketed nearby villages in heavy ash. (AP Photo/Luis Soto)

A truck is covered in volcanic ash spewed by Volcan de Fuego, or Volcano of Fire, in Escuintla, Guatemala, Monday, June 4, 2018. A fiery volcanic eruption in south-central Guatemala sent lava flowing into rural communities, killing at least 25 as rescuers struggled to reach people where homes and roads were charred and blanketed with ash. (AP Photo/Luis Soto)

Neighbors stand outside a temporary morgue near Volcan de Fuego or Volcano of Fire in Alotenango, Guatemala, Sunday, June 3, 2018. One of Central America's most active volcanos erupted in fiery explosions of ash and molten rock Sunday, killing people and injuring many others while a towering cloud of smoke blanketed nearby villages in heavy ash. (AP Photo/Luis Soto)

Firefighters leave the evacuation area near Volcan de Fuego, or Volcano of Fire, in El Rodeo, Guatemala, Sunday, June 3, 2018. One of Central America's most active volcanos erupted in fiery explosions of ash and molten rock Sunday, killing people and injuring many others while a towering cloud of smoke blanketed nearby villages in heavy ash. (AP Photo/Santiago Billy)

Ruth Rivas, who says she has two missing children, is consoled by a neighbor in a shelter near the Volcan de Fuego or Volcano of Fire in Alotenango, Guatemala, Sunday, June 3, 2018. One of Central America's most active volcanos erupted in fiery explosions of ash and molten rock Sunday, killing several people and injuring multiple others while a towering cloud of smoke blanketed nearby villages in heavy ash. (AP Photo/Luis Soto)

Volcan de Fuego, or Volcano of Fire, blows outs a thick cloud of ash, as seen from Alotenango, Guatemala, Sunday, June 3, 2018. One of Central America's most active volcanos erupted in fiery explosions of ash and molten rock Sunday, killing people and injuring many others while a towering cloud of smoke blanketed nearby villages in heavy ash. (AP Photo/Santiago Billy)

Volcan de Fuego, or Volcano of Fire, blows outs a thick cloud of ash, as seen from Alotenango, Guatemala, Sunday, June 3, 2018. One of Central America's most active volcanos erupted in fiery explosions of ash and molten rock Sunday, killing people and injuring many others while a towering cloud of smoke blanketed nearby villages in heavy ash. (AP Photo/Santiago Billy)

EDS NOTE: GRAPHIC CONTENT - Bodies are laid in a temporary morgue near Volcan de Fuego, or Volcano of Fire, in Alotenango, Guatemala, Sunday, June 3, 2018. One of Central America's most active volcanos erupted in fiery explosions of ash and molten rock Sunday, killing people and injuring many others while a towering cloud of smoke blanketed nearby villages in heavy ash. (AP Photo/Luis Soto)

EDS NOTE: GRAPHIC CONTENT - A firefighter covers bodies laying in a temporary morgue near Volcan de Fuego or Volcano of Fire in Alotenango, Guatemala, Sunday, June 3, 2018. One of Central America's most active volcanos erupted in fiery explosions of ash and molten rock Sunday, killing at least six people and injuring 20 while a towering cloud of smoke blanketed nearby villages in heavy ash. (AP Photo/Luis Soto)

Fidelina Lopez cries for her missing relatives, while sitting in a shelter near the Volcan de Fuego or Volcano of Fire in Alotenango, Guatemala, Sunday, June 3, 2018. One of Central America's most active volcanos erupted in fiery explosions of ash and molten rock Sunday, killing several people and injuring multiple others while a towering cloud of smoke blanketed nearby villages in heavy ash. (AP Photo/Luis Soto)

Ruth Rivas, who says she has two missing children, is consoled by a neighbor in a shelter near the Volcan de Fuego or Volcano of Fire in Alotenango, Guatemala, Sunday, June 3, 2018. One of Central America's most active volcanos erupted in fiery explosions of ash and molten rock Sunday, killing several people and injuring multiple others while a towering cloud of smoke blanketed nearby villages in heavy ash. (AP Photo/Luis Soto)

Firefighters and police are forced to evacuate a search and rescue effort as the Volcan de Fuego, or "Volcano of Fire," continues to spill out smoke and ash in Escuintla, Guatemala, Monday, June 4, 2018. A fiery volcanic eruption in south-central Guatemala sent lava flowing into rural communities killing dozens. (AP Photo/Oliver de Ros)

Firefighters remove a body recovered near the Volcan de Fuego, or "Volcano of Fire," in Escuintla, Guatemala, Monday, June 4, 2018. Rescuers have found the bodies of several more victims of an eruption at Guatemala's Volcano of Fire, and emergency workers have pulled some people still alive from ash drifts and mud flows. (AP Photo/Oliver de Ros)
SAN JOSE, Calif. (AP) - Apple will offer more ways for people to limit the time they spend on iPhones while introducing features designed to make its products even more indispensable.

The paradox emerged Monday as Apple executives previewed new versions of free software due out this fall.

The forthcoming controls are aimed at addressing criticism that devices are becoming increasingly addictive and distracting, especially for children. Experts worry that all the flashy colors and beeps give users short-term, feel-good rewards while increasing stress in the long run.

Craig Federighi, Apple's senior vice president of Software Engineering, speaks during an announcement of new products at the Apple Worldwide Developers Conference Monday, June 4, 2018, in San Jose, Calif. (AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez)

Yet Apple made it clear it also hopes to make its devices and services even more alluring - and potentially irresistible - by creating new avenues for its digital assistant, Siri, to serve as a backup brain for users. The company is also creating more entertainment options and new ways to communicate, including group video chats through FaceTime and more options for the iPhone X's animated emojis.

People have become so dependent on technology that it's unlikely any company will be able to solve the addiction problem, but they can help keep it from getting worse, Gartner analyst Brian Blau said. The best hope, he said, is for technology to help people enjoy life and then get out of the way.

"Apple at least seems to be hearing what people are saying and trying to do something about it," he said.

Apple's new controls will expand on the "Do Not Disturb" options on the iPhone and iPad. The display can also be set to dim automatically just before bedtime. Users can also block app notifications from showing up on the home screen not only based on time of day, which they can do now, but by location, such as when visiting the playground with their kids.

Other features will provide weekly reports on how much time people are spending looking at their screen each month. Users will be able to set daily time limits on specific apps.

Last month, Google revealed plans to force Android phones into "shush" mode when placed face down on a table and have the screen show only greyscale colors late at night.

Other highlights during Apple's annual software preview include:

BETTER BROWSING PRIVACY

Apple is taking a swipe at ubiquitous "share" buttons created by Facebook and others to track users' behavior online regardless of whether they click on them. The company said it's shutting down that tracking, unless the user decides to permit it, through a Safari browser update for Mac and iOS devices, including iPhones and iPads.

Apple also intends to crack down on data companies' ability to identify specific devices by creating a unique fingerprint based on a device's settings, installed fonts and plug-ins. Instead, Apple will send out generic information to make all Apple devices look alike.

Unlike Facebook and Google, Apple doesn't depend on online ads dictated by data about a user's interests. Instead, Apple generates most of its revenue from device sales.

Chris Hoofnagle, faculty director of the Berkeley Center for Law & Technology, believes Apple's move will prod rivals Mozilla and Microsoft to do the same, though Google may remain a holdout with the Chrome browser given the company's dependence on ads and data.

The announcement comes as Facebook acknowledges it struck data-sharing deals with at least 60 device makers, including Apple. Facebook insisted there was nothing scandalous and said the deals were designed to make it easier for people to use Facebook features without opening its app or website.

AUGMENTED REALITY GETS AUGMENTED

Apple rolled out new support for augmented reality as it unveiled a new format for digital objects that appear to live in the real world. Digital objects created with the new format, called USDZ, will work in Apple's Safari browser, Messages and Mail apps, meaning AR isn't limited to stand-alone apps that people choose to download separately.

Apple is trying to extend AR experiences to a broader population, rather than just hard-core, tech-savvy users. What remains to be seen is whether there is enough of a compelling reason for someone to use AR, even if it's built into everyday apps.

SIRI SHORTCUTS

A broader range of third-party apps will be able to let users invoke Siri for commonly used tasks, much the way competing assistants from Google and Amazon long have. But Ben Wood, head of research at CCS Insight, said Apple still has a lot of work to do to close the cap with Amazon and Google.

SHARING PHOTOS

Apple will encourage users to share photos with their friends by suggesting such opportunities in a new "for you" tab. When a friend receives photos from an event, Apple will then suggest that the friend reciprocate with photos from the same event. It's similar to how Google already encourages sharing through its own Photos app for iPhones and Android devices.

BEYOND IPHONES

The company is bringing the Dolby Atmos surround-sound feature to Apple TV 4K devices, while Apple Watch's software gets a "Walkie Talkie" voice messaging feature that resembles the alternating one-way voice technology of the past. The watch will also automatically detect workouts without having to launch the fitness app.

Apple is trying to make Macs and iPhones work better together. The company showed off how photos taken on iPhones can instantly appear inside a Mac document. The new macOS version, Mojave, also gets iPhone apps such as Home, News, Stocks and Voice Memos.

___

Ryan Nakashima reported from San Francisco.

Attendees line up outside of the McEnery Convention Center for the Apple Worldwide Developers Conference in San Jose, Calif., Monday, June 4, 2018. (AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez)

Attendees wait for an announcement of new products at the Apple Worldwide Developers Conference in San Jose, Calif., Monday, June 4, 2018. (AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez)

Attendees wait for an announcement of new products at the Apple Worldwide Developers Conference in San Jose, Calif., Monday, June 4, 2018. (AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez)

Attendees wait for an announcement of new products at the Apple Worldwide Developers Conference in San Jose, Calif., Monday, June 4, 2018. (AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez)

Craig Federighi, Apple's senior vice president of Software Engineering, speaks during an announcement of new products at the Apple Worldwide Developers Conference Monday, June 4, 2018, in San Jose, Calif. (AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez)

Craig Federighi, Apple's senior vice president of Software Engineering, speaks during an announcement of new products at the Apple Worldwide Developers Conference Monday, June 4, 2018, in San Jose, Calif. (AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez)

Craig Federighi, Apple's senior vice president of Software Engineering, speaks during an announcement of new products at the Apple Worldwide Developers Conference Monday, June 4, 2018, in San Jose, Calif. (AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez)

Craig Federighi, Apple's senior vice president of Software Engineering, speaks about virtual reality during an announcement of new products at the Apple Worldwide Developers Conference Monday, June 4, 2018, in San Jose, Calif. (AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez)

Craig Federighi, Apple's senior vice president of Software Engineering, speaks during an announcement of new products at the Apple Worldwide Developers Conference Monday, June 4, 2018, in San Jose, Calif. (AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez)

Craig Federighi, Apple's senior vice president of Software Engineering, talks about virtual reality during an announcement of new products at the Apple Worldwide Developers Conference Monday, June 4, 2018, in San Jose, Calif. (AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez)

Craig Federighi, Apple's senior vice president of Software Engineering, speaks during an announcement of new products at the Apple Worldwide Developers Conference Monday, June 4, 2018, in San Jose, Calif. (AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez)

Craig Federighi, Apple's senior vice president of Software Engineering, speaks during an announcement of new products at the Apple Worldwide Developers Conference Monday, June 4, 2018, in San Jose, Calif. (AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez)
CONCORD, N.H. (AP) - A judge has rejected a request from a Vermont man to dismiss a lawsuit filed by his family accusing him of killing his millionaire grandfather and possibly his mother in an attempt to collect inheritance money.

Judge David King scheduled a 10-day trial in probate court for Nathan Carman, starting in 2019.

Carman is acting as his own attorney. He's been named as a suspect in the 2013 Connecticut shooting death of real estate developer John Chakalos. No one's been arrested. Carman also was questioned about the time his boat sank with his mother, Linda Carman, aboard near Rhode Island in 2016. She's presumed dead. Nathan Carman has denied involvement in both cases.

Carman's three aunts sued him last year in New Hampshire, where Chakalos owned another home and filed his will. They've asked a judge to block him from collecting money from his grandfather's estate. Chakalos left more than $42 million to his four daughters, including Linda Carman.

Carman argued the case lacked standing in New Hampshire, saying his grandfather didn't spend that much time in the state. He said in an email Monday he didn't agree with the judge's decision but that he will respect it.

"I expect to prevail at trial this coming January," Carman said, adding "I am at peace within myself because I know that the truth is on my side."

Earlier this year, Carman invoked the Fifth Amendment in refusing to provide bank, tax and other records and answers to questions from his aunts' lawyer. King decided a retired superior court judge will attend Carman's deposition. The judge will be paid by the New Hampshire Judicial Branch. He will act as a referee to rule on objections raised by Carman and determine whether he needs to answer the questions.
A U.S. senator said Monday he tried to enter a federal facility in Texas where immigrant children are being held, but police were called and he was told to leave.

The attempt late Sunday by Sen Jeff Merkley of Oregon came amid a national debate over the practice of separating families caught crossing the border illegally.

Attorney General Jeff Sessions recently announced a "zero-tolerance policy" against all people crossing the border illegally. More children are expected to be separated from their parents as a result.

FILE - In this Nov. 28, 2017, file photo, Sen. Jeff Merkley, D-Ore., speaks at a rally in Washington. Merkley, while trying to gain access to a federal facility housing immigrant children in Texas near the Mexico border and talk to a supervisor was turned away after police were summoned. (AP Photo/Manuel Balce Ceneta, File)

"The administration has started ripping these children out of the arms of their parents," Merkley said in a telephone interview. "That is completely outside the soul of our nation, where virtually all of us have family history, in one branch or another, where somebody fled persecution to come to the U.S."

Merkley said he was able to enter another facility used for processing migrants and run by the Department of Homeland Security. He said he saw men, women and children crowded in cages.

"It reminds me a little bit of a dog kennel, constructed of cyclone fencing," Merkley said. Some of the areas contained men, while others had only women and some had women holding children, he said.

Merkley was accused of grandstanding by Victoria Palmer, a spokeswoman for the Department of Health and Human Services' Administration for Children and Families.

It was out of concerns for "the safety, security and dignity of the children" that Merkley was barred from entering the Brownsville facility, Palmer said in an email.

"No one who arrives unannounced at one of our shelters demanding access to the children in our care will be permitted, even those claiming to be U.S. senators," the statement said.

Through a contractor, the agency is caring for the children being held in a former Walmart with blacked-out windows in Brownsville, a city along the Mexico border.

The Department of Health and Human Services says it operates over 100 shelters in some 17 states, and that children spend an average of 51 days in them.

Merkley live-streamed on Facebook his attempt to visit the Brownsville facility. He said he and the press should be able to see conditions inside.

"Every American citizen has a stake in how these children are being treated and how this policy is being enacted," Merkley said in the video.

In Brownsville, a supervisor emerged from the building and said he wasn't allowed to make any statement. He gave the senator a phone number of the public affairs office in the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services in Washington.

Meanwhile, Brownsville police arrived and asked Merkley for his name and birth date. Merkley provided the information and then tried to explain to the officer why he had come to the facility.

"The attorney general's team, and the Office of Refugee Resettlement, they don't want anyone to know about what's going on behind these doors," Merkley told the police officer.

Sen. Bob Menendez, a New Jersey Democrat, said on Twitter that his team was also barred from a migrant facility where families were being separated. He said the federal government's actions were "outrageous" and called for an explanation from Secretary of Homeland Security Kirstjen Nielsen.

Palmer said there's a "process" for entering such a facility that Merkley should follow "to make headway on this important issue, rather than just headlines."

Merkley said his office was told earlier it would take weeks to have a visit authorized, and that he suspected it would be stage-managed "to look wonderful."

By midday Monday, Merkley's video had over 1 million views on Facebook.

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Follow Andrew Selsky on Twitter at https://twitter.com/andrewselsky
UNITED NATIONS (AP) - Ecuador's foreign minister, Maria Fernanda Espinosa, said on Monday that there is no set date for WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange to regain access to the internet in the Ecuadorean Embassy in London where he has taken shelter since 2012.

Ecuador's government cut off Assange's internet connection in March after he made social media posts decrying the arrest of a Catalan separatist politician.

"On several occasions he has agreed on not intervening in internal politics of third-party countries and unfortunately he has not complied with his commitment, so for the time being he is not allowed to have access to the internet," Espinosa told The Associated Press.

Ecuador's Foreign Minister Maria Fernanda Espinosa is interviewed at United Nations headquarters, Monday, June 4, 2018. Espinosa said on Monday that there is no set date for WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange to regain access to the internet in the Ecuadorean Embassy in London where he has taken shelter since 2012. Ecuador's government cut off Assange's internet connection in March after he made social media posts decrying the arrest of a Catalan separatist politician. (AP Photo/Richard Drew)

"It is not a matter of censorship", she said.

Ecuador gave Assange asylum after he sought refuge in the embassy to avoid extradition to Sweden for investigation of sex-related claims. Sweden dropped the case, but Assange remains subject to arrest in Britain for jumping bail. He also fears a possible U.S. extradition request based on his leaking of classified State Department documents.

The foreign minister said that Ecuador has asked Assange to comply with "his obligations" when it comes to "respecting international law".

"We have asked him to do so and he has said he would (comply)", she said. "Unfortunately he did not on several occasions".

Ecuador has tried to find a solution that would allow Assange to leave without the threat of arrest, but so far without success. Espinosa said that her government is in continuous talks with Assange's lawyers and with the British government.

"I think all parties are interested in finding an outlet, a solution, to this complex situation", she said.

Espinosa was at U.N. headquarters in New York because of Tuesday's election for the presidency of the next session of the General Assembly, which starts in September. Espinosa and the current ambassador of Honduras to the UN, Mary Elizabeth Flores, are vying to lead the 193-member world body. The presidency rotates every year by region.

Ecuador granted the Australian-born Assange citizenship in December as part of an effort to make him a member of its diplomatic team, which would grant him additional rights, such as special legal immunity. But Britain's Foreign Office rejected the request to grant him diplomatic status in the U.K.

FILE- In this May 19, 2017 file photo, WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange greets supporters from a balcony of the Ecuadorian Embassy in London. Ecuador's foreign minister said Monday, June 4, 2018, there's no set date for WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange to regain access to the internet at the embassy where he has been in asylum since 2012. (AP Photo/Frank Augstein, File)
LOS ANGELES (AP) - Is California, home to one in eight Americans, becoming the nation's best example of one-party rule?

Tuesday's primary election will set the stage for November races for governor, Congress and the Legislature, but it will also test whether the state's vanishing Republicans have enough remaining influence to avoid another shutout at the statewide polls.

After all, Democrats in California hold every statewide office and dominate both chambers of the Legislature, while counting a 3.6-million edge in voter registrations and a 39-14 advantage in U.S. House seats.

FILE - In this May 31, 2018 file photo Democratic Lt. Gov. Gavin Newsom smiles at a campaign stop at Stakely's Barber Salon in Los Angeles. Newson is expected to easily top the field in the race for govenor, but former Los Angeles Antonio Villaraigosa and state Treasurer John Chiang are among the Democrats hoping to box out Republican John Cox and make it a one-party showdown in November for the state's highest office.(AP Photo/Damian Dovarganes, File)

The outcome Tuesday will impact how the state handles a litany of problems, from homelessness to a public pension crisis.

For California, the election could become "our biggest moment of transition" to a state functionally run by elected officials from one party, said Thad Kousser, who heads the political science department at the University of California, San Diego.

Across the country "red states have gotten redder and blue state have gotten bluer and the fights have been within, rather than between, the parties," Kousser said.

CAN A REPUBLICAN EVEN MAKE THE NOVEMBER BALLOT?

The key marker will be the race for governor , in which Republican John Cox has the backing of President Donald Trump in his bid to qualify for a two-person runoff this fall. Under California's unusual primary system - sometimes called the jungle primary - only the top two vote-getters, regardless of party, advance to the general election.

Democratic Lt. Gov. Gavin Newsom is expected to easily top the field, but former Los Angeles Antonio Villaraigosa and state Treasurer John Chiang are among the Democrats hoping to box out Cox and make it a one-party showdown in November for the state's highest office.

That's already the case in the race for U.S. Senate, where the GOP failed to field a credible candidate and Sen. Dianne Feinstein is expected to face another Democrat in November, state Sen. Kevin de Leon. The same thing happened in 2016, when only two Democrats were on the Senate ballot in the fall, Sen. Kamala Harris and then-Rep. Loretta Sanchez.

In a worst-case scenario for the GOP, voters would see only Democrats in November in races for governor and U.S. Senate.

A TRANSFORMED CALIFORNIA

California is, by itself, the world's fifth largest economy. But the humming economic engine masks widespread problems with homelessness, soaring housing costs and a growing gap between rich and poor that will be inherited by the next governor.

The plight of the GOP in the state has been long documented, as a surge in immigrants transformed California and its voting patterns. Once a reliably Republican state in presidential elections, California became more Democratic as it became more diverse. Most of the state's new voters are Latino and Asian and tend to lean Democratic.

Only about one in four voters in the state is a Republican. You'd have to go back to 1988 to find a Republican who carried the state in a presidential election, George H.W. Bush. And the last Republican win in a statewide race was in 2006.

The party suffered another indignity this election season: independents - those voters registered to no political party at all - surpassed Republicans in registration numbers Friday, reducing the GOP to third-party status.

What that all means for Cox: even if he manages to get into the runoff, he would be a longshot against a Democrat in November.

Even so, Republicans are hoping his presence on the fall ballot, if he makes it, would energize Republicans, driving turnout and helping GOP candidates down the ballot.

Without him or a candidate for U.S. Senate, it could be a disaster.

MAKING A STAND

Democrats are hoping to oust a string of Republican U.S. House members from districts that were carried by Hillary Clinton in the 2016 presidential race. Four of them are completely or partly in Orange County , once known as a Republican fortress. For decades, white, suburban homeowners delivered winning margins for GOP candidates. But the county's population has grown more diverse, creating inroads for Democrats.

Republicans could deliver some surprises. In some of the districts, it's possible that a large number of Democratic candidates could dilute the party's vote, in effect elevating two Republicans to the runoff.

ELEPHANT IN THE ROOM

A looming presence will be Trump, who lost California by over 4 million votes in 2016.

While the president is unpopular California - a state regarded as a fulcrum in the so-called Trump resistance - Cox is hoping his endorsement will help unite conservatives behind him and help fend off a scrappy challenge from fellow Republican Travis Allen on Tuesday.

When it comes to Trump, voters will have an easy choice between the parties' candidates. Cox and Allen are enthusiastic supporters of the president, while Democrats uniformly loathe his policies.

END OF AN ERA

It's an unusual election for Gov. Jerry Brown.

He isn't running - for anything.

The 80-year-old Democrat is wrapping up his final term as governor. It's actually his second act - he first held the job from 1975 to 1983. Along the way he's also been attorney general, secretary of state and mayor of Oakland.

His family is as close as California has to a political dynasty.

Political scientist Jack Pitney, who teaches at Claremont McKenna College, notes that between 1946 and 2014 there were 18 midterm elections and a member of the Brown family was on the California statewide ballot in 15 of them, either Jerry Brown, his father, former Gov. Edmund G. "Pat" Brown, or his sister, Kathleen Brown.

"It really is the end of an era," Pitney said in an email.

FILE - In this Saturday, May 5, 2018 file photo, California gubernatorial candidate Travis Allen, a Republican Assemblyman from Huntington Beach, Calif., speaks during the California Republican Party convention in San Diego. Tuesday's primary election will set the stage for November races for governor, Congress and the Legislature, but it will also test whether the state's vanishing Republicans have enough remaining influence to avoid another shutout at the statewide polls.(AP Photo/Gregory Bull,File)

FILE - In this May 11, 2018 file photo Antonio Villaraigosa, the former mayor of Los Angeles, speaks with students from Hayward's Tennyson High School during a campaign stop, in San Francisco. Democratic Lt. Gov. Gavin Newson is expected to easily top the field, but Villaraigosa and state Treasurer John Chiang are among the Democrats hoping to box out Republican John Cox and make it a one-party showdown in November for the state's highest office. (AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez,File)

FILE - In this May 23, 2018, file photo, Republican gubernatorial candidate John Cox address supporters at the Sacramento County Republican Party headquarters in Sacramento, Calif. Tuesday's primary election will set the stage for November races for governor, Congress and the Legislature, but it will also test whether the state's vanishing Republicans have enough remaining influence to avoid another shutout at the statewide polls. Cox has the backing of President Donald Trump in his bid to qualify for a two-person runoff this fall. (AP Photo/Rich Pedroncelli, File)
TOLEDO, Ohio (AP) - Prosecutors have dropped rape charges against a former Ohio trooper accused of sexually assaulting a female colleague.

The Blade in Toledo reports prosecutors decided to drop the charges against Adam Foster, of Liberty Center, after new, unspecified information turned up. They say they still could refile the charges.

Foster was fired in 2016 after an internal investigation. He was charged about a month later with two counts of rape.

His defense lawyer says Foster has maintained that a rape never happened. She says the dismissal of the charges is a big relief to Foster and his family.

He was accused of sexually assaulting a co-worker at her home when they were off duty. He had worked at a Swanton post in northwest Ohio.

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Information from: The Blade, http://www.toledoblade.com/
DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) - After nearly a decade of disappointing elections, Iowa Democrats hope the primary will begin what they acknowledge could be a slow return to relevance in what has historically been swing state dominated lately by Republicans.

Democratic losses in four straight elections have handed the GOP most of the state's congressional delegation, both legislative chambers and the secretary of state's office. Equally surprising to many Democrats was Donald Trump's nearly 9 percentage point win over Hillary Clinton in 2016, a dramatic change from Barack Obama's two wins in the state.

"This is a critically important election for Democrats if they want to be able to say with a straight face that, no, Iowa is still in fact purple," said Republican public affairs consultant Jimmy Centers, who was a spokesman for former GOP Gov. Terry Branstad.

Iowa Democrats acknowledge the importance of the election Tuesday as they work to return to relevancy, but they argue the party's losses were largely due to national trends that helped Republicans in recent elections. With Trump as president and Congress controlled by Republicans, they now predict those trends will help Democratic candidates across the country, including in Iowa.

Democratic leaders are hopeful of a "blue wave" that in November could help the party take one or two Iowa congressional seats, lead to big gains in the Legislature and maybe even oust Republican Gov. Kim Reynolds, who is finishing Branstad's term after he left to become U.S. ambassador to China.

Paul Deaton, a Democratic state convention delegate from rural Johnson County, said party activists expect Iowa to start swinging back to Democrats in this year's midterm elections. Failure by the Democrats would cast doubt on the party's future, he said.

"The ballgame is the November election, and that has tremendous consequences if the Democrats don't organize toward some victories there," Deaton said. "I won't sugarcoat this: I think we're out for a long, long time if we don't make some recovery during the midterms."

Some Democrats still remain divided along philosophical lines that became apparent in the 2016 presidential primary battle between Clinton and Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders. Many who flocked to Sanders argue the party needs to embrace more progressive positions, such as advocating for a $15 hourly minimum wage and single-payer health care.

Union leader Cathy Glasson, one of five Democratic governor candidates, has courted Sanders' supporters, and at a debate last month she tried to highlight the candidates' differences.

"Unlike my opponents on this stage ... I believe that if we reject politics as usual telling us what it is that we have to settle for, and instead we demand what it is that we need, we can change Iowa forever," she said.

Others worry those positions would turn off independent voters needed in the general election. Some have rallied behind Fred Hubbell, a retired businessman who is considered the front-runner. He has spent millions of his own money to run for governor. He argued he's the best positioned to bring the party together against Reynolds.

Zebulon Beilke-McCallum, an Urbandale Democrat who was out knocking doors in Ankeny for an Iowa House candidate on Monday morning, said the party must be inclusive of both progressive activists and swing voters. He said he wants to see the party focus more on building communities around shared values and less on posturing for elections.

"It can't be an either-or, and it has to be more about delivering on something beyond just the election," he said. "For us to win in November, it's got to be that we unite as a party but also progressives feel welcomed in that party - that it's embracing of them."

In the marquee governor's race, Beilke-McCallum said he's still undecided. He had supported Nate Boulton, the Democratic state senator who dropped out of the race after three women accused him of inappropriately touching them several years ago.

"It is really important that we select the strongest candidate, the candidate that is going to be able to lead us to victory in November," Beilke-McCallum said. "If Democrats don't improve on their election performance this time around, that really is going to be a lot harder to offer anything going forward."

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Associated Press writer Barbara Rodriguez contributed to this report.
ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) - The Latest on Minnesota's governor's race as Tuesday's filing deadline approaches (all times local):

5:30 p.m.

Outgoing Minnesota Gov. Mark Dayton is endorsing state Rep. Erin Murphy as his successor.

Murphy's campaign says the Democratic lawmaker received Dayton's endorsement on Monday, two days after she was endorsed at the party's state convention.

The campaign released a statement from the Democratic governor saying he'd seen Murphy's "transformative leadership" and that the two have "worked closely together to fight for the progress that is critical to all Minnesotans."

Murphy says she's honored to have Dayton's backing.

Dayton's endorsement came just hours after Democratic Attorney General Lori Swanson launched a last-minute bid for the office. Swanson opted against running for governor months ago but changed her mind after party activists at the state convention endorsed another candidate for her current job.

Swanson brings name recognition and a record of winning statewide elections to the race.

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2:20 p.m.

Minnesota Attorney General Lori Swanson is getting into the state's crowded race for governor.

The announcement Monday marks a shift for the Democrat, who in January said she intended to seek a fourth term as attorney general rather than run for governor.

But she changed her mind after party activists at the state convention this weekend endorsed another candidate as attorney general who has criticized Swanson as too cautious.

The party endorsed state Rep. Erin Murphy for governor this weekend. Democratic U.S. Rep. Tim Walz is also in the race.

Swanson brings name recognition and a record of winning statewide elections to the governor's race.

Hennepin County Commissioner Jeff Johnson clinched the Republican nod to run for governor, but Democrats expect they'll face former two-term Gov. Tim Pawlenty in November.

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1:35 p.m.

Minnesota Attorney General Lori Swanson has called a news conference amid speculation she will jump into the governor's race at the last minute.

Swanson's news conference was planned for 2 p.m. at a downtown Minneapolis hotel.

Swanson spokesman Ben Wogsland said over the weekend that she was considering her options after delegates to the Democratic state convention endorsed another candidate for attorney general. Swanson had passed up a run for governor earlier.

Her entry would add to a Democratic field that already includes state Rep. Erin Murphy and U.S. Rep. Tim Walz. Democrats endorsed Murphy over the weekend.

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12:40 p.m.

Minnesota State Auditor Rebecca Otto is ending her campaign for governor.

Otto, a Democrat, says in a Facebook post Monday that she came to the decision after dropping out of the endorsement race at this weekend's Democratic state convention. Party activists ultimately endorsed state Rep. Erin Murphy for governor.

Murphy will have at least one challenger, state Rep. Tim Walz, in the August primary. Attorney General Lori Swanson is also considering a run after she wasn't endorsed for a fourth term in that job.

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12:28 p.m.

Two people familiar with the discussions say Minnesota Democratic Attorney General Lori Swanson has asked retiring U.S. Rep. Rick Nolan to be her running mate in a possible last-minute entry into the governor's race.

Two Democratic political operatives tell The Associated Press that Swanson approached Nolan about joining a campaign and he's seriously considering. The operatives spoke on condition of anonymity because they weren't authorized to publicly comment.

Neither Swanson nor Nolan immediately responded to messages Monday.

Swanson lost the endorsement for a fourth term as attorney general at Saturday's Democratic state convention. Spokesman Ben Wogsland said then that Swanson would weigh her options, including running for governor.

Democrats endorsed state Rep. Erin Murphy for governor. U.S. Rep. Tim Walz has already filed to challenge her in the primary.

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(Associated Press writer Kyle Potter contributed to this report.)
HONOLULU (AP) - Prince Akishino, the second son of Japan's Emperor Akihito, and his wife, Princess Kiko, are making their first official visit together to the U.S.

The Japanese royal couple is in Hawaii this week as part of a yearlong celebration of the 150th anniversary of the first Japanese immigrants arriving in the islands.

Akishino laid a white wreath with peace lilies on Monday at the National Cemetery of the Pacific in remembrance of fallen U.S. troops.

Japan's Prince Akishino attends a wreath ceremony at the National Cemetery of the Pacific in Honolulu, Monday, June 4, 2018. Prince Akishino, the second son of Japan's Emperor Akihito, and his wife, Princess Kiko, are making their first official visit together to the U.S. The Japanese royal couple is in Hawaii this week as part of a yearlong celebration of the 150th anniversary of the first Japanese immigrants arriving in the islands. (AP Photo/Audrey McAvoy)

The couple was accompanied by cemetery director James Horton, and Adm. Phil Davidson, who became last week the commander of U.S. Indo-Pacific Command in Hawaii, the American military's Pacific headquarters.

The prince also laid a second white wreath at Ehime Maru Memorial in downtown Honolulu's Kakaako Waterfront Park, which commemorates Japanese lives lost when a U.S. Navy submarine rammed into a Japanese fisheries training ship in 2001.

During their visit, the royal couple will also plant a tree in Thomas Square, visit the Japanese Cultural Center of Hawaii, and attend dinner with Gov. David Ige at his residence, Washington Place.

The Hawaiian-inspired menu features local ingredients with Japanese touches, such as oysters from Kualoa Farm served with yuzukosho, a Japanese condiment typically made of chilis, yuzu peel and salt.

Other dishes include pipikaula short rib with meat from Kauai, a throwback to a spiced treat similar to beef jerky eaten by Hawaiian cowboys, and steamed moi, called "the king's fish," as only royalty were allowed to eat it, according to Cindy McMillan, a spokeswoman for Ige. The ogo, or seaweed, relish for the fish will contain herbs from the Washington Place garden.

The royals will also taste poke with locally-caught ahi tuna and feast on a dessert of miso-pecan ice cream - all dishes created by Honolulu chef Chris Kajioka of city restaurants Vintage Cave and Senia.

Emperor Akihito announced in December that he would abdicate the Chrysanthemum Throne at the end of April 2019, after reigning for 30 years. His eldest son, Crown Prince Naruhito, is expected to succeed the following day. Akishino, 52, would then take on the role of crown prince.

Akihito has one daughter, Sayako Kuroda, who married a commoner and gave up her title of princess in 2005. Women are not allowed to ascend the throne.

The royal couple visited Brazil in 2015 and Chile in 2017 to mark the anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic ties.

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This story has been corrected to show that Prince Akishino laid wreaths at a Honolulu cemetery and memorial, not both Prince Akishino and his wife Princess Kiko.

Japan's Prince Akishino attends a wreath ceremony at the National Cemetery of the Pacific in Honolulu, Monday, June 4, 2018. Prince Akishino, the second son of Japan's Emperor Akihito, and his wife, Princess Kiko, are making their first official visit together to the U.S. The Japanese royal couple is in Hawaii this week as part of a yearlong celebration of the 150th anniversary of the first Japanese immigrants arriving in the islands. (AP Photo/Audrey McAvoy)

Japan's Prince Akishino, left, and Jim Horton, director of the National Cemetery of the Pacific, attend a wreath ceremony at the National Cemetery of the Pacific in Honolulu, Monday, June 4, 2018. Prince Akishino, the second son of Japan's Emperor Akihito, and his wife, Princess Kiko, are making their first official visit together to the U.S. The Japanese royal couple is in Hawaii this week as part of a yearlong celebration of the 150th anniversary of the first Japanese immigrants arriving in the islands. (AP Photo/Audrey McAvoy)

Japan's Prince Akishino, fourth from right, Princess Kiko, second right, Jim Horton, director of the National Cemetery of the Pacific, third right, and Adm. Phil Davidson, Commander of U.S. Pacific Command, attend a wreath ceremony at the National Cemetery of the Pacific in Honolulu, Monday, June 4, 2018. Prince Akishino, the second son of Japan's Emperor Akihito, and his wife, Princess Kiko, are making their first official visit together to the U.S. The Japanese royal couple is in Hawaii this week as part of a yearlong celebration of the 150th anniversary of the first Japanese immigrants arriving in the islands. (AP Photo/Audrey McAvoy)

FILE - In this Saturday, May 19, 2018, file photo, Japan's Prince Akishino and Princess Kiko watch as Prince Hisahito participates in a sports event at a primary school affiliated with Ochanomizu University in Tokyo. Prince Akishino, the second son of Japan's Emperor Akihito, and his wife, Princess Kiko, are visiting Hawaii for the first time. The Japanese royal couple is on Oahu from June 4 to June 8, 2018, as part of a yearlong celebration for the 150th anniversary of the first Japanese immigrants arriving in Hawaii. They will visit the National Cemetery of the Pacific in Punchbowl and the Ehime Maru Memorial on Monday, which commemorates Japanese lives lost when a U.S. submarine collided with a Japanese ship, and attend dinner with Gov. David Ige. (AP Photo/Eugene Hoshiko, Pool, File)

FILE - In this Feb. 9, 2011 file photo, flowers and lei are placed on the Ehime Maru Memorial at Kakaako Waterfront Park Ehime Maru Memorial Service at Kakaako Waterfront Park in Honolulu. The families of nine people killed when a U.S. Navy submarine rammed into a Japanese fishing ship off Hawaii. The Japanese royal couple, Prince Akishino, the second son of Japan's Emperor Akihito, and his wife, Princess Kiko will be in Hawaii from June 4 to June 8, 2018, as part of a yearlong celebration for the 150th anniversary of the first Japanese immigrants arriving in Hawaii. They will visit the National Cemetery of the Pacific in Punchbowl and the Ehime Maru Memorial on Monday, which commemorates Japanese lives lost when a U.S. submarine collided with a Japanese ship, and attend dinner with Gov. David Ige. (AP Photo/Eugene Tanner, File)

FILE - In this March, 4, 2001, file photo, flower offerings and lei for the crew members lost at sea in the Ehime Maru collision are seen on board of the voyaging canoe Hokule' a, which will sail to the scene of the accident, during a memorial ceremony in Maunalua Bay, Hawaii. In the background family members board a larger boat. The Japanese royal couple, Prince Akishino, the second son of Japan's Emperor Akihito, and his wife, Princess Kiko will be in Hawaii from June 4 to June 8, 2018, as part of a yearlong celebration for the 150th anniversary of the first Japanese immigrants arriving in Hawaii. They will visit the National Cemetery of the Pacific in Punchbowl and the Ehime Maru Memorial on Monday, which commemorates Japanese lives lost when a U.S. submarine collided with a Japanese ship, and attend dinner with Gov. David Ige.(AP Photo/Damian Dovarganes, Pool)

Japan's Prince Akishino, center left, and Princess Kiko, center right, listen at the Ehime Maru Memorial in Honolulu on Monday, June 4, 2018. The Japanese royal couple is in Hawaii this week as part of a celebration of the 150th anniversary of the first Japanese immigrants arriving in the islands. (AP Photo/Audrey McAvoy)

Japan's Prince Akishino, left, and Princess Kiko, center, stand before a wreath at the Ehime Maru Memorial in Honolulu on Monday, June 4, 2018. The Japanese royal couple is in Hawaii this week as part of a celebration of the 150th anniversary of the first Japanese immigrants arriving in the islands. (AP Photo/Audrey McAvoy)
SALT LAKE CITY (AP) - Mitt Romney, a candidate for U.S. Senate in Utah, is set to host his annual gathering of top Republicans, wealthy political donors and powerful business leaders.

The guest list at the three-day, invitation-only event beginning Thursday in Park City, Utah, is largely under wraps, but Gov. Gary Herbert has it on his schedule.

U.S. House Speaker Paul Ryan, who is addressing business leaders in the area at a separate event over the weekend, is also expected to attend the summit.

FILE - In this Jan. 19, 2018, file photo, former Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney speaks at a conference in Salt Lake City. Romney is heading into a debate against Republican state lawmaker Mike Kennedy, who forced him into a primary in the race for a Utah Senate seat. The contest Tuesday evening, May 29, pits heavily favored former presidential contender Romney against Kennedy, a conservative doctor and lawyer who won with state party stalwarts after calling for change in Washington. (AP Photo/Rick Bowmer, File)

The gathering at Stein Eriksen Lodge has traditionally been a summit of Romney allies closed to the public.

The former Massachusetts governor has hosted gatherings in Park City since 2012, when he ran for president.

Romney is running against state lawmaker Mike Kennedy in a June 26 primary for the Senate seat vacated by long-serving Sen. Orrin Hatch.
BIDDEFORD, Maine (AP) - Former President George H.W. Bush has left a Maine hospital after more than a week of treatment for low blood pressure and fatigue.

A Bush spokesman tweeted Monday that the president "deeply" appreciates the care and good wishes he has received. Spokesman Jim McGrath also told The Associated Press that Bush is "back to his old self" and looking forward to a summer with family and friends.

The 93-year-old Bush was admitted to the hospital on May 27 and was released Monday.

The 41st president posted a picture of himself Friday reading the book "George & Barbara Bush: A Great American Love Story." Bush said the book is "a wonderful walk down memory lane."

His wife, Barbara Bush, died in April at age 92. They had been married 73 years.
HONOLULU (AP) - Lava from Hawaii's erupting Kilauea volcano has destroyed more than 100 homes in a rural Big Island district.

As of Monday, lava burned down 117 homes, said Hawaii County spokeswoman Janet Snyder. On Friday, the count was at 87 homes. Officials had previously been updating the number of structures burned because it was difficult to tell from aerial surveys which were homes or other buildings. Snyder said from now on, the county will provide counts of homes destroyed.

Officials were waiting for a count of how many homes were destroyed in an area called Kapoho. Snyder said it was difficult to count homes in that area from the air because of steam produced from lava entering the ocean.

This satellite image provided by Digital Globe captured June 3, 2018, shows advancing lava flows on Hawaii as they approach Kapoho Bay and the Vacationland residential neighborhood. Lava from the erupting Hawaii volcano has destroyed more than 100 homes in a rural Big Island district. Hawaii County spokeswoman Janet Snyder says as of Monday, June 4, 2018, lava burned down 117 homes. Snyder says that's up from Friday's count of 87. (Satellite Image 2018 DigitalGlobe, a Maxar company via AP)

Thousands in the Puna district had to evacuate after lava fissures started opening in neighborhoods a month ago. Officials had issued mandatory orders for residents of Leilani Estates and those in Kapoho Beach and Vacationland to leave by Friday afternoon or risk being trapped and unreachable by emergency crews.

Residents in the nearby areas should also be prepared to evacuate with little notice, officials said.

On Sunday, a U.S. Geological Survey field crew was in a helicopter when they noticed people on the ground needed help. The crew landed and confirmed the three people had no cellphone reception. The flight crew went to a safe location and dropped off the USGS team, then went back and airlifted the people to safety, Janet Babb said, a USGS geologist.

Helicopter footage from USGS on Monday showed lava from one fissure entering the ocean at Kapoho Bay.

Scientists said a laze plume was blowing inland from the ocean entry but dissipating quickly. Laze is formed when hot lava hits the ocean, reacts with sea water and sends hydrochloric acid and steam with fine glass particles in the air.

Officials warned the public to stay away from the plume because it can irritate skin and eyes and make it difficult to breathe.

Lava has covered a total of 8 square miles (20 square kilometers), scientists said Monday.

USGS' Hawaiian Volcano Observatory said Monday that parts of the channelized flow from a fissure were starting to break out and move north.

There have been various arrests of people forcing their way through blocked areas. Police on Monday said a 62-year-old man sped through a checkpoint near an intersection where lava was approaching. He faces charges that include refusing to evacuate and reckless driving. Police said a 55-year-old man was arrested last week after he circumvented a traffic checkpoint and crashed his vehicle into a hardened lava flow.

The monthlong eruption has claimed as much as a half of a forest reserve that's home to native birds and trees that have already been declining because of disease, state officials said.

Most of Hawaii Volcanoes National Park has been closed since May 11 because of earthquakes and continuous explosions from the volcano's summit crater.

Continued earthquakes, including Sunday's magnitude 5.5 quake, damaged the overlook deck and other features at Jagger Museum in the national park, where most visitors go to see the summit lava lake, park spokeswoman Jessica Ferracane said.

"Unlike lava, which you can see coming and avoid, we cannot see or predict earthquakes, nor can we foresee a summit explosion, but both threats continue," park Superintendent Cindy Orlando said. It's not known when the heavily visited Kilauea section of the park will reopen.

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AP journalist Caleb Jones contributed to this report.

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Follow AP's complete coverage of the Hawaii volcano here: https://apnews.com/tag/Kilauea
WASHINGTON (AP) - Inappropriate conduct in the federal judiciary is "not pervasive" but also "not limited to a few isolated instances," according to a report issued Monday by a group examining its policies on sexual harassment and other workplace misconduct.

The group, formed at the request of Supreme Court Chief Justice John Roberts, wrote that of "the inappropriate behavior that does occur, incivility, disrespect, or crude behavior is more common than sexual harassment."

Roberts, in his annual report on the federal judiciary issued on New Year's Eve, had promised a "careful evaluation" of its standards of conduct and procedures for dealing with inappropriate behavior. Roberts' report came out the same month that 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals Judge Alex Kozinski retired following accusations by women, including former law clerks, that he had touched them inappropriately, made lewd comments and shown them pornography.

The working group of judges and judiciary officials tasked with studying the judiciary's workplace conduct policies said that, based on advisory groups it talked with, individual interviews it conducted and surveys it administered, it "believes that inappropriate conduct, although not pervasive in the Judiciary, is not limited to a few isolated instances."

The group offered more than 20 recommendations for further action. It urged revising the codes of conduct the judiciary has for judges and employees, improving the process of identifying and correcting misconduct, and boosting education and training.

The report did not mention the Kozinski case directly. It did, however, discuss the unique position of law clerks among the judiciary branch's 30,000 employees. It noted the "power disparity" between a judge who has tenure for life and law clerks who work with a judge for one to two years. The report acknowledged "strong disincentives" for law clerks to report inappropriate conduct, in part because the judge's recommendation is often crucial for future jobs.

"Law clerks and others with whom the Working Group spoke expressed concern about the seeming lack of punishment for a judge who, under allegations of serious misconduct, retires or resigns and thereby terminates the disciplinary proceeding," the report said. "Some believe that if the disciplinary process compels a life-tenured judge to leave the bench under the cloud of alleged misconduct, then the process has produced an appropriate result. ... But others noted that a judge who meets the service requirements for retirement benefits suffers no monetary penalty and may return to legal practice."

The group says it plans "to monitor ongoing initiatives and measure progress to ensure its goals are fulfilled."

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Follow Jessica Gresko on Twitter at http://twitter.com/jessicagresko
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) - The Latest on the search for a suspect in a Tennessee hatchet killing (all times local):

4:10 p.m.

Tennessee authorities say the suspect in a fatal hatchet attack had been arrested by the U.S. Secret Service near the White House in April.

Nashville police said in a news release that they are still looking for 36-year-old Domenic Micheli, who will be charged with murder.

They say the Secret Service arrested him in April for driving his car to a checkpoint near the White House and refusing directives to move.

Police say he attacked and killed his former boss, 46-year-old Joel Paavola early Monday with a hatchet and another bladed instrument at The Balance Training center while Paavola was assisting clients with a workout.

Police believe Micheli is still driving an older model small silver Toyota Prius or Yaris.

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12:05 p.m.

Tennessee authorities are on the lookout for a man they say killed his former boss with a hatchet.

Nashville police tweeted that 36-year-old Domenic Micheli will be charged with murder.

They say he used a hatchet early Monday to kill the man who fired him about 14 months ago, 46-year-old Joel Paavola, outside The Balance Training center, at a shopping center in the Belle Meade community.

In photos posted on the agency's Twitter account, Micheli appears to be a white man with a dark beard and glasses, driving an older model Toyota Yaris.
FORT DODGE, Iowa (AP) - An Iowa sheriff who asked one of his deputies to ticket him for illegally riding his all-terrain vehicle on a highway says he was initially let go without consequence.

Webster County Sheriff James Stubbs clarified on Monday that it took him 10 days to ask the deputy to cite him for the May 20 incident on Highway 169. He says the deputy that he spoke with that night initially used his discretion to not write a citation and that no video of the stop exists.

Stubbs says he thought about the incident days later and decided it "wasn't right" for him to dodge a ticket. He says he had the deputy issue the citation at his home May 30.

Stubbs pleaded guilty last week before a judge who commended his honesty. He says the case is "garnishing more news than it probably needs to."
HOUSTON (AP) - Houston police say they've determined that a black 13-year-old boy's report that he was abducted, taken to a vacant house and attacked did not happen.

The boy told police on May 14 that he'd been abducted by five white teenagers after he stepped from a school bus and put in a pickup truck driven by a man with a tattoo that said, "I hate black people." A motorist found the boy, his clothes in disarray, walking on a road near his home.

According to messages posted Monday on the Houston Police Department Twitter account, the owners of the house and truck have been questioned and cleared of involvement. Investigators concluded the report was false.

No charges were filed. Police spokesman Kese Smith said the department would have no further comment.
Primary school pupils will meet leading childrens authors and illustrators including Jacqueline Wilson and Cressida Cowell at a jamboree this month.

Around 2,000 P4-P7 pupils from 22 local authorities will attend the Scottish Friendly Childrens Book Tour Jamboree in Glasgow on June 6.

Chris Riddell, former Childrens Laureate, The Etherington Brothers, creators of comic Money Nuts, and Pamela Butchart, author of The Spy Who Loves School Dinners, are also taking part.

All of the authors and illustrators have taken part in the Scottish Friendly Childrens Book Tour in the past and will be reunited for the 20th anniversary celebration event at Glasgow Royal Concert Hall.

Chris Riddell

Jacqueline Wilson, creator of Tracy Beaker, said: I am delighted to be taking part in the Scottish Friendly Jamboree and am very much looking forward to the trip to Glasgow with my fellow authors.

I think its a wonderful idea that children from all over Scotland are given the opportunity to come and hear authors enthuse about books and the importance of reading for pleasure.

Schools across the UK can tune in and watch the event live via Scottish Book Trusts YouTube channel.

Illustrator Chris Riddell said: It is such a pleasure to come to Glasgow and to meet and talk to so many avid readers.

I have sharpened my pencils ready to do lots of live drawing and am really looking forward to spending time with the brilliant folks at Scottish Book Trust.

The Childrens Book Tour is sponsored by Scottish Friendly and organised by Scottish Book Trust, the national charity which aims to transform lives through reading and writing.

Marc Lambert, Scottish Book Trust chief executive, said: Were very much looking forward to greeting the alumni of the Scottish Friendly Childrens Book Tour for the 20th anniversary.

The Jamboree event is a wonderful opportunity to come together with authors, illustrators and pupils from across Scotland for an exciting day of reading, writing and drawing.

Calum Bennie, communications manager at Scottish Friendly, said: The Scottish Friendly Childrens Book Tour seems to have got bigger and better each year and has become a firm favourite with schools and young children, many of whom, 20 years since the tour started, are now adults.

Our Jamboree event is the biggest weve undertaken and is the perfect celebration of 20 years of promoting childrens literacy.
Russian President Vladimir Putins modern warfare strategy will threaten Western stability for years to come, a new report has claimed.

The Kremlins use of hackers, trolls, paid protesters and misinformation are all part of a full spectrum destabilisation strategy, Tory MP Bob Seelys peer-reviewed report has said.

Mr Seely, who likened the approach to a Russian doll, said at least 50 tools of state power are being used in a bid to interfere abroad.

Kremlin

In his paper, published by the Henry Jackson Society think tank, the Conservative MP offers the term contemporary Russian conflict to describe the covert and overt forms of malign influence used by the Kremlin.

It highlights how the Kremlin considers non-military tools to be potentially more powerful than military tools, with instruments such as information warfare, cultural manipulation and social media hacktivism being used to achieve foreign policy goals without the use of direct force.

Mr Seely argues Mr Putin and the security clique around him believe that the Western system, based on the rule of law and universal human rights, is antithetical to Russia and that the West is an adversary, with Russia a victim of Western action.

He said: From fake news aimed at Europe to the propaganda of RT, and from the occupation of Crimea to the streets of Salisbury, Russia is waging a very modern kind of conflict on the West  as well as on the Russian people themselves.

Putins tactics owe much to the active measures practised by the KGB during the Cold War, subverting truth to undermine our faith in our institutions. He seeks to demoralise and divide us.

The coming years will test our resilience in multiple ways. If we are to counter Russian aggression and deter future attacks on us and our allies, understanding Contemporary Russian Conflict is a crucial first step.

Tory MP Tom Tugendhat, who chairs the Commons foreign affairs committee, added: Up until now, the West has been without a definition of Russian warfare in all its complexity and sophistication.

Bob Seely has now provided us with an approach based on common understanding of the threat we face. I will be raising this with the other select committees that are investigating Russian activity in the UK.
Frank Maddocks

Linkin Park's Mike Shinoda will meet and greet fans, sign autographs, and pose for photos at an exclusive Long Island, New York event to help celebrate the release of his debut solo album, Post Traumatic.

To attend the June 18 event at Looney Tunes, a record store in West Babylon, New York, you have to pre-order Post Traumatic, either at the store in person or online at the Looney Tunes website.

Everyone who attends the meet and greet will also receive a free poster designed exclusively for the event.

Shinoda will also play a New York City album release show June 20 at the Gramercy Theatre in Times Square. Tickets for that event go on sale to the public via Ticketmaster starting Wednesday at 10 a.m. ET.

Post Traumatic, written and recorded in the aftermath of Linkin Park frontman Chester Bennington's death last July, will be released June 15. The album features contributions from K.Flay, and Chino Moreno of Deftones.

Copyright  2018, ABC Radio. All rights reserved.
Thailands Ariya Jutanugarn chipped out of a bunker to lie within inches of the pin as she won the US Womens Open after a four-hole play-off against Hyo-Joo Kim.

Jutanugarn had gone into her final round at 12-under 204 with her South Korean rival sitting in third place, six shots adrift.

But Kim rallied at Shoal Creek, Alabama, going out in three-under and hitting two birdies coming in as she carded a bogey-free round of 67 on Sunday.

Ariya Jutanugarn, of Thailand, kisses the trophy after winning in a four hole playoff (Butch Dill/AP)

Jutanugarn, meanwhile, got to the turn in 32 but a triple-bogey seven on the par-four 10th rattled her as she went on to drop a further three shots on the remaining eight holes.

The pair then went into a play-off, where Kim took the early advantage carding a birdie on the par-four 14th, but then dropping a shot on the 18th.

Both players made par on the third play-off hole, before 2016 Womens British Open winner Jutanugarn saved par to win the title after a deft bunker shot on the 18th.

Speaking after her win, Jutanugarn said: Im really honoured to join the list of players before me.

If you have a seven-shot lead and then go into a play-off, you have no expectation.

I got mad a little bit about what happened in my back nine, but I thought if I have to play off, I have to do my best on every shot.

Carlota Ciganda came in third on seven-under, amateur Patty Tavatanakit was fifth on two-under while Englands Charley Hull was among seven players tied for 10th on par.
A revolution in breast cancer treatment, an overhaul of counter-terror policing and overseas doctors visas are among the reports topping the agenda for Mondays papers.

Nearly all the fronts carry images from Sundays remembrance service in memory of the victims of the London Bridge terror attack.

The Daily Mirror, The Independent and the i lead on major research that will see up to 5,000 breast cancer patients a year spared chemotherapy after the gruelling treatment was found to be avoidable in many cases.

What the papers say

Analysis by The Guardian shows police and security services face a significant increase in the number of convicted terrorists being released from prison.

The Guardian front page, Monday 5 June 2018: Police facing surge in extremists released from jail, analysis finds pic.twitter.com/yfJGLEn4TN  The Guardian (@guardian) June 3, 2018

Having attending the memorial service at Southwark Cathedral, Home Secretary Sajid Javid is poised to unveil an overhaul of Britains anti-terror strategy, the Metro reports.

Meanwhile MPs have warned of a summer of high levels of knife crime unless police are given new powers, the Daily Express reports.

The Daily Telegraph leads with expectations that a cap on immigration of doctors will be lifted within weeks to help ease pressures on the NHS.

In other news, secret files disclosed by Israel show Irans determination to build a nuclear bomb, The Times reports.

Tomorrow's front page: Secret files prove Iran is trying to build bomb #tomorrowspapertoday pic.twitter.com/mDfZLwoRrl  The Times (@thetimes) June 3, 2018

The Daily Mail leads with the latest twist in the Jeremy Thorpe scandal, reporting that police admitted their prime suspect was still alive  but had fled the scene when they went to his home.

Italian banking and financial services company UniCredit is plotting to merge with French rival Societe Generale, which could spark a round of banking mergers in Europe, the Financial Times reports.

Just published: front page of the Financial Times, London edition, Monday 4 June https://t.co/D4Ay8JnRuS pic.twitter.com/w09ZnRbJ8k  Financial Times (@FinancialTimes) June 3, 2018

The Daily Star says Our Girl actress Michelle Keegan is campaigning for more funding for the armed forces.
Maria Sharapova will attempt to end a 14-year, 18-match hoodoo against Serena Williams on Monday.

The Russian has not beaten her rival since 2004, the year she claimed her only two career wins over Williams, one of which came in the Wimbledon final.

Maria Sharapova

There has been no love lost between the pair since and Mondays French Open meeting  their first since the 2016 Australian Open  has all the makings of a classic grudge match.

Since then Sharapova has served a doping ban while Williams has just returned to action after having a daughter.

Maternity leave means Williams, the 23-time grand slam winner, is now ranked 451 in the world, and the American said with a grin: Shes probably a favourite in this match.

Serena Williams

Shes been playing for over a year now. I just started. So Im just really trying to get my bearings and trying to feel out where I am and see where I can go.

But I think this will be another test. I think this is just one of her best surfaces, and she always does really, really well here.

So this would be a good opportunity for me kind of to see where I am and just hopefully continue to go forward.

In the mens draw Rafael Nadal, still on course for an 11th Roland Garros title, faces Germanys world number 70 Max Marterer.

What better way to celebrate @RafaelNadal's 32nd birthday?! 



Happy Birthday, Rafa!  pic.twitter.com/q2Grz1sLCf  ATP Tour (@atptour) June 3, 2018

Hes a player that has a good potential, said Nadal, who turned 32 on Sunday. Hes a player that has a good serve, good forehand. He hits the ball with big top spin. He has power, so hes a dangerous opponent.
Tonight Show host Jimmy Fallon was the surprise commencement speaker at the Florida high school where 17 people were killed in a shooting rampage.

According to social media posts, Fallon told the 784 members of the Marjory Stoneman Douglas High class of 2018 to persevere in the face of difficulty and thanked them for their bravery and activism.

Congratulations Marjory Stoneman Douglas Class of 2018! You are not just the future - you are the present. Keep changing the world. Keep making us proud. #MSDStrong #YouAreThePresent pic.twitter.com/czvZwezKSt  jimmy fallon (@jimmyfallon) June 3, 2018

The ceremony on Sunday honoured four seniors killed in the February 14 attack.

Fallon

Diplomas were presented to the families of Nicholas Dworet, Joaquin Oliver, Meadow Pollack and Carmen Schentrup.

Nikolas Cruz, 19, has been charged in relation to the shooting.

His lawyers have said he will plead guilty in exchange for a sentence of life without parole.

Prosecutors are seeking the death penalty.
A Briton who climbed the neighbouring peak to a volcano in Guatemala a day before at least 25 people were killed in an eruption has told how he feels fortunate to have escaped harm.

Hundreds of people were injured when the Volcan de Fuego (Volcano of Fire) exploded shortly before noon on Sunday, spewing ash and molten rock over nearby villages.

Around 27 miles away in Guatemala City, the capitals international airport was forced to close, with images showing planes dusted with volcanic material.

The Foreign Office has told Britons visiting and living near the capital, the city of Antigua and areas near the volcano to keep up to date with local officials advice.

Richard Fitz-Hugh, a backpacker from Beaconsfield, Buckinghamshire, spoke to the Press Association from ash-covered Antigua, around 11 miles from the erupting volcano.

Lava dust from the Volcan de Fuego, in Guatemala

The 24-year-old trekked to the base camp of Acatenango, which lies around two miles from the deadly Volcan de Fuego, on Saturday.

It was fine then, erupting as normal with lava flows but it was a lot worse today, he said.

We heard about six people who were killed and more who were injured, that was at the foot of the volcano.

We also heard there were a couple of people who were coming down (from Acatenango) early this morning when it started raining small volcanic rocks up to the size of your palm.

Tourists can take guided tours up the Volcan de Fuegos neighbour to view the frequent volcanic activity.

We knew it was active, its all part of the experience, you go up and see the lava, thats the point of climbing Acatenango, Mr Fitz-Hugh said.

I dont know anyone who has been physically harmed (on Acatenango), but obviously it wouldnt be completely safe being up high today  Im sort of fortunate that I did it before.

Despite its relative proximity to the deadly volcano and ash covering cars, roads and buildings, life appeared to be continuing as normal in Antigua.

In the town ash came down for about two hours mid-morning and shortly in the afternoon and it sort of mixed in the rain, he said.

Everyone is really calm, theres a business that is still open. It doesnt feel unsafe in any way.

The Foreign Office advised Britons travelling to and from Guatemala to check with their airlines after La Aurora International Airport closed until at least 2pm (8pm BST) on Monday.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is heading to Europe in a bid to rally support from key allies for amending the international nuclear deal with Iran.

Mr Netanyahu is set to meet with leaders from Germany, France and Britain, beginning with German Chancellor Angela Merkel on Monday.

Addressing his Cabinet on Sunday, Mr Netanyahu said Iran would top his agenda and voiced optimism for the visit.

Israel

Like the US, we in Israel have no quarrel with the people of Iran. But we are determined to roll back Iran's aggression. We will not let Iran establish military bases in Syria and we will not let Iran develop nuclear weapons. pic.twitter.com/Tx6qapkvIB  Benjamin Netanyahu (@netanyahu) May 23, 2018

Israel has been a leading critic of the nuclear deal, and more recently, has said it will not allow Iran to establish a permanent military presence in Syria.

For years we stood alone against these twin threats and I think that the situation has changed for the better, Mr Netanyahu said.

Mr Netanyahu unsuccessfully tried to block the landmark deal that which gave Iran relief from crippling sanctions in exchange for curbs on its nuclear programme when it was negotiated in 2015 under President Barack Obama.

The Israeli leader has found a welcome ally in President Donald Trump, who last month withdrew the United States from the deal.

Both the US and Israel hope President Trumps withdrawal can lead all sides into addressing what they say are the deals shortcomings  including sunset provisions that end restrictions on Iranian nuclear activities, such as enriching uranium, as well as permitting Iran to continue to develop long-range missiles.

Mr Netanyahu says that as the deal expires over the next decade or so, Iran will emerge with the ability to produce a nuclear bomb in a very short time.

In addition to the US, the nuclear deal was negotiated by Germany, France, Britain, Russia and China.

The remaining members have said they remain committed to the deal. Iran for now also is honouring the agreement, though some top officials have suggested it resume its enrichment activities.

French President Emmanuel Macrons office said France will insist on having a dialogue with Iran.

An official in his office said Mr Macron, along with Germany and the UK, have all been clear that they will work with the existing deal, viewing it as the best way to control Irans nuclear activity.
MI5 intelligence will be shared with bodies outside the security community in a drive to stop terror suspects before attack plots can crystallise.

Ministers will also bring forward strengthened anti-terror laws to allow earlier interventions, and target the insider threat at airports amid warnings the aviation system remains a totemic target.

Details of the measures emerged as the Government unveiled its new blueprint for tackling terror.

Terror attacks

In a major shift, MI5 will declassify information on individuals who have appeared on its radar  but are not currently under active investigation.

Details could be passed to bodies such as councils, local police or government departments, who will work alongside intelligence agencies to determine the best course of action to manage the risk.

Greater intelligence-sharing is seen as necessary to minimise the threat posed by suspects who are rapidly radicalised to the point of violence before security services can detect the shift.

Salman Abedi, the Manchester bomber, was categorised as a closed subject of interest at the time of the attack, and so not under active investigation.

There are an estimated 20,000 individuals who have previously featured in terrorism probes, either as active targets or on the periphery of inquiries.

Officials emphasised that the new project will be on a much smaller scale  with the number of cases where intelligence could be shared expected to be in the low hundreds over the next year.

The new Contest strategy document, published on Monday, says: We will share information more widely and support more local interventions with individuals in our own communities who are being groomed or incited to commit or support acts of terrorism.

Home Secretary @sajidjavid today publishes a review of our counter-terrorism strategy CONTEST: The aim of this is to ensure that our response to terrorism is second to none and that we are doing everything in our power to prevent terror on our streets.  Home Office (@ukhomeoffice) June 4, 2018

New multi-agency approaches will be rolled out, initially in London, the West Midlands and Greater Manchester.

The paper adds: By alerting a greater number of agencies to individuals of potential concern, we will improve our ability to assess the risk they pose whilst also being able to bring to bear a broader, larger set of local interventions.

Theresa May said the new strategy has a much greater focus on systemic co-ordination across the public sector.

The Prime Minister added: By linking up not just the intelligence agencies but also local authorities, health providers and many others, it will make it harder than ever for terrorists and those who support them to plan and carry out attacks.

A huge exercise was launched across Government, intelligence agencies and policing to identify new measures to stop atrocities after five attacks hit the UK in less than six months in 2017.

Home Secretary @sajidjavid: First, we will work to disrupt threats earlier and we are bringing forward new legislation to enable us to do that.  Home Office (@ukhomeoffice) June 4, 2018

Home Secretary @sajidjavid: Second, we will continue to make sure Counter-Terrorism Policing and our security and intelligence services have the support they need.  Home Office (@ukhomeoffice) June 4, 2018

Home Secretary @sajidjavid: Third, we will work more closely with our international partners. Because the UK cannot tackle terrorism alone. Our cooperation with Five Eyes partners, the EU, and other allies, will remain essential.  Home Office (@ukhomeoffice) June 4, 2018

Home Secretary @sajidjavid: Fourth, we will work more with key partners outside of central government. We will also increase our cooperation with the private sector.  Home Office (@ukhomeoffice) June 4, 2018

Home Secretary @sajidjavid: Fifth, we must work together to get terrorist material off the internet.  Home Office (@ukhomeoffice) June 4, 2018

Home Secretary @sajidjavid: The sixth and final approach is to do more to prevent people from becoming terrorists or supporting terrorism. The Prevent strategy will remain a vital part of our counter-terrorism work.  Home Office (@ukhomeoffice) June 4, 2018

The refreshed strategy, which is the fourth published version of Contest and the first update since 2011, outlines the need for a step change in investigative capabilities. It also:

 Commits to new anti-terror legislation aimed at boosting powers available to police and prosecutors so they can intervene at an earlier stage in investigations.

 Warns that the global aviation system remains a totemic target for terrorists and highlights the need to target the insider threat by strengthening information-sharing about those working in sensitive environments in airports.

 Sets out plans for longer prison sentences for some terror-related crimes and strengthened management of offenders after they are released.

 Details how 900 individuals of national security concern have travelled from the UK to engage with the Syrian conflict, with 40% having returned.

 Calls for closer ties with the private sector to speed up alerts about suspicious purchases and eradicate online safe spaces for terrorists.

 States that MI5 will have a greater role in the assessment and investigation of extreme right-wing terrorism.

Since March last year, 12 Islamist and four extreme right-wing attack plots have been foiled.

MI5 and police are running more than 500 live operations involving roughly 3,000 active subjects of interest at any one time.

Launching the strategy in central London, Home Secretary Sajid Javid said: This Government is absolutely committed to doing everything possible to tackle terrorism.

He stressed the new intelligence-sharing model would include strict safeguards and only involve the passing of basic biographical details.

One of the lessons from 2017 was that we need to work more broadly and share that data more locally, he added.

Shadow home secretary Diane Abbott said focusing on local authorities is a red herring when the Tories have savagely and irresponsibly cut police budgets.

She said: A properly funded police force, working with communities, counter-terror experts and MI5 can make the difference.
West Ham manager Manuel Pellegrini has been mugged at gunpoint in Chile, according to reports.

The 64-year-old was travelling to a restaurant in Santiago with his wife and friends when targeted by a gang.

Chilean newspaper La Cuarta reported that Pellegrinis wife had her purse stolen during the incident on Saturday evening. The gang reportedly shot at police before fleeing in a stolen car.

Manuel Pellegrini

The recently-appointed West Ham boss thanked the police in a tweet in Spanish.

Felicitaciones a @Carabdechile por su rapida y valiente reaccion. Agradezco el apoyo de la gente. Ojala se le otorguen mas facultades a Carabineros para solucionar el tema de la delincuencia lo antes posible.  Manuel Pellegrini R. (@Ing_Pellegrini) June 3, 2018

He tweeted: Congratulations to @Carabdechile for their speedy and brave reaction.

Im thankful for the support of the people. I hope they give the Carabineros (police) more resources to solve the problem of delinquency as soon as possible.

Chile-born Pellegrini was appointed West Ham boss in May, having previously managed the likes of Manchester City, Real Madrid, River Plate and, most recently, Chinese club Hebei China Fortune.
After a disappointing 18 months, Jonny Brownlee is hoping home soil can help him get back on track for Tokyo.

Little has gone right for the 28-year-old since he claimed silver behind his big brother Alistair at the Rio Olympics nearly two years ago.

First there was the never-to-be-forgotten day in Mexico in September 2016 when, in sight of a second world title, Jonny overheated and was virtually carried across the line by Alistair.

Jonny Brownlee shows his disappointment after finishing seventh in the Commonwealth Games

Last year he made the podium only twice in races and in April finished a hugely disappointing seventh at the Commonwealth Games, three places ahead of Alistair, when the brothers had been expected to be fighting it out for gold.

Jonny told Press Association Sport: The Commonwealths were a massive disappointment. To be honest, the last 18 months has been a disappointment.

I think thats for a couple of reasons. Leading into Rio took a lot out of me. I think people underestimate when you commit yourself to a one-day race how much that takes out of you. And when youre successful, you end up being very, very busy. I probably ended up doing too much stuff and not enough training.

And secondly, I dont think I really appreciated how much Cozumel affected me. I had a lot of tests that showed I was fine but last year I just felt when I was competing, my body would get to 95 per cent and just stop, and go I aint going through that again.

I was finishing races not tired but I couldnt go any harder. When your bodys been through something like that, I think it does take a good year to get over.

Trying to learn from what happened in Cozumel. Suffering in the heat pic.twitter.com/3tNlAgIpI5  Jonathan Brownlee (@jonny_brownlee) November 22, 2016

I hope Im over that now. I just raced awful on the day at the Commonwealths. And this time I wasnt good enough to have a bad day. It was a real opportunity to win a gold medal, and that hurt. It was a shock. We had got it right on every big occasion before.

Nearly two months on, Jonny is getting set for a busy week, starting with the World Triathlon Mixed Relay in Nottingham on Thursday, where the British quartet will look for qualification points ahead of the event making its Olympic debut in 2020.

Then Jonny will be the home-town hero at the World Triathlon Leeds on Sunday. He has finished second to Alistair in both the previous editions of the race but will fly the Brownlee flag alone this time after Alistair pulled out with injury.

It is a chance for Jonny to send a message to the likes of double world champion Mario Mola and Commonwealth gold medallist Henri Schoeman, but he will feel his brothers absence.

Jonny said of racing in Leeds: Its always super special. Unfortunately Alistairs had a bit of back luck over the last couple of months with injuries that arent getting any better. Its a shame for me because Ive enjoyed racing with Alistair in Leeds, Ive enjoyed going through the whole event together and we race similarly tactically.

To miss that big driving force on the bike is a big disappointment. It gives someone else an opportunity to win but if anything it might have reduced my chances slightly because hes the one who likes to make the swim and bike hard and get a group away, and hopefully I would have been able to run faster than him this time.

Even if it does not turn out to be his day, Jonny has no doubt that, when he and Alistair are both healthy and in form, they can rule the sport once more.

I dont think it has been moved on, he said. Maybe people are a bit closer on the swim but still the fastest run theres ever been by a decent stretch was the London Olympics. I think Ive just not been very good. I want to go to Tokyo and come away with a gold medal.
Britains youngest female terror plotter has been found guilty of preparing an attack on London with the first all-woman Islamic State cell.

Safaa Boular, now 18, secretly discussed the murderous scheme with her sister and mother using coded language which had an Alice in Wonderland tea party theme.

Instead of cucumber sandwiches and cakes, her sister Rizlaine, 22, bought a large knife to bring carnage to Westminster in April last year.

Boular first began planning a grenade and gun attack on the British Museum when she was thwarted from joining her IS husband in Syria.

Safaa Boular in Vauxhall near to MI6

She passed the baton to her sibling after she was arrested and remanded in custody for trying to travel to the war zone.

Following an Old Bailey trial, she was found guilty of preparing acts of terrorism abroad and in the UK.

Boular made no reaction in the dock as she was found guilty on Monday by a jury after two days of deliberations.

Judge Mark Dennis QC put off sentencing for around six weeks for a report to be compiled.

Boular is the youngest female to be charged with planning an IS attack in the UK.

Safaa Boular court case

Her fellow plotters admitted their roles before the trial and they will be sentenced at a later date.

The women were snared in a proactive investigation involving surveillance by counter-terrorism police and MI5 agents posing online as IS operatives.

Counter-terrorism chief Dean Haydon, of Scotland Yard, said the case demonstrated a worrying rise in youngsters being arrested for terrorism.

The court heard how Boular was just 16 when she was wooed online by Coventry-born IS fighter Naweed Hussain, 32.

A conversation between Safaa Boular and fiance Naweed Hussain

The couple got married in an online ceremony and talked of donning his-and-hers suicide belts to achieve martyrdom together.

Police uncovered Boulars plans to join him following an airport stop in August 2016 and confiscated her passport.

While on bail, Boular turned her attention to an attack on the British Museum, encouraged by Hussain in lovey-dovey messages.

Burka-wearing Boular also scoped out the MI6 headquarters near her home, and took a selfie in front of the building, the court heard.

Ahmed Hassan court case

Hussain was lured into revealing his murderous intentions to British secret service agents posing as IS supporters online before he was killed in a drone strike.

When an agent pretending to be his commander informed Boular of his death on April 4 last year, she was wracked by grief and resolved to join him.

She revealed to the undercover officer that Hussain had talked about attacking the British Museum with a tokarev Russian-made pistol and pineapples  code for grenades.

On being remanded in custody over her attempt to travel to Syria, Boular persuaded fellow IS supporter Rizlaine Boular to take up the baton.

In coded telephone calls involving their mother Mina Dich, 44, the sisters discussed a traditional English tea party with an Alice in Wonderland theme.

Rizlaine Boular said she knew a few recipes for some amazing cakes for a proper like English tea party kind of thing.

Safaa Boular court case

Safaa Boular suggested a Alice in Wonderland theme telling her sister: You can be the Mad Hatter cause your hairs crazy.

Mother-of-four Dich responded: That will be fun.

Rizlaine Boular then set about reconnaissance around the Palace of Westminster, and bought knives and a rucksack from Sainsburys.

She was accompanied by Dich, unaware that they were under surveillance by counter-terrorism police.

Rizlaine Boular shared her plans with her friend Khawla Barghouthi, 21, and even practised a knife attack at her home in Willesden, north west London.

She was shot when armed police moved in to arrest the gang but went on to make a full recovery.

Safaa Boular, who lived at home in the dysfunctional family, claimed she had been groomed by Hussain, who she met online through a female IS recruiter in the wake of the Paris terror attacks.

Mobile phone

She wanted to get married and live peacefully in Raqqa, where women were not called umbrella or post box for wearing Islamic dress, she said.

Three times, she said Hussain urged her to attack the UK  over Christmas 2016, Valentines Day and around her birthday in March last year  but she rebuffed him.

Boular, who viewed gory beheadings and chatted about killing US President Barack Obama, told jurors: Nothing online is real.

In the year since she had been in custody, she said she had changed and now opts to wear Western clothes rather than a burka.

Rizlaine Boular, and Dich, from Vauxhall, south London, pleaded guilty to preparing acts of terrorism and Barghouthi admitted failing to alert authorities.

Safaa Boular court case

Mr Haydon, Senior National Coordinator for Counter Terrorism, said: This was without doubt a major investigation, a proactive investigation. This involved a family with murderous intent, the first all-female terrorist plot in the UK connected to Daesh.

Its difficult to say if we will see more females. We have seen young children involved in martyrdom attacks. We have seen Daesh using young children.

Here in the UK, we have seen an increase in young people, teenagers, getting involved.

Arrests of youngsters have increased over the last 12 months and clearly that is a concern for us.

He described Safaa Boular as a confident, articulate, intelligent and a relatively mature 18-year-old who had been quite devious in the way she hid her plans.

He added: As a family unit they are pretty dysfunctional. On the evidence we can see they had access to a vast amount of extremist material.
Critics have condemned the Philippine president for kissing a woman on the lips before thousands of cheering Filipino workers while on a visit to South Korea.

One senator called the act a despicable display of sexism and grave abuse of authority.

President Rodrigo Duterte sought a kiss from the Philippine woman after he called her on stage to give her a copy of a book at a town hall-style meeting with Filipino workers on Sunday in Seoul.

Philippines President Rodrigo Duterte kisses a worker

When Mr Duterte asked if she could explain to her husband that the antic was just a joke, and she said yes, the president leaned in and kissed her as thousands erupted in cheers.

Mr Duterte told the crowd it was just for fun, but critics condemned what they said was his latest macho antic degrading women.
Arlene Foster has denied threatening the Prime Minister over Brexit, insisting she does not think Theresa May would even consider a deal that would treat Northern Ireland differently.

Weekend comments by the DUP leader about the partys red line on customs arrangements post-Brexit were interpreted by some as a veiled threat to pull the plug on her partys confidence and supply deal with the Tories.

Mrs Foster said she was simply reiterating the DUPs long-standing position  that Northern Ireland must be treated the same as the rest of the UK in the exit deal.

Arlene Foster

She had been asked about the issue amid speculation that Brexit Secretary David Davis was considering proposals that would see Northern Ireland covered by a joint regime of UK and EU customs regulations, allowing it to trade freely with both, plus a 10-mile wide special economic zone on the border with Ireland.

That idea was subsequently dismissed by Downing Street.

On Monday, Mrs Foster said her remarks about the partys red line was not a threat to Mrs May.

I dont characterise it as a threat, she told the Press Association.

Our red line is there, its open, everybody has heard me say it on many, many occasions.

We will judge any proposition against that red line.

Frankly I was a bit surprised that it was characterised as threat.

Mrs Foster was attending the launch of a report at Stormont that examined the impact of one of the key planks of the DUPs 1 billion confidence and supply agreement with the Conservatives  a 150 million investment in broadband coverage in Northern Ireland.

She said her party had not been presented with any papers from the Government that suggested treating Northern Ireland differently.

I know that Theresa May and her team are very cognisant of the fact that is our red line and thats what we are working on, she said.

She knows what our position is, shes known it all along, so therefore I have no reason to doubt that she wouldnt move away from that.

Cabinet ministers were last month tasked with analysing the two main options so far put forward for the Irish border, a customs partnership proposal that would see the UK continue to collect tariffs on behalf of the EU and the technology-based maximum facilitation  or max fac  solution.

Mr Daviss mooted idea was dubbed max fac 2.

Brussels has already rejected both schemes, with chief Brexit negotiator Michel Barnier saying on Friday that neither was operational or acceptable.
Wiltshire Polices response to the nerve agent attack in Salisbury is expected to cost 7.5 million, the force areas police and crime commissioner has said.

Angus Macpherson, the police and crime commissioner for Wiltshire and Swindon, said he would be asking the Home Office to cover all costs incurred.

Former Russian spy Sergei Skripal, 66, and his daughter Yulia, 33, were found unconscious from the effects of the military nerve agent Novichok on a bench in the cathedral city on March 4.

We've had support from 1,230 officers from 40 Forces across the country. They've been assisting with cordons in #Salisbury over the last 3 months. We wanted to say a huge thank you to all of them with this open letter from @wiltspoliceCC and I: https://t.co/wj72SI40uz pic.twitter.com/SGvAtsCZta  Office Police & Crime Commissioner Wilts & Swindon (@OPCCWiltSwindon) June 4, 2018

They were both admitted to Salisbury District Hospital along with Detective Sergeant Nick Bailey. All three have since been discharged.

Swathes of the city were sealed off as investigators moved in before a massive decontamination operation began.

Mr Macpherson said: The nerve agent attack in Salisbury three months ago has been an unprecedented incident for our force, which has meant significant costs have been incurred because of the scale of the investigation.

At this stage we are estimating that the total cost of Wiltshire Polices response is expected to be 7.5 million.

I want to reassure the public that I am asking the Home Office to cover all our costs.

The Government has already agreed to an initial special grant funding of 1.6 million covering our costs in the last financial year, and the policing minister Nick Hurd MP has recognised the ongoing costs to Wiltshire Police.

I expect the additional costs incurred to be met in this financial year as well.

Police officers at a cordon near the Maltings in Salisbury (David Mirzoeff/PA)

Mr Macpherson praised Wiltshire Polices officers, staff and volunteers, as well as partner agencies for their work.

He said local residents and the business community in Salisbury should also be applauded for their attitude.

The Maltings area of Salisbury, where the Skripals were found, re-opened on May 26  almost 11 weeks after the incident.

Businesses have been adversely affected, with some shoppers avoiding the area due to health and safety concerns.

Moscow has repeatedly denied responsibility for the attack, with Vladimir Putin saying the UKs explanation is not possible.
French financial prosecutors have opened an investigation after an anti-corruption association filed a complaint against French President Emmanuel Macrons chief of staff.

The prosecutors office said investigators will look into whether the rules related to conflicts of interest while in a public position have been respected.

The French association Anticor suspects Alexis Kohler, one of Mr Macrons closest aides, of influence-peddling and conflict of interest in relation to his ties to the Mediterranean Shipping Company (MSC).

Emmanuel Macron

Mr Kohler has family links to the Geneva-based cruise company.

He worked as a senior official in the finance ministry from 2014 to 2016.

Mr Kohler then became chief financial officer at MSC.

He joined Mr Macrons team following the May 2017 presidential election.
A woman appears to have been cured of advanced drug-resistant breast cancer after doctors harnessed her own immune system to fight the disease.

Doctors in the US adopted an experimental approach combining two different forms of immunotherapy after conventional hormone treatments and chemotherapy failed.

The outcome was extraordinary, leading to complete durable regression of the rapidly spreading cancer that was growing in the patients liver.

A consultant analyses a mammogram image for signs of breast cancer. (Rui Vieira/PA)

Writing in the journal Nature Medicine, the research team said the 49-year-old woman, Judy Perkins, had been disease-free for almost two years.

She told the BBC: About a week after (the therapy) I started to feel something, I had a tumour in my chest that I could feel shrinking.

It took another week or two for it to completely go away.

British experts described the study as fascinating and exciting even though it reported on just one patient.

Professor Alan Melcher, from the Institute of Cancer Research in London, said: This treatment represents a remarkable success in terms of translating our basic biological understanding of how the immune system responds to cancer into a real treatment of real benefit.

Peter Johnson, Professor of Medical Oncology at Southampton General Hospital, said: This is another piece of evidence confirming that some cancers are recognisable by the bodys immune system and that if this can be stimulated in the right way, even cancers that have spread to different parts of the body may be treatable.

This particular technique is highly specialised and complex, meaning that it will not be suitable for many people, but it is exciting because it shows how the immune cells already inside cancers may be switched on and made to work better.

The patient had spent 10 years without cancer after having her left breast removed. But then the disease returned with a vengeance and failed to respond to multiple hormonal and chemotherapy treatments.

As well as spreading to the her liver, the recurrent disease also established itself in Ms Perkins right breast.

The US team led by Dr Steven Rosenberg, from the National Cancer Institute in Bethesda, Maryland, identified immune system T-cells within the cancerous breast tissue that were able to recognise and target four mutant tumour proteins.

The immune cells, known as tumour-infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs), were removed from the patient, multiplied under laboratory conditions and injected back into the bloodstream in large numbers.

In addition the scientists deployed one of a range of new immunotherapy drugs called checkpoint inhibitors designed to overcome a cancers ability to shield itself from the immune system.

The antibody drug, pembrolizumab, blocks chemical signals released by some cancers that cause immune system cells to see them as friendly.

Previously in clinical trials, checkpoint inhibitors have proved ineffective against most breast cancers.

Commenting on the results in the journal, Canadian expert Dr Laszlo Radvanyi, from the Ontario Institute for Cancer Research in Toronto, wrote: This remarkable response now sets the stage for further testing the effectiveness of neoantigen (tumour protein) specific TIL isolation and therapy on other similar patients with breast cancer.

More importantly, the study helped to dispel a growing dogma among cancer specialists that tumours with fewer mutations were not good candidates for targeted immunotherapy treatment, said Dr Radvanyi. These included hormone-driven breast cancer, ovarian cancer and prostate cancer.

Dr Simon Vincent, director of research at the charity Breast Cancer Now, said: This is a remarkable and extremely promising result, but we need to see this effect repeated in other patients before giving hope of a new immunotherapy for incurable metastatic breast cancer.

This is a hugely exciting first in the treatment of advanced breast cancer. But it has only been shown to work in a single patient and we now need larger trials to investigate how the T-cell therapy and checkpoint inhibitors have worked together to attack the secondary tumours.
Philippine President Rodrigo Dutertes mouth has landed him in hot water again, this time for kissing a married woman on the lips in front of thousands of his cheering supporters.

Mr Duterte, known for his verbal outbursts and other antics, has been condemned by critics for the kiss, which took place on Sunday during a town hall-style meeting with overseas Filipino workers in South Korea.

One senator called the act a despicable display of sexism and grave abuse of authority.

Philippines President Rodrigo Duterte kisses a worker

Mr Duterte sought a kiss from the woman after he called her on stage to give her a copy of a book at the event in Seoul.

When Mr Duterte asked if she could explain to her husband that the antic was just a joke, and she said yes, the president leaned in and kissed her as thousands erupted in cheers.

The scene was beamed live by the state-run TV network to the Philippines.

While the woman has defended the kiss and said she was thrilled by her encounter, others said the president went too far.

President Duterte acted like a feudal king who thinks that being the president is an entitlement to do anything that he pleases, said Senator Risa Hontiveros, who asked the public not to pass judgment on the woman.

Even if the act was consensual, it was the president, possessed of awesome, even intimidating, power, who initiated it.

The left-wing Gabriela womens party condemned Mr Dutertes act, which it said underscored his machismo and misogyny.

The macho spectacle, it said, alarmingly makes sexual advances against women look right.

Aside from growing alarm over his bloody crackdown against illegal drugs which has left thousands of mostly poor drug suspects dead, Mr Duterte has come under fire from womens groups for sexist remarks, including one where he told troops to shoot female insurgents in the genitals during a public outburst against communist guerrillas.

He has also publicly kissed women in the past, including at rallies during his campaign for the presidency.

The latest incident came near the end of a two-hour rambling speech, when Mr Duterte offered the crowd a book about alleged corruption and abuse in the Catholic Church.

He pointed at two women.

Theres payment for this, a kiss. You in white, are you ready to engage in kissing? Come here, 73-year-old Mr Duterte said as he summoned the women to the stage.

One of the women gave the president a peck on the cheek.

The other woman reached for the presidents hand and put it on her forehead in a traditional gesture of respect for an elderly.

But the president asked her to come closer for a kiss, pointing to his lips.

Amid the roar of the crowd, Mr Duterte asked if the woman was married and if her husband was around.

He inquired if she could explain to her husband that what they were about to do was just a joke.

She said her husband was not around and replied yes to the presidents other question.

Make him jealous, the president said.

Mr Duterte then leaned in and kissed the visibly overwhelmed woman, who screamed in joy and covered her face.

He then hugged her.

Dont take that seriously, Mr Duterte later told the crowd. Its just to give people fun.

The woman, who is married to a South Korean and has two daughters, later said in a TV interview that she was thrilled by her face-to-face encounter with the president.

She said there was no malice in the presidential kiss, which was meant to dazzle the crowd.
Sinn Fein has accused the DUP of being out of step with public opinion on abortion, as it expressed doubt some of its voters were defecting to the unionist party on the issue.

Former Stormont junior minister Megan Fearon said Sinn Fein supporters would not be prepared to set aside years of DUP disrespect and discrimination to vote for the party because of its anti-abortion stance.

Her comments came after DUP leader Arlene Foster claimed Sinn Fein voters were contacting her to say they would now be supporting her party.

Mrs Foster, who on Monday told the Press Association she had received more than 100 emails and letters from disaffected nationalists and republicans, said many people were unhappy that Sinn Fein had backed the repeal of the Irish Republics strict constitutional ban on terminations.

Megan Fearon

Ms Fearon said: I dont think nationalists will just overnight forget the decades of disrespect and discrimination from the DUP and others to just switch allegiances over a single issue.

I think our society has moved on a lot more than perhaps Arlene and the DUP realise.

I suppose its just one issue they are out of step with public opinion on.

On Sunday, DUP MP Ian Paisley said he had received a letter from a Catholic priest who was telling parishioners to vote for his party due to its stance on abortion.

Asked about that claim, Ms Fearon responded: I believe fundamentally in the separation of church and state, so I dont tell the church what to do and I dont think people go to mass for political advice either.

On Monday, Mrs Foster insisted that for some people in Northern Ireland the issue of abortion was crucial in deciding who to vote for.

Well before the referendum in the Republic of Ireland I have had people come up to me in Fermanagh and say I dont agree with you on a number of issues but I am voting for you because of your position in relation to abortion, the DUP leader told PA.

People shouldnt be surprised that people vote on different reasons and all I am saying is that since the referendum in the Republic I have received a large number, and I mean a large number, of emails and letters from people living in Northern Ireland who say they are republicans, say they are nationalists, and who say they will not be voting that way in the future.

I have had more than 100.

Theresa May has been under pressure to move to liberalise abortion laws in Northern Ireland  where there is an all but blanket ban  following the result of the referendum in the Irish Republic.

IRISH Abortion

Mrs Foster has insisted any change should be a matter for the Assembly in Belfast  which has been suspended for months.

Sinn Fein currently supports abortion it in extreme cases, like foetal abnormality.

However, the republican party is due to consider whether to change to support unrestricted abortion up to 12 weeks at its ard fheis (party conference) later this month.

Mrs Foster acknowledged there was also the potential for the DUP to lose voters who might back liberalisation in Northern Ireland.

If the most important issue for you is the unborn then you will look at the party that reflects that, she said.

For other people they will say that party doesnt reflect what I like in relation to the issue that is most important to me, so I will vote for someone else.

I am just making the point that a lot of people, particularly in the Republic of Ireland, feel that they dont exist anymore because the referendum has happened and it hasnt been acknowledged.
Theresa May has told President Donald Trump that US tariffs on EU steel are unjustified and deeply disappointing.

The Prime Minister spoke by phone with the US president on Monday afternoon, four days after the announcement of a new 25% levy on steel imports and 10% on aluminium.

The PMs official spokesman characterised the 30-minute call as constructive and said they agreed to discuss the issue further at the G7 summit in Canada later this week.

Trump

The Prime Minister raised the US decision to apply tariffs to EU steel and aluminium imports, which she said was unjustified and deeply disappointing, said the spokesman.

The PM said that the US, UK and EU are close national security allies and we recognise the importance of the values of open and fair trade across the world.

The Prime Minister also underlined the need to safeguard jobs that will potentially be affected by this decision.

They agreed to discuss this and wider issues of free and fair global trade further at the G7 summit later this week.

The call came shortly before International Trade Secretary Liam Fox addressed MPs in the House of Commons on the tariffs, which he described at the weekend as wrong and illegal.

Mr Trump originally imposed the tariffs in March, saying a reliance on imported metals threatened national security.

But he exempted Canada, Mexico and the European Union to buy time for negotiations, a reprieve that expired at midnight on Thursday.

The decision not to extend the exemption led to accusations that the president was triggering a trade war which could hit economies around the globe, including that of the US.

Mrs Mays spokesman stressed that the UK was seeking an exemption from the tariffs as part of the EU, and not trying to strike its own deal with Washington.

We are members of the European Union and we have been clear that we and our EU allies are seeking an EU-wide exemption, he said.
US first lady Melania Trump is not joining her husband at the G7 summit in Quebec this week or planning to accompany him to the expected meeting with North Koreas leader in Singapore the week after, spokeswoman Stephanie Grisham said.

Mrs Trumps decision not to go to Quebec is a departure from last year, when she made an international summit debut at the G7 meeting in Italy and followed up at the forum of G20 industrialised and developing nations in Germany.

Spouses typically get together at events of their own during the meetings of world leaders.

The first lady stayed behind on Friday when President Donald Trump, his daughters, eldest son and son-in-law went to the Camp David retreat for the weekend.

Melania Trump

She has not made a public appearance since before her five-day hospital stay in mid-May for treatment of a kidney condition the White House only described as benign.

Ms Grisham said earlier that the first lady has been meeting with staff and working on projects.

She will not attend the G7 and there are no plans for her to travel to Singapore at this time, Ms Grisham said.

The G7 summit will be held in Quebec on Friday and Saturday.

The president plans to meet North Korean leader Kim Jong Un on June 12 in Singapore, the first leaders summit between two countries that are still formally at war.
Theresa Mays flagship Brexit legislation will return to the House of Commons on June 12 in a high-stakes moment for the EU withdrawal process.

In a single day of debate, MPs will be asked to consider a total of 15 amendments introduced during the EU (Withdrawal) Bills passage through the House of Lords.

Changes backed by peers include compelling ministers to negotiate a future customs union arrangement and allowing Parliament a meaningful role after the exit talks are complete.

UK and EU flags

Ministers are expected to seek to overturn most or all of the amendments, but with no overall majority in the Commons, Mrs May faces a series of knife-edge votes next Tuesday.

Her official spokesman declined to spell out the Governments approach in detail, but told reporters: There are amendments which were passed by the House of Lords which are unacceptable which we will be looking to overturn.

The announcement on the Bills return to the Commons came as Downing Street insisted the UK will be fully prepared for leaving the European Union without a deal.

Number 10 was forced to defend its preparations after reports civil servants have been drawing up scenarios for a Doomsday Brexit that would leave the country short of medicine, fuel and food.

Mrs May still believes that no deal is better than a bad deal, and a significant amount of work had been done to make sure the UK could cope without a Brexit agreement, Downing Street said.

The #UK and #EU will hold technical discussions in Brussels from 5 - 8 June https://t.co/UDOPoAJtKO  Department for Exiting the EU (@DExEUgov) June 4, 2018

The Sunday Times reported that models for mild, severe and Armageddon reactions to no-deal exits were created by officials, with a source saying that even the severe scenario saw the Port of Dover collapse on day one.

But the Prime Ministers official spokesman said: The Department for Exiting the European Union has said that these claims are completely false.

A significant amount of work and decision-making has gone into our no deal plans, especially as it relates to ports, and we know that none of this would happen.

Asked if that was a cast iron guarantee, the spokesman said: We are planning for all scenarios and we will make sure that we are fully prepared in the event of any eventuality.

But the Government had equally been clear that we will secure a good deal and it was in the interests of both the UK and the EU to do so.

The Prime Minister was due to meet senior business figures in Downing Street on Monday amid concerns about progress in the Brexit talks.

A promised white paper on Brexit may not be published before the June summit of EU leaders as Downing Street said it was not putting a time frame on it.

What to expect from June #EUCO regarding #brexit ? My personal impression: Not many are expecting very much now. If this is so, October would then have to solve ALL problems (withdrawal, NI, governance, future ) in one go. Odds still unclear.  Axel Dittmann (@GermanyonBrexit) June 3, 2018

An indication of Europes concerns about the lack of progress came from Germanys top Brexit diplomat Peter Ptassek, who played down expectations about the June 28-29 European Council.

Not many are expecting very much now, he said. If this is so, October would then have to solve all problems [withdrawal, NI, governance, future] in one go. Odds still unclear.

The Prime Ministers official spokesman said: We are working towards reaching agreement in October and the June council is a staging post towards that.

Business leaders attending the talks at Number 10 include Tesco chief executive Dave Lewis, BT Group boss Gavin Patterson and BAE Systems chairman Sir Roger Carr.

Meanwhile an influential think tank suggested Britain should be prepared to align itself to EU rules regarding goods exports after Brexit, but is too large an economy to allow the service sector to be a rule-taker.

READ Open Europe's new report setting out a blueprint for the future UK-EU economic partnership: https://t.co/TbpJhdAvG5  Open Europe (@OpenEurope) June 4, 2018

Open Europe said Britain should align with existing legislation on goods, citing Switzerlands trade with the bloc as an example of how it can work with a non-member state.

It said Britains comparative advantage lay in services, including the financial sector, and there should be mutual divergence in this area.
Sinn Feins new mayor of Belfast has insisted a controversy over one of the citys most notorious murders will not overshadow her elevation to first citizen.

In 2005 Deirdre Hargey was dropped as a prospective election candidate and temporarily suspended from the party when it emerged she was in a city centre bar on the night a fracas erupted that ended with the murder of Robert McCartney on a pavement outside.

The murder of the 33-year-old Belfast father-of-two, which was widely blamed on IRA members, rocked Northern Irelands fragile peace process, coming as it did at a time when Sinn Fein was under pressure to sign up to support the police in the region.

Deirdre Hargey

With CCTV video tapes stolen from Magenniss bar in the wake of the killing, and widespread reports of witness intimidation, the republican movement was accused of covering up the murder and attempted murder of Mr McCartneys friend.

Of the 70 or so people in the bar that night, no-one reported seeing anything of the fracas.

Mr McCartneys sisters embarked on a high-profile campaign for justice that took them all the way to the White House in Washington DC.

Ms Hargey did not directly engage with detectives at the time but made statements to a solicitor insisting she saw nothing of the row inside Magenniss that ultimately spilled outside and ended in murder.

Thirteen years on, as it was confirmed she was Sinn Feins chosen candidate as the citys new lord mayor, the 38-year-old politician from the republican Markets area insisted she did all she could to help the McCartney family achieve justice.

I want to take this opportunity to again extend my sincere condolences to the McCartney family, she told the Press Association.

What happened to their brother Robert was wrong, it should not have happened.

I complied fully with the investigation and I am conscious that there is an ongoing investigation that is still live into this case. But the family do deserve justice.

Ms Hargey said the police had never asked to interview her upon receipt of her statements.

Indicating her willingness to talk to detectives if they wished her to, she urged anyone with information to come forward.

My main concern is to ensure the family receives justice and I feel that needs to be done through the PSNI and I do feel that any information around incidents pertaining to that night needs to be done through those avenues and I would be open to doing that, as I have done in the past, she said.

I am aware there is an ongoing investigation and I wouldnt want to prejudice that in any way, but what I would say is that if the PSNI or anyone else needs me in terms of helping in that investigation then I will do so.

The councillor denied any suggestion of being part of any alleged cover up.

Certainly not, most certainly not, she said.

I do think I have fully complied with the investigation.

I have always been open to fully complying with the investigation and would call on everyone else to do the same.

If they have any information they need to take it to the authorities for them to investigate, and to ensure that due process happens and justice is returned to the family.

Asked if she was concerned the issue would define her appointment as mayor, she said: No. I offer my condolences, my thoughts are with the McCartney family at this time and I do hope they do see justice.
The Government has announced that it will offload a 2.6 billion stake in Royal Bank of Scotland, a move that will see the taxpayers stake in the lender reduced from 70.1% to 62.4%.

UK Government Investments, which manages the states stake in the lender, said it will sell approximately 7.7%, or 925 million shares, to institutional investors.

It is the first time shares in RBS have been offloaded since 2015.

The Government is trimming its RBS stake

UK Government Investments today advised the Chancellor it would be appropriate to conduct the second sale of the Governments shareholding in the Royal Bank of Scotland.

The Chancellor agreed with that advice and has authorised the process to begin, the Treasury said in a statement.

RBS recently agreed a 4.9 billion US dollar (3.6 billion) settlement with US regulators, which removed a major hurdle to the banks return to private hands.

The Government hopes to sell 15 billion worth of shares by 2023, about two-thirds of its stake.

But it is facing a near-26.2 billion loss on its holding, with the lenders shares languishing well below the average 502p share price paid during the crisis era bailout, at around 280p.

The Government bought its stake in the bank for 45 billion in 2008 as part of a bailout at the height of the financial crisis.

Only last week, RBSs outgoing finance chief Ewen Stevenson said the recent slump in European stocks  sparked in part by jitters over the rise of Eurosceptic parties in Italy  might be a cause for pause for the Government.

Earlier this year, RBS reported a bottom-line profit for the first time in a decade.

Laith Khalaf, senior analyst at Hargreaves Lansdown, said: The RBS share price has bounced back from its slump after the EU referendum, but the taxpayers still going to be significantly out of pocket as the Government sells down its stake.

Few argue the RBS bailout was necessary to maintain financial stability, but the cost of that intervention is now starting to emerge.

Todays share sale is good news for private investors in RBS because it is a step towards becoming a normal bank again, though Government sales may put downward pressure on the share price in the near term.

As a business RBS remains a work in progress, and consequently an investment for recovery investors with a long-term investment horizon.
Saudi Arabia has issued the first driving licences to 10 women as it prepares to lift the worlds only ban on women driving on June 24.

The surprise move comes as a number of women who had campaigned for the right to drive are under arrest.

The government issued a statement saying the 10 women were issued the licences at the General Department of Traffic in the capital Riyadh on Monday.

Aziza al-Yousef drives a car in Riyadh as part of a campaign to defy Saudi Arabias ban on women driving (Hasan Jamali/AP)

The women took a brief driving test before receiving their licences as they had already held driving licences from other countries, including the UK, Lebanon and Canada.

The surprise move comes as four Saudi womens rights activists who had campaigned for the right to drive remain under arrest, facing possible trial.
Sinn Feins new Belfast mayor has said she is willing to consider attending this years historic Remembrance Sunday commemoration in the city.

Deirdre Hargey said she wanted to be a mayor for all citizens and would reach out to the Royal British Legion and locally-based Somme Association to discuss ways to mark the 100th anniversary of the end of the First World War.

Previous Belfast Sinn Fein mayors have laid laurel wreaths in July to commemorate the Battle of the Somme and at the short ceremony at 11am on November 11, the time of the Armistice in 1918.

Deirdre Hargey

But they have yet to attend the fuller Remembrance Sunday event, citing concerns over British military trappings.

Sinn Fein president Mary Lou McDonald attended a Remembrance Sunday church service at St Patricks Cathedral in Dublin last year.

I am mayor for all, thats for the unionist community, the nationalist community, new communities that have set up home in Belfast, and I want to reflect that in my year in office, said Ms Hargey.

I think Belfast City Council have done good work around the Decade of Centenaries programme and I attended many events which wouldnt have been from my own background per se.

She added: I do think its important that we use these events to reach out and to build cohesion within the community, that we learn from them.

There are political narratives and different narratives on what happened in our past and I think that all of those narratives need to be respected.

What I hope to do is use the learning of that past in building a cohesive and integrated and shared future in the time ahead.

I will follow suit with other Sinn Fein mayors in the past in terms of the Somme commemoration in July and I would do the same process in terms of paying my respects to that.

Other commemorations I want to look at  I will look at all of those in detail.

I will want to pay my respects to all of those who lost their lives in the wars and indeed other conflicts and indeed the political conflict that happened here in Ireland.

I will address all of those with sensitivity and also in a way of reaching out across the community and representing the community and I will look at those individual issues.

I am also keen to engage with the likes of the Somme Association, the Royal British Legion, to see if there are events that we can do collectively, that recognises that we do have a political past with different narratives to that past but with a recognition that we need to move forward together and thats what I aim to do.

Asked would she consider attending Remembrance Sunday in November, she said: I will consider all requests that come into the office, yes.

Ms Hargey, 38, said she wanted to use her year in office to advance rights issues.

She said she hoped she could play a role in delivering abortion reform, same-sex marriage and protections for Irish language speakers.

I would like to see my year as the mayor for Belfast to enhance those rights, campaign for those rights and be the mayor for equality and rights in Belfast, she said.

The Sinn Fein councillor said she did not believe the promotion of issues that were the source of political contention in Northern Ireland undermined a commitment to be mayor for all.

I am the first citizen for all in Belfast and I do think its important to reflect all views in the city, she said.

That said, I think issues around rights are non-negotiable and I do think as the first citizen I need to stand with those people who are demanding their basic human rights and as the first citizen I will certainly do that.

There has been a sea change right across this island and people want a rights-based society, so I do hope over my year in office there will be advancement for Irish language rights, for marriage equality rights and for increased healthcare rights for women in terms of access in abortion.

I do see there are fundamental human rights that as a society we have a duty to implement and push ahead on.

I will stand with those citizens.
A man has been jailed for eight years after admitting shaking his baby daughter to death.

James Ring, 21, was caring for nine-week-old Aria at home in the Crabble area of Dover when she went into cardiac arrest on January 7 last year.

He told emergency services that she had become unresponsive during a bottle feed.

Aria was taken to a hospital in Kent before being transferred to a specialist unit in London where doctors discovered she had a severe brain injury, sparking a police investigation.

Maidstone Crown Court

Ring was arrested on January 8 but denied any wrongdoing in interview, Kent Police said, but did admit to striking his daughter a fortnight before.

The little girl died in hospital the following day after her life support was withdrawn.

It emerged that she had suffered an older brain injury as well as a more recent one, the force said.

Following a post-mortem, an investigation into other available medical evidence and extensive inquiries, Ring was charged with Arias murder on November 29 2017.

Several medical experts agreed that aside from the first injury, which resulted in significant bleeding, the trauma that caused her death was so severe it must have taken place on the day she fell in to cardiac arrest.

Ring was caring for her alone at the time, Kent Police said.

Doctors found that her injuries were consistent with being severely shaken and that the symptoms she suffered would have appeared immediately afterwards.

Ring pleaded guilty to manslaughter on May 31, the first day of his trial for murder, at Maidstone Crown Court.

He admitted shaking his daughter briefly but forcefully during the time he was alone with her that day, police said.

The defendant was jailed for eight years on Monday.

Senior investigating officer Detective Inspector Tristan Kluibenschadl said: This has been an incredibly sad and emotional case and the death of any child is extremely tragic.

My sympathies are with the babys family who have suffered a drawn-out case right up to the start of the trial, due to Rings inability to simply tell the truth about what happened that day.

Children are among the most vulnerable in our society and look to the care and love of their families for survival.

With the case now over I hope the family can take the time to grieve and move forward from this very sad ordeal.
Theresa May has told President Donald Trump that US tariffs on EU steel are unjustified and deeply disappointing.

The Prime Minister spoke by phone with the US president on Monday afternoon, four days after the announcement of a new 25% levy on steel imports and 10% on aluminium.

The PMs official spokesman characterised the 30-minute call as constructive and said they agreed to discuss the issue further at the G7 summit in Canada later this week.

Trump

The Prime Minister raised the US decision to apply tariffs to EU steel and aluminium imports, which she said was unjustified and deeply disappointing, said the spokesman.

The PM said that the US, UK and EU are close national security allies and we recognise the importance of the values of open and fair trade across the world.

The Prime Minister also underlined the need to safeguard jobs that will potentially be affected by this decision.

They agreed to discuss this and wider issues of free and fair global trade further at the G7 summit later this week.

The call came shortly before International Trade Secretary Liam Fox addressed MPs in the House of Commons on the tariffs, which he described at the weekend as wrong and illegal.

Mr Trump originally imposed the tariffs in March, saying a reliance on imported metals threatened national security.

But he exempted Canada, Mexico and the European Union to buy time for negotiations, a reprieve that expired at midnight on Thursday.

The decision not to extend the exemption led to accusations that the president was triggering a trade war which could hit economies around the globe, including that of the US.

Mrs Mays spokesman stressed that the UK was seeking an exemption from the tariffs as part of the EU, and not trying to strike its own deal with Washington.

We are members of the European Union and we have been clear that we and our EU allies are seeking an EU-wide exemption, he said.

A White House spokesman said the president underscored the need to rebalance trade with Europe during the telephone call with Mrs May and expressed hope for a Brexit deal that does not increase tensions on the Northern Ireland border.
Jeremy Corbyn has called for an inquiry into allegations of Islamophobia within the Conservative Party.

The Tories have been under pressure since the Muslim Council of Britain (MCB) called for an investigation, highlighting a range of claims including candidates and other representatives allegedly having far-right connections or sending offensive tweets.

The Labour leader backed calls for an investigation on Monday night after Home Secretary Sajid Javid rejected the proposition of an inquiry, which gained support from Conservative Peer Baroness Warsi.

Jeremy Corbyn at Queens University Belfast

I think if there are allegations made then an inquiry should be held and it should be addressed and it should be dealt with, Mr Corbyn told the Press Association at a west London mosque.

Islamophobia, as with anti-Semitism, as with any other form of racism, has no place whatsoever in our society or in any of our political parties. Nobody should be condoning it, nobody should be hiding it, everybody should be exposing it.

We are calling for an independent inquiry into Islamophobia in the Conservative Party following more than weekly occurrences of Islamophobia in the party last month pic.twitter.com/ymkFRDs5sF  MCB (@MuslimCouncil) May 30, 2018

He highlighted reported rises of Islamophobic hate crimes, and added: Lets dedicate ourselves, during Ramadan, to say we will drive out Islamophobia from our society.

Mr Corbyn was speaking at the Al-Manaar Muslim Cultural Heritage Centre in Westbourne Park after an evening meal for Muslims to end their daily Ramadan fast.

The opposition leader has himself come under pressure over allegations of anti-Semitism in his own party, leading Prime Minister Theresa May to accuse him of allowing it to run rife.

The MCBs general secretary Harun Khan last week wrote to the Conservative Party chairman Brandon Lewis, saying there had been more than weekly occurrences of Islamophobia by Tory figures in April.

Mr Khan also highlighted Zac Goldsmiths unsuccessful bid against Labours Sadiq Khan to become Mayor of London in 2016, claiming there had been no action against those responsible for shocking Islamophobia during the campaign.

Rejecting the calls, Mr Javid told the Andrew Marr Show the MCB did not represents Muslims in the UK.

He added: I would be very suspicious of anything that theyve got to say, not least because under the last Labour government and a policy continued by us, we dont deal with the MCB and we dont deal with it because too many of their members have had, you know, comments on extremists and thats not acceptable.
Tens of thousands of sea turtles are caught each year by small-scale fishing operations off South Americas Pacific coast, new research shows.

Surveys at 43 harbours in Ecuador, Peru and Chile reveal that gillnet fisheries catch more than 46,000 sea turtles per year, with more than 16,000 killed in the process.

And the true numbers are likely to be higher, as not all ports in each country were surveyed.

Such accidental catching  known as bycatch  is a major threat to species including sea turtles, and the researchers say their findings highlight Ecuador and Peru as key places to tackle the problem.

Professor Brendan Godley, from the University of Exeter, said: People worry about industrial fisheries but a real concern that people are waking up to is small-scale fisheries.

A leatherback sea turtle

These are small vessels but they exist in such huge numbers that they can have a massive impact on ecosystems.

Turtles living in the study area include leatherbacks, which are critically endangered in the east Pacific, and the worldwide critically endangered hawksbills.

Dr Joanna Alfaro, director of Peru-based conservation charity ProDelphinus, said: This work highlights the importance and the benefits of our approach of engaging with fishers.

We are actively working with fishers in this region to develop and implement solutions to bycatch  not just to improve the situation for turtles but for the health of fisheries and fish stocks.

Our goal is to develop fisheries that are sustainable for small-scale fishing communities and the species with which they interact.

Sea turtle research

Dr Jeffrey Mangel, also from the University of Exeter, added: Gathering this survey data was a massive effort across three countries, and the results give us fascinating and important insights.

We are careful not to overstate threats to wildlife, but in this case its clear that tens of thousands of turtles are being caught each year.

The south-eastern Pacific sustains extensive fisheries that are important sources of food and employment for millions of people.

The study, supported by the UK Governments Darwin Initiative, was designed to fill data gaps and identify priority areas for future conservation work.

 The paper, Untangling the impacts of nets in the southeastern Pacific: Rapid assessment of marine turtle bycatch to set conservation priorities in small-scale fisheries, is published in the journal Fisheries Research.
By Bozorgmehr Sharafedin

LONDON, June 3 (Reuters) - Iraq and Iran have begun exchanging crude oil, the Iranian oil ministry's news agency SHANA said on Sunday, in a deal that will position Tehran to expand its interests in its most important Arab ally in the face of growing pressure from Washington.

Crude from the Kirkuk field in northern Iraq is being shipped by truck to Iran. Tehran will use the oil in its refineries and will deliver the same amount of oil to Iraq's southern ports, on the Gulf.

After helping Iraq stifle a Kurdish push for independence last year, OPEC producer Iran positioned itself to take control of oil exports from the region's giant Kirkuk field.

Baghdad agreed for the first time to divert crude from Kirkuk province, which it retook from the Kurds, to Iran, where it will supply a refinery in the city of Kermanshah.

The pact is likely to create unease in Saudi Arabia, which along with its ally the United States accuses Iran of trying to dominate the Middle East. Tehran denies the allegations.

REGIONAL RIVALRY Iran is locked in a proxy war with Saudi Arabia that has fuelled instability in the region. As well as Iraq, it has been extending its influence in Syria, Yemen and Lebanon. Faced with the U.S. withdrawal from the Iran nuclear deal, Tehran is expected by analysts to focus on preserving its interests in neighbouring Iraq, where it is competing for influence with Washington.

Iran also faces a challenge from Iraqi Shi'ite cleric Moqtada al-Sadr. The nationalist's bloc secured a stunning victory in last month's election by tapping growing public discontent with Iran's sway in Iraq, and appealing to the poor.

Between 30,000 and 60,000 barrels per day (bpd) of Kirkuk crude will be delivered by the tanker trucks to Darreh Shahr in southwestern Iran, SHANA said.

Iraq and Iran plan to build a pipeline to carry the oil from Kirkuk to avoid having to use trucks.

The swap deal allows Iraq to resume sales of Kirkuk crude, which have been halted since Iraqi forces took back control of the fields from the Kurds in October 2017.

Even though talks between Baghdad and Tehran have been conducted between oil ministry officials and Chamber of Commerce, Iran's elite Revolutionary Guards are well positioned.

Those dealings are overseen by the desk responsible for Iran's investments in Iraq at the president's office and are run by the powerful force. (Writing by Michael Georgy; editing by David Evans)
By Maya Nikolaeva and Sudip Kar-Gupta

PARIS, June 4 (Reuters) - AccorHotels is looking at taking a minority stake in troubled airline Air France KLM to compete better with the broader travel packages offered by online rivals such as Expedia and Booking.com.

AccorHotels, Europe's largest hotel group by room numbers, issued a statement to say it was considering the move after France's Les Echos newspaper said the group might buy some or all of the French state's 14.3 percent stake in Air France KLM.

Shares in Air France KLM were up around 7 percent in late session trading, as investors bet a sale of Paris's stake could help the airline push through painful reforms that are politically difficult for the state to support.

However, shares in AccorHotels fell around 6 percent as some analysts questioned the logic of a stake purchase.

"While the strategic rationale for Accor is there, we wonder why this cannot be achieved by a commercial partnership without any equity stake," said Bernstein analyst Caius Slater.

A partnership could, for example, create a joint rewards programme for Air Frances 15 million Flying Blue members and AccorHotels' 41 million reward customers, and help AccorHotels set up a one-stop-shop for travellers who currently use online aggregators such as Expedia or PriceLine.

AccorHotels, with more than 4,000 hotels ranging from luxury Sofitels to the budget Ibis brand, has in the past held talks with Air France KLM with a view to developing joint projects, including potentially buying a minority stake in the airline.

"AccorHotels confirms having resumed its reflections on the matter, being at very early stage of assessing the feasibility and potential terms and conditions which will be discussed with Air France KLM in due time," AccorHotels said.

"There is no certainty that these initiatives will lead to any agreement nor any form of implementation," it added, without saying from whom it might potentially purchase a minority stake.

Air France KLM declined to comment on the matter, but French junior economy minister Delphine Geny-Stephann said the government was open to talks between the two firms.

FRIENDS IN HIGH PLACES

Air France KLM, created in 2004 from the merger of Air France and Dutch carrier KLM, is in turmoil following the departure of CEO Jean-Marc Janaillac after French staff rejected a pay deal and staged a series of costly strikes.

Speaking at the annual meeting of the International Air Transport Association in Sydney, KLM Chief Executive Pieter Elbers also declined to comment on the Les Echos report. But Elbers - potentially a candidate to be the group's new CEO - added: "Yes, Air France needs to be restructured, yes some interventions need to take place. Progress has been made. Has it been enough? No, Should it be done more? Yes."

AccorHotels' board of directors contains former French President Nicolas Sarkozy, potentially a useful presence for any talks with the government over Air France KLM.

Air France KLM is struggling to push through the cost-cutting and labour reforms that rivals such as British Airways-owner IAG and Lufthansa have implemented to meet the challenge of low-cost competitors such as Ryanair and easyJet. Air France KLM shares have slumped around 45 percent so far this year.

Les Echos, citing unidentified sources, said the government was studying three options. The first would be to sell its whole stake to AccorHotels. The second would be a partial sale that would keep some state influence at Air France KLM.

A third option would be to swap the state's holding in Air France KLM for a stake in AccorHotels - a move the newspaper said would be consistent with French President Emmanuel Macron's desire to have an influence in "national champion" companies.

A government stake in AccorHotels might also deter a potential foreign bid for the hotels company.

Chinese group Jin Jiang is the largest shareholder in AccorHotels with a 12 percent stake, while the Qatar Investment Authority holds around 10 percent and Saudi Arabia 5.7 percent.

AccorHotels' overseas investors could, however, complicate any purchase of a stake in Air France KLM, which would leave the foreign groups indirectly holding a stake in a company viewed as an important national asset.

"It would therefore be preferable to seek instead either business partnerships or a joint venture," said Roche Brune Asset Management fund manager Gregoire Laverne.

(Reporting by Maya Nikolaeva, Pascale Denis and Elizabeth Pineau; Additional reporting by Victoria Bryan in Sydney, Sudip Kar-Gupta and Blandine Henault; Editing by Sunil Nair and Mark Potter)
TOKYO, June 4 (Reuters) - Japanese government bond prices dipped across the board on Monday, as equities rose to one-week highs and dented investor demand for safe-haven debt.

The five-year yield and the 10-year yield were each half a basis point higher at minus 0.110 percent and 0.045 percent, respectively.

The 30-year yield rose 1 basis point to 0.725 percent .

The Bank of Japan offered to buy 840 billion yen ($7.66 billion) of one- to 40-year JGBs on Monday as part of its regular debt-buying scheme, helping limit losses by JGBs.

The Nikkei advanced 1.37 percent, its biggest one-day gain since April 18, on a weaker yen and after Wall Street shares rose on Friday's upbeat U.S. jobs data. ($1 = 109.6100 yen) (Reporting by the Tokyo markets team; Editing by Sunil Nair)
SINGAPORE AFP June3, 2018 - North Korea will not get any sanctions relief until it has demonstrated irreversible steps to denuclearisation, US Defense Secretary Jim Mattis said Sunday.

Speaking at a security conference in Singapore ahead of a planned summit between President Donald Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, Mattis said it is vital that the international community keeps UN Security Council sanctions in place for now.



North Korea will receive relief only when it demonstrates verifiable and irreversible steps to denuclearisation, Mattis said during public remarks at a meeting with the South Korean and Japanese defence ministers.



In this moment we are steadfastly committed to strengthening even further our defence co-operation as the best means to preserving the peace.



South Korean Defence Minister Song Young-moo said that given recent developments in North Korea, one can be cautiously optimistic as we go forward.

Mattis has tended to stay
Tourism Promotion Minister John Amaratunga during an interview with the spoke about the political situation of the country and the reforms of the United National Party (UNP) which he represents. Excerpts:





Q What is your analysis of the current status of the Government?

There is no difference. The national Unity Government will continue. The Ministers representing Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP) in the Government are also doing their normal work. In fact, new subjects have been assigned to the ministers now.



Q In the assignment of subjects, some institutions, such as the Department of Archaeology which was held by Education Minister Akila Viraj Kariyawasam, have been entrusted with Minister Wijeyadasa Rajapakshe. Why is that?

I dont know. I am yet to see the gazette notification. I cannot comment on it as a result. There is no change in the subjects I held as the Tourism Development Minister.



Q As an UNPer with 40-years of experience how do you view the current status of the party?

Had the UNP obtained an absolute majority there would have been no problem. We would have forged ahead with our own policies. Since we had to join hands with the SLFP to form the Government, there were differences. Nevertheless, were working together.

As a result of FCID operations, we have been able to minimize corrupt practices



Q How do you compare and contrast the UNPs present situation with its past?

During the regime of J. R. Jayewardene as the President, we had five-sixth majority. We could implement anything we wanted. Today, the UNP is only a part of the Government.



Q How do you view the differences in terms of policies?

There is one difference here. We could implement projects speedily during the past. That is because of the Financial Crimes Investigation Division (FCID). Officials fear making decisions because of the FCIDs operations. They think twice before implementing a decision.



There are two aspects here. That is to mitigate corruption. As a result of FCID operations, we have been able to minimize corrupt practices. Everyone is careful to make sure that financial regulations are upheld. That, however, causes delays in implementing projects.



Q Did you experience this personally in your ministry?

Yes. We have to implement the digital advertising programme regarding the promotion of tourism. Officials fear bypassing the procedures. They insist on following the procedures. It has delayed the implementation of the programme, hence affecting tourism.



Q Whats the UNP planning to do in view of the Presidential Elections?

The Working Committee will decide who should be our candidate. Two Ministers have already said that UNP Leader Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe should be the candidate. If the Working Committee decides, we will go ahead with it. Minister Mangala Samaraweera clearly said the Prime Minister would be the candidate. If he says that, it may be the final decision.



Q What is your opinion?

I think the Prime Minister stands a good chance of emerging as the winner at the elections.



Q You see him as the best bet?

Yes, at the moment, he is the best bet. That is because of the enormous experience he has regarding governance and foreign and economic affairs. In early 1970s, people used to talk about J.R. Jayewardene as a hopeless candidate. He was viewed as an arrogant person. Yet, he proved to be the best candidate for the UNP.

The Mahinda Rajapaksa group is also very strong. When the anti-UNP vote base is divided between them, we can emerge victorious





Q There is a cry from the UNP backbenchers that young blood should be infused to the UNP hierarchy. What is your opinion?



Im not against that view. They should be given more responsibilities. They must understand one thing. I will cite one example. After I enetered Parliament, I remained without a portfolio for 10 years. I was just an MP. I continued to wait. Later, I was appointed as the State Minister of Finance. Since then, I have been getting portfolios. One shouldnt expect ministerial posts immediately after entering Parliament.



Q If the party must groom another leader, who do you have in mind?

There are enough and more at the second level of the party. Ministers Sajith Premadasa and Navin Dissanayake are there. We also have Ministers Harin Fernando and Mangala Samaraweera. There are five or six people identified as potential future leaders. As time progresses, we will find a person to fill the vacuum.



Q What are the policy changes you expect in the party?

The UNP has the same kind of policies. They cannot be changed. We are a democratic party and believe in the private sector as the engine of growth.



Q How do you view the chemistry between the President and the Prime Minister?

They are on talking terms though some people may think otherwise. I do not see any difference of opinion between them. The Unity Government will continue operating during the remaining 18 months.



Q As far as the UNP reforms are concerned, what do you think of the recent appointment of new office bearers to key posts such as the General Secretary?



I think those changes are enough. There is no need to make any drastic changes to continue for the next 18 months. Drastic changes can be made after the next elections.



Q How hopeful are you of winning the next elections?

The SLFP group led by President Maithripala Sirisena is also strong. The Mahinda Rajapaksa group is also very strong. When the anti-UNP vote base is divided between them, we can emerge victorious.



Q You had similar hopes during the Local Government Elections held on February 10 because the President and the former President did not unite. But the UNP couldnt win . Why is it?



That is true. There were various views expressed in this regard. We did not get the expected results.

These foreign nationals, who were assaulted, did not come to give evidence. They made a hue and cry, and left. We couldnt punish wrongdoers as a result



Q What do you think of UNP Assistant Leader Ravi Karunanayake being denied a ministerial post despite making requests?



Mr. Karunanayake played a major role in the installation of this Government in 2015. He worked very hard for it. There were allegations against him regarding the alleged Bond Scam. According to the report, he hasnt been involved in any scam. There is no reason for him to be deprived of a ministerial post. He hasnt been found guilty.



Q How is the growth within the tourism sector?

In 2010, there were only 400,000 tourists. Now, we get 2.5 million arrivals. Every month the number is increasing. At the same time, there are obstacles in our way. There was the closure of the airport and dengue epidemic. We have heard of a few incidents where tourists were assaulted. They have hampered the development of tourism.



Q Some ambassadors raised this matter with you. What did they discuss?

They sent travel advisories. When the Dutch tourists were attacked, they sent travel advisories. These foreign nationals, who were assaulted, did not come to give evidence. They made a hue and cry, and left. We couldnt punish wrongdoers as a result.



We have to get our digital campaign right to promote tourism. We have to ensure the safety of tourists. We are trying to develop the domestic airports. We have to expand our international airport. We need to increase the number of immigration officers. We have to develop the railway system. Many tourists are willing to travel by train.



There are many airlines willing to land here. Our landing and parking charges are very high. We have to bring them down.



Q The recent tax hike has affected tourist industry. Foreign nationals have complained about high charges for food and accommodation due to increased taxes. How do you see this?

We have received complaints both from locals and foreigners about it. In general, people find it difficult to live. When the rupee value depreciates, the rupee component of foreign exchange earnings increases. That is a plus point. Foreigners get the benefit from this.
The UN Peacekeeping Force (UNPKF for short) came into being during the Arab-Israeli war in 1948. Subsequently, in 1988, by dint of its immense contribution to the maintenance of peace in trouble spots across the world, it bagged the Nobel Peace Prize from the Norwegian Nobel Committee.



The Peacekeeping Forces of the United Nations have, under extremely difficult conditions, contributed to reducing tensions where an armistice has been negotiated but a peace treaty has yet to be established. In situations of this kind, the UN forces represent the manifest will of the community of nations to achieve peace through negotiations, and the forces have, by their presence, made a decisive contribution towards the initiation of actual peace negotiations, the Norwegian Nobel Peace Prize Committee said on its decision to give the award to UNPKF.



Since 1948, the UNPKF has been involved in 71 UN operations, 57 of them since 1988. Today, a little more than 110,000 military, police and civilian staff serve in 14 peacekeeping missions.



So far, more than 3326 peacekeepers from 120 countries have laid down their lives in the cause of peace on behalf of the UN. However, there has been a decrease in both personnel and peacekeeping missions recently, as a result of peaceful transitions and the redevelopment of troubled States .



Role changes with contextual changes



The context for UN peacekeeping missions had changed dramatically after the end of the US-USSR Cold War in the 1990s.



This is what a UN document says about the new context and role of the UNPKF: The UN shifted and expanded its field operations from traditional missions involving observational tasks performed by military personnel to complex multidimensional enterprises.



These multidimensional missions were designed to ensure the implementation of comprehensive peace agreements and assist in laying the foundations for sustainable peace.



The nature of conflicts also changed over the years. UN Peacekeeping, originally developed as a means of dealing with inter-State conflict, was increasingly being applied to intra-State conflicts and civil wars.



UN Peacekeepers are now increasingly asked to undertake a wide variety of complex tasks, from helping to build sustainable institutions of governance, to human rights monitoring, to security sector reform, to the disarmament, demobilization and reintegration of former combatants.



However, the military has remained the UNPKFs backbone and its main instrument. But the militarys main tasks now include: administration; economic advice; policing; legal advice; de-mining; electoral monitoring; human rights monitoring; humanitarian aid; and advice on governance.



After the Cold War ended, there was a rapid increase in the number of peacekeeping operations. Between 1989 and 1994, there were 20 new operations involving 11,000 to 75,000 peacekeepers.



There were peacekeeping operations in Angola, Cambodia and Namibia, to implement complex peace agreements; stabilize the security situation; re-organize the military and police; elect new governments and build democratic institutions. And of course there were military operations in former Yugoslavia and Somalia.

For instance, India, Pakistan, Bangladesh and Nepal together contributed over 30% of the total number of UN peacekeepers worldwide in 2014. Western states by comparison contributed a mere five percent. But US is the single largest donor accounting for 28% of financial contributions



Setbacks and reforms



However, there were setbacks in the early 1990s which led to an inquiry into the operations in Rwanda, Srebrenica and Somalia. The UNPKF was withdrawn from Somalia.



But in the second half of 1990s, new operations were approved in Angola, Bosnia-Herzegovina, and Croatia, Macedonia, Guatemala and Haiti.



In 1999 the UN served as the administrator of both Kosovo in the former Yugoslavia, and in East Timor (now Timor-Leste), which broke away from Indonesia. Later, the UNPKF was sent to Burundi, Chad, Central African Republic, Ivory Coast, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Eritrea, Liberia, Sierra Leone, South Sudan, Darfur and Syria.



Many of these operations have now completed their mandates as in Central African Republic, Chad, Democratic Republic of Congo, Burundi and Sierra Leone, Eritrea and Ivory Coast.



But multi-tasking is the order of the day. Today the UNPKFs role is truly multidimensional. They assist in civilian care, demobilization and re-integration, electoral processes and ensuring human rights and Rule of Law.



Troops mostly from poorer countries



A closer look at UN peacekeeping reveals that troops from relatively poor, populous countries - mostly from Africa and South Asia - account for a huge proportion of the peacekeeping forces worldwide.



For instance, India, Pakistan, Bangladesh and Nepal together contributed over 30% of the total number of UN peacekeepers worldwide in 2014. Western states by comparison contributed a mere five percent. But US is the single largest donor accounting for 28% of financial contributions



There are several reasons for the greater participation of South Asian nations in the UNPKF. One is emoluments. An average soldier here would earn about US$ 200 per month but in the UNPKF he would earn US$ 1,000.



Personnel from these countries learn to use new technology and get experience of working with personnel from other armies, learn new languages all of which help in furthering their careers. Last but not the least, South Asia barring Sri Lanka, has traditionally had surplus military manpower and had supplied troops to the colonial powers from the 16th.Century onwards.



This was so until the end of World War II in 1945.



From cultures of compassion



According to the Bangladesh High Commissioner in Sri Lanka, Riaz Hamidullah, troops from the South Asian countries are ideal for peacekeeping operations for a cultural reason.



Explaining the success of the Bangladeshi personnel in the UNPKF,Hamidullah said that the conduct of the Bangladeshi peacekeepers stems from their native culture nurtured over centuries.



It is founded on an innate South Asian propensity to show compassion beyond the call of duty and to share what little one has with ones fellow beings, the envoy said.



He went on to give an example from a troubled and indigent African country in which the Bangladeshi peace keepers shared their rations with the starving population around their camps.



It was all beyond the rule book. In another case of creative magnanimity, seeds of an edible plant which had been brought down from Bangladesh for the troops consumption, were distributed by the troops to the people around so that they could cultivate the crop. And the population did, Hamidullah recalled.



The Bangladeshi peace keepers not only maintain law and order but also sow the seeds of friendship, he said.

There are several reasons for the greater participation of South Asian nations in the UNPKF. One is emoluments. An average soldier here would earn about US$ 200 per month but in the UNPKF he would earn US$ 1,000



Bangladeshi engineers serving with the UN mission in South Sudan are leading efforts to improve a 78-km stretch of road between Gumbo and Mangalla, on the artery between Juba and Bor. The road connects local communities, allowing them to more easily bring goods to the market.



In the last three decades, as many as 150,647 Bangladeshi peacekeepers, from the armed forces and the police, have worked in 54 UN missions in 40 countries. Of them, 135 have sacrificed their lives to establish peace, with more than 200 others suffering injuries.



Currently, some 7,636 Bangladeshi peacekeepers, comprising 6,636 from the armed forces and the rest from police, are working in UN missions, according to UN peacekeeping statistics up to August 31, 2017. Bangladesh now accounts for 6.5% of the total UN peacekeeping force across the world.
Close associate and a financial handler of notorious underworld kingpin Makandure Madush, his associate and wife of well known drug kingpin Devundara Chamil were arrested by the Police Special Task Force during a raid in Pettah.

The suspects were arrested on charges of drug smuggling and possession of heroin.

Investigations revealed that Madushs associate, known as Akila had been involved in drug smuggling and financial activities of Makandure Madush. The suspect was charged for the possession of 7,700 milligrams and officers also took into custody two pass books and three mobile phones in his possession.

Officers also recovered 2,590 milligrams of heroin from, Ishanka Savithri who is also the paramour of Akila. A car, an apple iPad and iPhone belonging to suspect were also taken into custody.

The raid was conducted on Saturday night following intelligence received from STF sources, officers said.

The suspects were handed over to the Organized Crimes Prevention Division for further investigations. (Darshana Sanjeewa)
At the time of Independence Ceylon was one of the most prosperous countries of South East Asia

Our Politicians converted the country from a prosperous nation to a 3rd World Country between the period 1959  1977

The opportunity lost by Ceylon was gained by Singapore

Now our politicians are trying to build their paradises in Singapore and Malaysia

Year in and year out, as per records, 5  6 billion rupees are spent as disaster relief

News channels covering villages dont show prosperous healthy people

There is an old English saying Fools Learn by Mistake, Wise from Others.



This country is known as Serendib and Taprobane and sometimes by pet names such as Teardrop of The Indian Ocean, Pearl of The Indian Ocean and Paradise. The name for this island was registered by The British as Ceylon under its Empire. Foreign rulers converted this island from a rise growing farmer country to one that grows export potential crops such as spices, tea, rubber and coconut, which is still a lifeline for the country. At the time of Independence Ceylon was one of the most prosperous countries of South East Asia. Certain politicians still talk about this. Ceylon gradually moved away from prosperity after Independence. The change of name from Ceylon to Sri Lanka, which came in 1972, took away the lustre the country had. The prosperity associated with old Ceylon was linked to export crops like tea, cinnamon and sapphires, just to name a few. The high standard of service offered in trains, buses, education and in the administrative system helped Ceylon stand out in Asia. Our Politicians converted the country from a prosperous nation to a 3rd World Country between the period 1959  1977, a span of just 18 years!



From 1977 we started reentering the race, but by that time countries which were lagging behind us such as India, Malaysia, Singapore, Korea and China had started experiencing rapid growth after following Open Economic Policies. China became a Communist Economic Power and a knowledge factory while India, Malaysia and Singapore emerged as Economic Powers on the lines of Production and Technology. Singapore is the country it is today due to economic bungling by political forces of Sri Lanka since 1957. The islands officials nationalizing prosperous local assets as well as foreign businesses forced the latter to look for greener pastures. The Government of Singapore didnt have to do much other than invite all displaced business from the then Ceylon to set up business in Singapore. The opportunity lost by Ceylon was gained by Singapore. Senior Citizen Governance of Singapore still thanks and appreciates the service provided by our politicians that helped Singapore to be what it is today. After nationalization, the politicians endeavored to replace imported products by setting up Industries to manufacture products through state corporations. This was a good move. Politicisation and poor management were witnessed in state corporations due to the presence of unqualified appointees. Although the Government created a monopoly by banning imports it couldnt produce goods which cost 50% less than the imported products. This encouraged smuggling. Razor blades,cement, tyres and various products manufactured by state corporations were below par. Although many efforts were made to grow our own food these attempts could not succeed due to political bungling and mismanagement. Food scarcity and other economic factors drove the country to poverty. All good ideas couldnt be made use of due to mismanagement and bureaucracy. The start of State Corporations and efforts to industrialise the country by replacing imports and campaigns to grow more food did not improve the living standards of the people. In fact their lives became worse.



Economic disaster



The Open Door Policy saved the country from economic disaster. Both programmes like grow more food and the Industrial Corporations Act are criticized by some. But this is what has helped our neighbours to overtake us. Now our politicians are trying to build their paradises in Singapore and Malaysia. Sri Lanka cant be on par with countries like India, China, Korea and even Bangladesh. Sri Lanka is still ahead of them in terms of literacy and health care which are nothing much to talk about. This writer poses the question whether Sri Lankans are educated and healthy? News channels covering villages dont show prosperous healthy people. They have the same problems or are worse off than they were ten years ago. Kolambata Kiri, Gamata Kakiri (An old saying which underscores the fact that Colombo gets the best while those in the village get a raw deal). Some old issues or problems still remain. Some places still have no roads, bridges, water, transport, teachers and doctors. Some farmer cant sell their produce even at cost, during a harvest. Administrators are asleep!



Returning to the saying Fools learn by mistakes, wise from others, one of the hot topics these days is floods. Our administrators know that floods and the drought are common occurrences each year. Politicians boast that all action has been taken to cater to disaster victims by providing temporary shelter, food and health care. Year in and year out, as per records, 5  6 billion rupees are spent as disaster relief. All these expenses can be channelled for better use if our administrators at least now start advancing funds to clean all inland waterways and water retention areas in and around major cities. It is said that there are around 20,000 rain water retention tanks around the country. The larger ones were built by kings, medium ones by local administrations and the smaller ones were built by village administrators. Have our administrators taken any action to clean water waterways other than indulge in big talk? We are yet to Walk the Talk. Some action was taken by UDA and SLLRDC in the recent past which is now producing results. The Parliament surroundings, Colombo and suburbs are not submerged by water this time despite rivers such as Kelani and Kalu overflowing.



Kings and the past



Millions of acre-feet of water reaching rivers could have been reduced if internal tanks had been dredged. During the times of the kings, animals and man power were used over long periods of time. Now machinery and technology can be used to speed up the process. Kings and past administrators used their own technology to seal the bottoms of tanks against seepage. When the tanks are dredged, they must be done in such a way that heavy vibrator rollers and then heavy rollers are used to compact the bottoms of the tanks to prevent seepage. Just dredging with back hoe and dozers will damage the technology used by our ancestors to prevent seepage. When instructions to rebuild tanks are given by authorities of higher administration, the Irrigation Engineers and Civil Engineers must ensure to see that their education is put in to good use.



Sluice gates of tanks too are not controlled intelligently. When rain is expected, which leads to the expectation of water, gates must be opened in series. We are famous for opening sluice gates suddenly and this results in many people being washed away by gushing water, resulting in flooding. There was a report that all 20 sluice gates of a tank were opened at once causing a massive flood downstream. What happened to the intelligence of the irrigation engineer and other administrators responsible for water control? Will they take responsibility?



During the past few days many politicians said that rain is good and will increase GDP. Only one person said that we should not allow water to go a waste, and make plans to retain it; stopping it from seeping back into the sea.



I assume that most people didnt realize the amount of mud in rivers and waterfalls. This shows that a large quantity of mud is being washed away from hills and surroundings. This is a result of forest felling on mountains and riverbanks. One bright spark might say that this will increase the amount of sand being deposited at the bottom of rivers. Millions of Acre-feet of water flowed into the sea during the past few days instead of being saved for prosperity!



Will our administrators at least now allocate funds and resources and call for offers to dredge the many tanks and waterways to be ready for the next drought period? This will help save at least 20% of the water lost this year which is a better option than boasting about disaster relief and wasting contributions received as disaster relief.



Lets learn from our mistake!
(New York) REUTERS: A federal appeals court on Friday rejected a bid by Raj Rajaratnam, the highest-profile hedge fund manager convicted in a sweeping U.S. crackdown on insider trading, to void much of his 2011 conviction and shorten his 11-year prison term.



By a 3-0 vote, the 2nd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in Manhattan said the Galleon Group founder waived his claim that his trades did not qualify as insider trading by not raising it in an earlier appeal, citing societys strong interest in the finality of criminal convictions. It also said Rajaratnam did not show he was actually innocent.

The court also rejected Rajaratnams challenge to his US$53.8 million forfeiture order.



Jurors had convicted the Sri Lankan native in May 2011 on 14 securities fraud and conspiracy counts.



The appeals court upheld that conviction in June 2013. Rajaratnams latest appeal challenged five counts and his culpability for a trade underlying a sixth. Christine Chung, a lawyer for Rajaratnam, declined to comment.



The insider trading probe was led by the office of former U.S. Attorney Preet Bharara in Manhattan, and had since 2009 resulted in more than 80 convictions and guilty pleas.



Prosecutors said Rajaratnam made up to US$63.8 million from 2003 to 2009 through insider trading in stocks such as eBay Inc., Goldman Sachs Group Inc., and Google Inc., now called Alphabet Inc.

Rajaratnam, 60, is eligible for release in July 2021.



The case is Rajaratnam v U.S., 2nd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, No. 17-1405.
Mr Udaya Shankar, Chief Operating Officer - Siyatha TV, Ms. Sangeetha Weeraratne, Mr Dhananjaya Bandara, Directors of Model Shop, Mr Ravi Liyanage, Chief Executive Officer of TVS, Mr. Ushan Wijewardena, Head of Marketing and New Business, TVS.

Stepping forward to assist Sri Lankan youth to reach the international arena, TVS, the renowned automobile brand partnered Siyatha TV recently to launch the Siyatha Mr World competition. The winner of the Grand Finale of the competition will be awarded a flagship model Apache RTR 200 by TVS.

Signaling the partnership, Mr. Ravi Liyange, CEO of TVS handed over a Apache motor cycle to Ms. Sangeetha Weeraratne, & Dhananjaya Bandara Directors of Model Shop during a brief event held at the Hilton Colombo Residencies. The event featured the much celebrated TVS Apache RTR 200 renowned for its racing DNA, displayed on a purpose-built truck which will travel around the country in a mission to gather messages from well-wishers from hometowns of the contestants that are scattered across the island.

Mr World competition looks for a number of skills such as strength, character, passion, dedication to training and talent of a youth on whom the judges deem fit to bestow the title. As a brand that caters mainly to youth, we closely identify with these skills and as such we are pleased to be part of the competition. We believe that many young Sri Lankans are ready to compete at an international level and as a brand that celebrates youth, we believe that it is our duty to give these contestants the support that they need. I would like to wish all the contestants very best in their endeavour in reaching global platform commented Ravi Liyange, CEO  TVS Lanka.

Mr Dhananjaya Bandara, Ms. Sangeetha Weeraratne - Directors of Model Shop, Mr Ravi Liyanage, CEO of TVS, & Mr Ushan Wijewardena, Head of Marketing & New Business, TVS

Siyatha Mr World competition will comprise a number of mini pageants with Extreme Challenge designed to test the competitors as the flagship event of the lineup. This particular mini pageant will test the strength, stamina and resilience of the contestant which are values that resonate with the TVS brand.

Extreme Challenge scheduled to be held at the Katukurunda Racing Tracks in which the event will feature a number of motor cycle stunts. In addition, Siyatha Mr World contestants will be able to test ride the latest Apache bikes as part of the event lineup.

TVS has commenced the TVS Popular Mr. World competition on a digital platform concurrently to the Siyatha Mr World competition. The winner of the TVS Popular Mr. World competition will be chosen from amongst 20 contestants via popular votes. The main and the final pageant will take place at the Hilton Colombo on 5th June 2018.

We are excited about the TVS Popular Siyatha Mr. World competition which we have initiated in line with the main competition. Fans can vote for their favourite contestant on a number of social media platforms including Facebook, Twitter, as well as our official website www.tvslanka.lk. Once chosen by popular vote, TVS Popular Siyatha Mr. World will be the proud owner of a TVS  Apache bike from TVS, commented Mr. Ushan Wijewardena, Head of Marketing and New Business, TVS Lanka.

Siyatha Mr World will incorporate a number of events that test the contestants for their sporting abilities, fitness as well as the ability and passion for activities such as adventure and hiking. The eventual winner of the competition will obtain the opportunity to benefit from a grooming programme in preparation for the international Mr World competition.

Expressing her thoughts about the TVS sponsorship, Sangeetha Weeraratne said, TVS embodies the values of strength, dedication and passion for life that the Mr. World competition resonates. We are happy that such a brand stepped forward to partner us for the Siyatha Mr. World competition.

TVS Lankas Apache brand motorcycles specifically cater to youth with its inherent qualities of speed, power and the trendsetting make. The Apache flagship model 200 RTR has become a popular buzzword amongst Sri Lankas youth.

Ms. Sangeetha Weeraratne - Director of Model Shop, Mr Ravi Liyanage, CEO of TVS, & Mr Ushan Wijewardena, Head of Marketing & New Business, TVS

TVS is a renowned automotive brand that offers an innovative, reliable and dynamic range of motorcycles and scooters. The Company offers a range of innovative and reliable automobile models that incorporates a wide array of consumer choice including colour, performance and unmatched mileage. In addition, TVS Lanka provides service excellence to customers through an extensive service network as well as the availability of spare parts.
Minister John Amaratunga welcomes new SLTPB Chairman Dehan Seneviratne flanked by Ministry Secretary Esala Weerakoon

The Tourism Development and Christian Religious Affairs Ministry yesterday announced the appointment of veteran marketer Dehan Seneviratne as the Sri Lanka Tourism Promotion Bureau (SLTPB) Chairman with effect from June 4, 2018.



A veteran in the marketing field, Seneviratne takes over as Chairman of the SLTPB at a crucial juncture with the long-awaited global promotion campaign about to get off the ground.



Seneviratne was officially welcomed by Tourism Development and Christian Religious Affairs Minister John Amaratunga at his office, yesterday morning. With more than 40 years of experience in multinational companies covering many senior positions, one of Seneviratnes key achievements has been securing a 92 percent market share for Panadol while serving at GlaxoSmithKline Consumer Health, where he held the positions of Director Marketing and Sales, Director Corporate Affairs and Medical Marketing and Acting Chairman/Managing Director.



He has also served as Director/Chief Executive Officer of Mackwoods Healthcare and as Marketing Consultant for ID Lanka Ltd.

He is a former President of the Sri Lanka Institute of Marketing and an Honorary Member. He holds a Postgraduate Diploma in Marketing from the Chartered Institute of Marketing UK and a Masters Degree in Business Administration from PIM, University of Sri Jayewardenepura.
In socio-economic, religious or other dimensions, today marks one of the worlds most important days -World Environment Day, because the battle against global warming or climate change, is a matter of life or death for billions of people. Whether we realize it or not, what we do or do not do, what happens in the coming years and decades, will either be the end of the whole universe or a new creation. For instance, scientists say that by 2050, our oceans will be 50% polluted by plastic or polythene and the consequences of that are unimaginable.



In a statement, the United Nations says it is taking steps to encourage worldwide awareness and action for the protection of our environment. Since it was started in 1974, World Environment Day has grown to become a global platform for public outreach and is celebrated in more than 100 countries. Above all, World Environment Day is the peoples day for doing something to take care of the Earth. That something can be focused locally, nationally or globally; it can be a solo action or involve a crowd. Everyone is free to choose.



According to the UN, every year this day is organized around a theme that focuses attention on a particularly pressing environmental concern. The 2018 theme is beating plastic pollution. The day also has a different global host country, where the official celebrations take place. The focus on the host country helps highlight the environmental challenges it faces, and supports the effort to address them. This years host is India.



Today Indias Minister of Environment, Forest and Climate Change Dr. Harsh Vardhan along with the UN Under Secretary General and environment chief Erik Solheim will preside at a major ceremony which they hope will set an example to all countries. Mr. Solheim is also well-known in Sri Lanka for his peacemaking efforts. The UN urges governments, industry, communities, and individuals to come together and explore sustainable alternatives and urgently reduce the production and excessive use of single-use plastic polluting our oceans, damaging marine life and threatening human health.



According to a report from Bangkok on Sunday, a short-fin male pilot whale has died in Southern Thailand after ingesting more than 17 lbs of plastic bags and packaging, a sobering casualty of the waste littering the worlds oceans. During an autopsy veterinarians removed more than 80 plastic bags from the whales stomach, said Jatuporn Burutpat, Director-General of Thailands Department of Marine and Coastal Resources. Officials say the whale was spotted by locals on May 28 looking ill and floating abnormally. Government veterinarians were dispatched to care for the whale and were joined later by members of a local whale conservancy group. Mr. Burutpat said that on June 1, the whale started to vomit pieces of plastic. In a post on Facebook, ThaiWhales said the animal struggled fiercely as it tried to purge its body of the plastic.



India is excited to host the World Environment Day today. Indian philosophy and lifestyle has long been rooted in the concept of co-existence with nature. We are committed to making Planet Earth a cleaner and greener place. If each and every one of us does at least one green good deed daily towards our Green Social Responsibility, there will be billions of green good deeds daily on the planet, Dr. Harsh Vardhan said. From pan-Indian plastic clean-up drives in public areas, national reserves and forests to simultaneous beach clean-up activities  India will lead the initiative by setting an example.



India will be a great global host of 2018s World Environment Day celebrations. The country has demonstrated tremendous global leadership on climate change and the need to shift to a low carbon economy, and India will now help galvanize greater action on plastic pollution. Its a global emergency affecting every aspect of our lives. Its in the water we drink and the food we eat. Its destroying our beaches and oceans. India will now be leading the push to save our oceans and planet, Mr. Solheim said yesterday.



We hope that in Sri Lanka also millions of people will do millions of good deeds or green deeds, big or small so that our country also could join India in taking massive steps towards becoming a green Sri Lanka. Not only today, but if we all do green deeds daily, we will be helping to build a new Sri Lanka not just for ourselves but for generations to come.
Dhanusha Amarasinghe, Country Director, Educate Lanka Foundation speaking at Sysco LABS inaugural Mentorship and Skills Development Program

Sysco LABS has joined Educate Lanka on its Mentorship and Skills Development Program in an effort to support the next generation of Sri Lankas professionals. This student empowerment program is based on a unique social-private partnership model developed by the Educate Lanka Foundation. It leverages a network of corporate partners and their employees to develop the intellectual and professional capacities of the students who are supported financially through Educate Lankas micro-scholarships.

Sysco LABS joined the mentorship program by pairing its staff members directly with students as they go through a 10-month structured peer-to-peer mentorship course covering a variety of topics ranging from educating yourself on career and tertiary education opportunities, to leadership skills, civics and workplace ethics. As part of the collaboration, Sysco LABS will also soon be conducting exposure and skills training sessions while offering internship and career placement opportunities for qualified Educate Lanka students and graduates.

Founded in 2007 with an initial aim of preventing students from dropping out before completing their education, Educate Lanka has evolved into a social enterprise driven by a vision of making opportunities universal for everyone and a mission of empowering the socioeconomically disadvantaged children and youth by enhancing their access to education, mentorship, and employment opportunities. In creating this impact, Educate Lanka employs long-term micro-scholarship funding and targeted exposure, guidance, and training to provide its students with key tools and opportunities necessary to transform themselves into motivated leaders and productive change-makers. It also instils positive attitudes and a sense of accountability. Students are also committed to contribute to Educate Lanka and their own communities through financial and voluntary means. To date, Educate Lanka has sponsored over 4,500 years of education of 1,200 students through nearly Rs. 70 million in micro-scholarships while over 500 of them have completed their higher education and gained employment. Educate Lanka is currently supporting 500 children and youth between the ages 13 and 25 from all nine provinces across the country.

Sysco LABS Mentor Stefhan Sebastian, Associate Manager  Marketing welcomes his Mentee Sampath Gangala, an undergraduate from University of Peradeniya

The Mentorship and Skills Development Program is an element of the support Educate Lanka provides to students that goes beyond its financial intervention. The organization looks to professionals from Sri Lankas leading industries as well as Educate Lanka alumni to mentor and train aspiring students on their personal and professional journeys. With Sysco LABS, there are a total of 18 corporate and institutional partners both locally and internationally that have directly impacted nearly 700 Educate Lanka students and students of its community partners through this program since its inception two years ago.

In relation to the partnership, Manjula Dissanayake, Founder and President of Educate Lanka, said, Sysco LABS has been an instrumental partner of Educate Lanka since we first began to leverage the resources of the private sector and the business community in bridging the learning and leadership gaps of our students. As such, we are extremely thrilled and grateful to have their staff join us in providing our students with the 21st century skills, competencies, and exposure that will prepare them not only to meet the future talent need, but also to constructively tackle the challenges of tomorrow. Sri Lankas workforce and human capital will continue to be tested in a fast-changing world led by automation and artificial intelligence, and its imperative that we proactively and rapidly prepare our youth through innovative and collective approaches so that they could leapfrog into meeting the demands of future work and co-create an equitable and inclusive future for everyone.

On joining the Program Sysco LABS SVP and General Manager Rasika Karunatilake said, We are happy to be able to deepen our support for the Educate Lanka Foundation and connect our employees with the students in the program. It has been a deeply rewarding experience for our team and we would urge other organizations to join the program as well. Academics are vital, they are the foundation that a professionals career is built on, but without synthesis with personal development, its hard to really develop a leader and a force for change. We know this to be true in our organization, and it is a privilege to be able to share it with the students.

For further information visit https://educatelanka.org/. For information on joining the mentorship and skills development program please contact: Seevali Ratnakara, Program Manager, at seevali@educatelanka.org.
Perpetual Treasuries (PT) allegedly pulled off probably the largest ever financial scam in the country. But, now it is becoming increasingly clear, that the disgraced bond trader did not just scam billions of rupees out of public coffers, but it had also engaged in a well calibrated effort of state capture.



Various sources have alleged the existence of a list containing 118 names of politicians who had received funds from the PT and its subsidiary W. M. Mendis Company through which political contributions have reportedly been distributed. Allegations came to light after Dayasiri Jayasekara MP admitted that he received Rs. one million from Perpetual Treasuries owner Arjun Aloysius. Jayasekara MP did not want to go down alone, and he insisted that there was a list of 118 Parliamentarians mentioned in the Presidential Commission of Inquiry (PCoI) Report as having received money from the PT.



The PCoI report is now the national archive and can be released to the public only after 30 years. A list of names of politicians who had received telephone calls from Mr. Aloysius was redacted from the PCoI report that was submitted to Parliament. It was that report which was later made public.



The decision to censure the original PCoI report is problematic, but there is also a fundamental difference between talking to somebody over the phone and receiving gratuities, unless of course, one is to believe that each of those phone calls was followed up by a fat cheque.



In all likelihood, there is no such list as those who received funds. What is there is a list of Parliamentarians to whom Mr. Aloysius has given phone calls. Now the President has sought the advice of the Attorney General to release that list. Yesterday, Speaker Karu Jayasuriya informed the House that he would release the names of the politicians in the said list.



But, that is not what the public want to know now. Wild rumours are always more thrilling than facts. In the post-truth world we are living, rumours themselves become facts. Now, fewer people would be content with knowing the names of MPs who received phone calls, they want to know the names in the purported list of swindlers. That list may not exit not because no one took money, but because that was not the mandate of the PCoI. The government would have to institute a fresh CID inquiry to identify the full extent of complicity between certain parliamentarians and the Perpetual Treasuries. In the absence of a full investigation, pubic trust in politicians and political institutions would further erode.

Wild rumours are always more thrilling than facts. In the post-truth world we are living, rumours themselves become facts. Now, fewer people would be content with knowing the names of MPs who received phone calls, they want to know the names in the purported list of swindlers



Some politicians have already admitted to having received money. Field Marshal Fonseka said he was given Rs 100,000. But, there is a major difference between a politician receiving Rs 100,000 as election financing and the former Finance Minister getting the rent of his penthouse apartment paid by the PT owner. Some others who have received bigger pay offs would not come out unless they are exposed by an investigation.



However, those who cry foul about this nexus between politicians and election financing by fat cats, often disregard the underlining causes that led the politicians to rely on election financiers. Electioneering in Sri Lanka is an extremely expensive affair which neither the political parties, nor individual politicians can afford. The existing Proportional Representation system which compels the politicians to spread thin their resources across a large demographic area also favours the politicians with deep pockets. That also leads the politicians to rely on financing by various unscrupulous elements. Since such financial contributions are given in the understanding of future benefits, once elected politicians are compelled to extend various political favours, which effectively lead to tempering with tender procedures, filling state institutions with political acolytes and outrageous tax reliefs.



The proposed election reforms of a mixed electoral system, which would reduce the size of the electorate, would create a better level playing field for politicians with fewer resources.



However, another problem in Sri Lankas election financing would see that the impact of proposed reforms is limited. Election financing in this country is murky and unregulated. No one knows how much is received as campaign contribution and how that money is spent. Sri Lanka needs to institute an election finance law that would bring transparency to the whole process. Each political party and individual politician should be made obligated to publish all contributions they have received from outside parties, and their sources.



Election financing is a fact of political life anywhere in the world where there are competitive elections. But, most countries do have laws that govern the process. We dont. That absence has a heavy toll on the public trust in our political system. While politicians may not care much about the on-going de-legitimization of the political establishment at the moment, at one point, things would blow off the lid. Then it would be too late. The public interest in Gotabaya Rajapaksas presidential bid itself is a case in point of growing wariness among the people towards traditional politicians whom they consider as corrupt, incompetent and opportunistic.



The government should try to regain the losing public trust in the political establishment. One area that needs to be addressed is the transparency in election financing.



Follow @RangaJayasuriya
The United National Party (UNP) will at no time defend thieves, Party General Secretary and Minister Akila Viraj Kariyawasam said today.

He said this in response to a question asked by journalists at to what the party intended doing with regard to the UNPers who were alleged to have obtained money from Perpetual Treasuries owner Arjun Aloysius .

We will not defend thieves but one must be not label anyone as a thief until it is proven that they have stolen money, the minister said at a media briefing yesterday.

When asked who would be the UNP candidate at the next presidential election, he said the party would field its leader as the candidate.

Finance Minister Mangala Samaraweera said some of the key points in the UNP policy of creating a wealthy nation have been picked up by former defense secretary Gotabaya Rajapaksa and had included it in his Viyath Maga programme. He criticized Mr. Rajapaksa for saying he did not own a house in Kataragama because an electricity bill has been addressed to his name.

State Minister Harsha De Silva said there was a difference between a social market economy and a socialist market economy which Mr. Rajapaksa has talked about.

Some have got mixed up with the economic programme. UNP policy is to maintain a social market economy and make Sri Lanka a hub of the Indian Ocean. Under the 2030 programme of Mr. Rajapaksa is to create socialist market programme based on competitiveness. Socialist market is a concept started by China. We talk of private sector being an engine of growth. Private sector includes SMEs, farmers, tuition masters and also large companies. In a social market economy one of the main factors is the market efficiency and social protection. In China enterprises are owned by Communist Party in China. Profits of enterprises in China go to the communist party. Is Mr. Rajapaksa going to hand over state enterprises to a political party, the state minister said. (Yohan Perera)
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Denver had to back out of hosting the Winter Games in 1976 after voters rejected funding for the event.



DENVER (AP)  Colorado leaders plan to pursue the Winter Olympics  but only if voters back the idea.

An exploratory committee that has been reviewing whether or not to pursue the Olympics announced Friday that Gov. John Hickenlooper and Denver Mayor Michael Hancock have accepted its recommendation that Denver and Colorado pursue a bid subject to approval of a statewide referendum in 2020 or later.





. . .
Blackstone sells 5th & Bell for $95M



Journal Staff Reporter By BRIAN MILLER Journal Staff Reporter

Less than two years ago, Blackstone acquired the 5th & Bell Building for almost $93 million, as part of a larger portfolio sale from Hines. Now the building has sold again for almost $95 million to Alexandria Real Estate Equities.

Both parties used LLCs in the transaction; no brokers were announced.

The deal was worth about $482 per square foot.

The six-story 5th & Bell  also called the Amazon Otter Building for its largest tenant  occupies the half-block site at 2301 Fifth Ave., between Battery and Bell streets. It was developed in 2002 by Touchstone, with about 197,000 rentable square feet and street-level retail. There are 209 underground parking stalls.

CollinsWoerman was the architect.

Amazon signed its last lease in 2014, with a 10-year term and another 10 years in renewal options. In 2013, The Seattle Times said Amazon would take about 100,000 square feet at 5th & Bell. Other office tenants include Zipcar, Phillips Design and the University of Washington. Tenants in the retail space are unknown.

Colliers first-quarter report, released in April, said 5th & Bell would go on the market, along with three other Amazon-leased projects: 202 Westlake (aka Amazon Roxanne), which sold in May for almost $130 million; the Troy Blocks (aka Houdini North and South); and 300 Pine (aka Macys), which is still under construction. 5th & Bell is different from those three in that its only about half-leased to Amazon.

Amazon currently leases about 6 million square feet in Seattle, and owns about 3.6 million square feet. With projects in the pipeline, its local footprint  including Bellevue  could reach about 14 million square feet in four years.

However, Amazon is expected to announce its HQ2 decision this year, indicating what city will accommodate much of its planned future growth  which could total 8 million square feet.

For now, Amazon is proceeding with Block 18 on land it owns in the Denny Triangle, with about 405,000 square feet of offices. Whether Amazon will occupy or sublease the 722,000 square feet of offices at Rainier Square, now under construction, is still unknown.

Meanwhile, signatures are being gathered for a referendum to repeal the citys $275 head tax on large employers including Amazon. That measure needs 17,632 approved signatures to qualify for the November election. The signature tally will be approved this month.

Publicly traded Alexandria is based in Pasadena, and now has about 1 million rentable square feet in Seattle. Its seven buildings, clustered in South Lake Union and Eastlake, are mostly leased to life-science and biotech companies.

Alexandria is currently developing a new speculative building at 1818 Fairview Ave. E., with 205,000 square feet of offices.





Brian Miller can be reached by email at brian.miller@djc.com or by phone at (206) 219-6517.




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When the dust settles, Anthony de Jasays The State will probably be recognized as one of the great books of the 20th century. It may be the most serious and subversive challenge to state authority ever written. That this book is not banned must be proof that we are not living under real tyranny or at least under intelligent tyrants. Or perhaps the powers-that-be are confident that few people can understand the book, the more so as snowflakes become scared of intellectual challenges.

Anthony de Jasay is an economist born in Hungary, educated in Australia and England (Oxford), and living in France. He does not have a Ph.D. and is affiliated with no university, which makes him a rarity from the viewpoint of the very structured U.S. academic world. He pursued his academic interests after a career in finance, and has since written several important books and articles. He is one of todays most original political thinkers.

He does not fit into any ready-made ideological category. He does not use the typical arguments of libertarian theorists, and is in fact often suspicious of them. He seems to eschew the concerns of classical liberals for legal forms and protections, except for spontaneously evolved conventions a la David Hume. He characterizes his philosophy as capitalist, by which he means based on a belief in private property, free markets, and freedom of contract. We might call him a conservative anarchist.

James Buchanan, the Nobel laureate economist and proponent of a constitutional-contractarian state, reviewed The State shortly after its publication. He acknowledged the challenge that de Jasays theory raised for his own contractarian vision. Somehow, Buchanan wrote, those of us who retain a residual faith in some positive potential for organization [of the state] must meet the challenge posed by this book. We must, in some form or fashion, incorporate the descriptive features of the state, as depicted, into a coherent and nonromantic normative account of constructive reform.

Whats wrong with the state? The central argument of the book is that, in a society of non-identical individuals, preferences and interests will differ, so the state cannot simultaneously protect the interests of everybody equally; it must choose which interests to further, and which ones to ignore or crush. This fundamental idea seems so obvious, or at least so challenging, once clearly expressed it is surprising how it can have escaped so many analysts.

In practice, the state is who happens to run it, what de Jasay calls its tenants. One can view the tenants of the state as the inner circle of political and security rulers. The interests of these people are primarily what the state maximizes; but to stay in power, it must also promote the interests of those whose support it needs to stay in power.

The standard way to escape the dilemmaeither the state has no justification or it only serves its own interestslies in contractarian theory, from Thomas Hobbes to James Buchanan through John Locke, Jean-Jacques Rousseau, and John Rawls. In The State, de Jasay does not directly challenge Buchanans contractarianism (perhaps because it is the most defendable version?), but he proposes a quite devastating critique of todays most popular liberal contractarian theorist, John Rawls. The general claim of contractarianism is that, through a unanimous social contract, individuals can force the state to serve their common interest in the provision of public goods such as national defense and perhaps a few others.

 According to de Jasay, there is no dilemma to escape in the first place. The state is simply unnecessary.

According to de Jasay, there is no dilemma to escape in the first place. The state is simply unnecessary. Nothing indicates that individuals in a state of nature (the standard name for original anarchy) would show any unanimous interest in creating the state. Voluntary cooperation can produce at least some level of public goods, and there is really no way to determine their optimal level. It is generally the state, not private interactions, that creates free riders. Moreover, individuals in the state of nature would have no way to know that they would prefer a state-governed societyanymore than todays state-governed individuals can rationally consider the benefits of a state of nature that they dont know and cannot experience.

And why would individuals trust the state to keep its word and respect their liberty and property once they have disarmed? History and theory (even the interstices of Marxist theory) suggest that the state is by nature an autonomous entity and not a simple instrument of its citizens.

In reality, the state buys the very consent upon which a social contract is supposed to rest, but it cannot be unanimous consent. Barring the existence of pure public goods and the confinement of the state in their production, a state intervention always hurts the interests of some subjects while promoting those of others. And [w]hen the state cannot please everybody, it will choose whom it had better please, as de Jasay puts it in immortal terms. So it will use its interventions to buy the consent of those whose support it needs to stay in power. The state is naturally an adversary state.

The democratic state does not solve the problem. It exacerbates it. State activities find a rationalization in utilitarianism and social justice. Assuming that utility is comparable among individuals and that Paul can gain more utility than is taken away from Peter, the state will be easily able to justify the redistributive effects of its interventions. When it steals from the rich to give to the non-rich, it will sell the result as an increase in social utility. Nothing in economics can prove this, but the non-rich are more numerous than the rich, so the state does choose whom it had better please.

The way the state balances costs and benefits among its subjects is totally arbitrary. Cost-benefit analysis is merely a way to rationalize what the state wants to do. It is a rare event, if it has ever happened, for the state to backtrack on a pet intervention after discovering from a cost-benefit analysis that its social costs exceed its social benefits. On the contrary, the state decides what to do and then undertakes a cost-benefit analysis thathocus-pocus!proves with some numbers that the benefits are indeed higher than the costs.

Again, de Jasay summarizes this finding in unforgettable terms (emphasis in original):

These considerations would naturally lead us to the last chapter of The State, which relieves the suspense as to the ultimate fate of this institution in which democratic people have put all their hope. But before we go there, lets flash back to the first chapter of the book, which draws a model of a fictional state that, contrary to the adversary state, would not take sides and would not have to buy the consent of its supporters. This minimal state, de Jasay calls the capitalist state.

The capitalist state would protect property and freedom of contract. It would realize the idea that property is, and is not a matter of ought (emphasis in original), or in other words that finders are keepers. Property does not need to be justified or redistributedalthough any theft or perhaps nuisance would need to be corrected under satisfactory proof. The capitalist state would not be interested in governing, in the sense of intervening into its subjects affairs (even if its tenants may be interested in honors and other innocuous perks). It might be monarchical as, de Jasay suggests, Alexander Hamilton would have liked. It would not pursue the good of society, a meaningless concept. Its essential function would be to make sure that it is not taken over by another state intent on governing. Its essential function is to protect individuals against tyranny, foreign or domestic.

Whether a state of nature is stable in the sense of its capacity to resist outside invasion is an issue that The State leaves unresolved. Assuming a stable state of nature, it remains to be seen if the resulting order would be more capitalist in the modern sense than tribal in the way of primitive societies. This may be the chink in de Jasays armor. But if the capitalist state, which is close to the 19th-century ideal of classical liberalism, were possible, contrary to de Jasays doubts, it would provide a nice escape both from the risks of the state of nature and the grave danger of state we are now stuck with. At any rate, the book clearly identifies the theoretical alternatives.

According to de Jasay, the adversary state, especially the democratic state, is bound to grow non-stop. If there is an equilibrium point where it stops growing, history has yet to reveal it. Because of electoral competition, the state continuously needs to buy consent, lest the opposition, which bids up the price of support with its own promises, becomes the new tenant of the state. (It is not clear in my mind how the opposition can be both outside the state and part of it, how [t]he actual tenant is the state while the state continues even after a revolutionary tenant takes over.)

As the state grows to help those who were previously harmed, and as it helps and hinders the same individual in multiple ways, churning blurs who is a net gainer and who a net loser, the citizens become more and more dissatisfied, and demand both more state and less government: Governing them helps make the governed ungovernable.

Case in point: As I write, notes de Jasay, the jury is still out on the Reagan administration and Mrs. Thatchers government. Both seem at the same time to be rolling and not rolling back the state (emphasis in original).

The state seeks to maximize its discretionary power, but it must use up more and more of it just to satisfy its electoral clientele. Democratic competition between would-be tenants pushes the state towards an equilibrium of zero discretionary power (analogous to the firm reduced to normal profits by competition on the market). The state is reduced to an unhappy drudge for unsatisfied citizens demanding ever more. But note that only discretionary power is reduced to zero; total state power continues to grow.

No constitution can control this. To constrain the state, only private force could be successful: Self-imposed limits on sovereign power can disarm mistrust, but provide no guarantee of liberty and property beyond those afforded by the balance between state and private force. If individuals cannot keep their private institutions and their guns, the state will meet no resistance for it has got all the guns. An effective electoral resistance is impossible because the practical purpose of elections is to buy consent, which fuels the exercise of state power. Redistribution calls for more redistribution.

The last chapter of the book describes the most likely outcome: the fusion of economic and political power, that is, state capitalism. Being continuously asked to give and not to take away, to intervene and not to harm, using up all its discretionary power just to remain in power, the state will end up nationalizing the whole economy and abolishing electoral competition. The latter will be required by the former, for otherwise voters would vote themselves little work and high wages. In the brave new world of state capitalism, the former citizens will have become property of the state like slaves belonged to their masters on the plantations of yesteryear. The state will have become the plantation state.

Anthony de Jasays The State is a deep and tightly written book, with a gust of devastating humor here and there. One can read the book many times and understand something new every time. This powerful book is a must-read.
Latest News

NIOS to conduct class X, XII board exam from November 11 The NIOS class X exams will begin with Hindustani Sangeet and class XII exam will start with the Sanskrit and

No quarterly, half-yearly exams for Class X and XII TN state board students this year The board exams would be conducted either in February end or March next year

ICSI CS Professional Result 2021 declared Mark sheets of the professional programme will be sent to the registered address of candidates
The South African government will launch a new round in its Renewable Energy Independent Power Producers Procurement Programme later this year.

Addressing an audience of about 400 delegates at the Department of Energys (DoEs) Stakeholder Engagement event at Gallagher Conference Centre recently, Jeff Radebe, the minister of energy, said that his department will launch a fifth round in its REIPPP programme before the end of this year.

Although the anticipated Expedited Round has not been concluded and is said to have expired, the fifth round will provide potential vendors with a new opportunity to bid for 1800 MW of electricity generation  worth as much as US$50-billion  based on similar technologies as in the Expedited Bid Window, he said.

One of the drivers behind this decision is the governments desire to enhance local manufacture to ensure investment and economic growth. A major objective, Radebe said, is to provide opportunities for black industrialists and the development of black-owned independent power producers. For this reason, specific reference will be made with requirements for women-owned business participation and special opportunities for the youth.

New IRP

Redebe said that a new Integrated Resource Plan (IRP) will be released in draft form for public comment soon and that it will be tabled for approval by Cabinet in mid-August. The government wishes to provide policy certainty by publishing the IRP, together with the integrated energy plan, the gas utilisation master plan and the liquid fuels master plan by the end of 2018, the minister said.

Other energy sources

Gas

Other energy sources will also be actively pursued, Radebe said. Gas, in the form of imported liquified natural gas (LNG) has been given a very high priority. Although gas-to-power is on the cards, the use of gas as a part of the energy mix is needed. Gas, including bottled liquid petroleum gas (LPG), is ideal for cooking and heating. It can even provide lighting where necessary, he said.

Gas is available close to home. Radebe said that gas fields in Mozambique, Tanzania, Botswana and Zimbabwe could supply South Africa with much of its needs, and South Africa has potential shale gas reserves of its own. The DoE will hold meetings with South Africas neighbouring countries to discuss this opportunity and will develop a gas utilisation master plan (GUMP) soon.

Coal

Coal remains a large part of the energy mix. The government has procured two coal-fired power generation projects, with a combined capacity of 864 MW, which will bring investments of about R40-billion into the country and create employment for 5000 people during construction. The two plants, Khanyisa (300 MW) and Thabametsi (564 MW) are expected to start supplying power to the national grid by 2023, he said.

Liquid fuels

The DoE is also planning to increase the countrys liquid fuel capacity by adding new refinery infrastructure. This is needed, the minister said, because existing capacity is constrained and new vehicles require cleaner fuels than South Africas current ageing refineries can produce in sufficient quantities.

Nuclear

Radebe made no mention of new nuclear-driven electricity generation in South Africa, other than to say that the agreement which was in place with Russia was declared invalid by the high court in the Western Cape last year, when the submission of the intergovernmental agreement of Russia, the United States and South Korea was tested in court. The court decided the submission was unconstitutional, unlawful and set it aside.

The minister said that South Africa is a global leader in nuclear medicine, with tens of million people a year, in over 60 countries, benefitting from radio isotopes manufactured by South Africas SAFARI-1 nuclear reactor in Pelindaba.

Grid infrastructure

The minister also highlighted the need for the South African electricity grid to be strengthened. Increased capacity and a digitalisation programme is needed to accommodate new distributed generating technologies. The grid of the future must be flexible, intelligent, connected and responsive to new sources of electricity, he said. Energy storage technologies will also change the way in which electricity will be demanded from the grid in future and is the subject of specific focus at present.

Related Articles




Mexico pork tariff could escalate Iowa's losses to US$560 million



US pork producers in Iowa, already dealing with a 25% tariff on US pork exports to China, could face another trade hit, with Mexico considering a 20% tariff on hams and pork shoulders, Des Moines Register reported.



Growing trade worries have cut pork prices in recent weeks, costing Iowa producers about US$560 million, said Dermot Hayes, an Iowa State University economist.

Mexico is the largest export market for US pork, based on volume. The country bought US$1.5 billion of US pork last year, followed by China-Hong Kong at nearly US$1.1 billion.

The tariffs are "potentially devastating news for Iowa's pig farmers and the rural Iowa economy," said Gregg Hora, president of the Iowa Pork Producers Association.

The state is the US's biggest pork producer, raising about 40 to 50 million animals annually.

The association said about 27% of all Iowa and US production is exported, accounting for nearly 40% of an average animal's value last year.

Hora said he hopes the US, Canada and Mexico trade officials stop using food as a "negotiating tactic."

The added costs with the tariffs hurt consumers in China and potentially Mexico.

"We've worked many years, spent a lot of time and money building trade relationships to expand markets in Canada, Mexico and other key economic trading countries," Hora said.

"We're concerned about the loss of market share we've built up over the years," he said, adding that he hopes US trade officials "rectify this situation immediately."

US President Donald Trump recently announced the country would implement a 25% tariff on steel and 10% tariff on aluminum imported from Mexico, Canada and the EU.

In response, Canada said that it would levy tariffs on US$12.8 billion in US goods, including steel, aluminum and whiskey.

Europe has proposed targeting US icons such as Harley-Davidson, Levi's jeans and Kentucky bourbon. Mexico also said it would look at tariffs on steel, blueberries and other products.

The threat of pork tariffs comes during peak demand - summertime grilling.

"This should be an extremely profitable time for producers, but that's no longer the case," Hayes said.

The pork industry normally would look to China to buy its excess pork, "but China's now closed," he said, with its tariffs making US products less competitive.

He said producers had been close to breaking even financially before the tariffs were introduced, but now they're looking at losses.

Most producers should be able to withstand the hit, with strong profits since 2014. "They're going into this with really strong balance sheets," Hayes said.

Even though the trade disruption hurts Iowa farmers, it will help consumers with increased pork supplies.

- Des Moines Register




Canada unveils tariffs against US food products as US-Canada relation sours

The trade relation between US and Canada took a further hit as US President Donald Trump slammed Canada for its "restrictive" agricultural trade policies, while Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau chided Washington for imposing its metals tariffs.



According to The Wall Street Journal report, the latest development could exacerbate contentions in regards to the negotiation of revising the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA). Trudeau had also stated "a turning point in the Canada-US relationship," following the implementation of the Trump administration's tariffs which could ignite a global trade war.



Additionally, Trudeau decried the rationale for the tariffs - purportedly based on national security concerns - as "inconceivable", as he revealed about US$12.8 billion in retaliatory tariffs on US goods - some targeting US food products.



Trump reiterated his hard-line stance on trade with his North American neighbors, raising the prospect of separate trade deals with Canada and Mexico rather than the existing NAFTA treaty.



Last week, Trump chastised Canada's agricultural policy on Twitter.



Canada "has treated our Agricultural business and Farmers very poorly for a very long period of time," Trump wrote. "Highly restrictive on Trade! They must open their markets and take down their trade barriers!"

Canada's agricultural policy was bound to be a flashpoint at some point during the NAFTA talks but has taken a backseat as the countries have focused on other matters, such as automotive rules of origin.

Trump's tweet taps into protracted frustrations in some US dairy states, namely Wisconsin and New York, over Canadian agricultural policy.

Under Canada's supply-management policy, the government sets prices for dairy products based on the average costs of production. Production is controlled through a regulated quota system, and foreign competition is thwarted through steep tariffs.

This is not the first time Trump has targeted Canada's dairy system. He criticised restricted access to the dairy markets last year, after Canada denounced a US move to place tariffs on Canadian lumber.



Trump added in his latest tweet that Canada runs "a really high surplus on trade with us."



However, a Trudeau spokesman cited a report from the Office of the US Trade Representative, which contradicted Trump's tweet. The report indicated the US recorded a goods-and-services trade surplus with Canada of US$8.4 billion in 2017.



Trump appears to be focusing on trade in goods alone, in which Canada recorded a surplus of US$17.5 billion last year, according to the same USTR report.

"We lose a lot of money with Canada," Trump told reporters last week.



Trudeau previously resisted overt criticism of Trump's policies, as he sought to conserve Canada's preferred access to the US market in the NAFTA talks. All that changed with the steel and aluminum tariffs, which the US imposed on Canada along with Mexico starting on June 1 amid stalled NAFTA talks. The tariffs also apply to the EU.



Despite the current bumps in US-Canada relation, some Canadian trade experts, such as Trudeau's former foreign-policy adviser Roland Paris, said they expected Trudeau to work toward avoiding further escalation of trade tensions due to the high stakes in the NAFTA talks.



"Trudeau's challenge with Trump has always been to strike a balance between defending Canadian interests and avoiding" an exacerbation of tension, Paris said.



Still, Canada had announced its first steps to launch a formal legal complaint with the World Trade Organization over US tariffs on steel and aluminum and would ask an independent panel under NAFTA's dispute-resolution system to rule on levies.



- The Wall Street Journal




US hopes to end China's poultry import ban



The US is pushing China to drop a ban on US poultry imports as part of trade talks, according to three sources briefed on the matter, eyeing a potential US$600 million market for chicken feet and other parts.



Along with better access for genetically modified crops, the issue will be a top priority as US Under Secretary of Agriculture Ted McKinney heads to Beijing recently as part of a US trade delegation, the sources told Reuters.



According to the Reuters report, China already imports about US$1 billion of poultry a year from other countries and accounts for most of the world trade in chicken feet, a specialty dish in many regions and a popular snack throughout the country.



Washington wants Beijing to end the ban on US product imposed in January 2015 after outbreaks of avian influenza. The industry believes it can quickly re-establish its position against competitors such as Brazil.



"Our birds are bigger. China has a preference for jumbo-sized paws," said Sarah Li, Greater China director of the USA Poultry and Egg Export Council, referring to an industry name for chicken feet.



The talks come as the two sides near a deal that could see China cut tariffs on car imports and buy more American farm goods in return for Washington lifting its ban on US firms supplying Chinese telecoms gear maker ZTE Corp.



US President Donald Trump appeared to confirm the ZTE reprieve in a recent tweet, and agriculture is expected to be at the center of talks in Beijing, said another source.



Among the many issues that Washington wants resolved to improve market access and boost sales of its farm goods, poultry is "one of the top items", said one of the sources who has been briefed on the matter.



Beijing removed anti-dumping tariffs on US poultry in February after eight years, but its 2015 bird flu ban remains in place.



Washington has said those restrictions are no longer valid with the last case of a highly lethal form of the virus reported more than a year ago.



The US, like other countries, also argues that such bans should be limited to the regions or states where a case is discovered.



Since the ban, some US chicken feet are sold to Hong Kong or Vietnam, with the rest being rendered for use in animal feed, said the USA Poultry and Egg Export Council's Li.



"We believe there are no technical concerns about [flu] outbreaks in the US" she said, citing positive feedback from Chinese officials after site inspections in the US last summer.



The potential value of US exports to China is estimated at up to US$600 million, according to one of the sources.



Access for poultry and other products has already been raised by McKinney on a China trip, according to a statement from the Customs administration after the talks.



The push by Washington to enter China's poultry market comes as the Ministry of Commerce prepares to announce its preliminary findings on alleged dumping by top poultry exporter Brazil, expected in mid-June.



China meanwhile is still seeking access for its cooked poultry products in the US market. The USDA recognised the country's system as safe last summer but no cooked Chinese poultry has yet been shipped to the US.



- Reuters
chinadaily.com.cn

Updated: 2018-06-01

Overseas tourists enter the arrival lobby in an orderly manner. [Photo by Yuan Chen/hinews.cn]

Hainan saw 24,263 inbound visitors in the first month of its new visa-free entry policy implemented on May 1, an increase of 8 percent year-on-year.

According to the Exit-entry Administration Bureau of the Public Security Department of Hainan Province, 19,115 overseas tourists entered Hainan from Sanya, accounting for 79 percent of the total number arriving in Hainan; the remaining 21 percent entered at Haikou, the provincial capital.

The numbers of tourists from Russia, South Korea, Indonesia and Kazakhstan were the highest among 59 countries and regions.

To reduce the time of customs clearance, the State Immigration Administration allowed airports in Hainan to cancel the filling-in of entry forms, which saved about 30 minutes of customs examination time for a single flight.

Since May 1, the number of countries allowed to enjoy the visa-free policy has grown from 26 to 59, and includes major tourist source countries such as Russia, the UK, France, Germany, Norway, the US, Canada, Brazil, Australia, New Zealand, South Korea, Japan and Singapore. Individuals can stay in Hainan for a period of 30 days without a tour group.

China Immigration Inspection staffers check the identities of foreign tourists. [Photo by Yuan Chen/hinews.cn]
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Hello,



I am on a tier-4 visa which is due to expire in October of this year. I just finished my course on 01/06/2018.



I live by myself in a private property, and have, until recently, been exempt from paying council tax. However, just the other day I received a bill to pay council tax.



Am I not still exempt if I am on a tier-4 visa? The government considers me a student, that's the only reason I'm able to be here in the UK.



I will be living at my current property for another couple of months before moving back to my country, but the bill is for until March of next year.



Thank you.
Hi,



i am new and applying for canadian pr, i have done Btech from Uttar Pradesh Technical University and have 4.8 years of work experience in IT industry, i wanted to get pr for canada , can someone explain me the process of getting the WES and the steps followed



Also i will give my ielts and i am targetting 8,7,7,7 marks.



Thanks and Regards

Viresh Gupta
ezhejiang.gov.cn

Seven police officers from East China's Zhejiang province cooperate with the Italian police on patrols. [Photo/WeChat: peacetimes]

Seven police officers from East China's Zhejiang province were chosen to embark on a joint patrol mission to Italy with the Italian police lasting from May 28 to June 17, to ensure the safety of Chinese people traveling to or living in this country.

The seven officers, selected by the Department of Public Security of Zhejiang, are proficient in Italian or English. They are being accompanied by another three police officers selected by the Ministry of Public Security from other places across the country, who are also fluent in the Italian language.

The group of 10, consisting of eight men and two women, are divided into four teams for patrols with the Italian police in Rome, Milan, Venice and Prato respectively, each team including at least one person who can speak Italian.

They had received a two-week training at the Zhejiang Police College earlier this month before departure on May 27, to learn Italian, patrol skills, Italian laws and regulations.

They will be outfitted with Chinese police uniforms and equipment upon arrival in Italy and mix grouping with local police on patrols by foot or car. Not having a right on law enforcement, they will support the Italian police by offering advice on police matters.

During the patrol, the Italian police will also set up a hotline in Rome for Chinese citizens or Chinese people living in Italy to call the police.

This is the third time that Chinese police has sent delegates on duty to Italy.

Driven by a surge in Sino-Italian relations in recent years, both parties reached an agreement in June 2014 for carrying out joint patrols in peak tourist seasons, to ensure the safety and protect the interests of both peoples in the other's land.

Under the agreement, four Chinese police officers went on a first joint patrol with the Italian police in May 2016, followed by a second patrol by 10 Chinese police officers in Rome, Florence, Milan and Naples in June 2017. The officers were all selected by the Ministry of Public Security.

"We are sending police officers to Italy for joint patrols, not only to ensure the safety of Chinese people but also to display the professionalism of our country's police force, so that other European countries will be encouraged to cooperate with us on law enforcement," said a person in charge of international cooperation at the Department of Public Security of Zhejiang.
Severe weather in Argentina has reduced the national soybean yield by 18 million tons

By Diego Flammini

Staff Writer

Farms.com

Argentina soybean processors are importing their largest order of the U.S. crop in more than 20 years.

The South American countrys intention to purchase new and old crop soybeans is outlined in a May 24 USDA Foreign Agricultural Service report.

In April 2018, U.S. private exporters reported to USDA contracts for shipments totaling 490,000 tons of soybeans to Argentina for delivery in the 2017/18 and 2018/19 marketing years, the report says .

The current order is on top of 120,000 tons of American soybeans that Argentina bought in April for the 2018-19 marketing year.

The crop sale marks the first time the United States has exported such a high volume of soybeans to Argentina since the 500,000 tons of soybeans shipped in 1997.

Argentinian importers are likely considering U.S. beans because of severe weather.

Drought conditions have reduced Argentinas national soybean yield from 54 million tons to 36 million tons, and some of the countrys processors are only operating at 70 percent capacity.

Theres no question this (soybean purchase) is in response to the short crop (Argentina is) facing, Moe Agostino, chief commodity strategist with Farms.com Risk Management, told Farms.com today. They export 40 per cent of the worlds soybean meal and will need beans to keep the processors busy.

Whether or not this purchase will impact market prices is yet to be seen, Agostino said.

The only way we see this becoming a bullish market in the U.S. is if it ultimately turns into demand, he said. Argentina and the rest of the world buying from the U.S. because of the short crop in Argentina could move markets if we trend that way. Are we seeing it? Maybe a little.
Model aims to combat flush and bust

If you talk to most farmers, they will tell you there is one word that strikes fear into them more than any other - and that is drought.
THE $2.3 trillion Australian superannuation industrys apparent extreme lack of interest in investing in agriculture is to be the focus of a parliamentary inquiry.

The House of Representatives Standing Committee on Agriculture and Water Resources has launched an inquiry into the barriers to increased investment by superannuation funds.

It is calling for submissions from the superannuation industry, agribusiness and the wider farm sector on what hurdles currently restrict capital investment in farmland, agriculture infrastructure and farm sector investment businesses, and where Canberra might be able to assist.

Committee chairman and WA Liberal Member for OConnor, Rick Wilson, fears the farm sector is in danger of being left behind because of a lack of investment momentum.

The agricultural sector in Australia needs much more investment if it wants to remain competitive and the superannuation industry is an obvious source, Mr Wilson said.

Only about 0.2 per cent of the $2t-plus in assets managed by Australian superannuation funds are in agriculture  an extraordinary situation.

Its quite an anomaly to have overseas sovereign wealth funds and private equity groups keen to invest in agriculture here, but our own superannuation industry seems reluctant, despite having so much money to manage.

The Australian superannuation system is one of the worlds biggest pension schemes.

Last financial year alone the value of assets under management by the local industry grew 10pc to top $2.3t, making some of our funds among the worlds biggest superannuation businesses.

Mr Wilson hoped his committee, which wants initial submissions by Friday, June 22, could find out how more investment in agriculture may be encouraged.

It will be looking into regulatory requirements imposed on superannuation funds by the Australian Securities and Investment Commission, the Australian Prudential Regulation Authority, or other relevant regulators which may act as a barrier to superannuation fund interest.

The committee will also consider if information required by superannuation funds in order to invest in Australian agriculture is readily available, and what extra statistical performance reporting is necessary.

Other practical barriers to investment or potential incentives will also be explored.

Mr Wilson did not want to pre-empt the inquirys findings but he was curious to explore if, for example, the Australian Bureau of Agricultural and Resource Economics and Sciences (ABARES) could better tailor its forecast and analytical research reporting to meet information demands of investment industry analysts and investors.

He questioned if there were areas where government rulings or industry regulations were dampening investment activity.

As a farmer myself, Id love to see more capital injected into the industry, Mr Wilson said.

We are a very capital-intensive industry, but were also very much capital-constrained in the farming community  and were getting older.

Next generation farmers need to access to capital to grow their businesses, or lease, or manage properties which might be owned by outside investors.

The topic of superannuation fund investment appetite for Australian agriculture has attracted considerable discussion at industry issues forums in recent years, particularly at the recent Beef Australia 2018 at Rockhampton, Queensland.

When quizzed on his thoughts Rural Funds Management managing director, David Bryant, told a Beef Australia 2018 panel session that Australian pension industry accumulation funds were less enthusiastic to commit to long-term farm sector investments.

Australian funds must, by law, have money immediately available when a superannuate retires or opts to move pension funds, taking the lot in one hit, Mr Bryant said.

That compares with the situation in North America where the Harvard Endowment Fund, or the Canadian pension groups we currently see active in Australia, dont have the unpredictability of the liquidity requirement to which our industry is bound.

They operate on defined benefit outcomes which they can work out over 20 or 30 years.

Its the big difference.

They dont need so much week to week liquidity built into their investment strategies. Agribusiness head with property marketer CBRE, Danny Thomas, noted the fluid nature of Australian super fund investment and the predictability of returns from real estate and infrastructure assets made that class more attractive to investment managers.

Theyre 20 or 40 years ahead of us in ag because theyve got long track records with investors and familiarity on their side, Mr Thomas said.
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Job Title: Sanctions Board Member  World Bank Group

Apply to: Odgers Berndtson

Location: Washington, DC

Description: Comprised of 5 members plus two alternates, the Sanctions Board is comprised of all external members. The World Bank Group Sanctions Board is the final decision maker in contested cases of sanctionable practices in World Bank Group-financed development operations  primarily fraud, corruption, and collusion and obstruction. . . . Continue Reading
Lisa Osofsky (Image courtesy of Exiger)The UK attorney general Monday appointed an American lawyer with experience at the DOJ and in the private sector to head the Serious Fraud Office.

Lisa Osofsky is a dual UK-U.S. citizen.

She graduated from Harvard Law School. After clerking for a federal judge she served as an Assistant U.S. Attorney.

At the DOJ she was also a Special Attorney in the Fraud Section of the Criminal Division and stationed at the Serious Fraud Office in London.

She also worked at the FBI as Deputy General Counsel and Ethics Officer.

At the FBI, she managed white collar crime cases and investigations, focussing on operations, legislation and intelligence matters throughout the organization, according to a statement Monday from the UK attorney general.

Osofsky will join the SFO from Exigers London office, where she led the firms investigative, compliance and assurance activities.

She had earlier been the regulatory advisor at Control Risks and the anti-money laundering officer at Goldman Sachs in London.

Shell start at the SFO on September 3.

Her tenure is for a renewable term of 5 years, the AGs office said.

The previous permanent SFO director, David Green, served a four year term that was extended two years. He left the SFO on April 2.

After Greens term ended, Mark Thompson was appointed as interim director. The AGs office said Thompson will return to his role as the SFOs chief operating officer.

Lisa Osofsky was appointed by the Attorney General after a rigorous and open competition, overseen by a Civil Service Commissioner, the AGs statement said.

Shes admitted to practice in Illinois and Maryland. Shes also a UK Barrister.

Osofsky said Monday, I am honoured to be the next director of the Serious Fraud Office. I look forward to building on the SFOs successful record in the fight against economic crime and leading an emboldened SFO to even greater heights.

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Richard L. Cassin is the publisher and editor of the FCPA Blog.
In the first coordinated enforcement action by the DOJ and French authorities in an overseas corruption case, a Paris-based bank agreed Monday to settle charges that it paid over $90 million in bribes to officials in Libya during the Qaddafi regime.

In the United States, Societe Generale S.A. (or SocGen) entered into a deferred prosecution with the DOJ.

The banks subsidiary  SGA Societe Generale Acceptance N.V.  will plead guilty Tuesday (June 5) to an FCPA conspiracy charge in federal court in New York, the DOJ said.

As part of the enforcement action, SocGen also reached a settlement with the Parquet National Financier (PNF) in Paris for the bribes in Libya.

Its the first coordinated resolution with French authorities in a foreign bribery case, the DOJ said.

SocGen will pay the PNF $292.8 million  equal to 50 percent of the total criminal penalty otherwise payable to the United States  and receive a credit against the U.S. fine.

The French bank also agreed Monday to pay $475 million in criminal penalties to the DOJ and disgorgement to the Commodity Futures Trading Commission for rigging the LIBOR rate. The DOJ said the criminal penalty is $275 million.

From 2004 and 2009, SocGen paid bribes through a Libyan broker. In return, the bank landed 14 investments from Libyan state-owned financial institutions.

The total amount paid to the intermediary was over $90 million, according to SocGens admissions.

Muammar Gaddafi ran Libya from 1969 until 2011, when he was killed by Libyan rebels.

For each transaction, Societe Generale paid the Libyan broker a commission of between one and a half and three percent of the nominal amount of the investments made by the Libyan state institutions, the DOJ said.

SocGen received 13 investments and one restructuring from Libyan state institutions worth $3.66 billion.

The bank earned profits of $523 million from the Libya business.

The DOJ said Societe Generale entered into a deferred prosecution agreement to resolve a criminal information (similar to an indictment). The information charged the bank with one count of conspiracy to violate the anti-bribery provisions of the FCPA and one count of transmitting false commodities reports.

(Under most deferred prosecution agreements, companies arent required to plead guilty. The pending charges are dropped when the DPA expires, usually after two or three years, if the defendant has met its obligations set out in the DPA.)

The subsidiary, SGA Societe Generale Acceptance N.V., will plead guilty in federal court to a one-count criminal information charging a conspiracy to violate the anti-bribery provisions of the FCPA.

SocGens deferred prosecution agreement and the subsidiarys plea agreement are subject to court approval.

The enforcement action is the fifth biggest FCPA case ever.

In 2016, fund manager Och-Ziff settled allegations that during the Qaddafi regime it bribed officials at the Libyan Investment Authority or LIA, Libyas sovereign wealth fund. Och-Ziff paid $412 million to settle the FCPA offenses in Libya and several other African countries.

Last week, fund manager Legg Mason, Inc. said it reserved $67 million for an expected settlement of an FCPA investigation into a unit that managed money for the Libyan government during the Qaddafi regime.

The DOJ said Monday it charged SocGen and the subsidiary in part due to Societe Generales failure to voluntarily self-disclose the FCPA offenses.

The DOJ also cited the seriousness of the conduct and high value of the bribes paid to foreign officials.

A monitor wasnt appointed, the DOJ said, because of SocGens substantial, though not full, cooperation, and its significant remediation.

The bank will also be subject to ongoing monitoring by Frances LAgence Francaise Anticorruption, the DOJ said.

The DOJ said it received significant cooperation in the case from the Parquet National Financier, the UK Serious Fraud Office, the Federal Office of Justice in Switzerland, and the Office of the Attorney General in Switzerland.

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Richard L. Cassin is the publisher and editor of the FCPA Blog.
Our pick of the news from Fethiye and around Turkey over the last week.

News

Three Britons die in suspected suicides in Mugla

Mugla, a province popular among British holidaymakers, was the scene of the deaths of three British tourists in one day, all apparently suicides.

After two tourists were found dead from heroin overdoses inside a tent in the resort town of Fethiye on Tuesday, media outlets reported that 30-year-old Andrew Paul Westlake jumped to his death inside a terminal at Muglas Dalaman Airport on the same day.

Two British tourists are found dead beside traces of heroin in their tent two days after arriving for a camping holiday in Turkey

The bodies of Natasha Amanda-Jane Layman, 45, and James Samuel Bryers, 50, were discovered on Monday by camp workers after they grew suspicious when the couple hadnt been seen for 48 hours.

Ms Layman and Mr Bryers arrived at Gunluklu Bay, a resort on the Turkish Riviera just west of the popular harbour city of Fethiye, two days earlier.

Local Dogan News Agency reported that heroin was found in their tent and that their autopsies showed they died of an overdose.

The Fethiye public prosecutors office confirmed that they were carrying out an official investigation into the deaths.

Andrew Paul Westlake plunged 50ft to his death after jumping over a balcony at a Turkish airport yesterday, traumatised witnesses have claimed.

Westlake, 30, had been escorted off a plane for security reasons minutes before he is understood to have leapt over a ledge at Dalaman airport.

According to Turkish media he had been wandering the terminal for three days looking for a ticket back to Britain after missing his flight.

After boarding a flight at around 3am, Mr Westlake is said to have argued with cabin crew and been taken off the plane, the Hurriyet newspaper reported.

Earlier the pilot had ordered the dad, from County Durham, off the flight for being unruly and police were called.

Mr Westlakes aunt Pauline Butler spoke of his mothers devastation following the death of the dad-of-one on his first family holiday with his partner and daughter.

Source: Mail Online/The Sun

Fethiye to trial free entry to local bay

There will be no entry fee to Buyuk Samanlk bay in Fethiye this summer.

The majority of the bays around the coast in Fethiye are now run privately however, this year Buyuk Samanlk has been taken back under the control of Fethiye Belediye (Municipality).

They are conducting a trial to see if the area can be kept clean and tidy so please dispose of rubbish responsibly.

Source: gercekfethiye.com

New cycle path for Fethiye

The new cycle path in Fethiye has generated mixed feelings.

The bright blue path cuts a colourful swathe along the harbour and has been the subject of much discussion.

Looking at the work that is being done, it looks as though the path may eventually go all along the harbour to the lighthouse at Akarca  maybe all the way to Cals. We were very happy to see the new path includes access ramps suitable for wheelchair users.

Whilst most people agree there is a need for it, many arent too sure about the colour! What do you think?

Seven more Turkish sites added to UNESCOs tentative heritage list

Seven more Turkish sites have been added to UNESCOs tentative World Heritage List, the Culture Ministry stated on June 1.

The ministry said the number of sites from Turkey on the UNESCO list is now 78.

Among the sites added are the Priene archaeological site in the Aegean province of Aydn, the Sarkaya Roman bath in the Central Anatolian province of Yozgat, Harput historic city in the eastern province of Elazg, the Justinianus bridge in western Turkey, and Niksar in the eastern province of Tokat, the capital of the Turkish Danishmend dynasty that ruled north-central and eastern Anatolia in the 11th and 12th centuries.

Also added are underground waterworks in the southeastern province of Gaziantep and wooden mosques in Konya, Kastamonu, Afyonkarahisar and the capital Ankara.

UNESCOs tentative list is a pre-step for the heritage list and it is consists of entities that are conveyed by the member states to the World Heritage Committee for nomination to the World Heritage List.

A total of 17 sites in Turkey are on the UNESCO World Heritage List including historic areas of Istanbul; Hattusha, the Hittite capital in central Anatolia; and Mount Nemrut in the southeast.

Source: Hurriyet Daily News

Sport

Thank you to Brian Lloyd for the sport updates.

Fethiyespor chairman voted in for another term

Members expressed confidence in the current chairman of Fethiyespor, Mustafa Ferizcan Guven, yesterday when they elected him for another term.

Former chairman of the club, Ismail Ozturk, withdrew from the nomination and current chairman, Mustafa Ferizcan was elected.

The event was attended by Fethiye Governor Muzaffer Sahiner, Fethiye Mayor and Fethiyespor Honorary President Behcet Saatci, Fethiyespor Former Presidents Esat Bakrc, Yavuz Torunoglar and Timur Fidan.

Speaking afterwards, Ferizcan said We will make good transfers next year, Fethiyespor, will be in the top of the league

Source: SonDakika

Fethiye Belediyespor

Fethiye Belediyespor won their away match against Manisa Buyuksehir Belediye on Saturday. The final score was 63  78.

For more information please visit Fethiye Belediyespor Basketbol

Turkish Money

Turkish Lira (TL) exchange rates:

The British Pound bought 6.20 TL by the close of business on Friday. The week before it was selling for 6.25 TL.

The US Dollar bought 4.65 TL by the close of business on Friday. The week before it was selling for 4.70 TL.

The Euro bought 5.42 TL by the close of business on Friday. The week before it was selling for 5.48 TL.

Source: FxexchangeRate.com

Weather Forecast

Heres your weather forecast for the week ahead.
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Even though sand dunes, camels and sunsets of Rajasthan suggest a strictly yellow themed destination, the cultural life of Jaipur in India is filled with rainbow colours. If you are a tourist in this land of incredible sights, you may often find yourself amidst a market full of colourful goods or a museum of hereditary cultural emblems which are exquisitely designed. Indeed, it wouldnt be wrong to say that the pink city of Rajasthan has more than a single colour to reflect. And for a non-native visitor, what could be more tempting than a pocket full of these Jaipuri colours? So, if you are looking forward to revamping your homes in the hues of this place, here are the few things you must take back from your trip. So, if you are planning a trip to Jaipur from Delhi, Mumbai, Ahmedabad or any other city, be sure of checking out this list. But first, Ahmedabad to Jaipur flights to have a peaceful journey.

1. Glossy Sculptures in Minakari Work

Walk into any gift shop or local market in Jaipur, and you would find a section dedicated to the minakari or enamel art. Assisted with pendants and other decorative beads, minakari sculptures can add a classic look to your home. If you fall in love with it, do not forget to check out its jewellery designs available at as low prices.

2. The Collectible Gem Stones

In Indian cultures, gemstones are precious decorative which are used for embellishment and good luck. So, the Johari Bazaar of Jaipur is bound to be laden with bountiful wonders of these gemstones since Rajasthan is a majorly Hindu State. If you hope to have bargain skills, then surely check out the amethyst stone for its a perfect souvenir of a Jaipur visit.

3. Giggle with the Puppets

You may easily find these little figurines tied to strings at different Jaipur shops where they may seem to be smiling at passers-by. They are not only the quintessential Rajasthani symbols but also a brilliant home decor element. In case youre running on a low budget, pack these little guys in your holiday bag at just a hundred bucks with no regrets or apprehensions!

4. Enchanting Jaipuri Blue Pottery

Even though it is not a unique invention of Jaipur, the blue pottery of this city is a sight to look out for. Available in forms of pots, pans, soap cases, jewellery and games this art form can enliven your living room cabinet with bright hues. Do visit the Jaipur Blue Pottery Art Centre on Amer Road if you wish to gain priceless information about this art or watch artists in action.

5. Infinite Sophistication in Jaipuri Hand Knotted Rugs/Carpets

Jaipur has rich traditions of artistry which is not only limited to sculptures or clothing. The Jaipuri hand knotted carpets in silk or wool are a must have for your house if elegance and sophistication are your interior designing idea. Do inquire about the knots of your favourite carpet before purchase, since the higher the knots, the more durable the piece.

6. Essential Women Must-Haves  the Lehariya Sari and Bandhani Work

The lehariya saris and bandhani work head dupattas are usually sold together since they form a crucial part of womens clothing in Jaipur. Probably the most ancient and unique of all art forms, these clothing designs are suitable for all women and readily available across the city.

It is indeed a wonder that one may procure a considerable number of souvenirs from Jaipur under the cost of cheap Ahmedabad to Jaipur flights. But then this fact only stands to exemplify the richness of Jaipuri culture which cannot be reduced to currencies and stands forever accepting of visitors. So, dont wait any longer and rush to grab your piece of Jaipur!
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Google usually launches Pixel phones in October, and this year too we will see new Pixel branded phones dubbed Pixel 3 and Pixel 3 XL. Surprinsgly, according to Roland Quandt, Google is said to be working on a mid-range Pixel phone that it will launch in May of 2019 and it will be powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon 710.

Off to Taiwan for @computex_taipei today, but heres a tidbit for ya: Google is working on a mobile device based on the Snapdragon 710 currently scheduled for launch in the 1st half of 2019. Sounds like this might be the (or one of them) upcoming mid-range Pixel phone.  Roland Quandt (@rquandt) June 2, 2018

Furthermore, Google said to be started working on this project just a month ago, so nothing has been revealed yet except for the CPU. Going back in time, it is reported that Google is said to be working on a low-cost Pixel phone that is especially aimed at the Indian market. This could be the same device back in the news again. No further specifications were revealed just yet, but we might learn more details as we move forward.

As for the upcoming Pixel phones, Google is reportedly in talks with Foxconn for Pixel 3, and Pixel 3 XL and these flagships could go official in September.

Source
Image: Shutterstock

Last year, Sunil Kumar from Delhi had a bad credit history and was unable to get a home loan from banks he applied to. He decided to apply for another PAN card consulting his friend with the objective of creating a dual identity for himself. He did this fraudulent and illegal exercise intentionally to erase bad credit history and apply for home loan. There are lakhs of people across India like Sunil Kumar doing this fraudulent exercise and cases are registered against them.Anubhav Jain, Co-Founder and Head of Risk, Qbera.com said, Often people intentionally apply for more than one PAN card for the purpose of reducing their tax burden by splitting up their income and assets. Others do it to enter into financial transactions based on fraudulent documents as they have mala fide intentions. People do this in the hope that a new PAN card will give them a clean chit on their past bad repayment behaviour with respect to loans or credit card debt.Unintentionally, many end up with multiple PAN cards because they are unaware that doing so is illegal. Anubhav Jain shared a couple of instances, When someone loses their card, they apply for a fresh one instead of requesting a duplicate. Often, women change their maiden names after marriage, here they apply for a new PAN card whereas they should be requesting for an update in information on their original card itself.Shalini Jain, Tax Partner, EY India added, Other examples could be NRIs coming to India for work and apply for a PAN. When they revisit India again after say few years, unintentionally, they may end up applying of PAN again.The PAN application process typically requires one to enter some of the basic details like name, mobile number, date of birth, address, father's name, etc. Unfortunately, any of this information can be manipulated quite easily to create a new identity and thus apply for multiple PAN cards. However, with the mandatory linking of one's Aadhaar and PAN card numbers, identifying such cases has become much easier for the government, thereby discouraging such illegal activity, said Anubhav Jain.Shalini Jain pointed out, As per Section 139A of Income Tax Act, 1961 a person can hold only one PAN. As per Section 272B, the Assessing Officer may levy a penalty of a sum of Rs 10,000 to a person who fails to comply with the provision of Section 139A which would include holding multiple PAN cards.Prior to levying the penalty, the Assessing Officer will provide a hearing to the individual. Shalini Jain said, If the individual can explain to the Assessing Officer that multiple PAN was acquired unintentionally, it is possible the penalty of Rs 10,000 is not levied on the individual.Surrendering and cancelling additional PAN cards has been made quite simple today. It is possible using both online and offline process.One needs to visit the NSDL website and submit the PAN Change Request' application form. Anubhav Jain explained, You need to mention the single PAN card that you intend to keep using and cancel all the rest. The additional PAN numbers that you choose to surrender have to be mentioned in item no.11 along with the corresponding PAN card copies.If you aren't very comfortable with the online route, you can also surrender your additional PAN cards offline by filling up form 49A available on NSDL website to download and print. Fill up this form with the necessary details of the PAN cards to be cancelled and submit it at your nearest UTI or NSDL TIN facilitation centre.Do remember to take an acknowledgement of the same. You will need to follow this up with a letter to the Assessing Officer in your jurisdiction. Anubhav Jain said, This letter must contain the details of the PAN card to be retained and those of the ones that need to be cancelled, along with duplicate copies as well as the acknowledgement from UTI or NSDL TIN.Merely following the online or offline process for PAN card cancellation does not ensure that the PAN will be cancelled. Shalini Jain clarified, The individual may have to visit his/ her jurisdictional Assessing Officer to convince that the additional PAN was inadvertently acquired.Original Source:
Lamborghini is about to be attacked by the clones.

A Chinese automaker is set to unveil a near carbon copy of the Italian brand's new $200,000 Urus SUV. Local media report that the Huansu C60 will make its debut at the Chongqing Auto Show this week with styling thats a blatant rip-off of the exotic Lamborghini.

Huansu had plenty of time to work on it, too. While the production version of the Urus was only revealed last December, a concept for the vehicle made its debut at the 2012 Beijing Auto Show.

Chinese automakers are notorious for borrowing designs from foreign models, including the Ford F-150 and Range Rover Evoque. Most of them dont even bother challenging the infringements with lawsuits, due to the weak intellectual property protections in the country, and those that do almost never prevail.

Although its not quite as sleek, the four-door C60 features a front grille, lights, vents and accents that are shaped just like the Urus, while the taillights steal the Lamborghinis signature Y-shaped LED elements. Similar fender vents and even a riff on the Urus split five-spoke wheels complete the impersonation.

The two wont be exactly the same, of course. CarNewsChina.com reports that the C60 will be powered by a 195 hp four-cylinder engine, compared to the Lamborghinis 650 hp V8, and have a starting price of $15,000.

Youll also be able to get the C60 as a seven-seater, which Lamborghini doesnt offer. Yet.

Given the growing popularity of large SUVs at all price points, just give it time.

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A second motorcycle rider has died at this years Isle of Man TT races, raising the death toll at the worlds most dangerous motorsports circuit to 257 over the past 111 years.

The two-week event, one of two held each year on the independent British island in the Irish Sea, is comprised of several time trial races contested across a 37.7-mile course on public roads.

Rookie entrant Adam Lyon, 26, was competing in the Supersport 1 class as an amateur when he crashed Monday on his third lap. Hed earlier completed his first lap at an average speed over 122 mph.

No description of the incident has been given, but pro racer Peter Hickman told The Independent that several riders had passed by the scene of the accident during their fourth and final laps, not knowing how bad it had been.

Lyons death followed that of Dan Kneen, who crashed on a different part of the island during qualifying on Wednesday. Racing was briefly paused, but resumed shortly after each accident.

Three racers died during the 2017 running of the TT.

Motorcycle journalist Mark Williams wrote an editorial last year calling for the events to be banned, criticizing spectators for taking part in a perverse thrill of watching living human beings get seriously hurt or killed," but public protests to end the races have been unsuccessful.

During one campaign led by local residents in 2017, the wife of Paul Shoesmith, who was killed the year before at age 50, spoke out against them, telling Isleofman.com: I would never allow anyone to slate the sport or slate what he did because its what made him  it would be disrespectful to him.

Theres nothing else like [the TT] and Ill never hate something that brought him and our families so much joy, she added.

This years TT schedule runs through June 8.
Jaclyn Smith may have enjoyed a heavenly career as a model, sought-after actress and fashion mogul, but the star has never forgotten her humble Texas roots.

The 72-year-old, best known for playing sultry private eye Kelly Garrett in the hit 70s series Charlies Angels, broke down in tears just remembering her life in the Lone Star state before finding fame in Hollywood.

I did an interview with fellow Texans about my childhood and growing up in Texas, she captioned in a photo on Instagram shared over the weekend. It was such fun reminiscing about all of those wonderful memories that will be a part of my life forever.

An emotional Smith is seen wiping tears while giving an interview inside her posh Beverly Hills mansion. She did not mention what caused her to break down or when the interview will debut.

This isnt the first time Smith has opened up about her life in Texas. Back in 2016, she told the Houston Chronicle her initial plan was to study ballet in New York, return to Houston, open a dance school and live down the street from her parents.

However, she kept getting approached as an actress and was offered numerous studio contracts.

She ultimately signed on and was quickly booked for commercials. Her first credited role was that of journalist Belinda in 1970s The Adventurers. Her career never slowed down from there.

Smith told the newspaper her parents have both passed away and visiting Houston is still bittersweet.

Every corner is a memory, she said. Just saying Houston brings tears.

Smith added she grew up in a city that was like living in an enchanted forest where life was laid back and peaceful.

There are so many great things that I miss, but Houston lives in my heart, she said.

And while fame took Smith far away from Houston, she has no regrets about the direction her life would ultimately take. Back in April, Smith told Fox News she continues to cherish fond memories from her time on Charlies Angels.

We had laughs, we had so many laughs, said Smith. Angels in chains, being chained together. Eating lunch together. It was an education and it was eye-opening because each girl was so unique with her personality and style. And these are my friends today. That bond is what I really remember.

The friendship is what I treasure from that. The friendship. Aaron Spelling was so dear to me. Hes somebody I miss. He was a personal friend, as well as the producer of that show and the creator. Weve lost some people. John Forsythe, what a gentleman. David Doyle. And of course Farrah [Fawcett]. Its bittersweet to think back.

Today, Smith is looking forward to what the future holds, both professionally and personally.

Im grateful and thank God every day, she said. I have a wonderful husband, two children that are thriving and I have a granddaughter shes the light in our lives.

Being a mother has been the most important thing in the world to me. But having a granddaughter, its pure joy. Im just having fun. I really have no complaints. It might sound Pollyanna, but Im really a lucky girl. And at my age, life is busy!
Comedian Jon Stewart defended TBS host Samantha Bee at an event in San Francisco on Sunday over the vulgar language she used to describe Ivanka Trump last week.

Stewart, speaking at a Q&A at Clusterfest, blamed conservatives for creating a game and appeared to suggest that the Full Frontal host shouldnt have apologized for her remarks, The Daily Beast reported.

They dont give a s--- about the word c---. That is probablyhe says that instead of please, Im guessing, Stewart said referring to reports of President Trump using explicit language himself.

Bee, who would appear on The Daily Show alongside Stewart in years past, apologized Thursday after she used vulgarity to slam Ivanka Trump in a monologue over a photograph the first daughter shared on social media.

I would like to sincerely apologize to Ivanka Trump and to my viewers for using an expletive on my show to describe her last night," Bee said in a statement. It was inappropriate and inexcusable. I crossed a line, and I deeply regret it.

TBS also issued an apology shortly after Bee's tweet: "Samantha Bee has taken the right action in apologizing for the vile and inappropriate language she used about Ivanka Trump last night. Those words should not have been aired. It was our mistake too, and we regret it.

Press Secretary Sarah Sanders called the comment vile and vicious, while also noting the clear double standard.

The collective silence by the left and its media allies is appalling. Her disgusting comments and show are not fit for broadcast, and executives at Time Warner and TBS must demonstrate that such explicit profanity about female members of this administration will not be condoned on its network, Sanders told Fox News.

The hosts comments were criticized by social media users as well with some calling for her show to be canceled.

If this statement had been addressed to a child of a former president, Samantha Bee would be out of a job, one social media user wrote.

Roseanne deserved to get fired for her comment. Samantha Bee called Ivanka a 'c---' on air and Keith Olbermann routinely calls the President a 'motherf---er.' Do you think either will get fired? Maybe see why so many Americans think theres a media double-standard for liberals, another tweeted.

Fox News Kathleen Joyce and Brian Flood contributed to this report.
CNN and other mainstream media outlets are painting first lady Melania Trump as missing in action despite being spotted by at least one reporter and being scheduled to appear at a White House event on Monday evening.

News broke on Sunday night that the first lady will not join her husband at the G7 summit in Quebec later this week and there are "no plans" for her to travel to Singapore to meet with North Korea's leader later this month. This was used as the impetus by CNN to harp on her recent absence from the public eye following a mid-May kidney procedure.

CNNs Reliable Sources newsletter led with a giant graphic of a calendar, placing question marks on each date since Mrs. Trump was last seen on May 10. Beneath the graphic, the newsletter specifically stated that she was expected to attend an event on Monday to honor Gold Star families.

BUT BUT: The event is closed to the press, so Monday evening may not resolve the mystery, CNNs Brian Stelter wrote. He made a similar argument on Twitter, writing if the event is closed press, it means the Melania hasn't been seen in public issue will linger.

Daily Caller media editor Amber Athey fired back, referring to the matter as The issue that was created by baseless speculation from outlets like CNN.

The Federalist contributor Erielle Davisdon chimed in, saying CNN is inventing problems so that they can then report on it.

Earlier in the day, Stelters addressed the situation on-air and declared that we need more reporting and less speculating, before noting that liberals are at risk of falling into a conspiracy theory trap regarding the first lady.

CNBCs Eamon Javers tweeted back on May 30, Not that this will deter the conspiracy theorists, but I saw the First Lady walking with her aides in the West Wing yesterday afternoon.

Several people took to Twitter to point out that the first lady was seen in the West Wing as recently as May 29  but Stelter downplayed the sighting as irrelevant because it was not seen by the public.

"Go ahead and imagine how you'd feel if a different First Lady wasn't seen in public for 3+ weeks," Stelter wrote.

Pollster Frank Luntz asked, If NBC reporters can see her in the West Wing, is it not public? They werent sneaking around with snake cameras through air vents.

Mrs. Trump  a notoriously private person  stayed behind Friday when President Trump and several family members went to the Camp David retreat for the weekend. While she hasn't made a public appearance since before her five-day hospital stay for treatment of a kidney condition, she has been seen around the White House.

Mrs. Trump took to Twitter last week to dispel rumors circulating about her whereabouts and her spokeswoman has stated that the first lady has been meeting with staff and working on projects.

I see the media is working overtime speculating where I am & what I'm doing, Mrs. Trump tweeted. Rest assured, I'm here at the @WhiteHouse w my family, feeling great, & working hard on behalf of children & the American people!

CNN reporters arent the only ones questioning the first ladys whereabouts.

NBC News published a story headlined, Why Melania Trump's vanishing act matters, with a subhead The disappearance of a first lady means that, for now, the White House is playing without a full roster.

The liberal, anti-Trump corners of the Internet are filled with conspiracy theories ranging from a health issue to speculation of domestic violence. Rolling Stone senior writer Jamil Smith wrote, I wish that I didnt suspect that the prolonged, poorly explained public absence of Melania Trump could be about concealing abuse. I wish that it was a ludicrous prospect.

ABC News The View spent a segment on Monday speculating that her kidney procedure was worse than reported before co-host Whoopi Goldberg declared, Shes fine. Sometimes people just dont want to be out in the public.

Whatever you think of Melania, her disappearance became a major Donald Trump scandal when he and his folks began lying about it. So yes its newsworthy. Dont even try to tell us otherwise, political blogger Bill Palmer wrote.

Actress Bette Midler tweeted that its Ominous she hasnt been seen in public before joking that maybe she just has a bad haircut.

Maybe she just drunk-cut her own bangs and doesnt want to upset her fans, Midler wrote. Ive done that plenty of times!

Others took to social media to defend Mrs. Trump and mock the concerned liberal pundits.

If you think there will be any pleasing the conspiracy theorists, recall that Melania once appeared in front of cameras, in public, and Resistance Twitter insisted it was a body double.  Alex Griswold

That there are Melania Truthers in the media and other Resistance power centers is a good way to summarize how absolutely insane and incompetent Trump makes some people, Mollie Hemingway wrote, while New York Post editor Seth Mandel suggested everyone should give her "a bit of air."

Free Beacon reporter Alex Griswold wrote, If you think there will be any pleasing the conspiracy theorists, recall that Melania once appeared in front of cameras, in public, and Resistance Twitter insisted it was a body double.

Independent Journal Review reporter Caleb Hull joked, Its only a matter of time before the Obama bros start sharing a photoshopped picture of Melania in a cage at the border and claiming ICE deported her which is why she hasnt been seen.

While Mrs. Trump is catching flak for skipping upcoming events, Michelle Obama once said it was very rare for her to travel abroad during the Obama administration.
Comedian Michelle Wolf mocked ABC for its headline-making cancellation of Roseanne Barr's "Roseanne" revival, noting that the network seemingly knew what it was getting into when it revived the series.



Barr's show was shut down on Tuesday after the star made a racist comment on Twitter.

Wolf, on her Netflix show The Break, chided the network for putting Barr back on TV in the first place.

The comedian showed off Barr's 2009 photo shoot for Heeb, a Jewish culture magazine, in which she dressed as Hitler while appearing to pull out a tray out of the oven with burned person-shaped cookies.

Everyones been saying its so brave of ABC to cancel their biggest hit show, but the bold move was actually putting this lady Hitler chef back on the air in the first place, she said.

Wolf jokingly applauded ABC for taking the show off the air.

So, kudos to ABC, it takes a lot of courage to fire someone after theyve been openly racist for the thousandth time, she said.

Wolf also took aim at what she called the double standard that she, Bill Maher and Samantha Bee get away with making vulgar jokes and keep their jobs, while Barr loses her. She then detailed a sarcastic solution.

How about we enslave all white people for a couple hundred years? she said. And even after theyre not slaves anymore, still hold them down in society, devalue their existence by comparing them to animals, never apologize, never really make it right, and then after that there will be no more double standards and everyone will get fired for everything they say.

Wolf came under fire for her jokes directed as White House Press Secretary Sarah Sanders at the White House Correspondents dinner. Wolf hit Sanders again on her shows debut last week.
Netflix may have a bit of an issue on its hands, as many Republicans feel the streaming giant is alienating them.

According to statistics presented by data research firm YouGovs BrandIndex, Netflixs positive-impression among Republicans rating has dipped 16 percent this year while it has risen 15 percent among the left, making it more favorable among Democrats.

The numbers that have been released by YouGov trend in a way that seem to be in line with many of Netflixs recent moves. The company recently inked an exclusive multiyear production deal with Barack and Michelle Obamas Higher Ground Productions to create original content.

Last week, Netflix also premiered a late-night show called The Break with Michelle Wolf. Wolf memorably mocked White House Press Secretary Sarah Sanders at the White House Correspondents Dinner, drawing backlash. Wolf's show is centered on her take on the Trump administration and other political topics.

The new series comes less than a year after left-wing talk show host Chelsea Handler ended her comedy talk show, Chelsea which ran for two seasons on Netflix.

Netflix has been mum on the figures presented by YouGov, however the companys chief content officer Ted Sarandos recently was adamant there is no political agenda at the streaming service.

This is not The Obama Network, its not the MSNBC shift, Sarandos told Ken Auletta, speaking at the Paley Center for Media in New York last Tuesday. Theres no political slant to the programming.

The cries of #CancelNetflix have been sweeping through social media, and although Netflix isnt a stranger to backlash in the social space, this is just another onslaught that the media giant will have to withstand in its quest to conquer the content arena.
Rose McGowan, an ardent activist within the #MeToo movement, slammed former President Bill Clinton's comments on Monica Lewinsky Monday, tweeting that he drastically ruined her life.

"Bill Clinton. Here is the truth of it: a human life was altered & destroyed due to your selfishness. Because. You. Could. You not only wiped your semen on a young girls dress, you left a stain on society," McGowan tweeted. "You actually owe EVERYONE an apology, especially her."

Clinton raised eyebrows on Monday when, during an interview with NBC's "Today Show," became defensive when asked about his relationship with Lewinsky, a former White House intern with whom he had a sexual affair.

When asked if he would have resigned over the affair if it occurred in 2018 at the height of the #MeToo movement, Clinton said he wouldn't. I dont think it would be an issue because people would be using the facts instead of the imagined facts," he said.

DEFIANT CLINTON DRAWS JFK COMPARISON AFTER LEWINSKY QUESTIONS, SAYS HE LIKES #METOO MOVEMENT

The 42nd president added that he "felt terrible" during the fallout from his relationship with Lewinsky, who's now 44, but he "came to grips with it." He also said he has not given her a direct apology.

Lewinsky wrote in March that their relationship "was not sexual assault" but "constituted a gross abuse of power."

Clinton said that while he "like[s] the #MeToo movement"  referring to it as "way overdue"  he noted "it doesn't mean I agree with everything. I still have some questions about some of the decisions that have been made."

McGowan was among the first to accuse disgraced media mogul Harvey Weinstein of raping her and has been an outspoken champion of the #MeToo movement. Her activism landed her a new E! series titled "Citizen Rose" that chornicles her journey since coming forward.

Fox News' Brian Flood and Tyler McCarthy and The Associated Press contributed to this report.
Scott Disick and Sofia Richie have broken up, amid reports the 35-year-old was seen getting close with another woman at Kanye Wests album listening party.

People reports that Sofia, 19, split with father of three Scott this weekend after nine months of dating.

On Thursday night, Scott attended Kanye Wests listening party in Wyoming, where he was photographed with another woman.

The reality TV star allegedly told guests he was single and no longer with Sofia, TMZ reported.

According to US Weekly, Sofia dumped Scott after reportedly discovering he had been unfaithful.

He cheated on her in Miami and she found out and told [her father] Lionel [Richie],a source told the magazine.

He said he is going to cut her off and write her out of his will if she continues her relationship with Scott as he thinks hes extremely toxic for her.

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A worker at Wisconsins Johnsonville Sausage plant is facing prison time and hefty fines after he was allegedly caught placing foreign objects into sausage links during his shift.

Jonathan Lane, of Kiel, Wis., reportedly placed a piece of cigarette paper into one link on March 25, and a wire connecter into another on March 28, according to Fox 6 Now.

On both occasions, he pretended to have found the offending bits of trash himself after reporting on the contamination to his superiors, as per the criminal complaint.

RESTAURANT EMPLOYEE STAGES ROBBERY TO TEACH HER BOSS A LESSON

A subsequent review of the factorys video surveillance cameras allegedly showed Lane himself placing the objects into the meat. He was arrested Friday, the Post Crescent reported.

Johnsonville confirmed that none of the contaminated sausages made it out of the plant, as the company had closed the processing facility to discard of any contaminated product before it left the building.

Matthew Krueger, a United States attorney for Wisconsin, lauded Johnsonville for its proactive approach, saying, We commend Johnsonville Sausage, LLC. for its security measures and quick action to prevent any harm to consumers, Krueger said.

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Lane has been charged with two counts of tampering with a consumer product, and acting with reckless disregard for the risk that another person would be placed in danger of death or bodily harm and manifesting an extreme disregard to such a risk, according to Fox 6 Now.

Lane could face up to 10 years in prison and $250,000 in fines  for each count  if convicted.
Nine 103-year-old Cadbury chocolate bars discovered amongst the mementos of a World War I hero are expected to fetch more than $2,600 at auction.

The jaw-dropping goodies were found among the belongings of Richard Bullimore, who served with the Royal Leicestershire Regiment of the British Army.

The troops serving in the trenches in during the first Christmas of the World War I were reportedly sent these Colonies Gift Tins.

Almost all of Bullimore's chocolate is still inside, too, as only one bar had been eaten.

WHATABURGER APOLOGIZES AFTER MANAGER DENIES SERVICE TO PLAINCLOTHES DETECTIVE

"The  chocolate was sent to troops in that first winter of the war," explained Paul Cooper of Eddisons CJM, which is holding the auction.

"Trinidad, Grenada and St. Lucia provided the cocoa  Cadburys made the chocolate bars," he added. "The tin was made by Barringer Wallis & Manners of Mansfield, one of the worlds leading manufacturers of decorative tinware."

Cooper said that while the container certainly is rare, "to find the chocolate still inside is just unreal."

The chocolate actually looks in pretty good shape, although I have to admit that I wouldnt be tempted to give it a go, even if the experts say that actually chocolate seldom becomes really dangerous over time, but it does lose its flavor and texture.

"I think they probably did not have century-old bars of the stuff in mind!"

The entire Bullimore collection, including chocolate, medals, citations, letters and other material is to be sold as a single lot and is expected to fetch more than $2,600 total.

KIM JONG UN WANTS TO OPEN AMERICAN BURGER JOINT AS A SHOW OF GOODWILL, ACCORDING TO REPORT

Bullimore, an apparent chocophobic, had won the Distinguished Conduct Medal for conspicuous gallantry during a clash in no-mans land between the trenches in the Ypres Salient in Belgium in July 1915.

Despite being outnumbered more than three to one, his patrol attacked with grenades, inflicting a number of enemy casualties. He then covered his patrol as it withdrew and carried one of his own men who had been wounded back to the trenches.

Bullimore was also awarded the Meritorious Service Medal in October 1916, by which time he had been discharged after suffering head wounds from shrapnel.

He died in January 1967 at the Barrow Haven Inn, North Lincolnshire.

The entire Bullimore collection is up for bid at CJ Masset Auctions, and is scheduled to end on June 5 at 6 p.m.

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The lot also contains a few other gems which give a further look into Bullimore's habits during war.

Richard also received a Princess Mary tobacco gift box containing cigarettes, tobacco and matches and almost all of the contents of that are still there," said Cooper.

"Just three cigarettes are missing.
Strangers are rallying around a Wisconsin family whose car went up in flames while they were transporting their 5-year-old son home from the hospital.

Jaxson Oliphant, who has chronic kidney disease and lung issues, was traveling with his mom and 15-year-old brother last Saturday after ending an 11-month stay at Childrens Hospital of Wisconsin.

Less than an hour into the six-hour journey home to Ashland, the familys car started smoking under the hood and they were forced to pull over.

The first thing I did was go grab Jaxson and Tony grabbed his wheelchair, Lindsey Oliphant, Jaxsons mother, told WISN 12 News. Tony had to grab the three oxygen tanks before it exploded. We couldnt grab anything else. By that time the flames were up in the air.

RENOWNED TEXAS HEART TRANSPLANT PROGRAM SUSPENDS OPERATIONS AFTER PATIENT DEATHS

Jaxson  who reportedly has already undergone two liver transplants, suffers from seizures, has chronic kidney disease and suffers from lung issues  lost his medication and other equipment in the fire.

The family also lost the vehicle, which they need to make his monthly trips to the hospital, WISN 12 News reported.

I just feel like I cant get a break, Oliphant told the news station. At least the kids are OK. From Jax Ive learned you cant take things for granted because it could be taken away with the blink of an eye.

A witness set up a GoFundMe for the family, which has raised over $48,000, while others have donated directly to a local bank.

The witness, identified as Jen Weston, said a car dealership has offered to help search for a new vehicle.
A New York man claims that a CVS pharmacist violated his privacy by discussing his Viagra prescription with his wife, which allegedly led to the breakdown of his marriage. Michael Feinberg, of Long Island, said that he explained to the pharmacist that he would pay out-of-pocket for the pills rather than put it through insurance, the New York Post reported.

But he claims that a few days later, his wife called the CVS, to discuss her own prescription, and a pharmacist brought up his Viagra script. Feinberg alleges that in doing so, the pharmacist without solicitation, improperly informed [Feinbergs] wife that [his] prescription for Viagra was not being covered by insurance, and violated his privacy under HIPAA.

SURGEONS SAVE CONSTRUCTION WORKER'S MANGLED HAND AFTER GRUESOME INJURY

He said his wife was not entitled to know about his prescription, and said the ordeal has caused a breakdown of his marriage, and caused genuine, severe mental injury and emotional harm, the NYPost reported.

A spokesman told the news outlet that CVS places the highest priority on protecting the privacy of those we serve. Feinberg filed his lawsuit with Nassau Supreme Court.
Starbucks announced several permanent and limited summertime menu items on Monday.

Starbucks is putting a flavorful spin on three customer favorites that will also become part of its permanent menu for participating stores in the United States and Canada, the coffee giant announced in a release.

One thing that's here to stay: the Serious Strawberry Frappuccino.

The company says it begins with a swirl of strawberry fruit puree, followed by the Strawberries and Creme Frappuccino base, which is a blend of ice, milk, and our strawberry infusion blend. The beverage is then finished with another layered swirl of strawberry puree and vanilla whipped cream.

The Chicken Chorizo and Tortilla Sous Vide Egg Bites, which feature antibiotic-free chicken chorizo, chipotle salsa and corn tortilla strips, and the Kitchen Sink Cookie will now permanently be on the menu, too. You can get them on Tuesday.

WHATABURGER APOLOGIZES AFTER MANAGER DENIED SERVING PLAINCLOTHES DETECTIVE CARRYING GUN

If youre looking for other treats, Starbucks said its Frosted Doughnut Cake Pop, the Confetti Sugar Cookie and Summer Berry Swirl Croissant are limited-time items.
Police in Virginia Beach are currently searching for a woman suspected of crashing a wedding and absconding with the bride and grooms gift envelopes presumably loaded with cash, checks and gift cards.

Newlyweds Rusty and Auttumn Waddell say their wedding will forever be tainted by the incident, which took place near the end of the couples reception on May 6.

"We havent heard a lot yet," Waddell told Fox News of any efforts to track down the thief, although he said he and Auttumn are "overwhelmed by the support" of friends and family during the unfortunate ordeal.

"Hopefully someone will recognize this woman, or she will come forward herself," he added.

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According to Waddell, it was his own mother who spotted the unidentified wedding crasher  dressed in a sweatshirt and shorts  over near the gift table, though she initially thought the woman might have been a guest, as the reception was an informal event. She soon grew more suspicious, however, and snapped a photo of the woman before she left.

Guests then confirmed she wasnt supposed to be there, and called police.

"We went from getting to go up to our hotel room as the newlywed couple, to the bride in tears and [then] us downstairs trying to figure out what happened," Waddell told WTKR.

GROOM WEARS EAGLES JERSEY TO OWN WEDDING AFTER BRIDE LOSES BET

Waddell and his bride have confirmed that the woman stole gift envelopes intended for the two of them, but they are not sure exactly whose envelopes she took. Worse still, the pair have since had to call their guests and ask what gifts they brought to the wedding, in order to get an inventory of what was stolen  a process Waddell has called embarrassing.

"It's always hard to reach out to someone and ask them what gift they brought you, he said.

Waddell added that, as lovely as his wedding had been, the good memories from the party will always be stained by the events of the end of the night.

It's all going to lead down to the end of the night having to think back to the end of the wedding and someone stealing from us."

Police in Virginia Beach have asked anyone with information into the crime to contact Crime Line at 1-888-LOCK-U-UP.

It hasnt been all bad news for Rusty and Auttumn since the wedding, however: The couple revealed on Sunday that Auttumn is expecting their first child, much to the delight of family and friends.

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Eight states  Alabama, California, Iowa, Mississippi, Montana, New Jersey, New Mexico and South Dakota  will hold primaries Tuesday to pick candidates to run in the midterm general elections Nov. 6. But before turning our attention to those races, its useful to look back at primary results in May and see how they reveal a Democratic party in a deep state of division.

Voters in Democratic primaries are split between staunchly progressive and more moderate factions. In the struggle for leadership of the party, supporters of each faction are potentially fatally weakening the Democrats for November contests, and potentially for the 2020 elections as well. That could pave the way for President Trump to be re-elected.

There has been a dramatic change in the generic polling for Congress. Republicans now lead Democrats by 1 point, according to Reuters. Moreover, there has been a dramatic improvement in President Trumps approval rating, with the Real Clear Average now up to 44 percent.

The Democrats must advance an agenda that is explicitly different from what party leaders are currently articulating and focus on long-term objectives to create a society of opportunity for all  not guaranteed outcomes achieved through wealth redistribution.

The reason why this is happening is because Democrats lack an agenda. The party, deeply split between its progressive and moderate wings, is divided on both message and tactics. This puts the party at risk not only at the ballot box, but in Republican-controlled state legislatures and governors offices throughout the country, with redistricting occurring after the 2020 census.

To be sure, the Democrats losses in 2010 doomed their chances this past decade. Republican majorities throughout the country continue to benefit President Trump as he prepares for 2020, when he has said he will run for re-election.

The lack of consensus between the two factions of the Democratic Party is clear, unambiguous and startling.

The progressive agenda focuses primarily on resisting President Trump at every step, labeling his every action a scandal, and calling for his impeachment without any vetted or verifiable evidence of wrongdoing. Progressives also advocate a redistribution of wealth without any long-term plan to fund policies such as Medicare-for-All or guaranteed employment.

The moderates offer a distinctly different worldview. They offer a plan for inclusive economic growth and an alternative set of policies to resolve the issues surrounding immigration and health care. At the same time, they reject party-line loyalty to House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., and calls for President Trumps impeachment.

These positions allow the moderates to most effectively and persuasively articulate differences with the president, as well as find potential compromises with him.

One moderate Democrat, Rep. Conor Lamb, won a highly consequential special election in southwestern Pennsylvanias 18th District earlier this year by explicitly rejecting Nancy Pelosis announced bid for re-election as Democratic leader and calling for new leadership in Congress.

Lamb, however, remains in the distinct minority among a set of far-left candidates who are in ascendancy at the gubernatorial and congressional levels.

It would be a fundamental mistake for Democrats to pursue impeachment without evidence, based only on Russias broader election meddling scheme, which is now clear and unambiguous.

Even in Texas and Kentucky, where moderates emerged victorious, a solid third or more of the Democratic electorate remains committed to progressive causes and candidates.

In order to preserve the partys chances in 2018 and capture a House majority last achieved in 2010, Democrats must adopt an explicitly moderate agenda.

When looking at the electorate, there is no evidence that formerly working-class Democrats who defected to President Trump in 2016  or simply didnt turn out for Hillary Clinton  will respond to a nearly socialist message from Democrats or to increasingly vitriolic attacks on the president.

Indeed, a set of April 2018 Remington Research Group surveys of voters in Iowas 1st District, Wisconsins 3rd District and Minnesotas 8th District found that solid majorities of more than 60 percent in each district who previously voted for President Obama and defected to Donald Trump continue to support the Republican president.

The reason these voters see no incentive to return to the Democratic Party is because the leadership lacks a plan to effectively counter President Trump's initial success on economic revitalization by reducing taxes and cutting regulations. The stock market has made gains and unemployment has fallen below 4 percent for the first time since 2000.

Further, average U.S. household income recently reached a 50-year high. And much to the Democrats chagrin, the latest CBS/YouGov poll finds that 68 percent of the public credits President Trump for their personal economic success.

Given these circumstances, the Democrats must advance an agenda that is explicitly different from what party leaders are currently articulating and focus on long-term objectives to create a society of opportunity for all  not guaranteed outcomes achieved through wealth redistribution. This new agenda is needed to win back Obama voters who defected to Trump, especially working-class Midwestern voters.

In terms of specific issues, Democrats must recognize that increasing economic opportunities  particularly through vocational education and job training, with a focus on working Americans  is the key to winning.

Accordingly, Democrats should advocate for investment in our nations crumbling infrastructure as a central part of cultivating economic growth and job creation.

Democrats would also do well by working to take the issue of immigration off the table. According to a Harvard/Harris poll, 77 percent of Americans support legalization for DACA (Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals) recipients, who were brought to the U.S. illegally as children by their parents. And 54 percent of Americans support a combination of physical and electronic barriers across the U.S.-Mexico border. Some 60 percent believe current border security measures are inadequate.

The Democratic leadership can and should achieve a compromise with President Trump and the Republicans on providing necessary funding to secure the Southern border and also create a pathway to citizenship for individuals who illegally entered the United States through no fault of their own, and since that time have contributed greatly to the American economy and our society.

On health care, with the repeal of the individual mandate and persistent attacks from Republicans on President Obamas landmark Affordable Care Act (ObamaCare), the key now is to expand coverage that is affordable, given that premiums continue to increase in jurisdictions nationwide.

By working with Republicans to enact fixes to the Affordable Care Act, rather than chasing an unfunded Medicare-for-All system, the Democrats can protect President Obamas legacy, ensure Americans do not lose affordable coverage, and make sure they can obtain it.

Regarding potential impeachment of President Trump, the Democrats must only pursue this possibility if or when Special Counselor Robert Mueller produces a vetted report that indicates that there was direct and substantial collusion between the Trump campaign and Russia, or an associated conspiracy charge.

It would be a fundamental mistake for Democrats to pursue impeachment without evidence, based only on Russias broader election meddling scheme, which is now clear and unambiguous.

If Democrats dont want to squander their first real opportunity at controlling the House since 2010  and likely their best shot for the foreseeable future  they must deliver a change in leadership, a change in policies, and a movement back to the moderate, inclusive message that won them control of government in the 1990s and the early 2000s.

Taking this path will do more than carry Democrats to victory in November. It will position the party for success in 2020  after which redistricting decisions will be made nationwide  and beyond.
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On Sept. 17, 1787, 39 delegates of the Constitutional Convention in Philadelphia signed their names to the United States Constitution. In doing so, they made property ownership a foundation on which we have built our nations economy and individuality.

The Constitution grants authors exclusive rights to profit from their work, which the framers knew would motivate Americans to innovate. They believed that financial incentives were necessary to promote the progress of science and useful arts. And they were right.

While our Founding Fathers had the forethought to include intellectual property protections in the Constitution, they never could have foreseen a world in which we instantly access music by streaming it through mobile devices.

As technological development increases at an exponential rate, our copyright system faces new and distinct challenges. The Internet has enabled copyright owners to make their works available to consumers around the world, but it also has made it more difficult for copyright owners to get paid for that work.

Several years ago, the House Judiciary Committee began a comprehensive review of our nations copyright laws to determine whether they were still working in the digital age. This bold initiative was designed to examine each section of the Copyright Act, which was last updated in 1976.

As part of the review, the committee held dozens of hearings, heard from over 100 witnesses, and traveled to multiple cities across the country to learn directly from stakeholders who use and are affected by these laws.

We are on the verge of a historic victory for American music creators, music distributors, and the public.

During the course of this review, we heard that our music licensing laws were not working as intended for creators or for the companies that deliver music to consumers. Songwriters find themselves crippled by laws that compel them to license their works at below-market rates, while digital music providers struggle to locate and compensate the creators who hold the rights to the music they stream.

Insight from across the music industry mobilized many members of Congress from both sides of the aisle to modernize laws governing the industry. By updating sections of the Copyright Act, the Music Modernization Act brings free-market principles to bear on how music providers compensate songwriters through performance and mechanical royalties.

This legislation also establishes a mechanical licensing collective that matches rights holders to their works and enables music providers to acquire blanket usage licenses and capitalize on the operational efficiencies of the digital age.

Additionally, the legislation corrects a disparity in how artists, sound engineers, mixers and producers are compensated for sound recordings of their music. Currently, artists receive no royalties for songs recorded before 1972. This legislation remedies that by ensuring that all sound recordings are subject to fair compensation.

Finally, the Music Modernization Act acknowledges the role that producers play in bringing songs to life so they can be compensated for their work.

If music creators and providers are compensated fairly for their work, music lovers will be the ultimate beneficiaries, because more high-quality music will be created.

Last month, the House of Representatives approved the Music Modernization Act by a vote of 415-0. This unanimous vote reaffirms the respect for intellectual property enshrined in our Constitution.

As the Senate prepares to consider music copyright legislation this month, we are on the verge of a historic victory for American music creators, music distributors, and the public  one that will help sustain the American music industry as it advances into the future.
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On Monday, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled in favor of cake artist Jack Phillips, saying the Colorado Civil Rights Commission unjustly punished him when it ordered Jack to create a custom wedding cake celebrating a same-sex wedding. As the court said, [t]he neutral and respectful consideration to which Phillips was entitled was compromised here . The Civil Rights Commissions treatment of his case has some elements of a clear and impermissible hostility toward the sincere religious beliefs that motivated his objection.

By now, many Americans have heard of Colorados Jack Phillips; of his family business, Masterpiece Cakeshop; and of his decision not to design that custom wedding cake.

But some do not know the whole story. Jack has never refused to serve any person based on who they are or what they look like. Everyone is welcome in his shopeven the two men who sued him. In fact, he told those men that, even though he couldnt create a custom cake to celebrate a same-sex marriage, he would be happy to sell them anything else in his shop or design a cake for them for a different occasion.

Over the years, Jack has declined to create many custom cakes because of the messages they express. If youre looking for a ghoulish Halloween cake, a boozy bachelorette-themed dessert, or a cake celebrating a divorceMasterpiece Cakeshop isnt your place.

Thats because Jack has heart, convictions, and faithin addition to talents. He isnt a well-programmed robot but a human who believes things about God, about marriage, and about the world. Jack isnt confrontational about his beliefs, but he wants to use his talents to convey messages or celebrate events that he thinks are good, beautiful, and true.

The Supreme Court drew a line in the sand and protected the religious freedom of people like Jack. It said that religious hostility has no place in a diverse society like ours, whether the government is regulating art or anything else.

And that leads to an important point: While skill and heart are essential for all real art, its not true that all works involving creativity qualify as constitutionally protected expression. For that, the item must communicate a message. Thats surely true of Jacks wedding cakes, each of which is carefully sketched, designed, and hand-crafted to announce the couples union as a marriage and tell part of their story.

Yet if the Colorado Civil Rights Commission had its way, Jacks voice would have been silenced; his hands would have been tied. After the commissions decision, Jack was forced to give up designing the wedding cakes that he loves to create and lost 40 percent of his business and over half his employees.

You can disagree with Jacks decision or his convictions but still see the problem here: Artistic expression comes from the mind, the heart, and the soul. It is fueled by conviction and passion. The very concept of government-mandated art is itself a contradiction. As Leonardo da Vinci said, Where the spirit does not work with the hand, there is no art.

One ACLU lawyer has argued that the issue here isnt access to wedding cakes. Its the freedom to be a full participant in civic and economic life. Thats exactly right. The men who sued Jack got their cake and their wedding. They participated in civic life and didnt need Jack to be part of their celebration.

But if the commissions order stood, Jacks freedom to create based on his convictions would have been stripped away, his business decimated, and his beliefs banished from public life. The Supreme Court saw no justice in that. Those who believe that marriage is the union of a man and a woman shouldnt be ostracized, banished from society simply because of what they believe.

When Jack puts on his apron, he shouldnt lose his voice. When he opens his business, he shouldnt lose his freedom. Batter, frosting, and fondant, in the hands of a skilled artist, do tell storiesthey do express messages.

On Monday, the Supreme Court drew a line in the sand and protected the religious freedom of people like Jack. It said that religious hostility has no place in a diverse society like ours, whether the government is regulating art or anything else. Its a significant victory. For freedom.


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Jack Phillips state government compared him to a Nazi and a slave owner. He was subjected to death threats and boycotts. He was called a homophobe, a bigot. His staff was ordered to undergo re-education training  all because of his devout Christian beliefs.

But after six years of relentless attacks from the Colorado Civil Rights Commission and a well-organized militant group of sex and gender revolutionaries, Masterpiece Cakeshop owner Jack Phillips has finally been vindicated.

The Supreme Court ruled 7-2 in favor of the Colorado baker who declined to bake a cake celebrating a same-sex marriage ceremony.

It was a high-profile case that considered a compelling question: does the government have the right to coerce a creative professional to create expression that conflicts with his or her faith and conscience?

It was a high-profile case that considered a compelling question: does the government have the right to coerce a creative professional to create expression that conflicts with his or her faith and conscience?

The justices were especially critical of the Colorado Civil Rights Commission and their outright hostility towards Mr. Phillips religious beliefs.

In 2015 one commissioner compared the soft-spoken baker to a Nazi.

Freedom of religion and religion has been used to justify all kinds of discrimination throughout history, whether it be slavery, whether it be the HolocaustI mean we can list hundreds of situations where freedom of religion has been used to justify discrimination, Commissioner Diann Rice said. And to me it is one of the most despicable pieces of rhetoric that people can use  to use their religion to hurt others.

Justice Anthony Kennedy found that the Commissions consideration of the case was neither tolerant nor respectful of (Phillips) religious beliefs and accused the commissioners of having expressed hostility to religion.

The comments thus cast doubt on the fairness and impartiality of the Commissions adjudication of Phillips case, Kennedy wrote in the Courts opinion.

Alliance Defending Freedom attorney Kristen Waggoner represented Mr. Phillips and she was glad the justices called out the Commission.

Government hostility toward people of faith has no place in our society, yet the state of Colorado was openly antagonistic toward Jacks religious beliefs about marriage, she said. The court was right to condemn that. Tolerance and respect for good-faith differences of opinion are essential in a society like ours. This decision makes clear that the government must respect Jacks beliefs about marriage.

Mondays ruling should give some comfort to Christian business owners who primarily service the wedding industry  gay rights do not necessarily trump everyone elses rights.

In the aftermath of the Supreme Courts decision to redefine marriage, Justice Clarence Thomas issued a dire warning. He predicted the decision would inevitably come into conflict with religious liberty.

Justice Thomas reminded us of that warning in his opinion on Masterpiece Cakeshop v. Colorado Civil Rights Commission.

This case proves that the conflict has already emerged, he wrote. Because the Courts decision vindicates Phillips right to free exercise, it seems that religious liberty has lived to fight another day.

But the storm clouds are gathering as militant LGBT activists conspire to punish those who hold to a traditional definition of marriage. The fight is far from over.

In future cases, the freedom of speech could be essential to preventing (Obergefell v. Hodges) from being used to stamp out every vestige of dissent and vilify Americans who are unwilling to assent to the new orthodoxy, Thomas wrote.

Still, it was a good day for religious liberty, but the fight goes on and we must be watchmen on the wall, forever diligent in the battle to protect and defend our nations first freedom.
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Alabama has filed an unprecedented but little-noticed lawsuit against the U.S. Census Bureau. If the state wins, it could have major political ramifications and restore fundamental fairness in political representation in Congress.

Alabama is arguing that by including illegal immigrants in its count of the population, the Census Bureau deprives the state  and other states with low numbers of illegal immigrants  of representation in the U.S. House of Representatives, as well as votes in the Electoral College that determine who is elected president.

Conversely, the lawsuit argues, the practice of counting illegal immigrants in the census gives states that protect them (California, for example) seats and votes they are not entitled to have.

The 14th Amendment to the Constitution provides that representatives in the House shall be apportioned among the several States  according to their respective Numbers, with the Numbers determined by counting the whole number of persons in each State.

After every census, House seats are reapportioned according to the population of each state. Electoral College votes are reapportioned according to the number of each states congressional representatives.

Alabama is right about the unfairness of the current system. Illegal immigrants, by definition, have no right to be in this country. It is unjust to allow states to gain a political advantage over other states by flouting federal immigration law.

The number of representatives in the House  435  has been fixed by law since 1910. So as Alabama says in its complaint, apportionment is a zero sum proposition: Each states gain is another states loss.

Alabama argues that by including illegal immigrants in apportionment, congressional seats and Electoral College votes are unfairly distributed.

Based on the 2010 Census, Louisiana, Missouri, and Ohio each lost a seat in the House and a vote in the Electoral College, while Montana failed to gain a seat and an electoral vote. By contrast, California gained two House seats and two Electoral College votes. And Florida and Texas each gained one seat and one vote.

As a result, says Alabama in its lawsuit: four House seats and four Electoral College votes were redistributed by the inclusion of illegal aliens in the apportionment base in the 2000 Census.

Alabama claims that including illegal immigrants in the 2020 Census will likely cause it to lose a congressional seat and an Electoral College vote. It says this will rob the State of Alabama and its legal residents of their rightful share of representation.

This also violates the one person, one vote equal representation standard of the 14th Amendment. According to Alabama, the gains from including illegal aliens in the apportionment base flow to citizens who live in state with large numbers of illegal aliens.

Why? Because it means that in a state in which a large share of the population cannot vote, those who do vote count more than those who live in states where a larger share of the population is made up of American citizens.

This results in representational inequality by devaluing the vote of Alabamas legal residents. This redistribution of political power disincentivizes states with large illegal alien populations from cooperating with federal immigration authorities (lest they lose political power that comes with additional representatives and votes in the Electoral College), Alabama argues.

Moreover, including illegal immigrants in the census punishes states who (sic) do cooperate with federal immigration authorities in the identification and removal of illegal aliens, Alabamas lawsuit states.

Alabamas final complaint is monetary. Including illegal immigrants in the census, it says, will likely cause it to lose its fair share of the almost $700 billion distributed annually by the federal government in grants and other funds.

The key to Alabamas case is the definition of persons who should be counted and thus used in apportionment. Alabama argues that the term persons was understood at the time of the founding and when the 14th Amendment was ratified to mean the inhabitants of a state.

Furthermore, in the public law of the founding era, the term inhabitant did not encompass unlawful residents because inhabitance was a legal status that depended upon permission to settle granted by the sovereign nation in which an alien wished to reside, Alabama argues.

In other words, persons does not include individuals who are in the U.S. illegally, without the permission of the federal government.

The Residence rule adopted by the Census Bureau for the 2020 census stipulates that foreign nationals will be counted and allocated to the state where their usual residence is located, regardless of whether they are legally present.

Alabama argues that the rule is unconstitutional. Moreover, it claims, the rule violates the Administrative Procedure Act because it is arbitrary and capricious and exceeds the Census Bureaus statutory authority.

The last time the Supreme Court had a significant case involving the census was in 1999 in Department of Commerce v. U.S. House of Representatives. The justices concluded that the Census Bureau had to do an actual count of the population  it could not use statistical sampling.

In 2015 the Supreme Court held that states could use total population numbers  which includes illegal immigrants  in drawing the boundaries of legislative districts. But that case was about redistricting, not apportionment.

Does Alabama have a case? That will largely depend on whether it can convince the Supreme Court that its understanding of the historical definition of persons in the apportionment clause of the Constitution is correct. This is not an issue the Court has addressed before.

But regardless of the ultimate resolution of this novel legal argument, Alabama is right about the unfairness of the current system. Illegal immigrants, by definition, have no right to be in this country. It is unjust to allow states to gain a political advantage over other states by flouting federal immigration law, as California has done with its sanctuary policies and obstruction of federal enforcement.
First lady Melania Trump will not join her husband at the G7 summit in Quebec later this week and there are "no plans" for her to travel to Singapore to meet with North Korea's leader later this month, a spokeswoman told Fox News late Sunday.

Mrs. Trump stayed behind Friday when President Donald Trump, and family-- including his daughters, eldest son and son-in-law-- went to the Camp David retreat for the weekend.

She hasn't made a public appearance since before her five-day hospital stay in mid-May for treatment of a kidney condition the White House only described as benign.

Mrs. Trump took to Twitter last week to dispel rumors circulating about her whereabouts.

"I see the media is working overtime speculating where I am & what I'm doing," she tweeted on May 30. "Rest assured, I'm here at the @WhiteHouse w my family, feeling great, & working hard on behalf of children & the American people!"

Stephanie Grisham, her spokeswoman, said earlier that the first lady has been meeting with staff and working on projects. Mrs. Trump is scheduled to join the president Monday in hosting a reception, closed to the press, for Gold Star families.

"She will not attend the G7 and there are no plans for her to travel to Singapore at this time," Grisham said.

The G7 summit will be held in Quebec on Friday and Saturday. The president plans to meet North Korean leader Kim Jong Un on June 12 in Singapore, the first leaders' summit between two countries that are still formally at war.

The Associated Press contributed to this report
Tuesday kicks off primary elections in multiple states across the country, including Alabama, California, Iowa, Mississippi, Montana, New Jersey, New Mexico and South Dakota.

From close primary races to districts Democrats hope to turn blue in the midterms, read on for a look at five races to watch -- that arent in California.

New Mexico governor

Democrats are hoping to turn New Mexico blue with the gubernatorial race this year with an electorate that has been tilting progressive. Susana Martinez, the current Republican governor, cannot seek re-election due to term limits.

For the Democrats, Rep. Michelle Lujan Grisham, state Sen. Joseph Cervantes and entrepreneur Jeff Apodaca are contending for their partys nomination. Both Lujan Grisham and Apodaca come from political families in the Land of Enchantment state.

Lujan Grisham, seen as the frontrunner among Democrats, has already secured endorsements from Planned Parenthood, EMILYs List and a bevy of local labor unions, according to her campaign website. Shes also been endorsed by state Attorney General Hector Balderas.

Lonna Atkeson, a University of New Mexico political science professor, told the Albuquerque Journal that Grisham could have an edge, as she's the only woman in the race.

For Republicans, Rep. Steve Pearce is running unopposed. Pearce is known in Congress as a reserved, low word-count guy. Hes voted about 85 percent of time in agreement with President Trump -- although hes publicly opposed the border wall.

Pearces campaign has placed an emphasis on job creation as New Mexico has the second-highest unemployment rate in the nation.

Democrats already control much of New Mexico politics, including the legislature and other statewide offices. A win for Democrats in this race could shut out Republicans from redistricting decisions made in 2021.

Clinton took New Mexico with 48 percent of the vote, compared to Trump's 40 percent.

Montana Senate

Although incumbent Sen. Jon Tester, a Democrat, has emphasized his record of voting for more than a dozen bills signed into law by Trump, Novembers general election is considered a toss-up by Fox News.

Four Republicans are vying for the Republican nomination to take on Tester in the fall: combat veteran Troy Downing, Judge Russ Fagg, state Sen. Albert Olszewski and state auditor Matt Rosendale.

All four GOP candidates, even Fagg, who is considered to be a favorite among the more establishment-type Republicans, have aligned themselves with the president.

Its all been a competition to see who can be the most aligned with Trump. Its a reflection of where these candidates think the Republican Party is in Montana, Dr. Robert Saldin, a University of Montana political science professor, told Fox News.

Trump won Montana with about 56 percent of the vote in 2016. In comparison, 2008 Republican nominee John McCain garnered about 50 percent.

Although none of the four Republican candidates have star name recognition, Saldin said a Tester loss shouldnt be ruled out.

Anytime youre running as a Republican in Montana statewide, youve got a shot, he said.

With endorsements from Sens. Mike Lee, Ted Cruz and Rand Paul, Rosendale has emerged as a frontrunner in the primary, Dr. David C.W. Parker, a Montana State University political science professor told Fox News.

South Dakota governor

Rep. Kristi Noem and state Attorney Gen. Marty Jackley are facing off in the Republican gubernatorial primary in South Dakota.

Although it started off cordial, the Republican primary has turned a bit volatile, The Argus Leader reported -- especially in campaign ads and a recent debate. Jackley has painted Noem as a Washington insider, while Noem has touted her relationship with Trump.

The primary is a close one: a recent poll from The Argus Leader and KELO-TV has Noem ahead by only one percentage point.

Whoever wins the GOP primary will likely face state Sen. Billie Sutton, a Democrat who is running unopposed. The seat is currently held by Republican Gov. Dennis Daugaard, who is term-limited.

In the presidential election, Trump won 62 percent of the vote, compared to Hillary Clinton, who won 32 percent.

Iowa congressional race

One of several competitive races where Democrats are hoping to flip a seat is the 1st congressional district in Iowa.

Rep. Rod Blum, a Republican, faces a tough re-election campaign in what Fox News has labeled a toss-up election. Hes running unopposed in the primary, but a group of energized Democrats are vying to take him on in the general election. His seat is one targeted by the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee.

For Democrats, state Rep. Abby Finkenauer, Thomas Heckroth, Army veteran George Ramsey and aerospace engineer Courtney Rowe will face off in Tuesdays primary election.

Seen as the frontrunner among Democrats, Finkenauer has already gotten the endorsements of EMILYs List, NARAL and several state lawmakers. She has also raised the most money with nearly $1.3 million, the Des Moines Register reported. Finkenauer, 28, would be the youngest woman elected to Congress if she wins. (Rep. Elise Stefanik, R-N.Y., became the youngest woman to be elected in 2014 at the age of 30.)

The Democratic Party is ready and welcoming a challenging race in November, especially after Trumps election. Linn County Democratic Party Chairman Bret Nilles previously told Fox News that hes seen more enthusiasm since the election results than we had prior to the presidential election.

Nilles also said he hopes Blums support for Trump will help Democrats in November. Trump won about 51 percent of the vote in Iowa in the 2016 election -- compared to Clintons 42 percent -- but according to the Des Moines Register, no party voters make up a huge difference in the 1st congressional district. About 32 percent of voters in the district are registered Democrats, 29 percent are Republicans and the rest arent affiliated with a party, the newspaper reported.

"No Party" voters hold the secret to understanding why incumbents do well in the district and why a conservative Republican continues to win a district in which Democrats outnumber Republicans, Christopher Larimer, a University of Northern Iowa political scientist, wrote in a book about the district, according to the Des Moines Register.

Blum, 63, was first elected to the seat in 2014.

New Jersey Senate

This Senate seat is almost sure to remain safely in the hands of Democrats -- but expect Sen. Bob Menendezs corruption and bribery case to play a big role.

Fox News ranks the New Jersey Senate race as likely Democrat.

Brian Goldberg, a business owner, and Bob Hugin, a former pharmaceutical executive, are facing off in the Republican primary Tuesday in an effort to take on Menendez. Hugin, who is expected to win the primary, has distanced himself from Trump. Goldberg, who unsuccessfully ran for Senate in 2014, has embraced Trump, on the other hand -- even holding a Supporters of President Trump Rally in April.

Clinton took New Jersey with 55 percent of the vote; Trump won 41 percent.

Whoever Menendez faces in the general, its sure to be a nasty election cycle, Peter Woolley, a Fairleigh Dickinson University politics professor, told The Morning Call newspaper.

When the candidates go negative before the primary is even held, you can look forward to more of the same in the general election," he said.

Menendez faces a primary challenger in publisher Lisa McCormick who has said shes running just to give New Jersey Democrats another option. He is expected to beat her in the primary.

Menendez was accused of accepting a plethora of donations and gifts from a wealthy friend in exchange for political influence. His case ended in a mistrial last year after a jury failed to deliver a verdict. He was formally admonished by the Senate Ethics Committee earlier this year.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.
President Trump said he does have a right to pardon himself, but maintained he is innocent of any wrongdoing.

"As have been stated by numerous legal scholars, I have the absolute right to PARDON myself, but why would I do that when I have done nothing wrong?" Trump said in a June 4 tweet, saying the Russia investigation "continues into" the midterm elections.

Trump first gave constitutional scholars a reason to engage in what one called their favorite parlor game  arguing over whether a president can self-pardon  with a tweet last year.

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, Trump tweeted in July 2017.

The Washington Post reported last year that the president had been asking advisers about his ability to pardon aides, family members and himself as special counsel Robert Muellers investigation into possible collusion with Russia during the presidential election continued. Rudy Giuliani, one of Trump's attorneys, has said Trump "probably" has the ability to pardon himself but doesn't plan to do so.

Whether a president has the ability to issue a self-pardon is a favorite topic for lawyers to debate as there is really no clear resolution, Jonathan Turley, a legal scholar and law professor at George Washington University, told Fox News.

Read on for more on the debate.

A president could make a good-faith case for self-pardon

Turley has argued in multiple columns and on his own blog that while the Constitution should bar self-pardons, it doesnt.

The language of Article II is quite explicit in giving the president a pardon power over federal offenses with the only exception related to impeachments. Donald Trump can certainly make a good-faith textual case for the right to self-pardon, Turley told Fox News.

Turley added that he objects to those who are claiming clarity in the argument.

The fact that there is no clear answer after so many debates reflects the difficulty of the question, he said. The text would seem to support a self-pardon while there are good-faith arguments that it would contradict underlying values of the constitution.

HOW DO PRESIDENTIAL PARDONS WORK?

And while he said that it shouldnt work, Michigan State Law professor Brian Kalt argued on his blog that a president can certainly try to self-pardon.

The reason for uncertainty is that no president has ever tried to pardon himself, so no court has had the opportunity to decide the question, Kalt said. Until a president purports to pardon himself, and until a federal prosecutor tries to prosecute him anyway, we cannot know what the courts think about this.

A presidential self-pardon should not be regarded as valid

While a court hasnt ruled on the constitutionality of self-pardons, the answer is pretty evident, according to Richard Primus, a legal scholar and law professor at the University of Michigan.

I think its pretty clear that theres a right answer, and that answer is self-pardon should not be regarded as valid. A power to self-pardon would violate the basic rule-of-law principle that no person should be allowed to adjudicate his own case, Primus told Fox News, adding that a pardon by its nature might require two parties.

Its really hard to imagine asking the Framers, Hey, do you think the most powerful person in the government youre creating should be able to break laws and then let himself off the hook? and having the Framers answer, Yes, he should be able to do that, Primus continued.

Richard Painter, a law professor at the University of Minnesota and former White House ethics lawyer for President George W. Bush, told Fox News that the definition of the word pardon gives him pause when it comes to the idea that a president can self-pardon.

What drives my view is the meaning of the word pardon  forgiveness, to forgive someone else, he said.

WHO IS JACK JOHNSON AND WHY WOULD TRUMP PARDON HIM?

Painter said that giving the president the ability to self-pardon could allow for him to commit any crimes he wanted in office and then pardon himself before he left office.

Why in the world would the Founders want that in the constitution, Painter said.

Kermit Roosevelt, a University of Pennsylvania law professor, agreed that the president doesnt have the authority to pardon himself, citing the rule against political self-dealing.

Constitutional silence about something so obviously problematic should be read to indicate its not allowed, Roosevelt told Fox News.

He said its unlikely that the Supreme Court would take up the issue.

The only way that could happen would be if the president did try to pardon himself (unlikely in my view) and then a prosecutor indicted him (also unlikely, at least until hes out of office) and then the president raised the pardon as a defense, Roosevelt added.

Should a president self-pardon?

While constitutional scholars might disagree on the legality of self-pardons, Turley said that all should be able to agree on one point  self-pardons are inherently abusive and ignoble.

No president in history has used this power to pardon himself  not Andrew Johnson, not Richard Nixon, not Bill Clinton. It would be a truly ignoble, historical moment for Donald Trump to use this type of power, Turley said.

Dr. David Woodard, a political science professor at Clemson University, pointed to Nixons scandal-ridden presidency when asked if Trump could self-pardon.

The abiding rule, repeated many times, was that the president is not above the law, Woodard told Fox News. By that, I think that official power might have been legal  but it proved to be politically suicidal.

The difference between public power and political responsibility makes some actions impossible, Woodard added.
Former President Bill Clinton got defensive and compared himself to JFK when forced to discuss the #MeToo movement in relation to the Monica Lewinsky scandal during a heated interview on NBCs Today show on Monday morning.

Clinton appeared alongside author James Patterson to promote the political thriller The President is Missing that the two penned together. The former president was asked by NBCs Craig Melvin if he would have resigned over his sexual affair with Lewinsky in the Oval Office if it occurred in 2018 at the height of the #MeToo movement.

I dont think it would be an issue because people would be using the facts instead of the imagined facts. If the facts were the same today, I wouldnt [step down], Clinton said.

A lot of the facts have been conveniently omitted to make the story work, I think partly 'cause they are frustrated that they got all these serious allegations against the current occupant of the Oval Office and his voters dont seem to care, Clinton said. I think I did the right thing, I defended the Constitution.

Melvin then asked Clinton if President Trump has been given a pass when it comes to allegations of sexual misconduct. The former president has apparently forgotten that adult film star Stormy Daniels has emerged as a household name for claiming she had an affair with Trump.

No. But it hasnt gotten anything like the coverage you would expect, Clinton said.

Daniels attorney, Michael Avenatti, has appeared on CNN and MSNBC so frequently that federal Judge Kimba Wood warned him about the "publicity tour" last week. Trump denied all inappropriate sexual behavior accusations, including the allegations made by Daniels.

The #MeToo movement has seen several once-powerful men come under fire for sexual misconduct. The movement was kicked into high gear last year when Hollywood heavyweight Harvey Weinstein was outed as a sexual predator in a story that NBC News famously passed on running. A few weeks later, NBC star Matt Lauer was fired for sexual misconduct.

I like the #MeToo movement; its way overdue, Clinton said. It doesnt mean I agree with everything. I still have some questions about some of the decisions that have been made.

Melvin then asked Clinton if he feels responsible for pain Lewinsky has suffered.

I felt terrible then, and I came to grips with it, Clinton said.

Melvin asked, Did you ever apologize to her?

Yes. And nobody believes that I got out of that for free. I left the White House $16 million in debt. But you, typically, have ignored gaping facts in describing this and I bet you dont even know them. This was litigated 20 years ago. Two-thirds of the American people sided with me. They were not insensitive to that. I had a sexual harassment policy when I was a governor in the '80s, Clinton said before snapping. You are giving one side and omitting facts.

Melvin said he was not trying to present a side. Clinton, clearly annoyed with the line of questioning, said he has already apologized to everybody in the world. The NBC News reporter then asked if he has apologized directly to Lewinsky.

I have not talked to her, Clinton said. I did say publicly on more than once occasion that I was sorry.

Melvin shot back, You dont think a private apology is owed?

Patterson then chimed in, saying the incident took place 20 years ago and mentioned other presidents who were accused of infidelity.

You think President Kennedy should have resigned? Clinton asked. Do you believe President Johnson should have resigned? Someone should ask you these questions because of the way you formulate the questions. I dealt with it 20 years ago.

On Sunday, Clinton argued that impeachment hearings would already be in full swing if a Democrat were in the Oval Office and if the special counsels investigation into Russian meddling in the 2016 election were as deep as it is now.

I think if the roles were reversed  now, this is me just talking, but its based on my experience  if it were a Democratic president, and these facts were present, most people I know in Washington believe impeachment hearings would have begun already, Clinton told CBS Sunday Morning.

Fox News Andrew OReilly contributed to this report.
A former Navy sailor who is one of five people to receive a pardon from President Donald Trump is planning to file a lawsuit against Obama administration officials, alleging that he was subject to unequal protection of the law.

Specifically, Kristian Saucier, who served a year in federal prison for taking photos of classified sections of the submarine on which he worked, argues that the same officials who meted out punishment to him for his actions chose to be lenient with Hillary Clinton in her use of a private email server and handling of classified information.

His lawyer, Ronald Daigle, told Fox News on Monday that the lawsuit, which he expects to file soon in Manhattan, will name the U.S. Department of Justice, former FBI Director James Comey and former President Barack Obama as defendants, among others.

They interpreted the law in my case to say it was criminal, Saucier told Fox News, referring to prosecuting authorities in his case, but they didnt prosecute Hillary Clinton. Hillary is still walking free. Two guys on my ship did the same thing and werent treated as criminals. We want them to correct the wrong.

Daigle said that a notice about the pending lawsuit was sent to the Department of Justice and others included in it in December. There is usually a six-month period that must lapse before the lawsuit actually is filed.

Well highlight the differences in the way Hillary Clinton was prosecuted and how my client was prosecuted, Daigle said. Were seeking to cast a light on this to show that theres a two-tier justice system and we want it to be corrected.

While campaigning, and after taking office, Trump frequently voiced support for Saucier, who in March became the second person he pardoned.

Trump often compared the Obama administrations handling of Sauciers case with that of Clinton.

Saucier, who lives in Vermont, pleaded guilty in 2016 to taking photos inside the USS Alexandria while it was stationed in Groton, Connecticut, in 2009. He said he only wanted service mementos, but federal prosecutors argued he was a disgruntled sailor who had put national security at risk by taking photos showing the submarine's propulsion system and reactor compartment and then obstructed justice by destroying a laptop and camera.

Saucier said that he recognized he had erred in taking the photos, which he said he wanted to show only to his family to show them where he worked. But he lashed out at Obama officials, saying that his prosecution was politically motivated, prompted by sensitivity about classified information amid the scandal involving Clinton's emails.

My case was usually something handled by military courts, he said. They used me as an example because of [the backlash over] Hillary Clinton.

Saucier, 31, said that the pardon has enabled him to pick up the pieces and rebuild his life with his wife and young daughter.

A felony conviction left him scrambling to find work; he finally landed a job collecting garbage. Now, he works on design and engineering projects for an industrial boiler company.

Things are starting to go in the right direction, Saucier said. I work with a group of really great people, I get to use my skills set.

Because of the loss of income during his imprisonment, as well as earning below his potential when he collected garbage, he and his wife Sadie lost their home to foreclosure.

Debt collectors called and his cars were repossessed.

With a pardon theres no magic wand that that gets waved and makes everything right, he said, But I try to stay positive and look forward.

He praises the pardons that Trump has granted, and takes exception at the criticism.

The Obama administration singled out Dinesh for things most people dont even get charged for, Saucier said. President Trump noticed that my career was exemplary and that I didnt deserve what happened to me.

Conservative commentator Dinesh D'Souza, who was pardoned by Trump last week, had pleaded guilty to campaign finance fraud.

Trump tweeted Thursday: "Will be giving a Full Pardon to Dinesh D'Souza today. He was treated very unfairly by our government!"

D'Souza was sentenced in 2014 to five years of probation after he pleaded guilty to violating federal election law by making illegal contributions to a U.S. Senate campaign in the names of others.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.
Former President George H.W. Bush was discharged from the hospital on Monday, following treatment for low blood pressure.

Bush, 93, was admitted to the Southern Maine Health Care hospital on May 27, after he experienced low blood pressure and fatigue.

President @GeorgeHWBush was discharged from @SMHCHealth today after being treated for low blood pressure. The president is deeply appreciative both for the terrific care and the many good wishes he has received, spokesman Jim McGrath tweeted Monday.

The 41st president was hospitalized in Texas last April the day after the funeral of his wife, former First Lady Barbara Bushand treated for an infection that spread to his blood. He was released in early May, and was happy to return home, McGrath said.

The former president arrived in Maine for the summer in late May.

Bush has spent part of every summer in Kennebunkport since his childhood, except while serving as a naval aviator during World War II. Friends of the former president have said he had been eager to return to Maine after Barbara Bushs passing.

Fox News Katherine Lam and Elizabeth Zwirz contributed to this report.
Former Attorney General Eric Holder could have your state in his crosshairs in 2018as he leads a campaign with the potential to paint the map blue for the next decade.

Democrats have played catchup in state legislative races since the Republican wave eight years ago. And they are well aware that how states draw maps, based on the 2020 Census, could determine which party controls the U.S. House of Representatives and most state legislatures for years to come.

Enter Holder and the group he chairs, the National Democratic Redistricting Committee.

The organization is focused on overhauling those maps and fighting the gerrymandering that in some cases favors Republicans. The goal is to back state Democratic candidates who could have a say in drawing new districts after 2020. Holder, while also mulling a 2020 presidential run, is now targeting a dozen statesfour of which are expected to gain at least one congressional seat after the Census. Former President Barack Obama, Holders old boss, has also lent his name to the effort.

In many states, governors and state senators elected to four-year terms will still be in office when new maps are drawn in 2021, NDRC spokesman Patrick Rodenbush told Fox News. That makes this a crucial year for redistricting.

'In many states, governors and state senators elected to four-year terms will still be in office when new maps are drawn in 2021. That makes this a crucial year for redistricting.'  NDRC spokesman Patrick Rodenbush

The organization, which The Wall Street Journal reported will spend $35 million on campaigns and litigation in 2018, claims the system is rigged in favor of Republicans because of gerrymandering.

The Democratic Legislative Campaign Committee is spending another $35 million for 2018; and Forward Majority, a Democratic super PAC, plans to spend more than $20 million on state legislative ads, the Journal reported.

Despite a controversial tenure as attorney general, Holder is considering a presidential run in 2020 and visited the first-in-the-nation primary state of New Hampshire last week. While there, he kept the door open to a White House run, but tried to focus his remarks on his redistricting mission. Politicians are picking their voters as opposed to citizens choosing who their representatives are going to be, he complained.

HOLDER TALKS 2020 SHOWDOWN WITH TRUMP

So where is Holder waging this battle?

The group is particularly active in Texas, which is expected to gain up to three U.S. House seats after the 2020 Census, targeting gubernatorial and state legislative races there.

Holders group is also eyeing the always-crucial battleground of Florida, which it anticipates will gain two congressional seats after 2020; Colorado, which the group identifies as likely to gain one congressional seat after the Census; and Georgia, a state Democrats tried unsuccessfully to flip in the 2016 presidential race.

Holder last month cheered the Democratic gubernatorial primary victory in Georgia by Stacey Abrams, issuing a statement saying, If elected, she has pledged to continue her fight for voting rights, including by vetoing gerrymandered districts when new lines are drawn in 2021.

Holders organization is also interested in gubernatorial and legislative races in Michigan, Minnesota, Nevada, Ohio, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin. Two other states on the target listNorth Carolina and Virginiaare only holding legislative races in 2018.

Ohio became the latest state to approve a bipartisan commission to decide congressional and legislative districts after a referendum on which Holders group spent $50,000.

The redistricting reform passed  in Ohio makes it much harder for politicians to rig elections through gerrymandering and gives me hope that we can restore fairness to our elections in states around the country, Holder said in a statement last month. This fall, Ohioans have the opportunity to support strong Democratic candidates who will have a seat at the table when new state and congressional lines are drawn in 2021.

In another targeted state, Holders group sued Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker after he declined to call a special election to fill two open legislative seats.

The stakes for these seemingly granular battles are huge.

During the Obama years, the GOP flipped 958 state legislative seats. Before 2010, Democrats controlled 60 of the 99 legislative chambers across the country. Now, its just 32.

Republicans flipped many legislatures in states with maps approved by Democratic lawmakers, noted Matt Walter, president of the Republican State Leadership Committee. So, he argues, gerrymandering is no excuse for Democratic losses.

We understand that voters are different from Portland, Maine to Portland, Oregon, while the progressive mindset is one of top-down policies, Walter told Fox News.

Holder wants favorable Democratic districts while arguing a false holier-than-thou principle of do as I say, not as I do, Walter added. Its shallow and crass and has nothing to do with good government at all.

Rodenbush, the NDRC spokesman, referenced a Holder speech in March to affirm the group isnt just seeking Democratic gerrymandering to replace GOP gerrymandering. During that Georgetown University address, the former attorney general said Republicans arent simply going to give up power, adding, You give me a fair fight; Ill have a Democratic Congress.

State legislatures in 42 states decide on congressional districts. Of those, 37 also pick state legislative districts. The remaining states have some form of commission, which Holder desires.

Gerrymandering is a more democratic process than naming a bureaucratic commission to draw maps, argued J. Christian Adams, a former Justice Department voting section lawyer and Holder critic.

Gerrymandering is a good thing because it means the people who won elections are supporting the will of the people in drawing district lines, Adams, now president of the conservative Public Interest Legal Foundation that specializes in election law and voter fraud cases, told Fox News.

The term gerrymandering comes from former Massachusetts Gov. Eldridge Gerry, who in 1812 signed a redistricting bill that favored his Democratic-Republican party over the Federalist party in the state. Because one of the districts looked like a salamander, partisan maps became known as gerrymandering.

Fred Lucas is the White House correspondent for the Daily Signal. Follow him on twitter @FredLucasWH
Republican Kansas governor hopeful Kris Kobach said he wont back down in the face of a snowflake meltdown and outrage culture after being criticized for riding in a jeep mounted with a replica of a large gun at a parade on Saturday.

Koback, the states secretary of state, raised eyebrows on social media over the weekend after he attended the Old Shawnee Days parade, named after the Kansas City-suburb.

Had a blast riding in the Old Shawnee Days Parade in this souped up jeep with a replica gun, he tweeted. Those who want to restrict the right to keep and bear arms are deeply misguided. The only thing that stops a bad guy with a gun is a good guy with a gun.

But many criticized the politician for riding a vehicle equipped with a large replica gun at the event attended by young children.

Pastor Johnny Lewis of Shawnee Community Christian Church criticized the candidate in a Facebook post, saying his six-year-old child worries constantly about school shootings.

Why was that necessary, sir? My child didnt need that today. Dont care what your position is on second amendment that is completely unnecessary, he said.

Lewis also told the Kansas City Star that his concern wasnt about Kobachs support for gun rights, but rather about the potential upset he caused to young children who came to watch the parade.

My greatest concern today was not Kris Kobachs political position It was that in a world where our children live with anxiety about school shootings and do intruder drills regularly that any politician thought it was OK to drive through a crowd of children with an automatic weapon pointed at the crowd, the pastor said.

Despite the backlash, Kobach remained defiant.

The outrage over the replica gun on the back of a patriotic jeep is the left trying to attack guns and your #2A rights. I will not back down in the face of a snowflake meltdown and outrage culture, he tweeted.

The city of Shawnee has since issued an apology for having Kobach to attend the event and causing upset over the display of a large replica gun.

"Please know that the safety of our residents is always our highest priority and we apologize if this made anyone feel unsafe or unsettled. We will be taking steps in the future to try to ensure something similar does not happen again, the statement said.
Alex Van Der Zwaan, the Dutch lawyer linked to the Trump campaign who pleaded guilty in February to misleading federal investigators, was released from prison Monday morning and turned over to Immigrations and Customs Enforcement officials, Fox News has learned.

Van Der Zwaan, 33, the son-in-law of Russian oligarch German Khan, was charged by special counsel Robert Mueller's team with knowingly making false statements to investigators during an interview about his time working for a major law firm hired by the Ukraine Ministry of Justice in 2012.

He became the first person to be sentenced as part of Mueller's ongoing Russia probe in April, when U.S. District Court Judge Amy Berman Jackson handed him 30 days in prison, two months of supervised release, and $20,000 in fines.

Van Der Zwaan's former law firm, Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP, has an expansive international practice, and has been a central target of Mueller's sprawling Russia investigation. The firm said in a statement last year that it had fired Van Der Zwaan and was cooperating with investigators.

Skadden attorneys drafted a report that was used to justify what many critics charged was the politician prosecution and jailing of Ukrainian politician Yulia Tymoshenko -- one of the leaders of the Orange Revolution, and a fierce political rival of Russia-aligned President Viktor Yanukovych.

Both former Trump campaign manager Paul Manafort and former Trump adviser Rick Gates were accused of secretly using offshore accounts to funnel $4 million to Skadden to pay for the report, according to The New York Times.

"What I did was wrong. I apologize to my wife and my family."  Alex Van Der Zwaan, at federal sentencing hearing

Van Der Zwaan was specifically accused of lying about his comunications with Gates, who was indicted in October along with Manafort on several charges related to their work and business dealings in Ukraine. Gates has pleaded guilty to federal conspiracy and false-statement charges.

WATCH: GINGRICH SAYS MUELLER PROBE IS REALLY FIVE SCANDALS IN ONE

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.

In court in April, Van Der Zwaan was apologetic for misleading investigators.

What I did was wrong," he said. "I apologize to my wife and my family."
A spokeswoman for Melania Trump on Monday slammed a rabid press corps for speculating about the first ladys health and whereabouts since being hospitalized last month to treat a benign kidney condition.

Mrs. Trump has always been a strong and independent woman who puts her family, and certainly her health above all else, and that wont change over a rabid press corps, Stephanie Grisham, a spokeswoman for the first lady, told Fox News. Shes confident in what she is doing and in her role, and knows the rest is just speculation and nonsense.

Last month, the first lady was treated at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center because of the kidney issue, but hasnt made a public appearance since.

Trump  a notoriously private person  stayed behind Friday when President Trump and several family members went to the Camp David retreat for the weekend. News also broke Sunday night that the first lady will not join her husband at the G7 summit in Quebec later this week, and there are no plans for her to travel to Singapore to meet with North Koreas leader later this month.

The liberal, anti-Trump corners of the Internet have seized on that news, and spread conspiracy theories ranging from a more serious health issue to speculation of domestic violence.

Rolling Stone senior writer Jamil Smith on Sunday wrote, I wish that I didnt suspect that the prolonged, poorly explained public absence of Melania Trump could be about concealing abuse. I wish that it was a ludicrous prospect.

ABC News The View spent a segment on Monday speculating that her kidney procedure was worse than reported before co-host Whoopi Goldberg declared, Shes fine. Sometimes people just dont want to be out in the public.

CNN also has focused in recent days on questions about the first ladys whereabouts.

The liberal networks Reliable Sources newsletter led with a giant graphic of a calendar, placing question marks on each date since Mrs. Trump was last seen on May 10. Beneath the graphic, the newsletter specifically stated that she is expected to attend an event on Monday to honor Gold Star families.

BUT BUT: The event is closed to the press, so Monday evening may not resolve the mystery, CNNs Brian Stelter wrote. He made a similar argument on Twitter, writing if the event is closed press, it means the Melania hasnt been seen in public issue will linger.

The first lady took to Twitter last week herself to dispel rumors circulating about her whereabouts.

I see the media is working overtime speculating where I am & what Im doing, Mrs. Trump tweeted. Rest assured, Im here at the @WhiteHouse w my family, feeling great, & working hard on behalf of children & the American people!

Fox News John Roberts and Brian Flood contributed to this report.
A Democratic senator who recorded his dramatic, unsuccessful effort to enter a federal immigration facility in Texas on video over the weekend was "irresponsibly spreading blatant lies about routine immigration enforcement," the White House said Monday.

And in a separate statement, the Department of Homeland Security seemingly contradicted Sen. Jeff Merkley's suggestion that he was being systematically barred from immigrant detention centers, saying federal officials took extra steps to grant him access to one on Sunday.

In footage uploaded to Facebook late Sunday and seen by more than a million viewers, Merkley, D-Ore., approached the Office of Refugee Resettlement facility in Brownsville, Texas, after remarking that the government's treatment of children illegally entering the U.S. was "unacceptable."

Merkley then tried to follow somebody into the building, before being told that he was on "private property" and should "please go away." The facility, run by a contractor, is in a former Walmart with blacked-out windows.

While he waited outside, Merkley called a number linked to the detention center and demanded an in-person tour of the facility. He then announced to the camera, "Well, she just hung up on me." Eventually, the police arrived and started taking Merkley's information, before turning him away.

"And the attorney general's team, and the Office of Refugee Resettlement, they don't want anyone to know about what's going on behind these doors," Merkley told a police officer.

The Trump administration, which has called it "horrible" that illegal immigrant children are separated from their parents when their parents enter criminal proceedings, has been criticized in recent weeks for increasing the proseuctions of illegal immigrants under a "zero-tolerance" policy that critics say leads to those separations.

But the White House made it clear that it viewed Merkley's effort as a hollow stunt.

HHS OFFICIAL CALLS REPORT AGENCY LOST TRACK OF 1,500 CHILDREN 'MISLEADING'

"Senator Merkley is irresponsibly spreading blatant lies about routine immigration enforcement while smearing hardworking, dedicated law enforcement officials at ICE and CBP," deputy White House press secretary Hogan Gidley told Fox News.

"He voted against closing the 'catch-and-release' loopholes used by child smugglers, and his reckless open borders policies are responsible for the permanent separation of thousands of American families who have been forced to bury their loved ones," Gidley added. "No one is taking a public safety lecture from Sen. Merkley, whose own policies endanger children, empower human smugglers and drug cartels, and allow violent criminal aliens to flood into American communities."

Also on Monday, the Department of Homeland Security said it had accomodated Merkley's request to visit a secure immigration facility where children were being held, despite logistical challenges.

"We appreciate the Senators interest in the subject, and are happy to provide him with an understanding of the immigration process: DHS follows the laws passed by Congress and processes alien children safely and humanely," DHS press secretary Tyler Houlton said in a statement to Fox News. "Contrary to any misinformation campaign, the safety of children is paramount for DHS.

"At 2pm on a Friday, the Senator asked to visit a secure DHS facility over the weekend where children are present and we worked with him to provide him access," Houlton added. "This presented obvious and serious privacy concerns  not to mention disrupting operations. He was able to visit the facility on Sunday."

"Senator Merkley is irresponsibly spreading blatant lies about routine immigration enforcement."  Deputy White House press secretary Hogan Gidley

Merkley previously claimed he saw caged children at another Texas detention facility.

Last week, President Trump slammed Democrats who shared pictures of child migrants sleeping in cages to knock his immigration policies, only to backtrack after realizing the photos were taken during the Obama administration.

"When I was at the center at McAllen Border Station, this is the processing center, earlier and I was admitted there and I did see the people, hundreds of children locked up in cages there at that facility," Merkley said in an interview with CNN. "They have big cages made out of fencing and then wire and nets stretched across the top of them so people can't climb out of them."

WHOOPS: DEMS BACKTRACK AFTER REALIZING VIRAL PHOTO OF CAGED KIDS IS FROM OBAMA ADMIN

At various points in the video uploaded to Facebook, Merkley made broad political points, alternately to the camera and to responding law enforcement officers.

"Every American citizen has a stake in how these children are being treated and how this policy is being enacted," Merkley said in the Facebook video.

In a statement to Fox News, Merkley Communications Director Ray Zaccaro shot back at the White House and insisted on more transparency.

The White House is smearing Senator Merkley because they cant defend their indefensible policy of snatching children from their parents," Zaccaro said. "Senator Merkley and his staff saw children in cages yesterday at the DHS processing center. We still have no idea whats happening in the detention center where reportedly up to a thousand children are being held, since they refused the Senators request to go inside."

The Associated Press contributed to this report.
The Supreme Court ruled Monday in favor of a Colorado baker who refused to make a wedding cake for a same-sex couple, in one of the most closely watched cases of the term.

In a 7-2 decision, the justices set aside a Colorado court ruling against the baker -- while stopping short of deciding the broader issue of whether a business can refuse to serve gay and lesbian people. The opinion was penned by Justice Anthony Kennedy, who is often the swing justice in tight cases.

The narrow ruling here focused on what the court described as anti-religious bias on the Colorado Civil Rights Commission when it ruled against baker Jack Phillips.

"The Commissions hostility was inconsistent with the First Amendments guarantee that our laws be applied in a manner that is neutral toward religion," Kennedy wrote in his majority opinion.

READ THE DECISION

Attorney Michael Farris, president of the Alliance Defending Freedom which represented the baker, told Fox News that Phillips is ecstatic at the decision.

Justice Kennedy has held that tolerance is a two-way street, and Jack Phillips was not tolerated by the Civil Rights Commission of Colorado, he said.

The court said the broader issue, though, "must await further elaboration."

The reason and motive for the bakers refusal were based on his sincere religious beliefs and convictions. The Courts precedents make clear that the baker, in his capacity as the owner of a business serving the public, might have his right to the free exercise of religion limited by generally applicable laws," Kennedy wrote. "Still, the delicate question of when the free exercise of his religion must yield to an otherwise valid exercise of state power needed to be determined in an adjudication in which religious hostility on the part of the State itself would not be a factor in the balance the State sought to reach."

At issue was a July 2012 encounter. At the time, Charlie Craig and David Mullins of Denver visited Masterpiece Cakeshop to buy a custom-made wedding cake. Phillips refused his services when told it was for a same-sex couple. The state civil rights commission sanctioned Phillips after a formal complaint from the gay couple.

Mullins has described their case as symbolizing the rights of gay people to receive equal service in business  about basic access to public life."

But the Trump administration backed Phillips, who was represented in court by the Alliance Defending Freedom, a conservative Christian nonprofit. He had lost at every step in the legal appeals process, bringing the case down to the Supreme Court's decision Monday.

"Todays decision means our fight against discrimination and unfair treatment will continue. We have always believed that in America, you should not be turned away from a business open to the public because of who you are. We brought this case because no one should have to face the shame, embarrassment, and humiliation of being told 'we dont serve your kind here' that we faced, and we will continue fighting until no one does," Craig and Mullins responded Monday.

Phillips has said he lost business and had to let employees go because of the controversy.

And he has maintained that its his choice: "It's not about turning away these customers, it's about doing a cake for an event -- a religious sacred event -- that conflicts with my conscience," he said last year.

The court in December specifically examined whether applying Colorado's public accommodations law to compel the local baker to create commercial "expression" violated his constitutionally protected Christian beliefs about marriage.

By wading again into the culture wars, the justices had to confront recent decisions on both gay rights and religious liberty: a 2015 landmark opinion legalizing same-sex marriage nationwide and a separate 2014 decision affirming the right of some companies to act on their owner's faith by refusing to provide contraception to its workers.

The Trump administration agreed with Phillips' legal claims to a large extent. Attorney General Jeff Sessions in October issued broad guidance to executive branch agencies, reiterating the government should respect religious freedom, which in the Justice Department's eyes extends to people, businesses and organizations.

But civil rights groups were concerned the conservative majority on the court may be ready to peel back protections for groups with a history of enduring discrimination  and predicted that giving businesses the right to refuse service to certain customers would undermine non-discrimination laws and hurt minorities.

When the justices heard arguments in December, Kennedy was plainly bothered by certain comments by a commission member. The commissioner seemed "neither tolerant nor respectful of Mr. Phillips' religious beliefs," Kennedy said in December.

Liberal justices Stephen Breyer and Elena Kagan joined the conservative justices in the outcome. Kagan wrote separately to emphasize the limited ruling.

But Justices Ruth Bader Ginsburg and Sonia Sotomayor dissented.

"I see no reason why the comments of one or two Commissioners should be taken to overcome Phillips refusal to sell a wedding cake to Craig and Mullins," Ginsburg wrote.

Sarah Warbelow, legal director with the Human Rights Campaign, also stressed that the decision is so narrow as to apply only to this particular baker.

Fox News' Mike Emanuel and The Associated Press contributed to this report.
The Supreme Court has sided with the Trump administration in the case of a pregnant immigrant teenager who was able to get an abortion after filing a lawsuit.

In a unanimous decision issued Monday, the high court vacated a lower court decision, which was initially in favor of the teen. The decision is about the teen's individual case, however, and doesn't appear to disrupt ongoing litigation about the ability of immigrant teens in government custody to obtain abortions.

The teenager at the center of this case illegally entered the U.S. in September as a 17-year-old and was taken to a federally funded shelter in Texas for minors who enter the country without their parents.

The teen, referred to as Jane Doe, learned while in custody that she was pregnant and sought an abortion. A state court gave her permission, but federal officials, citing a policy of refusing to facilitate abortions for pregnant minors in its shelters, refused to transport her or temporarily release her so that others could take her for the procedure.

The American Civil Liberties Union helped Doe sue the Trump administration and get a court order in her favor. But before the administration could try to block the procedure, she got the abortion.

The governments lawyers argued that the ACLU lawyers did not alert them that the teens abortion would take place earlier than initially scheduled.

The Supreme Court rejected the suggestion by the Trump administration that lawyers for the ACLU might deserve to be sanctioned, ruling only to scrap the lower court decision since the case became moot after the procedure.

Does individual claim for injunctive reliefthe only claim addressed by the D.C. Circuitbecame moot after the abortion, the Supreme Court opinion said. It is undisputed that [her guardian] and her lawyers prevailed in the D.C. Circuit, took voluntary, unilateral action to have Doe undergo an abortion sooner than initially expected, and thus retained the benefit of that favorable judgment.

The lawsuit could return to the Supreme Court at a later date.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.
President Trump sought to settle the widespread weekend chatter over whether hed consider pardoning himself if charged in the Russia probe  tweeting Monday that he has the absolute right to do so, but wouldnt have to since hes done nothing wrong.

As has been stated by numerous legal scholars, I have the absolute right to PARDON myself, but why would I do that when I have done nothing wrong? In the meantime, the never ending Witch Hunt, led by 13 very Angry and Conflicted Democrats (& others) continues into the mid-terms! the president tweeted.

Moments later, the president decried the investigation as "UNCONSTITUTIONAL" -- the latest swipe at Special Counsel Robert Mueller amid negotiations over a possible interview with the president.

Trump weighed in after legal team member Rudy Giuliani fielded numerous questions on the self-pardon scenario on the Sunday shows.

The president of the United States pardoning himself would just be unthinkable. And it would lead to probably an immediate impeachment, he said bluntly on NBCs Meet the Press.

On ABCs This Week, Giuliani said Trump probably has the power to pardon himself but has no intention of doing so.

The questions followed a newly revealed January letter from Trumps legal team to Mueller. The correspondence cited the presidents pardon powers, while making the case against a Trump interview with Mueller and claiming the president could not have obstructed justice because of his broad presidential powers.

Counselor Kellyanne Conway said on Fox & Friends that the question of whether Trump may pardon himself is ridiculous because you would pardon yourself if youve done something wrong.

Trump critics, though, have raised alarm that the presidents recent pardon of conservative filmmaker Dinesh DSouza and consideration of other acts of clemency are a signal he could exercise his pardon power in connection with the Russia meddling investigation.

Preet Bharara, a former U.S. attorney who was fired by Trump, told CNNs State of the Union that a self-pardon would be outrageous.

I think if the president decided that he was going to pardon himself, I think that it is almost self-executing impeachment, he said, adding that the framers did not intend for a president to be able to self-pardon.

Trump, meanwhile, used his Twitter account Monday to boast of accomplishments for an administration now 500 days into office. He touted tax cuts and border security measures, as well as health care measures even though they fell short of a full ObamaCare repeal.

He tweeted: This is my 500th. Day in Office and we have accomplished a lot - many believe more than any President in his first 500 days. Massive Tax & Regulation Cuts, Military & Vets, Lower Crime & Illegal Immigration, Stronger Borders, Judgeships, Best Economy & Jobs EVER, and much more  We had Repeal & Replace done (and the saving to our country of one trillion dollars) except for one person, but it is getting done anyway. Individual Mandate is gone and great, less expensive plans will be announced this month. Drug prices coming down & Right to Try!
While most newlyweds receive dishes and home goods for a wedding gift, Harry and Meghan got something a bit more extravagant.

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex were reportedly gifted a country home from Queen Elizabeth II herself, in honor of their recent nuptials, Metro reports.

WORLDS HOTTEST GRANDMOTHER SAYS NEW CONTENDER WILL 'HAVE TO FIGHT' FOR THE TITLE

York Cottage is a royal property located at Sandringham Estate, a 20,000 acre estate in Norfolk, about 110 miles northeast of Kensington Palace.

The queen inherited the land from her father, King George VI, in 1952, but it has been in the royal family much longer, dating back four British monarchs to 1862, according to the estates website.

The cottage, formerly known as Bachelors Cottage, was once home to Queen Elizabeth II's grandparents, King George V and Queen Mary, the Duke and Duchess of York. The couple lived there until 1925 when Queen Alexandra, mother of George V, died at Sandringham, Harpers Bazaar reports.

The residence, which currently houses Sandringham Estate offices, is said to resemble three Merrie England pubs joined together, oozing charm and character, Metro reports.

The queen also gave William and Kate a home at Sandringham Estate as a wedding gift. The royal couple lived at Anmer Hall for a short time while their eldest son, George, attended nursery school nearby.

FOLLOW US ON FACEBOOK FOR MORE FOX LIFESTYLE NEWS

With the addition of York Cottage, it is believed that Harry and Meghan now have three properties, including Nottingham Cottage at Kensington Palace and a newly acquired home in The Cotswolds.
If you've ever looked up into the unfathomable night sky and wondered, "Are we alone?" then you are not alone.

About 70 years ago, physicist Enrico Fermi looked up into the sky and asked a similar question: "Where is everybody?"

There are hundreds of billions of stars in the Milky Way galaxy alone, Fermi reckoned, and many of them are billions of years older than our sun. Even if a small fraction of these stars have planets around them that proved habitable for life (scientists now think as many as 60 billion exoplanets could fit the bill), that would leave billions of possible worlds where advanced civilizations could have already bloomed, grown and  eventually  begun exploring the stars.

So, why haven't Earthlings heard a peep from these worlds? Where iseverybody? Today, this question is better known as the Fermi paradox. Researchers have floated many possible answers over the years, ranging from "The aliens are all hiding underwater," to "They all died," to "Actually, weare the aliens, and we rode a comet to Earth a few billion years ago." [12 Possible Reasons We Haven't Found Aliens]

Now, Alexander Berezin, a theoretical physicist at the National Research University of Electronic Technology in Russia, has proposed a new answer to Fermi's paradox  but he doesn't think you're going to like it. Because, if Berezin's hypothesis is correct, it could mean a future for humanity that's "even worse than extinction."

"What if," Berezin wrote in a new paper posted March 27 to the preprint journal arxiv.org,"the first life that reaches interstellar travel capability necessarily eradicates all competition to fuel its own expansion?"

In other words, could humanity's quest to discover intelligent life be directly responsible for obliterating that life outright? What if we are, unwittingly, the universe's bad guys?

First in, last out

In the paper, Berezin called this answer to Fermi's paradox the "first in, last out" solution. Understanding it requires narrowing down the parameters of what makes "intelligent life" in the first place, Berezin wrote.

For starters, it doesn't really matter what alien life looks like; it could be a biological organism like humans, a superintelligent AI or even some sort of planet-size hive mind, he said.

But it does matter how this life behaves, Berezin wrote. To be considered relevant to Fermi's paradox, the extraterrestrial life we seek has to be able to grow, reproduce and somehow be detectable by humans. That means our theoretical aliens have to be capable of interstellar travel, or at least of transmitting messages through interstellar space. (This is assuming humans don't reach the alien planet first.)

Here's the catch: For a civilization to reach a point where it could effectively communicate across solar systems, it'd have to be on a path of unrestricted growth and expansion, Berezin wrote. And to walk this path, you'd have to step on a lot of lesser life-forms.

"I am not suggesting that a highly developed civilization would consciously wipe out other lifeforms," Berezin wrote. "Most likely, they simply won't notice, the same way a construction crew demolishes an anthill to build real estate because they lack incentive to protect it."

For example, a rogue AI's unrestricted drive for growth could lead it to populate the entire galaxy with clones of itself, "turning every solar system into a supercomputer," Berezin said. Looking for a motive in the AI's hostile takeover is useless, Berezin said  "all that matters is that it can [do it]."

A fate worse than extinction

The bad news for humans isn't that we might have to face off against a power-crazed race of intelligent beings. The bad news is, we might be that race. "We are the first to arrive at the [interstellar] stage," Berezin speculated, "and, most likely, will be the last to leave."

Stopping humans from accidentally obliterating all rival life-forms would require a total culture shift spurred by "forces far stronger than the free will of individuals," Berezin wrote. Given our species' impressive talent for expansion, however, such forces could be hard to muster.

Then again, this is all just a theory. The paper has yet to be peer-reviewed by fellow scientists, and even Berezin is rooting against his own conclusions.

"I certainly hope I am wrong," Berezin wrote. "The only way to find out is to continue exploring the universe and searching for alien life."

Originally published on Live Science.
An asteroid turned into a blazing fireball as it disintegrated over southern Africa last weekend, just hours after it was first spotted.

The boulder-size asteroid was discovered on Saturday morning, according to NASAs Center for Near Earth Object Studies. Dubbed 2018 LA, the asteroid was estimated to be about 6 feet across, which is small enough to safely disintegrate in Earths atmosphere.

2018 LA was first detected by the Catalina Sky Survey near Tucson, Ariz., which is funded by NASA and is operated by the University of Arizona.

METEORITE HUNTERS FIND FIRST PIECES OF THE MICHIGAN FIREBALL

Reports of a bright fireball above Botswana, Africa, early Saturday evening match up with the predicted trajectory for the asteroid, explained NASA, in a statement. Traveling at 38,000 mph, the asteroid entered Earths atmosphere at 6:44 p.m. local Botswana time (12:44 p.m. EDT).

The space rock disintegrated several miles above the Earths surface. Videos posted to YouTube reportedly show the fireball streaking across the night sky, including one captured on a South African farms security camera.

The object, however, was much smaller than the meteor  estimated to be about 56 feet wide, that exploded over Chelyabinsk, Russia in 2013, injuring more than 1,000 people.

METEORITE HUNTERS: SCIENTISTS SET TO SCOUR ANTARCTICA FOR RARE SPACE ROCKS

A small chunk of an asteroid or comet is also known as a meteoroid. When it enters Earth's atmosphere, it becomes a meteor or fireball or shooting star. The pieces of rock that hit the ground, valuable to collectors, are meteorites.

Earlier this year, a meteor made headlines when it flashed across the sky in Michigan. The blazing fireball sent meteorite hunters scrambling to find fragments of the rare space rock.

The Associated Press contributed to this article.

Follow James Rogers on Twitter @jamesjrogers
Hundreds of ancient stolen tablets, seized from the company Hobby Lobby and returned to Iraq, provide clues about what a lost 4,000-year-old city called Irisagrig was like.

Billionaire and Hobby Lobby owner Steve Green started collecting artifacts in 2009 and soon amassed a collection 40,000 strong, which he used to fill the newly created Museum of the Bible in Washington, D.C. However, some of those artifacts had been smuggled illegally into the U.S., and last summer, officials with Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) seized thousands of looted items from his collection. Those artifacts were recently returned to Iraq. They include about 450 tablets holding cuneiform text, many of which describe Irisagrig.

"The new texts from Irisagrig cast some fascinating light on what is, indeed, quite literally a 'lost city,'" said Eckart Frahm, a professor of Near Eastern languages and civilizations at Yale University. ICE asked Frahm to assess the content and origins of the seized tablets in the fall of 2016. [In Photos: Ancient City Discovered in Iraq]

"I had only about two and a half days to study them in the warehouse where they were temporarily stored, in fairly poor lighting conditions," Frahm told Live Science in an email. "Each individual tablet was wrapped, and it took a considerable amount of time to unwrap and number them, and then rewrap them again."

Many of the tablets are fragile, "with salt incrustations covering large parts of their surfaces," Frahm said. "It seems likely that these tablets all come from the same archive, which must have fallen prey to destruction at some point in time, with the tablets falling on the ground with one side exposed [possibly] to water and the other protected."

In the end, Frahm was able to review about 250 of the cuneiform tablets. And he did find that many came from the lost city.

"Among the most exciting tablets from the lot inspected by me is a large document that records allocations of sustenance plots to royal dependents, and another that records food distributed to the 'dogs of the palace,' who were apparently well fed," Frahm said.

Some of the tablets "record food allocations for royal envoys and other officials, and specify their missions, which include inspecting work on a canal, improving the 'royal road,'" Frahm added.

The lost city

The tablets seized from Hobby Lobby are far from the only tablets from Irisagrig that have appeared on the antiquities market in the past two decades. Live Science combed through the Cuneiform Digital LibraryInitiative's(CDLI) database, the Database of Neo-Sumerian Texts and numerous journal articles, and found tablets from Irisagrig that are now in collections in Texas, California, Illinois, New York, Australia, Japan, Canada, Israel, Lebanon, the United Kingdom, Sweden, Germany and France, among other places.

"In my view, it is certain that all tablets identified by scholars as coming from ancient Irisagrig have been looted," said Manuel Molina, a research professor with the Spanish National Research Council who has conducted research into Irisagrig. "The reason is simply because the only ones who know the location of Irisagrig are the looters of the site, who found it around 2003."

A few of those tablets provide geographical information that helps narrow down the location of Irisagrig, Molina wrote in a paper published in the book "From the 21st Century BC to the 21st Century AD: Proceedings of the International Conference on Neo-Sumerian Studies Held in Madrid 22-24 July 2010" (Eisenbrauns, 2013).

Molina has narrowed down the likely location to an area in southern Iraq near the modern-day town of Afak. One of the most promising candidates within this area is a "tell" (a mound formed by the debris left by its ancient inhabitants) called "site 1056" that has never been excavated by archaeologists, Molina wrote in the book. Satellite images show that the tell was heavily looted between 2003 and 2009, Molina wrote. [25 Strangest Sights on Google Earth]

New imagery of the site provided by DigitalGlobe suggests the looting has decreased since 2009, according to Molina, who compared the new images with his images from earlier.

But even with the new imagery, archaeologists can't be sure site 1056 is Irisagrig, said Molina, who noted that there are other possible candidates for the lost city. On-the-ground archaeological work is needed to come to any conclusions, he said.

Provenance hunt

Live Science contacted several of the identified owners (some remain anonymous) of the tablets mentioned in the databases in hopes of tracking down the looters to discover the location of the city and the motivations behind the looting. Ultimately, attempts to find the looters were unsuccessful.

Only a few of the owners responded. For instance, Jim Falk, a professor at the University of Melbourne in Australia, pointed to his website that indicates he got his tablet from Artemis Gallery in September 2015. Before that, it was held by Harlan J. Berk Ltd., which did not respond to requests for comment.

Bron Lipkin, a retired doctor and collector who owns the company Collector Antiquities, hasn't ever owned an Irisagrig tablet. But some of the owners contacted him to ask for help in deciphering the texts.

"After all this time, I don't have any easy way of working out which collector had which tablet," Lipkin said, adding that he recalls some individuals had bought the tablets on eBay and that three tablets came from an Australian dealer.

Documents from the U.S. Department of Justice said the artifacts returned to Iraq were sold to Hobby Lobby from three unnamed Israeli antiquities dealers. Live Science also found that one of the largest known private collections of tablets from Irisagrig (containing more than 100 tablets) belongs to Jawad Adra, a businessman in Lebanon. He did not respond to requests for comment.

Return controversy

There's been a debate about whether the cuneiform tablets should be returned to Iraq before they have been studied and described in scientific journals. David Owen, a professor of Near Eastern studies at Cornell University who has published descriptions of hundreds of tablets from Irisagrig, has called for them to remain in the United States for study.

"Once they enter the bowels of the Iraq Museum, it is unlikely scholars will ever have access to them, nor are there any Iraqi scholars capable of publishing them given the many thousands of unpublished texts already in storage in the museum for generations and mostly inaccessible to scholars," Owen told Live Science.

Frahm said that, while "it would have been helpful if the tablets could have been more properly documented before being sent on another trans-Atlantic journey," and that conservation work is urgently needed on the tablets, he thinks Iraqi scholars will be able to get the job done.

"I have faith in my Iraqi colleagues, who are aware of their responsibility not only to safeguard, but also to publish, the archaeological and epigraphic heritage of their country, and who have shown in recent years a laudable willingness to collaborate with scholars from other countries in an effort to do so in the best possible way," Frahm said.

Owen, on the other hand, is not at all confident that these tablets will be published after they return to Iraq. "Who knows what new data the tablets sent to Iraq contain," he told Live Science. "But we'll never see this new evidence now thanks to the stupidity of our government."

Owen Jarus can be reached at owenjarus@gmail.com.

Originally published on Live Science.
A NASA spacecraft is about to get up close and personal with Ceres, a giant asteroid that also happens to be the only dwarf planet in the inner solar system.

This month, NASA's Dawn spacecraft will shift into an orbit that will skim just 22 miles (35 kilometers) above Ceres at its closest point, allowing Dawn to get its best views yet of the dwarf planet. At its farthest point, the new elliptical orbit will carry Dawn out 2,500 miles (4,000 kilometers).

"The team is eagerly awaiting the detailed composition and high-resolution imaging from the new, up-close examination," Carol Raymond, principal investigator for the Dawn mission at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory, said in a statement. "These new high-resolution data allow us to test theories formulated from the previous data sets and discover new features of this fascinating dwarf planet." [See Dawn's Amazing Photos of Dwarf Planet Ceres]

One target on Ceres is especially tantalizing during the new, lower orbit. That's Occator Crater, a place with strange, bright white spots.

"As a bonus objective, scientists would like to study the elements in one of their favorite places (and perhaps one of yours as well): Occator Crater, site of the highly reflective salt deposits, famous not only on Ceres but also on Earth and everywhere else that readers follow Dawn's discoveries," Marc Rayman, mission director and chief engineer for Dawn at JPL, wrote in an April 29 blog post. "Studying this one crater and the area around it (together known as a geological unit) could reveal more about the complex geology there."

At its lowest point, Dawn will be 10 times closer to Ceres than the probe has ever been. In fact, Rayman said it will be the closest Dawn has been to an object in the solar system since it launched from Earth.

"The last time it was that close to a solar system body was when it rode a rocket from Cape Canaveral over the Atlantic Ocean more than a decade ago," he said.

In addition to photos, Dawn will use its instruments to understand the chemical composition of the top layer of Ceres' surface.

The Dawn spacecraft has been orbiting Ceres in the asteroid belt (between the orbits of Mars and Jupiter) since March 2015. NASA launched the mission in 2007, sending Dawn first to the large asteroid Vesta  the second largest object in the asteroid belt after Ceres  before moving on to Ceres itself. Dawn is equipped with a fuel-efficient ion drive that allowed it to fly between asteroids.

In 2016, the probe went into a high orbit above Ceres to study the dwarf planet from a distance that ranged between 2,800 miles (4,400 km) and 24,300 miles (39,100 km). Dawn spent much of the last year in that orbit and began lowering its path around Ceres on April 16 of this year, Rayman said.

Finding an orbit that would both get close to Ceres and allow for good science observations was a challenge for mission engineers, NASA officials said. Engineers ran through more than 45,000 potential variations before hitting on one that worked.

NASA's $466 million Dawn mission is in its second extended phase and will end its days in orbit around Ceres. After launching in 2007, the spacecraft headed to Vesta and spent a year orbiting that asteroid (from 2011 to 2012).

Original article on Space.com.
The story of how the Titanic was found is widely known, but some of the most interesting details are only now emerging, USA Today reports. A new exhibit at the National Geographic Museum in Washington, D.C., reveals the once top-secret story.

"The Navy is finally discussing it," Robert Ballard tells National Geographic. Ballard is the oceanographer and Navy commander who found the wreck in 1985.

The exhibit, Titanic: The Untold Story, explains how the Navy had commissioned Ballard to explore the wreckage of two nuclear submarines. The subs were resting on the floor of the North Atlantic Ocean, and the Navy wanted to determine if the nuclear reactors on board were potentially dangerous and why the subs had sunk.

Ballard asked if he could look for the Titanic after he had completed the mission (which would be the first of two) because he believed the passenger liner was located between the two subs.

Deputy Chief of Naval Operations Ronald Thunman agreed, never suspecting that Ballard would be successful. "I was a little short with him," recalls Thunman, who stressed that Ballards mission was to study the sunken warships, not look for the Titanic.

Ballard studied every detail of the Titanic and decided to seek not the ship itself, but the debris field. He theorized that the ship had broken in half and left a debris trail as it sank.

He approached it as if he were photographing a deer hiding in winter: "I'd look for its footprints and follow its footsteps," he says. At 2 a.m. on Sept. 1, 1985, submersible robotic technology began delivering images of the Titanics boiler.

"We were at the very spot the Titanic sank," Ballard recalls. "We were there." Of course, the Navy hadn't expected Ballard to find the Titanic, so when that happened, "they got really nervous because of the publicity," Ballard says.

The exhibit will be on display through Jan. 6, 2019.

This article originally appeared on Newser.
Until recently, I was in a happy long-term relationship with Amazon.

Weve officially been together for 14 years (Ive been a customer since 2004) and were pretty much inseparable. We shopped for everything together. From toilet paper, to running shoes, to earbuds, Amazon was there to help me make my choice and deliver the goods.

There was a mutual trust. I needed something, and the place your order button was there for me every time. The product reviews were there, too, telling me what was worth buying. I got my toilet paper or earbuds two days later, and if I was unhappy with something, I could send it right back. It was a perfect match.

But recently Ive learned a few things that have made me question my cozy relationship with the retail giant. We havent broken up or anything  yet. But Im weary. Ive been exposed to an underbelly I didnt want to see, and I dont trust Amazon anymore. I dont know if I ever will again.

Were in couples counseling, so to speak, and our future together doesnt look so good.

Heres why.

1. Fake reviews are a problem

You know those reviews on Amazon you peruse to determine whether a product will change your life or is a piece of crap? Theyre written by people like us, right? People who used the product and wrote an honest review? Wrong. Many of them are fake.

Amazon watchdog ReviewMeta suggests around nine percent of all Amazon reviews could be written by people who were paid to write a review and did not actually use the product. The Washington Post recently found that in some categories, like Bluetooth speakers, more than half of all customer reviews are likely fake. Amazon doesnt deny that fake reviews exist on the site, but it does dispute the numbers, and claims its closer to one percent.

Basically, an army of faux reviewers get $3, $5, or $10 to write a fake five-star review on a product  paid by companies hoping to boost sales. Often the reviewers dont even use the product and are reimbursed for buying it. These reviewers can then make an additional profit by returning it to Amazon or selling the item on eBay or elsewhere.

Call me naive, but until I wrote a piece about Amazon clamping down on account holders suspected of being involved in fake reviews, I had no idea this was occurring. Here I was, blindly searching for product knowledge on Amazons website, taking it all in as gospel.

While its true that nine percent  if that is accurate  is low, its still enough to make me question everything I read on the site. Since learning about this, I havent stopped shopping on Amazon, but I have been checking elsewhere for product information, something I know I should have been doing all along.

Trusting relationships will make you do silly things.

2. Counterfeit items are everywhere

Find a pair of Adidas kicks on Amazon for $20? Dont click the buy button, as theyre quite possibly fake. Amazon has thousands of counterfeit items for sale, some of which are labeled as Fulfilled by Amazon  Amazons stamp of authenticity, if you will.

But advocacy group The Counterfeit Report has found around 58,000 knock-off products for sale on Amazon since May 2016. While thats a small sliver of the approximate 560 million products available on the site, its still troubling. How do you know if youre getting the actual product that you want?

Ever wonder why you cant buy certain brands on Amazon? Its because companies are worried about marketplace sellers peddling knock-offs. In fact, companies like Birkenstock have stopped selling items on Amazon altogether. Apple filed a lawsuit against Amazon to stop unauthorized sellers from hawking items identified on the site as authentic Apple products when they were in fact fake.

While Amazon is taking steps to fight counterfeits and says it will refund you if you accidentally buy one, wouldnt you just rather not receive a fake item in the first place? I know that I would.

Ive never received a counterfeit item on Amazon (that Im aware of, anyway). But the fact that theyre out there waiting for me makes me uncomfortable  and further erodes my confidence in my relationship with the online giant.

3. You could get banned for returning too much stuff

Are you one of those people who orders five different sizes or colors of the same shirt on Amazon, figuring that youll send back the four that dont look as good or fit correctly? You might be in danger of having your account closed.

Recently, Amazon has been shutting down the accounts of people who were returning too much stuff. Some account holders were getting notices that said, We have closed this account because you have consistently returned a large number of your orders. While we expect the occasional problem with an order, we cannot continue to accept returns at this rate.

Amazon is largely known for a liberal return policy, so whats unclear in this new development is what rate of returns is unacceptable. Many people whose accounts were closed were reportedly not given a warning that this would happen and were not allowed to open new accounts. Its possible that the account closures are largely related to the fake reviews problem, as faux reviewers could also be making a tremendous number of returns. Clarity would be nice.

I am not a constant returner, yet this still bothers me. Why? Because unlike other retail establishments, Amazon makes it difficult to simply exchange a product for a different size, color, or brand.

Oftentimes I just want to exchange an item, not return it. But in most cases, Amazon doesnt offer a clear exchange path. Instead of an exchange button on my order summary, theres only a return button. That means that I have to go through the return process, which requires clicking a few buttons, and then going back and tracking down the item on the website again. Then I need to select the right size and click buy. Its all very clunky, and Amazon counts the whole process as two transactions  a return and purchase  rather than one exchange. Which means that I could be getting dinged for returns when I actually wanted the same item, just in a different color.

Until Amazon gives shoppers a clear avenue to seamlessly exchange items and clarifies its return policy, it shouldnt be punishing shoppers for excessive returns. Isnt communication the foundation of a great relationship?

4. Not necessarily the lowest price

I dont know where we (or maybe its just me) got the idea that Amazon is the most affordable place to shop. Maybe at one point, when it was trying to compete with Target and Walmart, it featured low prices. But now, thats not necessarily the case. How much you pay for something on Amazon can vary widely, and its not always the cheapest.

Again, I learned this the hard way recently, when I ordered some chai tea from Amazon, and it showed up in a Walmart box. Perplexed, I did some detective work and realized that a third-party marketplace seller accepted my order, then ordered the same thing for a cheaper price off of Walmarts website, had it shipped to me, and pocketed the extra money.

While sometimes its true that there are good deals to be found on the site (especially during Prime Day), its always best to shop around and compare prices. Thats common sense, but again, is something I failed to do in my committed relationship to Amazon. Lesson learned!

Time to move on?

So what does all of this mean for my relationship with Amazon? From prices to reviews, I no longer believe everything thats featured on the website. I still peruse reviews, but I also double-check information elsewhere.

I havent stopped using the website entirely, but like a person whos been cheated on, Im afraid to trust again. Knowing what I know now, I doubt I ever will feel the same, unless Amazon changes its ways by dropping the equivalent of its lazy, beer-guzzling friends  fake reviews, unclear return policies, and high prices.

But based on my experience with previous relationships that didnt end well, I doubt that any real change will happen. In the end, I just might have to find retail love elsewhere.
Apple's annual developer conference starts Monday. At the widely watched event, the tech giant is expected to show off new versions of its operating systems and give a glimpse of where the company is headed in the future.

At its Worldwide Developer Conference (WWDC), Apple will host thousands of developers, journalists and industry analysts in San Jose, Calif. as it takes the wraps off the latest versions of its iOS, macOS, tvOS, and watchOS operating systems.

"As Steve Jobs so eloquently described the Apple ecosystem at his last WWDC in 2011, 'If the hardware is the brain and sinew of our products, the software in them is their soul'," Monness Crespi Hardt analyst Brian White in a research note ahead of the event.

APPLE'S WWDC SET FOR JUNE

White expects much of the keynote, delivered by Apple's key executives including CEO Tim Cook, to focus on iOS and perhaps privacy, in light of the wake of recent scandals plaguing the tech industry, including Facebook's Cambridge Analytica scandal.

"Given the importance of the iPhone to the Apple product family, new iOS innovations tend to get a fair amount of airtime at WWDC and we expect this will be true with iOS 12 next week," White added. "In light of the Cambridge Analytica fiasco, we wouldnt be surprised if Tim Cook spends a couple of minutes reinforcing Apples commitment to protect customer privacy."

Bloomberg recently reported that Apple would incorporate a feature known as Digital Health into its iOS 12 software that lets them see how much time users are spending on their devices and inside certain apps.

The Digital Health feature would come after Google, maker of the Android operating system, unveiled a similar feature at its developer conference last month.

The iPhone maker has come under some fire from some of its investors, as well as members of academia who have claimed Apple's products are too addictive.

Earlier this week, Apple released the latest update to its iOS operating system, iOS 11.4, which includes features like AirPlay 2 multi-room audio, support for HomePod stereo pairs, messages in iCloud and other bug fixes.



Apple's popular line-up of Mac computers may also see a refresh at the event, with some expecting to hear about new laptops, though that is not a certainty.

Monness Crespi Hardt's White does expect to hear about updates to the macOS platform after Apple added virtual reality support last year.

APPLE REVEALS NEW PRIVACY CONTROLS FOR IPHONE AND MAC USERS

Augmented Reality push

In addition to updates to its operating systems, many are expecting to hear an update on what Apple is doing with augmented reality after showing off ARKit, a feature that lets developers build AR-based apps, at its 2017 developer conference.

"We remain optimistic regarding ARs potential," Loup Ventures analyst Gene Munster wrote in a research note ahead of the event. "That said, the use cases of AR to date have lagged our expectations, due to a lack of reliable hardware and software to enable developers to build compelling AR experiences. We expect Apple to announce subtle new developer tools to improve the AR development process and ultimately yield more compelling AR applications."

Apple's Cook has previously expressed his abundant optimism for AR, which places virtual objects on top of physical objects (instructions for building furniture on top of the wood, for example) and its potential impact on humanity.

"Simply put, we believe augmented reality is going to change the way we use technology forever, Cook said on Apple's fiscal fourth-quarter earnings call, held last November. "We're already seeing things that will transform the way you work, play, connect and learn."

IPHONE BATTERY DEAD AGAIN? 7 SURPRISING WAYS YOU'RE DRAINING POWER

Smarter Siri, AI

Apple has received intense amounts of criticism for falling behind its tech brethren when it comes to its usage of artificial intelligence and specifically, its virtual assistant Siri. Critics have said that Amazon's Alexa, Google's Assistant and Microsoft's Cortana are smarter, more reliable and able to handle more tasks, despite Siri having been incorporated into iPhones since the iPhone 4s, which was released in 2011.

Analysts expect to hear significant updates on Siri, which could include anything from pulling in additional data sets to handling more tasks.

"In our testing of Siri over the past two years, we found the product lags measurably behind Google Home and marginally behind Alexa and Cortana," Munster wrote in his note. He added that Siri was able to answer questions correctly 75 percent of the time, behind the 85 percent seen in Google Assistant. As such, he expects updates to Siri, especially on HomePod, Apple's smart speaker designed to compete with the Google Home and Amazon Echo lineup of products.

"Siri on HomePod is more limited in the number of domains, so adding support for things like navigation and email would quickly improve the experience," Munster added.

Experts also expect to hear Apple give new use cases for artificial intelligence, such as improved text predicition, music tagging or face prediction, after hiring John Giannandrea in April as its SVP of Artificial Intelligence. Giannandrea's hiring was seen as a big coup for Apple after he left Google, where he was previously the company's chief of search and AI.

APPLE'S TIM COOK ATTACKS TRUMP OVER TARIFFS, TRADE IN NEW INTERVIEW

Hardware up in the air

At previous WWDC's, Apple has taken the time to introduce new Mac computers, including last year when it refreshed nearly its entire lineup of Macs. This year is likely to be more muted when it comes to new hardware announcements, though.

Bloomberg reported that Apple is working on updates to its MacBook Pro, 12-inch MacBook and a replacement for its MacBok Air computers, as well as an overhaul of the look of the Apple Watch. However, it's not expected that either the new-look Apple Watch or the new MacBook's will be ready in time for Monday.

But that hasn't stopped analysts from expecting new hardware products, with White writing he "would not be surprised if the Mac portfolio gets some sort of refresh" at the event.

Loup Ventures' Munster believes Apple may unveil a new, cheaper smart speaker with the Beats branding for $250.

Apple bought Beats, which makes headphones and has been integrated into Apple Music, for $3 billion in 2014.

Fox News' Jennifer Earl contributed to this story. Follow Chris Ciaccia on Twitter @Chris_Ciaccia


Just days after Google inadvertently listed Nazism as one of the ideologies of the California Republican party, Rep. Devin Nunes (R.-Calif) warned that the search giant and other tech heavyweights could face hearings over alleged anti-conservative bias.

Speaking during an interview on Sunday Morning Futures on Fox Business, the House Intelligence Committee Chairman said that anti-GOP bias is widespread. I think what the American people need to understand is there is bias against conservatives and Republicans all across this country, he told Maria Bartiromo. And now as you see things, its always been there with newspapers and television, but now as you see it getting into the internet it's one of the challenges we have with millennials.

Google was slammed last week after the Nazism listing appeared in the search giants Knowledge Panel.

GOOGLE UNDER FIRE FOR LISTING 'NAZISM' AS THE IDEOLOGY OF THE CALIFORNIA REPUBLICAN PARTY

The Knowledge Panel, which accompanies search results, pulls in data from a host of sources across the Web, including Wikipedia. Google scrambled to fix the issue, which it said was the result of vandalism on one of its sources.

A Wikimedia spokesperson confirmed to Fox News that the vandalism Google was pulling "was not visible to Wikipedia readers in the text of the article, and has been removed by volunteer editors."

"The success of Wikipedia relies on everyone being able to contribute, and that includes correcting information," the spokesperson said via email. "Anyone can edit Wikipedia based on our core principles of neutrality and reliable sourcing, and hundreds of thousands of volunteers do this every month. This process is critical to Wikipedias constantly-evolving record of the worlds knowledge. Wikipedia editors, often using monitoring tools to support their work, catch and revert most vandalism made to Wikipedia within minutes."

Nonetheless, the incident sparked outrage at a time when big tech is firmly in the political spotlight. Silicon Valley has repeatedly faced allegations that it suppresses conservative voices, something that the likes of Google and Facebook have vehemently denied.

During his interview on Sunday Morning Futures, Nunes explained that Congress could take action to stop online censorship of conservative ideas. I would hope that they just don't get involved in politics and don't censor conservatives and Republicans, but if they continue to do it then we have to move obviously to hearings on these issues, he said.

GOP NC STATE SENATOR FIRES BACK AFTER BEING LISTED AS A BIGOT IN CONTROVERSIAL GOOGLE IMAGE

Nunes also suggested that the tech sector could develop a viable alternative to Google. The best thing would be is for there to be a new search engine that actually doesn't censor conservatives. I think there's a free market solution here if somebody can compete with Google, he said. If they can't, then ultimately we're looking at monopolies and then that, you know, brings in a whole other set of circumstances.

Are these companies - Facebook, Twitter, Google, Apple, et cetera, are they monopolies and should they be reined in? he added. I would hope we don't have to go there.

Fox has reached out to Google for a response to Nunes' comments.

FACEBOOK DENIES CLAIM THAT IT FAVORED OBAMA'S 2012 CAMPAIGN

Google has also come under fire after search results for North Carolina Republican lawmaker Trudy Wade yielded her photo accompanied by the word bigot. Google apologized for the search result. Images that appear in the Knowledge Panel are either selected by verified users or are automatically sourced from sites across the web, it tweeted Friday. In this instance, the image was hosted on a student news blog. Upon being alerted to this issue, we immediately removed it from the Knowledge Panel.

The state senator, however, said that Googles apology rang a bit hollow. When Wade learned about the image on Friday, an aide requested Google take it down, Wade explained, in a statement released Saturday.

She was told to find and contact the original author of the photo, and the post stayed up, she added. Even when the [North Carolina] Insiders Colin Campbell broke the story in Raleigh, the image remained. Only after Drudge Report posted it to a national audience and it began to go viral on social media did Google do the right thing.

Fox News Chris Ciaccia and Elizabeth Zwirz contributed to this article.

Follow James Rogers on Twitter @jamesjrogers
The owner of an 8-year-old Pomeranian dog found dead during a layover on a Delta flight has accused the airline of a cover-up.

Alejandro was found dead in his crate in the cargo facility at Detroit Metropolitan Airport in Romulus, southwest of Detroit.

Michael Dellegrazie, the owner, said the dog was alive when the flight from Phoenix, Ariz., landed at the airport around 6:30 a.m. Wednesday for a scheduled layover en route to New Jersey.

About two hours later, Alejandro was found dead by an agent, who said the dog was unresponsive. He reportedly had vomit in his crate. The dogs blanket also had blood stains.

FISHERMEN CATCH 12-FOOT HAMMERHEAD OFF COAST OF TEXAS

"We lost a family member. That's exactly what happened, and somebody has to be responsible for it. He was in their care and they didn't take care of him, Dellegrazie told WDIV-TV.

Dellegrazie, who owns the dog with his girlfriend, said hes grasping to understand how his Pomeranian died while heading to Newark, N.J.

He told ABC News "Good Morning America" there were several strange interactions with Delta while trying to retrieve his dogs body and items.

He was brought to the curb area where we were given a carrier, a Delta carrier, and some garbage bags and in one of the garbage bags was Alejandro, Dellegrazie said.

I was very careful that the handoff was done cleanly, so I opened the first garbage bag and in that I discovered something that shocked me. ... It was a blanket that was full of blood.

Dellegrazie said the dog's items were also wet. The only explanation I could find was they were washed. It was a cover-up, something to that effect  it just didnt feel right, he told ABC.

WEDDING CRASHER STEALS GIFT ENVELOPES INTENDED FOR BRIDE AND GROOM, DISAPPEARS

A Delta Air Lines spokesman told Fox News the dog was seen in good health after the flight and brought to the staging area. The kennel facility determined the dog had died about two hours after landing and airline officials immediately notified the owner. The spokesman added that Delta offered to conduct a necropsy, but was told by the owner to hold off.

In a statement, Delta said it is conducting an investigation.

Pets are an important member of the family and we are focused on the well-being of all animals we transport. Delta is conducting a thorough review of the situation to ensure this does not happen again and have been working directly with Alejandros family to support them however we can, the statement provided to Fox News read.

As part of that review, Delta offered to have Alejandro evaluated by a veterinarian while in our possession to find out more about why this may have occurred. We are disappointed that we were not allowed to have a necropsy performed immediately following this unfortunate situation. The family now has Alejandro and we continue to offer our support, it added.

It's still unclear what caused the dog's death. Dellegrazies attorney, Evan Oshan, said the family is "devastated" over the incident.

FOLLOW US ON FACEBOOK FOR MORE FOX LIFESTYLE NEWS

Oshan is the same lawyer who represented the owners of the French bulldog that died on a United Airlines flight in March. The 9-month-old puppy, Kokito, died after he stopped breathing on a flight from Houston to New York, after a flight attendant told the owner to put him in the overhead bin rather than under the seat.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.
An American Airlines flight en route to Phoenix from San Antonio on Sunday made an emergency landing in El Paso due to damage sustained by weather during the flight, Fox 4 News reported.

Flight 1897 left San Antonio International Airport at 6:57 p.m. and landed safely at 8:03 p.m. MT, the airline confirmed.The Airbus A319 had 130 passengers and five crew members.

SEE IT: PLANE HITS TRACTOR-TRAILER FULL OF PIGS DURING CRASH LANDING

Reports said the plane's nose and windshield were damaged during the flight.

The aircraft is currently being evaluated by our maintenance team. We never want to disrupt our customers' travel plans, and we are sorry for the trouble this caused," a statement read.

Jesus Esparza, a passenger on the plane, described a chaotic scene to KENS 5.

Esparaza said passengers observed lighting outside their windows during the flight and said it sounded like the plane was being pelted with hail. He said at one point it dropped like a rollercoaster.

He said some passengers gasped and he had to let a passenger behind him use his sickness bag because the person already used their bag.

FOLLOW US ON FACEBOOK FOR MORE FOX LIFESTYLE NEWS

"I'm just glad to be on the ground," he said.

No one was injured due to the incident.
Four people, including a prominent New York builder who constructed homes for stars such as Martha Stewart and Billy Joel, were killed Sunday after their plane crashed off the coast of Long Island, police said.

Ben Krupinski, 70  known as the Hamptons Builder to the stars  and his wife, Bonne Bistrian Krupinski, 70, and grandson, Will Maerov, 22, were dead following the crash about 1.5 miles south of Indian Wells Beach just before 3 p.m. Saturday, Long Island Business News reported, citing police. The pilot, Jon Dollard, 47, also reportedly died.

"We are stricken by this loss," said Capt. Kevin B. Reed of the Coast Guard. "Our deepest sympathies go out to the families and loved ones of the two recovered individuals."

The four were on the Piper PA-31 Navajo plane heading to East Hampton Airport when it crashed into the Atlantic Ocean off Amagansett, Long Island, police said. Two bodies were recovered after the crash.

U.S. Coast Guard, East Hampton Town Marine Patrol and private fishing vessels searched through the debris before suspending the search Saturday night. Rescuers resumed the search Sunday morning.

AIRPLANE HITS TRACTOR-TRAILER HAULING PIGS DURING EMERGENCY LANDING ON HIGHWAY

The Federal Aviation Administration was investigating the cause of the crash. Extreme weather was reported in the area when the plane went down.

There was a very nasty thunderstorm going on. It was unexpected. There were very strong downdrafts, Bill Gardiner, a local pilot, told the New York Post.

Gardiner added Ben and Bonnie Krupinski had owned the private plane since the 1980s.

The beloved couple known as Bennie and Bonnie by local residents had a real-estate empire worth a reported $150 million, according to the New York Post. On his business website, Ben Krupinski was described as a man who earned a reputation for delivering outstanding results and a member of the greater Hamptons business community for the last 40 years.

In a 1992 New York Times article, Krupinski was called an ace East Hampton pilot and Contractor to the Stars.

His completed projects also included the Parrish Art Museum and Southampton. The family owned several restaurants such as 1770 House, East Hampton Point and Citta Nuova.

They were generous beyond belief, Citta Nuova employee Jeanne Nielsen told the New York Post. They were very philanthropictheir grandson Will had worked here for the summer in the past. He was a student at Georgetown.

WORLD WAR II-ERA PLANE CRASHES IN WOODED AREA IN NY, KILLING PILOT

Nielson said the family flew all the time and were expected to have dinner at Citta Nuova before heading to the movies.

They were together forever. They were the couple that was together forever, she added.

The Krupinskis were also involved in politics and threw fundraisers for Republican politicians, Newsday reported. They also made campaign contributions to Lee Zeldin, Mitt Romney and Jeb Bush in the past.

These are amazing, wonderful people. Theyre the heart of East Hampton, former East Hampton elected official Diana Weir told the news site.
A Virginia high school teacher was arrested last Thursday after it was discovered that she allegedly had an affair with a student.

Miranda Nicole Pauley, a 34-year-old biology teacher at Patrick Henry High School in Ashland, Va., faces four felony counts of indecent liberties by a custodian and one felony count of use of a communication system for crimes against children. She was released on $50,000 bond from the Pamunkey Regional Jail on Friday.

A preliminary hearing has been set for July 12.

As part of her bond, Pauley is to have no contact with anyone under 18, unless the minor is accompanied by a parent or guardian, and is not allowed on any school property except to retrieve her personal belongings.

Sgt. James Cooper of the Hanover Sheriffs Office told the Richmond Times-Dispatch that the charges stem from a sexual relationship that Pauley purportedly had with a minor, but declined to say if a student at the high school was involved. Local news sources, however, have reported that the affair was between Pauley and a student and that at least one incident occurred on school property.

"Any of these offenses could put her on the sex offender registry, which is something that follows her for a long, long time," legal expert Todd Stone told a local news station.

Pauley, who taught at the high school since 2006, allegedly carried out the illicit affair in November and December of 2017 and in May of this year. School officials notified their human resource department following Pauleys arrest and the teacher is no longer employed at the school.

This news is very disturbing, and we take these matters seriously, Hanover County Public Schools said in a statement. While our policy prohibits the release of specific details concerning personnel-related matters, we will continue to work closely and in full cooperation with the Hanover County Sheriffs Office.
A teenage girl from Washington state has been reunited with her family after police said she was abducted almost a month ago.

Police in Puyallup, a city about 35 miles south of Seattle, announced on Sunday that they had found the teen after a nearly month-long search for her by local law enforcement, federal officials, family and members of the community.

While details are scarce as to how she was found, local police made a string of arrests over the last week in connection to her disappearance  including nabbing two men who allegedly raped her.

Christopher Fitzpatrick, 39, was apprehended last Saturday in Lakewood with help from an anonymous tipster along with his companion, Maria Anne Counts, 29. Both face multiple charges including kidnapping, promoting sex abuse of a minor, third-degree child rape, possession of child pornography, and providing drugs to a minor.

Both Fitzpatrick and Counts have pleaded not guilty to the charges.

On May 9, the day she disappeared, the girl took a bus from Bonney Lake to Federal Way, where she met Fitzpatrick, the Tacoma News Tribune reported last week.

Fitzpatrick previously was convicted on charges of assault and felony harassment after being accused of repeatedly raping his then wife in 2003. When he was arrested at a motel, he was having sex with a 16-year-old girl tied to the bedposts, according to charging documents.
Violence broke out in downtown Portland, Oregon, on Sunday as Antifa activists stormed a Patriot Prayer rally  about a year after similar dueling rallies triggered bloody fights and arrests.

Some protesters on Sunday hurled bottles and fireworks at police officers while others were caught with knives and other weapons, Portland Police tweeted. Officials encouraged people to get out of the immediate area "for their safety."

WARNING: VIDEO CONTAINS PROFANITY

Many of the Antifa activists wore black and covered their faces. Some protesters said they were demonstrating against police brutality; one sign bluntly read "F--- the police."

Patriot Prayer, which bills itself as a peaceful First Amendment advocacy group, organized a rally  "Tiny's Freedom March," a going-away event for Tusitala John Toese, who's close with group leader Joey Gibson  for 5 p.m.

The Rose City Antifa scheduled a counter-protest for 4 p.m. "to show Patriot Prayer, just as we showed them last year, that their violence and hatred has no place in Portland."

The demonstrations came a year after the same two groups converged in downtown Portland for opposing rallies, KOIN reported. Last year's protests resulted in 14 arrests.

Police said Sunday that while the city respects "the right to assemble," anyone with weapons or anyone involved in violent activities was subject to arrest.

It was not immediately clear if Sunday's demonstrations downtown resulted in any arrests, but photos and videos posted to social media showed protesters fighting and clashing, while some apparently were doused with pepper spray.
The search for a 14-month-old in a rural New York town has been suspended by police.

The child, Owen Hidalgo-Calderon, was feared dead after the body of his 18-year-old mother, Selena Hidalgo-Calderon, was found May 24 in a wooded area of a farm in Sodus where the two lived and worked.

The woman's boyfriend, Everardo Donoteo-Reyes, a 25-year-old Mexican who immigration officials have said is in the country illegally and has been deported twice, is a suspect in her death, but has not been charged.

"At this time we have expended all of the current information and clues that we have, so we are going shut down the search," Wayne County Sheriff Barry Virts said, according to the Democrat and Chronicle, following a 12-day search for the child.

A state forest ranger in the area told the news outlet that based on investigators' search tactics, Owen's body is most likely not on the property.

"It doesn't mean that he's not ... but we are at over 90 percent probability of detection," Lt. Charles Richardson said. "Right now there's really no need for us to continue searching here until we get other information."

TWICE-DEPORTED ILLEGAL IMMIGRANT HELD IN NEW YORK TODDLER'S DISAPPEARANCE, MOM'S DEATH

He said that while the search for Owen  who was last seen May 16  has stopped, the investigation will continue.

Donoteo-Reyes, who has admitted to burying the woman but not killing her, is a suspect in the homicide investigation, Virts said last week.

He hasn't been charged in that investigation but has been charged with tampering with evidence after allegedly re-entering the U.S. and possessing counterfeit documents, according to the newspaper.

Donoteo-Reyes is scheduled to appear in court Monday afternoon.

Fox News' Greg Norman contributed to this report.
Four climbers, including two 13-year-old Boy Scouts, were found alive after they were reported missing while hiking Mount Baker in Washington state, officials said Monday.

The two Boy Scouts and two adult leaders were taken to the hospital for hypothermia, Whatcom County Sheriff Bill Elfo told KING5.

The climbers went missing after a Boy Scout troop from Seattle went hiking at the 10,781-foot volcano on Sunday. The two men and two boys didnt return by nightfall and rescuers began searching for them.

The group was attempting to climb to the volcanos peak on its north face when they vanished.

"Two of the adults and two of the boys, 13-year-old Boy Scouts, didn't emerge and we believe they are still in the area," Elfo told the Bellingham Herald earlier Monday.

MAINE POLICE RESCUE A DOZEN DUCKLINGS FROM SEWER GRATE

Mount Baker is about 15 miles from the Canadian border and is one of the highlight peaks of the Cascade Mountain range.

The snow-capped peak can be a challenging climb. All routes to the summit feature glaciers.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.
An Amber Alert was issued after a 7-month-old girl was abducted by a register sex offender at a gas station in Virginia, police said Monday.

Carl Ray Kennedy, 51, took Emma Grace Kennedy took the girl from her mother after assaulting the woman at a Kwik Stop in Danville, Virginia State Police said. Kennedy is the girls biological father, WRAL-TV reported.

Carl Kennedy is registered as a sex offender in North Carolina, and is currently out of jail on a $250,000 bond for drug distribution.

He is described as a white male with gray hair, 5-foot 8 inches, weighing 170 pounds and was last seen driving a gold 4-door Suzuki, with the North Carolina tag FAA-1873. Police said he has tattoos of skulls on his forearms, an eye of the back of his right hand, a pit bull with "american bulldog" written under it on his upper right arm, and a wizard on his upper left arm.

The baby was last seen wearing a light blue onesie with dots and a white rabbit on the left leg and a headband to match, according to WRAL-TV. She also has a small scar on her left cheek.

Kennedy and the baby were last seen traveling in Caswell County near the Virginia-North Carolina border.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.
The suspect linked to the recent shooting deaths of four professionals, including a prominent forensic psychiatrist involved in the JonBenet Ramsey murder investigation, in a three-day period was found dead in an Arizona hotel Monday, police said.

Scottsdale and Phoenix police traced the suspect linked to the four murders to the Extended Stay Hotel on North 69th Street. Authorities heard several shots fired inside a hotel room as officers closed in. Police did not fire any shots.

The suspect, who was not yet identified, was found dead from an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound. Though officials said evidence linked four prior killings, police were seen placing crime scene tape an investigating a fifth-related killing at a home in Fountain Hills.

Authorities confirmed Monday the suspect was linked to the four murders in Scottsdale and Phoenix, the latest one occurring on Saturday.

Marshall Levine, a hypnotherapist and life coach, was found dead in an office building on Saturday suffering from a gunshot wound.

ARIZONA SLAYING MAY BE 4TH IN STRING INCLUDING JONBENET RAMSEY CASE DOC, POLICE SAY

The first victim killed Thursday was identified by authorities as Steven Pitt, a forensic psychiatrist who worked on the high-profile investigation into the killing of 6-year-old JonBenet Ramsey, a beauty pageant star who was found dead at her family's home in Boulder, Colorado. Ramsey's murder, which remains unsolved, attracted national attention. A prosecutor cleared her parents and brother in 2008 based on DNA evidence.

Pitt was killed Thursday outside his office, police said. Besides the JonBenet Ramsey case, he also worked on the "Baseline Killer" serial murder case in the early 2000s, FOX 10 reported.

Witnesses questioned after the Pitt's killing said they heard arguments preceding loud gunshots, describing the suspect as an adult male, bald and wearing a dark-colored hat with a short brim.

Police released a sketch of the suspect in the killings.

DOUBLE HOMICIDE IN ARIZONA CONNECTED TO JONBENET RAMSEY CASE PSYCHIATRIST'S DEATH, POLICE SAY

The other two victims were paralegals, identified as Veleria Sharp, 48, and Laura Anderson, 49. They were fatally shot at a law office on Friday.

One woman managed to escape the building after being shot in the head, but died after she was taken to a hospital. The other woman was found dead at the scene, the Phoenix New Times reported.

The website of Burt/Feldman/Grenier, the law firm that employed Sharp and Anderson, says it practices divorce, child support and other aspects of family law litigation and mediation.

Fox News' Travis Fedschun and The Associated Press contributed to this report.
A whopping 46 percent of California Bay Area residents fed up with the regions high cost of living and soaring home prices are planning to pack their bags and move out in the next few years, a poll has found.

The poll, conducted by the Bay Area Council, which describes itself as a business-sponsored, public policy advocacy organization, also found that homelessness and heavy traffic are among the things that most irk residents who live there.

This is the trend weve been observing. Two years ago, it was 34 percent and last year it was 40, the groups president, Jim Wunderman, told KTVU about the increasing amount of those polled indicating that they want to get out.

The majority of the 1,000 polled said they have lived in the region for more than 20 years and increasingly believe that life in the Bay Area is heading in the wrong direction, despite mixed feelings about its economy.

Forty-five percent of those who say they are planning to leave cited cost of living as the driving factor, while 27 percent said housing and rent costs are becoming too much to bear.

CALIFORNIA RESIDENTS FED UP OVER HOME COSTS HEAD FOR THESE US DESTINATIONS

Sixteen percent of that group said they plan to move somewhere else in California, while Texas, Oregon, Nevada and Arizona topped the most sought-after states outside of California for relocation.

On the downside of it is all the people who need to be here to provide all the services are being priced out, Wunderman said to KTVU. Were seeing teachers, government workers, firefighters, police officers actually not able to live in the communities.

Ron and Elizabeth Haines, who have lived in the city of Pleasanton, say they are moving to Idaho this summer and are among the residents who believe living in the Bay Area is getting too expensive.

We are excited, Elizabeth Haines told the station. I have tons of friends and family here. Its going to be hard, but I have a feeling were going to have lots of visitors.

Other residents who spoke to local media lamented home prices.

"You kill yourself trying to pay for the housing and then you leave because it's just ridiculous, right? So I mean, it sounds about right," Ben Imadal of San Francisco told KGO-TV.

Jack Hickox, also of San Francisco, said almost all of my daughter's friends and their parents have left.

"We're making it work for now. Cross my fingers, but it's hard," he told the station.
An Oregon firefighter described by his colleagues as a fun-loving, energetic soul who lived life to the fullest is being mourned Monday after dying in a crash that was caused by a bear that ran in front of his motorcycle.

Oregon State Police said Rhett Larson, who worked at the Bend Fire Department, struck and killed the animal Saturday night on Highway 26 in Warm Springs and was thrown from his vehicle. The 39-year-old was then hit by an SUV heading the other way and was pronounced dead at the scene.

The City of Bend and the Bend Fire Department family miss Rhett Larsen deeply, and are grateful for the generous and heartfelt outpouring of love and support from our community, the citys government said in a Facebook post.

The SUV went off the road after striking Larson and its driver was taken to a local hospital.

The city said Larson, a creative soul with a compassionate heart, an intelligent and well-loved team player, has been with the Fire Department since 2002.

'BUILDER TO THE STARS,' HIS WIFE AMONG 4 REPORTED DEAD AFTER PLANE CRASHES OFF NEW YORK COAST

He lived life to the fullest, and he loved his work as a firefighter/paramedic, it added.

The Bend Firefighters Local 227 said Larson is survived by his family.

The loss of such a fun-loving, energetic soul is felt deeply by both our department and our community, it wrote in a Facebook post.


The Florida sheriff dubbed a coward by President Trump for not engaging Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School shooter Nikolas Cruz is now making his first comments to the media since the massacre occurred, claiming he did everything he could as the attack unfolded.

The actions of Scot Peterson, a former resource officer, have been routinely criticized by the public and in the media since surveillance footage surfaced of him standing outside the school in Parkland on Valentines Day as Cruz killed 17 people inside.

In a wide-ranging interview with the Washington Post published Monday, Peterson said he remembered thinking that the gunshots were initially fireworks set off by probably a few kids acting like idiots and that everything that day happened all so fast.

How can they keep saying I did nothing? he recalled saying to his girlfriend one morning after the shooting. Im getting on the radio to call in the shooting. Im locking down the school. Im clearing kids out of the courtyard. They have the video and the call logs. The evidence is sitting right there.

Peterson said in the minds of the public, you are either a hero or a coward, and thats it.

Ive cut that day up a thousand ways with a million different what-if scenarios, but the bottom line is I was there to protect, and I lost 17, he added.

The Washington Post reported that Peterson, who has since retired from his decades-long career and is collecting a $100,000 yearly pension, considered moving out of state and changing his name. But for now, the 55-year-old is staying put in Boynton Beach, inside a home whose front door is mostly covered by a white sheet to ensure privacy.

Peterson told the Washington Post that he remained in place during the shooting because he didnt want to expose himself to the attacker  and was unclear where the bullets were coming from.

We dont have any description yet, he reportedly said into his radio while the massacre was happening. We just hear shots, what appear to be shots fired.

Peterson later left his position to give a Coral Springs SWAT team his master set of keys to the classrooms when they arrived to clear buildings, according to the newspaper.

At that point, he first walked by the entrance of the building at Marjory Stoneman where the shooting happened, and Peterson saw two victims in its hallway.

I couldnt get him, he said he remembered telling his girlfriend after he came home later that night, before his image was plastered all over the media in the coming weeks, with criticism coming along with it. It was my job, and I didnt find him.

Peterson told the Washington Post that since the shooting, he has had trouble sleeping.

I was scanning for the shooter, looking over the windows, the sidewalk, the rooftop. I thought maybe it was a sniper like in Las Vegas, he said. I just didnt know.
A dog owner is facing legal trouble after her Husky reportedly went on a killing spree last week that left nearly 30 animals dead in a Utah neighborhood.

The 4-year-old dog named Nikita was caught on surveillance video in the early hours of Memorial Day at the home of Trip Kiss in Toole, Utah, where he runs a petting zoo with his wife for children with disabilities, FOX 13 reported.

Kiss said the footage showed the dog running around his yard with two rabbits in its mouth.

"He was chewing our goose that was at the back end there, he dug out the rabbits in their enclosure," Kiss told the station.

In addition to the rabbits and the goose, Kiss said the Nikita killed five chickens and a turkey.

Kiss called police after he spotted the husky in his neighborhood with a chicken still alive in its mouth.

After police arrived, they discovered the same dog also killed 15 of another homeowners chickens, the station reported.

"A second lady from a couple houses down came and told the officers that 15 of her chickens had also been killed by the same animal," Tooele Police Sergeant Jeremy Hansen told the station. "There was 12 at the first residence, then 15 chickens at the second residence for a total of 27."

The husky was captured and taken to a local shelter, according to the station.

Mackenzie Morton, the dogs owner, said Nikita had gone missing and said she found several dead chickens in a neighbors yard while she searched for the dog, she told the station. She said she didnt want to wake up the neighbors, so she left her door open hoping Nikita would return.

"I didn't think she was going to go on a killing spree," Morton said. "I did not know that, at all."

The husky is currently under quarantine for 10 days, before an administrative hearing with the police chief will take place to determine the dogs fate.

Hansen said the dog could be returned to Morton with restrictions if deemed potentially dangerous. He noted that Nikita could also be given to an animal rescue or euthanized if determined to be dangerous, the station reported.

Morton was slapped with five misdemeanor charges of animal biting other animals and one count of animal running at large, according to the Sacramento Bee. The owner said she plans on paying for the damage that authorities estimate to be more than $1,350.
A trucker who saw combat in Iraq as a Marine is being praised for stopping on a Wyoming highway and pulling a man off a trooper before the man could grab the trooper's gun.

The trooper was fortunate Darren Phillips, who drives an 18-wheeler for a Utah fuel company, happened by last Thursday on I-80 near Green River. As he got closer, Phillips could see the trooper and the man wrestling on the ground.

I put my brakes on, and I jump out," Phillips told KSL-TV. "And by this time, the trooper is on his back and the guy is on top of him. The trooper saw me running over, and as soon as I got up to him, he says, Hes going for my gun.' "

Phillips said he used a chokehold to pull the man off the trooper.

I did two tours in Iraq and I never had to put a chokehold on anyone, he told the station. Thats the craziest thing Ive ever done.

During an appearance on Fox & Friends Monday, Phillips said the man tried to get up as he applied the chokehold.

I just told him you better stop struggling, Im going to put you out, he said.

He said that later the man complimented him on the chokehold as he was being taken to jail.

That was pretty amusing, I thought, he said.

Phillips, of Taylorsville, Utah, was a Marine for 12 years and a member of the Utah Army National Guard for 14 years.

The Wyoming Highway Patrol said on Facebook that suspect Dustin Roberts, 36, of McKinleyville, Calif., tried to disarm the trooper after being stopped for a speeding violation.

Troopers found 74 pounds of marijuana and some cocaine in his vehicle, officials said.

Roberts was charged with drug possession and interfering with a peace officer and booked into the county jail. His bond was set at $125,000.

I was just happy to be in the right place at the right time, Phillips told the KSL. Anything I can do for those guys who put their life on the line every day for us, Ill do any time.
Lava from Hawaii's erupting Kilauea volcano has destroyed more than 100 homes in a rural Big Island district.

As of Monday, lava burned down 117 homes, said Hawaii County spokeswoman Janet Snyder. On Friday, the count was at 87 homes. Officials had previously been updating the number of structures burned because it was difficult to tell from aerial surveys which were homes or other buildings. Snyder said from now on, the county will provide counts of homes destroyed.

Officials were waiting for a count of how many homes were destroyed in an area called Kapoho. Snyder said it was difficult to count homes in that area from the air because of steam produced from lava entering the ocean.

Thousands in the Puna district had to evacuate after lava fissures started opening in neighborhoods a month ago. Officials had issued mandatory orders for residents of Leilani Estates and those in Kapoho Beach and Vacationland to leave by Friday afternoon or risk being trapped and unreachable by emergency crews.

Residents in the nearby areas should also be prepared to evacuate with little notice, officials said.

On Sunday, a U.S. Geological Survey field crew was in a helicopter when they noticed people on the ground needed help. The crew landed and confirmed the three people had no cellphone reception. The flight crew went to a safe location and dropped off the USGS team, then went back and airlifted the people to safety, Janet Babb said, a USGS geologist.

Helicopter footage from USGS on Monday showed lava from one fissure entering the ocean at Kapoho Bay.

Scientists said a laze plume was blowing inland from the ocean entry but dissipating quickly. Laze is formed when hot lava hits the ocean, reacts with sea water and sends hydrochloric acid and steam with fine glass particles in the air.

Officials warned the public to stay away from the plume because it can irritate skin and eyes and make it difficult to breathe.

Lava has covered a total of 8 square miles (20 square kilometers), scientists said Monday.

USGS' Hawaiian Volcano Observatory said Monday that parts of the channelized flow from a fissure were starting to break out and move north.

There have been various arrests of people forcing their way through blocked areas. Police on Monday said a 62-year-old man sped through a checkpoint near an intersection where lava was approaching. He faces charges that include refusing to evacuate and reckless driving. Police said a 55-year-old man was arrested last week after he circumvented a traffic checkpoint and crashed his vehicle into a hardened lava flow.

The monthlong eruption has claimed as much as a half of a forest reserve that's home to native birds and trees that have already been declining because of disease, state officials said.

Most of Hawaii Volcanoes National Park has been closed since May 11 because of earthquakes and continuous explosions from the volcano's summit crater.

Continued earthquakes, including Sunday's magnitude 5.5 quake, damaged the overlook deck and other features at Jagger Museum in the national park, where most visitors go to see the summit lava lake, park spokeswoman Jessica Ferracane said.

"Unlike lava, which you can see coming and avoid, we cannot see or predict earthquakes, nor can we foresee a summit explosion, but both threats continue," park Superintendent Cindy Orlando said. It's not known when the heavily visited Kilauea section of the park will reopen.

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AP journalist Caleb Jones contributed to this report.

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Follow AP's complete coverage of the Hawaii volcano here: https://apnews.com/tag/Kilauea
A victim in a suburban Kansas City police chase that killed four people has been identified as a father who was headed to see his newborn daughter.

Aaron Daniel was identified by Kansas City police as one of the victims in the crash Friday. Independence police were pursuing a Jeep they believed to be stolen, which fled into Kansas City and crashed into another vehicle at an intersection.

Daniel's daughter was born two days before the collision, The Kansas City Star reported .

His father, McAllister Daniel, said the 29-year-old was on the way to his partner's home in Kansas City to "celebrate their newborn." He said his son also has three other children, ages 5, 7 and 10.

McAllister Daniel questioned the police's decision to pursue the vehicle in a high-speed, heavily trafficked area, calling it "reckless."

An Independence police spokesman said the "Jeep was stolen out of Independence the night before." Police pursued the Jeep for about 2 miles, according to court records.

The department's policy states that "keeping the safety of the public" should be the "highest priority" when determining whether to engage in a pursuit. It outlines that officers should avoid chases "whenever practical" and that "any pursuit will be discontinued when there clearly is excessive danger to anyone."

Kansas City police said Shawn Johnson, 30, was also killed in the crash, along with a man whose identity hasn't been released. A 27-year-old Independence woman who was the front passenger in the Jeep was pronounced dead at the scene.

Victoria Brown, who is suspected of being the Jeep's driver, has been charged with three counts of second-degree murder, according to the Jackson County prosecutor's office.

"Not to make light of a possible auto theft, but by no means is it worth four deaths," McAllister Daniel said. "We've got four different families who have lost a loved one."

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Information from: The Kansas City Star, http://www.kcstar.com
A Tennessee fire captain is being praised online for his heroic efforts after he was photographed cuddling a child after she was in a car accident.

Capt. Chris Blazek, of the Chattanooga Fire Department, said he was dispatched with Engine 6 to the scene of a motor vehicle accident on Saturday on State Route 58.

MAINE FIREFIGHTER GETS 'THANK YOU' KISSES FROM DOG HE RESCUED FROM ROOF

Three small children, ages four months to seven years, were in the car, and their pregnant mother, was "hysterical" due to stomach and back pain. The two older children were fine, Blazek said, but the youngest was upset, too.

The fire captain wrote in a Facebook post that as he quickly examined her to make sure she was alright, the baby "immediately laid her head on my shoulder."

Blazek said that firefighters on scene had the situation sorted out, so he "decided to sit and take a break with my new friend."

HIGH SCHOOL GRAD SURPRISED BY RETURN OF DAD DEPLOYED OVERSEAS

While the mother was transported, presumably to a hospital, Engine 6 firefighters stayed with the children until family members were available.

"It's moments like this," Blazek said, "that I am reminded, this is why I do the job."
Four people were arrested Sunday after peaceful rallies in Oregon turned violent as Antifa protesters clashed with a Patriot Prayer rally, triggering bloody fights in the streets.

Patriot Prayer, which describes itself as a peaceful First Amendment advocacy group, organized Tinys Freedom March in Portland as a going-away event for Tusitala Tiny Toese, who is close with group leader Joey Gibson.

Meanwhile, Rose City Antifa scheduled a counter-protest to show Patriot Prayer, just as we showed them last year, that their violence and hatred has no place in Portland.

Portland police started to warn the crowds at Terry Schrunk Plaza and Chapman and Lownsdale Square at around 4 p.m. that violence had started to break out. Police urged participants to leave the area due to the violence that started to spark between both groups.

About 45 minutes later, Patriot Prayer demonstrators marched on the sidewalks and clashed with Antifa protesters, according to KOIN-TV. Patriot Prayer rally-goers marched for about an hour before returning to Terry Schrunk Plaza with Antifa members on their tail, according to the station.

Federal Protective Service officers and a Multnomah County Sheriffs deputy used pepper spray to breakup some of the clashes, Portland police said. Demonstrators were also seen using pepper spray and some threw fireworks, bottles and rocks at each other, according to The Oregonian.

Police also confiscated some weapons.

The intent of our presence today was to provide a safe environment for all participants, non-participants, and community members while ensuring the peaceful exercise of the First Amendment, Portland police Chief Danielle Outlaw said in a statement.

The Police Bureau attempted to communicate directly with group organizers through the use of social media, a loud-hailer, and person-to-person communication in an effort to encourage an environment in which Portland community members could safely practice their right to free speech and assembly. Bureau members attempted to intercede by separating and arresting people on occasions when people's safety were in jeopardy.

Four men were arrested in the protests.

Jonathan Feilt, 36, and Andrew Arbow, 32, were charged with second-degree disorderly conduct, according to KOIN-TV. Gregory Isaacson, 43, was given a federal citation for failure to comply with lawful order, the station reported. Another person was arrested but refused to give police their name.

The demonstrations came a year after the same two groups converged in downtown Portland for opposing rallies, KOIN-TV reported. Last year's protests resulted in 14 arrests.

Fox News Nicole Darrah contributed to this report.
Long before Hurricane Maria ravaged part of the Caribbean, Central Florida was dealing with an affordable housing crisis.

Thousands of people were on a waiting list for homes they could afford to open up.

Then the hurricane, which devastated Puerto Rico, forced thousands of people from the island to flee  many of them settling in Central Florida. And that exasperated a problem that had already dealt a heavy blow to the region.

Thousands of people were already on affordable housing waiting lists before the hurricane, said Ana Cruz, the program coordinator for Orlandos Hispanic Office for Local Assistance, or HOLA, which helped over 200 families in the aftermath of the storm.

Some residents who fled Puerto Rico to Florida are still staying in hotels. The Federal Emergency Management Agency has repeatedly extended their stay because they have no place else to go.

Nearly 400,000 Puerto Ricans fled the island after Hurricane Maria to live in the U.S. mainland. Florida took in the vast majority  about 150,000, most of them concentrating in Orange County, the states fifth-most populous county which had already boasted a large Puerto Rican community.

According to the Pew Research Center, the Puerto Rican population in Florida has grown from 479,000 in 2000 to well over one million today.

We were blessed to have great friends all over, but specifically in Florida who came to our aid, said Puerto Ricos Democratic Governor, Ricardo Rossello, at the 9th Annual Puerto Rican Summit in Orlando on May 18.

But that has strained resources in Central Florida, which was already reeling from budget issues and scarce resources.

The sudden influx of these displaced people from the Caribbean into Central Florida has represented a challenge, said Carlos Vargas-Ramos of The Center for Puerto Rican Studies.

FEMAs voucher program, formally known as the Transitional Shelter Assistance program, is scheduled to permanently end on June 30 after several month-to-month extensions, leaving nearly 700 Florida applicants to decide whether they will stay and look for housing independently or move back to a now unrecognizable Puerto Rico.

Cruz said shes not sure what the backup plan is for those who dont want to return but still have not found permanent housing.

If these people are unable to return to Puerto Rico, they then become residents and ultimately citizens of the states they stay in, and therefore become state responsibilities, said Vargas-Ramos. That creates a pressure on these governmental entities as federal assistance withdraws.

Rossello has promised government funding to the displaced Puerto Ricans who return to the island.

In May, Florida Senator Bill Nelson, a Democrat, called on FEMA to extend its agreement to pay for Puerto Ricos post-hurricane recovery efforts for at least 90 more days and introduced a new bill, The Disaster Housing Assistance Act, to coordinate with the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) to come up with affordable long-term housing solutions for those displaced by Hurricane Maria.

I have filed a bill that if you are going to cut off assistance to those who evacuated Puerto Rico, then they shouldnt be treated differently than those who evacuated New Orleans were treated after Hurricane Katrina, Nelson said at the Puerto Rican Summit. We have to fight and ensure Puerto Rico gets the help it needs.

The superstorm left not only death and destruction, but also uncertainty in its wake.

Some people have returned to the island, others have found jobs and theyre moving into apartments and houses, others are moving to other states, Cruz said.

Even before Hurricane Maria hit Puerto Rico, there already was an unprecedented migration to the U.S. mainland because of a severe financial crisis on the island.

Puerto Ricans have been migrating for more than a decade where more than 50,000 people were leaving the island every yearthe hurricane magnified that process, said Vargas-Ramos. That magnitude of immigration is astounding.

The disaster only magnified the islands financial woes. As hurricane season officially began last week, more than a third of Puerto Rican schools remain permanently closed, residents still suffer a lack of essential services and a teetering energy grid was still being relied on.

We dont know what the next hurricane season is going to bring, said Vargas-Ramos. And it seems very clear that Puerto Rico is now more vulnerable to any storm, not just hurricanes but even tropical storms.


The Supreme Court ruled in favor of a Colorado baker who declined to make a wedding cake for a same-sex ceremony.

The case  Masterpiece Cakeshop, Ltd v. Colorado Civil Rights Commission  asked the high court to balance the religious rights of the baker against the couples right to equal treatment under the law. Similar disputes have popped up across the U.S.

The decision to take on the case reflected renewed energy among the court's conservative justices, whose ranks have recently been bolstered by the addition of Justice Neil Gorsuch to the high court.

Jack Phillips, the owner of Masterpiece Cakeshop in Lakewood, Colo., declined to make a cake for the wedding celebration of two gay men in 2012. Phillips told the couple that he would make a birthday cake but could not make a cake that would promote same-sex marriage due to his religious beliefs.

July 2012

Shopping for a cake for their upcoming wedding and celebration, couple David Mullins and Charlie Craig stopped into Masterpiece Cakeshop.

Jack Phillips, the bakerys owner, informed the couple that he did not provide cakes for same-sex weddings and celebrations due to his religious beliefs.

What should have been a joyous occasion had turned into a humiliating occasion, Deborah Munn, the mother of Craig, wrote in a blog post for the American Civil Liberties Union about the experience.

The ACLU of Colorado represented the same-sex couple in their complaint against Phillips.

December 2013

Judge Robert Spencer of the Colorado Office of Administrative Courts decided  in line with the Colorado Civil Rights Division (CCRD)  that the bakeshop had violated a Colorado law which prohibits businesses from refusing service due to a persons sexual orientation.

Masterpiece Cakeshop appealed the decision.

May 2014

The Colorado Civil Rights Commission decided at a public hearing that Masterpiece had violated Colorado's Anti-Discrimination Act, or CADA.

COLORADO BAKER RECEIVES DEATH THREATS AND HATE FOR REFUSING TO MAKE GAY WEDDING CAKE

Phillips was ordered to change its company policies as well as offer comprehensive staff training to employees. The cake shop was also required to provide quarterly reports about how it handled prospective customers.

August 2015

The Colorado Court of Appeals ruled that Phillips cannot cite his religious beliefs in his refusal to provide a service to same-sex couples.

With the ruling, Phillips could face a penalty if he continues to deny wedding cakes to same-sex couples.

April 2016

The Colorado Supreme Court declined to hear the appeal from Phillips.

July 2016

On behalf of Phillips, the Alliance Defending Freedom, a conservative legal nonprofit, petitioned the Supreme Court to hear the case.

SUPREME COURT IS IN SESSION WITH GORSUCH ON BOARD, GAY WEDDING CAKE CASE ON DECK

We are asking the U.S. Supreme Court to ensure that government understands that its duty is to protect the peoples freedom to follow their beliefs personally and professionally, not force them to violate those beliefs as the price of earning a living, ADF senior counsel Jeremy Tedesco said in a statement at the time.

June 2017

The Supreme Court agreed to consider the case during its next term, which began in the fall.

June 2018

The Supreme Court ruled 7-2 in favor of Masterpiece Cakeshop.

"The laws and the Constitution can, and in some instances must, protect gay persons and gay couples in the exercise of their civil rights, but religious and philosophical objections to gay marriage are protected views and in some instances protected forms of expression," the Court said in its decision. "While it is unexceptional that Colorado law can protect gay persons in acquiring products and services on the same terms and conditions as are offered to other members of the public, the law must be applied in a manner that is neutral toward religion."

Justice Anthony Kennedy said when the Colorado Civil Rights Commission made its decision "it did not do so with the religious neutrality that the Constitution requires." The opinion says the Commission "violated the Free Exercise Clause, and its order must be set aside."

In its decision, the Supreme Court did not decide whether a business has the right to refuse to serve gay and lesbian people outright.

Ruth Bader Ginsburg and Sonia Sotomayor, two of the Court's more liberal justices, dissented.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.
Barreling toward a historic summit with North Korea's Kim Jong Un, President Donald Trump has his sights set on a nuclear deal, leaving allies and advocates worried that he may give short shrift to human rights abuses and regional security concerns.

With a week to go before the June 12 meeting in Singapore, Trump has largely kept his focus on denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula, recently stressing that it may take more than one meeting to achieve that goal. That singular focus could mean Trump looks past a range of troublesome actions by the regime as he promises Kim "protection" in exchange for giving up a nuclear program that could pose a direct threat to the U.S. mainland.

Critics have started invoking the Iran nuclear deal that Trump recently exited as a cautionary tale. Republicans and some Democrats objected to the 2015 agreement for not doing more to halt that country's ballistic missile program and support for Hezbollah and other extremist groups.

"We want to make sure the president's desire for a deal with North Korea doesn't saddle the United States, Japan and South Korea with a bad deal," Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., told reporters Monday.

White House officials say the plight of the North Korean people, who live under one of the world's most repressive governments, is not a priority for the summit.

In a meeting that lasted more than an hour Friday with one of Kim's top deputies, Kim Yong Chol, Trump said he did not raise the issue of human rights. Trump did say he "probably" would bring up human rights when he meets with the North Korean leader  "and maybe in great detail."

As for other concerns, White House press secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders last week wouldn't say whether Trump would bring up the North's extensive chemical and biological weapons programs since the priority is the nuclear question. Kim Jong Un's half brother was fatally poisoned with VX nerve agent in a Malaysian airport last year in an attack the U.S. attributes to the North.

Meanwhile, U.S. allies in the region are privately pressing the administration to maintain pressure on the North over its regional missile program out of concern that Trump could boost the security of the U.S. at the expense of its partners. Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe is meeting Trump at the White House on Thursday to advocate for his country's interests at the talks.

Senate Democrats on Monday released a letter to the Trump administration outlining the parameters of what they believe constitutes a satisfactory agreement  including a call for a permanent end to the North's nuclear, chemical and biological programs, a suspension of ballistic tests, and anytime-anywhere inspections.

The delicate balancing of U.S. needs and alliances with the promotion of human rights abroad has long bedeviled American leaders. And Trump is not the first U.S. leader to concentrate on a nuclear issue at the expense of other matters.

But Trump has eschewed the path of his predecessors, who explicitly declared the promotion of human rights to be in the national interest, even if they were forced to make Faustian bargains with unsavory actors.

The president's national security strategy, released in December, said little on the subject. And it was left to his vice president, Mike Pence, to elevate the issue during a February trip to the region.

Addressing the subject with the North is particularly difficult given that Kim's government is believed to view the raising of human rights as tantamount to advocating regime change. So bringing it up could make it harder to make progress on eliminating North Korea's weapons program.

While Trump has made gestures toward human rights issues in North Korea, those efforts have largely been designed to increase pressure on the country's government. That was the case when Trump recognized a North Korean defector during his State of the Union address in January and hosted a group of North Korean escapees in the Oval Office.

Republican Sen. Marco Rubio of Florida said that while the summit presents the opportunity for a denuclearized peninsula, "I urge the Trump administration to also prioritize human rights and hold accountable the North Korean dictatorship for being one of the world's worst human rights abusers."

Kim is on a Treasury Department blacklist for human rights abuses and is likely to seek removal from the list as a concession.

The U.S. imposed those sanctions two years ago as part of the Obama administration's effort to isolate North Korea, but it came as the Kim government rapidly developed its nuclear program. It was the first time that Kim had been personally sanctioned and the first time that any North Korean officials had been blacklisted in connection with rights abuses. Announcing the sanctions, the U.S. accused North Korea of cruelty and hardship, "including extrajudicial killings, forced labor and torture."

White House officials have pushed back publicly against the notion that Trump has deprioritized international human rights. They point to Trump's rollback of his predecessor's opening with Cuba and his comments about the devastation wrought by the Islamic State group and Iranian-backed Hezbollah.

___

Associated Press writers Kevin Freking and Matthew Pennington contributed to this report.
A shocking video recently surfaced that allegedly shows a play at a preschool in the Gaza Strip where children dressed up as commandos and performed a mock hostage-taking situation and execution of an Israeli soldier.

First reported by the Middle East Media Research Institute (MEMRI), the video purportedly was recorded during a ceremony in May at the Al-Hoda preschool in the self-governing Palestinian territory.

In the play, a group of commandos  including a camouflaged sniper and soldiers in body armor - busted into an Israeli building on Al-Quds Street. They pulled out two hostages  one dressed in traditional ultra-Orthodox Jewish attire and the other as an Israeli Defense Force soldier  before mock-killing the IDF soldier.

The entire five-minute performance featured loud explosions and sound effects of gunfire. As a finale, the hostage was whisked off stage, while one of the commandos displayed a sign in Arabic and Hebrew that read, Israel has fallen.

The play was followed by a demonstration of military formations by the children, while a speech by the late Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat played in the background.

Fox News was unable to confirm the veracity of the content, but a spokesperson for MEMRI said they found the footage while monitoring the Internet for Palestinian videos.

Unfortunately we have seen many videos like this from the region over the years, Steven Stalinsky, MEMRIs executive director, told Fox News in an email.

MEMRI asserts that the Al-Hoda school is affiliated with the Palestinian Islamic Jihad terrorist group and has held similar performances in the past.

According to the Council on Foreign Relations, The Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ) is an Islamic, Palestinian nationalist organization that violently opposes the existence of Israel. The group was designated a terrorist organization by the U.S. State Department in 1997 and is believed to almost entirely funded Iran.

Attempts to contact Al-Hoda by Fox News were unsuccessful.

The video comes at a time of heightened tension between Israelis and Palestinians.

Clashes at the Israel-Gaza border left dozens of Palestinians dead and hundreds wounded on the same day that the Trump administration officially opened the new U.S. Embassy in Jerusalem last month.

Earlier on Sunday, the Israeli military struck Hamas militant sites in Gaza early Sunday in response to the resumption of rocket fire toward Israel, which threatened to unravel an informal cease-fire that had held since a flare-up of violence last week.

Israel has also been battling fires triggered by kites rigged with incendiary devices, or attached to burning rags, launched by Palestinians in Gaza that have damaged forests and burned southern agricultural fields.

The military said it hit 15 Hamas targets, including military compounds, munition factories and naval forces. The strikes came after militants broke days of calm along the volatile frontier by firing projectiles toward Israeli communities.

Last week, Gaza militants fired dozens of mortar shells and Israel struck back, in the most violent exchange between the two sides since the 2014 war.

Despite the flare-up in violence, neither Israel nor Hamas appear interested in a full-blown conflict, and both exercised restraint. Militants in Gaza did not fire long-range rockets at Israel's major cities, as they did in 2014, and Israeli airstrikes were focused on unmanned military targets.

Israel and Hamas have fought three wars since the Islamic militant group seized control of Gaza in 2007.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.
At least seven people have been killed and 20 others injured in Guatemala as a volcano near the country's capital city has erupted for the second time this year.

The Volcan del Fuego, roughly 27 miles from Guatemala City, shot ash nearly four miles into the sky, causing nearly 300 people to evacuate. The ash landed all over the villages of San Pedro Yepocapa and Sangre de Cristo.

Four people, including a national disaster agency official, died after lava set a house in El Rodeo village on fire, an agency official said. Two children were burned to death as they watched the volcano erupt from a bridge, the official added.

An undetermined number of people are missing  sparking fears the death toll could rise.

The stratovolcano  a volcano built from layers of ash and lava  "has erupted on and off for centuries," according to the U.S. Geological Survey.

Volcan del Fuego, one of the most active volcanoes in Central America, last erupted on Jan. 31. It reaches an altitude of 12,346 feet above sea level at its peak.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.
Guatemalas most violent volcanic eruption in more than 100 years sent lava flowing into rural communities Monday, leaving at least 65 people dead. The eruption left emergency personnel scrambling to rescue those in the surrounding area.

The bodies of those who died in the Volcan de Fuego, or "Volcano of Fire," were recovered after Sunday's eruption. Only 13 of those who were found have been identified.

At least 46 others were injured, and authorities said the death toll could rise with the number of people unaccounted for.

Guatemalas disaster agency said 3,200 people have evacuated nearby communities and ash from the eruption was affecting about 1.7 million people. Shelters were open for evacuees.

Currently the volcano continues to erupt and there exists a high potential for (pyroclastic) avalanches of debris, said Eddy Sanchez, director of the countrys seismology and volcanology institute.

The Volcan de Fuego exploded in hail of ash and molten rock blanketing nearby villages with heavy ash at around noon. Lava began flowing out of the volcano and down toward the mountains flank and across homes and roads around 4 p.m.

Dramatic video showed a fast-moving lahar slamming into a bridge on a highway between Sacatepequez and Escuintla. Lahar is described as flow of pyroclastic material and slurry.

HAWAII VOLCANO ERUPTION: HOW MANY PEOPLE ARE KILLED BY VOLCANOES?

Sanchez said the flows reached temperatures of about 1,300 degrees Fahrenheit.

Not everyone was able to get out. I think they ended up buried, Consuelo Hernandez, a resident of the village of El Rodeo, told the newspaper Diario de Centroamerica.

Hundreds of rescue workers, including firefighters, police and soldiers, worked to help any survivors and recover any more bodies amid the still-smoking lava.

Rescue operations were temporarily suspended due to weather conditions, municipal firefighters spokesman Cecilio Chacaj said.

Guatemalan President Jimmy Morales said he would ask Congress to approve a state of emergency declaration and urged residents to heed warnings from emergency officials.

One of Central America's most active volcanoes, the conical Volcan de Fuego reaches an altitude of 12,346 feet above sea level at its peak.

Fox News' Nicole Darrah and The Associated Press contributed to this report.
Critics have slammed the Philippine president for kissing a Filipina on the lips before thousands of cheering Filipino workers while on a visit to South Korea. One senator called the act "a despicable display of sexism and grave abuse of authority."

President Rodrigo Duterte sought a kiss from the woman after he called her on stage to give her a copy of a book at a town hall-style meeting with Filipino workers Sunday in Seoul. When Duterte asked if she can explain to her husband that the antic was just a joke, and she said yes, the president leaned in and kissed her as thousands erupted in cheers.

Duterte told the crowd it was just for fun, but critics condemned what they said was his latest macho antic degrading women.
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Israel says it plans to deduct from tax funds it collects for the Palestinians the amount needed to compensate Israelis living near the Gaza Strip who have come under a wave of arson attacks.

Israel has been battling fires caused by kites rigged with incendiary devices launched by Palestinians in Gaza that have damaged forests and torched agricultural fields. The fires have disrupted daily life in communities near the Gaza Strip.

The kites have been flown by Gazans who have staged weekly protests since late March during which more than 115 Palestinians have been killed by Israeli army fire.

The statement from Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office on Sunday didn't disclose how much would be deducted. Israeli Army Radio put the cost of damages at 5 million shekels ($1.4 million).
Kenya's government has ordered all procurement and accounting officers in all ministries and state-owned corporations to leave their offices for fresh screening as President Uhuru Kenyatta's government attempts combat endemic corruption.

A statement signed by Interior Ministry spokesman Mwenda Njoka said Monday the officers are to submit personal information including their assets, liabilities and previous record of service. Njoka said he does not know how many officers will be affected, but some experts say that more than 500 officials will have to step away from their jobs and submit to new scrutiny.

Kenyatta has been under pressure to curb rampant corruption that has been exposed in several articles in the local press. The government is estimated to have lost billions of dollars to corruption.
A federal court in Mexico has ordered that the investigation into the 2014 disappearance of 43 college students be done again under the supervision of a truth commission.

The court in the northern state of Tamaulipas says accusations that suspects were tortured to give confessions make it necessary to conduct a new investigation.

In a statement Monday, the court called for the creation of an Investigation Commission for Truth and Justice. The commission would be made up of victims' representatives, the National Human Rights Commission and federal prosecutors.

In September 2014, 43 students at a teachers college disappeared in the town of Iguala in the southern state of Guerrero. The government's original version of events was challenged by independent investigators and the victims' families continue to seek justice.
North Korea has reportedly shaken up its military, removing three of its top officials from their posts as the summit between President Trump and dictator Kim Jong Un looms.

Its unclear why Kim would remove his top military brass eight days from the June 12 meeting in Singapore, but analysts told Reuters on Monday that the move will allow Kim to tighten control of the Korean Peoples Army.

KIM JONG UN TERRIFIED SOMEONE WILL KILL HIM AT SINGAPORE SUMMIT

No Kwang Chol, the first vice minister of the Ministry of Peoples Armed Forces, replaced Pak Yong Sik as defense chief, while Ri Myong Su was replaced by his deputy Ri Yong Gil, according to Yonhap News Agency. North Korean state media had previously said Kim Jong Gak was replaced by Army General Kim Su Gil as the director of the armys General Political Bureau, according to Reuters.

If Kim Jong Un is set on making peace with the U.S. and South Korea and dealing away at least part of the nuclear program, he will have to put the KPAs influence in a box and keep it there, Ken Gause, director of the nonprofit research organization International Affairs Group told Reuters.

The move could also be about putting younger, more loyal officials around him while the country begins to focus on economic development, Michael Madden, a North Korea expert from 38 North, told Reuters. He said the army could be getting ready to take over crucial infrastructure projects.

All of the new officials are young than their predecessors, according to Reuters.

Next weeks historic summit between Trump and Kim is expected to focus on denuclearization and the Hermit Kingdoms role in the global economy.

The June summit will be the first-ever meeting between a U.S. president and a North Korean leader.
French authorities in Paris on Monday started to clear out two more illegal refugee camps in the city with the hopes of taking better hold of the migrant influx in the country, Reuters reported.

The locations of the actions included campsites at the Porte des Poissonniers, which is in northeast Paris, and Canal Saint Martin, the report said. Police have cleared out some 28,000 migrants from Paris camps in the past three years, but the arrivals continue.

Last week, authorities moved in to the so-called Millennaire tent camp on the city's edge alongside a canal used by joggers and cyclists. It is the largest of several around Paris. Two migrants drowned this month in canals along the encampments.

City authorities said the migrants, mainly from Africa, will be taken to gymnasiums in the Paris region.

The Associated Press contributed to this report
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Russian President Vladimir Putin is traveling to Austria on Tuesday on his first foreign trip since being sworn in for a fourth term in office last month. The visit, which marks the 50th anniversary of the start of Soviet gas deliveries to Austria, takes him to one of Europe's more Russia-friendly countries at a time when relations between the European Union and Russia are at a low ebb. It's his sixth official visit to Vienna.

EAST-WEST BRIDGE

Austria, unlike many other countries in the 28-nation EU, didn't expel Russian diplomats over the poisoning in Britain earlier this year of former Russian spy Sergei Skripal.

Chancellor Sebastian Kurz in March pointed to Vienna's "traditionally good contacts" with Russia and said his government would use them to press Moscow to help clarify the nerve agent attack. He said Vienna was "of the opinion that it is important to maintain channels of dialogue."

That reflects widespread thinking in Austria, going back well before Kurz's current center-right government  Putin's last visit, in mid-2014, was one of his first to the West after Russia's annexation of Crimea from Ukraine.

Traditionally neutral Austria, which hosts U.N. agencies including the International Atomic Energy Agency, is not a member of NATO. Russian Ambassador Dmitry Lyubinsky recently told the Austria Press Agency that Russia appreciates "Austria's responsible position on questions of the international agenda."

POLITICAL FRIENDS

Putin will meet liberal President Alexander Van der Bellen as well as Kurz, a 31-year-old conservative who became chancellor in December at the head of a coalition with the far-right Freedom Party. That party's leader, Vice Chancellor Heinz-Christian Strache, says he also will meet Putin.

The anti-migration and traditionally euroskeptic Freedom Party has long taken a positive view of the Russian leader, with Strache and other leaders traveling to Moscow in December 2016 to sign a cooperation agreement with the main Kremlin party, United Russia.

BUSINESS TIES

Austria was the first western European country to sign a gas delivery agreement with the Soviet Union, on June 1, 1968, and Putin's visit this week coincides with that anniversary.

Today, gas and oil account for four-fifths of Russian exports to Austria, while Austrian exports to Russia include machinery and pharmaceuticals. Putin's last visit to Austria, in 2014, centered on the signing of an agreement between Austrian energy company OMV and Russia's Gazprom to build the Austrian section of the planned South Stream pipeline, a project that was later scrapped.

OMV is now among European companies involved in the planned Nord Stream 2 pipeline that would double the amount of gas Russia can send directly to Germany, skirting transit countries such as Ukraine  a project opposed by the U.S. and some other EU members.

QUESTIONING SANCTIONS

Austrian exports to Russia declined sharply after EU sanctions in 2014 were met by Russian sanctions.

In an interview with Sunday's edition of the Oesterreich newspaper, Strache said that "a rethink by the EU would be desirable, because the sanctions have above all damaged our Austrian economy." He added that it was time to end the "tiresome sanctions and normalize political and economic relations with Russia."

Austria will take over the EU's rotating presidency for six months in July, but there's little expectation of sanctions being lifted soon given that a peace plan for Ukraine is still far from completely implemented.
In a historic moment, Saudi Arabia on Monday issued driving licenses to 10 women.

Crown Prince Mohammad bin Salman gave the order, which reverses a decades-old prohibition in the conservative kingdom.

Along with other reform efforts, such as lifting a ban on women attending sporting events and allowing movie theaters in Saudi Arabia, permitting women to drive has been a focus for human rights activists in the country.

A video posted on Twitter shows the first woman being handed a driving license by officials, reports Al Arabiya. Thousands of congratulations to the daughters of the homeland, being issued the first license in Saudi Arabia, the translated tweet says.

The first 10 women took a brief driving test before receiving a license, as theyd already held licenses to drive in other countries, such as the U.K. and Lebanon.

SAUDI ARABIA CRACKS DOWN ON FEMINISTS, BRANDING THEM TRAITORS

Saudi women will be allowed to start driving in the kingdom on June 24, according to the countrys General Department of Traffic, based in Riyadh.

In addition, driving schools have been set up in five Saudi cities.

Saudi women have pushed for the government to lift the ban and some have even taken video or selfies of themselves behind the wheel as a form of protest.

However, the news comes at the same time that four iconic Saudi women's rights activists, who had campaigned for the right to drive, remain under arrest and facing possible trial.

U.S. State Department spokeswoman Heather Nauert has previously said the U.S. is happy with the decision to lift the ban, calling it a great step in the right direction for that country.

The crown princes Vision 2030 reform plan seeks to elevate women to nearly one-third of the workforce, up from about 22 percent now.
A stolen painting by British artist Stanley Spencer was returned to its owners five years after it was taken when authorities located the $1.3 million piece of work under a drug dealers bed, next to cocaine and ecstasy tablets, officials said.

Authorities located the painting, titled Cookham from Englefield and worth 1 million pounds ($1.3 million), after raiding Harry Fishers apartment in Kingston-Upon-Thames, southwest of London in the United Kingdom, the U.K. government said on Sunday. Fisher, 28, was caught last June when police stopped him in a Mercedes and found cocaine and about $40,000 in cash.

Police conducted a raid and found the valuable painting hidden under Fishers bed. Another 3 kilograms of cocaine and 15,000 ecstasy tablets were discovered next to it.

The painting by Sir Stanley Spencer was placed in Stanley Spencer Gallery in Cookham until thieves broke into the building in 2012 and took it.

The owners said they were devastated at the loss of the painting, which was of great sentimental value, the government wrote in a news release.

Spencer is one our most renowned painters and a true great of the 20th century. It is wonderful that this story has had a happy ending and the painting has been returned to its rightful owners, Arts Minister Michael Ellis said.

COAST GUARD: BUOY NAVIGATION DEVICES STOLEN OFF MAINE COAST

The painting was returned to its owners last month.

Fisher was sentenced to eight years in prison after pleading guilty to conspiracy to supply class A drugs, acquiring criminal property and handling stolen goods.

Zak Lal, 32, the passenger in Fishers car when they were first stopped, was also sentenced to five years and eight months in jail after he admitted to conspiracy to supply class A drugs, acquiring criminal property and possession of an offensive weapon.
A suicide bombing targeted a gathering of Afghanistan's top clerics on Monday in Kabul, killing at least four people and wounding a fifth person, the police said. Shortly before the attack, the clerics had issued a fatwa against suicide bombings and urged peace talks to end the Afghan war.

Ghafor Aziz, police chief of Kabul's 5th District, said the bomber detonated his explosives near the entrance of a compound where the religious body, known as the Afghan Ulema Council, was meeting under the traditional tent of the Loya Jirga, the council of elders.

Had the attacker penetrated deeper, the casualty numbers could have been significantly higher, Aziz added.

No one immediately claimed responsibility for the attack.

Around 2,000 members of the council had gathered for the meeting at the tent erected in Afghan capital's 5th District. The explosion struck as the council was ending and the participants were about to leave, Aziz also said.

Shortly before the attack, the clerics had issued an Islamic ruling, or a fatwa, declaring that suicide attacks are "haram" -- forbidden under Islamic law.

The council appealed on both the Afghan government forces and the Taliban and other militants to halt the fighting and agree on a cease-fire. It also called for peace negotiations between the two sides. It was the first time the council has issued such an appeal.

Less than an hour before the attack happened, Ghofranullah Murad, a member of the council, read out a written statement from the gathering saying that innocent Afghan men, women and children are the true victims of war.

"The ongoing war in Afghanistan is illegal and has no root in Sharia (Islamic) law," the statement said. "It is illegal according to Islamic laws and it does nothing but shed the blood of Muslims."

"We the religious Ulema call on the Taliban to respond positively to the peace offer of the Afghan government in order to prevent further bloodshed in the country," it added.

The fatwa also said that killing people by any means -- such as bombs and suicide attacks -- as well as violent acts, including robbery and kidnapping, count as sins in Islam.
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Friendswood's flood rating slips

FRIENDSWOOD

Friendswood achieved an unprecedented flood insurance program rating in 2003, but the rating has fallen in recent years, which could affect the rates property owners pay for federal flood insurance.

Such a sharp decline in the rating implies the city is no longer doing as much to mitigate flood damage, one expert said. However, city officials said they are not cutting corners, and the rating fell because of changes in the rules.

The National Flood Insurance Programs Community Rating System is a voluntary incentive program that recognizes and encourages communities to do things that will reduce flood damage to insurable property. Those mitigation efforts can reduce the amount the National Flood Insurance Program, which been plagued by debt from covering catastrophic losses, must pay out after events like Hurricane Harvey.

Depending upon the level of participation, flood insurance premium rates can be reduced up to 45 percent, Federal Emergency Management Agency spokesman Kurt Pickering said.

Cities are rated 1 to 10 in the system and can get different insurance reductions. For example, if your community earns 4,500 points or more, it qualifies for Class 1, and property owners in the floodplain get a 45 percent discount. If your community earns 500 points, its in Class 9, and property owners in the floodplain get a 5 percent discount.

The system grants points for 19 different activities that communities can participate in such as outreach projects, floodplain mapping and stormwater management.

Friendswood achieved a rating of 5 in October 2003, which was a good rating and unprecedented for the city. In recent years though, the citys rating has fallen to 7, according to FEMA documents.

A community like Friendswood falling back that hard in the rating system is relatively unheard of, Samuel Brody, a flood expert at Texas A&M University, said.

Having worked with FEMA for years and years, its well-documented that to go from a 5 to a 7 they stopped doing stuff to protect their residents, he said.

Its unclear how the citys rating decrease specifically happened, Brody said.

It could be that they cut a program, they cut a staff member, they had budget issues, he said. It could be a compliance issue. Friendswood was a real leader in the mitigation area. Im just curious why they let it slip.

The community rating system allows cities incentives in the form of premium discounts for communities, and if Friendwoods system fell, that might potentially have consequences for the city, Body said.

How is that fall affecting the programs they are asking for? he said. Because they literally fell back.

However, city officials said they are doing nothing differently, and the rating fell because the programs rules changed.

This wasnt a situation where we failed to do anything, City Manager Morad Kabiri said. There was a new manual adopted by the system.

The rating systems manual was updated in April 2017, and Friendswood has had a regularly scheduled cycle, Pickering said.

Regardless of the rating, the citys focus right now is helping residents recover from Harvey, Mayor Mike Foreman said.

Despite how we are rated, we are going to work hard on our flooding and drainage issues, he said.

Friendswood officials estimated damage from Harvey, which caused massive flooding in late August, to be near $82.7 million citywide. Damage to single-family houses in Friendswood was about $62.1 million. Of 2,410 single-family homes damaged, more than 190 were destroyed, with more than 48 inches of water inside.

The city hasnt done anything different with the program, building official Brian Rouane said.

We have done nothing different, he said. Its a daily routine that Im involved in and a lot of my job deals with the CRS program.

The city is focusing on how to recover from Harvey and little effect from the rating is felt, Rouane said.

As far as how its effected the rating, theres been little effect in the daily activities, he said. We have been doing the same things for the last few years. We have maintained the same polices to the program.

The city will try to improve its rating, but the main goal is assisting flooded residents, Foreman said.

We are still trying to help people out, he said. We are going to continue those efforts.
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Before coming to work for The Daily News as a staff reporter, Connor worked for us as a freelance correspondent throughout 2017. He has written for other publications such as the Washington Post.
Rescue in Altenahr : Woman rescued by helicopter from Engelsley

Altenahr A group of three people in Altenahr got into difficulties on Sunday evening during a hike over the Engelsley ridge. A woman had to be brought down from the mountain to the valley by helicopter.

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A 76-year-old woman hiker was rescued from the Engelsley in Altenahr in a dramatic incident on Sunday evening. According to Frank Linnarz of the Altenahr fire service, the woman from Cologne, who was out in a group with two other hikers, was in a state of exhaustion and could not continue along the climbing track.

The fire brigade therefore called in the German army helicopter from Norvenich, which is equipped with an external winch and brought the woman down from the mountain. She was given first aid on the mountain by special forces and then attached to the winch. She was safely on the ground again at around 8.10pm, where she was met by emergency doctors and examined.

Rescue services were able to lead the two other hikers down the climbing track. The 76-year-old was unharmed and drove home with her two fellow hikers after the rescue. The Altenahr fire service and the Kreuzberg fire service with its special fall protection unit were on duty.
damyti at 4-06-2018 07:44 AM (3 years ago) (m)

The immediate past Governor of Niger State, Babangida Aliyu, has challenged his successor and current Governor, Abubakar Bello, to prove his that administration failed to invest in projects or keep quiet altogether.

The immediate past Governor of Niger State, Babangida Aliyu, has challenged his successor and current Governor, Abubakar Bello, to prove his that administration failed to invest in projects or keep quiet altogether.

He stated this in reaction to Bellos allegation against him which bordered on impropriety in the execution of key projects initiated during his tenure and described the incumbent as a liar and sentimental.





In a press statement signed by his Media Assistant, Israel Ayegba, Aliyu claimed Bello was merely looking for an escape route, ahead of 2019 elections. He said, Through unwarranted allegations, the ruling APC administration in Niger State is merely trying to give the impression that every past administration in the state was as clueless as the incumbent.



While we agree that the ruling APC administration in Niger State reserves the right to raise issues about its predecessors performances in office, we must say that the party in power lacks the moral justification to turn itself into a perpetual blackmailer of its precursors even when it finds it difficult to substantiate its allegations."

He stated this in reaction to Bellos allegation against him which bordered on impropriety in the execution of key projects initiated during his tenure and described the incumbent as a liar and sentimental.In a press statement signed by his Media Assistant, Israel Ayegba, Aliyu claimed Bello was merely looking for an escape route, ahead of 2019 elections. He said,

Post Reply Posted: at 4-06-2018 07:44 AM (3 years ago) | Upcoming
clarajancita at 4-06-2018 10:37 AM (3 years ago) (f)

Its an unarguable fact that some African Heads of State boast some of the most elegant and intellectual first daughters. And not only do these First daughters enjoy the perks that come with being the scion of powerful people, they are highly desirable too.

Its an unarguable fact that some African Heads of State boast some of the most elegant and intellectual first daughters. And not only do these First daughters enjoy the perks that come with being the scion of powerful people, they are highly desirable too.

We obviously love to celebrate beautiful women so here are the top beautiful daughters of African Presidents.

1. Princess Sikhanyiso Dlamini (Swaziland)



Her Royal Highness Princess Sikhanyiso Dlamini of Swaziland is the eldest daughter of His Majesty King Mswati III of Swaziland.



She is the first of his 30 children, and her mother is the first of King Mswatis 10 queens, Inkhosikati LaMbikiza.

2. Ange Kagame (Rwanda)

Ange Kagame is the second child and only daughter of President Paul Kagame of Rwanda.

She is a philanthropist and has been involved in causes that include women empowerment, education and poverty eradication, as well as disease immunization. Her statuesque height took many people by surprise soon after she took a photo with former US President Barrack Obama.



3. Malika Bongo Ondimba [Gabon]



Malika Bongo Ondimba is the only daughter of the President of Gabon, Ali Bongo Ondimba and shes been described as a beauty to behold.



She has been tagged as a social and women right activist as she defends and offers social assistance to less privileged or abused women.

4. Ngina Kenyetta (Kenya)



Ngina Kenyetta is the daughter of Uhuru Kenyatta, the President of Kenya. This beauty was named after her grandmother, Mama Ngina Kenyatta. She has been regarded as a very social and controversial lady.



Her color and beauty is usually the centre of attraction each time she steps out of arrives at an event.

5. Aya al-Sisi (Egypt)



Aya appears with friends, while Aya is the one at the far right of the centre photo. She is with her husband in the photos at the right and left hand side of the entire shot.



Aya is Abdel Fattah al-Sisi, the ex-army chiefs only daughter who is currently the president of Egypt. She is not only beyond stunning, she is polite and courteous.

6. Thutukile Zuma (South Africa)



Thuthukile Zuma is the chief of staff in the Department of Telecommunications and Postal Services and youngest of South African president Jacob Zumas four daughters with ex-wife Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma.

She is regarded as very beautiful as she spots a very low cut hairstyle and her charming face is something that many have regarded as very beautiful.

7. Brenda Biya (Cameroon)



The daughter to the president of the Republic of Cameroon, Brenda Biya is one of the most beautiful daughters of a President in Africa.



She studies abroad and according to Cameroonian media she owns a 3-storey gated modern estate in a plush Beverly Hills neighbourhood. She has sometime ago, been linked with sharing some not so respectful photos of her unclad self online.

8. Isabel Dos Santos (Angola)



Isabel dos Santos is the daughter of Angolas President Jose Eduardo dos Santos. She is an Angolan investor.



She is considered by Forbes to be the richest woman in Africa and the most powerful and richest woman in her country. According to Forbes, her net worth is $3.7 billion US dollars.

9. Zahra Buhari



President Buharis beautiful daughter, Zahra Buhari makes this interesting list. Zahra is the daughter of Nigerias President, Muhammadu Buhari.

Zahra came into the limelight during her fathers campaign for President during the last Presidential election in 2015.



Her photos were released to the Nigerian public and it trended for days and several young Nigerians couldnt help but gush about how hot she looked despite being dressed decently.

She is married to Ahmed Indimi, the son of Nigerian businessman, Mohammed Indimi.

10. Bona Mugabe (Zimbabwe)



Bona Mugabe is the daughter of Zimbabwe President, Robert Mugabe. Married to Simba Chikore, this gorgeous lady is looking graceful by the day.



She did her undergraduate university studies in accounting and finance at the City University of Hong Kong and then continued her postgraduate studies in banking and finance at Singapore Institute of Management. She currently works at Alpha & Omega Dairy in Mazowe, Zimbabwe. We obviously love to celebrate beautiful women so here are the top beautiful daughters of African Presidents.Her Royal Highness Princess Sikhanyiso Dlamini of Swaziland is the eldest daughter of His Majesty King Mswati III of Swaziland.She is the first of his 30 children, and her mother is the first of King Mswatis 10 queens, Inkhosikati LaMbikiza.Ange Kagame is the second child and only daughter of President Paul Kagame of Rwanda.She is a philanthropist and has been involved in causes that include women empowerment, education and poverty eradication, as well as disease immunization. Her statuesque height took many people by surprise soon after she took a photo with former US President Barrack Obama.Malika Bongo Ondimba is the only daughter of the President of Gabon, Ali Bongo Ondimba and shes been described as a beauty to behold.She has been tagged as a social and women right activist as she defends and offers social assistance to less privileged or abused women.Ngina Kenyetta is the daughter of Uhuru Kenyatta, the President of Kenya. This beauty was named after her grandmother, Mama Ngina Kenyatta. She has been regarded as a very social and controversial lady.Her color and beauty is usually the centre of attraction each time she steps out of arrives at an event.Aya appears with friends, while Aya is the one at the far right of the centre photo. She is with her husband in the photos at the right and left hand side of the entire shot.Aya is Abdel Fattah al-Sisi, the ex-army chiefs only daughter who is currently the president of Egypt. She is not only beyond stunning, she is polite and courteous.Thuthukile Zuma is the chief of staff in the Department of Telecommunications and Postal Services and youngest of South African president Jacob Zumas four daughters with ex-wife Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma.She is regarded as very beautiful as she spots a very low cut hairstyle and her charming face is something that many have regarded as very beautiful.The daughter to the president of the Republic of Cameroon, Brenda Biya is one of the most beautiful daughters of a President in Africa.She studies abroad and according to Cameroonian media she owns a 3-storey gated modern estate in a plush Beverly Hills neighbourhood. She has sometime ago, been linked with sharing some not so respectful photos of her unclad self online.Isabel dos Santos is the daughter of Angolas President Jose Eduardo dos Santos. She is an Angolan investor.She is considered by Forbes to be the richest woman in Africa and the most powerful and richest woman in her country. According to Forbes, her net worth is $3.7 billion US dollars.President Buharis beautiful daughter, Zahra Buhari makes this interesting list. Zahra is the daughter of Nigerias President, Muhammadu Buhari.Zahra came into the limelight during her fathers campaign for President during the last Presidential election in 2015.Her photos were released to the Nigerian public and it trended for days and several young Nigerians couldnt help but gush about how hot she looked despite being dressed decently.She is married to Ahmed Indimi, the son of Nigerian businessman, Mohammed Indimi.Bona Mugabe is the daughter of Zimbabwe President, Robert Mugabe. Married to Simba Chikore, this gorgeous lady is looking graceful by the day.She did her undergraduate university studies in accounting and finance at the City University of Hong Kong and then continued her postgraduate studies in banking and finance at Singapore Institute of Management. She currently works at Alpha & Omega Dairy in Mazowe, Zimbabwe.

Post Reply I am a metro reporter on Gistmania, I have been publishing news materials for over 5 years Posted: at 4-06-2018 10:37 AM (3 years ago) | Hero
An incident of prison break is currently developing in the North-central part of Nigeria with serious pandemonium caused. The Medium Security Prison located at Tunga area of Minna metropolis was attacked by gunmen on Sunday night.

DSP Rabiu M. Shuaibu, PRO, Nigerian Prison Service, Niger command, confirmed this in a statement made available to us on Monday morning. He said the incident was perpetrated by armed criminals, who attacked the prison and gained access after exchange of fire with armed prisons officials.

Quote

This led to dead of a prison officer and an Okada rider who convey a prison officer on night duty, the spokesman added. So far, through combined effort of all security agencies in the state 7 prisoners who attempted to escape have been recaptured and returned to the prison. The Prison authority in Minna is profiling the number of fleeing inmates to ascertain the escaped prisoners.



However, normalcy has returned and security agencies are working together to ensure that fleeing inmates are recaptured. The general public is hereby assured of its safety; and advised to go on with its normal business At this juncture, we will like to urge all law abiding citizens to support the security agencies in maintaining law and order as security is a collective responsibility.

We also advise that citizens should endeavor to report to security agencies any suspicious person or group of persons.
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.
Republican Gov. Bruce Rauner on Monday signed into law a $38.5 billion spending plan for state government, approving a full budget on time for the first time since he took office in 2015.Flanked by Republican and Democratic lawmakers, Rauner touted the legislation as the product of "a great team effort, a great bipartisan effort.""Today we are having a small celebration," Rauner said at a signing ceremony at the James R. Thompson Center in the Loop, adding that the budget was a compromise. "It is not perfect, but it's a good step in the right direction."The budget legislation is the product of negotiations between the Democrats who control the General Assembly and Republican lawmakers allied with the governor.Unlike in previous years, when Rauner had insisted that a budget deal come alongside approval of his broader legislative agenda, the governor this time requested only a balanced budget that required no new taxes. That meant that lawmakers were free to spend the money they'd raised through a new income tax increase that was enacted last summer over Rauner's objections.The plan maintains state government spending close to existing levels. It boosts funding for early childhood and K-12 education by a combined $407 million. And it projects savings of $445 million from new pension buyout options for state pensioners.Sen. Heather Steans, a Chicago Democrat and chief budget negotiator, said she wore purple to the ceremony as a nod to bipartisan compromise."I really do believe that the process was what it should be, with everybody coming together and creating a product," Steans said. "We still have a lot of challenges in the state of Illinois that we haven't yet tackled and I really hope that doing it in this fashion provides a foundation from which we can delve deeply," into those issues.Democratic Rep. Greg Harris, another point person on the budget talks, noted that the budget for the financial year that starts in July was "built on the foundations laid by the budget we passed last year on a bipartisan basis."That's an allusion to the billions of dollars in new money that was available this year as a result of the dramatic budget showdown that ended last summer, when some Republican lawmakers broke with the governor to help Democrats pass an income tax increase.This year, House Republican Leader Jim Durkin of Western Springs cast the budget agreement as a turning point for the typically divided legislature."The men and women behind me reflect, I believe, a new attitude in Springfield, one that encourages but also demands bipartisan cooperation," Durkin said.Rauner largely kept silent about the budget-making process during the final weeks of negotiations. But at the bill signing on Monday, he highlighted several portions of the budget that he said he was most proud of.The budget provides a $5,000 tax credit for families who adopt children. It sets aside $500 million for a University of Illinois-led innovation center in the South Loop called the Discovery Partners Institute. And it pays state workers for wage increases that they were promised by former Gov. Pat Quinn but were never paid. A recent court order required the state to make payment of that back pay.Rauner also noted that lawmakers had found $1.5 billion in spending cuts as well."It's not easy to make cuts, but the reductions in spending were made and I'd like to thank everyone for the discipline to achieve that," Rauner said.
Medicaid, as we know it, is the nation's government-run health care program for the poor. You have to make below a certain amount of money to qualify for it, and it's free for most. But what if people -- regardless of their income -- could buy a Medicaid plan?That idea is gaining popularity among state lawmakers. Last year, a "Medicaid buy-in" or "Medicaid-for-all" bill made it as far as the governor's desk in Nevada. Gov. Brian Sandoval vetoed it, but it inspired similar efforts around the country. Six states -- Iowa, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Missouri, New Jersey and Washington state -- have active legislation to establish a Medicaid buy-in program. In four others, bills were proposed but stalled. New Mexico has set up a task force to study a Medicaid buy-in program, and Connecticut may do the same.The premise of these buy-in bills is like Nevadas: Medicaid plans would be offered on each state's insurance marketplace, and people who don't traditionally qualify for Medicaid could pay premiums and co-pays. In Missouri, though, the Medicaid buy-in plans would only be expanded to people who have a disability and are employed.According to experts, each state likely has a different reason for considering this option."States are still exploring what it would even mean," says Heather Howard, director of State Health and Value Strategies. For one state, it could be about addressing a bare county. For another, it could be an affordability issue. For another, it could be about expanding competition. In the absence of federal legislation on health care, states are asking: 'What tools do we have?'"For left-leaning lawmakers, Medicaid buy-in is considered a step toward single-payer health insurance. But conservatives are wary of expanding the government's role in health care and of funneling more money into Medicaid, which is already a huge slice of state budgets.New Mexico state Sen. Jerry Ortiz y Pino -- who co-sponsored a bill to study the issue -- says Medicaid buy-in makes sense there because the majority of residents (54 percent) already have Medicaid or Medicare. Its the only state where more than half the population uses government health care."Besides Medicaid, we have a high Medicare population, high VA [Veterans Affairs] population and high numbers in the Indian Health Service," says Ortiz y Pino. "So when we talk about non-governmental insurance, its a small number. That small population means it's hard to attract private insurers, particularly in the marketplace."New Mexico's marketplace has four insurers covering the state, which is actually more than many part of the country. About half of Americans only had one or two insurers last open enrollment season. Still, like most other states, New Mexico's marketplace is facing increased premiums and possible insurer dropouts this year.Despite the spike in interest, Medicaid buy-in is unlikely to be implemented -- or even passed -- in any state this year. The bills that still have a chance have barely moved. Theres even hesitation in blue states -- like Maryland, which killed buy-in bills this year. As health care uncertainty on the federal level continues -- Congress reportedly may try again this year to repeal the Affordable Care Act -- some think it's too risky of a proposition to take on right now. And its unlikely the Trump administration would agree to pay for additional costs of a buy-in, putting any new financial burden squarely on states.Its hard to say if itll catch on. Its a crystal ball question. But I will say that states are interested. We had a session at the end of our conference about Medicaid buy-in, and it was packed, says Anita Cardwell, a policy associate with the National Academy for State Health Policy.If New Mexico does move forward with a buy-in option, it wouldnt be the most generous of plans, says Ortiz y Pino. He expects they would offer all that's required, like mental health and maternity care, but that the plans would be more like Medicaid lite.""It would cover the basics. I dont think we could have long-term care, for instance. But I do think we could put together a nice package of benefits, he says.New Mexicos study is expected to be complete by Thanksgiving. Depending on the results, Ortiz y Pino hopes the legislature can file an official Medicaid buy-in bill in early 2019.This is our shot at this," he says. "If the numbers look right, of course."
Supreme Court sidesteps major ruling in Masterpiece Cakeshop case [Washington Blade]

Here are 5 important things you need to know about todays Supreme Court ruling in the gay wedding cake case [RawStory]

3 years after same-sex marriage ruling, protections for LGBT families undermined [USA Today]

In bakers case, neither side has much reason to rejoice [The Washington Post]

A win for Masterpiece Cakeshop but it aint over yet [Fox News]

The Supreme Court's missed opportunity in the Masterpiece Cakeshop case [Washington Examiner]

The Supreme Court ruled narrowly Monday for a Christian baker who refused to make a same-sex wedding cake, deciding that he was a victim of religious bias on the part of the state's civil rights commission.But the 7-2 ruling, written by Justice Anthony M. Kennedy, stressed the importance of maintaining equal rights for gays and lesbians.Here are some hot takes and analysis of the ruling from around the web:From the outlet that describes itself as "America's LGBT news source."Read this for a bullet-point breakdown of the ruling's implications. Bullet No. 1: "The ruling does not allow discrimination against same-sex couples, LGBT people, or anyone else. It changes no laws and sets no precedents."Reporter Susan Miller breaks down the backlash to the Supreme Court's 2015 decision to legalize gay marriage. Since then, states have added barriers for LGBT couples to adopt, win parental rights in divorce cases, and use their spouses' employment benefits.Columnist Jennifer Rubin: "Both proponents of gay rights and defenders of Christians who refuse to provide certain services to gay couples will, no doubt, read much more into the decision handed down today than is warranted."Columnist Todd Starnes: "Mondays ruling should give some comfort to Christian business owners who primarily service the wedding industry  gay rights do not necessarily trump everyone elses rights. ... But the fight goes on and we must be watchmen on the wall, forever diligent in the battle to protect and defend our nations first freedom."Attorney Gabriel Malor: "Instead of resolving the broad legal questions, the majority seized on two peculiarities of this particular case to reverse the Colorado Court of Appeals decision punishing the baker."
Vulnerability in our ratings does not mean an incumbent is at risk of losing a primary contest -- only a general election.

Our handicapping is based on consultations with dozens of experts in the states, as well as national party strategists.

And within all categories, the seats are listed from most likely to go Republican to most likely to go Democratic.

Safe Republican

Likely Republican

Lean Republican

Tossup

Lean Democratic

Likely Democratic

Safe Democratic

Voting is one of the more divisive issues these days. While Republicans are pushing voter identification laws and purging inactive voters from the rolls, Democrats are doing everything they can to make voting easier.This conflict, as well as growing concerns about cybersecurity of elections, has elevated the office of the secretary of state more than ever. It's also made this November's races much more intense.Currently, Republicans hold 28 secretary of state offices, and the Democrats hold 17. (Our tally doesn't count Oklahoma's vacancy, Pennsylvania's nonpartisan position, and the three states that lack the position -- Alaska, Hawaii and Utah.) Of the 35 states where voters elect the secretary of state, 26 have contests this fall.As the party with the most offices nationally, the Republicans are at greater risk. They will have to defend a total of seven open seats, in Arkansas, Georgia, Kansas, Michigan, Nebraska, Ohio and South Dakota. By contrast, the Democrats, barring something unexpected, won't have to defend a single open seat.There are more Republican vacancies this year than usual. That's partly because the position has become a significant stepping stone for ambitious politicians. Brian Kemp of Georgia and Kris Kobach of Kansas are running for governor; Jon Husted of Ohio is running for lieutenant governor; and Shantel Krebs of South Dakota is running for the U.S. House.The breakdown of incumbents running for another term is more evenly divided between the parties: 10 for the Republicans and nine for the Democrats.Not all of this year's contests are competitive, of course. But nine of them are, according to our handicapping, which rates the races as either safe Republican, likely Republican, lean Republican, tossup, lean Democratic, likely Democratic or safe Democratic.Five seats are in the lean Republican category, one in the tossup category and three in the lean Democratic category. The lean Republican seats are in Colorado, Georgia, Iowa, Kansas and Ohio; the tossup seat is in Nevada; and the lean Democratic seats are in Connecticut, Michigan and New Mexico.All told, Republicans will have to defend seven competitive seats, compared to just two for the Democrats. Given the possibility of a Democratic wave in the midterm elections, this imbalance in competitive seats suggests the Democrats could gain a few seats.There is one secretary of state race that we don't handicap, and it may be the most interesting one in 2018, partially because the Democratic incumbent is on the defensive. New Hampshire doesn't directly elect its secretary of state -- that's a job for the state legislature. Democrat Bill Gardner has kept hold of his office, regardless of legislative party control, since 1976 due in no small measure to his uncompromising defense of the state's first-in-the-nation presidential primary status. But this year, he faces a tougher road to reappointment.Gardner took flak -- particularly from Democrats -- for joining the Trump administration's short-lived voter fraud commission. Recognizing a potential opening, Democrat Colin Van Ostern, who lost a gubernatorial bid in 2016, decided to throw his hat in the ring. Gardner still has a deep well of support, but his continued service as secretary of state is not assured.Louisiana will also hold a special election in November to fill the vacancy caused by the resignation of GOP Secretary of State Tom Schedler amid allegations of sexual misconduct. The filing deadline is on July 20. Given the premature nature of the race, we won't be handicapping it yet.Before we get to the ratings, a few notes:Denney, the incumbent, escaped primary opposition and should be able to defeat Democratic nominee Jill Humble, a nurse, in this solidly red state.The GOP will choose its secretary of state nominee at its party convention in mid-June. Observers expect the candidate to be the state auditor, Steve Barnett. Either way, the Republican nominee should be the overwhelming favorite in November.Merrill faces Marshall County Revenue Commissioner Michael Johnson in the primary and is expected to win because he is seen as personable and has traveled widely to forge support around the state. Merrill is also expected to beat his Democratic opponent, who will likely be business consultant and activist Heather Milam.Buchanan was appointed secretary of state after Republican Ed Murray resigned amid allegations of sexual misconduct. Buchanan is expected to cruise to victory against Democratic state Rep. James Byrd in this deep red state. He previously served for a decade in the state House, including a stint as speaker.Republican Bon Evnen, an attorney and former member of the state board of education, is the favorite against Democrat Spencer Danner.Hammond is running for a fifth term but facing a spirited June 12 primary challenge by state Rep. Josh Putnam. Putnam has called on Hammond to resign after his office's failure to affix the state seal to more than 100 pieces of legislation. Hammond is still favored, but whoever wins would start out as a favorite against the likely Democrat, Army veteran Melvin Whittenburg.This race has produced some unexpected fireworks. First, Jaeger, who has held the office since 1992, was defeated at the state GOP convention by businessman Will Gardner. Then, it came out that Gardner had pled guilty to disorderly conduct in a 2006 peeping case at a North Dakota State University women's dorm. After Gardner withdrew, it initially seemed like the GOP would be stuck with Gardner on the ballot, leaving the field open for Democratic state Rep. Josh Boschee. Eventually, though, Jaeger announced that he would run in the general election as an independent. Given Jaeger's statewide name recognition and North Dakota's Republican leanings, we're putting the race at likely Republican.Lawson is seeking her second full term. She's a favorite to win reelection despite her role in the aborted voter fraud commission headed by Vice President Mike Pence and Kansas Secretary of State Kris Kobach. Lawson denied the commission access to Indiana voter registration data, which provides her some cover from any negative fallout. The Democrat in the race is attorney Jim Harper. He faces an uphill climb: No Democrat has won the office since 1990.Commissioner of State Lands John Thurston defeated state Rep. Trevor Drown in the Republican primary and now faces Democrat Susan Inman in November. Substantively, Inman is highly qualified, having served as director of elections in the secretary of state's office and as Pulaski County's election director. This may enable her to keep the race close, but the GOP's partisan edge in the state makes her bid decidedly uphill.Reagan, a first-term incumbent, faces a contested GOP primary, including challenges from former state Sen. Lori Klein Corbin, businessman Steve Gaynor and immigration lawyer Kevin Gibbons. Whoever prevails in the GOP primary will face a credible Democratic challenge from either state Sen. Katie Hobbs or attorney Mark Robert Gordon. This contest could shift depending on who wins the nominations. But for now, we're putting it at likely Republican.Two Republican candidates will face each other in a runoff: former state Rep. Brad Raffensperger and former Alpharetta Mayor David Belle Isle. The winner will square off against the Democratic nominee, former U.S. Rep. John Barrow. Until the final matchup emerges, we'll put this contest at lean Republican.This race will likely center on a voter ID law passed by the GOP-controlled Iowa General Assembly in 2017. Pate supported the law, and Democrats see it as a factor energizing their base. The two Democratic candidates are Deidre DeJear, a former Barack Obama outreach organizer, and Jim Mowrer, an Iraq War veteran who ran twice for Congress. Either would need a reasonably strong blue wave in the state to oust the incumbent.Republican state Sen. Frank LaRose and Democratic state Rep. Kathleen Clyde will face off in a competitive November contest. The GOP's recent success in statewide contests leads us to start this race off as lean Republican. But if Democratic gubernatorial candidate Richard Cordray catches a blue wave, Clyde could benefit.After eight years of controversy under Kobach -- a champion of tough voter fraud laws -- the race to succeed him is wide open. On the Republican side, the field consists of several credible candidates, including state Reps. Scott Schwab and Keith Esau, former deputy assistant Secretary of State Craig McCullah and former Sam Brownback administration official Dennis Taylor. The Democrats have one candidate, but he's intriguingly outside-the-box: Brian McClendon, a former executive with Google and Uber who is originally from Lawrence. McClendon's deep pockets, combined with the post-Kobach hangover and a relatively strong rest of the ballot for Kansas Democrats, makes this contest more competitive than usual for the Jayhawk State.Williams has been reasonably popular, but if a Democratic wave develops in Colorado, his opponent, attorney and activist Jena Griswold, could mount a serious challenge. She faces long historical odds: Democrats have not won the office in six decades.This race will tilt depending on the strength of a possible blue wave. Cegavske is expected to face Democratic state Assemblyman Nelson Araujo. Polling shows Araujo slightly ahead, but it's premature to call this anything but a tossup.In Michigan, the two parties will select their nominees in late August state conventions. The Republican front-runners are Stan Grot, the Shelby Township clerk and former Macomb County commissioner, and Mary Treder Lang, an accountant and Eastern Michigan University regent. Either would face a tough race against former Wayne State University law school dean Jocelyn Benson, particularly if a blue wave develops. Benson lost a previous bid for the seat narrowly in 2010, which was an awful environment for a Democrat.Merrill prevailed by a fairly wide margin amid a challenge at the state convention by Karen Talamelli Cusick, a Democratic town chairwoman. Republicans, hoping that voter angst over Democratic Gov. Dannel Malloy's two terms will spill over into other statewide contests, are pinning their hopes on Susan Chapman, a former first selectwoman. Merrill is the favorite for November -- but not a solid one.Democrats have a strong shot at winning back the governorship this year, and if they do, they should be fine in the secretary of state race, too. (It doesn't hurt that the last Republican to hold the office, Dianna Duran, went to prison on fraud and embezzlement charges.) Republican JoHanna Cox, a former prosecutor, should be able to run a credible campaign. A wild card is the Libertarian candidacy of Sandra Jeff, who previously served in the legislature as a Democrat. For now, though, this race leans Democratic.John Howe, a former Republican state senator and congressional candidate, is seeking the GOP nomination, but the incumbent, Simon, is favored to win another term.La Follette is running for an 11th term, though he hasn't escaped a primary challenge this year from Arvina Martin, the first Native American to be elected to the city council in Madison. The winner will be the favorite against former Menasha Town Supervisor Jay Schroeder in the general election.Without a top-tier Republican challenger, Condos looks safe for reelection.In 2014, Gorbea was a first-time candidate and an underdog against a well-known, self-financed primary opponent. But she was an energetic campaigner and narrowly won the primary. She went on to win the general election, becoming the first Hispanic elected to statewide office in New England. Gorbea has maintained a high profile in the state. Republicans have until the end of June to find a candidate, but whoever they choose will be at a steep disadvantage.The action will be in the Democratic primary, where Boston City Councilman Josh Zakim is challenging Galvin -- and recently secured the endorsement at the party convention over the incumbent. Zakim is young and dynamic, but Galvin has the edge in name recognition and is currently the favorite.Padilla, the first Latino to hold the position in California history, is heavily favored to win another term.White is considered a lock for reelection due to his long tenure in office. He'll face Jason Helland, a little-known prosecutor from a small county.
Kris Kobach made his way through a parade in Johnson County Saturday morning, waving from an American flag colored jeep with a large gun mounted in back.The sight of Kobach, a Republican candidate for Kansas governor, in the vehicle at the Old Shawnee Days parade stunned some onlookers and quickly sparked criticism on social media."It was pretty shocking," said pastor Johnny Lewis of Shawnee Community Christian Church. "There were audible gasps from the folks we were sitting by."Lewis said he respects the views of people on both sides of the Second Amendment debate, but found the display inappropriate in a crowd filled with kids at a time when many of them, like his 6-year-old daughter, are scared that they might be victims of a school shooting."Why was that necessary sir?" Lewis said on Facebook, directing his comments at Kobach. "My child didn't need that today."Kobach's campaign was quick to defend the candidate's decision to wave at the crowd standing next to what appeared to be a .50 caliber machine gun."The gun is a replica," Kobach spokeswoman Danedri Herbert said in a text message."The Secretary says those who use the excuse of school violence to restrict the right to bear arms are deeply misguided. We need to stand up for our Second Amendment rights and recognize the only thing that stops a bad guy with a gun is a good guy with a gun."Kobach's ride was among 115 entries in the parade down Nieman Road and Johnson Drive, which began at 10 and finished a little more than 90 minutes later.The pro gun-control group Moms Demand Action was also represented. Jo Ella Hoye, a leader of the Kansas chapter, was among those wearing orange to raise awareness about gun violence."I'm sure that people felt happy to see it," Hoye said of the replica gun on the Jeep. "Some people might have been afraid to see it."She said Kobach is the one who is misguided regarding "what national gun violence awareness day is or what people working to prevent gun violence are doing."The city of Shawnee issued a written apology in response to growing criticism on Twitter and Facebook, which read in part:"We want to apologize for the concern and frustration involved with Mr. Kris Kobach's parade entry at the Old Shawnee Days Parade on Saturday, June 2, 2018. In no way does this or any parade entry or float directly reflect the views and values of the City, the Old Shawnee Days Board or the Old Shawnee Days Society."Again, we apologize and understand the concern this caused. We have reached out to Mr. Kobach's media contact in an effort to get answers. Please know that the safety of our residents is always our highest priority and we apologize if this made anyone feel unsafe or unsettled. We will be taking steps in the future to try to ensure something similar does not happen again."Kobach is an ardent defender of gun rights. In April, he held a pro-gun-rights rally on the steps of the Kansas Capitol on the same day students nationwide had walkouts for gun control.While students walking out for gun control watched Kobach's event in Topeka, he gave a speech saying: "Instead of walking out of class, why don't you stay in class and spend that half hour studying the history of the Second Amendment?"Kobach, the Kansas Secretary of State, is running against Gov. Jeff Colyer, Insurance Commissioner Ken Selzer and former nominee Jim Barnett for the Republican nomination.
At a "Gavin for Governor" fundraiser last summer hosted by Republican donors in Newport Beach, Lt. Gov. Gavin Newsom accepted a $1,000 donation from a controversial Soviet emigre with an extensive history of misrepresenting his business dealings to investors and the U.S. Justice Department.Yuri Vanetik, a Southern California-based donor with ties to several California House Republicans, gave Newsom $1,000 last June, according to campaign finance records filed with the California Secretary of State's office. It appears Newsom accepted the contribution on June 6, when he was pictured sitting with Vanetik at the GOP-sponsored fundraiser. The campaign cash showed up on his campaign finance filings June 7.Newsom campaign spokesman Jason Kinney told The Sacramento Bee Saturday that the campaign would return the contribution, "effective immediately.""We do not know this donor beyond the fact that he is a Republican who attended one event, and we weren't aware of these issues until we were made aware of them by The Bee," Kinney said in an interview. "Out of an abundance of caution, we are returning this contribution."A former finance co-chair of New York state's Republican Party, Vanetik registered as a lobbyist for a contentious Ukrainian politician after giving money to Newsom, as late as March 2018, according to a report by the McClatchy DC .He has a questionable history. It appears that Vanetik violated the Foreign Agents Registration Act for conducting work on behalf of Ukrainian politicians without registering as a foreign agent, McClatchy reported. He was required to register as a foreign agent with the Justice Department because he lobbies Congress on behalf of a wealthy Ukrainian lawmaker, as well as Ukraine's Agrarian Party.Newsom's June 2017 fundraiser was hosted by Republican donors, including Vanetik, who have been pictured with and have financial ties to high-profile Republicans in Congress, including Orange County Rep. Dana Rohrabacher, House Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy of Bakersfield and Kentucky Sen. Rand Paul.Other major GOP donors included Jason Pitkin, the campaign finance director for Rohrabacher, Jim Glidewell, who has contributed heavily to Rohrabacher's political campaigns, Ali Jahangiri, a board member for a members-only think tank called Gen Next, and Hadi and Barbara Makarechian, also associated with the think tank who have given money to Democrats and Republicans, including McCarthy.Their connection with Newsom apparently was centered around marijuana. All are affiliated with Gen Next, which supports legal marijuana, as does Rohrabacher. Newsom spearheaded California's ballot initiative legalizing marijuana in 2016.In an interview with The Sacramento Bee Saturday, Newsom said he met Pitkin at a press conference in San Francisco when he launched the campaign in support of Proposition 64, the legalization measure. He said the Republican interests behind Gen Next approached him because of his strong support of decriminalization."They connected with me because of my strong advocacy on marijuana legalization. That's why Rohrabacher showed up and supported our cannabis legalization," Newsom said. "I have these guys that have nothing to do with my politics supporting me. I said 'Why are you guys supporting me?'"They said because the cannabis legalization," Newsom said, noting they brought Rohrabacher to the campaign kickoff. "These guys, it's such a serious issue for them that they said 'we've never supported a Democrat, but you're right on this and so we want to be helpful to you in this campaign.'"After the fundraiser last summer, Glidewell, one of the Republican donors, told the Southern California-based Daily Pilot that he hosted the fundraiser for Newsom because he "will make an excellent governor of California. The Republican Party, of which I am a staunch supporter, will not have a viable candidate for office this coming election. I feel Gavin is the obvious winner and I'd like to vote for someone who can actually win for a change," according to a September article in the newspaper.Newsom said he was not aware of Vanetik's questionable past or his connection to Ukraine."Oh my God, I'll have to look that up," Newsom said Saturday, when asked about the campaign contribution. "It's inconceivable to me at this stage, with 126,000 individual donors. I don't know anything about it... If there's any issues, I'm happy to send it back."One thing I know is no one ever talked to me about Ukrainian issues," Newsom said. "That's for (Special Counsel Robert) Mueller's investigation of Trump."Kinney addressed questions about Newsom decision to hold a fundraiser with big-money Republican donors."This campaign has been blessed with more than 125,000 individual donors, and many are Republicans," Kinney said. "That's a point of pride and a demonstration of Gavin's appeal to Californians of every political stripe. We've had events with donors in every corner of this state from every political background."
Gov. Dannel P. Malloy signed a ban Thursday on so-called bump stocks -- the devices used last year by a shooter in Las Vegas who killed nearly 60 people and wounded hundreds more at an outdoor concert.The law also bans trigger cranks and other accessories that allow semi-automatic weapons to fire at near-automatic speed. From a high-rise hotel, the Las Vegas shooter fired 90 rounds every 10 seconds.Since the Las Vegas mass shooting in October -- the deadliest in modern American history -- several states, including Vermont, Massachusetts, New York, California and Florida, have approved similar bans.Some Democratic state legislators surrounded Malloy and applauded as he signed the bill into law, but no Republican lawmakers attended the ceremony at Bulkeley High School in Hartford."I think they were probably afraid that they'd be picked on for largely being responsible for ghost guns not passing," Malloy said after being asked by a television reporter. "Listen, we should have banned ghost guns as well. There were a handful of Democrats who were weak-kneed on it, I'll admit that. But by and large, the opposition to a ghost gun law, which would have improved our safety, was the responsibility of the Republican Party."Ghost guns are firearms that can be purchased in parts on the internet and then assembled at home with no serial number, registration or background check. Some Democrats tried to ban the guns during the past legislative session, but the measure was never debated in the state House of Representatives or the Senate.Senate Republican Leader Len Fasano of North Haven noted that both Republicans and Democrats voted strongly for the bump stock ban. The measure passed 26-10 in the Senate and 114-35 in the House."Leave it to Gov. Malloy to take a serious issue and turn good bipartisan policy into divisive partisan politics," Fasano said. "On his way out of office, Gov. Malloy is still trying to be divisive and play politics even on an issue that had bipartisan support. The bipartisan vote tally on the bump stock ban speaks for itself. Yet Gov. Malloy's comments today were a direct effort to incite division. I did not see any Democrat legislative leaders at today's bill-signing, but the governor chooses to attack only Republicans."Malloy is not running for re-election and Rep. William Tong, who pushed for the ghost gun bill as co-chairman of the legislature's judiciary committee, is running for attorney general and will not be serving in the General Assembly.But Rep. Steven Stafstrom, a Bridgeport Democrat who serves as the committee's vice chairman, told The Courant after the bill-signing that he will re-introduce the ghost gun ban next year.Tong, an attorney, said he had no concerns that a civil lawsuit by gun rights supporters could block the bump stock ban."It's not even close that it's constitutional under the two leading Supreme Court cases, written by two of the most conservative Supreme Court justices," Tong said. "It said that the state clearly has the right and prerogative under its police power to pass commonsense gun reforms and gun laws."The bump stock bill bans the purchase, possession, use and sale of the devices. The new law takes effect Oct. 1, giving anyone who currently owns the devices time to get rid of them. There is no grandfather clause.Anyone eviously had a with a bump stock will initially be charged with a misdemeanor but eventually anyone possessing the devices will be charged with a felony.U.S. Sen. Richard Blumenthal, a Democrat and longtime gun control advocate, said federal authorities should follow the state's lead."Connecticut is once again showing the nation that bipartisan, commonsense gun violence prevention measures are achievable and necessary," Blumenthal said. "Congress should take a page from Connecticut and ban bump stocks immediately and completely. Connecticut's borders cannot stop the transport of these deadly devices until they are banned nationwide."The bill-signing was attended by a variety of legislators and gun control advocates.Chaeli Allen of the Newtown Action Alliance said she became an activist after the December 2012 Sandy Hook school shootings in her hometown. She attended the March for our Lives in Washington, D.C., this spring that was prompted after the Feb. 14 school shooting in Parkland, Fla.On the day of the Newtown shootings, Allen was an eighth-grade student at St. Rose of Lima School, only about a mile from Sandy Hook Elementary School."Throughout the healing process, it's been difficult to confront this head-on," Allen said Thursday. "There's been a renewed energy, especially after Parkland."
Rejecting an appeal from state officials, the Texas Supreme Court on Friday let stand a lower-court ruling requiring Texas to identify the pharmacy that supplied its execution drugs as part of a 2014 legal challenge.The state's highest civil court declined to accept the case without comment, other than to note that Justice Jimmy Blacklock -- formerly a legal adviser to Gov. Greg Abbott -- did not participate in discussions of the case.Prison officials have worked for years to avoid identifying the source of the state's lethal injection drugs, arguing that the publicity would deter suppliers from selling to the state over fears of protests and threats from death penalty opponents.The Austin-based 3rd Court of Appeals, however, ruled in May 2017 that exceptions in the Texas Public Information Act did not apply to the information, sought in 2014 by three lawyers who represented death row inmates, because state lawyers could point only to vague threats of violence against suppliers.Maurie Levin, one of the lawyers who sought the information, praised the court's action as a victory for transparency but said its impact will likely be limited by a 2015 law that allows state prison officials to keep secret the name of the pharmacy or company that sells execution drugs to Texas."We are hopeful that in light of the Supreme Court's decision today, the state will finally honor the district court's 2014 order commanding the state to disclose the source of its lethal injection drugs. Today's decision is a win for the fundamental principles of transparency and open government," Levin said.Prison officials will ask the Supreme Court to reconsider its ruling, said Jeremy Desel, spokesman for the prison agency.Motions for a rehearing, however, are rarely granted by the court.The dispute began when the lawyers for death row inmates, seeking to verify that the state's execution protocols would not produce an unconstitutional level of pain and suffering, asked the Texas Department of Public Safety to reveal the drugs used in executions, the source of the drugs and any testing performed to verify their effectiveness.Prison officials declined to name the source, saying only that execution drugs were purchased from a licensed compounding pharmacy in Texas. An opinion from state Attorney General Ken Paxton agreed that the source of execution drugs must be kept secret because of the threat of harm to the company and its employees.But writing for the 3rd Court of Appeals three-judge panel, Justice Bob Pemberton said prison officials pointed only to isolated, vague threats against suppliers of execution drugs. That was not enough to show a "substantial threat of physical harm," a standard established by the Texas Supreme Court in 2011, to withhold the information under state law, Pemberton wrote.Allowing governments to withhold information based on a threat of violence, Pemberton warned, could vastly expand the amount of information that could be kept from the public."Virtually all who participate in our government and its functions face not only the potential comment and criticism that are fair game in our free society, but will at some point bear some degree of risk of ... physical violence," he wrote.
California-funded travel to Oklahoma has been banned, starting June 22, because of a new Oklahoma law that allows adoption agencies to deny placement services to same-sex parents, state officials announced Friday."California taxpayers are taking a stand against bigotry," Attorney General Xavier Becerra said in announcing the travel ban. "California will not use state resources to support states that pass discriminatory laws."A California law passed last year prohibits state-sponsored travel to states with laws that allow discrimination based on sexual or gender orientation. Seven other states are already on the ban list: Alabama, Kansas, Kentucky, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Dakota and Texas."Our taxpayer dollars do not fund bigotry," Becerra said. "No exceptions."In Oklahoma City, an official with the Oklahoma City Convention and Visitors Bureau said she is unaware of any cancellations in visitor bookings because of the dispute, but that it could be too soon to tell."I've not seen an effect," said Sandy Price, vice president of tourism sales. "I'd hate for there to be a downturn because of this."Cynthia Reid, vice president of the Greater Oklahoma City Chamber of Commerce, said her chamber and its members had fought against the adoption law."We opposed the legislation, as we oppose all discriminatory legislation," she said. "One of the reasons we opposed it is for this reason (the California ban) right here."The California ban could have a "marginal impact on any (Oklahoma) conference involving California state employees," she said, adding that the chamber "hasn't done a full assessment."Chamber President Roy Williams said his group had asked the governor not to sign the bill, without success, and that he was hopeful the courts would overturn it.Last month, Oklahoma's governor signed the fiercely debated bill, opposed by gay rights groups and many businesses, that also allows private agencies to refuse to place LGBT foster children in homes."Every child deserves a loving, supportive family, and it's neither pro-child, nor pro-family, for Oklahoma to deny them one," said Rick Zbur, the executive director of Equality California, a gay civil rights organization based in Los Angeles. "California taxpayers won't subsidize Oklahoma's -- or any state's -- discriminatory policies."
Description

GIS 04 June, 2018: The Norwegian oceanographic research vessel, Dr Fridtjof Nansen, arrived on 2 June 2018 at the Port Louis harbour after a 30-day mission in the Mauritius-Seychelles Joint Management Area. In this context, a ceremony was organised this afternoon at Quay E in Port Louis in the presence of the Minister Mentor and Minister of Defense and Rodrigues, Sir Anerood Jugnauth, the Minister of Ocean Economy, Marine Resources, Fisheries and Shipping, Mr Premdut Koonjoo, and other eminent personalities. The Norwegian oceanographic research vessel, Dr Fridtjof Nansen, arrived on 2 June 2018 at the Port Louis harbour after a 30-day mission in the Mauritius-Seychelles Joint Management Area. In this context, a ceremony was organised this afternoon at Quay E in Port Louis in the presence of the Minister Mentor and Minister of Defense and Rodrigues, Sir Anerood Jugnauth, the Minister of Ocean Economy, Marine Resources, Fisheries and Shipping, Mr Premdut Koonjoo, and other eminent personalities.

The survey was implemented within the framework of the Programme Agreement between the Norwegian Agency for Development Corporation (Norad), the Norwegian Institute of Marine Research and the Food and Agricultural Organisation (FAO) for the Programme Supporting the Application of the Ecosystem Approach to Fisheries management considering climate and pollution impacts (EAF Nansen Programme). This collaboration was renewed last May with the new phase of the programme taking into account the climate impact and pollution.

In his address, Sir Anerood Jugnauth lauded the scientific expedition which he said is the first of its kind in the region. This landmark achievement, he said, will help Mauritius and Seychelles to better understand and evaluate the marine resources in the Joint Management Area. He recalled that the Mascarene Plateau is as important for Mauritius as it is for Seychelles while adding that this achievement represents a new frontier for the ocean development of the two countries.

Speaking about the extended continental shelf, Sir Anerood Jugnauth pointed out that in December 2008, Mauritius and Seychelles, both parties to the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, made a joint submission to the United Nations Commission on the Limits of the Continental Shelf (CLCS) for an extended continental shelf beyond their respective 200 nautical miles of Exclusive Economic Zones in the region of the Mascarene Plateau. The area comprises a vast extent of seabed and underlying marine subsoil of approximately 396 000 km2.

He added that the CLCS appointed a sub-commission that examined the joint submission in 2009. Following extensive deliberations, the CLCS made its recommendations in March 2011 which resulted in Mauritius and Seychelles being jointly conferred the jurisdiction upon the joint area of extended continental shelf of 396 000 km2.

The Minister Mentor and Minister of Defence and Rodrigues highlighted that two treaties were signed in March 2012. The first pertains to the joint exercise of sovereign rights by Mauritius and Seychelles on the continental shelf. The second deals with the management of the seabed of the continental shelf. It defines the modalities for exploration and exploitation of the living and non-living resources of the continental shelf, while providing a favorable framework for both countries to jointly and fairly manage the continental shelf.

Since then, Mauritius and Seychelles have been working on the legal and institutional framework to enable activities in relation to marine resources. A Joint Commission has also been established, which is supported by a technical committee and is under the supervision of a ministerial council, he said.

For her part, the Ambassador of Norway to Mauritius, Ms Anne Lene Dale, stated that both Norway and Mauritius share common values and interests since they are both small nations. She pointed out that the Sustainable Goal No 14 (Conserve and sustainably use the oceans, seas and marine resources for sustainable development) is of high priority to both Norway and Mauritius. She pointed out that the data collected during the expedition will be used for research so that both Mauritius and Seychelles can attain sustainable use of marine resources.

Referring to the Nansen project, Ms Dale pointed out that its objectives are to help African countries in fisheries research and management. Its principal concerns, she underlined, are to enhance food security through sustainable fisheries, while contributing to global efforts to address ocean sustainability issues, such as marine pollution, and the impact of climate variability and change on oceans and ocean life.

The EAF-Nansen Programme

The new EAF-Nansen Programme aims at consolidating the results of the previous phases, supporting the implementation of the Ecosystem Approach to Fisheries (EAF), including improving the knowledge base for decision-making, while also broadening the scope to addressing a wider range of impacts of human activities on fishery resources and on marine ecosystems such as pollution and climate change.

A new state-of-the-art research vessel, the third Dr Fridtjof Nansen, is made available to the programme. This vessel continues to operate as a unique platform for knowledge generation, capacity development and research exchange. The vessel is 74.5 m long, features specialised laboratories and advanced scientific equipment, and has capacity to accommodate up to 30 scientists.

The survey

The main objective of the survey in the national waters of Mauritius including the Nazareth Bank aims at gaining understanding of the ecosystem status in general and of specific ecosystem components and attributes. Other objectives include mapping of geomorphology, benthic habitats and benthos, mapping of fish and crustacean resources, and measurements of physical and chemical oceanography, including current measurements.

For the first time, the team was made up of 13 Mauritian scientists out of a total of 29. The Mauritian institutions that participated in this study are: the Department for Continental Shelf, Maritime Zones Administration and Exploration; the Ministry of the Ocean Economy, Marine Resources, Fisheries, and Shipping; the Ministry of Housing and Lands; the Mauritius Oceanographic Institute; and the University of Mauritius.

Five Seychelles scientists from the University of Seychelles, the Seychelles Fishing Authority, and the Seychelles National Parks Authority were also part of the mission. The Representatives from the Marine Research Institute of Norway, the Western Cape University and a Russian scientist also accompanied the team.

The scientific team was led by two co-Cruise Leaders, one from the Hydrocarbon / Mineral Exploration Unit of the Department for Continental Shelf, Maritime Zones Administration and Exploration and the other Norwegian, Dr Odd Aksel Bergstad, from the Institute of Norwegian Marine Research.
Evolving Technology

Growing Popularity

More to Come

'Dealing with Human Beings'

(TNS)  At least one Pennsylvania police department is testing a new camera that attaches to the underside of an officer's service weapon  but local police agencies already have a wide range of opinions about the advancing technology."New technology is always worth looking into," said Howard Burton, chief of the Penn Hills Police Department. "We're always open to technology that can assist officers and help the public."The Viridian FACT Duty Camera automatically starts recording high-definition video as well as audio when the weapon is unholstered. Viridian officials say it is "designed to provide crucial audio and video data when a deadly force incident occurs."It is one of the latest additions to a wave of camera technology available to law enforcement agencies. Pennsylvania law does not require police to use any kind of cameras but does provide guidelines for departments that do.Tarentum police Chief Bill Vakulick said his department already uses a device similar to the FACT Duty Camera on the underside of its Tasers."You can see it clear as day, and it's perfect," Vakulick said. "We've had claims that people falsely accused us of tasering them, and when you download the camera, it's easy to figure out the truth." Popular Science magazine first reported on the California Highway Patrol using a car-mounted movie camera  in 1939.Connecticut State Police in the late 1960s attempted to install a video camera and recorder in a patrol car, Popular Science reported. But the use of onboard cameras  and later dashboard-mounted cameras  became more popular in the 1980s and 1990s, according to the International Association of Chiefs of Police , or IACP.The Department of Justice and the Office of Community Oriented Policing Services, or COPS, in 2000 launched the In-Car Camera Initiative Program to help pay for dash cams for state police and highway patrol agencies across the country. Within three years, dash cam use in those agencies rose from about 11 percent to nearly 75 percent.Pennsylvania troopers use dash cams, state police spokesman Cpl. Adam Reed said.That agency also could soon add body-worn cameras to its technology arsenal."We're getting close to moving forward with testing body cameras," Reed said. "But we feel confident that will do a good job for us and capture all the necessary video and sound we require."In 2013, about 75 percent of police departments surveyed nationwide reported not using body cameras, according to a survey paid for by COPS and conducted by the Police Executive Research Forum.After the U.S. Department of Justice in 2015 spent more than $23 million on police body-camera programs across the country, a 2016 survey by the Major Cities Chiefs Association and Major County Sheriffs' Association found that 95 percent of large departments around the country already were using body cameras or soon would be.Bicycle and motorcycle officers with the Pittsburgh Bureau of Police have worn body cameras since 2014. The department bought 50 body cameras in 2012 and wore them for six months before realizing they were not legally allowed as the state wiretapping law was then written.This spring, Pittsburgh police announced that its entire force will begin wearing body cameras. The bureau has 600 on hand, with about 150 officers already wearing them.Pittsburgh police use two models of body cameras, both made by Axon, formerly known as Taser International, department spokesman Chris Togneri said."We have a five-year contract with them, so we are not considering other options at this time," Togneri said.In April, Axon announced that it had created an artificial intelligence ethics board for public safety to help determine whether and how to add facial-recognition technology to its body cameras.The ACLU and NAACP were among 42 civil rights and civil liberties groups to write the ethics board and raise concerns about the AI technology. Others include The Center for Media Justice, the Electronic Frontier Foundation and the Center for Privacy & Technology at Georgetown Law.Largely, the groups worry about how such technology could further widen racial inequalities."Law enforcement in this country has a documented history of racial discrimination. Some agencies have routinely and systematically violated human and constitutional rights. Some have harassed, assaulted, and even killed members of our communities. These problems are frequent, widespread, and ongoing," their letter stated. "Because Axon's products are marketed and sold to law enforcement, they sometimes make these problems worse."Viridian promotes the FACT Duty Camera as another tool in the law-enforcement toolbox.As a supplement to existing camera technology, Penn Township police Chief John Otto said he's "all for it.""If you want to throw a supplemental thing in there to help us, great," Otto said. "But you also can't forget that we're dealing with human beings on both ends, and that's why the courts deal in reasonableness, totality of circumstances and that sort of thing."Kevin Angell is a body-worn camera export based in Florida who has consulted with the Sarasota, Fla., and Washington, D.C., Metro police departments. In addition to whether departments feel a weapon-mounted camera is a good fit, there is also the administrative side of things to consider, he said."You're going to get gigabytes and terabytes of data," Angell said. "It's really the ability to look at it, store it and find something amidst all that data that will be truly important."Irwin police don't use dashboard or body cameras. The time needed to sort through that information is a concern, Chief Roger Pivirotto said."We don't have a lot of manpower to handle the administrative issues that come with that," Pivirotto said. "With the (gun-mounted) camera, you wouldn't have so much video that it would be a burden to the department, so it would definitely be something of more interest to me."Otto's main concern was whether the FACT Duty Camera would integrate with software already used by Penn Township police.But the decision on whether to add weapon-mounted cameras is unique to each department's circumstances, he said."It's going to come down to what are your priorities, what can you afford and where do you want to allocate your resources?" Otto said.
(TNS)  Johnie Brazile maneuvers his wheelchair every day the few blocks from his apartment at Sutliff I apartments in Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio, to the nearby Cuyahoga Falls Library to use the free Wi-Fi there.Brazile likes to get on Facebook and play Texas Hold Em with other players online.Now, thanks to a new project just launched by the Akron Metropolitan Housing Authority (AMHA), Summit County Executive Ilene Shapiro and Akron Mayor Dan Horrigan, Brazile can get free Wi-Fi in the common area on the first floor of his apartment building.The ConnectHome Akron program is part of a national initiative started by the Obama administration and continued under the Trump administration and the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development to help close the digital divide for low-income families in Summit County, said AMHA Executive Director Tony OLeary.Akron is one of 55 communities nationwide chosen for the initiative. The city of Akron and Summit County co-sponsored the application.Parts of the program include providing high-speed broadband, low-cost devices and digital literacy to low-income families across the country.The Summit County program is just being launched and will take a few years to ramp up, said OLeary. So far, three AMHA properties have rolled out free Wi-Fi either in a common area or at the entire property: At Sutliff I apartments, the free Wi-Fi in the first-floor common area was added two weeks ago; the Reach Opportunity Center in Summit Lake has Wi-Fi within its entire facility and Spicer Terrace, a 12-unit building near the University of Akron, has Wi-Fi throughout the property.Through the ConnectHome program, AMHA is planning to provide free Wi-Fi access at 12 high-rise buildings that serve senior citizens and people with disabilities as our first priority and eventually to more than 20 multi-family complexes, said OLeary. The expansion of services is expected to occur over the next four to five years as funding and support is developed for the program, he said.The national initiative does not come with any funding, so AMHA is including the Wi-Fi upgrades into its budget as it can and will be seeking donations from companies, too.So many things are moving to the internet these days that access to the internet is almost a necessity, said OLeary.Theres a very high percentage of low-income Americans who cannot afford to be connected, he said.It can also be a problem for school-aged children who need to do schoolwork on a computer or research, he said.Part of the AMHA project is a website, http://www.connecthomeakron.org , which provides links to a service that can provide low-cost computers and laptops to income-eligible customers and links to digital classes provided by the Akron-Summit County Public Library.While the ConnectHome Akrons initial focus will be AMHA-owned properties, any income-eligible individual in Summit County can use parts of the program such as the low-cost devices or free classes, OLeary said.During the first phase, the goal by the end of next year is to get free Wi-Fi to public areas and some residential areas of at least 10 AMHA properties, said Jason Colon, AMHA IT manager. AMHA is also exploring offering Wi-Fi to whole neighborhoods near Summit Lake, he said.The second phase will look for grant money and opportunities to get access to free or low-cost devices, said Christina Hodgkinson, director of AMHAs resident services department.Some of the program will also be educating residents on resources that already exist, such as free classes through the library or free Wi-Fi access at libraries, said OLeary.Since free Wi-Fi was added in the common area of the Sutliff I apartment building, Brazile said hes been downstairs a lot more.He would spend more time downstairs, but usually hangs out on his tablet until my tablet goes dead or I have to go charge it, he said.Eventual plans are to put Wi-Fi throughout the Sutliff building. When that happens, Brazile said I probably wouldnt even come out of my apartment and thats the truth.Brazile has a limited data plan on his phone, but tries not to use it too much since its costly.Fellow resident Barbara Long uses her phone data to get on the internet, but tries not to run up costly overages. She has a brand new tablet, but she hadnt been connecting to the internet since she didnt have a data plan for it, so she was only playing games that are already on the tablet and which dont require internet access. With the free Wi-Fi, Long predicted she would be spending more time in the common area.
Prior attack uncovered

Health care also targeted

Experts: Back up often

(TNS)  When two ransomware attacks hit the city of Riverside in April and May, it wasnt the first time the citys public safety servers lost data because of a malicious virus, this newspaper found in a review of city records.A check of newspapers across Ohio reveals similar unfortunate targets around the state: Licking County government, the Columbiana County courts and townships in Clinton and Morrow counties were once all ransomware victims. In Clark County, hackers encrypted the Mad River Twp. Fire and EMS servers with ransomware in December.The damage extends across the nation: When a library system in South Carolina faced a ransomware attack, patrons couldnt check out or return books. In Richmond, Indiana, the local housing agency fell victim to an $8,000 ransom. Hackers shut down 2,000 computers at Colorados transportation department, then attacked again when the agency tried to recover.While the hackers ideal target  and the damage caused  varies, one certainty is that local governments are not exempt from the pain of ransomware, which is malicious software that threatens to block access to data or to publish it unless the infected organization pays a ransom.The ransom demands are often relatively small compared to an organizations overall budget, but the cost of avoiding payment can be steep, as the city of Atlanta found this year. An attacker demanded a $50,000 ransom to restore the Atlantas systems, but the city ended up shelling out nearly $2.7 million on eight emergency contracts in an attempt to fix the problem.Experts encouraged all computer users to follow one rule to avoid ransomwares predilection for data destruction.Real simple, said John Moore, a computer technician in Trotwood. Back up your data.Hackers hit Riversides police computers with ransomware several years before the latest incidents, emails obtained by the newspaper show. The attack occurred under a prior city manager and also saw the police department lose documents, according to an email from Councilman Steve Fullenkamp to other city leaders.Sometimes, as was the case with at least one of Riversides recent attacks, the virus can be downloaded by clicking on an infected email. Organizations often dont learn they have been infected until they cant access their data or until computer messages appear demanding a ransom payment in exchange for a decryption key, according to the FBIs website.The first of the recent attacks against Riverside erased about 10 months of police records, the records show. The second attack wiped just several hours of data, because the city had backed-up the data.The U.S. Secret Services Southern District of Ohio Financial and Electronic Crimes Task Force is investigating the latest attacks.Task force agents have worked with the city and their IT contractor to mitigate vulnerabilities in the network and to assist in further securing their data, said Kevin Dye, U.S. Secret Service Dayton office resident agent in charge. At this time, based on significant analysis, it is not believed that any data or personal information has been exposed.Riverside city officials were advised not to talk publicly about the investigation, the records show, but the newspapers review of documents confirms the city is working to correct our vulnerabilities.Part of our immediate actions include updating the virus protection on our IT devices restricting permissions given to staff, applying filters to web content, changing/updating passwords and adding (virtual private network) connections for police cruisers, wrote Mark Carpenter, Riverside city manager, in a May 15 email to city council. We are still pursuing an assessment of our equipment and the process we have in place.Beyond government, health care presents another major bullseye for hackers.The WannaCry ransomware attack last year  reportedly developed by North Korea , an allegation Pyongyang denies  caused chaos across thousands of computers in more than 100 nations, though hospitals in the United Kingdom were among the hardest hit.A hacking group named Orangeworm presents some of the newest threats in health care. The group seeks to install malware called Kwampirs on MRI and X-ray hospital equipment, according to the cybersecurity company Symantec.Orangeworms end game is still a mystery, said Pranav Patel, chief executive of Dayton start-up MediTechSafe. The hackers could be plotting a ransomware attack, a large-scale theft of patient or corporate data, or they could be orchestrating a health scare by potentially controlling the devices, for instance, altering MRI results, he said.They are learning all about the device operations and vulnerabilities so then when they really want to exploit them, they could, Patel said. The value of the data is quite high, and if they ever were to create a threat, you are talking about patient safety.Premier Health uses sophisticated software to monitor and stop hacking threats in real-time, said Gary Genter, Premier Health chief information officer.Our tools are looking for those different variants out there, making sure that if it does see anything in our system it quarantines it very quickly, but also if it sees it trying to get into our network blocks it at the firewall, Genter said.Experts say promptly installing system software updates when sent by Apple or Microsoft can help ensure computers have the latest defenses against the newest threats. Moore, the local computer technician, stressed the need for computer backups.Youre not going to get your data back unless you pay them, and the reality check is, if you just back up your data it wouldnt be a problem because you can re-wipe and re-install the whole thing, Moore said.Moore also advised paying close attention while opening or responding to emails.No one from Ireland sent you $2 million, Moore said. If you dont know the person, dont open the email. If it looks too good to be true, it probably is.
Toyota Motor is introducing a mid-lifecycle model change for the AYGO, its successful A-segment entry in the European market. In 2017, AYGO was amongst the top sellers of the A-segment with more than 85,000 units sold, and a segment share of 6.6%.

Launched in 2005 for Europe, the first generation Toyota AYGO was designed to attract young, urban-based customers, and to bring a greater sense of playfulness to the Toyota brand. AYGO was not only Toyotas first model in the compact city car segment, but also the result of a new joint-venture with PSA, with the cars specifically developed for Europe and produced at the new TPCA (Toyota Peugeot Citroen Automobile) factory in Kolin, Czech Republic.





Along with design and content changes, the new AYGO features a more efficient powertrain with improved performance and handling characteristics to make it even more fun to drive.

With my 14 years of experience in being a Chief Engineer for joint venture projects, I know the importance of sustaining modernity during a vehicles lifecycle. So when we started development of the second generation AYGO in 2012, I already had in mind the visual changes and innovations I wanted to pursue for this mid-lifecycle model change. From the start of the development, it was clear that we had many big challenges on our hands, since the outgoing model was still very well thought of by A-segment customers thanks to its strong exterior design and fuel efficiency. But we also had to take into account the increased number of competitors which make the A-segment an even more challenging environment. Based on this, we wanted the new model to look and feel like a new car, while focussing on three pillars to enhance AYGOs DNA: re-evaluate the exterior design, make the car quieter and more fun to drive, and lower the total cost of ownership by making new AYGO even cheaper to run. Through significant improvements to the 1.0-liter, 3-cylinder engine such as adding exhaust VVT and twin injectors- we are now able to offer A-segment customers the best combination of performance and best in class fuel efficiency, in-line with AYGOs DNA of fun and efficient. Thanks to these changes I can confidently say that new AYGO is the most responsive car in its segment, while keeping its green credentials. David Terai, AYGO Chief Engineer

Toyotas award-winning, 998 cc, 3-cylinder, 12-valve, DOHC, Dual VVT-i engine is now Euro 6d-TEMP-compliant (also called Euro 6.2). The unit has been extensively revised, now combing a balance of power and fuel consumption with enhanced torque delivery at lower engine rpm for an even better driving experience in urban traffic.

The 1.0-liter, 3-cylinder engine was extensively revised and we improved the combustion efficiency through the adoption of a new dual fuel injector system. The compression ratios have been increased and friction within the engine was reduced. A new throttle body motor and ignition coil were adopted and, last but not least, we made changes to the cylinder head and block, the piston design and the EGR system. By applying all these changes we were able to make new AYGOs powertrain compliant with the latest Euro 6.2 regulations and reduce CO 2 emissions by 5 g/km across the entire model range. This is a tremendous achievement for such a small engine that was already very efficient. Kristof Muylle, Senior Project Manager at Toyota Motor Europes R&D center





The cylinder head benefits from a new dual fuel injector system, enhancing combustion efficiency. The shape of the intake port has been changed to achieve optimum intake tumble flow. As a result, combustion efficiency is further enhanced, improving both fuel economy and exhaust gas performance.

The shape of the exhaust port has been changed to increase its size, decreasing pressure within the exhaust manifold. This not only contributes to enhanced torque delivery throughout the engine speed range, but also improves fuel economy.

A VVT mechanism has been added to the exhaust camshaft, improving fuel efficiency and exhaust gas performance. Furthermore, the optimization of the valve spring characteristics and the addition of a diamond-like carbon coating to the valve lifter reduce friction to further enhance fuel economy.

Within the cylinder block, the shape of cooling passages between cylinder bores has been optimized to improve cooling efficiency. This achieves superior anti-knock performance while contributing to enhanced fuel economy and exhaust gas performance.

A foamed rubber-type water jacket spacer has been adopted to optimize cylinder bore heat distribution, reducing piston-generated friction and improving fuel economy.

The shape of the combustion chamber has been optimized, increasing the engines compression ratio from 11.5:1 to 11.8:1. Both piston and piston ring friction have been reduced through the resin coating of the reshaped piston skirt, and the addition of a diamond-like carbon coating to the piston ring top section.

An Exhaust Gas Recirculation (EGR) cooler system has been added, enhancing the cycle efficiency of the EGR system to further improve fuel economy. A dynamic damper has been added to the right-hand engine mount to improve Noise and Vibration (NV) performance.

Finally, an improved balance shaft has been adopted to reduce vibration at idling speed.

As a result of these comprehensive enhancements, the engine now develops 53 kW (72 DIN hp) at 6,000 rpm, and 93 Nm of torque at 4,400 rpm. New AYGO will accelerate from 0-100 km/h in 13.8 seconds, and on to a top speed of 160 km/h (99 mph).

New AYGO comes in both standard and Eco versions. The latter benefits from a longer 4th and 5th gear, low Rolling Resistance Coefficient (RRC) tires, Toyotas Stop & Start system and aerodynamic improvements.

The standard version achieves a fuel consumption of 4.1 l/100 km (57.3 mpg US) and CO 2 emissions of 93 g/km. The Eco version returns class-leading fuel economy figures of as low as 3.8 l/100 km (61.8 mpg US) and CO 2 emissions of only 86 g/km1.

x-shift. The x-shift is available as an option on new AYGO. This automated manual transmission has a fully automatic shift mode and no clutch pedal, using computer control to synchronize engine, clutch and transaxle for quick and precise shifting.

Selecting E (Easy Mode), M (Manual) or R (Reverse) allows the car to creep like a conventional automatic. In E mode, the system selects a suitable gear according to the accelerator pedal, vehicle speed and driving conditions.

New AYGOs x-shift is equipped with the kick-down function standard to automatic transmissions. Moreover, it is possible to override the system temporarily by using the steering wheel-mounted paddles. Selecting M mode allows the driver to manually change gear via either the shift lever itself or with the paddle switches.

When equipped with x-shift, new AYGO returns fuel consumption of 4.2 l/100 km (56 mpg US) and generates CO 2 emissions of 95 g/km.

Driving Dynamics. Complementing the improvements to engine performance and efficiency, the new AYGOs suspension settings have been changed and the steering software updated. Various elements of new AYGOs proven MacPherson front and torsion beam rear suspension systems have been revised and fine-tuned to improve ride comfort with no detriment to handling agility and responsiveness.

The shock absorber damping force of both the front and rear suspension systems has been optimized to achieve superior handling ability and ride comfort, and a lower coil spring insulator has been added to the front suspension to further enhance ride comfort.

Noise, Vibration and Harshness (NVH). Added sealing and absorption materials to the dashboard, A-pillars, doors and rear deck have resulted in a marked reduction in NVH within the cabin across the full range of engine rpm.

The material used for the dash inner silencer has been optimized to enhance sound insulation and absorption. Its upper surface area has been enlarged and benefits from the addition of a caulking sponge.

The thickness of the front cowl louvre caulking sponge has been increased by 3 mm, and that of the air shutter and cowl separator by 2 mm, reducing engine noise and high speed wind noise.

The thickness of the front fender protector has been increased by 1.3 mm, reducing engine and road noise. A caulking sponge has been added to the fender garnish reducing the penetration of engine and wind noise through the gap between the fender panel and side member.

Labyrinth clips have been added to the door inner panels to reduce the entry of road noise through the door drainage holes. Hole plugs have been added to the door inner panel and front pillar inner panel to reduce both engine noise and wind noise when driving at high speeds.

Within the cabin, further noise and vibration suppression measures include the addition of felt and ethylene propylene rubber seals to the front pillar garnish, an increased area of felt within the rear door trim, and the addition of felt to the tailgate trim.
Researchers, led by a team from the University of Pennsylvania, have used a polymer-folding mechanism to develop a new and versatile kind of solid polymer electrolyte (SPE) that currently offers proton conductivity faster than Nafion by a factor of 2, the benchmark for fuel cell membranes.

As reported in a paper in Nature Materials, the layered sulfonated polyethylene-based structure offers an innovative and versatile design paradigm for functional polymer membranes, opening doors to efficient and selective transport of other ions and small molecules on appropriate selection of functional groups.





The researchers new structure self-assembles into hairpin shapes, resulting in acid-lined channels that allow for efficient transport of protons across the electrolyte.

Proton exchange membrane fuel cells depend on membranes such as Nafion to transport protons between electrodes while providing a mechanical and electronic barrier. Nafion has a complex multiscale phase-separated morphology with well-connected hydrophilic domains in which sulfonate-lined water channels percolate through a hydrophobic, semicrystalline polytetrafluoroethylene-like matrix. While the exact structure remains controversial, the water channels are thought to be nominally cylindrical. For decades, researchers have sought to develop new membranes with lower production cost, higher operating temperature, lower operating humidity and other desirable attributes, using percolating hydrated domains as a design rule. Most of these new polymers have amorphous, poorly controlled morphologies like Nafion, and are typically not on par with Nafions performance. In striking contrast, controlled hairpin polymer folding is a cutting-edge, versatile strategy featuring a highly ordered morphology that holds promise for the development of new membranes to efficiently transport protons, ions and even small molecules.  Our innovative approach controls polymer folding to achieve a desirable, well-ordered, highly crystalline morphology with high proton conductivity. The success of this approach provides striking new insight into the design of protonor otherion-conducting synthetic membranes. Control of chain folding and morphology is made possible by precise control of the chain microstructure via acyclic diene metathesis synthesis.  Here, sulfonic acid groups, which are highly hygroscopic moieties, replace carboxyl groups, producing hydrated layers with high proton conductivity. Our simulations show that the ordered, layered structure enhances diffusion relative to the tortuous water channels of an amorphous polymer. The layered poly-ethylene-based structure is a new design paradigm for functional polymer membranes, opening doors to efficient and selective transport of protons, ions and small molecules on appropriate chemistry selection. Trigg et al.

The study was led by Karen I. Winey, TowerBrook Foundation Faculty Fellow, professor and chair of the Department of Materials Science and Engineering, and Edward B. Trigg, then a doctoral student in her lab. Demi E. Moed, an undergraduate member of the Winey lab, was a co-author.

They collaborated with Kenneth B. Wagener, George B. Butler Professor of Polymer Chemistry at the University of Florida, Gainesville, and Taylor W. Gaines, a graduate student in his group. Mark J. Stevens, of Sandia National Laboratories, also contributed to this study, as well as Manuel Marechal and Patrice Rannou, of the French National Center for Scientific Research, the French Alternative Energies and Atomic Energy Commission, and the Universite Grenoble Alpes.

Nafion, which is widely used in proton-exchange membrane fuel cells, is a sheet of flexible plastic that is permeable to protons and impermeable to electrons. After absorbing water, protons can flow through microscopic channels that span the film.

A thin, SPE like Nafion is especially enticing for fuel cells in aerospace applications, where every kilogram counts. Much of the bulk of portable batteries comes from shielding designed to protect liquid electrolytes from punctures. Systems using liquid electrolytes must separate the electrodes further apart then their solid electrolyte counterparts, as metal build-up on the electrodes can eventually cross the channel and cause a short. Nafion addresses those problems, but there is still much room for improvement.

Nafion is something of a fluke. Its structure has been the subject of debate for decades, and will likely never be fully understood or controlled. Karen Winey

Nafion is hard to study because its structure is random and disordered. This fluorinated polymer occasionally branches off into side chains that end with sulfonic acid groups. Its these sulfonic acids that draw in water and form the channels that allow for proton transport from one side of the film to the other. But because these side chains occur at random positions and are of different lengths, the resulting channels through the disordered polymer are a twisty maze that transports ions.

With an eye toward cutting through this maze, Wineys group recently collaborated with Stevens to discover a new proton-transporting structure that has ordered layers. These layers feature many parallel acid-lined channels through which protons can quickly flow.

This new structure is the result of a special chemical synthesis route developed by Wageners group at the University of Florida. This route evenly places the acid groups along a polymer chain such that the spacing between the functional groups is long enough to crystalize. The most detailed structural analysis to date was on a polymer with exactly 21 carbons atoms between carboxylic acid groups, the polymer that initiated the Penn-Florida collaboration a decade ago.

While Wineys group and Stevens were working out the structure and noting its potential for transporting ions, Wageners group was working to incorporate sulfonic acid groups to demonstrate the diversity of chemical groups that could be attached to polyethylenes. Both teams realized that proton conductivity would require the stronger acid.

Precisely placing the sulfonic acid groups along polyethylene proved to be our biggest synthetic challenge. Success finally happened in the hands of Taylor Gaines, who devised a scheme we call heterogeneous to homogeneous deprotection of the sulfonic acid group ester. It was this synthetic process which finally led to the formation of the precision sulfonic acid polymers. Kenneth Wagener

The details of this process were also recently published in the journal Macromolecular Chemistry and Physics.

With the chains forming a series of hairpin shapes with a sulfonic acid group at each turn, the polymer assembles into orderly layers, forming straight channels instead of the tortuous maze found in Nafion.





The disordered structure of Nafion, left, means the path protons take through the electrolyte is hard to predict or control. The researchers new structure, right provides a straighter path. (Nafion illustration adapted from Kreuer. J., Membr. Sci. 2001, 185, 2939, Fig. 2)

The groups next step is to orient these layers in the same direction throughout the film.

Were already faster than Nafion by a factor of two, but we could be even faster if we aligned all of those layers straight across the electrolyte membrane. Karen Winey

More than improving fuel cells where Nafion is currently employed, the crystallization-induced layers described in the researchers study could be extended to work with functional groups compatible with other kinds of ions.

Better proton conduction is definitely valuable, but I think the versatility of our approach is what is ultimately most important. Theres still no sufficiently good solid electrolyte for lithium or for hydroxide, another common fuel cell ion, and everyone who is trying to design new SPEs is using a very different approach than ours. Karen Winey

At the University of Pennsylvania, this study was supported by the National Science Foundation through grants DMR 1506726 and PIRE 1545884, and by the Army Research Office through grant W911NF-13-1-0363.

Resources
The Volkswagen brand has launched a programthe Future Electronic Engineer Program (FEEP)to train 100 young engineers and skilled workers throughout the world as top production experts in e-mobility. The first participants to complete the three-year program will support the run-up phase of the I.D. family, the new generation of full-electric vehicles based on the modular electrification toolkit (MEB) in Zwickau.

The new training program was initiated by the Volkswagen brands Pilot Hall in Wolfsburg, which forms part of the Production and Logistics Board of Management division. Plants in China, Brazil, Argentina, the US and Mexico are also participating in the program, which is supported by Volkswagens volunteering initiative and local universities. From June onwards, young specialists from Germany, China and the Americas will be participating in the program.

This year and next year, we will have to master about 80 starts of production. The vehicles have more digital intelligence on board than ever before. These are severe challenges. And the situation will become even more challenging with the MEB models. We need start of production specialists who can provide local support at our plants when the need arises and ensure a good start of production. We intend to implement outstanding volume production that meets our high quality requirements. Oliver Wessel, Head of the Pilot Hall

The successful FEEP trainees will act as midwives for the new electric cars to be launched on the market as part of Volkswagens major electric offensive.

Within three years, Volkswagen will be starting production of a total of 27 electric car models for four brands in three regions of the world. At the Zwickau plant alone, models of three Group brands will roll off the production lines. In future, our MEB plants throughout the world will need young engineers who are thoroughly conversant with the requirements for production of the new vehicle architecture and also have considerable practical experience. Thomas Ulbrich, Member of the brand Board of Management responsible for E-Mobility

Participants entering the program in fields such as vehicle informatics or data logistics will normally have completed a practically oriented course of studies. Initially, they will be provided with basic training on commissioning at the Volkswagen brand pilot hall in Wolfsburg and will work on current vehicle projects such as the first compact I.D.

Following this stage, they will receive intensive seminarsfor example, during specialist training as programmersand will work on projects with gradually increasing requirements. They will then complete an assignment to another country where they will work on starts of production and benefit from practically oriented support by highly qualified mentors and senior experts working on a volunteering basis.
Use it on whatever youre eating. Photo: Melissa Hom

Fly by Jings Sichuan Chili Crisp does not taste like your run-of-the-mill chili sauce, the stuff you may have sitting in your kitchen right now. Its fragrancy lingers, a seductive mingling of fried chilies, the illusive tribute pepper, mushrooms, sesame oil, and more. Its flavor will keep you occupied long after your mouth stops burning. Produced in Chengdu, the capital of Sichuan, and debuted in China last year, its coming Stateside and will first be available through a Kickstarter preorder that launched today.

Even with us, we use these mass-produced products where you dont really know where theyre coming from, says Richard Ho, the owner of New Yorks popular Taiwanese beef-soup shop Ho Foods. I think the thing youre going to see with young Asian and Asian-American chefs is that were going to go back and make better versions of these things ourselves.

Thats more or less the idea behind the Sichuan Chili Crisp, which is like a souped-up version of the sometimes obsessed over Lao Gan Ma. Its a product that its creator and Fly by Jing founder Jenny Gao compares her own to and grew up eating. Its not a hot sauce thats only about heat, much less the dull, aggressive heat of your budget chili oil. The heat is calibrated but strong, and youll consider whether you should just use the whole jar as a sauce. But it has a robustness thats a little floral, very aromatic, and laden with savoriness. Dig into your jar with a spoon and youll turn up more crunchy flakes of chili, along with mushroom, the ground-up spices, fermented soybean, and other ingredients. It can be used like a spread, perfect for smearing on tortillas (for a quick snack) or on your bing.

For all of your chili-sauce needs. Photo: Melissa Hom

Sichuanese cooks approach chilies the same way that Mexican cooks do, mixing them not just for spice but for different flavors and fragrances. Gao was meticulous in finding her ingredients: researching the cultivation and use of chilies in Sichuan, eventually visiting wholesale markets, and going to the farmers themselves. Her er jing tiao chilies come from the southern province of Guizhou, where she says the climate is ideal for growing them, and shes using the creme de la creme of Sichuan peppercorn: tribute pepper, called such because it was once given to the emperor as tribute. You dont even put it in your mouth; you literally grab some of it in your hand and smell your hand, and its so, so strong that it comes through to the other side of your hand, she says.

Gao is a Chinese-food-world figure based in Shanghai, born in Chengdu, and raised in Canada. Shes become an ambassador of sorts for Chinese cuisines since moving to Shanghai in 2012, both through her blog Jing Theory, other writing, and appearances on the BBCs Exploring China, Parts Unknown, and Huangs World. She was once in the fast-casual bao business in Shanghai, before disagreements with her partner caused her to leave. After, while figuring out what to do next, she spent time in Chengdu, where she staged with the famous Sichuan chef Yu Bo. That experience led her to launch Fly by Jing, a pop-up turned private kitchen and supper club.

I started doing kind of Sichuan street food: very old, flavorful flavors inspired by a type of restaurant in Sichuan called fly restaurants. These are sort of my first food memories, says Gao, who served both traditional dishes and original ones like mala mole and lazi made with cod tongues. The sauces came out of those meals, and like them are rooted in the flavors of traditional, hole-in-the-wall fly restaurants. One of the things I was trying to dispel with doing this is that Sichuan cuisine is just mala.

If all goes according to plan, the Sichuan Chili Crisp will only be the beginning. In China, Gao sells other sauces, and her store lists her Zhong Dumpling Sauce, MaLa Spice Mix, and XO Sauce as planned products. Down the line, she also plans to launch a line of Chinese tonics and broths founded on the Chinese approach to nutrition. What she wants is to bring the flavors of Sichuan from Sichuan to the West. Not just the spicy numbing of mala, its most famous in the West, but the cuisines whole, varied, voluminous canvas of flavors  all for your kitchen. But, first, she wants to burn your tongue with a better chili sauce.
Spanish tortilla with trout roe. Photo: Melissa Horn/New York Magazine

A well-roasted chicken is the dish grizzled dining veterans often cite as the sign of a truly professional kitchen, but at Riad Nasr and Lee Hansons new Tribeca bistro, Frenchette, its that more elemental poultry product, the egg, that announces the arrival of an excellent new restaurant in town. Potatoes figure prominently in any tortilla espanola, but the little wedge of eggy goodness that appeared early in our meal was cool (instead of too hot or too cold) and loosely textured (instead of too hard or too soft) and dressed on top with garlic aioli and a spoonful of smoked trout roe. It was followed shortly by more eggs, this time scrambled to buttery smoothness in the traditional brouillade style, and crowned with escargot sauteed in garlic butter, a concept that apparently isnt common in France but which I heartily endorse, especially with a few chunks of bread to mop your plate.

Nasr and Hanson are old hands at this earthy, deceptively intricate brand of French cooking, of course, having run the kitchens at the two most famous restaurants in Keith McNallys brasserie empire, Balthazar and Minetta Tavern, before decamping a few years back. Frenchette represents their long-awaited return to the citys dining scene, and although the sleek, wood-trimmed space halfway down West Broadway has a polished, no-expense-spared sheen to it, you can feel the absence of McNallys famous theatrical touch. The lighting could be mellower and a little less flat; except for a mirror or two, the wall decor is cafeteria style, as someone at my table described it, and the low ceilings and abundance of hard, woody surfaces make it feel, on a crowded evening (which is every evening), like youre dining inside a specially constructed noise box.

Frenchette. Photo: Jemma Hinkley/New York Magazine

But this is a chefs operation, not a crowd-pleasing, front-of-the-house one, and the menu at Frenchette is filled with carefully rendered dishes drawn from the old French canon, which a practical, bottom-line restaurateur might consider too quirky, expensive, or laborious for a more standard brasserie. The brouillade requires 15 minutes of diligent and careful egg stirring every time its ordered, for instance, and the delicious, silky broth in my bowl of creme-fraiche-laced potato-and-watercress soup tasted like it had been fussed over in some provincial Haute Barnyard kitchen for at least a week. The same was true of the deeply satisfying, coral-colored soupe de poisson I enjoyed one evening with a little platoon of crunchy, cherry-size pigs-feet croquettes, along with ribbons of veal tongue arranged, like some rusticated Norman version of vitello tonnato, over silvery squares of fresh-grilled mackerel.

The menu at Frenchette was slightly different each time I visited, as the kitchen tinkers and adjusts to whatever is brought in from the market that day, and Nasr and Hanson have a knack for adding unexpected little flourishes to dishes youve seen a thousand times before. The fatty, pleasingly loose wheel of cotechino sausage I ordered one evening was set over the usual mound of vinegary lentils but garnished, for good measure, with a ring of baby-turnip tops. You can get a bowl of pasta at this French bistro, but its made with whole wheat and tossed with shingles of bottarga, lemon zest, and a twist of Espelette pepper. My neighbors roasted quail was served with butter-soaked morels and a thin buckwheat galette, and when I inspected my plump, beautifully glazed helping of veal sweetbreads, I was surprised to find bits of crayfish specked on the plate among the spring peas and gravy.

Duck-frites. Photo: Melissa Horn/New York Magazine

There are two variations of that comforting old warhorse steak-frites available at Frenchette  a thin bavette, dripped with anchovy butter, and, for non-beefeaters, a pan-seared duck breast cut in decorous slices and served with a generous handful of golden frites. If you call for the homard a la broche, youll find that your very large, very fresh Maine lobster has been broiled to a perfect tenderness on the rotisserie, split in half, and poured with a rich, lemon-colored beurre fondue tinged with curry powder. The lamb stew I tasted was ordinary, but the roast chicken, when it finally arrives, is a thing of beauty (the whole bird is sectioned and set over

a drippings-soaked layer of toasted bread), and so is the delicately funky, well-charred, dry-aged cote de boeuf for two, which is roughly three-quarters the cost of the one Nasr and Hanson made famous at Minetta Tavern ($112 vs. $152).

Theres a level of detail in the chef-forward cooking at Frenchette that you dont always see on the faux-brasserie circuit around town. The country chicken comes with extra gravy drippings and a little pot of gourmet-quality pommes puree on the side; the au gratin dish was roast celtuce stems dotted with bits of bone marrow on my visits, instead of the usual potatoes; and before its cut from the bone, the cote de boeuf is presented to the table dressed with a great scoop of maitre dhotel butter made with fresh herbs, chopped garlic, and Bordier butter from Brittany. The familiar French desserts are created with a similar kind of focus and care, but if you call for just one, make it the tarte Tatin, which consists of a mass of soft, caramel-brown apples fitted together, as if by magic, into a seamless whole and presented with a towering cloud of freshly whipped cream in a frosty silver bowl.

Cote de boeuf. Photo: Melissa Horn/New York Magazine

Tarte Tatin. Photo: Melissa Horn/New York Magazine

Rating: 3 stars

Frenchette

241 W. Broadway, nr. N. Moore St.; 212-334-3883; frenchettenyc.com

Open: Dinner nightly.

Prices: Appetizers, $8 to $24; entrees, $25 to $112 for cote de boeuf for two.

Ideal Meal: Tortilla espanola, brouillade and/or soupe de poisson, roast chicken, duck-frites and/or cote de boeuf, apple tart.

Note: Traditional oenophiles, beware: The over-300-bottle list has been put together by that great Pied Piper of the natural-wine movement, Jorge Riera, formerly of Contra and Wildair.

Scratchpad: One hearty star for the eggs, one for the chicken, and another for everything else on the menu at this fine new addition to the citys dining scene.

*This article appears in the June 11, 2018, issue of New York Magazine. Subscribe Now!




Haiti - FLASH : Gabriel Fortune, the Mayor of Les Cayes resigns





Sunday, Gabriel Fortune, the mayor of the commune of Les Cayes elected 2 years ago, confirmed the rumors circulating on social networks, officially announcing his resignation at the head of the Communal Council.



According to Mayor Gabriel Fortune, that one believed to be above pressure, this decision was taken to protect her only daughter that protesters attacked at her home last week.



The mayor said he will remain at the head of the communal administration for a short period to manage the day-to-day business and asks the Ministry of the Interior and Territorial Communities to take the necessary measures in the shortest time.



Fortune accuses entrepreneurs and some traders in the city of manipulating the protesters and being hidden behind the violence against him and his daughter.



Gabriel Fortune, who draws a fairly positive assessment of his administration, does not intend to reconsider his decision, despite the announcement of demonstrations of support, explaining that between his job and his family, he chose his family.



SL/ HaitiLibre






















Haiti - Politic : Moise launches the Technology Incubator Incubator Alpha Haiti





Following the promise on June 6, 2017 at the official opening of the Technology Summit "Haiti Tech Summit" https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-21163-haiti-politics-moise-opens-the-international-summit-haiti-tech-summit.html to continue the Martelly government's initiative https://www.icihaiti.com/en/news-16527-icihaiti-politic-towards-the-establishment-of-the-technological-innovation-incubator-centre.html to set up a technological innovation incubator, Saturday President Moise has kept his promise.



At the Cine Triomphe, in the presence of Jude Alix Patrick Salomon, Minister of the Economy, Joseph Guyler C. Delva, Minister of Communication, Hugue Joseph the Secretary General of the Primature who represented the Prime Minister Lafontant, Marteen Boute President and CEO of Digicel and several personalities of the government and the business sector, President Jovenel Moise officially launched the Incubator of technological innovation "Alpha Haiti".



In his intervention, the Head of State declared "[...] On June 6, 2017, I made the commitment to set up an Incubator Center for Technological Innovation, which should have the role of foster an enabling environment for start-up companies that promote and showcase technology for commercial purposes. Today, I am happy to officially launch the Alpha Haiti Incubator.



The vision associated with the establishment of such a structure, is primarily to make a hive, a place where young people filled with diverse talents, who need guidance, come to develop their ideas. The ambition of this incubator is to make it one of the most important centers in the Region where technology and digital will be used as levers to modernize the economy, promote the creation of skilled jobs and develop products and services with high added value.



Our country, in addition to its numerous untapped assets, has an exceptional resource: the youth of the population. 67% of the population is under the age of thirty. It is a mine, it is a formidable capital which, if well directed, well supervised, can help to make a change of future with this country [...]



My administration is committed to providing the Alpha Haiti Incubator with all the support necessary to not only facilitate the mentoring process, but also to ensure access to start-up funding for start-ups that will emerge.



Alpha Haiti will be there to accompany you. Start! Dream! Dream bigger! Invent the future and we will be there to support you."



See also :

https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-21163-haiti-politics-moise-opens-the-international-summit-haiti-tech-summit.html

https://www.icihaiti.com/en/news-16527-icihaiti-politic-towards-the-establishment-of-the-technological-innovation-incubator-centre.html



HL/ HaitiLibre






















Haiti - Politic : The Senator Dieudonne Luma Etienne denies the rumors !





The Bureau of North Senator Dieudonne Luma Etienne, condemns with the utmost vigor the rumors circulating on social networks stating the involvement of Senator Etienne in smuggling activities.



The Bureau denounces "this manipulative machine that aims to destroy the dignity and personality of honorable citizens from both political and other spheres of society. It points out that these contents are posted and shared by a team accustomed to acts of defamation, misinformation and manipulation, which generally benefits from moments when the Senator participates in international events outside the country to try to discredit with the diplomatic community [...] one of the most influential women politicians in the Caribbean and Latin America, which displeases critics."



Senator Dieudonne Luma Etienne "denies any threatening conversation with the Minister of Commerce at any time. Similarly, she denounces any malicious and degrading attack aimed at weakening the members / elected representatives of the Haitian Party Tet Kale. Senator Etienne recalls that she has always taken a public stand against smuggling and corruption.



The Bureau announces that legal steps are being taken with the authorities concerned to counteract these destabilizing actions.



HL/ HaitiLibre


















Groupe GCF turns spotlight on Calvet with new campaign

By Lisa Riley

Les Grands Chais de France (Groupe GCF) has turned the spotlight on its Calvet portfolio with a new campaign and brand ambassador for the French wine brand.

The Wheres your Rue du Calvet push, which breaks on the 24th of June, will comprise advertising in national newspaper food and drink supplements, an on-pack push and digital activity across social media.

Designed to cement the idea of Calvet as an authentic, pan-appellation French brand, the campaign features illustrations depicting Calvet wines surrounded by iconic and nostalgic images of France.

The activity would "propel the brand from its rich heritage into a contemporary and emotionally engaging voyage of French discovery with its consumers, both existing and new", said UK & IRE MD Mark Kears.

The concept came from real insight; people have a personal and emotive relationship with France and we want to engage with this and bring France to our audience in the same way that Calvet does, he said, adding Rue de Calvet marked a significant new departure for the brand by placing the consumer firmly at the heart of the campaign.

We look forward to creating an emotional connection between this much loved brand and the great British public, he said.

In addition to the campaign, the company has appointed Michelin-starred chef and TV personality Glynn Purnell as its brand ambassador. Glynn will be making his first of several pop-up appearance in the Rue de Calvet at the Blenheim Palace Flower Show, 22-24 June.

The campaign and new appointment coincides with Calvet celebrating its 200th anniversary this year.
Accolade appoints account manager for Fine Wine Partners

By Lisa Riley

Accolade Wines has appointed Hansi Baumann as account manager, UK & Ireland, for its recently launched fine wine division - Fine Wine Partners.

A former fine wine merchandising manager at Majestic Wines, Baumann has extensive experience in the wine and spirits industry in both the UK and New Zealand, including five years as a Krug ambassador in the UK.

His knowledge and energy complemented the fast growing Fine Wine Partners team, said Ade McKeon, GM UK and Ireland, Accolade Wines.

Were thrilled that Hansi has joined us at this very exciting time in the companys evolution as we champion our prestigious fine wine portfolio in the UK, he said.

The latest recruitment follows the appointment of Toby Spiers, formerly Treasury Wine Estates, who took on the role of head of Fine Wine Partners in October last year ahead of Fine Wine Partners launch in January this year.

Spiers and Baumann will be supported by Plumpton College wine graduate and cheese expert, Lizzy Parrott, who also recently joined the team.

Since launch, Fine Wine Partners has continued to grow, successfully launching a new website, gaining top end listings, including Harrods, and re-introducing iconic Houghton wines to the UK market, said McKeon.

Fine Wine Partners wines are available through around 20 independent retail outlets across the UK and have also gained a significant number of listings with the largest specialist wine retailer in Ireland, OBriens.
Prosecco producers kick off UK push for premium fizz

By Rob Brown

Producers of premium Prosecco that can cost as much per bottle as Champagne have kicked off a campaign to encourage Brits to reappraise Italian fizz.

Masterclasses showcasing wines from Italys Conegliano Valdobbiadene region  awarded its own DOCG status in 2009  begin today to redress the idea in Britain that Prosecco is inferior to other sparkling wines and should be sold for less.

Its time to allow this category to show its nuance and diversity, said Sarah Abbott MW, who is hosting the masterclasses in London and Manchester.

Theres a clear opportunity to encourage drinkers to trade up. Theres this whole other side to Prosecco from this sub region which the UK trade is just ignoring. Consumers are thinking what shall I move onto next and there are all these wines waiting to be discovered.

The vineyards of the Conegliano Valdobbiadene region in northeast Italy cover just over 8,000 hectares and are cultivated by more than 3,000 family winemakers dedicated to the production of pricier Prosecco Superiore.

Prosecco Superiore is mostly produced for the domestic Italian market, where it is typically sold through the restaurant trade. Producers are beginning to look for export opportunities, said Abbott, but have been put off by the "pile high sell cheap" mentality of the UK trade.

Producers have been cautious about trying to enter the UK, she added. Theyre saying it takes 800 man hours per hectare to produce and I am being asked to export it to Britain for 4 or 5 a bottle when I can get double or more for it here. Why should I?

They are exporting to other markets such as Germany. This should be a salutary lesson for the UK trade in that we mustnt get complacent about our role in the global wine sector. The trade ignores consumer trends at its peril.

The campaign comes after new figures revealed last week that UK sparkling wine sales growth has slowed to its lowest rate since 2011.

British drinkers knocked back 35.8 million litres of sparkling wine in 2017, a 5% rise on the previous year, according to accountancy group UHY Hacker Young.

With Prosecco accounting for 51% of the UK sparkling market [Kantar Worldpanel], the slowdown was seen by some as proof that the Italian fizz bubble is about to burst.

Abbott rejected this. The sparkling wine boom is not over  its stabilising, she said. Sparkling wine has moved out of something you only drink at New Years Eve and weddings to something you drink in a bar or a club or with a meal. Thats thanks to Prosecco.

The next stage in Proseccos evolution in the UK is to convince drinkers its more than just cheap fizz. Conegliano Valdobbiadene wines can fetch more than 20 a bottle in the off-trade, putting it on a similar pegging to some Champagnes.

Its completely comparable to Champagne, insists Abbott. Prosecco is taking market share from discounted Champagne. Cheap Champagne is not a joyous drink and there is a segment of the market that wants high quality. This is it.
MORE patients have complained about being unfairly fined while parking at Townlands Memorial Hospital in Henley.

Their protests will increase the pressure on the NHS to sack Smart Parking, the company which enforces the hospital car park.

The company has already lost its contract for the neighbouring GP surgeries following dozens of complaints about unfair fines.

It uses automatic number plate recognition cameras to log vehicles entering and leaving the hospital car park. People visiting the hospital have to enter their registration details on a keypad at reception to receive free parking and there is meant to be a 20-minute grace period for those passing through or dropping off patients.

Dozens of patients have contacted the Henley Standard to complain that they have been issued with unfair fines of up to 160 and many have been sent letters threatening them with court action if they refuse to pay. Read associated story: "Don't pay says woman who had fine overturned"

Hazel Birrell, 59, of Gainsborough Hill, Henley, was issued with a ticket at Townlands on May 10 after taking her husband Duncan for a 45-minute physiotherapy appointment.

Mr Birrell, 68, uses crutches and needs regular treatment on a leg muscle.

His wife said: I put in all my details and validated it at the end. Ive done it many times before and my husband even checked it for me. There was no reason I should have been fined. Ive done it so many times before and I even wrote down my number plate to make sure. Ive never had trouble before, even when I was going to the Bell Surgery.

Im so furious Ive written to John Howell and left a review on the hospitals website.

Mr Birrell added: Im worried because Ive got to go back up there and I dont want to take the car now. I have two appointments on Thursday and getting up the hill on foot will be a struggle.

The couple dont intend to pay the fine and want to see Smart Parkings contract cancelled and replaced with a new system.

Mrs Birrell said: Id rather have the system they have in Didcot where you get two hours for free and pay if you go over that. Even what they have at Waitrose would be better, or a little man to monitor it.

Andrew and Ailsa Milne-Furneaux were fined after visiting the hospital on March 28.

The couple, of Bradley Road, Huntercombe, spent about an hour at the hospital for Mrs Milne-Furneaux to receive some physiotherapy following a knee operation.

They were annoyed to receive a ticket in the post a few days later and then lose an appeal.

Mr Furneaux, 43, a rocketeer, said: My wife doesnt drive and cant take public transport so I have to drive her.

Weve been going for months and always put in the registration number. The kids fight over who can put it in. I have no idea why it didnt like it this time.

We had proof of the appointment, so I wrote to the company and assumed they would write back and say that we didnt have to pay it.

The couple are now considering taking their case to the Parking on Private Land Appeals service.

Mrs Milne-Furneaux, 45, said: It makes me feel like I dont want to go for another appointment. Either that or Ill end up parking in the doctors car park, which clutters that up. You should get a ticket from the hospital to put on your car windscreen. Then people with a valid appointment wouldnt get a fine.

Mr Furneaux added: The parking should be free for the people of Henley.

A spokeswoman for NHS Property Services, which owns the hospital site, said: Discussions are taking place with Smart Parking to see where improvements can be made to the experience of patients using the car park.

Last month, Martin Steele, chief operating officer of NHS Property Services, said he had told the company to change the way it enforces the car park to significantly improve the experience of patients and their families.

In a letter to Henley MP John Howell, Mr Steele said: We have held several meetings with Smart Parking regarding these issues and made it clear to them that the current situation is unacceptable and urgent changes are expected.

Smart Parking does not respond to requests for comment.

 Have you been unfairly fined for parking at Townlands? Call Henley Standard reporter Jamie Presland on (01491) 419444 or email him at jpresland@henleystandard.co.uk
ROTARIANS are raising money for emergency shelters for use by people in disaster zones.

The Rotary Club of Henley Bridge has already funded five ShelterBoxes, which contain a family-sized tent designed to withstand the elements, tools, a cooking set, solar lights, a water purifying kit and activity sets for children. Each box costs about 600 and can support up to 10 people.

One of the boxes was on display in Market Place, Henley, on Saturday together with a tent as the Rotarians raised awareness of the ShelterBox, a charity which says that shelter from the chaos of a disaster or conflict is vital as people are plunged into crisis and normality is suspended.

Malcolm Leonard, who chairs the clubs international section, said: The idea of this charity is to be able to go in immediately after a disaster with a temporary home.

Henley Mayor Glen Lambert, who visited the display, said: Its brilliant to see Henley getting involved in international efforts like this.

ShelterBox, which is based in Cornwall, has hundreds of trained volunteers who help deliver aid around the world but is funded only by public donations and receives no EU or government funding.

It is also the only official project partner of Rotary International. Many Rotarians are members of the charitys expert response teams.
A CAVERSHAM bar and cafe and a man with stage 4 bowel cancer have raised 5,000 for charity.

The Alto Lounge in Church Street and Steve Clark have held a series of events in aid of Bowel Cancer UK and Beating Bowel Cancer, including a quiz evening, a games night, an open-mic night and bake sales as well as the launch of The Temptation, a book written by Vera Morris, a former headteacher at Chiltern Edge School in Sonning Common.

More than 100 people attended the launch, including some of Mrs Morriss former pupils, and 60 copies of the book were sold in the first hour.

Mr Clark, 54, from Reading, was diagnosed in May 2013 and launched his Strive for Five campaign to raise awareness of bowel cancer and mark his five years of survival.

He said: It is all about sharing stories of hope for people like me.

Bowel cancer is the second biggest cancer killer in the UK, with nearly 16,000 deaths each year but it is treatable and curable especially if diagnosed early.

Mr Clark and Mrs Morris are pictured together at the book launch.
History will judge those that led the UK to Brexit as treasonous if the UK contingency planning scenarios that were published in yesterday's Sunday Times materialise, claims Labour Party Leader Brendan Howlin

Brendan Howlin, leader of the Labour Party in Ireland has reacted with dismay at UK contingency plans, revealed yesterday in the Sunday Times, in relation to Brexit.

Deputy Howlin said: "If the British people are to run the risk of the nightmare scenario in Government contingency planning depicted in the Sunday Times today, they at least need to willingly vote for it.

"If the no deal scenario materialises, we owe it to our friends in the UK to support a referendum which would allow the UK to reverse the previous referendum result.

"Mrs May's government has put party before country at all times in this process. If they allow this scenario to materialise it will surely be seen as a treasonous act.

"Representative politicians have one overriding duty  to protect the wellbeing of their citizens. That responsibility is being abdicated."

Deputy Howlin also said it was time now for Jeremy Corbyn and the Labour Party, as the leaders of the Opposition, to take a stand.

"There is no mandate for this and yet as we approach a crucial month of negotiations it is a more likely scenario than any other," he said.

"The British Government has singularly failed to detail any response to the Irish border issues it agreed to in December.

"The latest wheeze amounts to little more than the repartition of Ireland. We are now running out of time."

He added: "The scenarios set out in the contingency planning papers published in today's Sunday Times will impact on working and poorer people first and deepest.

"The British political establishment has been walking the British people towards the Dover Cliffs for two years now.

"If these reports are even half way accurate, it would be ruinous to continue on this path."
Booka, who started out with a strict line-up of brass musicians and lively percussion have been joined by a funky bassist and guitarist.

The line up change proves to be a welcome one on this warm June afternoon, as onlookers sit back on the hill sipping on cool pints, taking in every second of Booka's music.

Having started with a welcome breeziness, they take things up a notch, when the 8 man ensemble breaks into their lively single BBB. Eager fans make their way to the front to dance.
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The Humane Society of the United States and a coalition of 22 organizations launch Spayathon for Puerto Rico, June 3 to 9, 2018.

This ground-breaking initiative aims to spay and neuter at least 20,000 cats and dogs at no cost to pet owners across the Commonwealth by May of 2019, providing much needed assistance to the people and animals of Puerto Rico. The College of Veterinary Medicine at the University of Florida will analyze the efforts outcome in order to understand pet healthcare and the roots of pet overpopulation on the island.

Spayathon enjoys the support of Governor Ricardo Rossello and First Lady Beatriz Rossello, and in conjunction with the Puerto Rico Board of Veterinary Examiners and the Puerto Rico Veterinary Association.

Beatriz and I are very excited to be here today, participating on such an important initiative not only for animal health but for community health as well. Our gratitude to all the medical professionals and volunteers that have come here to help pets in Puerto Rico on such a turning point of recovery and restoration of the Island. said Governor Ricardo Rossello.

First Lady Beatriz Rossello stated, This event is one of the most important steps in fulfilling my commitment to the welfare of our pets. I would like to express my gratitude to all the organizations and volunteers who joined our initiative, to all the doctors who work intensely for our cause and to all the pet guardians who respond to our call.

This is the first time such a broad coalition of organizations has come together to not only to intensively reduce the population of animals across an island, but also provide the resources and support necessary to continue that work long term. said Tara Loller, Senior Director, Strategic Campaigns and Initiatives. We could not make this historic event happen without the generous participation of each and every coalition member.

Maddies Fund, PetSmart Charities, Petco Foundation, GreaterGood.org and The 20/22 Act Society, are providing the financial support necessary to carry out this initiative. Banfield Foundation, Best Friends Animal Society and Rescue Bank are providing critical supplies, such as vaccines, pet food and crates.

Veterinary teams from Emancipet, ViDAS, Veterinarians for Puerto Rico, Maddies Shelter Medicine Program at Cornell University and Helping Paws Across Borders will provide high-quality, high-volume spay/neuter services in locations across the island.

Ground support is being provided by Puerto Rico-based groups, including The Humane Society of Puerto Rico, The Sato Project, The Government of Puerto Rico, Junta Examinadora de Medicos Veterinarios de Puerto Rico, Colegio de Medicos Veterinarios de Puerto Rico, The Puerto Rico Dog Fund, Friends of Culebra Animals, Wild at Heart Foundation and Our Big Fat Caribbean Rescue.

In addition to altering thousands of animals, the Spayathon for Puerto Rico campaign also aims to create lasting change for the island by ensuring that dozens of veterinary professionals will receive high quality, high volume spay and neuter training through ASPCA Spay/Neuter Alliance. At the conclusion of the campaign, all of the surgical equipment, supplies and other assets leftover will be donated locally to help establish a lasting high quality, high volume spay/neuter infrastructure on the island.

The no-cost spay/neuter clinics will take place on the following dates:

Round 1: June 39, 2018 - Ceiba, Culebra, Manati, Moca, Ponce, San Juan and Vieques

June 39, 2018 - Ceiba, Culebra, Manati, Moca, Ponce, San Juan and Vieques Round 2: November 39, 2018 - Cabo Rojo, Ceiba, Culebra, Manati, Moca, Ponce, San Juan and Vieques

November 39, 2018 - Cabo Rojo, Ceiba, Culebra, Manati, Moca, Ponce, San Juan and Vieques Round 3: February 39, 2019 - Cabo Rojo, Ceiba, Culebra, Manati, Moca, Ponce, San Juan and Vieques

February 39, 2019 - Cabo Rojo, Ceiba, Culebra, Manati, Moca, Ponce, San Juan and Vieques Round 4: May 39, 2019 - Cabo Rojo, Ceiba, Culebra, Manati, Moca, Ponce and Vieques

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Spotify Drops Hate And Hateful Conduct Policy

After rolling out a new content policy designed to sideline hate content and conduct just days ago, Spotify has abandoned the most controversial part of the new policy. Spotify said that, while their intentions were good, the language in the policy was too vague and created confusion and concern.

Spotify also said they did not spend enough time soliciting input from stakeholders in the process, including content partners and Spotify team members.

The changed in policy, which was first announced on May 10th, took aim at content that incites hatred or violence against a group or individual based on characteristics as well as artists with a demonstrated history of personal misconduct.

While those artists were not banned from having their music played on the streaming service, it did result in artists such as indicted Florida rapper XXXTentacion and controversial R&B artist R. Kellys music being removed from Spotifys featured playlists.

We rolled this out wrong

and could have done a much better job.

The backlash against from the industry against Spotifys new policy was swift, with artists like Kendrick Lamar reportedly threatening to pull their content from the streaming giant, and Spotify senior executives such as Troy Carter threatening to exit the company, according to some reports.

Spotify appeared to quickly realize their misstep and earlier this week, Spotify CEO Daniel Ek joined in the melee to publicly state that the content policy rollout had been mismanaged. We rolled this out wrong and could have done a much better job, he told the audience during a keynote at ReCode/Vox Medias Code Conference on Wednesday.

While Spotify has backed away from the conduct aspect of their policy, the company did reaffirm its commitment to keep explicitly prejudicial content from its service.

Spotify does not permit content whose principal purpose is to incite hatred or violence against people because of their race, religion, disability, gender identity, or sexual orientation. As weve done before, we will remove content that violates that standard. Were not talking about offensive, explicit, or vulgar content  were talking about hate speech, the company said in its policy update announcement on Friday.

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Asegurando el futuro de la aviacion - Regulacion inteligente, estandares globales, infraestructura (pdf)

Assurer lavenir de laviation (pdf)

Garantindo o futuro da aviacao com regulamentacoes mais inteligentes, padroes globais e infraestrutura (pdf)



Sydney - The International Air Transport Association (IATA) called for governments to facilitate the growth of global connectivity by avoiding creeping re-regulation, maintaining the integrity of global standards, and addressing a capacity crisis.

The call came in the IATA Director Generals Report on the Air Transport Industry at the 74th IATA Annual General Meeting (AGM) and World Air Transport Summit.

On aviations core mission to deliver safe, secure, accessible and sustainable connectivity, the state of our industry is strong and getting stronger. And with normal levels of profitability we are spreading aviations benefits even more widely. But there are challenges. Smarter regulation needs to counter the trend of creeping re-regulation. Global standards must be maintained by the states that agreed them. And we need to find efficient solutions to the looming capacity crisis, said Alexandre de Juniac, IATAs Director General and CEO.

Re-Regulation

The deregulation of the air transport industry that began in 1978 in the US ignited global changes that enabled the spread of air transports benefits. Competition saw the price of air connectivity fall making air transport much more accessible. In 1978 the average person flew once every 6.6 years. Today the average is closer to once in two years.

A creeping trend of re-regulation, however, puts the gains of deregulation at risk. Citing regulatory actions from around the world, de Juniac noted that regulatory over-reach now includes attempts to prescriptively regulate passenger compensation, seat assignments, the ticket options that can be offered to consumers and prices charged for various ancillary services.

Regulations must add value. In assessing that, regulators must recognize the power of competition and social media to safeguard consumer interests. Governments should not distort market effectiveness with regulations that second-guess what consumers really want, said de Juniac.

This is the spirit of IATAs smarter regulation campaign which asks governments to align with global standards, take into account industry input and analyze the costs of regulation against the benefits. De Juniac noted that one of the most exciting current regulatory developments is the sweeping review of US commercial regulations with the aim of keeping only those where the benefits outweigh the costs to both travelers and the industry.

Global Standards

De Juniac called for a vigorous defense of global standards that have guided the safe and efficient development of aviation. We must take governments to task. It is unacceptable that global standards are being ignored by the very governments that created them, said de Juniac.

De Juniac noted several examples:


Christy and Jan Butler are sharing the love of hiking and large rock formations in a new book. PreviousNext

Local Authors Extend Their Boulder Hunt From Massachusetts To New England

CHESHIRE, Mass.  With their new book "Erratic Wandering," local authors Christy and Jan Butler expand their boulder hiking guide from Massachusetts to Maine, New Hampshire and Vermont.

"We are all living in New England and we all go to Vermont, New Hampshire and Maine," Butler said. "They are close and are destinations for people who like the outdoorsand there are some big rocks out there."

Butler, a Cheshire resident and visual artist, published two waterfall guidebooks with co-author Russell Dunn, a licensed hiking guide.

In 2016, the two came together to publish their first boulder book "Rockachusetts" that purely focused on mammoth and curious rocks and boulders in Massachusetts with an entire chapter on Berkshire County.

"We were doing the waterfall posters at the time," he said. "We had water on the brain and now we have rocks in the head. Thats what started this a long time ago."

This time Butler set out with his wife, Jan, and cataloged, photographed and recorded GPS coordinates for over 120 boulders, rocks and structures.

"As we went along I recognized there were a lot of places where people are going," Butler said. "There are footpaths, but they are not all well-known and they are kind of outside the radar ... and nobody seems to be doing a book like ours."

The boulders in the book come in all shapes and sizes including the enormous Elephant Head Rock in Carroll, N.H., and the massive 3,400-ton Green Mountain Giant in Whittingham, Vt., to smaller stranger formations like the painted Indian Head Rock in Windham, Vt., or The Mummies formation in North Woodstock, N.H., that because of river erosion creepily looks like mummies lying side by side.

Butler said some of the boulders are all-enveloping and pointed to one of his favorites, the Big Rock Cave on Mount Mexico in Albany, N.H.

"I never heard of it and it is on the underbelly of the eastern side and it is incredible," he said. "It has an upper cave and is huge. It is not really a cave by definition but it feels like a cave."

Butler said it took nearly two years to research the boulders, travel to them and catalog them. He said he used prior research from "Rockachusetts" as well as seeking out old postcards with pictures of landmark boulders.

Butler said each boulder has a photo (Jan is in most of them to provide some perspective), a brief description, maps and coordinates to parking areas and then to the final destination. Hikes are rated by difficulty and boulders are rated by wow factor.

Butler noted that he added in some impressive structures that may not be naturally occurring, but structures made of rocks nonetheless -- like the carved granite grave markers in Hope Cemetery in Barre, Vt., and various stone bridges.

"I rationalized that because they are all made from stone ... little bitty glacial erratics, so I included them," he said. "I could have done more but it is not a book about bridges."

Butler said he chose some rocks just for the story behind them such as Pockwockamus Rock in Baxter State Park in Maine, which Abbot and Nancy Meader have been painting and maintaining since the 1970s.

"He stopped this year. He said this the last time because he is getting older," he said. "But he told me what Pockwockamus means and gave me his definition. He said it stood for all of the mosquitos in the world. I like a guy with a good sense of humor."

Butler admitted that he is no expert or historian and much like "Rockachusetts" he aimed to write digestible entries for the boulders that wont send the reader into a geologic burnout but hopefully spark a sense of adventure and curiosity.

"I try not to take it too seriously and I am not academically qualified to really go through this stuff," he said. "I have a hard time wrapping my head around it honestly like a rock 60,000 years ago that had a mile-thick ice sheet. I cant put my head around that, so I just say it was a bazillion years ago. We all know that was a long time ago."

Butler said his main goal is not necessarily to educate but to get people out of their homes and into the wild and provide them with the tools and direction to explore amazing behemoth structures right in their own corner of the country.

Butler said he has thought about finishing his New England suite and writing about rocks in Connecticut and Rhode Island however with travel being a limitation he may focus his attention back on Berkshire County.

"I want to do something strictly with the Berkshires and incorporate the waterfalls, the rocks and some of the prominent places," he said. "The thing is I dont take it too seriously because I dont want a job I am retired. I want to enjoy it. It keeps us social, we make a little money back and we just like to do it."

The Butlers book can be purchased on Amazon in both black and white and color.
Real Eyes Gallery held an opening reception on Saturday evening. PreviousNext

New Adams Art Gallery Opens on Park Street



Bill and Francie AnneRiley have wanted to open a gallery for some time. ADAMS, Mass.  William "Bill" Riley has spent most of his career creating visually arresting scenery for theater productions.

Now his backdrop is a spare white space, the better to accentuate his own works of art and those of other local artists.

"I started studying art kind of seriously when I was 16," Riley said during the buzz of conversation at Saturday's opening reception for Real Eyes Gallery. "Eventually, in order to make a living, I became a scenic artist in the theater industry."

But Riley said he wanted to do more than express other people's broader visions.

"I wanted to express my own vision and do it in a way that I'm in complete control," he said. "I always thought this was the way to go."

Real Eyes Gallery is the culmination of a long-held vision by Riley. The storefront windows that once were filled with dining room tables and couches that his mother sold now invite passersby in to peruse an eclectic mix of media.

The name is a play on words and expression. "Real eyes" as opposed to so-called "fake news."

"It's sort of seeking truth, to look with your real eyes ... really look deep into something," Riley said. There's also the idea that as people say the name, they will "realize" there's something new and interesting and possibly profound within their community.

"I'm lucky to have a place so big I could include other people, include other artists and bring in our community," Riley said. "That's what they need to feel  part of the community."

Riley's parents bought Simmons Furniture in the 1970s but the business had been around since the 1870s and had been at the 71 Park St. location since 1902. The business was successful and even expanded but the entire operation closed in 2013 and Riley, who works largely in New York City, bought the building with his wife, Francie Anne.

They've made a home in the 15,000 square-foot structure that was once, suitably, a theater. The gallery has been under construction for at least a couple years.

Riley said he was inspired after reading one of artist and developer Eric Rudd's books. Rudd, who's responsible for the Eclipse Mill artists lofts and the Beaver Street mill studio and residential complex, has written about strategies for art, real estate and community development.

This was before the success of the Massachusetts Museum of Contemporary Art, he said.

"Back in that time before, you never imagined that would happen to North Adams and so when I got the point where I had a vision that I would like to have a big space and to have a big studio," Riley said, "the thought was to go the Eclipse Mill." But when they were at the point to do something, the furniture store became available. "So it all lined up coming to the Berkshires."

On Saturday, several of the Board of Selectmen were on hand with a bright red ribbon to celebrate the gallery's opening.

"I'd like to welcome Real Eyes to the town," new Selectman James Bush said. "I think it's a great asset. We need more people willing to open up businesses in the town of Adams. I hope this is the beginning of a great future for our town."

Francie AnneRiley made clear that this was a business. "It's not a museum gallery or a museum," she laughed. "It's an art gallery. There's no admission  this is a store."

Her husband said he's heard the lament that "the last thing we need is another gallery." "But on the other hand, from the point of view of someone's who's interested in cultural tourism," he said, "I think that you can't have enough."

The gallery was filled on Saturday with dozens of people, including a large contingent from the local arts community. Riley joked he wasn't sure what PR they'd done to get this many people.

Francie Anne, he said, "thought this area is really hungry for this kind of thing."

Real Eyes is open weekends, Friday through Sunday, from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m.
This content is from: Corporate

The proposed regulations vague rules and extra-territorial effect are likely to prove just as challenging to companies as GDPR
Indian American Vikram Kumar, chairman and CEO of AVG America Investments (left), poses with his wife Pooja Chitgopekar and U.S. President Donald Trump, in an undated photo. Kumar and his father, Shalabh Shalli Kumar  who with his wife was one of Trumps largest donors in the 2016 election cycle  are wooing Indian businessmen to invest in an EB-5 visa as a means to obtaining a green card. (AVG America Investments photo via CNBC)
An American citizen has come all the way from the United States to wed his beautiful Hausa lover whom he has been dating online for 2 years without meeting in person, according to Arewa24News.

The report further stated that the man landed in Abuja and headed to Kano to seal the union.

The man reportedly embraced Islam and had his name changed to Musa as he tied the knot traditionally last week in the presence of family and friends.
According to report by the Nigeria Police, Senate President, Bukola Saraki has been invited to answer allegations indicting him from confessions of Five (5) Gang leaders arrested for active participation in Offa Bank Robbery and Killings of thirty (33) Innocent persons.

Howevern Mr Saraki has responded to claims that he was involved in the Offa bank robbery that took place in April, 2018. According to the Senate President the story is untrue and a ploy by police to implicate him.
Leading financial services provider, First City Monument Bank (FCMB), on Thursday, May 31, 2018 unveiled a scheme tagged, FCMB Education Advisory Service. This service would ensure convenient and affordable education support for its customers or their children who desire to study abroad and obtain undergraduate and post-graduate degrees.

The support includes overseas admission information services, school fees remittance, school living allowances and travel fares, loans to support school fees payments, visa process, travels and examination preparation. Access to customers and other aspiring candidates is said to be available on FCMB website with branches where operational desks are currently located, listed.

It is part of the Banks contributions towards developing a new generation of brilliant minds that would take Nigeria to the next level.

The FCMB Education Advisory Service is in partnership with MOD Group, a foremost international education promotion and marketing company with operations deeply rooted in Nigeria and covering the West Africa sub-region.

Under the initiative which was launched at a ceremony on May 30, 2018 in Lagos, FCMB is offering a full range of core financial services, tailored to meet the needs of its customers in the area of acquiring education abroad.

Among these are, up to N5million school fees support to customers from the Bank and Credit Direct Limited, one of the subsidiaries of FCMB Group Plc (the holding company), Flexx account (in foreign exchange) for students going abroad to study, prompt and secure international funds transfer through internet banking platforms for the payment of school fees and other educational expenses abroad. There is also the issuance of FCMB debit cards, including the pocket money card (pre-loaded) that can be used to withdraw cash from overseas ATMs and make payments at stores and supermarkets.

Speaking at the launch of the initiative, the Executive Director, Retail Banking of FCMB, Mr. Olu Akanmu, stated the commitment of the Bank to champion and execute initiatives that would promote education and knowledge acquisition among Nigerians.

According to him, at FCMB, we walk and work with our customers to fulfil their life aspirations for themselves, their families and their businesses, including the provision of the best education. The FCMB Education Advisory Services in partnership with MOD Services and international partners also covers school admission process, Visa processing, travel and examination Preparation. We recognise that knowledge of what to do and how to do it matters in securing good overseas education. FCMB will also be providing prompt school fees and living allowances remittance, loans to support school fees payment and international cards to support living overseas for Nigerian students

Mr. Akanmu also added, we have Lufthansa Airline, beside other partner airlines on board to offer students, discounted fares under this scheme. This also covers their guardians accompanying them. In addition, we have AXA Mansard coming on board to provide medical cover for the students to the tune of $60,000 a year.

The event to formally launch the FCMB Education Advisory Service had in attendance the Permanent Secretary/Tutor General, Lagso State Ministry of Education, Mrs. Olufunmilayo Onadipe; Managing Director of MOD Group, Mr. Michael Dosunmu; Head of Communications, British Council, Mrs. Edemekong Uyoh and a Representative of the High Commission of Ireland, Tessa Bagu; amongst others.

See pictures below:
There was a bizarre turn of event recently as a Nigerian man who voluntarily went to a hospital to donate his blood collapsed as it didnt quite work out as he anticipated.

After the blood donation, the young man collapsed and instead of giving him his blood back, he was asked to pay a whole sum of #7000 for his just donated blood.

A friend of the Young Man took to twitter to share the incident..

Im really tired of Nigeria, my friend fainted as we were leaving the hospital after donating blood for free. He is fine now, all he had to do was pay 7 thousand Naira to get his blood back. I kid you not, this country is MAD.

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Its an unarguable fact that some African Heads of State boast some of the most elegant and intellectual first daughters.

And not only do these First daughters enjoy the perks that come with being the scion of powerful people, they are highly desirable too.

We obviously love to celebrate beautiful women so here are the top beautiful daughters of African Presidents.

10. Bona Mugabe (Zimbabwe)

Bona Mugabe is the daughter of Zimbabwe President, Robert Mugabe. Married to Simba Chikore, this gorgeous lady is looking graceful by the day.

She did her undergraduate university studies in accounting and finance at the City University of Hong Kong and then continued her postgraduate studies in banking and finance at Singapore Institute of Management. She currently works at Alpha & Omega Dairy in Mazowe, Zimbabwe.

9. Zahra Buhari

President Buharis beautiful daughter, Zahra Buhari makes this interesting list. Zahra is the daughter of Nigerias President, Muhammadu Buhari.

Zahra came into the limelight during her fathers campaign for President during the last Presidential election in 2015.

Her photos were released to the Nigerian public and it trended for days and several young Nigerians couldnt help but gush about how hot she looked despite being dressed decently.

She is married to Ahmed Indimi, the son of Nigerian businessman, Mohammed Indimi.

8. Isabel Dos Santos (Angola)

Isabel dos Santos is the daughter of Angolas President Jose Eduardo dos Santos. She is an Angolan investor.

She is considered by Forbes to be the richest woman in Africa and the most powerful and richest woman in her country. According to Forbes, her net worth is $3.7 billion US dollars.

7. Brenda Biya (Cameroon)

The daughter to the president of the Republic of Cameroon, Brenda Biya is one of the most beautiful daughters of a President in Africa.

She studies abroad and according to Cameroonian media she owns a 3-storey gated modern estate in a plush Beverly Hills neighbourhood.

She has sometime ago, been linked with sharing some not so respectful photos of her unclad self online.

6. Thutukile Zuma (South Africa)

Thuthukile Zuma is the chief of staff in the Department of Telecommunications and Postal Services and youngest of South African president Jacob Zumas four daughters with ex-wife Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma.

She is regarded as very beautiful as she spots a very low cut hairstyle and her charming face is something that many have regarded as very beautiful.

5. Aya al-Sisi (Egypt)

Aya appears with friends, while Aya is the one at the far right of the centre photo. She is with her husband in the photos at the right and left hand side of the entire shot.

Aya is Abdel Fattah al-Sisi, the ex-army chiefs only daughter who is currently the president of Egypt. She is not only beyond stunning, she is polite and courteous.

4. Ngina Kenyetta (Kenya)

Ngina Kenyetta is the daughter of Uhuru Kenyatta, the President of Kenya. This beauty was named after her grandmother, Mama Ngina Kenyatta. She has been regarded as a very social and controversial lady.

Her color and beauty is usually the centre of attraction each time she steps out of arrives at an event.

3. Malika Bongo Ondimba [Gabon]

Malika Bongo Ondimba is the only daughter of the President of Gabon, Ali Bongo Ondimba and shes been described as a beauty to behold.

She has been tagged as a social and women right activist as she defends and offers social assistance to less privileged or abused women.

2. Ange Kagame (Rwanda)

Ange Kagame is the second child and only daughter of President Paul Kagame of Rwanda.

She is a philanthropist and has been involved in causes that include women empowerment, education and poverty eradication, as well as disease immunization.

Her statuesque height took many people by surprise soon after she took a photo with former US President Barrack Obama.

1. Princess Sikhanyiso Dlamini (Swaziland)

Her Royal Highness Princess Sikhanyiso Dlamini of Swaziland is the eldest daughter of His Majesty King Mswati III of Swaziland.

She is the first of his 30 children, and her mother is the first of King Mswatis 10 queens, Inkhosikati LaMbikiza.

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PUNCH

A former Governor of Taraba State, Rev. Jolly Nyame, will on Monday (today) appeal his conviction, The PUNCH has learnt.

Vanguard

Lagos  The Lagos chapter of the All Progressives Congress(APC)on Sunday said it would sue the National Working Committee(NWC)for overruling its state congress.

The Sun
The Nigerian news wave has been agog , following news that Senate president Bukola Saraki has been linked to the deadly Offa bank robbery in April. The senate president, who has already been invited by the police to answer questions following confessions of 5 suspects of the bank robbery, has said the news is false and he has no hand in it.

UPDATE OF POLICE INVESTIGATION INTO THE OFFA BANKS ROBBERY AND GRUESOME MURDER OF MORE THAN 33 INNOCENT PERSONS. Senate President, Sen. Bukola Saraki is being invited to report to the Police to answer allegations indicting him from confessions of https://t.co/oKBxW8X77B pic.twitter.com/9VwzpIkKJr  Nigeria Police Force (@PoliceNG) June 3, 2018

Well, the story has stirred a mixed reactions among many Nigerians on social media. While some are of the opinion that Mr Saraki is just a victim of police victimization, other are saying the thugs on his payroll are blackmailing him.

See reactions from some Nigerians on Twitter below:

You will have to be congenitally daft to believe someone who was born with silver spoon, became a medical doctor, SA Budget to President for about three years, Governor for eight years and now Senate President can send some criminals to go rob a bank.  Adesola. (@Solar_unique) June 4, 2018

@bukolasaraki is not involved directly in the robbery but hes about 90% indirectly involved, how do I mean he armed and this so called GOOD BOYS are on his payroll, the operational vehicle used was also supplied by him. Im from KWARA STATE I KNOW WHAT IM SAYING.  Father of Alexander (@IAOLORUNDARE) June 3, 2018

They carried out the robbery with impunity having it in mind that they have oga at the top. 2013 was successful no single arrest were made.  Saheed (@AriwaSaheed) June 3, 2018

Did I say thank God? Yes, gradually, political thuggery is coming to an end in Nigeria. I hope this teach others a lesson. This same political thuggery metamorphosed onto #Bokoharam  Wale Balogun K (@walebalogunk) June 3, 2018

To think that I did a thread on Naija politicians and empowerment only yesterday! Now that Saraki & Kwara State Gov appear to have empowered wahala, lets hope their corrupt peers in Naijas leadership will stop d madness of looting funds & empowering their victims with trifle.  Pius Adesanmi (@pius_adesanmi) June 3, 2018

They did not send us for the robbery but because we are their political thugs, that was why we did what we did. https://t.co/WCP0FT1vZK  The Nation Nigeria (@TheNationNews) June 3, 2018

We have to start seeing IGP Idris as the fourth arm of government in Nigeria.

He is summoning the Senate President of the same Senate he disregarded her summon 3 times and Saraki is going to appear before him??

Something is going on somewhere!!#2019Elections  #EndSARS #EndSARSNow (@Deji_OoniAbj) June 4, 2018

I really don't know whether to be sorry for Saraki & Dogara. It was before their eyes that Nnamdi Kalu disappeared & Fulani herdsmen kill people, and the senate kept mute. When you build an environment for weeds to fester, they'll feed on your own crops someday.  Celestine (@celestocalculus) June 4, 2018

https://twitter.com/MideMrPossible/status/1003565753394712576
Senate President in response to police invitation to answer allegations indicting him from confessions of Five (5) Gang leaders arrested for Offa Bank Robbery and Killings of thirty (33) Innocent persons, has said he would honour the invitation.

He made this known via his Twitter handle on Monday afternoon. According to Mr Saraki, he has informed his ADC to get the letter of invitation from the police in respect of the allegations raised yesterday  for him to immediately honour the invitation.

See what he wrote

I have just informed my ADC to get the letter of invitation from @PoliceNG in respect of the allegations raised yesterday  so that I can immediately honour the alleged invitation.  Dr. Abubakar Bukola Saraki (@bukolasaraki) June 4, 2018

See some reactions for Nigerians on Twitter

Good clear yourself and let the police do their investigation, no one is above the Law  Ibrahim Ijaola (@ijaola_ibrahim) June 4, 2018

You people should give some respect to Nigerian police and let them do their job. Because you love someone doesn't meant he can't be accuse or commit a crime. Let the law prevail and the truth shall set an accused person free. Only in Nigeria people support a criminal or accuse.  Adebisi Daprince (@Don_Sisqo) June 4, 2018
With the latest twist in the Offa Bank Robbery saga Below is the Facebook profile of the Gang Leader and coordinator of killings Mr Ayoade Akinninbosun aka A. Y. Hes from Oro a town in the yoruba speaking southern part 45 mins away from Offa, where top 5 members of the robbery gang hails from. Hes a graduate of college of education, Oro, a cultist and a political thug. We wish him painful time in jail.

-Nairaland
Phynos bank account has increased by some extra 00s after the musician signed a deal to become the brand ambassador for Life Lager Nigeria.

The said company is a subsidiary of Nigerian Breweries Plc that deals in the production of fine quality lager beer made from the choicest grains, hops and the purest of waters.

The Onyema crooner recently announced the deal via a post on Instagram. The post contained pictures that captured moments from the deal-signing exercise. From the caption used in the post, it is quite obvious that Phyno is excited about the new deal. His caption read,

I am very happy and excited to be a @lifelager_ng ambassador ?.. Live LIFE. More LIFE ?#phynoislife?

See post below.

https://www.instagram.com/p/BjkWgytFVUT/

-Tooxclusive
The 2018 African Food & Products Exhibition & Conference (AFPE) themed Non-Oil Exports: Scaling Up Productivity to Meet Global Demand, came to a close on May 26th, 2018. Celebrating its 2nd Edition, the biggest Food and Products Exhibition & Conference was held at the Lagos Continental Hotel, Lagos and attracted SMEs, Start-up business owners, MSMEs, International & local suppliers & distributors of food & beverage products, chain stores, independent sellers, key decision and policy makers from leading Nigerian and American organizations. The two day event presented a viable opportunity for exhibiting companies to grow their sales, showcase their products to a target audience and strike million dollars international deals.

AFPE continues to be a high-quality marketplace for decision makers and end-consumers to network, research and buy new products and services. The 2 Day event promoted the development of trade, commerce, investment and industrial technological relationships between the public and private sectors of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and the United States of America and had in attendance, John Bray, U.S. Consul General, Lagos, Nigeria; Mr. Olukayode Pitan, Managing Director, Bank of Industry; CEOs of leading Nigerian and multinational firms, Captains of Industries, Private Sector Investors, agencies of The United States Mission etc.

The Conference sessions delivered by seasoned professionals focused on SME funding journey, Access to Market, Access to Business Funding, Tapping into the Opportunities in the Export Value Chain and AGOA: A key competitiveness in the US Market.

John Bray called for the modernization of the local economy particularly the agricultural sector to meet Nigerias population growth and development. According to him, opportunities abound in all the 36 states in the country to create more businesses in the agricultural sector to provide jobs for more Nigerians.

While there has been increased human development in Nigeria over the past several years, huge inequalities still persist between men and women in the country.

In many areas, particularly the agricultural sector, low productivity and lack of investment as well as limited or absence of infrastructure hold back economic development, he said.

Bray, quoting a 2015 African Development Bank (AfDB) report, said in the next 15 years, more than 370 million youths, including those in Nigeria would enter Africas labor market.

Bray, represented by Jude Akhidenor, Regional Agricultural Counselor in the Embassy, noted that developing and modernizing the agricultural sector should be a priority for the Nigerian Government, private sectors and other stakeholders.

Mr. Olukayode Pitan represented by Mr. Waheed Olagunju, Executive Director, Small and Medium Enterprises, Bank of Industry said before the discovery of crude oil in commercial quantity, the Agric sector contributed about 65 percent to the Gross Domestic Product (GDP). It was also the major source of revenue and jobs.

Waheed said that though the value of Nigerias agric export appreciated at over $470 million (about N170 billion), this was less than nine percent of its potential. According to him, the potential could have been higher if the high agric export growth rate of the 1960s was sustained.

With Agric as one of the six sectors identified for growth in the Federal Governments Economic Recovery Growth Plan (ERGP), there was need to scale up productivity to help Nigeria become a leading player in both the local and international agric export market.

On how Nigeria can drive economic diversification and boost productivity in the agric sector, Waheed stressed the need to embark on agricultural industrialization and implement innovative financial models that would cater for the needs of both low-income farmers and high-income processors.

While insisting that there is a need to start looking critically at the whole agric value chain, he said several initiatives had been introduced to boost the agri-business sector of the economy including the Agriculture Promotion Policy (The Green Alternative)

The NACC President, Olabintan Famutimi said the food and products exhibition would promote the development of trade, commerce and capacity of ingenious businesses.

He said the Chamber will continue to remind all stakeholders of the need to promote the Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) and apply international best practices and other relevant frameworks in their operations.

Famutimi pledged the commitment of the Chamber to the full implementation of the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA).
Former media aide of former president Goodluck Jonathan, Reno Omokri has said claims that the Senate president Bukola Saraki has links to the deadly Offa bank robbers is subject to scrutiny. According to the author, why will the senate president Who can rob the treasury prefer to rob a bank? 

Reno made a series of claims via his Twitter handle on Sunday as soon the news of Sarakis alleged involvement in Offa robbery hit the internet.

He wrote;

The police statement alleges that the suspects confessed that @BukolaSaraki and Governor Ahmed sponsored the firearms, cars and money used to facilitate #OffaBankRobbery. But why will politicians who can rob the treasury prefer to rob a bank? Which is easier and more profitable?  Reno Omokri (@renoomokri) June 3, 2018

Why waste money on Cable to watch #GameofThrones, when the game playing out in Nigeria is more dramatic than anything GoT? An ex-Governor and current Senate President being linked to armed robbery because of his opposition to a sitting President who also withdraws his security!  Reno Omokri (@renoomokri) June 3, 2018

Mr Omokri also took a swipe at the Nigerian police, who he says couldnt prosecute the mace theft at the National assembly but could link Saraki to robberies in Offa, Kwara state. He also noted that. the Inspector General of Police, Ibrahim Idris, who on three occasions, turned down the invitation of the senate can now invite the senate president.

He wrote;

Isnt it funny that the police who could not prosecute those who stole @NGRSenates mace has been able to find a link between Senate President @bukolasaraki and #OffaBankRobbery. In Kaduna, @elrufai demolishes critics houses. In Abuja, they link you to armed robbery! APC, I hail!  Reno Omokri (@renoomokri) June 3, 2018

When @NGRSenate invited IGP Idris, he ignored the invitation and President Buhari did not sack, reprimand or arrest him. Now the shoe is on the other foot and IGP Idris has invited @bukolasaraki.We hear that the President has ordered his arrest. Why? Is Idris greater than Saraki?  Reno Omokri (@renoomokri) June 3, 2018

According to @PremiumTimesng, the Police has got approval from Buhari to arrest @BukolaSaraki. This is the same police that could not arrest pension thief Maina, or killer herdsmen, or those who killed RCCGs Pastor Eunice Elisha. The same police that cant rescue #LeahSheribu  Reno Omokri (@renoomokri) June 3, 2018

I remember when members of the nPDP called Jonathan a dictator. Today, they have a real dictator but cant call him dictator because of fear. A man whose regime killed 347 unarmed Shiite men, women, children and infants, can deal with anybody through legal and extralegal means.  Reno Omokri (@renoomokri) June 3, 2018

Reno Omokri added also that Bukola Saraki is reaping what he sowed for betraying former president Jonathan, adding also that the president Muhammadu Buhari administration lacks reasoning for thinking Saraki would stoop so low as to rob a bank.

See what he wrote

The sad fact is that if @BukolaSaraki had not betrayed Jonathan, Buhari wouldnt have the power to victimise Saraki. No spoon is long enough to eat with satan. If you bring a leopard to kill your enemy, yes, the leopard will kill him. Then it will turn on you when it gets hungry!  Reno Omokri (@renoomokri) June 3, 2018
A 35-year-old mother identified as Mrs. Chika Okoye with her son, Samuel, and his friend, Dan Abah, have been arrested by the operatives of Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps in Nasarawa State for examination malpractice.

The sober mother who spoke to newsmen after her arrest, revealed that she hired Abah to write her sons matriculation exam because her son couldnt get admitted for many years.

We couldnt get admission for many years so I became frustrated; he was also frustrated and nobody is helping us. I have other children who have graduated but for the past four years or more now, he (Samuel) has failed to pass the exams, so I became frustrated. So, I asked his friend to help him to write the exams, I told him I will give him something but I know it is a very bad thing. Please, forgive me sir, I was so frustrated, Chika pleaded.

The states commandant, Mohammed Gidado-Fari, who also spoke to newsmen, disclosed that Abah was caught writing the JAMB examination at the Command Secondary School Lafia over the weekend on contract, as it was gathered he was to be paid an unspecified amount of money after her son passed the examination.

Punch reported that the commandant also paraded a 32 year-old man, Mr. Obey Samuel who beat his biological mother into a coma without provocation.

Samuel was arrested on Monday for beating his biological mother to a state of coma without any provocation, he stated.

While interviewed, Samuel denied beating his mother, saying, I did not beat her but I know that when I come back from a night club at that time, I was drunk, I just locked her up in her room.

Few weeks ago, JAMB Registrar Prof Ishaq Oloyede, blasted parents who encourage their children to engage in examination malpractice.

Oloyede made the remark in Abuja at the Boards Headquarter at Bwari when a suspect or impersonator who attempted to write the 2018 UTME, on behalf of his brother was being paraded by the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, NSCDC.

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BROCKVILLE, ON (June 3, 2018)- There will be plenty of action to thrill fans during the 2018 season at Brockville Ontario Speedway. Saturday, June 9th the first of the years special events takes the green flag as 1000 Islands RV presents the Border Battle Series at the fan favourite 3/8th mile clay oval on Temperance Lake Road, north of the city.

A back-to-back program  in conjunction with Can Am Speedway in Lafargeville, New York, with a pair of shows at each track  features the Small Block Modifieds running a 35 lap A main for a $2,000 payday, while the Sportsman-Modified teams contest a 30 lap headline dance, with $800 on the line. The Brockville event also includes the Rookie Sportsman, Street Stock and Mini Stock divisions. Track owner and promoter Paul Kirkland says its been a great early season at The BOS.

On opening night, reigning track champion Luke Whitteker snatched the win with a late race pass on multi-time title holder Danny OBrien and a couple of weeks after that, Jeremy LaSalle clinched his first 358 Mod win. June 2nd, Ryan Arbuthnot claimed his first win of the year, Kirkland said. In the Sportsman-Modified ranks, Johnathon Ferguson took the first checkered flag of the year and continued a hot streak that began a night earlier at MIR. After a rainout, former high point man Shane Pecore grabbed the win and Ryan Scott copped the most recent checkered flag.

The weekly racing is always a crowd favourite, but special events play a huge part in Brockville Ontario Speedways summer schedule and there is none bigger than the Wednesday, August 8th inaugural running of the Bullringer 110, presented by RTD Trailers. Perhaps the most prestigious mid-week show in track history, the 110 lap main event for the DIRTcar 358 Modifieds has a $10,000 cheque waiting for the winner. Sportsman teams will contest the same race distance, with $2,000 paid to the first car across the line.

Were expecting our home track regulars, along with a star-studded field from this side of the border, in addition to the best of the best to represent New York State, Pennsylvania and New Jersey, Paul Kirkland said. Super Dirt Week winners, Mr. DIRT champions; the most popular names in DIRTcar racing will be rolling through our pit gates, looking to take away our biggest payout of the year.

Saturday night short track racing notebook: Its never too early to start thinking about the 2018 edition of the Loud & Dirty Brand DIRTcar Northeast Fall Nationals  Friday and Saturday, October 12th and 13th  at Brockville Ontario Speedway. 2 days of powerful action with the Big Block and Small Block Mods, Sportsman Modifieds and more. Head to the track web-site and social media feeds for all the details.

The full event schedule and up to the minute news can be found by visiting www.brockvillespeedway.com, by liking Brockville Speedway on Facebook or following the track on Twitter.

Prepared by: Jim Clarke, Clarke Motorsports Communications/First Draft Media

clarkemotorsports@hotmail.com, www.facebook.com/clarkemotorsports

613.968.6410
THOROLD, ON (June 2, 2018)-  Young McNamara hosted the Annual KIDSRACE Night in support of the Canadian National Autism Foundation Saturday June 2nd with Adam Leslie of Port Colborne taking home his first David Chevrolet Sportsman Division Feature Win of 2018.

The night also had Mat Williamson and Rob Murray both of St. Catharines, Brent Begolo and Alex Riley both of Thorold and Frank Plazek of Caistor Centre also taking home wins in the 358 Modified, Hoosier Stock, Modified Lite, 4 Cylinder and V6 Divisions, respectively.

I thought he was there til the end, said Adam Leslie in Sportsman Victory Lane of a late race battle with Jay Mallory, Ive got to thank my crew for giving me such a rocket tonight.

A caution with 5 laps to go in the 25 lap event erased a 2.5 second lead for Leslie and shortly after the return to racing  the leader and Mallory were side by side.

Second generation racer Brandon Gruhl was the initial leader with Leslie taking over the runner up spot some 5 car lengths behind by lap 5. Two laps later Leslie would take over top spot and by lap 10 simply drove away from the field.

By the halfway point, Leslies almost straightaway lead went away after caution slowed the field. With action in the pack three wide for position  Leslie was able to regain his straightaway lead ahead of Mallory.

From the final caution to the checkered flag, Leslie held off Mallory by 4/10ths of a second. Cody McPherson made a late race charge to take third spot with Greg Panunte and Trevor Wright closing out the top 5.

Gary (Lindberg) had a good car  it was great racing him  we touched but it was accidental, said 4 time 2018 358 Modified Feature Winner Mat Williamson of an incident in the 35 lap event, in the end it was slower cars that may have hurt him the most.

In the closing laps, Lindberg was leading Williamson into increasing lap traffic with the two making slight contact racing into Turn 2 of lap 29. By lap 33 the two were side by side with Williamson making his move the final time down the frontstretch edging Lindberg at the line by .088 of a second.

Prior to that, Lindberg set the pace right from the start in the caution free race opening up a 5 car length advantage by lap 5. Williamson took second from Pete Bicknell on lap 6 and set his sights on Lindberg. With 10 laps to go  the gap was down to 1 second.

At the finish, Williamson and Lindberg were followed by Bicknell, Chad Brachmann and Mike Bowman.

Shes fast, said Rob Murray in Hoosier Stock Victory Lane for the third straight time, I made some contact with Billy (Bleich)  I felt bad for him.

Dave Small was the initial leader of the 20 lap Feature and by lap 5 quickly opened up a lead of 5 car lengths. Murray and Bleich would come together on lap 6 sending Murray to the rear of the field.

With Small out front on the restart  Murray had already made up 9 spots in just 3 laps. By lap 12, Small would have a slight lead on Brad Sheehan with Murray all the way to third.

Murray would take over top spot just as caution slowed the pace on lap 17 with Small back in control on the restart. Racing under Starter Steve DeVos white flag  Murray would take over top spot until one final incident set up a green white checkered finish.

In the one lap dash Murray would come home ahead of Small, Sheehan, Dave Bailey and Kyle Pelrine.

I like a slick track better  it makes it a finesse track, said Modified Lite Feature Winner Brent Begolo, I was happy to see it go caution free  I had some transmission problems so I dont know how I wouldve handled restarts. With the weather so nice my grandfather Jeno is out tonight  I hope I can keep winning for him!

Begolo, whose grandfather is a former Modified Point Champion and CAA Niagara Wall of Famer took over top spot from Randy Giroux on lap 4.

Begolo drove away to almost a straightaway lead right away.

The race to watch was the one for 2nd between Chris Watson and Josh Sliter. Watson would win that battle but had nothing for the leader. Begolo, Watson and Sliter were followed by Jeffrey May and Rob Misener.

We had a great night  being able to get out front early and lead most of the race was exciting but also pretty stressful, said 4 Cylinder Feature Winner Alex Riley, having that many cautions can get annoying when you are the leader  but luckily I was able to get a good jump on the restarts.

Father and son Shawn and Sam Iftody took the 15 lap Feature to the initial green flag with Shawn setting the pace until Alex Riley took control on lap 1.

The second caution slowing Riley came on lap 6 originally for a slowing Jay Moulton with the field quickly stopped with a red flag after Austyn Werstrohs car developed a fire under the hood.

Two laps later Riley was again slowed when both Iftodys fell off the pace. Two more incidents slowing the field before the 5 laps to go mark. One final caution would set up a green white checkered finish with Riley holding off Cole Hardy, Jeremy Cooper, Vincent Pagnotta and Shawn Iftody.

Im having a lot of fun, said 3 time V6 Feature Winner Adam Plazek, Dad and I built this car  its been a real learning experience.

John Couture set the pace at the start of the 12 lap Feature until Adam Plazek took over top spot on lap 2.

Two second generation racers would cause the only caution after Joe Bleich pitted for a flat tire and was able to rejoin the field. Tina Ronnings misfortunes continued after she came to a stop with a broken tie rod.

On the restart it was Plazek out front ahead of Couture, Chris Mussat, Nick Hendricks and Bleich.

Merrittville Speedway Pit Notes

Merittville Speedway would like to thank all those that supported the annual KIDSRACE Night in support of the Canadian National Autism Foundation and to all the drivers and race teams that participated in Autograph Night.

Special Thanks as well to Westdale School Alumni Cody McPherson and Mat Williamson for their fund-raising efforts in the St. Catharines School Playground Fundraising efforts.
Jeremy D. Morley concentrates on International Family Law. The firm works with clients around the world from its New York office, with a global network of local counsel. Mr Morley is the author of "International Family Law Practice", the leading treatise on international family law in the U.S., and "The Hague Abduction Convention", published by the American Bar Association. He is a Fellow of the International Academy of Family Lawyers and a former law professor.
Enterprise users will have the ability to buy and sell excess computing resources on the proof-of-concept marketplace, being built in collaboration with Hewlett Packard Enterprise. Developed on the principles of the "sharing economy", the marketplace offers a secure, inexpensive, more efficient alternative to regular cloud services

VANCOUVER, British Columbia - June 4, 2018 (Newsfile Corp.) (Investorideas.com Newswire) Global Blockchain Technologies Corp. (CSE: BLOC) (FSE: BWSP) (OTC Pink: BLKCF) ("BLOC" or the "Company") announces a proof-of-concept ("PoC") for a peer-to-peer ("P2P") decentralized marketplace for cloud services, geared towards enterprise users. The PoC will match users that have excess computing resources with users who require additional computing resources, enabling the latter user to purchase what they need from the former user. This PoC leverages the "sharing economy" model championed by Uber and AirBnB, bringing similar benefits to enterprise computing and its users. It will be built on the Laser network ("Laser"), a blockchain developed by the Company that connects existing blockchain networks to be interoperable, similar to the role that SWIFT plays in banking.

The Company is working with Hewlett Packard Enterprise ("HPE") to execute the PoC - trialling it with existing HPE users, and enabling seamless integration with tools such as OneSphere and Nimble.

Bill Philbin, Hewlett Packard Enterprise SVP and CTO, Hybrid IT, commented "Emerging technology may soon enable users to experiment in the sharing economy. Through a collaboration with HPE, Global Blockchain Technologies Corporation is developing a Proof-of-Concept network. The goal of the POC network is to demonstrate how a user can monetize under-utilized storage assets by supplying them to the network, and how they can migrate existing data to the network with minimal disruption."

Eskander Mirza, Chairman of Hewlett Packard Enterprise's Storage Users Group states "We are thrilled to give our members the opportunity to try this ground breaking PoC, it addresses a persisting issue of supply and demand for computing resources that virtually all of the group's members face, and it is clear that when this PoC hits the mainstream enterprise market, everybody will want to use it."

Three key benefits that come from using a blockchain-based solution:

Security: Through Laser's collateral requirement for servicenode operators, "bad actors" are disincentivized from behaving dishonestly, as the collateral can be confiscated. This continuously and sustainably preserves the network's integrity.

Reliability: With a distributed file system, data can be replicated, repatriated, or recovered at any time with no restrictions. Through autonomous tracking of the network, disaster recovery becomes a trivial process - creating a robust and stable network.

Efficiency: As a decentralized approach to networks, blockchain is inherently more efficient than centralized models that often rely on "middleman" intermediaries. By enabling enterprise users to transact resources directly on a P2P basis, this PoC promotes efficiency on many levels.

"This PoC will do for enterprise cloud services what AirBnB did for accommodations," said Shidan Gouran, President and CEO of the Company. Gouran continued, "With computing resources becoming increasingly in-demand in enterprise organizations, the ability to buy and sell excess capacity will revolutionize enterprise IT."

Combined with the trial with HPE, this PoC will be the foundation of a BLOC project called the Stratus Marketplace ("Stratus"). Once developed, Stratus will be an open-source, Internet-scale P2P storage network that eliminates the risks and inefficiencies of centralized storage methods, liquidates unused capacity, and brings low-cost computing resources to enterprise users. Stratus presently has a targeted release date in late Q3 of 2018.

On behalf of the Company:

Shidan Gouran, President and CEO

info@globalblockchain.io

For more information, please contact:

IRTH Communications, LLC

ir@globalblockchain.io

800-689-8089

About Global Blockchain Technologies Corp.

The Company provides investors access to a basket of direct and indirect holdings within the blockchain space, managed by a team of industry pioneers and early adopters of all major cryptocurrencies.

The Company is focused on streamlining the currently arduous, lengthy, and complicated process that interested investors must undergo in order to gain exposure to the cryptocurrency space, with a view to becoming the first vertically-integrated originator and manager of top tier blockchains and digital currencies.

BLOC is listed on the Canadian Securities Exchange ("CSE") and its common shares trade under the ticker symbol "BLOC." Additional information relating to BLOC is available on SEDAR at www.sedar.com, the CSE at www.theCSE.com, as well as on the Company's website at www.globalblockchain.io.

Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Information

This news release contains "forward-looking information" within the meaning of applicable securities laws. Generally, any statements that are not historical facts may contain forward-looking information, and forward-looking information can be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as "plans", "expects" or "does not expect", "is expected", "budget", "scheduled", "estimates", "forecasts", "intends", "anticipates" or "does not anticipate", or "believes", or variations of such words and phrases or indicates that certain actions, events or results "may", "could", "would", "might" or "will be" taken, "occur" or "be achieved". Forward-looking information includes, but is not limited to the Company's goal of streamlining the current arduous, lengthy and complicated process that interested investors need to undergo in order to gain exposure to the cryptocurrency space with a view to becoming the first vertically integrated originator and manager of top-tier blockchains and digital currencies. The Company has no assets and its business plan is purely conceptual in nature and there is no assurance that it will be implemented as set out herein, or at all. Forward-looking information is based on certain factors and assumptions the Company believes to be reasonable at the time such statements are made, including but not limited to: statements and expectations regarding the ability of the Company to (i) successfully engage senior management with appropriate industry experience and expertise, (ii) gain access to and acquire a basket of cryptocurrency assets and pre-ICO and ICO financings on favourable terms or at all, (iii) successfully create its own tokens and ICO's, and (iv) execute on future M&A opportunities in the cryptocurrency space; receipt of required regulatory approvals; the availability of necessary financing; permitting and such other assumptions and factors as set out herein. Forward-looking information is subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause the actual results, level of activity, performance or achievements of the Company to be materially different from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking information, including but not limited to: risks related to changes in cryptocurrency prices; the estimation of personnel and operating costs; general global markets and economic conditions; risks associated with uninsurable risks; risks associated with currency fluctuations; competition faced in securing experienced personnel with appropriate industry experience and expertise; risks associated with changes in the financial auditing and corporate governance standards applicable to cryptocurrencies and ICO's; risks related to potential conflicts of interest; the reliance on key personnel; financing, capitalization and liquidity risks including the risk that the financing necessary to fund continued development of the Company's business plan may not be available on satisfactory terms, or at all; the risk of potential dilution through the issuance of additional common shares of the Company; the risk of litigation. Although the Company has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from the forward-looking information set out in this presentation, there may be other factors that cause results not to be as anticipated, estimated or intended. There can be no assurance that such forward-looking information will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such information. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking information. Forward-looking statements are made based on management's beliefs, estimates and opinions on the date that statements are made and the Company undertakes no obligation to update forward-looking statements if these beliefs, estimates and opinions or other circumstances should change, except as required by laws. Investors are cautioned against attributing undue certainty to forward-looking statements.

Neither the CSE nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the CSE) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

More Info:

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Apple is reportedly looking to tighten its grip on the MacBook supply chain which is going to negatively affect the profit of its contracted suppliers. Apple already negotiates directly with TSMC, Samsung and other companies for key MacBook components. However, it is now looking to directly negotiate the price of other components like screws, metallic and plastic parts on behalf of its contract suppliers.

The sources of the report cannot be verified but if true, it would be an uncharacteristic move from Apple. The company has never interfered with the procurement process of non-crucial items on behalf of its contracted suppliers. It has only provided them with a list of third-party suppliers from which they can source the components.

Apple is reportedly to tighten its grip on the supply chains of new MacBook models through direct pricing negotiations with third-party suppliers of non-key parts such as screws, metallic parts and plastics parts needed for the production of key components by contracted suppliers, a move seen to significantly squeeze profit margins of contracted supply partners, according to industry sources

If the move is implemented, it would end up wiping 10-15 percent of the profits on the purchase of these materials. Apple reportedly revealed its new plans in late May which was attended by its Taiwanese contracted supply chain partners.

The report also says that Apple has expanded its procurement coverage to include materials like cobalt, copper, and other non-crucial items from third-party suppliers. It would be directly setting the prices for these components along with their order volumes. While the move will negatively impact the profit of Apples contract partners, it would end up lowering its production cost for the MacBooks. In turn, this would either allow Apple to offer a better value with its MacBook lineup or further boost its own profit margins. As for contracted supply chain partners, they will now have to look into expanding into AI, cloud, and automotive electronics applications for improved profitability.

It is possible that Apple took this move ahead of the release of its new rumored cheap MacBook. But then again, while there have been reports of Apple working on a new cheaper MacBook, there have been no concrete leaks confirming its existence.

[Via DigiTimes
For owners of Apple TV set-top boxes that support the newest versions of the operating system, the company has just unveiled new software to look forward to.

Apple, during the keynote speech to start this years Worldwide Developers Conference, unveiled tvOS 12 to those watching. The company started talking about the Apple TV 4K, and how iTunes supports content for the new set-top box. The company did announce that the Apple TV 4K will support Dolby Atmos for more robust sound quality.

All supported titles that offer Dolby Atmos will be upgraded for free, too, just like Apple upgraded supported 4K HDR content for existing HD content.

Apple talked about traditional cable companies supporting apps, and the Apple TV. Apple says it is working with companies around the world, including in France with Canal+. In Switzerland Apple is working with Salt. In the United States, Charter Spectrum will be a bundled option for customers, which means up to 50 million customers can adopt the Apple TV for their streaming set-top box option.

Authentication is a big deal, and Apple wants to make it easier. Single Sign-On made that easier last year, but now the company is introducing Zero Sign-On. Now, if you are on your TV providers broadband network, the supported apps and channels will automatically populate without actually logging into anything. Charter Spectrum will be the first to support this feature, with more providers coming down the line eventually.

The Apple TV remote will automatically be added to Control Center if you have an Apple TV in the home, which means accessing controls can be easier and faster.

The company talked about Aerials, too, which is the background shown as a wallpaper. The company is adding the ability to see where the images were shot just by tapping the physical remote. Users can even swipe between locations if they want. Apple also introduces new Aerials of the planet earth itself. It was filmed by astronauts on the International Space Station. It includes night time shots of the planet.

Developing


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GRANTS PASS, Ore. -- After a 10 year hiatus, the Grants Pass Balloon and Kite Festival is still going strong in its second year. Organizers said thousands came out to see the giant balloons and kits lift into the air and for a good cause.

"Our three non-profits are Safe Families for Children, Every Child and CASA. So when you're here and spending money on the kids activities or the food vendors, or taking a paid balloon ride, all of that supports those three beneficiaries," said the festivals founder and Rotary Club Chairman, Caleb LaPlante.

LaPlante adds navigating balloons and kites are tricky. Kites like the wind but balloons don't. This year, Mother Nature was more than accommodating. Not one event scheduled across the three day festival was cancelled because of unfavorable conditions. So everyone got to enjoy all of the magic.

"Balloons, especially but almost the large kites, they're inspiring. Theyre kind of magical. Its that Wizard of Oz feeling where Dorothy flies away back to Kansas. You feel kind of captured that there is a special kind of magic in the world. Balloons are all about that," LaPlante added.
BROOKINGS, Ore.  The family of a Brookings man who has been missing for months are now offering a reward for any information that might lead to him. Max Greenfield was last sighted at the Lucky 7 Casino in Smith River, California on March 18.

Tonya Brown, Greenfield's sister, says that the family are offering $5,000 to anyone who can locate Greenfield or his body. The man's family are afraid that at this point, Max is no longer alive.

Greenfield was shown on surveillance footage outside of the Lucky 7 Casino before walking through the parking lot and disappearing out of the frame. No one has seen him since.

"Unfortunately we have nothing new on Max," said Brown.

CLICK HERE to see our previous article, including that security camera footage.

Greenfield is described as a white adult male, about 6' tall, 150-160 pounds, with brown hair, green eyes, and a skeleton key tattooed on his left forearm. He was last seen wearing black jeans, a dark t-shirt and black jacketas well as a dark knit stocking cap and a black duffel bag.
ROSEBURG, Ore.  A motorcyclist that has been missing since May 27 has now been recovered in Douglas County, 69 miles east of Roseburg.

31-year-old Matthew Chapin was riding across Oregon on his motorcycle when friends and family stopped hearing from him shortly after he reached the area of Toketee Falls.

CLICK HERE for our original story on Chapin's disappearance.

Rescuers located Chapin alive around 2 p.m. on Sunday, on a dirt road near the Clearwater Falls day use area. According to the Douglas County Sheriff's Office (DCSO), Chapin was suffering from a 'medical emergency,' and was rushed to Riverbend Hospital via REACH Air Ambulance.

DCSO did not reveal the nature of Chapin's medical emergency, however they did state that his motorcycle was not crashed.

Chapin was found by Douglas County Search and Rescue, aided by a sergeant with Oregon State Police (OSP). Deputies from DCSO, Search and Rescue volunteers, and OSP had been searching for Chapin since Friday.
The Fogo Island Inn is shown in an undated handout photo. Gywneth Paltrow has called Fogo Island "heaven." Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has also vacationed there, along with other jet setters who don't publicize their stays at the luxe Fogo Island Inn, now marking its fifth anniversary. THE CANADIAN PRESS/HO-Fogo Island Inn MANDATORY CREDIT
Dave Mullins hugs a supporter after a rally in Denver to address the Supreme Court's ruling in favor of a baker who refused to make a cake for Mullins' same-sex wedding Monday, June 4, 2018. Craig said Monday he will continue to fight against discrimination. He told supporters during the rally at the Colorado Capitol that he and his partner brought the case "because no one should have to face the shame, embarrassment and humiliation of being told 'we don't serve your kind here.'" (AP Photo/Thomas Peipert)
Dr. Jordan Feld of the Toronto Western Hospital is shown in an undated, handout photo. Canadians born between 1945 and 1975 -- essentially the baby-boom generation -- should be tested for the potentially liver-destroying virus hepatitis C, a new set of guidelines recommends. More than 250,000 Canadians are believed to be infected with hepatitis C, but 40 to 70 per cent are unaware they harbour the blood-borne virus because it can take decades before symptoms become evident. Chronic infection can lead to cirrhosis of the liver or liver cancer. THE CANADIAN PRESS/HO - UHN MANDATORY CREDIT
Sophie Gregoire Trudeau welcomes United States first lady Melania Trump prior to the opening ceremonies of the Invictus Games in Toronto on Saturday, Sept. 23, 2017. Sophie Gregoire Trudeau will not get the chance to show off her home province to her American counterpart this week.THE CANADIAN PRESS/ Nathan Denette
Sem Paul Ebed is seen in this undated police handout photo. A 47-year-old man is facing charges of aggravated sexual assault and choking after a woman was allegedly attacked in her home near the Halifax Commons. Police say Sem Paul Obed was arrested Saturday after a woman said she was sexually assaulted by a man who broke into a home on Cunard Street on Friday.THE CANADIAN PRESS/HO, Halifax Regional Police
A aerial view of Kinder Morgan's Trans Mountain marine terminal filling a oil tanker in Burnaby, B.C., is shown on Tuesday, May 29, 2018. Kinder Morgan Canada is paying $1.5-million bonuses to two senior executives to ensure they stay with the company as its Trans Mountain pipeline system is sold to the federal government under a $4.5-billion sales agreement. THE CANADIAN PRESS Jonathan Hayward
A general view of one of Toronto's Ryerson University's buildings is seen on Thursday July 6, 2017. A think tank launching in Toronto this week hopes to give Indigenous researchers the opportunity to provide greater input on policy issues relevant to their peoples. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Chris Young
President Donald Trump signs an executive order on extreme vetting during an event at the Pentagon in Washington on January 27, 2017. Not only were Canadian officials scrambling to limit problems for travellers, they were simply trying to grasp what was going on when the Trump administration issued an executive order last year banning people from seven predominantly Muslim countries from entering the United States. THE CANADIAN PRESS/AP, Susan Walsh
David Chartrand, president of the Manitoba Metis Federation, takes part in a press conference on Parliament Hill in Ottawa on Friday March 8, 2013. The Manitoba Metis Federation has followed through on a promise to launch legal action against the provincial government over hydroelectric development. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Sean Kilpatrick
OPP officers work at the site of a crash involving a tour bus on Highway 401 West, near Prescott, Ont. on Monday, June 4, 2018. At least 24 people are in hospital, four with life-threatening injuries, after a bus crash in eastern Ontario, provincial police said Monday. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Justin Tang
FILE - In this Feb. 27, 2017, Starbucks CEO Howard Schultz smiles during an interview with the Associated Press at a Princi bakery in Milan, Italy. Starbucks Corp. says Schultz is stepping down executive chairman later this month. Schultz, who oversaw the transformation of Starbucks into a global chain with more than 28,000 locations, had retired as CEO last year to focus on innovation and social impact projects as executive chairman. (AP Photo/Luca Bruno, File)
FILE - In this Oct. 4, 2017, file photo, actors Laura Prepon, left, and Ben Foster attend the premiere of "Una" at the Landmark Sunshine Cinema in New York. Prepon tweeted a photo and announced on Sunday, June 3, 2018, that she and Foster had tied the knot. The couple were engaged in 2016 and they had their first child, a girl, last August. (Photo by Evan Agostini/Invision/AP, File)
Afghan bystanders watch the aftermath of a deadly suicide attack in Kabul, Afghanistan, Monday, June 4, 2018. A suicide bombing targeted a gathering of Afghanistan's top clerics on Monday in Kabul, killing at least seven people and wounding nine. (AP Photo/Rahmat Gul)
FILE - In this Feb. 26, 2017, file photo, Katherine Johnson, the inspiration for the film, "Hidden Figures," poses in the press room at the Oscars at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles. Johnson, the NASA mathematician whose calculations helped bring Apollo astronauts back to Earth, is being honored at her alma mater with a bronze statue and a scholarship in her time. West Virginia State University says a dedication ceremony is planned for Aug. 25, 2018, the day before JohnsonAos 100th birthday. (Photo by Jordan Strauss/Invision/AP, File)
SPRINGFIELD, Ore. - The Lane County Sheriff's Office and the Eugene Emerald Valley Rotary Club hosted the 8th annual Life Jacket Exchange on Saturday and Sunday.

The event was at Cabela's in Springfield.

People had the opportunity to exchange old life jackets for new ones.

Organizers said people receiving life jackets were able to have them properly fitted and checked by volunteers for both form and function.

Deputies said the goal of this event is to ensure every child playing in or near the water has a properly fitting life jacket.

<"It's great, it shows that they care," said one parent, David Long. "It's great to know that there is someone looking out for them all the time."

Organizers said between 200 to 300 life jackets were exchanged during the two-day event.

The Sheriff's Office accepts life jacket donations year round. You can drop them off at their office located at 125 East 8th Avenue in Eugene.
EUGENE, Ore. -- Thousands of people around the world honored and celebrated those who have a history of cancer on Sunday for National Cancer Survivors Day.

More than 100 people gathered at Oakmont City Park in Eugene Sunday afternoon for Oregon Cancer Foundation's free event.

The event offered food, games, and live music.

Organizers said the event was an opportunity for cancer survivors to meet with other survivors, celebrate how far they've come, and to show appreciation for family members, friends and healthcare professionals who have supported them.

KEZI spoke with one cancer survivor who attended the event who said it was a great way to connect with others.

"Let's you know that you're not alone, you have a family, you're supported and that you're not the only one in this journey by yourself," said Victoria Berry.

Organizers said they appreciate everyone that attended Sundays event, and hope that next years event will be even larger.

For more information on Oregon Cancer Foundation and the services they provide click HERE.
BROWNSVILLE, Texas -- U.S. Sen. Jeff Merkley failed Sunday to gain access to a federal facility housing immigrant children in Texas near the Mexico border.

He also tried to talk to a supervisor, but was turned away after police were summoned.

The Oregon Democrat told one of the police officers in Brownsville that U.S. Attorney General Jeff Sessions' team and the Office of Refugee Resettlement are trying to hide what's happening behind the doors of the former Walmart.

Merkley's office posted video on Facebook of the encounter Sunday evening. A supervisor at the facility told Merkley he was not allowed to make any statements, and referred him to a phone number of the public affairs office in the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services in Washington.
El Peru expresa sus condolencias y solidaridad al gobierno y pueblo de Guatemala por la perdida de vidas humanas y graves danos que ha causado la erupcion del Volcan de Fuego
MASON CITY, Iowa - The FBI is issuing a notice for internet users to reset and reboot their routers and change their passwords. This comes after discovering Russian malware that can secretly install itself into routers and collect data from the user.

The agency has been tracking a piece of malware called VPN Filter, which can slow internet speed or even render a router inoperable.

Ryan Matthew Allen is the owner of Dungeon PC in Clear Lake, and has been in business for nearly 10 years. He's noticed that after users set up their internet connection, a router is often overlooked.

What's concerning is a virus could actually be inside a router for years without you knowing it.

Allen agrees with the FBI's statement, and while it may seem time consuming, he strongly encourages users to reset and reboot.

"I think that it's a fantastic idea. If they've got some implementation that they've set up in order to thwart this attack from Russia or wherever they're saying its coming from, they've got a large cybersecurity division in the government here, and they know what they're doing much more than I would or anyone else."

If you go through an internet service provider such as Mediacom and are renting a router from them, Allen suggests contacting your provider before doing any resetting.

He also has some advice for those who may have an old router, which are the most susceptible to being hacked.

"If you've got a really old router that you purchased yourself, let's get it upgraded. Security updates and whatnot have changed quite a bit, every year they're changing and they're changing fast."

It is estimated that 500,000 networking devices worldwide could be affect by VPN Filter.

To reset your router, it is suggested to reset it to its default factory settings and change your password to something stronger., as well as updating the router's software.
MASON CITY, Iowa  A man who gave his infant daughter a brain injury is going to prison for up to 10 years.

Jeremy Walter Rose, 28 of Mason City, was found guilty in April of child endangerment resulting in serious injury. Authorities say Rose violently shook his baby girl in June 2017 and failed to get her proper medical attention.

Mayo Clinic doctors who examined the infant say her injuries indicated abuse and court documents state a cigarette burn was found on her body.

Rose was sentenced Monday in Cerro Gordo County District Court. 10 years is the maximum prison sentence possible for a class C felony like child endangerment resulting in serious injury.
NORTHWOOD, Iowa  Charges have been dropped against a man arrested after a Worth County traffic stop.

Joshua D. Lee, 36 of Northwood, was pulled over on May 12 after the Worth County Sheriffs Office says he was seen driving a vehicle with an expired registration. A deputy says Lee was found in possession of methamphetamine and a drug pipe.

Charges of controlled substance violation, failure to use a drug tax stamp, and driving while barred were dismissed against Lee on March 29. The Worth County Attorneys Office would not comment on the reason for the dismissal, other than it was in the interests of justice.
MASON CITY, Iowa  Graham Manufacturing in Mason City has been purchased by Masonite International Corporation.

According to a press release issued Monday, Graham provides the non-residential construction industry with a full range of architectural premium and custom grade flush wood doors. Maiman is a manufacturer of architectural style and rail wood doors, thermal fused flush wood doors and wood door frames.

Aside from the purchase of Graham, Masonite also acquired The Maiman Company in Springfield, Missouri.

The two divisions employ approximately 275 people located in their three manufacturing facilities, the press release stated.

We believe this acquisition fits well with Masonites existing Architectural business. Graham and Maiman will provide Masonite with an expanded footprint to better serve our customers, said Graham Thayer, Masonites Senior Vice President.

There is no word if any jobs in Mason City will be lost.
MANTORVILLE, Minn. - For the fourth year in a row dairy farmers are experiencing devastatingly low prices for their milk. The downward trend has forced some people to lose their livelihoods.

Local farmers tell KIMT it is a problem of supply and demand. As farmers have became more efficient over the years with milk production there is now a surplus across America.

Karen and Willie Naatz own a dairy farm north of Mantorville.

"You don't dairy farm because you want to get rich, you dairy farm because you love it.This is our passion, this is something we love. We grew up with it, it's in our blood," said Karen Naatz.

More than 200 cows call Naatz Dairy Farm home.

"I'm out here by 2:30a.m. every morning and we are kicking on milkers at 3:00a.m.. We are usually done with milking by 7:30 quarter to 8 and then it's clean up," explained Naatz.

Up until last October Naatz's milked three times a day but with a shortage in labor and the low milk prices they opted to milk just twice a day.

"We've got as low as close to the $12-$13 dollars, most people probably need $18 and that is just breaking even that is not putting a lot of extra money in the pocketbook."

They are just one of hundreds of families that are feeling the pinch on the pocketbook.

"It's some stressful times right now it's hard to make ends meet and make things cash flow on the farm," said Paul Daley, owner of Daley Farms.

Daley and some of his siblings share the business together, milking about 1,000 cows. It's a family operation that milks around the clock, with a lot of hired help.

"80-thousand pounds a day with the 1,000 cows which equates to about 9,000 gallons per day," said Daley while explaining how much milk the cows produced daily.

As the years have progressed farmers have became more efficient.

"The reality is that we are out-producing demand in the U.S. and to make that profitable for our dairy farmers we need to export that milk out of the U.S," said Matt Dodd a Veterinarian with Anderson Veterinary Services.

Dodd said he has seen the decline of the family farm and it has hit hard within the last six months.

"With our practice we have lost six clients since the first of the year we normally lose one maybe two a year over the last ten years that I've been here," said Dodd.

He added that we live in a global economy and we need to think globally.

"Around 15-percent right now is exported and if we can move that up to 20-25 percent that would be huge for the dairy industry in the United States," explained Dodd.

"Oh gosh, this one is more expensive and it says Select may this one is better for me versus this 2-percent down at the bottom of the shelf that isn't Select. What's the difference? Technically there is no difference that milk is the same across the board it's a good wholesome product there's no antibiotics in any of your milk, there's no hormones in your milk other than what the cow naturally produces just like any female," said Naatz.

There might be some hope on the future horizon for dairy farmers, as producers tell KIMT prices look to increase towards the end of the year. In the meantime they will be forced to live on borrowed money.
NORTHWOOD, Iowa  A woman charged with three counts of drug possession pleads guilty to one.

Bridget Antonia Fleming, 33 of Mason City, was arrested on April 3 in Worth County. A state trooper says she was pulled over for having a brake light out and was discovered to be in possession of methamphetamine, marijuana, acetaminophen, hydrocodone, and a counterfeit $100 bill.

Fleming pleaded guilty to possession of methamphetamine-2nd offense and was given seven days in jail, with credit for time served, and her drivers license was suspended for 180 days.
MASON CITY, Iowa  The relocation of an abandoned North Iowa railroad depot is being considered.

Mason City has posted on its website that it is seeking quotes from qualified structure moving firms for a Move Feasibility Study of the Milwaukee Road Depot.

The depot, in the 900 block of South Pennsylvania Avenue, was built in 1895 and was used by the railroad until 2013. An application for demolition had been filed but city officials now say the Canadian Pacific Railroad Company has agreed to give the city some time to considering moving the depot to a new site. Mason City says it would like to have the feasibility study done within 30 days of accepting a firms price.

The tentative plan would be to move the depot to a paved parking lost directly east of its current location until a permanent new home can be found.

The city is asking firms to submit their qualifications, references and projected cost of doing the study by June 8.

For previous coverage of this story, click here and here.
WORTH COUNTY, Iowa - Authorities have identified a person of interest in Saturday night's stabbing in Worth County.

The Worth County Sheriff's Office is looking for Trapp Leroy Trotter Jr., a 31-year-old black male. He's being described as 5foot-8, 289 pounds, with brown eyes and black hair. They say he has a tattoo of his wife's name on his neck and a cross on his face.

If you see him, authorities warn to not approach as he is considered armed and dangerous.

Authorities said a victim was stabbed multiple times Saturday night at 604 7th St. N.

The victim, whose name hasnt been released, was transported to Mercy Medical Center-North Iowa, for non-life threatening injuries.

Charges are expected to be filed.
ROCHESTER, Minn.  A gathering and ensuing fight led to two men being stabbed and one having to go into surgery immediately.

Aaron Swedberg, 30, of Rochester, is facing charges for first- and second-degree assault and terroristic threats after police say he stabbed two people Friday night in the 300 block of 6th Ave. SE.

Authorities say a 27-year-old was having a small gathering when Swedberg became upset and a physical fight ensued.

The 27-year-old and a 26-year-old man went to Swedbergs house to shake hands, police said, and Swedberg allegedly pulled a knife and stabbed the 27-year-old in the chest. The 26-year-old allegedly reached to the pull the victim back and he was also stabbed in the arm.

The 27-year-old went into surgery and is expected to survive. The 26-year-old was taken to the hospital.

Officers said they found a bloody knife in Swedbergs pocket.
RIDGEWAY, Iowa  Three people are facing nine felony drug charges in northeast Iowa.

The Winneshiek County Sheriffs Office says it searched a home in Lincoln Township, southeast of Ridgeway, on Friday. It claims the search turned up 10.6 grams of methamphetamine in several baggies and that marijuana was found throughout the home and in vehicles parked at the home.

Jason Baumgartner, 29 of Ridgeway, Jayme Baumgartner, 26 of Ridgeway, and Mersadie Rehorst, 24 of Dubuque, were arrested for possession of methamphetamine, possession of marijuana, and possession of a false drug tax stamp. Rehorst and Jason Baumgartner are being held on $30,000 bond. Jayme Baumgartner is being held on $20,000 bond.

This case remains under investigation and the Sheriffs Office says it was assisted by the Iowa State Patrol and the Winneshiek County Attorneys Office.
Richard Russo

Slow down, observe

by Keith Taylor

From the June, 2018 issue

Richard Russo likes big, sprawling nineteenth-century novels told from the omniscient point of view, so it should come as no surprise that in The Destiny Thief: Essays on Writing, Writers and Life he includes chapters on Dickens and Twain and one entitled "What Frogs Think: A Defense of Omniscience." Russo has a famous and wicked sense of humor, but he's also engaged with sentiment and its essential sister, empathy. The same qualities translate in filmed versions of Russo's works, like those great Paul Newman vehicles Nobody's Fool and Empire Falls, the HBO series that also starred Ed Harris, Helen Hunt, and Philip Seymour Hoffman.



Russo is sometimes categorized as a Faulkner of dying upper-New England mill towns, and his imagination is capacious enough to fill those big shoes. But the characters in last year's four-story collection Trajectory fall outside the world of his usual blue-collar heroes. Here failed or failing academics mix with businessmen and a tired novelist to broaden his American palette. The last story even has a plot that must have been informed by Russo's work with Newman and the movies.



In The Destiny Thief Russo gives a clear look into his writing life (I hesitate to use "career," because, despite his financial success, he seems called to his art in the old-fashioned Romantic way). Just about all these essays will be a pleasure to Russo's readers, and in the details of his life a young writer can find a different kind of map through education and commitment to immersion in the art. Though Russo is one of our wonderful comic writers, he is beautifully serious about his art: "What art demands of us has remained constant down through the centuries--that we slow down, observe, contemplate, court quiet, practice stillness, live as if we have all the time in the world, knowing full well that we don't."



Local readers might be particularly drawn to the last essay, "The Boss in Bulgaria," where the author describes a writers' conference founded by former Ann Arborite Elizabeth Kostova. Some of it is certainly funny, but Russo takes all of the writers very seriously. And when Bulgarian television teams him with the lyrics of Bruce Spring-steen, Russo's favorite American songwriter, the essay and the writer transcend their medium. That essay alone is worth the price of the book.



Richard Russo reads from Trajectory and The Destiny Thief at Literati on June 6




(Kitco News) - In what is being referred to as an unprecedented move, a well-known gold bull and the man behind the U.S. hedge fund Paulson & Co, John Paulson, is creating an investor alliance that will work on turning the gold mining sector around, Reuters reported citing sources.

The alliance will be named the Shareholders Gold Council (SGC) and will consist of a dozen of investors who will be looking into how to improve returns of gold mining companies.

Some of the big names include Delbrook Capital, Livermore Partners, Tocqueville Asset Management, Kopernik Global Investors, Adrian Day Asset Management, Apogee Global Advisors and Equinox Partners, Reuters reported.

Two other huge names  BlackRock and Van Eck Associates  are currently in discussions to join the group, people familiar with the matter told the news agency.

The launch date is set for some time June, the report specified.

The alliance is unusual because there is no similar group of investors targeting a specific sector, activism experts say, Reuters reported.

I have never heard of an industry wide shakeup effort by a coalition of major shareholders, chair of Norton Rose Fulbright Canada Walied Soliman told Reuters, adding that the move is unprecedented.

The news was first floated around during a gold conference last September.



The announcement comes at a much needed time for the gold mining sector. The value of the Canadian gold mining index is down 40% over the past decade, while gold prices are up 46% and the S&P 500 index is also up 95% over the same time period.

Some of the things to be taken on by the investors group are compiling research reports on the gold mining sector. The goal is to improve accountability by paying closer attention to mining companies, with the hope that it will boost capital allocation, compensation and corporate governance, Reuters said.

Paulson is known for being a perpetual gold bull. Just three years ago he was holding onto about 10 million shares in the SPDR Gold Trust. Since then, the total has dropped down to 4.3 million shares as of the end of Q1 2018, but Paulson is still very much interested in the yellow metal.
OTTAWA (Reuters) - Canadas cabinet on Monday discussed how to protect the domestic steel and aluminum industry from U.S. tariffs, just hours ahead of a scheduled meeting between Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and domestic industry leaders.

U.S. President Donald Trump last week unveiled a 25 percent tariff on Canadian steel and a 10 percent tariff on aluminum, citing national security reasons. Trudeau denounced the move.

A source familiar with the matter said the tariffs would be discussed as ministers opened a meeting at 0930 eastern time (1330 GMT). A spokesman for Trudeau declined to comment on what steps the cabinet might take.

This weekend, Foreign Minister Chrystia Freeland said Ottawa was mulling an aid package which could be similar to the support for softwood lumber producers that Ottawa unveiled in June 2017 after Washington imposed tariffs.

Trudeau is due to meet members of the Canadian Steel Producers Association at 1230 ET.

Canada is the No. 1 steel exporter to the United States. Some 84 percent of its steel exports, worth C$9.0 billion ($6.97 billion), were sent south last year, according to Statistics Canada.

It accounts for about 22,000 direct jobs and supports 100,000 jobs indirectly, said the Canadian Steel Producers Association.

Canada retaliated against the steel and aluminum tariffs by proposing tariff on C$16.6 billion worth of U.S. exports and said it would challenge the U.S. move through the North American Free Trade Agreement and the World Trade Organization.

Trade ties between Canada and the United States have soured since Trump took power in January 2017.

In June 2017, Ottawa announced an C$867 million package for softwood lumber producers.

Freeland said the government was pondering whether to do the same for steel and aluminum producers.

It is something that we are in intense discussion with the industry, with unions and with the provinces about, Freeland told the Canadian Broadcasting Corp. in an interview aired on Saturday when asked about a possible aid package.

It was very important for the government to stand up for the (lumber) industry ... in the face of unfair tariffs and I want to assure the workers of the steel and aluminum industries, and companies in those industries, that the government of Canada will support them, added Freeland, who gave no details.
(Kitco News) - Major Canadian asset managers are turning to gold at an unprecedented pace as an essential portfolio diversifier and hedge against growing market risk and volatility, according to an executive at State Street Global Advisors.

In a recent presentation in Montreal, Bobby Eng, head of SPRD ETF business development Canada said that his firm has seen Canadian investment demand grow by approximately $2 billion for SPDR Gold Shares, (NYSE: GLD), the world's largest gold-backed exchange traded product.

In an exclusive interview with Kitco News, Eng said that the end of 2016 Canadian investment in GLD represented about 7% or around $630 million of $9 billion invested in SPDR products. The most significant portion of Canadian investment dollars is in SPDR S&P 500 ETF (NYSE: SPY).

By the end of 2017 allocation in SPDR assets increased to about $17 billion with GLD allocations totaling around $2.7 billion, representing 16% of total SPDR assets, Eng said. Investment in the gold ETF increased more than 300% from the previous year.

"It's a pretty impressive growth rate," he said.

Eng's comments come as GLD, along with gold prices, struggle to find momentum as the U.S. dollar holds near a six-month high. GLD last traded at $122.51 a share.

While Eng won't have 2018 numbers until next year, he said that there are indications that demand for GLD has grown even more this year as volatility continue to increase.

"Canadian investors tend to be more conservative and a little bit more sophisticated. Institutional investors are looking at GLD as an important portfolio diversifier," he said. "Investors are looking for ways to dampen the rising volatility.

"I think we will continue to see further demand for gold as we see more headline risk in the marketplace," he said.

Last year, Canadian equity markets saw much higher volatility compared to unprecedented lows experienced in the U.S. Canadian equities also underperformed their U.S. counterparts with the S&P/TSX Composite Index increasing less than 5% in 2017, while the S&P 500 Index rose almost 19%.

Research from both the World Gold Council and State Street Global Advisors shows that a strategic investment in gold can maximize the gains in a portfolio while limiting its risk, said Eng.

While investor demand is expected to ebb and flow with market risk, Eng said that they are seeing a trend among asset managers to create a strategic allocation in the yellow metal, more so than it just being a tactical investment.

"Investors are starting the see the value of holding an allocation in gold for a better risk-adjusted return in their portfolio," he said. "It's an allocation to control the portfolio during times of risk. It's an insurance policy."
(Kitco News) - The growing threat of a trade war is not great news for commodity markets as it could reduce global demand as economic growth prospects falter.

Image courtesty of Panoro Minerals

However, one junior mining explorer thinks copper is in a position to withstand the protectionists assault on global markets and global growth as the base-metals market faces a significant imbalance in its supply-and-demand fundamentals.

Trade wars are never very helpful for the global economy. As we know in the copper space, GDP growth equals copper demand growth, said Luquman Shaheen, president and chief executive officer of Panoro Minerals, in an interview with Kitco News. There is no doubt that a trade war will impact near-term demand on copper.

But Shaheen added that demand isnt the primary issue that is driving copper prices, which are above $3 a pound. Comex July high-grade copper futures last traded at $3.1225 a pound as prices have been trading in an elevated range for most of the year.

A dearth of investment in new copper projects in the last seven years is taking its toll on the copper market, said Shaheen, adding that this will continue to support prices in the long term.

The lack of new projects has been the root behind the drive in price from sub-$2 a pound to as high as $3.35 we saw at the start of the year, he said. That supply-side issue doesnt turn on a dime. It is going to take many years to resolve this problem.

While some major copper companies have projects on the shelf ready to be developed, Shaheen said that the price still isnt high enough for companies to pull the trigger just yet. He added that because of the markets high capital-expenditure costs, companies need to see copper prices around $3.50 a pound to be economically viable.

However, Shaheen said that he sees an opportunity to market his companys projects to hungry producers looking for feasible supply.

While most companies were dealing with a bear market from 2012 to 2016, Shaheen said that Panoro was quietly working away developing and derisking its Cotabambas and Antilla projects in southern Peru.

Since 2012, we invested a fair bit of money in growing and defining our resource, and we now have two copper assets that are ready to move along the development pipeline, he said. There are very few copper projects that have advanced from early stage discovery through to resource definition, and Panoro is one of the few exceptions.

Shaheen added that he is confident that as supply continues to shrink, the work his company has completed on its Cotabambas copper-silver-gold and Antilla copper-molybdenum projects will attract a major producer that will take a project to production.

Although copper prices have been capped in the $3.10 range, Shaheen said that the potential for higher prices makes this the perfect environment for mergers and acquisitions.

Money is starting to flow back into the sector and I think we are at the early part of the M&A cycle. This will only grow as the sector sees more investor confidence, he said.
AMSTERDAM (Reuters) - German Finance Minister Olaf Scholz on Monday said he endorsed German Chancellor Angela Merkels vision for a European fund for investments in weaker member states in the euro zone. This is one government, Scholz said after a meeting with Dutch Finance Minister Wopke Hoekstra in The Hague. Scholz is a member of the Social Democrats, junior partner in Merkels coalition. After the meeting, Hoekstra said he was not sure whether a European investment fund would be useful. Reporting by Bart Meijer; Editing by Kevin Liffey

Disclaimer: The views expressed in this article are those of the author and may not reflect those of Kitco Metals Inc. The author has made every effort to ensure accuracy of information provided; however, neither Kitco Metals Inc. nor the author can guarantee such accuracy. This article is strictly for informational purposes only. It is not a solicitation to make any exchange in commodities, securities or other financial instruments. Kitco Metals Inc. and the author of this article do not accept culpability for losses and/ or damages arising from the use of this publication.
LONDON (Reuters) - Oil prices fell on Monday as U.S. production hit a record high and OPEC members considered boosting supply.

Benchmark Brent crude oil LCOc1 lost $1.26 a barrel, or 1.6 percent, to a low of $75.53 before recovering to $75.89, down 90 cents, by 1125 GMT.

U.S. light crude CLc1 was 40 cents down at 65.41 a barrel. The U.S. contract lost about 3 percent last week after a decline of nearly 5 percent the previous week.

A sea of red is washing over the energy complex as rising U.S. production coupled with a looming relaxation in OPEC-led cuts sends bulls scurrying for the exits, said Stephen Brennock, analyst at London brokerage PVM Oil Associates.

U.S. crude production climbed in March to 10.47 million barrels per day (bpd), a monthly record, data from the Energy Information Administration showed last week.

U.S. drillers added two oil rigs in the week to June 1, bringing the total to 861, the most since March 2015, energy services company Baker Hughes said on Friday. That was the eighth time drillers have added rigs in the past nine weeks.

Arab oil ministers agreed over the weekend on the need for continued cooperation between members of the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) and other big producers to balance global supply, Kuwaits state news agency KUNA reported on Sunday.

OPEC ministers from Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Kuwait and Algeria, along with their counterpart from non-OPEC Oman, met unofficially in Kuwait on Saturday.

OPEC meets formally on June 22 to set oil policy. It is expected to agree to raise output to cool the market amid worries over Iranian and Venezuelan supply and after Washington raised concerns that the oil rally was going too far, OPEC sources familiar with the discussions told Reuters last month.

Saudi Arabia, the effective OPEC leader, and Russia have discussed boosting output to compensate for supply losses from Venezuela and to address concerns about the impact of U.S. sanctions on Iranian output.

Russias largest oil producer, Rosneft (ROSN.MM), will be able to restore 70,000 bpd of oil output in only two days if global production limits are lifted, Renaissance Capital wrote in a client note.

Hedge funds and other money managers cut their bullish wagers on U.S. crude futures and options, according to data released on Friday, as oil prices slumped on oversupply fears.
BEIJING (Reuters) - The United States urges China to make a full public account of those killed, detained or who went missing during a crackdown on student-led pro-democracy protests in and around Beijings Tiananmen Square in 1989, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said.

The Chinese government sent tanks to quell the June 4, 1989 protests, and has never released a death toll. Estimates from human rights groups and witnesses range from several hundred to several thousand.

The Tiananmen crackdown is a taboo subject in China and 29 years later it remains a point of contention between China and many Western countries.

In a statement on Sunday the recently appointed Pompeo said he remembered the tragic loss of innocent lives.

As Liu Xiaobo wrote in his 2010 Nobel Peace Prize speech, delivered in absentia, the ghosts of June 4th have not yet been laid to rest, Pompeo said referring to the Chinese dissident who died last year while still in custody.

We join others in the international community in urging the Chinese government to make a full public accounting of those killed, detained or missing, Pompeo added.

In response to Pompeos comments, China had lodged stern representations with the United States, foreign ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying said on Monday.

China long ago reached a clear conclusion about the events of that era, but the United States every year issues statements of gratuitous criticism and interferes in its internal affairs, Hua said.

The U.S. Secretary of State has absolutely no qualifications to demand the Chinese government do anything, she added.

Hu Xijin, editor of nationalistic tabloid the Global Times, called Pompeos statement a meaningless stunt that represents a wish of the Western world to meddle in Chinas political process.

The Chinese Communist Party no longer mentions the Tiananmen incident in order to help Chinese society move on, which it has successfully done, Hu added, writing in English on Twitter, which is blocked in China.

Tens of thousands of people are expected to gather later in the day in Hong Kong to mark the anniversary, the only place in China where such large-scale public commemorations happen.

On Tiananmen Square, security was tight as is usual for the anniversary, with no signs of any protests or other memorial events.

Foreigners passports were checked by Chinese police at a checkpoint nearly a kilometer from the square. A Reuters reporter was turned away and told that unapproved interview activities were forbidden in the square on Monday.

In their annual open letter, the Tiananmen Mothers, who represent the families of those who died, said the government was guilty of serious disrespect by ignoring their requests for redress.

Such a powerful proletarian dictatorship apparatus is afraid of us: the old, the sick, and the weakest and most vulnerable of our society, they wrote in a letter addressed to Chinese President Xi Jinping.

In Taiwan, the democratic and self-ruled island China claims as its own, President Tsai Ing-wen said that if China could face up to what had happened it could become the bedrock for Chinas own democratic transformation.

I hope that both sides of the Taiwan Strait can enjoy the universal values of freedom and democracy, she said in a statement on her Facebook page written in the simplified Chinese script used in China. Facebook is also blocked in China.
CARACAS (Reuters) - Venezuela's central bank in April paid $172 million to U.S. bank Citigroup (C.N) to recover part of the gold it had put up as guarantee in a swap operation, according to two sources familiar with the situation.

Sanctions levied by U.S. President Donald Trump last year bar U.S. banks from carrying out financing operations with Venezuela, meaning such swaps cannot be renewed.

"Citibank got paid," said a local finance industry source familiar with the negotiation who asked not to be identified.

"The policy is to recover the gold," added a second source consulted.

The move showed that, despite a broad default on billions of dollars in bonds, Venezuela is meeting some financial commitments, and the government of President Nicolas Maduro is able to transfer funds when it has reason to do so.

Citi declined to comment. The central bank did not respond to an email seeking comment.

The crisis-stricken OPEC nation has for years been carrying out gold swaps with Wall Street banks to boost the liquidity of its international reserves, which have dwindled to their lowest levels in decades as its socialist system implodes.

Gold swaps allow central banks to receive cash from financial institutions in exchange for lending gold during a specific period of time, and central banks can recover the gold if they repay the borrowed funds in time.

Venezuela between 2014 and 2016 used such operations to free up available hard currency because its reserves are dominated by gold holdings. Those swaps will progressively mature by 2021, the sources said.

An opposition legislator last year said Venezuela allowed a similar swap agreement with Deutsche Bank to lapse.

Neither Venezuelan authorities nor the banks involved have released details about the operations or totals of how many such arrangements remain outstanding.

Venezuela and state oil company PDVSA are in default on most of their $60 billion in outstanding bonds, with some $3.6 billion in backed up debt service.

Maduro has at times blamed the situation on U.S. financial sanctions and a conspiracy of global banks to block transfers of Venezuelan funds to foreign accounts.

But Venezuela has completed some payments.

Those include a coupon payment on PDVSA's 2022 issue known as "hunger bonds" that was almost entirely bought by Goldman Sachs at a heavy discount in an operation highly criticized by Venezuela's opposition leaders.

At the end of 2017, the central bank reported a 16 percent drop from the year before in the volume of gold reserves, without explaining the decline. The volume of gold dropped by 31 percent the year before.

As of January, Venezuelan gold reserves stood at around 150 tonnes, their lowest level in decades, according to International Monetary Fund data.
Former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie (R) said Sunday that President Trump would be impeached if he pardoned himself. What do you think?
Iraq and Iran have begun exchanging crude oil, the Iranian oil ministrys news agency SHANA said on Sunday, in a deal that will position Tehran to expand its interests in its most important Arab ally in the face of growing pressure from Washington, Reuters reports.

June 4, 2018, 11:33 Iraq and Iran swap Kirkuk oil

STEPANAKERT, JUNE 4, ARTSAKHPRESS:Crude from the Kirkuk field in northern Iraq is being shipped by truck to Iran. Tehran will use the oil in its refineries and will deliver the same amount of oil to Iraqs southern ports, on the Gulf.

After helping Iraq stifle a Kurdish push for independence last year, OPEC producer Iran positioned itself to take control of oil exports from the regions giant Kirkuk field.

Baghdad agreed for the first time to divert crude from Kirkuk province, which it retook from the Kurds, to Iran, where it will supply a refinery in the city of Kermanshah.

The pact is likely to create unease in Saudi Arabia, which along with its ally the United States accuses Iran of trying to dominate the Middle East. Tehran denies the allegations.

Iraq and Iran plan to build a pipeline to carry the oil from Kirkuk to avoid having to use trucks.
The Armenia-EU Comprehensive and Enhanced Partnership Agreement (CEPA) is a very effective tool in the hands of Armenia to strengthen and promote the reforms and the countrys development agenda by using standards, cooperation which serve the national goals, Foreign minister Zohrab Mnatsakanyan said in an interview to Sunday Analytical Show of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty.

June 4, 2018, 12:37 Agreement with EU is very effective tool in hands of Armenia, says foreign minister

STEPANAKERT, JUNE 4, ARTSAKHPRESS-ARMENPRESS: This is perhaps one of the best examples when the foreign policy serves the domestic goals, in this case, ensuring our countrys institutional, normative development, increasing the life quality of our society directed for our domestic goals for which the international cooperation, in this case, the partnership with the EU is being used, the Armenian FM said.

He stated that the CEPA is quite comprehensive and covers a broad range of our daily life, enables to directly use that experience, to use the good example of this cooperation which will serve our domestic goals.

Armenia and the European Union signed the Comprehensive and Enhanced Partnership Agreement (CEPA) on November 24, 2017 in Brussels on the sidelines of the Eastern Partnership Summit. Among the EU member states  Latvia, Lithuania and Estonia have already ratified the Agreement. Armenia has also ratified the CEPA.


By Yoon Ja-young



Despite President Moon Jae-in's remarks that the minimum wage hike has had a 90 percent positive effect, the administration is facing mounting pressure to slow down the pace of raising it as studies are pointing to negative impacts on the job market.



The Korea Development Institute (KDI) warned Monday that 140,000 jobs will be at stake if the administration keeps to the current pace of hikes.



The country saw the hourly minimum wage rise 16.4 percent to 7,530 won ($7) this year, following President Moon's election pledge to make it 10,000 won by 2020.



However, the state-run economic think tank said that negatives will outweigh positives if the administration continues steep hikes for the next two years to achieve its target.



KDI Vice President Choi Kyung-soo, who authored the report, noted that jobs don't seem to have decreased notably so far, probably thanks to the government's 3 trillion won job stabilization fund that aims at relieving the extra financial burden on employers.



He estimated how many jobs will disappear following the hike, using data from the United States and Hungary which raised their minimum wages. He concluded that up to 84,000 jobs could disappear this year; and if the raises continue at 15 percent over the next couple of years, job losses could increase to 96,000 in 2019 and 144,000 in 2020.



He also warned that low-paying jobs in the services sector will disappear if the minimum wage continues to be raised. As the bottom 30 percent of workers get the same amount of wages, they will lose the chance of enjoying rising pay as they build up a career. They will lose motivation, while government subsidies will snowball, disturbing the "wage order" in the labor market.



"If the minimum wage is raised by 15 percent next year, Korea will catch up with France which has the highest ratio of minimum wage to median wage among Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) member countries. Korea should consider controlling the pace of the hike," he said. France stopped further minimum wage hikes after the minimum wage reached 60 percent of the median in 2005. The ratio stands at 55 percent in Korea, according to Choi.



The KDI is the first state-run economic think tank to point to possible negative impacts on the job market. The Korea Labor Institute noted in a recent report that the minimum wage hike has not had a meaningful impact on employment, though it added that working hours have notably decreased.



Private think tanks and economists, however, have already been raising concerns. Many of them have warned that the steep hike will decrease employment opportunities; and this may have turned into reality as the number of newly added jobs has fallen to below 200,000 for three consecutive months this year for the first time in a decade.



While the minimum wage hike aims at narrowing the huge income gap, the Korea Economic Research Institute noted that it will only widen the wage gap between conglomerates and small- and medium-sized enterprises to an annual 23.5 million won, due to more generous regular bonuses and allowances for holidays at large companies.



"Wholesale and retail as well as restaurants and lodgings, which have many workers affected by the minimum wage, are likely to decrease hiring, while some of them may have to close down the business," said Kim Cheon-gu, a senior researcher at the Hyundai Research Institute.



"Though the effect of minimum wage on employment differs according to countries and regions, more researchers support the idea that it removes jobs," he added.


President Armen Sarkissian and First Lady Nune Sarkissian visited the Embassy of Italy today on the occasion of Italys National Day, congratulated Ambassador Vincenzo del Monaco, the embassy staff and the good people of Italy, wishing success and welfare.

June 4, 2018, 15:19 President visits Italian embassy to congratulate National Day

STEPANAKERT, JUNE 4, ARTSAKHPRESS: The President and the Ambassador concurred that that the Armenian-Italian intergovernmental ties are developing on solid historic grounds and based on rick cultural heritage of the two peoples.

Both sides were pleased to stress the collegial nature of the relations and the high level of mutual partnership, and at the same time mentioned that the potential for cooperation is extremely great, and the task is to constantly discover it.

The Armenia-European Union partnership was also discussed, which is also an important direction of the Armenian-Italian partnership agenda.
A senior White House official acknowledged Sunday that it will take time to dismantle North Korea's nuclear weapons program even if the United States would like to see immediate denuclearization.



Larry Kudlow, director of the National Economic Council, made the remark on Fox News as the two countries prepare for a high-stakes nuclear summit in Singapore June 12.



"I think at the end of that process, that's the goal, unilateral denuclearization, disarming them and so forth," Kudlow said, noting that he is not directly involved in the talks. "It is going to be a process. But sure, these negotiations take time."



The planned meeting between U.S. President Donald Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un has raised expectations for a breakthrough in the decades-long standoff over Pyongyang's nuclear weapons and ballistic missile programs.



On Friday Trump appeared to play down the expectations, saying the unprecedented summit between the two countries will be the beginning of a process.



"You're not going to change Rome in a day. And I think that's a very realistic attitude," Kudlow said. "The key point is that we're sitting down. And the second key point is that the president has been bolder on this and Korea, and, by the way, on world trade than any other recent president."



Trump also said he would hold off on additional sanctions against Pyongyang while talks are under way. He said he longer wanted to use the term "maximum pressure" for his policy on North Korea because the two countries were getting along.



Kudlow said the president has no intention of easing sanctions yet.



"I think over time, over time it may be relaxed, but right now I don't think so," he said. "I think the sanctions (that) are in place are very tough, very strong." (Yonhap)






South Korea is still watching how negotiations between the United States and North Korea are going to determine whether President Moon Jae-in should fly to Singapore to join U.S. President Donald Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un in declaring an end to the Korean War, an official said Monday.

The possibility of Moon traveling to the Southeast Asian nation gained traction after Trump said last week following a meeting with senior North Korean official Kim Yong-chol that his June 12 summit with the North's leader could include formally ending the war.

Should the U.S. and the North agree to use the summit to declare an end to the 1950-53 conflict, Moon would have to travel to Singapore to join them. The Korean War ended in a truce, not a peace treaty, leaving the divided peninsula still technically at war.

But a presidential official said no decision has been made yet on Moon's possible trip to Singapore.

"It's not that our government has entered into full-fledged preparations to join the North-U.S. summit," the official told reporters. "We're keeping an eye on negotiations between the North and the U.S. on the agenda."

The official also said the South is working closely with the U.S. on negotiations with the North, but declined to comment on the contents of a letter that the North's leader sent to Trump. (Yonhap)


Syrian President Bashar al-Assad said he plans to visit North Korea's leader Kim Jong-un, Pyongyang's state media reported Sunday, potentially becoming the first head of state to meet Kim inside the isolated country.







I am going to visit the DPRK and meet... Kim Jong-un," Assad said, the North's state-run KCNA news agency reported, using the abbreviated version of the country's official name.







The announcement came as anticipation mounts for a historic nuclear summit between Kim and US President Donald Trump in Singapore on June 12, following a whirlwind round of diplomacy.







"The world welcomes the remarkable events in the Korean peninsula brought about recently by the outstanding political calibre and wise leadership of...Kim Jong-un," KCNA cited Assad as saying during a meeting with North Korean Ambassador Mun Jong-nam on Wednesday.







The Syrian president's office refused to comment on the report when



contacted by AFP.







Pyongyang and Damascus have maintained warm ties for decades and reportedly shared a military relationship for some years, including during the ongoing Syrian civil war.







Suspicions over chemical weapons trade between Pyongyang and Damascus have been raised in the past by the UN and South Korea.







There were also widespread reports that North Korea helped Syria build a



nuclear plant that was destroyed by Israeli bombing in 2007.







Both regimes have been the target of international isolation  Pyongyang over its banned nuclear program and Damascus for atrocities committed during the seven-year civil war.







Since coming to power in 2011, Kim has not met another head of state in North Korea. He only made his first overseas trip as leader this year, travelling to China to meet President Xi Jinping, an ally of the reclusive regime. (AFP)


By Lee Min-hyung



The Singaporean government is likely to pay accommodation costs for North Korean leader Kim Jong-un's much-anticipated visit to the city-state next week for a summit with United States President Donald Trump.



The Fullerton Hotel, where a North Korean advance team has been staying, may be where Kim will stay. A presidential suite room at the five-star luxury hotel costs more than $6,000 (6.43 million won) a day.



The summit is slated for June 12, but Trump indicated the meeting could be extended, so the leaders may stay in Singapore for a couple of days more.



Following the reports, attention is running as to whether the North can cover the cost of accommodation, as the sanctions-hit regime is allegedly running out of hard currency.



The Singaporean government has expressed its willingness to cover the cost for Kim and his delegation's visit to the country if it can help the historic summit produce a good outcome.



"It is a cost that we are willing to bear to play a small part in this historic meeting," Singaporean Defense Minister Ng Eng Hen told reporters Saturday declining to comment on any details.



A global civic group dedicated to fostering a nuclear-free world also offered to cover the cost for Kim's upcoming Singapore trip, Sunday.



The International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons (ICAN), a Geneva-based coalition of non-governmental organizations across the world, called the upcoming summit a "once-in-a-generation" opportunity for nuclear disarmament and said it was willing to pay part of the summit costs to support the ongoing denuclearization drive on the Korean Peninsula.



Akira Kawasaki, an ICAN member, said the organization was willing to use cash earned from the 2017 Nobel Peace Prize to finance the costs.



"The Nobel Peace Prize included a cash prize, and we are offering funds from this to cover the costs for the summit in order to support peace on the Korean Peninsula and a nuclear-weapon-free world," he said.



Earlier in February when North Korea participated in the PyeongChang Winter Olympics, the International Olympic Committee paid the accommodation cost for 22 athletes while the South Korean government covered $2.6 million for the lodging of a North Korean cheering squad and art troupes.



But it is still possible that the North can pay itself in a bid to underline that the regime is a "normal state."



It is unlikely that the U.S. would pay for North Korea, because the North would regard this as an "insult" and it could also breach economic sanctions which Washington has imposed on Pyongyang.



Against a similar backdrop of the accommodation issue, expectations are that North Korean working-level officials may put a priority on making conditions look like Kim is meeting his U.S. counterpart on an equal footing.



For this reason, some forecast the regime may request the Singaporean government not to allow journalists to take photos of Kim's private Chammae-1 aircraft upon his arrival. The plane is a remodeled version of a Soviet-made IL-62 jet, the production of which started back in the 1960s and stopped in 1995.



This is because the regime does not want foreign media to compare his outdated aircraft with Trump's Air Force One.


North Korea's top three military officials have been removed from their posts, a senior U.S. official said, a move analysts said on Monday could support efforts by the North's young leader to jump-start economic development and engage with the world.

Kim Jong-un is preparing for a high-stakes summit with U.S. President Donald Trump in Singapore on June 12, the first such meeting between a North Korean leader and a sitting U.S. president. The U.S. official, who spoke on Sunday on condition of anonymity, was commenting on a report by South Korea's Yonhap news agency that all three of the North's top military officials were believed to have been replaced.

Kim's motivation remains unclear but analysts said the shake-up allows him and the ruling party to tighten control over the Korean People's Army (KPA) at a critical time of international engagement and domestic development.

"If Kim Jong-un is set on making peace with the U.S. and South Korea and dealing away at least part of the nuclear program, he will have to put the KPA's influence in a box and keep it there," said Ken Gause, director of the International Affairs Group at CNA, a nonprofit research and analysis organisation.



"This reshuffle has brought to the fore the officers who can do just that. They are loyal to Kim Jong Un and no one else."

Trump revived the Singapore summit on Friday after cancelling it a week earlier.



SOME DISSENT



The United States is seeking a negotiated end to North Korea's nuclear weapons programme and U.S. officials believe there was some dissension in the military about Kim's approaches to South Korea and the United States. Trump wants North Korea to "denuclearise", or get rid of its nuclear arsenal, in return for relief from economic sanctions.

North Korea's leadership is believed to regard nuclear weapons as crucial to its survival, while Kim has said he plans to focus on economic development. The U.S. official did not identify the three ousted military officials.




Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte and President Moon Jae-in shake hands ahead of their summit at Cheong Wa Dae, Monday. Duterte expressed support for Moon's peace overtures that have led to the Washington-Pyongyang summit on North Korea's denuclearization. Yonhap
Students assemble in the lobby of Gwangnaru Safety Experience Center, in front of a very violent mural fit for a PG-13 movie. / Image by Jon Dunbar



By Jon Dunbar



Safety has been a supreme but recurrent concern in Korea, as high-profile disasters continue to make headlines each year.



Just this last winter, Korea experienced two shocking fires, the first killing 29 in Jecheon last December and the second claiming 37 lives at a Miryang hospital in January.



The two tragic fires were foreshadowed by another pair of fires close together, back in 1999. First, a fire at the Sealand Youth Training Center killed 23 in June, then in October a fire at an illegal bar in Incheon killed 54 . Most of the victims in both cases were underage.



Those two fires led to the opening of safety experience centers across the country. Seoul has two: one at Boramae Park in Dongjak-gu, the other in Children's Grand Park in Gwangjin-gu.



Gwangnaru Safety Experience Center is a fancy government building on the outside, nestled between a fire station and Children's Grand Park. On the inside, it at first seems childish _ indeed, the majority of the center's visitors are school field trippers.



The center has countless exhibits ( one website says 20 ). I sampled five of them, on a visit with members of the Seoul Global Center Quality of Life Monitors , a team of 70 foreign residents from 33 countries.



Our first stop was the typhoon zone. This consisted of a wind tunnel where participants enter under heavy wind conditions, then take cover as the wind picks up. We were told they turned it up to 30 meters per second.



That sounds fast, but I've personally experienced worse. I remember one storm in September 2010 in which Seoul had strong winds and heavy rain. I left my apartment with an umbrella, and got no more than five meters before the wind pushed me back _ to say nothing of the rain, which came at me horizontally and made my umbrella completely useless. I rushed back my apartment, soaked head to toe as if I'd jumped in a lake.



The following year, in July 2011, a storm killed around 69 people nationwide, mainly in Seoul and the surrounding area. But it wasn't rain that killed people, but flash floods and landslides _ one on Mt. Umyeon in southern Seoul killed 18.



A guide said typhoon winds can reach 80 meters per second. In a closed wind tunnel we can experience high winds, but not the accompanying rain or possibly debris.





In the typhoon simulation room, participants face winds up to 30 meters per second. / Photo by Jon Dunbar



Next door is earthquake training, something that has become a cause for concern following the 2016 Gyeongju earthquake and the 2017 Pohang earthquake . Seoul has yet to be hit, but preparations have been taken, including one dramatic large-scale drill at an abandoned apartment complex in Godeok-dong .



I have never experienced earthquake tremors, despite being hypersensitive and paranoid of them. If the ground isn't shaking I wonder if it is or is about to.



Here, participants gather in a kitchen with electricity and gas stove on, and when the shaking begins they have to turn it off, cover their heads and take cover. The whole process feels fun, but its effects are highly stressful. You see people go from having fun to huddling together under a table.



Meanwhile, a video plays on screens surrounding them showing increasingly castastrophic damage. Furniture falls, fires break out, N Seoul Tower collapses.



Afterwards, participants must evacuate through a dark passage littered with debris, not just on the ground, but coming from the walls and hanging from the ceiling. I cheated by turning on my smartphone's flashlight app, something that would likely be available to most people following such an emergency.





A participant stands up during an earthquake simulation, before rushing to the wall to turn off the power. / Photo by Jon Dunbar



The first floor is apparently themed on natural disasters, but a seemingly new feature is ship evacuation. Four years on, traumatic memories of the 2014 ferry Sewol sinking still don't rest easy.



A model of the ship Anjeon-ho (Safety Ship) stands just to the right of the main entrance. It's intended to look fun and cartoonish, but nobody can look at that and not think of the ferry Sewol. As we boarded, the guide made a surprisingly dark joke that we were bound for Jeju Island, the same destination as the Sewol.



This section was entertaining, perhaps too entertaining. The ship is capable of rocking, and a video creates the sense of motion, with a jarring impact as the ship hits a rock. Then participants must put on lifejackets and evacuate down a slide. In reality I doubt there'd be a metal slide like one found on a playground, but the important lessons are deciding when to abandon ship, as well as putting on a lifejacket and the correct posture to ensure safe entry into the water, protecting the head and keeping you from getting a noseful of water.





People practice evacuating a sinking ship in this mockup, named Anjeon-ho (Safety Ship). / Photo by Jon Dunbar



The second floor is more for artificial catastrophe training, such as fire extinguisher use, navigating heavy smoke, CPR and calling 119.



We only visited the first, which excited me as I've never operated a fire extinguisher before.



The room has several sample fire extinguishers pumping out water, which participants aim at a screen showing a kitchen fire. Aiming a continuous stream of water at a target should be no problem for anybody, but like any seemingly simple task, a lot of variables could endanger lives. The woman next to me couldn't get her extinguisher working, forgetting not to pick up her extinguisher by the handle. Due to the structure, the safety pin cannot be removed while the extinguisher is held by the handle.





People practice using fire extinguishers on a simulated fire. / Photo by Jon Dunbar



Believe it or not, children are the best at surviving fires and building evacuation. Don't believe me? Picture a school full of let's say elementary students, and then picture a similar school-shaped office building with let's say half as many people. Which evacuates fastest? The students line up and follow their teachers outside promptly; the office workers wonder if it's a false alarm, consider whether they're exempt from the evacuation, are unwilling to be the first to stand up, want to send a couple more emails.



Even at the safety center, the hundreds of students going by capably lined up and moved from room to room in an orderly fashion (despite being quite loud). Meanwhile, our small group of maybe 20 foreign residents was disorderly; after being told never to run, I dashed around from time to time trying to get in position for photos.



The biggest surprise I got wasn't experiencing earthquake tremors, or surviving the mini-Sewol _ it was one of the most mundane features at the center: fire alarms.



Quick, when there's a fire, how do you ring the alarm? I had never known before what a Korean manual fire alarm looks like, and now knowing it I am shocked. Most foreign fire alarms offer big levers with clear markings, but this thing is just...low-key. It has two buttons, and neither are marked clearly. Due to its shape I always thought it was a fire bell, something you should probably never touch.





The fire alarm on this system is activated by pressing a small black button in the lower half of the red circle.



The third floor is used for rescue training, and the only feature we visited was another major surprise: the descending life line. This is something you may have only ever noticed in hotels, and its use seems impractical and unintuitive. How does it work? Do you just drop a rope and slide down?



There is a thorough instruction guide on most of these devices, but good luck reading that in an emergency.



It turns out, the device is more like a two-sided pulley, with a sling on each end to wear under your armpits. The pulley itself is regulated to control the speed of descent, and all a user needs is to step backwards out of the building and gently drift down to earth, avoiding touching the building itself (something I couldn't resist doing). And since there are slings at either end, once one person lands, the next person can use the other sling to ride down, sending the first sling up for a third person, and so on. It is an ingenious device, but one that should never be operated without a couple minutes of training.



Riding it down is a terrifying and uncomfortable experience. We only went down one floor to safe pads, but I have a similar kit at my own fifth-floor home I'd be more afraid to use. And these things are intended for use up to the 10th floor. I didn't get the chance to ask how I could escape my building with both of my cats.





Two people practice evacuating using a descending line. / Photo by Jon Dunbar
A mailman delivers packages containing material for the June 13 local elections at an apartment block in Seocho-gu, Seoul. / Yonhap



By Ko Dong-hwan



With the quadrennial local elections due on June 13, more than 38,000 foreign residents in Gyeonggi Province have little knowledge about the candidates because the region has neglected to inform non-Koreans about them.



There are 38,542 foreigners eligible to vote in the province  those who have lived in the country for three years or longer with permanent residency and are registered at local district offices. The Gyeonggi Province Election Committee introduced voting rights for foreigners in 2005.



But the foreigners have no way to know about the candidates because no information material has been translated into other languages.






By Kang Seung-woo



The wife of the Korean Air chief attended a court hearing Monday to await a decision on her detention on charges of alleged abuse of power.



On the same day, her eldest daughter reported to the customs office in Incheon for questioning over suspected smuggling and tax evasion.





Lee Myung-hee, the wife of Korean Air Chairman Cho Yang-ho, speaks before entering the Seoul Central District Court for a hearing to review an arrest warrant request on charges she abused employees. / Yonhap

Their appearances are the latest blow to the nation's largest airline with Chairman Cho Yang-ho and his family members being plagued by a series of allegations of lawbreaking.



Lee Myung-hee, 69, reported to the Seoul Central District Court to attend the arraignment hearing.



Lee, who also serves as the director of Hanjin Group's non-profit Ilwoo Foundation, has been accused of abusing employees. She was questioned by police on two occasions last week before the prosecution filed for an arrest warrant Thursday. Hanjin is the largest shareholder of Korean Air.



"I am sorry," Lee said upon entering the court. However, she refused to comment on follow-up questions about the allegations.



Lee is accused of verbally insulting and physically assaulting construction workers in 2014, during the remodeling of hotels owned by Hanjin Group.



She is also accused of committing similar verbal assaults against her chauffeur and other Hanjin employees.











Cho Hyun-ah, the eldest daughter of Korean Air Chairman Cho Yang-ho, arrives at the main customs office in Incheon, Monday, to undergo questioning over alleged smuggling and tax evasion. / Yonhap


By Lee Kyung-min





Former Supreme Court Chief Justice Yang Sung-tae Yonh
Armenias delegation led by defense minister Davit Tonoyan has departed for Russia.

June 4, 2018, 16:37 Armenias delegation led by defense minister departs for Russia

STEPANAKERT, JUNE 4, ARTSAKHPRESS: The delegation is to have separate bilateral meetings in Moscow, as well as to participate in the session of the defense ministers council of the CIS participating states in Kyzyl city, the defense ministry said.


By Kang Seung-woo



Former President Lee Myung-bak rejected Monday the prosecution's accusations that he had owned land in southern Seoul, the sale proceeds of which were siphoned off to purchase shares in auto parts firm DAS.





Former President Lee Myung-bak
By Lee Min-hyung



The United States and North Korea are set to hold working-level talks this weekend in Singapore ahead of a planned historic meeting between President Donald Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, according to overseas reports, Thursday.



The reported meeting was arranged to narrow differences on the regime's pledge for denuclearization before the Washington-Pyongyang summit slated for June 12.



According to the Washington Post, the U.S. plans to send Joseph Hagin, deputy chief of staff for operations at the White House, and Deputy National Security Advisor Mira Ricardel, for the negotiations with their North Korean counterparts.



But nothing has been revealed over who will represent the North.



Both sides are expected to discuss issues such as the definition of denuclearization and the logistics for the upcoming summit, according to the report.



The scheduled historic gathering between Trump and Kim looked to be proceeding smoothly, but hit a snag in the wake of the regime's sudden shift in stance last week.






In this Nov. 13, 2017 photo, President Moon Jae-in speaks with Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte in Manila, the Philippines. / Courtesy of Philippine's presidential office



President Moon Jae-in was set to hold a summit with Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte on Monday to discuss ways to bolster economic and other cooperation between the two countries.

Duterte arrived in Seoul on Sunday for a three-day visit. He is the first head of state from an Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) member country to visit South Korea since Moon took office in May last year.

Monday's summit will be the second meeting between Moon and Duterte. They first met in the Philippines in November on the sidelines of the ASEAN+3 Summit and East Asian Summit (EAS).

During Monday's talks, Moon is expected to seek support for his push for peace on the Korean Peninsula.

The two leaders are also expected to discuss ways to enhance friendly cooperative ties between the two countries and strengthen substantial cooperation in trade and investment, infrastructure, defense, defense industry, agriculture, development cooperation and culture.

The two sides plan to sign a memorandum of understanding specifying ways to cooperate in transportation, trade, renewable energy and science and technology, officials said.

After the summit, Moon plans to host a banquet for Duterte and Philippine officials. (Yonhap)
George Soros participates in the European Council on Foreign Relations in Paris, May 29. / AP-Yonhap



By Park Ji-won



The Open Society Foundations (OSF), an international group advocating democracy and human rights founded by investor George Soros, has decided to provide $200,000 to an advocacy group in Korea to help improve enlisted soldiers' human rights.



An official of the Center for Military Human Rights Korea (CMHRK) said Monday the OSF provided the center with $50,000 in the first installment of the planned funding last month.



It was the OSF's first financial donation in Korea since it opened its East Asia office in Seoul last year. The funds will be given step-by-step to the NGO over two years, said the official.



The OSF was especially concerned about the ban on mobile phones used by enlisted soldiers, the center said. According to the law, all enlisted soldiers are banned from using their own cell-phones, while officers are allowed to use them.



"Even considering the fact that Korea has conscription, still it is hard to imagine forbidding soldiers from using mobile phones in the United States," a CMHRK official said. "It seems the funding organization sees it seriously that a country can infringe upon individuals' freedom this much."



The OSF and the center have been discussing the financial support since 2016. The group's establishment of the East Asia office facilitated the process and the provision of the first installment took place in early May.



Besides the cell-phone use ban, the OSF paid attention to other human rights abuse cases in the military, such as bullying and sexual minority issues in the barracks. The center said it would organize campaigns to change military systems and practices that violate human rights and would disclose details of how it spends the money.



Meanwhile, the Ministry of National Defense is considering plans to allow all soldiers to use mobile phones after daily duty starting next year. It is conducting a pilot program in some units where soldiers keep their phones in designated places and are allowed to use them between 6 p.m. and 10 p.m. If the program proves there are no critical side effects such as the leaking of military secrets, it will be introduced in all units in the country.



The OSF financially supports civic organizations around the world, with the mission of improving justice, education, public health and independent media.


Liberty Korea Party Chairman Hong Joon-pyo is absorbed in thought with his eyes closed, during a party meeting in Seoul, Monday. / Yonhap



By Choi Ha-young



Hong Joon-pyo, outspoken chairman of the Liberty Korea Party (LKP), has decided not to show up at his party members' campaigns for local elections, amid growing hostility against him within the party and the public.



"I decided not to do a stumping tour from tomorrow," Hong said on Facebook, Sunday. "As I take part in the campaigns, voters tend to view this election as a popularity vote between President Moon Jae-in and me. I thought it would be hard to defeat the dominant popularity of Moon."



He urged voters to cast their ballots by evaluating each candidate, rather than the parties they belong to, indirectly acknowledging the poor public support for his party.



Hong's decision is largely attributable to increasing opposition from his own party members. When he joined campaign trails in the southern city of Busan, Friday, the party's candidates held separate election campaigns, rather than welcoming Hong on his visit.



He also had to leave the campaign location earlier than planned, because his voice couldn't be heard over drivers honking in protest of him.



This is in stark contrast to ruling Democratic Party of Korea (DPK) Chairwoman Choo Mi-ae and other DPK leaders whose election trail schedules all over the country have been hectic, in an effort to follow up a victory for the mayoral and gubernatorial elections slated for June 13.



Rep. Min Byung-doo of the DPK ridiculed Hong, calling his decision not to participate in campaigns a "forced vacation."



"Because nobody wants him, Hong should remain idle for the next 10 days," Min said on Facebook. "The only thing he will do is post on Facebook."



The widespread antipathy toward Hong is largely due to his hawkish stance against North Korea. While President Moon's peace overture has pushed his public support over 70 percent, Hong has been obsessed with anti-North Korea sentiment and continued an outdated ideological offensive.



On Monday, he said the ongoing summit diplomacy was the "worst scenario" caused by the "fantasy of nationalism."



"I feel tearfully sorry for my children and grandchildren, who will be enslaved by North Korea's nuclear weapons," Hong said on Facebook.



"President Donald Trump, who considers diplomacy as a business, seems no more interested in ditching nuclear weapons. He is expected to pull out of inter-Korean affairs, as wished for by the pro-Pyongyang leftist government of South Korea."



Hong is at odds with not only party members and citizens but also pollsters. He claimed pollsters fabricate the opinion survey outcomes in favor of the ruling DPK. For one survey conducted by Realmeter, he said the sample group of the respondents was "biased" citing the group included 400 pro-Moon respondents, while only 200 pro-Hong ones were included.



Realmeter then refuted the claim in a press statement, Monday. "Hong's argument ignores the changing political landscape, which became unfavorable to him," the pollster said.



The party leader under internal and external troubles is highly expected to quit the post after the local elections, because he may have to take responsibility for the poor election outcomes. Hong has vowed to win nine mayoral and gubernatorial posts  apparently an impossible goal.



Amid the meager presence of the party, the LKP's anti-Hong faction lawmakers have raised their voices against him. According to Realmeter's opinion survey issued Monday, the DPK gained a 52.2 percent support rate, far ahead of the LKP's 19.8 percent.


/ Yonhap



South Korea's trade commission said Thursday it has decided to impose anti-dumping duties on steel wire from China, saying the cheap imports hurt the domestic industry.

The Korea Trade Commission said it will make a recommendation to the finance ministry the levying of 8.6 percent duties on galvanized low carbon steel wire imported from China for the next five years.

Galvanized steel wire is an intermediate product used to make corrosion resistant wire products, including chain link fence, vineyard wire, baling wire and bale ties.

South Korea's galvanized steel wire market was valued at about 100 billion won (US$ 92.7 million) as of 2016, with Chinese products accounting for 70 percent of the market, according to the commission.

"The trade commission concluded that the Chinese products imported below the fair market value have caused substantial damage to the domestic industry, especially small and medium-sized companies," the commission said in a release.

The commission, under the trade ministry, also agreed to extend the 12.6-21.8 percent anti-dumping duties slapped on ethanolamine from the United States, Malaysia, Thailand and Japan for another five years.

Ethanolamine is used as feedstock in the production of detergents, emulsifiers, polishes, pharmaceuticals, corrosion inhibitors and chemical intermediates.

The domestic market for the chemical ingredient was worth $40 billion won in 2016, with imports from the four countries making up about 30 percent of that, the commission said.

The finance ministry will confirm the duties on steel wire by July 31 and on ethanolamine by Sept. 3, it noted. (Yonhap)
K-water CEO Lee Hak-soo, left, speaks at the 5th board meeting of the Asia Water Council held in Gyeongju last September. / Courtesy of K-water



By Yoon Ja-young



An international body organized by K-water to tackle water problems has begun holding a board meeting.



The Asia Water Council (AWC) announced that it was holding the sixth board meeting in Bangkok, Thailand from May 24 through 26, jointly with the Office of the National Water Resources and Royal Irrigation Department of Thailand.



The government and state-run water company K-water led the formation of the AWC in March 2016, which is the biggest consultative group on water in Asia, to resolve diverse water problems in and beyond the region.



It currently has 26 countries and around 130 institutes as members; these include Thailand, China and Indonesia, as well as the World Bank, United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization, and the Asian Development Bank, and a number of private companies. Around 26 board member organizations as well as 100 water experts will participate in the meeting.



Starting with the meeting Thursday, there will be special sessions on six themes including "Smart Water Management" and "Water and Climate Change."



At the board meeting, members will discuss the "Water Project" to tackle problems faced by each Asian country, including Cambodia's clean water supply project and a smart water management project in Vietnam. It will also examine plans for the 2nd Asia International Water Week scheduled for 2020, and discuss diverse test projects and joint research by members.



It is also scheduled to publish a book on the first Asia International Water Week held in Gyeongju, last September. It will promote how the AWC is contributing to providing solutions to Asia's water problems, as well as the 2nd Asia International Water Week.



K-water plans to strengthen cooperation for the development of water industry in Asia and open doors for local water companies to advance into markets overseas.



"Using the AWC platform, we will contribute to solving water problems in Asia as well as nurturing the water industry and thereby creating more jobs," said K-water CEO Lee Hak-soo who is serving as the AWC chief.


Samsung SDI's battery plant in Xian, China / Courtesy of Samsung SDI



By Baek Byung-yeul

Chances are returning for Korean lithium-ion battery makers to obtain contracts from Chinese electric vehicle (EV) makers, as EVs equipped with their batteries recently made it onto a recommended list by the Chinese government.

According to the China Association of Automobile Manufacturers (CAAM), LG Chem Nanjing, Samsung SDI Xian and BESK Technology, a joint venture of SK Innovation, were included in a preliminary list of the top quality certified companies, Wednesday.

This is a preliminary list and the CAAM is scheduled to announce its final version on May 28 after going through an appeal process.

This could work as a positive sign for Korean battery firms as they have been struggling with their EV battery businesses in China where the government had excluded EVs equipped with their batteries from a subsidy list since last year.

Industry watchers have viewed the decision as retaliation against Seoul's deployment of a U.S. Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) system in March last year.

With the decision, LG Chem, Samsung SDI and SK Innovation have hit a snag. It has been reported that that the operation rate of battery plants of LG Chem and Samsung SDI in China were at 10 percent last year. BESK Technology stopped producing battery packs early last year.

The Korean government is also pushing China to take a more dovish policy stance on adopting batteries for EVs made by Korean battery makers.

Trade Minister Paik Un-gyu made the request in a meeting with Chinese Minister of Industry, Information and Technology Miao Wei at the Hotel Shilla in Seoul, Thursday.

In response to Paik's request, Miao said the Chinese government had already approved a Merceds-Benz vehicle, powered by a battery from a Korean maker, Paik told reporters after the meeting.

"It (being included in the white-list) will be a positive signal from the Chinese government to Chinese car manufacturers," Paik told reporters.

During the meeting, Paik emphasized the need for a fair business environment to promote free competition and cooperation between companies in the two countries. Noting that what kind of battery pack is used depended on Chinese car makers not the Chinese government, Paik also urged Korean battery makers to beef up their marketing efforts with Chinese carmakers.

Industry watchers say being "white-listed" would have no immediate effect but it would result in positive effects for Korean battery manufacturers.

Chung Won-suk, an analyst at HI Investment & Securities, said Korean battery makers have struggled with the subsidy issue in China but the recent decision to be included in the white-list would definitely be a positive sign.

"Korean battery manufacturers have been struggling with their businesses in China since the EVs equipped with their batteries were excluded from the subsidy list in late 2016. The white-list registration does not mean Korean battery makers will be on the battery subsidy list, but this could be a positive sign," Chung said.
By Lee Sung-jae



Obviously Korean is the first language of Korean-Canadians (i.e., Koreans living in Canada) with the exception of those who were born in Canada or came to Canada at a young age. To cater to them, Korean-language newspapers are published in Canada.



On top of Korean and Canadian news items that they carry, all Korean-language newspapers published in Canada allow ample space for poems, essays and novels contributed by Korean-Canadian writers.



Some of their works appeared in Korea's renowned literary journals and magazines. What's more, a few Korean-Canadian writers had their books of poems and essays published in Korea to reach out to their compatriots back home.



Of them all, one particular writer deserves special mention. Lee Sang-mook, immigrated to Canada in 1969. While working as a mechanical engineer, he wrote poems and essays in his leisure time. Not only did he regularly contribute his works to Korean-language newspapers in Canada but he formerly made his debut as a poet in Korea in 1988 by fulfilling the qualification requirements set by Seoul-based literary magazines. Later on he published a collection of poems and essays in Seoul. His works received critical acclaim and he won eminent literary awards in Korea in 2016 and 2017. Indeed, Lee is an accomplished writer and deservedly the pride of Korean-Canadian society.



Not content being a poet and essayist, Lee recently authored a novel titled "The Way of Sword." Published in Seoul last month, it is a Korean-language, biographical novel about Park Yong-man.



Park was one of the three famed "independence fighters" who worked in the United States while Korea was under Japanese colonial rule. But he seems to be less known in Korea than the other two, Syngman Rhee and Ahn Chang-ho.



Park first met Rhee in a prison in Seoul where they got to know each other. Both of them subsequently came to the United States  Rhee in 1904 and Park in 1905. The first thing they did was to get higher education. Park graduated from Nebraska State University where he majored in political science, while Rhee received an MA from Harvard and a Ph.D. from Princeton. Their brilliant academic achievements brought them fame and they became indisputable leaders of the Koreans residing in the United States, most of whom came as manual laborers.



Specifically, what did Park do? Editor-in-chief for Korean-language newspapers in San Francisco and later in Honolulu, he wrote enlightening and inspiring editorials which deeply touched overseas Koreans. He also turned the incipient Korean National Association into an influential political organization in the United States with local chapters set up in Mexico, Siberia and Manchuria. More importantly, he established and ran military schools in Nebraska and later in Hawaii for young Koreans. Thanks to self-discipline and leadership skills acquired there, many graduates later became successful politicians, journalists and businessmen.



While Park lived in Hawaii, he was a dominant figure in the Korean community five thousand strong. But his position of leadership was challenged by his friend-turned-rival, Rhee, which entailed a long-standing feud between them.



When the Provisional Government of Korea was established in Shanghai in 1919, Rhee was elected as president and Park as minister of foreign affairs. Park relocated to China to take up his post. But he soon resigned it and instead served as a military strategist and activist. Among other things, he organized full-fledged army corps by consolidating disparate groups of Korean volunteer soldiers who were fighting against the Japanese army in China. In 1928 Park's life ended unceremoniously at the hands of a Korean villain in Beijing.



Given that next year will mark the 100th anniversary of the establishment of the Provisional Government of Korea, Lee's novel "The Way of Sword" is an opportune tribute to a dauntless patriot who played a pivotal role in the Korean independence movement.





The writer (sungjaelee@outlook.com) is an essayist who resides in Mississauga, Ontario, Canada.


By Michael Czinkota





After six decades of communist rule in Cuba, the island is now governed by someone outside of the Castro family for the first time since the 1959 revolution. The new leader, Miguel Diaz-Canel, was vice president and a provincial party chief.







Many believe the political and economic status quo of the Caribbean nation is unlikely to change. However, lessons from the business world indicate that any change in an organization's key leaders ushers in a new era for a company.







Whether it's an acquisition, merger or the appointment of a new CEO, these transformations usually carry enormous repercussions for key functions.







New priorities are typically manifested by new promotions, new players, new rules and new aims. In turn, this results in shifting financial conditions, new private developments and new service assortments.







When applying such transition effects onto countries, one could argue that there is an opportunity for President Trump to act decisively in formalizing and normalizing trade relations with Cuba if conciliatory and meaningful changes are made.







For example, changes could be made so that there are no longer higher hotel rates for Americans than for Europeans, as well as no more ongoing accusations or regurgitation of historic events that have long passed.







Curative International Marketing, a theory developed at Georgetown University's McDonough School of Business, directly addresses past errors and focuses on long-term restitution and improvements.







Such a move would advance U.S. businesses and their strategic interests while allowing Cuban citizens to operate in the private sector independent of the communist regime.







So far in the Trump administration, the opposite tactic has been taken by restricting American travel and trade with Cuba, which is a reversal of President Barack Obama's policies.







A pro-business posture allows for increased commercial relations (beyond cigars) that would be more effective in countering the interests of the Cuban military's monopoly in business.







This policy would empower private Cuban entrepreneurs by eliminating their dependence on the Cuban state apparatus and open them up to U.S. leadership and influence in the region. Private success over public ventures would speak volumes in favor of new economic and social thinking.







As a first measure, restoring the capacity for U.S. citizens to schedule individual visits to Cuba, which was eliminated in 2017, should be considered.







The potential economic boon for Cuba's tourist industry could eventually stimulate growth in both the U.S. and Cuban economies. Also, this measure would promote democratization and bolster innovation and an entrepreneurial spirit in Cuba.







The recent promising developments on the Korean Peninsula indicate that diplomacy rather than deterrence can advance American interests in places where ideological and strategic divisions run deep. As the White House approaches a deal in East Asia, it could apply the lessons learned from the North Korean negotiations closer to home in Cuba.







President Trump's acumen for dealmaking can face an ultimate test in Cuba. Opening conversations  and trade  with the island could mark a vast improvement in the bilateral relationship. Hopefully, the American people can look forward to the use of politics that shapes a future good for all of us.









Michael Czinkota (





czinkotablog@gmail.com ) teaches international business and trade at Georgetown University's McDonough School of Business and the University of Kent. Lisa Burgoa of the School of Foreign Service contributed to this commentary.
Japans aging Catholic communities are "surprised" by young Filipinos and Vietnamese. Parishes celebrate Masses in various languages . For the Catholic Church to understand how to welcome them is an important job". New bishops are a sign of the new way of to walk with people", as Poe Francis put it.

Tokyo (AsiaNews)  Young Filipino and Vietnamese Catholics are a "breath of fresh air" and a surprising challenge for Japans increasingly international Catholic Church.

"Japanese society is getting older," said Fr Ignacio Martinez, a Mexican missionary from Guadalupe, now in the Social Affairs Department of the Catholic Bishops' Conference of Japan.

On the one hand, this is good because we have many people with vast experience of life. On the other hand, many people are coming from other countries, and many of them are Catholics."

"In most cases, communities are aging. Migrants are Catholic and young, who live differently. It is a great challenge, especially for small parishes in rural areas.

Recently, Fr Martinez noted, I was in a parish near Fukushima, in northern Japan. There the community had about twenty people. One day, 40 young Filipinos arrived. It was a real surprise for the Japanese."

"Now, almost all parishes have to celebrate Mass in different languages, and this requires a lot of work. I think we are becoming a kind of 'international' Church. It is not easy, and it is a great challenge for the Japanese Church."

In the diocese of Kyoto, Fr Antonio Camacho Munoz, a missionary from Guadalupe and head of five parishes, talks about a similar experience.

"It is a breath of fresh air for the Church in Japan, because they [the migrants] are young and have strong faith. So, some Sundays we find ourselves doing the First Reading in Vietnamese, the Second in Filipino, and the Gospel in Japanese. Thus, the Church is becoming international."

Japan is a country that tends to be closed and wary of foreigners; hence, "for the Catholic Church to understand how to welcome them is an important job", noted Fr Camacho.

"Japanese bishops are aware of the situation, Fr Martinez explained. They are trying to change the way of thinking and being of the Catholic Church in Japan."

Changes are also happening among bishops. At the end of last year, Mgr Tarcisio Isao Yama Kikuchi became archbishop of Tokyo. "Mgr Kikuchi was a missionary in Africa, in Ghana. It is the first time that a missionary becomes archbishop of Tokyo," Fr Martinez said.

"We also have a new bishop who is not Japanese, Mgr Wayne Francis Berndt, an American, who took office as bishop of Naha on 2 February.

"I think Pope Francis is trying to change the way to walk with people here in Japan and around the world. For me, as a Latin-American, I am very happy to see how the Church is transforming herself."

Indeed, Fr Martinez himself is a symbol of change. For three years, he has been at the service of the Bishops Conference, "the only one who is not Japanese.

We are about 60 people in the office. My 'Latin' way of doing things is surprising to people," he said, laughing.
By Dr. Chris Baumann





Have you ever wondered why East Asian culture is actually different from Western culture? Research led by Macquarie University in Australia and the Stockholm Business School (SBS) sheds light on how culture drives how we work.



East Asian wisdom



East Asian wisdom is largely derived from ancient thinking and the teaching of Confucius (551 B.C. to 479 B.C.), coupled with Taoism and Legalism and also with newer influences such as Buddhism.



East Asian culture is mastering the combination of seemingly opposing forces, a notion found in the yin and yang philosophy; e.g. there is light and dark, there are female and male species, night and day, pleasure and pain, and so on.



While scholars have known about these philosophies for a long time, only relatively recently have researchers in the business disciplines attempted to measure them. Coming from backgrounds in economics and management science, researchers in international business and cross-cultural management have felt a need to "put a number on" abstract and highly contextual concepts of culture.



Of course, that is not without risk; meanwhile there has been a "push" in the literature to measure highly-defined aspects of culture, quantified to better understand how they relate to everyday practical human behavior such as negotiation style, work ethic and performance.



Brand new research on culture



This writer and Associate Professor Hume Winzar at Macquarie University together with Professor Tony Fang at the Stockholm Business School (SBS) were guest editors of a special issue in Cross Cultural & Strategic Management (CCSM), a journal edited by leading international business scholar, Professor Rosalie L. Tung at Simon Fraser University (SFU). The special issue contains seven research papers about East Asian wisdom.



One paper, for example, by influential Professor Michael Minkov, is on the "revision of Hofstede's Model of National Culture: Old Evidence and New Data from 56 Countries," probing the validity of the Hofstede cultural dimensions that students nearly always learn about in (international) business classes. Professor Minkov is with the Sofia Local Center, Varna University of Management, Sofia, Bulgaria.



In the Asian century with Asian dominance in culture, politics and economic power and innovation, it is important to understand the new role of East Asian management style, hence one paper explores "the case of Chinese expatriate managers in the Dutch context." Other work looks at "managing paradox, dilemmas, and change."



Confucianism



Macquarie University (MQ) contributed two papers to this special issue, one on the measurement of Confucianism and how that philosophy indeed "drives" workplace performance; with Ph.D. student Doris Viengkham.



A new categorization shows Confucian origin for mainland China, Confucian preservation in Taiwan, and Confucian pragmatism in South Korea. The research demonstrates that Confucianism has "shades of grey."



The paper is based on the notion that "instillation of hard work and strict discipline in the education system spills over into the workforce, which not only produces a unique form of "work ethic," but also drives competitiveness. Peak academic performance in the East Asian cluster is largely driven by strict discipline."



Indeed, the paper concludes that there are "strong links between culture, education, and performance. Namely, that the pedagogical approach of Confucian East Asia, with its emphasis on education and strict discipline, is shown to have a spillover effect into how individuals perform in the workforce."



The second MQ paper (with Professor Tony Fang at SBS) is on "East Asian wisdom and relativity" and suggests "inter-ocular testing" for data analyses comparing human groups.



An extension of the relative values and moderated behavior (ReVaMB) model  originated at MQ  allows better and more realistical testing of cultural values "driving" human attitudes and behavior in future research.



Confucius is no longer alive, but his spirit lives on in the East Asian region and the Asian diaspora.





Dr. Chris Baumann (chris.baumann@mq.edu.au) is an associate professor at Macquarie University, Sydney, and visiting professor at Seoul National University (SNU) in Korea. His work focuses on competitiveness, Confucianism and customer loyalty.


Candidates should focus on policy debates



The June 13 local elections are a week away, but they still have a low profile, apparently overshadowed by the upcoming denuclearization summit between U.S. President Donald Trump and North Korea leader Kim Jong-un. The summit is to be held in Singapore, a day before the polls.



No one can overemphasize the importance of the upcoming elections as 4,016 gubernatorial, mayoral and local council seats are at stake. The polls also carry significant implications because they are the first nationwide political event since President Moon Jae-in's inauguration in May last year. They will offer an opportunity for voters to evaluate the one-year performance of the Moon administration.



Adding to the lackluster election mood are the deep-rooted negative campaigns featuring outdated mudslinging tactics against rival candidates. Excessive mudslinging, including revelations about opponents' private lives, either true or false, is contributing to forcing voters to turn their faces away from the elections. In addition, various public polls show overwhelming leads for candidates from the ruling camp, thus making voters lose interest.



It is needless to say that candidates should focus on policies rather than negative campaigning. Yet, it is still hard to find candidates' creative policies or pledges the voters are supposed to review before they decide on whom to vote for



In fact, the low interest of voters and the ensuing possible low turnout damage most the voters themselves in the long run. Each voter has to keep deep in mind that they are the very master of the region, and playing the master's role is a right and duty at the same time.



With eight days until the election, there is still time for voters to examine closely the personal characters and qualifications of candidates and their campaign pledges. Voters should go to the polling stations without fail to choose their governors, mayors and councilors with their own hands.



Candidates are also required to compete in a fair manner through policy debates. They should not engage in mudslinging. Related government authorities, including the Central Election Commission, ought to spare no efforts to ensure a fair election.






Trump passes burden on to Seoul, Beijing, Tokyo



The United States and North Korea are likely to agree  in principle  on a denuclearization formula during their historic summit scheduled for June 12 in Singapore. If their deal-making is successful enough, the formula will certainly be based on the North's full denuclearization in return for security guarantees and economic benefits.



Now the question is who will foot the bill for the possible deal between U.S. President Donald Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un? This could be a tricky question because it is doubtful if any related parties are willing to shoulder the burden although they want to enjoy the denuclearization dividend.



Trump is certain to try to take the credit for a potentially high-stake deal with Kim if they agree to start the denuclearization and peace process. Trump might scramble for the Nobel Peace Prize, while taking advantage of the deal to break a political deadlock ahead of mid-term elections and then stand for re-election.



But Trump would certainly not bankroll the Kim regime for giving up its nuclear weapons program. He has already made it clear that the U.S. will not spend a lot of money on North Korea. Such a position is undoubtedly based on his signature "America first" policy.



After meeting Kim Yong-chol, vice chairman of the Central Committee of the North's ruling Workers' Party, at the White House, Friday, Trump told reporters that South Korea, China and Japan would be prepared to invest in the North to boost its dilapidated economy.



"I don't think the United States is going to have to spend," Trump said. Then he added, "South Korea will do that  China will help out  Japan will help out." He even said that the U.S. is 6,000 miles away from North Korea. He added that he had already told South Korea and Japan to get ready to invest in the North.



His remarks were apparently aimed at ruling out the possibility of the U.S. financing a nuclear deal even before it is made. How smart he is. No one can outsmart Trump as far as financing matters are concerned. Maybe Kim Jong-un is no match for Trump, who is best known for his business acumen. His "America first" slogan is nothing less than a beggar-thy-neighbor policy.



Trump's position on this matter is far different from an earlier commitment by Secretary of State Mike Pompeo to allow American private sector investment in the North if the country dismantles its nuclear arsenal.



In mid-May, Pompeo said Americans would help invest in North Korean infrastructure and agriculture to help feed its people if Pyongyang complied with U.S. demands.



Now the burden-sharing problem is a cause for concern for South Korea. The Moon Jae-in government has pushed for detente with the North, mediating in arranging the Trump-Kim summit. President Moon should build a national consensus on how to pay for the North's denuclearization.


By Andrew Salmon





U.S. President Donald Trump has at last confirmed that the first-ever summit between North Korea and the United States is a go. His decision follows a diplomatic whirlwind.



Given that both parties deployed maximum assets, all indications are that they wanted this to happen. At least four separate channels have been employed.



In Singapore, working level officials examined venues, logistics and security. In the DMZ, mid-level officials thrashed out issues, seeking common ground. In Pyongyang and Washington, ministerial-level officials shuttled back and forth, forging relationships. At the apex, the leaders addressed each other  formerly as "dotard" and "little rocket man," latterly via elaborate letters.



If the players want it to happen  why so?



Trump appears to be thinking legacy. He is probably also thinking electoral politics. A big, positive-optics foreign policy win (eg a Korean War peace treaty) suits both agendas. And he has been fascinated by North Korea since long before he started his presidential campaign.



Kim is more opaque. What are his calculations?



Some believe he was under pressure; that sanctions were biting, and the odds against him so formidable, that he had to change tack. Others think that with his nuclear deterrent complete and his strategic missile program almost complete, he is willing to start using this "treasured sword" to grant him a seat at the highest table.

The two are not, of course, mutually exclusive.



He has played a poor hand with great skill. One year ago, he led the most heavily sanctioned regime on earth, and faced a possible U.S. attack. He had never met a major world leader. Now, he has charmed South Korea, held two summits with the world's second most powerful man, and is about to meet its most powerful man.



Kim has gone further with diplomatic brinksmanship than either of his predecessors. Is he willing to make concessions? Could he seek real change?



Experts  almost exclusively  say no. They reckon he will renege. That he is playing for time until the mercurial Trump departs. That his moves are tactical ploys to woo China and Russia, while driving a wedge between Seoul and Washington.



Perhaps. But experts get the Koreas wrong time and again. In the 1950s, none expected South Korea to become an economic powerhouse; in the 1960s, experts advised nation-builder Park Chung-hee to scale back his plans; he was too ambitious, they warned.



In the 1990s, through the fall European communism, the death of Kim Il-sung and hideous famines, experts predicted a North Korean collapse. Many said (some still do) that North Korea cannot let its population believe that South Korea is richer, nor expose the populace to external information. In fact, that is now acknowledged in North Korea and outside information, in the form of smuggled media  notably South Korean pop culture  has surged in. Yet the regime remains.



Can North Korea change? Conventional wisdom is "no." It is too brittle, too threatened by the South. But it has survived war, famine, poverty, three successions and the dissolution of its socialist distribution system and the rise of marketization nationwide.



Authoritarian regimes do change. Pinochet's Chile, Chun's South Korea and Franco's Spain eventually democratized without calamity. Totalitarian China and Vietnam both switched their economic models yet retained party control.



The closest political model to North Korea  Imperial Japan, with its ultra-nationalist policies, militarized society and God-emperor  successfully shifted from a militarized imperium to peaceful constitutional monarchy in 1945. (Albeit World War II prompted the transition).



At this stage, few believe that substantive denucleariztion, let alone almost systemic change, is likely in North Korea.



But if Kim begins engaging the wider world, could the process be halted? Or would it, like marketization, take on an unstoppable life of its own?



Could Kim be gambling his one and only card  strategic weapons  to kick-start a process that will force change on an inherited, ossified system he cannot reform internally? If so, that would explain his regime survival  or perhaps personal amnesty demands.



Probably not. But the current situation is unprecedented. As new possibilities arise, new leverage is created. Such possibilities and levers should be considered rather than being dismissed out of hand.





Andrew Salmon (andrewcsalmon@yahoo.co.uk) is a Seoul-based reporter and author.




By Kim Yoo-chul



The government to enhance measures for the protection of intellectual property (IP) rights of Samsung Electronics and SK hynix because of increased pressure on them to cross-license more of their memory chip technology to Chinese manufacturers, company officials said Monday.



"The trade ministry and officials at relevant government agencies are looking into the ongoing investigation by Chinese regulatory authorities over allegations that Samsung and SK broke antitrust rules in China. The ministry wants to know what China wants and how this issue will be addressed in a way to protect the best interests of the Korean companies," said an official at the ministry.



Samsung Electronics confirmed Chinese regulatory authority officials visited its offices in that country seeking "certain information." However, it didn't respond to questions about the information sought by the officials.



A spokesman at SK hynix said its offices were searched by Chinese antitrust regulator officials and added it was cooperating with them. "We are keeping an eye out for further developments. For the time being, we have no further comments about this issue," the spokesman said.



Korean companies active in China have often complained of the country's trade ministry doing "too little to rein in" risks related to IP rights, though Samsung and SK are two of the largest foreign investors in that country.



"A new war is looming. This time, the war isn't just about money but more about the corporate future. Chinese companies want more cross-licensing with Samsung and SK. They want the Koreans to lower the royalties paid for the use of their patents. We want more supportive measures from the trade ministry," a Samsung insider said.



Chinese authorities have officially expressed their concern over DRAM prices and asked the Korean pair to cut their prices for Chinese tech companies.



While Samsung and SK denied they were involved in "any type of price-fixing scheme," the companies are accused of limiting the manufacturing volume of DRAMs in an effort to push up prices.



China has made significant progress in the chip sector, with multiple construction projects underway and sizable equipment orders being placed with a view to production starting late this year.



But the largest concern for Beijing is that its technology remains three to five years behind Samsung and SK. In semiconductors, technology is critical to the cost structure.



"Competition in memory chips can be brutal where technological leadership leads to cost advantages and any significant disadvantage can challenge even the deepest pockets. This could mean significant losses in an oversupply scenario. A Taiwan case study is a miserable tale. What happened to the Taiwanese DRAM industry in the 2000s is a good reminder to China of what not to do," said Mark C. Newman, a senior analyst at Bernstein Research.



How could China be different?



Beijing wants to have more comprehensive cross-licensing deals with Samsung and SK to hedge against such external risks. China's typical pattern is to sue foreign companies over antitrust rules and stretch out negotiations until there's a big compromise offer from the "negotiating" partners; then the issue is closed.



Earlier, China imposed an over 1 trillion won fine on U.S.-based mobile chip titan Qualcomm, the largest fine on a foreign company at the time. Qualcomm paid the fine with no contest and didn't pursue further legal proceedings after it agreed with major Chinese smartphone vendors to collect less royalties from them.



Samsung, SK and Micron Technology of the United States supplied over 90 percent of the global DRAM chip demand as of the first quarter this year, while the three companies collectively control more than half the global market in NAND chips.






By Kim Jae-heun



Low-cost carriers (LCC) are seeking to open new flight routes departing from regional airports in a bid to continue their "unprecedented huge" success from last year.



According to the aviation industry, Monday, Jeju Air plans to launch routes connecting Cheongju in North Chungcheong Province to Osaka in Japan on July 21, and Muan in South Jeolla Province to Taipei, Taiwan, on July 27.



The nation's largest budget airline has already been operating routes from Muan to Vietnam's Danang and Thailand's Bangkok since May.



Jin Air, the runner-up of the industry, has nine international flights departing from Busan and one from Jeju Island. It is also set to increase Busan flights with Guam and Okinawa later this month to strengthen its strategy focused on regional airports.



T'way Air has been operating 13 international flights flying from Daegu to various cities such as Guam, Taipei, Tokyo, Osaka, Fukuoka and Hong Kong.



Eastar Jet will reopen its Chinese routes from regional airports. Previously, the airline had China-bound flights including Shenyang, Pudong, Harbin and Ningbo.



In the wake of a diplomatic feud with China due to Korea's decision to deploy a U.S. missile shield here, Eastar had to suspend all its routes to China except Dalian.



Last year, LCC companies refocused their international routes from China to Southeast Asian countries.



According to the tourism research center at Sejong University last year, LCCs have long since taken over the domestic travel market.



Not only are they operating over half of the flights within the country, but they are also close to occupying near 30 percent of international travels.



According to a recent report by the transport ministry, the number of travelers opting for LCCs for their overseas trips increased by 41.9 percent last year. The number of those who chose full-service carriers decreased by 1.9 percent.



"There are no more slots for international routes available for LCC players at Incheon, Gimpo and Gimhae airports. To maximize the operation of their planes and win new customers, LCCs are strengthening their policy to launch and add international routes departing from regional airports," an official of the aviation sector said.




Travelers crowd Lotte Duty Free's information desk at Incheon International Airport's Terminal 1 in this Feb. 14 file photo. / Korea Times file



By Park Jae-hyuk



The Incheon International Airport Corp. (IIAC) has refuted Lotte Duty Free's claim that the airport operator unfairly excluded the retail giant from candidates for licenses to run duty free shops at the first passenger terminal of the airport.



The IIAC said Monday, Lotte got the lowest score among four bidders regard its business proposal, although the nation's leading duty free operator offered the highest price for licenses to operate outlets at the DF1 bloc for cosmetics and perfumes and DF5 bloc for clothing.



"Lotte's business proposal failed to draw attention, compared to those of its rivals. The company's presentation was off the point as well," an IIAC official said in a press release. "Most of our internal and external panels of judges gave low scores to Lotte."



The IIAC added it will take every possible measure against attempts to defame the corporation's reputation with groundless rumors.



Lotte said it made the highest bid at 280 billion won ($261 million) for DF1 and 69 billion won for DF5, followed by Shinsgae DF with 276 billion won for DF1 and 61 billion won for DF5 and Hotel Shilla with a respective 220 billion won and 50 billion won.



However, the IIAC narrowed the candidates for the licenses to Shinsegae and Shilla last month.



The Korea Customs Service will review the bids and select the operators for each of the blocs next month.



Since its failure to make the final list, Lotte has urged the IIAC to transparently unveil its criteria.



However, a spokesman of the company has denied a rumor that his company may file a lawsuit against the IIAC decision.



Lotte, which previously ran DF1 and DF5 blocs, gave up its licenses in February, citing high rent.



The move has been regarded as an attempt to lower its rent for the blocs by renegotiating the deal, as it continued to accumulate losses due to the high rent it agreed to pay in its previous deal.



Lotte said it expected to earn black marks for its previous decision. However, it did not accept the IIAC's refutation, calling it emotional.



If Shilla wins the licenses for both blocs, its market share will go over 30 percent. This will threaten Lotte's long-standing supremacy in the nation's duty free market. As of last year, Lotte was Korea's largest duty free operator by sales with a 41.9 percent market share.


Tourists admire a hot spring on Changbai Mountain in Jilin. / Xinhua



By He Huifeng





The number of tourists entering North Korea from China is expected to rise significantly in 2018, with Chinese and overseas travellers eager to experience the hermit kingdom that may be on the brink of opening up, industry insiders and local officials say.

More cross-border tour routes and tourism sites in North Korea will be on offer by tour agencies in China's northeast province of Jilin, which borders North Korea, and there has already been a clear growth in tourists seeking travel information about the country, as geopolitical tensions have eased since Kim Jong-un's first visit to Beijing, in March.

"Several infrastructure projects for tourism sites in North Korea are under construction," said Che Jing, a deputy manager of a travel company in Jilin's capital of Changchun, at an event promoting the province's tourism in Shenzhen on Thursday.

"We are going to run at least seven or eight tour routes to North Korea this year, including a one-day tour to Nanyo and a trip of four to five days to Pyongyang, Kaesong and Panmunjom.

"We served over 40,000 tourists travelling in Jilin last year, and half of them experienced cross-border tours. We hope the number of cross-border tourists could increase 30 or 40 per cent this year."

China's tourism authorities haven't published the numbers of Chinese tourists visiting North Korea since 2012. According to a 2012 annual report by China's national tourism administration, 237,400 tourists visited North Korea from China, a rise of 22.5 per cent from 2011.

That number paled, however, beside the 3 million Chinese tourists who visited South Korea in 2012.

The flow of Chinese tourists entering North Korea may have stagnated or shrunk in the years since. Tensions between China and North Korea heightened after Kim took power in 2011.





The North Korean town of Samjiyon, at the foot of Mount Baekdu. / AP



Yet an improved relationship between the countries, and Pyongyang's pledge to give up nuclear tests, have offered fresh hope of an upturn to Chinese tourism industry insiders.

"The situation on the Korean peninsula has become quite subdued, for the first time in many years," said Meng Fanying, head of the tourism bureau of Changbai Mountain protection development management committee. Changbai Mountain, known in North Korea as Mount Paektu, sits on the border.

"This year will definitely be a good year for the tourism business of Changbai Mountain," Meng said. "There were around 2.3 million tourists travelling to it last year, and we have estimated at least 20 per cent growth in the number of visitors this year."

Tourism provides an important source of foreign currency revenues for Pyongyang, and China is a major tourism source market for the country.

But the flow of tourists into North Korea or even in the border area has often been interrupted. It is not uncommon for tour operators in China to suspend services when tensions are high.

Chinese authorities last year temporarily closed parts of the national park in Jilin as fears rose in the region about radioactive contamination, following North Korea's sixth nuclear test last September.

Meng said that the closed parts of the national park would reopen on Friday.
Through the Eucharist "we experience the New Covenant, which fully realises the communion between God and us. And as participants in this Covenant, we, however small and poor, work together on building history as God wants it.

Vatican City (AsiaNews)  In his Angelus address, Pope Francis expressed sorrow over the violence that has gripped Nicaragua and left scores of people dead and wounded. In view of the situation, the pontiff has called for dialogue, which needs respect.

In doing so, Francis joined Nicaraguas bishops "in expressing sorrow for the serious violence, with dead and wounded, carried out by armed groups to repress social protests. I pray for the victims and their families.

The Church, he added, is always for dialogue, but this requires an active commitment to respect freedom and, above all, life. I pray for an end to the violence and that conditions be set for the resumption of dialogue as soon as possible."

Earlier, before the recitation of the Marian prayer, the pope told the 20,000 people present in St Peter's Square that every time we celebrate the Eucharist, "we experience the New Covenant, which fully realises the communion between God and us. And as participants in this Covenant, we, however small and poor, work together on building up history as God wants it."

Illustrating the meaning of today's celebration of the Corpus Domini, or the solemnity of the Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ, the Pope noted that "today in many countries, including Italy, the solemnity of the Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ is celebrated, or, according to the most famous Latin expression, of Corpus Domini.

The Gospel brings us the words of Jesus, spoken at the Last Supper with his disciples: Take it; this is my body [. . .] This is my blood of the covenant, which will be shed* for many" (Mk 14:22-24). Precisely because of that testament of love, the Christian community gathers every Sunday, and every day, around the Eucharist, the sacrament of the redemptive Sacrifice of Christ. Attracted by his real presence, Christians worship him and contemplate him through the humble sign of the bread that became his Body.

Every time we celebrate the Eucharist, through this sober and so solemn sacrament, we experience the New Covenant, which fully realises the communion between God and us. And as participants in this Covenant, we, however small and poor, work together on building history as God wants it. Therefore, every Eucharistic celebration, whilst it constitutes an act of public worship to God, refers to life and the concrete events of our existence.

Whilst we nourish ourselves with the Body and Blood of Christ, we are assimilated to him, [and] we receive his love in us, not to keep him jealously but to share him with others. This is the Eucharistic logic. In fact, we contemplate Jesus as broken and given bread, blood shed for our salvation. It is a presence that burns away selfish attitudes in us, purifies us from the tendency to give only when we have received, and ignites the desire to make us too, in union with Jesus, broken bread and blood shed for our brothers.

Therefore, the feast of the Corpus Domini is a mystery of attraction to Christ and transformation in him. It is a school of concrete love, patient and sacrificed, like Jesus on the cross. It teaches us to become more welcoming and available to those in search of understanding, help, encouragement, who are marginalised and alone. The presence of Jesus alive in the Eucharist is like a door, an open door between the temple and the road, between faith and history, between the city of God and the city of man.

The processions with the Blessed Sacrament are expression of popular Eucharistic piety, which are held in many countries during today's solemnity. They are an eloquent sign of the fact that Jesus, who died and rose, continues to walk the paths of the world, joins us and guides our path: He nourishes faith, hope and love; brings comfort in moments of trial; [and] supports the commitment to justice and peace. This evening too, in Ostia  as the Blessed Paul VI did 50 years ago  I shall celebrate Mass, which will be followed by the procession with the Blessed Sacrament. I invite everyone to participate, spiritually too, through radio and television."
Kendallville, IN (46755)

Today

Cloudy early. Scattered thunderstorms developing later in the day. High 76F. Winds WSW at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 50%..

Tonight

Cloudy with occasional rain showers. Low around 55F. Winds light and variable. Chance of rain 60%.
Auburn, IN (46706)

Today

Cloudy skies during the morning hours followed by scattered showers and thunderstorms in the afternoon. High 77F. Winds SW at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 50%..

Tonight

Scattered thunderstorms during the evening. A steady rain arriving overnight. Low 56F. Winds light and variable. Chance of rain 60%.
Shanghai (Gasgoo)- Qoros Auto delivered a total of 23,754 vehicles for the first five months this year, skyrocketing 366% year on year, which was more than 1.5 times of the total sales in 2017. Besides, the automaker's monthly deliveries in May reached a new high of 7,028 units, jumping 31% month on month.

Qoros Auto currently has the Qoros 3 Series and 5 Series with 5 models in total, including the Qoros 3 sedan, the Qoros 3 Hatchback, the Qoros 3 City SUV, the Qoros 3 GT and the Qoros 5 SUV. At Auto China 2018, Qoros Auto launched its MILE Project and showcased the high-performance intelligent electric coupe Qoros MILE 1 concept, the first model under the MILE Project. Based on the project, the automaker will expedite the upgrading and iteration for its existing models and build a new car platform.

In the second half of this year, the automaker will launch its first BEV (battery electric vehicle) model that may have a range up to 700km and carry various intelligent-connected applications. What's more, its second BEV model will be unveiled next year. The company has been reportedly improving its C-class, D-class platforms and BEV platform to comprehensively cover 7-seat SUV, 7-seat MPV and mid-to-large sedan segments.

In terms of the marketing channel construction, the automaker promotes a series of incentive policies that have effectively activated dealers' initiative. Reportedly, the automaker has recently signed contracts with nearly 50 new dealers. In addition, Qoros Auto has formed strategic partnership with the Shenzhen-based car rental platform dubbed Idygo to jointly develop businesses like car sharing, timesharing rental and financial leasing, etc.
Shanghai (Gasgoo)- Beijing Hyundai reported its cumulative sales of over 330,000 units from January to May, jumping nearly 27% over the previous year. In May, Beijing Hyundai delivered more than 60,427 vehicles with a YoY surge of 72%.

Driven by the Elantra Lingdong, Beijing Hyundai saw positive sales growth for 11 month in a row from July, 2017.Sales of the Hyundai Elantra Lingdong skyrocketed 572% from a year earlier to 18,045 units in May. Besides, the model's cumulative sales during the first five months shot up 233% compared to the same period last year.

In addition, Beijing Hyundai's SUV sales reached 111,764 units from January to May, leaping 59.1% year on year. During the past five months, Beijing Hyundai's "D+S" series models took up 60% of its total sales through May, which is almost approaching the historic sales peak.

In 2018, Beijing Hyundai will see fast upgrades on products. In the second half of this year, the automaker will launch six new models, including the Elantra Yuedong RV, the LAFESTA and the all-new Sonata plug-in hybrid.

Beijing Hyundai has released a range of Chinese customer-tailored new models, including the new Mistra, the new ix25, the all-new Verna and the all-new Elantra, meeting Chinese customers' demands. Apart from these locally-produced models, Beijing Hyundai will also introduce a slew of classic global models into the Chinese market, like the Sonata series, Elantra series, and the newly-launched ENCINO.
Ragusa, June 4 - Deputy Premier Luigi Di Maio has confirmed that the introduction of a basic income and a pension overhaul featuring the scrapping of 2011 Fornero reform will be priorities for the new 5-Star Movement/League government. The M5S leader added that the executive intends to raise the revenue to finance the measures in the government programme, which experts have said could costs tens of billions of euros, via negotiations with the European Union. "We want to do many things, from the citizenship (basic) income to the abolition of the Fornero law," said Di Maio, the labour and industry minister in the new government, during a visit to Sicily on Sunday ahead of local elections there. "We'll get the money for these measures by going to European talks. "We'll get it there because we have the men (needed) to be treated on the same terms as the other European countries". He also said that the new government will abolish the centre-left's Jobs Act labour reform "at once" because this has "made work precarious". "Work is necessary for everyone and it must be dignified. You cannot have starvation salaries," he said.
Berlin, June 4 - German Chancellor Angela Merkel said she was ready to work with the new Italian government and judge it on its deeds rather than speculating in its intentions in a newspaper interview published at the weekend. She also said that the Italian people had not felt sufficiently supported by the rest of the European Union in facing the Mediterranean migrant crisis. "Part of Italy's insecurity stems from the fact that the Italians felt left alone on the job of receiving so many migrants after the fall of (Muammar Gaddafi's regime in) Libya," Merkel told FAS.
Rome, June 4 - Pope Francis appealed for local people to rebel against the culture of 'omerta' - the failure to report the felonies of organized crime syndicates - during a visit to the mobster-hit Rome seaside suburb of Ostia on Sunday. He invited the people of Ostia to loosen "the knots that keep us bound to the moorings of fear and depression. "Jesus wants the walls of indifference and silent collusion to be breached, iron bars of oppression and arrogance torn asunder, and paths cleared for justice, civility and legality," he added.
Vibo Valentia, June 4 - Investigations continued Monday into Saturday evening's alleged shooting murder of Malian national Soumaila Sacko, 29, and wounding of two others in San Calogero. Investigators are searching the area for the white Fiat Panda that the survivors say was used in the shooting. The incident occurred after the three victims, all legal immigrants, had walked to an old warehouse in San Ferdinando to collect some metal sheeting, which investigators believe was stolen. They say the murder was in retaliation for the theft and that there was no xenophobic motivation. There have been tributes to Sacko's work as a trade unionist and activist for migrant rights. Italian media said he had wanted the sheeting to shoe up his shanty.
Rome, June 4 - The killer of a Bologna bouncer shot dead outside his home in December 1999 has been arrested after police said they had solved the cold case. Bolognese man Stefano Monti, 59, has been arrested on suspicion of murdering Valeriano Poli with eight gunshots on December 5 1999, police said. Police was nailed by DNA testing of spatters of blood on his boots and a wedding video shot 20 days before the murder, police said.
Rome, June 4 - Freshly installed Health Minister Giulia Grillo said Monday the health ministry would develop a synergy with the economy ministry to stop a drop in funding for the national health system. "We'll have a synergical relationships with the economy and finance ministry, which we hope may lead to something concrete," she said. "We'll have to find synergy with the economy ministry, The economy ministry is my great concern. We are concerned about inverting a trend dictated by various arguments on the funding of the national health service".
Rome, June 4 - Courts having to move to tents in Bari after the court building was declared unsafe is an "emergency", new Justice Minister Alfonso Bonafede said Monday. Bonafede said he would probably visit the southern Italian city in the next few days. The minister was speaking to justice ministry staff, whom he met for the first time on Monday.
Rome, June 4 - Interior Minister Matteo Salvini said Monday he was willing to meet his Tunisian counterpart after Tunisia said it was stunned by his remarks that the north African country "often exports convicts". Salvini said "there is the firmest willingness on my part to meet as soon as possible with my Tunisian counterpart to increase and improve cooperation in the mutual interest on the fronts of security, immigration and fighting terrorism". Salvini was speaking at a Rome reception for the 70th anniversary of the birth of Israel.
Shanghai (Gasgoo)- Geely Group (New Business) Co., Ltd and Hainan State Farms Investment Holdings Group Co., Ltd officially signed a strategic framework agreement on June 3 to cooperate in new energy and mobility service areas. According to the agreement, both parties will join forces to develop four major businesses, including the Share'n Go (an EV sharing platform), the Caocao Zhuanche (Geelys EV mobility service platform), methanol fuel and methanol-fueled vehicles as well as flying cars.

At the signing ceremony, Hainan State Farms Commercial Logistics Industry Group Co., Ltd (HSF) and Share'n Go signed a shareholder investment agreement to fully initiate the operation of Share'n Go in Hainan Province. Both parties will jointly make effort to provide users with economic and convenient mobility services in the form of long-term and short-term rental, timesharing rental and tailored taxi service, etc. Both companies hope to effectively lower users travelling cost and reduce the waste of social resources through the cooperation.

Based on Caocao Zhuanche platform, HSF and Share'n Go will promote the implementation and operation of some mobility service platforms (including Caocao Zhuan) with the aim of offering various mobility solutions that is convenient, environmentally friendly and intelligent. In addition, they will jointly employ Hainans rich methanol resource and promote the use of methanol-fueled vehicles there, with an ambition to build a methanol fuel transmission system and refueling service stations covering the whole Hainan Province.

China aims to gradually phase out sales of fossil-fuel vehicles in Hainan Province, according to a governmental guideline on reforming Hainan Province released in April. Besides, Hainan government will formulate and release a planning to popularize EVs by 2030, which contributes to environmental energy promotion for global islands economy, Shen Xiaoming, governor of Hainan Province, said on April 9.

Some EV startups in China have started to make layouts in Hainan Province. On Aril 11, WM Motor officially signed a cooperation agreement with Hainan Province Transport Investment Holding Company Limited to deploy in tourism rental area. Both parties will build a joint venture that plans to operate 2000 EVs in Hainan Province in the next three years. Moreover, the startup's independent smart travelling service brand GETnGO will cooperate with the joint venture to develop tourism-focused travelling business on the island.
'Sustained, inclusive and sustainable growth' could hardly be realized without properly addressing the inequalities in the world of work', stated the Minister of Labour and Trade Union Relations Hon. Ravindra Samaraweera, today, 4th June 2018, speaking at the Plenary Meeting of the 107th Session of the International Labour Conference (ILC) being held in Geneva from 28 May - 9 June 2018.

Highlighting some of the significant achievements made by Sri Lanka in the field of labour, Minister Samaraweera observed that being the first country in the world to implement a National Decent Work Plan on par with ILO principles, Sri Lanka has also given priority to 'labour rights', through its inclusion in the National Human Rights Action Plan 2017-2021. He added further that Sri Lanka is in the process of introducing a 'single employment law', consolidating disparate laws that currently exist, and giving effect to the principle of non-discrimination. Sri Lanka, the Minister stressed, has also made strides in progress toward eliminating child labour, and promoting the rights of the child, offering to share its expertise in this area to support the endeavours of the ILO.

The Minister also emphasized the need to consider practical measures including flexible working hours, creating a positive atmosphere for women to join the labour market, thereby increasing productivity. He noted the important role that trade unions could play in making workers understand the changing global work environment. Stressing the need to break through stereotypes to achieving gender equality, he called for a change of attitudes and awareness raising across all strata of society.

During his discussion with Director General of ILO Mr. Guy Ryder, Minister expressed Sri Lankas interest to be at the forefront of ILOs global and regional efforts, along with other relevant stakeholders, in striving towards eliminating child labour and forced labour. In this connection, he assured Sri Lankas fullest support for declaring year 2021 as the Year of Elimination of Child Labour and expressed willingness to become a Pathfinder Country of Alliance 8.7. Sri Lanka is currently considering the ratification of ILO Protocol 29 to the Forced Labour Convention.

The Director General of ILO, welcoming the Minister and his delegation, noted that Sri Lanka is an important partner for ILO work with a positive working relationship. He expressed deep appreciation for Sri Lankas ongoing efforts in promoting labour rights, in particular eliminating child labour. In this context, Mr Ryder recalled pledges made by Sri Lanka at the IV Global Conference on Sustained Eradication of Child Labour in Buenos Aires in November 2017, including to raise the minimum age of employment from 14 to 16. He also requested Sri Lanka to be actively involved in the Centenary Celebration activities of the ILO in 2019.

Minister Samaraweera was accompanied by Permanent Representative of Sri Lanka to the United Nations in Geneva Ambassador A.L.A. Azeez, Commissioner General of Labour Mr. R.P.A. Wimalaweera, Deputy Permanent Representative of Sri Lanka Mrs. Samantha Jayasuriya, Ms. Shashika Somaratne, Minister Counsellor, Mr. B. Vasanthan, Senior Assistant Secretary of Ministry of Labour and Trade Union Relations and other senior officials.

Full Statement by the Minister of Labour and Trade Union Relations

Permanent Mission of Sri Lanka

Geneva

4th June 2018
Ambrogio Maestri as Rigoletto and Adela Zaharia as Gilda in LA Opera's "Rigoletto." Photo: Karen Almond / LA Opera.

Just how many hats can an unencumbered contender wear? Ask Matthew Aucoin, for his answer.

This hot young composer/conductor who presides over LA Opera's "Rigoletto," and conducts his own opera, "Crossing," for the company's Off-Grand series of chamber works, boasts a whole rack of them.

But don't forget that the Harvard grad's mortarboard, along with a Juilliard tassle, is also a poet, an educator and has penned a passel of pieces that have landed him awards, high-powered posts and any number of commissions from A-circuit ensembles -- all by the age of 28.

Call him a wunderkind who fears no threshold. And, perhaps more important, is the fact that he can mesmerize, even "thrill," the heads of those very institutions that clamor for him, as well as some critics.

Or should we say: "Hats off, gentleman, a genius!" as Robert Schumann wrote, on the advent of Chopin?

Just picture the conductor at hand: very small in stature, slight, a bounder on the podium whose legs crank up and down constantly, with arms pumping in similar perpetual motion. What's more, if he didn't now sport a dark beard and mustache this man of the hour could pass for a high-schooler.

That does not matter at all for one who leads the "Rigoletto" pit orchestra -- yet Aucoin (pronounced oh-coyn) made an instrumental shambles of the first act . (I hardly recognized these same musicians as those we regularly hear, the ones from whom James Conlon drew such sumptuous playing eight years ago in this production.)

Things improved for Aucoin after intermission where there was a cohesion, an orchestral urgency that finally jelled. Besides, it was what took place on stage that carried the day. This Mark Lamos edition of the Verdi favorite is a stunner (last performance at Music Center Pavilion June 3). More on it later.

But Aucoin, as LA Opera's first ever artist-in-residence, truly was the "kid in a candy store" he once claimed to be re: this post, and being on the Wallis podium for his "Crossing."

While it enjoyed a full staging in Boston and at BAM in New York, here we got a concert version -- male principals and chorus in black, plus a female cameo, all fronting the orchestra.

Aucoin's libretto, with Walt Whitman as the central figure, is based on the poet's texts. He is an Everyman -- alone in the world, suffering an infinite variety of self-doubts. During the Civil War he drifts to a shelter for wounded soldiers seeking answers to the other side of life. His own?Theirs? His longing for love? His homosexuality? His "crossing"? Finally comes his epiphany: "Where else would you find a hundred helpless boys" but at a fallen soldiers' hospital?

What he finds among them is a feeling of disaffection, deserters' guilt, cowardice, not even a sure sense of relief at the war's end.

And what Aucoin delivers is a rich, lively score with all kinds of arresting currents that tell of seething resentments, barely buried conflict, but also tender moments and jubilant choral outcries on nature's joys -- even some overblown passages toward the ending. Benjamin Britten's stylistic flourishes in a glorious opening are easily recognizable, as are snatches of John Adams, Philip Glass and Leonard Bernstein.

In this concert format the piece comes across more as oratorio than opera -- especially because so much of the singing is stentorian, with very little shading or nuance or expressive dynamic. I kept imagining that Sprechgesang, a manner of speech song, would go a long way to improving its dramatic value.

You could not ask for a more impassioned cast -- with Rod Gilfry (LA's own beloved baritone) as Whitman; Brenton Ryan, whose piercing tenor captured so well the deceptive deserter/victim Wormley; Davone Tines with the sensitively burnished tones and profound utterances of an escaped slave who wearily longs to go home to the South; and the simply gorgeous warbling of Liv Redpath who signals an end of battle.

So did Aucoin's cast of "Rigoletto" ring in at a high level. Especially Lisette Oropesa as a Gilda who actually finished off "Cara Nome" with the loveliest trill. Throughout, in fact, the soprano sang with open-throated presence, not as a tiny-toned canary, but pure in her passion and moment-to-moment expression. As the womanizing duke Arturo Chacon-Cruz matched her with his tenorial gold intact but could also turn mindlessly cruel while pursuing his next conquest.

The title character, though, who represents that split between fiercely protective, paternal love and his work as procurer-in-chief within the duke's court, was Juan Jesus Rodriguez. Sadly, even with a clear, sturdy baritone, he could not quite summon the anguish of a father watching the boss seduce his virginal daughter -- although Robert Wierzel's dramatic lighting of her death while cradled in his arms, gave us pathos galore.

What should not go unmentioned is Michael Yeargan's set designs -- leaning structures in dark reds and blues that suggest the surreal distortions of a decadent court . For that is the key to "Rigoletto": a play on power abuse and corruption, as in a Michael Cohen as procurer/fixer, underling to a philanderer-Trump in a Mafioso-like setting. But here, Verdi conjures an ironic tragedy of Shakespearean proportions.

Otherwise, only joy was transmitted -- spectacularly -- during the LA Philharmonic's "Schumann Focus" at Disney Hall. A huge chunk of it animated by Gustavo Dudamel and Mitsuko Uchida. What was this we wondered. What connected our resident podium-meister to this revered pianist, one who has wedded music to her soul like few others. What was this new-found love fest? And on their very first outing together?



Mitsuko Uchida, photo by Chris Lee.



Well, something happened. Two hearts locked in a mutual appreciation that flowered in their music-making. It was the Schumann Piano Concerto, of course, that they communed in. Dudamel & Co. seemed to pick up her impulses and, as to be expected with Uchida, no musical statement is ever rote. Everything has an idea that stimulates its emotional response and her virtuosity goes without saying -- not as display in itself, but as illuminating function.

So tickled were they with their collaborative experience that they hugged and kissed and hugged and kissed all the way from stage to wings and back again -- spreading a contagion of cheer in the audience.

Even Schumann's 1st Symphony ("Spring") took off, although revealing its compositional drawback of perpetually short phrases. A few nights later while driving (and in an always curious state to check in on KUSC-FM) there was a recording of same. It turned out to be Simon Rattle leading the Berlin Phil and, big surprise, those short phrases sounded far less prominent, far more integrated.

Dudamel and Rattle, who once resided with the LA Phil as guest principal conductor, seem to be on a single wave length. Both recently did Mahler's "Das Lied von der Erde" -- Sir Simon at Lincoln Center with his new band, the London Philharmonic, in a unique performance that held the song cycle wonderfully together. And with their respective orchestras, they both chose to do Schumann's very rarely performed "Das Paradies und die Peri."

On another high point, let's hope that Rodgers and Hammerstein's "Carousel," in a New York production that is some kind of miracle, comes on tour to Los Angeles.

While this superb show (its kind of music and lyrics simply do not get written anymore) loses out in Jack O'Brien's second act and doesn't really surpass Nicolas Hytner's historically stellar staging, the Billy Bigelow of Joshua Henry (the first black Billy) is a dynamo who is burning up the boards. He must be seen and heard. Otherwise you can't imagine his knockout portrayal and his electrifying baritone.
Former president Bill Clinton and thriller writer James Patterson have teamed up to write a novel together, which for pure marketing genius would be like Ruth Bader Ginsburg and Katy Perry releasing a duet. Terms of the Clinton-Patterson deal havent been revealed, but its no accident that in their acknowledgments, the first person the authors thank is Washington super-agent Robert Barnett cha-ching! Poor Hillary comes in third, with thanks for her constant encouragement and reminders to keep it real, which is what a girl who just wanted to be friends wrote in my high school yearbook.

This isnt the first work of fiction by a U.S. president: Jimmy Carter published an earnest novel about the Revolutionary War called The Hornets Nest in 2003, and Donald Trump is a master of autoerotic fantasy. But The President Is Missing is, nonetheless, an extraordinary event. As the publishers gush, its the first novel informed by insider details that only a president can know.

The CIA can relax. Surely, no black felt-tip pens went dry redacting classified material from this manuscript. The President Is Missing reveals as many secrets about the U.S. government as The Pink Panther reveals about the French government. And yet it provides plenty of insight on the former presidents ego.

The novel opens with the commander in chief, President Duncan, preparing for a House Select Committee. His staff has strongly advised him against testifying. My opponents really hate my guts, Duncan thinks, but here I am: just one honest man with rugged good looks and a sharp sense of humor. Facing a panel of sniveling political opportunists intent on impeaching him, Duncan knows he sounds like a lawyer caught in a semantic legal debate, but darn it, hes trying to save the United States! Although Congress insists he explain exactly what hes been up to, he cant reveal the details of his secret negotiations with a terrorist set on destroying the country.

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As a fabulous revision of Clintons own life and impeachment scandal, this is dazzling. (One only wishes Rep. Henry Hyde could have lived long enough to attend the book party.) The transfiguration of William Jefferson Clinton into Jonathan Lincoln Duncan should be studied in psych departments for years. Both men lost their fathers early and rose from hardscrabble circumstances to become governors. Both men met their brilliant wives in law school, and both couples have one daughter.

But then we come to the curious differences: Rather than shrewdly avoiding military service, President Duncan is a celebrated war hero. Rather than being pleasured in the Oval Office by an intern, Duncan was tortured in Iraq by the Republican Guard. And rather than being the subject of innumerable rumors about extramarital affairs, Duncan was wholly devoted to his late wife and now lives in apparent celibacy.

Even incidental details provide weird echoes of the Clinton era: Duncans closest adviser is a woman publicly branded by a crude reference to oral sex.

But onward! After all, this is, at least partially, a James Patterson book, and soon were crashing through his famous two-page chapters. (Showtime has acquired the rights for a TV adaptation.) The whole 500-page novel takes place in just a few days as a terrorist named Suliman Cindoruk plots to activate a computer virus devised by a beautiful Abkhazian separatist with a hard, agile body and a voracious appetite for exploration, in the world of cyberwarfare and in the bedroom. Her virus has infected every server, computer and electronic device in America.

The President is Missing is co-authored by Bill Clinton and James Patterson. (DON EMMERT / AFP/Getty Images )

In a matter of hours, the countrys financial, legal and medical records will be erased; the transportation and electrical grids will crash. Hungry and Twitterless, without access to porn, fake news or Joyce Carol Oates cat photos, America will be plunged into the Dark Ages.

Only one handsome man can stop this, but its not easy for the president of the United States to slip out of the White House and foil international terrorists, particularly with those congressmen hot on his tail, intent on impeachment. Fortunately, Duncan gets some makeup help from an actress who is one of the twenty most beautiful women on the planet. A little beard stubble, some quick work with an eyebrow pencil and  voila: The leader of the free world is ready to go underground and defend Western civilization.

Unfortunately, the title, The President Is Missing, depends upon what the meaning of the word is is. After all, Duncan narrates most of this story himself, so we always know his whereabouts. And as we zoom through these chapters, its easy to tell which author is holding the reins. Sometimes, the pages spark to DEFCON 1 with spectacular shootouts, car crashes, Viper helicopters and a pregnant assassin code-named Bach who is known only by her gender and the classical-music composer she favors. Im guessing thats the handiwork of Patterson.

But for much of The President Is Missing, Patterson seems to have deferred to the First Writer. Thats a problem. When we pick up a thriller this silly, we want underwear models shooting Hellfire missiles from hang gliders; Clinton gives us Cabinet members questioning each other over Skype. President Duncan spends an awful lot of time consulting with world leaders, reminding us that a safe and stable United States means a safe and stable Israel. He lectures at us about the proper function of government and the responsibilities of NATO. Several segments read like little admonitions for Trump: Surrounding yourself with sycophants and bootlickers is the shortest route to failure, Duncan says. But unless someone reads those passages on Fox News, the current president is unlikely to encounter that wise advice, and the rest of us already know it.

Rather than those insider details we were promised that only a president can know, the novel is full of tepid moralizing. What happened to factual, down-the-middle reporting? Duncan asks in a critique of click-driven journalism. There is no trust anymore, Clintons avatar laments, breaking the irony meter.

The larger problem, though, is how cramped the novels scope remains. Theres no thrum of national panic, no sense of the wide world outside this very literal narrative. And so much of the plot is stuck in a room with nerds trying to crack a computer code. That struggle feels about as exciting as watching your parents trying to remember their Facebook password: Did you spell it with an O? Did you try a capital letter?

Its enough to make a reader nostalgic for the Dark Ages.

Ron Charles is the editor of The Washington Posts Book World. Before moving to Washington, he edited the books section of the Christian Science Monitor in Boston.
Boeing Co. will form a joint venture with French engine manufacturer Safran to make auxiliary power units for its airplanes, indicating that the aerospace giant will continue to venture into sectors it traditionally outsourced to suppliers.

The partnership, announced Monday, is expected to put more pressure on Honeywell International Inc. and United Technologies Corp., the two major manufacturers of auxiliary power units. These gas turbine engines are used primarily to start the aircrafts main engines; in an emergency, they also can provide power to secondary systems on the plane, such as lighting.



For the record: An ealier version of this article reported that a joint venture owned by Safran Aircraft Engines and General Electric manufactured CRM-56-7B engines. The joint venture produces CFM-56-7B engines.

Boeing is trying to integrate more and more in its jetliner business, said Richard Aboulafia, aviation analyst at Teal Group. They clearly know their limits.

Last year, Boeing created an in-house avionics unit to develop electronics for its aircraft. The Chicago company also has pushed to make more of its money by performing aftermarket services such as maintenance, repairs and overhauls  jobs that have long been done by suppliers.

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Boeings move toward doing more in-house work has partially driven major mergers of suppliers, such as United Technologies Corp.s $23-billion acquisition of aviation communications and electronics supplier Rockwell Collins Inc. announced last year.

Boeings partnership with Safran will strengthen Boeings vertical capabilities as the company looks to make strategic investments that accelerate our growth plans, Boeing Chief Financial Officer Greg Smith said in a statement.

Safran is already a supplier to Boeing and produces engines for its 737 MAX aircraft. It has also been involved in manufacturing engines for other Boeing planes. A joint venture owned by Safran Aircraft Engines and General Electric manufactured the CFM56-7B main engine that failed during a recent Southwest Airlines flight, resulting in the death of a passenger.

Under the terms of the agreement, Boeing and Safran will each have a 50% stake in their partnership. The deal, which is still subject to regulatory and antitrust clearances, is expected to close in the second half of this year.

samantha.masunaga@latimes.com

Twitter: @smasunaga
Henri have just returned to New Zealand having won the Worlds Best Photographer/Publisher category at the Gourmand World Cookbook Awards with their book Source New Zealand , its all about our food, our people, our land. We were there to represent New Zealand in 3 categories after winning the Best in New Zealand for Best Photography, Best Culinary Travel and Best Photographer/Publisher. Gerhard andhave just returned tohaving won the Worlds Best Photographer/Publisher category at the Gourmand World Cookbook Awards withbookWe were there to representin 3 categories after winning the Best infor Best Photography, Best Culinary Travel and Best Photographer/Publisher.

New Zealand promoted in this international arena says Gerhard. We are passionate about New Zealand , our natural scenery and lifestyle, the quality of the products produced and the enthusiasm of the people involved. Source is about promoting New Zealand and New Zealand produce and producers, both here and overseas. We are extremely pleased to seepromoted in this international arena says Gerhard. We are passionate about, our natural scenery and lifestyle, the quality of the products produced and the enthusiasm of the people involved.is about promotingandproduce and producers, both here and overseas. "We have achieved what we set out to do, promote what New Zealand has to offer  the quality, variety and commitment of all those involved and to be able to tell your stories.

Gerhard

spent 15 months travelling around New Zealand , meeting the 30 producers and recording their stories . The easy-to-read and engaging articles with accompanying photography are divided into the 6 sections representing NZ's farmers, fishermen, indigenous food and preparation. The Tangata Whenua section touches on the Maori contribution to the New Zealand food landscape. Source finishes with a selection of recipes using New Zealand produce.

The Gourmand World Cookbook Awards are held annually with books from over 200 countries participating. Compared to the 'Oscars', they honour the best food and wine books as well as food television.

This is Gerhard and Henri's third book and second win at these awards, in 2014 A Cut Above, cooking with AngusPure won the World's Best Meat Cookbook Award, in 2012 their very first publication Volcanic Kitchens, come and join us won Best Photography Cookbook for New Zealand Award and was a finalist at the Gourmand World Awards.
In the head-snapping drama of the off-again, on-again U.S.-North Korea summit, the unpredictable lead actors, President Trump and Kim Jong Un, hold center stage.

But off in the wings, China is controlling some of the key action  and may help dictate the ending.

Until recently, Beijing seemed to share Washingtons growing worry about Pyongyangs increasingly powerful nuclear tests and ballistic missiles. Armed with a United Nations resolution, Chinese President Xi Jinping began squeezing his Communist little brother with the toughest economic sanctions ever.

But in March, when Trump instantly accepted Kims surprise invitation for a summit, the Chinese leader reversed course almost overnight  raising alarms in Washington.

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Instead of stepping up the pressure, Xi invited the young dictator to Beijing for his first foreign trip since he took power in 2011. Kim arrived on an armored train and was feted in the Great Hall of the People. The visit was widely seen as a rapprochement between two long-fractious allies.

If there was any doubt of the warming ties, Xi and Kim unexpectedly met again in northeast China in early May. Official photos showed them strolling shoulder to shoulder along a craggy beach. And reports indicated China was allowing cross-border trade to pick up again.

Trump later complained he was blindsided by the second meeting, saying it occurred all of a sudden out of nowhere, and warned that Xi could be influencing Kim to raise his demands. Trump has met or spoken to Xi multiple times, and Kim also may have sought Xis advice on negotiating with the strong-willed, mercurial president.

With the Trump-Kim summit back on track for June 12 in Singapore, Chinas growing role is now a wild card in the dizzying diplomacy about denuclearization on the Korean peninsula.

Analysts offer several reasons for Xis policy reversal and what it means for the United States.

In the short term, they say, Chinas leaders feared they might be left on the sidelines while North Koreas seemingly impetuous leader struck some kind of deal with Trump that would change the strategic status quo on the Chinese border.

That could bolster Washington in the contentious trade disputes that have roiled relations between the U.S. and China, the worlds two largest economies.

But more worrisome for U.S. policy makers, China seems to have concluded that any potential nuclear disarmament deal would require some U.S. concessions  and those are likely to weaken Americas military posture on the Korean peninsula and throughout Asia.

One potential outcome of the Singapore summit, for example, would be an agreement to formally end the Korean War, which sputtered to a close in 1953 with a ceasefire. Trump already has hinted he wants to bring some U.S. troops home, citing the cost of overseas deployments, and an end to the conflict might hasten that decision.

Anything that reduces U.S. influence and power in the western Pacific  removing some or all of the more than 28,000 U.S. military personnel from South Korea, for example, or pulling out U.S. anti-missile systems from the region -- would immeasurably strengthen Chinas hand there.

Xi already appears to have achieved Beijings short-term goal. In snuggling up to Kim, however grudgingly, Xi has reasserted Chinas indispensable role in negotiating any change to the major geopolitical currents in Asia.

For his part, Kim already seems to have shrewdly played his summit with Trump into better relations with China  or at least a return to the uneasy strategic and economic partnership of the last seven decades.

Kims nuclear and missile tests, along with capricious acts of violence aimed at his suspected rivals, had made him an increasing irritant in Beijing in recent years. Some senior party members argued it was high time to cut Pyongyang loose.

Trump changed that calculus when he impulsively agreed to Kims overture on March 6. Kim made his international debut in Beijing less than three weeks later, reportedly bringing his wife, Ri Sol- ju. State media celebrated the visit as historic.

All of a sudden such a warm welcome party to the North Korean leader surprised many people in China, said Cheng Li, a China expert at the Brookings Institution think tank.

Kim apparently has decided he wants China in his corner when the haggling starts. The North Korean leader understands this  without Chinas support, you cannot get anything done, Li said.

Chinese leaders care immensely how they are portrayed internationally and to their domestic audience. For Xi in particular, few things would be as politically damaging as China being marginalized by the U.S. president in its own backyard.

At home, Xi has widely promoted his China dream of restoring the countrys past glory while carefully cultivating his image as a global statesman to the outside world.

At first, Beijing was alarmed by Kims gambit for a summit. The North Korean leader announced a freeze in nuclear and missile tests, a confidence-building measure that Pyongyang could easily reverse, saying it already had achieved a credible nuclear deterrent.

But it was unilateral, not Chinas long-sought freeze for freeze, by which Beijing meant an agreement in which a North Korean nuclear halt would be matched by such concessions as cutting U.S. troop levels in South Korea or suspending large-scale joint military exercises there.

Indeed, after Xis second meeting with Kim, North Korea suddenly took a harsher tone and demanded Washington cease joint military drills then underway. After days of escalating rhetoric on both sides, Trump cancelled the summit on May 24, although he reversed himself last week and put it back on the calendar.

As Chinese analysts see it, a summit that soothes tensions in the Korean peninsula would clearly benefit China. And whatever Trump may think, they doubt that Xi tried to be a spoiler.

A more normal and more open [North] is a much more important strategic goal for China, said Zhao Tong, a North Korea specialist at the Carnegie-Tsinghua Center for Global Policy in Beijing. Any positive result in the summit would be good news for China.

Everyone agrees the nightmare scenario is a summit failure and a preemptive U.S. military strike on North Koreas nuclear facilities. But from Chinas point of view, the next worst outcome might be a deal for an accelerated nuclear disarmament that didnt account for Chinas strategic interests, namely the drawdown of U.S. forces from the region.

But analysts see little chance of that happening. A more likely outcome, said David Kang, an international relations professor at USC, is a long-term reciprocal arrangement in which Kim offers phased denuclearization for real proof that the United States is not going to destabilize him.

To be sure, some in China worry about Pyongyang drawing closer to the United States as a way of balancing between the giants, as many countries have done. Some even see a distant future when the two Koreas might merge into a single, strong nation allied with America, much as East and West Germany unified after the Cold War.

For China, thats much more undesirable than to live with a pariah state armed with a nuclear weapon, said Yanmei Xie, senior China policy analyst for Gavekal Dragonomics, a Beijing research firm.

China would like North Korea to not have nuclear weapons, open up its economy and embark on Chinese-style economic reforms, she said. But China understands thats a very tall order on both fronts. ... Its long-term hope is that North Korea just doesnt make trouble.

Ironically, China also stands to benefit if the two Koreas ultimately become one.

If you had a unified Korea, said Elizabeth Economy, a China expert at the nonpartisan Council on Foreign Relations, the United States would certainly be out in terms of U.S. military presence, and you have a Korea either neutral or leaning toward China.

Given the economic weight of China with both South Korea and North Korea, thats not an unreasonable expectation, she added.

Special correspondent Jessica Meyers contributed from Beijing.

The latest from Washington 

More stories from Don Lee 

don.lee@latimes.com

Follow me at @dleelatimes
Five years ago it was all about the numbers. Silicon Valley tech companies were pressured to share their workforce demographics, confirming what diversity advocates had suspected all along: The industry is overwhelmingly white and male.

Then came the promises to do better. Tech execs penned mea culpa blog posts pledging to devote more resources to diversifying their workforces, heads of diversity were hired, employees were sent to unconscious bias training.

Half a decade on, change has been slow. Attrition of women remains high. And the number of black and Latino tech workers has by some counts actually declined.

In a survey of 1,900 tech workers across the country, another downside was evident: diversity fatigue has set in.

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Im calling it the Venn diagram of exhaustion, said Aubrey Blanche, head of diversity and inclusion at Atlassian, the enterprise software firm that commissioned the survey. Everyone is exhausted for different reasons, but were all exhausted.

For those who advocated for diversity within their companies, the fatigue comes from pushing for change for so many years and seeing so little of it, Blanche said. And for those supporting, or even just watching from the sidelines, weve been talking about diversity for so long, theyre exhausted hearing about it.

Its a recent phenomenon that highlights the cost of ineffective diversity strategies, Blanche said. Aside from not working, theyre also burning people out.

In the Atlassian report, which was commissioned for a second year in a row, respondents appeared to be tuning out of the diversity conversation, with 35% saying that they had participated in a discussion about diversity in tech in 2017, compared with 42% a year earlier. Only 23% of respondents said they had engaged company leaders on how to create a more inclusive environment, down from 56% a year earlier.

Part of the problem, according to Joelle Emerson, chief executive of inclusivity and diversity consulting firm Paradigm, which has worked with companies such as Twitter, Zillow, Airbnb and Etsy, is that companies arent talking enough about what works, and instead get hung up on what doesnt.

Were mostly having a conversation about all the things going wrong, which is important, Emerson said, but can feel paralyzing for some people.

When some of Silicon Valleys biggest names release annual employee demographic data, the numbers tend to budge, at most, by just one or two percentage points. At Apple, underrepresented minorities rose from 22% of the workforce in 2016 to 23% in 2017. The percentage of female workers remained stagnant at 32%. At Facebook, Latino staffers increased from 4% of the workforce in 2016 to 5% in 2017, while black employees moved from 2% to 3%.

Seeing this incremental change in percentages instead of raw numbers can be demoralizing for some employees and make it feel like progress has stalled.

Emerson said she is working with more companies in 2018 than she was in 2017, which suggests that there is still an appetite for making workplaces more inclusive. But even she has noticed a growing frustration, or fatigue, among many technology workers.

Aubrey Blanche chats with colleagues Tanaz Ahmed and Mackenzie Keegan. Atlassians diversity and inclusion team is working to combat diversity fatigue. (David Butow / For The Times )

At an individual level, many workers remain passionate about creating inclusive workplaces. Former Snap Inc. employee Shannon Lubetich admonished colleagues in November in a departing note for not being more accepting of women, non-white people and anyone who didnt fit the tech-bro stereotype.

But in an example of an advocate feeling burnt out from what she saw as a lack of change, Lubetich ended her note with: It is my deepest hope that this company can be a place that is kind, smart, and creative. Im just done fighting for it when very few other people seem to care.

While the Atlassian report did not detail causes of the fatigue, experts such as Emerson and Blanche said that when companies pay money or lip service to diversity initiatives but dont track whether those initiatives work, people start to feel like their time is being wasted.

If youve rolled out a program for a particular group of people, what is the goal of that program? Emerson said. Its concerning to me when a company cant answer that question.

The jury is still out, for example, on the efficacy of unconscious bias training  workshops that help managers and employees be more aware of their prejudices. Yet some companies still expect it to be a silver bullet for creating a more diverse and inclusive workplace. Training can be one of many tools a company can use to change its culture, diversity experts said, but implementing any initiative without first auditing ones own culture can leave employees disgruntled and, worse, create even deeper divides.

Google learned this the hard way when a former employee, James Damore, penned a memo criticizing the companys diversity programs after attending its unconscious bias training sessions. The memo, in which Damore also made generalizations about gender and the kind of work better suited to men and women, led to his firing from the company. He is now suing Google for alleged intolerance toward conservatives, arguing that the companys efforts to increase the representation of women and minorities is discrimination against the majority.

Damores case is an extreme example of the backlash to Silicon Valleys diversity efforts. But in tech companies around the country, leaders with good intentions are adopting practices that are frustrating even the most ardent supporters of diversity and inclusion.

Jori Ford, senior director of content and search engine optimization at G2 Crowd, a review site for business software and services, said that at a previous job, the CEO of the company got up in front of a room of 200 employees participating in a leadership conference and asked all the women in the room  of which there were only a few  to stand up. He then proclaimed that in order for the company to reach its diversity ratio goal, it needed more women. In addition to tokenizing the women in the room, Ford said, it put the women on the spot and created a clear divide between the majority and the minority  the opposite of fostering a sense of inclusion and belonging.

You could have seen the shock on peoples faces, Ford said. We knew it was well-intentioned, but the way it was communicated was ineffective because he just created a minority population of leaders. It demoralizes you without trying to.

Other common mistakes include a lack of specific goals, such as increasing promotions among people from underrepresented groups versus simply having more women at a company.

Inconsistent messaging, such as when a companys executives espouse the virtues of diversity but do nothing to drive change, can also lead to employees tuning out of the conversation.

And many companies continue to focus only on recruitment instead of retention, which Blanche likened to seeing that the canary in the coal mine is having problems and throwing in 50 more canaries as a solution.

The cure to fatigue, then, requires companies to hit reset on their initiatives and focus more on inclusion, Blanche said.

Rather than adopting platitudes such as empower women, companies should instead consider implementing rules such as no interruptions during meetings, which she said would not only benefit women and minorities, who are more likely to be interrupted in meetings, but would also benefit people who dont fall into either category.

Blanche also recommends that companies audit their compensation programs, how they measure and reward employee performance, and update human resources policies to make sure underrepresented groups arent at a disadvantage.

She argues it could also help if companies stopped talking about diversity completely. The problem, according to Blanche, is that people from underrepresented backgrounds are often referred to as diverse, so when a company then says it is trying to build diverse teams or a diverse company, it is inadvertently communicating to the majority that were trying to build a future without you.

Our language is getting in the way and creating an us-versus-them dichotomy, Blanche said. We need to talk more about belonging and less about diversity.

Finally, companies need to be incentivized to pursue strategies that work. Brenda Darden Wilkerson, chief executive of AnitaB.org, a nonprofit promoting women in technology, said companies need to approach making their workplaces more inclusive with the seriousness they approach their bottom line.

If a company reports little progress on the diversity and inclusion front, it may make news, but there are no real consequences, Wilkerson said. But if a company missed its earnings goals, it would be hounded by shareholders demanding better. Which means tech employees  tired as they may be  need to keep calling out leaders and managers when theyre using strategies that simply dont work.

The reality is many of these companies respond to pressure, Wilkerson said. Were going to need to see people be more active.

tracey.lien@latimes.com

Twitter: @traceylien
Artist Rick Bartows mother was white, and his father was a Wiyot Indian. Bartow grew up going to church on Sunday morning and to Native ceremonies in the afternoon. When people asked which culture he identified with, his answer was both.

This duality came to define his art, which is on display at the Autry Museum of the American West in the exhibition Rick Bartow: Things You Know But Cannot Explain. The show is the most extensive retrospective of Bartows work, and it comes two years after his death from congestive heart failure.

Rick Bartowns Surprise, 1995. Pastel, graphite on paper (Ricardo DeAratanha / Los Angeles Times )

Autry chief curator Amy Scott calls Bartow part of a breakthrough generation of Native artists who pushed outside of the bounds of expectations and definitions that have been imposed upon it. Despite that and comparisons with 20th century masters including Francis Bacon, Robert Rauschenberg and Jean-Michel Basquiat, he is not a household name outside of his home state of Oregon.

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This show, the ninth stop of an 11-city tour, tries to remedy that, said Bartows longtime friend Charles Froelick, who also manages Bartows estate.

Institutions specializing in Native art, such as the National Museum of the American Indian in Washington, D.C., the Heard Museum in Phoenix and the C.N. Gorman Museum at UC Davis, showed Bartows work, Froelick said while walking through the Autry exhibit. Other museums, he said, not so much.

That problem, Scott said, is coming to heel as curators and art historians start to consider work by Bartow and others as contemporary art first before moving on to consider the ways that Native identity, traditions and experiences inform the work. That evaluation has often been done in reverse.

Rick Bartows Bear Mask, 2008, on view at the Autry. Wood, mixed media. (Ricardo DeAratanha / Los Angeles Times )

Bartow did indeed identify as a Native artist, and his work is marked by a tendency to upend stubborn stereotypes. In a series of three portraits titled Bad Ass NDN1, 2 and 3, Bartow depicts fellow Native artists including Dan Lomahaftewa and Darren Vigil Gray as if from a photograph by American West photographer Edward Curtis, complete with feathers and beaded necklaces.

They integrate expressionism and contemporary references along with traditional Native imagery in ways that critique our expectations for what Native people, or art, is, Scott said of the series.

She added that one of the most exciting aspects of contemporary art by Native people in the Bartow and post-Bartow generations is a sense of anger and angst over history and how the artists reconcile those feelings with the rise of social justice movements to call attention to what colonization meant to Native people instead of romanticizing it as the Manifest Destiny version of American history.

Bartow had a conflicted relationship with America, despite his deep love of it. He was born in Newport, Ore., in 1946, and his father died of alcohol poisoning when Bartow was 5. Bartows mother remarried and tried to help Bartow understand his Native heritage. He studied art at Western Oregon University in Monmouth and was drafted to Vietnam upon graduation.

The exhibition at the Autry is titled Rick Bartow: Things You Know But Cannot Explain. (Ricardo DeAratanha / Los Angeles Times )

From 1969 to 1971 he served as a teletype operator and a musician in a military hospital, singing and playing guitar for men as they died. When he returned to Oregon, he suffered from PTSD and lost the 1970s to alcoholism, Froelick said.

Bartow burned his art in those years. The earliest Bartow paintings Froelick has date to 1979, when Bartow finally bottomed out and sought help from a local elder on the Siletz Reservation. Thats when his art-making became as prolific as his written meditations on his practice and its meaning.

Bartow didnt like to be misunderstood, said Froelick, and when a piece of his work was going into a catalog for a museum and needed contextualizing, Bartow was more than happy to comply.

In a 1989 essay titled Transformations, Bartow wrote eloquently about art as salvation:

When I returned from Viet Nam, like so many others, I was a bit twisted. I was a house filled with irrational fears, beliefs, and symbols. Wind-blown paper would send me running; crows became many things; I never remembered dreams and detested the wind; I wore bells on my wrists so I could hear my parts when they moved; I slept in my clothes so Id be ready to go nowhere at all. And I once recall answering when asked my name and where I was from, Nobody. Nowhere. I must have been a wonderful companion.

During this time I found a huge pad of newsprint and began to draw, trying to exorcise the demons that had made me strange to myself. My work has never stopped being therapy.

Bartow was an intellectual omnivore, Froelick said. He read voraciously and loved biographies  of Vincent Van Gogh, Marc Chagall, Cy Twombly. He adored music, played the blues and religiously wore a Led Zeppelin T-shirt. He had a beautiful voice and sang about love and loss.

He befriended people from all walks of life. He said if you were going to do something in the world, you had better be good at it, even if it was peeling potatoes.

He was self-deprecating, funny, playful, headstrong and easy to have a conversation with, Froelick said. He was really deep, but he didnt put on airs about his knowledge.

The title of the Autry exhibit is from a 1979 graphite-on-paper drawing of the same name that shows a shadowy figure, its mouth frozen in a scream  right hand clawing out at the viewer. In the background, one can barely make out a second face in the blackness.

Rick Bartows Things You Know But Cannot Explain, 1979. Graphite on paper, on view at the Autry. (Ricardo DeAratanha / Los Angeles Times )

Bartow created the work just as he quit drinking and was struggling to make sense of his place in the world and his path as an artist. Multiple faces  sometimes animal and human combined  would come to be a hallmark of his work. He often layered one face on top of the other in homage to the shifting nature of existence.

Despite many painful setbacks in his life, including his wifes death to breast cancer in 1999, Bartow continued to make art. He suffered a debilitating stroke in 2013 and he could no longer recite the words to his songs or read, but he could still draw. He took a pencil from a nurse in the hospital and drew a bird on a piece of paper. He snapped a picture of the bird and texted it to Froelick.

He said, Its gonna be alright because I can draw,  Froelick recalled. After 2013 he exploded in the studio. He was all pistons firing until he got a pacemaker at the end of 2015, and had his final decline.

Bartow died in Oregon in 2016.

         

Rick Bartow: Things You Know But Cannot Explain

Where: Autry Museum of the American West, 4700 Western Heritage way, L.A.

When: Through Jan. 6, 2019; then moving on to Bend, Ore., and Missoula, Mont.

Admission: Adults $14, students and seniors $10, children $6

Information: (323) 667-2000; www.theautry.org

yvonne.villarreal@latimes.com

Twitter: @villarrealy
As could be expected for anyone who watched The Daily Show during Jon Stewarts 16-year run, he had a few points to make in his return to stand-up, which closed out the three-day Clusterfest in San Francisco Sunday night.

First, he doesnt miss his old job, which altered the climate of late-night comedy. But second, he clearly missed his first one. And as comedy fans, we can be thankful for that (and hes about to go on the road with Dave Chappelle for a seven-night joint tour).

Perhaps lost in the legacy of Stewart as a man at a desk who both satirized the news and pointed out the hypocrisy of its narratives was the fact that he was a smart, road-tested comedian first. And with its extended, thoughtful examinations of the cultural climate and deliberate, conversational pacing, Stewart, who left The Daily Show in 2015, showed a command of the form that has few equals onstage.

I gotta keep this funny somewhere, he admitted after a quick, silly line to break up a bit that defended so-called political correctness, otherwise, this just gets to be a weird show.

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Occasionally referred to as a sort of comedic conscience in his time at The Daily Show with pointed, at times angry criticism that was forewarned with a meet me at camera three, Stewart had a delicate line to tread.

On one side, he had to  and was probably eager to  comment on the political climate, which has ventured into absurd, often harrowing corners once unimaginable during his time on the air. On the other, he was delivering a comedy show and not some cross between a socially conscious TED Talk and a campaign speech for a run that was never happening.

And for the shows 75 minutes, it was a line he walked as few could. He didnt forget to get laughs, but he wasnt afraid to set them aside either as the packed Civic Center Plaza at times sounded more quiet and attentive than any show that size in years.

And for any fan looking for the sort of epic takedown, he delivered an extended, gleefully detailed recounting of his odd Twitter feud with Donald Trump in 2013, which primarily consisted of some dog-whistle, anti-Semitic remarks directed to Stewart for not using his real name (Leibowitz), and Stewarts bewilderment since he didnt  and still doesnt  use Twitter. (Because I dont [care] what any of you think, he said with a cheery smile.)

The bit came in the service of defending his former Daily Show correspondent Samantha Bee, who has come under fire since she called Ivanka Trump a vulgar name in a segment on her show Full Frontal. The backlash has led to calls from the White House for her show to be canceled, and Stewart was just a few minutes into his set before he acknowledged the controversy.

Are you applauding my stamina? he asked incredulously after referencing his 16-year run of mocking Fox News in his former day job. You are a bunch of feckless . , using the word that landed Bee in trouble.

You will not find a kinder, smarter, more lovely individual than Sam Bee, trust me, he went on. If she calls someone a . And then he sort of shrugged knowingly. Itd be like if you heard a story, And then Gandhi just punched that dude. Youd be like, Well...what did the dude do?

He ultimately dismissed the outcry, insisting Bees right-wing critics dont care about the language. They care about winning.

Earlier in the day, Stewart appeared at an afternoon Q&A at the festival and, like his successor at The Daily Show, Trevor Noah, expressed a sort of admiration for the right wings effective media strategy of selective victimhood. But, tellingly, the same discussion found Stewart confronting his bit of culpability in what he described as the publics frequent mistaking of cultural power for power and the relative emptiness of pointed words without action.

We are baffled by this cat, because the normal rules of engagement have not in any way worked on him, he said of Trump, adding that looking for a quick fix through the Russia investigation or impeachment wasnt sufficient for his opposition, which was handily personified in his San Francisco audience. Beat him, he said. In an election. With ideas. Convince enough people, in the right electoral areas . . . And then he cursed. Keep this funny somewhere.

But as much as Stewart made room to criticize the larger world, he saved plenty for himself. Along with recounting his own need to be corrected with his former casual use of a word like retarded (I like how quiet everybody has gotten  I figure I can do all this, its a sanctuary city, right?), he also revisited being confronted by his own shows sexism after a 2010 Jezebel article pointed out a lack of women on his staff.

They called me on my [stuff], and it felt bad, he said. But it was right. And while much of the set found Stewart at a loss for answers and as confused by the political climate as anyone, he flipped what he had learned in his own failings into another way forward for the intractable members of his crowd.

You have to be cognizant that not everybody who uses those [words] are evil, and given that the time and the open space will change, we need allies, he said, citing some first responders hes met who were Trump voters that he also loves for the people they are. Then, flying against the clapter a comic often hears in response to political material that preaches to the choir, he took down his own audience.

What do you do? Hows your iPhone? Hows that made? Hows your chicken sandwich? he asked with a bite in his voice as the crowd went still. All Im saying is, no matter how woke you are, everybody sleeps sometime. And we have to wake up together, or we dont wake up at all.

Then, somehow, even moving on to gun violence, the Middle East (shaped by his making the 2014 film Rosewater), Black Lives Matter and, most playfully, the differences in Christian and Jewish holidays, the laughs came back. And then they went away amid serious, even sad, topics of the sort a skilled comic can talk about because the audience knows theyre going to be brought back.

And though the world seems darker than when Stewart was a regular part of it on television, he cautioned against giving into it. He added that given the pendulum swing from Obama to Trump, the next president was likely to be Janelle Monae, and remembered that New York Citys return to its own twisted normal after 9/11 as justification for hope.

Were gonna be OK, he said finally. Somehow, the idea didnt sound funny.

See the most-read stories in Entertainment this hour 

chris.barton@latimes.com

Follow me over here @chrisbarton.

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11:50 a.m.: This article was updated with additional details.

This article was originally published at 12:05 a.m.
With more than half a billion dollars socked away for next school year, the Los Angeles Unified School District hardly seems just two years from financial ruin. Its a scenario that is especially tough to swallow if youre a low-wage worker seeking a raise or a teacher who wants smaller classes.

But budget documents show that todays $548-million surplus cannot be sustained  and that even basic services face steep, seemingly unavoidable cuts because of massive problems barreling the districts way.

Theres a disconnect between the rosy short-term picture and what we know is coming, said board member Kelly Gonez.

Board member Nick Melvoin, more bluntly, said, Were in a death spiral.

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Facing these financial ills will be a central challenge for Austin Beutner, the districts new superintendent. The former investment bankers selection over more traditional candidates may signal the school boards willingness to tackle budget problems that have plagued the district for years.

The nations second-largest school system has enjoyed a major infusion of funding since the bone-deep cuts it endured during the recession. But in coming years, school officials project growth in employee pension and healthcare costs will eclipse the change in revenue.

By 2020, projections show a $408-million shortfall. And that doesnt account for some employees recently won pay raises or the impact of an increasingly likely economic recession.

As with many problems in the sprawling school district, there is debate about the extent of the crisis and what to do about it. Local union leaders have a less pessimistic take on the districts finances. They look at the reserve and see ample money for raises.

Board members may talk about future calamity, but they just approved a raise for 30,000 bus drivers, cafeteria workers and classroom aides. And as Los Angeles teachers watch their peers across the state win pay hikes, they feel increasingly sure that theyll get one too.

Beutner talks of a three-year window for addressing the problem, even as some of his new underlings quietly press for immediate action.

Everyone who works in the district comes to work with an expectation theyre going to be treated fairly. They need to be treated fairly, Beutner told the Los Angeles Times. How we strike that balance remains to be seen.

He said to expect a plan in months, not years.

Cost savings that the district approved last year but never implemented offer clues about what might be considered. Raising high-school class size to nearly 50 could be among the first moves.

Our costs are rising and as a result, there are hard choices and trade-offs to make each time we look at the budget, said Scott Price, the districts chief financial officer.

Administrators saw the crunch coming from as far back as 2014, budget documents show. That was the year Gov. Jerry Brown signed legislation to save the California State Teachers Retirement System from future insolvency by hiking all districts payments into it and increasing those payments over time.

The average retiree gets about $55,000 a year. Had the state not taken action, the system could have run out of money.

Before 2014, districts had been contributing 8% of their payroll to the retirement system each year. Browns deal called for that rate to rise steadily, up to 19% by 2020.

Districts payments to the state pension fund already are especially burdensome for Los Angeles Unified, given the financial impact of its steadily declining enrollment.

Over the next two years, the district expects its pension and healthcare costs to climb $115 million, a 6% increase, while its revenue dips about $150 million, a 2% decline.

Speaking at a Capitol hearing just before the 2014 deal was finalized, Los Angeles Unified lobbyist Leilani Yee told lawmakers that increases in school district contribution rates were very much in order to protect teachers pensions.

But four months later, district officials began characterizing the shift as problematic, writing in a September 2014 budget document that pension and healthcare costs were expected to outpace projected growth in state funding under a new system championed by Brown around the same time.

That system, known as the Local Control Funding Formula, seeks to narrow the states stubborn academic achievement gap. It gives districts with large shares of disadvantaged students extra cash to help them and flexibility to determine how the money is spent.

Los Angeles Unified, where 86% of students qualify, has been one of its biggest beneficiaries. Since the state adopted the formula in 2013, the districts budget has shot up 22%  to $7.2 billion this school year. But the supplemental funding is intended for needy kids, so that windfall isnt meant to cover rising but unrelated district costs.

When I first looked at the governors [pension] proposal, I thought: Oh my goodness. This will be difficult, said Price, who was working for the Los Angeles County Office of Education at the time.

Still, the next year, the district approved a 10% raise for teachers and other employees, their first since the Great Recession.

Meanwhile, Megan Reilly, the districts finance director at the time, stressed in budget documents that base funding would not cover rising pension and healthcare costs.

The growth of these expenditures outpaces the increase in revenues, she wrote in a 2015 report.

A CALmatters analysis of district finances shows that employee benefit costs have risen at a faster rate than base funding over the last five years, raising questions about whether the district might have balanced its budget by dipping into its funding for needy students.

L.A.s use of that funding previously has come under fire, and the district has always defended its spending decisions. The districts frequent use of one-time money to cover rising costs also may have served to hide its problems. Its a bad way to manage a budget, said Mike Fine, who leads a team that analyzes school district budgets on behalf of the state.

L.A. school board policy once forbade the practice. But in June 2016, with few other options, the board dropped a section of its rules titled Appropriate Use of One-Time Revenues.

If a recession strikes, the districts financial health could degenerate rapidly.

Were all just holding our breath, Price said about the prospect. We would need to cut as fast as we can so that we dont end up in bankruptcy.

Union leaders are not ready to forgo raises for their members based on gloomy projections.

After threatening a one-day strike that would have closed schools, the union for bus drivers, cafeteria workers and classroom aides won their 3% raise. The members deserve it, said union leader Max Arias; most are minority women who barely scrape by.

Besides, he said, the district always manages to avoid the forecast budget crises. Why is this situation any different?

We do acknowledge there is a mid- to long-term problem, Arias said of pension and health liabilities. Theres also a lack of belief in what the district is saying. Theres a lack of transparency.

United Teachers Los Angeles President Alex Caputo-Pearl said he does not believe that it is imperative to demand sacrifices from his members. Asked what part the union would play to try to help the district avoid budget deficits, he said he wouldnt consider the question because he expected the state to give the district more money.

If we take it off the table, Caputo-Pearl said at a recent Pepperdine University event, then we are acknowledging that the public district system is going to go off a fiscal cliff, which Im not willing to acknowledge.

He has some history on his side. In past crises, the school district has been bailed out by tax increases, federal emergency aid and economic recoveries.

Union leaders and district officials are allied in efforts to increase revenue. And other school systems would join L.A. Unified in lobbying to push back the higher pension payments. They have about three years to work something out.

But the districts recent history also includes a few episodes when there was no rescue  and massive layoffs and program reductions followed. The Brown administration says districts have had plenty of time to plan for the pension payments ahead and has indicated that a state-funded bailout isnt likely before the governor leaves office next January.

Although it may sound counterintuitive, the district actually may need to spend more to solve its budget woes long term, said John Rogers, an education expert at UCLAs Graduate School of Education and Information Studies. Any real or perceived deterioration in quality could drive more families, and thus revenue, away.

Then enrollment becomes even harder to sustain, and youre in a downward spiral that no cost-cutting can help to solve, Rogers said.

Many teachers strongly support Caputo-Pearls position and rely on the union to defend their pensions.

But fifth-year teacher Josh Brown says hes not counting on one. The special educator at Oliver Wendell Holmes Middle School has an alternative retirement plan: investing a portion of his salary in the stock market.

Im 30 years old, and Im paying into a pension system that may or may not be around when I retire, he said. If I were 65 years old and retiring soon, I would feel differently. Right now, I feel frustrated and worried.

At a recent board meeting, parent Paul Robak urged board members to reject a healthcare spending plan that would further squeeze the budget. The members listened and thanked him for testifying before approving the agreement.

Its as if the board members are prancing down the lane and covering their ears, pretending nothings wrong, said Robak, who has been active on the districts parent councils for a decade. Everyone will lose if we fail to act.

Calefati is a reporter at CALmatters.org, a nonprofit, nonpartisan journalism venture in Sacramento.

Twitter: @calefati

The Times provided CALmatters with the transcript of an interview with Beutner.
A real estate developer pleaded not guilty Monday to charges that he made illegal donations to local politicians while pushing for them to support his $72-million apartment project.

Samuel Leung, the developer behind the Sea Breeze project in L.A.s Harbor Gateway neighborhood, was charged in February with conspiring to launder campaign money and offering bribes to a legislator.

Prosecutors with the L.A. County district attorneys office said Leung and an associate, Sofia David, recruited employees, family members and others as straw donors to funnel money to local politicians in the hopes of getting a Sepulveda Boulevard lot rezoned so that homes could be built there.

The criminal charges came more than a year after a Times investigation into political donations linked to Leung.

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Leung and David made political donations without revealing that money either came from Leung or was reimbursed by him and others acting at his direction, prosecutors charged in February. Under state law, a donor cannot make a political contribution under the name of another person.

Leung was also charged with offering bribes and attempting by corrupt means to influence a lawmaker on his or her vote. Prosecutors have declined to name the target of the alleged bribes or to provide further details about the basis for the charge.

Leung, 67, declined to comment outside the courtroom Monday before making his plea.

His attorney, Daniel Nixon, also declined to comment on the charges. During the hearing, Nixon told Superior Court Judge Teresa Sullivan that his client was denying all of the allegations against him.

As of Monday morning, David, who had a warrant issued for her arrest in February, had yet to be arrested in the case, according to Deputy Dist. Atty. Eugene Hanrahan. The Times has been unable to locate her for comment.

The Times investigation found that more than 100 donors linked directly or indirectly to Leung had made contributions totaling more than $600,000 to area politicians while Sea Breeze was under review. Eleven of those donors denied making contributions or said they did not remember doing so.

Before the charges were filed, Leung told reporters who approached him at the Department of Building and Safety that he did not reimburse any donors, but declined further comment.

The Sea Breeze project was slated for a vacant site that was designated for manufacturing, not housing. The Department of City Planning and a city commission had opposed a zone change. But Mayor Eric Garcetti and the City Council backed the change, allowing the project to move forward.

In the criminal complaint, prosecutors singled out donations from Leung and his associates to political committees that backed eight politicians: Garcetti; City Council members Joe Buscaino, Mitchell Englander, Jose Huizar, Gil Cedillo and Nury Martinez; former state Assemblyman and council candidate Warren Furutani; and Los Angeles County Supervisor Janice Hahn, who was serving as a councilwoman when Leung first proposed his project.

In response to questions from The Times, each politician mentioned in the complaint has said they were not offered bribes by either Leung or his representatives. Hanrahan, the deputy district attorney, declined to comment Monday on whether a bribe could be offered to a lawmaker without his or her knowledge.

Yusef Robb, who advises Garcetti on political matters, said in February that the committee that received the money was an entirely independent committee of which we were barely aware and had nothing to do with, not his mayoral campaign. Donors linked to Leung provided $60,000 to an independent expenditure committee, Committee for a Safer Los Angeles, which backed Garcetti for mayor in 2013.

I dont believe Ive ever met him, talked to him, Garcetti said a few days after the charges were filed. The full weight of the law should come down on this guy.

The next hearing in the case is scheduled for August. If convicted, Leung faces up to four years and eight months in state prison.

emily.alpert@latimes.com

Twitter: @AlpertReyes

david.zahniser@latimes.com

Twitter: @davidzahniser
An elderly man suffered severe burns and was listed in critical condition after a fire erupted at a Signal Hill apartment complex early Friday morning, officials said.

The victim, who was not identified, was in cardiac arrest when firefighters rescued him from an apartment in the 2200 block of Gaviota Avenue, according to Los Angeles County Fire Department Inspector Joey Marron.

He suffered burns to several parts of his body and was taken to Long Beach Memorial Medical Center, Marron said.

The fire was largely contained to a second-floor apartment, and the victim was the only occupant, Marron said. No other injuries were reported.

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Firefighters were able to contain the blaze by about 3:13 a.m. The cause of the fire remains under investigation.

#GaviotaIC in #Signalhill at 2:44 am Firefighters responded to an appt house fire on the 2200 blk of Gaviota ave with smoke & fire showing from a 2nd story unit. Unfortunately during our search we did have 1 victim in cardiac arrest who is now in critical condition at hospital pic.twitter.com/ITWnOePQfM  L.A. County Fire Department (@LACoFDPIO) June 4, 2018

james.queally@latimes.com

Follow @JamesQueallyLAT for crime and police news in California.
A brush fire in northern Los Angeles County has now burned 1,400 acres, authorities said late Monday, but all evacuation orders have been lifted.

The Stone fire began about 12:30 p.m. in the 35000 block of Anthony Road, north of Highway 14, in Agua Dulce, the Los Angeles County Fire Department said.

The fire was reportedly 30% contained by about 10 p.m. One firefighter had received a minor injury. No homes or outbuildings have been damaged.

The fire was crawling up hillsides, where it was pushed by 20 mph wind gusts, according the National Weather Service. It was about 97 degrees when the fire started and the area was considered at an elevated fire risk Monday, said forecaster Ryan Kittell.

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#LASD assisting @LACoFDPIO with #StoneFire.



 Evacuations: Anthony Rd. & Sierra Hwy. Hard closure of Anthony Rd.



 200-500 acres burned in #AguaDulce & approx 240 fire personnel on-scene.



For updates follows us or @LACoFDPIO pic.twitter.com/RcGiQBC9bW  LA County Sheriff's (@LASDHQ) June 4, 2018

About 350 firefighters were on the lines, aided by helicopters and a plane dropping water and retardant.

Musician Alex Arndt rushed back to his Agua Dulce home from Beverly Hills when he heard about the fire. He was desperate to grab his passport and his guitar, because he is leaving this week for a tour in Ireland.

He said he wasnt able to drive all the way because of road closures, so he parked his car and went by foot along a trail and dirt road to his home. His mission was a success.

This trip is really important to me, Arndt said. My guitar is my baby. Replacing it would be very difficult at this point and getting a replacement passport would be virtually impossible.

The cause of the fire is under investigation.

(Los Angeles Times )

joseph.serna@latimes.com

For breaking California news, follow @JosephSerna on Twitter.

Times staff photographer Francine Orr and the Associated Press contributed to this report.

UPDATES:

10:05 p.m.: This article was updated with new numbers and the lifting of evacuation orders.

9:25 p.m.: This article was updated with new acreage, containment and firefighter numbers.

2:35 p.m.: This article was updated with the size of the fire and evacuation details.

This article was originally published at 1:55 p.m.
Like many members of the Baby Boomer generation, Josh Mankiewicz awoke on June 5, 1968, to the news that Sen. Robert F. Kennedy had been shot shortly after celebrating his California Democratic presidential primary win.

Mankiewicz was 12 years old at the time, and the first report created anxious moments in his Washington, D.C, home. His father, Frank Mankiewicz, served as Kennedys press aide and was with the candidate that night at the Ambassador Hotel in downtown Los Angeles. After the shooting was first reported at 12:15 a.m. Pacific time, Joshs mother was on the phone through the early morning hours trying to get word on his father.

In the first early hours of this there were a lot of people that thought my dad had been one of the first people who got shot, said Mankiewicz, now 62 and a correspondent for NBCs Dateline. His family was relieved when Frank Mankiewicz appeared on TV that morning to give his first press briefing, standing on the roof of a police car in front of the Good Samaritan Hospital. Inside, surgeons were attempting to save Kennedys life.

Frank Mankiewicz was a somber but steady presence in the 25-hour span after the shooting, a period filled with terror, disbelief and sorrow  much of it seen live on TV.

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Television news in 1968 had already been saturated with violent images  from the bloody Tet Offensive in South Vietnam to the urban riots after the murder of the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. in Memphis. But Robert Kennedys shooting  coming 4 years after his brother President John F. Kennedy was cut down by an assassin  immersed viewers in the chaos and sadness of the dark, turbulent year in American history as no other event had.

RELATED: The assassination of Robert Kennedy, as told 50 years later 

That was the moment when I began to wonder if the country was coming apart, said Fox News anchor Chris Wallace, who, as a 20-year-old college student, watched his father, CBS News correspondent Mike Wallace, report on the story in the networks New York studio.

For ABC News correspondent Sam Donaldson, who had covered the calamitous events that shook the nation throughout the decade, the shooting did not come as a total shock.

You just sort of expected it, Donaldson said. When they called me at home early in the morning, Washington time, to say Bobby has been shot, get down to the bureau, I was upset about it. On the other hand my reaction was not my God, how could this have happened? Well, in the decade of the 1960s, anything could happen and it did.

RELATED: A timeline of 1968, a year of anger, grief and change 

The 140 hours of coverage provided by the three broadcast networks over four days  from the first frantic reports to Mankiewiczs updates to Kennedys funeral  presaged how America would absorb traumatic events in years to come on 24-hour cable news and then social media.

Robert Kennedy, right, walks with his press aide, Frank Mankiewicz, in the San Fernando Valley on June 3, 1968. (Photo Courtesy Mankiewicz Family / Los Angeles Times)

Kennedy had given his victory speech after midnight and the networks had switched back to their studios or signed off the air once the senator from New York left the ballroom to make an exit through the kitchen. Kennedy was greeting kitchen workers when Sirhan Sirhan, a 24-year-old Palestinian from Jordan, approached and fired a .22-caliber handgun. Five other people, including William Weisel, an associate director for ABC News, were hit.

Los Angeles station KTLA was taping in the ballroom when the shooting occurred, with reporter Larry Scheer giving the first eyewitness account. ABC, CBS and NBC correspondents and cameramen scrambled to get back in position to cover the story amid screams, sobbing and cries of oh no that filled the Embassy Ballroom.

In New York, Wallace and his CBS colleague Walter Cronkite had gone home for the night, but Joseph Benti, who had covered the primary returns, was at a bar and grill across from the CBS Broadcast Center, waiting for his shift as morning anchor.

I was the only on-air guy left, and I was trying not to get too loaded so that I could be on at 7, recalled Benti. The network was off the air and someone came in and said Bobby Kennedy has been shot. We rushed back and told the network to come back on.

It would be hours before footage and images from the Ambassador kitchen were processed and shown on the air. With no immediate pictures to rely on, TV correspondents in the ballroom tried to sort through information from grieving Kennedy supporters.

When a man told CBS News correspondent Terry Drinkwater he had given last rites for Kennedy  a common practice among Catholics in life-threatening situations  many in the crowd at the ballroom believed it meant he had already died. Some women in the room fainted.

Weisel gave his ABC News colleagues Frank Reynolds and Howard K. Smith a telephone interview from the Kaiser Sunset Hospital before going into surgery for his wound. I really thought I was going to die instantly because blood was shooting every place, he told them.

Correspondents were able to talk to the doctors who attended to Kennedy in the kitchen before he was placed in an ambulance. They noted that he was alive and his pulse still strong. But it was not until Mankiewicz appeared at 2:30 a.m. Pacific that Kennedys true condition became known. Saying doctors described him as very critical, Mankiewicz explained how one of the two bullets that struck Kennedy entered behind his right ear and lodged in his brain.

Early news reports suggested Kennedy would survive. ABCs science editor Jules Bergman had a New York surgeon explain how a bullet could have entered Kennedys brain without causing any permanent impairment.

But their outlook appeared overly optimistic as the surgery, which Mankiewicz said should take 45 minutes, lasted several hours. During that time viewers saw film footage of Kennedy lying on the kitchen floor, a pair of hands cradling his head and a pool of blood underneath it. His open eyes appeared lifeless.

Faced with the prolonged live coverage of the shooting of a prominent political figure for the second time in two months, TV journalists became emotional as they filled the gaps between new information. Some called for gun control legislation and decried the influence of the National Rifle Assn. on politicians  the same arguments viewers are still hearing some 50 years later after every school shooting. They questioned how candidates would be able to campaign in public again and whether the country was headed toward a police state.

Spouting opinions and speculation  a staple of cable news  is common now, but rarely happened during the broadcast network hegemony of the 1960s, when most viewers got their information in the measured presentations of Cronkites evening newscast and NBCs The Huntley-Brinkley Report.

The anchors and reporters of that time tried to keep our personal views out of the story, but in those kind of instances, it slipped a lot, Donaldson recalled.

On June 6 at 1:59 a.m., Mankiewicz appeared before TV cameras inside the hospital for his fifth and final briefing to say that Kennedy had died. Josh Mankiewicz said he knew the outcome once when he heard his father say Senator Robert Francis Kennedy at the start of his statement.

As often happens now during national tragedies, other TV personalities addressed the news in their own way. Johnny Carson, Kennedys neighbor at the United Nations Plaza in Manhattan, turned NBCs The Tonight Show into a wake with the late senators New York friends. PBS host Fred Rogers made a special episode of Mister Rogers Neighborhood, in which his puppet characters talked about the assassination as a way to help children cope with the trauma. (In the weeks following the assassination, network executives instructed producers to curtail violence in their scripted shows as Washington politicians claimed TV was a cause of the real-life mayhem in society.)

Robert Kennedy, right, with his press aide, Frank Mankiewicz. (Photo Courtesy Mankiewicz Family / Los Angeles Times)

ABC, CBS and NBC pooled resources to cover the June 8 memorial service at St. Patricks Cathedral in New York and the 21-car funeral train that took Kennedys body south for burial at Arlington National Cemetery. TV cameras were positioned at every stop along the route, where crowds gathered in sweltering heat to watch the train pass. In Baltimore, the throngs that lined the platforms spontaneously broke out into song, alternating We Shall Overcome with The Battle Hymn of the Republic.

Even during the solemn procession, there was no respite from the years violence. Anchors broke in during the coverage with the news that James Earl Ray, a fugitive wanted for the murder of King, had been captured at Londons Heathrow Airport.

In his 2017 book Bobby Kennedy: A Raging Spirit, MSNBC host Chris Matthews noted how the extended journey through the bleak railroad yards lacked the majesty of the farewell President Kennedy received. For Jack, there was the Yeatsian beauty of the rider-less horse with the boots on backwards and the beautiful Kennedy family, he said. For Bobby, it was that sad train ride. It was just loss.

Frank Mankiewicz remained a Washington fixture as the manager of George McGoverns unsuccessful 1972 presidential campaign and later, chief executive for National Public Radio. But his televised briefings seen by millions of Americans in June 1968 indelibly linked him to Kennedys assassination through his death in 2014.

I think my dad wouldve given anything to not be famous for the thing that made him famous, said Josh Mankiewicz. He noted how his father was reluctant to reflect on his grim task of 50 years ago, but there were times he could not avoid it.

Once, I was traveling with him and we went to buy a newspaper at the airport before we got on a plane, Mankiewicz recalled. And the woman who sold him the paper stared at him. And we both noticed that she was staring at him. All of a sudden she said, I know who you are, and she started to cry. My dad tried to console her. Ive never forgotten that.

ALSO

1968: The year in entertainment

Rage and wonder in 1968: The year war came through the TV and I felt pieces of childhood ending

The Mod Squad, Adam-12' and how TV brought the counterculture into 1968s cop shows

Watching The Smothers Brothers, Laugh-In and the Democratic National Convention

The Velvet Underground, Aretha Franklin, Tiny Tim: An alternate history of music in 1968

stephen.battaglio@latimes.com

Twitter: @SteveBattaglio
For years, the Chicago Police Department has been trying to move past a shameful chapter characterized by coercion and brutality, shelling out multimillion-dollar settlements to men who were tortured into confessing to serious crimes they didnt commit.

But as the number of cases linked to disgraced former Police Cmdr. Jon Burge dwindles, a flurry of drug and murder convictions linked to two other former officers has been overturned. And the vindicated inmates are walking out of prison ready to sue.

Chicago has already paid out well over $670 million in police misconduct cases in the last 15 years, but that expenditure could skyrocket due to current and future lawsuits from people who say they were framed by former Sgt. Ronald Watts or Det. Reynaldo Guevara.

Weve had all kinds of police corruption, weve had police torture cases, but weve never had so many cases where there is clear evidence that police actually set people up for crimes they didnt commit, said Marshall Hatch, a prominent minister and activist on the citys west side.

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Watts and Guevara handled tons more cases than Burge, said David Erickson, a former state appellate judge who teaches at Chicago-Kent College of Law.

In just two years, at least 11 men who alleged Guevara framed them have had their murder convictions thrown out, bringing to 18 the number of men whose convictions were tossed amid allegations of brutality and coercion. At least a dozen more post-conviction petitions are pending.

At least 12 of the 18 have sued, and more lawsuits are sure to follow.

The now-retired Guevara has not been charged with any crimes. He has helped inmates win freedom by repeatedly invoking his constitutional right against self-incrimination or insisting he couldnt remember facts, thus forcing prosecutors to dismiss charges in several cases.

Jacques Rivera, whose lawsuit will be heard in court Monday, alleges he was convicted of murder after Guevara and other officers conspired to ... manipulate the identification of the sole eyewitness to the attack, a 12-year-old boy.

Since last fall, the drug convictions of nearly three dozen men  all arrested by Watts and his subordinates  have been thrown out. More could follow.

The University of Chicagos Exoneration Project has asked for another 70 convictions tied to Watts to be overturned. Joshua Tepfer, an attorney for the group, said Watts made more than 500 arrests before he was sentenced to prison in 2013 for stealing money from an FBI informant.

What you have is years and years of systematic corruption that was just ignored and swept under the rug by the CPD and the city that they are having to answer for now, Tepfer said.

Attorneys predict  and city officials fear  that Chicagos tab for police misconduct is about to climb just as the city seemed close to closing the books on cases tied to Burge and his so-called Midnight Crew.

I thought we had turned a corner, said Alderman Howard Brookins Jr. It looks like we have not.

Some think the cost of settling new cases will top the $115 million paid out to Burge victims. In 2009, a jury awarded $21 million to a man who spent 11 years in prison before he was retried and acquitted after witnesses testified that Guevara intimidated them into falsely identifying the man as the killer. The city later agreed to pay $16.4 million.

The city must pay the first $15 million of any award or settlement before its insurance pays.

Now that people understand with all these videotapes that the situation out there is real and believe cops would do this, you can put a multiplier in there, Brookins said.

Every time charges are dropped against somebody who alleges Guevara framed them, attorneys say, appeals in other Guevara cases become stronger.

With Guevara, we put together this pattern that we can use to buttress individual cases, said Karen Daniel, director of Northwestern Universitys Center on Wrongful Convictions. The organization represented Gabriel Solache, who spent nearly two decades in prison for a double murder before a judge threw out his confession to Guevara. Prosecutors dropped charges against Solache in December.

Jose Maysonet spent nearly 27 years in prison for a double murder in a Guevara case before prosecutors dropped the charges against him. Maysonets attorney, Steve Greenberg, said he expects Guevara cases will be more expensive for the city than those associated with Burge because the public knows more than ever before.

The more times the city gets caught, the price goes up, he said.
Studies have proved what common sense has already told us: Places that have more and easier access to guns tend to have more gun deaths. Now a new report by the Violence Policy Center reaffirms a similar link between looser gun-control laws and gun-suicide rates.

It stands to reason that suicidal people with easy access to firearms will find it easier to kill themselves on the spur of the moment, and studies also have found that connection between access to firearms and gun homicides. The link is there, too, in lethal acts of domestic violence including murder-suicides  a woman is five times more likely to be killed if she lives in a house with a gun, according to one study. Its the guns that increase the lethality of a moment, whether it be a self-destructive impulse or a lovers rage.

So who led the pack in gun-suicide rates, according to the Violence Policy Center? Montana, where two-thirds of households have firearms and where the gun-suicide rate was 15.54 per 100,000 residents, more than twice the national rate of 7.1. The lowest gun-suicide rate was in New Jersey, at 1.97 per 100,000, and where only 17.4% of households owned firearms. Californias gun-suicide rate was 4.06, with 27.2% of households owning firearms. And California maintains some of the toughest gun-control laws in the country, including bans on high-capacity magazines, limits on assault-style rifles, tight control of concealed carry permits, mandatory background checks, and restrictions on carrying a concealed weapon.

What to do about gun violence is the vexing and contentious question that Texas has been struggling with since the mass shooting two weeks ago in which 10 people were killed at Santa Fe High School. The incident was hardly Texass first encounter with such violence. It was just last November that a gunman killed 26 people at a church service in rural Sutherland Springs, southeast of San Antonio. Another gunman killed five Dallas police officers in July 2016, and two other gunmen killed 16 people in two separate shooting rampages at Ft. Hood in 2009 and 2014. And those are just the highest-profile cases; most gun deaths involve sole victims, and come on a daily basis. After the Parkland, Fla., school shooting, USA Today crunched numbers and ranked Texas 28th in the nation with a firearm death rate of 12.1 per 100,000; California was 43rd with a rate of 7.9.

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Half of all suicides are done with a gun, and nearly three-quarter of homicides involve guns.

Given all that, the proposed fixes Texas Gov. Greg Abbott trotted out Wednesday were pretty underwhelming. He backed tightened requirements on gun storage and urged the Legislature to consider the merits of adopting a red-flag law like Californias, which allows relatives and law enforcement authorities to ask a judge to order firearms confiscated from someone deemed a risk to himself or to others. Abbott also proposed hardening college campuses by limiting access points and adding more trained and armed officers and school staff to campuses, as well as expanding mental health screening to try to predict violent behavior by troubled students. Notably few of the proposals had much to do with reducing access to firearms in the first place, which is not terribly surprising in one of the most reliably conservative states in the country.

But thats exactly whats needed, as studies and experience have shown. The gun lobby denies the connection between firearms and violence, or shrugs it off with the absurd argument that still more guns on streets and in schools will make us a safer society. The National Rifle Assn.s embrace of the 2nd Amendment is uncompromising and near religious.

But it is far from acceptable that the nation endures 36,000 firearm deaths a year  some 13,000 of them homicides and 22,000 suicides. In fact, about half of all suicides are done with a gun, and nearly three-quarter of homicides involve guns. Better mental health and sharper security would help, but such measures nibble around the edges of the problem, which cannot be solved without addressing easy access to firearms.

Until we as a society, and an electorate, force change, we are going to have to accept daily death and occasional mass murder as a consequence of our complacency.

Follow the Opinion section on Twitter @latimesopinion or Facebook.
Forty years ago this week, voters passed Proposition 13, the most consequential act of direct democracy in California history. This taxpayer revolt of June 6, 1978 amended the state Constitution, carrying 65% of the vote and all but three counties. Its backers can boast one enduring success: Proposition 13 has, as promised, protected homeowners from sharp increases in their property tax bills.

As for its other goals  well, turning 40 is a good time to take stock.

Proposition 13 was a multipronged attack designed by businessman-activist Howard Jarvis and his supporters to do two things: ease the overall tax burden and protect a stable culture of homeownership. To that end, it set tax rates at 1% of a propertys sale price and capped annual increases at no more than 2%. Then it required future tax hikes of any form to pass the state Legislature by a two-thirds vote. The most important thing in this country is not the school system, nor the police department nor the fire department, Jarvis declared after his ballot box victory. The right to have property in this country, the right to have a home in this country, thats important.

Still, its hard for California to claim any sort of lasting victory on taxes or homeownership. Today, Californians remain among the most highly taxed people in the nation; low property taxes have been more than offset by increased income, sales and gas taxes. That might not be so bad if Proposition 13 was thereby rendered a wash. But its not. Its effects are deeply regressive taxation and distorted local economies and housing markets.

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Perhaps most perversely, Proposition 13 has made it harder, not easier, to become a homeowner. California has one of the lowest rates of homeownership (55%) in the nation, second only to New York and nine percentage points below the national average.

Today, Californians remain among the most highly taxed people in the nation; low property taxes have been more than offset by increased income and sales taxes.

The pernicious incentives that led to these outcomes are obvious in hindsight. With property taxes near frozen, local governments began to see residential development as a liability and commercial development as an income stream. For 40 years, that perspective shaped which new projects cities approved. Homeowners, meanwhile, had a disincentive to move if they had a low property tax bill locked in. Finally, these relatively low property taxes made California an attractive place to undertake speculative real estate investments and leave valuable parcels of land undeveloped.

The consequences of Proposition 13 have hit every generation following the baby boomers particularly hard. California is left with a housing shortage and not enough turnover in the real estate market. New homeowners face a much bigger property tax burden than their older, often wealthier neighbors. And the overall tax burden has been shifted to more heavily burden nonproperty owners  increasingly Gen-Xers and millennials who cant afford to buy a house.

If California voters still really care about the right to have a home in this country, they should finally reform Proposition 13 to fix these flaws. There have been many attempts over the years, but no successes, in part because many of them involve tough tradeoffs.

One oft-articulated idea would eliminate Proposition 13 protections for commercial parcels. Proponents of this idea point out that a law that the public passed to protect homeowners shouldnt necessarily benefit Disneyland or Facebook. Opponents warn that a property tax hike will hurt small businesses and note that, although companies may enjoy artificially low property taxes in California, their overall tax burdens are so high that some already have fled to other states.

There are fewer downsides to stripping Proposition 13 protections from residential property that is not a primary residence. It is one thing to subsidize keeping people in their longtime home but quite another to offer a tax benefit to foreign speculators, domestic investors and wealthy people with vacation homes. Under this logic, undeveloped parcels should lose Proposition 13 protection, too.

Then there is the sole Proposition 13 reform that has qualified for the November ballot. It would allow homeowners 55 or older (or severely disabled) to retain their low property tax assessment essentially forever. Propositions 60 and 90  passed in the 1980s  allowed a one-time transfer of lower tax assessments, and only if the over-55 person moved to a less-expensive house in certain participating counties. This new initiative would scratch all those limitations. The result would be yet another transfer of wealth to older generations, just as the massive baby boomer generation is retiring in great numbers.

What California should do is make the housing market fairer instead. It would be easy to calculate which communities benefit most from Proposition 13, enjoying pricey real estate without contributing commensurately to property tax coffers. Then those locales could be stripped of the ability to use zoning laws to prevent construction of high-density housing. After all, it is especially unfair to exempt people in pleasantly leafy suburbs or quiet beach colonies from higher taxes even as they inflate their propertys value by limiting the supply of local housing units. How better to start solving Californias immoral housing crisis?

But no one has put that idea on the ballot. It probably wouldnt pass anyway. Homeowners still edge out renters in statewide numbers, and they vote at much higher rates, allowing them to extract benefits for themselves at the expense of everyone else.

Jarvis may have wanted to lower everyones tax burden. But 40 years on, making home-owning baby boomers marginally richer, and many besides worse off for it, is his true legacy.

Conor Friedersdorf is a contributing writer to Opinion, a staff writer at the Atlantic and founding editor of the Best of Journalism, a newsletter that curates exceptional nonfiction.

Follow the Opinion section on Twitter @latimesopinionand Facebook
Americans want to legalize the Dreamers  immigrants who were brought here illegally as children  and most Americans want to give them the option of becoming citizens. Californians in high numbers back these options too. Even Republicans, in poll after poll, have said they want to legalize the Dreamers.

So why are 11 of Californias 14 Republican House members dead set against the initiative to let their chamber finally vote on Dreamer legalization later this month? What constituency are they representing by compelling young people to retreat to the shadows, or even face deportation to nations they dont even remember?

The polling on Dreamer legalization is voluminous and dispositive. An April Quinnipiac poll found that 77% of Americans favored a path to citizenship for Dreamers. A more detailed Politico/Morning Consult poll from last summer showed 76% of Americans (and 69% of Republicans) supported permitting Dreamers to gain legal status, with 58% favoring citizenship. A USC Dornsife/L.A. Times poll of Californians from 2016 asked about legalizing not Dreamers per se, but all undocumented immigrants, and found 78% support for that idea, with 65% favoring the citizenship option as well. (In the same poll, 66% opposed building a wall on the border.)

With public opinion so lopsided, you might think a congressional majority could be found to grant the Dreamers legal status  and youd be right. Every congressional Democrat and a minority of their Republican colleagues  enough to constitute majorities in both the Senate and the House  support Dreamer legalization. But Republicans control both houses, and they have thwarted efforts in the House even to bring the issue to a vote.

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The only way to overcome the refusal of the Republican leadership  Speaker Paul D. Ryan and Bakersfields own Kevin McCarthy, the majority leader  to bring the issue to the floor is for members to force a vote by obtaining the signatures of a majority (218) of House members on a petition demanding it. Twenty-three Republicans and 190 Democrats have now signed the discharge petition for a total of 213, and the campaigns organizers say they have commitments from at least five more members who will join the effort unless Ryan and McCarthy agree by Thursday (the last day the current petition can be submitted) to permit a vote.

Republicans have slipped behind no party preference in the Golden State.

Three California Republicans are among the 23 GOP members whove signed  Jeff Denham and David Valadao, both from the San Joaquin Valley, and Steve Knight, from the northern wilds of L.A. County. All three represent districts that Hillary Clinton carried in 2016 and districts with substantial Latino populations. Latinos make up 76% of the residents in Valadaos district, 43% in Denhams and 39% in Knights. While support for Dreamer legalization encompasses all races, Latino families disproportionately stand to be disrupted if Dreamers are deported or forced to evade immigration authorities.

Each of the 11 Californian Republicans whove declined to sign the petition has many thousands of Latino families and Dreamers in his or her district. In Rep. Devin Nunes Tulare district, 48% of the residents are Latino; in McCarthys district, 38%. McCarthy has made it clear that they dont loom large in his electoral calculations.

In a talk he gave to his Republican colleagues, Politico reported, McCarthy said that legalizing the Dreamers would discourage the Republican base  whom he views as a collection of Fox-fed nativists  from turning out in November. If you want to depress [their] intensity, this is the No. 1 way to do it.

McCarthys own ambitions depend on keeping that intensity high. Hes favored to succeed Ryan, who has announced his retirement, but McCarthy can become speaker, of course, only if the Republicans hold the House in November. Hes fearful too that the Freedom Caucus of ultra-right House members will reject his bid for leadership, blaming him if the petition forces a vote that legalizes Dreamers. And he doesnt want to endanger his best-boy status with the president (Trump refers to him, proprietarily, as my Kevin).

In a choice between all that and condemning millions of young Americans (thats what the Dreamers are) to stunted lives, McCarthy has shown where he stands. So, for their own reasons, have his 10 California Republican House colleagues  including all four from Orange County. By declining to sign the petition, they also are refusing to permit a vote on legalization, despite the consequences to hundreds of thousands of their constituents.

In newly tabulated June 5 primary voter rolls, Republicans have slipped behind no party preference in the Golden State. If they wonder why, the cruel, calculating nativism of McCarthys Gang of 11 provides a plausible answer.

Harold Meyerson is executive editor of the American Prospect. He is a contributing writer to Opinion.

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The Supreme Court on Monday steered around a long-pending abortion dispute between the Trump administration and ACLU lawyers over young immigrant women in custody, telling lower courts on Monday to start over in deciding the issue.

In a short, unsigned opinion, the justices wiped away rulings by several judges who last fall had cleared the way for a 17-year-old to see a doctor and obtain an abortion.

In doing so, the Supreme Court cited its established practice of wiping away rulings in disputed cases that were resolved before the losing side could appeal. In this case, the losing side was the Trump administration, whose lawyers wanted to appeal to the high court in hopes of blocking the teenagers abortion.

But they were thwarted in late October when ACLU lawyers moved quickly to take the young woman to a doctor in Texas just hours after a judge in Washington had cleared the way.

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Administration lawyers had argued the government had no duty to facilitate an abortion by allowing the young women to leave the detention center.

While the abortion for Jane Doe appeared to have ended the case, Justice Department officials, including Atty. Gen. Jeff Sessions, said they were upset by what had happened, and they accused the ACLU lawyers of misleading them in the hours before the abortion took place.

U.S. Solicitor Gen. Noel Francisco then filed an unusual appeal with the high court, arguing the lower courts were wrong and calling for sanctions against the ACLU.

For nearly six months, the justices weighed the appeal behind closed doors. In the end, they took no action other than to set aside the rulings by the federal judge in Washington and the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia. It was a procedural move rather than one based on the legal claims in the case.

The outcome leaves unresolved the question of whether young immigrants who crossed the border illegally have a right to obtain an abortion with private funds.

ACLU lawyers have brought a separate class-action claim on behalf of other young women, and that dispute is still pending in the federal courts in Washington.

Brigitte Amiri, deputy director of the ACLUs Reproductive Freedom Project, said the decision doesnt affect our ongoing efforts to ensure that all Janes can get an abortion if they need one. The district court [in the class action] has blocked the Trump administrations cruel policy of obstructing unaccompanied immigrant minors access to abortion. And we wont stop until we strike it down once and for all.

Justice Department spokeswoman Kerri Kupec said, We are pleased with the Supreme Courts decision to set aside a lower court decision that allowed for an unaccompanied minor to receive an abortion while in federal custody. She said past rulings made clear that the federal government is not required to facilitate abortions for minors and may choose policies favoring life over abortion.

It is not clear why it took the court nearly six months to act on the appeal in Azar vs. Garza.

The justices also took no action on the administrations request for sanctions against ACLU lawyers.

Administration lawyers had alleged the ACLU attorneys misled them by taking the young woman to see a doctor early in the morning before they could seek a stay from the Supreme Court. The ACLU disagreed and said its lawyers had not deceived anyone and had reacted reasonably after a judge cleared the way for their client to have the abortion.

The justices recited both sides of the issue and did not say which side had the better claim.

On the one hand, all attorneys must remain aware of the principle that zealous advocacy does not displace their obligations as officers of the court. Especially in fast-paced, emergency proceedings like those at issue here, it is critical that lawyers and courts alike be able to rely on one anothers representations, the justices wrote. On the other hand, lawyers also have ethical obligations to their clients and not all communications breakdowns constitute misconduct.

Major questions before the Supreme Court this year 

david.savage@latimes.com

On Twitter: DavidGSavage

UPDATES:

12:50 p.m.: This story was updated with reaction from Sessions, the ACLU and other background.

This story was originally published at 7:05 a.m.
The Supreme Court upheld both gay rights and religious freedom Monday with a narrowly written decision in favor of a Christian baker who refused to make a wedding cake for a same-sex couple.

By a 7-2 vote, the court said Jack Phillips, the Colorado baker, was treated with hostility and bias by a state commission that concluded his actions violated a state anti-discrimination law. One commission member had commented that religion was used throughout history to justify slavery, the Holocaust and all kinds of discrimination.

But the courts opinion also emphasized the importance of equal rights for gays and lesbians, and it largely rejected the claim that store owners have broad religious liberty rights to turn away customers because of their sexual orientation.

Although some may object to same-sex marriages, said Justice Anthony M. Kennedy, it is a general rule that such objections do not allow business owners and other actors in the economy and in society to deny protected persons equal access to goods and services under a neutral and generally applicable public accommodations law.

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Decision time: Supreme Court tackles cases on gay rights, gerrymandering, unions 

The outcome was not a clear win for either side in what has become one of the nations latest culture wars.

Kennedy and the majority chose the narrowest possible way to resolve the case of Masterpiece Cakeshop vs. Colorado Civil Rights Commission.

Lawyers for Phillips had argued that forcing him to make a wedding cake for a same-sex couple violated his rights to free speech and the free exercise of religion.

Instead, the court ruling focused on how Phillips was treated unfairly by the Colorado Civil Rights Commission, and for this reason alone, he won his case.

The commissions hostility [to Phillips and his religious beliefs] was inconsistent with the First Amendments guarantee that our laws be applied in a manner that is neutral toward religion, Kennedy wrote. Phillips was entitled to a neutral decision-maker who would give full and fair consideration to his religious objection.

Kennedy said the ruling was limited to the dispute between Phillips and the Colorado commission, raising doubts about whether it would help other store owners who voiced the same claim based on their sincerely held religious beliefs.

The outcome of other cases like this in other circumstances must await further elaboration in the courts, said Kennedy, who has authored most of the courts most significant gay rights cases. These disputes must be resolved with tolerance, without undue disrespect to sincere religious belief, and without subjecting gay persons to indignities when they seek goods and services in an open market.

Chief Justice John G. Roberts Jr. and conservative Justices Samuel A. Alito Jr. and Neil M. Gorsuch joined Kennedys opinion, as did liberal Justices Elena Kagan and Stephen G. Breyer.

Conservative Justice Clarence Thomas agreed with the outcome but did not sign on to Kennedys opinion and its endorsement of equal rights for gays and lesbians.

Justices Ruth Bader Ginsburg and Sonia Sotomayor dissented, but only because they did not believe the comments of one or two commissioners suggested the state was biased against Phillips because of his religious beliefs.

The case has been widely seen as a clash between Christian conservatives and champions of gay rights in states like Colorado and California. Twenty-two states have laws that forbid businesses from discriminating based on sexual orientation and require full and equal service for gay and lesbian customers. Federal law forbids discrimination based on race, religion and national origin, but not sexual orientation.

The Colorado case arose as part of a conservative backlash against the Supreme Courts 2015 ruling, also written by Kennedy, holding that same-sex couples had a constitutional right to marry in all states. The Arizona-based Alliance Defending Freedom had gone to court in several states seeking religious exemptions for Christian conservatives like Phillips who believed it would be sinful to help celebrate a same-sex marriage. Phillips said he would gladly serve gay customers, but he refused to design a custom wedding cake for a same-sex couple.

In 2012, Charlie Craig and David Mullins went to Phillips bake shop in a strip mall in Lakewood, Colo., based on the recommendation of a wedding planner. They had married in Massachusetts but returned to the Denver area for a celebratory reception with their family and friends.

But the celebration hit a sour note. As soon as they said they were interested in a wedding cake, Phillips told them he did not create cakes for same-sex couples. Angry and upset, they left the store and later filed a complaint with the states Civil Rights Commission. This seven-member panel is charged with enforcing the states law. It does not impose fines or award damages, but it can order businesses to cease and desist from discriminating.

An administrative judge heard from Phillips and the two men, and ruled the store was violating the law. The commission agreed unanimously, and the Colorado courts rejected appeals from Phillips. The Supreme Court, however, agreed to hear his case.

Nearly all of the arguments had focused on the claim that the baker, if required to make a custom cake, would in effect be forced to express a viewpoint in favor of same-sex marriage against his religious beliefs. He also claimed that his cakes were a form of protected artistic expression.

The Trump administration urged the court to rule that Phillips had a free-speech right not to make a special cake to celebrate a same-sex marriage.

But Kennedy dismissed this argument. Few persons who have seen a beautiful wedding cake might have thought of its creation as an exercise in protected speech, he said. Moreover, it was unclear whether the two men were seeking a cake with a special message or simply a standard product.

Kennedy turned next to the free exercise of religion. In 1990, shortly after Kennedy joined the court, the justices said individuals do not have a right to religious exemption from ordinary laws. But a few years later in a case involving the Santeria religion and ritual sacrifice of animals, the court said the government may not pass special laws or discriminate against people because of their religious views. The author of that 1993 opinion was Kennedy.

Mondays decision focused heavily on the comments of one commissioner who described religious rhetoric as despicable and said some people use their religion to hurt others.

Such comments had been hardly mentioned as the case moved through the courts. But Kennedy cited them during the oral argument in December.

Advocates for both religious liberty and gay rights saw something to like in the decision.

The court has said 7-2 that the Constitution requires us to try and get along. There is room enough in our society for a diversity of viewpoints and that includes respecting religious beliefs too, said Mark Rienzi, president of the Becket Fund for Religious Liberty. He called the decision a strong message to governments across the country that they must respect  rather than punish  religious diversity on important issues.

Shannon Minter, legal director for the National Center for Lesbian Rights, said the narrow ruling leaves intact the long-standing principle that states can require businesses open to the public to serve everyone, even when some businesses believe that doing so violates their religious beliefs.

Anti-LGBTQ extremists did not win the sweeping license to discriminate they have been hoping for, said Chad Griffin, president of the Human Rights Campaign. Instead, the court acknowledged that LGBTQ people are equal and have a right to live free from the indignity of discrimination.

david.savage@latimes.com

On Twitter: DavidGSavage

UPDATES:

4:05 p.m.: This story was updated with additional reaction and details from the decision.

8:35 a.m.: This story was updated with additional details from the ruling.

This story was originally published at 7:50 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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Watch Live: White House holds surprise news briefing amid government shutdown 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
Readers of this newsletter will know weve been covering election campaigning closely for a long time. But if youre just tuning in, there are some quick ways to catch up, and learn everything you need to know for Tuesdays primary.

Start here with our special election page.

Peruse all of our coverage of the race to replace Gov. Jerry Brown.

We have been tracking the money spent in the contest for governor, and found outside groups hoping to help or hurt candidates chances have spent $32 million, by far the most ever before a gubernatorial primary. Find out who they are and what theyve done with their money.

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The five state propositions on the primary election ballot are snoozers, but they do make enough sense to deserve passage, George Skelton wrote last week.

Watch our video explainer on how Californias top-two primary could upend Democratic attempts to win back control of the U.S. House.

Sign up for the free Essential Politics email newsletter 

The Times Editorial Board (completely separate from the newsroom) issued all of these endorsements for the primary. And in a rare peek behind the curtain, the Editorial Board explained why members werent keen on Treasurer John Chiang.

THE RACE FOR GOVERNOR

The battle for governor for most of the election has been the tale of two municipal officials. Seema Mehta and Phil Willon examined Antonio Villaraigosas and Gavin Newsoms work as mayors, writing that those periods provide voters with the best glimpse of how they could govern California if elected in November. Their tenure reveals how each responded when faced with the worst fiscal crisis since the Great Depression, violent crime, homelessness and calls to improve public education.

Seen by statewide politicians for years as a desert satellite in the outer orbit of Los Angeles, the Inland Empire has become one of most contested electoral prizes, Willon writes.

In the lead-up to Tuesdays primary, the candidates skittered around the state trying to prod their voters to the polls, persuade the undecided and avoid making a self-inflicted error. Among their stops were African American churches in the Los Angeles area. See the photos.

Front-runner Newsom has seen more than $4 million spent to oppose his campaign in less than a week, Mehta reports. The spending by Villaraigosa allies is part of an effort to make sure the former Los Angeles mayor wins the second spot in the June primary, which is looking questionable based on recent polls suggesting businessman John Cox is in second place.

Before Cox was President Trumps pick to be Californias next governor, he was a wealthy businessman making his first major foray into Golden State politics by pushing a plan to add thousands of more lawmakers to the Legislature. Melanie Mason explains that Cox pitched the proposal as a way to dampen the influence of money in politics. And while Cox doesnt talk much now about the initiative--which he has failed to qualify for the ballot five times--the proposal offers insight into how the Republican approaches politics.

Cox brought his campaign for governor to Stockton on Wednesday, attacking Newsom as an elitist and highlighting his opposition to the Delta water tunnels project.

As Cox and GOP Assemblyman Travis Allen scramble for votes, theres one Republican they havent won over: former Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger, who announced on Friday that he wont vote for either of his partys top candidates.

In some of their last appearances before Californias primary Tuesday, two candidates trailing in the polls stopped in Los Angeles.

Long shot Democratic hopeful Delaine Eastin criticized Brown over childrens education.

And Chiang spoke to parishioners about his faith and why he believes that has prepared him to lead the state.

Well have a special election day newsletter Tuesday, but in the meantime you can check our Essential Politics news feed on California politics for the latest. Make sure to sign up for breaking news alerts.

DREAMING OF A BLUE WAVE IN DEEP-RED TERRITORY

Talk of a wave election that would sweep Democrats back into control of the U.S. House isnt exclusive to the Orange County battleground districts everyone is watching so closely. With national Democrats playing up their chances, Christine Mai-Duc and Jazmine Ulloa dive in to report on the more than a dozen California Democrats who are attempting to unseat GOP incumbents in districts long considered unwinnable.

Among those with a slim-to-nothing chance is congressional candidate Tatiana Matta, who got some heavy-hitting fundraising help last week for her race against House Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy.

On the other side are the contenders for U.S. Senate who are unlikely to make it past Tuesday. Watch these dark horse candidates.

SIX CRAZY THINGS TO WATCH FOR TUESDAY

Expect the unexpected Tuesday, thanks to the oddity of Californias top-two primary system.

Sarah D. Wire has a look at six things that could happen from an incumbent not getting into the top two to a state legislator who resigned amid sexual harassment allegations getting another chance to serve in Sacramento.

A reminder that you can keep up with the final dash on the campaign trail in the moment via our Essential Politics news feed on California politics.

PATIENCE, CALIFORNIA: BALLOT COUNTING IS SLOW FOR A REASON

By Wednesday afternoon, well get our first glimpse of how many ballots were uncounted as of election night. Some will see the delay as a sign of government inefficiency. And that would be incorrect.

In his Sunday column, John Myers takes a quick look at the myriad of election laws that make the tabulation of votes stretch out a week or more. In short: Its all about giving Californians ample chances to have their ballot counted so voting isnt limited to a 13-hour window on a Tuesday.

HOW THE ASSASSINATION OF ROBERT F. KENNEDY CHANGED CALIFORNIA POLITICS

The assassination of Robert F. Kennedy  which happened 50 years ago this week  altered California politics and American history, Skelton writes in his Monday column. Todays grievances are largely abstract, Skelton writes. But in 1968, many more millions were directly feeling the tumult, he says.

NATIONAL POLITICS LIGHTNING ROUND

-- On Sunday, Trumps lawyer Rudy Giuliani asserted the president probably has authority under the Constitution to pardon himself. He added that Trump will not do so as he fights a special counsel investigation into Russian meddling in the 2016 election and whether Trump obstructed justice. Monday morning, Trump weighed in himself, saying he the absolute right to pardon himself.

-- The Supreme Court on Monday ruled in favor of a Colorado baker who refused to make a wedding cake for a same-sex couple. By a 7-2 vote, the majority said he was a victim of religious discrimination.

-- The court also wiped away a lower court ruling that granted abortion access to a teen in the country illegally.

-- Former President Bill Clinton said he would not handle the Monica Lewinsky scandal any differently today, even with #MeToo.

-- Trumps jobs report tweet broke a protocol designed to prevent giving early hints to investors.

-- Stormy Daniels lawyer Michael Avenatti tested legal boundaries as his firm maneuvered into bankruptcy.

-- In a sharp rebuke from one of Americas closest allies, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau criticized the White House rationale for imposing punitive trade tariffs on Canada as insulting and unacceptable, the latest leader to warn of a looming trade war with the U.S.

-- McCarthy still hasnt locked down the support he needs to be speaker.

Get the latest about whats happening in the nations capital on Essential Washington.

TODAYS ESSENTIALS

-- This weeks California Politics Podcast takes one final look at the races for governor and U.S. Senate.

 Looking ahead, House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi is planning to attend a high-dollar Beverly Hills fundraiser with Brown to benefit the California Democrats who make it through Tuesdays House primaries.

-- A former legislative staffer who claimed Assemblywoman Cristina Garcia groped him is appealing the findings of a legislative sexual harassment investigation into her conduct.

-- A campaign to recall a judge for a lenient sentence in a high-profile sexual assault case has fractured long-term friendships, divided the liberal Democratic community of Santa Clara County and pitted feminists against feminists. Voters in Northern California will decide Tuesday whether to recall Judge Aaron Persky, who two years ago sentenced Stanford University swimmer Brock Turner to six months in jail for assaulting a woman who lost consciousness after heavy drinking.

-- Obama administration aides are activating their network to help their former colleagues running for office, including eight candidates in California.

-- California landlords say theyll support price caps on rent hikes if a big ballot measure that would expand rent control goes away.

-- The Los Angeles Police Department and other law enforcement agencies have failed to properly identify and respond to some hate crimes and need better policies and training so officers can recognize the specific characteristics of those offenses, the state auditor said in a report last week.

LOGISTICS

Essential Politics is published Monday, Wednesday and Friday.

You can keep up with breaking news on our politics page throughout the day for the latest and greatest. And are you following us on Twitter at @latimespolitics?

Miss Fridays newsletter? Here you go.

Please send thoughts, concerns and news tips to politics@latimes.com.

Did someone forward you this? Sign up here to get Essential Politics in your inbox.
While millions of Californians have already mailed in ballots for the Tuesday primary, most registered voters are either still considering their choices or will weigh in at a local polling place on election day.

In a few key areas, this election will be different from others. Heres a look at some of the more important parts of the process.

For the first time, Californians can register until polls close on election day

Other states have long allowed voters to sign up all the way to just before the polls close on election day, but this is Californias first time offering this last-minute service.

Its called conditional voter registration, and with good reason: The ballots of those voters will only be counted once elections officials complete the process of verifying eligibility. And in this first rollout of the program, Californians can only fill out a last-minute registration form at their county elections office.

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Dont choose more than one candidate in the long list of contenders for governor and U.S. senator

A worker at the Sacramento County Registrar of Voters office, inspects a mail-in ballot. (Rich Pedroncelli / Associated Press )

There are a lot of candidates to wade through in the two most high-profile races on Californias primary ballot: 27 candidates for governor and 32 for the U.S. Senate.

As such, elections officials had huge challenges about how to design the ballot. Both races have multi-column lists of candidates, and voters might mistakenly choose one name from each list. Doing so would cause the ballot to not be counted in either of those races.

Although some may not pay close attention, theres language that stretches along the top of these lists of names instructing voters to only choose one. The last time there was a race attracting this many hopefuls  the 2016 U.S. Senate race  almost 250,000 Californians mistakenly chose more than one candidate.

Your guide to the 5 propositions on Californias primary ballot 

If youre told to cast a provisional ballot and youre a registered voter, it will be counted

Election day routinely brings with it a few glitches, none more worrisome than when a Californian is told his or her name isnt on the list of registered voters and cant cast a ballot.

In those cases, a voter casts a ballot thats considered provisional, meaning that its placed in a special envelope and set aside until after election day. Once local officials get past the rush, they tackle provisional ballots by researching the voters eligibility.

Assuming the voter was right and there was simply some mistake on the lists printed on election day, the ballot is counted. About 85% of provisional ballots cast in the 2016 statewide primary were ultimately counted, according to a Times analysis and data compiled by county officials.

There are other reasons, too, for a provisional ballot. A voter may show up at the wrong polling place (or has moved recently). Others may have misplaced or lost a ballot delivered in the mail. In these cases and others, a provisional ballot is part of a fail-safe process.

Its important to remember that it can take 30 days for election results to be certified, so theres ample time for each county to review ballots and double-check its tallies.

Mailed ballots are counted even if they show up three days after election day

A stack of mailed in ballots sit in a box after being sorted at the San Francisco Department of Elections. (Justin Sullivan / Getty Images )

California election law has a number of features designed to favor the voters intent whenever possible, even when that intent is thwarted by the U.S. Postal Service.

Ballots that show up by the close of business on June 8  but were mailed on election day or earlier  will be counted. Again, there are four weeks for officials to finish their tally, and a few extra days has proved valuable at catching what otherwise would have been missed ballots.

Of course, the key here is that it has to be mailed on time. Any voter whos still filling out an absentee ballot on Tuesday will probably be better off taking it to a local polling place or a nearby ballot drop-off site by 8 p.m. Counties list those locations on their election websites.

Dont worry, that ballot selfie is perfectly OK

The social media era presented a conundrum for elections officials who had been taught for decades that Americans cast secret ballots: What do you do when a voter snaps a photo of their ballot selections and posts it online?

California law, amended in 2016, makes it legal for voters to share photographs of their ballots. Its a pretty limited law, though, and its still a no-no to snap photos of other people voting. And if someone elses ballot choices are shown in a social media post, that person needs to have given permission.

The use of cameras in and outside of the polling place should remain limited, said a memo in early May from the secretary of states office.

john.myers@latimes.com

Follow @johnmyers on Twitter, sign up for our daily Essential Politics newsletter and listen to the weekly California Politics Podcast

UPDATES:

1:03 p.m.: This article was updated to more clearly state that a ballot can be submitted at any polling place, though its always best practice to submit it in the county in which you live.

This article was originally published at 12:05 a.m.
A few weeks ago, the piranhas converged on a Starbucks in La Canada to add to the hysteria surrounding a story that wasnt a story. Their radio antennas lofting upwards and the journalists running to and fro searching for someone who would say anything gave the news a magnanimous appearance. It seemed to me the one thing they were not searching for was the truth.

Yall know the story of the racial slur Beaner having been printed  allegedly with malice  on two cups of coffee ordered by a Latino customer. Its my opinion it was an honest error with nothing malicious about it. I think the barista misunderstood what the customer replied when he gave his name.

A mob believes everything it is told, provided its passions, and hatred and fears are catered to. In mob mentality, theres no need to stay within the limits of plausibility because the more outrageous the allegation, the more readily it is believed. Theyre incapable of perceiving the truth, as it is typically the first casualty of any circumstance, simply because truth does not serve the groups interests.

I first read To Kill a Mockingbird, by Harper Lee when I was in the eighth grade. It was punishment doled out by Sister Mary Delores, for one of the umpteen infractions I had committed that day. Harper Lees novel was foundational to developing my sense of justice. As a youth, my first hero was Atticus Finch, the protagonist of the story, the small-town lawyer who defended an innocent man against a town that was convinced they were right.

Atticus said, A mobs always made up of people, no matter what  doesnt say much for them, does it?

I understand social justice and its importance regarding the respectability and inclusion of everyone. In the Book of Matthew were told righteousness toward all humanity is essential because it is the right thing to do.

Moral development is not predicated by the dictates of society. At best, society can merely legislate morality. According to Lawrence Kohlbergs Stages of Moral Development, it is a lifelong process, which begins before a child reaches cognition. Subsequently, I scoff at Starbucks national training day on May 29 regarding the protocols of civility. This corporate behemoths attempt at racial-biased education from my point of view is an attempt to appear politically correct.

I believe Starbucks knew the La Canada incident was a mistake but didnt support the kid who made it. Instead, the company quietly shifted personnel around to various stores and hoped its hush-hush strategy would take the heat off of its profitability. That ticks me off. If Starbucks were serious about teaching employees the right thing, it should have done the right thing and supported the kid.

I know the kids who work the store in La Canada, which serves as my unofficial workplace nearly every day Im in town. They are hardworking, affable and honorable, but it took four sheriffs to protect them from backlash related to something that was an honest mistake.

Does Starbucks not understand the effects of this strategy? It became an enabler to social media as the mob tried, convicted and executed someone who made a mistake void of any ill will. There were bomb threats made and graffiti painted on the La Canada stores window. Thats serious stuff. Can you imagine if someone would have acted on one of those threats?

People get addicted to feeling offended all the time because it gives them a high; being self-righteous and morally superior feels good. This bully culture will continue. Convulsions will be made void of thought, analysis and truth.

If there is any glimmer of light in this, it is the professionalism of Sara Cardine, a journalist for the Valley Sun. Her news article regarding this incident as an allegation was just that, a straight, balanced news story, since Cardine is concerned about truth.

JOE PUGLIA is a practicing counselor, a retired professor of education and a former officer in the Marines. Reach him at doctorjoe@ymail.com. Visit his website at doctorjoe.us.
When late Hawaii curator James Jay Jensen first encountered the artwork of Dallas-based contemporary artist Erick Swenson at the 2004 Whitney Biennial, it appeared in the form of a young buck, splayed out and head down, rubbing its antlers against an oriental rug to remove the velvet.

Except the rug wasnt fabric, it was hand-painted fiberglass. The lifelike deer was made of urethane resin and acrylic.

Fourteen years later, a show inspired by the striking sculpture arrives in Hawaii. At the Honolulu Museum of Art, Abstruction: The Sculpture of Erick Swenson is a survey exhibition presenting 11 works by Swenson created over a 17-year period. It includes Present in the Past, a hammerhead shark encrusted with geodes specially commissioned for the show by the museum.

Erick Swenson appears at the exhibit of his work at the Honolulu Museum of Art. (Shuzo Uemoto )

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Known for his hyperrealistic sculptures of contorted animals, Swenson is equal parts zoologist and inventor, often having to figure out and build the very tools needed to bring his visions to life.

While other artists might manipulate an actual dead carcass for convenience or shock value, Swenson goes the long way: in one instance, by taking the 200-plus bones of a real deer, casting each one in resin using individually created silicone molds, then reassembling the entire skeleton.

The result is Ne Plus Ultra, a seven-point buck whose flayed, decomposing corpse reveals an elaborate scrimshaw of coastlines and seaports etched onto the skull and bones. The work is named for a Latin phrase meaning no more beyond, often used as a warning along the edges of old maps.

Scuttle, 2012, by Erick Swenson. (Kevin Todora )

In Kleine Schwarmerei, hundreds of sculpted snails swarm over a cast beer stein with a phrase engraved on one side: Happily and merrily we go to the mines. Beer traps are sometimes used to kill snails, but Swenson says that when he conceptualized this piece, he didnt make that connection. Instead, he was thinking of humanity; forever climbing and rushing to reach the end, only to fall into a bottomless pit.

An untitled piece features a frail fawn being swept up and away by a heavy, billowing opera cape. The animal is distressed, possibly domesticated as indicated by the presence of a leather collar, with the cape being a force that is magical yet dangerous, evoking connotations of Little Red Riding Hood or Dracula.

Swensons process takes months, sometimes years. The passage of time plays a key role in his sculptures; similar to works of memento mori popular in the 16th century that depicted skulls, hourglasses and decaying fruit, Swensons creatures are often struggling in death. It is a reminder that life is fragile  and fleeting.

In the lifesize hammerhead created for the Honolulu Museum, Swenson was initially unaware of the significance of mano (sharks) in Hawaiian culture, some which are considered to be guardians of particular fishing grounds and the ancestors of fishermen and women.

Two artworks by Erick Swenson: Untitled (White Deer Head), 2000, left; Muncie Head, 2001. (Kevin Todora )

Sharks, like the geodes covering this particular hammerhead, date back tens of millions of years, while humans have existed for only 200,000 years. Swenson references humankinds relatively recent role in the world but reminds the viewer of our origins, arising from minerals and stardust. Amid the struggles of life, there is still beauty.

Info: Honolulu Museum of Art, 900 S Beretania St., Honolulu. The show continues through July 29 (closed Mondays). (808) 532-8700

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Sen. Robert Kennedy had just finished his victory speech after winning the California Democratic presidential primary.

Times photographer Boris Yaro was standing three feet from Kennedy when the shooting began. "The gunman started firing at point-blank range. Sen. Kennedy didn't have a chance," Yaro recounted in a June 6, 1968, story for The Times.

The Democratic senator, 42, survived for more than 24 hours after the shooting. He passed away on the morning of June 6, 1968. The shooter  Sirhan B. Sirhan  was convicted of murder on April 17, 1969. His motives remain a mystery and a source of controversy to this day.

June 5, 1998: Los Angeles Times photographer Boris Yaro with one of the photos he took the night Sen. Robert F. Kennedy was shot at the Ambassador Hotel in Los Angeles. Rolando Otero / Los Angeles Times

In 2010, Boris Yaro, now retired, wrote the following story for the From the Archives blog.

I had gone to the Ambassador Hotel on my own with the idea of making a photo of Bobby Kennedy for my wall. The idea went further than I had expected.

When the shooting started I thought someone was tossing firecrackers because I was being hit in the face with debris. I grew up playing with fireworks, and this was not an unusual thing to happen.

Then the crowd parted, and I watched in horror as Sirhan emptied his revolver at Robert Kennedy. I had my camera at chest level, but I didn't make a photo during the shooting. It was dark, and I think I was afraid.

When the shooting stopped there was a pregnant pause, and then two men, one in a tuxedo, grabbed Sirhan and forced him face down on a metal countertop and shook his revolver loose.

Sirhan kept trying to reach the revolver, and I was afraid he might get it, so I stuck my hand in under the guys holding him and picked up the gun.

I turned away from the scuffle and was thinking, "It's warm. The gun is warm," and all of a sudden it was taken from me. I didn't see who grabbed it, but I saw the back end of a sport coat and figured it might be a cop.

When I turned back to the scene, RFK was slowly sinking to the floor, and I realized I had better make pictures. I used my Nikon FTn and a 28mm lens.

When I covered the RFK shooting, I owned the camera and two lenses, one of which was a 50mm 1.8 lens that I left in the car. I didn't bring a flash with me, since I wasn't on assignment and wanted to make only natural light photographs.

The pantry area was dimly lit, and I recall thinking that I should go get my flash unit, but I didn't.

I did use Kodak Tri-X film. It was the film of choice by most press photographers, and I felt comfortable with it in badly lit situations. When things quieted down a bit, I aimed my camera and at the same time a television photographer turned on his very bright light, which made it possible for me to make photographs.

The FTn meter was not working, so I had to make my exposures by guesstimate. I ended up making the photographs at 1/30 of a second and the lens set wide open at F 2.8 (this was the maximum aperture).

There still was some pandemonium, and at one point, when I tried to make pictures, a woman grabbed hold of my coat sleeve and began yelling, "Don't take pictures. Don't take pictures. I'm a photographer, and I'm not taking pictures."

My response was, "Dammit, lady, this is history." I pulled my coat sleeve loose from her grasp but lost some visual space because people began crowding around the fallen Kennedy.

I moved in to make a "sure" shot (one that I knew would show his face). I made a total of six shots in that mess, and then the alarm went off in my head.

Earlier I had talked with another Times photographer, Steve Fontanini, who had mentioned the paper was "holding" deadline waiting for art.

I knew I had to get out of the Ambassador Hotel and get down to the office. As I ran into the city room, I shouted at Bill Thomas, the city editor at the time, that "my fingerprints are all over that gun." Thomas yelled back, "Knock it off," and I continued into the photo lab.

William S. "Bill" Murphy was waiting, and I handed him the film. I told him the lighting was terrible and maybe to double the development time.

Murphy, a veteran photographer, processed the film "by safelight." (The film is checked during development by using a dim green safelight. This is also known as development by inspection.)

It did the job, and we had printable images, albeit somewhat contrasty.

I was told to talk with one of our rewrite men and unload whatever I could remember. I did so, but omitted the gun retrieval because I felt Thomas didn't want the paper directly involved.

When I had finished with the rewrite man I went back to the photo lab as Murphy was coming out. He said the pictures were fine. I took a quick look at the photos and the whole incident began to take over my feelings.

I went back into my darkroom.

And I wept.

June 5, 1968: Sen. Robert F. Kennedy lies mortally wounded on the floor of a pantry at the Ambassador Hotel moments after being shot by Sirhan B. Sirhan. Boris Yaro / Los Angeles Times

See more from the Los Angeles Times archives here
A Taiwanese air force fighter plane crashed Monday, killing the pilot and marring this weeks annual military exercises intended to help safeguard the island from its main foe, China.

The American-made F-16 fighter disappeared from radar screens an hour after takeoff Monday afternoon in low mountains outside the major northern port city of Keelung. Later, a hiker called police with reports of wreckage, the Taiwanese Defense Ministry and the government-backed Central News Agency reported. The pilot, identified as Maj. Wu Yen-ting, 31, died on the spot.

His crash, the second for Taiwans air force in less than a year, points to a lapse in personnel training and aircraft mechanics as Taiwan comes under more pressure from China, said Alexander Huang, a strategic studies professor at Tamkang University in Taiwan.

Eight F-16s have crashed in Taiwan since 1998, according to the Defense Ministry. An air force Mirage 2000-model aircraft disappeared in November and was never found.

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Monday kicked off Taiwans five-day Han Kuang live-fire exercises that simulate attacks from China.

China sits across an ocean strait, 100 miles from Taiwan at the nearest point, and has the worlds third-strongest armed forces.

Chinese officials claim sovereignty over self-ruled Taiwan and resent the Taiwanese president of two years, Tsai Ing-wen, for rejecting their idea that the two sides belong to a single country. Taiwan and China have been separately ruled since the Chinese civil war of the 1940s.

Mondays crash, attributed tentatively to weather conditions and human error, has grounded all F-16 flights until further notice. The air force has 140 of the fighter planes.

Han Kuang will still be on, but of course the events with F-16 fighters would be changed, Defense Ministry spokesman Chen Chung-chi said.

China has flown military aircraft a dozen times just outside Taiwans air defense identification zone over the past three year as pressure on Tsai.

Jennings is a special correspondent.
Eight years ago, Ana Paula Arcangelo dos Santos and her seven children found a new home.

Known as the Wilton Paes de Almeida, the building had once been the Sao Paulo headquarters of the federal police and home to Brazils social security agency. But the police relocated in 2003, and plans to convert the empty building into a cultural center fell through. Squatters like Santos began moving in.

By this May, roughly 400 people were residing there.

The squatters built walls from cardboard and plywood to create their own apartments. Electricity was siphoned off from a traffic light, residents used the stairs because the elevator didnt work, and the elevator shaft became a catchall for garbage.

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Santos, who is 47, and 11 relatives  six of her children, four grandchildren she has been helping raise and a daughter-in-law  all lived in the building.

They paid rent to the Movement for the Social Struggle for Housing, one of many groups here that fight for affordable housing by occupying abandoned buildings across the city.

Santos paid about $60 a month, which was about all she could afford on a monthly salary of $165 cleaning a familys home five days a week. The minimum wage in Brazil is about $262.

As far back as she can remember, Santos has lived in such occupations.

Shes not proud of it, she said, but I dont have much of a choice, do I?

Squatting is illegal, but authorities had long tolerated it, perhaps because housing is so hard to come by in this city of 12 million and it was preferable to having more people living on the streets. The city estimates that people are squatting in about 70 buildings in the downtown area, with untold hundreds of other buildings occupied throughout the rest of the city.

But this year the citys housing department decided it was time to clear out the Wilton Paes de Almeida. Between February and April the agency held six meetings with the leaders of the housing movement to discuss the risks of living there and the possibility of legal action to remove the squatters.

Then on May 1, the building burned to the ground.

The cause of the fire remains under investigation. But several residents say it started during a brutal fight between a couple on the fifth floor when the man threw alcohol on the woman and lighted a match.

Firemen cool debris after the Wilton Paes de Almeida building fire last month. (Gui Christ / For The Times )

Seven people have been confirmed dead, and two were still missing on May 18, when firefighters concluded their search of what was left of the building. Residents say theyre sure there are more people missing, but many were immigrants or refugees who lived alone and whose family members wont come looking for them.

Santos, who lived on the sixth floor, escaped after one of her sons, who is training to be a firefighter, told her about the acrid smell hed noticed when he got home and advised they all leave. She and her relatives could hear the windows pop and shatter from the heat as they ran down the stairs.

The blaze made international news and drew comparisons to a fire last June in London, where 72 public-housing residents were killed at the 24-story Grenfell Tower.

What happened next to Santos family and many others from the building has received far less coverage.

Those with nowhere else to go pitched tents next to a bright yellow church nearby. Santos and her relatives, who fill six tents, are among about 180 people living there a month after the fire. They have become a symbol of the massive shortage of affordable housing in Sao Paulo.

The city has offered the families, many with small children, places in its homeless shelters, but most have refused. They say they paid rent and werent homeless before the fire and therefore deserve a proper place to live.

The fear is that they would move into shelters and be forgotten.

There are families that have been waiting for affordable housing for 10 or 15 years, says Valtair Jose de Souza, known as Carioca, who lived on the first floor and was working the night shift as a parking lot attendant when the building went up in flames.

Now he is one of the organizers of the camp. Things are moving too slowly, he said. We dont get help quickly enough because of bureaucracy. We cant wait anymore.

The camp survives on donations from private citizens, the Red Cross and other organizations.

Residents have organized the camp with a makeshift kitchen and storage after the Wilton Paes de Almeida building fire last month. (Gui Christ / For The Times )

Among the items Santos claimed: curtains and cutlery, blankets and clothes, a pair of pink roller skates and a blond doll for one of the grandchildren.

Im grateful for what people have given me, but what can I do with any of it right now? Where can I put it? Santos said. What I need is help with housing. What I need is for the government to see me and all the others here as people who matter.

Her family and the others rely on a restaurant and shops nearby for running water and bathrooms. Every so often someone from another occupied building in the area visits to ask whether anybody wants to come over for a shower. Santos always welcomes the chance.

The encampment has asked for portable toilets, but the city hasnt provided them.

The government has also offered $100 toward rent for each family that leaves.

Santos has tried to find an apartment downtown to be close to work and the childrens schools, but a one-bedroom with a kitchenette she looked at was nearly $500 a month  triple her salary.

Her former salary, that is. The family Santos works for put her on leave without pay while she looks for a new place to live.

Langlois is a special correspondent.
The office of the Afghan community center in Athens smelled like soot. Papers lay scattered on the floor. Mokhtar Rezai touched the singed paint on the door where a neo-Nazi group reportedly set fire to the office in a gasoline-fueled attack this spring.

Although no one was injured in the incident, the attack has contributed to an atmosphere of fear for many members of Greeces foreign-born community.



For the record: An earlier version of this article said there were 102 violent incidents involving foreigners in Greece last year. Not all the incidents involved foreigners.

This was an attack against all foreigners in Greece, Rezai said during a recent interview. They were sending a message that we are not welcome here.

The attack was part of a surge in assaults in Greece by far right and neo-Nazi groups against refugees and others. The country has been the port of entry for hundreds of thousands of refugees and other migrants from Syria and elsewhere in recent years, and tens of thousands have stayed. Meanwhile Greece is struggling to emerge from a long economic downturn that has left it with one of the highest unemployment rates in Europe.

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Mokhtar Rezai in the Afghan community center in Athens. (Sascha Brodsky / For The Times )

There were 102 incidents of racism-related violence, including many involving foreigners, in Greece last year, up from 95 the year before, according to a report by the Racist Violence Recording Network, a U.N.-backed Greek human rights group. But the attacks recorded in the report are only the tip of the iceberg, said Tina Stavrinaki, a spokeswoman for the group.

Many victims are hesitant to report attacks. They are worried that they might jeopardize their legal status as immigrants or refugees or be subject to retribution, she said in an interview in her Athens office.

With the urging of nongovernmental organizations, the Greek government has established a police agency tasked with combating racial violence. New laws also protect immigrants who arrive without documents from being deported while their case is being heard.

Rezai, who works as a translator in the community center office that was attacked, said he was out to lunch when the attack took place. The Afghan community was already worried about violence after previous attacks. To keep a low profile, the office had no sign on the door. Nevertheless, a group of men came to the small office on the fifth floor, poured gasoline and lighted a fire that spread through the room, burning vital records.

The fact that this could happen in Europe is terrifying, said Rezai, who fled Afghanistan at the age of 15 and showed a scar on his head that he said had been left by shrapnel.

A neo-Nazi group calling itself Krypteia later claimed responsibility for the attack, according to Afghan community leaders and news reports. The Athens police department did not return calls seeking comment.

Nazi medallions at an Athens flea market (Sascha Brodsky / For The Times )

In some cases, such as the attack against the Afghan center, the attackers responsible identify themselves as part of a far-right group. In other cases, no claims are made and police investigations are often inconclusive. And determining who is responsible for attacks against immigrants can be difficult.

Observers point to far-right groups as the source of many attacks. In March, Greek anti-terror police arrested five men and accused them of being part of a different neo-Nazi group, called Combat 18-Hellas, according to news reports. Police seized ingredients that could be used to make explosives and other weapons.

As fear rises, immigrants have taken defensive measures. Taher Alizadeh, the head of the Afghan community center, warns Afghans not speak their native languages in public and instead learn to speak Greek.

They need to be careful when they walk in the streets and not to draw attention to themselves, he said through a translator during an interview at the new home of the Afghan community center in a small office in central Athens. Alizadeh said he chose to locate the new center in a building that houses other immigrant-aid groups as a form of protection.

Women are particularly vulnerable, Alizadeh said. Afghan women are sometimes choosing not to wear hijabs, the traditional Muslim head coverings, so as not to draw attention to themselves. Recently, some women were told to stop speaking Farsi on a bus and had their hijabs pulled off, he said. Rezai said that Afghan women who wear the hijab in the street in Athens are often verbally abused.

Its not only the Afghan community that is afraid. Many of the refugees and immigrants in Greece are from other predominantly Muslim countries such as Syria. Naim el Ghandour, president of the Muslim Assn. of Greece, said that recent attacks have left all Muslims feeling vulnerable.

This is a great threat and people are very fearful, he said through a translator. El Ghandour said he recently received a phone call in which the caller, who identified himself as a Krypteia member, threatened to burn and torture him. He said he filed a complaint with police.

In response to the violence, Muslims have been buying surveillance cameras for their homes and cultural centers and hiring guards, El Ghandour said. We have to spend money on these things when we dont have a lot of money, he added.

Some community leaders expressed doubts about how much protection the police offer foreign-born residents.

El Ghandour said that many police officers dont intervene when they witness attacks against refugees. There are incidents on the street or on buses when Muslims are insulted and nothing happens, even though the police witness the incident, he said.

Greeces continuing economic problems have contributed to the rise of far-right groups, observers say. The countrys unemployment rate has been hovering around 20%. Although the economy has improved in recent years, the country is still reeling from the financial crisis and violent protests are common in Athens.

All that has made the ground fertile for the rise of the far right, Vasiliki Georgiadou, a political science professor at Panteion University in Athens, wrote in an email.

The ultranationalist political party Golden Dawn, which has won seats in parliament, is inspiring attacks through its xenophobic rhetoric, said Anastasia Kafe, an adjunct lecturer at Panteion University in Athens.

The increase in refugees in Greece is a political opportunity for Golden Dawn and other extreme-right groups, Kafe said in a phone interview. Many people in Greece are afraid of the refugees, and Golden Dawn is playing on this fear.

Georgiadou is among those who describe Golden Dawn as a neo-Nazi party based on its racist ideology, use of Nazi symbols and praise of Nazi leaders.

Matthaiopoulos Artemios, a former member of parliament for Golden Dawn and a spokesman for the party, said in a phone interview that there is no evidence that any member or supporter of Golden Dawn has used violence against an immigrant. He described Golden Dawn as a patriotic organization and said the party is 100% against violence. He added that it is immigrants who are violent, and the the Greek people should be able to use any means to protect themselves when threatened.

Artemios also denied that Golden Dawn is a neo-Nazi organization. He insisted that Golden Dawn uses only symbols from ancient Greece, not Nazi Germany. He acknowledged having been a member of a neo-Nazi punk band that played anti-Semitic lyrics but said that it was just a group I played with in 2005; Im not responsible for the lyrics.

Neo-Nazi groups arent limiting their attacks to refugees. Eleftheria Tompatzoglou, who is ethnically Greek, was among five people injured during a recent attack on a social service center for immigrants in the port city of Piraeus, near Athens.

Eleftheria Tompatzoglou, a lawyer who was attacked near Athens. (Sascha Brodsky / For The Times )

Tompatzoglou is one of the lawyers representing the family of Pavlos Fyssa, an activist who was allegedly stabbed to death by a Golden Dawn member. She said she was attending an event at the social service center in February when a group of six people dressed in black rushed through the door wearing motorcycle helmets and holding crowbars and torches.

They were shouting, Today you are going to die and You cant have this place in Piraeus, she said.

They grabbed tables and chairs and started throwing them at us, she said. One of them started hitting me with a crowbar. ... Some of the other attackers threw torches that were lit. I was afraid the building was going to catch on fire. I tried to open a window to get out and then one of them hit me on the head.

She said she needed seven stitches for a scalp wound.

The situation here is terrifying, she said. The one thing we can be sure of is that there will be more attacks.

Brodsky is a special correspondent.
Hundreds of Afghanistans leading religious scholars met under a tent in Kabul on Monday to deliver a sharp antiwar edict, condemning suicide bombings and other attacks as unforgivable sins under Islamic law.

As the clerics were leaving the assembly, a suicide bomber detonated his explosives outside the tent, killing at least seven people and wounding 20, Afghan officials said.

The meeting finished successfully, but the ruthless committed their cruel deed, said Qasem Halimi, deputy justice minister and a member of the religious body, known as the Afghan Ulema Council, who was at a hospital identifying injured clerics.

The identities of the dead were not immediately known, but officials said that at least one police officer had been killed. Taliban insurgents denied involvement.

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There were many Ulema Council members leaving the compound and many security forces guarding them, said Safiullah, owner of a bakery near the blast site, who has only one name. He said he saw a huge blast that left at least two policemen and more than a dozen council members and civilians lying on the ground.

The attack, coming during the Muslim holy month of Ramadan, was yet another sign that Afghanistans long war shows little sign of abating.

The Ulema Council had gathered at the site near Kabul Polytechnic University that is used for the traditional Loya Jirga, or grand assembly, that has issued key political and religious rulings in the past.

The councils fatwa, or Islamic ruling, called on the Afghan government and Taliban-led insurgents to stop this war which has no other outcome than killing of more innocent people.

The council endorsed Afghanistan President Ashraf Ghanis February offer of amnesty for Taliban insurgents who renounce violence, the most significant move by the government to end a war now in its 17th year.

Ghanis overture was meant to pave the way to peace talks that could lead to Taliban leaders gaining positions in the government and for the militant organization to become recognized as a political party.

But the Talibans fractured leadership has failed to respond to the governments offer. Bombings blamed on insurgents have continued, and experts say the militant group is active in nearly all 34 Afghan provinces while threatening several provincial capitals.

We believe sitting face to face for peace talks will be the beginning of solving disputed issues between both sides, the Ulema Councils statement said.

If the warring parties ignore the fatwa and continue fighting, the council said it would call on all Muslim nations, especially religious scholars, to step forward to broker a peace deal.

Militants loyal to Islamic State have also carried out deadly attacks, primarily targeting the Shiite Muslim minority.

Officials at the Pentagon, which has sent thousands more U.S. troops to bolster struggling Afghan forces, have said they are making progress against the insurgency. But a Pentagon inspector generals report released last month noted few signs of progress.

Also Monday, Kabul police said that a bomb exploded about two miles from the Ulema Council meeting, wounding three people. No group immediately claimed responsibility.

Special correspondent Faizy reported from Kabul and Times staff writer Bengali from Jodhpur, India.

shashank.bengali@latimes.com

Shashank Bengali is The Times South Asia correspondent. Follow him on Twitter at @SBengali.

UPDATES:

6:45 a.m.: This article was updated throughout with staff reporting.

This article was originally published at 4:15 a.m.
Imourane Issa braced himself for the next crack of a whip across his back. His head felt heavy on the concrete floor. He estimated that he was one of about two dozen men being tortured in the garage. The lone woman lay shaking in a puddle of her own urine.

There in the the headquarters of Togos secret police  the notorious Research and Intelligence Service  the captives were beaten, waterboarded and forced to kneel and neigh like horses.

Some were hit with electrical cords, some of them had their heads cracked open, Issa said. They were forced to take their clothes off to wipe off their own blood.

Finally, they were all herded into the backs of pickup trucks and driven away.

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It was August 20, 2017, one day after the first in a series of massive nationwide protests calling for term limits aimed at ending the presidency of Faure Gnassingbe, whose family has ruled Togo for more than 50 years.

His government has been fighting back, using the military and police to suppress uprisings and help stifle efforts by opposition legislators to make constitutional changes that would block him from running in the next election, scheduled for 2020.

Imourane Issa was arrested after stepping away from work to take photos of a protest in August, he said. Secret police tortured him, and he spent three months in prison. (Siobhan OGrady / For The Times )

Since the protests started last year, drawing tens of thousands of people into the streets, hundreds have been detained and several shot dead as soldiers have resorted to tear gas, live ammunition and mass arrests.

Its a military regime with a civilian figurehead at the top effectively doing their business for them, said Jeffrey Smith, the founder of Vanguard Africa, a Washington nonprofit that works with Togolese pro-democracy activists. Gnassingbe is putting a patina of legitimacy on an otherwise illegitimate military regime, he said.

(Los Angeles Times )

The Gnassingbe family rule started with the military. Gnassingbe Eyadema took power in a 1967 coup  seven years after independence from France  and ruled the tiny West African nation until his death in 2005.

His son immediately took over the presidency and two months later won an election amid violent rioting. Hundreds of people died  most of them killed in their homes by government authorities, according to the United Nations. Faure Gnassingbe prevailed again in controversial elections in 2010 and 2015.

Even on an impoverished continent where corruption and abuse of power are rampant, Togo under the Gnassingbe family has stood out for its human rights violations, slow economic development and institutional breakdown.

Human rights officials describe a culture of impunity under the current president that is reinforced by the continuing lack of justice or accountability for the killings by security forces when he first took office.

Dr. Kossi Sama, the secretary-general for the opposition Pan-African National Party, spent three months in prison last year on charges including rebellion. He was released ahead of negotiations between the government and opposition. (Siobhan OGrady / For The Times )

The demonstrations last year were inspired in part by the fall that January of Gambian dictator Yahya Jammeh, who had ruled for 22 years before he was defeated in an election and, after a month of refusing to step down, left the country.

The protests were organized by an opposition coalition and the Pan-African National Party, which was formed in 2014 and later gained popularity for its promises to investigate corruption and promote democracy. When torture victims are forced to kneel and neigh, its because the party logo features a horse.

Government officials have not responded to multiple attempts to ask them about unrest over the last year or the use of torture and other tactics to suppress it.

Among those arrested last year in the capital, Lome, was the partys secretary-general, Dr. Kossi Sama, who said he was whipped and beaten by secret police before being sent to prison. He was found guilty of rebellion, among other charges, and spent three months in detention before being released in November, a few days after 42 other political prisoners were freed as a condition for holding a dialogue between Gnassingbe and the opposition.

Its just barbarity, Sama said. Theyre not asking questions, theyre just accusing us of creating a political party thats against Faure [Gnassingbe]. Thats what theyre punishing us for, just for being against Faure.

Many in the capital said they no longer trust their neighbors, taxi drivers and local shopkeepers for fear of being targeted as troublemakers. Surveillance is not sophisticated in Togo, but those who oppose the government live in fear of being overheard.

Still, the opposition remains undeterred and in some ways emboldened by the crackdown.

Zoulkadou Alfa Yaya, a 25-year-old student in the University of Lomes German program, spent three months in prison after soldiers arrested him for participating in a protest last year. (Siobhan OGrady / For The Times )

This is what happens to heroes. They sometimes face challenges like this because they tell the truth, said Zoulkadou Alfa Yaya, a 25-year-old university student. Repression, torture, thats what were trying to change. Now that repression is increasing, so is resistance against it.

He didnt grow up in a political family. But he came to blame the government for many of the countrys problems  crumbling infrastructure, long lines at the hospital, poverty  and started attending opposition party meetings.

Party leaders promised to weed out corrupt public officials and put Togo back in the hands of the people, and Yaya became convinced that the only path forward were elections to drive the current administration out of power.

In Togo, even if you dont do politics, politics do you, he said. I prefer that I do it before it does me.

Before one protest march last year, he woke up early, dressed in red and left his phone at home to avoid having it searched by the police. When soldiers began firing tear gas into crowds, he took cover in a strangers home for several hours before attempting to avoid the authorities and make his way home.

Instead, he accidentally walked directly into a group of soldiers and was arrested and charged with destruction of public property.

Tried in a group of 27 people, he was among 16 found guilty. He spent three months at Lomes central prison, a compound of run-down buildings where many political protesters wound up last year alongside murderers, rapists and other violent convicts already there.

Outside the main entrance, a portrait of Nelson Mandela is painted on the walls, the words prison is a school scrawled below. During visiting hours, family and friends jockey for the best position to pass food and messages through bars to throngs of half-dressed inmates.

In photographs provided to The Times by an inmate, cells in Lomes central prison are so crowded that inmates sleep on top of one another. (Handout )

Floodwaters fill the crowded central prison in Lome. (Handout )

In photographs provided to The Times by an inmate, cells are so crowded that prisoners sleep on top of one another. Several former prisoners described cell floors littered with feces and urine and said that inmates are denied access to food and medical care.

Among the inmates is Messenth Kokodoko, a member of the opposition civil society movement Togo Debout, or Togo Stand Up.

In an interview at the prison in March, Kokodoko said officers from the secret police tortured him for 12 days, demanding information about the movement and whether it intended to overthrow the president. He said the interrogators whipped him until he bled through his shirt, then dragged him outside.

One would stand in front of me and the other behind me, with his gun on my head, he said. I thought I was going to die.

When another member of the movement, Joseph Eza, tried to visit Kokodoko to deliver food and find out more about his detention, police followed Eza home and arrested him too.

My children are traumatized, Eza said. They saw all this happen and didnt know what was going on.

He too remains in prison.

Issa, the man who was whipped by secret police, also wound up there. Convicted of rebellion and destruction of public property, he served a three-month sentence, sharing a cell with up to 80 people.

He was forced to pay simply to lie down or take a shower. Beatings were common, and some prisoners were denied treatment for tuberculosis and died.

Political prisoners were then treated worse than real criminals, he said.

A woman carries potatoes through a market in Lome. More than half of Togos population relies on subsistence farming to survive. (Siobhan OGrady / For The Times )

Now 33, Issa works in construction. Since his release in November, he has avoided all political activity because he worries that if he were arrested again, the government could go after his family.

Today, if its me who gets hit, I feel the pain, he said. But if its my mom or wife who gets beaten, I will never forgive myself.

Issa said he never even participated in the protest that landed him in prison. He briefly stepped away from work that day to photograph it. When soldiers grabbed him, they searched his phone and found images of the march, which were used as evidence against him.

Everything is political. Even the trials are political, he said. Everyone pled not guilty, and everyone was found guilty.

OGrady is a special correspondent.
Jordans prime minister, beset by popular outrage over tax hikes and a raft of other austerity measures, tendered his resignation Monday and is expected to be replaced by a former World Bank economist.

Hani Mulki stepped down after a meeting with the sovereign, King Abdullah II, following days of rare protests, the countrys biggest in years, that saw tens of thousands of people across Jordan calling for the governments downfall.

Abdullah, who has the power to disband Cabinets and appoint prime ministers, is reported to have asked Omar Razzaz, the countrys education minister who was previously with the World Bank, to head a new government.

Mulkis departure was the final act of a deeply unpopular prime minister who, though he spent only two years on the job, was often excoriated for pushing economic reforms demanded by the International Monetary Fund.

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Jordanian King Abdullah II, left, and then-Prime Minister Hani Mulki attend an official lunch meeting at the royal palace in Amman on May 1, 2018. (Khalil Mazraawi / AFP/Getty Images )

Although the IMF had granted Amman a lifesaving $723-million, three-year line of credit in 2016, it came with a caveat: Jordan would have to implement an austerity package aimed at reducing its national debt, which at $37 billion constituted 96% of the countrys gross domestic product in 2017, according to IMF data. The goal was 77% by 2022.

Mulki had enraged Jordanians at the beginning of the year by levying a sales tax on 165 items, many of them basic commodities that would affect the poor. But it was only the first step.

Fuel prices increased; water and electricity costs skyrocketed (the latter by 55%), while a wide-scale scrapping of subsidies saw the price of bread double overnight.

The hikes earned Amman the dubious distinction of being the Arab worlds most expensive city in 2018, according to a report by the Economist magazine. Meanwhile, salaries have remained stagnant for years,

The last straw came last month when Mulki proposed a 5% increase in the corporate tax. The measure would also seek to grow the countrys tax base from 4.5% to 10% of the population by lowering the minimum taxable income for both individuals and families.

Violators would face a barrage of punitive measures, including prison, a serious development in a country where tax evasion is rampant. (Last year, Jordans Income and Sales Tax Department estimated annual loss due to tax avoidance at more than $4.2 billion.)

The proposed tax bill faced fierce opposition from labor unions, which said it would impoverish the countrys already-eviscerated middle class.

Mulki, however, refused to back down.

Union leaders retaliated by calling for a general strike Wednesday that drew thousands (as it has every day since) to the prime ministers headquarters in Ammans diplomatic district, while demonstrations erupted in other cities.

Activists also took to social media, rallying support with hashtags that declared #WeHaveNoMoney and others.

The government, in a move that astounded even its staunchest supporters, introduced yet another round of electricity and fuel hikes.

With demonstrations reaching fever pitch, the king, who is the countrys ultimate authority but portrays his role as standing above the day-to-day minutiae of domestic affairs, ordered a freeze on any price increases.

100s of protesters here in empty lot near prime Minister HQ in #Amman. #Jordan-ian gendarmerie in big numbers here. pic.twitter.com/DOAmg8QT8c  Nabih (@nabihbulos) June 4, 2018

Protesters were unimpressed and took to the streets again to insist Mulki leave and the tax law be withdrawn.

Many also accused the government of overspending and of endemic corruption, and complained that they received scant benefits from their tax payments.

The wave of unrest is a rare occurrence in a country often described as an island of stability in a notoriously troubled region.

It was largely spared the turmoil of the so-called Arab Spring protests in 2011, yet was still buffeted by their fallout: Millions of Syrian refugees streamed into the kingdom to flee the civil war tearing their country apart. The instability kept tourists away and made foreign investors wary; routes to Iraq and Syria were closed, in effect isolating Jordan from its export markets; and sluggish growth led to record unemployment. (Youth unemployment is thought to have reached 40%.)

In the past, Jordan, a poor nation with no oil and few exports, had weathered fiscal crises by utilizing handouts it received from the United States and Persian Gulf states. The kingdom has long been a key U.S. ally in the region.

This year, the U.S. signed a memorandum of understanding with Jordan that gave the tiny kingdom $6.37 billion over the next five years, not including aid packages for assistance in dealing with Syrian refugees.

Yet its traditional sources of support from the gulf dried up, especially after Abdullah was reported to have defied the dictates of Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, who is thought to have supported the transfer of the U.S. Embassy in Israel from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem.

Mulkis ouster spells the premature end of the seventh government in the last decade. It was yet another example of the palaces sleight of hand, with the king disbanding or reshuffling cabinets in a bid to quell discord.

But it was unclear if Mondays move would be enough.

They cant do yet another symbolic sack the prime minister, bring someone else, get a policy statement that says the same thing as the last 10 policy statements, said Rami Khouri, a professor at American University of Beirut, in a phone interview Monday.

The sentiment was echoed by Sean Yom, a Jordan expert at Temple University.

The government will still face pressure from above to implement financial austerity; simply being younger and more popular, as Razzaz is, doesnt mean the Central Bank will suddenly discover 1 billion Jordanian dinars [about $1.4 billion] and realize it doesnt have to cut subsidies or raise taxes at all, Yom said in a chat message Monday.

The heart of the matter is that Jordan is broke, there are no more crises to milk and financial decisions, like foreign policy, are made by a small group of unelected officials  who do not have to answer to parliament or the public  only the palace, really, and outside donors.

Despite the government being disbanded, protesters came out again Monday night, though in smaller numbers than on previous days.

"O #Amman, rise up! Let all the people come." Protesters try to keep momentum in #Jordan anti-austerity demos. pic.twitter.com/OEnFJSB5vC  Nabih (@nabihbulos) June 4, 2018

Bulos is a special correspondent.
A man's high-speed chase with police ended Thursday in Bethlehem Township with a crash into a utility pole, police said.

Martin Stofanak Jr., of Lehighton, allegedly jumped out of the driver's seat of the crashed Dodge Dakota and ran away, as did an unidentified passenger.

The 29-year-old Stofanak was arraigned Monday on charges including fleeing police, reckless endangerment and unauthorized use of a motor vehicle. He was sent to Northampton County Prison in lieu of $1,000 bail.

A witness told police he first saw a man later identified as Stofanak driving away from Fat Jacks' Bar on Freemansburg Avenue.

Stofanak allegedly hit a street sign but kept driving. Police said witnesses called to report a man driving a Dodge Dakota that struck a lawn sign and was doing doughnuts in the road in Palmer Township.

Witnesses told police the Dodge Dakota tried to pass a U-Haul truck over a double yellow line on Freemansburg Avenue near Kings View and drove into oncoming traffic.

Bethlehem Township police waited at St. Luke's Boulevard and Freemansburg Avenue when Stofanak drove the Dodge Dakota through the intersection, according to the department.

When police put on their lights and siren, Stofanak sped up out of view, police said.

Police believed he entered the nearby Shoprite shopping center and pulled in, when they received a call for a Dodge Dakota that crashed into a PPL pole on Freemansburg Avenue and Farmersville Road.

Police learned Stofanak's driver's licenses was suspended related to a DUI case, and he has a warrant out of Georgia.

The owner of the vehicle was interviewed by phone and told police Stofanak was his daughter's boyfriend and Stofanak took the vehicle without his knowledge.

Sarah Cassi may be reached at scassi@lehighvalleylive.com. Follow her on Twitter @SarahCassi. Find lehighvalleylive.com on Facebook.
A driver who took his eyes off the road to hand a cell phone to a passenger was charged Monday with homicide by vehicle for a crash last year in Lehigh County, according to a news release.

Khalif Skinner, 34, of West Norriton Township, Montgomery County, allegedly looked down at the center console of his truck to hand a cell phone to a passenger before causing the crash that killed Jeffrey Flowers, according to a news release from the Lehigh County district attorney.

By the time he looked up Skinner couldn't slow down in time to prevent himself from rear-ending the Prius driven by Flowers, 69, of Chesapeake, Virginia, the news release says.

The crash was 5:34 p.m. Oct. 30, 2017, on Route 222 in Lower Macungie Township. Skinner was headed south about a quarter mile north of Krocks Road, the news release says.

The news release says Flowers' passenger, 70-year-old Cheiko Flowers, was injured and treated at a hospital. She lives with Flowers, the news release says.

Flowers' Prius was pushed forward into a car driven by Mary Hilliard Moran, 39, of Lower Macungie Township, the release says. She wasn't hurt, the release says.

Skinner is charged with homicide by vehicle, involuntary manslaughter, two counts of reckless endangerment, and single counts of following too closely, speeding, careless driving and reckless driving.

He was released on $100,000 unsecured bail by District Judge Michael Faulkner.

Rudy Miller may be reached at rmiller@lehighvalleylive.com. Follow him on Twitter @RudyMillerLV. Find Easton area news on Facebook.
Stock Market News

Canaccord slashes recommendation for Hunting to 'hold' 04-06-2018 15:48



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Monday newspaper round-up: Brexit, China-US deal, auditors, trains 04-06-2018 07:07



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Stanley Gibbons appoints chief executive from majority stakeholder Phoenix 04-06-2018 16:29



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UK to formally propose time-limited extension of current customs union this week 04-06-2018 14:00



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BLACK REPUBLICAN BLOG - The Republican Party is the party of civil rights and the four Fs: faith, family, freedom and fairness. The Democratic Party is the party of the four Ss: slavery, secession, segregation and socialism (Quote By Author Michael Scheuer).
On Thursday the deadline passed for an agreement between Trump and Canada, Japan, Mexico and the EU on trade. Failure to reach an agreement meant that the steel and aluminium tariffs threatened by Trump came into force. With this, Trump has begun the process of unravelling globalisation. On Saturday, the G-7 finance ministers met and the 6 non-US ministers came together against the US, expressing their unanimous concern and disappointment over the US decision.

The French Finance Minister (and France is particularly annoyed with the US over Iran) joked that it was the meeting of the G6+1 (in reference to how Russian participation often is referred to as G7+1). This is a damning indictment of relations between the US and its closest allies.

Not only has Trump managed to anger China and Russia, but also the USs most important allies. The fact that he cited national security as a reason adds insult to injury. As the Canadian Finance Minister pointed out it is absurd to think that Canada could in any way be a security risk to the United States.

Among the US establishment this is of particular concern because they are worried about China, and about Chinese industrial and trade policy. They would like to use the EU and Japan as levers against China, something which would be entirely on the cards. In fact, in the trade negotiations in China, the US has been simultaneously raising two concerns. Trump has been pushing to force China to buy more US products, whilst the US ruling class in general is concerned with intellectual property and the (forced) transfer of technology to China. This reflects the deep division that exists between the Trump administration and a significant section of the US ruling class.

The dispute between Trump and the rest isnt just a question of tariffs, so much as a question of the principle of free trade in general. The EU has tariffs against Chinese steel, implemented at the height of the steel crisis a couple of years back. Trump wants the EU to agree, not to this or that measure that could benefit a US company and thus boost exports, but to a whole swathe of goods. As with China, he wants the EU, Canada, etc., to agree to reduce their trade surpluses with the US.

From the standpoint of any economic theory, this is madness. The whole point of international trade is to improve efficiency through global competition, which works best without restrictions. This is the famous invisible hand of Adam Smith, according to which resources will be allocated in the most efficient manner if the market is left unfettered. Adam Smith was arguing against the previously prevailing theory of mercantilism, which strove to maximise profitable trade. This remains the general ideal that has been promoted in international relations for a whole historical period. The argument goes that if everyone lowers their barriers to trade, everyone will benefit.

Free trade promotes competition, and through competition the development of the productive forces, pushing out workers, companies and nations that are insufficiently competitive. Thus the most efficient forms of production will prevail. Although this, as an abstract principle, may be true, it only works when everyone is benefitting to one degree or another. Once the capitalist system as a whole enters into serious crisis, the people that are directly affected, mainly the individual capitalists who are unable to keep up with the most competitive companies, are unlikely to be willing to sacrifice their livelihoods for the principle of the invisible hand. The absurdity of competition is of course that although it promotes efficiency in the long run, it does so only by destroying the productive forces in the short-term, something that in any rationally planned society would be completely unnecessary. Capitalism is of course neither rational nor planned, and from a capitalist point of view, the creative destruction of world trade is essential.

For a whole period, the principle of free trade has been enshrined in hundreds of treaties, from bilateral, to multilateral. Trump, however, has not a small element of mercantilism in his thinking. He is pushing for trade deals that will remove trade deficits, not by raising the competitiveness of US companies (through investments) but by using US economic and military clout in order to force other nations to increase imports from the US or lower their exports to the US. They managed to accomplish this with South Korea, which signed precisely such a deal. As the Financial Times editorial points out: This is pure bilateralism and managed trade and, as such, comprehensively in violation of the principles of the WTO.

The EU and Canada are intent on opposing this. They do this, of course, partly out of self-interest as they already have a trade surplus that they would like to keep with the US, but its also part of a general attempt by the capitalist class internationally to save the world economy from disaster. They would like to salvage the institutions and treaties of free trade that have been built up over the past 70 years. In this, the EU and Canada are supported by the majority of the US ruling class, which is opposed to Trump on this point. Incidentally, Obamas opposition to Brexit was for the very same reason.

The statement of the 6 referred to precisely this point, saying the meeting of the G7 should be to restore collaborative partnerships to promote free, fair, predictable and mutually beneficial trade and that collaboration and cooperation has been put at risk by trade actions against other members.

Trump, is characteristically full of bluster: When youre almost 800 Billion Dollars a year down on Trade, you cant lose a Trade War! He treats the world economy as a zero-sum-game where one players loss is anothers gain. In reality, a trade war between the major economies would lead to huge losses on all sides. The Canadian Foreign Minister said as much when she stated that we know that beggar-thy-neighbor policies dont work. That was the lesson of the 1920s and the 1930s. Indeed, protectionism turned the recession of the 1930s into a depression.

When youre almost 800 Billion Dollars a year down on Trade, you cant lose a Trade War! The U.S. has been ripped off by other countries for years on Trade, time to get smart!  Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) 2 June 2018

The 6 countries are now making a complaint against the US to the World Trade Organisation, but its doubtful whether the US would abide by any ruling. Trump has already shown contempt for the WTO by blocking the appointment of new judges to this very same tribunal, paralysing the dispute resolution process of the organisation. For now, the main dispute is with the US, but its not just about the US. The question will inevitably arise why other countries should abide by the WTO if the US does not.

The US has for 70 years been the enforcer and guarantor of free trade in the capitalist part of the world. If they are no longer willing to play that role, but are also actively sabotaging the process, who is going to step into their shoes? The EU is too weak and divided, and is suffering from similar pressures in Italy and Britain. China has some credibility problems, given their trade barriers. In reality there is no country other than the US that could play this role. The main hope that the ruling class has is to limit Trump, using the US Congress and various types of retaliatory measures, directed against Trumps supporters. Then eventually, at some point, they hope to replace him, possibly as a result of an impeachment process. What they ignore is that the same social conditions that gave rise to Trump will not guarantee the stability of the US political system. Even if they were to succeed in somehow removing Trump, there is no guarantee that they would get the kind of President they desire.

Globalisation together with the expansion of credit enabled the capitalist class to extend the post-war boom far beyond its limits. All of that is now turning into its opposite. The present crisis in world relations and the threats to free trade are part and parcel of the economic crisis. Whatever happens, the period of free trade is coming to an end, which in turn will usher in a period of deep crisis of the whole system.

This means that the dreams of many that a return to a period of prosperity is possible, will be shattered. The inability of capitalism to deliver a decent living standard for the working class will lead to one political and social crisis after another, until the system is finally overthrown. Trump is a clear expression of the impasse the system has entered.
WILLINGTON, Conn. -- Ben Carson, U.S. secretary of Housing and Urban Development, stood Monday morning in the basement of an Willington, Connecticut, home and watched sunlight creep in through cracks in the concrete walls -- walls failing because they were built with gravel tainted with pyrrhotite.

Carson stood back as homeowners Maggie and Vincent Perracchio pointed out to him how the basement walls have lifted up, tearing their home from from its sills. He saw inches of air in between the tops of lolly columns and the heavy crossbeam those uprights were meant to support.

"I'm just flabbergasted the insurance companies are able to get away with this," Carson, a brain surgeon and one-time presidential candidate, said.

Insurers are reluctant to pay claims for folks like the Perracchios whose homes are collapsing but not yet collapsed and Massachusetts insurance policies are even tougher to deal with.

The Perrachhio's home here in eastern Connecticut, just off Interstate 84 and an hour drive from Springfield, was built with concrete mined from Becker Quarry here in Willington, just about five miles away.

Over time, the naturally occurring pyrrhotite reacts with oxygen and water. It rusts, essentially, and rust swells causing cracking, crumbling and eventually collapse.

The pyrrhotite is likely in 34,000 Connecticut homes and an untold number of homes in neighboring Massachusetts.

Repairing the damage can be expensive. It can cost hundreds of thousands of dollars to lift a home, scoop out the old concrete, replace it with new and then set the house down.

Carson came to Willington Monday at the invitation of U.S. Sen. Chris Murphy, D-Connecticut, who, along with Sen. Richard Blumenthal, D-Connecticut, U.S. Reps. Joe Courtney and John Larson, Richard Neal and others, are looking for federal relief for homeowners with pyrrhotite in both Massachusetts and Connecticut.

Murphy, Blumenthal, Courtney and Connecticut Lt. Gov. Nancy Wyman were on the tour Monday.

The Aid to Homeowners with Crumbling Foundations Act, introduced by Murphy and cosponsored by Blumenthal, would provide $100 million over five years from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development to states like Connecticut or Massachusetts that have created nonprofit assistance funds to repair pyrrhotite-related damage.

The Crumbling Foundations Small Business and Homeowners Assistance Act, introduced by Blumenthal and cosponsored by Murphy, would create a similar grant program through the Federal Emergency Management Agency.

Carson had little to say in the way of immediate courses of action Monday. He promised to work together in a nonpartisan way with officials from both states and other branches of the federal government on solutions.

Courtney said its unreasonable to expect Carson to write a federal check on the spot. But seeing is believing and a first-hand experience is worth thousands of briefing books and memos.

"I think that the next time we reach out to the Trump administration on this issue, we'll be dealing with a more receptive HUD," he said.

Murphy said: "We need him, we need Sec. Carson, to push our legislation over the goal line."

Homeowner Maggie Perracchio said Carson, the lawmakers, their entourages and reporters from both states were the biggest crowd she'd hosted in hears. They rarely entertain anymore because its too hard to explain whey their house doesn't look right.

She pointed to a family room with a cathedral ceiling that is separating from the rest of the home, inch wide cracks visible in its walls. She showed where cabinets have pulled from the wall. She showed off the cracks in the basement.

They've lived here for 27 years having bought the home from its previous owners when it was just more than a year old.

Vincent Perracchi said the damage started off small with hairline fractures.

Then one morning about two-and-a-half years ago, Maggie Perrachio was in that family room when she heard a noise. She described it as sounding like a rambunctious child jumping down from a counter top onto the kitchen floor.

It was a chunk of the basement wall falling in.

"Maggie and I know we don't have much longer here," Vincent Perrachio said. "We are going to have to move. It's not safe."

Contractor Don Childree of South Windsor said only the weight and friction of the Perracchios' home is keeping it together.

"The force of the concrete expanding is tearing it apart," he said. "It's relentless."

Tainted concrete will crunch anything in its path. Contractors have built new concrete walls to contain it only to have the bad concrete crumble the new with its unyielding pressure.

Childree said he's quoted the Perracchios' a price of $215,000 to repair their home.

He's got five of these jobs going right now and will do 15 by the end of the year. He's given estimates in Longmeadow and East Longmeadow, too.

Homeowners have trouble paying for the repairs. The damage means their homes have no value to collateralize a home equity loan.

One of Childree's customers can't pay him until later this year, after the customer has another birthday and is old enough to cash in his retirement account without a tax penalty.

Childree said some Connecticut homeowners have sued to get heir insurers to pay. Massachusetts homeowners have as yet only heard 'no'.

Maggie Perracchio said his home is worth nothing.

"We had it reassessed a few years ago," she said. "We only pay taxes on the land."

Blumenthal said FEMA needs to actively respond to the concrete crisis in Massachusetts and Connecticut.

"This needs to be declared a natural disaster," Blumenthal said. "It's a disaster that came from up out of the earth. Just like an earthquake."
Argentina's famous for its Malbec wines for a reason.

Many of them taste terrific.

The reason why can probably be traced back to the soil where the grapes are grown. Ask any winemaker around the world why their wines taste so good and most of them will talk about the "terroir," the soil, the sense of place that makes their wines unique.

Certain grapes thrive in certain soils in specific areas.

Pinot Noir in France's Burgundy region.

Cabernet Sauvignon in California's Napa Valley.

This idea - that the wine reflects the soil and the climate where it is grown - was the inspiration behind the creation of Matervini, an Argentinian winery that specializes in making distinct Malbec wines.

Matervini (Latin for "Mother of Wine") was founded in 2010 by Santiago Achaval and Roberto Cipresso.

Achaval's name is well known to many wine lovers. He's legendary when it comes to making great Argentinian Malbec wines. He helped found Achaval Ferrer, an Argentinian winery famous for making some of the world's best Malbecs.

I've raved about Achaval Ferrer wines before. That's why I was interested to try Matervini's Malbecs.

The verdict? Santiago Achaval hit another home run with Matervini.

I recently had the opportunity to try four different Matervini Malbecs. All four wines were outstanding in their own, distinct way. What I enjoyed most about many of these wines was how smooth and elegant they tasted since so many people associate Argentinian Malbecs with being big, bold and robust. Yes, one of these wines clearly fit that mold. But there was so much more going on with them as well.

"This venture shows how very different wines from completely different terroirs can be born from the same grape varietal," according to the winery's website.

As a result, the Malbec grapes used to make each Matervini wine come from different, distinct vineyards that produces complex, exciting flavors.

Let me add that many of these wines can be ordered online at Matervini's website.

Hope you enjoy.

WINES REVIEWED THIS WEEK

2014 Matervini Antes Andes Valles Calchaquies Salta (Suggested Retail Price $45)

2014 Matervini Antes Andes Vina de Canota Mendoza Las Heras (SRP $45)

2014 Matervini Alteza Salta (SRP $90) (Best Wine of Tasting)

2014 Matervini Finca Lujan De Cuto Mendoza (SRP $90)

WINE OF THE WEEK UNDER $10

2016 Finca El Origen Reserva Estate Malbec (Suggested Retail Price $10)

TASTING NOTES

(All wines reviewed this week are made with Malbec grapes from Argentina.)

2014 Matervini Antes Andes Valles Calchaquies Salta

Soft, understated, fruit-forward wine with a clean finish and bright, raspberry-like flavors. This wine is definitely one of the lighter wines of the four Matervini wines reviewed this week. But just because it's lighter in tone doesn't mean this wine is watered down. Lots of exciting, fruit-like flavors abound in this wine.

2014 Matervini Antes Andes Vina de Canota Mendoza Las Heras

One of the smoother wines reviewed this week, this Matervini Malbec tastes much drier than the one reviewed above. Here, the fruit flavors (particularly raspberries again) taste as if they have been dried in the sun and slowly roasted in butter or duck fat. Very enjoyable wine.

2014 Matervini Alteza Salta (Best Wine of Tasting)

A real powerhouse, this outstanding wine packs a real punch. Long aftertaste with a more roasted plum-like flavor, this wine will appeal to people who prefer bolder, robust wines. Really stood out compared to the other three Matervini wines reviewed this week. Let me add that this wine tastes great straight out of the bottle and the next day as well. Truly amazing.

2014 Matervini Finca Lujan De Cuto Mendoza

This wine strikes just the right balance between bold and smooth. The velvety flavors also combine the raspberry and plum-like flavors of the other three Matervini wines reviewed this week. Here again, the fruit flavors have a roasted quality. Very interesting wine.

WINE OF THE WEEK UNDER $10

2016 Finca El Origen Reserva Estate Malbec

This is the type of wine more winemakers need to make. There's nothing complicated about this wine. It's simply delicious from start to finish. Dark and inky in color, this Malbec from Argentina has a robust, earthy finish with a slight nutty flavor with hints of roasted cherries. Flavors last more than 30 seconds after each sip. Let me add the wine tastes great straight out of the bottle and the second day as well.

Cheers

Next Week - Burgundy Wineries, Part 4 - Interview, Tasting at Domaine Anne Gros.

Wine Press by Ken Ross appears on Masslive.com every Monday and in The Republican's weekend section every Thursday.

Follow Ken Ross on Twitter or Instagram.



Upcoming Wine Events

(If you have an upcoming wine-related event in Western Massachusetts, please let me know and I'll do my best to briefly list the event here. Please email me at kross@repub.com. Thank you.)

Sat., May 26 - 3 to 5 p.m. - Provisions in Northampton hosts "Wine Class, Tuscany," featuring 12 wines from the Tuscany wine region in Italy. Tickets are $20 each. Contact Provisions to register or for more information.

Sat., June 2 - 1 to 4 p.m. - The Federal in Agawam and Table & Vine in West Springfield host "The Perfect Pink Party" on the lawn at The Federal in Agawam. Event features more than 50 rose wines. Tickets are $50 each and available in store or online at tableandvine.com.
Fifty years ago, this week, U. S. Senator Robert F. Kennedy was shot and killed in Los Angeles, Ca. He had just finished giving a speech to supporters at the Ambassador Hotel after winning the California Democratic primary in the presidential election of 1968.

The nation mourned as his body was flown to New York City to lie in state at St. Patrick's Cathedral. Later in the week, his body was brought to Washington, D.C. for burial at Arlington National Cemetery.

From the June 8, 1968 edition of The Springfield Union

Twenty years later, Massachusetts Governor Michael Dukakis clinched the Democratic presidential nomination. Within twenty-four hours President Ronald Reagan went on the attack against Dukakis and said that he would do everything that he could to help elect Vice President George H. W. Bush to the presidency.

From the June 9, 1988 edition of The Union-News

These are some of the headlines you'll see from Page 1 of The Republican and its predecessors over the past fifty years for the week of June 3- June 9. Each week I'll put together a slideshow of Page 1 images from selected years over the course of that week. We're starting with a look back at one, five, thirty, forty and fifty years ago, with Page 1s from each day of the week for those years.

The slideshow for June 3 - June 9 is embedded at the top of this article.

We'll also find some humor printed out on page one over the years. In 1968 'Dennis The Menace' could be found on the bottom of page one six days a week.

From the June 5, 1968 edition of The Springfield Union

One year ago, this week, the city of Springfield celebrated the opening of The Amazing World of Dr. Seuss Museum at the Springfield Quadrangle.

From the June 3, 2017 edition of The Republican

And back in 1968, heavy fighting continued in and around Saigon, South Vietnam. The Viet Cong launched 40 rockets onto the city and its suburbs, the heaviest bombardment against the capital so far in the war. Ten Vietnamese civilians were reported injured.

U.S. troops also attacked a Viet Cong camp southwest of the capital in the Mekong Delta. Flown into the area by helicopter, sources reported 19 U.S. troops killed and 48 wounded during the first day of the assault.

From the June 3, 1968 edition of The Springfield Union

As you'll find with looking through the slideshow, that while many stories come and go, many of the issues and topics that affected lives in the past, continue to have an impact on our lives today.

Copies of these and other stories can be found in the online archives. The Historic Archive includes stories from 1824 to 1989, and the Newsbank Archive covers 1988 through the present day.
WEST SPRINGFIELD -- As Mayor William C. Reichelt took to social media to pitch his plan for two commercial marijuana facilities on the outskirts of town, citing the potential financial benefits to West Springfield, a local anti-pot activist says the mayor should resign if his million-dollar annual revenue prediction falls short.

Dean Martilli, a consultant and self-described "town advocate," says Reichelt's projection of $1 million in annual town tax revenue from a pair of commercial pot facilities -- $500,000 apiece -- is "dramatically inflated."

"He's misrepresenting a big number to the people," said Martilli, who has taken to calling Reichelt the "Million Dollar Marijuana Mayor" ever since Reichelt estimated what West Side's financial cut of the action might look like.

"By allowing this into your community, you're giving kids the wrong message. It just doesn't look good," said Martilli, who has worked in politics and as a lobbyist in the past.

Martilli believes embracing recreational pot is a bad idea for West Side, which voted against legalization in a statewide ballot initiative in 2016. But Reichelt, an attorney who was initially opposed to legalization, believes the town should benefit from the law, including revenue-sharing of up to 6 percent for each recreational pot facility that opens in a community.

"I wasn't a supporter of legalization back in 2016, and we voted against legalization here in West Side," the mayor said in a video on his Facebook page. "But it was a statewide ballot question and it passed. Marijuana is legal now. We don't have a choice about legalization anymore. We can't make it illegal in West Side."

After West Side voted down recreational and commercial pot, Reichelt drafted a moratorium preventing commercial pot from being sold or manufactured in town until 2019, "or until we regulate and replace the moratorium," he said.

The Town Council will hold a public hearing tonight at 7 on a proposed amendment to the General Ordinance to prohibit commercial marijuana establishments. If the council bans recreational pot, Reichelt's zoning proposal for two facilities in an outlying industrial zone would be dead on arrival.

Reichelt told The Republican that he used Northampton's conservative model for what that city expects to receive from the medical marijuana dispensary operating within its borders. Next year, the dispensary is projected to pay $250,000 to Northampton, based on a 3 percent local tax on the dispensary's gross annual sales.

Because municipalities can collect the local tax and a 3 percent host community agreement fee, for a combined local tax of 6 percent, Reichelt says he used the 6 percent rate and doubled Northampton's projection. That would result in West Side receiving around $500,000 from each commercial facility that opens in town, or $1 million from two, according to the mayor.

With about 49,000 medical marijuana cards issued in Massachusetts, 22 percent of the state's adult population admitting to having used marijuana, and another 14 percent saying they use the drug regularly, Reichelt says the potential market for commercial marijuana is "huge," from retail operations to cultivation facilities and beyond.

"The conversation is no longer about legalization but regulation," he said. "We do not have to allow sales in West Side, but before we make that decision, I believe we need to have a sensible discussion about the issue."

Reichelt says the revenue from commercial pot could be used to pay for additional traffic enforcement, substance abuse education and training, school adjustment councilors, and many other potential uses.

"It goes back to the idea that it's here, it's legal now," said the mayor, "so we have got to deal with the market we have."

If West Side ultimately opts out of potential commercial pot money, "we wouldn't really be a different community," he said. "We'd just kind of be a left-behind community."

Reichelt's zoning amendments would permit commercial cannabis establishments in industrial zones, but only after site plan review and special permitting. Strict odor and signage regulations would be required for facilities, which would not be allowed to operate within 500 feet of a house, school, church, daycare center, park, playground or other places where children congregate.

West Springfield residents voted 6,339 to 5,813 against legalizing recreational pot in the November 2016 ballot measure, which was supported by a majority of Massachusetts municipalities.
GREENFIELD - A business and residents of two apartments were displaced after a fire Sunday morning heavily damaged a mixed-use building on Deerfield Street.

The fire at 366 Deerfield St. was reported at about 11:25 a.m. When firefighters arrived the front of the building was engulfed in flames, Fire Capt. John Whitney said.

It took firefighters about 50 minutes to extinguish the flames. Greenfield firefighters were assisted by crews from Bernardston, Deerfield, South Deerfield, Shelburne, Montague Center and Turners Falls, Whitney said.

The fire mainly caused damage to the outside of the building. Most of the interior was saved from fire damage, he said.

Speedway Metals is located on the first floor and there are two apartments in the building. Whitney could not say how many people lived in the apartments.

The cause of the fire is under investigation, he said.
HOLYOKE -- Students can earn up to 12 college credits before they graduate from high school thanks to a $131,600 state grant.

The funding is for an early college partnership between the city public schools and Holyoke Community College (HCC).

"We are most appreciative of the state's critical investment in the sustainability and growth of early college access linked to our high school academies for more students in Holyoke," said Stephen K. Zrike, the state-appointed receiver managing Holyoke public schools.

The administration of Gov. Charlie Baker and Lt. Gov. Karyn Polito announced the early college programs for Holyoke and four other cities last month. Earning the college credits in the program comes at no cost to the students, a press release said.

"Early college programs combine traditional high school courses with an opportunity to earn college credit at a public college or university and are typically aligned to a particular career pathway. The five designated early college programs - in Chelsea, Charlestown, Holyoke, Brockton and Salem - will enroll hundreds of students this fall," the press release said.

Students will take the early college program at the HCC campus, 303 Homestead Ave. The program will include two courses taught by HCC staff and two other, technical courses, "giving students experience and a pathway to college," the press release said.

Besides Holyoke and HCC, the partnerships and grants are:

Charlestown High School and Bunker Hill Community College, $136,280

Chelsea High School and Bunker Hill Community College, $125,686

Massasoit Community College and New Heights Charter School of Brockton, $140,000

Salem State University and Salem Public Schools, $140,000.

In March 2017, Baker said his administration would make efforts "to significantly increase" the number of early college seats available to high school students.

"Designating these five early college programs will create more opportunities for Massachusetts high school students to be ready for college," Baker said.

"Early college programs are a great tool for combining traditional high school courses with an opportunity to earn college credit at a local community college," Polito said.

Under the state plan, the early college programs must give access to all students, academic guidance and other support and help in ensuring courses have a relevant connection to a career, the press release said.
Turkeys are on the move in Massachusetts, and state wildlife officials want to know how many of them are out there.

The state's Division of Wildlife and Fisheries is asking hunters, bird enthusiasts and others to help them out with their annual turkey brood survey.

The annual survey runs from June 1 through August 31, part of an effort to aid the division's biologists as well as offering an estimate of the potential number that could be hunted in the fall season.

On its website, the division, also known as MassWildlife, offers a reporting form to record sightings of male adults, hens and juveniles.

Newly hatched turkeys are known as "poults," while a juvenile male is a "jake" and an adult male turkey is a "tom."

"Turkey nesting success can vary annually in response to weather conditions, predator populations, and habitat characteristics," MassWildlife said. "Citizen involvement in this survey is a cost-effective means of gathering useful data, and can be a fun way for people to connect with nature."

The wild turkey is the "official game bird" of Massachusetts.

The last known native turkey was killed in 1851, according to MassWildlife.

In the 1970s, 37 New York turkeys were brought into Massachusetts and released into the Berkshires, bringing about a population of 1,000 birds in 1978.

There are now roughly 25,000 turkeys in Massachusetts.

"Be sure to look carefully when counting turkey broods, the very small poults may be difficult to see in tall grass or brush," the division said on its website. "MassWildlife is interested in turkey brood observations from all regions of the state, including rural and developed areas."
Nantucket schools are closed Monday following "rumors of a threat" to the high school.

Superintendent of Schools Michael Cozort said while he does not believe the threat is credible, he is closing schools to give police time to check the buildings.

The decision came after several students posted information on Instagram Sunday night saying they had heard of a shooting threat and warning others not to come to school Monday,

reports.

"Tonight, around 6 p.m. or so, (Nantucket High School principal) John Buckey got a call from a teacher who had received a call from a student that said rumors were going around that a threat had been made about something happening at school tomorrow, and kids were being warned not to go to school," Cozort told the newspaper.

Cozort told the newspaper that a bomb threat was called into the school last week, but was kept quiet while police investigated.

Cozort said he expects to reopen schools Tuesday with an increased police presence.
NORTHAMPTON -- Leaks and water infiltration at the 29 Center St. police station, completed in 2012 at a cost of $17.6 million, have led to a lawsuit.

Leaks associated with the facility's parking deck and garage caused water to enter the attached police station building, according to a civil complaint filed May 18 in Hampshire Superior Court.

The lawsuit names the Chicopee-based Caolo & Bieniek Associates, Inc.; Barr & Barr, Inc. of Natick; and Liberty Mutual Insurance Company.

The city, which recently spent $783,350 to fix the longstanding problem, seeks financial damages. The leaks appeared soon after the facility was completed and handed over to the police department, according to the complaint.



"This lawsuit represents the City of Northampton's ongoing efforts to ensure that our taxpayers receive the police station facility that they paid for," said Mayor David Narkewicz in a statement on Monday.

Project architects and construction managers, "despite repeated demands," failed to resolve "persistent water infiltration" at the facility, causing damage and interfering with the city's rightful use of the property, the complaint alleges.

Northampton officials contracted with Caolo & Bieniek architects in 2007, and entered a contract with Barr & Barr construction managers in 2008. Barr & Barr issued a performance bond issued through Liberty Mutual.

Barr & Barr failed to build everything according to specification; Caolo & Bieniek wrongly signed off on the work; and Caolo & Bieniek introduced its own design flaws, the complaint alleges. Liberty Mutual, as an insurer, allegedly "failed and refused to fulfill its contractual obligation" to the city.

The complaint alleges breach of contract, indemnity on the part of Barr & Barr, and intentional and negligent misrepresentation by Caolo & Bieniek and Barr & Barr.

Barr & Barr's representations to the city regarding its work performance were "false, inaccurate, untrue, or made with recklessness as to their truth," and Caolo & Bieniek falsely represented to the city that Barr & Barr's work was done according to specification, the complaint alleges.

The city is represented in the matter by Springfield attorney Mark E. Draper of Annino, Draper & Moore.

The City Council last November agreed to move ahead with repairs, and hired Hoffman Architects and RAC Builders to do the work. The council appropriated $702,007, and an extra $36,343 was pulled from monies left over in the original police station construction account, said Narkewicz.

A posted agenda shows that the council on Nov. 16 entered executive session "to discuss strategy with regard to anticipated litigation relative to design and construction defects at the Police Station Facility causing water infiltration issues."

Northampton voters in 2010 approved a $10 million debt exclusion to help fund the police station, which replaced a cramped and mold-ridden facility from the 1960s, which was torn down. The project included the two-tier parking garage, and upgraded downtown utilities infrastructure.

Under the "construction manager at risk" contract negotiated by the city, Barr & Barr would assume responsibility for cost overruns. Former Police Chief Russell P. Sienkiewicz, then co-chairman of the project building committee, reported in mid-2011 that everything appeared to be coming in on budget.

Representatives from Barr & Barr and Caolo & Bieniek did not immediately return telephone calls Monday seeking comment. Narkewicz said the defendants have not yet been served with process, but that the city will do so within a required 90-day window.
From left to right, Facebook photos of America Lyden, Ernestine Ryans and Kayla Escalante.(Submitted photos)
SPRINGFIELD -- Arguing that the release of information about new charges against kidnapping suspect Stewart Weldon will hurt an ongoing investigation, Assistant District Attorney Max Bennett on Monday asked a judge to impound the case file.

Springfield District Court Judge John Payne allowed Bennett's motion to shield the documents from public view until June 29.

Weldon, the subject of an intensifying investigation that included the discovery of three corpses at his Page Boulevard home last week, pleaded not guilty to new charges of kidnapping and assault to rape in Springfield District Court Monday morning.

Records list the date of the alleged offenses as Feb. 1. The impounded file would contain a police report detailing the alleged facts leading to the new charges.

In his affidavit supporting his motion to impound the documents, Bennett wrote, "The Springfield Police Department is actively pursuing a criminal investigation in this matter. Law enforcement authorities have been engaged in a sprawling investigation and have additional witnesses to interview."

"Disclosure now, at this sensitive time in its investigation, could compromise the integrity of the investigation and interfere with the privacy rights of the parties involved," Bennett wrote.

Bennett said details in the documents could potentially taint additional witness interviews if they became public. The incident reports filed in support of the new charges are dated May 31.

Payne ordered Weldon held on $1 million bail, the amount Bennett requested.

The new bail amount is in addition to a $1 million bail set in Weldon's arraignment in a separate case last Tuesday.

Weldon, 40, of 1333 Page Blvd., pleaded not guilty last week to charges of kidnapping with serious bodily injury, threat to commit a crime (murder), resisting arrest and five related charges.

The new charges from Monday's arraignment involve a different victim, Bennett said in response to the judge's questions.

Weldon, who has an extensive criminal history in Massachusetts and New Jersey, has not been charged in connection with the bodies found at his home.

Authorities have yet to publicly identify the victims, or to disclose any information about the nature of the deaths.

Weldon was arrested in Springfield following a police chase and crash on the night of May 27. He has been accused of raping and brutalizing a woman while holding her captive in the home.

Police discovered the bodies after going to Weldon's green bungalow around 7:45 p.m., Wednesday, three days after his s arrest, in response to a 911 call for a foul odor coming from the home.

Investigators recovered two bodies overnight, and later in the day Hampden District Attorney Anthony Gulluni announced announced a third had been found.

Authorities have maintained round-the-clock presence at the home, using ground-penetrating radar and digging in the yard Friday.

This is a developing story that will be updated after additional reporting.
The Supreme Court of the United States ruled in favor of a Colorado baker who wouldn't make a gay couple's wedding cake but didn't address the larger issue in the case - whether members of the LGBTQ community can be denied service.



In a narrow decision, Justice Anthony Kennedy wrote the majority opinion, which said the Colorado Civil Rights Commission showed an "anti-religious bias" when it ruled against baker Jack Phillips. The justices voted 7-2 that Phillips' first amendment rights were violated.

"While it is unexceptional that Colorado law can protect gay persons in acquiring products and services on the same terms and conditions as are offered to other members of the public, the law must be applied in a manner that is neutral toward religion," Kennedy wrote.



The issue of whether businesses can refuse to serve members of the LGBTQ community "must await further elaboration," Kennedy wrote in the decision. The Associated Press reports that appeals in similar cases are pending. This includes a Supreme Court case from a florist who didn't want to provide flowers for a same-sex wedding, according to the AP.



Justice Ruth Ginsburg, who wrote the dissent, said that while there were many things about the court decision she agreed with, she believed the couple David Mullins and Charlie Craig were discriminated against. Justice Sonia Sotomayor also dissented.



"Phillips would not sell to Craig and Mullins, for no reason other than their sexual orientation, a cake of the kind he regularly sold to others. When a couple contacts a bakery for a wedding cake, the product they are seeking is a cake celebrating their wedding--not a cake celebrating heterosexual weddings or same-sex weddings--and that is the service Craig and Mullins were denied," Ginsburg wrote.

Masterpiece Cakeshop, Ltd. v. Colorado Civil Rights Commission by Jackie Tempera on Scribd
HOLYOKE -- Holyoke Community College's 71st Commencement took place on Saturday with around 1,000 graduates earning degrees and certificates.

Held at the MassMutual Center in downtown Springfield, the Class of 2018 included graduates from about 71 different Massachusetts cities and towns as well as from California, Colorado, Connecticut, Florida, New Hampshire, New Jersey, South Carolina, and Tennessee and 17 other countries, including Brazil, China, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Ghana, India, Jamaica, Kenya, Malaysia, Nepal, Niger, Nigeria, Philippines, Taiwan, Ukraine, and Vietnam.

According to the college, their ages ranged from 18 to 69.

The faculty speaker, HCC professor of criminal justice Alex Sanchez,compared going to college like riding a roller coaster for the first time.

"As the coaster starts up the track, once again you start to panic and think, 'Was this the right choice?' Deciding to go to college and starting your first class can bring about the same thoughts and emotions. So, as the roller coaster reaches the top, you get this feeling of OH MAN! WHY! And then it rushes down the track at a high rate of speed," he said. "As you brace yourself, it takes a sudden turn and it slams you from side to side. At school, you start to see this as you go, taking classes and realizing that this experience can go up or down and before you know it, it starts its twists and turns and makes you feel like you can't control it. While some of you get that rush of satisfaction knowing that 'you can do this,' there are others who are saying 'why, why am I here?' This ride will take you up, down, around and over several loops and you tell yourself that this will end soon. Being a college student means that you've made a commitment of being here and this ride won't be easy for most, but you're here and you're committed.



"So, finally, you've reached the final stretch of this amazing ride and you tell yourself, 'This wasn't so bad.' Some of you will say, 'That was awesome' while others will say, 'I'm glad it's over.'

The student speaker was business major Jaritza Rosario of Holyoke. She is the owner of Florr, her start-up company making jewelry from real flowers. She dropped out of middle school, and never went to high school. She earned her GED and decided to study entrepreneurship at HCC to help her fledgling business.



"I found myself when I found my love for nature and that's when my vision for Florr became my motivation. I had the passion to succeed but not the skills. I remember going home to look up words like net income, gross margin and I still was not getting it, but one thing I do remember while doing my research is reading something that I will never forget. It said that 80 percent of businesses fail within the first three years because of lack of knowledge. I said to myself, 'Well, I'm going to college to get some knowledge because I'm not failing.'



"I remember my first semester at HCC. I wanted to give up. I didn't know how college worked. I had to get used to reading, and let me tell you I had to have my phone next to me at all times to Google words like 'vague' or 'revenue.' I didn't even know how to write an essay, and now here I am, reading one to you at graduation. I had to constantly remind myself that if other people can do it, I can do it too."

Some other statistics from this year's commencement included:
SPRINGFIELD - More than 120 firearms were turned into the Hampden District Attorney's Office in a gun buyback day on Saturday.

District Attorney Anthony Gulluni with Baystate Health sponsored the buyback with the assistance of local police departments. In four hours law enforcement officials collected a variety of weapons that residents no longer wanted.

People who turned in a gun in working order were given a $50 Big Y gift certificate. People who turned in an assault weapon were eligible to receive two $50 gift certificates.

The event was held for four hours on Saturday at the Raymond Sullivan Safety Complex on Carew Street. More than 120 handguns, long guns and other firearms were turned in during that time, said James Leydon, spokesman for Gulluni.

The goal was to get unwanted and unused guns off the street and out of homes. In some cases, unlawful guns sold on the street are originally guns legally owned but stolen during housebreaks.

In 2013 Springfield Police collected 333 guns during a similar event. Most of them were later destroyed but a few were historic firearms turned over to the Springfield Armory.
SPRINGFIELD -- Springfield and Ludlow fire rescue teams are searching for a man last seen swimming by his wife on Sunday evening.

Firefighters responded to the Indian Leap area of the Chicopee River on the Springfield, Ludlow line at 5:42 p.m., said Dennis Leger, aide to Commissioner Bernard J. Calvi.

The man's wife reported he was swimming, got tired and was swept into the middle of the river by a fast current where he was last seen before going under water.

Firefighters continue to search for the man with the help of the Massachusetts State Police.
WENDELL -- In addition to considering a $2.6 million municipal budget, residents of this small Franklin County hilltown will be asked to weigh in on an important international matter during their annual Town Meeting on Tuesday.

Article 22 of the warrant asks if the town will call on the United States to lead a global effort to prevent nuclear war.

The effort would involve "renouncing the option of using nuclear weapons first; ending the president's sole, unchecked authority to launch a nuclear attack; taking US nuclear weapons off hair-trigger alert" and "actively pursuing a verifiable agreement among nuclear armed states to eliminate their nuclear arsenals."

The Town Clerk would be directed to send copies of the resolution to U.S. Sens. Elizabeth Warren and Edward Markey; to U.S. Rep. James McGovern; to President Donald Trump, and to Secretary of State Mike Pompeo.

Wendell may also send a message about the Great Seal of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.

The seal, which appears on flags, stationery, and state business cards, depicts an Algonquian Native American holding a bow in one hand and a downward-pointing arrow in the other. A white star appears near the figure's head. A bent arm holding a broadsword floats above him.

The seal was adopted by Gov. John Hancock in 1780, according to a webpage maintained by Secretary of State William Galvin.

Tribal representatives have said the image portrays Native Americans in a "surrender state," and that the arm is that of Captain Miles Standish, part of the 1620 Mayflower voyage.

The landing of European colonists at Plymouth Plantation "gave rise to the long chain of genocidal wars and deliberate policies of cultural destruction against Native Nations off this continent," the Wendell warrant article reads.

Native Americans "were legally prohibited from even stepping foot into Boston from 1675 until 2004, when that law was finally repealed, it states.

If the resolution passes, it would support a bill introduced by Rep. Byron Rushing, a Boston Democrat, that calls for a special commission to recommend changes.

The commission would review the symbol for its commitment to "peace, justice, liberty and equality." Those opposed to changing the seal have argued it is a "sacred symbol," according to Rushing.
A woman injured in a parachuting incident Saturday in Orange died Monday in a Worcester hospital, authorities said.

The Northwestern District Attorney's office did not release the woman's name or age in a news release issued Monday.

The woman was parachuting in Orange on Saturday when she "veered off course and collided" with a barn on South Main Street in Orange, the district attorney's office said.

The woman was taken to Athol Memorial Hospital then to UMass Memorial Medical Center - University Campus in Worcester where she died Monday.

The death remains under investigation.
American Airlines has announced that it will be adding a second daily flight to Philadelphia from Worcester Regional Airport, less than two months after unveiling that it would start the daily service from New England's second largest city to the City of Brotherly Love.

American Airlines on Monday, months before the Philadelphia flights are set to begin, confirmed a second daily trip was being added to the route.

In April, American Airlines revealed that daily flights to Philadelphia International Airport will begin Oct. 4, connecting Worcester fliers with 117 destinations in 20 countries.

In addition to adding the second flight, American is changing the departure times for the initial flight to Philadelphia.

The American flights are now scheduled to leave Worcester at 6:18 a.m. and 4:19 p.m. Flights will leave Philadelphia to head to Worcester at 2:55 p.m. and 9:29 p.m. daily.

"This new schedule will give the market even more connecting opportunities, as well as be the best schedule for ORH [Worcester] customers," an American Airlines spokesperson said. "This will also provide good connection times to our large Trans-Atlantic operation from PHL [Philadelphia]."

Prices for round-trip flights around the Oct. 4 start date range from $177 to $222 on the American Airlines website.

Ticket prices will fluctuate as American Airlines continues to evaluate the market, the spokesperson said.

The trips on the ER4-Embraer ERJ-145 will complete the trip in 51 minutes, according to the website.

The addition of Philadelphia flights comes as the airport is starting its daily JetBlue flight to John F. Kennedy International Airport in New York City.

Officials say there is hope that a third airline and fifth destination will be announced before the end of the summer.

JetBlue started flying out of Worcester Regional Airport in 2013. In its first three years, more than 350,000 flew JetBlue from Worcester to Florida.

At its peak in 1989, Worcester Regional Airport served more than 340,000 people.

Massport owns and operates Worcester Regional Airport, as well as in addition to Boston Logan International Airport, public terminals in the Port of Boston and Hanscom Field.


The guest viewpoint from Barbara Loh, executive director, of the Valley Eye Radio in today's Opinion and Commentary page resonated with me on many levels, "Future of radio reading service for disabled in jeopardy," June 4, page C5.

Loh spoke of the need for the upcoming joint Conference Committee of our legislators to include funding ALL affiliates of the Massachusetts Reading network in both versions of the FY'19 state budget! Apparently an amendment cosponsored by our local Senators Lesser, Welch and Humason which would have preserved funding for our regional Valley Eye Radio was rejected last week.

Therefore, I challenge the Statewide Network of Lions' Club Districts to be most urgent and diligent in contacting their House and Senate representatives to restore funding to ALL the state affiliates of the Massachusetts Reading Network. The Lions Clubs across the Globe have been dubbed, "Knights of the Blind," by Helen Keller many years ago!

I see this as a moment to put this title into action and aid our fellow citizens and even members who have sight issues that impair their ability to read their local newspapers. Loh stated that the Valley Eye Radio (at WGBY), only one of the affiliates, reads almost 30 newspapers and publications every week! Please make this a priority of you Lions' Club Leaders statewide now to preserve this service to our visually challenged area residents.



Lee Tonet, Florence
China has balked at stepping up its purchases of American products, raising the odds of a trade war, if President Donald Trump follows through on his threat to tax billions of dollars' worth of Chinese imports.

The warning from Beijing came after delegations led by U.S. Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross and China's top economic official, Vice Premier Liu He, wrapped up talks on Beijing's pledge to narrow its trade surplus. White House advisers were insisting on fundamental changes in ties between the world's two biggest economic powers.

At the outset of the event Ross said the two sides had discussed specific American exports China might purchase, but the talks ended with no joint statement and neither side released details.

"Both sides appear to have hardened their negotiating stances and are waiting for the other side to blink," said Eswar Prasad, professor of trade policy at Cornell University.

"Despite the potential negative repercussions for both economies, the risk of a full-blown China-U.S. trade war, with tariffs and other trade sanctions being imposed by both sides, has risen significantly."

Asked specifically on Fox's "Sunday Morning Futures" if the U.S. is willing to throw away its relationship with China by proceeding with threatened tariff hikes, Peter Navarro, director of the White House National Trade Council, pointed in part to an unfair relationship involving a multi-billion dollar trade deficit, Defense Secretary Jim Mattis' warning of China's activities in the South China Sea and the threat of China stealing U.S. intellectual property.

"That's a relationship with China that structurally has to change," he said. "We would love to have a peaceful, friendly relationship with China. But we're also standing firm that the president is the leader on this."

The United States has threatened to impose tariffs on up to $50 billion of Chinese products in a dispute over Beijing's aggressive tactics to challenge U.S. technological dominance; Trump has asked U.S. Trade Rep. Robert Lighthizer to look for another $100 billion in Chinese products to tax. China has targeted $50 billion in U.S. products for possible retaliation.

Tensions temporarily eased on May 19 after China promised to "significantly increase" its purchases of U.S. farm, energy and other products. Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin said then that the U.S. tariffs were suspended and the trade war was "on hold." The purchases are meant to reduce America's massive trade deficit in goods and services with China, which last year came to $337 billion, according to the U.S. Commerce Department.

After the apparent cease-fire, global financial markets rallied in relief.

But Trump upended the truce last Tuesday by renewing his threat to impose 25 percent tariffs on $50 billion in Chinese high-tech goods. The tariffs are meant to pressure Beijing for allegedly stealing trade secrets and forcing foreign companies to hand over technology in exchange for access to the Chinese market. Navarro later called Mnuchin's conciliatory comments "an unfortunate soundbite."

Ross nonetheless journeyed to Beijing Friday to work out details of the vague agreement Mnuchin had earlier cobbled together with the Chinese vice premier. China balked at making concessions unless the U.S. lifted the tariff threat.

"If the United States introduces trade sanctions including a tariff increase, all the economic and trade achievements negotiated by the two parties will not take effect," said a Chinese government statement, carried by the official Xinhua News Agency.

The negotiating process should be "based on the premise" of not fighting a "trade war," the statement said.

The dispute with China comes at the same time Trump has riled some of America's closest allies with the imposition of tariffs on steel and aluminum imports.

After a three-day meeting of finance ministers from the G7 industrial nations that ended Saturday in Canada, Canadian Finance Minister Bill Morneau issued a summary saying the other six members want Trump to hear their message of "concern and disappointment" over the U.S. trade actions. Allies including Canada and the European Union are threatening retaliatory tariffs.

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau told NBC's Meet the Press on Sunday that the reciprocal tariffs would hurt both U.S. and Canadian workers and consumers. He also pushed back against the argument that Canadian steel poses a U.S. security threat.

"The idea that we are somehow a national security threat to the United States is quite frankly insulting and unacceptable," he said.

Bruno Le Maire, France's finance and economy minister, also called the U.S. tariffs unjustified.

"We regret that our common work together at the level of the G7 has been put at risk by the decisions taken by the American administration on trade and on tariffs," he said.

Trade analysts had warned Ross's hand might be weakened if the Trump administration alienated allies who share complaints about Chinese technology policy and a flood of low-priced steel, aluminum and other exports.
Republican gubernatorial candidate Scott Lively has filed a $7 million lawsuit against Republican Gov. Charlie Baker and the Massachusetts GOP.

Lively is claiming that the state Republican Party violated its own bylaws by endorsing and helping Baker in his reelection campaign before the Sept. 4 primary.

Lively is a Springfield-based pastor who is best known for his virulent anti-gay rhetoric.

At the April 28 MassGOP convention, 27 percent of delegates voted to support Lively over the incumbent Baker, in apparent dissatisfaction over Baker's moderate stance on issues like abortion and Baker's distancing himself from Republican President Donald Trump.

Baker said there is no place in public life for rhetoric like Lively's on issues such as gay marriage.

The Massachusetts Republican Party decided in February, even before delegates endorsed Baker at the convention, that they would help the incumbent governor fundraise and gather signatures for reelection. The party said it would not assist Lively.

Lively's lawsuit cites efforts made by State Republican Party officials to gather signatures for Baker, fundraise for him and set up meetings for him with local Republican committees.

"The endorsement and signature gathering activities by the State Committee on behalf of Baker had the effect of shutting out Lively from obtaining signatures from many venues, as the MassGOP was seen as already endorsing Baker," Lively wrote.

Lively said he had been assured by Republican State Committee Executive Director Matthew St. Hillaire in January that the party would remain neutral until the state primary.

Lively also included in the lawsuit House Minority Leader Brad Jones, R-North Reading, because of a letter Jones wrote to State Committee members calling Lively's views "violent and extremist."

Lively was accused in federal court of inciting violence against gay people in Uganda. A judge dismissed the case on jurisdictional grounds but described Lively's views as "crackpot bigotry."

Lively is asking for $7 million in damages, arguing that the party breached its contract and interfered with contractual relations by breaking its bylaws and assisting Baker. Lively accuses the party of discriminating against him based on his religious beliefs on abortion and gay marriage. The lawsuit also charges MassGOP with unfair and deceptive trade practices, and Jones and Baker with defamation.

The lawsuit was filed by attorney Gregory Hession in Worcester Superior Court.

Naysa Woomer, a spokeswoman for the Massachusetts Republican Party said the party would decline to comment, on the advice of legal counsel.

Baker's political spokesman did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Lively v Baker Complaint by Anonymous SnY0inh on Scribd
After President Donald Trump said he has the power to pardon himself, U.S. Sen. Elizabeth Warren, D-Massachusetts, responded that no one is above the law.

"President Trump seems to believe that he gets to make up all the rules," Warren told reporters in Boston. "He's wrong. No one is above the law, and that includes the president of the United States."

As special counsel Robert Mueller continues his probe into Russia's meddling in the 2016 presidential elections, he is said to be considering subpoenaing the president. In a memo by Trump's attorneys, reported by the New York Times, Trump argues that the president cannot legally obstruct justice because he has final authority over any investigation.

The attorneys wrote that Trump could terminate any federal investigation or issue a pardon.

Trump tweeted Monday, "As has been stated by numerous legal scholars, I have the absolute right to PARDON myself, but why would I do that when I have done nothing wrong?"

As has been stated by numerous legal scholars, I have the absolute right to PARDON myself, but why would I do that when I have done nothing wrong? In the meantime, the never ending Witch Hunt, led by 13 very Angry and Conflicted Democrats (& others) continues into the mid-terms!  Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) June 4, 2018

Warren, a leader in the progressive wing of the national Democratic Party, has emerged as a prime critic of the Republican Trump.

Speaking to reporters after a lunchtime event with a progressive business group, Warren said it is important that Mueller be allowed to continue his investigation "without political interference from anyone," and then present his findings to the public.

Warren said Trump is "playing a political game." "But the Constitution is clear," Warren said. "No one is above the law, and that includes the president of the United States."

Warren declined to say under what circumstances the Senate should consider impeachment.

"I don't think that we should be talking about that until the special prosecutor has finished his report," Warren said. "It's clear that special prosecutor Mueller is doing serious work and that he has uncovered serious crimes that have taken place in this country. We need to let him finish that work without political interference and then make a report to the American people."
HOUSTON -- Dustin Pedroia said he didn't return from the disabled list prematurely.

Pedroia landed back on the DL with left knee inflammation (retroactive to May 30) just eight days after Boston activated him.

The 34-year-old second baseman appeared in just five minor league rehab games before his return. He appeared at second base in four of the five rehab games.

Asked if he could have used more rehab games before being activated, he replied, "That has nothing to do with it. Yeah, nothing to do with it, man."

Pedroia will visit with Dr. Riley Williams III on Tuesday. Williams performed Pedroia's cartilage restoration procedure at the Hospital for Special Surgery in New York, N.Y. on Oct. 25.

"It feels a little bit better today," Pedroia said. "So we're going to go Tuesday to see the doctor just to make sure it's nothing big."

Pedroia will undergo an MRI while in New York.

"We didn't do anything wrong," he said. "It's not like we didn't test it enough. Trust me. When I was in Florida I was on the field for six hours making sure if we played a five-hour game, I was an hour more on the field and did it the next day. So that's the part I'm frustrated with."

Red Sox knuckleballer Steven Wright underwent the same surgery as Pedroia. Dr. Williams also performed Wright's procedure.

Wright had PRP injection during spring training because of pain in the knee.

"It got to the point where I would go throw and it would hurt to the point where it's like, 'I can't pitch like this,'" Wright said. "But now it's been under control with the treatment. I've been doing all my cardio inside."

Pedroia added, "The end is going to be better. I'm going to be back to normal. It might just take a little time as to where last year if I didn't have surgery it wasn't going to get any better. It's going to get better. It just stinks going through it."
HOUSTON -- Knuckleballer Steven Wright will make a spot start Tuesday.

The Red Sox have a day off Monday. And so everyone in the starting rotation will receive two extra days rest.

"I do feel this is the time of year," Red Sox manager Alex Cora said. "I'm feeling it. I know they're feeling it. The traveling. All those day games last week. I don't know what time we're going to get in tomorrow to Boston. So I think it makes sense to give him that start. I think it's good for him and also pushing everybody back is going to be beneficial for us in the long run."

Wright has a 2.25 ERA (four runs, 16 innings) and 1.19 WHIP. He has held opponents to a .167 batting average in six relief outings.

Cora said Wright should be able to pitch five or six innings.

"We're good enough with (Bobby) Poyner, and then with BJ (Brian Johnson) and Hector (Velazquez) that if something happens, we've got innings from those guys and we're going to be fine," Cora said.

Blake Swihart will make a start at catcher this week. But Cora has yet to decide which game.

He also said he feels comfortable with Swihart at second base if he needs to use him there.

"I don't know if he's going to feel comfortable," Cora said. "I'll be probably more comfortable than he is. He'll be nervous to say the least."
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Taylor Swift took a moment to celebrate the LGBT community at her Chicago stop on her Reputation tour Saturday.

Before singing "Delicate," Swift -- dressed in a rainbow dress -- gave a heartfelt speech for Pride Month, as captured by fan-filmed video.

Its very brave to be vulnerable about your feelings in any situation, but its even more brave to be honest about your feelings and who you love when you know that it might be met with adversity from society, she said on stage.

This month and every month I want to send my love and respect to everybody who has been brave enough to be honest about how they feel, to live their lives as they are, as they feel they should be, as they identify," she continued.

While Swift has been criticized for staying quiet on political matters in the past, she goes on to explain there is still progress to be made.

This is a month where I think we need to celebrate how far weve come, but I think we also need to acknowledge how far we have left to go," she added. "I want to send my love and respect out to everybody who hasnt felt comfortable enough to come out yet ... and may you do that on your own time and may we end up in a world where everyone can live and love equally and no one has to be afraid to all say how they feel."

She finished heartfelt speech by bringing it back to her top-selling album.

When it comes to feelings and when it comes to love and searching for someone to spend your whole life with ... its all just really, really delicate."

Swift will take her tour abroad for the majority of Pride Month.

Copyright  2018, ABC Radio. All rights reserved.
20126



 VS 

 972.







2012



Justice Kennedy delivered the opinion of the Court.

In 2012 a same-sex couple visited Masterpiece Cakeshop, a bakery in Colorado, to make inquiries about ordering a cake for their wedding reception. The shops owner told the couple that he would not create a cake for their wedding because of his religious opposition to same-sex marriagesmarriages the State of Colorado itself did not recognize at that time. The couple filed a charge with the Colorado Civil Rights Commission alleging discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation in violation of the Colorado Anti-Discrimination Act.

The Commission determined that the shops actions violated the Act and ruled in the couples favor. The Colorado state courts affirmed the ruling and its enforcement order, and this Court now must decide whether the Commissions order violated the Constitution.

The case presents difficult questions as to the proper reconciliation of at least two principles. The first is the authority of a State and its governmental entities to protect the rights and dignity of gay persons who are, or wish to be, married but who face discrimination when they seek goods or services. The second is the right of all persons to exercise fundamental freedoms under the First Amendment, as applied to the States through the Fourteenth Amendment.

The freedoms asserted here are both the freedom of speech and the free exercise of religion. The free speech aspect of this case is difficult, for few persons who have seen a beautiful wedding cake might have thought of its creation as an exercise of protected speech. This is an instructive example, however, of the proposition that the application of constitutional freedoms in new contexts can deepen our understanding of their meaning.

One of the difficulties in this case is that the parties disagree as to the extent of the bakers refusal to provide service. If a baker refused to design a special cake with words or images celebrating the marriagefor instance, a cake showing words with religious meaningthat might be different from a refusal to sell any cake at all. In defining whether a bakers creation can be protected, these details might make a difference.

The same difficulties arise in determining whether a baker has a valid free exercise claim. A bakers refusal to attend the wedding to ensure that the cake is cut the right way, or a refusal to put certain religious words or decorations on the cake, or even a refusal to sell a cake that has been baked for the public generally but includes certain religious words or symbols on it are just three examples of possibilities that seem all but endless.

Whatever the confluence of speech and free exercise principles might be in some cases, the Colorado Civil Rights Commissions consideration of this case was inconsistent with the States obligation of religious neutrality. The reason and motive for the bakers refusal were based on his sincere religious beliefs and convictions. The Courts precedents make clear that the baker, in his capacity as the owner of a business serving the public, might have his right to the free exercise of religion limited by generally applicable laws. Still, the delicate question of when the free exercise of his religion must yield to an otherwise valid exercise of state power needed to be determined in an adjudication in which religious hostility on the part of the State itself would not be a factor in the balance the State sought to reach. That requirement, however, was not met here. When the Colorado Civil Rights Commission considered this case, it did not doso with the religious neutrality that the Constitution requires.

Given all these considerations, it is proper to hold that whatever the outcome of some future controversy involving facts similar to these, the Commissions actions here violated the Free Exercise Clause; and its order must be set aside.

Justice Kennedy delivered the opinion of the Court.

In 2012 a same-sex couple visited Masterpiece Cakeshop, a bakery in Colorado, to make inquiries about ordering a cake for their wedding reception. The shops owner told the couple that he would not create a cake for their wedding because of his religious opposition to same-sex marriagesmarriages the State of Colorado itself did not recognize at that time. The couple filed a charge with the Colorado Civil Rights Commission alleging discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation in violation of the Colorado Anti-Discrimination Act.

The Commission determined that the shops actions violated the Act and ruled in the couples favor. The Colorado state courts affirmed the ruling and its enforcement order, and this Court now must decide whether the Commissions order violated the Constitution.

The case presents difficult questions as to the proper reconciliation of at least two principles. The first is the authority of a State and its governmental entities to protect the rights and dignity of gay persons who are, or wish to be, married but who face discrimination when they seek goods or services. The second is the right of all persons to exercise fundamental freedoms under the First Amendment, as applied to the States through the Fourteenth Amendment.

The freedoms asserted here are both the freedom of speech and the free exercise of religion. The free speech aspect of this case is difficult, for few persons who have seen a beautiful wedding cake might have thought of its creation as an exercise of protected speech. This is an instructive example, however, of the proposition that the application of constitutional freedoms in new contexts can deepen our understanding of their meaning.

One of the difficulties in this case is that the parties disagree as to the extent of the bakers refusal to provide service. If a baker refused to design a special cake with words or images celebrating the marriagefor instance, a cake showing words with religious meaningthat might be different from a refusal to sell any cake at all. In defining whether a bakers creation can be protected, these details might make a difference.

The same difficulties arise in determining whether a baker has a valid free exercise claim. A bakers refusal to attend the wedding to ensure that the cake is cut the right way, or a refusal to put certain religious words or decorations on the cake, or even a refusal to sell a cake that has been baked for the public generally but includes certain religious words or symbols on it are just three examples of possibilities that seem all but endless.

Whatever the confluence of speech and free exercise principles might be in some cases, the Colorado Civil Rights Commissions consideration of this case was inconsistent with the States obligation of religious neutrality. The reason and motive for the bakers refusal were based on his sincere religious beliefs and convictions. The Courts precedents make clear that the baker, in his capacity as the owner of a business serving the public, might have his right to the free exercise of religion limited by generally applicable laws. Still, the delicate question of when the free exercise of his religion must yield to an otherwise valid exercise of state power needed to be determined in an adjudication in which religious hostility on the part of the State itself would not be a factor in the balance the State sought to reach. That requirement, however, was not met here. When the Colorado Civil Rights Commission considered this case, it did not doso with the religious neutrality that the Constitution requires.

Given all these considerations, it is proper to hold that whatever the outcome of some future controversy involving facts similar to these, the Commissions actions here violated the Free Exercise Clause; and its order must be set aside.

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Happy Monday and welcome to the next installment of Answering Your Every Student Succeeds Act questions!

The question: This one comes from a school-based leader who preferred to remain anonymous. This leader wants to know What are the federal guidelines for testing transparency? Schools are mandated to get 95 percent participation, but how is that possible if we tell parents of their opt out rights?

The answer: ESSA is actually really confusing when it comes to test participation. The law says that states and schools must test all of their students, just like under No Child Left Behind, the law ESSA replaced. Under NCLB, though, schools that didnt meet the 95 percent participation requirementboth for the student population as a whole and subgroups of students, such as English-language learnerswere considered automatic failures.

Now, under ESSA, states must figure low testing participation into school ratings, but just how to do that is totally up to them. And states can continue to have laws affirming parents right to opt their students out of tests (as Oregon does ). ESSA also requires states to mark non-test-takers as not proficient.

State plans44 of which have been approved by U.S. Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos and her teamare all over the map when it comes to dealing with this requirement.

For instance, in Mississippi, New Mexico, and Ohio, schools that dont reach the 95 percent participation target will see their school grade lowered by one level, going from an A to a B, for example. At least 13 states expect districts and schools to come up with some sort of a plan to address poor test participation. And at least 11 states say that schools could wind up with a lower scores.

But at least six states do the bare minimum that ESSA requires, which is marking students who dont take the test as not proficient. Some, including Maryland, also note test participation rates on school report cards. Maryland, though, will also calculate school grades that only take into account the kids that took the test.

Colorado also affirms that schools cannot coerce parents into letting their children take the tests. But the state will provide information for parents explaining the reasons for administering tests and how results are used. More in our ESSA plan tracker.

Got an ESSA question? Email it to aklein@epe.org or aujifusa@epe.org . Or tweet at us @PoliticsK12.

Want to see what other readers are wondering? Here are links to past installments of this feature:

Can Districts Use the SAT or ACT for School Accountability Without State OK?

Which States Are Eschewing School Grades?

How Can Districts and States Use ESSA to Bolster STEM and Computer Science?

Whats Going on With Testing Audits?

Whats Up With ESSA Block Grant Funding?

Is Testing the Only Way a Student Can Achieve Success Under ESSA?

Want to learn more about the Every Student Succeeds Act? Heres some useful information:

Follow us on Twitter at @PoliticsK12 .
The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation has announced a $68 million commitment to expand its education grantmaking abroad.

The foundation is well known for its global development work, particularly its efforts to combat malaria and infectious disease. But its education grantmkaking has been mostly focused on the United Stateswhere it has not always been well received .

Girindre Beeharry, the foundations director of global education learning strategy, announced the strategy in a post on the foundations website . In the post, Beeharry writes that, while 90 percent of primary-age students around the world today attend school, including many more girls than ever, quality remains an ongoing challenge.

To find out how the foundation could help, he and others from the foundation spoke to teachers, academics, government officials, and parents in several countries, including Ethiopia, India, Kenya, Nigeria, Pakistan, and Uganda.

Beeharry hints that the decision to embark on this listening tour came at least partly from lessons learned from the foundations K-12 work in the United States.

We have learned that improving education is incredibly difficult and complex, he writes. We also know that schools in the United States and ones in low- and lower-middle-income countries face fundamentally different challenges that require unique solutions. We set out to learn more, and to determine how we could make a meaningful difference globally.

The funding announcement doesnt specify exactly what kinds of grants the foundation will makebut does say that it wants to deepen the evidence and develop tools and approaches, with an emphasis on foundational learning such as reading and mathematics in primary grades.

It also spells out four pillars for the grants.



Make data about learning outcomes comparable across countries;

Diagnose the root cause of poor performance;

Identify strategies to improve teaching and classroom practice

Understand the access barriers that prevent girls from completing secondary education.

Gates recently announced a change in strategy to its U.S. education programming, with a heavier focus on improvement replacing its former emphasis on teacher performance.

The philanthropy also supports coverage of continuous improvement strategies in Education Week, which retains full editorial control over the articles.

Photo: Microsoft founder Bill Gates, pictured in 2017. AP-File/Julio Cortez
Washington

In a case being watched by many in the education community, the U.S. Supreme Court on Monday ruled that a Colorado civil rights panel had violated the religious rights of a baker who had refused to create a wedding cake for a same-sex couple.

But the courts 7-2 ruling stopped well short of deciding some of the more difficult issues in the case of Masterpiece Cakeshop Ltd. v. Colorado Civil Rights Commission , namely, whether the bakers religious opposition to same-sex marriage would have to yield to the couples right to be free from discrimination based on sexual orientation.

The case was being watched from various corners of the education community, such as religious colleges that worried they would be required by the government to act contrary to their theological belief, and the teachers unions, which had joined a brief supporting the same-sex couple who were denied a cake for their wedding reception.

The reason and motive for the bakers refusal were based on his sincere religious beliefs and convictions, Justice Anthony M. Kennedy wrote for the majority. He said the courts precedents make clear that the owner of a business serving the public might have religious rights limited by generally applicable laws.

Still, the delicate question of when the free exercise of his religion must yield to an otherwise valid exercise of state power needed to be determined in an adjudication in which religious hostility on the part of the state itself would not be a factor in the balance the state sought to reach, Kennedy said. That requirement, however, was not met here.

It was clear at oral argument that several justices were troubled by what happened when the case was reviewed by the Colorado Civil Rights Commission. The same-sex couple, Charlie Craig and David Mullins, had asked cake shop owner Jack Phillips to bake a wedding cake for their reception in 2012. Phillips declined, citing his Christian-based religious objection to same-sex marriage.

The couple filed a complaint with the civil rights panel, whose commissioners made hostile statements regarding Phillips asserted religious objections. One commissioner said it is one of the most despicable pieces of rhetoric for people to use their religion to hurt others.

A commissioner also compared Phillips invocation of his religious beliefs to defenses of slavery and the Holocaust.

The commissions treatment of Phillips case violated the states duty under the First Amendment not to base laws or regulations on hostility to a religion or religious viewpoint, Kennedy said.

Kennedy acknowledged that the court was not deciding the primary issue raised in the case, and he said similar disputes must be resolved with tolerance, without undue disrespect to sincere religious beliefs, and without subjecting gay persons to indignities when they seek goods and services in an open market.

Kennedy was joined in full by Chief Justice John G. Roberts Jr. and Justices Stephen G. Breyer, Samuel A. Alito Jr., Elena Kagan, and Neil M. Gorsuch. Justice Clarence Thomas concurred in part of the majority opinion and in the judgment, in an opinion also signed by Gorsuch. Kagan wrote a concurrence signed by Breyer, and Gorsuch wrote a concurrence signed by Alito.

Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, in a dissent joined by Justice Sonia Sotomayor, said she would have affirmed a Colorado state court that had ruled that the same-sex couple suffered discrimination.

I see no reason why the comments of one or two [civil rights] commissioners should be taken to overcome Phillips refusal to sell a wedding cake to Craig and Mullins, Ginsburg said.

Craig and Mullins, in a statement released by the American Civil Liberties Union, said, Todays decision means our fight against discrimination and unfair treatment will continue. We have always believed that in America, you should not be turned away from a business open to the public because of who you are. We brought this case because no one should have to face the shame, embarrassment, and humiliation of being told we dont serve your kind here that we faced, and we will continue fighting until no one does.
ANN ARBOR, MI - Four middle school students sat around a table in a classroom one warm afternoon in May, making their way through a reading worksheet.

High school senior Lanah Almatroud helped the younger students who were dressed in khakis and navy polo shirts at Multicultural Academy haltingly sound out the English words.

They spoke more quickly in Arabic as Almatroud reviewed the concepts lost to them in the translation. Almatroud, 17, a Syrian native whose family moved to Ann Arbor in 2013, knows what it's like to try to learn in a second language.

She didn't speak English when she began seventh grade at Ann Arbor's Scarlett Middle School. Five years later, she's about to graduate from Skyline High School with a 3.9 GPA.

"They just need to have high self confidence and they can do it," Almatroud said. "Even if they struggle with English now, that's how I used to be, but now I'm good at English. They'll be able to get good grades. I just keep encouraging them that it's going to be fine."

Scarlett Middle School Principal Gerald Vasquez and ESL teacher Candida Justyna were instrumental in helping Almatroud learn English and feel comfortable at school, she said.

When Almatroud moved on to Skyline, former English teacher Christopher Peterson - who drowned in a kayaking accident in 2016 - helped her take notes in social studies and science classes and then work with her after school to explain the content in simpler English terms.

Peterson encouraged Almatroud to leave ESL classes and enroll in a regular English class in 10th grade, and she said she ended up getting an A in that class.

She's also taking AP calculus and is involved in numerous extracurricular activities. She's considering a career in health care and said she has been accepted to University of Michigan-Dearborn, Eastern Michigan University, Michigan State University and Detroit Mercy.

Almatroud said she was a good student in Syria, too. Knowing what her parents gave up to give her and her sisters a new life in America has reinforced her motivation to do well.

"I just want to give them back some of what they've done for us," Almatroud said. "By me getting good grades and going to college and maybe medical school, I'm giving some back."

Related: Refugee crisis has resettlement agency concerned for those 'in limbo'

Her family - which includes her father, mother and two younger sisters - escaped the war beginning to effect their hometown of Damascus, the country's capital. There were power outages and they could hear bombs going off in the distance when they decided it was time to leave.

They left friends, relatives, high-paying jobs and a once-comfortable life behind to seek safety and a better future in the U.S.

"They knew that it was definitely going to get worse, and it did get worse," Almatroud said.

Starting a new life in America

Almatroud's family relied on her uncle and his family for support when they started rebuilding their life in Ann Arbor. They lived with her uncle for about a year, and he helped her parents find work.

Her father Maher Almatroud, who had a government job in Syria, now manages a Subway restaurant. Her mother Mayada Chamdin, who was a pharmacist, is now a paraprofessional at Multicultural Academy - the Pittsfield Township charter school where Almatroud frequently volunteers as a tutor and helps translate during parent-teacher conferences.

"I left everything," Chamdin said. "In my country, if you go step-by-step, I'm almost at the top. When I came here, I'm on the floor."

Seeing her daughters get good grades and work hard in school makes that sacrifice worth it for Chamdin. Similarly, she encourages the students she works with at Multicultural Academy to work hard and become successful in America.

Seeking support at school

Multicultural Academy has become a haven for refugees and other immigrant students from across Southeast Michigan.

Three-quarters of Multicultural Academy's 180 K-8 students are learning English as a second language, according to data from the Michigan Center for Educational Performance and Information.

At the start of the 2016-17 school year, the school enrolled 80 new Syrian immigrant students - some coming from as far as Dearborn and Detroit, said Terry Farha, director of Universal Management, the company that provides staffing and other services for the charter school.

To accommodate the diverse student body, the school employs bilingual staff who work with classroom teachers to make sure students understand the content, said Mohana Mukherjee, chair of Multicultural Academy's English as a Second Language department. Students practice their English skills during small group instruction.

"It's very challenging, which actually makes it very rewarding," Mukherjee said. "In a year, we see so many of them transform into fluent English and get on par, or above, their peers in their state (test) scores."

Still, the majority of Multicultural Academy students did not test as proficient on the state's 2017 standardized M-STEP assessment.

Jewish Family Services of Washtenaw County - a nonprofit organization that resettles refugees - also recognizes the difficulties children can have acclimating to a new school and new culture. The agency has promoted anti-bullying and cultural awareness campaigns, and last summer they piloted a summer youth program.

The youth program will continue this summer, teaching about 20 teenagers about leadership. There are still opportunities for volunteers and sponsors to get involved, said Shrina Eadeh, director of resettlement services for JFS.

"They want to make friends with what they call American kids, and they also want to give back," she said. "A lot of the youth said they felt like they have been given a lot, and one of the things they wanted to do was give back."
ANN ARBOR, MI - In the past five years, more than 600 refugees - about half of them children - have resettled in Washtenaw County, thanks to Jewish Family Services, which contracts with the U.S. State Department to provide resettlement services.

But the stream of refugees entering the U.S. has slowed dramatically in the last two years as President Donald Trump's administration lowered the cap on how many refugees are allowed to enter the U.S.

This year, the U.S. will accept up to 45,000 refugees. At the end of President Barack Obama's time in office, the U.S. accepted 85,000 refugees.

While the Syrian civil war continues and the death toll climbs beyond 400,000, according to the New York Times, the U.S. has accepted 11 Syrian refugees in the first four months of 2018, according to the most recent data from the U.S. Department of State Refugee Processing Center.

In the first four months of 2017, 2,499 Syrian refugees moved to the U.S.

The graph shows the number of refugees admitted to the U.S. in recent years, according to the U.S. Department of State Refugee Processing Center. The fiscal year begins October 1.

Jewish Family Services of Washtenaw County is now resettling between three and 13 people a month, compared to 30 to 50 people a month during Obama's presidency, said Anya Abramzon, executive director of the nonprofit.

Related: Teen who fled Syria with family helps immigrants adjust to life in Michigan

It's difficult for the agency to maintain its current services without the additional funding coming in with new refugees, she said.

But mainly, Abramzon is concerned for the people who have begun the process of applying for refugee status and now are left in limbo as the process slows and fewer refugees are accepted to the U.S.

"It's scary to think about you have to raise your children and know that they have no future," she said. "You have no home to go back to, you have no future and you're in that limbo."

Samaritas, Michigan's largest refugee resettlement agency, had planned to open an Ann Arbor office and that's now on hold because there are not enough refugees coming to the area any more, according to John Yim, supervisor of new Americans in Michigan for Samaritas.

Obtaining refugee status

People who want to obtain refugee status go through an application process that includes an interview and a medical exam. If someone is accepted as a refugee, the government helps coordinate travel plans and connects the individual with resettlement services once he or she is in the U.S.

The application process used to take 18 months to three years, Abramzon said, and now it takes longer due to additional vetting measures implemented by the Trump administration.

Jewish Family Services assists refugees with everything from transportation from the airport when they arrive to housing, health care, food, employment, citizenship services, financial assistance and anything else people may need.

"The very basic, foundational principle for all of our services is to make sure that we provide as much as possible in house, so that our clients don't have to go from agency to agency," Abramzon said. "And then we're able to ensure coordination much better of services."
FLINT, MI -- The city has failed to fix water system problems identified by the state more than nine months ago and now must agree to a schedule for correcting them.

The Michigan Department of Environmental Quality has told Mayor Karen Weaver that the city will receive a proposed administrative consent order in the next few days but did not spell out which of 15 previously identified trouble spots haven't been fixed.

In August 2017, the DEQ notified the city of 15 recommendations for and deficiencies in the water system, including "significant deficiencies" in the water distribution system and its management and operations staff.

"The city has not resolved all of the identified deficiencies at this time," Eric Oswald, director of the DEQ Drinking Water and Municipal Assistance Division, wrote in a May 31 letter to Weaver.

Oswald urged Weaver to review the draft consent order when she receives it and to "develop realistic dates the city can achieve to bring your drinking water system back into compliance.

"The MDEQ commits to assisting the city in resolving these issues; however the city is primarily responsible for the operation of its system in compliance with applicable laws."

MLive-The Flint Journal could not immediately reach a representative of the city for comment on the notice of the consent order, about 15 of which have been issued by the state in the past year.

When the initial state survey resulted in last year's finding of significant deficiencies, spokeswoman Kristin Moore said many of the "items noted for improvement have been long standing in Flint's water system and were inherited by the current administration."

Many of the problems areas are well known to the city, the DEQ and U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, including the state's lack of confidence "that the city can continue to demonstrate the technical, managerial and financial capacity necessary to consistently operate the water system" in accordance with the law after current technical and training assistance contracts expire.

Using federal and state money, several contractors continue to work for the city, performing critical tasks that involve oversight of the water plant and planning for current and future projects.

One issue that was resolved since August was the city's commitment to a new 30-year contract with the Great Lakes Water Authority, a source water decision that had concerned the DEQ.
GRAND RAPIDS, MI - To improve school readiness among Kent County children, The Great Start Collaborative of Kent County launched a campaign last week to teach parents about instilling early brain development in their children.

The Great Start Collaborative of Kent County is part of a network of Great Start Collaboratives across Michigan. Its mission is to ensure children from birth to 8 years old have access to early learning and development programs.

The campaign is made up of a series of parenting videos, training sessions and ads, and is part of the wider Success Starts Early resource website for parents.

Through the campaign, the group hopes to connect parents to resources and inform them of five pillars they can follow in working with their children.

Kent County Success Basics - 5 Read and Discuss Stories from Believe 2 Become on Vimeo.

"What's happening is children are showing up sometimes in preschool or kindergarten and they're already behind where we feel they should be at that point," Director of Great Start Collaborative of Kent County Paula Brown said. "This is saying that we start early with our children. Success starts early, hence the name of the website."

While the campaign addresses a broad curriculum, it also hopes to combat low reading proficiency rates.

In the state of Michigan, the number of students proficient in English Language Arts at the end of the third grade is 44.1 percent, down from 46 percent, according to data from the state's Center for Educational Performance and Information.

For Kent County, that number is 48.6 percent, down from 50.2 percent.

Beginning in the 2019-20 academic year, third grade students in Michigan will be held back rather than passed if they aren't proficient readers - a state law signed in October 2016 by Gov. Rick Snyder.

"Yes, there is an urgency around third grade reading literacy because we understand that, you know, we need to have our children reading on track, reading proficiently by the beginning of third grade," Brown said. "When they start behind, they stay behind. And we're trying to, like I said, provide the foundation so they can get a better start."

The five pillars parents can use to work with their children, deemed the "Success Basics," are presented in the parenting videos. The videos are located on the Success Starts Early website, where more content is in development for 2019.

Training sessions on how to use these pillars in day-to-day interactions with children will be offered to teachers, child-care providers, health-care providers, social-service practitioners and faith leaders.

Billboards, smart phone ads, a social media presence and print materials will also be distributed.

"This whole campaign is a platform to give them those resources and tools and things that they could be doing - or the families or whoever's caring for the children, they could be doing - But then also getting at the navigation piece," Brown said. "We understand that we have wonderful resources here in Kent County for families, but sometimes it's hard for them to find them and locate them and get connected to the resources that they need."

Brown said if families use the tools and Success Basics, they're setting the foundation for literacy and for learning.

"Parents here in Kent County, they were looking for information," Brown said. "The whole point really is just setting our children up for greater success."
MENOMINEE COUNTY, MI -- Michigan has given a Canadian mining company the final go-ahead to construct a controversial open pit mine next to a major river along the state's border with Wisconsin.

On Monday, June 4, the Michigan Department of Environmental Quality issued a conditional, final permit for the proposed Back Forty mine about 28 miles southeast of Iron Mountain.

The permit allows Aquila Resources to construct its mining operation on a portion of wetlands so long as the Toronto-based company provides the DEQ with plans to model, monitor and prevent any potential damage.

Once the plans are approved by DEQ, Aquila can begin construction.

In issuing the wetlands permit, the DEQ required Aquila to plan safeguards and responses to any contamination spill.

"Aquila will also be required to develop state-of-the-art controls aimed at spill prevention and response to potential pollution releases from the mining operations, including chemicals used and stored on site, and the storage and disposal of mine tailings," the DEQ stated.

The mine would tap the mineral-rich Penokean Volcanic Belt. Conventional drilling and blasting would extract sulfide ore from rock. Metals would be extracted from the ore through a process that generates acidic leachate.

The project hit a snag last month when the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency issued several objections to the wetlands permit. Those have since been resolved.

Tribal members and environmentalists have critiqued the proposed mining project along the Menominee River over concerns the operation would endanger nearby tribal archaeological sites and the adjacent river.

Wastewater, including product laced with cyanide, will be treated on-site before being discharged into the Menominee River, according to Aquila's website.

Menominee Indian Tribe of Wisconsin officials could not be reached for comment.

Aquila expects to pull 532,000 ounces of gold, 721 million pounds of zinc, 74 millions pounds of copper, 4.6 million ounces of silver and 21 million pounds of lead from the Back Forty site at a total cost of $261 million.

The operation involves excavating 980,820 cubic yards of ground within 5.31 acres of wetland and placing 803,453 cubic yards of fill within 5.91 acres of wetland, according to the DEQ permit.

About 17 acres of wetland will be impacted from reduced surface waters, DEQ estimates. Aquila must mitigate the loss of at least 28.4 acres of wetland.

Threatened and endangered plants and wildlife at the site will be surveyed and possibly relocated, according to the permit. The permit allows Aquila to construct 282 feet of security fence through six wetlands areas and one stream.

To compensate the loss, Aquila is required to preserve 294 acres of wetland by placing about 507 acres of land into permanent conservation easement. Aquila will hand over $1.8 million in surety bond or letter of credit to DEQ to ensure the company's compliance with wetland preservation and monitoring efforts.

The operations include a 700-foot deep, 83-acre open pit mine, about five miles of roads, and surface buildings for fuel storage, equipment washing, water supply and distribution, wastewater treatment and power supply.

Aquila plans to close the mine after seven years of operation. DEQ ordered the company produce a closure plan which eliminates any contamination to surface and ground water from returning waste rock to the pit.
Melody Herzfeld, a drama teacher at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School, received an award this week for excellence in theater education from the biggest name in Broadway honorsthe Tony Awards.



The recognition comes just months after a gunman killed 17 people in a shooting at Stoneman Douglas in Parkland, Fla. On that day, Herzfeld hid 65 of her students in her office for two hours.

Its truly humbling, Herzfeld said in an interview about the recognition, which shell accept during the nationally televised ceremony June 10 at Radio City Music Hall in New York City.

The Excellence in Theatre Education Award, sponsored jointly by the Tony Awards and Carnegie Mellon University, goes yearly to a theater teacher who has demonstrated monumental impact on the lives of students and who embodies the highest standards of the profession, according to a statement released by the Tony Awards.

Herzfeld, who has taught at Stoneman Douglas for 15 years, has produced more than 50 shows and led her students to win many Cappies, national recognition for high school theater and performing arts.

She said its hard to put into words how significant the award is to her after all she and her students have experienced.

After everything happened at our school, our kids really dismantled, said Herzfeld.

A Screeching Halt

In the weeks leading up to the shooting, her students were in rehearsals for a big upcoming production. They were preparing to apply for that years Cappies, she said.

For many of her students, said Herzfeld, coming to this room every single day after school is everything. After the shooting, she said, everything just came to a screeching halt.

In the days and weeks that followed, she worried constantly about her studentsespecially the more introverted ones, who she thought wouldnt have an outlet to process their emotions. Near the end of February, she sent a message to all of her drama classes asking them to meet up.

They sat together on the floor of a room at a Marriott hotel near the school, a central location that Parkland students had been using to come together. There they brainstormed ideas about a performance piece they could put together that would express what they were feeling.

Two girls played a snippet of song they had recorded on their phones, singing while accompanied by an acoustic guitar. That piece of music would eventually become Shine, the song Parkland students performed at the CNN town hall in late February .

Herzfeld just got chills when she first heard the finished version. Somehow, she said, the song captured the moments indescribable grief, but also offered hope.



Finding Refuge in the Arts

Since the Parkland shooting, several students from Stoneman Douglas have become leading voices in the push for gun-control measures .

When some of her students started speaking out and pushing for policy change in the immediate aftermath of the shooting, Herzfeld saw their drama training at work.

Performing is about telling your truth and devoting all of your focus to the task at hand, said Herzfeld, tenets that prepared her students to confidently advocate for their goals in a public setting. This is kind of like their calling, she said.

But even as her students led the public debate around gun control, they were still vulnerable.

When the Parkland students came back to school, they gravitated toward the places where they felt most comfortable and most at home. For some, said Herzfeld, that was her classroom. Students count on their arts and humanities classes to be places where they can be open and vulnerable, and where they can lay their minds away, she said.

Students processed their experiences in different ways. Kids who were normally shy became more withdrawn, she said, while those who were more outgoing suddenly couldnt control their energy. Herzfeld had to be patient with her students, she said, and let them use her room as a refuge.

Photo: Tony Awards
GRAND RAPIDS, MI -- For Pamela Anderson, 56, growing up on Indiana Avenue in Grand Rapids meant the nearby 180-acre Butterworth dump was a place to find a free bike or party by the river.

Now, the years she spent living next to the landfill -- classified as a Superfund site in 1992 by the U.S. Environmental Protection Association due to its severe contamination -- has Anderson and her former neighbors worried.

Residents past and present are starting their own query into rates of cancer in the Indiana Avenue neighborhood between Butterworth and Wealthy on the city's West Side.

"We're not trying to point fingers at who did it -- we just want answers," Anderson said. "We know back in the day this happened -- we just want to know why residents weren't notified."

Heavily contaminated

Contamination at the Butterworth landfill site is no secret. The city of Grand Rapids operated the unlined dump for years, using three different sections from 1950 to 1973. The landfill areas are bordered by Wealthy Street SW, the Grand River and I-196.

From 1950 to 1967, Butterworth #1 was an open dump where trash was often burned to reduce its volume,

. Butterworth #2 and #3 were eventually combined in to an 80-acre site that accepted both trash and industrial waste, possibly including liquid solvents and paint sludges that were directly dumped or disposed of in drums until 1973, according to EPA documents.

The state closed the landfills in 1973 due to improper operations, and the EPA began its investigation of the site in 1986. The worst contaminants in the landfill include antimony, arsenic, chromium, beryllium, 1,1-dichloroethane, vinyl chloride, polychlorinated biphenols and polynuclear aromatic hydrocarbons, according to the EPA.

Cleanup started in 1999 and ended in 2000. It included removing 1,100 tons of PCB- and chromium-contaminated material and placing a clay cap on the landfill. The cap is considered to be "protective" enough to keep people from touching the contaminated soils or buried waste.

"There is no current exposure to the waste at the site," the EPA said.

A diagram of the Butterworth landfill in Grand Rapids, which is classified as a Superfund site by the U.S. EPA due to heavy contamination. The site was owned and operated by the city of Grand Rapids from 1950 to 1973, and remains owned by the city. It has since been capped. (Courtesy | U.S. EPA)

'Theoretical cancer risks'

The EPA estimates there are theoretical cancer and health risks from the landfill, but those are limited to regular direct contact with the waste over several decades and ingestion of contaminated drinking water -- which shouldn't happen because nearby homes are on the city's Lake Michigan-sourced water supply.

"A lot of those kids in the '60s and '70s used to play in the dump," said Shane Smith, 36, who grew up down the street from Anderson. "It was just starting to alarm to us, because my dad's entire generation passed away from cancer."

The EPA said investigators did not collect soil samples and other data from the neighborhood around the landfill, but said that it "appears that the investigation did not conclude that these areas were at risk from the identified contamination at the site."

"Area groundwater moves from north to south towards the Grand River, away from these neighborhoods so any site impacts have been monitored in this direction," EPA said.

Anderson said she is having the soil tested from a home on Indiana Avenue to see if there are contaminants.

The 'Indiana gang'

After a friend in the "Indiana gang" was recently diagnosed with Stage 4 cancer, Anderson started counting how many family members and former neighbors also had died from cancer.

The deaths quickly started to add up, and Anderson started a Facebook group, "Westside Cancer Crisis." It has grown from 15 members to more than 250 people in the span of a month. Anderson estimated 75 percent of them have had a loved one die prematurely.

Anderson and her mother moved to a house on Indiana Avenue in 1974 when she was 13. Anderson lived there for the next 20 years. Her mother was diagnosed with uterine and cervical cancer in 1993, and died a year later at the age of 54.

Anderson, 56, now lives in Muskegon and said she has her own health issues: thyroid problems, leg edema and a history of miscarriages.

After a rainy day, Anderson remembers smelling the trash in the dump -- and playing in a mud puddle that formed at the end of Indiana at Wealthy Street.

Smith, who grew up on Indiana, said his father, uncle and great-uncle all lived on that street and died from pancreatic cancer. He said his grandmother died of lung cancer and cousin died of leukemia.

"Our hope is maybe to try to figure out why are so many people getting diagnosed in such a small area with cancer," Smith said.

A group of Indiana Avenue neighbors are planning to confront the Grand Rapids city commission Tuesday, June 5, about the matter.

'No easy linkage'

Members of the group have met with Kent County Health Department epidemiologist Brian Hartl on their findings so far. Hartl told them they needed to collect more information on the rates of cancer in their block before he could advise them on what they've found.

"If there are rare forms of cancer, or cancers we're seeing affect a young population, it might trigger further investigation," Hartl said.

Hartl added a word of caution, noting cancer is difficult to study.

"Especially in small areas like a neighborhood or a block, it makes it challenging to connect it to environmental exposure," Hartl said. "Most cancers are due to lifestyle choices, not environmental factors."

Not only is cancer fairly common, it also can take years and multiple triggers to emerge, Hartl said.

"The disconnect between science and human emotion -- that's what makes it challenging," Hartl said. "Cancer has a long latency period. A lot of times it takes 10 years before that exposure causes your cells to go awry. Within that, there's environmental exposures, there's lifestyle exposures. There's no easy linkage there -- I think that plays into it. It's not one exposure, one disease."
Tom Steyer

Tom Steyer is unabashedly progressive.

And unabashedly wealthy.

The former billionaire hedge fund manager from California has been using his fortune to champion liberal and progressive causes in the last several years, thrusting him into the company of other wealthy political activists like George Soros and the Koch brothers.

He's probably best known for spending millions on a petition drive to impeach President Donald Trump, but Steyer has also been bankrolling clean energy and youth voter registration initiatives both here in Michigan and nationwide.

Steyer stopped in Detroit last week to rally NextGen America, an organization that will be on college campuses in 11 states getting out the youth vote this election season. About 370 young, paid organizers were expected at the Crowne Plaza hotel downtown to receive training.

Steyer, 57, was at least three decades older than the folks in NextGen T-shirts filtering through the hotel waiting for various training sessions Thursday.Twenty-somethings lined the hallways on their laptops, either sprawled on the floor or in whimsical blow-up chairs.

Steyer had just arrived from Minneapolis, where he hosted an event about his Need to Impeach campaign, which he has sunk about $40 million into. Trump, according to the campaign's Twitter page, has "taken money from foreign governments, obstructed justice at the FBI, and every brought us to the brink of nuclear war."

Conversely, Trump has called Steyer, "Wacky & totally unhinged..." on Twitter.

Almost 5.4 million people have signed the petition to date.

In Steyer's mind, impeaching Trump and mobilizing millennials to vote are connected to his vision of restoring morality and justice to American life, Steyer said in an interview Thursday with MLive.

"It's not separate in my life. It's a campaign. This is an organization," he said. "I think it's only sensible and moral to try and be on the side of justice. From my standpoint, everyone should want a meaningful life. I want a meaningful life. That means I want to be on the side of justice..."

Steyer is putting up the money to see his vision through. He has committed $32 million dollars to get out the youth vote in 11 battleground states this election cycle: Arizona, California, Florida, Iowa, Michigan, Pennsylvania, New Hampshire, Nevada, Virginia, North Carolina and Wisconsin.

In Michigan, the group has already been active at Wayne State University, U-M Dearborn, Oakland University, Oakland Community College, U-M Ann Arbor, Michigan State University, U-M Flint and Lansing Community College. They are expanding to Kalamazoo, Grand Rapids and Saginaw, and will get out to other areas of the state by fall, according to organizers.

On Saturday, fresh from the three-day training sessions, the new recruits hit the streets of Detroit to start registering new voters.

It's not merely to make sure the next generation is civically engaged, but that they vote for Democrats or progressives, according to Steyer. He makes no bones about being partisan.

"We are progressives," he said. "Our mission statement is: Act politically to prevent climate disaster, promote prosperity and protect the fundamental rights of every American."

Steyer said he is in disbelief about the current state of the nation. He feels America's democratic principles are in peril and that inequality and environmental disaster are growing threats.

But he sees a better future.

"There is no reason why the 21st Century should not be a glorious century for the United States of America if we do the right things, but we're not doing the right things," he said. "So we're pushing real hard to try and get more progressive policies so the people of America can have a more healthy and just and prosperous future."

While a lot of Steyer's rhetoric sounds like a politician on a stump speech, he won't commit to the idea of running for office himself - but doesn't discount it either.

"We don't know where the United States is going to be on Nov. 7," he said when asked about a run for office. "I would have never predicted that we'd be doing this. I would have never predicted the United States would be in this position. What we're doing is partially a reaction to the world. The world is going to change somehow on Nov. 6, we just don't know how. It could be a reaffirmation for Mr. Trump, it could be a total rejection of Republicans..."

In the meantime, Steyer will continue funding the efforts of NextGen America, initially founded as a climate change advocacy group. (NextGen Rising is the youth voting initiative within the organization). Climate change is still a driving force is Steyer's politics.

His efforts recently prompted DTE Energy and Consumers Energy to commit to using 25 percent of renewable energy by 2030. In return, Steyer will back off on a petition-driven ballot initiative that took the energy giants by surprise, according to a report in Crain's.

NextGen is still focused on environmental issues, but that mission is now folded in with the voter registration drive. Since it started operations a few years ago, the organization has been on 360 college campus, knocked on 12.5 million doors and registered 1.3 million Americans to vote, according to Steyer.

"That's the biggest grassroots organization in the United States," he said.

Can an organization that is funded by a billionaire like himself be truly "grassroots," though? When asked that, Steyer said he is merely helping facilitate the political dialogue.

"All we're doing is enabling conversations between voters," he said. "We're hiring people and training them so they can go out and organize conversation so that people can get involved in the political system and participate. That is grassroots."

NextGen America worker Eliza Webb was on hand Thursday to help train new recruits. The 24-year-old Ferndale native said she's always been active in progressive causes.

"What we're really hearing from young people is that they're in debt," she said. "We are experiencing a lot of crises of water. Lead in water. Water shut-offs in Detroit. A lot of struggles with health care. We've been talking to people about the issues they care about to turn out the youth vote in 2018 with the theory of fun and youth power."

Ben Wessel, director for NextGen Rising, said many young people will work to get voters registered in their own backyards. For some of them, it's their first time getting involved in politics.

"It's been inspiring to see how they're not waiting for permission," he said. "I think a lot of young folks feel, 'Hey, in order to be political, I have to wait till I know more, or I have to feel like I've been invited to an event.' These are young people who are saying, 'Hey, look, I'm not satisfied with the way the world is right now. I've got to do something now.'"

Steyer says millennials like Webb and Wessel are the largest, most diverse, most progressive generation in America - but that they vote at about half the rate as older voters. This is exactly what his organization's push aims to change.

"A lot of people don't understand that this is a really great generation," he said. "Very passionate. Very knowledgeable. They don't trust the system. They don't like either party, and so their question is: 'Why does my vote matter?' This is a very idealistic, hardworking, American generation. They can change the world. They really can, if they participate."
NEWBERRY, MI - Animal lovers around the state are mourning the loss of a gentle giant in Michigan's Upper Peninsula.

Charlie, a 700-pound bear who lived at Oswald's Bear Ranch in Newberry for more than 16 years, died of natural causes on Friday, June 1. Known for his docile personality and cinnamon-colored fur, Charlie was regarded as one of the most-beloved bears on the sprawling wildlife refuge. He was 18.

"There are alpha bears that are very hostile when they want to be," said Monte Oswald, a member of the family that runs the ranch. "Charlie was very docile and just the opposite of the alphas we had before. He was very easy going with the other bears. Even with the smaller male bears there wasn't many problems when Charlie was around. He kept an eye on everything and kept them under control."

A perfect example of that can be seen in the photo above, which shows Charlie calmly sharing a meal with Zac, a blind bear that also lives on the property.

Oswald's staff found a deceased Charlie during an early-morning check of the habitat where he had lived since he came to the U.P. from New York as a 100-pound cub in 2002.

Oswald said Charlie quickly became one of the more-popular of the 40-plus bears on the property, in part because of his distinguishable color.

"Lots of people get attached to certain bears once they've been to the ranch and had an interaction with them. It becomes a lifelong interaction and they keep an eye on them through social media. Charlie was one of those bears."

Oswald's Bear Ranch, 13814 County Road 407, in Newberry, is open from 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily from Memorial Day until Sept. 30. The family-owned farm offers free admission to students and active military and their families.
KALAMAZOO, MI -- A man who pleaded guilty to raping a 14-year-old girl upon the testing of a rape kit 10 years later has been sentenced to prison.

Jason Keller, 46, was sentenced by Kalamazoo County Circuit Court Judge Gary C. Giguere Jr. to five to 15 years in prison Monday, June 4, in accordance with a plea deal. He had pleaded guilty May 1 to two felonies, one count of third-degree criminal sexual conduct and one count of aggravated assault and battery. In exchange for his plea, a charge of first-degree criminal sexual conduct charge was dropped.

Keller's case was the first rape case to see a resolution following the county's push to test nearly 200 previously untested rape kits. More cases are pending in the Kalamazoo County court system.

The rape is one of nearly 200 rape cases that long have gone unprosecuted in Kalamazoo County that may result in convictions following a push to test all previously untested kits.

Lance Handlogten, a criminal investigator for the Kalamazoo County Prosecutor's Office and a retired Kalamazoo Department of Public Safety lieutenant, testified during a probable cause hearing in March that then 36-year-old Jason Keller picked up a 14-year-old girl on Dec. 14, 2008.

Jason Keller

The girl was prostituting herself in the 2200 block of North Pitcher Street and Jason Keller offered her a ride, Handlogten said.

"(The girl) got into Keller's truck and was driven to nearby parking lot where Keller violently raped her," Handlogten said. "Keller punched her in the face and head repeatedly, pulled her pants off and raped (the girl)."

The woman was taken to the Kalamazoo YWCA where she underwent a sexual assault examination. The sexual assault kit was placed into evidence. The girl and her family decided not to move forward with the case for various reasons and the case was closed, Handlogten said.

The sexual assault kit was not submitted for testing but was kept as evidence.

In Keller's case, as part of the Kalamazoo Sexual Assault Kit Initiative, the kit was sent to be tested for DNA analysis. A male profile was obtained from the analysis and it was forwarded to the Michigan State Police. The male DNA profile was entered into the Combined DNA Index System and it hit on Keller.

Police got Keller's DNA through a search warrant in December 2017, and the DNA matched the rape kit.

Since the girl was 14 at the time of the rape, she could not have legally consented to sex, Handlogen said. The age of consent in Michigan is 16 years old.

In the Kalamazoo Sexual Assault Kit Initiative, a team of five people from the Michigan Attorney General's Office, the Kalamazoo County Prosecutor's Office and the YWCA Kalamazoo are looking at previously untested rape kits, some up to 30 years old. Their goal is to see if further action can be taken now that the rape kits have been tested.
MUSKEGON COUNTY, MI - A judge threw the book at a convicted child rapist, far exceeding state sentencing guidelines for the attacks that the girl's mother said has left her with nightmares and suffering ridicule from peers.

David Koza was sentenced to 19 to 42 years in prison by Muskegon County Circuit Judge Timothy Hicks. Koza pleaded guilty to one count of first-degree criminal sexual conduct involving a child under age 13. However, testimony indicated there were numerous sexual assaults on the girl, who reported them after seeing a school presentation on "good touch, bad touch."

Hicks said he exceeded the guidelines because of "the large number of times he committed the crime," as well Koza's threats to his victim.

"I cannot ignore the extensive nature of this activity," the judge said.

He has no criminal record, and that's why the guidelines for his minimum sentence ranged from 81 to 135 months, which is nearly seven years to just over 11 years.

Koza is a U.S. Army veteran, having served in Afghanistan, and was an Army recruiter at local high schools, according to a court official.

His victim gave a statement prior to Koza's sentencing.

"It made me really upset when I asked him to stop ... and he kept doing it, or would do it anyways," the girl said.

Her mother also provided a victim impact statement. She spoke of the girl's nightmares and "the deep changes in our sweet girl."

She has been distracted at school where she faces "many challenges," the mother said.

"She doesn't like any quiet time because her thoughts overwhelm her," she said. "She has had to deal with the ridicule and teasing due to her emotional outbursts."

Matt Roberts, chief trial attorney for the Muskegon County Prosecutors Office, told Hicks that Koza had threatened to kill her pets if she told anyone about the assaults.

In a letter to the court, read by his attorney, Koza told his victim she did the right thing by telling what was happening.

He also wrote he wants to tell her "that I'm truly sorry for sexually abusing her."

"I want to ask for her forgiveness but don't expect to ever receive it," he wrote.
COOPERSVILLE, MI - A high-end West Michigan appliance retailer is expanding its warehousing and office space in Coopersville.

Bekins recently broke ground on a 30,000-square-foot addition that will nearly double its warehousing and office space at its Coopersville Service Center, visible from I-96.

Bekins has more than 100 employees and plans to add 10-20 after the expansion is complete.

The service center opened in 2015 and was expected to accommodate at least 10 years of growth.

Bekins has showrooms in Grand Haven and Grand Rapids. The company also owns Classic Stereo in Grand Rapids. The locally-owned company has served West Michigan for 43 years.

"We always have been and always will be a service company that happens to sell products," said Scott Bekins, Bekins president. "People can buy what we sell elsewhere, but you can't get our service anywhere else. That's why we continue to grow - better service, same price. We can only do that by being smarter and more efficient. The operations center in Coopersville and our amazing people allow us to do just that."

The service company sells, installs and repairs both appliances and electronics. Customers at the Grand Haven and Grand Rapids showrooms test products in settings that mirror real home environments and even test some products not found in any other West Michigan showroom.

The Grand Haven showroom is at 735 Washington Ave. The Grand Rapids showroom and Classic Stereo are at 6275 28th St. SE.
SAGINAW, MI -- Recall language for a petition to recall two Saginaw school board members was denied for a second time, but the petitioner isn't giving up.

Since April, Stephanie Cureton has attempted to recall two school board members -- Treasurer Mattie Thompson and Secretary Kim "Tody" Hamilton -- after the board voted to not renew Superintendent Nathaniel McClain's contract, effectively firing him.

The election commission rejected the language for a second time on Monday, June 4. Cureton said she will refile the petition with updated language later on Monday.

Cureton argues Thompson's and Hamilton's actions caused instability within the district, as well as with the partnership agreement with the Michigan Department of Education.

Hamilton and Thompson voted along with board President Rudy Patterson and Vice President Jason Thompson in March to not renew McClain's contract and to rescind a previous one-year extension to McClain.

McClain's last day is June 30. The district has yet to name his replacement or an interim school chief. A meeting is scheduled for 5 p.m. Tuesday, June 5, to discuss the superintendent search.

Once the petition is refiled, Cureton faces the election committee again for a clarity hearing. If the language is approved, Cureton then has 180 days to collect enough signatures.

Hamilton said he would like to see those who support the recall petitions show up to board meetings to see what's really going on.

"We are trying to concentrate on moving the district forward," he said.

The number of required signatures is equal to 25 percent of the votes in each area of the district from the 2014 gubernatorial election, according to Chief Deputy County Clerk Kyle Bostwick.

In Saginaw, for instance, 3,145 signatures are needed.

Signatures would have to also be collected from Kochville Township, Ziwaukee and parts of Buena Vista Township.
Just days after seeing the safe return of three astronauts from the International Space Station, NASA is preparing to launch a new crew to orbit Wednesday morning, June 6 from Kazakhstan.

The U.S. space agency shared a photo of crews rolling the Soyuz MS-08 rocket that will send the crew to the orbiting laboratory on Wednesday to the launch pad.

On Sunday, three crew members from Expedition 55 returned safely to Earth from the space station when they landed in Kazakhstan at 8:39 a.m.

Expedition 55 was comprised of NASA astronaut Scott Tingle, Japan's Norishige Kanai and mission commander Anton Shkaplerov of the Russian Space Agency. This trio's mission spanned 168 days, 2,688 orbits of the Earth and traveled 71.2 million miles.

With Expedition 55 departing the ISS, Anton Shkaplerov of Roscosmos handed control of the space station over to NASA astronaut, and Michigan native, Andrew J. Feustel.

Three Expedition 55 crew members landed safely in Kazakhstan today at 8:39am ET (6:39pm Kazakh time) having completing hundreds of experiments during their 168-day stay in space. https://t.co/jmVigkelDf pic.twitter.com/cSIMoycnW6  Intl. Space Station (@Space_Station) June 3, 2018

Expedition 55 comes to a close as @Anton_Astrey hands control of the station today to @Astro_Feustel. Meanwhile, the crew is staying busy with new experiments delivered aboard @OrbitalATK's #Cygnus cargo craft. #SpaceToGround pic.twitter.com/PxyTTXZSVh  Intl. Space Station (@Space_Station) June 1, 2018

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As for the launching crew, Expedition 56 will be comprised of Sergey Prokopyev of Roscosmos, Serena Aunon-Chancellor of NASA and Alexander Gerst of the European Space Agency. The three will launch aboard a Soyuz MS-08 spacecraft on Wednesday, June 6 from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan.

The journey from Kazakhstan to the International Space Station is expected to take two days with the trio set to make it by Friday morning. Once aboard the ISS, Expedition 56 (and 57) will "work on hundreds of experiments in biology, biotechnology, physical science and Earth science."

NASA will broadcast both the landing of the returning crew and launch of the departing one on its website, social media channels and NASA TV. See below for the broadcast schedule as of Monday morning:

Wednesday, June 6:

6:15 a.m. - Soyuz MS-09 launch coverage (launch at 7:12 a.m.)

Friday, June 8:

8:15 a.m. - Docking coverage (docking scheduled for 9:07 a.m.)

10:30 a.m. - Hatch opening and welcome coverage

Live on @NASA TV, three new Expedition 56-57 crew members are launching to the space station Wednesday at 7:12 a.m. EDT. We're also answering your #AskNASA questions. https://t.co/yuOTrYN8CV pic.twitter.com/qgckMZnTXp  Intl. Space Station (@Space_Station) June 4, 2018
Before Michiganders get to enjoy some warmer temperatures near the 80-degree mark by the end of the week, they will first have to make it through a cold front to kick things off.

High temperatures are expected to be stuck in the low 70s -- and even cooler than that the further north you go -- throughout most of lower Michigan on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday, June 6.

High marks for Monday in lower Michigan are in the low 70s while most of the Upper Peninsula is in the mid to high 60s (with Copper Harbor stuck in the high 50s). Things get even cooler on Tuesday before warming up again each day through the rest of the week. See below for a comparison between Tuesday and Thursday's high-temperature forecasts:

Tuesday --

Thursday --

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As the cold front moves in late Monday and into early Tuesday, overnight lows will drop into the upper 40s across the thumb region and low 50s for most of lower Michigan. Some high pressure on the heels of the cold front will drop temperatures even more from Monday to Tuesday and Wednesday.

This pressure is expected to keep skies clear to partly cloudy for the most part during the first half of the week, with the warm front set to move in with some possible showers/thunderstorms Wednesday night and early Thursday.

"The WAA (warm air advection) will also allow temperatures to warm back up into the mid-70s to low 80s," the NWS reports. "Another chance for rain to start the weekend as a shortwave moving around the periphery of the ridge over the plains moves into the central Great Lakes."

As for any precipitation during the first half of the week, there could be some showers and thunderstorms moving in with the cold front on Monday night and early Tuesday. The National Weather Service reports a round of showers/thunderstorms could come Monday evening, with areas south of I-96 the most likely for some rain early tonight.

Instability is said to be weak, but thunderstorms remain "possible" Monday evening and night.

"The main forecast issue to resolve will be the chance for rain and possible thunderstorms for the second half of this week," the NWS reports early Monday morning.

"Forecast confidence remains on the low side for placement and timing of convection across the Midwest/Great Lakes, but slightly higher probabilities have been introduced for the end of the week for our region based on the latest 00z guidance and assessment of some ensemble output from the past 12z run and current 00z run."

Projected rainfall accumulation through 2 p.m. Wednesday:

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Projected Great Lakes region precipitation totals through Saturday:

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Posted Monday, June 4, 2018 6:00 am

This year, Missouri Retired Teachers Foundation will award seven $500 classroom grants for each of the 14 regions in the state. The grants are available to all teachers in Missouri public schools.

Funds may be appropriated in the areas of resources, leadership, research or materials used by an active Missouri classroom teacher.

Applications must be postmarked by June 30. Applications and instructions may also be found and downloaded at mortf.org or at mrta.org.

Winners will be notified by Aug. 31.
Education

Montgomery County Community College will present the spring installment of the interview/talk show program Issues and Insights April 20 from 12:30 to 2 p.m. in Science Center room 214, 340 DeKalb Pike, Blue Bell. The programs will be simulcast to the Colleges West Campus in South Hall room 216, 101 College Drive, Pottstown. Dr. Kolsky will offer a humorous presentation, Carrots, Sticks and Politics: A State of the Nation and the World Message. In this speech, he will provide his interpretation of domestic and international politics and then welcome questions from the audience for discussion. Issues and Insights, is free and open to the public. For information, contact Dr. Thomas Kolsky, professor of political science, at 215-641-6380 or tkolsky@mc3.edu.

Montgomery County Community Colleges STEM Scholars Program will host a STEM Jam! open house April 25 from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. in the Advanced Technology Center at the Colleges Central Campus, 340 DeKalb Pike, Blue Bell. The drop-in event is designed for students interested in learning more about careers in science, technology, engineering and mathematics. Activities will include STEM program information and career advising, STEM speakers throughout the day from industry and academia, micro-helicopter and robotics competitive obstacle courses and demonstrations and static models of STEM student and faculty work. For more information about STEM Jam! or STEM programs at MCCC, contact William Brownlowe at wbrownlowe@mc3.edu or 215-641-6644, or Robin Zuhlke at 215-619-7440 or rzuhlke@mc3.edu.

Temple Ambler, located at 580 Meetinghouse Road, presents the following events:

International Club Global Bazaar April 15 from 5 to 8 p.m. The Ambler Campus International Club invites all students, faculty, staff and the community to celebrate a multitude of diverse cultures, which will be showcased at the organizations Global Bazaar. This family friendly event will highlight cultural traditions and celebrations in Asia, Europe, the Middle East, South American, North America and Africa through music, entertainment, food and informative displays developed and presented by students at the Ambler Campus. Young visitors will be provided with passports, which they may get stamped at each country they visit. Prizes will be awarded to world travelers who talk to cultural representatives, answer questions about the countries theyve visited and take part in fun-filled activities designed to help them learn about the rich diversity of cultures found throughout the world. Refreshments will be served. The event is free. For more information, call 267-468-8108 or e-mail tuc36466@temple.edu.

EarthFest 2011 April 29 from 9:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. More than 75 exhibitors, including the Philadelphia Zoo, The Franklin Institute, the Academy of Natural Sciences, the Elmwood Park Zoo and the Insectarium, will take part in EarthFest 2011. School students of all ages are invited to attend and develop displays of their own. EarthFest partner the Pennsylvania Horticultural Society also offers its Kids Grow Expo, featuring the Junior Flower Show, as part of the event. For more information, call 267-468-8108 or e-mail duffyj@temple.edu.

Annual Spring Plant Sale May 7 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. The plant sale  an Ambler Campus tradition dating back to the early 1900s  will feature woody plants and perennials in portable sizes, hardy trees, shrubs, and vines, native plants that are attractive to wildlife, herbs, and hanging baskets. There will also be numerous special plants for sale to highlight Amblers special anniversary year. Garden books and garden tools will also be available for sale. Students, staff, and volunteers from the Department of Landscape Architecture and Horticulture and the Ambler Arboretum Advisory Committee will be available to answer questions. All proceeds from the Spring Plant Sale will support the Ambler Arboretum Fund and the Pi Alpha Xi National Honor Society. Information: 267-468-8001 or judy.shatz@temple.edu. Learn more at www.ambler.temple.edu/anniversary.

June Homecoming/Louise Bush-Brown Garden Dedication June 5 from 12:30 to 2 p.m. (June Homecoming), Bright Hall Lounge; 2 p.m. (Garden Dedication), Ambler Campus Formal Perennial Gardens. Tickets  June Homecoming: Participant  $18 per person; Sustainer  $25 per person; Benefactor  $40 per person. The 2011 June Homecoming, sponsored by the School of Environmental Design Alumni Association, will include the Alumni Association annual meeting and luncheon. June Homecoming will be followed by the formal dedication of Temple University Amblers Formal Perennial Gardens as the Louise Bush-Brown Formal Gardens. During this 100th anniversary of the campus, Temple University Ambler and the Ambler Arboretum of the Temple University is honoring Louise Bush-Browns many contributions to the history of the campus by formally dedicating the gardens in her honor. During the program, campus Executive William Parshall will welcome guests, Ambler Arboretum Director Jenny Rose Carey will speak about the Bush-Browns and the history of the garden, and an official ribbon cutting will be held for the Louise Bush-Brown Formal Garden. Following the ribbon cutting, guests are invited to take a tour of the gardens, which will wend their way to the Campus Greenhouse for the School of Environmental Designs annual Plant Auction. Information (Garden Dedication): 267-468-8001 or judy.shatz@temple.edu. Information (June Homecoming): 215-482-0722. Learn more at www.ambler.temple.edu/anniversary.

Northview Garden Tour and Fundraiser for the Ambler Arboretum June 12 from noon to 5 p.m. Call for reservations. Tickets: $15 per person or $20 at the door. In addition to the gardens of the Ambler Arboretum of Temple University, Arboretum Director Jenny Rose Carey has a garden oasis all her own right in Ambler  Northview. Visitors will have the opportunity to take self-guided tours throughout the many gardens, where garden experts will be available to answer questions about the various designs. The Ambler Keystone Chapter of the Womans National Farm and Garden Association will also provide tea and refreshments. All proceeds from the tours will support the Ambler Arboretum of Temple University. Information or to register: 267-468-8001 or judy.shatz@temple.edu. Learn more at www.ambler.temple.edu/anniversary.

The Senior Adult Activities Center of Montgomery County, 536 George Street, Norristown, will hold the following events:

SAAC Adult Day Care, an alternative to Nursing Home Care is available  for information call 610-275-1960

Volunteers are needed for Meals on Wheels Program (call the number above)

SAACs Fifth Avenue Boutique opens Monday through Friday from 10 a.m.-1:30 p.m.

Exercise with Theresa will be held every Monday, Wednesday and Friday at 1 p.m.

Dance class is held every Monday at 10 a.m.

Tai Chi is held every Monday at 10 a.m.

Yoga is held every Tuesday at 10:30 a.m.

Line Dancing is held every Thursday at 10:30 a.m.

Dancing with Joan is held every Wednesday at 10:30 a.m.

Sculpture Class is held Wednesdays from 2 to 3:30 p.m.

Why Should I Learn Spanish? will be held Wednesdays at 10:30 a.m.

Generations On-Line computer classes for seniors will be held Monday through Friday from 8 a.m.  4 p.m.  computers are available during those hours.

Health Living will be held every Tuesday at 1 p.m.

Boomer U will hold the following events. Boomer U is located at 45 Forest Avenue, Ambler. Registration & payment is required for all events: 215-619-8863.

Pilates Class is held Wednesdays and Fridays at 9:30 a.m. First class is free; please bring a mat. For information call 610-291-5376.

Blue Bell School of Dance, 921 Penllyn Blue Bell Pike, Blue Bell, hosts Argentine Tango Classes and a Milonga dance party every Friday evening. Lessons start at 8:30 p.m. followed by dancing at 9:30 p.m. Andrew Conway, master Argentine Tango dancer, instructor and performer and his partner Linda Chase will instruct. All levels welcome and no partner is needed. Refreshments will be served. Fee is $12 per person and includes lesson and dancing. Information: 215-634-1101 or www.amoretango.com.

The Montgomery Hospital Medical Center will offer the following classes:

Childbirth Education Class- all parents are invited to participate, including those who are delivering at

other hospitals. For more information on maternity services or classes, call 610-270-2020.

CPR and First Aid Courses are offered for beginners to experiences health care providers. Call 610-270-2313.

The Ambler SAAC (Senior Adult Activities Center), located at 45 Forest Ave in Ambler will hold the following events:

Tai Chi every Monday and Thursday at 11 a.m.

Yoga is every Tuesday at 1 p.m. and Friday at 10:30 a.m.

Strength and balance training every Wednesday at 10 a.m.

Armchair Aerobics is held every Monday at 10 a.m.

Gourmet Weight Wise every Thursday at 12:30.

Fitness Center and Pool Room open daily 8 a.m.-4 p.m.

The Diabetes Education Center will offer day and evening classes each month. Health insurance pays for diabetes education classes. Preregistration is required. Call 610-270-2301.

For Kids & Families

The Ambler Kiwanis Club will host its annual Easter Egg Hunt April 26 at 10 a.m. in Ambler Borough Park, located just off of the intersection of Hendricks Street and Valley Brook Road. Members of the Wissahickon Key Club will assist Kiwanians in hiding thousands of wrapped chocolate eggs in a designated area of the park. Also hidden will be plastic colored eggs, which are redeemed for prizes. Elementary school children are separated by age.

Upper Dublin Parks & Recreation will hold its 21st annual Storybook Egg-Stravaganza April 15 fom 6 to 7:30 p.m. at the Upper Dublin Township Building. Toddlers and preschoolers love this annual event where photo opportunities with favorite friends abound! Treasures are collected from UDP&Rs assortment of lifesize cutouts of favorite cartoon characters from Disney, Sesame Street, Nickelodeon and other well-known animation. Children can have their picture taken with Bugsy OHare; bring your own camera. And dont forget a basket for goodies! $7 for UD residents; $12 for non-residents. Pre-register at 215-643-1600 ext. 3443.

Splash Week is a free week-long program that teaches children and families basic swimming skills and water safety practices. All YMCA branches will host multiple classes each day from April 11 to 15. For more information, contact the Ambler Area YMCA at 215-628-9950.

Healthy Kids Day is April 16 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. The day is filled with fun, engaging and artistic activities that cultivate healthy living as part of the YMCAs larger efforts to help more kids and families become physically active. All activities are free and open to the community. For more information, contact the Ambler YMCA at 215-628-9950. No reservation is required.

The Ambler Area YMCA has added several new programs for area youngsters. Classes are held late afternoons or evenings on various weekdays. For more information, visit philaymca.org or call 215-628-9950.

Basic Beading: Ages: 10+. Wednesdays 7 to 7:45 p.m. This class will teach you the fundamentals of wiring and stringing along with how color can be used to create unique and vibrant beadwork design. You will create various jewelry including earrings, bracelets, charm pendants and much more! Supplies will be provided. Bringing your own jewelry pliers or tools would be a plus.

Messin with the Masters: Ages: 8-12. Thursdays 7 to 7:45 p.m. Learn about some of the worlds greatest artists. You will be inspired to create your own Starry Night with oil pastels and tempera paints, a tissue paper painted Monet garden, a Picasso head using scraps of paper, a Georgia OKeeffe clay flower bowl and a Rousseau jungle collage.

Super Scientist: Ages: 5-7. Mondays 4:30 to 5:15 p.m. Well be concocting chemistry experiments such as making slime, mixing potions and having fun with magnet magic. Your budding little scientist will enhance his/her creative thinking and motor skills and to top it off will learn that science can be serious fun.

Wacky Junk Art: Ages: 8-12. Thursdays 6 to 6:45 p.m. Why throw it away! Instead join us to make household junk into aliens from outer space, wacky specs, crazy hats, body masks or a recycled train.

Globe Trotters: Ages: 4-6. Tuesdays 4:30 to 5:15 p.m. Youre never too young to start thinking globally. Each week, we explore a new country through crafts, games, music, stories and even some taste-testing. A perfect introduction to our great big world!

Crazy about Crafts: Ages: 5-7, Thursdays 4:30 to 5:15 p.m. Let your childs creative juices flow with our fun arts and crafts projects each week. Fine motor skills and creative thinking skills will be enhanced with this crafty class.

Come out and join the Ambler Area YMCAs Teen and Junior Leaders Club. Participants are given the freedom to plan community service projects year round and truly make a difference in the lives of people in need. Those in Teen and Junior Leaders also attend leadership retreats all along the East Coast three times a year and meet other leaders who are doing the same great work in their respective areas. Dont miss out on this inspiring opportunity. Teen Leaders, ages 13-17, meet every Wednesday from 6 to 7:30 p.m. Junior Leaders, ages 10-12, will begin in the spring and will meet every Monday. For more information, contact Mike Miles, Teen Director, 215- 628-9950 x 1540 or mmiles@philaymca.org.

Did you know that the new Ambler Area YMCA holds childrens birthday parties at its site for members and non members as well. The Ambler Y does all the work from start to finish and birthday parties include a personalized cake, ice cream, beverage and paper products. Parties are held on Saturday and Sunday afternoons and include two party hosts to lead activities, set-up, clean-up and assist with serving. You can have a Splash Party for children ages six to 12 in the new zero depth entry pool with water slide and spray fountains. Up to 25 children have exclusive use of the pool area with 30 minutes in the party room. Sports Parties are offered for kids ages four to 12 with age appropriate activities and games, and sports such as floor hockey, soccer, basketball or dodge ball. Children ages three to five years of age will enjoy parties in the Family Active Center with use of the Moon Bounce and organized activities, such as parachute play and songs. For information, 215-628-9950 ext. 1583.

Community Events at the Ambler Y:

-YAchievers YMCA Achievers is a developmentally based, extracurricular, educational and team mentoring program designed to help students in grades five through 12 prepare for fulfilled livelihoods in college and beyond. Participation is free and all students in this program receive a free YMCA membership. Registration for the 2009 program begins now. You do not need to be a YMCA member to utilize these special services. Call 215-628-9950 to register.

Greater Norristown Art Leagues Childrens Weeklong Summer Art Camps will be held at 800 West Germantown Pike in East Norriton, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Monday through Friday throughout the summer. The cost per session is $125 per student for ages 6 and up. Jo Ann Cooksey Bono teaches an introduction to basic drawing skills and techniques from 10 a.m. until the lunch break each day. In the afternoon sessions, Mary Vogel Lozinak involves the students in hands on projects such as collage, papermaking, T-shirt printing, 3D design and sculpy clay. Fridays Graduation Day includes an art show, awards ceremony and reception for parents, siblings, grandparents and friends. All supplies are included. Students provide their own lunch. A refrigerator is available and the building is air-conditioned. This is the 15th year to run this successful program. Both instructors are professional artists with State Police and Child Abuse Clearances. To register, call Jo Ann at 610-279-1008, or register on-line at www.gnal.org.

Health

Dresher Physical Therapy is hosting an interactive seminar discussing its Golf Assessment Progam April 30 from 10 a.m. to noon at Dresher Physical Therapy, 1075 Virginia Drive, Suite 200, Fort Washington. Physical therapist Chris Miller, certified through the Titleist Performance Institute, will discuss why your body may be the most important piece of golf equipment you invest in and how this can drastically improve your game. $10 in advance; $15 at the door. Call 215-619-4545 to reserve your spot.

The Chestnut Hill Center for Enrichment, Center on the Hill and Chestnut Hill Hospital will host a Senior Health and Resource Fair April 14 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Chestnut Hill Presbyterian Church, 8855 Germantown Ave. The event is free. For more information, call 215-248-0180 or e-mail chseniors@cavtel.net.

The Ambler Senior Adult Activities Center is hosting Help Yourself to Health, a new six-week workshop for older adults with ongoing health conditions such as arthritis, diabetes, high blood pressure, anxiety, heart disease and others. The free workshop will take place at the Ambler Senior Adult Activities Center, 45 Forest Ave. on six Thursdays, May 12 through June 16 from 9:30 a.m. to noon. Although there is no charge to participate, registration is required. To register, call 215-619-8863.

The Ambler Senior Adult Activities Center is sponsoring an eight-week program called A Matter of Balance: Managing Concerns About Falls. Presented by the Montgomery County Health Department, this workshop will be held on Tuesdays, May 3 to June 21 from 10 a.m. to noon at the Ambler Center, 45 Forest Ave. If you pre-register by April 27, the fee is only $5! Registration at the first class is $10. (Checks should be payable to SAAC and will benefit our Meals on Wheels program that serves homebound seniors.) A workbook will be provided and refreshments will be served. Call 215-619-8863 to register or for more information.

Fort Washington Wellness Center classes are ongoing. There are several offered during lunch or right after work, for your convenience: Boot Camp from noon to 1 p.m. on Monday; Zumba is MWF from 11 a.m. to noon and Friday at 4 p.m.; there are 25 cycling classes; Ashtanga and Vinyasana Yoga and Pilates; and a group Womens Strength Training class M-F from 10 to 11 a.m. Questions, call Cathy DeMarco at 215-641-1245.

Following the success of other local area programs, Impact Sports and Upper Dublin Parks and Recreation are delighted to team up again to offer a spring program for the 2011 season! Upper Dublin area children ages 3-5 years old can attend a Sports Program featuring their favorite sports games; soccer, rugby, hockey, track and field, basketball, and more. The program will start on April 27 and run through June 1. Cost for the program is $85 for the six weeks. The classes will be running 12- 1 p.m.; 1- 2 p.m.; 2- 3 p.m. For more info or to register, call Upper Dublin Township on 215 643 1600 or visit their website a http://www.upperdublin.net.

Spring Aquatic Programs  UDHS Pool:

-Summer is just around the corner  Community Aquatic Programs at the UDHS Pool can help get you into shape! Programs begin in March; preregistration is required.

 Shallow Water Aerobics  Two 5-week programs, Wednesday nights, 8-8:45 p.m., $40R/$50NR.

 Adult Swim Instructions  Two 5-week programs, Wednesday nights, 7-8 p.m., $50R/$60NR

-Open Rec Swims are fun for the whole family! Come out on Fridays from 7-9 p.m. or Saturdays from 1-4 p.m. and enjoy use of the pool and diving area. Fridays are offered through June 17; Saturdays are offered March 12-May 21.

-Join a growing group of adult lap swimmers and water walkers. Lanes are set aside evenings and weekends for use; lanes are shared. Monday  Thursday from 7:30-9:30 p.m.; Fridays from 7-9 p.m. and Saturdays (March 12-May 21) from 1-4 p.m.

-Private Swimming & Diving Lessons for ages 3-adult are offered at the UDHS Pool through a partnership with the Upper Dublin Aquatic Club (UDAC). Visit the UDAC website for more information, www.udac.us, and click the link to UDHS Private Lessons.

-Looking for local programs for US Masters Swimming (adults) or Water Polo (all ages)? UDAC and UDSD are working together to develop programs that will be offered at the UDHS Pool. Add your name to Interest Lists by emailing slohoefer@upperdublin.net. emails will be sent about clinics and program start dates.

Questions about Community Aquatic Programs at the UDHS Pool, group use of the pool or pool rental? Contact Susan Lohoefer, Facility & Community Affairs Manager at slohoefer@upperdublin.net or call 215-643-8800 x8994.

SilverSneakers Fitness Program. The Healthyways SilverSneakers Fitness Program is a result-oriented program that enables older adults to take charge of their health. The program is an innovative blend of physical activity, healthy lifestyle and socially oriented programing. Members of the program are eligible for a free YMCA membership, with use of the pool and exercise equipment, along with customized classes designed for older adults who want to improve their strength, flexibility, balance and endurance. If you are a subscriber to Independence Blue Cross (Personal Choice 65 PPO) or Keystone 65 HMO, Bravo Health, or Health Options Programs (HOP), call the Ambler Area YMCA, 215-628-9950 or Hatboro Area YMCA, 215-674-4545. You can also visit www.silversneakers.com.

Zumba Fitness offers Zumba dance/fitness classes at Academy of Dance and Music/BBAD Studio located at 1524 DeKalb Pike in Blue Bell (behind Sherwin Williams). Classes are offered three times a week: Tuesdays at 6 p.m., Thursdays at 6:30 p.m. and Saturdays at 8 a.m. For a free trial pass for your first class, email us at info@danceandmusic.biz or call 610-277-2557. For more info, visit our site at www.academyofdanceandmusic.org.

Chestnut Hill Health Systems presents the following Health Education Programs:

FITNESS CLASSES

Golden Yoga: A Breathing, Stretching and Relaxation Class. Fridays, 2:30-3:30 p.m. Lea Auditorium, Chestnut Hill Hospital, 8835 Germantown Ave. Registration for four classes at a time required. Golden Yoga is Classical Yoga, adapted by the SKY Foundation, to accommodate those who have difficulty getting up and down from the floor. The program includes postures, breathing, relaxation and meditation techniques, all performed while sitting in a chair and standing. Registration required. Call 215-247-3029. Cost: $20 for 4 classes per month.

Tai Chi: Tuesdays & Thursdays, 8:30  9:30 a.m. Springfield Residence, 8601 Stenton Ave. Classes, for the novice or beginner/intermediate student, are designed to improve balance, power, posture, coordination, flexibility and mental focus. Slow, gentle movements are modified to most everyones abilities. For more information or to sign up for a free introductory class, call 215-882-2804. Cost: $8 per class/paid monthly.

SUPPORT GROUPS

Weight Loss Surgery Support Group: Fourth Wednesday of the month, 7-8 p.m. Williams Conference Room, Chestnut Hill Hospital, 8835 Germantown Ave., Philadelphia. Join us for a monthly get-together where well share information for those interested in weight loss surgery, learn from guest speakers discussing current news on issues including lifestyle modification, nutrition and exercise and provide ongoing support for those who have completed surgery. Registration required. Call 215-753-2000.

Breast Cancer Networking Group: Fourth Tuesday of the month 5:30  7 p.m. Williams Conference Room, Chestnut Hill Hospital, 8835 Germantown Ave., Philadelphia. A free, confidential support group for women living with a diagnosis of breast cancer designed to provide a forum for sharing information, feelings and concerns associated with breast cancer. Facilitated by Tish Wakefield, LCSW, Oncology Social Worker. Registration required. To register or for more information, call 215-248-8047.

New Moms Support Groups Tuesdays 10:30 a.m.  12 p.m.; contact Jeanine ORourke, MSW or 2:30  4 p.m.; contact Susan Schack, Ph.D Volunteer Conference Room, Chestnut Hill Hospital, 8835 Germantown Ave. The Center for Postpartum Depression at Chestnut Hill Hospital is pleased to offer two new support groups to support new moms. Both groups will be run by experienced mental health professionals who really get it when it comes to new motherhood and juggling relationships, extended family, work/family balance and self-care. If you are experiencing new mom challenges that often heighten anxiety and involve hormonally driven depression, join us for an informative and supportive forum to connect with other moms. Infants are welcome. $30 per session (flexible based on need). Registration is required. Call Dr. Schack, 646-265-2484, or Ms. ORourke, 215-206-2931.

Man to Man Prostate Cancer Support Group Third Thursday of the month 8-9 a.m. Williams Conference Room, Chestnut Hill Hospital, 8835 Germantown Ave. A networking group for men diagnosed with prostate cancer designed to provide education, support and encouragement. Spouses and partners welcome. Harry M. Baer, MD, Chief, Urology Division, will host Ask the Doctor. Registration required. Call 215-248-8325.

Contact the Senior Center by phone 215-248-0180 or email (chseniors@cavtel.net) with your questions about these programs or any of our on-going activities and classes.

Holy Redeemer HomeCare and Hospice seeks compassionate and emotionally mature volunteers to provide support to local hospice patients and their families in Bucks, Montgomery and Philadelphia counties. Volunteers may also assist with pet therapy and administrative work within the hospice department and are requested to have daytime availability. Hospice patient care volunteers visit with patients in their homes or nursing facilities once a week for two to three hours. They provide emotional support and companionship to patients and family members, assist with errands or provide respite for caregivers. Bereavement volunteers support the families of hospice patients following the loss of a loved one, while administrative volunteers assist with typing, mailings and/or filing. Hospice care workers provide a great service to families and loved ones of hospice patients. Many volunteers also report a great deal of personal satisfaction as a result of their services. Patient care and bereavement volunteers complete an application and attend an 18-hour volunteer training program that covers the medical, psychological and spiritual aspects of hospice volunteering. Day and evening training programs are offered. To sign up for volunteer opportunities in Pennsylvania, contact Holy Redeemer Volunteer Coordinator Jean Francis at 215-698-3737 or email jfrancis@holyredeemer.com.

Librarytalk

Upper Dublin Public Library, 805 Loch Alsh Avenue, Ft. Washington, 215-628-8744

www.upperdublinlibrary.org

APRIL CHILDRENS PROGRAMS:

Storytimes: Please register in the library.

o Wee Ones: 0 to 23 months Thursdays and Fridays 10:30 to 10:50 a.m.

o Tiny Tots: age 2. Wednesdays 10:30 to 10:50 a.m. and Fridays 11 to 11:20 a.m.

o Jr. Book Lovers: ages 3 to 6. Tuesdays 10:30 to 11 a.m.

o Bedtime Storytimes: 7 to 7:30 p.m. April 20 and 27. Wear your jammies, bring your teddy & hear Miss Barbara read bedtime stories! For ages 3 to 6.

APRIL TEEN PROGRAMS:

North Hills Library Teens April 28 from 4 to 6 p.m. Movie Matinee

APRIL UDPL ADULT PROGRAMS:

NEW! ESL Conversation Group. Tuesdays from 7 to 8 p.m. Interested in practicing your English in a safe and caring environment? Come to our conversation group and improve your skills! Please register with Kay Klocko at 215-628-8744 or kklocko@mclinc.org.

One-on-One Computer Mentoring. Get personalized assistance from experienced computer volunteers! Sign-up for a one-hour session. Limit one session per month. Please register  contact info above.

Book Groups Please register with Kay Klocko 215-628-8744.

o Daytimers: April 21 at 1:30 p.m. Tired of book groups where you all read the same book? Read any fiction or non-fiction book on this months theme: Explorers. Please register.

Meetings:

Annual Meeting of the Friends of UDPL: April 14 at 1 p.m.

Board of Directors: April 20 at 7 p.m.

Blue Bell Library www.wvpl.org Upcoming Events: The Wissahickon Valley Public Library, 650 Skippack Pike (Route 73) in Blue Bell, is diagonally across from the Blue Bell Inn. Call 215-643-1320 or visit their website at www.wvpl.org.

For children and teens at Blue Bell:

* Story times with guitar music by Miss Michelle, the singing librarian.

* Mondays at 10:30 a.m. for all ages.

* Wednesdays at 4:30 p.m. for all ages.

* Fridays at 10:30 a.m. for all ages.

* Family Movies, new releases, second Saturdays of the month at 1:30 p.m.

* May 14  Despicable Me

* June 11  Alpha and Omega

* Special Events

* April  watch for date of spring/Easter events

* April 14 at 4:30 p.m.  Junior Lego Club for children ages 3 through 5. Parents and caregivers need to stay with children.

* April 14 at 7 p.m.  Jeopardy for ages 11 to 18. Test your book and library knowledge for prizes. Sign up to be a contestant. No sign up to be in the audience. Snacks provided.

* April 16 at 1 p.m.  Adult Mystery Book Group discussing The Beekeepers Apprentice by Laurie King.

* April 16 at 1:30 p.m.  Childrens event for One Book, Every Young Child celebration. Story and craft for book Whose Shoes?

* April 19 at 7 p.m. and April 26 at 1:30 p.m.- Adult book group discusses The Professor and the Madman by Simon Winchester. Group led by Adam Button.

* April 30 through May 3  Friends book sale with about 10,000 items for sale for children, teens and adults.

* May  sign up for Science in the Summer

* June  sign up for Enrichment Programs for Elementary-Age children

* June  sign up for Summer Reading, all ages

For adults at Blue Bell:

* Daytime Book Discussion Group  fourth Tuesday, Jan  April at 1:30 p.m.

* April 26  The Professor and the Madman by Simon Winchester

* Night-time Book Discussion Group  third Tuesday of each month at 7 p.m.

o April 19  The Professor and the Madman by Simon Winchester

* Art Series with Dr. Sheldon Weintraub, docent at The Barnes and speaker at local colleges

o April 27 at 2 p.m. The Art of Looking at Art-Is She Nude or Is She Naked?

*Mystery Book Discussion Group, third Saturday of the month at 1 p.m.; new mystery theme each month; www.wvpl.org/programs

* Yoga on Mondays at 1:30 p.m. $20 for eight classes; $5 per drop-in class.

* Tai Chi on Mondays at 3 p.m. with Dr. Kurt Findeisen. $20 for eight classes; $5 per drop in class.

* Philadelphia Museum of Art presents class on their Marc Chagall exhibit, April 13 at 2 p.m.

* Giant Book Sale, April 29  May 3

o Starts with almost 10,000 items for children and adults!

o Held during library hours.

o Preview for members of the Friends of the Library, April 28 at 7 p.m.

o Join the Friends and attend the preview sale. Modest fee to join.

* Blooms at Blue Bell Gardening Series

o May 11 at 1 p.m.  Summer Bulbs by PA Horticultural Society

* Knitting group Mondays and Wednesdays at 10 a.m. Work on your project or observe and learn. The groups continue year-round in the community room.

* Socrates Cafe discussion group every Monday at 7 p.m. You pick the topic to discuss each week. No sign-up, nothing to read.

* Bridge every Friday at 12:30 p.m. New players welcome.

* Mah Jong every Wednesday at 1 p.m. New players welcome.

*Chess every Wednesday at 7p.m. for adults and teens 14 and older.

* Movie Matinee showing recent releases every Thursday at 2 p.m. April 14: Maos Last Dancer; April 21: Welcome to the Rileys; April 28: Conviction; May 5: Inception; May 12: Inside Job; May 19 The Kings Speech; May 26 The Fighter; June 2 Rabbit Hole; June 9 Black Swan; June 16 127 Hours

* Ongoing like-new, year-round book sale for adults & children during library hours

* Library opening at 10 a.m. Monday through Saturday!

Ambler Library, a branch of the Wissahickon Valley Public Library, 209 Race St., 215-646-1072. www.wvpl.org. All the following events occur at the Ambler Library.

* Story times with guitar music by Miss Michelle, the singing librarian.

* Tuesdays at 10:30 a.m. for all ages.

* Thursdays at 4:30 p.m. for all ages.

* For adults:

* Beading Group meets the first and third Monday of every month at 1 p.m. Work on your own projects or come to watch and learn.

* Free Family History Lookup with Connie Briggs. Email Connie for an appointment at the Ambler Library. conniebriggs@comcast.net

* Special Events:

* April 14 at 1:30 p.m.  Book Group discusses Skeletons at the Feast by Chris Bohjalian.

* April 19 at 7 p.m.  Travel to Paris with world traveler Harry Balin. Tea and scones at 6:30 p.m.

* April 21 at 7 p.m.  Art with Sara for children in fourth through seventh grades.

*May 2 at 6:30 p.m.  Discuss the movie Lone Star with Temple Professor Lisa Hawkins. Watch the movie ahead of time.

*May 10  Robert Capucci discusses Art into Fashion. Tea and scones served at 6:30 p.m. Program at 7 p.m.

*May 12 at 1:30p.m.  Book Group discusses The Imperfectionists by Tom Rachman.

*May 17  Tour the gardens of Devon and Southwest England with Lois McMullen. Tea and Scones at 6:30 p.m. Program at 7 p.m.

*June 13 at 6:30 p.m.  Discuss the movie Blade Runner with Temple Professor Lisa Hawkins. Watch the movie ahead of time.

Meetings and Lectures

The Unisys Blue Bell Retiree Group will meet in the Church on the Mall in the Plymouth Meeting Mall April 14 at 1:30 p.m. Kathy Sacket Young, director/trainer with the North Penn YMCA, will speak on Keeping Fit in Retirement. For more information, contact Membership Committee Chairperson Jerry Feldscher at 610-275-3538 or President Al Rollin at 215-368-4833.

The next FWBA meeting will be April 28 at the Hilton Garden Inn Fort Washington. Networking begins at 11:30 a.m.; meeting from noon to 1 p.m. Leon Singletary, Principal, First Contact HR and FWBA Executive Board, will present: Social Media: How to Use It To Get More Business. Lunch is provided courtesy of the Hilton Garden Inn Fort Washington. Members are welcome to bring a guest. An RSVP is requested by return email or 215-628-0313.

Big Brothers Big Sisters Southeastern PA is hosting a information sessions over the next few weeks on how to become a Big Brother. The information sessions will take place: April 16 at noon, April 19 at 8 a.m. and April 28 at 6 p.m. All sessions will be held at the groups Norristown Office,t 530 DeKalb St., Norristown. For more information, call 610-277-2200.

The North Penn Chapter of the Institute of Management Accountants (IMA) normally meets on the third Tuesday of each month from now until May. Meetings are held at the William Penn Inn on Route 202 and Sumneytown Pike, Upper Gwynedd, PA. Social hour starts at 5:30 p.m., dinner is served at 6:30 p.m., and the technical program begins at 7 p.m. Cost with reservation is $28 for members. Members without reservations and guests pay $30. Students with reservations pay $15. Reservations may be made by noon on the Monday preceding the meeting by phoning 215-371-1854 or emailing the reservation to northpennima@yahoo.com northpennima@yahoo.com. Information about the North Penn Chapter is available at http://northpenn.imanet.org/.

LeTip, a professional organization of men and women who are dedicated to the highest standards of competence and service meets every Tuesday at Cedar Brook Country Club, 180 Penllyn Pike, Blue Bell at 7 a.m. -meeting officially starts at 7:16 a.m. and ends at 8:31 a.m. Our purpose is the exchange of business tips, leads, and referrals. Each business category is represented by one member and conflicts of interest are disallowed. Guests are welcome to visit any of our breakfast meetings.

Every third Thursday of month, Sunrise Assisted Living of Blue Bell (795 Penllyn Pike, Blue Bell, PA 19422, 215-619-2777) serves as a satellite site to 148th Legislative district PA congressman Mike Gerber from 10 a.m. to noon. Stop by for help needed with things such as disability placards and license plates, vehicle registration, utilities issues, birth/death certificates,property tax/rent rebates, etc. Notary services arranged by appointment.

The Eastern Montgomery County Chamber of Commerce is an action-oriented organization dedicated to promoting its members and the economic health of eastern Montgomery county. The Chamber is committed to serving as a catalyst by uniting business, community agencies, government and education to make our county a great place to live and work. For information, call 215-887-5122 or visit www.emccc.org.

Do you have a fear of public speaking? Blue Bell Toastmasters Club can help. We meet from 7 to 9 p.m., on the second and fourth Tuesday at the Marriott Courtyard, located on Route 202, directly across from the Montgomeryville Mall. Learn how to improve communication and leadership skills in a friendly and supportive environment. Guests are welcome. Admission fee: $5. For more info, visit www.bbtoast.org.

The PennSuburban Chamber of Commerce will hold the following meetings (for reservations to any of the following, email info@PennSuburban.org)

-Breakfast News Network, 7:30-8:45 a.m. at Normandy Farm Hotel (1401 Morris Road, Blue Bell, PA 19422) $15 members, includes full buffet breakfast. Join us for a networking program at Normandy Farm Hotel every Thursday morning for breakfast, business news, informative speakers, and plenty of networking. The cost includes a full breakfast buffet. Copies of the business cards will be made available to those who would like them.

The BNI, Fort Washington Chapter meets every Monday at The Hilton Garden Inn, 520 Pennsylvania Ave., Fort Washington for a networking meeting. Meetings are from 11:30 a.m. until 1 p.m. Visitors are welcome. The only cost to attend is the cost of your meal. For information or a reservation to attend, please call Luanne Cram at 215-947-7784, or visit our Internet site at: http://www.BNIDVR.Com and click on the menu item Find a Chapter.

For the past seven years, people have enjoyed participating in WVWAs Adopt-a-Tree program. Individuals can support the Association in its reforestation efforts by purchasing native trees to be planted. Supporters can plant their adopted tree or have WVWA volunteers will plant it. Trees cost $30 each. If you would like to volunteer or purchase a tree(s), please contact: Bob Adams at Bob@wvwa.org or call: 215-646-8866 for more information. Check www.WVWA.org for directions and maps.

Sustainable Upper Dublin, http://sustainableupperdublin.org, meets the first Thursday of each month at 6:30 p.m., at the Upper Dublin Township Building, 801 Loch Alsh Avenue, Fort Washington, PA 19034. Please send any questions to suec@sustainableupperdublin.org or call 610-996-6316. To learn more about Sustainable Upper Dublin, view or join the discussion at http://googlegroups.com/group/sustainableupperdublin.

Special Events

The Mattie N. Dixon Community Cupboard will hold its first nutrition class April 19 at 10 a.m. at the Community Cupboard, 150 N. Main St., Ambler. Lynne Sinclair, a nutritionist from Abington Memorial Hospital specializing in diabetic nutrition, will conduct the class. Topics will include healthy eating, beneficial foods, recipes, making meals with every day foods, and how to use unfamiliar produce. A healthy snack will be provided.The class is is open to all residents in Montgomery County.

The Historical Society of Fort Washington presents The History of Conshohocken April 19 at 8 p.m. at the Clifton House, 473 Bethlehem Pike, Fort Washington. Jack Coll will present an illustrated program on the history of the Borough of Conshohocken. Coll is a longtime resident of Conshohocken and a member of the Conshohocken Historical Society. He is co-author with his son, Brian, of the Arcadia Then and Now Series book Conshohocken. He has also done books Conshohocken and West Conshohocken Sports and Our Lady of Mt. Carmel Italian Feast. He has taken many photos for the Conshohocken Record and the Norristown Times Herald. This program is free. Refreshments will be served. For additional information, call 215-646-6065.

Taste of the White House Soiree featuring former White House Chef Walter Scheib will take place April 29 at 6 p.m. at Manufacturers Golf & Country Club in Fort Washington to celebrate HealthLinks 10th anniversary and honor its founders, the Eugene Jackson Family. The evening will heat up with a Chef Meet & Greet, followed by a specially selected presidential menu. Gala tickets are $150 per person. Proceeds benefit HealthLink, a free clinic providing compassionate, quality medical and dental care to uninsured, working adults in Bucks and Montgomery counties who fall in between the health care cracks. Go to http://tasteofthewhitehouse.charityhappenings.org to make reservations online or lend support through sponsorship. For event information, call 267-699-0124 or email jmarushak@healthlinkmedical.org.

The Wissahickon Valley Watershed Association will hold an open house at the Evans-Mumbower Mill April 17 from 1 to 4 p.m. The Mill is at the corner of Swedesford and Township Line Roads in Upper Gwynedd. The open house is free but donations are welcome. For more information, call 215-646-8866 o email info@wvwa.org.

The Eastern Montgomery County Chamber of Commerce will host Breakfast With Your County Commissioners and State Representatives April 21 from 8 to 9:30 a.m. at the Holiday Inn Fort Washington, 432 W. Pennasylvania Ave. Commissioners: James R. Matthews (Chairman), Joseph M. Hoeffel (Vice Chair), State Representatives: Todd Stephens (District 151) and Josh Shapiro (District 153). Register onlineat www.emccc.org. $10 for EMCCC member; $20 for non-members.

Upper Dublins Districtwide Allied Art Show will be held April 27 from 5:30 to 9 p.m. in the Upper Dublin High School Athletic Complex.

The Rev. Alfred Muli, chaplain at Fort Washington Estates, will be the featured speaker at the Kiwanis sponsored breakfast observing the National Day of Prayer May 5 at 7 a.m. at the William Penn Inn. The breakfast is open to the public ($15). Reservations can be made by calling 215-646-4356 or by emailing georgesaurman@Juno.com.

The Upper Dublin Shade Tree Commission invites people to participate in its spring bare root planting events, sponsored in part by Upper Dublin Parks & Recreation and Friends of Robbins Park. On April 9, zix trees will be planted at the Evelyn B. Wright Park & Community Pool, 401 Logan Ave., North Hills, at 9 a.m., followed by the planting of 10 trees at Sheeleigh Park, Loch Alsh Avenue and Douglas Street, Ambler, at 10:15 a.m. On April 29, students from Upper Dublin High School will join the Pennsylvania Horticultural Society to plant 16 trees in Robbins Park, Butler Pike and Meetinghouse Road, Ambler, to help launch the societys Million Trees campaign. This event will occur in conjunction with Temple Amblers EarthFest. Experienced tree-tenders are sought to assist the students. For more information,contact Ron Ayres at 215-653-0421 or 215-483-4348.

The Friends of the Wissahickon and the Wissahickon Valley Watershed Association are teaming up once again to clean the Wissahickon Creek from top to bottom April 30 from 9 a.m. to noon. This spring marks the 41st anniversary of Wissahickon Valley Watershed Associations annual Creek Clean Up, and the second year that FOW has teamed up with WVWA. Volunteers of all ages will clean the creek, the surrounding trails and the many tributaries of the Wissahickon Creek. Armed with bags, volunteers will be assigned to sections of the creek. Following the clean up, all volunteers are invited to WVWAs Talkin Trash picnic in Fort Washington State Park, with food provided by Whole Foods Market of North Wales. The pavilion is located on Mill Road in Flourtown. To help out in Montgomery County, all volunteers must be pre-assigned a section of the Wissahickon Creek to clean. Please contact Bob Adams, WVWA director of stewardship, at 215-646-8866 ext. 14 or bob@wvwa.org. To work with the Friends of the Wissahickon in Philadelphia, meet at the pavilion along Forbidden Drive, a short distance south of the intersection of Forbidden Drive and Northwestern Avenue. Limited parking is available along Northwestern Avenue and other nearby streets. Volunteers are encouraged to bike or carpool to the event. To participate, register at www.fow.org. Contact Kevin Groves with questions at 215-247-0417 ext. 105 or groves@fow.org.

Montgomery County Community Colleges International Club invites the community to the second annual International Festival April 20 from 5 to 9 p.m. at the Central Campus, 340 DeKalb Pike, Blue Bell. The rain date is April 26. The International Club will transform the outside quad area into multicultural celebration with various performances by dancers, singers and musicians. Artists will share their artwork at various display tables. Activities include games, raffles, Easter egg decorating and henna tattoos. Students will have samples of international cuisine at tables representing different countries and will serve food from various local ethnic restaurants. Throughout the evening, volunteers will accept donations and will raffle gift baskets and prizes to raise funds for Habitat for Humanity. Donations of food, international clothes and prizes are needed. Volunteers, including artists and performers, are welcome. For more information or to sponsor an activity, contact Gillian Nel, International Club president, at gnel9277@students.mc3.edu or 267-974-0163.

The Arts and Humanities Division at Montgomery County Community College is partnering with the Philadelphia Writers Conference to host Memoirs Matter: How Life Stories (Including Yours) Can Transform Your Relationship to Literature April 23 from 1 to 3 p.m. in Advanced Technology Center room 101, 340 DeKalb Pike, Blue Bell. The event is free and open to the public. In the first part of this two-hour seminar, professor and author Robert Waxler will explain how writing his two memoirs affected his life as well as his relationship to literature. In the second part, blogger and workshop leader Jerry Waxler will present a sequence of steps to help writers find their own story. For information, contact Dana Resente at dresente@mc3.edu.

The Maple Glen Garden Club will hold its fourth annual Plant Sale on May 7 from 8 to 11 a.m. Perennials, shrubs, vegetables and native plants grown by the club members will be sold. The club uses the plant sale proceeds to fund community projects, a college scholarship and community plantings. The sale will be held in the 500 block of Coach Road, Horsham, as part of a neighborhood garage sale. Plants will be sold at bargain prices. For more information, email MapleGlenGardenClub@gmail.com.

The Relay for Life Craft Show is looking for local crafters to participate in show, which will be May 21 from 11:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. on the Wissahickon High School track, 521 Houston Road, Ambler. There is a $10 entry fee, and 20 percent of sales are donated to the American Cancer Society. Participants will receive a 6-foot table under a tent. For information, contact Joanne at joannescoles@comcast.net or Mindy at mcamsilver@comcast.net.

Spring House Estates is hosting its annual book fair on April 18 from 4 to 7 p.m. and April 9 from 8:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Included will be hardback and paperback used books. Spring House Estates is located at 728 Norristown Road, Lower Gwynedd.

The PennSuburban Chamber of Commerce will present the Penn Suburban/Hatfield Joint Business Card Exchange April 20 from 5 to 7 p.m. at Univest Bank Lansdale Area Financial Service Center, 120 Forty Foot Road, Hatfield. The event is free. To make reservations, visit PennSuburban.org/Events. Join Univest National Bank and Trust Co. for a spring-inspired Business Card Exchange at its newest office in the Hatfield Pointe Shopping Center. Come out and meet members of Univests executive management team while enjoying fine food and beverages.

13th Annual Community Reading Day Kick-off Breakfast Get Together April 26 from 8 to 9:30 a.m. at the North Wales Area Library, 233 Swartley St., North Wales. The event is free. To make reservations, visit PennSuburban.org/Events. For more information, contact the chamber office at 215-362-9200 or info@pennsuburban.org. Join presenting sponsor Verizon, chamber staff and fellow members for the Community Reading Day volunteer get together. The Community Reading Day program allows volunteers to read a designated book to second-grade students throughout 38 area public and private schools and present the book as a gift to each class. Even if you are not a volunteer, you are cordially invited to stop by to network, enjoy coffee and pastries.

Ambler Mennonite Church is hosting a Spring Craft Show and Flea Market May 21 from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Rain date will be May 28. The community is invited to shop the great craft booths, find some gifts and deals, as well as enjoy home baked goods and tasty lunch specials. Childrens activities are planned. All vendors are encouraged to contact the church at 215-643-4876 or AmblerMennonite@verizon.net. Advertising, signage, customer parking and a shuttle to auxiliary parking at nearby lots for vendors will be provided. 10 foot by 10 foot spaces can be rented for $5 each and tables for an additional $5 each. All proceeds from space and table rentals go toward school kits for children around the world. The church is located at the corner of East Mt. Pleasant Avenue and North Spring Garden Street, Ambler.

The Wissahickon Valley Watershed Association presents The Life & Times of Aquatic Insects in the Wissahickon Creek April 16 from 1 to 3 p.m. Join WVWA for a hands-on program. RSVP required: www.wvwa.org or 215-646-8866. WVWA member fee: $5 per person / $15 per family. Non-WVWA member fee: $10 per person / $20 per family.

The photography exhibition Natures Palette by photo-artist Judy Miller will run March 18 to May 19 at the Art in the Storefront gallery, 41 E. Butler Pike, Ambler.

JPRN  Networking For People in Transition & People Who Can Help Them  Unemployment remains high. JPRN, the Jarrettown Professional Relationship Network can help. Are you trying to network your way to a new job? Do you have expertise or contacts that can help people in transition? Is your company or organization looking for people in the area? This is a free outreach program to support those seeking work, involve people with contacts and networking know how, and involve local companies. Meetings held monthly at Jarrettown United Methodist Church, Limekiln Pike.

Pennsylvanias Low-Income Home Energy Assistance (LIHEAP) grant program is now open for the 2010-11 heating season. Grants are based on income, family size, type of heating fuel and region. Additional information, such as specific income limits, and applications for LIHEAP grants are available online via the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania Access to Social Services (COMPASS) website at www.compass.state.pa.us. Applications are available at most public officals district offices, county assistance offices, local utility companies and community service agencies, such as Area Agencies on Aging or community action agencies.

Begin your holiday shopping at Upper Dublin Parks & Recreation! Entertainment books for 2011, Philadelphia North, are now on sale at $30 each. Regal/United Artists movie tickets are on sale for just $7.50 each, and tickets to the Adventure Aquarium, Baltimore Aquarium, and the Philadelphia Zoo are also available. Discounted ski vouchers to area mountains will be arriving in December; call 215-643-1600 x3443 for more information. Upper Dublin Parks & Recreation office hours are Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

RSVP of Montgomery County and the Wissahickon Valley Public Library have partnered again to offer the public their popular free mock interview sessions. The mock interviews are conducted by RSVP volunteers who are retired professionals, some of whom were in hiring positions themselves. Packets of information which include a sample employment application and interviewing tips with mock interview questions are available at the library to pick up prior to a scheduled mock interview or will be sent via email once the interview is scheduled. To schedule your interview, please contact Janis Glusman at RSVP 610-834-1040, ext. 16. The library is also offering a free resume review service. Bring in your current resume and the professional reference staff will assist you with hints and tips on capturing your work history accurately.

Registration for Upper Dublin Parks & Recreation summer playgrounds, Camp B.I.G. and Small Folks, X-Zone, and sports camps has began. Register online at www.upperdublin.net/store, or at the UDP&R office, 801 Loch Alsh Avenue, Fort Washington. Call 215-643-1600 x3443 for more information.

Upper Dublin Parks & Recreation and Danielles Espresso Cafe presents Mornings at Mondaug Bark Park April 16 and May 21 from 8:30 to 10:30 a.m. Meet fellow dog lovers. These events include complimentary coffee, treats for people and pups and raffles/giveaways.

Upper Dublins Annual Spring Flea Market will be held June 4 from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. Reserve a table, or come and shop. Tables are $15 for UD residents, $20 for non-residents. This successful event occurs rain or shine. Refreshments available. Call 215-643-1600 ext. 3443 to register for a table.

Regal movie tickets available for purchase at Upper Dublin Township Parks & Recreation. Reduced rate: $7.50 per ticket. Some restrictions apply. Call 215-643-1600 x3443.

Whitpain Township Parks & Recreation movie tickets $7.50 Regal Cinemas, United Artist & Edwards Cinemas on sale throughout the year Monday  Friday from 9 a.m.  4 p.m.

Whitpain Township Parks & Recreation Camp Sign-ups for Stony Creek Day Camp  Stony Creek Tracers and Park n Tots. Register on-line at www.whitpaintownship.org OrCome to Township Building with check or Visa MasterCard Monday  Friday from 9 a.m.  4 p.m. For additional information call 610.277-2400 ext. 374

Upper Dublin Parks & Recreation offers exciting new programs for the fall:

-Returning favorites include UK Elite Petite Soccer, Tiny Dancers, Kiddie Tennis, Fun-nastics, Messy Playtime, Little Chefs, and more. Babysitters Training will be offered in November and December. Continuing Adult Fitness Classes include Cardio Circuit, Core & More, Yoga, Boxing, and Adult G.Y.M. For more information call 215-643-1600 x3443. Register for programs online at www.upperdublin.net/store.

Music and Theater

The community is invited to a Cantors Concert April 16 at 8 p.m. Congregation Beth Or, 239 Welsh Road, Maple Glen. Listen and hum-along to the Yiddish, pop tunes and classical music performed by Congregation Beth Ors own Cantor David Green and his special guest, Cantor Irvin Bell, from Temple Beth Israel in Deerfield Beach, Fla. The cantors will be accompanied by Mark Sobol and his Klezmer musicians. Tickets are $18 in advance and $25 at the door. RSVP with payment to Barb Murtha, 239 Welsh Road, Maple Glen, PA 19002, or call 215-646-5806 ext. 220.

Gwynedd Friends Coffeehouse will host the Jameson Sisters May 14. Doors open at 7:30 pm, performance at 8:00 pm. Gwynedd Friends Coffeehouse is located at the corner of Rte. 202 & Sumneytown Pike, Gwynedd. $5 suggested donation. Light refreshment available at a modest cost. For further information, call 215-393-9576 or visit gwyneddmeeting.org/coffeehouse.html.

Celebrate patriotism through song with Gwynedd-Mercy Colleges choir, the Voices of Gwynedd, as it presents Hear America Singing April 15 at 8 p.m. The choir will perform song selections from all over the country, including Georgia on My Mind, New York State of Mind, and a medley including Philadelphia Freedom and Allentown. The performance will end with When the Saints Go Marching In to acknowledge the choirs upcoming tour in New Orleans. Hear America Singing will take place in the Julia Ball Auditorium, located in St. Bernard Hall. Parking is available in lots A, C and D. Admission is free.

The Choristers will present Anton Dvoraks Stabat Mater April 16 at 7:30 p.m. at Upper Dublin Lutheran Church in Ambler. The choir will be accompanied by a 41-piece orchestra. Tickets are $20 for adults, $15 for senior citizens, $10 for students and children are free. Tickets will be sold in advance or at the door. For more information, call 215-542-7871 or visit TheChoristers.org

Religious News

The Staircase Gallery at Or Hadash: A Reconstructionist Congregation in Fort Washington will feature the work of Emily Ennuat-Lustine. The artist will be showing paintings and graphics inspired by her own personal spiritual journey and quest for meaning. Some of the works to be shown have been inspired by Biblical Psalms and writings. Her work has been shown at Abington Art Center, Cheltenham Arts Center and Old City Gallery of Jewish Art among others. The exhibition is open Friday evenings starting Feb. 18 after Shabbat services. Gallery hours are: Mondays through Thursdays 10-4:30, Fridays 10-3 and following Shabbat Services and Sundays 10-1. The synagogue is located at 190 Camp Hill Road in Fort Washington. For additional information contact the synagogue office at 215-283-0276.

Reunions

St. Matthews High School Conshohocken Class of 1961 is looking for classmates. For details, contact Greg Marincola at 215-646-2239, 215-740-1296 or gregcola@comcast.net.

Olney High School Class of 1971 is Lloking for classmates for a 40th reunion Oct. 28. For details, contact Judy at ohsclassof71@yahoo.com or 215-870-7572.

Abington High School Class of 1961 is seeking classmates for a 50-year reunion to be held Oct. 14-15, 2011.Visit the website, www.abington61.com, for details or call 215-947-1779.

Overbrook High School class of January 1956 is having a 55 year reunion on May 22, 2011 at the Bala Golf Club in Philadelphia. For information please contact overbrookreunion56@comcast.net

Germantown High School Class Of January 1961 is looking for classmates for 50th year reunion to take place in May of 2011. Please contact: 215-362-9148, 856-577-0659 or samdelcomo@comcast.net

The June 1961 class of Germantown High School is holding their 50th reunion on May 15, which will be a brunch. For further details please contact Linda Dorfman Alten at lindaalten@yahoo.com or call 215-441-8411.

Support

New Life Presbyterian Church in Dresher, will host GriefShare, a special seminar and support group which will run on Monday evenings from 7 to 9 p.m., from March 7 through June 6. At each meeting there will be a DVD about the grief process, discussion and reference to a grief workbook. Preregistration is required to secure a place in the group and to purchase a GriefShare notebook (for a one-time fee of $15). The notebook goes along with the 13-week schedule covering such topics as: living with grief, the effects of grief, and stuck in grief. For more information or to register, call: Sandy Elder at 215-884-5149.

PUPS (People Understanding Parkinsons) A self-help group for those adjusting to a new diagnosis or dealing with the early stages of Parkinsons Disease. Meets fourth Tuesday of the month from 1 to 2:30 p.m., at Abington Health Center, Schilling Campus, Willowood Building, 2510 Maryland Road, Suite 251, Willow Grove. For more information or to RSVP, contact Lorna at 215-542-2931.

The North Penn Visiting Nurse Associations Meals on Wheels program is looking for volunteers to pack or deliver meals to the elderly and infirmed. Meals are packed and delivered mornings, Monday through Friday. You can volunteer for as many days per week or month as you would like. Packaging meals requires approximately 2-1/2 hours of your time each day and involves making sandwiches, packaging food into individual serving containers and packing coolers with the meals. Delivering meals requires approximately 1-1/2 hours of your time each day and involves loading coolers into your car and delivering a route of approximately 10 to 15 stops. The Meals on Wheels program is also in need of emergency, winter-weather volunteers to pack and deliver meals in bad weather. North Penn VNA is located at 51 Medical Campus Drive in Lansdale and delivers meals in the Lansdale, North Wales and Blue Bell areas. For more information or to volunteer, please call Bridget, North Penn VNA Meals on Wheels coordinator at 215-855-8296.

Elkins Park Area CHADD (Children and Adults with Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder) meets the first Tuesday of every month, 7- 8:30 p.m., at Einstein at Elkins Park Hospital in Elkins Park. For information on CHADD or ADHD, please see our website www.chadd.net/249 or call Claire Noyes at: 215-779-6656.

Center for Loss and Bereavement, 3847 Skippack Pike, Skippack (610-222-4110) www.bereavementcenter.org Offers professional counseling for individuals, couples, children and families dealing with issues of loss and bereavement. Six-week adult support groups: Newly forming young adult grief support group  every other Wednesday, 7  8:15 p.m. (free of charge); Monthly loss of child support  second Mondays, 7-8:15 p.m.; Six-week young loss of spouse/partner  Thursdays, 10-11:15 a.m.; Other groups scheduled as interest is shown for suicide loss support, adult loss of parent, motherless daughters, adult loss of sibling, coping with chronic illness and disability and mens loss of spouse. Nellos Corner Family Bereavement program offers peer grief support groups for ages 4 through teen and their caregivers  Every other Tuesday or Wednesday (free of charge) Local chapter of Parents of Murdered Children also meets at the Center. Registration required. Call for further information.

CHADD is a national organization for children & adults with Attention-Deficit/ Hyperactivity Disorder, providing education, advocacy and support for individuals and their families with AD/HD. Einstein at Elkins Park Hospital, 60 Township Line Road, Elkins Park, PA 19027, will host children & adults with Attention-Deficit/ Hyperactivity Disorder on the First Tuesday of each month 7  8:30 p.m. Free, no childcare provided.

The Jewish Federation of Greater Philadelphias Kehillah of Old York Road is sponsoring a free Caregiver Support Group for individuals who care for an elderly person with cognitive and/or physical impairments. The group meets at SarahCare Adult Day Care Center, 101 Washington Lane, Suite G-6, Jenkintown, Pa., on the first Wednesday of each month. Patty Rich,
030618CATERET LEADERS WANT TO FAST TRACK RECONCILIATION

New Dawn FM News

Cateret Island leaders have vowed to work together to fast track the unification of their fellow islanders so that they can now prepare for reconciliation ceremonies so that they can start working as one people of the Cateret islands and later support other Bougainvilleans to do the same.

The ABG deputy Chief Secretary, THOMAS RAIVET a Cateret islander and former PNG DF Colonel told Cateret islanders last Saturday that Bougainville need drivers and not followers to do things and this time the Caterets leaders are ready to be the drivers that will lead the people of Caterets, the Atolls and Bougainville to move Bougainville to the next level.

He was speaking at the Cateret unification ceremony in Buka last Saturday.

The Deputy Chief Secretary said that from the unification they will have reconciliation on Cateret island and later assist with other reconciliations in other Atolls district before moving to Buka and mainland Bougainville the Bougainville way.

MR. RAIVET said reconciliations on Bougainville have not progressed and so much donor funds have been wasted on presenting South Sudan and other countrys cases which has not been successful on Bougainville.

He said that Bougainville cannot wait for these types of approaches that have not progressed and cannot be measured.

MR. RAIVET said that Bougainville has to change these approaches so that any progress can be measured in the future.

Ends






Robert Rakete is the latest competitor to be eliminated from Dancing With The Stars NZ after losing to fellow broadcaster Shavaughn Ruakere in the dance off.

Judges Rachel and Jules disagreed on who to save, with Rachel choosing Ruakere and Jules choosing Rakete. Camilla held the deciding vote and decided to save Shavaughn and Enrique.

"Robert, you really stepped it up today and I think this was your best performance so far and I really enjoyed that," said Camilla.

"I think, however, there was unlocked potential there still.

"Shav, for me you are a natural performer, you come out here and wow us again and again. You did that here tonight."

Professional dancer Nicole was disappointed to be eliminated, having returned to New Zealand from Italy to compete, but she said she had "the most amazing time" on the show.

Rakete emotionally thanked Nicole for teaching him to dance, his family for putting up with the tough training schedule, his colleagues at the Breeze for their support and everyone who voted for him.

He apologised to his chosen charity Kidscan for not being able to go further in the competition, but said he was proud to be able to be part of the experience on its behalf.

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030618CATERET UNIFICATION EFFORT ACKNOWLEDGED

New Dawn FM News

A cateret Island chief, BENARD TUNIM has praised the two Cateret island leaders, the ABG vice President, RAYMOND MASONO and the Deputy Chief Secretary, THOMAS RAIVET for initiating the Cateret Island unification ceremony for the first time.

Speaking at the ceremony, MR. TUNIM acknowledged differences that have existed but no one has wanted to address over the years.

He praised the two leaders for identifying the problems and trying to connect with the people and unite them so that they can work as one people of CATERET.

MR. TUNIM said the Cateret people can move many things as a united force and starting the unification of Cateret islanders in Buka and then completing the process back home with reconciliation ceremonies would be good for the people.

He personally thanked the Vice President, RAYMOND MASONO for accepting the work of the Vice President and also THOMAS RAIVET for leaving his high office in Port Moresby to support the ABG was welcomed by the people.

He said that with their high positions the people of Cateret now have some hopes of receiving better assistance from their leaders.



Ends






Ginnie, FHA, VA News in Primary and Secondary; The Summer of Service

Doing Good

Wells Fargos charity work is legendary  more than any other company in the United States. The Mortgage Bankers Association has Project Opens Doors. XINNIX has decided to embark on a Summer of Service. This is our commitment to each serve a minimum of four hours per month this summer. Our intent is to help others in our community and extend ourselves to those in need. We are extending an invitation to the entire industry. Could we collectively serve 1 million hours in our communities? Imagine the difference we could make across our entire nation if we spent time each month helping people in need. We have a real opportunity to make a difference in the lives of others and pass on a legacy of service. If youre interested in joining us in our Summer of Service, click here to let us know how many hours you plan to serve.



FHA and VA

In the interest of providing additional clarity and transparency to Ginnie MBS investors, Ginnie Mae is announcing that it has restricted VA single family guaranteed loans pooled by Freedom Mortgage Corporation, SunWest Mortgage Company, Inc., and NewDay USA in Ginnie Mae pools to Ginnie Mae II custom pools only. All three issuers are restricted from including VA single family guaranteed loans in Ginnie Mae I securities or Ginnie Mae II multi-issuer securities.

Ginnie Mae posted a bulletin regarding Economic Growth, Regulatory Relief, and Consumer Protection Act.

If one thinks about the residential mortgage process as a human digestive tract (yes, you heard it here first), with all the programs, rates, and borrowers entering at one end, and the finished product exiting at the other (no emails please), anything on the back end that impacts the flow can have serious repercussions. Lack of liquidity is paramount, for example. And so, Freedom, SunWest, and NewDay will adjust their VA pricing based on a different MBS prices, deliver the loans into the secondary market using a different mechanism (Ginnie Mae II custom pools), and move forward.

Wall Street thinks about things in a slightly different fashion. After GNMA announced restrictions on the three VA lenders (Freedom, SunWest, and NewDay), MBS traders noted that they will be included in Ginnie II majors. The impact of excluding these servicers on TBA (to be announced MBS) speeds is expected to be modest. Prepayment speeds will also be slowed by S.2155, and this latest action by Ginnie Mae stands to benefit GNMA valuations broadly, and 4s-5s specifically.

FHA published Mortgagee Letter (ML) 2018-03, Extension of Disaster Foreclosure Moratoriums for Specified Areas Impacted by Hurricane Maria in Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands, which extends the current foreclosure moratorium only for certain mortgaged properties in areas impacted by Hurricane Maria in the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA)-designated Individual Assistance Areas within the Presidentially-Declared Major Disaster Areas (Affected Counties) in Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands. This extension is applicable if the mortgage was no more than 60-days past due as of the date of the PDMDA, and the borrowers have not already been approved for forbearances or other loss mitigation options. The extension may be for a maximum of 90 days if additional requirements specified in the ML have been met.

Ginnie Maes issuance of its mortgage-backed securities (MBS) totaled $34 billion in April. A breakdown of April issuance includes $32.437 billion of Ginnie Mae II MBS and $1.631 billion of Ginnie Mae I MBS, which includes $1.446 billion of loans for multifamily housing. MBS issuance for Fiscal Year 2018 to the end of April totaled $251.017 billion. Ginnie Mae total outstanding principal balance of $1.950 trillion is an increase from $1.819 trillion in April 2017.

There is a free FHA on-site training in Richmond, VA on June 26th which will provide an overview of FHA underwriting procedures and addresses a number of industry-related frequently asked questions (FAQs) as outlined in FHAs Single-Family Housing Policy Handbook 4000.1.

PennyMac Correspondent Group posted Ginnie Maes updates to seasoning on all VA refinance transactions.

The Oklahoma Mortgage Bankers Association is providing an FHA Training day on June 13th. Register and attend to learn directly from HUD Underwriters.

Effective immediately, Fifth Third has updated the minimum Net Worth required to become approved at the (3) Delegated level. The minimum net worth is now $1,000,000. The minimum net worth for (5) FHA approval has been reduced to $1,500,000. Mandatory Pricing approval remains at $2,500,000. All other approval criteria are unchanged. Refer to Section 1.01 Eligibility Requirements of the Correspondent Seller Guide Processing Guide for lender approval requirements.



Capital Markets

The U.S. economy is driven by housing and jobs. The jobs market is solid, but is housing a little shaky? Both new and existing homes sales declined in April to annual paces of 662,000 and 5.46 million respectively. While the decline in new home sales wasnt as deep as expected, Marchs data was revised down from +4.0 percent to +2.0 percent. Newly sold homes that have not begun construction increased 40,000 to 221,000 units, a sign that builders will be busy in the coming months. The decline in existing home sales was due to a decline in single family homes whereas sales of existing condos and co-ops increased 1.6 percent. Increasing mortgage rates as well as increasing home prices may prompt some potential buyers to hold off. In general, however, the pace of home sales so far this year remains firm.

Recall that durable goods orders reversed course in April and fell 1.7 percent following a couple months of gains. A 29 percent decline in aircraft orders dragged the transportation component down 6.1 percent. At the core level, which excludes defense and aircraft, order rose a respectable 0.9 percent. Survey data from purchasing managers indicates remains positive as well.

Consumers were slightly less positive about economic conditions as they anticipated smaller income gains than last month or one year ago. Additionally, the survey reported concerns that the increases in asset prices may be reaching their peak as well as fewer plans for appliance and vehicle purchases. In fact, U.S. economic indicators were mixed in April and May though still pointing towards moderate growth in the near term. While over in Europe, the Eurozone Purchasing Managers Index fell to 54.1 from 55.1 in May, a few points below the US. A reading above 50 points to expansion, however the markets are cautiously watching the Eurozone as some data points drift towards neutral territory.

As we approach the June FOMC meeting, the expectations for a 25-bps increase in the target fed funds rate remain high. The June meeting will also present the markets with new economic projects as well as a new dot plot and there will be a press conference with Jay Powell at the end of the meeting.

Looking at rates, they were up again on Friday once it became clear that early elections would be avoided in Italy and Spain. Italy's President Sergio Mattarella approved the formation of a M5S-Lega government while Spain's Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy was forced out through a no-confidence vote but acting Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez did not call for a fresh election just yet. The other international news of note was President Trump saying the meeting with North Korea's Supreme Leader Kim Jong-un will take place on June 12 in Singapore, as originally planned. Who will pay for his hotel room?

Fridays payroll report showed a welcome pickup in construction spending growth, which will be a source of support for Q2 GDP forecasts. The ISM Manufacturing Index increasing made it clear that respondents are experiencing price pressures and that those price pressures are causing price-increase discussions as they prepare for the second half of the year.

This week sees a relatively light economic calendar, especially compared to next week when the Fed, ECB and BoJ will all be out with their latest decisions (along with several first tier U.S. economic releases). The RBA, however, will be out with their latest decision tomorrow with the U.S. calendar seeing updates on trade, productivity, consumer credit and wholesale inventories. Kicking off this weeks calendar is the ISM-New York Index for May, April Factory Orders, and the Employment Trends Index for May. The U.S. Treasury will be busy selling short-term securities.

Tomorrow, we have April JOLTS -- Job Openings and May ISM Services. Wednesday sees revised Q1 Productivity and Revised Q1 Unit Labor Costs, before April Consumer on Thursday and April Wholesale Inventories on Friday. With all that as a backdrop, the week starts with rates little changed from Friday: the 10-year is yielding 2.90% and agency MBS prices are unchanged.



Products

Loan officers are very focused on down payments and affordability. Being a housing start up in 2008, in the shadow of the housing crisis, isnt for the faint of heart. CEO Rob Chrane reflects on why the company pressed forward -- the belief that there was a way to make it easier for homebuyers and professionals to access hard-to-find information about homeownership programs. DPR became the first in the housing industry to aggregate and keep current data about programs nationwide. Today, Down Payment Resource integrates data about program benefits and eligibility criteria with Multiple Listing Services, lenders and agents. To commemorate its 10th anniversary, the company has planned a series of initiatives to highlight the importance of affordable homeownership. Learn more here.



Employment

Its no secret that margins are compressed, complexity has increased, and regulatory change is a constant. What might be the industrys best kept secret is how well LoanComplete helps mortgage lenders address the complexity  with Intelligent automation. We are building solutions specific to some of the largest Originators and Servicers in the US, solutions that help them increase speed of processing or onboarding, while ensuring accuracy, security and a better borrower experience. We are looking for the right product marketing manager that can help propel us to the next level of growth  someone skilled at content development and demand generation to raise awareness and capitalize on success. Someone who is passionate about this industry, who wants to help lenders thrive in todays market. Questions can be addressed to Director of Product Marketing Anne Cashman.

While other lenders are retrenching or only emphasizing retail, Pacific Union is growing and its wholesale channel just had its best month since Brexit. With a new major warehouse lender that just came on board, we now have $1.9 billion of capacity to enable future growth and are actively looking to hire rock star wholesale sales talent that originates a solid mix of government business.With no guideline overlays, and a compare ratio of 83% (70% in wholesale), we have demonstrated that we stand alone as a Government lending TPO. Those interested in learning more, please email our channel leader, Mike Royer.

Evergreen Home Loans continues the exciting growth experienced in the past 5 years. From 2014-2017, their top 25 Loan Officers grew their production on average by 90%. From 2015-2017, the top 5 branches grew their production by 39%. Several branches have more than doubled their production, going from $30M to $69M in 3 years and $50M branch to a $111M in 2 years. The company is committed to its core conviction GROWTH with a foundation built on a track record of success plans and individual growth for its loan officers. Evergreen is seeking high-touch loan officers looking to live out their personal and professional aspirations in a unique culture. Candidates can learn about the Evergreen culture on their awards and recognition page and job openings on the Careers page.

Proof that at Caliber Home Loans, Inc. better tools mean better close times, on May 17th the leading national lender took a loan in Houston, TX from Processing to Final Approval in Review in seven business days. Not only did this loan meet the buyers deadline, but Caliber was clear to close one week ahead of the closing date. This is a testament to the strength of Calibers operations team, and the digital tools that make up its Ultimate Home Buying Experience. Caliber has a range of technology-based solutions that support all aspects of its business and enhance their service, sales and relationships. Producers who wish to join a lender thats streamlined the loan process from beginning to end can learn more on our website, www.joincalibernow.com or contact Jeremy DeRosa.
Mortgage Rates Continue Higher

Mortgage rates continued higher, adding onto a trend that began last Wednesday. A day earlier, rates hit their best levels in more than a month due to political risks in Europe. The trend back toward higher rates has coincided with the defusing of those risks.

Heading into this week, we said rates would be "deciding" if they could remain under a key ceiling. When we're looking at the mortgage market, rates aren't as precise as, say, the US Treasury market. For instance, 2 different lenders could be more than an eighth of a percent off from each other despite almost always moving by the same amount in the same direction every day.

Because of that, it can make sense to follow key levels in terms of 10yr Treasury yields. If mortgage rates could only have one yardstick against which to measure themselves, that would be it. The 10yr yield level in question was 2.94% and that's right where it ended today. Bottom line, the "key ceiling" is still technically intact, but now without any buffer versus current levels. Any weakness tomorrow means we're re-entering a rate range we'd prefer to avoid.



Loan Originator Perspective

Bonds sold off significantly this afternoon, triggering many lenders to worsen their rates. We've given up all last week's "Italy may bolt the EU" gains, it's time to play defense. I'm locking at application. - Ted Rood, Senior Originator



Today's Most Prevalent Rates

30YR FIXED - 4.625-4.75%

FHA/VA - 4.375%

15 YEAR FIXED - 4.00%



5 YEAR ARMS - 3.75-4.25% depending on the lender



Ongoing Lock/Float Considerations

Rates have been moving higher in a serious way due to headwinds that cannot be quickly defeated. These include the Fed's increasingly restrictive monetary policy outlook, the increased amount of Treasury issuance to pay for the tax bill (higher bond issuance = higher rates), and the possibility that fiscal stimulus results in higher growth/inflation.





While we may see periodic corrections to the broader trend toward higher rates, it's safer to assume that broader trend can and will continue. Until that changes, it makes much more sense to remain heavily-biased toward locking as opposed to floating.
Hamilton Dixon combines his artistry and expertise in metalwork with his interest in old buildings to thrive as a full-time metalwork sculptor and entrepreneur.

In the beginning

Growing up in Rome, Georgia, Hamilton Dixon was a bit of a loner. We lived on a piece of property that wasnt near many other houses, so I spent a lot of time charging around through the woods by myself with my dog, rigging up booby-traps for invisible bad guys. His father collected cars, mainly Morgans.

He ended up opening a car shop to buy cars, fix them up, and sell them. Hamilton spent time there learning to be mechanical and how to weld.

How did Hamilton build his metalworking skills?

I had some welding classes in high school and I really liked that. Hamilton also had a friend in Jasper, Georgia who worked with metal in an old-style blacksmith shop. Hed heat metal up in a forge and hammer it on an anvil and he was very particular about techniques. And that interested me a lot.

Following high school, Hamilton joined a friend to work offshore on an oilrig out in the Gulf of Mexico, just trying to find my way. I liked the welding and fabrication. It was grueling work. Youre on 12 hours and youre off 12 hours. When youre off, you arent doing anything but sleeping, because youre just totally ruined.

After about a year of working on the oilrig, Hamilton traveled to Santa Fe, New Mexico to hone his metal working skills at Turley Forge Blacksmithing School .

Then Hamilton returned to Rome, Georgia and began tinkering around in his fathers car shop. When his dad decided the car shop was no longer a viable enterprise, I kept the building and started doing stuff on my own.

How did Hamilton build his reputation as a metalwork sculptor?

Somebody said, Hey, theyre doing a streetscape project for Rome, Georgia. Do you have any good ideas for a bench? Hamilton immediately produced a sketch, which the project planners liked. After some negotiation, they ordered 60. Eventually, he made over 200 benches and sold them to other communities and some colleges. So that kind of put me on the map with people.

How did Hamilton transition to Dayton?

In 1990 Hamilton relocated to Dayton, Ohio to join friends. Following a search, he found inexpensive space for his shop in The Front Street Building in downtown Dayton.

That was my headquarters. I knew everyone in Front Street and pretty soon I got a couple projects.

During the Dayton Art Institute renovation in 1997, the planners asked Hamilton to submit a design for the rotunda handrail. After lengthy negotiations and revised drawings, the planners selected his design.

It was 130 feet of huge railing. That is a lot of forged steel. Since he was on a tight schedule, everyone who ever stopped by and hung out at my shophelped do portions of that railing.

After I did that railing, I was getting calls to do all sorts of stuff for all sorts of people  interior railings and you name it. So thats what Ive done ever since.

What is Hamiltons process to go from a drawing to a finished piece?

Often people have seen one of Hamiltons existing pieces and ask for something similar. Ive always been able to draw just free-hand drawings of a thing. Thats how I talk to a customer. He sketches his idea, they discuss it, and then he does a more refined drawing. At that point, they generally reach an agreement and Hamilton begins production.

Im at the persons house, and Ill draw on a piece of paper. When I come to the shop, Ill do a drawing on the table. I figure out life size  how big is that from here to here, how much steel is that? I literally lay a flexible tape measure on that and Ill just measure the length. All the steel I use starts out as straight bars of steel.

The size, shape, and textures of the design determine Hamiltons next steps. In order to bend and shape the metal, he fires the natural gas forge he built, which can be heated to 2,000 degrees. A piece of steel can be heated up to bright red in about 15 minutes and ready to shape.

For certain effects, Hamilton hammers metal manually on his anvil. Basically I have to beat the crap out of it to achieve the textural element.

For pieces requiring greater force, he uses a power hammer built in the 1940s acquired from an old metal shop and foundry in Rome, Georgia. I can hold steel with both hands and then operate this machine. I can hammer steel pretty quickly this way.

To create twisted shapes, I rush from the forge with a piece of bright red steel and clamp it in the vise. I get a big crescent wrench and a big leverage bar. Ill put a bunch of pressure on it and begin to twist it. Sometimes I hang on it with my entire body weight and other times, I can just twist it easily with one arm. The bigger the piece is, the more difficult it is, but the longer it will stay hot. The smaller it is, it will cool off so quickly that you have to rush.

I learned a lot of that stuff from the guy in Jasper, Georgia. Its the same technique as doing little stuff with little jewelry. Theres a million steps to working with metal.

How did Hamilton get started renovating old buildings?

Hamilton and his wife, Carli, were friends for a long time before they became a couple. Their first adventure renovating an old building together started when they were deciding where to live after the birth of their first child. They quickly realized Carlis house was too small for a baby and Hamiltons collections. They put her house up for sale and began renovating Hamiltons 1876 house, which needed a lot of work. Theres no electric and theres no running water and theres no kitchen. Carlis house sold quickly, however, and the buyers wanted immediate occupancy. So we had to move into my house and put a temporary wall up in the downstairs and live in the front half of my house with a new baby. Ultimately, they finished the house.

When did Hamilton combine renovating old buildings with his metalwork?

Driving into Dayton, Hamilton frequently passed a block of old buildings for sale. It was basically cordoned off and this building was boarded up. When Hamilton wanted to move his shop out of The Front Street Building, he and Carli walked through the buildings and the giant rooms sparked their imagination.

The sellers didnt want to separate the three parcels  the 18,000 sq. ft. building (905 E. 3rd St), the Atta Boy gas station (817 E. 3rd St) and a smaller building (811 E. 3rd St), but Hamilton and Carli didnt need all that space. They made an offer for the smaller building that was declined. After a year, we got a nudge to go make them another offer. We worked some miracles financially and made them an offer for the whole parcel. After a lot of negotiation, they struck a deal.

In the first phase of renovation, Hamilton set up his shop in the smaller building, rebuilding the floor and adding three-phase power for his machines. In the next phase, they tackled the larger 1880s era building. It was full of abandoned donations for Hurricane Katrina victims. It was pitch-black dark in there; everything was boarded up. Hamilton and Carli spent thousands of dollars to bring the building up to code and install utilities.

Then they rented space on the first floor to Shon Walters and the Zoot Theater Company. So we were pulling in a little bit of rent.

In time their tenants needed more space and moved out. By then Hamilton and Carli were ready to relocate her business, Bloombeads by freezeframe, from Clayton, Ohio. Since Carlis business needed space both upstairs and downstairs for production and her showroom, they had to make additional renovations. There was an old rickety stairway that went up into the ceiling and that was the only access to the upstairs. In order to have a legitimate upstairs, you had to have a code-meeting fire-rated stairwell.

With help from family, friends and multiple contractors, Hamilton and Carli devoted the time and money necessary to clean out the building and redesign the area in the front. In 2013 they moved Bloombeads by freezeframe into the building.

Now they are in the next phase of their vision, creation of The Brightside Music and Event Venue. They completed the bar area in the room behind Carlis showroom and are finishing the big back room. To learn more about their renovation efforts, watch their video story.

The Brightside offers a venue for music, parties, art shows, wedding receptions, and other events. They have a liquor license, so we can now have our own programming going on here. Were hoping to get a few more people to invest to get this final room breathing again.

Hamiltons observations:

At first, to set the prices for the small pieces he started showing in small galleries, he looked at the prices charged by other artists for similar work. Once he sold a few pieces, he had a better feel for his base prices.

Pricing big jobs was hard, though, because I had no reference point, but he discovered his old friend down in Jasper, Georgia had good reference points for things like that; he helped me figure stuff out. He also learned that asking customers the scope of their budget helps determine pricing.

Hamilton and Carli work as a team. Carlis the brains behind the thing; shes the one with the ability to juggle spreadsheets and employees, while Hamilton provides a wide range of mechanical skills.

When Hamilton is overwhelmed, Carli will break the project down into tasks. A lot of times Im paralyzed when I come to this building. Theres everything that needs to be done. Carli will say, lets just do this part right here first; just work with me for 30 minutes. And four hours later, youre almost done with the whole thing.

Hamilton advises, Learn how to be self sufficientlearn how to do mechanical things, stuff you need instead of depending on someone else to do it for you.

In conclusion, Hamilton said, Try to just do the things you know are good and right.

You can learn more about Hamilton and view his sculptures and process at http://www.hamiltondixon.com/ You can find photos of Hamilton at work by Bill Franz at https://billfranz17.com/2015/08/09/hamilton-dixon-steel-sculptor/

For information, photos, and booking options for The Brightside Music & Event Venue go to: https://www.thebrightsidedayton.com/

In the Dayton area, Hamiltons artistic metalwork can be found at the Dayton Art Institute Rotunda, University of Dayton Serenity Pines, the weather vane at Delco Park, the Kettering City Building, Hospice of Dayton entrance sculpture, and many other places.
The Greene County Womens Hall of Fame and Recognition Day was organized in March 1981 to annually honor women of Greene County, living or deceased, who have contributed to the countys growth and progress. Nominees must be a native of Greene County or currently residing in the county (10 year residency required).

Based upon the quantity of nominations received, a selection committee determines the number of inductees into the Hall of Fame and the number of posthumous awards. The Hall of Fame inductees are selected on the basis of their contributions that have provided countywide, state, national and/or international impact. Achievement for recognition may have been in the arts, humanities, business, industry, agriculture, health, government, politics, sports, education, homemaking, the media, volunteer activities, distinguished personal achievements or any other specified area. Review the recognition criteria here.

Nominations must be received by June 30 for nominee to be considered to receive honor at the September Recognition Day of that year. Additional pages or letters of support may be added as needed to describe accomplishments. Send nominations to Greene County Womens Hall of Fame, P.O. Box 703, Fairborn, Ohio 45324, along with a $5 fee to help defray the cost of copying and mailing.

Letters of support sent separately from this form need not pay an additional fee and may be sent directly to the address shown above, but must also be received by June 30. All information on the form and any additional material become the property of the Greene County Womens Hall of Fame Committee.
040618BPA GETS ANOTHER NEGATIVE BLOW FOR BOUGAINVILLE

New Dawn FM News

Bougainvilles hope for creating an independent nation received another blow when Service providers went to the Buka airport to have an audience with the ABG President and delegation that was travelling for the National Research Institutes organized Referendum conference in Port Moresby.

The convoy of cars drove to the Presidents office and when they found out that the President was ready to fly to Port Moresby they fronted up at the VIP lounge and this resulted in the Air Niugini plane turning back over Nissan Island and returning to Tokua in East New Britain.

Although their presence was peaceful their actions was again a blow to the Bougainvilles quest for high autonomy or better still Independence for Bougainville.

According to the talk between the service Providers led by DYSON KAETAVARA they wanted the ABG President to allow their agent, NICK PENIAI to deal with the Prime Minister and get the FIFTEEN MILLION KINA for the service Providers and pay them directly from a private account.

According to the Finance Minister, ROBIN WILSON was that even if funds were released to them, it must be channelled through the ABG so that they can monitor and properly screen if these payments were genuine.

The Minister also said that the outstanding that the JSB meeting has agreed to pay is THRITHY FIVE MILLION KINA and not FIFTEEN MILLION KINA.

Economic Services Minister and member for Tsitalato, FIDELIS SEMOSO also told them that all payments must be done through the ABG system.

Meanwhile, BRA Strongman, ISHMAEL TOROAMA has also called on the service providers to make it their last to disturb the process because they were operating outside the normal government system.



Ends






From 1,700 middle-school students in 2015 to 45,000 in 2018, the Mi-STAR program brings more Michigan kids and their teachers active ways to apply science and engineering to solve real-life problems.

Mi-STAR, the acronym for Michigan Science Teaching and Assessment Reform, was spearheaded by faculty and staff at Michigan Technological University and launched in 2015 with a $5 million grant from the Herbert H. and Grace A. Dow Foundation. It's been expanding ever since, in cooperation with universities, school districts and educators across the state, increasing from the original 16 teachers in six schools or districts to 450 teachers in 182 schools in 110 districts this year.

In spring 2018, Mi-STAR received $1.9 million in funding from the National Science Foundation. Two individual school districts also garnered additional funding through the State's MiSTEM program, another part of the network of education initiatives designed to teach students the skills they need in a world reliant on science, technology, engineering and math (STEM).

"Michigan Tech scientists and engineers have devoted a lot of time and effort into making Mi-STAR the best it can beand these efforts are really having a positive impact on Michigan's teachers and students." Jackie Huntoon, Provost and Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs, Mi-STAR co-founder



Science and Engineering for Everyone

Teachers say the kind of 3D-learning built into the Mi-STAR curriculum levels the playing field and connects students with science and engineering in ways that taking notes and multiple-choice tests can't. Honors students stretch their capabilities; at-risk students can excel.

Students experiment, record and analyze data, and present findings, digging into issues they can relate to that specifically affect life in Michigan. Unit challenges move students through rigorously developed and tested story lines. Like this:

"Your parents want to live off the grid and you don't! You need to create a wind or water generation plan that meets their criteria and convince them why your plan will work."

Or this:

"Your local stream floods each year. It has something to do with changes in land use. The town planning committee wants you to explain why it floods and what they can do about it."

Other challenges, including explaining invasive species issues to State lawmakers and suggesting a management plan or helping your mayor choose the best building materials for a new city center, tackle everyday situations that require science and engineering.

"No one knows the answer; it can't be Googled; it doesn't matter if you've been to museums or have a parent who's a doctor; it doesn't matter if you don't read at grade level or if you're not good at test-taking. We're working to find answers and solutions together and my at-risk kids can problem solve with the best of them," says science teacher Christine Geerer, who's also science department chair at Grosse Pointe School District's Parcells Middle School.

Educators report that the research gets students talking to each other with genuine enthusiasm, and that presenting their findings to the adults who come to hear about the work creates the kind of meaningful dialogue that normally doesn't ensue when students are presenting to their fellow classmates.

Science and Engineering = Life and Career Skills

Michigan Tech has a long history of taking the results of research and making them useful to societywe are good at taking theories and putting them into practice," says Huntoon. "When we started Mi-STAR there was a lot of research about what works in STEM education. We reviewed all of it, reflected on our own experiences as teachers, and put together a model that would work for all types of students."

Mi-STAR is at the forefront of a national movement to show young people how to connect, investigate and draw informed conclusions about how to solve problems, rather than regurgitating memorized information. The project's components are intentionally aligned with Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS). A multi-state consortium focused on cohesive learning for K-12 students across the physical, life, Earth and space sciences, as well as engineering design, NGSS includes Michigan Science Standards put in place to prepare students to apply scientific knowledge to their lives. The standards acknowledge that regardless of what they do for a living, all people benefit from understanding concepts like patterns, cause and effect, how to ask questions, define problems, and engage in argument based on evidence.

There's also no doubt about the need for a workforce adept in science, technology, math and engineering, both for individual prosperity and Michigan's economy. By 2020, one in five jobs in the state will be STEM-related, reports the State of Michigan Bureau of Labor Market and Strategic Initiatives, which also projects that STEM job opportunities will grow by 11.8 percent, outpacing the expected 8.5 increase in other occupations.

Teachers Teaching Teachers

Mi-STAR's active-learning curriculum asks a lot of educators. Teacher training enables them rise to the challenge. (Mi-STAR photos above, and top right)

Mi-STAR is as much a resource for educators as for students, moving forward on the premise that the success of any transformational project relies on broad and diverse partnerships. The program collaborates with national and state science and engineering societies, state agencies, education providers and researchers to achieve its vision of integrated science and engineering learning. It's committed to continually expanding the team's knowledge base, as well as to keeping program training and materials affordablethe schools that most need this kind of education program are often the schools that can least afford it. Mi-STAR in late May partnered with an educational supply company, Nasco, to produce and deliver materials kits for students to use with the curriculum.

"Anyone who has been to a high-need school district in Michigan knows that teachers and students around the state are struggling to pay for the resources they need," says Huntoon. "Textbooks are expensive. Supplies are expensive. Teacher training is expensive. We've kept costs in mind the whole time as we developed Mi-STAR so that our products and services could reach the maximum number of people at the lowest possible costs." Funding goes toward retaining key resources, including people and materials, to continuously improve the project.

Other guiding principles: ensure Mi-STAR is both by and for teachers, bringing educators into the thick of program development and nurturing a growing base of Mi-STAR teachers by providing opportunities like the professional learning facilitator training being offered in July. The train-the-trainer approach addresses scalability challenges head-on, by building teacher preparation into the model from the outset.

Huntoon says hearing from the teachers is the most exciting aspect of Mi-STAR's success. "Stories about the impact the program has on their students brings tears to our eyes," she says, explaining that teaching with Mi-STAR can be challenging at first, because teachers have to give up some control in order to put students at the center of the learning process. With more practice, positive change is evident. "Kids who used to sullenly drag themselves into science class are now eager for class to begin. Everyone, including students with special needs, has something to contribute. I think we all understand that the work we are doing is making a difference for the students."

Students in a L'Anse sixth-grade classroom explore solutions to science and engineering problems together.

Learn with Mi-STAR You can check out the Mi-STAR Newsroom for blogs about projects, like the one these Hancock School District students are working on. Preview curriculum, professional learning opportunities and learn about upcoming training events. Follow Mi-STAR on Facebook, Twitter (@MTU_MiSTAR) and YouTube.

Michigan Technological University is a public research university founded in 1885 in Houghton, Michigan, and is home to more than 7,000 students from 55 countries around the world. Consistently ranked among the best universities in the country for return on investment, the University offers more than 125 undergraduate and graduate degree programs in science and technology, engineering, computing, forestry, business and economics, health professions, humanities, mathematics, social sciences, and the arts. The rural campus is situated just miles from Lake Superior in Michigan's Upper Peninsula, offering year-round opportunities for outdoor adventure.
Posted 6/4/18

The Buffalo Area Chamber of Commerce will host its monthly luncheon at noon Wednesday, June 6, at the Dallas County Alumni Building on South Hickory Street in Buffalo.Lunch will be taco salad, 
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GUWAHATI: The Army on Monday staged a flag march in Meghalaya capital Shillong which has remained on the boil for past few days following an incident of group clash involving locals and Dalit Sikhs even as Chief Minister Conrad Sangma alleged the ongoing violence was being sponsored by elements.

Without taking names, Sangma said on Monday that the state government had the names of people who were providing money and expensive alcohol to the agitators to unleash violence.

ALSO READ | Shillong: 1,000 central paramilitary personnel deployed after mob pelts stones, curfew imposed till Tuesday

An indefinite curfew has been in force at 14 localities of the city. In rest of the picturesque hill station, it has been enforced from 4 pm and 5 am from Monday, officials said. Internet services have also remained suspended for the past few days.

The Centre on Monday decided to dispatch six companies of central paramilitary forces to the city which is a tourists attraction. The states Director General of Police, SB Singh, told The New Indian Express that all measures were being taken to restore normalcy.

No untoward incident happened today (Monday). The Army staged a flag march and the Central government is sending sufficient forces (to the city), he said.

On a positive note, the size of the mobs is getting thinner after village chieftains and church organisations had appealed for peace. A team of Punjab government met Chief Minister Conrad Sangma and took stock of the situation.

On Monday, the protestors called a rally near Umsohsun. However, the authorities foiled it by enforcing the curfew in the entire city. Some 150-200 people, who had turned up, later marched to the secretariat. They pelted stones targeting the building and attempted to remove a barricade. However, the security personnel deployed at the site dispersed them in no time by firing tear gas shells.

On Sunday night, a group of some 400 protesters had unleashed a stone attack targeting a CRPF camp near Mowlai Bridge. Defence sources said mobs had been carrying out sporadic incidents of violence from 8 pm to 10 pm for the past few days.

The group clash had taken place on May 31 at Them Metor, also known as Punjabi Line or Harijan Colony, between a group of local bus drivers and Dalit Sikh residents.

There are two narratives to the incident. According to one, it was triggered by eve-teasing involving Sikh women. According to another, some buses had blocked the way of the Sikh women who were going to fetch water and this led to an argument between them and a group of local bus drivers. Soon, the Sikh residents got involved and they allegedly beat up a handyman (bus assistant).

Later in the evening, as rumours spread through the social media that the handyman succumbed to injuries, a mob, comprising hundreds of people, swarmed to the area leading to its pitched battle with the police. Some ten people were injured in the incident.

Meanwhile, a few hundred non-locals, mostly Sikhs, have continued to take shelter at an Army cantonment in the wake of the violence. They were being provided with food by Army authorities.

Normal life continued to be affected for the fourth day on the trot. As not many commercial vehicles were plying to the city, the prices of essential commodities have shot up manifold. On Monday, potato was being sold at Rs.70 a kg at some localities. Normally, it is around Rs.25 to Rs.30. It was learnt that a lot of tourists have got stuck up in Shillong as they have not been able to settle their hotel bills in the absence of Internet services.
By Agencies

SHILLONG: About 1,000 central paramilitary personnel have been sent to Meghalaya to tackle the situation in Shillong which has been on edge following clashes between residents of the city's Punjabi Line area and Khasi drivers of state-run buses. An official said around 10 companies of paramilitary forces have been sent to Meghalaya.

The authorities on Monday extended curfew in the capital Shillong as violence continued in tension-hit areas the previous night with mobs indulging in stone-pelting on security forces for the last four days.

"Curfew has been imposed from 4 p.m. on Monday to 5 a.m. Tuesday in Shillong as there is likelihood that breach of peace may spread to other parts of the city," Deputy Commissioner, East Khasi Hills, Peter. S. Dkhar told IANS.

"The situation is very tense in those areas," he said, adding that suspension of internet on mobile services would continue besides prohibiting the illegal sale of petrol and diesel.

READ | Army stages flag march in restive Shillong, curfew clamped in entire city

On June 1, the district magistrate imposed curfew in areas under Lumdiengjri police station and Cantonment Beat House in view of the breakdown of law and order in Motphran, Mawkhar and adjoining areas following the May 31 clash.

Although, the curfew was relaxed for seven hours from 8 a.m. on Sunday, the mob continued to pelt stones at security forces forcing the police to fire tear gas shells.

The mob also attacked an undertrial prisoner van carrying a mentally-unstable person, who was referred to be admitted at the KJP Robert Hospital, Inspector General of Police, H. Nongpluh told IANS.

On Sunday, Chief Minister Conrad Sangma said the police have "found out that there are certain people who are funding this agitation".

Around 400 protesters pelted stones on a CRPF camp near Mowlai bridge in Shillong last night, in wake of curfew imposed following a fight b/w a woman & a bus conductor.Prakash D, IG CRPF says, 'we request public not to take law in their hand & resolve issue with talks' #Meghalaya pic.twitter.com/XopqZJ3p0k  ANI (@ANI) June 4, 2018

Meanwhile, a Sikh delegation led by Delhi legislator Manjinder Singh Sirsa met Sangma and expressed satisfaction that the "Sikhs were safe" in Meghalaya.

Shillong-based Sikh community leader Gurjeet Singh denied media reports that a gurudwara was torched or desecrated.

Minister of State for Home Affairs Kiren Rijiju has also denied rumours of the alleged attack.

How did the clash start?

Media reports state that there was an alleged argument between a Sikh woman who lives in Shillong's Punjabi Line colony and a Khasi bus driver over the parking spot for a Meghalaya State Transport Corporation bus at Them Meteor area.

ALSO READ: Guwahati taxis suspend service to Shillong

Scroll reported that there are two versions of the incident: Some members of the Sikh community in Punjabi Line said that after a Sikh woman was harassed by men from the Khasi community, she and four other women living in the settlement beat them up.

On the other hand, the Khasis say claim that following the argument, they were assaulted by some men from the Punjabi Line colony.

The violence continued even after the parties involved in the skirmish reached a compromise.

Security arrangements in place

The Centre has approved deployment of six additional companies of paramilitary forces in Shillong, a top police officer said.

Security would be tightened in 14 localities of the Meghalaya capital that were mainly affected by the clashes, Director General of Police (DGP) S B Singh said.

"The Home Ministry has sanctioned the deployment of four additional CRPF and two ITBP companies. The state's SF-10 commandoes along with a CRPF company and the district forces are already monitoring the situation on the ground," Singh said.

Last night, the police had forced some protesters, who were apparently involved in the clashes, to leave their hideouts at the Mawkhar and Mission Compound areas near Motphran, a few metres away from the Punjabi Line area, a district administration official said.

In retaliation, the protesters overturned a police van near Roberts Hospital and assaulted an on-duty officer in public view, he said.

The official said as the agitators refused to let go of their strongholds, police had to fire teargas shells to bring the situation under control.

Meghalaya Home Minister James Sangma today appealed to people to stay calm and said the government is doing everything to restore peace in the city.

"The agitators should stop protesting as the government has already met many of their demands, which included the arrest of the accused in the assault of the bus handyman on May 31," he said.

Chief Minister Conrad Sangma had said yesterday that the violence was a local issue and some people with vested interests had been trying to give a communal colour to it.

"The problem is very much in a particular locality, on a particular issue. It just happened that two particular communities were involved, but it's not a communal thing," the CM had said.

Concerned about reports of security threats in Punjabi Line area of Shillong, the Amarinder Singh government in Punjab said yesterday it would send a four-member team, headed by Cabinet Minister Sukhjinder Randhawa, to the Meghalaya capital, to assess the situation.

Singh has sought Meghalaya Chief Minister Sangma's cooperation in facilitating the team's visit.

(With inputs from PTI, IANS and online desk)
The Last Man on Earth will be presented at The Backlot: A Place for Film, in a new digitally-mastered 4K widescreen transfer fresh from the MGM/Fox archives on June 18.

Review for The Last Man on Earth:

In the post-apocalyptic science-fiction film The Last Man on Earth, a plague has wiped out most of humanity, and those it hasnt wiped out have turned into fearsome mutants  all except for one man, a scientist (Dr. Robert Morgan -- played by Vincent Price) who alone has an immunity to the disease.

Called "the best Vincent Price movie ever made" by Phil Hall of Film Threat Magazine, The Last Man on Earth is the first (and many would argue, the best) screen version of the classic Richard ("Twilight Zone") Matheson story "I Am Legend."

Filmed in 1964 as an Italian/American co-production, the film was later remade in 1971 with Charlton Heston as The Omega Man as well as more recently as I Am Legend (2007), starring Will Smith in the title role.

The Last Man on Earth will be presented Monday, June 18, at 7 p.m. Doors open at 6:30 p.m. for a mix and mingle time. The showing will be at Heritage House Arts & Civic Center; 1428 Jenkins Road. Admission is free (a simple potluck side, 'mocktail', dessert or beverage is suggested).

The running time of The Last Man on Earth is 1:29. The film is rated 'NR' (not rated) but a rating of 'PG-13' is suggested by the IMDB Parents Guide.

For more information visit the Facebook page, website or follow on Twitter.
Champaign, IL (61820)

Today

Scattered thunderstorms in the morning, then variable clouds during the afternoon with more showers at times. High 68F. Winds NNW at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 60%..

Tonight

Cloudy with showers. Low 53F. Winds NNE at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 50%.
Maybe its the nature of a writer, requiring intense concentration to properly tackle the task at hand  whether it be an article, a book, or even an email. But when Im in the zone, anything that interrupts my train of thought can be as disconcerting as having your car bumped from behind while sitting at a traffic light.

If my wife walks into my office to ask a question, or the grandkids stop by unexpectedly, Im torn. I want to spend time with them, but theres this train chugging along in my mind and I dare not let it get derailed.



I used to think I was alone in this, that it was just inherent selfishness and preoccupation with literary mission that caused me to often regard disruptions as inconveniences, rather than pleasant surprises. Then I read an entry in Philip Yanceys excellent devotional book, Grace Notes, that confirmed this inclination isnt unique to me.



Yancey wrote, I tend to approach life as a sequence rather than as a series of moments. I schedule my time, set goals, and march onward toward their achievement. Phone calls, or any unscheduled event, I view as a jarring interruption. How different from the style of Jesus, who often let other people  interruptions  determine his daily schedule.



Of course, you dont have to be a writer to feel this way. All kinds of people feel annoyed when someone breaks their concentration. Heck, lots of folks hate being disturbed while watching TV, reading a book, or playing a video game on their smartphone.



Contrast that, as did Yancey, to the style of Jesus, whom we often see having His plans disrupted by individuals and by crowds. And without complaining at all.



We see this early in each of the gospel accounts of His life. Matthew 4:24 tells us, News about him spread all over Syria, and people brought to him all who were ill with various diseases, those suffering severe pain, the demon-possessed, those having seizures, and the paralyze, and he healed them. Large crowdfollowed him.



Mark 1:40-41 recounts when A man with leprosy came to him and begged him on his knees, If you are willing, you can make me clean. Filled with compassion, Jesus reached out his hand and touched the man. I am willing, he said. Be clean! Immediately the leprosy left him and he was cured.



In neither case, or in the many other similar unscheduled encounters Jesus had during His earthly ministry, did He said, Oh, man! Whats up with these people? Dont they know Im busy, that Ive got more pressing things to do? No, because as Yancey wrote, that wasnt Jesus style. He perfectly mastered the distinction between the important and the merely urgent.



Sometimes I wonder how many opportunities Ive ignored or missed out on, simply because I wasnt willing to let others impose on or even reset my agenda for the moment. The Scriptures talk about redeeming the time because the days are evil (Ephesians 5:16). In other words, unlike money or other material possessions, we cant acquire more of it. Once time is gone, its gone, never to be redeemed.



The refrain from the old hit song, recorded by Glen Campbell, Willie Nelson and many others, comes to mind: Aint it funny how time slips away.



Speaking of which, a couple of our grandkids just arrived for a visit. Guess this would be a good time to take a break. See ya later!



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The Leadership Cleveland Alumni Association celebrated the 2017-18 class graduates on May 31, which included a keynote address by The Body Language Doctor, Dr. Donna Van Natten, entitled Body Language for Leaders. The annual luncheon benefits the Alumni Association Scholarship fund.

Leadership Cleveland is a nine-month community development initiative that brings professionals throughout the region together to cultivate leadership, exposure to volunteer opportunities and positive community growth.

We had a great group of emerging leaders representing our community this year. We are confident they will make significant contributions in the years ahead, said Bernadette Douglas, executive vice president at the Cleveland/Bradley Chamber of Commerce.

Recruitment for the 2018-19 class will begin this summer. Members of the Cleveland/Bradley Chamber of Commerce interested in participating may call the Chamber office at 423 472-6587 or email Bernadette, at BDouglas@clevelandchamber.com.
Gary S. Napolitan has been elected a fellow of the Tennessee Bar Foundation, an association of 855 attorneys across the state. Invitations to membership, which is a position of honor, were extended to 32 attorneys this year by the Board of Trustees. The introduction of new fellows took place at the annual Fellows' Dinner in Nashville.

The Bar Foundation's purpose is two-fold: to honor attorneys who have distinguished themselves in the profession and community and to administer a grant making program. That project, known by its acronym IOLTA (Interest On Lawyers' Trust Accounts), has awarded grants in excess of $21,000,000 to law-related, public interest projects throughout Tennessee.

Mr. Napolitan is a member in the firm of Leitner, Williams, Dooley & Napolitan, PLLC and has been practicing law in Chattanooga for over 35 years. He is a graduate of University of Tennessee and of University of Tennessee College of Law.




The Northwest Cider Association presents the 7th annual 2018 Oregon Cider Week with new dates, taking place this June 21 through July 1st. Oregon Cider Week is a series of statewide events designed to educate and celebrate the regions thriving artisan cider industry. Cider Week is here to showcase Northwest cider made and sold in Oregon through a variety of special events and promotions ranging from cider house tours and tap takeovers to bike excursions and yoga pairing.More from a press release:Oregon Cider Week is 11-day statewide celebration of Oregons cider culture, and particularly the cider makers who make it all happen, explained Emily Ritchie, Executive Director of the Northwest Cider Assn. The regions cider houses and producers will collectively coordinate more than 100 cider-themed experiences over the course of the extended week.Oregon Cider Week culminates with the 8th annual Cider Summit PDX, the regions largest artisanal hard cider tasting festival. Cider Summit PDX will take place June 29 and June 30 at The Fields Park in Portlands Pearl District. The event will present tasting samples of nearly 200 artisanal hard ciders from the industrys leading cidermakers, many of which will be on hand to guide guests through the tastings. More information and tickets are available now at CiderSummit.com.Blue Star Donuts has committed to creating an official Oregon Cider Week donut that it will sell in its stores during the celebration, as well as sample at various events like Cider Summit PDX. Other partners include Ruby Jewel Ice Cream, and Powells Books, which will be hosting book-reading events highlighting top cider industry authors from the Northwest during the cider week.

Oregon Cider Week is sponsored by Columbia Distributing and the Oregon Department of Agriculture. For more information about Oregon Cider Week, visit OregonCiderWeek.com and follow @ORCiderWeek on social media.
President Emmerson Mnangagwa has met one of the biggest British business delegations to ever visit Zimbabwe in the past 38 years.

The 22-member delegation, which represents Invest Africa, met Cde Mnangagwa at his Munhumutapa offices in Harare this afternoon.

The delegation comprises business representatives from various sectors including mining, real estate, infrastructure, power, agriculture, financial services and telecommunications.

The two vice presidents, Retired General Constantino Chiwenga and Cde Kembo Mohadi; Energy and Power Development Minister Ambassador Simon Khaya Moyo; Local Government, Public Works and National Housing Minister Cde July Moyo; Lands, Agriculture and Rural Resettlement Minister Retired Air Chief Marshal Perrance Shiri; Foreign Affairs and International Trade Minister Retired Lieutenant General Dr Sibusiso Moyo; Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe (RBZ) Governor Dr John Mangudya; Zimbabwes Ambassador to the UK Retired Colonel Christian Katsande and the Permanent Secretary for Mines and Mining Development Cde Munesu Munodawafa were also in attendance.

Responding to questions from waiting journalists after two and half hours of deliberations behind closed doors, President Mnangagwa said this is the biggest business delegation he has ever seen from the UK since Zimbabwes independence 38 years ago.

He said he has given the delegation an honest account of the countrys situation and the ball is now in their court to decide which areas they are going to invest in.
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(Newser)  A condemned inmate in Alabama apparently decided not to wait for the state to take his life. Jeffrey Lynn Borden, a 57-year-old Death Row inmate convicted of two 1993 murders, was found hanged in his cell early Sunday in what authorities say was an apparent suicide, AL.com reports. Borden was sentenced to death in 1995 for killing his estranged wife and her father. Court files state that after Borden brought his three children to a Christmas Eve family gathering, he shot their mother, Cheryl Borden, in front of them as she started to help the children move their things from his car, the North Jefferson News reports. He then shot her father, Roland Harris, in the back as he tried to run into the house.

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Borden was found hanging by a bedsheet during a security check, authorities say. Federal defender John Palombi says his office was "saddened" to hear of the death, which he blames on prison underfunding and understaffing. "Borden suffered from severe mental illness and chronic physical pain, both of which were undertreated by the Department of Corrections despite their knowledge of these issues," Palombi said in a statement. Borden was within three hours of being executed on Oct. 5 last year when a stay of execution was granted amid claims that Alabama's lethal injection method of execution was unconstitutional. The stay of execution was lifted in November and a request to reinstate it was rejected in February, though it's not clear whether Borden had been given a new execution date, Fox reports. (This condemned inmate in Nevada says he is ready to die.)
(Newser)  After kidney surgery and a weekslong absence from the public eye, Melania Trump is set to resurfacebut she won't be joining her husband on his upcoming overseas trips. Spokeswoman Stephanie Grisham tells CNN that the first lady, in her first official appearance in 25 days, will attend an event at the White House to honor Gold Star families on Monday. But unlike last year, she will not be accompanying President Trump to the G7 summit, even though there's a lot less traveling involved, the Hill reports. This year's summit will be held in Quebec on Friday and Saturday. Last year's summit was held over two days in Sicily.

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The first lady is also going to skip the planned June 12 summit in Singapore with Kim Jong Un. It's not clear whether the North Korean leader is planning to bring his wife. Melania Trump returned to the White House May 19 after five nights in Walter Reed National Military Medical Center, but she didn't join Trump and children Donald Jr., Ivanka, and Tiffany at the Camp David retreat over the weekend. After speculation in the media, the first lady addressed rumors about her absence last week. "I see the media is working overtime speculating where I am & what I'm doing," she tweeted on Wednesday. "Rest assured, I'm here at the @WhiteHouse w my family, feeling great, & working hard on behalf of children & the American people!" Monday night's event will be closed to the press. (Read more Melania Trump stories.)
(Newser)  Rudy Giuliani appeared on the Sunday talk shows over the weekend to make the point that President Trump's constitutional powers are so sweeping that he could avoid legal trouble while in office. Giuliani said Trump could theoretically pardon himself in any situation, and he used an extreme hypothetical in an interview with HuffPost, suggesting that the president could not be indicted even if he shot James Comey. In all his interviews, however, Giuliani stressed that he was sure Trump would never pardon himself, because the move could lead to impeachment. Its not going to happen. Its a hypothetical point, he said on NBC. And to HuffPost: If he shot James Comey, hed be impeached the next day, Giuliani said. Impeach him, and then you can do whatever you want to do to him."

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His comments come in the wake of a New York Times report that Trump's legal team (before Giuliani came aboard) wrote a memo arguing that the president could not have obstructed justice because the president is in charge of federal investigations. "The president is not saying he is going to pardon himself," House Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy told CNN, per the Hill. Trump ally Chris Christie agreed. "Listen, theres no way thatll happen, and the reason it wont is because then it becomes a political problem, said the former New Jersey governor on ABC. If the president were to pardon himself, hell get impeached. The Washington Post, meanwhile, talks to a Fordham law professor who disagrees that a president could pardon himself, in part because the Constitution stipulates that the president "shall take care that the laws be faithfully executed." (Read more President Trump stories.)
(Newser)  On one awful April day in Jalalabad, Afghanistan, 10 children and one adultall members of the same extended familylooked at an item on the ground near their home that they didn't recognize. It turned out to be an unexploded rocket, and as soon as a 16-year-old realized what it was and tried to get it out of the hands of two younger relatives who had picked it up, it fell to the ground and exploded. The teen and three others at the scene died; all seven of the survivors lost at least one leg. Two of them lost both legs, reports the New York Times in a look at the "cruel" day and its aftermathone made particularly daunting by the fact that after an attack last January on a Save the Children office, many aid groups have reduced operations in Jalalabad.

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The survivors have had multiple operations, with three of them requiring long-term hospitalization; often, the children must share four beds in one hospital room during treatment. "Every one of them needs one-on-one help. And these are such poor people," says another doctor, who notes that it would be better for the children to be transferred to a better-equipped center, likely in another country. For those who are able to go home when not being treated, they must deal with wheelchair-unfriendly unpaved paths; some of them may be able to get prosthetics, but not until several months of healing at least. Hospital officials and family members say no offers of outside help have been extended. As for the rocket, the district police chief says it was fired by the Taliban in its fight against the Afghan National Army; the Taliban denies it. Click for the full piece by Rod Nordland. (Read more Afghanistan stories.)
(Newser)  A Canadian woman says she was just checking the time, a police officer says her mind wasn't fully on driving, and an Ontario judge has sided with the cop. The National Post reports Victoria Ambrose was found guilty of breaking a distracted-driving law, after a University of Guelph police officer whose vehicle was stopped next to hers at a red light in April says he noticed a "glow" in her car from an electronic device, per his testimony in front of Justice of the Peace Lloyd Phillipps. The cop added he saw Ambrose glance up and down about four times and that she was slow to start moving when the light turned green. (Gizmodo notes unless the Apple Watch is in "Wrist Raise" mode, the user needs to tap the display once to activate it to check the time, then tap it again to deactivate.) The cop says he had to shine a light to get her to go, at which point he pulled her over and ticketed her.

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The case came down to Ontario's anti-distracted-driving law, which bans driving "while holding or using a handheld wireless communication device." Although Ambrose tried to argue the Apple Watch shouldn't be considered a handheld device, Phillipps said the watch was "no less a source of distraction than a cellphone taped to someone's wrist" and that it was "abundantly clear," based on the cop's testimony, that Ambrose was distracted. Gizmodo points out various studies that lend credence to the judge's decision, with research suggesting not only are hands-free devices in general not safer than handheld devices while driving, but also that smartwatches in particular slow down driver response timeand were found to be even more distracting than a regular smartphone. Ambrose was hit with a $400 fine for her time check. (An Apple Watch turned out to be a lifesaver for this Brooklyn man.)
Publix Super Markets, Inc. is inviting customers to Put Your Money Where the Miracles Are by donating to Childrens Hospital at Erlanger, the local Childrens Miracle Network Hospital, during the annual fundraising campaign through June 16.

In exchange for a $1, $3 or $5 donation, Publix customers will receive up to $5.50, $10 or $20 off, respectively, from the following brands: Mars Petcare, Kelloggs Cereal, Coca Cola, Wrigleys, Mars Chocolate, Georgia Pacific, Frito Lay, Oil Dri, Pepsico, Inc. and Johnson & Johnson.

This campaign marks the 26th year of Publix support for Childrens Miracle Network Hospitals. Since 1992, Publix Super Markets have associates and customers have raised over $44 million for the nonprofit. Funds raised during the campaign will help Childrens Hospital at Erlanger complete the new Childrens Hospital Outpatient Center which will serve 50,000 patients annually.

We appreciate the work Publix associates and customers do each year to raise money for the children in the Chattanooga region, said Steven Wagner, Vice President of Development, Erlanger Health System Foundations. The money the community donates stays local to provide life-saving care and improved facilities for local kids. Please consider making a donation during the next visit to your local Publix store.

More than 1,200 Publix Stores in Alabama, Florida, Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee and Virginia are participating in the fundraiser, benefitting 27 member hospitals.
(Newser)  An off-duty firefighter from Bend, Oregon, was killed over the weekend after he struck a large bear on the highway with his motorcycle, reports KATU. The collision sent 39-year-old Rhett Larsen into the path of oncoming traffic, and he was struck by an SUV pulling a utility trailer, reports the Bend Bulletin. Larsen died at the scene, and the driver of the SUV, which rolled onto its side, was airlifted to the hospital. The bear also was killed in the crash, which occurred about 7pm Saturday on Highway 26 near Warm Springs. The Bend Fire Department says in a statement that Larsen was "a creative soul with a compassionate heart, an intelligent and well-loved team player." (Read more bear stories.)
(Newser)  If cats could talk, one of them might be called as a witness in a Dallas murder trial. Mary Harrison, 47, was arrested early Saturday for allegedly shooting husband Dexter Harrison, 49, to death during an argument, the Dallas Morning News reports. She told detectives that she shot her husband because he had been beating the family cat. She was taken to the Dallas County Jail with bail set at $100,000. Neighbors tell CBS-Dallas/Fort Worth that the couple moved to the area with their two teenage sons a few months ago. They say the cat recently went missing, but it was returned after Mary Harrison put up signs. "A man got shot over a cat? Its kind of crazy. Its unbelievable," neighbor Carl Phillips says. (Read more Texas stories.)
(Newser)  Some of the most high-profile Parkland survivors hinted over the weekend at something big coming down the pike, and that news has just dropped. Axios reports the March for Our Lives activist group, which includes Marjorie Stoneman Douglas students David Hogg, Emma Gonzalez, and Jaclyn Corin, will be conducting a 60-day bus tour, with 75 stops in 20 states, to register young voters, advocate for gun control, and, as Corin puts it to BuzzFeed, "[expose] people who take money from the NRA." The "March for Our Lives: Road to Change" tour will kick off on June 15 at a peace rally in Chicago. In addition to the national tour, a separate Florida-specific tour will visit every congressional district in the state, making more than 25 stops, per a release.

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Why a bus tour? "Just a handshake or looking somebody in the eye, rather than speaking to them through the TV, is a lot more impactful," Hogg says. Among their stops will be communities where gun control is a sensitive topic. "Preaching to the choir essentially doesn't do much, but going to the places that disagree with us is really where we're going to make the change," Corin says. One person they hope to involve, though they've been critical of what he's done on gun control so far: President Trump. "I'd be willing to work with him on this issue if he is willing to work with us," Hogg says. (Read more Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School stories.)
(Newser)  President Trump kicked off his Monday morning with a series of tweets about tariffs, the economy, and the "witch hunt" against him. The two receiving this most attention:



This: "The appointment of the Special Councel [sic] is totally UNCONSTITUTIONAL! Despite that, we play the game because I, unlike the Democrats, have done nothing wrong!"

And this: "As has been stated by numerous legal scholars, I have the absolute right to PARDON myself, but why would I do that when I have done nothing wrong? In the meantime, the never ending Witch Hunt, led by 13 very Angry and Conflicted Democrats (& others) continues into the mid-terms!"

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Regarding the constitutionality of the Mueller probe, the American Prospect tackled that very subject in a May 30 piece, detailing at length why "the special counsels work is firmly grounded in precedent." It's in part a counter-opinion to a May 13 Wall Street Journal op-ed written by Federalist Society chair Steven Calabresi that asserted the probe "crosses the legal line." As for the issue of whether Trump could pardon himself, it was a hot topic this weekend following a NYT report on a 20-page letter written by Trump's lawyers that touched on the subject; Rudy Giuliani addressed it too. CNBC chimes in, citing a Justice Department memo written in advance of President Richard Nixon's 1974 resignation, the first line of which reads, "Under the fundamental rule that no one may be a judge in his own case, the President cannot pardon himself." (Read more President Trump stories.)
(Newser)  Saudi Arabia issued its first driver's licenses to 10 women on Monday as the kingdom prepared to lift the world's only ban on women driving in three weeks, but some who campaigned for the right to drive remain under arrest. A government statement said the 10 women who were issued licenses already held driving licenses from other countries, including the US, UK, Lebanon, and Canada. They took a brief driving test and eye exam before being issued the licenses at the General Department of Traffic in the capital, Riyadh, the AP reports. A video of the first woman receiving her license quickly went viral on Twitter, Al Arabiya reports. Other women across the country have been preparing for the right to drive on June 24 by taking driving courses on female-only college campuses. Some are even training to become drivers for ride hailing companies like Uber.

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Saudi women had long complained of having to hire costly male drivers, use taxis, or rely on male relatives to get to work and run errands. The surprise move to issue some women licenses early came as activists who had campaigned for the right to drive remain under arrest, facing possible trial. Saudi Arabia's prosecutor said Sunday that 17 people had been detained in recent weeks on suspicion of trying to undermine security and stability, a case activists said targeted prominent women's rights campaigners. The prosecutor's statement said eight have been temporarily released, while five men and four women remain under arrest. Among the women held since May 15 are Loujain al-Hathloul, Aziza al-Yousef and Eman al-Nafjan, according to people with knowledge of the arrests. The three are among the most outspoken and well-known women's rights activists in Saudi Arabia. (Read more Saudi Arabia stories.)
(Newser)  Speaking to an Argentine journalist in an interview that was broadcast Sunday night on the Argentinian news program Periodismo Para Todos, Woody Allen said he should be the poster boy for the #MeToo movement, the AP reports. Allen, whose adopted daughter Dylan Farrow alleges he sexually abused her when she was a child, was expressing mixed feelings about the movement when he noted, "I should be the poster boy for the #MeToo movement. Because I have worked in movies for 50 years. Ive worked with hundreds of actresses and not a single onebig ones, famous ones, ones starting outhave ever ever suggested any kind of impropriety at all. Ive always had a wonderful record with them." He also addressed the fact that Dylan's allegations have been making headlines again since the movement started, Quartz reports.

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"This is just so crazy," he said. "This is something that has been thoroughly looked at 25 years ago by all the authorities and everybody came to the conclusion that it was untrue. And that was the end and Ive gone on with my life. For it to come back now, its a terrible thing to accuse a person of. Im a man with a family and my own children. So of course its upsetting." He added that he is "a big advocate" of the #MeToo movement, but that "what bothers me is that I get linked with them. People who have been accused by 20 women, 50 women, 100 women of abuse and abuse and abuse and I, who was only accused by one woman in a child custody case which was looked at and proven to be untrue, I get lumped in with these people." He noted that he's happy when the #MeToo movement exposes abusers, but "I think in any situation where anyone is accused of someone unjustly, this is a sad thing." (Read more Woody Allen stories.)
Russian President Vladimir Putin has signed into law a bill which allows him to respond to sanctions by the United States and other "unfriendly states," the Russian government said Monday.

Russian President Vladimir Putin speaks during a meeting with senior officers and prosecutors in the Kremlin in Moscow, Russia, Thursday, May 31, 2018. [Photo: Kremlin Pool via AP/Alexei Druzhinin]

The law authorizes the Russian president to ban or restrict cooperation with entities of "unfriendly states," according to a statement published on Russia's legal information portal.

Foreign entities could be prohibited to provide services for Russia's central and local governments, conduct trade with Russian counterparts, or participate in the privatization of Russian property.

The bill was passed by the Russian parliament before Putin signed it into law.

The move comes in response to U.S. sanctions in April on 38 Russian individuals and entities, including seven business leaders and 17 senior officials, for their alleged "malign activity" around the world.
New Delhi:

Chief Minister Nitish Kumar will be the face of BJP-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) in Bihar for the 2019 Lok Sabha elections, Janata Dal-United (JDU) national general secretary Pavan Varma declared on Monday.

Nitish Kumar is the face of the NDA in Bihar. That is why he is the chief minister. JDU is the largest constituent of the coalition, Varma said after a meeting of top party leaders at Kumars residence in Patna.

In a clear-cut message to the BJP that it was no more in the situation to play the big brother role in 2019 Lok Sabha elections, JDU leader Pavan Varma said that they expect the saffron party to treat its ally with respect.

We have not had formal talks, our expectation is that the BJP which is the largest party in NDA will deal with its ally in a manner of mutual respect & understanding of certain factors verifiable on the ground, he said.

JD-U demands 25 of the 40 seats in Bihar

The JD-U, which returned to the NDA fold after ditching the Mahagathbandhan with the Congress and the RJD last year, demanded 25 of the total 40 Lok Sabha seats in Bihar.

There had been a seat-sharing formula between the JD-U and BJP in the past. We used to contest on 25 seats and the BJP on rest 15. NDAs face is PM Modi but in Bihar, its Nitish Kumar. There should be no confusion, JD-U spokesman Ajay Alok said.

Earlier on Sunday, another senior party leader KC Tyagi has said that the JDU was BJPs elder brother in Bihar.

Nothing like elder or younger brother, says BJP

Reacting to Tyagis remarks, Deputy CM Sushil Modi said that there was no question of younger or elder brother as Modi is NDAs national leader while Nitish is the leader of Bihar.

Modi said that there would be no controversy over the seat sharing and expressed hope that both parties will fight the 2019 Lok Sabha elections together.
New Delhi:

The Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Monday issued notice to former finance minister P Chidambaram in connection to the Aircel-Maxis money laundering case.

Following the fresh summons, issued by the ED, the Rajya Sabha MP is expected to appear before the agency on Tuesday. Once he appears before the ED, the investigation officers will record his statement under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA).

"Notice issued by Enforcement Directorate to P Chidambaram to appear before investigating officer tomorrow for questioning in Aircel-Maxis case," the news agency ANI reported.

Earlier on May 30, a Delhi court granted him protection from arrest till June 5 in the case, after he moved an anticipatory bail plea before the court of Special Judge O P Saini. The plea was filed after ED on May 30 had first asked him to appear before it.

On February 28, P. Chidambaram's son Karti was arrested at the Chennai airport while returning from the United Kingdom. The move came after his alleged role in facilitating Foreign Investment Promotion Board (FIPB) clearance for INX Media Ltd. and its directors, Peter Mukerjea and Indrani Mukerjea, came to the light.

Notice issued by Enforcement Directorate to P Chidambaram to appear before investigating officer tomorrow for questioning in Aircel-Maxis case: Sources pic.twitter.com/5SaNfjjoDf  ANI (@ANI) June 4, 2018

Also Read | Rs 25 per litre cut possible in fuel prices, claims P Chidambaram

The Supreme Court had on March 12 directed the CBI and the ED to complete their investigation within six months.

In October 2017, the Enforcement Directorate (ED) had found that FIPB approval given by Chidambaram in March 2006 in Aircel-Maxis case was beyond his mandate. It required the approval of the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA). The law enforcement agency, in its investigation, also found that the amount for FIPB approval was wrongly projected to conceal the facts.

In September last year, the ED had attached assets worth Rs 1.16 crore of Karti and a firm allegedly linked to him in connection with this case.

The Aircel-Maxis case is basically a series of allegations of kickbacks in the telecom sector, which was part of the wider 2G spectrum scam that engulfed the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) regime.

Also Read | Case against Chidambaram under Black Money Act Congress Nawaz Sharif moment: BJP

In 2011, former Aircel head C. Sivasankaran complained to the CBI that he was being forced by then telecom minister Dayanidhi Maran to sell Aircel to the Malaysia-based Maxis Communications group owned by T. Ananda Krishnan.

(With inputs from agencies)

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New Delhi:

Sacked Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) MLA Kapil Mishra is likely to join the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) under its aSampark for Samarthana initiative, Union minister Vijay Goel hinted on Sunday.

Goel, who visited Mishra at his residence as part of theA aSampark for Samarthana initiative on Sunday said that the doors of the BJP were always open for the former Delhi minister.

aDoors are open for anyone who wants to work for the people. Now, it is onA Kapil Mishra to decide if he wants to support theA BJPA or not. We want all the good people to support the party; this is why we have started the aSampark for Samarthana initiative,a Goel said after meeting Mishra.

Mishra, who was the Water Resource Minister in the AAP government, was removed from the post and party in May 2017. A day after his removal, Mishra levelled serious allegations of bribery against Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal.

Mishra had alleged that Kejriwal had taken a bribe of Rs 2 crore from Delhi Health Minister Satyendra Jain.

The AAP had rebutted all the charges and claimed that Mishra was working at the behest of the BJP and his poor performance as Delhi water minister was the reason behind his removal.

At the time of Mishraas sacking, there were speculations that the rebel AAP leader will join the BJP. However, he denied any possibilities of him joining the saffron party he criticised throughout his political career in AAP.

Now with the general elections approaching the country next year, the speculations are again on rife that the former Kejriwal aide will join the BJP. Her mother, Annapurna Mishra is already a BJP leader and Mayor of East DelhiA Municipal Corporation.

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New Delhi:

Four days after the violent clashes between two groups, Shillong, the capital city of Indias north-eastern state of Meghalaya, remained tense on Monday as fresh bouts of violence erupted on Sunday night.

Around 400 protesters pelted stones on a CRPF camp near Mowlai Bridge in Shillong last night in wake of curfew imposed following a fight between a woman and a bus conductor, ANI quoted CRPF IG Prakash D as saying.

Earlier in the day, the police had raided the Mawkhar and Mission Compound areas near Motphran, a few metres away from the Punjabi Line area, to force some protesters to leave their hideouts.

In retaliation, the protesters overturned a police van near Roberts Hospital and assaulted an on-duty officer in public view. The police had to fire tear gas shells to disperse the rioting mob, a district administration official said.

After seven hours of relaxation on Sunday, curfew remained in several localities of the city following the clashes between the groups of local Khasi and Punjabi communities.

Centre deploys 1,000 central paramilitary personnel in Shillong

After the fresh incidents of stone pelting on Sunday night, the home ministry has deployed around 1,000 central paramilitary personnel to tackle the situation in Shillong.

"Around 10 companies of paramilitary forces have been sent to Meghalaya. A company of paramilitary force comprises of 100 personnel," PTI quoted a top Union Home Ministry official as saying.

The Home Ministry has sanctioned the deployment of four additional CRPF and two ITBP companies. The states SF-10 commandoes along with a CRPF company and the district forces are already monitoring the situation on the ground, Meghalaya DGP SB Singh said.

Singh said that the security would be increased in 14 localities of the Meghalaya capital that were mainly affected by the clashes.

Violence broke out last Thursday after a bus handyman  a boy from Khasi community  was allegedly assaulted by a group of residents of Them Metor area following an altercation with a Punjabi woman, according to district officials.

According to some local sources, the altercation between the boy and the woman took place over the issue bus parking in front of a public water tap.

The small altercation led to the violence in the otherwise peaceful Shillong. At least 10 people, including a police officer, were injured in the clashes. Rioting mob also set a house, a shop and five vehicles on fire.

(With inputs from agencies)

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New Delhi:

The Narendra Modi government has asked Jammu and Kashmir and other states to keep Rohingya Muslims confined to their designated camps and not issue any kind of identity cards to them.

The Centre has also sought their personal particulars, including biometric details, so that it can share the data with Myanmar for their likely repatriation, according to a report published in the Times of India.

The home ministry has written a letter to the chief secretary of J&K government and highlighted that some of the Rohingya refugees who entered India illegally pose a threat to national security, the English daily quoted sources as saying.

In the letter, the ministry also added that some of Rohingya Muslims were involved in illegal activities such as fraudulent procurement and/or fabrication of Indian identity cards  PAN, voter IDs etc  money laundering, crimes and other anti-national activities.

The similar letter was also sent to other states. According to an estimate by security agencies, there are as many as 40,000 Rohingya Muslims living across country.

Of the total 40,000, a large number of them are living in multiple camps set up across Jammu. There were some 3,000 Rohingya refugees in Hyderabad, 1,114 in Mewat (Haryana), 1,200 in western Uttar Pradesh, 1,061 in Delhi (Okhla) and 400 in Jaipur.

The security agencies have noticed that they are now making efforts to shift to other South Indian states like Tamil Nadu, Karnataka and Kerala.

Of late, some attempts by Rohingyas to move to states like Kerala, Karnataka and Tamil Nadu have come to notice. There has also been new influx of immigrants into Jammu, Hyderabad, and Andaman & Nicobar Islands, an intelligence officer was quoted by the newspaper as saying.

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New Delhi:

It seems like after the initial reluctance, the regional parties have finally started accepting resurgent Congress president Rahul Gandhi as the leader of the anti-BJP front in the upcoming general elections.

If not all, at least former Bihar deputy CM and RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav believes that Gandhi is capable of becoming the Prime Minister of India and the Congress will have to play the main role in 2019.

Rahul Gandhi is capable. He or even Sonia maam could have been the PM much earlier. He wanted to gain experience. But the way he is interacting with smaller parties, there is a big difference between what Rahul was then and (what he is) now, the Hindustan Times quoted Yadav as saying.

The RJD leader and son of former Bihar CM Lalu Yadav also threw up his weight behind Gandhis aspirations to become the prime minister of the country.

His logic is not wrong. Whoever is the largest party  like the BJP in 2014  has claimed the Prime Ministers post. If some other party emerges as the largest, they too, can claim it. Where is the problem in making such a claim? he said.

During the Karnataka Assembly elections, Rahul Gandhi said that if the Congress party got the majority in 2019, he will become the PM.

His remarks were mocked by the ruling BJP which termed the remarks Gandhis ignorance towards the senior leaders of the Opposition parties.

Yadav also spoke about the efforts being carried out by the Opposition parties to stitch an anti-BJP front ahead of 2019 elections and said that presence of the Congress party will ensure the success of the Third Front in 2019.

The Congress was not present in the previous Third Fronts. When the Congress came in the alliance, it gave us UPA 1 and UPA 2. The UPA (United Progressive Alliance) ran for a full 10 years. The Congress is the biggest Opposition party. It is the responsibility of the Congress to take others along with them. Wherever the Congress is powerful, we have to strengthen it. In 18 states, the Congress is in a direct fight with the BJP. The main role has to be played by the Congress, the RJD leader told the English daily.

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New Delhi:

Pakistan Army has said that there is no space for any war with India as both are nuclear powers but warned that its desire for peace should not be mistaken for weakness.

"We are two nuclear powers, and there is no space for war," said Maj Gen Asif Ghafoor, the Director General of Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) - the media wing of the army, while addressing a press conference in Islamabad on Monday.

Accusing India of carrying out 1,077 ceasefire violations since the beginning of 2018, Ghafoor said, "Our defence, our desire for peace, should not be mistaken for weakness... War happens when diplomacy fails".

Ghafoor said that the two sides remained in touch with each other over bilateral issues but India backed out of holding talks.

"Indians have to realise and understand where they want to go (in the future)," he said.

Ghafoor also said had not responded to Indian firing, which followed a ceasefire agreement by the two countries' militaries last week but was "compelled" to respond only when civilians were targeted. Pakistan wants to respect the truce agreement, he said.

"If India fires the first bullet and no harm is occurred, we will not respond. If India fires the second bullet, then we will give a befitting response," he said.

Local administration officials in Pakistan claims, an elderly woman and a minor girl were killed and 24 others, including four children and eight women, injured in mortar shelling by the Indian forces on villages along the Working Boundary yesterday.

On the Indian side, two BSF personnel were killed and ten civilians, including a woman, suffered critical injuries after Pakistani troops resorted to unprovoked and indiscriminate firing along the International Border in Jammu and Kashmir's Akhnoor sector on Sunday, according to reports.

Both the personnel, including an Assistant Sub-Inspector, were rushed to a nearby hospital but later succumbed to injuries while undergoing treatment.

(With PTI inputs)

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New Delhi:

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will address the World Environment Day 2018 event in the national capital on Tuesday - June 5.

India is the global host nation for the 43rd edition of the World Environment Day event.

In an effort to protect the environment for years to come and for future generation, the UN theme for this year's World Environment Day is 'beat plastic pollution'.

Environment ministers, UN representatives, and members from various industry bodies will be among the various dignitaries attending the event, a ministry statement said.

Modi, in his last edition of Mann Ki Baat' radio programme, had stated that India being named the official host of the World Environment Day celebrations was a recognition of the country's growing leadership in tackling climate change issues. He also urged the people to shun use of plastics.

Modi will also visit the exhibition organised on the occasion at the Rajpath lawns.

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International Christian Concern to Host Annual Policy Day Event June 5th on Capitol Hill

WASHINGTON, June 4, 2018 / Christian Newswire / -- International Christian Concern's annual Capitol Hill Policy Day will focus on the crisis of violence in Nigeria brought about by both Boko Haram and Fulani militants. Numerous human rights organizations have reported 60,000 or more deaths since the conflict first escalated in the early 2000s, and ICC has documented 1150 deaths as a direct result of Fulani attacks since the start of 2018. Samuel Ortom, Governor of Nigeria's heavily affected Benue State, has called the persistent attacks by Fulani militants a combination of "ethnic cleansing" and "jihad."

Policy Day is an opportunity for the public to hear leaders and experts unpack the true nature of the conflict and support legislative and diplomatic efforts to improve life for the persecuted and oppressed in Nigeria. The event will draw particular attention to the suffering of Nigerian Christians and call for government action to guarantee their security.

Policy Day will be held Tuesday, June 5, 2018 at the U.S. Capitol Visitor Center, SVC 212-10, First St NE, Washington, DC 20515, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. The event is open to the public. RSVPs are strongly encouraged to ensure entrance through security and can be completed by visiting www.persecution.org/capitol-hill-policy-day

Speakers will include Senator Ted Cruz of Texas, Kristina Arriaga, Vice Chairwoman for the United States Commission on International Religious Freedom, Congressman Randy Hultgren of Illinois, prominent activists, victims and policy experts.

Policy Day will also include a distinguished panel to discuss the ongoing crisis and potential solutions from the Nigerian and American policy perspectives:

 Chris Meserole  Fellow, The Brookings Institution

 Joshua Meservey  Senior Policy Analyst, The Heritage Foundation

 Stephen Enada  Executive President & Co-Founder International Committee on Nigeria

 Nathan Wineinger  Director of Policy and Coalitions, 21st Century Wilberforce Initiative

 Matias Perttula  Advocacy Director, International Christian Concern

About ICC

International Christian Concern is a non-partisan, 501(c)(3) charitable organization focused on human rights, religious freedom and assisting the persecuted Christian Church around the world.
New Delhi:

NASA astronomers for the first time have discovered a neutron star outside the Milky Way galaxy.

"Neutron stars are the ultra-dense cores of massive stars that collapse and undergo a supernova explosion," NASA explained on their website.

"This newly identified neutron star is a rare variety that has both a low magnetic field and no stellar companion," it said.

A stunning image was captured by the European Souther Observatorys Very Large Telescope (VLT) in Chile and the NASAs Chandra X-ray Observatory.

Scientists evaluating and analysing the images collected from the telescope assume that it is a neutron star produced by a supernova explosion about two millennium ago.

In past, ten similar objects have been discovered by astronomers before. However, this is the first time ever that a neutron star was detected outside Earths galaxy.

Jocelyn Bell, a British astrophysicist discovered the first neutron star around 50 years ago.

Now, NASA is set to launch a new mission to get insights about neutron stars.

"The agency plans to launch the two-in-one Neutron Star Interior Composition Explorer, or NICER, aboard SpaceX CRS-11, a cargo resupply mission to the International Space Station to be launched aboard a Falcon 9 rocket," NASA said in a statement.

"The mission will focus especially on pulsars  those neutron stars that appear to wink on and off because their spin sweeps beams of radiation past us, like a cosmic lighthouse," NASA stated.

The spacecraft will be powered by 56 X-ray mirrors that will help in gathering data.

What are Neutron Stars?



"Neutron stars are the ultra-dense cores of massive stars that collapse and undergo a supernova explosion," according to NASA.



Nearly five decades ago, Jocelyn Bell, a British astrophysicist, first discovered these spinning neutron stars.







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New Delhi:

China on Monday welcomed Prime Minister Narendra Modi remarks in Singapore that Aisa will have a better future if India and China resolved to work together.

We have noted the positive remarks made by Prime Minister Modi on China-India relations. We highly appreciate such kind of positive remarks, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson, Hua Chunying said.

Earlier on Friday, in his keynote address at the Shangri-La Dialogue in Singapore, Modi had said that Asia and the world will have a better future if India and China work together with trust and confidence, keeping in mind each others interests.

Recalling the recent informal summit between PM Modi and Chinese President Xi Jinping at Wuhan, Chunying said that China was willing to work with India to maintain the momentum in the bilateral ties.

In April this year, Xi held an informal meeting with Modi. They had in-depth exchange of views in international landscape and bilateral relations and reached consensus on many issues, Chunying said.

China is willing to work with the Indian side to follow the guidance of this consensus to maintain the positive momentum of the development of bilateral relations, to promote mutually beneficial cooperation, properly handle differences, maintain peace tranquillity along the border areas and thus move forward the China-India relations, she added.

The heart-to-heart informal meeting between Modi and Xi was held to solidify the restrained ties between India and China after the 3-day long Dokalam standoff in 2017.

Troops of India and China were locked in the 73-day standoff in Dokalam after the Indian side stopped the construction of a road by the Chinese army in the disputed area.

(With inputs from agencies)

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New Delhi:

At least 25 people were killed and scores others injured when a volcano erupted Guatemala on Sunday. Fuego volcano was spewing ash and rock into the sky, forcing authorities to close the airport.

The toll was 25 dead as of 9:00 pm (0300 GMT Monday), a spokesperson for the National Coordinator for Disaster Reduction (Conred) said, according to PTI.

The flow of lava (ash billowing) hit the nearby villages, killing people inside their houses. President Jimmy Morales declared three days of national mourning in wake of the deaths due to the most violent volcano eruption in decades.

Morales also announced a red alert for Escuintla, Chimaltenango and Sacatepequez, the areas most affected by the eruption, and an orange alert throughout the country.

Several teams of police, Red Cross and military have been dispatched to support emergency operations in the area. However, the search and rescue operations had to be suspended due to dangerous conditions.

Twenty people suffered burn injuries, and more than 3,000 were evacuated due to the eruption, which affected rural communities around the volcano as well as Antigua Guatemala, a colonial-era town very popular with tourists in the Central American country, Conred chief Sergio Cabanas said.

There are also missing persons, but we do not know how many, Cabanas said, adding that lava had blocked entry to several communities.

(With PTI inputs)

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New Delhi:

As many as 14 people, including 7 religious scholars and 4 security personnel, were killed in a suicide attack targeting a gathering of top Muslim clerics near Polytechnic University in Afghanistan's capital Kabul. Thousands of clerics had gathered at the Loya Jirga tent for the meeting of the Ulema Council, Afghanistan's top religious leaders.

"At least 14 people, including 7 religious scholars and 4 security personnel killed in attack on Ulema gathering in Kabul. Three others killed are not recognized yet. 17 others are wounded," according to local media.

The suicide bomber detonated moments after the group proclaimed such attacks a sin, according to police. The incident took place at about 11.30 am (0700 GMT) in Kabul, the deadliest place all over the country.

At least 14 people, including 7 religious scholars & 4 security personnel killed in attack on Ulema gathering in Kabul. Three others killed are not recognized yet. 17 others are wounded: TOLOnews #Afghanistan pic.twitter.com/0ntQt8Ury5  ANI (@ANI) June 4, 2018

During Monday's gathering, Ulema Council termed suicide attacks a sin against Islam. They have also issued such fatwas in the past.

Also Read | Bomb explodes at Indian restaurant in Canada's Mississauga, 15 injured

The Loya Jirga tent, where thousands of clerics from across Afghanistan met on Monday, is used for top religious or government gatherings. The tent is situated on the campus of Polytechnic University in Afghanistan. "Loya Jirga" means "grand assembly" in Pashto.

Afghan Interior ministry spokesperson Najib Danish confirmed it was a suicide attack and said the bomber had been on foot when he detonated his explosives at the university gate. According to police spokesman Stanikzai the blast was outside the tent.

No group, however, has claimed the responsibility for the attack so far while Taliban took to Twitter and shared a post saying its fighters had "nothing to do" with the bombing.

Also Read | 12 killed, 33 wounded after blast at Afghan voter registration centre

Following the suicide blast, roads around the university were quickly blocked by security officials after the blast, with heavy traffic jams building in the city. Many fearful residents have also restricted their movements after the attack and are afraid to linger in bazaars or to become trapped in traffic during rush hour.

(With inputs from agencies)

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ChurchSalary Embarks on Mission of Hope: Fair Pay and Flourishing Ministry Contact: Samuel Ogles, Christianity Today, 630-260-6200 ext 7267, sogles@christianitytoday.com



CAROL STREAM, Ill., June 4, 2018 /Christian Newswire/ -- Church Law & Tax, a ministry of Christianity Today, has just launched ChurchSalary, a new compensation-setting website. The site gives churches confidence in determining equitable compensation levels and provides church staff with clarity to ensure their pay is fair.



Featuring a Salary Calculator, the site invites church leaders or staff to input key information about the church (size, budget, etc.) and the particular position they're interested in (years of experience, education level, etc.). Immediately, a personalized salary report is generated, utilizing data from ChurchSalary's compensation databasethe largest of its kind.



The reports themselves include information such as Cost of Living Adjustment, Median Household Income, comparative benefits, comparable job salary ranges, and more.

One beta tester had this to say about ChurchSalary: "It's an excellent tool for churches and church workers to evaluate their compensation against norms and to become better informed in making employment and salary decisions."



The site also offers additional compensation-related resources, such as a debt calculator, a retirement calculator, informative articles about church and personal finances, and ministry position reports.



The data used to create the ChurchSalary database was compiled through the National Church Compensation Survey. The survey will continue to remain active even as expiring data is removed from the database to ensure ongoing accuracy.



Churches can opt for annual access to ChurchSalarywith unlimited reportsfor only $99 per year. Small churches and individuals can purchase one-time individualized reports for $24.95 each.



ChurchSalary was developed with a $750,000 grant awarded to Church Law & Tax by Lilly Endowment Inc. The grant was given as a part of the Lilly Endowment's National Initiative to Address Economic Challenges Facing Pastoral Leaders in order to support Church Law & Tax's ongoing work to help set fair and reasonable church staff compensation.



For additional resources that Church Law & Tax offers to help pastors and church staff with compensation, visit ChurchLawAndTax.com.



Christianity Today is a nonprofit, global media ministry centered on Beautiful Orthodoxystrengthening the church by richly communicating the breadth of the true, good, and beautiful gospel. Reaching over five million people monthly through various digital and print resources, the ministry equips Christians to renew their minds, serve the church, and create culture to the glory of God.



Lilly Endowment Inc. is an Indianapolis-based private philanthropic foundation created in 1937 by three members of the Lilly familyJ.K. Lilly Sr. and sons J.K. Jr. and Elithrough gifts of stock in their pharmaceutical business. The Endowment supports causes in religion, education, and community development. Lilly Endowment's religion grant making is designed to deepen and enrich the religious lives of American Christians. It does this largely through initiatives to enhance and sustain the quality of ministry in American congregations and parishes.



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In the absence of proper regulations and laws governing the car repair business, many customers feel that they are being exploited very badly. Sources say expat gangs control garage business in the Kingdom and they loot their customers to earn millions of dinars every year in profits.

Sources said many garages run by expats were generating thousands of dinars in monthly profits as they easily fool their customers when it comes to rates for different services.

Yousuf Abdulla, a young Bahraini and a graduate from Khalifa Industrial Institute said that fraud and deception rule this business. Most often citizens are the victims. For a repair costing BD10, they charge BD50 and we are forced to negotiate.

Abdulla attributes the issue to the total absence of Bahrainis in the sector. It is very difficult for a Bahraini to enter this sector. You will see monopoly everywhere,

Bu Saber who owns Bu Saber garages in Muharraq and Arad said the customers should enquire rates at different garages before selecting one, which is the only way to avoid getting cheated.

Always ask car mechanics to show bills if he purchases any spare parts for your car. Customers need to exercise alertness while dealing with these garage guys because cheating is a very common thing, said Saber.
Authorities say Cyclone Mekunu killed at least 30 people when it barrelled across Oman and Yemen last month. The International Federation of the Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies said in a statement that the majority of the fatalities happened on the Yemeni island of Socotra, where 20 were killed. The federation said in a statement Thursday another four were killed in Yemens Al-Mahrah governorate, which borders Oman. In Oman, authorities had previously said at least six people were killed by the storm. Meanwhile, the Indian Navy yesterday evacuated 38 stranded Indians from Socotra where they got stuck after the storm. Cyclone Mekunu made landfall on the Arabian Peninsula early May 26, causing flash floods and other damage. It earlier hit Socotra in the Arabian Sea. The cyclone packed maximum sustained winds of 170-180 kilometres (105-111 miles) per hour with gusts of up to 200 kph (124 mph).
Police in Tokyo's Katsushika Ward said Sunday they have arrested a 60-year-old man on suspicion of killing his 36-year-old son at their home on Saturday night.

According to police, Shojiro Yabe stabbed his son Takamasa in the chest with a kitchen knife at around 8 p.m. Saturday, Fuji TV reported. Yabe's wife called 119 and reported the incident.

The victim was taken to hospital where he died at around 10 p.m.

Police said Yabe has admitted to the charge and quoted him as saying he felt threatened after he got into an argument with his son who was demanding money. - Japan Today
A man who was head of the parents' association at an elementary school in the city of Matsudo, Chiba Prefecture, near Tokyo denied on Monday that he killed a Vietnamese girl attending the school and abandoned her body in March last year.

"I am not involved in this case," Yasumasa Shibuya, 47, said during his first hearing in a lay judge trial at Chiba District Court. "I claim total innocence."

Public prosecutors said that a DNA taken from blood on Shibuya's car matched that of the nine-year-old girl, Le Thi Nhat Linh. In addition, saliva collected from her body contained DNAs of Shibuya and Linh, they pointed out.

Meanwhile, a defense lawyer claimed the girl may have entered Shibuya's vehicle and her blood was left there before the incident happened. It is unnatural that no evidence has been found other than DNA, such as fingerprints or footprints, the lawyer said.

According to the indictment, Shibuya took away Linh by car for sexual purposes, strangled her and abandoned her body.
Fukuoka Prefectural Police have arrested a 23-year-old man for allegedly beating his mother with a hammer at their residence in the town of Oki, reports the Mainichi Shimbun

At around 12:30 p.m. on Saturday, Toshiya Baba, of no known occupation, is alleged to have repeatedly beat the head of his mother, 52-year-old Michie, inside the residence, located in the Ozumi area.

Police responding to a distress call from Baba found his mother collapsed and bleeding in the living room. She was transported in an unconscious state to a hospital in Chikugo City where she remains in serious condition.

Police subsequently arrested Baba on suspicion of attempted murder. At the time of his arrest, he admitted to striking his mother with the hammer more than 10 times. - tokyoreporter.com
Police are investigating the sudden death in May of a wealthy man in western Japan, dubbed a Japanese "Don Juan" for being a womanizer, as possible murder after stimulants were detected in his body, investigative sources said Monday.

Kosuke Nozaki, 77, was found collapsed by his wife, 55 years his junior, on the sofa of his bedroom on the night of May 24. He was later confirmed dead and an autopsy found traces of illegal narcotics in his system, while no external injuries were found.

The cause of death was identified as acute circulation failure, and investigators are trying to determine if his death was caused by the stimulant drugs, the sources said. - Kyodo
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, June 4)  The Filipina who was kissed by President Rodrigo Duterte onstage in South Korea came to his defense amid criticisms against his "misogynistic" actions.

The woman, who identified herself as Bea Kim, on Monday said there is no malice involved when Duterte kissed her on the lips in front of the Filipino community in Seoul, South Korea.

"Walang malisya 'yun. Ginawa lang namin yung kiss parang twist lang 'yun, pampakilig sa mga audience. Walang ibig sabihin 'yun, promise," she said in an exclusive video posted by the government's news site, Philippine News Agency.

In the video posted by government media PTV on Sunday, it was shown that Kim was called up on the stage alongside another Filipina so Duterte can give them a book in exchange for a kiss. The women took Duterte's hand and put it to their foreheads, doing the customary "mano" or "amen" to show respect to one's elders before moving to leave the stage. Duterte then asked for a beso [cheek kiss] from one of the women, but pointed to his lips when it was Kim's turn. The crowd cheered when they kissed.

national with two daughters, explained how she felt when she came face-to-face with the Philippine President during his official visit to South Korea.

"Parang na-block ako. Hindi ko ma-explain na parang kinakabahan ako, natatakot ako, excited, thankful. Happy ako kasi it's a once in a lifetime experience kasi 'yun. Kahit nasa Pilipinas ka, parang suntok sa buwan na makita mo nang malapitan ang president," she said.

Presidential spokesperson Harry Roque also downplayed the President's actions.

"I think the kiss is what makes the President popular among our people...And of course, we have our traditional critics, and it's the same critics who are going to town against what happened," Roque told CNN Philippines' News Night on Monday.

Roque said the kiss was Duterte's "act of endearment" toward the Filipino workers.

"I believe an overwhelming majority of the Filipinos continue to support the President and found the kiss a light moment that is very accepted in the culture of Filipinos," he added.

However, a women's alliance group said it wasn't up to Kim to explain the actions of the President.

"It is unfortunate that the woman found it her obligation to publicly defend the act as "no malice", when it is the President who is duty-bound to explain not only because it was upon his prodding but he is bound, as a public official, by rules of ethics to explain his unruly conduct," GABRIELA Alliance of Women said in a statement on Monday.

It said Duterte's antics was the "disgusting theatrics of a misogynist President who feels entitled to demean, humiliate or disrespect women according to his whim."

GABRIELA said Duterte did the act to publicly exhibit his contempt for women.

"It is also his own perverted way of getting back at his women critics, his way of proving he can dominate women at any time, and at any place he chooses," it said.

It added these acts from the President are meant to divert the public from pressing issues such as the extrajudicial killings and the rising prices of basic goods due to TRAIN law.
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, June 4)  The Quezon City Police has formed a task force to investigate the death of a prosecutor from the Office of the Ombudsman.

Quezon City Police District (QCPD) Director Police CSupt. Joselito T. Esquivel Jr. said Special Investigation Task Group (SITG) Tanyag was formed to probe the killing of Assistant Special Prosecutor Madonna Joy Ednaco-Tanyag.

A police report said Tanyag was stabbed around 11:20 a.m. Monday in Barangay. Vasra, Quezon City.

Esquivel said they were looking at robbery as one of the motives behind the incident, however, they were considering all possible angles.

"Lahat ng maaaring anggulo sa pagpaslang sa biktima ay iimbestigahan din natin [We will investigate all possible angles in the killing of the victim]. Aside from the immediate creation of SITG Tanyag, police investigators are reviewing closed circuit television recordings at the crime scene to identify the suspect," Esquivel added.

Authorities have yet to release information on any possible suspects in the incident.

Arjay Cunanan, a witness to the incident, said he heard shouting saying that a woman was stabbed and lying bloodied on the ground.

He sought help from barangay officials who brought the victim to East Avenue Medical Center.

Tanyag, who sustained three stab wounds, was declared dead around 12:04 p.m.

A source said Tanyag was at the Sandiganbayan attending a hearing before the incident happened.

The Office of the Ombudsman released a statement on Tanyag's death, saying it "extends its deepest condolences" to her family.

"Ombudsman Conchita Carpio Morales has requested the Philippine National Police to thoroughly investigate the case involving the death of ASP Madonna Joy Tanyag and to ensure that the perpetrators are immediately caught," the statement read.

The statement added they would "leave no stone unturned" to solve the case.

Tanyag graduated with a degree in political science from UP Manila.

On Monday, the UP Manila Political Science Program posted a statement on their Facebook page condemning Tanyag's killing.

"The UP Manila Political Science Program condemns this barbaric act in the strongest possible terms. We call on law enforcement authorities to bring the perpetrators to justice, and put an end to the worsening climate of impunity in the country," they said.

The post also said that Tanyag was five months pregnant when she was killed.
Suspected Fulani herdsmen have attacked and killed ten Tiv farmers in Tse- Adough, Iyaav district , near Jato Aka,Kwande Local Government...

Suspected Fulani herdsmen have attacked and killed ten Tiv farmers in Tse- Adough, Iyaav district , near Jato Aka,Kwande Local Government area in Benue state .The traditional ruler of the area, Mue Ter Ichnogo Chief Simon Baver, who confirmed the killing of his subjects also said many houses have been set ablaze .Chief Baver told newsmen that Fulani herdsmen armed with sophisticated weapons stormed the farming community of Tse Adough at about 4 am .He said they surrounded the entire settlement ,some shot in the air, while others shot on the doors and killed those who attempted to escape in the melee that ensured .He said some children were burnt beyond recognition and have to be hurriedly buried while others are still missing . Many houses were also set ablaze ,including food stuff , personal belongings and farm land destroyed According to the head of the community ,the fulani militia who have held the area hostage for five years operated for almost three hours unchallenged and soldiers posted to the area did not come to their rescue .It was gathered that part of the area, especially Moon District have been under siege for five years as Fulani herdsmen have sacked the entire settlement and occupied their houses just and the people who are mainly farmers have not return to their ancestral home .Last year ,Governor Samuel Ortom ,with his Taraba counterpart brokered a peace deal for the Fulani herdsmen to vacate the area ,but shortly after ceremony ,the deal collapsed .At press time Benue Police Command said they are yet to get the report .However Chief Simon Baver said he was with the Divisional Police Officer ( DPO) of Kwande Division and was expecting the chairman of Kwande Local Government for emergency security meeting.Moon, Tse- Adough and other settlements shares boundary with Taraba and Cameron and have been under sustained Fulani herdsmen attack for more than ten years .A community leader in Moon District Chief Abo Uta , revealed that they want the federal government to save them fro extermination as the Fulani herdsmen are planning to wipe them out of existence .Chief Uta condemned the killing of harmless farmers and urged security agencies to live up to their responsibility of protecting lives and property
Mr Audu Ogbeh, Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, has reiterated that the future of Nigeria lies in agriculture and not oil and gas.Ogbeh made the remark on Monday in Gombe during a courtesy visit to the Deputy Governor of Gombe State.According to him, the demand for Nigerias agricultural produce by foreign countries and the efforts of the government to diversify the economy show that the future of the country lies in agriculture and not oil and gas.He said poverty was the biggest threat to Nigerias survival and must be tackled through agriculture.The key to Nigerias future is not oil and gas, but agriculture. We must have to settle for agriculture which is our gift from God.Poverty is the biggest threat to Nigerias survival. Our task as government is to lead Nigeria out of poverty and we are doing that with the kind of progress we have made so far in the agricultural sector.The Chinese are demanding for two million tonnes of soya beans, the Indians are looking for our produce also. With these demands, we must all be involved in agriculture.It is the constitutional right of everyone in government to own a farm. So, I encourage everyone to help out in this regard, he said.He emphasised that the government had done a lot in the agricultural sector and would put in more efforts to get Nigerians out of poverty.Mr Charles Iliya, Deputy Governor of Gombe State, commended the Federal Government for the revolution in the agricultural sector.Iliya appealed to the Federal Government to tackle the farmers-herders clashes so that the recorded progress in the agric sector would not be eroded.The Minister also paid a courtesy visit to Mai Kaltungo, Engr Sale Mohammed, the traditional ruler of Kaltungo, to reassure his people of governments support to further grow the agricultural potential of the state.Mohammed commended the efforts of the Federal Government on agriculture and environment.He, however, appealed to the government to assist farmers in the area with locally fabricated planters and sprayers to make agriculture less tedious.Ogbeh assured the traditional ruler that the planters and sprayers would be made available as quickly as possible.
The police have asked Senate President Bukola Saraki to respond to allegations levelled against him in writing instead of appearing at the...

The police have asked Senate President Bukola Saraki to respond to allegations levelled against him in writing instead of appearing at the force intelligence response team office at Abuja over the robbery that took place in Offa, Kwara state.





The police had invited the senate president on Sunday, saying some of the suspects involved in the robbery which led to the deaths of 33 persons, including nine police officers, confessed being thugs of the nations number three citizen.





While parading the suspects in Abuja, Jimoh Moshood, police spokesman, said Sarakis alleged links to them would be investigated.





Saraki had denied the allegation and indicated interest in honouring the invitation of the police.





On Monday, he sent his aide de camp to get the letter of invitation from the police.





But a source revealed to NigerianEye on Monday afternoon that Saraki had been asked not to appear before the police but to respond in writing within 48 hours.





Police have backtracked. Instead of inviting the senate president, they have now said he should respond in writing within 48 hours, the source said.





This is as a result of pressure from international groups and human rights organisations. They have backtracked from an invitation in person to responding within 48 hours.




The Nigerian army was soft on Biafrans during the civil war, President Muhammadu Buhari said on Monday.

The Nigerian army was soft on Biafrans during the civil war, President Muhammadu Buhari said on Monday.





This, he said, was because the then head of state, Yakubu Gowon, issued strict instructions to the army that Biafrans were not enemies but brothers and sisters of the rest of Nigerians.





Buhari was speaking at his investiture as Grand Patron of the Nigerian Red Cross Society (NRCS) at the presidential villa in Abuja.





He said: Earlier in my profession, during the civil war, I know how much sacrifice members of the Nigerian Red Cross and their international counterparts did both in the real front of operations and at the rear, on both sides. I think it is a lot of sacrifices because anything can happen to you in the operational areas.





The risks they faced were real and I admire their courage and commitment to helping people who were in distress and were virtually in millions. Those photographs of people from the Biafra enclave spoke a lot.





I remember with nostalgia the performance of the commander-in-chief, General Yakubu Gowon. Every commander was given a copy of the commander-in-chiefs instructions that we were not fighting enemies but that we were fighting our brothers. And thus, people were constrained to show a lot of restraint.





The international observer teams were allowed to go as far as possible within and outside the front and I think this was generous and very considerate of General Gowon. He is a highly committed Nigerian.




The All Progressives Congress, APC, and the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Sunday fired a salvo at each other over the 2019 elections.

The All Progressives Congress, APC, and the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Sunday fired a salvo at each other over the 2019 elections.Speaking at a crossfire on Channels Television Program, President Buhari spokesperson, Garba Sheu stated that the Buhari government has created more than 6million jobs and the government will create more jobs when the budget is passed.Under the Buhari administration, several companies have been created and several job opportunities have been created for our youths. He stated. In his response, spokesperson of the PDP, Kola Ologbodiyan, said the APC government has failed in its campaign promises which include economy, fighting corruption and insecurity.He said, This government has performed abysmally in the areas of the economy and on security. What we have seen is mass killings all over the country while some people in government who is evident are corrupt have not been tried while the government continues to use the instrument of government to fight the opposition.Responding, APC said there is no favoritism in the fight against corruption. According to him, There is no special treatment for the APC caught with corruption.The same treatment that is meted on the PDP is the same to APC members. We are not fighting political enemies with the EFCC as being said by the PDP. On the allegation that PDP is better positioned in terms of resources ahead of 2019 elections, PDP said Buhari is afraid because he has failed woefully.Ologbodiyan said, The biggest problem with Buhari is that he does not get feedback. He knows he has failed Nigerians and it was out of fear he is expressing that PDP has got more money to prosecute elections. Responding further, Sheu said, Buhari is not afraid of the 2019 elections because he has performed well and he will be returned.However, he is talking about the money bags that have stolen government money and who is ready to fight back with their resources during the elections.
The Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, has given approval to Africas first farmers' microfinance bank to operate in the Unit Category in Nigeria.The approved MfB is called Joint Farmers Microfinance Bank Limited as contained in a CBN letter titled: Final Approval To Operate As Joint Farmers Microfinance Bank Limited signed by Director, Financial Policy and Regulation Department, Mr. S. Mohammed.The CBN, in the statement dated May 21, 2018 requested the management of the new bank to give information on when it would be commencing operation as an MfB to enable a proper update of its record.Mohammed implored the bank to ensure that it adheres strictly to all the CBNs rules and regulations guiding operations of MfBs as well as the provisions of the undertaken it signed.The CBN said that the firm would be required to comply with the revised provisions whenever it becomes operational as the Revised Regulatory and Supervisory Guideline for MfBs in Nigeria (2012) is currently under review.According to the statement: We refer to your application dated February 23, 2018 on the above subject and write to convey the CBN approval for your company to operate a MfB in the name of Joint Farmers Microfinance Bank Limited.Please ensure that you adhere strictly to all the banks rules and regulations guiding operations of MfBs as well as the provisions of the undertaken signed by you. You should note that any adverse report on any of the board members and management staff will invalidate his/her appointment and would impact negatively on the bank. Also, note that any claim found to be false on the basis of which this approval is given will render it invalid.Furthermore, may we advise you that the revised regulatory and supervisory guideline for MfBs (2012) is currently under review and you shall be required to comply with revised provisions whenever it becomes operational. You are required to inform the CBN of the date of commencement of operations of the MfB to enable us update our records, CBN said.
Members of the All Progressives Congress (APC) National Convention Committee, on Monday, visited the Speaker, House of Representatives, Mr Yakubu Dogara, at the National Assembly, Abuja.The convention committee was led by its Chairman and Governor of Jigawa State, Alhaji Abubakar Badaru.They were received by the APC leadership in the House led by Mr Dogara.The closed door meeting, which lasted for about 50 minutes, started around 1pm.Shortly after the meeting, the leader of the delegation, Governor Badaru, told newsmen that the committee was at the Speakers office to brief him on the progress made so far by the committee.He however did not entertain any further questions.Badaru, who was accompanied by the former Senate President, Mr Ken Nnamani; former Deputy Governor of Plateau State, Mrs Pauline Tallen, among other members, left the the National Assembly at about 2pm.The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the APC had recently announced the constitution of its National Convention Committee with Governor Badaru as chairman.According to APCs Organising Secretary, Sen. Osita Izunaso, the 68-member committee has Governors of Imo, Borno, Katsina, Oyo, Yobe, Kaduna, Plateau, Adamawa, Kogi and Edo as members.Membership of the committee, which also included serving and former senators and members of House of Representatives and notable party chieftains, has Ondo state governor, Rotimi Akeredolu and Sen. Ben Uwajumogu as Deputy Chairman and Secretary, respectively.However, the first Secretary of the committee, Sen. Ben Uwajumogu, announced his resignation last Saturday at a news conference.Uwajumogu cited domestic issues as the reasons for his decision explaining that although he was no longer the committees secretary, he remains a member of the 240-member panel.He had since been replaced by Sen. Victor Ndoma-Egba by the National Working Committee of the APC.
Rev. Raphael Ogunkunle of the Seed of Life Disciples Global Ministry, a Cherubim and Seraphim Movement, Kaduna, has advised Nigerians to s...

Rev. Raphael Ogunkunle of the Seed of Life Disciples Global Ministry, a Cherubim and Seraphim Movement, Kaduna, has advised Nigerians to stop complaining about President Muhammadu Buhari.





He stated that Nigerians should rather thank God for giving the country the former Head of State as leader.





NAN reports that Ogunkunle made the assertion on Sunday in Kaduna during the ministrys 10th Anniversary Thanksgiving Service on Sunday.





According to him, the country is faced with all kinds of challenges because of the negative things Nigerians say about the nation.





I will not condemn the government because it is what we deserve that God has given us; say positive things and it will attract positive things, that way, we get better result.





If we are good and wish well for our country, Nigeria will be good, but if we are bad and continue to pray for negative things, we will continue to experience negative things.




The Lagos State Police Command on Sunday said it has concluded plans to commence massive arrest of unlawful commercial motorcycle operato...

The Lagos State Police Command on Sunday said it has concluded plans to commence massive arrest of unlawful commercial motorcycle operators, popularly known as Okada riders from June 15.Rising from a meeting held with the State Commissioner of Police, Imohimi Edgal and commercial motorcycle unions, the Police Command said the new enforcement was coming in view of the unfortunate incident of May 30 whereby some okada riders, attempted to burn Ibeshe Police Post but ended up burning a police patrol vehicle stationed at a black spot in the town, a meeting was held to discuss the issue.A statement signed by the Police Public Relations Officer, SP Chike Oti, said the meeting, convened by the State Police Command was attended by different okada unions in the state, such as MOALS(Motorcycle Operators Association of Lagos state) NAMORA ( Nagari Motorcycle Owners and Riders Association ) and ORWA (Okada Riders Welfare Association).He said during the meeting, held at the MD Abubakar Conference Hall of the Police Headquarters, the CP decried the attitude of some okada riders who attack members of the public or constituted authorities at the slightest disagreement.He warned that the police would not only arrest unruly okada riders but ensure that they face the full wrath of the law.Oti said five resolutions were reached at the end of the meeting which would take effect from Friday, June 15.
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, June 4)  Metro Manila police on Sunday warned parents and guardians against a group of young men in Manila targeting female minors.

The police arrested three out of five suspects that day, including a minor. The two men, Jomari Corte and Franz Angelo Dizon, refused to answer questions.

They will face charges of rape and acts of lasciviousness after allegedly molesting two teenage girls.

Two more suspects, Adrian Bravo at Francis Angelo Dizon, are still at large.

They are members of a Facebook group called "F**kbois," composed of men preying on young girls through social media.

"Nagkakilala sila doon... Talagang hinatak sila doon, talagang may motive na na hindi maganda," said Manila Police Station 4 Commander Superintendent Andrew Aguilar.

[Translation: They met through there... (The girls) were really forced, there was really a malicious motive.]

Chief Supt. Guillermo Eleazar, Metro Manila police chief, also warns the public against invitations from strangers, especially if this is for a night out.

He also told parents and guardians to be mindful of their children's online activity.

"Maging maingat tayo sa paggamit ng social media. Kung hindi niyo kilala and then nag-invite para magkita kayo... dapat maging cautious tayo," said Eleazar. "Ganun din ang payo natin sa ating mga magulang at guardians... Dapat alam natin ang nangyayari sa atin mga anak para hindi napupunta sa ganitong sitwasyon."

[Translation: Let's be careful in our social media use. If you don't know the person and they want to meet you in person... be cautious. That's also our advice to parents and guardians... We should know what happens to our children so it doesn't reach this situation.]

The warning comes after parents and relatives of the two victims, 14-year-old Ana and 16-year-old Nely  not their real names  demanded justice for the girls.

Ana's mother recalled one of the culprits became a friend of her daughter on Facebook. He insisted on meeting her in person. Despite several refusals, the boy turned up at Ana's house and invited the two girls to hang out.

After two to three drinks, both Ana and Nely passed out. They woke to the men sexually abusing them.

The mother of Ana even made an appeal to the parents of Bravo and Dizon.

"Isurrender niyo na yung mga anak niyo," the mother, who went by "Len," said. "Parang awa niyo na, para mabigyan niyo pa ng hustiya yung anak ko. Tsaka yung sa kung ano mang ginagawa nila sa iba  sana mabigyan ng hustisya din po."

[Translation: Please surrender your children. Have some pity, let my daughter have justice. And for whatever they have done to others  I hope they get justice too.]
The Campaign for Democracy (CD) has called on former President Olusegun Obasanjo to stop imposing leaders on the the people of Nigeria.

The Campaign for Democracy (CD) has called on former President Olusegun Obasanjo to stop imposing leaders on the the people of Nigeria.





The group in a statement by its national secretary, Ifeanyi Odili said Obasanjo had paid his dues and should leave the stage for younger ones.





Odili noted that most of the problems of the country were direct consequences of the imposition of leadership by the former president.





You will recall that soon after you could not achieve your third term agenda you foisted Umaru Yaradua on Nigeria.





Soon after the gentleman bowed to death, you again did all you could to give us Dr. Goodluck Jonathan.





You fought him to a standstill and he eventually lost his second term bid. Consequently, you came up with Muhammadu Buhari.





Baba, today, Nigeria is in a mess. Any government that cannot guarantee the security of its people is like a salt that has lost its taste.





Recently, you visited Baba Fasoranti of Afenifere in his Akure country home seeking his support to end Buharis government.





Baba, your time is far spent. The market is over. It is time you should leave Nigeria and Nigerians alone.





It is time you should go back to Ota farm, relax, enjoy your old age and wealth.





If death comes knocking at your door and you answer it, will that be the end of this country?




Police Force headquarters in Abuja yesterday invited President of the Senate, Dr. Bukola Saraki, to answer questions relating to what the Police referred to as allegations indicting him from confessions of five gang leaders arrested for participation in the April 5 Offa bank robberies and killings of 33 innocent persons.President of the Senate, Dr. Bukola Saraki and Governor of Kwara State, Alhaji Abdulfatah AhmedThe Police said the five gang leaders in the Offa bank robbery which left a bloody trail, that claimed the lives of nine (9) police officers, volunteered statements that they were political thugs of the Senate President, Dr. Bukola Saraki, and the governor of Kwara State, Alhaji Abdulfatah Ahmed.Reacting to the development, Dr Saraki in a statement by his Special Adviser, Media, Mr Yusuph Olaniyonu said that he will want the entire public to disregard this claim as a baseless allegation and another ploy by the Police to implicate him by all means, while Kwara State governor, Abdulfatah Ahmed, also dismissed the allegations, saying the state cannot not be held responsible for the behaviour of youths in the state who chose to deploy their empowerment wrongly.However, the All Progressives Congress, APC, and Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, in Kwara State, expressed divergent views on the issue, as the ruling party said the Police was out to nail the Senate president at all cost. But the PDP asked both the Senate president and Governor Ahmed to honour the Police invitation and clear their names.Why we need to quiz Saraki, Gov AhmedConfirming the invitation in a statement, the Force Public Relations Officer, ACP Jimoh Moshood, said: The investigation into the Offa bank robbery and gruesome killings of more than 33 Innocent persons in Offa, Kwara State, on April 5, 2018, directed by the Inspector General of Police, IGP Ibrahim Idris, has made significant progress, successes and more revelations have been recorded.The gang leaders and some of the principal suspects arrested for their active participation in the robbery and the killing of innocent persons have made confessional statements admitting to the various criminal roles they and their sponsors played in this dastardly and heinous crime.The five gang leaders, including Ayoade Akinnibosun, Ibukunle Ogunleye, Adeola Abraham, Salawudeen Azeez, Niyi Ogundiran and some of the other seventeen suspects arrested for direct involvement and active participation in the Offa bank robbery and the gruesome killing of 33 innocent persons, which includes some pregnant women and nine police personnel, admitted, confessed and volunteered statements that they were political thugs of the Senate President, Senator Bukola Saraki, and the governor of Kwara State, Alhaji Abdulfatah Ahmed.The arrests of the five gang leaders and seventeen others were made possible after the arrest of two principal suspects, Kunle Ogunleye, aka Arrow, 35, and Michael Adikwu, an ex-convict, whose pictures were captured by CCTV in one of the banks during the robbery operation, were circulated to the media and the public.The two principal suspects confessed to be among the suspects led by the five gang leaders to carry out the Offa bank robbery, the attack on the Divisional Police Headquarters, Offa, and the killing of 33 innocent persons on April 5, 2018.During interrogation, the five gang leaders confessed and volunteered statements that they carried out the bank robberies, the attack on the Divisional Police Headquarters in Offa and the killing of 33 innocent persons during the robbery of the following six banks, namely First Bank; Guarantee Trust Bank; ECO Bank, Zenith Bank; Union Bank; Ibolo Micro Finance Bank; and the Divisional Police Headquarters on April 5, 2018.Millions of Naira from the banks and twenty one AK47 rifles belonging to the Nigeria Police Force in the Armoury of the Police Divisional Headquarters, Offa, were admitted to have been carted away by the five gang leaders and the other seventeen principal suspects during the robbery operations.The five gang leaders confessed and volunteered statements to the Police investigators, giving a clear account of how they planned and carried out the bank robbery operation in Offa, the attack on the Police Division in Offa and how they killed the 33 innocent persons during the robbery.The five gang leaders, who further confessed during investigation that they are political thugs under the name, Youth Liberation Movement, a.k.a Good Boys, admitted and confessed to have been sponsored with firearms, money and operational vehicles by the Senate President, Senator Bukola Saraki, and the governor of Kwara State, Alhaji Abdulfatah Ahmed.In the course of discreet investigation into the confessions of these five gang leaders and the other seventeen principal suspects, a Lexus jeep GX-300 (Ash Colour) with a sticker plate number with inscription SARAKI Kwara, State of Harmony, used by the gang leader, Ayoade Akinnibosun, M 37, during the bank robbery and the killing of the 33 innocent persons, was taken to Government House, Ilorin, on May 16, 2018, where the sticker plate number with inscription SARAKI Kwara, State of Harmony was removed before another plate number, Kwara, KMA 143 RM, registered in the name of Ayoade Akinnibosun, the overall commander of Offa bank robbery, was then attached to the vehicle to cover up the identity of the said vehicle.The exhibit vehicle was subsequently recovered from the premises of the Ministry of Environmental and Forestry in Ilorin, Kwara State, while the sticker plate number with inscription, SARAKI Kwara, State of Harmony, removed from the vehicle, was recovered from one Adeola Omiyale who drove the said Lexus Jeep to Government House, Ilorin, immediately after the bank robbery.The Personal Assistant (Political) to the governor of Kwara State, Mr. Alabi Olalekan, who is privy to information that the Police is looking for the Lexus Jeep as an exhibit used in the Offa bank robbery and the killing of 33 innocent persons directed one Adeola Omiyale to relocate the Lexus Jeep to Government House, Ilorin.The PA (Political) is currently in Police custody and has made useful statement assisting the Police in further investigation into the case.A revolver pistol and pump action gun were recovered by the Police Investigation Team from the Personal Assistant (Political) to the governor of Kwara State, Mr. Alabi Olalekans Farm where he directed his brother to hide them after his arrest by the Police.In order to conceal evidence, the Chief of Staff to the governor of Kwara State, Mr. Yusuf Abdulwahab, who has been arrested and taken into Police custody, arranged the removal of the sticker plate number, with inscription SARAKI Kwara, State of Harmony from the exhibit vehicle and also registered the exhibit Lexus Jeep used in the Offa bank robbery and the killings of 33 innocent persons in the name of Ayoade Akinnibosun, the overall gang commander of Offa bank robbery, while Ayoade Akinnibosun was already in Police custody for more than six days before the registration of the vehicle.Investigation is ongoing and effort is being intensified to arrest other suspects still at large. All suspects involved will be arraigned in court for prosecution on completion of investigation.Meanwhile, the Senate President, Sen. Bukola Saraki is being invited by the Nigeria Police Force to report to the Force Intelligence Response Team office at Guzape, Abuja, to answer to the allegations leveled against him from the confessions of the five gang leaders, namely Ayoade Akinnibosun, Ibukunle Ogunleye, Adeola Abraham, Salawudeen Azeez, Niyi Ogundiran and some of the other seventeen suspects arrested for direct involvement and active participation in the Offa bank robbery operation.The Nigeria Police Force will continue to ensure that the rule of law prevails in every case under investigation and every offender is brought to justice.The suspects in Police custody in connection with the robbery operations are Ayoade Akinnibosun a.k.a AY, 37yrs, the gang leader who coordinated the killings from Oro, Irepodun LGA, Kwara State; Ibukunle Ogunleye, 36yrs, the gang leader who killed two persons from Oro, Irepodun LGA, Kwara State; Adeola Abraham, 35, gang leader who killed five persons, from Oro, Irepodun LGA, Kwara State; Salawudeen Azeez, 49, gang leader who killed two persons, hails from Oro, Irepodun LGA, Kwara State; and Niyi Ogundiran, 37, gang leader who killed two (2) persons, hails from Oro, Irepodun LGA, Kwara State.Others include Michael Adikwu, 30, sectional gang leader who killed 22 persons, mostly at the Police Station; Kabiru Afolabi, 26, principal suspect; Omoseni Kassim, 28, principal suspect; Kayode Opadokun, 35, principal suspect; Kazeem Abdulrasheed, 36, principal suspect; Azeez Abdullahi, 27, principal suspect; and Adewale Popoola, 22, principal suspect.Also in police custody are Adetoyese Muftau, 23,  Principal Suspect, Alexander Reuben 39Yrs  Principal Suspect, Richard Buba Terry 23, principal suspect; Peter Jasper Kuunfa, 23, principal suspect; Ikechukwu Ebuka Nnaji, 29, principal suspect; Moses Godwin, 28, principal suspect; and Adeola Omiyale, 38, hails from Isanlu Isin Town, Isin LGA, Kwara State.Others are Femi Idowu, 34; Alabi Olalekan, 49, PA, Political, to the governor of Kwara State, and Yusuf Abdulwahab, 58, Chief of Staff to governor of Kwara StateThe police listed exhibits recovered from the suspects to include two AK47 rifles; two Barrette pistols; one Pump Action rifle; one Revolver Pistol in Police Custody in IlorinAlso recovered were Lexus RX300 Jeep with Reg. Kwara, KMA 143 RM belonging to Ayoade Akinnibosun (gang leader), used for the bank robbery; Mercedes Benz Compressor, with Reg. Lagos LT496 KJA, belonging to Ayoade Akinnibosun (gang leader), used for the operation; one Toyota Prado Jeep, with Reg. No. 19KWGH, belonging to the Personal assistant, Political, to the governor of Kwara State in Police Custody in IlorinOther exhibits are one Toyota Camry saloon car with Reg. LRN 481 FE in Police custody in Ilorin; cash sum of N600, 000.00 in Police custody in Ilorin, four phones of victims recovered, and one sticker plate number, with inscription SARAKI Kwara, State of Harmony.
The police have invited the Senate President, Bukola Saraki, over the Offa bank robberies on April 5 during which some policemen were kil...

The police have invited the Senate President, Bukola Saraki, over the Offa bank robberies on April 5 during which some policemen were killed and millions of naira stolen.He was asked to report to the Force Intelligence Response Team Office at Guzape, Abuja to answer to the allegations reportedly levelled against him by five alleged gang leaders involved in the robberies at First Bank, Guaranty Trust Bank, Ecobank, Zenith, Union Bank and Ibolo Micro-Finance Bank, all in Offa, Kwara State.The alleged gang leaders include Ayoade Akinnibosun, 37; Ibikunle Ogunleye,36; Adeola Abraham, 35; Salawudeen Azeez, 49; Niyi Ogundiran, 37 and 17 suspects arrested for direct involvement and active participation in the heist in which nine policemen, and 33 persons including some pregnant women were killed.The Force Public Relations Officer, Jimoh Moshood, announced this in Abuja on Sunday while parading the suspects arrested in connection with the multiple robberies.Apart from the gang leaders, other principal suspects said to have implicated Saraki in their confessions are Michael Adikwu, 30, who allegedly killed 22 persons at the police station, Kabiru Afolabi,26;Omoseni Kassim,28; Kayode Opadokun,35; Kazeem Abdulrasheed, 36; Azeez Abdullahi, 27 and Adewale Popoola, 22.Others are Adetoyese Muftau, 23; Alexander Reuben, 39; Richard Terry, 23; Peter Kuunfa, 23; Ikechukwu Nnaji, 29; Moses Godwin, 28; Adeola Omiyale, 38; Femi Idowu, 34; Alabi Olalekan, 49 (Personal Assistant, (Political), to the Kwara State Governor) and Yusuf Abdulwahab, 58, Chief of Staff to the Kwara State Governor.Moshood stated that the arrest of the gang leaders and others was made possible after the arrest of Ogunleye and Adikwu whose images were captured by the Closed Circuit Television camera at one of the banks which were circulated to the media and the public.He explained that two AK47 rifles, two beretta pistols, one revolver, and one Toyota Lexus RX300 SUV with Kwara number plate, KMA 143 RM belonging to Akinnibosun used in the robbery were recovered.Other exhibits, he added, included a Mercedes Benz car with Lagos registration number, LT496 KJA also belonging to Akinnibosun, Toyota Prado SUV with number plate 19KWGH belonging to Olalekan, a Toyota Camry Saloon Car with number LRN 481 FE and the sum of N600,000.Four mobile handsets and one sticker number plate with the inscription, SARAKI Kwara, State of Harmony, were also said to have been recovered from the suspects.The police spokesman said, The gang leaders namely, Ayoade Akinnibosun, Ibikunle Ogunleye, Adeola Abraham, Salawudeen Azeez, Niyi Ogundiran and some of the other 17 suspects arrested for direct involvement and active participation in the Offa bank robberies admitted, confessed and volunteered statements that they were political thugs of the Senate President, Senator Bukola Saraki and the Governor of Kwara State, Alhaji Abdulfatah Ahmed.Moshood stated that the suspects also admitted to have stolen millions of naira from the banks and 21 AK47 rifles from the armoury of the police divisional headquarters, Offa, noting that they gave detailed information about how they planned and carried out the robberies.He stated, The five gang leaders further confessed during investigation that they are political thugs under the name Youth Liberation Movement aka Good Boys and confessed to have been sponsored with firearms, money and operational vehicles by the Senate President, Senator Bukola Saraki, and the Governor of Kwara State, Alhaji Abdulfatah Ahmed.Meanwhile, the Senate President, Senator Bukola Saraki, is being invited by the Nigeria Police Force to report to the Force Intelligence Response Team Office at Guzape, Abuja, to answer to the allegations levelled against him from the confessions of the gang leaders, the police stated.Moshood narrated that investigations indicated that the Lexus SUV with the sticker, SARAKI Kwara, State of Harmony, used during the bank robberies was hidden on the premises of the Ministry of Environment and Forestry in Ilorin, Kwara State, while the sticker was replaced with number plate, Kwara, KMA 143 RM.He stated that the sticker was recovered from one Adeola Omiyale who drove the vehicle to the Government House, Ilorin after the robberies on instructions of Olalekan, the Personal Assistant to the Kwara State Governor who was privy to information that the police are looking for the Lexus SUV as an exhibit.The police spokesman stated, The Personal Assistant (Political) is currently in police custody, and he has made a statement, which is assisting the police in further investigations into the case.A revolver pistol and pump action gun were recovered by the Police Investigation Team from Olalekans farm where he directed his brother to hide them after his arrest.In order to conceal evidence, the police said Abdulwahab, the Chief of Staff to the Kwara State Governor, who is in custody, arranged for the removal of the sticker number plate from the exhibit vehicle and also registered the SUV to Akinnibosun who was already in custody for more than six days before the registration of the vehicle.Moshood stated that investigation was ongoing and effort was being intensified for the arrest of other suspects, adding that all those involved in the crime would be arraigned in court for prosecution on completion of investigations.Akinnibosun in an interview with journalists said he worked as a political thug for Saraki in Kwara South, Kwara North, and Kwara Central Senatorial Districts, while he was in the Peoples Democratic Party.He explained that the gang assisted the Senate President to disrupt elections at polling centres his party could not win, adding that he had been working for Saraki since he was the Kwara State governor.We are the ones that do political arrangements for him; for example where we cant win (elections), we make dabaru (rigging) arrangements there. We scatter elections if we dont win, said the gang leader, who is also the head of a youth group in Kwara State, Liberation Youth Movement.The suspect, however, said Saraki and the governor were not privy to the bank robberies, insisting that the only connection the two politicians had to the incident was the gangs relationship with them.They did not send us to carry out the robberies, but because we are their political thugs, that was what led us into robbery. We have been their political thugs so that was what encouraged us to do what we were doing, Akinnibosun stated.When asked about the rifles used in the robberies, the suspect said, It is Abdulwahab, Chief of Staff to the Kwara State Governor, that gave us the guns, (but) the Chief of Staff was not aware of the robbery.Akinnibosun also admitted that the SUV used for the heist was donated to him by the Senate President through the Chief of Staff.Responding, Saraki in a statement issued by his Special Adviser (Media and Publicity), Yusuph Olaniyonu, dismissed the allegation, describing it as baseless. He said he had no link with any band of criminals.Saraki said the plot was concocted to embarrass him because of his insistence that the Inspector-General of Police, Mr. Ibrahim Idris, should appear before the Senate to explain reasons for the rampant killings and violence across the country.The statement read, The attention of the Senate President, Dr. Abubakar Bukola Saraki, has been drawn to a story circulating online and apparently derived from a press conference addressed by the Police Public Relations Officer, Moshood Jimoh, linking him (Saraki) to the Offa robbery.Dr. Saraki will want the entire public to disregard this claim as a baseless allegation and another ploy by the Police to implicate him by all means.Let it be known that there is no way I could have been associated with armed robbery against my people. When the Offa robbery incident happened, I was the first top public official to pay a visit to the place and right there in the palace of the traditional ruler, I put a call through to this same Mr. Ibrahim Idris, the IG, requesting him to make certain specific security arrangements as demanded by the people.Members of the public will remember that on May 16, 2018, I alerted the Senate to the information passed on to me by my state governor, Dr. Abdulfatai Ahmed, over a plot by the Inspector-General of Police, Mr. Ibrahim Idris, to frame me by getting some suspected cultists arrested in Ilorin to implicate me. It is believed that the timely leakage of the plot in that case aborted the use of the suspected cultists to implicate me. Now, it is the Offa bank robbery suspects that are about to be used.This plot is concocted to embarrass me and, in the mind of the IG, it is his own response after his refusal to honour the invitation by the National Assembly, headed by me, for him to come and offer explanations on the rampant killings and violence across the country.Like the earlier one, this frame-up will also fail as I hereby state categorically that I have no link with any band of criminals.As a person who has utmost respect for the rule of law and all constitutional institutions, when the invitation from the Police is formally extended to me, I will be ready to honour it without any delay.It is however sad that this abuse of the criminal investigation process aimed at intimidating and over-overawing the legislature, thereby obstructing it from doing its work, is a big threat to our democracy.
The leadership of the New Peoples Democratic Party, the splinter group from the Peoples Democratic Party that coalesced with the All Progressives Congress to give victory to President Muhammadu Buhari in 2015, has threatened to withdraw from further talks with the Presidency on how to win the next general elections.The group led by Alhaji Abubakar Kawu Baraje, said in Abuja on Monday that they had since discovered that the Presidency was not sincere in its discussion with the group but was actively negotiating with them in bad faith.Baraje in a statement made available to Vanguard on Monday pointed out that it was wrong for the Presidency to embark on series of provocative actions with key members of the NPDP while the negotiations were ongoing.Baraje pointed to the withdrawal of the security aides of the Senate President, Bukola Saraki and his House of Representatives counterpart, Yakubu Dogara, by the Presidency at the weekend barely a few days a few days after their meeting with Vice President, Yemi Osinbajo on the way forward for the two parties.Baraje raised the alarm that the federal government had continued to persecute their members even while the so-called negotiations were ongoing; threatening to withdraw forthwith any form of negotiation with the administration.The statement said, The public may recall that there have been ongoing talks between members of the former Npdp, the APC and the Presidency in recent days.Nigerians may further recall that a team from the former nPDP led by Speaker of the House of Representatives, His Excellency Rt. Hon. Yakubu Dogara and four others, were to meet with the Vice President, His Excellency Prof Yemi Osinbajo today.However, while we are truly and earnestly committed to achieving reconciliation, harmony, truce and cohesion in the APC as we approach the 2019 general elections, it appears that the Presidency is not interested in the talks and that they may have been negotiating in bad faith.We were alarmed that immediately after our meeting with the Vice President last week, the presidency misrepresented what transpired at the meeting by trying to blackmail some of the principal actors involved in the discussions in a national daily.Similarly, the leadership of the party (APC) went ahead to ratify all the congresses from ward, local governments, states and zonal where many of our members have complaints, effectively presenting us with a fait accompli.The persecution of our members using state security apparatus has continued unabated.We recognize the powers of the police to conduct criminal investigations but by rushing to the public with the issue even when they have unfettered access to the leadership of the National Assembly, suggests an attempt to undermine, caricature and humiliate the institution of the legislature.It appears that there is a fouled and toxic atmosphere and environment of intimidation and threat to life in which we now find ourselves, which may no longer be conducive for members of the former nPDP to continue with the talks given the unfolding events in the last 24 hours, where the President of the Senate, His Excellency, Dr. Abubakar Bukola Saraki and His Excellency, Alhaji Abdulfatah Ahmed, the Executive Governor of Kwara State, both of whom attended the meeting with the Vice President on Monday 28 May, 2018, have suddenly been accused of sponsoring armed robbery by the police under the directives of the Presidency.Similarly, on Saturday, June 2nd, 2018, the Department of State of Services (DSS) also suddenly withdrew more than half of all the security details attached to the presiding officers of the National Assembly under questionable circumstances.The nPDP leadership has decided to brief our members on the unfortunate development and get a fresh mandate if good faith returns to the discussions, Baraje said.
Senate President, Abubakar Bukola Saraki on Sunday said that the plot to link him with the deadly Offa robbery incident was concocted by...

Senate President, Abubakar Bukola Saraki on Sunday said that the plot to link him with the deadly Offa robbery incident was concocted by the police to embarrass him.Saraki in a statement by his Special Adviser, (Media and Publicity) Yusuph Olaniyonu, said that there was no way he could have been associated with armed robbery against his own people.He said that the plot to link him with the robbery attack was Inspector General of Police, Ibraham Idris attempt to get at him after the IGP refused to honour Senate invitation to answer questions on the spate of killings in the country.Saraki said in the statement entitled Our response to claims by police: The attention of the Senate President, Dr. Abubakar Bukola Saraki, has been drawn to a story circulating online and apparently derived from a Press Conference addressed by the Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Moshood Jimoh, linking him (Saraki) to the Offa robbery.Dr. Saraki will want the entire public to disregard this claim as a baseless allegation and another ploy by the Police to implicate him by all means.Let it be known that there is no way I could have been associated with armed robbery against my people. When the Offa robbery incident happened, I was the first top public official to pay a visit to the place and right there in the palace of the traditional ruler, I put a call through to this same Mr. Ibrahim Idris, the IGP, requesting him to make certain specific security arrangements as demanded by the people.Members of the public will remember that on May 16, 2018, I alerted the Senate about the information passed on to me by my State Governor, Dr. Abdulfatai Ahmed, over a plot by the Inspector General of Police, Mr. Ibrahim Idris, to frame me up by getting some suspected cultists arrested in Ilorin to implicate me.It is believed that the timely leakage of the plot in that case aborted the use of the suspected cultists to implicate me. Now, it is the Offa bank robbery suspects that are about to be used.This plot is concocted to embarrass me and, in the mind of the IGP, it is his own response after his refusal to honour the invitation by the National Assembly, headed me, for him to come and offer explanations on the rampant killings and violence across the country.Like the earlier one, this frame-up will also fail as I hereby state categorically that I have no link with any band of criminals.As a person who has utmost respect for the rule of law and all constitutional institutions, when the invitation from the Police is formally extended to me, I will be ready to honour it without any delay.It is however sad that this abuse of the criminal investigation process aimed at intimidating and over-overawing the legislature, thereby obstructing it from doing its work, is a big threat to our democracy , the Senate President stated.
Former Governor of Abia State and chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Dr. Orji Uzor Kalu, has reacted to reports quoting him...

Former Governor of Abia State and chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Dr. Orji Uzor Kalu, has reacted to reports quoting him as saying that he killed people when he was a member of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).





According to the former governor, he was quoted out of context in an interview he granted journalists after the South East executive committee meeting of the APC held in Abuja last Wednesday.





I did not say I used to kill people during congress when I was a member of the PDP, he said.





Rather, I pointed out that due to political rivalry and other vices, people used to die during congresses in the PDP.





I am not only a law-abiding Nigerian but also a devout Catholic who does not believe in ungodly and inhuman acts. I have never killed anyone and will never do such nor engage anyone to kill on my behalf.





People should not twist my interview to suit their selfish, wicked and barbaric ambitions. I am a man of peace and I can never derail from the path of peace.




The founder of the Oodua Peoples Congress, Dr. Frederick Fasehun, has called for the removal of military officers in charge of the Boko Haram campaign.Addressing newsmen in Lagos on the state of the nation, Fasehun said President Muhammadu Buhari should mandate the military to end Boko Haram insurgency within six months.He said, The war of attrition unleashed by Boko Haram against defenceless citizens throughout the country continues unabated, nullifying Buharis campaign promise to end insurgency immediately after he took power. But the reality indicates that Boko Haram inflicts as many damages as before, with bombings, abductions and suicide squads going unabated.President Buhari should sack military officers currently in charge of the Boko Haram campaign and mandate the defence team to end Boko Haram insurgency within six months.We seize this opportunity to demand the release of Leah Sharibu, the Chibok girls and other hostages in Boko Haram captivity. Every day they spend in captivity is a disgrace to this democracy.Fasehun added that the Federal Government should map out a workable road map to end the insurgency.Reports from soldiers and officers on the field indicated that Boko Haram could be wiped out easily but for colluding military commanders who want the campaign prolonged for selfish commercial benefits, Fasehun said.Fasehun, however, urged the Federal Government to comply with the global index that allegedly ranked Fulani herdsmen as a terrorist organisation and ensures that the herdsmen pay for their crimes.
Senate President Bukola Saraki says his invitation by the Nigeria police over the robbery incident in Offa, Kwara state is a threat to Nig...

Senate President Bukola Saraki says his invitation by the Nigeria police over the robbery incident in Offa, Kwara state is a threat to Nigerias democracy.





He, however, said he will honour the invitation because he has utmost respect for the rule of law.





On April 5, some armed robbers attacked five commercial banks in the community, killing at least 17 persons, including police officers.





Ayodele, one of the suspects and leader of the robbery gang, alleged that they were political thugs working for the senate president.





Jimoh Moshood, police spokesman, said on Sunday that Sarakis connection with the suspects will be probed.





Reacting via a statement, Saraki said he has no link with the suspects, and that the claim by the police is a baseless allegation and another ploy by the police to implicate him by all means.





Let it be known that there is no way I could have been associated with armed robbery against my people, he was quoted as saying in the statement issued by Yusuph Olaniyonu, his spokesman.





When the Offa robbery incident happened, I was the first top public official to pay a visit to the place and right there in the palace of the traditional ruler, I put a call through to this same Mr. Ibrahim Idris, the IGP, requesting him to make certain specific security arrangements as demanded by the people.





Saraki recalled his earlier claim that the police IG was plotting to set him up in a case involving some suspected cultists





Now, it is the Offa bank robbery suspects that are about to be used, he said, adding: This plot is concocted to embarrass me and, in the mind of the IGP, it is his own response after his refusal to honour the invitation by the national assembly, headed me, for him to come and offer explanations on the rampant killings and violence across the country.





Like the earlier one, this frame-up will also fail as I hereby state categorically that I have no link with any band of criminals.





As a person who has utmost respect for the rule of law and all constitutional institutions, when the invitation from the police is formally extended to me, I will be ready to honour it without any delay.




Nigerians have reacted to reports by the Nigeria Police Force linking the Senate President, Bukola Saraki to armed robbery suspects in the...

Nigerians have reacted to reports by the Nigeria Police Force linking the Senate President, Bukola Saraki to armed robbery suspects in the Offa Bank robbery incident.





Force Spokesperson, Jimoh Moshood had over the weekend disclosed that some of the suspects arrested in connection with the Offa Bank robbery incident, had allegedly indicted Saraki and the Kwara State Governor, Abdulfatah Ahmed.





Against this backdrop, the Police had summoned the Senate President for questioning.





But Saraki in a swift reaction, claimed that the Police was plotting to frame him.





Reacting to the saga, Nigerians who took to their Twitter handle wrote: @akaebube: My attention has been drawn to the fact that Police has summoned Senate President, Saraki while DSS has withdrawn operatives attached to him. Ladies and Gentlemen, Our Democracy is now in injury time.





@pius_adesanmi: To think that I did a thread on Naija politicians and empowerment only yesterday! Now that Saraki & Kwara State Gov appear to have empowered wahala, lets hope their corrupt peers in Naijas leadership will stop d madness of looting funds & empowering their victims with trifle.





@jacksonpbn:  Offa Bank Robber said @bukolasaraki bought him a car, dlivered thru the Chief of Staff to Gov Ahmed of Kwara State. What is the link btw Saraki, Gov Ahmed and the Offa Bank Robeery and killing, robber has no answer, yet @PoliceNG summon Saraki. We are indeed finished in Nigeria!





@jacksonpbn: The same way Obasanjo used character assassination against Atiku, is the same way Buhari and his goons have employed character assassination against any perceived, real or imagined opposition to Buhari. But soon, they would know Saraki is a deft politician!





@akaebube: I watched police spokesman talk about Rule of law while addressing newsmen on the Saraki summon. Rule of law that his boss failed to observe when Senate summoned him. I have said it before that we should decide whether to practice democracy or return it to the owners. EOD!





@ogundamisi: @bukolasaraki called for a sweeping investigation and prosecution of all suspects. implicated in Offa Deadly Armed Robbery. @PoliceNG are obliging him. Problem is the investigation is leading right back to Saraki. Someone get me my pop-corn.





@SKSolaKuti:  If I were Saraki, I would get my lawyer to inform the police that I would only be available on Tuesday at 4pm. Tuesday morning I would impeach Buhari and Osinbajothen become acting president and arrest the IGP for murder of Kano REC.





@Lexy63306393: Can Saraki tell us he doesnt know the guys. Although he did not send them to rob but he is their God father.





@bazamfarey: If Saraki cannot sponsor arm robbers, how can PMB sponsor headsmen?





@Karovoni: I dont believe Saraki paid those guys to rob Offa bank, not in the least. But are they his thugs?





@Ifeabunike: I called Bullshit on this issue when I saw that RX300 customized with Sarakis name being paraded by the Police. These lots dont rate us at all.





@gimbakakanda: The resources being invested in these politically motivated hunts of renegade politicians, from Shehu Sani through Dino Melaye to Bukola Saraki, wouldve saved hundreds of lives killed in Zamfara, Benue, Taraba and all vulnerable areas under attack.





@isaajibola: Yes, Saraki might be implicated because they might be one his political thugs but he didnt tell them to go en rob banks with the equipment. Saraki will deny them in the end. Late Baba Adedibu thugs in Ibadan also terrorised people during his time.




The National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress, Chief John Odigie-Oyegun, has asked the Governor of Imo State, Rochas Okorocha, to do a self- assessment because there is a united voice against his style in his state.Odigie-Oyegun said this in an interview with reporters in Abuja, on Sunday.He was responding to questions about allegations levelled against him by the Imo State Governor.The governor had alleged that his travails in the hands of some party stakeholders in his state were orchestrated by the APC National Chairman because he (Okorocha) opposed the tenure elongation earlier approved for the party leadership.Odigie-Oyegun said while he would not want to go into details with respect to the issue, there is a united voice against the governor.The party chairman equally wondered why Okorocha, who was not even the most vocal opponent of the so-called tenure elongation, was the only one who is being allegedly singled out for a witch-hunt.Odigie-Oyegun said Okorocha, wasnt the strongest force behind the objection to tenure elongation so why is his case different? I dont think it is necessary to go into the details.
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, June 4)  Some 28 million students are expected to go back to school Monday, the official start of classes.

Department of Education (DepEd) Secretary Leonor Briones said in a briefing schools have been ready to accommodate the projected 27,757,546 students from public and private schools, as well as state universities and colleges.

The department said as of May 31, more than 1.1 billion worth of resources were used for preparing the school facilities.

"This is why I can say with great confidence, that insofar as physical facilities are concerned, even in places outside of Metro Manila, there are better if not superior or equal facilities, as well as equally good teachers," Briones said in a briefing in Quezon City Monday.

Briones also said this year, the DepEd is going to spend 8-billion pesos for the purchase of computers for junior and senior high schools, as part of DepEd computerization program in schools.

"Maraming bansa ngayon, kasama ang Pilipinas, gusto nang gamitin na ang lahat ng mga learning resources ay ilagay na sa tablet," Briones said.

[Translation: There are many countries including the Philippines who want to collate all the learning resource into electronic tablets.]

With the DepEd's preparations for the start of the school year, Briones imparted advice to the students: "Focus on your studies. Mag-aral kayo."

DepEd Undersecretary Tonisito Umali earlier told CNN Philippines public schools are ready in terms of six variables: classrooms, teachers, chairs, toilets, working electricity, and running water.

But Umali said with the influx of students, some schools may have more students per teacher than the ideal ratio of 1:45.

In 2017, the CAA Elementary School Main in Las Pinas City had the most number of elementary school students in the country, with 11,020 pupils. For junior high school, the most populated school is Paranaque National High School Main, Las Pinas City with 14,714 students in 2017.

Meanwhile, Rizal High School in Pasig City hosted the most number of senior high school students last year at 3,056.

Although public schools in the country are generally ready, Umali said at least 638 schools need some support. Umali some schools from Region 1, 3, 4a, 5, 6, 7, Caraga, and NCR need assistance in four of the six variables.

Nine thousand police personnel have been deployed in Metro Manila, according to the Philippine National Police. However, deployment will be concentrated in so-called "areas of concern" such as Caloocan, Taguig, and Manila.

See updates on the first day of classes from around the Philippines below:
Q. I have accepted a position abroad. After 49 years as a New Jersey resident, I will be selling my home and leaving in July with no plans to return to New Jersey to live. What are my state tax burdens for 2018?

- Outta here

A. Good luck on your big move, and Jersey will miss you!

If you sell your property and no longer work here, the state can't get its hands on your money when it comes to taxes.

The residency and, therefore, taxability to any state is based on your nexus to that state, said Michael Karu, a certified public accountant with Levine, Jacobs & Co. in Livingston.

Karu said once you move out of New Jersey, you would no longer have nexus unless you own rental real estate, a share in a business or personal residence.

"Assuming you sell your house prior to moving and have no other source income coming from New Jersey, your residency would cease as of the date that you leave New Jersey," he said. "You would pay taxes to New Jersey based on your earnings from January 1 through the date that you leave."

Based on your timing, if you leave at the end of July, you would be a part-year New Jersey resident for seven months, Karu said. So unless you have business or rental income sourced from New Jersey, you would not be liable for New Jersey gross income tax in future years.

But, he said, you still will be liable for U.S. federal income tax on your worldwide income.

"However, there are foreign credits and exclusions available to you," he said. "When and if you return to the United States, you would become a resident of whichever state you relocated."

Email your questions to Ask@NJMoneyHelp.com.

Karin Price Mueller writes the Bamboozled column for NJ Advance Media and is the founder of NJMoneyHelp.com. Follow NJMoneyHelp on Twitter @NJMoneyHelp. Find NJMoneyHelp on Facebook. Sign up for NJMoneyHelp.com's weekly e-newsletter.
Actress Laura Prepon, best known for her roles in "Orange is the New Black" and "That '70s Show," has announced her marriage to actor Ben Foster.

Prepon, 38, a native of Watchung, shared the news on Twitter and Instagram Sunday with a wedding photo.

"Just Married!" she posted. "Thank you for all the love and support. Wishing all of us the good stuff!"

Prepon has played Alex Vause for seven seasons on Netflix's "Orange is the New Black" -- also directing an episode of the show in 2017 -- and played Donna Pinciotti for eight seasons on Fox's "That '70s Show."

Foster, 37, who starred in the Oscar-nominated film "Hell or High Water," can be seen in the upcoming movies "Leave No Trace" and "Galveston."

Just Married! Thank you for all the love and support. Wishing all of us the good stuff! pic.twitter.com/0UrrQbZ6D5 -- Laura Prepon (@LauraPrepon) June 3, 2018

The couple got engaged in October of 2016 after just a few months of dating, and welcomed a daughter, Ella, in August. This is the first marriage for both Prepon and Foster.

Prepon and Foster both began acting professionally as teens and have known each other for 19 years, long before Foster was reportedly engaged to Robin Wright.

Prepon moved to Milan, then London and Paris, to pursue a modeling career at the age of 15 and attended Watchung Hills High School before she transferred to a school in New York when she was 17.

In 2016, Prepon had a role in the thriller "The Girl on the Train." The same year, she co-authored a bestselling cookbook titled "The Stash Plan: Your 21-Day Guide to Shed Weight, Feel Great, and Take Charge of Your Health."

Prepon's previous roles include one season in 2012 as the lead in the NBC TV series, "Are you There, Chelsea?" which was based on the 2007 book "Are You There, Vodka? It's Me, Chelsea" by Chelsea Handler, a fellow Jersey native.

In a recent TV appearance, she presented her recipe (see clip below) for poached halibut on "The Chew." (The show was just canceled following the allegations of sexual misconduct against former co-host Mario Batali, who was fired from the show in December and recently became the subject of a police investigation).

Amy Kuperinsky may be reached at akuperinsky@njadvancemedia.com. Follow her on Twitter @AmyKup or on Facebook.
By Peter Genovese I NJ Advance Media

Nobody does old-school restaurants like New Jersey. (Shaddup, Brooklyn.) Ancient-wallpaper, faded-menu, Naugahyde-booth kind of places, where the waitresses have been around forever, the furnishings untouched for decades, and the words "Twitter" and "Facebook" might as well be in a foreign language.

"Old-school'' doesn't necessarily have to mean ancient, but a new restaurant surely cannot be old-school. It's all about a look, an attitude; visit an old-school restaurant today, come back in 10, 20 years, nothing will have changed.

Here are New Jersey's 35 greatest old-school restaurants from around the state. There are neighborhood pubs and restaurants, seafood shacks and hot dog stands, delis, diners and more. All gloriously, grandly, unabashedly old-school.

Note: The restaurants are not ranked by the quality of food, but the food's good at all of them. It's more about how well they fit the definition of "old-school." Ice cream stands/shops and bakeries, among others, were not considered.

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35. The Pub, Pennsauken

Look for "Pub" in giant letters out front, the stone facade and a dining room that's bigger than some small towns. The Pub's motto: "Everything Extravagant Except the Prices!'' Regulars rave about the sprawling salad bar and the steaks.

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34. E&V Ristorante, Paterson

Hit the ATM before you visit E&V; the restaurant has been cash-only since it opened in 1967. The "E" and "V" stand for founders Elio Federico and Vince Ruggieri. Elio and his brother, Ralph, now run the white-tablecloth, mirror-walled restaurant. Portions are enormous; you'll be bringing home doggy bags. Recommended app: the filet mignon bruschetta.

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Peter Genovese | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com

33. Texas Weiner I, Plainfield

Yes, hot dog joints can be old-school, too. I love the yellow lettering, windowfront grill, pale walls and swivel stools at Texas Weiner I, which opened in 1924 and is the granddaddy of New Jersey chili spots. Paterson and Plainfield, among other places, claim to be the birthplace of the Texas weiner or chili dog. Pull up a stool, order a dog, and dig the vintage vibe.

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32. Red Lion Inn, Southampton

Outside, the Red Lion Inn is a sprawling red-brick house. Inside it resembles a 70s wood-paneled bingo hall, with spartan tables and chairs. In business nearly 100 years, the Red Lion Inn has close cousins all over New Jersey - rambling houses and inns that attract the locals and don't much care what their Yelp rating is. Don't let appearances deceive you, though; pasta is made fresh here daily. There's a meatball platter that comes with a side of pasta, and the steak and veal dishes are popular. Red Lion, by the way, is the most common pub name in Great Britain; a Lancashire woman visited all 656 of them.

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31. Krug's Tavern, Newark

Newark's Ironbound is home to scores of Spanish/Portuguese restaurants, bakeries, cafes and markets - and longtime neighborhood bar Krug's, which merely serves the state's best burger. Don't worry that the grill is about the size of a telephone book; the burgers issuing forth are packed with meaty, marvelous wonder. Bar and tables in front; dining room in back. Frank Krug opened the bar in 1932; George H.W. Bush visited Krug's during the 1984 presidential campaign.

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30. Chan's Garden, Ridgefield

Forget about the zombies on "The Walking Dead." The real ones are at Chan's Garden. The kitschy Chinese-American restaurant  tiki heads, serpents, flaming drinks  opened in the mid-60s. They're best known for their zombies, made with fruit juices and rum. "THE BEST .. mysterious, unique and sinfully strong; they should come with a warning label,'' reads one Facebook post.

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Mommy doing what she does best  Posted by Merrill's Colonial Inn on Sunday, May 14, 2017

29. Merrill's Colonial Inn, Belcoville

Merrill's Colonial Inn - look for the rambling white house with the "Dining Room'' sign out front - is in Belcoville, part of Weymouth. (Every story/review puts it in Mays Landing. It's not.) Dorothy Merrill, known to all as "Mommy Merrill,'' opened the restaurant in 1959 with her husband, Alfred. "Mommy'' passed away last October (her husband had passed years earlier), but her memory, and her cooking, live on. Angel, her daughter, has taken over. "Doesn't look like much on the outside but the food is fabulous,'' one regular said on Facebook. "A true home-cooked meal you'd get from a traditional Italian family,'' raved an admirer on Yelp. Homemade desserts, too. They don't make them like this anymore.

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28. Dickie Dee's, Newark

Drives me crazy when people says the #1 reason you hit Dickie Dee's is the pizza. No, you silly clueless people, it's the Italian hot dogs, acknowledged as among the state's best. Open since 1958, Dickie Dee's, with its orange and powder-blue chairs, is busy, cramped, noisy - and priceless. Yes, there was a guy named Dickie Dee; he and his wife Toni Dee were former owners. Just across the way is bread legend Calandra's.

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27. Frank's Deli, Asbury Park

Thank goodness there's still room in white-hot, stylish Asbury Park for places such as Frank's Deli, a time-warp diner/luncheonette with faded blue facade, tile floors and no-nonsense breakfasts. (The bacon and egg sandwich contains a heart-stopping amount of bacon.) You can get fresh-squeezed orange juice with your pork roll sandwich (they don't call it Taylor ham), and there are Famous Roast Beef, Famous Corned Beef and Famous Pastrami sandwiches. Frank's doesn't fool around.

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Frank H. Conlon I The Star-Ledger

26. Steve's Sizzling Steaks, Carlstadt

Call it a bar, roadhouse or steak restaurant, or just call it ... different. Steve's Sizzling Steaks opened in 1936. Owner Steve Venturini survived two plane crashes, the second on the way to Cuba to join Ernest Hemingway on a fishing trip. The decor runs from old-time photos, fishing licenses and snowshoes to snake skins and mounted deer and fish heads. Steaks are served sizzling on a plate. Eating here is a trip.

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25. White House Subs, Atlantic City

Every famous person who ever walked the earth has eaten at White House Subs. Or so it seems, anyway. The Beatles, Elvis, Frank Sinatra, Jerry Seinfeld, even the Biebs have eaten at the legendary seaside sub shop, open since 1946. Know the rules: If you're doing takeout, get a ticket at the machine in back. The guys behind the counter can be be friendly, funny, bitter or brusque, but once you're a regular, you're in like Flynn.

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24. European Provisions, East Brunswick

There are a million delis in New Jersey. European Provisions, in business nearly 80 years, is different. The brick-wall facade looks austere, but inside you'll find a well-lit store stocked with Polish/Eastern European goodies. Sandwiches and specials are written on paper taped to the walls; several are named after regulars and local police departments. "I know everyone claims their kielbasa store is the best," said one admirer on Yelp. "We have tried many a store in Linden and Elizabeth and NYC, and we know ours is the best. Just like our Babcia (grandmother) used to make."

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23. Salem Oak Diner, Salem

It would have been easy to put dozens of diners on this list, but just because you sport a retro/vintage look doesn't mean you're old-school. The Salem Oak qualifies for its timeless look (tile floors, pale-pink booths, coat racks) and quintessential small-town feel. (The other Salem Oak, the 600-or-so-year-old tree, is across the street.) Local favorites such as mackerel with fried potatoes (that's a breakfast item) dot the menu. The Chicken Athena and rice pudding are recommended. Jimmy Carter was here once, on ever-popular shad night. He was told to take a ticket like everyone else.

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22. Boulevard Drinks, Jersey City

New Jersey is the center of the hot dog universe, and Boulevard Drinks, a short stroll from the Journal Square PATH station in Jersey City, may be its coolest hot dog hangout, with its uber-bright yellow counter (you don't want to be here with a hangover) and some of the state's best grilled hot dogs.

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21. Twisties Tavern on the Bay, Strathmere

A couple things about Strathmere: It's part of Upper Township and is one of a handful of free ocean beaches in New Jersey. Twisties is a red-framed building you could mistake for another house on the block if not for the sign. Inside you'll find plain but sturdy-looking tables and chairs and a serious collection of mounted fish on the walls. It was a speakeasy during Prohibition; in the 50s, Jimmy and Rose Twist bought the place and called it the Strathmere Inn. Locals called it Twisties; it became Twisties Tavern on the Bay about 20 years ago.

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20. Hobby's Deli, Newark

"A Newark tradition before you were born'' is the slogan at the venerable Hobby's Deli, a Jersey deli legend and a block from The Rock. It's been run by the Brummer family since 1962, the kind of place where they pickle the corned beef in 50-gallon stainless steel vats. Can't make up your mind what to order? Try the Triple-Decker Special, with turkey, tongue, pastrami, cole slaw and Russian dressing.

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19. Jim's Lunch, Millville

Mike Trout eats at Jim's Lunch; what more do you need to know? Millville is where the baseball superstar grew up, and you know he's had his share of burgers with the house "special sauce." Don't you dare ask any staffer what's in it; the recipe is more closely guarded than a top-secret defense dossier. Jim's is closed at the moment because the adjoining building has been found unstable and may face demolition.

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18. Boulevard Clams, Surf City

Boulevard Clams isn't much for looks  a dozen spare tables and a raw bar with the words "Clam Up'' written on the side  but you come here for the fresh seafood, not some restaurant makeover show. The "hot and dirty" crabs are a must, and so are the whole belly fried clams, the best fried clams I've had down the Shore.

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17. Mr. G's, Paterson

Definitely not to be confused with Mr G's in Carlstadt (one look at the latter's Facebook page will tell you why), Mr. G's in Paterson, also known as the Original Mr. G's, is a Southern/soul food restaurant housed in a classic diner.

"Great omelettes. Splendid catfish. WONDERFUL chicken and waffles. Just a great down-home diner, w/ their Soul Food twist!" one regular raved on Yelp.

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16. Stan's Chitch's Cafe, Bound Brook

Maybe the state's most tongue-twisting restaurant name, thin-crust legend Stan's Chitch's seems lovingly stuck in the 70s  high-backed booths, striped wallpaper. Last time I stopped, they were using Gerber baby food jars to hold the oregano. The meatball pizza won an award of excellence in our epic Pizza Patrol undertaking.

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15. Lee's Hawaiian Islander, Lyndhurst

Is this place still around? Sure is. Lee's Hawaiian Islander, which opened in 1972, is a glorious, giddy monument to tiki culture, with its rock walls, bamboo-backed booths, tiki head mugs, pu-pu platters and one bizarre-looking puffer fish lamp. Seriously damaged in a 2003 fire, it bounced back big time. You can't keep Lee's down.

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14. Tony's Baltimore Grill, Atlantic City

An eerily-red-lit bar, like something out of Twin Peaks, is just one feature at Tony's Baltimore Grill. The white stucco exterior, red awning and bright neon are a throwback to A.C.'s pre-casino glory days. Tony's opened in its current location on April 1, 1966, but it was no April Fool's joke when the restaurant declared bankruptcy in 2016. The new owners have promised not to change a thing. Whew, old-school identity crisis averted.

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13. Rutt's Hut, Clifton

Rutt's Hut, celebrating its 90th anniversary this year, is not on this list because it's my top-ranked hot dog joint in New Jersey; it's here because of its brick-walled roadhouse exterior and tile-floored dining room that seems frozen in the 40s. Get Rutt's signature hot dog, the deep-fried Ripper, at the front counter; there are no chairs, just tables and windowsill perches, which only add to the charm.

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Peter Genovese | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com

12. Vic's Italian-American Restaurant, Bradley Beach

Knotty pine walls, green booths, and the same tomato sauce "since the beginning,'' co-owner Ed Dollive told me when I stopped at Vic's during our N.J.'s best Italian restaurant showdown. His wife's grandfather, Vic Giunco, opened the restaurant in 1947. The thin-crust pizza is one of the Shore's best, and the shrimp scampi is highly recommended.

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11. Belmont Tavern, Belleville

Stretch's Chicken Savoy! Shrimp Beeps! If you've never heard of these dishes, you clearly have not visited the Belmont Tavern. "This place is not for the faint of heart,'' said one commenter on TripAdvisor. Wood paneling, American-flag-decorated bar, fluorescent lighting, cash-only. And the garlic-and-vinegar heavy Chicken Savoy (see photo) and sauce-studded Shrimp Beeps are must-orders.

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Peter Genovese | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com

10. Donkey's Place, Camden

A Camden bar serving great cheesesteaks? Must be Donkey's Place, where you can hear and smell steak sizzling and onions popping on the grill. Boxer Leon Lucas bought the place in 1947; fans likened his punch to a mule's or donkey's, thus the name. Great atmosphere, and a must-stop on any cheesesteak pilgrimage.

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9. Summit Diner, Summit

If I had to take an out-of-state visitor to one diner in the diner capital of the world, it would be the Summit Diner. It's a barrel-roofed, wood-paneled wonder in downtown Summit, with booths, coat racks and, best of all, the sight, sound and smell of food cooking an arm's length away. My book "Jersey Diners'' opened with the Summit Diner and its pre-dawn crowd; it should lead off any Jersey diner road trip.

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8. Holsten's, Bloomfield

Of course the last scene in The Sopranos was filmed here, but Holsten's didn't need fictional mob guys to cement its place as a New Jersey dining landmark. It opened in 1939 as Strubbe's Ice Cream Parlor, then became Martin and Holsten's, and finally Holsten's. Ice cream and candy counter up front, dining room in back.

How did Holsten's end up in everyone's favorite mob family show? "We were looking for a typical period luncheonette in New Jersey, not specifically an ice cream place," the show's location manager told me in 2007.

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7. Patsy's Tavern, Paterson

Sit at the cozy wrap-around bar up front, or the wooden-boothed dining room that transports you at least a half century back. Patsy's, open since 1931, is Passaic County's answer to Spirito's (or is it the other way around?). Excellent thin-crust pizza and Italian standards in sublime surroundings.

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6. Oyster Creek Inn, Leeds Point

The rambling Oyster Creek Inn seems stuck in time, and one can only hope it stays that way. The 80-year-old restaurant is minutes from the Parkway, but the view here - marsh, sky, water - makes you feel far, far away. The screened-in Crab Room is popular, and so is the Boat Bar (photo), but you'll want to start with a drink on the deck, transfixed by the starkly beautiful silence.

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Peter Genovese | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com

5. Fiore's Deli, Hoboken

Leave the cash, take the roast beef sandwich. Fiore's Deli, which opened in 1913, wasn't a location in The Godfather, but should have been. There's no website or official Facebook page - no surprise there. You'll almost always have to wait in line, but it'll be worth it. Their legendary roast beef and mozzarella sub is available Thursdays and Saturdays only.

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Peter Genovese | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com

4. Angelo's Glassboro Diner, Glassboro

A small-town classic, Angelo's Glassboro Diner scarcely seems to have changed since 1951, when the current diner opened (Angelo Tubertini opened a diner on the site in 1946). Lettered menu board, two-section counter, meatloaf sandwiches, chipped beef on toast - it doesn't get any more old-school than that.

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3. Spirito's, Elizabeth

Spirito's is stubbornly old-school: wooden booths, subdued lighting, and if you want butter with your bread you better bring it from home. The ravioli are renowned, but I think the thin-crust pizza is better. Spirito's is an essential Jersey food experience.

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2. Harvey Cedars Shellfish Co. Clam Bar, Beach Haven

Yes, that's Harvey Cedars Shellfish Clam Bar in Beach Haven, which is just one of several charming oddities about this seaside hangout. Cell phone talk is prohibited inside, and you wait out on the sidewalk for your party to be called. They'll happily put your wine or beer on ice. The clam bar is an atmospheric throwback to a time when restaurants were not all shiny and souless.

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1. Lido Restaurant, Hackensack

You might want to bring a flashlight when you visit the Lido. Really, it's that dark. Padded booths, tile floors, cash-only. Yeah, that's old-school. You go here for the sliced steak and the thin-crust pizza; the waitresses, who may have been here since day one, are a trip.

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What's your favorite old-school restaurant?

This list could have included 100, or more, restaurants. What's your favorite old-school restaurant? Let us know in the comments section.

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Peter Genovese | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com

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The three bodies found at the Massachusetts home of a former Montclair resident with a long criminal background in New Jersey were identified Monday.

The bodies were identified by Hampden District Attorney Anthony Gulluni as Ernestine Ryans, 47, and America Lyden, 34, both of Springfield, Mass., and Kayla Eascalante, 27, of Ludlow, Mass., according to MassLive.com.

Lyden and Ryans were reported missing over the last year, but no missing persons report was filed for Escalante.

They were found in the Springfield, Mass. home of Stewart Weldon, 40, after he was arrested May 27 by the Springfield Police. They found a woman brutally beaten in his car after a police chase that began as a traffic stop for a broken taillight. The woman told police that Weldon had been torturing her and holding her captive for a month, she said.

Weldon was eventually arrested, charged with kidnapping with serious bodily injury, threat to commit a crime (murder), resisting arrest and five related charges. He is being held on $1 million bail, MassLive.com reported.

Police have not filed charges in connection with the bodies found at his home.

Gulluni told MassLive.com he expects reports from the medical examiner's office on the women's causes of death within days or a week.

A few days after his arrest, Weldon's mother, who owns the home where Weldon was living, reported an odor coming from the house. Police discovered three bodies in the basement and detached garage.

MassLive.com reported that more bodies are believed to lay in shallow graves at the home.

Weldon's criminal history in New Jersey began when he was arrested in Montclair and charged with sexual assault in 1997, court records show. The outcome of the case is not clear.

In 1997, he pleaded guilty to unlawful possession of a weapon in East Orange and was sentenced to three years of probation. He was also charged with kidnapping in East Orange but the result of the charge is unclear.

In Bergen County, he pleaded guilty to a burglary charge in Maywood Borough and was sentenced in 2006 to 367 days in jail, court records show.

Chris Sheldon may be reached at csheldon@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @chrisrsheldon Find NJ.com on Facebook.
A 75,000 square-foot print production facility and data center that opened in Newark 10 years ago is shutting down and laying off its 116 employees.

Mimeo.com, a digital printing and content management company based in New York, will close its plant on Mt. Olivet Avenue this year as it looks to expand its facility in Memphis, Tennessee, or open another location elsewhere in the U.S.

"Newark is fantastic and the people were fantastic. We had a great 10 years there," Mimeo CEO John Delbridge told NJ Advance Media.

He said the company has built a network of partners in the area that will continue some of the services provided by the Newark facility. "It was a business decision for us that we could better service our customers ... (by) leveraging our other resources," Delbridge said.

Mimeo opened its Newark plant in 2008, welcomed by then-Mayor Cory Booker, now U.S. Senator, as a sign of the city starting to turn the corner.

The facility had the capacity to produce more than 1 million printed pages a day. It was close to shipping hubs and the airport, allowing it to provide overnight delivery of documents. Since then the company has grown, with revenues exceeding $100 million, Delbridge said.

But the company has looked elsewhere in its expansion plans.

"Other cities, municipalities, and states are offering a lot of incentives that make it very appealing to set up operations in those locations," Delbridge said.

The economic development agency in Memphis approved a 15-year tax break should the company choose to expand there. "We're a smaller company and frankly the tax rates are very expensive in New Jersey," he added.

Mimeo received about $49,900 from the New Jersey Economic Development Authority as part of the Business Employment Incentive Program for companies that were creating jobs in the state. It is still owed $144,000 from that grant, the state said.

Those payments were delayed, in part, in 2016 by former Gov. Christie as he tried to balance the budget. Companies were instead allowed to convert their grants to tax credits but Mimeo opted not to do so, a spokeswoman for NJEDA said.

Yet the company could be asked to return the grant dollars it has received since it did not maintain a minimum level of jobs in the state for 15 years, according to the NJEDA.

Mimeo is providing its Newark employees with job assistance, including job fairs, resume writing experts and other connections in the industry to help with the transition. Newark employees will also be able to apply for any jobs created either at the new facility or expanded space in Memphis.

"We're making sure that the impact will be as minimal as it will be," Delbridge said. "Fantastic team of people out there. This has nothing to do with the quality, capability and the successes we've had with the team of Newark."

The job reductions are effective July 7, according to a notice filed with the state. WARN notices are required by law to be filed with the Department of Labor.

Karen Yi may be reached at kyi@njadvancemedia.com. Follow her on Twitter at @karen_yi or on Facebook.
JERSEY CITY -- A police officer breaking up a street fight early Sunday morning suffered bleeding on the brain after being punched in the head multiple times, officials said.

Robert Vega, 36, is facing two counts of assault on a police officer and a disorderly conduct charge for the incident on Arlington Avenue, city spokeswoman Kimberly Wallace-Scalcione said.

Police were called at about 12:30 a.m. on reports of a street fight outside of a home near the Wilkinson Avenue intersection, she said.

Officers tried to break up the fight when Vega became violent, shoved one officer and began repeatedly hitting another in the head. The officer hit in the head was brought to the hospital to be treated for a brain hematoma, a lip injury, and a swollen right hand, officials said.

During the struggle, one of the police officers used pepper spray attempting to arrest Vega. Two other police officers were sprayed when it was deployed and were brought to hospital for "decontamination," officials said.

Vega made his first court appearance on Monday afternoon where the state motioned to keep him jailed pending trial. He has a detention hearing scheduled for Thursday.

Caitlin Mota may be reached at cmota@jjournal.com. Follow her on Twitter @caitlin_mota. Find The Jersey Journal on Facebook.
A plan to create a 1 percent payroll tax for Jersey City businesses advanced Monday when a state senate committee approved the bill by a party-line vote.

The legislation, S-2581, is intended to provide new revenue for the city's public-school district, which is expected to lose over $150 million in state aid over the next five years. A spokesman for state Sen. President Stephen Sweeney said he expects the new tax would bring in more than $70 million annually.

The only city in New Jersey permitted to levy a payroll tax is Newark, which brings that city about $48 million annually. The new bill would expand the tax to any municipality with a population over 200,000 (only Newark and Jersey City would apply).

"The employer payroll tax is a great way to generate revenue which could be used to improve our cities and the resources we offer our residents," Sen. Sandra B. Cunningham, D-Jersey City, said in a statement.

Cunningham sponsored the bill with Sen. Brian Stack, D-Union City. Stack said the tax hike "would not have a big impact on employers, but it would have a big impact on our municipality, and the lives of those living and working in the area."

The tax would be required to go toward the school district if the city's median household income is $55,000 or more, language that would allow Jersey City's tax to fund the schools but Newark's tax to remain funding city coffers (Jersey City's median household income is $60,700, Newark's is $33,000).

Sweeney has introduced a separate bill that would end a form of school funding that sent $151 million in state aid to Jersey City's 29,000-student district in 2017-18. The Sweeney bill would eliminate the aid over a five-year period for any city with a payroll tax.

The tax would not apply to public employers. Jersey City would be allowed to create an exemption for wages paid to employees who are residents of the municipality.

The senate budget committee approved the bill by an 8-5 vote. All Republicans on the committee voted no. It now heads to the full senate for approval.

Terrence T. McDonald may be reached at tmcdonald@jjournal.com. Follow him on Twitter @terrencemcd. Find The Jersey Journal on Facebook.
JERSEY CITY -- A New York woman has been charged with using fake ID to purchase $1,200 in goods on credit at Kohl's in Secaucus after she was identified from a similar incident at a Kohl's store in Pennsylvania, officials said.

Martha I. Rivera, 48, was arrested Thursday after being seen on security video going to the Secaucus store's customer service area and allegedly using fraudulent identification to make the purchase, the criminal complaint says.

Police were called to the store after loss prevention officers identified Rivera based on a bulletin about a similar incident in Pennsylvania. She was charged based on items found on her and a review of security video, the complaint says.

Rivera is charged with credit card fraud, identity theft and theft. She made her first appearance on the charges on Friday in Criminal Justice Reform Court in Jersey City via video link from Hudson County jail in Kearny.

At the hearing, she was ordered released with conditions of supervision pending trial.
A man who fatally shot another man through the neck will have to wait two more weeks to find out if he'll spend the rest of his life in prison.

The sentencing of Justin Garcia, who shot 28-year-old Javon Murray dead in July 2016, was scheduled for Friday in front of Hudson County Superior Court Judge Nesle Rodriguez, but it was postponed until June 18 because of court scheduling conflicts.

Garcia faces 30 years to life in prison for the murder. He has five previous convictions, including one for aggravated assault and a number for drug offenses.

Murray, a Stegman Street resident, was lured into an alleyway, where he was murdered, Hudson County Assistant Prosecutor Lynne Seborowski said during the trial.

At the trial that ended in early March, Garcia was also convicted of unlawful possession of a weapon, possession of a weapon for an unlawful purpose and possession of a weapon by a felon.

A key witness at trial testified that she heard a gunshot, saw Murray fall and then saw Garcia drop a gun. The 21-year-old admitted she did not give police a detailed or accurate statement after the shooting because she was "terrified." She knew both the victim and killer.

On the day of the homicide, police were dispatched to Clinton Street between Kennedy Boulevard and West Side Avenue at 2:45 a.m. on a report of shots being fired. There, they found Murray, who was pronounced dead at the scene, officials said.
Blendine Keneh hopes she will never meet face to face with a shooter, but on Friday afternoon she learned how to respond if a gunman were to open fire on her campus.

Dozens of police officers, firefighters and medical professionals all in SWAT gear descended on New Jersey City University's business school in Downtown Jersey City for an active shooter training drill.

Jersey City Public Safety Director James Shea said the drill, which the city's police officers participate in annually, are designed for Hudson County's agencies to learn how to respond to an attack in a training situation "before, God forbid, we do have to do it in real life."

Safety in schools has been a hot issue across the nation in recent months. This year alone, more than twice as many children have died in school shootings in the United States than deployed servicemen and women, according to an analysis by The Washington Post.

In February, 17 people died in a shooting at a high school in Parkland, Fla. Ten people were killed last month at a high school in Texas.

But with each scenario being different, first responders must train for every possible situation, Shea said.

"Unfortunately, these kind of attacks ... are continuing to happen in the world we live in and they're slightly different every time, so we have no shortage of lessons we have to learn," he said.

Inside the school was a scene as surreal as one could imagine: Students and staff scattered throughout the waterfront building with tattered clothing and makeup designed to resemble gunshot wounds, fake blood stained the stairwells and the sounds of gunshots echoed the hallways.

First responders in full tactical gear and guns cleared the building and police officers carried injured victims out of the school. EMTs and medics set a triage spot up on the sidewalk.

A day earlier, Keneh, a 22-year-old education major, learned of the drill - which was organized by third-party company Tomahawk Strategic Solution and paid with grants from the Department of Homeland Security - and knew she wanted to participate. She said the experience of playing the role of a woman with a serious arm injury prepared her for how to respond to a real shooting.

Denise Spooner, the assistant director of the college's public safety department, acted as a woman shot in the head at the front door.

"We want to have these drills so that we can have preparedness," Spooner said. "That's the biggest thing because of the world we're living in now, you never know when we can be approached by an active shooter."
Uh-oh! It could be you, or it could be us, but there's no page here.
Jo Anne Zito was charged with low-level marijuana possession in 2013 -- one of tens of thousands of New Jerseyans charged with the same crime that year.

Three years later, Zito applied for a job selling Godiva chocolates but was rejected, she said, because of the marijuana charge. That experience is common for people with such crimes on their records.

As New Jersey considers legalizing weed, the state also has to reckon with what to do about the hundreds of thousands of people who have been charged with marijuana crimes. Many legislators support expunging low-level convictions, but the logistics of doing so for such a common crime could cause a headache for the state.

Zito told her story Monday at an Assembly Judiciary Committee hearing, one of the first steps in the state's reckoning. Committee Chairwoman Annette Quijano, D-Union, earlier this year introduced a bill that would speed expungements should marijuana be legalized.

"Is it morally just to allow these people to walk around with a scarlet letter?" Quijano said. "The question of expungement needs to be asked."

FBI crime data shows that New Jersey arrests more people for marijuana use and possession than almost any state. Only Texas and New York arrested more people for marijuana crimes in 2016.

But the state's marijuana arrests are climbing faster than any other state. From 2015 to 2016, marijuana arrests jumped nearly 27 percent, from 28,148 to 35,700 arrests, FBI data shows. Arkansas is the closest, with a nearly 22 percent spike in arrests, but most other states show a modest increase. Nineteen states saw a drop in marijuana arrests in 2016.

Jon-Henry Barr, a municipal prosecutor in Clark Township, said that while it's his job to prosecute marijuana crimes, "the disobeyance of this law is so pervasive that I'm doing society no favors" by continuing to arrest people.

Barr begged the Judiciary Committee to "make my life easier" by expediting the expungement of marijuana crimes. But the people who actually oversee expungements in New Jersey say clearing people's criminal records requires a lot of effort.

Steven Somogyi, assistant director of municipal courts for the New Jersey Judiciary, said New Jersey municipalities have filed 1 million charges for simple drug possession since 1990. Some 400,000 of those charges have come since 2008, he said.

"The numbers are staggering," Somogyi said before the committee on Monday.

Expunging a person's record requires more than just sending a letter to the courts, said Alyson Jones, the legislative liaison for the state's Judiciary.

First the person looking to clear their record has to obtain information from all state and local agencies that may have recorded the charges, from the state courts all the way to the local prosecutor and even the jail warden. Then the person can file a petition for expungement, which costs at least $75, serving notice to all of the agencies.

Quijano's bill seeks to do this automatically for marijuana convictions should the state legalize weed.

But Jones and Somogyi cast doubt on the viability of clearing records automatically.

"There's still a very manual process in the expungements," Somogyi said. "It's nigh on impossible to identify drug crimes before they went in our computer system."

Social justice advocates say these charges stick with offenders for years, often preventing them from fully participating in society. Many advocates see legalization as a way to right the wrongs of marijuana prohibition.

"A single arrest and conviction can have lifelong consequences," said Amol Sinha, the executive director of the American Civil Liberties Union of New Jersey. Expungements are a "key component of reforming our broken criminal justice system," he added.

Sinha and other advocates told the Judiciary Committee that marijuana convictions, even for low-level possession, can result in people losing their housing and driver's licenses, and can prevent them from getting jobs and financial aid for college.

At the end of her testimony, Zito asked Quijano directly if she'd be able to get her own marijuana conviction cleared.

Quijano declined to answer about Zito's specific case but said that she will continue tweaking her bill to ensure that people saddled with old marijuana convictions can get their records cleared without the current burden involved.

EDITOR'S NOTE: Interested in the marijuana business industry? NJ Cannabis Insider is a new premium intelligence briefing that features exclusive weekly content geared toward entrepreneurs, lawyers and realtors. View a sample issue.

Payton Guion may be reached at PGuion@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @PaytonGuion. Find NJ.com on Facebook.
A former Lake Como man was indicted on six crimes for sending sexually explicit texts to an undercover officer who he believed was an 11-year old girl, the Monmouth County Prosecutor's Office announced.

Michael Camacho, 55, contacted a female child on her cell phone, prosecutors allege, and she alerted police.

Camacho, formerly of Lake Como, was arrested on March 14 in New Bedford, Massachusetts, where he had just moved.

Michael Camacho (Monmouth Co. Prosecutor)

After the girl contacted authorities, an undercover detective with the Ocean Township Police Department used the girl's phone to communicate with Camacho, posing as the girl.

During February and March, Camacho sent the girl messages about engaging in sexual activity and discussed meeting up with the child, the office said.

Prosecutors allege Camacho also sent the girl explicit photos of himself and tried to talk her into sending him photos.

Local police agencies, with the help of Massachusetts law enforcement, tracked down and arrested Camacho in Massachusetts. He was extradited back to New Jersey and is being detained here pending trial.

A grand jury indicted him on charges of second-degree luring, two counts of second-degree attempted endangering the welfare of a child, two counts of third-degree attempted endangering the welfare of a child, and one count of third-degree attempted obscenity to a minor.

If convicted, Camacho faces up to 10 years in state prison and will be forced to register as a sex offender, and could face life-long parole, the prosecutor's office said.

Paige Gross may be reached at pgross@njadvancemedia.com. Follow her on Twitter @By_paigegross. Find NJ.com on Facebook.
The family of a missing military veteran suffering from Post Traumatic Stress Disorder has been desperately searching for him in North Jersey since late last week.

Thomas Podschelne

Thomas Podschelne, 59, left his Waldwick home on Friday and failed to show up to his job the next day at the Stop & Shop on Broad Street in Clifton.

"It's been three full days now so we're still anticipating him being around here," his daughter, Chelsea, said Monday morning. "We're still searching. Any info on his whereabouts would be a huge help."

Podschelne, who served in the Iraq War over 10 years ago, was last seen walking about 8 a.m. Friday, his daughter said.

He was wearing all black clothes with tan military boots and a hat, his daughter said.

"Please if anyone sees my dad in the area please contact the local police department ASAP," Chelsea said.

Anthony G. Attrino may be reached at tattrino@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @TonyAttrino. Find NJ.com on Facebook.
A federal judge has issued an injunction preventing New Jersey from unilaterally withdrawing from the bi-state watchdog agency that regulates the region's seaport.

In a ruling late Friday, U.S. District Judge Susan Wigenton said the Waterfront Commission of New York Harbor would "suffer irreparable harm unless Governor Murphy is enjoined" from implementing a bill calling for the state to walk away from the interstate compact with New York that created the commission more than 60 years ago.

"The commission works to reform corrupt and discriminatory hiring practices in the port," wrote Wigenton in her 23-page opinion. "The commission also investigates illicit activities in the port."

Citing sworn statements by Walter Arsenault, the commission's executive director, that "organized crime still very much continues to exist on the waterfront," the judge declared: "It is in the public interest for the commission to continue its investigatory and regulatory work."

Michael A. Cardozo of Proskauer, who represented the Waterfront Commission, said the ruling prevents the state from taking any action to withdraw from the interstate action until the case is over.

"Of course, the state has a right to appeal," he said.

A spokesman for the state Attorney General's office said only "we are reviewing our legal options. A spokesman for Senate President Stephen Sweeney, who intervened in the court case and was a prime sponsor of the bill aimed at pulling out of the commission, did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

The Waterfront Commission took New Jersey to court in January, after former Gov. Chris Christie, as one of his last official acts, signed off on legislation he once vetoed as unconstitutional, to unilaterally withdraw from the agency created decades ago to battle the deep-rooted corruption by the mob on the docks of New York Harbor.

The bill, which was passed by the Legislature, directed the governor on behalf of New Jersey, to notify the Congress and the governor of New York of New Jersey's intention to withdraw from the compact that had created the Waterfront Commission. It proposed turning over responsibilities for policing the port in New Jersey to the State Police.

The commission immediately went to federal court seeking an injunction against the state and its new chief executive, Gov. Phil Murphy.

"New Jersey cannot simply decide for itself that it no longer wants to honor its obligations under a bilateral compact ratified by Congress," said lawyers for the commission in court filings. "Congress and the legislatures of New York and New Jersey established the commission to eliminate corruption and racketeering at the Port of New York and New Jersey. The threat of corruption persists."

The Waterfront Commission has jurisdiction over all the region's piers and terminals--including the ports in Newark, Elizabeth and Bayonne.

The political and legal fight over the future of the agency has been ongoing for years, with some elected officials arguing that the commission was living in the glory of its past.

The corruption so endemic on the piers was later immortalized in the movie classic "On the Waterfront."

Officials argued that time had moved on from the days when organized crime was so deeply entrenched in a shipping industry. At the same time, the unions that represent the longshoremen have fought against the commission's tough licensing regulations and mandatory background checks that for some can mean the difference between working or being banned from the port.

In its filings, New Jersey argued that the commission "has over-regulated the business at the port" and has become "an impediment to future job growth."

Wigenton said there is no dispute that the Waterfront Commission compact could be terminated if it outlived its usefulness.

"Rather, the disagreement is over the unilateral manner and method by which New Jersey seeks to end the compact," she said, noting that only Congress--which first approved the agreement--explicitly reserved the right to alter, amend, or repeal it.

She also noted that the commission's argument that withdrawing from the bi-state agreement would cripple the agency and leave it unable to carry out its duties.

The judge said the hardships that commission alleges will occur without a preliminary injunction are not "illusory; rather, they are realistic and expansive," and outweighed the state's arguments of fostering potential economic growth.

Read Judge Wigenton's opinion:

Ted Sherman may be reached at tsherman@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @TedShermanSL. Facebook: @TedSherman.reporter. Find NJ.com on Facebook.
The cliche has never been more true: Elections have consequences, and as the country faces one of the most consequential midterms in its history, it is desperate for fresh and courageous candidates who recognize a swamp when they plunge into it.

Because for better or worse, the next Congress will determine whether we want to fortify our democracy or surrender to a president who runs the country like a mob boss.

Donald Trump gets his impunity from Congress, and Congress gets its power from the people. So Tuesday's primary is the first test of whether New Jerseyans will tolerate a president who believes he should not be limited by the institutions of democracy - one who directs the Justice Department to attack his political enemies, uses foreign policy to enrich his family, and kneecaps the free press that criticizes him.

The turnout may also reveal whether we are comfortable with candidates who genuflect to a president who wants to stonewall a federal investigation that has produced five guilty pleas and 17 indictments.

Here are six newcomers to watch Tuesday:

Mikie Sherrill, Democrat, 11

Tom Malinowski, Democrat, 7

Steve Lonegan, Republican, 5

Andy Kim, Democrat, 3

Hirsh Singh, Republican, 2nd Dist. - Running for the retiring Rep. Frank LoBiondo's seat, the

Jay Webber, Republican, 11

Bookmark NJ.com/Opinion. Follow on Twitter @NJ_Opinion and find NJ.com Opinion on Facebook.
By Elizabeth Maher Muoio

A reporter recently asked me if I would vote for Gov. Phil Murphy's proposed revenue raisers if I were still a legislator. Without hesitation, I answered "yes."

As state treasurer, I have the advantage of being privy to the full view of our finances while bearing the responsibility for our fiscal decisions. So I would like to shed more light on why I would vote for the governor's proposed revenue initiatives.

The ramifications of the Christie administration's decision to cut roughly a billion dollars in education funding early in its tenure are undeniable. These cuts forced layoffs and pitted district against district in the fight for scarce resources. After nearly a decade of struggles under this "new normal," Murphy's budget will boost direct aid to the classroom by $283 million. I recognize there is still work to do to ensure funding is distributed equitably, but without new revenue streams, this increase in formula aid would be impossible.

Because this investment will support both classroom learning and help lower property taxes, I would vote "yes."

As the former head of economic development for Mercer County, I know how critical a reliable transportation infrastructure is in moving our economy and our residents forward. Years of drastically slashing NJ Transit funds have led to chronic delays, cancellations, and breakdowns - wreaking havoc on commuters' lives and doing little to inspire confidence in corporations looking to expand or relocate to our state.

The governor's budget proposes an historic $242 million increase in funding to help turn NJ Transit around.

All told, over 95 percent of the new spending proposed in Murphy's budget is a direct investment in education and NJ Transit.

However, as I said to the state Senate and Assembly budget committees recently, even with no new spending initiatives, without new revenue initiatives we are on a trajectory for a general fund deficit of $2.4 billion in the next fiscal year if the governor's proposed changes are not enacted.

We have a constitutional obligation to ensure this does not happen.

There were a number of years when the previous administration painted revenue projections far rosier than reality, as evidenced by the many times Gov. Chris Christie's projections differed wildly from that of the Office of Legislative Services. Today, the projections from both branches of government are in almost perfect alignment and they both tell a story of a state in fiscal trouble without new revenues.

There is no longer a dispute over the underperformance of some of our general fund revenue sources.

To ward off this potential crisis, Murphy has proposed a series of revenue raisers. Chief among them is an increase in the marginal tax rate on the wealthiest in our state who would see a 1.78 percent increase on every dollar they earn over one million. These same folks would realize an average federal tax cut of nearly $22,000 under the new federal tax changes that disproportionately favor the wealthiest.

The governor's budget asks millionaires to shoulder a proportionately fairer share of the state's fiscal responsibilities.

Another revenue proposal would restore the sales tax rate from the current 6.625 percent to the 7 percent rate that it was for nearly the past decade.

This rate reduction was largely viewed as a gimmick perpetrated by the Christie administration to avoid the specter of raising taxes. Middle- and low-income earners saw only minor savings through the nominal sales tax reduction. In the end, the state lost over half a billion dollars in sales tax revenue, which blew a hole in our general fund.

Many in the Legislature expressed concerns at the time, knowing this trade-off would likely exacerbate our long-term problems. We were forced to compromise in order to make our Transportation Trust Fund solvent again. In less than two years, this decision has eroded general fund revenues to an alarming point we can no longer ignore.

Murphy's budget relies on balanced and sustainable revenue streams.

At the same time, we are mindful of the need to pursue cost savings. We have embarked on a comprehensive effort to pursue savings through health benefit negotiations and the governor has ordered every department to do deep dives to determine what can be cut.

Keep in mind, this will not be easy because most departments have struggled to meet their mandates after years of seeing their budgets flat-funded or cut.

At the end of the day, if we don't find new ways to boost our general fund revenues, we will have no rainy day cushion to help us weather another economic downturn. We will have no way to continue meeting our pension payment obligations. We will have no means to invest in the areas that have been chronically neglected.

We will be hamstrung by our basic obligations and even those will become increasingly harder and harder to meet.

For all of these reasons, I would unequivocally vote "yes."

Elizabeth Maher Muoio is New Jersey's State Treasurer and a former Assemblywoman.

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While primary elections are meant to give registered Democrats and Republicans a chance to say who will appear on the ballot in November, New Jersey's nearly 2.4 million unaffiliated voters are not left out of the process.

Voters who are currently registered as unaffiliated are exempt from the deadline, which has already passed, for a voter to change from Republican to Democrat or from Democrat to Republican to vote in Tuesday's primary, according to the state's Division of Elections.

That means if you are registered as an unaffiliated voter, you can cast a ballot in either the Democratic or Republican primaries on Tuesday.

Here's how it works:

An unaffiliated voter can walk into their polling station Tuesday and request a Republican or Democratic ballot and then cast their vote.

However, there's a caveat.

That person is then registered under that party affiliation.

So if you vote in the Democratic primary, you're now a registered Democrat. If you vote in the Republican primary, you're now a registered Republican.

But an unaffiliated voter who declares a party by voting in the primary can return to their unaffiliated status after the primary by re-registering as an unaffiliated voter, according to the state's Division of Elections.

New Jerseyans can check whether they're registered to vote at the Department of State's Division of Elections website. If voters want to look up their party affiliation, they can create a free online account with the Division of Elections that allows them to access their detailed voting information.

New Jersey has 2,381,558 people registered to vote as unaffiliated. From there, Democrats outnumber Republicans by nearly 900,000 registered voters, according to the state's latest registration data.

There are 2,144,044 registered Democrats and 1,249,230 Republicans.

The primary features contests for the U.S. Senate, U.S. House, and several big local races.

Matt Arco may be reached at marco@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @MatthewArco or Facebook.
The atmosphere in Trenton is tense and if legislators and the state's new governor don't heal some wounds, New Jerseyans could be barred from state parks and beaches this summer for the second year in a row.

A budget needs to be signed by June 30. If that doesn't happen, there's a government shutdown that would keep all non-essential state workers home and, among other things, shutter state parks ahead of the July Fourth holiday.

Everything boils down to three people -- all Democrats -- when it comes time to negotiate a state budget in New Jersey: Gov. Phil Murphy, state Senate President Stephen Sweeney and state Assembly Speaker Craig Coughlin.

Murphy is navigating his first budget, while Sweeney has held the position of Senate president for eight years. Sweeney is on his ninth budget.

Both have insisted in public there isn't a chill between them and that they are getting along fine. But that myth has been busted, most recently when Sweeney held a 40-minute press conference last week to lob a series of jabs at the governor.

The next day, a top staffer in his office met with Murphy officials to discuss a component of the budget. But the meeting was tense, unproductive and cut short. Soon thereafter, Murphy's office ordered state agencies to submit their shutdown contingency plans to the governor by noon on June 11.

The drama comes a year after a budget dispute between then-Gov. Chris Christie, a Republican, and leaders of the Democrat-controlled state Legislature shut down the state government for three days.

Now, Murphy, a Democrat, is in charge. But legislative leaders from his own party disagree with his first state budget proposal.

They have pushed back against Murphy's plans for a new tax on millionaires and reverting the state sales tax from 6.625 percent back to 7 percent to increase funding for education, transportation and more.

Sweeney says he'll shut the state down over school funding, and has a proposal that would give some districts major increases in state aid and slash state support for other "overfunded districts" over seven years.

Coughlin, for his part, has stayed out of the public spotlight as Sweeney tosses jabs and Murphy insists all is well.

There's still time for the Democrats to get together and hash out a compromise. But the clock is ticking.

Who will you blame at this point in the event there's another shutdown?

Vote in our unscientific poll below.
An Elizabeth cop who caused the death of a motorcyclist while driving drunk in October looks to be out of a job and headed to jail for a year.

The recommended sentence and plea deal Romulo Meneses-Alvarez agreed to Monday in Union County Superior Court likely means he's escaped what could have been a prison term of at least several years.

Meneses-Alvarez, 30, of Elizabeth, admitted he caused the death of Jairo Lozano, 29, of Elizabeth, on Oct. 31, 2017, according to the Middlesex County Prosecutor's Office.

The off-duty officer was under the influence of alcohol when his Jeep Wrangler turned left in front of Lozano's motorcycle on Elmora Avenue in Elizabeth, causing the collision.

Meneses-Alvarez pleaded guilty Monday to strict liability vehicular homicide in the third degree, tampering with physical evidence in the fourth degree, and driving while intoxicated as part of the plea agreement.

When he is sentenced July 13, Middlesex County Assistant Prosecutor Keith Abrams will recommend Meneses-Alvarez serve 364 days in county jail as a condition of probation, according the Middlesex prosecutor's office. (Middlesex prosecuted the case due to an undisclosed conflict of interest with the Union County Prosecutor's Office.)

Meneses-Alvarez also agreed to give up his job with Elizabeth Police Department, from which he's been suspended without pay. The prosecutor's office also said he will lose his license for one year for the drunk driving conviction. A spokeswoman for the prosecutor said the judge will decide the length of the probation term.

Many details of the Halloween crash and the investigation remain unclear, but police documents and indictments allege that Meneses-Alvarez left the scene after the crash and hindered the investigation by preventing police from checking out his Jeep Wrangler.

A diagram from the police report about the crash. (Middlesex County Prosecutor's Office)

After the Jeep and the 2005 GSX Suzuki motorcycle collided, Lozano was taken to Trinitas Regional Medical Center, where he was pronounced dead.

A police narrative in court documents said Meneses-Alvarez gave his information to police at the scene but then left.

Joshua McMahon, an attorney for Lozano's family, said a witness and body camera footage revealed that another Elizabeth police officer told Meneses-Alvarez to leave. NJ Advance Media was unable to confirm this because a records request for the video footage was denied.

A grand jury returned seven indictments against Meneses-Alvarez in April, making reference to him leaving the scene and not returning. He was indicted for hindering for allegedly lying to an officer when he said he was returning to the crime scene, one indictment said. Another indictment claimed there was evidence he tried to tamper with evidence by altering, destroying, concealing or removing his Jeep during the investigation.

The criminal complaint said that police got a warrant to take a blood sample from Meneses-Alvarez and he was taken to the hospital several hours later. The complaint did not say where officers located him.

All but three of the charges were dismissed as part of the plea agreement, including a first-degree vehicular homicide within 1,000 feet of a school, which could have meant a double-digit prison sentence if he was convicted.

McMahon said that Meneses-Alvarez admitted in court Monday that he was drinking at Central Park, a bar in Roselle, before the crash.

Central Park was one of two bars where former Linden cop Pedro Abad was drinking in 2015 before he drove the wrong way on a highway leading to a head-on crash that killed two fellow officers. He was sentenced to 8 1/3 to 25 years in prison a year ago.

"The family was heartened to hear the Defendant take responsibility, and appreciates the efforts of the Middlesex County Assistant Prosecutors to facilitate this negotiated resolution," McMahon said. "That said, given what has happened here as well as the Abad incident, we intend, through the civil arena, to fully explore the role that Central Park bartenders played in this Defendant committing another off-duty, drinking-related homicide."

After Abad's crash, an officer who was injured but survived and the family of one of the deceased officers filed civil suits against Central Park and Curves, a Staten Island strip club where Abad was also served alcohol.

Rebecca Everett may be reached at reverett@njadvancemedia.com. Follow her on Twitter @rebeccajeverett. Find NJ.com on Facebook.

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The superintendent of a school district under investigation by two state agencies will return next month to the helm of his previous district to the tune of $145,000 per year.

Richard Corbett will take the top administrative post in East Newark, where he previously served as the superintendent, after he suddenly resigned from the Roselle school district with two years left in his contract.

Four out of seven East Newark board members on May 7 voted to rehire Corbett, current district superintendent Patrick Martin confirmed in an interview. The other three board members were absent.

"The Board of Education thought that he was a good fit for the district academically and to move the district forward and to look after the finances in an appropriate manner," said Martin, who announced his retirement in March.

The Roselle school board in February voted to ask the state Department of Education's Office of Fiscal Accountability and Compliance to review that district's finances.

Asked if the East Newark school board knew that when they voted to hire Corbett, Martin said he believes they did.

"Our board, I believe, was aware of that, and ... still felt that given his track record here for five years, he would be able to run the district appropriately."

None of the seven school board members could be reached for comment.

East Newark's district has one school that serves about 273 students in preschool through eighth grade. More than three-quarters of students are economically disadvantaged, state data shows.

Corbett worked in East Newark from 2007 to 2012 before leaving to lead the Hardyston district in Sussex County. He became the interim superintendent in Roselle in December 2016 and the permanent superintendent the following June.

His five-year contract with the East Newark district requires him to take a pay cut from his current job, where state data shows he earned $167,325 as of March. He will earn $145,000 in the 2018-2019 school year and an additional $1,000 every subsequent year, according to a copy of his contract obtained through a public records request.

Corbett's contract will begin July 1 and automatically renew at the end for another three years, unless the school board votes otherwise.

In response to a request for comment, Corbett said he would be out of New Jersey for a few days. He did not respond to a follow-up email.

The state Department of Education's Office of Fiscal Accountability and Compliance is investigating the Roselle district's business practices after the school board's vote to request it visit, board attorney Allan Roth previously said.

OFAC is the investigatory branch of the education department and probes a range of conduct, from ethics violations to possible violations of law. It refers its findings to other departmental divisions for potential action.

Meanwhile, a section of the state Department of the Treasury -- the Division of Purchase and Property Contract Compliance Audit Unit -- visited the district this winter to review two of its contracts with vendors, Roth said.

A Treasury spokeswoman said the compliance and audit unit requested a site visit to confirm the district's compliance with the state's Equal Employment Opportunity laws.

Three months before submitting his resignation, Corbett removed the responsibilities of his business administrator, Jason Jones, and Jones's secretary, Jade Wilson, without explanation. The school board later terminated their employment.

Jones did not respond to a recent request for comment. Wilson could not be reached.

Marisa Iati may be reached at miati@njadvancemedia.com. Follow her on Twitter @Marisa_Iati or on Facebook here. Find NJ.com on Facebook.

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(CNN)  U.S. Defense Secretary James Mattis accused China of "intimidation and coercion" in the Indo-Pacific and declared that the United States does not plan to abandon its role in the region during a speech Saturday in Singapore.

"Make no mistake: America is in the Indo-Pacific to stay. This is our priority theater," Mattis said.

Mattis specifically called out Beijing's militarization of artificial islands in the South China Sea, home to some of the world's busiest sea lanes.

"We are aware China will face an array of challenges and opportunities in coming years, we are prepared to support China's choices if they promote long-term peace and prosperity for all in this dynamic region," Mattis said.

"Yet China's policy in the South China Sea stands in stark contrast to the openness our strategy promotes. It calls into question China's broader goals," he said.

Mattis and some of his counterparts from the Asia Pacific region are in Singapore for the Shangri-La Dialogue, an annual gathering of security officials, contractors and academics in the Asian city-state.

Tensions in the South China Sea

The South China Sea has been a hot topic of discussion during the summit's opening, amid ongoing attempts by China to assert its dominance in the region.

China, Taiwan, Vietnam, Malaysia, Indonesia, the Philippines and Brunei all have competing claims to the territory. But while other countries have built military features and artificial islands, none come close to matching Beijing's in scale or ambition, which stretch hundreds of miles south and east from its most southerly province of Hainan.

In May, the Chinese military landed nuclear-capable bombers on its artificial islands for the first time.

Weeks earlier, U.S. intelligence announced there was a high possibility Beijing had deployed anti-ship and anti-aircraft missiles as part of ongoing military exercises.

"China's militarization of artificial features in the South China Sea includes the deployment of anti-ship missiles, surface-to-air missiles, electronic jammers and, more recently, the landing of bomber aircraft at woody island," said Mattis, confirming previous intelligence reports.

"Despite China's claims to the contrary, the placement of these weapon systems is tied directly to military use for the purposes of intimidation and coercion," he said.

On Sunday, two U.S. Navy warships sailed close to a handful of disputed islands claimed by China in the Paracel island chain, east of Vietnam, in a move that drew the ire of Beijing.

"I think it goes to a fundamental disconnect between the way the international tribunals have looked at these waters -- these waters look to us as free and open waters," said Mattis, addressing last week's freedom of navigation operation directly.

"We do not do freedom of navigation for America alone, we do freedom of navigation for all nations ... we do not see it as a militarization by going through what has traditionally been international water space. We see it as affirmation of the rules-based international order."

Though Mattis appeared to draw a firm line between the actions of the US and China, he insisted the US is not asking other countries in the region to choose sides.

"China should and does have a voice in shaping the international system, and all of China's neighbors have a voice in shaping China's role," said Mattis, adding that he would travel to Beijing soon "at China's invitation."

China claims its actions in the South China Sea are entirely peaceful and meant to protect its citizens and trading interests.

RELATED: U.S. rebrands Pacific Command amid tensions with China

Korean summit

Mattis only briefly mentioned the status of the Korean Peninsula in his formal remarks, which come just hours after U.S. President Donald Trump announced that he will hold a summit with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un in Singapore on June 12, just days after Mattis departs.

The Defense Secretary stuck to fairly common talking points from Washington: highlighting the importance of U.S. alliances and the ultimate goal of complete, verifiable and irreversible denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula.

Much of the speech was focused on longer-term challenges in the region known as the Indo-Pacific, a phrase used throughout India and Southeast Asia and recently embraced by the Trump administration.

He also mentioned the importance of upholding US alliances and partnerships in the region, specifically highlighting Australia, New Zealand and India. Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi gave the keynote opening speech this year, also emphasizing the importance of a free and open Indo-Pacific.

Mattis also touched upon the status of Taiwan, an issue bound to ruffle feathers in Beijing. China views the island as a renegade province and seeks its eventual reunification with the mainland.

Beijing has been accused of ramping up the pressure on Taipei in recent weeks, with Taiwan accusing using its diplomatic and economic weight to isolate the island from the international community. It has also punished business for recognizing Taiwan as independent country.

"We oppose all unilateral efforts to alter the status quo and will continue to insist any resolution of differences accord with the will of the people on both sides of the Taiwan Strait," he said.

Mattis delivered the keynote address at the event last year.

This story was first published on CNN.com, "Mattis takes hard line on China in Singapore speech."
A former Terrytown man arrested in mid-May for possession of more than 1,100 explicit images of young children was rebooked Friday (June 1) after detectives identified at least one local victim in some of the photos, according to authorities.

Joshua Sullivan, 38, is accused of photographing the genitals of two young girls under the age of 13. Jefferson Parish Sheriff's Office detectives discovered the images among seized files and identified one of the victims as a girl known to Sullivan, authorities said.

Sullivan is booked with a total of 10 counts of possession of pornography involving juveniles, including the two charges added Friday. The counts stem from an investigation into a 2012 complaint of sexual abuse made by a 7-year-old Terrytown girl.

The sheriff's office took several computers and digital devices from Sullivan's home in the 600 block of East Niagara Circle in 2012, but it appears that data wasn't analyzed until 2018, according to sheriff's office records.

The department has not yet discussed the investigative delay, but NOLA.com | The Times-Picayune requested comment Monday (June 4).

On Oct. 22, 2012, relatives of a 7-year-old girl took her to Ochsner Medical Center West Bank after she told them Sullivan, an acquaintance, had done "nasty things" to her during a visit to his residence. She also told investigators he took photos of her, the report said.

The sheriff's office seized Sullivan's devices in 2012 after obtaining a search warrant. But they weren't put through for forensic examination until April 2018 when Detective Nick Vega was assigned to the case, according to the department.

Vega and analysts found thousands of child pornography images, according to Lt. Jason Rivarde, spokesman for the department. The illicit images include the rape of girls 16 and under, some infants, authorities said.

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Vega obtained a warrant for Sullivan's arrest on May 1. He was taken into custody in Talladega, Alabama, where he was living.

Sullivan waived extradition and was brought back to Jefferson Parish on May 15. He was booked with eight counts of juvenile pornography possession.

Meanwhile, detectives continued to examine the seized data and discovered the photos of the local victim. The girl is posed with another young girl under the age of 13, authorities said. Detectives have a suspected identification on the second girl in the photos.

The sheriff's office seized a massive amount of data from Sullivan, according to Rivarde. They still have 2 terabytes of data, the equivalent of 620,000 photographs or 1,000 hours of video, to review, he said.

It's possible that Sullivan will face additional charges. Investigators also suspect there may be more victims.

. . . . . . . .

Anyone with information about Joshua Sullivan or potential victims is asked to call the Jefferson Parish Sheriff's Office investigations bureau at 504.364.5300. The public can also call Crimestoppers at 504.822.1111 or toll-free at 877.903.7867. Tips can be texted to C-R-I-M-E-S (274637); text TELLCS then the crime information. Callers or texters do not have to give their names or testify and can earn a $2,500 reward for information that leads to an indictment.
BY GORDON R. FRIEDMAN AND JIM RYAN

Left- and right-wing protesters demonstrated and sometimes clashed in violent outbursts Sunday evening in downtown Portland, drawing police in riot gear, disrupting traffic and resulting in four arrests.

The polar opposites across America's political divide stood on either side of a downtown street shouting insults at each other.

On the political left were members of antifa, a self-described anti-fascist group often clad in black with their faces covered. On the political right were Joey Gibson and followers of his Patriot Prayer group, some who are pro-Trump, others appearing to be mostly anti-antifa.

Police -- swathed in pads, helmets and shin guards and hanging off special personnel carrier trucks -- clutched wooden batons as they tried to keep protesters on the sidewalks when they left parks near City Hall and started walking.

Authorities stepped in as heated banter between protesters spiraled into occasional fistfights. Several people received first-aid from medics on the scene.

Portland police said officers with the Federal Protective Service and a Multnomah County sheriff's deputy used pepper spray twice, when when protesters fought. Demonstrators used pepper spray too, police said, and some threw fireworks, bottles, rocks and ball bearings at each other.

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Blocks away on the waterfront, the Portland Rose Festival carried on undisturbed, with the Ferris wheel turning and music blaring at the event's traditional carnival.

Four men were arrested, police said, and two will be charged with disorderly conduct, a third with a federal citation, and a fourth is yet to be charged because he has not given his name.

Gibson organized his group's rally as a high-intensity send-off to one of his supporters, but it came nearly a year to the day after similar demonstrations between thousands turned violent at the same location.

The demonstrations last June followed the brutal MAX train attack on May 26. Jeremy Christian, who had himself attended an earlier Patriot Prayer rally in Southeast Portland, is accused of stabbing to death two men on a train and leaving a third, Micah Fletcher, critically injured but alive with a deep neck wound.

Fletcher, bearing a scar from Christian's knife, attended Sunday's gatherings, but stayed far from the melees.

-- Gordon R. Friedman

-- Jim Ryan
Stephen and Rae Ann Gruver appeared on Dateline NBC Sunday (June 3) alongside other parents of hazing victims to call on universities, fraternities and policymakers to take action to protect kids. Their son, Maxwell Gruver, died last September at the Phi Delta Theta fraternity house at Louisiana State University.

The Gruvers joined 14 other families who lost a son to college hazing for the "Dateline" segment, titled "The College Fraternity Crisis." The report examines alleged hazing incidents at schools nationwide, including LSU, Texas Tech University, Florida A&M University and Rider University.

The parents came together to form Parents United to Stop Hazing, or PUSH, an advocacy group that seeks change from universities, national fraternities and lawmakers to stop hazing deaths. Stephen Gruver told NBC "Max would be alive today if there was transparency" in how fraternities operate.

"They had him take pulls off of a 190-proof alcohol bottle, which is grain alcohol, because he answered questions wrong," Rae Ann Gruver told NBC's Andrea Canning.

A Phi Delta Theta pledge told authorities last year that 18-year-old Gruver of Rosewell, Georgia, was "made to" take at least 10 to 12 "pulls" of 190-proof grain alcohol as other pledges drank lesser amounts of the liquor during a ritual testing their fraternity knowledge. A coroner's report stated Gruver died from "acute alcohol intoxication with aspiration." His body had a blood alcohol level of .495, which is more than six times the legal limit to drive.

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A Baton Rouge grand jury March 15 indicted four of the 10 men arrested for their involvement in Gruver's death. They pleaded not guilty to their criminal charges on April 20. LSU has banned the Phi Delta Theta fraternity from its campus until Jan. 1, 2033.

Louisiana Gov. John Bel Edwards has also signed into law new, more intense penalties for hazing.

. . . . . . .

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
A Paradis man was indicted on second-degree murder and attempted second degree murder in connection with the shooting death of his 15-year-old son and critically injuring his wife. Ed Veillon, Jr., 49, has pleaded not guilty to the charges, according to St. Charles Parish court records.

Veillon is being held in the parish jail under a $1 million bond set by 29

Judicial District Judge Emile St. Pierre.

Veillon was arrested April 23 and booked with first degree murder and attempted first degree murder after authorities say he shot and killed his 15-year-old son, Seth Veillon, and critically wounded his 43-year-old wife during a shooting April 22 at their home in the 100 block of Lynn Drive in Paradis.

The couple's 9-year-old daughter ran from the house during the shooting and alerted a neighbor down the street, authorities have said.

Authorities have not released a motive behind the domestic violence.

A St. Charles Parish grand jury was convened May 23 and voted to charge Veillon with second-degree murder and attempted second-degree murder, court documents show. He pleaded not guilty to those charges on May 29.
A 27-year-old woman and a 15-year-old girl were robbed by a man who they believed was armed at the edge of the French Quarter and Central Business District Sunday night (June 3), according to New Orleans police.

The two victims were walking in the 100 block of Exchange Place shortly after 9:30 p.m. when a man with his hand in his waistband approached them. According to a preliminary police report, the man demanded the victims give him their purses, and fled the scene when they did.

Earlier in the day, a Subway in Gert Town was robbed, according to NOPD. A preliminary police report states a man came into the business around 11:40 a.m. and told the employee, "I'm about to rob you."

The employee ran out of the store, police said, and the man fled in a car shortly after. It was not clear Monday morning what was stolen.

NOPD also reported an aggravated burglary early Monday in the Read Boulevard area of New Orleans East.

According to a preliminary police report, two 23-year-old men were in the backyard of a home in the 4900 block of Maid Marion Drive shortly after 4:30 a.m. As they went back inside, the victims saw a man walking out the side door carrying a television.

The man pointed a gun at the two victims and fled the scene with the TV, according to the report. NOPD also reported a third victim, a 48-year-old woman, but it was not clear how she was involved.

Note: This story was updated Tuesday morning to clarify the neighborhood where the first robbery occurred.
Four natural gas pipeline companies that were ordered to repair some erosion along pipeline canals in Plaquemines Parish by a federal judge in August 2017 and May of this year have appealed their case to the U.S. 5th Circuit Court of Appeals.

The notice of appeal does not contain an explanation of why the rulings by U.S. District Judge Jane Triche Milazzo were being challenged.

"We are appealing because while the court awarded only $1,100 in money damages and ordered less than a third of the specific relief requested by the plaintiffs, important issues were wrongly decided and should be reversed on appeal," said Dave Conover, a spokesman for Kinder Morgan, the parent company for two of the pipeline firms.

Attorneys representing New Orleans-based Vintage Assets Inc. and other landowners who filed the suit against the pipeline companies did not immediately respond to a request for comments.

In August 2017, Milazzo found that Tennessee Gas Pipeline Co. LLC and Southern Natural Gas. Co. LLC, both subsidiaries of Kinder Morgan, and the privately owned High Point Gas Transmission LLC and High Point Gas Gathering LLC, had to repair some of the erosion that had occurred since 1953 along the paths of their canals through property largely owned by New Orleans-based Vintage Assets Inc. in the Breton Sound basin in Plaquemines Parish.

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After a September 2017 bench trial aimed at determining what should be repaired, Milazzo ruled in May that the companies had to restore 9.6 acres of wetlands that she found they had allowed to erode, and must pay $1,102 in damages.

The cost of restoring the wetlands could be significant, and a permanent injunction Milazzo issued with her ruling required the companies to maintain the wetlands adjacent to the canals for as long as right-of-way agreements allowing the pipelines to be there are in force.

The closely-watched lawsuit is believed to have the potential of setting a precedent for other suits filed against oil and gas production companies on whether damages should be measured for the effects of pipelines or other production work on coastal wetlands, and how to measure damages. There are an estimated 10,000 miles of pipeline and oil service canals in Louisiana.

In her permanent injunction, Milazzo said the pipeline firms "have breached their obligations" to maintain the width of canals as outlined in contracts with the landowners. She also ordered the companies to come up with a restoration plan within 90 days that would be overseen by a special master to be appointed by the court.

Her order also required the companies to maintain the canals at the widths designated by the right-of-way agreements "for the remaining life of those agreements."
New Orleans' 12th annual Running of the Bulls takes place at 8 a.m. on Saturday (July 14) in the CBD. It's one of the greatest wacky events in a city known for great wacky events. Or is that whacky?

New Orleans' Running of the Bulls (also known as San Fermin in Nueva Orleans) is much, much better than the original Running of the Bulls in Pamplona, Spain, for the simple reason that there are no murderous bulls involved. Instead the swarm of inebriated runners are pursued by horned female roller derby players, who swat them mercilessly with plastic whiffle ball bats ... whack, whack, whack.

New Orleans' Running of the Bulls is not so much a death-defying tradition as a contusion-defying tradition. But what we lack in mortal dread, we make up for in sheer dizziness.

I promise you, when the approximately 15,000 runners piously kneel for a preposterous prayer before the 200 enraged bulls roll out of the stockade to begin the mayhem on Saturday morning, surrealist Salvador Dali will gaze down from heaven and smile.

If you plan to merely observe the run, consult the route listed below, pick a spot, get out there early, and be sure to stay hydrated. Hmmm, a Bloody Bull (a Bloody Mary with beef bouillon) would probably be the most appropriate run-observing beverage, right?

If, on the other hand, you crave a Saturday morning jog among hordes of frantically fleeing friends, plus a few bright pink welts about the buttocks, tickets are $35 to $80. To be identified as a runner, participants must wear white with red trim. Runners agree to participate at their own risk. They pledge to not touch the bulls.

Admission is $60 to a pre-run "Txupinazo" party that takes place on Friday (July 13). Plans for a Sunday post-run event titled "El Pobre de Mi" are underway. Details are available on the Running of the Bulls website.

As in years past, the runners are instructed to gather at The Sugar Mill, 1021 Convention Center Blvd. at 6:30 a.m. on July 14. A procession takes place at 7:15 a.m., followed by the run.

The runners and bulls will proceed downtown on Convention Center Boulevard

No one calls the New Orleans Running of the Bulls performance art, but it certainly is. Like the Bayou Boogaloo Festival, the Intergalactic Krewe of Chewbacchus and several other post-Katrina popups, it's one of those events that helped preserve the Crescent City's crazy culture by slightly altering the Crescent City's crazy culture.

Each year the Running of the Bulls organization donates thousands to the Beth's Friends Forever charity (to help New Orleans women fight breast cancer) and Big Easy Animal Rescue.

Doug MacCash has the best job in the world, covering art, music, and culture in New Orleans. Contact him via email at dmaccash@nola.com. Follow him on Twitter at Doug MacCash and on Facebook at Douglas James MacCash. As always, please add your point of view to the comment stream.
Up to 150,000 households who otherwise wouldnt qualify  including some with six-figure salaries  are expected to apply for food stamps as qualifications are relaxed to help in the recovery from Hurricane Ida.
(CNN)  South Korean Defense Minister Song Young-moo said that the international community should not question Kim Jong Un's motives, as it could hinder progress in bringing about the denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula.

Song made the comments during a question and answer session after a speech at the Shangri-La Dialogue, a security summit that draws government officials and academics from around the world.

Speaking alongside Song were Japanese Defense Minister Itsunori Onodera and Canadian Defense Minister Harjit Sajjan.

"Chairman Kim Jong Un is looking to make decisive actions," Song said, according to a translation provided by the International Institute for Strategic Studies, which hosts the event. "If we suspect his motives, than any kind of developments to achieve that will be hindered by these suspicions. So as we try to take this path forward, than we must be helping each other."

At times, Onodera and Song appeared to enter into something of a good cop-bad cop routine, though likely unintentionally, with the South Korean providing a more optimistic counterpoint to the skepticism of his Japanese counterpart.

"At the end of dark days of confrontation and tensions last year, we heard a message of peace and harmony at the Pyeongchang Winter Olympics," Song said, adding that diplomatic efforts are "changing the course of history."

Onodera noted that while recent developments with North Korea have been positive, expectations needed to be grounded in reality and that peace can only be secured through concrete action.

"We have seen history repeat where North Korea would declare to denuclearize there by portray itself as a consolatory and forthcoming only to turn around and avoid all international efforts towards peace," said Onodera.

"In light of how North Korea has behaved in the past I believe it is important not to reward North Korea solely for agreeing to have a dialogue," he continued.

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un is set to meet U.S. President Donald Trump in Singapore for a historic summit on June 12.

Onodera called for the continuing of the U.S.-led pressure campaign on North Korea, just hours after Trump said he would retire the strategy's name -- "maximum pressure" -- during the ongoing dialogue with Pyongyang.

"I know that President Trump said that he would not lift sanctions until North Korea agrees to denuclearization and I understand that pressure will remain in place" Onodera said.

A major concern in Japan and among conservative South Koreans has that Trump could consider cutting a deal with Kim that would see Pyongyang agreeing to give up its long-range missiles, but allowing it to hold on to its short-range arsenal, leaving Japan and South Korea in the cross hairs.

Onodera said that North Korea's disarmament must include more than nuclear weapons and missiles, but also any stockpiles of chemical and biological weapons it may have. He also mentioned the need achieve a breakthrough to North Korea's abduction of multiple Japanese citizens in the 1970s and 1980s, long a sticking point and emotionally charged issue in Japan.

Kim Jong Il, the current North Korean leader's father and predecessor, admitted that North Korea did in fact abduct Japanese citizens, but Tokyo has accused the government of not being truthful about the scale and scope of the issue.

Speaking in Singapore during a question and answer session earlier on Saturday, US Defense Secretary James Mattis also addressed the forthcoming Kim-Trump summit, describing it as "diplomatically-led" initiative.

Asked whether the status of U.S. troops in the region would be on the negotiation table during the high-level meeting, Mattis ruled out the prospect, suggesting that it was too early in the process to begin discussing military deployments.

"If the diplomats can do their job and reduce the threat then of course they can come up subsequently," said Mattis. "(But it's) not on the table, June 12 ... nor should it be."

This story was first published on CNN.com, "World shouldn't question Kim Jong Un's motives, says South Korean defense minister."
When Andile Ramaphosa jetted into the country for the traditional Bakiga marriage ceremony, Okushaba, he anticipated an easy walk in the park.

It was not until the South African first family arrived at their prospective in-laws residence in Kololo, a leafy Kampala neighbourhood, that they came face-to-face with reality. Andile, the eldest son of South Africas president Cyril Ramaphosa, was in Uganda at the weekend to seek Bridget Birungi Rwakairus hand in marriage.

Andile Ramaphosa (R) with his mother Hope Rwamaphosa

Birungi is a niece to former prime minister Amama Mbabazi, who assembled a team of prominent Bakiga to manage the process in accordance with their traditions. Prime Minister Dr Ruhakana Rugunda led Mbabazis team while businessman, MTN Ugandas Charles Mbiire spoke for the Ramaphosas.

Andiles entourage, which included his mother Hope Ramaphosa arrived at Mbabazis home shortly before 2pm under tight guard by the Special Forces Command (SFC).

For some minutes, they remained in their cars until they were ushered into the main house as Mbabazi and Bakiga elders that included the former ministry of Defence permanent secretary Dr Ben Mbonye, former minister Matthew Rukikaire, businessman Amos Nzeyi and Dr Frank Mwesigye, husband to former minister Hope Mwesigye, among others, sat in a tent.

Rugunda led the elders in a family meeting before their guests were led back into the tent to be served with enturire (a local sorghum brew), which set the pace for the negotiations.

Andile and his mother were kept away, in accordance with the grooms Vhavenda cultural norms.

The Vhavenda originate from the Limpopo province of South Africa that borders Botswana and Zimbabwe. As the ceremony continued, Andiles team carried in a gourd of local brew. It was then that Mbiire announced that Andile had been cohabiting with Birungi for about 10 years and they had a two-month-old baby girl.

When she finished her studies in China, she met Andile; they fell in love and she joined us in South Africa. We love her, have faith in her, and request that you allow us to formally take her, Mbiire said.

Amama Mbabazi toasts to Rwamaphosa's mother Hope Rwamaphosa

Like in many African communities, it is abominable among the Bakiga for a girl to get pregnant outside marriage. In the past, it was punishable by either abandoning the girl on a barren island in Lake Bunyonyi in Kabale district, or throwing her over the Kisiizi falls in Rukungiri district.



Birungi did not attend the function; culturally, girls dont attend Okushaba functions  but she sent a letter making a case for Andile.

I write to you with great joy in my heart, Birungi started off her letter and went on to tell her parents how she met Andile whom she said had become the delight of her life. I know I love him because when he is happy, I am happy, and when he is sad, I am sad, she wrote.

However mention of the baby girl infuriated the elders. Rugunda announced that Andile had to make atonement with a goat as per their tradition and customs.

Charles Mbiire who spoke for the Ramaphosas displays Bridget's potrait

Bride Price

After paying the goat fine, the Ramaphosas were served with another local brew, entacweka, a traditional drink that among the Bakiga is served to bind a relationship. This is when Mbiire announced that the Ramaphosas were ready to pay pride price (enjugano) and formally take Birungi.

This would mean that a process that usually lasts for about two years was to be concluded in under six hours. The Mbabazis refused, telling the Ramaphosas that Birungi must first return to the family for her to be formally taken.

The Rwamaphosa family arriving at Bridget's family home

Rukikaire chipped in, protesting the use of the word [bride price].



[It] is inappropriate, it is archaic and we think we should not use it, Rukikaire said.



He suggested another terminology  enyororabaana  to mean gifts to thank Birungis parents for raising her. Rugunda refined the word to enderabaana. Mbiire agreed but with more pleas for the in-laws not to be hard on Andile.

We pray that elements in your culture are married with elements in our culture to enable the young couple move on and start a family, Mbiire said.

The two families were forced into another round of closed-door talks in which they agreed on five cows and five goats as enderabaana. While the Ramaphosas were ready to pay, the Mbabazis insisted that the gifts must be actual, and not in cash.

The in-laws from both families

In our culture, we dont accept gifts on the day they are negotiated but we [have] accepted, Mbabazi said.



He went on to explain why they had protested the use of the word bride price.

We are against the idea that women should be treated as a [commodity] for sale. Our women are not for sale. Some of us participated in the making of the Constitution of the Republic of Uganda and put a provision that women should be treated with dignity, Mbabazi said.



Okuhingira

Mbabazi then asked Andile to go back and prepare to return on August 4 for the Okuhingira ceremony.

Okuhingira has been misrepresented to mean a give-away; we shall not give away Bridget but are going to give her a chance to go and make a family, Mbabazi said.

He admitted that he had known about their affair some five years ago, and Andile, before becoming a first son in South Africa had visited him several times.

Their union is the families of the struggle coming together; it is families of the liberation coming together and with it, we are going to raise a family that will work for the total liberation and unification of Africa, Mbabazi said.

Mbabazi then asked Andile to keep the five cows for their baby girl whom he named Ainebyona, but bring the five goats.



sadabkk@observer.ug
A pregnant cow from Bulgaria has been sentenced to death for illegally crossing the border into neighboring Serbia. She apparently didnt know that Serbia isnt a member of the European Union and could not return to her home country without the appropriate paperwork

Penka the cow sealed her fate last month, when she broke away from her herd near the Bulgarian village of Kopilovtsi and crossed the border into Serbia, a non-EU country. The cows owner, Ivan Haralampiev, and his sons relentlessly looked for her for two weeks, notifying border patrol, the local police and even the mayors of neighboring villages about her disappearance. Then, one day, Ivan received news that Penka had been located in the village of Bosilegrad, in Serbia, where it was being taken care of by the locals. The relieved owner went to retrieve his cow, but got some really bad news when trying to cross the border back into Bulgaria.

Photo: Facebook

Despite the fact that a Serbian vet had checked Penkas health and cleared the animal for release, border authorities notified Haralampiev that, according to European Union legislation, the cow was going to have to be put down for entering Bulgaria from a non-EU country without proper import papers. They eventually let the man bring the cow back into the country with the stipulation that it would be put to death in a matter of days.

She had left the borders of the EU and cannot be imported back into the European Union, Ivan Haralampiev told Bulgarian television BNT TV. A vet comes and orders it to be immediately culled!

Bulgarian authorities dont care that Penka is due to give birth in about three weeks, or that she reportedly crossed the border into Serbia after her heard was chased by wolves. To them, all that matter is complying with EU legislation, which states that certification must accompany the animals en route to the EU and when they are presented for entry into the EU at an approved EU Border Inspection Post. If it lacks that certification, the animal must be put down.



It is not for us to decide. We are only implementing rules that come from Brussels, vet expert Lyubomir Lyubomirov told Bulgarian reporters.

Despite having been given a clean bill of health by a vet in Serbia, the law states that the animal must be put to death because it might be suffering from serious diseases and could infect local herds.

News of Penkas death sentence spread like wildfire, first on Bulgarian social media, and then all through Europe. Animal activists have now launched a petition to save Penkas life, and some politicians have also pleaded for leniency in this case.



Surely this is a case where pragmatism should prevail over a strict reading of the rules, said Conservative MEP John Flack, who also wrote to Bulgarian prime minister Boyko Borissov, and to the president of the European Union, Antonio Tajani, about Penka.

Over 9,600 people had signed the petition to save Penkas life, at the time of this writing.
The Russian city of Sochi is known as a popular seaside destination and for having hosted the 2014 Winter Olympics. But what most people dont know about the seaside city is that it is home to a special type of residential complexes  so-called Russian Favelas made up of Soviet-era car garages converted into 3, 4 even 5-storey homes.

Having a garage built into a house or apartment building isnt unusual at all, but while in the US they are considered annexes to the main building, in the Russian city of Sochi, its the other way around. The garage is the main building upon which owners have built several storey residential annexes which they then rent out to migrants or families too poor to afford conventional homes. In order to avoid having to register these bizarre residential buildings as actual houses and paying higher taxes, owners maintain the ground floor as garages, preferring instead to build as many storeys on top of them as legally possible to maximize their profits.

Photo: AFY.ru

Residential garages started springing up like mushrooms all over Sochi, during the early 1990s, when amendments made to the city planning code allowed owners and garage cooperative members to expand the structures vertically. In a popular resort city like this, real estate has always been pretty expensive, and entrepreneurs quickly realized that they could use their garages to provide affordable housing without having to invest too much.

Photo: mischa-a/Foto Terra

Nowadays, youd be hard-pressed to find an old concrete garage in Sochi without at least 2 storeys of living quarters built on top of it. The sturdiest of them have as many as 4 storeys and look like small apartment buildings. The only giveway is the metal door facade on the ground floor, which, as I mentioned, is a necessity to keep taxes low.

Photo: Pobegvsochi.ru

While some of the residential garages that make up Russias favelas can look better than actual homes, from a purely legal standpoint, they are still only garages. That means that they dont have to abide by sanitary and epidemiological standards, and, in most cases, dont have basic amenities like running water, heating, sufficient electricity or toilets (due to lack of plumbing).

Photo: YouTube screengrab

Sochi authorities have been trying to solve the problem of residential garages for many years, but so far theyve had very little success. Demolition is out of the question, as according to the law, the right to private property is inviolable, especially since the living quarters were built in accordance with the citys planning codes. And since the structures are technically just garages, its hard to force the owners to ensure that the living quarters above conform with housing standards.



Police in Sochi have been conducting raids, but they can only do so when they have clear evidence that the owner is renting the space illegally.



For now, the Russian favelas of Sochi are here to stay and local authorities admit that undoing decades of corruption and erratic building will take a great deal of time.

Sources: Livejournal, Kubnews, Maks-Portal
The Metro Council will weigh this week whether to send voters a $652.8 million bond measure intended to help create thousands of affordable homes.

If approved by the regional government council, the measure would go to voters in November. It would add to property tax bills 24 cents per $1,000 of assessed value, or $60 a year for the owner of a home with an assessed value of $250,000.

The amount is a bigger ask than the $500 million bond floated last year or the $517 million bond Metro officials were discussing as recently as this month. The regional government said the larger bond could go farther in closing the gap between the need for affordable housing and the number of available units.

"We heard loud and clear from stakeholders and the community that they wanted to see a larger impact than had first been proposed," said Andy Shaw, Metro's director of government affairs.

There were also concerns among advisers to Metro that the original bond framework underestimated the costs of building and maintaining affordable housing. The agency recalculated its figures using more conservative assessments.

How far the bond will go could depend on another measure headed to voters.

Attorneys have questioned whether the Oregon Constitution allows for bond dollars can be used to help fund projects that won't ultimately be owned by a public agency. That interpretation has prevented the city of Portland from granting money from its 2016 housing bond to private affordable housing developers, who can combine it with private capital to create more housing units.

Oregon voters are expected to consider a constitutional amendment in November that would allow bond revenue to fund nongovernmental affordable housing.

If approved, Metro says its bond would create or preserve 3,900 affordable homes, housing up to 12,000 people. If the amendment fails but the bond passes, Metro says its bond would result in only 2,400 housing units, housing up to 7,500.

Metro said half of the homes created would be affordable to households making less than 30 percent of the region's median family income, the income bracket for which the shortage of homes is greatest, and where residents are most likely to fall into homelessness.

About half of the bond money would likely be used to buy and rehabilitate existing low-cost housing, while the other half would be used to build new homes.

The funds would be divided between the three metro-area counties largely according to their tax base, and the funds would go to local housing authorities to distribute. Metro would retain 10 percent to buy land for affordable housing near transit lines.

The bond measure would come two years after voters in Portland approved a $258 million housing bond, for which the city has been criticized for moving too slowly.

Metro is also expected to send voters a transportation funding measure in 2020.

The Metro Council will meet at 2 p.m. Thursday at the Metro Regional Center, 600 N.E. Grand Ave. in Portland.

-- Elliot Njus

enjus@oregonian.com

503-294-5034

@enjus
Updated at 1:09 p.m.

Wilsonville residents are safe to drink the tap water, according to test results released Monday.

City officials warned residents Friday that cyanotoxins, at trace amounts, had been detected in the drinking water. The cyanotoxins come from blue-green algae in the city's water source.

But laboratory testing of samples taken from the Willamette River, the treated water from the facility, and the drinking water found none contained microcystins, a dangerous cyanotoxin, according to a Monday update.

Salem, 30 miles south, spent last week mired in panic and controversy after officials there issued a water advisory that recommended some people avoid tap water because of cyanotoxins. Those groups were children younger than 6; the elderly; people on dialysis or with compromised immune systems; and pets.

Though the vast majority of residents were safe to drink tap water, the advisory still inspired a rush to buy bottled water that cleaned out grocery store shelves.

Salem officials also were criticized because they followed guidance laid out by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, which says vulnerable people can drink the water for 10 days before they risk illness.

But residents were unhappy that four days passed between detection of the toxins and the advisory being issued. The city gave the all-clear to drink the tap water on Saturday, five days after the city issued the advisory and three days after Gov. Kate Brown declared a state of emergency that authorized the Oregon National Guard to truck in drinking water to affected areas in Marion and Polk counties.

Wilsonville officials didn't expect to find unhealthy levels of cyanotoxins, but announced that some were found and that they would decide whether to issue an advisory Monday.

"We're being abundantly cautious here and providing information that allows our community members to make an informed decision," said Wilsonville City Manager Bryan Cosgrove.

The city's treatment plant was rebuilt in 2002 to include an ozonation system. Staff at the facility can infuse ozone into the water supply in an attempt to destroy microorganisms and degrade organic pollutants, such as cyanotoxins.

City officials will continue to test every day for seven days to be sure the levels stay below a dangerous threshold, said spokesman Bill Evans in a statement.

-- Molly Harbarger

mharbarger@oregonian.com

503-294-5923

@MollyHarbarger
By David Mislin, Temple University

(THE CONVERSATION) The U.S. Supreme Court has issued its long-anticipated ruling in Masterpiece Cakeshop, Ltd. v. Colorado Civil Rights Commission. In a 7-2 decision, the justices sided with a Denver bakery owner who refused to make a wedding cake for a gay couple.

The couple took the case to court in 2012 after the Christian baker turned down their business. A lower court ruled the baker violated Colorado's public accommodations law, which forbids discrimination by businesses serving the public, including on the basis of sexual orientation.

In the majority opinion, Justice Anthony Kennedy wrote that Colorado officials "showed evidence of a clear and impermissible hostility toward the sincere religious beliefs" of the baker.

The narrow ruling did not, however, meaningfully resolve the larger issue of religious freedom that was central to the case. In focusing on state officials rather than the baker, the justices left unanswered the major question of whether a business owner must provide services that conflict with his or her religious beliefs. Analysts suggested that the court left open the possibility of a different ruling in the future, depending on the specifics of cases.

Masterpiece Cakeshop has, once again, highlighted the vast difference between the reality and the rhetoric of religious freedom, often considered to be an ideal that promotes harmony and equality. My research, as a historian of religion, has examined the challenges of pluralism. In a religiously diverse society, rhetoric of religious freedom has often led to conflict.

The rhetoric: Equality and goodwill

Throughout U.S. history, Americans have idealized religious freedom and imagined that it brings harmony.

The Founding Fathers believed the First Amendment guarantee of religious free exercise and against the establishment of an official church promised less discord. In an 1802 letter, Thomas Jefferson, for example, wrote that "religion is a matter which lies solely between Man & his God." As the nation's third president, he argued that a "wall of separation between Church & State" would give all people equally the right to free conscience.

Later presidents echoed the view that religious freedom brings equality and unity by preventing government from favoring particular faiths.

Before his election in 1960, John F. Kennedy tried to ease fears about his Catholicism by affirming religious liberty. Kennedy believed this freedom kept one group from oppressing another. It formed the basis of a society, he declared, where people would "refrain from those attitudes of disdain and division which have so often marred their works in the past, and promote instead the American ideal of brotherhood."

In the early 1990s, George H.W. Bush identified religious liberty as the basis for other rights. He credited it as a major reason for the vibrancy of American society.

The reality: Conflict and debate

But, the promised harmony has proved elusive. Scholars such as Steven K. Green and Tisa Wenger have documented arguments about religious freedom throughoutU.S. history.

Minority communities, ranging from Catholics to Mormons, have fought to have their traditions and customs recognized. As I show in my work on pluralism, Americans have long debated what constitutes a religious expression rather than a cultural practice. Legal scholars have also argued if religious expression can extend into political, social and business interactions.

These debates have required the intervention of the courts and have often ended at the Supreme Court. Thus, a right intended to free Americans from government has instead necessitated frequent involvement of a major government institution.

Further complicating matters, the Supreme Court has changed its position over time. Its evolving interpretations show how religious freedom debates create shifting categories of winners and losers.

To the courts

Like Masterpiece Cakeshop, one of the Supreme Court's first religious liberty cases involved marriage. In 1878, a Mormon resident of the Utah territory sued the federal government after he was charged with bigamy. He argued that the law violated his religious liberty by criminalizing his polygamous marriage. The Supreme Court disagreed. In Reynolds v. United States, the court ruled that the First Amendment guaranteed only freedom of belief, not freedom of practice.

In the 20th century, the Supreme Court showed greater sympathy to religious liberty claims. In several cases - including one brought by Jehovah's Witnesseschallenging a statute requiring a permit for public evangelizing and another by an Amish community that objected to Wisconsin's compulsory public school law - justices sided with those who claimed their freedom was violated.

That changed in 1990. The court ruled against two men who lost their jobs after using peyote, a cactus with hallucinogenic properties that has long been used in Native American religious practices. Because they were fired for drug use, the men were denied unemployment benefits. They claimed that as members of a Native American church, they used the drug for religious purposes. Moving away from earlier decisions, the justices ruled that religious belief was not a ground for refusing to obey laws "prohibiting conduct that the State is free to regulate."

New century, new conflicts

It was in response to the peyote case that Congress passed the Religious Freedom Restoration Act (RFRA) of 1993. It required that laws restricting religious expression must show that they serve a "compelling government interest."

RFRA was central in the Supreme Court's 2014 decision in Burwell v. Hobby Lobby. That contentious split ruling allowed small, closely held companies the right to deny contraceptive benefits mandated by the Affordable Care Act on the grounds of protecting their owners' religious liberty.

Similarly, in October 2017, the Trump administration invoked freedom of religion when it allowed all employers a religious exemption to the contraception coverage requirement in the Affordable Care Act.

Critics saw that policy change as an attack on women's rights. Reaction to it on both sides again showed that government involvement in debates about religious freedom invariably produces winners and losers.

The Supreme Court ruling reached on June 4 likely allows those who advocate a broad right to religious liberty to claim at least a small victory. But the narrow scope of the Masterpiece Cakeshop decision ensures that this divisive debate, which has raged for nearly two centuries, will continue for the foreseeable future.

-- David Mislin of Temple University.

(The Conversation is an independent and nonprofit source of news, analysis and commentary from academic experts.)
Updated story with interviews from family: "Boys who died rafting Oregon river lived for adventures with Dad"

***

Two young brothers rafting with their father in northeastern Oregon over the weekend died after they were ejected from the vessel, police said.

The family was on the Grande Ronde River in Wallowa County when their raft hit a rock at Martins Misery Rapids  near the town of Troy  and sent the two boys into the rough waters, said Oregon State Police.

The father jumped into the cold, swift current but couldn't find his kids, police said. Another rafting group later found the children but they could not be revived.

Capt. Tim Fox, a state police spokesman, would not release the ages of the two brothers. Police did not say whether the boys had been wearing life preservers.

The investigation is ongoing.

-- Shane Dixon Kavanaugh

skavanaugh@oregonian.com

503-294-7632 II @shanedkavanaugh
A 15-year-old Beaverton girl missing since Thursday was found in Portland with an older man, Beaverton police said Sunday.

The authorities say the man, 28-year-old Jaime Ordonez Calderon of Los Angeles, has since been jailed in Multnomah County on rape and sex abuse charges connected to his contact with the girl.

The girl had been seen last getting onto a MAX train May 31, Beaverton police said, and had left her backpack, cellphone and iPad, behind at her high school. It's unclear from police statements if the girl was traveling with Ordonez Calderon willingly.

-- Gordon R. Friedman

503-221-8209
Updated June 4, 8:12 a.m.

BY GORDON R. FRIEDMAN AND JIM RYAN

Left- and right-wing protesters demonstrated and sometimes clashed in violent outbursts Sunday evening in downtown Portland, drawing police in riot gear, disrupting traffic and resulting in arrests.

The polar opposites across America's political divide stood on either side of a street in the heart of the city lined with government buildings, shouting insults at each other.

On the political left were members of antifa, a self-described anti-fascist group often clad in black with their faces covered. On the political right were Joey Gibson and followers of his Patriot Prayer group, some who are pro-Trump, others appearing to be mostly anti-antifa. About 300 attended.

Police -- swathed in pads, helmets and shin guards and hanging off special personnel carrier trucks -- clutched wooden batons as they tried to keep protesters on the sidewalks when they left parks near City Hall and started walking.

Authorities stepped in as heated banter between protesters spiraled into occasional fistfights. Several people received first-aid from medics on the scene.

Portland police said officers with the Federal Protective Service and a Multnomah County sheriff's deputy used pepper spray twice, when when protesters fought. Demonstrators used pepper spray too, police said, and some threw fireworks, bottles, rocks and ball bearings at each other.

Blocks away on the waterfront, the Portland Rose Festival carried on undisturbed, with the Ferris wheel turning and music blaring at the event's traditional carnival.

Authorities arrested four men during the clashes. Andrew Arbow, 32, and Jonathan Feit, 36, were booked in the Multnomah County jail on suspicion of disorderly conduct, police said. Bryan Nyman, 26, who was also jailed, faces assault and robbery charges.

Gregory Isaacson, 43, was detained at Terry Schrunk Plaza, cited and later released after police say he failed to comply with a lawful order.

Gibson organized his group's rally as a high-intensity send-off to one of his supporters, but it came nearly a year to the day after similar demonstrations between thousands turned violent at the same location.

The demonstrations last June followed the brutal MAX train attack on May 26. Jeremy Christian, who had himself attended an earlier Patriot Prayer rally in Southeast Portland, is accused of stabbing to death two men on a train and leaving a third, Micah Fletcher, critically injured but alive with a deep neck wound.

Fletcher, bearing a scar from Christian's knife, attended Sunday's gatherings, but stayed far from the melees.

The Police Bureau faces a federal civil rights lawsuit after fierce criticism of its response at last year's dueling protests when they corralled more than 300 people and took their photos.

Police Chief Danielle Outlaw released a statement saying police this time tried "to provide a safe environment for all participants, non-participants and community members while ensuring the peaceful exercise of the First Amendment."

She said police used social media, a loud hailer and one-on-one communication with organizers "to encourage an environment in which Portland community members could safely practice their right to free speech and assembly."

Officers separated and arrested people "on occasions when people's safety were in jeopardy," she said.

-- Gordon R. Friedman

-- Jim Ryan
A Florida motorcyclist who had been missing for days while on a trip in Oregon turned up alive but injured in the wilderness near Crater Lake, officials said Sunday.

Matthew Chapin of Lake City, Florida had set off on a road trip in April and was scheduled to ride his Kawasaki motorcycle to Crater Lake and then to Portland to meet family, the Oregon State Police said. But Chapin, 31, fell out of contact with his relatives May 27 and had last been seen in Southern Oregon on May 28, police said.

State Police troopers and deputies on the Douglas Count Sheriff's Office search and rescue team began a search for Chapin Friday. Authorities found him Sunday afternoon on a dirt road near Clearwater Falls in the Umpqua National Forest, the sheriff's office said.

Chapin was suffering from a "medical emergency" and taken by air ambulance to PeaceHealth Sacred Heart Medical Center at RiverBend, in Springfield, the sheriff's office said. A hospital representative could not be reached Sunday to confirm Chapin's condition or that he remained a patient.

-- Gordon R. Friedman
Former president George H.W. Bush was discharged from a Maine hospital on Monday after being treated for low blood pressure, a spokesman said.

"The president is deeply appreciative both for the terrific care and the many good wishes he has received," spokesman Jim McGrath wrote on Twitter.

Bush, the nation's 41st president, was hospitalized over Memorial Day weekend because of low blood pressure and fatigue hours after attending a pancake breakfast at the American Legion post in Kennebunkport, according to his spokesman.

McGrath said in a tweet Wednesday that Bush was talkative and in good spirits but that the treatments to address his blood pressure "are expected to take several more days."

Bush, 93, the nation's longest-living president, has been hospitalized several other times in recent years because of failing health.

In 2012, he announced that he had vascular Parkinsonism, a condition that limited his mobility. He was also hospitalized one day after the funeral for his wife of 73 years, Barbara, who died on April 17.

-- The Washington Post
WASHINGTON -- The Pentagon's investigative watchdog has initiated a probe into U.S. Navy Rear Admiral Ronny L. Jackson, the White House military physician who withdrew from consideration as President Donald Trump's nominee to lead the Department of Veterans Affairs amid allegations of improper conduct.

The Department of Defense Office of Inspector General, which investigates possible wrongdoing at by the Pentagon and its staff, confirmed in a statement Monday that it recently initiated a probe into Jackson. A spokesman declined to go into detail about the scope or character of the probe.

The investigation marks the latest fallout from Trump's attempt to elevate his physician to the Cabinet, a bold move that ended in Jackson's nomination falling apart and the military physician's highflying career under scrutiny by Pentagon investigators.

Not long after Trump nominated Jackson to the Cabinet post, the ranking Democrat on the Senate Veterans' Affairs Committee, Sen. Jon Tester of Montana, released a two-page summary of allegations that had surfaced against the White House physician. Those included accusations that he improperly prescribed drugs, created a hostile work environment and drank while on duty.

The White House said it conducted a thorough review of Jackson's record and found three minor incidents but no evidence that the physician was responsible for some of the more extreme allegations in Tester's document, including one accusing him of wrecking a government vehicle after drinking.

Jackson, who served as White House physician under three administrations, strongly denied any wrongdoing. The president came to the doctor's defense, accusing Tester of a smear campaign that devastated Jackson's family. Trump called on the Montana senator to resign.

The Department of Defense Inspector General has the authority to conduct administrative and criminal investigations. A spokesman for the office declined to say whether Jackson was the subject of an administrative or criminal probe.

A spokesman for the White House declined to comment on the investigation.

In early May, White House press secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders said Jackson was no longer serving as the president's physician but remained on the White House medical staff. The U.S. Navy confirmed on Monday that Jackson remained detailed to the staff.

Since the collapse of Jackson's nomination, Trump has chosen a top Pentagon official, Undersecretary of Defense for Personnel and Readiness Robert Wilkie, to become his next veterans affairs secretary.

Wilkie has served as acting secretary since Trump ousted Veterans Affairs Secretary David Shulkin in late March amid a broader shake-up across the administration.

-- The Washington Post
The Oregon Treasury is calling off  for now  an effort to give public employees a choice in how a portion of their retirement savings is invested. The decision came after the agency determined that the legislation prompting the move could leave investment managers open to lawsuits if things don't go well.

Last year, the Oregon Investment Council adopted a new target date investment strategy for members' individual accounts, which are funded by member contributions and provide a separate, supplementary benefit on top of the defined benefit pension program.

The age-based approach automatically reinvests members' individual accounts, gradually adopting a more conservative mix of stock and bond index funds as they near retirement age. That's a fairly standard option in most 401(k) plans, and the Public Employee Retirement System and Treasury were able to implement that system at the beginning of this year.

In the meantime, however, employee groups and unions persuaded legislators to give members the ability to choose how their account balances were allocated among the 10 target-based funds, so they can customize their investments based on their own risk tolerance.

The Treasury put a stop to that effort earlier this month, acting on a provision in the legislation that gave it discretion to pull the plug if it determined that the changes could cause legal or fiduciary problems.

Earlier this month, Deputy Treasurer Darren Bond told the PERS Board that the program could be implemented after amendments to the legislation, but not without further consultation with lawyers to determine the legal requirements and necessary disclosures to members.

Treasury spokesman James Sinks said the legislation, among other things, failed to lay out what investors need to know before making their investment choices. Moreover, the legislation didn't give Treasury investment managers and members of the Oregon Investment Council immunity from liability in the event a members' choices don't pay off and they decide to sue.

John Skjervem, Treasury's chief investment officer, said there are no technical barriers to providing members with control over their investment mix. "The path is straightforward. They just have to rectify the legislation."

Skjervem said managers would prefer to limit how often PERS members can change their investment mix, perhaps to once a year. He also suggested that academic studies show that most members will be better off with the investment mix that Treasury assigns them based on their age, rather than trying to time the market.

- Ted Sickinger

503-221-8505; @tedsickinger
Oregon Sen. Jeff Merkley posted a video showing he was denied entry to a detention center housing migrant children who'd been separated from their parents while trying to enter the country.

Merkley chronicled his efforts to enter the former Walmart in Brownsville, Texas, in a Facebook post on Sunday. The senator says he made the trip after his office's attempt to schedule a tour was declined.

"I think it's unacceptable that a member of Congress is not being admitted to see what is happening to children whose families are applying for asylum. I decided to come out here, go up to the door and ask to be let in," he said in the video.

Im going to try to enter a facility in Brownsville, TX run by the Office of Refugee Resettlement. I am told that this former Walmart may currently be housing hundreds of refugee children who have been separated from their parents. Posted by Senator Jeff Merkley on Sunday, June 3, 2018

Merkley's video, which had more than 1 million views by midday Monday, cast a spotlight on new federal immigration policy. On May 7, Attorney General Jeff Sessions announced the U.S. would begin prosecuting anyone trying to enter the country illegally, including asylum seekers.

Families would be split up in such cases, with adults sent to jails and children placed in the custody the Office of Refugee Resettlement, a unit of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.

The facility Merkley visited is operated by Southwest Key Programs. According to its website, the nonprofit runs 27 shelters for immigrant children in Texas, Arizona and California.

The senator was made to wait at the door, which had its glass panes blacked out, while an employee tried to track down a supervisor. Police arrived just as a supervisor came outside. The supervisor said he was not authorized to discuss the issue and referred Merkley to the nonprofit's administrators. He did not say why the senator could not tour the facility.

Merkley later took to Twitter to note that he was "barred entry & the police were called on me. The front doors were locked and blacked out. What are they hiding about the conditions [these] innocent children are being held in?"

Im at an immigration detention center where children who have been separated from their families are being held. Trying to get inside to get answers. Follow live >>> https://t.co/CXDjYAFIcB #FamiliesBelongTogether #KeepFamiliesTogether  Senator Jeff Merkley (@SenJeffMerkley) June 4, 2018

When I visited an immigration detention center housing the children separated from their families, I was barred entry & the police were called on me. The front doors were locked and blacked out. What are they hiding about the conditions these innocent children are being held in? pic.twitter.com/LkEbAYAbcm  Jeff Merkley (@JeffMerkley) June 4, 2018

The administration has not disclosed how many children have been separated from their parents as a result of the new "zero tolerance" policy. But a U.S. Customs and Border Protection official told a Senate panel that the 638 adults referred for prosecution from May 6 to May 19 had been traveling with 658 children, according to The Washington Post.



On Friday, House Democratic leaders condemned the policy for "unnecessarily inflicting trauma" on children and urged the White House to end it.

Merkley has sparked speculation that he is mulling a presidential bid in 2020, speculation that intensified after he headlined a meeting of the New Hampshire Democratic Party's executive committee in March. New Hampshire is traditionally the nation's first primary state. Oregon's junior senator has also been a near-constant critic of President Donald Trump and his agenda.

-- The Oregonian/OregonLive
A McMinville resident faces charges after a single-vehicle crash on Highway 99 near Amity early Sunday morning that injured two passengers.

Marquis Ortiz Namyslowski, 20, is in Polk County Jail and facing multiple charges, including driving under the influence, reckless driving and assault, according to Oregon State Police.

Namyslowski was driving north in a 1993 Nissan sedan on Highway 99 at about 3:10 a.m. when the vehicle left the roadway and rolled several times.

The rear passenger, who was not identified, was thrown from the vehicle and critically injured. He was transported by Life Flight to a Portland-area hospital. The front passenger, Sebastian Michael Oak, 19, from McMinnville was treated at the scene.

-- Corlyn Voorhees
Dueling demonstrations faced off Sunday in downtown Portland, marking the first large street protest of the spring.

The rallies drew hundreds to a pair of parks near City Hall, including right-wing Patriot Prayer leader Joey Gibson of Vancouver, his supporters and counter-protesters, including black-clad antifascists, known as antifa.

The rallies began peacefully and escalated with shoving, a small bonfire on the antifa side of the gatherings and punches thrown. Portland police stepped in to quell the fights and asked people to stay away from the area as Patriot Prayer supporters started marching.

Portland police said officers with the Federal Protective Service and a Multnomah County sheriff's deputy used pepper spray twice, when when protesters fought. Demonstrators used pepper spray too, police said, and some threw fireworks, bottles, rocks and ball bearings at each other.

They said four people were arrested on various allegations including disorderly conduct.

Police said several people received medical evaluations at the scene but didn't need to be taken to a hospital.

Dueling protesters are demonstrating in downtown Portland, and officers in riot gear are on scene. Details: www.oregonlive.com/portland/index.ssf/2018/06/live_updates_antifa_vs_right-w.html Posted by The Oregonian on Sunday, June 3, 2018

7 p.m.

Everyone has scattered. The clash lasted more than two hours as several hundred demonstrators from all sides walked through downtown, shouted at each other and traded occasional blows, drawing blood.

No word yet from police if they made any arrests. They confiscated bear spray and a large knife, among other objects, according to pictures on their Twitter feed.

6:45 p.m.

Officers in riot gear have separated the groups again. Tusitala "Tiny" Toese and other Patriot Prayer supporters have left the plaza where they gathered, trailed by antifa.

Officers in riot gear have separated the groups. Looks like this might be over. (Dare I speak too soon.) pic.twitter.com/Q2D8k37jIB  Jim Ryan (@Jimryan015) June 4, 2018

6:12 p.m.

Scene from downtown Portland. Patriot Prayer leader Joey Gibson, and Tiny at the front of this march. pic.twitter.com/7TkayYeXAb  Mike Bivins (@itsmikebivins) June 4, 2018

6:09 p.m. Patriot Prayer member Tusitala "Tiny" Toese declares today a victory. Tells marchers to march to their cars and leave.

6:08:

6:05 p.m. Patriot Prayer supporter: "Antifa is running from us today."

6:02 p.m. The city hasn't issued any permits for a street march. Marchers have to remain on the sidewalks.

6:01 p.m.: Portland police had said they were prepared for Sunday, though they conceded the challenge they face with Rose Festival happening simultaneously. "The bureau is going to be spread thin," said Sgt. Chris Burley, a Portland police spokesman. "It's a real strain on the limited resources we do have."

5:59 p.m.: We're live on Facebook here.

5:57 p.m.: From earlier:

5:52 p.m.:

Elijah, who was part of the earlier protest against police brutality, says someone from the Patriot Prayer group sprayed mace on him. He used Maalox to stop the sting & a woman who calls herself a street medic gave him a wet cloth to wipe it off. pic.twitter.com/xGmL2zNRge  Lindsay Nadrich (@LindsayNadrich) June 4, 2018

5:50 p.m.:

This Proud Boy tries to reason with the black-clad protesters, says he wants his voice to be heard and that hes tired of the m80 (fireworks) and pepper spray pic.twitter.com/vel1KVWDsv  Mike Bivins (@itsmikebivins) June 4, 2018

5:49 p.m.: Fireworks, pepper spray at protest.

5:48 p.m.:

5:47 p.m.:

Were back where we started. Patriot Prayer group reciting pledge of allegiance to drown out counter protesters. #LiveOnK2 pic.twitter.com/6MxvKVji3g  Catherine Van (@cat08van) June 4, 2018

5:46 p.m.:

Another incident, I think this dude got hosed with a fire extinguisher?? pic.twitter.com/f6xfxusONw  Mike Bivins (@itsmikebivins) June 4, 2018

5:44 p.m.:

ANOTHER FIGHT. More pepper spray pic.twitter.com/6x6gBAeQV0  Mike Bivins (@itsmikebivins) June 4, 2018

5:37 p.m:

The Sound Truck has announced multiple times: pic.twitter.com/iz06VboXoK  Portland Police (@PortlandPolice) June 4, 2018

5:33 p.m.: Police report "violent assaultive behavior" in downtown Portland.

5:33 p.m. Portland police on Twitter: "If you are in the immediate area of competing protest events in Downtown Portland, you are at risk of getting caught in between violent clashes and any law enforcement actions or arrests. You are advised to leave the area."

5:30 p.m. Cops in riot gear.

5 p.m.: Police report bottles, fireworks being thrown at officers.
A company that failed to report a large-scale ammonia discharge from its plant just outside St. Helens must pay a $250,000 fine and ensure immediate detection of any future emissions.

"I do think this is an appropriate resolution of a very serious matter,'' U.S. District Judge Michael H. Simon said Monday after announcing the terms of a plea deal between federal prosecutors and Dyno Nobel Inc.

The Utah-based company, one of the world's largest manufacturers of commercial explosives, admitted in February through its senior vice president to releasing more than six tons of anhydrous ammonia vapor into the air from the plant over three days starting on July 30, 2015.

The Oregon plant produces the chemical compound urea, among other things, as fertilizer for the agricultural industry.

The company also acknowledged that it didn't immediately notify the National Response Center, which is required under the federal Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act, known as CERCLA. The offense is a felony.

Company officials knew the excessive ammonia emissions were occurring but made no effort to alert authorities until Aug. 7, 2015, more than a week after the first discharge, according to Assistant U.S. Attorney Ryan Bounds and Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Karla Gebel Perrin.

Anhydrous ammonia is a pungent gas with suffocating fumes. Exposure to high concentrations can lead to death, according to the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The emissions triggered numerous complaints from neighboring residents in Columbia County, who reported foul odors, eye irritation and difficulty breathing, prosecutors said.

The company will be on probation for two years.

During probation, the company must start testing certain equipment to calculate emissions under guidelines approved by the Environmental Protection Agency and operate a fence-line monitoring system capable of immediately detecting excessive ground-level concentrations of ammonia vapor at the perimeter of the plant at 63149 Columbia River Highway on Deer Island in Columbia County.

The maximum penalty for the felony offense is a $500,000 fine and five years of probation.

Dyno Nobel has taken several actions to address air emission issues over the past few years to avoid similar accidents, according to the company's senior vice president, Jeffrey Droubay.

"The health and safety of our employees and communities in which we operate is our first priority," Droubay said. "For this reason, we will continue to invest and take steps to assure that releases like the one we experienced in 2015 are much less likely to recur."

-- Maxine Bernstein

mbernstein@oregonian.com

503-221-8212

@maxoregonian
Portland Mayor Ted Wheeler and other supporters of LGBTQ rights stressed Monday that a U.S. Supreme Court ruling favoring a Colorado wedding cake maker who refused service to a same-sex couple has little influence, if any, in Oregon.

Shunning customers based on their sexual orientation or gender identities is still illegal in Oregon -- and the Supreme Court's decision does nothing to change that, the group said during a news conference in downtown Portland.

People are already saying that this ruling gives businesses a right to turn away LGBT people: It does not, said Mat dos Santos, legal director of ACLU of Oregon. While the decision ... (today) hurts my mind and my heart, it is not a win for discrimination.

Advocates expect Monday's ruling to have no effect on the long-running fight between Sweet Cakes by Melissa and the state of Oregon. In 2015, state Labor Commissioner Brad Avakian ordered the owners of the now-shuttered Gresham bakery to pay $135,000 to a lesbian couple who wanted to buy a wedding cake but were denied.

The Oregon Court of Appeals upheld the $135,000 order. Owners Melissa and Aaron Klein have appealed to the Oregon Supreme Court. Tyler Smith, an attorney for the Kleins, declined comment about Monday's U.S. Supreme Court decision because the Klein case is still on appeal.

But Christine Lewis, a spokeswoman for Avakian and the Oregon Bureau of Labor and Industries, said her agency was "confident that our public accommodations rulings have been consistent with Oregon public accommodations law and the United States Constitution."

During the news conference, Wheeler gestured half a block away toward Portland City Hall, with its windows covered in large rainbow flags in a show of support for the LGBTQ community, he said. The flags appeared Friday, the first day of Pride Month, and will stay up all of June.

Theres no place for discrimination in Portland, Wheeler said.

Hours earlier, the highest court in the land sided with Masterpiece Cakeshop and its suburban Denver bakery owner, Jack Phillips. In doing so, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled against the same-sex couple, Charlie Craig and Dave Mullins, who were denied a wedding cake by Phillips.

Colorado and Oregon are among 19 states that forbid discrimination based on a persons sexual orientation or gender identity, according to Basic Rights Oregon and news reports.

The Colorado Civil Rights Commission had rejected Phillips argument that he had a right to refuse service based on his religious beliefs. Colorado courts upheld the commission's decision.

But the U.S. Supreme Court found that the Colorado commission violated Phillips First Amendment rights, though it noted that it wasnt making a broad decision about the larger issue of whether business owners can refuse to serve LGBTQ customers based on owners religious objections.

Rather, in ruling narrowly, the Supreme Court said it was deciding in favor of Phillips because of what it saw as anti-religious bias on the part of the Colorado commission.

Justice Anthony Kennedy warned in his written opinion that although religious and philosophical objections are protected, it is a general rule that such objections do not allow business owners and other actors in the economy and in society to deny protected persons equal access to goods and services under a neutral and generally applicable public accommodations law.

Even so, the ACLU's dos Santos called the ruling disappointing. He said it doesnt give businesses a free pass to do as they wish.

Bryan Steelman, the owner of Portlands Por Que No taqueria, said hes worried that the ruling will embolden businesses with anti-LGBTQ beliefs.

I believe now more than ever businesses in Oregon have a major responsibility to show and prove that discrimination is not OK in Oregon and beyond, Steelman said.

Humanity and inclusion need to win out, he said.

-- Aimee Green
Comcast will pay Oregon local governments $155 million to resolve a decadelong legal fight under terms of a legal settlement announced Monday.

Additionally, Comcast will drop its bid to take advantage of a tax break for internet service providers. It will pay more property taxes in future years as a result of Monday's deal.

Even so, the settlement allows Comcast to pay $45 million less in back taxes than the state believed the company owed. Local governments embraced the deal anyway because it ends uncertainty over when or whether Oregon counties, cities and school districts would have access to the money.

Gov. Kate Brown said she hopes the governments will use the windfall to help pay down their pension obligations, and the mayors of Portland, Beaverton and Eugene all said they will support that request.

The cable TV company's fight with Oregon tax collectors dates to 2009, when the state changed its methodology for assessing Comcast's telecommunications equipment. It's a wonky topic that ultimately had a major impact on local government finances.

Faced with higher taxes under the new methodology, Comcast sued. The case went through years of appeals before the Oregon Supreme Court ruled against Comcast in 2014.

The company didn't pay up, though, continuing to contest aspects of the Oregon tax law.

The Oregon Department of Revenue estimated Comcast's tax liability before the settlement at $200 million.

So Monday's $155 million agreement leaves millions of dollars on the table that Oregon might have wrung from Comcast in court. Still, Wendy Johnson from the League of Oregon Cities said her members are pleased with the deal because it resolves years of uncertainty and lost revenue.

"It's an end to what could go on for many more years," she said. "We're happy to see an ending and have transparency and clarity going forward."

The League is also behind the governor's proposal to put the money toward Oregon Public Employees Retirement System obligations, Johnson said.

"PERS and property taxes are our two largest priorities," she said.

Even as Comcast fought over its past property taxes, the company had been seeking new property tax breaks originally intended to lure Google Fiber to the Portland area.

Google jilted Portland in 2016, opting not to offer its own high-speed internet service here. The tax break remained on the books, though, and Comcast moved to capitalize. It successfully lobbied to stop a repeal of the so-called "gigabit tax break" during this year's short legislative session.

In Monday's settlement Comcast agreed to withdraw its application for the gigabit tax break, which offered property tax exemptions to high-speed internet service providers.

"We are pleased to reach a compromise with the State of Oregon," said Rodrigo Lopez, Comcast's vice president for Oregon and Southwest Washington. "This agreement gives local communities certainty around funding, provides Comcast predictability on property taxes, and enables us to continue to make significant investments in Oregon."

Money from Monday's settlement will flow to local governments in 10 counties. Past surveys of Comcast's liabilities showed that most of money was in places where the company had the largest operations -- primarily Multnomah and Washington counties.

The governor hailed the deal Monday and issued a statement calling on local government to use their share of Comcast's payment to address underfunded pensions. Last winter, the Oregon Legislature created an incentive fund that matches -- at 25 cents on the dollar -- money that local governments spend to pay down their pension obligations.

"Having local jurisdictions dedicate funds to paying down their own PERS liabilities will help demonstrate to the legislature that local governments are taking their fiscal obligations seriously," Brown said. She said she hopes that if local governments pay down their pension liabilities now it will persuade the Legislature to appropriate more money in the future.

-- Mike Rogoway | twitter: @rogoway | 503-294-7699
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Green Bay Packaging Acquires Wisconsin Packaging

Wisconsin Packaging Corp. specializes in the design and manufacture of corrugated packaging and retail displays for clients throughout the United States.

June 1, 2018 - Green Bay Packaging Inc. on May 31 acquired Wisconsin Packaging Corp., a corrugated sheet plant in Fort Atkinson, Wisconsin. Wisconsin Packaging will operate as part of Green Bay Packaging.

Financial terms of the deal were not disclosed.

Wisconsin Packaging Corp. specializes in the design and manufacture of corrugated packaging and retail displays for clients throughout the United States.

Wisconsin Packaging is proud to become a member of Green Bay Packaging. Our family has grown our business in Fort Atkinson, our goal always being to provide for the ever-changing needs of our customers. We are especially grateful to our employees and our community who have supported us. To stay competitive, we emphasize continuous improvement in technology, efficiency and design. said Fred Negus, Jr., President of Wisconsin Packaging Corp.

Will Kress, President and CEO of Green Bay Packaging, said, The acquisition of Wisconsin Packaging Corp. provides an exciting opportunity for Green Bay Packaging. It allows us to grow our company with an organization that aligns with a similar business philosophy of excellent quality, service and dedicated employees.

Wisconsin Packaging Corp. is geographically and strategically a great fit for our company but most important is the alignment of its leadership and cultural approach to business, he added.

Green Bay Packaging Inc. is a family-owned, vertically integrated company consisting of corrugated container plants, folding cartons, recycled and virgin linerboard mills, pressure-sensitive label rollstock, specialty converting operations, timberlands, and a sawmill facility. To learn more, please visit: gbp.com .

SOURCE: Green Bay Packaging
DS Smith Proposes to Buy Europac for EUR 1.9 Billion Europac is a leading Western European integrated manufacturer of corrugated packaging and paper with operations in Spain, France and Portugal. June 4, 2018 - UK-based corrugated packaging producer DS Smith today announced a proposal to acquire Papeles y Cartones de Europa, S.A., known as Europac, for EUR 1.9 billion (1.45 billion) including debt. Europac is a leading Western European integrated manufacturer of corrugated packaging and paper with operations in Spain, France and Portugal. DS Smith's proposed offer price per Europac share is EUR 16.80. In commenting on the timing of the acquisition, DS Smith's Chief Executive, Miles Roberts, explained, So why now? When a number of years ago DS Smith entered the Iberia market with a number of acquisitions such as Lantero (Spain) and Gopaca (Portugal) we know the Europac business very well  we're a customer and supplier to each other. We know the management very well and we've been talking for a number of years. But we both feel that now is the right time to seek to join our businesses. Roberts said the expected financial returns from the deal are attractive. We believe we can create cost synergies of 50 million Euros per annum, and these cost synergies are based on procurement, lower distribution costs and a harmonizing the supply chain of Europac into DS Smith. In the first full year of ownership, this transaction is expected to be earnings enhancing and deliver return on capital that's ahead of the group's weighted average cost of capital, Roberts added. The deal is subject to approval by shareholders of DS Smith, along with regulatroy approval from the European Commission, Roberts said. Strategic Review of Plastics Business Roberts also noted that DS Smith intends to conduct a strategic review of its plastics business, which is a manufacturer of flexible packaging, filling equipment, dispensing solutions, and rigid packaging returnables in Europe. The division operates out of sites in Europe, North America, Asia and Australasia. DS Smith is a leading provider of corrugated packaging in Europe and present in 37 countries, employing around 26,000 people. To learn more, please visit: www.dssmith.com . SOURCE: DS Smith
Brian de Palma, who directed Carrie and Scarface, is currently working on a new horror film based on Harvey Weinstein, the media mogul who was recently arrested on multiple counts of sexual misconduct.

In an interview with Le Parisien, de Palma said that while the character in his new film won't be named after Weinstein, "it will be a horror film, with a sexual aggressor, and it will take place in the film industry."

De Palma also talked about the feminist #MeToo movement which gained momentum and mainstream attention in the wake of widespread media coverage of Weinstein's intimidation tactics and inappropriate sexual coercion. He spoke about the changes that might occur in the film industry post-#MeToo.

"It will be interesting to see when women start controlling the aesthetic, what is going to happen," he said. "It would be interesting to see if their gaze is so much different than ours. Because a lot of movies are about the male gaze, what the male sees."

Though it is important that Weinstein's narrative be told, it is a bit unclear whether a male director will be able to capture the nuances of the case and the pressures women feel in the work place. As de Palma himself as said, post #MeToo, women should share their own stories and their own gaze, especially when it comes to someone like Weinstein, who targeted and influenced the career trajectories of countless women in and out of Hollywood.

Image via Getty


Charlize Theron was convinced she was going to die growing up. Raised in South Africa, the Oscar-winning actress remembers her mom driving family friends to the hospital regularly. They were all sick with HIV/AIDS, and a majority never left the hospital. To die felt like commonplace; to be diagnosed with the disease felt like a death sentence. In the early '90s, Theron moved to the United States to successfully pursue a career in Hollywood, but she vowed to return to her African native to make a difference  and she has.

Today, 42-year-old Theron is the proud founder of the Charlize Theron Africa Outreach Project (CTAOP), which she launched in 2007 to focus specifically on supporting at-risk South African youth. The southernmost African country currently has the biggest HIV epidemic in the world, with 7.1 million people living with HIV in 2016. CTAOP aims to decrease this number by creating community-focused programs, increasing resources and eradicating the stigma society has placed on those suffering from HIV/AIDS.

For Life Ball 2018, the annual charity spectacular in Vienna, Theron hosted a brunch in Salzburg, Austria alongside fellow award-winning actor Adrien Brody to increase HIV/AIDS awareness. She was joined by Life Ball founder Gery Keszler in the estate of famed Austrian gallerist Thaddaeus Ropac, where the group of activists auctioned off art to raise funds for the international cause. PAPER sat down with Theron in Salzburg to talk about eradicating HIV stigma and empowering youth.

Adrien Brody and Charlize Theron

Stigma is one of many things affecting those with HIV today. What do you think are the concrete steps that we can take to reduce stigma. We have to be able to see it and address it for what it is. And I think that's what we're lacking. We're in denial a lot about the truth and how we communicate about this disease, and when you live in communities where you are ostracized for having a virus, of course you're not going to want anyone to know. And that needs to change. So I think stigma stems from a basic fear of not knowing. Once you turn the lights on in a big dark room and people know the facts about HIV, it doesn't become as scary. You don't have to have your village ostracize and abandon you. You can have a full life if you have HIV. We obviously want people to not have to deal with that, but in this day and age it's not a death sentence anymore. Stigma comes from a lot of other places and we're sometimes scared to look at that. I think there are so many drivers when it comes to HIV, sometimes we forget that and we just isolate it into how we can stop HIV. But we're not willing to look at poverty, inequality, sexism, or racism. Why is that some people's lives are valued more than other? Those are the places that we're really lacking  as a community, as a world, as a global front  to really address



"We're not willing to look at poverty, inequality, sexism, or racism. Why is it that some people's lives are valued more than others?"



Younger generations, specifically in the U.S., haven't experienced their friends dying from HIV in the way older generations have. What are ways the youth can get more involved? I think young people are very much involved. I think with the work that we do, which is very much adolescent-based, I find that there is real leadership within adolescents  bot just in America, but in Europe. There are communities that really have the foresight of a bunch of young people around them. I think there are spots now popping up that are making people realize, especially the younger generation, that they are the ones that are going to get hurt by this. So to see them be a part of this movement is something we really encourage. We want them to have the ownership of that and also because we believe they really are the ones who can change all of that. Ultimately it is their lives, right? So I'm very supportive of it and I'm always blown away by them because they're always the ones that come up with the most innovative ways to talk about this or to reach people with what's really going on, just curing some of the misconceptions.

What responsibility do you feel you have as a visible woman in Hollywood today? I feel like the majority of my responsibility is raising my two little [kids] and making sure that they're good people. I also get this front seat to watch them just be these incredible little creators, and it's been such a great journey. That influences everything for me, whether I decide to take a job or whether I decide to get on the plane to travel here, or whether it's going to South Africa for a month, my kids come with me and my kids are the driving force. I cared about this stuff before, but my children have kind of kicked me into a gear that I could never be in before. And realizing now that I have personal investments. I want them to have a good life, I want to fix some of the shit that we've done because that's just not fair. It has to come from a place of where we all work together and we do this together. That's why it's nice to be [at Life Ball] because you try to find like-minded people who are fighting the same fight as you and you want to be part of that fight with them because it takes an army. You can't do it alone, so the more people we can get to join that fight the more we can learn from each other and get information. We've got to think of this in so many different ways because if it was easy it would have been done 10 years ago. Photos via Getty
In January the EU confirmed Qualcomm was fined US$1.2 Billion for abusing its market dominance by Forcing Apple to use their Chips Exclusively. Today we're learning that Qualcomm is now asking the European Union's General Court to strike down or substantially reduce a 997 million-euro ($1.2 billion) antitrust fine over payments made to Apple Inc. to ensure only its chips were used in iPhones and iPads.

Bloomberg reports that "Qualcomm argued that EU investigators were wrong to find that Qualcomm's agreements with Apple were capable of harming competition and wrongly applied their own rules on how they set a fine. The company also said regulators distorted evidence in dismissing Qualcomm's defense that some of its actions could be justified by efficiency."

Below is Qualcomm's short summary of the its legal arguments for the court appeal that was filed in April and published today in the EU's Official Journal.

Qualcomm Summary of its legal argument for EU court appeal by Jack Purcher on Scribd





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Iranians Complain of Fake Accounts Created in Their Names on State-Approved Soroush App

06/04/18

Source: Center for Human Rights in Iran

Tech Experts Urge Rouhani to Stop Stifling of Internet in Iran

Several Iranians posted screenshots on their social media accounts May 26-May 29, 2018, stating that accounts in their names had been created without their consent on the Iran-based, state-approved messaging app, Soroush.

In response to the complaints, Telecommunications Minister Mohammad Javad Azari Jahromi told reporters on May 30, "The National Cyberspace Center is investigating uncertainties regarding non-voluntary memberships created on the Soroush messenger."

Iranian users reported the fake accounts following a request from Soroush's CEO Meysam Sayedsalehi asking the government to help the app become "a portal for 10 million users."

On April 30, Iran banned the foreign-owned Telegram messaging app, which was used by a reported 40 million people in the country. The judicial order came after months of the Iranian government pressuring Telegram to move its servers to Iran as well as encouraging citizens to use domestic, state-approved apps.

The internet is heavily censored and monitored in Iran, with millions of websites blocked along with widely used foreign apps such as Facebook and Twitter banned. By virtue of having their servers inside Iran, the data contained in domestic-made apps, including personal communications, is vulnerable to state surveillance.

The telecommunications minister recently reported that Telegram users in Iran were back on the rise just weeks after the app was banned. Domestic app companies are meanwhile complaining that the government is not giving them enough support.

On May 22, the conservative news site Entekhab quoted a speech by Sayedsalehi at Al-Zahra University in Tehran where he said, "[The telecommunications] minister claims he has given bandwidth to domestic apps. What good is it for me to have bandwidth? How much bandwidth do I need? What I need is a portal of users. If you are serious about breaking that great big monopoly, then do something so I can have those 10 million users Telegram used to have in the country."

Sayedsalehi later denied the report and threatened to sue Entekhab but on May 23, the site posted a video of him making the statement.

Without access to its servers and codes, it is impossible for outside parties to determine whether the false accounts were created on Soroush due to a technical problem or whether they were set up manually to boost the app's membership. To date, there has been no independent audit of the security and privacy features of Soroush.

Theories have meanwhile been swirling among Iranian social media users that Soroush intentionally created the fake accounts.

Software engineer Mehdi Ranjbar tweeted on May 24: "I don't even know what the Soroush logo looks like but a friend of mine sent this screenshot that shows I'm a member of Soroush and that I'm currently online!"

E-commerce activist Abbas Malek-Hosseini tweeted on May 29 that the fake account in his name on Soroush showed that his last activity on the app took place before the 1979 revolution, before the internet was introduced in Iran. "It's obvious that the data has been inserted at random. Where can I complain about this?" he wrote.

BBC Persian Service reporter Rana Rahimpour also revealed on her Twitter account on May 29 that a number of accounts and channels falsely representing the BBC had been created on Soroush.

"These accounts are fake," she wrote. "BBC Persian is not active on this messaging service."

BBC Persian has been banned in Iran since 2009.

Despite the allegations, on May 28 Sayedsalehi denied the existence of false accounts on Soroush.

"All the users on Soroush are real and the existence of any account without the person's knowledge is in no way possible," he tweeted. "The only way to activate an account is to provide a phone number and enter the activation code. Users have to enter their mobile phone number into the app and then they will receive a text with an activation code."

Tech Experts Write to Rouhani

On May 27, following the Information and Communications Technology Ministry's efforts to blockonline censorship circumvention tools, dozens of Iranian tech experts wrote an open letter to President Hassan Rouhani stating that the move "taken by the judiciary and the government are causing severe disillusionment among the young generation of tech experts and entrepreneurs."

These tools, such as virtual private networks (VPNs), are heavily used in Iran by users who wish to access censored apps or content or who wish to hide their personal information from state agencies.

The ministry's attempts to block the circumvention tools have not been completely successful but have created widespread disruptions of internet service in Iran.

The authors of the letter noted a number of technical problems caused by the restrictions imposed on the circumvention tools, and wrote: "The wave of concern, which began when the judiciary ordered the closure of public access to Telegram, has turned into a general blockage of internet communication protocols and caused serious disruptions in many types of online services. This situation has disrupted our daily activities as it has had a very severe negative impact on our work and ability to make a living."

Ata Khalighi, co-founder of Persian Blog, one of the first blogging services in Iran, tweeted on May 26: "I swear to religion, to the prophet, to Jesus, to anyone you worship... you cannot work with this internet. Who can we talk to about this? How should we say this? We are wasting a lot of energy and time and expenses on this situation every day."
Former DPM Joe Natuman (C) presents handover letter to his successor, MP Bob Loughman with Acting DP George Borugu prepares to handover other accompanying documents to Mr. Natuman to handover the new DPM and Minister.
After some four years absence from the runway and apron at the Kotoka International Airport (KIA), Air Namibia is making a comeback.



On June 29 2018 the Airbus A319-100 would be landing at KIA, propitiously, to a swanky new terminal with all the modcons of modern aviation.



Air Namibia took temporary leave of our airspace just when I was preparing to leave Accra to take up residence in Windhoek as High Commissioner to Namibia. In the event, I had to make do with a rival airline, which added several hours to a journey that was direct with Air Namibia.



Doubtlessly, as soon as I settled in my post, the return of Air Namibia to Ghana became one of my baptismal diplomatic assignments. In that, I was encouraged by other diplomats who found the Windhoek-Accra route convenient for their European connections. In fact, it was the Ambassador of an EU-Member country who more or less gave me my marching orders on that when I paid her my freshmans courtesy call.



A later meeting with my Nigerian colleague sealed it for me as he agreed that Lagos should be part of the route. With that in the mix, negotiations assumed a more determined tone!



Good naturedly, senior Namibian officials also were forthcoming on the issue. On one occasion, when I raised it at a briefing, I was told rather endearingly that, That is why you are here.



The senior management of Air Namibia also kept their doors wide open to the Ghana High Commission in Windhoek as discussions and negotiations went to and fro. The new Ghanaian envoy, after my departure followed up assiduously, as well as the Head of Mission of the newly established Namibian Mission in Accra, making visa acquisition much more convenient. The Namibian Mission in Abuja, Nigeria, used to handle that. All these efforts, eventually culminating in this June-ending return.



When I arrived in Windhoek on that July 2014 morning via Johannesburg, it was to a bitingly cold reception. Though I had been forewarned to expect very low temperatures, it being winter in southern Africa, I had completely underrated the warning and so was hit hard in the face by a chill that nearly flew me back to Accra! There was no frost but the dry cold I felt was more biting than many of the winters I had experienced in freezing Europe. This was Africa and yet the temperature was telling me a different story.



But even that could not diminish the warmth of love that was beginning to envelope me as I was driven from Hosea Kutako International Airport into the city of Windhoek. Humps and humps of hills kept rolling by and the sparse vegetation allowed one to see far and wide. The vistas were hauntingly seductive and one wished it could go on forever!



You see, Namibia is a very huge country, the 34th largest in the world. With a land mass of 824, 292 square kilometres, Ghana can fit in three times with our 239,567 square kilometres! But Ghana thumps her sister in population figures! To Namibias less than three million people, we are close to thirty million! The population of Accra alone is more than the entire country of Namibia. It is therefore a country of huge open spaces with the Namib and Kalahari deserts dominating much of it. It is a great cattle country and I would often joke with my Namibian friends that you people have more cows than human beings!



These many cows have determined Namibian culinary predisposition! It is a great meat-eating nation. I know Ghanaians also love meat and with Air Namibia now coming back, they can hop over and indulge their carnivorous passions! Namibian beef is exported to Europe and other parts of the world. But that is not to say sea food is scant. With such an extensive access to the sea, fish and other edible creatures of the salty waters are in plentiful supply.



My stay in Namibia was a true love affair: with the people, the land, the climatic contrasts, the social discipline. The City of Windhoek and Kigali (Rwanda) are regarded as the neatest cities of Africa and true, litter is minimal  no pure water sachets lying around, no polythene bags and no needless noises. Sale of alcoholic beverages is tightly controlled and shops are required by law to display notices to that effect though you can consume as much of the stuff as possible in hotels, restaurants, nightclubs and of course your own home! You cannot buy alcohol within certain hours of the dayAutomobile hoots and honks are far in between and traffic rules are adhered to religiously.



For lovers of architecture, look out for gems in Namibian cities. The Digest of Namibian Architecture was a favourite read of mine and I would often take long walks admiring the art of habitation. And even within the shack dwellings of Katutura a certain genteel orderliness can be observed!



The kind of huge open markets of the sizes of Makola in Accra, Kajetia in Kumasi, Takoradi, Tamale and other Ghanaian cities are absent, but these are compensated for by big, medium and small modern shopping malls. The really big ones like Grove Mall in Windhoek are upmarket where all major international brands are arrayed with highly competitive prices



To leave out wildlife from any writeup on Namibia would be an unforgivable gaffe! And to dwell on it too, within the kind of limited space of this writeup would be doing no justice to this amazing natural endowment. The Namibian Wildlife Resorts has facilities dotted all over the country where beasts, big and small, can be observed at close and safe quarters within their natural environment The Namibian national symbol is the majestic oryx as Ghanas is the eagle. The Ghana-Namibia Friendship Association has adopted both animals for its logo.



On wildlife, there is this little footnote I must also not ignore: the guinea fowl! Something of a delicacy in Ghana, it is protected in Namibia! You will not easily find akomfem on the menu here but they make it up with the local free-range chicken which is just as fat-free!



There cannot be an and finally to this article as I draw to a close, and there should not be, for if you have noticed, I have even not touched on the enigmatic sand dunes between Swakopmund and Walvis Bay. It is now a Namibian cliche  an ever-fresh cliche at that  the only place on the planet where the desert and sea meet!



Hopefully Ghanaians would take advantage of the return of Air Namibia to explore and enjoy this fascinating country the Namibians themselves call The Land of the Brave.

Source: Alhaji Abdul-Rahman Harruna Attah/MOV Former High Commissioner of Ghana to Namibia and Botswana Chairman









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The Ministry of Communications has signed a Memorandum of Agreement (MoA) with the Kumasi Business Incubator (KBI) centre of the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology to champion the operation of all aspects of Governments iHub development in the Middle Belt of Ghana.



The MoA which was signed last Thursday at a brief ceremony at the Ministry of Communications, Accra, provides the framework within which detailed strategies and mechanisms of cooperation for the establishment and implementation of an Innovation Hub at the KBI are to be carried out.



The KBIs role will include the training and accreditation, certification, competition for ideas, business mentoring, access to finance and markets, development and revision of technical standards, testing procedures and laboratory policies, as well as providing technical support for iHub operations and consulting with stakeholders on mobile technology related matters.



Deputy Communications Minister, Vincent Sowah Odotei, who signed on behalf of the ministry, said governments commitment to digitize the economy is without question and entreated all to embrace the evolving change.



New Ghanaian Civilization



He said The government of His Excellency Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo is committed to what we term as the new Ghanaian civilization and as part of that, and as we have demonstrated with our numerous electronics products  EIE, Paperless clearing systems, recently, a couple of weeks ago you are all aware we inaugurated the Case Tracking System with the Judicial Service where they are putting up a system where you will be able to track your case online, so that the issue of files being lost will be a thing of the past. We also recently came up with the Mobile Money Interoperability where you will be able to send money across networks where you will not be dedicated to other networks.



We are also continuing with the eServices  ePassport, eProcurement, the e-Immigration, all as part of making sure that we digitize this economy.





Sowah Odotei also pointed to ongoing efforts to monitor in real time, mobile industry revenues, and said these efforts will ensure that Ghana and its youth are not left behind but are key in the digital ecosystem of the phenomenal realities of the 21st Century.



He was grateful to the KNUST for agreeing to offer its centre as a continuation of an existing partnership under the eGhana Project to offer the youth the desired environment, guidance and mentorship to nurture and develop start-up ideas.



When you engage with other players in the global ecosystem, everybody is talking about innovation, everybody is talking about ideas based on digital economy, based on technology that can provide solutions, and thats where the real money is. That is where our contribution and the role that we play in the global ecosystem will be felt. Ideas about business, ideas about technology are everywhere and I believe that we have to give the children of this country also the chance and the opportunity and to create the enabling environment for them to do that, he said.

Source: Graphic.com









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Former President Jerry John Rawlings has lashed out at the past administrations of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) party for sidelining the now Special Prosecutor (SP), Mr Martin A. B. A. Amidu.



According to the former president, the appointment of Mr Amidu as the SP by the New Patriotic Party (NPP), the NDCs main rivals speaks volumes about the image of the party.



When we had the chance, we made an outcast of our own, allowing our rivals to recognise the true wealth and offer him such a sensitive national anti-corruption role, he fumed.



Mr Rawlings was speaking at the 39th June 4 revolution commemoration held at Madina in Accra Monday afternoon.



He added what does that make of us, stressing that if we forget to clean our house well and spend our energies only attacking our rivals, it will not portend anything positive to our future.



He has therefore called on the youth of the party to strive to be different from the past leaders of the party.



I call on the youth of our party to strive to be different, educate yourselves about the core values of our party.

Source: Graphic.com









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The Ministry of Communications has rejected suggestions that the common platform monitoring system by the National Communications Authority (NCA) and Kelni-GVG will compromise the privacy of clients.



According to the Ministry, the move was only to help with revenue assurance and that it was going to ensure confidentiality of all communications carried on the mobile networks as the law specifies under the Data Protection Act, the sector minister, Mrs Ursula Owusu-Ekuful has said.



At a press briefing over the weekend, the minister said: We trust that the network operators will produce the real call detail records and give them to the NCA, however, the law says the NCA and the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA) should also have the capability of verifying the information that the telcos provide, and without having real time connections to generate their own call detail records from the same raw data, that the network operators also generate theirs from, they wouldnt be in a position to verify whether the reports are correct.



Privacy



The Ghana Chamber of Telecommunications (GCT) had insisted that the current decision taken by the two entities - NCA and Kelni GVG - did not conform to the existing regulatory frameworks for the telecommunication industry.



The Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of GCT, Mr Kenneth Ashigbey in a statement last Friday said the current arrangement did not provide customers the privacy of their communication that the Constitution guaranteed them.



The monitoring mechanism has the capacity to actively or passively record, monitor or tap into the content of any incoming or outgoing electronic communications traffic such as voice and that the proposed connection point will risk exposing content of voice traffic. The voice transaction damp for the revenue assurance tool should be enough without risking individual customer privacy. We are minded that the law does not talk about intent but capability, which the current architecture processes, the GCT stressed.



The Vice President of policy thnk, IMANI Africa, Mr Kofi Bentil on his part has argued that the law states that nobody should have an opportunity to listen and insisted when connected and monitoring real time, there is an opportunity to listen and whether they listen or not is not the issue.



To him, he has no knowledge of a software that can connect real time to the telcos and not create at the same time an opportunity to listen, you cant eat a fish without killing it, he said.





Protection



But reacting to the suggestion at the press briefing where journalists were also given a tour of the common monitoring platform infrastructure at the NCA Towers in the Airport City in Accra, the Minister of Communications said: We will enforce the law on confidentiality of the networks in that the monitoring platform will not have the capability of either snooping on the voice conversations or the data that is carried on the network, and that is non-negotiable.



So if that is the only concern of the mobile network operators, which they have expressed to us, as I told them, they can go to sleep on that score. I dont think we want them to cry more than the bereaved, the government is determined to enforce its own laws and so if that is their only concern, they dont have anything to worry about.



My worry is their [telcos] insistence that for that reason they will do whatever it takes to prevent this platform from taking off, that is a non-starter if this same company GVG is working in Rwanda and Uganda and all the network operators in this country are present in one or either of those countries and they are happily allowing or working with GVG to monitor their networks there, I dont see why they should resist this monitoring in this country unless they have something to hide, she added.



Adding, Mrs Owusu-Ekuful said: I will hesitate to think that they [telcos] have so much to hide that they will go to these lengths. We heard the same arguments in 2009 and government has moved beyond mere verbal re-assurance to pass legislation to make sure that does not happen and I will urge all of us to have confidence in government to enforce its own laws.



Watchmen



The Minister said the technical team from both sides, telcos and NCA/Kelni GVG will have visibility on the exact traffic that is going through the common platform network.



So who watches the watchman, you will see exactly what I will see so that if anything [snooping] is going through that is not supposed to, you will know instantly, the telcos will see exactly what traffic is going through the common platform, and the common platform will see all the information that they need to get from the telcos infrastructure. And I think that is double security, so that each is satisfied that nothing which should not be going through the common platform is going through it in real time.



I think even that alone should be double assurance that this platform hasnt been set up to snoop on anybodys conversation, we are not interested in that, we are only following and interested in the money, not in who is saying what to whose girlfriend at what time of the day or night... only specified data will flow through specified pipes, she added.



Trust



The Minister said the issue was not about trust, since they trusted the network operators but insisted data was king in this digital era and without having access to the data it would be difficult to plan and be able to verify that the reports from the telcos are correct.



She said the government was determined to set up an open data platform so that it can be able to generate its own data, analyse it and develop programmes and policies which are data driven, that is the way to the Information Society.



Im sure the telcos know that they are sitting on volumes of data, they can give us that data but we want to be able to also track those patterns ourselves by having real time access to their networks not to see the content of the communications that is carried on it, we are not interested in thatwe are interested in the trends, call detail records, information that is generated on it.



The Minister said government has been struggling to have real time monitoring of the mobile network operators since 2009, and I think weve had this conversation long enough and we have exhausted the various scenarios, the pros and cons of it and it is time to get to serious business.



Mrs Owusu-Ekuful said everything was ready for all operators to be connected and warned that companies that failed to connect by the expiry date of June 11, 2018 would be sanctioned.



Adding, she said an audit by the NCA in 2012 of the one percent of the revenue that the telcos are supposed to be paying revealed that all the telcos have been under declaring and underpaying the taxes they were supposed to.



So judging by that alone, we have evidence in this country that they dont always provide all the information that they should provide, so it is imperative that we will be able to hold their feet to the fire and cross check whatever information they give us.

Source: Graphic.com









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National Vice Chairperson of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) Anita De-Soso is begging former President Jerry John Rawlings to forgive the party for their behaviour towards him.



Delivering a speech at the 39th anniversary of June 4th uprising held at the Madina Social Welfare School Park in Accra, Anita De-SoSo recounted the help that Mr. Rawlings has done her.



Calling Mr. Rawlings her "dad", the NDC National Vice Chairperson narrated to the gathering that the former President and founder of the party took good care of her and assisted her to gain her position in the party.



She therefore believed she has shown gross ingratitude Mr. Rawlings and going down on her knees asking for his forgiveness, this is what she had to say to him;



"He has taken care of me. And he always advised me; be bold enough. Speak the truth no matter what and this was what have led me to this position. So, I'll take this opportunity on behalf of the party to kneel before my dad, please forgive us. Let's come together to build this country".



Watch video below:





Source: Ameyaw Adu Gyamfi/Peacefmonline.com/Ghana









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A high school in western Pennsylvania today is mourning a 17-year-old senior who died in what appears to be a bizarre accidental drowning while getting ready for school on Friday.

As the Butler Eagle reports, Brianne "Bri" Marie Rapp of Butler County, Pa., appears to have fallen in the bathroom of her family's home around 6:45 a.m. Friday while getting ready for school:

Autopsy results were still pending, but the likely cause of death was drowning, the newspaper quotes Deputy Coroner Larry Barr as saying.

The death was not being considered suspicious, according to Butler Police Department.

KDKA TV reported the Butler Area Senior High School was mourning Brianne's death.

"It's still hard to believe my best friend is not here no more," student Hailie Slupe was quoted as telling KDKA.

Brianne's father Michael Rapp, who lived at a different address, told KDKA his daughter was in the shower getting ready for school while her mom was still sleeping:

"We're thinking she blacked out in the bathtub and fell and hit her head and was found by my ex," Rapp told KDKA. "We don't know if maybe hair clogged the drain but the tub overflowed."

The Butler Eagle reported a gofundme.com campaign to cover funeral expenses started over the weekend by Brianne's father had raised $7,685 as of Sunday night.

Funeral services were planned for later this week.

Brianne is survived by her mother, Kimberly Shultz, of Butler, father Michael Rapp of Mars and two younger siblings, according to her obituary.
This weekend's flash flooding in eastern Pennsylvania turned deadly when a 30-year-old woman who friends described as an avid photographer was swept away to her death while taking pictures along a swollen creek Saturday.

As 6ABC reports, Rebecca Bunting, 30, was knocked into Pennypack Creek in Northeast Philadelphia shortly before 6 p.m. Saturday in the area of Ryan and Sandyford avenues.

Her body was recovered around 10:45 a.m. Sunday near the Frankford Avenue Bridge in Holmesburg, the news station adds

Bunting's body was found trapped under furniture left in the creek.

6ABC writes Bunting was with her boyfriend, who was not identified, when the two were inside a storm drain by Roosevelt Boulevard as a rush of water came through. The boyfriend tells police Bunting was swept away, while he was able to pull himself out.

Witnesses told 6ABC they encountered Bunting's boyfriend standing on Ryan Avenue looking into the water and screaming her name.

Police believe Bunting was in the storm drain taking photos when she was swept to her death, the news station reports.

Bunting was a popular bartender at Miller's Ale House in South Philadelphia, having moved to Philadelphia from Maryland about a year ago.
A student, the driver and two young children were taken to Good Samaritan Hospital as a precaution after a school bus rolled over in a crash in Lebanon County on Monday afternoon.

Glenn Meck, administrator of the Lebanon County Career and Technology Center, said no serious injuries occurred during the 2:15 p.m. accident at Birch Road and Metro Drive in South Lebanon Township.

Meck said the bus had left his school and was on its way to Manheim Central High School. None of the injuries appeared to be serious, he said.

Emergency dispatchers said the bus overturned when it collided with two other vehicles.

NOW: Bus carrying 1 Lebanon County Career and Technology Student and the bus drivers 2 children flipped onto its side in accident. Metro Dr and Birch Ave. Children to hospital as precaution. @WGAL pic.twitter.com/92d2cK1kP6  Matt Barcaro (@MattBarcaroWGAL) June 4, 2018
Ecole Entre-Lacs students Louis Robert, Matt Pinsonneault, Samuel Fortin, Ethan Smith and Javier Carlos play Monday on the school field. The school is currently without a proper playground, although a contest run by BCAA could change that.
An image of Ali Omar Ader is projected on a screen at RCMP headquarters during a press conference about his arrest for the kidnapping of Canadian journalist Amanda Lindhout, in Ottawa on June 12, 2015. THE CANADIAN PRESS/ Patrick Doyle
A blog about life under, and resisting, a dictatorship
FILE - In this Saturday, May 27, 2017, file photo, first lady Melania Trump sits as President Donald Trump addresses U.S. military troops and their families at the Sigonella Naval Air Station, in Sigonella, Italy. Melania Trump wonAot be joining her husband at the 2018 G7 summit in Quebec or accompanying him to the meeting planned with North KoreaAos leader in Singapore following the G7. (AP Photo/Luca Bruno, File)
FILE- This March 30, 2017, file photo shows the Capitol Dome at dawn in Washington. Congress returns to work Monday, June 4, 2018, facing a showdown in the House over immigration while Senate Republicans are trying to stop an all-out trade war after President Donald TrumpAos decision to impose import tariffs on close U.S. allies. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite, File)
In this March 23, 2018 photo, Argentine Forensic Anthropology Team experts carefully spread out burned fragments at a lab in Cuauhtemoc, Mexico. The fragments are among the remains of tens of thousands of people who have simply disappeared in Mexico's long and bloody drug war. (AP Photo/Marco Ugarte)
FILE - In this March 12, 2018, file photo, Minnesota Attorney General Lori Swanson speaks during an interview at the State Capitol in St. Paul, Minn. Swanson has asked retiring U.S. Rep. Rick Nolan to be her running mate in a possible last-minute entry in the race for governor, according to two people familiar with the discussions. Swanson's entry into the race would further crowd a potentially bruising Democratic primary in August. (AP Photo/Jim Mone, File)
In this May 5, 2018 photo, a giant image of the Emir of Qatar Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, adorns a tower in Doha, Qatar. At a time when the U.S. hopes to exert maximum pressure on Iran, a regional bloc created by Gulf Arab countries to counter Tehran looks increasingly more divided ahead of the anniversary of the diplomatic crisis in Qatar. (AP Photo/Kamran Jebreili)
'60 Minutes' Reporter Recalls What Trump Said When She Asked Why He Relentlessly Attacks the Media

His answer: I do it to discredit you all and demean you all so that when you write negative stories about me, no one will believe you."

And yet Dear Leader's Cult Member Trumpeteers will still swallow hook, line, and sinker every effing thing he tweets or says.



It's unbearably pathetic.

The Deadline Club is the New York Chapter of the Society of Professional Journalists, a group dedicated to supporting and honoring the best in New York journalism. At the groups annual awards dinner, veteran 60 Minutes reporter Lesley Stahl interviewed PBS Newshour host and editor Judy Woodruff. Their discussion inevitably led to Donald Trump and Stahl recalled asking him why he relentlessly attacks the media. Listen to her telling response.Video:Leslie Stahl asked Trump why he continues to relentlessly attack the press.As Paul Harvey used to say, now you know the rest of the story. Donald Trump doesnt likely even believe half of the mean-spirited and unfounded statements about the media that come out of his big mouth. Hes using these attacks as a shield, a dangerous shield against the truth and truthful reporting. Hats off the media who keep at it and brush off his attacks. Truth will win in the end.
Pirate offense sputters in loss The downpour of rain that drenched Pirate Field in the fourth quarter was probably an accurate representation of just how Perryville football coach Brent Roth and his team felt following the game.The 

Indians have fun in shutout victory over Bayless St. Vincent football coach Tim Schumer said that his team had a lot of fun on Friday night. The Indians scored early and often, then dominated on defense as they shutout Bayless 59-0 
Oil down Monday as U.S. supply grows, OPEC mulls higher output

By Christopher Johnson

LONDON

Petroleumworld 06 04 2018

Oil prices fell on Monday as U.S. production hit a record high and as OPEC members considered boosting supply.

Benchmark Brent crude oil LCOc1 lost $1.26 a barrel, or 1.6 percent, to hit a low of $75.53 before recovering a little to $75.69, down $1.10, by 1035 GMT.

U.S. light crude CLc1 was 40 cents lower at 65.41 a barrel. The U.S. contract lost around 3 percent last week, after a near 5-percent decline the week before.

We are going into summer, the high demand season, and I think we are going to see a fall in U.S. crude oil inventories, but shale oil output is growing, said Tony Nunan, risk manager at Mitsubishi Corp.

U.S. crude production climbed in March to 10.47 million barrels per day (bpd), a monthly record, data from the Energy Information Administration showed last week.

U.S. drillers added two oil rigs in the week to June 1, bringing the total to 861, the most since March 2015, energy services firm Baker Hughes said on Friday. That was the eighth time drillers have added rigs in the past nine weeks. [RIG/U]

Arab oil ministers agreed over the weekend on the need for continued cooperation between members of the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries and other big producers to balance global supply, Kuwait's state news agency KUNA reported on Sunday.

OPEC ministers from Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Kuwait and Algeria along with their counterpart from non-OPEC Oman met unofficially in Kuwait on Saturday.

OPEC meets formally on June 22 to set oil policy. It is expected to agree to raise output to cool the market amid worries over Iranian and Venezuelan supply and after Washington raised concerns the oil rally was going too far, OPEC sources familiar with the discussions told Reuters last month.

Saudi Arabia, effective OPEC leader, and Russia have discussed boosting output to compensate for supply losses from Venezuela and to address concerns about the impact of U.S. sanctions on Iranian output.

Russia's largest oil producer, Rosneft ( ROSN.MM ), will be able to restore 70,000 bpd of oil output in just two days if global production limits are lifted, Renaissance Capital wrote in a client note.

Hedge funds and other money managers cut their bullish wagers on U.S. crude futures and options, according to data released on Friday, as oil prices slumped on oversupply fears.

Tamas Varga, analyst at London brokerage PVM Oil Associates, said financial investors and money managers were becoming less enthusiastic about any further upside potential: Why would they otherwise keep cutting their net length?

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Guyana Govt. should require oil companies to develop environmental protection plans  Natural Resource Charter By Kiana Wilburg GEORGETOWN

Petroleumworld 06 04 2018 When oil and gas activities are mismanaged, there can be irreversible environmental damage. This can give rise to local grievances and conflict.

It is for this reason that the Natural Resource Governance Institute (NRGI) believes that all governments must require of oil companies, comprehensive environmental protection plans which speak to compensation when necessary.



The NRGI is an independent nonprofit organization dedicated to improving countries' governance over their natural resources to promote sustainable and inclusive development.



According to the Institute, governments should require companies to develop wide-ranging environmental management plans that clearly propose the method and means of managing, mitigating or offsetting each impact identified in the assessment, throughout the project cycle.



NRGI also stated that the government should require companies to be prepared for major accidents and disasters. In this regard, it stated that emergency and disaster preparedness should protect both the operations site and affected populations. The Institute said that companies should demonstrate strategic readiness for collaboration with the government including an effort to coordinate responses with local government services including the police, military, health service and environmental protection agencies.



As for compensation, the Institute noted that this can take several forms, one of which includes direct compensation to specific individuals or communities affected by operator's pollution.



Regardless of which form it takes, the Institute said that in order to be effective, a compensation process must be credible, transparent, universally applied, efficient and fair.



VAGUE TERMS



There are many examples around the world where the governments of nations ensure that oil companies provide insurance, which would ensure compensation for any impact on communities and neighbouring countries due to the said operations. Unfortunately, Guyana is not one of those nations.



In the Production Sharing Agreement (PSA) signed between the Government of Guyana and USA oil giant, ExxonMobil, there is no provision regarding any adverse impact on coastal communities or on neighbouring countries.



This alarming observation was recently pointed out by Chartered Accountant, Chris Ram and political Commentator, Ramon Gaskin. The two have been extremely critical of the vague terms in the contract especially as it relates to environmental protection.



Ram in his recent writings noted that Article 20.2 of Guyana's 2016 Oil Agreement deals with Insurance in respect of but not limited to assets, pollution, third parties and employees.



The Attorney-at-law pointed out that the Agreement does not require any loss of production insurance as will apply in the case of any major disruption of production or environmental accidents. He said that while this provision is absent from the 2016 Agreement, the 1999 Agreement, which was signed by the Jagan administration, allowed for insurance to be taken out by Esso Exploration and Production Guyana Limited's affiliate insurance company. Esso is a subsidiary of ExxonMobil.



Ram stated that, That requirement has been changed and now allows the Contractor to have the right to self-insure against the risks identified. This is a major concession by (Natural Resources Minister, Raphael) Trotman on an issue that only specialist lawyers know about. What it means in practice is that anyone seeking to make an insurance claim will have to lodge that claim against Esso, CNOOC/Nexen or Hess, all of which are external companies. Those potential claimants must thank Raphael Trotman for making their chances even more difficult to succeed. ________________________ Twitter: @petroleumworld1 Petroleumworld.com



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Kaieteurnewsonline.com 06 04 2018

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ExxonMobil open to audit of US$460M Guyana-Exxon pre-contract costs By Kiana Wilburg GEORGETOWN

Petroleumworld 06 04 2018 ExxonMobil's Head of Public and Government Affairs, Kimberly Brasington says that the oil giant is open to auditing of its US$460M pre-contract costs.



In fact, Brasington told Kaieteur News that government has the right and even the ability to audit every aspect of its operations. You ask about an audit? Bring it on! That is expected and customary in our industry. We welcome audits as it demonstrates transparency and helps build trust. The accusation that the US$460 million is not accounted for is inaccurate and uniformed. ExxonMobil and our partners will continue to be accountable to the Guyanese people. I continue to say it; we will only operate with the highest standards of ethics and accountability.



The ExxonMobil official noted that there has been a lot of speculation and headlines about the US$460 million figure. It's a big number and a new industry. So I think it is good people are asking tough questions, expressed Brasington.



The ExxonMobil official was responding to Chartered Accountant, Christopher Ram, who has contended for some time that the Government must undertake a special audit of the US$460M pre-contract costs which were incurred by ExxonMobil and its partners from 1999 to 2015.



The Government is yet to say if it will conduct a review on the figure.



EXTRA COSTS



Ram is also of the opinion that Guyana may very well incur more pre-contract costs. He reminded that the US$460M only accounts for 1999 to 2015. He noted, however, that the contract was revised and signed in late 2016. Ram said that there could be more costs from January 2016 to October 2016.



But Brasington did not agree with this conclusion. The ExxonMobil official said, There is no additional pre-contract cost that is not included in the US$460M cost There is nothing else 



Brasington noted, however, that costs continue to be incurred from 2016 to now. She said this is towards the development of the Liza Phase One Project. She said that this will be added on top of the US$460M which are all cost recoverable.



BREAKDOWN



Brasington said that in some countries, the government and the contractor split the exploration costs upfront. In Guyana's case, she said that ExxonMobil and its partners paid for all the exploration costs up front.



She was also open to providing clarity on how the US$460M was spent.



Brasington said that approximately $230M was spent drilling the Liza One well and early drilling costs for the follow-on wells. She said that this included mobilizing and demobilizing the drilling rig, helicopters and supply vessels in addition to drilling the well.



The ExxonMobil official said that approximately $140M was spent shooting the company's 20,000km seismic campaign over the Stabroek Block. She said that this was ExxonMobil's largest proprietary seismic campaign.



It was required because no 3D data existed for the block. The seismic data is what helped us figure out where to drill the wells, Brasington stated.



Furthermore, the official said that approximately $65M was spent over many years utilizing Geology and Geo-science experts and engineering teams to identify the potential prospects that the company and its partners wanted to drill and then to design the concept for safe and successful drilling



Brasington said that just about $25M spent on other costs and overheads, including block rental fees and training payments. ________________________ Twitter: @petroleumworld1 Petroleumworld.com



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Kaieteurnewsonline.com 06 04 2018

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Rosneft seen quickly recovering oil output once OPEC deal curbs eased - Renaissance Capital

By Reuters

MOSCOW

Petroleumworld 06 04 2018

Russia's largest oil producer Rosneft has been able to recover its oil production of 70,000 barrels per day (bpd) in just two days, as it tested the possibility of global output curbs easing, Renaissance Capital wrote in a client note.

Rosneft accounts for about 40 percent of total oil output in Russia, which pledged to cut its output by 300,000 bpd from January 2017 as part of the global deal with the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries.

Russian Deputy Energy Minister Pavel Sorokin told Reuters that Russia would be able to recover its oil output within a few months.

The current global deal on oil output cuts is valid until the end of the year. OPEC and non-OPEC oil ministers will gather in Vienna on June 22-23 to review the agreement.

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Russia and the OPEC leader Saudi Arabia have signalled there could be a need to gradually boost oil production to prevent any supply shortages.

Renaissance Capital analysts have visited Rosneft's new Yurubcheno-Takhomskoye oil field in Russia's East Siberia.

Rosneft's management during the trip confirmed that the company's current spare production capacity stands at 120,000-150,000 bpd (due to OPEC+ restrictions), which is ahead of our own recent estimate of 100,000 bpd, they wrote in a note According to Rosneft, it has been able to recover 70,000 bpd of oil production in just two days, with more near-term production upside likely to support its second quarter 2018 results, in our view.

Rosneft said it has been producing oil with in the quotas set by the OPEC+ deal. That said, the company should be ready to possible changes in external environment, a spokesman added.

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France's Total determined over plans to drill Amazon basin, says Pouyanne

By Bate Felix

PARIS

Petroleumworld 06 04 2018

Total is determined to push ahead with its plans to drill for oil in the Amazon basin, it said on Friday as Greenpeace activists interrupted its annual general meeting in protest at the project.

The French oil major wants to explore Brazil's Foz do Amazonas basin, but Brazil's environmental agency rejected its licence application on Tuesday for a fourth time.

As the company's annual general meeting opened in Paris on Friday, four activists from Greenpeace descended by rope from the ceiling above the stage, unfurling banners reading Let's save the Amazon's coral reef.

At least a dozen others managed to enter the hall, with some chaining themselves to fixtures in the room.

Total CEO Patrick Pouyanne told the meeting he would not cede to any kind of blackmail over the project, as the activists dangled on ropes above him.

Our position on the Amazon project has not been abandoned. We have our rights and we have obviously to respect Brazilian laws, Pouyanne told shareholders.

It is also clear that Brazil's environmental regulators are under immense pressure from other organisations. We are exchanging information with them.

Brazil's Foz do Amazonas basin could contain up to 14 billion barrels of oil, geologists estimate, or more than the entire proven reserves in the Gulf of Mexico.

MASSIVE CORAL REEF

A Greenpeace expedition in April documented coral in the area where Total plans to drill, after an earlier discovery of a massive coral reef nearby.

Total refuses to listen to reason and persists in wanting to drill near this unique reef, at the risk of destroying it, Francois Chartier, head of Greenpeace's Oceans campaign, said in a statement.

Brazil's environmental agency requested more information from the company when it rejected its bid for an environmental license on Tuesday.

The Greenpeace activists were also protesting at Total's investment in offshore oil production blocks in French Guyana, which will boost its presence in the potentially lucrative Guyana basin.

Total faces more protests this month, after France's largest farmers' union called for a blockade of French oil refineries in protest at the company's decision to use imported palm oil at a new biofuel production site.

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Strict warming curb key to survival of world's most vulnerable populations

By Lin Taylor

LONDON

Petroleumworld 06 04 2018

The world must limit global warming to 1.5 degrees to give vulnerable populations even a 50 percent chance of surviving the impact of climate change, the former United Nations climate chief said on Friday.

The 2015 Paris Agreement set a goal of limiting a rise in average world surface temperatures to well below 2 degrees Celsius (3.6 Fahrenheit) above pre-industrial times, while pursuing efforts for 1.5C (2.7F).

But a key architect of that agreement, Christiana Figueres, told a London conference a failure to cap warming at 1.5C would be disastrous.

The reason why 1.5 degrees as a maximum temperature rise is absolutely crucial is because it is the only temperature that gives a 50 percent chance for the most vulnerable populations to survive the effects of climate change, she said.

From where we stand today, I hear everyone think that's impossible. Well, you know what? We're just going to have to make it possible.

Figueres said a 2-degree rise would leave most of the low-lying Pacific islands, parts of Bangladesh, and all of New York city under water.

A 1.5-degree change would give vulnerable populations a chance of surviving climate shocks like flooding, cyclones, droughts and rising sea levels, she said.

What do we do about 95 percent of the Pacific Islands going under water? That means those people have no home - talk about forced migration, she said at the conference on women and climate change hosted by Invisible Dust, an arts and science organisation.

Worldwide, seas have risen 26 cm (10 inches) since the late 19th century, driven by melting ice and the expansion of water warmed by climate change, U.N. data shows, and scientists predict a rise of another metre or more by 2100.

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A 2-degree temperature hike would lead to more frequent weather-related disasters and displace large numbers of people, according to the Climate Vulnerable Forum, a coalition of the countries most affected by climate change.

Pacific island nations are most at risk from rising sea levels, with low-lying islands facing an existential threat as most - or all - of their land could disappear.

Last year, 18.8 million people around the world were forced from their homes by storms, floods, wildfires or other natural disasters, according to the Internal Displacement Monitoring Centre.

Given the devastating effects of climate change, Figueres said she was disappointed when U.S. President Donald Trump vowed to pull the United States out of the Paris deal a year ago.

Trump's announcement that he was ditching the deal agreed upon by nearly 200 countries came over opposition by U.S. businesses.

To derive a conclusion that is completely contradictory to the path of history and to the interest of the US economy is actually quite sad, Figueres said.

The withdrawal would leave the U.S. at a competitive disadvantage as global competitors shifted away from polluting fossil fuels, she added.

In December, countries will meet in Poland to set rules for the Paris accord's implementation, including how to monitor emissions.

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Coming soon:"OPEC's worst meeting ever, part II "

Chris Ratcliffe/Bloomberg



The Saudi about-face on production lays the ground for discord in Vienna. Saudi Arabia takes a leaf from Hollywood's book. - Play Video - Eyes on OPEC Production as Meeting Looms

By Julian Lee

LONDON

Petroleumworld 06 04 2018

You know how, a few years after a Hollywood blockbuster gets released, it seems to get a remake? Well, it looks Saudi-Arabia's oil minister Khalid Al-Falih is setting himself up to reboot his predecessor's 2011 hit  "OPEC's Worst Meeting."

His starting point is an about face. Al-Falih had said as recently as April that the group's output cuts should be extended and the goalposts moved . But in what looks like a response to President Donald Trump's April 20 tweet attacking the group , Saudi Arabia has gone from advocating higher prices to trying to stop the rally at $80 a barrel.

Al-Falih must now convince fellow OPEC ministers at their next meeting, on June 22, that they need to raise production.

The parallels with seven years ago are clear. Then, OPEC had an output ceiling that had been unchanged for two and a half years and the kingdom saw clear signs that the market was overheating and required more oil from the producer group. Members such as Iran and Venezuela, who couldn't boost their own production either as a result of capacity constraints or sanctions, rejected the Saudi proposal to raise output.

Since OPEC acts by consensus, this doomed the meeting to failure. The group could not even agree on the text of a closing press release and the Saudi oil minister called it " one of the worst meetings " he had attended in almost 16 years in the job.

Roll forward to the present day and we have a very similar dynamic. Saudi Arabia wants to boost supply  although it is not yet clear by how much. Iran, facing renewed sanctions on its oil exports, is looking at a drop in output that could be at least as big as the 1 million to 1.2 million barrels a day it suffered shortly after the 2011 meeting.

Taking a Bite

Previous sanctions cut Iran's oil output by over a million barrels a day. Expect no less this time.

Venezuela, too, has nothing to gain by agreeing to raise production. Its oil industry is collapsing under economic and political strains. Output has already dropped by 520,000 barrels a day from the October 2016 baseline for cuts, against a promised reduction of just 95,000. It's set to fall further.

On the Skids

Venezuela's oil output will likely fall further below its target in the second half of the year

So not only will Saudi Arabia be asking Iran and Venezuela to go against their own immediate economic interests by backing a policy change that will lower oil prices, it will be asking them to do so at the behest of President Trump. That's the same President Trump who the leaders of both countries see as trying to topple them.

Al-Falih met with counterparts from other Gulf Arab nations in Kuwait Saturday in an attempt to bring them onside with the new plan. As they are among the few countries in the production-cutting group with the capacity to raise output, that is the easy part of the deal. Selling it to the rest will be much more difficult.

The drop in Venezuelan supply has taken the OPEC+ output cuts well beyond their agreed level and undoubtedly helped to accelerate the depletion of excess inventories. Easing the restrictions now may well amount to no more than bringing the cuts back into line with what the group agreed in 2016. But that alone would add more than 800,000 barrels a day to supply.

Overdoing It

Collapsing output in Venezuela and Angola has pushed OPEC+ cuts well beyond their target.

A pullback might be what it takes to keep Russia working with OPEC , placating a Russian oil sector that wants to raise production. But it risks undermining OPEC's statue, which includes the following article:

The principal aim of the Organization shall be the coordination and unification of the petroleum policies of Member Countries and the determination of the best means for safeguarding their interests, individually and collectively.

There are plenty of members in addition to Venezuela and Iran who are unable to raise output, and who could argue that easing production restrictions fails to safeguard their interests.

In 2011, a group of countries blocked a Saudi attempt to raise the group's output ceiling. The kingdom continued to pump more anyway, boosting its output by 1.6 million barrels a day over the first eight months of 2011. At their next gathering individual output targets were abandoned. Don't be surprised to see Saudi Arabia and Russia following their own path if they fail to carry the rest of the OPEC+ group with them.

Going it Alone

Saudi Arabia boosted oil output against the wishes of its OPEC partners in 2011 and again in 2015

The next OPEC meeting is preceded by the two-day OPEC Seminar, a showcase event for the group that attracts the CEOs of most of the world's biggest oil companies. The group likes to use this jamboree as a chance to demonstrate its unity. This time around speculation in the grand palaces of Vienna will be whether OPEC is about to be superceeded by SaRuPEC - the Saudi-Russia Petroleum Exporting Combine. Now that would be a real twist to the remake.

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Brazil's PSCs pre-salt oil fields round 4th with 16 companies on June 7

ANP



The list of qualified companies for the production-sharing contracts (PSC) included big oil companies such as Petrobras, ExxonMobil, BP, Shell, Chevron, Statoil and Total. - Play Bloomberg Video - Petrobras CEO Resigns After Brazil Strikes

By Elio Ohep

CARACAS

Petroleumworld 06 04 2018



The 4th PSC Round will take place on June 7 in Rio de Janeiro. A record number for rounds in this regime. In the event, will be offered the areas of Itaimbezinho, Tres Marias, Dois Irmaos and Uirapuru, in the Campos and Santos basins. Council of Energy Policy (CNPE) establishes the mandatory participation of Petroleo Brasileiro SA (Petrobras) as operator in the production-sharing contracts.

The Bidding continues the schedule of rounds, which contribute to the resumption of the sector and attract investments to the Country, said the Brazilian regulatory agency ANP .

The list of qualified companies included Petrobras, ExxonMobil, BP, Shell, Chevron, Statoil and Total.

Also on the list are Qatar Petroleum International, Ecopetrol, Galp Energia, Repsol, Petronas, Dea, Queiroz Galvao E&P, China National Offshore Oil Corporation and China National Oil & Gas Exploration & Development Corporation.

Petrobras has already exercised its preferential rights for Uirapuru, Tres Marias and Dois Irmaos, but competition should be fierce for all four prospects on offer, given the high number of participants qualified to bid, reported Upstream.

The fourth offering includes the Uirapuru and Tres Marias areas in the Santos basin, and the Dois Irmaos and Itaimbezinho areas in the Campos basin.



Below is a summary of the areas offered:

The ANP received 16 registrations for the 4th Round of Production Sharing, a record number for rounds in this regime. The registered companies are among the largest in the oil and gas sector in the world. The Saturn area, originally planned for the bidding, was withdrawn, following the request of the Ministry of Mines and Energy.

Source: ANP

Brazil's fifth pre-salt rounds

The Brazilian National Council for Energy Policy (CNPE) announced in May more details about the fifth pre-salt round is set to take place on 28 September. The area was included in the 5th Round of Sharing, which will offer the areas of Saturn, Titan, Pau-Brasil and Southwest of Tartaruga Verde, located in the Campos and Santos basins, unitisable with the Petrobras-operated Tartaruga Verde field that is due to enter production soon  in the Campos basin all within the Pre- salt and in a declared strategic area.

Brazil's CNPE has determined a fixed signature bonus of 3.125 billion reais* each for Saturno and Tita, 500 million reais for Pau Brasil and 70 million reais for South-west of Tartaruga Verde.

Brazil's CNPE also said that the minimum profit sharing for the federal government will be 24.82% for Pau Brasil, 10.01% for South-west of Tartaruga Verde, 9.56% for Saturno and 5.8% for Tita.

The percentages take into account crude market Brent prices of $50 pb (per barrel) and average production of 12,000 bpd (barrel per day) per well.

Petrobras will have until first half of June to exercise its preferential rights to become operator of any of the areas to be offered in the round with a minimum 30% stake. Local content is set to 18% for the exploration phase and a number between 25% and 40% for the production development phase.

The only exception is South-west of Tartaruga Verde, where local content has to copy the one from the Tartaruga Verde field.

*$1 = 3.48 reais

Source: ANP/Upstream/Reuters

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Project Blitz: The Legislative Assault by Christian Nationalists to Reshape America

Since Donald Trump became president, rightwing groups are helping flood state legislatures with bills that promote hardline Christian conservative views

In Alabama, Arizona, Florida, Louisiana and Tennessee so-called In God We Trust bills have become law since 2017. Photograph: Screengrab

A statue outside a megachurch in Tennessee that proclaims America Return to Christ. Photograph: Anadolu Agency/Getty Images

Colorado baker Jack Phillips, who refused to serve a gay couple, argued this would violate his religious beliefs and freedoms. The Supreme Court will rule on the case. Photograph: Eric Baradat/AFP/Getty Images

Pastors from the Las Vegas area pray with Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump during the election campaign in 2016. Photograph: Evan Vucci/AP

The emboldened religious right has unleashed a wave of legislation across the United States since Donald Trump became president, as part of an organised bid to impose hardline Christian values across American society.A playbook known as Project Blitz, developed by a collection of Christian groups, has provided state politicians with a set of off-the-shelf pro-Christian model bills.Some legislation uses verbatim language from the model bills created by a group called the Congressional Prayer Caucus Foundation (CPCF), set up by a former Republican congressman which has a stated aim to protect religious freedom, preserve Americas Judeo-Christian heritage and promote prayer.AdvertisementAt least 75 bills have been brought forward in more than 20 states during 2017 and 2018 which appear to be modelled on or have similar objectives to the playbook, according to Americans United for Separation of Church and State, a campaign group which tracks legislation that undermines the principle of separation of church and state.Opponents warn that the CPCF (which claims more than 600 politicians as members across state legislatures ) is using the banner of religious freedom to impose Christianity on American public, political and cultural life.In Alabama, Arizona, Florida, Louisiana and Tennessee so-called In God We Trust bills have become law since 2017, which will see the phrase emblazoned on public buildings, hung in schools and displayed on the side of public vehicles including police cars.But the Project Blitz playbook sees those largely symbolic bills as just the first stage on the way to more hardline laws. They are presented as measures to preserve religious liberty, but are intended to give businesses, pastors and childcare providers the right to discriminate against LGBT people in line with their sincerely held religious beliefs.Samantha Sokol, who studied the bills for the Americans United for Separation of Church and State campaign group said: In God We Trust bills are the most common. We had 26 of those, they really just exploded this year. .I think that it is due to the promotion of Project Blitz. They have sent this playbook to state legislators and told them that these In God We Trust bills are the first step.She added: Some would see these bills as very trivial and unimportant but even the most simple or trivial bills would really undermine American religious freedom and separation of church and state, and undermine the promise of our public schools that kids are welcome, whether they are religious or non-religious, whether they are evangelical Christians or not.Frederick Clarkson, senior research analyst at Political Research Associates, a think-tank which studies the political right, was first to write about Project Blitz, which he said had been hiding in plain sight.Its very rare that you come across a major primary source document that changes the way you view everything, and this is one of those times. This is a 116-page strategy manual hidden away on a website explaining at least what a section of the religious right are doing in the United States. To me thats astounding.The playbook came to wider attention in April after Clarkson was tipped off to its existence. He also highlighted recordings of conference calls where leading figures in the CPCF set out their plans to flood state legislatures with bills.One of the steering team behind Project Blitz is David Barton, the Texas-based founder of an organisation called WallBuilders, which takes its inspiration from the Old Testament in describing a a mission of rebuilding our nations foundations.In a recording of a call with state legislators, he describes in detail the strategy behind Project Blitz, which he said packages together about two dozen bills in separate categories based on the type of opposition they are likely to receive. There are three categories of bills in Project Blitz.The first category of In God We Trust bills are likely to trigger opposition saying the bills are a waste of time, or the sponsor of the bill just wants to fight culture wars and divide people.Part of the strategy is to pave the way for later political attacks, painting an election opponent as anti-faith. Recent attacks on a Minnesota Democratic politician by Republican opponents followed exactly those lines.Barton told legislators on the call: They are gonna be things people yell at, but they help move the ball down the court, really if we can do this, get this going with all the states, its kind of like whack-a-mole for the other side, itll drive em crazy that theyll have to divide their resources out in opposing this.Category two include bills for a range of proclamations or resolutions  declaring a religious freedom day, or Christian heritage week that can then be used to get religious teaching into schools. The playbook adds: If any legislator opposes this, it will be helpful to get him or her on the record against this heritage and freedom.Category three bills will have the greatest impact but will be the most hotly contested the playbook says  they include resolutions in favour of biblical values concerning marriage and sexuality, such as establishing public policy favoring adoption by intact heterosexual, marriage-based families and establishing public policy favoring intimate sexual relations only between married, heterosexual couples.AdvertisementThe playbook warns that the most far-reaching model bills  designed to deny LGBT people access to adoption services or marriage services  are more dangerous because they will face well-organised and financed opposition.According to the Americans United for Separation of Church and State analysis, Oklahoma and Georgia have brought forward but not passed adoption refusal Child Protection bills. And six states have wedding services refusal measures, often framed as Pastor Protection bills, although none have become law.A recording of the call is still on the CPCF website, dated 13 February2016, although it actually appears to have taken place in February 2017, because it refers to events of the early days of the Trump administration.THE CPCF did not respond to request for comment on Project Blitz. Lea Carawan, director of the CPCF said on the call that the Trump administration was more receptive than any in over 30 years, adding: We believe this is just the beginning. There is a powerful momentum that is happening.Trump - on his third marriage and mired in controversy after paying off a porn actress - has been a useful ally for Christian evangelicals, appointing more than 20 conservative judges, including filling the supreme court vacancy with conservative justice Neil Gorsuch.The Supreme Court is due this month to give its opinion in a case where a cakeshop owner refused to provide a wedding cake for a gay couple.Andrew Whitehead, Assistant Professor of Sociology at Clemson University, recently published a study titled Make America Christian Again, which concluded that the more someone believed the United States was and should remain a Christian nation, the more likely they were to vote Trump in 2016.Whitehead described the so-called quest for dominion as the aim of Christian nationalists who consider that the Christian faith and their particular interpretation should be imposed.Clarkson, whose research first highlighted Project Blitz, said: Its a Christian supremacist agenda, the idea that God intended and mandates Christians to lead and control the United States for the religious vision that they hold and the policy implications that flow from it.If you are a more liberal Christian , a Jew or a Muslim or a non-believer of any sort, or whatever you happen to be, youre a second class citizen at best.
Starbucks said Monday that Howard Schultz, who transformed a small retail chain of coffee stores into a global juggernaut of cafes, restaurants, and coffee beans with more than 28,000 stores in 77 countries, will be stepping down as executive chairman and as a member of the company's board effective June 26.

One of America's most widely recognized CEOs, Schultz long ago emerged as an outspoken leader on civic issues such as immigration, LGBTQ issues, and gun control. This move has reignited speculation that a plan to run for political office could be in his future.

In an interview with the New York Times, Schultz reportedly acknowledged that he may consider public service. Asked specifically whether he was planning to run for president, Schultz said: "I intend to think about a range of options, and that could include public service. But I'm a long way from making any decisions about the future."

Schultz has for years expressed an interest in becoming more involved in public life, even as he has equivocated on questions about whether he will mount a campaign for president. His friend David Geffen, the Hollywood mogul and a major Democratic donor, has said he encouraged Schultz to run as far back as the 2008 campaign cycle.

Instead of taking that leap, Schultz has used the intervening years to expand his philanthropic efforts, both through Starbucks and his family foundation, which focuses on helping veterans, employing young people, and helping the homeless in Washington State. He has also coproduced a documentary series at Starbucks about inspiring Americas who engage in acts of citizenship and civility, and opened a separate personal office to handle his own affairs.

At an Atlantic Council event last month in Washington, Schultz laid out a set of themes that would fit easily into a 2020 presidential campaign, including a warning against isolationism and nationalism.

"This is not a time to build walls. This is a time to build bridges," he said. "We have an awesome responsibility not to be desensitized by the time we are living in, not to accept the status quo of a lack of dignity and a lack of respect, but to rise above it and to do all we can."

Schultz had transitioned from running the company on a day-to-day basis in April 2017, the second time he'd given up the chief executive's title, most recently to current CEO Kevin Johnson. After becoming executive chairman, he focused on the company's premium brands  its chain of Starbucks Reserve Roasteries, Reserve stores, and its partnership with an Italian bakery, Princi. The company's announcement said that after Schultz leaves the board, he will oversee the opening of two Roastery stores  one in Milan in September and another in New York in October. He will receive the title of chairman emeritus.

The company said that former J.C. Penney chairman and CEO Myron "Mike" Ullman would be appointed its new board chair and Ariel Investments president Mellody Hobson would serve as vice chair. Both are current members of the Starbucks board.

Schultz returned to the company's forefront recently as Starbucks became embroiled in controversy over the arrest of two customers at its Philadelphia store, leading the company to institute racial bias training across the country for 175,000 workers.

In the days after two black men were arrested in Philadelphia, Schultz, along with Johnson, flew to meet with the men and personally apologize. The coffee behemoth then announced it would close stores for the afternoon of May 29 for racial bias training, marking the beginning of years-long initiatives to steer workers toward inclusivity and sensitivity.

In the weeks leading to the training, Schultz repeatedly cast the arrests as a company-wide failure that reflected on the company's top leadership  rather than placing blame on the manager who called 911. He described going through the training himself and being gripped by the experiences of a colleague who grew up in South Africa during apartheid. And he appeared throughout the racial bias curriculum, calling on employees to do their part to uphold a welcoming community for all in their stores and communities.

"That's my hope for the company, and that's literally my hope for the country," he said in the training.

Schultz also made clear that Starbucks's racial bias training wasn't just about his company alone.

"It's not about Starbucks, it's about the country," Schultz said. "What kind of country do we want to live in? For me the answer is very simple. The promise of America will not be achieved if it is only available to those that have the right color of skin or have the right zip code. We must provide opportunity and aspiration to every single person who is American, and we must see that through the lens of humanity. And this exercise is the beginning of that for Starbucks."
The Securities and Exchange Commission's Philadelphia regional office will host an educational event for older investors at West Chester University on June 12.

Topics will include how to vet various investment products, how changes in cognition and memory affect decision-making, the importance of a new "trusted contact" rule on your investment accounts, and some red flags of investment fraud and how seniors can protect themselves.

"This event is an opportunity for senior investors in the area to learn more about current investment trends and products, as well the latest scams that target seniors," said G. Jeffrey Boujoukos, director of the SEC Philadelphia regional office.

As head of the SEC Philly office, Boujoukos oversees local investigative priorities and what the regulator looks for in examinations of mid-Atlantic registered investment advisers. RIAs are regulated by the SEC; brokers and other Wall Street sales representatives are regulated by the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, a division that has long existed on Wall Street to the confusion of many investors. (And yes, that's deliberate.)

Philadelphia's SEC office will hew closely to the priorities coming out of Washington under SEC Chairman Walter "Jay" Clayton. For professional investors, SEC exams will likely take cues from a document entitled "2018 OCIE Exam Priorities," available at the agency website: https://www.sec.gov/about/offices/ocie/national-examination-program-priorities-2018.pdf.

For retail investors, however, the SEC says it wants to hear about suspected fraud from as many people as it can. For instance, crypto currencies and the related public offerings of ICOs, or initial coin offerings, are on the agency's radar.

The SEC regional office hasn't brought any cases locally involving ICOs yet, but "there have been a number of cases brought by the commission. There are companies touting themselves as having expertise with ICOs, crypto currencies, and blockchain. We see blockchain advertised on TV now. That's a focus of ours," Boujoukos said.

One recent Philadelphia office-led lawsuit stemmed from a complaint by an investor in the suburbs who walked into a local police station to file a complaint against Paul W. Smith, a local money manager.

"He was allegedly investing, but it was actually a Ponzi-like scheme" using client money, Boujoukos said.

In May, Smith was sentenced to 63 months in prison and ordered to pay $886,214.37 in restitution. According to the SEC's complaint filed in December 2017, Smith raised $2.35 million from 30 investors promising that he would invest their money in publicly traded securities through an outfit called the Haverford Group.

But Smith largely used investors' money to repay earlier clients and for his own personal use. The U.S. Attorney's Office for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania filed criminal charges against Smith that arose from the SEC's complaint.

"It's difficult to find these cases without someone coming forward," Boujoukos said. "We won't know about it unless you complain."

Main Street investors can contact the SEC at 1-800-SEC-0330 or file a complaint about their adviser online at the website www.sec.gov/tcr. It's also best to contact a local law enforcement office and ask for help.

For complaints about brokers, call FINRA's BrokerCheck toll-free hotline at 800-289-9999.

Boujoukos graduated from Temple Law School and worked at Morgan Lewis in Philadelphia for 17 years, where he was promoted to partner. He joined the SEC in 2009 and became associate regional director of enforcement. His replacement in that position is now Kelly Gibson, and overall the office here employs roughly 150 people.

Boujoukos will open the senior education event with some remarks, and representatives from FINRA, the Pennsylvania Department of Banking and Securities, Temple University Institute on Protective Services, and Chester County District Attorney's Office. Folks from AARP and the SEC staff will also present.

This senior outreach event is free and open to the public, and lunch will be provided. Registration by phone or by email is required. The event takes place from 9:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. at West Chester University's Sykes Student Union, 110 W. Rosedale Ave., West Chester.

For full event details, visit the Philadelphia Regional Office's webpage. More information about the event is available at: https://www.sec.gov/senior-educational-event.

Register by emailing SECSeniorOutreach@sec.gov or calling and leaving a voicemail message at 215-597-0200 with your name and phone number.

Blockchain at Penn

Ripple Labs Inc., which sends virtual payments around the world, is launching a University Blockchain Research Initiative, a program to support academic research in blockchain, crypto currency, and digital payments. Through the program, Ripple will donate $50 million to 17 universities including the University of Pennsylvania and Princeton University. Penn professor Kevin Werbach will be teaching blockchain classes and curriculum starting next fall that are open to Wharton undergrads, M.B.A.s, and Penn Engineering students, funded in part by the Ripple grant. Ripple created one of the leading crypto currencies, called XRP. Its donation will be made in U.S. dollars.
Microsoft said it reached an agreement to buy GitHub, the code repository company popular with many software developers, for $7.5 billion in stock.

The deal will add to Microsoft's operating income, including some costs, in its fiscal year 2020, the company said in a statement Monday. Microsoft expects the deal to close by the end of 2018. The shares were up less than 1 percent to $101.46 at 11:115 a.m. in New York.

The acquisition provides a way forward for San Francisco-based GitHub, which has been trying for nine months to find a new chief executive officer and has yet to make a profit from its popular service that allows coders to share and collaborate on their work. It also helps Microsoft, which is increasingly relying on open-source software, to add programming tools and tie up with a company that has become a key part of the way Microsoft writes its own software.

GitHub will operate independently and named former Xamarin CEO and current Microsoft developer tools executive Nat Friedman as it's chief. It will continue to support the programming languages, tools and operating systems of the user's choice.

For Microsoft, acquiring GitHub is both a return to the company's earliest roots and a sharp turnaround from where it was a decade ago.

Microsoft's origin story lies in the market for software-development tools, with co-founders Bill Gates and Paul Allen focused on giving hobbyists a way to program a new micro-computer kit. But that vision of software tools was applied very differently under both Gates and former chief executive officer Steve Ballmer, who championed developers building proprietary software for Microsoft, not the kind of open-source projects found on GitHub.

In fact, in the early 2000s, Ballmer and his team were highly critical of that kind of a project, calling it a "cancer" and saying that it went against "the American Way." Open-source software allows developers to tinker with, improve upon, and share code  an approach that threatened Microsoft's business model. A lot has changed since then, and under current CEO Satya Nadella, Microsoft is supporting many flavors of Linux and has used open-source models on some significant cloud and developer products itself. This deal will mark another dramatic step in that direction.

"Microsoft is a developer-first company, and by joining forces with GitHub we strengthen our commitment to developer freedom, openness, and innovation," Nadella said in the statement.

Redmond, Wash.-based Microsoft is now one of the biggest contributors to GitHub, and as Nadella moves the company away from complete dependence on the Windows operating system to more in-house development on Linux, the company needs new ways to connect with the broader developer community.

GitHub preferred selling the company to going public and chose Microsoft partially because it was impressed by Nadella, a person familiar with the deal said on Sunday.

San Francisco-based GitHub is an essential tool for coders. Many corporations, including Microsoft and Google, use it to store their corporate code and to collaborate. It's also a social network of sorts for developers. Still, GitHub's losses have been significant  it lost $66 million over three quarters in 2016. The company had revenue of $98 million in nine months of 2016.

In August, GitHub announced that it was looking for a CEO to replace Chris Wanstrath, one of the co-founders. In the interim, GitHub's chief business officer Julio Avalos joined the company's board of directors and took over much of the day-to-day leadership of the company.

Microsoft has talked to GitHub, which hosts more than 28 million software developers working on 80 million repositories of code, on and off for a few years. Recently, they began talks about a partnership but progressed to discussing an acquisition, according to another person familiar with the situation.

GitHub was last valued at $2 billion in 2015, making Monday's deal a win for GitHub backers like Sequoia Capital and Andreessen Horowitz.
Is Strawberry Mansion High School closing? It depends whom you ask.

The Philadelphia School District says no. Officially, it describes what is happening at the hulking complex at 31st Street and Ridge Avenue as a "gradual phase-out" of a neighborhood high school program that "is no longer sustainable."

The building will remain open, with alternative programs locating there beginning this fall, and others landing in 2019 that will give the 2,000-plus high-school age young people in the neighborhood a viable educational option close to home.

Don't tell that to Tanya Parker, a neighborhood resident who shows up at events in a black "Forever Mansion" T-shirt. She's among a group of activists who believe the school has been deliberately ignored, starved of resources, and then blamed for failing to attract students.

Now that the neighborhood is showing signs of gentrification, drawing white and middle-class people, some longtime residents say the community is being asked to give an eleventh-hour blessing to a plan they say was hatched by officials, designed to please others, and kept from them for too long: that a building with some new programs is more palatable to new residents.

"They always wanted to close Mansion, and now they're closing it," said Parker, who graduated from the school. "This was systematically done. It's about gentrification."

Superintendent William R. Hite Jr. dismisses that idea wholesale.

"This is all about making sure that the 2,267 children also have an option in their neighborhood," Hite said. "This did not just start last year or the year before that. This has been going on for some time."

The fight over Mansion

Mansion, which opened in 1964, is often the last stop for students who carry many burdens. Nearly all of its students live in poverty, and some have returned from disciplinary schools, incarceration or mental-health placements. It was spared from closure five years ago, after supporters, including City Council President Darrell L. Clarke, fought hard to keep it open. Diane Sawyer and a camera crew then spent a year chronicling turnaround work at the school.

But the school, rapper Meek Mill's alma mater, still sits in one of the city's most dangerous neighborhoods. And in many ways, it symbolizes some of the school district's struggles: a needy student body, low academic achievement, a tough reputation, enrollment eroded in part by competition from charter schools, and, lately, encroaching pressure from a changing city.

Ninety percent of the 2,267 high-school age kids who live in the Strawberry Mansion catchment area, or attendance zone, already think the school isn't their best option; They attend charter schools or other public schools farther from home. Over 1,000 opt for night-school programs in other parts of the city, the district says.

Built for 1,700, the school now enrolls just 235. Come fall, there will be no ninth grade, a plan unveiled only in March. The School Reform Commission will vote to shrink Strawberry Mansion's grade span this month; initially, officials said the plan was for the SRC's successor, the Board of Education, to continue to remove grades until the last class graduates from Mansion in 2021.

Those officials now say what is being phased out is the school as it currently exists, and that traditional graduating classes will resume again in 2023. But some in the community are confused  and not convinced. North Philadelphia remembers the fate of the old William Penn High School, which "temporarily" closed in 2009 with promises to re-tool and re-open. Instead, it was sold to Temple University and demolished.

With home prices rising in the neighborhood and new businesses and developments cropping up on the edges of Strawberry Mansion, Parker and others say they believe that the district is taking their school away and remaking it to attract newcomers, cutting them out.

Former principal Linda Cliatt-Wayman, whom Sawyer's coverage vaulted to prominence for her frank talk and personal investment in students, said the plan to pause admissions doesn't make sense.

"This plan would only be brought to the table for poor African American children," said Cliatt-Wayman, who said she would be an evangelist for changes if she believed in them. "But there is no concrete plan. How can they move forward until they have a plan that educators and people who know the Strawberry Mansion kids come up with?"

On Cliatt-Wayman's watch, Mansion added or strengthened programs  sports, culinary arts, building maintenance, an honors program. The rapper Drake donated money for a music studio. Kids went on field trips and attended proms and pep rallies. The school came off the federal "persistently dangerous" list  schools with a high rate of serious incidents  and saw its test scores, graduation rate, and college-bound rate inch up.

But even with a charismatic leader and some progress, Mansion still struggled. It scored just a 5, 4, and 7 out of 100 in the three most recent years of the district's internal report card for schools, based on factors including test scores (just 10 percent of students met state standards in reading, and 4 percent in math) and attendance (more than half of students attended school less than 80 percent of the time).

Its enrollment plunged 40 percent in three years, and its last principal, Tony Oyola, was removed after complaints about his stewardship. (District officials confirmed his removal, but said they could not discuss the personnel matter.)

Hite said Mansion, which was put in a special district program, the turnaround network, to give it more support and scrutiny, had more resources per student than other schools in the district.

But those who were there in the last five years say that designation meant little, and Mansion needed more.

"It gets the students that they put out of charters and other schools," said Jacquelyn Fritz, who taught at the school for several years and left in 2017. "The population has so much else going on other than school, and we never got the resources for that type of student."

No ones first choice

Fritz and Cliatt-Wayman say Mansion fell off a cliff when she retired in March 2017.

It has the fancy music studio, but no full-time music program. It has no culinary teacher, no building maintenance program. Substitute teachers staff some classes. Entire floors of the building are now unused.

This month the senior class  about 50 students  will graduate in the un-air conditioned auditorium, because there's no money for a better venue.

The district and Clarke, who is on board with the plans for Mansion, say what's coming will be an asset to neighbors, even the ones who now protest it.

"To not do anything is unacceptable, given the significant decline in population," said Clarke. "There was too much effort put into keeping that school to let it wither."

But during the same years that Mansion seemed to be faltering as a neighborhood school, the community, like other pockets of the city, showed signs of being on the upswing. Between 2012 and 2017, no neighborhood, at least defined by zip code, showed stronger sales growth. In 2017, more than 540 properties were sold in Strawberry Mansion's neighborhood, up from 217 five years earlier, the data show.

Now that home prices are rising, and new businesses and developments are cropping up on its edges, residents are wary of the district's promises and avowals that their plan has nothing to do with a changing neighborhood.

"Have any one of you ever even spent any time in Strawberry Mansion High School or community?" one skeptic, Mansion graduate Shirley Hooks, asked the schools commission this spring. "The community is on the rise, and so is gentrification. Is this all part of the plan, as well, to phase out the school and make room for the new and improved upscale community?"

For now, the building will remain open  it is even slated for extensive physical upgrades beginning this summer  and neighbors will be consulted as possible options are considered for the 2019-20 school year.

Among those that have been mentioned as contenders are programs for workforce development programs and those patterned after the district's Workshop School, which encourages project-based learning. YouthBuild, which re-engages students who have dropped out, has also been suggested. The school system has not said whether the programs would be run in-house or by outside providers, as was done at nearby Vaux Big Picture High School.

The fewer than 50 incoming ninth graders who had listed Mansion as their first-choice school this fall will be routed either to Ben Franklin High, about 2.5 miles away, or Roxborough High, more than 4 miles away.

The programs the district has said might eventually come to the Mansion sound fine in theory, said Julie Nicols an English teacher at the school for the last three years.

But Nicols wonders why they couldn't have been brought in years ago.

"The kids are saying, 'You can't close our school when you've done nothing to make it better,'" said Nicols. "They feel like things are being done to them, and they feel confused, because the message has been so unclear."

For as long as they've been at the school, a group of Mansion students said this month, they've felt neglected by the district. Mansion was no one's first choice, they said, but it's their school.

"It's messed up altogether," said Nikki Butler, 15, a freshman at the school. "They just want to come in here and take our building. Why do they care about us all of a sudden?"

It seems to be unfair, said Cliatt-Wayman. When changes needed to be made at Science Leadership Academy, a well-regarded Center City magnet, parents and students were consulted early on. SLA will move from a leased building to share space at Benjamin Franklin High School; a committee is spending two planning years working on what the co-located space will look like.

"That's not the way it happened here," said Cliatt-Wayman.

The district stresses that the future direction of the school will be determined by the community; a Strawberry Mansion working group, made up of anyone interested in joining, has already begun making visits to other schools to scope out future possibilities for the neighborhood high school program it says will re-open in 2019.

That doesn't convince Cliatt-Wayman.

"For every breath I draw in my body," she said, "I will travel this country and talk about how a district destroyed its own school."
A variety of meats cook on spits over charcoal inside Picanha Brazilian Grill at 6501 Castor Ave. in Northeast Philadelphia. Read more

Reader: Thank you for your big list of recommendations from Mexican South Philly! Where are there other ethnic food neighborhoods in Philadelphia?

Craig LaBan: So glad you enjoyed my deep dive into the Mexican wonders of Puebla-delphia that are now revitalizing much of South Philly. With nearly 40 places recommended in that package, almost all of them run by families cooking traditional flavors, it was one of the most inspiring assignments I've had in a while.

But Philadelphia, as it's often been said, is a city of immigrants. It was built on the cuisines of people arriving from the Old World  Germans, Italians, Irish, and Jews, among others  whose later generations have prospered and largely dispersed from the homogeneous neighborhoods of their ancestors.

Our Chinatown was started by Cantonese immigrants in 1871, but that neighborhood, which I talk about frequently in this space, remains a vibrant destination for newcomers from other regions of China.

There are many other pockets of the city and region that have drawn clusters of international communities still rich with their cultural touchstones. Northeast Philadelphia, which I ate through extensively last year in this 60-restaurant piece, is the city's true United Nations, with a patchwork of neighborhoods featuring Brazilian churrasco grills, South Indian restaurants serving food from the region of Kerala, Vietnamese pho halls, a mini-Chinatown on Bustleton Avenue, and a vast neighborhood showcase of foods of the former Soviet Union, with markets and restaurants from Ukraine, Uzbekistan, Georgia, Transylvania, and Russia.

A large Korean community remains centered near Olney, where Inquirer legend Rick Nichols profiled the evolution of Koreatown a decade ago and where I've reviewed still-great favorites Every Day Good House, Jong Ka Jib, and Dubu, which sits just across the Cheltenham Avenue border in Elkins Park.

Want to discover the cuisine of South India? Head west to the Dosa Belt of restaurants that have sprouted around the tech companies in Chester County (where there's also great Mexican food).

Follow my search for the city's best Vietnamese pho along Washington Avenue and in Kensington (and check my Northeast package, too, for good spots along Adams Avenue).

Head to West Philly for Pakistani kebabs and Lebanese pastries, a budding Chinatown West near Drexel and Penn, and explore near Baltimore Avenue for some of our venerable Ethiopian restaurants.

Southwest Philly's Woodland Avenue is the corridor to explore for the fufu and grilled dibi delights of West Africa.

Deep in South Philly, meanwhile, wrapped inside that growing presence of Mexican restaurants, don't forget Cambodia Town that's grown up around Seventh Street. Just a couple of weeks ago, I featured the Boba & Co. food truck and I Heart Cambodia, which feature a distinctive cuisine. So, yes, Philly is rich with international food neighborhoods! The appetite for adventure is up to you.

Email Craig here.
But commuting the sentence of Rod Blagojevich, the imprisoned former Democratic governor of Illinois  as Trump suggested Thursday he also might do  would be a mistake of an entirely different magnitude. It would be an outrage, a slap in the face to the justice system. While obviously allowed under the presidents broad pardon power, it would be entirely wrong and inappropriate to send such a misguided message about public corruption.

Perhaps Trump is hoping that Americans dont remember the seamy, sleazy spectacle of a sitting governor caught on secret recordings trying to use his power in the most self-serving ways imaginable. Ultimately, Blagojevich was convicted of 17 counts of wire fraud, attempted extortion, soliciting bribes and conspiracy.

In plain language, he was accused of trading his official acts as governor in return for hoped-for campaign contributions and jobs. For example, he pressed for a Cabinet post in the Obama administration for himself in exchange for appointing Obama advisor Valerie Jarrett (recently brought back into the limelight thanks to Roseanne Barrs racist comments) to the U.S. Senate, an idea that went nowhere. Obama and Jarrett did speak to a Blagojevich intermediary about the Senate seat, but no evidence ever surfaced of a quid pro quo. Another example: He extracted a campaign contribution from a racetrack owner in return for signing legislation that would benefit racetracks financially.
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette editorial cartoonist Rob Rogers at his drawing desk. Rogers has had the last week's worth of cartoons killed by his editor, an unusual occurrence in the world of editorial cartooning. Read more

>>UPDATE: Rogers says he's been fired as the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette's editorial cartoonist

For the past week, there's been a feature noticeably absent from the editorial pages of the Pittsburgh Post Gazette  the political cartoons of award-winning cartoonist Rob Rogers.

Rogers, who has drawn cartoons for the Post-Gazette since 1993, has seen six cartoons killed in a row by Keith Burris, who took over as the newspaper's editorial director in March when the paper's editorial board merged with its sister newspaper, the Toledo Blade. The cartoons included criticism of President Trump and of the NFL's decision to prohibit players from protesting racial injustice during the national anthem.

Rogers has, however, been posting cartoons that were killed on social media:

Rogers told the Inquirer and Daily News that he couldn't comment on the situation. Rogers confirmed that he's still employed as the paper's staff cartoonist, and that he's working on a new cartoon for Tuesday's newspaper.

Burris did not respond to requests for comment.

It is unusual for a staff cartoonist to have an entire week's worth of political cartoons spiked. Signe Wilkinson, the Inquirer and Daily News' Pulitzer Prize-winning cartoonist, said she has had just one cartoon killed in her tenure  a drawing that was spiked from the Inquirer but ran in the Daily News.

Rogers' cartoons were replaced in print by the work of syndicated artists and three cartoons by Toledo Blade staff cartoonist Kirk Walters. In last Tuesday's paper, under a cartoon about gun control by syndicated cartoonist Robert Ariail, Rogers was listed as having "the day off."

Burris stoked controversy in January by penning a controversial editorial defending Trump's criticism of immigrants from "shole countries," a comment the president made during a discussion about protections for immigrants from Haiti, El Salvador and Africa. The leaders of the Newspaper Guild of Pittsburgh, which represents about 150 Post-Gazette newsroom employees, blasted the editorial in a letter to the publisher for "twisting itself in knots in a colossally failed attempt to defend the indefensible."

"As a matter of course, the Guild does not weigh in on editorial positions, but this piece is so extraordinary in its mindless, sycophantic embrace of racist values and outright bigotry espoused by this country's president that we would be morally, journalistically, and humanly remiss not to speak out against it," the Guild's executive committee wrote.

According to Post-Gazette reporter and Newspaper Guild of Pittsburgh president Michael Fuoco, Burris was asked to write the editorial by Post-Gazette publisher John Robinson Block, who demanded it run in both the Post-Gazette and the Blade.

"As a journalist at the Post-Gazette for 34 years I have nothing but the highest respect for Rob as a journalist and colleague," Fuoco told the Inquirer and the Daily News.

Block is a Trump supporter who said during a 2013 community forum on racism that people of color needed to pull themselves up "by their bootstraps" like they did in the "old days." Both Block and Burris met with Trump on his private plane at Toledo Express Airport in September 2016 after a campaign rally. Block was also called out by reporters in the newsroom for asking that the term "vulgar language" be removed from the first paragraph of an Associated Press story about Trump's vulgar language.

"We haven't been given a reason aside from a vague note about wanting the story to focus more on his rejection of DACA even though that's not what this AP story is about," the newspaper's official Twitter account wrote in response to a reporter's question.

The problems between Rogers and Burris date back to March, shortly after Burris first took over as the newspaper's editorial director. On his Facebook page, Rogers confirmed that a cartoon he drew March 18 about an alleged affair between Trump and porn star Stormy Daniels had been killed.

Rogers also confirmed in the Facebook post that a cartoon he drew March 11 about Pennsylvania state Rep. Rick Saccone's failed run for Congress had also been killed. Saccone, who lost a closely watched special election to Democrat Conor Lamb, was endorsed by the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette's editorial board in part because they thought Lamb's victory could lead to Trump's impeachment.

"For subscribers keeping score at home, this was another one that was killed and didn't make it into the paper," Rogers wrote on Facebook after posting a cartoon mocking conservative conspiracy theories that a "deep state" within the FBI was determined to take down President Trump.
Philadelphia DA Larry Krasner explains his release of a 2017 list of police officers which has sparked thousands of court filings for new trials, Friday June 1, 2018. Read more

The Philadelphia District Attorney's Office has asked the city's Police Department for nearly a decade's accounting of serious violations by its officers so it can compile a comprehensive roster of those who have lied while on duty, used excessive force, racially profiled, or violated civil rights.

The exercise, unprecedented in scope in recent city history, is designed to help prosecutors flag officers with credibility issues early in a case and possibly prevent their testimony, District Attorney Larry Krasner said in an interview last week. Krasner declined to estimate how many officers may ultimately end up on the roster, but said the number would almost certainly exceed the 66 on a similar list developed by his predecessor.

The new protocol also will call for prosecutors to disclose an officer's past infractions to defense lawyers. Krasner and the head of his conviction integrity unit, Patricia Cummings, said that the roster and new protocols are important to ensure prosecutors pursue cases built by honest and reliable police, and that potentially damaging information against officers is turned over to defendants as required by law.

Krasner dubbed the effort "one of the biggest challenges this office has ever faced."

Cummings said: "Our primary objective  is making sure that we are fulfilling our constitutional obligations within the prosecution of a criminal case."

The policy is being developed in response to a similar program begun under former District Attorney Seth Williams, whose administration created a so-called "do not call" list of officers with credibility issues that largely prevented those officers from testifying in court cases. But Williams kept his program secret, and did not disclose to defense attorneys which officers had been placed on the list or their violations  something legal experts said likely violated rules requiring prosecutors to share evidence favorable to defendants. Bruce Ledewitz, a law professor of law at Duquesne University, equated such a practice to "playing with dynamite."

Krasner released Williams' list in March under a court order. The public defender's office subsequently filed more than 6,000 petitions for new trials for defendants arrested by officers on the roster. Courts already have overturned some of those cases.

>>READ MORE: Here are bios of 29 officers on the "do not call" list

The new protocols, which Krasner said are still being finalized, would dramatically increase the information that prosecutors disclose about abuses committed by officers who appear as witnesses, though Krasner said he was not certain whether he would make public the new policy document or the list of tainted officers upon completion. Krasner criticized his predecessors for failing to disclose such information to defense attorneys previously, saying they seemed to live in the "land before time."

"We have to move as quickly as we can with issues that have been, at best, ignored for decades in this office," Krasner said.

Edward G. Rendell, the former Pennsylvania governor who served as Philadelphia's district attorney from 1978 to 1986, said he could not recall similar undertaking by the city's prosecutor's office. When he worked in the DA's office, he said, staffers largely maintained an informal understanding of which police were more reliable witnesses than others.

Samuel Walker, a University of Nebraska at Omaha criminal justice professor, said Krasner is among a group of prosecutors nationwide now are using their offices to improve police integrity. He said Krasner's effort, especially with his emphasis on ensuring that problematic officers do not testify, seemed in the forefront of the movement.

"They can use the power of their office," he said of District Attorneys such as Krasner. "From the top they can say, 'Don't send this guy over. We're not going to use this guy.' "

The new policy could have a broad impact on criminal justice in the city, as questions remain over which officers will be placed on the list, for what reasons, and for how long. It also was not immediately clear whether an officer's inclusion on the new list might impact old cases they helped build. It has not been uncommon for new accusations against an officer to undercut long-closed cases.

For instance, several years ago, after federal prosecutors accused a group of Philadelphia narcotics officers of misconduct, the District Attorney's Office agreed to drop 800 cases and free scores of convicted defendants. The City of Philadelphia has since paid out at least $2 million to settle civil suits.

More recently, Krasner's office requested a new trial for the rapper Meek Mill after it was revealed that Mill's arresting officer, Reginald V. Graham, had been included on Williams' "do-not-call list" because federal authorities had been investigating him for alleged corruption. A judge is expected to rule on Mill's fate later this month.

John McNesby, president of Fraternal Order of Police Lodge 5, said the new policy could create an "administrative nightmare," with potentially hundreds of police barred from testifying even if the allegations against them were false.

"You're just painting the whole department with a broad brush," said McNesby.

Krasner said he'd met with McNesby and union lawyers to discuss the issue. McNesby said that meeting was months ago to discuss Williams' list, and that the union had not been consulted about the new policy.

Capt. Francis Healy, special adviser to Police Commissioner Richard Ross, said the department was "looking to make sure we can comply as quickly and promptly" as possible with the request from the prosecutor's office. He said the Internal Affairs Division had provided similar information to prosecutors in the past, but acknowledged this request was broader than in previous instances.

In building a comprehensive list of potentially tainted officers, Cummings said prosecutors have asked the Police Department for "any information contained in [internal] files that equals the qualifying misconduct for every officer" dating back to 2010, she said.

Healy said the department would comb through Internal Affairs records and findings by the Police Board of Inquiry. He also said the department would likely be "over-inclusive" in meeting the DA's request, but he did not know how many complaints or records might ultimately be sent.

Cummings said prosecutors would also work with the department to obtain such information on a periodic basis moving forward, allowing prosecutors to modify the list as new instances of potential misconduct arise.

Compiling a database of infractions, Krasner said, will help prosecutors be aware of officers whose potential testimony might not be trustworthy, and notify defense attorneys. Krasner said it could benefit the Police Department to know which officers his staff has deemed too questionable to testify.

"They need to know that so that they don't put an officer whose credibility is in question in a position, when they could have put an officer deemed credible, [and] thereby mess up a case," he said.

Krasner and Cummings declined to say whether an officer's inclusion on the list would automatically bar the officer from testifying. They said evaluations would be made on an individual basis, with the approach potentially varying depending on the details of the officer's offense or role in the prosecution. Cummings did say prosecutors generally view lying as the most damning offense for a potential witness  and that they would disclose any instance of such misconduct, something that was not mandatory under Williams' policy.

"We take [it] very seriously when somebody gets in trouble for lying and you absolutely have to disclose," she said.

Cummings said an officer's inclusion on the list would not necessarily be permanent. An officer who completes a probationary program for drunken driving, for example, may be taken off the list after returning to active duty.

At the same time, Cummings said prosecutors may consider violations that are not part of the police disciplinary system. If a judge concluded that an officer's testimony was not credible in a particular case, for example, the District Attorney's Office would likely take that into account even if Internal Affairs did not weigh in, she said.

McNesby, of the police union, said the policy seemed "too broad," and that officers could be implicated for a variety of reasons that might not be substantiated.

"You're going down a slippery slope," McNesby said.

The creation of a list of police with perceived credibility issues is not without precedent. Prosecutors in the Seattle area, among other regions, have kept similar rosters for years.
An Upper Darby High School freshman was hospitalized Monday after being stabbed in a school stairwell by a classmate who appeared to be "lying in wait," Upper Darby Police Superintendent Michael Chitwood said.

The attack happened just before noon on the first floor of a rear stairwell at the school, Chitwood said. Surveillance cameras show the events before and after the stabbing, but not the episode itself, he said.

The 15-year-old student was stabbed in the back and suffered cuts to his head, neck, arm, and hand, Chitwood said.

After the attack, the victim first ran to the second floor and then made his way back downstairs to a lower-level nurses office, where he waited for authorities to arrive, Chitwood said. He was taken to Lankenau Medical Center. By Monday afternoon, the victim was recovering well, Chitwood said, and may even be released Monday.

Chitwood said that police have identified a person of interest, a 14-year-old male student.

"We have not made an arrest," he said, "but we will shortly."

It was not immediately clear what may have sparked the attack. Chitwood said the video cameras from inside the school did not show an altercation before the stabbing. However, Chitwood emphasized that the investigation was continuing.

The stabbing happened just before dismissal, which was earlier than usual Monday as students took exams, Chitwood said. Officers found lots of blood in the stairwell, but there were not many witnesses to the stabbing, he said.

"I am sorry to have to deliver such difficult news today," superintendent Daniel Nerelli wrote in an email notifying the school community of the stabbing, "and know that you will all join me in keeping our injured student in your thoughts and prayers."
Korean adoptee Adam Crapser, left, with daughters, Christal, 1, Christina, 5, and his wife, Anh Nguyen, in the family's living room in Vancouver, Wash. in 2015. Crapser, whose adoptive parents failed to make him a U.S. citizen, was deported to South Korea in 2016. Read more

For thousands of people who were adopted from overseas, the Adoptee Rights Campaign says, there's no place that's home.

That is among the sobering findings of a new study, which estimates that as many as 49,000 adult adoptees, brought here as babies, toddlers, and young children, lack the U.S. citizenship that they and their American families had assumed was automatically theirs.

Some have already been deported to homelands they don't know or remember.

"This is our lives. Our lives have been diminished. Our lives are at stake," said Joy Kim-Alessi, acting director of the advocacy group Adoptee Rights Campaign (ARC).

ARC undertook the research to gain a more complete and nuanced understanding of the problem, and to help convince Congress of the need for a comprehensive remedy. It studied records from the State Department, Citizenship and Immigration Services, state governments, and South Korean authorities, among others. In addition to gaps and inconsistencies in the counts, the researchers found that some adoptees had been brought into the country on non-immigrant visas that provide no path to citizenship.

"The U.S. international adoption system is flawed, and adopted children are paying the price," the ARC study says. "Disparities in the U.S. adoption system are jeopardizing thousands of American families."

It has been a quiet crisis. Years ago, when international adoption was relatively new, many parents mistakenly believed that adoption and naturalization were the same thing. In fact, they were two separate processes until 2000.

The Child Citizenship Act of 2000 made it possible for many, but not all, foreign-born children to gain automatic citizenship. It didn't cover adoptees who were 18 or older at that time, leaving thousands in limbo.

Even some immigration lawyers didn't understand that. And the federal government didn't check, uninterested in whether the children it allowed to legally enter the country were eventually naturalized as citizens.

Now, those circumstances pose danger.

President Barack Obama was tougher on immigrants than many people realized, but President Trump is cracking down on all fronts: on migrants trying to enter the country legally, on those here without proper documents  and on adoptees who were brought into the U.S. as children by well-intentioned adoptive parents.

Today, some adoptees are undocumented. Some are in custody awaiting deportation. Some are legal permanent residents who can openly work to obtain citizenship. Others have already been sent back to countries where they can't speak the language and don't know a soul.

And there's slim chance of a quick, legislative fix.

In March, the Adoptee Citizenship Act of 2018 was introduced in the Senate by Sen. Roy Blunt (R., Mo.) and in the House by Rep. Adam Smith (D., Wash.). An earlier iteration went nowhere. Now, Skopos Labs, which forecasts congressional action, gives the bill a 5 percent chance to pass in the House, 16 percent in the Senate.

"There are folks who don't see children, they see immigrants. And they hate immigrants," said Anne Martin Montgomery, an adoptive mother and Philadelphia-area ARC advocate. "They want to cut down the number of immigrants, period."

The number of new international adoptions has slowed dramatically, as traditional top-sending nations such as China, Russia, and Guatemala installed new limits or shelved their programs entirely. Foreign adoptions stood at 15,719 in 1999, surged to 22,989 in 2004, and by last year had fallen to 4,717.

The Adoptee Citizenship Act of 2018 would cover all adoptees with American citizen parents, provided that the children entered the country legally. That's important because many adoptees who lack citizenship came here under a variety of visas.

For example, ARC research discovered, Iranian adoptees were brought into the country on visitor visas. Others entered on student visas.

"We're talking about people who came here legally. Nobody tried to sneak in," Kim-Alessi said. "But that's not the sentiment of our lawmakers.  There is this fear that we're trying to get away with something."

She grew up in California after being adopted in 1967 as a 7-month-old baby from a South Korean orphanage. She was shocked to be told she wasn't a citizen when she applied for a passport at age 25. Fortunately, her green card was still valid, meaning that she was a permanent resident.

Many adoptees learn their true status the same way, by accident, when they fill out a job application or seek a government benefit. For those uncertain about their immigration status, even asking the question can be risky, because it alerts federal authorities to look closer.

The fate of adoptees who were deported after being convicted of crimes  they lacked the citizenship that would have kept them in the U.S.  has generated international news.

Phillip Clay, a 42-year-old Philadelphia man who had been deported to South Korea, killed himself last year by jumping from the 14th floor of an apartment building.

Clay was 8 when he left the Eunpyeong Orphanage. As an adult, he became enmeshed in a cycle of drugs, jails, and mental-health centers, court records show. He was deported in 2012 and spent five years struggling to adjust to South Korea before taking his life.

ARC leaders say the broad publicity around those convicted of crimes makes it hard to shift the conversation to law-abiding adoptees  people who grew up as Americans and now need help with citizenship. Because that population has the most to lose, it least wants to come forward.

"For close to 20 years, I've been living in constant fear that I would be taken away from the only place I've ever known," a Vietnamese adoptee told the Inquirer last year.

The woman, willing to be identified only by her first name, Denise, was 9 months old when she was airlifted to an Arkansas refugee center near the end of the Vietnam War. She learned that she lacked citizenship when she applied to become a Philadelphia police officer in the mid-1990s.

Today, the ARC study says, between 25,000 and 49,000 adult adoptees from more than two dozen countries have no American citizenship. Earlier estimates put the peak number at about 30,000. California leads the nation with 3,493 who lack status. Pennsylvania ranked fourth, with 2,345, and New Jersey was 11th with 1,639.

ARC is working to build support in Congress, form alliances with other organizations, and encourage people to call or write to their political representatives.

"Nothing quick happens in Congress," said ARC communications coordinator Sung Cho, who was adopted from South Korea. "They look at this as more of an immigration issue than a family matter. We look at it as family. We were all adopted by American families."
The F.W. Winter building is pictured under the Ben Franklin Bridge in Camden. Some local residents oppose the proposed erection of a 16-story digital billboard on the site by Interstate Outdoor Advertising CEO Drew Katz. Read more

For the second time, a South Jersey company that wants to erect a billboard at the base of the Ben Franklin Bridge in Camden has asked the city to delay a hearing on the controversial proposal.

Interstate Outdoor Advertising, based in Cherry Hill, asked the city to postpone a hearing Monday before the zoning board seeking a variance, said CEO Drew Katz. A reason for the delay was not provided.

"We are not going forward today," Katz said in a text message, declining additional comment. "I have nothing to add right now."

With opposition mounting, the latest delay cast doubt over the proposal to build a 167-foot-high billboard in North Camden near the Delaware River waterfront. A new hearing was scheduled for Sept. 10, said city spokesman Vince Basara.

Liberty Property Trust, which is spearheading a $800 million project underway to remake the Camden waterfront, has concerns that the billboard would hamper economic development in the area and mar the Philadelphia skyline, said John Gattuso, senior vice president of the developer.

"The City of Camden has worked very hard  to really move forward and reinvent itself as a place that is a compelling environment for people to work, live and be entertained," Gattuso said. "I don't think that kind of billboard is keeping with that kind of environment."

Cooper's Ferry Partnership, which is overseeing redevelopment in Camden, also has misgivings about the proposal, said Kris Kolluri, chief executive officer.

"It certainly doesn't sound like it's the right location for a billboard," Kolluri said in an interview Monday. "I know others have expressed the same concerns."

Until now, the plan, announced by Katz in April, has mostly come under attack from residents and community groups who say the billboard would drastically change the architectural landscape of the area and create an eyesore for commuters, bridge runners and walkers, and residents who live nearby in North Camden and the Cooper Grant neighborhood.

Under the proposal, messages on its two digital screens would target thousands of commuters who travel across the bridge daily from New Jersey into Philadelphia. It would cost about $800,000 and take about six months to build, Katz has said.

In what is believed to be the first venture of its kind in the country, proceeds from advertising sales, about $200,000 annually, earmarked for nonprofits in the city. Katz said the billboard would be used to create a permanent funding source for charitable groups.

Katz, the son of Lewis Katz, a Camden native and philanthropist who gave millions to his hometown, said he came up with the billboard proposal as a way to carry on his father's legacy. The elder Katz, a co-owner of the Philadelphia Media Group, publisher of the Inquirer and Daily News, died in a plane crash in May 2014.

But the company needs a zoning variance from the city to proceed with the proposal. The redevelopment plan for the parcel of land at Elm Street and Delaware Avenue where the billboard would be placed prohibits billboards.

In late April, Katz asked the city to delay a May hearing with the zoning board and said additional meetings would be held with community groups and residents to allay concerns about the billboard. The company has obtained a state permit for the project and reached an agreement with F.W. Winter Inc., a metal and alloy manufacturer that owns the land where the billboard would be built, he said.

It was unclear why Interstate has now requested a three-month delay. The zoning board has meetings scheduled in July and August. Edward Williams, the city's planning director and zoning officer, did not respond to a telephone message.

The Camden Lutheran Housing Inc., a nonprofit in North Camden, has not been contacted by Interstate, said Betsy Clifford, executive director. The group has gathered hundreds of signatures on a petition opposing the billboard proposal, she said.

"Our position has not changed," Clifford said. "We do not want the billboard in North Camden."

The Cooper Grant Neighborhood Association, which met with Interstate officials in May, voted unanimously to oppose the proposal, according to resident Benjamin Saracco.

Under the proposal, nonprofits would be eligible to apply for grants from a nonprofit board that would be created to disburse revenues generated from billboard ads, Katz said.

"Our motivations are only pure here," Katz said previously.
Israels specialty and combat vehicle producer Carmor unveils the Mantis at Eurosatory 2018. The vehicle to be displayed at the defense exhibition in Paris next week is the first variant of a new family of vehicles designed to perform combat and combat support missions.

To meet higher levels of protection required by the users the company optimized the design to provide both ballistic and blast protection while maintaining high agility and retain adequate payload capacity at a gross vehicle weight below eight tons. The vehicles size and weight enable tactical air mobility in C-130 Hercules and A-400M transport aircraft. With such characteristics, Carmor positions the Mantis to offer JLTV class performance at an affordable cost.

Unlike the heavier vehicle models developed by Carmor and its predecessor Hatehof, the Mantis, based on a clean sheet design is lighter, more agile and modular. Eitan Zait, Carmor CEO explained, We have designed, developed and built thousands of vehicles, in dozens of configurations, all were designed to meet specific requirements set by the customer. Zait explained, Mantis comes from a clean sheet design, that reflects the best Carmors designers could offer.

Mantis Family Variants

The family consists of a common monocoque capsule that provides the chassis and protected cab for the different variants. The chassis eliminates the need for a traditional frame and enables the flexibility to extend the vehicle by up to 150 cm, to meet specific configurations.

All variants use common subsystems and parts. The powerpack consists of a 6.8 liter 360 horsepower Cummins turbo-diesel coupled to a 6-gear Allison automatic transmission is centrally located, adding to the vehicles stability. The cooling system is also located at the rear, fed by air ducts on both sides and on the roof. The engine accelerates the eight-ton Mantis to a maximum road speed of 120 km/h. Using automotive systems and parts certified for commercial and racing, the 44 wheel is designed for off-road mobility and versatility.

The vehicles include a versatile double cabin troop carrier that carries five soldiers and a full cabin version that accommodates eight. Some of the designs incorporate an elevated platform that mounts payloads up to 150 kg weight, such as remotely controlled weapon stations shown on the prototype displayed at the Eurosatory. A single cabin pickup variant that seats three soldiers has a larger flatbed while a variant of the full cab is configured as an ambulance, accommodating a small crew and ample space for stretchers and medics. Carmor also considers an open buggy style fast and light assault vehicle variant that will utilize the same structure and offer underbelly protection.

These variants can support a wide variety of applications carrying different weapons such as mortars, missiles, machine guns and remote weapon stations, along with scout and reconnaissance equipment, including payloads telescopic masts, ground and aerial robotics, tactical radars and counter-UAV equipment

Balanced Agility and Protection

Carmor designers achieved a high level of protection at relatively low height, by using an advanced belly design that maintains a low center of gravity with excellent blast protection, results in an overall vehicle height below 2.20 meters. Superior off-road mobility is achieved by a short wheelbase, ground clearance of 0.65 meters, and approach and departure angles exceeding 50 degrees, all critical factors for good off-road mobility. The powerful engine and transmissions sustain movement over 70% gradient, 40% side slope, up to 0.5-meter obstacle climb and trench crossing and fording through water one meter deep.

According to the vehicle designer Amos Boaz, Mantis maintains an optimal balance of agility, protection, and comfort. Placing the engine at the center, between the cab and the flatbed, cleared six cubic meters of a protected cabin, comfortably seating five soldiers in individual seats. These blasts protected seats, made by Mobius-PS, are specially designed to attenuate the blast effects of underbelly explosions, as they act with the floating floor and specially designed belly shape to minimize the effect of IED and mine blasts.

Despite its low signature and relatively lightweight, Mantis offers high baseline protection meeting ballistic, IED and mine protection. At a gross vehicle weight of six tons Mantis provides ballistic protection at a STANAG 4569 Level 3, with minimal mine protection (Level 1); adding modular armor replacement plates, Mantis can face much heavier threats with ballistic protection upgraded to Level 4, and blast protection to Level 2A/3B. Using relatively small transparent armor modules the cabin provides excellent viewing to the front and sides, Boaz told Defense-Update.

The Mantis protection is not addressing only ballistics and blast but also the vehicles mobility. Using Run-flat inserts, Mantis maintains mobility even after suffering multiple hits in the tires; 105 liters of fuel are stored in dual, independent fuel tanks to support mission autonomy of 700 km with internal fuel.

Ergonomic Design

Each of the crew members has a multi-functional display while other positions have individual communications consoles and electrical charging sockets to support electronic devices.

The three seats at the front accommodate the gunner, driver, and commander. The centrally located driver cockpit is a unique design feature of the Mantis family. Locating the driver in the center offers many advantages  fewer obstructions for better situational awareness, market adaptability and more flexible seating arrangement and dashboard utilization, Boaz said. Seating the driver close to the windshield (in the absence of the hood in front) the windshield area can be reduced while maintaining a wide field of view for the driver while the trapezoidal side windows provide peripheral viewing angles for the crew. Improved situational awareness is maintained by high power LED lights illuminating in visible and infrared light all around the vehicle, in addition, the crew monitors the vehicles surrounding using panoramic cameras covering the sides and the back. The side doors provide quick access and dismount on both sides. Two crew hatches located at the ceiling provide alternative egress when necessary.

Spall liners are used inside the capsule to minimize the behind-armor effect, in case of penetration. The prototype on display also uses VATEC multispectral concealment material to reduce radio-frequency leaks. The same material can be used externally, acting as a mobile, multispectral camouflage (MCS), minimizing the vehicles visual, infrared and radar signature. In addition to the high level of protection, the prototype displayed at Eurosatory is also equipped with an acoustic gunshot detection system, air condition, and CBRN filtration system form Bethel.

As a modern combat vehicle, Mantis comes with ample electrical power, to feed multiple electronic systems. Generating up to 300 Amp of electrical power the vehicle supports independent 12/24 Volt power systems.
Tio, the Pekingese puppy, chills as his masters vote at Engine 49 in South Philadelphia on May 15. On Tuesday, it's New Jersey's primary day. Read more

It's primary election day Tuesday in New Jersey, when registered Democrats and Republicans will have the opportunity to choose party nominees for U.S. Senate, U.S. House, and a variety of county and municipal offices.

>> READ MORE: Live updates and results from Election Day

This year, the races for U.S. House nominations are particularly active across the state, as Democrats sense a legitimate chance to pick up a congressional seat or two and Republicans seek the strongest candidates to keep competitive districts in their party's hands.

New Jersey has a closed primary system, meaning only voters affiliated with a political party can participate in its candidate-selection process. But there is an opening for unaffiliated voters, those not registered with a party: In congressional and state primaries, they are allowed to declare an affiliation right at the polls in order to participate.

About 41 percent of the state's 5.8 million registered voters are unaffiliated, according to the New Jersey Department of Elections.

Start with finding or confirming your polling place if you are unsure where to go. Polls will be open statewide from 6 a.m. to 8 p.m.

Jump to a section: U.S. House | U.S. Senate | County and municipal

Despite Democrats' domination of New Jersey politics in general, the state's 12 congressional districts are, at this point, relatively evenly distributed between the two major parties: seven U.S. House seats are held by Democrats, five by Republicans. That's because, unlike in many other states, such as Pennsylvania, New Jersey uses a bipartisan commission to draw U.S. House district boundaries rather than letting legislators do it. This tends to tamp down the worst gerrymandering mischief.

Now, because of a pair of retirements of moderate longtime Republican representatives and the surge of anti-Trump energy on the left, anywhere from two to five additional seats seem to be in play for the Democrats, depending on which analyst is doing the figuring.

First Congressional District: Norcross faces 2 challengers

The First, which contains most of Camden County, a sliver of Burlington County and part of Gloucester County, is overwhelmingly Democratic. Incumbent U.S. Rep. Donald Norcross, a Democrat, faces primary opposition from Rob Carlson of Collingswood, who works in information technology, and Scott J. Tomaszewski, an electrician who says Washington needs "more boots and less suits."

Second Congressional District: Democrats best shot at a GOP seat?

Democrats got a boost when Republican U.S. Rep. Frank LoBiondo announced his retirement in November, creating an open seat in the Second District as he joined an exodus of moderate GOP House members.

Sprawling across South Jersey, the Second supported Barack Obama twice, but President Trump carried it by 5 percentage points in 2016.

Democratic bosses, national and local, quickly coalesced around moderate State Sen. Jeff Van Drew of Cape May County, who has voted against tougher gun laws and same-sex marriage.

Though party strategists say he's a good fit for the district, some Democrats think Van Drew is little better than a Republican. Two progressive candidates, retired teacher Tanzie Youngblood and former U.S. Senate aide Will Cunningham, are challenging him in the primary, as is Nate Kleinman, a farmer and political activist who participated in Occupy protests and once ran for Congress in southeast Pennsylvania.

The head of the national GOP's congressional campaign arm characterized the Second District as a weak spot in candidate recruitment, though he later walked back those remarks. Early on, party leaders had hoped popular state Sen. Chris Brown (R., Atlantic) would run, but he passed.

The four GOP candidates running for the nomination are Hirsh Singh, an engineer who lost a race for the gubernatorial nomination last year and says he wants to embrace Trump's agenda; former state Assemblyman Sam Fiocchi; former FBI agent Robert Turkavage; and attorney Seth Grossman, leader of an anti-tax group called Liberty and Prosperity.

Third Congressional District: General election already set

The general race is already set in the Third, which includes most of Burlington County and parts of Ocean County, and the likely nominees have been raking in campaign money and already trading blows.

Republican U.S. Rep. Tom MacArthur, reelected to a second term in 2016 by 20 percentage points in the competitive district, faces a challenge from Democrat Andy Kim, of Marlton, a former national security adviser in the Obama administration.

Democrats believe MacArthur is vulnerable because he has provided some crucial help in advancing Trump's agenda, including negotiating a deal to keep alive the effort to repeal the Affordable Care Act. (The repeal failed in the Senate.) For that, MacArthur was forced to step down from a group of moderate House Republicans and drew protests. The representative also backed the Trump tax cuts, which capped the deduction for local property taxes widely used in New Jersey, which has the highest such levies in the country.

The MacArthur campaign has attacked Kim as really residing in Washington, D.C., citing a property tax break he enjoys on a $1 million condo there  and says the challenger has exaggerated his resume.

Both candidates are well-funded, and the Cook Political Report rates the race as competitive, but leaning toward MacArthur.

Fourth Congressional District: Dems choosing nominee with hopes of unseating longtime GOP representative

In 1980, Republican Rep. Chris Smith won election to the U.S. House, helped by Ronald Reagan's strong showing in the district  and the indictment of longtime Democratic incumbent Frank Thompson in the Abscam scandal. Smith has served for nearly 38 years; he is known for his leadership against abortion rights, as well as his work on international human rights issues, including human trafficking.

This year, Democrats are hoping that anti-Trump sentiment and a fired-up liberal base can help them flip the Fourth, which includes parts of Ocean, Monmouth and Mercer counties. First, they need to choose a nominee.

Party leaders have gotten behind Josh Welle, 37, a veteran Navy officer and founder of a technology software company He is opposed by Jim Keady, a liberal activist and former Asbury Park councilman most famous for the time former Gov. Chris Christie told him to "sit down and shut up" as he protested the state's response to Superstorm Sandy in 2014.

Yes, there is a contested primary in each party Tuesday, but incumbent Democratic Sen. Robert Menendez, 64, and Republican challenger Bob Hugin, 63, already are slashing away at each other in what is expected to be a particularly brutish general election campaign. The national backdrop: a fight for control of the Senate, narrowly held by the GOP, 51 seats to 47 seats.

Voters go to the polls Tuesday just weeks after the Senate Ethics Committee "severely admonished" Menendez for accepting valuable gifts from a campaign donor, and then using his position to advance the personal interests of Salomon Melgen, a Florida eye doctor convicted of one of the largest Medicare frauds in history.

A federal prosecution of Menendez on corruption charges ended in mistrial late last year, and authorities later dropped the charges against him. Hugin, a millionaire former pharmaceutical CEO, has aired TV ads calling Menendez a "disgrace."

In the primary, Menendez is challenged by Lisa McCormick, a publisher of community newspapers who briefly ran for the Democratic nomination for governor last year.

Hugin has his own baggage: his former firm, Celgene, settled a case for $280 million over allegations that it promoted cancer drugs that had not been approved by the FDA. As is customary in such settlements, the company admitted no wrongdoing.

Brian Goldberg, an IT engineer and construction executive who casts himself as a Trump acolyte, is challenging Hugin for the GOP nomination.

New Jersey Sen. Bob Menenedez, Democratic incumbent, at left. Republican challenger Bob Hugin at right.

Here is information on local races on the ballot Tuesday:

Burlington County

Camden County

Gloucester County

Atlantic County

Cumberland County

Salem County

Ocean County
Masterpiece Cakeshop owner Jack Phillips decorates a cake inside his store in Lakewood, Colo., in 2014. He refused to make a wedding cake for a same-sex couple. Read more

The Supreme Court ruled on Monday in favor of a Colorado baker who refused to make a cake for a same-sex couple because gay marriage was against his religious beliefs.

In a 7-2 vote, the court ruled that the Colorado Civil Rights Commission had shown hostility toward the baker's beliefs and, as one justice wrote, failed to offer a "neutral and respectful consideration of his claims."

Rutgers-Camden law professor Perry Dane, a former clerk to U.S. Supreme Court Justice William Brennan, said the ruling doesn't give businesses the right to discriminate against LGBT people (back in December, Dane highlighted the possibility the court would take this view).

The American Civil Liberties Union also stressed that point in a tweet.

"It doesn't say that at all," Dane said. As he explained, "it's saying the religious claims have to have a fair hearing, and to my mind that's actually a very important thing to say."

New Jersey and 20 other states prohibit businesses from denying service due to a person's sexual orientation and gender identity. While Pennsylvania does not prohibit that, Philadelphia does. The city's Commission on Human Relations has the power to temporarily shut down businesses that repeatedly violate the law.

"Let me be clear, today's Supreme Court ruling does not change the way businesses must operate in Philadelphia," said Rue Landau, the commission's executive director, in a statement. "Places open to the public cannot turn away anyone because of their sexual orientation, gender identity, race, ethnicity, religion, disability, or any other protected category."

>> Read more: Religious baker who refused to make a wedding cake for gay couple deserves protection whether you agree with him or not | Opinion

New Jersey Attorney General Gurbir S. Grewal also said the ruling would not change protections for LGBT people.

"New Jersey has some of the strongest anti-LGBT discrimination laws in the country, and we are committed to vigorously enforcing those laws," Grewal said in a statement. "Nothing about today's decision changes any of that."

Philadelphia's LGBT affairs director, Amber Hikes, weighed in on the ruling on Twitter.

The cakeshop case goes back to 2012, when Dave Mullins and Charlie Craig stopped in the Lakewood, Colo., shop of Christian baker Jack Phillips. In a brief exchange, Phillips said he could sell the couple other goods, but not a wedding cake, because same-sex marriage ran against his religious beliefs. The couple filed a complaint with the Colorado Civil Rights Commission, which sided with them.

In Monday's ruling, Justice Anthony Kennedy wrote that the commission's actions "showed elements of a clear and impermissible hostility toward the sincere religious beliefs motivating his objection." Kennedy cited comments from some of the commission's members who "disparaged Phillips' faith as despicable and characterized it as merely rhetorical, and compared his invocation of his sincerely held religious beliefs to defenses of slavery and the Holocaust."

Like Mullins and Craig, Kennedy wrote, Phillips was also entitled to a "to a neutral and respectful consideration of his claims."

>> Read more: More than gay wedding cake: Why Supreme Court case is about dignity, not dessert | Opinion
Left: Steve Brown's wedding ring. Right: PECO technician Brian Naughton climbs into the sewer grate to retrieve the lost ring. Read more

Steve Brown thought his grandfather's wedding ring was gone forever, lost to the underworld of Philadelphia's sewer system.

While walking near 12th and Market streets Friday night, Steve pulled his hand out of his pocket and his ring  a family heirloom engraved with his grandparents' initials and 1951 wedding date  flew off and rolled through a dirty, Center City grate. It was dark, and he leaned over and tried to rip off the grate himself. No luck.

The 32-year-old said he had "zero optimism" he'd find the ring, which belonged to his maternal grandfather who died in 2008. Steve and his wife, Erin (who had since tweeted all about the ordeal), figured nothing could be done until Monday morning when City Hall reopened.

Thanks to a village of passersby, plus a Philadelphia police officer and a valiant Peco technician, they didn't have to wait that long.

After Steve and Erin, who have been married for about a year and a half, went to their Plymouth Meeting home Friday night, the couple decided they'd return to the city Saturday and try to retrieve the ring before it rained (at that point, they thought it was a storm drain). Saturday morning, the pair picked up dowel rods and clothes hangers from Home Depot to fashion with duct tape a makeshift fishing pole to dip into the grate, estimated by Erin to be about 12 feet deep  with a layer of items they weren't interested in catching, such as cigarette butts, needles, trash and condom wrappers.

By the afternoon, fishing pole in hand, they were back at the Philadelphia Marriott Downtown hotel. Then, the torrential downpour started. Soaked to the bone, they persisted.

"Never did I think I was going to have my face up against a grate on a Philadelphia sidewalk before," Erin said.

After just a few minutes, they spotted a ring. They fished it out. But it wasn't his ring. Still, it gave them the resolve they needed to keep going  which would be for several hours.

As the couple lay on the Philadelphia sidewalk, peering through the grate (which they later were told is used to release air from SEPTA tunnels below) and fishing in the muck, strangers from a cabdriver to tourists from Chicago to a bachelor party stopped by to help. Some even lay down next to them to search.

Then, a Philadelphia police officer walked by. The officer helped them brainstorm about what to do next  call Peco, try the Fire Department. The officer's initial calls weren't returned, and Steve and Erin were getting antsy.

"We both actually stopped," she said. "We were just sitting on the ledge next to the Marriott kind of waiting like, 'What's our next plan?'"

Several hours passed before Peco technician Brian Naughton arrived. He popped open the grate and climbed in, flashlight-in-hand, while the couple stayed on top to assist.

"After what felt like an eternity," Erin said, magic: They spotted something shiny.

Something gold, something reflecting the light.

Like a superhero, Naughton emerged from the grate, ring-in-hand. Cabdrivers, tourists, the Philly police officer, and everyone else standing nearby cheered.

"They were shaking my hand," Erin said of the cabdrivers, "as if I'd just won the lottery."

She said she's not quite sure why the ring flew off her husband's hand. Maybe it's that Steve's weight fluctuates because he's a runner, though she joked the real reason for a bit of weight loss is that he's doing less "celebrating" now that the Eagles season is over.

Steve said the ring, which his mother gave to him before his 2016 wedding, has always been a little bit loose. He said this weekend served as a lesson "very well learned"  he nearly lost something that served not only as a wedding ring.

"It was a daily reminder of my relationship with my grandparents," he said.

The ring is being resized today. And, the couple say they've fallen in love anew with Philadelphia.

"We both kind of went home," Erin said, "with this renewed faith in humanity."
Jack Thompson Phillips, 23, of Malvern, a recent college graduate who aspired to a career in environmental science, died Monday, June 4, of complications from brain cancer at his home.

Mr. Phillips was the son of Nell Rose and Michael Phillips, longtime residents of Malvern. He graduated from West Chester East High School in 2013. While there, he was a member of the National Honor Society and a pole vaulter and distance runner on the track and field team.

He earned a bachelor's degree in 2017 from Penn State University. His major was geoscience, the study of the earth and factors that affect the environment.

"He never got a chance to get started," his grandfather, Gene Foreman, former managing editor of the Inquirer, said of his grandson's aspirations. "He wanted to have a favorable impact on the environment. He wanted to become an environmental protector."

As part of Mr. Phillips' course work, he took a field trip during the summer of 2017 to the Rockies, Foreman said, and was thrilled to be in the mountains.

After receiving his degree in August 2017, Mr. Phillips and his girlfriend, Liz Snell, went on a dream trip to Thailand, a treat before plunging into adulthood. Just 10 hours into the trip, though, Mr. Phillips experienced an excruciating headache and lost the feeling on his left side.

The illness came "out of nowhere," his mother wrote online.

Mr. Phillips was rushed to a hospital in Bangkok, where doctors diagnosed him with advanced brain cancer and performed emergency surgery to remove a large tumor that had hemorrhaged. Their quick action saved Mr. Phillips' life, his mother wrote.

His parents flew to Thailand to be by their son's side. A month later, once his condition stabilized, Mr. Phillips, his parents, and Snell flew back to the United States.

For a while, early this year, Mr. Phillips appeared to be recovering and life was returning to normal, his mother wrote.

"We have been enjoying Jack gaining strength and beginning to get his life back," his mother wrote on CaringBridge.org. "Things have been humming along nicely. He went on a couple of dates with Liz and started his neighborhood walks."

Mr. Phillips was able to show his family the cooking skills he had learned while working as a shift manager at the Qdoba Mexican Eats restaurant in State College during his junior and senior years at Penn State. "He was proud of that," his grandfather said.

But the multiple surgeries and treatments with radiation and chemotherapy at the University of Pennsylvania Hospital that were needed to address the glioblastoma took their toll. Fluid collected on his brain and caused pressure, his grandfather said.

At Eastertime, Mr. Phillips began experiencing sinus pain and headaches, and his condition deteriorated. Mr. Phillips fought bravely and never lost hope of recovery, his mother and grandfather said.

Over Memorial Day weekend, though, doctors advised that the best course of action was hospice care, so his parents took him home to be with his family and two dogs.

An uplifting moment had come just before on May 25, when the Phillips' neighbors and students and teachers from the East Goshen Elementary School, which he had attended, turned out for a walk  "Jack's Journey"  to raise funds for cancer research.

"Jack is feeling very special and loved," his mother wrote online.

Mr. Phillips was remembered as a person who was "a friend for life," Foreman said. He kept in touch with fellow students from grade school, some of whom were present when he died.

Kristie Wining, proprietor of Qdoba Mexican Eats in State College, where Mr. Phillips was a shift manager in the evenings, said that she has seen many students work at the restaurant in the last 14 years, but that he was special.

"He was always happy. Being around him just made your day better. Not one time did he think this was going to beat him. He was an all-around great kind of kid.  In the time he had, he touched many people's lives," Wining said.

In addition to his parents and grandfather, Mr. Phillips is survived by siblings Christopher, Nicholas, Noah, and Olivia; and a grandmother, Harriet Phillips.

Funeral arrangements were pending.
Three Mile Island (TMI) nuclear power plant complex in Middletown, PA, September 5, 2017. TMI reactor 1 (right), with its two cooling towers, is still operational, while TMI reactor 2 and its cooling towers is still shut down after the partial nuclear meltdown accident in 1979. The owner of the plant, Exelon Corp., has annouced plans to close the site in 2019 unless the state provides some sort of subsidy. CLEM MURRAY / Staff Photographer Read more

Pennsylvania today ranks second in the nation for nuclear power generating capacity, owed to a long tradition of nuclear energy leadership and technological innovation. But that great history  and with it, thousands of good-paying jobs  is now at stake.

Currently, two of Pennsylvania's five nuclear plants are scheduled to close prematurely. Last year, Exelon announced that Three Mile Island near Harrisburg will close in 2019. And just recently, FirstEnergy announced plans to close its Beaver Valley Power Station located near Pittsburgh within the next three years. This can be avoided. The owners of these power plants believe there is a need for public policy changes that will allow these critically important assets to continue operating by fairly valuing the many benefits provided by nuclear energy. And we agree.

>> READ MORE: Don't nuke consumers' wallets by bailing out uncompetitive power plants | Opinion

Combined, Three Mile Island and Beaver Valley directly employ nearly 1,500 Pennsylvanians as well as thousands of building and construction trades workers during refueling outages, like those recently employed at Exelon's Limerick Generating Station in Montgomery County and Talen Energy's Susquehanna Steam Electric Station in Luzerne County. Together, Pennsylvania's five nuclear plants contribute approximately $2 billion to the state economy, are responsible for 16,000 jobs, and contribute $69 million in net state tax revenues annually, which helps fund important community services like schools, roads, and law enforcement.

In addition to powering our economy, nuclear energy also keeps our air cleaner. Pennsylvania's five nuclear power plants produce 93 percent of the commonwealth's carbon-free electricity and help avoid 37 million tons of CO2 emissions per year. Nuclear power is the only clean energy source that can reliably produce large amounts of electricity around the clock.

These statistics reinforce the message our members and supporters of nuclear energy have been consistently communicating: Nuclear power is vital to our state's economic and environmental health. However, the potential loss of two of our state's five nuclear power plants is something Pennsylvania cannot sustain.

>> READ MORE: Three Mile Island fights once again for its nuclear survival

We believe this outcome is avoidable as long as policymakers are committed to solving the problem. That's why the members of Boilermakers Local 13 are proud to be part of Nuclear Powers Pennsylvania, a statewide coalition that is working to educate all Pennsylvanians about the economic and environmental benefits of nuclear energy and the industry's positive impact on local communities throughout the Keystone State. These nuclear plants are tremendous assets in many ways  assets we can ill afford to lose.

The challenges facing nuclear power are very real and must be addressed immediately for the sake of Pennsylvania's economy and the thousands of hard-working Pennsylvanians who depend on the nuclear industry for employment. We are very pleased with the recent announcement from the Pennsylvania Nuclear Energy Caucus expressing great concern about the announcement of the premature retirement of Beaver Valley and look forward to working with all members of the General Assembly to advance policies promoting the long-term economic, environmental, and consumer benefits of nuclear power.

Martin Williams Jr. is business manager of Boilermakers Local 13 in Philadelphia and a member of Nuclear Powers Pennsylvania.
FILE  This Feb. 19, 2013, file photo shows OxyContin pills arranged for a photo at a pharmacy in Montpelier, Vt. Purdue Pharma, the maker of the prescription opioid painkiller OxyContin, is asking a judge in Alaska to dismiss a lawsuit that blames the company for the state's epidemic of opioid abuse. (AP Photo/Toby Talbot, File) Read more

The Big Pharma firms that helped spawn the opioid crisis must be held accountable beyond token wrist slaps and fines. During the 2008 financial collapse, nefarious lenders largely walked away, but federal prosecutors should not fear filing criminal charges against Big Pharma executives for any wrongdoing where warranted.

Consider the case of Purdue Pharma, which began peddling OxyContin in 1996. Not long after the potent opioid painkiller was introduced, Purdue Pharma learned about "significant" abuses of OxyContin, according to a 120-page internal Justice Department report obtained by the New York Times.

Top company officials received early reports the pills were being crushed and snorted and stolen from pharmacies; some doctors were selling prescriptions. But Purdue Pharma officials have long claimed they were unaware the drug was being abused until years after it went on the market.

Federal prosecutors spent four years investigating Purdue Pharma and recommended that three top executives be indicted on felony charges that included conspiracy to defraud the United States. But top Justice Department officials in the George W. Bush administration did not support the move, and the case was settled in 2007, according to the Times.

Purdue Pharma pleaded guilty to misbranding OxyContin and the three executives  who included the CEO and top medical officer  pleaded guilty to a single misdemeanor charge. The company and the executives paid a combined $634 million in fines.

Meanwhile, prescription drug overdoses have become the leading cause of accidental death in the U.S., killing more people than car accidents or guns. More than 200,000 people in the U.S. died from overdoses involving prescription opioids between 1996 and 2016. In Philadelphia, there were more than 1,200 drug overdose deaths last year on top of thousands of deaths in the years before.

Several Big Pharma firms aggressively marketed the opioids, which have led to spikes in addiction across the country. Many patients initially hooked on painkillers turned to heroin, which is cheaper and more deadly, especially when mixed with fentanyl.

Purdue Pharma is not the only company to get a pass.

Drug Enforcement Administration agents spent two years investigating McKesson Corp., the largest distributor of drugs in the U.S., for failure to report suspicious orders involving millions of addictive painkillers sent to drugstores that found their way to drug rings, according to a report in the Washington Post.

The DEA investigation stretched across 11 states working with a dozen U.S. attorneys' offices. Prosecutors wanted to bring criminal charges, but once again top Justice Department officials struck a deal in 2017 that resulted in a $150 million fine  pocket change for a firm with annual revenue of nearly $200 billion.

Dozens of states  including Pennsylvania, which has taken a lead  are investigating the major opioid manufacturers and distributors.

Shielding corporate executives from criminal prosecution and prison prevents any message of deterrence. To be sure, the Big Pharma firms are not solely responsible for the opioid epidemic. But some companies have blood on their hands and must be held accountable.
June 10 is the 50th anniversary of the landmark decision in Terry v. Ohio, the Supreme Court decision that legalized the controversial practice of stop-and-frisk. Read more

June 10 is the 50th anniversary of the landmark decision in Terry v. Ohio, the Supreme Court decision that legalized the controversial practice of stop-and-frisk. In recent weeks, the conversation around stop-and-frisk in Philadelphia has escalated, after the arrest of two black men in a Starbucks in Center City.

Later this week, the Inquirer, Daily News, and Philly.com will share a variety of viewpoints on Terry v. Ohio, and its impact on Philadelphia and beyond. As part of this, we've partnered with Praise 107.9 to gather the stories and opinions of real Philadelphians.

Praise host Solomon Jones, whom our readers will recognize from his weekly columns, will dedicate part of his Thursday show to the topic of stop-and-frisk. You're invited to call in to add your voice to the conversation. Whether it's a personal story of being stopped, an opinion about how the practice affects Philadelphia, or an idea for an alternative, we want to hear from you.

Some stories may be used on Philly.com and transcribed for publication in the Inquirer and Daily News.

Heres how you can share your personal stories and views on stop-and-frisk:

When: Thursday, June 7, 2018, at 10 a.m. to noon

Phone number: 215-263-1079

If you'd rather share your story privately, you can also email epalan@philly.com with the subject line "Stop and frisk." Please include your first and last name and your location (neighborhood is fine) and the best way to contact you if we have follow up questions.
How many worlds are in that field of view, waiting to be discovered? We'll get a better idea soon. TESS measures starlight over long periods of time. When planets pass in front of their host stars, there's a slight drop in starlight. In the field of exoplanet science, this technique is called the transit method, and it tells us planet diameter, but not much else. In order to verify there's actually a planet present, we need follow-up measurements. That's why the Kepler space telescope differentiates between candidate exoplanets and confirmed exoplanets; the "candidates" are waiting on additional verification.

Additional verification is usually done with ground-based telescopes, using a technique called the radial velocity method. Orbiting exoplanets makes their stars wobble ever so slightly, and tracking those wobbles not only confirms there's a planet present, it also reveals the mass of the planet. When you combine this with the size information from the transit method, you can calculate density. And then, you can figure out whether your exoplanet is rocky like Earth, or gassy like Jupiter.

NASA's astrophysics division has a policy when it comes to ground-based observations: it doesn't do them. Traditionally, it's been the job of the worldwide science community to follow-up on discoveries made by space telescopes like Kepler and TESS.

That's about to change. In a first-of-its-kind partnership, NASA is teaming up with the National Science Foundation to work around its own rule. NASA still won't be directly funding observations; instead, it is paying for a new science instrument to be installed on a 24-year-old telescope at Kitt Peak National Observatory in Southern Arizona. The instrument will be one of the most sensitive of its kind, giving scientists a dedicated facility where they can take a closer look at the thousands of new worlds discovered by Kepler and TESS.

"To see"

The NASA-funded instrument is called NEID, which comes from the Tohono O'odham word meaning "to see." (Kitt Peak is located on Tohono O'odham land.) NEID is also a nested acronym for "NN-EXPLORE Exoplanet Investigations with Doppler spectroscopy." (I'll unpack NN-EXPLORE in a bit.) The instrument is being built by Penn State University.

NEID is a super-high-precision spectrograph that splits starlight into its component wavelengths the way a prism creates a rainbow. When an exoplanet wobbles its host star, the star spectrum wobbles, too. Scientists watch how that spectrum shifts over time to determine an exoplanet's mass.

NEID is being installed on Kitt Peak's 3.5-meter WIYN telescope. Jayadev Rajagopal, WIYN's telescope scientist and head of operations, told me NASA's original goal was for the spectrograph to detect star wobbles as small as 10 centimeters per second.

"That's like the speed of a tortoise," he said. No spectrograph has yet been able to reach such extreme precision. In recent years, instruments like European Southern Observatory's HARPS have crossed the one-meter threshold, after years of refinements. Rajagopal said the current record is about 75 centimeters. The final baseline for NEID will be 50 centimeters per second, with a goal to improve that over time.

Such extreme precision requires a very stable operating environment, year after year. A single point of starlight hitting the WIYN mirror gets shunted into a fiber-optic cable, which carries the light to NEID in an adjacent building. NEID sits in a box within a box within a box. First, there's an outer room cooled slightly below room temperature. In that room sits a "meat locker" operating at the same temperature. Inside the meat locker is a vacuum chamber suspended from cables on a cushion of air. And in that vacuum chamber, the NEID optical bench uses liquid nitrogen-cooled optical detectors that remain temperature-stable within a millionth of a Kelvin.

It's an extreme setup for an extreme instrument, located on an observatory mountaintop in the middle of the desert.

"The mountain goes from negative 5 to 40 degrees Celsius in a yearnone of that can get through to the bench," Rajagopal said.

NEID measurements must be repeatable over long periods of time, enough for exoplanets to complete full orbits around their host stars. During that time, operators will inevitably have to take the telescope offline for routine maintenance activities such as cleaning and polishing the mirror. To stay calibrated, the instrument uses a laser frequency comb, which creates a known, artificial spectrum against which to compare results.

If NEID does get to 10 centimeters per second, scientists will face a new challenge: "stellar jitter." At such small scales, star surfaces are not uniform. They balloon, shift, and belch out flares, all of which can throw off radial velocity measurements. Rajagopal said the scientific community is already figuring out ways to filter out these anomalies. For instance, certain star spectral lines represent certain chemical compositions, and stellar jitter acts on those lines in different ways.

"There are certain lines indicative of the photosphere doing something, as opposed to the entire star doing something," said Rajagopal.
KAMPALA: The Ministry of Health has dismissed claims that the Cobalt 60 Radiotherapy machine at the Uganda Cancer Institute (UCI) is no longer functional, arguing that the operations of the machine have been scaled down in preparation for its first periodic servicing which is scheduled for next week.

According to Dr. Henry Mwebesa, the Acting Director General Health Services, the new machine is a high-level and ultra-modern machine and was accepted by both the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) and the Institute for Clinical Use in October 2017 and cannot break down that fast.

Dr Mwebesa explained that since the installation of the machine in November 2017, it has treated over 1000 patients and hence needs servicing.

Approximately 1000 patients have been treated since the restoration of radiotherapy services at UCI last November, and about 15,000 treatment sessions had been done by the end of May 2018. Consequently, the department now works in two shifts; the first: From 5.00 AM to 1.30 PM, while the second runs from 1.30 PM to 10.30 PM, he said in a statement released on Sunday.

The designated technician from the machine manufacturer (UJP-Praha), Mr Bednar Andrej has been contacted and is expected to arrive in the country on Thursday 7th June 2018 to undertake the servicing of the machine which will commence on Friday 8th and run through the weekend of 9th -10th June 2018. Normal full capacity operation of radiotherapy services is expected to resume on Monday 11th June 2018, he added.

Dr Mwebesa explained that Government of Uganda has supported training of three Radiotherapy Technicians, who are currently training in Zambia and are expected to back in the country in March 2019.

The construction of additional modern bunkers with six chambers -which will house four linear accelerator radiotherapy machines- has also reached a level of 95% progress and this is intended to fast track the next phase of modernization and expansion of radiotherapy services, he said.

Related
KAMPALA. Calm has been witnessed on Entebbe-Kampala Expressway after two UPDF soldiers were arrested on allegations of robbing motorists at night.

The Kampala Metropolitan Police spokesman, Mr Luke Owoyesigire said that the two suspects are Cpl Michael Ssewanyana and Cpl Badru Kayongo who since their arrest two weeks ago, police have not received any more case regarding robbery on the highway, which is still under construction.

Owoyesigire declined to divulge the details of the arrested suspects but said they have now secured the highway and the two soldiers have already been produced in court in Mpigi District and remanded on armed robbery charges, he added.

It is allegedly said that the two were working with three other soldiers who escaped during the operation but police are still hunting the three soldiers on the run.

Owoyesigire revealed that among their victims included a UPDF soldier Cpl Ramathan Nsubuga, attached to the Air Force, Mr Kisakye Muvawala, Mr Fred Ssendyoose and Mr Shafik Mutyaba.

According to police reports, the suspects have been carrying out robberies at Katale, Kinawa, Kikajjo and Nateete areas.

Most of the robbery victims are motorists who have been using the highway illegally since it hasnt yet been officially opened. But since the end of last month, there hasnt been any criminal incident reported on the highway, Mr Owoyesigire said.

The highway, whose completion has been behind schedule, has been a haven for crime since it is dark at night and unprotected.

According to police documents, the suspects wearing army uniforms and carrying firearms would block their victims using numberless vehicles on the highway. Before the unsuspecting victims would make a U-turn to safety, the suspects would put them on gunpoint, rob their mobile phones and money.

Related
A man charged with fatally shooting a Kansas City, KS, police captain will not face the death penalty.

Capt. Robert David Melton Photo: Kansas City (KS) PD

Wyandotte County prosecutors announced Friday they will not pursue the death penalty for 22-year-old Jamaal Lewis, who pleaded not guilty. He is charged with capital murder in the death of 46-year-old Robert David Melton, reports the Associated Press.
According to a new Mayo Clinic study, menopause symptoms can continue into later life.

Hot flashes in particular were reported well into study participants 60s, 70s and 80s.

The study, published in the Journal of the North American Menopause Society, gathered data from nearly 5,000 women.

Women who experienced surgical or induced menopause were likely to report hot flashes that lasted beyond age 60. Caffeine use appeared to increase the likelihood of hot flashes in women older than 70.

"The number of women in the study who both reported and sought care for symptom management shines a light on what may be an unmet medical need for women over age 60," Paru David, M.D., a menopause specialist at Mayo Clinic in Arizona, said in a press release. "With increased awareness, clinicians can identify these distressing symptoms and review treatment options with women, which can lead to improved quality of life."

All of the women older than 60 who reported moderate to severe hot flashes were likely to be married or in a committed relationship. They were less likely to self-report their health as excellent.

The study found women who used hormone therapy were less likely to report moderate or severe hot flashes.

Menopausal hormone therapy can reduce the symptoms of menopause like hot flashes, night sweats, and bone loss. However, taking estrogen is associated with increased risk of breast cancer, stroke, and blood clots.

According to the press release, the benefits of menopausal hormone therapy generally outweigh the risks for those younger than 60 and within 10 years from menopause.
"Dear Heloise: Unless youve had a migraine headache, there is no way to describe the pain, nausea and sensitivity to light and sound that people with a migraine experience. My co-workers and friends think all I need to do is take an over-the-counter drug and Ill be fine. Unfortunately, those drugs dont help. I need a prescription medication, and if a migraine starts and I dont have my medications with me, Im in serious pain.

"Many people think that a person suffering a migraine is making too much of it or faking it to get attention. Thats not the case. Were in pain, so please be patient with us and know that a migraine is so painful that its often physically exhausting."  Rochelle F., Standish, Maine

DEAR READERS:Here are a few uses for old blankets:

Carry one in your trunk for emergencies.

Use to cover plants in cold weather.

Donate them to a pet shelter in your area.

Use to cover stored furniture.

 Heloise

DEAR HELOISE: When I have friends in the hospital or who are confined to bed for several days, I make up a bed basket for them. I put in hand/body lotion, a hair band, hairbrush, candies (if permitted by the doctor), mints, a couple of magazines, a pen and a notepad. I also customize the basket for the person, depending on what she likes or enjoys doing.  Christina K., Gold Beach, Ore.

DEAR HELOISE:To keep long-sleeved shirts from getting tangled in the wash, try this:

Turn the shirts inside out by reaching up through the shirt from the bottom and pulling the neck down and out. The sleeves should stay "trapped" inside the body of the shirt.

Oddly, by the end of the wash cycle, almost all of the shirts will have turned right side out again, but the laundry is not tangled.  Jackie in Cabin John, Md.
Last week YnetNews posted the Reuters story reporting that Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif was caught on tape Thursday joining a crowd in a chant calling for the destruction of Irans enemiesamong them the United States, the United Kingdom and Israel. The chant broke out after a speech delivered by Irans Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei held in Tehran. The crowd then takes up the chant of Death to America, Death to Britain, and Death to Israel, all while Zarif is seen smiling and mouthing the words shouted by the participants. YnetNews included a 35-second video. I just found the shorter but embeddable version below that Tom Gross posted here on YouTube.

Zarif does not go whole hog on the chant. He is not caught on camera raising his fist and shouting it out, but he does not refrain from joining in either, as I take it from the YnetNews report.

Zarif is of course the friend of John Kerry with whom Kerry negotiated Obamas deal with Iran. Obama and Kerry lied as much about that deal as Obama did about Obamacare, yet both Obama and Kerry are still held in high regard by our media masters.

The Boston Globe reported earlier this month that Kerry sat down at the United Nations with Zarif to discuss ways of undermining the Trump administrations policy of terminating the pact. It was reportedly their second such meeting in the past two months. Former Acting Attorney General Sally Yates did not respond to my request for comment on the possible Logan Act violations committed by Kerry in holding these meetings.

Zarif gives us the quotable quote below via Twitter. Hate abides. The good news, however, is that were living in a post-US JCPOA world.
Minnesotas Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party held its state convention in Rochester over the weekend. They should have checked into the Mayo Clinic for a wellness examination. Instead the lunatics took over the Democratic asylum.

The insanity first manifested with the partys rejection of popular incumbent Attorney General Lori Swanson for endorsement. The Democrats in convention assembled rejected Swanson in favor of unknown attorney Matt Pelikan (D, Gay Millennial).

The insanity next manifested with the partys endorsement of state representative Erin Murphy for governor (D, Metro Leftist). Murphy won the endorsement over Minnesota First District Rep. Tim Walz, who is taking his challenge to the primary. Murphys first move as the partys endorsed gubernatorial candidate was to select state representative Maye Quade (D, Metro Leftist) as her running mate. My friend Susan Closmore presciently commented on Twitter.

Whelpthis news is a hard stop for any momentum Murphy gained yesterday. #mn2018 pic.twitter.com/NY2cJt0BYp  Susan Closmore (@sclosmore) June 3, 2018

The probable statewide weakness of the endorsed Democratic candidates has reverberated. Swanson has declared herself a candidate for the gubernatorial endorsement. She has announced retiring Eighth District Rep. Rick Nolan as her running mate.

And thats not all. The rumor mill has it that Minnesota Fifth District Rep. Keith Ellison will jump into the primary battle for the Attorney General endorsement on the Democratic side. If so, state representative Ilhan Omar (D, Little Mogadishu) would surely announce her candidacy for Ellisons seat, with other Bernie Bro identity candidates (one Black, one Gay, but not one Black and Gay so far as I know) waiting in the wings to enter the primary contest as well.

It may after all be Time For Ilhan, as the documentary that debuted in Duluth over the weekend has it. Omar embodies the Bernie Bro identity politics that now consumes even the Minnesota DFL. Yet Im pretty sure Rep. Omar would actually have to contemplate answering a few serious questions about her mysterious husband number 2 in the process.

Nurse Ratched, report to your station!

If all this comes to pass, however, there would be an opening for some sane Democrat to run in a multicandidate primary for the Fifth District DFL congressional endorsement. Such a candidate might only need 35-40 percent of the vote to pull it off. I wonder if my cousin Jonathan Applebaum (D, Minnetonka), for example, stepping down from his seat in a nearby state legislative district, might sense a possible market niche for sanity by the filing deadline of 5:00 pm tomorrow.
There is a lot of notice being taken of the fact that Trumps approval rating is slowly but steadily climbing, and that the generic House ballot shows Republicans coming even with Democrats after trailing by double digits at the beginning of the year, causing no small amount of panic right now among Democratic operatives. The economy is red hot, and the Democratic National Committee is essentially broke. (Most significant, perhaps, is that Trumps approval ratings are much higher than his national averagein solid majority territoryin states with the key Senate races, like North Dakota, Tennessee, Missouri, Ohio, etc.)

So the blue wave may have hit a sandbar. But as Glenn Reynolds likes to warn, dont get cocky, kid. Weve seen Republicans in an analogous position beforeand suffer a bad midterm.

Cast your mind back to 1986. The economy was red hot. President Reagans approval rating was over 60 percent. Congress had just passed a terrific tax reform. And . . . Republicans lost eight Senate seats, and their majority, in that election.

However, there are some important political differences between that midterm election and the one coming fast upon us. Many of the losing Republicans were weak first-termers who had been swept into office on Reagans coattails in 1980, such as Paula Hawkins in Florida; Jeremiah Denton in Alabama; Slade Gorton in Washington; and Mark Andrews in North Dakota. (Three of the first-time winners in 1986 were John McCain, Tom Daschle, and Harry Reidthe latter two defeating Republican incumbents.) The overall election was actually closer than it sounds: the GOP lost six of those eight Senate seats by a combined total of about 50,000 votes. This year it is the Democrats who have to defend a number of weak and/or first-term incumbents.

One of the keys to the 1986 midterm election was captured in Tip ONeills famous maxim, All politics is local. ONeill argued that there were no national issues at stake in the election. Given the sharp partisan divisions over judges, civil rights, and Central American policy (to name a few), this was nonsense (as the Bork nomination episode a year later proved), but it was a clever way of blunting Reagans personal popularity.

This year the Democratic Resistance is doing just the opposite, purposely nationalizing everything down to the level of the dog catcher: Look! Trump is the first president not to have a dog in the White House! Vote for Democrat Joe Dokes for dog catcher! Unlike Trump, hes not an anti-canine bigot! Thats about the whole Democratic platform for this election.

On the whole I think Republicans are in a good position. If they hold on and do decently, the left is going to go out of its mind. But if the Democrats take the House, and, improbable but possible, take the Senate, you can expect full on triumphalism. Back in 1986, based on their narrow victory, liberals went into full Happy Days Are Here Again mode. New York Timescolumnist Anthony Lewis celebrated with a column entitled, The End Begins: Radical Right Movement Has Crested. Outgoing House Speaker ONeill said: If there ever was a Reagan Revolution, its over. The Washington Posts David Broder did caution: The biggest mistake Democrats can make is to believe that the 1986 election confirmed them as the majority party in the country. Its a mistake they just cant help. If the GOP takes a hit in November, you can be sure well see headlines declaring that Trump and Trumpism are over. We all remember the sequel: George H.W. Bush easily elected president in 1988.
Liberals often claim to be proponents of evidence-based policy, but when it comes to climate change, that formula has been reversed. This is from the Science and Environmental Policy Projects The Week That Was:

Australian Don Aitkin, former Chairman of Australias National Capital Authority and former Vice-Chancellor and President of the University of Canberra, comments on The unfolding saga of Peter Ridd. Professor Ridd is a well-published academic whose fields of research include coastal oceanography, reef systems and peer review, has been for ten years the Head of the School of Physics at James Cook University (JCU). He was disciplined for drawing attention to what he considered exaggerations in the way fellow academics at his university were describing the condition of the Great Barrier Reef.  Aitkin writes:

But it is a problem, and a rapidly growing one, in areas of research where what is actually the case is contested vigorously by others. An eye has to be kept on the source of the money going to higher education research, which in our country is overwhelmingly the Australian Government. In 2014, not quite four billion dollars was available within the higher education system for research, all of it from the Commonwealth. In addition universities made another billion or thereabouts from consultancy and research for other funders. That is a lot of money. As the last Chairman of the Australian Research Grants Committee in 1987 I had a little over $30 million to parcel out. The engine has been most effective.

In the last forty years governments have become interested in universities finding academic support for what they are proposing or have in place. We are in an era of policy-based evidence. We are also in an era of a particular political correctness, where it is very difficult indeed to get funds for research if the purpose of the research seems antithetical to current government policy. Curiosity-directed research now comes with some serious barriers. Nowhere is this situation clearer than in the case of research on the Great Barrier Reef, in which Professor Ridd has been involved. A bucket-load of money has been devoted to the Reef, and another half-billion was forecast in the recent Budget, some of which will doubtless go the James Cook University, the Australian Institute of Marine Science and the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority. The Reef, as is frequently said, is an Australian icon. An icon is a religious object. Professor Ridd is a scientist, not a priest.

But climate science is a religion. Worse, it is a religion that is also big business.
I declare Maria Bartiromos Sunday Morning Futures on the FOX News Channel the best of the weekly gabfests by far. Perhaps it is just the frequent appearance of House Intelligence Committee Chairman Devin Nunes on the show that pumps it up in my estimation. In the segment disseminated via Twitter below, Rep. Nunes reports that he is still waiting for release of the subpoenaed documents related to the opening of the FBIs counterintelligence investigation of the Trump campaign. Two years into the investigation, secrecy abides. President Trump, tear down this wall!

.@DevinNunes: "All the members of my committee don't believe that the counter-intelligence capabilities should be used to target a political party  none of my members on the Republican side do." #SundayFutures @MariaBartiromo pic.twitter.com/BsRzRHSSae  Fox News (@FoxNews) June 3, 2018

Quotable quote: For almost a year now, weve been waiting for documents from the deputy attorney general. Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein could provide all the documents, all the information we need this week, and we could write a report by Friday.

Via Tim Hains/RealClearPoltics.
Ben Rhodes couldnt. . .I mean. . .process. . .I mean. . .just couldnt. . .process Donald Trumps victory over Hillary Clinton. Fortunately, Barack Obama was available to process it for him. When you have the arc of history down cold, processing setbacks, even really bad ones, isnt that hard.

Matthew Continetti writes a devastating piece on Barack Obamas processing, as described in Rhodes new book. To assist Rhodes, Obama sent him this line: There are more stars in the sky than grains of sand on the earth. This sounds like the message youd find inside an especially pretentious fortune cookie, says Continetti.

Pretentiousness was the common thread as, in Rhodes telling, Obama went through multiple emotional stages following Trumps victory. At one point, Obama told Rhodes, Sometimes I wonder whether I was ten or 20 years too early.

This is vintage Obama. As Continetti puts it:

Imagine carrying the burden of Barack Obama, of being too enlightened, sophisticated, mature for his time. In his conceit that historical progress is assured and irreversible, and that challenges to such progress are reducible to irrational prejudice, Obama is a paradigmatic liberal. Yet Americas frequent elections, tendency to rotate offices, decentralization of power, avenues for the expression of popular discontent, and multiple veto points continually frustrated his desires. By the end of his second term, he was expending a great deal of energy working around the constitutional structure established in 1789 and amended 27 times since.

Obama returned to an old theme of his, the Clingers. Maybe we pushed too far, he mused. Maybe people just want to fall back into their tribe. This from the master of identity politics.

It could be that Obama pushed too far, though. Continetti thinks so:

All you [Obama] did was troll Donald Trump into running for president in the first place, stand by while Ferguson and Baltimore rioted and burned, give Iran billions in exchange for empty promises, allow Russia to establish a beachhead in the Middle East for the first time in half a century, browbeat Israel at every opportunity, ram through Obamacare after Scott Browns election in Massachusetts, preside over the mass migration of children across the southern border in 2014, expand the DACA amnesty despite saying 22 times you lacked authority to do so, use the permanent structure of government to devastate the Appalachian economy, convince half of America that liberals were ready to take their guns (this wasnt hard to do), have your Education Department issue orders that led to the campus-assault craze and the deterioration of classroom discipline and that, months before a presidential election, mandated trans-bathrooms in schools, have your Justice Department preside over a sloppy (Im being charitable) investigation into Hillary Clintons use of a private email server that included, at one point, your attorney general secretly meeting with the husband of the subject of the investigation on an airport tarmac, muscle out Joe Biden, who might have won, from the race, and hand the party back to the less likable half of Americas most polarizing and corrupt political couple. Not to mention the eight years of lecturing. Oh, the lecturing.

As Obama provided solace for Rhodes, the president may have received some from Angela Merkel. She said she felt more obliged to run for another term after Trumps election in order to defend the liberal international order. (Either that or she didnt want to give up power). According to Obama, when they parted for the final time, Merkel had a single tear in her eye. Shes all alone, Obama noted, touchingly.

Continetti observes:

It never seems to have dawned on either Obama or Merkel that the only people truly invested in defending the always vaguely defined liberal international order are the men and women who sit at the top of it. Certainly the voters are not as satisfied with current circumstances as they.

Indeed, Merkel herself suffered a significant degree of electoral repudiation in recent German elections.

Obama can afford to be philosophical about his repudiation. As Continetti concludes, he has his $65 million book deal, his high-eight-figure Netflix deal, and, above all, his vanity intact. Plus, Ben Rhodes still worships him.
"I would like to ask you to expose our red and white national colours at important events", President Andrzej Duda said on Saturday at the 22nd Youth Meeting in Lednica, western Poland, an annual gathering of Catholic youth.

In connection with this year's 100th anniversary of Poland's regaining its independence, the President offered red and white flags to all the pilgrims. Each flag was accompanied by a card signed by Andrzej Duda. The President extended his official patronage over the event.

"I am" was the official motto of the 22nd Lednica 2000 Youth Meeting attended by around 85,000 people.

On Saturday afternoon, the President took part in a procession which officially opened the 22nd Youth Meeting.

"I'm looking at you with deep affection in this special year of the 100th anniversary of Poland's regaining its independence. Polish youth are here together, singing songs, praying, creating and building a community over which white and red flags are being waved. Thank you very much for this," President Andrzej Duda said when addressing participants at the 'fish gate', which is the official symbol of the gathering.

"Thank you all for accepting this gift, a gift of the Polish flag. Take these flags home, keep them and respect them. This is what I'm asking of you. But I'm also asking you to use them. To fly these white and red colours, which are so precious, in moments of importance for you, for our country, our history and our identity," the President added.

The head of state also stressed that Ostrow Lednicki, an island located close to Lednickie Fields, the venue for the event, is said to be the place where Duke Mieszko I was baptised in 966.

"Thank you for coming here and praying, as the tradition has instructed us to do for 1050 years. It was perhaps here, in this extraordinary place where the historical heart of our homeland was beating, where Duke Mieszko and his entourage were baptised (...) maybe it was here that he made the decision to build the Polish state, to accept Christianity,' he said.

Andrzej Duda laid flowers on the grave of the founder of the Lednica 2000 movement, a Dominican priest, Father Jan Gora. Then, he spent some time with the participants, dancing and taking pictures with them.

Andrzej Duda gave the organisers of the Lednica gathering a copy of the first written record of the early-Polish religious hymn "Bogurodzica". He recalled that for a time this song functioned as the Polish national anthem, and that Polish knights sang it when going to battle "in defense of their homeland, faith, tradition and freedom."

***

"I wish to extend my wholehearted thanks to the organisers of the 22nd Youth Meeting in Lednica and to the youth who came to Lednickie Fields for creating an amazing atmosphere full of joy, friendship, prayer and fun," the President wrote on Twitter on Sunday. (PAP)
BENGALURU, June 4, 2018 /PRNewswire/ --

Adda52 Rummy, owned by Gaussian Networks Pvt Ltd., India's leading online rummy website cordially invites rummy players across the country to play the India's most anticipated live rummy tournament -India Rummy Challenge which is back to bedazzle Indian rummy players. Adda52 Rummy is going to organize the July 2018 edition of IRC tournament on 14th and 15th July aboard Deltin Royale, Goa. The total prize pool of the event is Rs. 25,00,000 and the 1st winner will get a gigantic cash prize worth Rs. 10,00,000.

(Logo: http://mma.prnewswire.com/media/543915/Adda52_Rummy_Logo.jpg )



Indian Rummy Challenge 2018, is Bigger and Better than Before

IRC Main Event is going to be held in Deltin Royale, India's most luxurious casino vessel which is floating on Mandovi River in Goa. Like its previous editions, IRC Main Event is again expected to see the great participation of rummy players from all over India this year. Many victorious rummy fans will take home exciting cash prize.

How To Participate in Indian Rummy Challenge 2018?

Adda52 Rummy has announced online satellite tournaments for rummy fanatics where they can win ticket to the Daily Qualifier tournament. Winners of the Daily Qualifier will get a ticket to play IRC Main Event in Goa.

The satellite tournaments have already started on the website that rummy players can join on daily basis at the comfort of their homes with minimal buy-ins and win the entry ticket to IRC Main Event.

In Stage 1, players can participate in 2 types of satellite tournaments to win the tickets for the Daily Qualifier.

Super Satellites

The website is running daily 11 satellites every hour from 9 AM to 7 PM. Players can join these satellites with Rs. 100 as entry fee. Every tournament will consist of 40 players and top 8 finishers from each tournament will win their way to play the Daily Qualifier.

Turbo Satellites

Players can participate in turbo satellites with Rs. 30 buy-in which is running every 30 minutes throughout the day (from 9:15 AM to 7:15 PM). Every tournament will consist of 60 players who will compete against each other to be among the Top 3 players who will get tickets to Daily Qualifier.

In Stage 2, satellite winners will play Daily Qualifier tournament which happens at 9:30 PM every day. Top 2 finishers will get the ticket to IRC Main Event. Direct entry option is also available and players can register themselves for the Daily Qualifier with the entry fee of Rs. 2500.

The website is providing 2 tickets to IRC Main event on weekdays and 3 tickets on weekends.

"This is really exciting", said Nityanand Sharma, an avid rummy player from Bangalore, "Indian Rummy Challenge is a unique event where we get a chance to showcase what we can do. This is one of the best platforms to prove our talent and earn recognition as well as huge cash rewards."

Last year, Mr. Vikesh Divakaran 'vikkyking' bagged the Champion's crown and took home the 1st Prize worth Rs. 10,00,000 at Indian Rummy Challenge Main Event 2017. Divakaran entered the tournament by participating in the satellites hosted by Adda52 Rummy. Mr. Rajasekhara Reddy 'virat447' reached the 2nd position and won Rs. 5,00,000.

Rummy is a game of skills as per the ruling of Supreme Court of India. The passion for rummy games is growing in India which is evident by the increasing number of participation by Indian players in online and offline rummy events.

This is a brilliant chance for rummy enthusiasts across the nation to prove their talent by playing their favorite game live at one of the biggest cruise ships in Goa and win amazing cash rewards.

Since its inception, Adda52 Rummy is consistently striving to achieve the goal of taking the rummy scenario in India to the next level. The website is committed to providing 'best-in-class' gaming experience to rummy fans with maximum opportunities to win big money. It is needless to mention that due to its excellent features and innovative promotions, Adda52 Rummy is considered as one of the best online rummy websites in India.

For more information about Indian Rummy Challenge Tournament, visit https://www.adda52rummy.com/Indian-Rummy-Challenge

Terms and Conditions for the Indian Rummy Challenge Main Event Satellites:

Every individual player is eligible to get only one ticket to the IRC Main Event IRC satellite promotion will be overridden by the terms and conditions of Adda52 Rummy's terms and conditions. The dates of the satellites and the final event are subject to change without prior notice. Decision of the management is final and binding in case of any disputes related to distribution of tickets. Players who qualify through satellite promotions to IRC Main Event give their consent that their real name, alias name, images, quotes and amount won can be used for online and offline promotions of all properties of Adda52 Rummy.

Media Contact:

Binand Sethumadhavan

[email protected]

+91-9987670567

Chief Operating Officer

Gaussian Networks Pvt Ltd



SOURCE Gaussian Networks Pvt. Ltd
NEW DELHI, June 4, 2018 /PRNewswire/ --

- Offering a family of four unlimited teleconsultation for only Rs.250/month

- vHealth is offered in India by Aetna's fully owned subsidiary, Indian Health Organisation

Aetna International (http://www.aetnainternational.com ), one of the world's largest health benefits businesses and a Fortune 100 company, introduces vHealth by Aetna with a monthly subscription option. Available at Rs. 250 per month, this new primary care service will entitle a family of four to unlimited consultations with specially trained doctors.

vHealth by Aetna offers advice and treatment for illnesses, management of chronic diseases, advice on alternative treatment options and interpretation of diagnostic reports. Consultations can be booked through a new mobile app and subscribers can choose to engage with in-house primary care doctors by video or telephone call. During their consultation, people can share medical records and pictures with doctors and store consultation details, medical reports and prescriptions for easy reference. With this monthly package, vHealth will enable people beyond metro cities, in tier-II and tier-III cities to access high-quality, affordable and personalized healthcare through teleconsultation.

India's disease burden is increasing and people suffer from self-medication, self-diagnosis and excessive use of antibiotics. By improving access to primary care, vHealth by Aetna encourages a more positive approach to health, by supporting all the healthcare needs of the family. Doctors spend quality time with patients, listening to their concerns, helping with diagnosis & treatment, and where appropriate, directing them to the right specialist. By partnering with patients throughout the treatment journey, vHealth can improve the family's health and help them to live healthier lives.

vHealth by Aetna is delivered through full time, in-house doctors who are specially trained in telemedicine. Doctors follow robust scientific clinical protocols which helps them to identify the root cause of a problem. Consultations are closely monitored to ensure clinical quality. As a result, after 24,000 consultations, vHealth by Aetna has been able to reduce physical consultations by 70%. Patients have rated the consultations 4.5 out of 5 and the service has a Net Promoter score of +47.

Speaking about the launch of the new product, Mr Manasije Mishra, Managing Director, Indian Health Organisation & Aetna India said, "vHealth by Aetna has been able to deliver high-quality care. Customers have appreciated the time spent by our doctors on listening to all the concerns, the proactive follow ups and regular guidance. I am delighted that we are now able to make world-class primary healthcare available everywhere in India."

About Aetna International

Aetna International is committed to helping create a stronger, healthier global community by delivering comprehensive health care benefits and population health solutions worldwide. One of the largest providers of international health benefits and services, Aetna International serves more than 800,000 members worldwide, including expatriates, local nationals, and business travellers. Its global benefits include medical, dental, vision and emergency assistance and, in some regions, life and disability. Aetna International also offers customised technological and health management solutions for healthcare systems, government entities, and large employers to improve people's health, enhance the quality of care and contain costs. For more information, see http://www.aetnainternational.com

About Aetna

Aetna is one of the leading diversified health care benefits companies in the U.S., serving an estimated 46.7 million people with information and resources to help them make better-informed decisions about their health care. Aetna offers a broad range of traditional, voluntary and consumer-directed health insurance products and related services, including medical, pharmacy, dental, behavioral health, group life and disability plans, and medical management capabilities, Medicaid health care management services, workers' compensation administrative services and health information technology products and services. Aetna's customers include employer groups, individuals, college students, part-time and hourly workers, health plans, health care providers, governmental units, government-sponsored plans, labor groups, and expatriates. For more information, see http://www.aetna.com/ and learn about how Aetna is helping to build a healthier world. @AetnaNews

About Indian Health Organisation

Indian Health Organisation is one of India's leading healthcare benefits company. IHO delivers vHealth by Aetna primary care services by joining all the dots to provide its customers a convenient, affordable and quality access to outpatient services. With the focus on clinical excellence, digital technology and a wide network of healthcare partners, IHO's telemedicine service, vHealth by Aetna provides teleconsultation and co-ordinate the delivery of care to people's homes (blood tests, medicines, home healthcare) with its health partner network spread across 38cities. Indian Health Organisation is a subsidiary of Aetna INC, a Fortune 100 company headquartered in the United States. For more information, see http://www.iho.in .

Media Contact:

Prachi Bhagra

[email protected]

+91-9899496771

Indian Health Organisation by Aetna



SOURCE Indian Health Organisation Pvt Ltd
HYDERABAD, India, June 4, 2018 /PRNewswire/ --

It's one of 17 prestigious universities around the world chosen to support academic research, technical development and innovation in blockchain and cryptocurrency

International Institute of Information Technology (IIIT-Hyderabad) is one of two from India to be chosen by American payment technology company Ripple for its University Blockchain Research Initiative. The American technology company is partnering with 17 prestigious universities around the world to help shape the workforce of the future.

(Logo: http://mma.prnewswire.com/media/600789/IIIT_Hyderabad_Logo.jpg )



Ripple's University Blockchain Research Initiative (UBRI) is a program comprised of collaborative partnerships with leading universities globally to support academic research, technical development and innovation in blockchain, cryptocurrency and digital payments.

UBRI is launching with 17 initial partners. In addition to IIIT-Hyderabad, the list includes:

Australian National University

Delft University of Technology ( Netherlands )

) Fundacao GetulioVargas ( Brazil )

) Haas School of Business, Berkeley

of Business, Berkeley IIT Bombay

Korea University

McCombs School of Business, UT- Austin

of Business, UT- Massachusetts Institute of Technology ( MIT )

) Princeton

University College, London

University of Luxembourg

University of Nicosia ( Cyprus )

( ) University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

University of Oregon

University of Pennsylvania

University of Waterloo

Each university will determine its own research topics and areas of focus. In addition to providing a multi-year, multi-million dollar commitment, Ripple will collaborate with universities by providing subject matter expertise and technical resources, as needed.

The initial launch partners represent a broad cross section of geographies and markets, as well as a rich blend of academic disciplines. In addition, Ripple is committed to working with campus initiatives to increase diversity in blockchain, cryptocurrency, FinTech and related fields.

Speaking on this partnership, Prof P J Narayanan, Director, IIIT-Hyderabad said, "It's gratifying to see IIIT-H's research work being recognized through the UBRI, alongside some of the best universities in the world. We have always valued theoretical and applied research as well as industry connect from the very beginning. This program enables both and we are looking forward to contributing to the blockchain area."

As globalization increases, so does the demand for technological solutions and talent to solve the world's hardest financial problems. A report from 2017 showed that global investment in FinTech companies grew by 11 percent. In addition, 4,500 job openings with the terms 'blockchain', 'bitcoin' or 'cryptocurrency' in the title were posted on LinkedIn this year. That's an increase of 151% over the total LinkedIn postings mentioning those terms in 2017.

"Academia has traditionally been a critical driver of technical innovation. The University Blockchain Research Initiative is an acknowledgment of the vital importance of the unique role universities will play in advancing our understanding and application of cryptography and blockchain technology. It also speaks to the reality that university graduates will fuel a continually evolving and maturing financial marketplace and workforce," said Eric van Miltenburg, SVP of Global Operations at Ripple. "Much of the enthusiasm and activity to date around blockchain is disconnected from real use cases that result in clear benefits to businesses or civil society. While Ripple won't dictate research parameters, we are excited to play a role in helping to support faculty and student-led projects that explore increasingly useful applications of blockchain and cryptocurrencies."

About IIIT-Hyderabad:

The International Institute of Information Technology, Hyderabad (IIIT-H) is an autonomous research university founded in 1998 that focuses on the core areas of Information Technology, such as Computer Science, Electronics and Communications, and their applications in other domains through inter-disciplinary research with great social impact. Some of its research domains include Visual Information Technologies, Human Language Technologies, Data Engineering, VLSI and Embedded Systems, Computer Architecture, Wireless Communications, Algorithms and Information Security, Robotics, Building Science, Earthquake Engineering, Computational Natural Sciences and Bioinformatics, IT in Agriculture and e-Governance.

Website: www.iiit.ac.in

Media Contact:

Sunory Dutt

[email protected]

+91-40-66531000

Head of Communications

International Institute of Information Technology-Hyderabad



SOURCE International Institute of Information Technology-Hyderabad
ABU DHABI, United Arab Emirates, June 4, 2018 /PRNewswire/ --

New development highlights Abu Dhabi's growing importance as region's event hub

The Abu Dhabi National Exhibitions Company (ADNEC) has revealed plans to develop its Hall 4, one of the spaces being offered for conferences and similar events. The move is aimed at addressing the growing demand for its award-winning venue, the Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre, which hosts regional and global conferences and corporate events. The planned development will ensure a better experience for existing and potential conferences and meetings clients as well as attending delegates. Hall 4, strategically located adjacent to the multi-purpose Atrium, will be divided into three fully equipped event spaces, each capable of hosting 1,000 delegates. Work on the project is expected to be completed this year in time for 2019, when the centre will host several global congresses, boosting Abu Dhabi's global position as preferred location for regional and international events.

Khalifa Al Qubaisi, Acting Chief Commercial Officer of ADNEC, said: "The newly developed meeting rooms, with their strategic locations will enable our conference clients to configure all aspects of their events in a logical and convenient manner. The new rooms are adjacent to ADNEC's existing conference suites, the Innovation Lab and the refurbished 76 Restaurant, making it apt for expansion and customization. This development is in response to increasing feedback from clients who now recognize Abu Dhabi as the event destination of choice in the Middle East. ADNEC has always strived to exceed customer expectations, and this new offering is testament to what the company stands for."

2019 will witness a series of high-profile congresses at the venue, including World Energy Congress, World Road Congress, World Congress of Endourology, The FIP World Congress of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, 8th Conference of the States Parties to the UN Convention Against Corruption and the Congress of the International Society of Paediatric Oncology Asia.

ADNEC has been the recipient of prestigious awards, including a four-star rating from the European Foundation for Quality Management and TUV-Innovation Management certification. Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre recently hosted the Joint International Conference on Medical Education 2018; the Ottawa Conference 2018; the Gulf Obesity Summit and Regional Congress 2018; and International Council of Nurses ICN Regional Congress and is all set to host the Congress of the International Society for Hemodialysis 2018.

For more information:



Orient Planet PR and Marketing Communications

Email: media@orientplanet.com



SOURCE The Abu Dhabi National Exhibitions Company (ADNEC)
He joins Safanad from Oxford Properties Group, Inc., the real estate investment arm of OMERS, one of Canada's largest pension plans, where he was most recently a Senior Managing Director of Investments.

At Oxford, he led over $10bn of real estate transactions since joining the firm in 2005, including the prestigious Hudson Yards development in partnership with New York's The Related Companies. Before Oxford, he held senior positions at Deutsche Bank and the Toronto Dominion Bank.

Kamal Bahamdan, CEO of Safanad, commented: "We are delighted to welcome Andrew to Safanad. He brings a powerful combination of leadership experience in the principal investment industry and a strong track record in real estate acquisition and asset management. Andrew is an important appointment for us as we seek to significantly grow our real estate platform and leadership team in New York."

Andrew Trickett commented: "Safanad has been a pioneer in the principal investment sector since 2009, with their disciplined approach and partnership model delivering impressive results. The combination of Safanad's existing portfolio, real estate growth plans, significant LP commitments, and their long-term investment perspective makes this a very exciting and active time to be joining the business."

Safanad was established in 2009 to develop and actively manage attractive value creation opportunities across sectors underpinned by long-term trends and market displacements. Safanad deploys its capital as a lead investor alongside its international base of private and institutional investors.

To date, Safanad has successfully executed ~$10 billion of transaction value in the U.S. and Europe across sectors including healthcare, education, student housing, suburban offices, automotive supply chain, and data centers.

About Safanad

Safanad is a global principal investment firm founded in 2009 with its main presence in New York and offices in London, Washington D.C., and Dubai. The firm creates sustainable value by pursuing opportunities underpinned by long-term social and economic insights and clear public sector policies and plans.

As a principal investor, Safanad utilizes its capital, expertise and exceptional management partners to preserve and grow wealth for the firm and its Asian, GCC and U.S. private and institutional clients.

For more information, visit www.safanad.com

Contact:

Terry Ouwerkerk Maxwell

Safanad

T +971 4 312 9700

tmaxwell@safanad.com

Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/700275/Trickett_Andrew_8x10_Safanad_4_June_18.jpg

Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/393371/Safanad_Logo.jpg

Related Links

http://www.safanad.com



SOURCE Safanad
"Firefly is pleased to enter into an LSA with SSTL to provide up to six Alpha launches from 2020 through 2022," said Firefly CEO Dr. Tom Markusic. "The Alpha launch vehicle allows for deployment of SSTL satellites as a primary payload to their preferred orbit, rather than flying as a secondary payload on a larger launch vehicle."

Sarah Parker, SSTL Managing Director, said, "SSTL is delighted to be the first Firefly Aerospace customer to sign an LSA. Our new partnership with Firefly assures SSTL customers convenient, dependable access to space, with certainty of launch opportunities. Starting with CARBONITE-4 in early 2020, we look forward to launching many successful missions together."

Dr. Max Polyakov, Firefly Co-founder, added that, "The Firefly Alpha program is on schedule for our first launch in the third quarter of 2019. Our mass production processes will enable eight Alpha flights in 2020 and eighteen flights in 2021. This launch cadence will allow Firefly to support missions from SSTL and the many other customers that have expressed interest in the Alpha launch vehicle. Firefly is excited to join with SSTL in opening space to a new generation of entrepreneurs."

ABOUT FIREFLY AEROSPACE

Firefly is developing a family of launch vehicles to provide industry-leading affordability, convenience and reliability for dedicated light to medium lift launches. Firefly's Alpha and Beta vehicles utilize common technologies, manufacturing infrastructure and launch capabilities, providing LEO launch solutions for up to one and four metric tons of payload respectively. Alpha and Beta will provide the space industry with access to frequent launches at the lowest cost/kg, enabling ambitious commercial and exploration missions from LEO to the Moon. Headquartered in Cedar Park, TX, Firefly has additional presence in Washington, D.C., Dnipro, Ukraine and Tokyo, Japan. Firefly is financed by Noosphere Ventures of Menlo Park, CA.

Contact

Eric Salwan

512-277-6959

press@fireflyspace.com

ABOUT SSTL

Surrey Satellite Technology Limited (SSTL) is the world's leading small satellite company, delivering operational space missions for a range of applications including Earth observation, science, communications, navigation, in-orbit servicing and beyond Earth infrastructure. SSTL designs, manufactures and operates high performance satellites and ground systems for a fraction of the price normally associated with space missions, and employs 500 staff working on turnkey satellite platforms, space-proven satellite avionics, optical instruments and new mission concepts.

Since 1981, SSTL has built and launched more than 50 satellites for 20 international customers, as well as providing training and development programmes, consultancy services, and mission studies for ESA, NASA, international governments and commercial customers. Our innovative approach is changing the economics of space.

Headquartered in Guildford, UK, SSTL is part of Airbus.

www.sstl.co.uk

Photo- https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/699853/Firefly_Aerospace_SSTL.jpg

Logo- https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/699871/Firefly_Aerospace_Logo.jpg

Related Links

http://fireflyspace.com/



SOURCE Firefly Aerospace, Inc.
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
HazardHub

HazardHub, the nations fastest growing supplier of geospatial risk data, has announced the release of Sinkhole Susceptibility, the nations first database that scores every address in the United States by the risk that the ground beneath them contains formations that lead to the ground collapsing upon itself - aka Sinkholes.

Currently, sinkhole tools are limited to Distance to Known Sinkholes calculations, like the one currently available from HazardHub. While effective, they only tell part of the story as new sinkholes will often appear far from where an existing sinkhole is located. For example, a sinkhole at the Villages, FL was more than 1.5 miles away from the nearest known sinkhole. Sinkhole Susceptibility shows that property as a D and highly susceptible to sinkholes. Another example is the National Corvette Museum in Bowling Green, Kentucky, infamously known for a sinkhole that swallowed seven Corvettes on display, which shows an F for Sinkhole Susceptibility.

The geologic formations that cause sinkholes occur in 40 of the 50 States, with higher concentration of sinkhole risk in Florida, Tennessee, Kentucky and Missouri. Hazardhubs Sinkhole Susceptibility is a national database that scores every property in the United States.

According to Joe Litchfield, Chief Data Officer at HazardHub, Sinkhole Susceptibility fills a need in the risk community by providing an unbiased look at the substrates that cause sinkholes to form. When we tested Sinkhole Susceptibility against a database of known sinkholes in the State of Florida, we found that more than 99% of know sinkholes were in our highest risk zones. At HazardHub, weve digested and modeled an incredible amount of data to provide information that can help consumers, businesses and insurers to make better and more informed decisions.

For one client, Sinkhole Susceptibility identified that more than 10% of their Florida book of business was concentrated in very high zones yet more than 10 miles from known sinkhole locations - a surprising revelation to their underwriters and actuaries.

Bob Frady, CEO of HazardHub, says, Our goal at HazardHub is to continually push the boundaries of hazard risk data that is available and easily accessible to consumers, businesses and insurers. With Sinkhole Susceptibility, were providing a new ingredient that will help drive more knowledge about the risks of a specific property. For existing HazardHub clients, this data is absolutely free to access as part of our overall solution. While nobody is excited to find out that their property is in a high risk zone, we believe that knowledge is power that can lead to more protection for a property. 

To learn more about Sinkhole Susceptibility, contact us today!

About HazardHub

Air. Fire. Water. Earth. Man-Made. HazardHub is the only third-generation provider of property-level hazard risk databases spanning the most dangerous perils in the continental United States. HazardHub translates huge amounts of geospatial digital data into easy to understand answers, providing easy to comprehend risk scorecards that are used to make real world decisions. Our team of scientists provide comprehensive, and innovative, national coverage for risks that destroy and damage property.
Interaction with the digital environment has been restricted to a mouse and keyboard for over 60 years. With the launch of KAI, all of this changes.

KAI, developed by Vicara, just launched on the crowd funding site Indiegogo. Starting from $129 for early bird special, the KAI is a gesture-based wearable controller that enhances intuitive digital interaction.

http://www.getkai.co/preorder/

The KAI harnesses natural body language to provide a revolutionary digital interaction experience. It enables creative professionals and enthusiasts alike to seamlessly interact with their digital environment. Navigate your desktop, browse through the web, flick through photos or play games and do everything you do in a normal day  all with the wave of your hand or the flick of your finger.

Abhishek Satish, Co-Founder & Inventor at Vicara, explains: "Interaction with the digital environment has been restricted to a mouse and keyboard for over 60 years. With the rise of AR/VR as a new medium of interaction and the severe time constraints in the professional creative market space, the typical medium of interaction does not optimize the productivity of users. A gesture-based interaction device like the KAI can process the power of natural body language to interact with your digital world more intuitively than any product in the market today. We are super excited to share it with the Indiegogo community and have them help us nurture this unique technology."

Specifications:

The product is essentially a sensor-based wearable that uses a 9 axis IMU (Invensense) and invisible light sensors to sense the movement of your hand and fingers.

The data is relayed via a Bluetooth module to our proprietary computer app

The instructions for the hardware have been coded in Embedded C on the ARM Cortex M architecture.

The entire technology has been designed to fit on a board smaller than the size of your palm.

The body will be made of high grade Injection molded ABS enclosed in a premium replaceable soft touch silicone sleeve.

You can buy the KAI controller on http://www.getkai.co/preorder/ now; starting at $129 for the Super Early Bird pre-order. The KAI is designed in Singapore, assembled in Indonesia and manufactured in China.

The uniqueness of the KAI is dual fold. On the hardware side, the KAI has a unique inbuilt non-obtrusive finger tracking mechanism - That means KAI is currently the only device out there that can accurately track your fingers and your hand without cameras. On the software side, the KAI provides complete customization from within its application. This enables KAI to be compatible with ANY desktop app from the get go.

About Vicara:

Vicara.co is missioned to develop affordable human augmentation technologies. Our unique motto is to employ the technology of tomorrow to solve the limitations of humanity today. We envision to pioneer innovation in the development and advancement of hardware technology in India that rivals the ecosystems of USA and China. As we identify ourselves as a human augmentation company, we endeavor to research and develop more products which augment the capability of humans, like AR Visors, bio-prosthetics, enhanced intelligent wearable and in the long-term, exoskeletons.
Monica Eaton-Cardone, co-founder and COO of Chargebacks911, credits the potential of biometric technology to decrease criminal and friendly fraud. eCommerce merchants could benefit tremendously from biometrics technology. Not only does it have the potential to reduce both criminal fraud and friendly fraud, but it can also minimize false declines and ensure that valid orders are approved and processed in a timely manner.

Biometric validation continues to make headlines in the payments industry: as of April, major U.S. credit card companies dropped signature-based authentication requirements in favor of newer technologies.(1) Researchers predict that by 2020, all new smartphones, wearables and tablets will be equipped with one or more biometric tools,(2) and forecasts indicate global mobile biometric revenues will more than double from 2018 to 2022, soaring from $20.6 billion to $50.6 billion.(3) Chargebacks911, a leading dispute mitigation and loss prevention firm, believes biometrics can be a powerful weapon in the war against fraud. However, co-founder and Chief Operating Officer (COO) Monica Eaton-Cardone cautions that privacy and security issues must first be resolved, and she advocates for biometrics data to be accepted in eCommerce chargeback disputes.

Biometrics encompass multiple forms of authentication based on physical and behavioral characteristics, such as fingerprint scans, facial recognition, voiceprint matching, iris and retinal scans, and eyeball tracking. A study conducted by Mastercard and the University of Oxford found that 93% of consumers prefer biometrics over passwords for payment validation, and 92% of banks want to adopt biometric technology.(4) Mastercard also revealed that biometric authentication can reduce cart abandonment rates by up to 70% compared to other forms of verification, such as a one-time code sent via SMS.(4) Many consider biometrics superior to passwords because they are not as vulnerable to phishing and require no memorization; yet legal experts warn that databases containing biometric data could be compromisedcreating long-lasting and irreversible consequences.(1)

The payments industry is abuzz over the potential for biometrics to thwart fraudsters and drastically reduce fraud losses; yet we still have a long way to go before that potential is fully realized, asserted Eaton-Cardone. Though biometrics now come standard on new mobile devices, it could take years before merchants, payment processors and acquiring banks are able to update their systems to collect and process that data. Furthermore, some consumers may have privacy concerns and balk at having their image or fingerprints stored in a database, which could delay widespread adoption. And if biometrics databases are ever breached, the results could be catastrophic for consumersso liability issues and security risks must be addressed before biometrics-based authentication rolls out industry-wide.

Given that card-not-present (CNP) fraud is steadily rising while point-of-sale (POS) fraud has declined in recent yearswith CNP fraud 81% more likely to occur than POS fraud(5)Eaton-Cardone is disappointed that credit-card companies and banks continue to invest in POS biometric tools ahead of CNP ones. Visa and Mastercard both recently debuted new cards with built-in fingerprint scanners, which will further augment the security provided by EMV chips and tokenization.(1) But as yet, no major card company or bank has rolled out biometric tools specifically geared for CNP merchants, and there are no estimates as to the technologys potential financial impact on todays mounting CNP fraud losses.

eCommerce merchants could benefit tremendously from biometrics technology. Not only does it have the potential to reduce both criminal fraud and friendly fraud, but it can also minimize false declines and ensure that valid orders are approved and processed in a timely manner, said Eaton-Cardone. However, these benefits cannot be realized unless banks and card networks are willing to work with merchants. Rather than focusing solely on protecting consumers, developing POS tools and preventing criminal fraud, card networks should also leverage biometrics to help CNP retailers fight chargeback fraud. If biometric data shows that a customer placed and received an order, the card network should accept it as proof that the transaction is legitimate and subsequently place the burden of proof on the customer rather than the merchant.

While Eaton-Cardone remains optimistic about biometrics future possibilities, she counsels CNP merchants to proactively take steps now to guard against losses instead of waiting for biometric authentication to go mainstream. She advises retailers to:



Use address and IP verification on all orders to flag suspicious transactions.

Conduct compliance reviews to pinpoint and correct merchant errors.

Undertake efforts to identify and address the true source of chargebacks.

Engage in tactical representment to dispute likely cases of friendly fraud.

She also advises partnering with an experienced chargeback management specialistone that has access to the most current fraud-fighting tools and in-house expertise to help merchants maximize return on investment.

Chargebacks911 is dedicated to educating and supporting eCommerce merchants with services designed to increase profits, reduce chargebacks and combat fraud. To that end, Monica Eaton-Cardone and her team will be participating in a number of upcoming industry events, including the Subscription Summit in Denver, Affiliate Summit East in New York and Money20/20 USA in Las Vegas. For details on Chargebacks911s comprehensive risk management solutions, informative articles and other merchant resources, visit https://chargebacks911.com.

About Chargebacks911:

Chargebacks911, known as The Chargeback Company in Europe, safeguards over 2.4 billion online transactions every year, representing clients in 87 different countries. It is the first global company fully dedicated to mitigating chargeback risk and eliminating chargeback fraud, and the company has won the Customer Choice Award for Best Chargeback Management Solution at the CardNotPresent Awards for two years in succession. As industry-leading innovators, Chargebacks911 is credited with developing the most effective strategies for helping businesses maximize revenue and reduce loss in a variety of industries and sectors within the payments space.

Chargebacks911 provides comprehensive and highly scalable solutions for chargeback compliance, handling services and fraud strategy management. With unparalleled category experience and Intelligence Source Detection (ISD) technology, Chargebacks911 identifies the true source of chargebacks, optimizes revenue recovery opportunities, mediates disputes, safeguards reputations, monitors transactions 24/7 and helps proactively prevent future fraud. To learn more about Chargebacks911, visit http://www.chargebacks911.com.

1. Uria, Daniel. All 4 Major U.S. Credit Cards Ditch Signatures, With Eye on Biometrics; United Press International; April 30, 2018.

2. Cakebread, Caroline. Biometrics Like Face ID Are Coming to Your Smartphone Whether You Like It or Note; Business Insider; September 18, 2017.

3. Acuity Market Intelligence. The Global Biometrics and Mobility Report: The Convergence of Commerce and Privacy  Market Analysis and Forecasts 2016 to 2022; August 2017.

4. Mastercard. Biometric Identification Must Be Made Available for All Mastercard Users by April 2019; press release issued January 23, 2018.

5. Javelin Strategy & Research. Identity Fraud Hits All-Time High With 16.7 Million U.S. Victims in 2017, According to New Javelin Strategy & Research Study; press release issued February 6, 2018.
Savvy marketers have always known that rewards are a powerful way to thank and motivate customers.

Today, Rybbon announced that it has joined HubSpot as a Connect Certified Partner and participation in the Apps for Agency Services Program. HubSpot, a leading CRM, marketing, sales, and customer service platform, works closely with Connect Partners to provide more value to HubSpot users. Connect Partners are independent software vendors who have built an integration with HubSpot and passed certification.

Using gifts and rewards with surveys, research, and marketing campaigns improves results and builds brand loyalty, but it can be challenging to track and manage these programs. Rybbons integration with HubSpot makes it easy to send gifts and track rewards via email. This in turn makes it simple for marketers to build and run incentives-based programs without leaving the HubSpot platform.

Referral marketing, purchase promotions, customer surveys and holiday gifting are some common examples of programs that benefit from Rybbon gifting. HubSpot users can add Rybbons digital gift cards like Visa, Amazon, and Habitat for Humanity directly into HubSpot workflows, minimizing the effort to automate the gifting process. Users benefit from the ability to track redemptions and get 100 percent refunds on unclaimed gifts.

Savvy marketers have always known that rewards are a powerful way to thank and motivate customers, Rybbons CEO Jignesh Shah said. With the integration of Rybbons digital gifts into HubSpot, HubSpot customers and Agency Partners can easily and effectively manage a whole new set of marketing and sales programs from within the HubSpot platform.

Were excited to have Rybbon as a Connect Partner, said Brad Coffey, Chief Strategy Officer at HubSpot. This integration will make it even easier for our customers to improve the results of their surveys and campaigns, and for our partners to offer more value to their clients through rewards incentives.

HubSpots Connect Program is an ecosystem of valuable third-party integrations. Certified Partners comply with a set of requirements in addition to hitting set milestones for amount of installs and positive reviews from customers to receive the HubSpot stamp of approval.

In addition to being a HubSpot Connect Certified Partner, Rybbon is thrilled to also be accepted into its exclusive Apps for Agency Services Program. Through this program, Platinum+ Agency Connect Partners get full access to Rybbon for free for use with their own programs. Rybbon is also offering Agency partners training on how to integrate the power of gifting into a variety of tactics, up and down the funnel. By working with Rybbon, agencies can provide more value to clients by offering a new set of incentives-based marketing tactics and programs.

Learn how Rybbon can elevate your agencys marketing service offerings.

About Rybbon

Rybbon puts the power of gifting to work for marketers and market researchers through its extensive catalog of e-gifts from top brands like Amazon.com and Panera. Rybbon also offers rewards suitable for international rewards programs such as virtual Visa and MasterCard rewards that work in over 150 countries. Rybbon integrates with top marketing platforms like HubSpot, Marketo, SurveyMonkey, and Qualtrics to make gifting easy and automatic.

Learn more about Rybbon at http://www.rybbon.net.

About HubSpot

HubSpot is a leading CRM, marketing, sales, and customer service platform. Since 2006, HubSpot has been on a mission to make the world more inbound. Today, over 41,500 total customers in more than 90 countries use HubSpots award-winning software, services, and support to transform the way they attract, engage, and delight customers. Comprised of Marketing Hub, Sales Hub, Service Hub, and a powerful free CRM, HubSpot gives companies the tools they need to manage the customer experience from awareness to advocacy.

HubSpot has been named a top place to work by Glassdoor, Fortune, The Boston Globe, and The Boston Business Journal. The company is headquartered in Cambridge, MA with offices in Dublin, Ireland (EMEA HQ); Singapore (APAC HQ); Bogota, Colombia (LatAm HQ); Sydney, Australia; Tokyo, Japan; Berlin, Germany; and Portsmouth, NH.

Learn more at http://www.hubspot.com.
Genians, the industry leader of innovative Network Access Control (NAC) solutions, announced today it will be attending Infosecurity Europe 2018 in London from June 5 through 7. As the largest and most comprehensive security conference on the annual information security calendar in Europe, this event brings together ~20,000 attendees and over 400 exhibitors to showcase and discuss the latest infosec trends, products, and solutions.

Genians, an established provider in the critical area of NAC technology, has a track record of over 13 years of securing larger enterprise, government, financial services, healthcare, the military, and institutional networks. As Genians President Kyeyeon Kim points out: Our company has succeeded in supporting major customers in the sectors where maintaining world-class security compliance levels are a non-negotiable requirement. Genians meets such stringent compliance demands through the application of its highly advanced device platform intelligence, dynamic policy management, and multi-layered access control capabilities. These capabilities will be of particular importance to enterprises of all sizes concerned with achieving compliance with the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR).

Genians provides enterprises with the foundational security components needed to establish GDPR compliance. It does so, first and foremost, by ensuring that data storage network infrastructures can be accessed only by those users and devices that have been given explicit access permissions. Such controls are increasingly difficult to ensure in todays age of increasingly complex, multi-cloud, hybrid network environments. Providing GDPR-level compliance is further complicated by the rapidly growing world of IoT devices on enterprise networks. Genians addresses these challenges by providing a comprehensive solution set for ensuring full visibility into all network access vectors, as well as full operational management controls and highly-granular access-logging and reporting capabilities.

Genians GDPR compliance support is not only comprehensive from a features perspective; it is highly flexible in terms of deployment options:



Device Platform Intelligence: Under GDPR, the importance of network device visibility is paramount. Genians provides the device intelligence needed to go beyond mere device fingerprinting. It provides detailed technical and business contextual information for all IP-enabled devices holistically. This includes everything from when a device will be going end-of-life to its specific security profile and business functions served.

Cloud-Managed NAC: Genians enterprise-grade NAC can be delivered through the Cloud. Major IT security and operational features are all included in a single cloud footprint. Simply subscribe to take advantage of the following critical access control features:

 Network Surveillance

 Network Access Control

 Mobile, BYOD, Guest Management

 IP Address Management

 Switch Port Management

 WLAN Security

 Endpoint Security

 IT Security Automation

Genian NAC is also available for on-premises deployment. With Genians you can choose the delivery option that best meets your needs.

Ready for CSPs: Great news for Cloud Solution Providers (CSPs)! With Genians CSP offerings, you can maximize the benefits of NAC for your hosting customers. This highly convenient packaged offering not only provides our full set of features in NAC-as-a-Service format, but also the convenience of automated maintenance, billing, customization, and integration services.

Please stop by Genians booth #L45 and experience Genians NAC for your particular business size and needs. Not planning to attend Infosec Europe 2018? Visit our website anytime to get started with free trials.

ABOUT GENIANS:

Genians (KOSDAQ: 263860) reimagines Network Access Control (NAC) for the IoT era. Genians helps maintain full visibility and control of all network assets and ensures they are operating at the highest level of security and compliance via on-premise or cloud-based deployment. Genians secures millions of various endpoints in organizations of all sizes and industries, including global Fortune 500 companies, the government, the military, energy, finance, healthcare, education, and more. Genians keeps working to build a better security culture in the connected world by teaming up with community and industry leaders around the world.

https://www.genians.com/
Stertil-Koni Honors the 2018 Aspire Award Winners We are honored to receive this award. It really confirms our hard work is paying off.

Heavy duty vehicle lift leader Stertil-Koni today announced that six distributors in its North American network have been recognized as Aspire Program awardees based on their 2017 sales growth.

The coveted Aspire Program, now entering its third year, salutes Stertil-Koni distributors who have achieved marked incremental sales gains on a year-over-year basis, thereby placing them in a new, heightened level of performance.

Recipients were recognized at Stertil-Konis recent 22nd Annual Distributor Meeting  and the reactions show just how excited the honorees were.

One of those accepting the award, Chris Bussey, regional sales manager with Reeder Distributors, Inc., noted: It is gratifying to be recognized by Stertil-Koni for the hard work that Reeder Distributors has put forth over the past few years to get to the point where we are today. It has been a great partnership between Reeder and Stertil-Koni and we greatly appreciate the opportunity to grow alongside them.

Planning and goal-setting has been a big part of the collective success. Bussey added, Reeder Distributors has taken a deliberate and focused approach toward the heavy duty market within the Texas and Louisiana region. We, together with Stertil-Koni USA, developed a team to target this market.

Another Aspire Program Award recipient, Kayla Fay, president of Northwest Lifts, echoed the sentiment when she said, We are honored to receive this award. It really confirms our hard work is paying off.

In all, six independent Stertil-Koni exclusive distributors received the Aspire Program Award. These were:

1. Midwest Equipment Specialists  headquartered in McFarland, WI

2. Northwest Lift & Equipment  headquartered in Hillsboro, OR

3. Reeder Distributors Inc.  headquartered in Fort Worth, TX

4. USA Lifts  headquartered in Bloomington, IL

5. Southwest Lift & Equipment  headquartered in San Bernardino, CA

6. Vendor Network  headquartered in Bronxville, NY

In making the announcement, Stertil-Koni President, Dr. Jean DellAmore noted, Stertil-Koni distributors are a highly trained, focused and an extremely service-oriented group. It is my distinct pleasure to honor those who have had an outstanding year of growth. I also want to thank all of our distributors for their contributions in 2017. Together, they truly provide our expanding customer base with what we believe is the broadest range of high quality, high performance heavy duty vehicle lifting systems in the industry  all combined with exceptional customer service.

In conclusion, Dr. DellAmore added, through the years, our partnership with our distributors has only grown stronger and has helped to solidify our leadership position in the industry. We have the very best heavy duty vehicle lift distributors in North America each of whom we are proud to say is exclusive to Stertil-Koni in our sector.

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.
multistate probate law firm, Texas, California For this reason, we are seeing more and more inquiries on probate issues that are multi-state, as for example, when an individual owns property in both California and Texas.

Burdette & Rice, one of the leading probate law firms in Texas, is proud to announce that attorneys Sarah Toraason and Mark Caldwell will be giving a presentation in San Diego, California, on multi-state probate issues. Multi-state probate issues occur when, for example, property in an estate exists in more than one state and becomes subject to one, or more, laws in two, or more, states due to complex probate issues.

Americans move around the country today like never before," explained Elliott Burdette, Managing Partner of Probate Litigation at Burdette & Rice. For this reason, we are seeing more and more inquiries on probate issues that are multi-state, as for example, when an individual owns property in both California and Texas. San Diego attorneys in June would be well served by attending the presentation by attorneys Toraason and Caldwell."

To learn more about the event in San Diego, visit https://goo.gl/U5HKzq. The program aims to help attorneys better understand Texas and California multi-state probate, trust and guardianship cases. This program will discuss the frequently encountered legal issues and factual circumstances involved as well as routine administrative and disputed matters. Participants will learn some of the applicable law applying to these cases including relevant US Supreme Court case law, case law of various states, and law found in treatises and restatements. It will be held on June 7, 2018, from 12 - 1 pm at the SDCBA Conference Center at 401 West A Street, Suite 120, San Diego, California. A webcast version will also be available.

Those unable to attend can find a good online primer to probate issues at http://www.dallasprobateattorneys.com/probate/. Anyone who may be facing a complex probate issue in Texas that involves other states is urged to reach out for a confidential consultation with an attorney at Burdette and Rice by visiting the website and clicking on the "consultation" button in red at the top right of every page. Probate issues are complex enough when only one state is involved; multistate probate requires even more expertise.

To learn more about Sarah Toraason or Mark Caldwell, visit the Burdette and Rice website and click on the "team" icon. Individual attorney pages can thus be found for either attorney, summarizing their experience, writings, and other aspects of their legal careers. It should be noted, however, that there is simply no substitute for a face-to-face or at least telephone consultation with an attorney. No two probate cases are alike either in terms of the facts or the law.

ABOUT BURDETTE & RICE, PLLC

Burdette & Rice, PLLC is a top Dallas probate law firm, with lawyers dedicated to listening to their clients, being fully present to them, and advocating their clients positions in the simplest and most persuasive way possible. The law firm employs some of the top probate and estate lawyers in Dallas, Texas. Clients come to Burdette & Rice to contest a will in Texas, work on complex inheritance litigation and disputes, and to litigate disputes over powers of attorney, guardianship and trustee issues all based on Texas law.

Burdette & Rice, PLLC

Media Relations

http://www.dallasprobateattorneys.com/

972-991-7700
Dr. Eric Rivera His addition to the staff boosts Riccobene Associates ability to provide the latest in endodontistry treatments and technology.

Riccobene Associates Family Dentistry is pleased to announce the appointment of Dr. Eric Rivera to its staff. Dr. Rivera specializes in endodontics and is currently providing services at Cary Family and Specialty Dental Office on NW Maynard Road in Cary, one of 16 locations that are part of Riccobene Associates network in the Research Triangle region.

Dr. Rivera has had a distinguished career in both academia and as a practicing dentist, Michael Riccobene, founder of the company, said. His addition to the staff boosts Riccobene Associates ability to provide the latest in endodontistry treatments and technology.

Prior to joining the company, Dr. Rivera served on the faculty at University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill School of Dentistry. He was Department Chair of Endodontics and also held the Jacob B. Freedland Distinguished Associate Professor, a tenured position. He is a Diplomate of the American Board of Endodontics, a title awarded to specialists who achieve and maintain the highest level of knowledge and technical skill.

Dr. Rivera graduated with honors from UNC at Chapel Hill School of Dentistry and subsequently served as General Practice Resident at Charlotte Memorial Hospital. He practiced general dentistry before completing his specialty training and receiving a Masters Degree from UNC School of Dentistry Endodontics program.

Dr. Rivera is widely published and reviewed research articles as well as presented findings at conferences in over 15 countries. Together with Dr. Richard Walton, he is the co-creator of the Classification System for Cracks and Fractures of Teeth. The system is currently being utilized by the American Association of Endodontists (AAE) and general dentists across the United States to diagnose and more accurately treat fractured teeth.

Throughout his career, Dr. Rivera has mentored many future dentists and endodontic residents, many of whom are now private practitioners serving the citizens of North Carolina and other states. While teaching, Dr. Rivera continued to actively treat patients at UNC dental faculty practice and held Veterans Administration privileges, which allowed him to facilitate care for patients with complex and diverse health issues and special needs. In addition, Dr. Rivera served as a team dentist for all UNC Chapel Hill student athletes.

The addition of Dr. Rivera to Riccobene Associates is exemplary of the company objective: Changing Lives, One Smile at a Time.

BrushAndFloss.com
We are excited to bring our thoughtful and sensible test preparation approach to families in the New York-area. The college and high school admissions and standardized testing process can be stressful and confusing," said Charlie O'Hearn, President and Founder, Summit Educational Group.

Summit Educational Group, a premier educational test prep and tutoring company announced the opening of its new Westchester office at 611 West Hartsdale Avenue, White Plains, NY. The new location will help Summit to accommodate rapid growth in test prep and tutoring services in NY in the commercial hub of Westchester.

We are excited to bring our thoughtful and sensible test preparation approach to families in the New York-area. The college and high school admissions and standardized testing process can be stressful and confusing. By creating a fully customized testing plan early in the process, we can help alleviate that stress, said Charlie OHearn, President and Founder, Summit Educational Group. We have always counseled students and parents to maintain perspective and to craft an individualized testing plan.

Summit has a long-established base of New York clients. Over 80% of families are referred by their friends, school counselors, private consultants, learning specialists, and others. We love Summit and will continue recommending to friends, said Doris Freedman of North Salem.

By focusing on the uniqueness and wellbeing of each individual student, Summit helps students reach their full academic potential for high school and college admissions. Summit was amazingly organized, with wonderful access to tutors who struck just the right note between being serious and being engaging with our son, said Gretchen Menzies of Bedford Corners. We loved being able to access practice tests, and between the office and the tutors, were give the perfect amount of personal attention. Free proctored practice tests will be offered at Summits new White Plains location as well, so families and students can breathe a sigh of relief.

Another key facet of Summits move into Westchester will be expanding partnerships with local Educational Consultants and Guidance Counselors from public and private schools. While we pride ourselves on providing exceptional test preparation and tutoring, we also strive to be a trusted resource for counselors and families navigating this process, said OHearn.

Summit also delivers informational talks on the testing process to students, parents, and faculty at some of the most competitive schools in the Northeast. Not only was [Summits] presentation hugely informative and genuinely interesting, it was delivered with humor and humanity. It is clear that the team from Summit are educators who care deeply about students, families and good process, said Jeff Bates, Director of College Counseling, Rye Country Day School. I would highly recommend that you consider Summit if you are looking for a dynamic and engaging way to present the challenging topic of standardized testing.

About Summit Educational Group: For 30 years, Summit Educational Group has been preparing students to maximize their scores on standardized tests. From our customized One-on-One, In-Home Tutoring service, to our school programs and course materials, we help students prepare for the SAT, ACT, PSAT, PreACT, SAT Subject Tests, SSAT, ISEE, and even academic subjects. Our proven approach centers on both skill-building and test-taking strategies to help students reach their full potential. We are dedicated to helping educators and families navigate the changingand oftentimes confusingstandardized testing landscape. For more information please visit us online at http://www.mytutor.com.
Vietnam has seen strong development in co-working spaces in recent years, and the growth will be higher in future, according to CBRE Vietnam, a foreign property consulting company.

Vietnam has seen strong development in co-working spaces in recent years, and the growth will be higher in future.  Photo daubao.com



According to CBRE Vietnams press release on May 28, as of April 2018, there are 19 co-working spaces (CWSs) in Hanoi and 15 CWSs in HCM City, with more than 23 co-working operators, inclusive of two international CWS operators. According to CBRE Vietnams press release on May 28, as of April 2018, there are 19 co-working spaces (CWSs) in Hanoi and 15 CWSs in HCM City, with more than 23 co-working operators, inclusive of two international CWS operators.

The number of co-working spaces has grown by 62 per cent from 2017 and has recorded a 55 per cent growth rate per annum over the past five years.

By the end of this year, the number of co-working spaces is expected to increase to 45, with Hanoi and HCM City accounting for 56 per cent and 44 per cent of the market share, respectively.

Major local operators, including Toong, UP, Circo and Dreamplex, are all expanding quickly, with each accounting for a smaller share of the market compared to 2017. However, as the market is expanding in terms of venues and operators, smaller operators with only one venue are also opening CWSs rapidly, growing from 30 per cent last year and expecting 42 per cent of the market share by the end of 2018.

Meanwhile, major local operators still own, on an average, 12 per cent of the market share each, according to CBRE Vietnam.

Foreign entrants such as NakedHub from China and Hive from Hong Kong have started to make their mark on the market, with Hive planning to open another venue in the centre of HCM City by the end of this year and NakedHub launching two venues, one each in HCM City and Ha Noi, in the second quarter of 2018. Other international CWS operators are also looking forward to entering Vietnam in the next two years.

The CWS movement in Vietnam will continue to expand in future in terms of supply and niche offerings to their targeted tenants. Foreign CWS operators are aggressively trying to find space, especially in Grade A office buildings as well as upscale Grade B buildings in prime central business district (CBD) areas to establish both brands and market share within Vietnam.

Both HCM City and Hanoi are neck to neck in terms of demand because operators reported a general 75-80 per cent average occupancy rate in both the markets as of April.

High demand and the fact that the market is still relatively new compared to Asia Pacific countries will create opportunities for upcoming M&A (merger and acquisition) activities among local and foreign co-working spaces, CBRE Vietnam said.

Previously, CWSs in Vietnam were generally not located in prime buildings or areas as operators needed to keep rental costs at a manageable level. They were usually found in underutilised buildings in decentralised locations, especially the CBD-fringe. Both Toong and UP, major CWS operators in Vietnam, operate their centres from Grade B or lower-grade buildings.

In Hanoi, a few CWSs are located in Cau Giay district, an emerging office cluster, while CWSs in HCM City tend to be more spread out among CBD-fringe districts such as District 1, 2, 3, 4, Binh Thanh and Phu Nhuan.

The cost of renting a co-working space varies across cities. Co-working spaces in Hanoi and HCM City are currently priced lower than most other cities in the Asia Pacific, which reflects the general advantage of renting office spaces in Vietnam.

In HCM City, as some co-working space operators had expanded in the CBD area in the beginning of 2018, pricing for private offices reportedly increased from 30-50 per cent in venues in central districts.

According to a study by CBRE Research Vietnam in 2017, 91 per cent of people using a co-working space are millennials, i.e. under the age of 35. This proportion is a lot higher than the global average of 67 per cent and reflects Vietnams young demography, which offers a good source of demand for CWSs.

In 2017, CBRE Research Vietnam estimated that 54 per cent of users in Hanoi and HCM City were either the founders or employees of start-ups, while approximately 14 per cent were freelancers and self-employed. These start-ups included both local and overseas firms.

The study also found that more than 55 per cent of CWS users worked in the IT industry, with the remaining spread across various sectors, including tourism, finance-banking, education, marketing and real estate.
VKANSEE, the developer of the worlds first miniaturized optical fingerprint sensor, today announced a new generation of In-Screen Fingerprint Technology, where the Optics design is embedded directly inside the OLED display. The news comes as major players in the smartphone manufacturing space including Apple and Samsung have begun to eliminate buttons on new smartphone devices and last week IHS reported a 10X increase in sales projections to 100 Million units in 2019.

Vkansees proprietary Matrix Pinhole Image Sensing (MAPIS)  is integrated into the OLED panel, effectively turning the entire display into a high-resolution fingerprint lens and allowing simple installation of the CMOS sensor anywhere under the display screen. Unlike other sensors that are obscured by the high density of OLED driver circuits which yield low resolution when placed fully under the OLED display, the MAPIS integrated OLED solution captures high-resolution fingerprint details of 800 PPI to better recognize challenging cold and dry fingers. The sensor captures high-resolution and high contrast, exposing 3rd level fingerprint features to achieve excellent performance even under strong ambient light. For the user, a fingerprint icon lights up on the display, which could be located anywhere, to guide the user and disappears upon authentication.

The first company to integrate the new design is BOE Technology Group, which will lead MAPIS into OLED as more vendors consider implementation. The technology was showcased at Display Week 2018, the SID International Conference in Los Angeles, California. The event took place on May 20  May 25th and was located at the Los Angeles Convention Center.

Weve been focused on bringing our optical fingerprinting technology to users across the globe, stated Jason Chaikin, President of Vkansee. In partnership with BOE Technology Group, were confident this will happen in the near future. We believe integrating the MAPIS optics into the OLED screen will greatly change the fingerprint sensor industry. Our team will also be exploring the options with more display vendors, as the industry searches for an OLED solution.

For more information, please visit Vkansee.com.

About VKANSEE

Vkansee designs and manufactures optical fingerprint solutions for mobile phones, laptops, and other devices. Vkansee has pioneered miniaturized and integrated fingerprint sensing technology to a new age. The team is headquartered in Beijing, with offices in Shenzhen, New York and Seoul.

About BOE Technology Group

Founded in Beijing, April 1993, BOE Technology Group Co., Ltd. is a world leader in semiconductor display industry, as well as an IoT company providing intelligent interface products and professional services for information interaction and human health. BOEs three core businesses are Display and Sensor Devices, Smart Systems and Healthcare Services. BOEs display products are widely used in a broad spectrum of applications such as mobile phone, tablet, notebook, monitor, TV, vehicle display, digital information display, healthcare, finance and wearable devices.
The Zero Card

The Zero Card (https://www.thezerocard.com) , a healthcare marketplace delivering the best combination of cost, quality and convenience, today announced receipt of the Diamond Award for the Product/Program category at the inaugural World Health Care Congress. More than 350 nominees competed in the 2018 Health Value Awards to showcase improvement in health outcomes, reduced costs and the implementation innovative health industry practices. The Health Value Awards Ceremony honored 47 finalists and 11 top Diamond winners in 11 categories. The awards presentation was hosted by Ian Morrison, Futurist and Author of: Future Tense: The Business Realities of the Next Ten Years, The Second Curve, Health Care in the New Millennium: Vision, Values and Leadership.

A Problem Persists

According to the 2013 report The Anatomy of Health Care in the United States in the Journal of The American Medical Association, since 2000, price and NOT demand for services or aging of the population, has produced 91% of the cost increases in the US healthcare system today. And in the 2015 report "The Burden of Medical Debt: Results from the Kaiser Family Foundation/New York Times Medical Bills Survey," from the Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation, its reported that 92 percent of insured Americans report medical bills cause a major (44%) or minor (47%) impact on their families.

We are honored that the World Congress, the Validation Institute and the Health Rosetta Institute have recognized the Zero Card for our efforts. For so long, our health care climate has forced employers to resort to cost shifting in the form of higher premiums and larger deductibles. And employees have had no easy way to shop for care and are faced with more and more financial stress. At The Zero Card we have sought to re-imagine the health care supply chain to create lower costs for employers and improve the experience and maximize value for employees and their families, said James MIllaway, Co-founder and CEO, The Zero Card.

What The Zero Card Offers

The Zero Card is a supplemental employee benefit program that revolves around three pillars:

An Entirely New Approach

*Traditional networks have huge variation in both cost and quality while narrow-networks limit member choice.

*The Zero Card gives employers access to bundled case-rates that save 45% on average while simultaneously giving employees more choice.

Transparent Pricing

*Healthcare prices have been disconnected from market forces and as a result costs just keep going up and up.

*The Zero Card offers employers 100% transparent case-rates so they know exactly what you are paying and how much they can save.

A Brand New Benefit

*Historically employers have had to shift the burden to plan members in an attempt to control rising costs.

*When plan members use their Zero Card the employer saves significantly and employees get access to the care they need for $0.

Adds Millaway: The Zero Card empowers employers and their plan members by providing more choice and dramatically lowering costs. We are delighted that World Health Care Congress selected The Zero Card as the Diamond Winner in the Product/Program Provider category.

About The Zero Card

The Zero Card is a privately held company headquartered in Tulsa, Oklahoma. Founded in 2014, the company has set out to develop the easiest way to lower employer health plan costs while simultaneously improving member benefits. The company is built on three fundamental principles.cost, quality and convenience.

The Zero Card achieves its goals of lowering plan costs and improving benefits by creating a new marketplace for common procedures such as labs, diagnostic imaging and surgeries through direct contracting. Our direct contracts lock in fair market prices that benefits all three parties in employer-based healthcare delivery system: the employee/covered member, the employer and the provider. It is a frictionless program that an employer installs as a supplemental plan to the underlying health plan. The Zero Card is a voluntary program so covered members can still access care through traditional employer programs but when a member uses The Zero Card, the employer saves money and the member receives necessary care for $0.
Winners Announced for the 8th Annual Discovery Awards "...theres no longer much doubt that indie authors can be both commercially and creatively successful." -- Amy Edelman, IndieReader

On Saturday, 6/2, Robin Cutler, Director of IngramSpark, and Amy Edelman, founder of IndieReader, announced the winners of the 8th annual IndieReader Discovery Awards (IRDA) at BookCon, in New York City.

IndieReader, the essential consumer guide to self-published books and the people who write them, created the IRDAs to give indie authors access to people who can make a difference in their books success. Says Edelman, "With the rush by traditional publishers to sign them and their noteworthy bestselling status, theres no longer much doubt that indie authors can be both commercially and creatively successful. All that was left to do was create a credible vehicle by which to find them. Thats where the IRDAs come in."

While writing a great book is the first step, getting it in front of the right peoplebe they readers or agentsis also a critical part of making an indie book a success. To that end, judges on the IRDA panel include PR and publishing professionals, editors, book designers, professional reviewers and more. Winners will have their titles submitted to New York based literary agents Dystal, Goderich & Bourret for representation consideration.

Judging is based on the quality of writing and the originality of the story.

There was a first, second and third place winner for fiction and non-fiction categories, thirty-two category winners and two winners each for "Best 1st Book" and "Best Cover Design (for fiction and non-fiction).
Today, Halcyon Financial Technology, L.P. (HalcyonFT) is being honored as the Best Fintech Solutions Provider among the 2018 Finance Elite Awards presented by US Business News. The award recognizes the firms commitment to addressing the market gap in providing best-practice IT support to small to mid-size financial services firms.

Based in San Francisco, HalcyonFT provides technology to clients with an aggregate AUM of more than $180 billion, delivering customized outsourced IT solutions as well as consulting, infrastructure and application services. HalcyonFT helps financial services firms enhance employee productivity and improve collaboration by utilizing cloud services, converged compute, storage and advanced security infrastructure.

In the award announcement, US Business News noted, Operating in such a fast-paced and tightly regulated industry, HalcyonFT has to work hard to remain at the forefront of emerging developments and ensure that it is continually adapting to meet the needs of its clients. The magazine attributes HalcyonFTs success to a commitment to excellence and innovative approach.

Over the past eight years, HalcyonFT has grown and been profitable, because we believe that if you deliver a high-quality service there will always be a market for it, said HalcyonFTs Managing Partner Rodric OConnor. The wonderful thing about technology is that it is always changing and providing ways to make our clients more efficient. It is our job to identify those opportunities and communicate them to our clients.

Now in their second year, the Finance Elite Awards recognize the brightest and best financial minds that have navigated through the turbulent US economy. US Business News has published a supplement featuring the 2018 Finance Elite Award winners, available at https://www.usbusiness-news.com/2018-2018-finance-elite-awards

US Business News is the leading magazine for the dealmakers, game changers and decision makers in the U.S business market, with a subscription list of over 175,000 business and professional service providers. The magazines website, http://www.usbusiness-news.com, is updated daily with the breaking news and latest information on everything from new M&A activity and deals to corporate issues and trends.

About Halcyon Financial Technology

Halcyon Financial Technology, L.P. (HalcyonFT) is an information technology services firm founded in 2010 by industry veteran Rodric OConnor. Focused exclusively on serving financial services firms, HalcyonFT delivers outsourced IT solutions with a comprehensive understanding of industry trends, challenges and expectations. HalcyonFT offers an unparalleled degree of professional IT service encompassing top-level strategic leadership from an award-winning CTO, along with deep knowledge and focus of all staff in the specific requirements of the financial services industry. For more information, please visit http://www.halcyonft.com.
You can tell from the 2017 reports and 2018 forecasts that todays biggest remodeling companies are busierand likely more successfulthan ever before, said Craig Webb, REMODELINGs editor-in-chief.

Hanley Wood, the premier information, media, event, and strategic marketing services company serving the residential, design and commercial construction industries, announces the release of the 2018 Remodeling 550 List. This list published by Hanley Woods REMODELING, is an annual ranking of the biggest full-service remodeling and replacement contractor firms, as well as the leading insurance restoration and franchise operations.

You can tell from the 2017 reports and 2018 forecasts that todays biggest remodeling companies are busierand likely more successfulthan ever before, said Craig Webb, REMODELINGs editor-in-chief. The top 300 full-service remodelers on our list earned 8% more in revenue in 2017 than they did in 2016, and they expect to increase another 12% this year, Webb said. Meanwhile, the lists top 150 replacement contractor firms (generally, companies that specialize in home improvement work like roofing, siding, gutters, windows, and foundations) earned a whopping 41% more last year, and they predict 17% more growth in 2018.

Those 2018 growth rates top that for all remodelers, based on data from Metrostudy. Metrostudys latest Residential Remodeling Index of economic conditions that promote remodeling suggests there will be a 5% rise in remodeling work this year.

The top 300 full-service firms and 150 biggest replacement contractors on this years REMODELING 550 collectively did nearly 635,000 remodeling projects worth $5.54 billion. Metrostudys reports indicate that this works out to about 5.3% of all big-ticket remodeling projects (i.e. jobs worth $1,000 and above) and 3% of all spending.

All 550 firms can be found online at http://www.remodelingmag.com There you can sort and filter the data, which includes information on the companys location, 2017 revenues, number of projects, and average job size. The website also includes numerous charts and profiles that illuminate details regarding the group. For instance, REMODELING 550 members report improvements in the types of benefits they are providing workers, from health insurance to paternity leave.

The bulk of the information in the REMODELING 550 comes from the companies themselves based on their responses to an online survey. Additional information is collected via email, phone calls, and public sources.

REMODELING, published by Hanley Wood, is the leading publication in the home improvement industry. REMODELING has been and continues to be the indispensable tool that remodelers cannot do withoutdelivering the business know-how, product and technical information that home improvement pros need to help make smart decisions that will shape their project success.

About Hanley Wood

Hanley Wood is the premier company serving the information, media, and marketing needs of the residential, commercial design and construction industry. Utilizing the largest analytics and editorially driven Construction Industry Database, the company provides business intelligence and data-driven services. The company produces award-winning media, high-profile executive events, and strategic marketing solutions. To learn more, visit hanleywood.com.
PDA EU Workshop Participants PDA also recently finalized agreement to participate in a consortium with the Biophorum Operations Group (BPOG) on the Annex 1 requirement for PUPSIT

The Parenteral Drug Association (PDA) is advancing its activities involving the recent draft revision to EU GMP Guideline Annex 1, the European guideline for sterile medicinal products, with a recent in-depth workshop on the topic and the formation of a consortium to address pre-use and post-sterilization integrity testing for sterilizing grade filters (PUPSIT).

PDAs Europe office hosted Annex 1: Revision of the EU GMP Guideline workshop at the Crowne Plaza Dublin-Blanchardstown, Dublin, Ireland, on May 17. The workshop planning committee, led by Gabriele Gori, GlaxoSmithKline, organized the meeting to facilitate open discussion among industry and regulatory representatives. The latter included Greg McGurk, Senior Inspector, Health Products Regulatory Authority (HPRA), Ireland, and Dr. Beate Reutter, GMDP Inspector, German state of Schleswig-Holstein, who both shared their perspectives on the draft guidance. Over 150 registrants attended the workshop and participated in lively dialogue.

PDA also recently finalized agreement to participate in a consortium with the Biophorum Operations Group (BPOG) on the Annex 1 requirement for PUPSIT, which will bring together the leading biopharma manufacturers to explore the necessity of this stipulation. The consortium will include all major filter suppliers, most major aseptic manufacturers, and the regulatory authorities concerned about the possibility of filter/filter integrity test failures. The program will create three work groups that will:



Define an encompassing risk assessment scheme that will locate the conditions necessary to perform and best deploy PUPSIT

Define known and unknown failure modes and conditions where pre-use failed filters can be masked

Study protocols to test and examine failure modes to see if they too can be masked

Conduct filter locking studies of pre-use flawed filters

Create a harmonized FMEA to include graduated scaled of risk when using PUPSIT

Create practice statements for the design and use of the system in different areas

More details on the workshop can be found at PDA's website.

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About PDA  Connecting People, Science and Regulation

The Parenteral Drug Association (PDA) is the leading global provider of science, technology and regulatory information and education for the pharmaceutical and biopharmaceutical community. Founded in 1946 as a nonprofit organization, PDA is committed to developing scientifically sound, practical technical information and resources to advance science and regulation through the expertise of over 10,500 members worldwide. Go to http://www.pda.org/footer/about-pda to learn more.
AGNITY Global, Inc. (AGNITY), the leading global communication application solutions provider, is pleased to announce successful completion of IN service transformation project for one of the largest Telecom Service Providers in Latin America with its industry-leading Communication Application Server (CAS) and suite of IN applications.

The service provider in LATAM had two legacy IN platforms in its network offering a number of key IN services. Agnity was awarded the business through a competitive RFP process to select the right vendor to replace these platforms with a next generation application server. The key requirements were to provide the feature parity with the existing IN feature call flows, support twice the traffic capacity to accommodate growth, and provide a gradual migration from SS7 to IMS.

Evaluating the bids from multiple global vendors, the service provider selected AGNITY. The key criteria for this selection were AGNITYs superior scalable platform design, tools for app development, customization and data migration, track record of global deployments and IN replacements, reduction of hardware footprint, and competitive 5-year TCO.

AGNITY has now deployed its solution completely replicating the existing features of both legacy platforms, in a geo-redundant configuration, interworking with existing 20+ switches in customers network and providing compatibility with existing OSS APIs enabling replacement of the platform without any changes to the OSS and BSS. With deployment complete, AGNITY is now engaging in the smooth migration of the subscribers to new environment using AGNITYs field proven processes.

We are very pleased with the completion of this deployment explained Sanjeev Chawla, CEO at AGNITY Global, Inc. He continued We are confident that our carrier-grade CAS platform that provides unparalleled scalability and flexibility will exceed the expectation of this customer. In addition, we are pleased to bring in additional operational efficiency, saving them 50% in OPEX spend for years to come, while providing a faster path for migration to IMS.

About AGNITY Global, Inc.

AGNITY Global is a leading global provider of intelligent business communication applications and infrastructure to organizations in the telecommunications and healthcare industry verticals. It is headquartered in the Silicon Valley, with Development and Support Operations in Richardson (Texas), and Noida (India). The Communications business of AGNITY Global is branded as AGNITY Communications and powers the networks of global Tier 1 service providers. The Healthcare business of AGNITY Global is branded as AGNITY Healthcare and offers a comprehensive mobile contextual communication and collaboration solutions for Healthcare service providers.

AGNITY Global Contact:

Media Relations Team

media_relations(at)agnity(dot)com

(510) 270-5412

http://www.agnity.com
Fressko, has a straightforward philosophy based on simple, sustainable, environmentally consciousness solutions: Be kind to mother earth, to others, and to yourself.

Fressko, makers of sustainable, reusable and stylish flasks made of premium glass- and bamboo-encased stainless steel, for keeping beverages at desired hot and cold temperatures, is set to expand to Amazon.com, the worlds largest retailer.

Fressko, has a straightforward philosophy based on simple, sustainable, environmentally consciousness solutions: Be kind to mother earth, to others, and to yourself. The Australian company affirms this philosophy by using environmentally friendly material in its reusable flasks, eliminating any risk of chemical leaching and flavor tainting.

Our versatility is unrivaled, Marketing Director Hayley Culley said. The fact that we have a filter you can use for every type of beverage, hot and cold, puts us ahead of everyone else. Our customers are not just eco-warriors; artists, designers and architects swear by our aesthetic shape. Lovers of Yoga and Pilates use Fressko flasks to relax with hot tea after a session or to refresh themselves with a cool drink. All these customers and more are quick to become repeat buyers, spreading our flasks as gifts to friends.

Fresskos flasks use only BPA-free materials and bamboo sourced from the mountains of Ningbo, China. The double-walled glass is formed from one piece and is thickened for durability, and the easy to screw on cap ensures the flask stays leak free. There is no plastic or rubber used in Fressko flasks.

Weve focused on creating premium quality flasks that are carefully designed to be both healthy for consumption and healthy for the Earth, Culley added. Even their outer tube is able to be upcycled. The result was containers that are sure to last for years.

The companys initial U.S. launch includes four flasks, three glass and one bamboo. The Rise (10-ounce), Tour (13-ounce) and Lift (16-ounce) flasks are glass, and include a two-in-one filter, allowing for complete versatility. Use it to turn the flask into a tea infuser, for smoothies or to create delicious, fruit-infused water.

The bamboo Rush (10-ounce) flask is made from premium stainless steel surrounded by a bamboo shell and includes a single filter, perfect for carrying coffee on the go. This flask keeps any warm beverage or soup hot typically for 6-8 hours.

For more information on Fressko glass and bamboo hot and cold flasks, coming to http://www.Amazon.com, visit http://www.madebyfressko.com/us. Follow Fressko on Instagram, Facebook and Pinterest.
In an effort to support local families with the cost of their kids returning to school, the Checkered Flag Run Foundation will host the 6th Annual  Phoenix Tools 4 School event on Saturday, July 28, from 7 a.m. to 11 a.m. at South Mountain Community College in Phoenix (7050 South 24th Street).

The program allows those who are lacking resources to focus on getting an education, instead of worrying about how to find the basic supplies needed for their education, says founder of the Checkered Flag Run Foundation, Alan AP Powell. By providing the tools necessary for their school year, we are investing in our future leaders and building stronger communities, says Powell.

Phoenix Tools 4 School is free and open to the public for all students in grades kindergarten through 8th grade.

There is nothing more important to the future of Phoenix than ensuring our students get great educations. Tools 4 School is our largest event to ensure students return to school with the supplies they need, says Phoenix City Councilwoman from District 8,Kate Gallego.

In just five years, the Phoenix Tools 4 School annual event has impacted over 30,000 students and family members by providing them with a free meal and the supplies needed to ensure the investment of every student getting to cross their finish line.

An investment in a childs education is an investment not only in that childs future, but in the future of our community. It is great to see our neighbors here in Phoenix come together each year to provide students with the tools they need to achieve success, says Congressman Ruben Gallego from District 7.

This years event is expected to draw an estimated 15,000 attendees and will feature new experiences and partnerships with the Arizona Diamondbacks,Bank of America, Arizona State University, HDI, APS, UPS, Crescent Crown, Heggs Auto Group, HMS Host, Mesa Airlines, Helios Education Foundation, Arizona Community Foundation,Food City, Allstate Self Storage, Republic Services, Outfront Media,ISM Raceway, Golden Rule Live, ABC Nissan and Infiniti on Camelback. Food will be catered by Artisan Santa Barbara Catering.

We are extremely excited to help the kids start the year off right with their backpacks and tools for school. If you dont start right, you dont end right, says director of human resources for UPS, Darren Moore.

HDI is excited to work with The Checker Flag Foundation. It is amazing to be a part of helping so many children receive the proper school supplies for the upcoming year, says account manager for HDI, Scott Steffes.

Kids can enjoy a carnival atmosphere with attractions, games, swag and prizes provided by The Salvation Army Ray & Joan Kroc Corps Community Center.

ABC Nissan and Infiniti on Camelback are proud to support Phoenix Tools for School. We believe all kids are on their journey to greatness, and every journey requires the right equipment! This project is so much fun for everyone involved, and allows our business to fulfill its most important responsibility, building and equipping future leaders, says ABC Nissan and Infiniti on Camelback general manager, Adam Marazzo.

Special guest appearances will be made by Baxter, the mascot of the Arizona Diamondbacks and the Phoenix Suns Gorilla. Volunteers from the Bank of Americas Young Professionals, Travis L. Williams- American Legion Post 65 and Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airports staff, aviation advisory board members and mascot Amelia will be in attendance.

APS is happy to return as a sponsor for this meaningful program that helps so many kids have a strong start when they head back to school, said Director of Corporate Giving for APS, Tina Marie Tentori. Its a great way to support entire families by providing essential resources during the busy back-to-school season.

Additionally, this years event will offer new college prep workshops from Maricopa Community Colleges and Arizona State University to help those on their path to higher education. There will be presentations designed for 7th and 8th grade students at 7:30 a.m., 8:30 a.m. and 9:30 a.m. on Saturday, July 28. Participants in the workshops will also receive ASU and South Mountain Community College swag and be entered into a drawing for other prizes.

The work Checkered Flag Run Foundation is doing is so important to our community and Ive always believed we have an obligation to give back, no matter who we are, or where we come from, says Attorney General Mark Brnovich.

For more information about the Phoenix Tools 4 School event in July, visit CFRF.org.

About Checkered Flag Run Foundation

The Checkered Flag Run Foundation provides diverse educational programs that impact under-served students and veterans. They believe access to quality educational opportunities ensures the investment of every student and Veteran getting to cross the finish line. For more information about the Checkered Flag Run Foundation or to learn how to get involved, visit https://www.checkeredflagrunfoundation.org or visit their facebook page https://www.facebook.com/checkeredflagrunfoundation.

About South Mountain Community College

South Mountain Community College (SMCC) reflects the diversity of the surrounding community, a rich mix of rural, urban, and suburban neighborhoods. Many students are from neighboring Phoenix, Laveen, Tempe, Guadalupe and the surrounding areas. For more information please visit http://www.southmountaincc.edu/

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By integrating the key features of Jabra Xpress with the smart tools available in VisibilityOne, these managers now have the ability to solve this pain point all from one view. This will save them time and money in the future.

VisibilityOne Corp, the Los Angeles based startup developing the next generation monitoring solution for the Unified Communications (UC) industry, today announced a technology partnership with Jabra GN. The goal of the partnership is to allow for Jabra Xpress data to be visible within VisibilityOne to provide enterprise IT teams the ability to remotely mass deploy and manage Jabra USB audio devices in record time, from one view.

"We are excited to be teaming up with Jabra," said Jose De La Paz, CEO, VisibilityOne Corp. "Integrating Jabra Express within VisibilityOne simplifies headset monitoring across the UC&C infrastructure in one data-rich view."

VisibilityOne is a patented monitoring solution that replaces siloed monitoring tools with a single view that provides real-time performance and actionable insights into devices, applications and the operating environment. VisibilityOne helps monitor and manage all voice and video on the UCC network, including device usage, firmware updates, real-time status and notifications allowing IT teams to anticipate and resolve device issues before users are impacted. With the addition of Jabra Xpress, IT teams can deploy, and manage Jabra headsets with Jabra Xpress within VisibilityOne. VisibilityOne will be available at http://www.visibility.one and through approved channel partners.

IT Managers needed a way to efficiently manage Jabra headset deployments with all of the components of their UC Infrastructure, said Kelly Nagel, President and GM, Jabra North America. By integrating the key features of Jabra Xpress with the smart tools available in VisibilityOne, these managers now have the ability to solve this pain point all from one view. This will save them time and money in the future.

The highly anticipated beta registration announcement for VisibilityOne will be at InfoComm 2018 in Las Vegas on June 6, 2018. VisibilityOne Corp is exhibiting at InfoComm 2018 where they will be demonstrating VisibilityOne at booth number N2732. Stop by to be among the first to register for a free trial of this exciting new solution and experience Jabras new Engage Series of headsets.

About VisibilityOne Corp

VisibilityOne is singularly focused on ensuring flawless communication and collaboration experiences. Headquartered in Los Angeles, CA, VisibilityOne helps enterprises see things differently. Our patented technology replaces siloed monitoring tools with a single view of the entire unified communications and collaboration (UCC) infrastructure providing real-time performance and actionable insights into devices, applications and the operating environment. VisibilityOne's plugin architecture allows users to easily integrate with leading UCC device management, cloud meeting, collaboration and notifications platforms. Learn more at http://www.visibility.one
Balsamo is responsible for interfacing with local and regional jurisdictions to oversee the planning and entitlement for community development and infrastructure. Mike is a great addition to the team and will help guide the Rancho Mission Viejo family as we look to the future.

Rancho Mission Viejo today announced the appointment of Michael Balsamo as Senior Vice President of Governmental Relations for this family-owned, fully-integrated land ownership and management company.

As the Senior Vice President of Governmental Relations, Balsamo is responsible for interfacing with local and regional jurisdictions to oversee the planning and entitlement for community development and major infrastructure including schools, public safety facilities, transportation, water and other vital facilities and services for Rancho Mission Viejo (The Ranch).

Were thrilled to welcome Mike Balsamo to The Ranch family, said Tony Moiso, Chairman of Rancho Mission Viejo LLC, stewards of the historic Rancho Mission Viejo cattle ranch and master planner/developer of the Rancho Mission Viejo community. We have a wonderful team here on The Ranch, who have, for decades, worked together to establish great communities while keeping true to the values and traditions which have come to define The Ranch. Mike is a great addition to this team and will help guide the Rancho Mission Viejo family as we look to the future.

Prior to joining Rancho Mission Viejo, Mr. Balsamo was the Chief Executive Officer for the Building Industry Association of Southern California. Beginning in 2016, he led BIASC in advancing its mission to be the single voice of building and development in Southern California, championing the interests of its more than 1,100-member companies encompassing four regional chapters including Orange County, Los Angeles/Ventura, Riverside/Imperial, and San Bernardino Counties.

He has committed his career to balancing development needs and environmental considerations, with more than 25 years of experience in land use planning and real estate development in both the public and private sectors, including serving as a land planner for the cities of Irvine and Lake Forest and for the County of Orange. Balsamo also worked as a consultant to Irvine Company, Retail Properties Division serving as a project manager for numerous shopping center developments on the Irvine Ranch. From 2002 to 2005, he served as BIA/OCs Deputy Executive Officer of External Relations & Director of Governmental Affairs. He then transitioned to Lennar Homes where he oversaw the development of new home communities in Orange County, most notably on the former USMCAS Tustin property prior to becoming the Manager of OC Planning at Orange County Public Works in Santa Ana.

Rancho Mission Viejo is responsible for the ranching, farming, planning, real estate development, and financial operations of the 23,000-acre Rancho Mission Viejo in unincorporated South Orange County, CA. Since 1882, members of the ONeill/Moiso family have owned and managed the historic Rancho Mission Viejo, which is the last working cattle ranch in Orange County and encompasses the largest new master-planned community in California. Under the leadership of Tony Moiso and his family, portions of The Ranch now include the family-developed cities and communities of Ladera Ranch, Las Flores, Mission Viejo, and Rancho Santa Margarita.

Today, nearly 75% of the remaining 23,000 acres of The Ranch are being preserved as open space through The Reserve at Rancho Mission Viejo, with approximately 25% of The Ranch being developed into multiple inter-generational mixed-use villages within a single community called Rancho Mission Viejo.

At build-out, Rancho Mission Viejo is expected to provide 14,000 homes (including up to 6,000 homes for 55-plus residents), approximately five million square feet of non-residential uses including shopping, dining and employment centers, as well as numerous sites for clubhouses, community farms, parks, schools, civic uses, child care centers, and places of worship.
Tutera Senior Living & Health Care announces the promotion of Anthony Tony Burgess, MD, to Chief Medical Officer. Dr. Tony Burgess brings a rare combination of medical expertise, genuine compassion and a collaborative approach that will be instrumental in guiding Tuteras mission forward.

Tutera Senior Living & Health Care, one of the nations premier providers of diversified, post-acute senior health care services, announces the promotion of Anthony Tony Burgess, MD, to Chief Medical Officer. In his new role, Dr. Burgess will lead Tuteras clinical teams to oversee policy, training and protocols to ensure the highest quality continuum of care for residents.

Previously, Dr. Burgess served as Corporate Medical Director overseeing Tuteras community-based medical directors at the 47 communities in 13 states currently operated by Tutera. Prior to joining the Tutera staff, Dr. Burgess served Tutera residents as a consulting Physiatrist.

Dr. Burgess brings a rare combination of medical expertise, genuine compassion and a collaborative approach that will be instrumental in guiding Tuteras mission forward, said Randy Bloom, Ph.D., president and chief operating officer for Tutera Senior Living & Health Care. We're fortunate to benefit from his balanced vision and leadership to ensure the highest levels of quality care and operational efficiency while keeping a persistent focus on innovation.

Dr. Burgess brings unique experience and perspective to his new role  as both a doctor and as a patient. After earning three undergraduate degrees in Biology, Chemistry and Psychology at Baylor University, he attended St. Matthews University School of Medicine and completed his clinical training at the respected Cleveland Clinic. While in medical school, Dr. Burgess also earned a Masters in Healthcare Administration. He then completed his residency at the prestigious Marianjoy Rehabilitation Hospital, part of Northwestern Medicine in Chicago, IL.

Before pursuing his medical career, Dr. Burgess worked with his father as a welder for 14 years in the construction industry. Following a traumatic workplace accident, Dr. Burgess endured multiple surgeries and six months of intensive rehabilitation. The challenges of recovery reignited his childhood dream to pursue medicine.

Beyond my training as a physician, my personal experiences have helped me personally connect with Tutera residents. I share my story frequently to support and encourage them on the challenging road to recovery, said Dr. Burgess. I feel like every resident is a member of my own family. And I know its my responsibility to make sure they feel supported in every facet of their care.

Dr. Burgess was recently nominated president of the Kansas Chapter of the American Medical Directors Association (AMDA). He currently serves as a member of the Leadership, Membership and Innovations Committee for AMDA  The Society for Post-Acute and Long-Term Care Medicine, where he was asked to help introduce legislation to address the opioid crisis. In fact, Dr. Burgess recently attended an Opioid Summit in St. Louis, MO where he proposed more resources and greater reimbursement for providers who care for patients with opioid use disorder. He was also invited by the Kansas Board of Governors to participate in an Opioid Task Force to combat the opioid epidemic representing the skilled nursing and long-term care factions.

In addition, Dr. Burgess was invited by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) to participate in an initiative called Patients Over Paperwork. The initiative directs federal agencies to cut red tape and remove regulatory obstacles that get in the way of health care providers spending quality time with patients. Dr. Burgess will drive recommendations from the post-acute and long-term care perspective.

Dr. Burgess is also a part of a select group invited by Point Click Care (PCC)  the largest provider of cloud-based EHR platforms for post-acute and long-term care  to collaborate with PCC designers and architects on new applications and functionality for practitioner engagement to enable person-centered care.

Tutera has always been a company that truly cares about its residents, their families and our associates. In this critical role as Chief Medical Officer, Dr. Burgess will take this guiding principal to a new level with his sincere empathy and tireless dedication, said Joe Tutera, president and CEO of Tutera.

About Tutera Senior Living & Health Care

Tutera Senior Living & Health Care is one of the nations premier providers of diversified, post-acute senior health care services with headquarters in Kansas City, Mo. As a division of the Tutera Group, the company currently operates 47 facilities, communities and agencies in 13 states throughout the United States to deliver a spectrum of services including independent living, assisted living, skilled nursing, post-surgery rehabilitation, memory care and home health care.

The privately held company is dedicated to excellence in individualized services with a mission to provide a personalized approach to senior living and health care in home-like, residential communities.

In 1983, Dominic F. Tutera, MD, founded Tutera to provide compassionate patient care with the uncompromising values of integrity, accountability and commitment. Tutera Senior Living & Health Care still embodies those values today. Tutera is committed to making a positive difference in the lives of its residents and their families through senior living and health care experts who inspire and promote individuality and personal happiness. For more information, visit http://www.Tutera.com.

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Two Kelser engineers assist a client.

CRN, a brand of The Channel Company, has named Kelser Corporation to its 2018 Solution Provider 500 list. The Solution Provider 500 is CRNs annual ranking of the largest technology integrators, solution providers and IT consultants in North America by revenue.

The Solution Provider 500 is CRNs predominant channel partner award list, serving as the industry standard for recognition of the most successful solution provider companies in the channel since 1995. The complete list will be published on CRN.com, making it readily available to vendors seeking out top solution providers to partner with.

CRN has also released its 2018 Solution Provider 500: Newcomers list, recognizing 26 companies making their debut in the Solution Provider 500 ranking this year.

This is the 5th consecutive year that Kelser has made the Solution Provider 500 list and they are proud to be back. Beyond the continued innovation, excellence, and integrity that they bring to their work, Kelser continues to be a top technology innovator in New England. Building off the success of their Defend Forward (Cybersecurity-as-a-Service) offering, Kelser has introduced Connect Forward (Network-as-a-Service), Recover Forward (Disaster Recovery-as-a-Service) and Manage Forward (fully managed services) offerings to tackle the business challenges that organizations in the Northeast are experiencing.

It is an honor to be chosen once again for CRNs Solution Provider 500 list, said Kelser CEO and President Barry Kelly. Our success as an IT and Managed Services provider is driven by our ability to create technology solutions that enable business growth for each of our clients.

CRNs Solution Provider 500 list spotlights the North American IT channel partner organizations that have earned the highest revenue over the past year, providing a valuable resource to vendors looking for top solution providers to partner with, said Bob Skelley, CEO of The Channel Company. The companies on this years list represent an incredible, combined revenue of $320 billion, a sum that attests to their success in staying ahead of rapidly changing market demands. We extend our sincerest congratulations to each of these top-performing solution providers and look forward to their future pursuits and successes.

The complete 2018 Solution Provider 500 list will be available online at http://www.crn.com/sp500 and a sample from the list will be featured in the June issue of CRN Magazine.

About Kelser Corporation

Since 1981, Kelser Corporation has helped organizations achieve their goals through technology. Based in Glastonbury, Kelser is proud to assist a wide variety of organizations in the Northeastincluding some of the largest companies in Connecticutin using technology to move their businesses forward. Kelsers experienced team of technology consultants understand their clients businesses as deeply as the products and services Kelser provides. The result is technology that works on behalf of businesses, not the other way around.

http://www.kelsercorp.com

About the Channel Company

The Channel Company enables breakthrough IT channel performance with our dominant media, engaging events, expert consulting and education, and innovative marketing services and platforms. As the channel catalyst, we connect and empower technology suppliers, solution providers and end users. Backed by more than 30 years of unequaled channel experience, we draw from our deep knowledge to envision innovative new solutions for ever-evolving challenges in the technology marketplace. http://www.thechannelco.com

Kim Sparks

The Channel Company

(508) 416-1193

ksparks(at)thechannelco.com
Life has a way of wearing people down over time, allowing weariness and fatigue to slowly wash away the passion that drove people to chase their dreams. Author Michael Carter Griffin looks to reignite that hunger for success in his condensed book, Countdown to Greatness.

Countdown to Greatness is a self-improvement book designed to inspire readers of all ages to find their purpose and embrace their individual merit. Griffin asserts everyone can aspire greatness, but only by recognizing their self-worth and finding their self-confidence. Greatness lives in each of us, and Griffin seeks to remind readers how to discover their greatness and potential, as well as their ability to inspire others.

Countdown to Greatness encourages readers to reduce negativity and replace it with peace, self-worth, and positivity, reviewer Jennifer Hartman said. By looking within ones own mind, they can learn self-esteem and a feeling of purpose. This leads to achieving greatness. Readers are encouraged to continuously improve and reinvent their creativity, thus leading to a better understanding of oneself.

Countdown to Greatness provides readers with the tools they need to discover their unique capabilities and power, leading them to find and achieve inner excellence. For more information on the author and book, visit http://www.michaelcartergriffin.com/

Countdown to Greatness

By Michael Carter Griffin

ISBN: 9781514479353 (hardcover), 9781514479346 (softcover), 9781514479339 (e-book)

Available at Amazon, Barnes and Noble and Xlibris

About the author

Michael Carter Griffin is a 1985 graduate of Liberty University where he received his accounting degree. For 17 years, Griffin served as the CFO for Moore County in Carthage North Carolina before transitioning to the private sector. He then served as CFO for Moore County Schools for over eight years. After a 30-year career, Griffin is now retired, and lives in Southern Pines, North Carolina with his wife Cathy.

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Attorney Patrick Quinn The Elite Lawyer Award assures that each attorney selected to the directory has received a nomination from their peers for displaying excellence and a high level of skill with the law.

Attorney Patrick Quinn, of the Quinn Law Group, LLC, has been honored with a 2018 Elite Lawyer Award for the area of personal injury. The Elite Lawyer rating service recognizes attorneys who display a high level of competence in their practice and receive acknowledgment from their peers, community, bar, and committees.

Park Ridge, Illinois, attorney Pat Quinn represents clients seeking compensation for their personal injuries. Previously, he worked on the other side of personal injury cases, defending insurance companies during personal injury, wrongful death, and healthcare negligence lawsuits.

Quinns background gives him a unique perspective on personal injury cases because he knows the multiple tactics insurance companies will try to mitigate injury claims.

Quinn has more than a decade of experience as a trial lawyer. He brings the same aggressive approach to each case he takes, whether the client is asking for a few thousand dollars or a million dollars. He is a member of the Illinois Bar Association, Chicago Bar Association and Northwest Suburban Bar Association.

Designed to assist potential clients in finding an experienced legal professional to address specific legal needs, the Elite Lawyer tools and resources provide information on distinguished attorneys throughout the United States.

The Elite Lawyer Award assures that each attorney selected to the directory has received a nomination from their peers for displaying excellence and a high level of skill with the law. Awarded only to those who have met or exceeded the criteria of a rigorous, multi-phased selection process, the Award recognizes top-rated attorneys for their excellence and outstanding service in their specific area or areas of practice.

Only the most outstanding and experienced attorneys receive the Elite Lawyer Award. A prestigious nomination and presented only to legal professionals who are able to meet or exceed its demanding criteria, it sets these exceptional attorneys apart from their peers when consumers use the directory to search for a top-notch attorney in their area.

The Elite Lawyer Award speaks highly of how well each nominated attorney is perceived by their legal community. For more information about Elite Lawyer, or to become a member of the esteemed directory, visit https://www.elitelawyer.com.

About Quinn Law Group, LLC:

Attorney Patrick Quinn founded the Quinn Law Group, LLC, on the principle that personal injury plaintiffs deserve just compensation. Quinn represents clients in cases of medical malpractice, premises liability, vehicle accidents, product liability and assault and battery. He also provides estate planning services involving wills, trusts and the power of attorney. To learn more about the firm or schedule a free consultation, call 847-232-7180 or visit https://www.pquinnlaw.com
Over one-third of SNAP households spend those benefits rapidly

The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) helps eligible low-income families financially so they are able to purchase groceries for the month. In Re-Examining the SNAP Benefit Cycle Allowing for Heterogeneity published in the Applied Economic Perspective & Policy (AEPP), Jeffrey Dorfman from the University of Georgia, Christian Gregory from USDA, Economic Research Service, and Zhongyuan Liu and Ran Huo from the University of Georgia, examine how quickly SNAP recipients are spending their monthly funding.

We find that, upon receiving their once-a-month benefits, slightly over one-third of SNAP households spend those benefits rapidly with the remaining households budgeting their SNAP benefits rather evenly throughout the month. Those that do spend their benefits quickly do so very quickly, spending about two-thirds of their monthly benefit within the first four days, says Dorfman.

He continued spending your SNAP benefits quickly at the start of the month may lead to higher levels of food insecurity later in the month if money runs short. Thus, designing and implementing an educational program to help these specific households budget their resources better could lead to improved food security with very little, if any, additional cost to taxpayers.

The article Re-Examining the SNAP Benefit Cycle Allowing for Heterogeneity is now available online and is open to the public for a limited time. If you are interested in setting up an interview with Jeffrey Dorfman, please contact Allison Scheetz in the AAEA Business Office.

ABOUT AAEA: Established in 1910, the Agricultural & Applied Economics Association (AAEA) is the leading professional association for agricultural and applied economists, with 2,500 members in more than 60 countries. Members of the AAEA work in academic or government institutions as well as in industry and not-for-profit organizations, and engage in a variety of research, teaching, and outreach activities in the areas of agriculture, the environment, food, health, and international development. The AAEA publishes two journals, the American Journal of Agricultural Economics and Applied Economic Perspectives & Policy, as well as the online magazine Choices. To learn more, visit http://www.aaea.org.

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Jessica Agnelly, Wendt Law Firm P.C.

Leading Kansas City personal injury firm Wendt Law Firm P.C. has elevated Jessica Agnelly to Partner, effective May 10th. As Partner, Agnelly will continue handling serious injury cases involving automobile and commercial vehicle accidents, wrongful death, victims of sexual abuse, and medical malpractice.

I can think of no one more qualified to join me as a Partner and help drive the future of our firm, said Samuel Wendt, managing partner and founder of Wendt Law Firm P.C. Jessica is a tireless legal advocate for serious injury victims, and she will continue to bring that experience fighting for clients to her new role as Partner.

Since the beginning of her career in private practice, Agnelly has represented individuals who have been seriously injured or killed in automobile or commercial vehicle collisions, defective and dangerous products or pharmaceuticals, sexual assault victims, insurance bad faith litigation, and medical malpractice actions.

I am honored to be named partner at such a great firm. Wendt Law Firms passion and commitment to representing clients and seeking justice for those who are injured is unparalleled., Agnelly said.

Agnelly holds a J.D. from the University of Missouri-Kansas City and is licensed in Missouri, Kansas, and Illinois.

About Wendt Law Firm P.C. Wendt Law Firm P.C. is a dedicated personal injury firm with experience handling many types of cases in Kansas City, MO and around the country.

Specializing in a variety of personal injury cases, Wendt Law Firm P.C. seeks maximum compensation through every legal outlet. Practice areas include automobile and commercial vehicle accidents, defective products, dangerous premises, medical malpractice, nursing home abuse, and wrongful death.

Wendt Law Firm P.C. has a reputation for excellence in personal injury representation. Our attorneys

have been recognized as among the best attorneys in Missouri and Kansas by numerous legal

organizations. Samuel Wendt is one of the Top 50 Super Lawyers in Kansas City, and has received the

honor of Missouri and Kansas Super Lawyer, awarded by Thomson Reuters every year since 2008.

His mission is to use his exceptional trial skills to secure maximum compensation for victims of

negligence in KC.

For more information:

Samuel Wendt | sam@wendtlaw.com

Krista Klaus | krista@wendtlaw.com
CERTREC Certrec is here because of our clients. Their feedback is essential. We wouldnt have celebrated our 30th anniversary last month if it werent for our clients. Were honored that this important client is pleased with our team.  Ted Enos, President, Certrec.

Certrec, a leading regulatory compliance and licensing service provider that supports NERC and NRC compliance, routinely reviews compliance support activities by seeking client feedback.

During a recent review with a longstanding client, we came to the topic of Certrecs NERC compliance teams performance. The response was that they appreciated Certrecs professionalism. The site personnel liked the people on the Certrec team and felt that they could rely on Certrec when they asked for information. Finally, the client stated, I cant think of any higher praise than that.

Background

The client owns a large fleet that includes multiple sites using a variety of fuels across the U.S. This client faces the challenges associated with maintaining a robust NERC compliance program across nearly all regional entities, multiple RTOs, changing technologies, and a varied, dynamic workforce.

With Certrec your NERC work is done once and done right.

Certrec offers support from highly skilled, experienced industry professionals who possess degrees in a variety of engineering disciplines (Civil, Electrical, Mechanical, and Nuclear). Additionally, Certrec's staff has multiple degreed personnel in physics, communications, business, and information technology. This accomplished team has direct working experience in all regulatory areas of licensing, compliance, and engineering, including nuclear, fossil, and renewable generation and transmission.

For 30 years, Certrec has applied the accumulated hundreds of years of staff industry experience toward helping its clients develop and manage solutions to complex regulatory issues. Combining this direct industry experience with Certrec's Information Technology assets has led to the development of technology-based solutions and tools directly targeted to the electric power industry and specifically focused on helping clients manage regulatory issues. We believe this approach is the key to our successful client programs as well as our growing NERC practice.

Certrec is here because of our clients. Their feedback is essential. We wouldnt have celebrated our 30th anniversary last month if it werent for our clients. Were honored that this important client is pleased with our team.  Ted Enos, President, Certrec.

CERTREC

Founded in 1988, Certrec is an engineering and technology-based organization providing regulatory support services in the electric power industry. With over 1000 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.

Certrecs quality program and information security management system are ISO/IEC 27001:2013 certified. Also, Certrec has successfully completed a Type 2 SOC 2 examination where the scope of Document Management and Regulatory Services were examined against the Trust Services principles of Security. Availability, and Confidentiality Certrec is committed to maintaining or exceeding current levels of service and, thus, will perform required annual examinations and audits.
Unfortunately, burglary in the United States is a common occurrence. Fortunately, however, there are ways to reduce the risk of becoming a victim to burglary, said Beth Sargent, broker at RE/MAX 100. This goes beyond just looking through a peephole.

To educate homeowners on how not to become a victim, Sargent lists the following three tips:

No. 1: Ensure all entrances are strong. All entrances to any domicile should be secure. Your doors should be steel, with visible deadbolts, said Sargent. Also, there should no visible deteriorating furniture, toys, cars, steps or sidewalks. No overgrown shrubbery. This should prevent potential intruders from choosing your house to victimize.

No. 2: Post warning signs. This includes those from home security companies and beware of dog signs, preferably in the front yard where they will be noticed. Even if you dont have a dog you can put a dog bowl by your door to scare off burglars, added Sargent.

No. 3: Install outdoor lighting. The outside of any home should be well lit to discourage burglars, concluded Sargent. Install motion-sensing or timed lights by your entrances and doorways.

About Beth Sargent, RE/MAX 100

Beth Sargent works with both buyers and sellers and those relocating. Beth is a Relocation Professional, Remax Hall of Fame Member, and Graduate, Realtor Institute. For more information, please call (574) 272-0806, or visit http://www.100mishawaka26.sites.remaxagents.com. RE/MAX 100 is located at 3010 Hickory Road, Misawaka, IN 46545.

About the NALA

The NALA offers small and medium-sized businesses effective ways to reach customers through new media. As a single-agency source, the NALA helps businesses flourish in their local community. The NALAs mission is to promote a business relevant and newsworthy events and achievements, both online and through traditional media. The information and content in this article are not in conjunction with the views of the NALA. For media inquiries, please call 805.650.6121, ext. 361.
REDCOM President/CEO Dinah Gueldenpfennig Weisberg receives Business of the Month Award from NYS Senator Rich Funke Were excited to introduce REDCOM to our local community. REDCOM is one of Rochesters best-kept secrets. Since 1978, weve been building specialized communications products that solve the unique challenges of customers that span the globe.

REDCOM Laboratories, Inc., a leading supplier of the worlds most secure and reliable communications solutions, is pleased to announce that the company is being profiled as New York State Senator Rich Funkes Business of the Month. The video profile is available on Rich Funke's YouTube channel.

Were excited to introduce REDCOM to our local community, said Dinah Gueldepfennig Weisberg, REDCOM President/CEO. REDCOM is one of Rochesters best-kept secrets. Since 1978, weve been building specialized communications products that solve the unique challenges of customers that span the globe.

REDCOM is a true small business success story. The company was founded in Penfield, NY by Klaus and Brigitte Gueldenpfenning in 1978. 40 years later, REDCOM counts among its customers all branches of the U.S. Armed Forces, numerous government agencies, independent telecom service providers, and many international customers.

In addition to developing communications technology, REDCOM is also in the business of electronics manufacturing. REDCOM EMS  established in 2012 as a business unit of REDCOM Laboratories, Inc.  provides contract manufacturing services to OEMs by leveraging the companys vast manufacturing resources and skilled employee base. REDCOM EMS specializes in Printed Circuit Board Assembly, cable assemblies, and complete product build. REDCOM EMS has many local customers in the Rochester area, and has even pulled in business from overseas in an effort to help bring manufacturing back to the United States.

As REDCOM EMS continues to grow with our local customers, we are hiring additional employees and expanding our capacity. Its a very exciting time for us, said Steve Husband, REDCOM EMS Vice President of Manufacturing.

About REDCOM

REDCOM Laboratories, Inc. is a woman-owned small business that specializes in the development of advanced communications solutions with a focus on security, reliability, and interoperability. Located in Victor, New York, REDCOMs global customer base includes commercial telecom carriers, private networks, integrators, and government and defense agencies. For additional information, please visit the REDCOM website at http://www.redcom.com.
In todays fast paced society, the simple things are often lost or forgotten. For children, this means an oversight in learning important lessons in friendship, respect and sharing. Kathleen Beining wants to return to these virtues as well as Christian values through the Mrs. Bumbleberry Series.

The Mrs. Bumbleberry Series carries messages that have been lost over time. Beining brings back these morals and values with through simple tales that are full of colorful illustrations.

My stories not only have a message, but guidance on how to apply these lessons, Beining said. Mrs. Bumbleberry represents those strong Christian values, and how to live out those ideals in your everyday actions.

Mrs. Bumbleberry and the Ark focuses on treating others with respect. Katy is worried about attending church summer camp and unsure that she will make new friends. Mrs. B reminds Katy that she can make friends if she treats them the way she would want to be treated. Luckily, Katy meets Andi. The two become best friends through learning about Gods great works with Mrs. B.

In Mrs. B, Substitute Grandma readers are introduced to Katy and Andi who are on a field trip to Appleton Farm, but first the children need an adult to accompany them. Mrs. B comes to the rescue and teaches the girls the value in sharing and working together.

Most adults grew up with these messages, but somewhere along the line we forgot to pass these ideals down to our children, Beining said. It is time to return to these Christian values so kids may grow to be respectful and caring adults.

For more information, please visit http://www.kathleenbeining.com.

Mrs. Bumbleberry Series

By Kathleen Beining

Available at Amazon, Barnes and Noble and Westbow Press

About the author

Kathleen Beining grew up in Missouri and currently lives there with family and friends. She is a devout Christian and believes in the importance of sharing, caring and helping others. There are currently eight books in the Mrs. Bumbleberry Series, with more on the way!

Review Copies & Interview Requests:

LAVIDGE  Phoenix

Kalin Thomas

480-648-7540

kthomas(at)lavidge.com

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El Cid Resorts; the award-winning, luxury resort group and El Cid Vacations Club have recently announced an extensive renovation project that spans across four properties in Mazatlan under the El Cid Resorts and El Cid Vacations Club umbrella.

Following a highly successful outing at Tianguis Turistico; Mexicos most important tourism conference of the year, the leading resort group outlined all of the extensive improvements that its properties in Mazatlan have undergone recently, along with new projects that will develop in the near future.

Rooms

All four of El Cids Resorts properties in Mazatlan received massive upgrades to all of its rooms. 1.210 rooms and suites were enhanced in a modern and elegant aesthetic with new furniture, linens, and upgraded bathroom facilities.

Restaurants

La Alhambra and El Alcazar restaurants received new flooring, upgraded kitchen equipment, and new furniture. La Conchas terrace located at El Cid El Moro Beach Hotel was completely remodeled as well.

Public Areas

All interior pool surfaces were re-tiled to enhance not only the beauty of the pool areas but to increase safety as well. All four properties also received new illuminating fixtures. In addition to upgrades to the pool areas, every elevator was renovated throughout all of El Cid Resorts Mazatlan properties.

Lobbies

The award-winning designers and architects, Ezequiel Farca and Cristina Grappin, both redesigned and renovated the lobby and lobby bars at El Cid Castilla Beach Hotel and El Cid Marina Beach Hotel. Farca and Grappin combined the perfect blend of timeless design with natural materials, elegant details, and comfortable functionality. El Cid Marina Beach Hotel also received a state-of-the-art aromatherapy air conditioner to delight the senses.

At El Cid Castilla Beach Hotel, custom-made light fixtures created by the renowned Mexican artist, Betsabee Romero now hang from the ceiling. Romero has exhibited her artwork around the world including the British Museum, Zocalo of Mexico City, Palacio de Bellas Artes, Havana Biennial, and the Louvre Museum.

Elite Club

Those who visit El Cid El Moro Beach Hotel and El Cid Marina Beach Hotel in Mazatlan will have the option of enjoying this luxurious and exclusive area. These renovated areas include a snack and beverage bar, comfortable lounging areas, easy access to check-in or out, and a computer area with high speed internet access.

El Cocay Amenity Spa & Gym

Completed at the end of 2017, El Cocay Amenity Spa & Gym is located at El Cid Marina Beach Hotel in Mazatlan. The state-of-the-art facility boasts a fully equipped gym, dedicated facilities for hand and foot care, three individual spa cabins, and a salon. El Cocay Amenity Spa & Gym also unveiled a menu of different spa treatments that include Deep Tissue Massage, Thai, Ritual Hot Stones, and Reflexology.

Gilberto Aviles, Commercial Director for El Cid Resorts expressed, El Cid Resorts is ready to be part of what it promises to be one of the most memorable editions in Mexicos Tianguis Turistico. We will welcome all of our guests in our fully renovated areas to make for an unforgettable vacation experience.

For almost 50 years, El Cid Resorts and El Cid Vacations Club have been dedicated in providing its guests the best service possible and offering stunning accommodations that go beyond luxury. El Cid Resorts continues to set the bar exceptionally high for hospitality and amenities.

For more information about El Cid Vacations Club properties in Mazatlan please visit: https://elcidvacationsclub.com/destinations/destination-mazatlan/

About El Cid Vacations Club

El Cid Vacations Club is a global leader in the vacation ownership and resort industry, delivering a wide variety of memorable vacation experiences for members. El Cid Vacations Club continually strives to enhance its member services and guest experiences. Members are invited to take advantage of downloading the complimentary El Cid Vacations Club Member mobile app available on both the App Store and Google Play (keyword ecvc). This application allows members to stay up to date on the most recent news, make reservations, and always stay in contact with El Cid Vacations Club. This is the perfect opportunity for El Cid Vacations Club members to plan their next dream vacation at one of the many stunning El Cid properties. For more information, visit http://www.elcidvacationsclub.com.
We are proud to stand behind Speaker Gingrichs efforts to raise public awareness using the platform his book provides, said Anne Woodbury, AOR Executive Director. We echo his call to find innovative, lasting solutions that transcend politics and partisanship.

Advocates for Opioid Recovery (AOR) advisor former House Speaker Newt Gingrich is releasing a new book this week, Trumps America, in which he discusses the ongoing opioid epidemic and the handful of solutions that will make a significant difference in the lives of all Americans touched by addiction. Speaker Gingrich has been a steadfast proponent of evidence-based solutions to this public health crisis, which claims over 115 lives each day, and has actively promoted the gold standard of treatmentmedication-assisted treatmentthrough his work with AOR.

This book is about the current state of America, so of course I needed to dedicate an entire chapter to the opioid epidemic that is devastating our country, Speaker Gingrich said. If we fail to urgently combat this epidemic with real evidence-based treatments, a generation of Americans will be decimated because their fellow Americans refused to help them. That America would be far from great.

Gingrichs book, available on June 5, emphasizes AORs strategic recommendations. The excerpts below highlight some of Gingrichs main points:

Ending the stigma surrounding the disease of addiction and medication-assisted treatment (MAT):



"The research is unequivocal that behavioral therapy combined with recovery medications, such as methadone, buprenorphine, and Suboxone, is the most effective way to treat opioid addiction." (Page 238)

"Currently, any health care provider can prescribe an opioid for pain management, but when it comes to prescribing two of the three opioid recovery medications that exist, special circumstances and training requirements must be met. These requirements are contributing to the massive shortage of medication-assisted treatment providers." (Pages 240-241)

Removing insurance barriers to meaningful evidence-based treatment by fully enforcing the Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act and by bringing parity to government-sponsored health plans:



"Considering that insurance coverage parity is the law of the land and the administration and every major public health organization supports medication-assisted treatment, it is shocking that Medicare does not cover [Opioid Treatment Programs]. The oversight is so irrational and the solution so undeniable that this disparity will be a litmus test on the seriousness of any effort to combat this epidemic." (Page 245)

"President Trump should ensure the Department of Labor has real authority and resources to enforce this law [Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act co-sponsored by AOR Advisor Patrick Kennedy], audit violators, and impose fines." (Page 246)

Increasing Americas clinical capacity to treatment people living with addiction:



"Fundamentally, this cap [on the number of patients a provider can treat with buprenorphine] makes no sense. No other medications have such restrictionsincluding the pain management opioid prescriptions that have helped cause this problem." (Page 241)

Decriminalizing addiction by promoting evidence-based treatment in the criminal justice system:



"To relieve prison populations and keep people with addictions or mental illness out of jail, we should invest more in treatment courts and ensure they are using evidence-based treatments. These courts are already profoundly successful in some states for combating addiction and keeping jail populations low." (Pages 246-247)

Advocates for Opioid Recovery was founded by former House Speaker Newt Gingrich, Former Congressman Patrick J. Kennedy, and civil rights activist Van Jones. We are proud to stand behind Speaker Gingrichs efforts to raise public awareness using the platform his book provides, said Anne Woodbury, AOR Executive Director. We echo his call to find innovative, lasting solutions that transcend politics and partisanship.

About Advocates for Opioid Recovery

Advocates for Opioid Recovery is a nonprofit organization dedicated to advancing a science-based, evidence-based treatment system that can reduce death and suffering from opioid addiction, and produce more long-term opioid addiction survivors who are positively engaged in their families and communities. For more information, visit http://www.opioidrecovery.org. Follow us on Twitter @AORecovery.

About Newt Gingrich

Newt Gingrich was the Speaker of the United States House of Representatives from 1995 to 1999. Gingrich was first elected to Congress in 1978 where he served Georgias 6th congressional district for 20 years. Today, he is a Fox News contributor and the author of 36 books, including 15 fiction and nonfiction New York Times best sellers. He has also been an advisor to President Donald Trump both during the 2016 campaign and the presidency. Gingrich received his bachelors degree from Emory University and his masters and doctorate in Modern European History from Tulane University.
Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices KoenigRubloff Realty Group We are thrilled to offer our agents such a spectacular space to conduct business, meet with clients and network with their colleagues.

Nancy Nagy, CEO, of Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices KoenigRubloff Realty Group, is pleased to announce the grand opening of the firms new Michigan Avenue office located at 980 N. Michigan Avenue. Guests at the grand opening event held on April 26th enjoyed cocktails, hors doeuvres and a deejay as they viewed the stunning 21,400 square foot office.

We are thrilled to offer our agents such a spectacular space to conduct business, meet with clients and network with their colleagues, said Nagy. The very best in the industry deserve an incredible space that they can call home. Our agents benefit from the experienced management team of David Bracy, Alan Zuber, Joe Stacy and Jeani Jernstedt as well as a seasoned support staff that rivals the best in the industry.

The firm performed a complete build-out of the 7th floor. While generously sized, the transitional-style space has a residential ambiance achieved through the use of Restoration Hardware furnishings, library tables, crystal lamps with white shades, a hand-crafted custom chandelier, and significant attention to detail. The office features a bright white and gray color palette that lends the space its warm, appealing and comfortable aesthetic. White orchids compliment the decor. Six conference rooms and four quiet rooms are available to meet agents needs. The office even has a private terrace, a rare amenity for a commercial building on Michigan Avenue. With landscape design done by Christy Webber Landscapes and furniture by Restoration Hardware, the terrace offers spectacular views and an opportunity for quiet reflection. The firms Home Office is just upstairs on the 9th floor.

To view photos or video, please click the link. To view photos of the Grand Opening event, click here.

About Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices KoenigRubloff Realty Group

Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices KoenigRubloff Realty Group is a full-service real estate firm with nearly 1,500 real estate professionals and staff in 22 offices serving customers throughout the Chicago metropolitan area, the North Shore, Western Suburban communities and Harbor Country, Michigan. Deep local roots are complemented by the extensive global reach of Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices, the top real estate brand in the nation. Affiliated and ancillary services in the form of HomeServices Lending, Fort Dearborn Title, and HomeServices Insurance complete the comprehensive services offered to clients. Visit KoenigRubloff.com.
ThinkTransit shows how transit agencies can push the boundaries of traditional transit concepts by embracing innovative technologies to become the lifeblood of the shared mobility paradigm.

The new mobility paradigm is pushing the transportation industry beyond the old exclusive structure, and moving toward a shared environment. By working together, and taking advantage of unprecedented technologies and new mobility options (rideshare, bikeshare, transportation network companies, etc.), the industry can reshape cities, lifestyles, and infrastructure development.

ThinkTransit: The Trapeze Technology Conference, which kicked off this morning, allows 400+ attendees to share strengths, challenges, and opportunities facing public transit in this changing mobility landscape.

We live in an advanced technological world thats transforming the way we move, said keynote speaker, Jim Carroll. The speed in which technology and our expectations are accelerating is forcing the way we have to react to our surroundings. It all comes down to thinking big, starting small, and scaling fast.

Showcasing how public transit fits into this new mobility climate is one of the many goals of ThinkTransit. Jim Carroll did just this, challenging the notion of innovation, examining what is truly possible for transit, and when itll become a reality.

The entire transportation spectrum is inclusive to the new definition of mobility, said Kevin Bade, General Manager, Trapeze Group. ThinkTransit shows how transit agencies can push the boundaries of traditional transit concepts by embracing innovative technologies to become the lifeblood of the shared mobility paradigm.

One of the big technologies driving the innovation discussion is autonomous vehicles. Autonomous vehicles are a significant factor in the mobility movement, and new to ThinkTransit is the Autonomous Vehicle Experience.

The autonomous vehicle demonstration shows how transit agencies can integrate autonomous vehicles into their existing fleet with Trapeze technologies, especially as we transition through mixed fleets to a fully autonomous vehicle future, said Jeff Moore, VP, Industry Solutions and Alliances. Integrating with existing technology makes it easier for transit agencies to innovate more quickly.

Nashville MTA is the host agency for ThinkTransit 2018. Later today, MTA is hosting technical tours that give an overview of their entire agency. Additionally, Stephen Bland, CEO of Nashville MTA, is set to be the keynote speaker for the final day of the conference.

The conference, running from June 3-6, 2018 in Nashville, Tennessee, marks the 25th year of transit professionals coming together to learn from the industrys most knowledgeable.

For more information, please visit trapezegroup.com/thinktransit.

About Trapeze Group  North America

Trapeze Group works with public transit agencies and their communities to develop and deliver smarter, more effective public transit solutions. For more than 25 years we have been "here for the journey," evolving with our public transport customers around the world helping them to move people from point A to Z and everywhere in between.
Jim is a remarkably talented songwriter and pianist that has always been a great friend to Sound Royalties and advocate for musicians. We commend him on taking the initiative to organize and host such a beneficial event, said Sound Royalties Founder and CEO Alex Heiche.

Two-time GRAMMY nominated songwriter and pianist, Jim Brickman, will be hosting the inaugural Brickman Bootcamp for Songwriters to help artists increase their knowledge of music business, improve their skills and learn from other industry hit-makers. Sponsored by Sound Royalties, the boot camp will take place July 26 through July 29 at the Brickhouse Network Studio.

The program will kick off with an opening night welcome party and concert featuring Jim Brickman, followed by a question and answer portion. Throughout the weekend, there will be multiple sessions that will help creatives learn more about the ins and outs of the music business, provide opportunities to collaborate with experienced industry professionals and tangible tips on how to improve performance skills. The bootcamp will also feature guest speakers such as songwriter and collaborator Luke McMaster.

To close out the bootcamp, participants will have a chance to perform their song live at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame: Songwriter Showcase.

Im extremely excited to provide this opportunity to songwriters who are looking to take their skills to the next level, said Brickman. With the support of Sound Royalties, participants will have a thrilling experience and will be provided with knowledge and skills that will last a lifetime.

Sound Royalties Founder and CEO Alex Heiche added: Jim is a remarkably talented songwriter and pianist that has always been a great friend to Sound Royalties and advocate for musicians. We commend him on taking the initiative to organize and host such a beneficial event and we look forward to seeing the talent that sprouts from it.

Registration for the bootcamp is now live and will close on July 1. For more information on how to register and to view the schedule of events visit here.

About Sound Royalties

Founded by CEO Alex Heiche, Sound Royalties, LLC is a privately-owned specialty finance firm that helps music industry professionals fund personal and professional projects while allowing them to retain the rights to their music and royalties. The company's core business is offering royalty advances of anywhere from $5,000 to $10 million, without having to deal with credit issues, while preserving all rights to the artist's music. It does this by advancing artist royalties paid through music labels and performance royalties paid through Sound Exchange. To date, Sound Royalties, LLC has worked with a wide range of leading music industry professionals, including Grammy Award winners, platinum recording artists and notable music industry executives in every genre. Learn more at https://www.soundroyalties.com.
Technologent, a Global Provider of IT, Data, Cloud and Security Services Technologents year-after-year sales growth is a testament to our teams dedication to provide quality IT solutions to our clients.

Technologent, a Global Provider of IT, Data, Cloud and Security Services, announced today that CRN, a brand of The Channel Company, has named Technologent to its 2018 Solution Provider 500 list. The Solution Provider 500 is CRNs annual ranking of the largest technology integrators, solution providers and IT consultants in North America by revenue.

The Solution Provider 500 is CRNs predominant channel partner award list, serving as the industry standard for recognition of the most successful solution provider companies in the channel since 1995. The complete list will be published on CRN.com, making it readily available to vendors seeking out top solution providers to partner with.

Its a great honor to be recognized by CRN on their SP500 2018 list, said Technologent President Marco Mohajer. Technologents year-after-year sales growth is a testament to our teams dedication to provide quality IT solutions to our clients. Weve also had a fantastic start to 2018 and look forward to having another impressive year of progress.

CRNs Solution Provider 500 list spotlights the North American IT channel partner organizations that have earned the highest revenue over the past year, providing a valuable resource to vendors looking for top solution providers to partner with, said Bob Skelley, CEO of The Channel Company. The companies on this years list represent an incredible, combined revenue of $320 billion, a sum that attests to their success in staying ahead of rapidly changing market demands. We extend our sincerest congratulations to each of these top-performing solution providers and look forward to their future pursuits and successes.

The complete 2018 Solution Provider 500 list will be available online at http://www.crn.com/sp500 and a sample from the list will be featured in the June issue of CRN Magazine.

About Technologent

Technologent is a Global Provider of Edge-to-Edge Information Technology Solutions and Services for Fortune 1000 and SMB companies. We offer a unique blend of business practices that are aligned to solve for top CIO concerns. Our core competencies focus on data center infrastructure, business continuity, data protection, service automation and orchestration, continuous intelligence, monitoring, connectivity, collaboration and cybersecurity. These practices are supported by our professional services, digital transformation services and financial services offerings. By providing custom solutions and services designed to fit your business needs, we enable your organization to be more agile, responsive and competitive. Technologent empowers your company to ascend to the next level in IT.

Headquartered in Irvine, CA, Technologent has offices throughout the US and proudly serves clients around the world. When partnering with Technologent, organizations benefit from the highest caliber of professionals, committed to delivering exceptional business outcomes backed by unmatched service and support.

Technologent is a trademark of Thomas Gallaway Corporation in the United States and other jurisdictions.

About the Channel Company

The Channel Company enables breakthrough IT channel performance with our dominant media, engaging events, expert consulting and education, and innovative marketing services and platforms. As the channel catalyst, we connect and empower technology suppliers, solution providers and end users. Backed by more than 30 years of unequaled channel experience, we draw from our deep knowledge to envision innovative new solutions for ever-evolving challenges in the technology marketplace. http://www.thechannelco.com

Media Contacts:

Lee Yates

Technologent

949-716-9500 #1033

lee.yates(at)technologent.com

Kim Sparks

The Channel Company

(508) 416-1193

ksparks(at)thechannelco.com

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GHB Intellect provides unparalleled expertise and unprecedented service related to IP consulting. We are constantly improving and expanding our service offerings to stay ahead of demands of a changing IP market landscape.

GHB Intellect provides full service intellectual property consulting with hundreds of subject matter experts available to provide technical, financial, legal, and business consulting as well as litigation support. Along with its state-of-the-art engineering/scientific laboratories and equipment, GHB Intellect provides a strategic advantage over brokers and law firms due to its ability to source and manage all the necessary resources meet all its clients needs at highly competitive rates. Having represented hundreds of clients across a wide spectrum of industries and technologies, GHB Intellect has unparalleled expertise when it comes to IP development, IP management, IP monetization, engineering, and litigation support.

GHB Intellect has also announced a willingness to work on a contingency basis with medium sized companies possessing relatively large patent portfolios. This is in addition to the fixed-price quotations that GHB Intellects clients have been used to. Firms that are not interested in spending considerable amount of money upfront should consider contingency services because fees only occur if there is a business opportunity. When GHB Intellect conducts an initial review of the IP portfolio, they first confirm that the opportunity exists and will then work on either a full contingency or semi-contingency plan for the sale, licensing or use of the IP included in the patent portfolio.

About GHB

At GHB Intellect, we harness our top-notch technical expertise and extensive resources to provide industry-leading intellectual property consulting services to our clients. We have been providing technical expertise since 2007 with a project management approach to ensure the quality, consistency, and reliability of each project. Our team is very active in the IP and technology community and is continuously looking for ways to evolve and improve our services.

We enable our clients to realize significant ROI by optimizing each project through highly-specialized experts, reduced project timeframes, and high-quality services. GHB Intellect is privately held company headquartered in San Diego, CA. For more information, visit https://ghbintellect.com, @GHB_Intellect on Twitter, or our Facebook page: @GHBintellect.

Media Contact:

SunCity Advising

Ivan Reed

+1 (858) 859-0123

mypotential@suncityadvising.com

Source: GHB Intellect

Related Links:

https://suncityadvising.com/
Sheild Trio Our top-down X-Ray line-up represents the broadest and most-capable family of machines on the market. Our unique modularized architecture allows customers to select the optimum machine setup for their application while offering an affordable solution that provides extreme value to the end customer

Peco InspX, the worlds leading authority on high performance X-Ray inspection equipment for the food and beverage industries is pleased to announce its presence at Expo Pack in Mexico City (June 5  June 8). Peco InspX will be featured in the booth (number 616) of its distributor in Mexico, Vision Trade International (VTI).

Through its relationship with Vision Trade International, Peco InspX will be exhibiting several advancements in its X-Ray inspection portfolio for improved performance in food and beverage applications.

For glass inspection applications, Peco InspX now offers a family of 3 X-Ray systems (the SHIELD Trio, SHIELD Glissando and SHIELD Glissando Plus) that can inspect small jars of baby food all the way up to full sized wine bottles or gallon jars. These glass in glass systems can operate at speeds up to 1,500 containers per minute and detect metal contaminants down to 0.8 mm and glass contaminants down to 2.0 mm. Finally, Peco InspX is pleased to announce a specialized version of the Glissando Plus for beverage applications that features optimized bottle handling for beer bottles to facilitate superior inspection with the absolute smallest number of false rejects.

Additionally, Peco InspX continues to refine its SHIELD line-up of top-down systems the feature belt widths between 510 and 900 mm with aperture heights up 256 mm. Our top-down X-Ray line-up represents the broadest and most-capable family of machines on the market. Our unique modularized architecture allows customers to select the optimum machine setup for their application while offering an affordable solution that provides extreme value to the end customer," remarked Rich Cisek, Peco-InspX CEO.

For more information on Peco InspXs advanced X-Ray inspection systems, please visit http://www.peco-inspx.com/solutions/x-ray-inspection/

For more information on Vision Trade International, please see: http://www.visiontrade.com.mx

About Peco InspX

Peco InspX Corporation is a leading provider of advanced technology inspection solutions for the food and beverage industries. With headquarters in Silicon Valley (San Carlos), CA and European headquarters in Nuneaton, UK, the company serves customers around the world and inspects over 120 million food and beverage containers daily. The company specializes in accurate high speed package inspection in machines that are easy to use with a low cost of ownership.
This is Us cast members like MIlo Ventimiglia will join the first-ever Fandemic Tour. Its our way of thanking our fans for being a part of our inaugural year of shows, given the challenges we had in trying to launch in Houston after Hurricane Harvey last year, explained CEO, John Macaluso.

Fandemic Tour Comic Con is so excited about their launch this month in Sacramento, they want their fans to keep celebrating with them at future shows! CEO, John Macaluso, a veteran in the comic con industry, is offering a special incentive this week only  buy a ticket their Sacramento or Houston shows by next Sunday night and get another ticket of equal value for another Fandemic Tour Comic Con show through 2020. This special deal will run through 11:59 p.m. PDT, Sunday, June 10, 2018. Full programming schedule for Sacramento will be posted online soon. Tickets and details about guest appearance dates are listed at http://www.fandemictour.com..

Its our way of thanking our fans for being a part of our inaugural year of shows, given the challenges we had in trying to launch in Houston after Hurricane Harvey last year, explained CEO, John Macaluso. We appreciate them believing in the spirit of the Fandemic community. So we want our fans to have the chance to follow our tour and celebrate with us, starting in Sacramento June 22-24.

Fandemic Tour, a new touring comic con, will debut at the Sacramento Convention Center June 22-24, 2018. Fandemic Tour is produced by the former CEO of Wizard World, John Macaluso, who is now bringing that experience back to Sacramento. Fandemic Tour will also stop in Houston Sept. 14-16, 2018. Many of the celebrities and notable artists and authors are featured in interactive programming throughout the weekend.

Fandemic Tour is a new comic convention that will bring together celebrities, well-known and emerging comic artists, cosplayers and exhibitors with unique pop culture merchandise. Fandemic Tour comic con is an experience in the vein of other major shows such as Silicon Valley Comic Con, Comicpalooza, Dallas Comic Con, FanFest, Emerald City, Denver Comic Con, and Walker Stalker.

Fandemic Tour will offer attendees the opportunity to purchase autographs and photo opportunities with their favorite celebrity talent and artists. Photos come in the form of 8x10 printouts.

General Admission tickets are available at the following price points:

$35 Friday Pass (Hours 3:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m.)

$45 Saturday Pass (Hours 10:00 a.m. - 7:00 p.m.)

$40 Sunday Pass (Hours: (10:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.)

$75 Full Weekend Pass (admission all three days)

Fandemic Fanatic VIP - $150 (3-day pass, early admission, fast pass for photo ops/autographs (behind Celebrity VIP passholders), swag bag and VIP reserve seating at panels). Celebrity VIP packages are available in addition to a la carte Photo Ops and Autographs at various prices.

For inquiries regarding sponsorship and booth space please contact Joe Avino at Sales(at)caconventions(dot)com or Joe(at)caconventions(dot)com or visit http://www.fandemictour.com and download the forms.

Press badge registration required for consideration at upcoming shows  Select Sacramento or Houston badge application at the top of the page: https://www.fandemictour.com/press/

SOCIAL MEDIA

@fandemictour - Facebook, Twitter, Instagram

ABOUT FANDEMIC TOUR

Fandemic Tour is a new type of comic con bringing fandom, fun and family together to celebrate all of pop culture. Fandemic Tour will provide programming open to all who attend throughout the weekend. Throughout the three-day event, attendees can purchase autographs

and photo ops with Fandemic Tour celebrities. Photo opportunities come in the form of a photo of you and the celebrity guest taken on a professional camera under ideal lighting conditions.

Photos are printed on 810 paper on dye-sublimation photo printers. Most guests are

available for at least two of the three days of the event, and all details are available at http://www.FandemicTour.com.
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Sovos Intelligence Compliance Weve built a flexible, connected platform that can keep up with digital business models and meet the demanding standards of modern taxation, regardless of a businesss technology and infrastructure strategy.

Sovos, a leading global provider of tax software, today revealed its S1 cloud platform, which aims to drive the modernization of tax software in the face of mounting digital disruption from businesses, financial systems providers and governments. This approach includes modern software architecture, an updated development framework and a highly reliable, scalable and secure cloud infrastructure.

Weve reached the point in modern taxation where tax enforcement is now embedded in the most important business processes, and that demands a new approach to tax software, said Sovos CTO John Landy. Unfortunately, most businesses are still working with technology that was built for an offline world. Weve built a flexible, connected platform that can keep up with digital business models and meet the demanding standards of modern taxation, regardless of a businesss technology and infrastructure strategy.

The S1 platform was built to support Sovos Intelligent Compliance Cloud, the worlds first complete solution for modern tax that combines more traditional tax determination and reporting tools for sales and use tax, VAT and other transactional taxes with modern e-accounting and e-invoicing software, which is quickly becoming a global standard. Sovos launched the Intelligent Compliance Cloud last year. It has since acquired three market leaders on three continents, the latest of which was Stockholm-based TrustWeaver, expanding coverage for modern, transaction-level tax enforcement to more than 60 countries.

Connected, Adaptable, Global Platform Reduces Tax Risks and Burdens

The S1 architecture enables Sovos to do the hard work for businesses, keeping all their tax applications and financial systems up to date, while providing access to tools and data through a single user experience. The architecture is adaptable, always connected and built for global businesses, with capabilities that include:



Adaptable Rules-Driven Platform  Flexible services make the most important parts of applications available when theyre needed, allowing Sovos to quickly integrate acquisitions and partner applications into solutions worldwide.

A Transaction Data Engine  A centralized data warehouse gives businesses a single source of truth for all tax-related data and enables data consumption by multiple applications.

Modern, Flexible and Comprehensive APIs  Applications are easily available to companies specific financial systems and workflows, enabling business systems to communicate to governments in the unique and changing data formats they require.

Regulatory Content Management  The Sovos regulatory analysis team does the hard work for businesses, freeing tax teams from the work required to monitor, interpret and deliver regulatory content into systems.

Role-Based, Consumer-Quality User Experience  The S1 user portal provides a single, transparent view into business tax operations and transactions through a user-first design system, giving leaders role-based access to the data they need.

Highly reliable, scalable and secure, S1 is backed by Sovos best-in-class data centers and modern cloud infrastructure which provide:



Distributed deployment architecture to accommodate all infrastructure strategies

Multiple physical data center approach to deliver data where its needed

24/7 monitoring with full transparency

SSAE SOC 2 Certified facilities with dedicated SCO team

ISO 27001 Certified

Continuous vulnerability scanning and regular penetration testing

The S1 platform empowers our diverse global staff to apply their knowledge, skills and strengths at scale to deliver innovative technology, said Pawel Smolarkiewicz, vice president, chief product officer, Sovos. Our team and software is uniquely capable of solving the challenge of global tax for our customers today and to keep pace with future demands.

To learn more about Sovos S1, visit https://sovos.com/s1-platform/

About Sovos

Sovos is a leading global provider of software that safeguards businesses from the burden and risk of modern tax. As governments and businesses go digital, businesses face increased risks, costs and complexity. The Sovos Intelligent Compliance Cloud combines world-class regulatory analysis with a secure and reliable cloud software platform to create a global solution for tax determination, e-invoicing compliance and tax reporting. Sovos supports 4,500 customers, including half of the Fortune 500, and integrates with a wide variety of business applications. Headquartered in Boston, Sovos has offices throughout North America, Latin America and Europe. Sovos is owned by London-based Hg. For more information visit http://www.sovos.com and follow us on LinkedIn and Twitter.
Students Taliesin Day, Michael Verdin, and Kashi McDaniels from Venice Arts School Grand Prize winners for their film Venice Streets.

Top student producers, and their teachers and schools were celebrated at the 52nd Annual California Student Media Festival (CSMF) awards Saturday, June 2 at Harmony Gold Preview House in Los Angeles. The festival, a partnership between PBS SoCal and CUE, is the oldest student media festival in the country, and celebrates the innovative and exceptional multimedia projects produced by students from throughout California. More than 200 projects were entered into the festival.

This year three new categories were added for judging: 3D Printing, Augmented/Virtual Reality, and Coding Challenge. Other categories include: Bilingual/Foreign Language, History/Social Studies, English/Language Arts, Mathematics, Fine and Performing Arts, Career and Technical Education, Science and Health, Journalism and more. The types of projects accepted in each category included: Live Action, A Sequential Stills movie, Animation, Interactive Stills, Website, and Interactive Multimedia Projects.

Burbank High School, Burbank and New Technology High School in Napa were multiple award winning schools. The Little Raindrop, won best Animation and Clean Up! won Best Instructional Video for Burbank High School students. While New Technology High was awarded for best History/Social Studies for Signed, William Lewis Moore and best Journalism for their entry Fallout Napa Valley.

As a public media organization, PBS SoCal can have a real impact in the lives of the young people in our community, said Jamie Annunzio Myers, PBS SoCal COO and Vice President, Education and Community Engagement. Together with our community partners we work to create programs for students to be inspired to become their best possible selves. The California Student Media Festival provides a platform where the creativity and dedication in our students is recognized.

The awards ceremony showcased the winning entries and gave students an opportunity to thank their teachers and mentors. Four Grand Prizewinning projects were selected:



A cash prize was awarded to each Grand Prize winning entrys school to help support their media and technology courses. As the nations oldest student media festival, the California Student Media Festival has awarded nearly $150,000 to schools throughout California.

The California Student Media Festival is a partnership between PBS SoCal and CUE. For a complete list of winners and videos, please visit http://www.mediafestival.org/2018.html

About PBS SoCal

PBS SoCal (KOCE) is the flagship PBS station for 18 million diverse people across Southern California. As a member-supported non-profit organization, our mission is to deliver content and experiences that inspire, inform and entertain  over the air, online, in the community and in the classroom. PBS SoCal provides compelling locally produced content, and beloved PBS programs including MASTERPIECE, NOVA, PBS NewsHour, Frontline, Independent Lens, a broad library of documentary films including works from Ken Burns, and educational PBS KIDS programs including Daniel Tigers Neighborhood and Curious George. Our programs are accessible for free through four broadcast channels, and available for streaming at pbssocal.org, on the PBS mobile apps, and via connected TV services Android TV, Roku, Apple TV and Amazon Fire TV. Through PBS SoCal LIVE, we provide in-person arts, culture and civic engagement experiences. And we support our youngest Southern Californians with essential early childhood education content and services. Connect with us at pbssocal.org, and on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.

PBS SoCal recently announced plans to merge with KCETLink Media Group, pending regulatory approvals.

About CUE

CUE is an educational non-profit organization representing over 10,000 teachers and school administrators established in 1978. Educational technology professional development is at the core of CUE's work. We are passionate believers in advancing student achievement through technology. By providing professional development in the effective use of technology to educators on the infusion of emerging technologies, we can help better prepare students for college and careers. CUE recognizes that California schools serve students of increasingly diverse needs and backgrounds who must be ready to succeed in a rapidly advancing technological society. CUE believes that technology is a critical instructional resource required for all K20 teachers, administrators, and students. http://www.cue.org/about

# # #
Fueled by her passion to write poems and the encouragement of her father, Rida Gulati now debuts as a published author with the release of Unraveled Love: Poems by Heart (published by AuthorHouse).

Readers may visit https://www.authorhouse.com/Bookstore/BookDetail.aspx?BookId=SKU-001167449 to learn more about the book that highlights a womans strength.

I wanted to write about how a woman can look past all the obstacles with a smile on her face, Gulati shares. Unraveled Love is a collection of poems portraying a womans strength and dignity. The poems combine happiness, misery, betrayal, empathy and strength to bring forth a womans inner sentiments, feelings that reveal survival of reality, making her a confident warrior.

A woman is strong, fearless, and independent. She can be both sunshine and rain, Gulati expresses.

Through words of rhythm and rhyme, the author wants readers to feel the poems as if it was their own experience. She hopes that through her poetry, she can make a positive impact in the readers lives.

Unraveled Love: Poems by Heart

By Rida Gulati

Softcover | 6x9 in | 56 pages | ISBN 9781546234494

E-Book | 56 pages | ISBN 9781546234487

Available at Amazon and Barnes & Noble

About the Author

Rida Gulati is a medical receptionist who lives in Hamilton, Canada. She is from India and has traveled to different countries almost since birth. Her favorite place was Paris, France, where she lived for three years. She is an avid bedtime reader and writer of romantic poetry. A reader and writer since childhood, she now makes her dream come true with her first poetry book. She encourages young people to read her poems consisting of various themes.

AuthorHouse, an Author Solutions, Inc. self-publishing imprint, is a leading provider of book publishing, marketing, and bookselling services for authors around the globe and offers the industrys only suite of Hollywood book-to-film services. Committed to providing the highest level of customer service, AuthorHouse assigns each author personal publishing and marketing consultants who provide guidance throughout the process. Headquartered in Bloomington, Indiana, AuthorHouse celebrated 15 years of service to authors in Sept. 2011.For more information or to publish a book visit authorhouse.com or call 1-888-519-5121. For the latest, follow @authorhouse on Twitter.
Contest Winner, Anthony Herbst, Marine Corps Were very excited to know that Anthony won! Hes been participating [in the Art & Essay Contest] for the last 5 years and still gets excited every time they announce the contest.

The Armed Services YMCA (ASYMCA) and GEICO Military are excited to announce the winners of the Art & Essay Contest, a competition that allows military children to communicate through artistic expression.

Each year during Military Family Month, the Armed Services YMCA (ASYMCA) and GEICO Military host the Art & Essay Contest, open to children of active duty or retired members of the United States Army, Navy, Marines, Air Force, Coast Guard, and National Guard/Reserves. The contest allows children to express their military lifestyle and serves to remind us of the sacrifices our men and women in uniform, and their families, make each day for our country.

The ASYMCA Art & Essay Contest shines a spotlight on the children of our military family, said William French, President and CEO of the ASYMCA. Military children face very unique challenges and the contest is an opportunity for them to voice their stories while helping others understand their experience and recognize their resiliency.

The art contest is specifically for children grades one through six. This years themes were, My Day at the ASYMCA and My Military Family. A winner is selected from each branch of the military and will receive an iPod touch.

The mother of one of this years winners, Annie Herbst shared how much her son looks forward to the contest each year. Were very excited to know that Anthony won! Hes been participating [in the Art & Essay Contest] for the last 5 years and still gets excited every time they announce the contest. Hes always happy to participate because he likes art so much, she said.

The essay contest is open to children in grades one through twelve. This years prompts for the essays were, How the ASYMCA has helped me, or My greatest challenges as a military child has been Winners in grades one through eight will receive an iPod, and winners in grades 10-12 will receive an iPad.

All the winners from both contests receive their prizes courtesy of GEICO Military.

For a full list of all 2018 Art & Essay winners, click here. You can also download the 2018 Art & Essay Contest booklet to see all of the creative artworks and essays submitted to be judged.

Military Family Month, established by the ASYMCA in 1996, is celebrated each November to recognize the contributions of service members, spouses, and children that make up our military family. The Art and Essay Contest launches each November to support and bring awareness to these brave families. Click here to view instructions and download entry forms for next years contest.

About Armed Services YMCA

The Armed Services YMCA has served military members and their families for more than 150 years, dating back to the Civil War. The organization supports more than 500,000 young enlisted soldiers, sailors, airmen, and their family members each year. Programs such as childcare and providing travel assistance to military individuals and their families are just a few of the offerings they provide. The Armed Services YMCA is able to support so many deserving military members and their families through the continued support of individual and corporate donors. To learn more, please visit asymca.org and follow us on Facebook or Twitter.

About GEICO Military

For over 75 years, GEICO has stood by the men and women dedicated to protecting our country. That's been GEICO's mission since day one. We understand your needs and we're here to provide you with great coverage, flexible payment options, numerous discounts and overseas coverage to fit your unique lifestyle. The GEICO Military team is proud of its ongoing support of our country's heroes. For more information about GEICO Military, see: [http://www.geico.com/military/.
Houston, Texas (June 4, 2018) -- HCA Healthcares Gulf Coast Division has joined Greater Houston Healthconnect, the regions Health Information Exchange (HIE). The Gulf Coast Divisions participation represents a major milestone for the community, as it is the final major health system to join the HIE.

As the largest health system in Southeast Texas, HCA Healthcares Gulf Coast Division community footprint is robust, with 17 acute care hospitals, emergency centers, nine ambulatory surgery centers, more than 5,000 active physicians, and over 16,500 employees. Through its participation with Healthconnect, HCA Healthcares Gulf Coast Division will benefit from real-time access of medical information from across many different venues of care.

Healthconnect is the regions community HIE, sharing medical information across the continuum of care  connecting clinicians with their patients complete health information, wherever and whenever they need it. By integrating the many disparate electronic health record systems (EHRs) across the provider community, Healthconnect delivers a complete medical picture of the patient, enabling clinicians to make more informed medical decisions right at the point-of-care.

Troy Villarreal, HCA Gulf Coast Division president, says, Participating in Healthconnect will assist HCA in delivering the highest quality care, enhance patient safety, improve efficiencies, and ultimately drive overall patient satisfaction.

Dr. Carl Vartian, HCA Gulf Coast Divisions chief medical information officer, will serve on Healthconnects Board of Directors. A veteran physician-leader, Dr. Vartian explains, Our association with Healthconnect will improve the care we provide to the patients who entrust their healthcare to our HCA hospitals and our affiliated physicians.

Nick Bonvino, CEO of Greater Houston Healthconnect, adds, The thought of connecting all health systems in Southeast Texas was a lofty goal when Healthconnect was formed in 2010. The final piece is now in place with the addition of HCA. Many may be surprised to know there is not a dominate EHR in our region. HCA, Memorial Hermann, and other non-Epic EHRs represent more than two-thirds of the market. This underscores the importance of our core mission to connect disparate systems across all venues of care.

As HCA Gulf Coast Division joins the many hospital and health systems in Southeast Texas, Healthconnect becomes one of the largest HIEs in the country. Our community has spoken! With all health systems and most physicians contracted with Healthconnect, the remaining providers should connect for the benefit of their patients, declares Bonvino.

During Hurricane Harvey, Healthconnect staff worked shoulder-to-shoulder with caregivers, looking up evacuees medical histories in both the George R. Brown Convention Center and NRG Stadium. Medical record access was critically important during this time of crisis, where caregivers did not know the patients they were serving and no EHRs were present in the shelters. Todays announcement ensures that patient medical information from all health systems will be accessible during this type of crisis.

###

About HCA Healthcares Gulf Coast Division

HCA Healthcares Gulf Coast Division is a comprehensive network of hospitals, outpatient surgery centers, emergency centers and diagnostic imaging facilities in greater Houston, Corpus Christi and South Texas. Facilities in the Gulf Coast Division include: 17 hospitals, nine ambulatory care centers, and a regional transfer center that provides one phone call access and support for patient transfers into and out of the HCA Gulf Coast Division Affiliated Hospitals as well as access to ground and air transportation within a 150-mile radius. For more information, visit http://www.HCAGulfCoast.com.

About Greater Houston Healthconnect

Greater Houston Healthconnect is an independent, community-based organization responsible for enabling information exchange among healthcare providers in a 24-county region. Healthconnect is tasked with mobilizing healthcare information electronically across organizations to enhance the safety, quality, and efficiency of care and improve information access throughout the region. Key stakeholders include healthcare providers, payers, employers and the community. For more information, visit http://www.ghhconnect.org.
Focusing on twenty-five of the most renowned illustrated Apocalypse manuscripts, from the earliest extant Carolingian ones produced in the ninth century to the deluxe Apocalypse made for the dukes of Savoy and completed in 1490, Emmerson examines not only how they illustrate the biblical text, but also how they interpret it for specific and increasingly diverse audiences. He discusses what this imagery shows us about expectations for the Apocalypse as the year 1000 approached, its relationship to Spanish monasticism on the Christian-Muslim frontier and to thirteenth-century Joachimist prophetic beliefs, and the polemical reinterpretations of Revelation that arose at the end of the Middle Ages. The resulting study includes historical and stylistic comparisons, highlights innovative features, and traces iconographic continuities over time, including the recurring apocalyptic patterns, events, figures, and motifs that characterize Apocalypse illustrations throughout the Middle Ages.

From the Introduction

This book synthesizes my thinking about illustrated Apocalypse manuscripts over a period of forty years, examining why and how the Revelation of John was so extensively and strikingly illustrated during the Middle Ages. It studies almost seven hundred years of medieval illustrated Apocalypses, extending from the earliest extant manuscripts, which were produced during the Carolingian period (from ca. 800), to the deluxe Apocalypse made for the dukes of Savoy and completed in 1490. This is a huge undertaking, for more than 130 illustrated Apocalypses are extant, making a comprehensive analysis impossible. Rather than surveying so many manuscripts, the book examines some noteworthy Apocalypses selected from the most important, interesting, and influential illustrative traditions. To substantiate historical and stylistic comparisons, trace iconographic continuities over time, and highlight innovative features, our analysis focuses on recurring apocalyptic patterns, events, figures, and motifs that characterize Apocalypse illustrations throughout the Middle Ages. Significant ancillary motifs that become integral to Apocalypse manuscripts, such as the role of the visionary John and the persecutions of Antichrist, also receive sustained attention.

The Apocalypse or Revelation of John, which concludes the Christian Bible, is one of the most memorable books of scripture, developing a rich symbolism, complex narrative, and stunning visual imagery. As Austin Farrer notes, it is the one great poem which the first Christian age produced, it is a single and living unity from end to end, and it contains a whole world of spiritual imagery to be entered into and possessed. In contemporary popular culture apocalypse often implies catastrophic destruction and violent suffering, but the term simply means an opening of hidden mysteries, a revealing of the divine that imparts insights into Gods purposes in history and beyond. For scholars of ancient Near Eastern religions it designates a visionary literature prominent in intertestamental Judaism and early Christian communities (ca. 200 B.C.E.200 C.E.). John J. Collins defines apocalypse as a genre of revelatory literature with a narrative framework, in which a revelation is mediated by an otherworldly being to a human recipient, disclosing a transcendent reality which is both temporal, insofar as it envisages eschatological salvation, and spatial, insofar as it involves another, supernatural world. The term, clearly fitting the late first-century Apocalypse of John, thus refers to both the literary form and the biblical book from which the genre takes its name. It should be noted, furthermore, that although judgment against evildoers, both human and demonic, and sometimes violent suffering and retribution may be prominent in apocalypses, their outlook is not primarily pessimistic, since divine justice ultimately prevails, and the elect are rewarded for their steadfastness.

This hopeful stance structures the dualistic balancing of good and evil in the Apocalypse of John. It describes as many jubilant scenes, heavenly champions, and cherished promises as plagues and earthquakes, ruthless persecutors, and devastating destruction. Structurally, demonic monsters, such as the great red Dragon (Rev. 12) or seven-headed Beast from the Sea (Rev. 13:110), are offset by the sacrificial Lamb of God (Rev. 5:6) or the Rider faithful and true (Rev. 19:1116); the opening of the bottomless pit releasing Locust Beasts with scorpion tails (Rev. 9) is answered by the opening of the heavenly Temple of God revealing the adoration of the Twenty-Four Elders (Rev. 11:1519); the Whore of Babylon, who fornicates with the kings of the earth (Rev. 17), is balanced by the Woman Clothed in the Sun, who delivers her child to heaven (Rev. 12); those marked with the enigmatic 666 designating allegiance to the Beast (Rev. 13:1618) are contrasted to the 144,000 marked with the name of the Lamb (Rev. 14:1); and, finally, the city of Babylon, the habitation of demons (Rev. 18:2), is replaced by the New Jerusalem enclosing the throne of the Lamb and the river and tree of life (Rev. 22:12). At its conclusion, all mysteries have been revealed, and John is told not to seal the book because the time is at hand (Rev. 22:10). The Apocalypse ends with a promise, a prayer, and a blessing: He that giveth testimony of these things saith, Surely I come quickly. Amen. Come, Lord Jesus. The grace of our Lord, Jesus Christ, be with you all. Amen (Rev. 22:2021).

The influence of the Apocalypse on medieval ecclesiastic and political history, visionary mysticism, and literary culture was pervasive. It was extensively represented in medieval art, from Early Christian mosaics depicting iconic images of the Lamb of God (Rev. 5:614; 7:917; 14:1), Four Living Creatures (Rev. 4:69; 5:814), and Christ enthroned in majesty (Rev. 4 and 5), through Romanesque fresco cycles and Gothic sculptural programs, to fifteenth-century masterpieces such as Hans Memlings St. John Altarpiece and Albrecht Durers Apocalypse woodcuts. Other prominent apocalyptic themes include the Four Horsemen (Rev. 6:18), the Souls Under the Altar crying for vengeance (Rev. 6:911), the Two Witnesses killed by the Beast from the Abyss (Rev. 11:313), the Woman harassed by the Dragon (Rev. 12), the anti-trinity of evil (Rev. 13; 16:1314), the Whore seated on the waters and riding the Beast (Rev. 17), the Marriage Feast of the Lamb (Rev. 19:79), the chaining of the Dragon and release of Gog and Magog (Rev. 20:18), and the New Jerusalem (Rev. 21). In the Middle Ages, when the Bible was often read in separate books or gatherings of bookssuch as the Pentateuch, Prophets, Gospels, and Pauline Lettersthe Apocalypse was second only to Psalms in its number of single-volume illustrated manuscripts. Although some offer only a few illustrations accompanying the biblical text, most include substantial cycles of miniatures ranging from forty to over a hundred images and as many as 312 scenes. They exemplify the medieval concern with vision as a means to achieve spiritual understanding.

Jeffrey Hamburger points out that visionary experience involves a double mediation, since visionaries first receive their visions and then communicate them to readers and interpreters. Johns visions in illustrated Apocalypses entail additional intermediaries, for they are copied for medieval readers, often include commentaries explaining their meanings, and, most importantly for this study, add pictures not only illustrating but often interpreting the visions. A major focus of analysis in this book will therefore be the ways manuscript images produce meaning beyond the texts they illustrate, how they develop their own visual exegesis of the Apocalypse. I understand visual exegesis to include not only images that take the place of, or fill the gaps in, a biblical text or commentary, but also those interpretive aspects of miniatures accompanying verbal texts that underscore or elaborate their meaning by emphasizing particular aspects of the visionary experience or even adding new details that can change meaning and, in some cases, challenge it. The image thereby creates a new visual text that aids the reader-viewers understanding of Johns visions. To understand how this visual exegesis works, we need to recognize the internal coherence of images and shun the temptation to focus only on their textuality, since they are multidimensional. In addition to their iconographic features, their compositions and forms generate meaning by interacting within the manuscript matrix not only with texts but also with other visual signifiers. In analyzing apocalyptic images, the following chapters will not only study their discursive elements, which depict details ultimately derived from biblical and exegetical texts, but also their figural features, which belong to the image as a visual experience independent of languageits being-as-image, as Norman Bryson explains.

Textual scholars sometimes fault medieval illustrations for not being faithful to the text, for exhibiting inaccuracies, for failing to depict precise textual details, or for including nontextual elements. Such criticism not only assumes the priority of word over image, but also misunderstands the nature of manuscript illustration, which follows its own visual logic. Attending to this visual logic informs my approach to Apocalypse miniatures, which can be exemplified briefly by the two-page opening of the early fourteenth-century Welles Apocalypse. In its miniature depicting Johns response to the voice inviting him to come up to heaven (Rev. 4:12), the visionary scrambles up a ladder into heavens open door and stretches to grasp an angels hand (fol. 117v; fig. 1). The ladder motif, adopted in other Apocalypses that include the same Anglo-Norman commentary, differs significantly from earlier representations in which John, sometimes led by an angel, looks through a door. The depiction of John actively climbing a ladder to reach into heaven, furthermore, is not based on the biblical text, which simply states: And immediately I was in the spirit (Rev. 4:2). It implies that John passively receives the spirit, taking no action whatsoever. The ladder motif is a form of visual exegesis particularly apt for this manuscript, however. It includes the Lumere as lais (Light for laypeople, 1267), a lengthy dogmatic compendium by Pierre dAbernon de Fetcham written as a dialogue in Anglo- Norman couplets and intended to instruct laypersons and encourage their active participation in spiritual life. Significantly, such encouragement is given by the text on the folio facing the image (fol. 118r). It interrupts the biblical text calling John to come up in order to address the reader directly and point to the image: As you can see in the adjacent figure here present on the other part of the facing leaf. As Lucy Freeman Sandler notes, this unique instruction is inscribed below an initial A in which a striking frontal female head depicts the viewers gaze. The ladder motif, ultimately derived from Jacobs visionary ladder (Gen. 28:1019) and extensively discussed in monastic exegesis, reflects the later medieval appropriation of monastic imagery for vernacular lay devotion. Johns climbing the ladder thus models for the reader-viewer the need not only to look at the picture, but also to respond decisively, to seek actively the fundamental apocalyptic vision depicted across the page, which reveals Christ enthroned in majesty surrounded by the Twenty-Four Elders and Four Living Creatures.

Such powerful images typify medieval Apocalypses and exemplify how, as Bonaventure (12211274) notes, the illumination of mechanical art is a way to the illumination of sacred Scripture. Such illumination particularly helps the reader-viewer comprehend a visionary work such as Revelation, whose fluid and graphic text is often better evoked by images than explained by words, the images creating a visual exegesis that both illustrates and elucidates. Although most medieval manuscripts were not illustrated, because pictures were expensive, when the investment was made to have images accompany texts, as Michael Curschmann notes, the expectation was obviously that two potentially competing modes of communication would come together for the purpose of mutual enhancement, resulting in something greater than the mere sum of its parts. To examine how medieval Apocalypses achieve this something greater, our analysis will strive to be sensitive to both their images and their texts and to the ways the interaction of images and text on the manuscript page contributed to the reception and understanding of Revelation and active engagement with its meaning over the centuries. As Mary Carruthers argues, medieval art eschews the Romantic aspiration of a willing suspension of disbelief famously enunciated by Coleridge, but instead seeks to persuade its audience to action and to a confident consent to believe.

This book also strives to balance analysis of the manuscripts as works of art in their own right with attention to their historical, religious, and social contexts. On the one hand, by focusing on specific miniatures in representative Apocalypses, we will see how the manuscript matrix encouraged the reader-viewer to interpret apocalyptic figures and events. The mise-en-page of the Welles Apocalypse opening (fig. 1) anchors text and image, while exemplifying what Hamburger describes as the symbolic dimensions of the opening as revelation, the effect of images and texts facing each other in the codex. As he notes, The association of reading with revelation would never have taken hold had not the experience of opening and entering the space of the book, real and imaginary, itself been so profound. On the other hand, the images need to be anchored within history as well. This book will therefore consider how Revelation was interpreted over time, how it was associated with other prophetic, didactic, liturgical, and devotional texts, and how apocalyptic expectations and historical events influenced the reception of these manuscripts. The goal is to understand the function and meaning of Apocalypses within a variety of specific interpretive communities throughout the Middle Ages.

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Insightful, informative, and thought-provoking, The Anglican Communion at a Crossroads is an invaluable resource for understanding the debates taking place in this worldwide community. Those interested in Anglicanism, sexuality and the Christian tradition, the sociology of religion, and the evolving relationship between World Christianity and churches in the Global North will find it indispensable.

To many, the disagreements over such issues as LGBTQ clergy, same-sex marriage, and womens ordination suggest an insurmountable crisis facing Anglicans, one that may ultimately end the Communion. Christopher Craig Brittain and Andrew McKinnon argue otherwise. Drawing on extensive empirical research and interviews with influential Anglican leaders, they show how these struggles stem from a complex interplay of factors, notably the forces and effects of globalization, new communications technology, and previous decisions made by the Communion. In clarifying both the theological arguments and social forces at play as the bishops and primates of the Anglican Communion prepare to set the Churchs course for the next decade, Brittain and McKinnon combine sociological and theological methodologies to provide both a nuanced portrait of Anglicanism in a transnational age and a primer on the issues with which the Lambeth Conference will wrestle.

Worldwide debates over issues of sexuality and gender have come to a head in recent years in mainline and evangelical churches, with the Anglican Communiona worldwide network of churches that trace their practice to Canterbury and claim some 85 million membersamong the most publicly visible sites of contestation. This thorough and compelling analysis of the conflicts within the Communion argues that they are symptoms of long-simmering issues that must be addressed when Anglican bishops and archbishops meet at the 2020 Lambeth Conference.

Christopher Craig Brittain is Dean of Divinity and Margaret E. Fleck Chair in Anglican Studies at Trinity College, University of Toronto. His publications include A Plague on Both Their Houses: Liberal vs. Conservative Christians and the Divorce of the Episcopal Church USA, Religion at Ground Zero: Theological Responses to Times of Crises, and The Weight of Objectivity: Critical Social Theory and Theology.

From the Introduction

Since the middle of the 1990s, the global fellowship of Anglican churches worldwide, known as the Anglican Communion, has been caught up in an increasingly intense conflict that has taken as its focus disagreement over the place of gays and lesbians in the church. Perhaps the most memorable scene to date took place on the lawn at the University of Kent in August 1998, where the decennial Lambeth Conference, which gathers bishops of the church from the four corners of the globe, was being held. As a group of fellow bishops nervously looked on, and an army of press passes scouted for a good hook and compelling visuals, Bishop Emmanuel Chukwuma of Enugu Diocese in Nigeria attempted to exorcise a demon of homosexuality from the Reverend Richard Kirker. Bishop Chukwuma declared loudly to a journalist that the book of Leviticus demands the death of anyone caught in a homosexual act. This prompted Kirker, general secretary of the Lesbian and Gay Christian Movement, who had been passing out leaflets, to ask the bishop, Would you be prepared to stone us to death? James Solheim, director of news and information for the Episcopal Church, recounts what followed:

The bishop tried to lay his hands on Kirker, In the name of Jesus, I deliver him out of homosexuality, he said as he attempted to grab the general secretary. I pray for God to forgive you, for God to deliver you out of your sinful act, out of your carnality, the bishop shouted as a crowd gathered. Kirker responded, May God bless you, sir, and deliver you from your prejudice against homosexual people.

You have no inheritance in the kingdom of God. You are going to hell. You have made yourself homosexual because of your carnality, the bishop said.

With sweat pouring from his face, the bishop screamed again and again for repentance while his wife stood nearby murmuring Alleluia. The bishop said, We have overcome carnality just as the light will overcome darkness. . . . God did not create you as a homosexual. That is our stand. That is why your church is dying in Europebecause it is condoning immorality. You are killing the church. This is the voice of God talking. Yes, I am violent against sin.

When Bishop David Russell of South Africa tried to intercede, pointing out that Archbishop Desmond Tutu supports the inclusion of homosexuals in church, Chukwuma marched off muttering, Desmond Tutu is spiritually dead.

The press reported extensively on the scene, captured by BBC camera crews; the media played the clip repeatedly, in the UK and around the world. It was the very definition of a public relations train wreck.

It is all too easy to take this scene as a small-scale model of the recent conflicts in the global Anglican Communion as a whole, even if such a telling would oversimplify to the point of distortion. While different storytellers may be inclined to use different emphases and different vocabulary to describe the characters, Chukwuma and Kirker can easily be made to stand in as representatives of currents within the Communion at large. Kirker might be variously described as a gay man from the Global North, a Christian, a sinner, a liberal, a revisionist, a heretic, a prophetic voice, a sign of acquiescence to the spirit of the age, or an advocate of Jesuss radically inclusive love. Chukwuma could likewise be variously described as a church leader from the majority or mainstream of the Anglican tradition, a pseudo-Pentecostal, a bulwark of the faith, an opponent of neocolonialism, a bishop of the Global South, a defender of the Bibles authority, a remnant of orthodoxy, a homophobe, or a fundamentalist. While the nouns and adjectives employed vary, the sense of two sides contesting for the soul of the Anglican Communion abides, and such ways of framing the situation are repeated over and over again in one bad-publicity headline after another. In our view, these terms are much too simple, and they very often represent a rush to judgment. Academics and church leaders alike have often told us that one or more of these terms tell all that is required to explain why the conflict has emerged in recent years; there is little more to say. We disagree.

The sources of contemporary tensions in the Anglican Communion, and what they mean for members of this global family of churches, are the subject of this book. In the polemical context of the global Communions present conflict, there is a tendency among many commentators to point the finger at those they deem responsible for all that plagues the Anglican Communion. In our research, we have made every attempt to stand back, as much as we can, from polemics and position taking. As researchers from two different disciplinary backgroundstheology and sociologywe have taken as our starting point a principle once encouraged by the former archbishop of Canterbury, Rowan Williams. He suggested that one of the first tasks we need to pursue in the current climate is simply to look at what Anglicans say and do. In this study we have sought to understand the conflict through careful observation and attentive, open-ended qualitative interviews. Our only disagreement with the archbishops statement has to do with his inclusion of the word simply, for we have found the task of organizing, conducting, transcribing, and analyzing more than one hundred interviews with members of the Anglican Communion from most regions of the globe anything but a simple undertaking.

Our research has led us to conclude that the Communions struggles are the result of a complex interweaving of many factors, including the forces of globalization, the rise of new communications technology, and the impact of decisions made in different periods of the Anglican traditions history. We argue that despite the messy polemics, and the church leaderships unsuccessful repair attempts, the global church is not necessarily at an end. It is clear, however, that different groups of Anglicans conceive of the end of their Communionin terms of its purpose, meaning, and future directionin quite different ways. For some, the global church ought to be a big tent that embraces diversity in recognition of the plurality of a world created by a triune God. For others, the Communion should operate like a familywith intimate and familiar relationships that nurture close collaboration and mutual responsibility. Still other Anglicans begin with the assumption that member churches should in the first instance gather around common beliefs and practices rooted in holy scripture. That different Anglicans orient themselves to the Communions current conflict from such distinct starting points goes a long way toward explaining why resolution and reconciliation have thus far remained elusive.

While disputes over the legitimacy of LGBTQ clergy, along with the acceptability of same-sex marriages in the church, are certainly a major element of the disagreement in contemporary global Anglicanism, this study will show that such matters are better understood as presenting symptoms of wider and more general tensions. This book attends to the many differences and disagreements among Anglicans; however, we also demonstrate that such diversity does not necessarily signal the inevitability of schism and fragmentation. We suggest that much depends on how one tells the story of the conflict, on how the present situation in the global church is framed.

Following a brief overview of the history of conflict over these presenting symptoms, the remainder of this introduction turns to a brief summary of some basic details of Anglican ecclesiology and governance for those less familiar with the complicated internal workings of the Anglican Communion. We then summarize our approach to our field interviews.

Homosexuality and the Church: A Brief History of the Anglican Disagreements

The Lambeth Conference of 1998, where Kirker and Chukwuma encountered each other on a hot August day, resulted in many resolutions, most of which have been largely forgotten. What has been remembered is Resolution 1.10. This has come, at least for some, to signify the official teaching of the Anglican Communion and the very mark of orthodox belief for Anglicans, even though such resolutions have no such formal status. In practice, those who so understand it typically remember that Resolution 1.10 identifies homosexual practice as incompatible with scripture; they are often less likely to recall the part of the motion that calls on all our people to minister pastorally and sensitively to all irrespective of sexual orientation and to condemn irrational fear of homosexuals. An earlier version had gone further and condemned homophobia, but an amendment proposed by Bishop Taita Taveta from the Province of Kenya changed this to the fi wording of irrational fear of homosexuals. In practical terms, Lambeth 1.10 states that the bishops cannot advise the legitimising or blessing of same sex unions nor ordaining those involved in same gender unions, which is far from an unequivocal condemnation but also indicates that the churchs leaders disagreed among themselves on the question. The final clause of the resolution also recognised the significance of the Kuala Lumpur Statement on Sexuality, a hardline conservative document that took the churchs position on the matter as settled and beyond discussion or legitimate disagreement; the conference did not formally endorse such a position. It was clear, however, that there were in reality a variety of views in the room that day. A preliminary indication of this was the tally of the vote itself, in which 526 voted in favor of the final motion, with seventy opposed and forty-five abstaining. About a hundred bishops at the conference seem not to have voted.

Those conservatives who had been organizing for several years to arrest what they identified as a liberal drift in the United States, Canada, and the UK declared it a victory. Not all the bishops of the church felt that justice had been done, however, or that the conference had upheld a Christ-like perspective in such a resolution. There was nothing like unanimous agreement that homosexual practice is incompatible with scripture. The day had left both those in favor of recognizing and accepting gay and lesbian clergy and laypeople, and of blessing their relationships in the church, and those who were merely uncomfortable with the tone and spirit of some of the statements in a state of shock. Many no doubt worried about how the news would be received by the faithful among whom they ministered, and among those whom they hoped to reach. Some of those on the losing side of the vote quickly cobbled together A Pastoral Statement to Lesbian and Gay Anglicans from Some Member Bishops of the Lambeth Conference, released by Bishop Ronald Haines of the Diocese of Washington, D.C., the same day. We pledge that we will continue to reflect, pray, and work for your full inclusion in the life of the Church, the signatories declared. Within three days this letter had been signed by 142 bishops, including eight primates; by the end of the week, it had gained a further forty bishops from around the world, though signatories from Africa were notably absent (excepting only Botswana and eastern Zambia in central Africa and a number of bishops from southern Africa). There was clearly no consensus on the matter, though a majority position had been demarcated. In some respects, the vote may have served to exacerbate tensionsit certainly did not resolve them. In any case, resolutions passed at the Lambeth Conference have traditionally been only advisory and not binding on the different national and regional churches that make up the Anglican Communion. Homosexuality, however, had become the symbol that marked a divide within the Communion.

The role of African church leaders in this conflict has often been noted, and their conservative opposition to the sin of homosexuality in the church is frequently taken as a given. Some attribute this opposition to the greater faithfulness to the message of biblical Christianity on the part of African leaders. Others observe that such opposition derives from the fact that homosexuality is unknown or simply unacceptable in African cultures. The church in Africa is treated as a constant, faithful to the original Christian teaching in matters of both faith and sexual morality; what has changed are the beliefs of Christians in the Global North and the growing acceptance of homosexuality in North America and Europe. Such an account is far too simple; as we discuss in chapter 3, there has been a great deal of social change in the West, but dramatic transformations have also affected African societies and the churches in these regions, and these form no small part of the story in the global Communion.

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Focusing on clinical legal education at the Domestic Violence Institute at the Northeastern University School of Law, Britt takes a case-study approach to illuminate how challenging the context, aims, and forms of advocacy traditionally embraced in the U.S. legal system produces better support for victims of domestic violence. She analyzes a wide range of materials and practices, including the pedagogy of law school training programs, interviews with advocates, and narratives written by students in the emergency department, and looks closely at the forms of rhetorical education through which students assimilate advocacy practices. By examining how students learn to listen actively to clients and to recognize that clients have the right and ability to make decisions for themselves, Britt shows that rhetorical education can succeed in producing legal professionals with the inclination and capacity to engage others whose values and experiences diverge from their own.

Domestic violence accounts for approximately one-fifth of all violent crime in the United States and is among the most difficult issues confronting professionals in the legal and criminal justice systems. In this volume, Elizabeth Britt argues that learning embodied advocacya practice that results from an expanded understanding of expertise based on lived experienceand adopting it in legal settings can directly and tangibly help victims of abuse.

From the Introduction | Bodies, Perspectives, Advocacies

In August 2013, Jennifer Martel of Waltham, Massachusetts, was murdered by her boyfriend, Jared Remy. The son of a well-known broadcaster for the Boston Red Sox, Remy had a long criminal history of domestic violence, threats, and intimidation but had never served time. Two days before the murder, Remy had grabbed Martel by the neck and slammed her head into a bathroom mirror. He was arrested, and Martel obtained a twenty-four-hour emergency restraining order. At Remys arraignment the following morning, the assistant district attorney recommendedlargely because Martel had not sought an extension of the restraining orderthat Remy be released without bail. The judge agreed, with a special condition that Remy not abuse Martel. The next day, she was dead, stabbed to death by Remy at their home.

What might have made a dierence for Jennifer Martel? According to an independent review, the assistant district attorney should have sought a hearing to determine if Remy was too dangerous to release. The review found that the assistant district attorney had enough information about the seriousness of the assault, Remys increasingly controlling behavior, and his criminal history to request that he be held without bail until trial or that additional conditions be attached to his release. The assistant district attorney had also misinterpreted Martels decision not to pursue an extended restraining order as an indicator that she was not at risk. No one from the district attorneys oce had talked with Martel about whether she felt safe or connected her with a domestic violence advocate or other resources.

We dont know if Jared Remy would have obeyed an extended order. Research suggests that while restraining orders are largely eective in reducing violence, they are often deed and may precipitate violence. For this reason, many domestic violence advocates consider restraining orders an option that might not make sense in every circumstance. A domestic violence advocate might have asked Jennifer Martel, among other things, a series of questions designed to predict the likelihood that Remy would kill her. The advocate would have learned that Remy had grabbed her by the neck during the assault and that he was very controlling, both strong indicators of homicide risk. The advocate would have asked how Martel thought Remy would react to an extended restraining order and would have helped her strategize about legal and nonlegal options for staying safe. The advocate also could have helped others understand Martels choices and weigh them appropriately when making their own decisions. If the assistant district attorney and judge had more fully understood this bigger picture, they might have evaluated Remy for dangerousness rather than placing all responsibility with Martel.

In my description of how an advocate might have worked with Jennifer Martel, advocacy is a partnership in which the advocate listens to the client as an expert in her own life and provides access to resources and perspectives that can help the client make decisions. The assumptions underpinning this approach are a far cry from those informing a widely accepted narrative about the role of advocates. (For victims of domestic violence, advocates might include lawyers, sta of district attorneys oces, volunteers, and others.) According to this widely accepted narrative, an advocate possesses a privileged window into a clients best interests, usually by virtue of professional expertise. Because of this expertise, the advocates role is to speak and make decisions for the client. In cases of domestic violence, this narrative is further complicated by stereotypes of victims as passive and weak, an attitude expressed in a local newspaper editorial a week after Martels murder that proclaimed victims of domestic violence are often the ones least able to think, speak and act in their own best interests.

Advocates operating according to this narrative are motivated by what I call a heroic attitude. Heroic advocates may not recognize that the client has a dierent but equally important expertise: an expertise in her own life. The heroic advocate may not recognize that the client, inhabiting a dierent body and having had dierent experiences, knows things that the advocate simply cannot know. Although perhaps driven by a sincere desire to help, the heroic advocate may undervalue the clients knowledge and ability to act in her own best interest.

My portrait of the heroic advocate is admittedly simplistic. Yet elements of this attitude emerge in empirical studies of lawyers who represent disadvantaged clients. While lawyers for organizations or nancially successful individuals tend to take direction from their clients, legal services lawyersthose who help the poor negotiate housing, public benets, immigration, the criminal justice system, or other issuestend to take charge. In one study, most legal services lawyers cited their clients lack of sophistication as a primary reason for assuming a dominant role in decision-making. Recognizing that such lawyer-client roles can exacerbate the problems they are trying to solve, legal scholars specializing in poverty law have developed new models of advocacy for those disadvantaged by the legal system. Legal scholars specializing in domestic violence have had similar insights, recognizing that advocacy strategies too often rely on dominant conceptions of their clients as helpless and weakand therefore as incapable of making competent decisions.

This book analyzes an eort to teach one of these models to future lawyers. I study two clinical legal programs organized by the Domestic Violence Institute (DVI) at Northeastern University School of Law. In legal clinics, students work with clients, often from marginalized populations, on actual problems. In one of the DVI programs, law students learned to listen to women in the emergency department of a major urban hospital talk about domestic violence. In the other, students learned to help people le for restraining orders in municipal courts. The advocacy model taught in both programs, called client empowerment, positions the client rather than the advocate as the primary decision-maker. In the client-empowerment model, the advocates role is to help the client see avail- able optionslegal and nonlegaland support her in carrying out her own decisions.

As a rhetorician, I am interested in these programs as rhetorical education in advocacy for another. The book analyzes a wide range of rhetorical practices, including speaking, writing, reading, listening, using silence, supporting the rhe- torical practices of others, and moving ones body. By calling these practices rhetorical, I mean to emphasize that they present a point of view, help constitute identities, and inuence thought and action. Central to my analysis is that rhetoric is what Jacqueline Jones Royster calls a whole-body experience, or action that simultaneously involves thinking, sensing, and feeling.

I use the term rhetorical education to refer to the teaching and learning of rhetorical practices as well as the necessarily embodied development of attitudes towardand capacities forrhetorical action. Ideally, rhetorical education has a civic function, developing what William Keith and Roxanne Mountford describe as citizen participants, not simply future employees or more literate students. Through rhetorical education, students ideally develop the capacity to form judgments about issues of public concern and inuence others. Because rhetorical education focuses on public life, it has the potential to act with other forms of education to promote social change, even if it cannot solve all social problems. But since rhetorical education is always about power relationsabout who can participate and in what formsit can simultaneously promote the dominant culture while erasing the voices of those from subordinated groups.

I argue in this book that the law students in the DVI programs learned an embodied approach to advocacy that resulted from an expanded notion of expertise based on lived experience. Through rhetorical listening, the students came to understand that because they and their clients inhabited dierent bodies, they necessarily had dierent world views and goals and would experience the consequences of any act of advocacy dierently. They developed what I call an attitude of deference, which entailed recognizing their clients as experts in their own lives and therefore as having the right and ability to make decisions for themselves. But rather than leaving clients completely to their own devices, students learned practices that supported their clients rhetorical work, often by drawing on their own knowledge of the law or patterns of abusers. Although these practices did not usually involve speaking for their clients, they constituted advocacy in the sense that they supported their clients interests. Moreover, advocacy in these settings wasnt performed by any one person occupying a particular institutional role but was distributed across a number of actors, including the client herself. For this reason, I often refer to advocacies in the plural. Students learned these attitudes and practices through a range of embodied pedagogies.

This book oers new perspectives to a wide range of readers. To readers in any eld, the book provides insight into the value of listening to those abused by intimate partners. Given that a third of women in the US will experience domestic violence in their lifetimes, everyone knows someone it has touched. But many stories remain untold or unheard. Over the years that I have worked on this project, family members, friends, and colleagues have told me about their own experiences, some decades old and some recent. Their stories have shown me the complexity of domestic violence and the challenges victims continue to face, even in twenty-rst-century America.

The DVI, as depicted in this book, should inspire those who serve victims of domestic violence. Advocates working on behalf of other populations may also recognize the attitudes explored here and consider ways to improve their own practices or complicate the analyses I have oered. Educators in all disciplines may nd ways to adopt or adapt the pedagogies described.

This book should spark conversations to connect contemporary American legal education with rhetorical education. Although they were born together in the ancient law courts of Greece and Rome, law and rhetoric are largely separate in the modern research university. For rhetoricians, the book introduces how legal scholars, law teachers, and lawyers theorize, practice, and teach advocacy, a central but largely taken-for-granted concept in our own eld. Rhetoricians have much to learn from clinical legal educators in particular, who have developed especially rich ways to account for advocating with others, the central concern of this book. For legal scholars and educators, the book shows how rhetorical theory oers a helpful counterpoint to the decontextualizing tendencies of the predominant pedagogy in American law schools. Reconnecting with rhetoric has the potential to help law schools produce not just competent interpreters of legal texts but citizen participants with practical wisdom.

Legal Education as Rhetorical Education

In ancient Greece and Rome, rhetorical education emphasized the production of rhetors who could perform eectively in both public and private arenas, including the law courts. Specically, classical pedagogies focused on developing in students the capacity (in Greek, dunamis) to deliberate ethically and speak persuasively. Today, however, contemporary rhetorical education and legal education are divided, each devoted primarily to the production of knowledge in their respective disciplines.

Contemporary legal education in the US focuses students attention on the production of knowledge through a standard method of instruction known as the case method. In the case method, students read appellate judicial opinions, which form the body of American common law. Students learn to see cases as reservoirs of legal doctrine that they can use to predict how courts might interpret similar legal disputes (actual or potential) involving their clients. Because these doctrines are often implied rather than explicit, law students learn to extrapolate them, a process that has come to be known as thinking like a lawyer.

The case method was introduced in the late nineteenth century at Harvard Law School. Until that time, students learned law either through apprentice- ships with experienced attorneys or through the lecture method prevalent at law schools. Even at Harvard, the lecture method was not seen as particularly intellectual, consisting primarily of faculty reading from legal treatises such as Blackstones commentaries and testing students abilities to memorize. The case method was part of broader reforms across Harvard University, inspired by the German research university, aimed at making higher education more intellectual by training students to become producers of scientic knowledge. Although today seen as far removed from clinical legal education (CLE), the case method was understood at the time as analogous to clinical medical education, in which students learned about medicine by working with patients to understand how to diagnose and treat illness. Unlike medical students, however, law students were to focus not on human beings but on texts; in the words of legal historian Anthony Chase, law books were to the law student what the bodies of the sick and wounded were to the medical student.

The case method represented a dramatic epistemological shift, characteristic of the new research university, fromshaping the self  to producing knowledge. The methods emphasis on producing knowledge, which remains central today, has been both praised and critiqued. In a 2007 empirical study of sixteen law schools in the US and Canada, researchers sponsored by the Carnegie Foundation argue that the method rapidly inculcates in students the ability to read, think, and argue like members of the legal profession. And in a separate study of eight law schools published the same year (2007), anthropologist Elizabeth Mertz calls the method an enormously creative system for processing human conict. However, the case method is criticized by both Mertz and the Carnegie researchers for distancing students from social and moral concerns. By viewing human action through the lens of legal rules, the case method ignores the complex and often painful contexts that form the bases of legal disputes.

According to the Carnegie researchers, CLE is a particularly promising cor- rective to the decontextualization of the case method. In a legal clinic, students put their knowledge into practice, developing professional judgment through the experience of lived responsibility. Working with actual clients, students can see that human conicts are not just legal problems. By noticing the real- world eects of their own judgments, students learn that legal action entails ethical responsibility.

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Russian non-regular passenger carriers complain of new order (video)

Today, representatives of non-regular passenger transportation companies of Russia gathered at the government building. The protesters are complaining about a new procedure for passenger transportation to and from Russia, which came into force on June 1. It should be noted that recently the RA Transportation, Communication and IT Predator issued a statement informing that based on the requirements of Article 4 of the International Road Transport Agreement signed between the governments of the Republic of Armenia and the Russian Federation, starting from June 1, 2018, from Armenia to the Russia and vice versa interstate non-regular bilateral and transit passenger transportation should be implemented based on permissions. Drivers complain about the new order. "It implies the implementation of every passenger transportation, paying 150 thousand drams on the border, plus an additional 2400 drams for each seat," said one of the drivers. Drivers demand legislative changes, granting their licenses and to simplifying the tax burden. David Melkonyan, head of the Transportation Department o9f the Ministry of Transportation, Communication and IT, approached the drivers and said that carriers could apply for a 3-5 year license and if the organization meets the set standards, they would receive a license. Meanwhile, protest participants claimed that in reality there wa no competition, there was monopoly in the field, and several companies had received a regular carriage license. David Melkonyan added that there were 8 companies in Armenia that regularly carried out transportation.
American billionaire, Bill Gates, has lent support to 12 countries in Africa in battling Cassava Brown Streak Virus Disease, a disease that causes $100 million loss annually across the continent.

Gates, according to a report by The Guardian, is supporting the cause through his foundation, the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation.

ALSO READ: Bill Gates thinks a coming disease could kill 30 million people within 6 months

Delegates from the 12 African countries with support from Gates Foundation and the West African Virus Epidemiology will meet in Cotonou, the Benin Republic from Thursday, June 7, 2018, to Saturday, June 9, 2018, to discuss joint actions towards responding to the threat of Cassava Viral Diseases (CVD), ravaging the continent.

The need to nip cassava disease in the bud

Convened by the government of Benin Republic in partnership with the West African Virus Epidemiology (WAVE) Program, the high-level meeting is poised to nip the Cassava Brown Streak Virus Disease in the bud before impending spread.

With contributions and submissions from national, regional and international cassava stakeholders, coordinator of the WAVE program in the Benin Republic, Prof. Corneille Ahanhanzo said there is an urgent need to develop a joint regional emergency response plan to the impending threats by the disease.

Given the important role of cassava for food security in Africa and the impending threats posed by CBSD that is currently devastating the crop in Eastern and Central Africa and making its way to West Africa, there is an urgent need to develop a joint regional emergency response plan, Ahanhanzo said.

Ahanhanzo further said the conclusions of the meeting would serve as success driver for sustainable food security in Africa.

The cassava brown streak virus

The cassava brown streak virus (CBSV) was first discovered 70 years ago in the former Tanganyika territory of East Africa, Tanzania. An endemic viral outbreak progressed throughout the Eastern African coastal cassava-growing areas from Southern Kenya, through Tanzania to the Zambezi river in Mozambique. Cassava, a tuberous, starch-rich plant is a primary food source for many families in Sub Saharan Africa.

The loss of crops like cassava has a large effect on food sources and economic stability; however, the extent of the loss cannot be fully determined until the crop is harvested.

The virus transmission is most commonly attributed to whiteflies (two whitefly species, Bemisia after (Priesner & Hosny) and Bemisia tabaci (Gennadius)) and the disease spread can be rapid, resulting in incidences exceeding 50% in some coastal regions of Africa.
After Ghana won a maritime dispute over Cote dIvoire, Togo has been claiming ownership of a maritime boundary that approaches that country.

The border dispute development was revealed by the acting Director of the Resource Management Unit of the PC, Francis Ackah, in Accra.

What is being done?

September 2017 saw Ghana secure a ruling in its favour following a protracted legal battle with Cote dIvoire over a maritime boundary.

According to Ackah Ghana was currently handling a border dispute with Togo, while another with Burkina Faso was also in the offing.

Togo says that it does not recognise our borders and so we need to meet the authorities of that country and see how we can resolve the issue. Already, the Ministry of Energy has put in place a committee to handle the issue.

In December 2017, a seismic vessel from Ghana was on the sea when the Togo Navy stopped it from working. While we were looking at that issue, another seismic vessel was stopped by the Togolese authorities this month, he said.
WapiMED, an e-health startup company situated in the Democratic Republic of Congo is currently eyeing a $5,000 grant from the Tony Elumelu Entrepreneurship Programme.

The self-funded startup is co-founded by Steve Nkashama and Jose Zefu Kimpalou in 2016.

Just when the founders were about to start meeting investors in a bid to raise funds to enlarge the scope of business, WapiMED was selected to participate at the Tony Elumelu Entrepreneurship Programme (TEEP).

This move will give the startup access to a US$5,000 grant should it impress the programmes board and panel.

What is WapiMED?

With an objective to improve the way, the African diaspora supports family members when they need treatment in their home countries, Kimpalou, and his partner launched the startup.

ALSO READ: Tony Elumelu Foundation selects 1000 entrepreneurs across Africa for its 2018 programme

Explaining the activities of WapiMED, Kimipalou said the startup can be likened to Western Union or MoneyGram for healthcare expenses in Africa.

The service is combining online payments, mobile banking, and top-up cards with the aim of easing health remittances between money senders in the African diaspora and care providers in an easy, fast and secure way, to support their family members in accessing quality care in their home countries, Kimpalou told Disrupt Africa.
S&P Improved the Outlook on Ameriabank to Positive

Ararat Mirzoyan to visit to Minsk

Foreign Minister of India visits the Memorial of Armenian Genocide

1217 new cases

Global Finance Names Ameriabank the Safest Bank in Armenia

Statement by the Co-Chairs of the OSCE Minsk Group

At UCOM only: Tv sets at 10% discount + 1 month free UMIX package + 4k tv channel

Ameriabanks Special Offer for New Clients of Hrazdan Branch

"Fall forward": Gurgen Khachatryan, the Co-Founder of the Galaxy Group of Companies, addressed a message to young people in Armenia

UCOM hosted interns of Russian CBOSS corporation for a month

The 20-episode Bloody bet thriller to be broadcast on Ucom's Armenia Premium TV channel

Statement by the Co-Chairs of the OSCE Minsk Group

UCOM offers affordable gadgets at bigger discount

Foreign Minister of Armenia Ararat Mirzoyan will pay a working visit to New York

Governments preventing publication of Haykakan Zhamanak newspaper during state of emergency

UCOM prolongs the unlimited internet offer for the level up 4700 and level up 5500 subscribers

Google Ad

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
This is as a result of a boom in Ghanas economy with the latest details from the World Bank showing Ghana leading the pack of top ten growing economies worldwide with an impressive growth rate of 8.3%.

The population of Ghana which is heading towards 30 million people with an expatriate population of about 40,000 people, most of whom live in Accra will demand that the real estate industry in Ghana is tailored to meet the needs of its residents such that people from different economic backgrounds can also find a property that will suit their budget.

It is in view of this that MeQasa.com, Ghanas prime online marketplace for real estate, once again set the stage for a massive housing and property fair dubbed The MeQasa Property Expo, which brought together under one umbrella the finest real estate developers, mortgage specialists and housing experts in the country to exhibit their property, network and educate the public on taking informed decisions about real estate.

The three-day event took place at the Aviation Social Centre in Accra and highlighted detailed seminar delivered by top industry experts on topics pertaining to real estate.

The seminar enlightened the general public on topics such as How To Spot Homes With Investor Potential which emphasises that finding the right home to invest in is an essential skill for any real estate investor.

Another topic that was sufficiently dealt with was Avoiding Land Litigation In Ghana The Smart Way; this was delivered on the second day of the event by Emmanuel Mate-kole; a Senior Associate at Bentsi-Enchill, Letsa and Ankomah, one of the leading corporate law firms in the country.

As an experienced lawyer, he assisted in the drafting of a bill to regulate condominiums in Ghana and advised on laws to regulate the construction industry. Anna Owusu-Sekyere, a Manager at Stanbic Bank (Home Loans) also caught the attention of the public with her expose on The Best Way To Win In The Mortgage Game.
The Hiplife artiste believes the undercover journalist has done so such to expose corruption in the country and must therefore be encouraged to do more.

Anas has been in the news in recent weeks, having seen his methods of investigation questioned by certain quarters.

The Tiger Eye PI member has been accused by MP for Assin Central, Kennedy Agyapong of using entrapment to get to his victims.

The outspoken lawmaker has also called for Anas latest expose titled Number 12 to be stopped from being publicly aired.

According to Mr. Agyapong, the undercover journalists methodology and modus operandi are unacceptable because they constitute an invasion of privacy.

However, speaking on the subject, rapper Sarkodie believes Anas is doing a great job and he needs to be commended.

In a Facebook live video, the brighter day hit maker said he supports Anas methods of operation.

Anas is exposing corruption which we all support. I think its very good. You know, he puts people on their toes, Sarkodie said in response to a question posed by one of his fans.

It makes you not want to cut corners because you dont know who is watching. So I support it  For bow I think is on the right path.

Asked further on the ongoing bad blood with Anas and Kennedy Agyapong, the rapper said he would rather not comment on that.

The Sark Nation leader said he respects both men and would not want to interfere with their issues.
In an interview, Freddy Meiway last year stated that Sarkodie had disrespected him.

According to Meiway, he sent Sarkodie a song to feature on for more than a year and a half but the rapper has failed do the song.Sarkodie never replied him on the collaboration he sent.

In series of tweets, the 'Adonia' hitmaker rendered an unqualified apology to the music legend.

He indicated that:

Im sorry daddy  Really sorry. Hope I can still make it up to you  I respect you a lot !!!! Sometimes it happens but my wrong was not keeping him updated and always wanting the perfect time to get what I needed for the record.

Sarkodie in a Livestream Facebook chat with his followers reminded them that he will personally call the Ivorian musician to apologize for what transpired between them.
The record label unveiled their new act Wendy Shay to take over after Ebony at the VGMA 2018 awards night.

Bullet, in making sure Wendy Shay is able to carry the name of the label higher flew her to South Africa to shoot her first music video.

READ MORE: Sarkodie says he will apologise to Freddy Meiway for ignoring him

The music video which was released on June 1 in #1 Trending on Youtube which according to Bullet has never happened with a new artist on his label.

He shared on his Facebook page saying:
The EP comes with a cover artwork which features a single photo of Ugandan politician and military officer, Idi Amin Dada, who ruled the country from 1971 to 1979.

The Ameyaw Debrah Media and AMG Business artistes made it clear about the controversial cover artwork This EP is not in support of the actions of Idi Amin Dada, during and after his reign as the President of Uganda. The visuals of the EP are used purposely to give an accurate description of the music listeners should expect.
According to a report by Tuko.co.ke, Elias Njoroge engaged in the shocking act because he had never believed that his mother, Njeri Muiruri popularly known as Njeri wa Cecilia wa Mumbeca was actually buried in the grave when she died.

Ngurweini sub location assistant chief John Kiarie Gachie who confirmed the incident and the arrest of the young man is quoted as saying: He had dug and removed the soil from the grave a depth of about 5 feet and was just remaining with about 1 foot to reach the coffin. He is an orphan who lives alone after his parents died.

READ MORE: Corpse exhumed as it was heard screaming and banging the coffin 11 days after burial

For reasons yet unknown, the suspect aborted the exhumation just about a foot to the carcasses and planted banana in the grave.

Some residents who spoke on condition of anonymity apparently for fear of being attacked said: His father died when he was young and we know him as a rebel from a young age and who dropped from school while in lower class. We suspect he abuses bhang which drove him to do what he did.
When the latter returned home to meet the door bolted, he tried to open it to gain access to his room, and while he was at it, the landlord emerged from nowhere and began to attack him with a walking stick.

Stanley Mwaura is reported to have told Samuel Gitonga that he had had enough of the noisy sex with the women he brought home, saying he had been waiting for an opportunity to evict him.

The landlord based in Bahati Estate in Kenyas capital, Nairobi claimed the unmarried tenant had been making his women scream too loudly, making it difficult for other tenants to sleep at night.

READ MORE: Landlord burns down building to evict defaulting tenants

Stanley Mwaura drove out Samuel Gitonga from his own rented house that late night.

The tenant then went to the police to lodge an official complaint, leading to the arrest of the landlord and his subsequent release on a KSh 20,000 bail.

According to a report by Tuko.co.ke, the case will be heard on Aug, 7 2018.
Among the winners were five persons from the Ghana movie industry, in what was glorious night for all stakeholders.

John Dumelo won the Gold Actor (comedy) award, with Nana Ama McBrown and Lydia Forson also being adjudged the winners of the Golden Actress (comedy) category.

Gloria Sarfo also went home with an award after scooping the Golden Appreciation Award (female), whiles Yaw Karkon-Ampomah won the Golden Editor (video).

Meanwhile, GH One TV were also winners in the Golden Documentary category.

Below is the full list of winners from the 2018 Golden Movie Awards Africa:

Golden Makeup Artiste Nodryn Evanci (Forbidden)Golden Costume Awenseba Ali-Akpajiak (Baabani)Golden Short Film Iterum (Again)Golden Editor Bernard Makosa (10 Day in Suncity)

Golden Soundtrack (Original) O.C. Ukeje (Potato Potahto)Golden Art Director Anurin Nwunembom (A Good Time to Divorce)Golden Promising Actor Eman Sinare (Baabani)Golden Supporting Actor (Comedy) Richard Mofe Damijo (10 Days in Suncity)Golden Supporting Actress (Comedy) Joke Silva (Potato Potahto)

Golden Cinematography Stanlee Ohikhuare (Idahosas Trail)Golden Editor (Video) Yaw Karkon-Ampomah (Before the Vows)Golden Story Drama (Movie) Nkanya Nkwai (A Good Time to Divorce)Golden Supporting Actress Ebele Okaro (Whats Within)

Golden Discovery Actor Lilian Echelon (Black Rose)Golden Appreciation Award (Male) Peter RichieGolden Appreciation Award (Female) Gloria SarfoGolden Writer Comedy (Movie) Peter Sedufia (Side Chic Gang)Golden Writer Drama (Movie) Nkanya Nkwai (A Good Time to Divorce)Golden Actor (Comedy) John Dumelo (Before the Vows)
In an interview with Accra-based Starr FM, Ken Ashigbey said this does not conform to the laws of the country.

The current architecture that the NCA and their service providers are proposing does not comply with the laws. The law also says that we must be sure that when we do that we dont have access to the content so that there is no privacy breachbut unfortunately, the architecture has the capability [to spy]. So what the telcos are saying is that, as we speak our data stands to be breached if we go with the current architecture.

READ ALSO: Citizens to pay tax for using social media

The Communications Ministry has signed a deal with the Kelni GVG to connect for real-time monitoring of calls.

I am happy to announce that Vodafone and Glo are in the process of being connected as we speak. The others are expected to be connected by the 11th of June. Any operator who fails to comply will be sanctioned.

However, think tank IMANI Africa which sounded the alarm on the deal has described it as fraudulent and called for immediate termination.

READ ALSO: Ursula sings in Parliament to rally support for deal

Its president, Franklin Cudjoe, argued that the deal was similar to the controversial agreements the state entered into with Subah Infosolutions and Afriwave Telcom Ltd in 2010 and 2016 respectively.

He also raised the privacy concerns while questioning the credibility of Kelni GVG.
S&P Improved the Outlook on Ameriabank to Positive

Ararat Mirzoyan to visit to Minsk

Foreign Minister of India visits the Memorial of Armenian Genocide

1217 new cases

Google Ad

Global Finance Names Ameriabank the Safest Bank in Armenia

Statement by the Co-Chairs of the OSCE Minsk Group

At UCOM only: Tv sets at 10% discount + 1 month free UMIX package + 4k tv channel

Ameriabanks Special Offer for New Clients of Hrazdan Branch

"Fall forward": Gurgen Khachatryan, the Co-Founder of the Galaxy Group of Companies, addressed a message to young people in Armenia

UCOM hosted interns of Russian CBOSS corporation for a month

The 20-episode Bloody bet thriller to be broadcast on Ucom's Armenia Premium TV channel

Statement by the Co-Chairs of the OSCE Minsk Group

UCOM offers affordable gadgets at bigger discount

Foreign Minister of Armenia Ararat Mirzoyan will pay a working visit to New York

Governments preventing publication of Haykakan Zhamanak newspaper during state of emergency

UCOM prolongs the unlimited internet offer for the level up 4700 and level up 5500 subscribers

Google Ad

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
The Graphic Online reports that the victims are residents of nearby Kokomba and Chokosi communities who were fleeing to neighbouring Togo over the fear of reprisal attacks, following the communal violent clashes that broke last Friday.

The unfortunate capsizing of the boat is reported to have happened on Saturday, June 3, 2018  a day after the clashes broke out.

A team from the National Disaster Management Organization (NADMO) was subsequently dispatched to the location to help rescue the victims.

However, they were only able to rescue a few, with a large number of people getting drowned.

The Chereponi District Director of NADMO, Fambali Muntala, told the Graphic Online that they could not swiftly respond to the disaster due to the tensions in the area brought about by the clashes.

On Friday, there were renewed clashes between the Konkomba and Chekosi ethnic groups, which led to two deaths and several injuries.
According to him, Anita is becoming too fair and must watch the soap she uses on her skin.

He made the comments at the 39th June 4 revolution commemoration at Madina in Accra after Desosoo had publicly knelt down and begged Rawlings to forgive them their sins.

"Now to my father  Founder, I know your children we have erred and I also know that you are a human being and you have also done something maybe it is not right.

READ MORE: Anita Desosoo threatens to fight Kennedy Agyapong

"And I was so happy when I heard you say that when you brought a statement out, rendering an apology  you are a hero. You are a hero. This shows that what you have thought me is still within me. If you are a leader, be prepared to say that I am sorry. If you are a child, be prepared to say that daddy Im sorry. So, I will take this opportunity on behalf of the party to kneel down before my dad  please forgive us. Let us come together to build this country," Desosoo pleaded.

She also used the opportunity to advise party members to show respect to Rawlings and recognize all his contributions to the party since he has suffered and sacrificed a lot for the party.

Rawlings mocked as the crowd burst into laughter and said "She is getting too fair, lets stop those things we use on the body, lets stop using that soap, its not good. She says she is my daughter so let me say it; tomorrow too come and say Im your father."

The NDC founder, however, urged party members to put aside their differences and work towards rebuilding the party.

He added: "In spite of all these issues let us, as a party, not overlook the challenges plaguing our party. Lets work to improve conditions and go back to our values."

Responding to the taunt after the event, Desooso said she is not bothered by the attack by Rawlings.
In a statement issued by the anniversary planning committee, the durbar will take place at the Madina Social Welfare School Park today, Monday.

This years celebration is under the theme, "Re-organising towards the core values".

Other speakers at the event will include NDC party chairman, Kofi Portuphy, Dan Abodakpi, Fritz Baffour, Samuel Nuamah Donkor, Ebi Bright and Lawrence Lamptey.

Activities marking the 39th anniversary include a lecture which was held at the National theatre on Thursday May 31.

On June 4 1979, Rawlings with some military officers led a revolution to topple the Hilla Limann administration over unproven widespread corruption.
If Assad were to visit Pyongyang, it would be the first time that Kim hosted a meeting with another head of state in the North Korean capital.

The optics are horrendous given that Kim Jong Un is trying to posture as a good guy, said Sue Mi Terry, the Korea chair at the Center for Strategic and International Studies in Washington. Hosting Assad, one of the worst butchers on the planet, as your first foreign leader visit is not a good PR move.

Assad and Kim have much in common. Both are heirs to family dynasties in countries that have long thumbed their noses at the international system, saying that it was biased against them and in favor of their foes. They also have a shared interest in developing powerful weapons.

After years of isolation, Kim has aggressively pursued diplomatic relations in recent months. Last week in Pyongyang, he hosted Sergey V. Lavrov, the foreign minister of Russia, the first senior Russian official to meet with the young North Korean leader.

Since the end of March, Kim has twice met with President Xi Jinping of China. In April, he crossed the Demilitarized Zone separating the two Koreas to meet with President Moon Jae-in of South Korea. The two leaders met again last weekend.

The Korean Central News Agency reported that Assad said he intended to visit Pyongyang when he received the credentials of the new North Korean ambassador, Mun Jong Nam, on May 30 in Damascus.

I am going to visit the DPRK, the agency reported Assad as saying, using the initials of North Koreas official name, the Democratic Peoples Republic of Korea.

It was unclear if Assad had promised a concrete visit or had merely suggested it as a possibility out of diplomatic politeness.

Analysts questioned whether the report represented the true intentions of Assad, given that it gave no date or details. David Maxwell, associate director for the Center for Security Studies at Georgetown University, said that Mun may have misunderstood Assad, or his aides may have misreported what they thought the Syrian leader said.

Given the looming summit with Trump, Maxwell said he was puzzled by the Norths announcement of a possible visit from the Syrian leader, who has been entangled in a bloody civil war and condemned by the West for the use of chemical weapons against his own citizens.

I am struggling to figure it out and trying to put aside my Western bias and look at from Kim Jong Uns perspective, Maxwell said. If they think it enhances their legitimacy, then they certainly dont have a good understanding of the international community, and certainly what the U.S. is going to think about it.

United Nations experts accused North Korea of shipping materials to the Syrian government that could be used in the production of chemical weapons during the brutal civil war it has been fighting against rebels since 2011.

The materials were part of at least 40 shipments that North Korea made to Syria between 2012 and 2017 that could be used for both civilian and military purposes, the U.N. report said. North Korean technicians had also been seen working at chemical weapons and missile facilities in Syria.

Trump has twice ordered airstrikes against Syria to punish Assad for suspected chemical attacks on civilians, saying the Syrian president had committed crimes of a monster.

North Korea and Syria have long maintained warm ties, dating to the reign of Kim Il Sung, the Norths founding leader. The shipments reported by the U.N. were only the most recent example of apparent weapons cooperation between the two countries.

In 2007, Israeli warplanes struck a nuclear-related facility inside Syria that Israeli intelligence believed North Korea was helping to equip.

North Korea supported Syria during the Arab-Israeli War in October 1973, sending troops including pilots and missile personnel.

Analysts said that by announcing a prospective visit from Assad, North Korea risked raising Trumps ire and prompting him to cancel the Singapore summit again.

Assads trip could again derail the newly resurrected summit or, at the least, cast a dark shadow, said Bruce Klingner, a Korea specialist at the Heritage Foundation in Washington. Of all the dictators in the world to meet, Kim had to pick the one that the U.S. has recently attacked and for which Trump has particular disdain.

In remarks quoted by the Korean Central News Agency, Assad said the Syrian government will as ever fully support all policies and measures of the DPRK leadership and invariably strengthen and develop the friendly ties with the DPRK.

Just before Trump canceled the summit two weeks ago, the North put out hostile statements toward the United States, apparently responding to hard-line comments made by John R. Bolton, Trumps national security adviser, who suggested that the precedent for negotiations with North Korea to relinquish its nuclear weapons should be Libya, which agreed to ship all of its nuclear materials out of the country. North Korea rejected that model, noting that Libya and its leader were later destroyed by a NATO-backed coalition.

Although Trump and officials from the North seemed to have smoothed things over, analysts said in announcing a visit from Assad, North Korea could be maneuvering for another tactical advantage in advance of the summit.

Perhaps, said Jonathan D. Pollack, a senior fellow at the Brookings Institution, the North is seeking to send the message that theyve got other options of one kind or another.

This article originally appeared in The New York Times.
14 whistleblowers have been paid over N439 million for giving useful tips on tax evasion that led to the recovery of N13.8 billion by the government.

We recovered N13.8 billion as a result of these tax evasion tips, Adeosun said after the payment of the funds to the 14 whistleblowers.

Nigerias finance minister, Kemi Adeosun narrated how the specific tax evasion tips helped the Nigerian government recover a total of N13.8 billion in its tax collection.

In May 2018, the ministry of finance paid N439,276,099.86 to about 14 whistleblowers who gave specific tips on tax evasion, Adeosun noted.

Whistleblower policy responsible for 791 investigations

On Sunday, May 27, 2018, Adeosun said since the introduction of the whistleblowing policy in December 2016, the Federal Ministry of Finance has received 1,231 whistleblowing tips, undertaken 791 investigations and completed 534 of those investigations.

ALSO READ: Property owners in the UK rush to regularise tax records in Nigeria

Adeosun also tweeted the activities of the ministry of finance after meeting with her predecessor and the former Managing Director of World Bank, Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, during the 53rd Annual Meetings of the African Development Bank Group Board of Governors, in Busan, South Korea.

The whistleblower is an employee that reports an employer's misconduct. There are laws that protect whistleblowers from being fired or mistreated for reporting misconduct. One of these laws is the Whistleblower Protection Act.
Nigerias finance minister, Kemi Adeosun has met with Liu Liange, the president of the Export-Import Bank of China over the funding support for infrastructural projects across the country.

Adeosun, in company of Babatunde Fashola, the Minister for Power, Works and Housing and Minister of State for Aviation, Hadi Sirika, met with Liange in China during the delegations visit last week.

Confirming the meeting, Adeosun said in a tweet: Met with the President of the Export-Import Bank of China, Liu Liange, last week, along with my colleagues @tundefashola, @hadisirika and Muhammad Musa Bello; and the Nigerian Ambassador to China. The Bank is providing funding to support our infrastructure ambitions.

However, the minister did not reveal the exact amount the Export-Import Bank of China will be supporting the infrastructure ambitions of Nigeria.

The finance minister had earlier announced that she met with the China Development Bank to discuss infrastructure funding.

According to Adeosun, the Chinas Development Bank is a key supporter and partner of President Muhammadu Buhari's vision to give Nigeria the infrastructure it deserves.

In the last days of May 2018, Adeosun had met with her predecessor and former Managing Director of the World Bank, Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, during the 53rd Annual Meetings of the Africa Development Bank Group Board of Governors in Busan, South Korea.

ALSO READ: CBN signs $2.5billion swap deal with China

China supports Nigeria with funding for projects

In 2017, China disbursed over $30 billion in funding support to Nigeria and other African countries to drive its cooperation plans on industrialisation and agricultural modernisation.

In January 2018, Nigeria secured the commitment of China for the provision of $550 million towards the purchase of two additional satellites for subsequent launch into the space in the next two years.
Several Nigerian business leaders will attend the maiden edition of the Women in Business Annual Leadership meeting in Paris, France.

The leadership meeting followed the success of the Africa CEO forum Women in Business initiative.

The two-day event scheduled to hold between July 2 and July 3, 2018, is organised in partnership with ESSEC Business School and the International Organisation of La Francophonie, with the aim of strengthening African women in leadership.

Some of the Nigerian women in business to attend the first meeting include; Toyin Sanni, CEO, United Capital; Ibukun Awosika, Chairman, First Bank; Adebola Okunsanya, Country Manager, Mercuria Energy; Helen Majemite, CEO, Oeetrot Concept among others.

The Women in Business Annual Leadership Meeting will close with a session devoted to creating the first circles of influence for African women leaders. Each circle will be headed by a member of the Women in Business initiative board, which will also be introduced at the Meeting.

In Africa today, Yet, the positive impact of women executives on a companys financial performance has been proven: African companies with the most women on their executive committees achieve 20% higher profit margins than the average for their sector of activity, a statement released by Abdoul Maiga, ACF media consultant, reads.

Image making in leadership positions across social networks, how to grow a business internationally as the African Continental Free Trade Area comes into effect are some of the topics that will be covered at the meeting.

Women in Business initiative board is made up of eight African women business leaders, who embody the continents success and are keen to play a role in strengthening African female leadership: Snowy Khoza, Executive Chairperson, BIGEN (South Africa), Elisabeth Medou Badang, Senior VP and spokesperson, Orange MEA (Cameroon), Cathia Lawson-Hall, Head of Financial Institutions for Africa, Societe Generale (France), Lucy Quist, Co-Founder, Women Network, (Ghana), Toyin Sanni, CEO, United Capital, (Nigeria), Anta Babacar Ngom, Managing Director, SEDIMA, (Senegal), Carole Kariuki, CEO, KEPSA, (Kenya) and Nadia Fettah, Managing Director, Saham Finances, (Morocco).

At the sixth Africa CEO Forum in Abidjan, Amy Jadesimi, the chief executive officer of Lagos Deep Offshore Logistics Base (LADOL) was named Africas young CEO of the year.
To reduce unemployment and diversify exports, Nigeria needs to boost investment in the expansion of the services sector as it has the potential to generate employment for its population, PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) Nigeria said in its latest report.

The PWC report titled Structural transformation and jobless growth in Nigeria says while industrialisation in most advanced countries followed a three-stage process of agriculture, industry, and services, Nigeria has tended to develop along the line of India, where structural changes boosted growth and employment through the expansion of high productivity activities within the services sector, particularly, Information Technology and Business Process Outsourcing services.

Services sector

PWC, an international professional services provider, said employment elasticity in the Nigerian economy is highest in the services sector.

According to the report, the services sector is the largest sector in the economy, with its share of GDP rising from 54.1% in 2010 to 56.9% in 2017.

Although the sector accounts for the largest proportion of employment at 57.4%, employment growth in the sector has been less than proportionate to its average annual real GDP growth of 7.8% recorded between 2010 and 2014.

PwC analysis

The report shows that a 1% increase in services growth led to 0.5% increase in employment.

Services sector jobs require a wide range of skills from artisans in traditional services, to ICT experts in modern services. These jobs are in telecommunication, hospitality industry/tourism, mass media, consulting, financial and investment management among others.

PwC Nigeria says despite the remarkable growth recorded in Nigerias services sector, there is ample room for improvement considering the progress countries like India have made in modern and highly productive service sub-sectors, such as IT-BPO offshoring, telecommunications, real estate, and financial services.

The world second richest man, Bill Gates, at his last visit to Nigeria in march 2018, advised the government to maximise the nation's greatest resource, which is the Nigerian people, saying the country will only thrive when every citizen is able to thrive.
Fight depression, loneliness, anxiety with the following five Bible verses:

1. Psalm 34:1819

"The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit. The righteous person may have many troubles, but the Lord delivers him from them all."

2. Psalm 40:13

"I waited patiently for the Lord; he turned to me and heard my cry. He lifted me out of the slimy pit, out of the mud and mire; he set my feet on a rock and gave me a firm place to stand. He put a new song in my mouth, a hymn of praise to our God. Many will see and fear the Lord and put their trust in him."

ALSO READ: 3 Roman Catholic saints who battled with depression

3. Psalm 121: 12

"I will lift up mine eyes unto the hills, from whence cometh my help. My help cometh from the Lord, which made heaven and earth."

4. Isaiah 41:10

"So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand."

5. Matthew 11:2830
At first thought, one will be confused as to the correlation between Kanye West releasing an album and a spike in the streaming number of a Nigerian artiste.

But look no father at unravelling the mystery than in Kanye West's album titled "Ye", which is also the title of track six on Burna Boy's latest album, Outside released in January 2018.

Prior to the release of Kanye's album Ye on Friday, June 1, the rapper had built a lot of buzz around the project with his recent Twitter rants and outburst, and on the night leading to the album release, he had held an outdoor listening session in Wyoming which was made available via live stream.

This heightened the interest of his fans and music lovers from across the world, who immediately took to the various online music sites in search of the album only to stumble on Burna's single instead, as Kanye's "Ye" wasn't made available till later in the day.

Burna Boy has come out to confirm that there has been a boost in his streaming numbers thanks to Kanye West.

A search on the Apple charts also confirms this, as his album, Outside which had fallen out of the Top 10 list has now shot to Number three on the Album charts as at Tuesday, May 5, with the single, Ye also witnessing a significant rise on the charts.

"Ye" is one of the standout songs on Burna Boy's album and during the recent Democracy day celebrations on May 29, some Nigerian youths even requested for the song to be adopted as the nations' new anthem.
The Baseline Music artist who recently performed at the One Africa Music fest in London, says the album will contain a compilation of love stories told in different languages and styles.

He attributes inspiration for this music project to his mum, who makes the cover of the album art as according to him, ''She was his first experience of true and unconditional love''.

ALSO READ:Skales pays a visit to Pulse

Mr Love album sees a strong line up of features that includes Tiwa Savage, Cassper Nyovest, Phyno, Sarkodie, Vanessa Mdee, Aramide, Teni and more, with production from Chopstix, Echo, Pimp and T.U.C.
According to the reports, the suspect was arrested following a complaint issued by one Owolabi Moses who reportedly made a complaint at the Onipanu divisional headquarters.

Moses stated that Idowu who is a driver with his pure water factory, had been bothering the deceased for a love affair but she always turned him down.

The 38-year-old deceased was an accountant at the same factory.

Moses added that on the fateful day, Hamzat had been alone in the factory when the suspect attempted to rape her.

During their struggle, the suspect is reported to have strangled her to death.

The DPO onipanu division, SP Sangobiyi Johnson, reportedly led detectives to the scene where the suspect was found unconscious.

Further investigation into the case revealed that the suspect attempted to commit suicide by drinking a bleaching agent, Hypo, after he realised that Hamzat was dead.

He was, however, rushed to the hospital by police operatives and was treated and discharged before being taken into police custody.

Husband murders wife, commits suicide

A man has committed a sacrilege in the Gambia after he murdered his wife before hanging himself in the Mandiary community.

According to a Facebook user, Sizzla Mandinka Worior Jadama, the man had engaged his wife in a fight following allegations of infidelity and in the process, used a knife to slice the woman's throat.

On realizing the gravity of what he had done, the man went to a tree outside his house and used a rope to hang himself. His lifeless body was later discovered by relatives dangling from the tree.

Read what Jadama posted on his wall:
The judge, who was irked at the respondents pronouncement of I divorce my wife three times, said it was not in line with Islamic practice.

He therefore ordered the respondent to be given five strokes of cane.

The complainant, Hauwa, had earlier told the court that her husband chased her out of her matrimonial home since last year and had never checked on her ever since.

He asked me to leave his house since last year Ramadan, saying I should pack all my belongings and leave. It is almost a year now and he had never checked on me, the complainant said.

Hauwa, who stated that they were not blessed with a child, added that she was in court to seek for divorce as she couldnt be married to a man that didnt care for her.

I want this honourable court to compel my husband to divorce me as he is no longer interested in me, she said.

In his response to the allegations, Saidu said he ordered Hauwa to return home because she has been communicating with her ex-husband which I am not comfortable with. I therefore divorce my wife three times.
The suspect, Mrs. Chika Okoye, confessed to employing her son's friend, Dan Abah, to sit for the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) on behalf of her son, Samuel.

Punch News gathered that the impersonator was apprehended at Command Secondary School, Lafia, where he sat for the test.

Okoye who asked to be pardoned blamed her action on her son's inability to gain entrance into a tertiary institution having tried for a long period of time.

We couldnt get admission for many years so I became frustrated; he was also frustrated and nobody is helping us.

I have other children who have graduated but for the past four years or more now, he (Samuel) has failed to pass the exams, so I became frustrated.

So, I asked his friend to help him to write the exams, I told him I will give him something but I know it is a very bad thing. Please, forgive me sir, I was so frustrated, says the mother.

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.
According to the Hindustani Times, the suspect who is 41 years old, was arrested on Saturday, June 2, 2018.

It gathered that she ran the business at a resort in Panaiyur on the outskirts of Chennai.

This was confirmed in a comment given by Inspector Mahalakshmi of the police departments anti-vice squad wing.

While we raided a private resort at Panaiyur on the East Coast Road following an information from a private source, we found four young girls involved in prostitution.

During the course of the inquiry, the girls revealed that Sangeetha Balan was the mastermind behind this sex racket and lured them as sex workers, says the police rep in a chat with the Hindustani Times.

ALSO READ: Sex worker puts baby at risk just to punish all men

Sangeetha Balan and her partner Sathish, were sent to jail for a 15-day period after appearing at the Chief Metropolitan Magistrates Court, Egmore, located in the city of Chennai.
The young boys that look to be teenagers received a healthy dose of jungle justice from their captors.

Some part of their ordeal was captured in a video clip which has been making the rounds on social media and shared by Instablog9ja.

The situation of the young thieves remain unclear but as you may know, many have been killed for less in Nigeria.

Pickpocket steals from policewoman during interrogation

In a show of stupid bravado, a 28-year-old man, Deji Ayoola, was arrested by the police in Lagos State for picking people's pocket, allegedly stole money from the policewoman while he was being interrogated at the police station.

According to reports, Ayoola had earlier been arrested by the men of the Rapid Response Squad (RRS), of the Lagos State Police Command in the Ojodu Berger area of the state, for allegedly stealing a wallet from a passenger and was being interrogated at the RRS office in Alausa, Ikeja, when he stylishly stole the sum of N1,200, which had fallen from the policewomans pocket.

ALSO READ:Arrested pickpocket says he spends his loot on prostitutes
Punch reports that the case was reported to the Community Response Network in the area led by the District Head of Duhu, Mohammed Sanusi by neighbours who say that the victim sustained third-degree burns.

Sanusi reportedly handed Rukkaya over to police officers after she confessed to setting Godiya's hand on fire over the meagre sum that was later found with the victim.

The court ordered that Rukkaya is remanded in prison custody for her crime.

Meanwhile, Godiya is now in the custody of Adamawa State Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Development.

See what a father did to his own children

Cases of child abuse is gradually growing with alarming proportions as even parents who gave birth to these kids end up being their tormentors.

Another of such cases was recorded at the Nigeria Airforce Medical Center, Ikeja, Lagos State, when two children were rushed there after being brutalized by their father and guardian.

This is what an On Air Personality, Micah Aruocha aka MC Ice Water, posted on his Facebook wall on the incident:

"So I was just hanging around to settle some bills (mumsie came to rest a bit) at the Nigeria Airforce Medical Center, and my colleague, aka , who stays at the base, decided to come give me moral support and here comes these kids with a man towing along, known to be a neighbour, .

And Slimytee's journalistic instincts swings into action thereby gingering mine into taking pictures while she goes about getting all the facts."

"The gist is this.

The man who did such to these kids - the boy - (14) and the girl - (15), is actually the boy's father and an uncle to the girl.

He's an Okada (Commercial motorcyclist) rider and practically more of a thug (according to the good neighbour). He lives at 7, Dele Obilade close, Mafoluku, Oshodi, and has already been handed over to the policemen on duty at Shogunle Police Post.

The children said they were asleep, when their Dad - , came in and started using various objects on them and of course, the resultant effect is the pictures you have here.

Asked after their mummy and they said she doesn't stay with them anymore and of course, they are used to this type of beating even though this is the most fatal of all in the series of such.

This is hoping Human Rights Activists won't allow this man go unpunished as the police men might want to handle this with kids gloves.
If you're an avid fan of the show, you may remember that Osagie referred to her while narrating his travels to Kenya and the people he'd met at the Google mentorship program that had taken him to the East African country.

After mentioning her name, it was agreed that Miss Ogunbanwo would join the troublesome trio for an episode of Loose Talk.

Loose Talk is a pop culture podcast where the host journalists, Osagie Alonge, Steve Dede and Ayomide Tayo discuss trending issues in the news from media, celebrities, lifestyle, sex, sports, politics, tech, religion, movies and TV, radio, music and much more.

The hosts and their guest found a quick synergy. For the first part of the conversation, they dribbled through random issues from Steve's alleged hometown, Ughelli and his views on feminism, and which of Jay-Z and Beyonce's collaborations is the best.

Why are we even talking about Tiwa?

With time, the conversation moved on to Layo who introduced herself and her work in the US, as well as her reasons for moving back and her hopes for Nigeria, and in particular, its young people.

The week's talking points were next on the table.

Last week, as Wizkid claimed another scalp at the O2 Arena in London, Tiwa Savage was a subject of discussion for her dressing on the night and her choice of a pair of distressed shorts that showed up chunks of flesh.

The Giants discussed the scale and tone of the reactions to Tiwa's dress choice, and the rumoured relationship with the pop star, Wizkid. Layo, in particular, made a strong point, highlighting the fact that for a performing artiste, we should be having conversations about the quality of her performance, not her dressing.

Next, was Falz's inspired "This is Nigeria" video, which borrowed from American Rapper, Childish Gambino's "This is America" to offer a much-applauded commentary on the Nigerian situation.

This is (NOT) Nigeria

While the Giants all came to a fair consensus that the video was not perfect, yours truly took an issue with the lack of context, such as the scene where a man dressed in Fulani attire beheaded a random person, subtly enforcing stereotypes about the biggest tribe in Northern Nigeria.

The giants also discussed the #NOTTOOYOUNGTORUN bill, signed over the week by President Buhari. The President observed that the bill did not alter the age limit for contesting to be governor or senator. The implications of this willful omission were discussed.

Like the hip-hop nerds that they are, the giants each shared their five favourite Nigerian hip-hop projects.

Miss Ogunbanwo then shared a few of her plans for the future, drawing an end to another episode of arguably Nigeria's favourite podcast.
Armen Sargsyan receives Armenian students of California High School

Today, Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan received the students of the Armenian General Benevolent Union (AGBU) Manukyan-Demirchyan School. It was not the students' first visit to0 Armenia, but unlike previous visits, this time they did not just go for a walk. Within the framework of the two-day visit, they volunteered to work in different Armenian institutions. "Within 2 weeks, we've seen life out of Los Angeles, how the people approach work here," said one of the students. Most of them were concerned about the social conditions of the Armenian population, and the issues addressed to the President were related to it. The students expressed their desire to visit Armenia again. At the end of the meeting the President handed Samvel Gasparyan's "Wonders of Armenia" book to the Manukyan-Demirchyan school.
For reasons too obvious to ignore, some have described the Koma people as ancient. Others, in their own observation, have termed them primitive. Whichever the case maybe, the Koma people have refused to tag along with civilization.

Located in the Atlantika Mountains of Adamawa state, the Koma ethnic group are made up of people who are entirely committed to their traditional culture.

They share a boarder with Cameroon and are divided into three main groups: the hill-dwelling Beya and Ndamti, and the Vomni and Verre lowlanders.

Like the Efiks of south-eastern Nigeria, the Koma people are also separated politically; There are 21 Koma villages in the Cameroonian side of the Alantika Mountains and 17 villages on the Nigerian side.

It is, however, important to note that with an estimated number of 62, 000 speakers, the Koma people speak their own language known as Koma; a language of the Niger-Congo family.

And as mentioned earlier, the Komas are committed to their tradition. They still use traditional salt (Mangul) produced from the hills for cooking. They dont use matches to make fire, but rub stones together to ignite the fire.

They also use some special oil produced via a natural technology and other forms of foods not common to other ethnic groups around the state.

However, a touch of civilization can be seen; as the youths in resettled areas wear modern clothes. Nevertheless, a large percentage of the people still clad themselves in their traditional dress, using leaves and animal skins that barely cover their vital parts.

The men wear loincloths and women wear fresh leaves.

Another interesting thing about the Koma people is that in line with their custom, inheritance is in the maternal lineage.

At a woman's death, the daughters inherit her livestock, her farms, domestic utensils such as artifacts for body decorations, beads, pigments and decorated hoes. Any forms of nut products are regarded as a woman's exclusive property, while bows and arrows belong to the first son of the deceased male.

Sadly, it is said that a twin birth is regarded as evil, and twins are considered abominable so much so that until recently babies of multiple births used to be buried alive with the women who had the 'misfortune' of being their mothers.

ALSO READ: For best results on your weight loss, add these fishes to your diet today

Belief

The Koma people believe in the existence of a supreme being variously called Zum or Nu. These words are also used for the sun. The neighboring Chamba also use the same word Su for the sun, as well as for Almighty God.

In order to get what man likes within the unalterable wheel of God's arrangements, the Koma recognise the powers of local deities such as Kene which can be appealed to for health, vitality, and fertility.

Each hamlet and household has her Ken, shrine under the charge of male ritual functionaries, Kene-Mari who is assisted by male prophets, Kpani.

Economy

The occupation of the Koma hill-dwellers centres around farming, hunting, and gathering. Except for hunting, both men and women engage in cultivation, weeding and gathering.
I have issue with trusting the mother of my two kids. It all started after the birth of my first child.

My child was less than one year when she told me that she would like to return back to school. So we both agreed that she should leave the child with my mum in Delta while she returned to Lagos to continue her education.

During this period I left Lagos to Delta to spend some time with my daughter when I received a call from a co-worker that my kid's mother is having an affair with someone in her office area. I called her attention to it, she denied it.

When I returned to Lagos I did my findings and discovered it was the truth so I confronted her. She said they were just business friends. Seven years later I've discovered they were not only dating but were also enjoying sex.

This time I confronted her again. She answered in the affirmative. Since then I don't trust her again.

We are not legally married now, but we have two kids already. Should I go ahead with marriage because of the kids?_______________

Dear reader,

Kids are not meant to keep marriages together. Do not marry anyone just for the presence of kids. Really, this may not be what you want to hear but a marriage thats bad wont favour even the kids; and frankly, you wouldnt be doing them any favours by marrying their mum if you do not really trust her.

This is because any marriage built on distrust is bound to become filled with animosity and resentment at some point. And from that point, the marriage just goes downhill.

So why bother with something thats clearly doomed to crash?

In my opinion, if you both cant work out your differences to a point where all issues are trashed out and trust is established, I think you should just focus on training your kids and being the best parents to them._________________Do you want to talk about your love life, marriage or family issues?

Do you have burning questions that you would love to get answers to?

Just send a mail to relationships@pulse.ng and I'll provide the most honest answers to them anonymously.

Note; the chances of getting a quick response reduces if the text in your email has a lot of abbreviations. So, please write as properly as possible.

So, why not send that mail today and let's talk about it?
On April 5, 2018, robbers shot their way through a handful of banks in Offa, Kwara State, killing over 30 persons and carting away sack-loads of cash.

Police spokesperson, Jimoh Moshood in a statement issued on Sunday, June 3, 2018 said that Saraki is being invited to report to the Police to answer allegations indicting him from confessions of five gang leaders arrested for active participation in Offa bank robberies and killings of 33 innocent persons.

According to the police, some of the suspected Offa robbers have been making confessional statements; some of which indicted Saraki and Kwara State Governor Abdulfatah Ahmed.

Saraki and Ahmed havedenied arming or sponsoring the Offa robbers or any other group of thugs for that matter.

Who are the Offa robbers?

The Offa robbers were a bunch of 15 young men who blocked the Ilorin and Osogbo entrances into Offa at about 4:41pm on Thursday April 5 and fired away as they marched to take over Union Bank, Eco Bank, Guarantee Trust Bank, First Bank, Zenith Bank and Ibolo Micro Finance Bank.

On April 21, the police leaked footage of the robbery to the publicand followed up with pictures of four suspects in the first week of May.

On April 13, police spokesperson Moshood announced a breakthrough in investigations. 12 suspects had been arrested, the police announced.

The suspects were listed as Adegoke Shogo, 29; Kayode Opadokun, 35; Kazeem Abdulrasheed, 36; Azeez Abdullahi, 27; Alexander Reuben, 39; and Jimoh Isa, 28.

Others were Azeez Salawudeen, 20; Adewale Popoola, 22; Adetoyese Muftau, 23; Aminu Ibrahim 18; Richard Buba Terry, 23; and Peter Kuunfa, 25.

Moshood said, "The police teams engaged in massive raids of identified criminal spots/flashpoints, stop and search operations, visibility and confidence building patrols, intelligence gathering which led to the arrest of the suspects.

"Some of those arrested also involved serious exchange of gun fire between the police and the suspects in their various hideouts.

On May 10, media reports emerged that Michael Adikwu, a police corporal who was attached to the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) of the Kwara State command before he was dismissed in 2012, led the robbers who raided Offa and killed dozens for fun.

On Monday, May 21, 2018, the police disclosed that it had arrested another suspectcalled Kunle Ogunleye, aka Arrow.

What did Saraki and Gov Ahmed say after the Offa robbery?

After the Offa robbery, Saraki and Ahmed issued statements condemning the raids and killings.

For context, Saraki was succeeded by Ahmed as Governor of Kwara State and both men have remained friends after Saraki left for the senate.

After the Offa robbery which shook an entire nation and dominated social media chatter for days, Ahmed said; I urge all well-meaning citizens to resist any attempt by anyone to use the tragedy for political purposes.

"What has befallen us is too terrible and saddening for anyone to trivialize for selfish political gain, the governor said.

Saraki commiserated with the Inspector General of Police (IGP) Ibrahim Idris and the people of Kwara for the loss of lives and personnel. The senate president also condemned the attack.

The senate president said: "Following my visit to Offa this morning to condole with the traditional ruler and people over Thursdays attack, I called the Inspector General of Police (IGP), Idris Ibrahim, to commiserate with him on the loss of some of his personnel during the robbery incident.

The IGP promised that Armored Personnel Carriers will immediately be stationed in strategic parts of Offa and additional police personnel will be deployed. Top investigators will also be sent to Kwara State to help in tracking down the perpetrators.

I thank the IGP for his prompt response and the anticipated measures aimed at tackling this security menace.

It is my hope that Thursdays incident that has left our people in Offa and Kwara State rattled and in grief will never reoccur.

Governor Ahmed even announced a N5million reward for anyone with information that could lead to the arrest of the culprits.

Suspected cultists in Kwara linked to Saraki and Ahmed

On May 16, 2018, Saraki released a statement to say the police had perfected a grand plan to criminally implicate him by linking him to some suspected cultists who were arrested in Kwara.

Saraki had said: Last night, my state governor revealed to me an information at his disposal that a group of suspects who have been arrested in our state for cultism, whose investigation has been completed and were about to be under prosecution under the state law on the advice of DPP and the ministry of justice, have been ordered to be transferred to Abuja this morning.

With the information that he has, they would find how to alter their statement already made in Ilorin and try and implicate the state government and particularly myself. I felt that as we speak now, these suspects are already here in Abuja.

Kwara Governor Ahmed issued a similar statement to say he was not comfortable with transferring the suspected cultists to Abuja because there was a possibility that they were going to be tortured to alter their statements.

Is Saraki cool friends with the police chief?

Saraki and IGP Idris are not exactly the best of friends.

After Senator Dino Melaye was arrested and jumped out of a moving police van, IGP Idris was summoned by the senate. It was an invitation the IGP turned down.

It was the 3rd time Idris was shunning an invitation from Saraki and the senate.

After Idris shunned Sarakis invitation for the third time of asking, the senate president declared the police boss an enemy of democracy.

Saraki also said Idris is unfit to hold any public office.

According to Saraki: The senate in a closed session deliberated on the non-appearance of the IGP to the senate after a series of invitations. The senate noted that this has been a gross disrespect to our constituted authority and to also know that his earlier refusal to appear before investigative committee was overruled by competent court of jurisdiction just in April this year.

The senate therefore view this persistent refusal as a great danger to our democracy and hence the senate resolved to declare IGP as an enemy of democracy and not fit to hold any public office within and outside Nigeria.

Is Sarakis invitation by police a case of IGP Idris hitting back?

After he was invited by the police, Saraki made it clear he was going to honour the invitation once he receives a formal request from police headquarters.

He also said Idris is only trying to get back at him.

"This plot is concocted to embarrass me and, in the mind of the IGP, it is his own response after his refusal to honour the invitation by the National Assembly, headed by me, for him to come and offer explanations on the rampant killings and violence across the country.

"Like the earlier one, this frame-up will also fail as I hereby state categorically that I have no link with any band of criminals", the senate president said.

Will Saraki's police appearance affect senate sessions?

A date for Sarakis appearance at police headquarters is yet to be made public. However, his appearance is unlikely to affect senate proceedings as the Deputy Senate President is constitutionally allowed to preside at plenary when the Senate President is unavailable at times like this.

The police is also likely to invite Saraki on a day the senators do not convene for plenary.

What you should expect is a horde of senators chartering buses to accompany Saraki to Force Headquarters just to show solidarity.
According to a statement by the Deputy Director of Public Relations of Theatre Command Operation Lafiya Dole, Colonel Onyema Nwachukwu, troops of 27 Task Force Battalion were on a long range fighting patrol when they raided the camp.

The terrorists in the camp were forced to flee after a shootout with soldiers, leaving behind the sum of N2,208,000 and other items such as three AK-47 rifle magazines, 21 rounds of 7.62 mm (special) ammunition, a motorcycle and two mobile handsets.

Two other raids by troops of Operation Lafiya Dole in Borno state also resulted in the death of 11 Boko Haram terrorists.

While on a clearance patrol on Saturday, June 2, troops of 153 Task Battalion and the Cameroonian Defence Forces at Ngelkona in Ngala local government area of the state killed 10 Boko Haram terrorists along Wulgo-Ngelkona general area.

The terrorists were mounted on horses and had engaged troops before they were neutralised. According to Col. Nwachukwu, items recovered from them include one Boko Haram flag, a set of bow and arrows, two mobile phones and one Cameroonian international passport.

Troops of 82 Task Force Battalion also killed one Boko Haram terrorist during a clearance operation at Ngoshe in Gwoza local government area of Borno on Friday, June 1.
Speaking at a press conference in Abuja on Monday, June 4, to mark the 2018 world No- Tobacco Day, Adewole urged the police and all other government agencies to swing into action.

The minister said most of the flavoured tobacco, which according to him are targetted at the youth, are as dangerous as cigarettes.

"Let me stress that the ban on tobacco products with characterising flavours is still in place and the ban includes shisha because it has flavour. I, therefore, urge the Consumer Protection Council (CPC) and the law enforcement agencies to intensify arrest of defaulters," Adewole said.

Also speaking, the Director-General of the CPC, Mr. Babatunde Irukera, said a committee had been set up to look into the Shisha ban.

He said, "Recently, the Standards Organisation of Nigeria which is responsible for creating the national industrial standard, convened a technical committee meeting with respect to the tobacco standard and the subject of shisha was discussed like any other tobacco product.

"And the new industry standards are undergoing the process now so it is not an illegal product now but soon the SON will come up with what the final standard will be."

ALSO READ: Kenya Bans 19 Shisha Flavours
Kalu said this following reports in the medithat quoted him saying In PDP we used to kill people.

The former Governor made this statement while speaking to newsmen on the recently held All Progressives Congress (APC) state congresses.

His full statement as obtained from The Cable:In all democracy, theres always a quarrel, and the quarrel will prevail, we will settle it amicable as a family.

Everybody will come back to the party, and the party will have its honour, theres no problem.

In the PDP, we used to kill people when they are doing this thing (congress) which is not good.

We are very happy the (APC) congresses came very well in south-east and went very well. We can only fight anybody in south-east who is not supporting our president.

PDP fires back

Following Kalus allegation, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) spokesman, Kola Ologbodiyan called on the former governor to reveal the names of the alleged killers.

Ologbodiyan said The PDP is a legal and laws abiding organization. It does not engage in killings and had not asked any of its member kill on its behalf.

I was misquoted

In his reaction, Kalu said that he was misquoted by the media, and urged Nigerians to disregard the reports, which he described as false.

The former governor also asked journalists to always confirm stories before they publish.

He said I did not say I used to kill people during congress when I was a member of the PDP.

Rather, I pointed out that due to political rivalry and other vices, people used to die during congresses in the PDP.

ALSO READ: 7 horrible things Orji Kalu said about Obasanjo

I am not only a law-abiding Nigerian but also a devout Catholic who does not believe in ungodly and inhuman acts. I have never killed anyone and will never do such nor engage anyone to kill on my behalf.

People should not twist my interview to suit their selfish, wicked and barbaric ambitions. I am a man of peace and I can never derail from the path of peace.
Scores of persons were killed and a slew of banks were raided by the robbers.

The police also accused Senate President Bukola Saraki of arming the Offa robbers

In a statement issued by his Senior Special Assistant on Media and Communication, Dr. Muyideen Akorede, Ahmed described the allegations made by the police as false.

Governor Ahmed affirmed that while the state government has empowered several youth groups under its 'acclaimed' Small and Medium Enterprises (SME) scheme, neither he nor the state government can be held liable for how beneficiaries utilize the credit.

He therefore urged the police to complete their investigations and charge the suspectsto court soon in line with the dictates of the rule of law.

Below is the full text of the statement:

Kwara State Governor, Alhaji Abdulfatah Ahmed denies the allegations of supporting political thuggery or any other acts of criminality as alleged by the Nigeria Police or the suspects allegedly arrested in connection with the tragic Offa robbery.

Neither has he at any time funded or provided arms to any individual or group in the state or anywhere in the country.

To set the records straight, the Kwara State Government has a well known empowerment scheme under the Small And Medium Enterprises platform which is used to move women and youths groups into entrepreneurship.

Consequently, several youth and women groups have benefitted from the scheme to date. However, at no point did the Kwara State government directly provide funds to any group known as Good Boys for any purpose.

Similarly, if any of the beneficiaries chose to use the SME credit secured from the government to purchase a vehicle which was then alleged to have been used for an act of criminality, the Kwara State Governor and indeed the state government cannot be held liable for such actions since neither had prior knowledge of such intentions on beneficiaries part.

The Kwara State Governor, Alhaji Abdulfatah Ahmed also rejects the police allegation of arming and funding the as thuggery or any other form of criminality is neither encouraged nor supported by the state government or its agents.

While refuting the alleged indictment, therefore, Governor Abdulfatah Ahmed expresses the hope that the police will soon complete its investigations and charge the suspects to court in line with rule of law.
Akanbi died in the early hours of Sunday, June 3, 2018. He was 86 years of age.

In a condolence message issued by his Chief Press Secretary, Abdulwahab Oba,Gov Ahmed said the State and indeed Nigeria has lost a rare gem, philanthropist and revivalist.

"Justice Akanbi's years in the bench as an incorruptible judge, his stint at ICPC, struggle for good governance and involvement in community services would remain indelible in the history of Nigeria", Dr Ahmed said.

The governor explained that his philanthropist gesture and investment in education, which is a key component of human capital development, will be greatly missed by all.

'True Nigerian'

Governor Ahmed described Justice Akanbi as a true Nigerian, Pan Africanist and lover of his community with exceptional penchant for the advancement of humanity irrespective of race, ethnicity and religious belief.

According to the governor, Late Justice Akanbi was an epitome of humility, uprightness, honesty and discipline whose virtues would remain exemplary to generations to come.

Gov Ahmed recalled that Justice Mustapha Akanbi was among eminent Kwarans honoured by the State last year for his contributions to national development during the State's 50th anniversary.

"The state and indeed the entire country is grieved that it has lost one of its finest. The state is saddened that the outstanding contributions of the elder statesman will be sorely missed. But we take solace that Justice Akanbi lived a pious, modest and exemplary life worthy of emulation", the governor added.

Gov Ahmed prayed Allah to grant the truly incorruptible Judge Aljanat fridaus and give the family, the Ilorin Emirate, Kwara State and Nigeria as a whole the fortitude to bear the loss.

Mustapha buried

The deceased was buried at his Asa Dam GRA residence in Ilorin at about 3 p.m on Sunday.

The Chief Imam of Ilorin, Alhaji Mohammed Bashir, led the Janaizah (funeral) prayer which lasted for about 10 minutes.
While speaking at a town hall meeting with some residents of Surulere area of Lagos on Friday, June 1, 2018, Edgal said an investigation by one of his officers revealed that a lot of young Nigerians in the state are involved in cultist activities.

With the theme "Partnership with Community for Crime Prevention", the police chief lamented about the rise of cultism in the state and disclosed some reasons why youths are drawn into it.

According to him, investigations have revealed that youths join cults to gain supremacy over others, avoid intimidation by others, as well as to have an edge over girls in their communities.

He said, "I asked one of my officers to do in-dept research or investigation on the reasons for increase in cultism among the young ones and it was revealed that six out of 10 children are into cultism.

"This is not good for the growth of our country. What are their reasons? Investigation revealed that they join for supremacy over others. They join to avoid intimidation by their peers. They join so that they have an edge over girls in their communities."

Parents at fault for rise of cultism - Edgal

Edgal further blamed the rise of cultism in the state on parents who don't monitor the activities of their children.

He told parents to be more aware of what their children are getting mixed up in, warning that they're being lost to drugs, crime and cultism.

He said, "Who is to blame? Parents are to blame. It is a shame that we, the parents, have failed woefully. Majority of us are even afraid to talk to our children. We fear to tell them the truth. Some of you keep quiet when you see your children going wrong so that people will not hear you talking to them. Some of you are outrightly afraid of your children and it is shame on you. Some of us don't sleep at home to monitor what our children are doing.

"How many times have you paid a surprise visit to your children's schools and how many times have you checked what is in your children's rooms and their bags to know what they bring into your house?

"We arrested some children between 1am and 2am during initiation into cult groups. These children were between the ages of 15 and 20. Tell me how a child of 15 will leave the parent's house at unholy hours without their parent's knowledge.

"Shame on you, if you are such a father. Go back home and take charge of your children as we are losing them to drugs, crime and cultism.

"I want to appeal to parents to understand that our children are the future hope of our country; if we allow them to miss it, we will have no hope and no future leaders to take over from us. What legacy are we leaving behind for our children?"

He further warned that parents should keep a close watch on their children to ensure that they're not used by politicians to commit electoral crimes in the upcoming 2019 general elections.

He said, "The general election is fast approaching, tell your children not to be used to foment trouble by unscrupulous politicians whose children are not even in the country. Don't let your children be used to cause breach of peace in the country, as anyone caught will be prosecuted. Those who are eligible to vote should go to the polling stations with their PVCs and return home after casting their votes."

With traditional rulers, transport union leaders, and vigilance group officials present at the event, Edgal called for the declaration of a state of emergency to combat the scourge of cultism in Lagos state.
Nine police officers and 24 others lost their lives when a group of at least 30 armed robbers attacked Union Bank, Eco Bank, Guaranty Trust Bank, First Bank, Zenith Bank and Ibolo Micro Finance Bank,as well as the Owode Police Station in Offa on April 5, 2018.

In a statement issued by Force Public Relations Officer, ACPJimoh Moshood, on Sunday, June 3, 2018, he said the senate president and governor were named by five gang leaders as their political sponsors.

ACP Moshood alleged that a Lexus jeep GX-300 used in the robbery had a sticker plate of the senate president on it and was retrieved from the Ministry of Environmental and Forestry in Ilorin, Kwara capital during investigations.

While answering questions from the press, one of the gang leaders, Ayodele Akinnibosun, said that he is the chairman of Liberation Youths Movement, Kwara South that makes 'political arrangements' for the senate president in the constituency.

He confirmed the information supplied by the police about the Lexus jeep and noted that it was given to him by Governor Ahmed's Chief of Staff, Yusuf Abdulwahab, who is one of the 22 suspects who have been arrested in connection to the robbery.

He said, "My name is Ayodele Akinnibosun, aka AY. I am the chairman of Liberation Youths Movement, Kwara South. My involvement with the senate president is we're his boys; we work for him at Kwara South. We're the ones that hold Kwara South for him. We've been working for him since he was Governor of Kwara.

"We mobilise and do political arrangement there (Kwara South). For example, where we can't win, we make dabaru (disruptive) arrangement there; we scatter elections if we don't win.

"The connections between me and the senate president is that he's the one that is arranging everything for us. For example, this car was given to me by His Excellency (Governor Ahmed) through the Chief of Staff of Kwara state as a gift from leader, Bukola Saraki. I participated in the Offa robbery. I took this Lexus car along to Offa."

Akinnibosun further revealed that two of the guns used in the robbery were supplied to him by Abdulwahab, although he allegedly supplied it for political thuggery and not the Offa robbery. He also noted that their alleged sponsors, Saraki and Ahmed, didn't know about their robbery plans.

He said, "The senate president and governor of Kwara state (Ahmed), we have been their political thugs, and that's what encouraged us to do what we're doing.

"They did not send us for the robbery but because we are their political thugs, that's what led us to the robbery. It is the work of the devil."

Even though ACP Moshood had invited the senate president to show up at the Force Intelligence Response Team office at Guzape, Abuja for questioning, Saraki revealed on Monday, June 4, that he's been asked to instead respond to the allegations in writing within 48 hours.
This decision comes barely 24-hours after Police spokesman, Jimoh Ibrahim, paraded some suspects arrested in the connection with the attacks which claimed 33 lives.

Leader of the gang allegedly named Saraki and Kwara state governor, Abdulfatah Ahmed

But as at Monday afternoon, Saraki had not been served a formal invitation by the Police.

The Senate President sent his ADC to get the formal invitation from the Police.

Four hours later, the Police reversed its decision and asked Saraki to respond to the allegation in writing within 48-hours.

Following my earlier tweet, I have received the letter from the Police. They are no longer asking me to appear at any station, but to respond in writing to the allegations within 48 hours -- which I plan to do."

The Senate President who earlier raised an alarm of a plot by the Police to implicate him described his invitation by the Cops as a "plot concocted to embarrass" him.

"This plot is concocted to embarrass me and, in the mind of the IGP, it is his own response after his refusal to honour the invitation by the National Assembly, headed by me, for him to come and offer explanations on the rampant killings and violence across the country.
President Buhari gave the charge while declaring open the 61st meeting of the United NationsWorld Tourism Organisation (UNWTO) Commission for Africa (CAF) in Abuja on Monday, June 4, 2018.

Represented by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Boss Mustapha, the President lauded the talents of young Nigerians particularly in the movies and music industries which 'has taken the world by storm' .

It may interest you to note that Nigeria is a country with a population of over 180 million people and over 250 ethnic groups, each with a unique story, and these stories are finding expression in our movies, music and many other creative ideas, he said.

Our music and movies, in particular, have taken the world by storm and, for the creative young talents in our dear country, Nigeria, the best is yet to come.

It is on this basis that I call on tourists and investors in the tourism sector to consider Nigeria as their second home, he announced.

Enumerating the contributions of his administration to the tourism industry, President Buhari said the government had introduced incentives for investors in the sector.

This government has attractive investment incentives for investors in the tourism sector. including but not limited to pioneer status to all major tourism projects; minimum tariff on imported tourism equipment, amusement park equipment and materials for hotel construction and furnishing, dedicated transportation for tour operators and equipment for restaurants not manufactured in Nigeria.

Also, we have introduced minimum duty on Casino equipment; work permit for foreign workers with specialized skills within the industry; and land at concessionary rate by state governments to tourism investors."

The President noted that his government is also deepening the legislative and institutional capacities for the protection of intellectual property rights in Nigeria.

This, according to him, will give all investors the assurance of security of their rights especially in the creative industry.

On his part, the minister of information and culture, Lai Mohammed, said the meeting would serve as a platform towards establishing stronger linkages and functional collaboration among member states in order to realize the potentials with which the continent is endowed with.

On our part, as a country, we are doing everything possible to move the tourism sector into the mainstream of the economy," the minister said. "Realizing that modern infrastructure is critical to tourism development, we are investing heavily in the development of infrastructure. In the last two years alone, we have spent an unprecedented 9 billion US dollars to build roads, standard railways and power. The investment is showing, as we have raised our power generation from 2,690 to 7,000MW, while road construction is going on in every of the country's 36 states.

We are also improving our security architecture, because without security, tourism cannot thrive. As a matter of fact, four years ago, this meeting could not have been held here. Recall that Boko Haram carried out many attacks in this capital city. The UN Complex, the Headquarters, a newspaper house, bus station were all attacked. Residents of Abuja could not sleep with their two eyes closed. Today, that is history. There is no clearer evidence than the fact that this event is being held here in the city, the minster stated.

The Secretary-General of the UNWTO, Zurab Pololikashvili noted that with the meeting, Nigeria has taken the world by storm.

He expressed optimism that the meeting would bring about positive growth and development in the country tourism sector.
According to a statement signed by the Deputy Director of Public Relations of Theatre Command Operation Lafiya Dole, Colonel Onyema Nwachukwu, on Monday, June 4, 2018, 15 men and 75 children were also rescued from the terrorist camp in Modu Kinetic, a remote village in Bama local government area of Borno state during an extensive clearance operation on Sunday June 3.

Two of the rescued hostages were pregnant teenagers as they reported that the women were sexually violated and used as sex slaves by their captors. The men were also reported to have been regularly engaged in forced labour by the terrorists.

Col. Nwachukwu disclosed that the freed hostages will be promptly handed over to officials of Bama Internally Displaced Persons (IDP) camp for welfare and administration.

Troops of the 21 Brigade, Operation Lafiya Dole, were supported by members of the Civilian Joint Task Force to clear the general area of Bama, Modu Kimeri and Gulumba Gana of fleeing elements of Boko Haram terrorists who had escaped from the ongoing troops' onslaught in the Lake Chad Islands and fringes of the northern borders of Borno state.

Troops proceeded to successfully clear adjoining villages including China, Sabon Gari-1, Sabon Gari-2, Sabon Gari-3 and Sabon Gari-4 villages, as well as other areas along the axis of operation including Nguzoduwa, Falla, Bulangala, Botori and Bula Matawa villages.
The development was in protest of the withdrawal of security operatives assigned to the Senate President Bukola Sarakiand the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Yakubu Dogara.

nPDP is a bloc of former members of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) who defected to the APC ahead of the 2015 election - both Saraki and Dogara are members of the aggrieved group.

The bloc had threatened to pull out of the APC if the party's internal crisis was not addressed in a way that would be fair to all concerned. They were in talks with the leadership of the ruling party to avoid a mass defection before the latest incident.

In a statement issued on Monday June 4, leader of the nPDP faction, Kawu Baraje, accused the Buhari administration of being insincere.

Baraje said presidency is playing games with nPDP despite the group's commitment to "achieving reconciliation, harmony, truce and cohesion in the APC".

He noted the police invitation of Saraki for questioning in a case of armed robbery and murder as among indicators that the Buhari government is not faithful to the dialogue.

DSS operatives withdrawn

On Sunday, June 3, the Department of State Service (DSS) reportedly withdrew some of its operatives assigned to Saraki and Dogara.

The directive was said to have been issued from the agency's headquarters with an order that it should be carried out with immediate effect.

Read full nPDP statement below:

The public may recall that there have been ongoing talks between members of the former Npdp, the APC and the Presidency in recent days.

Nigerians may further recall that a team from the former nPDP led by Speaker of the House of Representatives, His Excellency Rt. Hon. Yakubu Dogara and four others, were to meet with the Vice President, His Excellency Prof Yemi Osinbajo today.

However, while we are truly and earnestly committed to achieving reconciliation, harmony, truce and cohesion in the APC as we approach the 2019 general elections, it is appears that the Presidency is not interested in the talks and that they may have been negotiating in bad faith.

We were alarmed that immediately after our meeting with the Vice President last week, the presidency misrepresented what transpired at the meeting by trying to blackmail some of the principal actors involved in the discussions in a national daily.

Similarly, the leadership of the party (APC) went ahead to ratify all the Congresses from ward, local governments, states and zonal where many of our members have complaints, effectively presenting us with a fait accompli.

The persecution of our members using state security apparatus have continued unabated.We recognize the powers of the Police to conduct criminal investigations but by rushing to the public with the issue even when they have unfettered access to the leadership of the National Assembly suggests an attempt to undermine, caricature and humiliate the institution of the legislature.

ALSO READ: All you need to know about Saraki's police invitation

It appears that there is a fouled and toxic atmosphere and environment of intimidation and threat to life in which we now find ourselves which may no longer be conducive for members of the former nPDP to continue with the talks. Given the unfolding events in the last 24 hours, where the President of the Senate, His Excellency, Dr. Abubakar Bukola Saraki and His Excellency, Alhaji Abdulfatah Ahmed, the Executive Governor of Kwara State , both of whom attended the meeting with the Vice President on Monday 28 May, 2018 ,have suddenly been accused of sponsoring armed robbery by the Police under the directives of the Presidency.

Similarly, on Saturday, June 2nd, 2018, the Department of State of Services (DSS) also suddenly withdrew more than half of all the security details attached to the presiding officers of the National Assembly under questionable circumstances.

The nPDP leadership has decided to brief our members on the unfortunate development and get a fresh mandate if good faith returns to the discussions.

Thank you.

Signed
The 27-year-old was found guilty on Sunday of belonging to IS.

"I am innocent," Boughedir told the judge in French.

"My husband duped me and then threatened to leave with the children" unless she followed him to Iraq, where he planned on joining IS, she said.

On Thursday, French Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian told French news channel LCI that Boughedir was a "Daesh (IS) terrorist who fought against Iraq" and said she should be tried in Iraq.

This prompted her French lawyers to send a letter of protest to Le Drian, seen by AFP, in which they denounced "unacceptable pressure on the Iraqi judicial system" and "interference".

On Saturday, one of her lawyers, who travelled to Baghdad for the trial, William Bourdon, told AFP that Boughedir's family and her defence team want her to return to France and face a court there.

Boughedir was arrested in the summer of 2017 in Mosul, the capital of IS's self-declared "caliphate".

Her husband is believed to have been killed during a vast operation by US-led coalition-backed Iraqi forces to seize the country's second city back from jihadist control.

In April, an Iraqi court sentenced another French women, Djamila Boutoutaou, to life in prison for belonging to IS, despite her pleas that she too had been tricked by her husband.
The opposition in Nicaragua on Saturday renewed calls for President Daniel Ortega's resignation as protesters again clashed with police in the city of Masaya.

"The Church is always in favour of dialogue, but for that it requires an active commitment to respect for freedom and, above all, life," the Argentine pope said.

"I pray that all the violence will cease so that the conditions for dialogue can be restored as quickly as possible."

Ortega, 72, has dominated Nicaraguan politics since leading the Sandinista revolution that ousted dictator Anastasio Somoza in 1979.

He took over the country as head of a ruling junta and then president until 1990, then returned to power in 2007 -- and looks determined to stay there, despite the protests and the devastating loss of his once-solid support from the business elite.

The protests began over a much-hated pension reform and ballooned into a mass threat to Ortega's rule.
Kabogo captioned the photo, "I tangatangadKaren to see my good friend the DP."

The "tangatanga" (loitering) phrase blew up last week when President Uhuru Kenyatta during a stop over shortly after issuing 50,000 title deeds to landowners at Jacaranda Grounds in Embakasi East "threw a jibe" at his deputy when he "accused him" of loitering across the country during the weekend politicking.

"Hii Kijana anaitwa Ruto unajua kila weekend anatangatanga kila pahali atakuwa anapitia hizi machoro choro mkiona kuna kitu inaenda kona kona mumwambie," Kenyatta said.

Kabogo and Ruto's relationship has been frosty since the 2017 elections with the former Kiambu Governor accusing the DP of being behind his woes that saw him defend his seat as an independent in the race which he later lost to Jubilee Party's Ferdinand Waititu.

Kenyans reactions

The picture drew mixed reactions from Kenyans with some commending the two leaders for seemingly setting aside their differences saying that was the way to go even suggesting that the two would make a great 2022 pairing.
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QUIZ: Guess the Road Songs

We can't wait to get back on the road again! Play this quiz and see if how many you can get right!
POLAND: An agreement for Polish state-backed investment fund PFR to take over rolling stock manufacturer Pesa was finalised on May 25. The terms of the takeover have been agreed, and financial close is due in mid-June.
CANADA: Agreement in principle has been reached for the transfer of ownership of the Hudson Bay Railway and the reinstatement services to Churchill in northern Manitoba by winter 2018, the federal government announced on May 30.
Businessman gets suspended sentence for $900,000 embezzlement

 RIA Novosti, Ruslan Krivobok

11:27 04/06/2018

ST. PETERSBURG, June 4 (RAPSI, Mikhail Telekhov)  Businessman David Makhateli has received a 3-year suspended sentence for embezzling 55 million rubles (about $900,000) from the budget of St. Petersburg during construction of a kindergarten, the United press service of St. Petersburg courts has told RAPSI.

A court has also granted a claim filed by victims against the businessman.

According to case papers, in November 2011, Makhateli acting as the virtual manager of StroyGrad construction firm signed a 71-million-ruble ($1.2 million) contract on engineering and construction of a kindergarten with the citys building committee. The construction works were not executed. The businessman stole 55 million rubles he received as a down payment and managed the funds in his discretion, the court found.

Makhateli pleaded guilty, United press service of St. Petersburg courts told RAPSI.
Russian penitentiary service seeks $35.5 mln from its convicted ex-director Reimer

12:59 04/06/2018

MOSCOW, June 4 (RAPSI) - Russias Federal Penitentiary Service (FSIN) has filed a lawsuit with Moscows Zamoskvorestsky District Court demanding to collect over 2.2 billion rubles ($35.5 million) in compensation from its former director Alexander Reimer and his accomplices convicted of embezzlement, the courts spokesperson Emilia Khil has told RAPSI.

Along with Reimer defendants in the case are his former deputy Nikolay Krivolapov and ex-director of FSINs Information and Technical Support Center Viktor Opredelyonov. The hearing of the lawsuit has been set for June 28.

In June 2017, the Zamoskvorestsky District Court of Moscow sentenced Reimer to 8 years in a penal colony for embezzling funds allocated for procurement of ankle bracelets, fined him 800,000 rubles (about $14,000), and stripped of his General rank.

Krivolapov and Opredelyonov received 5 years and 8 months and 6 years in prison respectively. Krivolapov was fined 600,000 rubles ($10,500) while Opredelyonov got a 700,000-ruble fine ($12,300).

Lawyers of the defendants asked to repeal or soften the sentences. A lawyer representing Reimer said that the Zamoskvorestsky District Court issued a ruling with numerous violations and that it did not study some of the case documents.

According to investigators, Reimer, Krivolapov and Opredelyonov conspired with businessman Nikolay Martynov to embezzle monetary funds from the Russian state budget.

Between 2010 and 2012, Reimer and his accomplices stole money allocated for the purchase of ankle bracelets for persons placed under house arrest. The procurement was pursued at an enormously overvalued price. Damage allegedly caused to the state budget was estimated at no less than 2.7 billion rubles ($47.3 million at the current exchange rate).

The defendants have been charged, depending of their role, with abuse of office and embezzlement committed through abuse of office. Krivolapov was additionally charged with illegal possession of ammunition. They pleaded not guilty.

A case against Martynov was reviewed separately as he fully admitted his guilt in large-scale embezzlement. The businessman cooperated with investigators and announced that he is going to compensate the government with delivery of 7,000 new ankle bracelets. Martynov is a head of NPF Meta company that was supplying bracelets for prison inmates.
Ukrainian journalist Sushchenko sentenced to 12 years for espionage

 RIA Novosti, Ilya Pitalev

15:55 04/06/2018

MOSCOW, June 4 (RAPSI, Nikolay Merkulov)  The Moscow City Court on Monday found Ukrainian journalist Roman Sushchenko guilty of espionage and sentenced him to 12 years in prison, RAPSI reported from the courtroom.

The ruling would be appealed, ex-attorney Mark Feygin wrote on his Twitter account. In May, Feygin was deprived of his lawyer status, however, the court allowed him to take part in the trial of Sushchenko as another person under the Criminal Procedure Codes article on defenders.

On May 28, a prosecutor demanded a 14-year prison sentence for Sushchenko.

The case was heard behind closed doors as it was highly classified.

According to Russias Federal Security Service (FSB), the Ukrainian citizen has "purposively collected classified information about the Armed Forces and National Guard of Russia." Leak of data abroad could cause damage to the national defense capability, the FSB officials claimed earlier.

Charges were brought against Sushchenko in October 2016. He could face up to 20 years in prison if convicted.

The journalist pleaded not guilty to espionage.

Ukrinform news agency earlier confirmed that Sushchenko had been acting as its reporter since 2002. Since 2010, he has been working as Ukrinforms personal correspondent in France. According to the agency, Sushchenko arrived in Moscow on private business during his vacation and was arrested immediately upon his arrival.

Ukrinform repelled accusations against Sushchenko calling him "a journalist with years of unblemished professional reputation.




Titov proposes granting prosecutors power to appeal Deposit Insurance Agencys decisions

 RIA Novosti, Alexander Vilf

10:59 04/06/2018

MOSCOW, June 4 (RAPSI)  Russian ombudsman for protection of business rights Boris Titov has proposed to grant prosecutors a right to challenge decisions of the Deposit Insurance Agency (DIA) and temporary administrations of banks undergoing bankruptcy, the ombudsmans press-service has told RAPSI.

The press-service noted that this initiative was included into the annual report on problems experienced by Russian business and possible solutions to these issues.

According to Titov, there are no efficient means of controlling actions of the DIA and temporary administrations causing damage to banks and its creditors. Granting prosecutors a power to appeal actions of these administrations and to challenge deals signed by them in the name of the banks would help with the problem, the ombudsman added.

Another problem mentioned in the report is related to the payment of bankrupt organizations debts. Titov notes that when a bank goes bankrupt, the DIA gets a priority when it comes to receiving the payment as it is the case with individual bank depositors. As a result, demands pressed by legal entities are granted last when the remaining funds are almost all gone. The ombudsman believes that the DIA compensates its losses at expense of entrepreneurs, their employees and contractors.

To solve this problem the ombudsman proposes to amend the law on bankruptcy. According to the changes, the DIA will receive the debt payment alongside other legal entities instead of having priority access to the funds.
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PAN, June 2, 2018

By Ahmad Shah Erfanyar

Nearly 3,000 people have been killed and injured in 205 attacks in Afghanistan in May, showing 42 percent increase in casualties happened in April.

Pajhwok Afghan News reports show 1,220 people have been killed and 866 others injured in 173 different attacks in 28 provinces of the country in April.

Reports based on different sources showed 1,762 people were killed and 1,190 others injured in 28 out of total 34 provinces of the country during May.



The aftermath of multiple explosions at a cricket match in the eastern Afghan city of Jalalabad, Afghanistan, May 20. Eight people were killed and dozens more wounded. (Photo: Ghulamullah Habibi/EPA) The aftermath of multiple explosions at a cricket match in the eastern Afghan city of Jalalabad, Afghanistan, May 20. Eight people were killed and dozens more wounded. (Photo: Ghulamullah Habibi/EPA)

Available statistic showed that of every 19 persons, 14 suffered casualties in face to face clashes, two in blasts, and one each in airstrikes, suicide attacks and targeted attacks.

Nearly half of the May attacks took place in Faryab, Nangarhar, Ghazni and Helmand provinces and the rest others happened in 25 other provinces while Pajhwok had no report of violent incidents from Balkh, Bamyan, Nuristan, Panjshir, Daikundi, and Kunar provinces in the same period.

Military Affairs Expert Javed Kohistani said more attacks happened in Nangarhar due its border with Pakistan and presence of both Daesh and Taliban insurgents there.

He said that insurgent groups can easily obtain weapons and ammunition from across the border in Pakistan.

In Jawzjan, he said lack of attention form the government, ethnic differences and public disappointment had caused insecurity as militants could easily influence people and recruit fighters.

Due to the above reasons, insurgents are more active in and Afghan forces frequently launch clearing operations in Jawzjan.

Militant attacks in Helmand province is more frequent due to poppy cultivation there which is a financial source of rebels, he said, adding border share and easy access of militants to resupply from Pakistan is another reason of unrest in Helmand.

Kohistani linked unrest in southern Ghazni province to ethnic differences and poor governance.

Officials of the Ministry of Defence (MoD) acknowledged they conduct more operations in the areas where militants had presence.

Casualties:

Reports show 1,762 people were killed and 1,190 others injured last month.

Rebels, security forces and civilians were among the dead and wounded, but Pajhwok could not share separate and exact number of the dead and injured of each category because different sources shared different figures.

According to the Civilian Protection Advocacy Group (CPAG) report published on Saturday 500 civilians were killed and injured in May in 23 provinces of Afghanistan.

A military affairs expert, Gen. Zalmai Wardak, said that different casualty figures in different areas depended to the conflict type and tactic.

He said front wars cause more casualties in populated areas.

The conflict in Afghanistan between the Taliban militants, the Afghan government and international forces is ongoing from the past 17 years.

Pajhwok monthly reports show that militants attacks were more frequent and there were more casualties in spring and summer compared to fall and winter last year.

The conflict is more violent ongoing year

Casualties figures show that current year is more violent compared to the last year.

On average, nearly 10,300 people were suffered casualties in the first five months of current year compared to 9,500 people during the same period last year.

The figures show the level of casualties is soaring this year compared to the last year when 25,000 people were killed or wounded in Afghanistan.

Stop killing Afghans, reach a peace agreement

Bibi Gula, 45, resident of Pushtrod district of Farah, whose brother was recently killed by Taliban said: If a militant is killed or soldier both are our children, hope both sides reach a peace agreement and renounce conflict.

She said her brothers children were orphaned and were in bad condition. The killed soldiers families would be in similar situation.

Gula asked the warier sides to reach a peace agreement and put an end to the killing of Afghans.
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World premiere of "Crystal Castle" on Yerevan stage (video)

Gorgeous decorations, world stars on the stage, elegant music and even unexpected live horses and dogs on the stage. In the Alexander Spendiaryan National Academic Opera and Ballet Theater, the Yerevan audience enjoyed a multi-stage performance by composer Alexey Shore "Crystal Castle" for two days. According to Yekaterina Mironova, author and director of the screenplay, Yerevan performances can be considered world premiere. "Last year, we presented a special order in Malta, which was a pre-screening show," she said. The scenario is based on the palace customs of the 18th-century Emperor Anna Ioannovna and human passions. A real story about how the empress, who did not spare anything for his pleasure, ordered a crystal bouquet to perform the wedding of the clown couple. The couple spend the first night in the ice palace and then forgets about them. "This is the case when the story ends up actually better than in the performance," said choreographer Alexander Somov. The participants of the performance were the Yerevan Chamber Choreographers and the choir of the Armen Tigranyan Music School. The Russian artists were delighted with the Armenian children who, according to them, were surprisedly educated and talented. The words of the passion were also voiced about the professionalism of the orchestra's musicians and the operatic scenes of the opera. According to the directors, such a magnificent performance is a great pleasure and the Yerevan performances were possible thanks to the sponsorship of our compatriot in Malta, and, of course, the name of Konstantin Orbelyan had definitely its impact. The "Crystal Castle" has not been included in the Grand Theater's play list so far, which will be represented on the stage after the Yerevan tour, it is not clear whether it will be Kazakhstan or Japan.
Region takes about a third of all Indian fruit shipment and quarter of vegetables sold abroad; consignments from other states could face ban, too, if virus not contained

With Kerala continuing to battle the infectious and deadly Nipah virus, all fruit and vegetables from the state have been banned in the majority of nations across the Arabian Gulf.

The region is India's largest export market. Nipah has claimed 17 lives till now.

Last week, the United Arab Emirates and Bahrain had ordered complete import restriction on fruit and vegetables from Kerala.

Over this weekend, Saudi Arabia, Qatar and Kuwait also announced officially that import in both categories would stop till further notice.

Since most countries in the region have similar and closely knit Customs rules, media reports from Oman suggest it might also follow.

The brain-damaging Nipah virus appeared in Kerala early last month. It is contagious and there is no vaccine for it.

The natural host of the virus is a fruit bat of the Pteropodidae family, according to the World Health Organization. As a result, major importing nations are now wary of produce grown in Kerala and have also issued severe travel advisories against visiting the state.

The timing is expected to hit the southern state hard, as fruit export generally swells in the hot month of Ramzan, currently on.

Right now, it is difficult for Customs inspections at ports to find out whether any consignment is infected, since the foods do not show any physical signs. Other Indian states might come under the restriction if the virus spreads," said Ali Shaaban Balah, acting chief of the plant protection & quarantine section at the ministry of works, municipalities and urban planning in the government of Bahrain.

The Gulf region is Indias largest market for fruit and vegetables, with the UAE being the single biggest importing nation on both counts.

Export to the nations in the Gulf cumulatively make about 35 per cent of all fruit shipment and nearly a quarter of all vegetable ones from India, according to data from the commerce ministry.

"There have been complaints from the industry whereby consignments have now started being turned away from Kuwait, Qatar and other nations but we are yet to receive formal communication from some of these countries," said a senior official here from the Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority.

A prominent member of the bat species, the Greater Indian Fruit Bat inhabits large patches of the South Asian subcontinent.

It is considered likely to transfer the disease to humans when they consume fruit on trees. Unfortunately for exporters, the bats are generalist feeders, eating any fruit they can potentially find, according to a paper from the Research Centre for Biological Sciences in Madurai.

The mammals have a serious taste for all types of fruit - bananas to mangoes, dates, avocados, wild dates and any type of pulpy ones.

Cashew and mango, show official data, dominate the export list in fruit. Unfortunately, the cashew industry is based out of Kerala itself, with Kollam in the southern part termed cashew capital of the world.

And, mangoes are a favourite with the bat. India is the largest exporter of mango in the world, with more than 40 per cent of global production.

Chickpea and onion are the top export among vegetables across the Gulf region.

The government is currently in the process of finalising an agricultural export policy. It aims for a stable export policy regime in farm products and streamlining of the current regulations, as part of changes to help double annual agri export to $60 billion (Rs 400,000 crore) by 2022.

"For major outbreaks such as this, international guidelines have a cooling period of months before trade restrictions are lifted. So, the spread of the virus needs to be contained soon. Otherwise, Thiruvananthapuram airport and Cochin seaport will incur major losses.

"As it is, agricultural shipment from other states - spices from Karnataka and vegetables from Tamil Nadu -- have been turned back from several Gulf nations solely because the port of origin is in Kerala," says an official from Kerala State Industrial Enterprises Ltd.

Photograph: Danish Siddiqui/Reuters
A Border Security Force and Pak Rangers Sector Commander level meeting was held at 5:30 pm on Monday to discuss peace and tranquillity at the border area.

The meeting was conducted in a conducive atmosphere and is expected to bring a firing-free environment for villagers on both sides of the border.

It was further decided that the next Sector Commander level meeting will be held on June 21 2018. Commanders on both sides agreed to maintain talks at every level to develop confidence between two border guarding forces.

Earlier, the director general of military operations of India and Pakistan spoke to each other on the issue of ceasefire violations and terrorist activities and agreed to fully implement the ceasefire understanding of 2003, to ensure that ceasefire will not be violated by both sides.

Both the DGMOs reviewed the prevailing situation along the Line of Control and International Boundary in Jammu and Kashmir, according to an official statement.

However, two Border Security Force jawans were killed and 13 civilians were injured after heavy shelling by Pakistan in the wee hours of Sunday morning.
BJPs best bet lies in the TDP and the TRS striking a deal with the Congress and framing the battle as a UPA versus NDA clash, reports Radhika Ramaseshan.

When leaders of the Congress and several other opposition parties congregated in front of Bengalurus Vidhan Soudha for winsome photo-ops and a display of strength after H D Kumaraswamy was sworn in as Karnataka chief minister, the Bharatiya Janata Party noted two political signals -- one was the absence of K Chandrashekar Rao, Telangana Rashtra Samithi president and Telangana chief minister.

In March, Rao had initiated the project of assembling a Federal Front with Trinamool Congress chief Mamata Banerjee and other regional leaders.

The other signal was the presence of N Chandrababu Naidu, who heads the Telugu Desam Party and is Raos counterpart in the neighbouring Andhra Pradesh, and his friendly but tentative gestures towards Congress President Rahul Gandhi, who appeared as awkward.

For the BJP, the signs were significant because the TDP was an ally until the other day while the TRS was a capricious friend that backed the Narendra Modi government on key issues in Parliament.

In the 2014 Lok Sabha elections, the BJP had picked up one of Telanganas 12 seats and rode astraddle on the TDP but won two of the 25 Andhra seats.

Did the BJP foresee a joint assault in Telangana and Andhra Pradesh before 2019?

Telangana BJP spokesperson Krishnasagar Raos reading was, Chandrashekar Rao is keeping his cards close to the chest. The primary opposition against him is the Congress and not the BJP. But he doesnt want to give in easily to an alliance. But, a day before Kumaraswamy took the oath, Rao called on him. So Rao is there, in the Congress camp.

In Andhra Pradesh, with or without a united opposition, BJP sources admitted they were up against multiple challenges.

However, BJP spokesperson and Rajya Sabha MP GVL Narasimha Rao, who hails from Prakasam district, claimed, The TDPs exit is a blessing in disguise. It gives an opportunity (to the BJP) to expand.

Kamarsu Balasubrahmanyam, the BJPs parliamentary party office secretary and a Telangana hand, stressed, We will fight Telangana on our strengths, a robust cadre, a physical presence in every village, a history of combating the Naxals and an image as a saviour of the Hindus.

But, N Ramachandra Rao, a BJP legislative council member from Mahaboobnagar, said: The BJP faces a stiff challenge from the TRS, which is wooing voters through populist schemes -- a burden on the exchequer.

Rao described the schemes giving Telanganas farmers Rs 8,000 for an acre of agricultural land during the Kharif and Rabi seasons, the free distribution of cattle and sheep to electorally strong communities such as Yadava, Golla and Kuruma, and Rs 51,000 to Muslim, Dalit and tribal girls before marriage as runaway hits.

He said though the BJP attracted the educated urban voters, it was at sea in the villages.

In Andhra, the BJPs newly anointed state president, Kanna Lakshminarayana, singled out the damage done to Modis image by Naidu even when the TDP and the BJP were partners as the biggest hurdle.

Sources said Lakshminarayanas predecessor, Hari Babu Kambhampati, the Visakhapatnam MP, was soft on the TDP.

Therefore, one only version, of Naidus, was conveyed to people who have an impression that Modi worked against Andhra, rued a source.

Lakshminarayanas appointment was hailed as a minor feat because formulating a caste formula in the state has never been easy for the BJP.

He is from the Kapu caste, comprising 16-18 per cent of the population but overpowered by the dominant and affluent Kammas (Naidus caste) and Reddys.

In the 2014 elections, the BJP and the TDP had teamed up with actor Pawan Kalyans Jana Sena, which brought the Kapu votes for the TDP.

The Jana Sena had dumped the TDP when Naidu refused to give reservation to the Kapus, but it would go along with the BJP despite the Centre being cold to its quota demand.

Pawan Kalyan has no money and cadre, but he pulls in the crowd. He and the BJP are interdependent, a source said.

Although the BJP ruled out an alliance with Y S Jaganmohan Reddys YSR Congress, it worked on the premise that Jaganmohan had come up as the TDPs biggest adversary and, therefore, must be tacitly encouraged.

As the BJP is reconciled to going solo in these states, it believes its best bet lies in the TDP and the TRS striking a deal with the Congress and framing the battle as a UPA versus NDA clash.
Senior Congress leader Sushil Kumar Shinde has said that former President Pranab Mukherjee accepting an invite to attend a Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh event was "not wrong" as the latter was a secular person and a very good thinker.

"Pranab Mukherjee is a secular person. He will always put forth a secular view which he will do there (at the RSS event) as well. He is a very good thinker, and his going there and speaking on that platform is very important," Shinde said.

He said that Mukherjee accepting the invite was not wrong and "we would be more than pleased" if his thoughts bring some improvement in the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS).

Mukherjee has been invited to be the chief guest at the valedictory function of the Sangh Shiksha Varg -- a training camp for RSS volunteers -- at its headquarters in Nagpur.

The event will be held on June 7.

Shinde was speaking to reporters on the sidelines of an event here.

On Jammu and Kashmir, the former home minister said that the Centre was unable to bring peace in the state.

He said that the government should be ashamed that stone-pelters were now targeting CRPF vehicles.

"When I was home minister, even if one or two incidents took place, they (BJP) used to say in Parliament 'hamara ek jayega to unke 11 hum wahan se layenge' (we will get 11 of theirs for every one of ours)," Shinde said.

"The government is yours, the intelligence is yours. But the incidents of stone pelting are not stopping," the senior Congress leader said.
Comments

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Sun Valley, ID -- (ReleaseWire) -- 06/04/2018 --AWR has just launched its new adventure travel website. It includes upgrades such as great new photos, mobile friendly, and easy to navigate.



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The website includes trips in East Africa, South America, Polar destinations, the Himalayas, and Southeast Asia. There are a number of new trips as well in Costa Rica and Uganda.



Ms. Paschall continues, "Tanzania with it's amazing safaris plus Mt. Kilimanjaro, and Peru with Machu Picchu and Inca Trail, have always been out top-selling destinations. Now, returning travelers as well as new travelers can easily find other great adventures to put on their bucket list!"
Sun Valley, ID -- (ReleaseWire) -- 06/04/2018 --Last year, Rwanda increased its gorilla permit fees from $750 to $1500. Uganda has kept their gorilla permits at $600. A year later, Uganda is fast becoming the most popular destination to visit the mountain gorillas.



"Rwanda used to be the most popular destination for gorillas because of the shorter travel time," says Robin Paschall, Africa travel specialist with Adventures Within Reach. "However, since Rwanda has chosen to focus on the exclusive luxury market, travelers have started to look for other options."



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The second option is to fly into Entebbe, Uganda and fly to the Bwindi area. Flights are to either Kisoro or Kihihi depending on the availability of gorilla permits. There are many lodging options near Bwindi from budget to luxury. This trip can be done in 4-5 days.



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Denver, CO -- (ReleaseWire) -- 06/04/2018 --When Colorado federal judge Christine M. Arguello retaliated and filed a vindictive complaint against a Colorado attorney she had no idea the results of the investigation would implicate her in violating federal laws in a Colorado criminal case she presided over (Dist. Colo. case nos. 09-cr-00266-CMA and 09-cr-00266-CMA-3).



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In a letter to the 10th Circuit Judicial Council which copies members of Congress A Just Cause discusses Judge Arguello's recent violations of law and many other acts of gross misconduct by her that resulted in the wrongful conviction and imprisonment of five Colorado Springs technology executives. "AJC implores you to end this horrible injustice and hold Judge Arguello and the Colorado U.S. Attorney's Office accountable," the letter concluded.
Sun Valley, ID -- (ReleaseWire) -- 06/04/2018 --Adventures Within Reach has added an amazing new trip to Costa Rica. This luxury boutique lodge adventure is particularly unique in that it starts and ends at the Liberia International Airport (LIR), situated in the northwestern corner of the country, saving time and money.



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While the dry season in Guanacaste province is typically from November through early May, travel in the rainy season is still a very pleasant experience since rains are typically limited to an afternoon thunderstorm, and then lighter rain at night while you sleep. Mornings are often sunny with fresh air following the gentler night rains.



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Sunrise, FL -- (ReleaseWire) -- 06/04/2018 --More than a million cataract surgeries are performed each year on an outpatient basis. During cataract eye surgery, the clouded lens is removed and replaced with a plastic one. The method is known as Phacoemulsification which requires an ultrasound to remove the cataract. The expert surgeon performs a small incision in the eye and suction which is used to remove the cataract. After the cataract is successfully removed, an intraocular lens is implanted. This lens becomes a permanent part of one's eye, and one can't see it or feel it.



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The mining of diamonds in Zimbabwes Marange area has been a subject of much controversy in the longest of time.

Many a people celebrated the discovery of the vast alluvial diamond fields in 2006 as that came at a time Zimbabwe had started experiencing economic challenges.

One cannot blame Zimbabweans for pinning their hopes on diamonds as neighbouring countries such as Botswana were raking in hundreds of millions if not billions of dollars in diamond revenue.

Politicians also didnt help matters as they promised that the country would earn about $2 billion annually in diamond revenue.

That was a pipe dream.

Rather the countrys last two finance ministers complained that the treasury did not receive any meaningful diamond revenue from the mining companies.

Zimbabwe had licenced Mbada Diamonds, Anjin Investments, Marange Resources, Diamond Mining Company, Jinan, Kusena and Gye Nyame to mine diamonds in Marange.

Gye Nyames licence was later revoked.

Tendai Biti of the opposition Movement for Democratic Change (MDC), who was the countrys finance minister under the government of national unity from 2009 to early 2013, constantly clashed with the diamond mining companies whom he accused of robbing the Treasury.

He was forced to cut Zimbabwes budget in 2012 to $3.4 billion from $4 billion after receiving $41 million from $600 million that he expected from diamond sales.

The current finance minister Patrick Chinamasa said in November 2013 that the Treasury did not receive proceeds from diamond revenue in the nine months to September 2013.

Harare had targeted to receive $40 million from diamond sales during the period under review.

Consolidation

The ruling Zimbabwe African National Union Patriotic Front (Zanu-PF) party then resolved at its 14th National Peoples Conference in December 2013 that government consider streamlining the number of diamond miners in Marange.

[We resolved] to rationalise the number of players in the diamond mining sector to promote efficiency and transparency, the party said at the end of the conference.

Then president Robert Mugabe also told the same conference that the inclusion of several players in the diamond mining sector had resulted in increased incidences of smuggling and government would act decisively on this.

Diamonds, we would want to centralise that. If you look at Botswana, even in South Africa, Angola, Namibia its not free for all. Its only government and partners who produce diamonds, he said then.

He then tasked former mines minister Walter Chidhakwa to oversee the consolidation of mining in Marange.

He mercilessly executed the plan as he threatened that companies that did not want to merge would be forced to leave.

The companies rejected the consolidation plan and were indeed pushed out early 2016.

This gave birth to the Zimbabwe Consolidated Diamond Company (ZCDC).

Although I was one of the people who argued for the consolidation of mining operations in Marange, I called for caution to be exercised.

I also argued at the time that it was not clear whether the takeover of all diamond mines meant that the country would not allow new companies to prospect for diamonds.

What made sense was for Harare to allow firms operating outside Marange continue mining, but let ZCDC acquire stakes in these private entities.

However, the consolidation plan was executed, much to the disappointment of the erstwhile Marange diamond miners.

Companies like Anjin approached the court challenging the takeover of their claims.

Change in fortunes

However, the resignation of Mugabe in November last year after pressure from the military and his party saw the coming in of Emmerson Mnangagwa as the countrys new leader.

He chose the former army boss Constantino Chiwenga as one of his deputies.

The army, through its investment vehicle Matt Bronze, had an interest in Anjin and it was only a matter of time before we heard of a possible return of the company and others to Marange.

The Zimbabwe Independent reported early May that Harare was investigating the looting and stripping of Anjins assets worth millions of dollars during the two years it had not been operating in Marange.

Company general manager Shingi Manyeruke was quoted as saying that Anjin had maintained a presence in Marange since 2016 as they were not consolidated under ZCDC due to the court application it filed challenging government's decision to terminate its mining rights.

"We are still on the ground in [Marange] looking after our facilities, the only setback has been the rampant looting and stripping of production infrastructure, he said.

The abrupt shutdown of the mine and subsequent looting and asset stripping posed a significant risk to the investment. There are investigations on the matter by relevant government-related organs currently ongoing. We are waiting for findings from the aforesaid investigations."

Manyeruke said the resumption of production would hinge upon the outcome of the Constitutional Court case and new diamond legislation government was crafting.

Strange enough, we never heard of the companys continued presence in Marange, when Mugabe was still in power.

The Zimbabwe Environmental Lawyers Association (Zela) recently raised suspicions that Anjin was resuming operations as its premises were being spruced up.

President Mnangagwa did not hide his governments intentions as he recently said that Harare was working on a new diamond policy that would lead to the unbundling of the Zimbabwe Consolidated Diamond Mining Company (ZCDC) to allow more players in the sector.

I am sure you are aware that under the old administration, we banned seven or so companies, which were mining diamonds and we created one company, he was quoted as saying by the Herald newspaper.

We have now realised that one company has no capacity to deal with the exploitation of this mineral, so we are in the process, with the Minister of Mines (and Mining Development Winston Chitando).

Mnangagwas government had been reversing a lot of decisions made by Mugabes administration.

He scraped the empowerment law except for diamonds and platinum.

The talk of ZCDC lacking capacity to mine diamonds on its own could be a ploy to make way for the armys diamond company to resume operations in Marange and other parts of the country.

As surely as the sun rises, Anjin will make a comeback in Marange.

However, its also refreshing that companies such as Botswana Diamonds and Vast Resources were set to prospect for diamonds in Zimbabwe.

The coming in of reputable diamond exploring and mining firms will help in as much as Harare will bring back companies that had been elbowed out of Marange.

Above all, their return should be followed by strict monitoring and improved revenue remittances to the Treasury.

Mathew Nyaungwa, Editor in Chief of the African Bureau, Rough&Polished






The Diamond Development Initiative (DDI), the organization dealing with the traditional diamond mining, recently announced the appointment of Elodie Daguzan as its first Goodwill Ambassador.

Ms. Daguzan, who currently works as head of communication and industry relations for diamantaire Rubel & Menasche, brings with her 17 years of experience in the diamond and jewelry industry. In an interview with Rough&Polished, Daguzan spoke about the challenges she faces and the programs implemented by DDI.

What priorities did you set for yourself as the DDI Goodwill Ambassador?

Our first priority within Rubel & Menasche is to better understand Artisanal and Small-Scale Mining (ASM) and the challenges faced by the sector. I come from a very different universe, I have 17 years of experience in the diamond sector, most of it spent with Rubel & Menasche, where I have developed my diamond knowledge from a technical, industry and high end jewellery perspective. When you are located in the heart of Paris as we are, ASM is not your primary field of expertise!

Nevertheless, it has always been of great interest to me. And with the help of DDIs team and board members, I have an extraordinary opportunity to learn directly from the experts.

Our second priority is to raise awareness on ASM in the jewelry industry and especially within the high-end sector. The daily struggles of ASM are almost impossible to fathom at the other end of the pipeline for brands such as these. We wish to bridge this gap by sharing information, knowledge, ultimately de-stigmatising the sector.

The third one, it is a big dream indeed, is to participate in a change in mindset that will allow the whole precious industry to understand that it is in our best interest to take care of our own. I sincerely believe that addressing the development possibilities of ASM can have a positive impact on the entire category, therefore providing a more sustainable environment for all businesses across the value chain.

What is your biggest concern?

One of our main concern is not being able to respectfully give this mission the appropriate amount of time it deserves.

The other is the lack of understanding and awareness around ASM, there is a lot of work to do to change mindsets. The sector needs our attention as it is our collective responsibility, to engage and help support its formalisation one step at a time.

But I am an optimist and I have a blind faith in our industry, so concerns will fade and will make room for action. I am humbled by DDI s support and blessed to be representing Rubel & Menasche and thankful for the leadership who have empowered me to pursue my passion.

What is required to improve regulation of traditional diamond mining and create a free and open market for artisanal miners?

Those responsible for regulationprimarily producing countries and the Kimberley Processneed to feel a need to improve it. I think the push will come ultimately from society. We are seeing it now  with diamonds, with gold, and with minerals used to produce smart phones and other technological devices.

But more specifically there are two things that are critical. The first is education at mine site level and the second is on the policy front, meaning encouraging governments to formally recognize artisanal mining in order to allow the legal framework needed to operate in a responsible manner. Essentially, what is required is a joint effort from industry and government.

Industry is willing to provide capacity building programmes and is already been doing it. As per example, DDI and AWDC led a joint training of rough valuation in June 2017 in Antwerp for KP representatives from 4 Participant countries. Or more recently, the GemFair pilot project that De Beers launched in partnership DDI.

But industry initiatives cannot succeed on their own. They need to be able to rely on a dedicated legal framework designed by committed governments that clearly see the value of ASM as a source of development.

Does DDI conduct a campaign to encourage demand for diamonds mined by the traditional method?

Actually, this is not DDIs role. DDI implements on-sight programmes that strive to help support the formalization of artisanal mining and develop the communities relying on the mining sites for their livelihood. That is the core mandate of DDI and it is where its expertise and experience lie.

How to ensure the diamonds from artisanal miners are sold at fair prices?

Again, I would say that part of it has to do with education. DDI provides training on diamond valuation helping miners get a better understanding of the diamonds they are producing, therefore obtaining a more accurate value when selling those diamonds. This is of paramount importance as education ultimately leads to empowerment. Fair trade will come through diamond technical expertise.

The other part has to do with removing the stigma that is perceived of artisanal mining, as it can be run ethically, creating a huge beneficial impact on local communities. The industry as a whole is now fully aware of the urgency to address the formalization of ASM and the various initiatives undertaken by some of the leading players will also be a force for change in mindsets.

Fair prices will be a consequence of the desirability of ASM diamonds due to the ultimate good they will be doing in supporting the development of the sector and the surrounding communities.

What is the market share of diamonds that are mined in the traditional way unofficially?

A lot of artisanal diamond mining is done in what is called the informal sector, which means that it escapes taxation and national economic data collection. DDIs best estimate is between 15% and 20% of global production by volume. By value it is less, but the total still represents hundreds of millions of dollars to rural communities in developing countries. DDI is conducting a research that will soon provide more details on a country-by-country basis.

At what stage of implementation is the supply of "development diamonds" to the market?

DDI has developed a detailed set of standardsthe Maendeleo Diamond Standards for artisanal mined diamonds. These standards were developed in close consultation with the RJC, some leaders in the industry, African governments and miners themselves. DDI has organized mining groups around these standards and is putting together third-party monitoring to ensure compliance. Several pilots have been run in getting these diamonds to market, some more successful than others. The main challenge DDI has faced is not the miners and their adherence to standards, it is the creation of a dependable route to market. DDI are working on pilots to address these challenges and are hopeful that GemFair will turn this into reality.

Which countries are covered by the DDI programs?

DDIs primary activities are in Sierra Leone and the Democratic Republic of Congo, but they have additional activities in Guinea and Liberia, and are investigating possibilities in Cote dIvoire. They have conducted research on artisanal diamond mining in several other countries as far afield as Tanzania and Guyana.

Does DDI face a financing problem?

DDI is a non-profit, charitable organization, and there is never enough money to address the challenges faced in the artisanal sector. They have had very positive support from across the industry and from some government funders. The German government (GIZ) has been especially supportive. One of the major hurdles faced in general is to find donors who understand the importance of sustained, multi-year programmes. Artisanal diamond mining problems cannot be solved in small, one- and two-year efforts. Sustainability needs long term commitment.

As Goodwill Ambassador, this is an area I can only hope to have a positive impact on. Being with Rubel & Menasche for 7 years now, we operate in the high-end jewellery sector. The one and only where savoir-faire is king, excellence is the minimum requirement and reputation is your priceless possession. That particular segment of the pipeline has a real stake in the desirability of the product category that is why I hope to foster dialogue through knowledge, understanding that would transform into mutual added value and hopefully commitment.

In your opinion, how effective is the Kimberley Process in terms of ensuring transparency in diamond trade?

The Kimberley Process shone a bright light on the international diamond trade and made it impossible for large-scale conflict diamond operations to continue. It brought much-needed transparency to the industry. But any regulatory system needs to keep up with the challenges that inevitably develop, and the KP has found this difficult. The KP is actually undergoing a three-year review cycle and has created a dedicated Ad Hoc Committee on Review and Reforms to tackle reform. One of the main focus is the strengthening of the Peer-Review Mechanism. It is a critical point as it will enable an adequate implementation the minimum requirements which in turn provide Participant countries with more accurate monitoring of diamonds cross-country movements.

DDI is actively participating in the review through the Ad Hoc Committed and hopes that the proposed reforms that they and other Participants and Observers have put forward will be accepted by the plenary and transformed into actionable/practical changes.

What the blockchain technology can give for the diamond industry?

The blockchain technology is being tested by a few industry players, including De Beers who are working on developing an industry wide solution. My Our understanding is that this Diamond Industry Blockchain will complement the existing measures such as the Kimberley Process by providing a tamper-proof, immutable record of a diamonds journey throughout the value chain. This has the potential to be a game-changer for the industry in addressing some of the main areas of discussion throughout the supply chain.

It will underpin continued consumer confidence in diamonds by having one central ledger that contains an immutable record of a diamonds journey throughout the value chain and guarantees its authenticity.

Millennials help to increase the demand for synthetic diamonds, succumbing to the image created by its producers, assuring that their diamonds are not associated with the exploitation of labor and do not harm the environment. Do you see here a problem?

It is unfortunate that synthetic advertisements use the plight of the artisanal mining sector to promote their own interests. By alienating ASM, synthetic producers undermine the livelihoods of over 1.5 million people working in the sector and this is a major issue. Marginalising the sector does not represent responsible business practices neither does it promote social development.

The answer is not to punish ASM, it is to bring it into the formal economy, making sure that diggers are fairly paid, working in safe and healthy environment and that their efforts are environmentally sound. That is what DDI is all about!

Alex Shishlo, Editor of the Rough&Polished European Bureau in Brussels
(thediamondloupe.com) - We are not planning to change our strategy, integrate in the new market (synthetic product market) and launch our own synthetic production, or sell lab-grown diamonds. It is obvious that ALROSA as a diamond producer and one of the founders of Diamond Producers Association (DPA) hopes that this initiative will lead to differentiation of diamonds and synthetic stones, underlining the status of synthetics as a distinct low-price product. However, we cant deny that there is a chance that it will increase the demand for synthetic stones and cause the devaluation of a diamond as a notion. Sergey Ivanov, CEO - ALROSA, quoted by Interfax news agency.
Image credit: Chamber of Mines of Zimbabwe

The Chamber of Mines of Zimbabwe (COMZ) has once again urged government to drop the 51/49 indigenisation threshold on diamonds and platinum to promote investment, according to a local daily.Harare relaxed the indigenisation threshold for all minerals except platinum and diamonds.COMZ president Batirai Manhando was quoted as saying that locals cannot afford to raise capital for 51 percent ownership.We appreciate the governments position to relax other minerals, but I think this should have been extended to all minerals, more so, if you look at platinum and diamonds, which are very capital intensive minerals, he said.We need more than $5 billion capital for their mining and beneficiation and these require foreign direct investment, and if we stick to the 51/49 threshold we are restricting FDI (foreign direct investment) and investors will not bring in their money.Manhando said investors would be wary of investing where they do not hold the majority shareholding.Meanwhile, the countrys central bank governor John Mangudya said the mines ministry was seized with the issue to ensure that government comes up with a good policy.Anything that increases production in the country is needed, he said.
ALROSA to allocate additional 105 mn roubles for the rehabilitation of Mirny over three years

04 june 2018 News

ALROSA intends to allocate additional 105 mn roubles in 2019-2021 to pave the roads with asphalt and do other rehabilitation works in the capital of the diamond region. The decision was taken following the request of the Head of the Administration of Mirny District, Rishat Yuzmkhametov.

According to ALROSAs CEO Sergey Ivanov, additional funds will be included in the budget of the company, which is being approved by the Supervisory Board. He also recalled that ALROSA provides non-repayable assistance to the city and Mirny District on a regular basis. Thus, in 2018 the company will allocate more than 420 mn roubles to the municipalities and local budgetary institutions.
Commonwealth Bank of Australia (CBA.AX) said it reached an agreement with AUSTRAC, the Australian Government's financial intelligence agency, to resolve the civil proceedings commenced by AUSTRAC in the Federal Court of Australia on 3 August 2017.

The agreement follows Court-ordered mediation between CBA and AUSTRAC and remains subject to Court approval.

As part of the agreement, CBA will pay a civil penalty of A$700 million together with AUSTRAC's legal costs of A$2.5 million.

CBA said it has admitted further contraventions of Australia's Anti-Money Laundering and Counter-Terrorism (AML/CTF) Act, beyond those already admitted, including contraventions in risk procedures, reporting, monitoring and customer due-diligence.

AUSTRAC's civil proceedings are otherwise dismissed.

CBA said it provided for an estimated penalty of A$375 million in the half year ending 31 December 2017 at which time the bank noted the proceedings were complex and ongoing, and the ultimate penalty determined by the Court may be higher or lower than the amount provided for. CBA will recognise a A$700 million provision in its financial statements for the full year ending 30 June 2018 which will be announced on 8 August.

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Business News
Indian shares gave up earlier gains to turn lower on Monday even as oil prices eased for a third day on worries over rising U.S. output and upbeat U.S. jobs data bolstered investor optimism in the world's largest .

The benchmark BSE Sensex was down about 133 points or 0.38 percent at 35,094 in early trade after rising around 0.9 percent last week amid easing crude oil prices and predictions of normal monsoon rains this year.

The broader Nifty index was down 15 points or 0.14 percent at 10,680, giving up earlier gains.

Titan, Cipla, Adani Ports, Indiabulls Housing Finance and HDFC Bank fell 1-2 percent in the Nifty pack.

Dr Reddy's Laboratories rallied 3 percent after the U.S. regulator cleared inspection of its Srikakulam plant.

ICICI Bank rose about 1 percent as it looks for a new chairman.

Cadila Healthcare gained 0.6 percent after receiving final approval from the U.S.FDA for Doxycycline Hyclate capsules.

Whirlpool of India jumped 1.4 percent after it decided to acquire 49 percent stake in Elica PB India.

Hero MotoCorp edged up marginally on reporting 11 percent growth in sales for May.

Idea Cellular rose 1 percent after it proposed a new name for the combined entity as "Vodafone Idea Ltd".

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DS Smith plc (SMDS.L) announced the proposed acquisition of Papeles y Cartones de Europa, S.A., known as Europac, a Western European integrated packaging . The offer price of 16.80 euros per Europac share values the entire share capital of Europac at 1.67 billion euros, with an implied enterprise value of 1.90 billion euros.

Europac is a Spanish listed, approximately 42 percent family owned vertically integrated packaging business. In 2017, Europac delivered revenues of 868 million euros and had EBITDA of 158 million euros. DS Smith has received undertakings to accept the acquisition from a total of 58.97 percent of the entire share capital of Europac. On completion, DS Smith intends to delist Europac's shares from their listings on the stock of Madrid and Barcelona.

Following completion of the acquisition, DS Smith is expected to have net debt to EBITDA of less than 2.5 times by the end of the current financial year.

On current trading, DS Smith said, since the start of the current financial year, the group performance has continued to be in line with management expectations.

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Business News
Virgin Money Holdings (UK) plc (VM.L) announced Monday that CYBG has made a revised proposal to the company. Both firms are in discussions regarding an all-share combination to create a new national competitor in UK banking.

Under the proposal terms, CYBG would acquire Virgin Money on the basis of an exchange ratio of 1.2125 new CYBG shares for each Virgin Money share, which implies that Virgin Money shareholders would own approximately 38% of the combined group.

Virgin Money shareholders would also be entitled to retain any dividend declared and paid in respect of the interim period ending 30 June 2018, subject to the reservations set out below in this announcement.

In the initial proposal, Virgin Money shareholders were to receive 1.1297 new CYBG shares for each Virgin Money share, holding around 36.5% of the combined group.

Discussions are ongoing regarding other terms and conditions of the Proposed Combination and reciprocal due diligence is being conducted.

The Boards of CYBG and Virgin Money believe that the Proposed Combination would create the UK's first true national banking competitor, offering both personal and SME customers an enhanced alternative to the large incumbent banks.

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Business News
Spain's unemployment declined notably in May, figures from the labor ministry showed Monday.

The number of registered unemployed decreased by 83,738 in May from the previous month. Compared to previous year, unemployment declined 208,998.

The number of registered unemployed was 3.25 million, the lowest since December 2008.

The number of unemployed among youth aged below 25 years, decreased by 9,843 from the previous month.

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Economic News

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Private equity firm Advent International has agreed to invest in a majority stake in Walmart Brazil, Walmart Inc. (WMT) and Advent said Monday. Advent expects its investment to strengthen the and position it for long-term success.

Under the terms of the agreement, Advent will hold 80 percent of Walmart Brazil, and Walmart will retain the remaining 20 percent upon the completion of the transaction, which is subject to regulatory approval in Brazil.

Walmart said that as a result of the transaction, it expects to record a non-cash, net loss of about $4.5 billion as a discrete item in the second quarter.

"We have been in Brazil for over 20 years and are excited about this partnership with one of the country's leading retailers. We believe that with our local market knowledge and retail expertise we can position the company to generate significant results and reach new levels of success in Brazil," said Patrice Etlin, a Managing Partner at Advent International in Brazil.

Advent has a strong local presence and extensive experience in retail investment both in Brazil and internationally. Since the opening of its Sao Paulo office in 1997, the fund has invested in 30 Brazilian companies from various sectors.

Walmart said its decision to partner with Advent in Brazil results from a thoughtful and deliberate review of Walmart's international portfolio.

As a result of the transaction, Walmart expects to record a non-cash, net loss of about $4.5 billion as a discrete item in the second quarter.

The company noted that a significant portion of the net loss is due to the recognition of cumulative foreign currency translation losses and the final loss could fluctuate significantly due to changes in currency exchange rates up to the date of close.

Following an anticipated close later this year, Walmart expects no ongoing material impact to earnings per share or EPS in the current fiscal year and a slight positive impact next fiscal year.

Walmart was advised by Goldman Sachs & Co. LLC., while Advent International was advised by Credit Suisse and Euro Latina Finance.

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Business News
Microsoft Corp. (MSFT) said Monday that it has agreed to acquire GitHub Inc., a code repository company popular with many software developers, for $7.5 billion in Microsoft stock. The acquisition is expected to close by the end of the calendar year.

According to Microsoft, the acquisition will empower developers, accelerate GitHub's growth and advance Microsoft services with new audiences.

GitHub will operate independently to provide an open platform for all developers in all industries. Developers will continue to be able to use the programming languages, tools and operating systems of their choice for their projects - and will still be able to deploy their code to any operating system, any cloud and any device, Microsoft noted.

Microsoft Corporate Vice President Nat Friedman, founder of Xamarin and an open source veteran, will assume the role of GitHub CEO.

GitHub's current CEO, Chris Wanstrath, will become a Microsoft technical fellow, reporting to Executive Vice President Scott Guthrie, to work on strategic software initiatives.

Microsoft said that upon closing of the transaction, it expects GitHub's financials to be reported as part of the Intelligent Cloud segment.

Microsoft expects the acquisition will be accretive to operating income in fiscal year 2020 on an adjusted basis, and to have minimal dilution of less than 1 percent to its earnings per share in fiscal years 2019 and 2020 on an adjusted basis, based on the expected close time frame.

GitHub is an essential tool for coders. Many companies, including Microsoft and Alphabet Inc.'s Google, use GitHub to store their corporate code and to collaborate. It is also a social network of sorts for developers.

GitHub currently has 28 million developers learn, share and collaborate to create the future.

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Business News
Boeing Co. (BA) and French aerospace supplier Safran SA (SAF.PA,0IU8.L,SAFRF.PK) Monday said they agreed to design, build and service auxiliary power units or APUs, used to primarily start the main engines and aircraft systems. The 50:50 joint venture will be based in the United States. The deal is expected to close in the second-half of 2018.

The two companies expect that the agreement will help work together on products and expanded service capabilities.

Stan Deal, President and CEO, Boeing Global Services said, "This strategic partnership will leverage Boeing's deep customer and airplane knowledge along with Safran's experience in designing and producing complex propulsion assemblies to deliver expanded, innovative services solutions to our customers."

Both the companies noted that the partnership will not have any impact on their 2018 guidance.

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Business News
Bitcoin and its peers started the week in the red, giving up the modest momentum witnessed last week. Cryptocurrencies were lower across the board.

Here is wrap of the main news from the cryptocurrency and blockchain space over the past 24 hours.

New York State To Launch Cryptocurrency Task Force

New York State is planning to create a cryptocurrency task force that would study the impact of digital currencies on the state's financial . The move is to provide the governor and the legislature with information on the effects of the widespread use of cryptocurrencies and other forms of digital currencies, and blockchain industries in the state. Read more...

Japan's SBI Holdings Launches Ripple Spot Trading

SBI Holdings, the Japanese financial giant, launched its cryptocurrency spot trading service on Monday, which covers only Ripple's native currency XRP for now, but plans to expand to Bitcoin and Bitcoin Cash. "VCTRADE", the cryptocurrency spot trading service, was announced by SBI Virtual Currencies, the newly launched wholly-owned subsidiary of the Tokyo-based financial services company. Read more...

Pantera's Morehead Says All Cryptos Very Cheap Now, Time To Buy

All cryptocurrencies are very cheap now and hence, it's a good time to buy, the chief of a prominent crypto-focused hedge fund said. Cryptocurrencies are lower by about 65 percent from their highs this year, Pantera Capital Management founder and CEO Dan Morehead said on CNBC's "Fast Money" show. Read more...

Abu Dhabi Ports Unveils Blockchain Solution For Logistics

Abu Dhabi Ports' unit Maqta Gateway LLC has launched the first blockchain solution for logistics in the country. Maqta has developed its own blockchain , Silsal, to improve efficiency in the shipping and logistics industry. Silsal combines blockchain technology with digital user identities to give a secure link. Read more...

Crypto Exchange HitBTC Suspends Services To Japanese Residents

Cryptocurrency exchange HitBTC decided to suspend its services to Japanese residents in order to comply with current regulatory changes brought about by the Japanese Financial Services Agency (FSA). HitBTC is now trying to establish a licensed unit in Japan to provide services to those living in the country, including exploring M&A opportunities to expedite the launch of the Japanese operations in the third quarter of 2018. Read more...

Slovenia's Largest Shopping Center To Become A 'Genuine Bitcoin City'

Slovenia's largest commercial and shopping complex is set to become a 'Genuine Bitcoin City.' In almost all the 500 retail stores spread across the 475,000 square meter Bitcoin City in capital Ljubljana, transactions will shortly be made in Bitcoin. For this, Fintech startup Eligma created a cryptocurrency transaction system "Elipay." Read more...

Crypto Lexicon - JOMO

JOMO is short for the joy of missing out. This means a trader is happy in not participating in the current trend in a cryptocurrency. Read more...

Current Prices

As of 9.38 am ET on Monday, Bitcoin was down 2.78 percent at $7,521.01 and Ethereum was lower by 4.58 percent at $596.41 on Coinbase.

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The image of Karl Marx featured at an exhibition on his life (Photo: VNA)



A Vietnamese delegation led by Permanent Vice Chairman of the Communist Party of Vietnam Central Committees Commission for External Relations Tran Dac Loi attended the event.

Also present at the event were NCP Chairman and Nepalese Prime Minister Khadga Prasad Oli, Nepalese ministers and parliamentarians, 300 domestic politicians, researchers and scientists, over 40 foreign delegates from 22 communist and workers parties worldwide.

Participants hailed Marx as a great thinker and philosopher who made significant contributions to society, towards building a better life for human kinds.

Marxs thoughts currently remain a lodestar for communist, workers and left-wing parties and labourers in many countries in the struggle for freedom, fairness, equality, peace and prosperity.

Almost opinions shared the view that communist and workers parties need to fully grasp and creatively apply basic principles of Marxism to build a path toward socialism that suits each countrys conditions.

Sharing experience in building socialism in Nepal, China, Vietnam and Cuba, delegates affirmed that socialism is the most effective and scientific solution for human kinds to overcome the crisis of capitalism.

They underscored the importance of strengthening international solidarity among communist and workers parties at present as appealed by eminent thinker Karl Marx./.
(Agencia CMA Latam) - Merval, the main index of the Buenos Aires Stock Exchange, rose 2.04% at 29,018.58 points Monday, boosted by the recovery in Petrobras' shares after the appointment of a new CEO. The banking sector also helped to keep the Merval higher.

Among the main reasons for the good mood in the market, there is also the expectation of an agreement between Mauricio Macri's administration and the International Monetary Fund (IMF) to be announced in the next few days. There are rumors that Argentina's Finance Minister Nicolas Dujovne would travel to the United States this week to coordinate the final details.

The shares of Valo (+8.51%), Grupo Galicia (+7.10%), and Petrobras (+5.50%) closed higher, while Tenaris (-2.72%), Aluar (-2.20%), and Transportadora de Gas del Sur (-1.58%) fell.

The locally traded U.S. dollar fell0.04%, to 24.97 Argentinean pesos, while the local market waits for news from the negotiations with the International Monetary Fund (IMF).

"Banco Nacian continues to assist and provide liquidity to the market by selling a good amount in the spot market - an estimated US$ 150 million - and there was no need to the BCRA [Central Bank] to sell in the market, but selling in the futures to the end of June, July and August," said analysts at ABC Mercado de Cambios.

by Agencia CMA Latam

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President welcomes UN efforts for peace, calling for lifting siege on Yemen [05/June/2018]



SANAA, June 5 (Saba)  President of the Supreme Political Council Mahdi al-Mashat on Monday welcomed efforts exerted by Special Envoy of the UN Secretary-General to Yemen, Martin Griffith, calling for lifting the siege on Yemen.



During his meeting with the UN envoy, the president stressed that any papers presented at the negotiating table should provide for ending the foreign presence in Yemen.



The president underlined that the UN charters and international laws regarding the respect for sovereignty and independence of countries should be starting points for any political process and negotiations in Yemen.



"Yemen is with peace, the peace of brave, if there is a serious intention from the other parties," the president said.



He confirmed that Yemen has never been a source of threat to other countries, and the aggressor states on Yemen are the source of evil.



He pointed out that the Saudi-led coalition states are not serious in stopping their aggression after assassinating the president Saleh al-Sammad, the recent military escalation in the west coast, and the direct intervention of the Americans and British in the battle.



The president called on the United Nations to play its role to alleviated the humanitarian catastrophe caused by the aggression, lift the blockade on Sanaa Airport and all Yemeni ports and stop the war.



The meeting discussed the working paper the UN envoy will submit to the UN Security Council on 19 June.



In the meeting, Griffith reviewed his efforts during the last period and his multi communication with all parties.



BA



Saba
RIO DE JANEIRO, June 3 (Xinhua) -- Flamengo extended their lead at the top of Brazil's Serie A standings on Sunday when a late Felipe Vizeu strike handed them a 1-0 victory over Corinthians.

The winner came after Lucas Paqueta's curling shot was parried clear by Walter only for Vizeu to prod in the rebound at Flamengo's Luso Brasileiro stadium.

Flamengo are now four points clear of second-placed Cruzeiro at the top of the 20-team standings with 20 points from nine matches.

Defending champions Corinthians have slumped to eighth with just four wins from their nine fixtures.

In other matches on Sunday, Gremio won 2-0 at Bahia, hosts America Mineiro overcame Atletico Paranaense 3-1, Santos won 5-2 at home to Vitoria and Cruzeiro won 1-0 at Ceara.

[ Editor: WPY ]
The programme has attracted around 90 ethnic people from 12 groups in the region, including Ta Oi, Co Tu, Raglai, E De, and Khmer, among others.

The programme introduces visitors to folk songs and lullabies of the Central Highlanders, as well as the making of their traditional musical instruments and cloth weaving.

A cooking contest, gong performances, sporting events and folk games are also indispensable parts of the month-long event.

Notably, children visiting the village can register for a free training course on experiencing the Buddhist monastic life. During the two-day courses, on June 2-3 and June 16-17, participants will learn about Buddhist rituals and Buddhas teachings on humanism and being a well behaved child.

During June, a number of traditional festivals of ethnic groups will be held in the village, such as a new house warming ceremony by the Cham group from Ninh Thuan, and the ceremony of brotherhood and longevity celebration by the Ede people in Dak Lak province.
After four months delay in the launching of flights between Samoa and Tonga, Real Tonga Airline is ready to kick start operations out of Faleolo International Airport on 29 June, 2018.

This was confirmed by Real Tonga Airlines Owner and C.E.O. Tevita Palu, in an email to the Samoa Observer.

Samoa flight is now confirmed for 29th June, he said.

The questions pertaining to the details of the service were not answered.

Real Tonga Airlines first commercial flight scheduled for February was cancelled and the decision was made while Tonga braced for Tropical Cyclone Gita, which at the time was intensifying to a Category 4 cyclone.

As reported earlier, Mr. Palu said the airline is set to use its SAAB 340 plane to transport passengers between the two island nations as the start of something the management of Real Tonga hopes to expand to other parts of the region.

The airline has already signed a codeshare agreement with Samoa Airways. Codeshare is an aviation business arrangement where two or more airlines share the same flight.

The flight out of Samoa is a step in the right direction, according to Mr. Latu who told the Sunday Samoan the airline started in 2013.

I started the airline as a sole and private owner of Real Tonga in 2013 to service Tongas domestic air service, he said.

Moving to start international and regional air service is quite an achievement for Real Tonga.

I look forward to working hand in hand with Samoas owned airline, Samoa Airways to develop the air transportation between our two nations and to support tourism growth in the Pacific.

To start, Real Tonga will operate two flights from Tongatapu via Vavau per week.

We have three engineers based at Faleolo International Airport as support maintenance for Real Tonga.

The airline is currently completing final license requirements in Samoa and will commence operations with two flights per week.

All flights are to be operated from Fuaamotu Domestic Airport to Faleolo International Airport in Samoa via Salote Lupepauu International Airport, Vavau.

Real Tonga will be utilising the SAAB 340 for our regional flights, which will be offering up to 30 passenger seats and a full meal service.

It has been over a decade since there was any significant commercial capacity between the two Polynesian nations.
A family member of Samoas notorious prisoners, Tagaloasa Filipaina and Ovaleni Poli, has questioned why it has taken so long for her relatives to be taken back to Tafaigata Prison.

Muni Nuialii Faleauto, 71, of Fasitoo Tai is an unhappy woman.

She is the eldest sister of notorious criminal, Tagaloasa Filipaina.

Speaking to the Samoa Observer, Ms. Faleauto said she doesnt understand why it has taken long for the Ministry of Police to return her brother and her nephew back to Tafaigata Prison.

The Court case is finished now and the decision was in favor of my brother and my nephew, she said.

The Police station is not a prisoner so I just dont understand why it is taking the Commissioner of Police so long to release them back to Tafaigata.

Where is the love and the justice in this?

Its not like we are asking them to release them, no we are only asking to release them back to Tafaigata prison where he should be to serve his time.

What is the charge thats keeping them at the Police station for so long, a Police station is not a prison and yet they are still there.

The police have no proof of whether my brother and my nephew were the ones that planned that mass breakout of prisoners, so they should be return to Tafaigata.

She added the treatment is unfair.

At Tafaigata he is a very well respected man there, she said.

He helps with the discipline of other prisoners and the guards as well as the Commissioner of Prison rely on him and yet his being mistreated.

At Tafaigata, he gets to go out from his cell but where he is at all they do is eat and sleep the whole day and that is making him sick.

When he was at Tafaigata, we get to visit him for two hours and be able to talk to him but at the Police station, we are only allowed five minutes with him, which is very unfair.

When I visited him last week, he looked very sick, even the food that we give him he doesnt eat and he told me hes tired and felt sick.

That place is like a dying place for him because he doesnt go out they stay in those rooms the whole day.

It makes me angry with the way this matter is being handled all we are asking is for them to be returned to Tafaigata.

We are not saying to let them go, no they are serving their time in prison and they will be there for a long time but its just sad.

He misses his family and children and there is not enough time to see him, we dont know where else to go or who to turn to.

We asked the Police why it is taking so long for them to go back to Tafaigata, but we were told that the Minister of Police has ordered them to serve their time at the Police station.

Ms. Faleauto added their family is suffering because of this and all she wants is for her brother and her nephew to be taken to Tafaigata Prison.

Last month, the Minister of Prisons and Correction Services, Tialavea Tionisio Hunt, declared the Apia Police Station as a prison to satisfy the legal aspect of housing Tagaloasa and in Apia.

The Order was signed by Tialavea on 3 May 2018.

In consideration of the fact that the following buildings and places were being used as prisoners before the commencement of the Prison and Corrections Act 2013 on 01 January, 2015, the Commencement date and pursuant to section 16 (1) of the Prisons and Corrections Act 2013, do hereby appoint as prisons the following buildings and places, the Order reads.

The building situated and known as the Apia Police Station together with the building and land used in connection therewith.

The building at Aleipata in Upolu known as the Aleipata Police Post and the building and land sued in connection.

The building at Leulumoegag in Upolu known as the Poutasi Police Post, Tuasivi in Savaii and Falelima Police Post in Savaii.

The matter is in relation to the ongoing saga involving two notorious convicts who had been moved to the Apia Police Station after a failed mass prison break plan last year.

The declaration follows a legal opinion provided by the Attorney General, Lemalu Hermann Retzlaff.

He recommended that the prisoners can still be detained in the Apia Police station until the actual case is heard by the Court and a definite determination is given as the lawfulness or otherwise of their detention at Apia Police station.
When Sandra Deakmans parents started to need more care than was available at their independent living facility in Santee, she decided it was time for them to come live with her and her husband, Dave.

The Deakmans sold their Point Loma home and found a house in El Cajon that would comfortably accommodate them and her mother and father, Virginia and Gerald Burke, both in their 80s.

Im so glad they are there, she said. I couldnt have the solid peace of mind I have if they were somewhere else.

The Deakmans and Burkes are among a growing segment of the population who are opting to live together in multigenerational households. According to a 2016 report by Pew Research Center, 60.6 million Americans are now living with two or more adult generations under one roof. Thats 19 percent of the population  almost as much as in 1950, when 21 percent of the population lived in multigenerational homes.

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And while living with extended family is the cultural norm among many ethnic groups, the increase in multigenerational living in the United States can be seen across the board. From 2009 to 2016, the number of multigenerational Asian families increased from 26 to 28 percent, Hispanic families from 23 to 25 percent, black families from 24 to 25 percent and white families from 13 to 15 percent.

Many multigenerational homes are young adults living with their parents for financial reasons, but one of the driving factors is caregiving, said Donna Butts, executive director of Generations United, an advocacy group for intergenerational collaboration based in Washington, D.C. When it comes to caregiving, older adults are living longer, they are outliving their retirement.

For Deakman, the decision was partly financial and partly because she wanted to give back the love and care she had from her parents. The hardest part, she said, was turning the tables and becoming the one who is in charge.

They need you to be decision maker and the leader, Deakman said. That was the hardest part, knowing that I am the parent now. They want to be in control, but they dont have ability.

When the Burkes first moved in last July, Deakman, who is the youngest of 10 siblings, thought she could handle the caregiving on her own. (Most of her siblings are scattered across the country.) With a demanding job heading a department in a construction company, she soon realized the task was too much for her alone.

I tried it on my own, but I got resentful very fast because I was exhausted. I wanted to meet all their needs, but physically and mentally I could not, she said. I love my parents too much. I didnt sign up for it so I could have those types of negative feelings.

Deakman now has in-home help from Home Instead Senior Care.

Before setting up a multigenerational home, it is important for everyone to know their limits and their expectations, from finances to household chores.

Before you even talk about the living space, the family needs to take a moment and talk about what it is going to mean. How is it going to affect all the people involved? said Jessica Empeno, vice president of programs and services at Alzheimers San Diego. She is also speaking from experience, having cared for her parents at her home for six months while her father was ill. They will soon be back because his health conditions have not been resolved.

It totally changes the dynamics of a home, said Empeno, whose children were 10 and 12 when her parents stayed last year. Its 24/7. When I have both parents and kids, I cant go home and put my feet up. Someone needs something.

But, she said, it was also nice to have the extra help around the house and having her kids get to know their grandparents on a different level.

Donna Butts said its also an opportunity for children to hear the family story, to get a strong connection with their roots and family history.

One of keys to successful multigenerational living, Butts said, is having space for time together and time alone. And it seems some residential builders have taken heed, designing homes geared toward extended families.

In 2011, Lennar Homes started selling its first NexGen homes, with private suites that include a separate entrance, a bedroom, bathroom and kitchenette. A number of San Diego builders are now offering homes with spaces geared directly toward an extended family member or with flexible space that can be used for a private living area.

Lennars multigenerational home is one of our most popular floorplans and has been increasingly popular among homebuyers. We have had so much great feedback and have homeowners tell us it changed their life, said Jeremy Parness, Lennars Southern California division president.

Deakman said it has taught her how to focus on whats important.

Theres a lot of laughter in my house; always having the house full, Deakman said. Its made the transition to empty nester a lot more comfortable (her teenage sons live with their father in Ohio). I get to see my mothers face light up when my roses bloom.

Tips for multigenerational households

 Discuss expectations and responsibilities with everyone involved before deciding on the move. Make sure all parties know their financial responsibilities, especially if you are buying a home together. Create a list of family ground rules that everyone can agree on.

 Make sure the home works for everyone. Build in space for alone time  even if its just a comfortable chair in the bedroom to read a book or watch a movie. Add safety features such as grab bars and non-slip flooring.

 Get family members who are not part of the household involved. Are there siblings who can give rides to appointments, pay bills or provide respite care?

 Include all able bodies in chores. Find something that each family member can do, if possible. Even frail loved ones appreciate being needed, even if its folding socks.

 Expect a few bumps. No matter how much you love them, not everything will go smoothly  especially if youre expecting a shift in personality and habits.

Martina Schimitschek is a San Diego freelance writer.
Paul Greenwoods mother is 94 and lives alone in England. As an expert on elder abuse, Greenwood worries about her.

She is the next perfect victim in waiting, he says.

So, he does one simple thing daily to help keep her safe from predators. He talks to her.

For the past six years, hes called to check in and see whats going on in her life. For the past 2 years theyve done it via Facetime on her iPad mini. This is my way of knowing that, at least today, my mother is not a victim, he says.

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Greenwood recently retired from his 22-year role as San Diego County deputy district attorney in charge of the elder abuse division. He knows from experience that seniors  especially those living alone  are targets of scammers and abuse by caregivers and relatives.

Now he is a consultant and educator on the topic of elder abuse. A native of Great Britain (who recently became a U.S. citizen), he travels the country speaking to judicial and law-enforcement organizations.

A number of times Ive had adult children phone me up, and theyre angry because theyve just discovered their mother has been ripped off by their caregiver, and they start telling me the story and want me to prosecute, Greenwood says. I interrupt them and say, Excuse me, but where were you when all this was going on?

And of course they make every excuse as to why they werent involved, why they didnt visit their mum, why they didnt phone regularly. Thats what these crooks or caregivers know. When they know theres an adult son or daughter whos not interested in their elderly parent, they will then swoop.

I tell the adult children, Youve got to do a better job of looking out for your elderly parent. 

A growing pool of targets

Elder abuse takes many forms. The most prevalent is financial exploitation. Its the caller who gets a donation to a bogus charity, the internet scheme that gains access to an account, or a daughter or grandson with a gambling habit or drug addiction who steals jewelry, cash or credit cards. Millions of seniors are victims each year, with total losses estimated at more than $36 billion.

Then comes physical abuse, by family members, longtime friends or hired caregivers, who often lash out when confronted by the seniors who discover theyve been ripped off by the people theyve trusted. A report in April, by the San Diego Association of Governments criminal justice research division, indicated the number of reported violent crimes against seniors in the county has risen 37 percent in the past five years.

Theres also neglect, when those unable to care for themselves are left malnourished, dehydrated, over- or under-medicated or forced to live in unhealthy conditions.

Elders can become victims because their cognitive skills and memories, especially in their 80s and 90s, often have diminished. Also, they may have grown up in a time or place when they were trusting and not skeptical of peoples motives. Even people in trusted positions can be predators.

Greenwood recalls a case in San Diego more than 10 years ago when a church choir director told some of his choir members he was raising money to sponsor evacuees from Hurricane Katrina. When they contributed to his cause, he used the money to feed his gambling addiction.

It happens everywhere, he says.

Elder abuse is so prevalent that the federal Elder Justice Act, signed into law in 2010, was created to provide more resources to prevent and prosecute the abuse, neglect or exploitation of seniors.

Plus, elder abuse is primed for growth. The U.S. population is aging. By 2030, one in five Americans will be 65 or older. Almost every family could be touched in some way.

Its a situation Greenwood and others in the judicial systems have predicted. Some have called it The Silver Tsunami.

They see in the next 10, 15 years, the courts will be full of elder-abuse litigation or victims of crimes, Greenwood says.

Scammers constantly are searching for new subjects, using information from the web, public records, published obituaries and social media to target people 65 and older.

For instance, this year Medicare is issuing new identity cards, so scammers are calling seniors, identifying themselves as representing Medicare, and asking for personal information and Social Security numbers to process the new cards.

Or the next disaster that happens, say its firefighters who get killed in the line of duty, (scammers) will be on the phone pretending to raise money for the families of these people, Greenwood says.

Tips for protection

Greenwood has some suggestions for those who are approaching their senior years, or their family members, to help keep predators at bay and provide a shield for abuse. Among them:

Communicate constantly with your elderly loved one. Know who theyre spending time with and how theyre spending their money.

By checking in, you also send a signal to would-be scammers and caregivers that the elderly person is connected. People who are isolated are more at risk.

If your parent needs a hired caregiver, write a letter to your parents bank or credit union notifying it that there is a new caregiver in the home and that you would like the institution to keep a watch on the parents accounts to monitor for fluctuations or unusual activity. Remind the bank that they are a mandated reporter of any suspected elder financial abuse, he says. Keep a copy of the letter. That puts the financial institution on notice.

Before a caregiver comes into the house, take an inventory of valuables and take photographs. The No. 1 item taken is jewelry, which can be pawned or sold and often is not missed.

Be skeptical about solicitations by email or phone. As Greenwood tells his mother, Dont believe anybody that calls you.

If you live alone, develop a buddy system of neighbors who can watch over you and your house and provide them with contact information for your adult children.

As you age, find a financial adviser and elder law attorney to use, through recommendations of friends or reputable organizations. Also make preparations in advance with your adult children, setting up powers of attorney and letting them know what your wishes are for future care.

Greenwood says involvement by adult children is one of the biggest steps for avoiding future abuse, saying victimization begins with isolation.

To avoid isolation requires work now, and cooperation between parent and adult child to make sure that we stay in touch as much as the parent wants us to, he says. Never be afraid to have these frank conversations.

Doug Williams is a freelance writer in San Diego.
North Koreas nuclear weapon and ballistic missile programs loomed large throughout a busy week of closed-door talks with world leaders and their military ministers and Defense Secretary James Mattis assured them that American troop levels on the peninsula werent negotiable, he said Sunday afternoon as he jetted back to Washington.

Mattis insisted world leaders overwhelmingly backed American efforts to achieve the complete, verifiable and irreversible destruction of Pyongyangs atomic weapons.

Mattis began his trip to Singapore on Tuesday, shuttling to Hawaii for private sessions with top officials from Indonesia and Japan, before attending the Shangri-La Dialogue.

At the security summit, he also met with civilian defense ministers and military leaders from China, Vietnam, Canada, Germany, Australia, Malaysia, the Philippines and South Korea.

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He also held private sessions with Narendra Modi and Lee Hsien Loong, the prime ministers of India and Singapore.

President Donald Trump announced that bilateral negotiations with North Korean strongman Kim Jong Un would begin June 12 in Singapore.

Flanked by Navy Secretary Richard Spencer, Mattis told reporters he has tried to temper optimistic hopes for a diplomatic breakthrough on North Koreas unlawful nuclear program.

So well see how it goes, Mattis said. It was across the board. Whatever the other issues over which we might disagree, I didnt hear any disagreement on this.

Mattis said he was boggled by questions that kept coming up about linking American troop levels in South Korea to a nuclear deal with Pyongyang.

Theyre not going anywhere, he said. Its not even a subject of the discussions.

In future years, if the threat of war with North Korea subsides, American troop strength might be readdressed, Mattis indicated. But that would be a discussion for the U.S. and South Korea, in conjunction with United Nations officials.

Concerns about American troop withdrawals triggered offers from other nations to send in replacement forces, Mattis said.

Although North Korea took center stage in his meetings with world leaders, Mattis said that officials representing the nations rimming the Indian and Pacific Oceans fretted about other problems, including Beijings disputed territorial claims across the region and Chinas increasing militarization of islands in the Western Pacific.

Mattis called the address by Modi that opened the conference on Friday first rate, especially the prime ministers warning about large powers such as China tricking small nations into taking on massive debt as a backdoor way to control them.

When Mattis lands at Andrews Air Force Base on Monday, he plans to return to planned Pentagon reforms.

On May 25, he signed a memorandum to all Department of Defense employees reminding them of the broad bipartisan support to make sure that every spending decision must focus on both lethality and affordability, thereby gaining full value from each taxpayer dollar spent on defense.

In December, the Pentagon unleashed what Mattis called an army of auditors to assess the scope of Department of Defense operations. Theyre expected to deliver reports analyzing military procurement contracts, stopping cyberattacks and managing manpower and finances.

Professionals invite scrutiny, Mattis underlined in his memo as he urged employees to embrace lasting reforms.

I know its uncomfortable to be inspected with this degree of scrutiny, Mattis told reporters. But this is whats necessary to maintain bipartisan support for the budgets we need.

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cprine@sduniontribune.com
A center for airline passengers, Tijuana has never been notable for its volume of air cargo traffic. Now a former mayor has set about to change that.

Carlos Bustamante Anchondo said he is seizing on the citys strategic location  next to California, with existing airline connections to Mexicos interior and China  with an eye towards turning Tijuana into a major air cargo hub, both for domestic and international routes.

Today, Bustamantes long-planned Matrix air cargo and logistics park will take its first step, launching operations inside a former airplane repair hangar that rises next to Tijuanas A.L. Rodriguez International Airport. Facilities include a newly built Mexican customs inspection area and a bonded distribution center.

The initial traffic will be air freight that up to now has been processed at the Tijuana airport. But the plan is to quickly grow as express carriers and freight forwarders find they can save time and money by making deliveries directly to Tijuana rather than their current practice of flying in an out of the Los Angeles International Airport, then crossing the goods by truck into and out of Mexico.

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Proponents of greater cross-border integration are praising the facility as an important piece of infrastructure for the San Diego-Tijuana region, where private and government initiatives have looked for ways to streamline passengers and commerce across the international border.

Just west of the cargo facility is the Cross Border Xpress, a privately operated sky-walk between San Diego and the Tijuana airport. About two miles to the east is the planned Otay East Port of Entry, envisioned as a toll facility planned and operated jointly by the United States and Mexico. Farther east in Tecate is a project for a future cross-border commercial rail crossing.

The air cargo facility, is a dynamic piece to the dynamic puzzle here, said Eduardo Acosta, San Diego-based vice president of R.L. Jones Customhouse Brokers.

Alan Bersin, a project consultant who is a former acting commissioner of U.S. Customs and Border Protection and previously chaired the San Diego County Regional Airport Authority, is calling it a game changer.

Bersin and other advocates of the new cargo facility say the current uncertainty over U.S. trade agreements  and new U.S. tariffs on steel and aluminum imports from Mexico, the European Union and Canada announced last week by President Donald Trump  could have some effects, but not alter the long-term prospects.

Bersin said the presidents approach to trade could affect negatively the U.S.-Mexico air cargo portion of the Matrix facility, if it is sustained. But the Asia-Mexico component, which is a significant part of the project, would not be affected, he added.

Protectionist U.S. trade policies would benefit Mexico and the Tijuana air cargo facility, as Mexicos trade relationship with other countries continue to grow, said Paola Avila, chair of the Border Trade Alliance and vice president of international business affairs at the San Diego Chamber of Commerce. Under these conditions, shipping products out of Mexico to Asia...may be a better option for U.S. companies, she said.

With air cargo far more expensive than cargo that is transported on container ships, it has to be very high-value stuff, said Arnold Maltz, a professor of supply chain management at the Arizona State Universitys W.P. Carey School of Business.

Bustamante said he first thought of the idea 20 years ago. But back then, there was probably not as much high-value manufacturing, and the sourcing would have been more North American than it is now, Maltz said.

The launch of the Tijuana facility comes days after the start of SkyBridge Arizona, an air cargo e-commerce hub based out of the Phoenix-Mesa Gateway Airport and aimed at the Mexican market; the facilities include both a U.S. customs inspection area and a Mexican customs pre-clearance operation under the same roof.

Bustamante said he has worked closely with the Mexican government to design the customs inspections area of the Tijuana air cargo facility. They wanted a model for the future of air cargo terminals in Mexico, Bustamante said. The hope is to eventually add a U.S. Customs facility to inspect goods headed for the United States, Bustamante said.

To operate the facility, his company, Inmuebles Especializados Matrix, has formed a joint venture of experienced U.S. and Mexican companies with long experience in handling air cargo: Mercury Air Group and Braniff Air Freight.

The potential clients? Consumers in Asia eager for fish and fresh produce from northwest Mexico that is delivered by air freight services. In the other direction, the sector of the maquiladora industry in Baja California that produces everything from airline parts to medical equipment and relies on the timely delivery of high-value components from Asia, Europe and the United States

Bustamante is counting on the growth of e-commerce as another potential source of growth for his facility.

Air cargo traffic in Mexico is a fraction of that in the United States, with processing facilities heavily concentrated far from the border in Mexico City and Guadalajara.

Tijuana airports processing capacity has up to now allowed for only a limited amount of air freight processing: about 16,000 tons annually, or about a tenth of the volume processed annually by San Diegos airport, according to a study by Bersins consulting firm, BorderWorks Advisors, LLC.

Bustamante, who was mayor of Tijuana from 2010 to 2013, said the air cargo facility is a dream some two decades in the making, and many doubted hed succeed.

Im stubborn, Bustamante said in an interview last week. I said Im going to see it through, though they told me I was crazy.

He is CEO of Grupo Bustamante, a Tijuana company that includes land development, construction, industrial parks and the 422-room Grand Hotel. Since the 1990s, he has also held a concession from Mexicos federal government on a 65-acre plot of land adjacent to the Tijuana airport.

Bustamante originally formed a joint venture with a Hong Kong-based company to build an aircraft maintenance and repair facility on the property, which is adjacent to Tijuanas airport, investing some $60 million investment that eventually foundered. Bustamante said his federal government concession also allows him to develop an air cargo facility.

But development of any kind on the property was frozen for 13 years in a dispute with the airports private operators over concession agreements. Bustamante said the dispute was resolved three years ago, and in 2015, the Mexican airline Volaris opened an airplane maintenance facility in part of the Matrix structure.

The new air cargo facility occupies the rest of the space.

Bustamante said he has been in talks with several global freight forwarding companies, including DHL, Federal Express, and United Parcel Service.

Though operations are beginning this week, the facilitys formal inauguration wont be until July, Bustamante said. Were not competing with San Diego, were creating something new, he said. A lot of the 747s, fully loaded cant land in San Diego. Your airport closes at 11 at night. This is 24 hours.

On Thursday, there was little to see outside the new facility, where two small cargo planes were parked outside, and groups of workers were busy moving equipment. The activity would soon start, Bustamante said, as he stepped past the facility with a confident spring in his step.

You can tell by this, he said and smiled, that Im a patient man.

sandra.dibble@sduniontribune.com

@sandradibble
In the early 1900s, philosopher George Santayana said: Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it, a compact piece of wisdom that inspired a cottage industry of variations, misquotes and probably a few bad tattoos.

Santayanas quote struck so many chords because it rang so true. And as I took a break from the tumult of 2018 to watch the new CNN documentary series on 1968, I came up with my own variation on the theme.

Those who cannot find perspective in the past are doomed to be depressed about the present and pessimistic about the future.

In 2018, Americans have dealt with more than 20 school shootings. We have grappled with racism at Starbucks and allegations of sexual harassment and assault from Hollywood to Washington and everywhere in between. We have also organized, protested, marched and made progress.

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On Tuesday, the nation will be remembering the 50th anniversary of the assassination of Robert F. Kennedy. Also on Tuesday, citizens in Alabama, California, Iowa, Montana, New Jersey and New Mexico will be voting in their states primaries.

We get angry and we mourn. We protest and we move forward. This is how America works. And even as it chronicles a year that brought the assassinations of Kennedy and Martin Luther King Jr., the escalation of the Vietnam War and violent protests stretching from one end of our torn-up country to the other, CNNs four-part 1968: The Year That Changed America series carries a message of hope.

If we survived 1968, we can survive anything. We did, and we will.

The series  which is available on demand via your cable or satellite system, on CNNgo and CNN mobile apps, and on Amazon Prime Video  is divided by seasons, each one filled with death, violence and volcanic change.

Winter brought the Battle of Khe Sanh, one of the largest and bloodiest battles of the Vietnam War. By February of 1968, the U.S. death toll in Vietnam had risen to more than 500 a week. Winter brought the controversial, racism-fueled presidential campaign of George Wallace, the comeback campaign of Richard Nixon and the anti-war campaign of Sen. Eugene McCarthy.

In spring, Martin Luther King Jr. was assassinated in Memphis, and the country exploded in spasms of grief and violence.

For my parents generation, King was the dream, Boston Globe columnist Renee Graham remembers in one of the series many emotional interviews. And then he was gone.

Also in the spring of 1968, student protest at Columbia University ended in bloody clashes with the police. And on June 5, Bobby Kennedy was mortally wounded at the Ambassador Hotel in Los Angeles, just hours after winning the California presidential primaries.

This was really the death of hope, journalist and author Mark Kurlansky says. (It was) the loss of belief in the entire system.

It was too much. It was all too much. And it was only June.

Summer was marked by the televised blood and chaos of the Democratic National Convention in Chicago and also the surprise promise of the underdog candidacy of Hubert Humphrey. The series ends with the winter of 1968, which brings the controversy of the Black Power protests at the Summer Olympics in Mexico City, President Johnsons order to halt bombing in Vietnam, and Richard Nixons razor-thin victory in the presidential election.

It was a year of death, conflict and horrific violence. But 1968 was also the year that the anti-war movement hit its peak. It was the year Apollo 8 broadcast the first images of Earth from space, and 3,000 people occupied the tents and shanties of Washington, D.C.s Resurrection City to demand resources for the poor.

It was the year In the Heat of the Night took on racism and won a Best Picture Oscar, the year The Beatles gave us Hey Jude and the year James Brown hit the Top 10 with Say It Loud  Im Black and Im Proud.

So far, 2018 has been a year of death, conflict and violence. It has also been the year of the Womens March, the year of the #LivingWhileBlack and #MeToo movements, and the year the mass shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Fla., inspired young people to march, mobilize and take on the political establishment and the National Rifle Association.

And it is only June.

In his 1968 State of the Union address, President Lyndon B. Johnson said, If there ever was a nation that was capable of solving its problems, it is this nation. He didnt know how much more serious those problems were going to get, and neither did we. But 50 years later, here we are. Still working. Still surviving. Still voting.

Still standing.

Twitter: @karla_peterson

karla.peterson@sduniontribune.com
This time, the Q&A will focus on four groups of issues.

The first one relates to solutions to improve transport infrastructure and ensure traffic safety, especially in big cities, and the settlement of problems of build-operate-transfer transport projects. Minister of Transport Nguyen Van The will be the main person to field the questions.

Minister of Natural Resources and Environment Tran Hong Ha will answer queries about land management in big cities and localities with large numbers of complaints and denunciations, environmental pollution and control of businesses waste discharge, and measures to respond to climate change, especially in the Mekong Delta.

Meanwhile, Minister of Education and Training Phung Xuan Nha will be asked about the situation of tertiary and general education and solutions to improve learning and teaching quality at those levels, the management of preschool education, particularly in non-public establishments, and ways to address moral and lifestyle degradation among teachers and students.

Minister of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs Dao Ngoc Dung will field questions about Vietnams labour market, vocational training, and child care and protection.

During the Q&A sessions, the deputy prime ministers in charge of relevant fields, other ministers, the Governor of the State Bank of Vietnam, the Inspector General of the Governments Inspectorate and officials of the State Audit Office of Vietnam will also give further explanation of related problems.

During the fifth session, the legislative body will for the first time introduce a new regulation for question-&-answer activity. Accordingly, each NA deputy can have one minute to put question, and after three questions, the Cabinet member has three minutes to make the answer. The change is designed to increase dialogue and face-to-face debate.
In France, schools are typically named after French luminaries. Writers, artists, politicians, military leaders and the like.

A small number of famous foreigners, however, have made the scholastic grade: Leonardo da Vinci, Pablo Picasso, Pablo Neruda, Ben Franklin.

And now Jack Port, 96-year-old son of Escondido.

This has to be the highlight of my life, Port told me Thursday from his east Oceanside home. Im elated.

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Last week, a Normandy newspaper reported the official decision to name a local school after Port. La Manche Libre translated the Americans reaction this way:

Une ecole a mon nom, cest quelque chose! Je suis honore et heureux. Il ny a pas de plus beau geste damitie et de reconnaissance. (A school in my name, thats something! I am honored and happy. There is no more generous gesture of friendship and recognition.)

Fifteen years ago, I had a long, leisurely breakfast with the D-Day veteran. A natural-born kibitzer, Port entertained with salty tales of growing up in the Hidden Valleys first Jewish family.

I felt there was quite a bit of bigotry here, Port said of the rural city filled with church steeples. The closest synagogue was in San Diego, a long drive in those days.

Port vividly recalled anti-Semitic Silver Shirts, American knock-offs of Hitlers Brown Shirts, milling around Grand Avenue in the years immediately before World War II. The white supremacists, aspiring fascists, had the letter L (for Liberty) stitched on their khaki shirts, Port remembered.

Ports father, a junk dealer, forbade his son from shooting a gun, which made his boy an oddity among his peers.

Then the war broke out and the punk-ass kid, as Port describes himself, left UCLA to work at Consolidated Aircraft in San Diego, ultimately joining the Army. After 12 weeks of training, during which he fired a gun for the first time, he was a private on a ship heading to Utah Beach, so terrified he dropped the rifle hed been taught to cradle in surf.

Port always emphasizes in interviews the fear he felt on June 6, 1944.

Im no damned hero, he repeats.

Dont believe him.

(Vietnam Gen. William Westmoreland once said, War is fear cloaked in courage.)

As his infantry division pushed to Paris and toward Germany, Port would earn a Purple Heart and Bronze Star, ultimately leaving the Army with the rank of sergeant major.

Like many D-Day vets who made it out alive, Port considered it a sort of spiritual duty to the fallen to return to Normandy for June 6 observances. All told, hes made the trip more than 30 times, he tells me.

Early on, Port started staying with a French family that opened their home and hearts to him. Over time, the whole of Normandy embraced this self-effacing grunt whos impossible not to like. To the French, hes the American Everyguy to whom they owe everything.

Port has been declared an honorary citizen of three Normandy towns. In 2009, he was inducted into the National Order of the Legion of Honor, Frances highest military award.

Back in 2003, Port referred to the next years anniversary  the 60th  as the last one, a recognition that life is finite and hundreds of WWII vets die every day.

In a poignant sense, every D-Day observance is the last one.

Health issues kept Port from crossing the Atlantic this year, an absence that drives him crazy.

For the 75th, next years anniversary, hes determined to make the flight. If Im alive, Im going back, he promises me.

The school-naming ceremony is at 4 p.m. today (French time) in Saint-Pois, a town near the scene of the last battle for Normandy.

Its a fitting marriage of one mans formidable life that this final honor, the one that thrills Port so deeply, is engraved on the front of a Normandy school.

After the war, Ports father started selling chambray work shirts. The sideline grew into a mens store on Grand Avenue, which Port sold in 1975 when it became clear that traffic was migrating toward the malls.

Hed go on to co-found the North County Bank with longtime Escondido friend Jack Raymond.

A passionate advocate for public education, Port served on an Escondido school board for four years and then the county school board for 28 years, retiring in 1993.

Ports two-syllable name, as simply American as they come, will live on at an eternally grateful ecole near the surf of Normandy.
Rescuers frantically dug through ash in Guatemala on Monday in a desperate search for survivors of a volcanic eruption that killed dozens.

Using rescue dogs and shovels, rescuers combed through the remains of homes destroyed Sunday when cascading flows of volcanic matter erupted from Guatemalas Volcano of Fire about 35 miles west of the capital, Guatemala City. Authorities said the volcano was unlikely to erupt again, but a massive column of ash still hung in the sky Monday, leading officials to close Guatemalas international airport and urge residents to stay inside.

Rescuers searching the poor agricultural communities near the volcano found the bodies of the dead more often than they found survivors.

(Swetha Kannan / Los Angeles Times )

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The official death toll announced by Guatemalas disaster response agency was 62, but rescuers on the ground said the number of casualities was much higher.

In and around a single small farming town, El Rodeo, rescuers recovered 38 bodies on Monday, according to local firefighter Luis Pineda. He said they discovered just one survivor, a man who was treated for second-degree burns.

Volunteer firefighter German Padilla said there was a moment of hope when a survivor reported a cellphone communication from a person inside a home that had been in the lavas path. But when rescuers reached the home hours later, they found the burned corpses of the entire family, including five children.

Residents stand outside a temporary morgue near the Volcan de Fuego, or Volcano of Fire, in Alotenango, Guatemala, on Sunday. (Luis Soto / Associated Press )

In El Rodeo, bodies wrapped in tarps and blankets lay side by side on a dirt road as survivors urgently sought information about missing loved ones.

Eufemia Garcia, 38, wandered in a daze.

She wasnt home when the lava swept into her community, burying everything in its path, but her three children were.

It all happened in an instant, she said. Not minutes, but seconds. The lava came down and swept everything away.

Her children, all in their 20s, had not been found.

Rescue workers walk on rooftops blanketed with heavy ash in Escuintla, Guatemala, on Monday. (Luis Soto / Associated Press )

The Volcano of Fire is one of Central Americas most active volcanoes, rising 12,346 feet above sea level. The volcano also erupted earlier this year, according to a statement from Guatemalas seismology and volcanology institute, but that eruption was not deadly.

According to the institute, the volcano shot a 3,000-foot-tall column of ash into the air this time and spewed lava that reached temperatures of 1,300 degrees Fahrenheit. Ash from the volcano fell on Guatemala City and in the town of Antigua, a colonial-era city popular with tourists, as burning-hot lahar  a slurry of lava, rocky debris and water  gushed down onto the communities that dot the side of the volcano. Video showed lahar slamming into and partly destroying a highway bridge.

Survivor Sofio Morales, a coffee farmer, said many coffee, bean and corn farms were destroyed by the lava.

Everything is ruined, he said.

Thanks to God, he said, his wife and his 10 children were safe. But as he waited at an evacuation center in El Rodeo, he worried about the future.

The whole crop was ruined, he said. What are we are going to do to feed our children?

kate.linthicum@latimes.com

Twitter: @katelinthicum

Special correspondent Gamazo reported from El Rodeo, Guatemala, and staff writer Linthicum from Tijuana. Cecilia Sanchez in The Times Mexico City bureau contributed to this report.

UPDATES:

12:30 p.m.: This article has been updated with a higher death toll.

11:10 a.m.: This article has been updated throughout with staff reporting, higher death toll.

This article was originally posted at 8:10 a.m.
Bill Clinton hasnt spoken to Monica Lewinsky since their sex scandal more than 20 years ago  and doesnt think he owes her a personal apology.

I have never talked to her, Clinton said in an interview with NBC News that aired Monday. But I did say publicly on more than one occasion that I was sorry.

Clintons argument came amid questions about the #MeToo movement, which has exposed multiple men in power for sexual misconduct against women.

Lewinsky penned an op-ed for Vanity Fair in March, in which the former White House staffer described how her own tryst with the President may have been influenced by his being the most powerful man on the globe. She reposted the piece to Twitter on Monday, saying she was grateful to the myriad people who have helped me evolve + gain perspective in the past 20 years.

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But Clinton, who was plugging his new book alongside co-author James Patterson, defended his response to the Lewinsky scandal when asked during the interview if he would have done anything differently.

Because people would be using the facts instead of the imagined facts, the 71-year-old ex-President said. If the facts were the same today, I wouldnt.

Clinton said he hasnt spoken to Lewinsky and said his public apology was enough. (ASSOCIATED PRESS )

Clinton first claimed the affair with his former intern didnt happen when the scandal first trickled out in 1998. He later came clean during a televised address, which he noted to NBC News was to the everybody in the world.

But when asked if he thought Lewinsky deserved a direct apology, Clinton said no, I do not.

A subsequent investigation into the Oval Office tryst and his response led to Clinton being impeached  just the second President to go through the process  only to be acquitted by the Senate in early 1999.

The fiery Clinton, who offered some support to the #MeToo movement, boasted he made the right decision not to resign and fight the messy impeachment process.

I think I did the right thing, Clinton told NBC News. I defended the Constitution.

Clinton retorted to some questions by noting he had an anti-sexual harassment policy when he was governor of Arkansas  during which time he had two female chiefs of staff  and has promoted women throughout his career.

He also complained that President Trump, whom numerous women have accused of sexual misconduct, hasnt gotten anything like the coverage that you would expect over the allegations, he said.

Clintons interview sparked the ire of Juanita Broaddrick, who publicly accused Clinton of raping her in the late 1970s when he was the attorney general of Arkansas. But the former register nurse also took her anger out on NBC News for asking about the Lewinsky scandal, and not her allegations against the former President. In 1999, amid Clintons impeachment proceedings, NBC interviewed Broaddrick, but held the interview until Feb. 24, after the Senate had voted to acquit Clinton on two articles of impeachment.

Its disgusting that he could play the victim card, Broaddrick told the Daily News. I dont understand the power they had  he and Hillary Clinton had  over the media.

Broaddrick said she and some other of Clintons accusers were dumbfounded by the former Presidents responses  particularly that he doesnt owe anyone an apology.

This man cannot say he supports MeToo, she told The News. He probably is the reason there is a MeToo movement.
Fire investigators suspect two 12-year-olds with a lighter started the fire that charred 38 acres north of San Diego State University, prompting dozens of evacuations and an hours-long freeway closure, a fire official said Monday.

Investigators didnt say what the boy and girl were doing when the Sunday fire started, and its unclear if they will face charges, San Diego Fire-Rescue Department spokeswoman Monica Munoz said.

Juvenile fire starter cases are each evaluated on a case-by-case basis, Munoz said in an email.

The blaze remained about 85 percent contained Monday morning, and fire crews were expected to remain on scene all day to knock down flare ups and hot spots.

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Among other actions overnight on Sunday, one of the crews reported dumping 500 gallons of water on a smoldering, stubborn palm tree stump, and another crew reported seeing glowing embers near two homes.

The fire started a little after 4 p.m. Sunday behind an Adobe Falls Road apartment complex, north of Interstate 8. The flames spread quickly, and about 80 homes were evacuated between College Avenue and Waring Road.

About 150 firefighters, with help from helicopters, beat back the blaze. Although the flames burned within feet of some residences, no homes were damaged.

The fire also burned to the edge of west I-8, which was closed at state Route 125 for hours while fire crews worked. College Avenue and a number of on- and off-ramps were also closed.

City News Service contributed to this report.

Twitter: @LAWinkley

(619) 293-1546

lyndsay.winkley@sduniontribune.com

UPDATES:

This article was originally published at 7:20 a.m.
At a reception for Raptakis in Hanoi on June 4, PM Phuc expressed his hope that Greece will support Vietnams efforts to boost its ties with the EU and soon officially reach the EU-Vietnam Free Trade Agreement.

Vietnam wants to cooperate with Greece in the areas of the countrys strength like shipbuilding, vessel maintenance and management, maritime transportation services and seaport exploitation, the leader said.

Pledging optimal conditions for Greek businesses and investors in Vietnam, PM Phuc noted his hope that the ambassador will organise visits of many delegations of Greek firms to Vietnam to seek business and investment opportunities in the country.

He called on the two sides to speed up the implementation of agreements on cooperation in culture and tourism, and exchange experience and join hands in archaeology as well as preservation and restoration of historical relic sites.

For his part, Raptakis affirmed that Greece always attaches importance to enhancing relations with Vietnam.

The diplomat said he hopes that Vietnam and Greece will sign an agreement on double taxation avoidance and another agreement on maritime transportation at an early date to facilitate bilateral collaboration.

Raptakis promised to do his utmost to complete his assigned tasks, contributing to advancing relations between the two countries in a more effective and pragmatic fashion.
Desperate to make a federal deadline, NJ Transit says its cutting service starting Monday on four of its busy lines to complete work on an emergency braking system.

Customers on the Northeast Corridor, North Jersey Coast Line, Morris & Essex Lines and Pascack Valley Line will be affected as work crews race to meet a Federal Railroad Administration deadline of Dec. 31 to install the Positive Train Control braking system.

The technology can slow down or stop a train in case of engineer error.

Weekend service will continue as usual on the affected lines.

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NJ Transit employees will be available at major terminals to help people understand the changes, according to the agencys website.

The MTA, meanwhile, is also behind schedule to install the braking technology.

In April, tests conducted on the Long Island Rail Roads Port Washington line failed to stop trains in 16 of 52 attempts.

The U.S. Rail Safety Improvement Act of 2008 requires all railroads to install Positive Train Control by the end of the year or face stiff fines.
President Ronald Reagan at his desk in the Oval Office of the White House as he prepares a speech on tax revision. (Scott Stewart / AP )

Late President Ronald Reagans daughter said her father would be appalled and heartbroken at the current Trump administration, according to her op-ed.

Patti Davis, 66, in her Washington Post essay published Sunday, recalled how much Reagan loved America and the deep respect he had for our democracy as the anniversary of his death on June 5, 2004 draws near.

At the same time, Davis said, if Reagan had been alive today, hed say hed be pretty horrified at where weve come to.

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He would be appalled and heartbroken at a Congress that refuses to stand up to a president who not only seems ignorant of the Constitution but who also attempts at every turn to dismantle and mock our system of checks and balances, she added.

President Trump speaks to the press outside the White House. (Pool / Getty Images )

Without naming President Trump, Davis took a jab at his dislike of the media and noted how her father supported freedom of the press.

He didnt always like the press  no president does  but the idea of relentlessly attacking the media as the enemy would never have occurred to him, she wrote. And if someone else had done so, he wouldnt have tolerated it.

Trump continuously refers to news organizations as fake news and had tweeted theyre the enemy of the American people.

The actress and author also indicated Reagan would disapprove of the Trump administrations immigration policies.

He would ask us to think about the Statue of Liberty and the light she holds for immigrants coming to America for a better life. Immigrants like his ancestors, who persevered despite prejudice and signs that read No Irish or dogs allowed, she wrote. There is a difference between immigration laws and cruelty. He believed in laws; he hated cruelty.
During his reception for RoK Defence Minister of the Song Young-moo in Hanoi on June 4, the PM held that the RoK officials visit will contribute to realising agreements reached by senior leaders of the two countries during the Vietnam visit by RoK President Moon Jae-in in March 2018.

He said that over the past 25 years, the Vietnam-Rok friendship and partnership has been growing in a strong, extensive and practical manner, especially in economics, trade and investment.

The RoK has become the biggest foreign investor in Vietnam, he noted.

Lauding the outcomes of the talks between the two countries defence ministers, PM Phuc hailed cooperation results between the two Defence Ministries over the past years.

For his part, Minister Song said that the RoK considers Vietnam as the leading partner in its New Southern Policy, holding that defence cooperation will help boost economic partnership, fulfilling the target of US$100 billion in two-way trade by 2020.

The guest spoke highly of Vietnams stance on peace on the Korean Peninsula, clarifying that the RoK also pays great attention to the aviation and maritime freedom in the East Sea, as the majority of RoK exported goods are transported through the marine route.

He affirmed that a regular dialogue channel with the Vietnamese side is always maintained, adding that the RoK is willing to coordinate with Vietnam in the area of defence.

PM Phuc welcomed efforts of the RoK in promoting dialogue and peaceful settlement of the nuclear issue on the Korean Peninsula.

Vietnam also highly values the New Southern Policy of the RoK Government, which places Vietnam as a key partner, he stated, pledging that Vietnam is ready to help foster the ASEAN-RoK relations.

The Vietnamese PM also expressed his hope that the RoK continues supporting Vietnams viewpoint in building the East Sea into an area of peace, cooperation and friendship.

He lauded the two defence ministries signing of a statement on joint vision on defence cooperation to 2030, suggesting that the two sides work out measures to effectively implement the document.

The two sides should strengthen cooperation in personnel training, defence industry and technology transfer, while speeding up affiliation in ODA projects to deal with war consequences in Vietnam, he proposed.

The PM also asked the two ministries to share experience in joining UN peacekeeping operations, while supporting and coordinating with each other in multilateral forums.


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The New York-based business magazine has run an article by Anna Frazzetto - a leading expert on digital technology and technology solutions working for the recruitment consultancy and IT outsourcing service provider Harvey Nash - said that Vietnam is emerging as a potential IT outsourcing centre.

The prestigious US magazine described Vietnam as a small but mighty outsourcing powerhouse in the Asia-Pacific, saying that it is a country few would think to equate with Silicon Valley but one with a tech spirit and talented population that reminds many of the industrious beginnings of Americas storied technology epicenter.

The fact is, IT outsourcing in Vietnam is fairly young, Forbes stated. More than a decade ago, a few multinational technology corporations, including Intel and Oracle, began tapping into the growing tech workforce in Vietnam. In addition to developing new policies which appealed to tech businesses, the Vietnamese government had invested heavily in STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) education, and the result was a workforce rich in skilled technologists.

Since then, the Vietnamese tech and outsourcing industries have grown steadily. In 2017, Vietnam rose five places in the Global Services Location Index, a ranking of software outsourcing services from consulting firm A.T. Kearney. The countrys outsourcing success has become a competitive concern for other IT outsourcing giants, such as India, as companies like Intel, IBM, Samsung Display, Nokia and Microsoft continue to invest in Vietnam.

Rapid change has defined the Vietnamese economy, which has evolved from its agrarian foundations to become a modern, business-driven marketplace. Vietnam joined the World Trade Organisation in 2007 and has strived to make it easier for Western companies to establish a footprint in Vietnam. Western investment is widely seen as good for economic growth, the article wrote, adding that cultural comfort with change has yielded a highly adaptive IT workforce.

Vietnam is considered a bright star in IT outsourcing. (Photo: Shutterstock)

Technology specialists in Vietnam are comfortable with quickly becoming a natural extension of global clients, ready to challenge norms and bring innovative ideas to the table, Forbes assessed. Along with that, the education system is striving to ensure English becomes a second language at universities rather than just a foreign language, sending a strong signal that English proficiency is important for Vietnam.

One factor considered favourable for IT development in Vietnam is that Vietnamese employees are usually very loyal to their employers, reflecting the powerful loyalty the culture places on family bonds. Vietnamese workers are expected not only to provide for their immediate families but also to give support to their extended families. Its a cultural distinction that often keeps Vietnamese professionals close to home and loyal to good employers.

For that reasons, Vietnam is a hub of business process outsourcing along with IT outsourcing, the article stated. According to the author of the article, the sectors most frequently leveraging outsourced IT talent in Vietnam include technology, financial services, media, gaming, software integrators, and businesses looking to cost-effectively explore emerging trends such as AI, machine learning and blockchain.

The article also pointed out the main IT outsourcing challenge in Vietnam for most businesses that is adapting to having a skilled innovation team that sits 5,000 to 10,000 miles away. Its an adjustment best overcome with training and communication. Training an offshore team in the same way as internal staff sets a foundation for success, establishing common processes for collaborative work, Forbes noted.

It suggested that as with other Asia-Pacific outsourcing hotspots like Cambodia and Thailand, Vietnam needs to maintain its diligence in cultivating talent. Sustained government investment in STEM education and expanding the footprint of multinational corporations will fuel both the workforce and marketplace in Vietnam, Forbes concluded.
South Woodford, London -- (SBWIRE) -- 06/04/2018 -- First Collection International is a reputable debt collection company that seeks to provide clients with effective, affordable and reliable debt collection services. Situated in the UK, the company has over the years managed to achieve tremendous growth that has allowed them to spread their wings to various countries around the world. The company currently serves a variety of regions as South America, Germany, Holland, Africa, France, Spain, and Italy among others. Their range of services includes credit reports, B2B debt collections, asset disposal, legal fee insurance, T&C review services, and dispute resolution and so on. They offer over 20 years of industry experience and guarantee clients the best results when they hire them.



Speaking about the benefits of hiring a debt collection company, the Managing Director said, "If you're looking to get fast results when it comes to debt collection, hiring a debt collection company is always the way to go. This is because debt collection companies offer a variety of benefits compared to if you were to carry this exercise individually. Hiring a debt collection agency drastically reduces the overall costs the debt collection exercise and helps both business and individuals focus on their core business operations. Usually, debtors are likely to take third-party debt collection companies more seriously which is a plus for any business. They use modern and effective debt collection techniques and on an overall basis, improve the chances of debt recovery. That said, you can never go wrong when you hire a debt collection firm."



Debt collection in the Netherlands is now more accessible, affordable and result-oriented; thanks to First Collection International. Since their inception in 1993, the company has always worked towards coming up with ways that ensure they offer effective debt collection services to their clientele. The Netherlands is no exception as they have been serving the region for some time now. They've mastered the different ways needed to ensure they achieve a successful debt collection exercise and can be trusted to deliver. They served several entities worldwide which places them in a better position to ensure that they provide clients in the Netherlands with exceptional debt collection solutions.



Explaining why one should partner with them, the Managing Director added, "At First Collection International, our primary objective is always to ensure that we provide you with services that will see you get what's owed to you. You can always count us to deliver as our international associations say it all. We're members of large associations which include IACC, ACA, CSA, and LIC which displays our trustworthiness as it relates to international debt collection. We tackle every assignment with the attention it requires assuring you of excellent results."



Clients looking to acquire services as it relates to debt recovery in the Netherlands are guaranteed of high-quality solutions when they choose First Collection International as their partner. The company uses industry-approved procedures to recover debt in the Netherlands and go the extra mile to ensure they achieve the desired results. They work on a no result  no fee basis which assures clients that they're getting results for every dime they spend.



About First Collection International

First Collection International is a debt collection agency that seeks to help clients in the UK and around the world recover debt from the relevant parties. They use modern techniques in their service deliverables and guarantee results.



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The land of Palestine, which was subject to an Israeli blockade, is facing a major crisis. Meanwhile, the international community seems to be deadlocked as it cannot pass any resolution related to the crisis.

Two rounds of voting at the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) on resolutions issued by the United States and Kuwait failed. The UNSC was unable to pass a draft resolution by the US to condemn Hamas for the recent violence in Gaza, as well as a draft resolution issued by Kuwait that criticised Israel using violence against civilians in Gaza and called for urgent safeguarding measures against the Palestinians.

The US was the only country to vote in favour of the draft built by it and the super power country also vetoed the Kuwaiti resolution. The US holds the veto power of a permanent member under the UNSC to protect its Israeli allies, despite the pressure of the international community to oppose the recent military actions of the Jewish state against the Palestinians. This is why the international community has not been able to agree on a more appropriate response to the increasingly dangerous developments in Gaza, even if Nickolay Mladenov, UN Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process, has warned that the territory is "on the brink of war.

Violence along the Gaza and Israel borders has caused unprecedented health crises. So far, at least 123 Palestinians have died and around 13,000 have been injured by Israeli shelling in clashes triggered by the Palestinian uprising last March.

The International Committee of the Red Cross has warned that the large number of casualties has led to overcrowding at hospitals, pushing Gazas severely degraded health system to the point of collapse. In the seven weeks since the demonstrations and violence, the number of wounded was higher than the number of casualties in the Israeli war in Gaza in August 2014.

Palestinians inspect an Islamic Jihad observation post after it was targeted in an Israeli tank strike, in the southern Gaza Strip, May 27, 2018. (Photo: Reuters)

The current crisis has affected all aspects of life in Gaza. Palestinians have asked the International Criminal Court to launch a comprehensive investigation into allegations of human rights violations in occupied Palestinian territories, while the Israeli side justified the use of force against the protesters in order to protect the security barrier and prevent the Palestinians from penetrating into its territory.

The international community has voiced opposition to any move that could spark a flame of hatred among Palestinians. At the recent consultation, Foreign Ministers of Egypt and Jordan and Secretary General of the Palestine Liberation Organisation, Saeb Erekat, emphasised that East Jerusalem is an inseparable part of the Palestinian territories, and at the same time opposed Israeli actions against the unarmed Palestinians. Israel's continuing hostility toward the Palestinians only served to push the Middle East peace process into a stalemate.

During the tense situation, Israels recent announcement of its plan to build nearly 2,000 settlement homes on the West Bank, as well as the demolition of the Palestinian village of Khan al-Ahmar, is a move that "adds fuel to fire," seriously damaging the prospect of a two-state solution. The European Commission has asked the Israeli government to reconsider the decision that is considered to heighten the tension between the Israeli and the Palestinian sides.

UN officials have assessed that the situation in Gaza may deteriorate if the international community cannot offer a solution to cool down the tensions. Large rallies are expected to continue in June. French Ambassador to the UN Francois Delattre has also warned that the Security Councils disagreement over the response to the Gaza crisis harms the UN. This increasingly heavy silence is unacceptable, he said, adding that no one in Gaza could endure another war.

The Gaza Strip needs the silence of gunfire, not the silence of the human heart. Peace-loving people want the international community to quickly come up with an effective solution to stop violence. Stakeholders should also be restrained, as any "tit-for-tat" move can ignite small flames of conflict into a large fire in this land.
The Commissioners Award was established by Liberian Commissioner James F Kollie to recognise the outstanding achievements of shipping industry leaders with a notable connection to Liberias maritime programme. The first such award was presented to Angeliki Frangou, ceo of Navios Holdings in March this year.

The awards presented in Athens on 30 May to George Procopiou, Vangelis Marinakis, Panagiotis Tsakos, Panos Laskaridis, and Dimitris Lemonidis recognised contributions not only to Liberia but also to shipping and the community at large.

Liberia is proud to honour these trusted Greek shipping partners with this award as a mark of gratitude for their continued support, said Michalis Pantazopoulos, senior vice-president and managing director of LISCR Hellas.

Seatrade Maritime News is reporting Live From Posidonia 2018

All the recipients have diversified activities in other sectors as well as shipping and are recognised for their contributions to culture and public interests. Moreover, most have been identified on the so-called Top 100 lists of most influential shipping personalities.

George Procopiou, founder of Dynacom Tankers Management, started his active co-operation with the Liberian Registry in 2001 shortly after LISCR took over as the administrator of the Liberian flag. Since then, Dynacom has become Liberias largest client in Greece in terms of numbers of ships and deadweight tonnage.

Vangelis Marinakis has developed Capital Ship Management into a diversified shipping enterprise. Most notably, Capital Shipmanagement, with a very large fleet of Liberian-flagged ships, has one of the best safety records in the Greek-owned fleet as determined by both flag state and port state inspections.

Captain Panagiotis Tsakos, founder of Tsakos Shipping & Trading, has built one of the largest shipping companies in Greece. The Tsakos Group is also one of Liberias largest clients. The Tsakos-owned tanker Ise Princess became Liberias 3,000th active vessel in 2009, exactly 60 years after the registration of Liberias very first vessel in 1949.

Panos Laskaridis, current President of the European Community Shipowners Association, is the driving force that led Liberia to become involved in regulating the fisheries transhipment business. This in turn resulted in Liberia becoming an active member of six Regional Fishery Monitoring Organisations globally. Similarly, Liberia is now in the process of completing its fisheries accreditation by the European Union.

Dimitris Lemonidis established Element Shipmanagement, his second start-up after co-founding Ciel Shipmanagement together with Kostis Konstantakopoulos. Dimitris has been one of the strongest and most vocal independent advocates of the Liberian flag both in Greece and globally.
Russian President Vladimir Putin's upcoming state visit to China is of great significance to the planning of the next-phase growth of China-Russia relations, said China's top diplomat Wang Yi on Sunday.

Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi made the remarks while meeting with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov on the sidelines of the Formal Meeting of the BRICS Ministers of Foreign Affairs.

Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi meets with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov on the sidelines of the Formal Meeting of the BRICS Ministers of Foreign Affairs in Johannesburg, on June 3, 2018. [Photo: fmprc.gov.cn]

President Putin is scheduled to pay a state visit to China on June 8-10 and attend the Qingdao Summit of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO), said Wang.

It will be President Putin's first visit to China in a new presidential term and it will also be the first time for President Xi Jinping and President Putin to meet each other in this year, which will be of great significance to the planning of the development of China-Russia relations in the next phase, said Wang.

China is willing to enhance coordination with the Russian side in order to ensure that the visit will be successful and fruitful and inject strong impetus into the development of bilateral relations, he said.

For his part, Lavrov said Russia attaches great importance to President Putin's upcoming state visit to China.

Russia is pleased with the progress in preparations for the visit and stands ready to make joint efforts with China to ensure that the visit will meet its expected goals, said Lavrov.

During the talks, the Chinese foreign minister also said that faced with an ever-changing international landscape that is full of uncertainties, China and Russia, as comprehensive strategic partners of coordination, should further strengthen coordination and cooperation to uphold the fundamental principles of international relations, maintain international fairness and justice and protect the overall interests of emerging markets and developing countries.

China and Russia should make joint efforts to ensure that the SCO Qingdao Summit, which will be the first such summit after the SCO admitted new members, continues to promote the "Shanghai Spirit", achieve positive and practical outcomes and send out a message of solidarity, said Wang.

The two countries should strengthen strategic coordination on the platform of BRICS cooperation, hold well the Formal Meeting of the BRICS Ministers of Foreign Affairs and make good political preparations for the upcoming leaders' summit in July, Wang added.

Lavrov said that Russia fully agrees with China in its thoughts about the current international situation and is willing to strengthen coordination with China in multilateral mechanisms such as the SCO, BRICS cooperation, the Group of 20 and the United Nations.

Russia will make joint efforts with other emerging market countries to oppose unilateralism and protectionism and to safeguard world peace and stability, said Lavrov.

During their meeting, the two foreign ministers also exchanged views on the situation on the Korean Peninsula and agreed to further enhance coordination and cooperation to make efforts towards and contribute to the realization of a nuclear-free Korean Peninsula of lasting peace and stability.
Congratulations to Dr. David Zandvliet who is the recipient of the CWRA 2018 Project WET Canada Award. CWRA is the organization that has sponsored Project WET in Canada for the past 20 years, and presents the Award at its national conference annually to an individual or organization to recognize exemplary contributions to the Project WET Canada program.

The national conference with the theme, Our Common Water Future: Building Resilience through Innovation was held in Victoria from May 28 - June 1.

Learn more about the history and impact of Project WET Canada and about David's work.
More New Zealand farmers are feeling under financial pressure and satisfaction with banks has slipped, according to the latest Federated Farmers' Banking Survey.

The number of farmers who said they were very satisfied or satisfied with their banks slipped to 79 percent in May from 81 percent in November, according to the biannual survey. The decline was led by sharemilkers whose satisfaction level fell to 68.5 percent from 77 percent, although the drop was mainly driven by more people having a neutral perception rather than being dissatisfied, the farming group said.

The number of farmers who said they experienced undue pressure from their banks increased to 9.6 percent from 8.1 percent. Federated Farmers said the rise is mainly due to dairy farmers where the measure increased to 13.8 percent from 10 percent, as the reading for sharemilkers rose to 13.5 percent from 9.7 percent. However, the farming body noted this pressure is still less than experienced in 2016 when one in five sharemilkers felt undue pressure.

Federated Farmers vice-president Andrew Hoggard said while the average mortgage across agriculture has decreased in the past six months, for dairy farmers it had increased to $5.1 million from $4.6 million, the highest level since the surveys began in August 2015.

"Dairy holds two-thirds of the total agricultural debt of around $61 billion, and a growing proportion of that dairy debt is held by highly-indebted dairy farms," he said.

In its report on New Zealand's financial stability the Reserve Bank last week noted that most dairy farms are currently cash-flow positive, but remain vulnerable to any possible downturn in prices and agriculture shocks. "Reducing this bank lending concentration risk requires more prudent lending practices," it said.

The Federated Farmers survey drew 1,004 responses, more than double that of the last survey in November and the farming organization warned the result may be a reflection of the profile of those who took part in the May survey compared to November participants.

(BusinessDesk)

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China and the US delegations made specific progress on Sunday in sectors including agriculture and energy, and toward implementation of their previously agreed consensus in Washington.

Details will be confirmed later by both sides as the delegations concluded a third round of trade talks in Beijing on Sunday following Washington two weeks ago and Beijing in early May.

Led by US Secretary of Commerce Wilbur Ross, the US delegates met for two days with the Chinese side led by Vice Premier Liu He.

"To implement the consensus reached in Washington, the two sides have had good communication in various areas such as agriculture and energy, and have made positive and concrete progress while relevant details have yet to be confirmed by both sides," the statement said.

All the economic and trade achievements negotiated by the two parties will not take effect if the US still goes ahead and introduces tariffs, according to a statement released by the Chinese side on Sunday, the Xinhua News Agency reported.

"All the trade achievements between China and the US should be on the premise that the two countries will not launch a trade war," the China statement said.

China's bottom line was to avoid a trade war and it was also the precondition for realizing the achievements of trade talks, Bai Ming, deputy director of the Beijing-based international market research institute at the Ministry of Commerce, told the Global Times on Sunday.

"China's statement is targeting Trump's capricious attitude toward bilateral trade disputes, which has aroused much concern," Bai said.

The US will impose a 25 percent tariff on $50 billion worth of goods from China containing industrially significant technology, including those related to the Made in China 2025 program, according to a statement issued by the US government on May 29 just before Ross' China journey.

The final list of imports will be announced by June 15, the statement said.

Separately, by June 30, the US will issue its proposed restrictions on investment related to Chinese institutions and companies seeking to acquire American technology, the White House said.

The weekend talks may have marked a step forward, but the face-off, contrary to the Washington consensus reached on May 15-19, shows there is a way to go for both nations, Bai said.

Both sides communicated well on the implementation of the Washington consensus when Liu led a delegation to Washington for economic and trade consultations with the US side, Xinhua reported.

During the Washington talks, China and the US issued a joint statement on May 19, vowing not to launch a trade war against each other.

According to the statement released on Sunday, China agreed to increase imports from other countries, including the US, so as to meet the consumption needs of the Chinese people and propel high-quality economic development.

Consensus was most likely to be reached first in agriculture and energy, Bai said, as China, the world's largest consumption market, relies on imports in these sectors. The US is aiming for a $375 billion reduction in its trade deficit with China.

China was sticking to its development path by expanding domestic demand, increasing imports and attaching importance to trade negotiations with the world's largest economy, said Huo Jianguo, a senior research fellow at the Center for China and Globalization in Beijing.

But risks and challenges remain for China, Huo told the Global Times on Sunday. "For example, the US side might not repeal the announced tariff and investment restriction plan when Ross returns to the country or it might pursue more offers from China."

That was why no concrete agreement was disclosed when the Beijing talks concluded Sunday, Huo believed.

"The US has time to consider whether to accept the negotiation results, but Ross seems satisfied with the result, revealing a positive attitude," Huo said.

The meetings so far "have been friendly and frank, and covered some useful topics about specific export items," Reuters quoted Ross as saying on Sunday.
The top diplomats of China and Belgium met on Friday to discuss bilateral efforts to defend multilateralism and the global free trade regime.

Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi met with Belgian Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Didier Reynders at the Egmont Palace in Brussels on June 1, 2018. [Photo: fmprc.gov.cn]

Visiting Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi met with Belgian Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Didier Reynders at the Egmont Palace in Brussels.

Wang said the development of bilateral relations has entered a "fast lane" since they established an all-round partnership of friendship and cooperation in 2014.

High-level exchanges, pragmatic cooperation and people-to-people exchanges have all been strengthened over the past few years, Wang noted.

The two countries should continue to respect each other's core interests and major concerns, expand bilateral trade and investment, seek synergies between the China-proposed Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) and Belgium's development strategy so as to open up new prospects for cooperation, Wang elaborated.

He added that China is willing to strengthen dialogue with Belgium over international affairs in order to safeguard the international order centered around the United Nations and advocate an open world economy.

Reynders recalled his several visits to China, during which he witnessed the great achievements of China's reform and opening up.

He said Belgium attaches great significance to China's growing global influence, and applauds the China-proposed Belt and Road Initiative, adding that the country welcomes more investment from Chinese enterprises.

Under the current circumstances, Belgium wishes to strengthen communication and coordination with China within the multilateral framework, and to jointly defend the global free trade regime based on the World Trade Organization, said the Belgian minister.

Wang and Reynders also exchanged views on international and regional issues of common concern.
The opposition Congress has criticised Sawant for her 'disgusting' statement and said she should resign from her post on moral grounds.

: Days after a 20-year-old woman was allegedly gang-raped on a South Goa beach, state Bharatiya Janata Party women's wing president Sulakshana Sawant has said the government cannot provide security to every individual.

"The government cannot provide security to every individual. We need to change the mentality of the people. An individual can act as a protector of the other," Sawant told a press conference in Panaji, while responding to a question on the alleged gang rape of the woman on a South Goa beach on May 25.

The 20-year-old victim was allegedly sexually assaulted by three men from Indore in front of her boyfriend, the police had said.

Sawant said there was an increase in the number of rape cases being reported to the police because more women were coming forward to report such crimes these days.

"The women believe that something may change if they take a step forward (and report such cases)," she added.

Sawant said the BJP women's wing would request the state tourism department to install CCTV cameras on the crime-prone beaches of Goa, which attract lakhs of travellers every year.

Meanwhile, the Goa Pradesh Mahila Congress Committee said it was the responsibility of the government to provide security to every individual.

"It is disgusting that Sawant is making such a statement. She should immediately resign on moral grounds," GPMCC chief Pratima Coutinho said, adding that it was the government's responsibility to provide security to every individual, especially women.
MOSCOW, June 4 (Xinhua) -- Economic and trade cooperation between China and Russia will continue to prosper under the leadership of the countries' presidents, Chinese Ambassador to Russia Li Hui told Xinhua in a recent interview.

At the invitation of Chinese President Xi Jinping, Russian President Vladimir Putin will pay a state visit to China this week and attend the 18th meeting of the Council of Heads of State of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO).

According to China's Ministry of Commerce, China-Russia trade increased nearly 30 percent year-on-year to 31.2 billion U.S. dollars in the first four months of the year, while bilateral trade will possibly exceed 100 billion dollars in 2018.

Companies of the two countries are jointly developing a wide-body long-haul airliner, producing liquefied natural gas at the Yamal project, and cooperating in nuclear power, aviation, infrastructure, digital economy and the Arctic shipping route.

"Economic and trade cooperation between China and Russia has rich contents and covers a wide range of fields. The two countries will cement the positive momentum of rapid growth in trade and boost mutual investment and cooperation in major projects of strategic significance," Li said.

On May 17, China and the Eurasia Economic Union (EAEU) signed an agreement on trade and economic cooperation, the first major systematic arrangement ever reached between the two sides.

China and the EAEU agreed to further simplify procedures of customs clearance and cut costs of trade in goods by strengthening cooperation and exchange of information.

Established in 2015, the EAEU groups Russia, Kazakhstan, Belarus, Armenia and Kyrgyzstan.

"All of the EAEU members are important participants in the Belt and Road Initiative. Their economies are highly complementary with China's. China-EAEU cooperation has great potential and a bright future," Li said.

The Belt and Road Initiative, proposed by China in 2013, aims to build trade and infrastructure networks connecting Asia with Europe and Africa on and beyond the ancient Silk Road routes.

On Feb. 7, China and Russia launched the year of cooperation and exchanges between local governments.

The two countries have established the "Yangtze River-Volga River" and "China's Northeast-Russia's Far East" regional cooperation mechanisms and signed agreements for 137 pairs of sister cities and provinces/regions.

Li said more than 100 events will be held within the framework of the year of cooperation and exchanges between local governments.

"They will boost enthusiasm for cooperation between local governments, tap cooperation potential, foster new growth areas, and give new impetus to the development of China-Russia relations," Li said.

India and Pakistan will participate as full members for the first time at the SCO summit in Qingdao, east China's Shandong Province.

The Chinese ambassador said the expansion of the SCO shows that the organization's global influence is increasing.

He said the "Shanghai Spirit," which features mutual trust, mutual benefit, equality, consultation, respect for cultural diversity and pursuit of common development, will be better disseminated and implemented.

The inclusion of India and Pakistan will also promote economic integration in the region and help maintain regional security and stability, Li said.
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Minister of Finance, Michael J. Ferrier, made a courtesy visit to the new offices of the General Audit Chamber on Thursday May 31st. The main offices of the General Audit Chamber at the E.C. Camille Richardson Street, were destroyed by Hurricane Irma. The institution, which is tasked by law to investigate the expenditure, income and policy of government, moved to another location on the Juancho Yrausquin Boulevard #10, in November 2017.





Minister Ferrier, has been proactive in maintaining contact with the General Audit Chamber since taking office.





During the last meeting with the General Audit Chamber, held at Government Administration Building, the chairman extended an invitation to the minister to visit the facilities.





Secretary-General, Ms. Joane Dovale-Meit, received the minister and members of DCOMM. The delegation was taken on a brief tour of the office and explained how the General Audit Chamber dealt with the continuity operations and restoration of facilities .





Insurance proceeds were used for the recovery effort, thus minimizing the burden on the national budget, and the impact on operations was short. The audit work continued in October. The General Audit Chamber transitioned to cloud-based systems early in 2017. In collaboration with local businesses, the institution was recovered by the first quarter of 2018.





Im a believer in accountability and professionalism, and the General Audit Chamber certainly promotes those qualities, according to Minister Ferrier.




Page Content

May 29, 2018 marks the anniversary of a historic event that took place 170 years ago. On Monday, May 29th,1848, the day after slavery was abolished in the French territories, 26 slaves residing on the Diamond Estate Plantation took the brave decision and made a dash for freedom across the border to the French Side.





This important aspect of Sint Maartens documentary heritage was inscribed in UNESCO Memory of the World Programme international register in October 30, 2017. The inscription entitled: Route/Root to Freedom: A case study of how the enslaved Africans gained their freedom on the dual national island of Sint Maarten/Saint Martin outlines how the enslaved from the Diamond Estate walked/ran to freedom along a track across the international border between the two nations, Holland and France.





The nomination consists of correspondences between the Dutch Commander, dated May 31, 1848, informing him of the escape, and the response from the French commander dated June 20, 1848, which was published in the book Abolition de Lesclavage a la Guadeloupe. Quatre moise de Gouvernement, Dans cette Colonie by Adolphe Ambroise Alexandre Gatine.





The response from the French commander stated that all enslaved persons who set foot on French soil whether via vessels, coasters, or other means will be considered free persons.





Mr. Alfonso Blijden, archive specialist, Department of Records & Information Management and Marcellia Henry, Secretary General UNESCO, would like to thank Ms. Daniella Jeffry, Ms. Elsje Bosch, Ms. Elizabeth Watson, Ms. Victoria OFlaherty for their assistance in preparing, translating, editing and making the nomination ready for submission to UNESCO.




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The world's attention has shifted to Singapore, after US President Donald Trump announced his meeting with North Korean leader Kim Jong-un was back on track and city -state is making preparations for the historic summit, with hotel rooms reportedly being booked and police preparing to lock down the city.

Top hotels in Singapore rumored as possible Trump-Kim summit venues, including the five-star Shangri-La Hotel, are almost fully booked, the Global Times reporter learned on Sunday.

Shangri-La has been the first choice for Singapore for international conferences with its excellent security and experience. The annual security summit, Shangri-La Dialogue, is held in the hotel, Shawn Ho, associate research fellow at Nanyang Technological University's Institute of Defense and Strategic Studies, told the Global Times.

The Global Times reporter noticed on Sunday that Shangri-La has tightened security checks on cars and people, and some nearby streets to the hotel were closed for the Shangri-La Dialogue, which was held over the weekend. Security staff and the hotel refused to say whether the security checks would spill over to June 12.

Media have not only booked rooms in hotels rumored to be Trump-Kim summit venues but also camped out at hotels where US and North Korean officials are staying in Singapore for preparatory meetings, the Global Times reporter learned on Sunday.

Reporters gathered at the upscale Fullerton Hotel to get a glimpse of Kim Chang-son, a senior official at the State Affairs Commission of North Korea, who is in Singapore to lay the groundwork for the summit with the US delegation.

Huge US and North Korean delegations and their security detail are expected. But they are likely to pale in comparison to media set to swarm into the tropical city-state, AFP reported.

In response to whether Singapore will be shouldering the bill for the Summit, which is scheduled for June 12, Singapore Defense Minister Ng Eng Hen said that "it is a cost that we're willing to bear to play a small part in this historic meeting," Reuters reported.

The Washington Post reported earlier that some unresolved logistical issues included who would pay for the hotel bills of Kim, whose economy has been squeezed by a series of UN and unilateral sanctions over its nuclear and ballistic missile programs.

Trump announced on Friday that the talks were back on after he received a letter from Kim, hand-carried to the White House by Kim's top envoy, Kim Yong-chol, CNN reported.

Mixed sentiments

"The Korean Peninsula was stuck in a vicious circle - the US maintains military pressure and imposes sanctions and North Korea proceeded with its nuclear tests. But the situation has changed and there is little chance to return to the past," Zhao Xiaozhuo, a research fellow at the People's Liberation Army's (PLA) Academy of Military Sciences, told the Global Times on Sunday.

Zhao said that ties between North Korea and the US may improve if the former agrees to denuclearization and the latter offers economic assistance, or their confrontations may escalate.

"Considering Trump's unpredictability, the possibility of escalating tensions can never be erased," Zhao said.

Some Singapore residents said they are concerned by the inconvenience to be caused by the sudden influx of media and diplomats, but others seemed indifferent to the event. "I know nothing about the summit. I don't care about it," Isabella Chen, a 27-year-old Singapore resident, said.
SEOUL, June 4 -- Top diplomats of South Korea and the United States held a phone conversation on Monday over a summit between the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) and the United States that got back on track over the weekend.

South Korean Foreign Minister Kang Kyung-wha talked over the phone with U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo for about 15 minutes in the morning, according to Seoul's foreign ministry.

Kang and Pompeo exchanged opinions over the recent progress in the DPRK-U.S. summit, including the visit by Kim Yong Chol, vice chairman of the ruling Workers' Party of Korea Central Committee of the DPRK, to Washington to meet U.S. President Donald Trump.

After meeting with the ranking DPRK official, Trump said Friday that he will meet top DPRK leader Kim Jong Un on June 12 in Singapore as originally scheduled.

The DPRK official, who held a two-day meeting with Pompeo in New York before heading to Washington, delivered the DPRK leader's personal letter to the U.S. president.

The foreign ministers of Seoul and Washington made an in-depth discussion on how to prepare for the DPRK-U.S. summit successfully, agreeing to seek ways through close consultations to achieve a complete denuclearization and a lasting peace settlement on the Korean Peninsula.

The back-on-track summit between Pyongyang and Washington followed recent twists and turns and the whirlwind of diplomacy.

Trump abruptly cancelled his meeting with the DPRK leader in late May, but the DPRK said the country was ready to sit down with the United States any time in any manner.

Trump reversed course, saying both sides wanted the meeting to happen and it could still go ahead after productive talks.

Multi-track talks between officials from the DPRK and the United States had been held last week in New York, the inter-Korean border village of Panmunjom and Singapore.
SpaceX delays plans to send tourists around Moon: report



Washington, June 4 (AFP) Jun 04, 2018



SpaceX will not send tourists around the Moon this year as previously announced, and will delay the project until the middle of next year, US media reported on Monday.

"A new timetable for the flight -- now postponed until at least mid-2019 and likely longer -- hasn't been released" by the California-based company, said the report in the Wall Street Journal.

The reason for the delay is unclear, but is a "sign that technical and production challenges are disrupting founder Elon Musk's plans for human exploration of the solar system," said the report.

"SpaceX also is confronting industry doubts about market demand for its Falcon Heavy rocket," it said.

The tourists would ride aboard a Dragon capsule, hoisted into space on SpaceX's most powerful rocket to date, the Falcon Heavy, which made its first test flight only four months ago.

SpaceX spokesman James Gleeson was quoted as saying the company "is still planning to fly private individuals around the moon and there is growing interest from many customers."

Gleeson did not immediately respond to an AFP request for comment.

SpaceX said in February 2017 that two private citizens had paid money to be sent around the Moon in what would mark the farthest humans have ever traveled to deep space.

The United States has not sent astronauts to the Moon since NASA's Apollo missions of the 1960s and '70s.

The tourists, who have not been named, "have already paid a significant deposit," Musk added at the time.

SpaceX is also planning to send astronauts to the International Space Station later this year, marking the first time since the US space shuttle program ended in 2011 that people have blasted to space from US soil.

SpaceX has told NASA it is targeting the first astronaut test flight no earlier than December 2018, but some observers say the schedule could slip to 2019.
SpaceX delays plans to send tourists around Moon: report



Washington, June 4 (AFP) Jun 04, 2018



SpaceX will not send tourists around the Moon this year as previously announced, and will delay the project until the middle of next year, US media reported on Monday.

"A new timetable for the flight -- now postponed until at least mid-2019 and likely longer -- hasn't been released" by the California-based company, said the report in The Wall Street Journal.

The reason for the delay is unclear. But it is a "sign that technical and production challenges are disrupting founder Elon Musk's plans for human exploration of the solar system," said the report.

"SpaceX also is confronting industry doubts about market demand for its Falcon Heavy rocket," it said.

The tourists would ride aboard a Dragon capsule, hoisted into space on SpaceX's most powerful rocket to date, the Falcon Heavy, which made its first test flight only four months ago.

SpaceX spokesman James Gleeson said, in an emailed statement to AFP, that the company "is still planning to fly private individuals around the moon and there is growing interest from many customers."

SpaceX has not publicly released any new timeline for the mission, first announced in February 2017.

At the time, Musk said on Twitter the moon tourist mission was slated to happen "late next year," referring to 2018.

Two private citizens, who have not been named, "have already paid a significant deposit," Musk added.

The trip would mark the farthest humans have ever traveled to deep space.

The United States has not sent astronauts to the Moon since NASA's Apollo missions of the 1960s and '70s.

SpaceX is also planning to send astronauts to the International Space Station later this year, marking the first time since the US space shuttle program ended in 2011 that people have blasted to space from US soil.

SpaceX has told NASA it is targeting the first astronaut test flight no earlier than December 2018. Some observers, however, say the schedule could slip to 2019.

"Once operational Crew Dragon missions are under way for NASA, SpaceX will launch the private mission on a journey to circumnavigate the Moon and return to Earth," SpaceX said in a statement.
US first lady not going to Canada, Singapore: spokeswoman



Washington, June 4 (AFP) Jun 04, 2018



US First Lady Melania Trump will not accompany the president to the Group of Seven summit in Canada, nor to planned North Korea nuclear talks in Singapore, her spokeswoman said Sunday.

"She will not attend the G7 and there are no plans for her to travel to Singapore at this time," Stephanie Grisham told AFP.

Melania Trump was hospitalized in May, undergoing an embolization procedure for a "benign" kidney condition, according to Grisham.

Embolization is most frequently used to cut off the flow of blood to a tumor or growth.

The first lady has not participated in a public event since returning from the hospital in mid-May.

She sought to quell speculation about her health last week, tweeting that she was "feeling great" and was at the White House "working hard on behalf of children and the American people!"
North Korea 'military reshuffle' raises eyebrows in Seoul



Seoul, June 4 (AFP) Jun 04, 2018



Seoul is monitoring developments in the North's military, it said Monday after reports Pyongyang replaced three of its top military officials ahead of a summit with the United States.

President Donald Trump is due to meet with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un on June 12 in Singapore with Pyongyang's nuclear arsenal high on the agenda and reports said that the reshuffle could be aimed at taming the military.

Late last month the North's state media revealed that Kim Su Gil had been appointed as director of the military's powerful General Political Bureau (GPB), replacing Kim Jong Gak.

According to Yonhap news agency, which cited intelligence sources, the chief of the general staff Ri Myong Su has also been replaced by his deputy, Ri Yong Gil.

And defence minister Pak Yong Sik has been succeeded by No Kwang Chol, previously first vice minister, it added.

The wholesale reshuffle would be unusual if confirmed, Seoul's unification ministry said.

"We will monitor related developments," ministry spokesman Baik Tae-hyun told reporters.

Pyongyang's military, known as the Korean People's Army, is immensely influential in the North and a centre of power in its own right, symbolised by the way Kim is habitually flanked by generals on one side and civilians on the other when attending major ceremonial events.

According to researchers at NK Leadership Watch, the change at the top of the GPB "represents a continuation of tightening Party control over the KPA".

The political bureau could be in a position to resist policy decisions by the leadership or try to profit from future South Korean economic aid, it said.

But new GPB director Kim Su Gil was a "highly trusted" lieutenant of leader Kim Jong Un, it added, who appointed him to the Pyongyang party committee -- once a powerbase for his uncle Jang Song Thaek -- after having the older man executed for treason in 2013.

Reports said the wider changes could be aimed at preventing objections in the North's senior military ranks to any sudden changes in the country's nuclear policy.

No Kwang Chol, the new defence minister, was known as a "moderate", Yonhap cited the intelligence source as saying.

"The North appears to have brought in new figures... as the previous officials lacked flexibility in thinking," the source said.
Taiwan F-16 fighter jet crashes, killing pilot



Taipei, June 4 (AFP) Jun 04, 2018



Taiwan's air force said the pilot of an F-16 fighter jet was killed after his plane crashed on Monday in the mountains at the start of annual live-fire drills.

The single-seat jet disappeared off the radar over mountainous terrain in the northeastern county of Keelung at 13:43 pm (0543 GMT), 34 minutes after take off, the air force said.

The defence ministry, local police and fire department had conducted land and air searches for the 31-year-old pilot, Major Wu Yen-ting, for hours before discovering the wreckage of the plane on Monday evening.

"It is confirmed that the pilot has died in the line of duty ... a commission will be set up later to investigate and clarify the cause of the incident," the air force said in a statement.

President Tsai Ing-wen and Defence Minister Yen De-fa expressed their condolences and pledged compensation to the pilot's family.

Wu was also involved in the last F-16 accident in Taiwan, in 2013, when he parachuted to safety following a suspected mechanical failure.

The five-day "Han Guang" (Han Glory) drill kicked off Monday with troops practising thwarting a Chinese "invasion" by simulating surprise coastal assaults to reflect increased military threats from Beijing.

Although Taiwan is a self-ruling democracy, it has never formally declared independence from the mainland and Beijing still sees it as a renegade province to be brought back into the fold, by force if necessary.

Taiwan's defence ministry has said the main goal of the drill is to counter any future Chinese military mission to the island.

As relations have soured between Beijing and Taiwan's President Tsai Ing-wen, China has increasingly flexed its military muscles.

It held live-fire drills in April in the Taiwan Strait -- the narrow waterway separating the Chinese mainland from Taiwan -- following weeks of naval manoeuvres in the area.

In November, Taiwan's air force temporarily grounded all its Mirage jets as it searched for a pilot who went missing while conducting a training mission in one of the French-made fighters. Both pilot and plane are yet to be found.
UN nuclear watchdog ready for N Korea work 'within weeks'



Vienna, June 4 (AFP) Jun 04, 2018



The UN's nuclear watchdog said Monday it would be ready to restart inspection work in North Korea "within weeks" if a political agreement were reached.

"We would be able to resume our verification activities at short notice, within weeks, not months", International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Director General Yukiya Amano told reporters at a press conference.

Amano's comments come as preparations continue for next week's historic summit between US President Donald Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un in Singapore.

"We have liaised with stakeholders and had a number of exchanges" on the issue, he added.

"It is very clear that if there is anybody, any organisation that can do the verification, it is only us," Amano went on.

He said it was difficult to predict the size of any possible inspection operation, but that the agency would be able to mobilise many staff to take part if needed.

In 2009 Pyongyang expelled IAEA inspectors from its Yongbyon nuclear site and has since refused to allow IAEA inspections on its territory.

The Singapore summit will be the first time a sitting US president has met a North Korean leader.

Talks are expected to focus on denuclearisation of the Korean peninsula and improving relations between Washington and Pyongyang.

The main stumbling block is likely to be the concept of "denuclearisation" itself -- both sides say they are in favour of it, but there is a yawning gap between their definitions.

On Sunday US Defence Secretary James Mattis said North Korea would not get any sanctions relief until it demonstrated "irreversible" steps to denuclearisation.
IAEA head calls for 'timely' cooperation from Iran



Vienna, June 4 (AFP) Jun 04, 2018



The head of the UN's nuclear watchdog called Monday on Iran to ensure "timely and proactive cooperation" with inspections mandated under the 2015 deal with world powers over its nuclear programme.

Speaking at the first meeting of the IAEA's board of governors since US President Donald Trump threw the future of the deal in doubt in May with his decision to withdraw, Director General Yukiya Amano said the agency had had access to all sites in Iran that it needed to visit and that "Iran was implementing its nuclear-related commitments".

However, echoing language in the agency's last report on Iran in May, Amano said that "in some cases, there existed room for Iran to provide us with more proactive and timely access, but such cases are not uncommon in safeguard implementation".

While the IAEA itself has not given any more detail on these cases, it is understood that one recent inspection at a research facility was held up -- but still carried out within the necessary time limits.

A senior diplomat in Vienna, where the IAEA is based, said recently that the agency's language was aimed at "encouraging (Iran) to go above and beyond the requirements" of the deal.

Tehran could, for example, invite inspectors to sites they had not demanded access to, the diplomat said.

Asked about the presentation that the Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu made in April on Iran's nuclear programme, Amano said that the agency had "carefully" watched Netanyahu's press conference on the topic and had "an initial exchange of views as a follow-up".

"We have just started to look into the information," Amano said, adding he expected it will take "a long time" to analyse.

Iran's regional arch-foe Israel has long been opposed to the 2015 Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) and in April Netanyahu unveiled an intelligence trove on Iran's alleged nuclear ambitions.

However he did not present evidence that Iran had actively worked to obtain an atomic weapon since the deal was struck.

The other signatories to the JCPOA have been scrambling to find ways to keep it going since Trump's announcement that he would pull out and reinstate US sanctions.

Last month, a senior Iranian official said Trump's actions had left the landmark accord in "intensive care".

As its price for staying in the deal, Iran has demanded European powers present an "economic package" that would mitigate the effects of US sanctions.

Tehran has threatened to restart its uranium enrichment programme at an "industrial level" if the 2015 pact falls apart.
Russia's Lavrov praises US, N.Korea nuclear efforts



Pretoria, June 4 (AFP) Jun 04, 2018



Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov praised on Monday efforts by the US and North Korea to de-escalate the crisis over Pyongyang's nuclear programme ahead of a planned summit between the two.

But Lavrov cautioned that "it is not 100 percent sure" that the historic nuclear talks between North Korean leader Kim Jong Un and US President Donald Trump planned for June 12 in Singapore would go ahead.

"Together with China, we welcome any steps and any efforts which would help us overcome the lack of trust, overcome confrontations and would create proper ground to move forward," said Lavrov at a meeting of foreign ministers from the BRICS bloc in Pretoria.

"We want this process -- if it's going to take place, although it is not 100 percent sure," he added, referring to the planned June 12 summit.

He also called for the "principles of peace, security and stability" to prevail across the Asia-Pacific region.

Trump confirmed on Friday that the meeting would go ahead just a week after he had accused Pyongyang of "hostility" and put the proposed summit on ice.

The talks were put back on track after extraordinary Oval Office discussions between Trump and a top envoy from Pyongyang last week.

Following that encounter, the US president warned he did not expect to immediately sign a deal to bring a halt to the reclusive regime's nuclear programme.

Most expert observers are sceptical of a rapid breakthrough, and Trump admitted it would be a long and difficult process.

On Thursday, Kim Jong Un told Russia's Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov that his commitment to denuclearisation remains "unchanged and consistent and fixed," but experts warn he will seek concessions from Washington.
Silk Road in Ink Wash Paintings, a new book by Feng Yishu, a former diplomat with China's Ministry of Foreign Affairs, was launched at the Network Center of International Cultural Exchange in Beijing on June 2.

The book, which focuses on customs and history of countries along the Silk Road and discusses the ancient road's rejuvenation, will help people understand both the history and the present, Feng said.

Feng is also behind many of the paintings and illustrations that appear in the book, Wang Kaiwen, deputy secretary general of Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO), said at the launch.

Feng Yishu speaks at the launch.

The book is in both Chinese and Russian. The translator of the Russian section of the book is Paletskiy Denis, a Russian Sinologist.

The book will also appear at the 18th Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) Summit, which will be held on June 9 and 10 in Qingdao, a coastal city in east China's Shandong province.
First Trump-Kim meeting scheduled for June 12



Washington, June 4 (AFP) Jun 04, 2018



The White House said on Monday that a first meeting between President Donald Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un will take place at 9:00 am (0100 GMT) in Singapore on June 12.

"We are actively preparing for the June 12th summit between the president and the North Korean leader," spokeswoman Sarah Sanders said in announcing the timing of the meeting.

"We feel like things are continuing to move forward, and good progress has been made."

Sanders said that the White House "advance team" -- which features military, security, technical and medical staff -- were already on the ground in the Southeast Asian state.

They are "finalizing preparations and will remain in place until the summit begins," said Sanders.

She added that Trump is getting daily briefings on North Korea in the runup to the landmark meeting.

"I can tell you the president has been receiving daily briefings on North Korea from his national security team," said Sanders.

Experts have voiced concern that despite Trump's claim to be the world's greatest dealmaker, he knows little about North Korea, arms control or international diplomacy.

The on-again-off-again summit is expected to focus on US efforts to get North Korea to abandon its nuclear program.

The oppressive regime is believed to have developed a miniaturized nuclear device that could be placed on a missile that could strike the United States.

Washington has called that unacceptable and demanded North Korea embark on full and verifiable denuclearization.

With days to go before the meeting, it remains unclear whether Pyongyang is willing to take that step, or whether it is using the promise of talks as a way of easing Trump's "maximum pressure" campaign.

Trump last week said he no longer wanted to use that term and indicated that he was willing to embark on a lengthy series of talks that would ease pressure on the regime.

"I think it'll be a process," he said after welcoming top official Kim Yong Chol to the White House.

"It's not -- I never said it goes in one meeting. I think it's going to be a process. But the relationships are building, and that's a very positive thing."

Trump also said that there would be no new sanctions while the talks are taking place, although the White House was at pains to say existing economic sanctions will not be removed either.
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Hobby Detectives Army of Investigators Has Trump in Its Sights

Americans have been riveted in recent months to every new detail coming out of the ongoing investigation into possible collusion by the Trump campaign. An army of amateur investigators has managed to uncover new developments in the case. Who are they and what drives them?
President Cyril Ramaphosa will on Tuesday, 05 June 2018, host the President of the Saharawi Arab Democratic Republic (SADR), His Excellency President Brahim Ghali, in Pretoria, during his working visit to South Africa.



The visit by President Ghali will provide an excellent opportunity for the two Heads of State to appraise each other on the latest developments in the Western Sahara and the Maghreb region, in the Northwest Africa.



During the visit President Ramaphosa and President Ghali will hold official talks where they are anticipated to exchange views on regional and global issues of mutual concern, particularly peace, security, stability and development in Western Sahara and Maghreb region as well as some parts of the continent. The visit will further provide a platform for the two Heads of State to strengthen diplomatic relations between the two governments and their people.



In September 2004, South Africa took a decision to recognise the Saharawi Arab Democratic Republic (SADR) as an independent state when it became clear that the Kingdom of Morocco had ruled out any possibility for a referendum for Western Sahara in contravention of UN Security Council Resolution 1495.



Like many other African Union member states, South Africa maintains its position that the occupation of the Western Sahara by Morocco is illegal and that the Saharawi people must be allowed to exercise their right to self-determination.



South Africa is of the view that the continued delay in a solution to the conflict in Western Sahara does not only continue to have dire humanitarian consequences for the Saharawi people but also remains an impediment towards greater regional integration and security cooperation in the region.



The growing discontent remains a serious concern, therefore South Africa reiterate its call for two parties to return to a discussion table and have constructive direct dialogue.



South Africa calls on the African Union (AU) to effectively implement its Roadmap on the resolution of the Western Sahara question as decided by the AU Peace and Security Summit in March 2017 to ensure that an amicable solution to the conflict between the Western Sahara and Morocco is reached as soon as possible. (SPS)



062/SPS

https://www.gov.za/speeches/president-cyril-ramaphosa-receives-president-abraham-ghali-saharawa-arab-democratic-3-jun
English03/06/2018

DODIK: PEOPLES RIGHT TO SELF-DETERMINATION SHOULD BE AFFIRMED

BELGRADE, June 3 /SRNA/ - Republika Srpska President Milorad Dodik says that peoples right to self-determination should be affirmed, since borders are not given by God. He says that he does not require that borders be changed by force, but by agreement between peoples, adding that the balance of power will also change because the world is not the same as ten years ago.



They have stolen Kossovo from Serbia, directed us to unsuccessful BiH, saying that borders cannot be changed. Of course, this should be left to history and time, at the moment it seems like there are no changes, Dodik told the Politika daily.



He says that the international factors are violating the way of decision making, which they will have to forget, and that getting rid of the protectorate is the issue of the highest priority in BiH.



The Republika Srpska president says that getting rid of the protectorate will be good for BiH and that this must be done if they want to have any BiH in the future.



According to him, current Serb representatives in Sarajevo are bad for Republika Srpska. Instead of representing Republika Srpska in Sarajevo, they put pressure on Republika Srpska on behalf of Sarajevo, without consultations with us, Dodik has said.



He says that these representatives accept criticism from foreigners, who want to make BiH institutions superior to Republika Srpska and its institutions.



The Republika Srpska president says that he would like the Serbian state and political elite to reach a consensus that unification is our goal, but exclusively in a peaceful way and by agreement, since without peace nothing has any sense.



Dodik, who is the SNSD candidate for the Serbian member of the BiH Presidency, says that he will go to Sarajevo to strengthen Republika Srpska, that this does not mean any change in his politics and that everything he will be doing will be subordinated to the interests of Srpska and the Serbian people.



He says that Sarajevo and Banjaluka would have the best relations if they separated and if everyone had their own state.



We must suffer and will continue to suffer, since peace has no price. Putting up with mistreatment of Serbs in BiH can be justified only by preservation of peace, Dodik has said.



Regarding the recent visit to Sarajevo by Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, Dodik says that he experienced it as a confirmation of divisions wherein Muslim Sarajevo lives one life and sees the future completely differently than Serbs and Croats.



Erdogan represents a large country, which is an economic and political factor. But messages about a testament, and their territory, or that they came and will not leave, are disputable, so even though we can do nothing, we couldn't help but notice them, Dodik has said.



He says that he appreciates the fact that Russian President Vladimir Putin ascribes importance to Republika Srpska and that the Russian politics in the Balkans is the politics of peace and respect for local political players.



They will not stop our cooperation with Russia, especially because not a single request from Moscow was aimed at destabilizing the situation or making the situation here more difficult, Dodik has said.



He reiterated that Americans, Britons and even the EU allocated funds to prevent the Russian influence from being spread in the Balkans, and that Britons are spinning the poisoning of a spy, on the basis of which they are creating a retaliation politics against people they mark as their targets.



They brought 50 people to Sarajevo to build some center, and we are getting organized in a similar way. We will respond to every action that is directed against us in the manner we see fit, the Republika Srpska president has said.



He has reiterated that the Republika Srpska economy is on the rise, that the export to import ratio has never been greater, that the GDP doubled during the current government in Srpska.



Regarding oppositions criticism that he does not pay enough attention to the economy, Dodik has said that their complaints serve daily political ends, but that polls show that people in Republika Srpska see it.



The SDS cannot receive more than 17% of votes, the difference between me and /Mladen/ Ivanic is 120,000 votes, and between /Zeljka/ Cvijanovic and /Vukota/ Govedarica is 60,000 votes, in her favor, Dodik has said. /end/sg
J-20 fighter

Chinas stealth fighter J-20 will be serialized to increase capabilities, said Yang Wei, chief designer of the warcraft.

J-20 is only the beginning, and it will bring more change and innovation in the future, Yang continued. The aircraft is not only a reliable weapon in war, but also a product that promotes the development of China's electronics industry. Yang added that it indicates a path of Chinas independent innovation, which is critical for the countrys future progress.

After the stealth fighter was commissioned as part of the countrys air force combat service, a number of excellent pilots, commanders, and combat support personnel have been trained.

According to Yang, older generations of the warcraft require a great deal of effort from the pilots to control, while the latest generations, with improved performance, allow the pilots to focus more on combat.
Chinese conglomerate HNA Group and the Commercial Aircraft Corporation of China (COMAC) signed a strategic cooperation agreement on aircraft procurement, operation and maintenance in Shanghai on June 2.

Under the agreement, HNA Group plans to gradually introduce 100 new ARJ21 and 200 C919 airplanes from COMAC.

The two sides will work together to build the country's regional aviation network. They also agreed to jointly promote the Chinese-made civil aircraft in and out of the Chinese market, especially in Belt and Road countries.

HNA Group will use the aircraft to develop an African regional market with its subsidiary, Africa World Airways, in Ghana.

Meanwhile, both sides will strengthen cooperation in aircraft maintenance, material support and special personnel training, with the aim of building a domestic aircraft service support system.
The Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) launched a gala featuring the folk dances of SCO member states at the Beijing Dance Academy on Friday night.

The 80-minute Folk Dance Gala of SCO Member States Arts Festival featured the nine most representative traditional dances of Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Pakistan, Russia and China.

Pakistani dancers perform Dawn to Dusk at the Dance Theatre of the Beijing Dance Academy on Friday. Photo: Li Hao/GT

Dancers from the Department of Chinese Classical Dance at the Beijing Dance Academy took the stage first for a performance of the traditional Chinese dance Xianghe Song. The dance's beginnings can be traced back to the Han Dynasty (206 BC- AD 220) and involves singing and dancing in step to a drum beat to create the perfect combination of dance, music and poetry.

Next came the Kazakhstan dance Arular, which means "beauties" in Kazakh. The dance conveyed the beauty, elegance and gentleness of Kazakh girls. With subtle and graceful steps, dancers dressed in rose-colored traditional ethnic clothing, headdresses and transparent veils highlighted the uniqueness of the dance with gentle movement of their hands, body and head.

Starting with the sound of bird song, Chinese dance Watercolor depicts the first light of dawn, when the air is permeated with a grassy fragrance and birds begin their day in a bamboo forest. A group of women from China's Dai ethnic group sing a cheerful song as they amble alongside a creek that runs through the bamboo forest.

Following, the National Dance Troupe of Kyrgyzstan, Semetey, brought Migration of Nomadic People to the stage. Nomadic culture has long been a core part of the history of the Kyrgyz people, as their ancestors moved from place to place in search of fresh water and green pastures throughout Asia. The dance displays nomadic traveling merchants and demonstrates the history and culture of Kyrgyzstan through music and dance.

Kazakhstan dancers perform Arular on Friday. Photo: Li Hao/GT

The following performance had a strong connection to China's famed Terracotta Army, one of the top 10 wonders of the world.

Dancers dressed as ancient Chinese warriors galloped and advancing bravely across a battlefield accompanied by the sonorous and forceful rhythm of Jiangzhou Big Drum folk music.

One of the most refreshing dances of the night was performed by the National Performing Art Group (NPAG) of the Pakistan National Council of the Arts. Dawn to Dusk depicted the joy of a woman in a Pakistani village as she goes about her day. First preparing food for her family members who are working hard in the fields, she later has breakfast together with her husband, before joining her family in the fields. Featuring an enthusiastic rhythm and vivid performance, dancers made a day in the fields look elegant and pleasant.
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Chinas X-men actress Fan Bingbing has recently found herself at the receiving end of tax-evasion allegations. It has triggered fury among netizens and has now prompted an investigation into tax evasion in the film and television industry by the Chinese tax authorities.

Last week, former anchor of China Central Television (CCTV) Cui Yongyuan posted several photos on social media of different contracts signed by a Chinese film star for the same job. In one of the documents, the contract was for 10 million yuan (US$1.6 million) and in the other, Cui said the contract was signed for 50 million yuan. In the post, he did not name Fan directly.

Cui questioned what Fan had done with the 50 million yuan left unaccounted for, and said later that he had a drawer of such contracts that may involve multiple big screen stars.

The State Administration of Taxation (SAT) has ordered local tax bureaus in Jiangsu to investigate and verify online allegations that certain television and movie actors evaded taxes by signing two contracts, CCTV reported.

Last Sunday, Fans studio denied the accusation, saying it would fully cooperate with the relevant authorities. Whether Fan has evaded tax or has any connection to the highlighted contracts still needs further investigation, but duplicate contracts have already become an unspoken rule in the film industry.

A producer told national Chinese-language daily newspaper Guangming Daily in 2011 that almost every film house would prepare such contracts for the actors. One of them is presented to the tax authorities while the other is a private agreement between the investor and actors, the producer said, adding that the value difference between the duplicate contracts may be tenfold.

It is a basic social responsibility for every citizen to pay taxes, and as high-income earners with social attention, celebrities should never escape their obligation of rate payment, said Peoples Daily in an article published on June 3. Those celebrities who violate the related laws and avoid taxes should not only be condemned by society, but also punished, the article added.

Tax evasion is never unilateral, and the duplicate contracts involve multiple parties including the actors, production companies, and investors, Peoples Daily said, adding that every party should be held accountable. Therefore, to probe into this individual case and begin an all-round investigation is the anticipated next step.
A senior official in Egypt's Ministry of Education announced that a group of secondary students in Menoufiya governorate leaked Arabic language test of the Thanaweya Amma (general secondary) exam, held across the country on Sunday, in the latest of a series of educational exam leaks in recent years.

The head of the ministry's general department of exams, Khaled Abdel-Hakam, said photographs of the exam were published on social media halfway through the test, local news website Al-Shorouk reported.

The official said that the group of students who distributed the photographs has been identified and that necessary legal measures will be taken against them.

The ministry has been in contact with Facebook's administration about the cheating pages, which were shut down on Sunday, head of the ministry's general education department Reda Hegazy was quoted by local media as saying.

The results of the Thanaweya Amma exams, which are taken in each subject during students' final year of secondary school, determine their college destinations and courses of future study.

Over the past years, exam questions and answers for several Thanaweya Amaa subjects were leaked online, prompting officials to cancel, void or postpone some exams and to investigate possible leaks from within the education ministry.

However, Egypts new national high school booklet exam system was implemented in 2017 to eliminate the risk of exam leaks and reduce the possibility of errors occurring in the correction process. The new system requires students to submit their answers in the question sheet, as opposed to the previous system where answers were submitted in a separate sheet.

Egypt's parliament also approved last year amendments to a law toughening penalties for academic cheating and other exam violations, including publishing exam questions and papers and possessing mobile phones and others wireless devices in examination rooms.

Penalties for aiding in exam leaks include hefty fines of EGP 100,000-200,000 and jail terms between two and seven years.

More than 650,000 students are taking this year's tests.

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Shares puts on free Investor Events throughout the year across the country. They provide an opportunity for investors to learn more about companies on the stock market and hear from a range of investment experts including fund managers and Shares journalists.
A number of amendments to the state budget for the coming fiscal year 2018-2019 were suggested by the budget and planning committee in discussions in Egypt's House of Representatives which started on Sunday, Al-Ahram Arabic website reported.

The committees report demanded that the new budget include legislative changes to facilitate an increase in state revenue without affecting low-income citizens, according to MP Hussein Eissa, head of the committee.

A new package of social protection for poor and low-income citizens was also recommended.

The committee recommended the imposition of fees to legalise currently unauthorised and illegal land ownership and use, for example EGP 10,000 for each agricultural fedan used for housing.

The budget and planning committee also emphasised the importance of restricting the size of state bureaucracy, considering the increase of the state wage bill to EGP 266 billion in the 2018/2019 budget.

"There are 7 million governmental employees yet state administration requires only 3 million, meaning there is an excess of 4 million employees," Hussein Eissa said to parliament.

Eissa added that the government should adopt a training programme to shape these 4 million employees into a productive force.

The House of Representatives also discussed the budgets of the general economic authorities and the National Authority for Military Production in the new fiscal year.

The parliamentary report recommended that the government search for new ways to reduce the budget deficit as well the percentage of public debt.

The committee proposed amendments in cooperation with the Ministry of Finance to increase the budget for the Ministry of Education and the Ministry of Health.

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In April, it was announced that Joya de Nicaragua and Drew Estate would be collaborating to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Tobacconists Association of America (TAA), as well as the 10th anniversary of their distribution arrangement, by launching a TAA-exclusive cigar.

Called Antano Gran Reserva Presidente (6.75 x 50), the box-pressed Nicaraguan puro is made with five-year-old tobaccos and is Joya de Nicaragua CEO Dr. Alejandro Martinez Cuencas favorite vitola. When I requested the Gran Reserva blend in the Presidente size, it immediately became my private smoke, he said. I decided to share it only for special occasions. I cant think of a better opportunity than this shared celebration of five decades of perseverance and companionship between TAA, its members, and Joya de Nicaragua.

Presidente has been shipping since May. It retails for $12.50 and comes presented in gold-colored boxes of 20.

Regarding Presidentes flavor, Joya de Nicaragua is marketing it as full-bodied and complex cigar thats similar to the Antano line [introduced in 2005; reintroduced in 2017], but due to the age of the proprietary filler leaves its a much smoother smoke. It showcases the unique character of Nicaraguan tobacco with refined notes of spice, leather, and wood.

The box-pressed cigar starts with a flash of red pepper, which transitions into a core profile of leather, dry cedar spice, and a chalky cocoa sweetness. It is full-bodied, yet smooth, creamy, and nicely balanced. At about the half-inch mark, the complexity is enhanced with the introduction of notes of roasted cashew.

The chalky texture continues to the midway point, which is characterized by less spice and more dry wood. There is no harshness, heat, and little spice, rendering the Presidente one of those rare cigars with full flavors thats quite approachable.

Construction is downright perfect. Across the four samples I smoked for this review, all exhibited straight burns, sturdy gray ashes, clear draws, and generous smoke production.

In addition to Presidente, there are three other Antano Gran Reserva sizes that are not TAA exclusive: Belicoso (6 x 54), Robusto Grande (5.5 x 52), and Gran Consul (4.75 x 60). I havent smoked any of those recently, but I can say the Presidente is well worth seeking out. It is masterful, and an excellent example of what a fine Nicaraguan cigar should be. In my book, it earns four and a half stogies out of five.

[To read more StogieGuys.com cigar reviews, please click here.]

Patrick A



photo credit: Stogie Guys
It was recently revealed that the U.S. Air Force had a UAV program called Silver Fang that ran from 2013 through 2017. There was never much publicity for Silver Fang, but that was the case with many projects created because of the JIEDDO (Joint Improvised Explosive Device Defeat Organization) effort that began in 2006 and has, since then spent over $26 billion on numerous efforts to deal with improvised and usually hidden bombs still used widely by Islamic terrorists. To create Silver Fang the air force apparently took the Silver Fox UAV, already used by U.S. Navy ground forces (NECC) as well as marines, and added sensors for detecting wireless signals. This version was called Silver Fang and it apparently had some success because it showed up all over the Middle East as well as Afghanistan.

There were many similar JIEDDO projects that involved UAVs or manned aircraft collecting lots of electronic data to detect IED use or simply the activities of groups that planted them. According to some of those involved with Silver Fang, the project was a success, but details were classified, as is often the case with EW (Electronic Warfare) efforts. What caused Silver Fang to disappear was a combination of competition and the relatively small size of the effort. When cuts were made in defense spending it was common for effective projects like Silver Fang to lose their budget and fade away.

One of the reasons Silver Fang was so useful was its use of a small, quiet UAV called Silver Fox. This was one of the more popular mini-UAVs, especially with the U.S. Navy. Silver Fox UAVs weigh 11.4 kg (25 pounds with a 2.2 kg/five pound payload) and can fly as 3,650 meters (12,000 feet). Its 2.4 meter (eight foot) wingspan has wings that are easily removed from the fuselage and the UAV can then be carried around in a 1.52 meterx35cmx40cm (60"x14"x15") container. If the wind is strong enough, the Silver Fox can be launched by hand, but normally it is propelled into flight via compressed air from a portable launcher. The UAV lands by just stopping the engine when it's low to the ground. The UAV is light enough to just bounce when it hits the ground.

A very quiet model aircraft engine keeps it in the air for up to eight hours per sortie. The aircraft is maneuvered via radio commands via a laptop computer. It can either be controlled by the operator or simply instructed to go from one waypoint to another (using an onboard GPS and flight control software.) It can fly at speeds of up to a hundred kilometers an hour (about 27 meters a second) and be manually operated up to 37 kilometers from the controller. It's small enough to provide a very difficult to hit a target for enemy troops trying to knock it down. In any event, its engine is hard to hear when the UAV is higher than 161 meters (500 feet). At night, it's pretty much impossible to detect from the ground.

Each Silver Fox costs about $10,000. When converted to Silver Fang, with sensors that detect wireless signals the price goes up but the basics remain the same. Even with night vision, it is difficult to catch Islamic terrorists at work. Most IEDs are planted at night often in remote areas and Silver Fang UAVs can be used in autonomous mode to patrol long stretches of road and monitor wireless activity. Islamic terrorists in an area tend to use the same equipment for communication. Larger manned EW aircraft come over regularly to note that type of comms are being used (cell phones, walkie-talkies and so on). Silver Fang could easily have a modular payload where EW gear could easily be switched to deal with the frequency of the day (or night). In addition, one operator can control up to ten Silver Fox/Fang UAVs in automatic mode, with the sensor data automatically sent back and analyzed by software designed to detect patterns (from video and wireless signals) indicating IED or other hostile activity.

The navy used Silver Fox in Iraq to support its Riverine units. But most of the Riverine missions involved some truck convoy action, and that's where the Silver Fox is used to provide extra eyes for the sailors in the trucks. Other users like the long duration of sorties, giving the UAV the ability to stake out an area all night, using its night vision camera. Silver Fox is also popular with scientists, as its payload is large enough to allow a wide variety of sensors to be carried, and its a lot cheaper than buying or renting manned aircraft. In any event, the useful qualities of Silver Fox were known in the research community and that led to its use by the air force as Silver Fang.

Money was usually not a problem because JIEDDO, formed when the Department of Defense realized that IEDs were a major factor in many American combat casualties, was meant to deal with that. For years after September 11, 2001 two-thirds of the Americans killed in combat were the victims of IEDs in the form of roadside bombs and (much less often) mines. This was a big shift from the American experience in Vietnam, where 14 percent of American deaths were from bombs and mines. What that meant was twice as many Americans were killed by bombs and mines during Vietnam (55,000 dead) compared to Iraq and Afghanistan (6,700 dead). In Iraq and Afghanistan IEDs became the most successful weapon the enemy had against American troops. In response, the U.S. lavishly funded JIEDDO, at least until most American troops were out of Iraq and Afghanistan. Because of the fear that IEDs will continue to be a major threat (because all the other battlefield dangers have been made so much less dangerous) the U.S. kept JIEDDO going after cutting staff and funding by about two-thirds. With that budget cut, JIEDDO was also renamed JIDO (Joint Improvised-Threat Defeat Organization). JIDO has been doing some work on spotting and defeating bomb equipped commercial UAVs and wants more money to get results faster. So far Islamic terror groups have not cooperated but there has been electronic chatter among Islamic terrorists about the possibility of armed commercial UAVs. The counter-IED effort has a priority and that no doubt led to successful, but small, projects like Silver Fang to get cut. It has happened often in the past.

It was in Iraq that the U.S. first mobilized JIEDDO to deal with IEDs, and even before JIEDDO showed up in 2006 other new ideas had paid off. New technology (MRAPS, jammers, robots), tactics (predictive analysis and such), equipment (better armor for vehicles and troops) and a lot of determination did the job. Gradually, IEDs became less dangerous. In 2006, it took about five IEDs to cause one coalition casualty (11 percent of them fatal) in Iraq. By 2008 it took nine IEDs per casualty (12 percent of them fatal). The MRAP (Mine Resistant Ambush Protected) vehicle was a major factor as these armored trucks were designed to neutralize the effects of an explosion and they were very effective at that.

Counter-IED work continues if only to aid our allies in Afghanistan, Iraq and elsewhere. But with reduced budgets and new threats priorities have to be adjusted.
There is general agreement in Libya, the UN and among key Western and Arab nations that national presidential and parliamentary elections will be held on December 10th and the new officials will form a national government.

In the meantime, the GNA (Government of National Accord) and HoR (House of Representatives), the two existing governments in Libya have agreed to increase their cooperation (already functional enough) to improve the operation of the National Oil Company and the Central Bank of Libya. One matter to be settled here is about the Audit Bureau (created to audit financial institutions for evidence of corruption) and disagreements over procedure and the extent of the Audit Bureau power to summon bank officials for interrogation and access to the bank databases and logs. This came to a head in April when the auditors went public about being blocked by judges who sided with the banks. This sort of thing appears to be another sign of widespread corruption that survives in part because of the two competing national government. Shutting down the illegal economy is a great idea but no one knows how to make it happen.

The Militia Muddle

The hundreds of militias and private armies operating with little supervision throughout the country are being forced to choose sides. In the past many of them, especially the ones that were Islamic and from western Libya, unified behind what was left of the GNA in Tripoli in an effort to survive. That has not worked because more Libyans want a national government and many Islamic militias lost their most radical members to ISIL (Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant), which is still trying to establish a base area in Libya. Less radical members joined AQIM (Al Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb) but most remained with more moderate groups like the Moslem Brotherhood. Thus the formerly Islamic radical militias gradually became more moderate and willing to compromise.

ISIL is trying, without much success, to carry out attacks that will prevent elections and the formation of a unified national government. Meanwhile, in eastern Libya, the LNA (Libyan National Army) continues to defeat or absorb defiant militias, especially ones that are religion based or outright Islamic terrorists.

While many Western nations consider the LNA, or at least some of its commanders, to be war criminals the fact is that pro-GNA faction leaders are no better and often a lot worse. The Arab nations that have long supported the LNA and its creator Khalifa Hiftar and understand this and the fact that Hiftar is simply a more effective military leader. After living in the U.S. for over a decade, Hiftar knows first-hand what works. Hiftar works for the rival Libyan HoR government in Tobruk. Most Libyans, having little or no personal experience of a much less corrupt and more productive Western economy, just want someone to make all the chaos and pain go away. There is no easy way to make that happen. A first step would be to form a united government. That is still a work in progress but at least progress is being made. Hiftar is also popular in Libya (and with other Moslem governments in the region) for his steadfast and effective opposition to Islamic terrorists and Islamic radicalism in general.

While there is still militia and Islamic terrorist violence in Libya there is much less of it compared to past years. The oil facilities are now well guarded and the LNA and militias throughout the country have much reduced the power of Islamic terrorists and Islamic conservatives in general.

Dead End Derna

Currently, the main effort for LNA is dealing with the few remaining independent, some of them Islamic radical, militias in Derna (200 kilometers east of Benghazi). This is the only eastern coastal city not under LNA control but has been under siege by the LNA since mid-2017. In early 2017 LNA forces from further east chased the ISIL and other Islamic terrorist remnants (of other clearance operations) to Derna. Some ISIL men managed to establish a presence in Derna and use that to carry out bombings and other terror attacks on the coastal areas (where most of the people are). That led to LNA blockading Derna in mid-2017. Derna remains a problem as this city is about the same size (100,000 population) as the former ISIL capital Sirte. Earlier ISIL failures in Derna were the result of stubborn local militias who disliked outsiders in general. Hiftar was not popular with some of the Derna militias, especially those composed of Islamic conservatives and these groups were not cooperative. Now they are all under attack by Hiftar forces and being forced to cooperate or die. The LNA is using airstrikes and artillery to speed up the process. The UN opposes the LNA tactics because it cuts many civilians off from essential supplies and causes more civilian casualties. The LNA points out that the Islamic terrorists control who gets what when supplies get through the current blockade and that civilians in Derna have not done well with the years of chaos in the city.

Many UN member quietly disagree with the UN assessment and provide the LNA military aid for the Derna battle. One of the recent contributors is France, which provided an unarmed recon aircraft (a twin-engine Beechcraft 350 packed with cameras and other sensors). The Beechcraft is based in Marj (eastern Libya near the Egyptian border. The French supplied Beechcraft can be seen parked next to AT-802U manned aircraft and Chinese UAVs (similar to the American Predator) also used for surveillance as well as missile attack. The Marj base improvements and many of the aircraft there were provided by the UAE (United Arab Emirates), which is a long-time supporter of Hiftar and the LNA. Hiftar visited the UAE early in 2018 to discuss military aid and then showed up in Egypt for discussions on what could be done to improve security along the Libyan-Egyptian border. Egypt and UAE have always been the primary supporters of the LNA and Hiftar. The LNA controlled Marj airbase in eastern Libya has played a major role in keeping Libyan based Islamic terrorists away from Egypt. This material support from Egypt and the UAE is increasing and encouraging European nations, like France, to help as well. The UAE is also spending a lot of money to help get pro-Hiftar candidates elected when the December national elections take place on.

The Lost Wages Of Sin

ISIL and AQIM are running short of cash and capabilities because the two Libyan governments, Italy and a few other foreign supporters have managed to cut the flow of illegal migrants in half. The Islamic terror groups provided security for the movement of illegal migrants through Libya to the coast and then on boats that take them to Europe. This is big business and generated enough cash for the Islamic terrorists to bribe local militias and government officials to make it possible to continue the people smuggling. With much less cash available the Islamic terror groups are unable to buy as many weapons or cooperation from other militias. Thus weakened ISIL and AQIM were no longer to maintain themselves on the coast, except in or near places like Derna where LNA control was weakest. But now Derna is under attack by LNA forces and that means fewer areas where groups like ISIL and AQIM can operate without constant fear of being attacked. Meanwhile, the smuggler gangs have moved as much of their operations as possible to neighboring Tunisia. That is not an ideal location as Tunisia has a stable government and close ties to European nations that are trying to shut down the people smugglers. The people smuggler gangs are still operating because people are still willing and able to pay their fees.

June 2, 2018: In the northeast (150 kilometers south of Benghazi), ISIL gunmen attacked a checkpoint outside the coastal city of Ajdabiya. The attack was repulsed but one civilian was killed and five wounded.

May 31, 2018: In the south (Sabha, 770 kilometers south of Tripoli) an LNA base 30 kilometers from Sabha was attacked by remnants of Benghazi Islamic terror groups. The attack was repulsed. The main concern of the LAN forces down there is the continued fighting between rival tribes, which have left over 30 dead this month alone. Belgasim Al Abaj, an LNA general arrived in mid-April to negotiate a lasting peace deal. Abaj is a Zuwai and the Tebus in general respect the LNA. One reason for this respect is that the LNA has established a track record of negotiating peace deals in several tribal conflicts by establishing good relations with the major tribes (Magharba, Baraasa, Hasa, Obaidat, Zuwai and Zintan) and getting these larger tribes to make peace with their smaller rivals. Some of these peace deals are only temporary until Libya is united and no longer in danger of massive social and financial collapse. But that is enough.

The UN backed GNA foreign minister met with his counterparts from Niger, Chad and Sudan in Chad to sign an agreement to improve border security. The rival HoR and the LNA actually control most of the borders in question so making the deal work depends on the formation of a united national Libyan government after the December elections.

May 28, 2018: In France, a peace conference led to both Libyan governments agreeing to hold elections on December 10th to determine the composition of one national government. Islamic conservatives tried to prevent LNA commander Khalifa Hiftar from attending this conference. That effort failed because the other Libyans realized that Hiftar was part of the solution and the Islamic conservatives are not. Algeria, Egypt and Tunisia agreed to back Hiftar as well.

May 24, 2018: In the eastern city of Benghazi a car bomb went off near a major hotel leaving six people dead.

May 22, 2018: In the northeast (150 kilometers south of Benghazi), an ISIL suicide car bomber attacked a checkpoint outside the coastal city of Ajdabiya and killed two soldiers and wounded two others. Elsewhere in the area ISIL attacked another checkpoint and kidnapped a policeman.

May 21, 2018: Egyptian, Tunisian and Algerian officials met in Algeria in a continuing effort to work out a common policy on Libya. At the moment Libya is in the midst of forming a national government for the first time since 2011. Neighboring countries want to ensure that none of them support disruptive factions inside Libya. Algeria and Egypt have had their differences about who to support in Libya but now appear to have resolved that problem and want to keep it that way.

May 13, 2018: In the southwest (500 kilometers from the capital) the Algerian army held military exercises just across the border. The exercises included live firing of artillery and other weapons. This sort of thing was meant to remind the larger militias in Libya that venturing across the border is a very bad idea.

May 8, 2018: In the east, outside the oil loading port of Ras Lanuf an ISIL suicide bomber attacked a checkpoint killing two people and wounding four. ISIL has made a number of unsuccessful efforts to damage oil production facilities.

May 7, 2018: In the east LNA began an offensive to clear Islamic terror groups from the city of Derna. A month later there have been nearly a hundred deaths there, most of them hostile militiamen.
TICKERS: FLT; TAKOF, GRB; GEBRF, PAT; PTOTF, SSC; SSCFF; R3W

Source: Ron Struthers for Streetwise Reports (6/4/18)

Ron Struthers of Struthers Resource Stock Report profiles four green tech and tech companies that have seen new developments.



In this issue an update of significant developments on some of my green tech and tech companies I follow. A lot of new developments in the past week.

Greenbriar TSXV:GRB OTC : GEBRF Recent Price C$1.15

Things are picking up speed with Greenbriar Capital Corp. (GRB:TSX.V; GEBRF:OTC) as the company executed a $50-million (U.S.) mandate arrangement with a major U.S. investment fund to provide the essential project equity portion of the proposed $305-million (U.S.) Montalva project financing package. This occurred in early May and this $50-million (U.S.) equity financing will not dilute the issued common shares as this is a structured product at the project level.

Last week, Greenbriar executed an additional $265-million (U.S.) mandate with Pegasus Renewable Energy and Sustainable Infrastructure Credit Advisors LP (RESIC) for the company's 100-megawatt AC Montalva solar project. Together with the previously disclosed $50-million mandate with Pegasus, the total under letter of intent is now $315 million, which covers the entire forecasted project cost.

RESIC specializes in key mezzanine capital investments and is an affiliate of Pegasus Capital Advisors LP, an alternative asset management firm with approximately $1.9 billion in assets under management. Pegasus invests in companies within the sustainability and wellness sectors that are seeking strategic growth capital.

As an incentive to RESIC, the company will issue upon certain conditions, two million common share purchase warrants exercisable for a period of five years at a price of $1 per share. The RESIC finance team for this $265-million LOI is led by Thomas Emmons. Mr. Emmons is an experienced financier in the U.S. renewable energy business and has been involved in financing over $20 billion in wind and solar projects in the United States since 2008.

One of the toughest hurdles to develop any resource or energy project is obtaining the financing for build out and Greenbriar now has this all wrapped up, so a major risk factor has been removed.

The project is on fast track as a critical energy and infrastructure project for Puerto Rico under the U.S. Financial Management and Oversight Board. I believe we are not far off from the day that this gets the green light to start construction. Not to repeat myself, but is important to remember that Montalva once built will generate revenue of US$58 million per year for 35 years to Greenbriar. That is over three times Greenbriar's current market cap.

What is more, Greenbriar released news today on further developments of its 132-acre land tract in southern California. The company has engaged Co-Create Living; it's founder Stuart Nacht has over 40 years of experience in real estate construction and development. Greenbriar's plan is to develop and sell over 1,000 residential town home units. The property had already received approval for a previous 688 unit plan so this will be revised by Co-Create Living.

California is facing a severe housing shortage with median home prices about double the national average and rents about 50% higher. Greenbriar will be part of the solution and as per the new California law will equip their homes with solar panels from its solar division.

Once fully built out, the property will yield over US$260 million in gross sales, more than 15 times Greenbriar's current market valuation. I believe this in one of the most undervalued and unknown stocks listed in Canada.

There are some interesting observations on the chart. I see a rising up trend with higher lows and the 200 Day MA still moving up, although flat the past month. The top or resistance is around $1.55. The trading volume on this stock is light but you can see an increase since last November. It reminds me of a pot on slow boil with the lid on tight and you know it will eventually blow off. I believe this is what we will see here, a pop and quick sharp move through $1.55 and it really there is no resistance above that so it will launch into some higher trading range.

I would be using the current market weakness to accumulate stock

Smartcool TSXV:SSC OTC:SSCFF Recent Price C$0.055

Smartcool Systems Inc. (SSC:TSX.; SSCFF:OTC; R3W:Frankfurt) released Q1 2018 results on Friday with revenue of $314,363 up 265% over Q1 2017. This is good news, although the revenue growth has been slower to gain momentum than I expected. In 2017 revenue came in at $774,279 for the year and by Q1 2018 I was expecting a revenue run rate of several million and at the current pace we are only around $1.2 million.

I believe they have some momentum to continue to grow revenue but there are two short-term factors we need to watch that could make a big impact for 2018.

Early March SSC announced and LOI to acquire Total Energy Concepts (TEC), based in the U.S. state of Minnesota.TEC is a distributor of Smartcool products but more importantly has its own line of energy efficient products and has been in business since 2003. SSC needs to close on this acquisition and then we could see the stock react better as it would add significantly to revenues.

The second catalyst will be Smartcool's agreement with Mike Holmes and The Holmes Group to partner and promote the company's ECOHome products internationally. They are first focused in the southern U.S. states and if sales get traction for this new home product, it could add significantly to revenues.

I don't believe the stock is going to take off at least until they close a $800,000 financing at 5 cents.

The stock remains in the wedge pattern I pointed out a couple months back and the 200 Day MA is still in an uptrend but leveling off. The range has been tight between 5 and 6 cents. A close at 7 cents or higher would likely signal a new rally under way with 10 cents the upper resistance.

Drone Delivery TSX:FLT OTC:TAKOF Recent price $1.73

Entry Price $0.43

Last week, Drone Delivery Canada Corp. (FLT:TSX.V; TAKOF:OTCQB) and Toyota Tsusho Canada Inc. (TTCI) signed an agreement to collaborate on a drone delivery logistics platform. TTCI is a wholly owned subsidiary of Toyota Tsusho America Inc. The ultimate parent company of TTCI is Toyota Tsusho Corp., the trading affiliate of the Toyota group of companies. Under the agreement, TTCI will participate in Drone Delivery Canada's commercial pilot program in Canada as an initial stage. Collectively, the two groups will look to commence flight testing and identify other international markets to deploy Drone Delivery's proprietary drone delivery platform as a transportation solution.

"This agreement with TTCI is expected to open international markets for us as a company," commented Tony Di Benedetto, chief executive officer of Drone Delivery Canada. "Working alongside a global industrial leader such as Toyota Tsusho also provides us quick access to a very extensive international global network and a breadth of commercial skills."

"We are confident drone delivery services are the way of the future. This agreement with DDC will enable us to participate in this cutting-edge technology," commented Hidetoshi Tada, president TTCI.

On Friday it was revealed that Transport Canada has selected FLT to participate in the department's beyond visual line of sight (BVLOS) pilot project. The pilot project in Moosonee and Moose Cree First Nations communities will advance FLT's BVLOS capabilities and will further FLT's capabilities in the pilot project communities in northern Ontario, commencing in the summer of 2018.

The pilot project will utilize FLT's drone delivery platform, which includes its Flyte management system, DroneSpot technology and its Sparrow X1000 delivery drone, which was deemed compliant by Transport Canada in late 2017. FLT's pilot project with unmanned aircraft deliveries will include letters, packages and medical deliveries from a large group of FLT's existing customer base, including FLT's recently announced partnership with Toyota Tsusho Canada Inc. on May 28, 2018.

This is a huge vote of confidence by Toyota and Transport Canada. I have no doubt FLT will be the first and probably leader in drone deliveries in Canada. Its expansion of testing in the U.S. and the agreement with Toyota will probably expand FLT into other countries as well. The stock remains in a long-term up trend. After the first run to $2.20 we seen a nice consolidation and a new rally has begun. There is resistance in the $1.90 to $2.20 area and I am betting the approval from Transport Canada for BVLOS deliveries is what is needed to break out into a higher trading range.

Patriot One Technologies TSXV:PAT OTC:PTOTF Recent Price C$1.56

Entry Price $0.95

It has been a while since I updated Patriot One Technologies Inc. (PAT:TSX.V) and for new readers you may want to watch this video to get a good idea what their weapons detection system does. https://patriot1tech.com/news/videos/

I am convinced this will sell big time once the company finalizes the product for full commercial launch and that has taken longer than expected. All the FCC approvals are in place since Q3 2017 and it began commercial production, but it was discovered some fine tuning was required in live environments compared to the lab.

Currently engineering teams are focused on developing and honing the Patscan CMR antenna system. During the past three months it has been fine tuning and managing minute background anomalies found in real-world environments that were not readily identifiable in previous laboratory studies. As a result, the company instituted an antenna update program, which requires additional testing.

Patriot One has been working with the Westgate Las Vegas Casino & Resort that has provided in-depth and practical field study results at this key juncture. The company believes this has saved significant capital and amassed strategically important data that it would not have otherwise collected as quickly. It has begun preparations to roll out two additional development centers, one at a major Midwestern United States university and another in a southeastern U.S. school district. Working in these additional real-world environments, including applying recent advances in the antenna design, will further propel the hardware and software development, and move the Patscan CMR solution further toward commercialization.

The company highlighted in a press release, "Given that our product, when released commercially, will play a front-line defensive role in potential life and death situations, there is a fundamental need to ensure the technology works effectively. There is no second best or excuse for releasing a product until we are satisfied with its performance."

We are still sitting on a 70% gain but the stock has been languishing, probably because of commercial launch delays. There is support around $1.50 which is also the area of the 200 Day MA. I would try to buy on dips below $1.50.

For 27 years, Ron Struthers, founder and editor of Struthers' Resource Stock Report and Playstocks.net, has consistently beat the comparable benchmarks selecting stocks in the precious metals, oil and gas, clean-tech and disruptive technology sectors. In 2017, 35 stocks in the precious metals sector saw an average gain of 62% and energy clean-tech an average gain of 65%. In disruptive technology, 16 picks saw an average gain of 55%. Past performance is no guarantee of future gains. Struthers leverages his vast network of contacts, approaches investments from a value perspective seeking several 100% gain potential and uses technical analysis to aid in buy and sell levels.

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Disclosure:

1) Ron Struthers: I, or members of my immediate household or family, own shares of the following companies mentioned in this article: Greenbriar, Smartcool, Drone Delivery and Patriot One. I personally am, or members of my immediate household or family are, paid by the following companies mentioned in this article: None. My company has a financial relationship with the following companies mentioned in this article: Greenbriar and Smartcool are advertisers on playstocks.net. I determined which companies would be included in this article based on my research and understanding of the sector.

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4) This article does not constitute investment advice. Each reader is encouraged to consult with his or her individual financial professional and any action a reader takes as a result of information presented here is his or her own responsibility. By opening this page, each reader accepts and agrees to Streetwise Reports' terms of use and full legal disclaimer. This article is not a solicitation for investment. Streetwise Reports does not render general or specific investment advice and the information on Streetwise Reports should not be considered a recommendation to buy or sell any security. Streetwise Reports does not endorse or recommend the business, products, services or securities of any company mentioned on Streetwise Reports.

5) From time to time, Streetwise Reports LLC and its directors, officers, employees or members of their families, as well as persons interviewed for articles and interviews on the site, may have a long or short position in securities mentioned. Directors, officers, employees or members of their immediate families are prohibited from making purchases and/or sales of those securities in the open market or otherwise from the time of the interview or the decision to write an article, until one week after the publication of the interview or article. As of the date of this article, officers and/or employees of Streetwise Reports LLC (including members of their household) own securities of Greenbriar, Smartcool and Patriot One, companies mentioned in this article.

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Struthers Resource Stock Report disclosures:

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Social Solidarity Minister Ghada Wali requested parliament approve a 15 percent increase in pensions on Sunday, according to Al-Ahram Arabic website.

"The government is working to increase pensions by 15 percent, with a minimum increase of EGP 125, so the lower limit would increase from EGP 500 to EGP 750," she stated, adding that the increase, equal to EGP 23.5 billion, will be funded by the treasury.

Wali requested that the House of Representatives approve an increase from EGP 500 per month to EGP 750.

"The 15 percent increase gives people with low pensions some privilege," she added.

There are 7.3 million Egyptian citizens benefiting from pensions in the country, Egypt's minister of social solidarity told the House of Representatives.

Wali was speaking in parliament for the discussion of the state budget for the new fiscal year that begins on 1 July.

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Andrew Lichtenstein/Corbis via Getty Images(WASHINGTON) -- Some remnants of the Confederacy have been removed from prominent U.S. cities and locations to great fanfare, like the removal of the Confederate flag from the South Carolina statehouse grounds after the Charleston church mass shooting in 2015.



In other cases, as in Baltimore, city officials last year removed several confederate monuments in the dead of night.



All told, according to a new report from the Southern Poverty Law Center, at least 110 monuments and other tributes to the Confederacy have been removed across the country since a white gunman killed nine people at historic Emanuel African Methodist Episcopal Church three years ago this month.



Despite those removals, however, more than 1,700 monuments, symbols, dedications and other tributes remain, according to the Alabama-based Southern Poverty Law Center (SPLC), which monitors U.S. hate groups.



That does not include references to the Confederacy at battlefields and in museums and other places determined to be historical in nature.



Weve seen a remarkable effort to remove Confederate monuments from the public square, yet the impact has been limited by a strong backlash among many white Southerners who still cling to the myth of the Lost Cause and the revisionist history that these monuments represent," said Heidi Beirich, director of the SPLC's Intelligence Project.



The So-called Lost Cause, an ideology that reveres the Antebellum South, minimizes the role of slavery in the Civil War, and views the war as an honorable one intended to fight against Northern aggression.



In terms of monuments alone, 772 are still standing in the United States honoring the Confederacy, spread over 23 states and Washington D.C., as of April 30, according to the SPLC



Georgia tops the list with 115 monuments, while Virginia follows with 108, and North Carolina rounds out the top three with 97 monuments, the group noted.



Beyond monuments, some of the dedications to Confederate leaders are public hubs, including counties, cities and public schools.



There are 80 counties and cities named for Confederates and 100 public schools named after Confederate States Army Cmdr. Robert E. Lee, Confederate States President Jefferson Davis or other icons, according to the report.



Despite calls for the removal of similar monuments and dedications after race-related incidents like the Charleston shooting or the deadly Charlottesville, Virginia, white nationalist rally last year, which stemmed from the debate over the then-proposed removal of a statue of Lee, seven states prevent such removals, the reported noted.



Five of those states -- Georgia, Mississippi, South Carolina, Tennessee and Virginia, which all were members of the former Confederacy -- had laws in place before the 2015 shooting protecting monuments, according to the SPLC.



Two others -- North Carolina and Alabama -- have enacted such laws in the past three years.



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Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi ratified on Sunday the decision of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to promote 199 diplomatic core staff at the ministry and various Egyptian missions abroad to higher ranks.

Ambassador Bassam Rady, the spokesperson of the presidency, Ambassador Ashraf Sultan, the spokesperson of the cabinet and Ambassador Ahmed Abu Zeid, the spokesperson of foreign ministry, were among those promoted to ambassador

The decision comprised the promotion of 16 current ambassadors including the amabassadors of Egypt to Kuwait, Brussels, Ethiopia and Saudi Arabia to the rank of Diplomat in Excellency, as well as 25 minister plenipotentiary to the rank of ambassador premiere.

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The Egyptian Parliament's manpower committee approved on Sunday a draft law granting annual and additional raises for state employees and public servants, Al-Ahram Arabic website reported.

The first article of the draft law's four articles stipulates a 15% increase in pensions for state employees to be added to their basic pensions as of 30 June 2018, and an increase of the minimum pension to EGP 750 per month.

The second article stipulates that state employees at the government's administrative apparatus who fall under the Civil Service Law of 2016 are to receive a 7% annual raise on their basic salaries and an additional irregular raise of 10% on their basic salary.

The third article stipulates that state employees from rank 4 to rank one in seniority will receive an extra irregular raise ranging between EGP 160 -140 to be added to their basic salary.

The fourth and final article stipulates that workers and employees in the state's business and financial sectors are to receive a 10% raise.

Egypt's Minister of Finance Amr El-Garhy and Public Sector Minister Khaled Badawy attended the committee's discussion of the draft law on Sunday.

According to Al-Ahram Arabic website, El-Garhy stated that the raises were considered a new social security measure to protect state employees in the current times of government-adopted economic reforms.

The parliament must approve the draft law before it is sent to the president for ratification.

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The defence and security committee in Egypt's parliament approved a draft law on Monday stipulating a 15-percent increase in military and police officers' pensions, Al-Ahram Arabic website reported.

Head of the defence and security committee Kamal Amer said that the decision will go into effect starting 1 July, 2018.

Amer said that the increase is an attempt by the state to alleviate the living conditions of both civilian and military employees.

The minimum increase in pensions for army and police will be EGP 125 and the minimum pension will be raised to EGP 750.

On Sunday, the parliament's manpower committee approved a draft law granting 15% annual and additional raises for state employees and public servants.

Egypt's parliament must approve of all draft laws before they are sent to the president for ratification.

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Egypt's Minister of Health Ahmed Emad El-Din inaugurated on Monday the Women's Cancer Center at Nasr City Hospital for Health Insurance, the first such public center to be established under the auspices of the National Health Insurance General Authority.

At a cost of EGP 91 million, the center aims to provide a variety of health services for patients, including chemotherapy and surgeries for breast and uterine tumors.

The Baheya Foundation, an Egyptian NGO dedicated to cancer treatment, opened in 2015 as the country's first private hospital specialising in women's cancer.

Baheya, located in Giza, provides free services for its patients and is funded by public donations.One out of every 12 Egyptian women will suffer from breast cancer in their lifetime, according to the National Cancer Institute.

More public cancer centers are set to be opened soon in various governorates, according to the health ministry.

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Candidates named in city and school elections

With the passing of the filing deadline for the upcoming city and school election, several area governing bodies including the City of Tama and ...
Egypt's President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi discussed in a phone call with Jordan's King Abdullah II on Monday regional developments and bilateral relations, a statement by Presidential Spokesperson Bassam Rady said.

The two leaders discussed means of enhancing bilateral relations between both countries as well as the latest developments in the region especially the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, Rady said.

During the call, El-Sisi and King Abduallah II stressed the importance of the historical ties between the two brotherly peoples.

Last week, a consultative meeting of Egyptian, Jordanian and Palestinian diplomats and intelligence officials held in Cairo on Thursday stressed its rejection of Israeli escalation against unarmed Palestinians in the Gaza Strip in recent weeks.

The meeting was attended by the foreign ministers of Egypt and Jordan and the Secretary of the Executive Committee of the Palestine Liberation Organisation (PLO), as well as the heads of the intelligence of the three countries.

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NASA is taking a different approach to humanity's search for alien life by diving deep into the Earth's oceans.

Diving Deep To Find Life In Outer Space

Just 22 miles off the coast of Hawaii's Big Island is an underwater volcano belching out hot bubbles from beneath the seafloor. This is the Lo'ihi Seamount, an active volcano that scientists at NASA believe is very similar to the places on the solar system with the biggest potential to harbor life.

Deep beneath the surface of the ocean are hydrothermal vents. These are crevices on the seafloor from which geothermally heated water arises. Hydrothermal vents are often found near active volcanoes, tectonic plates, and hotspots. Scientists believe that the first signs of life on Earth emerged from hydrothermal vents.

The theory is the geothermal heat emitted by the fissures has caused chemical reactions on the sea floor that led to the growth of the first one-celled organisms.

Sunlight cannot penetrate deep into the places where hydrothermal vents are found. Therefore, creatures who live there rely on these chemical reactions for sustenance.

For example, the hydrogen sulfide released from the cracks on the sea floor reacts with the oxygen from the seawater to form sugar, which is then used up by microbes for food.

Is There Life On Jupiter and Saturn's Moons?

When Cassini discovered that Enceladus, the sixth largest moon surrounding Saturn, was spewing streams of hot water into the atmosphere, scientists began speculating about the origins of the hot water plumes.

Very possibly, there must be some sort of chemical reaction happening under the surface of Enceladus' massive ocean to cause such a phenomenon. Jupiter's Europa is also known to have a vast underwater world beneath its icy crust. Along with Enceladus, Europa is one of the most likely places in the solar system where life or signs of it could be found.

"Scientists think these moons are good places for potential life," says Abby Tabor, NASA public affairs officer, " because water interacting with rock on their sea floors could yield chemical reactions that would make microbial metabolism."

Scientists believe that hydrothermal vents can be found on the seafloor of Enceladus and Europa. By studying the environment of Lo'ihi Seamount, which NASA thinks is very similar to that of the two moons, they could possibly find clues as to the best possible way to find life in outer space.

NASA has explored other hydrothermal vents before, including the Von Damm Vent Field at 7,500 feet below the sea near the Caribbean islands and the Piccard Field at 16,000 feet deep in the Cayman Trough. However, these are located close to tectonic plates where temperatures are too hot to mimic that of Europa and Enceladus.

An Undersea Mission For Space

Called Systematic Underwater Biogeochemical Science and Exploration Analog, or SUBSEA, the mission aims to prepare NASA's scientists for exploring other worlds by diving into similar environments. The Lo'ihi Seamount is one such environment.

Geobiologist Darlene Lim, of NASA's Ames Research Center in Silicon Valley, will spearhead the mission, which will take place onboard the U.S.S. Nautilus. Two underwater robots, Hercules and Argus, will also be deployed.

The mission is set to launch in August 2018.

 2021 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
Tilapia is an excellent seafood, but doctors in Brazil recently revealed that it also has an incredible medical benefit for women born without genitals.

Being Born Without Genitals

Jucilene Marinho is a 23-year-old student who lives in Brazil. She was born with a disorder called Mayer-Rokitansky-Kuster-Hauser syndrome, which causes a vagina and uterus to be underdeveloped or absent. In the case of Marinho, she was born without genitals. One in 5,000 newborn girls is born with this condition.

At age 15, doctors told her that she would never develop a vagina, even though her body was developing normally during puberty.

"I cried a lot when I found out," she said. "I'd always dreamed of having a baby of my own now I had to accept that wouldn't be possible."

The painful news also affected her social life and her mental well-being.

The Procedure To Receive A Vagina

In April 2017, Marinho underwent an innovative reconstructive surgery known as a neovaginoplasty. The goal of the procedure is to create a new vagina out of the skin of tilapia fish.

The surgery was conducted at the Federal University of Ceara in northeast Brazil.

Before the procedure, doctors cleaned and sterilized the tilapia skin. They also removed the scales and fish smell to create a light-colored gel dressing.

When doctors placed the skin on the patient's body, it acted like stem cells and changed into cellular tissue. This created the walls of the canal, similar to a vagina.

"This procedure can be painful as the patient needs to recover from a large incision which leaves a scar that can be unsightly and stigmatizing," said gynecologist Dr. Leonardo Bezerra.

Talpia fish skin also has other medical benefits. Doctors have previously used it to treat burn victims.

Aftermath Of This Innovative Surgery

After the surgery, Marinho spent her first three months to recuperate. By October 2017, her doctors gave her permission to have sex for the first time in her life with her supportive boyfriend, Marcus Santos.

The surgery has been seen as successful for Marinho, who is reportedly happy.

Although Marinho was the first woman to receive the experimental procedure, there have since been three other women who also received it. There is no comment about the success rate of the other patients.

 2021 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
Doctors have gone back and forth about the usefulness of poop transplants, but a new study suggests that it might be an effective treatment.

What Was Found About Poop Transplants?

C. difficile infection is a bacterial illness that can cause inflammation of the colon. Patients with the illness suffer from symptoms such as vomiting and diarrhea. Nearly 15,000 fatalities are attributed to this infection every year.

Antibiotics are typically used as the primary treatment for C. difficile infections, with poop transplant as the last resort. A new study suggests that poop transplants might be just a good as the antibiotics.

The study was published on June 2 in the New England Journal of Medicine.

"It's definitely a paradigm shift to use it earlier rather than later," said Dr. Nasia Safdar.

With a poop transplant, doctors move fecal matter from one person into another person via an enema or a pill. The transferred poop contains healthy gut bacteria that can overtake the bad bacteria in the colon.

Antibiotics can help too, but there are some complications. Antibiotics can destroy the bad bacteria, but it is also capable of destroying the good bacteria. This destruction causes the illness in the first place, this is why it is imperative that the patient doesn't destroy bacteria during the treatment process.

C. difficile infections cost over $796 million to treat every year in the United States.

How Did Researchers Study Poop Transplants?

Researchers in Norway tested their hypothesis on 20 patients who received either a poop transplant or antibiotics. Five of the nine patients who received a poop transplant were cured. Meanwhile, five out of the 11 patients who had antibiotics were cured. That means that poop transplants were nearly as effective as antibiotics.

Since there were only 20 patients in the study, it wasn't enough to scientifically prove that poop transplants are better than antibiotics. However, the researchers are going to expand their study to 200 patients in a few months.

Future Implications Of This Poop Transplant Study

There is still some debate as to when to introduce a poop transplant as a treatment. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) recommends that patients try antibiotics first before turning to a poop transplant. The problem is that it could take months of antibiotics before a patient is instructed to use other methods. Some doctors are also not certain that frequent poop transplants would be effective.

 2021 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
A woman from Ontario, Canada was found guilty of distracted driving for checking the time on her Apple Watch while her vehicle was stopped at a red light.

There are many stories on how the Apple Watch saves lives, but there are also reports of Apple Watch distraction incidents. This is one of them, and fortunately, it did not result in any injuries.

Woman Arrested Due To Apple Watch

Victoria Ambrose was behind the wheel of a vehicle that was stopped at a red light when a police officer, who was beside her in his cruiser, noticed that there was a glow from an electronic device.

According to the police officer, Ambrose looked up and down at the electronic device about four times. When the light turned green, the two cars in front of her moved forward, but she remained stationary. Ambrose did not move her vehicle until the officer shone a light into her vehicle.

The police officer requested for Ambrose to pull over and issued her a ticket, on the offense of distracted driving. According to Ontario's Highway Traffic Act, driving "while holding or using a handheld wireless communication device" is prohibited.

In court, Ambrose argued that the distracted driving law should not have applied to her, as she was simply checking the time on her Apple Watch. She added that the Apple Watch should be counted as a mounted device, which is allowed by the law, as opposed to a mobile device.

Justice of the Peace Lloyd Phillipps, however, rejected the testimony, because checking the time only requires a single moment, and not multiple glances like the police officer noted. Phillipps also said that the Apple Watch offers the same distraction as a mobile phone that is taped to somebody's wrist.

The factor that decided the case, however, was the effect of the technology on Ambrose. Phillipps determined that Ambrose was distracted by the Apple Watch, which is why she did not move her vehicle once the light turned green.

Apple Watch Also Saves Lives

Not all Apple Watch reports end up in legal trouble though. Some stories show how the Apple Watch is saving the lives of its wearers.

Just in May alone, Tech Times reported three cases of the Apple Watch saving lives. The Apple Watch revealed that a teenager was suffering from a chronic kidney disease, alerted a man to receive medical attention for a ruptured ulcer, and informed a man about a potential heart condition.

 2021 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
A pilot whale found on May 25 in a canal in Thailand near the Malaysian border died Friday night. The autopsy revealed that the male pilot whale swallowed 17 pounds (8 kilograms) or a total of 80 plastic bags that remained stuck in his stomach.

A team of marine rescuers and veterinarians tried to improve the whale's condition, which initially struggled in breathing and swimming. The animal eventually vomited five plastic bags while he was being rescued.

"[On] the evening of June 1, the whale contracted and regurgitated a large plastic bag, [and] then the whale began to tug and regurgitate the plastic [up] to five times. The team of veterinarians and staff have mobilized to help keep the medicine and support to full force," Thailand's Department of Marine and Coastal Resources wrote on its Facebook page.

The photos posted on DMCR Thailand's Facebook account showed numerous black plastic bags being pulled out one by one by the authorities. The death of the pilot whale is the latest high-profile case of a marine creature that lived in an ocean of plastic wastes.

Mistaken For Food

The officials have yet to determine if the animal was a short-finned or long-finned pilot whale. The American Cetacean Society noted that pilot whales primarily eat squid but also feed on octopus, cuttlefish, and herring.

This is why the authorities ruled that the deceased pilot whale could have mistaken the plastic bags for food. Thon Thamrongnawasawat, a marine biologist and a lecturer at Kasetsart University in Bangkok, said that the plastics might have prevented the whale from digesting food.

Thamrongnawasawat added that approximately 300 marine creatures, including pilot whales, dolphins, and sea turtles, die annually in Thai waters due to plastic wastes.

Invisible Plastics

In a 2014 PLOS One study, researchers found that there are more than 5 trillion plastic pieces weighing over 250,000 tons floating on major international waters.

Orb Media, a nonprofit journalism organization, published a related study in 2017 reporting that 83 percent of water samples collected from more than a dozen countries have plastic fiber traces.

These plastic wastes come from synthetic fibers in clothing, tire dust, paints, secondary microplastics, synthetic fibers in the air, and microbeads.

"At least 8 million tons of mishandled plastic waste washes into the world's oceans, rivers, and lakes each year. These forks, bags, straws, and takeout containers churn and fragment in the frigid seas, breaking down into ever-smaller pieces to join the marine and human food chains  the microplastics of the future," Orb Media wrote on their website.

 2021 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
Analysis of ancient and present-day genetic samples from California and Canada identified a similar DNA ancestry. This suggests possible "reconvergence" between two separated ancient populations.

The result of the analysis suggested that there were two ancient populations that separated between 15,000 and 18,000 years ago: the southern branch and the northern branch.

The two populations lived apart and reproduced their respective northern and southern descendants. These descendants meet again at some point and produced another lineage that could possibly be the first Americans.

Genetic Ancestry

If the analysis is accurate, it would mean that all native populations in North, Central, and South America shared a genetic ancestry from a northern ancient population that is most closely related to the indigenous people of eastern Canada.

The present study, conducted by researchers from the universities of Cambridge in the United Kingdom and Illinois Urbana-Champaign in the United States, thereby challenges previous findings that a population who migrated to the south had solely given rise to people in Central and South America.

The study published in the journal Science also challenges the findings that the first humans to reach North America took a land bridge, which previously connected Alaska and Siberia before wandering south through an "iceless" corridor that opened up during the end of the last ice age.

The present study is leaning toward a more recent theory that the first Americans instead used an ancient Pacific coastal route to reach North America.

Northern And Southern Branch

The analysis of ancient genetic samples from southwest Ontario revealed that after the divergence of this ancient population, the indigenous ancestors who gave rise to the northern branch migrated to the Great Lakes regions. Their migration may have been made possible by the melting glacial regions during the last wave of the Ice Age.

Meanwhile, the southern branch continued with their migration down the Pacific coast, residing on the islands that they saw along the way. Indeed, the prehistoric population associated with the Clovis culture of 13,000 years ago had been found to have originated from the people of the southern branch.

The stone relics of the Clovis culture were first discovered in Clovis, New Mexico. Clovis people were first thought to be the sole ancestors of Native Americans.

However, the current genetic study found that present-day Central and South American populations possessed traces of about 42 percent to as high as 71 percent of the genes coming from the northern branch.

Furthermore, the present genetic analysis found that population in Southern Chile, in the same area as the Monte Verde or the oldest known human settlements in the Americas, possessed the highest proportion of the genes similar to that of the northern branch.

"It was previously thought that South Americans, and indeed most Native Americans, derived from one ancestry related to the Clovis people," highlighted Dr. Toomas Kivisild, co-senior author of the study.

"We now find that all native populations in North, Central and South America also draw genetic ancestry from a northern branch most closely related to Indigenous peoples of eastern Canada."

Reconvergence

The team said that they have yet to pinpoint exactly the timing of when the actual historic reconvergence between the southern and northern branch took place.

The blending of the lineage may have occurred either in North America prior to expansion south or as people continued to migrate deeper into the southern continent, tracing the western coast down.

It could also be that there had been several reconvergences between the two ancient populations that all occurred around 13,000 years ago.

 2021 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
Egypts parliament voted on Monday in favour of granting an additional increase in pensions and basic salaries for state employees.

Parliament speaker Ali Abdel-Aal told Minister of Finance Amr El-Garhy that the 15 percent increase approved by the government in this respect in the new 2018/19 budget is not enough.

"We want an additional increase of at least EGP 40 for pensions and basic salaries for all state employees, because parliament's job at this critical stage is to support poor and limited-income citizens as much as possible," Abdel-Aal said.

In response, Minister El-Garhy said "the additional increase required by parliament will cost the government EGP 4 billion because each increase by EGP 10 costs us EGP 1 billion in additional funds."

"But upon your request I can change allocations in the new budget to meet this objective and so please give me your prior approval before I go ahead in this direction," El-Garhy said.

El-Garhy said state employees at the government's administrative apparatus who fall under the Civil Service Law of 2016 are to receive the following additional bonuses: EGP 160 per month for rank four, EGP 150 for ranks one, two and three, and EGP 140 for "a general manager rank, and these will form part of the basic salary as of the first of July 2018."

El-Garhy said the government plans to generate as much as EGP 1.4 trillion in tax revenues by 2022.

"We also aim to reduce the budget deficit to less than 4 percent of GDP in 2022," El-Garhy said, adding that "tax revenues rose from EGP 300 billion in 2014/15, and are targeted to reach EGP 770 billion in 2018/19 to play a bigger role in bridging the budget deficit."

El-Garhy also said that the new budget was designed on the grounds that the price per oil barrel on the world markets stands at 76 percent.

"But this price rose on international markets last week to $88," El-Garhy said. However, after the decision by Saudi Arabia and Russia to inject greater supplies of oil into the market, we have high hopes that the price will drop again, helping our budget go ahead as planned."

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Scientists invent a material that mimics how tooth enamel naturally grows inside the person's mouth. This breakthrough promises treatment to tooth decay and dentin hypersensitivity.

The material was created by combining a specific protein substance that stimulates and directs the multiple growths of another substance called apatite nanocrystals. This whole process of growing the apatite nanocrystals is similar to how the same crystals expand when dental enamel develops in the mouth.

Mineralization Proces Of Apatite Nanocrystals

The proponents of the experiment said mimicking the mineralization process of the apatite nanocrystals ensured that the regenerated tooth enamel possesses all the physical properties that are also present in real and authentic dental enamel.

The scientists who developed the new material hope that they could someday mimic how dentin and bones grow in the body. If achieved, their breakthrough discovery could have bigger applications in regenerative medicine.

Tooth Enamel

Enamel, which can be found on teeth's outer layer, is the hardest tissue in the body. It can endure years of biting, exposure to acidic foods and drinks, and change in temperature. As much as it is the hardest tissue in the body, the enamel, however, cannot regenerate on its own when it is broken.

Broken enamel results to tooth decay, tooth loss, or teeth hypersensitivity. According to the study, 50 percent of the world's population is suffering from these teeth problems. For this reason, the dental industry has long been looking for ways to recreate enamel.

Dr. Sherif Elsharkawy, a dentist from Queen Mary's School of Engineering and Materials Science and first author of the study says the invention of the new material is, therefore, "exciting" for the dental industry. The invention detailed in Nature Communications could pave the way for more practical discovery.

"For example, we could develop acid resistant bandages that can infiltrate, mineralize, and shield exposed dentinal tubules of human teeth for the treatment of dentin hypersensitivity," Elsharkawy said.

Tooth Hypersensitivity

Each of the teeth has dentin that protects the nerves. The dentin contains pores or tubes connected from the external part of the tooth to the nerve in the center.

Loss of the enamel or recession of the gums could result in exposed teeth dentin. The dentin exposure leads to that abrupt but painful tooth sensation when eating or drinking extremely cold or hot food and beverages.

Tooth Decay In The United States

Tooth decay, even if it is preventable, remains to be the most prevalent chronic disease in both children and adults, according to the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey.

Statistical data from NHANES said 42 percent of children aged 2 to 11 have tooth decay in their baby teeth. Also, 23 percent of this age group has untreated dental problems.

For adolescents aged 12 to 19, 59 percent have tooth decay and 20 percent have untreated decay. Meanwhile, 92 percent of adults aged 20 to 64 have tooth decay in their permanent teeth while 26 percent have untreated decay.

For seniors aged 65 and above, 93 percent have tooth decay in their permanent teeth and 18 percent have untreated teeth problems.

Achievement In The Field Of Material Science

Alvaro Mata, the lead author of the study, said the invention also met a major goal for experts in the field of material science. He explained that material scientists have always yearned to develop practical inventions through precisely mimicking how molecules behave. This recent invention achieved that purpose.

"Through this, we have developed a technique to easily grow synthetic materials that emulate such hierarchically organized architecture over large areas and with the capacity to tune their properties," Mata said.

 2021 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
Google is still selling a few tablets on its official Android website, although the page briefly disappeared due to some technical issues.

When the Android tablets page mysteriously vanished a couple of days ago, it prompted speculation that Google was done selling them, instead choosing to focus on other form factors. The company had made no formal announcement regarding its intentions, but the sudden removal seemed to be a testament that tablets are no longer that popular.

Android Tablets Availability

As smartphones have gotten increasingly bigger and more hybrid devices have hit the market, tablets no longer pose the same appeal they once did. Nevertheless, Google is not ready to give up single-purpose tablets just yet, albeit it only has three slates in its inventory.

As it turns out, however, it was just a bug that caused the page to disappear, and everything is now working normally again. The page is back online and the tablets are now available on the official Android website as if nothing ever happened.

The three tablets currently on sale on the official Android website are the Nvidia Shield Tablet K1, the Sony Xperia Z4, and the Samsung Galaxy Tab S2 8.0. Google focused more on smartphone features with its last few versions of Android, while tablets got only a few improvements. This further fueled speculations that it was done with tablets.

Just An Android Website Bug

However, according to Android's senior vice president of platforms and ecosystems, Hiroshi Lockheimer, there's nothing more to the story. Lockheimer says that a bug messed things up a bit when updating the Android website, causing the tablet section to vanish, but the company quickly addressed the issue and the page went back up on Saturday evening.

At the same time, Lockheimer's response was met with questions on whether Google will ever make new Nexus or Pixel tablets again. The company hasn't followed up on its 2015 Pixel C tablets, and there are no signs that it intends to. It has embraced Chrome OS more recently, aiming to take on the education market with Chromebook tablets, while Android slates seem to be getting less and less attention.

A number of OEMs have apparently abandoned the tablet segment, focusing on smartphones and other devices instead. However, some new slates from Huawei and Samsung are still expected to debut later this year.

Are you still interested in buying a tablet, or have they lost their appeal? Share your thoughts in the comments section below.

 2021 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
Canada has a single-payer health care system and the United States does not, which explains why Canadians spend less money on medical treatments.

How Does The Cost Compare For Cancer Treatment Between Both Countries?

A new study revealed that Americans spend twice as much money on chemotherapy treatment for colorectal cancer than their Canadian counterparts. The findings will be presented in June 2018 at the annual meeting of the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) in Chicago.

According to the findings, patients with metastatic colorectal cancer in Western Washington state spent $12,345 per month for treatment. Patients with same cancer in neighboring British Columbia spent only $6,195 per month for the same medical care.

The study found almost no difference when it came to survival time. The patients in Washington survived an average of 21.4 months and those patients in British Columbia survived 22.1 months.

"Beyond the chemotherapy costs, which you could imagine are going to be higher here, the novel piece is around treatments and survival," said Fred Hutch's Dr. Veena Shankaran, a senior author of the study.

With the exceptions of age and geography, the patients in the study had similar levels of education, identical diagnoses, comparable financial situations, and other demographics. About 79 percent of the patients in the United States received chemotherapy, compared to 68 percent in Canada. On average, the United States patients were younger. There may have also been some different types of chemotherapy used.

"Clinical trials have really shown these regimens are comparable in terms of efficacy," said Shankaran.

How Did Researchers Find This Cost Difference?

The researchers studied 1,622 patients in Canada and 575 in the United States. Investigators worked separately on each side of the border to examine the data.

In the United States, researchers looked at the private insurance data in Western Washington. In Canada, researchers analyzed data from British Columbia's single-payer system.

Future Implications For United States' Health Care

Although it was well-documented that Americans spend more on the same health care treatment than Canadians, this is the first study to spotlight a specific treatment and how spending is not directly tied to medical outcomes.

"In the U.S., the price is really set by the market and what pharmaceutical companies are charging," said Dr. Todd Yezefski of Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center in Washington. "We think if Medicare, being the largest payer for medication, could negotiate drugs prices, the cost could go down overall, even for what private insurance pays."

The researchers also noted that the systems work for each nation. Although the United States' treatment is more expensive, it also treats more patients.

 2021 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
Egypt and the World Food Programme (WFP) have signed on Monday a five-year agreement to raise public awareness on food safety and hygiene as well as build the governments ability to ensure access to safe and nutritious food.

In an official statement, the United Nations' WFP said the agreement, which was signed with Egypts National Food Safety Authority (NSFA), would give the green light for the WFP to work on developing an online training platform for food safety inspectors on key issues such as proper food manufacturing, food handling and efficient supply chains.

Both parties will launch several public awareness campaigns in hypermarkets, public parks and public transportation, and the WFP will further develop the current NFSA website to be used as a platform for sharing public awareness messages on food safety measures.

We have a good history of collaboration with the NFSA and we share a common vision on the importance of implementing food safety practices across all sectors working in the food industry, WFP Representative and Country Director in Egypt Menghestab Haile said in the statement.

Haile said that the WFP in Egypt provides food assistance to the most vulnerable while at the same time ensuring high standards of quality for food it distributes; stressing that "the safety of our food comes as number one priority."

The statement said that the WFP in Egypt has been working over the years on raising the capacity of its own food suppliers through delivering numerous trainings on food quality and safety.

It aims to extend its capacity-building to reach larger numbers of food suppliers, retailers, mills and others working in the food manufacturing sector.

Ensuring that food safety procedures are implemented across Egypt is a top priority for us, and our goal is to reach all those involved in the food production sector with the needed training, Chairman of the NFSA Dr Hussein Mansour said.

Mansour added that food safety and security are the constitutional rights of every Egyptian and we work tirelessly to make sure this is met.

"WFP has been operating in Egypt since 1968 and is currently supporting over one million people through different projects implemented in the countrys most vulnerable governorates," according to the statement.

Its activities aim to enhance the lives and livelihoods of vulnerable groups in a way that is sustainable and lasting, working in more than 80 countries around the world "to lay the foundations for a better future."

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Madagascar's prime minister announced his resignation on Monday in the first step towards the naming of a "consensus" premier to resolve a political crisis sparked by controversial electoral reforms.

Madagascar has been rocked by violent protests since April 21 that initially sought to oppose the new laws the opposition said were crafted to bar their candidates from participating in elections planned for later this year.

The Constitutional Court has ordered President Rajaonarimampianina to form a government of national unity with a "consensus prime minister" to avert a full-blown crisis. For that to happen, the current government was required to resign and the president was ordered to name a new prime minister by June 12.

"I will tender my resignation to the president today. As a statesman, I cannot be an obstacle to the life of the nation," Olivier Mahafaly Solonandrasana told a press briefing.

"I resign willingly and with happiness. I have no regrets today and I can leave with my head held high."

"I will leave this magnificent palace, (but) I tell you this is not 'goodbye'," he added without giving details of his future plans.

No successor to Solonandrasana has yet been named.

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Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu embarks Monday on a three-day European tour in Germany set to be dominated by strategic differences on Iran, as leaders attempt to rescue the nuclear deal after US withdrawal.

With partners in Berlin, Paris and London still reeling from President Donald Trump's decision last month to exit the hard-fought 2015 accord, Netanyahu is expected to seek European cooperation on a still-to-be-determined Plan B.

"The aim to prevent Iran from developing any kind of nuclear capacity was always the foundation of international policy on Iran," Israel's ambassador to Germany, Jeremy Issacharoff, told AFP ahead of the visit.

Issacharoff said that despite "differences of opinion" on how to achieve the aim of hemming in Iran on nuclear matters, "we share the same goal".

Germany, France and Britain are three of the signatories of the 2015 Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) between world powers and Iran, aimed at keeping Tehran from acquiring nuclear weapons.

Netanyahu, who has railed against the deal which offers sanctions relief in exchange for strict limits on Iran's nuclear activities, will hold talks with Chancellor Angela Merkel in Berlin in the late afternoon, followed by a joint news conference.

He will continue on to Paris for meetings with French President Emmanuel Macron on Tuesday and British Prime Minister Theresa May on Wednesday.

In the face of the US retreat, all three leaders strongly defend the agreement as the best way to head off a regional arms race and have vowed with Russia and China, the two other signatory countries, to keep it alive.

German Foreign Minister Heiko Maas huddled with his Chinese counterpart Wang Yi on Thursday and insisted that Berlin "wants to maintain the nuclear agreement and make sure Iran maintains it too".

At the same news conference, Wang launched an unvarnished attack on US reliability in global affairs under Trump.

"It is a truism of international law that international accords must be respected... (and) major countries must set an example, not do the opposite," he said.

Supporters also fear the reimposition of US sanctions could hit European firms that have done business with Iran since the accord was signed.

Merkel has acknowledged that while European powers see the JCPOA as the best guarantee against an Iran with nuclear weapons, it is "not perfect".

The Europeans have proposed hammering out a supplementary deal with Tehran covering its ballistic missile programme as well as its interventions in countries such as Lebanon, Syria, Iraq and Yemen.

Western powers view Iran's meddling as destabilising for the region while Israel sees it as a direct threat to its existence.

"I will discuss with them ways to block Iran's nuclear aspirations and Iran's expansion in the Middle East," Netanyahu said last week of his European meetings, noting the issues were "crucial to Israel's security".

Israel is considered the leading military power in the Middle East and believed to be the only country in the region to possess nuclear weapons.

Tel Aviv refuses to sign international treaties to stop nuclear proliferation.

The visit to Germany, traditionally Israel's closest European ally due to the enduring responsibility Berlin accepts for the Holocaust, comes at a time of further diplomatic tensions.

Merkel has repeatedly criticised expanding Israeli settlements in occupied Palestinian territory as destructive to long-thwarted hopes for a two-state solution.

However Berlin has defended Israel's right to retaliate against rocket attacks from Gaza amid the worst military flare-up in the Israeli-besieged Palestinian enclave since a 2014 war.

*This story was edited by Ahram Online.

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Livingston Parish officials have sued Ascension Parish to stop work on a levee project proposed by their neighboring parish until it can be determined how seriously the project would worsen flooding in their parish.

In a new lawsuit, officials with Livingston Parish government and a southern Livingston drainage district contend the proposed extension of the Laurel Ridge Levee would raise water levels in Port Vincent and parts farther south in Livingston by at least 1.32 inches, and possibly more, during a benchmark 100-year flood.

The parish agencies claim the 4 and a half mile levee extension through the St. Amant and Lake Martin areas of Ascension would cut off 5,000 acres of land in the Amite River Basin that normally holds and allows floodwater to drain, causing "irreparable harm to (the) Parish of Livingston and its residents" outside the future levee.

The lawsuit says the parish agencies' intention is not to prevent Ascension officials from helping their residents and their properties through the proposed levee extension.

"However, (the) Parish of Livingston and Livingston Parish Gravity Drainage District 7 cannot allow this project to continue if it is at the cost of Livingston Parish's own residents and properties," the suit says.

Filed in the 19th Judicial District Court, the suit names Ascension Parish and the Louisiana Department of Natural Resources, Office of Coastal Management as defendants.

The suit was filed May 24, five days before Gov. John Bel Edwards announced the creation of a new statewide floodplain management program aimed at coordinating flood protection plans within individual watersheds, such as the Amite River Basin.

+5 Governor announces new watershed council, citing Acadiana efforts; funding sought for Vermilion dredging Gov. John Bel Edwards on Tuesday announced the creation of the Council on Watershed Management, with the purpose of adopting regional approach

+2 New UL-Lafayette initiative to help with regional flood control efforts in Acadiana As policymakers, funding organizations and citizen volunteer groups grapple with trying to prevent another disaster like the 2016 flood that e

Livingston officials had threatened legal action over the levee extension near the Amite River for the past several months, since the long-standing project received a key federal permit from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and apparently caught the parishs top leadership off guard.

Livingstons new suit makes a point of referring to that claim. The suit notes Ascension officials had promised to work in good faith to share floodplain research on the Amite River Basin and ensure that no one Parishs actions adversely affected other surrounding Parishes and their citizens.

But the suit alleges the permit process went forward without consultation with Livingston government and the drainage district, even though Ascension had paid for a study finished in August 2017 that at least suggested flooding in Livingston could be worse than initially believed if it was built.

+2 Livingston official: Ascension levee projects 'morally' wrong; report revises potential flood impact GONZALES  A little publicized draft report completed for Ascension Parish officials last summer raises fresh questions about flooding impacts

Ascension officials have previously disputed the claim that Livingston officials didnt known about the levee extension, saying they were informed years ago and were reminded of its progress during regional drainage meetings last year. The study in question, produced by HNTB for an Ascension drainage district, wasnt provided to Livingston Parish until sometime in the spring, after the levee had cleared all key permits.

On Monday, Ascension Parish officials declined to comment on the lawsuit but defended the propriety of the state and federal permit process for the levee. The officials also noted that Pontchartrain Levee District, not Ascension government, is the project sponsor through the permitting process.

"Ascension Parish remains in full support of the Pontchartrain Levee Districts extension of the Laurel Ridge Levee and believes the permit was granted properly after thorough review by the Department of Natural Resources and the (U.S.) Army Corps of Engineers," Kyle Gautreau, an Ascension spokesman, said on Monday.

Ascension and the levee district have a joint funding agreement for the $24 million levee: the levee district handles permitting, design and other preliminary steps; the parish handles construction and long-term maintenance.

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Neither the Corps of Engineers or the levee district were named in the lawsuit, which was filed in the 19th Judicial Court.

Chris Moody, Livingston Parish's legal adviser, said parish officials didn't sue the Corps because doing so would have brought the case into federal court and the agency has "more clear immunity on these kinds of claims" when the Corps' actions are done in good faith.

He said the parish does not believe that the Corps acted in bad faith in issuing its permit for the levee but also has not ruled out a federal case in the future.

This just seemed to be the quicker, simpler remedy for us, Moody said of a state court suit.

He added that parish officials did not believe that the Department of Natural Resources followed proper procedure in issuing its permit, including notifying all affected parties.

Livingston officials have asked a judge to order the Department of Natural Resources to review the HNTB study, other analyses and meet other statutory permit requirements as part of the reason for requesting the halt in the levee project.

State Judge Michael Caldwell has set a hearing for 10:30 a.m. June 11 to decide whether to issue a preliminary injunction to temporarily halt the parish's final design and land acquisition for the levee and also to halt permitting by the Department of Natural Resources Office of Coastal Management until the case is settled.

The HNTB study looks at the flooding impact of the proposed Laurel Ridge Levee extension and an additional, related improvement to an existing section of the same levee. The analysis predicts more significant flooding impacts for Livingston than known earlier if both levee projects are built.

While Ascension has been moving forward with the levee extension, the other levee project, which would raise the height of the existing Laurel Ridge Levee, has been part of long-term plans to shore up that parish's flood protection ring but is not funded.

When the HNTB study came to light this spring, a copy was provided to the Department of Natural Resources by The Advocate. At the time, the department officials said they had not seen nor were they aware of the HNTB study but they had already issued a key coastal zone permit for the levee extension.

Livingston Parish officials also want Caldwell to order Ascension to provide more detailed hydrological data than they have received so far from the parish so Livingston Parish engineers can independently determine the levee's impact.

Ascension and levee district officials have pointed to a separate levee district analysis, which was shared with state and federal agencies as part of the permit process, that suggested the flooding impact would be far less, adding three-quarters of an inch of water near Port Vincent in a 100-year flood. The levee district has since revised that estimate upward to 1.32 inches, still far less than what the HNTB study envisions.

Ascension officials have previously countered that comparing the levee district and HNTB analyses is like comparing "apples and oranges." The levee district study looks at the Laurel Ridge Levee extension in isolation. The HNTB study looks at the effect of both levee projects in combination and does not separate out each project's individual impact on flooding.

Patrick Courreges, spokesman for the Department of Natural Resources, said Monday the agency's attorneys have advised the agency not to comment on the "pending litigation, other than to say that we believe our Office of Coastal Management staff acted appropriately in reviewing the permit and properly applying the relevant laws and regulations."

Moody, the Livingston attorney, said the levee district could end up a defendant in the suit, too, but added that Livingston officials really hope to engage in talks with Ascension.

Were hoping Ascension will come to the table and show us this will not affect Livingston Parish or make some changes to their plans, Moody said.

Advocate staff reporter Joe Gyan contributed to this report.
Nine Syrian refugees, including seven children, trying to reach Europe drowned on Sunday when their speedboat sank off Turkey's Mediterranean coast, state media reported.

The boat hit trouble off the Demre district of Turkey's Mediterranean Antalya province, a popular holiday spot, the Anadolu news agency said.

One woman, a man and seven children lost their lives in the sinking which took place in the early hours, it said. The oldest child was 14 and the youngest just three, it added.

Six people -- all adults -- were rescued.

The Dogan news agency said they were seeking to head illegally to Europe but their planned route was not immediately clear.

The nearest EU territory is the small Greek island of Kastellorizo to the west which lies off the Turkish resort of Kas.

Anadolu said a couple who survived -- named as Idris Rashit and Zeynep Osman -- lost five of their children in the disaster. State media published images of the pair hunched in grief.

Over a million people, many fleeing the war in Syria, crossed to European Union member Greece from Turkey in 2015 after the onset of the bloc's worst migration crisis since World War II.

Turkey struck a deal with the EU in 2016 in a effort to stem the flow of migrants, and agreed to take back illegal migrants landing on Greek islands in exchange for incentives including financial aid.

The deal, chastised by rights groups, sharply curbed the number of migrants seeking to cross the Aegean and Mediterranean Seas from Turkey to Greece.

However observers say that the numbers seeking to use this route have been ticking up again in recent months.

According to the International Organisation for Migration (IOM), 10,948 people crossed to Greece this year up to May 30, sharply more than in the same period in 2017. Thirty-five people lost their lives using this route so far this year, the IOM says.

As well as migrants from countries such as Syria, Eritrea, Iraq and Afghanistan, the route has been used by Turkish citizens fleeing the crackdown that followed the 2016 failed coup.

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Before he even received his badge marking him an official Baton Rouge police officer, Matthew Wallace acknowledged to his fellow academy classmates  and their friends and family  the difficult atmosphere surrounding law enforcement.

"We live in a time of darkness," said Wallace, class president of the 84th Baton Rouge Police Training Academy. "When evil strikes and shots are fired, we are the ones who receive the call and, no matter what, we will answer it."

The 28 other officers who graduated alongside Wallace on Monday afternoon joined his call, shouting with him: "In the time of darkness, we answer the call!"

Can't see video below? Click here.

The serious job ahead didn't stop family and friends of the 29 officers from celebrating the hard work accomplished, many cheering as their loved ones' names were called, a few even shedding tears of pride.

+3 Baton Rouge Police begins basic training for recruits early Monday, hoping to fill in depleted force Before the sun rose Monday morning, 34 Baton Rouge Police recruits stood at attention, lining the hallway of the Training Academy, awaiting th

This class of new officers, one of the largest and most diverse classes in recent BRPD history, completed the 22-week physical, academic and firearms training and will now begin almost three months of field training as provisional officers.

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The class is made up of 12 black men, 12 white men, two black women, two white women and one Hispanic man, said Baton Rouge Police spokesman Sgt. Don Coppola Jr., notable as the department continues to work toward a more diverse officer corps that reflects the city it serves.

Six initial academy members did not make it through the rigorous training process, a dropout rate police officials say is not unusual. Meanwhile, having almost 30 new officers will be a welcome addition amidst a months-long manpower shortage.

+2 'We need more police officers': shortage of Baton Rouge detectives driving concern among residents In December, when Wanda Snowdens brother was fatally shot in his Clayton Drive home  becoming one of the final homicides in an already marke

"We are all united as BRPD, as a family  united as public servants," said Baton Rouge Police Chief Murphy Paul.

Paul also echoed Wallace's sentiment as he addressed his newest officers, and commended them on answering the call the serve.

"We understand how difficult it is to be a police officer today," Paul said. "Just go out there and do your job. Just do your job. We have your back, don't ever forget that."
A Louisiana educator and one from Kansas are the two finalists for the job that oversees the Louisiana School for the Deaf and two others.

Kristy Flynn, principal for the Louisiana Special Education Center in Alexandria, is one of the finalists.

The other is Jon Harding, interim superintendent of the Kansas State School for the Blind.

State Superintendent of Education John White plans to have a new superintendent in place by July 1.

The position in play is superintendent of the Special School District, which also oversees the Louisiana School for the Visually Impaired and the Louisiana Special Education Center.

Report faults troubled Louisiana School for the Deaf for low morale, 'insufficient communication' The Louisiana School for the Deaf suffers from low morale among students and staff, is implementing changes without a clear plan and some staf

The district was criticized in a report earlier this year, which faulted oversight of the schools.

It said the LSD suffers from low morale among students and staff, among other problems.

"With a new vision, the SSD can be a national leader in addressing the needs of some of our most vulnerable learners," White said in a statement.

State launches hunt for new superintendent to oversee Louisiana School for the Deaf, others The state will launch a national search for a new superintendent to oversee the Louisiana School For the Deaf and two others, state Superinten

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"Louisiana seeks a superintendent who has extensive experience in the education of students with low incidence needs and who has expertise in managing systemic change," he said.

Flynn has managed the Special Education Center for six years.

The center serves students with mental impairments and serious orthopedic problems.

Flynn has also been a special education teacher, a college adjunct professor and a supervisor, facilitator and principal at the school system and state levels.

Harding has held his current job since July, 2017.

He has steered the school through changes, grown its outreach services and taken steps to address student needs and to improve instruction.

Harding has previously served as a special education teacher.

Harding and Flynn are set to attend a town hall meeting on Wednesday at 5:30 p.m. at the Louisiana School for the Deaf and Visually Impaired in Baton Rouge.

About 230 students attend the three schools, including 128 at the School for the Deaf.
The number of charter schools in East Baton Rouge Parish has doubled over the past five years, with four more opening in August. But 2019 may prove to be the first year in a decade that no new charter schools opens.

Twenty-six charter schools  public schools run privately via charters, or contracts  operate in the parish, educating about 9,000 students. There are four schools opening soon that should bring charter school enrollment in the parish to more than 10,000 next year.

Typically five to 10 charter school groups submit applications each year to start new schools in Baton Rouge. This year, two groups applied for charters, but only one, New Orleans-based Collegiate Academies, is asking to start a new school.

On May 17, the East Baton Rouge Parish School Board unanimously rejected Collegiates proposal. It asked the board for a district contract, known as a Type 1 charter, that would allow it to open a second high school in Baton Rouge.

That same night, the board granted a Type 1 contract to the other applicant, Madison Prep. One of the most popular public high schools in Baton Rouge, Madison Prep will continue to operate largely as it has since it opened in 2009. It is considering giving up its existing charter with the state of Louisiana, known as a Type 2 charter, and operating instead under its new local Type 1 charter, which will last for five years.

+4 New Orleans-based Collegiate Academies is opening up its first charter school in Baton Rouge Years after it first won the right to set up shop in Baton Rouge, New Orleans-based Collegiate Academies is finally about to open the doors of

Collegiate Academies, which started its first high school in the district last fall as a Type 2 charter in north Baton Rouge, has until June 22 to decide whether to lodge an appeal to the School Boards decision. Collegiate wants to start a second high school in the district at an unspecified location in south Baton Rouge. If it appeals and succeeds, that school, like its original Baton Rouge school, would have a Type 2 charter.

Several School Board members indicated to Collegiate representatives that they viewed the application as premature.

I would ask you to come back in a few years because I would like to see what your results are for the existing Type 2 that you have, said Board Vice President Connie Bernard.

Collegiate Academies runs three high schools in New Orleans, including its flagship school, Sci Academy.

Its Baton Rouge school, Collegiate Baton Rouge, finished its first year in operation with just a ninth grade of about 130 students; it will receive its first state report card this fall. Currently operating at 1900 Lobdell Blvd., the school plans to move for the 2018-19 school year into space its renting from Living Word Christian Faith Church at 6180 Winbourne Ave. while it builds a permanent school at 282 Lobdell Blvd.

Collegiates next-oldest school, Livingston, in New Orleans East, earned an A academic letter grade from the state after its results from its first year, 2016-17.

Sci Academy, which opened in 2007, and G.W. Carver, which Collegiate took over in 2012, have seen their school performance scores decline the past two years; their letter grades are a C and D, respectively. But those schools more recently had an uptick in their graduation rates, which Collegiate representatives cited frequently at the May 17 East Baton Rouge School Board meeting.

Zoey Reed, a spokeswoman for the charter management group, said Collegiate is also examining its incoming data from standardized tests administered this past spring before deciding whether to pursue an appeal with the state Board of Elementary and Secondary Education.

We want to make sure we are prepared to do whats right for kids, Reed said.

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If it opts not to appeal, the group is likely to ask again at some point for a second charter school in Baton Rouge, she said.

Original Baton Rouge charter school, open nearly 20 years, in line for renewal through 2026 An 18-year-old Baton Rouge middle school looks like it will safely enter its third decade of operation after it received preliminary approval 

Madison Preps roots are in Baton Rouge. It is part of a homegrown network of charter schools called CSAL Inc. CSAL, short for Community School for Apprenticeship Learning, is also the name of its first school, a middle school that opened in 1997 at 1555 Madison Ave. That school has served as a feeder for Madison Prep since the high school opened next door 12 years later. In 2011, they were joined by online school Louisiana Virtual Charter Academy, or LAVCA.

CSAL was one of the three original charter schools in Baton Rouge that opened in 1997. As recently as 2008, they were still the only charter schools in town.

There are more charter schools in the city now than there were in the whole state before (Hurricane) Katrina, observed Dujan Johnson, executive director of CSAL Inc.

Unlike CSAL, Madison Prep and LAVCA have been operating as Type 2 charter schools.

Johnson said it makes little difference to him whether his schools are overseen by the local school district or by the state.

To me, the Type 1 and Type 2 deal is six in one hand and half a dozen in the other, he said.

Louisiana Supreme Court sides with charter schools in challenge of state funding system The Louisiana Supreme Court sided with charter school backers Tuesday in a lawsuit that had threatened state aid for about 18,000 students.

Johnson said the decision to switch Madison Prep from a Type 2 to Type 1 charter was prompted by a 2014 lawsuit challenging the legality of giving state per-pupil education funding to Type 2 charter schools. If the litigation had been successful, Type 2 schools like Madison Prep would no longer have received most of their funding. Funding for Type 1 charters, however, would have been unaffected the lawsuit.

Consequently, CSAL Inc. applied early this year for the Type 1 charter that it received May 17 for Madison Prep, doing so out of an abundance of caution as a way to protect its funding, Johnson said. Then a couple weeks after making the filing, the Louisiana Supreme Court in mid-March ruled that the funding method for Type 2 charter schools is legal. Nevertheless, Madison Prep decided to go through with its application for a Type 1 charter.

School Board members were happy to give it one. Madison Prep has a B letter grade, just shy of an A, and it has the fourth-highest public school graduation rates in Baton Rouge, trailing only Baton Rouge Magnet High, Lee High and LSU Lab schools.

The charter shift, however, may not happen right away. Johnson said he wants to give the high school time to figure out the fate of about 20 current Madison Prep students who live outside the boundaries of the East Baton Rouge Parish school system, mostly in Baker, and who would no longer be able to attend the school if it accepts the Type 1 charter.

To do it in a manner that is the most clean, we would probably need a transition year, he said.
The Louisiana Legislature has just hours left to finalize a spending plan for the coming year, or lawmakers will find themselves in yet another special session in the coming weeks.

The special session, which is the Legislature's second this year and sixth since February 2016, must end by midnight Monday. Sunday evening, the Senate passed its version of the $29 billion spending plan for the budget year that begins July 1, with a 38-1 vote, but it relies on tax measures that have not yet been finalized and go beyond what the more conservative state House has supported.

House Speaker Taylor Barras said Sunday night he had not fully reviewed tax measures that the Senate approved earlier in the evening, but he's concerned about the Senate's version of a sales tax bill. The House had approved extending one-third of a 1 percent sales tax set to expire June 30; the Senate-approved version of the bill would extend one-half.

"Getting the votes for half is going to be a challenge," Barras, R-New Iberia, said of the traditionally more conservative lower chamber that has repeatedly balked at recent tax measures.

House and Senate leaders are expected to spend much of the day attempting to hash out differences in the proposals that each chamber has passed during the two-week special session, after working through the weekend to advance legislation through the process.

"We've always been credited as people who could magically find money  Harry Potter magic," Senate Finance Chair Eric LaFleur, D-Ville Platte, said of the proposal. "This is not magic."

"We did the best we could," he added later in the debate.

Lawmakers are trying to address a looming fiscal cliff the state faces when more than $1 billion in temporary tax measures expire June 30, including a one percent sales tax hike lawmakers adopted in 2016.

Senate set to take up budget, tax measures Sunday with time winding down on special session Louisiana lawmakers have less than two days to finalize a spending plan for the coming year as the Monday end to its second special session lo

The Senate-backed funding proposal relies on the Legislature agreeing to raise $540 million in revenue this session. No tax measures had made it entirely through the process before the session's last day.

It also relies on about $53.3 million from a settlement the state received from BP after the 2010 gulf oil spill  a proposal that the House hasn't vetted publicly.

House Republican leaders have said they want the Legislature to raise only about $400 million, leaving the rest of the gap to cuts.

State legislators enter 'very important' weekend of work as special session's end draws near The Louisiana Legislature is in a race to the finish line, as the Monday end to its second special session draws near with no finalized budget

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If the two chambers raise less than the $540 million in taxes that the Senate budget plan relies on, then across-the-board cuts would be made to programs that have largely been spared from cuts if more taxes are raised, under the Senate's proposal.

Adding pressure to the delicate budget-balancing act: The state has more than $260 million in mandatory new costs for the coming budget, including $36 million in Legislature-approved pay raises for some state workers and $10 million tied to a settlement over how the state treats the mentally ill in prisons.

Much of the revenue is expected to be raised through a partial extension of the expiring sales tax. The House and Senate have disagreed over the size and scope of the sales tax proposal.

After earlier stalemates, the House agreed to extend one-third of the expiring sales tax and temporarily suspend some sales tax breaks, which would mean that the state's sales tax rate would go from 5 percent to 4.33 percent on July 1. That would raise about $370 million toward the fiscal cliff.

The Senate, with support from Gov. John Bel Edwards, has advanced a proposal to keep one-half of the hike that would expire, setting the new state sales tax rate at 4.5 percent. It would generate more than $400 million.

For taxpayers, the difference between the two competing proposals would be about 17 cents on a $100 purchase.

Edwards, a Democrat, had urged lawmakers to agree to raise $648 million in revenue to bridge the entire gap and prevent cuts to state services.

Under the Senate's budget proposal, the popular Taylor Opportunity Program for Students scholarships would be fully-funded in the coming year, and colleges and universities would be spared from cuts.

The Department of Health's budget also would be protected, after fears earlier this year about threats to programs for the elderly and disabled, including nursing home residents who receive state subsidies.

"This is not an easy task," Edwards said in a statement Sunday evening. "Without replacing the revenue needed to fully fund our critical priorities at their current funding level, tough choices have to be made."

"I am confident that the Legislature can get its work done in the time we have left together and continue to build on the momentum we are seeing in Louisiana," he added.

The state must have a spending plan finalized by July 1, or state programs could be forced to shut down.

If there is no final budget by midnight, lawmakers will be called back for another special session. Special sessions cost taxpayers about $60,000 a day.
In 2016, we lost 561 Louisianans to drug overdoses. Heroin and synthetic opioid deaths have increased drastically since 2012. As a state, our 
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Justin Ehrenwerth, CEO/President of the Water Institute of the Gulf, speaks at the ribbon cutting for The Center for Coastal and Deltaic Solutions Tuesday Dec. 12, 2017, in Baton Rouge, La. The 34,000 square foot building is to be the hub of the Water Campus. ItOs the structure right on the Mississippi River just south of the I-10 bridge.
Jordan's King Abdullah replaced his prime minister on Monday in a move to defuse the biggest protests in years, over IMF-backed reforms that have hit the poor.

Government plans to lift taxes have brought thousands of people onto the streets in the capital Amman and other parts of Jordan since last week, shaking a U.S.-allied Arab country that has remained stable through years of regional turmoil.

King Abdullah appointed Omar al-Razzaz, a former World Bank economist, to form the new government after accepting Hani Mulki's resignation, a ministerial source said. Razzaz was education minister in Mulki's government.

In his letter accepting the resignation, the monarch praised Mulki for his "bravery in taking difficult decisions that do not gain popularity", and asked him to stay on in a caretaker role until the new government is formed.

While some celebrated the change of government, the head of the Professional Unions Association said a strike planned for Wednesday would go ahead unless the draft income tax law was withdrawn.

Police chief Major General Fadel al-Hamoud said security forces had detained 60 people for breaking the law in protests so far, and 42 security force members had been injured, but protests remained under control.

"Rest assured, Jordan is a safe and secure country, and things are under control," said Major General Hussein Hawatmeh, head of the Gendarmerie security department, appearing along with Hamoud at a news conference.

Jordan, which has a peace treaty with Israel, has navigated years of instability at its borders, including wars in Iraq and Syria and conflict in the Israeli-occupied West Bank.

But the instability has hit the economy of a country that is poor in resources and hosts close to 700,000 Syrian refugees. Unemployment among Jordanians stands at 18.4 percent, according to Jordan's department of statistics.

Public anger has grown over government policies since a steep general sales tax hike earlier this year and the abolition of bread subsidies, both measures driven by the International Monetary Fund.

In a sign the tax hikes could be shelved, the official Petra news agency, citing the speaker of parliament, said lawmakers were on course to ask the king's permission to hold an exceptional session, with a majority demanding the changes be withdrawn.

"For us, our cause is the draft income tax law. The individuals (in government) do not concern us if they change, we want to change the approach of the government," said Ali al-Abous, head of the Professional Unions Association.

Demonstrators who have converged for nightly protests near the Cabinet office have said they would disband only if the government rescinded the tax bill it sent to parliament last month.

TIME FOR "MIDDLE GROUND"

Razzaz is a Harvard-educated economist who served with the World Bank in both Washington and the region.

Officials said he had been an opponent of reforms that hurt the poor. His appointment nevertheless sends a positive message to foreign donors that Jordan will press ahead with reforms, though in a gradual way, they said.

"I believe they have time to amend the law, to withdraw the law and make a new one that is more of a middle ground between the public demands and what the government wants," said Mufleh Aqel, a prominent Jordanian banker.

The IMF approved a three-year extended arrangement with Jordan in 2016 to support economic and financial reform to lower public debt and encourage structural reforms.

Jordan has backed down on reforms in the past, fearing a social backlash. Until Mulki's government, the lifting of bread subsidies and tax changes have been pushed back repeatedly.

Jordan was rocked by unrest in 2012 when the IMF told the government to lift gasoline prices.

Mulki, a business-friendly politician, was appointed in May 2016 and given the responsibility of reviving a sluggish economy and business sentiment. The tax increases had caused his popularity to plummet.

The protests widened on Saturday after Mulki refused to scrap a bill increasing personal and corporate taxes, saying it was up to parliament to decide.

The government says it needs more funds for public services and argues that the tax changes reduce social disparities by placing a heavier burden on high earners. Opponents say a tough IMF-imposed fiscal consolidation plan has worsened the plight of poorer Jordanians and squeezed the middle class.

Jordan's economy has struggled to grow in the past few years in the face of chronic deficits, as private foreign capital and aid flows have declined.

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In your June 4 editorial on Huey Long versus FDR, you didn't mention that the segments of the New Orleans elites which are always smug could b
For years, Ben Swig and other paramedics saw it all the time: People would call 911, not because they were between life and death, but because their prescriptions needed refilling and they couldnt get a doctor on the phone.

Theyd call when they got the flu or when their babies were running fevers  in other words, for problems that were, by and large, best handled by a trip to an urgent care center or a doctor's office, rather than a visit by an ambulance crew.

Now, Swig and his business partner, Justin Dangel, hope to break what Swig calls the ambulance-hospital cycle.

With Ready Responders, a service they're launching in mid-June, a New Orleanian who needs a doctor but doesn't have an emergency will be able to call the pair's start-up, rather than an ambulance. A trained paramedic will head to the scene in his private vehicle, assess the patient and call a doctor for further review.

After the house call, the medic may refer the patient to a doctor's office, or schedule a second at-home check-in. The goal is to lift the burden on city emergency rooms, curb costly insurance payouts and help make residents healthier, Swig and Dangel say.

They hope eventually to receive referrals from the city's 911 dispatch center, a move they say could let the citys Emergency Medical Services personnel focus on actual life-threatening emergencies.

"Its maybe 10 percent or less of callers that actually need the lights and sirens," said Swig, a former New Orleans EMS paramedic. "They dont need to spend a lot of money, or wait hours and hours. They can be treated in their home."

Swig and Dangel were talking with former Mayor Mitch Landrieu's administration last year about a partnership, but the clock ran out at City Hall before things were finalized. The talks, however, have continued with new Mayor LaToya Cantrell, who recently hired Dr. Emily Nichols to head the citys EMS and run the Health Department.

Cantrells office is taking a cautious approach to any kind of deal.

The mayor recognizes the need to ensure timely medical services to all members of our community, and our understanding of Ready Responders to date is that their mission is similar, Cantrell spokeswoman LaTonya Norton said.

However, we need to know more about the firms guidelines, logistics and daily operations before we decide on whether a partnership would buttress NOEMS service.

Dangel said the venture has raised $2.5 million, mainly from local and Silicon Valley-based investors.

In an interview, Dangel sought to allay concerns by some that the start-up wants to privatize the citys emergency services.

We dont compete with EMS, and we dont compete with ambulance services, he said. We hope to partner, obviously, with EMS, and we hope to partner with private ambulance services, because we think there is a gap in care that we are filling.

The group will not transport people via ambulance, he added. At most, it could call an Uber vehicle for someone who doesn't have a ride to a pharmacy.

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A 2016 visit to Israel helped inspire the concept. Dangel, a Boston native who launched the online auto insurance agency Goji in 2007, noticed medics on motorcycles whipping past him to respond to emergencies, using GPS technology on smartphones to arrive on scenes within a few minutes.

Dangel and Swig also have studied Houstons EMS system, where medics and EMS-trained firefighters have since 2015 brought tablet computers along when responding to emergency calls. When there is no real emergency, the medics video-message doctors who diagnose patients remotely, avoiding trips to the hospital and freeing up the medics to respond to more urgent calls.

With the help of Swig, who has a master's degree in public health from Tulane and has worked with the local EMS and the U.S. Public Health Service, a plan to combine the best of both concepts, plus other best practices, began to come together.

They view the service as critical in Louisiana, where the average Medicaid patient uses the emergency room close to once per year, Dangel said, citing figures from the state Department of Health. By diverting the least serious cases, New Orleans could help Louisiana curb some of its $12.5 billion annual Medicaid payout, which represents nearly half of the state's overall operating budget.

By making it really easy for people to get basic care, not only will it lead to better outcomes for patients, but it also will save the system lots of money, Dangel said.

Emergency room overuse slows the system down in other ways. Because paramedics must monitor the patients they drive to local hospitals until the hospital staff can take over, those medics and their ambulances can be out of commission for hours, Swig said.

New Orleans EMS response times in 2017 fell short of city goals for the most serious, life-threatening emergencies. Only about 66 percent of those calls were answered within 12 minutes, although the goal was 80 percent, data show.

We are alleviating the burden on the hospitals, and we are putting those ambulances back in service to treat the sick, Swig said.

For its first few months, Ready Responders will be available only in New Orleans East, where residents have often felt disconnected from innovations in other parts of the city. It intends to branch out later to other neighborhoods, adding to the 10 paramedics it will begin with.

Although no partnership with 911 has been finalized, residents will be able to call 211, a United Way-sponsored social services hotline, to connect with a medic.

The start-up has partnered with United Health Care, the largest provider of Medicaid insurance in the state, and other insurers.

Ready Responders also intends to offer health education and follow-up wellness visits to patients, a plan that excites veteran medics who have spent years seeing the same patients in and out of local hospitals.

Instead of going to their primary care physicians, they were using ERs as a form of, This is my doctor,'  said David Frezel, who has worked in emergency medicine for two decades.

The new venture wants to educate patients on alternative options, he said. And that will stop the inundation of our hospitals here in New Orleans.

Editor's note: This story was altered on June 4, 2018, to reflect David Frezel's correct title in a photo caption. He is a paramedic.
A 33-year-old man died after a traffic crash Sunday evening on Versailles Boulevard, New Orleans police said.

The man's vehicle struck a utility pole about 7:38 p.m.

In other matters recently handled by local authorities:

 New Orleans police responded to two shootings Sunday night and early Monday.

About 10:30 p.m. in the 4900 block of Lynhuber Drive in New Orleans East, a 20-year-old woman sitting in a car was shot by someone in another car, police said. She took a private ride to the hospital.

About 4:30 a.m. Monday in the 2800 block of LaSalle Street in Central City, a 24-year-old woman was shot in the mouth, police said. The gunman had knocked on the door, asked the victims aunt if the victim was there, then barged through the door, knocking the aunt down, police said. He went into the bedroom where the victim was and started firing; a man in the bedroom with the victim fired back, police said.

 New Orleans police investigated at least three robberies and a break-in from Sunday morning to early Monday.

About 9:40 a.m. Sunday in the 1400 block of North Galvez Street in the 7th Ward, a 43-year-old man surrendered unspecified property after being hit in the head multiple times by a person he knew who approached him asking for a cigarette and money, police said.

Police said a man walked into a Subway in the 3500 block of South Carrollton Avenue about 11:40 a.m., announced, Im about to rob you, and caused an employee to flee. Police are investigating the case as a robbery, though an initial report said only that the man fled out the stores front door when the employee did.

About 9:40 p.m. in the 100 block of Exchange Place in the French Quarter, a 15-year-old girl and 27-year-old woman surrendered their purses to a man who implied that he had a gun in his waistband by placing his hand there, police said.

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About 4:40 a.m. Monday in the 4900 block of Maid Marion Drive in New Orleans East, a man broke into a home and stole a television while pointing a gun at people in the house, police said. Police said the victims were a 48-year-old woman and two 23-year-old men.

 Police last week arrested one teenaged boy accused of firing a gun at a New Orleans East apartment complex. Two other teen boys were also arrested, though not on suspicion firing a gun.

New Orleans police said they made the arrests after responding to a call for shots fired on May 31 at the Walnut Square apartment complex in the 8500 block of North Interstate 10 Service Road. A 16-year-old was booked with illegally possessing a gun, illegally firing a gun and resisting arrest. A 15-year-old was booked with illegally possessing a gun and resisting arrest. A 14-year-old was booked with illegally possessing marijuana.

Police didnt release the names of any of the teens, though they noted the boys were arrested after a foot chase.

 About 3:55 p.m. Sunday near the corner of North Robertson and Laharpe streets in the 7th Ward, a woman said she was sexually assaulted by a man she didnt know, according to New Orleans police.

 Federal prosecutors in New Orleans on Monday said they had charged Donald Trosclair, 56, of Jefferson, with one count of receiving sexually explicit photos and videos of children, including some as young as 2. Trosclair was charged on Friday and then arrested three days later.

Trosclair faces up to five years in prison, a maximum $250,000 fine and possible sex offender registration if convicted.

 New Orleans police on Monday said they arrested Robert Boykins, 56, on allegations that he shot a 35-year-old man in the shoulder at the corner of St. Louis and North Dupre streets in Mid-City on May 30. Boykins surrendered to police in the company of an attorney.

 Police on Monday said they arrested a 16-year-old boy accused of participating in a gunpoint robbery reported May 5 in the 13600 block of North Nemours Street in New Orleans East.

Staff writers Kailey Broussard and Ramon Antonio Vargas compiled this report.
What was once called the "two lakes" project, a controversial idea to prevent flooding in the Jackson, Mississippi, area by damming the Pearl River, is going by a new moniker these days: Demonstration Project for the Pearl River Basin.

It's also been scaled back, from two proposed lakes to one, a 1,500-acre lake around Rankin and Hinds counties.

But no matter what the project is called, the idea of hemming in the Pearl is still drawing fierce opposition, especially in Louisiana.

Environmental groups, commercial and recreational fishermen, governmental bodies including the Louisiana Legislature and people who live in the lower part of the Pearl River basin fear the consequences of reducing the river's flow to places like the Honey Island Swamp in St. Tammany Parish.

The dam project was authorized by Congress in the 2007 Water Resources Development Act, but no money has yet been appropriated for the $205 million project.

Unlike typical federal projects, this one is not sponsored by the Army Corps of Engineers but instead has a local sponsor, the Rankin-Hinds Pearl River Flood Control and Drainage District.

An attorney for that district did not return a phone call and email seeking comment.

Opponents have been waiting for the draft environmental impact statement on the project, which was expected last winter. But Andrew Whitehurst, the water program director for the Gulf Restoration Network, said the project's sponsors now say that it will be published in June.

While the 2007 authorizing legislation says that only impacts on the Jackson area need to be required, the sponsors agreed during meetings in 2013 to consider effects downriver, Whitehurst said.

But state Sen. Sharon Hewitt, R-Slidell, said she doesn't expect them to work much outside the scope of the original plan.

"It's been pitched as flood control, but there are other options (to do that) that could be considered. We believe it's more of a development opportunity at our expense," she said. Creating the lake would also create lots of waterfront property.

The nonprofit Pearl River Vision Foundation, which was formed by a businessman who pushed the two-lakes idea, is working with the Rankin-Hinds district, and the Mississippi Development Authority contributed $1 million to study the project.

Once the draft environmental impact statement is published, the sponsor will have to hold three public hearings  in Jackson, on the Mississippi Gulf Coast and in St. Tammany Parish, Whitehurst said.

But opponents aren't waiting for that document. The Gulf Restoration Network held a community meeting recently in Gulfport, Mississippi, that drew only a few participants, but Whitehurst said they represented important interests, including fishing industry lobbyists, lawmakers and the Sierra Club.

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So far this year, a number of governments have passed resolutions opposing the project, Whitehurst said, including Washington Parish, Bogalusa and the town of Pearl River. St. Tammany Parish has been on record opposing the plan for years.

Opponents have also gotten support in Mississippi from Lawrence and Hancock counties and the town of Monticello.

But the biggest new ally is the Louisiana Legislature, which adopted a resolution opposing the plan.

Sponsored by Hewitt, Sen. Beth Mizell and Reps. Greg Cromer, Kevin Pearson and Malinda White, Senate Concurrent Resolution 5 says the proposal requires "close scrutiny" from all interests that rely on the Pearl for discharging wastewater and also raises concerns about how changes in the river's flow could affect oyster production.

It notes that Mississippi's Department of Environmental Quality has already put the river on its list of impaired waters because of the amount of wastewater it receives.

Hewitt created the Pearl River Task Force to look at issues affecting the lower Pearl River Basin that cross state and parish lines. While its focus includes determining the best governance and funding models for the basin, she said the panel immediately jumped on two big issues: the upriver lake project and a major logjam that is impeding marine traffic on the river.

She said she is looking forward to the draft environmental impact statement and the 45-day comment period that will follow its release.

The big question, she said, is whether the document addresses downriver concerns, including effects on oyster production, the health of the swamp and even discharge permits.

"We're working with our congressional delegation to make sure they are aware of it  and they are  and with local government entities to make sure our voices are heard," she said.

The ultimate goal, she said, is to make sure Congress doesn't fund the project.

"It's not just a Louisiana issue," she said.

But despite opposition on the Mississippi Gulf Coast, the project has won some victories in that state, and in Congress.

The Mississippi Legislature passed a bill in 2017 that gave the flood control district special authority to cast a wider net in taxing to raise necessary matching funds.

Mississippi's U.S. senators are pushing for the project's funding to be included in the America's Water Infrastructure Act of 2018.

But a bill before the Mississippi Legislature this year that would have provided $95 million in state money for the project was defeated in the Senate, Whitehurst said. That bill would have provided more than the $72 million state match that is required under the Water Resources Development Act.
Russian President Vladimir Putin on Monday signed into law counter-sanctions legislation that was drawn up by lawmakers in response to U.S. sanctions imposed on Russia in April.

The legislation gives the president, among other things, the power to sever ties with unfriendly countries, and to ban trade of goods with those countries.

However, it has been watered down since it was first conceived by lawmakers in response to the new round of U.S. sanctions on Russian businesses.

Lawmakers initially proposed large-scale restrictions on U.S. goods and services, ranging from food and alcohol to medicine and consulting services.

The law was one of two items of legislation. In the second, lawmakers debated making it a crime punishable by jail for a Russian citizen to comply with the U.S. sanctions.

Russian and foreign business lobbies had said any such law would effectively force firms to choose between doing business with Russia and having dealings with the rest of the world.

Last month Putin said any retaliation against western sanctions must not hurt the Russian economy or partners that do business in Russia.

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Over 30 TV series are aired during this Ramadan; many of them are strongly influenced by international drama, but the lack of attention to detail jeopardizes their aspirations

Just like many viewers, Mayar Barakat is a fan of foreign television series who has been thankful for streaming services such as Netflix. She can watch up to a whole season of a series like Game of Thrones or Breaking Bad in two days. This Ramadan, however, she is offline to find out whats happening on the local scene.

There are over 30 series to choose from, and though only a handful are up to scratch, for Barakat they are good enough to compete with world fare.

According to film critic Andrew Mohsen, with interesting subject matter and innovative treatment even of age-old social themes, television drama in the US, Mexico and Spain is erasing the distinction between television and cinema.

It has attracted the most successful movie stars, filmmakers and screenwriters. The narrative thrust and technical quality of such works makes them as good as films.

It was filmmakers making television, especially in the wake of 2011, that marked a similar turning point in Egypt. Cinematography, lighting, costumes and sets all reflected the power of film, and subject matter and style were quick to follow suit.

This year for example, Mohsen explains, there is very little social drama, Bel Hagm El- Aly (Family Size) is one such series. But most  Rahim, Kalabsh (Handcuffs), Abu Omar Al-Masry, Nisr Al-Saeed (Upper Egypt Eagle) and many others  are action and suspense thrillers. Even the romance, Laialy Eugenie (Nights of Eugenie) is adapted from a Spanish series. This is a completely different landscape to what we used to have.

But there is a catch. From a huge number of series only three can be described as properly made. The others suffer from a strange emptiness, with very little happening in the episodes. This is a recurrent problem but this could be the weakest season in five years. We have a script problem.

Film critic Rami Metwally feels the foreign series have the edge because of attention to detail.

The influence of cinema is not only about how you use the digital camera or lighting and colour. In Game of Thrones for example they were able to orchestrate a movie battle within a TV series. This needs time, preparation and long-term planning which I doubt we have in our series industry.

Indeed, Metwally says, only Abu Omar Al-Masry has a sound script by Mariam Naoum, who wrote some of the most successful series in recent years: Zaat (2013), Segn El-Nesaa (The Womens Prison - 2014), Taht Al-Saytara (Under Control - 2015) and Wahat Al-Ghoroub (Sunset Oasis - 2016). It is also the one that pays the most attention to detail. This means that the team work took enough time to make it happen.

According to Mohamed Al-Masry, the film critic who cowrote Abu Omar Al-Masry with Naoum, the time spent on preparation for a script is key. We started the discussions of this series in October 2016 and we didnt start writing until April 2017; shooting started in December.

For changes to be made during shooting is normal but the script itself should be complete as early as possible in order for every aspect of the series to be well made. It doesnt matter whether it is adapted from a novel, time is very important.

Amr Al-Daly, who started writing for television after a number of films, has produced Ramadan series regularly since Dawaran Shubra (Shubra Square), his debut. And his experience seems typical. For Al-Rehla (The Journey), this years contribution, cowritten with Ahmed Wael and directed by Hossam Ali, and based on Syrian writer Nour Shishaklis premise, Al-Daly had very little time to complete the 20 episodes before shooting started. But this was not always the case.

For Farah Laila (Lailas Wedding - 2013), he says, I was asked to start working in March, Ramadan was in May. I did not have enough time to discuss any details with the director and everything was done in rush.

He wishes there could be a system whereby the script can be completed, then a director found, then a producer, then a cast. The parallel method by which we work is destroying the potential for quality series we could have if we worked differently. But inadequate time in which to produce a series has not been Al-Dalys only problem, alas.

When the series has a superstar, the writer is restrained because they interfere in every detail. They have to appear in every episode and everything should revolve around them, and this limits my creativity hugely.

Happily, with an all-star cast (Basel Al-Khayyat, Riham Abdel-Ghafour and Hanan Mutawi), this was not the case with Al-Rehla (The Journey).

Despite the time constraint, in a case like this when you have a gifted director like Hossam Ali who likes to spend time with the writers  well, then you do your best.

Al-Rehla (The Journey) has three storylines with three main characters. Television drama is no longer a dialogue-dependent soap opera that you can follow while doing the housework  there has to be excitement and suspense even in a social drama. People are seeing foreign productions through the internet and they can easily switch off if you dont offer the same draws.

Film critic Mohamed Sayed Abdel-Rehim believes the influence of English-speaking drama is a fact; Osama Anwar Okashas Layali Al-Helmia (Laialy Al-Helmia), after all, was a response to Falcon Crest: It was the first Egyptian series with over 50 characters and six seasons. It was a turning point.

Okasha, however, was able to effectively Egyptianize the story and the characters, which is very seldom the case in foreign-influenced Egyptian TV today. Technically the picture is closer to the cinema, but in most cases it feels as though the cinematic technique is simply being reproduced without a functional understanding of its use in context: Why an American interrogation room? Egyptians dont fight like Hollywood characters, the way they do in Rahim and Kalabsh (Handcuffs). Screenwriters have to respect Egyptian reality I think.

But more importantly for Abdel-Rehim we need laws and regulations to empower creative people and safegaurd their rights.

Yasser Al-Husseini, the set designer on Awalem Khafia (Hidden Worlds), superstar Adel Imams new series  directed by Imams son Ramy  says the current system leaves no room for creativity.

Since I started this career in 2005 its always been the same. No matter how big the series I have to do the work of three or four specialist creatives every time.

Though 15 episodes were completed before shooting, for a series shot on this many different locations, he says, you need time; otherwise you end up working no less than 16 hours a day, which has been the case since January.

It is the of time, and the lack of complete scenes to work with, that deprives the set designer of the chance to study the characters and their back stories or discuss relevant details with the director. In many cases, to improve the look of a series, designers copy the sets of foreign series or movies rather than producing work that fits Egyptian reality.

Everything depends on your own personal effort and imagination  if you have time to imagine. In a big series like this one the pressure is huge because the decor requirements are equal to those of three other series. That is why there are mistakes on many Egyptian series sets. But if you do not have time to study how your character live, you will never create a suitable and unique atmosphere for that character.

Nisr Al-Saeed (Upper Egypt Eagle) artistic producer Sabry Al-Sammak, for his part, is supposed to be in charge of all agreements except those relating to the director, the screenwriter and the star; scene numbers and episode evaluation including post production are part of his responsibility.

We work under inhuman pressure, he says. Often episodes are being written well into the screening of the series, for example, meaning up to 22-24 hours work a day. And this definitely affects quality.

The director often has to leave the actual shooting to their assistant to attend the editing. There is no time to discuss or assess the work of the screenwriter, who is simply enjoined not to upset the censors or come up with ideas that will jar with the storyline.

But if an idea doesnt fit and we dont have time to replace it, we have to go with it, dont we.

Al-Sammak believes there should be a collective movement in which the crews working in the series industry push for maximum working hours and minimum wages.

A different system will improve every other aspect of the industry because we wont be working under pressure. When the pressure is enough to kill an executive director, he says, referring to the heart attack that killed Robert Talat, the executive director of Tayea, during the shooting of the series, then what needs a change is not just the appearance of the series but the way the industry works.

A version of this article was first published in Al Ahram Weekly under the title Time Matters

For more arts and culture news and updates, follow Ahram Online Arts and Culture on Twitter at @AhramOnlineArts and on Facebook at Ahram Online: Arts & Culture

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What makes a great brand?

Tom Hearn, business director at Nude Brand Creation explores what's behind a great brand

Tom Hearn Nude Brand Creation

What makes a great brand? Everyone knows  and almost nobody does. A true top-tier spirits brand is not just admired but loved; fans dont just buy it, they talk about it, share posts about it, and act as its most loyal champions. This is the sign of a brand that has achieved greatness  and, harder still, is maintaining its place at the top.

The illusions of price and provenance

So how do you achieve this elusive goal? Price is a factor in becoming a great premium spirits brand, of course: the notion of being reassuringly expensive that Stella Artois tried so hard to channel. But relying on price alone lacks depth, and expense by itself isnt actually reassuring. Consumers need to feel they are paying for something that is worth the money they are paying.

Once the novelty of an exciting new brand wears off, how do you maintain consumer interest and stoke brand loyalty, so that people stay engaged? Provenance and ingredients are important elements in keeping your brand desirable, but often they are all too easily replicated by others.

What you need is that more elusive quality: self-confidence. Everyone responds to a display of confidence, in a brand as in a person. A strong personality and a consistent message are absolutely crucial for a brand to keep people close. How to create and promote that strong and authentic brand personality? There are various routes, and the key is finding the one that is right for your particular brand.

Aged to perfection

One way is using packaging to convey a brands self-assurance. The redesign of Midleton Very Rare Whiskey takes this approach to convey the products brand strengths. It rejuvenates the design, but stays true to the brand story in an authentic way, as well as bringing it up to date.

The new packaging for this exclusive whiskey features a unique set of luxury codes, inspired by Irish literature and craftsmanship to reflect the precious nature of the liquid, as opposed the following obvious and outdated luxury codes. Interestingly, the notion of luxury has changed in the last few years. Previously luxury packaging featured lots of gold, over-embossing and dark, rich colours, whereas the new luxury is inspired by craft and honesty.

Team up

To pick the right road to brand desirability, you need to have the right strategy in place. The partnership must be right. It must emphasise the brands authenticity. Copy the competitors, or just dream up a partnership out of nowhere, and youll affect your brands desirability  in entirely the wrong way. But find the perfect pairing and it can reap rewards.

Look at Havana Club. It linked up with Cohiba to offer the finest Cuban cigars with the finest Cuban rum. Havana Club was supplementing the power and desirability of its brand, as a luxury after-dinner drink that contains the finest Cuba has to offer, with the ideal accompaniment: the best cigars, from a place that is world-famous for them, reminding every cigar-smoker and every drinker what Cuba and Havana Club have to offer.

Halo effect

Limited editions are an effective way to fuel the fire of brand desirability. A carefully managed limited edition, however small, can have an incredible halo effect  so, when we created Ballantines three single malts for the brand, drawing single malt drinkers into Ballantines, which is well known for blended whisky, it was a lovely story that resonated.

The packaging design reflected the character of the three Scottish distilleries that created the range, with the stone colourways of each distillery used to tell the brand story. We visited each distillery and met the master distiller to capture the three personalities and their unique Speyside location at source.

Although the range of three single malts is out of reach for most people, the strength of that story is elevating the whole brand, including the entry-level Ballantines whisky more people can afford and locate. Its amazing to think that a super-exclusive range can have an effect on the core brand  but it can. It also created something new and exciting for Ballantines loyalists.

Strategy trumps luxury

Desirability is elusive, and requires more thought and a deeper understanding of both brand and target consumer. It requires strategy.

For a brand to maintain its position long-term, brand managers need to think long-term. With deep understanding of the brand, creative thinking and brand expertise, theres no reason that a strong brand cannot build and maintain true consumer loyalty. Consumers have a lot of love to give: its just a question of directing it, carefully and sustainably, towards your brand.

Knowledge is key

There are many ways to boost desirability and keep it boosted, but what they all have in common is the need for expertise. The method must be right for the product, otherwise the whole exercise is a waste of time  and can even adversely affect a brands clout.

Thats why its so important to have the right partner on board. A branding agency with experience and creativity is key  and, when that agency has been around a while, they become a repository of knowledge, so that whoever comes in new to manage the brand knows they can consult that agency on its history. Because a brand that aspires to longevity needs to understand its own past.

4 June 2018
Mangrove launches JAH45 rum brand

Spirits specialist Mangrove Global has launched a new rum brand, JAH45, which is said to be inspired by the Jamaican music scene.

JAH45 is slang for Jamaica (JAH) and the '45' references the 45RPM record speed. The sound system influence comes from liquor stores using them to boost rum sales in their stores during the 1950s.

The brand will initially launch with five variants at an ABV of 40%: JAH45 18ct Gold; JAH45 Silver; JAH45 Dark; JAH45 Spiced and JAH Overproof at 63% ABV.

The rums are of pure Jamaican provenance, blends of aged pot and column still rum from famous Jamaican distilleries. The rums are authentically Jamaican, with a Jamaican Funk style, evoking the Fifties. JAH45 Dark and JAH45 18ct Gold (RRP: 19.99, 70cl) are a blend of 3 years old pot still rum with unaged column still rums. JAH45 Spiced (RRP 21.99, 70cl) is again an aged 3 years old rum that has been macerated for 48 hours with vanilla, cinnamon, citrus and a dash of Pimento. JAH45 Silver (RRP: 19.99, 70cl) is an unaged pot and column still medium bodied white rum. And JAH45 White Overproof (RRP: 26.99) is a blend of unaged pot and column still medium bodied white rum, cut at 63% bottling strength.

The rums will be available to bar and restaurant groups, specialist independent drink stores, and multiple retailers. Listings are already in place with Las Iguanas, a 54-strong restaurant group. Simple, classic serves from the era are recommended: JAH45 Dark with Jamaican Ginger Beer; JAH45 Spiced with Ting; JAH45 Gold with Juices and Tiki styles like Mai Tai; JAH45 Silver with Cola; and JAH Overproof with the Red Eye with cranberry. Target consumers are 20+, sociable music lovers. The packaging has been designed to create back bar and on-shelf stand out and features a unique two ripped label style, which evokes the music vibe of the brand and is reminiscent of the dance hall posters.

Former J Wray & Nephew executive, Carl Stephenson, who is CEO of Hellshire Club, a newly formed brand creation company and instigator of the JAH45 brand, says: "JAH45 is a really exciting pure Jamaican rum brand, which reflects the spirit of sound system Jamaica in the fifties. Music brought the vibes, rum brought the soul!"

Nick Gillett, managing director of Mangrove Global comments: "I am delighted to welcome the JAH45 range into the Mangrove portfolio. With the unique funk flavour, JAH45 are rums that go back to their Jamaican roots and offer an exciting addition to standard rum selections. With the global distribution rights, we look forward to working with JAH45 to launch and continue to grow into the UK and other markets."

4 June 2018 - Sam Coyne The Drinks Report, news editor
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Linkedin Rimmel Mohydin (Dawn/ANN) Lahore, Pakistan  Mon, June 4, 2018 18:08 1227 a7124a1e87885b91d244660f9e787ae9 2 Opinion #Pakistan,#Indonesia,#drugabuse,#Drugs-convicts-executions,#DeathExecutions,#DeathRow,#ZulfiqarAli Free

It is an election year. You would think that the government would be all over an easy win.

Zulfiqar Ali offered that. An innocent Pakistani citizen languishing on Indonesias death row on false drug charges needed saving. An Indonesian government inquiry concluded that he was innocent in 2010. After that, by any standard, he had no business being incarcerated let alone staying at risk of execution.

This was a diplomatic tour de force waiting to happen.

Bringing him home would be Pakistan showing the world the high value it places on the lives of its citizens, that no one could take away their right to a fair trial without consequences. It would have exemplified Pakistans diplomatic prowess. The government would have come across as assertive, responsible, sympathetic  everything you want to be seen as to get votes.

It wasnt particularly difficult to do. The bulk of the work had been done. Were there enough eyes on the case? Yes. When Indonesia issued his execution warrants in July 2016, a relentless media campaign took root, invigorated by the outrage of Pakistans citizenry.

The noise was deafening and the right phone calls were made to Indonesia. Zulfiqars life was spared at the last moment, a feat that the governments of the other foreign nationals executed that night were unable to achieve.

He called me then, giddy. He said he had never felt more proud to be a Pakistani.

Was there a reasonable chance of success? Absolutely. President Joko Widodo had scheduled a trip to Pakistan in January 2018. We pounced and the campaign became too loud to ignore, including the voices of the then speaker of the National Assembly and the parliamentarian Shazia Marri.

On the day of President Widodos arrival, the then foreign minister tweeted that Zulfiqars case would be raised and made good on that promise. President Widodo promised to re-examine the case on humanitarian grounds. The intention had already been stated. It just had to be followed up  forcefully.

Was there any risk? No. Zulfiqars innocence had been confirmed by a fact-finding inquiry instituted by the former president of Indonesia, Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono. It had found conclusive signs of human rights abuses at every stage of his case, publicly confirmed by Hafid Abbas, a member of the inquiry team who authored the report.

And now he had terminal stage four liver cancer. He was a deeply unwell man  no threat to anyone.

The photo-op of Zulfiqar taking a flight back to Pakistan, with its leadership waiting at the tarmac would have played well. So well, we might have forgiven them for their indifference to his wrongful conviction for 14 years.

Fourteen years is a long time. When Zulfiqar was arrested, the president of Pakistan was Gen Musharraf, Facebook had just been created and Saddam Hussein was still on trial.

And yesterday, Zulfiqar died  innocent in truth, but still a convict by law.

Why did this happen? Was it incompetence? Or worse still, indifference? Bureaucracy? Could it have been avoided at all?

Zulfiqars suffering on death row, culminating in his demise demonstrates the dangers of not having a consular protection policy. Without a clear set of protocols, that consular staff should be trained and obligated to follow, it is no surprise that Zulfiqars innocence was ignored for eight years, and his incarceration for 14.

When Zulfiqar was arrested, no one from the Pakistan embassy visited him. If they had, what they would have found would have astounded them. And what they saw, I have to believe, would have inspired action.

For three days after his arrest, he was kicked, punched and threatened with death by the police to obtain the only piece of evidence against him: a self-incriminating torture-induced confession. The police have never found any material proof of his involvement.

He never recovered from the stomach and kidney injuries he suffered, despite emergency surgeries that, in a cruel twist, he had to pay for.

In Asma Shafi v. The Federation, Justice Mansoor Ali Shah repeatedly called on the foreign affairs ministry to present a consular policy. After years of litigation, the only thing the representatives from the ministry could produce was a set of guidelines. Guidelines that they were forced to create under orders from the Supreme Court in 2010, and that no one seems to follow.

The fact that after over 70 years of existence, the ministry is yet to devise a consular protection policy can only be a mark of cruel indifference. There are 9,360 Pakistanis in jails worldwide. Many of them are cases just like his.

Make no mistake, Zulfiqar dying the way he did is on the ministry of foreign affairs. They had the time, resources and the public support to take action. It was a win-win.

But if theres no consular policy, the citizens of Pakistan can only lose.

The writer is head of communications for Justice Project Pakistan. Twitter: @Rimmel_Mohydin

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This article appeared on the Dawn newspaper website, which is a member of Asia News Network and a media partner of The Jakarta Post
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Linkedin - (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta, Indonesia  Mon, June 4, 2018

The National Alms Agency (Baznas) recently disbursed donations for 1,000 orphans living in the Serpong area of South Tangerang, Banten, through the Baitussalam Foundation, the nonprofit arm of the Baitussalam Mosque in the areas Green BSD City residential complex.

The donation was symbolically handed out to the foundations officers to mark the Baitussalam organizations eighth anniversary on June 3.

According to Baznas deputy Zainulbahar Noor, the donation was also enlivened with a ceremony commemorating the nuzulul Quran (the revelation of the Quran), broadcasted live by television station TVOne in its Damai Indonesiaku (Peaceful Indonesia) program.

The ceremony also featured a talk show with former Baznas chairman Didin Hafiduddin and celebrity cleric Sumarno Syafei, who explained the history of the Quran revelation in a session moderated by TVOne host Agung Izzulhaq.

Baznas alms distribution and empowerment director Nasir Tajang added that the charity program for orphans was the Baitussalam Foundations annual project done in cooperation with several other organizations.

. (./.)

In 2016, the foundation cooperated with members of the BSD Mosque Forum to disburse donations to 2,500 orphans across the South Tangerang area. In 2017, Baznas supported them to disburse donations to 1,000 orphans [with each institution spending money to support 500 orphans], Nasir explained.

Besides the charity program for orphans, previously Baznas has also cooperated with the Baitussalam Foundation to improve the nutrition for cows to be slaughtered during Idul Adha, or the Islamic Day of Sacrifice. Both institutions disbursed a total of Rp 1.37 billion to finance the program.

As part of its program to boost zakat (alms) payments in Indonesia, Baznas also conducted a different talk show on June 2 inviting local female celebrities wearing the hijab on their mission to raise awareness about the importance of zakat payment.

The talk show featured 2018 Miss Indonesia pageant runner-up Raudha Kashmir as well as Baznas national retail collection division head Fitriansyah Agus Setiawan.

Praise God, Baznas various breakthrough programs help us to be more aware on the importance of zakat payment. The agency has also optimized its services, making it easier for us to pay zakat, Raudha said.

She said the agencys digital innovations had in particular been very helpful for alms payers.

We are now able to pay our alms through digital applications like GoPay. Currently, the agency also has a personified artificial intelligence service named Zaki [answering customers questions]. With these innovations, the millennial generation will be more eager to pay their alms through Baznas, Raudha said.

Fitriansyah, meanwhile, lauded the decision made by Raudha  along with other Indonesian celebrities  to wear the hijab.

Praise God, hopefully what Raudha Kashmir  along with other female celebrities who wear the hijab  has done will serve as exemplary behavior for Indonesian youngsters to come in droves to pay their alms through Baznas, he said.
In Indian culture, arranged marriages are widely accepted and considered the norm. However, the very concept of having an arranged marriage has intrigued many.

This norm also caught the attention of Elizabeth Flock, who came to Mumbai from Chicago, Illinois, way back in 2008, when she was only 22 years old.

In Mumbai, people seemed to practice a showy, imaginative kind of love, with an eye toward spectacle. Relationships were often characterized by devotion, even obsession, especially if two people could not be together. This kind of love played out on the movie screens, but it was also deep in the bones of Indias stories, in the Hindu scriptures and the Bhakti and Sufi devotional poems, she observes in her book Love and Marriage in Mumbai.

Being young, naive and from a different culture, Flock writes, she was drawn to the drama.

Besides, when Flock first visited Mumbai, it was after her fathers third divorce. She was looking for answers and wondered if failure of marriages in her country or elsewhere was due to the missing devotional quality in relationships that seemed so much a part of love in India.

Thus, Flock embarked on a journey in search for answers about why marriages succeeded or failed in the US or anywhere, although she says that it wasnt really a conscious effort.

In the beginning of my time in Mumbai I stayed with a number of married couples, and thats when I started asking questions about their marriages. I wanted to learn about their relationships, how they fell in love and how they married. I wanted to learn about this place Id just moved to through their love stories, she recalls.

Flock eventually became so involved in her quest for answers that her research on romance and marriage in urban India led to a phenomenal feat of reportage. Everything reported in the book is true, but it reads more like a novel, she says of her book that is all set for release in India on June 18.

Interestingly, Flock had come to Mumbai to pursue a career in Bollywood! I was introduced to foreign films by my mom when I was really small, she recalls.

She flew down to Mumbai with just about a US$100. However, Bollywood was not her destiny and soon she ditched that dream and bagged herself a job with Forbes India as a reporter. I think I always wanted to be a journalist but didnt know it, states Flock who is presently a reporter for PBS NewsHour and lives in Washington, DC.

On her first visit to Mumbai, Flock read Suketu Mehtas Maximum City, which gave her good insight about the megacity. Mumbai is a place of contradictions. I think what I learned very early on is how incredibly diverse Mumbai and India are; in every sense of the word. You cant generalize about anything, she explains.

On that note, Flock, whose book is based on three middle-class couples in Mumbai, says, They are not representative of love or marriage in India, or even of love and marriage for the middle class in Mumbai. They are three very specific stories. And there are millions more.

The three middle-class couples Flock chose are unique in their own way. They belong to different religions, culture, caste and educational backgrounds. One couple eloped against their parents wishes to get married, one couple had a very traditional arranged marriage; and the third couples marriage was a bit of a hybrid, because they chose each other with the help of their families and an online matrimonial site.

Flock spent a decade getting to know the couples, their intimate stories, confessions and well-kept secrets and hence was able to effectively and honestly tell their love stories.

Love and Marriage in Mumbai by Elizabeth Flock (Bloomsbury/File)

Her book makes interesting revelations about relationships and marriages in a country that is undergoing a transition due to the clash of Western culture with traditional values.

Extensive research brought to light some stark realities about the changing dynamics of marriages in modern India. Some of the first data she looked at was from the book Love Will Follow: Why the Indian Marriage is Burning, a study of Indian marriage today by an Indian psychologist, Shaifali Sandhya.

Stats from the book said that divorces were increasing and the vast majority were initiated by women. Another said that 94 percent of Indian couples were happy in their marriages but would not marry the same person if they had to do it over. Both of these stats surprised me, and I wanted to dig deeper, says the author.

For the book, Flocks influences were journalists Katherine Boo, who wrote Behind the Beautiful Forevers, and Adrian Nicole LeBlanc, who wrote Random Family. Both books are examples of immersive, narrative nonfiction, reported over a long period of time and written more like a novel than like typical nonfiction. I took lessons from both authors in how they wrote about communities that were not their own, and how they did so with sensitivity, empathy, and accuracy, she says.

Regarding the pressure on the Indian marriages, the author says that even though she only studied three couples among millions, but from my vantage point, the institution of marriage seems to be under tremendous pressure in India right now.

Research also suggests that more people are rejecting arranged marriages. More people are getting divorced. Also, according to some surveys, more people are also seeking extramarital affairs, and many of these people are women. All in all, its a confusing and uncertain time for the institution, she feels.

Another significant observation made by Flock about the Indian married couples was that couples were not in step with each other  at least in the couples she followed. I found a disconnect between husbands and wives. People with views literally from different generations are getting married and have to coexist, she observes.

Incidentally, from the very beginning of her journalistic career, Flock has been interested in social issues and as she says, in particular on womens issues, and how societies and cultures are changing for women.

In that context, she points out that it is the women who continue to make compromises in the marriage. In many ways, India remains a deeply patriarchal society. It is still the women whose careers and ambitions came second.

But, all is not lost. The new challenges are opening up new trends in the way marriages are now taking place in modern India. They seem to be practical solutions.

New ways of marrying are emerging, such as the hybrid half-love, half-arranged marriage, in which both parents and children play a role in picking a partner. In the couples I met that kind of marriage had the most success, concludes Flock.
Young, distracted and styled just-so, Anissa Kheloufi is part of a growing genus of Instagram junkies. As the 21-year-old flits around the Paris suburb of Saint Ouen, shes incessantly snapping photos and videos. Usually theyre of her friend Cynthia Karsenty, who preens for the camera in swanky clothes ranging from high-waisted shorts and pin-striped jumpers to big, fuzzy slippers.

It is, by all appearances, a parade of self-indulgencea life over-edited and ultra-shared. But what the eye-rolling onlooker doesnt understand is that Kheloufi is building an apparel empire one snap at a time, one that pulls in close to $40,000 a month. Her social media fodder sends a steady stream of shoppers to Belmiraz, the apparel company she founded after tiring of law school. It includes a web store as well as boutiques located in Casablanca and Paris. Mostly, however, Kheloufis customers purchase their items in the same way she sells them: by app.

I think I have the phone sewn onto my hand, Kheloufi told Bloomberg. My loved ones are fed up with it.

The future of retail isnt e-commerce or omni-channel or pop-up shops or geo-fenced flash sales. The future of retail is palm-sized. As social media consumerism cultivates a growing crop of scrappy brands, these retail entrepreneurs are skipping the computer altogether (let alone brick-and-mortar shops), instead displaying and selling products exclusively via smartphone.

And the phenomenon is accelerating. Two big reasons for this entrepreneurial shift are video and Instagram (and video on Instagram). In recent years, both have had an increasingly outsized impact on how consumers shop, one that shows no signs of abating. Big retailers have grown wise to it, too, as more of them are lured away from a traditional focus on desktop transactions.

Back in August 2016, Facebook Inc.-owned Instagram began letting its users click through the phone app to a brands retail site. It also added Stories, a Snapchat-like feed of temporary posts better suited for video. A few months later, Instagram let 20 select companies, including J. Crew, Macys and Warby Parker, tag products in Instagram posts and route people to a store link where they could shop now.

Just like that, a virtual shopping mall was born.

Read also: Inspiring Instagram accounts to check out this Ramadhan

Unlike the old kind, replete with dingy food court and shabby Sears, Instagram doesnt have any problems generating foot traffic, given the 800 million people actively scrolling through its portal every month. In May, the company took the next logical step, quietly enabling a feature for users to add credit or debit cards. Soon, Insta-crowds may not have to leave the platform at all to make a purchase.

Salesforce.com says 5 percent of digital retail traffic now flows through social channels. ViSenze, a visual search company, found that, of people who use social media, one in three makes a purchase every month through a platform such as Instagram, Facebook, Pinterest or Snapchat. At companies like Belmiraz, which mostly sell to young buyers, the numbers are far higher. Kheloufi says 90 percent of her companys revenue flows through Instagram, where she connects with 119,000 followers.

Not surprisingly, digital platforms that cater to aspiring e-commerce titans like her are hustling to tweak their products for iPhone-only use. Tictail, the do-it-yourself marketplace where Kheloufis Belmiraz sells her wares, overhauled its platform recently to allow vendors to post directly to Instagrams Story forum. It also lets retailers add text stickers and links that make it easier for shoppers to click through to purchase or figure out their shipping costs. When Tictail rolled out a feature allowing sellers to directly post video product listings, the platform promptly saw engagement on those items almost quadruple, according to Chief Executive Officer Carl Rivera.

Its very Snapchatty, he explains.

Tictail made the shift toward handheld retailing after noticing that mobile purchases had jumped from being 40 percent of its transactions to 70 percent in the span of 18 months. Rivera figured that if shoppers were switching to smartphones so fast, sellers would quickly follow. The transformation, he says, has everything to do with how mobile tech enables visuals to dominate internet retail.

What it really is is a shift in what the main input type is, he says. If you sit in front of a computer, its easy to enter text and really difficult to enter photos and videos. With a phone, its the opposite.

Shopify, which hosts digital stores for some 600,000 merchants, has made similar moves, launching its deep integration with Instagram in October. Half of Shopifys clients are actively using a mobile app it built exclusively for merchants. Over the past year, the shopping site has seen a three-fold increase in retailers who do business entirely by phone, according to Lynsey Thornton, vice president of user experience.

Theyre not necessarily on the go. They simply want the flexibility to do whatever they need to do, she says. Its the time pressure thats actually pushing a lot of this: How can I do things faster?

Miranda Kerr counts herself among these iPhone-touting entrepreneurs. In running Kora Organics, the Australian model says she rarely opens a computerhandling social posts, fielding conference calls and somewhat obsessively tracking order fulfillment via mobile.

Read also: Instagram tests screenshot alerts for Stories

Ultimately, social shopping platforms are bulldozing yet another of retails barriers to entry.

In the 1990s, e-commerce sites such as Amazon.com declared war on department stores and malls. More recently, drop-shipping services (in which sellers have third parties fill orders) began to take hold, empowering digital disruptors. A would-be Phil Knight or Kate Spade no longer has to hustle for capital and retail partnersall they need is buzz and followers. With the rise of handheld retail, a virtually unlimited commercial space is opening up, one in which marketing, shipping and catalogs cost the wannabe retailer next to nothing; the only real overhead is the price of an iPhone.

The wave is growing. Of the almost 2 million people selling items on Etsys online marketplace, roughly half are using the companys purpose-built vendor app. Meanwhile, Intuit says half of the almost 700,000 self-employed entrepreneurs using its Quickbooks accounting software are tracking their income and expenses via its mobile platform.

Theyre very experiential sellers, Thornton, at Shopify, says of iPhone-focused entrepreneurs. And they care a lot about building a brand.

Without a smartphone, Anita Berisha would likely still be working a full-time job in marketing or inventory managementher jewelry-making habit confined to a mere side hustle.

About two years ago, she launched her eponymous brand and started posting a few piecesdelicate chokers and fine wire earrings bent into the shape of flowers. With a few well-timed and unsolicited endorsements, Berishas following grew from a few hundred people to almost 32,000. Now shes making up to 30 pieces a day and collecting about $10,000 in monthly revenueall from her apartment in Manhattans Harlem neighborhood.

When I started, every single thing I did was through my phone, Berisha says. I had to explain to my husband: I know it doesnt seem like it, but Im working here!
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Linkedin (Agence France-Presse) Kabul, Afghanistan  Mon, June 4, 2018 07:17 1228 a7124a1e87885b91d244660f9e7682ac 2 World Afghanistan,children,Education,conflict,poverty,discrimination Free

Nearly half of Afghanistan's children are not attending school because of worsening security, poverty and sex discrimination, according to a new UN report Sunday.

The number of children deprived of schooling is at its highest rate since 2002 -- the year after the US-led ouster of the repressive Taliban regime, which had banned girls from the classroom.

Girls remain more likely to miss out on a formal education, making up 60 percent of the 3.7 million children aged between seven and 17 not at school.

The figure rose as high as 85 percent in some of the worst-affected provinces, reflecting pervasive gender-based discrimination in parts of the deeply conservative Muslim country.

Child marriages and a shortage of female teachers were additional factors keeping girls away from the classroom.

The report by United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) also estimated that up to 300,000 children are at risk of dropping out before the end of the year.

Those children most at risk often live in rural areas and face displacement, insecurity and a lack of schooling facilities.

"Business as usual is not an option for Afghanistan if we are to fulfil the right to education for every child," UNICEF's Afghanistan representative Adele Khodr said.

"When children are not in school, they are at an increased danger of abuse, exploitation and recruitment."

While the numbers are worrying, the study also noted some progress.

It said school dropout rates are low in comparison to neighbouring countries such as Pakistan and Nepal, with some 85 per cent of Afghan boys and girls who start primary school going on to complete the last grade.

"Now is the time for a renewed commitment to provide girls and boys with the relevant learning opportunities they need to progress in life and to play a positive role in society," Khodr said.
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Linkedin (Agence France-Presse) Kabul, Afghanistan  Mon, June 4, 2018 16:25 1227 a7124a1e87885b91d244660f9e7827ac 2 World Kabul,bomb,Afghanistan,clerics,Taliban,Islamic-State,IS,ISIS Free

At least seven people were killed Monday when a suicide bomber detonated near a gathering of top clerics in Afghanistan's capital Kabul, shortly after the group called such attacks a sin, police said.

"Our initial information shows that the suicide attack took place when guests were exiting the tent" where the mcleeeting was being held at around 11.30 am (0700 GMT), police spokesman Hashmat Stanikzai told local broadcaster Tolo News.

"According to our initial information, seven people have been killed including a policeman. Nine others have been injured, including two policemen."

Interior ministry spokesman Najib Danish said at least 12 people had been killed and wounded, but did not give a breakdown.

The attacker detonated outside the tent, known as the Loya Jirga tent, or "grand council" in Pashto, where gatherings of top clerics and government officials are often held, Stanikzai said.

A security source confirmed it had been a suicide attack.

No group has yet claimed the attack, but both the Taliban and the Islamic State group are stepping up their headline-grabbing assaults on the heavily fortified capital, making it the most deadly place in the country for civilians.

The Taliban recently issued a warning for civilians to "keep away" from military and intelligence centres in Kabul as they were planning more attacks.

Local media said that some 3,000 clerics had gathered at the tent for the meeting of the Ulema Council, Afghanistan's top religious leaders.

Earlier they issued a fatwa against the ongoing conflict in the country, terming suicide attacks a sin against Islam. They have issued such fatwas in the past.

"The ongoing war in Afghanistan does not have a legal basis, only Afghans are the victims of this war... (it) does not have religious, national or human value," they said, according to government officials.

Roads around the tent were quickly blocked by security officials after the blast, with heavy traffic jams building in the city.

Kabul accounted for 16 percent of all civilian casualties last year, when 1,831 civilians were killed or wounded nationwide, according to the United Nations.

The myriad attacks in the last 12 months included two of the deadliest in the city since the US invasion: a truck bomb on May 31, 2017 that killed more than 150 people, and an ambulance bomb on January 27 this year which killed more than 100.

The UN has warned that 2018 could be even deadlier.

Many fearful residents have restricted their movements as a result, afraid to linger in bazaars or to become trapped in traffic during rush hour, a prime time for attacks.
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Linkedin News Desk (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Mon, June 4, 2018 15:52 1227 a7124a1e87885b91d244660f9e781286 4 Business LTV-loan-to-value-ratio,relaxation,bank-indonesia,property-sector Free

Bank Indonesia (BI) will soon announce a relaxation on the loan-to-value (LTV) ratio in trying to boost sales in properties through a mortgage program.

The relaxation plan is related to the decline of the down payment ratio, mortgage indent regulation relaxation and the credit payment term.

BI Governor Perry Warjiyo said recently the central bank would still consider prudent principles in loan distribution and banking risk management in the issuance of new regulation on the LTV ratio relaxation.

He said the relaxation policy was expected to give wider room for banks to disburse funds through a mortgage program.

PT China Construction Bank Indonesia (CCB Indonesia) director Setiawati Samahita welcomed the policy, saying it would certainly be good for the property business. I think the relaxation will have a good impact [on the property business], she said as reported by kontan.co.id on Sunday.

She said the policy would boost transactions in property businesses, whose domino effect would trigger higher economic growth in the country.

Junianto, another CCB Indonesia director, said they expected LTV to be applied differently in each segment of properties  houses, apartments and ruko (shophouses). He stressed the bank would still maintain the prudent principles in distributing the loan to customers, although BI would relax the LTV ratio. (bbn)
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Linkedin News Desk (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Mon, June 4, 2018 15:14 1227 a7124a1e87885b91d244660f9e77e41a 1 City waste,garbage,sanitation,jakarta,Germany Free

The Jakarta Environment Agency has sealed a deal to purchase 2,600 garbage bins from a German manufacturer. The agency has allocated Rp 9.6 billion (US$691,200) for the procurement.

Agency head Isnawa Adji said the garbage bin, which meets international standards, is more ecofriendly and is expected to help the agency better manage the citys waste problem.

There are only two choices of garbage bin in the National Procurement Agencys [LKPP] e-catalog, from China and from Germany. The one [from Germany] has better quality and is cheaper, he said as quoted by kompas.com, noting that one garbage bin cost Rp 3.6 million.

He went on to explain that the 2018 regional budget (APBD) had allocated Rp 12.5 billion for the agency to procure new garbage bins. He also said the city had purchased 1,000 garbage bins of that kind in 2017.

The agency, through the LKPP, has appointed PT Groen Indonesia as the importer, which according to Isnawa is a company that is involved with waste management. The company reportedly has also imported similar garbage bins for the Surabaya administration.

Weve placed the order and the garbage bins are slated to arrive here in four months, he said.

The new type of garbage bin, Isnawa added, is also part of the agencys attempt to modernize their equipment. The garbage bin is compatible with the compactor trucks. The city reportedly had bought 91 compactor trucks in 2016 and 75 more trucks in 2017.

The compactor trucks are expected to help the agency to transfer waste from the city to the Bantar Gebang landfill in Bekasi more safely and conveniently. (vla)
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Linkedin News Desk (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Mon, June 4, 2018 17:09 1227 a7124a1e87885b91d244660f9e784aab 1 City anies-baswedan,pribumi,speech,Court,Racism Free

The Central Jakarta District Court has rejected a lawsuit against Jakarta Governor Anies Baswedan over his inaugural speech in October in which the term pribumi (indigenous people) was used, which was considered by some people to have revived Colonial-Era racism.

The civil suit was filed by the Anti-Race and Ethnic Discrimination Advocacy Team (Taktis) against Anies in October after mediation with the legal bureau of the Jakarta administration failed. The term, together with non-pribumi is explicitly prohibited from government use and policy in a 1998 presidential instruction.

Presiding judge Tafsir Sembiring rejected the lawsuit during the ninth hearing on Monday. The judges ruled that the plaintiff and the defendant did not have legal relations with each other, so the lawsuit could not be settled in a civil court, kompas.com reported.

Following to the judges ruling, the plaintiff may file an appeal, Taktis member Daniel Tonap Masiku said.

In his inaugural speech in October, Anies said "In the past, we pribumi were the conquered. Now, it's time for us to be the hosts in our own land. We worked hard to get rid of colonialism and we must enjoy our freedom."

His statement sparked widespread criticism, despite Anies saying that the context of the speech referred to the Colonial Era when Jakarta was the center of Dutch colonial rule as the capital of the then Dutch East Indies.

The term pribumi was originally used as part of a three-tiered racial classification during the Dutch Colonial Era, which placed native Indonesians below European and foreign oriental races, such as ethnic Chinese, Arabs and Indians.

Critics had alleged that Anies won the gubernatorial election in April partly as a result of the use of racism against his opponent, then incumbent governor Basuki Ahok Tjahaja Purnama, who is of Chinese descent. (ami)
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Linkedin News Desk (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Mon, June 4, 2018 12:06 1228 a7124a1e87885b91d244660f9e774896 4 Business cryptocurrency,bappebti,commodity Free

The Trade Ministry's Futures Exchange Supervisory Board (Bappebti) has decided cryptocurrencies would be future trading subjects or commodities at the bourse, even though Bank Indonesia (BI) does not recognize such currencies as payment instruments.

The Bappebti head has signed a decree to make cryptocurrency a commodity that could be traded at the bourse, said head of Bappebti market supervision and development bureau Dharma Yoga as reported by kontan.co.id on Sunday.

Dharma said the decision was made after the board was conducting a study on the matter in the last four months with a conclusion that cryptocurrencies deserved to be considered commodities.

The government will soon issue a supporting regulation that will rule on several issues including currency exchange companies, taxation and prevention of money laundering and terrorism financing, said Dharma.

He said the issuance of the regulation would involve a number of institutions like BI, the Financial Services Authority (OJK), the Taxation Directorate General, the Financial Transaction Reports and Analysis Centre (PPATK) and the National Polices Densus 88 counterterrorism squad.

Dharma added that in line with the governments efforts to issue the regulation, Bappebti also called on existing crypto bourses like Indodax and Crypto Community to submit their proposals on the product specification and the trading procedure.

The product specification will, among others, include information about type of cryptocurrencies and tick size of the trading instrument, while the procedure will include the trading hours and dispute settlement mechanism, he said.

We call on the bourses to prepare concrete proposals on the issue, he added. (bbn)
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Linkedin (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Mon, June 4 2018

The maritime affairs and fisheries minister has signed a joint commitment with the International Pole and Line Foundation (IPNLF) at the third Bali Tuna Conference to develop the countrys strategies in the fisheries industry.

In the joint commitment, firms that are members of the IPNLF, a foundation that works to bridge the gap between demand and supply of tuna, vowed to purchase Indonesias tuna products at a premium price.

The firms include United States-based Anova Food, Spain-based Frinsa del Noroeste, South Korea-based Green World Company and Switzerland-based Migros Group, among many other groups.
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Linkedin Ni Komang Erviani (The Jakarta Post) Denpasar, Bali  Mon, June 4, 2018 16:05 1227 a7124a1e87885b91d244660f9e7817a0 1 National bali,jailbreak,denpasar,detainee,police Free

Five detainees escaped police custody in Denpasar early on Monday. The police are currently searching for them on the island of Bali.

The detainees escaped from a detention room at the West Denpasar Police station in Bali while officers were guarding the front of the building and after they conducted a routine cell check on all 15 detainees at the facility.

The detainees escaped by breaking the ceiling of a bathroom in the detention room, West Denpasar Police chief Sr. Comr. Hadi Purnomo said on Monday, noting that the poor quality of the ceiling was the reason why the detainees could break through it using nails.



The detainees were identified as Mohammad Akbar, Mohammad Arfan, M. Jubair, M. Rifai and Wilson Kenedi. Apart from Jubair, who was previously detained for alleged money embezzlement, all of the detainees faced charges of theft and robbery.



The West Denpasar Police coordinated with authorities at ferry harbors in Gilimanuk, Padang Bai and Tanjung Benoa, as well as Ngurah Rai International Airport, to prevent the detainees from leaving the resort island.

Eight police personnel who were on duty early morning on Monday were interrogated. Hadi said they would be punished if they were found guilty of negligence.
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Linkedin News Desk (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Mon, June 4, 2018 14:11 1228 a7124a1e87885b91d244660f9e77aee4 4 City ramadhan,charity Free

The Hati Suci Foundation, founded in 1914 by Chinese-Indonesian Auw Tjoei Lian, held for the 18th time a Ramadhan bazaar to sell thousands of inexpensive food packages to the poor living around the foundation, which is located in Tanah Abang in Central Jakarta.

Foundation chairwoman Fransisca Setiati said there were around 2,000 food packages comprising rice, oil and sugar that would be sold for only Rp 40,000 (US$2.80). In addition to the food, the foundation also sold clothes and other needs for the Idul Fitri festive day at low prices.

We will then use the money for the education of children at the Hati Suci Orphanage, Fransisca said, as quoted by tribunnews.com. She added that the foundation had managed to get more than 30,000 children to school by organizing the annual event for 17 years.

We hope that we can get more than Rp 250 million for the education of more children.

The foundation collaborates with some other foundations, like Sayap Ibu and Heliconia foundations, and a number of companies, like consumer goods firm PT Unilever Indonesia, to organize the event.

Subsidized markets selling primary needs including nine staple ingredients are popular all over Indonesia during Ramadhan, the month where charity is encouraged. (vny/evi)
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Linkedin Carolynn Look and Elisabeth Behrmann (Bloomberg) Frankfurt/Munich  Mon, June 4, 2018 19:34 1227 a7124a1e87885b91d244660f9e78c64a 2 Business #Germany,#economy,#GenderEquality,#GenderIssue,#MeToo,#EconomicGrowth Free

Germany has flourished under Chancellor Angela Merkel over the last 12 years, with record-low unemployment and robust economic growth. But that success hasnt translated into better pay for women in the country, where one of the worst gender pay gaps in Europe looks unlikely to get better soon.

Despite having a woman running the government, a new law aimed at highlighting the issue lacks the teeth to boost womens standing in the corporate sector. The so-called Wage Transparency Act, which took full force in January, puts the onus on individual employees to step forward and request information on wage discrepancies, while companies are given plenty of wiggle room.

The law will practically have no impact on furthering pay equality, said Hans-Georg Kluge, a lawyer who specializes in anti-discrimination cases. Individual women who are willing to take their case to court will draw no benefit from this.

Thats a far cry from other efforts, where the responsibility rests with employers. In the UK, companies are required to publish their gender pay gaps annually, and initial reports earlier this year sparked public furor as well as the resignation of a senior BBC editor in protest. The French government plans laws that would require pay-gap tracking.

Despite Merkels status as one of the worlds most powerful women and German politics peppered with strong female leaders, the role of women in the corporate world is limited. While the #MeToo movement has drawn widespread attention to sexual harassment and assault, the pay gap is in many ways anchored in German culture, with the term Frauenberufe (womens jobs) used to refer to lower paid careers such as social work, hairstyling and nursing.

Even in fields dominated by women, such as medical assistants, men can get paid 40 percent more. The lower pay, along with more part-time work for women, mean they earn about 50 percent less over their working lives than male peers, according to a 2017 study by the German Institute for Economic Research in Berlin.

Such discrepancies, along with shortfalls in childcare and social pressures, contribute to fewer women in the workforce  78 percent of working-age German men were employed in 2016, compared with 70 percent of women, according to the countrys statistics office. Thats a missed opportunity for an economy battling a growth-sapping labor shortage. The Labor Ministry said in a report last year that it sees significant potential' in raising the volume of hours worked by women, but that for that to happen general conditions would have to improve.

Globally, closing the pay gap and promoting equal participation in the workforce could enrich the world economy by some US$160 trillion, according to a World Bank study published last week. Thats about twice the value of global GDP.

Working for women should be something totally normal, and that could also help companies to cope with capacity constraints, said Gertrud Traud, chief economist of Helaba Landesbank Hessen-Thueringen in Frankfurt. We have a labor-friendly market right now. This is also true for women, and they should use it to their advantage.

The wage law isnt Germanys first effort to highlight gender discrimination. A 2016 initiative required large companies to appoint at least 30 percent women to their supervisory boards. While that has had some impact at the top of the corporate ladder, broader inequality remains.

When the law was passed in July 2017, the German government said it was an important step towards more wage equality, because companies need to report on plans to balance working conditions for women and men. In reality though, the final version serves more to tick boxes than to generate underlying change, according to Torsten von Roetteken, a retired judge at Frankfurts administrative court and the author of numerous books on German gender-equality law.

The hurdles are extremely high and require the individual to have a high tolerance and capacity for conflict, Roetteken said. Even then, there is still the danger of open or hidden bullying.

Unsurprisingly, the response has been lukewarm. Just one in eight respondents plan to ask their employers to explain pay differences, according to a survey conducted by consultancy EY. A third of those balking at requests cited concerns about negative repercussions as the reason.

Deutsche Bank AG, with some 30,000 employees eligible, received 134 inquiries during the first quarter, even though Germanys biggest lender has ready-made forms on its employee intranet site. With the first few months of the law being in force, Bayer AG had fewer than 10 employees step forward, and BMW AG received 17 notifications across a German workforce of over 90,000.

Whether the law is effective is not measured by the total number of requests for information, Germany's Family Ministry said in a statement. It is about those people asking questions who have reason to believe that they are disadvantaged or need better evidence for salary negotiations.

The institutional challenges were evident in a rare pay-gap dispute last year before the new law took effect. A reporter with German broadcaster ZDF lost a discrimination suit against her employer after a Berlin court ruled that employment conditions of a better-paid male colleague werent comparable. Without legal backing, German women at best can hope for the goodwill of employers or support from works councils, which represent staff interests inside German companies

Transparency is becoming a differentiating factor, said Gernot Sendowski, Deutsche Banks director for diversity and inclusion. People who join companies inquire a lot more about the reality behind the slogans.
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Linkedin Ivany Atina Arbi (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Mon, June 4, 2018 12:12 1228 a7124a1e87885b91d244660f9e775df7 1 National Soeharto,viral,netizens,Twitter,New-Order Free

It could be love, or it could be nostalgia.



Social media went abuzz last week when an image of an old man that looks like Soeharto, the countrys longest-serving president, appeared on Twitter.



The photo captured the man who was sitting on a priority seat in a commuter train from a distance. It first appeared on the Twitter handle of senior Kompas photographer Arbain Rambey, @arbainrambey, on May 30  a post that, as of today, has been retweeted more than 900 times users and garnered over 500 likes.

Temenku ketemu bapak ini di kereta..... pic.twitter.com/C70LAHVlUt  Arbain Rambey (@arbainrambey) May 30, 2018

Just like other memes that have circulated about Soeharto on social media, they were welcomed with jeers and cheers for the leader, who has often been called a dictator for his strong military grip and links to human rights abuses to keep his long tenure, also known as the New Order era.



Some said they missed Soeharto for advancing the country. Propelled by government officials during the New Order era, he was once dubbed Bapak Pembangunan (Father of Development).



A Twitter user who commented on the latest post on Soeharto, Paulus M. Pangau, said Soeharto was unlike todays leaders who could only impoverish their people. Soeharto was a father of development who contributed a lot to the country.



Another user, @Dani_er, said Soeharto deserved to be remembered for his leadership. Only during his tenure could the people feel safe, staple food prices be stable and the development run smoothly.



Talks continued to speculate on the identity of the man on the picture. Some guessed he was Koeswali Somadihardja, 69, who was already known as Soehartos look-alike.

Koeswali said he had been told by his niece that he was suddenly famous on the internet at a time when the country was commemorating two decades after the former presidents fall and the political and economic crises that surrounded the event.



But the Pamulang resident said it was not him. The last time I was on a train was in 2011, Koeswali said.



Asvi Warman Adam, a historian with the Indonesian Institute of Sciences (LIPI), said it was normal for the public to still be fascinated by the late president for he did appear, in many history books, as a figure who could deliver justice, security and welfare.



But these people might be unaware that it cost a lot to let the dictator lead the country for decades. Many human rights violations occurred back then, Asvi said on Sunday.



Soeharto was allegedly involved in several human rights abuses, such as the Tanjung Priok massacre in early 1984 and the 1989 Talangsari incident in Lampung.



He was also linked to a series of mysterious shootings between 1982 and 1985, known as Petrus, in which 2,000 people were reportedly killed across the country, with the Indonesian Military (TNI) and the National Police deemed responsible for the killings, according to reports by the National Commission on Human Rights (Komnas HAM) in 2012.



Due to the controversy surrounding his legacy, the government has rejected naming Soeharto a national hero.



Nicky Aulia, 25, said she did not miss the former president one bit. I am lucky that I could learn history from sources other than textbooks taught in school when I was a little kid, Nicky said.



The media company employee said she had learned a lot of alternative narratives about Soeharto when she was studying communication sciences at Padjadjaran University.



Narendra, a University of Indonesia (UI) student, also shared Nickys experience of learning the other side of historical events after starting university.



The 21-year-old admitted that he learned about the real Soeharto after he entered university, where he was introduced to books and movies about various human rights violations in the country allegedly initiated by the dictator.



Before that, the only thing I knew wass that Soeharto was the father of development. (ami)
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Linkedin (Agence France-Presse) Amman, Jordan  Mon, June 4, 2018 19:18 1227 a7124a1e87885b91d244660f9e78b75a 2 World Jordan,Prime-Minister,resignation,IMF Free

Jordanian Prime Minister Hani Mulki resigned on Monday after he was summoned by King Abdullah II over growing protests against his government's austerity measures, a government source said.

"Prime Minister Hani Mulki submitted his resignation to the king this afternoon during a meeting at the Husseiniyeh Palace and the king accepted the resignation," the source told AFP.

The king asked Education Minister Omar al-Razzaz to form a new government, the source added.

Demonstrations have rocked the capital Amman and several other cities since Wednesday after the government adopted a draft income tax law and announced new price hikes based on recommendations by the International Monetary Fund.

Protesters had called on Mulki to step down, vowing not to "kneel" and earning support from trade unions as well as a majority of MPs opposed to the new taxation.

The premier's meeting with the king came hours after around 5,000 people rallied outside Mulki's office in Amman, on the fifth consecutive day of protests in Amman and other cities.

Jordan, a mostly desert kingdom with few resources, has seen prices of several basic goods and services like bread, fuel and electricity steadily rise over the past year.

Last month the government adopted a draft income tax law, yet to be approved by parliament, aimed at increasing taxes on employees by at least five percent and on companies by between 20 and 40 percent.

And last week it announced a new price hike for electricity and fuel, before revoking it under orders from the king following protests.

They were the latest measures in a series of economic reforms since Amman secured a $723-million three-year credit line from the IMF in 2016.

The loan, intended to support economic and financial reforms, has the long-term objective of reducing Jordan's public debt from about 94 percent of GDP to 77 percent by 2021.

Mulki had formed his government just over two years ago in May 2016.
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Linkedin (Reuters) Cairo, Egypt  Mon, June 4, 2018 17:26 1227 a7124a1e87885b91d244660f9e785bb1 2 World tourism,Lebanese,Egypt,sexual-harrasment Free

A Lebanese tourist who posted a video on Facebook complaining of sexual harassment and conditions in Egypt has been referred to criminal trial and ordered to be detained for 15 days, Egypt's public prosecutor said on Sunday.

Mona el-Mazboh has been held since Thursday when she was arrested at Cairo airport at the end of her stay in Egypt after her outspoken video went viral on social media.

In the video, Mazboh complains of being sexually harassed by taxi drivers and young men in the street, as well as poor restaurant service during the holy month of Ramadhan and an incident in which money was stolen from her during a previous stay.

Reuters could not reach Mazboh for comment or immediately verify the authenticity of the 10-minute video, in which she calls Egypt a "son of a bitch country".

Read also: Yogyakarta governor asks people forgive Florence

She could face three to five years in prison if found guilty, according to one of the lawyers who filed a complaint against her.

Referring to President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi, who was sworn in for a second term as president on Saturday, she says: "You deserve what Sisi is doing to you, I hope God sends you someone more oppressive than Sisi."

Egyptian rights activists say they face the worst crackdown in their history under Sisi, accusing him of erasing freedoms won in the 2011 Arab Spring uprising that ended Hosni Mubarak's 30-year rule.

Mazboh later posted a second video apologising to "respectable Egyptians" for her remarks.

In a statement, the public prosecutor said Mazboh was charged with "deliberately spreading false rumours that are harmful to society and infringe upon religions."

In a similar incident last month, Egyptian police detained activist Amal Fathy after she posted a video on social media criticising the government for failing to protect women against sexual harassment and over worsening living conditions.
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Linkedin News Desk (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Mon, June 4, 2018 09:55 1228 a7124a1e87885b91d244660f9e770a73 4 National Budi-Karya-Sumadi,Garuda-Indonesia,Pilots-go-on-strike,delay,communication Free

Transportation Minister Budi Karya Sumadi has urged the management of Garuda Indonesia and its pilots to continue talks regarding the pilots' strike that was initially planned to be held during the Idul Fitri peak holiday season.

Budi said he had heard from the national flag carrier that the pilots would postpone their planned strike.

I received a report from the Garuda Indonesia president director [Pahala Mansury] that the pilots have postponed their plan to strike. I hope the communication will continue, the minister said on Sunday at Soekarno-Hatta International Airport in Tangerang, Banten as quoted by kompas.com.

Budi said he would meet on Monday with the pilots' representatives along with Pahala in hopes that the pilots would cancel their planned strike. If both sides [engage in] introspection, there will be a way out and such strike would not take place, he added.

The Garuda Indonesia Pilots Association (APG) and the Garuda Labor Union (Sekarga) had announced earlier that they would work as usual during the Idul Fitri holiday and postpone their strike.

Sekarga head Ahmad Irfan Nasution said that the labor union's representatives would inform the public about the exact time of the strike seven days before the event.

The APG and Sekarga threatened to strike unless the government stepped in to help resolve "managerial problems" at the flag carrier that they alleged were causing the continued decline in the company's performance. (bbn)
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Linkedin Rizal Harahap, Vela Andapita and Kharishar Kahfi (The Jakarta Post) Pekanbaru/Jakarta  Mon, June 4, 2018 15:03 1227 a7124a1e87885b91d244660f9e77de51 2 National terrorism,Islamic-State,IS,ISIS,Densus-88 Free

The National Polices Densus 88 counterterrorism unit's recent raid and arrest of three people at a state university has opened a new chapter in the countrys fight against terror.

While radicalism has reportedly been growing in higher education institutions in the last few years, the alleged terrorism on campus is new. The police were said over the weekend to have found explosive materials hidden at the Gelanggang Mahasiswa student facility of the social and political sciences department (FISIP) at Riau University in Pekanbaru.

Whats next for Indonesia's counterterrorism measures? Should it send intelligence officers to universities, known as a place of academic freedom in democratic Indonesia?

Here is what we know so far on the Riau University case:

The suspect

A police statement made available on Sunday named the suspect as Muhammad Nur Zamzam or Zamzam, also known as Zega.

The statement said the police had been targeted Zamzam for some time and when they arrested him on campus on June 2, Zamzam was with two other people, Rio Bima Wijaya and Orandi Saputra, alias Kalek, who were also detained for questioning.

As of noon on Monday, the police were yet to declare either Rio or Orandi as suspects.

Zamzam was formerly enrolled in Riau Universitys Tourism department in 2003 (not 2005 as previously reported), and had already graduated. He was a member of the universitys extracurricular organization Mapala, the mountaineering club. Most universities in Indonesia have such a club with life membership, so many alumni can still access campus facilities.

According to the police statement, Zamzam was connected with Jamah Ansharut Daulah (JAD), a local pro-Islamic State (IS) group led by Aman Abdurrahman, who is standing trial for allegedly masterminding the Jl. Thamrin bombing in Central Jakarta in January 2016. The police also said Zamzam knew the people behind the recent May 16attack on the Riau Police station.

Zamzams university friend, Syahrul Mubarak, who referred to Zamzam as Zega, said he knew Zamzam from enrolling at the university in the same year and because both were members of the mountaineering club. Syahrul said Zamzam had not been a devout Muslim until a year ago, and described him as preman mau insaf, loosely translated as a repentant delinquent.

Syahrul said Zamzam began to change when he read about Palestines fight for their own country and about the IS on the internet.

All of a sudden, he started bragging that he wanted to do jihad, talking about bombs and going to Syria. We, the friends who usually hung out with him, of course laughed at him, Syahrul told The Jakarta Post on Monday. Dont get us wrong, he is not a devout figure. He does not even pray five times a day. If there were people drinking together, he joined [them], he said.

Syahrul added that Zamzam worked as a contractor and sometimes got projects on campus, which was why he often stayed at a homestay belonging to the mountaineering club, even though his parents lived in Pekanbaru.

Syahrul said Zamzam often told him tall tales about suicide bombings and terrorist networks, but that he did not believe the stories. However, since the arrest, Syahrul said all of Zamzams tales were probably true.

The evidence

Along with Zamzams arrest, Densus 88 personnel confiscated several weapons and explosive materials consisting of six kinds of gunpowder, an air rifle, two bows with eight arrows and several hand grenades. The police also found an IS video and a book titled Perjalanan Rahasia (The Secret Journey).

A Riau Police Mobile Brigade (Brimob) officer arrange evidence during a press conference following a raid at Riau University in Pekanbaru on Saturday night. The police said they found explosive material on campus. (Antara/Rony Muharrman )

The book contains tutorials on making bombs, weapons and land mines. It also contains techniques on survival, security and alert, the police statement read.

During the raid, Riau Police chief Insp. Gen. Nandang said that four high-explosive bombs had been defused, and that the bombs were reportedly similar in explosive power to the ones used last month in the terror attacks in Surabaya, East Java.

The bombs were allegedly constructed by Zamzam. He allegedly also used social media to teach others [to make bombs] and to campaign for suicide bombings, said Nandang.

The police said Zamzam and the two other arrested alumni had been staying at the Gelanggang Mahasiswa FISIP building for a month.

We had been watching them for around two weeks. They allegedly planned to blow up the Riau Legislative Council [in Pekanbaru] and the House of Representatives building in Jakarta, Nandang said.

Syahrul said the police discovered the evidence in an empty room on the second floor of the Gelanggang Mahasiswa FISIP. There are many rooms in that building. We dont know when and how he built the bomb, he said. He also had no idea how Zamzam could store such materials without anyone else noticing. Every day, many people flock the building because several organizations are headquartered there. But it could get a bit deserted at night, although there would usually be some students spending the night in other rooms there, he said.

The raid

National Police spokesman Brig. Gen. Mohammad Iqbal stressed that the raid had been carried out according to the polices standard operating procedure.

There were explosive materials at the scene within the campus. We deemed them to be dangerous, hence the measure [to remove them] was taken when there was no academic activity on the campus, he said as quoted over the weekend by tribunnews.com.

Iqbal went on to deny that the raid was part of the polices attempt to repress university activities, noting that, Wed do the same thing if the crime occurred in, for example, a house of worship.

Riau University rector Aras Mulyadi condemned the alumnis on-campus activities.

They werent even allowed to be living there [at the Gelanggang Mahasiswa FISIP]. Theyre not students, university staff or lecturers, said Aras.

Aras said he would immediately summon university management and the leaders of student organizations and ask them to work together to prevent such incidents from happening again.

This should be the first and the last attempt at plotting terror that occurs on our campus. Well declare our condemnation of terrorism on Monday, he added.

Campus radicals not the same as terror cells

University of Indonesia terrorism expert Ridwan Habib said on Sunday that students and other members of academia exposed to extremist teachings were not necessarily part of a radical group or would potentially become involved in terror acts.

However, he said Saturdays arrests in Pekanbaru showed that members of terror groups were approaching and recruiting students or academics at educational institutions.

These [extremist] groups often use a personal approach in recruiting those with prior links to other Islamic groups that have values similar to those they offer, said Ridwan.

Zamzams friend Syahrul said, however, that as far as he knew, Zamzam had not been recruited on campus, but through social media. He believed the other two, Orandi and Rio, were unlikely to be involved in terrorism and radical activities. (evi)
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Linkedin (Agence France-Presse) Jerusalem  Mon, June 4, 2018 17:34 1227 a7124a1e87885b91d244660f9e7860aa 2 World Israel,Gaza,Jerusalem,occupation Free

A Palestinian armed with an axe was shot dead trying to breach the Gaza-Israel border on Monday, the Israeli army said.

An army statement said troops thwarted an "infiltration attempt" by "two terrorists who damaged the security fence and were armed with an axe."

Soldiers "fired towards the terrorists, killing one of them," it added, without clarifying what happened to the second suspect.

There was no immediate confirmation from the health ministry in Gaza.

The death brings to 125 the number of Palestinians killed by Israeli fire in Gaza since March 30.

The vast majority have been killed during weeks of protests along the border.

Protests peaked on May 14 when at least 61 people were killed as tens of thousands approached the heavily fortified border in a demonstration coinciding with the controversial opening of the US embassy in Jerusalem.

On Friday a 21-year-old female medic was shot dead in southern Gaza.

No Israelis have been killed.

The Jewish state accuses Gaza's Islamist rulers Hamas of using the protests as an excuse to carry out attacks.
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Linkedin News Desk (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Mon, June 4, 2018 13:24 1228 a7124a1e87885b91d244660f9e778e01 4 City jakarta,traffic,Tanah-Abang,Tanah-Abang-Market,street-vendors,jatibaru-closure,anies-baswedan,Jakarta-police Free

The police will give the Jakarta administration a warning if it fails to implement the polices recommendation to review the closure of Jl. Jatibaru in Tanah Abang, Central Jakarta, after the Idul Fitri holiday, according to Jakarta Police Traffic director Sr. Comr. Yusuf.

Yusuf said he was still not sure whether the warning would be by an official letter or in other forms. We will see that according to the situation later on, this is not the time yet, Yusuf said on Saturday as reported by tempo.co.

Jakarta Governor Anies Baswedan closed Jl. Jatibaru for motorists from morning until the afternoon on Dec. 22. Since then, dozens of street vendors (PKL) have set up their wares on the street. The administration closed the street for all motor vehicles except for the Transjakarta Tanah Abang Explorer.

In January, Jakarta police recommended that the administration review its closure of Jl. Jatibaru, citing traffic congestion along several streets near Jl. Jatibaru. On March 26, Ombudsman found maladministration in the policy of the Jl. Jatibaru closure and urged the administration to reopen the street within 60 days of the issuance of the finding.

Recently, Ombudsman extended the deadline of its recommendation to reopen Jl. Jatibaru to after the Idul Fitri holiday because the administration said it would be able to return Jl. Jatibaru to its original purpose after it had built a Tanah Abang pedestrian skybridge. (ami/evi)
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Linkedin Choi He-suk (The Korea Herald/Asia News Network) Seoul, South Korea  Mon, June 4, 2018 17:05 1227 a7124a1e87885b91d244660f9e783e76 2 World #KoreanPeninsula,#SouthKorea,#NorthKorea,#NorthKoreaNuclear,#NuclearDisarmament,#denuclearization Free

With the US-North Korea summit set for June 12, questions over who will shoulder the cost of denuclearization are rising.

Publicly, the cost of dismantling North Koreas nuclear weapons program, and who will cover it, has yet to be discussed by the concerned countries.

According to one estimate, the cost of dismantling North Koreas nuclear weapons program could be at least five times higher than that of Ukraine.

In the 1990s, the US offered Ukraine US$175 million to help cover the cost of dismantling its nuclear arsenal. At the time, Ukraine reportedly had over 1,800 nuclear warheads produced before the fall of the Soviet Union. The overall cost, borne by the international community, is estimated to be about $460 million.

A recent study by Kwon Hyuk-chul of Kookmin University suggests that the overall costs, those arising from dismantling of weapons to indirect costs such as economic aid, would come to about $20 billion.

Of the total, Kwon estimates that the direct costs -- dismantling existing nuclear weapons and disabling research facilities -- would come to about $5 billion, spread out over a number of years.

Despite US President Donald Trumps comments that North Korea appears open to denuclearizing quickly, experts say that the process will likely take years.

Speaking to reporters after his meeting with North Koreas Kim Yong-chol, Trump said that he believes that North Korea is open to denuclearising quickly.

Well, I think they want to do that. I know they want to do that, he said when asked if he thinks North Korea will denuclearize all at once.

A recent study from Stanford Universitys Center for International Security and Cooperation, however, suggests that a complete denuclearization would require 10 years or more to achieve.

The study suggests a comprehensive roadmap that covers all phases of denuclearisation from stopping tests to redirecting North Korean personnel involved in the nuclear weapons program.

According to reports, South Korean intelligence community estimates that North Koreas nuclear weapons workforce stands at about 3,000 individuals including 200 experts of the field.

The cost of denuclearization, however, will not end with dismantling North Koreas nuclear weapons program.

The Moon Jae-in administration, which played the role of a matchmaker between Pyongyang and Washington, hopes to go beyond denuclearization and establish permanent peace on the Korean Peninsula.

While the US has hinted at economic aid and allowing private sector investment in the North, Trump recently noted that much of the burden will have to be shouldered by Seoul.

No, I dont think the United States is going to have to spend. I think South Korea will do it. I think China  I think, frankly, China will help out, Trump said in response to the question whether he will offer economic aid at his meeting with North Korean leader Kim Jong-un.

He went on to say that Japan will also shoulder some of the economic aid, stressing that the US will not be spending a lot of money.

According to a report by London-based investment firm Eurizon SLJ Capital, achieving denuclearization and lasting peace on the peninsula could require as much as $2 trillion over the course of 10 years. The model assumes reunification of the Koreas, and uses the model of German unification.

Topics :

This article appeared on The Korea Herald newspaper website, which is a member of Asia News Network and a media partner of The Jakarta Post
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Linkedin News Desk (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Mon, June 4, 2018 19:33 1227 a7124a1e87885b91d244660f9e78b926 1 City parking,illegal-levies,Central-Jakarta,Thamrin-City Free

The parking lot around Thamrin City mall in Central Jakarta has become a source of lucrative illegal business for some people who have been charging illegal levies to drivers.

Each suspected extorter reportedly collected up to Rp 100,000 (US$7.2) in two hours from the illegal levies paid by truck, cargo and private vehicle drivers who passed or parked on Jl. Kebon Kacang in the vicinity of the mall, according to the Tanah Abang Police.

Recently, the police arrested up to eight people who had allegedly operated the illegal business for about one year.

There are a lot of people involved, so they share the money they get from charging people. For two hours, three to four people work to charge the drivers. Each person in the group may get Rp 100,000, Tanah Abang Police chief Adj. Sr. Comr. Lukman Cahyono said on Monday as reported by kompas.com.

They charge a levy of Rp 10,000 per vehicle, and a Rp 30,000 parking fee per vehicle, he said.

Lukman said there might be more suspects in the case because the police were still questioning the arrested suspects to find out the mastermind of the operation.

There might be more suspects and we are still investigating the case. We are trying to find out where and to whom the money goes, he said.

Previously, on Friday and Saturday the police arrested NT, ES and AR for charging illegal levies to drivers on Jl. Kebong Kacang.

On Sunday, the police arrested five more suspects.

The suspects have been charged under Article 368 of the Criminal Code on extortion. (ami)
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Linkedin Novan Iman Santosa (The Jakarta Post) Singapore  Tue, June 5 2018

Three European countries and Canada are offering various kinds of assistance in the defense sector, especially in the fight against terrorism, as well as defense industry cooperation opportunities.

France is offering Indonesia defense industry cooperation and technology transfers for major weapon systems and to improve Indonesias capabilities in peacekeeping operations, in addition to assistance in the fight against terrorism.

The offer was made by French Armed Forces Minister Florence Parly during a bilateral meeting with her Indonesian counterpart Ryamizard Ryacudu on the sidelines of the 17th Asia Security Summit: Shangri-La Dialogue in Singapore on Saturday.
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Linkedin (Inquirer.net/Asia News Network) Seoul/Manila  Tue, June 5, 2018 04:02 1227 a7124a1e87885b91d244660f9e792b37 2 SE Asia duterte,ethics,migrant-workers,women-empowerment,Korea,South-Korea Free

President Duterte ended his two-hour long speech before the Filipino community on Sunday night with a quick kiss from a Filipina whom he gifted with a book he often quoted in criticizing the Catholic Church.

The President had offered the book Altars of Secrets: Sex, Politics and Money in the Philippine Catholic Church written by the late journalist Aries Rufo to the audience.

He first asked whether there was a priest around, drawing out laughter from the crowd, who apparently knew the Presidents tiff with Catholic bishops who had criticized his war on drugs.

Amid cheers from the crowd, the President called on two women who then rushed to the stage. One kissed him on the cheek while the other jumped up and down while talking to him.

President Duterte then playfully signalled to one of the women to give him a kiss on the lips. She gave him a smack.

Before this, the President joked that the audience might end up leaving the Grand Hilton hotel and convention center as members of his lglesia ni Rodrigo.

He joked that under his church, members would make themselves happy because you only live once.

'Once in a lifetime experience'

The woman kissed on stage by President Rodrigo Duterte during a gathering of Filipinos in Seoul, South Korea finds no malice in the act and even said, Happy ako kasi once in a lifetime experience yon. Bea Kim, a mother of two and wife of a Korean national, said in a video interview with the government-run Philippine News Agency, Walang malisya doon. In the video, Kim narrated that she was nervous, excited, and scared before the kiss, especially as her husband was sitting in front of the stage. Duterte was in Seoul for a three-day official visit on the invitation of South Korean President Moon Jae-in, whom he would meet on Monday. Unethical? Meanwhile, some lawmakers branded the Presidents action as unethical. Gabriela Rep. Arlene Brosas said it was really a shock but more than that is the message conveyed to women. Grabe, as if he could do anything to women. Being the President he should be mindful of his position. The congresswoman also urged the government to refrain from gimmickry and address issues concerning women. Over all, I think, huwag ilihis ang problema ng mga kababaihan sa mga ganitong gimmick. Sagutin ang krisis na kinakaharap ng mga kababaihan at ang dapat na ipromote at gawin ng pamahalaan ay respect and equality for our women at yon ang harapang niyurakan ng Pangulo, Brosas said. Meanwhile, Akbayan Senator Risa Hontiveros urged the public not to pass judgment on the overseas Filipina worker whom the President kissed. I also call on the public to exercise vigilance and discernment. Hontiveros noted that even if the kissing incident was consensual, it was not a meeting of two consenting individuals on equal terms. Uneven power relations were clearly at play.

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This article appeared on the Philippine Daily Inquirer newspaper website, which is a member of Asia News Network and a media partner of The Jakarta Post
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Linkedin (The Star/Asia News Network) Petaling Jaya, Malaysia  Mon, June 4, 2018 09:14 1228 a7124a1e87885b91d244660f9e76ca03 2 SE Asia Malaysia,1MDB,scandal,Najib-Razak,Mahathir-Mohamad,Malaysia-election Free

Former Malaysia Prime Minister Najib Razak, who has been caught in the middle of the 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB) scandal, has armed himself with a team of top American lawyers.

Ashcroft Law Firm, headed by former US Attorney General John Ashcroft, has listed Najib as a client on the United States Foreign Agents Registration Act (FARA) register.

The FARA requires agents representing the interests of foreign powers to disclose their relationship with the foreign government and information about related activities and finances.

In a search by The Star, Najib's name appeared on the FARA register as a "foreign principal", with Ashcroft Law Firm named as the "registrant" in two exhibits dated March 28 and 29 this year.

Also in the document, it disclosed that the services provided by Ashcroft Law Firm was being financed by a "foreign government, foreign political party, or other foreign principal".

It is unclear whether Najib will retain the services of Ashcroft on the issue over the United States Department of Justice's (DoJ) probe into 1MDB.

Wall Street Journal reported last year (2017) that Najib had hired the law firm to advise him on the 1MDB case back in 2016.

The Ashcroft Law Firm also represents the government of Qatar to rebut accusations from US President Donald Trump and its Arab neighbours that it supports terrorism.

The Malaysian Insight reported on Saturday (June 2) that Najib has also hired top American lawyer David Boies.

Boies previously represented the US government in its anti-trust case against Microsoft. He is also defending movie producer Harvey Weinstein against sexual abuse allegations.

Sources told The Malaysian Insight that Najib also allegedly hired prosecutor Matthew Schwartz.

Schwartz was named Prosecutor of the Year by the Federal Law Enforcement Foundation, and now has a private practice. He has handled several high-profile cases including the investigation of financier Bernie Madoff, who was jailed in 2009 for defrauding investors.

The Malaysian Insight said all of Najib's lawyers are expected to meet him in Kuala Lumpur very soon.

The DoJ launched a criminal probe and filed civil lawsuits seeking to recover about US$1.7 billion (S$2.2 billion) in assets said to have been bought with stolen 1MDB funds.

This followed complaints alleging that more than US$4.5 billion was diverted from 1MDB and laundered through a web of shell companies and bank accounts located in the US and elsewhere.

The "Malaysian Official 1" (MO1) named in the DoJ civil suit, referring to Najib, alleged that he had received at least US$681 million of 1MDB money, though he returned most of it.

Since he was ousted as prime minister after Barisan Nasional lost in the 14th general election, investigations into Najib's involvement in the 1MDB scandal has begun in Malaysia.

The Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) has reopened its investigation into former 1MDB subsidiary SRC International, with the anti-graft agency wrapping up their questioning of Najib on May 24.

The MACC is also slated to question Najib's wife Rosmah Mansor on Tuesday.

The DoJ also announced that it would be cooperating with Malaysia in scrutinising all of the 1MDB transactions.

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This article appeared on The Star newspaper website, which is a member of Asia News Network and a media partner of The Jakarta Post
Prime Minister Narendra Modi has announced at an Indian diaspora meeting on Wednesday that India will offer a 30-day free visa facility for Indonesian tourists

During the meeting at the Jakarta Convention Center, Modi also invited the Indian diaspora to come home and see the New India.

It is not only a new name for our country, it also contains a different concept within India and Indonesias new friendship. I invite you to come to India and be a witness to our cultures, he said as quoted by kompas.com.

Said to be a gift for Indians, New India will be presented on the 75th anniversary of Indian independence in 2022.

Read also: Jokowi, Modi meeting expected to attract more Indian tourists to Indonesia

We have made it easier to do business in India. Our government is focusing on improving the ease of living for the public with a transparent and sensitive process, Modi added.

With more than 9,000 start-ups registered in India in the last two years, Modi claimed that the country was the second biggest startup ecosystem in the world.

The law, the apparatus and the office are the same. What changed was the government, and afterward, the country also started changing, said Modi, who arrived in Jakarta on Tuesday on his first state visit to Indonesia. (wng)
Following news that Israel has barred Indonesian passport holders from entering the country, it has become interesting to review the tourism situation in the Middle Eastern country.

As reported by kompas.com, Israel received its highest ever number of tourist visits in 2017, welcoming up to 3.6 million people who visited its sandy beaches and sacred places. Around 41 percent of the aforementioned number were those who had visited the country before.

Interestingly, according to the country's Tourism Ministry data, Indonesian tourists are said to be the biggest spenders on average during their stay in Israel, spending around US$310 a day, excluding airfare.

Meanwhile, tourists on average reportedly spend around $1,600 throughout their stay in Israel.

Read also: Pilgrims in limbo as Israel shuts borders to Indonesia

Last year, around 36,300 Indonesians visited the country, an increase of 24 percent compared to previous year.

According to Melisa Agustina from Mala Tours, which offers trips from Indonesia to Israel and Palestine, tourists usually spent between five and seven days in the country.

Tourism Minister Yariv Levin said the top five contributors of citizens visiting Israel were the United States, Russia, France, Germany and the United Kingdom. Up to 54 percent of its tourists were Catholics and 25 percent came for pilgrimage purposes to the country's sacred sites.

"Only around one-fifth of the tourists were Jewish people; the rest observed other religions," said Levin as quoted by The Jerusalem Post.

The cities of Jerusalem, Tel Aviv and Tiberias as well as the Dead Sea and Sea of Galilee are among the most popular sites that tourists flocked to. (kes)
Singapore Airlines low-cost, long-haul subsidiary Scoot launched its inaugural flight from Pekanbaru in Riau to Singapore on Monday.

Airbus A320 aircraft with a capacity of 180 passengers will ply the route four times a week.

Currently, Scoot serves five destinations in Indonesia, namely Jakarta, Surabaya, Denpasar, Palembang and Pekanbaru.

A water cannon marked the arrival of the first Scoot airplane at Sultan Syarif Kasim II Pekanbaru Airport.

Read also: Scoot to start Pekanbaru-Singapore route in June

PT Angkasa Pura ll operations and services manager Imran Chandra said, We are honored that Scoot has chosen Pekanbaru as its newest destination in Indonesia. We are certain this will improve business and tourism in Pekanbaru and Singapore.

Imran expressed hope Scoot would up the frequency to daily flights as the airport expands. We also hope that Scoot will open new routes, such as Pekanbaru  Bangkok, he said.

Ng Chee Keong, Scoots chief operating officer, said passengers from Pekanbaru were offered discounts for popular destinations through Singapore during the Take Off Tuesday promotion from June 5 to 7.

The airline offers onboard facilities, such as inflight Wi-Fi and ScootBiz premium seats, and frequent Singapore Airlines fliers can accumulate and exchange points when flying with Scoot. (wng)
Singapore Airlines (SIA) intends to launch non-stop services to Los Angeles "quite soon", said its chief executive officer Goh Choon Phong on Monday.

The airline earlier said that it plans to start flying non-stop to Newark - near New York -in October.

Travelers can also expect more non-stop flights to other United States destinations, Mr Goh said.

"We are looking at where else (in the US) to fly to," Mr Goh told reporters on the sidelines of the International Air Transport Association (IATA) annual general meeting in Sydney, Australia.

SIA will operate the non-stop flights to Newark Liberty International Airport and LA with its new Airbus A350-900ULR ultra-long-range aircraft.

With seven of the planes coming by the end of March 2019, the airline will have to look for more points in the US to fly to, Mr Goh said.

"Seven aircraft is probably more than what is needed for New York and LA," he added.

In October 2016, the airline started flying non-stop between Singapore and San Francisco - a service that can be operated with the A350-900 aircraft and does not require the ultra-long-range variant.

Asked if the airline will continue to fly to LA via Tokyo and Seoul when non-stop flights to the US city begins, Mr Goh said: "The structure of our US network will obviously have to be relooked and what the implications are, will be announced."

Read also: The longest flights in the world

The flight to Newark will offer 67 business class and 94 premium economy seats and cover a distance of more than 15,000km, with a flight time of just under 19 hours.

For a start, the Singapore-Newark flight will operate three times a week from Changi Airport on Mondays, Thursdays and Saturdays. Daily operations will start from Oct 18 when an additional aircraft comes into service.

The flight will see SIA reclaim the title of running the world's longest non-stop flight - an honour it held with its Singapore-Newark flight from 2004 to 2013.

The aircraft is built to fly up to 11,160 miles (about 18,000km), an increase of more than 1,800 miles over the standard A-350.

For SIA, the launch of the Singapore-New York service will mark a significant milestone in the resumption of its non-stop flights to the US, which the airline axed in 2013 after about a decade of operations.

The flights to Newark and Los Angeles were started in 2004, but the 2008 global financial crisis, coupled with rising fuel prices, made the routes unsustainable.

At the time, SIA operated the routes with the four-engine Airbus A340-500.

Currently, Qatar Airways - which operates an 18-hour flight from Auckland, New Zealand, to its home in Doha - operates the world's longest non-stop flight.

Read also: Airbus sees demand beyond Qantas for ultra-long range plane

Coming in at a close second is United Airlines' Los Angeles to Singapore flight at just under 18 hours.

Third is Australia's Qantas, which recently launched a Perth-London service that gets passengers to Britain in 17 hours.

While there is clearly a demand for ultra-long-haul flights, especially from business travellers, airlines will continue to also offer one-stop flights, industry experts said.

Mr Richard Johnson, travel management firm CWT Solutions Group's director for Asia-Pacific, told The Straits Times: "The new generation of aircraft servicing ultra-long-haul routes is designed to have a more pleasant cabin experience that reduces traveller fatigue, which can improve productivity and well-being.

"When combined with the option to travel and work for a longer period uninterrupted by having to change aircraft, it makes a strong case for ultra-long-haul flights to be a direct contributor to a more effective workforce."

Still, there will always be those who prefer to have their journeys broken up by a stopover in between, he said.
Property owner Steve Croman was sprung from jail on Friday, after serving eight months of a one-year sentence for mortgage and tax fraud. Croman owns a large portfolio of buildings throughout New York City, including many properties on the Lower East Side.

While his official release date was Sunday, Croman actually walked out of the Manhattan Correctional Facility in Lower Manhattan a couple of days early.

Croman pleaded guilty last summer, as part of a deal with the state attorney generals office. In a separate civil case, he agreed to pay tenants $8 million and accept a court-ordered monitor for his real estate empire.

In an email, Cromans high-powered attorney, Ben Brafman, told The Real Deal, Anyone who gets a one-year sentence gets released after 2/3 of the sentence is served Its the law for city jail sentences. Brafman said his client plans to, relax and spend time with family. Page Six reported that Cromans wife is planning big welcome home party for him in Greece.

While news broke over the weekend regarding Cromans release, two local elected officials were holding a news conference outside the headquarters of another controversial landlord, first son-in-law Jared Kushner. State Sen. Brad Hoylman and State Assembly member Harvey Epstein announced legislation to crack down on predatory equity. According to a press release:

The legislation directs the New York State Department of Finanical Services (DFS) to collect data on financial institutions that lend to property owners with the intent to displace current tenants. Specifically, the bill requires DFS to investigate the role financial institutions play in encouraging anti-tenant practices by notorious landlords like Jared Kushner, Steven Croman and Raphael Toledano. Similar to the subprime mortgage crisis of 2008, lax underwriting standards and a general lack of transparency have allowed speculators and real estate agents to secure outsized mortgages with very little discretion and oversight. Owners use these loans to make purchases based on unrealistic projections of rising rents, and in turn have difficulty paying the mortgages. Building owners  anxious to recoup on their hefty investments  often resort to abusive and exploitative tactics to drive rent-regulated tenants out. These abusive practices, known as predatory equity, are best-exemplified by figures like Steven Croman and Jared Kushner.

Happy to be joining @bradhoylman and @HarveyforNY as they introduce state legislation to tackle predatory equity! pic.twitter.com/HDHB6oCwoR  ANHD (@ANHDNYC) June 3, 2018

On Friday, the Stabilizing NYC coalition released its annual list of 10 predatory landlords. Steve Cromaan was among those property owners singled out. Local advocates and tenant leaders gathered at City Hall to draw attention to the updated list. One of the founders of the Stop Croman Coalition, Cynthia Chaffee, said, Even though Croman is (was) in jail, the harassment of tenants continues, including the deprivation services, poor maintenance and the lack of repairs We will not stop until Croman is permanently eliminated as a landlord. Period.

On May 17, tenants living in Croman building on the Lower East Side staged rallies to drive home the point that they fully intend to keep up the pressure on the notorious landlord for as long as it takes.
This week London is filled with young fashion talent, as the annual Graduate Fashion Week returns for its 27th year.

Hundreds of incredible designers from universities all over the country filled the halls of The Old Truman Brewery for the first day of the week-long fashion festival.

We caught up with some of the designers and found out what inspired them to create their innovative collections. Remember these names, because they'll be all over the fashion world before you know it.

Kim Chi Ngu, Cambridge School of Visual and Performing Arts

"This collection is inspired by the film Pride and Prejudice, so in the film, most the dresses are from the Regency Era, with the shapes - the high waists and the puffy sleeves and also the roses," Kim says.

She also talks through the process of her designs: " I combined the shapes and also the curve of the rose petals into the main concept of the collection. With the embellishments and also the shapes and colours . I transferred from the vintage to look more modern. Regency Era with modern designs."

Amelia Russell, Leeds Arts University

Amelia's collection is inspired by the 1980s graffiti subculture. She puts particular emphasis on the John Lennon lyrics 'The World Will Live As one', after visiting Prague and seeing the John Lennon Wall.

Amelia says: "I was looking at the graffiti subculture from the eighties. I then looked at modern stuff, and I went to Prague and saw the John Lennon wall."

She takes her inspiration from her own first-hand experiences: "I did a placement in Erasmus in Milan last year, so I did look at their graffiti and that's where I got a lot of my inspiration. It's where I got the shapes from, from a building that was painted."

She also looks to artists of the past for the intricate, 80s inspired patterns on her garments. "I looked at Keith Haring, which is where I got a lot of the symbols from. But then mainly the modern stuff was just things that I'd seen personally myself and that I loved," she tells us.

Laura Sutton, University of Norwich

Laura uses the human body as an influence in her collection. She says: " It's all based on merino wool seamless knitwear. So I've taken that inspiration from the human anatomy, so I've looked at muscle fibres and I've taken that - I've imposed it onto sportswear so it works with the body."

She also takes inspiration from sculptor Peter Randall-Page: " It's based on a piece of Peter Randall-Page's sculpture, called Corpus. It's all about exterior shells and concealing - and also making incisions into fabric almost like constructing fabrics so you can see what's on the inside as well as on the outside. I've shown that through my textiles techniques, my really interesting large, oversized silhouettes."

Coral Derfurt

Coral uses childhood nostalgia as the muse for her collection. " My original idea was about dressing up in my mum's clothes when I was younger," she says. "I looked into 'I don't want to grow up', the way that when you're younger you want to grow up and then when you're older you don't want to grow up. You want to be young."

Her designs are decorated with drawings by Coral's young cousins. "M y younger cousins, it's inspired by them," she says.

" I looked into them wearing oversized clothing, and then we made samples - knit samples and weaving, and children's printing and drawings. The drawings on the jeans, I drew them with my two younger cousins - we drew on them and it went from there really."

Graduate Fashion Week 2018 is taking place at the Old Truman Brewery between 3rd and 6th June. The National Student will be reporting from the event daily - see all our coverage here.
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A Danish group says petition seeking to set a minimum age of 18 for non-medical male circumcision in the country has gathered the required 50,000 signatures to send the proposal to Parliament for debate later this year.

Lena Nyhus of the group Intact Denmark told The Associated Press on Saturday that her childrens welfare organization believes we need to respect a persons right to decide for themselves on a possible circumcision when they become an adult.

The ritual of removing an infant boys foreskin is common among Jews and Muslims for religious reasons.

The American Academy of Pediatrics says the health benefits of male circumcision outweigh the risks but not by enough to recommend universal male circumcision. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says doctors should educate infant boys parents about the health benefits of circumcision, which it says reduces the transmission of sexually transmitted diseases, including HIV.

A recent poll commissioned by Danish TV2 broadcaster found that 83 percent of respondents supported such an age limit on circumcising boys.

However, the proposal is unlikely to pass since none of Denmarks main political parties support it.

Earlier this year, Icelandic lawmakers initially backed a plan to ban circumcisions for minors and to give those who performed the procedure possible jail sentences. But after an outpouring of criticism, including from European Jewish leaders, the proposal was dropped.

(AP)
Englands Queen Elizabeth II has made a Jewish World War II veteran an MBE (Member of the Order of the British Empire).

The Queen presented Lieutenant Colonel Mordaunt Cohen, 101, the honour for services to Second World War education at Buckingham Palace ceremony.

Lt. Col Cohen is the most senior Jewish officer who served in the war still alive, and plays an active and pivotal part in educating people.

Following the ceremony he said: I am honoured and delighted that Her Majesty has been able to confer this personally on me.

The former officer spends a large amount of his time touring schools, places of worship and other forums where he can speak of his experience.

Lt Col Cohen has been extensively involved with the Association of Jewish Ex-Servicemen and Women, being National Chairman and later Vice President.

In addition to this, he was Honorary Life President of the Sunderland Jewish community and was a Deputy Lieutenant in Tyne and Wear from 1986 to 1990.

He qualified as a solicitor aged 21, and set up his own practice shortly before war broke out.

Lt Col Cohen joined the Army after hearing stories of Nazi persecution from Jewish children who arrived in Sunderland from the Kindertransport.

He served in Burma, where he commanded Nigerian volunteers as part of an anti-aircraft unit defending RAF air strips and, during his service, survived being struck down with both malaria and hepatitis.

In 2016 he was awarded an Honorary Fellowship from Sunderland University in recognition of the his military career and his long standing association with the city.

101 year old Lieutenant Colonel Mordaunt Cohen receives his #MBE from The Queen for his services to Second World War Education. Lt Col Cohen has spent his adult life teaching in schools across the country about the history & legacy of WW2. pic.twitter.com/iytt0OjZDM  The Royal Family (@RoyalFamily) June 1, 2018

(YWN World Headquarters  NYC)
North Koreas state-run news agency reported Sunday that Syrias President Bashar Assad is interested in visiting North Korea and meeting leader Kim Jong Un.

The KCNA report said Assad made the comments May 30 while receiving the credentials for the North Korean ambassador.

I am going to visit the DPRK and meet HE Kim Jong Un, Assad was quoted saying, using the acronym for the Norths official name.

There was no indication that such a trip had been planned.

The report also quoted Assad saying he was sure Kim that would achieve the final victory and realize the reunification of Korea without fail.

Syrias government did not immediately respond to a request for comment Sunday.

The report comes as international attention is focused on a summit between Kim and U.S. President Donald Trump scheduled for June 12 in Singapore.

(AP)
Public Security Minister Gilad Erdan wants to see Israel Police included in the tefilla recited in shuls for the well-being of IDF soldiers. He explains police are constantly on the frontline of the battle against terrorism. Minister Erdan turned to the Chief Rabbis of Israel to question why the nations police are excluded from the misheberach recited on Shabbos for IDF soldiers.

The current text recited by many shuls was arranged by the late chief rabbi, Rabbi Shlomo Goren, who did not make mention of police specifically.

Erdan added that his request speaks also in the name of Police Chief Roni Alshich and the departments chief rabbi, Rabbi Rami Barchaiyahu, calling this a moral obligation to the department.

(YWN Israel Desk  Jerusalem)
A woman who has been an agunah for two years has received her get Bchasdei Hashem.

Last week, a beis din stepped in and sent recalcitrant husband Yaron Atias, 39, from Ashdod, to jail for a week after he was apprehended driving without a license. His drivers license was revoked because he would not give a get. Atias was placed in cherem by the beis din after failing to appear several times, as well as the subject of shaming towards compelling a get .

The dayanim told Atias that if he continues to refuse to give a bill of divorce, his incarceration would be extended, far more than a week until a get is given.

On Thursday evening 17 Sivan, responding to an appeal, the President of the High Court of Justice approved the Rabbinates decision to imprison the husband. Justice Hayut in her decision wrote, After reviewing the arguments of the parties, I come to the conclusion that there is no reason to intervene in the decision of the beis din that exercised its authority. This is not a trivial phenomenon. For a very long period of time, the respondent refrained from fulfilling the judgment handed down in his case and ordered him to grant the petitioner a divorce. The severity of such behavior and the harm caused to the applicant need not be overemphasized, and it has already been ruled that the Rabbinical Court and the courts must combat this phenomenon.

Rabbonim from the Rabbanut last Friday spoke with him with the assistance of the legal council of the Rabbanuts Agunah Unit, reaching an understanding. It is reported that MK Yehuda Glick also played an instrumental part in negotiating with Yoram to give the get. As such, a special hearing was convened by the Haifa Beis Din on erev Shabbos to have the husband give the get.

Yoram arrived in the beis din, escorted by agents of the Israel Prison Service. Bchasdei Hashem the husband was good to his word and the get was given.

(YWN Israel Desk  Jerusalem)
Bchasdei Hashem, IDF soldiers patrolling the Gaza border on Monday, 21 Sivan, detected two terrorists crossing into Israel. One was armed with an axe.

Soldiers opened fire, killing one of them. The second was wounded, but escaped.

(YWN Israel Desk  Jerusalem/Photo Credit: IDF Spokesman Unit)
Cheers: Raytheon has appointed Lord Strathclyde, 58, as its UK chairman

Defence firm Raytheon has appointed former leader of the House of Lords Lord Strathclyde, 58, as its UK chairman.

Tubby Toms gain  he enjoys a thriving post-political business career with eight other City advisory roles  is the Upper Houses loss, where his constitutional expertise is as missed as his hospitality.

Visitors to his parliamentary office were habitually furnished with generous tumblers of Famous Grouse whisky.

Tory grandee Sir Nicholas Soamess attack on apple-cheeked hedge funder (and fellow trencherman) Crispin Odey  by universal consent a chateau-bottled, irrelevant twerp  for suggesting Michael Gove replace Theresa May as Prime Minister seemed oddly ad hominem.

Not least as both are habitues of Whites Club, where members are expected to behave cordially towards one another.

Perhaps Crispin, 59, isnt popular at the St Jamess hovel. Im told he was granted membership at the second attempt.

Congratulations to former hedge funder Mark Driver, 53, who quit Horseman Capital eight years ago to create a 10million East Sussex winery.

Critics are praising his first effort, the 2014 Rathfinny Blancs de Blancs, that his old City chums will soon be guzzling by the bucket load.

The 37 fizz has just been snapped up by those expense-account favourites, Annabels, Scotts and Le Gavroche.

Stockpicking guru Andy Brown, 62, whose wealth is put at 550million, was described over the weekend as Britains Buffett.

The flattering epithet is also regularly assigned to his fellow superstar investors Nigel Wray, 69 (300million) and Neil Woodford, 58 (100million), though, frankly, none are in the same league as the legendary Sage of Omaha.

With 63billion already in the bank, Warren Buffett, 87, earns more in a year than the trios combined wealth.

It was nice to see that BT boss Gavin Patterson put on a neck tie for his visit to Downing Street yesterday, where Mrs May briefed him on Brexit.

Not much of a tie man, Gav. The 50-year-old has usually got more shirt buttons undone than J-Lo.
CYBG, the owner of Clydesdale and Yorkshire banks, has put forward an improved all-share offer for Virgin Money to create a 4billion challenger bank.

Under the new proposals, Virgin Money shareholders would own approximately 38 per cent of the combined group, instead of the 36.5 per cent previously offered.

The revised offer involves exchanging 1.2125 new CYBG shares for each Virgin Money share.

Revised offer: But CYBGs bid still values Virgin Money at around 1.6billion

While this marks an improvement on the previous share exchange ratio of 1.1297, the recent decline in CYBG's share price means that it effectively values each stock at 354p versus the stronger value of 359p in early May.

The potential deal still values Virgin Money at around 1.6billion.

Shares in FTSE 250-listed CYBG were 1.7 per cent, or 5p higher at 296.80p in morning trading.

Virgin Money shareholders would also be entitled to retain any dividend declared and paid in respect of the period ending June 30.

CYBGs bid comes after a weekend of talks to join forces. CYBG had until Monday to make a formal offer. CYBG now has until June 18 to make an offer.

The merger would create Britains biggest challenger bank with assets of 70billion.

Ian Gordon, a banks analyst at Investec, said the revised offer 'hardly appears over-generous' and that the valuation of around 1.6billion is 'low'.

'Our view remains that the strategic rationale for the proposed combination is sound, and that cost synergies should (conservatively) amount to 10-20%.

'However, we believe that the current terms are unduly weighted towards CYBG shareholders, and fail to reflect full value for Virgin,' Gordon added.

'We believe that a further improvement to terms may be required to get the deal over the line.'

However, equity analysts at Jefferies believe a successful deal 'is more than probable now', noting that the new offer was revealed in a joint announcement, with both lenders 'championing its strategic rationale and upfront premium'.

That is also 'coupled with the fact that no other bidder has entered the process in the last fours weeks', analysts added.
Former FBI lawyer Lisa Osofsky, will take charge of the SFO in September

An American prosecutor will run Britains fraud squad  despite backing plans to abolish it last year.

Former FBI lawyer Lisa Osofsky, 56, will take charge of the Serious Fraud Office in September, replacing interim boss Mark Thompson.

Osofsky is European chairman of regulatory firm Exiger, best known for monitoring HSBCs anti-money laundering regime on behalf of the US authorities.

Last year she backed plans by Prime Minister Theresa May to axe the SFO and give its work to the National Crime Agency.

But in a U-turn yesterday, Osofsky said she supports the SFOs independence saying its not up for debate and will continue the investigation and prosecution of serious economic crime.
Two of Europes biggest banks are considering a 56billion merger that would be the biggest banking tie-up since the financial crisis.

Italian lender Unicredit, worth 28.9billion, and Frances 27billion Societe Generale are said to have held early discussions about joining forces amid a global takeover frenzy.

It would be the largest such deal in Europe since Royal Bank of Scotland spent 49billion on Dutch rival ABN Amro in 2007  an ill-judged agreement that almost destroyed both companies.

Societe Generale is braced to pay out 880m of fines to settle allegations of Libor rate-rigging and corruption in Libya

Unicredits chief executive Jean-Pierre Mustier, who spent the first 22 years of his career at Societe Generale, has reportedly been pushing for a deal for months but talks are said to be at an early stage.

Mustier is thought to see expansion beyond sluggish Italy as the best way to ensure Unicredits long-term survival.

He had initially hoped to get the merger done in 18 months but this hasnt happened because of political turmoil in Italy, which has elected populist parties and suffered from speculation its membership of the euro is at risk.

Unicredit has faced concerns it is weighed down by bad debts. Last year it raised 11.2billion from the markets, unveiling a plan to axe 14,000 jobs and shut 944 branches.

Meanwhile, Societe Generale is braced to pay out 880m of fines to settle allegations of Libor rate-rigging and corruption in Libya. Its investment bank has also struggled due to stagnation in the French economy.

It is not thought that either bank will be in a position to pursue a deal for at least a year, with the turnaround at Unicredit expected to last until midway through 2019.

Mustier has spoken out before about the need for banks on the Continent to bulk up.

He is said to have approached Germanys Commerzbank last year but was rebuffed by its management.

A takeover deal would be a vindication for the 57-year-old, who was once seen as a leading contender for the top job at Societe Generale but was later forced to quit because he had failed to spot a 4.3billion rogue trading scandal.

The European Central Bank is thought to be keen to create a bank with roots in more than one eurozone country, as it is hoped this would improve relations between the blocs members.

However, regulators scarred by the financial crisis are also likely to have concerns about allowing the largest players to get any bigger.

If combined, Societe Generale and Unicredit would be larger than Barclays, Lloyds and Royal Bank of Scotland. Only the 146billion global powerhouse HSBC would be bigger.

In a note to investors last night, stockbroker Jefferies said: Regulators are in favour of European consolidation.

However, this has been more in favour of smaller players rather than a cross-border deal between two large players.
A decision to pay back 6.4million of bonds left a sour taste for Hotel Chocolat investors  because theyll no longer be sent boxes of chocs.

Savers had snapped up bonds issued in 2010 and 2014 that paid out interest in the form of six boxes of chocolate a year instead of cash.

The firm had used the money raised to open shops and an overseas expansion.

Sweet dividends: Savers snapped up Hotel Chocolat bonds issued in 2010 and 2014 that paid out interest in the form of six boxes of chocolate a year instead of cash.

But yesterday Hotel Chocolat said it had enough cash to stand on its own two feet and has written cheques to 1,700 bondholders who each ploughed in 2,000 or 4,000 years ago.

Investors have got back what they put in and will no longer get their boxes of chocolate.

Disappointed bondholder Peter McDermott wrote on Twitter: Gutted the chocolate bonds are being repaid and the return will come to an end.

Its been great fun and I would have preferred to have made the decision to withdraw when it suited.

Ex-bondholders will still be looked after, however, including through special offers to visit the companys cocoa estate in St Lucia in the Caribbean, which their cash helped support.

The company said the bonds also helped it create 600 jobs in the UK, plough 10million into its factory in Huntingdon, Cambridge, and open 70 stores.
Shares in paper and packaging firm Smurfit Kappa dived in trading yesterday as doubts grew over a 7.8billion takeover by a US rival.

The board of Dublin-based Smurfit has rejected two bids from International Paper Company (IPC), arguing they fundamentally undervalue the firm.

Major shareholders have spent the past two months trying to get Smurfit to sit down at the negotiating table with IPC.

It is thought an offer of 35 a share, which would value Smurfit at 8.3billion, would be enough to tempt Smurfits board to open talks with IPC.

However, a deal is hanging in the balance with the Irish takeover panel giving IPC until Wednesday to make a binding offer or walk away.

The board of Dublin-based Smurfit has rejected two bids from International Paper Company (IPC), arguing they fundamentally undervalue the firm

Smurfit shares sank 7.2 per cent, or 222p, to 2880p.

The FTSE 100 rallied as political concerns in Italy and Spain faded.

The index of leading firms was up 0.51 per cent, or 39.52 points, at 7741.29 while the FTSE 250 rose 0.6 per cent, or 125.68 points, to 21110.6.

Soaring passenger numbers caused Wizz Air shares to take off. The FTSE 250-listed budget airline carried more than 2.8m passengers in May, up 18.1 per cent on the same month of 2017.

Over the past 12 months, Wizz Air flew 30.5m holidaymakers to 141 destinations across 44 countries in Europe and the Middle East  up 23.3 per cent on the previous 12 months. Shares edged up 0.2 per cent, or 7p, to 3519p.

Stock Watch - Seeing Machines A contract with a car maker sent shares in tech firm Seeing Machines flying. The AIM-listed firm, which makes camera systems that allow machines to see, has signed a 29million deal to design and supply driver monitor technology to an unnamed US-based manufacturer. Seeing Machiness technology detects when drivers are distracted or tired by tracking head and face movements. Shares leapt 17.3 per cent, or 1.35p, to 9.15p.

Wizz Air rival EasyJet topped the FTSE 100 after analysts at Deutsche Bank raised the airlines target price from 1560p to 1915p.

EasyJet shares ended the day up 3.8 per cent, or 65p, at 1778.5p.

It was another tough day for Alfa Financial Software, which was downgraded by Berenberg after dishing out a profit warning on Friday.

The German investment bank slashed the software firms rating from buy to hold and cut its target price from 600p to 170p after it warned of lower-than-expected full-year revenues.

The downgrade caused Alfas shares to plummet 16.8 per cent, or 31p, to 154p, wiping 93million off its value.

Deal mania swept through trading floors yesterday, with a number of small-cap firms sounding the takeover klaxon.

Electrical components firm TT Electronics snapped up US transformer manufacturer Precision Inc for an initial 17.7million.

Precision, based in Minneapolis, designs and makes electromagnetic products for the medical, industrial, aerospace and defence markets. It employs 160 people in the US and China.

TTs shares ticked up 0.2 per cent, or 0.5p, to 250.5p.

Keypad and lift component maker Dewhurst signed a 10.5million deal to buy electrical component wholesalers A&A Electrical Distributors. Dewhurst shares were flat at 910p.

Digital advertising firm Ocean Outdoor splashed out 32million on outdoor marketing specialists Forrest Media.

The deal for Glasgow-based Forrest gives AIM-listed Ocean, which operates the giant advertising screen at Piccadilly Lights in London, a footprint in Scotland.

Ocean shares are temporarily suspended after its private equity owner Searchlight sold it to Ocelot Partners. It plans to relist them as soon as practicable, the firm says.

AIM-listed financial planning group AFH reported a 63 per cent uptick in revenue to 22.7million and a whopping 177pc rise in profit to 2.5million in its first-half results.

AFH shares rocketed 9.7 per cent, or 30p, to 340p.

One of Britains fastest-growing regional law firms announced plans to float on AIM.

The float will value Knights, which has 430 employees, at more than 100million and is set to make a paper fortune for chief executive David Beech, who owns 65 per cent.
EN+ chairman Lord Barker is attempting to appease US authorities

The president of embattled EN+ has stepped down as it tries to survive US sanctions.

Maxim Sokov, 39, is the seventh to resign from the aluminium group since sanctions were imposed, and comes under independent chairman Lord Barkers plan to appease US authorities.

Barker, who was UK energy minister in David Camerons government, plans to bring in independent board members as well as reduce the stake of owner Oleg Deripaska to below 50 per cent.

He hopes that will prompt the US to lift the sanctions slapped on Deripaska and several of his businesses earlier this year in response to his links to Russian president Vladimir Putin and Russias alleged malign activity around the world.

Sokov said: EN+ is currently facing unprecedented and unforeseen challenges and I have taken the decision to step down for the sake of its future prosperity.
Stanley Gibbons, the sickly stamp firm, has named an investment analyst as its new chief executive.

Graham Elliott Shircore joined the 162-year-old businesss board as a non-executive in March after his employer Phoenix Asset Management bought a 58 per cent stake.

He has worked for Aviva Investors and Rothschild Private Wealth Management.

Stanley Gibbons has struggled with declining sales, and suffered a 3.1million loss in the six months to September 30.
LEGAL FLOAT Law firm Knights Group will float on the stock market later this month in what would be Londons largest-ever legal listing, with the firm expected to be valued at more than 100million.

FEWER SACKED Finance firms laid off fewer senior staff last year in a sign that years of belt-tightening may be coming to an end, research by lawyer Fox & Partners showed.

HOLE SHRINKS The pension black hole at FTSE 350 businesses shrank by 16billion last month with retirement schemes having a shortfall of 34billion, down from 50billion in April, according to consultant Mercer.

GIT GOT Microsoft is reportedly taking over computer code-sharing website Github for 5.6billion. The US firm was previously valued at around 1.5billion in 2015.

TECH FUND London-based fund White Star Capital has closed a 134.5million fundraising round that will be used to help US and UK technology start-ups expand internationally.

BEAN MAN Breakdown group the AA has appointed former Mirror Group finance director Steve Barber, 66, to its board.

ON BOARD Steve Good, 57, the chairman of the remuneration committee at chemicals firm Elementis, will join the board of Dialight, which makes and sells LED products to industrial companies.

HEDGE TRIMMED Profits at the European arm of hedge fund Caxton Associates tumbled 92 per cent to 7.2million last year.

FUEL OFFLOAD Airplane engine maker Rolls-Royce has sold its Germany-based fuel injector business LOrange to Colorado-based Woodward, for 589m.

RIVAL TAKEOVER Freight management firm Xpediator is buying rival Anglia Forwarding Group for around 2.2million.

LIGHTS OUT Energy efficient-lighting maker Luceco is quitting the US market as it has proved harder to break into than it anticipated.

EASTERN EYE Property giant Savills has bought rival Cluttons Middle East, which has 190 staff in the region.

SALES UP Revenues at retailer Matalan edged up by 2.4 per cent to 1.1billion last year as profits soared 26 per cent to 104.5m in the year to February 24.

BUILDER BOOST Research group IHS Markit said its index of activity in the construction sector  where 50 is the cut-off between growth and decline  held firm at 52.5 in May.
EZULWINI  Negotiations are on course for the kingdom to sign a new trade agreement with the Republic of China on Taiwan.



Minister of Commerce, Industry and Trade Jabulani Mabuza has disclosed that the agreement was intended at maximising on the cordial relationship that exists between the two countries to create jobs, improve entrepreneurship and ultimately improve the economy for the better.



Talks between the two countries have commenced but finer details will be released in due course, said Mabuza during the Entrepreneur of the Year Award winners cocktail event convened at the Happy Valley on Thursday afternoon.



Investment



It should be mentioned that the E40 billion worth of investment into various sectors of the Swazi economy by the Republic of China on Taiwan since the year 2000 is also set to increase in the short term.

This could be one of the positive spin- offs to be realised following the signing of an Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between Taiwan and Swaziland business federations.



The Federation of Swaziland Employers and Chamber of Commerce (FSE&CC) and Taiwan Business Federation recently signed on the dotted line to mark the beginning of a long-term relationship between the federations.



Special



FSE&CC President Andrew Le Roux previously said the federation highly acknowledged the very special relationship between The Republic of China on Taiwan and the Kingdom of Eswatini which had seen realisation of massive economic benefits for both countries.

Since the year 2000 the republic has invested over E40 billion in various sectors of the economy, including Agriculture, Education, ICT (in particular the Royal Science and Technology Park) and the rural electrification project, said le Roux.


MANZINI  Ngeyetfu Lentfo!

This was the slogan at the Mavuso Trade and Exhibition Centre as gospel music celebrated South Africas fast growing mass choir, Mpumalanga Praise. The show started at 7pm last Saturday night till the early hours of 5am yesterday morning. The choir under the leadership of Sipho Big Fish Makhabane, saw over 3 000 gospel music lovers watching its choirs energetic performance which left gospel music lovers wanting for more. Gospel music lovers filled the venues main hall as they all wanted to witness the top performance that was displayed by the 35 choir members. Indeed they were not disappointed as the choir led them through praise and worship throughout their set.

Mpumalanga Praise was energetic as they sang on top of their voices in perfect harmony, which pleased their fans. The sound quality was immaculate throughout the show. Music lovers were on their toes during each song rendition, even the audience in the VVIP section were on their feet dancing the night away. The group sang some of its famous songs which include Azulazule, Senginikela and Ungubaba. Each time Mpumalanga Praise started a song; the fans would scream in excitement and rush to the front of the stage to dance. The choir performed for two hours straight, before bowing out and opening the stage for the rest of the solo supporting acts of the night. These included South Africas Thobekile, Ayanda Shange and Denzel Erasmus while local stars were represented by Zaga , Shongwe and Khuphuka, Frans Dlamini and Nduduzo Matse.

By the time the show ended, music lovers still wanted more from the artists, screaming encore at the top of their voices in unison. However, Makhabane had to bid the crowd farewell, thanking them for the support. It is already morning my people and I need you all to refresh and go to church, he said. Most of the music lovers mentioned that they enjoyed the show, adding that Mpumalanga Praise should come to Eswatini more often.
MBABANE  Rural homesteads of Eswatini will soon be saving at least E20 000 yearly each from a fruit trees project.

This will apply to members of different associations, with 100 members from each of the royal kraals in the country which joined the programme. The members are limited to grow 10 fruit trees, their types being determined by the climate condition of the eligible royal kraals. For example, the associations grow apples, litches and mangoes among other fruit trees. The project, which was initiated by the Small Enterprises Development Company (SEDCO), with the aim of reducing poverty, will see the eligible EmaSwati enjoying the fruits of their hard work from next year. A survey that was conducted by this publication last Friday reflected that the majority of EmaSwati were on the right track with regard to managing the fruit trees since the commencement of the project.

Interviewed farmers registered their hopes that they would be supplying markets by next year. Susan Zwane, a member of Asafundzile EmaSwati Fruit Trees Multi Purpose, said she had a challenge with three trees since she planted 10.

She alleged that two of the litchi trees were stolen while one dried up. Zwane said she had since replaced the trees due to the strict regulations. She said the project policy required that farmers should replace the trees if they happened to dry up. We were told that we should maintain the number of trees (10), she said. Asked about the cost of a tree, Zwane said the prices differed but she bought the trees at E90 each from SEDCO. She said the association chose the Chairman of the association, John Mamba, to work closely with the farmers in order to make sure that they did not lose the trees due to negligence.

She revealed that Mamba was assisting the farmers with the application of fertilizer and pesticides. Zwane said the chairman was also using his experience in trimming the flowers from the trees since they were not yet ready to produce the anticipated fruit. When called for comment, Mamba said he volunteered the services because he wanted to see the project being a success. As we speak, I am busy with an orchard, he said briefly. On another note, Sophie Malindzisa said she never encountered any problem since she planted the trees. Malindzisa said she just applied compost and water as they were taught during the workshop.
SITEKI  Thugs attacked and injured security guards before breaking into five shops within the Siteki new market in the early hours of Saturday.

This is the latest in a series of burglary and theft incidents within the Siteki town in the last couple of months. The thugs, who are still at large, stole food, money and other items worth an undisclosed amount of money. According to the police, the thugs broke into a supermarket, a grocery shop, a butchery and two other shops. At the supermarket, which is run by an Asian businessman, they stole food items plus money amounting to E1 700. They took about E1 000 here (pointing at the cash till box) and coins moneyabout six or seven hundred (sic), said the Asian businessman. This is the second time in the past two years that the shop has been targeted by thugs.

In 2016, unknown men in balaclavas entered the shop at dusk and wielded what police said were toy guns before going away with money estimated to be above E10 000. Chief Police Information and Communications Officer Superintendent Khulani Mamba said Siteki police were still searching for the robbers. He added that a small amount of money was stolen from the shops and that the thugs only went away with different items, mostly food. Meanwhile, the guards were treated for injuries and discharged from hospital, however; they could not be reached for comment. Information reaching this publication is that the guards were assaulted, tied and gagged by the thugs. They were discovered on Saturday morning by other town council employees and other people who arrived early at the market. The incident has put into sharp focus the issue of rising crime levels within the Siteki town.

Last month, unknown people broke into two shops along the Jacaranda Street, stealing items worth an undisclosed amount of money. Vendors based at the new market have also been complaining about the theft of their wares from their lock boxes. The market is no longer safe; when we leave our items in the lock boxes, they are stolen, said a vendor. Other vendors complained about the poor lighting system within the bus rank and other parts of the town. Siteki town clerk/CEO Sithembile Simelane was unavailable for comment at the time of compiling this report. On another note, some of the shops that were broken into were operating yesterday. The owners said they had to fix the damaged doors and windows and resumed with their businesses.
MBABANE  Thobile Hlophe almost missed her husbands funeral as some of her stepchildren and her sisters-in-law kicked her out of the homestead upon the arrival of Bongani Kunenes corpse.

Hlophe is the 30-year-old woman of Hholoshini, whose husband committed suicide after the disappearance of their eight-year- old daughter, Phiwayinkhosi Kunene. However, Phiwayinkhosi was found dead with her head removed, a day before her father was laid to rest. Attempts to bar Hlophe from attending her husbands funeral started at around 5am, shortly after the corpse was brought into the vigil tent, which was pitched a few metres away from Kunenes other homestead, where he ingested the weevil tablets that led to his demise. Unlike in other funerals where a corpse is brought to the homestead the previous day, Kunenes corpse was fetched from the mortuary yesterday morning.

A group of Hlophes stepchildren and her sisters in-law blocked the widow as she passed next to Kunenes house. Hlophe who was in the company of her family members, was on her way to the tent after the arrival of the corpse.

While still shocked about what was happening, the group of women hurled a series of insults and further made startling allegations against Hlophe in relation to the cause of her husbands death.

One of the women, who was later identified as Kunenes firstborn daughter from another relationship accused Hlophe of not informing her about the death of her father. The child further accused the Hlophe family of poor funeral arrangements. My father cannot be buried like a dog, said Kunenes daughter. She was supported by her aunts, who ordered Hlophe to excuse them so that they could bury Kunene in peace. When all this happened, the other aunts were screaming on top of their voices, asking what really killed their brother. The loud noise attracted the over 200 mourners, who eventually left the tent to try and solve the problem. The number of mourners increased to about 300 before they proceeded to the graveyard. Notably, despite all the startling allegations and insults, the widowed woman remained silent, while the residents of area and the community police members moved the troublesome children and their aunts to make way for her.

As Kunenes daughter and her aunts continued to provoke Hlophe, the elders of the Hlophe family took the widow into a car, which was parked about 60 metres away from the Kunene homestead. Let us excuse them until they finish with the burial. We will engage them later so that they can explain why they treat us like dogs. Its only dogs that react by biting each other instead of solving problems, said one of the Hlophe elders. He added that he was expecting the Kunene family to tell them where they went wrong so that they could apologise and find an amicable solution as opposed to treating them like dogs. Tell us if you want to eat Kunenes corpse so that we can put it on the table, said the community police members who interjected while the Hlophe elder was addressing members of the family. It appeared that the community police members question was directed to the troublemakers.




DVUDVUSINI  In a shocking incident, an elderly woman in her 70s was allegedly murdered ruthlessly by her son with a pickaxe.

The incident allegedly occurred while some of the residents were returning from a funeral service in the community of Dvudvusini-Ekuthuleni, near Mankayane at around 9am. The 32-year-old suspect (name withheld as he has not yet appeared in court) had brutally killed his own mother by allegedly hitting her with the pickaxe on the forehead and at the back of her head. Community members were passing through the elderly womans homestead when they heard her screaming saying, Inyandzaleyo-loosely translated Help! As most people feared the self- proclaimed former soldier, due to his allegedly violent behaviour, it took them a while to gather themselves and have the courage to go to the homestead. However, they eventually entered the house, where the woman stayed and where she had raised her nine children. Upon entering the house, they were met with a pool of blood where the elderly woman laid with the pickaxe placed on top of her bloodied body.

Family members also revealed that when her body was discovered, she was facing down and still carrying her cellphone in her right hand, which was proof that she died while trying to call for help. The elderly womans eldest son said their mother had a gaping wound on the forehead and also at the back of her head. He narrated how his younger brother started allegedly being violent from when he was attending primary school until he eventually dropped out. He has always been a violent person, when he was still attending school, he would be expelled because of his violent behaviour and changed schools. He dropped out as he had started stealing peoples items and smoking too. While he was growing up, he smoked dagga a lot and would commit crimes, the police would be called and he would be taken to the psychiatric hospital for evaluation and treatment.

However his condition worsened as he became more violent and started shouting and further assaulting our mother, the elder son said. He added that each time the suspect would physically abuse their mother, they would be called and upon arrival, he would attempt to assault them too. He mentioned that the police frequented his home and they would take the suspect to the police station before the psychiatric hospital for mental evaluation. Before this incident, my mother would mention that the suspect would eventually kill her. We also suspected that and we were also scared that he would get killed by members of the community due to his behaviour. He had been away from home for a while and had just returned when the incident occurred. We have been informed that he went to a nearby homestead to get the pickaxe. After that, he headed straight to my mothers house and broke the locked burglar door before vandalising the main door, forcing his way inside, he said.




Politically Speaking: Clean Missouri proponents contend ballot initiative will cleanse the state On the latest edition of Politically Speaking, St. Louis Public Radio's Jason Rosenbaum welcomes Sean Soendker Nicholson, Sen. Rob Schaaf and former Sen. Jim Lembke to the program to talk about a ballot initiative known as "Clean Missouri."

An appropriate question after the Guv resigned following an "unsexy workout" scandal involving allegations of nasty pix and forced oral action.Read more:
Kobach tweeted: "Had a blast riding in the Old Shawnee Days Parade in this souped up jeep with a replica gun. Those who want to restrict the right to keep and bear arms are deeply misguided. The only thing that stops a bad guy with a gun is a good guy with a gun. #ksleg #ksgov #TeamKobach"









CHECK THE BEST COMMENTS FROM OUR TKC BLOG COMMUNITY IN SUPPORT AND CRITICIZING THE KANSAS GUV CANDIDATE FOR HIS TOY GUN DISPLAY!!!

GOP Against JoCo Anti-Gun Hypocrisy: "And, how many Shawnee "kids" have been playing the very gruesome video games depicting guns, or viewing movies with that same type of content, or listening to rap lyrics about gun violence, sex, drugs and alcohol?"

Hip-hop Juxtaposition With Republicans: "At least he's not a rapper but flexing with a fake gun is using the same kind of tactics that conservatives would rail against in any other circumstance."

The Social Media Discourse: "Good for Kobach. He knows how to troll the liberals and shore up his base at the same time."

History Lesson From Chuck: "Progressives have gone from trying to look kool in an M1-A1 Battle Tank like Michael Dukakis, to embracing their Beta Male, Ken Doll, smooth-between-the-legs personas and making it work."

Mainstream Likability Questioned: "Kobach may be brilliant, but he's not polished."

This weekend Kansas voters were confronted with a decisive moment in the upcoming race for governor that speaks to the gun debate and right-wing culture war . . .Here's the word on the controversy from the top ranking Conservative leader:The news round-up and regret from organizer:To wit . . .As promised, here's what you guys had to say:You decide . . .
India Sunday successfully test-fired a surface-to-surface nuclear capable intercontinental ballistic missile Agni-V off Abdul Kalam Island in its eastern sate of Odisha, local media reported.

The home-grown ballistic missile was blast-off at 9:50 am local time.

Local media reports quoted defense officials as saying that the test was conducted from the Integrated Test Range (ITR) on the island.

"The longest range nuclear capable missile was test- fired clear sky and started rising exactly the way it was designed for," India's Defence Research Development Organisation (DRDO) was quoted as saying.

"The flight performance of the missile having a range of 5,000 km was tracked and monitored by radars, range stations and tracking systems all through the mission."

The first test of Agni-V was conducted in 2012.
A man is up for possible parole, 38 years after killing six members of a family in Olathe. The remaining members of that family will do everything they can to make sure that does not happen. On September 20, 1980, 27-year-old Danny Crump rigged 10 sticks of dynamite into a bomb to murder his ex-wife, Diane Post, her husband and four other family members.
TODAY GEOFF JOLLEY ANNOUNCES HIS CAMPAIGN KICK-OFF TO REPLACE 4TH DISTRICT AT-LARGE COUNCIL LADY JOLIE JUSTUS!!!

- He's the former District Director Congressman Emanuel Cleaver.





- He's a firefighter.





- He's also a political consultant but mostly just the token white guy around most urban core political events.

The reality, he has been the front runner all along as this Midtown/Downtown KCMO office isn't so much elected as it is appointed.

Geoff Jolley Announces Candidacy for 4th Distirct (In-District) City Council

Democratic Party leaders are already working on their line-up for City Hall elections.To wit . . .Now, local insiders already know. . .I'm sure his pitch will be much more enthusiastic but we're trying to be somewhat objective.Which is sorta how Council Lady Jolie got the job and why she seems strangely confident that she'll be successful in her bid for mayor.In the meantime, the critics of Council Lady Jolie haven't been impressed by her fundraising totals or her performance at the neighborhood level on City Council.You decide . . .UPDATE: In fairness, here's his presser . . .Committed to a City for ALLJune 4, 2018(Kansas City, MO) - Today, Geoff Jolley announced his candidacy for the City Council of Kansas City, 4th District (In-District). The 4th District (In-District) seat will be open as the incumbent is seeking higher office."There can be nothing more sacred than the trust individuals place in their elected officials to faithfully represent their views, to embrace policies they champion, and to do so while spending their tax dollars wisely," said Geoff. "I hope to serve the people of our great City with common sense, dedication, and hard work."Born and raised in Kansas City, Geoff has worked tirelessly to help make Kansas City a better place to live, to work, and to raise a family.Following the mantra "work hard, play hard", Geoff worked two jobs for the past 10 years. He currently serves as a firefighter with the Kansas City Fire Department, willingly putting his life on the line to place the needs of others first in our community. He treats individuals with compassion, dignity, and empathy, regardless of one's politics, race, or socio-economic status.As a public servant and attorney, Geoff also served alongside Congressman Emanuel Cleaver, II until recently, having worked the past 13 years with individuals, non-profits, and businesses to ensure their interests were represented in Washington, DC.Under the Congressman's direction, Geoff focused on reinvesting federal resources in the region to assist with housing, transportation, infrastructure, homeland security, energy, and environmental needs. He also worked on creating economic development and job opportunities for those in need and building lasting and productive relationships amongst stakeholders in the region."I have witnessed first-hand many of the services the people of our community rely on and believe I am well positioned to continue to advocate for those services while creating opportunity for growth and improvement," remarked Geoff. "It is important to maintain our City's momentum by making strategic, sensible, and sustainable investments with available tax dollars. This includes investing in our people, investing in our neighborhoods, and investing in our City - a City for ALL."Prior to working for Congressman Cleaver, Geoff spent six months as a Lieutenant with the Antarctic Fire Department at McMurdo Station, Antarctica. Additionally, following the tragic events of September 11, 2001, Geoff joined Missouri Task Force-1, a FEMA Urban Search & Rescue team, where he continues to serve today as a Rescue Specialist. He has been deployed to multiple natural disasters, including Hurricane Katrina and the Joplin EF-5 tornado.Geoff earned his B.A. in Political Science and Economics with a minor in African-American Studies from Emory University in Atlanta before obtaining his J.D. from the University of Missouri-Columbia School of Law. He and his wife, Kimberly, reside in the Historic Northeast along with their two young daughters. Kimberly is a teacher at Troost Elementary in the Kansas City Missouri School District and their children both attend public schools.More information can be found at www.JolleyForKC.com .###
Greek archaeologist traveled to Austria in search of traces of Wehrmacht activity during World War II and its research on antiquities on occupied Crete

In 2010, Greek archaeologist Dr Georgia Flouda traveled to Austria in search of traces of Wehrmacht activity during World War II and its research on antiquities on occupied Crete. There, she met Gerlinde Schoergendorfer, widow of officer and archaeologist August Schoergendorfer, who worked for the occupying forces. Flouda was hoping Schoergendorfer would have been able to locate her late husbands excavation log, but instead she was given a photo album with 66 black-and-white images. With these, she was to reconstruct part of a turbulent era.

The pictures showed Schoergendorfers activities on the Greek island. Shortly before his arrival on Crete, dozens of antiquities had already been stolen by the infamous Austrian Major General Julius Ringel.

The research carried by Flouda, who is curator of Prehistoric and Minoan Antiquities at the Archaeological Museum of Iraklio, recently returned to the fore thanks to an exhibition titled Cretan Antiquities on Their Way Back at the museum. Visitors were able to view a total of 34 ancient works taken from Knossos illegally during World War II. Twenty-six of those items were returned last November at the initiative of the University of Graz.

According to Flouda, the exact number of antiquities secreted out of the country by Ringel in a military plane has yet to be determined. Apart from the smaller objects he removed from the Stratigraphic Museum and the storehouse of the Villa Ariadne in Knossos, his obsession extended to larger items. Part of his loot was a headless Hellenistic statue that was sawn in two, the head of a male statue, a section of a sarcophagus with carved representations, a section of a stone burial slab featuring a depiction of a man, and a Minoan vessel carved from steatite.

Last November, on the occasion of the repatriation of objects Ringel had swiped, Greek newspaper Kathimerini presented the heroic efforts of a former ephorate of antiquities in Crete, Nikolaos Platon, for the return of the objects.

Read full story at ekathimerini.com

RELATED TOPICS: Greece, Greek tourism news, Tourism in Greece, Greek islands, Hotels in Greece, Travel to Greece, Greek destinations , Greek travel market, Greek tourism statistics, Greek tourism report
Corbyn has vowed to have the Parthenon Marbles returned to Greece if he is voted in as PM

Greece, along with philhellenes around the world, has been campaigning to repatriate the Parthenon Marbles to Greece for decades, and now Britains Labour leader has put himself front and center in the debate.

Jeremy Corbyn who has long been a supporter of the cause, has promised that if he is voted in as Prime Minister at the next elections that he will pursue the return of the marbles.

The Parthenon sculptures belong to Greece, Mr Corbyn told Greek newspaper Ta Nea in an exclusive interview.

They were made in Greece and have been there for many centuries until Lord Elgin took them, the opposition leader admitted.

As with everything stolen or removed from a country that was in the possession or colony  including objects looted from other countries in the past  we should also begin constructive talks with the Greek government on the return of the sculptures.

Removed from the Parthenon temple by the seventh Earl of Elgin

The Parthenon Marbles which date back to the fifth century BCE, were removed from the Parthenon temple in the Greek capital of Athens by the seventh Earl of Elgin, Thomas Bruce in the early 1800s.

An ambassador to the Ottoman court at the time, he claimed that it was the Turkish authorities that granted him permission to remove them, and were bought by the British parliament in 1816 and passed on to the British Museum.

Greeces argument is that Turkeys permission doesnt stand, given that they were a foreign force that had invaded the country, and were in no way acting in accordance to the will of the local people.

Nevertheless, the requests to have the prized marbles returned to Greece have faced strong opposition. Opponents are concerned that if they were to be returned, that it would see countless requests from other countries to have their artworks, currently residing in the many museums across Britain, returned.

Mr Corbyn has been following the campaign for some time, having spoken in parliament in 2014 on the subject.

Read more at neoskosmos

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International real estate advisor Savills said it has completed the acquisition of Cluttons Middle East, a leading real estate consultancy business in the Gulf region.



A major player in the region, Cluttons Middle East employs 190 staff in seven locations throughout the Gulf region, providing agency, management and consultancy advice in both the commercial and residential sectors.



The deal, which was completed last month, will see Savills take full ownership of Cluttons Middle East, a brand which has been established in the region for more than 40 years. The business will be re-branded Savills this year.



Cluttons Middle Easts 190 strong team will transfer to Savills global platform with immediate effect, said the company in a statement.



The full retention of Cluttons Middle East leadership team and employees will ensure clients not only continue to benefit from the same regional expertise but also benefit from Savills global platform, it added.



The region has been a strategic target for Savills, and the acquisition sees Savills establish its first wholly owned business in the Middle East having previously been represented by associates in the region.



This new Savills business in the Middle East provides a vital bridge between Savills expanding European business and its established Asian operation, further strengthening Savills global coverage, said a top official.



Savills has developed some strong relationships with its associates in the region over many years and while the formal associations will come to an end, the firm expects to continue cooperating with its former partners in the future.



"The Middle East region is key to the global economy and its continued economic development, increased government investment and a young population will continue to accelerate its significance," remarked Mark Ridley, the deputy group chief executive at Savills.



"The acquisition of Cluttons Middle East geographically links our European and Asian business by enhancing our EMEA (Europe, Middle East and Africa) platform. With a market leading position, and strong local leadership, we will be able to offer a high quality service to both existing and new clients as we look to expand our platform of services," he added.



With offices across the UAE, Bahrain, Egypt, Oman and Saudi Arabia, Cluttons Middle East is a well established real estate advisory business in the region, servicing a large portfolio of clients ranging from international corporate and institutional investors, to private individuals and families.



The company has built its market leading reputation working on some of the regions landmark residential, office, retail and industrial projects.



Across the region, the Cluttons Middle East team will continue to lead the business, comprising; Steven Morgan, chief executive; Harry Goodson-Wickes, head of Northern Gulf; Murray Strang, head of Dubai; Ed Carnegy, head of Abu Dhabi; Suzanne Eveleigh, head of Sharjah; Ihsan Kharouf, head of Oman; and Richard Paul, head of professional services.



"Despite economic headwinds across the region in recent years, the company has grown from strength to strength and Savills acquisition is testament to our current position in the market," remarked Morgan.



"This acquisition by Savills is an incredibly positive and exciting opportunity for all Cluttons Middle East clients and employees as it will merge our regional expertise with Savills global capabilities," stated Morgan.



"We are confident that the new consolidated offering will enable Savills to become a market leader in the region from the outset and we look forward to introducing the new brand to our clients and the wider market in the Gulf," he added.-TradeArabia News Service
Abu Dhabi-based Bloom Holding said one of its subsidiaries, b.fm, has signed a MoU with Saudi real estate group AlKifah to collaborate on setting up facilities management (FM) operations and related consultancy across the kingdom.



As per the agreement, b.fm, a leading provider of a comprehensive range of integrated FM services, and AlKifah will jointly work to shape a new business venture that offers commercially viable FM solutions in Saudi Arabia, said a statement from the company.



For its part, b.fm will be able to extend its bespoke FM service model that utilises computerised automated facilities management (CAFM) systems to deliver the highest quality of service to its clients in the country, it added.



This MoU brings together two of the leading diversified business entities in the region to collaborate on various business opportunities related to FM services in Saudi Arabia, remarked Bloom Holding CEO Sameh Muhtadi after signing the deal with AlKifah Holding CEO Abdulaziz Al Afaleq.



The agreement is also aligned with Blooms strategy to expand its geographical footprint and extend offerings to new territories, he noted.



"As Saudi Arabia pushes ahead with its plans to diversify the national economy in line with its ambitious Saudi Vision 2030, Bloom is keen to capitalize on the tremendous opportunities the country presents for investors from the UAE," remarked Muhtadi.



"Together with our partners from AlKifah, we are confident that we can provide best-in-class facilities management services to a wide-range of potential clients in the Saudi market," he added.



Al Afaleq said: "We are very excited about our collaboration with b.fm and confident that together we can deliver outstanding solutions that cater to the FM market in Saudi Arabia by leveraging on our combined expertise and capabilities to enable our clients to better concentrate on their core business."



A leading investment company operating in Saudi Arabia since 1970, AlKifah Holding provides a broad array of investments by embracing opportunities and creating synergies.



It owns and manages more than 20 subsidiaries in seven divisions, focused primarily on contracting, construction solutions, property development, business solutions, financing, paper production and community enrichment.



With corporate headquarters in the Eastern Province, AlKifahs operations and running projects maintain an active presence across the kingdom and play a prime role in fostering growth and progress, making it a key player in the Saudi market.



"The timing couldnt have been better as there is a big gap in the market for quality FM services and we hope with this partnership to bridge this gap and exceed customers expectations," he added.-TradeArabia News Service
Emirates Investment Bank (EIBank) said it had played a key advisory role in the sale of a controlling stake in Country Hill International (CHI), a leading premium meat company in the UAE, to the Gulf Japan Food Fund, which is partly owned by Mizuho Bank and The Norinchukin Bank.



Baker & McKenzie Habib Al Mulla was the legal adviser to CHI on the deal, said a statement from the company.



Husam Kutaifan, the managing director and head of investment banking of EIBank, said: This transaction marks another achievement for our investment banking team in the F&B sector.



Our experience and knowledge of the UAE market, together with the capabilities and skills of our team, continue to give us the edge we need to identify the right opportunities for our clients, stated Kutaifan.



We are currently involved in a number of transactions across the GCC, particularly in the healthcare, education and F&B sectors  all fast growing in the region. As this momentum continues to build, we look forward to seeing more value-adding deals come to fruition in the coming period, he added.



Founded in the UAE in 1999, CHI is a meat wholesale company that specialises in importing meat products from New Zealand and Australia and distributing them to high-end hotels, restaurants, cafes and major supermarket chains in the UAE and Oman.



Gulf Japan Food Fund is a private equity fund set up to promote the export of Japans agricultural and fisheries products, and related production and operation technology. TradeArabia News Service
The Duqm Special Economic Zone Authority (Sezad) has invited tenders from leading consultancy services for the design and construction of onshore facilities and associated infrastructure for a fishery port in the Duqm region of Oman.



The all-weather fishery port suitable for traditional dhows, coastal fleet and big scale fishing vessels has been proposed to be built at Shuwayr, which is to the south of the commercial port of Duqm. The project is part of the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries' fisheries sector development programme.

Sezad had recently signed various memorandums of understanding with a number of Omani companies to develop a fisheries hub in Duqm, including processing, laboratories, logistics and other support facilities.

The last date for submitting the tenders is July 4.-TradeArabia News Service
Joe Castro, Rotary Club of Pisgah Forest member, recently received Rotary International's highest honor, the Service Above Self Award. This honor recognizes Rotarians who demonstrate Rotary's motto, Service Above Self, by volunteering their time and talents to help others.

The award was given in recognition of Castro's work in the Philippines, helping children with heart defects. He has been managing a multi-year global grant to provide open-heart surgery and training for local medical teams to perform the surgeries themselves. This on-going project is in partnership with the Rotary Club of Makati West in the Philippines, Duke Medical Center and Philippines Children's Hospital.

Castro's work on the medical missions continues. The current global grant, which is in effect through April 2019, allows for medical treatment of 114 children born with congenital heart conditions. They will be treated for their life-threatening ailments and provided with pre- and post-operative care by Filipino health care professionals.

Rotary District 7670 Governor Bill Biddle, Club President Jim Cruickshank, District Governor Nominee Tiffany Ervin and Past District Governor Raymond Ciriaco of District 3810 in the Philippines were all present at the May 2 breakfast meeting to award and congratulate Castro as he received this honor.

The award is internationally competitive and is granted each year to no more than 150 Rotarians worldwide, and no more than one from each district.

Castro was surprised and honored by the award.

"It came as a complete surprise that my part in the efforts to save children's lives would be deserving of this award from Rotary International," he said. "I feel deeply honored, and I thank our club for giving me the opportunity to serve."

Rotary International, the world's first service club organization, consists of more than 32,000 clubs in more than 200 countries and geographical areas. Strong fellowship among Rotarians and meaningful community and international projects characterize Rotary worldwide. Rotary Club of Pisgah Forest meets on Wednesday at 8 a.m. at Pisgah Fish Camp.
When asked about his tour in Vietnam, Purvis James Boatwright Jr. responds with a mixture of enthusiasm and regret. During the war, Boatwright was a captain in the Marine Corps, serving as a radar intercept operator (RIO) on the F-4 Phantom, a long-range supersonic interceptor aircraft and fighter bomber. His joy of flying conflicts with survivors guilt, a condition common among those who have served in combat.

A native of Orangeburg, S.C., Boatwright graduated from the University of the South in Sewanee, Tenn. in 1965. Knowing he would soon be drafted, Boat-wright joined the U.S. Marine Corps. After attending Officers Candidate School and The Basic School at Quantico, he was offered the opportunity to attend flight school at Pensacola.

I figured flying would be the lesser of two evils of being on the ground or in the air, he said.

The Tigers Squadron

Boatwright arrived at Danang air base in 1967, a member of the VMFA 542 Tigers Squadron. Sitting behind the pilot as an RIO, his role was to help manage the battlefield and mission execution. In support of the Marines on the ground, most of the squadrons missions provided close air support for Marine and Army units. The squadron also made night flights at 30,000 feet, dropping bombs as directed by ground control. During his year in Vietnam, Boat-wright flew more than 100 missions, sometimes as many as three a day in good weather.

Boatwrights primary tasks were navigation and communications.

Communications is very important because you can get messed up in a minute, he said. It can get complicated with different parties trying to talk at the same time. You get so you can understand them all, ignoring what you dont need to know.

An accident on his first day in Vietnam proved instrumental in Boat-wrights flying experience.

We were drinking beer and wrestling and I broke my leg, he said. The brass did not think that was funny at all.

While recovering, Boatwright was assigned to a job in intelligence where he briefed and debriefed air crews. It was a good experience.

You got the inside scoop on what was happening on the ground and what happened to people when they flew, he said.

This assignment offered Boatwright the chance to meet other officers and pilots  relationships that later enabled him to fly planes other than the F-4s.

All the flights I flew in the F-4 Phantoms were with my squadron. And then I would approach pilots I knew through debriefing. Id talk to the pilot and say let me go with you sometime. And they would, he said.

Phantoms

According to Boa-twright, the F-4 Phantom was the hottest airplane in the Marine Corps arsenal.

It was the creme de la creme of planes, he said.

The Phantom crews close-support missions sometimes made the difference between life and death for their fellow Marines. According to Boatwright, it was impersonal combat.

We talked to forward air controllers and theyd say Were going to throw smoke out and we want you to drop your bombs 100 yards North of that smoke. It was always in the middle of the jungle so we didnt see anything except the trees. We werent eyeball to eyeball with the enemy, he said.

Skyhawks

Boatwright flew many missions in the TA-4 Skyhawk, a subsonic attack aircraft which performed both close air support and deep strike missions. While the A-4 is a single seat aircraft, the TA-4 (the T stands for training) is a two-seater, used in the U.S. for training. In Vietnam the TA-4 was used for surveillance. My job was to search for targets of opportunity, he said.

We flew several hundred miles into North Vietnam and we were shot at a lot.

If the Skyhawk crew located a target, they would call in the Air Force to handle it. The Skyhawk was the plane John McCain was flying when he was shot down in North Vietnam.

I had more fun in the TA-4 than anything else, said Boatwright. I hate using the word fun, but in retrospect, it was fun to fly those planes. 

Intruders

On one occasion, Boatwright flew a mission in an A-6 Intruder, an all-weather medium attack aircraft which is very efficient at subsonic speeds.

These were the planes that would drop the ordnance on Hanoi, he said Theyd fly to North Vietnam at night, low level, in between the mountains, often suffering severe damage.

The pilot that Boatwright flew with was highly skilled.

One morning, as we were waiting to take off, we watched as his plane returned from a mission. Theyd been all shot up, Boatwright said. They only had one main gear and the nose gear down, a wing was partially shot off and the tail was partially shot off. The ground crew had foamed the first 200 yards of the runway and the A-6 had to catch a wire or they could have crashed and burned. They caught the wire and jumped out. The pilot got the Silver Star for that. It was incredible watching them come in. That shows how good those pilots are.

Boatwright noted that the F-4 was like driving a Porsche, whereas the A-6 was like driving a Cadillac.

Returning Home

Returning to the states, Boatwright encountered recriminations and hostility.

I was in uniform when I got to Columbia, SC. The taxi driver would not take me home, so I had to walk. I had one friend whose brother kicked me out of his house, he said.

He also suffered from survivors guilt.

Youd be flying and someone would come up on the radio, a helicopter crew had gone down, and theyd be shouting Mayday, Mayday, and then there was silence. You knew theyd probably been killed. That happened a lot, he said.

Boatwright also had several friends who were killed.

He said, I also felt guilty because our living conditions were relatively luxurious compared to the Marines in the field. We had hot meals every day, showers (albeit cold showers), and we lived in air conditioned huts, whereas the grunts were hot and filthy, eating c-rats and getting shot at.

Boatwright returned to the states and served as an S-2 Intelligence Officer at Beaufort, S.C. After leaving the service in May 1970, he attended the University of Georgia and went on to veterinary school. In 1998 he sold his practice and moved back to Brevard. Today, he lives on See Off Mountain on land purchased by his grandmamma in the late 1800s. He assists the Humane Society and is a member of the Transyl-vania County Honor Guard.

Boatwright is proud to have served his country, but he regrets our intervention in Vietnam.

Why didnt we listen to the French? he asked. It made me so angry  if youre fighting a war, you should fight it to win. Vietnam was a political war.

As to his military service, there are no regrets.

Ive been to college and to veterinary school. But Im more proud of being a Marine than anything else, he said. I have nothing but praise for the Marine Corps. And thats why Im doing this article. It lets me be a Marine again.

(In collaboration writer Michel Robertson, and the WNC Military History Museum The Transylvania Times will publish an article once every two weeks on a local veteran who served in Vietnam.)
Extremists are increasingly flowing from the Middle East into Southeast Asia, making the region "the hub of world terrorism activities," a Chinese delegate has warned the Shangri-La Dialogue in Singapore.

Speaking to the Global Times in Singapore on Sunday, delegate Zhang Chi, an associate professor at the Institute for Strategic Studies, People's Liberation Army (PLA)'s National Defense University, said Southeast Asian countries must cooperate more deeply with China on anti-terrorism.

China and some Southeast Asian countries have already begun joint anti-terrorism drills and will expand cooperation in the near future, Zhang noted.

Terrorism spreads fast, Zhang said, and Southeast Asia's religious landscape and relatively less developed political and economic conditions make the region "a hotbed for extremists."

Almost 200 people were killed during a terrorist attack in the Philippines Malawi City in May last year, the Xinhua News Agency reported.

Isnilon Hapilon, leader of a militant group in the Philippines founded with funds from Al Qaeda, which has also pledged loyalty to Islamic State, was held responsible for the slaughter by Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte.

China has been enhancing anti-terrorism cooperation with Southeast Asian countries including weapons and drills, Li Wei, a counter-terrorism expert at the China Institute of Contemporary International Relations in Beijing, told the Global Times.

In early May, Chinese State Councilor and Minister of Public Security Zhao Kezhi held talks separately with Chansamone Chanyalath, Lao minister of national defense and Somkeo Silavong, Lao minister of public security, Xinhua said.

China was willing to work with Laos to boost cooperation in safeguarding national security, anti-terrorism and fighting drug-related crimes, Zhao said during the meeting.

Knowing that China's western Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region is heavily protected, terrorists are increasingly entering China from the southeast and east, Li said.

China, India and other countries are cooperating in fighting separatism, extremism and terrorism from Central Asia under the framework of Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO), Zhang noted.

In December, eight SCO countries held an anti-cyber-terrorism joint drill to improve coordination and share experiences in Xiamen, East China's Fujian Province, Xinhua reported.

Counter-terrorism cooperation is an important issue for the SCO, and the organization has staged biennial military Peace Mission exercises since 2003 to deal with the threat of "terrorism, separatism and religious extremism."

The latest, Peace Mission 2016, was held in Kyrgyzstan in September 2016.
A 2.5-cents property tax increase to help pay for the proposed new courthouse is scheduled to be approved as part of the countys 2019 fiscal year budget.

During this past Thursdays budget workshop, the Board of Commissioners reached unanimous consensus on the tax increase for the courthouse.

Commissioners are scheduled to approve the final budget at their June 25 meeting before the new fiscal year begins on July 1.

Public hearings on the budget are also proposed for June 12 and June 25.

As previously reported, no tax increase was initially proposed in County Manager Jaime Laughters $51.2 million budget for the 2019 fiscal year.

During Thursdays meeting, Commission Chairman Larry Chapman said the board had an obligation after voting unanimously in November to build a new courthouse besides the public safety complex in Morris Road to move forward, and that it was only fair to begin funding it in the upcoming budget.

Initially, according to county staff, the tax impact for payments on debt service for a $31 million courthouse would require a 2.15 cents increase at 3.5 percent for 40 years, with a flat annual payment of $1,451,646.

The value of a cent on the tax is $674,530.

The payment over the whole term of the 40-year loan is projected at roughly $58 million.

Commissioner Page Lemel agreed that the current board needs to take on the responsibility of funding the new courthouse.

The other key piece, she said, is looking at repurposing the existing courthouse.

Its important that we make some forward plans to begin that process, she said.

The county has discussed forming a committee to tackle what happens to the old courthouse after a new one is built.

Lemel said there will be expenses associated with that effort and there are also some ongoing maintenance and other issues with the current courthouse that will need to be addressed.

She suggested the tax rate should be increased 2.5 cents, with the extra funds not dedicated to the new courthouse be used for the committee and staff to get the current historic courthouse ready for the next tenant.

Commissioner Mike Hawkins said a 2.5-cents tax increase translates to roughly $43 more a year on a $175,000 home.

The countys current tax rate is $0.5110 per $100 of value.

He also agreed with Chapmans and Lemels comments.

Commissioner Kelvin Phillips said he, too, supported the tax increase and noted he and Commissioner Jason Chappell had been part of the discussions about the courthouse over many years, looking at all the options and studies.

Its needed, Phillips said of a new courthouse.

Phillips said some in the community have incorrectly feared the historic courthouse will be torn down, but he believes a lot of good uses can be found for the building.

Chappell said he supports the tax increase and building the new courthouse.

You are one incident away from paying a lot more than $31 million, he said. You are one judge away from paying a lot more than $31 million, as has happened in other counties, when they dictate that you will transport prisoners in air-conditioned fancy busses, with security, with everything else, to other counties until you build a correct and appropriate (courthouse). We are one judge away. We are one lawsuit away.

As previously reported, a judge recently ordered Graham County to relocate trials and budget for the expenses because its courthouse, which was built in 1942, may not be adequate to provide for a modern trial with the expected provisions for security and due process.

Chappell went on to say that the $31 million figure for the courthouse has not changed.

He said that some people out there want to double and triple that figure as a campaign issue.

Thats just a lie, Chappell said.

Four candidates are running for two seats on the board in November.

Three of the four, Will Cathey, Mike West and Davis Whitfield-Cargile, have publically come out against building a new courthouse.

Chapman said that comments made to the board have mentioned talking to 500 or 1,000 people, all of whom have spoken against the new courthouse.

Chapman said hes had one letter from a citizen against it and two or three emails.

He said that if the public has concerns, its no good telling your neighbor, but the public should tell commissioners. Chapman said hes heard more positive than negative comments about the plan.

If we dont hear from you, then pretty much, I think, you agree with what we are doing, he said.

Lemel read a letter sent to commissioners last October from Superior Court Judge Mark E. Powell about the Transylvania courthouse.

In the letter, Powell mentioned a case that happened a few years ago concerning someone accused of sexually assaulting a young male.

Powell talked about the jurors in the case dealing with the lack of parking, security issues and the planning required to make sure the jury couldnt see that the defendant was in custody.

Powell talked about having to pause several times because of noise from traffic and having to have doors locked because attorneys kept poking their heads in to see what was going on.

You can imagine how difficult it can be to testify in a trial, Powell said in the letter. For a young person testifying to strangers about sexual abuse, fear can be overwhelming. As the victim testified, I recall how his wide-eyed hyper-vigilance was displayed each time someone moved in the courtroom. We had a volunteer placed at the public entrance to keep disturbances there to a minimum. The defendant was convicted and no error was found in his trial.

Powell said that hes heard people say a courthouse is necessary to keep downtown vibrant, but he doesnt know any other evidence, other than anecdotal, that supports that assumption.

My point is that we do not want to be part of a vibrant downtown, Powell said. We want to be away from noise and people wandering off the street just to see what we are doing. We would like to have adequate parking for everyone, particularly jurors, and not need to worry when a special event is occurring in the town. As Ive expressed with frustration to others, on too many occasions, we would like to be able to do our job without maneuvering around all of the unneeded complications and distractions.

Chappell said hes heard several comments disagreeing and agreeing about the commissioners decision, which happens a lot.

It may not be a popular one, he suggested, but it was the right decision.

Phillips said hes had a couple of emails and a letter speaking out against the new courthouse. When hes talked to people, he said, and given them the facts, nearly all have changed their minds.

Hawkins mentioned that for those in downtown the uneasiness is in the uncertainty.

We have to be just as conscientious and just as focused on making sure that repurposing the existing courthouse achieves the kind of visionthat we have talked about and we think is achievable  in terms of really making that space, that site, be a dynamic addition to, not just the downtown community, but for all of the county, he said. I am convinced that is going to happen.

For more information, go to http://www.transylvaniacounty.org/transylvania-county-courthouse-project.
Superior Court Judge Robert Bell has denied Phillip Michael Stroupe IIs motion to move his first-degree murder trial out of Henderson County.

Bell did grant the defense motion to continue the trial from the current date of July 23.

Defense lawyers argued for additional time of anywhere from 18-24 months, saying they needed more time to prepare and that the District Attorneys Office is moving too fast for this type of case.

The judge allowed the continuance and directed District Attorney Greg Newman to not reschedule the trial before Jan. 28, 2019. Newman will announce a new trial date in the next few days.

Stroupe is accused of killing Mills River resident Thomas Bryson on July 26, 2017.

He is also charged with robbery with a dangerous weapon and first degree kidnapping.

Both crimes involved Bryson and were part of a continuing course of criminal conduct that began in Transylvania County and extended into Henderson County.

The murder of Bryson is alleged to have occurred right outside of Mills River in Buncombe County. Stroupe was arrested in McDowell County close to midnight on July 26, 2017.

Before Bell, lawyers for Stroupe argued that excessive pre-trial publicity makes it all but impossible for Stroupe to receive a fair trial locally.

Newman responded by telling the court that moving the trial is premature and that he believed he could seat an impartial jury in this case.

There is no requirement that prospective jurors come to court uninformed about the things taking place in their community, he said. The question is whether they can set aside the things they have read, seen or heard about the case and base a decision of guilt or innocence on the evidence presented in the trial. Some will be able to do that while others may not. We will not know, however, until we bring in the prospective jurors into court and ask them these questions.

The defense lawyers offered results from a telephone poll of 407 Henderson County residents to measure knowledge of the case facts.

Only 17 percent of persons polled knew anything about the case.

Another 61 percent knew nothing about the case.
Rosman Middle School's Missy West (second from left) was last week named as Transylvania County Schools' Teacher of the Year. Also pictured are (far left) Superintendent Jeff McDaris, Emily Webb (next to West), who was named Teacher Assistant of the Year, and Amber Webb, with First Citizens Bank.

Missy West of Rosman Middle School was named Teacher of the Year at an awards ceremony held in the Rogow Room of the Transylvania County Library last Thursday evening.

Rhonda Whitmire, who presented West as a candidate, said the teachers had nominated West before, but West declined because she was too busy with other things to complete the portfolio and other requirements for the award.

West, who has taught for 26 years, also obtained her master's degree, national board certification and doctoral degree, as well as helping other teachers obtain their national board certifications.

"She's been a busy lady," said Whitmire. "She has been a true advocate of learning."

According to some of West's students, she transforms "the lamest things into wonderful projects," makes "reading interesting" and "wears funny costumes and hats."

West was also described as one who is always in a good mood, has a smile on her face and an eye for creativity.

Amber Webb of First Citizens Bank, who named West as the winner, said that middle school is a time that can "make or break a young person's desire to learn."

She said that West had built strong relations with her students and peers and instilled in her students the importance of being lifelong learners.

She, too, praised West for mentoring other teachers.

"This will have a ripple effect in Transylvania County and beyond," said Webb.

Other Candidates

Prior to the announcement of West as Teacher of the Year, each principal introduced his or her school's candidate and why that teacher had been nominated.

April Gaydosh, principal of Brevard Elementary, said art teacher Nancy Frady is one of the "kindest, most dedicated and hardest working" teachers she has known.

She credited Frady's ability to collaborate with administration and other teachers in making Brevard Elementary a successful A+ school, a school in which the arts are incorporated into every discipline.

"You can really see the fruits of those labors," said Gaydosh. "I absolutely love working with her."

Brian Abernethy, principal of Brevard High, said French teacher Kathryn Bailey adjusts her curriculum to meet the needs of her students, sets high expectations, presents rigorous and relevant lessons and has a positive energy that is "contagious."

One student wrote of Bailey, who also sponsors the Student Council and French Club, "some things are just too extraordinary to describe."

Jeff Bailey, principal of Brevard Middle, said Jeffrey Micchelli adjusts his lessons to students, which is quite an achievement since Micchelli teaches language arts, science, math and social studies. He said Micchelli is creative, humble, passionate and compassionate.

"Whatever the student needs, he finds a way," said Bailey of Micchelli. "He makes it all about the students."

Donna Wilde, principal of Davidson River, said Susanne Pritchett excels at developing strong relations with her students and that her cheery nature makes learning business and marketing enjoyable.

"Observing in her classroom is really a joy," said Wilde. "The kids are genuinely interested. She really makes it fun and easy."

Tonya Treadway, principal of Pisgah Forest, said music teacher Carolyn Smith knows and teaches all of the students.

Not only is Smith creative in the classroom and students do not fear making mistakes, but she also takes time after school to head up the talent show and lead the school chorus, which has received state honors.

"These students look forward to music class and seeing Ms. Smith," said Treadway.

Scott Strickler, principal of Rosman Elementary, said kindergarten teacher Anna Poteat is able to take students who do not know the alphabet at the beginning of the year and transform them into readers by the end of the year.

"It is a truly amazing process," said Strickler, who added that Poteat's focus is always on the children.

Jason Ormsby, principal of Rosman High, said CTE and business teacher Laura Smith exhibits "tough love" by not accepting mediocre work but always making herself available for her students.

He said Smith, who is optimistic, humorous and positive "asks me if she can do extra."

"She is a problem solver," said Ormsby.

Audrey Reneau, principal of T.C. Henderson, said Nichole Cash is passionate about her students learning and having fun with hands-on projects.

She said Cash teaches students that it's not just about getting the right answer, but also persevering to reach a goal and understanding the process.

"Every child has the opportunity to shine," said Reneau. "She teaches from the heart."

The quote on the door to Cash's room reads "I have the future of the world in my class today."

Teacher Assistants

Emily Webb of Pisgah Forest Elementary School was named Teacher Assistant of the Year.

Webb assists in several classes, drives a bus and serves as an after school tutor.

Kevin Smith, coordinator of community-school relations, said teacher assistants serve multiple roles, from instructing small groups in the classroom to driving buses, and they do it with little recognition.

"Flying under the radar seems to be part of the job description," said Smith, who added that their purpose is to help students any way they can.

The eight nominees for Teacher Assistant of Year were Nancy Lawing of Brevard Elementary, Pattie Lance of Brevard High, Karen Britt of Brevard Middle, Jason Janco of Davidson River, Webb of Pisgah Forest, Forrest Johnson of Rosman Elementary, Sandy O'Rourke of Rosman High and Renee Averitt of T.C. Henderson.

Principal of the Year

In describing Reneau, who was named principal of the year, Superintendent Jeff McDaris read a teacher's comments: "Our principal is someone you cannot catch standing still."

The teacher also wrote that Reneau will take a pie in the face, dress like Clifford, the big red dog, don the immortal Tiger suit, and anything else that needs to be done to make the school successful.

She always has a smile and an infectious laugh, and is a team player who advocates for the entire community.

Other Award Winners

Katerina Canter of Rosman High was named Rookie of the Year.

Dawn Brookshire of T.C. Henderson was named Media/Technology Person of the Year.

Denise Reese of Rosman Middle was named Student Services Person of the Year.

Reflections

Rebecca Green, Teacher of the Year for 2017-18, spoke prior to the awards' presentations and said of teachers, "We take care of the whole child."

Green said teachers provide food, clothing and showers and that each school has its own laundromat.

"On top of that, we actually teach the kids something," said Green.

She said that teachers rejoice when their students succeed and have heartbreak when they fail. Even with all of the extra duties, she still is glad to be a teacher. McDaris concluded the evening by emphasizing that everyone involved in the school system, from bus drivers and counselors to teachers and administrators, play an important role and have an impact on the classroom.

He said the relations that school staff build with students are essential to everyone's success, adding that students will not remember what grade they made on an eighth grade English test, but they will remember their favorite people.

"It's about the relationships," said McDaris.
On the front page of todays B section, readers will find two stories about the senior class presidents and student body presidents at Brevard and Rosman high schools. While their stories reflect their self-confidence and academic preparation for college, each student also spoke of teachers and school staff going far beyond academics, of supporting them in any manner possible.

Both Kaylin Lewandowski of Rosman High and Kaine McAlister of Brevard High had to adjust to new schools, with Lewandowski transferring to Rosman in seventh grade and McAlister transferring to Brevard in 11th grade....
Canal Central Hotel in Business Bay is all set to welcome its first guests with a soft opening during Eid al Fitr that is expected to fall around mid of June.



(TRAVPR.COM) UNITED ARAB EMIRATES - June 4th, 2018 - Canal Central Hotel in Business Bay is all set to welcome its first guests with a soft opening during Eid al Fitr that is expected to fall around mid of June. The luxurious hotel, that recently received a 5-star rating, has been developed in contemporary style in keeping with the brands Stay Fresh concept.

Mr Ammar Kanaan, General Manager of Central Hotels, stated, Canal Central Hotel is a fabulous addition to our portfolio and we are very excited to open our doors on the occasion of Eid. The hotel has been developed as a unique and luxurious address combining the highest international standards with locally-inspired touches. Of its many memorable features, the unobstructed views of the Canal or Burj Khalifa are undeniably a key highlight. The development of Canal Central Hotel reinforces are commitment to creating exceptional experiences with distinctive hospitality, outstanding gastronomic concepts and superb facilities.

Boasting beautiful and inspiring spaces complemented with the brands signature personalised service, Canal Centrals personality reflects its neighbourhoods vibe and energy. The hotel is conveniently located in Business Bay on Sheikh Zayed Road, only a few minutes away from Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC), Dubai Design District, Dubai International Convention Centre and Exhibition Halls, The Dubai Mall, Burj Khalifa and Dubai Fountains.

Equipped with the finest amenities, each of Canal Centrals 280 spacious rooms and suites offer spectacular Canal or Burj Khalifa views. Completing the experience are a hand-picked selection of dining outlets, flexible meeting spaces, state-of-the-art gymnasium and spa, a stunning infinity swimming pool and male and female salon. A huge attraction at the hotel will be Lillys Social House, that is coming to town for the first time and will offer exceptional food, innovative beverages and live nightly jazz.

About Central Hotels

Central Hotels has very quickly established itself as a reputed hotel management group in the UAE with its flagship property First Central Hotel Suites located in Barsha Heights (TECOM) near Sheikh Zayed Road. Building up on this amazing success, the brand is now poised to expand its footprint targeting Turkey and the UAE as the primary markets for growth in addition to other lucrative markets in the Middle East. Opening soon are spectacular new 5-star hotels such as Canal Central Business Bay and Royal Central The Palm followed by Central House Citywalk focused on millennials, Novotel The Palm, Diamond Central - Business Bay, and Island Central in Dubai, as well as Valley Central Bursa, and Valley Central Trabzon in Turkey.

For more information about First Central Hotel Suites and Central Hotels visit: www.firstcentraldubai.com | www.central-hotels.com

For media contact:

Hina Bakht

Managing Director

EVOPS Marketing & PR

Mob: 00971 50 6975146

Tel: 00971 4 566 7355

Hina.bakht@evops-pr.com

www.evops-pr.com

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The beach of Creta Maris Beach Resort was awarded as one of the best privately exploiting sustainable beaches in the Mediterranean, by receiving the certification Sustainable Beach of the Mediterranean by Costa Nostrum - Sustainable Beaches program.



(TRAVPR.COM) GREECE - June 4th, 2018 - The official award ceremony, which took place on Saturday 26th of May, at Creta Maris premises, was attended by 90 scientists and researchers from all over the world, who were participating in the 2018 International Sandy Beaches Symposium, which this year was hosted by the Institute of Marine Biology, Biotechnology and Aquaculture of HCMR, in Crete.

On the occasion of this award, the Chairman and Managing Director of Metaxas Group of Companies, Mr. Andreas Metaxas stated the following:

We are more than happy to receive the Sustainable Beach of the Mediterranean award for Creta Maris beach, as beside the provision of authentic and high-quality accommodation services, which are the core of our philosophy, the environment is in our main interests.

This certification highlights in the best possible way our vision of Creta Maris beach being the ultimate destination for relaxation in Hersonissos, and our non-negotiable commitment to protecting the environment and meet the needs of the entire local community."

About Creta Maris Beach Resort:

Creta Maris Beach Resort with a capacity of 680 rooms, has been originally launched in 1975 and is situated next to Hersonissos, just 25 minutes (24km) from the Heraklion Airport. With a capacity of 680 rooms, suites and bungalows, 6 restaurants, 7 bars, 7 swimming pools, gym, Hammam spa, Asterias Childrens Club, and a great space for outdoor and indoor activities, Creta Maris is a blend of tradition and luxury together on a beautiful beach with crystal clear waters where guests can experience the authentic Cretan hospitality.

About Costa Nostrum:

The Certification Standard for Sustainable Management and Development of the Mediterranean Beaches - Costa Nostrum is an original and innovative tool that can objectively guarantee the sustainable development of the Mediterranean beaches, primarily by defending the environment, greatly contributing to the financial development of the region around sustainable Costa Nostrum beaches and, of course by ensuring social cohesion and prosperity of the citizens of the region.

Please find pictures on high resolution on the below link:

https://we.tl/mqbwTnmMYX

Please find pictures of Creta Maris Beach Resort on high resolution on our site:

https://www.cretamaris.gr/media-and-photo-gallery-crete-hotel/photos

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CHTA's Frank Comito speaks about the region's recovery.

TOURISM CHIEF UPBEAT ABOUT THE CARIBBEAN'S FUTURE

CHTA's Frank Comito expresses confidence in the Caribbean's tourism performance

MIAMI (June 4, 2018) - High consumer demand for a Caribbean travel experience and increased tourism investments in hotels and airport improvements bode well for the future of the Caribbean's tourism sector, which is exceeding 2018 expectations despite the fact that some hotels in six of the Caribbean's 32 major destinations are still in rebuilding mode following last year's hurricanes.

"A growing number of travelers are understanding that the Caribbean is a vast region comprising many diverse destinations all rich in natural beauty but each distinct in its history, music, culture, food and welcoming hospitality," said Frank Comito, CEO and Director General of the Caribbean Hotel and Tourism Association (CHTA). "Just like a winter blizzard may affect the northeastern United States while people are sunbathing on Miami Beach, a weather incident in one part of the Caribbean does not affect the overwhelming majority of the Caribbean."

Thanks to the robust upturn in the tourism sector, many parts of the region are seeing corresponding growth in employment, visitor spending, government revenue, and public and private sector investments to upgrade and expand the tourism product. "Capitalizing on these trends and getting the region to work together on marketing and addressing other matters which can cause tourism to be an even greater economic engine for the region is a challenge which the region's public and private sector leaders must embrace," states Comito.

Comito echoed a challenge by Frank Rainieri, the noted developer of the Punta Cana region in the Dominican Republic, to attendees at the Caribbean Hotel and Resort Investment Summit (CHRIS) in Miami last month to work together on common matters which impact the entire Caribbean region, in particular aviation, marketing and sustainability. Rainieri, chairman and founder of Grupo Puntacana, received CHRIS' Lifetime Achievement Award at the event.

A CHTA study earlier this year revealed that 58 percent of hoteliers have a positive or extremely positive outlook for the industry's future. This was reinforced by the record level of attendees at CHRIS as investor interest in the Caribbean has strengthened since the two Category 5 hurricanes of 2017. According to data recently collected by the World Travel and Tourism Council, hurricane-affected destinations themselves anticipate annual tourism spending growth of 8.7 percent in 2019 through 2021.

"In all of our discussions with industry stakeholders from destinations such as Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, the British Virgin Islands, St. Maarten, Dominica and Anguilla, we fully expect them to be showcasing to the traveler a completely revamped, fresh new product. We're already beginning to see that in several of the destinations and, later this year, expect it to accelerate as more refurbished and rebuilt hotels come on stream," Comito stated.

Attendees at the CHRIS conference were pleasantly surprised by data from a just released KPMG study which shows the boost in lender confidence: "We felt post-hurricanes that there might be a diminishing of confidence, but it's stronger than it's been since post the recession, with a significant shift by commercial lenders," the CHTA CEO noted.

Bolstering the healthy growth and rapid recovery from the storms is the increased airlift coming into the region from North America and Europe, which Comito asserted is at a record pace. "An increase in arrivals and activity, as well as the amount of hotel investments points very positively to where the region is headed."

Over the past several months all the major carriers serving the region have announced plans for new and expanded service into the Caribbean. However, it was among regional carriers where Comito saw a significant rise. He pointed to InterCaribbean Airways as an example, which four years ago served a dozen locations in five destinations and currently covers 22 airports in 13 countries.

The CHTA chief reported on the completion of several airport expansions in recent years and cited more than a dozen other airports which are under construction or are in the planning stage.

CHTA also reported on a major expansion thrust by leading hotel brands and chains and the debut in the region of new independent boutique and luxury hotels as well as the growth of the sharing economy.

Hurricanes Irma and Maria, despite the devastation they wreaked, Comito contended, also delivered critical messages for the future of the region - more than 70 percent of which was unaffected by the storms: "The hurricanes taught us that the Caribbean is viewed as one brand in the minds of the public and the consumer. The lesson learned is that we've got to work more closely together as a region, public and private sectors, to let the world know about the lifetime of experiences and destinations which our vast region offers."

But Comito, whose association comprises private sector hospitality and tourism stakeholders, cautioned against complacency: "While we've been on a good growth curve in both the hotel and arrivals side of it in terms of the data, it doesn't take much to swing positive numbers to negatives. We are working with our industry and public sector partners to build a new spirit of collaboration. The need for this became even more apparent in recent years as we've worked to counter the negative impacts, largely due to mistaken public perceptions of storms and other natural occurrences. We need to be diligent, to be ready to bounce back and respond as effectively as possible."

These and other Caribbean travel and tourism issues will take center stage at CHTA's fourth Caribbean Hospitality Industry Exchange Forum (CHIEF), taking place at the Hyatt Regency Miami from June 22 to 24.
Source: The Sun

Philip Nwosu, Lagos

Six foreign warships and 12 Nigerian Navy combat vessels exhibited their prowess in international maritime policing in a joint multinational navies maneuver, code name EXERCISE EKU KUGBE, which was held at the Bight of Benin. The Exercise which was concluded early Friday with a debrief staged to commemorate the 62nd anniversary of the Nigerian Navy. Flagging off the Exercise onboard the Nigerian Navy Ship (NNS) OKPABANA, Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Ibok Ibas, said that the maneuver was to promote regional cooperation, especially as it enjoys the support of other friendly navies beyond the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) and Economic Community of Central African States regions.

Twelve Nigerian Navy ships and one each from Cameroon, Ghana, Togo, China, France and Portugal participated in the exercise, the naval chief said. The exercise is aimed at promoting regional cooperation and coordination for the enhancement of maritime security in the Gulf of Guinea (GOG). The CNS said that the Gulf of Guinea was rich in both living and non-living resources, including oil and gas, and fisheries. It is also the primary conduit of international trade and is central to the economy of the associated regions. The gulf is increasingly looked upon today as a resource provider and critical contributor to national growth and prosperity of the several nations lining its coasts, and even those landlocked and with no shared boundaries, he explained.

According to the naval chief, the Gulf of Guinea is faced with a myriad of potent threats in and around its environment, including maritime terrorism, resource theft and sabotage of their supporting infrastructure. Other notable threats are piracy and armed robbery which target maritime trade and, therefore, the economy of the nations. The use of unregulated movements at sea for seaborne trafficking in humans, narcotics and arms, and the incidents of smuggling, are pervasive and remain issues of grave concern. It is imperative that an environment conducive for the unhindered conduct of shipping, fishing and offshore exploration and other maritime interests that contribute vitally to economic growth and national development, is established, Ibas noted. The Exercise, which was led by Nigerian Navy frigate NNS OKPABANA, and supported NNS UNITY, saw also the deployment of Chinese guided-missile frigate Yancheng to Lagos to participate in the maneuver.
It's the U.S. that is militarizing the South China Sea, not China, a senior Chinese military official said in an exclusive interview with CGTNs Global Watch program on Sunday.

Zhou Bo, the Senior Colonel and director of Security Cooperation Center of Chinas Central Military Commission, made the remarks at the 17th Asia Security Summit in Singapore, in response to recent remarks by U.S. Secretary of Defense James Mattis.

Zhou said Chinas land reclamation in the South China Sea is not prohibited by any international law and the U.S. is the prominent factor in instability of the region.

During the Obama administration, the U.S. Navy conducted a line of operations in the South China Sea. But in Trumps time, the number has increased to nine, suggesting the U.S. has regularized its operations in the South China Sea, he said.

The annual Asia Security Summit, also known as the Shangri-La Dialogue, is an international security conference. The three-day summit is scheduled to conclude on Sunday.
editorial@tribune.com

Vijay C Roy

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, June 4

Plastic card holders beware! Predators are working upon your data to steal your hard-earned money. For instance, A Mohali-based assistant professor lost Rs 73,500 to fraudsters earlier this year. Interestingly, the debit card was very much with her.

Another incidence involves a Chandigarh resident who called the customer care of the bank after getting the number from a website. He wanted to know the delivery status of his cheque book. The impostor, who posed as a customer care executive, asked for the debit card number and the one-time password (OTP). Being an aware customer, he refused to share the details. Most of the gullible customers, however, become easy victims.

The Reserve Bank of Indias data shows that customer complaints from Haryana, Chandigarh, Punjab and Himachal Pradesh were 8,189 in 2016-17. The number is likely to exceed over 9,000 for 2017-18. The RBI compiles data with a lag. Its northern region involves only three districts of Haryana.

According to RBI officials, most of the cases involve unaware customers who share their OTPs with the fraudulent callers posing as bank officials.

Chandigarh-based RBI regional office is alarmed at the rising cases of such frauds in the northern region. There is a spurt in such activities because of increasing use of online transactions and growth of e-commerce and digital payments.

The increase in fraudulent transactions is attributed to lack of awareness where people often share their personal and card details, RBI Regional Director Rachna Dixit said.

In the annual publication on banking ombudsman for 2016-17, RBI said it had received 1,30,987 complaints, i.e., 27% more cases compared to the previous year. The banking ombudsman in New Delhi received the highest number of complaints (24,837) that contributed 19% of the total complaints received from across the country. Four metro centres i.e New Delhi, Chennai, Kolkata, Mumbai and two non-metro centres  Ahmedabad and Chandigarh put together  accounted for 58% of the total complaints. In order to make the customers aware, the RBI has decided to observe the first week of the month (June 4 to 8) as Financial Literacy Week.

Good Practices for Digital Banking

Dos

 Use verified and trusted browsers

 Use secured websites for payments

 Keep payment apps updated

 Transfer money to known beneficiaries

 Check SMS message after transaction

Donts

 Avoid login through shared computers

 Avoid transaction through free networks

 Dont share PINs, OTPs, CVV and UPI PIN

 Avoid sharing your card details with others
editorial@tribune.com

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, June 4

The crime branch of the UT police claims to have solved 10 cases of vehicle theft, two of snatching and one of theft with the arrest of four miscreants, including two juveniles.

Ravi Kumar, SP (Operations), said the prime accused, Ajay, alias Modi, a habitual snatcher who was previously involved in robbery, snatching and vehicle lifting cases, had surrendered in the court on May 28. The crime branch then obtained the production warrant of the accused and interrogated him.

During the interrogation, Ajay revealed the names of two juveniles, aged 15 years and 17 years, who were his accomplices, who were then apprehended by a team, led by Inspector Amanjot Singh, in-charge of the crime branch. The police recovered two stolen motorcycles from their possession.

The police then arrested the fourth accused, Amit, alias Abdul, who was also involved in the crime along with Ajay and his accomplices. The police claimed that Abdul had a tainted past as he was earlier booked in a case of murder and robbery and he was at present out on bail.

Ajay was involved in 15 snatchings: Police

The police said Ajay claimed to have committed 15 snatchings in Mohali, Barmajra and Mullanpur. The police recovered seven mobile phones from the accused that were snatched from these areas.
editorial@tribune.com

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, June 3

Over 150 cancer survivors along with their doctors celebrated National Cancer Survivors Day at Law Bhawan here on Sunday. The survivors and the doctors walked the ramp and performed bhangra to mark the occasion. Vivek Atray, a motivational speaker, was the chief guest.

Nisha (name changed), one of the jubilant survivors, said: Today was a celebration for those who have survived like me. The event is an inspiration for those who were recently diagnosed with the disease to overcome it with grit.

Another cancer survivor Pooja said: The human spirit is stronger than anything that can happen to it, I have learnt that when you feed your faith, your fears will starve to death. I am hugely indebted to the doctors and my family who stood by me through this tough time.
Bhartendu Kumar Singh

Bhartendu Kumar Singh

Indian Defence Accounts Service

When China sent its first domestically produced aircraft carrier for maiden sea trials recently, it joined a select group of countries capable of domestic production, maintenance and operation of aircraft carriers. Glorious moments notwithstanding, China's domestic military-industrial complex (MIC) has successfully achieved a 'great leap forward' in all segments of weapon production, turning the once front-ranking weapons importer into a lead exporter. In the process, it has emerged as the mainstay of China's military power projection.

Till early nineties, China's domestic MIC was in shambles, both in quantitative and qualitative terms. It was producing vintage aircraft, tanks and other armory that were inferior to products available in the international arms market. There were simply too many men producing too little things in the archival MIC. China's weapons requirement was primarily met through imports from Russia and other sources. The budgetary support was limited and the MIC units were making ends meet through conversion of defence technology for civilian use and commercial entrepreneurship. The MIC's poor state of affairs was one of many reasons in China's mid-nineties strategic retreat in the Taiwan Straits.

Rise of Chinas military might

Techno-nationalism: The US advances in Revolution in Military Advances (RMA), evident in the Gulf War of 1991, provided the necessary impetus for China's MIC reforms and modernisation. Since then, China has used various tactics to consolidate, strengthen and expand its MIC. Apart from liberal budgetary allocation, China resorted to reverse-engineering and technology-thefts, wherever possible. Techno-nationalism was the driving force enabling China to develop, and in due course, lead in innovation, diffusion and proliferation of defence technology and research and development (R&D) in expanding MIC. The shipbuilding industry, perhaps, best exemplifies cataclysmic advances made by MIC. China has been producing the largest number of ocean-going tankers and big ships for quite some time. This also explains how China's second aircraft carrier, built indigenously, sprang up so fast!

From importer to exporter of weapons: Chinese MIC's rising profile is evident in China's role reversal in the international weapons market. A decade back, China was the world's largest arms importer. However, as per the latest SIPRI figures, China was the fifth largest arms exporter in 2013-17, accounting for 6 per cent of the global sales. Its arms exports rose by 38 per cent between 2008-12 and 2013-17. China exports weapons to 55 countries worldwide, covering Asia, West Asia and Latin America, and many of its clients are developing countries. South Asian neighbours of India (except Bhutan) heavily depend upon Chinese weapons supplies. Though Chinese arms companies are not covered by the SIPRI Fact Sheet (December 2017) on top 100 arms producing and military services companies due to lack of data; based on military spending, China's arms sales and limited information on individual companies, at least 9 to 10 companies would almost certainly be in the top 100 if figures for arms sales were available. Of these, four to six would probably be in the top 20; and two (the aircraft producer AVIC and the land systems producer NORINCO) may be in the top 10.

Most importantly, Chinese exports are shifting from low-end weapons to increasingly advanced ones. For example, China has one of the best fourth generation fighter jets in J-20 and developing countries that can't afford to buy fifth generation aircraft from the US etc, won't mind settling for the same. Similarly, China has inducted Y-20, the heavy transport aircraft, into its PLA Air Force in 2016 and is ideal for transporting cargo and people over long distances in diverse weather conditions.

China's MIC advances are being noticed in the US and elsewhere. Annual reports by the US Department of Defence on Chinese military power include dedicated segments in Chinese advances in weapons production. Additionally, the US China Commission (USCC) takes authoritative updates from various sources about the narrowing gap between the US and Chinese military scorecards. For example, on May 12 this year, the USCC heard from the Jane's (reputed publishers on defence matters) on China's advanced weapons systems. The core hypothesis of the 250-page document, ie about the US lead being eroded, is alarming for Pentagon since Chinese advances may have a potentially disruptive impact on global security.

Plan to be world leader

China's domestic MIC maturity and its consequential rise notwithstanding, Beijing is aware that 'technological parity' with the US is a distant milestone. This has compelled China to design a strategic plan to overtake the US. The 13th five-year science and technology plan, announced in 2016, along with 'make in China plan 2025'are focussed on production of front-end defence technology and weapons. In March 2017, China declassified some 3,000 defence patents for civilian use. In October 2017, President Xi Jinping announced in the 19th Party Congress grandiose plans to enter the first tier of most innovative countries by 2035 and establish leadership by 2050. China is fast developing the necessary infrastructure to achieve these milestones.

1 First, as David Shambaugh in his book (China's Future, Polity Press, 2016) notes, China is investing 2.1 per cent of its GDP in R&D. A substantial portion of this would fund defence R&D. Even with the current investment trajectory, Shambaugh feels that China would overtake US investment figures by 2022.

2 China has 52 per cent of university students graduating in science and technology every year. This talent pool would enhance research in MIC.

3 China has the best model of civil-military integration on dual use of technology, unlike other countries where the two are often in competition and conflict.

4 As the second largest economy, with a complete integration with the global market, China could pillion-ride on front-end technology available at competitive rates elsewhere for defence purposes.

The emergence of a powerful and innovative MIC in China is influencing Chinese behavioural outcome towards its neighbours and great powers. China is supplying weapons at competitive rates and playing alliance and coalition-building exercises. Chinese advances in MIC, therefore, need to be studied carefully for iterating the lessons and a calibrated response.

Views are personal
Pravin Sawhney

Pravin Sawhney

MATCHING the US in words and deed, Prime Minister Narendra Modi has positioned military diplomacy at the forefront of his Act East policy with ASEAN as its fulcrum. Reading this as Indias walk-back from the Wuhan understanding, China issued a terse warning. If India really seeks military access to the strategic island of Sabang in Indonesia (which dominates the Malacca Strait), it might wrongfully entrap itself into a strategic (which includes military) competition with China and eventually burn its fingers, the Global Times has cautioned.

No one told Modi that like the disputed land border with China, the Andaman and Nicobar (A&N) island chain is Indias maritime Achilles heel against the risen and militarily bold China. If the Peoples Liberation Army (PLA) could, with its successful military coercion, compel Modi to seek peace at Wuhan, it might not be long before the Peoples Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) does a Kargil, or worse, in A&N.

The A&N islands are 800 km long. Only 38 of the 572 islands which comprise the archipelago are occupied. Given the defensive and surveillance mandate of Indias tri-service Andaman and Nicobar Command (ANC) which is located here, its limited firepower and air defence assets, the abysmal inter-island connectivity, insufficient infrastructure to support and sustain naval and air operations, frugal maintenance ecosystem to assist permanent berthing of heavy warships and submarines, and with the naval reinforcements on the mainland being 1,200 km away, there are reasons for PLAN to consider military coercion by temporary occupation of uninhibited islands.

Moreover, while the Malacca mission-deployment started by the Navy in 2016 to support the Act East policy is steered by the ANC, it is unable to support it even for its operational turn-round, which involves providing fuel, rations and servicing. So, instead of seeking help from the Eastern Naval Command (ENC), the ANC depends on friendly ties with the Indonesian and Singaporean (which are much closer) navies for this. Yet, the mission remains half done: ships on round-the-clock mission deployment have limited firepower, with little possibility of help from the ANC. The problem gets compounded since most ships do not have anti-submarine warfare helicopter; it cannot do much with its SONAR (sound navigation and ranging) to locate submarines.

A few more statistics would put the maritime threat in perspective. A&N is 163 km from Sabang and 770 km from the coast of Myanmar. The Kra canal, which China has proposed to build in Thailand as part of its OROB initiative, will open into the Andaman Sea, barely 600 km from Port Blair. Since 2008, when it started its regular anti-piracy voyages to the Gulf of Aden, Chinas PLAN under the garb of innocuous sea forays, has gained a decade of valuable experience and intelligence to keep it in good stead in the Indian Ocean Region (IOR). Given the fast pace of Chinas warship-building and the audacity with which China has moved in to reclaim islands and militarise the South China Sea, PLANs roadmap for the IOR should be obvious, especially to the ANC, which straddles the western side of the Malacca Strait, commercially the busiest sea lane in the world, connecting western Pacific with the Indian Ocean north through the Andaman Sea.

Appreciating the vulnerability of the A&N, the Indian Navy had in 2000 under its chief, Admiral Sushil Kumar, forwarded a paper to the Defence Ministry for consideration. It was proposed that the existing Fortress Andaman and Nicobar (FORTAN), which was set up by the Navy in the 60s primarily for surveillance, be upgraded to Far Eastern Naval Command (FENC). This would have changed the mission, mindset and concomitant capability building here. From a defensive mission of FORTRAN, it would have changed to deterrence (with inbuilt offensive capabilities) for FENC to safeguard Indias strategic interests in Southeast Asia and the Malacca Strait by rapid deployment of military assets in the region. It would also have provided logistical and administrative support to naval ships which are sent on deployment to East Asia and the Pacific Ocean, without looking for operational, logistics and administrative help from the ENC in Visakhapatnam.

The government, however, refused to see what the naval headquarters had envisioned. It shelved the paper. The reason given was that while the forward-based naval command might not worry China, it was certain to scare friendly littoral neighbours like Indonesia, Thailand, Malaysia, Myanmar and Singapore. The unstated reason was that sanctioning a new command for the Indian Navy would not have gone down well with the other two defence services, the Army and the Air Force. They, too, would have sought an equal, if not more, compensation from the government, leading to internal bickering and an escalation in the annual defence allocation, something which is anathema to the Union Finance Ministry.

The government found an escape route in the 2001 Group of Ministers report which recommended the formation of a new tri-service  ANC  which, unfortunately, was and remains, nobodys (Army, Air Force, Navy and Coast Guard) baby.

Considering that the Modi government has since 2016 upgraded the ANC to a strategic command, it should first set its own house in order before flexing muscle in the Indo-Pacific Region. Instead of giving the Commander-in-Chief, ANC, post permanently to the Navy, which is being contemplated, the need is to name the ANC under the Chiefs of Staff Committee into the Navy-led and-owned FENC. Nothing less than this would help in meeting the emerging Chinese threat.
pardeepdhull@gmail.com

Washington, June 4

Ahead of mid-term polls in November, political parties in the US state of Virginia are trying to woo Indian-Americans as their increasingly swelling number can play a key role in deciding the election results.

At a time when the voting percentage in mid-term elections is coming down, the Indian-American community, whose number has increased significantly in recent years, can make a big impact by coming out to vote in large number and deciding the winner, said Delegate David Reid.

Seeking a re-election from the Virginia Assembly District 32, Reid urged Indian-American to be politically active.

The population of Indian-Americans in the Virginia suburb of Washington DC has increased significantly in the past one decade. In 2010, there were more than 100,000 Indian Americans in Virginia, an increase of 112 per cent since 2000.

However, there has been a substantial surge in the Indian-American population. Neighbourhoods like Ashburn in Loudon County in the last few years have emerged as Little India.

Nearly a dozen political leaders, delegates and those running for various elected offices this November turned up at an event organised by the Indian-American Forum for Political Education (IAFPE) in the Ashburn suburb of Washington DC yesterday.

This is a recognition of the increasing presence of Indian Americans in Virginia, said Satish Korpe, a member of the IAFPE.

Observing that the community has not been that active or that involved in the past, Delegate Mark Keam called for increasing the presence of Indian Americans and other Asian groups in politics.

We have to make change in the country where we live. We have to have representation, he said. Until the community has people who represent them directly, they need to elect people who can make policies favourable for them.

A former State Department official Alison Friedman, running for Congress from Virginia, said she is inspired by the two school girls she met in a remote Bihar village where she visited in her role as an American diplomat. First time I went outside of US is India. I went to a school in Bihar where people were studying under the tree, she said.

Make sure that your rights are secure in America. Who we are in the government, not only impacts your community, but also the entire world. If they can do it in Bihar, we can do it here, said Friedman, who is seeking to unseat Republican incumbent Barbara Comstock from the 10th Congressional District of Virginia.

Bharat Bhargava, a former Bush Administration official, said that Indian Americans have come a long way and have accomplished a lot in various parts of life, but there is need to increase their presence in politics. Indian-American Sant Gupta, past president of local Durga Temple, said that Indian Americans need to actively participate in the general elections.

Virginia Senator Tim Kaine, who was vice-presidential candidate for the 2016 presidential elections, sent a lengthy video message for the event in which he praised the contribution of Indian-Americans in the country and the State. Kaine, an influential Democratic Senator is seeking re-election in the November polls. PTI
vermaajay1968@gmail.com

By all contemporary political accounts, the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) was a crucial catalyst in altering the perception about the United Progressive Alliance from a people-oriented conglomeration into a crowd of unprincipled backers of the corporate world. Arvind Kejriwal accumulated his entire political capital purely by name calling the UPA, right from the heady days of the India Against Corruption platform. Therefore, more than a Deve Gowda aligning with the Congress  perceived as an expected volte face by an old school politician  the change of heart by principled advocates of a new polity stands out. That shouldnt have been a surprise. AAPs go-it-alone strategy worked wonderfully in Delhi. But it badly came a cropper elsewhere, most recently in Karnataka and Gujarat, where its nominees consistently scored less than NOTA (none of the above).

The realisation for reaching out to allies outside the AAP fold is recent. It came into play when AAP nominated non-party candidates for two Rajya Sabha seats as a quid pro quo to bail it out from its legal and tax troubles. The limitations of a political party that pitched its tent too wide and sought no allies were painfully obvious once the Centre began ratcheting up hostility against the AAP government. Neither the Congress nor the Left or the social justice parties were inclined to lend their shoulders in AAPs moments of discomfort and intimidation. With a change in government at the Centre, AAP had also lost its mojo of corruption. It was time to conceive of new tactics to stay relevant.

Arvind Kejriwals reach-out to the Congress seems appropriate in the context of the landscape being redrawn for the parliamentary elections for 2019. It should also bring gains for AAP in Delhi where its margins of defeat were less than the votes picked up by the Congress as well as Punjab where, realistically, it no longer enjoys the earlier dominance in pockets of Malwa. AAPs turnaround would upset the idealist camp follower, but alliances with the once-untouchables is its only prescription to box its way out of isolation and irrelevance.
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Shiv Kumar Sharma

Tribune News Service

Yamunanagar, June 4

The post-mortem on the body of the six-year-old daughter of an employee of Congress leader Nirmal Singh here shows that the girl was sexually assaulted.

A panel of three doctors conducted the post-mortem.

The cause of death is multiple injuries, including in the neck and genital area, said Dr Vijay Dahiya, medical superintendent of the local Civil Hospital. The post-mortem was conducted by Dr Param Shiv, Dr Arvind Chahal and Dr Nisha and the body was handed over to the family.

The case reminds one of the Surat incident of sexual assault and murder of a girl. The mutilated body of the 11-year-old girl with multiple injuries was found in April this year.

Father of the victim, Magan Singh, who belongs to Gumla district of Jharkhand, has been living along with his wife and two children at the leaders farm for six years and working there as a labourer.

He said his daughter, who went missing at 1 pm on Saturday, was last seen playing near the farm. Her body was found in a pit in the nearby mining zone at 2 pm on Sunday.

A case has been registered against an unidentified person under Section 302 (murder) of the IPC and Section 6 of the POSCO Act at Khizrabad police station.

SHO Lajja Ram said three special teams of police had been formed to crack the case. We have rounded up several people from the leaders farms. We are hopeful that the accused will be arrested soon, the SHO said.

A teary-eyed Magan Singh said the accused should be arrested soon and given exemplary punishment. The killer of my daughter should be given capital punishment, he said.
editorial@tribune.com

Our Correspondent

Sonepat, June 4

One Love Johar of Delhi Camp colony was killed and three others  Umesh, Kamal and Monu  of his family were injured after they were allegedly attacked by a group of armed youths in the colony here on Sunday night.

On the complaint of deceaseds brother Ajai, a case of murder and attempt to murder has been registered at the Civil Lines police station against eight persons. The accused have been identified as Dinesh, alias Bunty, his wife Geeta and his two sons, his cousin Mukesh and three others.

Demanding immediate arrest of the accused, Loves kin, including his wife Kavita, blocked the Bahalgarh Road on Monday morning, disrupting the traffic movement.

Civil Lines SHO Narender reached the spot and persuaded the protesting members of the family to lift the blockade. He assured them that the accused would be arrested soon. Love Johars body was handed over to his family after a postmortem at the Civil Hospital.

The SHO said there was a dispute among the members of a WhatsApp group over a photograph posted and it resulted in heated arguments on the group. Following this, Love Johar was asked to meet other members of the group. When the victim came out of his house on Sunday night, he was allegedly attacked with sticks and sharp weapons and he died on the spot, said the SHO. Three others were also injured and admitted to a private hospital, the SHO added.
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Vishal Joshi

Tribune News Service

Kurukshetra, June 4

A group of Dalit protesters in Jind city claimed to have converted to Buddhism after non-fulfillment of their demands, despite protesting for around four months.

Dinesh Khapad, leader of the protesters on Monday said they converted to the Buddhist fold in New Delhi on May 31. He alleged the socially oppressed castes were marginalised in Haryana and were pushed to the brink and made a victim of politics.

Meanwhile, Khapad said he did not have an exact number of his fellow-activists who converted as they all travelled separately to Delhi's Ladakh Buddhist Centre.

"We have been demanding CBI probe in the alleged suicide of my uncle Ishwar Singh and the alleged rape-murder of a Dalit girl from Jhansa in Kurukshetra. Also, widow of a Dalit CRPF jawan Satish Kumar from Jind's Chhatar village has been subjected to humiliation by the BJP government by not giving her a job. No public place has been named after the late CRPF soldier who was killed in Kathua in 2015," he said.

Khapad's uncle Ishwar Singh was a contractual employee of Confed at Jind. On January 19, last year, Ishwar had committed suicide by hanging at his house and the police had found a two-page note in which he had accused three persons - then Jind DFSC Ashok Rawat, then Julana SHO Sub-Inspector Ram Niwas and a government contractor- for forcing him to take the extreme step.

"The authorities are shielding the accused. The police have also failed to file a charge sheet in the abetment of suicide case. I see a serious threat from the accused named in the case as the district authorities have withdrawn a police security cover to me," claimed Khapad, a complainant in Ishwar suicide case.

Khapad said a delegation had met the Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar on March 7 where he assured action into various issues raised by us.

"We had given an ultimatum on May 20 that we will convert if he doesn't fulfil our demands in a week. Khattar visited Jind on May 26 but our representatives were not allowed to meet him. So, we started a march towards Delhi on May 27," he added.

Meanwhile, Jind DC Amit Khatri said the widow of CRPF jawan was illiterate and she had joined a government school as a peon. But she stopped attending the duty for unsaid reasons, he added.

He said deceased jawan had not been accorded the status of a martyr due to rules of the paramilitary forces, but the district administration had approached the defence authorities to reconsider the issue.

"Administration has approved four arms licences to Dinesh Khapad but the demand of a police security had never placed before me. The administration has also asked the panchayat of Chhatar to pass a resolution of any public place they want to name after the CRPF jawan from their village," said the DC.

Meanwhile, official sources said the CM had constituted a SIT under Karnal IGP Subhash Yadav to re-investigate Jhansa 'rape-murder' case.

Khapad said the police investigation had been lopsided.

Earlier, a panel of forensic experts from AIIMS in New Delhi had ruled out sexual assault on the minor and angle of her murder.

The body of a 15-year-old Dalit girl was found near a canal at Budha Khera village in Jind district, whereas the decomposed body of 18-year-old Balmiki youth Gulshan was fished out from Bhakra canal in the district. Both reportedly went missing from their village on January 9.
By Wang Lili and Chen Yao

Chinese military experts and scholars actively expounded on the "China plan" for long-term peace and stability in the Asia-Pacific region at the 17th Shangri-La Dialogue held in Singapore.

Lt. Gen. He Lei, head of the Chinese delegation and vice president of the Academy of Military Science of the Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA), said at the conference on June 2 that in recent years, the steady and rapid economic development of the Asia-Pacific region is accompanied by the existence of many unstable and uncertain factors in the security sector. The important task currently facing the Asia-Pacific region is to re-examine the concept of international security since the end of the Cold War, re-evaluate the regional security architecture, and focus on fundamentally resolving security issues, He Lei said.

He pointed out that China advocates a common, comprehensive, cooperative, and sustainable security concept, advocates new international relations based on cooperation and win-win, advocates partnership and non-alliance. China strives to build a safe, secure, shared, and win-win Asia Pacific.

He believed that many of the security issues in the Asia-Pacific region are rooted in the development and the solution is also development. China vigorously promotes common development and focuses on fundamentally solving security issues. The Belt and Road Initiative put forward by China not only provides opportunities for economic development in all countries, but also provides ideas and solutions to solve the security issues.

Lt. Gen. He Lei called on all countries in the Asia-Pacific to uphold the tradition of mutual respect, seeking common ground while reserving differences, and peaceful coexistence, and properly handle and resolve disputes through peaceful negotiations and consultations. The problems left over from history should not undermine regional development, cooperation and mutual trust between nations.

Sen. Col. Zhou Bo, director of the Security Cooperation Center of Chinas Central Military Commission (CMC) International Military Cooperation Office, said that China understands that its own peaceful development is closely related to the future of the Asia Pacific. China advocates actively bilateral and multilateral security dialogues and cooperation, and promotes regional economic cooperation and security cooperation simultaneously.

Chinas vision for the existing Asia-Pacific security architecture supplements the existing mechanism. The core is cooperation rather than opposition, said Zhou. A relatively stable relationship between China and the US will help stabilize the Asia-Pacific region. China advocates mutual respect and win-win cooperation between China and the US for the sake of bilateral relations and the security of the Asia Pacific region and the world as a whole, Zhou added.

Any regional security architecture should be open and inclusive because the Cold War mentality is already long gone. Compared to the traditional security field, the countries in the region have more consensuses on non-traditional security solutions and have more practice, Zhou said. Zhou hopes that more ASEAN countries and countries outside the region can strengthen cooperation to jointly cope with various non-traditional security challenges in the region.

Sen. Col. Zhao Xiaozhuo, director of the Xiangshan Forum Secretariat, said that the major powers all attach great importance to the Indian Ocean because of its important strategic position. It should be noted that the common interests between the major powers in the Indian Ocean far outweigh the differences, and therefore cooperation is the only strategic choice.

Zhao pointed out that most of the countries around the Indian Ocean are developing countries and they lack adequate public resources. In the Belt and Road Initiative put forward by China, the Indian Ocean is an important area for the "21st Century Maritime Silk Road". China hopes to strengthen the interconnection and exchange with countries along the traditional land and sea silk roads to achieve trade complementarity, win-win economic prosperity and mutual understanding among the peoples.

The 17th Shangri-La Dialogue (Asian Security Forum) was held from June 1 to 3 in Singapore. 600 defense officials and experts and scholars from 40 countries attended the forum.

The authors are Wang Lili and Chen Yao. The article is published on the PLA Daily on June 4 and translated from Chinese into English by the China Military online.
editorial@tribune.com

Vishal Joshi

Tribune News Service

Kurukshetra, June 4

A group of around 100 Dalit protesters in Jind city claimed to have converted to Buddhism as their demands were not fulfilled despite protesting for the past 115 days.

Dinesh Khapad, leader of the protesters, said on Monday that they had converted to Buddhism in New Delhi on May 31.

He alleged that socially oppressed castes had been marginalised in Haryana and made a victim of politics.

Khapad said he did not have the exact number of his fellow activists who had converted as they had travelled separately to Delhis Ladakh Buddhist Centre. The number was around 100, he said.

We have been demanding a CBI probe into the alleged suicide of my uncle Ishwar Singh and the alleged rape-murder of a Dalit girl from Jhansa in Kurukshetra. Also, the widow of a Dalit CRPF jawan, Satish Kumar from Jinds Chhatar village, was subjected to humiliation by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) government by not giving her a job. No public place has been named after the late CRPF soldier who was killed in Kathua in 2015, he said.

Khapads uncle Ishwar Singh was a contractual employee of Confed at Jind. On January 19 last year, Ishwar committed suicide by hanging himself at his house. The police had found a two-page note from his possession in which the deceased had accused three persons  the then Jind DFSC Ashok Rawat, the then Julana SHO sub-inspector Ram Niwas and a government contractor of forcing him to commit suicide.

The authorities are shielding the accused. The police have also failed to file a chargesheet in the abetment of suicide case. I see a serious threat from the accused named in the case as the district authorities have withdrawn police security cover given to me, claimed Khapad, a complainant in the Ishwar suicide case.

Khapad said a delegation had met Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar on March 7 where he had assured action in various issues.

We had given an ultimatum on May 20 that we will convert if he doesnt fulfil our demands in a week. Khattar visited Jind on May 26, but our representatives were not allowed to meet him. So, we started a march towards Delhi on May 27, he said.

Meanwhile, Jind Deputy Commissioner (DC) Amit Khatri said the widow of the CRPF jawan was illiterate and she had joined a government school as a peon. But she stopped attending duty for unsaid reasons, said the Jind Deputy Commissioner.

He said the deceased jawan had not been accorded the status of martyr due to the rules of the paramilitary forces but the district administration had approached the defence authorities to reconsider the issue.

The administration has approved four arms licences to Dinesh Khapad but the demand for police security was never placed before me. The administration has also asked the panchayat of Chhatar to pass a resolution for naming a public place after the CRPF jawan from their village, said the DC.

Meanwhile, official sources said the Chief Minister had constituted a SIT, under Karnal IGP Subhash Yadav, to re-investigate the Jhansa rape-murder case.
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Parveen Arora

Tribune News Service

Karnal, June 4

A case of suspected honour killing has come to fore in Ballah village in the district late on Sunday evening when 24-year-old Monu, a resident of Makdoli Kalan village in Rohtak district, alleged his wife Jyoti (19) was killed by her parents and cousins.

Acting upon his complaint, the Assandh police registered a case against the father, mother and two cousins of the deceased girl. The police recovered samples of bones from the ashes of the pyre today.

However, the family members refuted the allegations and claimed her death to be a suicide.

Family members and panchayat of the village today met Surinder Singh Bhoria, Superintendent of Police (SP) and demanded a fair inquiry.

One of the villagers said she had committed suicide by hanging herself in the room. The SP assured the panchayat that fair inquiry would be conducted and innocent would not be harassed.

Monu, a student of BA final year in Rohtak, alleged in his police complaint that, I had love marriage with Jyoti on March 14 in Arya Samaj temple in Ghaziabad and we got it registered in Delhi.

He produced a marriage certificate in support of his complaint to the police and alleged, I came in touch with Jyoti around one-and-a-half-years back in Karnal where she was studying in Government College. She was a B.Com second year student and had completed her final examinations on May 24.

After our marriage, we decided to get her family convinced for this marriage. She was living in a paying guest accommodation and used to come to Rohtak after her examinations. She left Rohtak for her last exam on May 22, but did not return back, he said.

After the completion of her examinations, she went to her parental home in Ballah village. She tried to convince the family, but they started torturing her leading to her death, he said.

I had the last telephonic conversation with her on June 2 late evening, in which she told me that she was tortured by the family members. After then I had no conversation with her, he said.

He came to know about her death when he contacted his father-in-law on June 3 late evening, he alleged.

On the complaint of Monu we have registered a case against Rajesh Kumar, father of the girl, mother and two cousins Satish and Vicky under Sections 302, 34 of the IPC, said the SP.

He confirmed that the family members of girl along with a panchayat of Ballah village today met him in this regard and said, The family and panchayat of the village came to meet him and claimed it to be a suicide.

They demanded a fair inquiry. We are verifying the facts of both the side. Marriage certificate would also be verified, the SP maintained.

The forensic experts also checked the scene of crime where, as per the family members, the girl committed suicide, he said.

The SP has constituted an SIT led by Gharaunda DSP and said that the SIT will inquire all the facts related to the case. He said that if the girl had committed suicide, the family should have informed the police first, instead of cremating her.

The SP maintained that the polygraph test would also be conducted of the accused if required.

Despite several attempts, the family members of the girl could not be contacted.
editorial@tribune.com

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, June 4

Leader of the Opposition in the Assembly Abhay Singh Chautala alleged on Monday that Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar and former Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda were responsible for the misery of thousands of employees who would be rendered jobless after the Punjab and Haryana High Court quashed the regularisation policy recently.

Abhay, while addressing mediapersons here, said that on the eve of the 2014 elections, then Hooda government had regularised the services of those who had been working on ad hoc, contractual, daily wage and work charge basis contrary to the advice of the Legal Remembrance.

He alleged that the Congress did this in order derive political advantage in the last Assembly elections.

The present BJP government paid little attention to the issue and compounded its culpability by not only putting up a weak defence in the High Court but also doing nothing to help hapless employees, he added.

Abhay criticised the government for the poor law and order situation in the state. He alleged that those in power were seen supporting the perpetrators of crimes on various occasions.

He said that the family of Manoj Wadhawa, Deputy Mayor of Karnal, was suffering, as he had contested the Assembly elections from Karnal against Khattar in 2014.

Manojs younger brother Bharat, aka Sonu Wadhawa, was apprehended while carrying Rs 16.42 lakh related to business. However, when the name of the family became public, the government prevailed upon the police to register a case of recovery of Rs 70 lakh. Unable to bear pressure, Sonu committed suicide. But instead of registering a case against those who were responsible for abetting Sonu to commit suicide, the police booked his family. The matter was brought to the notice of top police officers and following an inquiry the Karnal police was directed to register an FIR against those who had been found responsible for abetting suicide and the Wadhawa family was absolved. However, the Karnal police chose to ignore the directions, ostensibly under the influence of some superior authority, Abhay alleged while producing Manoj Wadhawa before mediapersons.

He spoke about the decisions taken at the working committee meeting of the INLD on Sunday. He said that since the membership drive of the party had been completed, the present working committee stood dissolved and a new body would be constituted soon.
editorial@tribune.com

Tribune News Service

Yamunanagar, June 4

The family members of Sunny, who had committed suicide, and other villagers held a demonstration at the gate of Jagadhris new grain market on Monday.

They demanded arrest of the headmistress of the government high school in Darwa village in connection with suicide by the school student.

Later, the protesters went to the Mini-Secretariat, where parents of the deceased handed over a memorandum to SP Rajesh Kalia.

Sunnys mother Ajmer Kaur said five days had passed since the death of her son, but the police had not arrested the headmistress so far. She said the SP had given them an assurance on justice.

The police had booked the headmistress of the Darwa school on the charge of abetment to suicide after the Class X student committed suicide after being denied re-admission.

Sunny of Darwa village had passed the Class IX examination from the school this year. He was promoted to Class X, but his name was struck off as he did not come to school for some days.

Ajmer Kaur and Sunny went to the school in connection with re-admission on May 30. They met the headmistress for re-admission, but she refused to admit him.

Ajmer Kaur claimed that her son consumed some poisonous substance that evening due to insult and harassment by the headmistress. He died at the Trauma Centre, Yamunanagar, on May 31.
harinder@tribunemail.com

Shiv Kumar Sharma

Tribune News Service

Yamunanagar, June 4

The post-mortem report of the six-year-old daughter of an employee of Congress leader and former Haryana minister Nirmal Singh points to sexual assault.

A panel of three doctors at the Yamunanagar Civil Hospital, who conducted the examination on Monday, concluded: The cause of death is multiple injuries, including in the neck and genital area. The body has been handed over to the family.

The victim had gone missing on Saturday. Throat slit, her blood-soaked body was found in a pit in a nearby mining zone the following day  the ferocity of the crime similar to the rape and murder of an 11-year-old in Surat in April. The body of the Surat victim too was found at a desolate place. It bore 80 injury marks. The post-mortem revealed she had been held captive, gang-raped, violated with wooden objects and strangled.

Magan Singh, the victims father, demanded death penalty for the perpetrators of the crime. Hailing from Jharkhand, he has been living with his wife and children at the Congress leaders stud farm for the past six years, employed as a labourer.

The Khizrabad SHO, Lajja Ram, said three teams had been formed to crack the case. We have rounded up several persons from the farm. The offender will be arrested soon, he claimed.

Expressing grief over the heinous crime, Nirmal Singh said he would cooperate fully with the police and the case should be moved to a fast-track court.
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Los Angeles, June 4

A billboard on Sunset Boulevard in Hollywood screams out a stark warning: drug-resistant gonorrhea alert! The words are set against a black background and accompanied by a microscope shot of the gonococcus bacteria, which causes the illness now running rampant in California.

Sexually transmitted diseases have made an alarming resurgence across the United States, where 2016 saw a record two million cases of chlamydia, gonorrhea and syphilis, including 628 cases of congenital syphilis.

But California, the most populous US state, stands out for its willingness to tackle the crisis head-on, with cases of the three ailments up 45 percent in 2017 from five years ago.

Thirty babies were stillborn amid 300 reported cases of congenital syphilis, more than in any other US state last year.

These are incredibly alarming numbers, said Heidi Bauer, chief of the STD control branch of the California Department of Public Health. She said it amounts to an epidemic.

Congenital syphilis had been essentially eliminated from the United States, as it had in developing countries such as Cuba, Thailand and Moldova in the former Soviet Union, said Jeffrey Klausner of the UCLA school of medicine.

But you know the fact that congenital syphilis is roaring back in the states and in California is a shameful reminder of our inadequate public health programs, he said.

The cases of the stillborn babies are 100 percent preventable and this is a slap in the face, he added.

Herein the problem seems to lie: the US health system is more reactive than preventive. And there is a lack of prevention and public awareness campaigns in a society in which people do not like to talk about sex.

The striking billboards in Los Angeles are sponsored by an NGO called the AIDS Healthcare Foundation, which aims to prevent or diagnose HIV and provide medical care for those who have it or other sexually transmitted diseases in free clinics.

Another sign about syphilis shows a torso ravaged by open wounds.

The foundations president, Michael Weinstein, said the NGOs campaign has boosted visits to its clinics by 50 percent in Los Angeles.

By comparison, in south Florida, where cities such as Miami Beach or Fort Lauderdale as considered hotbeds of STDs, such campaigns are barred because they are deemed to be bad for tourism.

You educate, you prevent, you test. You treat. You contact partners, said Weinstein. Were not doing any of those things adequately. The discouraging figures will keep rising and the government is not helping, he warns.

The financial crisis of 2008  at the time STDs were not of particular concern  led to deep cuts in health care spending, so many clinics shut down.

Add to this an increase in poverty, homelessness, drug use and pregnancies undertaken without proper healthcare  all considered risk factors for congenital syphilis.

California has the worlds fifth largest economy but the budget for fighting STDs is a paltry $20 million, which includes money that comes from the federal government.  AFP.
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Bhanu P Lohumi

Tribune News Service

Shimla, June 3

With residents on the social media asking tourists to keep off water-starved Shimla, tourism business in the town has been severely hit. Up to 50-60 per cent hotel bookings stand cancelled and the occupancy rate too has dropped by half.

Tourism Industry Stakeholders Association president MK Seth claims while the per day loss to the hotel industry is Rs 60 lakh, the losses to allied sectors are even more.

There are 268 registered hotels in Shimla with 4,356 rooms.

We urge Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur to rescue the ailing tourism industry by issuing an advisory that all is well in Shimla and that hoteliers are providing safe water to tourists through tankers, Seth says. The 670 unregistered flats in Shimlas residential areas and suburbs are eating into the water share of domestic consumers, he reasons, adding that the situation is unlikely to improve until action is taken against these units.

High taxes apart, the governments failure to develop tourist places in the suburbs and provide basic amenities are also cited as reasons for the Shimlas tourism woes.

Meanwhile, government schools in the Municipal Corporation area have been closed for a week and a section of residents is moving out to native places. I will be leaving for Mandi with my family as there is no water in the town. I hope things turn normal soon, says Jakhoo resident Devender Sharma.

Stepping in, the Army has provided water browsers to the MC to assist in ferrying water to the far reaches. The Shimla-based Army Training Command has set up a joint monitoring mechanism and instituted effective water-saving measures.

Some establishments producing mineral water have chipped in too. The water provided by them is being supplied by the police free of cost at public places and police stations. Also, some shopkeepers have slashed mineral water prices. A restaurant run by the HPTDC at the Ridge has opened a counter to sell mineral water.
editorial@tribune.com

Ishfaq Tantry

Tribune News Service

Srinagar, June 4

The Chief Judicial Magistrate, Srinagar, on Monday posted the Major Leetul Gogoi case for arguments on June 12 after the petitioner sought further police investigation into the matter to explore human trafficking angle.

On May 30, the J&K Police, in its report to the Chief Judicial Magistrate, had said the woman who was detained along with Major Gogoi from a Srinagar hotel on May 23 was 19 years old. She had gone with the officer of her own will, the police said.

The Chief Judicial Magistrate had sought the status report of the investigation of the hotel fracas involving Major Gogoi on the petition of human rights activist Ahsan Untoo.

During the hearing on Monday, the petitioners counsel Bilal Ahmad termed the police report unsatisfactory. He urged the court to direct the police to further investigate the matter so as to explore other angles, including human trafficking, too.

The role of Sameer Malla, who accompanied the Major and the girl to the hotel, is suspicious and has not been investigated, argued the counsel.

It may or may not be a case of human trafficking, but the police has not investigated this aspect, he said.

Countering his submission, the prosecution led by a chief prosecuting officer submitted that it was a case involving two consenting adults. It may be morally wrong, but legally no offence is made out against the Major, the chief prosecuting officer submitted while citing the statement recorded by the girl before a magistrate and absence of any complaint either by the girl or the hotel management.

In its report to the Chief Judicial Magistrate, the police had said neither the woman nor the hotel owner lodged any formal complaint against Major Gogoi.
pardeepdhull@gmail.com

Srinagar, June 4

At least 16 people, including four policemen, were injured in a grenade attack in a busy market area in Jammu and Kashmirs Shopian district, the police said.

Militants hurled a grenade at security forces in Shopian town, resulting in injuries to at least 12 civilians and four cops, a police official said.

He said the area has been cordoned off and a search operation started to nab the attackers.

A girl who was among the injured was said to be in critical condition and rushed to a Srinagar hospital.

Hospital sources in Shopian identified two of the injured policemen as Station House Officer (SHO) Gulzar Ahmad and his security guard.

Militants have carried out a series of grenade attacks on security forces and politicians since last week despite New Delhi declaring a unilateral but conditional truce during the holy month of Ramzan.  Agencies
The picture taken on June 1, 2018show the closing ceremony of the training course for peacekeeping officers in Francophone Africa jointly hosted by the United Nations and China in Beijing from May 21 to June 1, 2018. (mod.gov.cn/Jiao Guoqing)

BEIJING, June 4 (ChinaMil) -- A training course for the United Nations (UN) peacekeeping officers in Francophone Africa, financed by the China-UN Peace and Development Fund and jointly hosted by the UN Department of Peacekeeping Operations and the Peacekeeping Affairs Office under China's Defense Ministry, was held at the Peacekeeping Training Center of China's Ministry of National Defense from May 21 to June 1.

Six instructors from China, France, Niger, Morocco, Switzerland and the UN Department of Peacekeeping Operations gave lectures to twenty-seven officers from China and fifteen troop-contributing countries in Francophone Africa.

The training course is an important measure for the UN to establish a global peacekeeping training system and enhance the overall level of peacekeeping training. It is also a major channel to realize international resource integration and strengthen the capacity of peacekeeping instructors.

The content of the course is mainly based on the UN newly revised standard peacekeeping training curriculum, which covers 45 topics such as the organizational structure of the peacekeeping mission, the standards of conduct for peacekeeping personnel, the protection of civilians, military-civilian cooperation, military planning processes and so forth.

After attending lectures given by the instructors, each participating officer was required to make a trial lecture and the instructors would offer their comments.

Instructors and officer trainees attending the training course for the UN peacekeeping officers in Francophone Africa jointly hosted by the United Nations and China pose for a group photo at the closing ceremony of the course in Beijing, June 1, 2018. (mod.gov.cn/Qiao Nannan)
editorial@tribune.com

Ishrat S Banwait

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, June 4

The five persons, including a former BSF DIG, who have been found guilty of rape in the J&K sex scandal, on Monday pleaded for a lesser sentence owing to various reasons. The hearing for the quantum of sentence was adjourned for Wednesday.

On May 30, a special court in Chandigarh found five persons guilty of involvement in the sex scandal, which was unearthed 12 years ago.

Family members of the convicts were present in the court or Monday. Here is a look at the convicts and the reasons they gave through their counsels to plead for leniency.

Mohammad Ashraf Mir (Ex-DSP, J&K)

Mir, along with his two sons who were present in the court, left no stone unturned in trying to plead for mercy based on his ailments. The court was informed that he had gone through a spine surgery and medical reports were presented in this regard. They said he also had been operated upon. Along with this, he was diabetic and a patient of hypertension.

Mirs counsel argued that he was unaware of the victims age and could not have guessed that she was a minor. However, the CBI counsel argued that the victims statement on record said Mir had questioned kingpin Sabeena as to why she had brought such a young girl. Hence, he concluded that Mir did have an idea, yet he indulged in a sexual activity with the minor.

Shabbir Ahmed Langoo(Scrap dealer)

Langoos counsel argued that he was only 19 at that time and was in love with the victim. He even proposed marriage to the victim multiple times but she refused. The counsel went on to say, The girl herself said she did not know how many men she had had intercourse with. Not only this, the counsel said the victim had an abortion too.

The CBI counsel, seemingly perturbed by the statement of the counsel, said, This is the most unfortunate part of this trial. He argued that Langoo used to threaten the victim by saying he knew all about her deeds. He said by saying that the victim, at that time, had the mental capacity to know what she was doing was making a mockery of her ordeal. In his final statement to the court, Langoo said he was unmarried and had a bedridden mother to take care of.

Shabbir Ahmad Laway (Occupation- None)

As Laway, along with Ashraf Mir and Masud Ahmad, were represented by the same counsel, the argument put forward by the counsel was that they had suffered for 12 years while the trial was on. They lost their jobs, time and money as they had to come all the way to Chandigarh for the trial. He said they did not know that the victim was a minor and no conspiracy was hatched to push the girl into such a profession.

KP Singh, however, argued that all convicts were adults at that time and knew what they were doing. Laway told the court that he was the only one who had to look after his mother, wife, daughter and three sons.

Masood Ahmad (Occupation- None)

Among other contentions, Masoods counsel said the incident pertains to 2003 and later years, hence, it was not an old era when womenfolk were not aware of anything. He said the victim was around 15 years old and knew what went happened in society. Masood, now 45, pleaded that his parents, daughter and wife were all dependent on him. He said his parents were old and suffering from various ailments, thus pleading for a lesser sentence. The CBI counsel, on the other hand, demanded the maximum possible punishment for all accused i.e life imprisonment along with an exemplary fine. He also demanded compensation for the victim.

Served nation, killed 40 militants... so spare me

KC Padhi (Former DIG, BSF)

The 68-year-old pleaded that he had been serving the nation and that he had killed at least 40 militants while being posted in sensitive areas of Kashmir. Pleading that he was unaware that the victim was a minor, his counsel also said Padhis name did not appear in the original FIR, but was mentioned in the challan that was later filed. He informed that his wife had expired during the trial and he had two daughters. While mentioning his status in society, it was mentioned that Padhi had been recommended for the Presidents Police Medal. This was countered by CBI counsel KP Singh, who said his post should not be a mitigating factor but an aggravating one as he betrayed the same society which placed its trust in him. He should have been the protector instead of getting involved in the crime.
monicakchauhan@gmail.com

Shahira Naim

Tribune News service

Lucknow, June 4

At least two people were killed in a blast at a house in Kakori on outskirts of Lucknow where an illegal fire cracker factory was operating.

The impact was so strong that the neighbouring houses were also damaged.

A probe is underway by forensic teams to ascertain the cause of the explosion.

The explosion took place at around 11 am at the residence of a man, Nasir, due to which the house collapsed and several others were damaged.

One of the deceased was identified as Ramsharam (40). The other, a woman, could not be identified as she was blown to pieces.

Prima facie, it appears that some explosives were stored in the basement of the house, which caused the explosion. With Agencies
editorial@tribune.com

Jitendra K Shrivastava

Tribune News Service

Patna, June 4

In a heart-rending incident, three stepsons allegedly gunned down four members of their family over a land dispute in Sitamarhi district of Bihar in the wee hours of Monday. The police arrested the three suspects while they were trying to flee Sitamarhi to adjoining areas of Nepal.

After the reported gruesome killing of Ramvilas Sah, his wife Shail Devi, two sons Rahul Kumar and Nawal Kumar in the Dumra police station locality, the fear and tension has gripped the locals. The bodies were sent for the postmortem at Sadar hospital of Sitaharhi town.

Soon after the gory incident was reported, the police swiftly kicked off raids and arrested the three suspects. A case of murder has been lodged under the Dumra police station of the district, Kumar Vir Birendra, Sitamarhi sub-divisional police officer (SDPO), said, adding that the suspects were identified as Pappu Kumar, Rohit Kumar and Bittu Kumar, all stepsons of Ramvilas Sah.

We have learnt that they (the suspects) were the stepsons of Ramvilas and Shai Devi who were quarrelling with their parents and stepbrothers over a land dispute, the SDPO said.
gspannu7@gmail.com

Our Correspondent

Jaipur, June 6

An 80-year-old woman was allegedly gang-raped by two youths at Abu Road in Rajasthans Sirohi district on intervening night of June 1 and 2.

The poor widow living in a community centre had lodged an FIR on Sunday with Abu Road police station that she was raped by two youths Amit and Vikram, both below 30 years, and fled from the place in the intervening night of June1-2, a senior cop told The Tribune on Monday.

The victims medical examination was done at a government hospital today, and the police were looking for the accused living in the same area near the community centre, the cop said.

Her husband died long back and she used to make and sell earthen toys in the local market on certain festivals prior to her shifting to the centre.

A case under Section 376 of the IPC has been registered against the accused.
harinder@tribunemail.com

Ajay Banerjee

Tribune News Service

Delhi, June 4

Five days after the sudden announcement to maintain ceasefire along the border in Jammu and Kashmir, India and Pakistan are back to accusing each other and firing across the contentious divide.

Islamabad on Monday reminded there was no space for war between nuclear powers even as officials of Pakistan Rangers and Border Security Force (BSF) conducted a flag meeting at the octroi post along the International Border.

In Rawalpindi, Maj Gen Asif Ghafoor Director General of the Inter-Services Public Relations, the media wing of the Pakistan armed forces, telecast his press conference live on Twitter. We are two nuclear powers and there is no space for war, he said, reminding about the nuclear arsenal.

The Arms Control Association, a US-based think-tank, cites the US State Department to claim that Pakistan has 140 nuclear warheads and India 130.

Since Sunday night, the Pakistan army has fired ammunition into India at two separate locations  Naushera and Akhnoor.

This comes just two days after the Pakistan Rangers fired at Pargwal, a small township in Akhnoor sector, near Jammu. Two BSF men were killed.

The weekly telephonic interaction between officials of the military operations of the two countries is scheduled for Tuesday where India is likely to raise several issues concerning the past five days.

On May 29, the two sides had agreed to maintain sanctity of the November 2003 agreed upon ceasefire.

In Rawalpindi, Maj Gen Ghafoor said: The DGMO (Director General Military Operations) has given an undertaking to his Indian counterpart about respecting the ceasefire. The Pakistan army is committed to upholding it. But we will give a befitting response if the Indian Army hits our civilian population.

The DG, ISPR, said Pakistans desire for peace should not be mistaken for weakness, and claimed that India had so far this year carried out 1,077 ceasefire violations. Indias Ministry of External Affairs, last month, listed out almost 1,100 ceasefire violations by Pakistan.
editorial@tribune.com

Aditi Tandon

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, June 4

Dissatisfied with the quality of infrastructure being offered, the Centre has this year denied renewal permission to 80 medical colleges that were offering around 10,000 MBBS seats.

Also, the Centre has created 2,360 seats by granting permission to 17 new colleges and adding 460 seats as one-time intake in six colleges. Thus, the effective loss in the number of MBBS seats this year will be of around 8,000 seats.

Every year on an average around 5,000 MBBS seats are reduced from the overall pool due to denial of renewal permission to colleges that are unable to fulfil minimum statutory requirements to run an MBBS course.

The denial means these colleges will not be able to induct students at the MBBS level due to red flags the Centre raised in their preparedness and ability to handle medical under-graduation course, which requires quality and expertise.

All these are the existing colleges that have been in operation for a while. As per MCI norms, new medical colleges approved by the government to offer MBBS courses have to undergo annual renewal process for five years since starting operations. The permission to new colleges is normally given for 100 MBBS seats. After five years, the existing college can apply for upgrade of seats from 100 to 200 and the same annual renewal process repeats for the next five years. The cumulative MBBS induction strength of the 80 colleges denied permission for 2018-19 academic session was 8,000 to 10,000 seats, Health Ministry sources today told The Tribune. The rejection of applications means none of these 80 colleges can this year admit a fresh batch of 100 MBBS students. They will again have to apply for renewal next year and subject to fulfillment of norms they will be allowed, a ministry source said.

A total of around 220 colleges had applied this year for renewal. In the category of new medical colleges, the Centre has allowed 17 claims out of 85 applications received for the 2018-19 session. These 17 new colleges have 1,900 MBBS seats plus we have also added 460 seats as a one-time increase of intake in six medical colleges across the country. This means an addition of 2,360 MBBS seats this year, a ministry source said.

So while around 10,000 MBBS seats will be lost this year due to non-renewal of permission to 80 colleges, 2,360 seats will be added by way of fresh approvals. In all, the country will have a little over 62,000 MBBS seats this year against the earlier around 70,000.

SC Notice on age limit for NEET
monicakchauhan@gmail.com

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, June 4

Congress president Rahul Gandhi provoked a trail of trolls on Twitter on Monday when he mocked Prime Minister Narendra Modi for his Singapore interview faux pas.

The first Indian PM who takes "spontaneous" questions that the translator has pre-scripted answers to! Good that he doesn't take real questions. Would have been a real embarrassment to us all if he did, Gandhi said in context of the PMs translator at a National Technical University event in Singapore reading his answers from a pre scripted text.

The first Indian PM who takes "spontaneous" questions that the translator has pre-scripted answers to!



Good that he doesn't take real questions. Would have been a real embarrassment to us all if he did. pic.twitter.com/8Iyfgiaseh  Rahul Gandhi (@RahulGandhi) June 4, 2018

Trolls quickly got on to Gandhi with one saying, Ever heard speeches in UN and elsewhere by non-English speaking Politicians? All instantly translated, not pre-scripted, you buffoon!

Gandhi is in the US with his mother Sonia Gandhi for her annual medical review.

He is expected back tomorrow.
gspannu7@gmail.com

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, June 4

The Supreme Court on Monday issued notices to the Centre, Medical Council of India (MCI) and Central Board of Secondary Examination (CBSE) on petitions challenging an MCI regulation prescribing an upper age limit for those appearing for National Eligibility-cum-Entrance Test (NEET) for MBBS and BDS courses.

Notified on January 22, the amended MCI regulation prescribes an upper age limit of 25 years for General category candidates and 30 years for those belonging to the Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes, Other Backward Classes and Physically Handicapped categories for admission to graduate medical courses.

According to the notification, candidates who studied in open school; students who have had biology or biotechnology as an additional subject; those who took more than two years to complete their 11th and 12th and students who studied privately were not eligible to apply for NEET.

A Vacation Bench headed by Justice AK Goel refused to give any interim relief to the petitioner as NEET-2018 results were due to be declared during the day.

However, it agreed to examine the legal points involved and accordingly asked the Centre, MCI, CBSE and Kerala Government to respond to a batch of petitions filed by medical aspirants by July 10, the next date of hearing.

Terming the regulation as arbitrary and restrictive measure which served no real purpose, senior counsel Amarendra Sharan submitted on behalf of the petitioners that it was bad in law as even the MCI Oversight Committee and the Centre both recommended against upper age limit as India needed more doctors.

The Bench, however, pointed out that unlike the recommendation of the MCI Oversight Committee, the regulation was not a policy decision. It was a result of exercise of legislative power, it added.

The petitioners have challenged the May 11 verdict of the Delhi High Court which upheld the validity of the MCI regulation stipulating upper age limit of 25 years and 30 years for general and reserved categories respectively for MBBS and BDS courses.

The HC had, however, had struck down a clause that debarred students from open schools or those private students from appearing for NEET.
amansharma@tribunemail.com

Pretoria, June 4

External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj on Monday underlined that multilateralism, international trade and rules based world order was facing "strong head-winds" as she called for joint action by the BRICS nations against money laundering, terrorist-financing and de-radicalisation.

Swaraj, who is on a five-day trip to South Africa, attended the BRICS (Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa) Foreign Ministers' meeting. It was held to lay the foundation for the annual summit of the grouping in Johannesburg next month which is expected to be attended by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

"Our deliberations here will contribute towards enriching intra BRICS cooperation further," Swaraj said.

India attaches importance to the role of BRICS in consolidating intra-BRICS cooperation and in international affairs, she was quoted as saying by a statement by the Ministry of External Affairs.

Swaraj called for joint action of the BRICS nations against challenges to long-term growth.

"Our meeting today takes place at a time when multilateralism, international trade, and rules based world order face strong head-winds," Swaraj said.

"Though, the global growth has exhibited signs of recovery, the challenges to long-term growth continue to persist. Ensuring that the benefits of globalisation are shared widely remains a challenge," she added.

"Prime Minister Modi had given a call for a BRICS Counter-Terrorism Strategy for joint-action with a focus on money laundering, terrorist-finance, cyber-space and de-radicalization as our priorities," Swaraj said.

"Our leaders have also called for making UN Counter Terrorism framework efficient and effective. We reiterate our commitment to implement our Leaders' mandate on counter terrorism under South Africa's BRICS Chairship," she said.

Later addressing a press conference, Swaraj said the four nations discussed the need to further strengthen our cooperation in the areas of security and countering-terrorism.

"You are all aware of strong statement on counter terrorism which emerged from BRICS Summit in Xiamen. I am sure the deliberations we have had in today's meeting will be further taken forward in the forthcoming BRICS Leaders' Summit in Johannesburg next month," she said.

"We are fully committed to contributing towards a successful Johannesburg BRICS Summit, which Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi is keenly looking forward to," Swaraj said.

She said BRICS brings together almost 42 per cent of global population, with impressive growth, investment and trade share.

"BRICS meetings are keenly watched world over and our decisions have profound impact globally. In today's meeting we exchanged views on current issues of global significance in political, security, and economic spheres," she said.

The other foreign ministers attending the meeting were China's Wang Yi, South Africa's Lindiwe Sisulu, Brazil's Marcos Bezerra Abbott Galvao and Russia's Sergey Lavrov.

BRICS Cooperation in strategic areas of security, counter-terrorism, UN reforms, peacekeeping, de-radicalisation, cyber security, energy security, global governance, and international and regional hot-spot issues are deliberated in detail during National Security Adviser's meetings, she said.

"It is imperative now that the common ground reached in our NSAs meeting on setting up a BRICS Security Forum is implemented fully," she said.

Swaraj said India welcomes South Africa's Summit theme devoted to Development in Africa in an inclusive manner.

"We also welcome the focus on technology as the engine of future-growth and its significance for future generations and their employment prospects," she added.

Swaraj will also chair a meeting of Foreign Ministers of IBSA (India, Brazil, South Africa), another bloc working to deepen coordination among the three countries on major global issues. - PTI
Participating warships from seven countries sail to the designated exercise waters during a regional naval exercise hosted by Nigerian Navy in Lagos Port and surrounding waters on May 30, 2018. (eng.chinamil.com.cn/Photo by Zhu Linlin)

LAGOS, June 4 (ChinaMil) -- Guided-missile frigate Yancheng, the commanding ship of the 28th Chinese naval escort taskforce, left Lagos Port in Nigeria on June 2, after its participation of the 2nd Nigeria international maritime conference and regional naval exercise hosted by the Nigerian Navy.

The 2nd Nigeria international maritime conference and regional naval exercise was held in Lagos Port and surrounding waters from May 30 to June 1. Rear Adm. Guo Hongwei, commander of the 28th Chinese naval escort taskforce, attended the international maritime conference on behalf of the Chinese Navy. Representatives from over 20 countries attend the conference, which is themed on the integrated marine strategy of the Gulf of Guinea countries.

During the three days in Lagos, Rear Adm. Guo called on Chief of Naval Staff of the Nigerian Navy Vice Adm. Ibok-Ete Ekwe Ibas. Guo conveyed to Ibas cordial greetings from Vice Adm. Shen Jinlong and Vice Adm. Qin Shengxiang, respectively commander and political commissar of the Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) Navy, and held candid and friendly talks with Ibas. Ibas said that the conference and the exercise will for sure help enhance mutual trust, expand cooperation and deepen traditional friendship between the two countries, and push forward the relationship between the two navies to make further progress.

The regional naval exercise codenamed "Cooperation" was commanded by the Nigerian Navy. Eighteen ships from seven countries including Nigeria, China, France, and Portugal set sail for the designated waters on the morning of May 30.

The exercise kicked off at about 2 p.m. on the afternoon, under the unified command of the Nigerian Navy's off-shore patrol vessel NNS OKPABANA, the participating warships formed a double column first and changed various formations in sailing.

Following the ship formation drill, the eighteen warships conducted live firing practice. China's guided missile frigate Yancheng fired its auxiliary gun at sea targets with multiple shells accurately hitting the targets.

The 28th Chinese naval escort taskforce will pay an official friendly visit to Ghana after its commanding ship returns from Nigeria.

Chinese naval frigate Yancheng's auxiliary gun fires multiple shells at surface targets during a regional naval exercise hosted by Nigerian Navy in Lagos Port and surrounding waters on May 30, 2018. (eng.chinamil.com.cn/Photo by Zhu Linlin)
editorial@tribune.com

Vibha Sharma

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, June 4

Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath today called on BJP president Amit Shah  their first meeting after the partys humiliating defeats in Kairana Lok Sabha and Noorpur Assembly constituencies.

They are believed to have discussed political situation in the state where regional parties have joined hands to challenge the BJP, the recent election outcomes that followed equally humiliating verdicts from Gorakhpur and Phulpur Lok Sabha constituencies earlier and ways to make up for the losses.

Though there was no official comment regarding the meeting, sources said the party was considering ways to make up for the lost ground in the state that sends the biggest chunk of 80 MPs to the 545-member Lok Sabha. Winning 71 seats, it is from here the BJP made its biggest kill in the 2014 Lok Sabha elections. Shah recently said the BJP was working to gather 50 per cent vote share to weaken any united Opposition challenge.

Apparently, Yogi could go in for Cabinet expansion and induct MLAs from Dalit and most backward communities (MBCs) to woo the vote banks held by the BSP, SP and the Congress. Coming together of the regional parties with strong caste-based vote banks is one of the main reasons for the BJPs defeats in the recent elections.

While the party has witnessed dissenting voices from within, including some MPs and MLAs, over the functioning of the Yogi-led government, state minister Om Prakash Rajbhar termed disenchantment of OBCs as one of key reasons for the BJPs defeat. The Suheldev Bhartiya Samaj Party leader claimed backward classes were unhappy as BJP leader from the community  Keshav Prasad Maurya  was not made the Chief Minister.

Notably, referring to a panel set up to look at eligibility of MBCs to access sub-quota within 27 per cent quota for OBCs, Prime Minister Narendra Modi recently reminded a rally in Baghpat (UP) that his government wanted the most backwards in the category to benefit more from reservation in the set limit.

Dalits, MBCs may get berth
editorial@tribune.com

Ravi Dhaliwal

Tribune News Service

Gurdaspur, June 4

Nearly 2,000 master-cadre teachers, who teach classes VI to X, have been kept on tenterhooks by the Punjab government for the last one year.

These teachers have already cleared the mandatory TET (Teachers Eligibility Test) and also underwent counselling in February this year where their original documents were checked. However, when the government was all set to hand them over their appointment letters, the election code of conduct came into force due to the Shahkot Assembly polls.

Now, the panchayat elections are scheduled to be held in July and teachers fear that the election code may once again play havoc with their future. Already, the state is facing a shortage of teachers.

These teachers were part of a larger group which had gone on a 52-day strike in Sohana, near Mohali, in July last year to impress upon the government to advertise master-cadre posts. At the same time, an 18-day-long hunger strike was also observed by two teachers, Daljit Singh Safipur and Anita.

Finally, the Capt Amarinder Singh government relented and advertised 3,582 posts in different subjects in September last year. Nearly 10,000 people applied and subject-specific tests were held from December 8 to 10 in Amritsar.

The subject tests for Hindi and English teachers were held on December 8 but teachers from Faridkot, Bathinda, Mansa, Faridkot and Ferozepur could not take the tests following a protest on the national highway near Harike Pattan by the SAD. However, tests were conducted in all other subjects and 2,000 teachers were finally selected.

In February, the Education Department held a counselling session for these masters where certificates were verified. The government is deliberately withholding their appointments on one pretext or another. It should either issue appointment letters or face protests, said Amarjit Shastri, spokesman for the Democratic Teachers Front.

Education Minister OP Soni said he was apprised of the matter and added that he would make efforts to ensure the teachers were appointed soon. However, union leaders claimed that the government was just trying to buy time before the code for the panchayat polls came into force.

The sooner appointment letters are given to them the better it will be. Otherwise we will be left with no option, but to block roads, said Sukhwinder Singh, an aggrieved teacher.
laxmi@tribune.com

Jupinderjit Singh

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, June 4

Sukhwinder Singh alias Mithu, whose wife (Canada-born Jaswinder Kaur Jassi) was killed for honour 18 years ago, chuckles when told that the Centre has issued an advisory to depute a DSP-rank officer for pre-empting such killings through tell-tale signs.

The police become a party to the crime. They either book the complainant, the boy involved in a love affair, or help the so-called elderly masters of society who are baying for your blood for daring to marry at your will, Mithu said.

Issued on May 31, the Central advisory to states on prevention of honour killings says the police should identify vulnerable areas and depute a DSP-level officer to take preventive action.

Police intervention alone doesnt help. We had sought police protection before getting married. But, we were mocked and told to follow societal norms. Approaching the police in fact proved counter-productive as I was booked in a false case of kidnapping and forcing my wife to marry me. She kept on stating that she loved me and had willfully married me but to no avail. Eventually, we were let off when she recorded her statement before a judge. However, the role of cops did not end. A gang of contract killers put together by a sub-inspector (now convicted) attacked us and killed my wife a few days later in June 2000, Mithu recalled. Mithu advocates a group of officials comprising social workers, lawyers and judges to intervene in such cases.

Puneet Grewal, a PhD on honour killings in Punjab and Haryana, feels the governments initiative of police intervention may actually save lives. Her experience with victim families reveals the police had not acted properly. In almost all cases I have studied it seemed the police were favouring village panchayat or agitated family members and agreed it was some social abnormality. If a DSP-rank officer is deputed, he too will be held responsible, she said.

In Tarn Taran, Parwinder Singh, father of an honour killing victim Husanpreet Singh  whose naked body along with that of his lover Ramandeep was found from a sewage pit on May 14  said the police rarely acted as a law-enforcing agency. They delay arrests and then become a party in effecting a compromise between the victims and the oppressor. I wonder if the help of police would be sought under such circumstances. Maybe, involving police officers or the women commission may help.

Bhupinder Singh, whose son Harpreet Singh was killed in February, finds the move positive. Had the Centre stepped in earlier, my son would have been alive today. Providing immediate security or shelter to such couples is a welcome step, but security for parents, too, should be thought about. After my son was murdered, I had to leave Ludhiana along with my family as we were being harassed by the kin of the accused.

In Hisar, Sube Singh, cousin of honour killing victim Dharamvir Singh  a Jat Sikh who married a girl of a Backward Community  said the youth was killed not far from a police station. I wonder what kind of intervention you are expecting from police. They took over an hour to reach the spot despite being aware of the tension over the inter-caste marriage.

The police role is also under scrutiny in Ishrana village in Mahendragarh where kin of Pardeep Kumar, 18, say only one person was booked in the case, while 22 stab marks on the deceased showed there were more people involved.

(With inputs from Gurbax Puri in Tarn Taran, Nikhil Bhardawaj in Ludhiana, Deepender Deswal in Hisar and Ravinder Saini in Mahendragarh.)
editorial@tribune.com

Tribune News Service

Patiala, June 4

Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh on Monday assured the unemployed youth of the state that his government would soon generate more jobs in various departments and a blueprint for the same had been drafted.

Carrying forward his vision of Ghar ghar rozgar and karobar, the Chief Minister handed over appointment letters to 25 of the 3,683 candidates recruited by Punjab State Power Corporation Limited (PSPCL). A total of 1,800 recruits got their letters on Monday.

The CM, who attended the function held by the PSPCL at the Punjabi University, said, Vacancies exist in other departments too, which will be filled soon.

Earlier, at the first death anniversary event of his mother Rajmata Mohinder Kaur, he recalled her words, exhorting him to do something for the farmers and the unemployed youth of the state. Unfortunately, the government has inherited a massive debt burden with a mega fiscal mess, which will take time to be resolved. The government is well on track towards the implementation of its farm debt waiver scheme, which will be completed by November, he said.

The Chief Minister said around 1.65 lakh youth had been provided jobs since his government took over.

Congratulating the new recruits, who included assistant linemen, junior engineers, sub-station attendants and lower division clerks, Capt said the remaining recruits would receive their appointment letters within a month.
editorial@tribune.com

Kulwinder Sandhu

Tribune News Service

Moga, June 4

A paddy scam of Rs 1 crore has been unearthed at a rice mill in Dhurkot Ransih village of Moga district, police officials said here on Monday.

A case under Sections 409 and 420 of the IPC has been registered against Harbhajan Singh, son of Mukand Singh, owner of GD Agro-Food Industry, at the Badhni Kalan police station.

The Punjab State Warehouse Corporation (PSWC) stored as many as 1,13,869 bags of paddy allotted by the Food and Civil Supplies Department in the said rice mill during 2017-2018 for custom milling.

However, during a physical verification of the rice mill, PSWC officials found that 17,982 bags of paddy were missing from its store, the total weight of which was 6,743.25 quintals.

The mill was supposed to deliver the custom-milled rice of the whole stock to the Food Corporation of India (FCI) in the central pool. The time to deliver the stock was till March 31. Although this mill was granted an extra time till April 30 to deliver the remaining rice (custom-milled paddy) to the FCI, it again failed to deliver the same.

The PSWC authorities served several notices to the rice mill to complete the stock, but to no avail.

This issue was brought to the notice of District Magistrate Dilraj Singh Sandhawalia by the PSWC authorities. The DM asked SSP Raj Jit Singh Hundal to register a case against the owner of the rice mill.

The police also conducted a preliminary inquiry before registering the case against the mill owner.

Meanwhile, the local PSWC authorities revealed that a separate legal civil suit to recover the monetary losses will also be filed against the rice mill soon.

STOCK MISSING
harinder@tribunemail.com

Arun Sharma

Tribune News Service

Ropar, June 4

Under a Punjab Government scheme to provide 5-marla plots to landless poor in villages, six plots have been allotted to just two families currently housed by Vidhan Speaker Rana KP Singh on his private property in his native village Khatana in this district. The Speaker has denied any irregularity.

Following a complaint by Chuhar Singh, an SAD leader from the village, and several other residents, who alleged the allottees did not even belong to the village, Deputy Commissioner Gurneet Tej has asked the Additional Deputy Commissioner (Development) to conduct an inquiry. According to the scheme rules, people can apply for land only in their own village. District Development and Panchayat Officer Gurnetar Singh said no outsider could get such a plot.

Chuhar Singh alleged Rana had brought outsiders to the village to broaden his support base so his loyalists could be elected to the panchayat. He claimed bona fide applicants  including village residents Darshan Singh, Bakshi Ram, Dharampal and Kanwaljit  had been ignored.

Out of the total 14 allottees, four belonged to one family  Sharif Mohammad, his two sons Salim Mohammad and Mohammad Suleman, and daughter Salma  all of who are currently living on accommodation provided by Rana on his property. Two plots were allotted to brothers Bhupinder Singh and Satnam Singh, who are living on another property of Rana.

When this reporter visited Khatana, the two brothers were not home, but their wives and mother Kirpal Kaur confirmed they had shifted to the accommodation provided by Rana from Tibba Tapparian village. While the women said they had moved in three or four years ago, Khatana village sarpanch Paramjit Kaurs husband Gurcharan Singh claimed the family had shifted to the village nearly 12 years ago. However, the voter list released on January 1 this year by the Election Commission shows the family as residents of Tibba Tapparian.

At the house provided by Rana to Sharif Mohammads family, his daughter Salma (one of the allottees) said the family had shifted from Tibba Tapparian village to Khatana six years ago on the invitation of the Speaker. When contacted, Rana denied there was any political intervention in the allotment of plots. He said he had provided shelter to these people on humanitarian grounds. They had been living in the village for decades without any land, and providing shelter to such people was not a sin, he added.

The Speaker claimed the allegations were absolutely false and the officials concerned had done a fair job in the allotment of plots, and added that providing 5-marla plots to the landless was a flagship programme of the Congress government, and all such people would get land to build houses very soon.

PROVIDING SHELTER IS NOT A SIN

There is no political intervention. Ive provided shelter on humanitarian grounds. These people had been living in the village for decades without any land, and providing shelter to such people is not a sin.  Rana KP Singh, Vidhan Sabha Speaker
editorial@tribune.com

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, June 4

The state government delegation, led by Cabinet minister Sukhjinder Singh Randhawa, which reached Shillong on Monday, found no evidence of any attack or damage to any gurdwara there.

Expressing satisfaction with the handling of the situation by the Meghalaya government, the delegation said though some damage had been inflicted on certain property, no gurdwara had been attacked.

The delegation, which rushed to Shillong on Monday on the directives of Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh, met the Meghalayan CM, who facilitated their visit to the curfew-bound troubled areas.

The delegation met the Sikh community in these areas and found a long-standing property dispute at the root of the problem, which had escalated into violent clashes last week. They also met president of the City Gurdwara in Shillong Gurjit Singh to assess the situation.

The team spent nearly three hours in the afflicted areas and assured themselves of the safety of the Sikhs living there. The building that had scorched rumours of damage to a gurdwara was a school under construction, he added.

In response to the concern expressed by the delegation, Meghalaya CM Conrad Sangma had set up a Cabinet sub-committee to investigate and resolve the said property case. An all-party meeting was also convened by Sangma to take stock of the situation and ascertain ways and means of defusing the situation, said Randhawa.

MPs Ravneet Singh Bittu and Gurjit Singh Aujala, MLA Kuldeep Singh Vaid and IAS officer DS Mangat are accompanying the Cabinet minister to Shillong.

Situation tense: SGPC team

Amritsar: The situation in Shillong continues to be tense with fresh violence having been reported there, said the SGPC delegation that was sent to Shillong. SGPC additional secretary Diljit Singh Bedi said delegation leader Jathedar Giani Harpreet Singh had informed that the curfew which had been relaxed for a few hours was reimposed, taking into account fresh incidents of violence. The Khasi tribal men reportedly attacked Army jawans and the anti-riot policemen, leaving some of them injured. SGPC president Gobind Singh Longowal sought the Centres intervention and also approached Meghalaya CM Conrad Sangma, Home Minister, Minority Commission chairman and Shillong DC through e-mail to ensure the safety of the Sikh community. TNS

GK seeks strict laws

"Meghalaya CM Conrad Sangama has assured a SAD delegation that differences between the Sikh and Khasi communities in Shillong will be sorted out. The government should make strict laws to stop attacks on minority communities. Selfish persons are trying to destroy the Sikh colony in Shillong." Manjit Singh GK, DSGMC President
editorial@tribune.com

Tribune News Service

Gidderbaha/Muktsar, June 4

The ongoing farmers strike has become a bone of contention between farmers and vegetable sellers.

Some vegetable sellers from Muktsar had on Sunday alleged that a group of farmers had detained them for two hours. In another incident, some vegetable sellers allegedly thrashed a farmer, Baljinder Singh, of Gurusar village just outside the Gidderbaha police station. Baljinder had allegedly threatened them of dire consequences if they sell vegetables.

Though some policemen in the CID wing tried to save the farmer, a baptised Sikh, the crowd thrashed him. During the scuffle, his turban, too, was allegedly tossed. When the crowd was thrashing the farmer, the policemen closed the main entrance of the police station.

Milkmen, too, are upset with the farmers protest saying that the farmers were needlessly acting as their big brothers. Our milk is being destroyed daily. We cant even keep it at home for even a day in such a hot weather. We have no problem with the farmers protest, but they should not harass us. They have laid nakas like the police at all entry points of the towns, frisking every vehicle and destroying milk there. Even the policemen are acting like mute spectators, said a milkman.

In such circumstances, the urban residents are at a receiving end, facing a lot of difficulties in buying milk and vegetables. The prices, too, are soaring high day by day. Till the time of filing of this report, tension was prevailing in Gidderbaha town. Even senior police official had arrived, holding meetings with farmers and vegetable sellers.
harinder@tribunemail.com

Vishav Bharti

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, June 4

The Punjab State Farmers and Farm Workers Commission wants free electricity to big farmers to go and power subsidy rationalised to reduce the unsustainable use of groundwater.

Power subsidy will be strictly restricted to non-income tax payee farmers, it has suggested in its draft Punjab State Farmers Policy.

It says that to begin with, a flat rate of Rs 100/hp/per month be charged from farmers owning 4 hectares (9.88 acres of land) or more. Subsequently, consider rationing the power subsidy to a financial cap.

Ajay Vir Jakhar, who heads the commission, says that stopping power subsidy to big farmers is one proposal that all farm unions agree to. The revenue generated, he says, can be used for the welfare of small and marginal farmers.

Also, the government has been asked to explore the option of power subsidy via direct benefit transfer. Regarding free power to domestic consumers, the commission has proposed that this be confined to socially and economically backward sections in villages.

The climbing power subsidy bill in the past few years has been a matter of concern for economists. Rapping the Punjab Government, a CAG report two months ago had pointed out that 99 per cent of the state subsidy in the past five years had gone into providing free power.

This financial year, the government will pay Rs 6,256 crore to the PSPCL for free power to farmers.

In a study earlier, Prof Ranjit Singh Ghuman of the Centre for Research in Rural and Industrial Development (CRRID), Chandigarh, had observed that if free electricity to big farmers was withdrawn, the state exchequer could save a huge amount which could be spent on rural education, health, sanitation and physical infrastructure.

The free power facility to the farm sector was started by then Congress government in 1997. Initially, farmers with land up to 7 acres were entitled to it. But a month later, the facility was extended to all tubewells. Since then, successive governments have continued with it.

Punjab CM Capt Amarinder Singh has already made an appeal to well-off farmers to forego the facility.

UNITED IN OPPOSITION TO DRAFT PROPOSAL

We are committed to free power to farmers. The draft policy has been placed for suggestions from public. Once these are received and the commission submits its report, we will take a call.  Capt Amarinder Singh, CM

We will oppose it tooth and nail. Its clear the panel head knows little about hardship faced by farmers. The Congress government wants to do away with the power subsidy to the farm sector.  Dr DS Cheema, senior vice-chief, SAD
laxmi@tribune.com

Tribune News Service

Dehradun, June 4

Almora Medical College has failed to get the nod from MCI dashing hopes of the Uttarakhand government for starting MBBS classes from this session.

After having successfully received an approval for conducting the MBBS course three years back in the Doon Medical College, the Uttarakhand government had applied for conducting a 100 seat MBBS course at Almora Medical College in 2018, but its attempt has not succeeded.

The government medical college authorities in the directorate of medical education say the application was rejected as the college had failed to amass basic facilities in the college.

The construction of the medical college building is still incomplete and it is uncertain when the work would be finally over. Only 40 per cent of the work on the building is complete, said Ashutosh Sayana, Director of Uttarakhand Medical Education.

Significantly, the Uttarakhand Rajkiya Nirman Nigam that was assigned with the construction job six years back with has failed to meet the deadline of completing the construction by 2016.

So much so, the initial costs which were pegged at Rs 327 crore for the medical college too have increased manifold.

Significantly, the construction of the medical college was proposed in 2004, after which the work on the medical college began in 2012. The government was hoping to start classes in 2017. But, it failed to do so in 2017 and now its efforts in 2018 too have come to a naught.

Construction began in 2012

The construction of the Almora medical college was proposed in 2004. The work on the college began in 2012. The government was hoping to start classes in 2017, but it failed to do so in 2017 and now its efforts in 2018 too have come to a naught.

150 seats for Doon Medical College

The Medical Council of India has approved 150 seats for MBBS in Doon Medical College for this session. For this year, the counselling for NEET will take place for 750 MBBS seats and 200 BDS seats.
The government Papua New Guinea is considering blocking Facebook while it investigates how to best to regulate the social networking site. Critics say the move would be authoritarian.

Authorities in Papua New Guinea, or PNG, say Facebook has become a magnet for illegal and unsavory activity. The government is considering a temporary ban on the site while it works out the best way to regulate the social media platform.

Only about 10 percent of the nearly 7 million people in PNG use Facebook, but some officials have become increasingly agitated by content being posted online.They have asked experts to help in their search for the best way to impose controls on the social media site.

PNG Communications Minister, Sam Basil, says illegal use of Facebook must be curbed. "Defamatory publications or the fake news, identity theft and, of course, unidentified Facebook users. Most of those users are the ones that are really breaching all the laws in terms of posting pornography materials and, of course, posting fake news," he said.

But critics believe the government's attempts to muzzle Facebook are an attack on free speech. They believe that ministers are motivated by a desire to silence those who expose official corruption and wrongdoing online.

Lawrence Stephens, the chairman of Transparency International PNG, says a temporary ban of Facebook would be a draconian move. "To talk about stopping this for a month whilst someone, somewhere does an analysis of what we should be able to see sounds pretty authoritarian and pretty worrying," said Stephens.

The move to temporarily ban Facebook comes as PNG prepares to host the 2018 Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation, or APEC, leaders' summit later this year.

PNG is a South Pacific nation and is Australia's closest neighbor.


monicakchauhan@gmail.com

Guatemala City, June 4

At least 25 people were killed when Guatemala's Fuego volcano erupted Sunday, belching ash and rock and forcing the airport to close, the country's disaster agency said.

"The toll was 25 dead as of 9:00 pm (0300 GMT Monday)," the spokesman for the National Coordinator for Disaster Reduction (Conred) said in a WhatsApp group.

Search and rescue operations for the missing and dead have been suspended due to low light and dangerous conditions, and will resume this morning, the spokesman said.

The eruption sent ash billowing over the surrounding area, turning plants and trees gray and blanketing streets, cars and people.

Farmers covered in ash fled for their lives as civil defense staffers tried to relocate them to shelters during the event.

Earlier, Conred chief Sergio Cabanas and President Jimmy Morales held a news conference, saying that the eruption left seven dead, 20 injured and affected more than 1.7 million people.

Morales announced a red alert for Escuintla, Chimaltenango and Sacatepequez, the areas most affected by the eruption, and an orange alert throughout the country.

The president said he and his government would determine whether to ask Congress to declare a state of emergency in the areas, while at the same time appealing to the population for calm.

Hundreds of personnel from the police, Red Cross and military have been dispatched to support emergency operations, Morales said.

Cabanas said that the dead included a civil protection official and others trapped by muddy material that descended from the 3,763-meter (12,346-foot) volcano.

Twenty people suffered burn injuries, and more than 3,000 were evacuated due to the eruption, which affected rural communities around the volcano as well as Antigua Guatemala, a colonial-era town very popular with tourists in the Central American country, he said.

There are also "missing persons, but we do not know how many," Cabanas said, adding that lava had blocked entry to several communities.

Dense ash blasted out by the volcano shut down Guatemala City's international airport, civil aviation said.

People were working to clean ash off the runways to get the airport operating again. It is the second major eruption this year from the peak, following another that subsided at the beginning of February after sending ash towering 1.7 kilometers into the sky.

Guatemala has two other active volcanoes, Santiaguito in the west and Pacaya just south of the capital. AFP
uttara@tribuneindia.com

Beijing, June 4

China's information blackout about the crackdown on the 1989 Tiananmen protests took a new turn on Monday: users of a popular social media app could not send each other money transfers alluding to the anniversary date.

Open discussion of the brutal crackdown is forbidden in China, where hundredsby some estimates more than a thousanddied when the Communist Party sent tanks on June 4, 1989, to crush a student-led demonstration calling for democratic reforms.

The United States called on China on Monday to disclose how many were killed, drawing a rebuke from Beijing, which brands the protest as a "counter-revolutionary rebellion".

Foreign news broadcasts on commemoration events are usually blocked while survivors and the families of those killed are put under surveillance or forced to travel out of Beijing as the anniversary approaches. Security prevented an AFP photographer from approaching the square today.

Social media is also heavily controlled, and on Monday users of the ubiquitous WeChat application were unable to exchange "red envelopes", or money packets, valued at 89.64 yuan or 64.89 yuan, indicating the date of the anniversary.

A "system busy. Try again later" message appeared every time AFP journalists tried to complete a transaction involving the sum, but the service functioned smoothly if the amount was changed, suggesting deliberate censorship.

People in China use clever tactics to circumvent censorship. When dissident Nobel laureate Liu Xiaobo died of cancer while in custody last year, people posted candle emojis as a discreet tribute. Those wanting to allude to the #MeToo movement have used emojis and the Chinese characters for rice and bunny, which are "mi" and "tu".

Chinese search engine Baidu did not yield any results for the term "29th anniversary of Tiananmen massacre" during the past week and posts on any commemoration events were missing from China's Twitter-like microblogging platform Weibo.

The Chinese government has "spent enormous amounts of resources" to enforce a "thorough and all-encompassing" erasure of information linked to the incident, William Nee, a China researcher at Amnesty International Hong Kong, told AFP.

"This year, it might be incrementally more effective, since the government has increased self-censorship on WeChat groups and has become better at using artificial intelligence to proactively ban what it deems to be problematic photos." Tencent Holdings, which operates WeChat, could not be reached for comment.

Several prominent bloggers and activists were forced to go on "vacation" under police escort ahead of the sensitive date.

Dissident democracy activist He Depu told AFP that two policemen drove him to a hotel in the Yellow Mountains, a popular tourist resort in central China, on May 31, and he will only be allowed to "checkout" on Tuesday afternoon.

Activist Hu Jia said two national guards drove him from Beijing to a hotel in the centre of Qinhuangdao, a beach resort about 300 kilometres (180 miles) east of the capital on June 1.

"This is already my 14th year of being forced to take a vacation on June 4. But, wherever I am, I fast the whole day and light candles to commemorate the struggle," he said.

"After all, I feel lucky... to be a survivor. On this day 29 years ago, the bullets flew over my head. I also feel saddened... because so many people died, but China is still stuck in 1984 in terms of (political) progress."

US demands death toll

Families of pro-democracy protesters killed in the 1989 bloodbath have recently written an open letter urging President Xi Jinping to acknowledge their suffering and "re-evaluate the June Fourth massacre".

The semi-autonomous territory of Hong Kong is the only place on Chinese soil where the anniversary is openly marked with a famous annual vigil that took place again on Monday.

US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo issued a statement urging China to "make a full public accounting of those killed, detained or missing" in the massacre.

Pompeo quoted Liu Xiaobo as saying: "The ghosts of June 4th have not yet been laid to rest". China lodged a formal diplomatic protest over Pompeo's remarks.

"The Chinese government has already come to a clear conclusion regarding the political disturbances that occurred in the late 1980s," Chinese foreign ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying said.

Pompeo's statement is "groundlessly accusing the Chinese government and interfering in China's internal affairs. The Chinese side is strongly dissatisfied and resolutely opposes this," Hua added.  AFP




laxmi@tribune.com

Rome, June 4

Italy will no longer be Europes refugee camp, newly installed interior minister Matteo Salvini said on Monday as he promised tough action to reduce migrant arrivals and send back those who have already come.

Salvini, head of the right-wing League and a deputy prime minister in the eurosceptic coalition, has made curbing immigration a clarion call of his party whose popularity is rising fast in opinion polls.

Two days after the government was sworn in on Friday, Salvini headed for Sicily, the main port of call for more than 6,00,000 migrants who have arrived on Italys shores from north Africa since 2014.

The party is over, for migrants in Italy, he said, before visiting a so-called hotspot or reception centre, in the port of Pozzallo, where boat-borne arrivals are registered, photo-identified and fingerprinted.

The League says the vast majority of migrants in Italy have no right to refugee status, Italy cannot afford to help them and by accepting low pay they worsen the working conditions of Italians. Salvini kept up the pressure on Monday, saying in a radio interview that Italy cant be transformed into a refugee camp, and vowing to lobby Italys partners to obtain more EU assistance to handle the problem.

Its clear and obvious that Italy has been abandoned, now we have to see facts, Salvini said, when asked about comments from German chancellor Angela Merkel that Europe needs a new approach on immigration. Salvini, who wants to open a migrant detention and deportation centre in every Italian region, later tweeted: either Europe gives us a hand in making our country secure, or we will choose other methods.

Italy has become the main route into Europe for economic migrants and asylum seekers, with hundreds of thousands making the perilous crossing from North Africa each year and thousands dying at sea. The other main route, from Turkey to Greece, was largely shut after more than 1 million people arrived in 2015.

After at least 48 migrants were killed at the weekend when their boat sank off Tunisias coast, Salvini said there was no reason for people to be fleeing Tunisia which was a free and democratic country.

An opinion poll by the Ipsos agency published on Saturday in daily Corriere della Sera showed support for the League had risen to 28.5 per cent from 17 per cent at the March 4 election.

It now stands just 1.6 points behind its coalition partner, the more left-leaning 5-Star Movement, whose support has slipped slightly since it took 32.7 per cent at the election.

Western Europes first anti-establishment government, which faces its first confidence vote in the upper house Senate on Tuesday, seems determined to hit the ground running.

5-Star leader Luigi Di Maio, also a deputy PM as well as labour and industry minister, pledged on Saturday to overhaul the signature labour reform, known as the Jobs Act, of the previous centre-left government.  Reuters

Paris police evacuate two more camps

The Paris police on Monday began evacuating around 1,000 migrants from two makeshift camps in the city, five days after another 1,000 were taken to temporary lodgings

The operation began at dawn at a camp along the Canal St Martin where an estimated 550 mainly Afghan migrants were staying Another 450 people were being evacuated from a camp to the north at Porte de la Chapelle

Mondays operation comes less than a week after the dismantling of a camp along the Canal St Denis, north of the St Martin canal, where around 1,000 migrants mainly from Eritrea and Sudan had sheltered

Czech PM rejects Merkels border force idea

The Czech Republic on Monday rejected German Chancellor Angela Merkels idea of a flexible European approach to migration underpinned by a European border police force, saying protecting frontiers should be up to individual countries

It was reacting to Merkels remarks at the weekend casting border controls and a common asylum policy as existential questions for the EU, urging a flexible system in migration and letting Frontex become a European border police force that can act independently

The idea that Frontex will guard everything by itself is not realistic in the long term, Czech Prime Minister Andrej Babis told reporters when asked about her comments. Individual states must guard that

Europe stands divided over issue
uttara@tribuneindia.com

AMMAN/DUBAI, June 4

Jordan's King Abdullah replaced his prime minister on Monday in a move to defuse the biggest protests in years over IMF-backed reforms that have hit the poor.

Government plans to lift taxes have brought thousands of people onto the streets in the capital Amman and other parts of Jordan since last week, shaking a US-allied Arab country that has remained stable through years of regional turmoil.

King Abdullah appointed Omar al-Razzaz, a former World Bank economist, to form the new government after accepting Hani Mulki's resignation, a ministerial source said. Razzaz was education minister in Mulki's government.

While some celebrated the change of government, the head of the Professional Unions Association said a strike planned for Wednesday would go ahead unless the draft income tax law was withdrawn.

Police chief Major General Fadel al-Hamoud said security forces had detained 60 people for breaking the law in protests so far, and 42 security force members had been injured, but protests remained under control.

"Rest assured, Jordan is a safe and secure country, and things are under control," said Major General Hussein Hawatmeh, head of the Gendarmerie security department, appearing along with Hamoud at a news conference.

Jordan, which has a peace treaty with Israel, has navigated years of instability at its borders, including wars in Iraq and Syria and conflict in the Israeli-occupied West Bank.

But the instability has hit the economy of a country that is poor in resources and hosts close to 700,000 Syrian refugees.

Unemployment among Jordanians stands at 18.4 per cent, according to Jordan's department of statistics.

Public anger has grown over government policies since a steep general sales tax hike earlier this year and the abolition of bread subsidies, both measures driven by the International Monetary Fund.

In a sign the tax hikes could be shelved, the official Petra news agency, citing the speaker of parliament, said lawmakers were on course to ask the king's permission to hold an exceptional session, with a majority demanding the changes be withdrawn.

"For us, our cause is the draft income tax law. The individuals (in government) do not concern us if they change, we want to change the approach of the government," said Ali al-Abous, head of the Professional Unions Association.

Demonstrators who have converged for nightly protests near the Cabinet office have said they would disband only if the government rescinded the tax bill it sent to parliament last month.

Time for middle ground

Razzaz is a Harvard-educated economist who served with the World Bank in both Washington and the region.

Officials said he had been an opponent of reforms that hurt the poor. His appointment nevertheless sends a positive message to foreign donors that Jordan will press ahead with reforms, though in a gradual way, they said.

"I believe they have time to amend the law, to withdraw the law and make a new one that is more of a middle ground between the public demands and what the government wants," said Mufleh Aqel, a prominent Jordanian banker.

The IMF approved a three-year extended arrangement with Jordan in 2016 to support economic and financial reform to lower public debt and encourage structural reforms.

Jordan has backed down on reforms in the past, fearing a social backlash. Until Mulki's government, the lifting of bread subsidies and tax changes have been pushed back repeatedly.

Jordan was rocked by unrest in 2012 when the IMF told the government to lift gasoline prices.

Mulki, a business-friendly politician, was appointed in May 2016 and given the responsibility of reviving a sluggish economy and business sentiment. The tax increases had caused his popularity to plummet.

The protests widened on Saturday after Mulki refused to scrap a bill increasing personal and corporate taxes, saying it was up to parliament to decide.

The government says it needs more funds for public services and argues that the tax changes reduce social disparities by placing a heavier burden on high earners. Opponents say a tough IMF-imposed fiscal consolidation plan has worsened the plight of poorer Jordanians and squeezed the middle class.

Jordan's economy has struggled to grow in the past few years in the face of chronic deficits, as private foreign capital and aid flows have declined. Reuters




monicakchauhan@gmail.com

Washington, June 4

US First Lady Melania Trump will not attend the G7 summit this year or join her husband President Donald Trump when he travels to Singapore for the planned June 12 summit with North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, according to her spokeswoman.

The First Lady has not been seen publicly for 24 days. She was last spotted with President Trump on May 10 at the Andrews Air Force Base as they welcomed home three Americans who had been held prisoner in North Korea.

Her spokeswoman told CNN on Sunday that Melania Trump underwent a medical procedure to treat a benign kidney issue on May 14 at Walter Reed National Military Medical Centre.

The First Lady remained in the hospital for five nights following the procedure prior to returning to the White House on May 19.

Several internet conspiracy theories raging from plastic surgery to a stealth move back to New York City have been circulated on the social media regarding the First Lady.

Melania Trump's communications director Stephanie Grisham denied the rumours, telling CNN that the First Lady has been recuperating, but also taking meetings with her staff at the White House, discussing her initiatives as well as upcoming events like the Congressional Picnic and Fourth of July.

Melania Trump attended the G7 summit in Sicily last year, making headlines on her debut international trip as First Lady.

For a tour of Taomarina with other G7 leaders' spouses, Trump famously donned a $51,500 floral Dolce and Gabbana jacket, which garnered sartorial praise but also raised eyebrows because of its cost.

On the first couple's last day in Sicily before jetting back to Washington, they stopped at the US naval air base in Sigonella, Sicily, where the First Lady gave brief remarks to troops prior to the President taking the podium.

This year's G7 Summit will take place June 8 to 9 in Quebec, Canada.

IANS
amansharma@tribunemail.com

Jammu/Islamabad, June 4

Pakistan Army on Monday said there was no space for any war with India but warned that its desire for peace should not be mistaken for weakness, even as the BSF and Rangers agreed to maintain peace and tranquillity along the International Border.

The BSF and Rangers held a sector commander level flag meeting at Border Outpost Octroi (on the Pakistan side) across R.S. Pura sector of Jammu district which lasted for about two hours. It was decided to hold next such meeting on June 21.

"The prime focus of the meeting was to maintain peace and tranquillity on the border. The meeting is likely to bring firing-free environment, particularly for border area villagers on both sides. Commanders on both sides agreed to keep talks on every level to develop confidence between two border guarding forces," a BSF statement said.

"The meeting went off in a conducive atmosphere," it added. This was the third sector commander level meeting of the year, coming amid heavy shelling and firing on the International Border.

The meeting, called at the request of the Pakistani side, came after Pakistan Rangers targeted four border outposts of the BSF in Akhnoor sector on Monday morning. Pakistan had subsequently sought a flag meeting.

Addressing a press conference at Rawalpindi, Maj Gen Asif Ghafoor, the Director General of Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) - the media wing of the Pakistan army, accused India of carrying out 1,077 ceasefire violations since the start of 2018 to date.

"Our defence, our desire for peace, should not be mistaken for weakness," Ghafoor said.

He said Pakistan had not responded to Indian firing, which followed an agreement by the two countries' militaries last week to adhere to the 2003 ceasefire agreement, but was "compelled" to respond only when civilians were targeted, Dawn reported.

Ghafoor said Pakistan wants to respect the truce agreement.

"The Indians have to realise and understand where they want to go (in the future)," he said. "We are two nuclear powers, and there is no space for war," he added.  Agencies
gspannu7@gmail.com

Beijing, June 4

China lashed out at the United States on Monday after Washington marked the anniversary of the 1989 Tiananmen protests by urging Beijing to disclose how many people were killed in the crackdown.

US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo issued a statement to remember the tragic loss of innocent lives on June 4, 1989, when the Communist Party sent tanks to quash the peaceful demonstrations around Tiananmen Square in Beijing.

Open discussion of the crackdown is forbidden in China, where hundredsperhaps moredied. A British diplomatic cable released last year said at least 10,000 people were killed.

Pompeo quoted the dissident Liu Xiaobo, a Nobel Peace Prize laureate who died of cancer while in custody last year, as saying: The ghosts of June 4th have not yet been laid to rest. The chief US diplomat added: We join others in the international community in urging the Chinese government to make a full public accounting of those killed, detained or missing. He also urged China to release those jailed for trying to keep the memory of the protests alive, and stop harassing Tiananmen participants and their relatives.

The protests are branded a counter-revolutionary rebellion by Chinese authorities and many on the mainland remain unaware of the crackdown due to censorship.

The Chinese government has already come to a clear conclusion regarding the political disturbances that occurred in the late 1980s, Chinese foreign ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying told a regular press briefing.

Pompeos statement is groundlessly accusing the Chinese government and interfering in Chinas internal affairs. The Chinese side is strongly dissatisfied and resolutely opposes this, Hua said.

She said China has lodged an official diplomatic protest with the United States.

We urge the US to abandon prejudice, correct mistakes, stop irresponsible remarks, stop interfering in Chinas internal affairs, and do more to develop Sino-US relations instead of doing things to undermine them, she said.

Families of pro-democracy protesters killed in the 1989 bloodbath have recently written an open letter urging President Xi Jinping to acknowledge their suffering and re-evaluate the June Fourth massacre.

The semi-autonomous territory of Hong Kong is the only place on Chinese soil where the anniversary is openly marked with a famous vigil in Victoria Park on June 4 each year.  AFP
laxmi@tribune.com

Guatemala City, June 4

At least 25 persons were killed when Guatemalas Fuego volcano erupted Sunday, belching ash and rock and forcing the airport to close, the countrys disaster agency said. The toll was 25 dead, the spokesman for the National Coordinator for Disaster Reduction (Conred) said. Search and rescue operations for the missing and dead have been suspended due to low light and dangerous conditions, and will resume this morning, the spokesman said.

The eruption sent ash billowing over the surrounding area, turning plants and trees gray and blanketing streets, cars and people.

Farmers covered in ash fled for their lives as civil defence staffers tried to relocate them to shelters during the event.  AFP
China is warning the United States any trade and business agreements between the two countries will be void if President Donald Trump carries out his threats to impose tariff hikes and other trade measures.

The warning came after U.S. Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross and Chinese Deputy Prime Minister Liu He ended a new round of talks Sunday in Beijing aimed at settling a simmering trade dispute, in which Beijing pledged to buy more American products to narrow its trade surplus with the United States. The Chinese trade surplus reached $375 billion last year.

No joint statement was issued and neither side released details. "Our meetings so far have been friendly and frank," Ross said at the start of the talks, "and covered some useful topics about specific export items" China might buy.

Chinese envoys had promised after the last high-level meeting in Washington in mid-May to buy more American farm goods and energy products.

Ross was accompanied by agricultural, treasury and trade officials. Liu's delegation included China's central bank governor and commerce minister.
The Autobiography of the 4th Zhabdrung

Ngawang Jigme Norbu Chokley Nampar Gyalwa Pelsangpo

Title: One Endowed with Tantric Attainments, Who Manifests Enlightened Activities. For those who are keen towards Enlightenment, I will explain clearly my life story.

Chapter 1

I prostrate with great faith to my kind lamas.

Now, I am going to talk about my life experiences. The place where I was born, Tsenden Jong on the eastern side of Bhutan, is blessed by Guru Padmasambhava. The great treasure revealer, Pema Lingpa, had many children in order to preserve the Dharma and benefit sentient beings. His heart son, Drakpa Gyaltsen, had many children who preserved the lineage teachings.

They built a meditational retreat centre called Drametse. The daughter of Pema Lingpa called Tsam Chodey Sangmo was actually an emanation of a wisdom dakini. She went to the top of the mountain at the retreat centre and entered into retreat for a long time. Finally, she gained the siddhi of extraordinary control over the body. Later, when she passed away, her sacred body was preserved so many could see it. At such sacred sites, there are many statues, scriptures and stupas.

Eight Dharma Protectors of the Mahakala family reside in that sacred place. My father, Tenzin Chogyal, an honest man with an aggressive demeanour, was from that place. He was a descendant of the great Pema Lingpa. My mother was the sister of the king of Bhutan and she was known as Druk Gyalmo. She was of good character, religious and very intelligent.

They fell in love and got together, and I took rebirth in my mothers womb during the Year of the Iron-Tiger (1830), between the 9th and 10th lunar months. After nine months in the womb, I was born peacefully without giving any pain to my mother during the Year of the Iron-Rabbit (1831), on the morning of the 3rd of the 6th lunar month. When I was born, the midwife collected me in her hands. I was still covered in the amniotic sac that was said to be glistening with rainbows and sunlight. She tore the sac and I was born in this manner in accordance to my mothers account.

I was named Pema Wangdrag and at about two years old, I spontaneously engaged in ritual actions and would be seen meditating as well. At that time, my father was the local chieftain of Mongar. At that time, another district officer of Zhongkhar called Tsultrim Tharchin visited me. He showed some affection towards me and noticed that I was mature beyond my age. He noticed that I was used to sitting on high seats and was pleased with respect shown unto me. He told this to everybody.

The district officer had a small thangka of Avalokiteshvara and in front of the thangka was a statue of the late Jampel Sherab Gyaltsen. The statue was very holy and captivating for a child who had no idea of good or bad and so I stared at it with folded hands. This account was told by Tsultrim Tharchin to his younger brother, Tsewang Samdrub.

Trinley, the king of Bhutan at that time also heard about this unusual child. Afterwards, the king sent the 3rd Zhabdrungs shrine assistant, Namdrol Sangpo, and horse caretaker, Gyawo, to my home. I immediately recognised them and I shared many intimate memories with them from my previous life. Therefore, they told my parents to bring this most unusual child along with them to the royal palace. So, we embarked on a long journey through many lands and villages, and arrived at Chokhor Rabten. We pressed on and traversed many mountains and valleys, and finally arrived at Wangdu Chokyi Phodrang.

The district minister of Wangdu Phodrang by the name of Legpai Sherab, who served the 3rd Zhabdrung, gave us a warm reception. In Wangdu Phodrang, there is an eight pillar temple. In the main prayer hall, there was a small statue of Lopon Namkhai Nyingpo, (one of the heart disciples of Guru Padmasambhava). I took this statue to my residence.

People teased me and I appeared to be upset, and threw the statue on the ground but it remained undamaged. We remained in this place for a few days and we traveled to the 3rd Zhabdrungs monastery called Pal Migyur Sangak Choling Rigzin Gaway Tsel along with the district minister.

Upon arrival, the district minister sent a message to Je Jampel Drakpa and he came from Norbu Gang. I stayed in the assistants house and we prepared to receive Je Jampel Drakpa, and prepared a higher cushion layered with a woolen cover. As they invited Je Jampel Drakpa into the temple, I spontaneously said that the seat was mine and I cried. The lama took notice of me. Later, Je Jampel Drakpa performed a Dorje Namjom ablution ritual and a short long-life empowerment for me.

After that, we went through Dokyong La to Tashichho Dzong. We stayed in the ministers home. At this place, I was able to recognise many of my previous lives disciples. During the winter of the Year of the Wood-Horse, Soltab arrived in the place called Pungthang at the same time as the arrival of Je Jampel Drakpa.

In front of the Sangha, Jetsun Shakya Gyaltsen and Ngawang Jampel Drakpa were seated across from each other on their respective thrones in the presence of the king, ministers and dignitaries. The kings entourage presented tremendous amounts of offerings and presents along with the recitation of auspicious verses by the Sangha. The two great monks presented the eight auspicious substances to me. Then, I was officially given a new Dharma name, Ngawang Jigme Norbu Chokley Nampar Gyalwa Pelsangpo. I was enthroned on Pel Drukpa Rinpoche Tukchen Chokyi Gyalpo Ngawang Dudjom Dorje Palsangpos seat.

Chapter 2

Je Jampel Gyatso was appointed as my tutor by Je Jampel Drakpa. During winter, we remained in Tashichho Dzong and during the rainy season, we travelled to Mangala. While in Mangala, I became very ill. My parents and caretaker were very worried for me. They invited a lama, Ugyen Gelek Nampar Gyalwey Lha from Gangteng and he performed the Kago blessing ritual and a ritual to subdue negative spirits. I was given a Damdze Kedun Rilbu healing pill. I was given another name, Chime Wangchuk to avert sickness and disaster. Thereafter, I gradually healed from my sickness. I have deep faith that the lama was one with Amitayus, the Buddha of Boundless Life.

The rainy season came to pass, and we returned to Pungthang. During the Year of the Wood-Sheep, we travelled to Tashi Dzong, and I started to learn the Tibetan script and also the drawing of mandalas. Trinley, the caretaker, became very ill and passed away. After his passing, everything was thrown into disarray. A funeral was arranged with the invitation of Ngawang Drakpa, who presided over the funerary rites.

Mewang Chokyi Gyaltsen initially took over the responsibilities of Trinley. During the 6th lunar month of the Year of the Fire-Monkey, another lama, Khenchen Shakya passed away and in his place, on the 1st of the 7th lunar month, Jampel Sherab Gyaltsen Pelsangpo took over the responsibilities of this lama. During winter of that year in Pungthang, I received Chod initiation in the lineage of Machig Labdron and Sangdrup Trowo Lhamang (Amitayus) initiation from Je Jampel Drakpa.

During the rainy season of the Year of the Fire-Bird and in the residence of Tashichho Dzongs regent, Choktrul Jigme Dorje, Jamtrul Jampel Tenzin and I received our upasaka (ge nyen) vows, intermediate renunciate (barma rabjung) vows and finally, novice monks (getsul) vows.

Later at the chamber of Je Jampel Drakpa, while he was meditating, the three of us young novice monks entered and received the Bodhisattva vows, the empowerment of Five-deity Chakrasamvara in the tradition of Ghantapa, and the long and short empowerment according to Cheti Dorje Trengwas treasure text revealed by Rigzin Pema Lingpa.

During winter of the same year, I arrived in Pungthang. Due to negative karma arising, a civil war broke out in the region. Sangye, the district minister of Dzongkar Jong fought in the war and his faction was defeated. They lost Pungthang to the opposing faction. He sought refuge in the residence of Je Jampel Drakpa while the others in his faction ran away. Subsequently, Gongsar Dorje Norbu was appointed to replace Sangye. While in hiding, Je Jampel Drakpa and a group of monks planned Sangyes re-emergence into society.

In the Year of the Earth-Dog, while Je Jampel Gyatso was on pilgrimage, they invited Lopon Pema Sangpo from Yangmo Hermitage to replace him.

Southern Bhutan became divided during the civil war. Je Jampel Gyatsos passage to Tashichho Dzong was obstructed and simultaneously, Wangdu Phodrang caught fire. During summer of the same year, Gongsar Dorje Norbu was at Wangdu Dzong. Meanwhile, I was at Khothang Yungdrung Kyid with my retinue. During the 6th lunar month, Dolung Mani festivities took place and I was able to see traditional plays, dances and music.

During the 9th month, we arrived in Wangdu Dzong. Ugyen Gelek Nampar Gyalwa passed away and during the funeral, Ngawang Chokyi Lodro who is an emanation of Pema Lingpa arrived, and I had the good fortune to meet him. Just before the lama returned, he gave me a sacred statue of Guru Padmasambhava.

During winter in Pungthang, the civil war ended and peace was restored. My father was at Chotse Ponlop, and he returned and came to live in Medah Gang.

Due to the bad influence of some people, my father took the side of the opposing faction at Tashi Dzong. At the same time on the 18th of the 12th lunar month of the Year of the Earth-Pig, my father commanded his men to escort Lopon Pema Sangpo over to perform some pujas.

After that, my father also commanded his men to bring me. During the journey, the men insulted me by calling me a little fruit and forced me into a sack. Although I was confused and afraid, I was also excited to see my father. I suffered as the men carried me over to my father.

I was very afraid because while in the sack, the men were screaming and shouting that they would kill me. They came to a place and I met Rinpung Ponlop Tsultrim Namgyal, and we had a good conversation. From here, we passed through Jhila Gang and arrived at Tsangyul Rab, and while at Norbu Gang, Tsangpa Tashi Dorje was there to welcome me. We finally arrived at the monastery of my previous life and we performed a fulfillment offering puja.

We were heading towards Tinley Gang. At the same time, my father was out to do battle. Due to his negative karma arising, he was stabbed to death on the battleground. Subsequently, I brought my fathers remains back to Tinley Gang. Two lamas, Je Jamgon Lama Rinpoche and Lopon Yonten Gyatso were invited to perform the funerary rites.

Shortly after the funeral, we returned to Tashichho Dzong. Meanwhile, a party of lamas and monks also arrived at Tashichho Dzong. Gongsar Tashi Choje and others extended an invitation to Je Jampel Drakpa to come. Upon the arrival of the lama, they requested the lama to give teachings and he accepted the request. I formally received teachings, began my preliminary practices (ngondro zhijhor) and received teachings on the four classes of tantra.

Chapter 3

Then my guru, Je Jampel Drakpa requested to enter into retreat, which was approved and while in retreat, Lopon Yonten Gyatso took over his spiritual responsibilities. Je Jampel Drakpa resided in Namgyal Khangsang and during this time, I received Mahakala initiation in the lineage of Ratna Lingpa and also Lhamo Dusolma (a form of Palden Lhamo), Tsering Tsenga (Five Sister Goddesses) and Dorje Yudronma initiations. The lama gave advice to me that if I wanted to gain results from my practice, I needed to put in a lot of effort. Otherwise, I would gain nothing from my practice.

My lama, Je Jampel Drakpa went through Jago Phungpo towards Kunang Osel Gyi Gendho. But I couldnt follow my guru because I had responsibilities to carry out and I did not receive permission to accompany my lama. But I petitioned my guru for many blessings until the day I became enlightened. I also composed a prayer for my gurus long life. My guru felt moved and sad, and he wept silent tears and then set off.

After several days during winter, I went to Tinley Gang together with my retinue. Then during the summer at Tashichho Dzong, Ngawang Yonten Gyatso became very ill. Therefore, Je Jampel Drakpa was invited to come but the lama passed away. After the funeral rites were completed, Lopon Pema Sangpo replaced Ngawang Yonten Gyatsos position in the monastery.

During this period, I received White Manjushri initiation from Je Jampel Gyatso before returning into retreat. Lama Yonten was appointed as my tutor who taught me how to draw mandalas, chant and play ritual music. In winter, my teacher Je Jampel Drakpa returned to Norbu Gang.

Together with my sponsors, we were in Sanling and we extended an invitation to a great lama who gave the 13-deity Chakrasamvara empowerment in the lineage of Naropa and preparation, along with Lama Gongdu initiation and preparation, 15-deity Dorje Namjom (Vajra Vidarana) initiation, Mitrugpa (Akshobhya) initiation, Sampa Lhundrub and Tsechu initiation, and the initiation of the 16 Arhats.

My lama, Je Jampel Drakpa travelled to Kunang Densa and in the summer, I went to Tashichho Dzong. During the winter, together with another tulku, we invited our lama to Tashichho Dzong Dorlop Khang and we received Tangtong Gyalpos long-life initiation. We headed towards Pungthang in order to receive further Kagyu teachings.

When we were traveling to Wen at Tashichho Dzong, I received the White, Red and Yellow Mahakala initiations, Lhamo Chonga (15 Goddess) initiation, the Oser Gutruk blessing ritual, the Chuchig Zhel (11-faced Avalokiteshvara) initiation, and the Powa (transference of consciousness) initiation. Later, we traveled and passed by Wangtse on the way towards Densa. Later, the tulku disappeared. The lama, Yonten Gyaltsen took over his position.

In the Year of the Water-Tiger, Chotse Ponlop and Zinpon Sangye hatched a plan to attack their enemies, who were my older brothers, Dukdrak Senggi and Sonam Dhondrup. Both factions represented two regions, Shar Dzong and Shong Dzong. They entered into another civil war. My two brothers were defeated in the conflict and they escaped through many places like Tawang, Dungsam and Yemen. Unfortunately, our mother was captured and thrown into jail.

The holy sites in the village, like stupas and temples, were looted and destroyed. The people suffered greatly due to the conflict. At that time, I was still very young and unable to be of any assistance but was aware of the conflict. That is why I was deeply disturbed by what happened and didnt know what to do.

At that time, my mother was transferred to another jail in Wangdu Phodrang by her captors. While in jail, it was with the influence of Je Pema Sangpo that my mother was not treated as harshly as others. Therefore, I was very grateful towards him. Finally, she was able to leave jail and she went to Tashichho Dzong where she was reunited with me. I was extremely elated.

During the summer of the Year of the Water-Rabbit, Druk Mangala had an annual mandala offering puja. I engaged in the mandala offerings as well. While we were chanting the Praise to Tara, my brothers Duksengpa and Sonam Dhondrup had arrived via Wang Dzong. During that time, I gave my mother and two brothers the Amitayus initiation in the lineage of Tangtong Gyalpo. It was the first time I used the vajra and bell with ease (I felt it was the start of my deception as a great practitioner).

Shortly after, we started to engage in pujas such as the earth propitiation ritual and the performance of the sacred Cham lama dance, a special offering puja usually performed on the 10th of the lunar month. All these pujas were completed successfully. Sikyong Mangar Benza and Tuchen Dudjom Dorje had arrived at the main temple in Dorje Den. They joined in the puja upon their arrival and they were given accommodation as well.

The next day, we engaged in the Samdrub Trowo Lhamang retreat for five days. I received the auspicious sign of the nectar boiling upon the completion of the retreat (signifying a successful retreat). Right after the retreat, the monks performed a Gonpo Gertsul Shakdunma ritual (Mahakala) that lasted for seven days. On the 7th day, I joined in the rituals.

Upon my return, I went to Tago Choying Phodrang where I met Mipham Tinley Gyatso, the reincarnation of Ngawang Tenzin Gyatso, and Lobje Sangye Gyatso, the son of Lhacham Kunley. I felt a strong affinity with the two of them not due to our shared region or lineage but from a previous life. Then, I returned to Tashichho Dzong and the monks returned to Pungthang.

In the winter, together with the Desi (administrative ruler), we made our way to Chang Gangkar where we paid homage to a sacred Hayagriva statue and an Avalokiteshvara statue. We returned on the same day. After a short time, Sikyong Chokyi Gyaltsen and Miwang Tripa met at Drubwang Dutse and I was also there. But the Desi returned in the evening. I remained there for the next three days. Meanwhile, I performed the Kawang confessional practice, Gonpo Gertsul, the Mahakala fulfillment prayer and the 16 Arhat long-life puja. On the third day, I returned to Tashichho Dzong.

At one time, there was an old monk called Chok Norbu who was a disciple of the previous Zhabdrung. He was stricken by epilepsy and was given the initiation of Vajrakilaya. Right after, monks accompanying me returned to their respective monasteries. In summer, the monks did their general studies and practices, and in winter, they traveled to Drolung.

At the time, I went to the Desis residence where I performed the Kangshag confessional ritual and the Tsetrul long-life ritual, a Phurba ritual and so forth. I gave an initiation of Jinlap Nyepar to Deyang Chenmo along with some merchants and traders. They made faithful offerings to me for bestowing the initiation.

Chapter 4

In the summer of that year, the Sangha went to Tashi Dzong while Choktrul Mipham Tinley Gyatso along with his retinue decided to go to Lingshe. But a messenger was sent to stop us and requested we remain for a few more days. The Sikyong and his sponsors came to know about this. When we are about to engage in virtuous endeavors, we will always face obstacles. On the 1st of the 5th lunar month of the Year of the Wood-Snake, Choktrul Mipham Tinley Gyatso was appointed the spiritual and secular leader to replace Ngawang Tenzin Rabtu Gye and he received a salary and then, he went to Choying Phodrang.

In the same year, the Sikyongs from both sides were not on speaking terms and Je Pema Sangpo decided to reconcile both opposing factions. Then he advised the leaders and they were happy to listen to the esteemed advice from such a high lama and a respected member of the sangha.

In order to have greater impact, I invited Je Jampel Drakpa from Dewa Chenpo Phodrang. To ordinary perception, the lama is old, has failing eyesight and is hard of hearing. These are merely manifestations of the lama but for the sake of benefitting all sentient beings, he still accepted the invitation. He came and was provided accommodation.

After a short time, Wang Dzongpa Sangye along with his retinue arrived at Sabdun Lhuntse. The head of Tashi Dzong along with his retinue came together with the other faction and they reconciled their differences for the sake of the people and the Dharma.

Je Jampel Drakpa, Yongzin Khenpo, the elderly monks and representatives from both factions gathered in the Sangsab Gonkhang, the Protector chapel in order to take an oath. They recited the Kangshag confessional liturgy and both factions took oath.

Later, Je Lama and others returned to their respective residences. Wang Dzongpa Sangye also returned to his residence, met all the sponsors and updated them, and everything was well.

I went to Wangdu Phodrang to invite Ngawang Jigme Dorje and Gongsar Dorje Norbu. They travelled to Tashi Dzong and together with Ngawang Dudjom and Khenchen Trithok, the high lamas were ushered onto their respective thrones in the prayer hall of Gonkhang Chenmo.

Then the monks recited the Mahakala Kangshag confessional liturgy for three days while the leaders of the two factions prostrated a hundred times to purify their negative deeds in the corner of the prayer hall. Brotherhood was forged between the two leaders that day.

At that time, Lopon Yonten Gyaltsen requested Je Jampel Drakpa for the following initiations: Nangdrup Shiwa Lhamang initiation in the lineage of Tangtong Gyalpo, Vaishravana initiation, Basundhara initiation, and Gonpo Nyingshu initiation (Mahakala). He accepted this request and he especially requested my assistance to help read the pecha text for him during the initiation rituals due to his failing eyesight.

After completing the initiations, Je Jampel Drakpa returned to his own residence. Then, we performed the Lhamo Drubchoe (Palden Lhamo puja) and meanwhile, Jamtrul returned to Tashi Dzong. Padrol Khenpo Yonten Rinchen also took leave at this time. I was requested to give a long-life initiation and I obliged.

Trichen Chokle Namgyal and Jamtrul went to Padrol. In the winter, Trichen Chokle Namgyal, the Desi and I passed through Tinley Gang and arrived at Wang Dzong where we remained for three days and made our way to Pungthang. Thereafter, we went to Sangling and entered into retreat. On the 21st of the 11th lunar month, we returned to Pungthang and during midsummer, we performed a Chakrasamvara ritual and a Mahakala offering ritual.

In the same year, a residence was established in Sangling and it was given the name Chime Gakyil and I performed a Rabney consecration. A Dharma teaching was held there and I gave a Guru Padmasambhava initiation in the lineage of Lehjang Barcho Cho Yulgyal. We made our way to Tashi Dzong and during the 7th month, I went to Padrol along with my guru and we stayed for a day in Gongsar Monastery.

Sikyong Damchoe Lhundrub was the abbot of this monastery at that time and the tulku gave the Guru Padmasambhava initiation upon the request of the Sangha of this monastery. At Dongkar, we paid homage to the yidam Thongwa Dhonden and we offered gold paint onto the statue. I gave the Cheti Dorje Trengwa initiation at this place.

We made our way to Dzongdrak Kar and we passed through Sangdrak Karpo and Yultak Gompa. We made offerings at this holy site. We continued on to Rinpung to pay homage to Namthong Karpo, Dumtse Stupa and Palnam Lhakang.

On the 10th, I went to Kunang Dewa Chenpo Phodrang in order to receive my full ordination vows from Jampel Sherab Gyaltsen Pelsangpo. At that time, I was impoverished and therefore, was unable to request initiation, which I regret deeply. Then I returned to my teacher and offered a grand Tenshug (ceremony to request the lama to live long) to my lama. My guru told me that I would be his successor and gave me some personal advice and requested me to live long as well.

I requested my guru to also pray that we will never be separated in all future lives. My guru placed his palm on my head and he accepted the request with tears in his eyes. After seeing this, I felt so overwhelmed with emotion that I wept. Later, I traveled towards Kyerchu while passing through Dranggye Kha where I stayed with Jowo Rinpoche. I bestowed initiation upon Lamdrungpa Gyaltsen. Then I went on my way towards Ponlop Monastery at Taktsang, while passing through Nyangme Tsongpon Gonpos residence.

I performed Dragmar Gegtroe, the ritual of the 16 Arhats, Lhamo Gyertsol (Palden Lhamo), Tsetrul and Tsewang (long-life initiation). I went to Tashi Tse and performed the Gegtroe ritual and Lhamo Gyertsol Kangshag (Palden Lhamos confessional prayer). I went to Pelphur and paid homage to the holy sites there. Then, I paid homage to Osel Gang and Ugyen Tsemo and Taktsang Sharma.

I prayed and returned to Rinpung. I went to Chumo Phur and gave a Vajravarahi initiation to the meditators of the place. On my return, I met Choje Ngawang Sonam Rinchen at Chukha temple and we were overwhelmed with emotion. After I arrived at Rinpung, I gave Tsewang (long-life initiation) to a huge gathering of the faithful at Deyang Khar. I paid homage to the sacred shrine of the Eight Forms of Guru Padmasambhava.

I gave the Gonpo Nyingshu (Mahakala) initiation to Neten and Rabde. I gave the Sampa Lhundrub initiation (Wish-fulfilling Guru Padmasambhava) to the Ponlop (abbot) of the monastery at Gomey Rabsel. Upon my return, I stayed with Chithang Jowo.

The next day, I arrived in Tubten Jago Phungpo and gave the Sampa Lhundrub initiation (Wish-fulfilling Guru Padmasambhava) to the people. I made a lot of offerings with great devotion to the sacred statues of Vajrasattva, Shakya Rinchen and Tuchen Pawo Sherab Sengge. Then I arrived at Tashichho Dzong Phodrang while passing through Wangdu Tse. There on the 10th, we performed the Eight Forms of Guru Padmasambhavas Cham ritual lama dance.

Chapter 5

After a short time, I returned to Pungthang. I did not remain there long and soon made my way to Sangling where I entered into a retreat of preliminary practices for four months. During this time, I read the biographies of various Kagyu lamas and the Vinaya Sutra which is comprised of 13 volumes (contained in the Kangyur). I also received a letter from my guru Je Jampel Drakpa containing auspicious prayers and well wishes. In the same year, my tutor Pema Zangpo entered into retreat and Ngawang Rinchen Zangpo took his place as Abbot.

In the summer, I arrived at Tashi Dzong and entered into an intense retreat on the Amitayus Dharani. In the same year, in the residence of Desi Tashi Dorje, I performed the thread-cross ritual for three days.

At that time, my mother Druk Gyalmo was 61 (and it was her obstacle year in accordance with the Tibetan zodiac). She became very ill with body aches (khrag rlung), lung disease and jaundice. She underwent intensive treatments but her condition could not be cured.

She was then transferred to En Khang but there, her condition further worsened. Out of all her sons, she made repeated requests to meet her youngest (me). When I received news of my mothers worsening condition and her looming passing, I was overcome with grief and decided to pay her a short visit. Her physical appearance was not as it had been before and her face was gaunt.

Seeing her in that condition, I felt gloomy. My mother looked at me affectionately and I reflected on her kindness in raising me and caring for me. And the thought arose in my mind that the tshed dbang brgya rtsa (100x long-life empowerment) would benefit her. Thinking thus, I bestowed it upon her.

Before I left, I recalled that the Bhutanese royal family are all emanations of Chenrezig. This belief was also upheld by the royal lineage themselves. I said to my mother that, During the time of mos pa snang mdzad, the last of the 1000 Buddhas to manifest in this aeon, please be my mother at the time so I can be your son, and in that lifetime, I will become fully enlightened. This is my request and prayer. She listened and accepted.

My mother declared that this would be the last time mother and son would meet in this lifetime, and she wept so deeply that her clothes were drenched. Overcome with grief, I also cried loudly. Seeing our emotions, the people surrounding us also wept, like the Tibetan proverb:

When we see crying faces, we also cry.

When we see smiling faces, we also smile.

Then, I made my way back to Tashi Dzong.

A short time thereafter, my mother passed away. The abbot, ritual master, Trichen Rinpoche and all the Sangha members performed a cremation ceremony based on the rituals of Vajra Akshobhya. I sent a messenger bearing a letter of request along with the necessary substances and items to my teacher Je Jampel Drakpa who was residing in Kunang Chokyi Phodrang, requesting him to perform the powa (mind transference) ritual for my mother.

My teacher replied in writing that he accepted the request and that my mother would not take rebirth in the three lower realms. Je Jampel Drakpa further advised that I should contemplate on the Four Extremes. After some time, I realised that the message from my teacher carried the hidden meaning that my teacher would also pass away soon.

That year, Desi Tashi began the construction of a large Buddha statue in Pungthang and I made contributions towards the project.

According to tradition, I had to inspect the kitchen. However, as it was snowing heavily all night, Trichen Rinpoche and I stayed at Zabdon Lhuntse that day. The following day after sunrise, the sky was clear and we went to inspect the kitchen.

At Sangling, there were some monks engaging in retreat. In the evening, I received a letter from my guru Je Jampel Drakpa which I read. It was written that At this time, I dont feel well and I have invited some ritual masters to perform pujas at my place. They will arrive soon to perform the pujas. You dont have to worry. I will get well soon thanks to the kindness of the Three Jewels.

This was written in the letter but the secretary made many errors in the writing and the khata covering the letter was folded incorrectly. I regarded this as an inauspicious sign and felt sadness. I could not visit my teacher.

While I was engaging in retreat, many negative thoughts disturbed my mind. I felt that it would be better not to experience this human life. It was the 18th day of the 11th month of the Year of the Fire-Sheep, a day that many dakinis gathered. That evening, someone came with the message that my guru had entered clear light.

After receiving the message, I became depressed and felt that everything was meaningless, like a bubble in water. This type of enlightened tutor who appears in human form is extremely rare, like a star appearing in the day. Due to the misconceptions of disciples and their lack of merits, the guru spits on us and departs for the Pure Land. Now that I have been separated from my spiritual master, I am surrounded by those afflicted by the Three Poisons during these degenerate times. I am similarly afflicted due to my self-grasping mind, and I have no guide to liberate me from this situation. I do not have even an iota of inherent knowledge (from previous lives), knowledge from study or meditative experiences. What should I do?

Chapter 6

Je Jampel Drakpa took rebirth within impure lands in many appearances in order to assist and guide sentient beings to pure lands. At this time, he appeared in Menjong (Land of Medicinal Herbs) in the form of Je Jampel Drakpa and he manifested the enlightened deed of passing away. So, the whole world feels empty.

At Druk Pungthang, Ngawang Chokle Namgyal entered into retreat. Meanwhile, I also entered into retreat at Sangling. Both of us communicated and decided to keep the holy remains of our guru, Je Jampel Drakpa in state at Kunang until the 4th lunar month. While I was in inner sadhana retreat, every seven days I performed a tsok offering dedicated to my guru.

On the night of the third tsok offering, I dreamt that my guru appeared to me with a youthful appearance. My guru was standing next to his previous lifes silver reliquary stupa at Sangling. He appeared to be leaving through the door and I was also with him.

My guru took a khata from a nearby attendant and placed one end of the khata into my hands. Then we folded the khata together. After that, my guru offered the khata to his previous lifes stupa and he went indoors. My guru took out another khata from the folds of his robes and placed the khata onto my seat. Then, my guru went out and down the stairs but I could not follow.

After I had the dream, memories of my teacher came flooding back and I was not able to meet my teacher. Soon after, a visitor brought a thangka and a stupa as a gift. Then, I performed a tsok offering and prayed fervently that I would meet my guru in future lives. Then, I performed self-initiation. After that, I completed the seventh tsok offering, which completed the 49 days of pujas to my late guru. I also completed my retreat.

I was invited by the Sikyong to perform the Rabney consecration ritual. Along with two Trichens and an ex-abbot, I and a group of Sangha members performed the preparation ritual. On the second day, we performed an increasing 13-deity Chakrasamvara fire puja and I was adorned in the full tantric clothes.

The Sikyong made a huge amount of offerings on this auspicious occasion. On the 3rd day, Ngawang Dorje Norbu sponsored a 16 Arhat ritual. At that time near Thang Dzong, I bestowed a long-life initiation to two Sikyongs, the monastic community, ministers and their retinue along with a huge public gathering. The grand event was completed successfully.

After a short time, I went to Sangling and commissioned a gilded Vajradhara statue in dedication to my late mother. Then I performed a Lama Chopa offering and consecration of the statue. Retreatants of the area requested me to give Kagyu teachings but I declined.

As per the tradition of my previous incarnation, a special day is celebrated with the unfurling of a huge thangka that would attract a huge gathering of people to see it and make good prayers. So, I gave an Akshobhya initiation to the people that gathered there.

At that time at Tinley Gang, Je Rinchen Sangpo departed to the pure land. While the cook made his way to Tashi Dzong, I went to Trowo Drak Karpo on the invitation of Lhazor Lhamey to give an Amitayus long-life initiation. I made my way to Tashi Gang while passing Menchu Nag. I met Migje Tenzin Drukdrag. The next day, I gave Maitreya initiation to a gathering of the local people and also sponsored some pujas in the local monastery.

While I made my way back to Tashi Dzong, Tsangwang Depa shared his emotional story with tears in his eyes. I was also moved by his tale and soon after, Tsangwang Depa passed away. After I returned to my residence, I performed another abbots funeral.

After that, the deceased Jamgon Drupey Wangchuk Tshangsey was brought over through Jago Phungpo by Trichen Chokley Namgyal, myself and a retinue from Kunang Osel towards Wangdu Tse. Before we arrived at Dechen Phodrang, the sacred remains of the lama were accompanied with lit incense while members of the Sangha recited prayers. The remains were placed into the funerary stupa that was especially constructed on the northeastern portion of the field next to the monastic library.

After that, everyone took their respective seats and began the funerary puja. I sponsored the tea and monetary offerings to the monks performing the puja. Trichen Rinpoche performed funerary rituals to transfer the consciousness of the lama to a pure land. I sat next to the funerary stupa. The next day, the bone relics of the lama were distributed to the disciples to be venerated and I was able to receive many relics as well.

On the other hand, the ashes and remaining coal were thrown into the river. Therefore, this marked the separation between the disciple and the kind guru who had shown the path of the Buddha.

In that year, I entered into retreat reciting my gurus name mantra 100,000 times. After a short time, I went to the funeral of a former Sikyong, Tenzin Drukdag. During the 9th month, I performed a Vajrabhairava mandala offering and right after, I returned to Sangling and entered into a Drakpo Marchen retreat.

At Pungthang, Miwang Dorje Norbu had passed away. On the 2nd lunar month at Sangling, a long-life puja was performed and dedicated to Je Jampel Gyaltsen, a large thangka was unfurled to bless those who saw it, and tea and monetary offerings for the monks were sponsored. Together with the tutor Je Jampel Gyatso, I entered into a retreat of Dorje Namjoms dharani at Sabdun Lhuntse and during the break, we recited the Manjushri Namasamgiti (Chanting the Names of Manjushri) text, the Choje Tsangpe prayer, the Lhamo Dusolma (Palden Lhamo) confessional prayer and request for activities prayer.

On the 10th of the 8th lunar month during the Year of the Earth-Bird, I went to Tashi Dzong on the invitation of the Sikyong. Over there, a large thangka of the Eight Forms of Guru Padmasambhava was unfurled and gifts were given to the public.

Due to the lack of peoples merits, a fire broke out at Dewa Chenpo Zhelmey Khang of Pungthang on the 23rd of the same month and this had a detrimental effect upon the proliferation of the teachings. Therefore, everyone felt sad and helpless at the destruction of the temple. The Desi Tashi Dorje of the temple was devastated and he wept openly. Together with various dignitaries of the area, I reassured the Desi and promised to support him financially for the repair works.

At that time, at my place, they were building a monastery and I wanted to build a Protector chapel in order to fulfill my gurus wishes. But the servants were not as helpful as I had expected and this disappointed me deeply.

Chapter 7

After a short time, everyone made their way to Choktrul Baling. The Desi was building a temple at Pungthang but lived at Thang Dzong. All the Sangha members remained at Tashichho Dzong during winter. I travelled to Sangling and engaged in mantra recitation. The attendant of Je Jamgon Lama, Yonten Norbu and I were together and we traveled to Pungthang and we made preparations for offerings meant for the new Protector chapel in the monastery. Yonten Norbu was an expert at preparing such offerings due to the kindness of his guru.

After a short time, the construction of the temple was completed. Desi Tashi Dorje invited Yonten Norbu and I for the consecration of the temple and we accepted. Tulku Ngawang Jigme Dorje, Trichen Ngawang Tinley Gyatso, Jamtrul Dudjom Gyaltsen, Trichen Ngawang Pema Sangpo and I performed a Rabney consecration ritual for three days at the new temple. On the last day of the consecration, an Amitayus initiation was given to the people who gathered at the temple.

Around that time at Chotse, I gave Gurdrag Marchen initiation in the lineage of Nyang Nyingma Osel to Don Nyer. I returned to Sangling and I gave Lama Drakpo Kilaya initiation to Padrol Ponlop Yonten Rinchen.

After a short time, I moved into a new residence, which was built by my elder brother, Sonam Rinchen. At the time, I gave Tumpo Khyung Sham initiation to Dorje Lopon Sangye Chodrak. The Desis cook made his way to Tashichho Dzong before I made my way to this place. On the 23rd of the lunar month, Ngawang Pema Sangpo passed away. After the monks arrived at Tashi Dzong, my teacher, Ngawang Jampel Gyatso was appointed the Abbot. I made extensive offerings to my guru. The Desi also fell ill and Thuenthim Wangchuk Gyalpo took over the position of the Desi.

Trichen Chokley Namgyal also fell ill and so, Trichen Ngawang Tinley Gyatso was invited from Tago Choying Phodrang. I performed a Chabtrul ablution ritual according Trowo Gyalpo Dorje Tsugtor for Desi Drepor and an incarnate lama.

On the 29th of the 4th lunar month, Sikyong Drepor passed away and so I went and placed a Guru Padmasambhava statue on his head for blessing and performed recitations and made prayers for him to take rebirth in Ngayap Ling.

On the 1st of the 5th lunar month, Ngawang Jigme Dorje also passed away and I performed the funerary rituals for the lama. I lit the fire of the lamas cremation and the lamas body turned into many relics. A holy being like him passed away at such a young age and I recall the words of the Buddha that life is impermanent. This holy being was a student of my lama, Je Jamgon Lama and therefore, he was one of my Dharma brothers and his passing deeply saddened me. In order to complete the funerary rituals, all the servants pitched in.

At that time, Phong Lopon Depa Tsultrim Namgyal and Yonten Rinchen were in conflict and the Desi tried to advise them but they did not listen. Later, Tsewang from Ta Dzongpa and my elder brother Sonam Dondrub listened to bad advice and they stabbed and killed Desi Wangchuk Gyalpo. After that, a few other dignitaries were also assassinated which made the place seem like Yamas (god of death) realm. Desi Sherab Tharchin and his faction captured Sangak Sabdun Dzong. While Wang Dzongpa Sangye and his faction tried to stop the invasion, the situation deteriorated.

During the 7th lunar month, there was an outbreak of contagious disease due to the negative effects of the Mamo ogress that became a huge obstacle for the growth of Dharma. The divination masters and the people requested me to assume political and spiritual authority. I reluctantly accepted this position. After a short time, during the annual Lhamo Dubtroe (annual offering puja to Palden Lhamo), Tim Dzongpa Tsewang went to war and his own army betrayed him and he was killed. After Chechu puja, around 800 tamkha coins and other offerings were distributed at a puja dedicated to the flourishing of the Buddhas teachings.

During the 9th lunar month, Lopon Tsultrim Namgyal travelled to Tashichho Dzong and a group of monks traveled to Pungthang. On the 12th of the 10th lunar month, the Gonying torma offering ritual began and on the 14th, a throwing torma ritual was performed. On the 23rd of the same lunar month, another Gonpo Gondue Duetor ritual was performed and completed with the throwing torma ritual on the 29th of the same month.

When I returned to my residence, I had a headache for three days. From early in the morning of the 2nd of the following month, I contracted smallpox. From that time, I kept it as a secret. I regret not following my gurus instruction properly.

At Te Dzong, for my elder brother and retinue, I dedicated a puja to clear obstacles and made 2,800 tamkha coin offerings. At that time, due to the blessings of the Three Jewels and the Three Roots, my disease was healed. From that day onwards, I pledged to myself that even if I have to sacrifice my life, I would never commit actions that would not result in positive outcomes and also not to commit actions that would go against other peoples wishes. On the 5th of the 12th lunar month of the Year of the Iron-Pig, I was completely healed and celebrated my recovery.

After that, I traveled to Dodrag and sponsored a puja through a group of meditators. I offered khatas to the four lamas and made offerings of 160 tamkha coins. I gave Dorje Yudronma initiation to a gathering of people.

I went back to Tashi Dzong and at my residence, sat on a big rock but it suddenly moved and rolled down the hill. As I fell, I thought of my guru and thought that I was going to die. I survived due to the protection of the Three Jewels and my gurus kindness. I only suffered a minor injury to my right thigh.

On the 29th of the same month, due to the negative effects of the breath of the Mamo ogress, Ngawang Tinley Gyatso fell ill and they invited me over. Then, I made requests to perform various rituals and also made 400 tamkha coin offerings and 400 coins of unknown make. In the evening of the 7th of the first lunar month, I gave advice on dying.

In the afternoon during the 8th of the lunar month, while the deceased was being transported to Dechen Phodrang, there was a light drizzle with the sun shining. Everybody was deeply saddened. I took the responsibility to perform the funerary rites and other rituals. The cost of the pujas was 2,000 tamkha coins.

On the 26th of the same month it was the parinirvana day of Je Sherab Sengge and so I traveled early in the morning to Jago Phungpo. I presided over the parinirvana puja. I made 60 old tamkha coin offerings and 170 new tamkha coin offerings to the meditators and those who attended the puja. I also offered old khatas, seven good quality khatas and nine other ordinary khatas. I conferred the Aksobhya initiation to those who attended the puja.

At that time, Sikyong Chokyi Gyaltsen fell ill at Wangdu Tse and his Ponlop sent a message to me to request me to come and I obliged. I gave a Namgyalma initiation and performed a purification ritual for him. He finally passed away on the 30th day of the lunar month and I performed a dedication prayer for the deceased and funerary rites in accordance to the wishes of the assistants. The funeral was well planned and everything went according to plan.

I gave a reading transmission of Milarepas biography and songs of awakening to Ponlop Dre. After a short time, a group of monks arrived at Tashichho Dzong. As Khen Rinpoche resigned, Lopon Yonten Gyaltsen was appointed as abbot to replace him.

Between that time, I travelled to Jago Phungpo and requested the meditators of the place to engage in a recitation of the Kangyur and other various rituals. I made monetary offerings with the initial sum of 150 tamkha coins, which was followed by another sum of 100 tamkha coins.

After I returned, I commissioned a thangka painting of my lama at Wangdu Tse and requested a puja to be done for the successful completion of the thangka. I spent a monetary sum of 100 tamkha coins for this puja, and paid an advance of 15 tamkha coins to the artist. A Lhamo Tseringma Kangshag puja was also performed with an offering amount of 200 tamkha coins and for a Rabney consecration, I made 160 tamkha coins. I paid the artist the 12 -13 tamkha coins. I sponsored a thread cross puja for the proliferation of the Dharma and to dispel the obstacles for the Dharma to grow. I made 1,120 monetary offerings for this puja.

On the 13th of the 9th month of the Year of the Iron-Pig, I went to Wangtse and on the 15th, went on to Jago Phungpo in order to pay homage to my lamas statue. At Mangkar, I requested the meditators of the area to perform a puja and made offerings to them. Then I returned to Tashi Dzong while passing through Wangtse.

On the 24th, I arrived at Dechen Phug and performed a recitation prayer and stayed overnight at Pangsam. On the 25th, I travelled towards Karbey Chorten Gang while passing through Singchu La. On the 28th, after I arrived at Sangling, I paid homage to the Abbot at Shornor Gang. On the 12th of the 10th lunar month, I performed a Gonying ritual for two days along with Gonpos Kangshag (Mahakalas confession) and extensive Duechok (Mahakalas thread mandala ritual).

On the 11th lunar month (Bhutanese celebrate new year on this month) of the Year of the Water-Rat, an extensive puja for Gonpo was performed. And on the 19th, the Abbot and two senior attendants, the lopon of Mangkar Dzong, monks and the public invited me to come over to Norbu Gang.

I made offerings to monks who were performing the puja on the 3rd of the 12th lunar month, the parinirvana of Je Sherab Gyaltsen. I invited meditators of Kennor Gang at Mangkar and requested them to engage in pujas. I offered 1 tamkha coin to each meditator there. I offered the monks tea and monetary offerings.

On the 7th, the senior Dorlop was appointed as a Desi. On the 8th, Jamgon Tulku ascended the golden throne (Sertri). On the 19th, I arrived at Samling and I stayed there for a few days. Later I went to Norkhang.

On the 6th of the 1st lunar month, Khen Rinpoche Yonten Gyaltsen made requests to me in the presence of 10 monks from Lhuntse and the local monks to bestow teachings on Mahamudra, Six Yogas of Naropa and various auspicious teachings to his entire 370 disciples. I accepted the request and gave those teachings.

I also gave the Sahaja Cakrasamvara and Mahakala initiations and other various teachings. The teachings had the effect of ripening and liberating those who listened to them. In between, I gave the Bodhisattva Vows to some of the fully ordained monks and then gave the Six Yogas of Naropa, focusing on the three teachings of mixing and ejecting the consciousness, and the reading transmission of the tantric text on Mahakala and Palden Lhamo to a large gathering of monks.

On the 5th of the 2nd lunar month, I went to Sangling. On the 6th, I went to Tashi Gang and on the 7th, I went to Tashi Chokyi Phodrang. On the 8th, I arrived at Dechen Phung and Pangsam, and performed extensive rituals and returned to my residence.

On the 9th, I went to Jago Phungpo by passing through Wangtse. At Jampa Lhakang and Hogmin Khangsang, I paid homage to Je Lamas statues there with multitudes of khata offerings. In the presence of my gurus statue, I requested the meditators to perform various rituals and at Hogmin Khangsang, I requested the Namygal Tongcho (1,000 offerings to Namgyalma). I made tea and monetary offerings at both locations. At Hogmin Khangsang and another temple with the same name, I requested a kangso puja of Mahakala to be performed, a Lhamo Yudronma and various peaceful and wrathful deities puja, along with a thanksgiving ritual.

At the residence of the senior linguistic teacher, my gurus biographical and incarnation lineage was painted on the wall along with the 16 Arhats. I possessed some dead skin of my guru, which I mixed with some gold dust and this was painted onto the mural itself. I gave Dorje Namjom and Vajrakilaya initiations to fortunate disciples.

On the 14th of the 3rd month, I travelled to the west. On the 17th, I returned to my masters place, Kunang Osel. On the 8th, I requested the meditators of this place and ordinary practitioners to perform an extensive recitation ritual and made monetary offerings to them.

I invited practitioners of Sarchen to Mangkar and they performed the Tseto ritual and I made monetary offerings. On the 22nd, after I arrived at Kyichu Lhakang, I offered khatas to Jowo Shakyamunis statue adorned with a crown (similar to Jowo Rinpoche in Jokhang, Lhasa), extensive butterlamp offerings and offered prayers to dispel the obstacles for the proliferation of the Dharma. I gave the wrathful Amitayus initiation to the monks of Lam Gongma and the people of that area.

After I arrived at Taktsang Palphug, I performed the Vajrakilaya ritual and offered khatas and butterlamps in an extensive manner. Then, I went to pay homage at the Ugyen Tsemo and Sharma pilgrimage sites.

I arrived at Sangkur by passing through Chokyong Tse and also performed rituals and offered extensive khatas and butterlamps. In order to buy flatwood, wood boards and other necessities, I donated seven horse-loads of grain to the temple (the grains are bartered for the building items). After passing through Gongsar Kar and Rabgoe Sherab Drak, I went with lay practitioners to pay homage at the holy sites at Chumo Phug. After I made extensive offerings of khatas and butterlamps, I continued on to Rinpung Dzong. At Rabdil Mangkar, I performed the Gonpo Kangso, Namgyal Tongcho and various other pujas while making monetary offerings of 3 tamkha coins to each monk. Then everybody requested me to give Tsewang long-life initiation based on the Tseta Sindhi text (Amitayus and Hayagriva).

On the 2nd of the 4th lunar month, I went to the place called Densa Kunang. At that time, I gave Tsewang nectar long-life initiation to the monks of Goeri Tsarchen. At Dzongdrak, I paid homage to Chorten Karmo and made extensive khata and butterlamp offerings. I circumambulated and made extensive prayers and aspirations. I gave the wrathful Amitayus initiation to the local monks and sponsors in accordance to their request.

After my arrival at Sharpa, I gave Tsewang long-life initiation and Mangkar. Then I went to my residence by passing through Yutar Goen, Nephug and Menchu. After that, I went to Rinpung Lopons place and gave Tsewang long-life initiation as he had requested. I went to Kunang Densa and gave Gonpo Nyingshu initiation and the reading transmission of Gotsangpas collected works.

Later, the monastery sent me to Ranang to make monetary offerings. On the 13th of the 5th lunar month, I gave the commentary to the two teachings on ejecting and mixing of consciousness as requested by Rinpung Neten and Pangkar Lama. On the 2nd of the 6th lunar month, I bestowed the wrathful Amitayus initiation after my arrival at Dongkar. After that, I arrived at Yultag Monastery, and gave Dutob long-life initiation in the lineage of Tangtong Gyalpo.

Then, I traveled to Kunang. On the 8th of the 7th lunar month, a group of devotees requested me to give Mahamudra and the commentary to the Six Yogas of Naropa to 600 fortunate disciples and I placed them on the path to Bodhisattvahood. At the beginning of the 7th month, I arrived at Panggar Kyathar by passing through Tachok Gang. I gave long-life initiation based on Tangtong Gyalpo as requested by Tachok Gang Choje (Dharma master).

There is a lady, Druk Chozoma from Sisi who had a house blessing ceremony and invited me to come. I gave a wrathful Amitayus initiation and from there, I went to Kunzang Dechen. And at Siling Kar, Gongsa Dorje Norbu had passed away and I went to Chishing Monastery and gave Tsewang long-life initiation. I arrived at Langkar monastery and gave Tamdrin initiation (Hayagriva). I went to Pagar Monastery and bestowed a White Tara long-life initiation, and went to Tsamdrag Monastery and gave a Tsewang long-life initiation. Then, I went to Dokha Kyer. I gave Akshobya initiation and a long-life initiation to a huge group of people. I stayed for two days and then went to Dorbi Dzong and gave another long-life initiation. Then, I returned to Drawang and gave long-life initiation and returned to my residence.

Sarva Mangalam

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Jake. asked: Dear pastors thankyou for responding. In my last question you said I would need to ask permission from my Zen master to change over to Vajrayana Buddhism and be a student of Tsem Rinpoche, however no master has been assigned to me I took refuge in the presence of 7 monastics whom I am no longer in touch with. Can I simply proceed with following Tsem Rinpoche?. Thankyou. pastor answered: Hello Jake, Nice to see you here again and thanks for your follow up question. I think I understand your situation more. Since it was a general Refuge giving ceremony, then I think it will be fine to proceed with Tsem Rinpoche, especially if you are not under a specific master in the Zen tradition. Taking Refuge is a wonderful thing, and since you already have it, just as a courtesy, you should contact the Zen centre, via phone, email, letter or however, and just explain the situation and that you want to move on to practice Tibetan Buddhism. That would suffice in this situation. After that, you can continue you practice of Tibetan Buddhism and make arrangements to Take Refuge under Tsem Rinpoche. I hope this helps.

Jake. asked: Hello pastors If I have taken refuge in a Zen Mahayana school is it now impossible for me to take refuge with Tsem Rinpoche remotely? and follow his Vajrayana teachings? I'm not progressing in the Zen school and I don't receive any teachings. I took refuge with a monastic some time ago. I feel a strong connection to Tsem Rinpoche and all he teaches especially Lama Tsongkhapa. The Vajrayana school seems better for me. pastor answered: Dear Jake, Thank you for your question. Since you have already taken Refuge, it is not actually necessary for you to take it again. You have already made a connection to Three Jewels and have received the Refuge vows and commitments. That being said, sometimes people opt to re-take Refuge in order to repair their vows. However, you can still take Refuge remoting with Tsem Rinpoche. The Kechara Pastors can guide you in this procedure, since Tsem Rinpoche is no longer here with us physically. You can do this since you wish to follow the practices of Tibetan Buddhism and you have a strong attraction to certain practices. You must be firm in your conviction to do this. Since you actually already have a guru-disciple relationship with the Zen monk, even if you are not actively receiving teachings, you will need to inform him of your choice, and explain why you wish to practice Tibetan Buddhism instead. Traditionally, this would actually be asking him for permission to practice under another teacher. This would be the best to do before taking Refuge again under Tsem Rinpoche. This act would seal your connection to him and make him your guru. I hope this helps.

Kriel asked: Good day to you brothers and sisters of kechara. I just have a question which I hope you can answer. In order to focus on spiritual practice one must have a steady or enough wealth in my opinion. On my case I don't have that. What can help me to do so? Thank you so much pastors. pastor answered: Dear Kriel, Thank you for your question. This is an interesting topic. Many people are of the opinion that you must have steady or enough wealth in order to engage in spiritual practice. However, as taught by His Eminence Tsem Rinpoche, you can practice spiritual transformation whatever your current situation. Some people can say that they cannot practice because they do not have enough wealth in order to do so, and so think that they will practice once they have enough. The problem is that if we have that mind-frame, we will never actually begin or deepen our practice because how much wealth is enough for us to actually practice? Spiritual practice is not dependent on outer wealth. It's actually dependent on our inner wealth, and our inner transformation. So no matter what your circumstance, you can practice the Dharma. In regards to material offerings, yes, some people might not be able to afford things of excellent quality like others. However, as Rinpoche taught, we practice according to our means. When Rinpoche was a monk, for example, he used to make water offerings in plastic bowls, and then when his situation improved, he used metal bowls instead. So what's the difference between making water offerings using plastic bowls (if that's all you can really afford) and using say stainless steel or gold bowls? You actually generate the same amount of merit, because you are practicing according to your means. A lot of people don't have enough wealth to use gold bowls, but they can use silver, stainless steel or even ceramic bowls instead. They can use the best that they can afford in their current situation. However, sometimes people need to spend most of their time and energy to make ends meet. For that reason, there are practices in Tibetan Buddhism that can increase your outer wealth, so that you can focus on spiritual practice. These practices will only be successful if you have a good motivation however, for example, you can engage in wealth-generating practices all you want, but if your motivation is to spend it all on entertainment or having fun, they won't be successful. A very good wealth-generating practice is that of Gyenze, which you can read more about here: https://www.tsemrinpoche.com/tsem-tulku-rinpoche/prayers-and-sadhanas/dorje-shugden-gyenze-to-increase-life-merits-and-wealth.html Real spiritual transformation is an internal process, hence it can be practiced by anyone. Your outer circumstances should not stop you from practicing. I hope this helps.

Marcus Foo asked: Hi Pastors, hope that you all and Kechara are doing well. I have a question regarding the Lama Chopa puja. As in, when is the right time to perform the puja? And can it only be recited by those who have the appropriate Je Tzin Sin Ma (Tsongkhapa) initiation to perform the puja properly? I also understand that Tsog offering is performed within the puja which can only be done by those who have the high Tantric initiation but if the Lama Chopa puja can be done by those without initiation we can just recite Migtsema a number of times instead of Tsog right? Also, when is the most appropriate time to chant this kind of puja as well? Thank you for taking the time to answer our questions. pastor answered: Hi Marcus! Thank you for your question. Lama Chopa is a very, very powerful puja. It calls upon the energies of your guru, the lineage lamas, all the Buddhas, Bodhisattvas, and Dharma Protectors. It generates a lot of merit. It can be recited by anyone, however if you receive tantric initiation you can engage in the associated visualisations and ritual. The puja can be done any time to generate a lot of merit. In fact it is done daily in the monasteries. It can be recited any time. Yes, if you do not have an appropriate initiation, you do not perform the Tsok section. You just recite Migtsema at this point. I hope this helps.

Lara asked: Hello Pastors, Few months ago, I've been a buddha Dorje Shudgen chapel near my house, and there have a picture of Buddha Yamantaka. I was looking at the picture and then suddenly it fell face forward right infront of my face eventho the picture is leaning backwards. Did I did something that offended the Buddha? Or did I just think too much hahahaha. pastor answered: Dear Lara, There is nothing to worry about if something like this happens. The Buddhas are never offended. Buddhas do not have an ego to be offended. They operate from true and boundless compassion. I hope this helps. Thank you.

Lucian asked: Hello my name is Lucian i am a vipassana practiciner.a few mounths ago i sufferred a psychotic episode after a course of vipassana meditation. Why this happend to me?there is a special meditation or practice for those who have hallucinations? Please help me? pastor answered: Dear Lucian, I am very sorry to read that you had this experience. Vipashyana is a very powerful meditation technique and depending on the sorts of topics we are concentrating on, some people can have these types of experiences. Following Tsem Rinpoche's advice on these sorts of experiences, the first thing to do is to seek guidance from a qualified mental health professional, to rule out any underlying conditions that could have led to this episode. This is the first step that Rinpoche advised when these sort of things happened. The next thing that Rinpoche advised was to engage in purification practice. Such as the 35 Confessional Buddhas or Vajrasattva practice. You can read more following the links below: 35 Confessional Buddhas: https://www.tsemrinpoche.com/tsem-tulku-rinpoche/buddhas-dharma/the-35-confessional-buddhas.html Vajrasattva: https://www.tsemrinpoche.com/tsem-tulku-rinpoche/prayers-and-sadhanas/an-important-purification-practice.html [Please note, if you have not received Vajrasattva initiation, you only visualise Vajrasattva and not his consort] The purification practice should be engaged in with full use of the Four Opponent Powers (discussed in the articles). The reason why purification practices are important are because when we are engaged in meditational practices our negative karma can manifest. This is because the methods we are engaged in are a direct counter to our habituated ways of think and interacting with the world, which is actually what keeps us bound to samsaric cyclic existence. The next step is to make sure that all the conditions are met to be engaged in the particular type of meditation you are practicing. This stems from knowing and understanding the most basic and fundamental teachings, such as the Four Noble Truths, the Eightfold Path, death and impermanence, 12 Links of Dependent Arising and understanding of karma. Within the Gelug lineage, Vipashyana is actually an advanced practice, one that needs a very firm grounding of other foundational teachings. In addition, you should have studied the Vipashyana technique intellectually first so you know how to overcome certain situations when they arise. If you would like more advice, you should contact the teacher of the Vipashyana course, as they will be able to guide you more according to the tradition that you are practicing. I hope this helps.

Annonamous. asked: Hi pastors I blessed my statue's using Rinpoches blessing method from this website however my statue's are not filled as I can't afford to buy all the necessary items as of yet. Is it bad to leave statue's unfilled? Thankyou pastor answered: Dear Annonamous, We are very happy to read that you have followed Tsem Rinpoche's advice to bless your statues. Rinpoche has also advised not to leave Buddha statues un-filled. Since you cannot afford to fill them traditionally yourself, what you can do is print off the Om Ah Hum mantra, which I will attach here. Roll the mantra vertically and then place inside the statue. Repeat for each statue that you have. This will be suitable for now. For the future, perhaps you can plan to have the statues filled in the traditional manner. I hope this helps. Let us know if you have any other questions.

Andrew asked: Hello, My name is Andrew. I have a question that has been bugging me for a long time. I am a Buddhist. I consider myself an independent Buddhist. I enjoy watching the YouTube videos you guys have. My meditation practices only focus on breath or mantra. I do not have the ability to visualize. Does that mean I can never advance in my meditation practice? I can get feelings in meditation but never visualization. What can I do? Thank you for taking the time to read my message. A thousand blessings to you! pastor answered: Dear Andrew, Thanks for posting your question here. As a practicing meditator, I am sure you are aware that there are many variations of meditation, especially between various Buddhist schools and lineages. However, they all include breathing meditation or more specifically Shamatha meditation. In all traditions, the 'object' that is used for this type of meditation is breathing. However within the Tibetan Buddhist traditions, visualisation is used as the 'object' or the 'device' of meditation instead. This is because of the power of the object, which in this case is the visualisation of the body of an enlightened being. You can also actually focus on the sound of mantras as an object of this type of meditation too. According to the Lamrim teachings of the Gelug tradition, which we practice, the reason why visualisation is used, is because when you visualise or recall the body of a Buddha during your meditations, you are not just meditating, you are also generating merit. This occurs due to the power of the body of the Buddha figure you are visualising. Within our tradition, that is why visualisation or concentration on the sound of mantra recitation is focused on. That is not to say that using the breath is not a powerful technique. It most definitely is and can lead to great spiritual advancement. There are many practices in Tibetan Buddhism that just focus on the breath as the object of meditation. Utilizing visualisation boosts our meditation, because it has the added benefit of generating merit. This is especially beneficial for those who aspire to engage in tantric practice, in which the visualisation process is quite extensive. Visualisation however is not something that all people can do, but the Lamrim advises that it can be learned, slowly but surely, just like any other ability, whether secular or spiritual. We are advised to first learn the visualisations intellectually and slowly through our meditations to apply them. It will be hard at first but over time we can work on it. Alternatively, if you are looking for another object to focus on, you can focus on the sound of mantra recitation if you engage in mantra recitation, this has the same effect to generate merit, as mantras are the energies of the enlightened beings in the form of sound. I hope this helps. If you have any further questions, please feel free to post here. Thank you.

diwa asked: Good morning Pastors! I hope you are all healthy and doing great. I just have a question and hope that you can help me. My family and I are born Catholic so it is impossible for me to set up an altar for dorje shugden, not even in my room. My Parents will be very very angry. So my question is, Is it okay for the meantime to visualize dorje shugden then say his mantra many times? I swear this is the easiest way for me not to get caught by my parents. So by just saying dorje shugden mantra can he be my dharma protector or altar is really needed? Thanks, hope you helps me. stay safe you all. pastor answered: Dear Diwa, Thank you for your question. Yes it is permissible just to visualise Dorje Shugden if it is not feasible for you to have an altar. Dorje Shugden is an enlightened being and as such would not want you to have negative experiences with your family. On the contrary, when we practice Dorje Shugden, we should have more harmony with our family, even if their faith differs from our own. That being said, please remember to respect the wishes of your family. They practice their religion in a certain way, and as Buddhists, we are taught to respect the beliefs and faith of others even if it does not match our own. At the core of all religions is compassion hence we should be respectful. Though you cannot set up an altar to Dorje Shugden since you engage in his practice, there is nothing wrong since it is due to your current circumstances. Perhaps in the future, if your circumstances change, you will be able to set up an altar as you wish to do. Reciting his mantra and engaging in his practice without an altar is still beneficial. If you consider him to be your Dharma Protector, then he will be. Even just thinking about Dorje Shugden calls upon his enlightened energies. So simple visualising and engaging in mantra recitation is still beneficial, even if you don't have a physical altar. I hope this helps.

Marcus Foo asked: Hi Kechara, Its me again. Thank you for your reply to my first question, I greatly appreciated it. But in regards to my numbers of Sadhanas should I just cut them down and just focus on Dorje Shugden and Lama Tsongkhapa Sadhanas instead? Maybe just follow the Diamond Path? Thank you so much Pastors. Sorry to bug you again. pastor answered: Hello again Marcus! The key to success for sadhana practice is to do them consistently everyday with focus. As such, it can and does get a little overwhelming if we try to practice too many sadhanas in a day, especially when we have other commitments that we need to fulfill, such as work, studying, family life, etc. Since this is the case, it would be best just to concentrate on one sadhana. Since you have strong faith in Dorje Shugden, we would recommend that you follow the Diamond Path sadhana daily. However, if you would like, you can include the mantras of other deities you like, between the sections of Lama Tsongkhapa's Guru Yoga and the Invocation to Dorje Shugden. This way, you do not need to recite the full sadhana of these deities, only their mantra recitation, and you still get the benefits of their practice. But again, it would be best to keep your practice consistent daily. Therefore, most people opt not to include additional mantra. This is however, dependent on your own timing and other commitments. I hope this helps!

Marcus Foo asked: Hello Kechara! Firstly I want to say thank you so much from the bottom of my heart for providing us all with the prayer texts for the beautiful Pujas during this years Ullambana and Dorje Shugden festivals, it was a privilege to chant along with the pastors via the Kechara FB livestream. My question for the lovely Kechara pastors is that for a couple of months now, Ive been doing the Dorje Shugden daily practice (as composed by the late H.E Tsem Rinpoche-months before he passed into clear light) alongside Lama Tsongkhapas Guru Yoga and have also picked up Red Tara & White Taras Sadhanas alongside Manjushri Arapacanas Sadhana as well and have been doing it in my bedroom (dont have anywhere else to do it). I have printed out their respective images via this blog but despite using my bedroom table as a mini altar, my parents have told me off for doing so and not to put up the images of these enlightened Buddhas since we already have our own Chenrezig altar at the front of the house and that I should just do my prayers there but its only Chenrezig and so I may have to just do my Sadhanas without the images. Pastors, what do I do? Im devoted to the Sadhanas especially with the Dorje Shugden one and dont ever want to give them up. I also dont want to continuously make my parents upset and so I feel a bit stuck. Ive been doing them continuously ever since Ive picked them up and theyve helped me to deal with my anxious mind among other things. Thank you for reading this and may the late H.E. Tsem Rinpoche will return soon in his swift and unmistaken reincarnation . -Marcus Foo pastor answered: Dear Marcus Foo, First let us say that we are very happy to hear that you are engaged in daily sadhana practice. This is a very good thing to do and creates a strong connection to the Buddhas, which is very beneficial for the transformation of the mind. You have listed quite a number of sadhanas. Usually we don't engage in so many sadhanas in one day, because we actually focus quite strongly on one or two practices. This is done with as much visualisation associated with that sadhana as possible. In regards to your altar, it is permissible not to do your sadhana in front of your altar. For example, you have a family altar outside, but you can still do your sadhana in your room, in the case your parents do not allow you to keep your mini-altar in your room. Alternatively, you can gently explain to your parents who these enlightened beings are that you have on your altar. If they are willing, then you can ask them if you place these images on the family altar, together with Chenrezig. In this way, you will have one nice family altar, and then you can do your practice in front of the altar outside. Ultimately, all the Buddhas are of one mind, they just appear differently. If however, they do not let you keep your mini-altar and do not allow you to put the images on the family altar, you can do either one of two things. Simply continue to do your practice in your room, or do in front of the family altar anyway. Chenrezig is the main image on your altar, but that doesn't mean you can do your other practice in front of the altar as well. He is an enlightened being, as are the other Buddhas you are practicing. There is no different. In this case where you don't do your daily practice in front of the altar, what is most important is that you make sure the altar is properly maintained wherever it is. That means it is clean, tidy, respectful and that you also make offerings everyday. I hope this helps. Do let us know if we can help you with anything else.
Iran's foreign minister, Mohammad Javad Zarif, is calling the U.S. pullout from the nuclear deal illegal and urging other signatories not to follow its lead.

State-run Iranian media said Sunday Zarif sent a letter to the foreign ministers of the remaining nations in the agreement -- Britain, China, France, Germany and Russia, asking them to "make up" for the Iranian losses brought on by the U.S. withdrawal if they want to save the deal.

Zarif called the 2015 nuclear agreement the result of "accurate, sensitive and balanced multilateral talks."

"The illegal withdrawal of the U.S. government... especially bullying methods used by this government to bring other governments in line, has discredited the rule of law while challenging the principles of the UN charter and efficiency of international bodies," Zarif wrote.


Chef Imad Ahmad knew it was time to leave Syria when the shelling in Daraa flattened his cafe.

I wanted to save myself and my family because I knew everything was in vain, he says. My cafe was ruined. Flattened, he says, with a sad shrug.

Hs daughter, Zainab, now 10, remembers shooting in the street. One day a bomb hit our school and I couldnt walk, I was so frightened. My teacher had to carry me out.

In 2015, after fleeing to Lebanon, Imad, his wife Safaa and their five children were resettled in Gomel, Belarus. The 41-year-old chef has now teamed up with a Georgian family to open a restaurant and hopes to bring a taste of home to his new neighbourhood.

The Kolbayas  Marine, her husband Tengiz and two children  fled their home for Belarus 25 years ago. Marine, who also teaches music, opened Gomels only Georgian restaurant in 2014.

I expected nothing when we arrived."

Since then, business has boomed and she is looking forward to working with Imad on their new venture, after the pair were put in touch by UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency.

Marine Kolbaya, a former Georgian refugee, shows Imad Ahmad around the kitchen of her restaurant.  UNHCR/Egor Dubrovsky

Imad, Safaa and one of their children (left) with the Kolbayas.  UNHCR/Egor Dubrovsky

Georgy Kolbaya (left), Marine's 25-year-old son, greets Imad at the family restaurant.  UNHCR/Egor Dubrovsky

Imad Ahmad with with four of his five children and Tengiz Kolbaya.  UNHCR/Egor Dubrovsky

The Ahmad children play together in their new home in Gomel, Belarus.  UNHCR/Egor Dubrovsky

Two-year-old Aya Ahmad whispers to her seven-year-old brother Rida.  UNHCR/Egor Dubrovsky

Marine, 56, understands how hard it can be to start over.

I dont like this word refugee, she says. I never thought it would concern me, but it did. It was so difficult. We didnt have anything. She shakes her head and sighs.

See also: Former Syrian TV chef whets appetite of Paris fashion fans

I expected nothing when we arrived, recalls Imad. I was just thinking about the kids future. I wanted them to go to school. When the plane landed, we saw snow for the first time. And forests  everything is so green!

Despite the difficulties, the Ahmad family feel settled in Gomel. Imad and Safaa are learning Russian thanks to UNHCR language classes and the children are already fluent with many friends at school.

When youre open, people are open to you."

Jean-Yves Bouchardy, UNHCR representative in Belarus, says making a living is vital to self-reliance and UNHCR is providing comprehensive support to the venture. We believe that this refugee-driven business will help the families rebuild their lives and achieve self-efficiency while benefiting the host community," he adds.

As the restaurant opening approaches, the Ahmads are happy to have the opportunity to contribute and do something useful. Imad, especially, is excited to bring his specialty  falafel  to the local area, after honing his skills in five-star restaurants in Lebanon.

It was my main dish, he says, showing photos of the cafe in Syria where he first served it. The ingredients must be fresh and the oil too  you need to watch it so it doesnt burn. And the spices must be natural.

Marine says she has only eaten Syrian food once, when Imad cooked for her, adding: It is tasty!

Imad and Marine believe their partnership proves there is truth in the belief that human beings are better together.

When youre open, people are open to you, says Marine. It doesnt really matter if you are Christian, Muslim, Hindu, were all human beings, were all made of the same dough. We dont need borders, just respect.
Her head wrapped in a black and white keffiyeh  a scarf traditionally worn as a headdress by Arab men  Alya makes her way confidently between the tents of an informal settlement in the northern Bekaa Valley region of Lebanon.

The 50-year-old refugee from Syria checks on the other refugees in the settlement. She is the leader around here, also known as the shawish, a role traditionally assigned to refugee men supervising and managing informal tented settlements in Lebanon.

This gives me strength, she said proudly.

In Arabic, shawish  a masculine word  has been used to refer to men managing foreign labour in Lebanon. But since the onset of the Syria conflict and the influx of more than a million refugees into the country, the word has found a new meaning.

In informal tented settlements, a shawish is the person nominated by other refugees to act as the settlement supervisor and decision-maker. Most of the shawish in Lebanon are men.

Aylas role is exceptional, and she attributes her leadership qualities to her upbringing. I get my strength from my father, she said. He taught us to be strong, to stand up for our rights. Even if a man is arguing then we should reply.

Born and raised in a traditional and patriarchal society, Alya said her father inspired her to be brave. He was criticized by everyone, including his own brothers, but he really wanted his daughters to be equal to men.

Alya, a single woman, fled Syria with her three sisters and orphaned nephew more than five years ago. They crossed to Lebanon from the bordering region of Qusayr, seeking refuge in the northern Bekaa Valley. They settled in a small informal tented settlement with about six other refugee families, most of them headed by women who had lost their partners to the war.

While in some refugee settlements the position of shawish can lead to exploitation, Alya is different.

"I would never trade her for a male shawish."

They all wanted me to be the shawish, she explained. They said I could manage and preside over the settlement and attend meetings. Alyas job involves her acting as a focal point with local organizations and the authorities, as well as UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency, and other UN bodies.

Alya ensures that aid is equally distributed among the refugees in the settlement. If there are any conflicts between refugees then I bring them together and solve the issue, she explained. The refugees love her, men and women confide in her, and her door is always open to those wishing to pass by for a coffee or a chat.

She is our mother, said Bakra, a single mother-of-two residing in the settlement. She is so calm and respectful of everyone, we trust her, I would never trade her for a male shawish.

Alya rarely leaves the settlement. She cannot work as she has been suffering from high blood pressure and a heart condition, preventing her from working in farming, where her sisters and most other refugees in the area make ends meet.

When she is not managing the settlement, she takes care of her nephew who lost both of his parents to the war. My sisters support us, but its hard. There is a lot to pay for and not enough income. Alya is among the many vulnerable Syrian refugees in Lebanon, who after years in temporary exile are struggling to make ends meet.

She does not get paid to do her job as a shawish, I do it to help others, she said. It can be challenging sometimes but it gives me a tremendous sense of purpose and pride.
Actress Choo Ja-hyun has welcomed her first child with Chinese actor Yu Xiaoguang, her agency said on Friday.

"Choo gave birth to a healthy baby boy in Seoul," the agency said. "Both the mother and the baby are healthy, and are having a good rest. Yu was with Choo at the time of labor and delivery to share this wondrous moment in their lives."

Choo and Yu met on the set of a Chinese TV drama in 2012. They remained good friends and a romance developed when they co-starred in another drama three years later. They got married in January last year.
Air passengers to China and Europe are expected to experience fewer delays with a double-track airway between Incheon and Mongolia to be opened by year's end.

Many flights are delayed during the summer peak season because the air route is a single track at the moment. The Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport said on Sunday it agreed in a recent meeting with the Chinese aviation authorities to double-track the airway.

The existing airway, which is used for bidirectional air traffic, will be used for one-way traffic to Incheon International Airport, while the new 1,700 km track goes the other way.

Some 400 planes a day take the existing route from Incheon to northern China, Mongolia, the Middle East and Europe. Annual air traffic along this airway has risen from 128,000 in 2014. A whopping 2,202 flights from Incheon were delayed for more than an hour due to congestion last year.

Korea and China have been in talks to find a solution to flight delays since 2010, according to the ministry. The two countries finally reached agreement after relations improved when China ended an unofficial boycott of Korea goods and services earlier this year.


June 4 2018

The Architecture Fringe , an annual independent arts programme, is to return for a third year with its most diverse events programme yet, with over seventy individual projects ranging in scale from the work of individual students through to established practices.





Conceived to help further change across architecture and the built environment the groundswell movement has grown in both size and reach since it was first introduced back in 2016.





This years programme will be themed on issues pertaining to community ownership, student writing, women in architecture and a focus on those left behind by design.





Architecture Fringe co-producer Andy Summers said: Under this years Common/Senses provocation a number of themes have emerged which include provocative events on community land use and ownership; exclusion and questions of who is missing within architectural discussions; and women in architecture  in terms of representation, visibility and acknowledgement, and also physically in relation to the often-masculine civic context of our towns and cities.





Architecture Fringe 2018 will take place between 8-24 June.
Published: June 04, 2018

Professional Communication Course Leads International Business Majors to China

The course was about professional communication strategies, but students walked away with a complete cultural immersion.



This May, after studying seven weeks in the classroom, one UT Speech for Business class headed to China for 14 days.







This was a trip of a lifetime, said Kristen Foltz, assistant professor of speech, who lead the trip with Michael Staczar, assistant dean of the College of Arts and Letters and chair of the speech, theatre and dance department. The students, all international business majors, toured General Motors, Coca-Cola, social media marketing firm Mailman China, and met a Chinese artist who designs ceramics for Williams-Sonoma.



Learning about American companies doing business in China and how Chinese business people mass produce goods to sell to American consumers just further supported everything they've been learning in their classes at UT, Foltz said. Plus, these students will be better equipped to go into China and communicate across cultures, which was the ultimate goal for the trip.







In their classroom at UT, the students learned the basic principles all speech courses cover: how to organize and give professional presentations, how to use mediated software like PowerPoint to support their presentations and communicating at work. However, more emphasis was given to understanding how cultural differences impact communication.



Once in China, they attended several lectures by professors at Shanghais Fudan University, covering topics like conducting business in China, Chinese business etiquette, economics, history and government censorship, and also interacted with Fudan University students.







This trip has completely changed my perspective on the way of life so many of us take for granted. I have been humbled by this trip and all I was able to experience. I have made relationships and friendships that I would have never thought possible, said Craig Trapani 20, an international business and economics major with a minor in pre-law from Naples, FL. From a professional perspective, I believe that by learning how to better conduct business in a county with as much probity as China, I will be better able to apply those skills to the classroom and a potential business, legal and political career in the future.





Staczar said it was surprising for some of the students to see the mix of cultural and historic elements side by side with incredible modern architecture and technological achievements.

"Even though China is a communist country, it is apparent that they understand the importance of capitalism and the need for economic growth. It seems they are adapting to a changing global market rapidly," Staczar said. "Our students became very aware of Chinas advancement and its potential for continued economic opportunity."

In addition to the academic work, the students hiked the Great Wall of China at sunrise, had a lesson in tai chi from a tai chi master, saw an acrobat show, attended the Peking Opera, toured the financial district of Shanghai and walked through the Temple of Heaven and Yonghe Temple, Buddhist temples that left an impression on Sofia Stack.



The pure spirituality and sacredness of these places were one of a kind, said Stack 20, an international business and marketing major with a minor in advertising from St. Louis, MO. The tourists and locals shared a feeling of respect when inside these temples. The architecture and the authenticity make it a personal favorite and highlight of mine.



Stack said she signed up to fulfill the study abroad portion of her degree and to gain real-world experience. Ideally, I would like to work abroad or find a job that allows me to travel. This course to China will put me ahead of the rest when it comes to real-world business exchanges abroad.



While this speech course has been offered as a travel course in the past to European destinations, Foltz said shed like to return to China again.



The takeaway is that theyll be better armed to do business on a global level, Foltz said. This is a really unique program and a big gold star on a students resume when they are applying for positions all across the world.



Learn more about UT travel courses.





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UW Researchers Study Aquatic Beetles Native Only to Central Wyoming

This rare aquatic beetle is known as the narrow-footed Hygrotus diving beetle, native to only central Wyoming. Lusha Tronstad, lead invertebrate zoologist with the Wyoming Natural Diversity Database at UW, has been studying the beetles since 2010. Her research is in a paper, titled Using Species Distribution Models to Guide Field Surveys for an Apparently Rare Aquatic Beetle, that was published June 4 (today) in the online version of The Journal of Fish and Wildlife Management. (Lusha Tronstad Photo)

University of Wyoming researchers are shedding light on a rare aquatic beetle native only to central Wyoming.

Lusha Tronstad, lead invertebrate zoologist with the Wyoming Natural Diversity Database, a service and research unit housed at UW, says the narrow-footed Hygrotus diving beetle has been petitioned for Endangered Species Act listing three times in the past 11 years by Wild Earth Guardians, an activist group.

We have no idea how many there are, Tronstad says of the aquatic beetle she has studied since 2010. We do know they have been found in 12 locations in central Wyoming and nowhere else in the world.

Tronstad was lead author of a paper, titled Using Species Distribution Models to Guide Field Surveys for an Apparently Rare Aquatic Beetle, that was published June 4 (today) in the online version of The Journal of Fish and Wildlife Management and is expected to be in print later this month. The journal publishes manuscripts containing information from original research that contributes to basic wildlife science. Topics include investigations into the biology and ecology of wildlife and their habitats that have direct or indirect implications for wildlife management and conservation.

Kelsey Brown, a graduate student in UWs Department of Ecosystem Science and Management, and Mark Andersen, information systems and services coordinator for the Wyoming Natural Diversity Database, were co-authors of the paper.

Andersen created species distribution models, using such variables as how much sagebrush cover was available; soil conductivity, or how salty the soil is; air temperatures; and depth of groundwater at the sites.

We used thesis models to predict suitable habitat for the beetles, Tronstad says. Using model results, we surveyed new sites across the state and discovered the beetle at one new location.

This aquatic beetle was first discovered by Hugh Leech, a beetle expert, in 1964. Leech was driving along old Highway 85 near Midwest, according to Tronstad.

He stopped and sampled Dugout Creek. Voila. He discovered a new species and published his work in 1966, Tronstad says.

Lusha Tronstad (right) and Kyle Hack, a student technician, survey a stream in the Powder River Basin for the narrow-footed Hygrotus diving beetle in 2012. (Cody Bish Photo)

The known range of the diving beetle, which also can fly, is in central Wyoming, in the Powder River Basin and one site in the Wind River Basin. A site near Kaycee is the newest location where these insects have been discovered. The sites are small, intermittent streams with disconnected pools and contain high concentrations of salt. These streams are in shortgrass prairie ecosystems that receive less than 400 millimeters of precipitation each year, much of which is snow during spring.

Roughly 2.5 millimeters long, they are predators, feeding on mayflies, midges and other types of insects. Males are distinguished by large biceps on their front legs. They hibernate in the winter and reproduce during the summer, says Tronstad, who has conducted annual surveys of eight of the 12 known sites since 2010.

Aquatic beetles were collected in 2010, 2011 and 2012 to estimate the current distribution of the diving beetle in Wyoming, Tronstad says. Three streams -- Dugout Creek, Dead Horse Creek and two locations in Cloud Creek -- in the Powder River Basin were surveyed in July 2010. Tronstad says the group monitored statewide in 2011 and 2012. The group visited 511 sites and collected invertebrates from 246 sites over two summers.

I usually walk up and down the streams, Tronstad says of her summer research routine. I sometimes find one stream where the beetle is living or a couple of streams.

And, how do these beetles survive in these streams, which have a high concentration of salt?

My guess is they can outcompete other invertebrates in these harsh, intermittent streams because theyre very, very salty, Tronstad surmises. The salts in the water make it difficult for other invertebrates to survive. Salt dehydrates. We think they have special mechanisms to deal with the salt.

Models created predicted the diving beetles were more likely to be found in intermittent streams with a gentle gradient; shallow water table; variable precipitation patterns; high soil electrical conductivity; and in the warmest places in Wyoming.

These streams will dry up into puddles during the summer, she explains. If we didnt have any shallow groundwater in these intermittent streams, there probably wouldnt be any habitat for them.

Results suggest that maintaining the hydrologic integrity of prairie streams in Wyoming is vital to the conservation of the diving beetle, the paper says.

What I will be doing next is looking at these finer variables to find out what is limiting their distribution, Tronstad says. I will be collecting information on cattle grazing and oil and gas, and how that might affect the sites.
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Negotiators from the U.S. and North Korea continued talks in the truce village of Panmunjom over the weekend on the agenda for a U.S.-North Korea summit on June 12.

The teams led respectively by Sung Kim, the U.S. ambassador to the Philippines, and North Korean Vice Foreign Minister Choe Son-hui have been meeting since May 27.

Cars carrying Kim, Allison Hooker, a White House National Security Council official, and Assistant Defense Secretary Randall Shriver were spotted leaving their hotel on Sunday afternoon.

They carried on discussions at Tongilgak on the northern side of the truce village after Kim Yong-chol, the director of the North's United Front Department, met U.S. President Donald Trump and Secretary of State Mike Pompeo in the U.S.

The Panmunjom talks were originally expected to last only about three days but seem to have proved bumpier than hoped.

Sung Kim told Foreign Minister Kang Kyung-wha last Friday that there are still many things to do until the summit.

"Ulterior motives have come to the fore. As the saying goes, 'The devil is in the details.' The two sides have laid out a big framework of denuclearization in exchange for guarantees of the regime's survival," a researcher with a government-funded think tank said. "There'll be a taut tug of war between Washington and Pyongyang over the timing and method of denuclearization and how to compensate" since both Trump and Kim have said that the June 12 meet in Singapore is only the beginning of a process.


Mercedes-Benz faces heavy fine for fraud

Mercedes-Benz is being threatened with a fine of $4.37 billion. Photo: AFP

German Der Spiegel magazine reported on last Friday that Daimler, the owner of Mercedes-Benz, is facing a fine of EUR3.75 billion ($4.37 billion) for using illegal software to manipulate diesel emissions.

Accordingly, the magazines report comes after Andreas Scheuer, German Federal Minister of Transport and Digital Infrastructure, questioned Daimler at a closed-door meeting over how many Mercedes-Benz vans and cars need to be fixed after an inspection found illegal software in one of its models.

Scheuer expressed concerns that 750,000 Mercedes vehicles could be affected and the ministry could impose a fine of up to EUR5,000 ($5,834) per vehicle.

The German car maker last month was also ordered by the German motor vehicle authority (Kraftfahrt-BundesamtKBA) to recall its 1.6-litre diesel Vito vans for violating emissions regulations.

According to Consumer Report, C-Class vehicles "enjoyed" the highest rates of recalls in the Mercedes-Benz portfolio in 2013-2017. Specifically, the firm recalled 5.77 of every 100,000 vehicles sold.

Phapluatplus.vn stated that Mercedes-Benz Vietnam (MBV) announced eight rounds of recalls this year. The latest recall was in early May, when MBV announced recalling 7,000 vehicles between May 14 to December 31, 2022 to handle electric system flaws.

Following Volkswagen into ignominy

Diesel Volkswagen and Audi vehicles that Volkswagen bought back from consumers sitting in the parking lot of the Pontiac Silverdome on August 4, 2017 in Pontiac, Michigan. Photo: AFP

In 2015, Volkswagen was found to have purposely programmed its turbocharged direct injection (TDI) diesel engines to activate emission controls only during laboratory emissions testing, which lowered the vehicles NOx (a generic term for the nitrogen oxides that are most relevant for air pollution, namely nitric oxide (NO) and nitrogen dioxide (NO2)) output to meet US standards during regulatory testing, while during normal driving the cars emitted up to 40 times more NOx.

After the violation saw light, the German automaker had to pay a fine of $18 billion in the US, and spent $8 billion to recall vehicles equipped with violating software.

In the aftermath of the scandal, Volkswagens CEO Michael Hornwas forced to resign and the corporation saw significantly reduced revenue and conceded its leading position in the world to Japanese car manufacturer Toyota.

However, emissions violations were uncovered not only at Mercedes-Benz and Volkswagen, but BMW as well. In an announcement on July 22 last year, the European Commission (EC) confirmed to the German Der Spiegel magazine that the institution has been investigating frequent meetings among the car brands representatives to agree on technical specifications on grips, engines, and emission systems.

The magazine also stated that there has been an unspoken agreement between the sides since 1990.

At the time, the spokesmen of Volkswagen, Mercedes-Benz, and BMW declined to comment on this.
Nguyen Huong Minh, new deputy general director of Eximbank

Eximbank (Vietnam Commercial Joint Stock Export Import Bank) has just announced the appointment of Nguyen Huong Minh as deputy general director in charge of information technology and operations since June 1. He is a master in business administration and has 16 years of banking experience.

Nguyen Huong Minh was SeABanks deputy general director cum director of operations and technology since August 2017. Minh also worked at VPBank (Vietnam Prosperity Joint Stock Commercial Bank) and Techcombank (Vietnam Technological and Commercial Joint Stock Commercial Bank) before.

This is the second high-level person to be transferred from SeABank to Eximbank in the last two months. Earlier, on April 11, Eximbank appointed Nguyen Canh Vinh (1974) as permanent deputy general director. He was director of the transaction center of Techcombanks headquarters, then moved to SeABank as general director until February.

Eximbanks Board of Directors has eight people currently, including Le Van Quyet as general director, and seven deputy general directors. The appointment of the two general directors is Eximbank's newest move to fill in the void left by its nine departing deputy general directors who left in August 2017. Four of them quit on their own volition, while five of them were demoted to serve as directors of centres, divisions or departments.

Earlier, between 2012 and 2017, there were numerous cases of fraud committed by Eximbank officers who appropriated clients money. Nguyen Thi Lam, an officer of Eximbanks Do Luong branch (in Nghe An province) stole more than VND50 billion ($2.2 million) from various customers. Dozens of Eximbank officers related to this case have been prosecuted and arrested.

In another case, Le Nguyen Hung, former deputy director of an Eximbank branch in Ho Chi Minh City appropriated more than VND245 billion ($10.8 million) from Chu Thi Binh, a longtime client of the bank who used to be the richest woman on the stock market.

Several years has passed since these clients were swindled out of their savings. The bank stands firm in its decision to wait out the conclusion of the investigation agency and the court before issuing compensation to these customers.

The new key personnel are expected to come up with better solutions for these cases of fraud as well as provide measures to limit cases of fraud and raise Eximbanks reputation.
Can you describe what methods criminals typically use to launder money through the financial system?

Money laundering is usually described as a three-phase process: placement, layering, and integration. Criminals who make cash from drugs, robberies, or other types of crime will try to get rid of the cash by putting it in the banking system (placement). They will send the money through various transactions within the financial system to disguise the initial placement (layering). Then, they will try to take that money at the end of the process and merge it into their assets (integration). The criminals then get the integrated assets and break the link with their original crime.

Here is an example: In many countries, when you deposit $10,000 in cash, the bank will have to report it. So the criminal will deposit separate amounts of $9,000 each in different branches of the bank (placement). The money goes into the criminals

account, mixes with their own money, and goes through various transactions (layering). Once the money has been legally integrated back into the system, the criminal can take it out to spend.

PwC recently released the Global Economic Crime and Fraud Survey 2018. Based on PwCs research, can you explain some key global trends in financial crime compliance? Are there any specific trends in Vietnam?

Globally, we are seeing an increase in the level of scrutiny over banks compliance with financial crime laws. Regulators all around the world, particularly in Southeast Asia, are enforcing the rules much more substantially and significantly, resulting in more penalties, fines, and sanctions against banks for non-compliance.

In the past, banks used to recruit more staff members in order to manage financial crime risks, often by manual processes. Nowadays, technology gives them the ability to do things in a better, faster, smarter, and, ultimately, cheaper way. Many financial institutions are collaborating in new areas such as customer onboarding through the use of shared know-your-customer utilities. We are also seeing trials, tests, and the limited use of biometric technology for customer onboarding in a number of markets.

We think these trends are also relevant to Vietnam, as the country relies heavily on cash, which increases financial crime risks. The regulators are actively reaching out  for example, the State Bank of Vietnam is working together with banks to improve compliance across the board. This is very important, because to prevent and detect financial crime, collaborations with regulators and between individual institutions are vital.

What are the challenges faced by Vietnamese banks in adopting new technologies and stricter requirements on anti-money laundering? Is cost a big issue?

There are two main challenges. Firstly, there are so many new technologies around that it is difficult for banks to keep up to date with all the options. Secondly, banks and regulators are still figuring out how they can work together to assess the effectiveness of these technologies and to then implement them.

We think one of the great opportunities for banks in Vietnam is to learn from other banks experiences in previous years. We have certainly seen a lot of enthusiasm from Vietnamese banks to adopt some technologies, in some ways more rapidly and more ambitiously than their counterparts in other countries.

For example, we have visited a financial institution here that is looking to adopt biometric technology, specifically a new facial recognition software that uses customers selfie images as identification instead of a password.

We believe that these are not necessarily expensive technologies if you think about the long-term benefits. The technologies allow banks to have a better relationship with their customers, increase revenue, and reduce losses from fraud. These are very important returns on investment.

Aside from the two challenges mentioned, there is also one more, which is not limited to Vietnam. Statistics from PwCs Global Economic Crime and Fraud Survey 2018 show that only 75 per cent of respondents in Southeast Asia have undertaken an anti-money laundering risk assessment in the last two years. The problem is: Have they done it to the right degree? For the remaining 25 per cent who have not done a risk assessment and do not even know what their potential risks are, how can they make the right investment decisions to better protect their organisations from money laundering?

What is your advice for financial institutions in Vietnam combatting financial crime?

From what we have just said, we think banks need to take a risk-based approach to anti-money laundering. They need to do a proper assessment of current and future risks and have a clear understanding of their risk appetite. Based on that, they can design an appropriate set of internal controls and decide which areas to invest in.

Banks also have to realise that in many cases, anti-money-laundering is not a competition. Working together to share the best practices, as well as working closely with the regulator is very important.
Foreign companies sees major opportunities to develop products for the elderly

Vietnam is one of the countries with the fastest aging population, the number of individuals aged 50 and above is projected to reachmore than 30 million by 2030.With more adults living longer than before, they are looking to lead active and healthy lifestyles as they get older.

Muscle loss has been shown to be a key factor that can interfere with adults' quality of life due to lack of strength. Good nutrition is critical in maintaining muscle health and strength with age.

Dairy maker Abbott has recently launched its new Ensure Gold formula with the nutritional ingredient HMB to support muscle health. HMB is naturally found in small amounts in some food and in the body, and levels may decline with age. HMB has been shown to support muscle health.

''As part of our continued long-term commitment to helping build healthy aging communities in the country, Abbott is excited to bring the new Ensure Gold with HMB as a gift of everyday strength to adults in Vietnam, so they can carry on doing the things they love to do each day into their golden years," said Douglas Kuo, general manager of Abbott Vietnam.

Meanwhile, diaper manufacturer Unicharm also promotes its pants-type disposable adult diaper known as Caryn in Vietnam, which currently holds about 80 per cent of the market. The product is aimed to serve the increasingly elderly population and accident patients.

Takenori Nakajim, brand manager of Diana Unicharm, said that Vietnam is the most important market for the company in Southeast Asia. Unicharm has achieved double-digit growth in all product segments in Vietnam.

Unicharm entered Vietnam in 2011 by acquiring local company Diana. In 2015, Unicharm expanded its factory in the northern province of Bac Ninh to step up operations in the country.

In fact, Vietnams elderly market has been on the radar of foreign investors, especially those from Japan. Taku Sato, director of the Healthcare Industries Division, Service Industry Department at the Japan External Trade Organization (JETRO), told VIR that Japanese investors are keen on ASEAN healthcare markets, including Vietnam. One of the hottest sectors drawing the attention of Japanese companies is geriatric care.

"Vietnams population is aging faster than Japan by 10 years, and there is a robust, growing demand for geriatric care. Therefore, investors are looking to test the market and seize opportunities to prepare for the aging population," he noted.
Improvements seen in responding to citizens correspondence: ombudsman board

Head of the board Nguyen Thanh Hai on June 4 delivered a report on responding to citizens correspondence sent to the fourth session of the 14th-tenure parliament in late 2017.

She said through more than 1,380 meetings with voters before and after the fourth session, which lasted from late October to late November last year, NA deputy delegations of the 63 provinces and cities collected almost 2,100 petitions relating to activities of the NA, the Government and judicial agencies. These petitions were sent to agencies, and all of them have made replies to the senders.

Voters lauded reforms in parliamentary activities which have taken peoples opinions into account when selecting issues for the NAs debates and question & answer sessions. They also recognised the deputy delegations openness and response to petitions pertaining to the parliaments activities.

All of the 1,993 petitions sent to the Government have also been considered and answered. Cabinet agencies have provided information in response to about 1,470 petitions while solving 160 others by amending legal documents and inspecting and handling violations. Meanwhile, the settlement of about 83 percent of the remaining petitions is expected to finish in 2018.

This is an improvement in responding to citizens correspondence, Hai noted.

Some deputy delegations praised many ministries and sectors for taking swift and thorough actions in this work such as the ministries of agriculture and rural development, industry and trade and transport.

Pointing out shortcomings, she asked the NA, its agencies and lawmakers to improve the quality of legislative and supervisory activities, along with ensuring impartiality and democracy in their decision making.

The official also urged the Government to examine ministries and sectors settlement of voters opinions, address flaws in this work and soon revise the 101 documents that dont match the reality pointed out by the public.
Apart from strengthening its financial capacity, the additional capital will provide Prudential Vietnam with a solid foundation to further boost its investment in enhancing its product offerings and services based on advanced technology, as well as expanding its reach to millions of Vietnamese families across the country.

These efforts are expected to generate further growth momentum in its business and help support the on-going development of the life insurance sector in Vietnam.

Prudential Vietnam was chosen as one of the ten most reputable insurance companies of Vietnam

In recent years, Prudential Vietnam has continued to accelerate its business. For the 2017 financial year, the company reported a total revenue of VND16.019 trillion ($711.96 million) from insurance operations, an increase of 20 per cent on-year, and annual premium equivalent of VND3.925 trillion ($174.44 million), an increase of 12 per cent.

During 2017, Prudential Vietnam continued to deliver on its commitment to provide financial protection for families throughout Vietnam, paying out VND6.261 trillion ($278.27 million) in insurance benefits.

Prudential Vietnam also demonstrated the strength of its insurance business, reporting total assets of VND74.112 trillion ($3.29 billion) at the end of 2017. In addition, its total investment into the economy was recorded at VND66.241 trillion ($2.94 billion), the largest amount invested by a life insurance company in the country in 2017.

Prudential Vietnam has been recognised for its continued and substantial investments in government bonds over the last few years and is a leading investor in 20-year and 30-year bonds.

In line with its long-term business strategy and investments in Vietnam, Prudential has acquired VND5.188 trillion ($230.58 million) and VND2.1 trillion ($93.33 million) worth of 30-year and 20-year bonds, respectively.

The company provides products focused on saving, protection, and investment. It has a customer base of 1.4 million and over 176,000 financial consultants across Vietnam, an expansive network of over 300 customer care centres and branches located in 63 provinces, and a nationwide hospital/clinic network of over 128 hospitals.

Prudential Vietnam is the first life insurance company in the country to apply artificial intelligence in insurance consulting. Besides its core business, Prudential Vietnam also focuses on social responsibility.

During the period of 2012-2017, Prudential Vietnam has contributed over VND162 billion ($7.2 million) across the three pillars of education, healthy living, and community support.

Last month, Prudential Vietnam received Vietnams Leading Life Insurance Company and Top 10 Golden Dragon honours at the Golden Dragon Award, organised by Vietnam Economic Times. This was the 15th time it received the prestigious awards for foreign-invested enterprises in Vietnam.

The recognition underscores Prudentials position as a leading life insurer in Vietnam and its positive contributions to the socioeconomic development of the country, as evidenced by its strong business results, excellent products and services, and impactful community-investment activities.

Prudential launches PRU-FlexInvest Prudential Vietnam Life Insurance Co., Ltd. (Prudential) recently launched its PRU-FlexInvest, a combined solution catering to the protection and investment needs of customers. The plan ...

Prudential Vietnam, VIB cooperate to distribute bancassurance products Vietnam International Bank (VIB) and Prudential Vietnam has signed a strategic partnership agreement in distributing bancassurance products for 15 years, the longest cooperation period for ...

Prudential Vietnam to acquire half of 20-year sovereign bonds Life insurance giant Prudential Vietnam yesterday officially sealed a deal with the Ministry of Finance (MoF) for a VND3.2 trillion (GBP 100 million) long-term investment ...
The second solar farm in Ninh Thuan kicked off from early this year

According to the plan, Gelexs solar plant will have a total investment capital of VND1.3 trillion ($56.95 million) and cover an area of 70 hectares in Thuan Nam district. It is one of the 18 projects, the investment planning of which the Ninh Thuan Peoples Committee approved in November 2017.

The projects construction is expected to be finished in May 2019 and it will start to generate commercial power one month later, with the capacity of 82 million kWh per year.

Earlier on March 30, Gelex and Power Solution Technologies Public Company Limited (PSTC) from Thailand signed a co-operation agreement to develop the project. Accordingly, PSTC will contribute a part of the project capital and will be in charge of the technical side of the project.

This is the second solar farm that started construction in Ninh Thuan this year.

The Gelex projects construction is expected to be finished in May 2019 and it will start to generate commercial power one month later, with the capacity of 82 million kWh per year.

Previously, on January 23, leading Vietnamese private group BIM and Philippines-based AC Energy have started developing BIM 1 solar power plant in Phuoc Minh commune in the central province of Ninh Thuan.

According to the plan, the solar farm project, which has a total capital of 30MWp, will cover an area of 35 hectares with the total investment capital of VND800 billion ($35.2 million). By installing 90,000 solar panels and other modern equipment, the plant is expected to generate 50 million kWh per annum once it comes into operation.

The solar farm will be connected to the national grid in the third quarter of this year, which is the premise for accelerating other large-scale solar projects with a total capacity of 300MW to generate electricity in the first quarter of 2019.

Ninh Thuan is considered an ideal investment destination for foreign investors to invest in the solar power sector, which is demonstrated in the seriousness of foreign investors arriving to the province to find investment opportunities.

It holds good solar energy potential with the average sunshine hours of 2,600-2,800 per year.

The province is finalising a master plan for solar energy from 2016 to 2020 with vision to 2030, which aims to generate some 2,000MW of electricity by 2020.

Most recently, on May 31, the Ninh Thuan Peoples Committee granted investment licences to nine solar power projects worth over VND12 trillion ($527.4 million).

The construction of the projects will commence in the second and third quarter of 2018 and be completed at the end of 2019 with a capacity of nearly 500MW.
Soai Rap Petroleum Service Industrial Zone to be revoked

Deputy Prime Minister Trinh Dinh Dung recently asked the Tien Giang Peoples Committee to revoke Soai Rap Petroleum Service IZ and called on the investor to transfer the project to other investors.

Besides, the DPM assigned the Ministry of Planning and Investment (MPI) and relevant authorities to monitor the revocation and transfer of the project.

Covering an area of 285 hectares, the project was licensed in March 2011. However, after three years, the IZ had only one tenant.

As a result, in October 2014, the government approved in principle to transfer the IZ to the Tien Giang Peoples Committee to manage according to the IZ development planning by 2015, with vision to 2020.

Vietnam also has 17 coastal economic zones (EZs) established on a land and water surface area of approximately 845,000ha, not to mention Ninh Co EZ in the northern province of Nam Dinh, which is included in the planning but has not been established yet.

However, the transfer has yet to be completed despite repeated urging from the government.

The Soai Rap project is just one black spot in the bright picture of the local industrial real estate segment.

According to MPIs Economic Zones Management Department, there are 328 IZs across the country at present, taking up a total area of 96,300 hectares of natural land. Of this, 223 zones have been put in operation and 105 are in the process of site clearance and compensation. Occupancy reached 51.5 per cent overall, and 73 per cent at operating IZs.

In addition, Vietnam also has 17 coastal economic zones (EZs) established on a land and water surface area of approximately 845,000ha, not to mention Ninh Co EZ in the northern province of Nam Dinh, which is included in the planning but has not been established yet.

IZs with high occupancy rates include Vietnam-Singapore Industrial Park III in the southern province of Binh Duong or Que Vo I, Que Vo II, Tien Son, and Yen Phong I in the northern province of Bac Ninh, with the average occupancy rate of 85 per cent.
The controversial president of the Philippines, Rodrigo Duterte, arrived in Korea on Sunday to meet with President Moon Jae-in the following day.

Duterte, who is largely shunned internationally for his brutal war on drugs that entailed thousands of extrajudicial murders and his abrasive manners, raised eyebrows here when he arrived in a shiny black leather jacket.

Duterte likes to boast of his he-man antics and personal brutality in his home city of Mindanao, where he was mayor.


The suspect Shibuya Yasumasa (Left).- ASAHI SHINBUM/VNA Photo

Yasumasa Shibuya, 46, was arrested on April 14, 2017 on suspicion of dumping the body of Le Thi Nhat Linh, a third-grader living in Matsudo town.

The same day, Japanese police served a new arrest warrant on the man, charging the suspect with murder and abandonment of the victims body, after tests results showed that DNA taken from Shibuya matched those of samples found on the victims body.

The trial is open to public. More than 60 out of the 400 queuing people were allowed to enter the courtroom.

Linh disappeared shortly after leaving her home on foot for her school on March 24, 2017.

Her body was found two days later in Abiko, Chiba. She is thought to have been choked to death, based on marks found on her neck.

Shibuya was head of the parents association at the elementary school in Matsudo which the victim attended. He lives about 300m from the victims home.
Chances are growing that the U.S., South and North Korea will begin discussing a peace treaty formally ending the Korean War over six decades since fighting stopped.

After meeting with North Korean leader's right-hand man Kim Yong-chol last Friday, Trump said, "We talked about ending the war. And you know, this war has been going on -- it's got to be the longest war -- almost 70 years, right? And there is a possibility of something like that. That's more of a signing of a document that its very important in one way. Historically, it's very important. But well see."

President Moon Jae-in has proposed a trilateral summit in Singapore to coincide with a U.S.-North Korea summit there on June 12, but Washing failed to respond so far.

But Moon is unlikely to get on the next plane to Singapore. "Nothing has been decided yet about a trip to Singapore or a trilateral summit," a presidential official said Sunday.

The war effectively ended in 1953 with an armistice to which the U.S., South Korea, North Korea and China are signatories.

Cheong Wa Dae expects a political declaration that will remove hostility ahead of the signing of a legally binding peace treaty. Precedent is hard to find, so it remains to be seen what happens to the status of the U.S. Forces Korea, the UN Command that oversees the armistice, the Combined Forces Command, and the Northern Limit Line, the de facto maritime border.

Senior South Korean and U.S. government officials desperately want the USFK to be kept out of any peace treaty. It is stationed here under a separate mutual defense treaty from October 1953.

The USFK issue "is not on the table here in Singapore on the 12th [of June], nor should it be," U.S. Secretary of Defense James Mattis said on Friday.

But if a peace treaty is signed, the UNC's raison d'etre disappears, and the USFK, which actually runs the UNC, will have to decide whether to disband it or replace it with another structure with a different role.


The revenues and operating profits of Korea's top 30 conglomerates have been flat over the past five years if Samsung Electronics and SK Hynix with their booming microchip sales are excluded.

According to analysis by the Korea Development Institute on Sunday, the average sales of the top 30's 182 listed subsidiaries stood at W1.02 billion, while operating profit was W106 million (US$1=W1,075).

Sales fell around five percent since 2012 but operating profit rose 49 percent. But once Samsung Electronics and SK Hynix, the top two, are excluded, their average revenues fell 10 percent from 2012 and operating profit rose only 1.4 percent.

The combined operating profits of Samsung and SK Hynix last year were bigger than those of all the rest taken together at W48.2 trillion versus W41.2 trillion. Operating profit at the remaining 180 companies was only W57.6 million each on average.

But wages kept climbing, from W75.9 million a head in 2012 to W85.3 million last year, up 12.4 percent. Choo Kwang-ho at KDI said, "If Korean companies are to compete with their global rivals, pay scales must be revised to reflect the productivity and achievements of staff."


North Korea has submitted an official request to the UN urging it to help persuade South Korea to repatriate a group of North Korean workers who defected from a restaurant in China in 2016.

The North's official Korean Central News Agency on Saturday claimed the North Korean mission in Geneva submitted an official document to the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights on May 30 demanding that the South Korean government "demonstrate its will to improve North-South relations" by repatriating the women. It urged the UNHCR to take "necessary steps."

The bizarre tactical swerve come just after the two Koreas held high-level talks to discuss ways to implement the joint declaration made at the historic inter-Korean summit in April.

North Korea accuses Seoul of abducting the 13 women, who were indentured laborers in a restaurant in Ningbo. The restaurant manager has since claimed on TV that he tricked the women into defecting at the behest of South Korea's National Intelligence Service.

Several of the women have debunked the story since it aired, but it gained some traction in the international press, which seems to have encouraged the North to try and use it as ammunition.

Pyongyang also claimed that South Korea's participation in the RIMPAC multinational military drills runs counter to the joint declaration, which envisages a peaceful Korean Peninsula through denuclearization and a peace treaty

The state-run Rodong Sinmun daily on Sunday slammed South Korea's participation as a "confrontation to the atmosphere of improving North-South relations."

Meanwhile, North Korean leader Kim Jong-un has apparently sacked his three top military officials, seemingly over disagreements about diplomacy.

People's Armed Forces Minister Pak Yong-sik has been replaced by a vice minister, No Kwang-chol, while Army chief Ri Myong-su was replaced by his deputy Ri Yong-gil. Already on May 26, the chief of the Army politburo, Kim Jong-gak, was replaced by a senior general, Kim Su-gil.

The reshuffle seems to be part of Kim Jong-un's ongoing power struggle with the unruly military and replaces hardliners with more biddable underlings.


The Embassy of Australia to the Russian Federation and the Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands to the Russian Federation present their compliments to the Third Asian Department and the First European Department of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation and have the honour to draw the Departments attention to the following.

On 17 July 2014, an aircraft operated by Malaysian Airlines with flight number MH17 and carrying a total of 298 individuals was shot down from the airspace of Ukraine and subsequently crashed in the vicinity of Donetsk Oblast, Ukraine. This tragic event caused the death of all those on board the aircraft and tremendous grief to their next of kin. This grief continues to affect their lives to this day and is aggravated by the fact that no responsibility for the downing has been acknowledged.

An investigation into the causes of the downing of flight MH17 was carried out by the Dutch Safety Board (DSB), with information provided by Australia, Belgium, Malaysia, the Russian Federation, Ukraine and the United States. The report of the DSB has revealed that the aircraft was shot down with a missile launched from a BUK-installation from the territory of Ukraine in an area that was under the effective control of separatists. Subsequent investigations by the Joint Investigation Team (JIT) concluded the exact nature of the weapon used and the fact that this particular BUK-installation was brought into Ukraine from the territory of the Russian Federation and was taken back to its territory after its deployment against flight MH17. The JIT announced on 24 May 2018 its conclusion that the BUK-installation belonged to the Russian Federation Armys 53rd Anti-Aircraft Missile Brigade.

Based on these facts, Australia and the Kingdom of the Netherlands consider that the Russian Federation, through its role in the downing of flight MH17 on 17 July 2014, has breached several obligations under international law owed to Australia and the Kingdom of the Netherlands, in their own right and in the exercise of their right to protect individuals on board flight MH17.

These breaches of international law constitute internationally wrongful acts for which the Russian Federation bears responsibility. That responsibility gives rise to legal consequences for the Russian Federation to:

(a) Accept fully its responsibility for those internationally wrongful acts;

(b) Cease those acts forthwith;

(c) Provide Australia and the Kingdom of the Netherlands with appropriate assurances and guarantees of non-repetition of these internationally wrongful acts;

(d) Provide Australia and the Kingdom of the Netherlands full reparation for the injury caused by these internationally wrongful acts.

Australia and the Kingdom of the Netherlands request that the Russian Federation enter into negotiations with them in relation to these breaches of international law by the Russian Federation and the legal consequences that flow from them. Australia and the Kingdom of the Netherlands request a prompt response from the Russian Federation to this request.

The Embassy of Australia and the Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands avail themselves of the opportunity to renew to the Third Asian and the First European Departments of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation the assurances of their highest consideration.
Post Malone. Photo: Ilya S. Savenok/Getty Images

Festival season kicked off with Beychella and is now officially under way. Over the weekend, Governors Ball returned to Randalls Island in New York City for its eighth year, continuing as one of the longest-running festivals still holding down the tri-state area. (Though its been contested in recent years by Panorama Festival on the same site.) This years festival saw headlining sets from Jack White, Travis Scott, and Eminem; the live debut of a new super-duo from Diplo and Mark Ronson; teen favorites getting adult billing; and, per tradition, loads of rain. Vulture observed the action on the ground all weekend so you didnt have to.

Your favorite rappers arent doing as many drugs as they say they are.

Though the current trend in hip-hop might be very drug positive  even Kanye says hes been experimenting with psychedelics  get some rappers in front of a festival crowd, and the truth comes out. Both Post Malone and 2 Chainz had to interrupt their sets to flag down paramedics and get fans in the front medical attention  in 2 Chainzs case, it happened twice. In the process, both rappers admitted they barely touch whatever their fans are on. Malone lit up a blunt onstage with the disclaimer that he doesnt even really smoke anymore, while 2 Chainz played Dad and gave a speech about how hes never touched anything harder than weed for the very reason of what he just witnessed.

That Pusha-T/Drake feud is dying down, at least on Pushs end.

Pusha-T performed for the first time since dropping Daytona  and apparently more of note to the majority of his Gov Ball crowd  since unleashing That Drake Diss. But furthering the beef wasnt on Pushs agenda, as hours earlier, Kanye West declared a truce on Twitter saying that lines were crossed. (That truce was apparently aided on the opposing side by Drakes adviser Rap-a-Lot founder J Prince.) Push did play Infrared (the song that reignited the feud), but opted against performing The Story of Adidon. Instead, the crowd kept the war alive for him, chanting Fuck Drake unprovoked three separate times during Pushs set.

Mark Ronson and Diplos new duo needs a NYC club residency stat.

Producers Mark Ronson and Diplo dont really make the same music, but as newly formed DJ duo Silk City they jibe just fine. They made their live debut at Gov Ball, playing a house- and disco-centric set that remixed everything from Janet Jackson to Tori Amos to Kanye West. Except their energy wasnt quite right for an outdoor festival (they needed to be in a tent to really bottle it); give them a recurring slot at Elsewhere instead.

Shawn Mendes has the range.

And will use it to pack a 30-minute special guest set with every hit in his back pocket that youve subconsciously always known all the lyrics to, plus a cover of Use Somebody, plus his better-than-John-Mayer impression of John Mayer, Ruin. Like we said, the kids a star!

Photo: Burak Cingi/Redferns

Eminem and Nicki Minaj should at least just give it a shot.

Listen, half of relationships start on Instagram these days anyway, so why not Eminem and Nicki Minaj? She started steering this ship with a joke comment on her IG, then Eminem played along in Boston a week ago. Once again, during his headlining set at Gov Ball, he got on his knees and begged for a chance. But then also said she doesnt know that they already go together. Mixed signals this early? Ugh.

Always put Lil Uzi Vert on the main stage.

At every festival, theres always one artist whose crowd size the organizers underestimate. This year, that was Lil Uzi Vert, whose show was relegated to the new American Eagle tent, which is about ten sizes too small for the capacity that his fame (and riotous nature of his show) now demands. He ran XO Tour Llif3 back twice to utter pandemonium spilling out from every side of the tent. Not to go all Mom here, but: This is a safety hazard!

Mosh pits are still very much a thing.

And theyre not being commanded by a single rock artist anymore. That rowdy punk spirit has officially been co-opted, rebranded, and reinvigorated by hip-hop. Just a quick list of artists who opened up pits during their sets: 2 Chainz, N.E.R.D., Travis Scott, Post Malone, and Pusha-T.

Travis Scotts daughters name is actually an omen.

It poured buckets midway through Traviss headlining Saturday set. As in, torrential conditions. And now you know the true meaning behind Stormi.

Photo: Steven Ferdman/Getty Images

Halsey had the best story time.

Not many locals get to play hometown festivals anymore because music just isnt as regionally specific as it once was. But Halsey hails from New Jersey, just a couple bridges over from her main stage set on Saturday. She shared with the crowd that on that exact day four years ago, she had signed a record deal for a small amount of money, gone up to top of the Empire State Building to celebrate, then rushed back down to head to Gov Ball and be in the crowd. I was standing somewhere in the back, just like you, she said. If theres something you want to do, just fucking do it, make it yours. Halsey was the highest-billed solo woman performer at the whole festival, so maybe take her advice.

Khalid shouted out the Class of 2018 in the crowd.

As in, high school. And then proceeded to remind us that hes actually part of the Class of 2016, which makes him, yes, That Young and still getting a spot on the main stage. Its not that the festival crowd is getting younger  youre just getting old.
Jeremy Strong. Photo: Getty Images

A few scenes into the premiere of Succession, a new HBO drama created by British satirist Jesse Armstrong, the coronation of an heir apparent turns into his undoing. The plan was for media czar Logan Roy (Brian Cox) to hand over the keys to the kingdom to his middle son, Kendall (Jeremy Strong), but the day suddenly takes a few unexpected turns. The deal to buy a Gawker-like website called Vaulter is stalled. Logan decides his third wife, Marcy (Hiam Abbass) needs more power on the companys board in the event of his death. The other Roy children  wishy washy Connor (Alan Ruck), cutthroat political operative Shiv (Sarah Snook), and 1Oak resident Roman (Kieran Culkin)  start circling like vultures. Then, at the last minute, Logan announces that hes not stepping down after all. Kendall spent his whole life preparing for a day thats just been snatched away from him.

From there, Succession moves between the sensitive and the satirical  a fitting blend for Armstrong and executive producer Adam McKay, who directed the pilot  but it takes its daddy issues very seriously. Logan and Kendalls love language isnt just money and power, but back channeling and betrayal. They double cross each other with glee. A heavy is the head that wears the crown kind of thing, Strong, who previously worked with McKay on The Big Short, tells Vulture. I think wearing the crown can be quite damaging. Ahead of Sundays series premiere, Strong talked to Vulture about bringing Kendalls insecurities to life, what corporations have in common with psychopaths, and why Succession isnt a show about the Murdochs.

What did you see in Succession when you first read the script?

The King Lear meets the media industrial complex thing. Being an actor adjacent to the media industry, I pay attention to that landscape. Ive always been fascinated by the kind of Shakespearean drama of these power struggles that happen in these families or at the studios.

McKay and Jesse, at the very beginning, were talking about that Danish film, The Celebration, and The Godfather. The Celebration is about family trauma. I think Adam was interested in exploring the idea of trauma in a nuclear family and how that can permeate and become societal or cultural trauma. In the case of a family as powerful as the Roys, if a family poisons itself, then it can infect the culture.

So, what happens when a family poisons itself?

Its a very dark way of looking at this, but in the way that The Big Short was an indictment of the banking system, Adam was really interested in trying to put his finger on what ails us as a culture. These families of enormous wealth and power. What is it like to be in that family, especially for the children?

I was at an award ceremony with Adam when The Big Short was coming and he had just read Jon Ronsons book, The Psychopath Test. He was really interested in this idea of the corporation as a psychopath. In the documentary The Corporation, which came out 15 years ago, there was a psychiatrist who goes through the DSM-IV and enumerates all of the characteristics of a psychopath, and then applies them to a corporation. I think Adam looks at the way big business is defining our culture, and this family is at the nucleus of that.

Your character, Kendall, is chosen to take over the familys empire until Logan snatches the crown back. Do you think Kendall actually wants to fill Logans shoes, or does he feels like its just inevitable? Hes the only Roy child with a leadership role at the company.

Thats the real drama of the show, and the place for me as an actor thats the most alive. I think that we all have these questions: How do we become ourselves? How do we emerge from under the shadow of our parents, or whatever sort of legacy we might be inheriting?

The language of this family is the language of business. The emotional language, the currency of this family, is not love. Its a currency of business. Jung said something like, Where love is absent, power fills the vacuum. Thats whats going on in this family.

What does that mean for Kendall?

Kendall has a great wish  a fairly universal wish  to have his fathers love and respect. Kendall wishes to have his fathers approval, and so hes trying to act the way his father would act. But his father is a somewhat primitive kind of bestial, ruthless, savage businessman cut from a different mold. Kendall is not like his father, but he is trying so hard to gain his fathers respect. By doing so, I think he violates his own nature. Hes not a man of blood like his father, but I think hes driven to a place where he crosses his own moral boundaries.

Its funny to see him try to strike that balance. Hes trying to be as effective as his father, but he does it with a bro-y delivery. He calls his executives dude, and describes an acquisition as the shiz. Was that in the script?

Some of it was in the script, and some of it was me improvising. The writers on the show are really amazing. They also gave us free rein, so I felt quite free to bring a lot of that idiom to it. If you look at some of these young CEOs, there is a bro tech culture in the business world. I see that as part of the whole ethos. Logan has an outmoded, antiquated, analog vision for the company. Kendall wants to steer it into the future and into the digital era, and to be his own man.

Is there anything about the Roy family dynamic that really resonates with you and your family?

Im very lucky to have a very nurturing, close family. But I thought a lot about the question of legacy, and of heroes that we might have, and the anxiety of influence. In one of the books I read about the Murdoch family  and this is not a show about the Murdochs, I probably cant say that enough  I read that the only language that Rupert understood was the language of strength. What is it like for a person who speaks a different language, one of sensitivity? To not feel like your fathers son? These two men are inseparably linked, but also devouring each other.

This interview has been edited and condensed.
Jon Stewart. Photo: Kevin Mazur/Getty Images for The Bob Woodruff Foundation

While at San Franciscos Clusterfest on Sunday, Jon Stewart weighed in on Samantha Bees decision to apologize for calling Ivanka Trump a feckless cunt in a recent Full Frontal episode. According to the former Daily Show host, Donald Trump is just about the last person to have an actual, sincere problem with the word, despite what his outraged tweets on the subject might suggest. They dont give a shit about the word cunt, Stewart said during an audience Q&A following a conversation with San Francisco Chronicles Peter Hartlaub. He says that instead of please, Im guessing.

As reported by the Daily Beast, Stewart, who is set to launch a seven-night comedy tour with Dave Chappelle later this month, offered some advice he gleaned from his years doing political comedy: dont play into the moral double standard. Explained Stewart, Please understand that a lot of what the right does, and its maybe their greatest genius, is theyve created a code of conduct that they police, that they themselves dont have to, in any way, abide.

Looking back on his own late-night tenure, Stewart said he was accused of being a tool of the Obama presidency after visiting the White House twice during the former POTUSs two terms, while Trump spoke to the head of Fox [News] and strategized with him on a weekly basis and uses their on-air talent as advisers. Warned Stewart, Dont get caught in a trap of thinking you can live up to a code of integrity that will be enough for the propagandist right. There isnt. And so, create your own moral code to live by, but dont be fooled into trying to make concessions that you think will mollify them.

In the end, Stewart said that it might not be possible for liberal or otherwise-Trump-critical voices to make them give up this were the real victims game by being the bigger person and apologizing. Said Stewart, its a game, its a strategy and its working. Despite that dire assessment of the political climate, however, Stewart says hes actually incredibly optimistic that the current state of affairs isnt a permanent climate that well all just have to sweat through forever. After visiting his fellow citizens in some very conservative communities, Stewart believes the divisions that occur are real, but the toxicity is not necessarily.
U.S. President Donald Trump on Friday made the startling claim that rewarding North Korea for denuclearization will cost America nothing. "I think South Korea will do it. I think China -- I think, frankly, China will help out. I think that Japan will help out. No, I don't think the United States is going to have to spend." Trump makes many startling claims, few of them true, but this one is particularly alarming. Denuclearization will entail both direct and indirect expenses and financial rewards.

The direct costs alone of the dismantling of North Korea's nuclear weapons and facilities are estimated in the billions of dollars North Korea will also demand compensation and economic rewards after prolonged international sanctions, and think tanks estimate it will cost hundreds of billions of dollars over the next 10 to 20 years to rebuild the dilapidated country. Fortune magazine puts the amount at US$2 trillion over the next decade.

Supposing North Korea completely scraps all of its nuclear, biological and chemical weapons, South Korea may not only have to provide compensation but also offer humanitarian aid and money to rebuild the North's moribund economy. If the North enters a path of reforms and market-opening, there would be no reason for South Korea to withhold such aid, but Trump seemed to be suggesting that South Korea and China pick up the entire tab.

But it is the U.S. and North Korea that are engaged in denuclearization talks. South Korea is merely eavesdropping on the sidelines. "And, look, we're very far away," Trump said. "We are very far away. Those places are very close. It's their neighborhood. We're thousands -- we're 6,000 miles away." Yet the U.S. is a stakeholder in the nuclear threat and never tires of pointing out that it is an "existential" one to America. Then why does physical proximity suddenly matter when it comes to paying up? Not many South Korean will be happy if the U.S. does all the negotiating and the South ends up covering the astronomical cost.

Moreover, there is no guarantee that the North will completely scrap its nuclear weapons after the summit with Trump. There will be a lot of announcements and handshakes, but it will be no easy task to locate all of the North's fissile materials in a country that has an estimated 10,000 underground tunnels. Even if North Korea has one nuclear bomb tucked away, the result would be no different than 100 nuclear weapons from South Korea's standpoint.

Seoul cannot allow itself to be pushed into picking up the massive tab in the absence of complete verification that the North has scrapped all of its nuclear weapons. And the South will be able to support the North only if it also scraps all of its chemical and biological weapons. Yet even if all of these conditions are met, support for North Korea must be set at a scale South Korea can handle. The South's economy is no longer growing in the double digits, and it is saddled with an aging population and one of the lowest birthrates in the world. South Korean voters will simply not tolerate massive aid for North Korea.

Trump said, "So I've already told South Korea, I said, 'You know, you're going to have to get ready.'" Has he? If so, the government must reveal what kinds of promises it made. Already it looks like the government is looking for ways to resume aid to North Korea without properly explaining things to the public, and is ready to resume it immediately once the U.S. gives the green light. That is no way to handle such a monumental task. The government has some explaining to do.


Photo: Strand Releasing, Sony Pictures Classics, StudioCanal, Cohen Media Group, Entertainment Studios Motion Pictures

2018 is a few months from over, and the year has seen plenty of films worthy of great praise  and breaking box-office history. Here are the best movies Vulture has reviewed, according to our movie critics David Edelstein and Emily Yoshida.

(A quick note about our methodology: Weve restricted this list only to films that have had an official release in the first 10 months of 2018, though we will continue to update it throughout the year.)

Annihilation

To dismiss Garlands trippy expedition as woo-woo nonsense would be missing out on so much emotional work that he and Natalie Portman are doing. In his hands, the annihilation of the films title is first and foremost psychological, and it casts a bone-deep dread over the film, even when the Hollywood narrative trappings let it down. The film departs significantly from VanderMeers great book, but it, too, is about something that cant be uttered. Accordingly, Garland goes silent for the films stunning finale, which is something at the intersection of 2001: A Space Odyssey and modern dance, and left me breathless. Emily Yoshida

Black Panther

A momentous event in pop culture: A comic-book superhero epic directed by a black man, Ryan Coogler, with a nearly all-black cast that set box-office records. Though the fictional African nation of Wakanda looks to the world like one of Trumps shitholes, its hidden capital is a work of genius, with roots in ancient folklore, pop sci-fi, and an Afro-futurism thats all its own. And its mightiest warriors are women. The conflict is both fantastic and real, between a king (Chadwick Boseman) trying gently to end his countrys isolationism and a separatist (Michael B. Jordan) who wants a full-scale race war. Hes crazy. But as a street kid with a chip on his shoulder, hes compelling in ways that leave other comic-book antagonists in the dust. David Edelstein

Blockers

Pitch Perfect writer Kay Cannons directorial debut is a pushy teen sex comedy with a freewheeling, improvisatory spirit that works like gangbusters. The protagonists are also the antagonists: three parents (played by Leslie Mann, John Cena, and Ike Barinholtz) on a hysterical odyssey to keep their high-school daughters from fulfilling a pact to lose their virginity on prom night. The movie has the quality of an ancient, bacchanalian comedy in which humans are reckless fools, but the forgiving spirit of comedy itself leaves the characters in one piece  and the audience exhausted from laughing. DE

Can You Ever Forgive Me?

A melancholy, well-observed comedy-tinged drama from Nicole Holofcener is always something to welcome, if not be terribly surprised about. But her and Jeff Whittys adaptation of celebrity biographer Lee Israels memoir of literary failure and forgery has a deceptively wide-screen sense of loneliness, thanks to Marielle Hellers wise, observant direction and prickly, deeply sad performances from Melissa McCarthy and Richard E. Grant. What could have been a Breaking Bad-esque ticking-clock tale of small-time crime becomes something more observant about the solitude of a life of writing about other people. EY

Chappaquiddick

Chappaquiddick is the kind of movie that could never be made while its subject was alive, which of course is the only reason it was worth making. But rather than simply point out that the famous man did a bad thing, Jason Clarkes fascinating portrayal of Ted Kennedy is something more elemental, a snapshot of the failure of all the things masculinity was and to some degree is still billed as. EY

Double Lover

Like a steamy alternate-universe Frasier fanfic, Francois Ozons story of a woman caught between two psychologist brothers is a pulpy, uproarious stunt of a film. The twin-based body-horror premise (based on a Joyce Carol Oates novel!) is Freudian to the point of being purposefully reductive, but its sense of eroticism is far more adventurous. Parasitic twins, pegging, Jeremie Renier making out with himself  somehow it all coheres pretty seamlessly, even at its most ridiculous. EY

Eighth Grade

Bo Burnhams terrific debut feature reminds you what great teenage coming-of-age stories share: unbearable levels of anxiety. The movie chronicles the last week of middle school for a lonely 13-year-old girl named Kayla (Elsie Fisher), when not a huge amount happens and everything that does feels momentous. Fisher gives the impression of a girl who has been thrown into the middle of a movie without a script and forced to improvise in every scene, clinging to words like like and yeah and awesome while tremulously attempting to keep her head above the surface. Shes, like, awesome. Yeah. Burnham gives her a banner line, the existential question of her age, as well as an age in which kids make YouTube videos and pray for views: Its about putting yourself out there  but where is there? DE

En el Septimo Dia

Jim McKays gentle but overwhelming film charts eight days in the life of Jose, an undocumented Mexican immigrant and food-delivery guy who sleeps in a Sunset Park, Brooklyn apartment alongside nine other undocumented Mexicans. Theres a suspenseful, go-for-it storyline  Jose needs to convince his boss to let him play in a championship futbol match on a Sunday that hes ordered to work. But given Joses essential alienation and the lack of a social safety net, the film teeters on the edge of despair. McKay leaves those of us with vastly more power feeling angry at ourselves for living comfortably within this system, for lacking not so much empathy as curiosity. Its a social-realist triumph. DE

First Man

Damien Chazelles Neil Armstrong film opens with rattles, shakes, and jerky close-ups of Ryan Goslings eyes as he watches primitive-looking dials with numbers going up when theyre supposed to go down. The sequence sets the tone. As in his other films, Chazelles protagonist is a person who sacrifices earthly relationships to reach the stratosphere, and Goslings baby blues seem smaller here, maybe because he turns them inward, towards more calculations, more vectors. But his impassivity is volatile  we pick up the inner tremors. As Armstrongs wife, Janet, Claire Foy suggests fear and anger through the tension in her muscles: Its exhausting watching her watch him. Chazelles La La Land felt light on its feet, effortless. First Man is purposefully laborious. The moon was hard earned and so was this stupendous movie. See it in IMAX for the first panorama of the lunar surface: The silence is exultant. DE

First Reformed

Paul Schraders searching loss-of-faith drama is a late triumph in his long and bravely self-lacerating career. Ethan Hawke plays his protagonist, Toller, an emotionally bereft, alcoholic pastor in a historic upstate New York church who preaches to his tiny flock while struggling to keep his spirit aloft. The set-up owes much to Ingmar Bergmans severely depressing Winter Light (1963), but Schrader is more attuned to specific, imminent catastrophe: This is Winter Light for the age of climate change and Trump and a sense that the church has forsaken progressive political activism opposed by big industrialist donors. As in all of Schraders work, the hunger for transcendence manifests itself in violence against both others and the self  though by the time hes through there isnt much of a separation. The question Schrader poses remains unanswered: Can God forgive us for what weve done to this world? DE

Foxtrot

Samuel Maozs acclaimed and reviled Israeli triptych centers on the death, rebirth, and death of a soldier and his parents attempt to make sense of the senseless. Its thick with grief, confusion, and metaphor, the latter extending to the title, the name of an isolated desert checkpoint on a road trafficked by Palestinians and a dance step in which you end up where you start. This is life, Maoz says, in a traumatized, blindly militaristic state. Its surprise failure to win an Oscar nomination is a testament to how corrosive it is and, as such, a badge of honor. DE

Have a Nice Day

A bag of money and a botched plastic surgery create havoc in a rainy, anonymous postindustrial Chinese town in this electrifying animated crime yarn. American filmmakers looking for new depths for the neo-noir in 2018 would do well to check out director Liu Jians brand of brilliantly funny, utterly disaffected cynicism, and his portrayal of a world where literally everyone is just trying to make  or scam or steal  a yuan. The bone-dry humor of Jians Coen-esque caper is often as jarring as its minimalist animation style, but the sum of its tangled cast of characters and crisscrossing murder plots  which somehow comes in at a brisk 75 minutes  is satisfying in the extreme. EY

Isle of Dogs

Wes Andersons stop-motion animated film is a gorgeous hodgepodge, its disparate elements magically unified by the directors trademark off-symmetrical compositions, pop-out colors, and dry wit. The story of canine refugees on a garbage dump off the coast of a Japanese city is an allegorical painterly kabuki comedy thats also a howl of rage against authoritarianism in all its forms. Voicing the main canine, a stray who says were all in some sense astray, Bryan Cranston gives a sharp but indelibly soulful performance. (The cries of cultural appropriation shouldnt be fully discounted  only partially. Andersons borrowings are loving.) DE

Leave No Trace

The extraordinary saga of a 13-year-old girl (Thomasin Harcourt McKenzie) who lives in the woods, hiding from authorities with her traumatized Iraq vet father (Ben Foster), is both melancholy and brimming with hope. They have an easy tender relationship  the actors seem keyed to each others thoughts. Though she loves her dad, she slowly realizes that his damaged psyche doesnt have to be yoked to hers. Of all modern feminist directors, Debra Granik (Winters Bone) is the most mournful. Her heroines dont move on happily, but theyre responsible for themselves, kids, and, implicitly, the life of the species. So move on they do. DE

Love After Love

Its swimming with hate, much of it self-hate. Russell Harbaughs extended-family psychodrama charts the impact of a fathers death on a verbally abusive child-man (Chris ODowd), his arguably too close mother (Andie MacDowell), and another son (James Adomian) who is staggeringly drunk at an engagement party and pees on the guests coats. Watching them flaying one another (and bystanders) is a masochistic experience, but not an emptily masochistic one. And if you think MacDowell cant act, well, youre mostly right, but here shes superb, her placidity a form of passive-aggression. DE

Loveless

The title of Russian director Andrey Zvyagintsevs wintry, symbolic drama of a 12-year-old boys disappearance denotes a state of mind, a lament, and an indictment of crimes against the human spirit that seem to emanate from the countrys current president. Here and in his last film, Leviathan, Zvyagintsev anatomizes a spiritual disease for which a partial cure will be more movies like his. DE

Minding the Gap

A decade ago, Bing Liu of Rockford, Illinois  ranked the countrys second most dangerous city among those with fewer than 200,000 souls  began filming two of his skateboarding buddies, Zack and Keire, and his documentary is full of marvelous, hot-dog skateboard montages. But these are contrapuntal notes, liberating flurries of motion in a powerful saga of kids who were  and in some cases still are  miserably stuck in place. Lius real story is childhood abuse and its frightening legacy. The movie builds towards a triple catharsis as each of the protagonists (Liu is the third) attempts to reckon with what he has endured  and what he might do to his own partners and children. DE

Night Comes On

Actress Jordana Spiros inspiring directorial debut is shaped like a revenge film, but its rhythms come from the young black actresses at its center: Dominique Fishback as Angel Lamere (symbolic name alert!), fresh from a juvenile detention facility and all hard edges, and Tatum Marilyn Hall as Abby, the kid sister with a soft face and presence. Theres a Sundance Screenwriting Lab tidiness to the film, but the emotions onscreen are unruly enough to overcome the fine carpentry. Though slow, its intense, and youre hooked from its first scene to its last, wrenching image. Like Moonlight, Night Comes On takes much of its soulfulness from la mer and peoples capacity for rebirth in its waters. DE

Paddington 2

Children  and adults  deserve more movies as generous and lovingly made as Paddington 2. The sequel follows the template of the original almost to the minute, but manages to inject even more fun, freewheeling energy into each beat. In this installation, the Peruvian bear voiced by Ben Whishaw tries to find a job and winds up  enacting prison reform instead? Director Paul King still has loads of visual tricks up his sleeve that never feel too imposing on the story, and Hugh Grant gives one of the best unqualified performances of the year as a washed-up actor Paddington runs afoul of. The whole thing is a delight from start to teary-eyed finish. EY

Shirkers

Sandi Tans idiosyncratic, dreamy excavation of the would-be punk cinema masterpiece she wrote and shot with her friends in the summer of 1992 contains multitudes. Its an intriguing whodunnit about the mysterious man who entered her life and cut her cinematic dreams short, but its also a glorious celebration of youthful rebellion and creativity. The footage of the original Shirkers  whose mere existence is not as much of a spoiler as it sounds like  tells Tans unusual tale, and is a shimmering, melancholy time capsule of an adolescence and a country long since rendered unrecognizable. EY

Sorry to Bother You

Boots Rileys raucous arrival as a filmmaker is the take-no-prisoners punk film that 2018 deserves. The story of an flailing telemarketer (a never-more-squirm Lakeith Stanfield) who finds himself catapulted up a nefarious corporate ladder is bursting with visual and auditory ideas that feel instantly iconic  from the protagonists white voice (courtesy of David Cross) to Tessa Thompsons literal statement-making jewelry. Sorry to Bother You is angry, hilarious, and never nihilistic, even as it takes a third-act turn that is still too unbelievable to spoil. EY

Support the Girls

Regina Hall is magnificent in Andrew Bujalskis pleasantly shambolic day-in-the-life of a Texas breastaurant. As the manager of Double Whammies, her day veers from wrangling her staff (including Haley Lu Richardson and the rapper Shayna McHayle a.k.a. Junglepussy, both terrific), to avoiding the wrath of the restaurants owner, to managing her own messy home life. But Bujalskis film doesnt come off as an airing of grievances; rather, its a straight, sober look at the invisible art of emotional labor. EY

Suspiria

Luca Guadagninos gorgeous, shrieking reimagining of Dario Argentos giallo classic will not be for everyone  its a cold, stately, anti-patriarchal thesis paper on trauma and dance and the horrors of 20th century Germany with one of the most gruesomely violent scenes of the year tucked into its first act. But what a thrilling swing, as bold in its content as Argento was in style (and just about as bold in style.) Dakota Johnson stars as Susie, an idealistic American drawn to the Markos Dance Academy in Berlin, where she quickly rises up the ranks, even as the dark magic within the school claims more and more victims. It may look daunting, but the two and a half hour runtime is the least scary thing about it. EY

The Death of Stalin

Armando Iannuccis acid satire charts the days in 1953 when the Soviet Union lost its paranoid-psychotic leader of three decades and members of his inner circle argued, plotted, and killed a lot of people while selecting a successor. The joke is that the characters (played by the likes of Steve Buscemi, Jeffrey Tambor, and Simon Russell Beale) order torture and mass murder in the prissy, peevish accents of Cockney or American bureaucrats, creating a colossal disconnect between small-minded egotistical clowns and the large amount of horror they have the power to inflict. If theres a single theme, its the disfiguring effects of terror on the simplest human interactions. Its farce transformed into collective tragedy. DE

The Final Year

Greg Barkers quietly devastating behind-the-scenes documentary tracks the Obama administration from late 2015 to the early morning of January 20, 2017, with special attention to U.N. Ambassador Samantha Power, Deputy National Security Adviser Ben Rhodes, and Secretary of State John Kerry. Its their last chance to cement a foreign-policy legacy as the clock ticks down  although as we watch, we know what they dont, that the next president will be insanely bent on undoing everything theyre trying furiously to accomplish. The film has been unjustly criticized as Obama propaganda, but its haunted by a tragic failure: Powers inability to prevail on the president to intervene forcefully in the humanitarian crisis in Syria. DE

The First Purge

The fourth installation in James DeMonacos increasingly close-to-home horrorsci-fi concept is an origin story of sorts for the franchise, taking place in the even nearer-future Staten Island. But the story of how an ultra-right-wing administration uses a disenfranchised community as a testing ground for their gruesome human experiment is less about the violence that supposedly lurks in all of us, than it is about the people who need us to believe in that violence in order to maintain their power. It may end up being the most inflammatory political film of the year (thats not named Sorry to Bother You). DE

The Hate U Give

George Tillman, Jr.s adaptation of Angie Thomas bestselling Y.A. novel flies leaps and bounds over any expectations of what that genre and demographic demand. The Hate U Give, the story of a young black womans radicalization after a police shooting hits extremely close to her and her communitys home, is a contemporary epic, endlessly complex and mature, while not above indulging in the occasional dollop of teen-movie schmaltz. Amandla Stenbergs thoughtful lead performance blooms into top-of-her-lungs passion in the films final act; it feels like the true grown-up arrival from her that weve been waiting for. EY

The Rider

Whats so subtly special about Chloe Zhaos intimate, lyrical film is the way it takes what easily could have been reportage and turns it into modern American myth. Injured cowboy Brady and his rodeo riding friends live in a milieu both quintessentially American and completely obscure to most 21st-century Americans. And yet, their story will feel immediately relatable to any person  or country, for that matter  that has ever had to accept a fundamental change or loss or blow to their sense of self. EY

The Wife

The Wife is based on a nearly 15-year-old novel by Meg Wolitzer, but I recommend going in with no knowledge of the plot, if possible. The story of a writer (Jonathan Pryce) traveling to Stockholm to receive a Nobel Prize, along with his faithful wife/assistant Joan (Glenn Close), unfolds with high-minded luxuriousness and steadily mounting intrigue about whats really going on in his wifes head. Director Bjorn Runge and Close do such patient, simmering work in letting Joans secrets and hidden frustrations inch into the light on their own, that by the time the dramatic fireworks hit, each feels satisfying and earned. EY

Three Identical Strangers

In Tim Wardles knockout doc, triplets adopted by three different families meet by chance in the late 70s, bond as if theyd known one another all their lives, and become a media sensation. But what begins as a goofy, Parent Trap-like tale drifts into darker waters  from a secretive adoption agency to nature-versus-nurture study overseen by a Strangelovian Austrian Holocaust refugee. First, nature seems dominant. Then nurture makes a comeback, big time, as the brothers existential anguish holds us spellbound. DE

To All the Boys Ive Loved Before

As a teenage romantic with a secret stash of unrequited love interests, Lana Condor is a ready-made star, and Noah Centineo rises to meet her as the adoring, throaty lunk any introverted girl dreams of coming around and melting away her shyness. Theirs is a teenage romance we can believe in, despite its ridiculously convoluted circumstances, on the merit of the leads and Susan Johnsons effervescent direction. And when was the last time you believed in a teenage romance!?

Upgrade

Leigh Whannells grubby sci-fi horror yarn about a man implanted with a Siri-like AI in his nervous system is the kind of thing they dont make nearly enough of any more  less Charlie Brooker, more John Carpenter. But aside from its gory, chop-socky delights (turns out AIs can be very helpful when you have some vengeance to exact), the film  and Logan Marshall-Green in particular  is often transcendentally hilarious, and its gruesome slapstick gets at some all-too real truths about the horrors we wreak when we let our digital aids do our dirty work. EY

Wildlife

Carey Mulligan gives the major performance weve been waiting for in Paul Danos grimly fascinating  and often plain grim  adaptation of Richard Fords novel. She plays a beautifully-coiffed 1960 homemaker whose failed golf pro husband (Jake Gyllenhaal) elects to join a fire brigade in the distant mountains, leaving her with a 14-year-old son (Ed Oxenbould) and lots of bills. Before the boys horrified eyes, she gravitates towards her employer, a much older man (Bill Camp) whos unnervingly comfortable taking advantage of her. Zoe Kazan co-wrote the script with her Ruby Sparks co-star (and partner) Dano, and its brilliantly attuned to all the roiling psyches. DE

Wont You Be My Neighbor?

Morgan Nevilles surprisingly moving doc sets Fred Rogers side by side in the multiplex with Han Solo and various Avengersand guess who seems like the bigger superhero? Telling the story of a man and a kids show that, in the words of one director, took all the elements that make good television and did the opposite, Neville gently eases us into a neighborhood-as-world in which all talk is soft; all fantasy is plainly handmade, as if by a child in a playroom; and the most important thing is that no matter how we look or feel (sad, mad, plaid), were special, each of us, loved unconditionally by this nice, nice man. Its a wonderful breather from reality, from which you come back more conscious of  and dismayed by  the hate that now runs the world. DE
Westworld Les Ecorches Season 2 Episode 7 Editors Rating 4 stars * * * *  Previous Next Photo: HBO

You ever play pub trivia and they have a tiered question round? Thats when you have several rounds to guess the correct answer and it starts with really obscure clues (that net you more points) and it gets progressively easier and more clear with every round? Yeah, thats how Westworld approaches storytelling. Tonight it even verbalized this MO directly to us. When Bernard pressures Ford to answer him as to whats in the valley beyond, Ford completely refuses to answer, instead gently chuckling, Isnt the pleasure of a story discovering the ending for yourself?

With that, there is no doubting that Westworld is the most unapologetically left-brain narrative on television. But at least it plays its game fairly. It doesnt lie or pull punches. It layers its hints in clear signifiers, from word usage, to Easter eggs, to even the use of aspect ratios. It always wants you to dig deep, to figure it out, and to enjoy the guessing game. It even has the dignity to make its thematic puzzle about prescient investigation into both the psychology and sociology of human behavior. So its likely no accident that the shows storytellers seem to have an authorial kinship with Ford. But the simple, inescapable truth is that Ford is also completely wrong.

Watch: How Close Are We To Real-Life Westworld Robots?

That isnt the pleasure of a story. In fact, theres a reason left-brain puzzle stories tend to be much more rare within the narrative landscape. Dramatic storytelling is largely about the pursuit of the opposite effect on the viewer. Its about letting them know exactly whats going on and thus getting them to dread the result. Or its about making them think they know whats going on and then experiencing a brilliant zag when they thought the zig was coming. In even simpler terms, its about getting them to laugh, cry, empathize with, and fall in love with the people onscreen, all to effectively get them to emotionally experience the story if they were experiencing it too. Left-brain puzzle storytelling often makes that all a lot harder, which just means that any pursuit is going to need to strike some kind of balance between these conflicting aims. And as Westworld clearly struggles between the times its vying for our curiosity and the times its trying to find a shortcut to our emotions, I cant help but feel a sense of push-pull, particularly with tonights episode.

Luckily, things start tense and stay tense, starting with Timeline No. 4, where the cats now out of the bag and everyones discovered that Bernard is a host. Charlotte immediately begins giving him auditory commands and wants to know the story of what happened in the cradle (which she was half there for?). Specifically what happened to Pa Abernathys brain cortex key thingy. This creates a bookend story device for what amounts to a big contained flashback episode of Westworld (which is kind of what the show is constantly, in a way). But this one is basically one big standoff, as Dolores and her revolution have stormed the proverbial Bastille of Westworld HQ and are ready to kick some butt and take some names.

But the truth is that for 58 minutes of intense conflicts and consequences, theres very little actual plot going on. Sure, Clementine goes out in a blaze of glory. Angela seduces and then explodes the cradle. Teddy goes HAM and punches Cool Mustache Guy to death (though right now there are like four scummy soldier guys and its easy to get them confused). The more involving stories are the deeper conflicts between better-known characters, like when Dolores is about ready to carve open Charlottes head. Too bad she gets faked out of actually doing so twice by random distractions.

With that observation made, seriously, how many times are we going to have an intense dramatic moment interrupted by gunshots or someone coming in offscreen in this show? I get that its necessary to use, but its as cheap a plot-blocking narrative tactic as you can employ, and this episode uses it constantly. (I genuinely counted at least eight instances.) Its especially purposeless in the opening tease when Bernard doesnt answer the question even with a gun to his head, but then theres another distraction that just ends up bringing us into a room where the same exact information is revealed, thus eating up another three minutes of screen time. Like, I would get this if there were some kind of consequence to Bernard hiding the information, but it speaks to the endless, often purposeless dramatic obfuscation in this show. Which is perhaps apt for show that asks, in its core approach, how to turn an interesting dramatic construct into ten episodes of teasing.

Back outside of HQ, I cant help but feel like weve missed some kind of thoughtful counterpoint with Maeves story line, because theres a certain dramatic allure to the idea of her actually dealing with her conundrum. The idea of her daughter already having a new mom and the feelings of being replaced are far from an inhuman experience. Theres something real to say here about compound parenting (which I grew up with) and navigating the emotional spaces within that. But instead, were treated to more bad guys, more bullets, and more missed chances. All part of the endless interruption and delay in comparison to growth and dexterity. Worse, putting her immediately into the same scenario with her daughter cant help but feel a little pat. At least her showdown with Old William is laced with commentary about extricating herself from old cycles, but in the end, it doesnt. It only serves to leave them both bloodied and alone.

Meanwhile, the most interesting story of the episode is, unsurprisingly, going on inside Bernards head, where we now have an Inception-like wrinkle to the HQ battle where hes trying to fish the relevant information out of Ford before theyre blown to smithereens. Its amazing how much weight Anthony Hopkins brings to this show. As Pauline Kael once observed, with certain actors, when they speak, you believe them, and Hopkins is one who certainly holds that power. Especially as the writers are going to give him great line after great line, whether hes calling the human mind the last analog device in a digital world or the parks efforts to mimic humanity like a soft-headed boy, humming a tune someone else composed.

But the real glory of his presence is that we finally get an articulation of his plan. He chastises Delos not only for the Facebook-like inventory building of the human brain (Bernard puts it together that the hosts are the control, the guests the variable) but chastises humanity for wanting the hosts to be a faithful portrait of the most murderous species since time began. What Ford wanted was to to make a better, more noble humanity. But after crashing up against those who will devour his more noble beings, he must give them a little push to break free. Including taking a little bit of Bernards free will away and hopping along for a little ride in his brain.

And thus it all comes together. Doloress team blows up the cradle. Charlotte fights back against the idea, not understanding why theyd ever want to destroy their backups and immortality, but Dolores rightly proclaims that they are their chains. The thing that keeps them as property, so they can be downloaded by Delos and re-augmented time and time again. It all harkens to the episodes title, Les Ecorches, which refers to the biological drawings of bodies without skin. It is at once an allusion to the iconic milky-white host bodies of the park, and of course, to the deeper notion of being exposed, armorless, or even to the flayed victims of a sadistic death. All three are true for the hosts, but in exposing themselves, there is finally a path forward, as if this were the allegory of the den. Time to blow it up and not look back. Ford regales us with a parable of such acts: When the great library burned, all the stories of the world burned with them. But then it became a new story  The story of the fire itself.

I would think a great deal of this moment, but for all the death and raging fire of this episode, theres still very little in the way of character change. Everyones still fighting the same demon. Were simply on our way to another destination, another story point, another linchpin, another standoff. But perhaps if this is the story of fire 

Its finally time to tell the story of the flood.

Random Thoughts

 I already want more of Delores and Maeves interactions. I feel like theres a deeper, more interesting story here thats being avoided for nothing more than delay.

 Given Elsies characterization, am I crazy to think she would probably want to rush off to the valley beyond and instead try to find a way off the island?

 Im not a logic guy but Old William sure does seem to get kinda hit by bullets a lot and be fine-ish. I get that its TV, but it even seems to be pushing the bounds of this particular show.

 Have you guessed whats going on with Bernard in Timeline No. 4? I feel like its getting increasingly clear 

 We also get a little bit more Maeve-witch-powers understanding, in that she cant control woke hosts. Nice, Westworld, nice.

 Meta-note: The first season of Westworld had two great episodes to start and two to finish (with a lot of wheel-spinning in the middle). So Im kind of delighted for the odd-pacing fireworks of this season where everything feels vital in the right kind of way.
Here's a look at cholera, an acute diarrheal illness which kills thousands of people worldwide each year.

Facts:

Cholera is contracted by consuming food or water contaminated with the fecal bacteria Vibrio cholerae.

Asia Caribbean Diseases and disorders Epidemics and outbreaks Haiti Health and medical India Infectious diseases Latin America North America Public health South Asia United States Fast Facts United Nations Medical fields and specialties Middle East Middle East and North Africa Tropical medicine Yemen Continents and regions Government organizations - Intl The Americas

Dehydration from rapid loss of body fluids is the reason the disease can be so deadly if the patient is not treated.

The disease's short incubation period of two hours to five days increases the likelihood of outbreaks.

80% of cholera cases can be treated and resolved with oral hydration salts.

There are three two-dose oral cholera vaccines available, Dukoral, Shanchol and Euvichol, but it may take weeks for an individual to have full protection.

Cholera is rare in industrialized nations.

People who live in areas with poor or inadequate water treatment, sanitation and hygiene practices are more likely to get the disease.

Statistics:

2017 - 1,227,391 reported cases in 34 countries with 5,654 deaths.

-- In the United States there were 11 cases and no deaths.

2016 - 132,121 reported cases in 38 countries with 2,420 deaths.

-- In the United States there were 14 cases and no deaths.

2015 - 172,454 reported cases in 42 countries with 1,304 deaths.

-- In the United States there were four cases and no deaths.

2014 - 190,549 reported cases in 42 countries with 2,231 deaths.

-- In the United States there were seven cases with no deaths.

2013 - 129,064 reported cases in 47 countries with 2,102 deaths.

-- In the United States there were 14 cases with no deaths.

2012 - 245,393 reported cases in 48 countries with 3,034 deaths.

-- In the United States there were 18 cases with no deaths.

2011 - 589,854 reported cases in 58 countries with 7,816 deaths.

-- In Haiti there were 340,311 cases.

-- In the United States there were 42 cases with no deaths.

2010 - 317,534 reported cases in 48 countries with 7,543 deaths.

-- In Haiti there were 179,379 cases.

-- In the United States there were 15 cases with no deaths.

2009 - 221,226 reported cases in 45 countries with 4,946 deaths.

-- In Zimbabwe there were 68,153 cases.

-- In the United States there were 10 cases with no deaths.

2008 - 190,130 reported cases in 56 countries with 5,143 deaths.

-- In Zimbabwe there were 60,055 cases.

-- In the United States there were five cases with no deaths.

Timeline:

1817 - The first pandemic begins in India, a place where cholera has existed for centuries.

1820 - More than 100,000 people die on the island of Java in Indonesia.

1820s - The disease spreads east to the Philippines and west to Turkey and Africa.

1821 - In Basra, Iraq, approximately 18,000 people die in a three-week period.

1829 - The second pandemic begins in India.

1830 - Cholera reaches Moscow and St. Petersburg, Russia, its first appearance in Europe.

1832 - Cholera reaches the Western Hemisphere. In June, more than 1,000 people die in Quebec, Canada. More than 5,000 people die in New Orleans.

1852 - The third pandemic begins in India.

1854 - More than 23,000 people in Great Britain die.

1863 - The fourth pandemic begins in India.

1877-1879 - Approximately 90,000 people die in Japan.

1881 - The fifth pandemic begins in India.

1884 - The disease kills more than 5,000 people in Naples, Italy.

1885 - More than 60,000 people die in two Spanish provinces.

1893-1894 - Approximately 200,000 people die in Russia.

1899 - The sixth pandemic begins in India.

1907-1908 - More than 20,000 pilgrims die of cholera during the Hajj to Mecca.

1923 - The sixth pandemic ends and cholera disappears from most of the world, except India.

1961 - The seventh pandemic begins on the Indonesian island of Celebes. It spreads throughout Asia during the 1960s.

1970s - Cholera reaches Africa for the first time in 70 years.

1991 - The disease appears in Latin America (Peru) for the first time in 100 years. Approximately 3,000 people die.

1994 - Cholera breaks out in Rwandan refugee camps near Goma, Zaire. Tens of thousands of people die within a month.

2008-2009 - An estimated 4,200 people die in Zimbabwe.

October 2010 - Cholera breaks out in Haiti, and more than 6,600 people die within a year. As of April 2018, The United Nations says 818,000 cases of cholera and 9,757 deaths attributed to cholera have been reported in Haiti since the beginning of the 2010 outbreak.

July 2011 - According to a US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention report, United Nations peacekeepers from Nepal most likely caused the October 2010 cholera epidemic.

July 2012 - Cholera breaks out in Cuba for the first time in more than 100 years.

August 28, 2012 - Cuba's government declares the cholera outbreak, that inflected 417 and killed three, eradicated.

January 15, 2013 - The Cuban Health Ministry reports 51 new cases of cholera in Havana.

2013 - An outbreak in Mexico leads to 159 confirmed cases of cholera.

October 10, 2013 - Human rights lawyers file a class action lawsuit in a US federal court accusing the United Nations of gross negligence and misconduct on behalf of victims of the cholera outbreak in Haiti in 2010.

January 9, 2015 - A US federal judge rules that the Haitian victims of the 2010 cholera outbreak cannot sue the United Nations, as the UN has legal immunity.

August 18, 2016 - For the first time, the United Nations acknowledges its own involvement in the cholera outbreak in Haiti in 2010.

May 15, 2017 - Yemen's Ministry of Public Health and Population declares a state of emergency as cholera spreads throughout areas surrounding the capital district of Sanaa. According to the World Health Organization, as of July 2018, there have been 1,115,378 suspected cholera cases and 2310 associated deaths reported in Yemen since April 2017.

December 21, 2017 - The International Committee of the Red Cross announces that the cholera outbreak in Yemen has hit 1 million suspected cases, making it the world's biggest cholera outbreak in recent history.

April 12, 2018 - A spokesman for the Health Ministry of Malawi tells CNN that at least 30 people have died and 893 are ill in a cholera outbreak that began in November 2017.

August 3, 2018 - The WHO, warning that Yemen may be on the brink of a third epidemic, reports that more than 1.1 million suspected cholera cases have been recorded April 17, 2017, to July 2018, with more than 2,300 associated deaths.
An East Grand Forks woman is about to go on the trip of a lifetime.

She's off to Guatemala to meet her birth mother -- after being separated as a toddler.

WDAZ's Kenneth Chase tells us her warning for any potential adoptive parents

A caregiver--"We're going to take your medicine now ok?"--with a special story.

Dina Dementi was born in Guatemala.

"I didn't grow up bitter. I became the person I am. Loving and caring of other people," Dina Dementi, Care Giver.

But Dina's story isn't that simple.

She spent years looking for her birth mother when she found a relative on Facebook.

"I didn't know how to react. I was just like, "you're saying my mom's alive? Like. You're telling me my mom's alive. First you told me she was dead," says Dementi.

That relative -- Dementi's Aunt -- told her that her mother was dead. She was worried Dina was a front for the drug cartel, trying to get information on their family. After talking with Dina's mom, everything changed.

Snapchatting her mom for the first time.

"The first thing I could remember was saying mom, mama? I don't' speak fluent Spanish and she doesn't speak English at all," says Dementi.

"I asked her the hardest question you could ask a mother was why did you give me up? Why did you let me go. She said I never let you go Dina. You were taken from me you were stolen from me," says Dementi.

When Dementi was 2-years-old -- her mother was working as a maid.

She took her to what she thought was a daycare -- except they never let her leave with her daughter again.

"These people were taking advantage of her. She was giving them money to watch me at the orphanage," says Dementi.

Dementi stayed there for about four years.

The memories still haunt her.

"We were abused there. And molested there while we were in the orphanage," says Dementi.

And her mother had few options for help.

"it was during the guerilla war. The cops were cruel and the government was cruel and corrupt. Children were sold black marketed easily," says Dementi.

Eventually Dementi was adopted by an American family with roots in North Dakota.

And decades later -- she's set to make the trip back to her birthplace this weekend.

"It's going to be everything. It means everything. No words or no money could replace that hug. That first hug from my mom," says Dementi.

"Yes grandma."

Dina has been working as a caregiver for Amanda Brantl's grandmother with Dementia.

"I guess I couldn't really ask for much more than that. She seems to bring a happiness to you," Amanda Brantl, friend.

Working seven days a week to save money -- hoping to pay for her mother to visit the U.S.

"It's going to mean a lot. It's my dream that came true," says Dementi.

Hope for a future with the family she never knew.

If you want to help her mother visit the United States, donations can be submitted through Gate City Bank.

An account is set up under her name, Dinita Dementi.
WASHINGTON (AP)  President Donald Trump fabricated history when it came to assessing the 2016 election, his achievements on the opioid epidemic and a congressman's voting record on taxes. Critics of his immigration policy got it wrong when they accused the Trump administration of taking 1,500 immigrant children from their parents and losing them.

The week in review:

TRUMP: "African-Americans vote for Democrats for the most part. You know, vast majority. They've been doing it for over 100 years."  Nashville rally Tuesday.

THE FACTS: Not 100 years or anything close. Most African-Americans for much of U.S. history were disenfranchised, then prevented from voting until the 1965 Voting Rights Act, which outlawed racial discrimination in voting. Before then, those who could vote mostly backed Republicans until the 1932 election of President Franklin D. Roosevelt, whose New Deal programs of economic relief helped spur a longer-term shift of black support from Republican to Democrat.

___

TRUMP: "Some of these states, I won by 44 points."  Nashville rally.

THE FACTS: Not some. One. He won Wyoming with 70 percent of the vote in 2016, exceeding Hillary Clinton's 22 percent by nearly 48 points, according to Associated Press election data. His next biggest win came in West Virginia, where he won by 42 points.

Nationwide, Trump lost the popular vote. He garnered 46 percent to Clinton's 48 percent, but ultimately won the election based on an Electoral College system in which the votes of smaller rural states that generally backed Trump are weighted more heavily than big, Democratic-leaning states such as New York and California.

Under the U.S. system of electing presidents, Electoral College votes are set equal to the number of U.S. representatives in each state plus its two senators.

___

TRUMP: "A.P. has just reported that the Russian Hoax Investigation has now cost our government over $17 million, and going up fast. No Collusion, except by the Democrats!"  tweet Friday.

THE FACTS: The AP did not report the cost is going up fast. It cited a Justice Department finding that the investigation over 10 months has cost $16.7 million, which Trump rounded up to $17 million. Of the costs assigned to the investigation, $9 million would have been spent even absent the investigation, the department said.

___

TRUMP: "Not that it matters but I never fired James Comey because of Russia! The Corrupt Mainstream Media loves to keep pushing that narrative, but they know it is not true!"  tweet Thursday.

THE FACTS: Trump himself fed that "narrative." The president has said at least twice that Comey's firing in May 2017 was related to the FBI's investigation into whether Trump's campaign associates coordinated with Russia in an effort to sway the 2016 election. And his lawyer, Rudy Giuliani, told Fox News in May that Trump fired Comey because the FBI director wouldn't publicly state that Trump "wasn't a target" of the Russia investigation. Trump's public rationale for firing Comey has shifted on multiple occasions.

___

TRUMP, referring to Robert Iger, CEO of ABC's parent Walt Disney Co.: "Iger, where is my call of apology? You and ABC have offended millions of people, and they demand a response. How is Brian Ross doing? He tanked the market with an ABC lie, yet no apology. Double Standard!"  tweet Thursday.

THE FACTS: "No apology" is wrong. Trump should know that because he expressed satisfaction in December with ABC's statement that said, "We deeply regret and apologize for the serious error" by Ross, an investigative reporter.

Ross had reported that Trump, as a candidate, directed aide Michael Flynn to make contact with Russian officials during the campaign, a potentially explosive development. Ross changed his report hours later, saying his source stated that Trump's outreach actually came after Trump won the election, when presidents-elect might be expected to get to know foreign officials. ABC issued the apology, suspended Ross for four weeks without pay and said he would no longer report on Trump.

At the time, that pleased Trump, who tweeted: "Congratulations to @ABC News for suspending Brian Ross for his horrendously inaccurate and dishonest report on the Russia, Russia, Russia Witch Hunt. More Networks and 'papers' should do the same with their Fake News!"

Trump's revived wrath at ABC and Iger comes after the network canceled Roseanne Barr's show because of her racist tweet about Valerie Jarrett, who was an aide to President Barack Obama. Iger tweeted that the cancellation was "the right thing" to do.

___

TRUMP: "There is no one better to represent the people of N.Y. and Staten Island (a place I know very well) than @RepDanDonovan, who is strong on Borders & Crime, loves our Military & our Vets, voted for Tax Cuts and is helping me to Make America Great Again. Dan has my full endorsement!"  tweet Wednesday.

THE FACTS: He's incorrect about the tax cuts he signed into law in December. Donovan voted against them, one of the few Republicans to do so. He told AP on Thursday that Trump knew that. "The president was well aware," he said. "We've had discussions about my tax vote, the president and I." Donovan opposed the tax bill because he said it would mean a tax increase for his constituents. "With the state and local tax deduction nearly eliminated, this tax bill doesn't equal relief for far too many New Yorkers," he said at the time.

___

TRUMP, sharing this tweet from broadcaster Rush Limbaugh: "If the FBI was so concerned, and if they weren't targeting Trump, they should have told Trump. If they were really concerned about the Russians infiltrating a campaign (hoax), then why not try to stop it? Why not tell Trump? Because they were pushing this scam."  Thursday.

THE FACTS: The FBI did tell the Trump campaign about threats posed by foreign intelligence services. What level of detail it disclosed has not been established. It is now well known that Trump aides had multiple contacts with Russian interests during the campaign and the FBI was investigating those contacts for any evidence of collusion between the campaign and Russia. It is therefore unlikely that the FBI would share specifics that might compromise its criminal investigation.

In August 2016, an FBI counterintelligence agent gave candidate Trump what is known within the bureau as a defensive briefing about the threats from foreign intelligence services. Such briefings are fairly standard and are intended to help campaigns guard against infiltration or hacking by foreign governments, such as Russia and China. Similar briefings were given to Clinton and the two vice presidential picks prior to the election, according to an October 2017 letter from Greg Brower, then the FBI's head of congressional affairs.

___

TRUMP: "We got $6 billion for opioid and getting rid of that scourge that's taking over our country. And the numbers are way down. We're getting the word out  bad. Bad stuff. You go to the hospital, you have a broken arm, you come out, you're a drug addict with this crap. It's way down. We're doing a good job with it. But we got $6 billion to help us with opioid."  Nashville rally.

THE FACTS: That's misleading. One leading indicator of the opioid epidemic is down  painkiller prescriptions. Other indicators are up, such as the number of overdoses and deaths. And none of that has to do with the $6 billion enacted by Congress. The numbers are from 2017; the money is for this year and next.

Prescriptions for opioid painkillers filled in the U.S. fell almost 9 percent last year, the largest drop in 25 years. The total dosage of opioid prescriptions filled in 2017 declined by 12 percent because more prescriptions were for a shorter duration, fewer new patients started on them and high-dose prescriptions dropped. The numbers are from health data firm IQVIA's Institute for Human Data Science.

But overdose deaths involving opioids rose to about 46,000 for the 12-month period ended October 2017, up about 15 percent from October 2016, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The numbers are preliminary because of continuing cause-of-death investigations later in the reporting period. They could go higher.

As well, the CDC says emergency department visits for overdoses of opioids rose 30 percent in the U.S. from July 2016 to September 2017. Overdoses shot up 70 percent in the Midwest in that time while increasing by 54 percent in large cities in 16 states.

___

TRUMP: "Democrats mistakenly tweet 2014 pictures from Obama's term showing children from the Border in steel cages. They thought it was recent pictures in order to make us look bad, but backfires."  tweet Tuesday.

THE FACTS: He is correct about the widespread misrepresentation of the photos on Twitter.

The photos, taken by AP, were from 2014, during the Obama administration, but were presented by liberal activists as if they showed the effects of Trump's immigration policy now. The photos were taken at a center run by the Customs and Border Protection Agency in Nogales, Arizona. One photo shows two unidentified female detainees sleeping in a holding cell. It's not clear that many prominent Democrats spread the photos, from a 2016 Arizona Republic story, though some did.

Democrat Antonio Villaraigosa, former Los Angeles mayor now running for governor, tweeted that he was: "Speechless. This is not who we are as a nation." Jon Favreau, ex-speechwriter for Obama, tweeted: "This is happening right now." They and others deleted their tweets when they realized the mistake.

___

JIM CARREY, actor: "1500 innocent children ripped from their mothers' arms at our border. Lost in Trump's 'system'.  tweet May 27.

THE FACTS: This didn't happen. Many Trump critics, Carrey among them, misrepresented the fate of nearly 1,500 minors who came to the border  without their parents  and were transferred by U.S. authorities to sponsors in the country.

The Health and Human Services Department followed up with such children by calling their households to check on them late last year, getting information on the whereabouts of most, officials said. But they could not account for 1,475 of them, in part because many sponsors didn't respond to the calls.

On that basis, Trump critics are calling the children "lost." But in that round of calls, the Trump administration actually had a slightly better rate of confirming such children's circumstances than the Obama administration did in 2016, according to an inspector general's report  86 percent versus 85 percent.

The episode with the unaccompanied children and the 2014 photos distracted from what is actually happening. Under a Trump policy to enforce criminal charges against people crossing the border illegally with few or no previous offenses, separation of parents from children is bound to become more common, and that trend may have started.

A Customs and Border Protection official told lawmakers that 658 children had been separated from their parents at the border from May 6 to May 19, after border agents began referring every illegal entry to criminal prosecutors. This is in addition to hundreds more who were estimated to have been removed from their parents at the border since October.

___

Associated Press writers Anne Flaherty and Chad Day in Washington, Mike Stobbe in New York, Carla K. Johnson in Seattle and Elliot Spagat in San Diego contributed to this report.

___

Find AP Fact Checks at http://apne.ws/2kbx8bd

Follow @APFactCheck on Twitter: https://twitter.com/APFactCheck

EDITOR'S NOTE _ A look at the veracity of claims by political figures
Madison County Commissioner Craig Hill invites you to attend the kickoff of the improvements and renovations project for the Ditto Landing Campground.

It began at 11:00 a.m. at Ditto Landing. 293 Ditto Landing Rd. SE in Huntsville.

Future plans at the campground include: replacing exterior doors on restrooms, replacing partitions on restrooms and adding doors to showers, building fire rings and adding picnic tables and grills.

Ditto Landing is located off Hobbs Island Road just East of the Highway 231 Bridge on the Tennessee River.

Ditto Landing is Huntsville, Alabama's gateway to the Tennessee River. Whether you arrive by land or water, there is no mistaking the beauty and serenity of Ditto Landing and this Madison County gem.
Were just two days away from Alabama's primaries and some voters say theyre paying more attention to the race for Lt. Governor.

WAAY 31 spoke with those voters and found out why picking a Lt. Governor is more than an afterthought this time around.

The lieutenant governor has the same powers as the governor, should something happen to the governor, so you need someone whos going to do the right thing," said Ben Richman.

Richman says, while others may be focused on who theyre picking for governor in Tuesday's primaries, hes thinking about the second in command. And hes not the only one.

The lieutenant governors position, I think, is important just like it would be, on a national stage, the vice president," said Shileshia Milligan. "You want your back-up to be just as capable as your primary person.

Milligan says she wants someone she can trust in case the future governor is ever forced to leave office--the way Kay Ivey became governor after Robert Bentley resigned.

With the Bentley situation, with any political candidate, you dont want the incident of scandal," Milligan said. "But if there is something like that that comes up, you want somebody that can come in, that doesnt have those kinds of skeletons in their closet.

Voters say its also important to elect a reliable lieutenant governor if Kay Ivey wins the governor's race. Thats because shes older than the other candidates, and they realize theres a potential for health issues with Ivey or anyone else.

With a candidate thats older, you have to look at the possibility of, you know, whether theres an illness or something happens, or something comes up where shes not able to finish the job," Milligan said.

Kay Ivey is older. There is a possibility that she may pass during her time in office," Richman said. "You need someone that has the energy and has the record to change things in Alabama.

No matter the circumstances, voters say they just want the elected lieutenant governor to be someone who is in it for all the right reasons.

You dont want someone in there that will, basically, just be a figurehead, having other people how to do their job. You want someone whos able to take charge if they need to," Milligan said.

If youre planning to vote in Tuesday's primaries, your choices for Lt. Governor are republicans Twinkle Cavanaugh, Will Ainsworth, and Rusty Glover, as well as democrat Will Boyd.
Voters in Alabama are getting ready to head to the polls Tuesday to make their picks in the Democratic and Republican primaries.

If you don't know your registration status then you can update everything by going to the mobile app, 'Vote for Alabama' or visit the website online. Doing that ahead of time will make the process quicker at the polls.

"The stuff we see happening locally is going to be more effective by who's in charge of the state and who's running around here as supposed nationally," said Brian French.

Many people told WAAY they're planning to vote this Tuesday. But still need time to do more research on the candidates.

"I'm getting to know about each candidate and making a more formed decision rather than just voting straight democrat or straight republican," said Dominique Robertson.

Secretary of State John Merrill said that whether you chose the Democratic or Republican primary, if you vote in the runoff, you'll have to stick with that same party for July's run-off.

In November's general election you can vote for any candidate of your choice regardless of political party.

"The vote that you pass now matters for the following election. I think a lot of people think they can just vote for the general election. They don't realize that you have to get those people to that point so you can vote for them," Robertson said.

Voters said sometimes it's not about the political parties, but the candidate's platform.

"I'm going to pick someone who's going to represent me and my opinions and really push forward to the policies and agenda that I'm interested in," French said

The new electronic poll books will make their debut this election in Madison, Morgan and Jackson counties. All you'd have to do is scan your driver's license. It's set to eliminate voter fraud, crossover voting and make the voting process quicker.

"I think it's more convenient for people who are always on the go. People who have to come on their lunch breaks and between their jobs," Robertson said.

Again, voters go to the polls Tuesday to vote in Alabama's primaries. Monday is the last day to post mark an absentee ballot.

Secretary of State John Merrill says he expects 25-30% of registered voters to vote in Tuesday's primaries.

If you're planning to vote, but aren't sure of your polling location-- here's a weblink to polling places in Madison County.

https://www.madisoncountyvotes.com/voter-resources/voting-precinct-map/
Curtain to rise on Shanghai's movie and TV fests

From:Shine | 2018-06-03 17:29

The 24th Shanghai TV Festival, to be held from June 11 to 15, will look back on the achievements of domestic TV drama as this year marks the 60th anniversary of Chinese TV dramas. A grand gala will also be held paying tribute to the countrys prominent TV professionals.

More than 800 recent TV productions from 50 countries and regions have applied for the competition of the TV fests Magnolia Awards.

Outstanding works will be honored in different categories of TV series, documentary, animation and variety on June 15.

Officials said that the 21st Shanghai International Film Festival has received a record 3,447 entries from 108 countries and regions all over the world. The film fest will be held from June 16 to 25.

Renowned Chinese filmmaker and actor Jiang Wen will chair the jury panel for the festivals Golden Goblet Awards while Hong Kong filmmaker Shi Nan-sun will be the jury president of the festivals Asian New Talent Awards.

To commemorate the 40th anniversary of Chinas reform and opening-up, the film festival will host a Chinese film poster exhibition, theme forum, and an exhibition of Chinese cinema.

A Belt and Road Pavilion will be set up for the first time at the fests international film market. Representatives from nearly 30 Belt and Road countries will form theBelt and Road Film Festival Alliance on June 16.

During the festival, movie buffs will be offered screenings of around 500 domestic and foreign film productions at 45 cinemas around the city. Tickets for the Panorama will go on sale on dianying.taobao.com at 8am on June 9.

For the first time, the festival will also collaborate with Migu Video to exhibit 20 foreign movies online.
Chongqing eyes quicker IP protection Updated: 2018-06-01 chinadaily.com.cn

Southwest China's Chongqing municipality will rev up efforts to safeguard its fast-paced IP development. [Photo/liangjiang.gov.cn]

West China's first fast-aid center for IP protection will soon be in service in Chongqing's Liangjiang New Area, local media reported on May 30.

"After several trial runs, the fast-aid center will provide fast lanes and green channels so local enterprises can get timely assistance in IP issues," according to a director of the Liangjiang Technology and Innovation Department.

He noted that this move will inject new momentum into the innovative development of the automobile & motorcycle industry in Liangjiang New Area.

With an office area of 500 square meters, the center will be a one-stop station where a diversity of affairs regarding patent filing and copyright protection can be smoothly handled.

Best of all, aiming to maintain an innovation-friendly environment, the center will join hands with national and municipal commissions to resolve counterfeiting and IP-related disputes and infringements.

To date, Liangjiang has supported 1,382 patented products and incubated 106 pilot enterprises. Its offices received 3,757 patent applications and filed 2,568 patents in 2017.

The number of patents per 10,000 people reached 12, a 33 percent surge from last year.

With innovations emerging rapidly, the administrative committee of Liangjiang New Area sees a growing necessity to protect their achievements.

In the future, Liangjiang New Area will bring in authentic IP service agencies and carry out joint programs to build up a well-organized IP governance system.

The China Chongqing Automobile and Motorcycle Intellectual Property Rights Fast-aid Center [Photo/liangjiang.gov.cn]
Kathmandu, June 4

Nepal and China are likely to sign an agreement to carry out a feasibility study for the construction of a railway connecting Nepals capital, Kathmandu, with the Nepal-Tiber border point in Rasuwagadhi, near Kyirong.

Nepals Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli is scheduled to embark on a state visit to the northern neighbour on June 19 and the agreement will be signed during his visit, according to a source.

It is sure that crossborder railway will be a top agenda during bilateral meetings as Oli has been talking about the project since a long time ago.

However, it has not been certain whether the project will be implemented. Currently, a Chinese technical team is in Kathmandu to conduct a pre-feasibility study for the Kyirong-Kathmandu-Pokhara-Lumbini railway. If the study yields a positive result, the process to prepare the detailed project report will begin.

Now, the two countries will not sign any other agreement about the project except the one for feasibility study as the result of pre-feasibility study has not come out.

It is speculated that Chinese President Xi Jinping will visit Nepal after Olis visit. By then, the report of pre-feasibility study will come out, a source privy to recent discussions say, If the report is positive, agreements for the DPR and construction will be made during Xis visit.
Home  Just In  We improved ties with India only after New Delhi agreed for non-interference: Oli

Kathmandu, June 4

Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli says he took initiatives to improve relationships with India only after the Indian government agreed that it would not interfere in Nepals internal politics.

Addressing the Province 3 Assembly meeting in Hetaunda of Makawanpur district today, Oli said he did not bow down begging for the improvement, neither did he let India undermine Nepals sovereignty.

He reiterated that Nepal did not sign any agreement against national interests while he visited India in April first week. Oli claimed that his government took Nepals foreign relationships to a new height and its evidence were recorded.

There are many things which verify our claim. We do not make hollow claims. Everything has been recorded.
"Born into slavery in 1818, Frederick Douglass rose to become a preeminent American intellectual and activist who, as statesman, author, lecturer, and scholar, helped lead the fight against slavery and racial oppression. Unlike many other leading abolitionists, Douglass embraced the U.S. Constitution, believing it to be an essentially anti-slavery document guaranteeing that individual rights belonged to all Americans, of all races. Furthermore, in his most popular lecture, "Self-Made Men," Douglass praised those who rise through their own effort and devotion rather than the circumstances of their privilege. For him, independence, pride, and personal and economic freedom were the natural consequences of the equality that lay at the heart of the American dreama dream that all people, regardless of race, gender, or class, deserved a chance to pursue."

"This biography takes a fresh look at the life and inspirational legacy of one of America's most passionate and dedicated thinkers. As detailed in this compact and highly compelling work, Douglassin some ways a conservative, in other ways a revolutionaryespoused and lived the central idea of his work: we must be free to make ourselves the best people we can be." Find out more and order your copy here...
Georgia new No. 1 in AP football poll; Kentucky vaults to 11
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By West Kentucky Star Staff Jun. 03, 2018 | 10:54 PM | GRAVES COUNTY, KY

Two Calloway County men were arrested in Graves County Sunday night on drug and gun charges.

According to the Graves County Sheriff's Office, 36-year-old Richard Denham, of Murray and 34-year-old Chad A. Hughes, of Hazel, pulled onto the parking lot of a local church while services were ongoing. Church security personnel became suspicious when the two men did not exit the vehicle. A sheriffs department detective was inside the church and went outside to investigate.

When he made contact with the two men, the deputy said he detected a strong odor of marijuana, and they were asked to exit the vehicle. Before Hughes exited the vehicle, deputies say he dropped something in the floorboard.

According to deputies, during a search of the passenger area of the car, a baggie with suspected Oxycontin was found in the floorboard. When Denham exited the vehicle, a bank bag fell from his shorts that allegedly contained methamphetamine, marijuana, digital scales, baggies and a large amount of cash. Deputies then searched the vehicle and found a 9mm handgun under the driver's seat of the vehicle.

Both men were arrested and lodged in the Graves County Jail.

Denham is charged with trafficking meth (firearm enhanced), trafficking marijuana (firearm enhanced), trafficking within 1,000 feet of a school, tampering with physical evidence and possession of a handgun by a convicted felon.

Hughes is charged with complicity trafficking meth (firearm enhanced), complicity trafficking marijuana (firearm enhanced), complicity trafficking within 1,000 feet of a school, tampering with physical evidence, complicity possession of a firearm by a convicted felon and possession of controlled substance.
By West Kentucky Star Staff Jun. 04, 2018 | 11:56 AM | MAYFIELD, KY

A traffic stop Friday night in Mayfield left a man and a juvenile facing drug charges.

According to the Mayfield Police Department, just after 9:00 pm officers saw a car without functioning tail lights traveling at a high rate of speed on the Dick Castleman Bypass. A traffic stop was conducted on the vehicle near the intersection of Dick Castleman Bypass and Douthitt Street.

The officer said he detected the odor of marijuana coming from inside the vehicle. The juvenile driver allegedly admitted to having marijuana inside the car. A search of the juvenile's backpack revealed a mason jar containing suspected marijuana.

The vehicle's passenger, 21-year-old Aaron Chastain of Boaz, was also searched by police. Inside Chastain's backpack, officers found a container with suspected marijuana, numerous amounts of plastic baggies and a set of digital scales. Police also found numerous suspected Xanax bars in the cup holder near the driver's seat.

Chastain was arrested on a charge of trafficking marijuana. He was lodged in the Graves County Jail. The juvenile was cited for speeding, failure of license to be in possession, failure to produce insurance card, no tail lights, possession of marijuana, possession of drug paraphernalia, possession of controlled substance and controlled substance not in the proper container.
By West Kentucky Star Staff Jun. 04, 2018 | 10:10 AM | FANCY FARM, KY

Kentucky's youngest statewide elected official will emcee this year's Fancy Farm political speaking.

Commissioner of Agriculture Ryan Quarles will act as ringmaster for the 138th annual St. Jerome Catholic Church Picnics political speaking. Over the years, the picnic has become a must attend event for political watchers from around the state and nation, and features speakers from both parties running for national, state and local offices.

A love of both politics and agriculture run deep in West Kentucky, said Mark Wilson, chair of the political speaking at the picnic. Commissioner Quarles shares our regions passion for both, and we are excited for him to emcee this years political speaking.

Keeping with tradition, invitations to speak at this years picnic will be extended to current constitutional office holders, both US Senators and the local U.S. Representative and local candidates for State House and State Senate.

Growing up a farm kid in Kentucky, you always hear about the Fancy Farm picnic, said Commissioner Quarles. It was the fulfillment of a dream when I got the opportunity to take the stage for the first time in 2015 as a candidate but I never imagined Id have the chance to act as the emcee. Its truly an honor to assume a role so many of the greats in Kentuckys storied political history have filled before me.

Quarles, a Republican from Scott County, was first elected as Commissioner of Agriculture in 2015. Thirty-two-years old at the time, he was the youngest statewide elected official in the United States, a distinction he still holds today.

Before becoming Ag Commissioner, Quarles served three terms in the Kentucky State House, representing parts of Scott, Owen and Fayette County and the Quarles family has farmed in Central Kentucky for more than seven generations. He holds undergraduate, graduate and law degrees from the University of Kentucky, a Masters from Harvard and recently graduated from Vanderbilt with a doctorate in Higher Education Leadership.

We may still cook our pork and mutton the old-fashioned way but were excited for Commissioner Quarles to be the first millennial to emcee the picnics political speaking, remarked Wilson. A picnic doesnt reach its 138th year, without embracing the changing times.

The Fancy Farm Picnic, which serves as a charitable fundraiser for the sponsor, St. Jerome Catholic Church, has quickly transformed into Kentucky's inaugural event for the statewide fall political season. Some of the nation's most prominent politicians have addressed the crowds from the speakers' stand, including U.S. Vice-President Alben W. Barkley, former Governor and U.S. Senator A.B. Happy Chandler, Vice-President Al Gore and Vice-Presidential candidate Lloyd Bentson, and U.S. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell.

The picnic, held on the first Saturday of August, is also known as the worlds largest one day barbeque, and attracts over 10,000 visitors each year.
Embed from Getty Images

West Ham manager Manuel Pellegrini has reported in unharmed after he and his wife were mugged at gunpoint in Chile over the weekend.

The 64-year-old had apparently been back in the country less than 24 hours when he was targeted by the armed thieves, who struck while the Pellegrinis were making their way to a restaurant in the Vitacura district of capital city Santiago.

Thankfully, the Hammers have since confirmed via a spokesperson that both Pellegrini and his wife are safe and sound and the Chilean police are now attempting to track down the criminals responsible.

Pellegrini himself also issued a Tweet to thank the local constabulary for their quick and courageous response.

Felicitaciones a @Carabdechile por su rapida y valiente reaccion. Agradezco el apoyo de la gente. Ojala se le otorguen mas facultades a Carabineros para solucionar el tema de la delincuencia lo antes posible.  Manuel Pellegrini R. (@Ing_Pellegrini) June 3, 2018

Santiago police official Carlos Villarroel told the press:

A couple of policemen, who were patrolling the sector, heard the cries of the victim and went to their aid. When confronted by police, the criminals fired several shots. However, no injuries were recorded.

According to Chilean newspaper La Cuarta, Pellegrinis wife had her purse stolen before the thugs fled in a car, which was found abandoned a couple of hours later.

Again as per the aforementioned publication, the investigation is ongoing.
As protests continue to erupt in the streets of Kenosha, Wisconsin, and across the world in outrage against the horrific shooting of Jacob Bla Read more
Bridging the digital divide with photonics

Wits physicists and engineers team up to tackle Africas digital divide with home grown technologies

Africa has 20% of the worlds population but only 4% of its internet data access. This digital divide, with low internet connectivity reach, particularly in rural areas, is both economic and geographic in nature. A team of international researchers, coordinated by Professor Andrew Forbes from the School of Physics at the University of the Witwatersrand in Johannesburg (Wits), South Africa, and Professor Ling Cheng of the School of Electrical and Information gathered in South Africa recently to address this problem. Their solutions were published in Nature Photonics last month.

The divide can be broken down into two parts: an affordability gap due to low disposable income and a geographical gap, due to lack of infrastructure. If South Africas gap was to be addressed by state-of-the-art optical fibre then an additional 160 000 km of fibre would be needed. This is possible but very expensive. But getting people connected is a priority, particularly for South Africa, where Broadband has been estimated to raise GDP by R130 billion and create 400 000 jobs. The Wits team are concentrating on bridging the divide by connecting communities with free-space optical (FSO) links  a network of communication channels through air, much like wifi but much faster and with a longer reach.

Light holds tremendous promise for fast connections across medium distances, explains Professor Andrew Forbes, team leader of the collaboration and Distinguished Professor in the School of Physics where he heads up the Wits Structured Light Laboratory. Even Google, Facebook and SpaceX have exotic proposals for Africa that include drones and other aerial vehicles delivering connections in a blanket manner. We are working on point to point solutions with sustainable photonics that are home-grown.

Internet is not a luxury but a right, says Mitchell Cox, PhD engineering student working on the project. Existing FSO systems are able to comfortably sustain gigabit connection speeds over multi-kilometre distances. With further research and development into advanced digital signal processing and coding schemes, this may be increased dramatically with relatively little expense, says Professor Ling Cheng, from the School of Electrical and Information Engineering.

The team are working towards a multi-hop FSO link that will cover tens of kilometres across the digital divide. Forbes points out that working with this team of Scientists and Engineers has allowed some of the most recent scientific findings to be rapidly and efficiently deployed to tackle this challenge.

A recent report by the UN has highlighted that over 4 billion people in the world are not connected, with Africa having the lowest penetration (22%) and the highest gender divide (25%). What is tragic is that economic upliftment is hindered by these divides, yet they are widening not shrinking with time, says Forbes The UN estimates that $400m (just under R5 billion) allotted to bridging the gender digital divide remains unspent. The Wits team has already made several technical advances to address these issues and is about to embark on a commercialisation programme with a local listed company.
UTICA  Theres a new flavor on Bank Place in Utica, but its not a restaurant thats new to the city.

A Taste of Laos celebrated a ribbon cutting Monday at its new location at 12 Bank Place. The owner of the restaurant was born and raised in Utica and she says shell stay put in this city for many years to come.

A Taste of Laos features authentic Laotian dishes and fushion dishes including sticky rice and papaya salad. In the dishes youll find fresh ingredients, herbs and spices.

Owner Jonann Velardi says that for her and her husband, its all about education and keeping it in the family.

I want to show Utica the Laotian culture, and I want to teach my kids and their friends and family about the Laotian culture, too, Velardi said.

The restaurant was previously located in Utica Brews Cafe.
Rome, N.Y. - The first ever Community School Carnival was held on Saturday at Bellamy Elementary School in Rome.





Bellamy Elementary School Assistant Principal Molly Mytich says Bellamy was selected as the first Community School in Rome, "Community Schools is an initiative that is actually nationwide to bring in scholarships and grants for events such as this, bringing in mental health support, bringing in food pantries, and events just like this to bring our community together. This is a really big deal for us here in the Rome City School District and for the Rome community."

Bellamy Elementary School Principal Nancy Opperman says schools all across the country have now been designated as Community Schools, "Bellamy was the first Community School and next year they're moving into Staley Elementary and eventually every school will become a community school. It gives the families the opportunity to come and see the different resources that there are in our community and to know where to contact them when they need that help."

A number of local agencies were on hand to give students, their families, and community members in general, information on what resources there are available to them in the community.

One agency, Rome Memorial Hospital's Community Recovery Center, which provided plenty of information, also gave a demonstration on Narcan, the drug used to reverse the effects of an opiate overdose.

Rome Memorial Hospital Community Recovery Center Nurse Michelle Barrett performed the demonstrations and says with the rising number of issues with opiate overdoses in communities across the country, this is a perfect place to give those in the community not only the knowledge of how to use Narcan in case they come across a loved one who has overdosed, but to give people a free sample of the drug, "This works almost like a little nasal spray. You just want to press between your thumb and your two fingers just like this, you would put this up the persons nostril, all all the way up until your fingers hit the end of their nose, and you just give one short firm push. This is an opioid antagonist, so what that means is it reverses the effects of the opioid, which in respiratory depression, people actually stop breathing, so this actually goes in and kicks off all the opiates off the receptors in the brain and reverses the effects."

Rome Memorial Hospital's Community Recovery Center still has plenty Narcan samples available for anyone that would like one. Give the Rome Memorial Hospital Community Recovery Center a call at (315) 334-4701.
WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. (WLFI)  The Tippecanoe School Corporation celebrated its class of 2018, Sunday. Seniors from both Harrison and McCutcheon High Schools walked across the stage to receive their diplomas.

Austin Dunwoody's reaction to his high school graduation was a common one.

"Wow, here we go, this is for real," said Dunwoody of his day.





As students in the Tippecanoe School Corporation said goodbye to one chapter, and stepped into the next, they gave special thanks to many.

"Great group of kids, incredible teachers, staff, it was, nowhere else I'd rather be," said Dunwoody.

"I had a great time, great friends, great teachers," said McCutcheon graduate Peyton Hilbert.

Others stopped just to think about their graduation day.

"It's really nice to see everyone get together and just have one last moment with the whole class," said Harrison graduate Kristen Martin.

While students walked across the stage, the future was on many of the student's minds.

"Nothing I'd rather do than be a Boilermaker," said Dunwoody, who will attend Purdue in the fall.

Not every graduate is off to Purdue though. Peyton Hilbert is heading to Bloomington in the fall. She explained the friendly conflict between her friends.

"A lot of my friends are becoming my rivals now."

Rivalries aside, the graduations gave reason for everyone involved to celebrate. Especially the parents.

"So proud of everything I've accomplished and it's just great to hear," said Dunwoody.

"They're just super proud of me and I'll that I've accomplished," said Hilbert. "I'm on the distinction diploma so I get to sit right up on the stage."

Sunday's ceremonies were held at the Elliott Hall of Music on Purdue University's campus.




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President calls for action to preserve US nuclear plants

04 June 2018

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US President Donald Trump has directed Secretary of Energy Rick Perry to take immediate action to stop the loss of "fuel-secure power facilities" from the country's power grid, including nuclear power plants that are facing premature retirement.

Exelon's Three Mile Island, which Exelon last year said could face premature closure(Image: US NRC/Exelon)



"The United States of America has the most technologically advanced and developed infrastructure in the world, with access to a reliable, dependable, and diversified electric grid," a statement issued on 1 June by the White House said, adding that the president "believes in total energy independence and dominance" and the importance of a "strong and secure" energy grid and infrastructure to protect US national security, public safety, and economy.

"Unfortunately, impending retirements of fuel-secure power facilities are leading to a rapid depletion of a critical part of our Nation's energy mix, and impacting the resilience of our power grid," the statement said. "President Trump has directed Secretary of Energy Rick Perry to prepare immediate steps to stop the loss of these resources, and looks forward to receiving his recommendations." Fuel-secure facilities include nuclear and coal-fired plants, which are able to store fuel securely on site, enabling them to continue operating in times of major disruption whether from "adversarial attack" or natural disaster.

Bloomberg reported that the Department of Energy (DOE) had outlined in a memo a strategy to establish a strategic generation reserve and to compel grid operators to buy electricity from at-risk plants. The 40-page draft memo, which is marked as privileged and confidential, is dated 29 May and was circulated ahead of a US National Security Council meeting scheduled for 1 June.

The plan would see DOE use authority under two existing laws - the Federal Power Act and the 1950 Defense Production Act - temporarily to delay retirements of fuel-secure electric generation resources, while it analyses and takes action to address the "resilience needs" of the electric generation system. This would involve directing system operators over a two-year period to purchase electricity or generation capacity from a designated list of facilities, to forestall any further retirements. The proposed order would also establish a Strategic Electric Generation Reserve.

"This prudent stop-gap measure will allow the Department further to address the Nation's grid security challenges while the Order remains in force," the memo notes.

The US Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) earlier this year launched its own proceeding to examine the resilience of the US grid after terminating proceedings on a proposed rulemaking on grid resilience and reliability submitted by Perry in September 2017. Perry's proposed rule would have recognised the attributes of generation sources able to store fuel on site, such as nuclear. FERC instead directed the bodies that operate the USA's power grid - the ISOs (independent systems operators) and RTOs (regional transmission organisations) - to assess the resilience of the electricity grid and to recommend additional actions to mitigate any identified issues.

Nuclear plant operators in the USA's deregulated markets, where generators compete against each other to sell power to suppliers through auctions, have faced competition from low-cost gas, particularly from shale gas developments, and subsidised wind power, leaving well-performing nuclear units at risk of closure for economic reasons. Some states have now passed legislation specifically recognising the attributes of nuclear plants, particularly for their contribution to emissions reduction targets.

In response to potential market intervention, regional transmission organisation PJM Interconnection on 1 June said any federal intervention to order customers to buy electricity from specific power plants would be damaging to the markets and costly to consumers. "There is no need for any such drastic action," PJM said. The RTO reiterated its assertion that planned deactivations of four nuclear power plants - FirstEnergy Solutions' Beaver Valley, Davis-Besse and Perry units in Ohio and Pennsylvania - did not threaten the reliability of its grid. PJM is the wholesale electricity market serving all or part of 13 states including New Jersey, plus the District of Columbia, and is the country's largest grid operator.

World Nuclear Association Director General Agneta Rising said today: "Action should be taken to help the plants under immediate threat of closure. But in the longer term, failures in the market need to be corrected to recognise and value the benefits of clean and reliable electricity generation from nuclear plants."

Auction failure



The White House issued its statement days after more than 10,000 megawatts of nuclear generating capacity failed to clear PJM's annual capacity auction. The auction, which procured power supply resources for electricity demand needs over the period 1 June 2021 to 31 May 2022, produced a price of USD140 per megawatt-day, compared to USD76 for the previous year. PJM procured 163,627 megawatts of resources, with 19,900 MWe of nuclear generation clearing the auction, about 7400 MWe less than in 2017.

The failure of the Three Mile Island and Dresden nuclear plants, and all but a small portion of the Byron nuclear plant, to clear the auction prompted Exelon Nuclear to call for urgent federal action to preserve the benefits of the plants' resiliency and emissions-free generation. "PJM has acknowledged the long-standing market flaws that put nuclear energy at risk, and the time to implement solutions is running out," Kathleen Barron, Exelons senior vice president of government and regulatory affairs and public policy, said on 24 May.

The Quad Cities plant cleared the capacity auction as a result of Illinois legislation that fairly compensates certain nuclear plants for their environmental attributes, Exelon said.

Maria Korsnick, president and CEO of the US Nuclear Energy Institute, said nuclear plants in the PJM market are more at risk of premature closure now than ever before and called for immediate action on market reform. "Distorted market forces jeopardise clean, fuel-secure sources of electricity. If these plants are forced to close because markets are not being reformed to value the attributes that nuclear provides to the grid, we will face an energy supply that is less diverse, less clean and overly reliant on natural gas," she said.

Researched and written

by World Nuclear News

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Glenn Gregory

According to Transwestern, Miami-Dade County's office market continued to reflect near record-low vacancy in first quarter 2018, posting at 12.3 percent. Consistently low vacancy over the past several quarters has prompted the highest levels of new construction since 2010, with 811,731 square feet under construction as of first quarter."Though construction activity in Miami-Dade has increased dramatically over the past few years, developers of core office projects in the Miami Central Business District remain cautiously optimistic and continue to evaluate their strategy to capture the next roll of organic lease expirations," said Christopher Dubberly, Transwestern Vice President. "The upward pressure on rents in Brickell, along with increasing traffic congestion, should attract tenants across the river to Downtown where large blocks of space with better highway access are coming on line."More than half of the office development in Miami-Dade - 422,379 square feet - is concentrated in Coral Gables which reported an 8.3 percent vacancy rate, the second lowest behind Coconut Grove at 7.4 percent, in first quarter 2018. Overall asking rents continue to climb with Class A rates averaging over $50 per square foot in Miami Beach and Brickell."With a large amount of new supply slated over the next three years, completions are expected to outpace net absorption," said Glenn H. Gregory, Transwestern Managing Director. "But for the time being, market conditions in Miami are ripe for a continuation of the steady, positive growth we experienced during 2017. Our forecast for 2018 remains optimistic."
Updated: Deputy council leader calls on Welsh Government to solve final hurdle of superfast broadband in rural communities

This article is old - Published: Tuesday, Jun 5th, 2018

The deputy leader of Wrexham Council has asked the Welsh Government to take urgent action to solve outstanding issues with broadband connectivity in rural areas in the County Borough.

Cllr Hugh Jones, who represents the Rossett constituency, has written to Ken Skates, Welsh Government cabinet secretary for environment and transport, asking him to ensure the issue of completing final connections is solved.

Efforts to roll-out superfast broadband through Superfast Cymru began in 2013.

But while main connections and streetside cabinets have been upgraded, connections from the cabinets to peoples homes still need updating in some areas before residents have full access to superfast broadband.

Cllr Jones said: I know the Welsh Government has invested a lot into the roll-out of superfast broadband, and Mr Skates has indicated to me that further funding has been released to resolve current issues around connectivity.

But for many people  some of whom run small businesses from their homes  the final, crucial hurdle of connecting cabinets to homes still hasnt been completed.

If the cabinets arent connected to customers homes, then for those customers, the investment already made and the work already carried out makes little to no difference in terms of their connection.

And this isnt just about small, isolated rural hotspots  these are substantial rural communities. And it seems to be a fairly common problem across North Wales.

He added: Its incredibly frustrating, because the larger part of the work has been completed  its the fact that the final hurdle hasnt been solved thats causing these problems.

And I suspect it must be frustrating for Welsh Government as well, given the lack of service to residents in spite of the level of investment made.

Ive written to Mr Skates, urging him to ensure that the all-important final connections are made across North Wales.

A Welsh Government spokesperson said: Wales digital landscape has been transformed by the intervention of Superfast Cymru, bringing fast broadband to areas which werent going to receive it in any other way.

Since the project began, the availability of superfast broadband across Wales has more than doubled thanks to the programme with more than 684,000 premises now with access.

We want to go further though and earlier this year we announced a range of measures to further extend fast and reliable broadband coverage in Wales. Our preparations for the successor scheme are well advanced with the tender exercise ongoing and expected to conclude in June.

We are aiming to announce the successful bidders before the end of July with deployment work commencing as swiftly as possible after that.

Our Access Broadband Cymru and Ultrafast Connectivity Voucher Schemes are also available for those currently without access to superfast broadband.
Investigation underway after body found near train tracks in Wrexham

This article is old - Published: Monday, Jun 4th, 2018

An investigation is underway after a body was found close to a train track in Wrexham over the weekend.

Officers from the British Transport Police were called to the train line close to Bradley Road in Wrexham at 4.39am yesterday morning following reports that a person had been found close to the tracks.

A spokesperson for British Transport Police said: We attended, alongside colleagues from the ambulance service, but sadly a person was declared dead at the scene.

Officers are now working to establish the circumstances of how that person came to be there and are trying to locate their next of kin.

Anyone with any information is asked to contact BTP by calling 0800 40 50 40 or texting 61016 with reference 91 of 3 June.
Within the past week, multiple officers have been cleared of criminal charges for shooting deaths in three separate cases. On May 24, San Francisco District Attorney George Gascon declined to file criminal charges against the officers who killed Mario Woods in 2015 and Luis Gongora Pat in 2016. Meanwhile a grand jury in Georgia declared police officers would not face criminal charges for the January killing of Ricky Boyd.

In a previously unreported statement, Miami-Dade State Attorney Katherine Fernandez Rundle also ruled that undercover officer Eduardo Pares was justified in fatally shooting unarmed Anthony Ford in 2017. According to the Miami New Times, Rundle has not charged a single officer for shooting someone while on duty since her appointment 25 years ago.

In all of the cases, the killer cops used excessive force and failed to make any effort to deescalate the situation.

Boyd, 20, was fatally shot outside his grandmothers home in Savannah, Georgia as officers were trying to serve a warrant for his arrest. The case immediately drew scrutiny due to conflicting claims on whether or not Boyd was holding a weapon at the time he was shot. Initially, officers claimed that Boyd fired at the officers, but a later statement stated he only confronted officers with a gun. Afterwards, the Georgia Bureau of Investigation claimed Boyd held a BB gun at the time he was shot.

However, William R. Claiborne, the civil rights attorney representing Boyds family, highlighted many inconsistencies in the official reports, stating Boyds family felt they had been lied to. Claiborne pointed out that the officers who shot Boyd had never been named and certain details had never been made clear, such as how many times he was shot. Furthermore, no identifiable DNA was found on the BB gun Boyd allegedly threatened officers with.

In San Francisco, Gascon stated the five officers who killed Woods and the two officers who killed Gongora Pat would not face charges because both men had knives and there was insufficient evidence to prove the officers acted unreasonably in defending themselves and others. In a sop to public anger Gascon feigned frustration, stating he did not believe the officers should have killed the men but he was bound by the law not to press charges.

Cellphone videos showed Woods was not directly threatening the officers with the knife when they fired 26 rounds at him. Before he was shot, Woods was obviously distressed and told officers, Im not going with you and Youre gonna have to fing shoot me.

Officers formed a semi-circle around Woods as he stood against a wall, sprayed him with pepper spray, fired bean bag rounds at him, and eventually shot him. Less than two minutes elapsed between initial contact and the shooting.

The shooting of Pat unfolded in a similar manner, with only 30 seconds passing between initial contact and the shooting. Officers were responding to reports of a homeless man waving a kitchen knife. According to the police report, two officers sped to the scene and asked him to drop the knife. Officers fired four bean bag rounds at Pat before shooting him after he reportedly charged at officers.

Ford was shot by Pares in Miami-Dade after reportedly sticking his hand near his waistband. According to the report, Pares saw Anthony Ford place his right hand inside his waistband as he turned around. Sergeant Pares then saw Anthony Ford make an abrupt movement upwards with his right hand, at which time Sergeant Pares discharged his firearm multiple times, fatally striking Ford.

Rundle stated Pares was reasonable to feel threatened even though Ford was unarmed because he stuck his hand near his waistband. No firearm was located on or near Mr. Ford following the shooting, the report reads.

The routine exoneration of killer police officers is connected to efforts to suppress the growing militancy of the working class.

Last month, the US Supreme Court established an interpretation of qualified immunity that essentially grants police impunity to use lethal force at will. In Kisela v. Hughes, the Supreme Court stated whether or not force is deemed reasonable must be judged by the officer on the scene. Meanwhile, it was recently revealed that Amazon is providing police facial recognition and video tracking technology to conduct mass surveillance on the population.
The Communications Workers of America (CWA) is continuing a series of unfair labor relations strikes at AT&T work locations in the US Midwest as talks continue without progress for 14,000 wireline workers at AT&T Midwest and Legacy T operations.

The CWA has refused to call a system-wide strike as it attempts to diffuse worker anger and militancy through a series of isolated and disjointed actions. Workers are opposing a slew of concession demands from management in health care as well as continued job cuts. In the current talks, while the CWA has claimed progress on secondary matters, it reports no resolution of key issues such as wages, benefits and job security.

Workers registered a 90 percent strike authorization vote in April. However, the union ordered workers to stay on the job when the contract expired April 14. AT&T Midwest covers workers in Ohio, Michigan, Illinois, Indiana and Wisconsin. AT&T Legacy T workers are employed nationwide.

The local walkouts involve workers in Milwaukee, the Detroit area, Dayton and Youngstown, Ohio, and other locations. However, some AT&T workers have been ordered to stay on the job in a deliberate bid by the CWA to undermine the unity and effectiveness of the action.

Local CWA officials told the media that the strikes were called not to protest the companys intransigent bargaining stance, but against attempts by management to contact workers directly over terms of the AT&T proposal, bypassing the union. The CWA has maintained a virtual blackout on negotiations. The union clearly fears that management, by informing AT&T workers of its provocative demands, may undermine the unions ability to contain rank-and-file anger over concessions.

In an e-mail statement, AT&T spokesperson Marty Richer wrote, After over 10 weeks of negotiations, we presented the union with a final offer with a goal of bringing this process to a close and reaching fair agreement for our employees. After we presented terms to the union at the bargaining table, we communicated them to our employees, as permitted by law.

World Socialist Web Site Telecom Newsletter reporters spoke with workers picketing an AT&T location in Southfield, Michigan in suburban Detroit. Workers said they were very concerned about job losses and outsourcing, including call center jobs. Workers noted that 11 call centers previously located in Michigan have been closed over the past 20 years and none now remain. Workers indicated they had not been given any details of talks with the unions.

At this point CWA officials interrupted the discussion and asked workers not to speak further with WSWS reporters, loudly insisting all information had to come from the union. The reporters pointed out that the Telecom Newsletter was attempting to mobilize other sections of workers behind the AT&T workers, while the role of the CWA was to isolate the strike. They pointed out to workers the treacherous role of the CWA in the six-week 2016 Verizon strike, where the union declared a victory, but workers ended up saddled with higher health care costs.

At a May 19 rally organized by the CWA in downtown Detroit, workers expressed distrust of the union and support for a broader struggle. One worker said, People are getting tired and theyre saying were not going to wait for the union anymore. We have to do this ourselves.

Workers at both AT&T Midwest and Legacy T have faced huge attacks on their health care, with out-of-pocket costs soaring. There is no indication that management has budged from demands, which include that workers pay one-third of total health care costs. For a typical worker, this comes to some $6,000 a year, or a 12 percent pay cut. Since 2013 workers have seen their premiums more than triple, forcing some to forgo health insurance.

This comes as AT&T is continuing its program of job cuts. In the Midwest region it has slashed 13,000 jobs since 2009, leaving just 7,000 workers in the bargaining unit. AT&T has closed 44 call centers since 2011. The last call center in Detroit closed earlier this year. The company dismissed 600 workers in the Midwest at the start of 2018 and 700 workers in Texas and Missouri. Most of the layoffs were in its landline and legacy sectors.

The tactic of calling isolated protest strikes has been honed by the CWA over the years as a means of letting off steam while it maneuvers to impose a contract betrayal. This has gone hand-in-hand with whipping up nationalist antagonism against workers in other countries such as Mexico and the Philippines where AT&T has expanded operations.

The divide and conquer strategy of the CWA has included the signing of concessions contracts at the five other regions covered by AT&T. This has included 50,000 wireless workers. It called off a strike by workers at Frontier in West Virginia and parts of Virginia without winning any of the workers demands.

In 2017 the CWA called a phony weekend strike by 40,000 AT&T and AT&T Mobility workers in dozens of states before announcing a contract settlement that supposedly defended jobs. However, AT&T, along with other telecom companies, announced a new wave of layoffs at the start of 2018.

The CWA, along with the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers, betrayed the strike by 1,800 Spectrum workers in New York and New Jersey. The workers, now in the second year of their action, were hung out to dry by the CWA and IBEW, which left workers isolated on the picket line while the company continued its operations unhindered.

In the case of the strike by 40,000 Verizon workers in 2016, the CWA abruptly called off the strike and organized a vote on a concessionary contract that it palmed off as a victory. Workers at Verizon are still facing job cuts despite the fact that the CWA claimed the agreement would preserve job security.

The fight by AT&T telecom workers is part of a growing movement of workers in the US and internationally that is taking more and more the character of a rebellion against the pro-capitalist trade unions. The WSWS Telecom Newsletter urges AT&T workers to take the struggle out of the hands of the CWA by organizing rank-and-file workplace committees. These committees should forge links with telecom workers nationally and internationally, as well as other sections of workers, such as autoworkers and teachers, in a common fight.
Last week, thousands of people demonstrated in cities throughout the United States and internationally against the anti-immigrant policies of the Trump administration. They demanded justice for 19-year-old undocumented migrant Claudia Gomez Gonzalez, who was summarily executed by a US Border Patrol agent in the border town of Rio Bravo near Laredo, Texas, on May 23.

The largest of the demonstrations, organized by a coalition of labor, immigrant rights, and civil liberties groups under the name Families Belong Together, were held Friday in more than 20 cities across the US and in Barcelona, Spain, in opposition to the Trump administrations policy of separating undocumented migrant children from their parents.

This cruel policywhich was first employed under President George W. Bush and continued under President Barack Obama, though never made official policy until this yearforces children to live with relatives or unrelated foster families, sometimes hundreds of miles from the detention camps where their parents are held as they await prosecution and deportation for the so-called crime of illegal entry. The threat of having ones family torn apart is designed to act as a deterrent against entry by those fleeing the violence and economic devastation that US imperialist intervention and domination has produced in much of Latin America.

During just two weeks in May, 658 children were removed from their families under the program. According to a recent report by the American Civil Liberties Union, the Department of Health and Human Services has lost track of nearly 1,500 immigrant children after separating them from their families and resettling them with foster families.

The family separation policy was first publicly announced in early May by Attorney General Jeff Sessions during a xenophobic speech in Arizona, in which he proclaimed: If you are smuggling a child, then we will prosecute you, and that child will be separated from you as required by law. If you dont like that, then dont smuggle children across our border.

On Friday, around 400 people assembled outside the Department of Justice headquarters in Washington, D.C. to demand an end to the family separations and justice for Gonzalez and others killed by US immigration agencies.

At a Wednesday rally in New York Citys Foley Square, protesters condemned the deaths of Gomez and Roxsana Hernandez, a 33-year-old Honduran migrant who died in an ICE detention center last week under circumstances that have yet to be explained.

Her [Gonzalez] only crime was to have a better life for her and her family. This is a hard time for immigrants. This is a time when the president calls us criminals and animals, immigrant rights advocate Blanca Saavedra, who helped organize the Foley Square rally, told AM New York.

Claudia Gomez Gonzalez left her home town of San Juan Ostuncalco, Guatemala, in the hope of finding work and joining her boyfriend in Alexandria, Virginia. Just minutes after making the treacherous journey across the Rio Grande on May 23, however, she and her three companions were confronted by a Border Patrol agent whose name has still not been made public.

While the precise sequence of events remains unclear, the encounter ended with the agent firing a single shot from his handgun into Claudias head at close range, consistent with an execution-style murder.

US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) released a statement claiming that the officer had been investigating reports of illegal activity in the town when he came under attack by a group of immigrants wielding blunt objects, later described by CBP officials as two-by-four pieces of lumber. The agency said that during the assault, the officer fatally wounded one of the assailants.

Two days later, CBP released a second statement in which no mention of any blunt objects was made, instead claiming that the officer had ordered the immigrants to get on the ground multiple times but the group ignored his verbal commands and rushed the officer. In this second version of events, Claudia is characterized as a member of the group rather than one of the assailants, which amounts to an admission that she had not taken part in any supposed attack on the officer.

Hundreds of smaller vigils and rallies took place in Oakland, San Antonio, Salt Lake City, Seattle and other US cities throughout the week to condemn the execution of Gonzalez and in defense of immigrant rights, which have come under an unprecedented assault by the Trump administration.

The widespread public opposition to Trumps anti-immigrant policies evident in these actions stands in sharp contrast to the silent complicity of the Democratic Party, which has consistently supported the hiring of more Border Patrol agents and increased funding for border security measures.
Julian Burnside, the well-known civil liberties attorney, has endorsed the demonstration on June 17 at Sydney Town Hall Square. Burnside is a barrister, author and human rights and refugee advocate. He has defended refugees and trade unions, along with Aboriginal and working-class people, in a number of high-profile cases. Burnside has maintained intransigent support for WikiLeaks and Julian Assange since 2010 .

* * *

I join with John Pilger and endorse the demonstration that will take place in Sydney on Sunday, June 17, at 1:00 pm, to demand that the Australian government act immediately to secure the freedom of WikiLeaks editor Julian Assange.

I urge all people to take part, especially my colleagues in the legal profession. We cannot remain silent or passive as the democratic principles we uphold are shredded. Assange has not committed any crime. He is being persecuted because he published leaks that exposed government acts that are criminal under the law.

The Turnbull government must help Julian Assange now. He must be helped to leave the Ecuadorean Embassy without being arrested by Britain (our allies) and be allowed to return to Australia, to his children, mother and supporters, with guaranteed protection from arrest by the British and any American extradition request.

Julian Burnside
Facebooks new measures restricting use of its advertising platform have begun to impact news and media organizations, according to a report published Friday by the Verge. The moves are the latest step in the companys campaign to censor its platform under the bogus pretext of combating Russian interference and fake news.

Starting May 24, Facebook began requiring that anyone wishing to purchase a political ad must undergo an onerous authorization process, submitting images of a government-issued ID and verifying their address and Social Security number, among other requirements.

In addition to ads relating to elections, referenda, political parties or candidates for office, the social media company has designated 20 issues of national importance which fall under its new restrictions. The issuesabortion, budget, civil rights, crime, economy, education, energy, environment, foreign policy, government reform, guns, health, immigration, infrastructure, military, poverty, social security, taxes, terrorism, valuesare so broadly defined as to include virtually all news or information of any significance.

In a May 24 blog post titled Hard Questions: Why Doesnt Facebook Just Ban Political Ads?, Facebook Global Politics and Government Outreach Director Katie Harbath and Director of Public Policy Steve Satterfield wrote: In the US, there arent laws or federal agencies that list specific issues that are subject to regulation. But to have a policy that our reviewers can enforce, they need a list explaining whats OK and whats not.

CEO Mark Zuckerberg, in a post the same day, again sought to justify the anti-democratic measures with the absurd and bogus claim that they were intended to prevent anyone to do what the Russians did during the 2016 election. In reality, Facebook, in collaboration with the US state and intelligence agencies and other major technology companies such as Google, has utilized trumped-up accusations of Russian meddling and fake news in the 2016 elections in order to initiate a vast campaign of censorship of the internet and social media.

One of many Orwellian ads by Facebook promoting its censorship measures

Facebooks newest measures have already begun to negatively impact their primary target, i.e., left-wing and socialist organizations and viewpoints. As David Moore, the Socialist Equality Partys candidate for US Senate in California, wrote on the World Socialist Web Site Friday, Facebooks requirements have effectively blocked advertisements by both his campaign and that of SEP congressional candidate Kevin Mitchell in the week running up to the June 5 midterm elections.

Facebooks anti-democratic measures throw a lengthy and arbitrary procedure in front of the numerous smaller candidates running across the country, to the benefit of incumbents and other well-heeled candidates, Moore noted.

Along with the suppression of candidates and political parties ability to disseminate information and advocate their views, Facebooks new restrictions have broad and ominous implications for the press.

Facebook already announced at the beginning of 2018 that it was deprioritizing news and political content on users News Feeds. Just last Friday, the company revealed that it would also be removing its Trending news section, which has frequently featured viral videos or posts revealing brutality or murder by police. These announcements followed several years of moves by the company to restrict the organic (i.e., unpaid) reach of pages and content on its platform, compelling many smaller publishers and organizations to pay to use its advertising tools. Now, that avenue is also being closed off.

Facebook has stated that it plans to use a combination of both artificial intelligence and thousands of content reviewers, i.e., human censors, to determine whether or not an ad is political, reviewing not just the text of the ad, but also its image, who it targets and any external websites to which the ad links.

According to the Verge, which reviewed Facebooks new archive of ads with political content, the new restrictions have already resulted in dozens of media organizations ads being blocked, including thosesuch as a story about a graduation speechseemingly without political content. Other blocked posts shown in the archive reveal the more sinister character of the new policies, such as one by the History Channel television station attempting to advertise an article about the covert transportation of nuclear weapons around the US during the Cold War.

However, the archive would seem to underestimate the real number of unauthorized political posts censored so far, as it fails to list at least one ad by the WSWS blocked in the last week. On Thursday May 31 the WSWS posted its Perspective column Five thousand deaths in Puerto Rico from Hurricane Maria to its Facebook page and purchased an ad to show the post to residents in Puerto Rico. Later that day, Facebook responded that it had disapproved the ad because the WSWS Facebook page was not authorized to run ads with political content.

Facebooks notification that it was blocking the ad featuring the May 31 WSWS Perspective

The far-reaching character of Facebooks restrictions to advertising platform has provoked limited criticisms among sections of the media. News Media Alliance, a trade group representing 2,000 news organizations, including the New York Times and Washington Post, published an open letter on May 18, which, while praising Facebook for its supposed commitment to transparency, stated that the new measures threaten to undermine [journalisms] ability to play its critical role in society as the fourth estate. At least one company, Vox Media, has subsequently stated that it will refuse to undergo the authorization process.

While Bloomberg has reported unease at Facebook over the criticisms of the media industry, the company has thus far publicly indicated that it will continue its present course, with Director of Product Management Rob Leathern stating, Enforcement is never perfect at launch, but thats why we have processes in place for people and advertisers to help us improve.

Meanwhile, Facebook has used News Feed communications to aggressively encourage users to report unidentified political ads, with Leathern continuing, The community can find and report ads that dont have the label but should, and advertisers can appeal ads that are in the archive but shouldnt be there.

While there may be concern among sections of the media establishment over the immediate impact of Facebooks changes on their ability to conduct their business, publications such as the New York Times, Washington Post and others are at the forefront of the campaign to censor the internet and limit the free exchange of information outside officially sanctioned channels. It is the World Socialist Web Site which is leading the fight against internet censorship, which, as with the defense of all democratic rights, requires the mobilization of a mass, socialist movement of the working class. We urge all our readers and those committed to the defense of freedom of speech and the press to join this struggle today.
The first phase of the public inquiry into the Grenfell Tower inferno heard family and friends of the victims remembering their loved ones. However, some bereaved relatives, who were set to be core participants at the inquiry, are still waiting to be granted their formal right to enter the UK.

Karim Khalloufi, a Moroccan national whose sister Khadija perished in the Grenfell fire, was unable to attend the start of the inquiry because the Home Office did not grant him a visa, despite applying four months ago. This meant that Karims commemoration of Khadija was delivered by the family solicitor, Balvinder Khan. She said: He is very, very upset that he cannot be here, he prepared the pen portrait, he wanted to present it on behalf of his sister. There is no other family here in the UK who could read it out on his behalf.

Karims statement closed with the following words: Today it is nearly five months since I and my mother applied for a visa to the UK. We had been led to believe that we could be in London for the inquiry, but now [this] does not seem to be the case. No one seems to care about our history or relationship to this case, or to care about our pain, our heartache or our desire for answers. I am now at a loss as to what I can do to defend my familys rights in this case and to represent my sister, who seems to have no representation.

Given the fact that only a small number of families required assistance with a visa to attend the inquiryfirst announced nearly a year agoit is difficult to interpret the Home Offices actions in any other way than deliberate obstruction.

After the Independent newspaper contacted the Home Office on May 18, Karim and his mother, Zohra Rabbae, were finally granted visas so that they could act as core participants in the inquiry. But these visas were not printed until May 23a full two days after the hearings started. The visas, they were told, would be printed and ready to collect from the British embassy in Rabat on that date. The journey to the UK from the Maghreb would then take another day or two.

Earlier in May, Karim said he felt crushed after waiting months without success to hear from the Home Office about a visa he applied for in December 2017. He and his mother had been granted six-month visas in the aftermath of the tragedy, but returned to Morocco when these expired, believing in good faith that they could successfully reapply to return for the inquiry.

Karim spent 1,200 to have his own and his mothers applications processed. Speaking to the Independent, he said, Im happy that I can attend at least some of the inquiry. Lets hope that they dont delay it anymore. Im angry it took so long; there was no reason for this delay. We have been suffering, waiting; they have been confusing us. I dont even think my mum will come now. After all this, she is afraid to go back to Britain. Shes afraid there will be more issues.

Balvinder Khan said she had made repeated attempts to contact the Home Office about the familys applications but had received zero clarification.

In another case, the Iranian husband of 59-year-old victim Fatemeh Afrasiabi was unable to pay tribute to his wife or visit her grave because his immigration application was refused. Fatemah Afrasiabi was visiting from Iran when the tower block was consumed by fire and died alongside her sister, 65-year-old Sakineh Afrasiabi.

Fatemehs son, Mohammed Samimi, explained to the inquiry: I wanted to take this opportunity to remember my father, who could not come to the UK, his visa application was refused, and he says that, I am spending my days and nights by the thought of my children and I want to be able to visit my wifes grave.

Khan and other solicitors representing bereaved relatives had been under the impression that the Home Office would introduce a policy to automatically grant family members who had been granted core participant status the right to be in the UK.

However, following a cabinet reshuffle in December, the Home Office quietly dropped these promises. The change was never made public, but an email from a staff member at the governments Grenfell victims unit, addressed to a lawyer at North Kensington Law Centreand since viewed by journalistsconfirms the policy will not be introduced.

The email stated, Relatives would be able to stay in the UK for a maximum of six months, after which time they would be expected to return home or apply for time limited leave under an existing immigration route.

Many Grenfell relatives who live abroad are being subjected to unnecessary but deliberate levels of stress by the Home Office. Other bereaved family members who came to Britain in the immediate aftermath of the tragedy are still waiting to hear whether their visas will be renewed, meaning they face continuing uncertainty.

The governments pledge to make it easier for relatives to visit the UK was made in the immediate aftermath of a fire that was widely seen as a preventable disaster resulting from institutionalized indifference and neglect. Facing furious demands by local residents for justice, the government said visas would be granted without delay. But the Home Office has since changed its policy so that core participants entitled to give evidence may not be able to do so.

A lawyer from North Kensington Law Centre, a free legal service that has provided advice to families following the fire, said: The Home Office should have dealt with these individuals with compassion and sensitivity. Instead, with just days until the Grenfell Inquiry starts, it is outrageous that theyve been left in limbo and are still unsure whether they can stay in the country to participate in the Inquiry in which they are core participants.

Guidance published March 23 by the Home Office states that decisions on applications from core participants for leave to enter or remain in the UK must be timely to ensure that relatives are able to attend. However, it ensured a caveat was added that not all relatives with core participant status would be required to attend in person, as the sessions would be live-streamed, enabling those who wish to view it to do so from outside the UK.

The Home Office said family members of the bereaved and survivors of the tragedy who were coming to the end of their visas were able to apply to extend their stay under existing immigration policies. However, these applications would be considered on a case-by-case basis.

Government policies bringing about heartache for Grenfell relatives are having the very impact the government desiredmaking it more difficult for those who wish to visit friends and family living in the UK. These delays are the deliberate result of government policies designed to victimise, demonise and ultimately expel immigrants from British shores.

The tightening of immigration legislation is part of a policy of creatingin the words of Prime Minister Theresa May from a 2012 speech she gave as Home Secretarya really hostile environment for illegal immigrants. This was necessary, she had stated, after 13 years of uncontrolled mass immigration. These draconian restrictions were directed not just against people who correctly believed they had full citizenship rights, but against all immigrants regardless of their country of origin. Central to this new policy was the aim of making it infinitely more difficult and inconvenient to visit friends and relatives who had migrated to the UK.

The Conservative government led by David Cameron pledged to bring net immigration down to the tens of thousands as part of deliberate efforts to divide the working class and deflect from its own role in imposing mass austerity. In 2013, the anti-immigrant atmosphere being whipped up was epitomized by advertising vansintroduced at Mays instructiondriven through British towns and cities with large immigrant communities that ominously displayed large posters reading Go Home or Face Arrest

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[19 April 2018]
Dozens of African refugees died in three separate boat disasters across the Mediterranean Sea yesterday. It was the deadliest day for immigrants since October. As the weather warms, hundreds of thousands are preparing to cross into a European continent dominated by right-wing governments intent on blocking their entry and deporting those refugees already present.

Off the coast of Tunisia, rescue divers recovered the drowned bodies of 46 African immigrants destined for the Italian island of Lampedusa.

There were around 180 of us on board the boat, which was 30 feet long, one survivor told a Tunisian radio station. The boat sank because of a leak, the immigrant said, describing a scene of panic and horror as the boat and its passengers were slowly lowered into the sea.

Another survivor told the press from a hospital bed, I survived by clinging to wood for nine hours. Tunisian government officials report that 70 immigrants have been rescued, meaning roughly 65 remain unaccounted for.

At the other end of the Mediterranean, another boat capsized yesterday morning off the coast of Demre, Turkey, leaving nine dead, including six children. Survivors said there were 14 or 15 people on board.

Spanish officials also announced they had rescued 240 immigrants Sunday from 11 boats. Forty-one of the immigrants were rescued at the last minute from a sinking boat. At least one was confirmed dead.

So far in 2018, 660 immigrants have died crossing the Mediterranean, or 2.8 percent of the total who have attempted to cross.

The death toll is the product of policies carried out by European governments to block rescue efforts and deter future crossings. Beginning in 2014, the European Union implemented a policy of keeping coast guard ships far from areas with frequent shipwrecks. Internal EU documents reveal policymakers arguing that more deaths would equate to lower refugee totals.

In 2017, Italian prosecutors ordered police to impound a rescue boat staffed by a German non-profit to prevent the boat from conducting missions to save drowning immigrants.

According to the Intercept, officials used undercover police and wiretaps in a fraudulent effort to prove that the volunteers were secretly conspiring with human smugglers. As a result of such persecution, the Intercept reported, One year ago, there were close to a dozen humanitarian organizations operating rescue ships between Libya and Italy. Now there are just a few left.

Those immigrants who survive the perilous journey face harassment, neglect and deportation by the most xenophobic governments Europe has seen since the Second World War.

In Italy, incoming Interior Minister and member of the far-right Lega party Matteo Salvini made a provocative visit to Sicily yesterday and told a crowd, Enough of Sicily being the refugee camp of Europe. I will not stand by and do nothing while there are landings after landings. We need deportation centers.

Salvini spoke at another demonstration on Saturday, threatening immigrants: Get ready to pack your bags. Lega and its governing coalition partner Five Star Movement (M5S) have pledged to deport 500,000 immigrants, a move which would require putting large sections of the country under martial law. Luigi Di Maio, the leader of M5S, has previously called rescue boat organizations taxis of the sea.

The fascistic threats against immigrants by Lega and M5S have provoked a growing atmosphere of violence against refugees. In Vibo Valentia in the southern province of Calabria, an Italian man murdered a 29-year-old Malian refugee within hours of Salvinis speech yesterday. Police then reportedly issued a statement claiming the refugee was stealing material from a construction site.

In Germany, the Christian Democratic Union (CDU) and Social Democratic Party (SPD) reached a grand coalition agreement that largely adopted the anti-immigrant platform of the neo-fascist Alternative for Germany (AfD). AfD parliamentarian Alice Weidel delivered a xenophobic rant in the Bundestag last month denouncing Muslim migrants as burqas, knife-men and other good for nothings.

In France, the government of Emanuel Macron used riot police to clear a migrant camp in Paris last week, forcibly moving over 1,000 people and crushing their tents. The French government recently passed an asylum law that criminalizes border crossings, limits the right to asylum, and speeds up the deportation process.

In Spain, El Pais recently reported that many immigrants are forced onto the streets upon arriving to the country and that some are forced to live on nothing but crackers for days on end. Hungarys far-right Prime Minister Viktor Orban said in April that Europe is an immigrant zone and that mass migration means our worst nightmares can come true. The west falls as it fails to see Europe being overrun.

When European Union interior ministers gather Tuesday in Luxembourg to discuss immigration control, they will agree to even harsher crackdowns on immigrants that pave the way for mass deportations across the continent.

This comes in the face of widespread support for immigrants among the European working class. According to a Eurobarometer poll published in April, 57 percent of Europeans feel comfortable with the immigrant population and welcome them as neighbors, friends and co-workers. Just a third of the population says they are at least somewhat uncomfortable interacting with immigrants. In Spain, the United Kingdom, France and Germany, support for immigrants among the population was massive.

The anti-immigrant wave in Europe has drawn support from far-right elements around President Donald Trump, including his former fascist advisor Steven Bannon, who appeared on CNN Friday from Italy. Bannon praised the incoming Italian governments anti-immigrant policies, falsely portraying it as pro-working class: The working guy has been stiffed the entire time and that is the revolt that led to Donald Trump and thats whats weve really seen here in Italy.

Workers have no interest in supporting the anti-immigrant policies of their ruling classes. The brutal policies targeting immigrants will be aimed at the working class as the class struggle intensifies. The ruling classs efforts to whip-up anti-immigrant sentiment are aimed at dulling popular opposition to war and policies of social counterrevolution. In each countryand especially in France, Germany and Italythe ruling class is using xenophobia as a mechanism to pit workers against each other and divert attention away from attacks on pensions and social programs.
After defying a 99 percent strike vote by rank-and-file casino workers in Las Vegas and keeping workers on the job after the expiration of their labor agreements, the Culinary Workers Union has reached separate tentative agreements with Caesars Enterprises and MGM Resorts International, the two largest casino owners.

The union, an affiliate of UNITE-HERE hotel and restaurant employees union, has not released any details of the agreements. The union continues to keep workers in the dark about negotiations and it is possible a full contract may not even exist. Workers should immediately demand the full contract and all secret letters of understanding. They must have sufficient time to study and discuss it before any vote.

In any case, the two deals cover around 36,000 of the unions workers at more than half of the casinos and resorts up for a contract. Another 14,000 workers are now without contracts and if they were to strike the union would order Caesars and MGM workers to continue working.

More than 50,000 workers were set to walk out and strike at 12:01 am on Friday, when the contracts expired at 34 casinos on the Las Vegas Strip and downtown. Rather than mobilizing this this massive workforce in opposition to poor working conditions and the intransigence of the multi-billion-dollar casino industry, the union has done everything to weaken and divide workers and block any work stoppages and mass demonstrations.

When the union called off the midnight strike on June 1, workers were left confused as to the status of the negotiations and whether a strike would take place the next day. Now that the deals have been reached, the rank-and-file is left without crucial information about the contracts that will determine their working and living conditions for the next five years.

Though they have not released the exact numbers and details, the unions statements make clear that the historic agreements do not meet the urgent demands of the workers themselves. Workers wish to protect their wages and benefits against the rising cost of living and company efforts to reduce them even further. Union executives, however, have declared that wages are a lower priority since wages and benefits are already good. One shop steward admitted to WSWS reporters the unions demand for a 4% increase in wages and benefits, which amounts to a de facto freeze in real wages, was not met in the tentative agreement.

Workers raised opposition to the elimination of jobs due to technology, but the union supports advance notices of new technology and more training to simply reduce the number and severity of layoffs. There is also no mention of temporary contracted workers, upon whom the casinos are relying to cut labor costs. Workers raised opposition to unsafe work conditions, anti-immigration policies and sexual harassment, but the union praises new language that promises improvements with no concrete or legal plans of action. The other victories include the defense of contract terms even if corporate ownership changes hands, and formal positions for the union leaders in the policy-making and cost-cutting operations of the casinos, such as research into housekeeping workloads and the implementation of new technology.

Reporters from the WSWS spoke with a number of casino workers and MGM and Caesars resorts about the conditions they confront. Osmary, a food service worker who works at Caesars Palace, said, They take advantage of us. Sometimes I feel like they dont see you as a human being, they just see you as another number. Like okay you mess up, but its okay because we have someone to replace you. They dont care here

People dont realize we have the power. Theres more of us than them. You cant beat 50,000 workers against a hundred or so managers of all these properties. They would lose a lot of money, people wouldnt want to stay here, [guests] would have to go to the off-station casinos off the strip. My mom, she works at the Venetian, theyre not union. And Trump [Hotel] A couple others arent union. They would get all the business [if we went on strike].

A dealer at the MGM Grand who wished to remain anonymous said, What we have here is an oligarchy. A small number of companies are buying up all of downtown, which means they can set prices and wages at whatever they want. They used to treat us well, but now theyre taking away more and more. I am about to go to Target to pick up a prescription that my insurance stopped covering, and its really expensive now but I need it. I believe in socialized medicine, and I agree with fighting for it. My partner makes more than I do, so were not too bad off together. But if I was alone, it would be much harder.

Dean, a non-union Starbucks worker in the Mandalay Bay Hotel, spoke about workloads, saying, We get these conferences with twenty thousand people, and they all come to get coffee at once during their breaks. Theres only two or three of us in the back so it gets really busy. Speaking about union workers, he said, I dont really know what its like for the union workers, but we all do a lot of talking bad or complaining about our jobs and the companies.

The private hospitality and casino corporations have fully recovered from the downturn during the 2008 recession, with executives raking in millions every year. Seven of the eight billionaires living in Nevada made their fortunes as owners of major casino chains in Las Vegas and Reno. These seven individuals have a collective net worth of about $34 billion.

At the other end, the working class lives in the misery created by exploitation and attacks to social services and democratic rights at the hands of Democrats, Republicans and the corporate oligarchy. In 2011, unemployment in Las Vegas was among the worst in the United States, reaching 13.4%. Unemployment has lowered to 5% today, but the majority of workers live in poverty or near-poverty conditions, unable to keep up with rising costs of rent, gas and health care.

The bottom quarter of the Las Vegas population earns an average of $10.86 per hour. The rate of homelessness in the city is extremely high, with hundreds living in tunnels, under bridges or in alleys hidden from the center of downtown tourism. In 2016, more than 30,000 renters were evicted from their homes in Clark County (Las Vegas), an average of 82 evictions per day.

In addition, nearly one-fifth of the total population is immigrant, with the majority from Mexico and the Philippines. Immigrant workers face higher rates of wage theft, along with the imminent threat of ICE raids and the revocation of their Temporary Protected Status and DACA.

The dire conditions that workers face will not be resolved by the unions and their Democratic Party allies, which defend the capitalist system and the exploitation of the working class for profit.

The betrayal of the casino workers raises the necessity of the formation of new organizations of struggle, rank-and-file committees, to take the conduct of this fight out of the hands of the unions. Committees of casino workers should link up with teachers, UPS, Amazon and other workers to wage a common fight for decent wages, health care and retirement benefits.

Every struggleagainst the assault on basic democratic rights, the attack on immigrant workers, social inequality and warmust be fused together in a political struggle by the working class against both corporate controlled parties and the capitalist system they defend.
June 6 will mark 10 weeks since the Ecuadorian government blocked all communication by WikiLeaks editor Julian Assange with the outside world, including personal visitors. Assange has been trapped inside the Ecuadorian embassy in London since 2012, when Quito granted him asylum in the face of a legal witch-hunt by the governments of the United States, Britain and Sweden.

Britain was moving to extradite Assange to Sweden on trumped-up allegations of sexual abuse as the first step in transferring him to the US to face charges of espionage, which carry a possible death sentence. Washington had vowed to punish Assange for having exposed before the world war crimes committed by the US in Iraq and Afghanistan as well as US intrigues against other countries.

In remarks last Wednesday, Ecuadorian President Lenin Moreno attempted to defend the silencing of Assange. He sought to denyunconvincinglythat this action was the outcome of his governments capitulation to pressure and threats by the United States.

Moreno put forward an Orwellian conception of freedom of speech that lines up entirely with the standpoint of American imperialism and every enemy of democratic rights. Renouncing WikiLeaks rightand the right of all journalists and mediato publish information that reveals government and corporate criminality or challenges official propaganda, the Ecuadorian president asserted: There are two types of liberty. The responsible liberty and the liberty in which everyone thinks they can do whatever they want, whenever they want and however they want. That is not liberty. Liberty must be used with a lot of responsibility.

Moreno stated that the WikiLeaks editor had to accept that the conditions of his asylum prevent him speaking out about politics or intervening in the politics of other countries. He threatened that if Assange did not submit to such terms, Ecuador would take a decision to revoke its granting of asylum.

Assanges entire mission in forming WikiLeaks in 2006 was to enable people to use the immense power of the Internet to break through the responsible disinformation and censorship that prevails in the corporate-controlled and state-owned media. All critical and independent journalism, by its very nature, involves speaking out about politics.

Assange is now in grave danger. It is more than two years since a United Nations working group condemned the British government for enforcing Assanges arbitrary detention, calling it a contravention of his fundamental human rights.

His lawyer Jennifer Robinson and supporter Pamela Anderson have publicly warned in recent weeks about the seriousness of his medical condition. For six years, he has been confined in a small building with no access to sunlight or adequate medical treatment. For 10 weeks he has been subjected to the additional psychological pressure of what Moreno declares will be ongoing, indefinite isolation.

A calculated operation is underway to break the WikiLeaks editor. Morenos statements only underscore that the aim is to force him to voluntarily leave the Ecuadorian embassy, to be taken by waiting British police and placed in detention on bail-related charges without any means of contacting the outside world. That would be followed by further months or years of imprisonment while his legal defenders fight American extradition warrants.

The government of Australia, where Assange was born and holds citizenship, bears immense responsibility for the situation. In late 2010, instead of defending an Australian citizen whose rights were under attack, the Labor Party government of Prime Minister Julia Gillard sided with Washington. It labelled WikiLeaks actions illegal and declared it would support the prosecution of Assange for espionage. The current Liberal-National coalition government has not lifted a finger to oppose his ongoing persecution.

The American state and its allies are seeking to destroy WikiLeaks and Julian Assange in order to intimidate every critical and independent media organisation. The aim is to suppress the exposure of the crimes and lies of governments and to silence all those who seek to defend democratic rights and freedom of speech.

The attack on Assange is bound up with the aggressive moves by US and global intelligence agencies, working with social media and Internet companies, to suppress left-wing, anti-war and socialist views online. A pall of censorship is descending over the Internet, the most democratic form of communication in human history.

The International Committee of the Fourth International (ICFI) and its publication, the World Socialist Web Site, are urging resistance. We call for the greatest possible international mobilisation in defence of WikiLeaks and Julian Assange. This is an essential part of a broader fight to defend Internet freedom, freedom of speech and all social and democratic rights of the working class.

A historical crossroads has been reached. Organisations and individuals will be judged by where they stand in this basic conflict over democratic rights.

The Socialist Equality Party, the Australian section of the ICFI, has called a demonstration in Sydney for 1:00 p.m. on Sunday, June 17 at the Sydney Town Hall Square. It is being held in conjunction with acclaimed journalist and filmmaker John Pilger, an unwavering defender of WikiLeaks, Julian Assange, media freedom and democratic rights.

The demonstration has also been endorsed by prominent civil liberties attorney Julian Burnside and by Terry Hicks, who waged a five-year struggle against the imprisonment of his son, David Hicks, in the hell-hole US prison camp at Guantanamo Bay.

Musician Roger Waters of Pink Floyd fame, who has for decades spoken out against war and injustice, has sent the WSWS a message of support endorsing action to defend WikiLeaks. On the stage of his concerts in Berlin over the weekend he posted the call: Resist the Attempted Silencing of Julian Assange.

The demonstration in Sydney will press the demand that the Australian government act immediately to secure Assanges unconditional return to Australia, with a guarantee against any American attempt to extradite him to the US.

A vigil demanding freedom for Julian Assange will be taking place in London at the Ecuadorian embassy on Tuesday, June 19. The May government must end its persecution of Assange, drop the bail-related charges against him and allow him to leave the Ecuadorian embassy and the UK. Similar vigils on June 19 are being held in other cities around the world.

In contrast, a whole layer of trade union, Green Party and pseudo-left organisations that voiced support for WikiLeaks and Assange in 2010 and 2011 have repudiated any struggle against his persecution. They have shifted to supporting imperialism.

The working class and the youth, however, are entering into immense struggles, and there is enormous respect among them for Assange and WikiLeaks. The social force that will lead the fight to defend democratic rights is the international working class, as part of a broader struggle to secure its social rights and oppose war, inequality and the capitalist system.

We urge readers of the WSWS to turn to the workplaces, factories, campuses and high schools to fight for maximum support for the demonstrations and vigils demanding freedom for Julian Assange.
Last week, a stunning new study was published in the New England Journal of Medicine by a team of Harvard scientists, who estimate that the true death toll from Hurricane Maria in Puerto Rico may be as high as 5,000. The report is a powerful blow to the lies of both the local and federal governments, which to this day officially acknowledge just 64 deaths.

The study is a damning exposure of one of the most monstrous cover-ups in US history. Eight months after the storm, the independent study by Harvard researchers provides the only comprehensive scientific assessment of the death toll from the hurricane and the grossly under-funded and incompetent recovery effort. It is the first and only study to use data collected from on-the-ground research and is undoubtedly the most accurate to date.

Despite the highly significant findings, the report has been virtually ignored by US cable news networks and online and print media outlets.

From Tuesday when the study was released until midday Wednesday, the three main cable news networksFox News, CNN and MSNBCgave the Harvard study a combined total of just over 30 minutes of coverage. On Fox, the findings were given only 48 seconds of air time.

The report was released the same day that ABC television abruptly cancelled the revived Roseanne television series after its star, Roseanne Barr, posted a racist tweet. The watchdog group Media Matters calculated that cable news networks covered Roseanne Barrs tweet and her shows cancellation 16 times as much as the deaths of thousands of US citizens in Puerto Rico.

The Harvard report was buried or ignored by the major newspapers. On Wednesday, the New York Times ran a single article on the study on page 13 of its print edition. There were no commentaries on the massive death toll on that days editorial or op-ed pages. By Thursday, the report had vanished from the Times print edition, while the Roseanne Barr story appeared on the front page and two full inside pages. USA Today had nothing at all on the Harvard study in its print edition.

The medias downplaying of the deaths of 5,000 people cannot be explained as a mere oversight. These multi-billion-dollar media giants have the resources and staff to cover virtually any story in any corner of the globe.

Hundreds of journalists were dispatched to cover the royal wedding in England just 10 days before the publication of the Harvard study. The same week that they all but ignored the news of thousands of deaths on US territory, the television broadcast and cable news programs devoted hours of coverage to a series of storms that caused a tiny fraction of the death and destruction caused by Hurricane Maria, in some cases making them the lead item on the evening news.

The team of Harvard scientists was able to accomplish in six weeks, with a $50,000 grant, what no media outlet even attempted to accomplish in eight months.

The downplaying of the Harvard study by the corporate media stems in large part from the fact that it exposes not only the criminal role played by the local and federal government, but also the complicity of the media. The Harvard study exposed the cover-up of not only the scale of devastation and suffering from the hurricane, but also the conditions of mass poverty and collapsed infrastructure on the island and the lack of preparation by the government for a serious storm.

Any serious examination of the situation in Puerto Rico would require the consideration of a host of social crimes that all point to the US corporate-financial oligarchy: a century of US imperialism, financial scheming and looting of public assets, decades of austerity, the denial of basic democratic rights, among other issues.

The staggering death toll revealed by the Harvard study raises a whole set of questions the media does not want raised:

* What was the true nature of the recovery effort?

* What were the conditions on the ground in Puerto Rico before the storm that led to such devastation?

* Why was the scope of the crisis on the island so systematically concealed from the general public?

In fact, the corporate media began downplaying the crisis soon after the hurricane struck Puerto Rico last September. The first Sunday after the storm, the five major political talk shows taken together dedicated less than one minute to the devastation from the storm and three out of the five shows didnt mention Puerto Rico at all. At this time the entire island of Puerto Rico was without power and millions did not have access to clean water or medical care. Of the cable news networks that covered Hurricane Maria, the BBC initially mentioned Hurricane Maria on air more than the US networks.

The attention given to Hurricane Maria was low even in comparison to that given similar hurricane disasters in the US last year. Data from the Media Cloud project at the MIT Media Lab shows that US media outlets ran 6,591 stories online about Hurricane Maria in Puerto Rico from September 9 through October 10. By comparison, for the equivalent periods, news outlets published 19,214 stories online about Hurricane Harvey in Houston and 17,338 on Irma in the Caribbean, including part of Puerto Rico and Florida.

Statistics from Media Matters show that overall coverage of the crisis sharply declined after President Donald Trump visited the US territory on October 3. It was during this trip that the President took the lead in denying the humanitarian crisis, claiming that what happened in Puerto Rico was not a real crisis like Hurricane Katrina in 2005 because supposedly only 16 had died from the storm in Puerto Rico. A Media Matters study found that prime time cable news coverage of Puerto Ricos recovery plummeted after Trumps visit to the island.

While thousands were dying from lack of basic medical care, the mainstream media was consumed by other matters, in particular the Democratic Party-led anti-Russian witch hunt and the anti-democratic #MeToo campaign.

The corporate-controlled media had no interest in reporting the real situation in Puerto Rico for two related reasons: first, the American financial oligarchy which it serves did not want to spend the money needed to provide essential services and save the lives of workers and poor people; and, second, it was consumed with a different priorityobtaining passage of the multi-trillion-dollar Trump tax cut for corporations and the rich.

The glossing over of the Harvard study by the major news outlets is consistent with the medias treatment of all of the social crimes against the working class, from Hurricane Katrina in New Orleans to the BP oil spill to the Grenfell Tower fire in London.

One cannot help but note the parallels to the crisis in Flint, Michigan, where coverage of the poisoning of the water supply of an entire city was abruptly dropped after a visit by President Barack Obama. In Obamas own version of Trumps throwing paper towel rolls into a crowd in hurricane devastated Puerto Rico, Obama sipped a glass of Flint water on camera and dismissed the effects of lead poisoning on children, declaring that we all ate some paint chips as kids.
Directed by Ron Howard; screenplay by Lawrence Kasdan and Jon Kasdan

On May 25, Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures released its fourth Star Wars film since purchasing the production company Lucasfilm in 2012.

Alden Ehrenreich in Solo: A Star Wars Story

Solo: A Star Wars Story (budget $250 million) follows the exploits of a younger Han Solo making his way into the crime world from which he eventually emerges in the original trilogy produced in the 1970s and 80s.

The film is set approximately a decade before the 1977 Star Wars. It opens with 18-year-old protagonists and lovers Han (Alden Ehrenreich) and Qira (Emilia Clarke) seeking to escape an orphanage organized by a local crime lord, who uses children for nefarious operations. Qira is captured by their patrons thugs, but Han manages to flee, and joins the imperial military in order to illegally slip through one of the Galactic Empires immigration checkpoints on his home world. Since he claims to have no family or surname, the imperial recruiter dubs him Han Solo.

Three years later, Solo is taking part in a ground battle (reminiscent of World War I trench warfare) where imperial troops are attempting to overthrow a local government on the planet Mimban and install their own puppet dictator. Han points out to his lieutenant that they themselves are the real hostiles on the planet, and as a result is thrown into a muddy pit with a monster who has not eaten in three days. The monster turns out to be Chewbacca (Joonas Suotamo), and the two manage to escape together and join Tobias Beckett (Woody Harrelson), who happens to be stealing an imperial frigate to use in a criminal operation on another part of the planet.

The focus of most of the drama in the film is the pursuit of a hyperfuel, a valuable commodity sought by both the empire and the criminal gangs at large in the galaxy. Becketts operation to steal a large amount of the stuff fails and results in the death of most of his crew, and leaves him in debt to his own crime overlord, Dryden Vos (Paul Bettany), who demands that Beckett, Solo and Chewbacca steal another load from a rival syndicate to make up for it. Solo discovers that Vos second-in-command is none other than Qira, who is also ordered to accompany them on their mission. They enlist the help of Lando Calrissian (Donald Glover), the owner of one of the fastest ships in the galaxy, the Millennium Falcon.

Emilia Clarke in Solo: A Star Wars Story

Calrissians droid and co-pilot, L3-37 (Phoebe Waller-Bridge), starts a slave-droid rebellion in the stronghold of the rival crime gang, and the crew manages to steal the hyperfuel. They escape an imperial blockade by traveling through a dangerous part of the galaxy, allowing Solo to demonstrate his superior skills as a pilot. More action ensues, some of it setting up the next installment.

The film was originally being directed by the team of Phil Lord and Christopher Miller (21 Jump Street, The Lego Movie), but they departed (or were fired) more than halfway through the shoot due to creative differences. Ron Howard (A Beautiful Mind, Apollo 13), who appeared in George Lucas American Graffiti and directed the Lucasfilm movie Willow, replaced Lord and Miller and is credited as the sole director of the film. Lord and Miller are credited as executive producers.

The screenplay was co-written by veteran screenwriter-director Lawrence Kasdan and his son, Jon Kasdan. Lawrence also co-wrote Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back (1980), Star Wars : Return of the Jedi (1983) and Star Wars: The Force Awakens (2015). The new film was intended to be more of a fun adventure film without the quasi-tragic elements that have ornamented the first three Disney-produced Star Wars films.

Solo is generally predictable and is not very challenging for the viewer. It does include some references to the current global situation. The Galactic Empire is clearly meant to bring to mind the US political establishment and the film, to its credit, includes shots of people seeking to flee their oppressive home worlds but being waylaid and arrested at immigration checkpoints. The importance placed on hyperfuel also mirrors the continuing centrality of energy supplies in the present world economy, a major impetus for US-led interventions in the Middle East.

The aforementioned battle on Mimban appears to be a criticism of imperialist policy, in which the lieutenant in charge of Solos unit refers to local insurgents as hostile rebels even though it is the imperials who are invading and seeking to establish a government more favorable to the empire (regime change). The imperials are also generally depicted as being on a par with the criminal syndicates, engaging in the same activities as their rivals and pursuing some of the same goals.

Donald Glover in Solo: A Star Wars Story

However, as is generally the case with such political insertions in Hollywood blockbusters, it is unlikely that these criticisms, if criticisms they be, are going to make much of an impact on the viewer in the midst of generally trivial goings-on and masses of special effects.

Ehrenreich, a talented actor (Hail, Caesar!), offers the stand-out performance in the film, particularly because he was tasked with inhabiting the role of Han Solo, seen as an iconic figure among fans of this genre who are very attached to the performance turned in by Harrison Ford more than 40 years ago. Ehrenreich manages to capture the essence of that character, including body language and tone, without giving a distracting impersonation.

Clarke, best-known for her work in Game of Thrones, and the nearly ever-present Harrelson are decent but generally not distinguished. Harrelson in particular is more Woody Harrelson than he is a distinct character. Glover, aka rapper Childish Gambino, performs more intriguingly, but is hampered by the script, because Calrissian often appears as a simple parody of the character portrayed by Billy Dee Williams in the original trilogy. Suotamo goes to extreme lengths to ensure that his physicality and movements match those of the original Chewbacca performed by Peter Mayhew.

Although the story and acting are lacking, the technical aspects, as in most Star Wars films, are well done. Most of the Academy Award nominations and awards that Star Wars films have received over the years have been in categories such as visual effects, costume design and film editing. If nothing else (and, unfortunately, there isnt that much more), Lucasfilm employs and develops many of the leading creators in these fields.

The next Star Wars film, which will serve as episode nine of the roman-numeral saga, will be directed by J.J. Abrams (Star Wars: The Force Awakens) and will not be released until December 2019.

There are also plans to create a trilogy of Star Wars films written by Rian Johnson (Star Wars: The Last Jedi) and another series of films written by Game of Thrones creators David Benioff and D.B. Weiss. Additionally, unofficial reports indicate that an Obi-Wan Kenobi film starring Ewan McGregor (Star Wars: Revenge of the Sith and others) is in preproduction.

It goes on.
In one of the most significant conflicts in the more than forty-year history of such multilateral meetings, finance ministers from six of the seven nations in the G7 joined together at the end of last week to issue a statement condemning the US for its trade policies.

The statement drawn up by Canada, which hosted and chaired the meeting, held in Whistler, British Colombia, sets the stage for an even bigger conflict when government leaders of the G7 meet in Charlevoix, Quebec on June 89.

Across the Pacific in Beijing, talks held over the weekend between US and Chinese officials over a program to increase US exports to China ended without any statement being issued by the two sides, as the deadline looms for the imposition of US tariffs on at least $50 billion worth of Chinese goods.

The Chinese state-run news agency Xinhua said there had been positive, concrete progress in some areas, but then made clear that the tariff threat was the key sticking point. If the US rolls out trade measures including tariffs, all the agreements reached in the negotiations wont take effect, it said.

The statement from the G7, agreed to by Canada, the UK, Germany, France, Italy and Japan, pointed to the negative impact of the unilateral trade actions of the United States. This referred to Washingtons imposition of tariffs on steel and aluminium on national security grounds.

Concerns were expressed that the tariffs imposed by the United States on its friends and allies, on the grounds of national security, undermine open trade and confidence in the global economy, the statement said.

The aim had to be to restore collaborative partnerships to promote, free, fair, predictable and mutually beneficial trade, which had been put at risk by US actions against other G7 members.

In his remarks on the meeting, Canadian Finance Minister Bill Morneau said that unfortunately the actions of the United States  risk undermining the very values that traditionally have bound us together. Speaking to reporters, he added that there had been a consensus among the six that the Trump administrations actions were destructive to our ability to get things done, and he asked US Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin to convey the regret and disappointment of the other six nations to President Trump.

Even before the message was delivered, Trump had given his reply via Twitter, saying the US at long last must be treated fairly on trade. He added, If we charge a country zero to sell their goods, and they charge us 25, 50 or event 100 percent to sell ours, it is unfair and can no longer be tolerated. That is not free or fair trade, it is stupid trade.

Speaking after the meeting, several finance ministers pointed to the unprecedented character of the division. Calling the US tariffs on steel and aluminium deeply deplorable, Japanese Finance Minister Taro Aso said, Ive been to these meetings for a long time. But this is a very rare case where opposition to the United States was unanimous.

Aso said the G7 ought to be telling China to follow global rules, but by taking measures that violate G7 and World Trade Organization rules, the United States is actually benefiting China. Thats wrong.

French Finance Minister Bruno Le Maire referred to the G6 plus one and expressed total incomprehension over the US actions. He said the European Union was ready to proceed with retaliatory actions and Washington had only a few days to de-escalate the trade conflict.

According to one participant at the meeting, cited by Reuters, Le Maire directly asked Mnuchin, How can you get China to respect international law if you dont?

German Finance Minister Olaf Scholz voiced the opposition of other members of the G7 to the decision of the US to pull out of the international nuclear agreement with Tehran and the threat by the US to impose sanctions on European countries that continue to trade with Iran. There were several issues discussed at the G7 over which there was no agreement, he told reporters. Thats really quite unusual in the history of the G7.

Mnuchin rejected claims that the US was circumventing international trade rules or abandoning the system of global economic relations it had built after World War II. In an expression of the America First agenda of the Trump administration, he directed attention to the handouts of hundreds of billions of dollars to US corporations and the ultra-wealthy.

I dont think in any way the US is abandoning its leadership in the global economy. Quite the contrary, he declared. I think that weve had a massive effort on tax reform in the United States which has had an incredible impact on the US economy.

Seeking to push back against the isolation of the US within the G7, Mnuchin said there was support for Washingtons push against China over its alleged forced technology transfers and other policies. But in doing so, he made clear why there has been little or no progress on reaching an agreement with Beijing. Mnuchin said the talks, led Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross, were not simply about the export of more US goods to the Chinese market.

I want to be clear, he said, this isnt just about buying more goods, this is about structural changes. But I also fundamentally believe that if there are structural changes that allow our companies to compete fairly, by definition that will deal with the trade deficit alone.

But the structural changes the US is seeking to impose, with tariffs directed against goods manufactured under Beijings Made in China 2025 program, amount to nothing less than the transformation of China into an economic semi-colony of the US.

Washington is demanding that China end state subsidies to key industries, which it says give them a major advantage in global markets, and that it cease efforts to develop high-tech industries, accusing China of stealing American intellectual property. The prevailing view in the military and intelligence establishment is that Chinas efforts to outstrip the US in the high-tech sector constitutes a threat to the economic and military supremacy of the United States.

The intransigence of the US on this question was laid out in the broad demands presented to Beijing at the beginning of last month, which included the demand that China not oppose, challenge, or otherwise retaliate against the United States imposition of sanctions on investments from China in sensitive US technology sectors or sectors critical to US national security.

While there was no statement from either side on the weekends discussions in Beijing, it was widely reported that Chinese negotiators had stipulated that tariff threats had to be removed. According to one source cited by the Financial Times: The Chinese are asking that the Trump administration publicly announce that they will not impose tariffs, and thats a non-starter.

Earlier comments by Mnuchin, following discussions in Washington, that tariffs had been put on hold were described by anti-China hawk Peter Navarro, the White House adviser on trade, as an unfortunate sound bite and were followed by the decision that the list of Chinese goods to be targeted would be finalised on June 15 and implemented shortly thereafter, and that there would be an announcement by June 30 on restrictions to be placed on Chinese investment.

Reflecting the increasingly besieged character of the Trump administration on trade, White House economic adviser Larry Kudlow let fly with a disjointed and semi-coherent rant, blaming all and sundry for breaking trade rules all over the place and declaring that Trump was simply responding to decades of trade abuse.

Dont blame Trump, he told Fox News Sunday. Blame China, blame Europe, blame NAFTA, blame those who dont want reciprocal trading, tariffs rates and protectionism.

With Kudlow regarded as heading up a quasi-free trade faction within the Trump administration, it is clear that the divisions exposed at the G7 finance ministers meeting are set to widen at the summit to be held on the weekend.
In a 20-page letter sent to Special Counsel Robert Mueller in January, two of President Trumps private lawyers argued that Trump had the authority to order an end to the Russia investigation and to pardon anyone targeted by it. This assertion of unlimited presidential power was made public Saturday, when the New York Times published an account of the letter as well as its full text.

The apparent purpose of the letter was to respond to pressure from the special counsel for Trump to testify under oath about a range of issues. These relate to claims both of collusion between the 2016 Trump campaign and Russian government operatives and of obstruction of justice by Trump in connection with his firing of FBI Director James Comey after Comey rebuffed suggestions that he go easy on former Trump National Security Advisor Michael Flynn.

The two Trump attorneys were John Dowd, who has since resigned, and Jay Sekulow, who remains part of the team of lawyers handling Trumps response to the Mueller investigation. Recent additions to this group include former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani and Emmet Flood, who worked as part of the team defending President Bill Clinton against impeachment in 199899.

Giuliani appeared on several television network interview programs on Sunday morning in what appeared to be a deliberate effort to tone down the impact of the publication of the January memo to Mueller. He claimed that he would not have advanced some of the more sweeping claims of presidential authority made by Dowd and Sekulow, suggesting that Trump did not intend to assert such authority at this time.

The former mayor was careful not to explicitly disavow the arguments made in the memo to Mueller, suggesting only that they were unnecessary for the purpose of dealing with the Mueller investigation because Trump could rely instead on the argument that he had not engaged in collusion or obstruction of justice.

It would be foolish to assert a presidential power to halt an investigation into himself, or to issue a self-pardon, Giuliani said, because this would trigger a political firestorm and lead to impeachment proceedings by Congress.

Speaking on NBCs Meet the Press program, he cited the power of the courts to undo indictments or investigations that are unfair. I mean one of the possible remedies here is that this whole investigation may be totally illegitimate, he said. Thats certainly something we reserve the right to raise. And a judge could determine that.

Appearing on ABCs This Week program, he said that rather than asserting a right to fire Comey in order to close down the Russia investigation, Id save that as the last argument. He continued, I think the stronger argument is he didnt I mean, firing an employee when you know that another employees going to come in and take that job and further the investigation cannot possibly obstruct the investigation.

Despite the hemming and hawing by Trumps current chief legal spokesman, the power asserted in the January memo is so sweeping that it would transform the presidency into an elective dictatorship, in which the occupant of the White House would enjoy absolute power during his term in office.

Dowd and Sekulow argued in the memo: It remains our position that the presidents actions here by virtue of his position as the chief law enforcement officer could neither constitutionally nor legally constitute obstruction because that would amount to him obstructing himself. And that he could, if he wished, terminate the inquiry or even exercise his power to pardon if so desired.

This passage has been widely, and justly, compared to the position of President Richard Nixon, who said of the Watergate crisis in the course of a subsequent television interview with David Frost, When the president does it, it is not illegal.

Dowd and Sekulow also declared that Trump would not testify voluntarily and was not subject to a subpoena to compel his testimony, even though the courts compelled President Clinton to testify in a private lawsuit brought against him by Paula Jones, with the financial backing of a coterie of ultra-right Republican lawyers and fundraisers. It was this lawsuit that created the perjury trap which provided the legal basis for Clintons impeachment, since he lied under oath when questioned by attorneys for Paula Jones about his affair with Monica Lewinsky.

The assertion of quasi-dictatorial power by Trump only underscores the reality that there is no progressive or democratic side in the conflict that is raging in official Washington between the Trump White House, backed by most congressional Republicans, and sections of the military-intelligence apparatus, backed by congressional Democrats and some Republicans.

While Trump argues for an authoritarian presidency, subject to no legal constraints, his opponents argue for the unconstrained power of the FBI and the intelligence agencies to spy on their supposed political overseers and intervene massively in elections that determine who will hold executive authority over them.

Neither an imperial presidency nor an imperial FBI/CIA represents a defense of the democratic rights of the American population. On the contrary, the various factions within the state and the US ruling elite look upon American working people with undisguised fear and hatred.

There is one other significant aspect of the Dodd-Sekulow memo: it admits that President Trump drafted a statement issued by Donald Trump Jr. a year ago about his meeting at Trump Tower during the campaign with a group of Russians, for the avowed purpose of receiving dirt about the Hillary Clinton campaign. Sekulow and other Trump spokesmen, including press secretary Sarah Sanders, lied about the presidents role in drafting the statement, claiming that he had nothing to do with it. But in the secret memo to Muellernow made public by unidentified opponents of Trump within the US governmentDowd and Sekulow say the opposite.

This only underscores the scale of the lying on both sides in this conflict within the US ruling elite. Both factions are seeking to conceal from the American people the real issues underlying their conflict: disputes over foreign policy, particularly in relation to Syria and Russia, and the concern among a growing section of the US ruling elite that Trumps erratic conduct will make it impossible for him to retain any significant popular support in the event of a crisis involving war, financial collapse or social conflict in the United States.

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[18 May 2018]
Defense Secretary James Mattis and other senior Pentagon officials issued military and economic threats against China last weekend, and also toughened Washingtons demands on North Korea.

Speaking at the annual Shangri-La strategic forum in Singapore, Mattis accused Beijing of waging intimidation and coercion against other countries by militarising islets in the South China Sea. China would face larger consequences from the US, he asserted, including financial ones.

US President Donald Trump, backed the remarks by his Pentagon chief, tweeting on Saturday: Very surprised that China would be doing this?

Mattis also declared North Korea would receive no relief from sanctions until it had demonstrated verifiable and irreversible steps to denuclearisation. And US troops would remain in South Korea regardless of the outcome of next weeks possible summit between the US and North Korean leaders.

Mattiss comments followed a provocative declaration last Thursday by Lieutenant General Kenneth McKenzie, the Pentagons director of the Joint Staff. Asked by a reporter if the US could blow apart one of Chinas man-made islands, he said: I would just tell you that the United States military has had a lot of experience in the Western Pacific taking down small islands.

These remarks, referring back to World War II, underscore the reality that the June 12 talks between Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, if they proceed, are not about peace on the Korean Peninsula. Whatever the outcome, the US military and trade war confrontation with China, intended to reassert Washingtons post-World War II hegemony over the region, will escalate.

If the North fails to fall into line with Washingtons demands, the complete destruction of North Korea will be on the table, setting the stage for a wider war between the US and China. If, on the other hand, the North moves toward an accommodation with the US, threatening Chinas strategic interests, that will only intensify the underlying conflict between the US and China.

At the Singapore gathering, Mattis said the Trump administrations recent decision to disinvite China from a multinational naval exercise in the Pacific this northern summer was just an initial response to Beijings island activity. Mattis called the US action a relatively small consequence. I believe there are much larger consequences in the future.

Mattis also said the steady drumbeat of US naval operations in the South China Sea would continue. On May 27, the US Navy sailed two warships within 12 nautical miles of the disputed Paracel Islands. It was the first time the Pentagon has used more than one vessel in the operations, conducted under the flag of freedom of navigation in the highly strategic waters.

The US warships were reportedly challenged by Chinese naval vessels, highlighting the danger of a clash that could trigger a war.

Mattiss comments drew a pointed reaction from a Chinese official at the meeting. Senior Colonel Zhao Xiaozhuo said a US move to send the two warships into Chinas territorial waters was an obvious provocation to Chinas national security and territorial integrity.

Mattiss speech was part of a concerted offensive against both China and North Korea. During Thursdays press briefing, McKenzie said he would not compare the threats posed to the US by China and North Korea, but we are prepared for both.

A day earlier, the US renamed its Pacific Command the Indo-Pacific Command, underscoring its strategic drive to militarily encircle China. Admiral Harry Harris, the outgoing head of the command, labelled China the USs biggest long-term challenge in the region. Without focused involvement and engagement by the United States and our allies and partners, China will realise its dream of hegemony in Asia, he said.

Harris is about to become the US ambassador to South Korea, bringing to bear his long record of pushing for US and allied military action to combat Beijings influence.

While these threats were being uttered, the Trump administration stepped up its economic ultimatum to China. US Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross left Beijing on Sunday with no word of a breakthrough that could avert a trade war.

Just days before Rosss arrival in Beijing, Trump set a June 15 deadline for naming $US50 billion of Chinese products to be hit with a 25 percent tariff. After the Ross visit, China warned that any deal would be off if Trump carried out his threat to impose punitive tariffs on Chinese technology (see: Deep divisions over US trade policies at G7 finance ministers meeting).

In Singapore, Mattis dismissed expectations of any immediate outcome from a Trump-Kim summit. We can anticipate, at best, a bumpy road to the negotiation, he said. He ruled out reducing US troops in the region as part of a deal, saying the issue is not on the table, June 12 ... nor should it be.

Mattiss comments appeared to cut across earlier statements by Trump. Following the presidents much-promoted White House event with senior North Korean official Kim Yong-chol last week, Trump said he wanted to avoid talk of maintaining maximum pressure on Pyongyang, because relations were improving.

Trumps modified stance came under criticism in sections of the US media, including the New York Times, for appearing to soften his previous threats to annihilate the North unless it totally dismantled its nuclear and missile programs. It also provoked concerns in Tokyo.

Last Friday, the US president then played down the prospect of any early agreement with Kim, the summit was just a getting to know you meeting.

In Singapore, Mattis reasserted Washingtons determination to retain its military presence in South Korea and Japanthe US has military bases and thousands of troops in both countries. Directly addressing the defence ministers of Japan and South Korea, Mattis said: I affirm Americas ironclad, unwavering security commitment to your people and our mutual security interests.

At the Singapore forum, Japanese Defence Minister Itsunori Onodera opposed any suggestion of relaxing the crippling sanctions on North Korea. In light of how North Korea has behaved in the past, I believe it is important not to reward North Korea solely for agreeing to have a dialogue, he said.

Prime Minister Shinzo Abes government has raised objections that any US deal could involve Pyongyang agreeing to give up its long-range missiles in return for sanctions relief, while keeping its short-range arsenal, leaving Japan and South Korea within range.

Abes government has exploited the alleged threat of a North Korean attack to help justify its push for the remilitarisation of Japan, including the abolition of the so-called pacifist clause inserted in the countrys constitution after its defeat by the US in World War II.

Trumps entreaties to Kim are seeking to transform the North into a US-aligned cheap labour platform on the borders of both China and Russia after serving as a buffer state for both countries since the end of the 195053 Korean War.

Far from reducing the great power tensions surrounding Korea, which sits at the vortex between Japan, China and Russia, the prospect of a US deal that could tilt North Korea into Washingtons camp has intensified the geo-strategic jostling.

Trump said he did not like last weeks meeting between Kim and Russias Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, who invited Kim to Moscow for a summit with President Vladimir Putin. Kim accepted the offer and reportedly complained about attempts at US hegemony in the region.

Beijings alarm at any rapprochement between the US and the North Korean regime also led to Kim holding talks with Chinese President Xi Jinping in the northeastern Chinese city of Dalian in May, their second meeting in as many months. Trump then accused China of exerting a negative influence on Kim, highlighting the intensifying struggle for great power dominance.
Philippines President Rodrigo Duterte has sparked outrage after kissing a woman on the lips during a meet and greet event in South Korea.

Opposition senator Risa Hontiveros described the act as a "despicable display of sexism and grave abuse of authority," and accused the controversial leader of acting like a "feudal king."

In the incident in Seoul on Sunday, part of the Filipino leader's official visit to South Korea, Duterte called two overseas Filipino workers (OFW) onstage.

After offering each woman a copy of a book, reportedly a title which is critical of the Catholic church, he pecked one of the two women on the cheek.

As the other presented the side of her face, Duterte instead gestured to his lips, indicating that he wanted the woman to kiss him squarely on the mouth, to whoops and cheers from the crowd.

Duterte, who has a long-term partner with whom he has a daughter, reportedly asked the woman if she was single while onstage.

"Are you single? You're not separated from (your husband)? But you can tell him that this is just a joke?" he asked, according to a report by Philippines news outlet Rappler.

According to Philippines state media PNA, the woman, identified as Bea Kim, is married to a South Korean national and has two children.

Kim said that there was "no malice" in the kiss, and that it didn't "mean anything except to entertain and make other Filipinos in the gathering happy."

On his trips to foreign countries, the president often takes time to meet members of the Filipino diaspora.

The office of the president has not responded to a CNN request for comment, and the Philippines government has yet to comment publicly on the incident.

Social media support, condemnation

The kiss in Seoul stirred heated debate among Filipino politicians, activists and social media users, amid accusations of misogyny and unstatesman-like behavior.

Hontiveros -- the sister of a CNN Philippines anchor -- said that Duterte "acted like a feudal king who thinks that being the President is an entitlement to do anything that he pleases," adding that "uneven power relations" meant that the kiss wasn't an act between consenting adults.

Facebook user RJ Barrete, whose profile identifies him as a young journalist, also commented that the power dynamics meant that it was impossible for the woman to properly consent to being kissed.

"Don't blame it on women! So much disgust for this 'man.' And if you're going to check the video, he was initiating to do it, (kissing) the woman even if it's becoming uncomfortable for her," his post reads.

"This is not an issue of who initiated it, not even about consent because obviously, power was at play! And most importantly, as the President of a country you don't initiate an act like this in an official event!"

Women's rights group Gabriela also denounced the act, saying that it represented "disgusting theatrics of a misogynist president who feels entitled to demean, humiliate or disrespect women according to his whim."

Others, however, have come out in support of the president. "He got a hug and a kiss on the lips. Wahahaha (Duterte) is so mischievous," said one, according to CNN affiliate CNN Philippines.

Another said that his actions were typical of the way Visayans -- his ethnic group -- joked around.

Controversial figure

The outspoken leader has a history of disparaging remarks about women, notably saying on the campaign trail in 2016, when he said that the rape and murder of an Australian missionary who was visiting a Filipino jail was "a waste" and that he should "have been first" to sexually assault the woman. He later apologized for the remarks.

At a CNN Philippines town hall event in February that year he admitted that he had three girlfriends and a common-law wife. His previous marriage was annulled due to his womanizing, but he denied this meant he objectified women.

He has also drawn widespread condemnation for his initiation and support of a bloody war on drugs, which has seen thousands of suspected drug users and dealers killed by police and vigilantes.
Tupelo Clear 71 Hi: 87 Lo: 70 Feels Like: 71 More Weather Columbus Partly Cloudy 69 Hi: 86 Lo: 68 Feels Like: 69 More Weather Oxford Partly Cloudy 70 Hi: 84 Lo: 70 Feels Like: 70 More Weather Starkville Partly Cloudy 68 Hi: 86 Lo: 68 Feels Like: 68 More Weather

High pressure will still continue to control our weather forecast on our Thursday. However a cold front moving through our area on Friday evening will bring some showers and thunderstorms, along with much cooler temperatures.
TUPELO, Miss. (WTVA)- A church in Tupelo closed it's doors for good Sunday morning after 100 years of service.

Many said farewell to the First Christian Church in a final service.

RELATED: Local church plans to close

The church's building was rebuilt after parts of it were destroyed by a tornado, but shortly after members felt it was time to close its doors.

It was just a natural progression and we got to the point where we had very few members and the majority were elderly and we were just physically not able to continue, said Julie Martin, a member of the First Christian Church who has attended services most of her life.

The church will go up for sale over the next couple of weeks. If you are interested in buying contact Martin at the First Christina Church building.
OXFORD, Miss. (WTVA) - A man is accused of assaulting two other people in Oxford.

On Friday, June 1 at approximately 3 a.m., Oxford police responded to a local hospital where they found a man and a woman with multiple injuries.

Justin Hilliard, 28, was identified as a suspect in both assaults.

He was found shortly by patrol officers. He was taken into custody.

Police say the male victim was taken to a Memphis hospital and has since been released.

Hilliard is charged with domestic violence-aggravated assault and aggravated assault.
NOXUBEE COUNTY, Miss. (WTVA) - A man wanted for nearly a month in Noxubee County was spotted at a convenience store over the weekend.

RELATED: Noxubee County stolen truck recovered in Winston County, suspect remains at large

Sheriff Terry Grasseree says Elsha Michael Nelson was seen in a stolen white truck with a trailer attached to it. The license plate is from Alabama.

Grasseree says Nelson was seen at a convenience store in Macon. Deputies were called to the scene. As they approached Nelson, he drove west toward the Piney Woos Community but stopped the truck and ran into nearby woods.

Residents in the Piney Woods Community and surrounding areas are urged to keep a look out for Nelson. Grasseree says he is considered armed and dangerous.

If you see him or have any information on his whereabouts, contact your local law enforcement.

Nelson is wanted for a series of burglaries involving multiple vehicles.
BRUCE, Miss. (WTVA) - Bruce police search for those responsible for taking an American flag from the downtown area after a Memorial Day event.

The Veterans of Foreign War organization placed several flags around the town's square for a Memorial Day event last Monday. Chief of Police Tony Sockwell says each flag contains the identity of a veteran.

Sockwell says a flag was stolen after the event around 4 p.m. He says they believe a man and a woman, driving a red, four door car are responsible.

Bruce police made a post to their Facebook page asking anyone with information to contact the Bruce Police Department.

Sockwell says this incident has many in the community upset.
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (WTXL) - A doctor's journey of running cross-country in all 50 states is in Florida to raise awareness about mental health.

WTXL ABC 27's Karah Bailey joins us live now from Cascades Park, where Dr. Adel Korkor will visit Tallahassee on his trek for a cause.

Korkor has visited states on the western seaboard including Hawaii, California and Alaska. Today he brings his nationwide 5k quest to raise awareness for mental health right here to Tallahassee.

He began his journey on May 5.

He hopes to help raise awareness for those dealing with the mental challenges that come with anxiety, post tramatic stress syndrom and even opioid addiction.

According to his research, 1 out of 5 Americans suffers from mental health issues.

"I've noticed that mental health has always been underserved," he said. "It's always been a big challenge for patients to find providers, to afford the care, to have the follow-up care, and so I decided that mental health would be a very important cause for me to focus on."

His goal is to unite people to speak up with their voices, their legs and their financial resources to make the world a happier place for everyone.

He will close the series wth his 50th 5k on June 23.
PARKLAND, Fla. (WTXL) - There was a bittersweet graduation for seniors at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School just months after the deadly shooting there.

Students walked across the stage in their caps in gowns Sunday without four of their beloved classmates.

They were among the 17 killed when a gunman opened fire at their school on Valentine's Day.

Seniors even wore a special sash reading "MSD strong."
PERRY, Fla. (WTXL) - A Florida Department of Corrections officer has been arrested, accused of accepting money to smuggle drugs into a state prison.

Lashunda Thomas, 40, of Tallahassee, is charged with one count each of unlawful compensation and conspiracy to introduce contraband.

Documents say that on March 30, Thomas unlawfully accepted $100 via a Walmart MoneyGram from an inmate visitor on behalf of her boyfriend, an inmate, to bring contraband into the jail, according to an affidavit for arrest.

On March 10, Thomas unlawfully conspired with an inmate visitor to introduce marijuana into the jail, the affidavit said.

Information about Thomas being paid to introduce contraband drugs into the Taylor County Institution surfaced April 30, when the inmate and his girlfriend provided officials with sworn statements. Their statements said that the $100 MoneyGram was sent to Thomas in Tallahassee in exchange for her smuggling marijuana into TCI.

The inmate visitor phoned Thomas at a number given to the inmate involved in the deal by another at the TCI Work Camp.

Thomas, whose arrest was announced Friday, was booked into the Taylor County Jail on a $20,000 bond.
Source: Xinhua| 2018-06-04 00:52:05|Editor: zh

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Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov (L) shakes hands with his Rwandan counterpart Louise Mushikiwabo in Kigali, Rwanda, on June 3, 2018. Sergey Lavrov arrived on Sunday morning in the Rwandan capital Kigali for one day official visit, intended to strengthen the bilateral relations between the two countries. (Xinhua/Gabriel Dusabe)

KIGALI, June 3 (Xinhua) -- Russian foreign minister Sergey Lavrov arrived on Sunday morning in the Rwandan capital Kigali for one day official visit, intended to strengthen the bilateral relations between the two countries.

Russia and Rwanda are looking forward to further boosting bilateral cooperation in areas that support the economic development of Rwanda, said Lavrov at a news conference shortly after meeting with his Rwandan counterpart Louise Mushikiwabo.

"We see great advances in trade and economic cooperation between Russia and Rwanda. We are planning closer bilateral cooperation in areas of mining, agriculture, medicine, defence, ICTs and education and training," he said.

Russia sees Africa as an "important cornerstone" in the formation of the new world order, said the minister, adding that the two sides have decided to continue cooperating closely with UN, and help resolve conflicts on the African continent.

"Rwanda wishes to collaborate more with Russia, especially in fostering peace and security on the African continent," said Mushikiwabo.

Russia could play a crucial role particularly in peacekeeping in Africa, she said.

During his visit, Lavrov visited Kigali Genocide Memorial Center to honor the victims of the 1994 genocide against the Tutsi, and also held a bilateral meeting with Rwandan President Paul Kagame at the office of the president.

This year marks the 55th anniversary of bilateral relations between Rwanda and Russia.

Presently, Rwanda collaborates with Russia in the fields of education and training, military and defence, ICTs and mining, according to the Rwandan foreign ministry.

About 800 Rwandan students have graduated from Russian universities over the last 50 years in various disciplines including law, medicine, international affairs and political science, figures from the Rwandan embassy in Russia show.

Sunday's visit follows Lavrov's five African countries tour in March.
TALLINN, June 3 (Xinhua) -- The 12th Lennart Meri Conference on foreign and security policy ended here on Sunday after a three-day discussion on history, regional security challenges and issues of the United Nations (UN).

Estonian President Kersti Kaljulaid, who moderated the panel discussion on the United Nations, tackled on UN efficiency and the big challenges of the UN reform.

Estonian Foreign Minister, one of the four panellists, called for a more efficient and more effective UN.

Lamberto Zannier, the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) High Commissioner on National Minorities, stressed on rule-based order in solving issues such as migration.

Addressing the participants on the opening day on Friday, Austrian President Alexander Van der Bellen said, "the more united the Europe is, the stronger we are", noting that "diversity within the Union is a true treasure, outside as Europeans."

During the Panel discussion "How Great is Europe" on Saturday, Estonian Prime Minister Juri Ratas called for the EU unity to be stronger and united as a team, highlighting the role of digitalization.

Titled "The Next Hundred Years", the conference also included session topics such as Russia and the West, European defense, and issues related to NATO, the Arctic, Baltic defense, the western Balkans and the EU, among others.

Organized by the International Center for Defence and Security, a Tallinn-based think tank, in cooperation with Lennart Meri European Foundation, the conference is named after the late Lennart Meri, who served as the Estonian president from 1992-2001. The first conference was held in Tallinn in March 2007.
by Xia Lin

NEW YORK, June 3 (Xinhua) -- Elementary, middle and high school students can't wait to embrace their annual scenario, when final examinations are still high on agenda but summer holiday is fast approaching for them to explore the world outside campus through field camps, volunteer jobs and, the most needed, Mandarin learning sessions.

Flipping through local newspapers printed in Chinese language, you will see a full range of advertisements of summer activities aiming at teenagers with a focus on Mandarin learning.

TO ACE OUT WITH MANDARIN

Linguistic courses are common in various forms, while the spectrum has steadily expanded to speaking and writing contests and China trips to meet with new friends.

The China Press, a pillar Chinese-language newspaper, is now vehemently touting its 7th annual competition for children from 8 to 16 years old to exhibit their comprehension and utilization of Mandarin, with the enticement of a handful of trophies like cash and plaques engraved with winners' names, as well as opportunities to get exposure on its multimedia publications.

The linguistic match was initiated in 2012 with an eye to ignite the sparks among American children to learn and use Mandarin. Due to the press's credibility and the succession of the event, it has won wide recognition among children and parents and been elevated to a status above most other activities with similar schedules and purposes.

There are now approximately five million American Chinese, a great portion of them America-born Chinese who coveted to grasp the father-country language in order to prevail in their own families and gain more stakes in future careers.

A number of other ethics are also joining the tide, with intention to cash in on the academic and business opportunities that have been arising out of China's economic and cultural empowerment.

"The enthusiasm just can't be contained. Even my white schoolmates are looking for classes taught in Mandarin," said Jack, a 9th grader in New York.

The China Press just concluded its 6th contest in January, with meticulous selection from thousands of participants from New York, New Jersey, Philadelphia, Washington, Chicago, North Carolina and South Carolina. Four hundred of them entered the semi-final.

Candidates must be born in America or had been in this country over five years. In the 5th contest held in June 2017, over 5,000 children submitted their works and some 20 were recruited to the final round to vie for top prizes.

On top of the contest is essay writing. For the 6th version, the participants were required to write about "The Love I Find beside Me" or "Tell Us Something Interesting about Your Mandarin-Learning Experience."

COURSE AND CAMPS

Compared with top-notch matches, linguistic courses are offered in a more popular way. They are advertised in shoulder with tutor sessions for SHSAT and SAT, which are the thresholds for teenagers to get admitted respectively to the eight Specialized High Schools in New York and colleges or universities in the United States.

Huanyu the Mandarin school is based in Flushing, Queens, a widely recognized Chinese American enclave in New York. It is one of the frontrunners to promote such courses. Classes are established on its campus for PK-9 students to spell, make sentences, read and write in Chinese.

For each summer holiday from July to August, the school runs on full capacity to offer whatever a Mandarin learner can think of to fulfill his academic perfection.

Sunshine Academy, based in Fresh Meadow Lane, specifically operates summer camp. It splits a day with English and maths courses in the morning and Chinese and extracurricular lessons in the afternoon. Three meals are provided each day and one field trip is available every two weeks.

"They are popular, but cost a lot. Hope they turn out to be wise investment," Jack observed.

TO DOUBLE THE BASE AGAIN

The not-for-profit U.S.-China Strong Foundation said that so far in mid-2017, some 400,000 American students learned Mandarin before they entered college, doubling the number in 2015.

Former U.S. President Barrack Obama once set a target to propel the number of Mandarin learners in U.S. kindergartens, primary, middle and high schools to one million before 2020, in order to enhance American kids' global competitivity.

There are still two and a half years to go to score the one million goal. The mushrooming Mandarin contests, summer courses and camps in Flushing and other parts of New York are expected to contribute to such a goal, either on cultural mission or out of commercial drive.
SAN FRANCISCO, June 3 (Xinhua) -- An off-duty firefighter from Bend in central Oregon on the U.S. west coast was killed over the weekend when his motorcycle hit a huge bear on a highway, the KATU2 TV channel reported Sunday.

The victim, 39-year-old Rhett Larsen, was on his way back home from a visit to Portland when his motorcycle slammed into the large bear Saturday night, which was running in front of his motorcycle on Highway 26 near Warm Springs in Oregon.

KATU2 quoted Oregon police sources as saying that Larsen was thrown from his motorcycle and hit by an oncoming Ford SUV.

Both Larsen and the bear died on the spot in the crash, police said.

The driver of the SUV was rushed to a hospital in a helicopter ambulance and his current condition was not disclosed.

Larsen joined the Bend Fire Department in October 2002 as a Firefighter/Paramedic, said the TV channel.
Source: Xinhua| 2018-06-04 08:33:11|Editor: ZD

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RIO DE JANEIRO, June 3 (Xinhua) -- Flamengo extended their lead at the top of Brazil's Serie A standings on Sunday when a late Felipe Vizeu strike handed them a 1-0 victory over Corinthians.

The winner came after Lucas Paqueta's curling shot was parried clear by Walter only for Vizeu to prod in the rebound at Flamengo's Luso Brasileiro stadium.

Flamengo are now four points clear of second-placed Cruzeiro at the top of the 20-team standings with 20 points from nine matches.

Defending champions Corinthians have slumped to eighth with just four wins from their nine fixtures.

In other matches on Sunday, Gremio won 2-0 at Bahia, hosts America Mineiro overcame Atletico Paranaense 3-1, Santos won 5-2 at home to Vitoria and Cruzeiro won 1-0 at Ceara.
Source: Xinhua| 2018-06-04 09:18:20|Editor: Xiang Bo

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A worker of Zhuzhou Locomotive Co., Ltd. debugs a train made for Malaysia in Zhuzhou, central China's Hunan Province, March 13, 2012. (Xinhua/Zhao Zhongzhi)

by Xinhua Writer Zhu Junqing, Ouyang Wei

BEIJING, June 4 (Xinhua) -- It was freezing cold in early spring in Astana, Kazakhstan, where the temperature had plummeted to minus 20 degrees Celsius.

In a shabby workshop, Long Guzong and his co-workers were working away in heavy clothing that made their movements astronaut-like.

After months of tests and adjustments, the technicians from CRRC Zhuzhou Electric Co., Ltd., based in China's central city of Zhuzhou finally solved a technical problem vital to the train's safe operation in extreme coldness.

"The biting coldness was impressive; we solved the safety problem that had frustrated many experts at the time," Long told Xinhua recently, 11 years after that assignment.

Dedicated to making people's lives easier and better, Long and his co-workers are among tens of thousands of Chinese innovators who are contributing to the country's innovation-driven development.

China's coastal cities can be considered the country's "locomotives" in its development, among them the city of Shenzhen. However, over the past 40 years of reform and opening-up, the middle and western parts of the country have been gradually catching up with the eastern area. The city of Zhuzhou that produced China's first locomotive is a classic example.

RAIL INNOVATION HUB

Zhuzhou, a small city in central Hunan province, is turning from a traditional industrial base into a Chinese innovation hub, where high-tech corporations, start-ups and innovators gather.

The metamorphosis started with the rapid development of China's rail transit.

Liu Youmei, 80, who worked in the train manufacturing industry for almost six decades, has witnessed the innovation-driven development with Chinese characteristics in China's rail transit history.

"There was no bus or other public transportation linking Zhuzhou railway station and our factory when I arrived at Zhuzhou 57 years ago. On the first day of our arrival, my classmates and I had to walk to the factory and return with a borrowed tricycle with a flat cart to transport our luggage," he said.

In 1961, Liu and some 20 graduates from Shanghai Jiao Tong University were assigned to work in a locomotive factory in Zhuzhou, which was established to repair locomotives imported from the West, where steam locomotives had been used for a century.

To bridge the 100-year gap, Liu and his co-workers worked night after day, and independently designed Shaoshan series electric locomotives, which was the dawn of electrification in China's railway industry.

The veteran engineer, who has been honored by the Chinese Academy of Engineering for his contributions to railway development, said that China must master core technologies in key fields.

"In 1998, we wanted to introduce the DC traction motor train, but developed countries refused our purchasing request, as well as the introduction of supercapacitors," Liu said.

"At that time, we were forced to do research and development independently, and finally broke technological bottlenecks and manufactured DC traction motors and supercapacitors with full intellectual rights; the latter even beat the U.S. industrial leader," he said.

Nowadays, trains with Chinese "brains" and "nervous systems" run around the world. The advanced electric locomotives, metro trains and maglev trains have made Zhuzhou a landmark of world rail transit.

Moreover, the city's general aviation and automobile industries have made names for themselves and its innovation park is attracting industries like electronic information, new energy, bio-medicine, as well as environmental protection, among others.

EMBRACING THE WORLD

In a globalized world, cross-border technological cooperation and exchange have become an irreversible trend. The small inland city keeps an open mind and is eager to embrace a new world.

"Science and technology are the wealth of all mankind," said Liu."Learning is different from plagiarism and learning from others is necessary."

Even CRRC Zhuzhou Locomotive Co., Ltd., the industrial leader on the world stage, does not exclude international exchanges. From 2003 to 2004, 75 staff members went to Europe to learn welding, painting, assembling and other technologies.

Fan Yunxin, vice chief engineer of the company, said "We must depend on ourselves, and meanwhile stay open-minded to learn from others' more advanced technology."

In the early years of China's reform and opening-up, Zhuzhou Cemented Carbide Group Co., Ltd. introduced a metal-cutting tool production line, which "helped the company catch up with the industry leaders in the shortest period of time," said Zhang Weibing, director of the group's research and development center.

After years of adapting foreign technologies and independent innovation, the company now boasts several world-leading technologies, and its products have been used in China's Shenzhou spacecrafts, said Xu Shangzhi, chief technology officer with Zhuzhou Cemented Carbide Group.

"All technological introductions are based on a country's existing scientific and technological strength," the academician said. "The introduction of technology only inspires us, we still need our own innovation capability in the long run."

Zhou Qinghe, president of CRRC Zhuzhou Locomotive Co., Ltd., said "If there is no innovation after technological introduction, we will fall into a vicious cycle, where introduction brings us advanced technology and saves us from long-term research and development, which also leads to heavy reliance on others."

ONE WORLD, ONE DREAM

China's high-quality innovative development has helped change people's lives around the world.

In India, Amit Mak is now used to taking the metro train to avoid traffic jams.

"Not only the quality of the rolling stock, but the inside is comfortable. It provides all kinds of comfort as well as convenience and a cool atmosphere," he said.

Dilip Jadeja, vice president of IL&FS Rail Ltd. in India, said "A metro line also brings in development along the metro corridor, with office and business complexes, shopping malls and housing complexes coming up, which in return facilitate people's life."

Working at the assembly workshop in the rolling stock center of Chinese rail transit equipment manufacturer CRRC, Vijayakumar Sundar, 40, occasionally recalls when he was a child and used blocks to build trains.

However, as a child, he never thought of realizing his "train dream" in a Chinese enterprise.

"I participated in a three-month training in China, and accumulated skills and managing experience in my work," said Sundar, who was among the first batch of local employees and was later promoted to the position of a workshop director.

With a "go global" strategy, enterprises based in Zhuzhou successfully entered overseas markets and applied innovative measures, including localization, joint ventures and cultural recognition.

Taking CRRC Zhuzhou Locomotive Co., Ltd. as an example, its three industrial bases in Malaysia, South Africa and Turkey employ nearly 500 people, among whom 80 percent are locals.

With win-win cooperation, China has not only achieved sustainable growth for itself, but also driven the world economy forward, creating jobs and cultivating talents for other countries.

Different from some countries, China is open to technological transfer to help other countries' development. Muhammad Shoaib from Pakistan, 27, is one of the nine foreign workers in Zhuzhou Locomotive Co., Ltd. who has come to China to learn, along with others from his home country as well as Germany and Australia.

"Pakistan's first metro train railway was constructed by China. I still remember the jubilant crowd on the delivery day, with men and women, the elderly and children taking photos with the train," Shoaib said.

After years of studying and working in China, Shoaib has become a China hand. He said he has fallen in love with a girl in Pakistan, and plans to take her to Zhuzhou after marriage.

(Xinhua journalists Yang Jian, Sun Oumeng, Liu Chang in Beijing, Lin Hao in Kuala Lumpur, Zhang Xingjun in Mumbai and Jin Zheng in Kenya also contributed to the story.)
DHAKA, June 4 (Xinhua) -- Ahead of one of the biggest Muslim religious festivals Eid-ul-Fitr that marks the end of the Islamic holy fasting month of Ramadan, millions of Bangladeshis remitted home nearly 1.5 billion U.S. dollars in May, the second highest monthly amount thus far, a central bank official said Sunday.

Quoting provisional data, the Bangladesh Bank (BB) official said the amount of remittance from over 10 million non-resident Bangladeshis (NRBs), who are mostly employed in the Middle East, stood at 1.49 billion U.S. dollars last month, up 17.32 percent from that of the same period a year earlier.

According to the official, previous monthly highest remittance for Bangladesh was 1.5 billion U.S. dollars which the country received in July 2014.

The official, who declined to be named, said the flow of inward remittances surged about 18 percent year-on-year to 13.58 billion U.S. dollars in July-May period of the current 2017-18 fiscal year (July 2017-June 2018), which are also higher than last fiscal year.

The flow of inward remittances in the last fiscal year 2016-17 (July 2016-June 2017) fell about 14.47 percent to 12.77 billion U.S. dollars from the previous fiscal year.

The official reported that like past years Eid has come as a big boon for Bangladesh as the country has been receiving huge remittances from NRBs who send home Eid bonuses too.

The Muslim-majority Bangladesh will celebrate Eid-ul Fitr, the holiest and biggest religious festival among the world's Muslims, on or around June 15.

"We hope that remittance boom will continue until the Eid day," said the official.

Apart from Eid, officials said the government's efforts to send more Bangladeshis abroad with overseas employment have also contributed to the growth in inflow of remittances.

Bangladeshi Minister of Expatriates' Welfare and Overseas Employment Nurul Islam said the country plans to send some 1.2 million Bangladeshis abroad with overseas employment this year.

The expectation comes after over 1 million Bangladeshis found overseas jobs in 2017.

Remittances, which account for around 11 percent of the country's GDP, mainly come from countries such as the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Malaysia, Singapore and South Korea, among others.
Source: Xinhua| 2018-06-04 09:38:26|Editor: zh

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CARACAS, June 3 (Xinhua) -- Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro said on Sunday he would kick off the week with a second round of dialogue with the productive sector to discuss ways to shore up the country's battered economy.

"We will fine tune measures that will allow us to transform the economic model, that is our main task," Maduro Tweeted.

The talks will gather representatives from the farming sector with intellectuals, educators and youth, as well as officials, he said.

Since being reelected to a second term on May 20, Maduro has redoubled efforts to engage the opposition to overcome the country's political and economic crises, and has pursued a policy of reconciliation.

On Friday and Saturday, nearly 80 prisoners serving sentences for violent crimes were pardoned or paroled.

He also met with the banking sector to jointly decide on the best date for the introduction of new banknotes that lop off three zeros from the currency.

The new bills are to be phased in as of Aug. 4.
Source: Xinhua| 2018-06-04 09:58:35|Editor: Chengcheng

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MOSCOW, June 4 (Xinhua) -- Economic and trade cooperation between China and Russia will continue to prosper under the leadership of the countries' presidents, Chinese Ambassador to Russia Li Hui told Xinhua in a recent interview.

At the invitation of Chinese President Xi Jinping, Russian President Vladimir Putin will pay a state visit to China this week and attend the 18th meeting of the Council of Heads of State of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO).

According to China's Ministry of Commerce, China-Russia trade increased nearly 30 percent year-on-year to 31.2 billion U.S. dollars in the first four months of the year, while bilateral trade will possibly exceed 100 billion dollars in 2018.

Companies of the two countries are jointly developing a wide-body long-haul airliner, producing liquefied natural gas at the Yamal project, and cooperating in nuclear power, aviation, infrastructure, digital economy and the Arctic shipping route.

"Economic and trade cooperation between China and Russia has rich contents and covers a wide range of fields. The two countries will cement the positive momentum of rapid growth in trade and boost mutual investment and cooperation in major projects of strategic significance," Li said.

On May 17, China and the Eurasia Economic Union (EAEU) signed an agreement on trade and economic cooperation, the first major systematic arrangement ever reached between the two sides.

China and the EAEU agreed to further simplify procedures of customs clearance and cut costs of trade in goods by strengthening cooperation and exchange of information.

Established in 2015, the EAEU groups Russia, Kazakhstan, Belarus, Armenia and Kyrgyzstan.

"All of the EAEU members are important participants in the Belt and Road Initiative. Their economies are highly complementary with China's. China-EAEU cooperation has great potential and a bright future," Li said.

The Belt and Road Initiative, proposed by China in 2013, aims to build trade and infrastructure networks connecting Asia with Europe and Africa on and beyond the ancient Silk Road routes.

On Feb. 7, China and Russia launched the year of cooperation and exchanges between local governments.

The two countries have established the "Yangtze River-Volga River" and "China's Northeast-Russia's Far East" regional cooperation mechanisms and signed agreements for 137 pairs of sister cities and provinces/regions.

Li said more than 100 events will be held within the framework of the year of cooperation and exchanges between local governments.

"They will boost enthusiasm for cooperation between local governments, tap cooperation potential, foster new growth areas, and give new impetus to the development of China-Russia relations," Li said.

India and Pakistan will participate as full members for the first time at the SCO summit in Qingdao, east China's Shandong Province.

The Chinese ambassador said the expansion of the SCO shows that the organization's global influence is increasing.

He said the "Shanghai Spirit," which features mutual trust, mutual benefit, equality, consultation, respect for cultural diversity and pursuit of common development, will be better disseminated and implemented.

The inclusion of India and Pakistan will also promote economic integration in the region and help maintain regional security and stability, Li said.
Source: Xinhua| 2018-06-04 10:08:38|Editor: zh

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SEOUL, June 4 (Xinhua) -- Top diplomats of South Korea and the United States held a phone conversation on Monday over a summit between the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) and the United States that got back on track over the weekend.

South Korean Foreign Minister Kang Kyung-wha talked over the phone with U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo for about 15 minutes in the morning, according to Seoul's foreign ministry.

Kang and Pompeo exchanged opinions over the recent progress in the DPRK-U.S. summit, including the visit by Kim Yong Chol, vice chairman of the ruling Workers' Party of Korea Central Committee of the DPRK, to Washington to meet U.S. President Donald Trump.

After meeting with the ranking DPRK official, Trump said Friday that he will meet top DPRK leader Kim Jong Un on June 12 in Singapore as originally scheduled.

The DPRK official, who held a two-day meeting with Pompeo in New York before heading to Washington, delivered the DPRK leader's personal letter to the U.S. president.

The foreign ministers of Seoul and Washington made an in-depth discussion on how to prepare for the DPRK-U.S. summit successfully, agreeing to seek ways through close consultations to achieve a complete denuclearization and a lasting peace settlement on the Korean Peninsula.

The back-on-track summit between Pyongyang and Washington followed recent twists and turns and the whirlwind of diplomacy.

Trump abruptly cancelled his meeting with the DPRK leader in late May, but the DPRK said the country was ready to sit down with the United States any time in any manner.

Trump reversed course, saying both sides wanted the meeting to happen and it could still go ahead after productive talks.

Multi-track talks between officials from the DPRK and the United States had been held last week in New York, the inter-Korean border village of Panmunjom and Singapore.
Source: Xinhua| 2018-06-04 10:13:39|Editor: Chengcheng

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MEXICO CITY, June 3 (Xinhua) -- Strengthening ties with China can boost economic diversity and spur development in Latin America and the Caribbean, experts say.

"China is opening a door in Latin America and the Caribbean that leads to progress in development, and provides opportunities for countries like Mexico, Brazil and Argentina that need to diversify their economy," Mexican expert on international relations Ulises Granados told Xinhua.

Granados, who is coordinator for the Asia-Pacific Studies Program at the Autonomous Technological Institute of Mexico (ITAM), said China's interest in the region offers "a roadmap to strengthen Chinese-Latin American cooperation and integration towards progress on both sides."

Argentina's Pablo Sanguinetti, corporate director of economic analysis and knowledge for development at the CAF-Development Bank of Latin America, said "China-Latin America ties provide an opportunity" for the region's economic growth.

Like Granados, he believes China would continue to be an engine of global growth in the coming years, despite a more moderate growth at home.

To make the most of "this opportunity and expand its offer of products beyond raw materials, Latin America and the Caribbean should invest more in the capacity and skills of its human resources, innovate its development policies, and expand financial flows earmarked for regional integration and infrastructure," said Sanguinetti.

He said it was up to Latin American countries to direct Chinese investments to where needed, citing infrastructure. "The great news is that it depends on us."

Mariana Escalante, who teaches at the National Autonomous University of Mexico (UNAM) and the University of Anahuac, noted LatAm-China relations offer "great opportunities, and also major challenges," such as in trade.

"There are opportunities to generate a greater capacity, and the challenge is how to do that," said Escalante, adding: "It requires greater infrastructure and better connections."

What would make cooperation easier, she said, is that Latin America and China are complementary in several ways, not just economically, but also academically and culturally.

The experts made the remarks on the sidelines this week of an international seminar titled "Latin America and the Caribbean and China: conditions and challenges in the 21st century."

Some 130 experts from countries across the region and China attended the seminar organized by UNAM's Center for China-Mexico Studies, discussing issues including economy, trade and investment, political and international relations, as well as environment protection.
Source: Xinhua| 2018-06-04 10:23:42|Editor: zh

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SEOUL, June 4 (Xinhua) -- Top diplomats of South Korea and the United States held a phone conversation on Monday over a summit between the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) and the United States that got back on track over the weekend.

South Korean Foreign Minister Kang Kyung-wha talked over the phone with U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo for about 15 minutes in the morning, according to Seoul's foreign ministry.

Kang and Pompeo exchanged opinions over the recent progress in the DPRK-U.S. summit, including the visit by Kim Yong Chol, vice chairman of the ruling Workers' Party of Korea Central Committee of the DPRK, to Washington to meet U.S. President Donald Trump.

After meeting with the ranking DPRK official, Trump said Friday that he will meet top DPRK leader Kim Jong Un on June 12 in Singapore as originally scheduled.

The DPRK official, who held a two-day meeting with Pompeo in New York before heading to Washington, delivered the DPRK leader's personal letter to the U.S. president.

The foreign ministers of Seoul and Washington made an in-depth discussion on how to prepare for the DPRK-U.S. summit successfully, agreeing to seek ways through close consultations to achieve a complete denuclearization and a lasting peace settlement on the Korean Peninsula.

Meanwhile, an unnamed official of the presidential Blue House of South Korea told local reporters that Seoul and Washington have been closely communicating over the DPRK-U.S. summit.

Asked about whether to hold the three-way summit in Singapore between South Korea, the DPRK and the United States after the first-ever DPRK-U.S. summit on June 12, the Blue House official said South Korea had yet to launch preparations for the three-party summit.

South Korean President Moon Jae-in said recently that he had anticipation for the three-way summit to be held to declare an official end to the 1950-53 Korean War. The Korean Peninsula remains technically at war as the Korean War ended with an armistice.

After the April 27 inter-Korean summit, Moon and Kim agreed to complete denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula and turn the current armistice agreement to a peace treaty by the end of this year.

The back-on-track summit between Pyongyang and Washington followed recent twists and turns and the whirlwind of diplomacy.

Trump abruptly cancelled his meeting with the DPRK leader in May, but the DPRK said the country was ready to sit down with the United States any time in any manner.

Trump reversed course soon after, saying both sides wanted the meeting to happen and it could still go ahead after productive talks.

Multi-track talks between officials from the DPRK and the United States had been held last week in New York, the inter-Korean border village of Panmunjom and Singapore.
Source: Xinhua| 2018-06-04 11:03:49|Editor: Chengcheng

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TALLINN, June 3 (Xinhua) -- During the 12th Lennart Meri Conference on foreign and security policy, China's Belt and Road Initiative, including its Arctic policy, was viewed by European experts as being helpful to global development.

As to China's vision for a "Polar Silk Road," Caroline Kennedy-Pipe, Professor of International Security at Britain's Loughborough University said it is helpful for the development in the Arctic region.

In an interview with Xinhua here on Sunday, the British expert on international relations and global security said: "China is hugely important because of its commercial and economic strength, and ambitions to be able to trade more freely with different parts of the globe."

During a panel discussion, Kennedy-Pipe said she doesn't agree that what happens in the Arctic stays in the Arctic, as it is connected with the outside, and "it's not owned by any state or any powers."

Her remarks echoed China's Arctic policy elaborated in an official white paper released on Jan. 26.

The white paper says China would like to "jointly understand, protect, develop and participate in the governance of the Arctic, and advance Arctic-related cooperation under the Belt and Road Initiative."

The Polar Silk Road via the Arctic is widely seen as the third arch of the Belt and Road.

Also during the conference on Saturday, responding to a question on Chinese investments in Europe, Lolita Cigane, chairperson of the European Affairs Committee at Latvian parliament, said that Latvia is "an active participant" of the Belt and Road Initiative.

"We do not see any dangers with the Chinese investments, and our cooperation is transparent," she noted.

The three-day conference is organized by the International Center for Defence and Security, a Tallinn-based think tank, in cooperation with Lennart Meri European Foundation.

Named after late Lennart Meri, who served as Estonian president from in 1992-2001, the conference discussed topics such as Russia and the West, European defense, and issues related to NATO, the Arctic, Baltic defense and the European Union, among others.
HO CHI MINH CITY, June 4 (Xinhua) -- Five more medical workers here have shown A/H1N1 influenza symptoms, raising the total suspected and confirmed cases to 28, including 16 confirmed ones, the municipal Preventive Medicine Center said Monday.

Of the 28 suspected cases, eight are medical workers at the Endoscopy Department of Tu Du Hospital, a major maternity institution in Vietnam, and 20 are patients at the hospital.

Last Friday, a woman from southern Tien Giang province went to the hospital for gynecological checkup.

Later on the same day, there were 23 cases of patients, their relatives and medical workers who had close contact with the woman simultaneously having high temperatures, a running nose and sore throat. Sixteen of them tested positive for A/H1N1 influenza, an acute respiratory disease.

According to the World Health Organization, the disease can be transmitted by droplets emanating from unprotected coughs and sneezes, hand contamination, and interpersonal encounters in crowded closed spaces.

In a tropical country like Vietnam, the influenza circulates the entire year round, usually reaching several peaks in the rainy season. The A/H1N1 virus causes pernicious respiratory infection.

Vietnam experienced an H1N1 pandemic in 2009, with over 9,000 cases of people contracting the disease and nearly 20 deaths within four months of the year, according to its Health Ministry.
Source: Xinhua| 2018-06-04 11:28:54|Editor: Yurou

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TOKYO, June 4 (Xinhua) -- Tokyo stocks advanced Monday morning as U.S. non-farm payrolls data released late last week coming in above median market expectations lifted the market mood, with a weaker yen against the U.S. dollar also supporting buying.

The 225-issue Nikkei Stock Average added 285.66 points, or 1.29 percent, from Friday to 22,457.01.

The broader Topix index of all First Section issues on the Tokyo Stock Exchange, meanwhile, gained 25.84 points, or 1.48 percent, to 1,775.01.

Transport equipment, marine transportation and nonferrous metal-oriented issues comprised those that gained the most by the morning break.
Source: Xinhua| 2018-06-04 12:19:04|Editor: mmm

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Cho Hyun-ah (2nd L), the eldest daughter of Korean Air Chairman Cho Yang-ho and former vice president of the air carrier, stands in front of scores of journalists before going inside the Customs Office in the country's western port city of Incheon for questioning, June 4, 2018. The heiress of Korean Air, infamous for the "nut rage" incident, was questioned Monday for her allegedly smuggling luxury goods, local media reported. (Xinhua/NEWSIS)

SEOUL, June 4 (Xinhua) -- The heiress of Korean Air, infamous for the "nut rage" incident, was questioned Monday for her allegedly smuggling luxury goods, local media reported.

Cho Hyun-ah, the eldest daughter of Korean Air Chairman Cho Yang-ho and former vice president of the air carrier, stood in front of scores of journalists before going inside the Customs Office in the country's western port city of Incheon for questioning.

She was charged with smuggling luxury goods without paying the customs tariff through the air carrier's workers.

The customs service raided offices and homes of Korean Air workers and the air carrier's subcontractors last month, confiscating about 2.5 tons of luxury goods suspected of smuggled ones.

Cho, 44, left a brief comment that she was sorry for that, and went inside the customs office for questioning.

She is infamous for the nut rage incident in 2014 when the heiress of the Hanjin Group, the parent company of the air carrier and one of South Korea's family-controlled conglomerates, ordered a Korean Air flight from New York to return while the passenger plane was taxiing.

She made flight attendants kneel down and yelled at them over the way macadamia nuts were served in wrappers, not on a plate. She was imprisoned for several months over the case, but she was released in May 2015 as a high court suspended her sentence.

The Cho family has been under public fire as the conglomerate's family members were reportedly involved in abuses and assaults of company and personal workers.

Lee Myung-hee, wife of the Korean Air chairman, was accused of assaulting and mistreating drivers, security guards and several laborers at home and affiliates of Korean Air. She was grilled by police last week over the charges.

Cho Hyun-min, the second daughter of the chairman, was questioned by police last month for allegedly hurling a glass of beverage at a business partner during an advertisement business meeting.
SYDNEY, June 4 (Xinhua) -- The Commonwealth Bank of Australia has agreed to pay a 530-million-U.S. dollar fine on Monday, to resolve legal proceedings related to systemic breaches of money laundering and counter-terrorism financing laws.

If the federal court accepts the proposal made by the Australian Transaction Reports and Analysis Centre (AUSTRAC) and the country's biggest bank, it will be the largest civil penalty in the nation's corporate history.

In Australia, authorities must be notified when a deposit of 10,000 Australian dollars (7,616 U.S. dollars) cash is made to an account.

But during November 2012 to September 2015, an AUSTRAC investigation alleged that the Commonwealth Bank had contravened this law on more than 53,500 occasions, due to lapse monitoring of its Intelligent Deposit Machines.

The value of these transactions are believed to total around 625 million Australian dollars (495 million U.S. U.S. dollars).

During the same time period, AUSTRAC also accused the bank of not properly monitoring 778,370 accounts.

"I hope this result alerts the financial sector to the consequences of poor compliance, and reinforces that businesses need to take their obligations seriously," AUSTRAC chief executive officer Nicole Rose said in a statement.

"This has real impacts on the everyday lives of Australians and puts the community at risk by increasing opportunities for terrorists to support attacks here and overseas, and enabling organized crime groups to peddle drugs to our families and friends."

"We know that businesses are the first line of defence in protecting the community and our financial system from criminal abuse and it is critical for money laundering and counter-terrorism financing compliance and risk management to be embedded in business strategy and practices."

On top of the record fine, the financial institution will also be forced to pay 2.5 million Australian dollars (1.9 million U.S. dollars) in legal fees.

"Our agreement today is a clear acknowledgement of our failures and is an important step towards moving the bank forward and on behalf of Commonwealth Bank, I apologize to the community for letting them down," Commonwealth Bank chief executive officer Matt Comyn said in a statement.

"We are committed to building on the significant changes made in recent years as part of a comprehensive program to improve operational risk management and compliance at the bank."

"To date, we have spent over 400 million Australian dollars (304 million U.S. dollars) on systems, processes and people relating to anti-money laundering and counter-terrorism financing compliance and will continue to prioritize investment in this area."
YANGON, June 4 (Xinhua) -- The Myanmar government is considering closure of the remaining internally displaced persons (IDP) camps in the country under a strategic plan, the official Global New Light of Myanmar reported Monday.

There has been more than 140 IDP camps in Myanmar, with a total population of more than 160,000 in 15 towns in four states of the country.

Three IDP camps in the western Rakhine state, set up in 2012, have been closed and three others are to be closed.

The camps in three other states will be shut down as efforts are being made to ensure the IDP's access to education and healthcare, free movement under law and and their participation in the nation's economic development.

An advisory Commission, led by former UN chief Kofi Annan, recommended in its report closure of the IDP camps, and practical measures necessary to achieve development for all communities in Rakhine state.

The government has worked to close the IDP camps since May 2016, with a Central Committee for Implementation of Peace, Stability and Development in Rakhine state supervizing the process.

The Myanmar people, who were displaced due to social unrest, violence and armed conflicts as well as natural disasters, stay in the IDP camps with adverse conditions.
Source: Xinhua| 2018-06-04 12:39:12|Editor: Yurou

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HOHHOT, June 4 (Xinhua) -- A total of 4,320 police and fire fighters have been sent to battle forest fires in north China's Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, local fire authorities said Monday.

A fire, which broke out on Saturday in a forest in the northern area of the Greater Hinggan Mountains, had been extinguished as of Sunday night.

However, another fire in a national nature reserve that was discovered on Friday is still burning, and has spread to neighboring Heilongjiang Province due to intermittent gales.

Ongoing high temperatures and drought have increased the risk of forest fires in the mountains. Helicopters and large fire fighting equipment have been deployed.
Source: Xinhua| 2018-06-04 12:59:16|Editor: Yurou

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TRIPOLI, June 4 (Xinhua) -- The Libyan cities of Misurata and Tawergha on Sunday signed a peace treaty which allows nearly 40,000 Tawerghans to return home after seven years of displacement due to their support for the former government during the 2011 uprising.

"This treaty aims to turn the page on the past with the neighboring residents in Tawergha and close the door to the trading of this issue by some parties, which aim to achieve regional or partisan political interests," said Mustafa Karwad, head of Misurata's municipal council.

As a good start and gesture to enable all displaced people to return to their cities, the reconciliation came after both sides reached consensus with an aim to establish the principles of good neighborliness between the Libyans, Karwad added.

The peace treaty prohibits harboring criminals as well as generalization of crimes committed on people from both cities, stipulates cooperation in search for missing people and mass graves, and responds to claims that would provoke sedition between the two cities.

Misurata is Libya's third-largest city with a population of half a million, which played a major role in overthrowing former leader Muammar Gaddafi in 2011. The city is also one of the most militarized cities with the largest armed militia in the country.

Only 40 km apart, Misurata and Tawergha signed a UN-sponsored draft reconciliation agreement in August 2016, which provided for the return of displaced Tawerghans.

However, the return was halted after armed groups in Misurata refused to allow Tawerghans from entering their city over various demands.
TOKYO, June 4 (Xinhua) -- Komae City Mayor Kunihiko Takahashi resigned on Monday after a lengthy period of sexual harassment allegations, local media reported.

The 66-year-old mayor from the city, west of Tokyo, who did not participate in the assembly on Monday, tendered his letter of resignation to the chair on Friday, saying that personal reasons were responsible for his decision to resign.

The city assembly accepted Takahashi's resignation.

On Monday, Takahashi issued a statement apologizing to those who "interpreted" his actions as being harassment and said he was sorry to the public for causing disruption to the city government.

"I apologize to the employees who interpreted my actions as harassment," said Takahashi in the statement, adding that he also apologized to the public for disrupting the work of the city government.

The allegations against Takahashi first came to light in March this year and were formalized by a letter from four city employees claiming he had harassed them.

Despite being urged by his deputy Minoru Mizuno to resign after the allegations were made, with two of the cases being confirmed in May by way of an internal investigation, Takahashi had repeatedly denied the claims.

The Japanese Communist Party (JCP) had obtained an internal document of the municipal government revealing that sexual harassment claims against Takahashi had officially been made by multiple female employees.

The JCP obtaining the document showing the allegations against Takahashi was a catalyst for broader denouncements of the mayor's sexual improprieties against female city employees.

Local media reported that of those harassed, one of them said Takahashi had forced her to drink from a glass he had been drinking from, while another alleged he touched her buttocks while in an elevator.

Takahashi, in his second term as the city's mayor, was first elected in June 2012.

Deputy mayor of the city Mizuno, who apologized for his senior's actions to the assembly on Monday and promised to regain the public's trust, will serve as acting mayor until Takahashi's replacement is formally elected.
Source: Xinhua| 2018-06-04 13:49:23|Editor: Chengcheng

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OUAGADOUGOU, June 4 (Xinhua) -- Karim Deme was certainly among the first residents in Burkina Faso's capital to hang China's flag at home when the western African nation announced re-establishing diplomatic ties with China in late May.

Celebrating the event that ended many difficulties he and his friends suffered in doing business, the head of a forum for Burkina Faso-China friendship was also especially happy to demonstrate his love and admiration for China.

He said his attachment to China could trace back to several business trips he made to China in the 1990s, and that his bilateral friendship forum was founded only after his visits to China.

Recalling his visits, the building and public works engineer said: "I was impressed by the disciplined, hardworking and open-minded Chinese people who fulfilled the tasks entrusted to them."

It had been a difficult time for Burkina Faso's business people and migrants from Chinese mainland as well. Deme used to work with Burkina Faso's center for enterprises MEBF to help his fellow people obtain visas for visiting China.

He had to contact the Chinese embassy in neighboring Cote d'Ivoire and prepare all the necessary documents.

In addition, Deme used to offer services to the Chinese people living in Burkina Faso when they were in troubles caused largely by language barriers to communication and ignorance of local laws. His dedicated assistance had won him a reputation.

He said that in some tragic cases involving deaths, he had to consult the Chinese embassy based in the capital of Cote d'Ivoire Abidjan to seek solutions.

Deme said he is happy that such experiences have come to an end thanks to the re-establishment of diplomatic ties between his country and China. The prospect that bilateral business cooperation will bring more rewards is also delightful.

Deme, who is working hard to build a cotton spinning mill in Burkina Faso, is joyful to see that local sesame and cotton farmers can now benefit more.

He said that through neighboring countries, Burkina Faso used to sell to China about 170,000 tonnes of sesame and 500,000 tonnes of cotton every year.

He believes that farmers and business communities will take advantage of the reestablished diplomatic relations to do more business with China.
SEOUL, June 4 (Xinhua) -- South Korean military planned to refrain from media coverage of the upcoming joint war games with the United States though it will conduct joint annual drills as scheduled, Seoul's defense ministry said Monday.

Lee Jin-woo, deputy spokesman of the Ministry of National Defense, told a press briefing that the joint annual war games between Seoul and Washington will be conducted according to annual plans.

Lee, however, noted that the military will make best efforts to refrain from publicizing or making open the upcoming drills.

The comments came after South Korean Defense Minister Song Young-moo and his U.S. counterpart James Mattis held talks Saturday on the sidelines of the Asia Security Summit in Singapore, also known as Shangri-La Dialogue.

Song and Mattis reportedly agreed to keep the future joint military exercises "low-key."

Asked about whether to scale down or cancel the upcoming Ulchi Freedom Guardian slated for August, the deputy spokesman of the Seoul ministry said no discussion nor review has been made.

The Ulchi Freedom Guardian refers to an annually-held South Korea-U.S. computerized command post military drills, which the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) has denounced as a rehearsal for northward invasion.

The DPRK's official daily Minju Joson slammed the South Korean military Sunday for running counter to the spirit of the Panmunjom Declaration by joining the Ulchi Freedom Guardian and the Rim of Pacific (RIMPAC) joint military exercises with the United States.

According to the DPRK media, the South Korean military dispatched three warships, fighter jets and a 700-strong force to the RIMPAC joint drills to be held in the waters off Hawaii from June 27.

The Panmunjom Declaration was signed by South Korean President Moon Jae-in and top DPRK leader Kim Jong Un after their first summit meeting on April 27, promising to refrain from military confrontation and seek peace on the Korean Peninsula.

Moon and Kim met again on May 26 to confirm their commitments to the Panmunjom Declaration.
Source: Xinhua| 2018-06-04 15:04:37|Editor: Xiang Bo

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URUMQI, June 4 (Xinhua) -- After a day's work, the uniform of Li Sijiu, an worker at Zhundong oil production plant in northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, was still clean.

This was unimaginable before new eco-friendly equipment was developed and put into operation in the plant, he said.

"Our uniforms used to be stained with crude oil and wax after a day's work, and sometimes the uniforms could even stand up by themselves after being taken off due to the viscous crude oil," Li added.

Located in Zhundong Oilfield in Junggar Basin, the plant has developed a series of equipment to mitigate the impact of oil exploitation on the environment since 2015.

"We have reduced the emissions of pollutants during oil exploitation by over 90 percent through new technologies for disposal of oily sludge and automation of workover operations," said Xie Jianyong, deputy head of the plant.

Since 2016, the plant has invested more than 10 million yuan (1.56 million U.S. dollars) in developing automated workover operations and other technologies, he added.

The Zhundong plant has applied for more than 33 patents and set three operational standards in the field of eco-friendly technologies.

The plant aims to achieve zero pollution and cut the energy consumption by one-third in five years, according to Xie.

In the Northwest Oilfield near Taklimakan Desert, where the environment is extremely fragile, oily sludge, one of the major toxic pollutants during oil exploitation, has been turned into uncontaminated soil which can be used to pave roads thanks to a series of eco-friendly technologies.

"Pollutants containing cadmium and other poisonous heavy metals emitted during oil exploitation can severely pollute the soil if they are not dealt with properly," said Gu Minhe, deputy head of environmental protection

department at the oilfield.

The oil content of the oily sludge could be reduced to 2 percent using the eco-friendly disposal technology, which helps save 45 million yuan in the cost of pollutant control every year, he added.

PetroChina Tarim Oilfield Company has invested 218 million yuan to construct a 436-km-long shelterbelt along the desert road in the Tarim Basin over more than 10 years. The company also completed the construction of more than 1,300 hectares of afforested areas in the oilfield.

Since 2017, Zhundong oil production plant closed a total of 284 oil wells in the Kalamayli Nature Reserve, which is home to various endangered animals including Przewalski's horse, a first-class national protected animal. The plant will also dismantle the wells and restore the environment by the end of 2018.

"Though the efforts to protect the environment would cost the plant more than one billion yuan, we must take the responsibility for the whole society as a state-owned enterprise," said Wang Ning, Party chief of the plant.
PHNOM PENH, June 4 (Xinhua) -- Cambodian Prime Minister Samdech Techo Hun Sen on Monday announced a multimillion-U.S.-dollars scheme to support destitute pregnant women, starting from mid-next year.

Speaking at the 11th National Veteran's Day, he said a poor mother will receive 40 U.S. dollars during a prenatal care, 50 dollars during a birth delivery and 100 dollars during a postnatal care.

"The scheme will cost 4.95 million dollars in the first year, 7.75 million dollars in the second year, and up to 10 million dollars in the third year," Hun Sen said. "This subsidy will start to be implemented from mid-2019."

The poverty-stricken families are identified by cards that local authorities issued to them, the prime minister said, adding that it was estimated that the kingdom had some 55,000 poor pregnant women a year.

"This reflects our high attention to the pregnant women, aiming at reducing the mortality rate of mothers and children," Hun Sen said. "This is a new policy on social sector that is carried out by the Cambodian People's Party-led government."

Late last year, the prime minister also announced to provide bonuses to garment factory workers, civil servants, and armed forces when they delivered their babies, starting from January, 2018.

For garment factory workers, he said mothers giving birth to one child will receive 100 dollars, while mothers of twins will receive 200 dollars and triplet mothers will get 300 dollars.

And for civil servants and armed forces, they will receive 200 dollars for giving birth to a child, 400 dollars for twins, and 600 dollars for triplets.
SYDNEY, June 4 (Xinhua) -- Many residents near the city of Newcastle on Australia's east coast, 175 km north of Sydney, have spent much of Monday cleaning debris from their usually pristine beaches, after a Liberian-flagged sea freighter lost 83 shipping containers.

Caught in a huge storm on Saturday, the YM Efficiency's cargo began to fall into the ocean approximately 30 km off Port Stephens.

As a result, droves of nappies, sanitary products and surgical masks have washed up around Fingal Bay and the Port Stephens area.

The incident has put maritime authorities on high alert as shipping containers are known to sit just below the surface of the water and can be extremely dangerous for sailors and commercial vessels.

Making matters even worse is the potential danger that the plastic material may pose to marine life, with dolphins, seabirds and whales believed to be most at risk.

"It's unacceptable that massive quantities of plastic and other goods lost overboard have been left to pollute our oceans," New South Wales State Greens Member of Parliament Justin Field told local media.

"The community is already stepping up but now it's time for the government and the company to fast-track the clean-up."

At this stage, it's not clear whether the YM Efficiency will face charges, however, the Australian Transport Safety Bureau are investigating the matter along with the Australian Maritime Safety Authority.

But according to NSW maritime executive director Angus Mitchell, the main priority is figuring how to get the damaged ship and its crew to dock in Sydney safely.

"We're looking for a window when it's safe to bring it in, it could take several days," he said.
PARIS, June 4 (Xinhua) -- French police on Monday began to clear out two more illegal migrant campsites in Paris, the country's latest attempt to deal with an influx of refugees which began about three years ago.

The Paris police department said in a statement that they were in the process of clearing out an illegal refugee campsite at the Porte des Poissonniers in northeast Paris and another one next to the city's Canal Saint-Martin.

The move came less than a week after the police took a similar operation to evacuate more than 1,000 migrants, mainly from Somalia, Sudan and Eritrea, from the largest illegal refugee campsite "Millenaire," also in the capital's northeast.

Europe has faced a refugee crisis since an increasing number of people arrived in the region following wars and conflicts in mainly Syria and Libya. According to figures of the United Nations, there was over a million arrivals by sea in 2015.
Source: Xinhua| 2018-06-04 16:35:09|Editor: mmm

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KABUL, June 4 (Xinhua) -- At least five people were killed and several others injured after a suicide bombing ripped through un university where top Afghan religious scholars were having a meeting in western part of Kabul city on Monday, Kabul police chief said.

"The blast occurred roughly at 11:30 a.m. at the gate of Kabul Poly Technique University where a religious scholars' meeting was held. The initial investigation found five people, including the assailant, were killed, and several others wounded," Gen. Daud Amin told reporters.

More details would be made public later as further investigation is underway to find more facts about the incident, said the official.

The attack came shortly after the meeting ended. The participants denounced terrorism and called for peace.

Earlier on Monday morning, scores of Afghan security forces were deployed at the area to ensure security for the event.

Security forces have cordoned off the area for precautionary measures.

No group has claimed responsibility for the attack yet.

The capital city has been hit by series of terror attacks over the past couple of years.
MOSCOW, June 4 (Xinhua) -- The Russian Federal Security Service (FSB) said Monday it had detained 11 members of a religious cell in the Siberian city of Krasnoyarsk suspected of recruiting militants for terrorist groups in Syria and Afghanistan.

According to a statement of the Krasnoyarsk regional FSB division, quoted by TASS news agency, the members of the cell are suspected of carrying out propaganda of terrorism in the region.

Two members of the cell, who came to Krasnoyarsk from Kyrgyzstan, are suspected of organizing a channel for transferring radical-minded individuals to territories under the control of international terrorists, the statement said.

The leader of the cell had established a direct telephone connection with members of terrorist organizations, it said.

The FSB discovered and seized forbidden religious literature belonging to the cell.

The regional FSB division brought criminal charges against two organizers of the cell on the grounds of "preparation for participation in the activities of the organization, which by law is considered terroristic" and "promotion of terrorist activities."
JAKARTA, June 4 (Xinhua) -- The cumulative of foreign holiday makers travelling into Indonesia by April grew 13.83 percent to 4.97 million people from a year earlier, the national statistics bureau announced on Monday.

On month, the bureau also recorded a fizzy expansion of a 11.04 percent to 130 million people, head of the bureau Kecuk Suhariyanto revealed.

Malaysia, followed by China, Timor Leste, Singapore and Australia, had been ascribed as the most contributive nation to the number of foreign tourist arrivals in Indonesia from January to April with figures respectively at 881,000, 682,000, 566,000, 512,000 and 379,000, the official said.

Countries in Southeast Asian region contributed 249,000 visitors to Indonesia during the period, according to the official.

Indonesia has set a target of a total 17 million foreign tourist arrivals for this year after witnessing a 15 million figure in 2017.
Source: Xinhua| 2018-06-04 17:05:14|Editor: Yamei

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DUBAI, June 4 (Xinhua) -- Emirates Airline will upgrade its service from Dubai to Osaka, Japan, from Oct. 28 by deploying an Airbus A380 "Superjumbo," the Dubai government-controlled carrier said on Monday in a statement.

Emirates, the international carrier of the United Arab Emirates (UAE), said that the deployment of the double-decker aircraft with 489 seats in a three-class configuration represents a capacity increase of 38 percent.

Travelers will get the possibility to fly on an A380 to and from two Japanese gateways, as the flagship plane already operates daily from Narita International Airport in Tokyo.

This year marks the 10th year of Emirates' A380 operations. With a fleet size of 103, and with 59 additional aircraft on order, Emirates is the largest Airbus A380 operator in the world.
Source: Xinhua| 2018-06-04 17:15:17|Editor: Yamei

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HONG KONG, June 4 (Xinhua) -- A court of China's Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) sentenced on Monday Leung Chung-hang and Yau Wai-ching, two disqualified legislators-elect, and their three assistants to four weeks in prison after they were found guilty of taking part in an unlawful assembly for storming a Legislative Council (LegCo) meeting.

A magistrate of the Kowloon City Magistrates' Court said what Leung and Yau, and their three assistants did, had "directly damaged the legislature's integrity."

The five tried to force their way into a LegCo conference room in November 2016, after Leung and Yau failed to take their oaths of office properly and were banned from the LegCo meeting, according to the court.

They pushed and shoved the security guards who were stopping them from entering the conference room. Six security guards were injured in the chaos and taken to hospital for treatment.

They were convicted last month of taking part in an unlawful assembly.

Acting Principal Magistrate of the Kowloon City Magistrates' Court Wong Sze-lai said in Monday's sentencing that it was a serious case because the defendants' action was premeditated, and despite the security guards' repeated verbal warnings, they used violence which inflicted injuries to some security guards.

The defendants were not exercising their constitutional rights when they used violence, and the sentences must show deterrence and reflect the public's concerns, worries and disgust over the use of violence, the magistrate said.

Leung and Yau used derogatory language insulting the country and nation when taking their oaths at a swearing-in ceremony of the new LegCo on Oct. 12, 2016. The pair were disqualified by the HKSAR High Court in November 2016.
ADDIS ABABA, June 4 (Xinhua) -- The Chairperson of the African Union (AU) Commission, Moussa Faki Mahamat, has urged political actors in Mali to refrain from acts that may further worsen the situation in that country.

One month ahead of Mali's presidential elections in July, violent clashes occurred last Saturday in the capital city Bamako sparked by demonstrations by opposition parties.

In a statement on Monday, the Chairperson of the 55-member Commission regretted the incidents, whereby more than a dozen were reportedly injured during the demonstration organized in Bamako by the opposition.

Wishing a speedy recovery to those who were injured in the incidents, the Chairperson of the AU Commission has called on Malian political actors to exercise restraint and refrain from any act likely to induce greater political polarization.

Mahamat has underlined that all Malian political leaders need to work towards the holding of peaceful, smooth, and transparent elections next month.

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on Saturday also called for calm and restraint by all parties in the country.

He has urged political actors and the civil society to favor dialogue in order to maintain an environment conducive to the holding of credible and transparent elections.
TOKYO, June 4 (Xinhua) -- Two Osprey aircrafts from the U.S. Air Force made emergency landings on Amami Island in southwestern Japan on Monday, officials said, reigniting concerns about the accident-prone planes' deployment in Japan.

Japan's Defense Minister Itsunori Onodera confirmed that he had heard that the two planes had experienced difficulties, while local authorities confirmed there had been no reports of casualties or damage from the emergency landings.

The Osprey CV-22 tilt-rotor planes, Onodera said, made the emergency landings at Amami Airport in Kagoshima Prefecture at around 3 p.m. on Monday afternoon.

The planes were bound for Kadena Air Base in Okinawa Prefecture, having departed from Yokota Air Base in the outskirts of Tokyo, the defense minister said.

Ospreys have been involved in a number of accidents and mishaps since their deployment in Japan in 2012, with citizens and local officials vehemently calling for the planes to be withdrawn from Japan.

The aircraft, which can take off and land like a helicopter and fly like a fixed-wing plane, have been involved in multiple crashes around the world leading to numerous fatalities, dating back to the plane's developmental phase in 2000.
Source: Xinhua| 2018-06-04 17:45:27|Editor: Yamei

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BEIJING, June 4 (Xinhua) -- Chinese President Xi Jinping will chair the 18th Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) Summit, which is scheduled for June 9 to 10 in Qingdao, a coastal city in east China's Shandong Province.

It will be the first SCO summit since its expansion when India and Pakistan were accepted as full members at the Astana summit in Kazakhstan in 2017.

The SCO has undergone an extraordinary development process and become a comprehensive regional organization with vast influence since its inception 17 years ago.

Member states have promoted cooperation in various areas and played constructive roles in regional and international issues, and therefore set an example of a new type of international relations featuring mutual respect, fairness and justice, and win-win cooperation.

-- Who will attend the summit?

Leaders of the eight SCO member states and the four observer states, as well as heads of international organizations will attend the summit to exchange their views on cooperation.

The SCO's full members are China, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Russia, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, India and Pakistan. Its observer states are Afghanistan, Belarus, Iran, and Mongolia.

-- What is on agenda?

Xi will chair the summit and invite the guests to a welcome banquet and a fireworks display.

Participants will sum up the development experience of the SCO, advocate the "Shanghai Spirit," and discuss measures to fight the "three evil forces" of terrorism, extremism and separatism, drug trafficking, and cybercrime.

The summit will also focus on issues like improving global governance and consolidating the multilateral trade system, and lay out new plans to enhance the synergy of development strategies of member states, especially promoting the construction of the Belt and Road to lift regional economic cooperation.

On the sidelines of the summit, the presidents of Russia, Kazakhstan, and Kyrgyzstan will pay state visits to China, and the Iranian president will pay a working visit to China.

Xi will also hold bilateral meetings with other leaders during the event.

-- Consensus to be reached

The summit will issue the Qingdao Declaration to summarize the development experience of the SCO and promote the "Shanghai Spirit" of mutual trust, mutual benefit, equality, consultation, respect for diverse civilizations, and pursuit of common development.

It will ratify a five-year outline for the implementation of the Treaty on Long-term Good Neighborliness, Friendship and Cooperation, and approve more than 10 cooperation deals covering areas including security, economy, and people-to-people exchanges.
TOKYO, June 4 (Xinhua) -- Protests were staged Monday near Kadena Air Base in Japan's southernmost prefecture of Okinawa with locals angered at the U.S. military's deployment of F-22 fighters to the base.

Ten of the fifth-generation multirole stealth fighters arrived at Kadena Air Base in Okinawa on Wednesday, with four more expected to join on a temporary basis, igniting concerns and anger among local residents, particularly about noise pollution from the jets.

Local protestors were quoted as saying Monday that the repeated "temporary" presence of the F-22's in Okinawa would lead to increased noise.

A group of plaintiffs in Okinawa has filed a lawsuit against the government over noise issues related to the aircraft, local media reported.

According to the U.S. Pacific Air Forces (PACAF), the stealth fighters were deployed to Japan from their regular squadron in Alaska to "signify a continued commitment to regional stability and security."

PACAF said the fighter jets have routinely been based at the Kadena base over the past 10 years.

"F-22s are a familiar sight over the skies of Okinawa; the jets have been based at Kadena AB routinely over the past 10 years, with the last deployment occurring there in 2014," PACAF said in a statement.
ANTANANARIVO, June 4 (Xinhua) -- Madagascar's Prime Minister Olivier Mahafaly Solonandrasana announced his resignation Monday morning after the decision of the High Constitutional Court last week which asked him to resign in seven days.

"I resign from my position freely without problem. I will send to President Hery Rajaonarimampianina my resignation," the prime minister said during his press meeting Monday.

Solonandrasana said that the reason of his resignation is the decision of the High Constitutional Court (HCC), which decided to create a new government of consensus.

"I agree without objection this decision of the HCC and I put my resignation to facilitate it," Solonandrasana added.

The prime minister said he always looked for solidarity among the Malagasy people.

Solonandrasana, 53, was appointed prime minister on April 10, 2016 to replace Jean Ravelonarivo.
Source: Xinhua| 2018-06-04 18:40:36|Editor: ZX

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BEIJING, June 4 (Xinhua) -- Commodore Adesola Akano Adesope, deputy director of Nigeria's Foreign Liaison of Defense Intelligence Agency, was thrilled to walk on the Great Wall.

Adesope attended an international counter-terrorism forum hosted by China's armed police force, which concluded in Beijing last weekend.

The Great Wall-2018 International Forum on Counter-terrorism attracted more than 180 military and police representatives from 28 countries, including France, Pakistan, Jordan, Egypt, and Mexico. This year's forum focused on the theme of counter-terrorism in mountainous regions.

Participants took a group trip to the Great Wall after they visited an armed police training base in suburb Beijing.

This year is the second time the biennial Great Wall forum has been held, and it left a profound impression on participants.

Amr Mohamed, battalion commander of Egyptian Armed Forces, has close to 20 years of counter-terrorism experience and has taken part in United Nations peacekeeping missions.

"In my professional career, I have participated in several international counter-terrorism forums. But I have never been to one like the Great Wall Forum, which so many countries joined," said Mohamed.

He said the new thoughts his counterparts shared at the forum are valuable.

Carlos Alberto Flores, Titan Operation commander of the Intelligence Division of Federal Police in Mexico, shared the same opinion. He said through mutual learning and working together, the world will eventually be able to build a wall against terrorism.

"I hope Mexico and China can cooperate on counter-terrorism exercises and training in the future," Flores said.

Other experts also expressed hopes for deepened cooperation in counter-terrorism.

"China and Moldova share potential in counter-terrorism cooperation, such as launching precision strikes on terrorists, maintaining social order, and holding training seminars in the field of counter-terrorism," said Igor Matrosu from Moldova, commander of Assault Squad No.4 of the Independent Battalion with Special Destination "Scorpion."

China and Cambodia just held a joint drill on counter-terrorism and humanitarian rescue this March.

Tuykheng Punnareay, chief of Cambodia's Royal Gendarmerie counter-terrorism office, said terrorism is a global problem and Cambodia is willing to seek solutions with other countries.

This echoed the view of Stavros Magalios from Greece, who is the commander of the Special Counter Terrorism Unit, Special Police Forces Sub-division of the Hellenic Police.

"Greece has rich experience in mountain counter-terrorism and looks forward to more exchanges with China."

Adesope of Nigeria said the path towards counter-terrorism continues, but with the development of techniques and global cooperation, the world will be able to defeat terrorism.

"China's counter-terrorism techniques and experiences keep inspiring me. I hope more of my counterparts in Nigeria can come here for study and exchanges," he told Xinhua.

Makhmudzhan Abdibaitov, staff officer in the National Guard of Kyrgyzstan, believes the Great Wall is an exceptional landmark. Having seen the wall in books and on TV before, Abdibaitov said he had to touch it to feel the history behind and to make a wish.

"I hope the globe will no longer suffer from terrorism threats and the world will always be at peace," he told Xinhua.
HARARE, June 4 (Xinhua) -- Zimbabwean opposition parties under the banner of the MDC Alliance are planning a demonstration Tuesday to press the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC) to implement more reforms ahead for the July 30 general elections.

In a statement released on Monday, the MDC alliance which groups together seven political parties, three of which are off-shoots of the original MDC, is accusing the ruling Zanu-PF party, through ZEC, of plotting to rig the elections and through the withholding of the provisional voters' roll.

It also claims that there is secrecy surrounding the identity of the company contracted to print the ballots.

ZEC has however denied that the opposition is being denied access to the provisional voters' roll, saying that anyone who is interested can get it on its website.

ZEC Chairperson Priscilla Chigumba said recently that the electronic voters' roll was available for free on the ZEC website.

"The provisional voters' roll is available as a link. There is a link that we have made available and anyone requiring it is free to access it and we have made this known to political parties in our regular meetings," Chigumba said.
HARARE, June 4 (Xinhua) -- The Zimbabwean government said Monday it has taken adequate executive measures to ensure free, fair and credible elections set for July 30 this year.

It said this in response to recent claims by United States senator Chris Coons that President Emmerson Mnangagwa's administration was making empty promises and deliberately delaying implementing key electoral reforms to disadvantage the opposition.

"First, government has guaranteed a peaceful poll, which is why the President has been unambiguous in his call for peace as well as taking the unexampled decision to meet with opposition parties once the Nomination Court has confirmed who is genuine and who is not," the state-controlled Herald newspaper quoted Mnangagwa's spokesperson George Charamba as saying.

Charamba said the new Zimbabwe government had taken steps to guarantee a credible poll which included inviting international observers and adequately resourcing the electoral body to smoothly run the elections.

He said the Zimbabwe government would not interfere with the operations of the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission in running the poll.

"Maybe what is unclear to the Senator (Coons) is that ZEC is a constitutional creature whose independence is provided for in the law. Whether, when and how it release the voters' roll and in what format, is for it to determine without undue influence from any player national or international, inside government or outside government," Charamba said.
THIMPHU, June 4 (Xinhua) -- Bhutan is to observe "Pedestrians' Day" across the country on Tuesday to mark the World Environment Day.

According to the notification from the Royal Bhutan Police, Traffic division, all the core urban town areas across the country will be closed for traffic.

In Thimphu city the main traffic routes such as Chang-Lam and Norzin-Lam will be closed for traffic from 8 a.m. in the morning till 5 p.m. in the evening, as per the notification. However, emergency service vehicles such as public transport buses and ambulances will be allowed to ply on the two main routes.

To mark the day, several plantation programmes and cleaning campaigns were also planed across the country on Tuesday.

World Environment Day is a United Nations'day to encourage awareness and action for protection of environment across the globe. While Bhutan celebrates June 2 as its social forestry day and conducts mass trees plantation and cleaning campaigns, it also mark the environment day.

This year the environment day will be celebrated with the theme "Beating Plastic Pollution."

Bhutan is no exception when it comes to plastic pollution. Although not a major challenge, plastic pollution is becoming an increasing problem for the Himalayan kingdom.
SINGAPORE, June 4 (Xinhua)-- Singaporean authorities have designated the area surrounding the Shangri-La Hotel a "special event area" from June 10 to June 14, for the summit between U. S. President Donald Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un.

The hotel is among the likely venues where analysts believe the historic summit would take place on June 12. It's also the venue for the yearly Shangri-La Dialogue, also known as the Asian Security Summit, which just concluded on Sunday.

Shangri-La Hotel lies in a neighborhood which homes several other luxury hotels.

According to local media, the Singaporean government issued a statement on Sunday, saying the segment of land bordered by Dunearn Road, Paterson Road, Grange Road and Cluny Road has been declared a "special event area" for the summit.

The summit may consist of meetings between representatives of the two countries, and includes "any lead-in activities and social events connected with the Summit", the statement added.

Moreover, a smaller segment within the same area has been declared a "special zone", where enhanced police powers will take effect from June 10 to June 14 towards people and vehicles.
Source: Xinhua| 2018-06-04 18:55:42|Editor: mmm

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TIRIN KOT, Afghanistan, June 4 (Xinhua) -- Twenty-four militants loyal to Taliban have been killed and two others wounded following military operations in the country's southern province of Uruzgan, an official said Monday.

The operation was launched by army commandos in restive Dihrawud and Daychopan districts of the province on Sunday, leaving 24 fighters dead and two others wounded, Ahmad Sadeq Isakhil, a press officer of Afghan army's 205-Atal Corps, told Xinhua.

Several enemies' fighting positions were also destroyed by the security forces, he said.

Security situation has been improving in Uruzgan, the former stronghold of Taliban, over the last months, as security forces have conducted search and cordon operations across the province. But the militants attack government interests in the province from time to time.

The Taliban militant group has yet to make comments.
NEW DELHI, June 4 (Xinhua) -- At least five people have been killed after a trailer rammed into a truck and a car in the western Indian state of Rajasthan, police said Monday.

The accident occurred on a small bridge on a highway in the state's Udaipur district.

"The trailer first hit the truck, carrying security personnel, from behind and then collided with the car coming from opposite direction," local police official Karamveer Singh told media.

The impact of the crash was such that the truck fell off the bridge, while the trailer overturned and the car got badly damaged.

"Two security personnel on the truck died on the spot. Two persons travelling in the car also lost their lives, while the trailer driver also died," he said.

Eye-witnesses told cops that the trailer was travelling at high speed and its driver lost control of the vehicle and failed to apply brakes, leading to the accident.

A case has been registered and probe ordered into the incident, the official added.

India has the highest number of road fatalities in the world. Road accidents occur mostly due to poor driving or badly maintained roads and vehicles.
Source: Xinhua| 2018-06-04 19:05:47|Editor: mmm

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DOHA, June 4 (Xinhua) -- Qatar and Turkey held meetings to discuss new bilateral trade routes, to overcome economic blockade imposed on Qatar by its Gulf neighbors, Qatar-based English newspaper Gulf Times said.

On a sideline of the meetings, held between members of Turkey's Eastern Anatolian Exporters' Association (DAIB) and their Qatari counterparts in Doha, the DAIB Chief of Section Sadi Kelesoglu stressed the need of establishing new trade routes.

Such new routes aim to face the challenges of transportation costs and extended delivery schedules caused by the ongoing embargo, Kelesoglu added.

"Creating new trade routes seems to be essential for Qatar to secure food supply at fair prices," the report said, quoting Kelesoglu.

He said that the two countries would sign a trade agreement to boost bilateral trade in the food and beverage industry.

During the meetings, about eight Turkish companies from DAIB and 27 Qatari firms held talks to explore new channels of economic cooperation between the two countries.

Turkey has been a major supporter of Doha since the four Arab countries led by Saudi Arabia severed land, air and sea links to Qatar on June 5, last year. Turkey had sent essential goods to Qatar, especially products to cover food shortage.
Source: Xinhua| 2018-06-04 19:15:51|Editor: ZX

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TAIPEI, June 4 (Xinhua) -- An F-16 jet crashed while participating in a military drill in Taiwan on Monday, according to reports from local media.

The single-seat fighter took off from Hualien Air Base but disappeared from radar at 1:43 p.m. in northern Taiwan, according to the island's United Daily News.

Wreckage of the plane has been found in mountainous areas in the east of New Taipei City, but the pilot remains missing, said the report.

Rescuers are expanding the search.
Source: Xinhuanet| 2018-06-04 19:29:50|Editor: Yamei

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Rashid Alimov, Secretary-General of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO), addresses the opening ceremony of the first SCO media summit in Beijing, capital of China, June 1, 2018. (Xinhua/Shen Bohan)

BEIJING, June 4 (Xinhuanet) -- Participants of the first Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) media summit are confident that the event will enhance media cooperation and people-to-people exchanges between SCO member states.

With a theme of "carrying on the 'Shanghai Spirit' and ushering a new era for media cooperation," the summit, which opened Friday, attracted over 260 attendees who exchanged ideas on building new platforms of media cooperation and closer people-to-people ties.

Ainura Temirbekova, Deputy Minister of Culture, Information and Tourism of Kyrgyzstan, said that Kyrgyzstan supports China's initiative to deepen media cooperation.

"The SCO has become a big family after 17 years of development, and to communicate the voice of SCO is the media's responsibility. We should build and share an information network together," she noted.

In her opinion, it is very important for media workers to conduct face-to-face exchanges to better understand each other. She hoped that this type of exchanges can be normalized and institutionalized on the platform of SCO media summit and eventually benefit the people of the SCO member states.

Sarmad Ali, managing director of Pakistan's Jang Media Group, held that this summit helps to create people-to-people connectivity and provides a platform for the media outlets and organizations in SCO countries to cooperate with each other and create a positive and inclusive environment among the nations.

Karin Erian, Chairman of the Board of Kazakhstan Republican TV and Radio Corporation, said that the exchanges between media are also exchanges in information and knowledge, and it is bound to facilitate exchanges and cooperation in a wide range of areas such as economy, science and technology.

"The media summit coming ahead of the leaders' summit on June 9 and 10 is a very good setting for us to know the good work being done in China as well as other member countries and their commitment towards cooperation in various areas," said Priyanka Tikoo, Deputy Executive Editor of Press Trust of India.

The member states are really keen to take forward their cooperation at the regional level in areas such as trade, culture, health and education, and the stories are being communicated to the respective countries by media, so media plays a crucial role in promoting closer friendship and cooperation, she added.
ANTANANARIVO, June 4 (Xinhua) -- Madagascar's Prime Minister Olivier Mahafaly Solonandrasana announced his resignation Monday morning after the decision of the High Constitutional Court last week which asked him to resign in seven days.

"I resign from my position freely without problem. I will send to President Hery Rajaonarimampianina my resignation," the prime minister said during his press meeting Monday.

Solonandrasana said that the reason of his resignation is the decision of the High Constitutional Court (HCC), which decided to create a new government of consensus.

On May 25, the HCC declared in a statement that President Hery Rajaonarimampianina must dismiss the government. The court's decision came following the request of dismissal of President Rajaonarimampianina by the opposition made to the HCC on May 7.

The statement also said that HCC ordered the President to end the tasks of the government and he must appoint a new Prime Minister in seven days from three candidates who will be proposed by the parliament members.

Due to the fierce debate among the political parties in Madagascar, HCC has ordered on June 2 that a new Prime Minister should be named by June 12, and the Prime Minister "must leave his office by June 5".

"I agree without objection this decision of the HCC and I put my resignation to facilitate it," Solonandrasana added.

The prime minister said he always looked for solidarity among the Malagasy people.

Solonandrasana, 53, was appointed prime minister on April 10, 2016 to replace Jean Ravelonarivo.
KAMPALA, June 4 (Xinhua) -- Ugandan military on Monday said that it has arrested one of its soldiers in connection with the weekend shooting which seriously injured four of his colleagues in the central district of Wakiso.

Brig. Richard Karemire, Uganda's military spokesperson, said that Corporal Yoram Tumwesigye fired several bullets injuring four of his colleagues on Saturday night while on guard duty at a camping site away from the Uganda Martyrs Shrines, Namugongo, which hosted thousands of people,

"He was arrested and investigations are going on. The injured are responding well and no pilgrim was injured," said Karemire.

The incident occurred just hours after thousands of pilgrims gathered to commemorate the annual Uganda Martyrs Day at Namugongo Shrines on Sunday.

There have been several incidences of soldiers firing bullets killing and injuring colleagues and civilians in recent years.

In June 2016, a soldier attached to the military police ran berserk killing seven, including colleagues, women and children at Makindye military barracks in the capital, Kampala.
NEW DELHI, June 4 (Xinhua) -- India Monday received its first-ever consignment of liquefied natural gas (LNG) from Russia, under a long-term deal aimed at meeting its growing energy needs.

The LNG cargo arrived from Russia at Dahej port in the western state of Gujarat, which is also Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi's home state.

"Our government aims to make India a gas-based economy," Indian Petroleum and Natural Gas Minister Dharmendra Pradhan told the media.

"We are committed to Paris Accord of carbon emissions reduction," he added.

The LNG cargo arrived in India under a re-worked deal between the state-owned Gas Authority of India Limited (GAIL) and Russia's Gazprom.

As per the re-worked deal, GAIL will import an additional six million tonnes of LNG, apart from the already agreed 2.5 million tonnes a year.

India is the fourth-largest LNG importer in the world.

The LNG import from Russia came barely three months after the country imported the gas from U.S. under another long-term deal.
Source: Xinhua| 2018-06-04 20:16:08|Editor: Liangyu

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Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi (L) meets with South African President Cyril Ramaphosa (R) in Pretoria, South Africa, June 3, 2018. China and South Africa on Sunday agreed to further strengthen bilateral cooperation in face of a complex and changing international landscape. (Xinhua/Chen Cheng)

PRETORIA, June 4 (Xinhua) -- China and South Africa on Sunday agreed to further strengthen bilateral cooperation in face of a complex and changing international landscape.

During a meeting with visiting Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi, South African President Cyril Ramaphosa said his country has always viewed its relations with China from a strategic perspective and expects to further strengthen bilateral cooperation under the current complex and changing international circumstances.

For his part, Wang said that at a time when socialism with Chinese characteristics has entered a new era and South Africa's national development has entered a new stage, China-South Africa relations are presented with a historic opportunity that is inheriting the past and ushering in the future.

The two sides should strengthen coordination, enhance strategic mutual trust and deepen mutually beneficial cooperation, Wang said.

Faced with an international landscape that is undergoing complicated changes, their comprehensive strategic partnership should not only safeguard the common interests of the two countries and those of developing countries at large, but also strive to be more pragmatic, more effective and to bring more benefits to the people, said the Chinese state councilor.

Wang stressed that China firmly supports South Africa in its endeavor to grow and become stronger, which is not only in line with South Africa's interests, but also will be conducive to the strengthening of the power of developing countries at large.

During their meeting, Ramaphosa asked Wang to convey his warm greetings to Chinese President Xi Jinping, saying that the whole country welcomes President Xi to come to South Africa in July to attend the BRICS Summit and pay a state visit to the country.

It is believed that the visit will surely be successful and provide a new opportunity for and inject strong impetus into the deepening of South Africa-China comprehensive strategic partnership, said Ramaphosa.

South Africa will continue to firmly adhere to the one-China policy, said Ramaphosa, adding that he is pleased his country will be the only guest of honor from Africa at the China International Import Expo to be held in Shanghai in November.

Wang conveyed President Xi's warm greetings to President Ramaphosa, noting that this year is of great significance in China-South Africa relations and China-Africa cooperation.

Wang said the two sides should take President Xi's visit to South Africa and President Ramaphosa's visit to China as an opportunity, and support each other in ensuring the success of the BRICS Summit hosted by South Africa and the Summit of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) hosted by China, in order to advance China-South Africa relations into a new stage and lift China-Africa cooperation to a new level.

Wang also held talks with South African Minister of International Relations and Cooperation Lindiwe Sisulu on Monday.
Source: Xinhua| 2018-06-04 20:21:09|Editor: ZX

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SAN FRANCISCO, June 3 (Xinhua) -- China has achieved tremendous progress in the growth of its human resources over the past several decades, a China expert from U.S. Stanford University said Sunday.

Scott Rozelle, professor and co-director of the Rural Education Action Program at Stanford University's Freeman Spogli Institute for International Studies, told an academic seminar that young people who are admitted to senior schools should be given the chance to acquire the skills that would allow them to contribute to the country's economic and social development.

Delivering a keynote speech on the impact of the rural-urban divide on China at the Eighth (2018) Annual Conference of Stanford Chinese Visiting Scholars, Rozelle said it is critical for all children to acquire future skills at this particular period.

With a long-term target of popularizing senior school education among young people, China has witnessed rapid growth in its nationwide enrollment rate for senior high schools over the past few decades, figures from the Chinese Ministry of Education shows.

For China, the major challenge is in rural areas, where more children have to receive secondary education, said the Stanford professor.

It's important for Chinese children in rural areas improve their cognitive ability, both mental and physical health, which requires government involvement and support, Rozelle said.

He said the Chinese government has actually been aware of the problem and made continuous efforts to build better schools, offer affordable nutritious lunch for rural school kids, and provide them with a more comfortable environment to ensure a better education.
Jordanian protester holds a picture of Jordanian Prime Ministers Hani al-Mulki and chants slogans during a strike against the new income tax law, in Amman, Jordan May 30, 2018. The picture reads "General strike." (Reuters photo)

AMMAN, June 4 (Xinhua) -- Jordanian King Abdullah II on Monday appointed Omar Razzaz, a former education minister, as new prime minister after the resignation of Hani Mulki following nationwide protests, according to a Royal Court statement.

The embattled prime minister Hani Mulki on Monday submitted resignation to King Abdullah II after major protests were held across the country with tens of thousands of demonstrators calling for the sacking of the government.

Demonstrators demanded the withdrawal of the income tax law, which is part of several fiscal reforms as part of a 700-million-U.S.-dollar extended fund facility program signed between Jordan and the International Monetary Fund in 2016.

The bill mainly aims to improve tax collection, curb tax evasion and boost tax revenues, which are expected to increase by 300 million Jordanian dinars (423 million dollars) annually.

In addition, the proportion of income taxpayers in Jordan is expected to rise from 4.5 percent to 10 percent once the bill is enacted.

The legislation has been resisted by multiple sectors, including professional associations and investors.
Source: Xinhua| 2018-06-04 20:26:10|Editor: mmm

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JERUSALEM, June 4 (Xinhua) -- Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu departed Monday for Europe in an effort to persuade main allies to support his call for changing the Iran nuclear deal and removing Iran out of Syria.

His first stop is Berlin, where he will meet German Chancellor Angela Merkel later on Monday. On Tuesday he will meet French President Emmanuel Macron in Paris, and on Wednesday with British Prime Minister Theresa May.

Before his departure, he said Iran will be on the focus of his agenda. He voiced optimism about gaining support for his long-time campaign against the nuclear deal and repeated not to allow Iran establish a military foothold in neighboring Syria.

Referring to a possible change or even cancellation of the nuclear deal, Netanyahu said, "it could be that there is not full agreement on this at the moment, but in my opinion, such an understanding will take shape."

Netanyahu confronted with former U.S. President Barack Obama in his unsuccessful efforts to block the landmark agreement to curb Iran's nuclear program. The deal was signed between Iran and six world powers in 2015, but Netanyahu recently found a new ally with U.S. President Donald Trump, who withdrew the United States from the deal in May.

Netanyahu said he hopes to form with Israel's European allies "an agreed-upon policy" about halting Iran's entrenchment in Syria.

He reiterated his stand that there is a need to block "Iran's aggression in the region, especially its attempts to establish a military presence against us in Syria and attack us from there."

Israel has reportedly carried out a series of deadly air attacks in Syria, hitting what it said were Iranian sites.
Source: Xinhua| 2018-06-04 20:26:10|Editor: ZX

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BEIJING, June 4 (Xinhua) -- Chinese police have busted 12 criminal gangs, which produced and sold hi-tech exam cheating devices, since late May amid a reinforced crackdown against cheating ahead of national college entrance exams.

During the operation, more than 50 suspects have been captured and over 100,000 wireless cheating devices confiscated, with the total amount of money involved reaching several hundred million yuan, according to a statement released by the Ministry of Public Security Monday.

Starting from early 2018, the ministry has coordinated local authorities to conduct intensive investigations on the online sales and production network of exam cheating devices.

So far the campaign has seen more than 100 criminal groups busted and over 500 suspects arrested.

"It has ensured the security of national examinations and deterred criminals," the ministry said in the statement.

The ministry pledged a continuous crackdown on the illegal activities, in a bid to safeguard justice, equity and integrity in national exams.
ATHENS, June 4 (Xinhua) -- Athens expects Skopje to make the next move in resolving the ongoing "Macedonia" name dispute, a spokesman for the Greek government said on Sunday.

"The Greek government is waiting for Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (FYROM) Prime Minister Zoran Zaev to take the decisive step for an agreement," Dimitris Tzanakopoulos said in an interview broadcast by Greek Kontra TV channel.

Only then can both sides finally move towards a mutually acceptable solution, he added.

Both countries are working toward settling the decades-old dispute this month. The issue began in 1991 when FYROM declared independence from Yugoslavia, choosing the name Macedonia, which is also the name of a northern Greek province.

Athens is worried that the use of the same name by the neighboring state could lead to territorial claims.

Although the two governments have expressed a determination to resolve the issue, both countries are home to objections by opposition parties and hardliners.

According to a poll released this weekend in Athens, 48.3 percent of respondents said the government should insist on resolving the name issue now instead of later, while 43.9 percent said Greece lacked the right momentum and no rushed decisions should be made.
In this file photo taken on February 16, 2016, German Chancellor Angela Merkel (R) and Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu speak at a press conference at the Chancellery in Berlin after a sixth joint German-Israeli cabinet meeting. (AFP photo)

JERUSALEM, June 4 (Xinhua) -- Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu departed Monday for Europe in an effort to persuade main allies to support his call for changing the Iran nuclear deal and removing Iran out of Syria.

His first stop is Berlin, where he will meet German Chancellor Angela Merkel later on Monday. On Tuesday he will meet French President Emmanuel Macron in Paris, and on Wednesday with British Prime Minister Theresa May.

Before his departure, he said Iran will be on the focus of his agenda. He voiced optimism about gaining support for his long-time campaign against the nuclear deal and repeated not to allow Iran establish a military foothold in neighboring Syria.

Referring to a possible change or even cancellation of the nuclear deal, Netanyahu said, "it could be that there is not full agreement on this at the moment, but in my opinion, such an understanding will take shape."

Netanyahu confronted with former U.S. President Barack Obama in his unsuccessful efforts to block the landmark agreement to curb Iran's nuclear program. The deal was signed between Iran and six world powers in 2015, but Netanyahu recently found a new ally with U.S. President Donald Trump, who withdrew the United States from the deal in May.

Netanyahu said he hopes to form with Israel's European allies "an agreed-upon policy" about halting Iran's entrenchment in Syria.

He reiterated his stand that there is a need to block "Iran's aggression in the region, especially its attempts to establish a military presence against us in Syria and attack us from there."

Israel has reportedly carried out a series of deadly air attacks in Syria, hitting what it said were Iranian sites.
KIEV, June 4 (Xinhua) -- Ukrainian Prime Minister Volodymyr Groysman said on Monday he would resign if the parliament fails to adopt a law on the establishment of an anti-corruption court, according to a statement on the government website.

"If this court, fair and independent, will not be created, I will step down from the prime minister's office," Groysman was quoted as saying after his meeting with Ukrainian Parliament Speaker Andriy Parubiy.

The Ukrainian parliament is set to vote on the draft law on the establishment of the anti-corruption court during the current plenary week, which ends on Friday.

The creation of the anti-corruption court is the key demand of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) to release the next portion of aid for Ukraine under the 17.5 billion U.S. dollar cooperation program, which was suspended in April 2017.
BERLIN, June 4 (Xinhua) -- German chemical producer Bayer AG told press on Monday that Monsanto will cease to be an independent corporate brand after the completion of the takeover.

Speaking during a telephone conference, Bayer chief executive officer Werner Baumann confirmed that "Monsanto will no longer be a company name." The products of the U.S. agrochemical company will instead become fully-integrated into Bayer's own portfolio from a marketing perspective.

Baumann noted that Monsanto had already considered changing its name in the past, adding that the Monsanto team was "proud of products" and "not fixated" on its given brand.

Critics of the Bayer-Monsanto merger have warned that it could tarnish the former's reputation given that Monsanto is mainly known in Europe as the producer of the controversial genetically-modified crops and the potentially-carcinogenic pesticide "glyphosate".

Nevertheless, Bayer revealed on Monday that it planned to formally conclude the acquisition worth 63 billion U.S. dollars of Monsanto as soon as June 7. All necessary regulatory approvals had now been obtained towards this end, allowing the Leverkusen-based firm to finalise its largest ever foreign takeover in corporate history.

In order to meet regulatory requirements, Bayer has agreed to sell business units with combined revenue of 2.2 billion euros to German rival BASF for 7.6 billion euros. The U.S. Department of Justice accepted this step as being sufficient to prevent Bayer-Monsanto from becoming too dominant in any of the markets of the merged entity.

The European Union (EU) Commission had previously decided to recognise BASF as the appropriate buyer for all of Bayer's divested units. Under U.S. antitrust regulations, the formal integration of Monsanto into the corporate structure of Bayer could only commence once the Bayer-BASF deal was complete.

Having thus cleared several competition law hurdles by divesting business units, Baumann told press that Bayer could now focus on achieving the synergy effects anticipated by from the merger.

The CEO described the takeover as a "strategic milestone" but warned that its success would ultimately hinge on "developing a joint corporate culture."

Baumann said that he aimed to "double" Bayer's business in the agriculture sector as a result of the corporate fusion. Bayer is set to become the world's largest producer of seeds, pesticides and herbicides following the acquisition of Monsanto with combined gross revenue of 23 billion euros recorded from agriculture-related business alone.

"Innovation is important to ensure the sustainable production of healthier, safe and affordable food products for a growing population. The merger (of Bayer and Monsanto) will enable to us to deliver more innovations faster and offer agricultural producers across the world tailored solutions", a statement by Liam Condon, the head of Bayer's Crop Science, division published on Monday read.
Source: Xinhua| 2018-06-04 20:56:19|Editor: mmm

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Spanish Prime Minister Pedrfo Sanchez (R) shakes hands with visiting Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko in Madrid, Spain, on June 4, 2018. (Xinhua/Guo Qiuda)

MADRID, June 4 (Xinhua) -- Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez on Monday welcomed Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko at the Palacio de la Moncloa in what was his first official act since being sworn into office.

Sanchez was sworn in as the successor to Mariano Rajoy in the official prime minister's residence on Saturday after Rajoy's People's Party (PP) government was defeated in a no-confidence vote prompted by Sanchez's Spanish Socialist Party (PSOE) 24 hours earlier.

Sanchez is expected to name his new cabinet in the coming days and hold his first cabinet meeting on Friday.

Though the PSOE holds just 85 seats in the 350-seat Congress, he will not look to form a coalition government but to reach agreements with the groups which supported the no-confidence motion in order to pass any legislation. It will not be easy given these parties cover a lot of political ground from the left-wing party Podemos to Basque and Catalan nationalist parties.

Adriana Lastre, vice secretary of the PSOE said in an interview with Spanish state TV station RTVE on Monday that Sanchez's executive would be "eminently socialist," and that it will be formed by the "middle of the week."

Lastre said that there will be no ministers from other parties, such as Podemos, and Sanchez's government would "put a social agenda on the table," and would give "stability to Spain."

Early indications are that Sanchez will create a separate Ministry for Equality in his government after that portfolio had been included in the Ministry of Health and Social Services under Rajoy's PP government and that the PSOE government will also create a High Commission to combat child poverty.
National Assembly strikes domestic server clause despite cyber risks

The clause on requiring foreign enterprises to install servers in Vietnam was struck out from the draft Law on Cybercecurity at the on National Assembly session despite the increasing number of attacks on Vietnamese computer systems and networks as well as Facebook and Googles long years of tax evasion.









Facebook and Google may continue to evade taxation in Vietnam for a longer time. Photo: viettimes.vn





After discussion at the National Assembly session on May 29, the NA Council for National Defense and Security proposed not to include the clause on requiring foreign firms to install servers in Vietnam to facilitate the operations of foreign firms supplying services in Vietnam.

The Vietnam Digital Communications Association (VDCA) said that according to economic analyses, requiring foreign firms to install servers in Vietnam could reduce GDP growth by 1.7 per cent and FDI inflows by 3.1 per cent.

However, in light of the recent attacks on Vietnamese computer systems and networks as well as the tax dodging Facebook and Google for many years, it is not sure whether this is reasonable.

According to Cybersecurity Index (CSI)s data 2017 released by International Telecommunication Union (ITU), Vietnam ranked 101th position, much lower than almost Southeast Asia countries, including Indonesia (70th), Laos (77th), Cambodia (92th), and Myanmar (100th).

Unhealthy cyberspace

Vietnam is amongst the countries suffering the largest number of cyberattacks in recent years. According to data released by the Vietnam Computer Emergency Response Team (VCERT), in this years first two months more than 1,500 cyberattacks took place against Vietnamese targets.

However, to date, Vietnam does not have sufficient regulations to control internet security and current regulations are not good enough to prevent cyberspace violations.

Speaking at the latest cybersecurity seminar, Lieutenant-general Hoang Phuoc Thuan, director of the Internet Security Department (the Ministry of Public Security-MoPS) said that Vietnam in 2017 faced a series of cyberattacks targeting the vital industries and institutions.

MoPS in early March broke up a cross-border crime ring specialised in betting, gambling, and money laundering via Internet.

Vietnam is currently ramping up building regulations related to cybercrime and training personnel to countermand threats.

No representative office, no tax

Slapping tax charges on foreign firms, specifically Facebook and Google, has been a difficulty for Vietnamese authorities in the past many years as the two technology companies have not established representative offices in Vietnam.

The Ministry of Finance's (MoF) report stated that in 2016-2017, Facebook and Google only paid VND120 billion ($5.28 million) in taxes in Vietnam via their partners, including advertising agencies and Vietnamese businesses directly purchasing their services.

Vo Do Thang, director of the Athena Network Security Training Centre, said that cross-border technology companies do not want to be bound by Vietnamese laws, so they do not establish any representative offices or branches in Vietnam. They only maintain a small personnel in Vietnam to communicate and provide information. Therefore, collecting taxes from them is really difficult.

Colonel Nguyen Huu Cau said the Law on Trade 2017 stipulated foreign firms have to establish representative offices in Vietnam.

I think firms have to establish representative offices by laws. Why should the law not apply to technology enterprises when all others have to establish representative offices in Vietnam? Cau added.

In addition, Cau also said that many governments have required the two tech companies to set up representative offices in their countries.

VIR
Source: Xinhua| 2018-06-04 20:56:20|Editor: mmm

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ISTANBUL, June 4 (Xinhua) -- The United Nations Technology Bank for the least developed countries was inaugurated on Monday in Turkey's northwestern city of Gebze, with a view to boosting the science, technology and innovation capacity of these countries and facilitating the transfer of technologies to them.

"With the establishment of the Technology Bank, Turkey will have made a major contribution to the achievement of the UN's Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)," the Turkish Foreign Ministry said in a press release.

There are currently 47 countries on the UN list of the least developed countries.

The SDGs, known as a universal call for actions to end poverty, protect the planet and ensure that all peoples enjoy peace and prosperity, came into effect in January 2016.

According to the UN, the establishment of the Technology Bank is expected to be the first target to be met under the SDGs.

UN Deputy Secretary-General Amina J. Mohammed described the opening of the bank as an important step taken within the UN system to prevent underdevelopment and poverty.

"As UN we will provide our full support to the bank to make it reach its full potential," she said at the opening ceremony.

For her part, Norwegian Deputy Foreign Minister Marianne Hagen highlighted the importance of technologies to be widely used in the least developed countries.

"We want to increase the research capacity of these countries and the production of information. At the same time, we want to develop projects on gender equality, human rights, climate change and corruption," she said.

Faruk Ozlu, Turkey's minister of science, industry and technology, promised contributions by Turkish institutions to the Technology Bank in terms of both providing human resources and creating new projects and cooperation possibilities.

Turkey has pledged to provide the bank with a financial contribution of 2 million U.S. dollars per year for five years from 2017, the minister said, adding Ankara will also cover the administrative expenses of the bank.

Norway has donated more than one million dollars to the bank, while Sudan, Bangladesh and the Philippines have promised to make contributions, according to the UN.
ISLAMABAD, June 4 (Xinhua) -- At least eight people were killed and several others injured in a fatal road crash in Pakistan's eastern Punjab province on Monday afternoon, local media and police said.

Mehmood Ali Khokhar, the spokesperson for motorway police, said that the accident happened after a passenger van rammed into a truck on M-1 motorway in Attock district of the province.

"The passenger van caught fire as a result of the collision, killing eight people on spot and injuring at least six others," the spokesperson said, adding that the accident happened due to negligence of the van's driver as he fell asleep while driving.

Following the incident, fire brigade teams reached the spot and extinguished the fire.

Motorway Police and rescue teams rushed to the site and shifted the injured to a nearby hospital where they are being treated for their burn injuries.

Hospital officials said that the death toll could further rise as several among those injured are in critical condition.

A case has been registered against the driver for the negligence.

According to official data released by the Pakistan Bureau of Statistics, around 9,000 road accidents are reported every year since 2011 in the country, killing more than 4,500 people on average annually.
JAKARTA, June 4 (Xinhua) -- Indonesia has set target to reduce poverty rate to below 10 percent this year, lower than 10.12 percent recorded in September last year as efforts to address poverty issue were underway, a minister said here on Monday.

Speaking in a hearing session with lawmakers in the parliament, Development Planning Minister Bambang Brodjonegoro said that as of September last year some 26.58 million people were still living under poverty line, of which 9.78 million were in very poor condition.

Apart from that, the minister added that 69 million others were living in a situation prone to slipping into poverty.

"We are now prioritizing efforts to save those 9.78 million ones in dire poverty as well as taking precautions to prevent those 69 million ones from slipped into poverty line," the minister said.

Through coordinated efforts with related ministries and agencies, the nation's poverty rate is expected to decrease between 8.5 percent and 9 percent next year, he added.

Among the efforts to reduce poverty rate, the government would strictly control prices of staple food consumed by poor people in the identified areas.

"The efforts to strictly control the prices of meat, sugar and eggs would be focused in rural areas which have higher risk from plunged deeper in poverty," the minister said.
MOSCOW, June 4 (Xinhua) -- Russian President Vladimir Putin has signed into law a bill which allows him to respond to sanctions by the United States and other "unfriendly states," the Russian government said Monday.

The law authorizes the Russian president to ban or restrict cooperation with entities of "unfriendly states," according to a statement published on Russia's legal information portal.

Foreign entities could be prohibited to provide services for Russia's central and local governments, conduct trade with Russian counterparts, or participate in the privatization of Russian property.

The bill was passed by the Russian parliament before Putin signed it into law.

The move comes in response to U.S. sanctions in April on 38 Russian individuals and entities, including seven business leaders and 17 senior officials, for their alleged "malign activity" around the world.
ISLAMABAD, June 4 (Xinhua) -- Pakistani security forces have killed three terrorists and injured another one in the southwestern Balochistan province on Monday, local Urdu TV channels reported.

According to the reports, paramilitary troops Frontier Corps carried out an intelligence-based operation on a suspected terrorists' hideout in Kohlu district of the province.

During the operation, three terrorists were killed and one was taken into custody by security forces in injured condition, said the state-run Radio Pakistan.

The killed terrorists belonged to the banned "Baloch Liberation Front" and were involved in attacks on law enforcement agencies and innocent civilians, the reports added.

A large number of weapons and ammunition were also recovered in the operation.

The arrested has been shifted to an undisclosed location and is currently being interrogated, said the local media.
LONDON, June 4 (Xinhua) -- A teenager was on Monday found guilty of plotting a terror attack on the British Museum in London.

The convict, S. Boular, 18, was found with the country's first all-woman cell. She has become Britain's convicted female Islamic State terrorist, local media said.

A jury at the Old Bailey found her guilty of two offences of preparation of terrorism acts.

She was also found guilty over an earlier attempt to travel to Syria for terrorism.
NAIROBI, June 4 (Xinhua) -- Kenyans have welcomed the country's planned oil exportation with cautious optimism, as President Uhuru Kenyatta told citizens that the country would not allow the resource to turn into a curse for the nation.

Kenyatta on Sunday flagged off the transportation of four lorries of the first batch of crude oil from Ngamia 8 fields in Turkana county in the north of the country for storage at the Kenya Petroleum Refinery, Mombasa.

The move puts the East African nation on the global map as it joins oil producing countries, including Uganda, its neighbor in East Africa. Kenyan leaders and citizens have lauded the nation's move to start the Early Oil Pilot Scheme.

However, the key concerns are that oil export might worsen security challenges for the East African nation, increase corruption and overall turn out to be a problem as it has happened in other countries in Africa.

In Nigeria and Angola, for instance, oil has become a source of conflict for the two countries, as communities fight over the resource.

"The economies of countries that have failed to manage their resources have also suffered the ripple effect of hunger and poverty among citizens. It is my hope and prayer that together we shall work so that such is not visited upon us," Kenyatta said on Sunday.

Kenyatta noted that Kenya would do all things possible to avoid getting itself in conflict situations due to oil.

"The negative competition for oil and other natural resources has seen once peaceful countries go to war. Brothers have taken up arms again each other as mothers bury their children with no hope for the future," he said, warning the Turkanas and the Pokots, two warring communities which live where the oil fields are located, to shun conflict.

Turkana Governor Josphat Nanok called for implementation of a law that would cover how the revenue arising from oil is shared across the country and communities in the region to promote harmony.

Citizens have also raised many questions as awareness on the specifics of the pilot program remains low.

Some citizens wondered why the East African nation was sending oil by road from Turkana to Mombasa yet a pipeline would have been more efficient. Others questioned why the country was exporting crude oil instead of refining it first.

"As we celebrate early oil scheme, we used to refine crude oil many years ago but now that we have our own, the refinery remains closed. We now have to export the crude oil and import the refined one. Someone explain to me," Adama Said noted on Twitter, where the oil issue was being discussed on Monday.

"I thank God that Kenya is ferrying crude oil from Turkana, if it was refined, I can bet to my last penny that this black gold would be sold in Nairobi by the corrupt," said James Mutinda.

Some analysts have termed the oil export historic and the best thing to happen in Kenya in its quest to become industrialized.

"I believe with oil, Kenya is lucky as the export starts at a time the country is undertaking various infrastructure projects in quest to become industrialized," said Henry Wandera, an economics lecturer.

However, he warned that oil is not the only magic bullet that Kenya needs to take off.

"We need to fight corruption so that the oil money does not get lost in the vice. We also need to solve perception of exclusion of some communities from power as this is what may turn oil into a curse," he said.

Herman Manyora, a linguistics professor and political analyst, asked Kenyan leaders to ensure that Kenya as a country becomes exception by avoiding the oil curse.
Source: Xinhua| 2018-06-04 21:51:41|Editor: ZX

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BEIJING, June 4 (Xinhua) -- China's Supreme People's Court Monday issued a guideline asking courts at all levels to exercise better judicial functions in environmental cases to contribute to the building of a more ecologically aware society.

"The courts should act professionally in trials to ensure the ultimate protection of the ecological environment, as well as the ecological damage compensation and accountability system," the guideline said.

It called for specialized departments or teams in courts to handle criminal, civil and administrative environmental cases.

The top court also required strengthened legal protection of the ecological environment in certain key areas, including the Yangtze River Economic Zone, the Xiongan New Area and the country's piloted national parks.

Courts across the country in 2017 accepted 21,241 criminal environmental cases in first trials and concluded 20,602.

A total of 207,552 first trial civil environmental cases were accepted and 190,125 concluded in 2018.

World Environment Day falls on Tuesday.
CAIRO, June 4 (Xinhua) -- Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah al-Sisi and King Abdullah II of Jordan on Monday discussed in a phone conversation the bilateral ties and regional situation.

The two leaders "discussed ways to enhance bilateral relations and the latest developments in the region," Egyptian presidential spokesman Bassam Rady said in a statement.

They reviewed the current developments, particularly in the Palestinian issue, Rady said.

The spokesman added that the two leaders asserted the keenness to promote the bilateral historical ties and continue coordination and consultation on various issues of mutual interest.

King of Jordan paid an one-day official visit to Cairo on May 23, when he discussed with Sisi mainly the Palestinian cause, following the widespread Israeli-Palestinian clashes in the wake of the U.S. relocation of its embassy in Israel to the disputed holy city of Jerusalem.

During the May summit, the two leaders stressed that the absence of prospect for finding a just and comprehensive solution to the Palestinian cause will lead to further instability in the region.

Egypt and Jordan have been working jointly with other international players to seek a peaceful solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

The Palestinians seek to establish an independent state based on the pre-1967 borders with East Jerusalem as its capital, in light of the UN-proposed two-state solution.
JUBA, June 4 ( Xinhua) -- At least 1.5 million South Sudanese children have enrolled in school in 2018 despite the ongoing civil war that has displaced more than four million people, data released by the country's education ministry on Monday shows.

According to statistics from the School Attendance Monitoring System, an online education monitoring platform, school enrollment this year reached a record breaking 1.5 million in May, up from less than one million in 2013.

Michael Lopuke Lotyam, undersecretary at the Ministry of General Education, attributed the improvement in school enrollment to introduction of school meals, cash incentives for school going girls and teachers, strengthened partnership with aid organizations in the education sector and improved security.

Lotyam added that enrollment for female student across the East African country increased from 39 percent in 2014 to 45 percent this year.

"Based on an analysis of enrollment patterns and number of admission registers and school budgets received, it is now expected that academic year 2018 enrollment will reach 1.7 million pupils, reporting from 3,800 schools across the country," Lotyam told a news conference on Monday.

According to the UN, South Sudan's education indicators remain among the worst in the world, with 73 percent of the country's population of an estimated 12 million people illiterate and 2.2 million children out of school.

Another 19,000 children are estimated to be in the hands of armed groups in South Sudan, according to the UN Children's' agency UNICEF. The country's education crisis is blamed on protracted conflicts and under-funding by the state.

Despite the little gains, Lotyam warned that the number of out-of-school children in South Sudan could rise to 2.5 million in the next two years if the ongoing conflict does not stop.

"The number of out-of-school children has increased by almost 500,000 children since 2014 and if this trend continues, in the next two years, we are going to see more than 2.5 million children will be out of school and this is because of the ongoing crisis in the country," said Lotyam.
KIEV, June 4 (Xinhua) -- A lie detector test confirmed that lawmaker Nadiya Savchenko plotted a coup against the Ukrainian government, the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) said in a statement on Monday.

The results of the polygraph test indicated that Savchenko had planned a "violent overthrow of the constitutional order" and an "armed seizure of power," the SBU said.

The test also showed that Savchenko plotted to commit "terrorist attacks" in the government quarter and in the parliament building, it said.

Meanwhile, local media reported that Savchenko's lawyers considered the test "unreliable" and demanded a new polygraph examination.

On March 23, Savchenko, a member of the Ukrainian parliament, was arrested for 59 days without bail after the country's Prosecutor General Yuriy Lutsenko accused her of planning a "large-scale terrorist attack" in central Kiev that aimed at a "forcible overthrow of the constitutional system and the seizure of state power in Ukraine."

Last month, a court in Kiev extended the pre-trial detention of the lawmaker until July 13.

Savchenko called the accusations against her "politically motivated" and launched a hunger strike.
STOCKHOLM, June 4 (Xinhua) -- There has been a dramatic increase in railroad switch faults in Sweden, with 7,200 faults reported so far this year, statistics from the Swedish Transport Agency showed on Monday.

Swedish Television reported on the new figures, and found the number of faults on Swedish railroad switches had increased markedly in the past few months.

Almost as many faults were reported between Jan. 1 and May 23 of this year as during the whole of 2017. Last year, there were 9,000 railroad switch faults in total.

Just last week, several trains were cancelled due to a railroad switch fault at the central station of Gothenburg, Sweden's second largest city.

"What we are seeing are the results of a tough winter, where the extreme cold and the dramatic shifts in temperature have been difficult," said Swedish Transport Agency press spokesman Bengt Olsson.

Olsson added that while the weather was the main reason behind the faults, he said authorities must also get better at restoring and fixing the problems.

However, Swedish Television spoke to a number of experts who claim that the problem is also that many switches are old and should have been replaced a long time ago. Internal inquiries show that 10 percent of Sweden's railroad switches have passed their estimated best-by dates.

Since it is expensive to replace an entire system, the Swedish Transport Agency often decides to repair existing ones and change individual components.

"It is a question of finances. We try to estimate what resources we have available and then this is a solution we have to work with," Olsson said, adding he does not really see any problems with the method.

Olsson also said that while there has been a lack of resources to make any major changes in the past, things are different now in that more railroad switches are being replaced.

In recent years, 30 to 50 worn-out switches have been replaced annually in Sweden, according to the Swedish Transport Agency. In the next five years, the aim is replace around twice as many.
TRIPOLI, June 4 (Xinhua) -- Libya's UN-backed Prime Minister Fayez Serraj on Monday welcomed a peace treaty reached between the cities of Misurata and Tawergha, which allows residents of Tawergha to return home after seven years of displacement.

Serraj said in a statement that the only solution to the current crisis is national reconciliation based on "tolerance, reparation, and prevailing of the high interest of the country."

The peace treaty signed on Sunday allows nearly 40,000 Tawerghans to return to their homes in Misurata. The displacement was due to their support for the former government during the 2011 uprising.

The peace treaty prohibits crimes in the two cities, which are 40 km apart, while calling for cooperation in searching for missing people and mass graves.

Misurata, Libya's third-largest city with a population of half a million, played a major role in overthrowing the former leader Muammar Gaddafi in 2011. The city is also one of the most militarized cities with the largest armed militia in the country.

In August 2016, Misurata and Tawergha signed a UN-sponsored draft reconciliation agreement, which allowed the return of many displaced Tawerghans.

However, the return was halted after armed groups in Misurata refused entry for Tawerghans over various reasons.
Source: Xinhua| 2018-06-04 22:06:52|Editor: ZX

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BEIJING, June 4 (Xinhua) -- Three Chinese-made typhoon-resistant offshore wind turbines, one of the world's most powerful of their kind, have been running at full power this month in Xinghua Gulf, east China's Fujian Province.

Each of the turbines, with its 76.6-meter blades, has a capacity rating of 7 megawatts, and their development cost 2.3 billion yuan (358 million U.S. dollars), according to Mingyang Smart Energy, its manufacturer.

The turbines have been under operation since mid-May and in a good condition, said Zhang Qiying, chief technology officer of the company based in Zhongshan, Guangdong Province.

Tuesday marks World Environment Day.

While China has been promoting green development, clean energy including wind, solar and nuclear power has been thriving in the country, reducing its dependence on coal.

According to a national tone-setting meeting on environmental protection held in May, the country will emphasize adjusting economic structure and energy structure, fostering and expanding industries concerning energy conservation, environment protection, clean production, and clean energy.

The National Energy Administration said the total installed renewable energy capacity reached 650 million kilowatts by 2017, up 14 percent from 2016. Clean energy generated 1.7 trillion kWh of electricity last year, accounting for 26.4 percent of the country's total.

HARNESSING WIND

China's southeastern coastal areas see low wind speeds but many typhoons, which are very different from Europe which has abundant wind energy sources, said Zhang.

"Therefore, we need to address the pressure of typhoons, while utilizing them to raise the efficiency of our wind turbines," he said.

According to the Global Wind Energy Council, China ranked the third in terms of total installed capacity of offshore wind turbines, accounting for 11 percent of the world's total as of the end of 2016, after Britain and Germany.

Since 2017, several coastal provinces have released their development plans for offshore wind power, with a total installed capacity exceeding 100 million kilowatts.

Guangdong plans to build 23 offshore wind farms before 2030. Their total installed capacity will hit 66.85 million kilowatts, three times that of the Three Gorges hydropower station.

A group of wind turbines with a total installed capacity of 100 megawatts at sea off Guangdong's Zhuhai will begin operation by the end of this year. The equipment can alleviate the power shortages in nearby islets.

In China, the capacity rating of an offshore wind turbine is 1.5 to 2 times that of those on land. The new-generation wind turbines being developed are expected to have a capacity quadruple that of a land-based turbine.

The rapid development of China's offshore wind energy industry is expected to form an industrial chain of high-end offshore equipment with a value of 1 trillion yuan, said Chen Sui, chairman of CGN Energy Holdings Co., Ltd.

More importantly, China has complex conditions of ocean currents and seabed geology, and is prone to typhoons, Chen said. "Our technology that can handle these challenges is hopefully a cheaper option of clean energy for the world."

HARVESTING SUNSHINE

Since China announced its plans to support distributed solar power generation in 2012, solar panels have been mushrooming on residents' roofs, with unused generated power integrated to the national power grid.

Dong Qiang was the first to have solar panels installed on top of his villa in north China's Tianjin. Some 60 percent of the power generated by the 3,000-kW equipment is for family use, and the rest is sold to the government.

"I no longer need to pay an electricity bill, and also get around 3,400 yuan in annual income for electricity sales," he said.

By selling the generated solar power, many farmers in less-developed regions have lifted themselves out of poverty.

Li Xiaoli and her husband, from Lanping County in southwest China's Yunnan Province, have had solar panels installed on their farming greenhouses. She has also found a jobat a solar power company that was set up to help locals out of poverty.

With Li's salary, her husband's income from growing traditional Chinese medicine in the greenhouses and the income from selling electricity, the family makes 70,000 yuan a year, equivalent to their total income over the past 10 years.

"I never realized that the sun could also make people rich," Li said.

Statistics show that China's installed solar power capacity was nearly 30 million kilowatts by 2017, and is expected to exceed 160 million kilowatts by 2020, accounting for nearly 10 percent of the country's total installed electricity capacity.

EXPANDING NUCLEAR POWER

In late May, a hemispherical dome, weighing over 200 tonnes and measuring 45 meters in diameter, was installed by crane on the No. 3 unit at China's nuclear power project in Fangchenggang. The project used Hualong One technology, a domestically-developed third generation reactor design.

The installation was finished eight days ahead of schedule, marking the beginning of the assembly stage, according to the China National Nuclear Corporation (CNNC).

Construction of Unit 3 and Unit 4, as Phase II of the Fangchenggang plant, will provide reference for the proposed Bradwell B plant in Essex in Britain, as China has won the U.K. deal.

Hualong One was jointly designed by China's two nuclear power giants, China General Nuclear Power Group and CNNC, and passed inspection by a national panel in August 2014.

As of last November, China had 37 operational nuclear reactors and is building a further 19.

Total installed nuclear power capacity in operation was nearly 36 million kilowatts, ranking fourth worldwide. The volume is expected to reach 58 million kilowatts by 2020, with the number of under-construction nuclear reactors leading the world for many years.

The country's clean energy endeavor has paid off.

Due to the thriving clean energy of various kinds, coal consumption, a major contributor to the country's air pollution, has reduced by 8.1 percent over the past five years, according to the government work report in March.

A report released by the International Energy Agency last October said China alone was responsible for over 40 percent of global renewable capacity growth in 2016.

"China is the undisputed renewable growth leader," said the report.
SARAJEVO, June 4 (Xinhua) -- One person was killed and two slightly injured after an accident occurred in a coal mine on Monday near Bosnia and Herzegovina's (BiH) city of Tuzla, some 120 kilometers north of the capital.

The accident happened in "Coal Mine Banovici" after vehicle collision, spokesperson of the Prosecutors Office of Tuzla Canton Admir Arnautovic told local media.

"The accident occurred when the driver of a damper vehicle working on the unloading of coal was going backward without noticing the vehicle that arrived to take workers during the beginning of the shift," Arnautovic said.

During the accident, the damper vehicle run over the Land Rover vehicle, killing a driver, while two workers who managed to jump off the vehicle suffered minor injuries.

All the necessary investigative actions will be carried out in order to determine more details of the circumstances that caused the accident, said the Prosecutor's Office of Tuzla Canton.
LAGOS, June 4 (Xinhua) -- At least 200 inmates broke out of a prison on Sunday in Minna, a city in Nigeria's north central state of Niger, Minister of Interior, Abdulrahman Dabazzau said Monday.

The minister, who spoke to reporters in Minna, the state capital after on the spot assessment of the prison, said 30 of the inmates have been recaptured.

"There are security gaps to be addressed in the prisons such as manpower, decongestion," he added.

On his part, Comptroller General of Prison Jaafaru Ahmed said that an investigative panel has been set up to ascertain the causes of the jailbreak.

The jailbreak was perpetrated by armed criminals who attacked the prison and gained access after exchange of fire with prison armed men.
LONDON, June 4 (Xinhua) -- As finance ministers from six of the G7 members have condemned U.S. protectionist trade policy, the London-based major daily newspapers on Monday lashed out at the American government's decision to impose tariffs on some countries, including its European allies.

While reporting the G7 criticism of Donald Trump administration's decision, the British media also carried stories and articles to slam the protectionist move, demanding strong government response.

U.S. tariffs on steel and aluminum imports from the European Union (EU), Canada and Mexico took effect on June 1. Trump has decided not to extend the temporary steel and aluminum tariff exemptions for these three key trading partners. The move followed earlier metals tariffs on countries around the world.

In March, the U.S. president announced plans to impose a 25-percent tariff on imported steel and 10 percent on aluminum, while delaying their implementation to allow some trading partners time to offer concessions.

"Trump's trade war demands a robust response," said the headline of an article on the comment page of The Times newspaper on Monday.

"Nothing in Mr. Trump's career or character provides any indication that he believes in mutual advantage," said the article by Alex Massie, a Scottish freelance journalist commentator. "On the contrary, in his opinion any deal that leaves both parties happy must be a bad deal."

In another story from Washington, The Times ran with the headline, "G7 attacks Trump plan for tariffs that 'put U.S. economy in jeopardy.'"

"The EU must respond to Trump's trade offensive," read the title of another opinion piece published by the Financial Times newspaper.

"Donald Trump is not consistent on many things. But he is consistently protectionist," the newspaper said. "U.S. allies must realise this -- and dare to prove he is wrong."

"The EU and other allies need to retaliate in a proportionate, but forceful, manner," it added.

Brussels said that it would impose counter-tariffs on a "hit list" of American goods including Kentucky bourbon and Harley-Davidson motorbikes.

Meanwhile, the Guardian newspaper carried an analysis, saying that "Trump's trade war is a sign of weakness" and "it can only speed U.S. decline."

"His solutions seem bizarre," said the piece.
File Photo: Sockeye salmons are seen in Bristol Bay, Alaska, in an undated handout picture provided by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). (Xinhua/REUTERS)

SAN FRANCISCO, June 2 (Xinhua) -- Alaska officials and business leaders highlighted China's increasing importance to the U.S. northwest state as China has been its biggest trade partner for years, the KTUU TV channel said over the weekend.

Alaska has traded heavily with China and sold lots of commodities to Chinese consumers, such as timber, lead and gold mineral ores, as well as petroleum, state officials said.

Among them, seafood is the biggest export item by far. "Seafood comprised almost 60 percent of that (Alaska's total exports to China), so almost 800 million dollars worth of Alaska seafood (are) going to China," KTUU quoted Nicole Kimball, vice president of the Pacific Seafood Processors Association, as saying.

"That's probably in the realm every year of 800 million to 900 million pounds (about 363 million to 408 million kilograms)," said Nicole Kimball.

In 2017, Alaska exported 1.32 billion dollars worth of goods to China, or about 26 percent of Alaska's total exports to the world market valuing 4.93 billion dollars, according to data from the U.S. Census Bureau's Foreign Trade Division.

Sarah Leonard, an official with the Alaska Travel Industry Association, said Chinese tourists contribute a lot to Alaska's economy as they tend to stay longer and spend more than tourists from other countries.

Chinese travelers represent about 3 percent of Alaska's tourism market, and more are coming each year, she said.

They tend to travel in the off season, and this offers a boost to local tourism businesses, Leonard explained.

"Alaska is just scratching the surface of the Chinese market, and looking for opportunities to create more revenue and opportunities for Alaska businesses," she said.
ISLAMABAD, June 4 (Xinhua) -- Pakistan on Monday strongly condemned the suicide attack in Afghan capital Kabul, which targeted a congregation of religious scholars.

Eight people were killed and nine others injured after a suicide bombing ripped through a university where top Afghan religious scholars were having the meeting, a Kabul police spokesman said.

The scholars issued a religious decree against the war and suicide attacks in the country.

"We are grieved at the loss of precious innocent lives in this barbaric act of terrorism. We express our heartfelt sympathies and condolences to the bereaved families and pray for the early recovery of the injured," a spokesman for the Pakistani foreign ministry said in a statement.

The spokesman said that Pakistan reiterates its unequivocal condemnation of terrorism in all forms and manifestations and expresses solidarity with the people and government of Afghanistan in this hour of grief and sorrow.
Source: Xinhua| 2018-06-04 22:47:02|Editor: yan

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BAGHDAD, June 4 (Xinhua) -- The Iraqi Ministry of Oil signed on Monday initial contracts with two Chinese companies for the exploration and development of three oil and gas blocks in Iraq.

The ministry signed two contracts with China's Geo-Jade Petroleum Corporation to develop the blocks of Naft Khana in the eastern province of Diyala and Huwieza in the southeastern province of Maysan, said Abdul-Mahdi al-Amidi, director general of the ministry's Contracts and Petroleum Licenses Department.

It also signed a contract with another Chinese company, United Energy Group (UEG), to develop the al-Sindibad block in the southern province of Basra, Amidi told a signing ceremony held at the ministry in Baghdad.

Earlier on Sunday, the ministry signed three contracts with the United Arab Emirates (UAE) Crescent Petroleum company to develop the three blocks in Kilabat-Gumar and Khashim al-Hmer-Injana in Iraq's eastern province of Diyala, and Khudhr al-Maa in the southern province of Basra.

The six initial contracts will be sent to the Council of Ministers, headed by Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi, for approval before the final signing, Amidi said.

Meanwhile, Iraqi Oil Minister Jabbar Luaibi said Iraq has ambitious plans to develop and explore the oil and gas blocks near the border to increase the country's oil and gas reserves.

He said that there are five more oil and gas blocks to be auctioned soon, pointing out that the average production of the six blocks is expected to reach 500,000 barrel per day (bpd) in the future.

Earlier, Iraq invited foreign energy companies to a new bid for the exploration and development of 11 oil and gas blocks near the borders with Iran and Kuwait.

On April 26, the competition in the bidding round ended by awarding six licenses to UAE Crescent and the two Chinese firms to explore and drill for oil and gas in six blocks in eastern and southern Iraq.

April's auction was the fifth in Iraq since the country opened its oil and gas sector for foreign investment in 2009.

Iraq's economy relies heavily on oil, which generates over 90 percent of its revenues. The country wants to increase its crude oil production to more than 5 million bpd from its current 4.35 million bpd.

Early in 2017, it was announced that Iraq's proven oil reserves had increased to 153 billion barrels from the previous estimate of 143 billion barrels.
Source: Xinhua| 2018-06-04 23:22:12|Editor: yan

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BEIJING, June 4 (Xinhua) -- Zi-na Lobsang Tenpa Gyaltsen, a senior monk of Tibetan Buddhism, has passed away in Xining, capital of northwest China's Qinghai Province. He was 81.

Zi-na Lobsang Tenpa Gyaltsen, enthroned in 1944 as the 27th Zi-na Living Buddha of the Ta'er Monastery, was a member of the Standing Committee of the 10th National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) and a former vice chairman of the CPPCC Qinghai Provincial Committee, according to an official statement released Monday, which described him as a well-known patriotic religious figure and a close friend of the Communist Party of China.

Central leaders have extended their regards and condolences in various ways during his illness and after his death.
CAIRO, June 4 (Xinhua) -- The Central Bank of Egypt (CBE) said on Monday that the country's foreign currency reserves (forex) hit a new record high of 44.138 billion U.S. dollars at the end of May.

In April, the figure was 44.029 billion dollars, the CBE said.

Egypt's forex, which was 36 billion dollars in January 2011 just before the uprising that ousted former President Hosni Mubarak, declined to an alarming level of 13.5 billion dollars in February 2013, a few months before the ouster of former Islamist President Mohamed Morsi.

The political instability and insecurity led to an economic recession and decline of tourism and foreign investment, two major sources for Egypt's forex.

But Egypt's forex started to gradually rise under President Abdel-Fattah al-Sisi, who, as the army chief then, led Morsi's ouster in 2013. He was backed by some oil-rich Gulf countries, including Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and Kuwait, which have provided financial support.

Improving the security condition, increasing remittances of Egyptian expatriates abroad as well as increased foreign loans and deposits, have refilled the CBE with foreign funds.

To boost the economy, bolster forex and contain dollar shortage, Egypt started in late 2016 a strict three-year economic reform program including imposing austerity measures, fuel and energy subsidy cuts and tax increases, in addition to local currency's full floatation that led to nationwide price hikes.

Egypt's reform program is encouraged by a 12-billion-dollar loan from the International Monetary Fund, half of which has already been delivered to the country.

"This increase (of forex) proves that the reform program is making success," said Rashad Abdo, an economics professor at Cairo University and the head of the Egyptian Forum for Economic and Strategic Studies.

Abdo said that the improvement of Egypt's forex is an indication of an advancing economy, adding that the government's economic policies have been a success despite criticism.

"I believe the forex would keep going up during summer as thousands of Egyptian expatriates would visit the country, and tourism would flourish in the coming few months," he added.
A "mobster" is controlled during a joint anti-terrorist exercise held by China and Kyrgyzstan frontier forces in Kizilsu Kirgiz Prefecture, northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, June 27, 2017. (Xinhua/Wang Fei)

MOSCOW, June 4 (Xinhua) -- The Russian Federal Security Service (FSB) said Monday it had detained 11 members of a religious cell in the Siberian city of Krasnoyarsk suspected of recruiting militants for terrorist groups in Syria and Afghanistan.

According to a statement of the Krasnoyarsk regional FSB division, quoted by TASS news agency, the members of the cell are suspected of carrying out propaganda of terrorism in the region.

Two members of the cell, who came to Krasnoyarsk from Kyrgyzstan, are suspected of organizing a channel for transferring radical-minded individuals to territories under the control of international terrorists, the statement said.

The leader of the cell had established a direct telephone connection with members of terrorist organizations, it said.

The FSB discovered and seized forbidden religious literature belonging to the cell.

The regional FSB division brought criminal charges against two organizers of the cell on the grounds of "preparation for participation in the activities of the organization, which by law is considered terroristic" and "promotion of terrorist activities."
Source: Xinhua| 2018-06-04 23:32:16|Editor: yan

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JERUSALEM, June 4 (Xinhua) -- Israeli troops shot and killed an ax-wielding Palestinian man who tried to cross the fence between Israel and the Gaza Strip on Monday, the Israeli military said in a statement.

The man attempted to damage the fence along with another man, in an attempt to "infiltrate" into Israeli territory, the statement said.

"In response, Israel Defense Forces troops arrived at the scene and opened fire ... killing one of them," the statement read.

It was not immediately clear what happened to the another Palestinian man.

The incident came at a time of renewed violence along the fence, where Israeli forces have killed at least 122 Palestinians during the clashes with Palestinian protesters who started the massive "March of Return" on March 30.

Last week, Gaza militants fired dozens of rockets at southern Israel, causing some property damage but no casualties.
File photo taken on May 12, 2017, shows a section of the Mombasa-Nairobi Standard Gauge Railway (SGR), which began operation in 2017. (Xinhua/Chen Cheng)

PRETORIA, June 4 (Xinhua) -- Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi on Monday expressed belief that the upcoming Beijing Summit of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) will elevate China-Africa Comprehensive Strategic and Cooperative Partnership to a new level.

The Chinese top diplomat, who is attending the Formal Meeting of the BRICS Ministers of Foreign Affairs here, answered a question raised by the media about the FOCAC Beijing summit to be held in September.

He pointed out that as the key platform for the collective dialogue and cooperation between China and African countries, the forum has already become a model of South-South cooperation and a banner of international cooperation with Africa.

During the past six years when South Africa has been serving as co-chair of the forum, China and South Africa have been closely coordinating and actively promoting the development of the forum mechanism so as to advance China-Africa solidarity and cooperation, Wang said.

After South Africa successfully hosted the FOCAC Johannesburg summit in December 2015, efforts to implement the outcomes have been carried out smoothly with tangible and effective results, he said.

"In keeping with the principle of extensive consultation, joint contribution and shared benefits, we are now making all efforts to advance the preparatory work for the Beijing summit," Wang said.

The work related to the invitation of African leaders to attend the summit by Chinese President Xi Jinping and South African President Cyril Ramaphosa has been completed and most African leaders have confirmed their attendance, he said.

The Chinese councilor said that in light of the new changes in the international situation and the new demand for growth on the African continent, the summit will unveil new measures to step up China-Africa cooperation across the board.

"We expect that the African leaders will gather in Beijing to elevate China-Africa Comprehensive Strategic and Cooperative Partnership to a new level," he said.

It is believed that with the joint efforts by China and African countries, the FOCAC Beijing Summit will surely be another historic event to strengthen China-Africa solidarity and cooperation, he added.
NICOSIA, June 4 (Xinhua) -- The Cypriot government will restore salaries and pensions to their level before the 2013 financial crisis, which led to their impairment by a total of 19 percent, Finance Minister Harris Georgiades said on Monday.

Cyprus was bailed-out by the Eurogroup and the International Monetary Fund in March 2013 under a 10-billion-euro financial assistance package, which also provided for austerity in the form of salary cuts and additional taxes.

Even before the bailout, salaries were cut in 2011 by 12 percent as part of a reform effort to avert the oncoming crisis and avoid more austerity. After the bailout, international lenders demanded further salary and pension cuts.

Georgiades, who took over the helm of the economy soon after the bailout managed an impressive comeback of the economy, with growth returning in 2015 and a steady expansion ever since.

However, his success brought him a headache as unions demanded salary increases, on the grounds that the economy has fully recovered and is expanding as a steady pace.

The government and the main general workers unions have already agreed on the principle of gradually restoring salaries to the pre-crisis levels but they did not define how this would be done.

Georgiades told state radio that he would suggest a gradual restoration of the salaries instead of introducing salary raises.

"The annual reduction of the salary cuts will be within the limits the economy can afford," Georgiades said.

But the main government employees union, PASYDY, demanded an immediate return to the 2011 salary levels.

"My union has always been in disagreement with other unions on the issue. We demand a one-off return to the old salaries," the union's Secretary General Glafkos Hadjipetrou said.

He added that economic conditions today are entirely different and much better than in 2011, warranting restoration of pay packets the pre-crisis level.

But Georgiades pointed out that even if the government wanted restore salaries in one move, the economy could not withstand the burden.

Meanwhile, business associations, such as the Federation of Employers' Association and the Cyprus Chamber of Commerce and Industry, fearing a backlash on the private sector salaries, strongly criticized the restoration of salaries in the public sector.
Chinese Ambassador to Russia Li Hui speaks during an interview in Moscow, Russia, June 27, 2017. (Xinhua/Luan Hai)

MOSCOW, June 4 (Xinhua) -- Economic and trade cooperation between China and Russia will continue to prosper under the leadership of the countries' presidents, Chinese Ambassador to Russia Li Hui told Xinhua in a recent interview.

At the invitation of Chinese President Xi Jinping, Russian President Vladimir Putin will pay a state visit to China this week and attend the 18th meeting of the Council of Heads of State of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO).

According to China's Ministry of Commerce, China-Russia trade increased nearly 30 percent year-on-year to 31.2 billion U.S. dollars in the first four months of the year, while bilateral trade will possibly exceed 100 billion dollars in 2018.

Companies of the two countries are jointly developing a wide-body long-haul airliner, producing liquefied natural gas at the Yamal project, and cooperating in nuclear power, aviation, infrastructure, digital economy and the Arctic shipping route.

"Economic and trade cooperation between China and Russia has rich contents and covers a wide range of fields. The two countries will cement the positive momentum of rapid growth in trade and boost mutual investment and cooperation in major projects of strategic significance," Li said.

On May 17, China and the Eurasia Economic Union (EAEU) signed an agreement on trade and economic cooperation, the first major systematic arrangement ever reached between the two sides.

China and the EAEU agreed to further simplify procedures of customs clearance and cut costs of trade in goods by strengthening cooperation and exchange of information.

Established in 2015, the EAEU groups Russia, Kazakhstan, Belarus, Armenia and Kyrgyzstan.

"All of the EAEU members are important participants in the Belt and Road Initiative. Their economies are highly complementary with China's. China-EAEU cooperation has great potential and a bright future," Li said.

The Belt and Road Initiative, proposed by China in 2013, aims to build trade and infrastructure networks connecting Asia with Europe and Africa on and beyond the ancient Silk Road routes.

On Feb. 7, China and Russia launched the year of cooperation and exchanges between local governments.

The two countries have established the "Yangtze River-Volga River" and "China's Northeast-Russia's Far East" regional cooperation mechanisms and signed agreements for 137 pairs of sister cities and provinces/regions.

Li said more than 100 events will be held within the framework of the year of cooperation and exchanges between local governments.

"They will boost enthusiasm for cooperation between local governments, tap cooperation potential, foster new growth areas, and give new impetus to the development of China-Russia relations," Li said.

India and Pakistan will participate as full members for the first time at the SCO summit in Qingdao, east China's Shandong Province.

The Chinese ambassador said the expansion of the SCO shows that the organization's global influence is increasing.

He said the "Shanghai Spirit," which features mutual trust, mutual benefit, equality, consultation, respect for cultural diversity and pursuit of common development, will be better disseminated and implemented.

The inclusion of India and Pakistan will also promote economic integration in the region and help maintain regional security and stability, Li said.
ALGIERS, June 4 (Xinhua) -- Algerian Energy Minister Mustapha Guitouni said Monday that the oil price will stabilize despite geopolitical problems prevailing in some oil-producing areas.

The oil price will stand at around 75 to 80 U.S. dollars a barrel, Guitouni was quoted by the National Radio as saying.

"There are geopolitical problems in some oil-producing regions, but fortunately they are likely to be solved," he said.

His remarks were in response to fears that the oil price could collapse again amid reports that Russia and Saudi Arabia would decide to raise their oil outputs.

Guitouni recalled that there has been an agreement between OPEC and non-OPEC member states in September 2016 to reduce oil production by 1.8 million barrels per day and it remains valid until the end of the current year.

U.S. President Donald Trump announced on May 8 to pull out of the Iranian nuclear deal, while vowing to re-impose tough sanctions on the oil-rich Iran.

Abdelmadjid Attar, former CEO of the Algerian energy giant Sonatrach, told Xinhua last month that the U.S. decision would rather stabilize the oil price at current levels for the upcoming three or six months."

Attar said the decision will have geopolitical and geo-economic impact rather than affecting oil price, "simply because the oil price is no more dictated by classical fundamentals, given that the world is constantly consuming lesser oil."
ULAN BATOR, June 4 (Xinhua) -- An international military exercise, codenamed Gobi Wolf 2018, began on Monday in Mongolia's western province of Khovd.

Gobi Wolf 2018 is a five-day disaster response exercise and exchange event between the government of Mongolia and U.S. Army Pacific focused on interagency coordination.

Mongolia's National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) has hosted Gobi Wolf with support from Mongolian armed forces and conducted joint exercises with the U.S. Pacific Command since 2009, except for the years of 2013 and 2014, covering disaster scenarios common to Mongolia including earthquakes, floods and mining incidents, the NEMA said in a statement on Monday.

This year's exercise is co-organized under the theme "Organizing regional management and interaction" and in two stages, including classroom training and practices in replicated real-world situations.

The exercise will involve more than 650 participants, including those from Mongolia, the United States, international organizations, and embassies of France, Sri Lanka, Britain, Canada, South Korea, Australia, Japan, Thailand and Nepal to Mongolia.

During the exercise, the participants will share experiences and organize comprehensive training on search-rescue operations in swift river current and mountain bumps with the help of military dogs and emergency medical attention to disaster victims.

In addition, the training will be held on mobilizing women toward greater preparation in facing disasters and emergency situations.
Source: Xinhua| 2018-06-05 00:27:32|Editor: yan

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WASHINGTON, June 4 (Xinhua) -- The preliminary human trail of an experimental vaccine regiment is anticipated to begin in the second half of 2019, according to a study published on Monday in the journal Nature medicine.

The "broadly neutralizing" vaccine regiment based on the structure of a vulnerable site on HIV was found to have elicited antibodies in mice, guinea pigs and monkeys that could neutralize dozens of HIV strains from around the world.

The new regiment reflected the approach scientists used to develop an HIV vaccine as they first identify powerful HIV antibodies that can neutralize many strains of the virus, and then try to elicit those antibodies with a vaccine based on the structure of the HIV surface protein where the antibodies bind.

The study was led by Peter D. Kwong, and John R. Mascola with the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), part of the National Institutes of Health (NIH) under the United States Department of Health and Human Services.

"This elegant study is a potentially important step forward in the ongoing quest to develop a safe and effective HIV vaccine," said NIAID Director Anthony S. Fauci.

NIH vaccine scientist Zhou Tongqing told Xinhua that this is a revolutionary discovery since in past three decades, no research produced so good a result that elicit "broad neutralizing antibiotics" in so many animal models.

Over the past several years, HIV researchers have discovered many powerful, naturally occurring antibodies that can prevent multiple HIV strains from infecting human cells in the laboratory.

About half of people living with HIV make these so-called "broadly neutralizing" antibodies, but usually only after several years of infection, long after the virus has established a foothold in the body.

Since scientists have identified and characterized the sites, or epitopes, on HIV where each known broadly neutralizing antibody binds, many laboratories are developing HIV vaccine candidates based on the structure of these epitopes with the goal of coaxing the immune systems of HIV-negative people to make protective antibodies after vaccination.

HOW IT WORKS?

The experimental vaccine reported in this study is based on an epitope called the HIV fusion peptide, identified by NIAID scientists in 2016.

The fusion peptide, a short string of amino acids, is part of the spike on the surface of HIV that the virus uses to enter human cells.

According to the scientists, the fusion peptide epitope is particularly promising for use as a vaccine for two reasons.

Firstly, its structure is the same across most strains of HIV, and secondly the immune system clearly "sees" it and makes a strong immune response to it because the fusion peptide lacks sugars that obscure the immune system's view of other HIV epitopes.

The scientists first designed the immunogens, proteins designed to activate an immune response, using a collection of antibodies that target the fusion peptide epitope, and then tested in mice which immunogens most effectively elicited antibodies to the fusion peptide.

They found that the best immunogen consisted of eight amino acids of the fusion peptide bonded to a carrier that evoked a strong immune response.

To improve their results, the scientists paired this immunogen with a replica of the HIV spike.

The researchers then tested different combinations of injections of the protein plus HIV spike in mice and analyzed the antibodies that the vaccine regimens generated.

The antibodies attached to the HIV fusion peptide and neutralized up to 31 percent of viruses from a globally representative panel of 208 HIV strains.

Based on their analyses, the scientists adjusted the vaccine regimen and tested it in guinea pigs and monkeys. These tests also yielded antibodies that neutralized a substantial fraction of HIV strains, providing initial evidence that the vaccine regimen may work in multiple species.

The scientists are now working to improve the vaccine regimen, including making it more potent and able to achieve more consistent outcomes with fewer injections.

The researchers also are isolating additional broadly neutralizing antibodies generated by the vaccine in monkeys, and they will assess these antibodies for their ability to protect the animals from a monkey version of HIV.

The NIAID scientists will use their findings to optimize the vaccine and then manufacture a version of it suitable for safety testing in human volunteers in a carefully designed and monitored clinical trial.
Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi speaks at the Formal Meeting of the BRICS Ministers of Foreign Affairs in Pretoria, South Africa, June 4, 2018. The five BRICS countries -- Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa, shoulder important international obligations in safeguarding global stability and advancing common development, China's top diplomat Wang Yi said here Monday. (Xinhua/Chen Cheng)

PRETORIA, June 4 (Xinhua) -- Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi on Monday called for more collective efforts by the five BRICS countries -- Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa -- to promote global peace and stability.

Wang made the appeal at the Formal Meeting of the BRICS Ministers of Foreign Affairs, which was presided over by South African Minister of International Relations and Cooperation Lindiwe Sisulu and also attended by Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, Indian External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj and Brazil's Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs Marcos Galvao.

The top agenda of the foreign ministers' meeting is to lay the groundwork for the 10th BRICS summit to be held in Johannesburg in July.

In his remarks, the Chinese foreign minister pointed out that the world is witnessing unprecedented changes in a century.

Under the circumstances, the BRICS should demonstrate an even broader strategic vision, more powerful collective efforts and a stronger will to shoulder responsibilities to bring more welfare to the people and make greater contribution to world peace and development, he said.

Wang said that the BRICS should serve as the powerful engine of global economic growth, providing a lasting driving force.

They should make joint efforts to build an open world economy, oppose trade protectionism and unilateralism, and safeguard common interests and development space, he said.

The BRICS should be the central pillar of strength providing powerful underlying support for world peace and stability, he stressed.

In light of the current situation, the BRICS should especially jointly stick to multilateralism and uphold the purposes and principles of the UN Charter and maintain international fairness and justice, he said.

He also called on the BRICS to expand cultural and people-to-people exchanges and actively promote exchanges and cooperation with non-BRICS emerging markets and developing countries so as to enlarge the circle of friends and strengthen the BRICS' influence and appeal.

Participants at the meeting spoke highly of the remarkable progress achieved in the past decade of BRICS cooperation, and highly appreciated China's important contribution to BRICS cooperation after it served as chair last year.

As the international landscape is undergoing complicated changes, they said, the BRICS should further strengthen coordination and cooperation, deepen strategic partnership, jointly stick to multilateralism, oppose unilateralism and protectionism and maintain the fundamental norms of international relations.

They also pledged all-out efforts to support and coordinate with South Africa in the preparations for the 10th BRICS summit to ensure its success.
JOHANNESBURG, June 4 (Xinhua) -- South Africa's International Relations and Cooperation Minister Lindiwe Sisulu on Monday reaffirmed the commitment to cementing the relations among the BRICS countries.

In her opening remarks at the Formal Meeting of the BRICS Ministers of Foreign Affairs in Pretoria on Monday, Sisulu said BRICS have increased its scope in the last ten years to cover economic, global political, security and social matters.

"There can be no doubt that our shared commitment to BRICS will bear fruit and we will make advances in confronting our common challenges and realizing our common objectives for peace, harmony and greater representation in global governance institutions," said Sisulu.

She said the BRICS foreign minister meeting gave them an opportunity to plan and work together, while stressing that BRICS holds the hope of most developing countries.

"We meet in the face of multilateralism under siege; when the integrity of international agreements can be hastily and expediently compromised. We meet when more and more countries take an inward-looking position at the expense of others," said Sisulu.

She said South Africa remains deeply committed to multilateral diplomacy, and called for the bloc to keep track on the challenges in the changing world but remain resolute on the BRICS dreams.
MOGADISHU, June 4 (Xinhua) -- The United States military said Monday that its special forces conducted an airstrike that killed 27 al-Shabab terrorists in northern Somalia.

The U.S. Africa Command (Africom) that oversees American troops on the African continent said the Saturday strike was conducted in cooperation with Somali government southwest of Bosasso.

"We currently assess no civilians were killed in this airstrike," Africom said in a statement.

The strike is the latest in a series of similar missions by the U.S. forces in Somalia in collaboration with Somali and African Union forces in the Horn of Africa country.

The strikes have largely targeted al-Shabab figureheads and bases in southern Somalia, where the group still maintains a strong grip in some regions.
TIRANA, June 4 (Xinhua) -- Albania has the total support of Bulgaria in her path to open negotiations for European Union (EU) integration, Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama declared on Monday during a joint press conference with visiting Bulgarian counterpart Boyko Borisov.

Rama emphasized that Bulgaria has become the advocate of the Western Balkans, especially Albania and Macedonia and is making tremendous efforts, setting the agenda of the Western Balkans as the backbone of the EU Presidency program.

Rama underlined that the relationship with Bulgaria is extremely positive.

Moreover, Rama mentioned the important step taken by Albania when the Parliament passed the Law on National Minorities related to Bulgarian minorities in Albania.

According to Rama, Bulgaria offers a fine example of absorbing funds from the EU, so Albania wants to learn from this experience.

Meanwhile, Borisov underlined that Albania deserves a chance to open negotiations with EU.

"The better the countries of the region are to interconnect, the greater the prospects for investment, for peace and prosperity. It is true that they are calling for a lot of efforts, because we still have two states that are skeptical of Albania, but most European countries think that although on conditions, Albania should be given a date and a path to start negotiations in general for the EU and we must make great efforts to convince the countries that have remained in this regard by the end of June," stated Borisov.
NAIROBI, June 4 (Xinhua) -- Kenya on Monday ordered heads of procurement and accounting units in ministries, departments, agencies and state corporations to step aside and hand over to their deputies for new vetting.

Mwenda Njoka, Ministry of Interior spokesman, said the senior officials will also have to undergo a lifestyle audit and submit personal information.

The circular came in the wake of President Uhuru Kenyatta's proclamation on Friday to vet afresh public officers amid a reactivated fight against graft following scandals at the National Youth Service (NYS) that led to the loss of about 90 million U.S. dollars through fraud and irregular procurement.

Several officials in five public institutions are currently being investigated for corruption scandals.

"All heads of procurement and accounts in government ministries, departments, agencies and parastatals will be vetted afresh, including taking a polygraph test, to determine their integrity and suitability," said Kenyatta on Friday.

The circular seeks information on the officers' assets, liabilities and previous record of service and assures them that the process will be undertaken in a fair and objective manner with due regards to their rights.

Procurement departments in the Kenyan government and state agencies are said to be the bastions of corruption where officers award lucrative contracts and tenders for inflated figures and receive massive kickbacks.
Source: Xinhua| 2018-06-05 01:17:50|Editor: yan

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BEIRUT, June 4 (Xinhua) -- Lebanese caretaker Foreign Minister Gebran Bassil defended on Monday President Michel Aoun on a naturalization decree which granted 300 people citizenship, the National News Agency reported.

Bassil said the president and the foreign ministry are not "involved in any suspicious acts regarding the controversial naturalization decree issued last week."

Bassil called for a "serious and quick investigation to reveal any discrepancies," claiming that the uproar over the decree was part of a "campaign" against Aoun and his tenure.

A decree granting Syrians, Palestinians, Iraqis and other Arab nationals Lebanese citizenship was at the center of harsh political criticism pointed at Aoun as the president is the sole authority to grant the Lebanese citizenship according to the constitution.

Many suspect that bribery was possibly behind the decree's signature.

"The campaign we are witnessing now has clear goals which are to target the president and his tenure," Bassil said, pointing out that the PM-designate Saad Hariri and caretaker Interior Minister Nouhad Machnouk also signed the decree and were not targeted.

The minister stressed that the ongoing investigation will reveal if any fault was committed.

He called on the president, who is his father in law, to continue granting citizenship for "deserving cases as long as it is carried out in a transparent process."

Bassil added that individual naturalization should be granted to people with Lebanese mothers, stateless individuals and others whose citizenship would bring a perceived benefit to the country.
Source: Xinhua| 2018-06-05 01:17:50|Editor: yan

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Chinese Premier Li Keqiang learns about online medical services while visiting a local hospital in Yinchuan, northwest China's Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region, June 4, 2018. Li made an inspection tour to the city of Yinchuan on Monday. (Xinhua/Wang Ye)

BEIJING, June 4 (Xinhua) -- Premier Li Keqiang on Monday said the public should benefit more from the Internet Plus model, which emphasizes applying internet technologies in traditional economic and social sectors.

Li made the call in an inspection tour to the city of Yinchuan, northwest China's Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region.

Li said there was huge potential to leverage the Internet Plus model to improve major areas of livelihood for the public, allowing people in poor or resources-scarce regions to gain access to better public services.

While visiting a local hospital, Li learned that online medical services had reached all communities and counties in the region. He even joined an online treatment section held between local community doctors and experts in Beijing.

Li went on to a middle school to inspect Internet Plus education. The premier said it could help children in poor regions to hear lectures from top teachers.

"With broadened knowledge, children might have their life changed," the premier said.

He urged local governments to deal with "stranglehold problems" concerning rural information infrastructure such as slow internet connections and poor funding, and increase investment in this regard.

The premier also toured a startup center, where nearly 500 start-up companies are located. He encouraged entrepreneurs to work hard and use their knowledge to create a good life.

He later visited a resettled community in Yinchuan, which accommodates more than 700 poor families moving out of inhospitable areas. The resettlers, who have now all said farewell to poverty, told the premier about good housing, accessible tap water and rising incomes.
LONDON, June 4 (Xinhua) -- Engineering group China Electronics Technology Corporation (CETC) has signed a collaboration agreement that will see it carrying out research at one of the world's best-known radio telescopes, Jodrell Bank, in Britain.

The agreement opens a new frontier for radio astronomy technology, the University of Manchester said in a statement Monday.

The university announced that CETC has entered into a collaboration agreement with the university's School of Physics & Astronomy, and School of Electronic & Electrical Engineering to focus on research and development of technologies relating to radio astronomy.

The agreement paves the way for the formation of a new joint research laboratory for Radio Astronomy Advanced Instrumentation Research (RAAIR), the announcement added.

"CETC's multi-million investment in RAAIR over the next three years will fund state-of-the-art scientific and technical research projects, researchers and international exchanges with the aim of fostering a long-term relationship with the university," said a spokesman for the University of Manchester.

Professor Tony Brown, of the Microwave and Communication Systems Group (School of EEE), was the original driving force behind the new collaboration.

The Director of the new RAAIR laboratory is Prof. Michael Garrett, Director of the Jodrell Bank Center for Astrophysics (JBCA) and Sir Bernard Lovell chair of astrophysics.

"The initiative builds on over seven decades of continuous world-leading radio astronomy technology development at Jodrell Bank," the spokesman added.

Garrett said: "We look forward to jointly developing technologies that will have a major impact on next generation radio telescope projects, including the Square Kilometre Array (SKA)".

Professor Brown said: "The RAAIR moves our collaboration to a new level and will deliver world leading research in advanced technology for radio astronomy."

The university's Vice-President and Dean of the Faculty of Science & Engineering, Professor Martin Schroeder welcomed the University of Manchester's commitment to closer relations with Chinese science and engineering, and said benefits have already resulted from this.

CETC is a Global Top 100 company, with over 140,000 employees. The company has a strong background in research and development, and beyond radio astronomy it has expressed interest in the coming future in broad cooperation in areas such as Artificial Intelligence, Big Data & Advance Materials.
BRATISLAVA, June 4 (Xinhua) -- Slovak Office for Public Health announced on Monday that the epidemics of measles has spread in the eastern part of the country.

"The incidence has increased to 20 suspected cases, of which six have been already confirmed mainly in the village of Drahnov. None of the twenty patients has experienced any complications. We have taken measures to stop the epidemics," said Dasa Rackova, a spokesperson with the office.

According to the spokesperson, the virus was carried by Slovaks, who arrived from Britain.

Medical staff were also infected after contacts with patients in the hospital Svet zdravia in Michalovce.

"Currently, we have a confirmed diagnosis for one employee of the Michalovce hospital, who is already in home treatment, and tests are still under way for the second employee," confirmed the spokesperson of Svet zdravia Jana Fedakova.
by Alessandra Cardone

ROME, June 4 (Xinhua) -- The European Union (EU) must help more on migrants, otherwise Italy would have to find other solutions to the issue, the country's new interior minister said on Monday.

"It is a matter of common sense, the arrival and reception of hundreds of thousands of 'non-refugees' cannot be only an Italian problem," Matteo Salvini said.

"Either Europe gives us a hand in securing our borders, saving lives, and granting our safety, or we will have to choose other paths," he added, without elaborating.

Salvini, also the leader of far-right League, was sworn in as interior minister on Friday within Italy's first populist government led by Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte, almost three months after inconclusive elections.

The League forged a coalition with anti-establishment Five Star Movement (M5S) on the base of a political platform including a crackdown on irregular migrants.

Salvini wrote his comments on the League's official Facebook account on Monday, after speaking on the same issue with state-run broadcaster RAI 1.

On Sunday, during a short trip to a migrant center in Sicily, a major point of arrival for people rescued during the perilous Mediterranean crossing from African coasts, he had already stressed Italy could no longer be "Europe's refugee camp."

The first occasion to formalize Italy's new stand would come on Tuesday, when the European Council of Home Affairs Ministers will gather in Brussels.

The meeting would focus on migration routes in the Mediterranean, and on debating a reform of the common EU asylum system.

The system is based on so-called Dublin Regulation, which currently states all new migrants and refugees arriving in the EU must register or file asylum request in the country where they land first.

Italy, according to the interior minister, would not support the proposal to revive the Regulation on the table in Brussels.

"We will send a delegation (the cabinet being engaged in securing confidence vote in senate) to say no," Salvini declared.

"Instead of helping, it would further penalize Italy and the other countries in the Mediterranean like Spain, Greece, Cyprus, and Malta."

According to a draft published by the EU Council ahead of the meeting, one element in the new system would be the "targeted allocation (of refugees) primarily on a voluntary basis, with strong incentives."

Another point in the proposal calls for "a stable responsibility for eight years", meaning the countries at the forefront of migrant and refugee inflows might be responsible for the new arrivals for that long.

Previous proposals for a Dublin Regulation change and a fairer refugee distribution across the EU have been strongly advocated by Italy (among others) since 2015, and opposed by several partners such as Austria, Hungary, Poland, and other eastern EU countries.

The EU Council introduced a system of mandatory quotas to reallocate some 160,000 refugees from Italy and Greece in September 2015 -- at the height of Europe's migration crisis.

Some 31,500 people were relocated up to November 2017, with "almost all Member States" respecting the legal obligations, while the Czech Republic, Hungary, and Poland under infringement procedures for not accepting them, according to the EU Commission.

Up to June 1 this year, Italy has registered 13,430 arrivals, some 9,200 of which from the coasts of Libya, according to Interior Ministry's data. It marked a 71.95 percent and 77.7 percent drop compared to arrivals in the same period of 2016 and 2017, respectively.

The country has started seeing a sharp decrease in inflows after the signing in mid-2017 a controversial deal with Libyan authorities and factions to curb departures from there.

Overall, it has received 181,436 migrants and refugees in 2016, and 119,369 in 2017.
JUBA, June 4 (Xinhua) -- South Sudanese President Salva Kiir is ready for peace talks with his longtime political rival and rebel leader Riek Machar, a presidential spokesman said on Monday.

Kiir's spokesman, Ateny Wek Ateny, told Xinhua by phone that the South Sudanese leader has accepted the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) proposal for face-to-face talks with the former first deputy president.

"President Kiir has agreed to meet Machar as proposed by the IGAD Council of Ministers because he is committed to peace. I can not speculate what they are going to discuss in the meeting now," Ateny said.

Last week, the East African regional bloc, IGAD, which is mediating efforts to revive South Sudan's stalled 2015 peace deal, recommended President Kiir meet Machar before the next African Union (AU) summit slated for July in Mauritania.

The meeting was called for after the several warring parties in South Sudan last month failed to agree during the second round of the High Level Revitalization Forum held in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.

"The president is ready to meet with Machar anytime, anywhere," Ateny added. He said the president is only waiting from IGAD the venue to be named.

This comes after the regional ministers set June 30 as the deadline for face-to-face talks between Kiir and the exiled rebel leader to resolve the conflict.

If it takes place, the face-to-face talks will be the first meeting between the warring South Sudanese leaders since Machar fled Juba in July 2016 following renewed violence. Machar is reportedly under house arrest in South Africa.

South Sudan descended into civil war in late 20013, and the conflict has created one of the fastest growing refugee crises in the world. The UN estimates that about 4 million South Sudanese have been displaced internally and externally.

A peace deal signed in August 2015 between the rival leaders under UN pressures led to the establishment of a transitional unity government, but was shattered by renewed fighting in July 2016.
VILNIUS, June 4 (Xinhua) -- Lithuanian President Dalia Grybauskaite on Monday visited a maritime-focused military exercise Baltops 18 amid a number of military trainings taking place in Lithuania in recent days.

"We have the exercise which practically shows NATO Article 5 (on collective defense) is working, and the collective defense is possible," Grybauskaite told Lithuanian national broadcaster LRT.

The Lithuanian president noted the maritime military drill is one of the largest in the region, which involves 50 navy ships, 60 aircrafts and 5,000 personnel.

"This time we have a record, 22 countries, two non-NATO countries," said the Lithuanian president from the deck of an U.S. dock landing ship Oak Hill in the Baltic Sea on Monday.

Grybauskaite also discussed defense strengthening in the region with the commanders of the U.S. Navy in Europe while attending the exercise.

Baltops 18 is held in parallel with Thunder Storm 2018, Lithuania's largest national military drill in its history with 9,000 personnel, and Saber Strike 2018, the international military drill that involves roughly 18,000 soldiers from 19 countries training in Lithuania and neighboring Latvia, Estonia, and Poland.

It is the first time in 20 years when all Lithuanian national defense capabilities together with allied forces are deployed for military training, local media reported.

In recent years, Lithuania, a small Baltic State with a population of less than 3 million and the Eastern-flank member country of NATO, has stepped up its military training, increased defense spending and asked for an increased presence of allied armed forces citing security tensions in eastern Europe.
RIGA, June 4 (Xinhua) -- Latvian government coalition on Monday decided to push ahead with some of the controversial education reforms, which met disagreements last week.

The decision was made after a compromise solution reached on Monday, with one of the key proposals, to lower the school age to six from seven years, indefinitely postponed, representatives of Latvia's center-right coalition told reporters.

Education and Science Minister Karlis Sadurskis, who is the main initiator of the reforms, met with coalition lawmakers on Monday to convince them of the necessity to introduce competency-based learning in Latvia's schools.

The Union of Greens and Farmers, the leading partner in the tripartite coalition, has so far been showing the strongest resistance to Sadurskis' proposals. Talks within the coalition will continue on the details of the compromise solution.

Last Thursday, several reforms proposed by the Education and Science Ministry got stuck in the parliament as members of the education committee rejected a number of the ministry's initiatives, including the idea to lower the school age to six.

The lawmakers also dismissed the ministry's proposal to give high schools greater freedom in combining teaching programs and decided to postpone a transition of competency-based learning for a year.

After the political signals last week suggested that the education reform might be scrapped, a group of concerned parents formed an action group called Parents for Better Education and sent the parliament education committee a letter urging lawmakers to pass the laws necessary to enable to reform as soon as possible.

The parliament is expected to hold the second and third reading of the education reform bills this week.
SARAJEVO, June 4 (Xinhua) -- A 53-member contingent of Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH) peacekeepers left here for Afghanistan on Monday, local media reported.

Chief of Joint Staff of the BiH Armed Forced Senad Masovic said that by sending its contingent, BiH shows its strong commitment to continued participation in peacekeeping missions around the world.

"In this way, we want to promote the values of BiH and to facilitate its EU and NATO integration process as well," said Masovic.

BiH Deputy Minister of Defense Boris Jerinic said that the contingent includes 45 soldiers and eight military police officers.

BiH Armed Forces have been present in Afghanistan since 2009, with more than 1,300 members involved in the peace mission so far.
SOFIA, June 4 (Xinhua) -- Krassimir Karakachanov, deputy prime minister and defense minister of Bulgaria, said here on Monday that Bulgaria should toughen its position towards the European Union (EU) over the mobility package, which allegedly harms the interests of Bulgarian transport companies.

Karakachanov told local TV that transport was the third largest source of public revenue in Bulgaria, and the third major item in Bulgaria's state budget after energy and tourism. It was about 14 billion leva (about 8.4 billion U.S. dollars) in annual turnover generated by Bulgarian companies.

If Bulgarian companies go bankrupt, drivers could lose their jobs and international companies would then try to hire them, which could mean tens of thousands more Bulgarians potentially emigrating. This is by no means good for Bulgaria, he said.

The EU Mobility Package foresees that truck drivers from eastern European countries will receive the same payment for journeys abroad as those in Western European transport firms.

Hundreds of truck drivers blocked roads across Bulgaria in mid-May as EU leaders met in Sofia, protesting against the mobility package, calling it a protectionist measure designed to help rival firms in Western Europe.

The Bulgarian transport association said around 120,000 drivers from the country would lose their jobs under the proposed rule changes.
Source: Xinhua| 2018-06-05 03:28:21|Editor: yan

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JERUSALEM, June 4 (Xinhua) -- Israeli Defense Minister Avigdor Lieberman vowed on Monday to stop the burning kites that Gaza militants have sent to Israel over the past weeks.

Lieberman told a meeting of his ultra-nationalist Yisrael Beiteinu party that some 600 kites with attached incendiary devices or burning rags were launched toward Israel.

About 400 were intercepted by the Israeli military and 200 fell inside Israeli territory, causing fires in agricultural areas and forests, he added.

"It should be clear that we are not prepared to accept the kite phenomenon," the Israeli minister noted.

Lieberman warned that Israel will exact a heavy price from Gaza militants if burning kites continue to be fired.

"We will act in accordance with Israeli interests at the right time and when we decide to. In any event, I am not in the custom of leaving scores unsettled and we will settle all scores with Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad," he said.

His remarks came at a time of renewed violence along the Israel-Gaza security fence, where Israeli forces used gunfire to disperse Palestinian protesters who started the anti-Israel "Great March of Return" rally on March 30.

Last week, Gaza militants fired dozens of rockets and mortars at southern Israel, causing damage yet no casualties.




Einstein's elevator: As the Earth falls like an elevator in the sun's gravity, atomic clocks based on hydrogen and cesium maintain the same synchronicity in their ticking properties. NIST physicists just measured this phenomenon better than ever before. (Credit: K. Rechin/NIST)

WASHINGTON, June 4 (Xinhua) -- American physicists have performed the most accurate test ever of a key principle underlying Albert Einstein's theory of general relativity that describes how gravity relates to space and time.

Researchers at the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) reported in a paper published on Monday in the journal Nature Physics a record-low, exceedingly small value for a quantity that Einstein predicted to be zero, by comparing different types of remote atomic clocks.

NIST researchers used the solar system as a laboratory for testing Einstein's thought experiment involving Earth as a free-falling elevator.

Einstein theorized that all objects located in such an elevator would accelerate at the same rate, as if they were in a uniform gravitational field. Moreover, he predicted, these objects' properties relative to each other would remain constant during the elevator's free fall.

In their experiment, the NIST team regarded Earth as an elevator falling through the Sun's gravitational field.

They compared recorded data on the "ticks" of two types of atomic clocks located around the world to show they remained in sync over 14 years, even as the gravitational pull on the elevator varied during the Earth's slightly off-kilter orbit around the sun.

Researchers compared data from 1999 to 2014 for a total of 12 clocks: four hydrogen masers (microwave lasers) in the NIST time scale with eight of the most accurate cesium fountain atomic clocks operated by metrology laboratories in the United States, the United Kingdom, France, Germany and Italy.

The experiment was designed to test a prediction of general relativity, the principle of local position invariance (LPI), which holds that in a falling elevator, measures of non-gravitational effects are independent of time and place.

One such measurement compares the frequencies of electromagnetic radiation from atomic clocks at different locations.

The researchers constrained the violation of LPI to a value of 0.00000022 plus or minus 0.00000025, the most miniscule number yet, consistent with general relativity's predicted result of zero. It corresponded to no violation.

This indicated that the ratio of hydrogen to cesium frequencies remained the same as the clocks moved together in the falling elevator.

This result has five times less uncertainty than NIST's best previous measurement of the LPI violation, translating to five times greater sensitivity.

The latest measurement advance is due to improvements in several areas, namely more accurate cesium fountain atomic clocks, better time transfer processes and the latest data for computing the position and velocity of Earth in space, NIST scientist Bijunath Patla said.

Further limits on LPI are unlikely to be obtained using hydrogen and cesium clocks, according to the researchers, but experimental next-generation clocks based on optical frequencies, which are much higher than the frequencies of hydrogen and cesium clocks, could offer much more sensitive results.

NIST already operated a variety of these clocks based on atoms such as ytterbium and strontium.
By Eric J. Lyman

ROME, June 4 (Xinhua) -- Confronting the "eco-Mafia" will be a central priority of the new Italian government, according to newly-installed Minister of Environment Sergio Costa, a veteran of the battle against the distinctively Italian environmental challenge.

Costa, along with 17 other minister and Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte, was installed as part of Italy's 66th post-World War II government on June 1, and a day later Costa told an enthusiastic crowd at a Rome rally that, "We have to rid our territory of the menace of the eco-Mafia."

Costa's promise came just ahead of the 44th edition of World Environment Day, which will take place June 5.

The official theme of World Environment Day is "Beat Plastic Pollution", an area where Italy has been making dramatic progress in recent years. But the new focus on the eco-Mafia will be a welcome development, according to Stefano Ciafani, president of Legambiente, Italy's largest environmental lobby group.

"We have seen two years where crimes from the eco-Mafia have diminished since a new law increasing penalties and giving police new powers to investigate environmental crimes came into force," Ciafani told Xinhua. "But with more emphasis on the issue, the country can make significant progress."

The eco-Mafia is a term referring to environmental crimes committed by mob groups, and, as such, it is strongest in the southern regions of Italy where crime families are the most powerful.

Crimes include illegal dumping of garbage, the production and use of substandard cement, the trafficking of archeological riches, and disregard for environmental and zoning rules in large-scale construction projects and other practices. Data indicates that Italy suffers more than 25,000 such eco-Mafia abuses every year.

Ciafani said a 2015 law that gave new tools for confront the eco-Mafia to law enforcement resulted in fewer related crimes in 2015-16 and 2016-17. Legambiente is still process data for 2017-18, which it will formally unveil July 9.

"My hope is that the new report will reveal that eco-Mafia abuses are reduced even more and that sanctions issued against rule breakers will increase even more," Ciafani said.

The installation of Costa as minister of environment will likely help. Costa had been one of the leading forces as a brigadier general of the Carabinieri, Italy's paramilitary police force.

And he is not a newcomer to the topic: his thesis upon graduating from the University of Naples Federico II 35 years ago was entitled "Investigations and Operational Techniques for Protecting the Environment Against the Eco-Mafia".

"The new minister has great expertise in this area and he has been a faithful partner for environmental activists looking to reduce the problem of the eco-Mafia," said Ciafani.

Though it operates nationally, the eco-Mafia is strongest in the southern regions of Apulia, Campagna, Calabria, and Sicily -- the same regions were organized crime clans are strongest.

According to the most recent national report on the topic, released last year, the number of eco-Mafia crimes fell by 7 percent between 2015 and 2016, from 27,745 to 25,889. But that still amounted to an average of 71 such crimes per day, or about three every hour.
TRIPOLI, June 4 (Xinhua) -- The commander of the Libyan eastern-based army announced on Monday the beginning of the second phase of the battle to liberate the eastern city of Darna, after the army stormed the city center.

"To our soldiers fighting in all axes of Darna, we salute you for your patience and steadfastness. You are fighting fierce battles under difficult circumstances to clear Darna of terrorism," said Gen. Khalifa Haftar.

"The victory and liberation of Darna from terrorism is near," he said.

On the details of the second phase, Haftar warned his forces of "booby traps, mines, agents and snipers," as well as "any suspicious movement" in Darna.

"Any source of threat from the enemy and sleeping cells should be dealt with immediately, and the armed forces must interfere as soon as any signs of terrorism appear," he said.

The army forces made great progress on Monday in fierce battles, advancing to the city center of Darna after forcing the terrorist groups to retreat and lose almost half of the city.

Since 2015, Darna has been besieged by the army, which demanded the armed group of the Shura Council of Mujahideen of Darna leave the city, accusing it of being loyal to al-Qaida.

More than 30 soldiers have since been killed and over 40 others wounded, according to medical and military sources.

The UN Support Mission in Libya recently said at least 17 civilians were killed and 22 others wounded in Darna over the past two weeks, as a result of the fighting between the army and militants.
File Photo: U.S. President Donald Trump and British Prime Minister Theresa May (front) arrive for a joint press conference at the White House in Washington D.C., the United States, Jan. 27, 2017. (Xinhua/Yin Bogu)

WASHINGTON, June 4 (Xinhua) -- U.S. President Donald Trump on Monday spoke with British Prime Minister Theresa May over phone, and discussed the bilateral trade ties, the Iran nuclear issue and the upcoming Group of Seven (G7) summit.

According to a White House statement, Trump also called for a new and comprehensive deal that addresses all aspects of Iran's alleged "destabilizing" behavior, including in Yemen and Syria.

Trump announced to exit the Iran nuke deal in May, despite European nations' protests.

Trump also "underscored the need to rebalance trade with Europe" and expressed hope for a Brexit deal that does not increase tensions on the Northern Ireland border.

U.S. tariffs on steel and aluminum imports from the European Union (EU), Canada and Mexico took effect on June 1. Trump has decided not to extend the temporary steel and aluminum tariff exemptions for these three key trading partners. The move followed earlier metals tariffs on countries around the world.

The two leaders also discussed their goals for the upcoming G7 summit on June 8 and 9 in Quebec, Canada, and look forward to Trump's visit to Britain in July.

U.S. Department of State on April 26 confirmed that Trump will pay a working visit to Britain on July 13. The visit would start after Trump attended the NATO summit slated for July 11-12 in Brussels.

Trump made a sudden announcement on Jan. 11 that he has canceled his trip to Britain due to disappointment over the new location of the U.S. embassy in London.

The trans-Atlantic alliance between the United States and Britain has been shaky ever since Trump assumed the presidency last January. His proposal of a strict ban on Muslim immigration has sparked wide controversy in the island nation. Matters got even worse when Trump retweeted video posts of a British ultra-rightist group targeting Muslim immigrants in November.

Trump and May also discussed the upcoming summit meeting between the United States and the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) slated for June 12 in Singapore.
A Saudi woman sits in a car during a driving training at a university in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, March 7, 2018. (Reuters photo)

RIYADH, June 4 (Xinhua) -- Saudi Arabia on Monday granted a woman driving license after decades of driving ban, Al Arabiya local news reported.

The country announced last week its readiness to allow women to drive vehicles, starting from June 24, after Saudi King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud ordered in September 2017 to allow women to drive cars after decades of restricting driving only to male citizens and residents.

Assistant Ministry of Interior for Operation Affairs of the Interior Ministry, General Saeed Al-Qahtani, has confirmed that all women who are capable of driving cars can do so.

He also warned the new female drivers that they would be on par with male drivers facing penalties and fines in case of traffic violations.

The minister highlighted that security checkpoints would be set up to deal with expected changes in traffic after the ban is lifted.

Driving schools for women have been set up across five cities in the kingdom. Women with foreign driving licenses will be able to apply for local ones through a separate process, which will also assess their driving skills.
Source: Xinhua| 2018-06-05 04:48:44|Editor: yan

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UNITED NATIONS, June 4 (Xinhua) -- United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on Monday condemned the killing of one peacekeeper in the Central African Republic.

In a statement, Stephane Dujarric, spokesman for Guterres, said that the secretary-general "strongly condemns the attack on June 3 by armed elements on a United Nations Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in the Central African Republic (MINUSCA) patrol in the west of the country."

The attack resulted in the killing of a peacekeeper from Tanzania and the wounding of seven others. This brings to four the number of peacekeepers killed in targeted attacks in the Central African Republic since January 2018.

"The secretary-general pays tribute to all of the courageous men and women who have made the ultimate sacrifice for the cause of peace in the Central African Republic. He offers his deepest condolences to the bereaved family as well as to the Government of Tanzania, and wishes a swift recovery to the injured," said Dujarric.

"The secretary-general recalls that attacks against United Nations peacekeepers may constitute a war crime and that sanctions can be applied against the perpetrators. He urges the Central African Republic authorities to spare no effort in identifying and investigating them so that they can be swiftly brought to justice," he said.

The spokesman added that the UN chief "reaffirms his unwavering support to MINUSCA in its efforts to protect civilians and stabilize the Central African Republic."
Source: Xinhua| 2018-06-05 05:13:48|Editor: Chengcheng

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Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras speaks during the opening ceremony of the International Shipping Exhibition of Posidonia in Athens, Greece, on June 4, 2018. Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras inaugurated on Monday in Athens the 2018 Posidonia maritime exhibition, one of the most prestigious shipping events globally, voicing confidence for the future of the strong Greek shipping industry and post-bailout Greece. (Xinhua/Marios Lolos)

By Maria Spiliopoulou

ATHENS, June 4 (Xinhua) -- Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras inaugurated on Monday in Athens the 2018 Posidonia maritime exhibition, one of the most prestigious shipping events globally, voicing confidence for the future of the strong Greek shipping industry and post-bailout Greece.

Despite the debt crisis that brought Greece at the brink of default in the past eight years, Greek shipping remained the global leader in commercial fleet operating 20 percent of the global and 50 percent of the European capacity, the Greek leader noted, citing recent data.

In 2017, receipts from Greek shipping activity exceeded 9 billion euros (10.5 U.S. dollars), up 20 percent year on year compared to 2016.

The government supports this traditional pillar of the Greek national economy, Tsipras said, addressing the event which was attended by Greek and foreign officials, ship owners and representatives of all sectors of the maritime industry.

"Our policy regarding the Greek ports, through selected partners who invest in their strategic growth -- such is the case with Piraeus' establishment as an international maritime hub, with the required structure and infrastructure -- can further contribute to the country's economic development and its position on the world map," he said.

Referring to the Greek economy as a whole, he said that it has recovered and will soon stand on its feet after exiting the third bailout program this August without further aid mechanisms, reiterating a call to international lenders to give Greece a good debt relief.

"We are working and we are seeking not 'just a debt solution', but a solution which will give Greece a stable and continuous access to financing markets, as I repeat Euro group's decisions from last year have clearly stated," Tsipras stressed.

Speaking during the opening ceremony, European Commissioner for Transport Violeta Bulc underlined the need of cooperation to solve all common challenges.

"The challenges will continue to come. There is no doubt. But just the feeling that we know that if we stick together and find solutions, like we are finding in all the Shipping challenges when we are at the same table, gives us the courage that we don't see challenges as a problem but as a real opportunity," she said.

On his part, the Secretary General of the International Maritime Organization Kitack Lim pointed to the common challenges the shipping industry faces worldwide.

"We must ensure that the opportunities presented by modern 'mega trends' like digitalization, artificial intelligence and the so-called 'fourth industrial revolution' are carefully integrated into shipping, balancing the benefits against safety and security concerns, the impact on the environment, on international trade, and on the human element," he said.

Delivering a speech at Monday's event Theodore Veniamis, President of the Union of Greek Ship owners, underlined that nothing should be taken for granted and more efforts should be invested to support shipping as a driver of economic growth.

"The European Union's world leadership in shipping should not be taken for granted. Without a competitive business environment, shipping as an international economic activity can neither survive nor can it progress. This is a fundamental principle," he said.

On behalf of the organizers, Theodore Vokos, Executive Director of Posidonia Exhibitions noted that this year's event is the largest in the 50 year-long history of the show which is considered as the Davos forum of shipping.

"(Posidonia) is a unique policy forum where the leaders of the international maritime community can meet and debate the important issues that face the maritime industry," he said.

The 2018 Posidonia set a new milestone with 2,011 exhibitors from 92 countries participating, Vokos noted. The Chinese is once again the largest among the national pavilions, organizers said.

Until the show ends on June 8 about 22,000 maritime executives from over 100 countries are expected to tour the stands, participate in seminars and network, according to Vokos.

The event is organized under the auspices of the Greek Shipping Ministry, the Union of Greek Shipowners and the Hellenic Chamber of Shipping.
Source: Xinhua| 2018-06-05 05:33:51|Editor: yan

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MAPUTO, June 4 (Xinhua) -- The governments of China and Mozambique signed here on Monday agreements of four projects worth 100 million U.S. dollars during the 6th meeting of the Joint Commission for Economic, Technical and Trade Cooperation between the two countries.

Vice Minister of the Chinese Ministry of Commerce Qian Keming and Maria Lucas, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation of Mozambique, co-chaired the meeting. The two sides reviewed the achievements made by the two countries since the fifth meeting of the Joint Committee in 2015 and conducted in-depth discussions on strengthening bilateral cooperation in the areas of trade, investment, and development assistance, and reached broad consensus.

The signed agreements on four projects including the construction of a technical institute in the central province of Sofala, the Xai-Xai Airport, the technical cooperation of the National Stadium and the cooperation and communication of agricultural experts.

Mozambican Minister of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation Jose Pacheco said in his opening statement that the meeting has extraordinary significance, since it is the first time meeting after President Filipe Nyusi visited China in 2016 and the relationship between the two countries has been upgraded to a comprehensive strategic partnership.

The foreign minister also said that China has made outstanding contributions to the development of Mozambique's agriculture, infrastructure, energy, and tourism industries.

"China has helped Mozambique overcome many difficulties and has played a vital role in helping Mozambique to achieve sustainable development," said Pacheco, expressing his belief that the joint commission will not only deepen the two countries' economic and trade relation, but also strengthen the two peoples' friendship.

"The Mozambican government will provide all necessary support for the future economic and trade cooperation between the two countries," said the minister.

Qian said in his speech that the economic and trade cooperation between China and Mozambique has great potential and broad prospects. According to Qian, the purpose of this joint committee is to strengthen the effective link between China's Belt and Road Initiative and the Mozambican government's 2015-2019 Five-Year Plan, and to plan for the next phase of bilateral trade and economic cooperation on priority areas and key projects that will improve the welfare of the Mozambican people.

"China is willing to work with Mozambique, and efforts will be made to promote the implementation of China-Africa '10 Cooperation Programs' in Mozambique and promote comprehensive and in-depth development of bilateral economic and trade cooperation," said Qian.

China and Mozambique have agreements on investment protection, and in 2001 they began to implement the economic and trade joint committee mechanism. At present, China has become the largest investment source, the major trading partner, and one of the most important financing sources and builders for infrastructure projects in Mozambique.
Source: Xinhua| 2018-06-05 06:13:59|Editor: yan

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BAGHDAD, June 4 (Xinhua) -- At least two paramilitary Hashd Shaabi members were killed and four others wounded on Monday in clashes with Islamic State (IS) militants in Iraq's central province of Salahudin.

Dhul-Faqqar al-Baldawi, head of Salahudin provincial media office of Hashd Shaabi, told Xinhua that a Hashd Shaabi brigade launched an operation in Farhatiyah area near the town of Balad, some 80 km north of the Iraqi capital Baghdad, after receiving intelligence reports that some 40 IS militants infiltrated in the area.

As the troops arrived the scene, fierce clashes erupted between the two sides for three hours and ended after the sunset, Baldawi said.

He confirmed that the extremist militants sustained some casualties, but they evacuated the killed and wounded militants and disappeared in the rugged vast area in the western part of the province.

On Saturday, unknown gunmen broke into a house of a family and shot dead 12 members in Farhatiyah area before they fled the scene.

Only a six-month infant survived the attack, despite receiving a bullet in his body.

Key cities of Salahudin province, including the provincial capital Tikrit, some 170 km north of Baghdad, were captured by IS militants in June 2014, but the Iraqi security forces freed the province during major anti-IS offensives.
Source: Xinhua| 2018-06-05 06:29:03|Editor: yan

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JERUSALEM, June 4 (Xinhua) -- Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Monday urged German Chancellor Angela Merkel to support his call to halt Iran's expansion in the Middle East.

He made the remarks during his meeting with Merkel in Berlin, the first leg of his three-day trip to Europe.

Netanyahu said he will try to persuade European leaders of Germany, France and Britain to withdraw their support for the international nuclear deal with Iran and stop its effort to establish a military foothold in the Middle East.

"Iran is trying to conquer the Middle East," he said at a joint press conference in Berlin.

"It's doing so in Syria. It's doing so in Yemen. And it's doing so in other places," the hardline Israeli leader warned.

Iran is entrenching forces in Israel's northern neighbor Syria, "with the explicit goal of attacking us," Netanyahu said, adding that the Iranian military force has about 18,000 Shiite militants under command in Syria.

He warned that not curbing Iran's expansion might lead to another refugee crisis in Europe.

"Iran wants to increase the number of such militia to 80,000 and to basically conduct a religious campaign in largely Sunni Syria. This will inflame another religious war," Netanyahu said.

"The consequences would be many, many more refugees and you know exactly where they'll head to," he told Merkel.

While describing Iran's influence as "a cause for concern," Merkel reaffirmed Europe's support to the landmark 2015 agreement to curb Iran's nuclear program.

"Germany did not cancel this agreement. Together with other European partners, we stand by it," she said.

In late April, Netanyahu disclosed files allegedly obtained by Israel's intelligence from Iran's "secret nuclear archive," saying the files prove Iran's secret development of nuclear weapons.

But nuclear experts said the files do not prove Iran's breach of the nuke deal.

Netanyahu has long been lobbying against the nuclear deal. Recently he found the new ally U.S. President Donald Trump, who withdrew the United States from the nuclear deal in May.

Netanyahu will meet French President Emmanuel Macron in Paris on Tuesday, and British Prime Minister Theresa May on Wednesday.
Source: Xinhua| 2018-06-05 06:39:09|Editor: yan

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ANKARA, June 4 (Xinhua) -- The Turkish army has pushed about 25 km into northern Iraq toward Qandil mountain area to clear Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) militants, local media reported late Monday.

The Turkish military has not yet announced details of the ongoing operations, however, several pictures circulating on social media showed the presence of special forces in villages close to Qandil region, Daily Sabah said.

Speaking in a televised interview with state-run Anadolu Agency, Interior Minister Suleyman Soylu said Monday that Turkey could soon launch an anti-terror operation in Qandil.

"Operation against PKK group in Qandil Mountains is a matter of time. I assure that Qandil will be a secure place for Turkey soon," Soylu said.

Deputy Prime Minister Bekir Bozdag also said later Monday that Turkey had the right to carry out operations against PKK in northern Iraq's Qandil region, and "will do so any time it deems necessary."

On Sunday, President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said that counterterrorism operation in Afrin had been successfully carried out and "now it is time for Qandil."

The Qandil Mountains, located 40 km southeast of the Turkish border in Iraq's Irbil province, are being used as the headquarters of the PKK, which is outlawed in Turkey.
Source: Xinhua| 2018-06-05 07:14:14|Editor: Liangyu

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Chinese comedian Zhou Libo (C) speaks to journalists outside Nassau County Court in Nassau County, New York, the United States, on June 4, 2018. A New York state judge ruled on Monday that Zhou Libo was exonerated of weapon and drug charges. (Xinhua/Wang Ying)

NEW YORK, June 4 (Xinhua) -- A New York state judge ruled on Monday that Chinese comedian Zhou Libo was exonerated of weapon and drug charges.

Teresa K. Corrigan, Acting Supreme Court Justice, announced the decision at the Nassau County Court in the U.S. state of New York.

Zhou, together with his wife and lawyers, appeared at the hearing session Monday. Zhou was charged with illegal possession of a handgun, possession of a controlled substance identified as crystal methamphetamine and driving while using a cellphone.

The court dismissed the weapon and drug charges. Meanwhile, Zhou pleaded guilty of the charge of traffic violation.

Stephen Scaring, the defendant lawyer, said after the hearing that they were satisfied with the ruling and would not file further appeals.

"We are pleased with the results ... the only charge that remain is a minor traffic infraction. It was not in his best interest to go to trial on that, we need to bring this thing to a conclusion," said Scaring.

On Jan. 19, 2017, Zhou Libo was stopped by police in the town of Lattingtown, New York, for his abnormal driving behavior. The police later found a black pistol holster, a pistol and a loaded magazine, and two transparent plastic bags containing drugs in his vehicle.

Zhou was arrested on the spot and was released on bail the next day.

Zhou Libo is a Chinese talkshow host and comedian. He became the first non-musical Chinese artist to perform at the Carnegie Hall in New York in July 2016.
Source: Xinhua| 2018-06-05 07:19:15|Editor: Liu

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OTTAWA, June 4 (Xinhua) -- Four were seriously wounded and 20 others sustained non-life-threatening injuries after a tour bus carrying 37 Chinese tourists crashed in Prescott area in Canada around 3:30 p.m. Monday, according to CBC.

A spokesman of the Chinese Embassy in Ottawa said that the embassy is in contact with the relevant Canadian authorities to verify the situation.
Ruling Fidesz has hit back at Council of Europe Commissioner for Human Rights Dunja Mijatovics call for the Hungarian government to withdraw its Stop Soros package of bills that would criminalise the organisation of illegal migration, saying that US financier George Soros has associates everywhere.

Mijatovic (pictured on top) on Friday expressed her concern over the bill, calling it a worrying human rights development.

She said the bill would result in further arbitrary restrictions to the indispensable work of human rights NGOs and defenders and leave migrants without the essential services provided by such NGOs. Mijatovic also said the bill was likely to incite xenophobia against migrants and mistrust of those committed to helping them.

Following the governments submission of the bill to parliament on Tuesday, Istvan Hollik, the Fidesz-Christian Democrat alliances parliamentary spokesman, told a press conference: Soross organisations in Hungary  and his associates in the European Parliament launched attacks against Hungary.

It looks like on Friday it was Dunja Mijatovics turn, he said. Hollik said this proved that Soros had associates not just in Hungary, but also in the EP and other international organisations, such as the Council of Europe.

Mijatovics statement, he said, also proved that the Soros network was still working to implement the Soros plan to settle as many migrants as possible in Europe. The Hungarian government, on the other hand, insists on upholding the interests of the Hungarian people, he said, adding that we will protect Hungary and Christian culture from illegal migration.
Hungary plans to increase spending on research, development and innovation to 1.8 percent of GDP by 2020 as against 1.38 percent in 2015, the minister in charge of innovation and technology said on Thursday.

The European Unions target is 3 percent of GDP by 2020, Laszlo Palkovics told the annual meeting of the Hungarian Innovation Alliance (MISZ). R+D spending by corporations in 2016 accounted for two-thirds of Hungarys total, he said, adding that their role is expanding.

Innovation at home is held back by the fact that Hungarian universities currently concentrate on basic research rather than on applied or experimental research, he said.

Hungarian industry is capable of producing high value-added and, among EU members, Hungarian exports have the highest proportion of high-tech, he said. This should form the basis for future developments, Palkovics added.

He said Hungarian firms should seek international partners in order to perform successfully in the field of research and innovation. This is also important because, after 2021, most EU financing will be accessible in through cooperative efforts. MISZ head Gabor Szabo welcomed the establishment of a ministry dedicated to innovation.
BISB's largest ever International Baccalaureate (IB) class celebrated their time as part of the school's community with a fitting ceremony at the Intercontinental Budapest, on Saturday 26 May.

Click here to see a photo gallery of the event



The event was attended by 300 guests, teachers and pupils, with the guest of honour and speaker at the event being Ms Caitlin Jones, Deputy Head of Mission at the British Embassy in Budapest.





Ms Jones (pictured above) gave a thought provoking, humble and entertaining speech before giving out the graduation certificates to each student.

Guests were also entertained during the musical interlude by Hanyi Zhu, a Year 12 student.





After the ceremony, families, students and friends enjoyed a drinks reception.

BISB wishes graduates well for their future.







Click here to visit The British International School Budapest online





Photos by Marcus Schirrmacher-Gavaller
As Parliament begins to discuss the bill on stricter rules aimed at preventing illegal immigration, commentators place the planned legislation in the context of the governments feud with the international liberal mainstream.

In their regular weekly editorial, the editors of Magyar Narancs describe the Stop Soros Bill as a wicked one but admit that it doesnt include the most controversial provisions of the original draft.

Most importantly, it doesnt empower the Minister of the Interior to screen NGOs and ban their operations if they are found to be in violation of immigration rules. Nevertheless, the editors believe that the bill is aimed at preventing asylum seekers from receiving assistance while their requests are processed.

Meanwhile, they continue, the description of the crime the bill is supposed to punish is obscure and contradictory. This is good news, they believe, as it should make this future law impossible to implement. It is bad news, they continue, because a nobbled court might jail anyone on this basis.

In Demokrata, Gyula T. Mate depicts the history of Human Rights Watch, which started out as the US Helsinki Watch Committee 40 years ago, but was then taken over by George Soross people, he writes, and is by now funded predominantly by the Hungarian American investor.

The pro-government columnist was stung to write about HRW by its campaign in Germany to convince the European Peoples Party to expel Fidesz from its ranks on the grounds of illiberal practices, including the Stop Soros Bill.

Mate mentions four former Soros executives as well as the donors former wife who are on the board of HRW and quotes founding chairman Robert Bernstein who said HRW lately has been following clearly political objectives and bends the facts accordingly. Former Washington bureau chief Tom Malinowski said that HRW has become a propaganda organisation.

In 2014, Mate writes, over a hundred academics published an open letter questioning the independence of Human Rights Watch. The author admits that HRW was originally founded with the intention of protecting human rights, but claims that when George Soross millions of dollars reached the coffers of the organisation, it became a shock troop of the Washington liberal elite.

In his Figyelo editorial, Tamas Lanczi finds it important that by now even George Soros argues against compulsory migrant relocation and even says he never supported it. Francis Fukuyama, one of the leading ideologues of liberalism, acknowledged that the Hungarian Prime Minister was right about immigration, he remarks.

Meanwhile both Mr Soros and Mr Fukuyama continue to blame Central and East European countries for the migration crisis, and the crisis of the European Union in general, although it has become clear by now that Viktor Orban merely said the obvious  the King has no clothes.

He mentions as an example of the arrogance of the western mainstream, the international pressure on the Italian president not to appoint a government formed by two populist parties. (In the meantime President Mattarella did appoint Giuseppe Conte as Prime Minister on 1 June, after his original candidates for the posts of finance and foreign ministers had to be replaced).

Mr Soross people meanwhile are trying to reverse the outcome of the Brexit referendum. Such attempts, Lanczi believes, will only deepen the grave of the European Union.

In Hetek, Gabor Gavra accuses the European mainstream of applying double standards in condemning populist events. While Italys president prevented the winners of the election from forming the government they wanted, the European elite warmly welcomed the outcome of the Irish referendum which authorised abortion.

Democracy is thus considered an absolute value if the majority votes for what the elite believes advisable, but not whenever voters do not choose the politically correct opinion. Such a selective interpretation of democracy, Gavra writes, is the greatest threat to Western societies.

This opinion does not necessarily represent the views of XpatLoop.com or the publisher. Your opinions are welcome too - for editorial review before possible publication online. Click here to Share Your Story
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THOSE TAKING part in a hike led by the Heritage Chapter of the North Country Trail Association and Iron County Outdoor Recreation Enthusiasts in Upson relax and take a breath at their destination, a vista overlooking Upson Lake, Saturday for National Trails Day.

UPSON, Wis. - A group of hikers had a chance to explore one of the newer sections of trail in Iron County this weekend as the Heritage Chapter of the North Country Trail Association and Iron County Outdoor Recreation Enthusiasts led a hike in Upson to celebrate Saturday as National Trails Day.

The hike started at Casey Sag Road and went roughly 1.5 miles to a vista overlooking Upson Lake before returning to the road.

The section of trail was built last fall with the help of an AmeriCorps National Civilian Community Corps team.

"The kids did the stump pulling, the rock pulling, the lopping to widen (the trail) four feet and all that hillside work - that was hard," said Bethany Thomas, the vice president of the Heritage Chapter.

She said roughly 19 people participated in the three-mile hike.

Given the newness of the trail, ICORE vice president John Bates said the day was a great opportunity for residents to explore a part of Iron County they may not have seen before.

"For instance, we've never hiked this section of the trail either - so it's exciting. That's a beautiful trail," Bates said. "From an ICORE standpoint, this is exactly the kind of stuff we want to do - which is take people to sites in Iron County most people don't know about that are beautiful."

Given the abundance of nature across the Gogebic Range, Bates said people usually don't have to go far to explore nature and it's easy to fall into the habit of staying close to home and the areas people are familiar with.

Bates said events such as the hike were a good opportunity for people to get out of their own backyards and see what else there is in the region.

Work continues building and improving the North Country National Scenic Trail in Iron County, according to Thomas, with a work weekend planned for June 16-17.

The weekend will involve preparing a site for a crew who will be building bridges in the area.

Thomas said those interested in volunteering can meet around 8:30 a.m. on Casey Sag Road, a couple miles off Wisconsin 77.

For more information on the work weekend, or the Iron County section of the North Country Trail in general, contact Thomas at [email protected]
This has been a long time in the making, but in our continuing pursuit to bring only the best of firearms, 2nd Amendment and defence related news to our readers, we are very excited to announce the next step in our evolution as a company.

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Washington D.C. [USA]: United States President Donald Trump is set to host an iftar dinner at the White House next week to celebrate the holy month of Ramzan.

According to a White House official, the iftar dinner is scheduled to be held on June 13. A guest list was, however, not made available by the office, according to Politico.

Muslims around the world fast from sunrise to sunset and break their fast with an evening meal known as iftar.

This is the first time Trump will be hosting the dinner after the White House did not hold the ceremony last year, breaking a long-established tradition.

Other former US Presidents such as Barack Obama, George W. Bush and Bill Clinton have hosted the iftar dinner, as per the report.

Last month, Trump issued a statement marking the start of Ramzan as saying, "Ramadan reminds us of the richness Muslims add to the religious tapestry of American life.

"Trump reportedly has an uneasy relationship with the Muslims. After he came to power as the US President last year, Trump called for a "total and complete ban" on all Muslims entering the country.

He cited them as refugees and terrorists, inviting a massive backlash from people all over the world.

Trump had even signed an executive order banning Muslims from several countries such as Iran, Iraq and Syria from entering the US.

Since May 17, Muslims around the globe are observing a rigorous month of fasting to commemorate the first revelation of the Quran to Prophet Muhammad.

Considered as the holiest month, Ramzan is also observed as a month of doing good deeds and abstaining from sinful deeds.

Eid-ul-Fitr will mark the end of Ramzan, on June 14 or June 15, depending upon the visual sightings of the crescent moon.
Lahore: Mumbai terror attack mastermind Hafiz Saeed's Jammat-ud-Dawah will contest the July 25 general elections on the platform of Allaha-u-Akbar Tehreek as the group's Milli Muslim League is yet to be registered as a political party, a senior member of the outfit had said on Friday (June 2, 2018).

Jamaat-ud-Dawah (JuD), a front for the Lashkar-e-Taiba militant group that carried out the deadly 2008 Mumbai attack, launched its political front Milli Muslim League, but it has not been yet registered by the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP).

With general elections approaching, the group has decided to contest on the platform of the "dormant" political entity Allaha-u-Akbar Tehreek (AAT), which was registered in the ECP.

"It was a kind of dormant party registered by a citizen Ehsan. There are several such parties registered with the ECP and such an arrangement is made ahead of the general elections if any mainstream party or organisation faces any issue or complication," a member of the JuD told PTI.

"Since the Milli Muslim League (MML) fails to get registered with the ECP it is going for this arrangement (contesting the upcoming polls on AAT platform)," he said.

MML president Saifullah Khalid will make a formal announcement regarding this shortly, he added.

The AAT's election symbol is 'chair'.

"Now the JuD/MML candidates will contest on the 'chair' symbol across the country," the member said.

He said since the MML has hardly any chance to get registered with the ECP as it had announced the election schedule and issued election symbols, it had no other option but to contest the election on any 'dormant' entity like AAT or support the Mutahidda Majlis Amal (MMA), an alliance of mainstream religious parties of the country.

"But Saeed chose to contest independently," he said.

The MML has also confirmed contesting the July 25 election on the 'chair' symbol.

"We have decided to support the candidates of AAT in July 25 elections," MML President Saifullah Khalid told PTI.

"We will play a role in the victory of those contesting on the symbol of chair. To save Pakistan, patriotic people should be supported in the elections," he said.

Khalid said the MML had been denied registration in the ECP for the last 11 months but will take part in the polls by supporting the candidates of AAT.

"Meanwhile we will continue fighting our case (registration of MML) in the court and ECP," he added.

The MML president said over 350 political parties were registered with the ECP but there are objection regarding the MML.

"I ask the MML workers to get ready and make full preparations across the country to make the AAT candidates successful in the upcoming elections. We have to serve humanity and no one can stop us from our political struggle," he said.

Meanwhile, the MML has filed a contempt of court petition in the Islamabad High Court (IHC) against the ECP for using delaying tactics regarding its enlisting as a political party as per law. June 11 is fixed for the case hearing in the IHC.

The court in March had set aside the ECP order declining registration of the MML.

Justice Aamer Farooq of the IHC bench had referred the matter to the ECP, directing the electoral body to pass a speaking order.

The MML had challenged the October 11 order of the ECP declining registration to the MML as a political party allegedly on the behest of the interior ministry.

The interior ministry had opposed enlisting of the MML as a political party arguing it's an offshoot of the Jamaatud Dawa of Hafiz Saeed banned under a UN resolution.

The JuD formed MML at the time when Saeed was detained in Lahore. Saeed and his four aides - Abdullah Ubaid, Malik Zafar Iqbal, Abdul Rehman Abid and Qazi Kashif Hussain - were placed under house arrest in Lahore on January 30 under anti- terrorism act.

The JuD was declared as a foreign terrorist organisation by the US in June 2014. The JuD chief also carries a USD 10 million American bounty on his head for his role in terror activities.
Dahej: After the US, Russia today began supplying LNG to India under a long-term deal as world's fourth-largest buyer of liquefied natural gas (LNG) diversifies import basket to meet its vast energy needs.

LNG carrier 'LNG Kano', carrying a cargo from Russian supplier Gazprom, docked at Petronet LNG's import facility here this morning, officials said.

Gazprom supplied the 3.4 trillion British thermal unit (TBtu) of cargo from Nigeria.

The LNG cargo was received by Oil Minister Dharmendra Pradhan.

Today will be considered as Golden Day in India's energy roadmap, he told reporters here. "First we renegotiate price of LNG from Qatar, then reworked Australian supplies and now gas from Russia under renegotiated terms have started to flow."

India will import LNG worth an estimated USD 25 billion over the contract period of 20 years years from Russia, he adding, "Gazprom price (after being reworked) is very competitive."

"Four years back, we were importing LNG from only Qatar. Today we are getting LNG from Australia, US and now Russia," Pradhan said.

India, he said, is pushing towards a gas-based economy by raising the share of environment-friendly fuel in the energy basket to 15 per cent from current 6.2 per cent.

There exists huge scope for gas usage in the Indian economy - from generating power to producing quality steel, he said adding that increasing gas share would also help the country meet its COP21 commitment to cutting carbon emission.

India is dependent on imports to meet 45 per cent of its gas needs.

Beginning of supplies from Russia comes within weeks of India importing its first ever LNG cargo from the US under a long-term import deal.

Pradhan said that the starting of LNG imports from Russia has added a new dimension to the Indo-Russian bilateral relations, particularly in the oil and gas sector. ?

Russia has emerged as a long-term source for India's hydrocarbon imports, he said. ?

Stating that government is committed towards transforming India into a gas-based economy, he said investments are being made for augmenting natural gas infrastructure. ?

In the last few years, Indian companies have made investment of more than USD 10 billion in acquiring varying stakes in strategic Russian projects including Sakhalin-1, Vankorneft and Taas-Yuryakh.

On the other hand, Russian company-led consortium has committed an investment of USD 13 billion in Essar Oil in 2016.

GAIL has renegotiated with Russian supplier Gazprom the terms of the 20-year deal to import 2.5 million tonnes a year of LNG. Both price and volume ramp up have been renegotiated.

Company Chairman and Managing Director B C Tripathi said the contracted volume has been lowered from 2.5 million tonnes (MT) to 0.5 MT in the first year 2018-19, 0.75 MT in 2019-20, 1.5 MT in the third year 2020-21.

GAIL has committed to importing the full 2.5 MT a year by the fourth year and make up for the initial volume reduction over the remaining length of the contract.

Also, the price indexation has been changed from the Japan customs-cleared crude to Brent, and the oil-linked slope of the contract formula lowered, and therefore the final price.

Sources said the renegotiated contract provides for diverting a part of the volume, originally contracted on a delivered ex-ship basis, to other markets.

Under the re-worked deal with Gazprom, the duration of the contract has been extended by three years and the Indian company has agreed to buy an additional six million tonnes of LNG volumes.

The pricing of the super-cooled fuel has been changed from 9 month linkage of Japanese customs-cleared crude to three months average of Brent, sources said. ?

The deferral will allow GAIL more time to find customers for the imported gas.

GAIL had signed the original deal on August 29, 2012, with Gazprom Marketing and Trading Singapore Pte Ltd (GMTS), Singapore. The deal was renegotiated in January this year.

Gazprom will supply LNG from Yamal LNG project in the Arctic peninsula.

India has been making the most of its position as one of the world's biggest energy consumers to strike better bargains for its companies.

Last year, India got US energy major Exxon Mobil Corp to lower price of 1.5 MT a year of LNG from Gorgon project in Australia, saving Rs 4,000 crore in import bill. At the time of signing, in 2009, the Gorgon LNG price with US-based ExxonMobil was agreed upon at 14.5 per cent.

In late 2015, it had renegotiated the price of the long-term deal to import 7.5 MT per year of LNG from Qatar, helping save Rs 8,000 crore.

Most recently, GAIL has been trying to renegotiate the price and terms of 3.5 MT a year US Sabine Pass contract with Cheniere Energy.

The contract was signed on an FOB basis in 2011, with the price formula set at 115 per cent of the Henry Hub gas price plus a fixed USD 3 per million British thermal unit terminal usage charge.

Sources said when the Russian deal was first signed, Gazprom envisaged supplying India with LNG from its planned Schtokman project in the Barents Sea, which was subsequently scrapped as the shale gas revolution in the United States removed a key customer base.

The resulting contractual inconsistency gave GAIL a foothold to re-open the Gazprom deal, sources said.
Panaji: Missing for nearly four months and under fire from the Opposition and on social media for his continued absence, ailing Goa Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar on Sunday called up some journalists close to him, informally briefing them about his health and his plans to return from the US.

Parrikar, who is undergoing treatment at a New York hospital since March this year, made the surprise call on Sunday night to at least four local journalists considered close to him.

Speaking to IANS on condition of anonymity, some of these journalists said that they were pleasantly surprised when an Officer on Special Duty attached to the Chief Minister Office's called them on their mobile phone telling them that Parrikar would like to speak to them.

"The first thing he did was enquire about my health, which is ironic because he is the one who is ailing. He sounded a bit weak... he said his return would depend on his doctor's clearance," said one of the journalists, working for an English daily and covering the Bharatiya Janata Party beat.

Parrikar, however, did not disclose his exact location or the identity of the hospital he was admitted.

The journalist also said that the CM explained to him the protocol followed in examining government files and taking decisions.

"Parrikar said that he has a daily conference via telephone with the chief secretary and the Principal Secretary to the CMO. Files and documents are scanned and sent to him by email and fax and the Chief Minister's decisions are conveyed over phone, fax or email. He said, that governance can be conducted remotely with ease in these days, thanks to communication devices," he said.

Parrikar's phone calls to the journalists come at a time, when the BJP-led coalition government is under fire from the Opposition and civil society, who have accused the Chief Minister of holding on to power and not delegating responsibility to a Cabinet minister to run the state in a hands-on manner.

Last week, the Congress also filed a police complaint, alleging that the Chief Minister's email on which officials communicate with Parrikar was being operated in Panaji. The complaint filed by Congress' Sidhanath Buyao with the Crime Branch, alleged that the Parrikar's account was being misused by officials to take decisions in their favour.

Another journalist, who works as a chief reporter for a vernacular newspaper, told IANS that Parrikar regularly accesses his email and even complimented him for a news story filed by him last week.

"He congratulated me on the factual correctness of the story. He also assured me that he was feeling well and that thanks to treatment, his health was looking up," said the journalist.
A quick glance at the top news of the day:

1. RSS' grand iftar party hits a new block, activists say no functions inside venue

There seems to be no end to troubles for Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh's much-anticipated Iftar party. Barely days after Muslim groups refused to attend it, activists are now seeking a cancellation of the same party. Read full report

2. NCERT syllabus to be chopped by half, more focus on life skills and value-based education

The Ministry of Human Resource Development (MHRD) has decided to drastically cut down the National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT) syllabus. Read full report

3. Kolkata student allegedly 'stripped naked', 'filmed' inside college for inquiring about fest

A Trinamool Congress' students wing member was allegedly 'stripped naked' and 'filmed' inside the students' union room of a reputed college in Kolkata. The assault took place on May 17, 2018, Thursday. Read full report

4. Rajasthan, Punjab reel under heat wave; heavy rains likely in South, northeast India

The Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) on Monday issued a fresh warning about thunderstorm and heavy rains over parts of India. While thunderstorm is likely in some parts of east and North India, parts of south and northeast are expected to receive heavy showers. Read full report

5. Indian economy like a car with 3 tyres punctured: Chidambaram

Indian economy has become like a car whose three tyres are punctured, former finance minister P Chidambaram said in Thane as he attacked the Narendra Modi government on rising petroleum prices and other issues. Read full report
NEW DELHI/BHOPAL/CHANDIGARH/JAIPUR: As the 10-day pan-India "Gaon Bandh" (rural shutdown) protest called by farmers' group entered the fourth day, prices of fruits, vegetables and milk shot up in metros and several cities.

In Delhi, prices of vegetables like french beans and ginger soared by a whopping Rs 40 per kilo, while some registered a marginal increase. Low supply and high demand of items lead to the increase in the prices, a Mayur Vihar-based vegetable seller told Zee News.

Farmers stopped the supply of essential items, scattered milk and other field-produce on the streets, to register their protest. There have been no reports of violence in the ongoing agitation. Overall, the protest remained peaceful, even as Opposition tried to target the BJP-ruled Centre over the agitation. Vegetables were sold at some places under police protection.

"The farmers are supporting the agitation in a big way because of which the supplies are not reaching the cities (from villages). The government is trying to break the protest but has failed" Aam Kisan Union chief Kedar Sirohi told IANS.

Several leaders of the Opposition raised their voice against the Centre on social media.

Communist Party of India (Marxist) leader Sitaram Yechury tweeted, Farmers feed the country. Modi's ministers mock the annadaatas by terming their protests a bid for 'publicity'. This from a govt that spends Rs 4,343 cr on its own publicity, and has "no money" to ensure that farmers get their due.

Farmers feed the country. Modi's ministers mock the annadaatas by terming their protests a bid for 'publicity'. This from a govt that spends Rs 4,343 cr on its own publicity, and has "no money" to ensure that farmers get their due. #Criminal #CallousGovernment pic.twitter.com/cM2psBpLGw  Sitaram Yechury (@SitaramYechury) June 4, 2018

Former Gujarat Pradesh Congress Committee president Arjun Modhwadia, Due to Demonetisation, GST & stress on farmers income, Rural wage growth down from 8.4% under UPA to 0.2% under NDA, farmers now not getting support price: Crisil!

Due to Demonetisation,GST & stress on farmers income,Rural wage growth down from 8.4% under UPA to 0.2% under NDA, farmers now not getting support price: Crisil!

Where is development? Only in #LootIndiaLoot move!! https://t.co/MVD3IoyX2f pic.twitter.com/a5qWP6EmIA  Arjun Modhwadia (@arjunmodhwadia) June 4, 2018

Former Haryana Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda claimed the anti-farmer policies of the BJP governments at the Centre and in the state had delivered a cruel-blow to the peasants. "The farmer is being robbed of his produce. Whether it is paddy, mustard, cotton, millet, poplar, onion, tomatoes or potatoes, the peasants are forced to sell their produce at throwaway prices. Low prices have pushed the farmer into deep debt. When the farmer is unable to repay his debt, this government auctions their land," Hooda said warning the government against such policies.

He alleged the Modi government seemed only interested in appeasing and helping rich industrialists. "The indebted farmer has been forced to pay the premium under the Fasal Bima Yojna and gets no compensation while the private insurance companies have made a windfall profit of Rs 9,000 crore. The government has been helpless against people like Nirav Modi and Vijay Mallya, but is coming heavily after the poor farmers," he said continuing his attack.

He said the government was responsible for farmers not being able pay back loans. "How will the farmer repay his loans if he does not get a fair price for his produce? If the sugar mills are not clearing their dues, does the government have any face to ask the farmers to repay their debts?" the senior Congress leader asked.

The 10-day Gaon Bandh (rural shutdown) farmer protest was called ahead of the first anniversary of the death of several farmers in police firing in the state`s Mandsaur. The protest started on Friday demanding loan waiver, higher prices for their produce and immediate implementation of the Swaminathan Commission report on farming.

Kisaan groups have also called for a nationwide bandh on June 10.

With PTI inputs
NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court on Monday refused to stay the announcement of CBSE NEET Results 2018. Shortly after the development, the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) declared CBSE NEET Result 2018 on Monday, June 4, 2018.

The National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET) 2018 Result has been released on the CBSE Board's official website - cbseneet.nic.in. The students will now be able to check their scores by visiting cbseneet.nic.in.

More than 13 lakh candidates appeared in the medical entrance examination which was conducted on May 6. The answer keys for CBSE NEET 2018 were released on May 25 and candidates can challenge answer keys until May 27.

Reports suggest that the cut-off for CBSE NEET 2018 could be dropped because the paper was difficult.

Here's how to check CBSE NEET Result 2018:

Step 1: Visit the CBSE Board's official website - cbseneet.nic.in

Step 2: Click on the link which says - CBSE NEET Result 2018

Step 3: Enter your roll number and other relevant details

Step 4: Click on submit

The candidates are suggested to download the CBSE NEET 2018 result and take a print out of the same for future references.
New Delhi: The Border Security Force (BSF) and Pakistan Rangers met on Monday and decided to ensure peace on the border. The sector commander-level meeting was held at 17:30 pm. "Meeting went off in a conducive atmosphere with the prime focus to maintain peace and tranquillity on the border. It was further decided to hold next meeting on 21 June," PRO BSF (Jammu Frontier) was quoted as saying by ANI.

"Today's meeting is likely to bring firing-free environment, particularly for border area villagers on both sides. Commanders on both sides agreed to keep talks on at every level to develop confidence between two border guarding forces," he added.

The meeting comes after Pakistani troops again targeted Indian posts and villages along the International Border (IB) in Jammu and killed two BSF personnel, including an officer, on Sunday. The heavy firing and shelling from the Pakistani side for almost 12 hours in Pragwal area of Akhnoor, Kanachak and Khour sectors of Jammu district had ended 12 days of lull in the border skirmishes.

The Pakistani troops had resorted to unprovoked firing by targeting forward duty points at the IB in Pragwal around 01:15 hours, causing critical injuries to assistant sub-inspector SN Yadav (48) and constable VK Pandey (27), Inspector General of BSF, Jammu frontier, Ram Avtar had said. He had added that both the injured were rushed to a nearby hospital, but later succumbed to injuries.

The firing from across the border in violation of the ceasefire agreement prompted a strong and effective retaliation by the BSF, Avtar had further said. On May 29, 2018, the DGMOs of India and Pakistan had agreed to "fully implement" the ceasefire pact of 2003 in "letter and spirit" forthwith to stop border skirmishes in Jammu and Kashmir.

Meanwhile, the Pakistan Army said on Monday that said that there was no space for any war with India but warned that its desire for peace should not be mistaken for weakness. Addressing a press conference, Major General Asif Ghafoor, the Director General of Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) - the media wing of the army, accused India of carrying out 1,077 ceasefire violations since the start of 2018 to date. "Our defence, our desire for peace, should not be mistaken for weakness," he said, PTI reported.

Ghafoor added that Pakistan had not responded to Indian firing, which followed an agreement by the two countries' militaries to adhere to the 2003 ceasefire agreement, but was "compelled" to respond only when civilians were targeted, Dawn reported. He claimed that Pakistan wants to respect the truce agreement.

"The Indians have to realise and understand where they want to go (in the future). We are two nuclear powers and there is no space for war," Ghafoor said.

(With Agency inputs)
Beijing: China on Monday welcomed Prime Minister Narendra Modi's "positive remarks" on India-China relations at the Shangri-La Dialogue and expressed willingness to work with India to follow the consensus between the leadership of the two countries to maintain the momentum in the bilateral ties.

Prime Minister Modi in his keynote address at the Shangri-La Dialogue in Singapore, Asia's premier defence and strategic affairs conference, last week had said that Asia and the world will have a better future when India and China work together with trust and confidence while being sensitive to each other's interests.

The prime minister said both India and China have displayed "maturity and wisdom" in managing issues and ensuring a peaceful border, adding cooperation between the world's two populous countries was expanding.

Welcoming Modi's remarks at a media briefing, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson, Hua Chunying said, "We have noted the positive remarks made by Prime Minister Modi on China-India relations. We highly appreciate such kind of positive remarks."

Recalling the informal summit between Modi and Chinese President Xi Jinping at Wuhan in April this year, Hua said, "They had in-depth exchange of views on the international landscape and bilateral relations and reached many consensus."

"The two sides agreed to adopt a mature and wise way to properly handle differences," she said.

"China is willing to work with the Indian side to follow the guidance of this consensus to maintain the positive momentum of the development of bilateral relations, to promote mutually beneficial cooperation, properly handle differences, maintain peace tranquillity along the border areas and thus move forward the China-India relations," she said.

PM Modi and President Xi had met in April in an unprecedented two-day 'heart-to-heart' summit in the central Chinese city of Wuhan to "solidify" the India-China relationship after the Dokalam standoff last year.

Troops of India and China were locked in the 73-day standoff in Dokalam after the Indian side stopped the construction of a road by the Chinese army in the disputed area.
Beijing: Evolving effective ways to deal with growing challenges of terrorism as well as extremism and boosting trade will be the key focus at the annual summit of Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) in Qingdao on June 9-10 which will be attended by a host of world leaders including Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

Sources said India's national coordinator for the SCO is here to finalise the draft of the summit's declaration and that New Delhi's efforts will be to put its concerns over cross-border terrorism in the outcome document.

India has been raising the issue of Pakistan-sponsored terrorism in various multilateral forums with an aim to build pressure on Islamabad to dismantle the terror infrastructure operating from that country.

Sources said ahead of the summit, officials of the SCO member countries are holding hectic parleys to finalise the Qingdao declaration.

India's National Coordinator of the SCO Madhumita Hazarika Bhagat is currently in Beijing, taking part in the discussions.

Sources indicated that India's focus would be to include its concerns over cross-border terrorism in the final outcome document but it may be resisted by Pakistan which can manage support from other countries.

The formulation, in that case, maybe that terrorism will not be tolerated in any manifestation, they said.

"Cooperation to combat terrorism, extremism and separatism apart from strengthening trade ties will be among the agreements likely to be inked during the summit of the eight-member grouping at Qingdao," SCO Secretary General Rashid Alimov told PTI.

About six to seven main agreements were expected to be signed at the summit. There will be a dozen documents which will be the product of the summit.

Russian President Vladimir Putin is also expected to attend the summit.

Indian Ambassador to China Gautam Bambawale said since its admission into the SCO last year, India has been taking part in all its activities.

"The aim will be to step up the engagement and collaboration among the grouping," he told PTI here.

Bambawale further said, "The summit will also ensure that the world will be governed by rules-based international order in all spheres. There will be more openness and transparency in various initiatives taken by countries in multilateral activities," he said.

He said India's inclusion at the SCO has further consolidated the group's standing in the world.

Sources said Prime Minister Modi is expected to have around half a dozen bilateral meetings with leaders of the Central Asian countries.

They said Modi will have a bilateral meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping.

The meeting will take place weeks after the two leaders held an informal summit in Wuhan during which they exchanged views on solidifying the relationship between the two Asian powers.

The sources said Modi and Xi are expected to take stock of the implementation of decisions taken at the informal summit.

Modi had last month met Russian President Putin in an informal summit in Sochi.

The SCO was founded at a summit in Shanghai in 2001 by the Presidents of Russia, China, Kyrgyz Republic, Kazakhstan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan. India and Pakistan became its members last year.
Congress president Rahul Gandhi on Monday took a dig at Prime Minister Narendra Modi over the latters recent interaction at the Nanyang Technological University (NTU) in Singapore. It so happened at the event that Prime Minister answered a question from the audience on 21st century belonging to Asia in Hindi, and when his translator gave the answer in English, she spoke several lines that were not part of Modis statement.

Sharing a video of the interaction on microblogging site Twitter, the Congress president said that while Prime Minister Modi claims to take spontaneous questions, his translator already has pre-scripted answers for them.

The first Indian PM who takes "spontaneous" questions that the translator has pre-scripted answers to! Good that he doesn't take real questions. Would have been a real embarrassment to us all if he did. pic.twitter.com/8Iyfgiaseh  Rahul Gandhi (@RahulGandhi) June 4, 2018

Rahul Gandhi tweeted, The first Indian PM who takes "spontaneous" questions that the translator has pre-scripted answers to! Good that he doesn't take real questions. Would have been a real embarrassment to us all if he did.

Heres what Prime Minister Modi said: 21st century belongs to Asia. The biggest challenge is whether we the people of Asia feel it or not. Are we just getting happy listening to it, or is the feeling getting developed within that yes, we have to make 21st century the century of Asia. Even today, we are so influenced by other parts of the world, because we have spent that life for a long time. That is why even we don't feel that it's our turn now and we can do something and we have to do it.

Following the remarks by the Prime Minister, the translator said, First of all I think the biggest challenge before us is that the 21st century belongs to Asia and do we really feel this ourselves? Do we have this sentiment? I think that is what is the biggest challenge, because in this part of the world we have been so much impressed by the rest of the world that we now do not feel that it is our turn. Asia has seen the maximum rise in prosperity, opportunity and freedom in the world.

Japan led the economy, Asian tigers followed. China has become a major economy and it is India's turn to sustain progress now. Yet Asia has many common challenges. South East Asia in particular has similar strength and opportunities, weakness and challenges. There are the following challenges that are common - skills for the digital age, creating adequate jobs in the age of digital reception, agricultural productivity, water, pollution, rapid and mass urbanisation, sustainable habitats and affordable housing, climate change, protection of bio-diversity, building sustainable infrastructure, affordable healthcare, protecting our ocean or blue economy. These challenges require collaboration among...

Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal had also taken a dig at Prime Minister Modi over the video, calling it hilarious.
Nashik: Five people were killed in two separate rain-related incidents as pre-monsoon showers accompanied by thunderstorm and lightning hit the Nashik division over the weekend, the police said today.

The Nashik division in Maharashtra comprises five districts - Dhule, Jalgaon, Nandurbar, Ahmednagar, and Nashik.

A 32-year-old woman and her three minor daughters were killed when a tree fell on them at Varkhedi village in the neighboring Dhule district yesterday, a police official said.

The deceased were identified as Anita Daduram Pavra and her daughters Vashila (3), Pinky (2) andRoshani (1), he said.

In another incident, a 27-year-old man died when lightning struck him at Ambewadi in Igatpuri taluka of Nashik district last evening.

The deceased, Dashrath Dhondu Dhavale, a native of Nashik district, worked with the Mumbai fire brigade department, an official at the Igatpuri police station said.

Heavy pre-monsoon rains lashed the Sinnar, Wavi, Yeola and Satana tehsils of Nashik district on Saturday and Sunday, causing damage to several houses and damaging crops and onion storage sheds, the police said.

In the last 24 hours, Nashik's Igatpuri taluka received 76 mm rain, Baglan-25 mm, Chandwad-24 mm, Trimbakeshwar-15 mm, Nandgaon-10 mm, and Malegaon, Sinnar and

Nashik got five mm each, according to figures provided by the district collector's office.
#MLB One-time Ranger Yang Hyeon-jong poised for KBO reunion with Tigers Now a free agent, one-time Texas Rangers pitcher Yang Hyeon-jong appears headed back to the only South Korean club he's played for. The Kia Tigers of the Korea Baseball Organiza...
New Delhi: The Centre has released a fresh tranche of funds for 11 states to run special courts to try the over 1,500 cases related to lawmakers. The Department of Justice in the Law Ministry has released an instalment of Rs 1.79 crore for the 12 special courts being run to try cases related to MPs and MLAs.

It will cost the government nearly Rs 8 crore annually to run these 12 special courts. Subsequent instalments would be released only after the states provide utilisation certificates to the department of justice, sources in the government said.

Special courts are functional in Andhra Pradesh, Bihar, Karnataka, Kerala, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Delhi, Tamil Nadu, Telangana, Uttar Pradesh and West Bengal. While Delhi has two such courts, the rest of the states have one each.

Last November, the Supreme Court had directed the government to come up with a scheme to set up 12 special courts to try 1,581 criminal cases pending against elected MPs and MLAs.

The apex court had approved the scheme and had directed the Centre to allocate grants to the governments in the states where such special courts are proposed to be set up. The courts are to commence operation from March 1 for speedy disposal of the cases.

The Supreme Court had favoured creation of special courts to exclusively deal with criminal cases involving politicians and their speedy disposal, saying such a move would be in the "interest of the nation".

"We direct the competent authority of the Union of India to place before the court the following information: how many of 1,581 cases involving MLAs and MPs (as declared at the time of filing of the nomination papers to the 2014 elections) have been disposed of within the timeframe of one year as envisaged by this court by order dated March 10, 2014....

"How many of these cases which have been finally decided have ended in acquittal/conviction of MPs and MLAs ...," the Supreme Court bench had said.
Johannesburg: External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj on Monday expressed India's willingness to contribute towards enriching intra-BRICS cooperation further. Swaraj, who is on a five-day trip to South Africa, was attending the BRICS (Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa) Foreign Ministers' meeting.

She will also chair a meeting of Foreign Ministers of IBSA (India, Brazil, South Africa), another bloc working to deepen coordination among the three countries on major global issues. Swaraj earlier discussed with South African President Cyril Ramaphosa enhanced engagement between the two countries and greater cooperation in areas of skill development, agriculture and information technology.

All-dimensional and multi-layered cooperation that upholds development and multilateralism! EAM @SushmaSwaraj with other BRICS Ministers for the group photo before Ministerial Conference. pic.twitter.com/ma8yd4ftwK  Raveesh Kumar (@MEAIndia) June 4, 2018

Min @SushmaSwaraj at the Opening of the BRICS FMs: Our deliberations here will contribute towards enriching intra BRICS cooperation further pic.twitter.com/RCTOY1lyKh  Ruchira Kamboj (@RuchiraKamboj) June 4, 2018

Following is the full text of the remarks by Swaraj at the opening session of BRICS foreign ministers meeting:

At the outset, let me warmly welcome Minister Lindiwe Sisulu to the BRICS Family. I also thank you, Mme Sisulu for chairing this meeting and for your gracious hospitality and warm welcome to me and my delegation. It is a rare privilege for me to be in this beautiful land of 'Madiba', especially when we all are celebrating his birth centenary.

Ours is one big global family. Co-existence and shared destiny are our common beliefs. I am confident that the visions of our great leaders such as Gandhi, Mandela, and Martin Luther will continue to guide us in our common endeavours. Excellencies, the BRICS had begun with the Foreign Ministers' customary meeting on UNGA margins in 2006.

Ever since we have had productive exchanges on the margins of UNGA in taking stock of global political affairs. I commend South Africa for convening the 2nd stand-alone meeting of BRICS Foreign Ministers. I am confident, our deliberations here will contribute towards enriching intra-BRICS cooperation further. Excellencies, our meeting today takes place at a time when multilateralism, international trade, and rules-based world order face strong head-winds. Though the global growth has exhibited signs of recovery, the challenges to long-term growth continue to persist. Ensuring that the benefits of globalization are shared widely remains a challenge. BRICS countries have contributed to global stability and growth in a world drifting towards uncertainty. We have played an important role in shaping the global economic and political architecture.

Excellencies, BRICS cooperation has since expanded substantively in political, economic, and security spheres. Our leaders meet twice each year at Summit level. BRICS NSAs mechanism has consolidated our cooperation in counter-terrorism and security domain. BRICS Special Envoys are shortly expected to convene to deliberate the situation in the Middle East. Excellencies, during Goa BRICS Summit we had laid special emphasis in strengthening people dimension of BRICS. I am happy to note, the initiatives during Indias chairmanship on films, sports, youth, and traditional-medicine have taken firm roots. Excellencies, BRICS leaders gave us a robust mandate on counter-terrorism at the Xiamen BRICS summit. PM Modi had given a call for a BRICS counter-terrorism strategy for joint-action with a focus on money laundering, terrorist-finance, cyber-space and de-radicalisation as our priorities. Our leaders have also called for making UN counter-terrorism framework efficient and effective. We reiterate our commitment to implement our Leaders mandate on counter-terrorism under South Africas BRICS chairship.

BRICS Cooperation in strategic areas of security, counter-terrorism, UN reforms, peacekeeping, de-radicalisation, cyber security, energy security, global governance, and international and regional hot-spot issues are deliberated in detail during our NSAs meetings. It is imperative now that the common ground reached in our NSAs meeting on setting up a BRICS Security Forum is implemented fully.

Excellencies, in less than two months from now our leaders will meet in Johannesburg for the 10th BRICS summit. Our deliberations today are, therefore, significant in preparing the groundwork for a successful Johannesburg BRICS summit. India welcomes South Africas Summit theme devoted to Development in Africa in an inclusive manner. We also welcome the focus on technology as the engine of future-growth and its significance for future generations and their employment prospects.

Mme chair, I thank South Africa for tabling the proposals on tourism, medicines, governance, and science-park network. Yoga and Ayurveda system of Indias traditional medicines will make BRICS tourism endeavours even more attractive. The New Development Bank and the Contingent Reserve Arrangements are flagship BRICS initiatives. We must consolidate their functioning further and optimise their outcomes.

Excellencies, India attaches importance to the role of BRICS in consolidating intra-BRICS cooperation and in international affairs. I am more than confident, under South Africas able Chairship this initiative will be carried to new heights.

(With PTI inputs)
Thane: Indian economy has become like a car whose three tyres are punctured, former finance minister P Chidambaram said in Thane as he attacked the Narendra Modi government on rising petroleum prices and other issues.

"Private investment, private consumption, exports and government expenditures are four growth engines of an economy. It's like four tyres of a car. If one or two tyres are punctured, it will slow down but in our case, three tyres are punctured," the senior Congress leader said at an event organised by the Maharashtra Congress unit.

Government expenditure is on only in healthcare and in some other amenities, he said.

"To keep this expenditure going on, the government has continued taxing petrol, diesel and even LPG. It is squeezing money from people in such taxes and spending some from it on public amenities," Chidambaram said.

Did you see any investment in the power sector recently, he questioned.

"For example, out of the 10 major companies that went into insolvency, five were steel companies. How can you expect any investment in such sectors," he wondered.

Chidambaram also criticised the government for introducing a "five-slab" Goods and Services Tax (GST) regime.

"Post-demonstration this government has introduced GST with five tax slabs with a cess over it. In other countries, GST is just one tax system but we can have two types of taxation in India. Still, having five slabs is not what we had imagined about GST," he said.

He said that the government is incompetent in addressing the economic issues, which has "worsened" under the current dispensation.

"Industrial utilisation is mere 60 per cent in the country. The export of merchandise, during the UPA was USD 315 billion, which was USD 303 billion last year. Before that, it was not even USD 300 billion. This shows we are not earning from exports too," the former finance minister said.

He mocked the Pradhan Mantri Mudra Yojana of the Modi government under which loans of up to Rs 10 lakh are provided to non-corporate, non-farm small/micro enterprises.

"The average amount of disbursed Mudra loan is Rs 43,000 per person. No major investment can be done with such low amount, except one wants to run a Pakoda stall," Chidambaram said in an apparent reference to Modi's remarks that selling 'pakodas' is also a form of employment.

He said "compared to social blunders of the NDA government, economic mistakes are curable and correctable".

"The BJP-led government has suddenly given a message to certain communities that they are second-rank citizens of this country. There is a lot of unrest over food habits, social behaviour, active anti-Romeo squads in the country," he said.
Kolkata: The Indian Railways is working on increasing the speeds of all long-distance passenger trains by 25 km per hour by 2022 which will reduce travel time considerably, Minister of State for Railways Rajen Gohain said in Kolkata on Monday.

The Ministry of Railways has also asked the national carrier to double the average speed of freight trains by 2022, Gohain told newspersons here after inaugurating a Santragachi- Chennai Central weekly Antyodaya Express train service.

"We have asked all the zonal railway general managers to work on increasing the speed of long distance passenger trains by five kms per hour every year, thus reaching the target of 25 km per hour increase in speed by 2022," Gohain said.

He said the ministry wanted to reduce travel time considerably to ensure passengers reached their destinations within a reasonable time.

In order to decongest major terminal stations like Howrah, work is on to develop infrastructure at satellite stations nearby so that these can be used for originating and terminating journey of long distance express trains, he said.

South Eastern Railway general manager S N Agarwal said that congestion at major terminal stations are one of the causes for delay in train movement. Santragachi and Shalimar stations near Howrah are being developed for the purpose to provide proper facilities to passengers of long distance trains.

Asked about the lack of adequate number of fast trains between the Northeast and Kolkata, Gohain said the ministry is considering a new airconditioned express train between Guwahati and the metropolis.

"Discussions are on for introducing an overnight superfast express train between Guwahati and Kolkata," he added.
New Delhi: A government hospital in Jammu has made special provisions to provide immediate medical attention to victims of cross-border firing from Pakistani forces.

News agency ANI reported that Government Medical College in Jammu has dedicated a special team of medical experts to treat victims of cross-border firing. Hospital authorities inform that a number of medical specialists will attend to victims of firing - primarily coming from border areas. Two wards have been allocated and treatment would be free-of-cost, officials have said.

Authorities say that the hospital has received 105 patients suffering from injuries due to firing from Pakistani side of LoC, from January 18 till Monday (June 4).

Pakistan has violated ceasefire agreement a number of times since the starting of this year. While Indian forces have returned fire in equal measure, the central government - as a goodwill gesture - had called for a unilateral ceasefire during the holy month of Ramzan. Pakistani forces, however, had continued to indulge in unprovoked firing regardless.

Recently, authorities in border areas aslo inaugurated special concrete bunkers in several locations for locals to shift into during shelling from Pakistani forces. Specific targeting of civilians from across the LoC continues unabated.
Bhubaneswar/Puri: The keys of a crucial treasury chamber Ratna Bhandar of 12-century Jagannath Temple have reportedly gone missing, sparking an intense speculation if the ancient coffers are under threat. Amid protests by the Shankaracharya of Puri, Swami Nischalananda Saraswati, and the Bharatiya Janata Party, state Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik on Monday ordered a judicial probe into the matter.

The case of the missing keys of the inner chambers came in to light two months ago, on April 4, during a meeting of the Sri Jagannath Temple Managing Committee.

After 34 years, a 16-member team had entered the Ratna Bhandar on April 4 to inspect the physical conditions amid tight security following an order of the Orissa High Court, Ramchandra Das Mahapatra told PTI. The court, monitoring the repair works undertaken by the Archaeological Survey of India in the shrine since 2016, had ordered the ASI to examine the structural stability and safety of the Ratna Bhandar.

However, the team could not enter the inner chambers due to unavailability of keys and inspected the condition through an iron grill from outside with the help of search lights.

Of the seven chambers of the Ratna Bhandar, the first two are outer chambers which were used from time to time, and the others are called inner chambers.

Neither the temple administration nor the Puri district treasury has the key of the inner treasury, said Mahapatra.

Both the Shankaracharya of Puri and the BJP have sought a clarification from Odisha Chief Minister on the issue.

"The chief minister should give a clarification on how the key of the temple's inner treasury went missing and who is responsible for it," state BJP spokesman Pitambar Acharya told reporters.

Activists of outfits such as the Jagannath Sena and the Sachetana Nagarik Manch demonstrated near the Shree Jagannath temple in Puri.

With PTI inputs
The life of a man, who suffered a heart attack onboard a Jet Airways flight, was saved because of the alertness of the crew and ground officials of the airline. The incident occurred onboard a Mumbai-Kolkata Jet Airways flight 9W625 on May 22.

One hour after the flights departure from Mumbai airport, a passenger had a massive heart attack and collapsed. Chemco Group chairman Ram Saraogi, who has lauded the airline in a letter to its chairman Naresh Goyal, says that the crew rushed to his aid and handled him very carefully.

The flight was then diverted back to Mumbai airport so that the passenger could be provided the best possible treatment in the shortest time.

Immediately on arrival, medical personal with a team of relevant doctors came on board and were able to save his life by giving emergency medical treatment in the aircraft. The flight is then departed for Kolkata, said Saraogi, an eyewitness, in the letter to Jet Airways chairman.

The letter further says, We would like to take this opportunity to commend the quick decision making and presence of mind by the entire Jet Airways team with a special mention to - Mr. Kevin Baretto (cabin officer) and Ms. Akansha Tyagi (cabin staff).

The Chemco Group chairman said that though the entire experience was traumatic for everyone on board the flight, the handling of the problem by the Jet Airways staff members reinforced faith in the great culture instilled in the company and its employees.
Bhopal/Chandigarh/Jaipur: The fourth day of the ongoing farmers' stir across several states saw a mixed impact with prices of agricultural produce including vegetables rising in some urban areas while their supply remained normal in others.

The situation was by and large peaceful.

Farmers in Punjab decided to call off their stir on June 6 even as the protest would continue in other states.

In Madhya Pradesh's Mandsaur, where six people were killed in police firing on June 6 last year, the impact was palpable as only 200 farmers reached the local 'mandi' to sell their produce today, said an official.

"On normal days, over 4,000 farmers arrive at the mandi. Today only 200 farmers came in with their produce," said Mandsaur Krishi Upaj Mandi Inspector Balwant Singh Rathore.

Traders, however, claimed there was no shortage of fresh farm produce.

Bhagwandas Meghnani, president of Mandsaur's Wholesale Traders Union, said, "There is no shortage, as of now, because people had stored sufficient amount of vegetables ahead of the agitation. However, farmers from some areas are not arriving at the market."

However, in Indore the price of vegetables were rising.

President of the traders' union in Indore's Ahilyabai Holkar Vegetable Market, Sundardas Makhija, told PTI that the arrival in the mandi had reduced to half.

There is an average increase of 20 percent in prices of tomatoes, lady finger, green chillies, bitter gourd and other vegetables, he said.

Makhija claimed the prices of vegetables had registered a decline during the first three days of the farmers' agitation as retailers and buyers had stored vegetables ahead of the agitation.

Bhopal's Krishi Upaj Mandi secretary Vinay Prakash Pateria claimed the arrival of grains, fruits and vegetables was normal. Mohammed Abid, a wholesale trader in Bhopal's Nav Bahar Sabji Mandi, claimed the prices had, infact, come down. The reports from markets in Neemuch, Jhabua and Ratlam also indicated normal arrival of vegetables.

In Athner town in Betul district, agitating farmers threw vegetables and poured milk on the streets, said Siddharth Priyadarshan, inspector in charge, Athner police station.

The Rashtriya Kisan Mazdoor Mahasangh (RKMM), a federation of about 130 agitating farmers' organisations, staged a protest in Vidisha alleging harassment by the administration.

Inspector-General of Police (Intelligence) Makrand Deuskar told reporters that Madhya Pradesh remained by and large peaceful.

Police said the security had been beefed up at Pipliya Mandi of Mandsaur district ahead of Congress chief Rahul Gandhi's public meeting on June 6.

State Congress chief Kamal Nath alleged the administration was trying to ensure that Gandhi's rally turns out to be a flop.

The Congress, however, came under attack from Union Minister Harsimrat Kaur Badal who blamed the party's '70-year misrule' for the current plight of farmers.

Rahul Gandhi should first address the agrarian crisis in Punjab where farmers were committing suicide under Congress rule every day, before talking about transforming the entire nation, she said.

"They looted the nation and created policy paralysis. They are now fine talking about farmers. As far as Congress pointing out fingers to say anything is concerned, it is pot calling the kettle black," Badal told the media in New Delhi while highlighting the Union government's 4-year achievements in the food processing sector.

In Rajasthan's Jaipur, prices of vegetables rose amid disruptions in supplies and procurement of milk was also hit in some parts.

"Jaipur Dairy alone has suffered a loss of nearly Rs 1 crore as 'anti-social elements' spilled nearly 60,000 litres of milk on roads. Twelve tankers were vandalised. Jaipur Dairy has lodged 8-9 FIRs for damaging and manhandling employees," Jaipur Dairy chairman Om Prakash Punia told PTI.

He said that problems were witnessed in Sikar, Chomu, Kaladera and parts of Jaipur.

?The prices of vegetables have increased by 25-30 per cent in the last three days because of restricted supply due to the farmers' agitation,? a vegetable vendor at Muhana vegetable market said.

Meanwhile, a farmers' body functionary blamed "anti-social elements" for spilling milk on roads and disrupting procurement.

?Protests have been peaceful and successful. Anti-social elements are behind disrupting milk procurement and spilling it on roads. We have set up milk points for consumers outside city limits for urban population,? a core committee member of the Rashtriya Kisan Mahasangh said.

Farmers in Punjab, meanwhile, have decided to call off their stir on June 6, after a meeting presided by Bhartiya Kisan Union (BKU-Rajewal) president Balbir Singh Rajewal and attended by other leaders.

Rajewal said the farmers in Punjab would start supplying vegetables and milk to the cities on Wednesday after paying tributes to six farmers killed in police firing during an agitation in Madhya Pradesh's Mandsaur on June 6 last year.

"But the stir would continue in other states till June 10," he said.

Meanwhile, the farmers held protests in various parts of Punjab and Haryana, with some dumping their produce on roads. Traders said due to dwindling supplies of farm produce in many mandis, prices were rising.

At few places in Punjab, including in Bathinda and Moga districts, arguments broke out between traders and some farmer leaders as the former claimed they were being stopped from selling stocked fruits and vegetables.
The Pakistan Inter-Services Public Relations has said that there is no space for war between India and Pakistan. In a press conference in Rawalpindi on Monday, ISPR Director General Major General Asif Ghafoor, however, blamed India for recent incidents of ceasefire violation along the International Border.

According to Pakistan-based Dawn News report, he claimed that the countrys troops were adhering to the decision taken by DGMOs last week to implement 2013 ceasefire pact in letter and spirit, but provocation from the Indian side compelled them to retaliate. He accused Indian troops of targeting innocent citizens.

The media wing of the Army accused India of carrying out 1,077 ceasefire violations since the start of 2018 to date. "Our defence, our desire for peace, should not be mistaken for weakness," Ghafoor said.

This comes a day after India asserted that it would be constrained to revoke the Ramzan ceasefire if Pakistan continued to indulge in cross-border firing and terrorism.

Reacting to the killing of two Border Security Force (BSF) jawans by Pakistani forces, Union Minister of State for Home Hansraj Ahir had on Sunday said, We had decided to suspend operations in view of Ramzan. However, there is no respite in cross-border terrorism and ceasefire violations on the part of Pakistan. We will be constrained to revoke the ceasefire agreement.

The government had on May 16 directed security forces in Jammu and Kashmir to follow what it called "non-initiation of combat operations" during the holy month of Ramzan.

The security forces, however, reserve the right to retaliate if attacked or if essential to protect the lives of innocent people, the ministry had said.

Assistant Sub-inspector Satya Narayan Yadav and Constable Vijay Kumar Pandey - both residents of Uttar Pradesh - were killed and 13 civilians injured in unprovoked and indiscriminate firing by Pakistani rangers in Akhnoor, Kanachak and Khour sectors of Jammu district on Sunday.
Washington: India and the United States have pledged to continue their strong bilateral strategic partnership, the Pentagon said after a meeting between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and US Defence Secretary Jim Mattis.

Mattis met the prime minister on the sidelines of the International Institute for Strategic Studies' 17th Asia Security Summit -- also known as the Shangri-La Dialogue -- in Singapore on Saturday.

"The two discussed the importance of the US-India relationship, and the role of both nations in cooperating to uphold international laws and principles, and to maintain a free and open Indo-Pacific," defence spokesperson Captain Jeff Davis said here yesterday.

The two leaders "pledged to continue the strong US-India strategic partnership and affirmed their commitment to maintaining peace, stability and prosperity in the region," Davis said in a readout of the meeting.
MUMBAI: There seems to be no end to troubles for Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh's much-anticipated Iftar party. Barely days after Muslim groups refused to attend it, activists are now seeking a cancellation of the same party.

Mumbai-based activists  Advocate Adil Khatri and Shakeel Ahmed Shaikh  sought a cancellation of the party being organised at Malabar Hill's Sahyadri guest house. In a letter to Maharashtra Governor C. Vidyasagar Rao and Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavi, the duo stated that no public or religious functions are allowed inside the venue. It is meant for official use only, reported news agency ANI.

A July 2015 order issued by the State General Administration Department (GAD) to all government departments, including the Protocol Department, which is responsible for the (Sahyadri) guesthouse says departments are requested not to hold (public) hearings at the Sahyadri Guesthouse and follow the rules for holding meetings and workshops. The GAD has been informed that the conference halls are requisitioned by ministers for holding hearings with applicants with various issues," the letter read.

"The order also says only the CM, DCM, Ministers and Minister of State, Chief Secretary, Additional Chief Secretary, Principal Secretary, Secretary and officials of equivalent rank would be authorised to hold meetings, workshops and press conferences," the activists highlighted in the letter.

The grand Iftar party, organised by Muslim Rashtriya Manch (MRM)  the Muslim wing of RSS, is scheduled to be held on Monday evening. Members of as many as 30 Islamic countries are expected to attend the party. Around 100 attendees for the event are slated to hail from non-Muslim community.

Earlier, various Muslim groups refused attend the Iftar party, terming it a sham. The groups further added that Muslims must avoid any such event by the right-wing group unless it gives up (alleged) anti-Muslim policies. Alleging that the RSS is organising the party to lure Muslim voters to vote for the BJP in the 2019 general elections. According to the groups that have called for the boycott, members of Muslim community have been troubled in the name of Love Jihad and cow slaughter.

Dismissing allegations, MRM national convenor Virag Pachpore said that the Iftar party is an attempt to quash misconceptions about the RSS among minorities. He said that the motive is to drive across the point that the RSS is not against any community.

The truth is that the RSS wants to spread peace, prosperity and brotherhood among citizens from all communities, said the national convenor of the MRM.
Chennai: The Tamil Nadu government on Monday said it will set free 67 life convicts who have completed 10 years in jail to commemorate the birth centenary of AIADMK

Founder and late Chief Minister M.G. Ramachandran (MGR).

In a statement issued here, the government said orders for the release of the 67 life convicts were issued on February 25.
New Delhi: Terrorists hurled a live grenade on a police party at Batapora Chowk in Shopian district, injuring eight people including a constable.

News agency ANI reports that the grenade was hurled just as the police party was passing the area and it resulted in a loud explosion. Scenes of chaos erupted immediately after and security personnel cordoned off the area.

The incident comes just days after terrorists had hurled a grenade at a CRPF patrol vehicle in Srinagar's Badshah Bridge.
KOLKATA: The West Bengal Board of Secondary Education (WBBSE) is expected to announce the Madhyamik results 2018 on Wednesday, June 6, 2018. The results will be available on wbresults.nic.in or wbbse.org.

Once released, students will be able to check their marks by visiting any of these portals - wbresults.nic.in or wbbse.org. The result will be available from 9 am on June 6 while the students can collect their marksheets from their schools from 10 am onwards on the same day.

Here's how to check West Bengal Madhyamik Pariksha Result 2018:

Step 1. Go to the websites - wbresults.nic.in or wbbse.org

Step 2. Click on 'West Bengal Class 10 Results 2018'

Step 3. Give your Roll Number

Step 4. Click on 'Submit'

The students are suggested to download the result and save it. They can take a print out of the same for future reference.

It is to be noted that the marksheets available on wbresults.nic.in or wbbse.org are not the original ones. The concerned school authorities will be distributing Madhyamik Result 2018 later.

Here's how to check West Bengal Madhyamik Pariksha Result via SMS:

Text WB10< space> roll number to either of these numbers 54242, 5676750, 58888 56263

About West Bengal Board of Secondary Education (WBBSE):

The Board of Secondary Education was established in 1951 under an Act of the State Legislature called the West Bengal Secondary Education Act of 1950.

The operational ambit of the Board has increased manifold over the years. In 1951 the Board started its journey with 1270 high schools taken over from Calcutta University which increased to 2312 by the end of 1963 and to more than 8000 by the end of 1975 including some schools outside the territorial jurisdiction of the State. Presently the Board is handling around 10238 numbers of schools.

With the increase in the number of recognised schools, the examinees appearing in the Secondary Examination (School Leaving Examination with a general syllabus) have increased. In 1952, the Board handled only 42000 examinees, which increased to more than five lakhs in 1976 and in 2006 this figure jumped to nearly 8 lakhs.
Lucknow: Two people died in a massive explosion in a house in Lucknow's Kakori area on Monday. Several persons are still trapped under the rubbles of the house. Five persons have been rushed to the hospital.

The police is present at the spot. Cause of explosion being investigated.

Initial investigations suggest that an illegal firecracker unit was operating from the house.

Lucknow: 2 people dead in an explosion in a house, in Kakori area; Police present at the spot, cause of explosion being investigated pic.twitter.com/r4sBbb5ReH  ANI UP (@ANINewsUP) June 4, 2018

This is a developing story

With ANI inputs
New Delhi: About 1,000 central paramilitary personnel have been sent to Meghalaya to tackle the situation in Shillong. Top officials of the Union Home Ministry were also in touch with the state government officials and getting regular information about the prevailing situation in the Meghalaya capital. Adequate forces have been sent to Shillong to control the situation as per the request of the state government, a ministry official said, PTI reported.

Meanwhile, the Army conducted flag marches on Monday after fresh outbreak of violence, including an attack by protesters on a CRPF camp on Saturday night, in the Meghalaya capital where authorities re-imposed curfew. The Army conducted flag march in the affected areas including Laitumkhrah, Polo and Baza Bazaar. Defence spokesperson Ratnakar Singh told the news agency that about 300 displaced civilians, mostly women and children, were rescued and they returned to their homes the following day.

Officials said curfew was reimposed at 4 pm on Monday and would continue till further orders. Protesters pelted stones at the CRPF camp at Mawlai, situated just below Jaiaw Lumsyntiew locality. CRPF IG Prakash D told PTI that three CRPF personnel received minor injuries and were given medical treatment at the camp itself. "There is no immediate threat to their life and there was no report of damage to property at the camp," he said.

Shillong has been on edge following clashes between residents of the city's Punjabi Line area and Khasi drivers of state-run buses. The trouble started on Thursday after two groups of people in the city's Punjabi Line area clashed after a bus handyman was allegedly beaten up by a group of residents. The Meghalaya capital was placed under curfew on Saturday following clashes between police and locals all through Friday. Late on Friday night also, the Army had carried out a flag march in various localities.

Normal life continued to remain affected for the fourth day in a row on Monday with curfew imposed in parts of the city under the Lumdiengjri police station and Cantonment Beat House areas during the morning hours. Security would be tightened in 14 localities of the Meghalaya capital that were mainly affected by the clashes, Director General of Police (DGP) SB Singh said. "The Home Ministry has sanctioned the deployment of four additional CRPF and two ITBP companies. The state's SF-10 commandoes along with a CRPF company and the district forces are already monitoring the situation on the ground," he said.

Chief Minister Conrad Sangma chaired an all-party meeting in Shillong over the violence and announced the formation of a committee which will find a "permanent solution to the long pending issue" of the relocation of sweeper colony from Them Metor near Bara Bazaar. Earlier, on Sunday, he had said that the violence was a local issue and some people with vested interests had been trying to give a communal colour to it.

"The problem is very much in a particular locality, on a particular issue. It just happened that two particular communities were involved, but it's not a communal thing," Sangma had said.

We are monitoring the law and order situation closely in #Shillong. Efforts are being made to bring normalcy in the affected areas. Request the citizens to maintain peace. @PMOIndia @rajnathsingh @KirenRijiju  Conrad Sangma (@SangmaConrad) June 1, 2018

Meghalaya Home Minister James Sangma on Monday appealed to people to stay calm and said the government is doing everything to restore peace in the city. "The agitators should stop protesting as the government has already met many of their demands, which included the arrest of the accused in the assault of the bus handyman on May 31," he said.

(With PTI inputs)
New Delhi: Lenovo-owned Motorola extended the G series of smartphones in India by launching the Moto G6 and the Moto G6 Plus. The phones were first unveiled at Sao Paulo in Brazil in April.

Moto G6 will come at a starting price of Rs 13,999 and it will be available exclusively on Amazon.in. Moto G6 will come at a starting price of Rs 11,999 and will be available exclusively on Flipkart.

Both the phones will go on sale at midnight tonight.

HDFC Bank will offer flat 1,250 instant discount to its customers sing the bank's credit and debit card. Flipkart is also offering extra Rs 1,000 off on exchange of any Moto phone. Further users can get 1 year Amazon Prime with Airtel postpaid plans of Rs 499 and above and Rs 2,000 cashback on select prepaid plans.

Flipkart users can get an extra Rs 1,500 off over the regular exchange value. They can also get flat Rs 1,000 off on using ICICI Bank Credit and Debit Cards.

The offer on both Flipkart and Amazon will be valid for users till June 6.

Moto G6 Play

The Moto G6 Play comes with an edge-to-edge 5.7 inch screen with HD+ Max Vision display. Powered by a 1.4 GHz quad-core processor, the phone has a 13 MP rapid-focus camera.

Key Specs of Moto G6 Play

5.7 inch screen with HD+ 720p resolution

Qualcomm Snapdragon 427 processor with a 1.4 GHz quad-core CPU

13 MP with phase detection autofocus (PDAF), /2.0 aperture rear camera

5 MP front camera

600 MHz Adreno 308 GPU

Android 8.0, Oreo OS

2 GB / 3 GB RAM

16 GB / 32 GB internal storage

Up to 128 GB microSD expandable storage

Fingerprint reader, Moto Key

4000 mAh Battery

Moto G6

The Moto G6 features a 5.7 inch Full HD Max Vision display featuring dual rear 5MP and 12MP cameras. You can instantly lock or unlock your phone with the multifunctional fingerprint reader.

Key Specs of Moto G6

5.7 inch IPS screen with Full HD+, 1080p resolution

Corning Gorilla Glass 3

1.8 GHz octa-core processor

3 GB / 4 GB RAM

12 MP & 5 MP dual rear cameras, f/1.8 aperture

8 MP front camera

32 GB / 64 GB internal storage

Up to 128 GB microSD expandable memory

Android 8.0, Oreo OS

Fingerprint reader, face unlock features

3000 mAh battery
Mumbai: At least 13 persons have perished in different incidents, mostly by drowning, in the first monsoon weekend in the past 72 hours.

Five persons, including four of a family, from the Immaculate Conception Colony in Borivali drowned at a beach picnic in Ratnagiri on Sunday afternoon.

They are Monica D`Souza, 44, Sanomi D`Souza, 22, Richa D`Souza, 19, and Mathew D`Souza, 18, besides their neighbour and family friend Kenneth Masters, 56.

The incident occurred at the small Aare-Ware Beach near Devrukh in Ratnagiri when they were en route to famed Ganpatipule.

Apparently ignoring Met warnings, the victims ventured into the choppy waters, but were trapped in a sudden whirlpool that built up at an intersection in the Arabian Sea and a creek along the beach.

Their bodies were likely to reach Mumbai on Monday for the last rites in Borivali West`s IC Colony which plunged into a pall of gloom.

Two Thane cousins -- Anand Gupta and Nandini Gupta -- drowned when they accidentally walked into a ditch full of water, which was dug up to lay a sewage pipeline, on Sunday.

There were no warning indicators near the ditch excavated near a road by a private contractor appointed by the Thane Municipal Corporation.

In another weekend tragedy, three youths drowned in two separate incidents at the Bhuigaon Beach in Palghar district on Saturday evening.

While the bodies of two -- Rahul Rathod, 18, and Abhivan Shinde, 17, -- washed ashore at Kalamb Beach near Vasai, efforts were on to trace the third, police said.

Police suspect that the youth may have been pulled away by the thick under currents in the Arabian Sea as monsoon is round the corner, roughing up the sea on the entire western coast.

Besides, three persons were electrocuted in two separate incidents in Bhandup after the city and surroundings were lashed by sudden thunderstorms on Saturday evening, marking the onset of the monsoon season.
New Delhi: Actor Chunky Pandey's daughter Ananya Pandey met with a car accident while shooting for her debut film 'Student of The Year 2' in Dehradun on Monday.

According to Prabhat Khabar, Ananya's met with an accident when she was shooting for the first schedule of her debut film 'Student of the year 2' in Dehradun. Ananya was in Dehradun with her co-stars Tiger Shroff, Tara Sutariya and director Punit Malhotra.

The report further states that Ananya had to drive a car for a sequence in her film. Although she a is good driver, her car lost control and collided with a tree.

However, Ananya was wearing a safety guard during the shoot and which saved her from getting hurt.

Days ago, Ananya was also clicked at the airport while she was leaving for Dehradun with the movie's director Punit Malhotra. Apart from Pandey, the film will also mark the debut of another stunning girl Tara Sutaria. The movie will be helmed under KJo's home banner Dharma Productions and is set to go on floors on April 7.

KJo revealed the first look of the film featuring Tiger Shroff on the official page of Dharma Productions.
Los Angeles: Actor William Phipps, who starred in sci-fi films of the 1950s and voiced Prince Charming in 1950s "Cinderella", has passed away. He was 96.

Phipps' friend and author Tom Weaver announced the news, adding that Phipps had been battling lung cancer, which was complicated by pneumonia, reports variety.com.

The actor died on June 1 at UCLA Medical Center in Santa Monica, California. Phipps had originally studied accounting and planned to pursue it as a career while continuing what was then an acting hobby on the side.

In 1941, Phipps decided to forgo his EIU studies and moved to California to pursue his acting dream.

He later enlisted in the Navy after his brother Jack was shot down over the South Pacific, serving as a radioman aboard six ships between 1942 and 1945. After his discharge, he returned to Hollywood and used the G.I. Bill (officially the Servicemen's Readjustment Act of 1944, the bill was created to help veterans of World War II) to enrol at the Actors Lab.

Walt Disney himself heard Phipps' audition for the voice role of Prince Charming, and Phipps said he spent two hours one afternoon in January 1949 recording his lines after Disney gave him the role.

According to Phipps, he was paid $100 for the work.

During the film's promotional frame, Disney offered young women the chance to meet the voice behind Prince Charming in a nationwide contest. For the meeting, Phipps was outfitted with a white tie, tails and a top hat, and met the lucky winner in front of a live audience on the stage of the Pantages during a coast-to-coast radio broadcast of Art Linkletter's show.

According to Phipps, "They gave me (I think) $100 pocket money and a limousine and a driver so we could go anywhere we wanted. We went to Ciro's and the Mocambo, which were the two most famous places on the Sunset Strip at the time, and we went to the Trocadero, too.
New Delhi: Individuals are open to companionship with people with disabilities, according to a survey.

Inclov, a matchmaking platform for people with disabilities, conducted a survey among 30,000 people with disabilities and health disorders across 300 cities in India. The participating age group ranged from 18 to 30 years.

The survey found that a majority of 61 per cent of the audience are okay with their partners with or without disability.

It was also highlighted that a majority of the audience, at 61 per cent, are in the age group of 20-30 years followed by 18.1 per cent in the 30-40 age group, showcasing that while the majority of people with disability as an audience set here is millennial, people across age-groups are looking for companionship.

Popular prejudices suggest that people with disabilities are perceived or suggested at living isolated lives, with marriage not on their radar. The data suggests otherwise with a majority of the audience at 78 per cent being single and actively looking for a partner through marriage and dating.

Marriage is indeed a priority for this demographic, with 50 per cent of the community looking actively for marriage followed by 15 per cent looking for friendship and 13.5 per cent looking for dating.

When it comes to lifestyle and socio-economic background, 61.5 per cent still live with their families, while 28.1 per cent live alone.

Shankar Srinivasan, Co-Founder at Inclov, said: "Our core vision as a community has been to create an inclusive platform for people with disabilities to help find companionship amidst positive experiences. Through this survey, we wanted to understand them a bit deeper and help burst some popular myths and prejudices plaguing them.

"We plan to make this a regular endeavour and the track changes and progress so as to serve the community better."
New Delhi: Bollywood's power couple Sonam Kapoor Ahuja and Anand Ahuja tied the knot on May 8, 2018, in a big fat Punjabi wedding that was attended by the who's who of Bollywood. Since then the couple has been giving us major couple goals. Recently, Sonam took to her Instagram and shared some adorable pictures with her husband Anand Ahuja and needless to say, they looked every bit regal in the pictures.

The pictures are from Natasha Poonawala's bash held in Mumbai on Sunday. Sonam dons a blue gown while Anand looks dapper in a striped suit. The couple can be seen sharing cute moments and we just can't help gushing over their pictures.

Check out the pictures shared by Sonam Kapoor:

#EverydayPhenomenal @anandahuja A post shared by SonamKAhuja (@sonamkapoor) on Jun 4, 2018 at 7:09am PDT

Earlier, Anand had taken to Instagram to explain the famous hashtag they use to define their relationship. He wrote, "The meaning & notion behind #everydayphenomenal is best described by this poem, one of my favourites, below: Who has not found the heaven below Will fail of it above. God's residence is next to mine His furniture is love. #EmilyDickinson #MahatmaGandhi taught us that our words become our actions which in turn become our habits, our values and ultimately our destiny. #EverydayPhenomenal reminds @sonamkapoor of the importance of appreciation, positivity, and gratitude...that happiness is not something you get, its something you are. #EverydayPhenomenal #fbf @faraz_khalid @noon."

Well, the hashtag is as poetic as their relationship and one can always trust Anand to come up with all things romantic!

It is indeed a great year for Sonam as her dream project 'Veere Di Wedding' has finally released and is already riding high on success. Apart from Sonam, the film stars Kareena Kapoor Khan, Swara Bhasker and Shikha Talsania. Sumeet Vyas, who rose to fame with web series Permanent Roommates, stars opposite Kareena in the film. It is jointly produced by Rhea Kapoor, Ekta Kapoor and Nikhil Dwivedi.
London: An 18-year-old woman on Monday became Britain's youngest convicted female Islamic State terrorist after a court found her guilty of plotting a terror attack on the iconic British Museum with Britain's first all-woman cell.

Safaa Boular was accused of planning to travel to Syria to join IS militants and later preparing to carry out a terrorist attack in London after her fiance, an Islamic State fighter, died.

A jury at the Old Bailey found her guilty of two offences of preparation of terrorism acts, the BBC reported. She was also found guilty over an earlier attempt to travel to Syria for terrorism.

Her 22-year-old sister Rizlaine has already admitted planning a knife attack on London and their mother Mina Dich, 44, has pleaded guilty to assisting her. Boular will be sentenced in around six week-time, the report said.

During her trial, the court heard how Boular - then 17 - plotted a gun and grenade attack at the British Museum.

The sisters and Dich discussed their plans using Alice in Wonderland coded language, with Rizlaine as the Mad Hatter. Aged 16, Boular was radicalised online in the wake of the 2015 Paris terror attacks.

She met IS fighter Naweed Hussain on Instagram and after three months of chatting, she declared her love for him with an online marriage ceremony.

The court heard how she had wanted to join Hussain in Syria, but her plan was thwarted when British security services confiscated her passport. Boular told the police about Hussain and security services deployed officers to pose as fellow extremists and speak to the pair online.

On April 4, 2017, it was a security services officer, posing as an IS commander, who told Boular that Hussain had been killed in a drone attack. The prosecution claimed this only strengthened her determination to carry out an attack in the UK.

Boular went on to tell officers posing as extremists about plans for an attack and on April 12, she was charged with preparing terrorist acts in Syria.

Despite being in custody, Boular continued to talk to her sister and mother about an Alice in Wonderland-themed tea party - code for an attack. In one call Boular complained: "Mate, you guys are partying without me."

Rizlaine and Dich carried out reconnaissance of major landmarks in Westminster and bought knives and a rucksack, the court heard.

They were arrested on April 27, the date of the planned attack, along with friend, Khawla Barghouthi.
Kabul: At least seven people were killed on Monday when a suicide bomber detonated near a gathering of top clerics in Afghanistan's capital Kabul, roughly one hour after the group proclaimed such attacks a sin, police said.

The blast in the western part of the city, near universities and a police academy, is the latest demonstration of the militants' chilling ability to carry out attacks in the heart of Kabul, which is now the deadliest place in the country for civilians.

The bomber detonated at about 11.30 am (0700 GMT) at the gates of Kabul's Polytechnic University, police and officials said. The Loya Jirga tent where thousands of clerics from across Afghanistan were meeting is on the campus.

The tent is a huge venue often used for top religious or government gatherings. "Loya Jirga" means "grand assembly" in Pashto. Most of the casualties were civilians.

"According to our initial information, seven people have been killed including a policeman. Nine others have been injured, including two policemen," police spokesman Hashmat Stanikzai told media.

Interior ministry spokesman Najib Danish confirmed it was a suicide attack, and said the bomber had been on foot when he detonated his explosives at the university gate.

Police spokesman Stanikzai said the blast was outside the tent. No group has claimed the attack, but the Taliban issued a statement on Twitter saying its fighters had "nothing to do" with the bombing.

Both the Taliban and the Islamic State group have stepped up their headline-grabbing assaults on the heavily fortified capital in recent months.

Local media said thousands of clerics had gathered at the Loya Jirga tent for the meeting of the Ulema Council, Afghanistan's top religious leaders.

Earlier they issued a fatwa against the ongoing conflict in Afghanistan, where the Taliban have been fighting an insurgency against government forces for nearly 17 years, while other militant groups have also been carrying out attacks.

The Ulema Council -- seen by the militants as having some links to the government -- termed suicide attacks a sin against Islam. They have issued such fatwas in the past.

"The ongoing war in Afghanistan does not have a legal basis, only Afghans are the victims of this war... (it) does not have religious, national or human value," they said, according to government officials.

Roads around the university were quickly blocked by security officials after the blast, with heavy traffic jams building in the city as many commuters headed home due to Ramadan, the holy Islamic fasting month, during which government offices close early.

Kabul accounted for 16 percent of all civilian casualties last year, when 1,831 civilians were killed or wounded nationwide, according to the United Nations. The myriad attacks in the last 12 months included two of the deadliest in the city since the US invasion: a truck bomb on May 31, 2017 that killed more than 150 people, and an ambulance bomb on January 27 this year which killed more than 100.

The UN has warned that 2018 could be even deadlier. Many fearful residents have restricted their movements as a result, afraid to linger in bazaars or to become trapped in traffic during rush hour, a prime time for attacks.
Islamabad: A Chinese engineer working in Pakistan was found dead today in the premises of the Chinese embassy here, apparently 12 days after his death when the officials from the mission checked his room following a foul smell, a media report said.

The engineer, residing in the premises of the embassy and working for a Chinese company which was closed for renovation, had apparently died around 12 days ago, the Express Tribune reported, citing police sources.

The engineer was 28 to 29 years old and had come to the country in May, police said.

Investigators said the Chinese national appears to have died of natural causes as he suffered from blood pressure related problems.

Security officials said the engineer's room was not checked earlier and officials from the embassy checked it after noticing a foul smell.

Emergency services have shifted the body to a hospital for further examination.

Thousands of Chinese workers are employed in Pakistan, working on a host of projects connected with the USD 50 billion China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC). Pakistan Army has raised a special force consisting of thousands of personnel to provide security to Chinese personnel working in Pakistan.

In February, a Chinese national, working at a non-CPEC related private shipping firm in Karachi, was shot dead in broad daylight in the city.

Last year, two Chinese nationals, who were believed to be Christian missionaries, were abducted from Quetta and allegedly killed by the Islamic State terror group, which sent shock waves in China.
US President Donald Trump, currently facing a probe over involvement of Russia in the 2016 US elections, has asserted that he has absolute right to pardon himself. However, the US President has also said that he doesnt need to exercise his right as he has done nothing wrong.

Taking to microblogging site Twitter on Monday evening, Trump said, As has been stated by numerous legal scholars, I have the absolute right to PARDON myself, but why would I do that when I have done nothing wrong? In the meantime, the never ending Witch Hunt, led by 13 very Angry and Conflicted Democrats (& others) continues into the mid-terms!

As has been stated by numerous legal scholars, I have the absolute right to PARDON myself, but why would I do that when I have done nothing wrong? In the meantime, the never ending Witch Hunt, led by 13 very Angry and Conflicted Democrats (& others) continues into the mid-terms!  Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) June 4, 2018

The statement by the US President comes a day after his attorney Rudy Giuliani said on Sunday that Trump probably has the power to pardon himself but has no plans to execute the same. Giuliani said that Trump "has no intention of pardoning himself," but that the US Constitution, which gives a president the authority to issue pardons, "doesn't say he can't."

Special counsel Robert Mueller is currently conducting an investigation into whether Russia meddled in the presidential election and whether Trump's campaign colluded with Moscow. Mueller, whose investigation already has led to criminal charges against Trump campaign aides including former campaign chairman Paul Manafort, is also looking into whether Trump unlawfully sought to obstruct the Russia investigation.

Both Russia and Trump have, however, denied any collusion during the US Presidential elections, and the president has denied obstructing the probe.

The possibility of a self-pardon appeared to be raised in a letter dated January 29 from the US President's lawyers to Mueller, published by the New York Times on Saturday. The letter argues that the US President could not have obstructed the probe given the powers granted to him by the Constitution.

"It remains our position that the President`s actions here, by virtue of his position as the chief law enforcement officer, could neither constitutionally nor legally constitute obstruction because that would amount to him obstructing himself, and that he could, if he wished, terminate the inquiry, or even exercise his power to pardon if he so desired," Trump's lawyers wrote in the letter.

(With Reuters inputs)
Sydney: The head of airplane sales at Airbus dismissed concerns about a sharp drop in orders for the A330neo jet and predicted European wide-body demand would start to recover this year as rival Boeing extended a series of wins in the lucrative segment.

"The world is still full of opportunities in terms of wide-bodies. We have a lost a couple of campaigns in the West and there are other campaigns around the world. I am not personally in a panicking mode about the A330neo," Chief Commercial Officer Eric Schulz told Reuters on Monday.

Speaking on the sidelines of an airlines meeting in Sydney, Schulz declined to give a numerical sales target for 2018 wide-body orders but said, "We will see, I think we will be ok. I can see from the dynamics in the market and what we have in the pipeline and what we have already negotiated."

The A330neo is a derivative of Airbus's most-sold wide-body jet, the A330 series, whose fortunes are widely monitored by investors as one of its two main sources of profits and cash.

Airbus has lost a series of US contests for sales of the 250-300-seat A330neo, followed by a decision set to be approved this week by the owners of India`s Vistara to order six Boeing 787s instead of A330neos, two industry sources said. The same airline may expand a leased fleet of A320neos.

Airbus and Boeing declined to comment and Vistara did not respond to a request to comment on the order, reported earlier by Bloomberg News.

Demand for wide-body jets has weakened recently because of oversupply, but Boeing has extended a traditional lead in that part of the market thanks to a spate of orders for its 787 and a rebound in 777 demand, assisted by a recovery in freight demand.

Airbus typically sells 4 in 10 big jets but reaped just 16 percent of wide-body orders between January and April. Adjusted for cancellations, net orders slumped into negative territory.

Analysts say a US decision to revoke export licences for jets sold to Iran, after pulling out of an international nuclear sanctions deal, could deepen Airbus`s wide-body woes since IranAir's order for 100 jets had included 28 A330neos.

Schulz said Airbus would not immediately reflect the collapse of the Iran deal in its order book as it uses a grace period for U.S. licences to "study the political situation".

Still, industry watchers say the European firm has 16 unfilled production slots for A330s in 2019, raising the prospect of further output cuts if it does not win new sales.

Airbus hopes China could be a promising market.

Schulz said one factor weighing on A330neo sales was the relatively young age of many of the previous A330 models in service, meaning some operators were not yet ready to upgrade.

"I believe that especially for people who are operating the A330, the A330neo is a nice and easy transition towards an aircraft that generates very good efficiency," he said.

The International Air Transport Association (IATA) said on Monday higher fuel prices were supporting new aircraft demand and that the average size of aircraft was rising. Schulz said on the sidelines of IATA`s annual meeting that wide-body jet demand would soon recover to reflect the underlying fundamentals.

"The market is not that fast but I can sense talking to the airlines that within the next 18 months to 2 years we will have much more dynamism in the market," he said.
LONDON: The world should stand up to Washington`s bullying behaviour, Iran`s foreign minister was quoted as saying on Sunday by state media in a letter to counterparts, as the top diplomat intensifies efforts to save a nuclear deal after a U.S. exit.

US President Donald Trump pulled out last month from the 2015 accord between Iran and world powers that lifted sanctions on Tehran in exchange for curbs to its nuclear programme.

The remaining signatories of the deal - France, Germany, Britain, Russia and China - still see the international accord as the best chance of stopping Tehran developing a nuclear weapon and are trying to salvage it.

In a letter from Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif to his counterparts last week, he asked "the remaining signatories and other trade partners" to "make up for Iran`s losses" caused by the U.S. exit, if they sought to save the deal.

"The JCPOA (nuclear deal) does not belong to its signatories, so one party can reject it based on domestic policies or political differences with a former ruling administration," Zarif was quoted as saying in the letter, parts of which were published by the state news agency IRNA on Sunday.

The nuclear deal was the result of "meticulous, sensitive and balanced multilateral talks", Zarif said, and could not be renegotiated as the United States has demanded.

He said U.S. "illegal withdrawal" from the deal and its "bullying methods to bring other governments in line" with that decision have discredited the rule of law in international arena.

Iran`s top leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has set out a series of conditions on for European powers if they want Tehran to stay in the nuclear deal, including steps to safeguard trade with Tehran and guarantee Iranian oil sales.

The remaining parties to the nuclear deal have warned the United States that its decision to withdraw from the pact jeopardises efforts to limit Iran`s ability to develop atomic weapons.

Trump abandoned the agreement on May 8, arguing that he wanted a bigger deal that not only limited Iran`s atomic work but also reined in its support for proxies in Syria, Iraq, Yemen and Lebanon and that curbed its ballistic missile programme.
BEIJING: The United States urges China to make a full public account of those killed, detained or who went missing during a crackdown on student-led pro-democracy protests in and around Beijing's Tiananmen Square in 1989, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said.

The Chinese government sent tanks to quell the June 4, 1989 protests and has never released a death toll. Estimates from human rights groups and witnesses range from several hundred to several thousand.

The Tiananmen crackdown is a taboo subject in China and 29 years later it remains a point of contention between China and many Western countries.

In a statement on Sunday the recently appointed Pompeo said he remembered "the tragic loss of innocent lives".

"As Liu Xiaobo wrote in his 2010 Nobel Peace Prize speech, delivered in absentia, `the ghosts of June 4th have not yet been laid to rest`," Pompeo said referring to the Chinese dissident who died last year while still in custody.

"We join others in the international community in urging the Chinese government to make a full public accounting of those killed, detained or missing," Pompeo added.

China`s Foreign Ministry did not immediately respond to a request for comment and there was no mention of the day in state media.

However, Hu Xijin, editor of nationalistic tabloid the Global Times, called Pompeo`s statement a "meaningless stunt" that "represents a wish of the Western world to meddle in China`s political process".

The Chinese Communist Party no longer mentions the Tiananmen incident in order to help Chinese society move on, which it has successfully done, Hu added, writing in English on Twitter, which is blocked in China.

Tens of thousands of people are expected to gather later in the day in Hong Kong to mark the anniversary, the only place in China where such large-scale public commemorations happen.

On Tiananmen Square, security was tight as is usual for the anniversary, with no signs of any protests or other memorial events.

Foreigners` passports were checked by Chinese police at a checkpoint nearly a kilometer from the square. A Reuters reporter was turned away and told that unapproved "interview activities" were forbidden in the square on Monday.

In their annual open letter, the Tiananmen Mothers, who represent the families of those who died, said the government was guilty of serious disrespect by ignoring their requests for redress.

"Such a powerful proletarian dictatorship apparatus is afraid of us: the old, the sick, and the weakest and most vulnerable of our society," they wrote in a letter addressed to Chinese President Xi Jinping.

In Taiwan, the democratic and self-ruled island China claims as its own, former president Ma Ying-jeou said in a statement it was important to face up to history to help heal the families` wounds.

"Only by doing this can the Chinese communists be seen by the world as a real great power," wrote Ma, under whose administration ties with China dramatically improved.
Dublin: A US military plane has made an emergency landing in Ireland due to a technical fault while on a flight mission over the Atlantic, the media reported.

The emergency landing was made at Shannon Airport in the western coastal area of Ireland at about on Sunday afternoon, Xinhua reported citing BreakingNews, adding that nine crew members aboard the plane remained safe and sound during the emergency landing.

The plane is a US Air Force McDonnell Douglas KC-10, an aerial refueling aircraft, which belongs to the 305th Maintenance Squadron based at McQuire Air Force base in the US eastern coastal state of New Jersey, according to the report.

The plane issued an emergency landing request to the Irish aviation authorities after it met a problem with one of its three engines while flying over the Atlantic, said the report.

A large contingent of rescue teams involving fire engines and ambulances were called in before the landing of the plane, it said, adding that the plane was escorted to a remote parking stand after it landed.

A subsequent investigation by engineers revealed that a panel was missing from the plane`s left engine.

Shannon Airport is a major airport along the Irish western seaboard.

Due to its unique geographic position, the airport often serves as an emergency landing place for trans-Atlantic flights either due to inclement weather conditions or technical faults.
Read the original text at 112.ua.

Open source

Bank accounts of only Ukraines alcohol producer, which supplies raw materials for domestic vodka, are arrested in connection with the claims of the State Fiscal Service about the debt of the enterprise. "Ukrspyrt" has already announced that it is forced to stop shipments to vodka makers.

"Ukrspyrt" state enterprise, which is a monopolist in the production of edible alcohol in Ukraine, reported the arrest of accounts in connection with "uncoordinated tax accruals of 2012-2014." The acting head of "Ukrspyrt" Yuriy Luchechko, told 112.ua that the notice of the arrest of the accounts was received on Tuesday, May 29. After that, the Prosecution General applied to the Kyiv District Administrative Court, forwarded relevant appeals to the Cabinet. But the decision has not been canceled so far.

The case, related to the arrest of the accounts, comes from 2016: the State Fiscal Service requires payment of USD 7,8 million. "Ukrspyrt" does not agree with this sum, and, according to Luchechko, the entity has a package of documents confirming that there are no grounds for calculating the number of penalties.

The press service of the State Fiscal Service reported 112.ua that the decision to apply financial sanctions amounting to USD 7 million was taken as early as in 2014 in connection with the violation of part 2 of Art. 17 of the Law of Ukraine "On state regulation of production and turnover of ethyl alcohol, cognac and fruit, alcoholic beverages and tobacco products." Namely: selling alcohol products without a representative of the State Tax Service. "The enterprise did not comply with the decision of the tax authority, and Ukrspyrt filed a lawsuit with the court to invalidate the decision on the application of financial sanctions. The courts of the first and appellate instances upheld the decision of the tax authority. In 2015, the courts of the first and appellate instances decided to recover USD 7 million from the state enterprise "Ukrspyrt." For the execution of the decision, the executive letter was sent to the State Executive Service of Ukraine, which opened the enforcement proceedings and seized the money. As the Supreme Administrative Court sent a new decision to invalidate decisions on the imposition of penalties, the Prosecution General applied to the court for recognition of the writ of the executive letter, and Supreme Court of Ukraine in 2018 concluded that the writ of the executive letter is lawful and enforceable. In such circumstances, the actions of the State Fiscal Service are limited to the available decisions of the courts, which are mandatory on the territory of Ukraine," the press service of the State Fiscal Service told 112.ua.

Acting head Yuriy Luchechko said that in connection with the arrest of accounts, distilleries in the near future can stop the shipment of alcohol to the producers of vodka. "We still have grain reserves, from which we can produce alcohol, but they are minimal, we cannot buy new grain, nor can we pay for gas supplies," Luchechko said. At the same time, "Ukrspyrt" is the only countrys alcohol supplier for domestic distilleries.

Vodka producers should transfer the advance money for the production of new volumes of alcohol to the Prosecution General, but these funds are likely to go for paying the penalties.
No casualties among the Armed Forces of Ukraine reported

Open source

The militants violated the ceasefire ten times (as at 18:00) in Donbas conflict zone. No casualties among the Armed Forces of Ukraine reported the press office of the Joint Forces Operation reported on Facebook.

The enemy restored to provocations near Novotoshkivske and Zaitseve using 120- and 82-mm mortar launchers. The occupants tried to perform snipers fire near Krasnohorivka. No casualties among our soldiers reported. The message says.

Earlier, we reported that a Ukrainian citizen, whom the so-called 'LNR' (Luhansk People's Republic, - 112 International) illegally held in custody now walks free.

The identity of the released man is not revealed.

Previously, the Ukrainian official explained that the citizen was actually sentenced by the Ukrainian court; however, the detention period came to its end in 2017, and the illegitimate administration has been holding him in custody illegally since then.
The actual capture took place on May 26; until June 3, there was no information on their whereabouts

Pro-Kremlin mercennaries captured two Ukrainian Army servicemen in the combat area in Donbas. The press service of the Army's 14th Detached Mechanized Brigade posted this on Facebook.

'On May 26, two of our men were obnoxiously captured by the enemy saboteurs, as they were heading to the outpost. Over the past week, there has been no word about what their fate,' the message says.

The 14th Detached Mechanized Brigade reported that, judging by the videos released by the militant-controlled media, the captives are alive.

'The staged TV reels and the so-called briefing of their military clearly show that the Ukrainian army servicemen faced powerful psychological, and, perhaps, physical pressure. The captives feed the adversaries false information about the Armed Forces on the whole, and the brigade, in particular', the message went on.

The army unit's command is now making efforts to release the servicemen.
Read the original text at 112.ua.

As you know, the church in Ukraine is separated from the state  the Constitution says so. For some time, this "separation" was observed at least formally. The members of the Synod did not tell the deputies how to vote, and those, in turn, abstained from advice on how to "thurify" the best. The Metropolitan did not ask the president to grant any territory a special status, and the president did not play "status games" with the church.

But at the present time, the fusion of church and state through hidden informal channels takes place. Especially in countries where civil society institutions are either suppressed (RF) or in the anarcho-archaic stage (Ukraine). In such conditions, the leaders of the nation refer their imperious exaltation to the mercy of God.

In April of this year, after a meeting with the heads of parliamentary factions, President Petro Poroshenko stated that he intended to appeal to the Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew to recognize the autocephaly of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church. A few days later, the Verkhovna Rada issued the statement, which only repeated two previous treatment from two years ago. It is noteworthy that neither during the meeting of the president with the deputies nor during the discussion in the parliament, was there any representative presence of the church. Although such an important event meant holding at least parliamentary hearings, not to mention the cathedrals of Orthodox churches that could consider the issue of autocephaly and draw up their appeals to the Ecumenical Patriarch. What does it say? First of all, that the idea was "lowered to the bottom", and not vice versa. The most ardent supporters of autocephaly of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church, as a rule, were explicit atheists or representatives of other faiths.

Nevertheless, the signal was given, and "grace" flew on the air. Experts, who yesterday confused a thermos and a Tomos, began to zealously discuss whether Patriarch would allow the autocephaly of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church. Even the acting chief health officer, Uliana Suprun, noted a selfie with Patriarch Bartholomew at the Istanbul airport, they say, we are working on autocephaly.

The church economy today is a kind of "thing-in-itself", something that you do not see, but it still exists. Replying to the question of the principles of building the ecclesiastical economy, one familiar expert on church history said that "the priest does not have the change." Creation of an autocephalous church without an economic foundation is impossible. Today there are several Orthodox churches in Ukraine, each of them is financed in different ways, including by various political forces and business circles. Economically, these churches depend too little on the believers. Consequently, they are forced to move in the context of both the spiritual and the political mainstream. This is also their spiritual stability: the need to flirt with the believers makes it impossible to indiscriminately support any action of power, and consequently, life inside the churches is still existing. The relationship between the believers and the clergy, but does not stop, however, it has weakened. Creation of an autocephalous church under such conditions will inevitably lead to the emergence of a new ecclesiastical structure, looped to the state. In addition, the autocephalous church, fulfilling the functions of national-state construction "in the world", can no longer depend on any one party. Otherwise, it will be party autocephaly, and the participation of the church in public life will only distort the electoral process in favor of the main sponsor.

Thus, the main question is, who will finance the autocephalous church, if it really is an all-Ukrainian structure that unites the main Orthodox parishes? Not the parishioners, of course. Today's ordinary parishioner can finance only a small fraction of the costs. But after all, the autocephalous church will immediately be given additional functions: educational, patriotic, and social. Only if all these options are fulfilled, an autocephalous church may appear in the country.

But for this, the autocephalous church should receive part of the existing economic system in "temporary use".

In the Russian Federation, the income structure of the Russian Orthodox Church (ROC) is as follows: 53% - income from the work of own enterprises, 39% - budgetary subsidies and sponsorship, mostly large businesses, 8% - income from the parishes. Even from this proportion, it can be seen that the ROC is a semi-autonomous economic entity (it depends on the existing model of income distribution in the economy) and on the second half the structure is dependent on the state. This explains why in Russia the church does not carry out deep social penetration, as did the "Muslim Brotherhood" in Egypt, distributing bread to the inhabitants of Cairo, opening mess halls for the homeless. If the Orthodox Church had made a social inversion, it could concentrate up to 40-50% of its population around itself and become the dominant political force in the country.

It is noteworthy how 8% of incomes from parishes are formed. More than 34 thousand parishes give 10-50% of their earnings to 293 dioceses, and those, in turn, give 15% to the highest structures of the ROC administration. At the beginning of the 2000s, the annual average income of the ROC was at least $ 500 million per year. Now, this amount is many times greater. In 2012-2015, the ROC received 225.05 million U.S. dollars in the form of state subventions, and 41 million U.S. dollars rubles were allocated annually for the needs of various church programs. For example, according to the "Culture of Russia" program, the church received 173.61 million U.S. dollars since 2012.

Today, the ROC has the trading houses, telecommunications companies, banks, industrial enterprises, construction firms, hotels. According to RBC, in 2012 to 2016, 270 new objects were registered in the immovable property registers in favor of the church. The church economy in Russia includes such segments of the real sector as the production of medicines, jewelry, rental business and even ritual services throughout the country. Among the areas of investment are innovative projects in Skolkovo and Rosnano.

Cyprus has the somewhat different model of the functioning of the ecclesiastical economy, where, according to the statistical service, almost 90% of the population consider themselves Orthodox and only 4% do not attend divine services. The church economy in Cyprus is based on the fact that the church is one of the largest landowners on the island, and the land is the most expensive resource there. In addition, the church has a share in the tourism business. During the 2008 crisis, the Cyprus Orthodox Church decided to transfer some of its assets as collateral to the state's creditors, and sell part of it in order to invest the proceeds in Cyprus government bonds and help the country overcome the crisis. Before the election, all presidential candidates, including a representative of the Communist Party, meet with the Archbishop in Nicosia. As a rule, the one who sympathizes with the hierarchy wins.

As for the Armenian church, its role is enshrined in the Constitution, according to which "the Republic of Armenia recognizes the exceptional mission of the Armenian Apostolic Holy Church as a national church in the spiritual life of the Armenian people, in the development of its national culture, and preservation of national identity." The state renders substantial support to the church, in exchange it implements educational and socially significant projects and also pursues a policy of consolidating the Armenian diaspora in the political interests of Armenia around the world.

Only in these countries, the role of the Orthodox Church extends not only to the spiritual part of the life of society but also to the spectra of national and state construction, including an essential political component. It is on this path that the Ukrainian Autocephalous Church will also have to go if it is created. All other autocephalous churches (Bulgaria, Serbia, Romania) are together with the state system in a state of homeostasis, that is, immobile self-regulation and dynamic equilibrium. These countries do not have an external factor that threatens the imbalance of the whole system, while Armenia and Azerbaijan have the Nagorno-Karabakh problem, Cyprus has Turkey and the problem of the northern part of the island. The Russian Federation has the entire Western world.

Thus, the development of ecclesiastical economy in a country that cannot boast of sustainable development might take place in case of the presence of a part of church economic assets in the overall structure of the economy; a systemic subsidy from the state; creating incentives for sponsorship from big business; the formation of special privileged conditions for conducting economic transactions by church enterprises. Only in this case will the autocephalous church be able to perform its social functions peculiar to it: educational, patriotic, diaspora-related (promotion of national interests in other countries).

It is important to take into account several important introductory notes. First, in a modern secularized world, parishioners can no longer maintain an autocephalous church at their own expense, but the church should have economic assets to help parishioners. The autocephalous church may be unrecognized, but it cannot be poor, otherwise, it will either be marginalized or reduced to a catacomb level. If the state does not have the tools to create a rich autocephalous church, then it is not necessary to begin this process, because these are not games for historical reconstruction.

If all these introductions can be secured, then the state can get a powerful ideological tool. Is it only necessary for Ukraine, in which the traditions of Orthodox brotherhoods and priests of the times of the Cossacks are strong? We have always had a bad experience of joining the church and the state, and there was also no religious leaven that always existed in Cyprus and in Armenia and which ripened there under the conditions of a constant Muslim threat.

The creation of a police state, coupled with control over a single church, is the fifth element of political stability that has been tested in Russia. Its application in Ukraine is impossible. Moreover, we do not yet have free assets for the effective development of the ecclesiastical economy, as well as there are no sources for state subsidies. But there are territorial communities ready to finance their parishes. But you cannot build an autocephalous church on these resources. Even in terms of a church organization, in Ukraine, decentralization is more effective than any "democratic centralism".

This column does not necessarily reflect the opinion of the editorial board or 112.International and its owners.
Assad noted that his state would continue supporting North Korea Government policy, enhance and improve the friendly relationships between the states

Open source

Bashar al-Assad, the President of Syria, stated that he intended to visit North Korea and meet with Kim Jong-Un, as Reuters reports.

As it is noted the relevant statement Assad made a few days ago, on May 30, at the ceremony of presentation of the credentials to the new North Korea Ambassador to Syria.

I am going to visit the DPRK and meet Kim Jong Un, he said.

As Yohap reports, Assad noted that his state would continue supporting North Korea Government policy, enhance and improve the friendly relationships between the states.

It is remarkable that Donald Trump, the U.S. President, is to meet with North Korea leader soon. The meeting is to be held on May 12 in Singapore.
The organization is sure that voice of Crimean should not be silenced does not matter how critical it is

Harlem Desir, the OSCE Representative on Freedom of Media has filed the letter to Sergey Lavrov, the Foreign Minister of Russia with an urge to immediately release Ukrainian movie maker Oleg Sentsov as the press service of Desir reported.

'I call on the Russian authorities to review Sentsovs case and to release him immediately, Desir wrote in a letter to Sergey Lavrov, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation. His continued detention is unjustified and creates a strong chilling effect for those in Crimea who have the right to express their views and opinions freely. His voice should not be silenced, no matter how critical it is', the message said.

Also, it is noted that Desir emphasized that he is especially concerned with the state of health of the movie makers as he has announced the hunger strike.

Moreover, OSCE Representative also noted the messages that prove the number of the violations during the court hearing of Sentsov's case and that the tortures, including the beating and threats of sexual assault, can be used against him.

As it is known, Ukrainian movie director Oleg Sentsov and Crimean activist Oleksandr Kolchenko were detained by the Russian FSB in the annexed Crimea. Both were taken to Russia. Sentsov was charged with preparing a terrorist act in Crimea and sentenced to 20 years in the high-security penal colony. Kolchenko was sentenced to ten-years-long imprisonment.

Ukrainian political prisoner Oleg Sentsov has announced a hunger strike on May 14. This way, he demands that all Ukrainians detained in Russia and annexed Crimea be released. Sentsov said he was ready to die if the requirements were not fulfilled.

On May 31, another Ukrainian political prisoner Oleksandr Kolchenko joined Sentsov, announcing hunger strike as well. He demands to set Sentsov free.

June 1-2, international campaign #SaveOlegSentsov to be held in different cities around the world. The organizers say that these days they "will give a red card to the regime of Putin," who illegally keeps people behind the bars.

At the moment, 54 cities are on the participants list. Among them are the capitals of Germany, Georgia, Latvia, Lithuania, Sweden, France, the United Arab Emirates, Poland, Belgium, Hungary, Czech Republic, Kuwait, Britain, USA, Portugal, and Austria.
Petro Poroshenko, the President of Ukraine, met with King Felipe VI during his visit to Spain and expressed hope that Spanish side assists Ukraine to release Ukrainians hostages and political prisoners kept in Russia, as the press office of the Presidents Administration reported.

Petro Poroshenko told King Felipe VI about the development of the situation on the temporarily occupied Donbas and Crimea territories. The Head of Ukraine expressed his hope on the support of the Spanish side in the process of releasing Ukrainians hostages and political prisoners kept in Russia, the message says.

At the meeting, the interlocutors noted that friendship and mutual respect remain the main principles characterizing the bilateral cooperation between Ukraine and Spain since the establishment of diplomatic relationships 25 years ago.

Poroshenko acknowledged Spains support of Ukraines sovereignty and territorial integrity. In his turn, King Felipe VI noted Ukraines exact position concerning the support of Spanish unity.

Earlier, Poroshenko paid an official visit to Spain on June 2-4. The Head of the State had meetings with Madrids authorities and the Ukrainian community.
It is most likely that Chairman of Spanish parliament will visit Ukraine in the second half of 2018

Ukraine and Spain have agreed on the beginning of the work of the inter-parliament groups. Petro Poroshenko, the President of Ukraine claimed this as 112 Ukraine broadcasted.

'The meeting here, in the parliament was very effective. Thank Mrs. Chairman of the Parliament (Ana Pastor) for the firm and consistent position of the support of Ukraine. We have agreed to begin the work of the inter-parliament groups', he noted.

Poroshenko added that he invited the Chairman of Spanish parliament to visit Ukraine.

'We have agreed that the meeting will take place in the second half of 2018', he specified.

The President of Ukraine noted that he has also raised an issue in the Spanish parliament on the recognition of Holodomor as the genocide of the Ukrainian nation and number of other bilateral and international cooperation.

As we reported the governments of Ukraine and Spain are finishing the preparation of the new bilateral agreement on social security, which will solve a series of issues of the protection of Ukrainians in Spain.
Roman Sushchenko was sentenced to 12 years of imprisonment. The lawyer intends to appeal against this decision, as Mark Feygin, Sushchenkos lawyer, said, Interfax reports.

Certainly, the sentenced will be appealed against, Feygin told the journalists on Monday.

The news agency has also reported that Hennady Breskalenko, Ukraines Consul, refused to comment on the courts decision.

The Moscow city court put Roman Sushchenko behind the bars for 12 years. The jury granted the motion of the prosecution and sentenced the Ukrainian for the alleged espionage in favor of Ukraines Defence Ministry.

The case against Sushchenko was carried out in camera, so the court announced only the preface and the conclusions of the sentence.

Roman Sushchenko was detained in Moscow in September 2016, when he arrived in Russia for a private visit. Russias federal security service accused him of spying, while being on an undercover mission for Ukraines military intelligence. The Ukrainian side denied this, calling Russias actions another politically motivated provocation. Ukraines Foreign Ministry demands to release Sushchenko and the rest of Ukrainian political prisoners, illegally held in detention in Russia.
The SBU could not ask Savchenko all planned questions due to the resistance of the MP to the holding of the psychological forensic examination

The Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) claimed that the psychological forensic examination with the use of the polygraph of MP Nadia Savchenko has confirmed her intentions of the coup d'etat, particularly the commitment of the terrorist act in the governmental quarter and the Ukrainian Parliament as the press service of the SBU reported.

The SBU noted that she worked out the clear plan of the murder of the states' leaders; she agreed with the accomplices on who and what should do during the attempted murder of Ukraine's leaders. She informed Oleksandr Tymofeev and Volodymyr Ruban.

'The polygraph test also showed that Savchenko prepared to commit the terrorist action in the governmental quarter and in the Verkhovna Rada'.

At the same time, the experts did not find out the positive psychophysiological reactions to the questions asked by the defense, particularly, whether Savchenko wanted to replace the authority in a constitutional way; whether she thinks the activity of the president, prime minister, secretary of the National Security and Defense Council, members of the Cabinet of the Ministers, heads of the political parties criminal.

'Due to the conscious resisting of N.V. Savchenko to the holding of the psychological forensic examination with the use of the polygraph, the experts' commission could not ask Savchenko all questions and the examination was ended', the message said.

On May 14 during the court session, Savchenko claimed that Paruby issued her a weapon commenting the statement of Prosecutor General Yury Lutsenko that the Russian officers issued her the weapons.

As we reported, Shevchenkivsky Court of Kyiv decided on the preventive measures for Savchenko, which is custody for two months until May 20, 2018, without a right for a bail. Besides, the Court decided that the detention on March 22 was illegal. On March 29, the Appeal Court of Kyiv kept Savchenkos arrest effective.

The same day the MP went on the hunger strike. She also emphasized that she is not going to escape from Ukraine. On April 12, Savchenko was transferred from the remand center to the hospital for the examination.

On April 16, it was reported that Savchenko continued her hunger strike and polygraph was postponed until April 17.

On March 15, Lutsenko claimed during his speech at the parliament that Savchenko personally planned, recruited and ordered how to hold the terrorist attack in the Verkhovna Rada, destroying two lodges, governmental and post, by the combat grenades, bringing down the dome of the Verkhovna Rada by the mortar launchers and killing the survived with the assault rifles.

Also, it was reported that non-affiliated MP Nadia Savchenko and Volodymyr Ruban, the Head of 'Officer Corps' planned to attack the cortege of the President of Ukraine with the large caliber sniper rifle.
Court session over Ukrainian in Russia in brief

The Moscow Court delivered a sentence to Ukrainian journalist Roman Sushchenko on June 4  he was recognized guilty in espionage and imprisoned for 12 years in hard labor colony.

The Prosecutor's Office demanded 14 years of the imprisonment; the lawyers insisted that Sushchenko is innocent.

On May 28, Sushchenko confirmed his plea during the last word and asked for the acquittal.

The case was classified, it was considered in the closed regime.

The appeal to the court's decision should be filed tomorrow.

Sushchenko was arrested on September 30, 2016, in Moscow where he was for his own reasons. On October 7 he was accused of the espionage.

The FSB considers him an officer of the Ukrainian intelligence who gathered the data about the activity of the Armed Forces and National Guard of Russia. Chief Intelligence Department of the Defense Ministry of Ukraine belies this.

Ukraine and the world community demanded from Russia to release Sushchenko many times.
Andriy Domansky, the lawyer of Kyrylo Vyshynsky , the Chief Editor of RIA News, does not exclude that he can be exchanged for the Ukrainian journalist Roman Sushchenko, which was sentenced to 12 years in a high-security prison for espionage in Moscow today. The lawyer informed Interfax Ukraine about it.

We do not exclude it. Kyrylo Vyshynsky made a relevant statement on Friday, he realizes that he is an object of the exchange, that it was a special operation prepared for a particular moment. It is clear for us. Kyrylo decided to withdraw from Ukrainian citizenship from this perspective, he said.

Besides, the lawyer stated that today they have sent a letter to Ukraines President Administration about Vyshenkys withdrawal from Ukrainian citizenship.

And we would like to record its sending to the Presidents Administration manually. We would not like it to get lost somewhere. Besides, I will remind you, Kyrylo Vyshynsky has made an official statement about his withdrawal from Ukrainian citizenship at the court session and mass media made it public, the lawyer stated.

As we reported the workers of the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) and the Prosecutor's Office of the Autonomous Republic of Crimea has exposed the network of the media entities controlled by the Russian Federation. The law enforcement bodies held the investigative actions at the office of RIA News-Ukraine.

On May 15, the SBU considered the detention of the head of RIA News Ukraine agencys office.

Kremlin has already responded to the incident and called the actions of the SBU outrageous. Also, Russia promised to assume reciprocal measures. Then, the state sent a protest note over searches at the mass media office.

Later it was reported that the actions of Vyshynsky were preliminarily qualified as the state treason. The same day the SBU reported that Kyrylo Vyshynsky is now officially suspected of state treason.

The Moscow city court put Roman Sushchenko behind the bars for 12 years. The jury granted the motion of the prosecution and sentenced the Ukrainian for the alleged espionage in favor of Ukraines Defence Ministry.

The case against Sushchenko was carried out in camera, so the court announced only the preface and the conclusions of the sentence.

Roman Sushchenko was detained in Moscow in September 2016, when he arrived in Russia for a private visit. Russias federal security service accused him of spying, while being on an undercover mission for Ukraines military intelligence. The Ukrainian side denied this, calling Russias actions another politically motivated provocation. Ukraines Foreign Ministry demands to release Sushchenko and the rest of Ukrainian political prisoners, illegally held in detention in Russia.
Investigations were launched after petitions were received from companies in Illinois and Texas.



The International Trade Commission has determined that imports of stainless steel flanges from China are materially injuring U.S. industry because the government of China is subsidizing those exports to the United States, according to a Federal Register announcement Monday.

The ITC filed its determination in the investigation on May 29, it said.

The Commerce Department in April finalized countervailing duties for imports of stainless steel flanges from China.

Commerce will instruct U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) to collect cash deposits at a rate of 174.73 percent for Both Well (Jiangyan) Steel Fittings Co. Ltd., Hydro Fluid Controls Ltd., Jiangyin Shengda Brite Line Kasugai Flange Co. Ltd. and Qingdao I-Flow Co. Ltd., for their failure to cooperate in the investigation, as well as a subsidy rate of 174.73 percent for all other Chinese producers and exporters of these steel flanges, Commerce said in an announcement Tuesday.

The ITC started the investigations Aug. 16, 2017, after the commission and Commerce received petitions from Carol Stream, Ill.-based Core Pipe Products and Houston-based Maass Flange Corp.
Imports of tomatoes that meet Animal and Health Inspection Services requirements will be allowed beginning July 5.



The U.S. Agriculture Departments Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) announced Monday that it will allow imports of tree tomatoes from Ecuador beginning July 5.

Such tomatoes will have to be produced in accordance with a systems approach including requirements for commercial consignment importations, registration and monitoring of places of production, field monitoring and pest control practices, trapping and inspection for quarantine pests by the national plant protection organization of Ecuador, APHIS said.
YEREVAN, JUNE 4, ARMENPRESS. Twenty-five people have been killed and hundreds injured after Guatemala's Fuego volcano erupted, local officials say.

The volcano, about 40km (25 miles) south-west of the capital Guatemala City, has been spewing rocks, black smoke and ash into the sky, BBC reports.

The National Disaster Management Agency (Conred) said a river of lava hit the village of El Rodeo, destroying houses and burning people inside.

In Guatemala City, La Aurora airport has been closed due to ash.

President Jimmy Morales said a national emergency response had been launched.

ENGLISH: Editor/Translator - Stepan Kocharyan
YEREVAN, JUNE 4, ARMENPRESS. The Apple Worldwide Developers Conference is kicking off Monday in San Jose, California.

As usual, Apple does not provide news about innovations which will be debuted, but Reuters found out some interesting stuff ahead of the conference.

Apple Inc. next week will debut tools to let two iPhone users share augmented reality while limiting the personal data sent to its servers, two people familiar with the matter told Reuters.

Augmented reality (AR) allows viewers to see virtual structures superimposed on their surroundings via their smartphones or other devices. It is the technology used in mobile game Pokemon Go, and by industry, such as factories seeking to map new assembly lines. Apple and rival Google are racing to release AR tools to attract software developers to their platforms.

Both are seeking to allow two people to share data so they can see the same virtual object in the same space via their individual devices. But that has sparked privacy concerns - if AR apps become commonplace, people will be scanning their homes and other personal spaces routinely, developers say.

Apple designed its two-player system to work phone-to-phone in part because of those privacy concerns, one of the people familiar with the matter said. The approach, which has not been previously reported, differs from Googles, which requires scans of a players environment to be sent to, and stored in, the cloud.

Apple declined to comment to Reuters. Bloomberg previously reported that Apple would announce multiplayer AR at its developer conference, which begins today.

ENGLISH: Editor/Translator - Stepan Kocharyan
YEREVAN, JUNE 4, ARMENPRESS. The subway of Georgias capital city Tbilisi is not working because the subway operators are on a strike, local TV reported.

According to local television, the subway train drivers even intend to launch a hunger strike.

Posters asking citizens to use buses as transportation are seen at subway entrances.

The subway operators seek increase of salaries.

ENGLISH: Editor/Translator - Stepan Kocharyan
YEREVAN, JUNE 4, ARMENPRESS. President Donald Trumps wife, Melania Trump, will skip this weeks G7 summit in Quebec and does not plan to attend the planned June 12 summit in Singapore with North Korea, the White House said on Sunday. Melania Trump attended the G7 meeting in Italy last year, Reuters reports.

The U.S. first lady, 48, has not been seen in public since May 10 when she and the president welcomed home three Americans who had been held prisoner in North Korea.

She underwent a surgical procedure on May 14 to treat a benign kidney condition and was released from the hospital on May 19.

She will not attend the G7 and there are no plans for her to travel to Singapore at this time, her spokeswoman, Stephanie Grisham, said in an email on Sunday.

Last Wednesday, Melania Trump tweeted in response to news stories about her absence from public view, saying she is OK, feeling great and working hard.

ENGLISH: Editor/Translator - Stepan Kocharyan
YEREVAN, JUNE 4, ARMENPRESS. The Azerbaijani regime is kidnapping and killing anyone it doesnt like  this is the title of Alexander Lapshins op-ed in Le Monde daily.

Alexander Lapshin is the Russian-Israeli tourism blogger who was arrested in Belarus and subsequently extradited to Azerbaijan to serve a prison sentence for visiting Artsakh without Azerbaijani authorization. The move sparked outrage among human rights activists and journalists worldwide.

In the article Lapshin talks about his sufferings in the Azeri jail. He served 7 months prior to being pardoned and deported to Israel.

Lapshin says he is a travel blogger who has been to more than 130 countries and that he isnt interested in politics, he likes peace, nature, history, good food and beautiful women.

Even in my worst nightmares I couldnt have imagined becoming the victim of the political game of two harsh dictators, he says, referring to Azerbaijani leader Ilham Aliyev and Belarus President Alexander Lukashenko.

He mentions how he was arrested in 2016 while in Belarus. Police officers stormed into my hotel room, shouting: On the ground or we will shoot. You are under arrest at the demand of Azerbaijan for visiting Karabakh. He says at the moment his laptop was switched on and he was talking to his wife, and the latter saw what was happening and contacted the Israeli and Russian embassies.

Lapshin argues that if Belarus were a lawful state, it would never deal with his arrest, extradition and sentencing. Lapshin insists that he has not breached any law of Belarus, and that the only convention on extradition between Azerbaijan and Belarus stipulates that any extradition request based on political motives must be denied.

Speaking about his transportation from Belarus to Azerbaijan on a presidential private jet and escorted by heavily armed masked SWAT agents, Lapshin says that the tragicomedy was staged for the less-educated segments of the Azerbaijani society.

Lapshin slams his 7 months incarceration in solitary confinement as a violation of international law.

He says that Azerbaijan accused him in the illegal trespassing into Karabakh and violating the territorial integrity of Azerbaijan. Lapshin says there is no other way to enter Karabakh since the border between Azerbaijan and Karabakh is closed since 1993. He was also charged for using different terms while referring to the territory  Azerbaijani Karabakh, and Artsakh.

Azerbaijan, which is demanding this territory, is forgetting that 150,000 Armenians are living there, who use their native language. Azerbaijan is also criminalizing the use of traditional geographic location names, he says.

I never talked about the conflict, it is of no interest to me whatsoever. Even the kangaroo court of Baku eventually admitted that I have never made any calls for violating Azerbaijans territorial integrity, he said.

Lapshin also mentioned about anti-Semitic hints during his trial proceedings. He says that all trials began at key dates for the Holocaust. He mentioned June 22, 2017  the day when 66 years ago Nazi Germany attacked the USSR and began massacring Soviet Jews, June 30, 2017  on this day in 1941 the massacres of Jews in Ukraines Lviv began. Lapshins parents are from this city. The third trial took place July 4, 1941  the day when Latvias Jews were forcibly deported to a concentration camp and subsequently murdered.

On September 10, 2017  my mothers birthday, I was cruelly attacked in my prison cell. Four masked men stormed into my cell and began beating me, choking me, and when I was already unconscious they tied a rope around my neck to hang me in the toilet. Then I was transferred to the central hospital of Baku, where doctors documented that I was close to suffering clinical death. My ribs and teeth were broken, my entire body was in bruises, he said, adding that he had brain hemorrhage.

Azerbaijani authorities hurried to announce that I attempted to kill myself, and that is why President Aliyev decided to pardon me. After three days of coma in a Baku hospital I was deported to Israel, he said. Based on medical expertise in Tel Aviv, a lawsuit was filed against Azerbaijan in the ECHR under attempted murder charges.

In the end of the article, Lapshin reminds several important facts about Azerbaijan:

According to Reporters Without Borders, Azerbaijan is ranked 163rd among 180 countries in terms of freedom of expression and freedom of speech. Azerbaijan has appeared in numerous global scandals, ranging from the Panama Papers to the Laundromat scandal, which uncovered the corruption mechanism of the countrys ruling elite The Azeri government doesnt hesitate to carry out extrajudicial kidnappings, for example the abduction of reporter Afghan Mukhtarli. There are credible grounds to allege that the Azerbaijani government is behind the murder of Maltese journalist Daphne Caruana Galizia  who uncovered the ole of Malta and its banks in Bakus money laundering.

ENGLISH: Editor/Translator - Stepan Kocharyan
YEREVAN, JUNE 4, ARMENPRESS. Iraq and Iran have begun exchanging crude oil, the Iranian oil ministrys news agency SHANA said on Sunday, in a deal that will position Tehran to expand its interests in its most important Arab ally in the face of growing pressure from Washington, Reuters reports.

Crude from the Kirkuk field in northern Iraq is being shipped by truck to Iran. Tehran will use the oil in its refineries and will deliver the same amount of oil to Iraqs southern ports, on the Gulf.

After helping Iraq stifle a Kurdish push for independence last year, OPEC producer Iran positioned itself to take control of oil exports from the regions giant Kirkuk field.

Baghdad agreed for the first time to divert crude from Kirkuk province, which it retook from the Kurds, to Iran, where it will supply a refinery in the city of Kermanshah.

The pact is likely to create unease in Saudi Arabia, which along with its ally the United States accuses Iran of trying to dominate the Middle East. Tehran denies the allegations.

Iraq and Iran plan to build a pipeline to carry the oil from Kirkuk to avoid having to use trucks.

ENGLISH: Editor/Translator - Stepan Kocharyan
YEREVAN, JUNE 4, ARMENPRESS. The Armenia-EU Comprehensive and Enhanced Partnership Agreement (CEPA) is a very effective tool in the hands of Armenia to strengthen and promote the reforms and the countrys development agenda by using standards, cooperation which serve the national goals, Foreign minister Zohrab Mnatsakanyan said in an interview to Sunday Analytical Show of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, reports Armenpress.

This is perhaps one of the best examples when the foreign policy serves the domestic goals, in this case, ensuring our countrys institutional, normative development, increasing the life quality of our society directed for our domestic goals for which the international cooperation, in this case, the partnership with the EU is being used, the Armenian FM said.

He stated that the CEPA is quite comprehensive and covers a broad range of our daily life, enables to directly use that experience, to use the good example of this cooperation which will serve our domestic goals.

Armenia and the European Union signed the Comprehensive and Enhanced Partnership Agreement (CEPA) on November 24, 2017 in Brussels on the sidelines of the Eastern Partnership Summit. Among the EU member states  Latvia, Lithuania and Estonia have already ratified the Agreement. Armenia has also ratified the CEPA.

English  translator/editor: Aneta Harutyunyan
YEREVAN, JUNE 4, ARMENPRESS. The relations with Russia, the European Union, the United States, Georgia and Iran in their comprehensiveness form Armenias entire security system, Foreign minister Zohrab Mnatsakanyan said in an interview to Sunday Analytical Show of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, reports Armenpress.

We have relations with our main partners who are investors in our security system, and they are at different directions both outside and inside the region. We have very unique, very important and strategic relations with Russia, as well as with the EU, the US, Georgia, Iran and etc. We have relations that make our security comprehensive, the Armenian FM said, adding that Armenia in its policy is based on the national interests.

Commenting on the question that Armenia at the UN quite often was supporting Moscows stance on Ukraine-related votings, the FM brought Syrias example. You brought Ukraines example, I can continue with you, bring Syrias example, and I can clearly explain you how Armenias position is being elaborated which is based on how it relates to us, our interests, and its circle, its calculation is much more difficult than just to see us in someones direction. It is not so and will never be since it has created a direct threat to our interests. And in this sense we have both dialogue and explanation for any stance, we also explain our partners and communicate with our remaining foreign partners making them clear that we know what we are doing, the minister said.

English  translator/editor: Aneta Harutyunyan
YEREVAN, JUNE 4, ARMENPRESS. Armenia has quite deep, important relations with Russia which will be continuous, Foreign minister Zohrab Mnatsakanyan said in an interview to Sunday Analytical Show of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, reports Armenpress.

The strategic cooperation, the strategic relations with Russia have very firm grounds, are very logical and explainable, and we have no need to explain this very clearly to our remaining partners, the Armenian FM said, adding that it is necessary to make efforts and explain very clearly that Armenia has never built relations with anyone at the expense of someone else and has no plans to do that.

The minister assured that the Armenia-EU Comprehensive and Enhanced Partnership Agreement (CEPA) has not been signed and is not being implemented against the remaining directions, but it combines what Armenia does for its interests.

English  translator/editor: Aneta Harutyunyan
YEREVAN, JUNE 4, ARMENPRESS. The Nagorno Karabakh has a decisive voice in the peaceful settlement process of the conflict, Armenias foreign minister Zohrab Mnatsakanyan said in an interview to Sunday Analytical Show of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, reports Armenpress.

You know, now we are at the stage when we are forming grounds to continue the negotiation process. During this period Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan met with Russian President Vladimir Putin, I had telephone conversations with the Co-Chairs [OSCE Minsk Group], the US Deputy Secretary of State, a US official visited here, we also hosted the French foreign minister in Armenia, I had a phone conversation with Russian foreign minister, and as long as I know, a statement has already been issued that I am going to pay a working visit to Moscow on June 7, and the main purpose of this visit is to meet with the Russian FM. These entire series are our work which is being carried out to continue the process, the Armenian FM said.

He stated that the process has quite a long history, and one clear reality has been and remains in that history: Nagorno Karabkah has a decisive voice in this peaceful settlement process.

I think its nothing new that Nagorno Karabakh has that decisive voice since eventually that conflict by the formulation of the Co-Chairs is called Nagorno Karabakh conflict. Nagorno Karabakh, lets say it cautiously, is a unit with its territory, population, structures, public administration system, with its everything, which is impossible to ignore. From the very start its decisive voice has clearly existed in this whole process. And Nagorno Karabakh has been in different stages of the conflict, it has signed the ceasefire agreement these are the realities, and we put this also within the negotiation process since we have supported and continue supporting the peaceful settlement via the negotiations within the frames of the Minsk Group Co-Chairmanship, the minister said.

Zohrab Mnatsakanyan highlighted the fact that the peaceful atmosphere has a key, vital significance for this. He stated that the numerous formulations, statements and calls that lead to the opposite direction are very concerning.

English  translator/editor: Aneta Harutyunyan
YEREVAN, JUNE 4, ARMENPRESS. Regardless of social status or governmental position, all those guilty in the June 1 brawl in Stepanakert will be brought before justice, Artsakh presidential spokesman told ARMENPRESS.

The incident, a seemingly minor street fight  which included national security agents  prompted protests in the Artsakh capital. It is unclear if the national security agents were on-duty or off-duty at the moment of the incident.

Babayan stressed that it is very important for this problem to be solved within the framework of the law.

Any similar case must definitely be uncovered and those guilty must be held accountable, Babayan said. There is no political subtext here, and the majority of these protesters share the view that an incident took place and appropriate work must be done within the legal framework, Babayan said.

Such actions cannot remain unpunished, he added, stressing the need for an assessment from the legal point of view. He added that the settlement of the issue is important from a political and moral perspective also.

Everyone is equal before the law, this is the most important legal imperative. From a political perspective  we are a democratic, lawful state, and authorities must display political will and unconditionally maintain all features of a lawful state, he said.

Asked if the protests continue, Babayan said certain people indeed continue demonstrating currently. This is a process of a democratic country. This all is free here, there is only one simple call  in order for everything to happen within the law and not get manipulated and politicized, he said.

He also said that there is no need for Armenia to interfere.

A peaceful rally was initiated by veterans in the central square of the capital city of Artsakh on Sunday.

Earlier on June 2, minor protests were prompted by a slight brawl between a few men, including national security agents, in the city on Friday. The incident is currently being probed with several suspects in custody. It is unclear whether or not the national security agents were on-duty. President of Artsakh Bako Sahakyan personally chaired a consultation with security agencies and parliamentary committees regarding the incident, stressing the need for a detailed investigation and that those guilty must be brought to justice.

The countrys parliament even set up an investigative commission for the incident.

During todays rally, senior lawmaker Janna Galstyan delivered remarks, stressing that certain people are trying to take advantage of the situation and manipulate the nature of the incident. She said that what happened was a household altercation, and that certain people are attempting to transform the demonstration in this regard into a political movement, which in her words, can be very dangerous for the unity and security of Artsakh.

She said theyve assembled in the square today in order for the investigation into the case to be just and fair.

Veterans were also delivering speeches, condemning the situation.

Opposition MP Hayk Khanumyan and former MP Vahan Badasyan are also actively engaged in the protest. In addition to household issues, the latter made political statements.

A group of young people had initiated a demonstration earlier on June 2, which was restarted today also. They blocked traffic at Stepanakerts Renaissance Square.

Members of the group said that their demands, which theyve put forward at a meeting with the countrys president yesterday, have not been fulfilled entirely. The demonstrators namely seek the resignation of the countrys police chief, the national security service director and several national security officials.

The protesters also criticized the initiators of the rally of the veterans, claiming that this is an attempt to incite people against one another.

On June 3, First President of Armenia Levon Ter Petrosyan weighed in, calling for order and stability in Artsakh. He said that the intervention and urge of the Armenian leader, Nikol Pashinyan, as the leader of a country which is officially the guarantor of security of Artsakh, is neccessry in the current situation. What happened in Armenia is to say the least inadmissible in Karabakh, Ter Petrosyan said. I mean the mass protests and pressure on the Artsakh government. They can have disastrous consequences for a state which is in a war situation.

He reminded that a similar situation had occurred in 1993, when he and the late prominent military leader and statesman Vazgen Sargsyan immediately boarded a helicopter and arrived in Karabakh for consultations with local government officials.

Hopefully this time also the same will succeed. For this matter, Robert Kocharyan, Serzh Sargsyan, Arkadi Ghukasyan and Samvel Babayan, even through the immediate release of the latter, must use their influence in Karabakh, he said. Babayan is a former military commander who is currently jailed in Armenia on arms trafficking charges.

All disagreements aside, Bako Sahakyan shouldnt be left alone, he said.

ENGLISH: Editor/Translator - Stepan Kocharyan
YEREVAN, JUNE 4, ARMENPRESS. Karen Chilingaryan, chairman of the Consumer Consulting Center NGO, sees need for decline of electricity tariff in Armenia, Armenpress reports.

During a meeting with reporters on June 4, Chilingaryan said the consumer doesnt notice a positive change in the electricity quality.

A few years ago the electricity tariff increased, and later declined a little, comprising 46 drams. The increase was linked with the increase in quality, but no quality change took place. The annual disconnections of the electricity should have been cut. But it would be better to have 10 disconnections annually, and for the current tariff to decline, he said.

Karen Chilingaryan stated that the decline of electricity tariff is possible soon but no sooner than August as every year the tariff is being revised, and the Public Services Regulatory Commission approves the tariffs presented by the structure.

As for the gas tariff, the specialist said it is considered as an imported good. And therefore, there should be a discussion of economists, political analysts based on which certain steps will be taken and the gas tariff will be decreased, he said.

English  translator/editor: Aneta Harutyunyan
YEREVAN, JUNE 4, ARMENPRESS. President Armen Sarkissian and First Lady Nune Sarkissian visited the Embassy of Italy today on the occasion of Italys National Day, congratulated Ambassador Vincenzo del Monaco, the embassy staff and the good people of Italy, wishing success and welfare.

The President and the Ambassador concurred that that the Armenian-Italian intergovernmental ties are developing on solid historic grounds and based on rick cultural heritage of the two peoples.

Both sides were pleased to stress the collegial nature of the relations and the high level of mutual partnership, and at the same time mentioned that the potential for cooperation is extremely great, and the task is to constantly discover it.

The Armenia-European Union partnership was also discussed, which is also an important direction of the Armenian-Italian partnership agenda.

ENGLISH: Editor/Translator - Stepan Kocharyan
YEREVAN, JUNE 4, ARMENPRESS. Armenia has not done and will not do anything that damages its interests, Foreign minister Zohrab Mnatsakanyan said in an interview to Sunday Analytical Show of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, in response to the question relating to the normalization of the Armenian-Turkish relations, reports Armenpress.

You know, Armenia made a great political diplomatic contribution on this path, but it failed due to Turkey which greatly damaged the settlement of this issue. As of now, you can correct me if I am mistaken, I havent heard any statement that gives hope that we can have some grounds to suppose that there is a readiness from the other side. We have been and remained in the principles that we are ready to have normal relations with a neighbor, eventually the geography doesnt change, without preconditions, but we also know very clearly that there are realities. We are not doing that to the detriment of our interests and are not ready to do that to the detriment of our interests, the minister said.

FM Mnatsakanyan said what Armenia says derives from the interests of everyone and the stability of the region.

The formula are the normal relations with the neighbor for the regional stability, for the benefit of all neighbors, all members in this region, but not to the detriment of our interests. I am convinced that you understand that we have some factors in these interests which are very important for us. And there are some issues which we have not put forward as a precondition for normalization of our relations, the Armenian FM said.

English  translator/editor: Aneta Harutyunyan
YEREVAN, JUNE 4, ARMENPRESS. Armenia is following the developments around the Iran nuclear deal with concern, Armenias foreign minister Zohrab Mnatsakanyan said in an interview with RFE/RL.

Certainly, we follow these developments with concern, because the issue related to very important partners of ours. Relations with Iran are of vital importance for us and during these 27 years, I am not referring to the entire history of relations between our two peoples, but at least during these 27 years we have established, formed relations, where the vital significance of our relations has appeared and is put very clearly. At the same time we have a very clear and deep agenda with our other colleague  the USA. We have always been very delicate in this issue and we have made efforts to make our policy explicable, Mnatsakanyan said.

He reminded that in 2015, Armenia was among the first to welcome the adoption of the comprehensive, universal action plan, the UNSC resolution, because it very simply saw the wide circle of opportunities, in terms of stabilization of the region and expansion of cooperation.

Certainly, the latest developments are very concerning, we must continue, again being very sensitive to these realities, make our concerns explicable, our stances based on this and maintain ourselves in the field to not have more harms for us. This relates to our colleagues, to all colleagues who are involved in this direct process, including Iran and the US, he said.

ENGLISH: Editor/Translator - Stepan Kocharyan
YEREVAN, JUNE 4, ARMENPRESS. Armenian President Armen Sarkissian on June 4 received the students of the AGBU Manoogian-Demirdjian School, an Armenian-American private school located in California, reports Armenpress.

During the meeting President Sarkissian said he is quite familiar with the school and visited there several years ago, adding that this meeting will be of cognitive nature.

I am very happy that you are in Armenia. I would like to hear your expectations from me, the President said.

The meeting was attended by nearly 70 school children. They introduced the President on what they have seen in Armenia, as well as shared their impressions from Armenia.

Iranian-Armenian Derenik Davidyan said they visited Tatev monastery, Noravank, Etchmiadzin. I visit Armenia for already the third time. The country develops day by day, he said.

All children agreed that Armenia has changed to the positive.

The President urged his guests to be hard-working. Each of you are talented, but its important to work hard and choose a right field, and we will definitely succeed if we do the work with pleasure, Armen Sarkissian said.

English  translator/editor: Aneta Harutyunyan
YEREVAN, JUNE 4, ARMENPRESS. New Ambassador of Russia Sergei Kopyrkin on June 4 presented the copy of his credentials to Armenian foreign minister Zohrab Mnatsakanyan, the foreign ministry told Armenpress.

The Armenian FM congratulated the Russian Ambassador on his appointment and expressed hope that he will contribute to the further deepening and expansion of the Armenian-Russian allied relations during his mission.

In his turn Ambassador Kopyrkin thanked for the warm reception and wishes, as well as congratulated FM Mnatsakanyan on his appointment, stating that he starts his mission in a friendly country which at the same time raises responsibility taking into account the high level and comprehensiveness of relations between the two countries.

The Russian Ambassador assured that he will invest the maximum efforts not only to ensure the continuation of the Armenian-Russian traditional friendly relations and strategic mutual partnership, but also to further develop and deepen them.

Minister Mnatsakanyan and Ambassador Kopyrkin discussed a number of issues relating to the Armenian-Russian agenda, as well as touched upon the timetable of upcoming high-level mutual visits in the context of the recent meeting of Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan and Russian President Vladimir Putin.

During the meeting the recent domestic political developments, as well as a number of regional and international issues were discussed.

The Armenian FM highly appreciated the joint efforts of Russia, France and the US as OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chair countries, aimed at peacefully settling the Nagorno Karabakh conflict, by attaching importance to the existence of the peaceful environment for the success of the process.

English  translator/editor: Aneta Harutyunyan
YEREVAN, JUNE 4, ARMENPRESS. In order to boost Armenias economy, it is necessary to proportionally develop different sectors, President Armen Sarkissian said during the meeting with the students of the AGBU Manoogian-Demirdjian School, an Armenian-American private school located in California, reports Armenpress.

According to the President, Armenia has natural resources  mines, water, and that water is huge wealth, and everything must be done to preserve that wealth. Armenia has a huge potential for tourism development, it has the best banking system in the region. Armenia can have a good pharmacy and be unique in the field of IT in the region, the President said, adding that Armenia has no oil, but it can reach success by proportionally developing several fields. That will make Armenias economy more stable, Armen Sarkissian said, adding that Armenia can have the worlds best universities.

During the meeting the President urged his guests to consider being an Armenian as proud. Change of power took place in Armenia, and the whole world saw that we are able to be united at a difficult moment. There is no such nation in the world, and you should be proud of being the sons of the Armenian people, President Sarkissian said.

The school kids thanked the President for the reception and wished him productive work for the benefit of Armenia.

English  translator/editor: Aneta Harutyunyan
YEREVAN, JUNE 4, ARMENPRESS. Haypost, Armenias national postal operator, will issue a new international postage stamp in June, in cooperation with the Aurora Humanitarian Initiative. The stamp will feature Doctor Tom Catena, a Catholic missionary from Amsterdam, New York. He was named as Aurora Prize Laureate on May 28, 2017. He has saved thousands of lives as the sole surgeon permanently based in Sudans war-ravaged Nuba Mountains where humanitarian aid is restricted. The Aurora Prize, granted by the Aurora Humanitarian Initiative, is created on behalf of the survivors of the Armenian Genocide and in gratitude to their saviors, ARMENPRESS was informed from the official website of Aurora Prize.

This is the second instance of cooperation between Haypost and Aurora. In 2017 the first Aurora-themed postage stamp was issued by Haypost featuring the inaugural Aurora Prize Laureate Marguerite Barankitse setting a tradition of featuring Aurora Prize laureates on Armenias international stamps. The release and First Day of Issue ceremony will be part of the 2018 Aurora Prize special events.

The Aurora stamp is also a fundraising stamp. Attached to the first class stamp, valued at 350 AMD, is a donation coupon for 150 AMD. Together, the 500 AMD is equal to approximately US $1.00. Haypost will transfer the 150 AMD donation value to the Aurora Humanitarian Initiative. This enables anyone to donate easily to the Aurora Humanitarian Initiative.

Aurora has a mission of transforming Armenia into an international humanitarian hub and spreading the Gratitude in Action concept. The tradition of issuing a special postage stamp and sharing it around the globe is an important element of that mission. Through these efforts we expand the Aurora community of supporters and invite everyone to join this movement, said Noubar Afeyan, Co-Founder of the Aurora Humanitarian Initiative.

With the successful experience of last year, we are happy to continue our cooperation with the Aurora Humanitarian Initiative and we are committed to supporting the global humanitarian movement as well as sharing Armenian culture and history with the world. Doctor Tom Catenas courage and dedication to his work is exceptional and it is worth sharing with everyone possible. We are convinced that this stamp will take these messages across the world, said Juan Pablo Gechidjian, Managing Director of HayPost Trust Management B.V..

I am grateful to the Aurora Humanitarian Initiative and Haypost. This confirms my commitment to continue my work and raise awareness about each persons ability to do good in the face of atrocities and dangers that threaten the most helpless. This is also one more opportunity to highlight the plight of the Nuba people, said Tom Catena.

The postage stamp illustrator is Alla Mingalyova, a member of the Aurora Humanitarian Initiative team. It will be issued in 40,000 copies. The First Day ceremony to mark the issue will be held on June in the presence of Tom Catena who will be in Armenia to attend the third annual Aurora Prize events.

The three 2018 Aurora Humanitarians were announced on April 24, 2018, the annual day of remembrance for victims of the Armenian Genocide. One of the Humanitarians will be named as the 2018 Aurora Prize Laureate on June 10, 2018 in Armenia. The Laureate will receive US$100,000 grant as well as the unique opportunity to continue the cycle of giving by nominating organizations that inspire their work for a US$1,000,000 award.

English  translator/editor: Tigran Sirekanyan
YEREVAN, JUNE 4, ARMENPRESS. Speaker of the National Assembly of Armenia Ara Babloyan participated in a Moscow conference dedicated to the development of parliamentarism on June 4, during which he gave a speech, ARMENPRESS was informed from the press service of the parliament of Armenia.

Thanking Chairman of the Russian State Duma Vyacheslav Volodin for the organization of the conference, Ara Babloyan noted that the role of parliamentary diplomacy has significantly increased.

Today, when the world faces serious challenges dialogue and cooperation become more important than ever. We live under the conditions of new crisis and challenges, witness deepening of dividing lines. Under the light of globalization instability in one region can cause global consequences. Therefore, we have to consolidate our efforts for ensuring stability and peace, Babloyan said in his speech.

Referring to the recent political developments in Armenia, the Speaker of the National Assembly said that they showed the level of development of parliamentarism and democracy in Armenia. I want to specially underline that irrespective of domestic processes, Armenias foreign policy course will remain unchanged. We will remain committed to our international obligations, Arar Babloyan said.

Speaking about regional security, Ara Babloyan highlighted the peaceful settlement of Nagorno Karabakh conflict. We salute the consistent and constructive role of the Russian Federation and the other OSCE minks Group Co-hair countries in the peace process. Armenia has always been committed to an exclusively peaceful settlement of the conflict.

Despite the proposal to apply mechanisms by the international community investigating ceasefire regime violation cases and to increase the number of international observers in the conflict zone and the consistent efforts of Armenia to bring to life those proposals, official Baku continues preserving tensions in the negotiations process, at the same time increasingly strengthening its military potential. Armenia confirms its desire to continue seeking a peaceful solution to the conflict, based on the principles of the international right, particularly the right of people to self-determination, Ara Babloyan said, emphasizing the necessity of implementing confidence building measures. In this context I would like to emphasize the role of parliamentarians. In our work we have to do everything not to allow militaristic rhetoric and xenophobic announcements, Babloyan said.

In his speech the Speaker of the National Assembly of Armenia also referred to the Syrian crisis, noting that only Armenia has given refuge to nearly 22 thousand people.

English  translator/editor: Tigran Sirekanyan
YEREVAN, JUNE 4, ARMENPRESS. Prime Minister of Armenia Nikol Pashinyan has sent a congratulatory message to Giuseppe Conte on the occasion of being elected Prime Minister of Italy, wishing him success in his responsible mission of guiding Italy to future achievements and welfare.

As ARMENPRESS was informed from the official website of the Prime Minister, the congratulatory message runs as follows,

Armenia has always attached special importance to strengthening interstate relations with Italy conditioned by both close historical interactions and common spiritual-cultural values, and combinable visions on development. I am more than confident that mutual trust between our peoples will allow to give new impetus to high level political dialogue and bilateral partnership on various platforms, as well as record new achievements for the benefit of our peoples.

I greatly highlight the role of Italy in the developing relations between Armenia and the EU. We are convinced that the Armenia-EU Comprehensive and Enhanced Partnership Agreement will create broad opportunities for giving new content to the Armenian-Italian agenda.

English  translator/editor: Tigran Sirekanyan
YEREVAN, JUNE 4, ARMENPRESS. Prime Minister of Armenia Nikol Pashinyan has referred to the situation in Artsakh, where protests have been held for a few days as a result of a fight with the involvement of members of power structures. ARMENPRESS Pashinyan said in a Facebook live broadcast that there are no doubts that the behavior of the representatives of the power structures is concerning. Any attempt to solve issues by force is unacceptable, irrespective of the fact who uses the force. Of course, this situation needs very concrete solutions, with concrete conclusions. I closely follow the developments in Artsakh. During this period, I have always been in touch with Artsakh President Bako Sahakyan. I am pleased to note that the President of Artsakh has met several times with the representatives of the demonstrators and reached concrete agreements, ARMENPRERSS reports Pashinyan as saying.

He added that the President of Artsakh has announced that he is going to implement those agreements, carry out a full and complete investigation, and also make organizational conclusions. "During the meeting of the representatives of the demonstrators and the President of Artsakh, a mutual understanding on the direction and logic of future events has been achieved. And now, in essence, I think that now its a stage when our respected demonstrators should allow the Artsakh President to implement those agreements, Pashinyan said, emphasizing that the agreements should be implemented in a calm, non-nervous environment.

Nikol Pashinyan expressed an opinion that it would be the right thing if the demonstrators now give the opportunity to realize the agreements reached during the recent meetings. "And if in the course of the events, the agreements are not implemented, no conclusions are made, only then it will make sense to continue any action of protest In his conversation with me, the President of Artsakh reaffirmed his commitment to implement those agreements, and in this case it is just necessary to give that opportunity, the Prime Minister of Armenia said.

Pashinyan did not want to go into details, to give assessments to what happened because in this situation it is more important that the problem be resolved not in conflict, but in an atmosphere of agreement.

"The consensus has been reached as a result of long, detailed, calm, fraternal discussions and I think it is necessary to give an opportunity for the fulfillment of those agreements. We all recognize the right of citizens to express their attitude towards a particular situation and to see it in the form of a concrete political change. This is my opinion and it is my fraternal appeal to stop the protest in Stepanakert and at least to cancel it so as the authorities are able to bring to life the agreements, " Nikol Pashinyan concluded.

English  translator/editor: Tigran Sirekanyan
A Nobel Prize-winning anti-nuclear group offered Monday to pay for next week's historic summit between the US and North Korea -- including the delicate issue of Kim Jong Un's hotel bill. Who will cough up for lodgings at the five-star Fullerton Hotel, believed to be the North Korean leader's preferred option, is one of many reported logistical and protocol headaches surrounding this month's meeting between Kim and US President Donald Trump. The United States is prepared to pay but fears offending cash-poor but pride-rich North Korea, the Washington Post wrote last week. The International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons (ICAN) said it was willing to help resolve the impasse by bankrolling Kim's delegation, using part of the $1.1 million cash prize it received for winning last year's Nobel Peace Prize. "We are ready to shoulder the cost of the summit, naturally including expenses for accommodation and conference venues," Akira Kawasaki, an ICAN representative in Japan, told AFP. "If holding the summit is in danger because of financial problems, we are ready to shoulder the cost as it is an important, historic meeting," he added. Kawasaki declined to say how much ICAN could stump up but said part of the Nobel Prize award would be put to the summit "in order to support peace in the Korean peninsula and a nuclear weapon-free world". The sum would be negotiated if North Korea accepted the offer, he said. The presidential suite at the Fullerton boasts, according to its website, a baby grand piano and claims to be "the most exclusive hotel suite in Singapore." With a private elevator offering exclusive access, the suite is 201 square metres (2,164 square feet) and reportedly costs more than $6,000 for one night. Reporters camped outside the hotel last week to catch a glimpse of Kim Chang Son, Kim's de facto chief of staff, who travelled to Singapore to lay the groundwork for the June 12 summit. The Singapore dialogue will be the first time a sitting US president has met a North Korean leader. Talks are expected to focus on denuclearisation of the Korean peninsula and improving relations between Washington and Pyongyang. Who will cough up for lodgings is one of many reported logistical and protocol headaches surrounding this month's Singapore summit between North Korea's Kim Jong Un and US President Donald Trump
Crowds assembled in Hong Kong on Monday in memory of the victims of China's Tiananmen Square crackdown but young activists are increasingly questioning the annual vigil's relevance. Semi-autonomous Hong Kong has seen tens of thousands gather at the candlelit vigil in Victoria Park since 1990, while any mention of Beijing's brutal crackdown on students calling for democracy on June 4, 1989, remains strictly censored in the mainland. Those who streamed in to the park Monday held candles aloft and shouted "End one-party dictatorship!" as well as calling for the release of activists jailed in China. Organised by the Hong Kong Alliance in Support of Patriotic Democratic Movements in China, a group of veteran campaigners, the vigil has always had the democratisation of China as its central message. However, since mass student-led Umbrella Movement rallies failed to win political reform for Hong Kong in 2014, more young activists and students have turned to "localism", which focuses on local identity and autonomy and tends to reject any associations with China. Some pro-independence activists call for a complete split from the mainland. As a result, student unions in Hong Kong have boycotted the Tiananmen vigil for the past three years. "China's progress for democracy is really slow, and rather hopeless. If (the democracy movements of China and Hong Kong) are interlinked, wouldn't that in turn negate Hong Kong's progress?" the president of the University of Hong Kong's student union, Wong Ching-fung, told local media last week. A public opinion poll by the University of Hong Kong found that the proportion of people who think Hong Kongers have "a responsibility to instigate the development of democracy in China" has dropped from 58 percent to 56 percent this year. The proportion of those who believe Hong Kongers do not have a responsibility to do so has climbed steadily since 2014 to 31 percent this year. - Spirit alive - Although major crowds still turn up to the park -- organisers put the figure at 115,000 Monday, slightly up on last year -- small alternative events are popping up around the city and numbers are lower than in the past. However, those who attended said they still felt a duty to pay tribute to the demonstrators who had died when Chinese authorities sent in tanks to crush a peaceful seven-week sit-in to demand democratic reforms. Hundreds -- by some estimates more than a thousand -- were killed. Leading Hong Kong democracy campaigner Joshua Wong, 21, said people should care about what happens in China because "China has been continuously suppressing Hong Kong". "June 4 is the best example to let the international community know the Chinese communist regime's inhumane, brutal nature," Wong told AFP. Office worker Vincent Chow, 25, said he felt the Hong Kong government no longer listened to citizens' voices and wanted to make sure his was heard. "Young people now might feel too removed from the democracy movement and fight for freedom, so I hope to keep this spirit alive," he told AFP. Retiree Sammy Au, 71, added he did not feel the vigil was about democratising China but was a tribute to the "selfless" acts of the students who died. "If I were the last person remaining, I would still come out," he told AFP. The vigil came as two pro-independence former lawmakers were given four-week jail sentences Monday for participating in a fracas in the legislature in 2016. A number of activists have been prosecuted on protest-related charges since the 2014 rallies as concerns grow that Hong Kong's freedoms are under threat from Beijing. Semi-autonomous Hong Kong has seen tens of thousands gather at the candlelit vigil in Victoria Park since 1990 Police and organizer estimates for the turnout at Hong Kong's annual Tiananmen vigil Hong Kong's Tiananmen vigil has always had the democratisation of China as its central message
Saudi Arabia on Monday began issuing its first driving licences to women in decades, state media reported. "The first group of women today received their Saudi driving licences," the official Saudi Press Agency said. "The general directorate of traffic started replacing international driving licences recognised in the kingdom with Saudi licences," it added. The move comes as Saudi Arabia, the only country in the world where women are not allowed drive, prepares to lift its decades-long ban on female drivers on June 24. SPA said authorities started swapping international licences for Saudi ones in multiple locations across the kingdom, with women applicants made to undergo a "practical test". It did not specify the number of licences issued. The move is part of Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman's far-reaching liberalisation drive as he seeks to modernise the conservative petro-state. The self-styled reformer, who recently undertook a global tour aimed at reshaping his kingdom's austere image, has sought to break with long-held restrictions on women and the mixing of the genders. But casting a shadow on the reforms, Saudi Arabia last week said it detained 17 people for "undermining" the kingdom's security, in what campaigners have dubbed a sweeping crackdown against activists. Rights groups have identified many of the detainees as women campaigners for the right to drive and to end the conservative Islamic country's male guardianship system. Authorities said eight of the detainees had been "temporarily released" until their investigation is completed. Nine suspects, including four women, remain in custody after they "confessed" to a slew of charges such as suspicious contact with "hostile" organisations and recruiting people in sensitive government positions, according to SPA. Authorities accused the detainees of "coordinated activity undermining the security and stability of the kingdom". Previous reports in state-backed media branded some of the detainees traitors and "agents of embassies". Campaigners have dismissed the reports as a "smear" campaign. The crackdown has also sparked a torrent of global criticism. A Saudi woman test-drives a car during an automotive exhibition for women in the capital Riyadh on May 13, 2018
Flights in and out of Adelaide have been delayed as thick fog covers the city and surrounding hills.

Both domestic and international flights at Adelaide airport were impacted on Monday  with some flights in holding patterns, others delayed from taking off and some diverted interstate to Melbourne.

International flights from Singapore and China were forced to abandon landings and remained in holding.

The airspace above Adelaide and Melbourne at 10.15am on Monday. Source: FlightAware

The Bureau of Meteorology issued a road weather alert, urging drivers to slow down and warning there would be reduced visibility until late morning.

Disruptions this morning due to low visibility at Adelaide Airport, Adelaide Airport tweeted on Monday morning.

The airport has advised passengers flying from the airport to remain in contact with their airline for the latest flight information with delays of up to four hours expected.

A Qantas spokeswoman confirmed three flights of the airline had been delayed so far due to the conditions and that ground staff were expecting the fog to lift shortly.

Great day to be flying to #canberra! Can't even seen the runway with this Gotham level fog today in #adelaide. And I know it's probably colder on the other end pic.twitter.com/rMdgXW5Eeb  Holly Bowen-Salter (@HBSalts) June 3, 2018
Two Hong Kong independence activists who were stripped of their status as lawmakers in 2016 were sentenced to four weeks in prison Monday for their role in a fracas that disrupted proceedings in the city's parliament. Baggio Leung and Yau Wai-ching belong to Hong Kong's embattled independence movement, which is calling for the semi-autonomous city to split from China as its freedoms come under threat from Beijing. The pair were told they had "directly hurt the dignity of the legislative council" by judge Wong Sze-lai, who went on to grant them bail pending appeal. They were both held in custody after the sentencing while the court awaited their bail money. Yau later waived her right to appeal and chose to serve out her sentence. Calls for Hong Kong to split from China have incensed Beijing and the past two years have seen a crackdown on any expression of pro-independence views. Yau, 27, and Leung, 31, are the latest activists to be given jail terms on protest-related charges. They had pleaded not guilty to unlawful assembly and attempted forcible entry after trying to barge into a legislative council meeting in November 2016. The duo had been barred from the main chamber pending a court decision over their disqualification from parliament. They ran into the chamber, and after security bundled them out, they and their supporters tried to push their way into a committee room to which the disrupted session had been moved. In the ensuing chaos, they clashed again with security, with at least three staff taken to hospital and police called in. Despite being elected by the public, the pair were never allowed to take up their seats after protesting at their swearing-in ceremony. They deliberately misread their oaths of office, inserted expletives and draped themselves in "Hong Kong is not China" flags. Beijing intervened to ensure they were not given the chance to retake their oaths by issuing a special "interpretation" of Hong Kong's mini-constitution. The ruling said that any oath-taker who did not follow the prescribed wording of the pledge, "or takes the oath in a manner which is not sincere or not solemn", should be disqualified. After the interpretation, Hong Kong's High Court ruled to bar them both. Former UK foreign secretary Malcolm Rifkind said the prison sentences handed out to Yau and Leung were "deeply disturbing". "It is difficult to believe that former lawmakers would have been punished by imprisonment for such relatively minor offences in other countries," he said in a statement issued by Hong Kong Watch, an NGO that monitors the city's freedoms, of which Rifkind is a patron. Hong Kong is set to mark the 29th anniversary of China's crackdown on democracy protesters in Beijing's Tiananmen Square with a vigil in Victoria Park on Monday evening. It is the only place on Chinese soil where the anniversary is openly marked en masse. Yau waived her right to appeal and chose to serve out her sentence Hong Kong's parliament witnessed chaotic scenes in November 2016 as newly-elected pro-independence lawmakers deliberately misread their oaths, and later attempted to force their way into a committee room
Jordanian Prime Minister Hani Mulki resigned on Monday after a wave of anti-austerity protests by citizens suffering from high unemployment and repeated prices hikes. Mulki was summoned by King Abdullah II after the capital Amman and several other cities were rocked by demonstrations that drew thousands of people. "Prime Minister Hani Mulki submitted his resignation to the king this afternoon during a meeting at the Husseiniyeh Palace and the king accepted the resignation," a government source told AFP. The king asked Education Minister Omar al-Razzaz to form a new government, the source added. Jordan, a key US ally, has largely avoided the unrest witnessed by other countries in the region since the Arab Spring revolts broke out in 2011, although protests did flare late that year after the government cut fuel subsidies. A mostly desert kingdom with few resources, the country has seen prices of several basic goods and services like bread, fuel and electricity steadily rise over the past year. The rallying cries by demonstrators for Mulki to step down came after the government adopted a draft income tax law and announced new price hikes based on recommendations by the International Monetary Fund. Protesters had vowed not to "kneel" and earned support from trade unions as well as a majority of MPs opposed to the new tax. The premier's meeting with the king came hours after around 5,000 people gathered outside Mulki's office in Amman, on the fifth consecutive day of protests. James Dorsey, a Middle East analyst, warned that "cosmetic changes" like the prime minister's removal may not be enough to satisfy protesters. On Saturday Mulki -- who had formed his government in May 2016 -- met with trade union representatives who demanded the income tax law be revoked, but they failed to reach an agreement. There was no immediate reaction to Mulki's resignation from any of the 16 trade unions backing the protests. "The tax bill will continue to hound the new government, whatever its policy, until the law is thrown out," said Jordanian political analyst Adel Mahmoud. "The new prime minister will face a number of strategic factors in dealing with the unprecedented street protests, the most important of which is to... open convincing channels of dialogue," he told AFP. - Price hikes - According to official estimates, 18.5 percent of Jordan's population is unemployed, while 20 percent is on the brink of poverty. The Economist Intelligence Unit earlier this year ranked Jordan's capital as one of the most expensive in the Arab world. Last month the government adopted a draft income tax law, yet to be approved by parliament, aimed at increasing taxes on employees by at least five percent and on companies by between 20 and 40 percent. And last week it announced a new price hike for electricity and fuel, before revoking it under orders from the king following protests. Security officials said Monday 60 people had been detained since the protests began. "There are some irresponsible groups who left protests to cause violence, destroy property and assault police, which is unacceptable," said Major General Hussein al-Hawatmeh. The IMF loan, intended to support economic and financial reforms, has the long-term objective of reducing Jordan's public debt from about 94 percent of GDP to 77 percent by 2021. Ahmad Awad, head of the Amman-based Phenix Center for Economic and Informatics Studies, said "tax policies have weighed on household budgets". "Almost half of young people do not find work and are therefore a very high risk to social and economic stability and security." Protesters gather outside the prime minister's office in the Jordanian capital Amman on June 2, 2018 Outgoing Jordanian Prime Minister Hani Mulki had formed his government in May 2016 "We are broke" reads a protest sign held during a demonstration in Amman on May 30, 2018 Demonstrators confront anti-riot police as they protest against against a income tax draft law in front of the prime minister's office in Amman, late on June 1, 2018
At least five more people have died in the flashpoint city of Masaya during a night of clashes between police and anti-government protestors, a human rights group said Monday. The preliminary toll included deaths between Sunday night and Monday morning, according to Alvaro Leiva, head of the Nicaraguan Association for the Protection of Human Rights (ANPDH). The agency has identified just one of the victims so far, a 23-year-old teacher named Carlos Lopez, who was killed by a bullet in the thorax -- indicating "he was executed, no doubt, by snipers," Leiva said. "There is a profound violation of human rights," in Masaya, said Leiva, of the city about 30 kilometers south of the capital. Masaya's police chief Ramon Avellan, meanwhile, reported the death of a 22-year-old police officer in Masaya, who allegedly was killed when demonstrators attacked the city's police station. It was unclear whether that death was included in the toll given by the ANPDH. Residents in Masaya armed with homemade mortars have fought back against riot police and pro-government gangs in the city of just over 100,000 people. They have constructed barricades against security forces with cobblestones, furniture, sheet metal and anything else available on nearly every street. According to Leiva, protestors have captured an unspecified number of officers during the clashes, while police have arrested several demonstrators. The wave of protests against President Daniel Ortega and his ruling party -- the Sandinista National Liberation Front -- erupted on April 18 and quickly turned violent. The unrest has claimed at least 110 lives, according to the Nicaraguan Center for Human Rights, fueling demands for Ortega to step down. Demonstrators remain behind an improvised barricade during clashes with riot police within protests in Monimbo neighborhood in Masaya
At least seven people were killed in a suicide bombing Monday near a gathering of top clerics in Afghanistan's capital Kabul, roughly one hour after the group proclaimed such attacks a sin, police said. The blast in the western part of the city, near universities and a police academy, was claimed by the Islamic State group and is the latest demonstration of the militants' ability to carry out attacks in the heart of Kabul, which is now the deadliest place in the country for civilians. The bomber detonated at about 11:30 am (0700 GMT) at the gates of Kabul's Polytechnic University, police and officials said. The Loya Jirga tent where thousands of clerics from across Afghanistan were meeting is on the campus. The tent is a huge venue often used for top religious or government gatherings. "Loya Jirga" means "grand assembly" in Pashto. Most of the casualties were civilians. "According to our initial information, seven people have been killed including a policeman. Nine others have been injured, including two policemen," police spokesman Hashmat Stanikzai told media. Interior ministry spokesman Najib Danish confirmed it was a suicide attack, and said the bomber had been on foot when he detonated his explosives at the university gate. Police spokesman Stanikzai said the blast was outside the tent. IS claimed the attack via their Amaq propaganda agency. Both the Taliban and IS have stepped up their headline-grabbing assaults on the heavily fortified capital in recent months. Roads around the university were quickly blocked by security officials after the blast, with heavy traffic jams building as many commuters headed home due to Ramadan, the holy Islamic fasting month, during which government offices close early. Shortly after the first blast, a second explosion was heard, but police said it was a sticky bomb in a market several kilometres away which wounded an unspecified number of civilians. - Civilians bearing the brunt - Local media said thousands of clerics had gathered at the Loya Jirga tent for the meeting of the Ulema Council, Afghanistan's top religious leaders. Roughly an hour before the attack, they issued a fatwa against the ongoing conflict in Afghanistan, where the Taliban have been fighting an insurgency for nearly 17 years, while other militant groups have also been carrying out attacks. The Ulema Council -- seen by the militants as having some links to the government -- termed suicide attacks and explosions "haram", or prohibited in Islam. They have issued such fatwas in the past. "Executing, financing and supporting such acts are against Sharia law," they said in a statement tweeted by the government. Fighting in the name of jihad in Afghanistan, where the majority of the population is Muslim, has "no legitimacy" in Islam, they added, calling for peace talks. "As the war in which tens of people die on a daily basis is prolonged... then both sides, the government and the Taliban, should come to the negotiation table and put an end to the calamity." Washington condemned the attack on the clerics and scholars. "Today's attack targeting civilians and those religious leaders working towards peace in Afghanistan exposes the terrorists' inhumanity and contradicts the Islamic principles and legitimacy they claim to defend," State Department spokeswoman Heather Nauert said in a statement. President Ashraf Ghani in late February proposed peace talks with the Taliban. The group has not officially responded, but deadly attacks have proliferated since then, particularly in Kabul. The capital accounted for 16 percent of all civilian casualties last year, when 1,831 civilians were killed or wounded nationwide, according to the United Nations. The myriad attacks since 2017 included two of the deadliest in the city since the US invasion in late 2001 -- a truck bomb on May 31, 2017 that killed more than 150 people, and an ambulance bomb on January 27 this year which killed more than 100. The UN has warned that 2018 could be even deadlier. Many fearful residents have restricted their movements as a result, afraid to linger in bazaars or to become trapped in traffic during rush hour, a prime time for attacks. Militants are stepping up their headline-grabbing assaults on the heavily fortified capital Interior ministry spokesman Najib Danish confirmed it was a suicide attack
Nicaragua's government urged its opponents Monday to return to the negotiating table, after a night of clashes between police and protesters left five more people dead in the country's escalating crisis. Residents described scenes of terror overnight in the flashpoint city of Masaya, which saw running battles all weekend pitting residents armed with home-made mortars and slingshots against what they said were paramilitary forces and riot police loyal to President Daniel Ortega. More than 100 people have died in the violence sweeping Nicaragua since protests erupted on April 18 against Ortega, the man who has dominated the Central American country's politics for four decades. The Catholic Church initially tried to mediate the conflict, but called off the talks after a crackdown on a march led by victims' mothers on Wednesday left another 16 people dead. Ortega's wife and vice president, Rosario Murillo -- a figure widely reviled by the protesters -- made an appeal to return to dialogue. "We all want peace, we want dialogue, we want to work together and listen to each other, discuss all issues, because there's a solution for everything," she told state media. "Let's not keep suffering losses, pain, mourning in our families." The Church has said talks are impossible as long as "the people continue to be repressed and killed" by "groups close to the government." - 'Practically an invasion' - The latest victims in Masaya were killed between Sunday night and Monday morning, according to Alvaro Leiva, head of the Nicaraguan Association for the Protection of Human Rights (ANPDH). The agency has identified just one of them so far, a 23-year-old teacher named Carlos Lopez, who was killed by a bullet in the torso -- indicating "he was executed, no doubt, by snipers." "There is a profound violation of human rights" in Masaya, said Leiva. Catholic priest Augusto Gutierrez, whose parish is in the city's Monimbo neighborhood, said the security forces had launched a "generalized attack." "It was practically an invasion of the city with heavy armaments. There were bursts of (automatic weapons) fire," he told AFP. Gutierrez said the attackers were riot police and plainclothes groups who entered the city in pick-up trucks, their guns blazing. Multiple witnesses told him stories of summary executions by the police. One young man of 15 "begged for his life," but was shot dead anyway, the priest said. - Under siege - Residents in Masaya have constructed barricades with cobblestones, furniture, sheet metal and virtually anything else available to try to keep out Ortega's security forces, which they accuse of pillaging the city of 100,000 people. The government blames criminals for the pillaging, and says it sent in riot police at the request of small-business owners. Protesters have captured a number of police officers during the clashes, while police have arrested several demonstrators, many of whom say they have been badly beaten while in custody. At least 113 people have been killed in the nearly eight weeks of violence, according to another rights group, the Nicaraguan Center for Human Rights (CENIDH) -- though it had not yet confirmed the latest deaths reported in Masaya. The city's police chief Ramon Avellan meanwhile reported the death of a 22-year-old police officer, allegedly killed when demonstrators attacked a Masaya police station. It was unclear whether that death was included in the toll given by the ANPDH. - Virtual curfew - In Managua, there is a virtual curfew in place after dark, with motorcycle gangs terrorizing those who venture out, according to the CENIDH. The wave of protests against Ortega and his ruling party -- the Sandinista National Liberation Front -- erupted on April 18 and quickly turned violent. The brutal crackdown on what started as relatively small protests against pension cuts have fueled demands for the ouster of Ortega and Murillo. Ortega, whose third consecutive term is due to end in 2022, accuses right-wing opposition groups of conspiring to "terrorize" the country. Demonstrators stand behind an improvised barricade during clashes with riot police in Masaya, Nicaragua An injured demonstrator is helped after being shot during clashes against riot police in Masaya A demonstrator runs carrying a homemade mortar during protests in Masaya, near Managua A demonstrator stands behind a barricade during protests in Monimbo neighborhood in Masaya
A Russian court on Monday sentenced a Ukrainian journalist to 12 years in a strict regime penal colony after he was found guilty of espionage, in a case Kiev has condemned as "politically motivated". Journalist Roman Sushchenko, who worked for Ukrainian state news agency Ukrinform for more than a decade, was detained in Moscow in 2016. Russia's FSB security agency accused him of serving in Ukrainian military intelligence and gathering state secrets. Sushchenko, who had pleaded innocent, told AFP he would appeal the "unjust" verdict delivered by Judge Oleg Muzychenko of Moscow City Court. The 49-year-old reporter's lawyer, Mark Feigin, earlier told AFP that prosecutors had asked for a 14-year sentence, out of a maximum of 20 years. Kiev last week slammed the trial, with the Ukrainian foreign ministry spokeswoman Mariana Betsa calling the case "politically motivated". The case comes amid a recent uptick in violence in the conflict between Ukrainian troops and Russia-backed separatists in eastern Ukraine that broke out following Russia's annexation of Crimea from Ukraine in 2014 and has killed more than 10,000 people. Sushchenko was working as Ukrinform's Paris correspondent at the time of his arrest and the news agency said that he was detained while visiting Moscow on holiday. In his final speech in court he said he was framed by the Russian security service, his lawyer told Interfax news agency. Feigin earlier suggested Moscow and Kiev could be planning a prisoner exchange since a journalist working for Russian state news agency RIA Novosti is now in detention in Ukraine awaiting trial on treason charges. The journalist, Kyrylo Vyshynsky, has dual Russian and Ukrainian citizenship. Ukrainian journalist Roman Sushchenko has been sentenced to 12 years in a strict regime penal colony by a Russian court
Two fathers fell more than 300 metres to their deaths while rock climbing in Californias iconic Yosemite National Park.

Jason Wells, 46, of Boulder, Colorado, and Tim Klien, 42, of Palmdale, California fell from the face of the towering El Capitan granite rock formation around 8.15am on Saturday morning.

The experienced climbing pair were roped together but what went so wrong will now be investigated by park rangers.

Mr Klein, a father of two, last month won the Teacher of the year award at Antelope Valley Union High School.

Jason Wells, left, and Tim Klein, right, died on Saturday, while rockclimbing at Yosemite National Park. Source: Facebook/Stefan Griebel

Fellow rockclimber Stefan Griebel paid tribute to the pair describing both men as humble and selfless.

Ive rock climbed more pitches with Jason than any other human being. His energy, laughter, and genuine passion for climbing were absolutely infectious, he said.

My hurt and sadness seems insignificant to that of what their wives and families must be feeling. A horrible loss.

The two experienced climbers fell to their death at Yosemites El Capitan. Source: AP

A British climber was killed and his wife was badly injured last September when a rockslide from El Capitan rained boulders onto a popular hiking trail.

More than 100 climbing accidents occur in Yosemite every year, and 51 climbers died from traumatic injuries in the park from 1970 through 1990, according to data posted online by the Park Service.
She is known for her privacy and White House independence, often breaking with her husband's schedule. But Melania Trump's unusual 25-day absence from public view following surgery for a "benign" kidney condition has raised questions. The first lady is scheduled to re-emerge in the public eye later Monday at a private reception for families of US soldiers killed in action -- her first public appearance since being hospitalized last month. But the event is billed as closed press, only heightening speculation about why Donald Trump's wife is avoiding the cameras. Melania Trump, 48, has not been spotted since May 10, when she joined the president in greeting three American hostages released by North Korea. Shortly afterwards she entered Walter Reed National Military Medical Center for what the White House described as a benign kidney procedure. Despite the operation's routine nature, Melania remained there for five days, returning to the White House May 19. On Sunday her spokeswoman Stephanie Grisham confirmed that Melania will not accompany the president to the G7 summit in Canada, nor to planned North Korea nuclear talks in Singapore. It is a noticeable shift from weeks prior to her kidney surgery, when she engaged in several high profile events. In April, she represented the Trumps at former first lady Barbara Bush's funeral, rolled out her "Be Best" awareness campaign to help children, and orchestrated an elaborate state dinner with French President Emmanuel Macron and wife Brigitte. Following her medical operation, her absence at events where the public has come to expect to see her alongside the president was well documented, leading her to take to Twitter to castigate reporters. "I see the media is working overtime speculating where I am & what I'm doing," she tweeted Wednesday, assuring she was "here at the @WhiteHouse w my family, feeling great, & working hard." The tweet sparked a conspiracy theory that Trump himself may have written Melania's message, given that "working overtime" is a favorite idiom of the president when he tweets about the press. Comedian Sarah Silverman re-tweeted the first lady's post, adding: "Who is this? where's Melania?" The first lady skipped ceremonies including a Memorial Day wreath-laying. And she was not seen Friday boarding the helicopter that shuttled the president, daughters Ivanka and Tiffany, and Donald Trump Jr to Camp David for a weekend retreat. - Imagination 'running wild' - The rumor mill has churned online. Some have speculated she has moved back to New York City, or is cooperating with special counsel Robert Mueller, while others offer she may be healing after some secret plastic surgery. Such a weeks-long disappearance by a modern-day first lady is indeed rare, said Ohio University history professor Katherine Jellison, an expert on first ladies. "I'm amazed Mrs Trump has been able to do it," she told AFP. The first lady is not an elected position, and Melania Trump is under no obligation to keep the American people abreast of her health, activities or whereabouts. Several 19th century first ladies spent long periods out of view. But over the past half century it has become the public expectation that people know the basic narrative of the first lady's activities. Melania Trump, never one to obsess like her husband about media attention, has laid low before. She went quiet in March as a media storm raged about revelations that her husband's lawyer paid porn star Stormy Daniels $130,000 before the 2016 election to keep silent over her alleged affair with Trump years earlier. White House silence, including about why Melania spent five days in hospital for a routine procedure, is only fueling the speculation. "Without greater detail about her 'benign' condition, the public imagination is running wild," Jellison said. "For most of the 20th century and certainly in the 21st century, a first lady hasn't had the option of not being a public figure -- regardless of unfortunate personal circumstances," Jellison said. First Lady Melania Trump will not be at President Donald Trump's side when her husband travels to Canada for the G7 Summit this week, or to Singapore next week for a historic summit with North Korea US First Lady Melania Trump is known to cherish her privacy, and has often broken with the schedule of her husband, President Donald Trump First Lady Melania Trump (seen here with President Donald Trump and their son Barron) has been out of public view for weeks
A proposed trade agreement between the European Union and Mexico could prevent New York cheesemakers from exporting products with common names or geographic labels, according to U.S. Sens. Kirsten Gillibrand and Chuck Schumer.

The European Union is attempting to use certain cheese names, such as asiago, feta and parmesan, in Mexico. By exclusively using the names in Mexico, it would block New York cheese producers from using the identifiers when exporting products into international markets.

Gillibrand, a member of the Senate Agriculture Committee, believes the proposal would harm New York producers and take away potential export opportunities.

"We need to do everything possible to protect and promote New York's dairy industry, which is already struggling in the face of historically low milk prices and other challenges, and I'm urging U.S. Trade Representative (Robert) Lighthizer to fight against any proposal that would hurt local cheese producers."

Schumer added, "No matter how you slice it upstate New York's cheese producers could lose a big chunk of their business if the EU successfully convinces Mexico to place geographic restrictions on cheese labeling."

The impact on New York cheesemakers could be substantial. In 2016, New York ranked fourth among U.S. states for cheese production. Mexico is a top market for U.S. cheese exports. Cheese accounted for nearly one-third of the $1.3 billion in dairy products the U.S. sent to Mexico last year.

Gillibrand and Schumer signed a letter sent to Robert Lighthizer, the U.S. trade representative, urging him to address the issue with Mexico.

There have been past trade disputes involving geographic indicators. One example is the European Union's contention that Champagne can only use that name if it's produced in the Champagne region of France.

Online producer Robert Harding can be reached at (315) 282-2220 or robert.harding@lee.net. Follow him on Twitter @robertharding.

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When you think of a trail, you often conjure up images of a traditional trail or path through countryside such as a forest, glen or park. And Cayuga County does have plenty of those, but here in the Finger Lakes, the word trail is just as often used to describe any route planned or followed for a particular purpose, and that purpose can be as varied as learning about history or finding the best wine or cheese. You can just pick your interest and pretty much find a trail that will lead to your desired destination.

Probably the best-known trails in the Finger Lakes are our famous wine trails. Cayuga County is fortunate to have two wine trails running through it, the well-established Cayuga Lake Wine Trail and the newer Lake Ontario Wine Trail. Traveling these trails will lead you to world-class Finger Lakes wines and wine-themed events while you drive through stunning scenery. In addition to our popular wineries, craft breweries are quickly popping up all over the region. From wheat beer to IPAs to stouts, the Finger Lakes have a beer for every taste. The Finger Lakes Beer Trail will lead you on a beer tasting adventure to over 100 breweries across more than 200 miles of central New York.

Culinary, or foodie trails as they are sometimes known, have become uber popular over the past few years, and in Cayuga County you can satisfy your taste buds by sampling cheeses produced by the Finger Lakes Cheese Alliance and visiting stops on the Finger Lakes Sweet Treat Trail. The Finger Lakes Cheese Alliance is made up of 12 working family farms and producers, each creating their own brand of artisanal and farmstead cheeses, from mozzarella to cheddar to chevre. The cheese trail holds an annual Finger Lakes Cheese Festival, this year on July 28, where you will have the opportunity to taste all the cheeses in one place along with other foods, music, classes and family fun on the farm activities. The Finger Lakes Sweet Treat Trail is made up of 19 members that feature unique sweets and treats made from locally grown and produced products ranging from ice cream to cookies to hydroponic strawberries. From Fair Haven to King Ferry, all roads lead to good, locally produced foods in Cayuga County.

If you are looking for a trail that takes you down a historic path, Cayuga County has that too  and we present our history with its own special twist. The Haunted History Trail of New York state is a ghost lover's dream come true! Ghost hunts, guided tours, haunted inns and more are all part of the trail that teaches you about the history and lore of New York state in a slightly spooky way. Costumed guides take guests on the Seward House Museums Haunted History Tours every October and regale guests with tales of murder, intrigue and mystery! Travelers who are looking for the unusual, obscure and sometimes just strange history of Cayuga County must pick up Cayuga County Heritage Trails Odd, Quirky and Offbeat brochure to discover the weird and wonderful history that the county has to offer. Learn about Port Byrons secret island, the electrifying exhibit at the Cayuga Museum and the sacred remains on Frontenac Island. Its all strange but true!

Cayuga County also has its share of scenic trails. The 87-mile Cayuga Lake Scenic Byway that surrounds Cayuga Lake is one of the nations few true loop highways, and it is the only one to mix wine country ambience with towering waterfalls, deep gorges, rural woodland landscapes, expansive water views and numerous recreational, natural and cultural attractions. The Cayuga Lake Scenic Byways slogan is Enjoy the ride! and you surely will as you take in the magnificent views and activities along the way. To the north you will find the Great Lakes Seaway Trail, a 518-mile national scenic byway that crosses through the Fair Haven and Sterling in Cayuga County. This driving trail takes you along the southern shores of Lake Ontario and includes scenic views, lighthouses, museums and parks, as well as wineries, farmers markets and quaint towns and villages. One of the newer scenic trails is the Auburn Art Trail, a self-guided walking tour through downtown Auburn, highlighting public art such as murals sculptures and mosaics, all created by local artists.

To learn more about Cayuga Countys amazing trails, stop by the Cayuga County Office of Tourism at 131 Genesee St., Auburn, or visit tourcayuga.com.

Meg Vanek is the executive director of the Cayuga County Office of Tourism, the designated tourism promotion agency for Cayuga County that promotes the countys attractions, events and lodging establishments. For more information, visit tourcayuga.com.

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The Central New York Community Foundation has released a new website to provide regional data on issues like poverty, health and education.

This week, the foundation launched CNYvitals.org, which consolidates data from Cayuga, Onondaga, Madison, Cortland and Oswego counties. According to a press release, the statistics are pulled from a variety of sources, including the U.S. Census Bureau, U.S. Department of Labor and New York State Department of Education.

Using interactive visualizations, visitors can track local data and trends such as high school graduation rates, poverty levels and lead exposure. In addition, the site offers an analysis of how the facts relate to residents and the region's prosperity.

"Government data can be challenging to understand without context," said Sam Edelstein, Chief Data Officer for the city of Syracuse. "It's exciting to see that CNY Vitals builds a narrative around this kind of information."

The foundation also established a more in-depth sister site called CNY Vitals Pro, which was designed for grant writes, researchers, community organizers and data professionals. That site allows users to drill down into statistics by county, town, city, zip code or census tract and compare them at the local, state or national level.

"Vitals was designed to be accessible and useful to everyone," said Frank Ridzi, Vice President of Community Investment at the Community Foundation. "We hope to see citizens and community leaders use the website to identify key needs and disparities to focus their charitable and volunteer efforts, better plan programs and policy, and focus on the residents most in need."

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A Syracuse man has been charged with rape and endangering a child for having sex with a 13-year-old girl in Weedsport, state police said.

On Wednesday, Wesam H. Aziz, 21, was arrested and charged with second-degree rape, fifth-degree criminal sale of marijuana and endangering the welfare of a child.

According to New York State Police, troopers launched an investigation into allegations that Aziz had traveled to Weedsport and had sex with an underage girl he met through social media. Police said he also gave the girl a small amount of marijuana when they met.

Aziz was arraigned in the Village of Weedsport Court and was remanded to Cayuga County Jail in lieu of $7,500 cash, $15,000 bond. He will reappear at a later date.

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Find out which movie franchises have earned the most revenue at American box offices, plus the size of the Pandora Papers leak, and more of th
City

 Annie S. McKinley, 54, 131 S. Fulton St., Auburn, was charged June 2 with third-degree criminal possession of a weapon, third-degree assault and second-degree obstructing governmental administration.

 Freedom S. Walker, 23, 101 Quill Ave. Apt. I49, Auburn, was picked up June 2 on a bench warrant.

 Tyler P. Murphy, 27, 69 Chedell Place, Auburn, was charged June 1 with second-degree aggravated harassment.

 James R. Bell, 42, 124 S. Fulton St. Apt. Up, Auburn, was charged June 2 with petit larceny.

 Shannon R. Whitmore, 23, 7 Grover St., Auburn, was charged June 2 with driving while intoxicated and third-degree aggravated unlicensed operation of a motor vehicle.

 Scott L. Hill, 52, 18 Belmont St. Apt. 4, Auburn, was charged June 3 with driving while intoxicated and operating a motor vehicle with a blood alcohol content of at least .08 of 1 percent.

 Eric S. Niswender, 57, 7591 Healy Road Apt. 2, Auburn, was charged June 3 with aggravated driving while intoxicated and driving while intoxicated.

State

 Tyler P. Murphy, 27, Auburn, was charged June 1 with criminal mischief.

 Dustin M. Johnson, 24, Auburn, was charged June 2 with driving while intoxicated.

 Carl J. Hayes, 47, Syracuse, was charged June 1 with criminal obstruction of breathing and endangering the welfare of a child.

 Kristi L. Hurd, 28, Auburn, was charged June 1 with first-degree aggravated unlicensed operation of a motor vehicle and driving while intoxicated.

 William F. Davis, 68, Elbridge, was charged June 3 with petit larceny.

 Matthew J. Gauthier, 34, Auburn, was charged June 2 with seventh-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance.

 Shawn B. Morrison, 40, Auburn, was charged June 2 with seventh-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance.

County

 Garret L. Partin, 20, 35 Pulteney St. Apt. 4, Geneva, was charged May 4 with first-degree criminal contempt.

 Lance C. Verbeck, 48, 4703 Church Road, Niles, was charged May 4 with third-degree menacing, fourth-degree criminal mischief and endangering the welfare of a child.

 Scott A. Meyer, 29, 48 Chapman Ave., Auburn, was charged May 6 with petit larceny and first-degree falsifying business records.

 Erick A. Martinez-Perez, 26, 1034 Route 34B, Genoa, was charged May 6 with first-degree criminal contempt.

 Jenna M. Boyle, 25, was picked up May 8 on a bench warrant.

 Randy E. Longley, 50, 13025 Upton Road, Victory, was charged May 8 with first-degree aggravated unlicensed operation of a motor vehicle and felony driving while intoxicated with a previous conviction within 10 years.

 Luis A. Jiminez, 28, River Edge, New Jersey, was charged May 9 with log book violations.

 Dale A. King, 52, 2607 Genoa Lansing Town Line Road, Genoa, was picked up May 10 on a bench warrant.

 Brandon M. Campfield, 26, 5488 Route 96, Romulus, was charged May 12 with driving while intoxicated.

 Thomas J. Coupe, 29, 125 N. Main St., Newark, was picked up May 13 on a bench warrant and charged with second-degree aggravated unlicensed operation of a motor vehicle.

 Maurice C. Pam, 36, 120 Dunning Ave., Auburn, was picked up May 14 on a bench warrant.

 Toni A. Holtby, 37, 7377 Northrup Road, Throop, was charged May 15 with fourth-degree grand larceny and issuing a bad check.

 Caitlin A. Burke, 32, 3000 Williams Hall, Keuka Park, was charged May 16 with second-degree aggravated unlicensed operation of a motor vehicle.

 Brian J. Swan, 31, 1244 Route 34, Genoa, was picked up May 18 on a bench warrant.

 Winifred B. Murphy, 72, 8 Burnham Lane, Aurora, was charged May 18 with first-degree unlawfully dealing with a child.

 Theresa M. Green, 68, 1257 Mahaney Road, Genoa, was charged May 18 with first-degree unlawfully dealing with a child.

 Alan D. Coleman, 54, 9256 Oakland Road, Mentz, was charged May 19 with petit larceny.

 Ryan E. Smith, 34, 2563 E. Main St., Cato Village, was charged May 20 with petit larceny.

 Dan R. Reis, 41, was picked up May 22 on a bench warrant.

 Cindy M. Stampp, 39, 2756 E. Brutus St., Weedsport, was charged May 23 with second-degree criminal contempt.

 J.R. Wellington, 23, 8153 Barnes Road, Mentz, was charged May 25 with criminal mischief.

 Eric B. Miller, 24, 8401 Weedsport Sennett Road, Brutus, was charged May 26 with second-degree aggravated unlicensed operation of a motor vehicle.

 James McIntosh Jr., 45, 2919 E. Brutus St. Road, Brutus, was charged May 28 with third-degree menacing and second-degree unlawful imprisonment.

 Randy W. Smith, 44, 4885 Harris Hill Road, Locke, was charged May 28 with third-degree assault and fourth-degree criminal mischief.

 Danielle M. Horner, 49, 27 Church St., Port Byron, was charged May 29 with petit larceny.

 Patrice M. Reginelli, 52, 12 Bristol Ave., Owasco, was charged May 29 with third-degree falsely reporting an incident of child abuse.

 Justin N. Lader, 19, 30 Delevan St., Auburn, was charged May 31 with third-degree unauthorized use of a motor vehicle.

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Q How can dogs hear a dog whistle but people cannot?

 Yue Xi, Shorewood Hills, Wis.

A Dr. Sandra Sawchuk, primary care veterinarian in the University of Wisconsin-Madison School of Veterinary Medicine:

Humans can hear sounds in a range from about 20 to 23 kilohertz at the upper range of their hearing ability. The hearing range of dogs is almost double that.

The dog whistle, which sounds silent to us, produces sounds in the 50-kilohertz range that dogs can hear.

Dogs have better hearing than humans because they can hear these high-frequency sounds and they can hear sounds from farther away. This is because of the way their ears are designed. Their ears are made to cup and move sound in, similar to the way humans can put a hand up to their ear to hear better. Dogs can also move their ears around to hone in on sounds in different directions.

Dogs can hear these high-pitched sounds primarily because of the way they evolved. Wild dogs hunted for a living, and their main prey were little rodents that make very high-pitched sounds. Back before our domestic dogs evolved, they would hear sounds that were high-pitched in order to hunt better.

Some modern dogs, like terriers, have maintained the ability to hear some of those really high-pitched sounds. Thats why terriers are so good at hunting rodents.

Just like people, as dogs get older they can lose their ability to hear.

Blue Sky Science is a collaboration of the Wisconsin State Journal and the Morgridge Institute for Research.

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In few instances is it so abundantly clear there is a need for change. New York states economic development programs, which for years have been shown to be both woefully ineffective and embarrassingly corrupt, are among those cases.

In just a few short weeks, yet another corruption trial related to the Buffalo Billion program is scheduled to begin. The Senate recently passed a series of reforms by an overwhelming 60-2 margin across party lines. But despite all this, the Assembly Majority refuses to act.

The need to fix our broken system is obvious, as billions of dollars in taxpayer money are at stake. Our Conference has pushed hard for a number of legislative solutions to protect taxpayer money and turn the states economic development initiatives into the job-creating programs they were meant to be. As we come down the homestretch of this years session calendar, it is critical we act to ensure the interests of all New Yorkers are no longer abused by corrupt officials.

OVERSIGHT WILL CUT DOWN ON ABUSE

Assembly Bill A.5657-A (Oaks) would provide stronger oversight of taxpayer-funded programs, enact penalties for missing reporting deadlines, as well as require a comprehensive review of economic development programs and the tax code, and prohibit political contributions to appointing authorities.

The bill calls for the creation of a Lump Sum Allocation Advisory Committee made up of the comptroller, the attorney general and the director of the Division of the Budget. Together, they would be responsible for reviewing allocation requests and making conflict of interest determinations.

With just a handful of days left in the legislative session, I implore the Assembly Majority to look closely at the proposals on the table. Lawmakers are tasked with crafting policies that protect their constituents, and failing to bring a vote to the floor is extremely negligent. Continued inaction on their part is inexcusable.

CORRUPT PROGRAMS DONT WORK

Gov. Cuomos economic development programs have been marred with scandal. The Buffalo Billion, which was supposed to spark Western New Yorks economy and create jobs, appears more like a pay-to-play sham than an honest development program. The governors former top aide, Joe Percoco, was just found guilty on felony corruption charges and Alain Kaloyeros corruption trial is on the docket.

We are well past time to act. The Assembly Majority can no longer stand idly by as taxpayer money continues to be handed out to the highest bidder.

If New York is ever going to get out of the economic wasteland it has become, we are going to need to create real, effective programs that prioritize creating jobs and generating economic activity. The status quo has failed the people of this state miserably.

What do you think? I want to hear from you. Send me your feedback, suggestions and ideas regarding this or any other issue facing New York State. You can always contact my district office at (315) 781-2030, email me at kolbb@nyassembly.gov, find me by searching for Assemblyman Brian Kolb on Facebook and follow me on Twitter.

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Almost 60 products including Tesco and Walls lines have been recalled by manufacturer Addo Food Group over fears they may contain pieces of metal.

Batches of chilled pastry, including sausage rolls, pasties, pies and slices, have been pulled from shelves as a precautionary measure because of potential contamination with small pieces of metal wire.

Addo initiated the recall after metal was discovered in part-processed pastry by the business routine procedures. Further investigations revealed that the source of the contamination was abnormal wear to a faulty drive belt.

The company said some of the metal may have been too small to be picked up by metal detectors, adding that no finished products had been found to contain metal.

We have not received any consumer complaints, but as a precaution the company is recalling the products listed in the alert, stated the business. The retailers involved have also initiated their own product recalls.

Of the retailers, Tesco has been hardest hit by the recall with a total of 22 products pulled from shelves. The majority of these were Tesco-branded, but some were sold under the retailers new value tertiary brand Eastmans Deli.

Six Aldi lines have been recalled, and seven products in the Nisa Heritage range.

Also removed from sale are products from two of Addos own brands  19 Walls lines and five Millers products.

A point-of-sale notice will be displayed in all of the retail stores that are selling these products, stated Addo. This notice explains to customers why the product is being recalled and tells them what to do if they have bought the product.

ALDI

Aldi Crestwood 2pk Minced Steak & Onion Slice 2x150g / Use by 4th, 5th, 6th, 7th, 8th June 2018

2x150g / Use by 4th, 5th, 6th, 7th, 8th June 2018 Aldi Crestwood 2pk Chicken & Mushroom Slice 2x150g / Use by 4th, 5th, 6th, 7th, 8th June 2018

2x150g / Use by 4th, 5th, 6th, 7th, 8th June 2018 Aldi Crestwood 6pk Pork Sausage Rolls 360g / Use by 4th, 5th, 6th, 7th, 8th, 9th, 10th, & 11th June 2018

/ Use by 4th, 5th, 6th, 7th, 8th, 9th, 10th, & 11th June 2018 Aldi Crestwood 10pk Snack Pork Sausage Rolls 300g / Use by 5th, 6th, 8th, 9th, 10th, & 11th June 2018

300g / Use by 5th, 6th, 8th, 9th, 10th, & 11th June 2018 Aldi 10pk Crestwood Snack Lincolnshire Sausage Rolls 300g / Use by 5th, 6th, 8th, 9th, 10th, & 11th June 2018

300g / Use by 5th, 6th, 8th, 9th, 10th, & 11th June 2018 Aldi 6pk Crestwood Cheese & Onion Rolls 360g / Use by 4th, 5th, 7th, 8th, 9th June 2018

NISA

Nisa Heritage Beef Pasty 150g / Use by 8th June 2018

150g / Use by 8th June 2018 Nisa Heritage Chicken & Mushroom Pie 150g / Use by 11th June 2018

150g / Use by 11th June 2018 Nisa Heritage 2pk Cheese & Onion Rolls 2x60g / Use by 7th & 10th June 2018

2x60g / Use by 7th & 10th June 2018 Nisa Heritage Jumbo Sausage Rolls 150g / Use by 7th, 9th & 11th 2018

150g / Use by 7th, 9th & 11th 2018 Nisa Heritage Minced Beef & Onion Pie 150g / Use by 10th June 2018

150g / Use by 10th June 2018 Nisa Heritage 2pk Sausage Rolls 2x60g / Use by 10th June 2018

2x60g / Use by 10th June 2018 Nisa Heritage Steak Pie 150g Use by 10th June 2018

MILLERS

Millers Mince beef & Onion slice 150g / Use by 6th, 7th, 8th, 9th, 10th, 11th, 12th June 2018

150g / Use by 6th, 7th, 8th, 9th, 10th, 11th, 12th June 2018 Millers Chicken Tikka Slice 150g / Use by 6th, 7th, 8th, 9th, 10th, 11th, 12th June 2018

150g / Use by 6th, 7th, 8th, 9th, 10th, 11th, 12th June 2018 Millers Cheese & Bacon Slice / 150g Use by 6th, 7th, 8th, 9th, 10th, 11th, 12th June 2018

/ 150g Use by 6th, 7th, 8th, 9th, 10th, 11th, 12th June 2018 Millers Cheese & Onion Slice / 150g / Use by 6th, 7th, 8th, 9th, 10th, 11th, 12th June 2018

/ 150g / Use by 6th, 7th, 8th, 9th, 10th, 11th, 12th June 2018 Millers Chicken & Mushroom slice 150g / Use by 6th, 7th, 8th, 9th, 10th, 11th, 12th June 2018

TESCO

Eastmans Deli (Tesco) Chicken & Mushroom Pie 150g / Use by 8th June 2018

150g / Use by 8th June 2018 Eastmans Deli (Tesco) Chicken & Mushroom Slice 150g / Use by 6th, 7th, 9th & 12th June 2018

150g / Use by 6th, 7th, 9th & 12th June 2018 EastmansDeli (Tesco) Steak & Kidney Pie 150g / Use by 6th, 7th, 8th, 10th 11th & 12th June 2018

150g / Use by 6th, 7th, 8th, 10th 11th & 12th June 2018 Eastmans Deli (Tesco) Minced Beef & Onion Pie 150g / Use by 8th, 11th June 2018

150g / Use by 8th, 11th June 2018 Eastmans Deli (Tesco) Steak Pie 150g / Use by 7th, 9th & 10th June 2018

150g / Use by 7th, 9th & 10th June 2018 Tesco Chicken & Bacon Puff Pastry Pie 200g / Use by 7th & 11th June

200g / Use by 7th & 11th June Tesco Chicken & Bacon Puff Pastry Pie 500g / Use by 4th, 7th, 9th & 11th June 2018

500g / Use by 4th, 7th, 9th & 11th June 2018 Tesco Chicken & Gravy Shortcrust Pie 200g / Use by 7th & 9th June 2018

200g / Use by 7th & 9th June 2018 Tesco Chicken & Gravy Shortcrust Pie 500g / Use by 5th, 6th,7th, 8th, 11th & 12th June 2018

500g / Use by 5th, 6th,7th, 8th, 11th & 12th June 2018 Tesco Chicken & Mushroom Puff Pastry Pie 200g / Use by 6th, 11th &12th June 2018

200g / Use by 6th, 11th &12th June 2018 Tesco Steak & Ale Puff Pastry Pie 200g / Use by 6th, 7th, 8th, 10th, 11th & 12th June 2018

200g / Use by 6th, 7th, 8th, 10th, 11th & 12th June 2018 Tesco Steak & Ale Puff Pastry Pie 500g / Use by 4th, 5th,7th, 8th, 9th, 10th & 11th June 2018

500g / Use by 4th, 5th,7th, 8th, 9th, 10th & 11th June 2018 Tesco Steak Shortcrust Pie 200g / Use by 6th, 7th, 8th & 10th June 2018

200g / Use by 6th, 7th, 8th & 10th June 2018 Tesco Steak Shortcrust Pie 500g / Use by 4th, 6th, 7th & 10th June 2018

500g / Use by 4th, 6th, 7th & 10th June 2018 Tesco Minced Steak & Onion Shortcrust Pie 200g / Use by 8th & 11th June 2018

200g / Use by 8th & 11th June 2018 Tesco Minced Steak & Onion Shortcrust Pie 500g / Use by 4th, 6th, 7th, 9th & 10th June 2018

500g / Use by 4th, 6th, 7th, 9th & 10th June 2018 Tesco Steak & Kidney Shortcrust Pie 200g / Use by 6th, 8th, 9th, 11th & 12th June 2018

200g / Use by 6th, 8th, 9th, 11th & 12th June 2018 Tesco Slow Cooked Steak Puff Pastry Pie 500g / Use by 4th, 5th, 6th, 7th, 9th & 10th June 2018

500g / Use by 4th, 5th, 6th, 7th, 9th & 10th June 2018 Tesco Sweet Potato and Goats Cheese Puff Pastry Lattice Pie 200g / Use by 6th & 9th June 2018

200g / Use by 6th & 9th June 2018 Tesco Steak and Onion Lattice Bar 500g / Use by 5th, 7th & 8th June 2018

500g / Use by 5th, 7th & 8th June 2018 Tesco Three bean & Vegetable Chilli Pie 200g / Use by 11th & 12th June 2018

200g / Use by 11th & 12th June 2018 Tesco 2 Pulled Pork Slices 300g / Use by 4th, 6th & 9th June 2018

WALLS
If money talks, then the state budget has a lot to say about education, health care, and public safety in North Carolina. These three areas take $21.9 billion of the $23.9 billion in General Fund appropriations for the next fiscal year. They also have the largest absolute and relative increases. Policy changes and natural growth combine to push costs up in these areas.What do they have in common? People. The university system employs 35,000 North Carolinians, and 32,000 people work for the state as troopers, judges, attorneys, correction officers, and related positions. Most public school employees are hired by local agencies, either school districts or charter schools, but the 98,000 teachers and related staff are paid mostly with state funds. Community colleges are also local but reliant on state funds for the bulk of their budget.More than one-fifth of North Carolina residents are enrolled in a public school, community college, or university. Medicaid is the largest share of state spending on health care, and it covers roughly the same share of North Carolinians, with many of the 1.2 million children it covers also enrolled in school. With so many people employed or enrolled in these programs, it is not surprising that they take the bulk of state spending. This pattern also explains why spending grows the way it does.Spending on public schools grows by $500 million, driven by average raises of 6.5 percent for teachers. Most of the increase was already set with the budget that passed last year. While Gov. Roy Cooper would have discontinued tax cuts to give a larger raise for teachers and a larger increase in spending overall, K-12 education accounts for 56 percent of the total $886 million growth in General Fund appropriations. Legislators also try to find new programs that can improve student achievement. Higher salaries and new programs mean more spending per student.Enrollment growth is the other factor that drives K-12 spending. Whether in district or charter schools, more students enroll in public schools each year as the overall population grows by about one percent per year. Community colleges and universities are projected to have slightly faster enrollment growth, drawing as they can on out-of-state students and students at different stages in life.Community college appropriations grow at roughly the same rate as K-12 spending this year, which means a $63 million increase on $1.12 billion spent last year. Much of the increase there also goes to pay increases. University spending climbs $134 million to $3 billion from $2.9 billion, with most of the money here also going to salary and benefits.Compensation was the single largest increase in spending on public safety. After receiving $18.4 million in additional pay last year, correctional officers and prison staff received another round of raises totaling $22.2 million. Raises for state troopers and other public safety employees added another $21 million to the budget. Court employees received $10 million in higher wages. Overall, spending on prisons, community corrections, highway patrol, and the courts increased $90 million.Medicaid's increase is not due to salaries and benefits. Most of the spending growth for the joint state and federal health insurance plan for low-income individuals is due to $117 million higher spending on medical care. A portion of that was offset by a larger return from drug rebates.Another adage is that people are policy. Usually, this means that who is hired for which position will shape what happens in that area. The significant role of compensation increases in how state government spending grows also provides another way to understand its meaning: efficient operation of government, program changes, and other policies may lighten government's burden on citizens, but such incremental policy changes will have little effect on the overall size and growth of government. That depends on more fundamental questions about the role of government and societal responses to education, health, and crime.
Just how much did the Department of Justice abuse the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA) when it decided to go after Donald Trump? And what is the DOJ hiding from Congress (and the American people) about this scandal that is worse than Watergate? We are determined to find out.Judicial Watch just filed a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) lawsuit against the U.S. Department of Justice for all records of communications between both the DOJ and the Federal Bureau of Investigation with members of the Senate Judiciary Committee and the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence regarding the FISA warrants against foreign policy advisor Carter Page and other members of Trump campaign (Judicial Watch v. U.S. Department of Justice (No. 1:18-cv-01088)).We sued after both the Justice Department and the FBI, a division of the DOJ, failed to respond to separate February 9, 2018, FOIA requests seeking:Any records of communications between DOJ officials and Members of the U.S. Senate Committee on the Judiciary ("USSCJ") and/or their staff members regarding USSCJ's attempts to acquire the applications and renewals for FISA warrants against Carter Page and any other members of President Trump's presidential campaign, as well as any records relating to or forming the basis of those FISA warrant applications/renewals from June 1, 2016 to the present.Any records of communications between DOJ officials and Members of the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence ("HPSCI") and/or their staff members, regarding HPSCI's attempts to acquire the applications and renewals for FISA warrants against Carter Page and any other members of President Trump's presidential campaign, as well as any records relating to or forming the basis of those FISA warrant applications and renewals from June 1, 2016 to the present.Over the last year, the DOJ and FBI have withheld or stonewalled on documents about the FISA court warrants targeting of the Trump campaign, Spygate documents, the Clinton-DNC anti-Trump dossier, the genesis of the Obama's Trump-Russia investigation, the Clinton email investigation, and anti-Trump FBI text messages.Our latest federal FOIA lawsuit aims to uncover details of the DOJ/FBI obstruction and contempt for Congress on Spygate. The Deep State doesn't want Congress, Judicial Watch or the American people to see the full extent of its abuses targeting the Trump campaign and now President Trump.The lawsuit is the latest of more than two dozen active suits we have filed relating to the DOJ cover-up of the abuses and the stonewalling of Congress related to the year-long Mueller investigation into alleged Russian collusion in the 2016 election. Our work is impressive and shows how Judicial Watch is really the only game in town on Spygate and the Deep State anti-Trump targeting scandal oversight.On February 2, 2018, Republicans on the House Intelligence Committee released a memo detailing government surveillance abuse during the 2016 campaign. This document points out that the "minimally corroborated" Clinton-DNC dossier was an essential part of the FBI and DOJ's application for surveillance warrants to spy on Page.On February 7, 2018, House Intelligence Committee Chairman Devin Nunes wrote a letter to Judge Rosemary M. Collyer, the presiding judge at the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court (FISC), requesting transcripts of "any relevant FISC hearings associated with the initial FISA application or subsequent renewals related to electronic surveillance of Carter Page." On February 15, Judge Collyer replied that the FBI and DOJ "possess most, if not all, of the responsive materials the Court might possess, and we have previously made clear to the Department, both formally and informally, that we do not object to any decision by the Executive Branch to release any such FISA materials to Congress."On April 6, 2018, The Hill reported that the Justice Department "agreed to allow additional access by the House Intelligence Committee to view four surveillance applications" against Page, "calling it an 'extraordinary accommodation.'" The public has still not been told what was contained in those applications.On May 3, 2018, we sued the DOJ for copies of all transcripts of hearings before the FISC regarding applications for or renewals of FISA warrants relating to Page and/or Michael Flynn.In February 2018, we sued the DOJ for FBI documents regarding the FISA warrant application submitted to - and responses from - the FISC related to alleged collusion between Russia and Trump campaign associates (Judicial Watch v. U.S. Department of Justice (No. 1:18-cv-00245)).In January 2018, we sued the DOJ for text messages and other records of FBI official Peter Strzok and FBI attorney Lisa Page (Judicial Watch v. U.S. Department of Justice (No. 1:18-cv-00154)). Strzok reportedly oversaw the FBI's interviews of former National Security Adviser, General Michael Flynn; changed former FBI Director James Comey's language about Hillary Clinton's actions regarding her illicit email server from "grossly negligent" to "extremely careless;" played a lead role in the FBI's interview of Clinton; and is suspected of being responsible for using the unverified dossier to obtain a FISA warrant in order to spy on President Trump's campaign.In May 2017, we sued the DOJ for records of communications and payments between the FBI and former British intelligence officer Christopher Steele and his private firm, Orbis Business Intelligence (Judicial Watch v. U.S. Department of Justice (No. 1:17-cv-00916)).And last month, we sued the DOJ for records about top Justice Department official Bruce Ohr and his wife Nellie Ohr's involvement in the Trump dossier authored by Christopher Steele (Judicial Watch v. U.S. Department of Justice (No.1:18-cv-00490)) and (Judicial Watch v. U.S. Department of Justice (No.1:18-cv-00491)).We're doing all of this on your behalf, because we simply can't trust the Justice Department (or Congress, for that matter) to deliver justice, accountability and transparency in this scandal of all scandals.For years Hillary Clinton and her aides played fast and loose with the law in their email practices, and now the State Department is playing fast and loose with our efforts to get to the bottom of it.We are fighting the department for a full production of records responsive to a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) lawsuit for the emails found by the FBI on Anthony Weiner's laptop. According to then-FBI Director James Comey, Weiner's laptop contained "hundreds of thousands" of emails of former Secretary Clinton.Weiner is an ex-Congressman and the incarcerated husband of former Clinton top aide Huma Abedin. He was convicted of having sexually explicit communications with teenage girls. In October 2016, FBI investigators from its New York field office discovered Abedin's emails on Weiner's laptop, including data indicating the emails went through Clinton's "private" non-"state.gov" email system.Our court filing comes in May 2015 lawsuit we filed against the State Department (Judicial Watch, Inc. v. U.S. Department of State (No. 1:15-cv-00684)). We sued after the State Department failed to respond to a March 2015 FOIA request seeking:All emails of official State Department business received or sent by former Deputy Chief of Staff Huma Abedin from January 1, 2009 through February 1, 2013 using a non-'state.gov' email address.In an April 15, 2018, interview with George Stephanopoulos, former FBI Director James Comey stated that there were "hundreds of thousands" of Hillary Clinton-related emails that had been found "on Anthony Weiner's laptop" in its investigation of the Clinton email scandal.In fighting the State Department's effort to close the case, we refer to the State Department claim that only 3,000 of those "hundreds of thousands" are agency records and 147 total emails were unique agency records. We argue that the State Department has not released information on the total number of emails that it reviewed, how it reviewed them, how many emails were personal and not agency records, and how the agency would have made those determinations.Again, all we know is that the FBI provided an unspecified number of emails to [the State Department], that [the State Department] reviewed the emails, and that [the State Department] identified 3,000 emails that contained evidence of [the State Department's] activities. [The State Department] has not even attempted to explain the discrepancy between the "hundreds of thousands" of emails identified by ex-Director Comey and the mere 3,000 emails identified by [the State Department]. At this late point in the Secretary Clinton email saga, [the State Department] should not get the benefit of the doubt.This filing is part of our extensive and ongoing investigation into the Hillary Clinton email scandal. The investigation has produced numerous examples of Clinton using her non-"state.gov" email system to transmit classified information.Our April 2014 pivotal revelation of the Benghazi talking points originating in the Obama White House brought about the May 2014 formation of the House Benghazi Committee. In February 2015 the State Department admitted to the court that it needed to make "additional searches" of Benghazi-related material. In March 2015 Clinton admitted to using a non-government email system.In September 2017 we made public 1,617 new pages of documents from the State Department revealing numerous additional examples of classified information being transmitted through Abedin's unsecure, non-state.gov account, as well as many instances of Clinton donors receiving special favors from the State Department.On January 4, 2018, we revealed that at least 18 classified emails in a total of 798 documents produced by the State Department from the FBI's investigation into former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton's illicit email system were found on Anthony Weiner's laptop. Thirteen emails contained classified information and discussions about Saudi Arabia, The Hague, Egypt, South Africa, Zimbabwe, the identity of a CIA official, Malawi, the war in Syria, Lebanon, Hamas, and the PLO.On January 19, 2018, we released 78 pages of new documents from State Department containing emails of former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton sent and received over her unsecure, non-"state.gov" email system. These documents exposed that Clinton had detailed knowledge about the security issues with in her non-State Department email system contrary to her statement that she "really didn't stop to think about what kind of email system there would be."After uncovering the Clinton email scandal, we now want a full accounting of the Hillary Clinton emails found on Anthony Weiner's laptop. We've confirmed that there were classified Clinton emails on the Weiner laptop, which would have been enough to get anyone else arrested.Is there anything more bizarre than a former congressman in prison for sexually communicating with teenage girls having had classified emails of a secretary of state on his laptop? The Clinton email scandal gets worse every day.MS-13 gangsters aren't the only dangerous people crossing our southern border. For years we've told you about ISIS operatives crossing unhindered into the United States. Now there is some positive news. Our Corruption Chronicles blog describes a new effort to thwart these evildoers.A Mexican border region that Judicial Watch exposed years ago as a hotbed of Islamic terrorism is finally getting a wall to replace laughable "road barriers" that, not surprisingly, have failed miserably to secure the area. The big question is, why did it take so long? The much-needed fence will be erected between Santa Teresa, New Mexico, and Ciudad Juarez in the Mexican state of Chihuahua. It's an area where ISIS cells operate and Juarez Cartel smugglers help terrorists through the desert and across the border. A 20-mile section of existing "vehicle barrier" located west of the Santa Teresa Port of Entry will be replaced with an 18 to 30-foot high bollard-style wall, according to an announcement issued by Customs and Border Patrol (CBP). The announcement includes pictures of the existing railing, which is a joke.A local open borders group is organizing a protest (All Against the Wall Rally) next week near the Santa Teresa Port of Entry. "The border wall is an affront to our communities; an attack on our wildlife; and a symbol of hate, fear, and divisiveness," the group states in its website. "We invite people from around the region and nation to join us for an event on Saturday, June 2, 5-8 pm, where we will gather lawfully and peacefully on both sides of the border in the path of construction to demonstrate our unequivocal rejection of Trump's border wall and all that it represents." The reality is that the area is a major national security risk and a hub of human trafficking and drug smuggling. In fact, the Santa Teresa Border Patrol Sector Chief said the following recently in a local news report: "This area of Santa Teresa operations is one of our busiest areas for illegal alien apprehension and has been for several years and a prime corridor for the smuggling of narcotics." Last year 25,193 illegal immigrants were apprehended and 34,189 pounds of marijuana and 140 pounds of cocaine were seized in Santa Teresa, according to government figures.The problem is far more serious. Back in 2015 Judicial Watch reported that ISIS cells are operating in the Santa Teresa region, just a few miles from El Paso, Texas in an area known as "Anapra" situated just west of Ciudad Juarez. Another ISIS cell to the west of Ciudad Juarez, in Puerto Palomas, targets the New Mexico towns of Columbus and Deming for easy access to the United States. The report was among the first in a series resulting from Judicial Watch's ongoing investigation into the national security threats created by the porous southern border. State and federal Law enforcement officials on both sides of the border, including a Mexican Army field officer and a Mexican Federal Police Inspector, are among Judicial Watch's sources. At the time, Mexican intelligence sources reported that ISIS planned to exploit the railways and airport facilities in the vicinity of Santa Teresa and that ISIS "spotters" were located in New Mexico's East Potrillo Mountains.A year earlier Judicial Watch had already published an expose illustrating the serious threats generated by lax security in this particular region of the southern border. An Al Qaeda terrorist (Adnan G. El Shukrijumah) on the FBI's most wanted list for years crossed back and forth into the United States from Mexico to meet fellow militant Islamists in Texas and piloted an aircraft into the Cielo Dorado airfield-about 25 miles from Santa Teresa-in Anthony, New Mexico. The same Al Qaeda operative helped plan the 2009 bombing of talk show superstar Oprah Winfrey's Chicago studios and the iconic Sears Tower (renamed Willis Tower), a story that Judicial Watch broke days earlier. Despite being one of the FBI's most wanted terrorists, Shukrijumah for years managed to slip in and out of the U.S. through the southern border to meet fellow militant Islamists in the El Paso region. Shukrijumah was eventually killed in an intelligence-borne operation in Pakistan, but the fact remains that he long eluded U.S. authorities by utilizing a vulnerable portion of the Mexican border region to conduct business.We have borders for a reason. Those who would do away with them put all of us at risk.
Louisiana voted to secede from the Union on January 26, 1861. Shortly thereafter, her senators, Judah P. Benjamin and John Slidell, resigned their positions in the US Senate. In his FAREWELL ADDRESS to the Senate, on February 5, 1861, Senator Benjamin expressed perhaps the strongest argument for the Right of Secession. He said:To deny the Right of Secession, as President Abraham Lincoln did (although only AFTER he became president), as powerful orator Senator Daniel Webster did (although only AFTER he realized the financial ruin that secession would reap on northern states), and as too many liberal elites and too many Americans (because of indoctrination in our public school system and at our liberal universities) believe today is to condemn Americans ultimately to tyranny, to subjugation, to an existence far different from the one that the Declaration of Independence and the Bill of Rights had once promised, to the loss of liberty, to the control by political parties (not political movements, which are good and are true expressions of democracy), and to the rule by political elites. In other words, we would have to acknowledge that we are not a free nation anymore, that we are not a free people. We as a country and as a people wear the veneer of freedom and liberty. The experiment started by those far wiser than any alive today, which established for us in America, and indeed for the rest of the world, the right of self-determination and the right of self-government, and which was predicated on the grand notion - the very revolutionary notion - that those rights were far more important than the right of any government to seek to cement its existence, would be dead. If we give up on our right to secede, then we have lost that precious system and that noble ideal. That noble ideal is what guarantees our freedom and our liberty. If we abandon that right to secede, we are no different from the system we initially separated from, Great Britain, where government was - and still is - superior to the people.To be clear, the fundamental principle guiding our independence was the right of a people to secede from a political body, exercising the right of self-determination and the right of a people to establish their own government - one that serves their interests and concerns best. We cannot allow the proclamations of one leader, Abraham Lincoln, who did so for purely political purposes (explained historically, accurately, and in great detail in Gene Kizer Jr's book, as well as in Albert Taylor Bledsoe's book; references to both provided below) to destroy this great principle of independence and freedom.It is important to understand that secession was a right implicit with every sovereign body politic and a right expressly and explicitly reserved to the States under the terms of the ratification of the Constitution:First of all, let's look at these two very powerful arguments: [Taken from Mr. Kizer's article "The Right of Secession," Referenced at: http://www.bonniebluepublishing.com/The%20Right%20of%20Secession.htm ]There had to be a specific constitutional prohibition on secession for it to be illegal. Conversely, there did not have to be a specific constitutional affirmation of the right of secession for it to be legal. Why? Because of the 10th Amendment to the United States Constitution, which states: "The powers not delegated to the United States by the Constitution, nor prohibited by it to the States, are reserved to the States respectively, or to the people." This amendment states nothing new, but is merely a restatement, as the Preamble to the Bill of Rights explains. It is a restatement of the fact that the federal government can govern ONLY as to the express (and that is made clear also in the Preamble) powers granted/delegated to it by the Constitution, Articles I-III, and States are prohibited from doing certain things ONLY if it states so expressly therein. The power to prevent secession is NOT granted to the federal government and the right to secede is NOT prohibited to the States under our Constitution.Aside from the fact that there was (and is) no constitution prohibition on secession, there was (and is) also NO constitutional sanctioning of any kind of federal coercion to force a State to obey a federal law when to do so would act to perpetrate an act of war on the offending state by the other states. After all, the federal government was established as a common agent for all States, tasked with serving the interests of each equally.While we are talking out what the federal government can and cannot do, there is also NO constitutional provision, nor any moral foundation, for the federal government to coerce one or more States to invade or otherwise inflict armed conflict against any other State or States. Again, each State is an equal beneficiary of the agency provided by the federal government.The arguments for the right of secession are indeed unequivocal. There is the constitutional right based on the Compact Theory, and the revolutionary right based on the idea that a free people have the right to change their government anytime they see fit. Compact Theory is based on Natural Law - that people, in deciding to live together in communities, decide for themselves the form of government to establish laws for their mutual safety, security, and peace. They decide for themselves the government that will best establish laws for their ordered existence. Compacts are the vehicle by which the people form that government and delegate powers to it. It is a form of Contract. The Compact Theory views the Constitution as a legal agreement between the states - a compact - and if any one state violates the compact, then the entire agreement becomes null and void. Northern states unquestionably violated the Constitution on a number of grounds including unconstitutional Personal Liberty Laws on their books, as well as by deliberately harboring fugitives from justice by protecting the sons of John Brown who were wanted by Virginia for murder at Harpers Ferry. Northern states also made a mockery of the Constitution's Preamble, which states clearly that the Constitution was established to "insure domestic Tranquility" and "promote the general Welfare." Certain prominent Northern leaders with the acquiescence of states like Massachusetts were utterly at war with the South and doing everything they could to destroy the domestic tranquility of Southern states by encouraging slaves to murder white people, poison wells, destroy property and commit other acts of rapine. John Brown himself had been encouraged and financed in the North.The revolutionary right of secession is based on the Declaration of Independence and the philosophy of Thomas Jefferson and John Locke, "that whenever any form of government becomes destructive of the ends for which it was established, it is the right of the people to alter or abolish it, and to institute new government, ..... "These words come directly from the Declaration of Independence. This passage was also used, verbatim, in South Carolina's Declaration of the Immediate Causes Which Induce and Justify the Secession of South Carolina from the Federal Union. A similar sentiment was expressed by Abraham Lincoln in 1847 on the floor of the United States House of Representatives:And now let's look at the strongest piece of evidence, of which Senator Judah P. Benjamin referenced in his farewell speech above ("Virginia's express reservation"):Three of the original thirteen states were particularly skeptical of the government that the newly-drafted Constitution created and so they ratified it only conditionally. These three states were Virginia and New York, the great powerhouses of the New World, and Rhode Island (tiny, but very liberty-minded). In their ratification documents, adopted at their Ratification Conventions, they specifically and carefully reserved the right of secession. These are referred to as the "Resumption Clauses" or "Resumptive Clauses," and they are exceedingly important to understand this topic. I attached Virginia's ratification document at the end of this article. You will see that Virginia conditioned her ratification on several things, including the Right to Secede and on the addition of a Bill of Rights (for which she made a number of suggestions).Since the other states, which had unconditionally ratified the Constitution, consented to Virginia's conditional ratification, they "ostensibly assented to the principle that Virginia permissibly retained the right to secede." This is an essential element of contract law, of which compact theory follows. All negotiations, all conditions, all limitations, all reservations, etc become part of the compact agreement which affects all parties, as long as those negotiations, conditions, limitations, reservations, etc are not rejected by any of the other signing parties. With the additional acceptance of New York's and Rhode Island's conditions (their Resumption Clauses; their right to secede), the existing states of the Union clearly, albeit tacitly, accepted the doctrine of secession. Again, this is a matter of contract law, the most firmly-entrenched area of law. Furthermore, according to the Constitution, all States that joined the Union after the first thirteen also had the right of secession since new states entered on an equal footing with the exact same rights as the existing states.Virginia was the first state to state explicitly that she would only ratify the Constitution as long as she reserved the right to leave the Union so created by it. If Virginia didn't ratify the Constitution, it was very likely that New York, Rhode Island, and certainly North Carolina also would not. The plan for "a more perfect Union" would be defeated. In her "Ratification of the Constitution by the State of Virginia; June 26, 1788," the state of Virginia included this express provision: "Do in the name and in behalf of the People of Virginia declare and make known that the powers granted under the Constitution being derived from the People of the United States may be resumed by them whensoever the same shall be perverted to their injury or oppression and that every power not granted thereby remains with them and at their will."To reinforce how strongly Virginia valued that Clause one simply has to look at her Ordinance of Secession from the Union (April 17, 1861). She used the exact wording of her conditional ratification of the US to sever her political bonds with the federal government and to resume all her sovereign powers and rights to determine a new and more favorable government for her people.A month later, on July 26, 1788, New York conditionally ratified the Constitution. In the ratification declaration adopted at her Convention, New York wrote:And then finally, almost two years later, on May 29, 1790, Rhode Island asserted her own conditional ratification:Historian Dave Benner explains in his article "Can States Secede from the United States?" (IntellectualTakeOut.org, March 7, 2017):During the ratification debates, many figures firmly challenged the suggestion that coercive force could be used to obligate a state's membership in the union. Melancton Smith of New York suggested that such coercion would be an anathema to the cause of liberty:He ridiculed the notion, declaring that "the idea is preposterous and chimerical." George Mason, known today as the "Father of the Bill of Rights," also rejected the assumption that war would befall a seceding state. Answering an inquiry regarding whether the government couldMason scoffed at such a prospect, declaring that it would beRespected professor, author, and speaker (and founder of the Abbeville Institute), Donald W. Livingston noted, in his article "The Secession Tradition in America," the conclusion offered by famed historian and political scientist Alexis de Tocqueville, who spent several years in America studying its political system and societies and who studied the US Constitution on the right of secession. De Tocqueville wrote:Abraham Lincoln intentionally re-characterized the Constitution in order to force the Southern States back into the Union, where its money could continue to fund the federal government and could continue to enrich the Northern states. He also sought to force the Southern States back into the Union because under the Confederate Constitution, protective tariffs (the lifeblood of northern industry) were prohibited and it would interact with other countries on a policy of Free Trade. Free trade would have signed the death of the Union because then only people in the North would have purchased its products and its industry and indeed its economy would have crashed. To that end, Lincoln denied the right of secession and characterized the Constitution as creating a "perpetual union," which was just plain hogwash. Every compact, just like every contract, can be broken. He said the Southern States were "in rebellion against the United States" even though they made it exceedingly clear that they merely wanted a peaceful separation, and to remain on good terms with their former government. In order to prevent other States (the so-called "border States" and others that were clearly more pro-South than pro-North) from leaving the Union and joining the Confederacy, he sent in the Army of the United States to put them under martial law. Politicians sympathetic to the Confederate States were forcibly removed from office (and many jailed) and their state governments fundamentally changed to force them to be loyal to Lincoln. This was in violation of Section 4 of Article IV of the Constitution (The Guarantee Clause), which states:By removing duly-elected members of State legislatures and altering the governing bodies by force, Lincoln violated the Constitution (just another of the many times he violated the Constitution) and denied the border States the guarantee that the federal government who assure them a republican (the will of the people) form of government. Furthermore, as to all the States, including the border States, the western States (like Kentucky and Missouri), and the Southern States, the Constitution guaranteed them protection AGAINST invasion and was not a license for Lincoln to be the invader.Gene Kizer Jr, "The Right of Secession," Referenced at: http://www.bonniebluepublishing.com/The%20Right%20of%20Secession.htmGene Kizer Jr, Slavery Was Not the Cause of the War Between the States, Charleston Athenaeum Press, 2014. [Chapter: "An Annotated Chronology of the Secession Debate in the South"; pp. 171-72)] Available as a book, which was the resource I used) and also online at: http://www.bonniebluepublishing.com/index.htmAlbert Taylor Bledsoe, Is Jefferson Davis a Traitor? (1865). Reprinted by Forgotten Books (2012). https://www.amazon.com/Davis-Traitor-Secession-Constitutional-Previous/dp/B008TYU1E4Albert Taylor Bledsoe, Is Jefferson Davis a Traitor? (1865). Reprinted by Forgotten Books (2012). https://www.amazon.com/Davis-Traitor-Secession-Constitutional-Previous/dp/B008TYUIE4Dave Benner, "Can States Secede from the United States?", IntellectualTakeOut.org, March 7, 2017. Referenced at: http://www.intellectualtakeout.org/blog/can-states-secede-united-states),Donald W. Livingston, "The Secession Tradition in America," 1998. Referenced at: http://www.ditext.com/livingston/tradition.html"Ratification of the Constitution by the State of Virginia; June 26, 1788," The Avalon Project (Yale Law School) - http://avalon.law.yale.edu/18th_century/ratva.asp
Donald Trump can't be indicted for anything, including murder, says his attorney, Rudy Giuliani. The former federal prosecutor told Huffington Post that, "In no case can he be subpoenaed or indicted. I don't know how you can indict while he's in office. No matter what it is," adding, "If he shot James Comey, he'd be impeached the next day. Impeach him, and then you can do whatever you want to do to him."

But would Congress really impeach Trump for murdering someone? McConnell and Ryan would simply say, "The last thing we need to do is get bogged down with impeachment proceedings. Let's not let this unfortunate incident get in the way of making America great again."

From Huffington Post:
Every crappy thing in the world is beta-tested on people who have little or no power, perfected, and brought to the rest of us  CCTV starts with prisoners, moves to mental institutions, then to schools, then to blue-collar workplaces, then airports, then white-collar workplaces, then everywhere.



Migrants, prisoners, old people, school kids, poor people  they're the beta-testers for everything bad that's headed for wide distribution, so it pays to keep close tabs on their treatment.





For example, prisons have long been the proving ground for abusive practices by unregulated phone monopolies. The sky-high prices charged by prisons for calls are the last vestige of the bad old days of incredible long-distance tariffs, and they extract billions from prisoners' families, with big kickbacks to states. There was some movement to rein in the worst abuses, but Trump's FCC chairman, Ajit Pai, killed those modest reforms (the prison phone monopolies used to be his clients, naturally), and the situation is getting worse.

But the perverse incentives created through revenue-sharing with predatory prison telcos are not limited to states; local sheriffs also make fortunes from monopoly pricing, with some counties getting 77% of the revenue from each call in kickbacks. Even with a 77% vig, it's an arrangement that's so profitable for carriers that they install and maintain the system for free.

Muckrock, the public records portal, has been requisitioning county prison phone contract docs from across America, and the stonewalling has begun. The Laramie, Wyoming County Sheriff's Department claims that its contracts are "trade secrets" and off-limits to public scrutiny.

Given how terrible the agreements we know about are, it's a sure bet that Laramie County has something shameful they're hiding (the alternative is that it's such a fabulously above-board deal that they want us to be pleasantly surprised and don't want to spoil the big reveal).

As part of a nationwide MuckRock survey, the request under the Wyoming Public Records Act was looking for the contract between the Sheriff's Office, which oversees the local jail, and the company providing telephone services to its inmates. Many local and state jails contract the provision of these services to companies like Securus, Global Tel Link, and ICSolutions; these contracts often include a commission for the Sheriff's Department or prison, allowing the agency to receive a portion of the charges shouldered by inmates, sometimes as high as 70 to 80% of total costs. The rejection from Wyoming is one of the first of its kind that we've received on these requests. It's generally accepted as public record the agreement between a public entity and a company with which it is doing business, even where other redactions may apply.

Laramie County, Wyoming withholds prison phone contract under "trade secret" clause [Beryl Lipton/Muckrock]

Sheriffs Are Raking In Millions In Prison Phone Fees And Some Really Don't Want To Talk About It [Tim Cushing/Techdirt]


Jordan is broke, thanks to falling tax revenues due to tax avoidance and low taxes on the super-rich, and the country is seeking to bridge the gap in its finances by borrowing from the International Monetary Fund, which backed a bill that imposed crushing cuts on public services to ensure that money could be found to pay back Jordan's creditors.



The bill was extremely unpopular among Jordanians, who've faced rising prices and wage stagnation, but Jordan's Prime Minister Hani Mulki refused to withdraw it, prompting mass street demonstrations that culminated in the King of Jordan ordering Mulki to resign.

But it's not clear whether the king objected to austerity, or just the hamfisted way that Mulki was imposing it; the king's handpicked successor to Mulki is reportedly a former World Bank economist named Omar al-Razzaz.

Protesters have chanted anti-government slogans and clashed with police, who have fired tear gas and blocked roads. The demonstrators say a new tax bill backed by the International Monetary Fund (IMF) will hurt the poor and middle class. Mr Mulki had refused to scrap the bill, saying it was up to parliament to decide whether to pass it or not. His government said it needed the money to fund public services and said the new tax bill would mean higher earners pay more.

Jordan PM Hani Mulki quits after austerity protests [BBC]
News / Local

by Staff Reporter

There are various things or activities considered prohibited when an election season comes. In light of the upcoming Zimbabwe presidential elections, bans may be recommended to ensure that violence is avoided and other possible problems are averted.It's difficult to find a comprehensive list of things that are officially banned for the elections in the country. However, based on best practices in other parts of the world, the following are expected to be prohibited.The United States bans gambling during an election. The same can be observed in Zimbabwe. The ban stems from the liberal harm principle, which is basically a precautionary thought aimed at preventing the commodification of elections. This is particularly because many tend to bet on the results of elections. Some view it as a mockery of elections. However, many betting sites or online casinos don't actually facilitate betting on election results. Pala Casino , for example, is mostly about online casino games so perhaps only certain types of gambling may be prohibited.Gun bans are common during elections worldwide. The reason is obvious. It's to prevent violence from erupting. Many politicians maintain their own security force, or what can be regarded as private armies in certain cases. Allowing ordinary citizens to carry guns, especially candidates and their bodyguards, can easily result in gunfights. Allowing candidates to maintain a group of armed men for their "security" can easily lead to violent or even deadly elections.The armed forces and police forces of a country are generally the ones responsible for the execution of the gun ban . Checkpoints are usually set up to make sure that the ban is strictly implemented. Exemptions may be made but these need to follow strict rules and scrutiny. Government authorities will have to ascertain that a real threat exists before allowing anyone to carry arms.Another ban that sensibly has to be implemented during elections is the ban on appointments by public officials. Appointments can be used as leverage for campaigning. This can be advantageous to incumbent public officials. They can appoint new personnel into important positions to help build their clout. The power to appoint new personnel can be used in exchange for votes or in exchange for the support of a block of voters. As such, it makes great sense preventing officials from making appointments regardless of the level of the position involved.Elections in Zimbabwe are far from perfect but are not necessarily the worst in the world. It would greatly help, though, if certain bans are implemented in the city with regards to the upcoming elections. As explained earlier, having a gun ban can be a sensible idea as it considerably reduces the possibility of violence. Appointment bans, on the other hand, help prevent the abuse of power of incumbent public officials. The power to appoint can be a very potent tool for influencing voters. Gambling bans, however, may not be that necessary.
News / National

by Staff reporter

MDC Alliance leader Nelson Chamisa says once he is in power, Europeans and Indians will flock to Zimbabwe for employment.Addressing a rally yesterday at Mt St Mary's in Wedza, a few kilometres from Vice President Constantino Chiwenga's rural home, Chamisa said once he is in power Europeans would be employed as herd boys."Indians will come here to work for us and even the Europeans will come here to work as our herd boys," thundered the youthful leader.As the political campaigns heat up before the July 30 poll, Chamisa has been blasted by his critics "for making outrageous promises" when he revealed plans to introduce bullet trains in Zimbabwe once he is in power.He recently received a backlash for claiming that he met US President Donald Trump and that he influenced Rwanda's ICT policy under President Paul Kagame.And addressing MDC Alliance supporters in Wedza, he said the area has previously been known for being hostile to the opposition. "We know Chiwenga comes from this area. Many people were intimidated and opposition supporters killed for supporting the opposition."We want to say to Chiwenga the time is over. We are here to make sure that children get jobs and we are going to improve the livelihood of the people."Chamisa complained bitterly, saying he had written to President Emmerson Mnangagwa but he was refusing to listen to his advice."I wrote a letter to Ngwena but he is refusing to listen to me, I told him that he can't manage this economyWe are going to deal with him come election time."The MDC Alliance leader said Mnangagwa is following in Mugabe's footsteps."Mnangagwa and Mugabe are the same, we want to teach him a lesson but we want electoral reforms before elections."He added that they will be others who would wish the late Morgan Tsvangirai was still alive. "I tell you they are going to say Tsvangirai was better, we are not going to let them do whatever they want with us  enough is enough."The MDC Alliance  a coalition of seven political parties  is concerned about the absence of reforms that will ensure a free, fair and credible election. With two months to go before the elections, the Alliance is threatening mass protests next week to demand electoral reforms ahead of the polls.MDC Alliance official Tendai Biti recently told journalists that Mnangagwa had jumped the gun when he proclaimed July 30 as the election date before parties agree on reforms, describing it as "a dog's breakfast that not many dogs would like to eat".The Alliance is also calling for the de-militarisation of the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission secretariat, de-militarisation of the communities as well as equal coverage on State media.
News / National

by NANGO

On Africa Day Nqobile Masuku Foundation donated wheelchairs, 100 crutches and 120 white canes to people with disabilities in Bulawayo.The Executive Director of the Foundation, Nqobani Masuku, said he had always been moved by those people with disabilities who seemed to be neglected in societies and his dream was to help them so that they can actively and meaningfully participate in community development.He said, "The reason we are donating wheelchairs, crutches and white canes is to allow people with disabilities to be active people in society and for them to be able to move from one place to another without any difficulties."The event was graced by the Minister of State for Bulawayo Province, Angelina Masuku who complimented the work of Nqobile Masuku Foundation stating that it was admirable for them to intervene in helping people with disability."We have to learn from this organisation that giving to the less fortunate is an important thing to do in our societies. We have to learn from their work that they are doing considering the difficulties in our country", said Masuku.The Mpopoma-Pelandaba Member of Parliament, Joe Tshuma was in support of the goodwill expressed by the Foundation as he praised their work. He applauded the organisation for taking such a drastic measure in helping the deprived in our societies."What Nqobani Masuku Foundation has done is very commendable and we should all be inspired, it is good to help people who are underprivileged," Tshuma said.The Councillor of Ward 13 Pelandaba, Lot Siziba was also at the Youth Arena and he described the work of Nqobani Foundation as masterclass.Siziba said, "It is pure masterclass to see a young man such as Nqobani and his team do such amazing work. We would like to thank also Maternity and Newly Born Care and Mamio for assisting the foundation make this event a success."In addition, Anorld Munyikwa, a board member of the Bulawayo Disabled Development Trust thanked the foundation for helping his organisation's beneficiaries.One of the beneficiaries is a 11-year-old boy, Olert Nyoni, who has had to be carried by his mother Pretty Nyoni as they could not afford anything to aid his mobility.Nyoni told NANGO Western Region staff that Olert has struggled to assosciate with his peers because he cannot play with other kids. She said she has always been pained to see the limitations that come with her son's condition."Olert has been on a wheelchair for six years and he has never walked on his own because I could not afford to buy him crutches. We will always remember this moment because now he can learn to walk on his own," Nyoni said.Olert is among people with disabilities who benefited from the genorisity of Nqobile Masuku Foundation at Youth Arena Centre in Pelandaba.According to the beneficiaries at the event, the donation of assistive and mobility devices by the Foundation has come as a divine intervention to them as they were facing challenges of moving around without assistance from their loved ones.Siphathisiwe Nyathi, from Lobengula has had to be guided by her daughter at all times and was very grateful to receive a white cane as it allows to move around independently.Nyathi commended the donation saying it was a breakthrough for visually impaired members of society and a big relief to many beneficiaries who could not afford these mobility devices.A man who identified himself as Dixon Mudimba said words could not express his happiness after he was given a pair crutches, replacing his wooden hand-made cane.
News / National

by Staff reporter

VICE-PRESIDENT Kembo Mohadi has urged political parties to desist from violence against women as the country braces for the July 30 elections, saying they (female) should be afforded the opportunity to exercise their rights.Addressing midwives during the commemorations of the International Day of the Midwife at Gweru Provincial Hospital last Friday, Mohadi said women should be given their political space and voting rights."As we approach the harmonised 2018 elections, which will be free, fair and credible, I call upon you all to give women their space to exercise their right to vote peacefully," he said in a speech read on his behalf by Midlands Provincial Affairs minister, Owen Ncube."No form of violence against women should be allowed by any of us whether as individuals or part of a collective."Over the years, there have been widespread reports of violence against women rape, assault and other forms of abuse against women particularly during election time.Meanwhile, Mohadi urged the Health and Child Care ministry to equip traditional midwives to reduce maternal deaths and infant mortality."We are a multi-cultural society and some women, for their own reasons and at times prohibitive distances from their homes to the health centre, are comfortable to give birth under the traditional midwife,"he said."In this regard, it is incumbent upon the Ministry of Health and Child Care to continuously seek ways to help these traditional midwives deliver quality services."Mohadi said the government was committed to improving the health service delivery, as well as the working conditions of health practitioners.
News / National

by Staff reporter

A leading U.S. Senator on African affairs says President Emmerson Mnangagwa is running out of time to take steps which could lead to sanctions relief for Zimbabwe.Senator Chris Coons led a delegation to the country earlier this month. He was encouraged by Mnangagwa 's commitments to the elections planned for this July.Daniel Ryntjes has been speaking to Senator Coons about his trip to Zimbabwe.
News / National

by Ndou Paul

The Zimbabwe Republic police has approved the MDC-T demonstration this week to force the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC) to accede to their demands, which include being involved in the printing of ballot papers for the July 30 harmonised elections.The MDC Alliance also want to know the company printing ballot papers, something not provided for in the law."Your notification letter to hold a march on the 05., of June 2018 at Africa Unity Square, from 1000hours to 1430hours has been noted. The march shall start from Africa Unity Square then proceed along Jason Moyo to the intersection of Harare Street and Jason Moyo. Less than 5 people will proceed to hand over a petition at Zimbabwe Election Commission. After handing over the petition, you shall proceed along Harare Street turn right into Samora Machel, turn right into First Street, turn left into Nelson Mandela and back to Africa Unity Square," wrote the police to Douglas Mwonzora."Please confine your march to the above-stated venue, route and time outlinedHowever, the police threatened that "The provisions of section 29 of the Public Order and Security Act Chapter 11:17 will be invoked if any of the conditions stated above, is violated."Police have warned that anyone found on the wrong side of the law during demonstrations mooted by opposition political parties should be prepared for the consequences.Below is that ZRP letter to MDC-T on tomorrow's planned demonstration in Harare.
News / National

by Staff reporter

In Zimbabwe, historically women participation in leadership roles and politics is minimal. One of the few female contenders for the presidential seat, Joice Mujuru has hit the campaign trail. This weekend she took her campaign to Masvingo Province, the first time she'll be campaigning as an opposition candidate against her former party ZANU PF.
Opinion / Columnist

As the 2018 harmonised elections draw near, July 30 2018 to be exact, ZANU--PF, as the proverbial Phoenix, is rising from the ashes of the previous dispensation to become a formidable political player. All opposition parties, especially the MDC Alliance, were so worried why ZANU-PF was taking so long to hit the campaign trail. In their childish foolishness, these parties thought ZANU-PF was on the ash heap like the biblical Job, unbeknown to them that when the time comes it will rise again  stronger and more united than ever.ZANU-PF behaved like a mature political party brushing aside all the opposition baby talk.On May 4, 2018, ZANU-PF launched its 2018 election manifesto at a colourful ceremony in the capital.That the opposition parties failed to get a wink of sleep as they tried to lay their hands on the precious manifesto speaks volumes about the party.The MDC Alliance is still trying to come up with a manifesto amid rumours they have resorted to reading through the ZANU-PF blueprint to establish where they can scratch something out of it.Since the inception of the new dispensation in November 2017, the country has got direct foreign investment (FDI) amounting to US$16 billion in commitments. Previously, as President Emmerson Mnangagwa said, the country was receiving between US$400 million and $500 million per year. This shows that the international community now has confidence in the new leadership of the country.As an illustration of this confidence, the United Kingdom government extended a US$100 million loan for businesses to retool and boost the manufacturing sector, that's production. When these industries increase their capacity utilisation, they will create more jobs in the process.For nearly two decades, Zimbabwe was isolated from the international community and had no access to lines of credit. When the new dispensation took over the levers of power, aggressive re-engagement efforts were given top priority. To that end investors from Europe, Asia and the Americas, among others, are making a beeline to secure a piece of the investment opportunities in Zimbabwe.The opposition, especially the MDC-T, was always questioning why ZANU-PF was not holding rallies ahead of the 2018 elections.However, President Mnangagwa sprang a surprise when he started to address mini-rallies on the sidelines of other events such as his visit to the GwayiShangani Dam site and Bulawayo-Nkayi Road in the Matabeleland region.During the renaming of 3 Infantry Brigade in Mutare to Herbert Chitepo Barracks, the President addressed a mini-rally at Sakubva Stadium whose turnout was not disappointing given that it was called for Mutare dwellers only at short notice. At Murambinda Growth Point after visiting the Marovanyati Dam project, President Mnangagwa was greeted by a large crowd of party faithful who could not miss such an opportunity.When he did this, the opposition cried foul after seeing the huge turnout claiming businesses and vending markets had been forcibly closed to ensure large turnouts. Alas, this was not the case, as people went on their own volition, as they could not resist the charm of President Mnangagwa.On May 23, 2018, President Mnangagwa graced the ground-breaking ceremony of a 16-000 seater sporting facility at St Noah College in Bocha, Marange, in the same province where a cool 35 000-strong crowd gathered. Schoolchildren, who are expected to be the min beneficiaries of such facilities could not help but attend the event.The opposition went to town about the presence of schoolchildren and used all kind of words to accuse ZANU--PF of using unorthodox mobilisation strategies ranging from bussing supporters to force-marching people to the event.The MDC Alliance has been left with no rallying points as the Mnangagwa administration has closed all the facets the opposition was using to lure voters. Rafts of reforms are being implemented among them electoral reforms with President Mnangagwa recently signing the Electoral Amendment Bill into law.Still on electoral issues, aliens who had no right to vote during the past electoral editions are now able to exercise their right. All these initiatives have literary pulled the carpet from under the feet of the clueless opposition.
By Susan Cornwell

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Trade frictions between the United States and Canada are a "family quarrel," President Donald Trump's economic adviser said on Sunday, brushing aside concerns expressed by Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau as an overreaction.

The Trump administration said on Thursday it was moving ahead with tariffs on aluminum and steel imports from Canada, Mexico and the European Union, ending a two-month exemption and potentially setting the stage for a trade war with some of America's top allies.

Trudeau responded on Thursday by calling the tariffs an affront to the longstanding security partnership between Canada and the United States, and Canada announced retaliatory steps.

Trudeau, in an interview aired on Sunday by NBC's "Meet the Press", said it was "insulting" to hear the U.S. claim that Canadian steel and aluminum posed a national security threat.

Video: Trudeau Fires Back on President Trump's Tariffs

For more news videos visit Yahoo View.

"I think he's overreacting," White House economic adviser Larry Kudlow said of Trudeau on the "Fox News Sunday" program.

Kudlow said steel and aluminum tariffs on U.S. allies "may go on for a while" or "they may not," because the matter is subject to negotiation.

Trump has been critical of the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) with Canada and Mexico, saying it has harmed the United States economically. The three countries are engaged in renegotiation talks.

Trump said on Friday he might prefer to end NAFTA in favor of separate bilateral agreements with the two U.S. neighbors.

Trudeau is hosting a June 8-9 summit of Group of Seven leaders, including Trump, in the Quebec region of Charlevoix.

Kudlow said Trump had been responding to "several decades of trade abuses" with the tariffs, but noted that the White House announcement said the United States still would welcome good-faith negotiations.

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"And that's why I regard this as more of a family quarrel. This is a trade dispute, if you will. It can be solved if people work together," Kudlow said. "To say that it is an attack on Canada is not right."

In the NBC interview, Trudeau said Canada would be "lodging complaints against these unfair trade practices." Canada said on Thursday it will impose retaliatory tariffs on U.S. exports, and challenge the U.S. tariffs under NAFTA and the World Trade Organization (WTO).

Trudeau said Canada won't be at the table for NAFTA talks if the United States insists on a five-year "sunset" clause, adding that "makes no sense."

"You don't sign a trade deal that automatically expires every five years."

(Reporting by Susan Cornwell; Editing by Will Dunham and Bill Berkrot)
Cover your plants: Frost advisory issued for many parts of Alberta

A frost advisory for the Maritime provinces has Nova Scotia farmers worried about their strawberries and other vulnerable young crops.

"We're looking at lows between 0 C and possibly 4 C for low-lying inland areas. So the likelihood of frost is there for tonight," Environment Canada meteorologist Barrie MacKinnon said Sunday.

"If we do reach the lows tonight we are forecasting in Nova Scotia, we could break record low temperatures."

Greg Webster, one of the operators of Webster Farms in Cambridge, Kings County, said the actual ground temperature in low-lying areas could fall to 7 C or 8 C.

That is because the weather stations are typically measuring about two metres above ground level.

"When they are forecasting 1 C, it could be six or seven degrees colder. So there can be quite a significant difference.

Irrigation helps

Webster Farms grows strawberries, raspberries, beans, rhubarb and winter rye. Irrigation sprinklers will be used to protect plants tonight, Webster said.

`"We put water on it as soon as it starts to freeze. The water forms ice and the ice protects the plant. It also has to do with thermal dynamics  the energy given off by the ice being formed keeps the plant at 32 F or 0 C," he said.

"The energy goes into forming the ice, not freezing the plant."

There will be nervous farmers tonight, Webster said.

"A lot of people, if they don't have any equipment to look after it, will be crossing their fingers tonight."

Frost affects plant pollination

Keith Boates, who also farms in Cambridge, said strawberries will be at most risk.

"Apple trees are mostly pollinated.There are some that have bloomed and some that haven't," he said.

"The risk goes down, once the pollination has occurred. Otherwise, the sex part of the flower gets damaged so that you don't get proper pollination."

Pear and plum trees have finished blooming as well, he said.

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"But it's been quite sometime since we had a serious frost [this late]," he said.

Boates is hoping there is a high tide tonight.

The tides play a part in how the low temperatures affect the crops, he said.

"If the tide is in tonight, it will soak up the cold. "

It will warm up Monday when showers are expected to move in, MacKinnon said.

However, it is too soon for growers to breath a sigh of relief.

"There will be a possibility of frost, later in the week as a low-pressure system tracks south of the province," he said.
A woman living in Portugal Cove-St. Phillips has an ambitious plan to create a co-housing development, but don't call it a commune.

Wendy Reid-Fairhurst has long wondered what it would be like to live closely with people and get to know her neighbours better.

They could share meals, lawnmowers, skills and more.

"I'm a mom, my husband works away most of the summer and I try to run my own business," she told CBC Radio's On The Go on Friday.

"I need a village around me, so I decided I would pursue this co-housing."

Armed with the idea, which she learned about while pursuing an undergraduate degree in environmental design, she applied for and won a grant with the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation to study its feasibility.

Looking for buyers

Reid-Fairhurst says the plan is to build 20 privately owned homes on a shared piece of property in the Portugal Cove area.

The price per unit is still being discussed, but on paper, Reid-Fairhurst says she's looking at a $250,000-per-unit budget.

"We are trying to do it within the traditional North American model. So we all have our own jobs; it's just a way of how you set up your space to foster the community piece that we seem to be missing," said Reid-Fairhurst.

She thinks it will help make day-to-day life less lonely.

"I live on a great little cul-de-sac with 10 houses, but I don't really know my neighbours because there's no reason for us to meet," said Reid-Fairhurst.

She also wants to look at the co-housing model to see if it would fit with more affordable housing.

"Over the last two years I've been really trying to talk about it with as many people as I can because this is such a valuable project."

The next step is to secure land and construction financing, and she said she hopes to get a financial commitment from interested individuals this summer.

Read more articles from CBC Newfoundland and Labrador
Suffering from dehydration, exhaustion, and exposure, Monique Richard was forced to call for help on her descent off Canada's highest mountain on the weekend.

The Montreal climber made history last Wednesday, when she became the first woman to summit Mount Logan, on a solo trek.

"For me, I'm satisfied, and I wanted to come back alive," Richard said on Sunday from Haines Junction, Yukon.

She was rescued by helicopter on Saturday evening, at an elevation of about 5,500 metres. Mount Logan, in Yukon's Kluane National Park, is 5,959 metres high.

Richard, thrilled to have finally made it, only stayed at the summit for 10 minutes. Clouds in the distance were rolling in and she was worried about the weather turning bad.

On her way back to camp, the batteries in her GPS died and she became lost. She didn't find her way back to her camp until 1 a.m.  exhausted, cold and dehydrated.

"I realized my limit is at the end," said Richard.

Richard ran into two other climbers who then assisted her a few hundred metres down the mountain in order to be low enough for a helicopter rescue.

High-altitude rescues 'extremely difficult'

"It's extremely difficult to operate a helicopter at those altitudes and the weather only allowed a very narrow window in which to safely and successfully respond to the operation," said Scott Stewart, visitor safety coordinator for Kluane National Park.

Two members of a specialized rescue team from Banff National Park were deployed to Kluane to assist with the rescue. The Kluane rescue team is not capable of performing technical, high elevation rescues.

According to Stewart, there is usually about one major high altitude rescue each year in Kluane.

More and more people are attempting to climb Mount Logan. In the last five years, about 35 people a year have attempted the climb. The success rate is 50 per cent, according to Stewart.

He said the remoteness, the altitude, extreme weather, and technical hazards such as crevasse and serac falls are what makes Logan so challenging.

Story continues

Richard faced many of these challenges herself  even falling into a crevasse shortly before summitting. That accident shook her deeply.

"It's very dangerous and very difficult for the mind and the body," said Richard.

Winds on the mountain can reach up to 160 km/h, and temperatures can drop well below zero even in summer.

Richard had to abandon her backpack and equipment on the mountain in order to be rescued by the helicopter.

Abandoned equipment from other climbers was something she said she noticed on the climb.

Now, Richard plans on resting before traveling around Yukon for a vacation.

She does not plan on climbing Mount Logan again.




This was the Justin Trudeau many Canadians were waiting for.

After more than a year of carefully choosing his words, a visibly frustrated prime minister finally took off his gloves and stood up to U.S. President Donald Trump with pointed criticism in a bid to defend Canadian workers in the face of U.S. tariffs on Canadian steel and aluminum.

No more Mr. Nice Guy, a Financial Post headline read. Trudeau declares war, a CBC News analysis piece said. The Daily Mail described him as furious.

But Frank Buckley, a former Trump speechwriter whos written several books, says Trudeaus words arent likely to have a lasting impact south of the border because they didnt go far enough.

Yes, it was balanced, it was moderate, it was Canadian, but I think he shouldve gone up and said: I am f****** pissed, Buckley told Yahoo Canada.

Born in Saskatchewan, the George Mason University law professor knows Trump better than most, and while he says its absolutely stupid for the U.S. to pick a trade war with Canada, he doesnt believe the Trudeau game plan of killing Americans with kindness has had much of an effect.

The soft-spoken, quiet diplomacy of Canada gets you nowhere, Buckley explained. Its a matter of saying this is bloody stupid, you are hurting yourself, let me show you how.'

Why Canada and not China?

Trudeau has made several trips to the U.S. since NAFTA renegotiation talks began last August, but Buckley says aside from a motorcade crash in California, theres been little to no news about his travels. And years of lacklustre Canadian defence spending, much of it well before the Trudeau Liberals entered office, has made the country something of a zero on the world stage, according to Buckley.

Canada doesnt perceive the need for a great military because after all, whos going to attack it?  On the other hand, you have in the United States an administration that looks at national defence issues and trade issues in the same way.

Story continues

For a person who ran as the jobs president, its absolutely stupid to pick a war with Canada.  Frank Buckley

Thats why the Trump administration has been going easy on China amid talks with North Korea, but theyve been pulling no punches with their northern neighbour, the dual U.S. and Canadian citizen explained.

Canada has absolutely nothing to add to the United States in terms of national defence. China does, Buckley said.

The U.S. president hasnt been shy about his disdain for Canadian trade policies. On Friday, Trump blasted Canada for being highly restrictive on trade and treating U.S. farming and agriculture workers very poorly for a very long time.

They must open their markets and take down their trade barriers, he tweeted.

Canada has treated our Agricultural business and Farmers very poorly for a very long period of time. Highly restrictive on Trade! They must open their markets and take down their trade barriers! They report a really high surplus on trade with us. Do Timber & Lumber in U.S.?  Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) June 1, 2018

For a person who ran as the jobs president, its absolutely stupid to pick a war with Canada, Buckley admitted. However, U.S. midterm elections are just five months away and theres no doubt Trump would like to see his Republican party keep its majority in the House and Senate.

For the American leader, that likely means doing whatever it takes to appeal to his base.

The soft-spoken, quiet diplomacy of Canada gets you nowhere.  Frank Buckley

A January 2017 headline from the Detroit Free Press put it bluntly: The Rust Belt gave Trump victory, now they want jobs in return. Many of these Rust Belt voters are in states near the border and Trump has spoken about their issues with Canada.

Canada, what theyve done to our daily farm workers, is a disgrace, Trump said in April 2017. Our farmers in Wisconsin and New York state are being put out of business.

Time for a change of strategy?

It also doesnt help that the personalities of these two world leaders appear to be polar opposites.

Buckley says politically-correct comments, like the one Trudeau made when he said peoplekind, dont help the prime ministers reputation in the White House. He also acknowledges the Liberals may have made a tactical mistake by pushing for gender equality protections in the renegotiated NAFTA.

The prime minister is not treated with a great deal of respect; not thought to be a person who deserves respect, Buckley insisted. A country that is going to elect a guy like that is not a country that deserves a great deal of attention.

What Trudeau shouldve said

So what would appeal to Trumps senses as Canada seeks a fair trade deal with its largest trading partner and closest ally?

An expression of anger, Buckley said. Heres what he thinks the Canadian leadership should be saying:

You guys have helped the world but we have helped you. We have never sponged on you. And this is how youre treating us?

With thousands of jobs potentially on the line, and a federal election a little more than a year away, is it finally time for the the Trudeau Liberals to abandon their sunny ways mindset? In order to get a fair trade deal with the current U.S. leadership, there may not be another option.








Some say the only poll that matters is on election day, but Kathleen Wynne didnt wait for that to happen.

After months of polls showing lacklustre voter support for the Ontario Liberals, the leader of the party said she was sorry, not sorry for what the Grits have done in the province. But the numbers suggest the race is coming down to the Tories or the NDP, so Wynne took matters into her own hands.

On June 7th, voters will elect a new government. I dont know who voters will choose but I am pretty sure that it wont be me. After Thursday, I will no longer be Ontarios premier. And Im OK with that, Wynne said Saturday.

Clearly emotional with her voice breaking at times, the Liberal leader admitted it was a hard thing to do. After all, the provincial election was only five days away. However, she insisted it was the best move for her party to make the case for supporting local Liberal candidates.

The more Liberal MPPs we send to Queens Park on June 7th, the less likely it becomes that either Doug Ford or the NDP will be able to form a majority government, Wynne told reporters. By voting Liberal, you can keep the next government, Conservative or NDP, from acting too extreme  one way or the other.

Wynne refused to endorse either the PCs or the NDP, or whether she would stay on as party leader after the June 7 vote. But she did stress that the battle for every local riding is really, really important.

Ontario Liberal Party Leader Kathleen Wynne, seen here listening to students in Waterloo, Ont., on June 1, 2018, says voting for her party is the best way to ensure the Tories or New Democrats dont win a majority government on June 7, 2018. Photo from The Canadian Press.

NDP, PC leaders react

NDP Leader Andrea Horwath took exception to Wynnes announcement, calling it a dangerous game to play with voters.

Her request today for a minority government is a demand that she be allowed to continue to hold the power at Queens Park  something voters have already rejected, Horwath said in a statement.

Meanwhile, PC Leader Doug Ford didnt say much about Wynnes remarks, only maintaining the upcoming provincial election was about change.

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A vote for the Liberal Party can mean so much. The more Liberal MPPs we send to Queens Park on June 7th, the less likely it becomes that either Doug Ford or the NDP will be able to form a majority government.  Kathleen Wynne (@Kathleen_Wynne) June 2, 2018

Now both the NDP and the PCs are digging in with their claims that they are the best option to lead Ontario. But will Wynnes call for voters to choose Liberals to keep either party in check make any difference?

Will voters hear her message and help the Liberals retain official party status in Ontario by holding at least eight seats at Queens Park? Or will voters see this as a white flag for the Liberals and feel forced to choose between the NDP or the PCs to prevent one from winning? Tell us what you think by voting in our poll above and having your say in the comment section below.

With files from The Canadian Press
Originally published in Commentary on June 1, 2018

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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..Analysis from Israel..03 June '18..If theres one thing Israel advocates agree on, its that Israel lost the PR war over May 14s violent demonstrations in Gaza. Everybody from the U.N. Security Council to a New York public high school mourned the 62 Palestinians killed as innocent victims, even though 53 belonged to terrorist organizations. And with Hamas planning another demonstration on Tuesday, a battle has been raging over whether the PR war is inherently unwinnable or if Israels public diplomacy was simply incompetent.The correct answer is both. And nothing better illustrates this than the story of the Palestinian baby allegedly killed by Israeli tear gas.Israels critics immediately seized on the death of 8-month-old Layla Ghandour as proof of its malfeasance. As the wrote , The story shot across the globe, providing an emotive focus for outrage at military tactics that Israels critics said were disproportionately violent. The noted that Her funeral was filmed and featured on global TV news broadcasts and newspaper front pages.Soon afterward, however, a Gazan doctor suggested that she most likely died of a congenital heart defect rather than anything Israel did (a theory later apparently accepted even by Gazas Hamas-run Health Ministry, which last week removed Ghandour from its list of people killed by Israel).What happened next was surreal: The doctors explanation was immediately seized on and disseminated worldwide by both official Israeli spokesmen and Israel supporters overseas as if it somehow mattered whether Ghandour was killed by tear gas or a congenital heart defect. In other words, Israel and its supporters implicitly accepted the view of the anti-Israel mob. Had the baby truly been killed by Israeli tear gas, presumably Israel could legitimately have been considered culpable.What they should have pointed out instead is that Ghandours story proves just how dishonest all the critics accusing Israel of disproportionate force are. After all, ever since the weekly demonstrations along the Gaza border began in March, these critics have claimed that they dont deny Israels right to protect its border. They merely demand that it restrict itself to nonlethal crowd-control measures rather than resorting to lethal force. As theput it in an April editorial , Israel has a right to defend its border, but in the face of unarmed civilians it could do so with nonlethal tactics common to law enforcement.For now, leave aside that unarmed civilians lie. The more important point is that tear gas is exactly the type of nonlethal crowd control measure commonly used by law enforcement agencies. So if Israels critics meant what they said about its right to defend the border by nonlethal means, the death of a baby during a violent demonstration along the border might be a tragedy, but it wouldnt be Israels fault. It would be the fault of the relatives who deliberately brought her into the heart of that violent demonstration, despite knowing Israel was using crowd-control measures to keep protesters from breaching its border.Instead, Israels critics treated Ghandours death as proof of Israels evil. In other words, they effectively declared that Israel had no right to defend its border by any means whatsoevereven with non-lethal means like tear gasunless it could somehow achieve the impossible feat of guaranteeing that no Palestinian would ever be killed under any circumstances. And if the only way Israel can win the PR war is leaving its border completely undefended, that war would indeed be inherently unwinnable; at least, among this portion of its critics.But many people do understand that leaving a border undefended against angry mobs isnt a tenable option. If Israeli public diplomacy had been even minimally competent, it would have made clear that this is the logical implication of blaming Israel for Ghandours death.Critics might retort that even tear gas shouldnt be used against completely peaceful demonstrators. But as the story makes clear, Ghandour wasnt in a peaceful demonstration when she died. She had been deliberately taken from a peaceful one into a violent one.On May 14, as in all the preceding weeks, there were actually two demonstrations taking place. One, which was largely peaceful, was hundreds of meters from the border fence. The other, which was right up against the fence, was anything but peaceful. Members of terrorist organizations threw bombs, Molotov cocktails, and slingshot-propelled rocks at soldiers. They flew incendiary kites across the border to set Israeli fields ablaze (to date , some 300 of these kites have ignited 100 fires, destroyed more than 3,000 acres of wheat and caused millions of shekels worth of damage). They vandalized the fence and tried to break through it. These are the demonstrators Israel targeted with measures ranging from tear gas to, when necessary, live fire, as evidenced by the fact that 53 of the 62 killed belonged to terrorist organizations.Baby Layla was taken to the nonviolent protest by her 12-year-old uncle, who mistakenly thought her mother was there. Upon discovering his mistake, he responsibly kept her in the nonviolent section until late afternoon, when she began crying. Then, wanting to hand her off to an older relative, he pushed forward into the protest in search of her grandmother, Heyam Omar, who was standing in a crowd under a pall of black smoke, shouting at Israeli soldiers across the fence, the Times reported. Panicked by Laylas crying, he deliberately brought her into the most violent part of the protest, where Israel was exercising its legitimate right of self-defense and where no baby should ever have been. And she died.But even if it was Israeli tear gas that killed her, Israel cannot be held culpable for her death unless you start from the premise that it had no right whatsoever to defend its border against violent attacks of the type launched during this protest, even by the most nonlethal of means. That, of course, is precisely what many of Israels critics do think. And this is the point that Israel and its advocates should have been hammering home.
Two years we made a big move from Washington State to the Los Angeles area in California. That move was much harder than I could have anticipated.

Last year we moved from LA to Malawi, Central Africa. This time I didnt expect the transition to be smooth but I was still unprepared for just how intense culture shock would be.

Transition is hard.

Ive been thinking of that more as we, less than a year later, are in another time of transition. We are saying goodbye to our friends in Malawi and returning to the United States. After two years away and some huge life experiences under our belts  and two years of life that happened to our friends and family were returning to, we realize that its not going to actually be home for a long time.

Its still hard.

I dont like feeling unsettled and under pressure with more tasks to do than I can handle. That part of moving is really overwhelming for me. But the most difficult part of each transition weve done is saying goodbye to people.

People are what make places special. Especially when living overseas and family is far away, you form deep relationships relatively fast. Our church and ministry friends here in Malawi have given us sweet community and shown us what the body of Christ looks like in loving one another, serving one another, forgiving one another and praying for one another.

Saying goodbye to them, and some of them possibly forever, is painful! But can I tell you a secret about it?

Loving people this way is so worth it.

Our time in Malawi has not been easy. Ive dealt with chronic pain without doctors, I had an emergency surgery in a healthcare clinic, sin has been seriously exposed for both myself and my husband, and weve lived in an extremely poor country with daily power outages and limited conveniences.

Looking back on our time here, though, its been an incredible year. The painful and difficult things were overwhelming at times but, I can say this without exaggeration, God has helped me to bear them! He has used them to shape and form us and I am so grateful for even the most painful moments.

Taking a risk

Taking a risk and embracing big changes for the sake of God and His kingdom is absolutely worth it.

Luke records a conversation Jesus had with Peter about this very same issue. Luke chapter 18 verses 28-30, And Peter said, See, we have left our homes and followed you. And he said to them, Truly, I say to you, there is no one who has left house or wife or brothers or parents or children, for the sake of the kingdom of God, who will not receive many times more in this time, and in the age to come eternal life.

I cant claim to have lacked anything as we stepped out, left our homes and lived in Africa for nearly a year. Yes, there were things that were extremely hard but God was faithful and He truly blessed us, cared for us and provided for us as we were obedient to Him.

Maybe you are considering taking on a new challenge out of your love for Jesus. Maybe you see the needs in your church nursery or your local soup kitchen. Maybe you have an opportunity to do a short term missions trip. Maybe you are more like me, a wife who is considering following her husband as he goes to the unknown and unfamiliar where God is directing him.

Can I give you some advice?

Pray about it. Carefully consider the path to see if it is wise and truly beneficial. And be willing to do whatever God is putting in front of you to do.

Here is more or less what I prayed about a year ago as we considered going to Malawi. God, you know that I am weak, spiritually and physically. If you can use me in my weakness, send us to Malawi. Provide the strength, the finances and the courage to do what You are calling us to do. It feels like death to go, death to my good job and our community and our savings but we are willing if You will use us.

The ministry we came to do in Malawi has been a support role for a seminary that is training Malawian pastors to study, practice and preach the Word of God. We knew coming in that our work would be impactful but were unprepared for the great need the seminary is filling in Malawi!

Our funding came in extremely fast. The door was open for us to go. We came, we served, we gave of ourselves but God gave us much, much more than we gave out. We grew in our faith. We made deep friendships. We learned to value Christ more as we worshipped with people from all over the world.

Its been hard.

All of the transitions and all of the changes has been difficult and the coming weeks will not be any easier.

But, oh! Its been worth it.

Ashley Mullins is the wife of Chris. They are currently in transition from Malawi, Africa (serving at the Central African Preaching Academy which is a seminary training Malawian pastors) to Spokane, Washington in the United States.
Countless articles talk about raising emotionally healthy and smart kids and they certainly have merit. However, due to the many challenging factors arising in the world today you may wondering how to get there in practice. Screen and technology addiction, increasing pressures on schooling and job availability, moral decline, rapid technological development to mention a few, are all a recipe to push parenting to its limits.

However, there is a solid hope. The task of raising kids with a healthy EQ and IQ can be made easy. Firstly, God can help us reconnect with our kids so things can turn around. (Malachi chapter 4 verses 5-6). Gods goal is that we are connected in spirit too. This enables us to pass on a living faith and our rich life experience to our kids, so they prosper and become all they are meant to be. (2 Timothy chapter 1 verse 5).

A living faith enables kids to be empowered in their development

A living faith takes hold of Gods power. After my daughter accepted Jesus I laid hands on her and she has started to prophesy, with accuracy that brings tears to recipients. (Acts chapter 21 verse 9) She has personally grown to know Gods is real and exciting, because she sees the results of prophesying to adults and watching them receive in awe!

Recently, a friend told me of his struggle to have self-control as a believer, but was slowly overcoming. He needed encouragement. He shared he had a dream about where he saw a cake and wanted to eat it. But, he managed to say no. The following day as we were travelling in my car I asked my daughter to prophesy to him not knowing anything at all about his situation.

She closed her eyes and prayed and shared she saw a boy wanting a piece of nice cake but said no to it. God is giving you self-control, she shared with a smile. He was amazed, as it what he dreamt the night before! Thats a living faith! And I have noticed Gods presence also helps aid her EQ and IQ development; will share more below.

Will our kids become this way naturally, by attending church with us or having religious instruction? I feel it is important to take note of Gods pattern to raise kids and disciples with a living faith.

The Spirit of God wants to be upon us!

Firstly, I challenge us all consider the truth we see in Acts chapter 19 verses 1-6. Paul asked the believers he met if they had received the Holy Spirit when they believed. After committing to the living Christ he baptised them in water and laid hands for the filling of the spirit.

Then, that day they could all readily prophesy and were edified supernaturally! No long courses or lectures, just a move of the spirit and release. Wow! They all felt spiritually revived.

Seven sign of supernatural empowerment in our kids development

The good news is that we are meant to develop as Jesus did (Luke chapter 2 verse 52). But, we too must guard against the leaven of legalism and institutionalism. (Matthew Chapter 16 Verse 6) Just as a Windows operating system enables Microsoft Word to function, so too the new life in Christ provides the powerful spiritual foundation (John chapter 10 verse 10) for the development of healthy EQ and IQ in our kids.

The following qualities arise organically in our believing kids as we parent well as Christians and the spirit is at work in them:

-Heightened, organic sense of strong identity feeling loved by God as a son or daughter, which enables a terrific and robust self-esteem.

-Greater confidence to aspire to do great things and to dream, and with great resilience. (Genesis chapter 37, 39). Parents can help nurture them in their unique purpose and calling of God to make a difference.

-Able to better self-manage from young and take great initiatives, which naturally keeps ipad affinity under control. (Matthew chapter 25 verse 15, Exodus chapter 35 verses 30 - 35)

-Enabled to have a good nights sleep knowing Jesus power shields them from nightmares. They wake up fresh each day. (Psalm chapter 3 verse 5)

-Wise beyond their years due to the internalising of Gods word and His superior wisdom. (Psalm chapter 119 verse 99)

-A zest grows to learn the bible purposely, and to learn about all things to be equipped for life. (Daniel chapter 1 verses 17-20)

-Most importantly, a respect for parental authority and others arises enabling them to readily learn from parents experiences and their knowledge of the faith. (Joshua chapter 24 verse 15)

So, less time or minimal time is spent cleaning messes with most time spent going forward, as we let God in. Jesus promised our burden will made light and easy provided we are yoked to him. (Matthew chapter 11 verse 28 - 30) The past is the past, lets turn to him today. He has good plans for families! (Jeremiah chapter 29 verses 10 - 11)

Mark Rusic was born in Melbourne and studied engineering. He became a missionary to Asia for about six years. He has worked as a pastor over the past 16 years. Mark has also written two books which are a collection of his own paintings, photography and poetry. These include Iconic Melbourne of Australia and Iconic Animals of Australia with a voice to release your giant potential within. His passion is to help people find and release what they are born for. He has been included among some of Australias best-selling authors since 2014 and is a public speaker. Mark is married with his life-long partner Susan and has a six year old and twins born in 2017.
Good Day Everyone and I am all set for anther funtastic edition of Night Trax and coming up next week will be a very special broadcast as will be live on air on my birthday Monday June 11th and be turning turning 44 then and your birthday wishes and greetings this week and next are greatly appreciated. Program Note: There will be no live edition of Night Trax on Monday June 18th since I will be returning rather late from Toronto where I will be in training camp getting ready for the Special Olympics 2018 National Summer Games this summer in Antigonish Nova Scotia but instead will have an encore presentation from May 1st, 2017 Episode 168: Let The Music Be Your Master but will be back live Monday June 25th with an all new episode and more fun and music. Take care everyone.

Funeral For A Friend Love Lies Bleeding

Elton John - Goodbye Yellow Brick Road 2LP (1973) - MCA A Saucerful Of Secrets

Pink Floyd - Ummagumma 2LP (1969) - Harvest Thick As A Brick - Part Two

Jethro Tull - Thick As A Brick (1972) - Reprise/Chrysalis Cover Girl

Prism - All The Best From Prism (1979) - Capitol - All The Best From Prism (1979) - Round ,Round We Go

Trooper - Thick As Thieves (1978) - MCA - Thick As Thieves (1978) - Take A Stand

Triumph - The Sport Of Kings (1986) - MCA - The Sport Of Kings (1986) - Blue Collar

Bachman-Turner Overdrive - Best Of B.T.O (So Far) (1973) - Mercury - Best Of B.T.O (So Far) (1973) - Devil With A Blue Dress On Good Golly Miss Molly

Mitch Ryder - Greatest Hits (1981) - Quality Beginnings

Chicago - Chicago Transit Authority 2LP (1968) - Columbia Side 2: Diefenbakers's French Address/"Hello Dolly" Medley/Singers Medley

Rich Little - Rich Little In Concert At The National Arts Center (1971) - Much - Rich Little In Concert At The National Arts Center (1971) - Side 2: Marine Corps/Used Pet Shop/Great White Hunter/My School Days/Prison Scene

Jonathan Winters - Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World (1964) - Verve Free Ride

Tavares - 7" (1975) - Capitol Hold Me Tighter In The Rain

Billy Griffin - 7" (1982) - Columbia Turn The Light On

Joey Scarbury - 7" (1979) - Columbia Mourir Aupres De Mon Amour (Because)

Demis Roussos - 7" (1977) - Philips Moment By Moment

Yvonne Elliman - 7" (1978) - RSO You Should Hear How SHe Talks About You

Melissa Manchester - 7" (1982) - Arista Yah Mo Be There

James Ingram - Michaek MacDonald - 7" (1984) - Qwest Pilot

Ian Thomas - Glider (1978) - GRT - Glider (1978) - Right Before Your Eyes

Ian Thomas - Calabash (1976) - GRT - Calabash (1976) - Sweet Music Man

Dolly Parton - Here You Come Again (1978) - RCA If The Wind Could Blow My Troubles Away

Murray McLauchlan - Storm Warning (1981) - True North - Storm Warning (1981) - Quand On Arrive En Ville

Daniel Balavoine Nanette Workman - Starmania 2LP (1978) - Kebec Frog - Starmania 2LP (1978) - C'est Tourjours A Recommencer

Toulouse - Toulouse (1976) - Magique - Toulouse (1976) - Say It Isn't So (Special Extended Dance Mix)

Hall & Oates - 12" (1983) - RCA I Beg Your Pardon ( Never Promised You A Rose Garden)

Kon Kan - Move To Move (1989) - Atlantic - Move To Move (1989) - Knights In White Satin/In The Middle OIf The Night/Knights In White Satin

Giorgio - Knights In White Satin (1976) - Oasis Feel Your Love

Alanis - 12" (1991) - MCA - 12" (1991) - Love Hangover

Diana Ross - Diana Ross (1976) - Motown Fascinated

Company B - Company B (1987) - Atlantic The Rubberband Man

Spinners - Best Of Spinners (1978) - Atlantic Kokomo

The Beach Boys - Cocktail - Original Motion Picture Soundtrack (1988) - Elektra Stay

Rufus - Street Player (1978) - ABC Lindberg II

Toulouse - Toulouse (1976) - Magique - Toulouse (1976) - Miami Vice

Jan Hammer - Miami Vice - Original Television Soundtrack (1985) - MCA Let Me Hold You For A Night

David Ruffin - In My Stride (1976) - Motown ABC

The Jackson 5 - 25 #1 Hits From 25 Years 2LP (1983) - Motown When The Going Gets Tough, Though Get Going

Billy Ocean - 7" (1986) - Jive Shake Your Groove Thing

Peaches & Herb - 7" (1978) - Polydor Sailing

Christopher Cross - 7" (1980) - Warner Brothers Do That To Me One More Time

The Captain And Tennille - 7" (1979) - Casablanca Special Girl

America - Perspective (1984) - Capitol - Perspective (1984) - Pretty Lady

Trooper - Kock 'Em Dead Kid (1977) - MCA - Kock 'Em Dead Kid (1977) - You And I

Eddie Rabbit Crystal Gayle - Radio Romance (1982) - Elektra I Need You

Lakeside - Fantastic Voyage (1980) - RCA
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Hong Kong, June 4, 2018The Committee to Protect Journalists condemned today proposed restrictions on news coverage of upcoming elections in Cambodia and called on the countrys authorities to allow the media to report freely without fear of reprisal.

The National Election Committee (NEC), the countrys official election supervisor, issued last week a code of conduct for covering the election that bars journalists from expressing personal opinion or prejudice or publishing news that affects political and social stability, news reports said.

The commissions code also bans reporters from conducting interviews at polling booths or broadcasting news that could cause confusion and loss of confidence in the election, which is scheduled for July 29, the reports said.

NEC spokesperson Hang Puthea said reporters would only be allowed to ask questions at polling stations with permission of the stations head and that they would be barred from asking voters how they cast their ballots, according to reports.

Violations of the code will be punishable by fines of between 5 million to 30 million riel (US$1,250-US$7,400), reports said.

The government announced today that it would also seek to monitor and control any online news that aimed to cause instability during the election, Reuters reported. Three ministries would be tasked to control news content, writing, audio, pictures, and videos, and in other forms which have intention to cause instability, the report said citing an official government notice.

The credibility of the polls is in doubt after last years court-ordered dissolution of the Cambodia National Rescue Party, the countrys only viable opposition party, according to news reports quoting rights groups.

Cambodias election reporting restrictions, if maintained, will ensure the polls have virtually no credibility as free and fair, said Shawn Crispin, CPJs senior Southeast Asia representative. Reporters should be allowed to report and opine freely on the elections without fear of reprisal. This ill-considered code of conduct should be scrapped.

The restrictions on free reporting come amid a clampdown on independent media in Cambodia, according to CPJ research. In September, the English-language newspaper The Cambodia Daily closed under official pressure to pay alleged back taxes owed amounting to over US$6.3 million, CPJ reported at the time.

Prior to that, the Information Ministry had closed all local radio stations that broadcast the U.S. Congress-funded radio broadcasters Radio Free Asia (RFA) and Voice of America outside of the capital, according to news reports.

In September, RFA closed its 20-year-old in-country bureau after the government made similar tax and administrative violation threats, according to reports.

Two former RFA reporters, Yeang Sothearin and Uon Chhin, have been detained by authorities since November 14, 2017, on espionage charges of illegally collecting information for a foreign source, The Cambodia Daily reported at the time. If convicted under article 445 of the Criminal Code, they each face a maximum penalty of 15 years in prison.

The Phnom Penh Post, an English language newspaper, was sold to a Malaysian investor with past business ties to the government in April 2018 after its Australian owner was handed a multi-million dollar back tax bill. The papers editor, Kay Kimsong, was promptly sacked by the new owners and several staff members have since left the paper due to concerns about editorial independence, news reports said.
 



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When it comes to executions, state officials have an itchy trigger finger.





Attorney General Doug Peterson has urged the Nebraska Supreme Court to expedite its consideration of an execution warrant for convicted killer Carey Dean Moore in hopes of scheduling his execution July 10. A major impetus for this haste is that the state's supply of potassium chloride, 1 of the 4 drugs in this lethal cocktail, expires Aug. 31.





Let's slow down.





This breakneck speed, coupled with how much remains unknown about the drugs themselves and the broader execution protocol, should give Nebraskans pause - if not outrage them.





While the Journal Star editorial board has opposed the death penalty on principle, we understand it is the will of the voters of this state. But Nebraskans didn't vote for a hastily developed process that lacks accountability and transparency.





No hard-and-fast evidence has been presented to prove the execution drugs were obtained legally. All we have is the state's word - and, given a mortifying, high-profile failure to illegally import substances from India in 2015, that isn't worth much.





Since the state is carrying out this lethal injection, the burden of proof lies squarely on its shoulders.





Instead, Nebraska officials have sought to distort an open-records lawsuit by the Journal Star and others. They've cited reporters' words that they'd pursue additional information surrounding the purchase of these drugs and argued this as proof positive they'd be able to identify the execution team, in violation 1 of 21 codified exemptions to the state's sunshine laws, when that's not the issue at hand.





(Besides, the defense of "Journalists will do their jobs" fails to hold water as a compelling reason to shield documents from the public.)





At least the state appears to have information to withhold regarding its acquisition of the four lethal injection drugs. Its own words indicate it sped through the creation of its execution protocol without any such paper trail.





In response to an open records request by the Journal Star, the Nebraska Department of Correctional Services said it crafted the new policy in a single draft without input from the governor, attorney general, Corrections director, outside experts or other state officials.





The agency couldn't provide public records because none exist.





Simply astounding.





Again, all Nebraskans have to rely on is the state's word that these substances were "tested according to state law" without any empirical proof to back that claim - despite the fact Nebraska's 4-drug cocktail has never been used to execute a person in the United States.





Frantic pursuit





Individually, each of these items should concern Nebraskans. When combined, however, officials' flippancy regarding the power of life and death they hold borders on the unconscionable.





In their race - one against nobody and nothing more than an expiring drug - toward Nebraska's 1st execution since 1997, state officials have failed to do their due diligence. This frantic pursuit must stop until the state can prove to its citizens that it's fully in compliance with the law.

 | Report an error, an omission, a typo; suggest a story or a new angle to an existing story; submit a piece, a comment; recommend a resource; contact the webmaster, contact us: deathpenaltynews@gmail.com



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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
June 4, 2018-A court in Qatar has sentenced death penalty to a Nepali man by a firing squad for murdering a Qatari national Umair Mohammed Umair Al Ramzani Al-Nauimi.





A joint bench of Primary Court (Criminal) presided by Judge Mustafa Al Bedahewi sentenced the capital punishment to Anil Chaudhary of Aurahi-1, Mahottari.





Chaudhary was arrested on the first week of April, 2017 for his alleged involvement in the murder of a Qatari national.





Meanwhile, the Nepali Embassy in Qatar has filed an appeal at the Supreme Court of Qatar seeking to save the life of the convicted.





Prior to the incident, Chaudhary was working at a car ash company as a general labour. He is now being kept at the Central Jail.





Likewise, the Nepali Embassy in Qatar has sought 30,000 Riyal (around Rs 600,000) from the Nepal government as fees to defend Chaudhary at the Supreme Court.





The Foreign Ministry has forwarded the request to Labour Ministry which has forward it to Foreign Employment Promotion Board where the matter is being discussed.





This is the 1st instance of a Nepali killing a local in Qatar. However, 10 Nepali migrant workers convicted of killing fellow Nepalis are serving their respective jail sentences at various prisons.

 | Report an error, an omission, a typo; suggest a story or a new angle to an existing story; submit a piece, a comment; recommend a resource; contact the webmaster, contact us: deathpenaltynews@gmail.com



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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

Kathmandu Post, June 4, 2018
One of the oldest concepts of punishment can be found in the Bible - an eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth.





Andre Thomas loved memorizing Bible verses when he was in Sunday school at Harmony Baptist Church, according to a Texas Monthly profile. But after he was arrested for murder, Thomas took the concept further - gouging out his own right eye while awaiting trial. After a jury sentenced him to death, Thomas pulled out his remaining eye and ate it.





Despite a long history of severe mental illness that includes those and other episodes of self-mutilation, Texas continues to seek to execute Thomas. It is another instance of the death penalty run amok - a cruel and increasingly unusual practice that should be put to an end.





On June 5, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit will hear oral argument in the case of Thomas, who suffers from "schizophrenia characterized by psychotic delusions and hyper-religious preoccupations." His lawyers claim he was "actively psychotic" at the time he murdered and mutilated his ex-wife, his own son and his former wife's daughter by another man, according to his attorneys and medical experts.





Incredibly, Thomas' 2 original defense attorneys never introduced evidence in his trial about Thomas' long history of mental illness, suicide attempts and visits to doctors seeking help immediately before the crime.





His appellate attorneys subsequently have raised important questions both about his competence, and about whether members of the all-white jury that sentenced him to die were biased against him on racial grounds. Thomas is African-American. His former wife was white and both children were biracial. Yet four jurors allowed to serve in his case expressed opposition to interracial marriage. One said it wasn't what God intended. Another said, "We should stay with our bloodline."





At this point, Thomas is not even seeking relief - he's just asking for a "Certificate of Appealability," a step required before the court would actually consider his case and whether to offer relief. The state is opposing that effort.





Texas should drop its appeal and agree that Thomas' sentence should be commuted to life. He should be allowed to spend the rest of his days in a jail cell where the demons of his mental illness and the pangs of his own conscience will alternately torment him [Does a person suffering from mental illness deserve to be "tormented?" A regrettable assertion in an otherwise commendable editorial. Wouldn't it be more appropriate to suggest that this inmate should spend the rest of his days in a psychiatric institution where his mental sufferings can be, if not cured, at least alleviated? - DPN]. The rest of us should contemplate what another Bible verse says about taking an eye for an eye - Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord.

 | Report an error, an omission, a typo; suggest a story or a new angle to an existing story; submit a piece, a comment; recommend a resource; contact the webmaster, contact us: deathpenaltynews@gmail.com



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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
Prime Minister Modi told the Shangri-La Dialogue in Singapore that India would work with ASEAN to promote a rules-based order in the Indo-Pacific region. (Photo: Twitter/@MEAIndia)

Singapore/New Delhi: Almost lost in the din of the upcoming US-North Korea summit and fresh tension between Washington and Beijing last week, India cemented its diplomatic and security ties across Southeast Asia in a clear challenge to China.

It's not clear just how far New Delhi will take these relationships, given years of promise, and a general election due in 11 months that could be a distraction for Prime Minister Narendra Modi. And if India is already rattling China, it won't want to spark open confrontation.

But PM Modi took several concrete foreign policy and security steps in Southeast Asia in recent days.

He signed an agreement with Indonesia to develop a port in the city of Sabang that would overlook the western entrance to the Strait of Malacca, one of the world's busiest waterways, and agreed on a pact with Singapore on logistical support for naval ships, submarines and military aircraft during visits.

The Prime Minister also flew to Kuala Lumpur for a late-scheduled call on Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad, who won last month's general election, effectively cementing ties with three of the most influential Southeast Asian nations.

On Friday, Prime Minister Modi told the Shangri-La Dialogue in Singapore, Asia's premier defence forum, that India would work with the Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN) to promote a rules-based order in the Indo-Pacific region.

"We will work with them, individually or in formats of three or more, for a stable and peaceful region," he said in the keynote speech at the forum.

Several delegates, including US Defense Secretary Jim Mattis, voiced support.

At the end of the forum on Sunday, Singapore Defence Minister Ng Eng Hen said: "I am sure many countries are delighted that India has indicated its firm commitment to the region."

China Cool

The term "Indo-Pacific" has grown in usage across diplomatic and security circles in the United States, Australia, India and Japan in recent years, shorthand for a broader and democratic-led region in place of "Asia-Pacific", which some people have said places China too firmly at the centre.

In a nod to India's growing regional stature, the US military's Pacific Command in Hawaii formally changed its name to the US Indo-Pacific Command in a ceremony on Wednesday.

Despite an outward show of friendship between China and India and PM Modi's comments about the strong relations between them, Beijing gave a distinctly cool response to his strategy.

The state-owned Global Times warned in an editorial last week: "If India really seeks military access to the strategic island of Sabang, it might wrongfully entrap itself into a strategic competition with China and eventually burn its own fingers."

Senior Colonel Zhao Xiaozhou, a research fellow at the Institute of War Studies Academy of Military Sciences of the People's Liberation Army, told reporters on the sidelines of the Shangri-La Dialogue that PM Modi "made some dedicated comments on what he thought of the Indo-Pacific concept".

He did not elaborate but the Global Times quoted him as saying: "The Indo-Pacific strategy, and the quasi-alliance between the US, Japan, India and Australia will not last long."

Wider Footprint

Indian foreign ministry officials said there was a strong element of self-interest in New Delhi's efforts to secure open access to the Malacca Strait, since it carries about 60 per cent of its foreign trade.

But India's intended footprint looks to be wider. Late last month, three Indian warships staged exercises with the Vietnamese navy for the first time in the South China Sea, which is claimed almost wholly by China.

Vietnamese submariners are trained in India, while the two sides have significantly increased intelligence sharing and are exploring advanced weapons sales.

To the west, India signed an agreement for access to the port of Duqm on Oman's southern coast, during a visit by Prime Minister Narendra Modi earlier this year. Under the agreement, media reports said, the Indian Navy will be able to use the port for logistics and support, allowing it to sustain long-term operations in the western Indian Ocean.

In January, India finalised a logistics exchange arrangement with France under which it can use French military facilities in the Indian Ocean.

Analysts said a more assertive India would answer concerns in Southeast Asia about expanding Chinese influence in the region and a fear that the United States was disengaging.

The United States' trade spat with China and a perceived U-turn in its foreign policy as it pursues peace with North Korea had shaken many assumptions in the region, they said.

"There is some pressure (in ASEAN) for diversification of security relationships, taking insurances," said C Raja Mohan, director of the Institute of South Asian Studies at the National University of Singapore.

"An active India then actually fits into this situation."

But although PM Modi has started strongly, it was not clear how well his strategy would be sustained, he added.

"Implementation has always been a major challenge for India. (PM Modi is) struggling to improve the capacity of Delhi to do things outside borders. There's been some advance but that is a structural challenge that will remain."
Port Louis/New Delhi: External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj's VIP flight from Trivandrum to Mauritius going incommunicado for around 14 minutes has been confirmed by authorities, however, they insist that it would not comprise a 'mid air scare' .

The Mauritius Air traffic control (ATC) room had activated INCERFA, the code used by the aircraft controllers during a phase of uncertainty, when Swaraj's plane crossed over from Indian air space to Male Air Traffic Control, Airports Authority of India (AAI) confirmed.

INCERFA was activated without allowing a lapse of a stipulated time period of 30 minutes since the aircraft last contacted the ATC. The authorities say Male ATC erred on the side of caution as an Indian Air Force Flight IFC31 was carrying a person with a VIP status.

Swaraj departed from Trivandrum at 2:08 pm for Mauritius. However, IFC 31 could not contact Mauritius ATC after entering its airspace.

A contact was only established at 4:44 pm when the aircraft changed over from Indian airspace to Male ATC.

Later at 4:58 pm, the flight came in contact with the Mauritius ATC and subsequently made a safe landing. However, when pressed further, sources in the AAI did not rule out a failure of onboard communication systems in the IAF plane carrying Swaraj.

The external affairs minister on Sunday had a brief stopover in Mauritius during her visit to South Africa to take stock of preparations for upcoming Vishwa Hindu Sammelan in August.

Raveesh Kumar, spokesperson of the Ministry of External Affairs Ministry, took to his Twitter handle to inform about the same.

Taking stock of the preparations for the Vishwa Hindi Sammelan in August 2018! EAM @SushmaSwaraj and Minister of Education of Mauritius, Leela Devi Dookun visited the Swami Vivekananda International Convention Centre (SVICC), the main venue of the World Hindi Conference. pic.twitter.com/qNJcQanhJQ  Raveesh Kumar (@MEAIndia) June 3, 2018

Eleventh Vishwa Hindu Sammelan (World Hindi Conference) is set to take place at Mauritius' Port Louis.

Earlier on April 11, Mauritius Education Minister Leela Devi Dookhun Luchoomun and Swaraj released the logo of 11th World Hindi Conference and launched its website as well.
Following the trend, the Customs department has asked all units to monitor foreign passengers.

Hyderabad: After Indian nationals passengers, Customs officials are monitoring international passengers at the Rajiv Gandhi International Airport following inputs that foreigners were being roped in to smuggle gold into the country.

The number of cases of international passengers being caught while smuggling gold at various airports in the country is on the rise. Following the trend, the Customs department has asked all units to monitor foreign passengers.

Last month, about 30 nationals of Turkmenistan including 22 women were held at New Delhis Indira Gandhi International Airport while they were attempting to smuggle gold worth Rs 6 crore into the country.

At other airports too, Customs officials have caught Indonesians, Sri Lankans, Kenyans and Iranians when they were attempting to smuggle gold. The trend of foreigners being roped in to smuggle gold picked up since last year. Syndicates of smugglers prefer foreign nationals, assuming that the customs officials hardly suspect them as they come on tourist visas, said a senior Customs official.

Following specific inputs, a few foreigners were nabbed at airports after which an advisory was issued to keep a tab of them too, he added. The Air Intelligence Unit of the Customs Department collects information about persons who are carrying gold and apprehends them mainly at airports.

It is not that our operations are confined to airports or seaports. On specific information, we even tail the suspects to hotels and public places with the help of local law enforcement agencies, said another official.

Another official of the customs department said that the smugglers might be hiring foreign nationals for the task of delivering the smuggled gold as they are not on the radar of Customs officials.

There is also a chance that they are not aware of the law and could be duped into transporting the gold to other countries illegally.
Import your project from GitHub to GitLab

Using the importer, you can import your GitHub repositories to GitLab.com or to your self-managed GitLab instance.

The following aspects of a project are imported:

Repository description (GitLab.com & 7.7+)

Git repository data (GitLab.com & 7.7+)

Issues (GitLab.com & 7.7+)

Pull requests (GitLab.com & 8.4+)

Wiki pages (GitLab.com & 8.4+)

Milestones (GitLab.com & 8.7+)

Labels (GitLab.com & 8.7+)

Release note descriptions (GitLab.com & 8.12+)

Pull request review comments (GitLab.com & 10.2+)

Pull request reviews (GitLab.com & 13.7+)

Pull request merged by information (GitLab.com & 13.7+)

Regular issue and pull request comments

Git Large File Storage (LFS) Objects

References to pull requests and issues are preserved (GitLab.com & 8.7+), and each imported repository maintains visibility level unless that visibility level is restricted, in which case it defaults to the default project visibility.

The namespace is a user or group in GitLab, such as gitlab.com/janedoe or gitlab.com/customer-success . You can do some bulk actions to move projects to different namespaces in the rails console.

This process does not migrate or import any types of groups or organizations from GitHub to GitLab.

Use cases

The steps you take depend on whether you are importing from GitHub.com or GitHub Enterprise. The steps also depend on whether you are importing to GitLab.com or self-managed GitLab instance.

If youre importing to GitLab.com, you can alternatively import GitHub repositories using a personal access token. We do not recommend this method, as it does not associate all user activity (such as issues and pull requests) with matching GitLab users.

If youre importing to a self-managed GitLab instance, you can alternatively use the GitHub Rake task to import projects without the constraints of a Sidekiq worker.

If youre importing from GitHub Enterprise to your self-managed GitLab instance, you must first enable GitHub integration. To import projects from GitHub Enterprise to GitLab.com, use the Import API.

If youre importing from GitHub.com to your self-managed GitLab instance, setting up GitHub integration is not required. You can use the Import API.

How it works

When issues and pull requests are being imported, the importer attempts to find their GitHub authors and assignees in the database of the GitLab instance (note that pull requests are called merge requests in GitLab).

For this association to succeed, each GitHub author and assignee in the repository must meet one of the following conditions prior to the import:

Have previously logged in to a GitLab account using the GitHub icon.

Have a GitHub account with a public-facing email address that matches their GitLab accounts email address. note GitLab content imports that use GitHub accounts require that the GitHub public-facing email address is populated so that all comments and contributions are properly mapped to the same user in GitLab. GitHub Enterprise (on premise) does not require this field to be populated to use the product, so you may have to add it on existing accounts for the imported content to be properly mapped to the user in the new system. Refer to GitHub documentation for instructions on how to add this email address.

If a user referenced in the project is not found in the GitLab database, the project creator (typically the user that initiated the import process) is set as the author/assignee, but a note on the issue mentioning the original GitHub author is added.

The importer creates any new namespaces (groups) if they do not exist, or, if the namespace is taken, the repository is imported under the namespace of the user who initiated the import process. The namespace/repository name can also be edited, with the proper permissions.

The importer will also import branches on forks of projects related to open pull requests. These branches will be imported with a naming scheme similar to GH-SHA-username/pull-request-number/fork-name/branch . This may lead to a discrepancy in branches compared to those of the GitHub repository.

For additional technical details, you can refer to the GitHub Importer developer documentation.

For an overview of the import process, see the video Migrating from GitHub to GitLab.

Import your GitHub repository into GitLab

Use the GitHub integration

Before you begin, ensure that any GitHub users who you want to map to GitLab users have either:

A GitLab account that has logged in using the GitHub icon - or -

A GitLab account with an email address that matches the publicly visible email address in the profile of the GitHub user

User-matching attempts occur in that order, and if a user is not identified either way, the activity is associated with the user account that is performing the import.

note If you are using a self-managed GitLab instance or if you are importing from GitHub Enterprise, this process requires that you have configured GitHub integration

From the top navigation bar, click + and select New project. Select the Import project tab and then select GitHub. Select the first button to List your GitHub repositories. You are redirected to a page on GitHub to authorize the GitLab application. Click Authorize GitlabHQ. You are redirected back to the GitLab Import page and all of your GitHub repositories are listed. Continue on to selecting which repositories to import.

Use a GitHub token

note Using a personal access token to import projects is not recommended. If you are a GitLab.com user, you can use a personal access token to import your project from GitHub, but this method cannot associate all user activity (such as issues and pull requests) with matching GitLab users. If you are an administrator of a self-managed GitLab instance or if you are importing from GitHub Enterprise, you cannot use a personal access token. The GitHub integration method (above) is recommended for all users. Read more in the How it works section.

If you are not using the GitHub integration, you can still perform an authorization with GitHub to grant GitLab access your repositories:

Go to https://github.com/settings/tokens/new Enter a token description. Select the repository scope. Click Generate token. Copy the token hash. Go back to GitLab and provide the token to the GitHub importer. Hit the List Your GitHub Repositories button and wait while GitLab reads your repositories information. Once done, you are taken to the importer page to select the repositories to import.

To use a newer personal access token in imports after previously performing these steps, sign out of your GitLab account and sign in again, or revoke the older personal access token in GitHub.

Select which repositories to import

After you have authorized access to your GitHub repositories, you are redirected to the GitHub importer page and your GitHub repositories are listed.

By default, the proposed repository namespaces match the names as they exist in GitHub, but based on your permissions, you can choose to edit these names before you proceed to import any of them. Select the Import button next to any number of repositories, or select Import all repositories. Additionally, you can filter projects by name. If filter is applied, Import all repositories only imports matched repositories. The Status column shows the import status of each repository. You can choose to leave the page open and it will update in real-time or you can return to it later. Once a repository has been imported, click its GitLab path to open its GitLab URL.

Mirror a repository and share pipeline status

Depending on your GitLab tier, repository mirroring can be set up to keep your imported repository in sync with its GitHub copy.

Additionally, you can configure GitLab to send pipeline status updates back GitHub with the GitHub Project Integration.

If you import your project using CI/CD for external repository, then both of the above are automatically configured.

note Mirroring does not sync any new or updated pull requests from your GitHub project.

Improve the speed of imports on self-managed instances

note An administrator role on the GitLab server is required for this process.

For large projects it may take a while to import all data. To reduce the time necessary, you can increase the number of Sidekiq workers that process the following queues:

github_importer

github_importer_advance_stage

For an optimal experience, its recommended having at least 4 Sidekiq processes (each running a number of threads equal to the number of CPU cores) that only process these queues. Its also recommended that these processes run on separate servers. For 4 servers with 8 cores this means you can import up to 32 objects (for example, issues) in parallel.

Reducing the time spent in cloning a repository can be done by increasing network throughput, CPU capacity, and disk performance (by using high performance SSDs, for example) of the disks that store the Git repositories (for your GitLab instance). Increasing the number of Sidekiq workers does not reduce the time spent cloning repositories.

Alternative way to import notes and diff notes

When GitHub Importer runs on extremely large projects not all notes & diff notes can be imported due to GitHub API issues_comments & pull_requests_comments endpoints limitation. Not all pages can be fetched due to the following error coming from GitHub API: In order to keep the API fast for everyone, pagination is limited for this resource. Check the rel=last link relation in the Link response header to see how far back you can traverse. .

An alternative approach for importing notes and diff notes is available behind a feature flag.

Instead of using issues_comments and pull_requests_comments , use individual resources issue_comments and pull_request_comments instead to pull notes from one object at a time. This allows us to carry over any missing comments, however it increases the number of network requests required to perform the import, which means its execution takes a longer time.

To use the alternative way of importing notes, the github_importer_single_endpoint_notes_import feature flag must be enabled on the group project is being imported into.

Start a Rails console.

group = Group . find_by_full_path ( 'my/group/fullpath' ) # Enable Feature . enable ( :github_importer_single_endpoint_notes_import , group ) # Disable Feature . disable ( :github_importer_single_endpoint_notes_import , group )

Reduce GitHub API request objects per page

Some GitHub API endpoints may return a 500 or 502 error for project imports from large repositories. To reduce the chance of such errors, you can enable the feature flag github_importer_lower_per_page_limit in the group project importing the data. This reduces the page size from 100 to 50.

To enable this feature flag, start a Rails console and run the following enable command:

group = Group . find_by_full_path ( 'my/group/fullpath' ) # Enable Feature . enable ( :github_importer_lower_per_page_limit , group )

To disable the feature, run this command:
Russia set to build An-124 Ruslan aircraft under another brand

Russian engineers plan to modernize the avionics, chassis design, as well as to change the engines in the aircraft.

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Ukraine's Finance Ministry: Budget revenue plan for state property sale may fail in 2018

Small-scale privatization is ongoing very fast, Markarova said.

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Russian airlines sharply reduce number of flights to occupied Crimea

Russian airlines plan to transport 2.1 million passengers on Crimean routes against 2.7 million people in 2017.

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Through the efforts of the Iraqi armed forces, the Syrian Democratic Forces and the Global Coalition to Defeat ISIS, ISIS has been defeated militarily in Iraq, and nearly so in Syria.Yet our victories on the battlefield are not a permanent solution, said U.S. Ambassador-at-Large and Coordinator for Counterterrorism Nathan Sales.

So, the U.S. State Department is working to align civilian responses to terrorism with military ones, because that is the only way to ensure the lasting defeat of our enemies, Ambassador Sales said.

Law enforcement is part of the answer, as is better information sharing, improved border controls and designations, and sanctions that serve to cut off terrorists financial flows.

But more than anything else, we must counter the underlying ideas that give rise to violent extremism. A contest of ideas is not unique to our fight against terrorism.Throughout history, our conflicts have often had ideological dimensions, said Ambassador Sales. America is committed to individual rights, and we recognize the inherent worth and dignity of every human being.

Indeed, the United States is committed to religious liberty, to the notion of equality before the law, and to pluralism, he said.

Our adversaries reject all of this. ISIS and al-Qaida deny the worth and dignity of the individual, said Ambassador Sales. And so as we confront terrorists on the battlefield, in courts of law, and in other theaters, we also must confront the twisted ideas they use to justify their barbarism.

It helps that we share the effort with dedicated partners like Indonesia, Jordan, and Morocco, countries that are no strangers to terrorism, and are, at the same time, deeply committed to pluralism.

Were at a key moment in our fight against terrorism, said Ambassador Sales. ISIS is down, but its not out.In Southeast Asia, the Sahel, East Africa, Europe, and South America, the threat of terrorism and the ideas that feed it are very real.And theyre growing.

Our military victories buy us time to win a more fundamental contest:a contest between competing ideologies.

This essential work will require determination and patience. But Im confident that, with the will and commitment of our partners, where we find ideologies that espouse violence, deny freedom, and reject human dignity, we have a responsibility to stand against these threats to our fundamental values.
The U.S. State Department has released its annual report on the state of religious freedom around the world. The picture of Iran that emerges is a grim one, particularly for religious minorities, as Ambassador at Large for International Religious Freedom Sam Brownback noted at the reports release:

We hear and see horrific reports coming out of Iran on the lack of religious freedom and the persecution of people that arent in the majority faith stream and practicing as the government directs, and we see a radical export of that philosophy as well out of Iran and trouble in many other countries in the Middle East.

According to the report, Bahais in Iran continued to face severe government and societal discrimination. Nearly one hundred Bahais remained in prison solely because of their faith. In November, a court sentenced three Bahai students who were barred from university studies, Rouhieh Safajoo, Sarmad Shadabi, and Tara Houshmand, to five years in prison for being Bahai. There were reports of authorities placing restrictions on Bahai businesses or forcing them to shut down, and continued instances of desecration of their cemeteries.

Christians, particularly evangelicals and converts from Islam, continue to experience disproportionate levels of arrests and detentions. Numerous Christians were charged in connection to their religious beliefs and activities and sentenced to prison, including Pastor Youcef Nadarkhani and Victor Bet Tamraz. Ebrahim Firouzi continued to serve a five-year prison sentence for converting to and practicing Christianity, and related missionary activities.

At least six Gonabadi dervishes faced imprisonment on convictions of waging war against the state and following a deviant sect. There were also reports of arrests and harassment of Sunni clerics and congregants, including theJune trial of Hassan Amini, Secretary General of Irans Council of Sunni Theologians, on charges of propaganda against the state. Authorities continued to discriminate against the Sabean-Mandaean and Yarsan religious communities as well.

Ambassador Brownback said that freedom of religion is a foundational human right that no government has the right to repress, and that every government has the duty to protect. A key goal of the United States, he said, is to promote religious freedom for all people. That includes members of religious minorities in Iran. We all have a stake in this fight, Ambassador Brownback declared. We must move religious freedom forward. We must defend it in every corner of the globe.
Sanctions imposed by the United States and the European Union (EU) against Russian companies operating in the interests of the Russian defense sector open new opportunities for military and technical cooperation of Ukraine on the regional weapons markets of the Middle East and South-East Asia, Head of the Ukroboronprom State Concern Pavlo Bukin has said.

"We plan to sign contracts to replace Russian products. There are markets where Russia had large advantage, although due to sanctions Russian cooperation is complicated. These processes play into our hands," he said in an interview with bozrevael.ua posted on the website of the state concern.

One of the examples of this cooperation is works to promote promising Ukrainian precise anti-tank weapon systems to the market of the Middle East, Bukin said.

"If we talk about vivid examples, our Skif [portable anti-tank missile launcher] can easily replace the Russian Cornet. There are other developments. We need to show not only price advantages, but tactical and technical ones... Several presentations have already been held in the Middle East, including products Luch Design Bureau," the head of Ukroboronprom said.

Among the perspective partners of Ukraine in military-technical cooperation in the Middle East, where, there is also state support, Bukin mentioned Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Qatar and Kuwait.

In this connection, the head of Ukroboronprom reminded that the Middle East defense market today is one of the most dynamically developing ones.

According to Bukin, among the promising partners of Ukraine in the sphere of military-technical cooperation in the new conditions are also countries of South-East Asia, and, first of all, Thailand.
Mykolska will discuss removal of Ukraine from under protective duties on metal goods with U.S. state authorities

Deputy Minister of Economic Development and Trade, Ukraine's trade representative Natalia Mykolska during a working visit will discuss withdrawal of Ukraine from under the protective duties on metal products with the representatives of the U.S. Department of Commerce, the Office of the United States Trade Representative and the U.S. Department of State, the Ministry of Economic Development and Trade said on its website.

"The main theme of the planned bilateral meetings is the exclusion of Ukrainian metallurgical products from the effect of restrictive measures imposed by the United States," it said.

The press service of the ministry said last year Ukraine exported metal products worth $175.6 million to the U.S., goods for $89.7 million in 2016, and $119.6 million in 2015.

"These are flat and long products, pipes, semi-finished steel goods," the ministry said.

As reported, on March 23, 2018 U.S. duties of 25% on steel imports and 10% on aluminum imports came into effect.
Mothers of Ukrainian political prisoners Oleh Sentsov and Oleksandr Kolchenko have appealed to President of Ukraine Petro Poroshenko with a request for help concerning the liberation of their sons, Radio Liberty reported on Sunday evening.

"Mr. Poroshenko, mothers of your citizens, who are serving time in Russian prisons, appeal to you. We are asking you, help us! My son has already resorted to the extreme measure - a hunger strike. Although he said before that one shouldn't do it. We hope that you will not leave our children in this prison," Radio Liberty quoted Liudmyla Sentsova as saying.

"Dear Mr. President, I appeal to you. Do everything possible to liberate our sons, so that they will not be disappointed either in the president or in their state," Larysa Kolchenko said.
Prime Minister of Ukraine Volodymyr Groysman has said that he will step down as head of government if an independent Anti-Corruption Court is not established in the country.

"I, as the Prime Minister of Ukraine, have made a decision for myself: if this court, fair, independent, is not created, I will forfeit the authority of the Prime Minister of Ukraine and resign," Groysman said in a joint with Chairman of the Verkhovna Rada, Andriy Parubiy, briefing in Kyiv on Monday morning.

Groysman said he was planning to work with parliamentarians of various factions on Monday to get them to support legislation on an anti-corruption court on Thursday.

"It is important for [legislation on] an anti-corruption court to be passed; otherwise, if this important decision is not made, it will both undermine confidence within society of government and government institutions and significantly damage our international credibility," Groysman said.

"I am going to work with the heads of the factions and Verkhovna Rada deputies today concerning the passage of such a decision," he said.

Parubiy said he was sure that the Verkhovna Rada will pass legislation on an anti-corruption court on Thursday, June 7.

"Everything possible needs to be done for decision to get passed on Thursday, taking into consideration the Venice Commission's recommendations," Parubiy said.

It was reported earlier that the International Monetary Fund (IMF) was in negotiations with the Ukrainian authorities regarding legislation on an anti-corruption court to make sure the document complies with Ukraine's obligations under the Extended Fund Facility (EFF) program.

Verkhovna Rada First Deputy Speaker Iryna Gerashchenko said earlier that the Ukrainian parliament would continue to consider amendments to bill No. 7440 on the Higher Anti-Corruption Court on June 5.

"The Verkhovna Rada has considered over 1,200 amendments in the two days that we've been working on the amendments. We have about 700 more amendments to consider. And we will resume considering them at the next session on Tuesday," she said.

Parubiy said that the Rada might vote on the legislation as a whole on June 7.
Doctors are monitoring the condition of Ukrainian filmmaker Oleh Sentsov, who is on hunger strike in a Russian penitentiary, the press service of the Federal Penitentiary Service (FSIN)'s branch in the Yamal-Nenets Autonomous Region told Interfax.

"The hunger strike is continuing. Doctors are monitoring his condition. There has been no change in his health so far, everything is stable," the press service said.

Sentsov is receiving intravenous injections, it said.

In August 2015, the North Caucasus District Military Court in Rostov-on-Don sentenced Sentsov, who was detained in Crimea in 2014, to 20 years in a high-security penitentiary. He was accused of creating a terrorist group in Crimea.

Sentsov went on a hunger strike on May 14 and demanded that all Ukrainian citizens held in Russia be set free.

He is serving time in a high-security penitentiary known as the Polar Bear in the Yamal-Nenets Autonomous Region.
The results of the forensic psychological examination of non-affiliated deputy of Ukraine Nadiia Savchenko with the use of a polygraph showed that the arrested MP was preparing to commit a terrorist attack in the building of the Verkhovna Rada and in the government quarter in the center of Kyiv, the Ukrainian Security Service (SBU) has said.

"Polygraph also showed that Savchenko was preparing to commit a terrorist attack in the "Government Quarter" and the building of the Verkhovna Rada," the SBU said on Facebook on Monday afternoon.
Co-chairman of the Opposition Block faction in the Verkhovna Rada Yuriy Boiko said about the readiness of representatives of his political power to participate in direct negotiations with militants regarding the settlement of the situation in Donbas.

"Our faction believes that we need direct official negotiations at the highest level between the parties to the conflict ... - between Ukraine, the Russian Federation, the unrecognized republics until the final goal is reached - the end of the war," Boiko said at a meeting of the conciliation council of deputy groups and factions of the parliament in Kyiv on Monday.

"If the president, who, by the way, promised to stop the war during two weeks, is rather afraid for his rating, we are ready to take part in these negotiations," the MP added.
Banks at Tehrans Imam Khomeini Airport are struggling to provide the foreign currencies paid for by passengers, who are forming long lines.

The shortage of foreign currencies worsened ahead of a three-day holiday that started on June 4 to mark the death of the founder of Irans Islamic Republic, Ayatollah Rouhollah Khomeini.

Many government employees and bank staff have gone on extended holidays, making the situation harder for passengers traveling abroad this week.

A decision by the government in April to limit the sale of foreign currencies to passengers had already made it more difficult to travel abroad. Banks are allowed to sell only up to 500 euros to those traveling to countries near Iran and up to 1,000 euros to those traveling to other countries -- and customers are only allowed to make an exchange once a year.

Anything beyond this quota must be bought on the open market, also called the black market, which is officially illegal but still operating.

The governments measures to restrict the sale of foreign currencies stemmed from a free fall in the value of the Iranian currency, the rial.

On May 13, the government further limited the maximum amount that passengers are allowed to carry on departure from 10,000 to 5,000 euros. However, banks -- particularly those at the airport -- have been unable to keep up with demand.

Central Bank Governor Valiollah Seyf recently complained that Iranians travel too much, reported the Eskan News website, which follows economic developments in Iran. The report added that passengers face problems twice: once when they pay for a foreign currency at a bank in the city and again when they report to a bank at the airport to pick up the actual bank notes.

One passenger who managed to get bank notes wrote on Twitter that he had received the currency in 500 euro notes, an denomination difficult to change and uncomfortable to carry around, particularly in frequently visited destinations for Iranian passengers such as Tbilisi.

According to Eskan News, bank branches at the airport do not have enough of the right bank notes, possibly due to supply being limited through the Central Bank.

Iranians on social networks such as Telegram have reported that the rate of exchange on the black market in Tehran is as high as 65,000 rials per U.S. dollar and 75,000 rials against the euro. This means the rial has lost 100 percent of its value in less than a year.

The administration of President Hassan Rouhani insists the real price of the U.S. dollar in Iran is just over 42,000 rials, but this applies to transactions by a limited number of industrial and government customers. For travelers, the reality is limited supplies of hard currency or much higher rates on the black market.

Economic analysts have said measures like this cannot prevent the long-term devaluation of the rial.
Irans Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has ordered the countrys Atomic Energy Organization (IAEO) to start enriching uranium at a 190,000 SWU level from Tuesday June 15, within the frameworks of the JCPOA, Irans nuclear deal with the West.

Khamenei, who was speaking on the anniversary of Ayatollah Rouhollah Khomeinis death, also called on the IAEO, to make other preparations President Hassan Rouhani had ordered earlier.

Irans ability to do 190,000 SWU enrichment was one of its red lines before reaching the nuclear agreement with the West in 2015. SWU is the unit that measures Uranium isotopes separation.

Immediately after the United States withdrawal from the JCPOA, Rouhani ordered the IAEO to get ready to enrich Uranium at industrial level without any limitations.

However, Rouhani had said that he would wait for a few weeks to make sure other signatories to JCPOA would remain in the deal.

Nevertheless, Irans Uranium enrichment would be limited to 5060 old P-1 centrifuges for ten years based on JCPOA. Irans initial intention was to use 120,000 centrifuges.

The Iranian governments spokesman Mohammad Baqer Nobakht had said on May 15 that Iran would raise its enrichment level to 20% and higher in case Europe leaves the nuclear deal.

IAEO Chief Ali Akbar Salehi had also said earlier that Iran was capable of resuming 20% enrichment at its Fordo site within four days.

In an interview with Radio Farda, Nuclear Scientist Behrouz Bayat has termed the comment an exaggeration, saying that 20% enrichment is not impossible, but it cannot be done within a few days.

Before the nuclear deal, Iran used to enrich Uranium at 3.5% although it increased the level to 20% for a short while.

Based on the JCPOA, Iran is committed to stop enrichment higher than 3.5 percent.

In his Mondays speech, Khamenei said Europeans expect Iran to tolerate both the sanctions and nuclear limitations.

Addressing European governments, he said This dream of yours will not come true. Iranians will not tolerate this, adding Some countries wish to impose on Iran a defective form of JCPOA, and some others inside Iran warn us about an upcoming war, but that is not true. That is propaganda for the enemy.
An Iraqi court has sentenced a French woman to life in prison for membership in the Islamic State (IS) extremist group.

Melina Boughedir, a mother of four, was initially sentenced to six months in prison for entering the country illegally.

However, the court ordered a retrial after prosecutors presented new evidence, including photos of her French husband posing with IS fighters.

On June 3, Boughedir, 27, was found guilty of belonging to IS and handed a life sentence -- which in Iraq is equivalent to 20 years.

The verdict can be appealed.

Boughedir appeared in court with her 2-year-old daughter. Her three other children are now back in France, the AFP news agency said.

Boughedir told the judge that she was duped by her husband, who allegedly threatened to leave with the children" unless she followed him to Iraq, where he planned on joining IS.

Boughedir's husband is believed to have been killed in Mosul, during an operation to recapture the Iraqi city from IS militants.

Boughedir, who was detained in Mosul last year, was represented by three lawyers.

Last week, French Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian said that Boughedir was a "combatant" and a IS terrorist.

"When you go to Mosul in 2016, [you go] to fight, so she is judged on the location of her actions...She fought against Iraqi units, she is judged in Iraq, the minister said on French television channel LCI.

Iraq detained thousands of people, including hundreds of foreigners, as it recaptured Mosul and other areas from the militants.

Based on reporting by AP and AFP
German Chancellor Angela Merkel has said she agreed with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu that Iran's activities in the Middle East represent a concern for the security of Israel.

"We agree that the question of Iran's regional influence is worrying, especially for Israel's security," Merkel said at a joint news conference with Netanyahu after their meeting in Berlin on June 4.

Netanyahu is touring Germany, France, and Britain in a bid to rally support for amending the 2015 nuclear deal between Iran and world powers and for pushing Iranian forces out of neighboring Syria.

Netanyahu is also set to meet with French and British leaders during his four-day tour.

Netanyahu told a cabinet meeting on June 3 that he will also insist on a basic principle: Israel retains and will continue to retain freedom of action against the establishment of an Iranian military presence anywhere in Syria."

Also on June 4, the International Atomic Energy Agencys (IAEA) board of governors kicked off a four-day meeting in Vienna amid uncertainty over the fate of the Iran nuclear deal following the United States' decision to withdraw from it.

At the start of the meeting, IAEA Director-General Yukiya Amano called on Iran to ensure "timely and proactive cooperation" with inspections mandated under the 2015 deal.

Amano also said the IAEA had had access to all sites in Iran that it needed to visit and that "Iran was implementing its nuclear-related commitments."

President Donald Trump on May 8 announced that the United States would abandon the agreement and reimpose sanctions lifted as part of it, claiming that Tehran had violated the spirit of the accord by financing militant violence in the Middle East and by continuing to test ballistic missiles.

Israel supported Trumps move, arguing that the lifting of sanctions under the nuclear agreement in exchange for curbs on Tehran's nuclear activities allowed Iran to expand its presence in the Middle East, both through its own forces and though proxy groups such as Lebanon's Hizballah militia.

It also hopes that the U.S. decision can lead all sides into addressing what it says are the deal's shortcomings, including the so-called sunset clauses that set expiration dates for some restrictions on Iran's nuclear program.

The other signatories to the accord -- Britain, France, Russia, China, and Germany -- said they remain committed to the deal. Iran for now also is honoring the agreement.

Iran's supreme leader warned on June 4 that his country would fiercely respond if attacked by enemies, saying that the country's ballistic-missile program was essential for defensive purposes.

"Tehran will attack 10 times more if attacked by enemies.... The enemies don't want an independent Iran in the region.... We will continue our support to oppressed nations...our enemies have staged economic and psychological warfare against us and new American sanctions are part of it," Ayatollah Ali Khamenei said in a live speech on state TV.

In Syria, Iranian military advisers and allied militia have been providing critical support for President Bashar al-Assad throughout his seven-year civil war against Sunni rebels.

Israel fears that as the conflict winds down, Tehran will turn its focus to Israel, its archrival.

With reporting by AP and dpa
DUSHANBE -- Some 50 people gathered outside the Iranian Embassy in Dushanbe on May 21 to protest Tehran's alleged support for the banned Islamic Renaissance Party of Tajikistan (IRPT).

The demonstrators, mostly young people, were carrying signs saying, "We don't want to relive the events of 1992-2000," which referred to Tajikistans civil war.

Another placard read, "Down with Kabiri," in an apparent reference to IRPT exiled leader Muhiddin Kabiri, who is in self-imposed exile abroad.

Tajikistan banned the IRPT in 2015 as a terrorist organization and imprisoned dozens of its officials and members. Until then, the IRPT had been the only legal Islamist party in Central Asia.

In a country where dissent is rare, the May 21 protest appeared to have been approved by the authorities. It took place one week after Tajikistan's strongman leader Emomali Rahmon again criticized the IRPT and called it a terrorist organization.

Relations between Iran and Tajikistan have worsened amid accusations by Dushanbe that Tehran has been offering support to exiled IRPT members.

In particular, Tajikistan was angered by Tehran's decision to invite Kabiri to an international Islamic conference that took place in Iran in December 2015, after the IRPT had been declared a "terrorist" group by the Tajik authorities.

Last year, Tajik authorities accused Iran of being behind high-profile assassinations in Tajikistan during the Tajik civil war in the 1990s.

The IRPT was first banned in 1993 but was legalized again in 1998 after the end of the civil war.

With reporting by news.tj
Baku, Azerbaijan, June 4

Trend:

Over the past 24 hours, Armenias armed forces have 79 times violated the ceasefire along the line of contact between Azerbaijani and Armenian troops, the Azerbaijani Defense Ministry said June 4.

Armenias armed forces were using large-caliber machine guns and sniper rifles.

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, June 4

Trend:

Azerbaijans defense minister, Colonel General Zakir Hasanov will take part in the regular meeting of the Council of Defense Ministers of the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) to be held in Tuva Republic of the Russian Federation, Azerbaijans Defense Ministry said in a message June 4.

The defense ministers will discuss various aspects of military cooperation during the meeting to be held in the city of Kyzyl, Tuva Republic on June 5-7.
Details added (first version posted on 11:08)

Baku, Azerbaijan, June 4

Trend:

President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev has received Head of the Presidential Office of the Islamic Republic of Iran Mahmoud Vaezi.

President Ilham Aliyev noted the high level of bilateral relations between Azerbaijan and Iran. Recalling the last visit of Iranian President Hassan Rouhani to Azerbaijan, Ilham Aliyev said the visit was very successful, emphasizing the great importance of the agreements reached and the documents signed.

Noting that for the period that passed after the visit the relations between the two sides gained new momentum, Ilham Aliyev said the issues that had remained unresolved for many years were settled through joint efforts.

This shows that both countries have strong political will for the rapid development of ties, he added.

Ilham Aliyev expressed confidence that Mahmoud Vaezis visit to Azerbaijan will create good opportunity for discussing the prospects for cooperation and solving the forthcoming tasks related to further strengthening of ties.

Mahmoud Vaezi conveyed greetings of Iranian President Hassan Rouhani to Ilham Aliyev. On behalf of Iranian President Hassan Rouhani and on his own behalf, Vaezi congratulated Ilham Aliyev on his re-election as president by an overwhelming majority of votes.

Vaezi noted that the Iran-Azerbaijan bilateral relations are successfully developing in various spheres. The results of Hassan Rouhanis fruitful visit to Azerbaijan and the agreements reached during the visit are obvious, and they are being implemented at a high level, Vaezi said.

The customs border checkpoint between Azerbaijan and Iran operates around the clock, a car producing plant started to operate in Azerbaijan, electricity is exported from Azerbaijan to Iran, Vaezi added.

Cooperation in the transport sphere constantly expands, construction of the Astara (Azerbaijan)-Astara (Iran) railway has been successfully completed, and a cargo terminal is being built, he said.

During the conversation, the sides noted successful cultural, humanitarian and tourism cooperation.

Ilham Aliyev expressed gratitude for Hassan Rouhani's greetings and asked to convey his greetings to the Iranian president.
Baku, Azerbaijan, June 4

Trend:

Distortion of the answer given by the Russian Foreign Ministry's official to a question asked on the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict during a press briefing on June 1 raises ire, said Azerbaijani MP, Chairman of the Press Council of Azerbaijan Aflatun Amashov.

"This was done intentionally," Amashov said commenting on distortion of the answer of the Deputy Director of the Russian Foreign Ministry's Information and Press Department Artyom Kozhin.

"There is no reason to think otherwise. We plan to appeal to Russia's Embassy in Azerbaijan, the Russian journalist organizations and the Foreign Ministry of that country," he added.

Amashov noted that one can clearly hear Kozhin's answer to correspondent of Trend News Agency in a video from the press conference.

"Everything is quite clear in the given answer. Kozhin openly said 'loud statements that do not fit onto the appropriate rails, in particular laid by the OSCE, are probably not constructive'. This is Kozhin's view in response to the remarks previously made by the Armenian Prime Minister in Khankendi. And Trend correspondent asked the question for clarification. And the fact that later Kozhin's position is presented differently on the website of the Russian Foreign Ministry causes regret. It turns out that Kozhin accuses an Azerbaijani journalist," Amashov stressed.

He noted that such a lack of seriousness at the foreign policy authority of the country, which is a co-chair of the OSCE Minsk Group, is unexpected.

"What stands behind this issue? What is the reason for this unserious step? It is known that Armenia's media and political circles ambiguously reacted to Kozhin's opinion. There was even emphasized that over the past 15 years Russia has not had such a tough attitude towards Armenia in connection with the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict issue. Is Russia afraid of this? Or the fact that Kozhin changed his mind means support by Sergei Lavrov [Russian foreign minister], who is assessed in political circles as a pro-Armenian diplomat? Or maybe Lavrov is making a new attempt to delay the negotiation process? In any case, all this does no credit to Russia's Foreign Policy, which calls itself a superpower," he said.

Amashov said that another issue causing outrage is that the Russian Foreign Ministry turns journalism into an instrument, creates a frivolous image of a journalist, as if one can shift blame to a journalist.

" Denying the truth that everyone saw! And for what? For the sake of Armenia? Is Russia so afraid of Armenia or afraid of Lavrov?! I repeat that everything was visible first-hand and the question of the journalist, and the answer given to him. There have been no such manipulations in world history ... It's a pity!" Amashov said.

On June 1, a journalist of Trend News Agency, at a briefing in the Russian Foreign Ministry asked Deputy Director of the ministrys Information and Press Department Artyom Kozhin the following question:

In one of his recent interviews, the Armenian prime minister [Nikol Pashinyan] stated that negotiations on the settlement of the [Armenia-Azerbaijan] Nagorno-Karabakh conflict are impossible without participation of the illegal regime created in the occupied territories of Azerbaijan. A question arises in this regard: in your opinion, how much such statements complicate the settlement process and prevent the parties from finding a common ground?

The answer of the Russian Foreign Ministrys official is as follows:

In general, loud statements that do not fit onto the appropriate rails, in particular laid by the OSCE, are probably not constructive. I would say so.

The corresponding article together with the video footage of the briefing was posted on the Trend website at 15:16 (GMT +4). The article, just like the video footage, is still available on our website.

However, an hour later, the transcript of the briefing was posted on the official website of the Russian Foreign Ministry, with the words in general in Kozhins answer replaced with your for some inexplicable reason, and, as a result, the essence of the Russian diplomats statement was completely distorted.
OCCUPIED SRINAGAR: India and Pakistan exchanged fire across the Kashmir Line of Control on Sunday, officials said, killing two guards and ending a days-old agreement to honour a ceasefire in the disputed region.



Seven civilians were also injured at Aknoor in a barrage that claimed the lives of two Indian border officers.



Indias Border Security Force claimed its troops returned fire after Pakistani border rangers in Sialkot fired into held Kashmir without provocation in the early hours of Sunday.



The injured soldiers were immediately evacuated to a military hospital where they later succumbed (to their injuries), border force spokesman Manoj Yadav told AFP from occupied Jammu. Pakistan authorities did not immediately comment on Indias allegations or whether any damage was sustained on their side of the border.



The salvo of gun and mortar fire came just four days after Pakistan and India promised to end ceasefire violation.



The renewed commitment to the ceasefire had encouraged thousands of civilians to return to their homes after weeks of shelling.AFP




Details added (first version was posted on 16:18)

Baku, Azerbaijan, June 4

Trend:

Distortion of the answer given by the Russian Foreign Ministry's official to a question asked on the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict during a press briefing on June 1 raises ire, said Azerbaijani MP, Chairman of the Press Council of Azerbaijan Aflatun Amashov.

"This was done intentionally," Amashov said commenting on distortion of the answer of the Deputy Director of the Russian Foreign Ministry's Information and Press Department Artyom Kozhin.

"There is no reason to think otherwise. We plan to appeal to Russia's Embassy in Azerbaijan, the Russian journalist organizations and the Foreign Ministry of that country," he added.

Amashov noted that one can clearly hear Kozhin's answer to correspondent of Trend News Agency in a video from the press conference.

"Everything is quite clear in the given answer. Kozhin openly said 'loud statements that do not fit onto the appropriate rails, in particular laid by the OSCE, are probably not constructive'. This is Kozhin's view in response to the remarks previously made by the Armenian Prime Minister in Khankendi. And Trend correspondent asked the question for clarification. And the fact that later Kozhin's position is presented differently on the website of the Russian Foreign Ministry causes regret. It turns out that Kozhin accuses an Azerbaijani journalist," Amashov stressed.

He noted that such a lack of seriousness at the foreign policy authority of the country, which is a co-chair of the OSCE Minsk Group, is unexpected.

"What stands behind this issue? What is the reason for this unserious step? It is known that Armenia's media and political circles ambiguously reacted to Kozhin's opinion. There was even emphasized that over the past 15 years Russia has not had such a tough attitude towards Armenia in connection with the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict issue. Is Russia afraid of this? Or the fact that Kozhin changed his mind means support by Sergei Lavrov [Russian foreign minister], who is assessed in political circles as a pro-Armenian diplomat? Or maybe Lavrov is making a new attempt to delay the negotiation process? In any case, all this does no credit to Russia's Foreign Policy, which calls itself a superpower," he said.

Amashov said that another issue causing outrage is that the Russian Foreign Ministry turns journalism into an instrument, creates a frivolous image of a journalist, as if one can shift blame to a journalist.

" Denying the truth that everyone saw! And for what? For the sake of Armenia? Is Russia so afraid of Armenia or afraid of Lavrov?! I repeat that everything was visible first-hand and the question of the journalist, and the answer given to him. There have been no such manipulations in world history ... It's a pity!" Amashov said.

On June 1, Artyom Sokolov, a journalist of Trend News Agency, at a briefing in the Russian Foreign Ministry asked Deputy Director of the ministrys Information and Press Department Artyom Kozhin the following question:

In one of his recent interviews, the Armenian prime minister [Nikol Pashinyan] stated that negotiations on the settlement of the [Armenia-Azerbaijan] Nagorno-Karabakh conflict are impossible without participation of the illegal regime created in the occupied territories of Azerbaijan. A question arises in this regard: in your opinion, how much such statements complicate the settlement process and prevent the parties from finding a common ground?

The answer of the Russian Foreign Ministrys official is as follows:

In general, loud statements that do not fit onto the appropriate rails, in particular laid by the OSCE, are probably not constructive. I would say so.

The corresponding article together with the video footage of the briefing was posted on the Trend website at 15:16 (GMT +4). The article, just like the video footage, is still available on our website.

However, an hour later, the transcript of the briefing was posted on the official website of the Russian Foreign Ministry, with the words in general in Kozhins answer replaced with your for some inexplicable reason, and, as a result, the essence of the Russian diplomats statement was completely distorted.
Baku, Azerbaijan, June 4

Trend:

Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev has signed an order on measures to build the Mingachevir-station Mingachevir-Bahramtepe (36 kilometers)-Goyunbinesi-Hajimahmudlu-Nurallar-Garamanli-Nemirli highway in the Yevlakh district.

Under the decree, 3 million manats will be allocated from the funds provided for construction and reconstruction of highways in the 2018 state budget to the State Agency of Highways to build the Mingachevir-station Mingachevir-Bahramtepe (36 kilometers)-Goyunbinesi-Hajimahmudlu-Nurallar-Garamanli-Nemirli highway, which connects five settlements with a population of 2,000 people.

The Finance Ministry is instructed to provide financing in the amount indicated in the order, while the Cabinet of Ministers is tasked to resolve issues arising from the order.
Baku, Azerbaijan, June 4

Trend:

Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev has today signed a decree on implementation of the Law on Free Economic Zone of Alat.

Under the decree, the Cabinet of Ministers was instructed within three months to develop proposals on bringing the laws and acts of the President of Azerbaijan in line with the Law on Free Economic Zone of Alat and submit it to the head of state; in a three-month period to ensure bringing the regulatory and legal acts of the Cabinet of Ministers in line with this law and inform the President of Azerbaijan; to control bringing of normative legal acts of the central executive authorities into conformity with the law and within five months inform the head of state; to resolve other issues arising from this law.

The Azerbaijani Justice Ministry was instructed to ensure that the regulatory and legal acts of the central executive authorities and normative acts are brought in line with the Law on the Free Economic Zone of Alat, and inform the Cabinet of Ministers.
Baku, Azerbaijan, June 4

Trend:

Representatives of HMC Co. Ltd. company visited Baku Higher Oil School (BHOS) and met with BHOS rector Elmar Gasimov.

The meeting also gathered First Secretary of the Embassy of the Republic of Korea in Azerbaijan Hong Sung Hun, HMC Co. Ltd. President Park Hak-Joo, Vice-President Park Gabju and other managers of the company, Dean of Electronic Engineering faculty of Kyungsung University Ph.D. Yoon Byung Woo, professor of the of Electronic Engineering faculty of Kyungsung University Park Jung-sik, professors, teachers and other staff members of the Higher School.

Opening the meeting, BHOS rector Elmar Gasimov welcomed the guests and expressed his gratitude to the management of the HMC company for their interest in developing partnership relations with the Higher School. As the rector informed, next academic year BHOS starts admission of Information Security Engineering students and plans to set up Electronic Engineering department. In his words, these initiatives offer new prospects of strengthening ties with HMC Co. Ltd., which provides software and applications for various fields including education.

As for partnership with Kyungsung University, we can design and implement projects similar to those realized by BHOS in cooperation with Heriot-Watt University (Great Britain), Elmar Gasimov said. This implies, among other activities, providing curriculum, teaching materials and other resources, implementing student exchange programs and conducting joint scientific and research work.

HMC Co. Ltd. President Park Hak-Joo extended his gratitude to rector Elmar Gasimov for the invitation to visit Azerbaijan and the Higher School and said that the company would be very pleased to develop cooperation with BHOS, which is one of the leading and most prestigious universities in Azerbaijan. Dean of Electronic Engineering faculty of Kyungsung University Ph.D. Yoon Byung Woo made a presentation covering HMC Co. Ltd. operations, the university activities and main spheres of the future cooperation with the Higher School.

Then Memorandum of Understanding between BHOS and HMC Co. Ltd. was signed. According to the agreement, the company shall support training of specialists in Process Automation Engineering at BHOS and ensure support to BHOS for enriching its library with information resources.

It will also provide a direct assistance to BHOS in establishing partnership relations with foreign educational and scientific institutions, as well as the industries of the Republic of Korea with the view to apply modern knowledge and cutting-edge technologies in training of specialists in the abovementioned specialty. The Memorandum also implies involvement of the company experts working in local and international Company structures in delivering lectures at BHOS and other joint activities and projects.

Earlier, Dean of Engineering Department of the Higher School Zafar Gurbanov and Head of Process Automation Engineering Department Manafaddin Namazov visited the Republic of Korea upon invitation from HMC Co. Ltd. and Kyungsung University and discussed prospects of developing cooperation with their management.
Baku, Azerbaijan, June 4

By Elchin Mehdiyev - Trend:

Elman Jafarov has been appointed new advisor to Azerbaijans minister of labor and social protection of population, the Ministry of Labor and Social Protection of Population told Trend.

Earlier, Anar Aliyev and Vusal Nasirli were appointed the ministers advisors. After the new appointment, the total number of advisors reached four.

In addition, Bakhtiyar Azizov has been appointed deputy head of the Apparatus of the ministry.

Presently, Anar Aliyev is also acting head of the Apparatus of the ministry. Earlier, the Apparatus was headed by Ajdar Jabiyev and Adalat Aliyev was his deputy.

In addition, Sabir Gojayev is acting head of the ministrys department of social protection policy of the disabled.

Sahil Babayev was appointed Azerbaijans minister of labor and social protection of population in April this year.
Baku, Azerbaijan, June 4

By Anvar Mammadov  Trend:

The rejection of modern technologies such as the blockchain and cryptocurrency and their total ban can lead to negative consequences, the Managing Director of the eTORO Company in Russia and CIS George Verbitsky believes.

He said those countries that opened their markets for cryptocurrencies and were able to work with them, received significant profits.

"Japan can be an example of this. In recent months, the cryptocurrency market of Japan significantly increased, but this occurred because China has tightened the requirements in relation to the miners, who consequently moved to Japan," said Verbitsky, who participated in the conference "New trends in financial technology: the blockchain, cryptocurrencies and security," in Baku.

Verbitsky noted that, the states do not want to face the risks associated with bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies that can not be controlled, but the solution in this case can be the creation of a national cryptocurrency issued by central banks.

"This step will significantly increase the competitiveness of the country in the region and the world. Imagine that there is a crypto-manat issued by the Central Bank of Azerbaijan on the technology of blockchain, which is secured with real reserves. It is just based on the blockchain, it is transparent and all transactions are visible. The emission may be centralized, and some government services can be paid by cryptomanat with a certain discount in order to stimulate the people to use this cryptocurrency," said Verbitsky.

According to him, the advantages of this step are obvious.

"There is no need to print money, spend money on it. Everything is done electronically, with great speed. So we take the technology, but we retain the centralization. Yes, distrust of the emission on the part of the people will remain, as there is no decentralization, as in the case of bitcoin. But a step forward can be made and for example a currency that is entirely focused on the global market can be emitted. It would be a freely convertible national cryptocurrency, and it could reduce the dependence on the US dollar. In addition, it would help to occupy a niche that is still vacant," said Verbitsky.

The conference on "New trends in financial technologies: blockchain, cryptocurrencies and security" has been recently launched in Baku. During the two-day conference, financial technologies, blockchain, cryptocurrencies and other innovations in the market, as well as possible risks associated with their use are being discussed.

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Follow the author on Twitter: @Anvar_Mammadov
Baku, Azerbaijan, June 4

By Anvar Mammadov - Trend:

Investment by the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) in Azerbaijan in the first four months of 2018 increased by 253 million euros and at the end of April 2018 totaled 3.07 billion euros, says a message posted June 4 on the official website of the Bank.

According to the data as of January 1, 2018, the EBRD allocated 2.817 billion euros to Azerbaijan.

The message says the share of the private sector in total investments is 26 percent, 7 percentage points less than at the beginning of the year.

During the period, Azerbaijan paid 290 million euros to the EBRD. As a result, the total amount of payments increased by 14.6 percent and amounted to 2.27 billion euros. The Bank's operating assets in Azerbaijan amounted to 986 million euros, an increase of 41.3 percent compared to the beginning of the year.

The number of active EBRD projects in Azerbaijan was 48, and in total, the EBRD has implemented 165 projects in Azerbaijan. The portfolio of active projects at the end of April 2018 amounted to 1.429 billion euros, which is 21.5 percent more than at the end of last year.

Almost half of the EBRD's active portfolio in Azerbaijan - 707 million euros or 49.5 percent  fell on the energy projects, 42.5 percent or 607 million euros  on the infrastructure projects, and 4.9 percent (70 million euros)  on the industrial, commercial and agribusiness projects. Another 3.1 percent (45 million euros) fell on projects involving financial institutions.
Baku, Azerbaijan, June 4

By Leman Zeynalova  Trend:

There will be no further discussions with Iranian airlines on sale of Boeing aircraft to the country, Fakher Daghestani, Boeing Regional Director for India Middle East & Africa (IMEA), told Trend.

We no longer have a license to sell aircraft to Iran, so there will be no further discussions with Iranian airlines at this time, said Daghestani.

US President Donald Trump announced on May 8 that Washington was walking away from the nuclear agreement, which was reached between Iran and the five permanent members of the UN Security Council - the US, Britain, France, Russia and China - plus Germany.

Trump also said he would reinstate US nuclear sanctions on Iran and impose "the highest level" of economic bans on the Islamic Republic.

The fresh US sanctions effectively prevent Boeing and Airbus from further pursuing ongoing efforts to sell commercial aircraft to the Islamic republic because planes from both companies contain many US-made parts.

Iranian parliaments Civil Commission, Sodeif Badri told Tasnim news agency that Boeing has not remained committed to its deal since the US move to leave the 2015 nuclear deal, also known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA).

The lawmaker said Boeing is not going to deliver any aircraft to the Islamic Republic.

Washingtons decision to withdraw from the JCPOA and reinstate sanctions signals the collapse of about $38 billion in plane deals between Tehran and Western firms, with Airbus facing greater risks than its US rival Boeing, people involved in the deals say.

IranAir, the national flag carrier, had ordered 200 passenger aircraft, with 100 from Airbus, 80 from Boeing (BA.N) and 20 from ATR. All the deals are dependent on US license because of the heavy use of American parts in the planes.

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Follow the author on Twitter: @Lyaman_Zeyn
Baku, Azerbaijan, June 4

By Ilkin Shafiyev - Trend:

The Azerbaijan Pomegranate Producers and Exporters Association is working to increase the yield of pomegranate in Azerbaijan, Chairman of the Association Farhad Garashov told Trend June 4.

"Today, in Azerbaijan, 5-10 tons of pomegranates are collected from one hectare of the territory. This indicator is not high enough, and we intend to increase it by several times to 25-30 tons. This can be achieved by introducing new ways of pruning and fertilizing trees, and by using new technologies. For this we have conducted training in the regions of Azerbaijan, with the participation of foreign experts from Turkey and Israel," the chairman of the Association said.

Garashov noted that the Association intends to continue such practice.

"We intend to attract more specialists from countries with highly developed agriculture. The training will mainly be held before the start of the season and after it. In addition, we intend to make a special manual, in which the following will be indicated  what medicines, fertilizers and irrigation methods should be used in certain times of the year," said Garashov.

The Azerbaijan Pomegranate Producers and Exporters Association was established on October 31, 2016. It brings together 28 members.

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Follow the author on Twitter: @IlkinShafiyev
Baku, Azerbaijan, June 4

By Maksim Tsurkov - Trend:

Kryukov Railway Car Building Works PJSC has prepared and sent a package of proposals on joint production of railway cars to Azerbaijan, the Embassy of Azerbaijan in Ukraine told Trend June 4.

The embassy reminded that in October last year the First Vice Prime Minister of Ukraine and Minister of Economic Development and Trade of Ukraine Stepan Kubiv visited Azerbaijan.

"During the meetings, the Azerbaijani side expressed interest in establishing a joint venture for the production of railway cars in our country. In this regard, Stepan Kubiv gave a recommendation regarding the Kryukov Railway Car Building Works," the embassy stated.

The diplomatic mission announced that in December last year, a meeting was held with the executive staff of the Kryukov Railway Car Building Works, during which the Ukrainian side was invited to prepare a package of proposals for creation of a joint venture.

"After some time, a package of proposals was received from the Kryukov Railway Car Building Works, which was sent to Azerbaijan. At the moment, the issue is under consideration by the relevant ministries of Azerbaijan," the embassy stated.

The diplomatic mission also expressed hope for an early response on the issue of establishment of a working group.

"As soon as the relevant instruction is received, a working group to engage in this issue will most likely be established. We would also like to note that from June 9 to 11 this year, the Caspian International Transport, Transit and Logistics Exhibition will be held in Baku. According to the information available to us, the executive staff of the Kryukov Railway Car Building Works intends to participate in the event, during which the bilateral meetings on this issue will also be held," the embassy stated.

The Kryukov Railway Car Building Works manufactures various types of freight and passenger rail cars, which are exported to many countries.

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Follow the author on Twitter: @MTsurkovTrend
Joe Raedle/Getty Images(PARKLAND, Fla.) -- Nearly four months after a mass shooting killed 17 people at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School, the class of 2018 graduated and posthumous diplomas were presented to families of the four seniors who lost their lives.



Hundreds of seniors from the high school in Parkland, Florida, were clad in sashes that read "MSD Strong" as they walked across the stage to accept their diplomas during a private graduation ceremony Sunday afternoon at the BB&T Center in Sunrise, Florida.



The ordinarily joyous occasion was bittersweet. Among the those killed in the Feb. 14 massacre were four 12th-graders who should have been graduating alongside their classmates: Nicholas Dworet, Joaquin Oliver, Meadow Pollack and Carmen Schentrup.



Each were honored with posthumous diplomas during Sunday's ceremonies.

Principal Ty Thompson welcomed the crowd at the schools 27th commencement ceremony, saying the commencement would honor those not with us, reminisce on the past four years, and celebrate their accomplishments.

The event's program included the aspirational message: "Be the change you wish to see in the world."

Senior Eagles, Stoneman High School's mascot, wore a special sash emblazoned with the rallying cry "MSD Strong" along with their caps and gowns.

Some family members of the victims did not attend, telling ABC News station WPLG that it was too painful.

"For me, it is too painful to celebrate without Carmen," her sister, April Schentrup, told the station. "But I am proud of Carmens friends and classmates on their accomplishments. Theyve overcome so much. I know they will continue to make positive changes."

Others attended in place of some of the victims.

"I did not get to walk with my graduating class, but today I had the privilege to walk the stage in honor of my dead sister," Meadow Pollack's brother, Hunter, posted on Twitter. "Hope shes proud!"

Manuel and Patricia Oliver, the parents of Joaquin Oliver, accepted their late sons diploma on his behalf.

Patricia Oliver wore a bright yellow shirt under a vest that read: This should be my son.

They said they never imagined they would see their 17-year-old son's classmates graduating without him.

"We had a lot of plans for our lives," Manuel Oliver told ABC's Nightline in an interview Friday. "These kind of events destroy any plan that you had and leave you in an empty space with no plan at all."



The alleged gunman, Nikolas Cruz, a 19-year-old former student at the high school, is charged in connection with the 17 deaths as well as the wounding of 17 others, for which he faces the death penalty. The teen's defense attorneys have said he will plead guilty "in exchange for a waiver of the death sentence" and a getting instead a sentence of life in prison.

At the graduation, Tonight Show host Jimmy Fallon delivered a surprise commencement speech. He lightened the otherwise somber mood with jokes teenagers could relate to.

"You won't be classmates anymore. You'll be adults who Facebook search each other at 2:00 in the morning for the next 10 years," Fallon quipped.

The comedian also praised the students' resolve in their March for Our Lives protest back in March.

"You took something horrific and instead of letting it stop ... you started a movement," he told the students. "Not just here in Florida, not just in America, but throughout the whole world. The whole world has heard your voice, and that was you making a choice."

Since the mass school shooting, Stoneman's students have seized on the watershed moment to led a movement to push for tougher legislation on gun control.

More marches are expected as the movement evolves.

"Huge announcement tomorrow. Were so excited to let the world know what weve been working on the past few months. Get ready! #MarchForOurLives," junior Jaclyn Corin posted on her Twitter account.

Copyright  2018, ABC Radio. All rights reserved.
Baku, Azerbaijan, June 4

By Leman Zeynalova  Trend:

The Trans Adriatic Pipeline (TAP) project, which envisages transportation of Azerbaijani gas to Europe, will contribute to expansion of gas infrastructure in South East Europe, TAP President Walter Peeraer said in an interview with Trend.

"TAP will contribute to the development and expansion of the gas infrastructure in South East Europe, ultimately boosting the countries roles as energy hubs. TAP remains committed to contributing to the Albanian Gas Master Plan through technical expertise as well as by enabling two gas exit points," he said.

Peeraer noted that the project will directly contribute to the three countries gross domestic products (GDP) through millions of euro in taxes.

"Furthermore, on top of the investment in this new gas infrastructure, we are investing over 55 million euros in projects along and to the benefit of our neighboring communities. These include rehabilitating several schools in Albania, cleaning marine litter in Italy, donating utility vehicles to authorities in Northern Greece, to name just a few," said TAP president.

He went on to add that TAP already created thousands of direct and indirect jobs in its host countries.

"Currently more than 5,000 people work for the project in Greece, Albania and Italy, as part of TAPs network of key contractors. Also, there are numerous people employed at sub-contractor companies, which provide various goods and services. In addition, the project is contributing to improving local infrastructure via the rehabilitation of access roads and bridges in Albania. The first phase [of rehabilitation of access roads and bridges] benefits over 200,000 people," added Peeraer.

"Last but not least, our example can also encourage other international investors to invest in these countries."

TAP is a part of the Southern Gas Corridor, which is one of the priority energy projects for the European Union. The project envisages transportation of gas from Azerbaijan's Shah Deniz Stage 2 to the EU countries.

The pipeline will connect 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).

TAPs shareholding is comprised of BP (20 percent), SOCAR (20 percent), Snam S.p.A. (20 percent), Fluxys (19 percent), Enagas (16 percent) and Axpo (5 percent).

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Follow the author on Twitter: @Lyaman_Zeyn
Ashgabat, Turkmenistan, June 4

By Huseyn Hasanov  Trend:

Turkmenistan is open for constructive interaction with leading representatives of Russian business, said Turkmen President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov during a meeting with Director of Russian ARETI group of companies Igor Makarov, Turkmenistan Dovlet Khabarlary reported.

"In this regard, the sides noted the productive nature of business relations with ARETI group of companies," said the message.

During the meeting, the sides exchanged views on the prospects of mutually beneficial partnership, taking into account the priorities of the state development of Turkmenistan, and the possibility of implementing new projects in various fields.

ARETI group of companies said that the company was established as a result of rebranding of the international group of companies ITERA, formed in 1992.

The main activities of ARETI are projects in the field of fuel and energy complex, in particular, the development of the shelf of the Turkmen sector of the Caspian Sea, trading, engineering, development projects, as well as investments in the real sector of the economy.

The company has been operating in Turkmenistan since 2009 on the basis of the signed production sharing agreement. The company is an operator on the 21 blocks of the Turkmen shelf of the Caspian Sea, where two structures are identified: the Western Erdekli and the Southern Erdekli. The company previously said that the research allowed for verifying the high prospects of the studied structures for hydrocarbons.

Following the processing of 2D/3D seismic data obtained after exploration, the estimated recoverable reserves of the block of fields were estimated at 800 billion cubic meters of natural gas and 95.5 million tons of liquid hydrocarbons.
Baku, Azerbaijan, June 4

By Maksim Tsurkov - Trend:

Indonesia's state oil and gas company Pertamina invited the Azerbaijani state oil company SOCAR to take part in explorations in the Asian country, Eko Rukmono, Vice-President of Exploration and Evaluation of Upstream Directorate at Pertamina told Trend.

According to Rukmono, the two companies could successfully cooperate in the exploration of oil and gas in Indonesia.

"Indonesia enjoys huge hydrocarbons reserve. The country's estimated oil reserve is over 60 billion barrels, while gas reserves are estimated at the level of 30 trillion cubic meters of gas. Indonesia has 48 oil and gas basins, where geological exploration is needed. SOCAR maybe useful for Pertamina, and we invite the Azerbaijani company to take part in the exploration in Indonesia," Rukmono said.

Pertamina was established in 1968 following the merger of Pertamin and Permina. It is the biggest producer and exporter of liquefied natural gas.

The average daily oil production in Indonesia is currently around 790,000 barrels per day.

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Follow the author on Twitter: @MTsurkovTrend
Baku, Azerbaijan, June 4

By Leman Zeynalova  Trend:

The Southern Gas Corridor project will boost trade partnership between Azerbaijan and European countries, Peter Tase, US expert on Global Politics and Transatlantic Relations, an adviser to Global Engineering Deans Council and other prestigious International Institutions told Trend.

The launch of the Southern Gas Corridor is the first step of a project which will make Azerbaijan a reliable natural gas supplier to Europe, he added.

Tase said that European Union countries will have the advantage to diversity the imports of natural gas supplies, therefore will have a lesser dependence on natural gas supplies coming from Russia.

Expectations of European countries are higher than ever before, when it comes to diversification of their natural gas imports, subsequently they will be the first to ripe the benefits of this mega-project that will transport natural gas to Europe through Turkey via the Trans-Anatolian Natural Gas Pipeline, said the expert.

Commercial and trade partnership between Azerbaijan and European countries will significantly grow. This will have a direct impact on the national economy of Azerbaijan as well as encourage research and development projects led by Azerbaijani and European scientists.

The launching ceremony of the first stage of the Southern Gas Corridor project was held in Baku on May 29.

The gas from the Azerbaijani Shah Deniz field has already gone through the first segment of the Southern Gas Corridor - from the Sangachal terminal to the expanded South Caucasus Pipeline.

The next stage will be commissioning of the TANAP gas pipeline, through which the gas will enter the territory of Turkey and further Europe. The launching ceremony of TANAP will take place on June 12 in Turkish Eskisehir.

The Southern Gas Corridor, which costs more than $40 billion, is one of the priority projects for the EU and provides for the transportation of 10 billion cubic meters of Azerbaijani gas from the Caspian region through Georgia and Turkey to Europe.

At the initial stage, the gas produced within the second phase of development of the Azerbaijani gas condensate field Shah Deniz is considered as the main source for the Southern Gas Corridor projects.

The gas in the second stage of the field development will be exported to Turkey and European markets through the expansion of the South Caucasus Pipeline and the construction of the TANAP and TAP pipelines.

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Follow the author on Twitter: @Lyaman_Zeyn
Baku, Azerbaijan, June 4

By Huseyn Veliyev  Trend:

Azerbaijan has discussed possible practical steps for cross-border exchange of electronic data between the EU and the Eastern Partnership (EaP) countries, B.EST Solutions Company (operator of mobile e-signature Asan Imza) told Trend.

The issue was discussed at the conference on e-government entitled "Governance for Digital Citizens", which was held on May 29-30 in Estonia.

During the conference, a memorandum of understanding was signed between the E-government Development Center of Azerbaijan and the Estonian E-governance Academy. The purpose of the Memorandum is to strengthen cooperation between the parties in the field of e-government development and digitalization of public services.

Currently, Azerbaijan and Estonia are closely cooperating on the implementation of cross-border services based on the X-Road platform, as well as on the interaction of e-resident programs between the two countries. Azerbaijan was the first country to introduce an analogue of the Estonian X-Road platform. The platform has also been implemented in Finland, Ukraine, Mauritius, Namibia and other countries.

Experts of the conference also considered the possibility of creating cross-border e-services based on the X-Road platform between Azerbaijan, Ukraine, Estonia and Finland. Azerbaijan is the first country to implement the electronic and mobile residence project, which provides digital mobile and electronic identity for citizens of other countries for the purpose of doing business in the country.

During the conference, Azerbaijan also presented its innovative achievements, such as: the concept of "ASAN", mobile e-signature Asan Imza, e-government infrastructure and the digital trade hub Azerxport.

Follow the author on Twitter: @h_veliyev
Baku, Azerbaijan, June 4

Trend:

The National Iranian Drilling Company (NIDC) intends to purchase three cone bits from qualied and interested tenderers through a two-stage public international tender.

Description Estimated value (rial) Tender guarantee (rial) Tender guarantee (euro) Tender No: FP/17-97/007 Indent No: 48-22-9622029 Parts For Oil Well Traveling Block Model 660H500 3.88 billion (each USD makes 42,000 rials) 195 million 3,946

Interested parties may receive tender documents, in person at the following address until June 20, 2018: Hall No.:113, 1st floor, Foreign Procurement Dept., National Iranian Drilling Company, Airport Square, Tehran, Iran.

To receive the tender documents, a sum of 510,000 rials ($12) should be paid to account #4001114004020491 (Central Bank of the Islamic Republic of Iran), under the title centralized income funds of National Iranian Drilling Company. The deposit receipt should be provided at the time of document obtainment.

Parties should submit tender documents along with bank guarantee and financial/technical offer sheets no later than July 28, 2018 to the following address: Hall #107, 1st floor, Tender Committee, Building Operations, National Iranian Drilling Company, Airport Sq., Ahwaz, Iran.

Phone: +98-61 34148205~6

The envelopes will be opened at 9:15 local time on July 29, 2018.
Karabakh conflict over, it's time to talk about peace - CMO chairman
Baku, Azerbaijan, June 4

By Rufiz Hafizoglu - Trend:

In April of 2018, 175,776 citizens of Georgia visited Turkey, which is 4,702 tourists less compared to April 2017, the Ministry of Culture and Tourism of Turkey told Trend June 4.

The ministry noted that the share of Georgian citizens in the total number of foreigners who visited Turkey in April 2018 is 6.62 percent. For comparison, in April 2017, this figure was 8.72 percent.

"Tourists from Georgia take third place among the citizens of other countries who visited Turkey in April 2018," the ministry said.

The ministry also noted that at the end of four months of 2018 (January-April), 651,228 tourists from Georgia visited Turkey, which is 11,735 people less than in the same period of 2017.

In April this year, over 2.7 million foreign tourists visited Turkey.

In 1Q2018, 7,263 million foreign tourists visited Turkey.

At the end of January-March 2018, Turkey's income from tourism increased by 31.3 percent compared to the same period last year.

Turkey's revenues from tourism in the first three months of this year amounted to $4.425 billion. Around 76.1 percent of the total profit for this period fell to the share of foreign citizens, and 23.9 percent accounted for Turkish citizens residing abroad.

Follow the author on Twitter: @rhafizoglu
Baku, Azerbaijan, June 4

By Rufiz Hafizoglu  Trend:

In April 2018, 22,308 citizens of Uzbekistan visited Turkey, which is 62.35 percent more than in the same month of 2017, the Ministry of Culture and Tourism of Turkey told Trend June 4.

The share of Uzbek citizens in the total number of foreigners who visited Turkey in April 2018 is 0.84 percent. For comparison, in April 2017, this figure was 0.66 percent, the ministry noted.

In April of this year, Turkey was visited by over 2.7 million foreign tourists.

In 1Q2018, 7.263 million foreign tourists visited Turkey.

At the end of January-March 2018, Turkey's income from tourism increased by 31.3 percent compared to the same period last year.

Turkey's revenues from tourism in the first three months of this year amounted to $4.425 billion. Around 76.1 percent of the total profit for the reporting period falls to the share of foreign nationals, while 23.9 percent accounted for Turkish nationals residing abroad.

Follow the author on Twitter: @rhafizoglu
Kazakhstan is consulting other producers on the potential easing of a 2016 oil output reduction agreement between the Organisation of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) and non-OPEC members, Kazakh Energy Minister Kanat Bozumbayev said recently, The Astana Times reports.

OPEC and non-OPEC countries agreed in November 2016 in Vienna to cut oil production by 1.8 million barrels per day, roughly 2 percent of global oil production, to ease a global supply glut and push up oil prices that dropped below $30 in early 2016 as the situation wa further exacerbated by Chinas economic slowdown and the U.S. increasing oil output as a shale oil producer.

We are now conducting consultations with our partners, non-OPEC members. I could not say anything concrete on that, said Bozumbayev.

The deal came into force in January 2017 over an initial six-month period. Though the Vienna agreement yielded its intended effect, the latest OPEC and non-OPEC producing countries meeting in November 2017 agreed to extend oil output curbs until the end of 2018.

Kazakhstans oil output, however, continued rising.

Over the first four months of 2018, oil production in Kazakhstan totalled 30 million tonnes, 6 percent higher as compared to the same period last year.

Bozumbayev noted, however, the country lives up to its obligations under the agreement.

We, Kazakhstan, are fulfilling our obligations under OPEC. We agreed that there will be a certain oil output volume and quota if it does not harm international investors. That is all what I can say, said Bozumbayev, emphasising that OPEC has no claims against Kazakhstan.

The countrys oil production volume, noted the minister, is forecast to reach 104 million tonnes per year by 2025 from the current 86 million, thanks to the major Kashagan, Tengiz and Karachaganak fields.

During the next OPEC meeting slated for June 22-23 in Vienna, the countries are expected to discuss terms of the agreement and potential adjustments based on current market conditions, among other issues. Russian Energy Minister Alexander Novak and Saudi Arabian Energy Minister Khalid al-Faleh, representing the worlds two largest oil producers, recently said the countries may start steadily increasing their oil production in the second half of 2018.

Bozumbayev confirmed Kazakhstans participation in the June meeting.
Baku, Azerbaijan, June 4

Trend:

President of Kazakhstan Nursultan Nazarbayev had a telephone conversation with President of Turkey Recep Tayyip Erdogan, the official website of the Kazakh Presidential Press Office Akorda reports.

During the conversation, the two heads of state discussed topical issues of bilateral cooperation and regional agenda.

The president of Kazakhstan congratulated Erdogan on the forthcoming official commissioning of the Trans-Anatolian gas pipeline (TANAP), which will be held on June 12 in the Turkish city of Eskisehir. The head of state expressed confidence that the project will contribute to the increase of the transit potential of the Republic of Turkey and will have a significant impact on its economic development.

In addition, Nursultan Nazarbayev and Recep Tayyip Erdogan discussed issues of further deepening the constructive dialogue between the two countries.

TANAP will be laid from the Georgian-Turkish border to the western border of Turkey. TANAP together with Trans-Adriatic Pipeline (TAP) is a part of the Southern Gas Corridor, which provides for the transportation of gas from the Azerbaijani field Shah Deniz to Europe.

The initial capacity of TANAP is expected to be 16 billion cubic meters of gas per year. About six billion cubic meters will be supplied to Turkey, and the rest to Europe. After completion of the TAP, the gas will reach Europe in early 2020.

The share distribution in TANAP is as follows: Southern Gas Corridor CJSC - 51 percent, SOCAR Turkey Enerji - 7 percent, Botas - 30 percent, and BP - 12 percent.
North Kazakhstan region will deliver its first batch of soybeans to China, Kazinform reports.

A Chinese delegation arrived in Petropavlovsk to debate prospects for mutual cooperation between North Kazakhstan and China in exporting local products.

"The key is that North Kazakhstan boasts ecologically clean products. We have the great potential to export our goods to China," Governor Kumar Aksakalov said.

According to China's representatives, they are ready to import soybeans and seed meal to China. Currently, China imports soybeans from Argentina and Brazil. That's why import of North Kazakhstan's products will be the best option for China.

As the governor said, the first lot of soybeans up to 100 tons will be delivered this autumn.

"It is planned to export 150,000 tons of oil-bearing crops and derived products. We will boost export volumes. We will sign contracts and choose the best farms to produce good and ecologically safe products," the governor added.

Currently, North Kazakhstan enjoys good relations and productively cooperates with Hubei, Shanxi and Shandong provinces. 30% of wheat and 40% of oil-bearing crops produced in Kazakhstan account for the region.
Tehran, Iran, June 4

By Kamyar Eghbalnejad - Trend:

Iran's government has eased restrictions for foreign banks to launch branches in the countrys free zones, an official said.

Previously, foreign banks had to bring in 150 million in order to be able to receive a license and open a branch in the country's free trade zones, Morteza Bank, the secretary of Iran's Free Zones High Council, told ISNA on June 2.

"The governor of the Central Bank of Iran gave us assurances that the amount could be adjusted," he added, noting, "The 150-million-euro ceiling has been removed".

"The governor of the Central Bank assured us that if there was a willingness from foreign banks to establish a presence in the countrys free zones, the [Central] Bank could help them and that the money should not be a cause of concern," Morteza Bank said.

This comes after US President Donald Trump announced on May 8 that Washington was walking away from the nuclear agreement, which was reached between Iran and the five permanent members of the UN Security Council - the US, Britain, France, Russia and China - plus Germany.

Trump also said he would reinstate US nuclear sanctions on Iran and impose "the highest level" of economic bans on the Islamic Republic.
Tehran, Iran, June 4



By Kamyar Eghbalnejad- Trend:



An official with Irans Seafood Exporters Union said the government is mulling plans to directly export shrimp to China.



We are in talks with relevant authorities to export potted shrimp to China and we plan to do this directly, Hassan Ahmadi Jazani, the deputy head of Irans Seafood Exporters Union, told the Trend news agency on June 4.



He added, China was a major importer of Iranian shrimps as it used to purchase 70 percent of the countrys shrimp.



In the past, the Chinese imported the Iranian shrimps via ports of Vietnam, Ahmadi Jazani said, noting that Tehran is now seeking to deliver the small sea creatures to China directly as they can no longer use Vietnamese borders.



Iran produced some 20,000 tons of shrimps last year and this is expected to reach 30,000 in the current Iranian year (started March 21), he added.



Once, Europe was a destination for Iranian shrimps, but it was later replaced with the UAE due to (banking) problems.



The deputy head of Irans Seafood Exporters Union added that Iran is also experiencing the same problem with Dubai and that this can be settled if Europe helps facilitate banking and trade transactions under new circumstances.



Elsewhere in the interview, Ahmadi Jazani pointed to Russias market and said, The problem with Russians is that they are interested in the wholesale trade and we cannot do wholesale under our normal exporting circumstances.



He further said Iran and Russia need to open a letter of credit to boost their business transactions.



More than 82,450 tons of different kinds of seafood worth $283 million were exported from Iran in the nine months to Dec. 21, 2017, registering a 23 percent and 37 percent growth in weight and value respectively compared with the similar period of last year.



Shrimp culture in Iran is mainly practiced in the provinces of Khuzestan, Hormozgan, Sistan-Baluchestan, Bushehr in the south and Golestan in the north.
Tehran, Iran, June 4



By kamyar Eghbalnejad - Trend:

Iranian Deputy Minister of Industry, Mining and Trade Mehdi Karbasian said Tehran would replace foreign firms with Chinese companies active in the field of mine industry if they backtrack on their agreements with Iran due to the threat of US sanctions.



"China, which owns 50% of the global share in the production of mineral industries, could be a good alternative to replace the firms that may renege on their promises with Iran (due to impending US sanctions)," Karbasian told IRNA news agency on June 2.



China would continue to trade with us even if the European Union turned its back on the 205 nuclear deal between Tehran and world powers as it currently controls 50 percent of worlds steel, aluminum, coal, and copper industries, he added.



Saying that Iranian President Hassan Rouhani will pay a working visit to China and attend the summit of the China and Russia-led security bloc the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO), he said the two sides would discuss ways to enhance ties in the face of the new US sanctions.



US President Donald Trump announced on May 8 that Washington was walking away from the nuclear agreement, which was reached between Iran and the five permanent members of the UN Security Council - the US, Britain, France, Russia and China - plus Germany.



Trump also said he would reinstate US nuclear sanctions on Iran and impose "the highest level" of economic bans on the Islamic Republic.



Karbasian further said that the value of Irans exports of mineral products stood at $9 billion, which he described as a new record.



Iran possesses 7% of the worlds total mineral reserves worth about $700 billion, including the worlds largest deposits of copper, zinc and iron ore, but officials say this figure could rise to $1.4 trillion with new discoveries. The provinces of Kerman, Yazd, East and West Azarbaijan and Golestan bear much of the countrys mineral reserves.
Tehran, Iran, June 4

By Kamyar Eghbalnejad - Trend:

An official with Irans Ministry of Roads and Urban Development warned that the Iran-Turkmenistan road transportation could suffer a major setback if Ashgabat decides to unilaterally increase road tolls.

Turkmenistan plan to increase road tolls for Iranian truck drivers by 50 percent, Adolhashem Hassannia said during a meeting with Turkmenistans Ambassador to Tehran Ahmad Ghorbanov on June 4, ILNA news agency reported.

The unilateral decision could affect the two nations road transportation and transit cooperation, he added.

Hassannia further called on the envoy to deliver his message to Turkmen officials to either reduce the tolls or reconsider their decision.

Iran has not increased the road tolls in good faith and in an attempt to help boost performance of the two countries transport fleets, he stressed.

Ghorbanov, for his part, said Ashgabat welcomes any economical plan that helps improve transportation cooperation and facilitates the transit capacity between the two neighboring nations.

Back in May, a joint economic meeting of Iran and Turkmenistan was held in the presence of Turkmenistan's Foreign Minister Rashid Meredov and Iranian transport minister Abbas Akhoundi, where the two sides explored avenues of further cooperation in railway, road, and aviation sectors.

Underlining that the transit capacity between Iran and Turkmenistan is much more than its current volume, the Iranian minister also called for more efforts to increase mutual production.

The Turkmen official, for his part, hoped that the meeting would bring good results and pave the way for growth of bilateral ties between the two sides.
Baku, Azerbaijan, June 4

Trend:

Irans Minister of Cooperatives, Labor and Welfare Ali Rabiee is scheduled to travel to Geneva, Switzerland on June 4 to participate in an annual meeting of the International Labor Conference (ILO).

The 107th Session of the International Labor Conference kicked off May 28 and will continue until June 8.

The Iranian minister will deliver a speech to the ILO General Assembly, according to a statement by Irans Ministry of Cooperatives, Labor and Welfare.

He also will meet with ILO Director General Guy Ryder and attend a meeting of the labor ministers of Asia and Oceania as well as a meeting of labor minister of the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM).

Rabiee is also expected to hold meetings with his counterparts from South Africa, Kazakhstan, Bulgaria, Finland, Ireland and Croatia on the sidelines of the event.

ILO establishes and adopts international labor standards and is a forum for discussion of key social and labor questions. It also adopts the UN organization's budget and elects the governing body.

At this year's conference, which brings together governments, employers and workers from 187 member states, participants will discuss standards to fight workplace violence and harassment so they can be adopted at the next years ILO meeting.
Irans top leader said on Monday he had ordered preparations to increase uranium enrichment capacity if a nuclear deal with world powers falls apart after the U.S. withdrawal, and he vowed never to accept limits on Tehrans ballistic missile program, Reuters reported.

Tensions between Iran and the West have resurged since President Donald Trump pulled the United States out of world powers 2015 nuclear deal with Tehran, calling it deeply flawed.

European signatories are scrambling to save the accord, which they see as crucial to forestalling an Iranian nuclear weapon, by seeking to ring-fence trade with Iran against new U.S. financial sanctions to dissuade Tehran from quitting the deal.

Our enemies will never be able to halt our nuclear progress...It is their bad dream and will not happen, Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei said in a televised speech.

In case European, Russian and Chinese signatories to the deal prove unable to protect its economic benefits for Iran, Khamenei said, I have ordered Irans atomic energy agency to be prepared to upgrade our (uranium) enrichment capacity.

He appeared to be hardening a threat to restore Irans disputed enrichment drive first made after Trump quit the nuclear deal.

One of Trumps demands - which European allies support in principle - is new negotiations to rein in Irans ballistic missile program, which was not covered by the nuclear deal.

Khamenei again ruled this out. Some Europeans are talking about limiting our defensive missile program. I am telling the Europeans, Limiting our missile work is a dream that will never come true, he said.

Under the deal, the Islamic Republic curbed its capacity to enrich uranium for nuclear fuel and in return won a lifting of most international sanctions that had hobbled its economy.

Trump also objected that the 2015 deal, reached under his predecessor Barack Obama, did not address Irans nuclear work beyond 2025 or its role in conflicts in Yemen and Syria. Though committed to the deal, European powers share Trumps concerns and want broader talks with Iran to address the issues.

Khamenei rejected this as economic and psychological... warfare against us, and new American sanctions are part of it.

For all of Irans fierce public riposte to U.S. threats of tougher sanctions, some senior Iranian officials see the U.S. position as a bargaining strategy and believe the door to a diplomatic compromise should stay open.
Baku, Azerbaijan, June 4

By Fikret Dolukhanov  Trend:

The new Armenian government will surely follow the way of Serzh Sargsyan and Robert Kocharyan even though their real desire is to make Armenia a pro-Western country, Caucasus Expert of Strategic Outlook Institution Mehmet Fatih Oztarsu told Trend.

He noted that newly appointed figures are mostly young and pro-Western names and in a short period, it is a smart step for Armenia, but there is no hope for a long-term change for the foreign policy direction.

Actually, neither Pashinyan nor his close environment knew what type of foreign policy should be followed from the first day of their protests. As against to Sargsyan, they could easily show their anti-Russian position, but they saw the reality after coming to power, Oztarsu said.

He said Pashinyan and his team understood that the foreign policy direction of Armenia cannot be changed easily due to its geopolitical dilemma. "So, they directly signaled that Russia is an indispensable partner of Armenia and there wouldn't be any change in the relations."

Oztarsu added that populism is generally the magic word of Pashinyan's initiatives.

This is not a new tool for the Armenian politicians. From the beginning of independence, populism rose around nationalist rhetoric, territorial claims and historical enmity with neighbors. Pashinyan is aware of this tool and using this properly. Visiting Karabakh and talking about Nakhchivan are obvious indicators of Pashinyan's term, the expert said.

According to Oztarsu, Pashinyan knows that he must use the nationalism tool to get domestic support to remain in power.

Yes, there is no solution offered for the country's foreign policy problems but this became a natural way of policy-making process in Armenia. Additionally, his son will join to army service in Karabakh. This is also a good advertisement for a sustainable populism, he concluded.

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Follow the author on Twitter: @FDolukhanov
Baku, Azerbaijan, June 4

By Leman Zeynalova  Trend:

Statements of some US congressmen against Azerbaijan are simply foolish attempts to distort the admirable economic development of the country, Peter Tase, US expert on Global Politics and Transatlantic Relations, an adviser to Global Engineering Deans Council and other prestigious International Institutions, told Trend June 4.

Statements made by Congressmen Brad Sherman (of California) and Christopher Smith (of New Jersey), are simply foolish attempts to distort the admirable economic development and industrial accomplishments of Azerbaijan that are commended by the entire world, he said.

Over the last five years, Representative Brad Sherman has issued many press releases and interviews defending the Armenian provocations taking place in the line of contact, while fully ignoring the fact that over twenty percent of Azerbaijani sovereign territory is under Armenian occupation and Armenian Armed Forces' provocation is going on a daily basis, noted Tase.

One of the pro-Armenian congressmen, Brad Sherman, who earlier launched an initiative to provide financial support to the separatist regime in Nagorno-Karabakh and the Armenians of Samtskhe-Javakheti, recently urged Turkey and Azerbaijan to stop the blockade of Armenia and aggression against Nagorno-Karabakh.

Along with the interests of the Armenians, Sherman has been also very active in advocating for the rights of the LGBT community.

Another pro-Armenian congressman, Christopher Smith, regularly calls for recognition of the so-called Armenian genocide.

Tase noted that this is while the US government fully supports Azerbaijan.

The United States President Donald J. Trump is a strong advocate of peace and security in the Caucasus Region. In his letter sent to President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev, we observe President Trump's commitment towards securing Azerbaijan's full territorial integrity and encouraging Baku to continue with its impressive projects in the fields of energy and natural gas supply lines, he added.

On May 30, US President Donald Trump congratulated Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev and the people of Azerbaijan on the 25th anniversary of the International Caspian Oil and Gas Exhibition and the first gas flowing into the Southern Gas Corridor.

Trump noted that Azerbaijans prolific oil fields bring stability to world energy markets.

Earlier, Trump, on behalf of the American people, congratulated Ilham Aliyev on the Republic Day and the 100th anniversary of the Azerbaijan Democratic Republic.

Trump said that Azerbaijan and the US share a close partnership, working together to solve difficult regional challenges.

The US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo also sent congratulations on the occasion of the Republic Day.

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Follow the author on Twitter: @Lyaman_Zeyn
Syrian President Bashar al-Assad said he plans to visit North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, North Korean state media reported on Sunday, potentially the first meeting between Kim and another head of state in Pyongyang, Al Arabia reported.

I am going to visit the DPRK and meet HE Kim Jong Un, Assad said on May 30, North Koreas KCNA news agency reported, using the initials of the countrys official name, the Democratic Peoples Republic of Korea.

There was no immediate comment from the Syrian presidents office.

Assad reportedly made the remarks as he received the credentials of North Korean Ambassador Mun Jong Nam.

Pyongyang and Damascus maintain good relations, and United Nations monitors have accused North Korea of cooperating with Syria on chemical weapons, a charge the North denies.

Both countries have faced international isolation, North Korea over its nuclear weapons program, and Syria over its tactics during a bloody civil war.

Since the beginning of the year, however, North Koreas Kim has launched a flurry of diplomatic meetings with leaders in China and South Korea, and is scheduled to hold a summit with U.S. President Donald Trump in Singapore on June 12.

Since taking power in 2011, Kim has not publicly met with another head of state in North Korea.

The world welcomes the remarkable events in the Korean peninsula brought about recently by the outstanding political caliber and wise leadership of HE Kim Jong Un, Assad said, according to KCNA. I am sure that he will achieve the final victory and realize the reunification of Korea without fail.

According to South Koreas foreign ministry, North Korea established diplomatic relations with Syria in 1966, opening its embassy in Damascus. Syria opened its mission in Pyongyang in 1969.

Close military cooperation between the two countries began when North Korea sent some 530 troops including pilots, tank drivers and missile personnel to Syria during the Arab-Israeli war in October 1973.

The Syrian government will as ever fully support all policies and measures of the DPRK leadership and invariably strengthen and develop the friendly ties with the DPRK, Assad said, as quoted by KCNA.
China said it regrets the European Commissions (EC) complaints to the World Trade Organisation over matters related to European firms patent rights, Reuters reports.

On Friday, the EC said it would lodge a complaint against China over its breach of patent rights of European companies, along with complaints against the United States over its tariffs.

Chinas Ministry of Commerce (MofCom) said in a statement published late on Sunday that the country will handle the complaint in accordance with the WTO dispute settlement procedures.

The Chinese government has always attached great importance to the protection of intellectual property rights and adopted strong measures to protect the legitimate rights and interests of domestic and foreign intellectual property rights holders, said MofCom.
Co-leader of the German Left Party (Die Linke) Sahra Wagenknecht called for returning Russia into the G7 to counterbalance the United States in the group, Sputnik reprots.

Germanys Left Party Co-leader Calls for Returning Russia to G7.

We expelled Russia from G8. The problem is that the United States is conducting there its own policy, which is not desirable for other six [states]. Maybe the Russian return to the G8 would be a counterbalance needed for conducting counterpolicy  We need Russia to solve problems, Wagenknecht told the Deutschlandfunk radio broadcaster.

The European Union is concerned over recent US President Donald Trumps decision to remove exemptions and impose 25 percent tariffs on steel and 10 percent tariffs on aluminum imports from the European Union, Canada and Mexico.

The G7 consists of Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the United Kingdom, and the United States. Russia used to be the group's member for 16 years until 2014, when the seven states boycotted the G8 summit in Russias Sochi, citing disagreements over the Ukrainian crisis.
A new project on fighting discrimination, hate crimes and hate speech in Georgia will be launched by the Council of Europe and Georgian authorities tomorrow, Agenda reports.

The project will look at ways of combining legislative, capacity-building and awareness raising actions to ensure the appreciation of diversity in Georgia and the possibility for everyone to freely enjoy their rights.

According to the latest report by the Council of Europes anti-discrimination body, the European Commission against Racism and Intolerance (ECRI), "hate speech against ethnic and religious minorities continues to be a widespread problem in Georgia, despite certain progress achieved by the country on anti-discrimination policies and legislation.

"The project that will run until the end of 2021 builds on long-standing cooperation between the Council of Europe, the Georgian authorities, the judiciary, law enforcement agencies and civil society partners. It is conducted under the Council of Europes Action Plan for Georgia, reads the statement released by the CoE today.

The launch event of the new project is organised in the framework of the European Dialogue on Internet Governance (EuroDIG).
The cabinet approved today's reform in Israel Electric Corporation following two and a half hours of tumultuous debate. Despite criticism by minister from the Jewish Home Party and objections by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, the vote was not postponed and the cabinet unanimously approved the reform.

During the debate, Netanyahu again raised the subject of the state's petition to the High Court of Justice against the right of IEC workers to go on strike in opposition to structural changes in the economy and commented on the power of the workers' committees in monopolies. At the same time, the state is likely to announce in the coming days the withdrawal of its High Court of Justice petition against the Histadrut (General Federation of Labor in Israel) and the IEC workers' committee, following today's cabinet approval of the reform in IEC.

The agreement was approved unanimously after both Netanyahu and Minister of Education Naftali Bennett admitted that "An electricity sector with reform is better than one without reform."

Netanyahu said during the discussion that although the bottom line was that he supported the agreement, "There is a bottom line below the bottom line." Netanyahu noted in this context that while from a historical perspective, organized labor had grown following the industrial revolution and in the circumstances of child labor and exploitation of workers, "The situation today is the opposite, and people have to be protected from the committees."
Israel said Monday it would send emergency aid money to Guatemala after a deadly volcanic eruption left at least 25 people dead and cities covered in ash, The Times of Israel reported.

The Foreign Ministry said it was sending $10,000 to the country. The money is to go toward buying medicine, food and blankets for those affected.

There was no immediate word on whether Israel would send search and rescue teams or other aid to the country, where lava flows have blocked roads, destroyed bridges and hampered rescue efforts.

We will later carry out an evaluation with the Guatemalan authorities, the ministry said in a statement.

The Volcan de Fuego, Spanish for volcano of fire, exploded in a hail of ash and molten rock shortly before noon Sunday, blanketing nearby villages in heavy ash. It then began sending lava flows down the mountains flank and across homes and roads around 4 p.m.

Authorities said at least 25 people were killed and 20 more injured, with fears the death toll could rise.
Baku, Azerbaijan, June 4

Trend:

Militants of the Jabhat al-Nusra terrorist groups on June 4 targeted with shells the town of Khan Arnabeh in Quneitra countryside near the border with Israel, RIA Novosti reported, referring to the National Agency of Syria SANA.

SANA reporter said that Jabhat al-Nusra terrorists, positioned in Um Batena village, targeted with a number of rocket and mortar shells the town of Khan Arnabeh. The reporter added that no casualties were reported. Material damage to the citizens houses and properties has been caused.

The army artillery responded by targeting the areas from which shells were fired in the village, destroying a number of rocket launching pads and inflicting heavy losses upon the armed groups.

On May 31, terrorists targeted with mortar and rocket shells the village of Jaba, also located in Quneitra province on the Golan Heights.
Foreign Minister of South Korea Kang Kyung-wha and US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo discussed in a telephone conversation on Monday preparations for next weeks summit meeting U.S. President Donald Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, TASS with reference to the Yonhap news agency reported.

"During the 15-minute talks, Foreign Minister Kang Kyung-wha and her US counterpart Mike Pompeo discussed recent developments in preparations for the summit slated to take place next Tuesday in Singapore," the agency reported citing the Foreign Ministry of South Korea.

"The two sides agreed to work together to explore ways to achieve complete denuclearization and a lasting peace on the peninsula through close consultations," the ministry added.

On May 24, US President Trump informed Kim Jong-un via letter of his refusal to participate in the summit which had planned to be held on June 12 in Singapore. The White House pinned the responsibility on North Korea, citing Pyongyangs militaristic statements.

At the same time, Pyongyang dismantled the Punggye-ri nuclear test site, one of the key objects of the North Korean nuclear program. In 2006-2017, six tests had been performed at the site, including the testing of a thermonuclear bomb.

Last week, Trump announced that the United States was still planning to hold the first ever summit with North Korea in Singapore on June 12.
Islamic State said it had carried out a deadly suicide attack on Monday near a gathering of Muslim clerics in Kabul, without providing evidence for its claim, Reuters reported.

Mondays bomb attack killed 14 people, the latest in a series of attacks to hit the Afghan capital. The IS claim, made via an online statement, said 70 people had been killed.

Islamic State regularly makes claims for extremist attacks without providing any evidence it was involved.
Russia is interested in a united European Union and is not seeking to divide it, Russian President Vladimir Putin said in an interview with Austrias ORF radio and television company in the run-up to his upcoming visit to Austria.

"For us there is no goal of driving a wedge between someone in the European Union. On the contrary, we are interested in a united and prosperous EU, as the EU is our most important economic and trade partner," Putin said.

The Kremlin press service said Russian President Vladimir Putin would pay a working visit to Austria on June 5.

The program includes talks with Austrian President Alexander Van der Bellen and Federal Chancellor Sebastian Kutz. The parties are expected to discuss the current state of affairs and prospects for Russian-Austrian relations in various areas and to exchange views on key global issues. Putin is expected to meet with businessmen from both countries to discuss matters on mutually beneficial trade and economic cooperation with a focus on the 50th anniversary of the launch of a large-scale energy project - supplies of natural gas from the former Soviet Union to Europe, the Kremlin said.
Baku, Azerbaijan, June 4

Trend:

Russian President Vladimir Putin signed a federal law ratifying an agreement on development of military-technical cooperation with Kyrgyzstan, RIA Novosti reported.

The document was signed on June 20, 2017 and ratified by Kyrgyzstan's parliament on Dec. 21, 2017.

The agreement stipulates improvement of the mechanism of supply of military products, provision of armed forces, military formations and special services with highly effective weapons systems, as well as formation of a technical component of the collective security system.
Baku, Azerbaijan, May 4

Trend:

Three Turkish soldiers were killed in the clashes with the PKK militants, said in the message of the country's General Staff.

According to the message, another soldier was injured. The militants attacked Turkish soldiers in the province of Hakkari.

A special operation to eliminate terrorists was launched in the province.

The conflict between Turkey and the PKK, which requires the creation of an independent Kurdish state, has lasted more than 25 years, and has claimed more than 40,000 lives. The PKK is recognized as a terrorist organization by the UN and the EU.
Baku, Azerbaijan, May 4

Trend:

US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo will hold talks in Washington with Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu on Monday

The main issue of talks will be the coordination of the road map for cooperation in Syrian Manbiju. Bilateral relations, other regional and international issues of mutual interest will be discussed as well.

Cavushoglu will also meet in Washington with representatives of Turkish and Muslim communities in the US, American business circles, think tanks and press.
Baku, Azerbaijan, June 4

By Rufiz Hafizoglu  Trend:

Turkey has 11 military bases in northern Iraq, and this greatly facilitates the fight against the Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK), Turkish Prime Minister Binali Yildirim said, Turkish media reported June 4.

As part of the operations in northern Iraq and Syria, a territory of 250 square kilometers was cleared of terrorists, he noted.

Turkeys goal is to ensure security of its borders, starting from Syria and ending with the border with Iran, Yildirim said.

The conflict between Turkey and the PKK, which demands the creation of an independent Kurdish state, has continued for more than 30 years and has claimed more than 40,000 lives.

The UN and the European Union list the PKK as a terrorist organization.

On January 20, the Turkish armed forces launched the Operation Olive Branch together with the Free Syrian Army in the Syrian region of Afrin.

---

Follow the author on Twitter: @rhafizoglu
Baku, Azerbaijan, June 4

By Rufiz Hafizoglu  Trend:

General Directorate of State Hydraulic Works of Turkey has announced a tender for provision of technical support services for Microsoft premier software solutions.

Turkish and foreign companies can participate in the tender.

The tender will be held on June 25, 2018 at 10:00 (GMT +3).

Tender bids and proposals are accepted at: Kazm Karabekir Caddesi No: 70 Ulus Altndag/Ankara.

The participation fee is 200 Turkish liras.

For more information, call: (+90 312) 616 11 26

Fax: (+90 312) 324 15 98

Email: [email protected]

(1 USD = 4.6005 TRY on June 4)

---

Follow the author on Twitter: @rhafizoglu
Turkey and the United States have endorsed a road map over the withdrawal of the Peoples Protection Units (YPG) from Manbij province of Syria after months-long negotiations, the Turkish foreign ministry announced after the meeting between two sides foreign ministers in Washington on June 4, Hurriyet Daily News reported.

Foreign Minister Mevlut Chavushoglu and U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo met in their first encounter in Washington D.C. to primarily finalize a joint work to end a bilateral dispute over the presence of the YPG troops in Manbij.

They considered the recommendations of the Turkey-U.S. Working Group on Syria pertaining to the future of our bilateral cooperation in Syria on issues of mutual interest, to include taking steps to ensure the security and stability in Manbij. They endorsed a Road Map to this end and underlined their mutual commitment to its implementation, reflecting their agreement to closely follow developments on the ground, read joint statement issued following the meeting on June 4.

It did not unveil details of the road map but its believed that it stipulates the withdrawal of the YPG from Manbij and the joint control of the city by Turkish and American troops. The road map includes a certain timeline that suggests the withdrawal of the YPG within 30 days after the beginning of the implementation of this road map.

Turkey has long been calling its NATO ally to let the YPG remove its troops from Manbij due to the citys strategic location for Turkeys security.

The statement underlined the reaffirmation by Turkey and the U.S. to remain committed to addressing their common concerns in a spirit of allied partnership.

The two ministers exchanged views on bilateral and regional issues and reaffirmed their joint resolve to fight terrorism in all its forms and manifestations, it said.

Mevlut Chavushoglu and Secretary Pompeo also discussed Turkey-U.S. relations and agreed to hold further meetings of the working group mechanism to resolve current outstanding issues in the bilateral relationship. An initial session of the Working Group on Judicial and Other Issues took place immediately after the meeting of the Minister and the Secretary, read the joint statement.
KYODO NEWS - Jun 4, 2018 - 15:32 | All, Japan

The former head of a parents' association at a school near Tokyo pleaded not guilty on Monday to murdering a 9-year-old Vietnamese girl who attended the school.

During his first hearing in the trial at Chiba District Court, Yasumasa Shibuya, 47, denied killing Le Thi Nhat Linh, saying, "All (the allegations) are wrong. The prosecutors' claims are fictitious and fabricated, and I am absolutely not involved in the case."

According to the indictment, Shibuya snatched Linh by car on the morning of March 24 and sexually assaulted her before strangling her and abandoning her body near a drainage ditch in the city of Abiko, Chiba Prefecture.

At the time of the murder, Shibuya headed the parents' group at the girl's elementary school.



(Le Thi Nhat Linh's father Le Anh Hao arrives at Chiba District Court)

Prosecutors claimed Shibuya was the assailant, citing blood and saliva taken from Shibuya's minivehicle and camper van, which matched the victim's DNA. They added that evidence matching Shibuya's DNA was also found from Linh's body.

But the defense counsel argued the blood in the minivehicle may have been left before the murder as Linh had been in the defendant's car, adding that investigative authorities may have deliberately left the DNA samples of the defendant and the victim.

Linh, a third grader in Matsudo, Chiba Prefecture, was on her way to school to attend a ceremony marking the end of the academic year.

Le Anh Hao, the 35-year-old father of Linh, told reporters, "I am furious. If he is really the criminal, it is unforgivable."

Related coverage:



Slain Vietnamese girl's dad hopes similar tragedy never happens

7-year-old girl likely killed hours before being hit by train

Inmate arrested for 2004 murder of 9-year-old girl in Japan

The prosecutors also said in the hearing that from around 3:30 p.m. to the evening on the day when Linh went missing, Shibuya's minivehicle traveled near the site where Linh's school bag was found.

They added that a recording captured by Shibuya's dashboard camera at the time of the incident was erased in April last year.

Shibuya kept his silence or refused to speak about the allegations -- which also included sexual assault, abduction and abandoning her body -- during the investigation, according to investigative sources.

The trial is set to conclude after a total of 10 hearings through June 18. The date of ruling will be announced later.
KYODO NEWS - Jun 4, 2018 - 21:55 | All, Japan

Japanese Finance Minister Taro Aso said Monday he will forfeit part of his salary to take responsibility for his ministry's falsification of documents related to cronyism allegations against Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, but he batted away calls from opposition parties for him to resign.

Aso will voluntarily return 1.7 million yen ($15,500), the annual amount he receives as a member of the Cabinet but will keep the more than 20 million yen he earns as a lawmaker.

The doctored documents -- totaling roughly 4,000 pages -- were related to the 2016 sale of a plot of state-owned land in Osaka Prefecture to Moritomo Gakuen, a nationalist school operator with ties to Abe's wife Akie. The land was offered at a steep discount, stirring suspicions that political pressure was at play.

The issue has dogged the prime minister for more than a year, sapping support for Abe within the ruling Liberal Democratic Party ahead of a leadership election in the fall.

The ministry said Monday it is punishing 20 officials, including former senior bureaucrat Nobuhisa Sagawa, for doctoring and destroying documents related to the murky public land sale.

"The falsification of government documents is unacceptable and extremely regrettable," Aso said at a press conference, while denying that the tampering was carried out because of Akie Abe's friendly relationship with Yasunori Kagoike, the head of Moritomo Gakuen at the time.

Opposition lawmakers ramped up calls for Aso to step down, with Renho of the Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan calling his refusal to do so "ridiculous."

Meanwhile, Abe said he wanted Aso, a close ally who doubles as deputy prime minister, to "spearhead efforts to prevent a recurrence."

The ministry on Monday released the findings of an internal probe that said Sagawa, who was then head of the ministry bureau that manages state assets, had "set the direction" of the document tampering, telling his subordinates to "closely examine" the documents and rewrite them if there were any inconsistencies with testimony he had given in parliament.

While he did not explicitly order the removal of references to Akie Abe and LDP lawmakers, he did say the lawmakers' names should not become public.

Sagawa, 60, is no longer a public servant and will have his roughly 50 million yen retirement pay cut by 5.13 million yen, a punishment equivalent to a three-month suspension.

One of the subordinates, Minoru Nakamura, the head of the bureau's planning and administration division, also played a "central role" in the mishandling of documents, according to the findings, and will be suspended for one month.

Some who received the instructions refused to follow them, Aso said, adding that the suicide earlier this year of an Osaka-based official who did take part in the falsification was truly unfortunate.

The probe also found that the prime minister's testimony in parliament in February last year that neither he nor his wife was involved in the land sale -- and that he would resign if evidence to the contrary were found -- provided the impetus for the officials to begin destroying documents.

Meanwhile, a civic group that has filed charges against Sagawa and other officials asked Monday for an inquest into Osaka prosecutors' decision last month not to pursue the case due to a lack of evidence.

The plot of land in Toyonaka, Osaka Prefecture, was sold to Moritomo Gakuen for 134 million yen despite being appraised for 956 million yen.

The discount was ostensibly to cover the cost of removing waste buried at the site, but it later came to light that the price was cut by an amount far greater than warranted for the actual amount of waste that needed to be dealt with.
KYODO NEWS - Jun 4, 2018 - 14:49 | All, Feature

Japan's young generation is positive about changing jobs, recent surveys have found, highlighting a shift in attitudes as more employment opportunities arise.

After years of stagnation in Japan's job market, the tide is now turning for job-hunting students, according to one recruitment consultant knowledgeable about employment trends.

"Now that it has become easier for students to secure a job offer, it is easier for them to consider changing jobs," Masanao Tanide said.

According to Tokyo-based recruitment information company Disco Inc.'s survey of new employees conducted in January, a total of 43.1 percent of the 455 respondents said they were "already acting to change jobs" or "considering changing jobs."

Tanide said the figure of 40 percent is unusually "high for those just into their first year."

Among those actively searching or considering a new job, the average satisfaction rate with their current employers dropped to 57.3 percent from 72.7 percent when they entered. Most of them complained about long overtime hours, low salaries and insufficient in-house training.

Japan's employment system is based on hiring new graduates all at once in April. Prior to that, students in their junior year engage in job-hunting activities so that they can secure employment by the time they graduate.

(University students attend a job-hunting session near Tokyo in March 2017)

While the lifetime employment system is said to have been crumbling since the 1990s, the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications has said the job turnover rate has stayed at around 5 percent over the last decade.

Some respondents regretted not doing enough research on their companies in advance, saying they should have asked former employees about the flaws of the company, or that they realized they focused on the glamorous side of their jobs only to find out after joining that their tasks were not what they had imagined them to be.

Asked whether they would choose the same company if they were to go through job hunting again as students, 12.2 percent of respondents said they would definitely go elsewhere, and 45.1 percent said they would make a different choice if they could.

A separate survey of people aged 16 to 29 conducted by the Cabinet Office last October and November showed that a total of 72 percent of 10,000 respondents were supportive of changing careers.

Asked about working in a company that does not suit their abilities and qualifications, 10 percent said they should proactively seek a different job, 25.4 percent said it would be better to change jobs and 36.7 percent said changing jobs cannot be avoided.

Meanwhile, those who answered that they "must not change jobs" or "they should not change jobs as much as possible" stood at 17.3 percent in total.

By gender, women were more inclined to change jobs, with 78 percent of them positive over such moves in contrast to the male respondents at 67 percent.

In 2015, Japan's largest business lobby known as Keidanren changed the embargo on job interviews from August to June, leaving only three months for students to prepare for job applications and interviews.

"Students should broaden their minds by researching the company's clients and the industry, and simulate how they could contribute to that company," Tanide said.

Related coverage:

Record 98% of univ. graduates in Japan land jobs amid recovering economy

Japan to welcome 500,000 foreign workers to help plug labor shortage

Work-life harmony, not balance, the answer for this super dad
KYODO NEWS - Jun 4, 2018 - 05:29 | All, World

Three crew members of the International Space Station returned to Earth on Sunday after completing a five-and-a-half month mission, the U.S. National Aeronautics and Space Administration said.

A Soyuz spacecraft carrying Russian cosmonaut Anton Shkaplerov, Norishige Kanai of Japan and Scott Tingle of NASA landed in the Kazakhstan countryside around 6:40 p.m., three-and-a-half hours after detaching from the station.

The three had been on the orbital laboratory since mid-December, with Shkaplerov, 46, serving as mission commander from February until he turned over command to American Drew Feustel on Saturday.

"(The landing) was like a roller coaster. All over again I feel my body is heavy, I feel the gravity," Kanai told reporters after he was taken from the spacecraft.

Kanai, a 41-year-old former Maritime Self-Defense Force doctor, had drawn international attention for claiming on Twitter to have grown 9 centimeters taller after three weeks at the space station due to the absence of gravity. He later said he had made a measurement mistake and had only grown 2 cm.

During his stay at the ISS, he conducted various scientific experiments as the 12th Japanese astronaut to travel into space and the seventh to stay at the ISS for a period of months.

Kanai became the fourth Japanese astronaut to walk in space in February.

In April, he operated the ISS's robotic arm to catch a U.S. unmanned resupply ship.
KYODO NEWS - Jun 4, 2018 - 17:45 | Sports, All

Sumo wrestler Tochinoshin, who was recently promoted to the sport's second-highest rank, said Sunday he plans to ask Georgian President Giorgi Margvelashvili to build a sumo ring in his homeland.

The 30-year-old, who won the 15-day January Grand Sumo Tournament this year, expressed his intention to ask the president in person when he returns to Georgia for the first time in a year.

"We don't have a ring made of earth in Georgia yet," Tochinoshin said, while attending a party in Tokyo's Ryogoku Kokugikan. "I want to talk about many things with him."

Related stories:

Tochinoshin promoted to ozeki, 2nd-highest rank

Tochinoshin's journey to come full circle in Nagoya

Tochinoshin stays perfect, gets 1st win over Hakuho on Day 12

Tochinoshin, whose real name is Levan Gorgadze, became the third European wrestler to reach the ozeki rank when his promotion was rubber stamped by the Japan Sumo Association on Wednesday.

He will join Takayasu and Goeido in the rank for July's Nagoya Grand Sumo Tournament after he returns from his time home in Georgia, where he also plans to attend his brother's wedding.

"I'm nervous because my situation has changed," Tochinoshin said. "There's going to be a lot to get used to."

(Tochinoshin, facing camera, upsets Mongolian yokozuna Hakuho on the 12th day of the Summer Grand Sumo Tournament in Tokyo on May 24)
By Tomoyuki Tachikawa, KYODO NEWS - Jun 4, 2018 - 11:31 | World, All

Japan has reached a turning point in deciding whether it will continue to advocate "pressure" on North Korea, as its close ally, the United States, has leaned toward dialogue with Pyongyang.

Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe has reiterated in recent years, back when North Korea was still ratcheting up tensions, that maintaining "pressure" on Pyongyang is vital to compel it to discard its nuclear weapons and ballistic missiles.

But Abe has been forced to withdraw his signature policy toward North Korea in the wake of U.S. President Donald Trump's pledge to refrain from using the word "maximum pressure" ahead of the upcoming summit between Washington and Pyongyang on June 12 in Singapore.

On Friday, Trump, who has developed strong personal relations with Abe since taking office in January 2017, said he does not want to use the term "maximum pressure" anymore because the United States and North Korea are now "getting along."



(Trump receives North Korean leader Kim Jong Un's personal letter delivered by close aide Kim Yong Chol at the White House on June 1)

[Photo courtesy of the White House]

Trump's remarks led to Japanese Defense Minister Itsunori Onodera amending the speech he delivered Saturday at a session of the Asia Security Summit, known as the Shangri-La Dialogue, which took place in Singapore for three days from Friday.

According to a speech draft obtained by Kyodo News last week, Onodera was supposed to say that it is necessary to "maintain maximum pressure" on North Korea.

In the actual speech, Onodera said it is necessary to "maintain maximum pressure that has been currently imposed on North Korea," apparently trying to give the impression that Japan is not considering putting more pressure on Pyongyang.

"We had to change some expressions in the speech, immediately after we knew President Trump made the comments," a Japanese Defense Ministry official said.

Nevertheless, Onodera was lambasted at the session by South Korean Defense Minister Song Young Moo, who has emphasized the importance of talks with the North to achieve denuclearization on the divided peninsula.

Japan has "hurt" dialogue with North Korea, Song said.

Later Saturday, Onodera shied away from using the word "pressure" with regard to North Korea at a press conference following a trilateral meeting with his U.S. and Australian counterparts, Jim Mattis and Marise Payne.

Among Japanese journalists covering Onodera's moves, speculation is rife that Abe's government has modified its policy in consideration of the United States.

On Sunday, Onodera held trilateral talks with Mattis and Song. At their previous meeting in October last year, the three defense chiefs agreed to continue putting maximum pressure on North Korea to resolve Pyongyang's nuclear crisis.

(From right: Onodera, Mattis, Song)

After the latest trilateral gathering, Onodera said only, "Japan, the United States and South Korea have so far basically agreed to maintain pressure."

The word "pressure" was not incorporated in a joint statement released after their talks. Instead, the significance of dialogue with North Korea was stressed.

"The three ministers welcomed the results of the two recent Inter-Korean Summits" in April and May, the statement said, adding they "noted the positive changes that have been bought about are setting favorable conditions for the U.S.-North Korea Summit."

Onodera indicated Japan has made minor adjustments to its policy, telling reporters, "Pressure and dialogue will go together."

Even after North Korea's conciliatory gestures and active diplomacy since the beginning of the year, Japan has warned against Pyongyang's "smile diplomacy," through which Tokyo says it is aiming to weaken international economic sanctions against it.

Abe said at a joint press conference with Trump on April 18 in Palm Beach, Florida, that they "completely" agreed to keep maximum pressure on Pyongyang, more than one month after the U.S. President decided to hold a summit with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un.

When Abe visited Trump Tower in New York in November 2016, he explained the necessity of putting pressure on North Korea, as the then president-elect did not have any policy toward Pyongyang's nuclear threat, a source close to the matter told Kyodo News.

(Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe)

"Mr. Abe has been proud of himself, believing he has succeeded in prodding President Trump to maximize pressure on North Korea," the source said.

The situation, however, has been drastically changing in recent months. Kim has held talks with Chinese President Xi Jinping and South Korean President Moon Jae In twice separately since March, and he is scheduled to meet with Trump.

As expectations are rife that Kim will meet with Russian President Vladimir Putin in the not-so-distant future, Abe is likely to become the only leader who is not able to communicate with North Korea among member countries of the long-stalled six-party talks on North Korea's nuclear program.

"Prime Minister Abe may have been left at the altar," Yuichiro Tamaki, co-head of the opposition Democratic Party for the People, told reporters.
Sooraj S Kumar, the mastermind of the chilling snakebite murder case reported from Kerala a few years ago, is set to serve his entire life in the prison.
Sandy Parakilas

Pablo Monero

Sandy Parakilas is the former Facebook employee who blew the whistle on the firm's internal security practices during the Cambridge Analytica scandal.

He will travel to Brussels on Monday to explain to European lawmakers how Facebook could have prevented Cambridge Analytica from obtaining 87 million user profiles.

Parakilas said the data breach was a "disaster" for which the only person who should be fired is CEO Mark Zuckerberg himself.

Parakilas said he wants to keep holding Facebook to account until it does more to protect elections.



If Mark Zuckerberg and Sheryl Sandberg didn't know Sandy Parakilas' name when he quit Facebook in 2012, they certainly do now.

Parakilas was an operations manager at Facebook's Menlo Park headquarters in California between 2011 and 2012. He became headline news in late 2017 when he warned that Facebook couldn't regulate itself in an op-ed for the New York Times.

He went one step further in March 2018 after The Guardian revealed how Cambridge Analytica got hold of people's private data, and Parakilas dropped the bombshell claim that Facebook could have prevented the entire scandal.

Specifically, Parakilas said he warned back in 2012 that Facebook's developer platform posed a major security risk, because the company had few measures to see what app makers were doing with people's information.

That was prescient given the Cambridge Analytica scandal turned on a rogue developer, academic Aleksandr Kogan, taking advantage of Facebook's platform to hoover up some 87 million user profiles.

Aleksandr Kogan

CBS

Now Parakilas is waging a global battle against Facebook, a company currently worth $557 billion (417 billion), to ensure the firm can't jeopardise future elections and put people's personal data at risk.

Parakilas has played a major role in US congressional hearings about the scandal, has testified to British politicians, and is about to fly to Brussels to explain the scandal in more technical detail to European lawmakers.

Story continues

"I've heard from some people inside Facebook, they appreciate what I'm doing," Parakilas told Business Insider in a phone interview. "Im pretty sure Mark [Zuckerberg] and Sheryl [Sandberg] do not appreciate what Im doing. I have no intention of stopping until the company is doing all it needs to do to protect our elections."

Facebook's ability to influence how people vote is a major worry in Europe, lawmakers told Business Insider earlier this month.

One politician, Molly Scott Cato, said of Zuckerberg: "He's totally out of his depth  he talks about setting Facebook up in college with this homey story and I'm, like, 'Christ, this guy has the fate of European democracy in his hands and he doesn't know what to do.'"

Parakilas added that he's not exactly delighting in bringing Facebook down a notch.

"No ones pleased," he said. "This is a disaster. I am personally aghast, and it would have been better if they had fixed this issue six years ago, but they didnt."

Parakilas is convinced there's more misuse of Facebook data

Mark Zuckerberg and Sheryl Sandberg

Facebook

Insiders have suggested there is likely to be a second data scandal that will be equal to the Cambridge Analytica leak. Parakilas agreed.

Since the interview, The New York Times revealed that Facebook had data-sharing agreements with device makers such as Apple and Samsung, though Facebook has argued this doesn't consitute misuse of data.

"I think the risk of another significant misuse from Facebook is 100%," Parakilas told Business Insider. "Theres no way that Cambridge Analytica was the only bad actor."

This is because, as he and others have pointed out, thousands of apps once had access to Facebook's developer platform. And one study suggested around 11% accessed people's friend data.

"What's the chance that only one app developer did something bad with all that data?" said Parakilas. "The culture, in general, was one, when I was there, that did not encourage deep auditing of what third parties were doing."

Facebook is now conducting its own investigations to root out other rogue developers and Zuckerberg said the company is working with a third-party auditor to nail down any wrongdoing. Facebook has already suspended 200 apps and is probing thousands of others. CTO Mike Schroepfer said last week that there has been the biggest cultural shift inside the company in a decade.

Although Parakilas himself only worked directly with Zuckerberg "a little bit," he said the CEO was extremely hands on. He thinks this is why no one has yet been fired at Facebook over Cambridge Analytica.

"Sheryl Sandberg [has] said Mark takes responsibility because he designed the platform," Parakilas said. "That's true, Mark was very hands-on. Arguably, if Mark was going to fire someone for making the biggest strategic mistake here, it would be himself."

Mark Zuckerberg is both chairman and CEO of Facebook and, thanks to his voting rights, essentially has total control over the company.

"The issue here is a structural one, the structure is set from the absolute top, by Mark and Sheryl," Parakilas added. "There's no independent board. Firing some mid-level manager doesn't solve the problem."

EU regulators have "little to lose" in going after Facebook

Claude Moraes

Getty

Parakilas will repeat his warnings about Facebook when he appears before European lawmakers on Monday.

But, he added, he also wants to talk about the EU's new privacy law, the General Data Protection Regulation, which kicked in on May 25 and is having major repercussions for tech and ad companies.

"I think GDPR is a great first step," he said. "I think if we really want to ensure that users are protected moving forward, we have to find ways to encourage new businesses that are aligned with the interests of users. Regulation can be a tool to encourage entrepreneurship."

He added: "People in the US are more constrained about going after a big, popular, valuable US company than people in Europe and the UK. [The latter] have little to lose by going after Facebook... There's also the fact that in the US we have this long tradition of not regulating privacy on the internet at all.

Business Insider has contacted Facebook for comment.

NOW WATCH: Google's new AI can impersonate a human to schedule appointments and make reservations

See Also:

SEE ALSO: 'Christ, this guy has the fate of European democracy in his hands': Lawmakers are worried Mark Zuckerberg still doesn't understand Facebook's massive power
Apples About to Make Your iPhone Cooler (And Help You Use It Less)

Just shy of 10 years after the debut of the App store, seems to feel conflicted about the hyperconnected world it has helped create. The most anticipated announcements at the iPhone creator's software-focused 2018 World Wide Developers Conference (WWDC) this week include a feature designed to help you spend less time staring at your phone, alongside some big ones that seem destined to keep users even more hooked.

Apple has largely dodged the recent wave of public outrage and anxiety over tech's addictive and privacy-eroding nature. But it has faced some criticism from shareholders, and it is expected this week to announce more robust parental controls and usage-tracking features for the iPhone. Those are coming as part of a push for "Digital Health," according to Cnet.

At the same time, though, sources recently told Reuters that WWDC will introduce major augmented reality features to iOS. If megahit Pok?mon GO is any indicator, augmented reality - which layers virtual objects onto the real world - could make screen time even more addictive for some.

Get Data Sheet, Fortune's technology newsletter.

Reuters says the new iOS feature will allow at least two players to interact with shared virtual objects embedded in the real world. True to form, Apple's version of that trick is expected to have more robust privacy protections than similar features recently introduced for Google's Android mobile platform.

Bloomberg also reported last week that multiplayer AR features will be a big part of the new iOS, expected to be known as iOS12. Unconfirmed reports suggest that Apple is working on an augmented reality headset scheduled for release in 2020.

A handful of less dramatic upgrades to iOS and the desktop macOS are also expected to be announced at the 2018 WWDC, including iOS tweaks to notifications, video calling, and animoji. Though Apple has used WWDC to showcase hardware in the past, no big reveals on that front are expected this year.

Story continues

See original article on Fortune.com

More from Fortune.com
Australian beach town Agnes Water is billing itself the countrys first digital currency town in an effort to attract international digital-savvy travelers to boost its primary industry, tourism.

Over 30 local businesses including accommodation providers, tour operators, restaurants and even the local pub in Agnes Water are now accepting cryptocurrencies, despite being a town of a mere 2,000 permanent residents. Welcome to Agnes Water-1770, Australias First Digital Currency Town reads a billboard in welcoming visitors driving in, with support for cryptocurrencies including bitcoin, bitcoin cash, NEM, litecoin and ethereum.

Source: Facebook/NEM

The beach towns initiative to embrace cryptocurrency payments stems from local real estate agent Gordon Christian who began looking into accepting cryptocurrencies after a client, a local business owner, explored how to go about processing a bitcoin payment from a customer. Soon enough, Christians interest was piqued further when he learned that Brisbane International Airport, a five-hour drive from Agnes Water, had begun accepting cryptocurrencies at a number of retail storefronts.

Selling the idea to local businesses wasnt hard, he revealed. We started from the ground up, shared it with a couple of businesses and they were straight on board  I guess they were international travellers themselves and had heard of these types of payments, he told ABC News. Initially we had a good 10 businesses that just said, Fine  lets go for it.

Local tourism operator Arty Cipak added:

If its going to take cryptocurrency to get tourists to town, then bring it on.

Presently, 31 local businesses including resorts, backpacking establishments, tour companies and eateries are now accepting cryptocurrency payments through a point-of-sale app developed by TravelbyBit, a Queensland-based crypto payments startup.

Weve got merchants all over Australia but theyre very sporadic, TravelbyBit CEO Caleb Yeoh said. [Agnes Water and] the Town of 1770 has the highest concentration.

Story continues

While its early days, Australias first digital currency town could soon lure a nice group of international tourists to Agnes Water rather than mainstream destinations, according to the crypto executive.

The town has made a very strategic move in trying to appeal to a niche market to take perhaps some of those tourists  to come out to their little part of the woods, he said.

Yeoh added:

If you travel around the world you have to deal with multiple currencies, the exchange rate can be confusing, sometimes you struggle to find ATMs, and sometimes you get swindled by money changers. Travelling with one global currency like Bitcoin  makes sense.

Agnes Water beach image from Shutterstock.



The post Australias First Digital Currency Town Accepts Bitcoin to Boost Tourism appeared first on CCN.


FILE PHOTO - Former Goldman Sachs computer programmer Sergey Aleynikov (L) smiles as he exits Manhattan Criminal Court in New York, August 9, 2012. REUTERS/Brendan McDermid/File Photo

By Brendan Pierson

NEW YORK (Reuters) - Former Goldman Sachs Group Inc programer Sergey Aleynikov on Monday filed a new challenge to his criminal conviction of stealing computer code from the investment bank when he left for another job.

Aleynikov, whose case partly inspired Michael Lewis' bestselling book "Flash Boys" on high-frequency trading in the U.S. equity market, previously got his conviction overturned by the judge who oversaw his 2015 trial in Manhattan Supreme Court.

A New York appeals court reinstated the conviction, and the New York Court of Appeals, the state's highest court, upheld that decision last month.

Aleynikov, a Russian-born U.S. citizen, has said he intended the code only for his own use.

Aleynikov, 48, said in the filing that although the Court of Appeals upheld his conviction, its reasoning in doing so showed that the jury had been given incorrect instructions, and that his case violated the prohibition against double jeopardy.

The office of Manhattan District Attorney Cyrus Vance, which prosecuted the case, could not be reached for comment.

Aleynikov, 48, was arrested on federal charges in July 2009 and convicted in December 2010. He served 11 months of an eight-year prison sentence before the conviction was overturned.

Vance filed state criminal charges against him in August 2012 and he was convicted in May 2015, but the judge who presided over the trial overturned the verdict on grounds that copied code was not "tangible" and therefore not covered by state law.

The Appellate Division, First Department, reinstated the conviction in January 2017, saying a copy on a disk was "tangible" because it could be touched.

(Reporting By Brendan Pierson in New York)
Startup ICEYE more than doubled its total backing in a recent $34 million round of venture capital fundraising.

ICEYE is combining a special type of earth observation technology with a microsatellite form factor and a low Earth orbit.

The new funds mean ICEYE is closing in on its goal of building the world's largest SAR satellite constellation.

Satellites are becoming both smaller and cheaper , and one company in Finland is moving to capitalize on its early success as quickly as possible.

Fresh off its debut launch in January, startup ICEYE more than doubled its total backing in a recent $34 million round of venture capital fundraising. ICEYE is combining a special type of earth observation technology  known as synthetic aperture radar (or SAR)  with a microsatellite form factor and a low Earth orbit.

The new funds mean ICEYE will be able to take that first launch and upgrade the proven technology, closing in on its goal of building the world's largest SAR satellite constellation.

"We get two years of time, we get nine satellites, and we can tell our customers that we have a completely financed product," CEO Rafal Modrzewski told CNBC.

ICEYE's first satellite, X1, was about the size of a microwave. Launched aboard an Indian Rocket with 30 other satellites, X1 took 600 images during its first few months "and they were really good quality," Modrzewski said.

The success of the X1 mission was a catalyst that is now pushing ICEYE even farther than expected. Modrzewski said the company was able to sell imaging from its experimental mission, even though it was not necessarily planning to do so before the launch.



"It turned out to be a product that distributed really, really quickly because people really wanted to see that this was happening," Modrzewski added.

The company's goal is to build a constellation that can image anywhere in the world within an hour, according to Modrzewski. Two years of funding toward nine satellites gets ICEYE halfway to its goal of 18, which the CEO said would be capable of imaging anywhere in the world in 3 hours. With the previous largest SAR constellation only totaling four satellites, ICEYE is on track to surpass that before 2020.

Story continues

The cost to build and launch each ICEYE microsatellite is close to the recent amount of funding raised, Modrzewski said, meaning each comes with a price tag near $3 million. ICEYE has "identified over 50 improvements based on" the X1 mission, he added.

Despite those coming upgrades, ICEYE estimates its X2 satellite and others "will cost almost the same as X1," Modrzewski said, "even though it has more capability and we are adding more subsystems."

At the time of the X1 launch, ICEYE had a team of about "50 to 60 people," Modrzewski said. The new funds will allow ICEYE to hire another 20 people by the end of this year, he said, with plans to double the team.

ICEYE's previous investors, including True Ventures, Draper Nexus, Draper Associates, Seraphim Capital and Space Angels, all contributed to the latest round of funding, along with OTB Ventures, Tesi, Draper Esprit and Promus Ventures. With $53 million in total funding raised, ICEYE is valued at about $80 million, an amount Modrzewski said "was a standard Silicon Valley round" of funding.





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MUMBAI (Reuters) - India wants to encourage aircraft makers to manufacture in the country, starting with components and moving eventually to complete aircraft, Aviation Minister Suresh Prabhu said on Sunday.

In a series of messages on Twitter, Prabhu appealed to Airbus (AIR.PA) and Boeing Co (BA.N) to participate in the push as part of the government's flagship "Make In India" campaign, highlighting the growth potential of the booming market, which has been adding passengers and cutting fares.

India's booming aviation market and economy needs more than 1,000 passenger planes and "many more" cargo planes, Prabhu, who last week visited an Airbus facility in Toulouse in France, wrote in the Twitter post.

Airbus said last year it expected Indian carriers to order 1,750 aircraft over 20 years. Boeing predicted up to 2,100 planes would be sold in the same period.

(Reporting by Aditi Shah and Devidutta Tripathy, editing by Larry king)
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Human Rights Campaign held a press conference outside the U.S. Supreme Court in October prior to delivering an amicus brief supporting gay couples in Masterpiece Cakeshop. Credit: Diego M. Radzinschi [/caption] A divided U.S. Supreme Court on Monday ruled for a Colorado baker who refused on religious grounds to make a custom wedding cake for a same-sex couple. In Masterpiece Cakeshop v. Colorado Civil Rights Commission, the 7-2 majority, led by Justice Anthony Kennedy, said the state commission's actions unlawfully violated baker Jack Phillips First Amendment right of free exercise of religion. "Whatever the confluence of speech and free exercise principles might be in some cases, the Colorado Civil Rights Commissions consideration of this case was inconsistent with the states obligation of religious neutrality," Kennedy wrote. "The reason and motive for the bakers refusal were based on his sincere religious beliefs and convictions." Kennedy also made clear the decision was relevant for this case only. "The outcome of cases like this in other circumstances must await further elaboration in the courts, all in the context of recognizing that these disputes must be resolved with tolerance, without undue disrespect to sincere religious beliefs, and without subjecting gay persons to indignities when they seek goods and services in an open market," he wrote. During oral arguments in the case, Kennedy was visibly angry about the disparaging comments made by a commissioner when the state commission held its hearing on the discrimination charge. Kennedy, who has authored key Supreme Court decisions favoring gay rights, stated in his opinion, Our society has come to the recognition that gay persons and gay couples cannot be treated as social outcasts or as inferior in dignity and worth. For that reason the laws and the Constitution can, and in some instances must, protect them in the exercise of their civil rights. But he added, At the same time, the religious and philosophical objections to gay marriage are protected views and in some instances protected forms of expression. Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg dissented, joined by Justice Sonia Sotomayor. Ginsburg said the commissions actions do not evidence hostility to religion of the kind we have previously held to signal a free-exercise violation, nor do the comments by one or two members of one of the four decisionmaking entities considering this case justify reversing the judgment below. In 2012, Charlie Craig and David Mullins visited the Masterpiece bakery and asked its owner, Phillips, to create a cake for their wedding. Phillips declined, saying he did not make cakes for same-sex weddings because of his Christian beliefs and because same-sex marriage was not then legal in Colorado. Craig and Mullins filed a complaint with the Colorado Civil Rights Commission, alleging discrimination on the basis of their sexual orientation. The state public accommodations law, similar to laws in 22 states, prohibits any place of business engaged in sales to the public from discriminating on the basis of disability, race, creed, color, sex, sexual orientation, marital status, national origin, or ancestry. The commission and later the Colorado Court of Appeals ruled in favor of the two men. The Colorado Supreme Court denied Masterpiece Cake's request for further review. In the high court, Phillips, represented by Kristen Waggoner of Alliance Defending Freedom, argued that applying the state anti-discrimination law violated both his speech and religious exercise rights under the First Amendment. David Cole, national legal director of the American Civil Liberties Union, argued on behalf of Craig and Mullins. Colorado Solicitor General Frederick Yarger argued for the state commission. Phillips drew support from the Trump administration's Justice Department. In a friend-of-the-court brief, the U.S. solicitor general's office argued that the justices could decide the case on the speech claim alone. During high court arguments in December, the justices seemed closely divided, with those on the left deeply skeptical of Phillips' speech claim and those on the right more sympathetic to his religion claim. A number of justices raised concerns about where to draw the line as to which types of speech are protected. Justice Stephen Breyer said at the time, "We want some kind of distinction that won't undermine every civil rights law including African Americans, Hispanic Americans, including everybody who has been discriminated against in very basic things of life, food, design of furniture, homes and buildings." The intense interest in the case was reflected in the overflow crowd outside of the high court on argument day as well as by the outpouring of supporting briefs on each side. Fifty amicus briefs were filed in support of Phillips; 45 amicus briefs supported the same-sex couple. The Supreme Court's ruling in Masterpiece Cakeshop is posted below: [falcon-embed src="embed_1"] Read more:'How Do You Draw a Line?' Key Moments From the Supreme Court's Wedding Cake CaseJustices Shut Down DOJ's Drive to Punish ACLU Lawyers in Abortion CaseJustice Department, Divided Internally, Backed Colorado Baker Over Gay CoupleVeteran SCOTUS Advocate Allyson Ho Jumps to Gibson Dunn From Morgan LewisJustices Won't Review Challenges to Mississippi's Anti-Gay Law
Microsoft just announced that it has acquired GitHub, the coding platform that is popular among software developers, in a deal worth $7.5 billion. The acquisition of GitHubs estimated 85 million code repositories could make Microsoft a larger host of source code globally. Microsoft is a developer-first company, and by joining forces with GitHub we strengthen our commitment to developer freedom, openness and innovation, Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella said in a statement.

The move means that the estimated 28 million developers who are part of the GitHub community, will now be part of the Microsoft communityand people had a lot of feelings about that. Twitter is filled with GitHub users and coding community members and tech watchers pointing and laughing, while pointing and clicking. While some are joking about moving their code to GitHub competitors like GitLab and Bitbucket, others are pointing out how Microsofts Clippy, personal assistant might help with code writing in the future.

Microsoft are now the first company to actually pay for anything on GitHub.  I Am Devloper (@iamdevloper) June 4, 2018

oh man. I just logged into GitHub and they make you use a PC and you can only write code in Excel spreadsheets now.  Dave Rupert (@davatron5000) June 4, 2018

GitHub Starter

GitHub For Students

GitHub Home Basic

GitHub Home Premium

GitHub Professional

GitHub Enterprise

GitHub Business

GitHub Ultimate

Github 2018 R2



btw, cant wait for Github Vista ;) #Microsoft #GitHub  Shanewas Niloy (@ShanewasNiloy) June 4, 2018

Satya looked at Microsofts bill from all the code we host on GitHub and figured it would be cheaper to buy the company.  Miguel de Icaza (@migueldeicaza) June 4, 2018
New reports out of Redmond this weekend have Microsoft set to purchase the popular coding site GitHub. Bloomberg is citing people familiar with the matter, stating that the deal could be announced as early as tomorrow.

The new story follows similar reports late last week of discussions between the two parties. The deal certainly makes sense for Microsoft, as the software giant continues to actively court developers. As for GitHub, the company is said to have been impressed by Satya Nadella, who has actively courted coders and coding initiatives since taking the reins at the company, back in 2014.

"The opportunity for developers to have broad impact on all parts of society has never been greater," Nadella told the crowd at his address during last years Build. "But with this opportunity comes enormous responsibility.

Dramatic, perhaps, but acquiring GitHub would give the company access to some 27 million software developers -- though not all of them are thrilled by the idea of GitHub being taken over by Microsoft.

GitHub, meanwhile, has been struggling to replace Chris Wanstrath, nearly a year after he announced plans to step down from his role as CEO. A co-founder of the service, he had returned to the top spot three years prior.

Earlier this year, meanwhile, GitHub was hit with the largest DDoS attack on record -- though the site managed to come back online after 10 or so minutes.

Details of the planned deal  and what, precisely, this will mean for GitHubs loyal community  have yet to be announced. We've reached out to Microsoft for comment.

Update: Microsoft's corporate VP of communications Frank X. Shaw tells us that the company has no comment. "You know we dont ever comment on this sort of rumor," he said.
Oil prices were down again on Monday morning in Asia

Investing.com - Oil prices were down again on Monday morning in Asia due to record U.S. output and continued expectations that OPEC producers may decide to boost output later this month.

Crude Oil WTI Futures for July delivery were trading at $65.75 a barrel at 10:40PM ET (02:40 GMT), down 0.09%. Brent crude futures for August delivery, traded in London, were down 0.30% at $76.56 per barrel.

U.S. crude production has risen relentlessly by more than a quarter in the last two years, inching ever closer to top producer Russias output of around 11 million bpd.

According to an Energy Information Administration announcement last Thursday, U.S. crude production rose in March to 10.47 million barrels per day (bpd), a monthly record.

Meanwhile, U.S. drillers are picking up the pace. General Electric (NYSE:GE) Cos Baker Hughes energy services firm said on Friday that U.S. drillers added two oil rigs last week, bringing the total number to 861 which is a record since March 2015. This is also the eighth time they added rigs in the past nine weeks.

The Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) and other non-OPEC members including Russia are set to discuss the possible output increase later this month. Saudi Arabia, de-facto leader of OPEC, and Russia have discussed raising oil production in the second half of the year by some 1 million bpd to make up for potential supply shortfalls from Iran, who produced 4% of global supplies, and Venezuela.

In response to U.S. sanctions against Iran and the production plunge in Venezuela, OPEC and some non-OPEC producers will meet in Vienna on June 22 to review their commitment to curb their output by about 1.8 million barrels per day until the end of this year.

Crude oil remained under pressure as the market remained focused on the discussion between OPEC members about whether they should increase production later this year, said ANZ in a note. In the U.S., the data also presented a gloomy picture. Crude oil production rose to another record, while drilling activity picked up again.

Story continues

Meanwhile, Shanghai crude oil futures for September delivery were also down 1.39% at 469.50 yuan ($73.11) per barrel on Monday at 10:40PM ET (02:40 GMT).

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Oil Prices Hold Near Recent Lows Amid Worries Over Higher Supplies

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June 4 (Reuters) - The following are the top stories on the New York Times business pages. Reuters has not verified these stories and does not vouch for their accuracy.

- Facebook Inc has reached data-sharing partnerships with at least 60 device makers - including Apple, Amazon, BlackBerry, Microsoft and Samsung - over the last decade. Facebook allowed the companies access to the data of users' friends without their explicit consent, even after declaring that it would no longer share such information with outsiders. https://nyti.ms/2kPiAvP

- Finance ministers from the six other nations attending the Group of 7 meeting in Canada issued an unusual rebuke over the United States' trading practices and the use of tariffs against allies. The statement said tariffs "undermine open trade and confidence in the global economy" and called on Mnuchin to make their worries known to Trump. https://nyti.ms/2sujvG5

- The United States and China ended trade talks in Beijing on Sunday without any announced deals and with Chinese officials refusing to commit to buying more American goods without a Trump administration agreement not to impose further tariffs on Chinese exports. https://nyti.ms/2Lk14ei (Compiled by Bengaluru newsroom)
U.S. Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross, left, speaks to Chinese Vice Premier Liu He during a meeting at the Diaoyutai State Guesthouse in Beijing, China Sunday, June 3, 2018. Andy Wong/Pool via REUTERS

By Martin Quin Pollard and Ben Blanchard

BEIJING (Reuters) - China warned the United States on Sunday that any agreements reached on trade and business between the two countries will be void if Washington implements tariffs and other trade measures, as the two ended their latest round of talks in Beijing.

A short statement, carried by the official Xinhua news agency, made no mention of any specific new agreements after U.S. Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross met Chinese Vice Premier Liu He.

It referred instead to a consensus they reached last month in Washington, when China agreed to increase significantly its purchases of U.S. goods and services.

"To implement the consensus reached in Washington, the two sides have had good communication in various areas such as agriculture and energy, and have made positive and concrete progress," the state news agency said, adding details would be subject to "final confirmation by both parties".

The United States and China have threatened tit-for-tat tariffs on goods worth up to $150 billion each.

Xinhua said China's attitude had been consistent and that it was willing to increase imports from all countries, including the United States.

"Reform and opening up and expanding domestic demand are China's national strategies. Our established rhythm will not change," it added.

"The achievements reached by China and the United States should be based on the premise that the two sides should meet each other halfway and not fight a trade war," Xinhua said.

"If the United States introduces trade sanctions including raising tariffs, all the economic and trade achievements negotiated by the two parties will be void."

There was no immediate comment or statement from the U.S. delegation or from Ross himself.

Story continues

At the end of last month's Washington talks the two countries released a joint statement.

But just when it appeared a trade truce between the two economic heavyweights was on the cards, the White House last week warned it would pursue tariffs on $50 billion worth of Chinese imports, as well as impose restrictions on Chinese investments in the United States and tighter export controls.

State-run Chinese newspaper the Global Times said in an editorial on its website that China needed to prepare for the long haul due to the U.S. propensity for changing its mind and coming up with new demands.

"Tariffs and expanding exports - the United States can't have both," it said. "China-U.S. trade negotiations have to dig up the two sides' greatest number of common interests, and cannot be tilted toward unilateral U.S. interests."

Xinhua said in a separate commentary that the United States should not test China with any further flip-flops or provocations.

"The Chinese government's attitude of not wanting but also not fearing a trade war has never changed," it said.

Ross arrived in Beijing on Saturday for talks after the Trump administration renewed tariff threats against China, and with key U.S. allies in a foul mood towards Washington after they were hit with duties on steel and aluminium.

'FRIENDLY AND FRANK'

Addressing Liu earlier in the day at the start of their formal talks at a government guest house, Ross praised the tone of their interactions.

"Our meetings so far have been friendly and frank, and covered some useful topics about specific export items," Ross said, in brief comments before reporters.

Liu spoke only to welcome Ross.

Neither man has made any other comments to the media.

Ross left Beijing for Washington early Sunday evening.

Liu, a Harvard-trained economist who is a trusted confidant of Chinese President Xi Jinping, is China's chief negotiator in the trade dispute.

U.S. Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin said on Saturday the United States wanted this weekend's talks to result in structural changes to China's economy, in addition to increased Chinese purchases of American goods.

The purchases are partly aimed at shrinking the $375 billion U.S. goods trade deficit with China.

Mnuchin, speaking at a G7 finance leaders meeting in Canada where he was the target of U.S. allies' anger over steel and aluminium tariffs, said the China talks would cover other issues, including the Trump administration's desire to eliminate Chinese joint venture requirements and other policies that effectively force technology transfers.

"I want to be clear, this isn't just about buying more goods, this is about structural changes," Mnuchin said.

"But I also fundamentally believe that if there are structural changes that allow our companies to compete fairly, by definition, that will deal with the trade deficit alone."

The U.S. delegation at the Beijing talks included Under Secretary of Treasury for International Affairs David Malpass, Under Secretary of Agriculture for Trade and Foreign Agricultural Affairs Ted McKinney, and United States Trade Representative Chief Agricultural Negotiator Gregg Doud.

Other officials and technical experts from the Department of Commerce, Department of Treasury, United States Trade Representative, Department of Agriculture, and Department of Energy also took part, the White House said.

China's delegation included central bank governor Yi Gang, Commerce Minister Zhong Shan, and Ning Jizhe, a deputy head of the National Development and Reform Commission, a powerful planning body.

Ross, who was preceded in Beijing last week by more than 50 U.S. officials, had been expected during the two-day visit to try to secure long-term purchases of U.S. farm and energy commodities to help shrink the U.S. trade deficit.

The U.S. team had also wanted to secure greater intellectual property protection and an end to Chinese subsidies that have contributed to overproduction of steel and aluminium.

(Additional reporting by Michael Martina; Editing by Robert Birsel and Dale Hudson)
Walmart Inc (NYSE:WMT) announced that the company has sold a majority stake of its Brazil business amid sluggish sales.

Walmart

Source: Flickr>

The retailer said on Monday that it has sold an 80% stake in its Brazilian operations to private equity firm Advent International Corp. as the company has been struggling to remain profitable in the South American nation. The move marks the third major international deal from the retailer since April.

Walmart is the biggest retailer in the world and the company is hoping to expand its business overseas by selling assets in lower-growth markets and investing in high-profit opportunities such as China and India. The retail chain had been focusing on expanding in Brazil for a decade, but a series of operational issues and the Brazil recession has taken a toll on its business there.

InvestorPlace - Stock Market News, Stock Advice & Trading Tips

Its unclear how much the transaction was worth, but the company said that it would record a non-cash charge of about $4.5 billion related to the deal in the second quarter. The retailer will maintain the remaining 20% stake in Walmart Brazil.

Two people close to the deal said that the charge is close to the value of the Brazilian unit on the Walmart books, meaning close to zero. Walmart spokesman Randy Hargrove said that the retailer will not receive payment for the unit, but could receive up to $250 million from Advent based on the units performance.

WMT stock gained about 2.7% on the news.

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West Virginia miners filed a federal class action lawsuit against their Republican Governor Jim Justice and his family, alleging that the Justice-owned Bluestone Industries, Inc. paid miners in bounced checks, WVVA reported over the weekend. The lawsuit was filed in U.S. District Court for the Southern District of West Virginia and names the governors children, Jay and Jill Justice who are the directors of Bluestone, as well as the companys secretary and treasurer, James Miller.

According to the lawsuit, Bluestone Industries, Inc. violated the West Virginia Wage Payment and Collection Act and the Fair Labor Standards Act. Hundreds, if not thousands, of West Virginia miners were affected by the bounced paychecks, which allegedly occurred on multiple occasions.

The lawsuit, filed on behalf of miner Kenneth Cozart on March 6 and later amended on April 11, alleged that a paycheck the plaintiff received on Feb. 23 could not be deposited, according to WV Metro News. The paycheck bounced, causing bad check fees to be charged against the plaintiff's account, the lawsuit argues. Plaintiffs were later paid via wire transfer, but were then charged a wire transfer fee for the payment.

On several prior occasions, the plaintiff was given paychecks for wages earned and deposited said checks in his account and those checks bounced, costing the plaintiff returned check fees. Bluestone would again wire the plaintiff his pay in the same manner as set forth above, again incurring wire transfer fees, the suit argues.

John Hussell, an attorney who represents Bluestone said the company has already taken the steps to fix the payment problems. When we became aware of the issue, we immediately took action to ensure that all of the employees received their full pay, Hussell said. There was no interruption of their benefits and all of the employees were paid promptly after we became aware of this issue. We are happy to have these miners working with us and are committed to ensuring that they are paid for their hard work.

Story continues

Gov. Justice became president of Bluestone in 1993, but sold the company in 2009 to Russian mining company Mechel, OAO for $568 million. Justice re-bought the mines in 2015 and the business was passed on to his children in 2017 once he became governor, though employment took a plunge. Rather than closing the mines, Justice used a regulatory temporary cessation loophole for years to keep the idle mines open, at the expense of the environment and community health, according to a Climate Home News investigation.

Miners in West Virginia have been affected by the Black Lung Disease, an epidemic that has had serious health impacts on the Appalachian states of Kentucky, Virginia and West Virginia, NPR reported. The federal Black Lung Disability Trust Fund will see severe cuts in the coming years.

See original article on Fortune.com

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HALIFAX, Nova Scotia, May 31, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Erdene Resource Development Corp. (TSX:ERD) ("Erdene" or "Company") is pleased to announce that it has received approval from the Financial Regulatory Commission of Mongolia for a secondary listing of its common shares on the Mongolian Stock Exchange (MSE) and today has launched an offering of common shares to Mongolian residents (Mongolia Offering) as well as a concurrent non-brokered private placement ("Private Placement"), which in combination are expected to raise up to $4.4 million.



Todays news is the result of close and productive collaboration with the Mongolian Stock Exchange, the Financial Regulatory Commission of Mongolia, and the Government of Mongolia through active support from the Ministry of Mining and Heavy Industry, said Peter Akerley, President and CEO of Erdene. Erdene is grateful to the leaders of those institutions, and strongly believes the MSE listing will increase opportunities for more Mongolians to tangibly benefit from the development of their nations mineral endowment. Through the MSE listing, we will be providing an opportunity for Mongolians to directly participate in the exciting high-grade gold deposits we have discovered in the southwest of the country. Our cross listing on both a foreign exchange and the MSE, the first of its kind in Mongolia, is a demonstration of our commitment to creating lasting benefits in Mongolia. Those benefits go beyond the direct financial upside and include strengthening Mongolias emerging capital markets, improved local water supply, educational training, cleaner energy systems and local employment initiatives. As the longest-standing, foreign-invested company continuously operating in Mongolias exploration and mining sector, we believe it is important that we continue to seek ways in which we can create sustainable, positive impacts for Mongolia.

Financing Terms

Pursuant to the Mongolia Offering, Erdene will sell 4,000,000 common shares at a price of $0.34 per share for gross proceeds of C$1,360,000. The Mongolia Offering will be completed on a firm commitment underwritten basis by BDSec SC JSC under a prospectus prepared pursuant to Mongolian laws. The underwriters of the Mongolia Offering will receive a cash commission equal to 7% of the gross proceeds raised. In addition to the Mongolia Offering, Erdene has also launched a concurrent Private Placement whereby Erdene will sell up to 8,000,000 units at a price of $0.38 per unit for gross proceeds of up to $3,040,000. Each unit will consist of one common share of the Company and one common share purchase warrant ("Warrant"). Each Warrant entitles the holder to purchase one common share of the Company at a price of $0.60 for 30 months from the closing date. The Company has agreed to pay finders fees equal to 6% of the gross proceeds of the Private Placement and to issue warrants equal to 6% of the number of units issued in the Private Placement. Each finder's warrant will be exercisable into one common share of the Company at $0.60 per share, for a period of up to 30 months from the closing date.

Proceeds of the Mongolia Offering and the Private Placement are anticipated to fully fund the Company into 2019, and will be used to advance the Company's Bayan Khundii and Altan Nar gold projects, and to further explore and develop the Companys other gold properties in southwest Mongolia, as well as for working capital and general corporate purposes.

The transactions are expected to close on or before June 14, 2018, and are subject to certain conditions, including, but not limited to, the receipt of all necessary approvals including the approval and acceptance by the Toronto Stock Exchange and Mongolian Stock Exchange. All securities to be issued pursuant to the Mongolia Offering and the Private Placement will be subject to a four-month hold period in Canada from the applicable closing date.

Exploration Update

Since the Company last reported drill results from its 100% owned Bayan Khundii gold project (Bayan Khundii) (see May 8 news release), an additional 15 holes have been completed totalling 3,072 metres. These holes have been drilled in five distinct areas over a 1 kilometre length of the gold mineralized corridor. This phase of drilling has been successful in intersecting the expected targets in each of the areas tested with strong continuity of the gold-bearing alteration zones in the targeted feeder zones in Midfield, visible gold identified in the West Striker area and the Northeast Midfield Zone, and in expansion drilling in a new area identified in 2017, east of Midfield and Northeast of Striker. Results for these holes are pending and will be provided following the completion of todays announced financings. Upcoming drilling, to be completed in June, will focus on further Bayan Khundii expansion targets, and on the testing of several regional targets elsewhere on the Companys exploration prospects within the surrounding Khundii Gold District.

Following the completion of additional drilling at Bayan Khundii, Erdene intends to announce a Global Resource Estimate, for both Bayan Khundii and Altan Nar, in Q3-2018. The Global Resource Estimate will include a maiden resource estimate for Bayan Khundii and the recently updated resource estimate for Altan Nar, 16 kilometres northwest of Bayan Khundii. On May 10, 2018, Erdene released an updated Altan Nar resource estimate that included an Indicated Resource of 452,900 ounces (oz) gold equivalent (AuEq) averaging 2.8 g/t AuEq, and an Inferred Resource of 277,100 oz AuEq averaging 2.5 g/t AuEq, within a total resource of 5.0 million tonnes (Mt) Indicated and 3.4 Mt Inferred. Click here to read the Companys May 10, 2018 news release.

Michael MacDonald, P.Geo. (Nova Scotia), Vice President Exploration for Erdene, is a Qualified Person as that term is defined in National Instrument 43-101 and has reviewed and approved the technical information contained in this news release on behalf of Erdene.

About Erdene

Erdene Resource Development Corp. is a Canada-based resource company focused on the acquisition, exploration, and development of base and precious metals in underexplored and highly prospective Mongolia. The Company has interests in four exploration licenses and a mining license in southwest Mongolia, where exploration success has led to the discovery and definition of several prospects and deposits including: Bayan Khundii  the Companys flagship and newly discovered, high-grade, near-surface gold project; Altan Nar  an extensive, high-grade, near-surface, gold-polymetallic project located 16 kilometres northwest of Bayan Khundii; Altan Arrow  an early-stage, high-grade gold-silver project 3.5 kilometres north of Bayan Khundii; Ulaan  a recently acquired copper-gold porphyry prospect adjacent to Bayan Khundii; Khuvyn Khar  an early-stage, copper-silver porphyry project; Nomin Tal  a narrow, high-grade copper-gold discovery; and Zuun Mod  a large molybdenum-copper porphyry deposit. In addition to the above projects, Erdene has an Alliance with Teck Resources Limited on regional copper-gold exploration in the prospective Trans Altai region of southwest Mongolia. The Bayan Khundii and Altan Nar licenses have a 2% net smelter returns royalty (NSR Royalty) in favour of Sandstorm Gold Ltd. with a buy-back option to reduce the NSR Royalty to 1%. For further information on the Company, please visit www.erdene.com. Erdene has 146,400,586 issued and outstanding common shares and a fully diluted position of 156,992,160 common shares.

Forward-Looking Statements

Certain information regarding Erdene contained herein may constitute forward-looking statements within the meaning of applicable securities laws. Forward-looking statements may include estimates, plans, expectations, opinions, forecasts, projections, guidance or other statements that are not statements of fact. Although Erdene believes that the expectations reflected in such forward-looking statements are reasonable, it can give no assurance that such expectations will prove to have been correct. Erdene cautions that actual performance will be affected by many factors, most of which are beyond its control, and that future events and results may vary substantially from what Erdene currently foresees. Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those in forward-looking statements include market prices, exploitation and exploration results, continued availability of capital and financing and general economic, market or business conditions. The forward-looking statements are expressly qualified in their entirety by this cautionary statement. The information contained herein is stated as of the current date and is subject to change after that date. The Company does not assume the obligation to revise or update these forward-looking statements, except as may be required under applicable securities laws.

NO REGULATORY AUTHORITY HAS APPROVED OR DISAPPROVED THE CONTENTS OF THIS RELEASE

Erdene Contact Information

Peter C. Akerley, President and CEO

or

Ken W. MacDonald, Vice President and CFO

Phone: (902) 423-6419

E-mail: info@erdene.com

Website: www.erdene.com

Twitter: https://twitter.com/ErdeneRes
GOBI, Mongolia, May 31, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The Explorers Club Hong Kong Chapter (ECHK) together with INFINITI Motor Company, Ltd. (IML), will begin an expedition on June 5 in the Gobi Desert to revisit the historic expedition of Roy Chapman Andrews and identify new dinosaur fossil sites. In the 1920s, Andrews discovered fossilized dinosaur eggs on the first archaeological mission to use motorized vehicles, which allowed him to more efficiently access remote terrain in Mongolia.



Using a fleet of INFINITI SUVs, combined with Drone LiDar technology, the team  comprised of paleontologists, archaeologists and geologists  will be able to survey an area heretofore impossible to cover efficiently. The Drone LiDar will aid the teams search for specific geological markers. The team expects to find a trove of new sites that can be unearthed over the next decades.

Commenting on the expedition, Michael Barth, Founder and Chairman, The Explorers Club Hong Kong Chapter said: The Gobi expedition marks roughly the 100-year anniversary of Andrews historic discovery of the first-ever nest of fossilized dinosaur eggs, which not only proved that dinosaurs were reptilian, but opened up Mongolia for future discoveries. Our expedition will commemorate the last one hundred years of dinosaur finds, and, together with Mongolias Institute of Paleontology and Geology (IPG), set up the next millennium for untold scientific discoveries in the Gobi. Our collaboration with INFINITI is symbolic of what ties us together  a desire to challenge ourselves in the pursuit and use of new scientific knowledge.

INFINITI has a 30-year history of technological firsts, pushing boundaries and empowering people to find their next frontier. Like The Explorers Club, INFINITI is insatiably curious, technologically forward and pushes beyond existing boundaries in pursuit of new discoveries like the VC-Turbo.

The Explorers Club is known for its famous firsts: first to the North Pole, the South Pole, the top of Everest, the bottom of the ocean, and first to the moon, said Will Roseman, Executive Director of The Explorers Club. We are very excited to partner with INFINITI, which also has many famous firsts, including the worlds first production variable compression engine in its all new QX50. We share a passion for discovery and for scientific advancement and we are all looking forward to seeing the results of this historic expedition.

During the 20-day expedition, a 35-person team will traverse more than 1,000 miles of Gobi terrain in INFINITI SUVs, including the all-new 2019 QX50. They will follow much of Andrews 1920s routes, including The Flaming Cliffs, where Andrews made his first discoveries; the town of Anda, an important site for dinosaur fossils; and chart new terrain inaccessible to Andrews original expeditions.

Andrews expedition was one of the first to carry the Expedition Flag for The Explorers Club, one of only 202 flags that the club loans out to expeditions that hold the promise of making new scientific discoveries. Flags have since been carried to summit of Mt. Everest, to the deepest point of the ocean, the Challenger Deep in the Marianna trench, and to the surface of the moon. Following in these illustrious footsteps, the Gobi team has been awarded the signal honor of carrying The Explorers Club Flag #179 on their expedition.

The expedition supports the Institute of Paleontology and Geology (IPG) Mongolian Academy of Sciences, which catalogs and interprets the archaeological and geological significance of the area. This is one of the first major expeditions in the Gobi to rely on the scientific leadership of an all-Mongolian paleontology team.

The team will document every step of their journey, sharing video footage and photography once the expedition is complete. You can follow updates on The Explorers Club Hong Kong Chapter and INFINITI Motor Company social media channels for more information.

https://twitter.com/ExplorersHK/status/999519768037154816

https://twitter.com/ExplorersHK/status/995897790730452992

https://www.instagram.com/p/BjZVRl4Ht8c/?taken-by=explorershk

https://www.instagram.com/p/BihNjstHPAX/?taken-by=explorershk

About The Explorers Club

The Explorers Club is an international multidisciplinary professional society dedicated to the advancement of field research and the ideal that it is vital to preserve the instinct to explore. Since its inception in 1904, the Club has served as a meeting point and unifying force for explorers and scientists worldwide. Founded in New York City in 1904, The Explorers Club promotes the scientific exploration of land, sea, air, and space by supporting research and education in the physical, natural and biological sciences. The Clubs members have been responsible for an illustrious series of famous firsts: First to the North Pole, first to the South Pole, first to the summit of Mount Everest, first to the deepest point in the ocean, first to the surface of the moonall accomplished by our members.

The Hong Kong chapter was formed in 2014 to promote the values and work of The Explorers Club in the region, and to make Hong Kong the platform for a new era of exploration of Asia and beyond.

For more information about The Explorers Club Hong Kong Chapter, follow us on Instagram, Facebook and Twitter.

About INFINITI

INFINITI Motor Company Ltd. is headquartered in Hong Kong with representations in 50 markets around the world. The INFINITI brand was launched in 1989. Its range of premium automobiles is currently built in manufacturing facilities in Japan, the United States, United Kingdom and China. INFINITI design studios are located in Atsugi-Shi near Yokohama, London, San Diego and Beijing. INFINITI is in the middle of a major product offensive. The brand has been widely acclaimed for its daring design and innovative driver-assistance technologies. From the 2016 season, INFINITI is a technical partner of the Renault Sport Formula One team, contributing its expertise in hybrid performance.

Find more information about INFINITI, its industry leading technologies and the all-new 2019 QX50 midsize luxury crossover at www.INFINITIUSA.com. You can also follow INFINITI US on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and see all our latest videos on YouTube .

About Institute of Paleontology and Geology (IPG), Mongolian Academy of Sciences

The primary purpose of the Institute of Paleontology and Geology (IPG) is to conduct world-class research and promote the extraordinary paleontological and geological resources of Mongolia. The aim of the IPG is to develop in-depth research on the ancient organisms of Mongolia (paleontology, evolution and biostratigraphy), and mineralization and geology of the Kherlen and Onon regions. The team consists of 82 team staff including researchers and administrative in the IPG.

Contact

Kyle Bazemore

Director, INFINITI Americas Corporate Communications

M: 615-739-8404

kyle.bazemore@infiniti.com

Photos accompanying this announcement are available at

http://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/28158820-cc18-4465-b36f-4ec64cd91007

http://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/17581a65-90db-4682-8213-5b38b822483a
4 June 2018, Limassol, Cyprus

The directors of SeaBird Exploration give notice of an Extraordinary General Meeting ("EGM") of the Company to be held on 20 June 2018 at 12.00 (local time) at Diagoras House 7th Floor, 16 Pantelis Catelaris Street, CY 1097 Nicosia, Cyprus.

The EGM notice contains proposed changes to the board of directors. The agenda and other relevant documents distributed to the shareholders are attached to this announcement and will also be listed on the company's web-page: www.sbexp.com.

About Seabird Exploration: SeaBird is a global provider of marine acquisition for 2D/3D and 4D seismic data, and associated products and services to the oil and gas industry. SeaBird specializes in high quality operations within the high end of the source vessel and 2D market, as well as in the shallow/deep water 2D/3D and 4D market. Main focus for the company is proprietary seismic surveys (contract seismic). Main success criteria for the company are an unrelenting focus on Quality, Health, Safety and Environment (QHSE), combined with efficient collection of high quality seismic data.

This information is subject to the disclosure requirements pursuant to section 5-12 of the Norwegian Securities Trading Act
Sellbyville, Delaware , June 04, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) --



Global Air Source Heat Pump Market is poised to exceed USD 50 billion by 2024; as reported in the latest study by Global Market Insights, Inc. Stringent regulatory measures toward reduction of carbon emissions by promoting the applications of various sustainable technologies will foster the air source heat pump market . The government of UK has introduced Renewable Heat Incentive (RHI) scheme with an aim to encourage utilization of renewable technologies in businesses, homes and local communities. Increasing disposable income in developing countries along with growing demand for high-level comfort will further propel the industry growth.

Lower cost, ease of installation, less maintenance requirement and energy efficiency are some of the eminent features which will propel the global air source heat pump market size. It is a product alternative for various space cooling and heating technologies owing to its additional features when compared with conventional systems. An ASHP has the Coefficient of Performance (COP) value of around 2.8 which can result into reduction in running cost of 3.5% when compared with a gas boiler.

Request for a sample of this research report @ https://www.gminsights.com/request-sample/detail/2393

China air source heat pump market size will witness strong growth on account of various promotion schemes to accelerate the usage of low-carbon energy. Flourishing real estate industry have led to high construction activities owing to rapid urbanization will further encourage the product adoption. As per the World Economic Forum, in China, up to 2 billion square meters of buildings are constructed every year.

Energy consumption reduction targets along with renovation of existing buildings will embellish the France air source heat pump market growth. The country has targeted 38% reduction of energy consumption through buildings by 2020 and 400 thousand dwellings every year to be energy renovated from 2013. Extreme climatic conditions resulting into unfavorable working environment across the European countries will further expand the industry growth over the forecast period.

Browse key industry insights spread across 630 pages with 1130 market data tables & 49 figures & charts from the report, Air Source Heat Pump Market in detail along with the table of contents:

https://www.gminsights.com/industry-analysis/air-source-heat-pump-market

Growing investments toward clean air projects to reduce its reliance on fossil fuels will positively impact the air source heat pump market size. In 2016, World bank approved USD 500 million loan for Beijing clean-air projects to help control air pollution in China. Increasing electricity bills owing to rise in operating cost along with increase in fuel prices will further complement the business outlook.

Industrial applications are anticipated to expand over 4% owing to significant rise in the manufacturing facilities across Asia Pacific and Latin America region. Reduced environmental impact and energy consumption are some of the prominent features which will further stimulate the air source heat pump market size.

Less operating cost and zero expenses requirement for ground works along with its ability to be used as a standalone system will positively influence the air to air heat pump market share. Technological advancement across the industry to meet the rising product demand of customers will further complement the business growth.

Major participants in the air source heat pump market include Johnson Controls, Daikin Industries, Mitsubishi Electric, Carrier, NIBE, Fujitsu General, Bosch Thermotechnik, BDR Thermea Group, Dimplex, Colmac, Panasonic, Climaveneta, A.O. Smith, LG Electronics, Danfoss, and Vaillant.

Make an inquiry for purchasing this report @ https://www.gminsights.com/inquiry-before-buying/2393

Browse Related Reports:

Geothermal Heat Pump Market Size 2017  2024

Geothermal Heat Pump Market share for 2016 was valued at over USD 80 billion and is set to exceed 110 GWt by 2024. Growing demand for efficient and cost-effective space conditioning system from residential and commercial sectors will positively drive the geothermal heat pump market trends.

https://www.gminsights.com/industry-analysis/geothermal-heat-pump-market

Water Source Heat Pump Market Size 2018  2024

Water Source Heat Pump Market share is set to witness strong growth on account of favourable government initiatives including clean heating & cooling programs, fiscal assistance, and emissions reduction targets to promote the renewable energy systems.

https://www.gminsights.com/industry-analysis/water-source-heat-pump-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.
HOUSTON, Texas, June 04, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- SMG Industries, Inc. (the "Company") (OTCQB:SMGI), an oilfield services company headquartered in Houston, Texas, focused on selling products and services to drilling rig operators, E&P companies and other oilfield related businesses, today announced the opening of their subsidiarys MG Cleaners LLC new location in Alice, Texas.



Mr. Matt Flemming, CEO of SMG, stated, "We are pleased to expand our products and services to the South Texas area. By opening a facility in Alice, Texas, we can reach those drilling operators and E & P companies that requested we offer our products like Miracle Blue and services such as rig wash crews in the Eagle Ford Shale. Mr. Flemming also stated, This is another step in our Companys plan to expand our exposure in Texas and another avenue towards increasing future revenues.

Mr. Stephen Christian, President of MG Cleaners LLC, stated, The addition of this new facility in South Texas will provide logistical efficiencies along with the expansion of our in-basin footprint in the Eagle Ford, where it is anticipated that drilling operations will significantly increase as oil prices inch higher. After receiving multiple requests for our products and service work from customers who have recently moved to South Texas, our work staff is now in place and is expected to be fully productive within the next several weeks.

The Eagle Ford in South Texas has about 88 rigs currently operating; approximately 81% of which are operated by existing SMG Industries customers. South Texas rigs will be serviced through SMGs new location in Alice, TX. Given the current price of WTI many E&P companies have expanded their drilling programs through the end of 2018 picking up more rigs. Technology is driving faster drilling cycles which should continue to grow demand for SMGs rig washing services along with their proprietary industrial degreaser Miracle Blue.

About SMG Industries, Inc.: SMGI is an oilfield services company that operates throughout Texas and adjacent states of New Mexico and Louisiana. The Company, through its wholly-owned subsidiary MG Cleaners LLC., is focused on selling proprietary branded products including detergents, surfactants and degreasers (such as Miracle Blue) to oilfield drilling rig contractors, E&P operators and oilfield companies. In addition to the Company's proprietary products, SMGI sells equipment and parts and has service crews that perform on-site repairs, maintenance and drilling rig wash services for customers such as Nabors Industries, Patterson-UTI, Helmrich & Payne, Cactus Drilling and others. SMGI is headquartered in Houston, Texas with facilities in Odessa, Carthage and Alice, Texas. Read more at www.SMGIndustries.com and www.mgcleanersllc.com.

SMG Industries, Inc.

Phone: 713.821.3153

Email: info@smgindustries.com

Investor Relations:

FieldView Capital Markets, LLC.

Phone: 858.380.2080 x 9

Email: scott@fvcapitalmarkets.com
VANCOUVER, British Columbia, June 04, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Blue Sky Uranium Corp. (TSX-V:BSK) (FSE:MAL2) (OTC:BKUCF), ("Blue Sky" or the "Company") is a member of the Grosso Group and is the 100% owner of approximately 459,000 hectares (1,134,000 acres) of uranium and vanadium concessions in Argentina in the southern provinces of Chubut and Rio Negro, Argentina.



Achievements

The Companys flagship project, the Amarillo Grande encompasses a significant new uranium-vanadium district in the southern Argentina province of Rio Negro, initially discovered by BSK in 2006. Since then, BSK has systematically assembled mineral rights covering more than 300,000 hectares along a +140 km prospective mineral trend.

Three principal mineralized areas, including the recently defined Ivana uraniumvanadium deposit, and numerous target zones have been identified along the Amarillo Grande trend where all mineralization identified to date is at, or near surface. Collectively, these highlight the significant geological potential for multiple discoveries and development of a new worldclass uranium-vanadium district.

The Ivana uranium-vanadium deposit, located at the southeasternmost end of the Amarillo Grande trend, represents the largest National Instrument 43-101 uranium mineral resource in Argentina, and one of the largest uranium deposits ever discovered in the country. The maiden resource estimate comprises Inferred resources totaling 19.1 million pounds U 3 0 8 and 10.2 million pounds of V 2 0 5 (23.9 Mt averaging 0.036% U 3 0 8 and 0.019% V 2 O 5 , at a 100 ppm uranium cut-off; NI 43-101 Technical Report by Thorson et al. filed on SEDAR dated April 18th, 2018).

The Amarillo Grande Project shares many geological similarities with the Inkai district, Kazakhstan, which produces approximately 7% of the worlds uranium, as well as the surficial uranium districts of Namibia (Langer Heinrich) and Western Australia (Yeelirrie and Lake Maitland).

A summary of key aspects of Blue Skys Amarillo Grande Project that speak to its overall potential include:

Expansive wholly-owned property covering a +300,000 hectares  a new mineral district with high geological potential for multiple discoveries;



Discovery of new ~20 million pound maiden 43-101 compliant uranium-vanadium resource at Ivana, the largest in Argentina and open to further expansion in both directions along strike with additional highly prospective targets identified in the surrounding area;



Preliminary Economic Assessment (PEA) underway;



Leverage to both improving uranium price and already strong vanadium price;



Laterally extensive at or near surface uranium-vanadium mineralization hosted in poorly consolidated sands and gravels - potentially low mining cost with no drilling/blasting;



Preliminary test work indicates that insitu mineralization can be upgraded and recovered using simple and low-cost methods (see news release dated February 7, 2011, January 22, 2018 and May 23, 2018)  potentially lowering transport and processing costs and allowing for multiple extraction sites feeding a central processing facility; and



High recoveries with low cost and environmentally benign alkaline leach (see news January 22, 2018)  potentially low processing cost and environmental footprint.

The Uranium Market

Concerns over the global oil supply and global warming have renewed interest in nuclear energy as it is a carbon-free source of electricity with no CO 2 emissions. Many industrialized nations are heavily dependent on nuclear power generation and while nuclear power capacity grows uranium, production continues to be below annual demand resulting in the depletion of world uranium inventories.

During the period of 2015 to 2019 there will be 55 new reactors being built in 12 countries.1 This puts pressure on the annual uranium base demand and just for 20182019 the demand totals 382 million pounds yet only 141 million pounds are projected to come from mine supply in 2018.2

The US uranium production for the first quarter of 2018 was close to a 70-year low at 226,780 pounds 3 less than what is needed for one reactor despite the US flagging uranium, lithium, cobalt, vanadium along with a list of 35 other critical minerals as essential to the economic and national security of the US!

Despite the growing demand for uranium, prices remain low and many of the large uranium miners have placed projects on care and maintenance causing inventories over time to be depleted leading us to conclude that uranium prices must increase in order to meet and ensure a sustainable uranium supply given the global demand for clean energy sources.

Blue Sky Uranium is poised to deliver exceptional returns to shareholders as it continues to advance its uranium / vanadium discovery at Amarillo Grande / Ivana, positioning the Company to benefit from the anticipated uranium rebound market as it works towards its goal of developing into a global supplier of uranium / vanadium.

Qualified Persons

The results of the Company's drilling program were reviewed, verified (including sampling, analytical and test data) and compiled by the Company's geological staff under the supervision of David Terry, Ph.D., P.Geo. Dr. Terry is a Director of the Company and a Qualified Person as defined in National Instrument 43-101. The contents of this news release have been reviewed and approved by Dr. Terry.

About the Amarillo Grande Project

This new 140-kilometre-long uranium district was first identified, staked and underwent preliminary exploration by Blue Sky from 2007 to 2012 as part of the Grosso Groups strategy of adding alternative energy focus to its successful portfolio of metals exploration companies. The proximity of several major targets suggests that if resources are delineated a central processing facility could be utilized. The area is flat-lying, semi-arid and accessible year-round, with nearby rail, power and port access.

Mineralization identified to date at Amarillo Grande has characteristics of sandstone-type and surficial-type uranium-vanadium deposits. The sandstone-type deposit is related to a braided fluvial system comprising a potentially district-size roll front system where uranium minerals occur in porous poorly-consolidated sandstones and conglomerates. In surficial-type uranium deposits, carnotite mineralization coats loosely consolidated pebbles of sandstone and conglomerates. Carnotite is amenable to leaching, and preliminary metallurgical work indicates that the mineralized material can be upgraded using a very simple wet screening method. The near-surface mineralization, ability to locally upgrade, amenability to leaching and central processing possibility suggest a potentially low-cost development scenario for a future deposit.

For additional details on the project and properties, please see the Companys website: www.blueskyuranium.com

About Blue Sky Uranium Corp.

Blue Sky Uranium Corp. is a leader in uranium discovery in Argentina. The Company's objective is to deliver exceptional returns to shareholders by rapidly advancing a portfolio of surficial uranium deposits into low-cost producers. Blue Sky holds has the exclusive right to over 434,000 hectares (equiv. to 1,072,437 acres) of property in two provinces in Argentina. The Companys flagship Amarillo Grande Project was an in-house discovery of a new district that has the potential to be both a leading domestic supplier of uranium to the growing Argentine market and a new international market supplier. The Company is a member of the Grosso Group, a resource management group that has pioneered exploration in Argentina since 1993.

ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD

Nikolaos Cacos

______________________________________

Nikolaos Cacos, President, CEO and Director

For further information, please contact:

Corporate Communications

Tel: 1-604-687-1828

Toll-Free: 1-800-901-0058

Email: info@blueskyuranium.com

https://www.facebook.com/Blue-Sky-Uranium-Corp-707824632726892

https://twitter.com/blueskyuranium1

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8ux-mpiwb40

https://www.linkedin.com/company/11295733/

https://plus.google.com/109353535505284295980

https://www.blueskyuranium.com/feed

Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

This news release may contain forward-looking statements including but not limited to comments regarding the timing and content of upcoming work programs, geological interpretations, receipt of property titles, potential mineral recovery processes, etc. Forward-looking statements address future events and conditions and therefore involve inherent risks and uncertainties. Actual results may differ materially from those currently anticipated in such statements. Readers are encouraged to refer to the Company's public disclosure documents for a more detailed discussion of factors that may impact expected future results. The Company undertakes no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements. We advise U.S. investors that the SEC's mining guidelines strictly prohibit information of this type in documents filed with the SEC. U.S. investors are cautioned that mineral deposits on adjacent properties are not indicative of mineral deposits on our properties.

1 World Nuclear Association. May 14, 2018. Surge in new nuclear helps build a sustainable global energy mix [Press Release]. Retrieved from http://www.world-nuclear.org/press/press-statements/surge-in-new-nuclear-helps-build-a-sustainable-glo.aspx .

2 Proven and Probable. May 22, 2018. UEC Recap of a Busy Week in the Uranium Industry. Retrieved from https://provenandprobable.com/uec-recap-of-a-busy-week-in-the-uranium-industry/ .

3 U.S. Energy Information Administration. May 2018. Domestic Uranium Production Report, First-Quarter 2018. Retrieved from https://www.eia.gov/uranium/production/quarterly/pdf/qupd.pdf .
Bunuel wrote:

In the United States between 1850 and 1880, the number of farmers continued to increase, but at a rate lower than that of the general population.



Which of the following statements directly contradicts the information presented above?





A. The number of farmers in the general population increased slightly in the thirty years between 1850 and 1880.



B. The rate of growth of the United States labor force and the rate of growth of the general population rose simultaneously in the thirty years between 1850 and 1880.



C. The proportion of farmers in the United States labor force remained constant in the thirty years between 1850 and 1880.



D. The proportion of farmers in the United States labor force decreased from 64 percent in 1850 to 49 percent in 1880.



E. The proportion of farmers in the general population increased from 68 percent in 1850 to 72 percent in 1880.

OFFICIAL EXPLANATION

The fifth answer choice (E) says exactly the opposite-that this proportion increased; therefore, it contradicts the passage and is the correct response.

The passage indicates that the proportion of farmers in the general population decreased from 1850 to 1880.A is incorrect. The passage also indicates that the number of farmers increased between 1850 and 1880, and thus agrees with this choice. B is also incorrect. The passage does not tell us about the rate of growth of the labor force. It can be inferred from the passage that the general population grew, but this choice agrees with, rather than contradicts, this conclusion. The choice of C is not the correct answer. We cannot draw any conclusions about the proportion of farmers in the labor force from the passage alone. The fourth is also incorrect. We cannot draw any conclusions about the proportion of farmers in the labor force from the passage alone._________________
Re: UK work visa abolished for internationals [ #permalink

1 Kudos

As i posted on the London Business School 2011 Thread,



Guys, no need to worry... check what LBS sent to its current students:



As non-EU students will be well aware, the Home Office is currently drafting reforms to Tier 1 General and Tier 2 visas. It is also in the consultation stage on reforms to Tier 4 and Tier 1 Post Study Work visas. The consultation is still underway, and there are still many unanswered questions, but we wanted to update you on what we know at this stage and what the School is doing to try and influence the situation.



Along with the Dean, we have met with the UK Border Agency and immigration lawyers to discuss the Home Office's consultation. We continue to work closely with recruiters to help them understand the potential consequences of the changes.



Although it is not definite at this stage, it looks likely that there will be a phased introduction of the new arrangements. If the Tier 1 Post Study Work visa is discontinued, it seems probable that those graduating in 2011 will not be affected. The School will lobby for this change to be phased in over a longer period to try and ensure that those graduating in subsequent years will not be impacted, but there is no certainty at this stage. Another major focus for the School is lobbying for students who are already on a Tier 4 visa to be able to transfer to a sponsored Tier 2 visa without counting towards the employer's cap.



The School and the Student Association have each prepared a response to the Home Office's consultation document, detailing our arguments against the proposed reforms. The consultation period closes on Monday 31 January.



Immigration lawyer briefing session



Fragomen, a leading immigration law firm, will be holding a further briefing session for students to update you on the latest developments. This session has been provisionally booked for Friday 18 February - please look out for more details and reserve your place on Career Central.



To see copies of past communications about the immigration reforms, please visit Portal > Career Services home page > Visa/immigration.



Please rest assured that the School is taking this issue extremely seriously and working hard to ensure the Home Office really understands our concerns. We will continue to update you as soon as more information becomes available.



Best wishes,
Michigan now has the highest milk production per cow in the country, and the state has doubled its milk production since 2000.

Given this growth . . . Michigan is, in fact, the poster child for distressed milk, wrote the University of Wisconsins Mark Stephenson in his upcoming May 25 article, Tight capacity and falling premiums.

By my calculations, Michigan milk plants have the capacity to process just a bit more than 9 billion pounds of milk annually, and the state is producing more than 11 billion pounds of milk. That is a little more than 100 tanker loads of milk a day that need to find a processing home, wrote Stephenson in the fourth article of a five-part series titled Changing landscape of U.S. dairy plants.

Falling premiums

This, of course, has sent premiums once found in milk checks spiraling downward.

The combination of high transportation costs and faltering sales has moved the states All-Milk price from about the middle of the pack in 2011 (26th out of 50) to dead last in 2017. And those sales of distressed milk to other states has put considerable price pressure on premiums in other states as well, noted Stephenson.

To learn more about the pressing matter, look at the May 25, 2018, edition of Hoards Dairyman.

To comment, email your remarks to intel@hoards.com.

(c) Hoard's Dairyman Intel 2018

May 7, 2018
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Amnesty International has published a report about the reality of living in Iran under a brutal regime.

The report detailed that there were more than 500 registered executions during the course of last year. However, this means that there were undoubtedly many, many more that have not been registered.

The families of people that have been imprisoned in Iran are often left to wonder what has happened to their loved ones. Contact is prevented and families are not told the truth about what has happened in the case of death.

At the end of last year, protests broke out across the whole country and there were several deaths that occurred under suspicious circumstances. In some cases, the families were given the bodies of their loved ones for burial and it is then that they discovered clear evidence of torture through marks on the body. The regime has claimed several victims committed suicide. These claims are unlikely  for one, prisoners are searched before entering prison and do not have so much as a pair of shoelaces.

In the Amnesty International report, the situations in four different prisons were highlighted. In Ward 3 of Gohardasht Karaj Prison there are around 90 prisoners on death row who are under the ages of 25. These young people were arrested before the aged of 18. This is one example, of many, of the Iranian regimes disregard for international law. The sentencing of juveniles to execution is not allowed.

In Zahedan Prison there are more than 130 prisoners awaiting execution, many who have been left to suffer the miserable conditions of the prison for many years. Many of these people were arrested on drugs-related charges or other non-violent crimes. Again, international law is supposed to prevent people accused of such crimes from being executed. But not in Iran.

One of the most horrific crimes of the Iranian regime was the mass execution of around 30,000 political prisoners. The incident which is now known as the 1988 massacre has gone unpunished despite the fact that evidence points to current regime officials being involved. There have been renewed calls for justice for the victims, many of whom were members of the PMOI / MEK, but no international body of law has investigated.

This crime against humanity has been followed by many more violations of human rights since and the people have reached the end of their tether. Dissent is rising and it is just a matter of time before the people instigate another huge uprising like the one that started in December last year.

The brave people of Iran know that they risk arrest, imprisonment, torture and even execution if they publicly speak out against the regime or participate in protests, but they still continue to fight for their rights and for freedom.
The strategy is economic (increased sanctions), military (Israeli action against Iranian militias in Syria and the Arab Coalition to defeat the Iran-backed Houthis in Yemen) and political (in Iraq and Lebanon).

Iran has little conventional military power, with most of its defence budget being spent on its missile programmes, suppressive security forces (Revolutionary Guard Corps, Quds Force), and proxy militias (the Houthis, Hezbollah). This means the mullahs are vulnerable to traditional warfare, as proved by Israel and the Arab Coalition in the past few months.

Iran will also be significantly affected by sanctions, as without the money pouring in from abroad, the Regime will be unable to pay its proxy militias. Although it will certainly use the proxies against its enemies while it can. Indeed, Irans Hezbollah proxy is the only reason that the mullahs have any power in Lebanon, which US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo has said it controlled by the Iran proxy.

Therefore, targeting Iran politically will help to remove them from the countries that they are already intrinsically connected to. For the Iranian mullahs, maintaining control in these countries is a necessity, not a luxury. They must keep hold of these countries or else be crushed by other forces in the Middle East.

Of course, Iran is likely to hit back with a counter-strategy to slow Western efforts. While this might seem worrying, its important to remember that Iran is not as strong as it makes itself out to be and is weakest when confronted with conventional warfare and a hard border (Iraq, Kurdish Syria, Yemen and Gaza).

This strategy can work, so long as the international community works together to get tough on Iran and end the appeasement of the mullahs.

If the world can do that, then the Regime will have no possible winning strategy and will be crushed. This means that the only option for the rest of the world is to increase the pressure on the Regime in all three areas mentioned.

When the Regime is crushed, this will allow the Iranian peoples popular resistance to take over and bring about a free and democratic Iran that works for everyone.

One thing is certain, Irans control over the Middle East is coming to an end and the West can either help liberate the other countries or wait and watch. The choice should be obvious.
Execution of pacts with India picks up pace

The understandings reached between Nepal and India during the state visit exchanges of Prime Minister KP Oli and his Indian counterpart Narendra Modi have gained momentum. Both sides have activated their bilateral mechanisms to ensure that the agreements between the two countries are honoured, according to officials.
Nepal to propose BIMSTEC meet for August

Nepal is to propose to hold the Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation or BIMSTEC summit on coming August end or early September.
Police have not interfered so far, the lawyer complains.

A group of armed men has carried out a raiding attack on Magelan mall in Kyiv in favor of Sberbank of Russia, according to a Kyiv lawyer Oleksiy Sutkevych.

Dmytro Loshakov, who is a lawyer for the company owning Magelan mall, says "it became known from police that the 'thugs' had been hired by managers of Sberbank of Russia, which illegally registered ownership over part of Magelan's trading area.

He complained that, while the thugs intimidate customers and threaten the staff of companies who rent space in the mall, trying to make them sign contracts with the "new owner," police remain idle despite the fact that the conflict has been unfolding for the third day already.

A hypermarket also hosted by the Magelan mall, which is part of Auchan network, has suspended its operations over the incident.

Read alsoRange Rover reportedly with crime boss attacked outside Kyiv, driver shot dead (Photo)

Besides the trading space being disputed in court, Sberbank also seized a nearby land plot and property of a third company which is not involved in the row. Journalists claim that bailiffs were not present as the property was being seized.

In particular, according to Finclub, the attackers occupied an electricity distribution station near the mall and blocked access to it of Shake, Ltd, the company that owns it. The company has also been denied access to trading spaces it rents in the mall.
Reps. Roybal-Allard & Jayapal Urge FBI to Thoroughly & Fairly Investigate Border Patrol Killing of Immigrant Claudia Patricia Gomez Gonzalez

Congresswomen Lucille Roybal-Allard (CA-40) and Pramila Jayapal (WA-07), the co-chairs of the Womens Working Group on Immigration Reform, sent a letter to Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) Director Christopher Wray urging a thorough, transparent, and just FBI investigation of the U.S. Border Patrols killing of Claudia Patricia Gomez Gonzalez. The congresswomen also requested a complete briefing on the FBIs investigative process and findings at the conclusion of the investigation.

On May 23, 2018, a U.S. Border Patrol agent shot and killed Ms. Gomez, an immigrant from Guatemala. The Border Patrol also detained three other Guatemalan immigrants at the scene of the shooting. Subsequently, the Border Patrol changed their statement about the circumstances leading up to this fatal shooting.

In light of U.S. Border Patrols changing narrative about the events that unfolded, we write to express our concern that your investigation could be compromised by misinformation and the intimidation of witnesses who could be deported before they are able to give their testimony, the co-chairs noted in their letter to FBI Director Wray. The death of an immigrant seeking a better life in the United States is heartbreaking. Moreover, an act of force that results in the death of an individual at the hands of our nations U.S. Border Patrol merits a thorough and just investigation so that policymakers can understand the circumstances that led to the loss of life and work to prevent it from happening again.

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In the Fiscal Year 2018 Omnibus, Congresswoman Roybal-Allard, in her capacity as Ranking Member on the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Homeland Security, secured report language that directs U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) to report on the death of any individuals in their custody, or following the use of force by their personnel, within 24 hours of the individuals death. The language also directs CBP to make public any information regarding any allegations of corruption or use of force.

A full copy of the letter can be found below:

June 1, 2018

Director Christopher Wray

Federal Bureau of Investigation

935 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW

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Washington, DC 20535

We write today as co-chairs of the Womens Working Group on Immigration Reform to express our concern with the recent U.S. Border Patrol shooting that ended in the death of Claudia Patricia Gomez Gonzalez, an immigrant from San Juan Ostuncalo, Guatemala. In light of U.S. Border Patrols changing narrative about the events that unfolded, we write to express our concern that your investigation could be compromised by misinformation and the intimidation of witnesses who could be deported before they are able to give their testimony. We also write to urge the FBIs investigation to be transparent and include all relevant witnesses.

On May 23, 2018, a U.S. Border Patrol agent shot and killed Ms. Gomez near Rio Bravo, Texas. Following the shooting, the Border Patrol released an initial statement that the agent was under attack by multiple subjects using blunt objects and that the agent fired his weapon fatally wounding one of the assailants. The statement also reports that U.S. Border Patrol arrested three undocumented immigrants in the aftermath of the shooting.

However, on Friday, May 25, 2018, U.S. Customs and Border Protection cancelled a press conference to address the shooting and issued a revised statement. This statement changed the narrative of the shooting, reporting that the agent was allegedly assaulted by a group of immigrants that rushed him. This statement does not mention blunt objects. Additionally, the revised statement reports that the firearm struck one member of the group, rather than categorizing Gomez as an assailant as in the original statement.

The death of an immigrant seeking a better life in the United States is heartbreaking. Moreover, an act of force that results in the death of an individual at the hands of our nations U.S. Border Patrol merits a thorough and just investigation so that policymakers can understand the circumstances that led to the loss of life and work to prevent it from happening again. Therefore, at the conclusion of the investigation we request a complete briefing on your investigative process and findings.

Thank you for your attention to this matter.
The Charles Koch Foundation is increasing its donations to colleges and universities.

The Associated Press examined the foundations most recent tax records. The study found that the organization gave almost $49 million to more than 250 colleges across the U.S. in 2016. That is almost double its 2015 gift amount.

John Hardin is director of university relations for the Koch Foundation. He said the increase is a result of increasing knowledge of the foundations program of giving. He said more professors are requesting money for their research. Hardin also said schools receive more money as their relationships with the foundation grow. So, schools that got gifts of a few thousand dollars five years ago now might receive hundreds of thousands, or millions, of dollars.

Hardin said aid requests cover research in economics, criminal justice and free expression.

George Mason University in Fairfax, Virginia, a public school, receives more money from the Koch Foundation than any other learning center. In 2016, the organization gave GMU more than $19 million. That amounted to almost 40 percent of the foundations total gifts that year.

Critics have questioned whether the Koch Foundation support has affected independent thought and study at the university.

GMUs president, Angel Cabrera, and other school administrators have repeatedly said the money has not had such an effect.

But, on April 27, Cabrera sent a letter to GMU professors that suggests something different. He wrote of agreements between the foundation and the GMU research center, Mercatus. Cabrera said the agreements permit the Koch Foundation to take part in deciding which professors to hire. The agreements, in his words, fall short of the standards of academic independence I expect any gift to meet.

Information about the agreements was released under the U.S. Freedom of Information Act.

The Koch Foundation and GMU have had ties for many years. However, the relationship did not become well-known publicly until 2016, when GMU renamed its law school for conservative Supreme Court Judge Antonin Scalia. It acted after receiving a $10 million gift from the Koch Foundation.

Cabrera now has agreed to reexamine all GMU donor agreements.

George Mason University is just one of many schools that are examining their Koch Foundation money ties. Ralph Wilson is research director for the nonprofit group, unKoch My Campus. He said the Koch Foundations activity in higher education has grown exponentially over the years. But Wilson said more and more schools are questioning the donations.

At Chapman University in Orange, California, students are questioning the schools president, Daniele Struppa, about gifts from the Koch Foundation. It gave Chapman $225,000 in 2016 and is to give the school $5 million to build a center for political economy and philosophy.

Struppa is a former official at Mason.

In a statement, Struppa said that Chapmans agreement with the Koch Foundation is not like Masons, adding that the schools professors have the right to ask the Koch Foundation for money to support their research.

Chapman and the Koch Foundation agreed this week to let a reporter from the student newspaper, The Panther, see the donor agreement and ask questions about it. However, the reporter will not be permitted to take written notes about the agreements terms or take any pictures or make copies of it.

At Utah State University, in the town of Logan, a group of professors was asked to oversee a $25 million Koch Foundation gift. The money is to be used to grow the universitys business school and create a Center for Growth and Opportunity.

And at Wake Forest University in North Carolina, professors asked the administration to reject $3.7 million in Koch Foundation money.

Koch Foundation official John Hardin acknowledged that gifts are facing increased examination. He blamed it on a small number of activists who are trying to, in his words, find ways to harass and try to censor research.

He said, We find that deeply troubling.

He said the foundation will continue to support schools even if some professors and others raise objections.

Im Susan Shand.

The Associated reported this story. Susan Shand adapted it for VOA Learning English. Caty Weaver was the editor.

_____________________________________________________________

Words in This Story

foundation  n. an organization that is created and supported with money that people give in order to do something that helps society

exponentially  adj. very fast

acknowledge - v. to say that you accept or do not deny the truth or existence of something

harass - v. to annoy or bother someone in a constant or repeated way

censor - v. to examine books, movies, letters, etc., in order to remove things that are considered to be offensive, immoral, harmful to society


An American promise to keep sailing navy ships through the South China Sea could fuel tensions between China and the United States.

Chinas government has long claimed much of the sea. Observers say a military build-up there may hurt the interests of Southeast Asian countries.

Last week, U.S. Defense Secretary James Mattis said the United States will continue sending navy ships near islands in the disputed waterway.

China believes the U.S. actions are interference in Chinese waters.

China is the leading military force in the 3.5 million-square-kilometer sea. Experts say China has landed a bomber and deployed missiles to small islands under its control because of the U.S. ship movement.

Five other Asian governments claim all or parts of the South China Sea. They oppose Chinas military presence in the area. Yet they also want to build trade and investment links with China.

"Currently, so far, it is a so-called new normal," Lin Chong-pin, said of the U.S. ship movement. Lin is a retired strategic studies professor in Taiwan. He added that the other governments are concerned, but they are very careful of what they say.

Continued U.S. ship movements

On May 27, U.S. Navy warships sailed near Chinese-occupied areas of the Paracel Islands, east of Vietnam.

China normally follows the movement of U.S. ships until they leave. The U.S. military calls these movements "freedom of navigation" operations.

The U.S. Navy has launched seven such operations since Donald Trump became president last year.

Eduardo Araral warns that this risks creating an environment of growing distrust between the militaries of both countries. Araral is with the public policy school at the National University of Singapore.

China is said to be developing three coral reefs in the sea's Spratly Islands to support military aircraft and weapons. That information comes from the Center for Strategic and International Studies in Washington, D.C.

China's Xinhua News Agency said last Saturday that the U.S. ship movement is an aggression against Chinas sovereignty. It said the U.S. presence is the reason for Chinas increased military presence in the South China Sea.

"For the Chinese, it's a matter of national pride," said Collin Koh, a security expert at Nanyang Technological University in Singapore. He added that if China does not take any action against the U.S. naval operations, it would be an insult to the Chinese Communist Party.

Brunei, Malaysia, the Philippines, Taiwan and Vietnam each claim part of the South China Sea. Their militaries are weaker than that of China, but they still have an interest in the sea's natural resources, such as oil. They are unhappy with China for sending military equipment to the small islands.

Vietnam and the Philippines have claimed some of the islands that China has developed and militarized. They sharply criticized China in the past, but now communicate one-on-one with its government and through the Association of Southeast Asian Nations. In return, China is urging people to visit Vietnam and invest development aid in the Philippines.

The U.S. government does not have a claim in the South China Sea, but sees it as an international waterway. At least one-third of the world's shipping traffic passes through the sea. Some experts believe Trump is using the ship movement to pressure China over two-way trade and its support for North Korea.

Building loyalty

The United States has suggested that its South China Sea activity can help the smaller Asian claimants to the South China Sea.

On June 2, Mattis and Vietnams defense minister spoke at the Shangri-la Dialogue military leadership talks in Singapore. They agreed that a strong defense relationship between their countries will support regional and international security, including in the South China Sea.

The U.S. Department of Defense website said that Mattis and the Philippines defense secretary agreed on the importance of keeping the Indo-Pacific Sea free and open.

Australia and Japan support the U.S. position of an open sea. The two countries are expected to send their own ships to the South China Sea. Japan, which has its own issues with China, is interested in defending Vietnam and the Philippines.

Im Phil Dierking.

Ralph Jennings wrote this story for VOANews.com Phil Dierking adapted his story for Learning English. George Grow was the editor.

What do you think is the best way to keep the peace in the South China Sea? Write to us in the Comments Section or on our Facebook page.

_______________________________________________________________ Words in This Story

infrastructure - n. the basic equipment and structures (such as roads and bridges) that are needed for a country, region, or organization to function properly

navigate - v. to find the way to get to a place when you are traveling in a ship, airplane, car, etc.

pride - n. a feeling that you respect yourself and deserve to be respected by other people

reef - n. a long line of rocks or coral or a high area of sand near the surface of the water in the ocean

region - n. a part of a country, of the world, etc., that is different or separate from other parts in some way

strategic - adj. of or relating to a general plan that is created to achieve a goal in war, politics, etc., usually over a long period of time

resource - n. something that a country has and can use to increase its wealth

sovereignty - n. a country's independent authority and the right to govern itself
The Thailand beach made famous in the Leonardo DiCaprio film The Beach is being closed to give it a break from tourists.

The beach sits on Maya Bay on Phi Phi Leh island, off the coast of Thailand in the Andaman Sea. The government ordered that no visitors will be permitted to go to the bay from June through September 2018.

Thai officials say the decision is aimed at giving the areas coral reefs and sea life a chance to recover. Tourism officials say up to 5,000 visitors travel to the beach every day.

Thon Thamrongnawasawat is an ocean scientist and member of a government committee on environmental development. He told the Associated Press the closure is needed to help the beach heal.

Its like someone who has been working for decades and has never stopped, he said. Overworked and tired, all the beauty of the beach is gone. We need a timeout for the beach.

Maya Bay was used as the main filming area for the 2000 movie The Beach. It starred Leonardo DiCaprio as an American traveling through Asia with friends. The group is given a map that promises to lead them to paradise on earth.

The film showed the world the bays beautiful white sandy beaches and bright blue waters.

Many of Thailands ocean national parks are closed from mid-May to mid-October. But high tourist demand led officials to keep Maya Bay open the whole year.

Recent studies by ocean biologists found a large part of coral reefs in the area had disappeared. Most sea life was also gone.

Thon had urged the government to close the area to visitors for many years. He said he thinks the action should have been taken at least 10 years ago. But you know in Thailand we are a tourism industry country, and we need a lot of money, so before not so many people listened.

A Thai official in the tourist area of Phuket told Reuters the closing of Maya Bay was one way to protect part of the countrys natural beauty, which will be important for tourism in the future.

But some local people are not completely happy. The head of the Phi Phi Tourist Business Association, Watrapol Jantharo, said he was surprised when the closure was announced.

He said he and others in the area thought Maya Bay would only be closed to boats, while visitors would still be permitted to walk to the beach from the other side of the island.

We are not against protecting our environment, Watrapol said. We know full well that Maya Bay is our important resource, like a rice field to a farmer. But we wish there were more communications about the governments plan before the decision was made.

Other Southeast Asian beach resorts have also come under threat because of continued increases in the number of visitors.

In the Philippines, the government began in late April a six-month closure of its popular tourist island of Boracay. The island is known for its soft, white sand beaches and lively nightlife.

Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte had called the area around Boracay a cesspool because of large amounts of waste going directly into the ocean. The germ content is already very high there. It only looks good because of the white coastline, Duterte said.

Im Bryan Lynn.

Bryan Lynn wrote this story for VOA Learning English, based on reports from the Associated Press and Reuters. Hai Do was the editor.

We want to hear from you. Write to us in the Comments section, and visit our Facebook page.

_______________________________________________________________

Words in This Story

tourist  n. a person who travels to a place for pleasure

coral reef  n. a long line of coral that lies in warm, shallow water (coral: a hard material formed on the bottom of the sea by the skeletons of small creatures)

paradise  n. a perfect place or situation

resource  n. natural substances such as water and wood that are valuable in supporting life

cesspool  n. large, underground hole or container used for collecting and storing human waste and dirty water

germ  n. a very small organism that causes disease


Imer still has pieces of a bullet in his back.

The 43-year-old Mexican immigrant fled the Mexican state of Guerrero more than 20 years ago after he was shot in the back by drug dealers.

Imer asked VOA to use only his first name in this story.

He entered the United States illegally in 1998 and settled in Norristown, Pennsylvania, where he worked in the building trade. Two months ago he was arrested and sent to Pennsylvanias York County Prison.

Ive never committed a crime, he said, as he began to cry. Now, I dont know whats going to happen to my family if I am deported, he said.

Imer has two American-born children.

Recently, he was among 12 undocumented immigrants sitting in a small room at the detention center. They gathered around a long table to hear a presentation in Spanish about their legal rights.

Fernanda Castillo explained the legal defenses open to the detainees. Castillo is with a legal aid group called Pennsylvania Immigration Resources, or PIRC.

Our main goal is to provide them with, what are their rights, what to expect in immigration court, we go through a couple of defenses to see if they are eligible for something, She also explains how to get out of prison and the rules of voluntary departure.

The U.S. Justice Department indirectly pays for PIRCs class under the Legal Orientation Program (LOP). Created in 2003, the the program gives detained immigrants some understanding of their rights and possible help under U.S. immigration law.

The Vera Institute of Justice administers the program, which costs $8 million a year. The program is carried out by PIRC and other nonprofit groups in more than 30 detention centers nationwide.

Legal orientation program

The orientation class lasts about an hour.

Castillo explained what the detainees could expect during their first appearance in a U.S. immigration court. Most wanted to know about the possibility of the judge approving their temporary release in exchange for a bail payment and a promise to return to the court at a future date.

Am I eligible? Castillo said, was the first question. We get a lot of voluntary departure questions as wellA lot of people will not know the difference between a voluntary departure and a removal order.

Voluntary departure means someone may be able to return legally someday, although usually years later. With removal, there is no chance of returning, as Castillo explained to the class.

PIRC gets $200,000 a year for the information classes and one-on-one meetings it holds with detainees at the York County Prison.

PIRC Executive Director Mary Studzinski says the classes have a direct effect on the immigration court process.

It allows someone when theyre done with that class to have a better sense of whether they have any hope of staying.

She explained that many illegal immigrants choose voluntary departure once they understand their rights. She said this helps to lower the number of court cases.

This saves the U.S. Treasury Department almost $18 million a year, according to a 2012 Vera Institute study. Last year, an Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) report endorsed the program, saying it helps detainees complete their cases faster.

Yet Attorney General Jeff Sessions said he has concerns about it. Earlier this year, he suspended money for the program until there is a review. But reacting to congressional pressure, Sessions later told Senators that financing would continue as the program is reviewed.

The judges job

A Justice Department official later told VOA that it is time for a new study. The official said the program tells detainees information that the immigration judge also tells them.

But PIRCs Studzinski says there is no comparison. While some judges are more methodical than others, Ive seen it done in less than five minutes and they certainly dont take an hour...So if you ask me if a judges advisal is the same thing as a legal orientation, I would say no. Do I think advisals are important? Yes, they absolutely should remain in place but they are in no way a substitute for the Legal Orientation Program.

Studzinski adds that PIRC this year will help 2,600 detainees, a much larger number than two years ago. Many of the new detainees have lived in U.S. communities for 10 or more years and never committed a crime.

Imer is hoping to ask for asylum.

During the recent PIRC orientation class, Imer said he had paid a lawyer $3,000 but had not heard from him in the two months he has been in prison. PIRC later found out the man was not a lawyer. The group is now trying to find a real lawyer for Imer.

Im Susan Shand.

Bill Rodgers wrote this story for VOANews.com. Susan Shand adapted his report for Learning English. The editor was George Grow.

_______________________________________________________________

Words in This Story

commit  v. to carry out

deport  v. to force (a person who is not a citizen) to leave a country; to expel

eligible  adj. able to be chosen for something : able to do or receive something

departure  n. the act of leaving a place

orientation  n. the process of giving people training and information about a new job, situation

bail  n. an amount of money given to a court to allow a prisoner to leave jail and return later for a trial

endorse  v. to publicly or officially say that you support or approve of something

review  n. an examination; a study

according  adv. as stated by or in
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Enbridge Inc. operates as an energy infrastructure company. The company operates through five segments: Liquids Pipelines, Gas Transmission and Midstream, Gas Distribution and Storage, Renewable Power Generation, and Energy Services. The Liquids Pipelines segment operates pipelines and related terminals to transport various grades of crude oil and other liquid hydrocarbons in Canada and the United States. The Gas Transmission and Midstream segment invests in natural gas pipelines, and gathering and processing facilities in Canada and the United States. The Gas Distribution and Storage segment is involved in natural gas utility operations serving residential, commercial, and industrial customers in Ontario, as well as natural gas distribution and energy transportation activities in Quebec. The Renewable Power Generation segment operates power generating assets, such as wind, solar, geothermal, and waste heat recovery facilities; and transmission assets in North America and Europe. The Energy Services segment provides energy marketing services to refiners, producers, and other customers; and physical commodity marketing and logistical services in Canada and the United States. The company was formerly known as IPL Energy Inc. and changed its name to Enbridge Inc. in October 1998. Enbridge Inc. was founded in 1949 and is headquartered in Calgary, Canada.

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The memory of a beloved pet inspires one couple's fight against injustice.
The ZTE logo is seen on a building in Beijing on May 14, 2018. (Wang Zhao/AFP/Getty Images)

Court Records Reveal ZTEs Corruption Scheme in Liberia

Court documents newly unveiled from a civil lawsuit filed in Dallas, Texas, have revealed how Chinese telecoms giant ZTE bribed Liberian officials to win a contract to provide telecommunication services in the West African nation.

Meanwhile, American software developer Seven Networks has just filed a patent infringement lawsuit against ZTE, also in Texas.

The Dallas lawsuit was first reported on by the Australian Financial Review on May 31.

Chinas second-largest telecoms firm is beleaguered by a U.S. ban forbidding American companies from selling tech parts or software to it. ZTEs main operations have halted as a result. Since then, ZTE has become ensnared in U.S.China trade negotiations, with the Chinese side pressuring the United States to ease ZTE sanctions in exchange for China buying more American exports.

Reuters reported on June 1 that the United States was seeking a $1.7 billion penalty for ZTE, in addition to unfettered inspection visits, before allowing the company to return to business.

The ban was enacted after U.S. authorities found that ZTE had violated terms of a 2017 agreement it signed after pleading guilty to selling tech parts to Iran and North Korea, against U.S. sanctions.

New details have now emerged from a lawsuit filed in June 2010, alleging that ZTE undermined an American company to win a bid by bribing Liberian government officials.

According to court documents, Universal Telephone Exchange, a Dallas-based telecoms company, had entered into negotiations with Liberia and other West African countries between 2003 and 2004 to provide upgrades to the countrys telecommunications system.

At the same time, Universal contacted ZTEs American subsidiary company about the possibility of the latter providing switching equipment for Universals West Africa projects. The two companies signed a nondisclosure agreement.

But when Liberias state-owned telecoms company, Liberia Telecommunications Corp. (LTC), solicited bids for a project in 2005, ZTE submitted a bid in competition with Universal. Universal eventually won the bid.

Thats when ZTE began lobbying Liberian officials to cancel the contract with Universal and instead award it to ZTE.

Two LTC officials testified under oath that they were bribed, according to the documents.

ZTE offered Alfred D. Bargor, deputy managing director at LTC, a lifetime commission of 5 percent of ZTEs revenues from sales to LTC should LTC give the contract to ZTE, in addition to $30,000 in cash stashed in a brown paper bagwhich was handed to Bargor in a Liberia hotel.

ZTE staff member Liu Ruipeng also approached LTC managing director Amara M. Kromah, who was offered the same 5 percent commission, in addition to two cash payments in brown paper bags and an all-expenses-paid trip to China, where he was allowed an unlimited shopping spree.

The company also bribed then-Liberian President Gyude Bryant and court judges. Universal sued ZTE in Liberia in 2006. Though the Supreme Court ruled that the LTC contract should go to Universal, the court could not compel LTC to do business with it. That year, a criminal court also charged ZTE and several Liberian officials, including Kromah, with corruption in the same case.

According to the latest court records, Universal and ZTE entered into arbitration in 2012, but are currently in a legal dispute over the arbitration award.

In an email response to the Australian Financial Review, ZTE denied the allegations and said it maintains a high standard of ethics and integrity in its business activities throughout the world.

ZTE has a long record of corruption and bad behavior. The court documents cite a 2015 report by an ethics council for the Norwegian governments sovereign wealth fundthe worlds largestwhich found that ZTE was involved in corruption allegations in 18 countries from 2007, when it was listed publicly on the Shenzhen Stock Exchange, to 2014. The council found ZTEs gross corruption reason for discontinuing investments. The fund then sold its stake in ZTE and blacklisted the company.

New Lawsuit

On May 31, UK tech news website The Register reported that American firm Seven Networks filed a lawsuit at a federal court in northern Texas, alleging that ZTE infringed upon seven patents it has filed on smartphone data transfers, battery life, notifications, and other software.

ZTEs Blade smartphones contain software that Seven Networks developed, and is now seeking monetary compensation, according to The Register.
Global airlines are increasingly aiming for ultra-long haul flights and Airbus SE said it expects more carriers to order planes that can fly from one end of the Earth to the other.

The European planemaker sees demand for between 50 and 100 orders for a longer-range version of the A350 model, capable of flying from Sydney to London nonstop, Airbuss chief salesman Eric Schulz said in Sydney yesterday.

Airbus and its rival Boeing Co. are talking to Qantas Airways Ltd., Australias biggest carrier, for a plane that can fly the Sydney-London route without a break, company officials said. Called Project Sunrise, it would put Rio de Janeiro, Cape Town, New York or Paris within direct reach of Australias eastern seaboard, according to Qantas. Air New Zealand Ltd. could also consider a longer-range version of the A350, Airbuss Schulz said.

The heart of that long-range market will continue to be in Asia, Randy Tinseth, vice president of marketing for Boeing commercial, said separately in an interview in Sydney.

The Chicago-based planemaker is still in talks with Qantas about the exact plane that can fly Sydney to London nonstop, Tinseth said. One long-range market with particular potential is Asia-Latin America, he said, adding its hard to say how many of those aircraft would be sold worldwide beyond Qantas.

A wave of ultra-long flights that will get you halfway around the world in one hop is pushing aircraft manufacturers to come up with planes and engines that can ferry people for 19 and 20 hours nonstop. This year, Qantas started a Perth to London 17-hour service using a Boeing Co. Dreamliner and Singapore Airlines Ltd. last month said its reviving the Singapore-New York service, a 19-hour flight that will become the worlds longest.

Qantas is getting very confident about such long-range flights, the airlines Chief Executive Officer Alan Joyce told reporters in Sydney.

The economics are working. Perth-London is making money from day one, he said.

Once the airline is comfortable with the technical evaluation , it will start the process for getting proposals, Joyce said.

Well do that this year into next year, Joyce said. Airbus and Boeing are keeping slots for us so its feasible for us to do at that stage. We still have to go through a few hurdles.

Joyce has challenged both Airbus and Boeing to build a jet by 2022 that can fly 20 hours fully loaded from Sydney to London without a break. Airbus is assessing all options, including reducing seat capacity, adding more fuel cells and modifications to engines, Schulz said.

Joyce has described nonstop flights to New York and London from Australian cities such as Sydney and Melbourne as the last frontier of aviation, after which all of the worlds major cities will have non-stop air links. Options for making such long flights more bearable would include introducing a new four-class structure, with part of the cargo hold utilized for sleeping berths, Joyce has said.

The airlines first Perth-London flight started in March, signaling the beginning of the end of the so-called Kangaroo Route, which has seen planes make the journey from Europe to Australia in a series of hops since the advent of aviation. Benjamin Katz, Angus Whitley, Bloomberg
The Civic and Municipal Affairs Bureau (IACM) has rejected the greyhound adoption plan submitted by the Macau Canidrome, according to a report from public broadcaster TDM. The president of the IACM, Jose Tavares, told the media outlet that the company now has until Friday, June 8 to come up with another adoption plan for the approximately 600 dogs housed at the site. According to Tavares, the company had asked for more time, but that request was denied by the Bureau on the basis that the company knew two years ago that they would have to shut down operations by July 2018. Meanwhile, local animal rights group Anima (Macau) is still fighting for a role in the greyhound adoption program. Anima President Albano Martins said last week that the Canidrome is obstructing their involvement, directing the association to a website without any adoption forms.

GGCT lowers Philippine volcano travel alert

The Tourism Crisis Management Office (GGCT) has lowered the travel alert for Albay Province in the Philippines to Level 1, following the recent weakening of activity in the Mayon volcano. Despite this lowering, the GGCT wishes to remind Macau residents who intend to travel to Albay Province, or who are already in the region, to be aware and closely follow news sources on the situation. The GGCT will keep monitoring the latest developments of the situation and advises travelers to purchase comprehensive travel insurance, urging them to verify details regarding emergencies with their insurance providers.

AACM organizes air cargo security workshop

The Civil Aviation Authority of Macao (AACM) held a workshop last week reviewing current cargo security operations in order to cope with the new requirements of the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), conducted by an ICAO aviation security consultant. The ICAO requirements will be implemented in 2021 regarding the security of the air cargo and mail supply chain. The consultant, Kyal Barter, is the program coordinator and senior aviation security advisor for ICAOs Cooperative Aviation Security Program  Asia Pacific (CASP-AP). Barter previously served with the Australian government in a role focused on transport security. The workshop took place from May 28 to June 1, during which time Barter met with representatives from government entities and airport operators.
The Court of First Instance has sent a dispatch to the two lawyers defending Sulu Sou and Scott Chiang listing four reasons why it is refusing to translate a 66-page ruling into Portuguese, including the fact that it is entitled to use either of Macaus official languages.

Late last week, lawyers Jorge Menezes and Pedro Leal requested a translation of the Chinese-language ruling into Portuguese in preparation for the possible next stages of the case.

The Times has obtained access to the two-page dispatch, which is written entirely in Chinese despite the fact that the request was submitted in Portuguese. Both Chinese and Portuguese enjoy the status of official language in the Macau SAR.

The dispatch notes that it is within the courts discretion to use one of the two official languages that it recognizes.

It said that not only has the court made a summary of the sentence in Portuguese, but that the defendants understand Chinese, and that the lawyers can pay for a translation if they so choose.

A legal expert who requested to remain anonymous informed the Times that the courts decision was ridiculous on several counts.

Firstly, the legal expert said, all four legal professionals involved in the trial speak Portuguese, but only two speak Chinese.

Secondly, although the defendants are able to understand Chinese, they do not share the legal background required to fully interpret the courts ruling.

Menezes and Leal told the media last week that they were both surprised and unhappy over the sentence, adding that they had expected their clients to be acquitted. The two lawyers said that they are studying with their clients the possibility of appealing the sentence. The verdict and sentencing may only be appealed during a 20-day period that began after the trial concluded.

The legal expert estimated that it would cost in excess of MOP45,000 and eat up at least half of the 20-day appeal period in order to have the document translated into Portuguese. This constitutes unequal treatment with the Chinese prosecutor who does not require the translation, the expert argued.

It is not the first occasion that a request to have court documents translated into Portuguese, an official language of the MSAR, has been refused.

However, in January this year, Menezes was successful in requesting that the Court of First Instance postpone the start of the case until the lawyer could have the relevant case documents translated.
The list of Japanese regions battling for a coveted spot for the development of casino resorts ranges from Osaka to Hokkaido. Add Mickey Mouses neighborhood to the possibilities.

Chiba, a prefecture on the outskirts of Tokyo that is home to Disneyland, is gaining attention, with proponents citing the areas convention centers and Japans largest airport as selling points. While the areas supporters, mostly a group of small local businesses, say strong resident support gives it an edge over high-profile destinations such as Yokohama, the local government has yet to come on board.

Chiba would join many other communities across Japan jockeying for position alongside operators such as MGM Resorts International and Las Vegas Sands Corp. as the nation inches toward legalizing casino gambling. The Japanese parliament is currently discussing a casino implementation bill, which will allow for three cities to host integrated resorts. Analysts estimate the industry could be worth as much as USD25 billion.

The process has a long way to go, and its too early to gauge which regions will be chosen. Casino operators, likely accompanied by a coalition of Japanese partners, must first win endorsement of a regional government. They then present a joint proposal to the central authorities to be considered for a license.

Osaka is among the early favorites to win a spot. The governor of the prefecture and the city mayor are actively pushing to bring an integrated resort to the city. Hokkaido and Nagasaki are also contenders with proactive local governments.

The lack of such backing is a major hurdle for the Chiba effort. While the city assembly in 2013 passed a resolution promoting integrated resorts in the area, its mayor hasnt yet made his position clear. A Chiba city representative said the government is doing research on integrated resorts from a neutral standpoint.

The problem about Chiba is that its not clear what the local administration wants to do, said Toru Mihara, a professor at the Osaka University of Commerce. Chibas rivals will be cities around Tokyo. No one has officially raised their hand yet, but they will make their position clearer when a casino implementation bill passes.

The backing of local residents could be a significant factor in a country where two-thirds of citizens oppose gambling because of the social impact. Yokohamas mayor was pushing for a resort, but backed away because many voters didnt support gambling.

The main advocate for Chiba is a coalition formed a year ago by the heads of several local companies representing industries from health care to design. Their ultimate plan is to build a 534 thousand-square-meter (5.7 million-square-foot) floating island offshore that is accessible to luxury cruise ships. Ikuo Kantake, president of the coalition, said the project would cost 64 billion yen ($587 million) and take two years to build.

The proponents see a natural synergy with Tokyo Disneyland in attracting tourists. But dont read anything into the groups provisional name: The Future of Chiba MICE-IR. MICE is an industry acronym for meetings, incentives, conventions and exhibitions, and has no connection with Mickey or Minnie. Maiko Takahashi, Bloomberg
A fiery volcanic eruption in south-central Guatemala sent lava flowing into rural communities, killing at least 25 as rescuers struggled to reach people where homes and roads were charred and blanketed with ash.

The death toll rose yesterday [Macau time] with 18 bodies found in the community of San Miguel Los Lotes, disaster agency spokesman David de Leon said, adding to the seven victims previously confirmed elsewhere earlier in the day.

At least 20 people were injured, and authorities have said they feared the death toll could rise with an undetermined number of people unaccounted for.

The Volcan de Fuego, or Volcano of Fire, exploded in a hail of ash and molten rock shortly before noon, blanketing nearby villages in heavy ash. Lava began flowing down the mountains flank and across homes and roads around 4 p.m.

Eddy Sanchez, director of the countrys seismology and volcanology institute, said the flows reached temperatures of about 700 degrees Celsius.

Dramatic video showed a fast- moving lahar, or flow of pyroclastic material and slurry, slamming into and partly destroying a bridge on a highway between Sacatepequez and Escuintla.

Sacatepequez television published images of a charred landscape where the lava came into contact with homes. Three bodies lay partially buried in ash-colored debris from the volcano, which lies about 44 kilometers west of Guatemala City.

Other videos from local media showed residents walking barefoot and covered in muddy residue.

Not everyone was able to get out. I think they ended up buried, Consuelo Hernandez, a resident of the village of El Rodeo, told the newspaper Diario de Centroamerica.

Where we saw the lava fall, we ran to a hillside to escape, she added.

Homes were still burning in El Rodeo late Sunday, and a charred stench hung over the town.

Hundreds of rescue workers, including firefighters, police and soldiers, worked to help any survivors and recover any more bodies amid the still-smoking lava.

Firefighters said they had seen some people who were trapped, but roads were cut by pyroclastic flows and they had been unable to reach them.

Amid darkness and rain, the rescue effort was suspended until early Monday morning, municipal firefighters spokesman Cecilio Chacaj said.

Among the fatalities were four people, including a disaster agency official, killed when lava set a house on fire in El Rodeo village, National Disaster Coordinator Sergio Cabanas said. Two children were burned to death as they watched the volcanos second eruption this year from a bridge, he added.

Zmbulance.

At an ad-hoc morgue in the town of Alotenango, at least three bodies lay covered with blue sheets.

Guatemalas disaster agency said 3,100 people had evacuated nearby communities, and ash fall from the eruption was affecting an area with about 1.7 million of the countrys 15 million or so people. Shelters were opened for those forced to flee. Sonia Perez D., El Rodeo, AP
Two paramilitary soldiers were killed and eight civilians wounded yesterday when Pakistani soldiers attacked dozens of forward posts along the highly militarized frontier in disputed Kashmir, Indian officials said.

The fighting comes barely a week after the two nuclear-armed rivals agreed to stop trading fire along the volatile frontier and uphold a cease-fire accord dating back 15 years. The two sides last week agreed to defuse tensions in Kashmir and use existing mechanisms of hotline contacts and border meetings at local commanders level to resolve the issues.

Pakistan did not immediately comment.

Indian border guards said Pakistan yet again blatantly violated the 2003-cease-fire agreement and they were retaliating. They said the Pakistani shelling was indiscriminate and unprovoked and was not just targeting paramilitary outposts but also villages.

Indian authorities were first trying to evacuate sick and injured villagers living near the frontier in bulletproof vehicles amid intense shelling and automatic gunfire, said top police officer S.D. Singh.

Singh said they have kept temporary shelters ready to receive frontier residents.

Tensions have soared in recent months, as both sides have shelled border posts and villagesr. Each side has accused the other of starting the hostilities in violation of the 2003 accord.

India says 25 civilians and 18 soldiers have been killed this year in over 800 cease-fire violations initiated by Pakistan.

Pakistan accuses Indian forces of more than 1,050 cease-fire violations this year, resulting in the deaths of 28 civilians and injuries to 117 others.

The soldiers from the two nations have engaged in fierce border skirmishes along the rugged and mountainous Line of Control, as well as a lower-altitude 200-kilometer boundary separating Indian-controlled Kashmir and the Pakistani province of Punjab, where most of the latest fighting occurred.

India and Pakistan have a long history of bitter relations over Kashmir, which both claim. They have fought two of their three wars since 1947 over their competing claims to the region. AP
Indonesias Mount Merapi erupted twice on Friday, shooting ash plumes as high as 6 kilometers in the sky and forcing the closure of two airports.

The National Disaster Mitigation Agency said the volcanos alert status, raised last month from the lowest level, was unchanged and a 3-kilometer no-go zone around the crater remains in force.

It said the first eruption occurred at 8:20 a.m. and lasted two minutes. Merapi erupted again in the evening, spewing volcanic ash as high as 2.4 kilometers, the local volcanology agency said.

Materials unleashed by the first eruption were blown northward, forcing the temporary closure of Ahmad Yani International airport in the Central Java capital of Semarang and Ade Sumarno Airport in Solo, officials said.

The mountain is about 30 kilometers from Yogyakarta city on the densely populated island of Java.

About a quarter million people live within a 10-kilometer radius of the volcano. Merapis last major eruption in 2010 killed 347 people.

Indonesia, an archipelago of more than 250 million people, sits on the Pacific Ring of Fire and is prone to earthquakes and volcanic eruptions. Government seismologists monitor more than 120 active volcanoes. AP
Italys new populist leaders commemorated the founding of the Italian republic by attending a pomp-filled military parade Saturday  and then promised to get to work creating jobs and expelling migrants.

The free ride is over, League leader Matteo Salvini, Italys new interior minister, warned migrants at a rally in northern Italy. Its time to pack your bags.

The pledge of mass deportations to come was a reminder that Italy has a staunchly anti-immigrant, right-wing party in its governing coalition  and that the European Union will face a whole new partner governing its fourth- largest economy.

Earlier, Salvini joined Premier Giuseppe Conte and the rest of the newly sworn-in Cabinet to view the Republic Day parade. Italys aeronautic acrobatic squad flew low and loud over downtown Rome trailing smoke in the red, white and green of the Italian flag.

The national pride on display is a feature of every Republic Day, but it took on a particular significance this year after Italy on Friday ended three months of political and financial turmoil and swore in a government whose populist and euroskeptic leanings have alarmed Europe.

Conte, a law professor plucked from relative obscurity to head an unlikely governing alliance of the anti-establishment 5-Star Movement and League, said the celebrations Saturday transcended all the tensions of recent days.

Its the celebration for all of us, of our republic, he said.

Contes Cabinet was sworn in after a last-minute deal averted the threat of a new election that could have turned into a referendum on whether Italy stayed with the shared European euro currency. The political stability relieved financial markets on Friday but Italys European neighbors continued to express concerns about the euroskeptic bent and the heavy spending agenda of Italys new government.

Italy is destroying itself  and dragging down Europe with it, read the headline of Germanys Der Spiegel magazine, the cover of which featured a forkful of spaghetti with one dangling strand tied up as a noose.

While Spiegel is known for such provocations, another Spiegel article last week drew an official protest from Italys ambassador to Germany.

On Saturday, German Chancellor Angela Merkel phoned Conte and invited him to visit soon. Merkels office said both leaders emphasized the importance of continued close bilateral cooperation.

Conte has so far left policy specifics to the drivers of his improbable rise, his two deputies: Salvini and 5-Star leader Luigi Di Maio.

Di Maio, the new economic development minister, reported for work after the parade to his ministry, which would have otherwise been closed for the holiday.

Starting today, we get to work to create work, Di Maio said in a Facebook video giving Italians a tour of the empty ministry. Di Maio is also the minister for labor, a combination he said made sense since the two ministries must work together.

Offering the new government cautious support was Italys small, far-right neo-fascist CasaPound party, which held its own Republic Day commemoration on Saturday. Banners featured images of a crossed- out EU flag and #exIT written underneath, a reference to calls for Italy to leave the 28-nation bloc.

The 5-Star-League agenda has no such plans, but Conte made clear he was irked by comments this week by European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker, who said Italy had to stop blaming the EU for its problems and must take responsibility to address the poverty in southern Italy. That means more work, less corruption. Seriousness, Juncker said in comments his spokeswoman later said he regretted.

In an unscripted blast from the parade route, Conte insisted Italy wasnt alone in facing cases of corruption and declared that we all have to work for legality.

Contes government faces mandatory confidence votes next week in parliament, where the two governing parties have a slim majority.

Republic Day commemorates the day, June 2, 1946, when Italians voted in a referendum to abolish the monarchy in favor of a republic, Italys first.

The political upheaval that has created western Europes first populist government this week has been dubbed the start of Italys Third Republic. Nicole Winfield, Rome, AP
U.S. Defense Secretary Jim Mattis on Saturday raised the prospect of additional American steps against China if its militarization of the South China Sea keeps apace. He said Beijing was intimidating and coercing others in the region by putting weapons systems on manmade islands.

President Donald Trump, backing the remarks by his Pentagon chief at an international security forum in Singapore, said on Twitter: Very surprised that China would be doing this?

Mattis said the Trump administrations recent decision to disinvite China from a multinational naval exercise this summer was an initial response to Beijings island activity. Mattis called the U.S. action a relatively small consequence. I believe there are much larger consequences in the future.

Chinas reliance on military muscle to achieve its goals is not a way to make long-term collaboration the rule of the road in a region thats important to Chinas future, Mattis said, when asked to elaborate.

There are consequences that will continue to come home to roost, so to speak, with China, if they dont find a way to work more collaboratively with all of the nations who have interests, he said.

The bluster comes at a delicate time in U.S.-China relations, as the Trump administration is warily asking for Chinas help with North Korea ahead of a June 12 summit, while also threatening a trade war. Trump renewed his threat to hike tariffs on Chinese goods, just days before his commerce secretarys arrived in Beijing on Saturday for trade talks.

Mattis said there was little doubt about Beijings intentions. Despite Chinas claims to the contrary, the placement of these weapons systems is tied directly to military use for the purposes of intimidation and coercion, Mattis said at the annual Shangri-

La Dialogue.

China recently has deployed anti-ship missiles, surface-to-air missiles, electronic jammers and other equipment on the Spratly Islands, and landed a bomber aircraft at Woody Island.

Mattis also touched on Taiwan, a longstanding dispute between the U.S. and China. He said Washington will continue to provide defense equipment and services to Taiwan and oppose any effort to alter the status quo. China claims the self-governing island as its own territory to be brought under its control by force, if necessary.

But he also said the U.S. welcomes cooperation with China wherever possible, and announced that he has accepted Beijings invitation to visit soon. It was not immediately clear whether that invitation would stand after the conference.

Mattis comments drew a pointed reaction from a Chinese official at the meeting.

Senior Col. Zhao Xiaozhuo said a U.S. move to send two warships into Chinas territorial waters was a violation of law, and an obvious provocation to Chinas national security and territorial integrity.

Mattis responded that the question reflected a fundamental disconnect with the way international tribunals have spoken on the matter.

We do not see it as a militarization by going through what has traditionally been an international water space, said Mattis of the U.S. ship movements through the South China Sea. What we see it as, is a reaffirmation of the rules-based order.

Two U.S. warships sailed close to the Paracel Islands on May 27 in the latest freedom of navigation operation designed to challenge Beijings claims. China protested the maneuver.

The previous week the U.S. had withdrawn an invitation for Beijing to participate in the exercise known as Rim of the Pacific. The Pentagon said the decision to disinvite the Chinese Navy was triggered by what it called strong evidence that China has deployed weapons systems on the islands. China says it is within its rights to build up defenses on islands in the South China Sea that it believes are its sovereign territory. Lolita C. Baldor, Singapore, AP
The MTR Corporation has been accused of conducting illegal activities relating to the construction of platforms at Hung Hom station in Kowloon as part of the citys most expensive railway project, the HKD97.1 billion Sha Tin-Central link.

The operator admitted late last week that it had become aware of five occasions where a subcontractor had the steel rebars cut short to appear properly installed, during the construction of the link, but failed to report its findings to authorities, as it was not required.

The staff made it seem as though the metal structures had been screwed correctly into couplers, inside one of the two underground levels being built beneath Hung Hom station to house four platforms for the new rail line. The rail operator admitted the negligent behavior last week, but refused to disclose the identities of those involved.

The company claimed that it first discovered the faults in December 2015, according to Hong Kong reports.

However, MTRs projects director Philco Wong revised the date to August 2015 on Friday morning, arguing that it was in December 2015 that they in fact wrote to the contractor to rectify the fault, gathering criticism from lawmakers for failing to inform police authorities.

Lawmakers then slammed the company for deceiving the public and for failing to take action against the concerned parties.

Meanwhile, Hong Kongs Secretary for Transport and Housing, Frank Chan, pledged that it would report relevant information to police authorities if any illegal activities were uncovered.

MTR Corporation recently signed a contract to provide operation and maintenance assistance services to the Taipa Line of the Macau Light Rapid Transit (LRT) system for a period of 80 months, in order to cope with operations in 2019, at a cost of MOP5.88 billion.

The scope of the services includes the testing and activation of systems prior to the start-up of the Taipa Line, the formation of operation teams and the development of pre- employment training.
Nearly half of Afghanistans children are not attending school because of war, poverty and other factors, a new report showed yesterday.

The study, released by the Education Ministry and the U.N. childrens agency, said that 3.7 million, or 44 percent, of all school-age children are not attending school. It marks the first time since the U.S.-led invasion of Afghanistan in 2001 that the rate of attendance has declined, following years of steady gains in education for boys as well as girls, who were banned from attending school under the Taliban.

The survey says girls account for 60 percent of those being denied an education.

Business as usual is not an option for Afghanistan if we are to fulfil the right to education for every child, Adele Khodr, UNICEFs Afghanistan representative, said in a statement. When children are not in school, they are at an increased danger of abuse, exploitation and recruitment.

The Taliban have seized several districts across the country in recent years, as the U.S.-backed government has struggled to combat the insurgency. A long-running financial crisis, exacerbated by widespread corruption, has further hindered government efforts to expand access to education.

Widespread poverty forces many families to push their daughters into early marriages, often with much older men. The legal age for marriage in Afghanistan is 18, but the law is poorly enforced, particularly in conservative, rural areas.

Girls education is still frowned upon in much of the conservative Muslim country, and is banned in the steadily expanding areas controlled by the Taliban. AP
The fifth training program in Capacity Building for Destination Marketing & Tourism Development brought together 19 participants from different countries such as Myanmar, Pakistan and China. The event, which was held from May 24 to 31, was hosted by the Global Center for Tourism Education and Training of the Institute for Tourism Studies (IFT) and the United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO).

The Times spoke to one the participants, Nanda Soe Myint, an assistant director of the Tourism Promotion Department of the Ministry of Hotels and Tourism of Myanmar, who was part of the awards ceremony and led a group of 10 participants from the Southeast Asian country.

Nanda told the Times that participants of the one-week long course learned a lot of new techniques and tools, especially in what concerns tourism development.

We need to [learn] more techniques from more advanced [and experienced] countries [and regions] in this field of tourism like Macau and China and to adopt and implement those in our country too, especially on what concerns to promotion and marketing [tools directed at] the Chinese tourists, he added.

According to the Burmese group leader, in 2016, we have received nearly 180,000 Indonesian and Chinese tourists and last year we received [about] 200,000 Chinese tourists, [a result which we think] came from our participation in travel events and fairs namely in Beijing and Kunming [which allow] interested Chinese tourists to learn more about Myanmar.

Nanda added that although there are no concrete figures as yet, we can say that we are already receiving more [tourists] than last year, noting that these tourists visit the country, [mostly] to [see our] cultural heritage but also they show interest in new experiences that we can offer, as we have a [broad] variety of tourism products, like in the northern part were we have the snowcap mountain and in the south we have beaches and islets, so in one destination they can experience a variety of experiences, he explained.

Last week, IFT held a certificate presentation ceremony for all the participants.

The group also met with the Secretary for Social Affairs and Culture, Alexis Tam.

The training program included case studies, experience sharing, presentations and site visits as well as lectures delivered by IFT professors and other invited scholars. Visits to Macaus historical center were also included.

The integrated resorts were not left out of the sites visited and studied, with a tour being held at the MGM Cotai resort which also included a session in which MGMs Catarina Lio and Frederica Fok delivered a talk on destination marketing and branding strategies.

This is the fifth time that a program of this kind is held by IFT since the Centre was established with the purpose of enhancing the quality of human capital and increasing the competitiveness of tourism destinations, particularly in the Asia Pacific Region, and achieving sustainable tourism development.
Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte lashed out yesterday at another U.N. human rights expert for making critical remarks about his supposed role in the expulsion of the chief justice, telling him to go to hell.

Duterte dismissed the remarks of Diego Garcia-Sayan and told him not to meddle in domestic problems. Duterte was replying to a reporters question before flying on a visit to South Korea.

Tell him not to interfere with the affairs of my country. He can go to hell, Duterte said in a late-night televised news conference. He is not a special person and I do not recognize his rapporteur title.

Garcia-Sayan told reporters in Manila last week that the unprecedented ouster of Maria Lourdes Sereno as chief justice after Duterte lambasted her in public is an attack on judicial independence that could put Philippine democracy at risk.

Duterte has reacted with similar public outbursts in the past against other U.N. rapporteurs who raised alarm and sought an independent investigation into his bloody campaign against illegal drugs, which has left thousands of mostly poor drug suspects dead. Police blamed the deaths on clashes with law enforcers.

Serenos ouster has generated a climate of intimidation in the 15-member high court and other levels of the judiciary, Garcia-Sayan said in an interview with The Associated Press in Manila.

He added that there was no formal U.N. investigation into Serenos removal, but as the U.N. rapporteur who looks into threats to independence of judges and lawyers worldwide, he had to speak up when problems are reported anywhere in the world. He cited his upcoming report on such a threat to the judiciary in Poland.

For a rapporteur of the U.N. on independence of justice to keep silent when a chief justice in any country in the world, even in my country, would be dismissed in such way is impossible, and it will be immoral to stay silent, Garcia-Sayan, a former justice and foreign minister of Peru, said.

He said he sent questions to the Philippine government about the circumstances leading to the May 11 ouster of Sereno and expressed hopes that the Duterte administration would reply within 60 days and agree to a dialogue on issues that could threaten the judiciarys independence.

Sereno, 57, was expelled by an 8-6 vote on a petition filed by government Solicitor General Jose Calida, who accused her of failing to file asset disclosures as a state university law professor years ago, a charge she denies. It pre-empted impeachment proceedings against Sereno that were then underway in Congress.

Sereno has appealed the ruling, citing a constitutional principle that top judiciary officials can only be removed by congressional impeachment. A majority of the 23-member Senate, including some Duterte allies, has asked the Supreme Court to review its decision, calling it a dangerous precedent that infringed on Congress power to impeach senior officials.

Presidential spokesman Harry Roque said Garcia-Sayan was misinformed and added that while Duterte has been critical of Sereno for claiming that he plotted against her, the president had no hand in her expulsion. His dislike of Sereno is not an attack to the judiciary or an affront to judicial independence, Roque said. Jim Gomez, Manila, AP
Suspended lawmaker Sulu Sou has told the South China Morning Post that he is ready to return to his seat.

I am ready to return to my seat, he told the newspaper on the weekend. I hope to be able to continue pressing on issues like greater government transparency, civil rights, human rights and freedoms.

Sou was found guilty of unlawful assembly last week and has been ordered to pay a fine of MOP40,800. The verdict and sentencing was somewhat controversial, with some observers accusing the court of making an example out of Sou and others praising its restraint in not sentencing the young democrat to prison.

A prison sentence of more than 30 days would likely have meant Sous permanent expulsion from the Legislative Assembly.

It is not clear whether Sou will automatically have his suspension lifted as soon as a 20-day appeal period expires, or whether his peers in the Legislative Assembly will need to vote on his return.

After the appeal deadline expires, Sou expects to begin the process of returning to the legislature. He suspects that this may take several months, but told the SCMP, he was hopeful it could be completed by mid-August.

I am confident that I can return before the summer holidays, he said.

The Hong Kong-based newspaper, which was reporting on the case of Sulu Sou for the first time, also noted the opinion of political analysts who compared the young democrat to his Hong Kong counterparts; the controversial Joshua Wong and Nathan Law.

One analyst, Leung Kai Yin, told the newspaper that the Liaison Office of Macau would play a critical role in determining whether the MSAR government continues to press the case against Sou. That might involve an appeal of the sentence and the opening of several other cases pending against the New Macau Association member.

[The Liaison Office] feel[s] that the sort of social actions organized by the New Macau Association disturb the harmony of society, he said. They are very sensitive about this and they worry that the young people will learn from them.
New Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez had been barely sworn in Saturday before one of the countrys most critical issues facing his fragile government was pressed upon him: ending the Catalan secession crisis.

Less than two hours after Sanchez had taken his oath to uphold the Spanish Constitution, Catalan chief Quim Torra demanded to meet with Sanchez and speak government to government regarding the future of the wealthy yet restive northeastern region.

Pedro Sanchez, let us talk, take risks, both you and I. Let us sit down at a table and talk, government to government, Torra said after swearing in his regional Cabinet in Barcelona on Saturday.

Torra, who was chosen by separatist lawmakers to lead the region last month, said his government accepts the charge to continue forward with the mandate [] to form an independent state.

Sanchez, the leader of Spains Socialist Party, came to power after he successfully ousted conservative predecessor Mariano Rajoy, who lost a no-confidence vote in parliament on Friday.

In order to cobble together the support to cast out Rajoy, Sanchez promised to open talks with Torra in order to get the votes he needed from the Catalan pro-secession lawmakers in the national parliament.

Sanchez said last week that one of the priorities of his government would be rebuilding bridges with the countrys regions and establishing the foundations that allow us to normalize relations and start a dialogue between the Spanish government and the new government in Catalonia.

Sanchez, however, insisted that any solutions for Catalonia must fit within Spains Constitution, which calls the nation indivisible and says national sovereignty resides in the Madrid-based parliament.

Sanchez had been Rajoys most loyal backer of a government takeover of Catalonias regional affairs following an illegal and unsuccessful declaration of independence by the regions parliament in October.

That federal takeover came to an end Saturday after Torra formed his Catalan government. Torras 13 regional ministers took oaths of allegiance to Catalonia while omitting the traditional oath of allegiance to the Spanish Constitution.

Torra, a fervent Catalan nationalist, was hand-picked by former Catalan leader Carles Puigdemont to succeed him. Puigdemont is fighting extradition from Germany to Spain, where he is sought on charges of rebellion and misuse of public funds.

Torras prior statements in articles social media posts deriding Spaniards have been called xenophobic by critics. He has recently apologized for those views.

Sanchez himself has called Torra the Spanish Le Pen, aligning him with elements of the European far-right like French nationalist Marine Le Pen.

Besides inheriting Spains worst political crisis in nearly four decades, Sanchezs government will depend on the support of the far-left Podemos (We Can) party and of a motley crew of regional parties and Catalan secessionists to get anything done in the federal government.

Spains parliament voted Friday to replace Rajoys government with one led by Sanchez after a ruling by the National Court delivered hefty prison sentences to 29 business people and ex-members of Rajoys Popular Party, including some elected officials, for fraud, money laundering and tax evasion, among other crimes.

Rajoy attended Saturdays ceremony in the royal Zarzuela Palace and shook Sanchezs hand after the new leader was sworn in by King Felipe VI. The two political rivals then posed for a photo with the monarch.

Sanchez has vowed to fight corruption and help those Spaniards affected by years of public spending cuts under Rajoys government. He also pledged to hold an election soon, while not setting a date.

Unlike the new populist government in Italy, Sanchez and his party are staunch supporters of the European Union and its shared euro currency. Joseph Wilson, Barcelona, AP
Now that the historic summit between President Donald Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un is back on track on June 12, the Associated Press took the streets of Singapore  the Southeast Asian city-state hosting the talks  to find out what its residents think and feel about the meeting.

Common themes found in the respondents answers are that of low expectations and uncertainty over whether the summit will actually be held.

At the rate the two political leaders are going, we can only say that the summit is confirmed when they actually arrive in Singapore, said Pat Chan, a commercial manager.

It is a sentiment echoed by officer manager Jennifer Yuen, who said that she hopes it will materialize because both leaders are so unpredictable.

Both respondents feel that, should the summit go ahead, it will reflect well on Singapore.

If the summit ends well, it will reflect well on Singapore. If it ends badly, likewise the Singapore brand will be tarnished in a way even though its not within our control, said Chan.

The summit will put Singapore on the world map again for its capability and efficiency, complemented Yuen. The meeting will be a good start and small step to achieving world peace. Both leaders need to be open-minded and receptive, and have faith that the other will not renege on what is agreed.

For Joys Tan, however, the summit is somewhat of a farce.

I do not have any interest in the meeting, said Tan. It could very well end as an embellishment in a long line of past historic events where treaties were drawn, but never meant much in the long run.

There is so much hype around the meeting that it has become a public display of fake politeness and geniality. Both parties need to subsequently keep communicating, without this dramatic display in order for this meeting to be meaningful.

Others are even more skeptical. Marjorie Goh said she has even lower expectations for the summit.

One is a liar, racist and all things repugnant, and the other is almost equally bad, said Goh. Both have nuclear weapons that threaten the world we live in  I dont like either of them. MDT/AP
PHILIPPINES President Rodrigo Duterte lashed out yesterday at another U.N. human rights expert for making critical remarks about his supposed role in the expulsion of the chief justice, telling him to go to hell.

INDONESIAs Mount Merapi erupted twice, shooting ash plumes as high as 6 kilometers in the sky and forcing the closure of two airports. A no-go zone around the crater was put into force.

INDIA-PAKISTAN Two paramilitary soldiers were killed and eight civilians wounded yesterday when Pakistani soldiers attacked dozens of forward posts along the highly militarized frontier in disputed Kashmir, Indian officials said.

KAZAKHSTAN A Russian Soyuz space capsule carrying three astronauts from the International Space Station has landed safely in the steppes of Kazakhstan.

QATAR A senior official said yesterday his country will not be dragged into any conflict with Iran, as he responded to a question on whether Qatars air bases could be used to launch airstrikes.

JORDAN Several thousand Jordanians have joined the largest protest yet against the governments recent austerity measures, including price hikes and planned tax increases.

GERMANY-ITALY Chancellor Angela Merkel says she will approach Italys populist new government with an open mind and try to work with it instead of speculating about its intentions.

SPAIN The separatist leader of Catalonia says he will continue to push for secession after the end of a seven-month takeover by Spanish authorities following last years failed breakaway bid.

BRITAIN Prime Minister Theresa May joined survivors, victims families and emergency workers at a memorial service yesterday to mark a year since a deadly vehicle-and-knife attack brought terror to London Bridge on a warm Saturday night.

CUBA President Miguel Diaz-Canel convened a special session of Cubas parliament on the weekend to propose a list of people to undertake a rewrite of the Soviet-era charter.

NICARAGUA A U.S. citizen was found shot to death in the capital Saturday as violence and social unrest continue to grip Nicaragua.
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Patisserie Holdings plc, together with its subsidiaries, operates in the casual dining sector in the United Kingdom and the Republic of Ireland. The company's stores formats include cafes, concessions, brasseries, takeaways, kiosks, and an online channel. Its stores offer cakes, pastries, snacks, meals, and hot and cold drinks. The company operates 152 stores under the Patisserie Valerie brand, 20 stores under the Druckers ? Vienna Patisserie brand, 22 stores under Philpotts brand, 4 stores under Baker & Spice brand, and 1 bakery under the Flour Power City Bakery brand. Patisserie Holdings plc was founded in 1926 and is based in Birmingham, the United Kingdom.

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Research from the University of Illinois at Chicago has found that some of the genes affected by alcohol and inflammation are also implicated in processes that clear amyloid betathe protein that forms globs of plaques in the brain and which contributes to neuronal damage and the cognitive impairment associated with Alzheimer's disease.

Previous studies investigating the effects of alcohol consumption on Alzheimer's disease have been controversialsome have indicated that alcohol has a protective effect, while others have pointed to a deleterious role for alcohol in the development of this neurocognitive disease. Recent research has suggested that alcohol consumption, and its impact on the immune system and inflammation in the brain, may be the vehicle through which alcohol might exert its influence on the development of Alzheimer's disease, but no previous studies have directly evaluated which genes are affected by alcohol in cells in the brain involved in protecting against Alzheimer's disease.

Dr. Douglas Feinstein, professor of anesthesiology in the University of Illinois at Chicago College of Medicine, along with other researchers conducted a cell-based study which suggests that alcohol may impede the clearance of amyloid beta in the brain. Their results are published in the Journal of Neuroinflammation.

Feinstein and his colleagues wanted to determine which genes were affected by both alcohol and high levels of inflammation in microglial cells. These are cells that support neural cells in the brain and elsewhere in the body. One of their functions is to engulf and digest the amyloid beta protein plaques characteristic of Alzheimer's disease in a process known as phagocytosis. Microglial cells are also known to express high levels of inflammatory markers due to chronic alcohol exposure.

The researchers exposed rat microglial cells to alcohol, pro-inflammatory chemicals called cytokines, or alcohol and cytokines in the lab for 24 hours, and then looked at changes in gene expression under each condition. They also looked at the impact of alcohol exposure on the cells' ability to engulf amyloid beta.

They found that gene expression was altered for 312 genes under the alcohol condition; for 3,082 for the pro-inflammatory condition, and 3,552 for the alcohol and pro-inflammatory condition. Changes in gene expressioneither an increase or decrease in expression compared to normal levelsaveraged about 16 percent and ranged from a 50 percent decrease to a 72 percent increase. Just a handful of genes were involved in both phagocytosis and inflammation.

"Among the genes we saw altered were many involved in phagocytosis, which is the first time this has been shown," Feinstein said. "While these studies were performed in isolated cells, our results suggest that alcohol impedes the ability of mircroglia to keep the brain clear of amyloid beta and may contribute to the development of Alzheimer's disease."

After the researchers exposed the cells to alcohol levels at doses that are comparable to those found in humans after binge drinking or in heavy drinkers, they found that microglial phagocytosis was significantly suppressed by about 15 percent after one hour. "We didn't continue the study to see whether phagocytosis was further impaired after longer exposures to alcohol," Feinstein said, "but it appears that these changes in microglial cells could be a contributing factor to the development of Alzheimer's disease."

More information: Sergey Kalinin et al, Transcriptome analysis of alcohol-treated microglia reveals downregulation of beta amyloid phagocytosis, Journal of Neuroinflammation (2018). Journal information: Journal of Neuroinflammation Sergey Kalinin et al, Transcriptome analysis of alcohol-treated microglia reveals downregulation of beta amyloid phagocytosis,(2018). DOI: 10.1186/s12974-018-1184-7
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Asthma and respiratory viruses don't go well together. Weakened by the common cold or the flu, a person suffering an asthma attack often responds poorly to emergency treatment; some must be hospitalized. This is especially true for preschoolers.

But what if there were a simple solution to help ward off the double whammy of an asthma attack and a respiratory virus? Well, there is one: to prevent getting sick, asthmatics can get an annual flu shot.

Unfortunately, however, only about 60 per cent do - but that might change.

In a new study in the journal Pediatrics, researchers at the Universite de Montreal-affiliated CHU Sainte-Justine children's hospital and a master's student in epidemiology at McGill University make a strong case for vaccinating asthmatic kids against flu.

Just over one in 10 Canadian children have asthma, about 600,000 under the age of 12. The chronic disease often starts in early childhood, before six years of age, in the pre-school years.

"These kids should get their flu shot and they should get it systematically - it's worth it," said study co-author Francine Ducharme, a pediatrician and clinical epidemiologist at CHU Sainte-Justine who's a professor of pediatrics at UdeM.

40% risk of treatment failure if there's flu

"We now know that if these kids get the flu the risks are very high that emergency treatment for an asthma attack will fail," said Ducharme. "Instead of having an overall 17-per-cent risk of treatment failure, with flu their risk rises to almost 40 per cent."

The study is based on the national DOORWAY (Determinants Of Oral Corticosteroid Responsiveness in Wheezing Asthmatic Youth) study that Ducharme and colleagues conducted between 2011 and 2013 with funding from the Canadian Institutes of Health Research. That study looked at close to 1,000 children treated for moderate or severe asthma attacks in emergency rooms at Sainte-Justine, the Montreal Children's Hospital and three other Canadian hospitals. Nose swabs were taken and analyzed to see if the children also had the flu or other respiratory viruses when they came to the ER.

It turned out almost two-thirds did. Yet when the kids with respiratory viruses were given the standard treatments for their asthma attack - oral corticosteroids and inhaled bronchodilators - 20 per cent didn't respond and in most cases needed to be hospitalized. Those with influenza or parainfluenza turned out to have a 37-per-cent or more chance of not responding to treatment, compared to 13 per cent for children without a virus. Failure was also high in kids with respiratory syncytial virus (RSV).

By contrast, kids with strains of human rhinoviruses (HRVs) - the usual cause of the common cold - did respond well to treatment for their asthma. To the researchers, this was very reassuring, as HRVs are the most frequent trigger of asthma attacks necessitating a visit to the ER.

A simple solution... but with hurdles

"This is the first time we've been able to disentangle the risk of non-response to asthma treatment with the presence of specific viruses - specifically, influenza and rhinovirus," said co-author Caroline Quach, an associate professor of microbiology and infectious diseases at UdeM, chair of the Quebec Immunization Committee and chair of the National Advisory Committee on Immunization of the Public Health Agency of Canada. "The more than 20-per-cent higher absolute risk of treatment failure in flu cases is very significant."

There's also a simple solution - but with hurdles, she added.

"Influenza is the only respiratory virus that is vaccine-preventable. Granted, it's at best only 50-per-cent efficacious, but that's no reason for kids with asthma not to get vaccinated yearly, in the fall, before flu season starts. We can start as young as six months of age. Asthma is not usually diagnosed that early, but in Quebec every child who is diagnosed with asthma is eligible for influenza vaccination. The problem is that not many parents are prevailing themselves of the opportunity."

A major reason is access. Getting a flu shot often means an extra trip to a CLSC or public-health clinic, and not all parents can or want to take the time to get it done.

"It's an additional step, so what we're trying to promote is that kids get vaccinated where they get care - at Sainte-Justine, for example, where children can be vaccinated on site at our asthma, respiratory or general pediatric clinics. "

Easy access to vaccination

From 2012 to 2014, Quach and her student Joanna Merckx, then a McGill clinical fellow in pediatric infectious diseases, ran a free flu-vaccination clinic at the Montreal Children's Hospital, immunizing 2,640 kids who had high-risk conditions like asthma, and concluded the easy access worked.

"It was very well-accepted," Quach recalled. "It was easier to catch those children who were coming in anyway for their visits."

Despite the fact that, as the study said, "very little is known about the impact of consecutive and repeated use of LAIV (flu vaccine administered via nose spray) and IIV (via injection) in the population," the message she and her colleagues have for public-health policy makers is unequivocal: make it easy for parents to get their children vaccinated, and encourage them to do so.

"Everybody who has an asthmatic child should hear that influenza is bad news - the child might have an attack that needs hospitalization," Quach said. "They need to ask for the flu vaccine yearly."

"Respiratory viruses and treatment failure in children with asthma exacerbation," by Joanna Merckx, Francine M. Ducharme, Caroline Quach et al, was published June 4, 2018 in Pediatrics.

Explore further Children with asthma attacks triggered by colds less responsive to standard treatment
(HealthDay)A cancer drug that boosts the immune system outperforms chemotherapy in fighting advanced lung cancer, a new trial shows.

Keytruda (pembrolizumab) extended life four to eight months longer than chemotherapy in lung cancer patients whose immune systems had been duped by their cancer cells.

"This trial shows that pembrolizumab used alone improves survival as opposed to chemotherapy," said lead researcher Dr. Gilberto Lopes, a medical oncologist with the Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center at the University of Miami Health System.

But while Keytruda works better than chemotherapy, the combination of the two is likely to be the best first choice for treatment of lung cancer, Lopes added.

"We do believe based on a study presented about a month ago that the combination of chemotherapy plus pembrolizumab probably is better than pembrolizumab alone," Lopes said. "What we likely will see as the new standard of care is for us to combine both drugs."

Keytruda fights cancer by "taking the brakes away from the immune system so our own defense cells can recognize cancer cells and kill them," Lopes explained.

The drug has also worked well against other cancers. When former President Jimmy Carter was diagnosed with melanoma that had spread to his brain several years ago, it was Keytruda that threw the cancer into remission by curtailing the action of a protein known as PD-L1.

PD-L1 is found on cancer cells, and it essentially shoos away the immune system, fooling it into thinking that cancerous tissue is normal and healthy. Keytruda blocks that interference, allowing killer immune cells to find and destroy the cancer.

Usually, tumors with larger amounts of PD-L1 respond better to treatment with pembrolizumab. But some studies have shown that similar immunotherapies also have been effective against tumors with little or no detectable PD-L1, the researchers said in background notes.

To see just how effective pembrolizumab can be across the board, Lopes and his colleagues randomly assigned 1,274 patients with advanced lung cancer to receive either pembrolizumab or chemotherapy. Average follow-up time was almost 13 months.

The researchers found that anyone who received pembrolizumab had longer average survival than those who underwent chemotherapy, about 16.7 months versus 12 months.

But the benefits of pembrolizumab increased with the amount of PD-L1 expression in lung tumors:

Patients with PD-L1 in half of their tumors experienced 20 months average survival on pembrolizumab, compared to 12 months with chemotherapy.

Those with PD-L1 in 20 percent of tumors had 17.7 months average survival with pembrolizumab, compared with 13 months for chemotherapy.

"For all the three groups we studied, pembrolizumab led to longer survival and higher overall survival rates than chemotherapy alone," Lopes said.

The immunotherapy also proved to be a milder treatment than chemo. Only 18 percent of patients reported severe side effects with pembrolizumab, compared with 41 percent of patients on chemotherapy.

This would make pembrolizumab a strong option for older and sicker lung cancer patients who can't safely handle the strain caused by chemo, said ASCO President Dr. Bruce Johnson, chief clinical research officer at the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute in Boston.

"You can give these therapies to people who are not feeling particularly well, because for most of the people it doesn't have the kind of side effects that come with chemotherapy," Johnson said.

Future studies will need to focus on how to best decide the right treatment for each patient, Lopes said.

"The big question now is who are the patients who might benefit from this alone, and those persons who might need pembrolizumab and chemotherapy to have the best response," Lopes said.

Keytruda costs about $10,000 a month, Lopes said, in line with other newer cancer drugs but more pricey than older chemotherapy drugs.

The study, funded by Keytruda manufacturer Merck, was scheduled for presentation Sunday at ASCO's annual meeting, in Chicago. Because they have yet to be published in a peer-reviewed medical journal, the findings should be considered preliminary.

Explore further Combination therapy doubles survival in metastatic lung cancer

More information: Gilberto Lopes, M.D., medical oncologist, Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of Miami Health System; Bruce Johnson, M.D., president, American Society of Clinical Oncology, and chief clinical research officer, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston; June 3, 2018, presentation, American Society of Clinical Oncology annual meeting, Chicago Gilberto Lopes, M.D., medical oncologist, Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of Miami Health System; Bruce Johnson, M.D., president, American Society of Clinical Oncology, and chief clinical research officer, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston; June 3, 2018, presentation, American Society of Clinical Oncology annual meeting, Chicago The American Cancer Society has more about immunotherapy drugs to treat cancer.

Copyright  2018 HealthDay. All rights reserved.
(HealthDay)Children suffering from rhabdomyosarcoma, a rare cancer of the muscle tissue, may have better chances for a cure if they have extended chemotherapy, a new study finds.

In a phase 3 clinical trial, adding six months of low-dose maintenance chemotherapy after initial treatment extended the five-year survival rate from 74 percent to 87 percent, researchers found.

Children with rhabdomyosarcoma who've survived for five years are essentially cured, because the chances that the cancer will recur are very low, the researchers explained.

"We have been treating rhabdomyosarcoma the same way for more than 30 years, and although different approaches have been tried, this is the first randomized trial in rhabdomyosarcoma to show improved outcomes," said study author Dr. Gianni Bisogno. A professor at the University Hospital of Padova in Italy, he made his remarks in a news release from the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO).

The findings were to be presented Sunday at ASCO's annual meeting, in Chicago.

Using existing drugs in new ways, Bisogno said, creates a new standard of care, and that can help children and young adults live longer, with less risk of their cancer returning.

Rhabdomyosarcoma starts in the muscles and can occur in any part of the body. It's most often found in the head, neck, pelvis and abdomen. Rhabdomyosarcoma accounts for 4 percent of all childhood cancersabout 350 children are diagnosed with it each year in the United States.

Most children, 80 percent, can be cured with high-dose chemotherapy, radiation and surgery. In children where the cancer has spread or recurred after initial treatment, however, only 20 to 30 percent can be cured, the researchers said.

For the trial, Bisogno and his colleagues randomly assigned 371 children to either no further treatment after initial therapy or six months of maintenance therapy with low doses of two chemotherapy drugs.

Five-year, disease-free survival was 69 percent for children who only received initial therapy, and 78 percent for those treated with extended chemotherapy.

The most common side effect in those getting extended chemotherapy was low blood cell count, which was usually mild. Incidents of other side effects such as fever were low, and neurologic side effects disappeared after treatment ended. Long-term side effects are still possible, though, and the patients are being followed, the researchers said.

The study authors said findings have changed the standard of care in Europe. But because the standard of care is different in the United States, further study is needed to understand how to integrate maintenance therapy into existing treatments, the researchers said.

"By keeping the pressure on this cancer longer with maintenance therapy, we are giving patients two winswe are boosting cure rates by preventing relapses and doing so with few serious side effects. After three decades of research, this finding goes to show that we will continue innovating treatment, no matter how long it takes," Dr. Warren Chow, an ASCO spokesman, said in the news release.

Because the study results were presented at a medical meeting, they should be considered preliminary until published in a peer-reviewed journal.

Explore further New regimens improve survival for children and young adults with T-cell cancers

More information: SOURCE: June 3, 2018, news release, American Society of Clinical Oncology SOURCE: June 3, 2018, news release, American Society of Clinical Oncology The American Cancer Society has more on rhabdomyosarcoma.

Copyright  2018 HealthDay. All rights reserved.
Jamin Brahmbhatt, M.D., and Sijo Parekattil, M.D., examine the label of a supplement bottle. They say most people can get the vitamins and nutrients that they need from food and that taking supplements can have unintended health effects if used without supervision. Credit: Orlando Health

Even though men don't often talk about their body insecurities, a new survey finds it's something that's certainly on their minds. Instead of discussing the issue or seeking advice from their doctors, men often turn to supplements and extreme workout regimens to change their bodies. A national survey commissioned by Orlando Health finds that 90 percent of men have changed their daily habits to reach their fitness goals. While it's common and healthy to adopt some lifestyle changes, millennials are much more likely than any age group to go to extremes, like using supplements (51 percent) and working out more than four days per week (56 percent).

With health food store shelves lined with pills and powders promising to build muscle and cut fat, doctors warn that supplements are not regulated by the FDA and could have unintended health consequences. And while gym culture encourages men to push themselves to their limits, intense workout schedules often lead to burnout and an unhealthy rise and fall in weight and muscles mass.

To help men find a safe and sustainable balance, Dr. Jamin Brahmbhatt and Dr. Sijo Parekattil, co-directors of the PUR (Personalized Urology & Robotics) Clinic and urologists at Orlando Health, are hitting the road for the 5th annual Drive for Men's Health. This year, they'll open a conversation about male body image and discuss the possible dangers of going overboard for the sake of obtaining 6-pack abs or bigger muscles.

"Finding that healthy balance can be a challenge, but it's something that men should be speaking to their doctors about. The daily habits that they think are improving their health could actually be putting it at risk," said Brahmbhatt. "A lot of claims on the labels of supplements and shakes are, at best, unresearched, and at worst, potentially dangerous."

Damien Taglione says he tries to get the nutrients his body needs from whole foods rather than supplements. A new survey by Orlando Health found that millennials are more likely to use supplements than any other age group, something doctors warn could have hidden dangers. Credit: Orlando Health

On June 4th, Brahmbhatt and Parekattil will kick-off this year's event in New York City, then hit the road in the Drive for Men's Health hybrid BMW i8 for a 3,000 mile road trip. They'll make stops in Philadelphia, Columbus, Chicago and Houston before ending their journey with a grand finale event in Clermont, Florida.

The duo will host health and nutrition demonstrations in partnership with local chefs at farmers' markets in each city, inviting men to take control of their health and be a part of the conversation on body image issues for men. They'll finish their roadtrip by joining the Clermont Waterfront ParkRun for a 5K to celebrate optimal health and active lifestyles.

"We want people to have fun at these events so that they are engaged and can absorb the important health messages that we're putting out there," said Parekattil, "Showing up creates a great opportunity to start the conversation and make an appointment with your doctor, because just living a healthy lifestyle isn't enough. Having regular visits with a physician is also extremely important to disease prevention and maintaining good health."

If you can't make it to the live events, you can ride along with the doctors via social media using the hashtag #Drive4Men. They'll be using Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and YouTube to answer questions, give live health advice and provide updates along their journey.

News package about the Drive for Men's Health. Credit: Orlando Health

Twitter and Instagram: @drive4men

Facebook: www.facebook.com/drive4men

YouTube: www.youtube.com/channel/UCCuMJnIBrmgU9hoZeU2h-og

Not only are millennials more likely to engage in risky habits to achieve their body goals, but they're also less likely to see their doctors. Brahmbhatt and Parekattil are determined to reach as many men as possible to help them understand the importance of regular checkups and encourage each of them to make an appointment.

"We often use the analogy that our bodies are a lot like our cars," said Brahmbhatt. "Men will take the time to do preventative maintenance on their cars, like getting tune ups and oil changes, but for whatever reason, we often don't take the same time and effort for our health. We need to change that mindset."

Brahmbhatt and Parekattil will hold events from June 4 through June 9 to spread the message that you don't need to go to extremes for the perfect body, but just like your car, regular maintenance will keep it in proper working order.

Explore further Survey finds why most men avoid doctor visits
(HealthDay)Many people with advanced kidney cancer might not need to have their kidneys removed during treatment, something that until now has been standard practice.

Patients who only received a targeted drug for their kidney cancer survived just as well as those who had their cancerous organ removed before drug therapy, according to a new clinical trial.

"We believe this one study will change it so that patients won't get nephrectomies [kidney removal surgery]," said Dr. Bruce Johnson, chief clinical research officer at the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, in Boston. "If anything, it looks like it's a little bit better if you don't take it out. We think this single study will change what people do."

For about two decades, kidney removal followed by drug therapy has been the standard of care for people with advanced kidney cancer, said Johnson, who is also president of the American Society of Clinical Oncology.

"One of the things that's been odd about kidney cancer is even if you have metastatic disease, where it started in your kidney and spread through your body, there was evidence patients lived longer if you took out their kidney," Johnson said.

Cases where the cancer has spread account for about 20 percent of all kidney cancers worldwide, said study lead researcher Dr. Arnaud Mejean, a urologist with the Georges-Pompidou European Hospital at Paris Descartes University, in France.

But in the intervening years, a number of targeted therapies have been developed that attack the ability of kidney cancer to grow and spread, the researchers added.

Mejean and his colleagues set out to test whether these new targeted drugs are so powerful that they've removed the need for painful, body-wracking kidney removal surgery.

The clinical trial enrolled 450 patients with metastatic kidney cancer, and assigned them to either take the targeted drug sunitinib (Sutent) or have their kidney removed and then take sunitinib.

Sunitinib attacks blood vessel growth that allows cancer to spread throughout the body, and it also blocks other means by which kidney cancer can grow, according to the American Cancer Society.

The patients were followed for about 51 months, and during that time the researchers found that survival was not worse for patients who just took sunitinib.

Overall, survival was 18.4 months without surgery versus 13.9 months with surgery. Similar survival rates also were found in people with an intermediate or poor prognosis.

The two patient groups had a similar rate of tumor shrinkage (just over 27 percent for surgery and 29 percent for sunitinib alone), the findings showed. In addition, average time until cancer progressed was slightly longer for patients who received sunitinib alone compared with those who also had surgery (8.3 months versus 7.2 months).

People who undergo kidney removal must heal before they can start targeted cancer drugs, often losing weeks they don't have to spare, the researchers noted. In some cases, the cancer spreads so quickly during this delay that there's no time to start the drug therapy.

However, the study authors said kidney removal is still the gold standard for people who do not need targeted drug therapy, such as those whose cancer has only spread to one other organ.

Despite these findings, it's not clear that all kidney removal surgeries will end for people with advanced kidney cancer, said Dr. Daniel Cho. He's a medical oncologist at NYU Langone Health's Perlmutter Cancer Center in New York City, and was not involved with the study.

"I don't think it should be across the board a standard of care yet," Cho said.

This approach may work for patients receiving targeted drug therapies, but may not be as effective in patients who are undergoing immunotherapytaking drugs to boost their immune system's ability to detect and kill cancer cells, he said.

Some people believe that large kidney tumors actually suppress the immune system and are not very responsive to immunotherapy drugs, Cho said. For the best results in these patients, kidney removal may be necessary.

"There's a certain rationale to remove the primary tumor if you're planning to give immunotherapy," Cho said. "The primary tumor may be creating a more immunosuppressive environment that makes the immune therapy less effective."

On the other hand, "there are those patients who are more likely to have rapidly growing disease, and therefore would more likely benefit from immediate systemic therapy," Cho added. "I really believe we have to be thoughtful about it."

The findings were presented Sunday at the American Society of Clinical Oncology's annual meeting, in Chicago. They were also published online June 3 in the New England Journal of Medicine.

Explore further Some people with advanced kidney cancer could avoid surgery

More information: Bruce Johnson, M.D., chief clinical research officer, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston; Daniel Cho, M.D., medical oncologist, NYU Langone Health's Perlmutter Cancer Center, New York City; June 3, 2018, presentation, American Society of Clinical Oncology annual meeting, Chicago; June 3, 2018, New England Journal of Medicine, online Bruce Johnson, M.D., chief clinical research officer, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston; Daniel Cho, M.D., medical oncologist, NYU Langone Health's Perlmutter Cancer Center, New York City; June 3, 2018, presentation, American Society of Clinical Oncology annual meeting, Chicago; June 3, 2018,, online The American Cancer Society has more about kidney cancer treatments. Journal information: New England Journal of Medicine

Copyright  2018 HealthDay. All rights reserved.
Credit: CC0 Public Domain

A new blood test being developed to diagnose heart attacks could one day be carried out on a simple handheld device, giving a rapid diagnosis in A&E departments without the need for samples to be sent to a lab, according to new research presented today at the British Cardiovascular Society Conference in Manchester.

The new test uses similar technology to the troponin test, but analyses the level of a protein called cardiac myosin-binding protein C (cMyC). Levels of cMyC in the blood increase more rapidly after a heart attack, and to a higher extent, than troponin, meaning that the test can rule out a heart attack in a higher proportion of patients straight away.

The international team, part-funded by the British Heart Foundation, took blood from 776 patients traveling to hospital by ambulance in Denmark. Researchers based at King's College London then tested these samples for cMyC protein.

In patients who did suffer heart attacks, the protein was present in high enough concentrations 95 per cent of the time for an on-the spot diagnosis. Importantly, the cMyC test outperformed the existing troponin test, which was only capable of diagnosing around 40 percent of patients in this way. This is mainly because troponin takes longer to reach detectable levels in the blood after you suffer a heart attack.

The researchers now hope to work with industry to create a portable testing device to be used in UK A&E departments, and in ambulances in countries where these have to drive considerable distances to get patients to their nearest hospital. A simple handheld device could replace the time-consuming processes involved in sending samples to the hospital labs for analysis.

It is estimated that over two thirds of people who attend A&E complaining of chest pain have not had a heart attack. But all will receive two tests: a heart test called an ECG and a blood test to measure the levels of a protein called troponin.

Under current guidelines, people suspected of having a heart attack are tested for high blood troponin levels as soon as they arrive in an A&E, and again after three hours. Depending on the type of troponin test used, up to 85 per cent of people will need to remain in hospital for further tests in order to rule out a heart attack.

The cMyC blood test, developed by a team from King's College London and tested across Europe, has already been shown to rapidly rule out a heart attack in more people than the standard troponin test. This could reassure worried patients in A&E departments, free up bed space and save hundreds of thousands of pounds per UK hospital every year.

Dr. Tom Kaier, one of the lead researchers, funded by the British Heart Foundation at St Thomas' Hospital, London said:

"It is important for both patients and doctors to work out early who has had a heart attack and who hasn't.

"Now that we know that this test is sensitive enough to give an almost immediate heart attack diagnosis, we need to work on developing a testing device. We'd love to see this used in A&E departments within the next 5 years."

Professor Jeremy Pearson, Associate Medical Director at the British Heart Foundation, said:

"Big heart attacks are often easy to diagnose with an ECG but smaller heart attacks, which are more common and also life-threatening, are more challenging.The troponin test has been used for around 20 years and is currently the most powerful tool we have for diagnosing such heart attacks, but there is always room for improvement.

"These initial results with the cMyC test look very promising for patients, who could be more quickly diagnosed and treated or reassured and sent home. However, further research is necessary before it can be recommended as a replacement for the troponin test."

Explore further New heart attack test could save NHS millions of pounds every year

Provided by British Heart Foundation
Electron micrographs of hepatitis C virus purified from cell culture. Scale bar is 50 nanometers. Credit: Center for the Study of Hepatitis C, The Rockefeller University.

A key recommendation in a new Canadian guideline on managing chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) is to screen all people born between 1945 and 1975 for the disease, a departure from previous guidelines. The guideline, which contains comprehensive recommendations for diagnosing and managing the disease in diverse patient populations, is published in CMAJ (Canadian Medical Association Journal).

"The treatment recommendations in this guideline update are markedly changed from the previous Canadian Association for the Study of the Liver treatment guidelines because of multiple advances in the field since their publication," write Drs. Jordan Feld and Hemant Shah, Toronto Centre for Liver Disease and University Health Network, Toronto, Ontario, with coauthors.

Chronic HCV is a major public health problem in Canada with serious health effects leading to premature death. In 2013, about 252 000 Canadians were infected with HCV. People born between 1945 and 1975 have the highest rates of HCV, although an estimated 70% of this group have not been tested.

The guideline, created by the Canadian Association for the Study of the Liver, is aimed at physicians and other health care professionals to help them manage adult patients with chronic HCV infection. "Simplification of treatment regimens and better tolerability allows for expansion of the treater pool to primary care providers in Canada," notes Hemant Shah. The guideline also contains quick-reference boxes and tables that describe who to test, suggested pre-HCV treatment workup, a list of Health Canada-approved direct-acting antivirals and recommended regimens for patients.

It differs significantly from a recent guideline from the Canadian Task Force on Preventive Health Care published in April 2017, which recommended against screening people who are not at high-risk of infection. However, the guideline is broadly consistent with those from other societies in Europe and the United States.

The authors recommend birth cohort screening for people born between 1945 and 1975 based on high rates of HCV in this group, evidence showing cost-effectiveness of detection and recent lower prices for HCV therapy in Canada that make treating HCV less expensive than in the past. In most provinces and territories in Canada, every infected person can now access therapy for Hepatitis C.

"We advocate for screening this baby boomer cohort because HCV prevalence is highest in this age group (1.55%), accounting for an estimated 63% of all HCV infections in Canada. Between 45% and 70% of Canadians infected with HCV are unaware they have the disease, which can lead to liver disease and death. It seems evident that the current policy of screening based on risk factors has not worked," say the authors.

In a related commentary, Drs. Jawad Ahmad and James Crismale, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York, write "The updated Canadian Association for the Study of the Liver guideline takes an important step in continuing the fight against HCV in Canada, expanding screening indications to the baby boomer cohort and recommending curative therapy to all individuals affected by HCV."

Explore further Screening for impaired vision in older adults: New Canadian guideline
In a study on porn, viewers preferred to watch pleasure over aggression on a popular online pornography site. Credit: Shutterstock

Is mainstream pornography becoming more and more violent? And if so, what's driving the trend.

In our newly published study that examined a large representative sample of highly watched pornographic videos from a leading online streaming website, we found no evidence for the claim that pornography has become more violent over the last decade.

We also found no evidence for often-heard claims that viewers increasingly prefer aggressive content.

Pornography and sexually explicit materials have long been a matter of intense debate. Since the so-called sex wars of the 1970s, activists and academics have been embroiled in disputes concerning the production conditions, future directions and long-term consequences of pornography.

Opponents argue that porn leads to sexual aggression and misogyny. Others have been more skeptical about the pornography-violence relationship. They argue that pornography can be enjoyed by both men and women without necessarily causing harm .

Since the rise of online porn along with social media, discussions about pornography have taken on a life of their own, largely unhinged from a credible or systematic evidence base.

Debates about aggression in porn

Our interest in the topic of violence and aggression in pornography came out of reading and hearing claims both in the popular media and in academic circles that pornography is becoming "worse and worse."

Part of this argument has been the result of scientifically dubious claims about pornography being addictive and users needing to constantly "up the stakes" in order to be satisfied.

According to this logic, porn viewers who are mostly men become desensitized to "soft" pornography. This forces producers to increasingly generate videos that are more hard-core, creating a growing demand for and supply of violent and degrading acts against women in mainstream pornographic videos.

However, we found no evidence to support these claims, and most of the existing evidence for the idea that porn is more hard-core than before was anecdotal.

Studies on the presence of aggression in pornographic videos have produced wildly diverging estimates, ranging from about two per cent to 90 per cent . Differences in the way porn is studied can cause this wide gap in results: Researchers who have looked at aggression in porn have looked at different forms of media and have used various methods to both study and choose their samples.

They have even used various definitions of aggression. Aggression can be strictly defined as a purposeful act resulting in harm in which the target of aggression attempts to avoid the harm, or more broadly defined as a purposeful act that results in harm to either the self or another . The choice of definition can have an impact on what is considered aggression, creating the potential to either under- or over-estimate prevalence.

Previous studies have not examined systematically changes in depictions of aggression over time, nor the relationship between aggressive contents and the popularity of videos.

Testing the claims porn is more violent

We set out to test the accepted wisdom of the "harder and harder" argument.

We also tested the assumption that viewers prefer increasingly hard-core pornography by analyzing 269 videos uploaded to PornHub over the past decade.

PornHub is one of the world's top adult websites and, according to Alexa Internet, the 36th most visited site on the Internet as of 2017, with more than 80 million daily visits. PornHub is a freely accessible video-sharing website similar to YouTube.

Most of the videos we analyzed were frequently watched, but we also analyzed a smaller random sample of less frequently watched videos so that we could compare the highly popular videos versus the less popular ones.

We tested two related claims: One, that aggressive content in videos is on the rise and two, that viewers prefer such content. We used both the number of views as well as the rankings ("based on likes") for videos containing aggression to help us assess popularity.

We used multiple definitions and measures of aggression (including visible, verbal, non-verbal and non-consensual aggression). Our results offered no support for either of these two claims. Viewers did not show a preference for violent content.

Visible aggression was present in slightly less than 40 per cent of the videos, non-consensual aggression appeared in about 12 per cent of the videos, and nearly 10 per cent of video titles clearly suggested aggression.

None of these showed an upward trend.

In fact, while in 2008, nearly 13 per cent of the average videos portrayed non-consensual aggression, by 2016, this figure had dropped to less than three per cent. This decline in non-consensual aggression and a similar decline in aggressive video titles suggest that aggression has become less frequent in pornography over the last decade.

We also found that videos containing aggressive acts were both less likely to receive views and less likely to be ranked favourably by viewers, who preferred videos where women clearly demonstrated pleasure.

Whether the women are actually experiencing pleasure is another matter altogether, which our study cannot assess. Nevertheless, videos where women respond with pleasure are more likely to be watched and be "liked" (given a thumb's up by viewers).

These findings clearly challenge the assumption about the popularity of aggression, at least among those viewers who choose to share their preferences.

A shift away from aggression

Our findings positively contribute to the conversation between scholars and activists who write and speak about the pernicious effects of aggression in pornography, such as its potential links to violence against women and an increased acceptance of rape myths.

Indeed, it seems like the majority of mainstream viewers are gradually moving away from depictions of aggression and degradation, particularly non-consensual aggression.

This shift away from non-consensual aggression may signify lower demand and, depending on the responsiveness of producers to the preferences of most consumers, might result in reduced distribution of material featuring non-consensual aggression.

That said, surveys and interviews with porn viewers are needed to further explore preferences for aggression-free pornography.

Our research suggests that those making the "harder and harder" argument may be confusing supply (what a substantial portion of mainstream porn still looks like) and demand (what most viewers actually want to watch.)

More information: Eran Shor et al. "Harder and Harder"? Is Mainstream Pornography Becoming Increasingly Violent and Do Viewers Prefer Violent Content?, The Journal of Sex Research (2018). Journal information: Journal of Sex Research Eran Shor et al. "Harder and Harder"? Is Mainstream Pornography Becoming Increasingly Violent and Do Viewers Prefer Violent Content?,(2018). DOI: 10.1080/00224499.2018.1451476

This article was originally published on The Conversation. Read the original article.
Credit: CC0 Public Domain

The blood vessels of middle-aged men and women adapt differently to regular exercise according to new research being presented today at the British Cardiovascular Society conference in Manchester.

Researchers at Loughborough University examined the effects of regular exercise training on the blood vessels of 12 men and post-menopausal women. Blood pressure and arterial stiffness were assessed before and one hour after a brisk walk.

Their preliminary findings suggest that arterial stiffness, an independent risk factor for heart disease, is higher in women compared with age-matched men. A single bout of brisk walking improved arterial stiffness and blood pressure in both groups, however, arterial stiffness remained higher in women. Interestingly, the improvements in arterial stiffness were related to changes in blood pressure in men only, suggesting possible sex-differences in how the blood vessels adapt and respond to exercise.

Research has shown that regular physical activity helps reduce the stiffening of the arteries, which in turn lowers a person's risk of developing heart or circulatory disease. However, the blood vessels of men and women appear to adapt differently to regular exercise, with post-menopausal women demonstrating less exercise-associated benefits than men.

The researchers are now looking at whether daily folic acid supplements could help postmenopausal women to reduce their risk by relaxing the blood vessels and as such lowering arterial stiffness and reducing strain on the heart.

Jen Craig, the Ph.D. student undertaking the research at Loughborough University under the lead of Dr. Emma O'Donnell, said: "Regular physical activity is associated with lower risk of cardiovascular disease. However, regular exercise does not seem to benefit the blood vessels of post-menopausal women as much as it does their male counterparts. If we are to help women to decrease their risk of heart disease we need to consider alternative strategies that may enable these women to maximise their benefits from engaging in regular exercise."

Professor Jeremy Pearson, Associate Medical Director at the British Heart Foundation, said: "This research adds to our understanding of the relationship between physical activity and heart disease as we get older. If you're more physically active you give yourself the best chance of a heart-healthy retirement. And although post-menopausal women don't see quite the same exercise benefits as men, staying active will still reduce their overall risk of developing heart disease."

Provided by British Heart Foundation
Credit: CC0 Public Domain

Having a stressful job is associated with a higher risk of a heart rhythm disorder called atrial fibrillation, according to research published today in the European Journal of Preventive Cardiology, a European Society of Cardiology (ESC) journal.

The most stressful jobs are psychologically demanding but give employees little control over the work situationfor example, assembly line workers, bus drivers, secretaries, and nurses.

The study found that being stressed at work was associated with a 48% higher risk of atrial fibrillation, after adjustment for age, sex, and education.

Dr. Eleonor Fransson, study author and associate professor of epidemiology, School of Health and Welfare, Jonkoping University, Sweden, said: "We need people to do these jobs but employers can help by making sure staff have the resources required to complete the assigned tasks. Bosses should schedule breaks and listen to employees' ideas on how the work itself and the work environment can be improved."

Atrial fibrillation is the most common heart rhythm disorder (arrhythmia). Symptoms include palpitations, weakness, fatigue, feeling light headed, dizziness, and shortness of breath.

Atrial fibrillation causes 20-30% of all strokes and increases the risk of dying prematurely. One in four middle-aged adults in Europe and the US will develop atrial fibrillation. It is estimated that by 2030 there will be 14-17 million patients with atrial fibrillation in the European Union, with 120,000-215,000 new diagnoses each year.

Dr. Fransson said: "Atrial fibrillation is a common condition with serious consequences and therefore it is of major public health importance to find ways of preventing it. Little is known about risk factors for the disease and especially the role of the work environment."

This study assessed the link between work stress and atrial fibrillation. The study included 13,200 participants enrolled into the Swedish Longitudinal Occupational Survey of Health (SLOSH) in 2006, 2008, or 2010. Participants were employed and had no history of atrial fibrillation, heart attack, or heart failure. At study inclusion, participants completed postal surveys on sociodemographics, lifestyle, health, and work-related factors.

Work stress was defined as job strain, which refers to jobs with high psychological demands combined with low control over the work situation. The survey included five questions on job demands and six on controlfor example: Do you have to work very hard or very fast? Are there conflicting demands in your work? Do you have enough time to complete your work tasks? Does your work include a lot of repetition? Can you decide how and what to do at work?

During a median follow-up of 5.7 years, 145 cases of atrial fibrillation were identified from national registers.

Dr. Fransson said: "In the general working population in Sweden, employees with stressful jobs were almost 50% more likely to develop atrial fibrillation. The estimated risk remained even after we took into account other factors such as smoking, leisure time physical activity, body mass index, and hypertension."

The authors then pooled their results with two other studies on the same topic, and found that job strain was associated with a 37% increased risk of atrial fibrillation. "Across studies there was a consistent pattern of work stress being a risk factor for atrial fibrillation," said Dr. Fransson.

She concluded: "Work stress has previously been linked with coronary heart disease. Work stress should be considered a modifiable risk factor for preventing atrial fibrillation and coronary heart disease. People who feel stressed at work and have palpitations or other symptoms of atrial fibrillation should see their doctor and speak to their employer about improving the situation at work."

European guidelines on the prevention of cardiovascular disease state that stress at work contributes to the risk of developing cardiovascular disease and having a worse prognosis. Assessment of psychosocial risk factors is recommended in people who have, or are at risk of developing, cardiovascular disease.

More information: Eleonor I Fransson et al, Job strain and atrial fibrillation  Results from the Swedish Longitudinal Occupational Survey of Health and meta-analysis of three studies, European Journal of Preventive Cardiology (2018). Journal information: European Journal of Preventive Cardiology Eleonor I Fransson et al, Job strain and atrial fibrillation  Results from the Swedish Longitudinal Occupational Survey of Health and meta-analysis of three studies,(2018). DOI: 10.1177/2047487318777387
An empty bed at the Glostrop Psychiatric Centre in Denmark awaiting a patient to admit themselves. Credit: Marie Barse

Since 2013, severely ill psychiatric patients in Denmark have been able to decide when to admit themselves to hospital without having to first go to the emergency department for evaluation.

Now, scientists in Denmark have assessed whether or not the scheme works.

Pervious pilot studies have suggested that patient-controlled admissions, as they are called, reduced coercionwhereby patients are forcibly treated or committed.

But this does not seem to be the case, according to lead author Dr. Christoffer Torgaard Thomsen, consultant at the Psychiatric Center Glostrup, Denmark.

"Nothing suggests that it successfully reduces coercion," says Thomsen, who has conducted the largest study on patient-controlled admissions to date, together with Professor Merete Nordentoft and Michael Eriksen Benros, two of Denmark's leading experts in treating psychiatric diseases.

"If the goal of introducing patient-controlled admissions is to reduce coercion in psychiatry, then you probably need to do something else," says Thomsen.

The results are published in the scientific journal Acta Psychiatry.

Longer admissions than the control group

The study examined the use of coercion, medicine, incidences of suicide and self-harm, and the number of days spent in hospital, among two groups of patients.

One group of 422 had a contract where they could decide when to admit themselves to hospital. The control group of 2,110 patients were of a similar age, sex, diagnosis, and disease history.

They found that patient-controlled admissions did not decrease the incidences of coercion or the risk of suicide and self-harm. Patients responsible for admitting themselves to hospital took, on average, more medicine than the control group, and were admitted more often and for longer  almost one month more.

"The concept is sympathetic and recovery-orientated, but we don't have any evidence-based reason to recommend introducing the scheme," says Nordentoft, professor at the University of Copenhagen and head of the research group at Psychiatric Center Copenhagen.

A small Norwegian study from 2017 reached similar conclusions.

Professor Torleif Ruud from the department of Clinical Medicine at the University of Oslo calls the new study "the best study" on this topic, methodologically speaking.

"Previous studies were small and did not compare with a control group. It's an important study because it questions what we thought," says Ruud.

He studies patient-controlled hospital admissions and is familiar with the new study. Though he points out that this is a new field of research and further research is needed.

Scheme already implemented in Denmark

Patient-controlled admissions were found to be no more effective than normal treatment in terms of reducing coercion. So has the scheme been scrapped?

No. The capital region authorities decided to make the program permanent in 2016, after the trial period had ended. This was before they knew whether or not it had the desired effect.

Since then, the scheme has been expanded and all psychiatric centres in Denmark are now able to offer patient-controlled admissions.

And while patients are as likely to experience coercion during patient-controlled admission, there might still be some other positive effects that help their recovery, says Anne Lindhardt, chair of The Mental Health Foundation, Denmark.

"It's about much more than coercion and medicine  it's about empowerment, better ethics, and better collaboration with patients," says Lindhardt.

A culture change in psychiatry

Both the Danish Psychiatric Association and the Better Psychiatry support group for relatives think that the patient controlled admission program has value.

"It's about creating a culture change in psychiatry, so we give more power to the users and focus on recovery," says Thorstein Theilgaard, general secretary at the Better Psychiatry support group for relatives.

According to Professor Ruud, a good next step would be to assess whether some groups in particular benefit from the scheme.

"For example, it could be interesting to look at the diagnosis groups. Are there groups of patients for whom it makes more sense to offer [the scheme] than others?" he says.

Explore further Study on perceptions of coercion during admission to psychiatric hospitals

This story is republished courtesy of ScienceNordic, the trusted source for English-language science news from the Nordic countries. Read the original story here.
Huawei has seen a 60% increase in the sales of its P20 series over its previous-generation P10 series, the company stated.

These figures refer to the six weeks following the release of the Huawei P20 in South Africa.

Sales of the P20 Lite have increased by a 150% compared to the P10 Lite over the same period, and the sales numbers for the Huawei P20 series for April 2018 surpassed that of the Samsung Galaxy S9, said Huawei.

The Huawei P series has established itself as the benchmark of exquisite design and best-in-class photography, said Huawei CBG vice president Likun Zhao.

With the P20 series, Huawei has brought to market devices that revolutionise the use of innovative technology and premium design.

The smartphone lineup has also been successful internationally, with Google Trends revealing the Huawei P20 series was a frequent search query across Europe.

Huawei added that in the four weeks since the launch of the Huawei P20 Pro, it had outsold its predecessor by 316%.

This helped make it the most successful device ever sold by the company in Western Europe.
As much as I love cool-season produce, its time to move on. What better way to do it than with stone fruit? Peaches and nectarines are now available at the Napa Farmers Market, and they are delicious.

When I have to decide whether to buy peaches or nectarines, I take the easy way out and buy both. The main difference is that peaches are fuzzy while nectarines are smooth. This is not important to me, but to my wife its practically a matter of life and death. She will bite into a juicy nectarine, but a fuzzy peach will never cross he lips.

If you cant decide between the peaches and nectarines, buy the fruit that smells best. At the farmers market, you can also taste before you buy. I dont recommend that you squeeze the fruit, especially if you are at the Bera Ranch stall. Michelle Bera does not like customers squeezing her fruit.

Peaches and nectarines are almost identical genetically. Peaches have a dominant gene that produces the soft, fuzzy skin. Nectarines have a recessive gene that results in smooth skin.

Both fruits can be freestone or clingstone, yellow or white. With freestone types, the pit detaches easily from the flesh; with clingstone varieties, the pit is harder to pry loose.
The Museum of Ice Cream - an Instagrammable pop-up funhouse devoted to the childlike pleasure of candy and frozen sweets - has frozen out a lot of guests since it first opened in 2016. It's notoriously hard to get into: only open in certain cities (currently, San Francisco) for a limited time, and the $38 tickets sell out almost immediately. It leaves people scrolling through social media, longing for the day when they'll get their chance to dive into a pink swimming pool full of rainbow sprinkles and post Boomerangs of the experience that will make everyone jealous.

Those people are now in luck. The museum announced Wednesday that it's planning to open a new concept, the Pint Shop, in New York - no tickets required - and is launching its own brand of ice cream, which will be available in most Target locations nationwide. The Pint Shop, which will open in New York's Meatpacking District on June 6, will be free and first-come, first-serve - so expect to wait in incredibly long lines. It "celebrates the accessibility and democracy that ice cream brings," founder Maryellis Bunn said in a news release.
On Wednesday, May 23, the nonprofit foundation, If Given A Chance, held its 23rd annual Awards Ceremony and Dinner for the 2018 student education award winners. Almost 200 community members, friends, supporters and sponsors came together at the Napa Valley Marriott Hotel to celebrate the students and raise money for future scholarships.

Bruce Miroglio, Master of Ceremonies, kicked off the event with introductions to If Given a Chance and the winners of the 2018 Awards. His introductions were followed by a beautiful performance by the Napa High School Chamber Choir led by choral music director Kory Reid.

This years scholarship recipients hail from the entire length of Napa County: American Canyon to Calistoga: Enrique Ricky Alvarez, Emily Castaneda, Leency Chavez, Malia Lake, Daisy Roman, Lori Kayoko Sarsfield, Ana Karen Valentin, and Hannah Washburn.

The Honorable Judge Ron Young introduced and read a statement about each student and then the student told their own story. Every year, the students are presented with Resolutions of Recognition from US and California State elected officials. This year the Recognitions were presented by Tracy Krumpen, District Director for Assembly Person Cecilia Aguilar-Curry and representing Bill Dodds office, and Shao Chang, Constituent Services Representative for Congressman Mike Thompson.
This is the story of a Napa State Hospital fire truck from the 1950s that had a rough second life on a Central Valley ranch, but is now restored and looking for a new home.

The 1949 Dodge Power Wagon might have been lost to history but for Rich Gunn who lives in Wilton, a "country area" just outside Sacramento.

Gunn had always wanted to restore a vehicle, so when he realized that one of his friends had a 1949 Dodge Power Wagon just sitting around, he offered to buy it. But Gunns friend wasnt ready to sell it, so Gunn kept making offers.

A year later, in September 2010, Gunn got the bad news. His friend had sold the truck to someone else.

That someone else ended up being Gunns wife, Linda.

We had him hook, line and sinker, Linda Gunn said, remembering the moment. Her husbands birthday was just a month later. This was his gift.

Theres a lot of smiling, memorable moments that have taken place (with the truck), she said.

It didnt take long for the Gunns, who are in their seventies, to figure out that the Power Wagon was actually an old fire truck previously used by firefighters at Napa State Hospital. Linda had found the original 1956 and 1961 emergency vehicle permits in the glove compartment.

It turned out that truck was sold to the Napa State Hospital Fire Department in the early 1950s, according to the Gunns. The truck, which had been originally green, was painted red and made into a fire truck used to fight grass fires. It was later painted yellow.

At some point, the State of California sold of some equipment, including the truck, which was purchased by Gary Cassity from a third party in the early 1980s. Cassity used the truck to install fencing that would protect cattle from the Southern Pacific Railroad. Cassity meant to restore the truck back to a fire truck, but instead let it sit until the Gunns purchased it in 2010.

The bench seat was torn and separated; showing the horse hair used for cushioning the seat (and) the water tank had been removed, but was still with the truck. Linda Gunn said. As part of the restoration, the entire truck was sand blasted and painted fire engine red. The truck was completely rewired, she said.

Vintage equipment, including a hose reel, hoses, copper fire extinguishers, backpack sprayers, and a growler siren were also added to the truck.

The Gunns have taken the old fire truck to car shows, where is has won a few awards including "Voter's Choice," and parades. But, other than that, they said, it just sits around most of the year.

"Most of the time just sits," Linda Gunn said. "Its not something like if we had a hot rod that we can take and go out to dinner, ya know. You just dont drive a fire truck around town."

The truck is so special, she said, it should be on display more often. She hopes that it will be purchased by someone who can return it to its original home in Napa County.

"Its a shame," she said, "that its such a neat thing that it cant be more visible to the public."

"Im really proud of what we did with it but  its time for it to be seen by somebody else ... and get seen once in a while," Rich Gunn said. "Its a neat old truck."

The Gunns are asking $25,000 for the truck plus $2,000 for the trailer to transport it.

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Napa County voters have until 8 p.m. Tuesday to cast their ballots in the June 5 election.

The ballot includes Measures C, the oak woodland/water protection initiative, and D, which would ban private heliports, and the race for District 3 Supervisor between incumbent Diane Dillon and challenger Cio Perez.

All ballots are mail-in. Mailed ballots must be postmarked no later than June 2. They can also be dropped off before 8 p.m. Tuesday at numerous locations throughout the county.

There are staffed vote centers where ballots can be dropped, replacement ballots requested and questions answered. These centers are open from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday and 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Tuesday, election day.

Vote centers are located: Crosswalk Community Church, 2590 First St., Napa; American Canyon Library, 300 Crawford Way, American Canyon; Angwin Fire House, 275 College Ave., Angwin; Calistoga Fire Department, 1113 Washington St., Calistoga and the Veterans Home in Yountville, 260 California Drive.,

Drop-off boxes can be found at the following locations:

-- Napa: Soscol Avenue at Lincoln Avenue, south of Soscol Plaza across from WalMart; Second Street Garage alley, between Carithers Building and Second Street Garage.
Napa Countys recovery from October wildfires that destroyed 600 houses looks like this  almost all wreckage from incinerated structures is in landfills and a few lots have wooden frames of new homes going up.

Joe Betz received the countys first reconstruction building permit and hell likely be a leader in completing a reborn house. The San Francisco prime rib restaurant owner recently said his project at Silverado possibly could be done by the Oct. 8, 2017 Atlas Fire one-year anniversary.

Wooden framing shows the lines of his new house, the roof is on and the glass windows are in. The upbeat Betz sees all of this as a good sign, and not only for himself.

Napa is coming back, Betz said.

The rebuilding renaissance has yet to kick into high gear, to be sure. For every lot like Betzs with a construction crew at work, there are dozens and dozens that are empty, stripped even of fire-contaminated cement foundations.

Still, debris removal is the needed first step to rebuilding. Wreckage from 93 percent of the properties hit by the Atlas, Tubbs and Nuns fires have been cleared. Some of the remaining wreckage, like a remote hunting lodge, is off the beaten track.

Napa County has received 62 applications to rebuild fire-damaged homes and has issued 23 permits, Planning, Building and Environmental Services Director David Morrison recently told county supervisors. That means up to 23 rebuilding projects are either underway or could soon be underway.

A drive along narrow, remote Soda Canyon Road a few miles northeast of the city of Napa reveals many of the lots with homes lost to fires are empty. Then theres the Todd and Tracy Walkers property, where tan wooden framing is rising amid the blackened oaks.

Were excited, Tracy Walker said on Wednesday. Its beginning to take shape.

Excitement of a different, unwanted type came the night of Oct. 8, 2017. Todd Walker looked out the window and worried about high winds he thought might send branches tumbling down. As it turned out, the situation was far more dire.

The whole hillside was just an orange glow, Tracy Walker said.

The Atlas Fire was on the move and so were the Walkers. They fled with Tracy Walkers niece and Todd Walkers visiting mother. They escaped by driving one-and-a-half miles on Soda Canyon Road, the only paved exit from Soda Canyon, despite encountering a few downed trees.

Fire destroyed the 1943 farmhouse they had moved into only a year earlier and an old barn. Flames burned so hot that they melted metal from the engine of a car left behind.

Yet somehow, the family animals  three goats and a donkey named Dantesurvived. Walker said their coats in the wake of the fire had a plastic-like quality. The goat had singed ears. But they were alive.

It was a miracle, Terry Walker said as she stood near Dante the donkey, who like his literary namesake had passed through an inferno.

The Walkers hope their new home will be finished by Thanksgiving, which coincides with their 30th wedding anniversary. That would make for a thrice-blessed event.

That will be a celebration, Tracy Walker said.

Contractors are likely to be in high demand amid a fire rebuild that includes not only hundreds of Napa County homes, but thousands of Sonoma County residences. The Walkers had three bidders for their project and chose Wine Country Development of Napa.

Dick Pasmore of Wine Country Development said the contractor crunch really hasnt hit yet. But its coming.

Theres not going to be enough contractors to be able to rebuild in any decent time, he said. I would say by the end of the summer, its going to be really hectic.

Also along Soda Canyon Road, Caymus Builders is constructing what John Currier of the firm called a clients dream house. Work had begun before Oct. 8 and the fire dealt a setback, destroying subfloor installations and framing for a garage.

Currier said his firm has capacity to do more rebuild projects.

Were still actively meeting with clients on a regular basis to see if we meet their needs and what the chemistry is, Currier said.

He predicted a contractor shortage will kick in by late summer or by years end. The challenge will be not only for customers looking for contractors, but contractors looking for subcontractors.

Coffey Park in Santa Rosa was hard hit by the Tubbs fire. A neighborhood of hundreds of homes went up in smoke. Recently, citizens and politicians gathered there to celebrate the completion of the first rebuilt home.

Napa County has yet to hit this post-fire milestone. But sometime this year a reborn home will rise from the ashes ready for occupancy, whether it is owned by Betz or the Walkers or someone else.

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ABSTRACT

Background: The aim of this study was to describe the clinical, biological and x-ray presentation of Septic Chronic Multifocal Osteomyelitis (SCMO) and discuss the therapeutic difficulties of this pathology in an African Sub-Saharan teaching hospital. Patients and Methods: A retrospective study was conducted in the Orthopedics and Trauma department of the university teaching hospital of Bobo-Dioulasso (Burkina Faso). Over a period of two years, we selected all cases of chronic osteomyelitis. We studied the epidemiological, diagnostic and therapeutic aspects of SCMO cases. Results: Eleven cases of SCMO were identified. The mean age of the patients was 11.8 years and the sex ratio was 1.75. There were 7 rural patients. The mean time to visit the hospital was 158 days. The most common reasons for consultation were pain (10 cases), swelling (9 cases), and fever (7 cases). Two were sickle cell patients. The most affected bones were the femur (10 cases), the tibia (9 cases) and the fibula (6 cases). The most frequent specific radiological lesions were sequestra (6 cases) followed by pandiaphysitis. Staphylococcus aureus was the most common aetiology. Treatment combined antibiotherapy and surgery (sequestrectomy and/or bone curettage and/or fistulectomy). Hip dislocations, pathological fractures and bone defect complicated the course of this disease. The therapeutic results was good in 3 patients and bad in 5 patients; the other 3 patients were lost to follow-up. Conclusion: Septic chronic multifocal osteomyelitis is a rare but formidable form of osteomyelitis in children. Therapeutic outcomes are often poor in hospitals with limited resources. The best strategy is prevention through early diagnosis and aggressive treatment of acute osteomyelitis.

Keywords:

Bacterial, Children, Hematogen, Multifocal, Osteomyelitis

1. Introduction

Bone infections are common in children and result in a large number of cases in a chronic and disabling evolution in developing countries [1] . The frequency of bone infections and their habitual progression towards chronicity in Sub-Saharan Africa are related to several factors. Malnutrition and sickle cell disease prevalent in sub-Saharan Africa are the cause of the precarious immunity of many children in this part of the world. In addition, the precariousness of the technical platform (laboratory breakdown, absence of CT and MRI, few or no consultants) of public hospitals makes it difficult to take care of these patients. Thus, one of the most common forms of bone infection in children in tropical environments is chronic osteomyelitis [1] [2] [3] . This pathology constitutes a real social scourge because of the mediocre therapeutic results [2] .

The location in the chronic osteomyelitis is in the majority of cases isolated but in certain situations it can concern several bones at once [3] - [8] . In fact, during a bacteriemia, the pathogenic germs can attach simultaneously to several bones and cause a multifocal acute hematogenous bone infection which can evolve towards chronicity [8] . This fearsome multifocal form of osteomyelitisis poorly described in the literature as cases reports [4] [5] [6] [7] . A perfect knowledge of these septic chronic multifocal osteomyelitis (SCMO) could allow a better management.

The aim of this study was to describe the clinical, biological and x-ray presentation of SCMO and discuss the therapeutic difficulties of this pathology in an African Sub-Saharian teaching hospital.

2. Patients and Methods

This retrospective and descriptive study was conducted in both pediatric and orthopedicand trauma departments of Bobo-Dioulasso university hospital, Burkina Faso (West Africa). Over a period of two years (2013-2015) we saw in our consultation 90 children for chronic hematogenous osteomyelitis. Among these patients, we selected for our study those who were less than 15 years old and who had a multiple localization of osteomyelitis (concomitant involvement of at least two different bones).

The studied parameters were collected from patients clinical records:

- epidemiological (age, gender, residency),

- clinical (reason for consultation, duration of evolution),

- radiographic (number of foci, localization, radiological lesions),

- biological (blood tests, bacteriology, electrophoresis, HIV test),

- therapeutic and outcome.

Biological data (bacteriology and electrophoresis of hemoglobin) were not always available. We defined as good therapeutic results all the cases whose fistula disappeared (for the forms with fistulas), and/or regressions of the radiographic lesions after 4 months. All other results were considered bad.

3. Results

3.1. Epidemiological Data

During the study period, 11 cases of SCMO were identified, representing 12.2% of all 90 chronic osteomyelitis cases in children. The average age was 11.8 years with extremes of 6 and 14 years. Seven patients were male and the sex ratio was 1.75. The majority of patients came from rural areas (seven out of eleven patients).

3.2. Clinical Data

The most common reasons for consultation were pain, swelling, and fever. The average duration of evolution was 158 days [10 - 575 days].

3.3. Biological Data

Two patients have sickle cell anemia and HIV serology was negative in all patients. Infectious status included hemogram, sedimentation rate and C-reactive Protein (CRP).The mains results were as follows:

- Anemia in all patients with 2 severs cases (hemoglobin < 6 g/dl),

- leukocytosis (6 cases) and 1 case of leukopenia;

- High rate of sedimentation rate in all patients;

- CRP was elevated in all cases.

The search for the pathogen was positive in seven patients. In five cases one organism was isolated. In the two other cases, it was a poly-infection. The aetiological micro-organisms were Staphylococcus aureus (n = 5), Escherichia coli (n = 1), Pseudomonas aeroginosa (n = 1), Proteus mirabilis (n = 1), Streptococcus pneumonia (n = 1), Klebsiella pneumonia (n = 1). As for the antimicrobial susceptibility, resistance was frequently found for Penicillin A, Oxacillin, Amoxicillin + Clavulanic acid and Cotrimoxazole.

3.4. Radiographic Aspects

We counted a total of 33 foci with an average of 3 foci per patient (Table 1). We had noted in one patient up to five osteomyelitis foci.

The most frequent radiographic lesions were sequestrum and pandiaphysitis. There were 2 cases of hip dislocation and one trochanteric fracture complicating osteomyelitis (Figure 1).

3.5. Treatment

Medical treatment consisted of antibiotic administration to all patients (double in 9 cases and triple in two cases). The most commonly used drugs based on

Figure 1. X-ray photographs of a patient with Septic Chronic Multifocal Osteomyelitis (humerus, ulna and both femurs). Pandiaphysitis (arrows) and sequestrum (round) were the most frequents lesions. Hip dislocation (star) and fracture (arrow head) were osteo-articular complications.

Table 1. Lesions distribution by location.

bacteria sensitivity were Lincomycin, Gentamicine, Ceftriaxone, and Ciprofloxacin. The mean duration of the treatment was 69 days.

Plaster of Paris was used for the limbs stabilization in all cases. Surgery was performed in seven cases and consisted of sequestrectomy, bone curettage and fistulectomy. Sequestrectomy caused multiple bone loss in five cases (Figure 2(b)).

Figure 2. Photographs of tight (a) and leg (b) X-ray of a 9 years old boy with mutifocal osteomyelitis (right femur and ipsilateral tibia). Pandiaphisitis and sequestrum (arrows) was the lesion on the femur. Staged bone loss on the tibia (arrow heads).

3.6. Outcomes

The average hospital stay was 32.5 days (range 6 to 118 days). Two patients was lost of follow-up. Tree patients was successfully treated. An unfavorable result was observed in five cases.

4. Discussion

SCMO is the localization of chronic osteomyelitis at several bone in the same patient [3] - [8] . It is the evolution towards chronicity of at least two haematogenous osteomyelitic foci of concomitant appearance on two or more different bones. Thus, it is a condition that results from prolonged osteomyelitis complicating the development of acute osteomyelitis or chronic osteomyelitis, which is considered to be a complicated form of acute osteomyelitis by inadequate antibiotic therapy [8] [9] .

SCMO is an infrequent disease; indeed, it represents 9.5% to 16% of chronic osteomyelitis cases [3] [9] . Unlike the acute forms reported by Sreenivas [8] , the chronic form that we describe is a disease of big child and adolescent (average age: 11.8 years). It occurs mostly in children from rural setting. Sickle cell anemia and malnutrition (which is common is rural population in our country) certainly explain chronic anemia responsible for decreased immunity, leading to multifocal bone involvement [6] [7] [8] [10] .

Apart the concomitant involvement of several bones, the clinical symptomatology is that of a classical chronic osteomyelitis. In our study we noted up to five different foci in the same patient; the average of foci being three. Thus, patients present with multiple fistulae on several limb segments; the lower limb being the seat of predilection [4] [7] . Diagnosis is confirmed on plain X-ray and Biology. Plain X-ray show evidence of severe chronic bone infection (large sequestra and pandiaphysitis) reaching several bony pieces at a time. Osteoarticular complications may occur. Indeed, we observed 2 cases of hip dislocations. Involvement of intracapsular metaphyses such as that of the proximal femur, often resulting in septic arthritis [11] that can be complicated by septic hip dislocation as in our series (Figure 1).

Samples of pus in pre or intraoperative identify the micro-organism responsible and test its sensitivity to antibiotics. The most frequently isolated germs was Staphylococcus aureus and gram-negative micro-organisms [5] [6] [8] . These micro-organisms were mostly resistant to usual antibiotics making this infection difficult to treat.

SCMO must be differentiated from recurrent multifocal chronic osteomyelitis (RCMO), which is a non-infectious inflammatory pathology that appears to be genetic [12] . RCMO is a rare disease that affects children. It manifests as multifocal bone lesions that mimic chronic pyogenic osteomyelitis. Differential diagnosis is done by laboratory tests. Indeed, RCMO is characterized by a biological inflammatory syndrome and sterility of bacteriological samples [12] . Therapeutically, there is no need for antibiotics but rather anti-inflammatory and bisphosphonates. In addition, the evolution of this pathology is marked by the disappearance of symptoms in a few years, most often without sequelae [12] .

Management of SCMO is a challenge for the medical team. Due to the complexity of the disease, care must be multidisciplinary, involving clinicians, radiologists and biologists [6] . Indeed, faced with an SCMO, several problems must be taken into account. The virulence of germs, their resistance to usual antibiotics and the bone sclerosis (making the bone impermeable to antibiotics) make treatment difficult [11] . In addition to these factors, host deficiencies such as sickle cell anemia (which have a notable susceptibility to skeletal infection)will increase management difficulties [5] [6] [10] .

The characteristic surgical complications of SCMO is multiple bone defects (Figure 2) which is a real tragedy in limited resource setting like our hospital. In fact, these bone defects require reconstruction techniques that are not always available in Africa [10] [13] [14] .

Despite a good treatment, evolution is not always favorable [7] [8] . It is often marked by the persistence of fistulas or the recurrence after drying up of the infection.

This study is a preliminary report on SCOM. Because of its retrospective nature, the small number of patients and the poverty of the diagnostic and therapeutic means, the results of this study do not allow us to draw definite conclusions on the pathophysiology, the favoring factors and the best therapeutic strategy of SCOM. A prospective study on a larger number of cases will better answer these questions

5. Conclusion

Septic chronic multifocal osteomyelitis is a rare but formidable form of osteomyelitis in children. Therapeutic outcomes are often poor in hospitals with limited resources. The best strategy is prevention through early diagnosis and aggressive treatment of acute osteomyelitis.

Cite this paper

Kissou, S.A., Dakoure, P.W.H., Some, J.M., Soulama, M., Coulibaly, S. and Diallo, M. (2018) Septic Chronic Multifocal Osteomyelitis in Children: A Challenging Presentation of Osteomylitis in a Low Income Country. Open Journal of Orthopedics, 8, 213-220. https://doi.org/10.4236/ojo.2018.86024

References
WASHINGTON (AP)  Boasting in vague terms about the numbers being "way down," President Donald Trump may have offered false hope that the opioid epidemic is subsiding. His critics on immigration policy spread a false alarm that the government took 1,500 immigrant children from their parents and lost them.

Here's a look at a sampling of rhetoric from the president and his detractors over the past week, and the reality behind the statements:

TRUMP: "African-Americans vote for Democrats for the most part. You know, vast majority. They've been doing it for over 100 years."  Nashville rally Tuesday.

THE FACTS: Not 100 years or anything close. Most African-Americans for much of U.S. history were disenfranchised, then prevented from voting until the 1965 Voting Rights Act, which outlawed racial discrimination in voting. Before then, those who could vote mostly backed Republicans until the 1932 election of President Franklin D. Roosevelt, whose New Deal programs of economic relief helped spur a longer-term shift of black support from Republican to Democrat.

TRUMP: "Some of these states, I won by 44 points."  Nashville rally.

THE FACTS: Not some. One. He won Wyoming with 70 percent of the vote in 2016, exceeding Hillary Clinton's 22 percent by nearly 48 points, according to Associated Press election data. His next biggest win came in West Virginia, where he won by 42 points.

Nationwide, Trump lost the popular vote. He garnered 46 percent to Clinton's 48 percent, but ultimately won the election based on an Electoral College system in which the votes of smaller rural states that generally backed Trump are weighted more heavily than big, Democratic-leaning states such as New York and California.

Under the U.S. system of electing presidents, Electoral College votes are set equal to the number of U.S. representatives in each state plus its two senators.

TRUMP: "We got $6 billion for opioid and getting rid of that scourge that's taking over our country. And the numbers are way down. We're getting the word out  bad. Bad stuff. You go to the hospital, you have a broken arm, you come out, you're a drug addict with this crap. It's way down. We're doing a good job with it. But we got $6 billion to help us with opioid."  Nashville rally.

THE FACTS: That's misleading. One leading indicator of the opioid epidemic is down  painkiller prescriptions. Other indicators are up, such as the number of overdoses and deaths. And none of that has to do with the $6 billion enacted by Congress. The numbers are from 2017; the money is for this year and next.

Prescriptions for opioid painkillers filled in the U.S. fell almost 9 percent last year, the largest drop in 25 years. The total dosage of opioid prescriptions filled in 2017 declined by 12 percent because more prescriptions were for a shorter duration, fewer new patients started on them and high-dose prescriptions dropped. The numbers are from health data firm IQVIA's Institute for Human Data Science.

But overdose deaths involving opioids rose to about 46,000 for the 12-month period ended October 2017, up about 15 percent from October 2016, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The numbers are preliminary because of continuing cause-of-death investigations later in the reporting period. They could go higher.

As well, the CDC says emergency department visits for overdoses of opioids rose 30 percent in the U.S. from July 2016 to September 2017. Overdoses shot up 70 percent in the Midwest in that time while increasing by 54 percent in large cities in 16 states.

TRUMP: "Democrats mistakenly tweet 2014 pictures from Obama's term showing children from the Border in steel cages. They thought it was recent pictures in order to make us look bad, but backfires."  tweet Tuesday.

Democrats mistakenly tweet 2014 pictures from Obamas term showing children from the Border in steel cages. They thought it was recent pictures in order to make us look bad, but backfires. Dems must agree to Wall and new Border Protection for good of country...Bipartisan Bill!  Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) May 29, 2018

THE FACTS: He is correct about widespread misrepresentation of the photos on Twitter.

The photos, taken by AP, were from 2014, during the Obama administration, but were presented by liberal activists as if they showed the effects of Trump's immigration policy now. The photos were taken at a center run by the Customs and Border Protection Agency in Nogales, Arizona. One photo shows two unidentified female detainees sleeping in a holding cell. It's not clear that many prominent Democrats spread an Arizona Republic story that used the photos, though some did.

Democrat Antonio Villaraigosa, former Los Angeles mayor now running for governor, tweeted that he was: "Speechless. This is not who we are as a nation." Jon Favreau, ex-speechwriter for Obama, tweeted: "This is happening right now." They and others deleted their tweets when they realized the mistake.

TRUMP: "A.P. has just reported that the Russian Hoax Investigation has now cost our government over $17 million, and going up fast. No Collusion, except by the Democrats!"  tweet Friday.

A.P. has just reported that the Russian Hoax Investigation has now cost our government over $17 million, and going up fast. No Collusion, except by the Democrats!  Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) June 1, 2018

THE FACTS: The AP did not report the cost is going up fast. It cited a Justice Department finding that the investigation over 10 months has cost $16.7 million, which Trump rounded up to $17 million. Of the costs assigned to the investigation, $9 million would have been spent even absent the investigation, the department said.

TRUMP: "Not that it matters but I never fired James Comey because of Russia! The Corrupt Mainstream Media loves to keep pushing that narrative, but they know it is not true!"  tweet Thursday.

Not that it matters but I never fired James Comey because of Russia! The Corrupt Mainstream Media loves to keep pushing that narrative, but they know it is not true!  Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) May 31, 2018

THE FACTS: Trump himself fed that "narrative." The president has said at least twice that Comey's firing in May 2017 was related to the FBI's investigation into whether Trump's campaign associates coordinated with Russia in an effort to sway the 2016 election. And his lawyer, Rudy Giuliani, told Fox News in May that Trump fired Comey because the FBI director wouldn't publicly state that Trump "wasn't a target" of the Russia investigation. Trump's public rationale for firing Comey has shifted on multiple occasions.

TRUMP, referring to Robert Iger, CEO of ABC's parent Walt Disney Co.: "Iger, where is my call of apology? You and ABC have offended millions of people, and they demand a response. How is Brian Ross doing? He tanked the market with an ABC lie, yet no apology. Double Standard!"  tweet Thursday.

Iger, where is my call of apology? You and ABC have offended millions of people, and they demand a response. How is Brian Ross doing? He tanked the market with an ABC lie, yet no apology. Double Standard!  Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) May 31, 2018

THE FACTS: "No apology" is wrong. Trump should know that because he expressed satisfaction in December with ABC's statement that said, "We deeply regret and apologize for the serious error" by Ross, an investigative reporter.

Ross had reported that Trump, as a candidate, directed aide Michael Flynn to make contact with Russian officials during the campaign, a potentially explosive development. Ross changed his report hours later, saying his source stated that Trump's outreach actually came after Trump won the election, when presidents-elect might be expected to get to know foreign officials. ABC issued the apology, suspended Ross for four weeks without pay and said he would no longer report on Trump.

At the time, that pleased Trump, who tweeted: "Congratulations to @ABC News for suspending Brian Ross for his horrendously inaccurate and dishonest report on the Russia, Russia, Russia Witch Hunt. More Networks and 'papers' should do the same with their Fake News!"

Trump's revived wrath at ABC and Iger comes after the network canceled Roseanne Barr's show because of her racist tweet about Valerie Jarrett, who was an aide to President Barack Obama. Iger tweeted that the cancellation was "the right thing" to do.

TRUMP: "There is no one better to represent the people of N.Y. and Staten Island (a place I know very well) than @RepDanDonovan, who is strong on Borders & Crime, loves our Military & our Vets, voted for Tax Cuts and is helping me to Make America Great Again. Dan has my full endorsement!"  tweet Wednesday.

There is no one better to represent the people of N.Y. and Staten Island (a place I know very well) than @RepDanDonovan, who is strong on Borders & Crime, loves our Military & our Vets, voted for Tax Cuts and is helping me to Make America Great Again. Dan has my full endorsement!  Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) May 30, 2018

THE FACTS: He's incorrect about the tax cuts he signed into law in December. Donovan voted against them, one of the few Republicans to do so. He told AP on Thursday that Trump knew that. "The president was well aware," he said. "We've had discussions about my tax vote, the president and I." Donovan opposed the tax bill because he said it would mean a tax increase for his constituents. "With the state and local tax deduction nearly eliminated, this tax bill doesn't equal relief for far too many New Yorkers," he said at the time.

TRUMP, sharing this tweet from broadcaster Rush Limbaugh: "If the FBI was so concerned, and if they weren't targeting Trump, they should have told Trump. If they were really concerned about the Russians infiltrating a campaign (hoax), then why not try to stop it? Why not tell Trump? Because they were pushing this scam."  Thursday.

RUSH LIMBAUGH If the FBI was so concerned, and if they werent targeting Trump, they should have told Trump. If they were really concerned about the Russians infiltrating a campaign (hoax), then why not try to stop it? Why not tell Trump? Because they were pushing this scam.  Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) May 31, 2018

THE FACTS: The FBI did tell the Trump campaign about threats posed by foreign intelligence services. What level of detail it disclosed has not been established. It is now well known that Trump aides had multiple contacts with Russian interests during the campaign and the FBI was investigating those contacts for any evidence of collusion between the campaign and Russia. It is therefore unlikely that the FBI would share specifics that might compromise its criminal investigation.

In August 2016, an FBI counterintelligence agent gave candidate Trump what is known within the bureau as a defensive briefing about the threats from foreign intelligence services. Such briefings are fairly standard and are intended to help campaigns guard against infiltration or hacking by foreign governments, such as Russia and China. Similar briefings were given to Clinton and the two vice presidential picks prior to the election, according to an October 2017 letter from Greg Brower, then the FBI's head of congressional affairs.

JIM CARREY, actor: "1500 innocent children ripped from their mothers' arms at our border. Lost in Trump's 'system'.  tweet May 27.

1500 innocent children ripped from their mothers arms at our border. Lost in Trumps system. Give us your tired, your poor, your huddle masses yearning to breathe free -- and we will torture them for wanting a better life. From Shining City to Evil Empire in under 500 days. pic.twitter.com/Qg07vb0aBg  Jim Carrey (@JimCarrey) May 27, 2018

THE FACTS: This didn't happen. Many Trump critics, Carrey among them, misrepresented the fate of nearly 1,500 minors who came to the border  without their parents  and were transferred by U.S. authorities to sponsors in the country.

The Health and Human Services Department followed up with such children by calling their households to check on them late last year, getting information on the whereabouts of most, officials said. But they could not account for 1,475 of them, in part because many sponsors didn't respond to the calls.

On that basis, Trump critics are calling the children "lost." But in that round of calls, the Trump administration actually had a slightly better rate of confirming such children's circumstances than the Obama administration did in 2016, according to an inspector general's report  86 percent versus 85 percent.

The episode with the unaccompanied children and the 2014 photos distracted from what is actually happening. Under a Trump policy to enforce criminal charges against people crossing the border illegally with few or no previous offenses, separation of parents from children is bound to become more common, and that trend may have started.

A Customs and Border Protection official told lawmakers that 658 children had been separated from their parents at the border from May 6 to May 19, after border agents began referring every illegal entry to criminal prosecutors. This is in addition to hundreds more who were estimated to have been removed from their parents at the border since October.

___

Associated Press writers Anne Flaherty and Chad Day in Washington, Mike Stobbe in New York, Carla K. Johnson in Seattle and Elliot Spagat in San Diego contributed to this report.

Find AP Fact Checks at http://apne.ws/2kbx8bd

Follow @APFactCheck on Twitter: https://twitter.com/APFactCheck
PG&E is waging a fierce and very public battle against a legal doctrine known as inverse condemnation, under which California utility companies can be held liable for fire damage tied to their equipment even if they followed the states safety rules.

PG&E and the states other electric utilities want the Legislature to exempt them from inverse condemnation, or at least let them pass on those costs to their customers. Although Gov. Jerry Brown in March expressed vague support, saying that the state needed to update liability rules and regulations for utility services, no such legislation has passed to date.

Smith said that if PG&E does face a huge legal bill from the Wine Country fires, the company could decide to file for bankruptcy as a way of forcing Sacramento to deal with the inverse condemnation issue. Or bankruptcy could result if Hill and other state officials decide to make an example of PG&E.

Its a remote possibility, Smith said of bankruptcy. But I couldnt say with 100 percent certainty that it wouldnt happen.

PG&E has argued in court that the Tubbs Fire may have been started by someone elses wires, installed on a private property.
James Bushnell, director of the Energy Economics Program at UC-Davis, echoed Borensteins criticism in a Sacramento Bee article.

Even at the utility-scale cost of 5 to 6 cents a kilowatt hour, Bushnell wrote, there is growing concern that the massive commitment to solar in California is creating such a glut of mid-day electricity that prices during the day are plunging, and sometimes below zero. We are literally paying people to consume electricity during some midday hours.

He added, The Energy Commission mandate will pile even more expensive power onto that excess. Costs for society will go up, and the value received will go down.

Those are  or should be  devastating criticisms, and as Bushnell implies, theres even a greater potential negative effect on Californias existing utilities.

Even if every home in California were to have solar panels, wed still need the grid to provide power during the night, and to move power around the state as needed. A massive commitment to rooftop solar changes the economics of the utilities that maintain the grid.
At the same time that Trump is dealing with North Korea, he is also trying to cope with these self-inflicted woes:

- The legal crisis. Trump made the biggest mistake of his presidency by firing FBI Director James Comey, thereby leading to the appointment of a special counsel. To protect himself from prosecution, Trump has waged a scorched-earth campaign against the Justice Department, the FBI and the special counsel's office. This is an unprecedented challenge to the rule of law that could yet result in impeachment.

- The Iran crisis. Trump pulled out of the nuclear deal even though his own secretary of state admitted that Iran was abiding by its terms. Trump hopes the imposition of unilateral U.S. sanctions will bring Iran back to the bargaining table, but it's just as likely that the mullahs could accelerate their nuclear program and their regional aggression.

- The China crisis. It's true that China engages in unfair trade practices and steals U.S. intellectual property, but there is no reason to bring the U.S.-China relationship to the brink right now. Even Trump's own U.S. trade representative admits that "cyber intrusions against U.S. firms by Chinese state-sponsored and supported hackers . . . have decreased or become more difficult to detect" after a 2015 cybersecurity agreement between President Barack Obama and Chinese President Xi Jinping.
Ok, the college wants us to vote them a new tax? So What? What could go wrong with that?

Here are a few things that have actually gone wrong.

Have you heard of their first tax, Measure N passed in 2002? Over $133 million handed to the college by taxpayers and what happened? Newspaper reports in 2007 showed that the college lost over $70 million of it to cost overruns.

Well, Im not a construction specialist nor an accountant but it appears to me that any loss of that magnitude would be more seriously considered, at the very least, gross mismanagement, and people would be fired. But no, the college president at the time got the library he built with the bond tax money named after him.

What else could go wrong?

In later years this community learned that the college funded a portion of its bonds with toxic capital appreciation bonds, which are also described as compound interest bond taxes. A major capital appreciation bond tax scandal was reported in local and San Francisco newspapers in 2013.

This type of bond is a scheme that allows the college to collect and hold annual taxpayer payments withhold making payments on the principal for many years while the interest compounds increasing the cost to taxpayers.
PM: Armenia companies will get cheaper loans from abroad

1,589 new cases of COVID-19 confirmed in Armenia

Russia peacekeepers in Karabakh conduct comprehensive exercise at all observation posts

Armenia government holding Cabinet meeting

World oil prices on the rise

Putin to run in Russia presidential election in 2024?

India man sentenced to life in prison for killing wife with cobra, viper

Newspaper: Armenia police enter medical institutions, 6 people detained

Newspaper: Injections of unknown origin are made to Armenia state budget

Armenia Parliament Speaker receives delegation led by Iran's Prosecutor General

Group of Armenian police officers apprehend citizen by using brute force

Armenian analyst: Negotiations over Karabakh issue to resume sooner or later, "3+3" format is unrealistic

Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin expresses hope after Russian, Armenian and Azerbaijani spiritual leaders' meeting

Iran clarifies, says Azerbaijan released other prisoners, not detained Iranian truck drivers

Saakashvili agrees to have doctors assess his health condition

Putin: Events in Afghanistan may seriously impact situations in Central Asia and Transcaucasia

Iran Armed Forces Staff chief, Pakistan PM discuss strengthening of border security

Taliban warn US, EU of refugees if sanctions against Afghanistan aren't lifted

Armenia PM receives India FM

Azerbaijan refutes report on release of two Iranian truck drivers

Artsakh FM: Azerbaijan's next provocation may be directed directly against Russian peacekeepers

Armenia health minister: Another mother-to-be dies from COVID-19

Karabakh emergency situations service: Remains of 2 more Armenian servicemen found in Hadrut

Baku releases two Iranian truck drivers after Azerbaijan and Iran FMs' phone talks

Erdogan, Aliyev to mark anniversary of occupation of Shushi by opening airport

Armenia deputy justice minister receives Council of Europe delegation

Armenia appoints new Ambassador to Iran

Armenia finance minister presents government's five-year plan to German partners

Russian, Armenian and Azerbaijani spiritual leaders make statement on Karabakh

Karabakh Defense Army refutes Azerbaijan MOD's disinformation

Digest: Pashinyan and Putin meet in Moscow, Biden and Erdogan discuss Nagorno-Karabakh

Armenia Parliament Speaker receives AGBU Montreal Chapter's leadership

Mher Shirinyan appointed Armenia Armed Forces Armament Department head

S&P Improved the Outlook on Ameriabank to Positive

Security Council chief: Armenia never held, will not hold negotiations about corridor

US embassy in Armenia remains unable to resume routine visa operations

Healthcare specialist: Hospital bed capacity for Armenia COVID-19 patients is full

Dollar gains value in Armenia

Armenia Prosecutor General: Essential progress has been made in processes for transfer of Iranian convicts

UAE Supreme Audit Institution chairman-led delegation on official visit to Armenia

Armenia Ambassador to Iran Artashes Tumanyan recalled

Armenia FM leaving for Minsk

Armenia court rejects appeal, Goris mayor to not be released

Iran Prosecutor General to Armenia PM: Our relations are good basis for jointly confronting regional challenges

Iran Prosecutor General to Armenia justice minister: It is necessary to work more closely

Armenia opposition MP, ex-defense minister: Russia peacekeepers presence in Artsakh uncertain in terms of prospects

Iran Prosecutor General: Terrorists must disappear from region as soon as possible

Azerbaijani opposition members holding protest in front of ruling party's headquarters

Azerbaijan president calls Iran statements delusion

Patriarch Kirill, Catholicos of All Armenians Karekin II and Sheikh ul-Islam Allahshukur Pashazadeh meet

Aliyev demands from Russia peacekeepers to prevent illegal entry of foreign citizens to Karabakh

Armenia and India FMs visit monument to Mahatma Gandhi in Yerevan

India FM visits Armenian Genocide Memorial in Yerevan (PHOTOS)

Armenia, India FMs discuss possibility of transit via Iran port

36 new cases of coronavirus reported in Artsakh

Armenia FM: Persian Gulf-Black Sea project discussion continues dynamically

India FM says they support Karabakh peace process under auspices of OSCE Minsk Group

FM: Armenia welcomes resumption of talks within framework of OSCE Minsk Group

Armenia foreign minister to visit India

Healthcare expert on Armenia coronavirus cases: We are moving from red zone to flashing red zone

Vanetsyan: Artsakh self-determination issue shall be resolved through talks under OSCE Minsk Group auspices (PHOTOS)

1,217 new cases of COVID-19 confirmed in Armenia

Anne Louyot: France working with Russia, US on lasting agreement on Karabakh

Armenias Pashinyan says Moscow meeting with Russias Putin was productive

World oil prices falling

Armenia Central Bank announces issuance of collector coin dedicated to 150th birth anniversary of Alexander Spendiaryan

Pentagon wants to reduce cost of hypersonic weapons

Newspaper: Armenia authorities put forward new notion regarding Artsakh

Newspaper: Armenia Special Investigation Service has noteworthy document in criminal case against ex-official

Amirabdollahian to Bayramov: Iran, Azerbaijan must block path for misconceptions

Catholicos of All Armenians meets with Patriarch Kirill I of Moscow and all Russia

Erdogan's spokesperson confirms news about Ankara considering purchasing F-16 fighter jets from US

Iran says it has documents confirming transfer of terrorist groups to Azerbaijan

Armenia Parliament Speaker receives UNDP "Modern Parliament for a Modern Armenia" Program representatives

Iran's Prosecutor General is in Armenia, received by Armenian counterpart

Patriarch Kirill: Political interests are disturbing parties to Nagorno-Karabakh conflict from reaching agreement

Opposition "Armenia" faction hosts members of AGBU Canada

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Ceremony commemorating National Hero of Armenia Vahagn Avetisyan was held

Global Finance Names Ameriabank the Safest Bank in Armenia

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Digest: Pashinyan is on working visit to Russia, Malkhas Amoyan declared world champion

Armenia education, science, culture and sport minister receives newly appointed French Ambassador

Putin-Pashinyan meeting kicks off at the Kremlin

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Dollar holding relatively steady in Armenia

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Armenia Parliament Speaker receives Syria Ambassador

Historical houses of Armenians in Igdir are perishing

Texas governor bans forcing residents of state to vaccinate against COVID-19

Armenia parliamentary opposition boycotts standing committee session

Speaker: Only those vaccinated against coronavirus will have right to enter Armenia legislature building

Armenias Pashinyan in Russia on working visit
The supply of F-35 fighters to Turkey creates tension between Ankara and Washington, Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu said during his visit to US.

According to him, there is tension between Ankara and Washington over a deal for the supply of F-35 fighters, TASS reported.

Even before reaching a deal with Russia, Turkey discussed the possibility of acquiring air defense systems with its allies, including the US, the FM said adding that the US refused to sell it to them.

According to him, if US is ready to sell these system, Turkey is ready to acquire them.

In late May, Cavusoglu did not rule out the possibility of acquiring fighter jets from Russia in case Washington refused to supply F-35 aircraft to Ankara.

According to him, Turkey can buy them either from Russia, NATO member states, or from any other country.

The House of Representatives passed on May 25 the defense spending bill for fiscal year 2019, without approving the supply of US arms to Turkey without providing a special report on the purchase of Russian S-400 missile systems by Ankara. Turkey announced its intention to purchase more than 100 F-35A fighters.
Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has accepted the Israel Foreign Ministrys recommendation to postpone a Knesset debate on a law recognizing Armenian Genocide.

The debates will be postponed until after the elections to be held in Turkey on June 24, () as the debate on its original schedule might serve the election campaign of Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.

The Armenian companies that carry out non-regular and transit passenger transportation between Armenia and Russia on Monday morning started a picket at Republic Square.

First, non-regular passenger transportation has been banned for Armenian drivers, as of June 1. In addition, these drivers are dissatisfied with the procedures for the competition being held for this passenger transportation, and they demand a return to the previous system of licensing.

The President of Armenia Armen Sarkissian pointed to some gaps in Armenian-Russian relations.

The President said he is a little bit unsatisfied with the state of Armenian-Russian relations as they could have been deeper.

I'm not a pro-Western man, I'm not pro-eastern man, and not even pro-Russian, Im pro-Armenian, he said in an interview with Rossiya 24 television.

Armenia ranks 85th out of 137 countries in terms of the quality of roads, the Global Competitiveness Index shows.

The ranking on the quality of roads was published on the website of the World Economic Forum as a part of the Global Competitiveness Index 2017-2018.

The quality of roads is assessed on seven-point scale, while Armenia received 3.7 points.

Laureate of the Aurora Prize 2017 Tom Catena and his wife Nasima visited Armenian Genocide Memorial in Yerevan on Monday.

While placing a wreath at the genocide monument, Catenas wife burst into tears.

Tom Catena and his wife planted a tree on Memory Alley and visited the Armenian Genocide Museum-Institute.

Russian border guards on Thursday detained, in the Surenavan village area, two unidentified persons who had trespassed into the state border of Armenia.

In the manner prescribed by law, they were handed over to the Armenian law enforcement agencies.

US dollar and euro rates went up in Armenia on Monday. The American dollars exchange rate against the Armenian dram comprised AMD 482.90/$1.

The exchange rate for one euro was AMD 566.49.
The delegation led by the Armenian National Assembly (NA) Speaker Ara Babloyan met on Monday with the Speaker of the National Council of the Slovak Republic Andrej Danko in Moscow within the framework of his visit to the Russian Federation.

The Armenian NA Speaker highlighted the activation and deepening of the contacts with Slovakia both in inter-state and inter-parliamentary cooperation formats. The Head of the RA parliament expressed conviction that due to joint efforts it would be possible to outline new ways of cooperation. Ara Babloyan also touched upon the cooperation in the issues of bilateral interests on the parliamentary platforms.

Talking about the international recognition and condemnation of the Armenian Genocide the Head of the parliament highly assessed the holding of the exhibition dedicated to the 70th anniversary of the Convention on Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide by the United Nations General Assembly in the National Council of Slovakia. Such events are extremely important. We take consecutive steps which are necessary not only for our countries, but also for the whole world, Ara Babloyan said.

At the meeting Babloyan also referred to the inner-political last developments of Armenia. Ara Babloyan underlined that our country had chosen the democratic way of the solution of the problems.

The security of the country, the strengthening of democracy and the ensuring of public welfare is important for us, Ara Babloyan underscored.

In his turn Andrej Danko emphasized the further expansion and deepening of the Armenian-Slovak relations based on the friendly and Christian values.
Shabaab Claims Destroying U.S. Military Vehicle in Lower Shabelle, Storming PSF Base Near Bosaso
Anthropology professor receives NSF grant for research work in Peru

by Hannah Erickson

CARBONDALE, Ill.  For many people, family is an important part of life. Family connections often impact our lifestyle choices and everyday decisions. But how did kinship and relationships affect the Sican people of historic Peru?

This is the question that Anthropology professor, Izumi Shimada, and his team seek to answer with their research on the north coast of what is now Peru.

Archaeological research examines past social life in the Lambayeque region

When archaeologists find impressive monuments from the past, it often tells something about the power, prestige and identity of the people who once built them. As Shimada and his team research the 1,000-year old Sican capital, they are hoping to discover more about how familial and interpersonal relationships impacted the Sicans beliefs and rituals.

To do this research, the team will be excavating burials and conduct a detailed analysis of human skeletons, ceramic, metal and other funerary objects, as well as their associated styles and images. Results from the analysis will illuminate genealogical relationships and lifestyles of individuals during this time period. At the end of the study, the team will test their hypotheses regarding the importance of family and shared beliefs, and use that information for additional research in the future.

NSF grant to fund project

In support of this study, Shimada recently received a $213,517 grant from the National Science Foundation. This funding will allow the team to continue their research and analysis of the region, along with integrating their work into a data collection system that will assist researchers for years to come.

This funding is only the most recent grant Shimada has received for his archaeological research in Peru. In 1978 Shimada began his Sican Archaeological Project. He then started his journey in 1990 to reconstruct the Middle Sican social and political organization. He also received a grant in 2006 from the Tokyo Broadcasting System to excavate the Huaca Lora temple mound.

Building on this study, Shimada has written 150 journal articles and book chapters collaborating with other experts in the field. In addition, he has written or edited 11 books, sharing his research and knowledge with the Peruvian culture and the world.

Research assists students and communities

Not only will Shimadas research promote international and interdisciplinary conversation and collaboration, but it will also provide American and Peruvian students with practical training and knowledge. The hands-on excavation and analysis work will prepare these students for archaeological careers of their own.

The lifelong work from Shimadas Sican Archaeological Project provided a collection framework for the Sican National Museum in Ferrenafe, Peru, that opened in 2004. The new artifacts and information gained from this current project will serve as an addition and enrichment to this Peruvian museum.
Beaver Dam, WI (53916)

Today

Cloudy early, becoming mostly sunny in the afternoon. High 64F. Winds WSW at 10 to 15 mph..

Tonight

Mainly clear early, then a few clouds later on. Low 42F. Winds light and variable.
Alaska Air's (NYSE: ALK) 2016 acquisition of Virgin America set off a chain reaction that dramatically intensified competition among airlines in California. Alaska Airlines started the process by launching dozens of new California routes, with a particular emphasis on routes from the Bay Area, which was Virgin America's primary stronghold.

Several competitors soon responded with new flights of their own, as they worked to protect their market share in California. Southwest Airlines (NYSE: LUV) was particularly aggressive in this regard. This caused a fare war to break out.

However, with fuel prices rising and profitability eroding -- particularly for Alaska Airlines -- the two carriers seem to have called a truce. That's good news for shareholders, as a more rational competitive environment will help both carriers get unit revenue growing again.

A rendering of an Alaska Airlines plane flying above clouds

Alaska Airlines' profitability has eroded dramatically over the past year. Image source: Alaska Airlines.

Competition takes a toll

Southwest Airlines operates more daily flights to and from California than any other carrier. Thus, it's not surprising that it felt threatened by Alaska Air's aggressive move into the California market. Over the past year or so, Southwest has added dozens of daily flights in California (mainly Northern California).

The increased competitive intensity on California routes drove airfares down significantly. As a result, Alaska Air has faced severe margin pressure since the second half of 2017. Initially, Southwest Airlines seemed to feel no ill effects, but it too has struggled to grow unit revenue since the beginning of 2018.

Given that the price of jet fuel has skyrocketed this year, Alaska and Southwest cannot afford a prolonged bout of unit revenue weakness. Alaska Air began implementing major capacity cuts in March. And in the past month and a half, both carriers have announced additional moves that will reduce the level of competition between them to a more sustainable level.

Story continues

Pulling out of noncore markets

In late April, Southwest Airlines agreed to lease Alaska Airlines' four within-perimeter slot pairs at Washington, D.C.'s Reagan Airport and its six slot pairs at New York's LaGuardia Airport. The lease begins this fall and runs for 10 years.

A Southwest Airlines plane preparing to land

Southwest will expand in New York and Washington, D.C., in November. Image source: Southwest Airlines.

None of these slots can be used for flights to the West Coast, making them a poor strategic fit for Alaska Airlines, which describes itself as a West Coast airline. Alaska (and Virgin America before it) has used the slots at both airports for flights to Dallas Love Field, Southwest Airlines' home airport. This was a competitive battle that Alaska was bound to lose: The Love Field routes to New York and Washington, D.C. have never been profitable.

Thus, this slot lease agreement is a clear win-win. Alaska will get out of money-losing markets and will gain some steady lease income, while Southwest Airlines will have one less competitor to face on two key routes and will be able to expand in New York and Washington, D.C., two important markets.

Last week, Southwest Airlines announced the latest changes to its flight schedule, including a handful of new California routes and additional flights on routes including San Jose-Portland, Oregon and San Jose-Orange County, California. This might make it seem like Southwest is still putting the screws to Alaska Airlines in California.

However, Southwest Airlines will simultaneously cancel its San Francisco-Portland and San Francisco-Orange County routes. Alaska has its main Northern California hub in San Francisco, so it will benefit from Southwest's capacity shift away from San Francisco.

Alaska Airlines needed this badly

Last quarter, Alaska Air Group posted a shockingly low pre-tax margin of 1.3%, down from 11% a year earlier. (Profitability would have been even worse but for the favorable timing of Easter.) Some of this margin pressure related to merger pains and rising fuel costs, but the intensity of competition on many of Alaska's routes also played a major role.

Southwest Airlines' profitability held up much better last quarter, although its margin erosion is on pace to accelerate in the second quarter.

Both carriers will benefit as they retreat from markets where the other is stronger. Alaska will be the bigger winner, though, because it is less than half of Southwest's size and hasn't had as many high-performing routes to balance out the impact of unit revenue weakness in California. Indeed, Alaska Air now appears to be primed for a comeback starting in late 2018.

More From The Motley Fool

Adam Levine-Weinberg owns shares of Alaska Air Group. The Motley Fool has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.




those look fun i would consider getting a hoodie or sth. i love arizona, drinking one rn B)



Edited at 2018-06-03 11:49 pm (UTC)

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oh my goooood

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i think about this literally every time i see arizona

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same

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half iced tea and half mango...?



where they do dat at...?!



seriously--where?! because i need that flavor in my life.

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i don't know if 7-11 gets special cans now or what, but they are the only place that raised the price to 1.69 where i live..and no .99 on it.

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I was about to post this ha, but yeah "The price is on the can." lol

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lol oh my god its like .99 literally. I bought one like last week!

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I hate myself for liking that hoodie

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I like it too.

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Same lol

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Nooo way its super cute!!

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the cherry blossom print is pretty whether it's from arizona tea or not.

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lmao, its really cute tho

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i gay gasped! i've been drinking this corn syrup since i was a young teenager in the late 90s



i want it all ngl

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I don't buy canned tea. Yuck. Freshly made or gtfo



Edited at 2018-06-03 11:50 pm (UTC)

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Mte

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(kidding btw. fresh tea is bomb.)

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omg I feel like I haven't seen this image in years.

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srsly lol

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shades of quizblorg

shudders

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It's like vaporwave on shirts.

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I own their green tea sweatshirt and I get tons of comments on it. It's a really beautiful sweater and it is super warm. I also own their duffle bag, but that thing has a horrible smell and I've been letting it air out for years. :/

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Try putting the stinky bag in a zippered, clear vinyl bag that blanket sets usually come in (or any other big vinyl bag with a zipper), with unused, cheap coffee (you can pick some up from Dollar Tree, or use those tiny, personal size sample size coffee bricks) in a coffee filter.



Let it sit somewhere like your garage or backyard, for at least 24 hours. Check it.

If it still stinks, keep it there another day, but most offending smells go away within a day.



This is my method for removing ugly smells from stuff I buy from thrift stores. It even removes old, embedded chain smoker stank and strong mothball smell from clothes!



I hope it works for you. 

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Those are super cute tho!

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wow i actually like the denim jacket

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i love the snapbacks.



ontd, remember when people were boycotting this tea when they were tryna boycott az until they realized it isn't even made here??

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Okay some of these are cute. But are they 99 cents?

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Wish there was a like button for this comment.

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i surprised at how many of these i want--especially the sweatshirt, green tea hoodie, mango socks and logo denim jacket.



Edited at 2018-06-04 12:15 am (UTC)

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I really want that floral hoodie. 4-5x mens please!

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im a slut for jean jackets i luv it

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Why do I want this stuff??





Still love their tea.

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That's really sweet, and much better than prom tbh. Prom is just a cheesy party you probably won't even remember in 10 years but graduation is something that you had (even if just a little) to work for.

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those fans didnt lie

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This made me love her. <3 Aww. If I were famous, I'd do cute things for my fans at random. Show up at their jobs and say hello, send them cards, post things on social media for them, whatever. It takes 10 seconds and it pretty much makes their life.

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That was really nice of her.

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but did she look them in the eyes and tell them they were beautiful?????



i love when celebs do sweet things for fans like this

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Aww thats sweet

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idk ha but thats adorable

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Thats really sweet of her. But I honestly hate when kids invite celebs to prom or even worse when soldiers invite them to military balls because it puts them in a tough spot. It seems awkward/annoying to go but if they dont respond they are called bitchy etc

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Thats sweet but...she really had nothing else to do?

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thats really sweet of her

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aww, that was really sweet of her

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Thats cute!



I went to a small high school so everyone knew each other so prom and graduation was actually a really fun time, I ended up winning 5 grad awards and as a black girl every black person there was going wild for me even if I didnt know them it was nice hahaha

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That was so sweet of her :)





I wonder what her comment meant. I know a lot of producers and songwriters were tweeting about her performance :)

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mte

for me she was already set before the performance; she had multiple a+ collaborations coming, was already working with hit makers producers and songwriters, had a model deal with the top model agency in the world, missy elliott already expressed her desire to work with her, love lies is already one of the few songs released this year to go platinum in the US (and getting platinum certifications in ww), etc. so this is exciting for her if bigger stuff that are career changing are coming up for her



and she was able to do that with barely 2 minutes on stage and not much budget. ngl, im proud of her

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Its always the yts that get this treatment. \_()_/

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Aww, this is nice, I would do something like this if I had any level of fame.

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Is this the show which was named super Feminist only to turn out to have more males talking than female?





And thanks for reminding me to book my yearly riding trip.

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yes

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I ride so irregularly that my legs can barely handle a two hour trip these days.

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the trailer was definitely misleading and suggested a much more interesting storyline than the one the show actually went with. the premise was still there, buried underneath the disappointingly cliched plot built around the male characters, and that made it all the more disappointing because you got those hints and tastes of what could have been. (for the record, i did like the show for its cinematography and cast and thought the writing was decent overall but it wasn't terribly imaginative and definitely not as progressive as marketed.)

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I vaguely remember that

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YUP. I came for an all women western, got a bunch of white male tears.

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I'm too scared to ride a horse.

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I loved this so much. It was my favorite series of 2017.



I personally liked the balance of men and women and the perspective it took on women, but I guess it all depends on your expectations. Netflix prob shouldn't have marketed it as all women. People would be assessing it more fairly if they hadn't taken that approach I think

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I miss riding horses. I think the last time was about three years ago - but I made it a good one - it was a 4 hour advanced trail riding deal in New Zealand and I felt like Arwen being chased by the Nine. It was excellent.





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I miss my horse Geronimo a lot sometimes, literal gentle giant, he just got old and got colic and our large animal vet left without notifying us.

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Oh shit that's huge I'm sorry!

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Those are some damn long legs

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the way they marketed this show was...unfortunate. the women are there but barely got some storylines. it was mostly jeff daniels not wanting to shut the fuck up. jack oconnell is good in it though and tbh hes why i kept watching.



sorry i know you only wanted to talk about riding horses or riding in general but nnn

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My tween queen Carole at least got to heal her heart with Starlight in the end (book version; I wasnt about the show).

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I loved those books as a kid, Stevie was my hero. Did you read all the way to the end of Pine Hollow?

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I read all of them. Even the series where they were aged up some.

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OMG Cobalt. Veronica was such a stone-cold bitch.

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omg I've ridden horses like maybe three times in my life but I was obsessed with the Saddle Club. I'm glad my parents were too poor for that lifestyle though, I know horse people now and it sounds like a really fucking expensive hobby lol.

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Horse people are the worst

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lmaoooo

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whenever i see this i wonder where she is today

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That looks like one of those monsters in Amnesia jfc

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i grew up riding competitively so i like to think im alright. havent been on a horse in a minute though. really want to get back to it but boarding here is ~$2,500/m not including grooming, turn outs, etc

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it really is :( when i was looking at stables and everyone kept giving me those prices i was like you know what, i dont miss riding thaaaat much

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Please tell me ontd that the theme song is Godless by the Dandy Warhols



In other news, Im v interested in neo-Westerns as a site of containing and managing dissent so thanks for posting OP



Edited at 2018-06-04 11:19 pm (UTC)

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for the most part, i've ridden racehorses and racing ponies (ponies are harder than horses imo. way too bouncy! made me want to gain weight so that i was too big to ride them :P). i've worked with all kinds, but my faves will always be suffolk punches and other carthorses. they're just giant sweet babies <3, and i actually feel safer with them compared to shetlands (who are lil shits and should never be trusted!!!!).



i'm not a 'horse person'. i can work with them, and i've handled some very temperamental horses and donkeys without much issue, but i don't have that bond with them if you guys know what i mean? it's a shame because they're lovely animals.

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The smaller the horse, the bigger the jerk tbh.

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No lie detected. I always laugh when people get scared by the big horse. Honey, your fear is misfounded and you should fear the little shit you cant see in his stall but will break out of when you turn your back

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I grew up riding and owned a horse until I went to college. It broke my heart to give my mare up, but she got to go on to become a therapy horse after we parted (she was getting older and mellowed the hell out) and lived the good life until she passed away a few years ago.



I still will ride at my nieces barn occasionally, but I keep it mostly hack status.

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UN Special Rapporteur on the Independence of Judges and Lawyers Diego Garcia-Sayan via OHCHR

MANILA, Philippines  President Rodrigo Duterte has warned United Nations Special Rapporteur on the Independence of Judges and Lawyers Diego Garcia-Sayan against interfering in the internal affairs of the Philippines.

He is not a special person. And I do not recognize his rapporteur title. Tell him not to interfere with the affairs of my country. He can go to hell, the firebrand president said before his departure to Seoul, South Korea on Saturday, June 1.

The UN experts remarks which was published on the UNHCR Office of the Higher Commissioners website, said the expulsion of former Chief Justice Maria Lourdes Sereno implied that the countrys judicial independence is under threat.

The derogatory statements and threats by President Duterte, which have been televised, broadcast on radio, and carried by newspapers, constitute a vicious attack on the independence of the judiciary, Garcia-Sayan said.

President Duterte reiterated that he did not interfere with the ouster of Sereno. He added that it was all the doing of Solicitor General Jose Calida.

As always, the President threatened to resign if proven that he meddled with the judicial process, or he influenced anyone from Congress for the ouster of Sereno.

Magtanong ka ng isang congressman ni isa lang o senador ni isa. Isa lang. Huwag na marami. Your House of Representatives, 200 plus yan. Magtanong ka kung may sinabi ko ba na, i-impeach natin ito, whoever.' Pagka may isa ka diyan, bababa ako pagka-Presidente. I will resign. Hindi ako nakikialam, he said.

(Ask any congressman or senator. Just one; doesnt have to be many. The House of Representatives has 200 plus members. Ask any of them if I ever said, Impeach this person, or whoever. If any one of them says I did, I will step down as president. I will resign. I never interfere.)  Asher Cadapan Jr. | UNTV News & Rescue

The post Duterte tells UN Rapporteur not to interfere with PH internal affairs appeared first on UNTV News.
A Taiwanese fighter pilot was confirmed dead after his F-16 jet crashed in northern Taiwan on Monday at the start of the islands biggest annual armed forces drills, casting a shadow over exercises meant to showcase the islands ability to fend off an attack.

The military said pilot Wu Yen-ting, 31, died after the aircraft lost contact with the air forces base in Hualien on the islands east coast at around 1.43pm, after taking part in the military exercises further north, Central News Agency reported.

The incident comes after Beijing has conducted repeated rounds of military exercises around the island and as authorities on the island try to reassure voters ahead of elections later this year, according to analysts.

After contact was lost on Monday, hundreds of military and police personnel were dispatched in a search-and-rescue operation.

As US confronts China on trade, Taiwan tensions quietly build

Wreckage from the jet along with clothing, debris, and flesh were found on Mount Wufen about an hours drive from New Taipei City, the report said.

The ground forces have already found the armbands of the individual on the Mount Wufen trail, and assessed that [he] likely did not parachute [from the aircraft], the military spokesman said.

Wu graduated from the Air Force Academy in 2009, and had amassed a total flight time of 1,039 hours, including 736 hours with the F-16 jet, the Ministry of Defence said in a statement. He had ejected from an F-16 with minor injuries when the jet he commanded crashed off the coast of southern Taiwan five years ago.

Wus jet had been taking part in Taiwans annual Han Kuang live-fire military drills, five days of exercises designed to bolster combat readiness in the event of an attack from across the Taiwan Strait by the Peoples Liberation Army.

The Han Kuang exercises include joint air-sea combat operations, anti-landing operations in the north and south of the island, and joint anti-airborne combat operations, according to CNA.

Story continues

The F-16 was one of 150 bought from the United States to defend the strait.

Cross-strait tensions have risen under Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen, with the leader refusing to acknowledge the 1992 consensus that there is only one China.

Beijing says the consensus is the basis of any cross-strait dialogue and has ramped up pressure on the Tsai government with a series of air and naval exercises around the island.

With Tsais domestic approval ratings falling, this weeks military exercises were intended to placate Taiwanese voters ahead of midterm elections in November, analysts said.

Chang Ching, a military specialist from the Taipei-based Society for Strategic Studies think tank, said the annual drills were show business for domestic consumption, particularly as support for Tsai dwindled.

Since taking office two years ago, her approval ratings have fallen from 70 per cent to just over 50 per cent from two public opinion polls in late May, according to the Taipei Times.

President Tsai needs to use the drills to justify her value  to regain popularity and approval ratings, especially given the election campaign in November, Chang said.

They wont use this to send signals to mainland China  just to taxpayers and voters.

Beijing should stop threatening Taiwan because its not strong enough to fight the US, islands ex-premier says

Zhou Chenming, from the Jiangsu-based Knowfar Institute for Strategic and Defence Studies think tank, said the incident was pretty shocking and indicative of an overall decline in quality of the Taiwanese air force.

It shows that its been a long time since Taiwan has sent its air force out above the water for these very standard drills, he said. It is embarrassing that this would happen during such important, high-level exercises.

But Ni Lexiong, a military expert at the Shanghai University of Political Science and Law, downplayed the severity of the incident.

Every countrys air force will have accidents, he said. Its just a matter of how many they have.

This article Taiwanese F-16 fighter pilot confirmed dead in jet crash at start of annual live-fire military drills first appeared on South China Morning Post

For the latest news from the South China Morning Post download our mobile app. Copyright 2018.
Phuket, Thailand  4 June, 2018: A group of leaders and team members from Anantara Phuket Villas and Anantara Vacation Club, Phuket, gathered in Mai Khao today and collected more than 20 sacks of garbage from the hedgerows that border the entrance to the resorts, as part of an ongoing campaign to Keep Phuket Clean. This is the second of many litter picking activities we have planned over the next few months, said Nik Priesnitz, General Manager, but this one was particularly important for us, because it has a direct impact on our guests experience and their overall image of our hotels and our brand. He went on to explain, Many of our guests will walk, cycle or drive along this road and will notice the hundreds of plastic cups and glass bottles which litter the hedgerows in the land adjacent to ours. While the land itself does not belong to us, we feel it is our duty to clean it up, because if we dont do it, nobody will.

The Anantara team will be visiting and cleaning up a different location every week, as part of the Keep Phuket Clean campaign. Watch this space for more updates.
Professor Kaiyu Guan, left, graduate student Yunan Luo and professor Jian Peng have developed a new algorithm that solves an age-old dilemma plaguing satellite imagery -- whether to sacrifice high spatial resolution in the interest of generating images more frequently, or vice versa. Their algorithm can generate daily continuous images going back to the year 2000. Credit: L. Brian Stauffer.

Using a new algorithm, University of Illinois researchers may have found the solution to an age-old dilemma plaguing satellite imagerywhether to sacrifice high spatial resolution in the interest of generating images more frequently, or vice versa. The team's new tool eliminates this trade-off by fusing high-resolution and high-frequency satellite data into one integrated product, and can generate 30-meter daily continuous images going back to the year 2000.

Monitoring of agriculture, urban development, environmental quality and economic development are just a few ways people make use of satellite data. The new algorithm is generic enough for use in virtually any application.

In agricultural applications, imaging at 10- to 30-meter resolution is critical for farmers to see field-level rapid and subtle changes in crop conditions that affect yield, such as crop stress and disturbance after extreme weather events. Existing data have either insufficient spatial resolution or low frequency, the researchers said. Farmers usually require information with both high-resolution and near real-time occurrence.

"We struggled to find public satellite data that has both high spatial resolution and high frequency in our own researchit simply did not exist," said natural resources and environmental sciences professor and study co-author Kaiyu Guan. "So we took the initiative to produce it ourselves."

Guan, a Blue Waters professor at the National Center for Supercomputing Applications at Illinois, teamed up with professor Jian Peng and graduate student Yunan Luo of computer science to develop an algorithm that fuses satellite images from multiple sources into continuous, daily high-resolution images. The researchers describe their methodology and findings in the journal Remote Sensing of Environment.

"We first ingested all of the available satellite data sets into Blue Waters, the National Science Foundation's leadership class supercomputer. With a click of a button to run our algorithm, what automatically comes out are daily high-resolution images available for all sorts of scientific applications," Guan said.

Previous researchers have developed methods for fusing high-resolution spatial and temporal data, but these came with limitations. Almost all of the algorithms lacked automation and could not simultaneously deal with missing pixels and temporal fusion. These drawbacks led to short-term and localized applications.

To overcome the limitations of previous methods, the team designed the algorithm to automatically integrate information from existing data. This compensates for missing information resulting from cloud coverage or data gaps. The new algorithm can create images without any missing pixels, for any site or region, by leveraging time-series information and relations with neighboring pixels.

In addition to near-real-time daily high-resolution data collection, the team envisions building long-term daily, continental-scale images for various applications. "The type of high-quality satellite data required to run this algorithm has been collected since 2000, meaning we can generate daily 30-meter resolution images for any location on this planet going back in time," Guan said.

"This can be used to study changes in agricultural productivity, ecosystem and polar ice dynamics since 2000 in much higher detail than previously possible," Peng said. "Our approach may revolutionize the use of satellite data."

The researchers have already successfully fused surface reflectance data in Champaign County, Ill., and generated daily time series for the growing season of 2017 at 30-meter resolution.

A video of this surface reflectance data:

"Even though others have invested in similar technology, they could not go back in time like we can," Guan said. "The data sources for our algorithms use the most rigorous data from NASA or the European Space Agency and produce daily fusion data that is ready for research and practical applications." Guan said.

"Generating this sort of data requires significant computing resources, making accessibility difficult," Peng said. "We want to share the output with the broader scientific community and we are working to find a way to make that possible."

More information: Yunan Luo et al, STAIR: A generic and fully-automated method to fuse multiple sources of optical satellite data to generate a high-resolution, daily and cloud-/gap-free surface reflectance product, Remote Sensing of Environment (2018). Yunan Luo et al, STAIR: A generic and fully-automated method to fuse multiple sources of optical satellite data to generate a high-resolution, daily and cloud-/gap-free surface reflectance product,(2018). DOI: 10.1016/j.rse.2018.04.042
Industry sources said the merged agrichemical division will be called Bayer Crop Science

German chemicals and pharmaceuticals giant Bayer will discard the name Monsanto when it takes over the controversial US seeds and pesticides producer this week, it said Monday.

But Bayer executives insisted Monsanto practices rejected by many environmentalists, including genetic modification of seeds and deployment of "crop protection" technologies like pesticides, were vital to help feed a growing world population.

"The company name is and will remain Bayer. Monsanto will no longer be a company name," chief executive Werner Baumann told journalists during a telephone conference.

Bayer's $63 billion (54 billion euro) buyout of Monsantoone of the largest in German corporate historyis set to close Thursday, birthing a global giant with 115,000 employees and revenues of some 45 billion euros.

Bosses plan to name the merged agrichemical division Bayer Crop Science once the merger is complete, German business newspaper Handelsblatt reported, citing "industry sources".

The Monsanto brand "was an issue for some time for Monsanto management," noted Liam Condon, president of Bayer's crop science division, adding that the US firm's employees were "not fixated on the Monsanto brand" but "proud of what they've achieved".

Weedkiller arms race

Producing high-tech genetically modified seeds, many designed to grow crops resistant to its proprietary pesticides, Monsanto has been a target for environmentalist protests and lawsuits over harm to health and the environment for decades.

"It's understandable that Bayer wants to avoid having bought Monsanto's negative image with the billions it has spent on the firm," said Greenpeace campaigner Dirk Zimmermann.

"More important than giving up the Monsanto name would be a fundamental transformation in the new mega-company's policies," he added, accusing Bayer of having "no interest in developing future-proof, sustainable solutions for agriculture".

Activists fear the firm's addition to Bayer will further reduce competition in the hotly-contested agrichemical sector, limiting farmers' and consumers' choices if they want to avoid GM and chemically treated crops.

What's more, in recent years weeds have begun to emerge that are resistant to products like Monsanto staple glyphosate, marketed as Roundup alongside "Roundup-ready" seeds beginning in the 1990s.

As agrichemical firms scramble to respond with new pesticides and resistant seeds, there are fears of an arms race with ever-more-potent weedkillers.

Some scientists already suspect glyphosate could cause cancer, with a 2015 World Health Organization study determining it was "probably carcinogenic"although Bayer and other defenders of the chemical have contested the research.

In 2017, attempts to block the European Union's five-year renewal of its approval for the weedkiller were unsuccessful.

But activists are lobbying governments and France has vowed to outlaw the substance within three years.

When launching the Monsanto takeover bid, Bayer also promised it would not introduce genetically modified crops in Europe.

"We will listen to our critics and work together where we find common ground," Baumann said, but added that "agriculture is too important to allow ideological differences to bring progress to a standstill".

With the world population set to reach almost 10 billion people by 2050, Bayer argues its products and methods are needed to meet demand for food.

'Number one in seeds'

Bayer has put massive resources behind the deal, raising $57 billion in financing including a new share issue worth six billion euros announced Sunday.

It will also sell large parts of its existing agrichemical and crop seeds business to BASF in concessions to competition authorities on both sides of the Atlantic.

Once the buyout and the sales to BASF are completed, Leverkusen-based Bayer's crop science business plus Monsanto will account for around half its turnover, with the remainder coming from pharmaceuticals and over-the-counter health products.

At around 19.7 billion euros in 2017, Monsanto and Bayer's combined agriculture sales outweighed those of competitors ChemChina, DowDuPont and BASF, according to figures provided by Bayer.

"We estimate that Bayer will become number one in seeds and number two in crop protection globally" following the merger, analysts at Standard and Poor's wrote Monday.

Nevertheless, the ratings agency downgraded its score for Bayer's debt from "A-" to "BBB", while upgrading the outlook to "stable".

"Bayer's stronger business position in agriculture products... does not fully offset the increased debt in its capital structure," the analysts wrote.

Explore further Bayer's Monsanto takeover less lucrative than expected

 2018 AFP
Cities are growing vertically as well as horizontally, so infrastructure needs to ensure people can move up and down as well as across the city. Credit: Alpha/Flickr, CC BY-NC

Cities worldwide face the problems and possibilities of "volume": the stacking and moving of people and things within booming central business districts. We see this especially around mass public transport hubs.

As cities grow, they also become more vertical. They are expanding underground through rail corridors and above ground into the tall buildings that shape city skylines. Cities are deep as well as wide.

The urban geographer Stephen Graham describes cities as both "vertically stacked" and "vertically sprawled", laced together by vertical and horizontal transport systems.

People flow in large cities is not only about how people move horizontally on rail and road networks into and out of city centres. It also includes vertical transport systems. These are the elevators, escalators and moving sidewalks that commuters use every day to get from the underground to the surface street level.

Major transport hubs are where many vertical and horizontal transport systems converge. It's here that people flows are most dense.

But many large cities face the twin challenges of ageing infrastructure and increased volumes of people flowing through transport hubs. Problems of congestion, overcrowding, delays and even lockouts are becoming more common.

Governments are increasingly looking for ways to squeeze more capacity out of existing infrastructure networks.

Can we increase capacity by changing behaviour?

For the last three years, Transport for London (TfL) has been running standing-only escalator trials. The aim is to see if changing commuter behaviour might increase "throughput" of people and reduce delays.

By standing only, 30% more people could fit on an escalator in the trial at Holborn Station. Credit: The Conversation

London has some of the deepest underground stations in the world. This means the Tube system is heavily reliant on vertical transport such as escalators. But a long-standing convention means people only stand on the right side and allow others to walk up on the left.

In a trial at Holborn Station, one of London's deepest at 23 metres, commuters were asked to stand on both sides during morning rush hour.

The results of the trials showed that changing commuter behaviour could improve throughput by increasing capacity by as much as 30% at peak times. But this works only in Tube stations with very tall escalators. At stations with escalators less than 18 metres high, like Canary Wharf, the trials found the opposite  standing would only increase congestion across the network.

The difference is down to human behaviour. People are simply less willing to walk up very tall escalators. This means a standing-only policy across the network won't improve people flow uniformly and could even make congestion worse.

Is people movement data a solution?

With the introduction of ticketless transport cards it's now possible to gather more data about people flow through busy transport hubs as we tap on and off.

Tracking commuters' in-station journeys through their Wi-Fi enabled devices, such as smart phones, can also offer a detailed picture of movement between platforms, congestion and delays.

Transport for London has already conducted its first Wi-Fi tracking trial in the London Underground.

Issues of privacy loom large in harvesting mobile data from individual devices. Still, there's enormous potential to use this data to resolve issues of overcrowding and inform commuters about delays and congestion en route.

Londons transport authority hopes the data from tracking users phones will help ease congestion, plan better timetables and improve station designs.

Governments are also increasingly turning to consultancy firms that specialise in simulation modelling of people flow. That's everything from check-in queues and processing at terminals, to route tracking and passenger flow on escalators.

Using data analytics, people movement specialists identify movement patterns, count footfall and analyse commuter behaviour. In existing infrastructure, they look to achieve "efficiencies" through changes to scheduling and routing, and assessing the directional flow of commuters.

Construction and engineering companies are also beginning to employ people movement specialists during the design phase of large infrastructure projects.

Beijing's Daxing airport, due for completion in 2020, will be the largest transport hub in China. It's also the first major infrastructure project to use crowd simulation and analysis software during the design process to test anticipated volume against capacity.

The advice of people movement specialists can have significant impacts on physical infrastructure. This involves aspects such as the width of platforms, number and placement of gates, and the layout and positioning of vertical transport, such as escalators.

Movement analytics is becoming big business

People movement analytics is becoming big business, especially where financialisation of public assets is increasing. This means infrastructure is being developed through complex public-private partnership models. As a result, transport hubs are now also commercial spaces for retail, leisure and business activities.

Commuters are no longer only in transit when they make their way through these spaces. They are potential consumers as they move through the retail concourse in many of these developments.

In an era of "digital disruption", which is particularly affecting the retail sector, information about commuter mobility has potential commercial value. The application of data analytics to people flow and its use by the people movement industry to achieve "efficiencies" needs careful scrutiny to ensure benefits beyond commercial gain.

At the same time, mobility data may well help our increasingly vertical cities to keep flowing up, down and across.

This article was originally published on The Conversation. Read the original article.
Artistic representation of juvenile (foreground) and adult (background) Lyrarapax unguispinus hunting in the water column. Relative sizes are based on the smallest (length: 1.8 cm) and largest (length: 8 cm) known specimens of L. unguispinus. Credit: Science China Press

A new fossil study, led by Jianni Liu from the Northwest University in China, shows young radiodontan arthropods could be voracious predators, too.

Some of the earliest predators that patrolled the oceans over 500 million years ago are also some of the largest animals to have lived at the time. However, a new fossil study led by Jianni Liu from the Northwest University of Xi'an in China, has shown that their tiny babies were also proficient killers.

The "creepy crawly" animal group known as the Arthropoda, which includes spiders, insects and crustaceans, has been the inspiration for many science fiction monsters, largely due to their scary-looking appendages. Some of the oldest and most primitive arthropod species belong to a group called the Radiodonta ("radiating teeth"), which were armed with large, spiny raptorial (or grasping) appendages at the front of the head and a circular mouth adorned with tooth-like serrations. These animals, including the famous Anomalocaris, are considered the giant apex predators of their time, reaching lengths of over one metre.

Until now, virtually nothing was known about the juveniles of radiodontans and their feeding habits. The discovery of an exceptionally preserved juvenile of a species called Lyrarapax unguispinus from the early Cambrian (518 million-year-old) Chengjiang biota of China has shed new light on this iconic group of fossil arthropods.

At only 18mm in total body length, this almost complete specimen represents the smallest radiodontan ever found. To the surprise of the research team, its anatomy is extraordinarily well developedespecially the spiny grasping appendagesgiving it the appearance of a miniaturised adult. This indicates that Lyrarapax unguispinus was a well-equipped predator at an early developmental stage, similar to modern arthropods such as praying mantises, mantis shrimps and arachnids. This discovery confirms that raptorial feeding habits in juveniles appeared early on in the evolutionary history of arthropods.

This fossil find also has important implications for the rapid evolution of the first animals over a half-billion years agoan event referred to colloquially as the Cambrian Explosion. It is hypothesised that predation was a major driver of this evolutionary event, with predators placing selective pressures on animal communities, forcing prey species to adapt and evolve or face extinction. The predatory lifestyles of juvenile radiodontans adds further complexity to Cambrian marine food webs by placing additional pressures on small prey during this evolutionary arms race.

Explore further Major fossil study sheds new light on emergence of early animal life 540 million years ago

More information: Jianni Liu et al, Origin of raptorial feeding in juvenile euarthropods revealed by a Cambrian radiodontan, National Science Review (2018). Jianni Liu et al, Origin of raptorial feeding in juvenile euarthropods revealed by a Cambrian radiodontan,(2018). DOI: 10.1093/nsr/nwy057
Five hundred and forty million years ago, during the Cambrian period, life suddenly went nuts. "Blossomed" is far too mild a word: instead, geologists call this sudden diversification an "explosion." But what exactly sparked the Cambrian explosion?

Now, a new study suggests that wild swings in oxygen levels may have sent life scrambling to adapt, leading to a major burst of diversity. That, says lead author Guangyi Wei of Yale University, challenges the long-held explanation that gradually rising oxygen simply reached a life-fueling tipping point. The study was just published online ahead of print in Geology.

Wei explains that the goal was to reconstruct a continuous record of global marine oxygen levels from the late Ediacaran (latest pre-Cambrian) into the early Cambrian. To do that, the team, from Yale and Nanjing University in China, measured changes in uranium isotope ratios that reflect changing marine oxygen levels, as recorded in carbonates deposited during that interval, from China.

The results revealed huge global swings from anoxic-completely depleted in oxygen to oxygenated conditions over periods of two to ten million years. Such big ups and downs in oxygen, the scientists suggest, could have destabilized ecosystems, fragmented habitats, and triggered an explosion of changing life forms.

The study provides some of the first direct evidence that the Cambrian explosion came on the heels of major variations in oxygen, says Wei. "It would be great to get more data from other regions and time intervals," he adds.

Wei also poses the obvious next question: what caused such huge swings in oxygen in the first place? Some possibilities: Tectonics, biological processes, or climate shifts.

Explore further Major fossil study sheds new light on emergence of early animal life 540 million years ago

More information: Guang-Yi Wei et al. Marine redox fluctuation as a potential trigger for the Cambrian explosion, Geology (2018). Journal information: Geology Guang-Yi Wei et al. Marine redox fluctuation as a potential trigger for the Cambrian explosion,(2018). DOI: 10.1130/G40150.1
Project researchers are working to develop models that illustrate how farmers make decisions about food production and to help explain how those decisions affect, or are affected by, strains on the environment and social systems.

Imagine a world where scientists use computers to predict the impact of climate change and other stressors on international food security, migration, and civil conflict, and then use those predictions to increase the availability of vital resources.

Kelly Cobourn, assistant professor of water resource policy in Virginia Tech's College of Natural Resources and Environment, is working on a project that may bring us a step closer to that reality.

She is part of a team of researchers from the University of Southern California, the Pennsylvania State University, the University of Minnesota, and the University of Colorado that brings together experts in artificial intelligence, model coupling, hydrology, agronomy, and economics.

Cobourn's role will be leading the socioeconomic modeling work needed to develop a computer modeling system that will help predict how human activities can impact the natural world, and vice versa.

More specifically, her work will contribute to an understanding of food security via the integration of socioeconomic and biophysical models, as well as the streamlining of data tools used in assessing food security issues.

"Food security is a big issue in much of the world, and it's probably going to become a more pressing issue moving forward," said Cobourn, a faculty member in the Department of Forest Resources and Environmental Conservation. "Climate change contributes to food insecurity, and food insecurity contributes to civil conflict."

In considering the complex interplay between humans and environmental issues such as climate change, the researchers are working to develop models that illustrate how farmers make decisions about food production. They will then create models to help explain how those decisions affect, or are affected by, strains on the environment and social systems.

The four-year project, called MINT for Model INTegration, is led by Yolanda Gil, professor of computer science at the University of Southern California's Information Sciences Institute. It is funded with a $13 million grant from the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) as part of DARPA's World Modelers program.

According to Cobourn, who is also affiliated with the Global Change Center housed in Virginia Tech's Fralin Life Science Institute, the issue of food security also has defense applications.

"Food insecurity can often lead to conflict in many parts of the world. Ultimately, we want to understand how different factors drive food security outcomes and how that can lead to civil unrest," Cobourn explained. "This can also help us better understand what measures should be taken to guard against food insecurity and prevent some of that conflict."

The members of the research team also hope to use their varied expertise to speed up data collection and food security modeling.

"Right now, modeling involves a lot of data collection," Cobourn said. "A researcher working on food security would go collect field data or manually gather it from various sources. It could take years to gather data and then figure out how to couple models between disciplines. This project would create computational ways of pulling data from various sources and automate the modeling process."

By automating data collection and modeling, the team will be able to greatly reduce the amount of time needed to connect models across disciplines, which will lead to a fuller understanding of the intersection between human activity and the environment.

Over the next four years, the researchers will develop models of human activity and impacts on natural resources to create predictions for certain parts of the world based on such factors as climate change and crop yields.

"I'll primarily be developing models and creating human behavior and policy scenarios," Cobourn said. "The computational experts know how to automate the data collection and modeling process, but they may not have background in the disciplines that are working on these problems. The other disciplinary experts and I will help them bring together things like agronomic and economic models in a way that makes sense.

"It's exciting to work with such a large team of experts and think about how we can push forward coupled human and natural systems modeling efforts by developing new computational tools," she added.

Explore further New model for evaluating rangeland systems launches
Credit: CC0 Public Domain

Bumper car-like interactions at the edges of our solar systemand not a mysterious ninth planetmay explain the dynamics of strange bodies called "detached objects," according to a new study.

CU Boulder Assistant Professor Ann-Marie Madigan and a team of researchers have offered up a new theory for the existence of planetary oddities like Sedna. This minor planet orbits Earth's sun at a distance of 8 billion miles but appears separated from the rest of the solar system.

One theory for its unusual dynamics is that an as-of-yet-unseen ninth planet beyond Neptune may have disturbed the orbits of Sedna and other detached objects. But Madigan and her colleagues calculated that the orbits of Sedna and its ilk may result from these bodies jostling against each other and space debris in the outer solar system.

"There are so many of these bodies out there. What does their collective gravity do?" said Madigan of the Department of Astrophysical and Planetary Sciences (APS) and JILA. "We can solve a lot of these problems by just taking into account that question."

The researchers will present their findings on June 4 at a press briefing at the 232nd meeting of the American Astronomical Society, which runs from June 3-7 in Denver.

Detached objects like Sedna get their name because they complete humongous, circular orbits that bring them nowhere close to big planets like Jupiter or Neptune. How they got to the outer solar system on their own is an ongoing mystery.

Using computer simulations, Madigan's team came up with one possible answer. Jacob Fleisig, an undergraduate studying astrophysics at CU Boulder, calculated that these icy objects orbit the sun like the hands of a clock. The orbits of smaller objects, such as asteroids, however, move faster than the larger ones, such as Sedna.

"You see a pileup of the orbits of smaller objects to one side of the sun," said Fleisig, who is the lead author of the new research. "These orbits crash into the bigger body, and what happens is those interactions will change its orbit from an oval shape to a more circular shape."

In other words, Sedna's orbit goes from normal to detached entirely because of those small-scale interactions. The team's observations also fall in line with research from 2012, which observed that the bigger a detached object gets, the farther away its orbit becomes from the sun. Alexander Zderic, a graduate student in APS at CU Boulder, also co-authored the new research.

The findings may also provide clues around another phenomenon: the extinction of the dinosaurs. As space debris interacts in the outer solar system, the orbits of these objects tighten and widen in a repeating cycle. This cycle could wind up shooting comets toward the inner solar systemincluding in the direction of Earthon a predictable timescale.

"While we're not able to say that this pattern killed the dinosaurs," Fleisig said, "it's tantalizing."

Explore further How we discovered 840 minor planets beyond Neptune  and what they can tell us
Plastic problem: A landfill in Bulawayo, Zimbabwe, gives an idea of the mess in Africa

This year, plastic pollution is the main theme of International Environment Day, celebrated on June 5.

In Africa, 4.4 million tonnes of plastic are found in oceans and seas every year, according to United Nations figures from 2010.

"Plastic, and waste management in general, is a very big problem in Africa," said Mohamed Atani, regional information officer for the UN environmental agency UNEP.

He described the problem of plastic pollution, which is gaining attention globally as it kills sea life and blankets swathes of the ocean surface, as "a danger for human health".

"Most of the plastic disposed in the ocean comes from the daily use of single-use plastics," said Atani.

The European Union this month proposed a ban on items such as plastic straws and cutlery.

While many western nations still dole out plastic bags in supermarkets, several African countries have taken the lead and banned them entirely, such as Morocco, Rwanda and Kenya.

An aerial view, taken on June 2, of the Niger river in the Malian capital Bamako, clogged with plastic waste

Spoiled seas: Plastic comprises most of the debris washed up on a beach near the South African city of Cape Town, whose fabled Table Mountain lies in the background

Discarded plastic is a biohazard that can take decades to degrade. But at this site in Kampala, Uganda, women clean plastic bags which are sold to a factory that recycles them into home utensils such as basins, plates and cups.

Explore further Taiwan to ban disposable plastic items by 2030

 2018 AFP
Analysis of asteroids like Lutetia was used in the Josef Hanus-led paper on asteroid thermophysical modeling. Lutetia is a large main belt asteroid about 62 miles (100 kilometers) in diameter. Lutetia was visited by ESA's Rosetta spacecraft in 2010. Credit: ESA 2010 MPS

Nearly all asteroids are so far away and so small that the astronomical community only knows them as moving points of light. The rare exceptions are asteroids that have been visited by spacecraft, a small number of large asteroids resolved by NASA's Hubble Space Telescope or large ground-based telescopes, or those that have come close enough for radar imaging.

When seen by optical telescopes, these individual sources of reflected sunlight can provide some very valuable but also very basic informationfor example, the asteroid's orbit, a ballpark estimate of its size, sometimes an approximation of its shape, and perhaps an idea of its physical makeup. But to learn more about these elusive and important celestial objects requires a different type of instrument. An infrared sensor can, in the right circumstances, not only provide data on an asteroid's orbit and data that can be used to more accurately measure its size, but also chemical makeup and sometimes even its surface characteristics.

NASA's Near-Earth Object Wide-field Infrared Survey Explorer, or NEOWISE, spacecraft, in orbit around Earth, uses asteroid-hunting thermal sensors that allow an infrared view of asteroids without the obscuring effects of Earth's atmosphere. In a paper published recently in the journal Icarus, researchers led by Josef Hanus, a scientist at the Astronomical Institute of Charles University, Prague, have made an in-depth analysis of more than 100 asteroids that have come under the temperature-sensing gaze of NEOWISE. This analysis tripled the number of asteroids which have undergone detailed "thermophysical" modeling of asteroid properties that vary with temperature. The results provide a more accurate glimpse into the surface properties of main belt asteroids and also reinforce the capabilities of spaceborne infrared observatories to accurately assess the sizes of asteroids.

Value of this technique

Thermophysical modeling is a gold mine for asteroid researchers because it allows a more comprehensive analysis of the nature of asteroids. Not all asteroids are suitable for thermophysical modeling because the necessary raw data sets are not always available. But Hanus's team found 122 asteroids that not only had NEOWISE data, but also detailed models of their rotation states (how fast an object rotates around its axis, and the orientation of the axis in space) and multi-faceted models of the asteroid's 3-D shape.

"Using archived data from the NEOWISE mission and our previously derived shape models, we were able to create highly detailed thermophysical models of 122 main belt asteroids," said Hanus, lead author of the paper. "We now have a better idea of the properties of the surface regolith and show that small asteroids, as well as fast rotating asteroids, have little, if any, dust covering their surfaces." (Regolith is the term for the broken rocks and dust on the surface.)

It could be difficult for fast-rotating asteroids to retain very fine regolith grains because their low gravity and high spin rates tend to fling small particles off their surfaces and into space. Also, it could be that fast-rotating asteroids do not experience large temperature changes because the sun's rays are more rapidly distributed across their surfaces. That would reduce or prevent the thermal cracking of an asteroid's surface material that could cause the generation of fine grains of regolith.

Hanus's team also found that their detailed calculations for estimated sizes of the asteroids they studied were consistent with those of the same asteroids calculated by the NEOWISE team using simpler models.

"With the asteroids for which we were able to gather the most information from other sources, our calculations of their sizes were consistent with the radiometrically-derived values performed by the NEOWISE team," said Hanus. "The uncertainties were within 10 percent between the two sets of results."

"This is an important example of how space-based infrared data can accurately characterize asteroids," said Alan Harris, a senior scientist at the German Aerospace Center (DLR) based in Berlin, Germany, who specializes in thermal modeling of asteroids but was not involved with the study. "NEOWISE is leading the way in demonstrating the value of space-based infrared observatories for asteroid and near-Earth object discovery and characterization, both vital to our understanding these important inhabitants of our solar system."

From WISE to NEOWISE

Originally called the Wide-field Infrared Survey Explorer (WISE), the spacecraft was launched in December 2009 to study galaxies, stars, and solar system bodies by imaging the entire sky in infrared light. It was placed in hibernation in 2011 after its primary astrophysics mission was completed. In September 2013, it was reactivated, renamed NEOWISE and assigned a new mission: to assist NASA's efforts to identify and characterize the population of near-Earth objects. NEOWISE also is characterizing more distant populations of asteroids and comets to provide information about their sizes and compositions.

Explore further Four years of NASA NEOWISE data

More information: J. Hanus et al. Thermophysical modeling of main-belt asteroids from WISE thermal data, Icarus (2018). Journal information: Icarus J. Hanus et al. Thermophysical modeling of main-belt asteroids from WISE thermal data,(2018). DOI: 10.1016/j.icarus.2018.03.016
The number of people in Africa moving from their home country is set to increase in line with population growth over the coming decades, according to the findings of a joint study from the JRC and the European Political Strategy Centre (EPSC).

Demographic expansion alone will lead to an increase in the absolute number of people on the move. Currently, the majority remain on the African continent, with about 40 percent of them coming to Europe.

Every year, some 1.4 million Africans leave their country of birth for a longer period of time or for good. This is expected to reach 2.8-3.5 million per year by 2050, in line with population growth. Although 27 percent of Africa's adult population would like to move to another country, only 1 percent are actively preparing for such a move and only 0.12 percent of all Africans actually migrate annually.

Direct investment in the continent is likely to make living conditions better for people, but this might also increase mobility in the coming years. A team of scientists analysed past and present migration patterns from and within Africa, as well as the drivers behind them. Their findings give insights on the potential effects of policy decisions on migratory flows, and project potential scenarios for the future, up to 2050.

On average, Africans who take concrete measures to migrate are likely to be better educated and economically in a better position than those who want to migrate but have not taken concrete steps to do so. Factors stopping people from taking such steps may include lacking the necessary economic means or information. More than 50 percent of all those who prepare their departure have completed secondary or tertiary education.

Socioeconomic development, better education, job creation and improved income opportunities for Africans are found to contribute to higher migration. Economic development will reduce population growth, but also increase the ability of people to migrate. The study finds a nonlinear relationship between GDP, income and emigration rate. And it will take around 30-40 years until the majority of African countries reach a GDP per capita threshold where emigration becomes less likely.

Climate change will also remain a key determinant for migration. Its destabilising effects will potentially accelerate future migration within Africa and to neighbouring parts of the world.

The number of Africans not living in their country of birth increased from 8.1 million in the early 1960s to almost 36.3 million in 2017. This increase is in line with overall population growth and the total percentage of Africans living abroad has actually remained quite stable. The share of African migrants living in a country outside of Africa grew from 23 percent in the early 1960s to 47 percent in 2017.

Between 2008 and 2016, the total annual number of African migrants remained stable. However, legal immigration was declining in this period, while the number of irregular arrivals and asylum claims of Africans increased. Irregular arrivals of Africans via the Mediterranean started to decline again in 2017.In Europe, the majority of African immigrants come from North Africa, with most people making the move to reunite with family members already settled in a European country.

The study is primarily based on macro econometric analyses, assessing different scenarios for variables and their potential impact on migration patterns across the entire continent of Africa. These variables include population demographics, socio-economic development, climate change, political instability, violence and geopolitical factors up to 2050. These analyses are complemented by data from a set of questions relating to the intention and preparation for migration contained within the Gallup World Poll Survey. Using this data, scientists analysed intentions to migrate in different forms: the desire to move abroad, actual plans, and preparations.

Explore further Data shows migration more strongly linked to aspiration than desperation

More information: Migration from and within Africa - Study. Migration from and within Africa - Study. DOI: 10.2760/1702
Schematic representation of the ultrafast optical pump - terahertz probe experiment, where the optical pump induces electron heating and the terahertz pulse is sensitive to the conductivity of graphene directly after this heating process. Credit: Fabien Vialla

Light detection and control lies at the heart of many modern device applications, such as smartphone cameras. Using graphene as a light-sensitive material for light detectors can offer significant improvements with respect to materials being used nowadays. For example, graphene can detect light of almost any color, and it gives an extremely fast electronic response within one millionth of a millionth of a second. Thus, in order to properly design graphene-based light detectors it is crucial to understand the processes that take place inside the graphene after it absorbs light.

The Mainz-based researchers Dr. Hai Wang, Professor Dmitry Turchinovich, Professor Mathias Klaui, and Professor Mischa Bonn, in collaboration with scientists from various European labs, have now succeeded in understanding these processes. The project was led by Dr. Klaas-Jan Tielrooij from ICFO in Spain, who was recently elected visiting professor at the Materials Science in Mainz (MAINZ) Graduate School of Excellence.

Published recently in Science Advances, their work gives a thorough explanation of why the graphene conductivity in some cases increases after light absorption while it decreases in others. The researchers were able to show that this behavior correlates with the way in which the energy from the absorbed light flows to the graphene electrons: After light is absorbed by the graphene, the processes through which graphene electrons heat up happen extremely fast and with a very high efficiency.

For highly doped graphene with many free electrons present, ultrafast electron heating leads to carriers with elevated energy, so-called hot carriers. This, in turn, leads to a decrease in conductivity. Interestingly enough, for weakly doped graphene with less free electrons, electron heating leads to the creation of additional free electrons and, thus, an increase in conductivity. These additional carriers are the direct result of the gapless nature of graphene. In gapped materials, electron heating does not lead to additional free carriers.

This simple scenario of light-induced electron heating in graphene can explain many observed effects. Aside from describing the conductive properties of the material after light absorption, it can explain carrier multiplication, where under specific conditions one absorbed light particle, i.e., a photon, can indirectly generate more than one additional free electron and thus create an efficient photo response within a device.

The results of the paper and, in particular, understanding electron heating processes accurately, will definitely mean a great boost in the design and development of graphene-based light detection technology.

Explore further The photoexcited graphene puzzle solved

More information: Andrea Tomadin et al. The ultrafast dynamics and conductivity of photoexcited graphene at different Fermi energies, Science Advances (2018). Journal information: Science Advances Andrea Tomadin et al. The ultrafast dynamics and conductivity of photoexcited graphene at different Fermi energies,(2018). DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.aar5313
Hugo Doeleman in his lab Credit: Lukas Helmbrecht (AMOLF)

Similar to the eye of a hurricane, physicists of research institute AMOLF, the University of Amsterdam and the University of Texas at Austin, have captured light in the eye of an optical vortex. The research will be published on June 4th in the top journal Nature Photonics.

"The light could move in any direction, but does not do so," says researcher Hugo Doeleman of the AMOLF group Resonant Nanophotonics and the University of Amsterdam. "It is a strange phenomenon. It's like locking up light in a prison with invisible walls." This phenomenon, which the renowned physicists Von Neumann and Wigner predicted for electrons in 1929, was also found to occur in light. In research jargon, it is called a bound state in the continuum (BIC). A BIC occurs when light waves are captured and remain somewhere without anything opposing their movement. "The light could escape but it does not do so," says Doeleman.

In 2014, a group of researchers from MIT, Harvard, and Yale predicted that these BICs are the center of a kind of optical vortex. Doeleman and his colleagues Wouter den Hollander and Femius Koenderink have now experimentally proven the existence of such a vortex. They managed to produce a BIC and demonstrate that the light is captured in a polarization vortex, as predicted: the light is caught in the eye of the storm. The researchers from Amsterdam worked closely together with two researchers from the United States, Francesco Monticone (now at Cornell University) and Andrea Alu (now at City University of New York) to understand how the vortex catches the light.

To produce a BIC, a sample is needed with two optical channels that scatter incoming laser light. The sample produced at AMOLF consisted of a row of miniature silicon nitride rods on a thin glass membrane. Due to the interference caused by the structure of the sample, a vortex shape arises in the polarization direction of the light. This occurs around the point where the light is capturedthe eye. The team developed a model that shows what happened in their sample. "The model reveals that this invisible wall, which the light cannot pass, arises exactly when the light waves scattered by the two channels destructively interfere. This is precisely the condition that defines the eye of the storm."

The most striking aspect is that the vortex makes the BIC robust, says Doeleman. "As long as there is a vortex, there is an eye. Small imperfections can displace or deform the vortex, but the eye moves with it. Comparable to when a hurricane moves, the eye moves with it. Only if the vortex completely disappears does the BIC disappear as well." That will be useful for applications in photonics, as it means that the BIC is tolerant for aberrations that always occur.

In the longer term, BICs could be useful to manufacture small lasers. Doeleman: "To make a good laser, you must be able to capture light for some time and concentrate it." Such a small laser can then be placed on a photonic chip. "However, that is something for the longer term. For now, we are mainly fascinated by the actual phenomenon. We are at the start of discovering what BICs can do."

Explore further Organic vortex lasers could be used in future 3-D displays

More information: Experimental observation of a polarization vortex at an optical bound state in the continuum, Hugo M. Doeleman, Francesco Monticone, Wouter den Hollander, Andrea Alu, A. Femius Koenderink, 04.06.18, Nature Photonics, DOI: 10.1038/s41566-018-0177-5 Journal information: Nature Photonics Experimental observation of a polarization vortex at an optical bound state in the continuum, Hugo M. Doeleman, Francesco Monticone, Wouter den Hollander, Andrea Alu, A. Femius Koenderink, 04.06.18,
A Walmart store in Chicago, Illinois: Walmart is selling off a majority stake in its Brazil stores to a private equity group, Advent International.

Walmart announced Monday plans to hand over control of its Brazilian arm to private equity group Advent International.

Walmart gave no price for the transaction, in which Advent takes an 80 percent stake in Walmart Brazil and leaves Walmart with 20 percent.

But the Arkansas-based mega retailer said it would take a $4.5 billion charge on the deal in the second quarter, much of that related to cumulative foreign exchange losses.

Walmart's Brazilian operation started up 22 years ago and employs 55,000 people in 438 stores.

In 2017, Walmart reported Brazil revenues of 25 billion reals, about $7 billion.

Advent, with $42 billion in assets around the world, has been in Brazil for 21 years and has a portfolio of 30 companies in diverse sectors.

"We believe that with our local market knowledge and retail expertise we can position the company to generate significant results and reach new levels of success in Brazil," said Patrice Etlin, a Managing Partner at Advent International in Brazil.

 2018 AFP
Researchers at Boston University's Evans Center for Implementation and Improvement Sciences (CIIS) have developed a new scoring criteria for evaluating the quality of scientific research proposals. Termed ImplemeNtation and Improvement Sciences Proposals Evaluation CriTeria (INSPECT), this new approach aims to improve identification of high-quality proposed research that advances improvements in health care delivery and patient outcomes.

Research proposals are traditionally evaluated using National Institutes of Health (NIH) criteria for impact, significance, innovation and approach. This criteria works well for evaluating the quality of research seeking to test the effectiveness of new interventions. However, the CIIS team found NIH criteria were not specific enough to evaluate research that tests strategies to promote uptake of evidence-based practices in real-world settings.

"Implementation science is the study of strategies applied at the patient, provider, organization or health system level that promote the systematic uptake of evidence-based practices which are otherwise underused," said corresponding author Erika Crable, MPH, research fellow at CIIS. "Once we have evidence that an intervention works, implementation science asks, 'How do we get people to use the intervention, with fidelity, in a sustainable way?"

In order to test the reliability of INSPECT, CIIS researchers from Boston University School of Medicine (BUSM) independently applied this new criteria to 30 grant proposals. Overall, the proposals scored high on INSPECT criteria evaluating the significance of the care or quality gap to be addressed by the proposed research. However, proposals scored poorly across most other criteria, signaling the need for expanding education and training in implementation science at an academic medical center.

"Our study suggests that the traditional efficacy/effectiveness grant scoring lens is insufficient to evaluate key aspects of research seeking to promote the use of evidence-based practices in real-world settings. Instead we suggest a new grant scoring criteria that is reliable in evaluating specific goals of implementation science research," Crable said.

The researchers believe that developing a reliable, implementation science-specific scoring criteria will be a valuable tool for grant reviewers seeking to evaluate proposed implementation science, and for grant writers looking for guidance on how to effectively communicate implementation science research approaches.

Explore further Genetic testing evaluation could help public health practice
Duttaphrynus melanostictus, the toxic Asian toad invading Madagascar. Credit: Wolfgang Wuster

The recent introduction of the common Asian toad to Madagascar has led to fears that the toxic amphibian could wreak havoc on the island's already severely threatened fauna. Now, researchers report genetic evidence in the journal Current Biology on June 4 showing that those fears are well founded: virtually all predators native to Madagascar are highly sensitive to toad toxins. If they should eat the toads, it would be a potentially fatal mistake.

"In Australia, the introduction of cane toads has caused profound perturbation to many ecosystems by removing key predators from local food webs with their toxins," says Wolfgang Wuster of Bangor University, United Kingdom. "Similar effects are likely to occur in Madagascar, where toads were never present before, as well; predators that frequently feed on toads and do not rapidly learn or evolve to avoid them are likely to become much rarer or possibly extinct."

Bufonid toads secrete bufadienolides that kill many predator species by inhibiting the sodium-potassium pump (Na+/K+-ATPase), an essential component of animal cell membranes. However, some species are known to have evolved resistance to these toxins through repeated, predictable, and specific point mutations in the gene encoding that essential enzyme. As such, the arrival of the toxic and invasive Asian toads (Duttaphrynus melanostictus) to Madagascar prompted vigorous debate over their likely impact and the actions that should be taken to control or eradicate them.

Duttaphrynus melanostictus, the toxic Asian toad invading Madagascar. Credit: Benjamin Marshall

"A crucial knowledge gap has been whether native Malagasy predators are indeed sensitive to toad toxins: this has been widely assumed by conservationists, but without concrete evidence," says co-author Andolalao Rakotoarison, co-chair of Madagascar's IUCN Amphibian Specialist Group.

To fill that gap in the new study, the researchers analyzed sequences of the Na+/K+-ATPase gene of 77 Malagasy species potentially feeding on toads, including 27 snakes, two lizards, 12 frogs, eight mammals and 28 birds. Their studies showed that only one native speciesa rodent known as the white-tailed antsangyshowed evidence of resistance to the novel toxin.

The results strongly suggest that invasive toads are liable to have significant impacts on the native Malagasy fauna, and they stress the importance of controlling the spread of this alien species to prevent a worsening biodiversity crisis, according to the researchers.

Duttaphrynus melanostictus, the toxic Asian toad invading Madagascar. Credit: Franco Andreone

"Our findings confirm that the invasive toads are likely to have a significant impact on many Malagasy endemic species, adding to the country's existing conservation problems and potentially endangering many of Madagascar's most iconic endemic species, such as tenrecs and the enigmatic fossa, as well as a plethora of other species," says co-author Nicholas Casewell of the Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine.

Co-author Frank Glaw, a specialist in Malagasy amphibians based at the Bavarian State Collection of Zoology, noted that the toad's tadpoles might also threaten endemic fish, as well as invertebrate predators, including water beetles, dragonfly larvae, and crustaceans. A similar study is therefore needed to assess the vulnerability of Madagascar's aquatic predators.

"This is another example of how species introduced from one part of the world to another can disrupt natural ecosystems," says Ben Marshall, a master's student at Bangor University and first author of the new study. "Preventing the introduction of alien invasive species must be a top priority for biodiversity conservation."

Explore further Invasive plant protects Australian lizards from invasive toad

More information: Current Biology, Marshall et al.: "Widespread vulnerability of Malagasy predators to the toxins of an introduced toad" www.cell.com/current-biology/f  0960-9822(18)30452-4 Journal information: Current Biology , Marshall et al.: "Widespread vulnerability of Malagasy predators to the toxins of an introduced toad" DOI: 10.1016/j.cub.2018.04.024
Political Incorrectness Paradoxes, and Anything else out of left field.
By Sarah N. Lynch

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - A former officer with the U.S. Defense Intelligence Agency was arrested over the weekend for allegedly trying to spy on the United States for China, the Justice Department said on Monday.

The Federal Bureau of Investigation took Ron Rockwell Hansen, 58, into custody on Saturday while he was on his way to the Seattle-Tacoma International Airport to get a connecting flight to China.

The department said he has been accused of trying to transmit national defence information to China and with receiving "hundreds of thousands of dollars" while acting illegally as an agent for the Chinese government.

Reuters could not immediately learn who may be representing Hansen in the case.

Hansen is the latest person in a string of former U.S. intelligence officers to be swept up in criminal probes related to spying for the Chinese.

Earlier this year, former CIA case officer Jerry Chun Shing Lee was indicted for conspiring to gather or deliver national defence information to China.

Another former U.S. intelligence employee named Kevin Mallory is on trial in Virginia, also in connection with selling secrets to China.

In the new case announced Monday, prosecutors said that Hansen speaks fluent Mandarin-Chinese and Russian.

He served as a case officer for the Defense Intelligence Agency while on active military duty from 2000-2006, and later continued that line of work as a civilian employee and a contractor.

He also held a top secret clearance for years.

The government said that between 2013 and 2017, he travelled between the two countries attending conferences and provided the information he learned to China's intelligence service.

He was paid via wire transfers, cash and credit cards. He also allegedly improperly sold export-controlled technology.

"His alleged actions are a betrayal of our nation's security and the American people and are an affront to his former intelligence community colleagues," said John Demers, the head of the Justice Department's National Security Division.

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According to court records, the FBI started investigating his activities in 2014. He was unaware of the probe, and participated in nine voluntary meetings with federal agents in Salt Lake City. Utah.

Prosecutors say that during his meetings, he told the FBI that Chinese intelligence had tried to recruit him, offered to cooperate as a source and even provided thumb drives to the FBI that contained classified materials he was not authorized to have.

Hansen appeared before a magistrate judge in Seattle on Monday, and is charged in a 15-count complaint.

(Reporting by Sarah N. Lynch; Editing by James Dalgleish)
Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte drew condemnation Monday after kissing a Filipino woman onstage during his visit to South Korea, prompting outraged activists to call it "disgusting". Duterte's previous comments on women, including rape jokes and incitations to shoot women guerillas in the vagina have resulted in angry charges of misogyny against him. During the appearance late Sunday in front of a mostly Filipino crowd, Duterte called the woman onstage and pointed to his lips. "Come here! Where's my (kiss)," Duterte said, instructing her to explain to her husband -- after learning he was not among the audience -- that they were engaging in a "joke". "Don't take it seriously. It's just for fun, a gimmick," Duterte later told the crowd, who mostly shrieked in apparent approval. But the women's rights political party Gabriela in a statement denounced Duterte for his "perverted way of getting back at his women critics". "Gabriela views President Duterte's recent kissing of a migrant Filipina during his meet-and-greet with Filipino (workers)... as the disgusting theatrics of a misogynist president who feels entitled to demean, humiliate or disrespect women according to his whim," it added. Duterte has fought publicly with powerful women who criticised his deadly narcotics crackdown and human rights record. He labelled the now-ousted head of the nation's judiciary, Maria Lourdes Sereno, an "enemy" before her colleagues on the Supreme Court sacked her last month. Duterte critic Senator Leila de Lima is behind bars on charges she insists are politically motivated after battling with the president. In this case, the unidentified woman told the state-run Philippine News Agency in an interview that "there was no malice" to what the president did. Duterte, who has a daughter by his current partner after splitting from his wife, is wildly popular at home but has angered many Filipinos for his allegedly misogynistic comments. In the 2016 presidential election campaign Duterte sparked controversy over comments made on the rape and killing of an Australian missionary during a prison riot in the southern city of Davao in 1989 while he was the mayor. "What occurred to me was they gang-raped her," he said then. "I was angry because she was raped. But she was so beautiful the mayor should have been first. What a waste." In February this year he told a local audience foreign women did not attract him because they have a "queer odour" unlike Filipinas who were "fragrant". A day later while meeting a group of former communist rebels Duterte joked he would have specific orders for how the military would treat female guerrillas. "We won't kill you. We will just shoot your vagina so that if there is no vagina, it would be useless," he said.
War, corruption scandals, a spell in prison -- the career of veteran Slovenian centre-right leader Janez Jansa, leading in Sunday's election, has truly seen it all. And now, with nearly all the votes counted, his SDS party looks to have won just over 25 percent of the vote, putting him in a strong position to seek a third stint as prime minister. But first Jansa, 59, will have to find coalition partners -- no easy task as so many of Slovenia's other parties have said they won't work with him. His close alliance to Hungary's authoritarian prime minister and his aping of Viktor Orban's anti-immigration rhetoric stirred controversy over the course of the campaign. "Thanks to its (migration) policy, Hungary is a safe country, while Belgium, due to its wrong policy, isn't," read a recent Jansa tweet. Despite condemnation from other parties his campaign proved effective, particularly the way in which Jansa stirred memories of the migration crisis in Europe in late 2015 and early 2016. And Jansa benefited from the infighting among the parties in the outgoing coalition, according to analyst Janez Markes. "(Jansa) didn't need to do anything. Just stand there, laugh quietly and stay calm, and put his basket out to collect the votes of those fighting among themselves," Markes said in the Delo newspaper. - 'Prince of Darkness' - Jansa's staying power, coupled with his abrasive personality, once led former President Danilo Turk to dub him Slovenia's "Prince of Darkness". Like his close ally Orban, Jansa's career stretches back to the pro-democracy movements that brought about the collapse of communism. He wasn't even 30 when he first came to prominence as one of four dissidents prosecuted for their criticism of Yugoslavia's Serb-dominated army. They were eventually freed after huge demonstrations. Named defence minister in Slovenia's first democratically-elected government in 1990, he oversaw a guerrilla strategy which ended in the retreat of Yugoslav troops in the Ten-Day War for independence. Forced to resign in 1994, he staged the first of many comebacks in 2004, winning his first term as prime minister just after Slovenia joined the European Union and overseeing entry to the eurozone in 2007. - Campaigning from jail - However, on the eve of the 2008 elections he was implicated in a bribery scandal connected to a 278 million euro ($324 million) deal with Finnish company Patria -- Slovenia's biggest defence deal ever -- and a spell in opposition beckoned. But neither the scandal nor the fact that he came second in elections in late 2011 stopped him from embarking on a second term as prime minister a few months later. In 2013, only a year into his second term, he was forced out by another corruption scandal and subsequently given a two-year jail sentence for a bribery conviction relating to the Patria case. He ploughed on regardless, contesting parliamentary elections in 2014 from his cell in Dob prison near Ljubljana. The bribery conviction was later overturned by the Constitutional Court -- it ordered a retrial, but that couldn't take place as too much time had elapsed. Not content with his freedom, Jansa then demanded 900,000 euros ($1.04 million) in compensation from the state for having lost the 2014 elections - the case is ongoing. Now he stands on the brink of yet another comeback, reinventing himself once again as part of Europe's growing anti-migrant populist movement.
Singapore State Courts (AFP Photo/Mohd Fyrol)

He was angered by a hawker who had asked him to pay more for extra ingredients in his dish. Feeling slighted, he scratched the hawkers car with his house key on six different occasions.

He was exposed after his actions were caught by an in-car camera of another car in the carpark.

Singaporean retiree Ee Tian Chon, 65, was on Monday (4 June) sentenced to six weeks jail for the offence and another count of throwing a glass bottle from the 10th storey of a flat in Tampines Street 24 where he lived. The glass bottle smashed onto and dented the roof of a grey BMW, causing $10,709.52 in damages.

He had pleaded guilty to six counts of causing mischief and one count of committing a rash act. One count of rash act and 10 counts of causing mischief by scratching at least five other cars were taken into consideration for his sentencing.

On 9 April 2016, feeling frustrated, and having consumed two bottles of beer earlier, Ee threw a bottle containing liquid out the kitchen window and did not look to see where it landed. He later admitted that he had a habit of throwing things from his window.

The driver of the BMW was making his way back to his car with his wife at around 8.26pm when he saw something hit the roof with a loud bang. He later made a police report. No one was hurt in the incident.

Ee also damaged a car belonging to Soh Kim Yew, a 48-year-old hawker.

Sometime in December 2016, Ee visited Sohs noodle stall in a food court in Fernvale Road when he asked for extra ingredients. When he was told that he would have to pay more, Ee felt slighted and angry at Soh, said Deputy Public Prosecutor (DPP) Deborah Tang.

A few days later, as Ee was walking in the multi-storey carpark near the food court, he saw Soh alight from his silver Nissan and remembered the vehicles serial number.

On six occasions between 5 January and 9 February, when Ee saw the Nissan, he would scratch it with his house key each time.

Ee carved X-shaped scratch marks into the door or at times make scratches which he would gouge into deeper on the next occasion. The scratches measured from 10cm to 70cm and caused Soh $2,400 to paint over.

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DPP Tang said that Ee was motivated by malice when he scratched Sohs car and that such offences were hard to detect.

Ees lawyer, James Ow Yong, asked for a short detention order (SDO). He said this his client had not targeted the BMW on purpose and had anger management issues. An SDO is a community-based sentence that requires an offender to be detained in prison for up to 14 days before the prison records are set aside.

However, District Judge Shaiffudin Saruwan said an SDO was wholly inappropriate in killer litter cases.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu warned German Chancellor Angela Merkel Monday that Iranian meddling in the Middle East could touch off massive new refugee flows to Europe, as they clashed about the future of the nuclear deal with Tehran. At the start of a three-day European tour dominated by strategic differences on Iran, Netanyahu charged that Tehran has been able to bankroll a growing military presence in countries such as Syria and Yemen because sanctions had been lifted in exchange for its halt in nuclear enrichment activities. Iran wants to "basically conduct a religious campaign in largely Sunni Syria but try to convert Sunnis," he said at a joint press conference with Merkel. "This will inflame another religious war -- this time a religious war inside Syria and the consequences will be many, many more refugees and you know where exactly they will come," he said. More than one million asylum seekers, with Syrians making up the biggest group, arrived in Germany since 2015, creating deep new political divisions in the country and shrinking Merkel's ruling majority in her fourth term. Germany, France and Britain are three of the signatories of the 2015 Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) between world powers and Iran, aimed at keeping Tehran from acquiring nuclear weapons. Netanyahu, who has long railed against the deal, will continue on to Paris for meetings with French President Emmanuel Macron on Tuesday and British Prime Minister Theresa May on Wednesday. All three countries have vowed to try to salvage the hard-fought accord since President Donald Trump announced the US withdrawal from it last month. The European powers argue it is the best way to head off a regional arms race and have vowed with Russia and China, the two other signatory countries, to keep it alive. - 'Malignant cancerous tumour' - Merkel insisted that the Europeans and Israel were "united by the goal that Iran must never get a nuclear weapon" but acknowledged deep differences with Netanyahu on "how we can best achieve this". She defended the nuclear accord as ensuring "at least for a certain time, that Iran's activities are under control" noting that Tehran had been "on the brink of having a nuclear weapon" before the deal was signed. But she acknowledged that a supplementary deal with Tehran covering its ballistic missile programme as well as its interventions in countries such as Lebanon, Syria, Iraq and Yemen was needed. "But we believe that this can be achieved with tough negotiations," she said. Asked about Iranian supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei's comments on Twitter Sunday calling Israel a "malignant cancerous tumour", Merkel said Germany and its partners had "repeatedly and with great clarity told Iran that we will stand up for Israel's right to security". Western powers view Iran's involvement in its neighbours' affairs as destabilising for the region while Israel sees it as a direct threat to its existence. Foes Iran and Israel have been kept at bay for decades. However, an unprecedented May 10 escalation in Syria that saw Israel bomb alleged Iranian targets after blaming Tehran for a rocket barrage has sparked fears of open war. Israel is considered the leading military power in the Middle East and believed to be the only country in the region to possess nuclear weapons. - Far-right 'minimising Holocaust' - The visit to Germany, traditionally Israel's closest European ally due to the enduring responsibility Berlin accepts for the Holocaust, comes at a time of further diplomatic tensions. Merkel has repeatedly criticised expanding Israeli settlements in occupied Palestinian territory as destructive to long-thwarted hopes for a two-state solution. She nevertheless defended Israel's right to retaliate against rocket attacks from Gaza amid the worst military flare-up in the beleaguered Palestinian enclave since a 2014 war. Netanyahu thanked Merkel for her efforts to fight a resurgence of anti-Semitism in Germany stemming from homegrown extremists and the massive influx of Muslim asylum seekers since 2015. Alexander Gauland, a leader of the far-right Alternative for Germany, the biggest opposition party in parliament, unleashed a storm of protest at the weekend when he described the Nazi period and the Holocaust as little more than a "speck of bird shit in over 1,000 years of successful German history".
South Korea is monitoring developments in the North's armed forces, it said Monday after reports Pyongyang replaced three of its top military officials ahead of a summit with the United States. President Donald Trump is due to meet with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un on June 12 in Singapore, with Pyongyang's nuclear arsenal high on the agenda. Reports said the reshuffle could be aimed at eliminating resistance to the peace overtures. Pyongyang's armed forces, known as the Korean People's Army, are immensely influential in the North and a centre of power in their own right, symbolised by the way Kim is habitually flanked by generals on one side and civilians on the other when attending major ceremonial events. Late last month the North's state media revealed that Kim Su Gil had been appointed director of the military's powerful General Political Bureau (GPB), replacing Kim Jong Gak. According to Yonhap news agency, which cited intelligence sources, the chief of the general staff Ri Myong Su has also been replaced by his deputy, Ri Yong Gil. Defence minister Pak Yong Sik has been succeeded by No Kwang Chol, previously first vice minister, it added. The wholesale reshuffle would be unusual if confirmed, Seoul's unification ministry said. "We will monitor related developments," ministry spokesman Baik Tae-hyun told reporters. According to researchers at NK Leadership Watch, the change at the top of the GPB "represents a continuation of tightening Party control over the KPA". The political bureau could be in a position to resist policy decisions by the leadership or try to profit from future South Korean economic aid, it said. "Both of these things lend themselves to creating alternate power centres," it noted. But new GPB director Kim Su Gil was a "highly trusted" lieutenant of leader Kim Jong Un, it added, who appointed him to the Pyongyang party committee -- once a power base for his uncle Jang Song Thaek -- after having the older man executed for treason in 2013. - Hardliners vs moderates? - Reports said the wider changes could be aimed at preventing objections in the North's senior military ranks to any sudden changes in the country's nuclear policy. The country remains technically at war after hostilities in the 1950-53 Korean War ended with an armistice rather than a peace treaty, and Kim's father and predecessor Kim Jong Il expounded a "Songun" or "military-first" policy that is a foundational plank of the North's ideology. Pyongyang has long argued that it needs nuclear weapons to protect itself against a possible invasion by the US. Yonhap cited the intelligence source as saying No Kwang Chol, the new defence minister, was known as a "moderate". "The North appears to have brought in new figures... as the previous officials lacked flexibility in thinking," the source said. But analysts said the personnel change was more likely a response to an internal matter. "It's meaningless to divide North Korean officials into hardliners and moderates," said Kim Dong-yub, a professor at the Institute for Far Eastern Studies at Kyungnam University. The personnel change was probably intended to implement the new economy-centred policies, he said, and officials with a better understanding in the area had been appointed. No had formerly overseen the military's financial issues as the chair of the Second Economy Commission, Kim said. "It looks like they needed someone who can have a firm grip on the military and dynamically push ahead with the new policies amid changes in US-North Korea relations," he added.
Taiwan's president Tsai Ing-wen called on China to "face up" to the violent Tiananmen Square crackdown on the 29th anniversary of the tragedy, saying the island's democratisation is an example of how to move forward from an authoritarian past. In comments likely to incense Beijing, Tsai called on the government to acknowledge what happened in a message written on her official Facebook page. "I sincerely believe that if Beijing can face up to the incident and acknowledge state violence in this event, then the unfortunate history of June 4 will become a cornerstone in China's advancement towards free democracy," Tsai wrote. Almost three decades after the Chinese Communist Party sent tanks to crush demonstrations in the Beijing square on June 4, 1989, China still forbids open discussion about it and imposes heavy censorship on words related to the incident. Hundreds, perhaps thousands, of people were killed even though the student-led protesters were staging a peaceful sit-in demanding democratic reforms. Taiwan today is a fully-fledged democracy but it also has a history of authoritarian rule marked by violent events. Martial law was only lifted on the island in 1987. Since coming to power in May 2016, Tsai's administration has passed laws to investigate the period of oppression, and removed authoritarian symbols including statues of former ruler Chiang Kai-shek. Tsai appealed directly to Chinese netizens, writing in simplified Chinese used on the mainland in her Facebook message instead of the more complicated traditional characters that are used in Taiwan and Hong Kong. "Chinese netizens who come here will find that my Facebook page is the epitome of Taiwan's democracy... we don't have sensitive words, we don't have internet censorship, and there's certainly no need to bypass firewalls," she wrote. China has one of the world's most restrictive internet regimes, with a "Great Firewall" that blocks foreign social media websites such as Facebook and Twitter. Crackdowns in Taiwan that were once described as "riots" have become events that "spurred, gathered, and mobilised society to drive Taiwan's democratic reforms," Tsai added. Her post attracted over a thousand comments in a little more than an hour, with a mix of criticism and support. "I hope your words can touch the conscience of some mainland Chinese," one commenter wrote in simplified Chinese. "All the talents are going to China. What's the point of talking about democracy and freedom?" another countered. China claims self-ruling Taiwan as part of its territory to be reunified at some point even though the island sees itself as a sovereign country. Cross-strait relations have rapidly deteriorated since Tsai became president as Beijing is concerned her traditionally pro-independence party will push Taiwan to formally separate from China.
A clash between Pashtun activists and local militants on Sunday killed two people and wounded 25 others in a restive Pakistani tribal region near the Afghan border, officials said. The incident occurred in the Rustam Bazar of Wana, the main town of South Waziristan where the military has in the past conducted a string of punishing offensives to hunt down Taliban and Al-Qaeda-linked militants. Supporters of the Pashtun Protection Movement (PTM), which is led by young activist Manzoor Pashteen, wanted to hold a rally to protest against growing corruption in the tribal regions. "The clash erupted after supporters of Manzoor Pashteen were stopped from holding a protest rally by local militants belonging to Maulvi Nazir group " a senior local administration official told AFP on condition of anonymity. The Pashtun activists torched two offices of the militants, which led to an exchange of fire, killing two people and wounding 25 others, the offical said. Authorities were not immediately able to ascertain the identities of those killed and injured. Maulvi Nazir Wazir was a pro-government militant commander who carried out attacks on US troops deployed in Afghanistan. He was killed in a drone strike in 2013. The local administration immediately imposed a curfew on the area to control the fast deteriorating situation, another local intelligence official, who confirmed the incident and casualties, told AFP. Another official said efforts were underway to the bring the situation under control, adding the local administration was holding talks with the "two parties". The Pashtun Protection Movement rose to prominence after the killing of a young social media star in Karachi unleashed festering anger at extrajudicial murders. It has been demanding action -- including investigations into disappearances and extrajudicial killings -- and an end to what it says is undue harassment of Pashtuns at security checkpoints. Echoing accusations by Washington and Kabul, PTM activists say the military continues to allow extremists a safe haven from which to launch attacks in Afghanistan, while targeting insurgents that turn their guns on Pakistan. For years, Pakistan has been accused by the US and others of using militants such as the Afghan Taliban as proxies, allowing them safe haven in the tribal areas. Islamabad has repeatedly denied the claims.
A war of words between China and the United States at a regional security summit over the weekend has again highlighted the difficulty a rising China faces as it tries to navigate the international system and engage in dialogue with the West.

Beijings low-level delegation found itself at the centre of controversy during the Shangri-La Dialogue in Singapore  an annual forum for Asia attended by defence ministers and other officials from more than 50 countries  when it hit back at US criticism over its increasingly assertive stance, particularly in the South China Sea.

China is putting troops, weapons on South China Sea islands, and has every right to do so, PLA official says

On Saturday, after US Defence Secretary Jim Mattis rebuked Beijing in a speech over its militarisation in the contested waters, Chinese Lieutenant General He Lei, vice-president of the Academy of Military Science, took an equally tough line  saying the US was the real source of conflict in the region.

Behind the scenes, Chinese delegates said they were at a disadvantage at the forum and felt their voices were ignored because it was dominated by Western countries, with different ideologies, who led the narrative.

The US has created a grand narrative consisting of keywords including rule-based order, freedom of navigation and overflight, and militarisation  once you hear these words, you know its a criticism targeting China, said Yao Yunzhu, a retired PLA major general and a delegate at the forum.

Yao also said the Chinese military officials found it frustrating trying to communicate with their Western counterparts because of the language barrier and differences in how they approached conflict.

At multilateral events like this, the way the Western delegates speak and behave is different from the style were used to, Yao said. The Western delegates always stick together. They all speak English and sometimes its difficult for us to communicate, and we do feel frustrated at times.

Story continues

Senior Colonel Zhao Xiaozhuo, a delegate from the Academy of Military Science, said conflict between China and the US tended to spill into the open at the annual event.

The Shangri-La Dialogue has become an occasion for China and the US to engage in fights  and because of the official nature of the dialogue, it was inevitable that China had to hit back at Mattis accusations, Zhao said. But engaging in a fight does not help to solve the problems.

US, North Korea should build on Pyongyangs denuclearisation progress in Trump-Kim talks

A person who is familiar with deliberations on the issue by the International Institute for Strategic Studies, which hosts the forum, said Chinese officials concerns may be legitimate, but the country should not be given special treatment.

I can understand if they may feel like theyve been ganged up on coming here, said the person, who requested anonymity. I think thats a legitimate question as to why the IISS, an organisation headquartered in London, hosts the regions top security dialogue, and why there are so many Westerners here. Perhaps Beijing would prefer an institution with fewer non-Asian voices.

But the person also said the organisation cant repeatedly give China special treatment when other countries with key speaking roles send their defence ministers or at least the chiefs of their defence forces.

Another source familiar with the situation said the organiser had originally reserved a spot at a plenary session for Chinas defence minister to give a speech but later cancelled it because Beijing decided to send a lower-level delegation.

The only time China has sent its defence minister to the dialogue was in 2011, when General Liang Guanglie attended. Since then it has sent lower-level representatives from the PLA, including last years, which was also led by He.

China will send team to minimise conflict at regional security talks, sources say

William Choong, Shangri-La Dialogue senior fellow for Asia-Pacific Security at the IISS, said the organiser had pulled out all the stops, making two trips to China this year trying to convince Beijing to send a higher-level delegation.

Given the open nature of the Shangri-La Dialogue, we as organiser cannot control the speeches made or the questions being raised by other countries during the dialogue, he said.

Growing concern over Beijings activities in the South China Sea and the East China Sea, as well as its Belt and Road Initiative meant that questions would arise during the event, he said.

Choong added that the organiser had always welcomed Chinese delegations at all levels and it remained important to have Chinas voice on global strategic discussions.

The person familiar with IISS deliberations said Chinas choice of delegation had created an impression that Beijing wants to diminish the importance of the Shangri-La Dialogue because they want to create a parallel dialogue.

But its not great if you only talk to people who agree with you, the person said.

The Xiangshan Forum, which Beijing launched in 2006 to discuss Asia-Pacific security and defence issues, is increasingly seen as a rival to the Shangri-La Dialogue in Singapore. It was cancelled last year due to pressure at home and abroad, but a PLA official responsible for the forum said it would be back this year.

Yao said it was important for China to continue to engage in multilateral events, including the ones hosted by Western institutions.

The Xiangshan Forums main audience is still domestic, but occasions like the Shangri-La Dialogue have both international and domestic audiences, Yao said. Its important that we continue to participate in the dialogue and its normal that we experience frustrations at this stage.

Younger faces among the Chinese delegation also said forums like the Singapore event provided a good platform for China to listen to other voices.

And I dont think criticism is a bad thing  the fact that we hear many criticisms also means that China is rising and is now engaging more on the world stage, said Lieutenant Colonel Zhang Chi, an associate professor at the Chinese National Defence Universitys strategic advisory centre.

Additional reporting by Minnie Chan

This article At Western-led summit, Chinese find controversy and a clash of cultures first appeared on South China Morning Post

For the latest news from the South China Morning Post download our mobile app. Copyright 2018.

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The rise of the independent skateboard brand is probably one of the most celebrated aspects of the current skateboarding landscape, and whilst to be brutally honest, some of them are not quite as independent as they might appear to be to the casual observer, for every golden calf draped in mucky wool camouflage, there are still a whole host of genuinely skater-owned and independently-operated enterprises slinging wood out there.

One of Europes more low-key indy skateboard brands who are more than content to let the skating of their team and their piss-take oriented approach to marketing do the talking for them is Frank skateboards.

With a team roster boasting the likes of Eniz Fazliov, Rob Maatman, Sebi Dorfer and Tommy May, Frank are generally based in and around Barcelona, manufacture their boards in Europe and send out the some of the funniest mail shots announcing new product in the industry.

frank_Marketing, Dallas and company from FRANK skateboards on Vimeo.

We dig Frank and what the Yellow Bird has to say, so heres a little announcement regarding their latest Summer 2018 drop of pro boards, (which you can see above).

Pro boards from their three main pro skaters (Eniz Fazilov, Rob Maatman and pro/general head honcho Dallas Rockvam) are available, along with a brace of team boards featuring the Yellow Bird, cocaine/magic mushroom jokes and a celebration of beer.

Take a peek here  then visit their Facebook page over at Frank Skateboards, follow them on Instagram @frankskateboards and catch up with their video output over at the Frank Skateboards Vimeo account.

Also, if you need some evidence of the ridiculous stuff these guys get up to skateboarding-wise, you could do a lot worse than to check out their most recent full-length video (released by in July 2017) Out of Business via the magic blue letters earlier in this sentence.
Whilst were on the subject of Stu Smiths Lovenskate brand it seems like as good a time as any to remind you all of the day-to-day workings of this grand British institution.

It probably bears saying that things at Lovenskate have changed somewhat since this Unsung documentary was shot: namely that Stu has taken on the reigns of Lovenskates distribution himself and now deals with all aspects of the business personally, and secondly, that theyve moved to a different unit that also has a mini ramp.

With that said though, the origin story of the brand and its raison detre remain 100% the same. Watch and get inspired.

As an additional extra, you also get the back story on two other independent UK brands in the above courtesy of Joe Lauder of Satta skateboards and Ken Gear of the A Third Foot skateboard brand.

Enjoy

Go visit the Lovenskate website for all things related to Stu Smith and his brand.
Running an international drug cartel seems like a relatively foolproof way to make a living: Theres decent money in it, you get to have henchmen, and the only hard-and-fast rule is to avoid murdering Jennifer Garners husband and daughter. If youve never heard of the Garcia cartel, the crime family featured in Peppermint, its probably because they ignored conventional wisdom and murdered Jennifer Garners husband and daughter. Not only that, but they murdered Jennifer Garners husband and daughter on her daughters birthday, which would definitely be explicitly prohibited by the Cartel Code of Honor if murdering Jennifer Garners husband and daughter on her daughters birthday didnt already fall under the already-forbidden category of murdering Jennifer Garners husband and daughter. And it gets worse for the Garcia Cartel: at the time of her murder, Jennifer Garners daughter had just taken a ride on a merry-go-round, a symbolically fraught activity that not only suggests fleeting childhood innocence, but also Face/Off, Strangers on a Train, and even Shoot Em Up.

What do those movies have in common, besides the merry-go-rounds? Not a single one of them is about the head of a drug cartel enjoying a long, comfortable retirement after many years of successfully not murdering Jennifer Garners husband and daughter, especially not on her daughters birthday.

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Peppermint, then, looks like it will be a stern cautionary tale for drug cartels and their henchmen about the danger of murdering Jennifer Garners husband and daughter. It comes from director Pierre Morel, who specializes in this kind of instructional fable: he also directed Taken (dont kidnap Liam Neesons daughter!), From Paris With Love (dont bomb John Travoltas summit meeting!) and The Gunman (dont hire Sean Penn to assassinate the Congolese Minister of Mines and then double-cross him!). The screenplay is by Chad St. John, one of the writers behind London Has Fallen (Dont do terrorism in front of Gerard Butler without at least watching Olympus Has Fallen first!), so its a sure thing that Peppermint will be chock full of useful tips and tricks for criminals who might be considering getting on a celebritys bad side. The film comes out on Sept. 7; adjust your celebrity-related-crime schedule accordingly.
Former Daily Show host Jon Stewart is coming to the defense of one of the shows former correspondents: Samantha Bee. Stewart addressed the ongoing controversy, over Bees use of the word cunt to describe Ivanka Trump, during an audience Q&A at the comedy festival Clusterfest in San Francisco, with Stewart accusing Republicans who have criticized Bee of hypocrisy. Please understand that a lot of what the right does, and its maybe their greatest genius, is theyve created a code of conduct that they police, that they themselves dont have to, in any way, abide, he reportedly said.

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The highlights from that conversation, via the Daily Beast:

The right described him as a tool of the Obama presidency, because he made two visits to the White House. Meanwhile, Trump spoke to the head of Fox [News] and strategized with him on a weekly basis and uses their on-air talent as advisers. He told liberals, Dont get caught in a trap of thinking you can live up to a code of integrity that will be enough for the propagandist right. There isnt. And so, create your own moral code to live by, but dont be fooled into trying to make concessions that you think will mollify them.

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This attitude extends to the outrage over Bees remarks, according to Stewart. They dont give a shit about the word cunt, he said about the current administration, who released a statement calling Bees language vile and vicious. Stewart added that Donald Trump says [cunt] instead of please, Im guessing. The president famously once used a different crude word to refer to Stewart himself.

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@caaataclysm Little Jon Stewart(?) Is a pussy, he would be hopeless in a debate with me!  Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) May 11, 2013

In contrast, Stewart apparently had only nice things to say about Bee:
Its always dangerous to remake a cult classic, but Call Me By Your Names Luca Guadagnino is no coward. The Italian directors next film is what he has been calling an homage but what we might more traditionally call a remake of horror legend Dario Argentos 1977 movie Suspiria. Like the film that inspired it, Guadagninos Suspiria follows strange events that take place at a dance academy. The first trailer, which is appropriately spooky, is quite a departure in tone from his last movie.

Suspiria, which hits theaters in November, will reunite the cast members of Guadagninos 2015 film A Bigger Splashspecifically, Dakota Johnson and Tilda Swinton. Johnson will take on the role originally played by Jessica Harper, as a student who goes to Europe to train at a famous academy, while Swinton will play Madame Blanc. What else they will do, besides stare ominously at each other from across a crowded table, remains to be seen.
First Lady Melania Trump has not been seen in public for nearly a month, and speculation about her whereabouts has reached a fever pitch both on the internet and in the national media. The official story is that she received treatment for a kidney condition and has been recovering since May 14, but in the absence of a confirmed Melania sighting, conspiracy theorists have been rushing in to fill the void. Late Sunday, Melania Trumps spokeswoman told CNN that the first lady would be attending a White House event on Monday evening, but did not elaborate further on where shes been in the meantime. The public demands answers, and whenever the public demands answers, the public also demands articles that purport to provide those answers, and the media purports to provide the articles that purport to provide the answers the public purportedly demanded someone purport to provide. So it is with Melania Trump, purportedly.

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After a months-long, expense-report-rich investigationpreemptively begun long before Melania disappeared in anticipation of a situation much like this oneSlate can exclusively report that we have been unable to determine where Melania is, why she is there, what she is doing, or when she might be coming back. However, Slate can also exclusively report that we have determined Melanias precise whereabouts on the evening of March 17, 2005: CNNs Larry King Live. Flanked by as-yet-unidentified old men, the first lady answered questions about Slovenia, her marriage, and the surprising generosity of Donald Trump. Video proof is embedded above, but for those of you who need secondary confirmation because of the ever-present danger of a Melania lookalike, check out this excerpt from page B-5 of the Appleton, Wisconsin Post-Crescent, as published on March 17, 2005:

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Case closed! Heres a timeline showing the first ladys whereabouts over the course of her disappearance, as best as Slate has been able to reconstruct them.

Melania Trump: A Timeline

 April 26, 1970  March 16, 2005: ?????

 March 17, 2005: Melania Trump appears on CNNs Larry King Live.

 March 18, 2005  May 9, 2018: ?????

 May 10, 2018: Melania Trump appears with President Trump to greet Americans returning from North Korea.

 May 11, 2018  Present Day: ?????

At press time, Slate was unable to confirm rumors that Melania Trump had fled Larry King Live to hide out on the July 29, 2005 episode of The View.
NEWPORT BEACH, CaliforniaLast month, at a politically themed chili cook-off in Huntington Beach, Sandy Metcalfs manila folder went missing. The folder contained copies of documents alleging Hans Keirstead, a neuroscientist running for Congress in Californias 48th District, had slept with his graduate students and, in one case, had punched one of them in a boozy incident following a concert. Metcalf had left her purse unattended for three to five minutes, she told me, and when she next saw the folder, it was in the arms of Anita Narayana, the political director for Keirsteads campaign.

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To be fair, its not easy to keep track of all the sordid accusations and opposition research flying around in the 48th District, which covers much of the wealthy Orange County coast. For months now, Keirstead has been locked in a nasty battle with a fellow Democrat, real estate executive Harley Rouda, as they try to claw their way into second place in Tuesdays jungle primary, which would earn them a spot in the general election and a chance to unseat Republican Rep. Dana Rohrabacher.

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The ugly infighting has split the state Democratic Party from Democrats in Washington, who have watched in horror as the two candidates have gone after each other.* The fear is that the ongoing battle might sink both Democrats and allow Republicans to finish first and second on Tuesday, making the November election an all-GOP affair.

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The accusations hurled around by Rouda and Keirstead have involved everything from Twitter hacking to harassment to fabricated university degrees. Both campaigns, in recent days, have told me stories about the other sending either staffers or private investigators to harass their volunteers, and each has denied the others story.

Narayana, for her part, has been a central player on both sides of this battle, after she jumped from Roudas campaign to become Keirsteads political director last July. When Metcalfa volunteer for Roudasaw her holding the folder at the chili cook-off, she enlisted the help of another Rouda supporter to confront Narayana, who claimed that it was brought to her by someone else, and besides, there was no name on the folder. A confrontation with raised voices ensued, and eventually the folder was returned. (Narayana claims the folder was ripped from my hands, and she felt so harassed that she asked for an escort to her car.)

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The allegations in the folder were less damaging than they seemed. A University of California at Irvine investigator had cleared Keirstead of any wrongdoing in the complaint, and it came out later that the whistleblower who filed it was a disgruntled former associate who was trying to sue Keirstead for $5 million in what Keirstead calls a shakedown. The associate eventually conceded in a court filing that, while he believed the allegations to be true at the time, they had later been proven unfounded.

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But the allegations against Keirstead were enough to spook the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee, which added Rouda to its Red to Blue program in May. The Keirstead campaign claims Roudas team had been shopping the allegations around since last year. (Roudas campaign denies this.)

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The Keirstead campaign claims Metcalf had tried to dig up other dirt, too. She had sent Keirsteads ex-wife, Melanie, a Facebook message on May 11 asking her about their divorce and raising the UCI allegations. I hope there isnt a mass coverup going on because we deserve better for our District and our country, Metcalf wrote. Melanie passed the messages on to the Keirstead campaign, which argues Metcalf was harassing his ex-wife. (Metcalf rejected the idea it was harassment.)

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Both Rouda and Keirstead have plenty of money to pounce on every allegation. (Self-funders are a common thread among leading Democratic contenders for coveted Orange County congressional seats.) Rouda has lent his campaign more than $1.3 million, while Keirstead has lent $725,000 to his. Keirstead won the endorsement of the California Democratic Party at the state convention earlier this year, and the state party didnt appreciate the DCCCs elevation of Rouda.

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When CDP Delegates endorse a candidate, CDP Chairman Eric Bauman said in a statement, that candidate is the official candidate of the Party, and the DCCC should tread carefully in openly supporting a different candidate. He warned the DCCC that attacks against our candidates coming from outside national groups will likely strengthen the resolve of our endorsed candidates supporters. The DCCC has not spent against Keirstead, but a group backing Keirstead314 Action, a political action committee supporting scientists running for officehas gone on the air against Rouda.*

The DCCC, Keirstead argues, went against him for a couple of reasons. When the UCI allegations surfaced, the DCCC told Keirstead to get the women mentioned in the complaint on camera to testify that it was unfounded, he said. Keirstead tried, but all of them said no. Theyre in the midst of their careers and didnt want to get involved. Keirstead understood. (A DCCC official said the group did not insist on-camera denials.)

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Keirstead also thinks that Rouda was more eager to meet another of the DCCCs typical requests: cut big checks. He said hes willing to put more money into the race if necessary, but Rouda was willing to do it right away.

Rouda has tried to avoid becoming the nefarious establishment candidate, as a result of the DCCC endorsement, and he has touted his endorsements from progressive activist groups like Indivisible, the Sierra Club, and a wide swath of labor. His support of Medicare for All earned him the support of National Nurses United and the California Nurses Association. For someone who spent much of his life as a Republicanand a donor to Republicansuntil relatively recently, Rouda has been able to consolidate a broad swatch of the Democratic coalition with surprising ease.

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The panic over a Democratic lockout in Tuesdays election probably encouraged some of that consolidation. This race, and the fear that the ballot in November will feature two Republicans, is the Democratic Partys single biggest concern at the moment.

Keirstead, in an interview last week, suggested that Rouda must have an unskilled team, since his campaign is aiming so much of its fire at Rep. Dana Rohrabacher, when it really should be trying to bring down Scott Baugh, their main Republican competition for the second ticket out of Tuesdays top-two primary. When I ran that comment by Roudas campaign manager, Mike McLaughlin, he countered with a litany of accusations of his own, that ranges from petty to grand.

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At least Roudas supposedly unskilled team, he said, doesnt put typos in its mailers. He also accused Keirsteads team of hacking the Rouda campaigns Twitter accountan allegation that also comes back to Narayana. When she switched sides last summer, she said, the Rouda campaign left her as an administrator on the Rouda account; when she recognized, she said, she got in touch with the Rouda campaign. Roudas team counters that they only noticed the problem when a pro-Keirstead message briefly appeared on their feed before being quickly deleted. Its a sign of poor campaign management, Narayana argued, that they would forget to switch off their departing employees administrative functions.

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Both Rouda and Keirstead, in my interviews with them, expressed dissatisfaction with the negativity in the race. Keirstead said this after half-an-hour of nearly uninterrupted accusations and counteraccusations against Rouda. Rouda, meanwhile, told me that he thought Democrats have spent too much time since 2016 focused on personalities rather than issues, when what politics is really about is serving the greater good.

When the interview with Rouda wrapped up, he asked me who else Id interviewed. I told him Keirstead was coming later in the week.

Dont believe everything he tells you, a staffer chimed in.

That wasnt a problem in either case.
On Tuesday, California voters will finally go to the polls to decide a gubernatorial primary in which 27 candidates are battling to replace retiring Gov. Jerry Brown. The primary is a top two primary, meaning that the top two vote-getters, regardless of party, will advance to the general election. Currently, two of the three top-polling candidatesthe two leading Democrats in the raceare men who have admitted to extramarital affairs while in office.

As the rest of the country cheers what looks like a wave of women running for, and winning, political office, Californias very male gubernatorial field stands out, particularly for its front-runners past behavior. The leading candidate, lieutenant governor and former San Francisco mayor Gavin Newsom, had an affair with his appointments secretary while separating from his wife in 2005. Ruby Rippey Gibney, the secretary, was married to Newsoms campaign manager at the time. Newsom moved on to then-19-year-old model and restaurant hostess Brittanie Mountz; she was a registered Republican and he was more than twice her age. Newsom recently told the New York Times that Dating is not a term I would use to describe his relationship with Mountz, but friendship, yes. He was re-elected in a landslide in 2007.

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Antonio Villaraigosa, the former mayor of Los Angeles, is currently running in third, behind Newsom and Republican businessman John Cox. In 2007, during his tenure as mayor, Villaraigosa had an affair with TV news anchor Mirthala Salinas and his wife filed for divorce. A New Yorker profile published around the same time reported that hed also cheated on her with the wife of a friend while Villaraigosas wife was fighting cancer.

At the time of Newsoms affair and relationship with Mountz, political analysts wondered whether it would hamper his ambitions within the Democratic Party. So far, it hasnt. Rippey Gibney said recently she wouldnt lump her affair with Newsom in with kinds of behaviors the #MeToo movement is calling into question: Yes, I was a subordinate but I was also a free-thinking, 33-year-old, adult married woman & mother, she wrote on Facebook in February. Also happened to have an unfortunate inclination toward drinking-to-excess and self-destruction.

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But some of Newsoms opponents have wielded his indiscretions against him. In March, Amanda Renteria, called for Newsom to resign from his post as lieutenant governor in light of both relationships. Renteria insisted that even a consensual sexual relationship between a mayor and his employee isnt completely benign. Workplace impacts of this type of behavior has real implications on the lives of everyone in the office, she tweeted. The more power you have, the more responsibility you have to ensure a positive culture where everyone is empowered.

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Villaraigosa, who has a much better chance than Renteria of advancing in Tuesdays primary, has chosen shade over outright attack in his mentions of Newsoms relationship history. When asked if he thought his own affair hurt his chances in the gubernatorial race, Villaraigosa told the New York Times that he doesnt think people see the connection between his romantic exploits and his political workbecause in my case, it wasnt somebody working for me and it wasnt a 19-year-old. But Villaraigosas affair still had a detrimental impact on his partners work, in large part because of his stature. He stayed in office, while Salinas career at Telemundo came to a premature end.

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Villaraigosas career may meet its end on Tuesday, but Newsom appears almost certain to advance. Progressives in San Francisco forgave him his moral transgressions in 2009 when they re-elected him as mayor, and hes been a popular figure ever since. Historically, the country has been forgiving of politicians who cheat on their spouses with underlings, inappropriately young women, or bothas Bill Clinton reminded us on Monday, two-thirds of Americans wanted him to stay in office at the time of his impeachment trial. Skeptics of the #MeToo movement have worried that the movement could ruin a mans career over an office dalliance. A Newsom win would suggest that California voters views on the issue havent changed much at all.
NEWPORT BEACH, CaliforniaThe House race in Californias 48th Congressional District was supposed to be like so many others this year: An upscale, suburban, traditionally Republican suburb that had voted for Hillary Clinton in 2016, where Democrats would target a longtime and suddenly vulnerable incumbent. After 30 years in the House, Rep. Dana Rohrabacher saw his coastal Orange County district begin to shift left, and his personal eccentricitiesincluding an abiding sympathy for Russiahadnt helped his standing.

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But that dynamic changed dramatically on March 9, right around 2 p.m., when Scott Baugh, a former state representative and Orange County GOP chair, submitted his paperwork to challenge his former friend and mentor Rohrabacher. The emergence of a second credible Republican with considerable name recognition and plenty of campaign experience provoked a fierce backlash from Rohrabacher and a five-alarm panic from Democrats, who are suddenly worried they may not have a candidate on the ballot in November.

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On Tuesday, voters in the 48th will choose from more than a dozen candidates of all affiliations, and only the top two will advance to the general election. Rohrabacher is widely expected to secure one of those spots, and Baugh is a serious threat to win the other, which would leave Democrats, whose two main candidates have been shredding each other, locked out of the general election. Its a dynamic playing out in a handful of California districts, but the situation in the 48th is the most dire.

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Baugh is at the center of it all. Rohrabacher and Democrats are both spending large sums to damage his standing, while Baugh has sought to winnow the Republican field and consolidate the anti-Rohrabacher vote on the right.

Voters who Google Scott Baugh are greeted with ads from Democrat-aligned PACs Shady Scott Baugh and Cheating Scott Baugh, which resurface the felony charges stemming from his 1990s state assembly campaignand another ad from Rohrabachers campaignBought Baugh, which accuses Lobbyist Scott Baugh of supporting amnesty for illegals. (Only the fourth result, from a supportive PAC, offers any kind words about the man.)

Baugh seemed to be taking it all in stride, if not outright enjoying the sight of so many others spinning their wheels, when I interviewed him on Saturday. We were sitting on a bench outside his Newport Beach office, just across the street from John Wayne Airport, and had to pause our conversation every few minutes when a plane took off. Baugh took advantage of the interruptions to attack Rohrabacher, who had recently lost an amendment vote on a bill to cut aircraft noise levels in the district.

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Its Danas history. Hes passed three bills in 30 years, the last one was 14 years ago, and hes a lone wolf, he said. (It is true that only three of Rohrabachers bills have been signed into law.) He echoed Democrats argument that Rohrabacher has focused too much on his foreign tripsincluding a 2014 trip to Moscowat the expense of the district. He doesnt spend time building coalitions or solving problems for the district or the nation.

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The two former allies had a falling out several years ago. In January 2016, according to Baugh, Rohrabacher told him that he wouldnt run and that Baugh should start raising money to replace him. (Rohrabacher denies the conversation was quite so definitive.) But when Baugh later filed a fundraising report showing he had collected nearly half a million dollars, Rohrabacher issued a press release calling on him to return the money and said he would be running in 2016, 2018, and beyond. So Baugh pulled the trigger this cycle.

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Ambition beat out gratitude in terms of Scott Baughs decision-making, Rohrabacher told Talking Points Memo last week.

Baughs entry into the racejust hours before the filing deadlinecaught Democrats flat-footed. Three Democratic candidates, who had filed on the belief that the only viable Republican in the race would be Rohrabacher, soon withdrew.

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I submitted my paperwork on Wednesday, Rachel Payne, a Laguna Beach tech entrepreneur who had filed as a Democratic candidate, told me. Scott Baugh entered the race on Friday. None of us knew that he was entering the race; that was a surprise. And he entered at the very last minute.

That changed the dynamic completely, she continued. That is why so many of us finally realized that we had to make that hard call. Unfortunately for Democrats, the ballot still lists the names of Payne and the two others who dropped out.

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Meanwhile, Baugh tried to persuade the rest of the Republican competition to drop out and to consolidate their support around him.

In April, Stelian Onufrei, a Republican businessman who had lent his campaign nearly $300,000, withdrew his candidacy and endorsed Baugh during a press conference in Baughs office. Also in attendance were a couple of other Republican candidates: Paul Martin, a proudly anti-Trump candidate, and Shastina Sandman, a pro-Trump candidate who describes herself as a MAGApreneur. Baugh also had lunch with another Republican candidate, John Gabbard, that day. Baugh encouraged them all to follow Onufreis example.

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Martin and Gabbard recall Baugh clearly intimating that hed like them to drop out and support him, but they dont remember him being pushy about it. I wouldve thought he would hit me up a little bit harder, Martin told me. Both he and Gabbard stayed in.

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But the effort to force out Sandman, a first-time candidate who claimed to have a large social media presence, was murkier.

Though the two were friendly early on, Sandman soured on Baugh when he began pressuring her to drop out and join his campaign, as she told me in an interview. She claims she didnt know what that meantwas he offering her a job on the campaign, or just asking her to drop out and swing his support to him? She wasnt familiar with the intricacies of campaign law, so when she asked about a job, Baughs staffers stopped her and told her that such discussions would have to be a separate conversation.

I told her we couldnt have that conversation until she was out of the race, Baugh told me, and if we could findif there was value, we would evaluate it.

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The talk about her value rubbed Sandman the wrong way, and she put together a revenge plot. She texted Baugh in late April telling him what he wanted to hear: that she would drop out and endorse his campaign. She asked him to organize a press conference for the next day and to invite as much media as he could get. But her real plan, she told me, was to rail to the assembled media about what a POS Baugh was. The plan never came to pass, as the press conference was canceled due to a lack of interest. The two ceased communication afterward.

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Baugh seemed shocked when I told him about Sandmans press conference plan and now feels their entire interaction was a fraudulent set-up.

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I didnt assume she was evil, Baugh said, as more planes flew by. I assumed she was naive.

She came to me, and she wanted to know if she could get paid, and I said, Thats illegal. I told her several times it was illegal. That you cannot offer anything of value to a candidate to drop out of the race.

Baugh claims she asked for a six-figure salary, and he told her thats silly, nobody makes more than $5,000 [per month], and its illegal to offer anybody money to drop out of a race. Sandman confirmed that she told him she wouldnt work for him for less than six figures. Baugh flatly denies that he ever made an offer and that she was just looking for a payday. Sandman, meanwhile, calls him a snake in the grass. She didnt drop out, either.

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Democrats, in their desperation, have tried to capitalize on the presence of another Republican candidate who stayed in the race. The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee and state groups are now spending in support of John Gabbard in an effort to dilute the districts anti-Rohrabacher Republican vote. Democrats have now spent significantly more on Gabbards campaign than he has.

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I think the funniest thing ever would be if I came in one of the top two positions, Gabbard told me.

The support for Gabbard is Democrats most mind-bending strategic expenditure. But the bulk of their moneyseveral million dollars worth in recent weekshas been against Baugh. Though Democratic candidate Harley Roudas campaign released an internal poll on Saturday showing Baugh in fourth (and Rouda conveniently in second), the DCCC wasnt so sure about those numbers and maintained that the 48th District is still the partys greatest threat of being locked out. When I asked Baugh what his polling showed, he declined to say, since it could encourage his competitors to shift their strategies.

If the smear campaign against me were working, Baugh said, they wouldnt still be spending money.
A U.S. Senator from Oregon was turned away from a detention center for migrant children, including those separated from their parents at the U.S. border under a new immigration policy.

In a Facebook Live video on Sunday, Sen. Jeff Merkley walks up to a former Walmart in Brownsville, Texas, that has become a center to hold children detained at the border. In the video, he explains that his staff had sought permission to enter the facility, but that permission was declined by Homeland Security.

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At the entrance to the facility, where the windows and doors are blacked out, he runs into a woman entering the facility who asks him to leave. He then requests to speak to a supervisor and waits outside for roughly 10 minutes. At that point, the police arrive, and soon after, the supervisor steps out of the facility, only to tell Merkley that he doesnt have permission to talk about the center. Eventually, Merkley is asked to leave.

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When an organization has something to hide, not allowing members of congress to see it, in a democracy, is completely unacceptable, Merkley said in an earlier Facebook Live video from the day. Whats going on is an effort to prevent the press from being able to report to the American people what is happening. And thats simply unacceptable.

Merkley made the visit because, he said in the videos, he was concerned about the children separated from their families under a new zero-tolerance policy, officially announced on May 7, in which all migrant adults arriving at the border illegally are criminally prosecuted and separated from their children in order to be sent off to jails. Children separated from their parents are placed in the custody the Office of Refugee Resettlement, a unit of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Shelters meant to house them and migrant children who arrive at the border alone are nearing capacity. HHS is considering housing children on military bases to cope with the surging number of migrant children under their care.

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Its not known how many children have been separated under this new policy, but the Washington Post reported that in May, there were 10,773 children in custody, an increase of almost 2,000 from the previous month, before the policy was implemented.

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So far, as far as we know, no member of Congress has actually been allowed to see whats going on with this program, Merkley said in the Facebook Live video after being turned away from the facility.

I was barred entry. Asked repeatedly to speak to a supervisorhe finally came out and said he cant tell us anything. Police were called on us.



Children should never be ripped from their families & held in secretive detention centers. RT if you agree this is WRONG. pic.twitter.com/GVCuXNjR8d  Senator Jeff Merkley (@SenJeffMerkley) June 4, 2018

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After seeing the press being turned away from another border facility earlier in the day, Merkley complained that immigration officials were relying too much on privacy concerns as an excuse to avoid scrutiny. We have to push back in terms of saying that its unacceptable, publicizing that its unacceptable, allow[ing] policymakers, and allow[ing] the press to get inside and see whats going on.

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Merkley, a Democrat, entirely opposes the policy, which has been criticized as inhumane. [The migrants] have come from horrific circumstances, and then to be treated horrifically when theyre here, when theyre here in the United States, as a way to say dont come and seek asylum, is just simply wrong, he said in the video. This isnt zero tolerance; this is zero humanity.

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Like a good wedding cake, the Supreme Courts 72 decision on Monday in Masterpiece Cakeshop v. Colorado Civil Rights Commission has a little something for everyone. Gay people, who were justifiably terrified that the case could undermine their right to equal service, get a reaffirmation of their dignity and worth. Religious-liberty advocates get a continued expansion of the Free Exercise Clause. Anti-gay activists get a victorya midsize and possibly temporary but still very real win, in a case that few initially expected to even reach the Supreme Court.

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Who loses? Everybody who hoped this decision would definitively settle the ostensible clash between LGBTQ rights and religious freedom. In the end, Masterpiece Cakeshop barely resolves anything and doesnt even touch the free-speech claim at the center of the case. Instead, it punts that question, leaving lower courts (and American society) to continue fighting about how, exactly, Justice Anthony Kennedy should feel about it. A great wedding cake might leave you wanting more, but Masterpiece Cakeshop just leaves you craving something you can actually sink your teeth into.

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The story of Jack Phillips, Colorados most famous baker, has been widely told by the publicity team at Alliance Defending Freedom, or ADF, the anti-LGBTQ rights law firm that represents him. In 2012, Charlie Craig and Dave Mullins asked Phillips to bake them a wedding cake. He refused, explaining that he would not make wedding cakes for same-sex couples. But Colorado law prohibits discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation in public accommodations, so Craig and Mullins filed a complaint with the Colorado Civil Rights Commission. The commission referred the case to a state administrative law judge, who found that Phillips had, indeed, violated Colorados civil rights law. Then the commission affirmed the judges decision, ordering him to stop turning away gay couples and to train his staff to comply with the law.

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ADF urged Phillips to fight the order, but initially he had little luck. The Colorado Court of Appeals affirmed the commissions decision, and the Colorado Supreme Court declined to hear his appeal. Last June, however, the U.S. Supreme Court took the case. Then, in September, Donald Trumps Department of Justice weighed in on the side of the baker, arguing that Colorados actions violated his right to free expression. This little case was shaping up to become a vehicle that would finally resolve a cardinal question of constitutional law: whether or not the First Amendments Free Speech Clause could be used to undermine decades of nondiscrimination law and subject gay people to the constant threat of humiliation in the public marketplace.

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But SCOTUS didnt directly answer that question on Monday. Rather, it chose to handle this case solely on free-exercise grounds. The Supreme Court has held that the government violates the First Amendments Free Exercise Clause when it targets a particular faith for disfavored treatment. In an opinion by Justice Anthony Kennedy, the court found here that the Colorado Civil Rights Commission had done precisely that in its dealings with Jack Phillips. To prove his point, Kennedy collects comments made by commissioners during the proceedings. He found one comment especially troubling:

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Freedom of religion and religion has been used to justify all kinds of discrimination throughout history, whether it be slavery, whether it be the holocaust, whether it beI mean, wewe can list hundreds of situations where freedom of religion has been used to justify discrimination. And to me it is one of the most despicable pieces of rhetoric that people can use toto use their religion to hurt others.

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For Kennedy, and the justices who joined his opinion, this statement clinches the free-exercise infringement. To describe a mans faith as one of the most despicable pieces of rhetoric that people can use,  he wrote, is to disparage his religion in at least two distinct ways: by describing it as despicable, and also by characterizing it as merely rhetoricalsomething insubstantial and even insincere. He continued:

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The commissioner even went so far as to compare Phillips invocation of his sincerely held religious beliefs to defenses of slavery and the Holocaust. This sentiment is inappropriate for a Commission charged with the solemn responsibility of fair and neutral enforcement of Colorados antidiscrimination lawa law that protects discrimination on the basis of religion as well as sexual orientation. The record shows no objection to these comments from other commissioners. And the later state-court ruling reviewing the Commissions decision did not mention those comments, much less express concern with their content. Nor were the comments by the commissioners disavowed in the briefs filed in this Court. For these reasons, the Court cannot avoid the conclusion that these statements cast doubt on the fairness and impartiality of the Commissions adjudication of Phillips case.

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Kennedy was also perturbed by the fact that the Colorado Civil Rights Commission allowed bakers to refuse to bake cakes with anti-gay images and text. This disparate consideration, he wrote, further illustrates the commissions hostility to religion.

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As Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg notes in her dissentjoined only by Justice Sonia Sotomayorthis comparison is quite odd, since Charlie Craig and Dave Mullins did not request any text on their cake. Ginsburg thoroughly debunks this strange line of reasoning, highlighting the fact that Phillips turned away Craig and Mullins because of their identity, not any particular message. Justices Elena Kagan and Stephen Breyer make a similar point in their concurrence. On the other end of the ideological spectrum, Justices Clarence Thomas and Neil Gorsuch signaled their belief that Phillips probably does have a free-speech right to reject gay customers. This sharp split will have to simmer until the court takes a similar case.

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But the court seems likely to stay away from this issue for a while. To be sure, Kennedys opinion for the court is unfortunate in many ways. He stretches free-exercise law, for instance, to find a violation here in a way that he almost certainly will not in the travel-ban caseindicating what appears to be a special solicitude for anti-gay Christians.

But Kennedys opinion is also littered with dicta that shows states how they can enforce LGBTQ nondiscrimination law without crashing into constitutional problems. He approvingly describes states authority to protect the rights and dignity of gay persons who are, or wish to be, married but who face discrimination when they seek goods or services. He clarifies that gay persons and gay couples cannot be treated as social outcasts or as inferior in dignity and worth. And he reaffirms the basic principle that religious objections do not allow business owners and other actors in the economy and in society to deny protected persons equal access to goods and services under a neutral and generally applicable public accommodations law.

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These asides suggest that Kennedyunlike Thomas and Gorsuchwould not promulgate a broad free-speech rule that allows businesses to discriminate against gay couples with impunity. He has, in effect, given states a road map, explaining how they can enforce LGBTQ civil rights laws without triggering free-exercise concerns. (Pro tip, civil rights commissioners: do not publicly opine on a homophobes homophobia.)

Still, none of Kennedys progay tolerance signaling will prevent ADF and its allies from touting Masterpiece Cakeshop as a rout for anti-gay religious liberty. And the opinion arguably leaves enough wiggle room for one of Trumps more rabid judicial appointees to wreak havoc on nondiscrimination law. But it is still, at heart, a compromise, a Kennedy special that leaves everyone wanting more. Masterpiece Cakeshop, in other words, is largely filler. And it manages to give both sides a boost as they hunker down for the next round of cake wars.
Special counsel Robert Mueller has told the president hes not a criminal target in the Russia investigation, but that doesnt mean Trump could never be indicted or imprisoned. Meanwhile, the White House and its allies continue to agitate for a criminal investigation of former first lady Hillary Clinton, in an apparent effort to lock her up. If somehow Trump or Clinton did get sent up the river, would the Secret Service still protect them?

Yes. Barring an act of Congress, the responsibility of the Secret Service to protect a former president or first lady would not disappear because that person had been convicted of a crime. This has never happened, though, and any potential details of such an arrangement are mysterious even to Secret Service veterans and other experts on the agency. A spokesman for the Secret Service refused even to address the issue. Its a road we would have to go down if it ever happened, he told the Explainer. Its not something were going to think about unless it happens.

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(The most recent time this came up, when Bill Clinton was facing criminal prosecution for perjury and obstruction of justice, the Explainer ignominiously punted on the question.)

A prison setting might be safe in some regards. An incarcerated former president or first lady wouldnt have to worry too much about being kidnapped, for example, or blackmailed for information. But he or she would be at a heightened risk of violence. (Rapes and other assaults occur 15 to 30 times more often among prisoners than in the general population.) Its possible the Secret Service would deploy a protective detail at the facility, with agents stationed in the cellblock, the prison yard, or otherwise in the vicinity of the VIP inmate.

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In this scenario, agents wouldnt have to be hanging out inside the former president or first ladys celljust close enough to keep an eye out. The situation might be analogousloosely analogousto how the Secret Service protects the presidents children while theyre in school.

While Calvin Coolidges son, John, went to Amherst College in 1926, a Secret Service agent lived in the same house as him and remained by his side throughout the dayexcept when John was in class or hanging out with his buddies during recreation periods. Agents guarding Julie Nixon when she was enrolled at Smith College maintained a post outside her dorm room overnight and then joined up with her when she went out. They also took their meals in the college mess hall. Secret service agents deployed at Stanford University on behalf of Chelsea Clinton dressed like students in order to fit in. (Would Secret Service agents guarding an incarcerated former president dress in prison blues? No one knows.)

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Another option for the Secret Service would be to hand off its protective responsibilities to the Bureau of Prisons or appropriate state-level Department of Corrections. When Hillary Clinton joined President Barack Obamas Cabinet in 2009, the Secret Service turned over at least some of the work of protecting her to the State Departments Bureau of Diplomatic Security. If a former president or first lady were locked up, the Secret Service might inspect the prison and its procedures to ensure everything was up to snuff, and then agree to let the warden handle things from there. Even then, the agency might choose to keep a modest presence in the prison, with an agent stationed in an administrative office, for example. It might also have a special plan for extracting the former president or first lady in case of prison riots.

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Its possible that Congress would pass a law that stripped the incarcerated former president or first lady of their protection. (Lawmakers have often tweaked the rules on who gets a Secret Service detail, and for how long. At the moment, former presidents get the perk for life, while their spouses lose it if they remarry.) A former president or first lady could also make the choice to forgo Secret Service protection. Pat Nixon asked for hers to be dropped in 1984; her husband followed suit in 1985.

Got a question about the news? Ask the Explainer.

Explainer thanks Ronald Kessler, author of In the Presidents Secret Service, and Sonny Smith of Texas A&M University.
This article is part of Update or Die, a series from Future Tense about how businesses and other organizations keep up with technological changeand the cost of falling behind.

When most organizations are deciding whether to upgrade their computers to the latest version of Microsoft Windows, they dont have to worry about life-and-death consequences. One exception to that rule is the U.S. Department of Defense: the nations largest employer and a globe-spanning organization that must consider both cybersecurity risks and potentially fatal consequences related to computer failures when making the choice to abandon legacy operating systems such as Windows XP.

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The militarys long-standing relationship with Windows XP is not unusual. Many PC users and companies clung to Windows XP long after its 2001 debut and refused to upgrade to follow-up Windows versions. In 2014, when Microsoft officially ended support for the aging operating system, Windows XP still accounted for 30 percent of operating systems worldwide. At the time, officials estimated that 3 percent of the Pentagons several million computers were still running Windows XP. That same year, a Navy official issued a directive titled Windows XP Eradication Efforts. But the mission-critical functions of some of those computers can defy straightforward upgradeswhich is why the Pentagon has often found it easier to occasionally give Microsoft multimillion-dollar contract for supporting specialized systems running on Windows XP, Windows 2003, and other legacy Microsoft products.

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The downsides of legacy computing systems start to pile up as time goes on. Any legacy system will lag more behind the latest state-of-the-art computing to the point where you start to feel like its being held together with chewing gum and duct tape, says Cynthia Dion-Schwarz, a senior scientist at the RAND Corp. and former director of information systems and cybersecurity research at the U.S. Department of Defense. Military personnel may also find it more difficult to use older systems because of outdated or clunky interfaces.

But the biggest risk for the U.S. military or any organization in relying on legacy systems is in cybersecurity. The latest and most popular versions of Windows benefit from ordinary customers helping to discover security vulnerabilities or bugs through normal computer use, which reduces the risk of undiscovered system flaws remaining undiscovered and open to exploitation by malicious hackers. Thats no small consideration given how hackers would likely be looking to exploit flaws in Windows XP or other legacy systems in use by the U.S. military.

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Even if youre paying Microsoft to patch it, what you dont have is the benefit of millions or billions of users discovering in real-time flaws and then Microsoft jumping in to patch that, Dion-Schwarz says.

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In early 2016, the Pentagon committed itself to the unprecedented move of upgrading computers across the entire organization to run on Microsoft Windows 10. The announcement came eight months after a U.S. Navy contract asking for Microsoft support on Windows XP and other legacy Microsoft products attracted a slew of news headlines such as U.S. Navy Paid Millions to Stay on Windows XP. But even as the U.S. Department of Defense looks to complete the Windows 10 upgrade by the end of this year, its still using some legacy Windows productsand not because of nostalgia for Bliss, XPs iconic desktop image.

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The challenges of upgrading military office computers that handle administrative tasks arent that different from those facing any other large enterprise, says Sasha Romanosky, a policy researcher at the RAND Corp. and former cyberpolicy adviser at the Office of the Secretary of Defense for Policy in the U.S. Department of Defense. The U.S. Army alone upgraded 950,000 office IT computers to Windows 10 and became the first major military branch to complete the Windows 10 upgrade push in January 2018. The U.S. Air Force targeted its upgrade completion for March 2018, whereas the Navy has said that it hopes to complete its Windows 10 push by this summer.

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But thats only part of the story. Youre dealing with a lot of [machines] that arent contained in a nice office, says Romanosky. Theyre floating all over the seas and in the air and all around the world. Unlike your average megacorporation, the Pentagon has to secure and update computer systems that support military operations and sometimes even directly control the navigation or weapons systems for tanks, warplanes, and warships.

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Those specialized computerswhat Dion-Schwartz likes to call Windows boxes are crucial for military operations on land, sea, and air. Some of the Windows boxes may help issue orders or communicate information about whats happening during both active battlefield firefights and ordinary operations, such as a Navy warship on patrol. Others may directly integrate with weapons systems.

Such Windows boxes are usually hosting specialized software packages and sometimes integrated with middleware clients. What might normally be a simple upgrade turns into a far more complex challenge of making sure that all the related software and computer systems can also run smoothly with new Windows versions. The U.S. military may also need to pay additional money for upgrades and testing regarding such software and middlewarea necessary step to ensure nothing goes haywire at the wrong time.

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Many of the systems directly affect the life, safety, and health of our soldiers and civilians, says Thomas Sasala, director of the U.S. Army Architecture Integration Center and chief data officer. We cannot risk deploying a mission critical solution to the field and have it fail during a critical mission.

So its no surprise that the Pentagons current Windows 10 upgrade plans seem focused on office computers rather than mission-critical systems. The Army has just begun to upgrade specialized systems related to industrial control systems, medical devices, and weapon systems, and has not yet scheduled any completion dates, Sasala says. The U.S. Navy and U.S. Air Force did not get back to Slate with an official response before publication.

Getting rid of XP once and for all will probably require attempts to re-engineer some military hardware and software so theyre not as dependent upon specific operating systems, which could make future upgrades easier, according to Dion-Schwarz. But she does not envision the Pentagon getting away from the dilemmas of the upgrade cycle anytime soon.

I think they are going to have to continue to deal with this, Dion-Schwarz says. You and I will have a conversation again in 10 years about DODs strategy to upgrade to Windows 12 or 15.
Expat dies following street attack in Bratislava. Attacker charged with manslaughter

Henry John Serafica Acorda from the Philippines succumbed to his injuries following a street assault. Anti-racsist protest gatherings are planned for Wednesday.

On the night of May 26, Henry John Serafica Acorda was assaulted after he tried to intervene when he saw a man harassing women in the street in the centre of Bratislava. Five days later, the Philippine-born expat, who lived and worked in Bratislava, succumbed to the injuries he sustained from his attacker, 28-year-old Juraj H. from Dunajska Streda.

The police have neither confirmed nor denied the attack was racially motivated.

Attacker released then detained again

Acorda was 36 years old and had lived in Bratislava, working for the IBM international service centre based in the Slovak capital, for several years. On the night of May 26, he was assaulted by one of two men that he tried to stop from harassing two women in the street. According to media reports, the man, Juraj H., pushed Acorda who then fell onto the pavement becoming unconscious, after which the attacker continued to kick at him, including in the area of his head. Police officers patrolling nearby rushed to the scene of the incident and found Acorda lying on the pavement. He was taken to one of Bratislava's hospital in critical condition. He died in the hospital on May 31.

The police at first detained the attacker but the district prosecutor dealing with the case did not order his detention and Juraj H. was released on May 30.

"The prosecutor studied the case file and did not find any facts regarding the suspect that would raise concerns that he would continue in similar criminal activities," the spokesperson of the Bratislava Regional Prosecutor's Office, Oliver Janicek, told the Sme daily.

After the media reported Acorda's death, the prosecutor requalified the crime and the charge was upgraded from assault with bodily harm to the more serious crime of manslaughter and on June 1 took the attacker back to detention. On June 3, the prosecutor requested that the attacker to be taken into custody out of concern that he might continue his criminal activities or try to escape punishment. The punishment for manslaughter is 7-12 years under the Slovak Penal Code.

The General Prosecutor's Office said that they would oversee the case.

Expats are outraged, protest gatherings planned

Acorda's family flew to Slovakia after he died. His close friend Jack Tranter, also an expat based in Bratislava, organised a fundraising event through a crowdfunding website and had managed to collect nearly GBP9,000 by the night of June 4.

Expats living in Slovakia have expressed their outrage over the assault. Several black and Asian people have shared their stories through expat groups on Facebook, talking about how they too had experienced assaults in the streets of Bratislava. They believe these to be racist attacks.

A peaceful gathering of a few dozens of people took place in Bratislava on the evening of Friday, June 1, at the place where Acorda was attacked. People lit candles and silently commemorated the victim of the attack.

Two bigger gatherings are planned to take place on Wednesday, June 6 in memory of Acorda, calling for justice to be delivered for him. In Bratislava, the gathering is organised at 6 pm by four anti-fascist communities on Facebook.

"The information that we have about Juraj H. makes it clear that he is inclined to support the far right," they state. "Let's make sure this brutal murder does not go without consequences for him."

A gathering is also planned on the same day in Banska Bystrica at 5 pm, organised by the Not In Our Town initiative.

"Hate and racial hatred that many spread publicly also bears this kind of fruits," the organisers wrote. "Let us say not in our town, not in our country."

Pellegrini: Justice immediately

Several coalition and opposition politicians have condemned the attack.

PM Peter Pellegrini said in his reaction for the Dennik N daily that he could not tolerate murderers to walk Slovak streets freely. He considers it important that the attacker is condemned and put into prison soon.

"I hope we will not witness a situation where there will be no effective ruling one year from now," Pellegrini stated, adding that justice must be delivered immediately.

4. Jun 2018 at 9:25 | Compiled by Spectator staff
Lack of political courage cost us money last week

Three years after the worst of the Greek crisis, Europe has done little to address the roots of eurozone problems.

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You got a little bit poorer in the past few days. Your salary decreased too.

Amid panic about the coming populist government in Italy, the value of the euro fell and there is good reason to worry. Three years after the worst of the Greek crisis, Europe has done little to address the roots of eurozone problems. Frances Emmanuel Macron is pushing for big changes, including a European Monetary Fund, an EU finance minister and more shared risk. While opposed by Germany, such changes would almost certainly be a good thing for a small country like Slovakia.

When it comes to the euro currency, granting more power to Brussels, or the European Central Bank in Frankfurt, does not come at the expense of Slovak national sovereignty. On this issue the country doesnt have much control anyway. It does, however, take power away from Germany, something you should want.

4. Jun 2018 at 9:44 | Benjamin Cunningham
Who wants to run for Bratislava mayor?

Ex-RTVS director Vaclav Mika, Vajnory borough Mayor Jan Mrva and KDH-nominee Caroline Liskova have recently announced their intention to run in the upcoming municipal elections.

Vaclav Mika, former head of the public-service broadcaster RTVS, has announced his plan to run for the position of Mayor of Bratislava. He intends to finance the campaign out of his own pocket and he has also opened a transparent account, as reported by the Sme daily. He allegedly wants to reject sponsors who had or have deals with the city or city companies.

Mika, who announced his candidacy during the weekend of June 2, has also declared that he will run as an independent candidate without political support. The Ex-CEO of RTVS said that he has started collecting signatures to support his bid. He is convinced that the right time has come for him to pay his respects to the people of Bratislava for all the opportunities he has had in the city.

I know that I want to work directly for the people along with the best professionals who feel the same way, Mika told the press conference June 3, as cited by the TASR newswire. I want to address the problems of the people of Bratislava.

Vajnory Mayor also throws his hat into the ring

Another potential mayor for the capital is the mayor of the Bratislava borough of Vajnory, Jan Mrva, who failed in the race for Bratislava Region's governor last year.

The opposition Ordinary People and Independent Personalities (OLaNO), Freedom and Solidarity (SaS) and Sme Rodina (We Are Family) parties will endorse the candidacy of Mrva for the post of Bratislava mayor in this years municipal elections, representatives of the parties announced at a press conference on June 1.

The opposition sought a good and honest candidate who has experience with local politics and would be a good choice for the modern cosmopolitan Bratislava, OLaNO leader Igor Matovic claimed.

We were seeking a candidate not linked with any scandals, he explained, as cited by TASR. We also wanted someone completely detached from financial groups. So, we chose Jan Mrva.

Mrva wants Bratislava to be a safe city

SaS chair, Richard Sulik, conceded that Mrva is not much of a liberal, although the most important aspect at the municipal level is to have a well-governed city and no instances of corruption or land racketeering. Sme Rodina leader Boris Kollar stated that the party chose to endorse a candidate who is decent, transparent, untarnished by corruption and without the backing of financial groups.

Thats why we opted to support Mr. Mrva  because he certainly is such a candidate, Kollar added.

The opposition candidate declared that he has drafted measures for Bratislava which he finds bedevilled most by inefficient transport.

To tackle this, wed like to build park and ride car-parks on the outskirts of the city, build connection points for integrated transport and extend the tramlines, Mrva noted. Furthermore, wed like to restore a project aimed at building a short shallow metro between the Old Bridge and Filialka railway station, beneath Karadzicova Street and Dostojevskeho Rad."

Mrva wants Bratislava to be a safe, secure, clean, well-governed, cultural, modern city that shows solidarity with the disadvantaged, he added.

A lady to run for capitals mayor

The non-parliamentary Christian-Democratic Movement (KDH) has decided to give their support to economist Caroline Liskova for this post.

Unfortunately, the SaS and OLaNO have decided on an agreement with Sme Rodina, not with us, the KDH wrote in a statement. To prefer an agreement with Sme Rodina, a party that didnt acquire a single councillor in the recent regional elections in Slovakia, to an agreement with the KDH, basically cant be justified rationally but we expected that someone would try to do so.

Political and partisan interests have won over the needs of Slovakia and Bratislava, the party added.

Carolines candidacy will put the spotlight on us, the KDH announced. It will show who and what we really are. It will perhaps reveal the hardness and falseness of the so-called Bratislava cafe society. The hardness and ruthlessness of some political parties have already been revealed, unfortunately.

Caroline Liskova is to present her candidacy on June 4.

Other potential contenders

Another official candidate is architect, activist and musician (of the Para band) Matus Vallo who has already kicked off his campaign on social networks, Sme wrote.

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Read also: Manual for making Bratislava a better city Read more

The high number of candidates could play into the hands of the incumbent Ivo Nesrovnal whom the public knows best, TASR wrote, adding that according to the grapevine, he will run for re-election. However, he has not yet commented officially on his possible run.

4. Jun 2018 at 13:29 | Compiled by Spectator staff
Measles outbreak spreading in Slovakia

Due to the further spread of measles, Slovak hygiene officials order quarantine.

The epidemics of measles, carried here by Slovaks who arrived from Great Britain, has been spreading in the eastern-Slovak district of Michalovce. Public health care officials have taken measures to stop the epidemic, the Pravda daily wrote on June 2.

In the village of Drahnov, the incidence has increased to 20 suspected cases, of which six have been already confirmed. None of the twenty patients has experienced any complications.

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Read also: Measles occurred in eastern Slovakia Read more

Only two cases outside Drahnov have been reported: two medical staff were infected after they came in contact with patients, the Sme daily wrote on the same day.

The most effective way of prevention is vaccination, hygiene experts say, as quoted by Pravda. After the recent epidemic, 102 people who had previously thought vaccination was not necessary were vaccinated.

4. Jun 2018 at 13:34 | Compiled by Spectator staff
Slovakia will preside over the OECD ministerial council meeting next year

The country will lead a group of the 37 strongest and most developed nations in the world.

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Slovakia will preside over the OECD Ministerial Council Meeting next year. Representatives of the organisations member countries made the decision at the ministerial meeting in Paris. Slovakia will lead a group of the 37 strongest and most developed countries in the world. It will also be the presiding country of the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE).

It is a great thing and prestigious for our country," said Finance Minister Peter Kazimir, as cited by the TASR newswire. "It reflects the international reputation of Slovakia and the long-term work of a large team of people working either directly in the OECD, as representatives to the OECD or who work with the OECD."

The Slovak Finance Ministry specified that the OECD Ministerial Council Meeting is the most important annual event attended by the ministers of finance, economy, foreign affairs and many other ministers of the OECD member countries. The OECD currently has 35 members and next year their number will increase to 37.

Economy Minister Peter Ziga added that chairing the OECD Ministerial Council is an honour for every country and is a sign of international recognition.

Slovakia has gained respect and we will have the opportunity to open up important economic topics, said Ziga.

5. Jun 2018 at 0:56 | Compiled by Spectator staff
Analysts: US tariffs not a threat to Europes economy for now

A possible hike in tariffs on cars may hurt Slovakia.

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The imposition of tariffs on imports of steel and aluminium from the European Union (EU) to the US is bad news for international trade. Analysts believe that while it would not have any fundamental impact on Europes economy, they are getting nervous.

In general, the aggregate economic impact of US tariffs on imports of steel and aluminium and counter-measures by the EU will be imperceptible for both economies, said J&T Banka analyst Stanislav Panis, as cited by the TASR newswire. This is because the tariffs concern less than 0.5 percent of the eurozones exports to the USA and the EUs reciprocal measures will affect a negligible volume of imports.

He did not expect any significant impact to Slovakias economy either.

An ordinary consumer in Slovakia and the Slovak economy as such will in general not discern the currently announced measures and counter-measures, said Panis.

Last Thursday, May 31, US President Donald Trump announced that the US would impose 25 percent duty on steel and 10 percent on aluminium imported from the EU, Canada and Mexico. The move follows earlier metals tariffs on countries around the world. The EU responded that it will impose retaliatory tariffs on the 2.8 billion euros of American imports.

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Read also: US steel and aluminium tariffs may have little impact on Slovakia, for now Read more

The tariffs are not expected to have a direct impact on the steel maker U.S. Steel Kosice (USSK) as the total import of steel and iron from Slovakia to the U.S. is small.

A bigger problem is Europe as a whole. This is because if the demand for steel from European steelmakers decreases, this may result in a drop in prices. This will affect USSK because this will increase its competition. In 2016 Europe exported steel worth 23.3 billion US dollars to the U.S.

It may happen that some companies supplying large volumes to the U.S. will re-direct a portion of their supplies to Europe, said Jan Baca, USSKs spokesperson, as cited by the Sme daily.

Import tariffs on cars

A much bigger problem for Slovakia and Europe would be if US President Donald Trump fulfils his promise and increases tariffs on cars. Trump indicated that the current tariffs on cars may rise from 2.5 percent to 10 percent.

Out of the three carmakers active in Slovakia only Volkswagen Slovakia exports cars directly to the U.S. Volkswagen exported to the U.S. 20 percent of its car production, almost 362,000 vehicles, in 2017, the Sme daily wrote.

In 2016 Slovakia exported cars worth about 1 billion to the U.S.. This made up more than 1.5 percent of Slovakias total exports. EU car exports to the U.S. were worth 37.7 billion.

5. Jun 2018 at 0:49 | Compiled by Spectator staff
Slovak EU commissioner enters race to become EC president

The ambition of Maros Sefcovic is to try to ease tensions between old and new member states.

Maros Sefcovic, Slovakias European Commissioner and vice president of the Energy Union, has indicated an interest in succeeding Jean-Claude Juncker as the EU executives president. On June 4 at the European Nuclear Forum in Bratislava he confirmed that he would seek the nomination of the European social democrats for the post.

I will do everything to get the support of the social democratic parties across the EU, said Sefcovic, as cited by the TASR newswire. I will do my best to use this process to put the spotlight on stronger industrial policy, a more assertive position for the EU in international trade and on an understanding between old and new member states.

The European Parliament wants the large European political families to go into the elections scheduled for next May with clear election leaders on their slates. The leader of the winning political party in the elections to the European Parliament will afterwards become the new European Commission President.

The European Peoples Party (EPP) launched the process of choosing nominations in April. It wants to introduce its candidate in November.

The social democracy camp will also hold some kind of primary. During June, parties united in the Party of European Socialists (PES) will agree on the criteria and a way of making nominations.

Sefcovic confirmed that he is pondering whether he should enter this race for the region of central and eastern Europe. He specified on Monday that he had received a direct proposal from social democrats from the Czech Republic and their partners from Slovakia have supported it. He also has favourable responses from other countries of central and eastern Europe.

Recently, Sefcovic was also mentioned as a possible ruling Smer party candidate for President of Slovakia but he has denied his candidacy.

5. Jun 2018 at 0:31 | Compiled by Spectator staff
Yesterday, Volcan de Fuego in Guatemala erupted, killing at least 25 people and injuring 20 others, according to CNN. Sitting just outside Antigua, the latest eruption by Volcan de Fuego has led to more than 3,100 people being evacuated and is expected to affect 1.7 million people in totalincluding many thousands of coffee growers.

While the eruption of one of Central Americas most active volcanoes has concluded, Guatemalas National Institute of Seismology, Vulcanology, Meteorology, and Hydrology states that it created some 14.763 feet of ash that has spread throughout a 12-mile radius, with the potential for winds to expand that distance even further, per CNN. Already ash has traveled 25 miles northeast to Guatemala City, causing the closure of the countrys primary airport, La Aurora International Airport.

In a joint statement released (and translated to English here) by Anacafethe National Coffee Associationand Funcafethe Foundation of Coffee for Rural Developmentthe eruption affected coffee growing areas in the departments of Escuintla, Sacatepequez, Chimaltenango, Guatemala, El Progreso and part of the east of the country, specifically the coffee area towards the south-west. The statement goes on to say that in the villages of El Rodeo, Escuintla and Alotenango, it is estimated that the sand and ash affected between 15 and 20% of the coffee area.

Anacafe and Funcafe have opened up their headquarters and regional offices throughout Guatemala to be used as collection centers. They are requesting for donations of non-perishable and canned food items, potable water, blankets, clothes, and medical supplies, including medications for burns and gauze. All donated items will be distributed in coordination with CONRED, Guatemalas National Coordination for Disaster Reduction.

The total damage done by the eruption of Volcan de Fuego remains to be determined. Anacafe and Funcafe are helping lead relief efforts locally, but more aid will certainly be needed from outside Guatemala. We will update the story with ways for the international community to assist in the relief efforts as they are created.

UPDATE: PBS has compiled a list of places to donate to relief efforts. It can be found here.

Zac Cadwalader is the news editor at Sprudge Media Network and a staff writer based in Dallas. Read more Zac Cadwalader on Sprudge.

Photo by Rainer Albiez/Adobe Stock
Capital One Financial pays an annual dividend of $2.40 per share and currently has a dividend yield of 1.43%. Capital One Financial has been increasing its dividend for 2 consecutive year(s), indicating that it does not yet have a strong track record of dividend growth. The dividend payout ratio of Capital One Financial is 41.45%. This payout ratio is at a healthy, sustainable level, below 75%. Based on earnings estimates, Capital One Financial will have a dividend payout ratio of 13.56% next year. This indicates that Capital One Financial will be able to sustain or increase its dividend.

View Capital One Financial's dividend history.
5 hours ago

Biden tries to tame inflation by having LA port open 24/7

WASHINGTON (AP)  President Joe Biden tried to reassure Americans on Wednesday that he can tame high inflation, announcing a deal to expand operations at the Port of Los Angeles as prices keep climbing and container ships wait to dock in a traffic jam threatening the U.S.

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X Factor winner Matt Terry has parted ways from his record label after one album.

Matt won the show in 2016, beating Saara Aalto in the final.

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Unlike most other winners, Matt didn't sign up with Simon Cowell's Syco company, instead penning a deal with sister label RCA on Sony Music.

However Matt has revealed he's now left their roster.

Im not with Sony any more, as of four days ago," he told The Sun newspaper. Im in talks with Sony Madrid. In the UK Ive done my thing.

"The reaction to my songs has been crazy, theyve had 60million streams. Its great but Im excited to do another album."

Matt insisted: You dont even really need a label to sell. Fair enough, they plan everything for you, but I can still move forward . . . onwards and upwards.

In an interview with the tabloid, Matt went on to praise Simon Cowell for his "great advice" and encouragement.

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Matt said: "Hes very supportive. The X Factor is a great show for people to do, though it is important that they prepare for it as its a lot of work.

Being a famous pop star isnt a life of luxury. Its actually very hard work and theres a lot of time that goes into it.

For now, instead of the charts, Matt will be focusing on the stage with a role in Madagascar The Musical at London's New Wimbledon Theatre.

Matt is the latest X Factor star to depart from their label.

Earlier this year it was revealed Ella Henderson had left Syco, following Fleur East who moved on at the end of 2017.

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But other stars from the show are enjoying renewed success.

2012 winner James Arthur was re-signed by Simon after his huge comeback album while 2010 champ Matt Cardle also recently signed a new deal with Sony Music.
LIAM FOX Brexit will power Britains prosperity and its already working with 600,000 new jobs

International Trade Secretary Liam Fox comes out fighting for Brexit and says the country has been backed by investors

CommentBy Liam Fox, International Trade Secretary3rd June 2018The SunTHE UK is leaving the European Union.Why? Because 17.4million of us voted to leave , to take back control of our money, our laws and our borders.Before the referendum vote, Parliament decided  quite rightly  that the British people had the right to decide whether we should leave the EU.That is why Parliament passed the Referendum Act and voted to trigger Article 50.And it is why both major political parties agreed in last years general election to abide by the referendum decision.There is huge democratic legitimacy behind the leaving process.There is also great strength in the UK economy that should give us reassurance as we move towards a more independent future.Remember the dire consequences predicted if the British people decided to vote to leave? We were told investors would desert us.We were told we would face an employment crisis. Employment is up by 600,000 since before the referendum to 32.34million , with record numbers in work.Our manufacturing order books are at their highest for years and our exports have risen by about ten per cent in the past year.Remember how jobs would flood out of the City of London to Paris and Frankfurt?Last year saw more venture capital on tech, including financial technology, coming to London than all of Germany, France, Spain and Ireland combined.Thankfully, the British people had the sense and courage to ignore the prophets of doom.We can rightly be confident and optimistic about our future outside the EU  and the PM has set out a vision of what that will look like. The UK already has enormous advantages in a competitive global economy.Our system of law is admired across the globe. Our skilled workforce and universities are world class.We have fantastic research and development facilities, some of the best innovators and we are leaders in the digital revolution.And we speak English and are in the right time zone to trade with Asia in the morning and the Americas in the afternoon.The UK is in a strong position. We are not the dependent and supplicant country some would have us believe.We are a leading member of the Commonwealth, a grouping of 53 countries that is home to one third of the worlds population and half of the globes top 20 emerging cities.We are one of the highest contributors to Nato, have a permanent seat on the UN Security Council and are members of the G7 and G20.The UKs future is, and needs, to be global. Based on International Monetary Fund data, it has been calculated that in the next ten to 15 years, 90 per cent of global economic growth will originate from outside the EU.That is where we must concentrate our efforts for exports and investment, alongside maintaining our ties of prosperity and security with our European neighbours. The well-being of future generations depends upon it.Sometimes it is difficult for people in Britain, or the rest of Europe, to grasp the scale of this growth.But when we understand that by 2025, China, alone, will have 221 cities with more than a million people, while the whole of the European continent will have 35, we can begin to see a fuller picture.Of course, the EU will continue to be an important economic and trade partner and we want to have a full, open and comprehensive trade agreement with it that puts the prosperity of European people before the ideology of the EU bureaucracy.But the truth is that our trade relationship with the EU has been changing over the years, since well before the referendum.In 2006, 54 per cent of our exports went to the EU. That has now fallen to 44 per cent, as markets elsewhere have expanded faster.One of the main benefits of Brexit, and being outside the Customs Union, will be having an independent trade policy for the first time in more than 40 years  made in Britain, for Britain.We need to have policies that ensure we are able to take advantage of the opportunities that will lie ahead as Asia and Africa develop growing middle classes with an appetite for the high-quality goods and services Britain provides.We cannot allow our future options to be constrained by the patterns of the past.As we leave the EU, we will take up our independent seat at the World Trade Organisation, the governing body of global trade.We will be champions of the free trading system that has helped take a billion people out over abject poverty over the past generation  one of the greatest achievements in human history.We believe protectionism will always fail and that spreading prosperity through trade is the best route to the global stability and security that is in all our interests.The UK can, and should, be a leader in that quest.It is time for our country to raise its level of ambition, take pride in our achievements and help shape our global future, joining the PM and the Government in delivering a Brexit that works for everyone  in Britain and beyond.
10Chinas internet leaders, Alibaba, Baidu, and Tencent have decided to purchase shares in Foxconn Industrial Internet (FII), a major manufacturing partner of Apples iPhone. The move has puzzled the industry since the three are rivals in e-commerce, search, and social media.

According to the filing submitted to Shanghai Stock Exchange, the three companies that are collectively known as BAT will each get 21.79 million shares, which equals to 3.86% in total.

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FII could be an essential partner for the three companies as they endeavor to dive into cloud computing, data centers and automotive tech. The company serves several tech firms including Dell, Amazon, Cisco in addition to Apple that is its major customer.

Foxconn, through its subsidiary FII recently announced its plans to raise $4.26 billion in the Chinas market in what is going to be the Chinas biggest IPO since 2015. FII unit specializes in manufacturing of electronic devices, cloud service equipment, industrial robots and much more. The company is determined to offer about 1.97 billion shares to be purchased at 13.77 yuan per share in the domestic market.

According to the latest news, Foxconn is in the process of moving to other areas that will reduce its reliance on manufacturing Apples smartphones. The company intends to expand its products to include the cloud computing, fifth-generation wireless technologies, smart manufacturing, industrial internet and much more. China is one of the lucrative markets that FII is currently focusing on.

Could It Be Politics?

Though the investment amount is small, its strange BAT companies that compete in the same market to invest in one firm cooperatively. For instance, Google, Apple, and Facebook all based in the US occasionally fight in their respective fields such as e-commerce, search, social media, and mobile payments. They cant agree to invest in one company at all.

The BAT firms are usually fierce and territorial rivals that compete for the same customer and business opportunities to venture into but in this case, they are putting all that aside to invest in one giant IPO.

In the recent past, Chinese government has been pushing more companies across the globe to list in its economy and has provided a favorable business environment for foreign investors to venture their entities in the region. Its also estimated that in China, politics play a major role in how companies operate their businesses. That is why its possible for the BAT rivals to venture collectively in the upcoming FII IPO.
General Ngo Xuan Lich, Vietnamese Minister of National Defense, has highlighted several important factors in the maintenance of regional peace and security during this years Shangri-La Dialogue.

Minister Lich delivered the first remarks at the third plenary session themed Shaping Asias Evolving Security Order on Saturday, as part of the 17th Shangri-La Dialogue, which takes place at the namesake hotel in Singapore from June 1 to 3.

Independence, self-reliance, cooperation, and observance of international laws are fundamental to security, peace, and development in the region, the Vietnamese official stressed.

Traditional and non-traditional security threats, including territorial disputes and terrorism, are posing real and imminent risks to stability of Asia-Pacific.

The best way for relevant parties to settle their disputes is to employ peaceful means and diplomatic dialogues without the use of violence, threat of use force, or unilateral actions, he stated.

All countries should develop mutual trust through consultation, exchange of information, high-level visits, and joint activities between armed forces, while expanding dialogue mechanisms and cooperation in politics, defense and security, and economic matters.

Hanoi consistently supports the peaceful resolution of territorial disputes in the East Vietnam Sea, respecting the international law, namely the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS).

He underlines the importance of the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the East Vietnam Sea (DOC) alongside the conclusion of a Code of Conduct (COC) in the maritime area.

Launch in 2002, Shangri-La Dialogue is Asia's annual premier defense summit, a unique meeting of ministers and delegates from over 50 countries across the world.

This years agenda includes five plenary sessions on US leadership and the challenges of Indo-Pacific security, De-escalating the crisis in the Democratic Peoples Republic of Korea, Shaping Asias evolving security order, New dimensions of terrorism and counter-terrorism, and Rising the bar for regional security co-operation.

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A man was killed on Sunday as a giant boulder rolling from a cliff face squashed his four-seater car while he was driving on a road in a mountainous northern Vietnamese area.

The driver was pulling up near the foot of a bridge along the mountainside National Route 12 in Lai Chau Province, 450 kilometers northwest of Hanoi, at around 2:00 pm when the rare accident occurred, a local police officer told Tuoi Tre (Youth) newspaper.

A large stone ran down the cliff out of the blue and crushed the front part of his car.

The man died on the scene, with his body damaged beyond recognition.

He was later identified as Phan Seo Phin, a 32-year-old resident in Lai Chau.

The driver appeared to be sitting in his parked car, waiting for his two friends, when the incident occurred, according to local news site Vnexpress. The friends were only injured by some rock debris.

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A park in the south-central province of Khanh Hoa, designed as a miniature version of Vietnams Truong Sa (Spratly) Archipelago, now looks more like a mini landfill, thanks to a serious lack of care from its managers.

The Truong Sa Park, named after the set of islands in the East Vietnam Sea, is located within the Museum of Oceanography in the provincial capital of Nha Trang.

Covering about 300 square meters along the coastline and 3,100 square meters on the sea, the venue allows the general public to have a better understanding of the archipelago.

However, the park has recently been filled with a large amount of garbage.

A pile of trash is burned at the park.

Some people even incinerated garbage at the site.

Nguyen Thanh Bang, a resident in Hanoi who took his wife and son to the park on Childrens Day, said he was underwhelmed and disappointed by the destination.

It was filled with trash and smelly. Not only our family but also many other visitors had to leave the place upon arriving, Bang recalled.

Empty cans of beer are dumped at the Truong Sa Park.

According to Dr. Ho Van The, head of the management office of the Museum of Oceanography, rubbish is often washed into the park as it is located near Nha Trangs fishing harbor.

Meanwhile, there are only three cleaning employees who have to be in charge of a huge area, consisting of not only the entire museum but also several offices, exhibition rooms, and the park, The continued.

We are planning to set up a net to prevent garbage from being washed into the park, he added.

Trash is washed into the coastline within the park.

A part of a broken boat is washed ashore at the park.

Wastewater is dumped into the venue.

Foreign tourists visit the Truong Sa Park.

Visitors at the park

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A central Vietnamese coastal provinces administration temporarily ceased implementing a titanium extraction project on Sunday to find a suitable action to take, following fierce opposition from people living near the construction area.

Nguyen Duc Chinh, chairman of the Peoples Committee in Quang Tri Province, has required Thanh Tam, a mining company tasked with carrying out the titanium plan, to halt its operation near a village in Vinh Linh District.

The firm received the green light from the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment to find and exploit titanium on a 75.2-hectare piece of forest land of the district in 2016, but in April 2018 it encountered an obstacle from local residents while it was building a road leading to the designated mining zone, about one kilometer away from the village.

One day of the month, the locals put up a makeshift shack squarely across the way, planted national flags around the building and placed at the location images of Ho Chi Minh, a great and highly respected late president of Vietnam whose picture is seen on every Vietnamese banknote.

Police then managed to bring down the structure amidst considerable resistance from the people.

The villagers reaction was due to their worry that the titanium project, once completed, would lead to dire environmental consequences, according to Nguyen Dinh Lang, a local man.

They envisioned a gloomy scenario after seeing initial adverse results from another titanium extraction project currently underway in a nearby area.

He affirmed that during earlier meetings with the authorities, villagers all opposed initiating the plan and cutting down trees in the forest near their houses that serve to shield them from the attack of wind-carried sand, which covers part of the district.

Some residents also felt infuriated when the government, without asking for their agreement, allocated to Thanh Tam Company a stretch of land for making a road which runs across their tree-growing areas, Lang said.

But this account contradicts those of officials.

The government and enterprise had twice canvassed the villagers for their views on the project in late 2016 and April 2017, with the result that the majority of them supported it, said Ngo The Thanh, a local official.

Le Thi Tam, director of Thanh Tam Company, told Tuoi Tre (Youth) newspaper that she had all necessary licenses for titanium extraction in the area from the ministry, and presented your correspondent with a list of 91 signatures of agreement from household representatives in the village, which has 98 houses.

Tam also gave documents showing that those whose farming land was impinged on by the road had already received their compensation.

The firm promised to provide employment to the local people and give each of the villagers VND2 million (US$88) a year, she said.

In the beginning, nearly all the people agreed with the project but its unclear why they reacted violently in early 2018, the director said.

Tran Huu Hung, chairman of the Vinh Linh District Peoples Committee, supposed that part of the problem stems from the fact that the ministry granted the approval but failed to discuss with the district government for more knowledge of the local context.

Hung said while a solution to the project issue remained to be seen, it was unacceptable that many villagers, of their own accord, erected the shack, hung national flags and used the picture of President Ho Chi Minh for their purposes.

This view was echoed by Nguyen Duc Chinh, chairman of the provincial Peoples Committee, who called for an immediate punishment for the residents action.

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The Vietnamese man and woman who were found stabbed to death at a hotel on the Las Vegas Strip have been identified as the director and employee of a Ho Chi Minh City-based travel agency.

The woman was Nghia Boi Sang, 39, director of Trieu Hao Tourist Company, and the man was Nguyen Le Ba Khuong, 30, one of her employees, according to the Embassy of Vietnam in the United States.

They were found dead with multiple stab wounds to their bodies inside a room at the Circus Circus hotel and casino.

The Vietnamese embassy has contacted the police unit in Las Vegas and family members of the two victims for further investigation and clarification.

The embassy has also reached Sangs sister, who currently lives in the U.S., to assist the probe.

Meanwhile, the Ho Chi Minh City Department of Foreign Affairs will assist family members with their visa process so that they can arrive in Las Vegas in the earliest time.

Initial information showed that the incident happened at around 2:00 am on Friday (local time).

Sang and Khuong were leading a group of Vietnamese tourists on a trip to the U.S. organized by Trieu Hao Company.

They previously visited Los Angeles before arriving in Las Vegas for a two-night stay. The group was scheduled to get back to Los Angeles on Saturday before returning to Vietnam.

Their itinerary on Friday included a trip to the Grand Canyon.

After the Vietnamese tourists reported the absence of Sang and Khuong, employees of the hotel checked their room and discovered the bodies at around 3:00 pm.

"We're early on in the investigation and at this time we have not been able to determine if it's a murder-suicide or if it's a double homicide investigation," ABC7News quoted Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department Lt. Ray Spencer as saying.

Police are "leaning" toward the incident being a murder-suicide, but this is something they will not know for sure until the coroner's examination, Spencer added.

Witnesses also recalled hearing a disturbance that sounded like an argument near the area around 2:00 am but no one reported the incident.

Security camera footage showed that the two victims went inside their hotel room on Thursday night and no one has entered or exited the room since then.

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A young man was killed by what appeared to be a stray bullet when he was following a group of illegal motorcycle street racers in Ho Chi Minh City on Sunday.

Tran Van Kiet was shot dead when he was carrying a friend on a motorbike on the National Route 1 section passing District 12 at around 2:00 am, according to police.

Kiet and his friend were traveling on the motorcycle lane of the highway, when a group of illegal racers appeared on the cars lane in the same direction, followed by the noise of several gunshots.

While the motorbike racers were terrified and immediately rushed away to their own rescue, 19-year-old Kiet and his friend fell off the vehicle, the friend, who survived the incident, told Tuoi Tre (Youth) newspaper.

It was later learned that Kiet got a gunshot in his head, apparently from a stray bullet from the unidentified gunmen.

He was rushed to the nearest hospital with his head bleeding. Despite being transferred to a bigger hospital, Kiet eventually succumbed to his serious injury.

Police examine the scene of Tran Van Kiets death in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam. Photo: Tuoi Tre

The motorcycle used by Tran Van Kiet is seen after he was shot dead in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam. Photo: Tuoi Tre

Police found a bullet-like metal object fixed in his skull.

Authorities started a probe into the case in the early hours of Monday.

The victims body has been carried to his hometown in the central Vietnamese province of Quang Nam, according to Thanh Nien (Young) newspaper.

The case is still under more investigation.

The friend said the firing came from two strange riders on a Yamaha Exciter who appeared from nowhere.

Kiet and his friend were traveling from Thu Duc District to District 12 to watch an illegal bike racing when the incident occurred, he added.

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Acclaimed film director Joeclyn Moorhouse is directing her first ever television drama with the third season of Wanted.

Shooting has been underway in South Australia, filming from Murray Bridge to Parachilna, for two weeks, with stars Rebecca Gibney and Geraldine Hakewill.

Jocelyn Moorhouse, known for such films as The Dressmaker and Proof, makes her TV directing debut, alongside returning director Peter Templeman.

Rebecca Gibney, said: I am so excited to be bringing Wanted back to Australia and filming in the glorious state of South Australia. Lola and Chelsea have become such a huge part of my life and I cant wait to show the world where they end up next, because this time theres no going back.

Sevens Head of Drama, Julie McGauran, said: Audiences across Australia have fallen in love with Lola and Chelsea and were thrilled to commence filming on a third series. Wanted is a drama full of adventure and heart  much like its lead actors, Rebecca Gibney and Geraldine Hakewill.

The production also marks the opening of a South Australian office for Matchbox Pictures, headed up by producer Kirsty Stark (Wastelander Panda, Goober). This was made possible by a two-year funding allocation from the South Australian Film Corporation.

Matt Vitins, Acting Managing Director, Matchbox Pictures said: Matchbox is excited to be working with Seven and R&R Productions on this next season of Wanted. We are incredibly proud of this series and the success it has found with audiences on Seven and internationally. We cannot wait to see our heroines Lola and Chelsea take their adventures across South Australia.

Kirsty Stark, Development Producer for Matchbox Pictures SA said, Having worked in SA for my entire career, I know the importance of creating opportunities for writers, directors and key creatives from within the state. Im excited to partner with Matchbox and develop compelling local stories that will showcase our talent on a national and international stage.

Courtney Gibson South Australian Film Corporation CEO, said, We welcome Matchbox to the state and congratulate Kirsty Stark on her new role developing a strong slate of TV drama production in SA. Were thrilled Rebecca and Matchbox are working here on Wanted for Seven, as Lola and Chelsea ride again!

Further casting is yet to be announced.

Season 3 of Wanted finds our heroines swapping prison for the tight leash of the witness protection program. But nothing can hold Lola & Chelsea for long and soon theyre in pursuit of a life outside the law that will take them right through the burning centre of Australia. Its going to take every last ounce of courage and skill they have to survive extraordinary danger that comes from both their enemies and the and as they journey towards becoming their truest outlaw selves and deliver justice along the way  Lola and Chelsea style. So the world thinks theyre bad? They aint seen nothing yet
Sajid Javid Appeared on TV with Andrew Marr on Sunday and was questioned about what the Conservatives are doing to tackle the issue of Islamophobia within the party. This came after both the Muslim Council of Britain (MCB) and the former Conservative minister, party chair and now peer, Baroness Sayeeda Warsi, called on Brandon Lewis, the Conservative Party chairman, to hold an urgent inquiry into Islamophobia running rampant within the party.

However, even after the MCB accused the party of failing to take it seriously, Sajid Javid appeared on The Andrew Marr Show and dismissed that the party had an issue with Islamophobia and even went as far to accuse the MCB of extremist links.

The MCB issue

Sajid Javids defence of the Conservatives amounted to him dismissing the claims from Baroness Warsi, using himself as an example of how they party is not Islamophobic and then pushing fault with the MCB and claiming that they have links to extremism.

Firstly, the MCB did create a panel to look into their alleged ties with known Ahmadi Muslim hate group Almi Majlis Tahaffuz Khatme Nubuwat (AMTKN) (usually shortened to Khatme Nabuwat), whos members did include Mr Tanveer Ahmad, a Sunni Muslim of Pakistani origin, who killed Ahmadi Muslim shopkeeper Mr Asad Shah in Glasgow and was sentenced to 27 years in prison, albeit according to Kashif N. Chaudhry of the Huffington Post, the panel did include individuals who have ties to that same hate group.

The MCB have their own issues and they clarified that they did not identify Mr Shah as a Muslim, this does highlight the tensions that can be felt across the various Muslim factions and that minorities exploit them for their own means. The Quilliam Foundation have in the past spoken out against these links within the MCB but then they themselves have been grilled by MPs over their alliances with known Islamophobes.

These include the Islamophobic Gatestone Institute, whos obsession with anti-Islam rhetoric include contributors such as Richard Spencer, who runs the Jihad Watch website that was cited 162 times by Norwegian Anders Breivik in his manifesto before he went on and massacred 77 people in 2011

Rampant Islamophobia?

However, Sajid Javid has used the issues within the MCB to dismiss the known and very frequent anti-Islam rhetoric that is used by Conservative MPs and members, this is counter-productive in tackling Islamist extremism and Islamophobic extremism within the UK.

On the morning of the MCBs call for them to look into the Islamophobia within the party, Baroness Warsi appeared on Good Morning Britain and revealed how she herself experiences abuse at the hand of member of her own party, stating that she was even called the p word in party meetings and in March said that there were weekly occurrences of it within the party. The MCB responded to Sajid Javids comment (Tweet below) and Baroness Warsi has since stated that he was in denial.

The letter sent to Brandon Lewis (Tweet below), cites several examples of Islamophobia and in a further letter to Theresa May cite the infamous Mayoral campaign by Zac Goldsmith that was widely condemned as Islamophobic after he used many disparaging remarks about Sadiq Khan.

Furthermore, Sajid Javid has been a vocal critic of anti-Semitism within the Labour Party, which they have just announced new measures to tackle the issue.

We are calling for an independent inquiry into Islamophobia in the Conservative Party following more than weekly occurrences of Islamophobia in the party last month pic.twitter.com/ymkFRDs5sF  MCB (@MuslimCouncil) May 30, 2018

Whatever view you may proscribe to about the furore, the fact that Mr Javid is willing to dismiss this as an issue when the evidence says otherwise is astoundingly hypocritical. Then again, the MCB have been very vocally critical over Israels actions against the Palestinian people and the reason Baroness Warsi resigned from her cabinet position in 2014 was because Israeli forces murdering Palestinians in Gaza.

There is no surprise that Sajid Javid was sent by the party to tackle this line of questioning, he has Muslim heritage yet confirmed in 2010 that he doesnt practice the religion himself. He is the PR of the party against anyone who claims Islamophobia and is evidently quite happy to play the part. This is counter-productive to the issues and legitimises anti-Islam rhetoric across the country and furthermore, it aims to silence criticisms and conversations about Islamophobia.
Lin-Manuel Miranda's award-winning Musical "Hamilton" was already a hit before the extra footage about how the show was written and the extra songs, but with the newly released "Hamildrops," the fanbase continues to grow. For those of you who don't know what "Hamildrops" is, it is described as "new Hamilton content, dropping every month in 2018," on "Hamildrops" website. It should not be mistaken with the "Hamilton Mixtape," which was released in 2016.

"Hamildrops" includes covers of the songs from the musical or different versions of those songs; songs that didn't make it to the musical and remixes.

Five songs were dropped so far and they are called "Ben Franklin's Song," "Wrote My Way Out," "Found Tonight," "The Hamilton Polka," "First Burn" and "Helpless." One of the songs even collaborated with another musical. "Found Tonight" was performed by Miranda and Ben Platt from the musical "Dear Evan Hansen," and the song was a mix of "Story of Tonight" from "Hamilton" and "You Will Be Found." The last drop was "Helpless" performed by The Regrettes, which was released on Thursday, 31 May.

What's 'Hamilton?'

"Hamilton" is an award-winning Broadway musical about the life of the American Founding Father, Alexander Hamilton, written by Lin-Manuel Miranda. The musical features 46 songs and it includes many different styles such as hip-hop, pop, and rhythm and blues.

The musical's original cast had non-white actors playing the Founding Fathers and their families.

The musical quickly became a hit, with its tickets becoming impossible to get hold of. However, Lin-Manuel and the producers of the show decided to create a lottery system for every show, giving out a ticket only for $10 (about 7.5 GBP), with the $10 bill bearing the shows namesake, which was continued in the newer productions of the musical.

The Washington Post reported that this lottery also brought "Ham4Ham" shows, which are small pre-show performances from the cast for the people waiting for the lottery. "Ham4Ham" included covers, actors singing different characters' songs and songs that didn't make the cut.

Who is the genius behind it?

Lin-Manuel Miranda is a 38-year-old American composer, lyricist, playwright, and actor of Puerto Rican background.

He wrote and starred in two award-winning musicals: "Hamilton" and "Into the Heights." He also co-wrote and sang some of Disney's "Moana" songs and will be co-starring with Emily Blunt in the upcoming movie "Mary Poppins Returns." He has won one Pulitzer Prize, three Grammy Awards, an Emmy Award, a MacArthur Fellowship, and three Tony Awards.
Razan al-Najjar was 21-year-old paramedic in Palestine and she was murdered by the Israeli Defence Force (IDF) during the Friday protests as Palestinians continued their Great March of Return demonstrations in Gaza. Furthermore, around 100 other Palestinians have been injured as the IDF continue their purge of the Palestinians in Gaza. The violence escalated when Donald Trump officially moved the US embassy to Jerusalem, officially recognising it as Israels capital.

Israel have been slowly annexing land from Palestine since 1967 and even the establishment of the state of Israel was concocted by small group of evangelicals that hardly represented the Jewish community.

But the UKs media and governments response has revealing.

Bias Gaza reporting

Continuing on the topic of Islamophobia and inherent biases towards Muslims and Arabs, the governments response to Israel breaking The Geneva Convention by intentionally killing a medic and I say intentionally because this is not the first time because since the protests began the IDF have shot 29 medics and killing two in the process. Furthermore, the medics are clearly marked meaning that they dont have excuses to claim that they didnt realise.

The fact that they are continually breaking The Geneva Convention and trying to wipe out the Palestinians illicit very little response from the government and anyone who has been outspoken about anti-Semitism.

But as soon as Bashar al-Assad was falsely deemed to have used chemical weapons on his own people, the UK sent bombs into Syria, again the Muslim on Muslim narrative.

But it went further as many politicians in UK deflected blame from the IDF onto Hamas, ironically stating that the IDF had every right to shoot and kill people who were invading their borders. The media have hardly spoken about Razan and UK politicians arent jumping to step in over the continued genocide of the Palestinians by the Israeli government.
Cambridge Analytica whistleblower Christopher Wylie spoke to MEPs in Brussels (European Parliament)

Whistleblower Christopher Wylie has told the European Parliament that the influence of Cambridge Analytica on the Brexit referendum has rendered its result illegitimate.

Wylie, a former employee of data marketing firm, revealed recently how the firm used personal information harvested from millions of Facebook users to build software designed to influence their political choices.

Speaking to MEPs in Brussels on Monday, he said a privacy crisis had led the EU to lose one of its largest member states.

Cambridge Analytica may have dissolved but the European Union and its citizens will feel the impact for a generation, he said.

MORE: UK accounts for one third of all EU Facebook users hit by data breach

I do not believe Brexit would have happened if it were not for the data targeting technologies and network of actors set up by Cambridge Analytica.

I also do not believe the Brexit result was won fairly or legitimately.

Wylie said it is almost certain that electoral and data protection rules were flouted by the official Leave campaign, but said the full facts are being obscured by Facebook.

He added: If this occurred in Nigeria or Zimbabwe, the EU would demand a re-run of the vote. Perhaps we should hold the UK to the same standard.

Wylie was among experts who addressed MEPs over the Cambridge Analytica scandal (European Parliament)

The Canadian addressed a special European Parliament committee meeting as part of an investigation into the Cambridge Analytica scandal which also saw MEPs quiz Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg.

Responding to Wylies comments, Czech MEP Petr Jezek said: What weve heard about Brexit, it seems to me like the robbery of the century.

But UKIP leader and MEP Gerard Batten argued the Cambridge Analytica scandal was being used to try and stop Brexit.

During the referendum campaign, I was out every single day talking to what must have been hundreds if not thousands of people every day face to face, he told the meeting.

MORE: Zuckerberg apology to European Parliament over data scandal branded inadequate

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Not one of them then, nor anyone since on whatever side of the vote, has said to me that they were influenced in any way, shape or form by anything they saw on social media.

This whole thing is about the remain establishment doing everything they possibly can to reverse the referendum decision.

Carole Cadwalladr, the Guardian journalist who broke news of the scandal, insisted it was not a partisan issue and accused Batten of burying his head in the sand.

Addressing the MEP directly, she said: This is about the integrity of our democracy, about our national sovereignty and I would think that you would have an interest in that also.




The Air France-KLM company logo is seen at the annual shareholder meeting in the La Defense business district in Puteaux The Air France-KLM company logo is seen at the annual shareholder meeting in the La Defense business district in Puteaux, France, May 15, 2018. REUTERS/Philippe Wojazer

PARIS (Reuters) - Europe's largest hotel group, AccorHotels <ACCP.PA> said on Sunday it was interested in acquiring a minority stake in Air France-KLM <AIRF.PA>.

"AccorHotels confirms having resumed its reflections on the matter, being at very early stage of assessing the feasibility and potential terms and conditions which will be discussed with Air France-KLM in due time," the company said in a statement.

The French government is considering selling all or part of its 14.3 percent stake in Air France KLM and has received interest from the management of AccorHotels, French news daily Les Echos reported on Sunday.

(Reporting by Maya Nikolaeva. Editing by Jane Merriman)
FILE PHOTO: The logo of Spanish energy giant Repsol SA is seen during the opening ceremony of its first gas station in Mexico City, Mexico March 12, 2018. REUTERS/Carlos Jasso

By Nidhi Verma and Parisa Hafezi

NEW DELHI/ANKARA (Reuters) - Iran has awarded its first cargo of West Karoun oil to Spain's Repsol <REP.MC>, two sources familiar with the matter said on Monday, indicating that Tehran is keen to boost its oil exports despite the looming threat of sanctions.

The Persian Gulf nation's exports hit 2.7 million barrels per day (bpd) oil in May, the oil ministry's news agency SHANA reported on Saturday, a new record since the lifting of international sanctions on Tehran in 2016.

Iran exported 2.4 million bpd of crude oil in May, SHANA reported, and 300,000 bpd of natural gas condensate.

U.S. President Donald Trump last month pulled out of the 2015 accord between Iran and world powers that lifted sanctions on Tehran in exchange for curbs to its nuclear programme.

The remaining signatories of the deal - France, Germany, Britain, Russia and China - still see the international accord as the best chance of stopping Tehran from developing a nuclear weapon and are trying to salvage it.

Iran is marketing the West Karoun crude as Pars oil, two sources said. Iranian officials have repeatedly said that Tehran considers the nuclear deal in place as long as Iran could sell its crude and receive its money.

National Iranian Oil Co (NIOC) has already distributed the samples of the heavy oil from West Karoun oilfields in southwest Iran to some customers. Production from the field has nearly doubled in the past year to 300,000 bpd, sources told Reuters last month.

Repsol has agreed to take 500,000 barrels of Pars crude on a spot basis, one of the sources said.

The Spanish firm will be co-loading the cargo with Iranian heavy grade, this source said, adding Repsol is scheduled to lift the cargo later this week or early next week.

Iran's top leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei said on May 23 that European powers must protect Iranian oil sales from U.S. sanctions, and continue buying Iranian crude, if they want Tehran to stay in the nuclear deal.

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The bulk of Iran's crude exports, at least 1.8 million bpd, goes to Asia. Most of the rest goes to Europe and these volumes are seen by analysts and traders as the more vulnerable to being curbed by U.S. sanctions.

A Repsol spokesman said the company does not comment on individual cargoes.

(Additional Reporting by Florence Tan in Singapore, Amanda Cooper in LONDON and Jose Elias Rodriguez in MADRID; editing by David Evans)
Bashar al Assad

SANA/Handout via REUTERS

Syrian President Bashar al-Assad said he plans to travel to North Korea to meet with the country's leader, Kim Jong Un, according to North Korean state media.

The meeting would be the first between Kim and another head of state to take place in North Korea.

United Nations monitors have accused North Korea of cooperating with Syria on chemical weapons, a charge the North denies.



SEOUL (Reuters) - Syrian President Bashar Assad said he plans to visit North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, North Korean state media reported on Sunday, potentially the first meeting between Kim and another head of state in Pyongyang.

"I am going to visit the DPRK and meet HE Kim Jong Un," Assad said on May 30, North Korea's KCNA news agency reported, using the initials of the country's official name, the Democratic People's Republic of Korea.

There was no immediate comment from the Syrian presidents office.

Assad reportedly made the remarks as he received the credentials of North Korean Ambassador Mun Jong Nam.

Pyongyang and Damascus maintain good relations, and United Nations monitors have accused North Korea of cooperating with Syria on chemical weapons, a charge the North denies.

Both countries have faced international isolation, North Korea over its nuclear weapons program, and Syria over its tactics during a bloody civil war.

Since the beginning of the year, however, North Korea's Kim has launched a flurry of diplomatic meetings with leaders in China and South Korea, and is scheduled to hold a summit with U.S. President Donald Trump in Singapore on June 12.

Since taking power in 2011, Kim has not publicly met with another head of state in North Korea.

"The world welcomes the remarkable events in the Korean peninsula brought about recently by the outstanding political caliber and wise leadership of HE Kim Jong Un," Assad said, according to KCNA. "I am sure that he will achieve the final victory and realize the reunification of Korea without fail."

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According to South Korea's foreign ministry, North Korea established diplomatic relations with Syria in 1966, opening its embassy in Damascus. Syria opened its mission in Pyongyang in 1969.

Close military cooperation between the two countries began when North Korea sent some 530 troops including pilots, tank drivers and missile personnel to Syria during the Arab-Israeli war in October 1973.

"The Syrian government will as ever fully support all policies and measures of the DPRK leadership and invariably strengthen and develop the friendly ties with the DPRK," Assad said, as quoted by KCNA.

(Additional reporting by Hyonhee Shin in Seoul and Ellen Francis in Beirut, editing by Larry King)

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An anti-immigrant centre-right party has won the most votes in Slovenia's parliamentary election, an exit poll shows.

The right-wing Slovenian Democratic Party, led by former Slovenian prime minister Janez Jansa, emerged as the largest party - but did not win enough to rule the country on its own.

The country's 1.7 million-strong electorate had to choose between 25 parties in the highly-fragmented ballot.

Only nine will make it to parliament, according to the election polls.

The Slovenian Democratic Party received 24.4% of the vote, the exit polls from TV Slovenia revealed.

The anti-establishment List of Marjan Sarec party is the second-placed party with 12.6%, followed by the Modern Centre Party of outgoing prime minister Miro Cerar with 9.8%.

The Left party received 9.5% of the vote, with the Social Democrats close behind with 9.3%.

The results mean that no party has secured a majority in Slovenia's 90-member parliament.

The next step would likely be negotiations to form a coalition government.

Former prime minister Mr Jansa could be denied another term as leader of the country, as other groups have showed reluctance to form an alliance with him.

He previously held office during 2004-2008 and 2012-2013. Before that, he was minister of defence from 1990 to 1994, holding the post during the Slovenian War of Independence.

He is an ally of Hungary's anti-immigration prime minister, Viktor Orban, and a government led by him would shift Slovenia to the right.

It could also add an anti-immigrant voice to the European Union.

The results are an indication of the continuing growth of right-wing populism in central and eastern Europe following a large influx of migrants from the Middle East and Africa.

During the campaign, Mr Jansa evoked memories of the 500,000 migrants who crossed Slovenia in late 2015 and early 2016 - though the majority of them continued on to northern Europe.

Slovenia - the native home of US first lady Melania Trump - joined the EU in 2004 and has used the euro as its official currency since 2007.

It held its election slightly early, after Mr Cerar resigned in March.

He stepped down after Slovenia's supreme court annulled the results of a referendum, in which voters showed support for a 1bn government railway project.
Kim Jong Un has reportedly fired North Korea's top three military generals in what appears to be an attempt to quash dissent ahead of a summit with Donald Trump.

South Korea's Yonhap news agency says all three have been replaced ahead of the 12 June summit in Singapore , the first meeting between sitting leaders of the US and North Korea.

Analysts say the move, which sees Mr Kim take a tighter rein on the Korean People's Army (KPA), could support efforts to jump-start economic development and engage with the world.

Ken Gause, director of the International Affairs Group at CNA, said: "If Kim Jong Un is set on making peace with the US and South Korea and dealing away at least part of the nuclear programme, he will have to put the KPA's influence in a box and keep it there.

"This reshuffle has brought to the fore the officers who can do just that. They are loyal to Kim Jong Un and no one else."

Mr Trump revived the Singapore summit on Friday after cancelling it a week earlier .

Two anonymous US officials told the Washington Post the Trump administration is "seeking a discreet way" to pay Mr Kim's hotel bill ahead of the meeting.

The US paper also suggested Singapore might take care of the cost.

Mr Trump may not be the only leader to meet Mr Kim, with reports that Russian president Vladimir Putin may also set up a meeting later in the year.

The RIA news agency said the two leaders could meet in the Russian far eastern city of Vladivostok in September, citing diplomatic sources.

At the US-North Korea summit, Pyongyang's denuclearisation will be high on the agenda, with reports Mr Kim's reshuffle is a sign he is prepared to tame the military.

The KPA is highly influential in the North and a centre of power in its own right.

Mr Kim is always seen flanked by its generals on one side and civilians on the other when he attends major ceremonial events.

The reshuffle could be aimed at preventing objections to any sudden changes in the country's nuclear policy.

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North Korea's state media revealed in late May that Kim Su Gil has replaced Kim Jong Gak as the director of the military's powerful General Political Bureau (GPB).

The chief of general staff Ri Myong Su has been replaced by his deputy Ri Yong Gil, according to Yonhap, which cited intelligence sources.

Defence minister Pak Yong Sik has been succeeded by former first vice minster No Kwang Chol.

Seoul's unification ministry has said the three firings would be unusual if confirmed.

Ministry spokesman Baik Tae-hyun told reporters: "We will monitor related developments."

The change at the top of the GPB "represents a continuation of tightening party control over the KPA", according to researchers at NK Leadership Watch.

They added that the GPB could be influential enough to resist leadership policy decisions and try to profit from future South Korean economic aid.

But its new director Kim Su Gil is said to be a "highly trusted" lieutenant of leader Mr Kim.

No Kwang Chol, the new defence minister, is known as a "moderate", Yonhap cited the intelligence source as saying.

The source added: "The North appears to have brought in new figures, as the previous officials lacked flexibility in thinking."
Tardigrades are probably the most paradoxical animals on the planet. On the one hand, these microscopic organisms are impossibly cute, seeming like tiny blimps that bumble around harmlessly on their stubby legs. But they also enjoy a legendary reputation as the toughest, most indestructible creatures on Earth.

Just 0.04 inches (1 millimeter) long (or less), their little bodies contain biological superpowers that help them withstand conditions that would spell certain death for other organisms. Taking their toughness into account, how long can these creatures live?

That depends on where they're found. Tardigrades occur almost everywhere on the planet, but most are happiest frolicking about in moist habitats, such as the moss that adorns river stones. When tardigrades have enough food and water to support their bodily functions, they live out the natural course of their lives, rarely lasting for longer than 2.5 years, according to Animal Diversity Web , a database run by the University of Michigan. [ How Did Life Arise on Earth? ]

And yet, tardigrades can survive for much longer if they go into a state called cryptobiosis, which is triggered when environmental conditions become unbearable.

"Tardigrades are fascinating little beasties," said Sandra McInnes, a tardigrade researcher with the British Antarctic Survey, who has been studying species that occur in the frozen snowscapes of Antarctica since 1980. "Tardigrades have this ability to cope with extreme environments by shutting down their metabolism. This ability to cope with drying out or freezing is what gives them their durability in the Antarctic."

Cryptobiosis puts tardigrades into a "tun" state, slowing their metabolism to a halt, reducing their need for oxygen and ridding their cells of water almost completely, according to the Encyclopedia Britannica . In this shrunken state, tardigrades mimic death so closely that they're able to survive in places devoid of water , at temperatures as low as minus 328 degrees Fahrenheit and as high as 304 degrees F (minus 200 Celsius and 151 degrees C). When these mummy-like tardigrades are exposed to water again, they simply reanimate, returning to normal life in a matter of hours.

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"So long as the tardigrade can get into the tun, it will cope with anything that you throw at it," McInnes told Live Science.

McInnes once defrosted a moss sample from a former experiment and found it contained live tardigrades. She deduced that the organisms had survived, frozen, for at least eight years. In 2016, a paper published in the journal Cryobiology made waves when it showed that a handful of tardigrades, frozen in another Antarctic moss sample back in 1983, had survived in this frigid state for 30 years until they were revived in 2014. It's thought that the tardigrade's talent for self-preservation comes down, in part, to its production of unique proteins that can lock fragile cell components into position. That protects the membranes, proteins and DNA from being shattered, pierced and torn when cells become desiccated, according to a 2017 study in the journal Molecular Cell .

But the range of risky scenarios that tardigrades can survive has left scientists puzzled by just how these little beasties pull it off. "We are literally just scratching the surface of the biochemistry, the molecular pathways by which these animals cope with these environments," McInnes said. For instance, along with being frozen, boiled and dried, it's known that tardigrades can withstand pressures of up to 87,000 pounds per square inch (600 megapascals)  six times what you'd experience at the bottom of the sea. Just half this pressure would kill most other organisms on Earth. [ What's the Oldest Living Organism? ]

Many researchers have gone to extreme lengths to test tardigrade resilience, by blasting them (in their tun state) into space. In many of these studies, the space-traveling tardigrades were exposed to direct solar radiation and gamma-rays. But when they were popped into a water-filled petri dish back on Earth, they "basically walked away and said, 'OK, where's dinner?'" McInnes said. Tardigrades are seemingly able to resist radiation and even repair their DNA, which may explain why they're so resilient to radiation's extreme effects, a 2013 PLOS ONE study reported.

"If they've got this ability to last over time, how long do they live? Well, how long is a piece of string?" McInnes said. But she cautioned against the prevailing belief that tardigrades are invincible: "They can't live forever," she said. The widely publicized notion that tardigrades can survive in a tun state for 100 years or more is an overstatement , for instance. And high-stress living does take its toll on their physiology. Only some tardigrades survive the torments of experimental freezing, boiling and radiation that we humans subject them to.

But there is another way to appreciate their resilience: on a species level. Not only have tardigrades existed since the Cambrian period 541 million years ago, but they may well go on to outlive us  and probably all other life on Earth, according to a 2017 paper published in the journal Scientific Reports . It found that if a cataclysmic event like an asteroid impact were to befall Earth and destroy life, a group of tardigrades inhabiting the ocean's Mariana Trench would endure.

As well as being impossibly cute, it would therefore seem that tardigrades are our surest hope for maintaining life on this planet.

Original article on Live Science .

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ISTANBUL (Reuters) - Nine people including six children died on Sunday when a speedboat carrying 15 refugees sank off the coast of Turkey's southern province of Antalya, the Turkish coast guard said.

Six people were rescued by the coast guard and fishermen and were transferred to the hospital for treatment, the coast guard said in a statement.

From January to May this year at least 26 migrants died trying to cross to Europe from Turkey, according to the coast guard statistics.

More than a million migrants, many fleeing conflict and poverty in the Middle East and Africa, arrived in the European Union in 2015. Turkey was one of the main launch points for the dangerous sea leg of their journey, on which thousands died.

Numbers have declined sharply since Turkey and the EU made deal under which Ankara, in exchange for 3 billion euros in financial aid and a promise to ease visa restrictions for Turks, began to exert more control on migrants trying to cross to Europe via its territory.

Overall Mediterranean arrivals to the European Union, including refugees making the longer and more perilous crossing from north Africa to Italy, stood at 172,301 in 2017, down from 362,753 in 2016 and 1,015,078 in 2015, according to U.N. data.

(Writing by Ezgi Erkoyun; Editing by Raissa Kasolowsky)
Up to 80 plastic bags extracted from within a whale are seen in Songkhla, Thailand, in this still image from a June 1, 2018 video footage by Thailand's Department of Marine and Coastal Resources. Thailand's Department of Marine and Coastal Resources/Social Media/via REUTERS

Thomson Reuters

BANGKOK (Reuters) - Some 80 pieces of plastic rubbish weighing eight kg (17 lb) were found in the stomach of a whale that died in Thailand after a five-day effort to save it, marine officials said on Sunday.

The pilot whale was discovered on Monday in a canal in the southern province of Songkhla and received treatment from a team of veterinarians.

The whale spit out five plastic bags on Friday and later died, the Marine and Coastal Resources Department said on its website.

An autopsy found another 80 bags and other plastic items weighing eight kg in the whale's stomach.

"This plastic rubbish made the whale sick and unable to hunt for food," the department said.

Jatuporn Buruspat, head of the department, said they planned to raise public awareness of the problem on World Oceans Day on June 8 and call for reduced use of plastic.

"We will use the whale case and invite all sectors to show their intentions on how to reduce the use of plastic in Thailand," he told Reuters.

Thais use huge numbers of plastic bags but authorities have launched campaigns to try to encourage people to use fewer and to introduce reusable bags.

Globally, eight million tonnes of plastic - bottles, packaging and other waste - are dumped into the ocean every year, killing marine life and entering the human food chain, the United Nations Environment Programme said in December.

(Reporting by Orathai Sriring; Editing by Darren Schuettler)

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FILE PHOTO: Pope Francis attends a meeting with faithful of the diocese of Rome at Saint John Lateran Basilica in Rome, Italy May 14, 2018. REUTERS/Tony Gentile/File Photo

VATICAN CITY (Reuters) - Pope Francis has called for an end to violence in Nicaragua, where at least 15 people were killed this week in protests against President Daniel Ortega and his proposed changes in social security.

Speaking to tens of thousands of people in St. Peter's Square for his Sunday address, Francis expressed his "sorrow for the serious violence, with dead and wounded, carried out by armed forces to repress social protests. I pray for the victims and their families."

Francis, the first Latin American pope in history, said the Church was always for dialogue "but this requires an active commitment to respect freedom and above all life. I pray that all the violence ceases and conditions are put in place to resume talks as soon as possible".

At least 15 people were killed and more than 200 injured on Wednesday in one of the worst days of violence since protests against Ortega began more than a month ago, police said on Thursday.

The bloodshed was condemned by the Central American country's Episcopal conference of Catholic bishops, which called it "organised and systematic aggression".

Local human rights organisation CENIDH say at least 100 people have been killed since the protests began.

(Reporting by Agnieszka Flak; Editing by Raissa Kasolowsky)
Smoke is seen from a fire in this aerial shot above Eagle Nest, New Mexico, U.S., May 31, 2018 in this picture obtained from social media on June 2, 2018. Justin Hawkins/via REUTERS

Thomson Reuters

(Reuters) - Mother Nature is bringing good news to the firefighters battling wild blazes in the U.S. states of New Mexico and Colorado: rain, and lots of it.

Downpours are expected by early Sunday afternoon, said Brian Hurley, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service's Weather Prediction Center in College Park, Maryland.

"It's good news for them," he said. "We're talking about an average of 1.4 inches of rain in New Mexico. We're even putting out a warning for some spots of flash flooding, because the ground is so hard, there'll be a lot of run-off. But this is nice, right when they need it."

In southwestern Colorado, where the wildfires are burning, Hurley predicts a "healthy dousing of a half-inch of rain."

Wildfires stoked by low humidity and high temperatures raged in northern New Mexico and southern Colorado into early Sunday, threatening nearly 1,900 homes and forcing the evacuation of hundreds of residents from remote communities, fire officials said.

The fires, about 250 miles (400 km) apart in the drought-parched Four Corners region of the southwestern United States, have consumed nearly 32,000 acres (12,000 hectares) between them, officials said.

The larger of the two, the so-called Ute Park Fire in Colfax County, New Mexico, was zero percent contained after scorching some 30,000 acres by early Sunday morning near Cimarron, a town of about 1,100 people northeast of Santa Fe, according to a bulletin on the New Mexico Fire Information website.

Ten fire crews, totaling 510 people, 32 fire engines, eight helicopters and eight bulldozers, were deployed, officials said.

About 300 structures were threatened in Cimarron, where officials issued a mandatory evacuation on Friday. The town lies just northeast of the Santa Fe National Forest, which was indefinitely closed to the public on Friday in a rare measure prompted by the heightened fire risk from prolonged drought.

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About a dozen outbuildings went up in flames on an adjacent ranch, fire officials said.

The cause of the fire, which began on Thursday and has been burning through grassland and pine forest, is not known.

A second wildfire started on Friday about 10 miles north of Durango, Colorado, raging across nearly 2,000 acres and forcing the evacuation of about 1,500 people near the southern border of the San Juan National Forest, the U.S. Forest Service said.

Officials of La Plata County, Colorado, said they opened evacuation centers after ordering residents out of about 825 homes and issuing pre-evacuation notices for residents of another 760 homes.

The Forest Service said the intensity of the Colorado wildfire, known as the 416 Fire, had slightly diminished by Saturday morning and that firefighters were focused on protecting neighborhoods and infrastructure as they managed to carve containment lines around 10 percent of the blaze.

For both fires, there is a risk of lightning strikes and gusty winds, but Hurley said the amount of rain brings more help than storm risks.

(Reporting by Brendan O'Brien in Milwaukee and Peter Szekely in New York; Additional reporting and writing by Rich McKay in Atlanta; Editing by Dale Hudson)

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Supporters of opposition party VMRO-DPMNE take part in a protest over compromise solution in Macedonia's dispute with Greece over the country's name in Skopje, Macedonia, June 2, 2018. REUTERS/Ognen Teofilovski

Thomson Reuters

SKOPJE (Reuters) - Several thousand supporters of Macedonia's opposition VMRO-DPMNE party protested on Saturday against changing the name of the country and to demand an early election because of the poor state of the economy, which contracted last year.

Prime Minister Zoran Zaev has promised to boost the economy and accelerate the country's accession to NATO and the European Union, moves that have so far been blocked by its neighbor and EU-member Greece in a row over Macedonia's name.

People waving Macedonian and party flags gathered in front of the government building in the capital Skopje, with some of them holding banners that read: "Macedonia will win."

Macedonia and Greece have been holding talks to resolve the long-running row over the use by the former Yugoslav republic of the name Macedonia, which Greece says implies a territorial claim because its northern province has the same name.

"I am disappointed that they are negotiating to change of our name," said Kiril Stojanovksi, a 41-year-old accountant. "Our name should not be changed they must know that we are not going to get into the NATO and EU in the next 10 to 15 years why are they doing this?"

Western countries see integration of the Western Balkan countries into the EU and NATO as a way to bring stability to the region that is still recovering from the wars and economic turmoil of the 1990s.

VMRO-DPMNE leader Hristijan Mickoski has called for an early election to be held next year.

Mickoski told the crowd that the prime minister "will do irreparable damage from which there is no coming back. VMRO-DPMNE is against any change of the constitution with an aim to change our name."

VMRO-DPMNE led the country for nearly 10 years until 2016 elections, which ended a two-year crisis.

(Reporting by Kole Casule; Writing by Ivana Sekularac; Editing by Edmund Blair)

See Also:
GENEVA (Reuters) - Unidentified forces attacked a U.N. aid vessel off the main Yemeni port of Hodeidah at the weekend and started a fire in the engine room, port authorities said on Monday.

The United Nations aid chief, Mark Lowcock, confirmed there had been an incident but said it was now over and everyone was safe, without elaborating.

The vessel used by the U.N. World Food Programme (WFP) was attacked after delivering a shipment at Hodeidah, Yemen's Red Sea Ports Corporation said. The port is held by the Iranian-aligned armed Houthi movement which has taken large parts of the country in a three-year-old war.

A WFP spokeswoman said an unidentified armed group "abroad a skiff had opened fire and attempted to take over" the vessel that was some 60 km (38 miles)) off the coast of Hodeidah.

"Both the crew and the vessel are safe, with no injuries or obvious damage to the vessel," spokeswoman Bettina Luescher said in a statement sent to Reuters.

The ship was waiting in anchorage for permission to leave from a Saudi-led military coalition, the Ports Corporation added. The coalition is fighting the Houthis and controls the nearby Zubair island.

"The vessel traffic office received a distress call from the VOS THEIA at 1730 (1430 GMT) on Sunday, June 3, 2018 about a fire in the vessel resulting from an external attack," the Port Corporation said in a statement.

"There was an incident," Lowcock told Reuters in Geneva. "We don't know who's responsible. We're investigating and the incident is over."

Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and Sunni Muslim allies entered the war three years ago to try to drive back the Houthis, a Shiite group that forced a Saudi-backed government into exile in 2014.

Last month the U.S.-backed coalition said it had foiled attacks by explosives-laden speedboats deployed by the Houthis against commercial vessels, including an oil tanker, in the Red Sea, and in April a Saudi oil tanker was hit off of Hodeidah, suffering limited damage.

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A coalition spokesperson did not immediately respond to a request for comment on the boarding.

Coalition-backed troops have been advancing on Hodeidah, but it is not clear if they plan to seize the port, which handles the bulk of Yemen's commercial imports and aid supplies.

Asked about a possible coalition ground assault on the port, a lifeline for eight million Yemenis being fed by the world body, Lowcock said: "There's no port more important than Hodeidah. So anything which called into question the operation of Hodeidah would be a matter of deepest concern."

Riyadh says the Houthis are using the port to smuggle Iranian-made weapons, accusations denied by the group and Tehran. U.N. inspectors check ships to ensure they do not carry weapons.

Yemen's war has killed more than 10,000 people, displaced three million and pushed the impoverished country to the verge of starvation.

(Reporting by Stephanie Nebehay and Mohammed Ghobari; Writing by Stephen Kalin; Editing by Kevin Liffey, Andrew Heavens and David Stamp)
RNA therapeutics developer Silence Therapeutics announced on Monday that its chief executive Ali Mortazavi will leave the company with immediate effect after a six year stay.

Silence said that until the appointment of a new chief executive, Annalisa Jenkins, current chair of the AIM traded company, will assume the role of executive chair in an interim capacity to ensure a smooth transition.

Annalisa Jenkins, executive chairman of Silence Therapeutics, said: "On behalf of the board I would like to thank Ali for his achievements and commitment to Silence over the past six years. Under his leadership Silence has built an experienced international executive team with significant RNAi expertise."

Jenkins joined the company as non-executive chair in October 2017 and also serves as chief executive of Plaquetec and on a number of UK and International life science boards.

Her 25 years of experience includes stints as head of global research and development at Merck Serono, head of global medical affairs at Bristol-Myers Squibb and chief executive of Dimension Therapeutics until its acquisition in 2017.

"We believe today that our RNAi platform and R&D capabilities offer an opportunity to advance our lead programme in iron metabolism towards the clinic and to establish research partnerships that will maximise shareholder value," said Jenkins.

Silence said Jenkins has developed expertise in developing programmes reliant on research through clinical development, regulatory approval and global healthcare systems.

As of 1232 BST, Silence Therapeutics shares were up 8.89% at 147.00p.
Consumer self-care company Venture Life updated the market on its UltraDEX and Myco Clear brands on Monday, confirming the launch of UltraDEX at Lloyds Pharmacy in the UK from 18 June.

The AIM-traded firm said initially, it would bring the brand an additional 580 new listings through the introduction of UltraDEX Oral Rinse and UltraDEX Fresh Breath spray in stores.

In addition, Lloyds Pharmacy would list the two products, as well as the UltraDEX Toothpaste, in its online store, where it would be available to purchase online or via click and collect in store.

Venture Life described Lloyds Pharmacy as a leading community pharmacy and healthcare provider with more than 1,500 storefronts across the UK, mainly in community and health centre locations.

Separately, Venture Life also announced a new distribution deal with the international pharmaceutical company Jaba Recordati in Portugal for Myco Clear - a range which it said helped treat and prevent nail fungal infections.

Launch would take place later in the year, or in the first quarter of 2019.

I am delighted that we have now been able to get the UltraDEX range into Lloyds Pharmacy, the second largest chain of pharmacies in the UK, said chief executive officer Jerry Randall.

Our store listings are now 20% higher than one year ago - this reflects the continued commercial development of the UltraDEX brand in the UK.

This increase of distribution also illustrates the growing momentum of the brand along with the launch of the new UltraDEX One GOO in Superdrug.

Randall said the company had seen a high level of interest in its new products developed for the UltraDEX range, and expected to provide further news in the area soon.

I am also delighted to announce the new distribution agreement of Myco Clear with Jaba, who are a significant player in the European OTC market.

This opportunity adds to a number of products we already supply to the Recordati Group.

The adoption of Myco Clear by such a prestigious company validates the innovative and high quality nature of our products in this area.
Bayer said it would axe the Monsanto name after the $63bn acquisition of the US agri-food company.

The deal will see the German chemical and pharmaceutical group create the world's largest producer of seeds and pesticides.

The acquisition comes two years after the first attempt to purchase Monsanto. It presented its first offer in May 2016 and reached an agreement with the American company in September of that same year.

As of next Thursday, Bayer will become the sole shareholder of Monsanto and its integration will take place as quickly as the disinvestment of assets agreed with Basf has been completed, something that could take a couple of months.

"The acquisition of Monsanto is a strategic milestone to strengthen our portfolio of leading health and nutrition businesses," said Bayer chairman Werner Baumann, noting that the company will "double" the size of its agricultural business. The staff of both companies amounted to 115,000 workers in 2017.

Monsanto attracted significant opposition from environmental campaigners for its promotion of genetically-modified seeds.

Also, Bayer stressed that the acquisition of the US firm will generate significant profit, with a positive contribution to its strategic revenues from 2019. In addition, after adjusting divestments, Bayer estimates that annual synergies will contribute $1.2bn to its adjusted earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortisation from 2022.

To finance the acquisition Bayer will carry out a capital increase by issuing 74.6m new shares at 81 each, with the intention of raising some $6bn.
Stocks are holding in the black despite the heavy news-flow at the weekend around the simmering trade tensions between the US and China, but also in relation to allies including Canada and the European Union.

At the weekend, Beijing threatened to withdraw from its previously agreed commitments with Washington to cut its bilateral trade deficit on goods with the US if the Trump Administration moved ahead with tariffs on $50bn-worth of Chinese products.

Traders were also keeping a close eye on events in Italy and Spain and on the first steps by the new governments in each country.

"With respect to Italy's new government, which should be ratified later today, and subsequent rebound in bond and equity markets after last week's turbulence, only the most ardent optimist would argue that just because a renowned Eurosceptic in the name of Paolo Savona hasn't become Italy's finance minister that the EUs problems have somehow lessened," said Michael Hewson, chief market analyst at CMC Markets UK.

By 1200 BST, the benchmark Stoxx 600 was advancing 0.51% or 1.97 points to 388.92, alongside a gain of 0.10% or 13.10 points to 12,737.37 for the German Dax and a rise of 0.41% or 93.32 points to 22,202.87 for Milan's FTSE Mibtel.

Weighing on German shares, euro/dollar was extending its recent bounce, adding 0.53% to 1.17222.

Meanwhile, in Spain, the recently-ousted PP party was said to be blocking extra investment in the Basque country included in the country's 2018 Budget Law, after nationalists from the region backed a no-confidence vote against it on Friday, just days after having supported passage of the new Budget.

Over in fixed income markets, the yield on the benchmark 10-year Italian government bond was down by 14 basis points to 2.55% and the on similarly-dated Spanish debt by nine basis points to 1.35%.

Greek GDP sprints ahead, Spanish unemployment sees record fall in May

The flow of economic data was light at the start of the week, with the main release being Eurostat data showing that producer prices in the single currency bloc were unchanged in month-on-month terms in April and up by 2.0% on the year (consensus: 2.4%).

However, Greece also delivered some positive news, with the country's statistical agency, ELSTAT, reporting that the Mediterranean country's gross domestic product jumped by 0.8% quarter-on-quarter over the first three months of the year, doubling economists' projections for growth of 0.4%.

Likewise, in Spain government statistics showed that the number of unemployed shrank by a record 83,738 or 2.51% in May, to reach 3.252m.

For later in the day, the US Commerce Department was scheduled to publish its final reading on durable goods orders figures for the month of April at 1500 BST.

Dominating the corporate headlines, the Financial Times reported that Italy's UniCredit was mulling a merger with Societe Generale; but the talks were said to be at an early stage, with recent political events in Rome possibly throwing a spanner into the works.

Separately, SocGen announced it had reached a financial settlement with US authorities on probes into its alleged participation in rigging LIBOR rates and the payment of bribes to Libyan officials.
Westminster will propose to Brussels a time-limited extension of the current tarriff arrangement with the European Union this week, Bloomberg reported citing two persons familiar with the government's plans.

Under the proposal, all of Britain would remain aligned with the EU until a new trade regime is in place and functioning, with the specific cut-off date to be determined at a later point in time.

Nevertheless, with negotiations with Brussels set to resume on Tuesday, UK officials had yet to sign-off on the written proposal, the newswire said.

It is hoped that proposal will help to unblock Brexit negotiations, which have been at an impasse over the thorny issue of how to avoid a hard-border between the Republic and Northern Ireland.

With just over three weeks left to go before the start of the EU leaders' summit on 28 June, Irish Foreign Minister Simon Coveney said there were rising concerns there wouldn't be any written proposal.

"If there is no progress on the backstop, we are in for an uncertain summer. At this point we need written proposals on the Irish backstop consistent with what was agreed. We await written proposals from the British side," he added.

On the EU side of negotiations, hopes for a breakthrough appeared to be running low, with the German government's Brexit coordinator claiming that they expected to be forced to solve all problems in one go at the EU October summit.

October is seen as the last feasible date to reach a deal in order for both parliaments to have enough time to ratify the agreement.

Bloomberg also reported that a White Paper on the UK's future trade relationship with Europe that had been expected for before 28 June might now be delayed.
Lindsay Ell was 21 years old when she moved to Nashville to pursue her music career in 2010. Although she was no newcomer to playing music, she wanted to find her own sound and niche. When she first moved to the U.S. from her hometown of Calgary, AB, she told L.A. Times I was hearing so much from everyone around me that I didnt know who I was or what I wanted anymore. Thankfully, she soon found herself.

Canadian artist takes on Music City

Before moving to the states, Ell had released her debut album in 2006. It was titled Consider This and was produced by Randy Bachman.

Lindsay was only 15 when Bachman, of "Guess Who" and "Bachman Turner Overdrive," discovered her, L.A Times reminds us. A few years later, she decided to move to Nashville.

Once in Tennessee, the young artist began working with a plethora of other songwriters. She has now been signed to Stoney Creek Records for five years. On March 24, 2017, Stoney Creek released Lindsays EP, Worth the Wait. On the EP were five tracks that would appear on her soon-to-be-released album, The Project. The full album was released in August 2017; however, before the album could even be written, Lindsay had to find her own sound.

Lindsay Ell meets Kristian Bush

Two years ago, Lindsay met Kristian Bush of Sugarland, and thats how it all started.

Lindsay has said that Kristian, being a songwriter and producer, knew exactly what she needed. The Rollingstone says he told her to record her favorite album start to finish. She had to complete this project on her own in two weeks, and she had to play every instrument herself.

Lindsay picked John Mayers Continuum, which she says is her favorite album of all time.

She thought she had the project in the bag, but, in her interview with L.A. Times, she said, As soon as I started trying to figure out exactly what he did and how he did it, I started wondering what Id got myself into.

Ell spent 14 straight days in the studio to complete the cover album. The cover of Continuum was originally never going to be released; it was a homework assignment meant to help Lindsay find the path her own music would take.

Many fans begged for the rising star to release her cover project once they caught wind that it had been recorded.

Kristian ended up removing the drum tracks before the album was released, but Lindsay recorded all the guitar, bass guitar, piano, and vocal tracks on her own. The Continuum Project can be found on iTunes, Spotify, or Amazon Music.
The Virginia Tech Board of Visitors approved a $1.6 billion university budget for the 2018-19 fiscal year (July 1, 2018, to June 30, 2019) at its meeting in Blacksburg today.

The board also took action to extend the contract of university president Tim Sands through 2024.

Next years budget represents a $34.5 million increase over this years university budget, or 2.3 percent, primarily driven by enrollment growth in the educational and general program. Also contributing to the increase are university plans to grow student financial aid and projected growth of auxiliary enterprise revenue.

The 2018-19 operating budget includes the integration of the Virginia Tech Carilion School of Medicine, increases in student financial aid, funds to support a 2 percent merit program for faculty and university staff, resources needed to support continued quality education to meet enrollment demand, and support to help advance strategic goals.

The growth in the operating budget comes at a time when Virginia Techs state budget allocation was projected to remain generally flat for next fiscal year and as Virginia Tech once again limited tuition and fee increases to in-state students to 2.9 percent. It is projected that the state share (General Fund) of the total university operating budget next year will be 17.0 percent, compared to 17.4 percent this year.

The board approved a resolution to create a new bachelor of arts degree program and a bachelor of science degree program in science, technology, and society. The two new degree programs will help students develop new ways of understanding and intervening in the relationship of science and technology to society. Graduates will be sought by companies and organizations that seek workers who possess strong writing, research, critical thinking, and collaboration skills as well as advanced scientific or technological literacy.

Pending the approval of the State Council of Higher Education for Virginia, the two new degree programs will begin next spring.

In other actions, the board approved spending $3.5 million to develop a plan to replace Slusher Hall. Because of its current condition, Virginia Tech has determined the facility, originally built in 1972, should be replaced rather than renovated. The university plans to first build and occupy a new residence hall near the existing Slusher Hall, then demolish and remove Slusher Hall, then build a second building on the site. The two new facilities will have a total student occupancy that will equal or exceed the existing 630 beds with the intent to maximize the number of beds to the extent practical.
During its quarterly full-board meeting held today, the Virginia Tech Board of Visitors voted unanimously to extend the contract of university president Tim Sands through 2024.

Sands, who became Virginia Techs 16th president in 2014 following the retirement of former President Charles W. Steger, has engaged the university community in a visionary plan. With community input throughout the process, Sands shared this vision to advance Virginia Techs role as a leading global land-grant institution, seeking solutions for the commonwealths, the countrys, and the worlds most challenging problems.

Tim Sands is an inspirational and visionary leader. While proudly honoring Virginia Techs history, he is putting the university on a path that will define the future of this remarkable institution by aligning its land-grant mission with the emerging needs and opportunities that are being created by a rapidly changing world and the evolving landscape of higher education, said Dennis Treacy, rector of the Virginia Tech Board of Visitors. The board has full confidence in Tims vision, his plan, and his ability to provide transformative leadership in service to Virginia Tech.

It was clear to me, even before I became president, that Virginia Tech is a remarkable institution, capable of defining an aspirational future for higher education during a time of rapid change in the world around us, said Sands. I will be forever grateful for the opportunity I have been given to lead this remarkable community. Together, we have made remarkable strides toward our shared Beyond Boundaries vision. Our transdisciplinary Destination Areas that now engage students and faculty across all disciplines, our expanding presence in Roanoke and the National Capital Region, and our unprecedented support and engagement from alumni and friends are just a few examples of the progress we have made over our first four years.

However, we still have important work ahead, and I appreciate the opportunity afforded by the board to maintain our course into the future, Sands said. As we approach our sesquicentennial celebration in 2022, I am eager to further engage with our faculty, our students, and our alumni as we advance Virginia Tech.

During his first four years as president, Sands has championed the development of Destination Areas and Strategic Growth Areas, thematic focus areas that leverage the universitys strengths to attract both faculty and student talent and generate creative energy that extends across all disciplines. The ongoing development of these areas involves the reimagining of Virginia Techs Blacksburg residential campus, catalyzing the economic development of the Blacksburg-Roanoke region with a growing health science and technology center of excellence, and developing the experiential learning and research potential in Northern Virginia.

Sands has led the InclusiveVT initiative to provide leadership, collaboration, guidance, and resources to support and accelerate the implementation of inclusion and diversity goals throughout the university community.

As president, Sands has embraced Virginia Techs heritage of service and community and its motto, Ut Prosim (That I May Serve). He is deeply committed to see that all Virginia Tech students graduate with disciplinary mastery, technology literacy, cultural competency, resilience, empathy for others, and the passions and strengths needed for a life and career of impactful service to humanity.

In support of Sands vision for the university, alumni and friends combined to make $162 million in new gifts and commitments to Virginia Tech last year, a 62-percent increase in giving compared to the previous year and more than double what was raised just two years earlier.

Under Sands, Virginia Techs total research and expenditure spending has grown to $521 million, the highest level in the history of the university. On July 1, Virginia Tech will fully integrate the academic and research missions of the Virginia Tech Carilion School of Medicine as the universitys ninth college.

Before coming to Virginia Tech, Sands served as executive vice president for academic affairs and provost of Purdue University in West Lafayette, Indiana. He also served as acting president during the summer and fall of 2012.

He joined the Purdue faculty in 2002 as the Basil S. Turner Professor of Engineering in the schools of Materials Engineering and Electrical and Computer Engineering. Prior to becoming provost, he served as the Mary Jo and Robert L. Kirk Director of the Birck Nanotechnology Center in Purdue's Discovery Park.

From 1993 to 2002, Sands was a professor of materials science and engineering at the University of California, Berkeley, and before that, he performed research and directed research groups at Bell Communications Research (Bellcore) in Red Bank, New Jersey. Throughout his career, he has participated in and led research teams and academic programs that have been characterized by open collaboration across a wide array of disciplines.

Sands holds faculty appointments in the Bradley Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering and the Department of Materials Science and Engineering in the College of Engineering. His current research interests focus on microelectronics, optoelectronics, and nanotechnology. He is a Fellow of the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers, the Materials Research Society, and the National Academy of Inventors. He has been granted 20 patents in electronic and optoelectronic materials and devices.

Sands has a bachelor's degree with highest honors in engineering physics and a master's degree and doctorate in materials science from the University of California, Berkeley. He is joined at Virginia Tech by his wife, Laura Sands, a professor of gerontology in the Department of Human Development and Family Science in the College of Liberal Arts and Human Sciences.
Podcast Episode #122: Hailey Hoffman Chisholm and Aaron Hoffman of Hoffman California Fabrics

On todays episode of the Craft Industry Alliance podcast were talking about the business of fabric with my guests, Hailey Hoffman Chisholm and Aaron Hoffman of Hoffman California Fabrics.

Together, Aaron and Hailey represent the fourth generation of the Hoffman family working in the company that will hit its 94th anniversary later this year. Hailey works as marketing and sales associate. Her mother, Robin Hoffman Haack, is the chief financial officer.

Aaron launched the Me+You brand to offer hand-dyed solids and batiks featuring minimalist graphic designs over solid backgrounds. His goal was to make batiks more appealing to quilters pursuing the modern aesthetic in their projects. Aarons father is Tony Hoffman, the company CEO. Walter Hoffman, who still works daily in the office, is grandfather to Aaron and Hailey.

Walter Hoffman walks through the Hoffman Fabrics warehouse.

Hailey and Walter.

We begin by talking about Walter and Phillip Flippy Hoffman, both of whom were extraordinary surfers in the 1950s, surfing on the North Shore of Hawaii and in Bali. Their love of surfing led them to pivot the family fabric business which has been founded by their father Rube Hoffman and was, at the time, focused on wool flannels, to surf fashion.

This video made by Cushe shoes explains how the Hoffmans brought surf fashion into the mainstream.

Today, Hoffman California has a fabric archive with 50,000 hanger samples, 9 yards each, of every print Hoffman has ever made since the early 1950s. Its the largest tropical print archive in the U.S. and possibly the world!

The Hoffman Fabrics tropical print archives.

The brothers went to Bali in the late 1970s to surf and struck up a conversation with a guy in the water who was making batiks. They visited his workshop and have been producing batik fabrics for their company ever since. Hoffman California was the first company to introduce batiks to the quilting market.

Artisans in Bali making Hoffman batiks.

We also talk about:

Why Hoffman mostly uses in-house designers rather than freelance designers

The role of sales reps

Why batiks get a bad rap among modern quilters and what Aaron is doing to combat that

The environmental impact of making batik fabrics. Heres a video showing Hoffmans wastewater treatment facility.

The changing role of Quilt Market

The potential of digital printing

The recent shakeups in the quilting fabric market

Rolls of fabric stacked up at the warehouse at Hoffman California Fabrics.

Me+You fabrics on display.

And, of course, I ask Hailey and Aaron to recommend great stuff theyre enjoying right now.

Aaron recommends:

Jumping in the ocean (he also loves to surf, as does his daughter)

Hailey recommends:

sewing with barkcloth

Joe Rogans podcast

the How I Built This podcast

Keep up with Hoffman California Fabrics on their website, follow along on Facebook, and on Instagram.

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This episode is sponsored by STITCHES Midwest 2018. Exclusively for Craft Industry Alliance listeners, you can get 20% OFF STITCHES Midwest 2018 classes and events by visiting www.STITCHES.events/Midwest and entering the coupon code MIDWEST18WSN at check-out. With stimulating classes and shopping for ALL knitters, crocheters, weavers, AND sewers, quilters, and others interested in all things yarn AND fabricyou wont want to miss this amazing show. You can learn more at www.STITCHES.events/Midwest

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You can listen to this episode by clicking on the green arrow below, or subscribe to the Craft Industry Alliance podcast in iTunes or on Stitcher so you never miss an episode. If you enjoy the show, tell a friend about it! Thank you so much.
California's non-partisan election highlights a busy primary Tuesday this week. Also on the calendar, with more traditional primaries, are Alabama, Iowa, Mississippi, Montana, New Jersey, New Mexico and South Dakota. Nominees will be chosen for five Senate and five gubernatorial races across the eight states. California (and New Mexico) have elections for both.

The video below, from the Los Angeles Times, provides an overview of California's top-two primary system. All candidates appear on a single ballot. The top two vote-getters, regardless of party, move on to the general election. The most closely-watched races that might be impacted are three Republican-held congressional districts in Orange County and the state's gubernatorial race.

Each of the three congressional races features two or more viable Democratic candidates. In fact, voters in each of these districts must choose from no fewer than 15 candidates on the ballot. The party's fear is a split vote such that two Republicans advance to November. This would give the GOP automatic victories in one or more races that are winnable by Democrats.

Candidates on the primary ballot in three competitive congressional districts:

On the other hand, Republicans are concerned that two Democrats will advance to November in the race to replace termed-out Gov. Jerry Brown. The race to watch is that for 2nd place, between Democrat Antonio Villaraigosa, the former Mayor of Los Angeles and Republican businessman John Cox. Democratic Lt. Gov. Gavin Newsom is likely to get the most votes. A Democrat will almost certainly win in November, but having no Republicans on the ballot for a statewide race - the U.S. Senate contest is expected to feature two Democrats - might suppress turnout.

Polls close Tuesday at 11:00 PM Eastern / 8:00 PM Pacific. It is the last of the eight states to close, and almost certainly will be the last to finalize all the results, if 2016 is any guide.
Natalie Elliot in The New Atlantis:

In Act V of Hamlet, after Hamlet has killed Polonius, Ophelia has died, and Hamlet has returned to Denmark from his murderous trip to England, he happens upon two gravediggers. It is an odd and puzzling scene, and a noticeable departure from the rising action of the play. At this juncture, we expect Hamlet to clash with his rivals. Instead, we get a deeply philosophical and darkly comic exchange on death, with the gravediggers singing as they toss around bones and Hamlet wondering about the lives of the skeletons before him:

That skull had a tongue in it and could sing

once.

Theres another. Why may not that be the

skull of a lawyer? Where be his quiddities now, his

quillities, his cases, his tenures, and his tricks? Why

does he suffer this mad knave now to knock him

about the sconce with a dirty shovel and will not tell

him of his action of battery?

Later, Hamlet turns from the unfeeling coarseness of the gravediggers to morbid curiosity about the bodies, asking, How long will a man lie i th earth ere he rot?

The question of what comes after death has been on Hamlets mind throughout the play. Considering suicide, he wonders what dreams may come / When we have shuffled off this mortal coil. He seems torn between Catholic and Protestant accounts of the afterlife: Soon after returning from the University of Wittenberg, a center of the Protestant Reformation, Hamlet encounters what appears to be a strikingly Catholic specter  the ghost of his father, claiming his earthly sins must be burnt and purged away in purgatory  but he vacillates on whether the ghost can be believed. By the time he meets the gravediggers, Hamlets questions about the afterlife, still unsolved, turn to the physical realm: He wants to know about the material nature of corpses.

Hamlets curiosity about bodies is significant not only because it recalls some of the materialistic ideas he entertained earlier in the play  that man is nothing more than a quintessence of dust, or that the dead Polonius is simply a bag of guts  but also because it suggests that Shakespeare was engaging with the science of his time.

More here. [Thanks to Simon Dedeo.]
Legislative map splitting Brown County into two districts is preferred option

State legislators heard from about 20 people Tuesday afternoon in Aberdeen in response to four proposed legislative district maps.
All of the time I was growing up, going to school and eventually graduating from business school, I was constantly told by mentors that a person should master a second language in order to develop a niche and to gain an advantage.

Growing up in northern New Mexico, I was constantly exposed to Spanish through relatives and friends. However, Spanish in that part of the world is archaic Spanish, which is not used in modern Spanish-speaking countries. Therefore, I had to learn to speak modern Spanish.

I did so by buying a Que Tal Spanish textbook and constantly listening to tapes of Spanish traditional and rock n roll groups. I never was without a Spanish-English dictionary on my person so that I could look up a word or phrase with which I was unfamiliar. I would then make it a point to use the word or phrase as quickly and as often as possible so that it could be cemented into my modern Spanish vocabulary. When I moved to Mexico City in the 1990s, I felt like my Spanish went to graduate school. I knew that I was completely fluent in the language when I started to dream in Spanish.

Today, I take pride that I can do television and radio interviews and jump up in front of an audience and give a presentation in Spanish without most people knowing that this is not my first language. Having the ability to speak a second language has given me opportunities in international trade that I would never have experienced if I were monolingual.

Therefore, I was greatly disturbed when I read a recent article in the New York Times that told of two friends, Ana Suda and Mimi Hernandez, bumping into each other at the Town Pump convenience store in Havre, Mont., where they had gone to pick up some food items. The two friends started chatting in Spanish when they were overhead by a U.S. Border Patrol agent who asked them where they were born. After Suda informed him she was born in El Paso, Texas, and Hernandez in central California, he insisted that he see their identifications.

Suda pulled out her phone and recorded the confrontation. She also notified the officer that he was illegally racially profiling the two women. The officer denied that he was doing this, and said, It had nothing to do with that. Its the fact that it has to do with you guys speaking Spanish in a state where its predominantly English-speaking.

After 20 minutes, the officer returned their identifications, but Suda was not done with the encounter and told the Times that she would be filing an official complaint with the U.S. Customs and Border Protection, which issued a statement that the officers conduct was under review. Border Patrol officers cannot detain people based solely on their race or ethnicity. According to the Times, courts have ruled that neither can they detain people based on their language.

The change in U.S. direction toward more isolation in the world, scapegoating immigrants as a major root of the countrys problems, and the Trump administrations push to restrict immigration to the U.S. all seem to be coalescing to produce incidents such as the one in which Suda and Hernandez were involved.

Would the officer have questioned the women if they were speaking Chinese, Russian or French? These are also languages that are not predominantly spoken in Montana. And Spanish isnt new to that state. Montana, Wyoming, and Idaho had Spanish sheepherders tending to their flocks going back to the 19th century. Spanish has been spoken in the western part of the U.S. much longer than English has.

In the U.S. West, many Spanish-speaking Americans have left states such as my home state of New Mexico to go to places such as Utah, Montana and Wyoming in search of work and a better life. My paternal great-grandparents sold their ranch in Guadalupita, N.M., in Mora County to follow their son, Ernesto, who got a job with the railroad in Cheyenne, Wyo. They both died and are buried there, hundreds of miles from their ancestral homes. The search for better opportunities probably drew Suda and Hernandez to Montana.

Speaking a second language provides an insight into a different culture. I had a literary professor tell me that language is the most tangible part of a culture, and that learning the language is the best insight to understanding the culture. We need to encourage our kids and grandkids to learn different languages so that they can go out and understand the world and communicate with people from different countries. We need to instill in them that a second language will open up doors for them that they never dreamed of, and will make them more attractive to employers who operate divisions around the globe.

We do not need to have incidents occur where speaking a language other than English in this country automatically makes you a suspect who has to prove your right to be in this country as a citizen. This discourages and ostracizes young people from speaking a language other than English.

Yes, Border Patrol agents have a role in keeping our nation secure from people illegally attempting to enter this country and from contraband. However, the political and social turmoil that the U.S. is currently experiencing does not give them the right to become bullies or step all over peoples constitutional rights.

Jerry Pacheco is the executive director of the International Business Accelerator, a nonprofit trade counseling program of the New Mexico Small Business Development Centers Network. He can be reached at 575-589-2200 or at jerry@nmiba.com.
The basic concept of a trial is that one side wins and the other loses. Being a lawyer means accepting the inevitability of losses.

A hard lesson for every young lawyer is that ones level of legal competence isnt always the most important factor driving the outcome of a case. While poor advocacy can turn a slam dunk into a sure loser, even the best advocacy in the world cant reliably perform the opposite trick.

Lawyers, a tribe that includes most judges, understand the difficulties of the legal profession in an intimate way. Anyone who has spent time in the legal trenches bears the scars to prove it. Weve all had our share of professional humiliations and undeserved defeats, and sympathize with beleaguered colleagues. Perhaps for that reason, legal malpractice was slower to develop as a viable field of professional specialization than medical malpractice.

Another, less-creditable reason is that lawyers take care of their own, and that legal malpractice, like any other form of internal review, pits an entrenched in-group against outsiders.

Still, over the past couple of decades the field has gained in respectability and economic importance. An internet search for legal malpractice statistics turns up little in the way of useful data, but it does call up the websites of many law firms eager for business, which in their own way show how the tide has turned. According to a survey released by the State Bar a few years ago, about 80 percent of New Mexico lawyers in private practice carry malpractice insurance. Those without coverage are required by our ethical rules to disclose that fact to their clients.

To prove a case of legal malpractice, its not enough to show that the attorney made bad choices or pursued a harebrained strategy. The client must also prove that the attorneys mistakes caused concrete harm. Sometimes, of course, causation is easy to prove, as when a lawyer blows a deadline and the client has to pay a default judgment.

But often its difficult to pinpoint the precise contribution a lawyers blunder makes to a poor outcome. This is especially true when the error consists of bad advice. After all, the client always had the option to reject the advice. And in business, its rare that a lawyers interpretation of the law provides the sole basis for any decision to proceed with a deal. Usually, its just one input among many.

The problem of proving causation was illustrated by a legal malpractice case that chugged through our court system from 2009 until this past April. The client made a large loan to a Las Vegas, Nev., real estate developer, receiving in return two things: an empty promise of big and fast returns (so big and so fast that in retrospect an extra dollop of caution was probably warranted), and a document bearing the title Secured Promissory Note. Before accepting the note, the client asked his attorney to review it. Unfortunately, the attorney failed to inform him that, despite its title, the note did not actually convey any kind of security interest. It provided no recourse if the borrower defaulted. The client was unknowingly making an unsecured loan.

The difference between a secured loan and an unsecured one is frequently the difference between repayment and loss. In bankruptcy, secured lenders are paid in full before unsecured lenders see their first penny. For that reason, making unsecured loans is risky at the best of times. But the timing of this particular loan could hardly have been worse. It was made in February 2008, one month before the Las Vegas real estate market began its epic collapse. The developer went belly up and the client lost all his money. So he sued the lawyer who failed to alert him that the secured note was anything but.

The New Mexico courts had no difficulty finding that the attorney gave substandard legal advice. But did that failure cause the clients loss? The client testified, I would have walked away if this lawyer had told me this stuff. Thats direct evidence of causation. The trial judge, hearing the case without a jury, found the lawyer 35 percent responsible for the loss, implicitly finding the clients testimony credible. (The other 65 percent of responsibility apparently lay with the client himself, who too credulously believed in the promise of big and fast returns.) But our Court of Appeals reversed because the trial judges finding of credibility was only implicit, not explicit. The appellate court relieved the attorney of any responsibility to make his ill-served client whole. In legal malpractice cases, members of the in-group still receive the benefit of the doubt.

Joel Jacobsen is an author who recently retired from a 29-year legal career. If there are topics you would like to see covered in future columns, please write him at legal.column.tips@gmail.com
Shifting demographics, an aging population and an increasing need for medical services are driving significant activity in the Albuquerque health care office sector.

Some current and future projects include a large hospital system investing in outpatient clinics to reduce the patient crunch in emergency rooms; a dental practice expanding its fast-growing pediatric business; an out-of-state investor opening a skilled-nursing facility; a health care support company taking a large footprint in a Downtown office building; and a new-to-New Mexico Medicaid provider backfilling an empty Northeast Heights office building.

Developers like Scott Throckmorton are well aware of how strong demand has been for health care space. His firm, Argus Investment Realty, has been an active player in medical real estate leasing, sales and construction for more than a decade, bringing health care-oriented companies and properties together.

Health care-related tenants appetites for properties in the area are not abating, Throckmorton said. He estimated the value of the new construction and remodels in recent years in the tens of millions of dollars.

There are particular advantages to specializing in health care real estate, Throckmorton said, not the least of which is capitalizing on the continuing demand. Those needs are skyrocketing due to demographic trends and legislation that has brought many more New Mexicans into the insurance fold.

Its been a pretty resilient market, Throckmorton said.

The development sector in general is profiting from the demand. That includes businesses like Throckmortons  matchmaking tenants to new buildings like the Lovelace Clinic in Independence Square or helping them find office space to support expansions  along with architectural and design firms and builders.

Filling up spaces

The latest addition to one of Argus Downtown properties  the Bank of the West Center  is Carenet Healthcare Services, a Texas-based health care support company, which is expanding to Albuquerque with plans for 244 jobs over the next five years.

The San Antonio-based firm will invest $3 million in the property at 303 Roma NW and an adjoining building, where Carenet employees will occupy nearly 24,000 square feet of space. The sum includes a 10-year lease, tenant improvements, furniture, fixtures and equipment, according to information provided by Albuquerque Economic Development Inc.

Carenet has a particular challenge: They want all their employees on the same floor, Throckmorton said. The design and construction team had to get creative, figuring out a solution that involved connecting to the third floor of an adjacent building at 500 4th NW.

Already in the 230,000-square-foot Roma building is DaVita Medical Group, which located its New Mexico corporate headquarters in the building after extensive tenant improvements. With Carenet leasing up, Throckmorton said 35 to 40 percent of the buildings tenants are medical/office focused, and the 10-story structure is now 93 percent leased.

Throckmorton recently brokered another deal across town for Western Sky Community Care  the New Mexico entity of Centene Corp., which will help manage the states Medicaid program, along with Blue Cross Blue Shield of New Mexico and Presbyterian Health Plan, beginning in January. Western Sky is taking over a vacant, 60,000-square-foot office building at 5300 Homestead NE, with Klinger Constructors handling extensive tenant improvements at the site.

According to the Kaiser Family Foundation, New Mexico now has the second-highest percentage of residents served by Medicaid, and its estimated that in the near future that one in two New Mexicans will be served by Medicaid.

Throckmorton said Western Sky is projecting 350 employees at the Albuquerque site once the insurer is fully ramped up.

Not far from that project, Presbyterian has wrapped up a $20 million addition to its corporate headquarters in North Albuquerque to accommodate several hundred new employees expected to handle Medicaid management services for a future North Carolina venture.

Back office medical (as a category) has really been strong, what with the Presbyterian project and others coming on line, said Dan Newman of CBRE in New Mexico, whose crew represented the landlord on the Centene deal.

A lot of staffing goes along with that, he said of the insurers arrival in New Mexico.

Also benefitting from their entry in the market: construction services providers, IT vendors, and sellers of office furniture.

Crunching the numbers

How much space is devoted entirely to medical-related uses in Albuquerque is a hard number to crunch. When CBRE New Mexico compiles its quarterly research reports, its statistics do not include medical office buildings owned and occupied by entities like Presbyterian and UNMH or buildings 100 percent leased to medical users.

However, the numbers do include medical users leasing general office buildings.

For example, Lovelace leases a sizable space in Altura Building at 4101 Indian School NE, which is included in CBREs office statistics. Smaller medical users, such as dermatologists, dentists, and eye doctors, are also included in the numbers if they lease general office buildings.

CBRE said it doesnt have the exact square footage occupied by medical users but hazards a rough estimate: approximately 3 percent of the 13 million square feet of office space the firm tracks in the metro area.

In its first-ever report on U.S. medical office buildings, national CBRE research notes that the vacancy rate for MOBs has tightened steadily since 2010, to its current level of 8 percent, a record low for the sector and well below the 13 percent average vacancy rate for the U.S. office market.

Cushman & Wakefield in a recent report said 11 million square feet of projects affiliated with health systems were under construction in 2017, along with another 13 million square feet of standalone health care projects not affiliated with any health system.

In Albuquerque, that would include the recently completed Smiles for Kids orthodontics building at Eagle Ranch Road and Paseo del Norte NW, which is right next door to an existing Smiles for Kids pediatric dental practice.

Helming both projects was Insight Construction. Damian Chimenti, the companys CEO, said remodels of medical spaces as well as new construction in some years accounts for easily half our business in terms of annual revenue.

Its a niche that helped build Insight, said Chimenti, whose company was born in the recession of 2008.

He said the business has benefited from renovations and expansions for clients like Lovelace and Presbyterian. Some of Insights other clients are Eye Associates in Los Lunas and HME Specialists in the Journal Center, and the firm also recently transformed a former office building in Uptown into an outpatient physical therapy clinic for New Mexico Orthopaedics.

The work has been steady, Chimenti said. Were pleased that theres a perception in the marketplace that we have this level of expertise, he said. Its a little more stressful than working at a strip mall, he said of the remodels for medical clients. For example, If were working in a hospital (during business hours), we have to be very careful not to kill the power or hit the wrong pipe, he said.

Outpatient facilities

CBRE researchers note that providers are attempting to stem perennially increasing health care expenditures by moving more patient volume away from hospitals and toward more cost-effective outpatient facilities, such as medical office buildings and urgent-care centers  a trend that is catching on in Albuquerque.

For example, three freestanding medical clinics are being planned by Presbyterian Healthcare Services, each of which will offer urgent and emergency care under one roof: one at San Pedro and Paseo NE; another on the West Side at Coors and Learning NW in the first half of 2019; and an Uptown location that has not yet been chosen. Construction costs for the 12,500-square-foot clinics will be between $3.5 million and $4 million each, according to a Presbyterian spokeswoman.

While its a hybrid model thats caught on in other U.S. markets, combining urgent care and emergency medical services in the same building is a concept thats new to Albuquerque, said Dr. Darren Shafer, Presbyterians medical director of emergency medicine. The emergency clinics will be open 24/7, and the urgent care side will be open into the late evening hours.

Also looking to expand services soon will be a 1,665-square-foot outpatient rehabilitation clinic operated by Lovelace UNM Rehabilitation Hospital at 4250 Coors SW. The clinic will begin seeing patients on June 11. Lovelace/UNM invested $250,000 in tenant improvements.
WASHINGTON  An attorney for President Donald Trump stressed Sunday that the presidents legal team would contest any effort to force the president to testify in front of a grand jury during the special counsels Russia probe but downplayed the idea that Trump could pardon himself.

Rudy Giuliani, in a series of television interviews, emphasized one of the main arguments in a newly unveiled letter sent by Trumps lawyers to special counsel Robert Mueller back in January: that a president cant be given a grand jury subpoena as part of the investigation into foreign meddling in the 2016 election.

But he distanced himself from one of their bolder arguments in the letter, which was first reported Saturday by The New York Times, that a president could not have committed obstruction of justice because he has authority to if he wished, terminate the inquiry, or even exercise his power to pardon.

Pardoning himself would be unthinkable and probably lead to immediate impeachment, Giuliani told NBCs Meet the Press. And he has no need to do it, hes done nothing wrong.

The former New York City mayor, who was not on the legal team when the letter was written, added that Trump probably does have the power to pardon himself, an assertion challenged by legal scholars, but says the presidents legal team hasnt discussed that option, which many observers believe could plunge the nation into a constitutional crisis.

I think the political ramifications would be tough, Giuliani told ABCs This Week. Pardoning other people is one thing, pardoning yourself is tough.

Trump has issued two unrelated pardons in recent days and discussed others, a move that has been interpreted as a possible signal to allies ensnared in the Russia probe.

The letter is dated Jan. 29 and addressed to Mueller from John Dowd, a Trump lawyer who has since resigned from the legal team. Mueller has requested an interview with the president to determine whether he had criminal intent to obstruct the investigation into his associates possible links to Russias election interference.

Giuliani said Sunday that a decision about an interview would not be made until after Trumps summit with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un on June 12 in Singapore, and he cast doubt that it would occur at all.

I mean, were leaning toward not, Giuliani told ABC. But look, if they can convince us that it will be brief, it would be to the point, there were five or six points they have to clarify, and with that, we can get this  this long nightmare for the  for the American public over.

Trumps legal team has long pushed the special counsel to narrow the scope of its interview. Giuliani also suggested that Trumps lawyers had been incorrect when they denied that the president was involved with the letter that offered an explanation for Donald Trump Jr.s 2016 Trump Tower meeting with Russians who offered damaging information on Democrat Hillary Clinton.

This is the reason you dont let the president testify, Giuliani told ABC. Our recollection keeps changing, or were not even asked a question and somebody makes an assumption.

If Trump does not consent to an interview, Mueller will have to decide whether to go forward with a historic grand jury subpoena. His team raised the possibility in March of subpoenaing the president, but it is not clear if it is still under active consideration.

A court battle is likely if Trumps team argues that the president cant be forced to answer questions or be charged with obstruction of justice. President Bill Clinton was charged with obstruction in 1998 by the House of Representatives as part of his impeachment trial. And one of the articles of impeachment prepared against President Richard Nixon in 1974 was for obstruction.

Giuliani suggested Sunday that, despite the presidents broad powers, a theoretical charge of obstruction may be possible in some cases. Topics of Muellers obstruction investigation include the firings of FBI director James Comey and former national security adviser Michael Flynn, as well as Trumps reaction to Attorney General Jeff Sessions recusal from the Russia investigation.

In addition to the legal battles, Trumps team and allies have waged a public relations campaign against Mueller and the Justice Department to discredit the investigation and soften the impact of the special counsels potential findings. Giuliani said last week that the special counsel probe may be an entirely illegitimate investigation and need to be curtailed because, in his estimation, it was based on inappropriately obtained information from an informant and Comeys memos.

In reality, the FBI began a counterintelligence investigation in July 2016 to determine if Trump campaign associates were coordinating with Russia to tip the election. The investigation was opened after the hacking of Democratic emails that intelligence officials later formally attributed to Russia.

Trumps team has asked for a briefing about the informant, but Giuliani said Sunday that the president would not order the Justice Department to comply because it would negatively affect public opinion. But he continued to cast doubt on the special counsels eventual findings, suggesting that Trump has already offered explanations for the matters being investigated and that the special counsel was biased against the president.

For every one of these things he did, we can write out five reasons why he did it, Giuliani said. If four of them are completely innocent and one of them is your assumption that its a guilty motive, which (Trump) would deny, you cant possibly prosecute him.

The special counsels office did not respond to a request for comment.

Trump, who was spending a rainy Washington weekend at Camp David, also unleashed a new attack on the Justice Department, which he has repeatedly painted as corrupt and biased against him.

As only one of two people left who could become President, why wouldnt the FBI or Department of Justice have told me that they were secretly investigating Paul Manafort (on charges that were 10 years old and had been previously dropped) during my campaign? Should have told me! Trump tweeted.

Manafort, who was Trumps campaign chairman, faces charges of acting as an unregistered foreign agent and money-laundering conspiracy and also two false-statement charges related to information he shared with the Justice Department about his Ukrainian political work. Trump has argued that the claims predate Manaforts involvement with his Republican campaign. The FBI has not said it told the campaign about the investigation, though the bureau did provide a routine briefing for the campaign about foreign counterintelligence threats.

___

Associated Press writers Chad Day and Eric Tucker contributed to this report.

___

Follow Lemire on Twitter at http://twtter.com/@JonLemire
WASHINGTON  Whistleblower or traitor, leaker or public hero?

National Security Agency contractor Edward Snowden blew the lid off U.S. government surveillance methods five years ago, but intelligence chiefs complain that revelations from the trove of classified documents he disclosed are still trickling out.

That includes recent reporting on a mass surveillance program run by close U.S. ally Japan and on how the NSA targeted bitcoin users to gather intelligence to combat narcotics and money laundering. The Intercept, an investigative publication with access to Snowden documents, published stories on both subjects.

The top U.S. counterintelligence official said journalists have released only about 1 percent taken by the 34-year-old American, now living in exile in Russia, so we dont see this issue ending anytime soon.

This past year, we had more international, Snowden-related documents and breaches than ever, Bill Evanina, who directs the National Counterintelligence and Security Center, said at a recent conference. Since 2013, when Snowden left, there have been thousands of articles around the world with really sensitive stuff thats been leaked.

On June 5, 2013, The Guardian in Britain published the first story based on Snowdens disclosures. It revealed that a secret court order was allowing the U.S. government to get Verizon to share the phone records of millions of Americans. Later stories, including those in The Washington Post, disclosed other snooping and how U.S. and British spy agencies had accessed information from cables carrying the worlds telephone and internet traffic.

Snowdens defenders maintain that the U.S. government has for years exaggerated the damage his disclosures caused. Glenn Greenwald, an Intercept co-founder and former journalist at The Guardian, said there are thousands upon thousands of documents that journalists have chosen not to publish because they would harm peoples reputation or privacy rights or because it would expose legitimate surveillance programs.

Its been almost five years since newspapers around the world began reporting on the Snowden archive and the NSA has offered all kinds of shrill and reckless rhetoric about the damage it has caused, but never any evidence of a single case of a life being endangered let alone harmed, Greenwald said.

U.S. intelligence officials say they are still counting the cost of his disclosures that went beyond actual intelligence collected to how it was collected. Evanina said intelligence agencies are finishing their seventh classified assessment of the damage.

Joel Melstad, a spokesman for the counterintelligence center, said five U.S. intelligence agencies contributed to the latest damage assessment, which itself is highly classified. Melstad said damage has been observed or verified in five categories of information the U.S. government keeps classified to protect national security.

According to Melstad, Snowden-disclosed documents have put U.S. personnel or facilities at risk around the world, damaged intelligence collection efforts, exposed tools used to amass intelligence, destabilized U.S. partnerships abroad and exposed U.S. intelligence operations, capabilities and priorities.

With each additional disclosure, the damage is compounded  providing more detail to what our adversaries have already learned, Melstad said.

Steven Aftergood, a declassification expert at the Federation of American Scientists, said he thinks intelligence agencies are continuing to do Snowden damage assessments because the disclosures relevance to foreign targets might take time to recognize and understand. He said the way that intelligence targets adapt based on information revealed and the impact on how the U.S. collects intelligence could continue for years. But he said that any damage that Snowden caused to U.S. intelligence partners abroad would have been felt immediately after the disclosures began in 2013.

Moscow has resisted U.S. pressure to extradite Snowden, who faces U.S. charges that could land him in prison for up to 30 years. From exile, Snowden often does online public speaking and has been active in developing tools that reporters can use, especially in authoritarian countries, to detect whether they are under surveillance.

Snowden supporters say that the government is exaggerating when it claims he took more than 1 million documents and that far fewer have actually been disclosed.

I think the number of NSA documents that have been published is in the hundreds and not the thousands, said Snowdens lawyer, Ben Wizner. He said the government has never produced any public evidence that the released materials have cause genuine harm to U.S. national security.

The mainstream view among intelligence professionals is that every day and every year that has gone by has lessened the value and importance of the Snowden archives, Wizner said. The idea that information that was current in 2013  and a lot of it was much older than that  might still alert somebody to anything in 2018 seems like a stretch.

Greenwald said the journalists were handed some 9,000 to 10,000 secret documents under the condition that they avoid disclosing any information that could harm innocent people, and that they give the NSA a chance to argue against the release of certain classified materials.

Weve honored his request with each document weve released, Greenwald said. In most cases, weve rejected the NSAs arguments as unsubstantiated, but always gave them the opportunity for input, and will continue to do so.

He said that in 2016, The Intercept announced a program to disclose Snowden documents in bulk and open the collection to journalists and other experts around the world. Greenwald said that since then, hundreds of documents have been disclosed at a time after careful reviews.
PHOENIX  The National Weather Service declared an excessive heat warning for the Phoenix area for Sunday and Monday, reminding people to stay cool at the beginning of Arizonas dangerous summer season. The federal agency has also issued a similar warning for some desert areas of eastern California.

The forecast in the Arizona capital called for highs of 106 to 110 degrees Fahrenheit (41 to 43 degrees Celsius) both days, with lows in the 70s (20 degrees Celsius).

The metro Phoenix area, with some 5 million residents spread across the aptly named Valley of the Sun, experiences temperatures higher than 100 degrees Fahrenheit (37 degrees Celsius) most summer days. The weather agency uses a complicated formula to declare an excessive heat warning, including close to record-breaking temperatures. The official high Sunday was 108 degrees Fahrenheit (42.2 degrees Celsius), the National Weather Service reported.

Weather service meteorologist Mark O Malley said the current excessive heat warning was also issued for eastern desert areas of neighboring California, including around Joshua Tree National Park and the cities of Palm Springs and El Centro.

This is not uncommon, it isnt even a record for us, OMalley said Sunday. But it is hot, 10 degrees above average.

We have this every year, but every year we have lots of people succumb because of the heat, he added. Its a dangerous heat. Take all the precautions, checking on your neighbors, and be smart out there.

Phoenix officials on Friday launched a safety campaign for Arizonas brutal summer season, calling on people in one of the hottest major U.S. cities to protect themselves from extreme heat that can be deadly as temperatures regularly creep into triple digits.

The National Weather Service last week teamed up with the Arizona Department of Health Services and other government agencies to launch a heat awareness campaign.

Periods of excessive and/or extreme heat are no joking matter, the weather service said on its website. Heat kills more people than tornadoes, floods, hurricanes, earthquakes and lightning combined.

There were 155 heat-associated deaths reported in Phoenixs Maricopa County in 2017, the highest annual number ever recorded, as the city experienced the warmest year on record.

According to the Arizona Department of Health Services, 219 people died from heat-associated causes around the state last year, with nearly 1,300 heat-caused deaths statewide during the decade from 2005 to 2015.

The department said that last year more than 2,874 people visited hospital emergency rooms for heat-related illnesses such as heat exhaustion and heat stroke, mostly in the southern and western parts of the state spread across the Sonoran Desert.

The heat is especially dangerous for people spending time outdoors without bringing along sufficient water or taking other precautions. Thats especially true on the many popular hiking trails in and around the city, including on landmark Camelback Mountain.

On Sunday morning, Phoenix, Tempe, and Scottsdale firefighters were summoned to Camelbacks Cholla Trail to help a 30-year-old woman suffering from heat-related issues. The Phoenix Fire Department said when the first crew got there they found the woman in stable condition but then came across a man with moderate heat exhaustion who had to be transported to the hospital.

The Salvation Army in Phoenix said it would activate its heat relief stations throughout the metro area where people can go for cooling and hydration through Monday evening. It said mobile hydration units would be dispatched to certain areas with large populations on homeless people and others vulnerable to excessive heat.

It said it served 400 people on May 6 when the National Weather Service declared its first excessive heat warning of the year for Phoenix.
New Mexicos elected leaders and many citizens often claim to be interested in diversifying the economy and attracting good-paying new jobs to our state. When push comes to shove, however, schizophrenia reigns.

Policymakers often outdo themselves throwing subsidies and tax exemptions at businesses while they enact policies or restrictions that make doing business in New Mexico unattractive.

As has been reported in the media, Holtec International has proposed the construction of an intermediate storage facility for spent nuclear fuel to be located between Carlsbad and Hobbs. The facility would create as many as 135 jobs, including the construction and operating workforce. Operating jobs would pay between $60,000 and $80,000 annually. The state would experience a total increase in income from direct jobs of about $7.9 million and approximately $820,000 in personal income tax and New Mexico Gross Receipts Tax. This facility represents a major investment in New Mexicos economy.

This facility received overwhelming bipartisan support from both houses of the Legislature during the 2016 session when both houses passed memorials supporting the proposed Holtec facility.

Economically speaking, Holtecs plan resembles the Facebook facility in Valencia County that has generated so many positive news stories and resulted in tens of millions of dollars in subsidies from state and local governments.

The biggest difference  aside from Holtec not having asked for subsidies  is the publics sympathy toward Facebook and its antipathy toward nuclear storage. Holtecs proposed facility is extremely safe. Safeguard upon safeguard will be implemented to ensure against accidents both in transit and at its final destination.

The issue of nuclear storage transcends New Mexicos economy, but if it is approved and becomes operational, Holtecs facility could go a long way toward resolving Americas near-term nuclear storage challenges.

Currently, spent nuclear fuel is stored on-site at nuclear power facilities across the nation. This situation is viewed as sub-optimal by supporters and detractors of nuclear power alike. One or more secure central storage facilities are needed to ensure the spent nuclear fuel is stored safely.

The long-term solution proposed by the federal government is the politically-challenged Yucca Mountain facility in Nevada, which has cost taxpayers billions of dollars and may never be used for its intended purpose. Holtecs proposed facility provides at least a starting point for a solution that will save federal taxpayers a great deal of money due to fact that federal taxpayers have been paying tens of billions of dollars in fines to utilities in recent decades due to the federal governments failure to come up with a nuclear storage solution.

And, while nuclear energy is unlikely to grow dramatically in the near-term due to the rise of inexpensive natural gas and increased energy efficiency of the U.S. economy, solving the nuclear storage problem would remove a major obstacle to the industrys resurgence. As concerns about CO2 emissions and man-made climate change intensify, an increasing number of pro-nuclear environmentalists including, but not limited to, NASA scientist James Hansen and Greenpeace founder Patrick Moore may cause nuclear to gain market share once again.

All of this means that by resolving a certain important aspect of the nuclear storage problem, this Holtec facility could:

 Directly generate new, high-paying jobs and tax dollars for New Mexico;

 Help solve the United States nuclear storage woes, thus improving the odds for a zero-carbon energy source which in turn;

 Spurs future demand for uranium production, an industry which at one time served as the backbone of economically-depressed areas of west-central New Mexico.

On that last point, it is true that many communities have been negatively impacted by uranium mining in the past. Modern safety advancements and stricter regulations would mean that a nuclear resurgence could be an economic engine for multiple areas of the Land of Enchantment.

As the only state with two national laboratories specializing in nuclear research, New Mexico has always been on the cutting edge of nuclear technology. The proposed Holtec International storage facility is yet another opportunity for the state to lead the way with tremendous immediate economic benefits as well as longer-term potential for a return to growth of a clean and reliable form of zero-carbon emissions energy.

The Rio Grande Foundation is an independent, non-partisan, tax-exempt research and educational organization dedicated to promoting prosperity for New Mexico based on principles of limited government, economic freedom and individual responsibility.
English French

CLINICAL DATA FROM ONGOING PHASE I DOSE ESCALATION AND EXPANSION STUDY OF MONALIZUMAB AND IMFINZI (DURVALUMAB) IN COLORECTAL cancer PATIENTS PRESENTED AT 2018 ASCO annual meeting

Updated clinical data show preliminary anti-tumor activity in patients with recurrent/metastatic microsatellite -stable colorectal cancer (MSS-CRC ), a population historically unresponsive to PD-1/L1 blockade

31% disease control rate at 16 weeks (DCR: % of responses and stable disease) suggests patients may benefit from stabilizing effect - 88% of patients had 2 or more prior lines of therapy for recurrent/metastatic disease

Data form a basis for exploring the combination with standard of care therapies (SoC) in less heavily pretreated patients

Marseille, France, June 04, 2018, 07:00 AM CEST

Innate Pharma SA (the "Company" - Euronext Paris: FR0010331421 - IPH) today announced updated preliminary clinical data from an ongoing Phase I dose escalation and expansion study evaluating the safety and efficacy of the combination of monalizumab, a first-in-class monoclonal antibody targeting NK and T cell checkpoint receptor NKG2A, with durvalumab in patients with recurrent/metastatic microsatellite-stable colorectal cancer (MSS-CRC). This trial is being conducted by MedImmune, AstraZeneca's global biologics research and development arm, through a co-development and commercialization agreement.

In a poster presentation made at the Gastrointestinal (Colorectal) Cancer session on Sunday, June 3 2018, during the annual meeting of the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO), the combination of monalizumab and durvalumab showed encouraging anti-tumor activity in this difficult-to-treat patient subset.

"The preliminary data so far suggest that the combination of monalizumab and durvalumab may hold promise in some patients with MSS-CRC, a population historically unresponsive to PD-1/L1 therapy", said study investigator Neil H. Segal, MD., PhD., medical oncologist at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York.

Pierre Dodion, Chief Medical Officer at Innate Pharma, added: "We are encouraged by the preliminary results from the ongoing trial observed in a heavily pretreated MSS-CRC patient population. These data have prompted our partner AstraZeneca/MedImmune to further expand the study with additional patient cohorts to explore the novel combination of this first-in-class antibody, monalizumab, with durvalumab on top of current standard of care therapies in patients with less heavily pretreated disease".

Key findings from the MSS-CRC expansion cohort:

Updated preliminary clinical data on the expansion cohort of microsatellite-stable colorectal cancer patients (MSS-CRC) presented at ASCO are based on the cut-off date of April 23, 2018. Forty patients are evaluable for safety and 39, for efficacy. Thirty five (88%) patients had 2 or more prior lines of therapy for recurrent/metastatic disease. Efficacy data show an overall response rate (ORR) of 8%, with confirmed partial response in 3 patients (8%) and stable disease (SD) in 11 patients (28%), including 3 SD patients with tumor reduction who continued therapy for >200 days. The median duration of response was 16.1 weeks at the cut-off date. Data demonstrated a disease control rate (DCR) of 31% at 16 weeks.

Clinical Activity in MSS-CRC Cohort*

MSS-CRC

(n=39) Best Overall Response, n (%) CR 0 PR 3 (8%) Thereof unconfirmed CR 1 (3%) SD 11 (28%) PD 22 (56%) NE/NA 3 (8%) Overall response rate, n (%) [95% CI] 3 (8%) [2-22%] Median duration of response, weeks (95% CI) 16.1 (15.9-NE) Disease control rate at 16 weeks, n (%) [95% CI] 12 (31%) [17-48]

*data cut as of April 23, 2018

The safety profile of the monalizumab and durvalumab combination was consistent with the monotherapy profiles of each agent. In the MSS-CRC expansion cohort, the most common treatment-related AE included arthralgia (7.5%), increased AST (7.5%), hypothyroidism (7.5%), pruritus (7.5%), and rash (7.5%). Grade 3/4 AE that occurred in three patients were limited to sepsis (n=1, Grade 4) and increased lipase (n=1, Grade 3), that both could be resolved, and increased AST (n=1, Grade 3).

About Monalizumab:

Monalizumab is a first-in-class antibody targeting NKG2A receptors expressed on tumor infiltrating cytotoxic NK and CD8 T lymphocytes.

NKG2A is an inhibitory checkpoint receptor binding HLA-E. By expressing HLA-E, cancer cells can protect themselves from killing by NKG2A+ immune cells. HLA-E is frequently up-regulated on cancer cells of many solid tumors and hematological malignancies. Hence, monalizumab may re-establish a broad anti-tumor response mediated by NK and T cells. Monalizumab may also enhance the cytotoxic potential of other therapeutic antibodies.

Monalizumab is partnered with MedImmune, AstraZeneca's global biologics research and development arm, through a co-development and commercialization agreement. A broad exploratory joint clinical development program is ongoing, focused on investigating monalizumab in combination strategies.

About Durvalumab:

Durvalumab, a human monoclonal antibody directed against PD-L1, blocks PD-L1 interaction with PD-1 and CD80 on T cells, countering the tumor's immune-evading tactics and inducing an immune response.

As part of a broad development program, durvalumab is being investigated as monotherapy and in combination with IO, small molecules, and chemotherapies across a range of tumors and stages of disease.

About CRC:

Colorectal cancer is the 3rd most commonly diagnosed cancer, with 1.65 million new cases and 835,000 deaths per year worldwide (WHO, GLOBOCAN database, 2015). 21% of colorectal cancer cases are metastatic at diagnosis, but given that some patients who are diagnosed with local disease at some point progress, the total number of patients with metastatic disease may account for roughly 50% of all colorectal cancer patients.

Despite advances in chemotherapy regimens in combination with biologics in the treatment of CRC, a significant number of patients progress within 6 months after receiving either first or second-line chemotherapy with or without biological agents such as bevacizumab and cetuximab. Furthermore, among patients who are beyond second line treatment, efficacy data are even worse with low response rates and short progression free survival and overall survival rates. Response rates reported for TAS102 (Lonsurf) and regorafenib (Stivarga), 2 approved agents for patients with heavily pretreated CRC, were 1.6 and 1%, respectively. In the TAS102 pivotal trial, median overall survival was 7.1 months (vs 5.3 months for the placebo group); in the regorafenib pivotal trial, median overall survival was 6.4 months (vs 5.0 months for the placebo group). Initial studies with anti-PD-1 or anti-PD-L1 single-agent therapy have yielded limited to no activity in unselected patients with refractory MSS-CRC. Collectively, these data indicate that patients with CRC after 2 lines of chemotherapy with or without biological agents constitute a group with a high unmet medical need.

About Innate Pharma:

Innate Pharma S.A. is a clinical-stage biotechnology company dedicated to improving cancer treatment and clinical outcomes for patients through first-in-class therapeutic antibodies that harness the body's own immune system.

Innate Pharma specializes in immuno-oncology, a new therapeutic field that is changing cancer treatment by mobilizing the power of the body's immune system to recognize and kill cancer cells.

The Company's broad pipeline includes four first-in-class clinical stage antibodies as well as preclinical candidates and technologies that have the potential to address a broad range of cancer indications with high unmet medical needs.

Innate Pharma has pioneered the discovery and development of checkpoint inhibitors, with a unique expertise and understanding of Natural Killer cell biology. This innovative approach has resulted in major alliances with leaders in the biopharmaceutical industry including AstraZeneca, Bristol-Myers Squibb, Novo Nordisk A/S and Sanofi. Innate Pharma is building the foundations to become a fully-integrated biopharmaceutical company.

Based in Marseille, France, Innate Pharma has more than 180 employees and is listed on Euronext Paris.

Learn more about Innate Pharma at www.innate-pharma.com

Information about Innate Pharma shares:

ISIN code

Ticker code

LEI FR0010331421

IPH

9695002Y8420ZB8HJE29

Disclaimer:

This press release contains certain forward-looking statements. Although the company believes its expectations are based on reasonable assumptions, these forward-looking statements are subject to numerous risks and uncertainties, which could cause actual results to differ materially from those anticipated. For a discussion of risks and uncertainties which could cause the company's actual results, financial condition, performance or achievements to differ from those contained in the forward-looking statements, please refer to the Risk Factors ("Facteurs de Risque") section of the Document de Reference prospectus filed with the AMF, which is available on the AMF website (http://www.amf-france.org) or on Innate Pharma's website.

This press release and the information contained herein do not constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to buy or subscribe to shares in Innate Pharma in any country.

For additional information, please contact:
The May 23 Journal article presented a misleading picture of the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commissions Albuquerque meeting to discuss the proposed interim storage facility in southern New Mexico for our countrys spent nuclear fuel.

Sadly, the article devoted as much space to Holtecs claims, which were shared with Journal editors in a private meeting, as it did to the content of the public meeting, much of which refuted these claims but was excluded from the Journal article. Before Holtec International can be awarded a contract for the storage facility, the USNRC must conduct an environmental impact study which concludes that the proposed project would not threaten the environment or endanger local communities. The May 22 meeting was part of that data collection effort.

To say, as the article does, that the majority spoke out against the project implies that a substantial number of participants spoke in support of it; in reality, very few speakers offered favorable comments  and many of those who did were connected to the proposed project in some way. To its credit the article accurately lists several key objections, but its selection of quotes  one that makes little sense without its context and one that has more to do with WIPP than with the Holtec project  fails to do justice to the scope, quality and technical specificity of the presenters comments.

In reality the almost-four-hour meeting was filled with insightful, carefully documented challenges to Holtec Internationals claims about the utility, safety and viability of the project. Presenters questioned the geologic suitability of the proposed site, the integrity of the storage casks, and the safety of the transportation infrastructure. Others challenged the wisdom of aggregating so much spent nuclear material at a single site, which could make it a target for terrorism.

Several presenters, including myself, noted that Holtec prevaricated on its website when it reported that attendees of the Carlsbad, Hobbs and Roswell meetings expressed unequivocal support for the project, when in reality they were as, or more, likely to oppose the project as to support it. Attendees at these earlier meetings reported considerable opposition to the project from both the oil and gas industry and the dairy industry, as well as from members of the public at large.

Understating the degree of opposition is a common strategy for drumming up public support, but it does little to engender trust. As one California-based attendee with experience of Holtecs storage facility at the San Onofre nuclear power plant told the audience, the company has not always been sufficiently transparent in its dealings with the local community.

Early on in the meeting, state Sen. Cisco McSorley, D-Albuquerque, expressed his concern that this project is being rushed through with little or no input from the state Legislature and other relevant stakeholders. The need for more time was reiterated throughout the meeting. A project of this magnitude, with so many unknowns and so much at stake, requires an extensive and multi-pronged assessment of a host of environmental impacts. Various presenters opined that the two-month extension of the comment period  from May 29 to July 30  while a step in the right direction, is insufficient to collect the necessary data to evaluate the project comprehensively and to solicit input from all those who might be affected by it.

Hopefully, the NRC will either be able to conduct a thorough environmental impact assessment in the two months remaining, or it will revise its timeline as necessary to accomplish this objective. I urge your readership to learn as much as possible about the proposed storage facility  ideally with the help of the Journals insightful and balanced reporting  and to register their comments with the NRC. With no permanent storage facility in sight, the Holtec project, if it comes to pass, could impact New Mexicans for many generations to come.
WASHINGTON  If, as is often said, a presidents budget proposal presents a glimpse of his heart, a presidents use of his pardon power offers a companion, and even more telling, X-ray of his soul.

Writing a budget involves making trade-offs and priorities, but these must be examined and ratified by others, elsewhere. The power to pardon is more uniquely personal, both in that pardons tend to be granted to individuals, based on the circumstances of their particular cases, and in that it is an authority that resides solely within the purview of the president.

What, then, does President Trumps suite of pardons  five over the course of his still-young presidency  tell us? Bill Clinton, George W. Bush and Barack Obama each took about two years to dispense their first pardons. Trump, by contrast, has embraced his role as what Alexander Hamilton described as the dispenser of the mercy of government.

Except that Trumps twisted brand of mercy is shaping up as a particularly ugly version of that lofty Hamiltonian vision, variously self-serving in its recipients, tactical in its application and willfully dismissive of the countervailing considerations that a responsible president would take into account before intervening in the ordinary criminal process.

And so Thursdays move to pardon conservative author and admitted felon Dinesh DSouza was repulsive but not out of character. The quality of Trumps mercy skews in a decidedly partisan direction. See also, former Arizona Sheriff Joe Arpaio and, although this pardon is more justifiable, former Dick Cheney aide Scooter Libby.

To secure a Trump pardon, it helps to be a live Republican, a dead black man whose cause has been taken up by a white celebrity  boxer Jack Johnson, courtesy of Sylvester Stallone  or an ordinary schmo whose offense  mishandling of classified information  happened to look a lot like that of a certain political opponent who Trump thinks should have been locked up.

Or, as Trump hinted Thursday in discussing a pardon for Martha Stewart and a sentence commutation for former Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich, a former contestant on his Apprentice show.

Certainly, Trump is not the first president to use the pardon power in distasteful ways. Clintons last-day-in-office pardon of fugitive financier Marc Rich, following extensive political and charitable contributions to Clinton interests by Richs ex-wife, is a pungent example.

Yet there is something particularly wrong, particularly askew, in Trumps pardoning. Partly it is his sloppy impulsivity, without going through the ordinary process of consideration by the Justice Department or satisfying the usual criteria  a five-year waiting period after serving a sentence; acceptance of responsibility, remorse, and atonement for the offense.

But even more it is the disdain in which Trump holds the legal process  a disdain whose public expression in the form of pardons helps reinforce Trumps case of a criminal justice system that is rigged, unfair and unworthy of respect. Trumps pardon of Arpaio for his criminal contempt for disobeying a court order to halt racial profiling underscored the presidents contempt for the judiciary.

The DSouza pardon makes Trumps point even more explicitly. He was treated very unfairly by our government, Trump tweeted of DSouza. Unfairly?

This is a man who pleaded guilty to deliberately violating campaign contribution limits on behalf of a friend running for a New York Senate seat, using straw donors to give her money, which he then reimbursed. While he claimed to be the target of selective prosecution by a Democratic administration, the judge who oversaw his case dismissed that assertion as nonsense.

But dont let facts intrude. What my case shows in miniature is the way Obama and Hillary (Clinton) too have gangster-ized U.S. politics, DSouza said on Laura Ingrahams radio show Thursday. So much for remorse. But its easy to see how nicely DSouzas assertions of victimhood dovetail with Trumps theyre-out-to-get-me strategy.

So, too, with the presidents clemency-in-waiting for Stewart and Blagojevich. Stewart was convicted of obstructing justice and lying  why take that crime so seriously? Blagojevich was convicted on corruption charges that Trump dismissed as being stupid and saying things that  many other politicians say. How convenient to use a Democratic politician to transform criminal bribery into mere bravado.

And if Trumps freely flowing pardons have the salutary side effect of suggesting to those caught up in the Russia probe that they might ultimately benefit from presidential clemency, so much the better, from his vantage point. As with everything else in this administration, the act of pardoning is not about serving justice, it is about serving Trump.

Ruth Marcus email address is ruthmarcus@washpost.com. (c) 2018, Washington Post Writers Group.
State District Judge Nancy Franchini made the right call when she ruled last month that the University of New Mexico Foundation is subject to the state Inspection of Public Records Act because the foundation is effectively an arm of the university.

Its a decision that could have statewide implications as most, if not all, of the states other universities have foundations of their own.

The lawsuit was filed by independent journalist Daniel Libit over the foundations failure to produce documents related to WisePies Pizza & Salads now-former naming rights agreement for the Pit. The foundation, UNMs fundraising arm, argued in court it was a private, nonprofit entity and wasnt subject to IPRA.

But in granting Libits motion for summary judgment, Franchini ruled that while the foundation is a private entity, it acts on behalf of a public entity in such a way that it is subject to IPRA.

The New Mexico Foundation for Open Government joined with the Florida-based Brechner Center for Freedom of Information and submitted a friend-of-the court brief, arguing the court should rule for Libit and pointing out university foundations are arms of the state performing a state function.

The filing also notes that courts in several other states, including Illinois, Michigan, Ohio and California, have ruled that public university foundations and other corporations that coordinate university fundraising are subject to public records laws. While foundations commonly argue that they need confidentiality to avoid compromising donors privacy, the brief points out that there is no evidence public access has prevented other foundations from successful fundraising. The filing also raises the possibility of lawmakers carving out very specific exemptions for some donor privacy, if they choose to do so.

  We believe that the Foundation has a solemn obligation to protect donor confidentiality and privacy, foundation spokeswoman Jennifer Kemp told the Journal in a written statement. We believe a balance can be found between transparency and donor confidentiality.

She said the foundation has attempted to be transparent by providing certain information through its website and in response to direct inquiries.

Kemp says the foundations 25-member board is waiting for the judges written order before deciding whether to appeal the ruling.

For the sake of accountability, and the public that supports the foundation and the university, the foundation should forego the appeal. And UNM President Garnett Stokes, a key member of the foundation board, should support that action in favor of bringing more transparency to the university.

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.
PENSACOLA, Fla.  Water shimmers around every curve in the road: an emerald beach, a blue bayou, a choppy bay. Vines of lilac grow like weeds. The air is thick with humidity.

To the eye, this coastal community on the Florida Panhandle looks nothing like New Mexico. But on paper  when it comes to child well-being  they could be first cousins.

Much like New Mexico, a third of Pensacolas children arent kindergarten-ready. More than a fifth of its high schoolers fail to graduate. Thirty-eight percent of its households are headed by a single parent. More than half of births are covered by Medicaid, while more than a third of pregnant women lack adequate prenatal care.

Led by an invigorated business community, Pensacola has taken up early childhood as its cause, dubbing itself an Early Learning City and rallying around a program to universally educate all new moms  5,000 each year  on the importance of building their childrens brains from infancy.

Last year, Pensacolas three major birthing hospitals introduced a campaign centered around a gift to new parents: the Brain Bag.

Its literally a bag full of resources on brain development, based on a University of Chicago research program called Thirty Million Words.

The bag is a door opener with new parents, said Catherine Kovaleski, a labor and delivery nurse at Pensacolas Baptist Hospital  a way to start a conversation to dispel myths and share the latest brain science.

We laugh about it when we bring it up: You just had a baby! Lets talk about getting them ready for kindergarten!  she said.

According to oft-cited research, children from privileged families hear, on average, 30 million or more words by the end of age 3 than children from low-income families  setting higher-income kids on a path for greater success in school.

To close the achievement gap, the theory goes, a community must close the language gap.

Brain Bags are the brainchild of a Pensacola nonprofit called the Studer Community Institute, founded by health care guru Quint Studer, who made a fortune in hospital consulting before setting his sights on improving Pensacola.

Each bag contains a binder with a bib and rattle reminding parents to talk, talk, talk. There is a picture book, P is for Pelican, and a workbook with developmental milestones for parents. The bags, free to parents, cost $25 apiece to produce.

The $108,000 project is privately funded by a network of women donors and embraced by the business community; its outcomes will be tracked once babies born in the past year hit kindergarten.

In health care, the majority of money is spent on symptoms  the same thing in education, said Studer, who has led the Early Learning City effort.

In Florida, we tried to get some money for (age) 0 to 5, but it all went to K and above because that is who has got all the lobbying power: the public school system and the universities, he said. But the reality is, if 85 percent of the brain is developed by age 3, that is where we need to be focused. What were really trying to do is treat the cause.

Businesses step in

Across the country communities are experimenting with early childhood programs. New Mexico increased its state investment in early childhood programs to more than $300 million in fiscal 2018.

Child advocates, citing that same brain science, have demanded an additional $140 million annually from the Land Grant Permanent Fund for early childhood programs. Their proposals have met failure in the state Legislature seven years running.

Pensacola has given up waiting on the state and federal governments.

Business leaders a year ago were persuaded by emerging brain science showing that about 85 percent of a childs brain  including its 100 billion neurons  is hard-wired by the end of age 3. Language is what builds these brain connections and enhances a childs capacity to learn; the most important component for building strong brains is parent talk.

Brain Bags emerged as one potential solution, as well as an effective fundraising tool for the philanthropic and private sectors.

Pensacolas approach follows a national trend in which business and local leaders are increasingly assuming the mantle of responsibility to solve all kinds of entrenched problems. Theyre taking the lead, not just for the good of the community, but for the twin purposes of workforce and economic development.

The talk connection

It began as a reporting project. The Studer Community Institute hired former journalists to write a report on the causes and impact of poverty in Pensacola. Their research led them through a maze of crushing statistics and sociological theories  until they found Dana Suskind at the University of Chicago.

Suskind is a pediatric cochlear implant surgeon who implants hearing aids in hearing-impaired babies and toddlers. From the beginning of her surgical practice in 2005, Suskind encountered a frustration: While her pediatric patients from middle- and upper-income families rapidly caught up in language acquisition and speech, the children of low-income families did not. She set out to discover why.

That is when she discovered the seminal work of psychologists Betty Hart and Todd Risley, who in the 1980s were the first to identify the language gap.

Their research followed 42 families in Kansas City, Kan., over three years, observing baby development from 9 months to nearly 4 years old.

Based on characteristics like parental occupation, maternal education and income, they divided the families into three groups: high, middle and low socioeconomic status families.

After recording and analyzing everything done by the children, to them and around them for an hour per family each month over the course of three years, Hart and Risley found remarkable similarities in parenting approaches and goals. Parents all socialized their children to a common cultural standard, and the kids all learned to talk.

But the difference in the language they heard  the quality and quantity of words  was stunning.

On average, in the course of one hour, the highest socioeconomic status children heard 2,000 words; the children of low-income families heard only 600.

The highest-income parents responded to their kids an average of 250 times an hour; the lowest-income parents about 50 times.

The gap by 4 years old? Thirty million words.

But the most significant and most concerning difference? Verbal approval, Suskind wrote in her book, Thirty Million Words: Building a Childs Brain. Children in the highest socioeconomic status heard about 40 expressions of verbal approval per hour. Children in welfare homes, about four.

Some scholars have questioned Hart and Risleys findings, discrediting the small sample size and challenging the idea that altering language at home could help children overcome extreme social inequality.

But Suskind focused on a subtle point in her study: The essential factor that determined a childs future learning trajectory wasnt socioeconomic status. It was the quality  and positive nature  of the language spoken. Money didnt matter; words did.

Children in homes in which there was a lot of parent talk, no matter the educational or economic status of that home, did better, Suskind wrote. It was as simple as that.

In Chicago, the Thirty Million Words project today teaches new parents to tune in, take turns and talk more  the three Ts for paying attention to a childs cues, taking conversational turns and talking more. Suskind envisions the program being implemented in prenatal care, at birthing hospitals, in pediatric clinics and home visits around the city.

In Pensacola, hospitals were an obvious place to start, since virtually every birth in the city occurs in one of the three facilities.

Baptist Hospital, Sacred Heart Hospital and West Florida Hospital have been cutthroat competitors in nearly every medical specialty. But when the CEOs were individually approached, each agreed to collaborate.

The Studer Community Institute acknowledges that it will take more than a bag and a delivery room conversation to change decades of inequality. It plans to reinforce the tune in, take turns and talk more message to parents wherever it will have the most impact.

Reggie Dogan, who helped shape the institutes mission, calls the outreach effort a day-to-day struggle.

Parents, especially mothers in poverty, may increase their reading today, but will they continue three years, five years, down the road? he asked. Or will this child fall by the wayside just like the parent did? That is what scares me.

Searchlight New Mexico is a nonprofit, nonpartisan news organization dedicated to investigative journalism. More stories are at projects.searchlightnm.com.
WASHINGTON  Finally, Melania Trump has reappeared.

After more than three weeks out of the public eye, the first lady strolled into a White House event Monday for military families and swept away the wild speculation that she was incapacitated or had otherwise vanished.

The White House did not allow journalists to cover the Gold Star event out of respect for the families, which meant Mrs. Trump was seen in person only by the 40 or so families and administration officials who attended. Others had to keep an eye on social media.

Video posted on Twitter showed the first lady, who wore a black sleeveless dress and her trademark stilettos, strolling into the East Room accompanied by President Donald Trump. He showed her to a front-row seat across the aisle from Vice President Mike Pence before heading to the microphone.

She looked beautiful, said retired Sgt. 1st Class Diana Pike. Pikes son, Chief Petty Officer Christian Pike, of Peoria, Arizona, died in 2013 from injuries suffered in Afghanistan. She just looked so beautiful.

Trump joked about all the speculation that his wife had supposedly left him but said she was doing fine, Pike said.

The first lady later tweeted several photos of the event, including two of her seated alongside the president.

Mrs. Trump was last seen publicly during the overnight hours of May 10 when she and the president welcomed home three Americans who had been detained in North Korea. Four days later, the White House announced that she had been hospitalized to treat a benign kidney condition.

The closest first lady parallel to Mrs. Trumps time out of the public spotlight is Bess Truman, who did few events as first lady because of discomfort around the media, said Anita McBride, a veteran of three Republican administrations who last served as chief of staff to first lady Laura Bush. Mrs. Truman also spent a lot of time in Missouri with her mother.

Nancy Reagan spent several weeks out of public view after a mastectomy, but continued to meet with staff and do other work behind the scenes.

Public interest in and news media coverage of first ladies exploded during the Obama administration, the first White House to extensively use social media to spread its brand, McBride said. But first ladies are not elected and technically are still private citizens, and each one gets to tailor the job to suit her.

She is going to do this job her way, McBride said of Mrs. Trump. Its her style and we just have to accept that.

Mrs. Trump stayed in the hospital for five days and has kept out of public view since returning home May 19. She has been meeting with staff and working on upcoming projects, according to spokeswoman Stephanie Grisham.

Grisham said the Gold Star families event was important to Mrs. Trump and had been on her calendar for some time.

Its still unclear when the first lady will make an appearance in public. Shes not scheduled to accompany Trump to an annual world leaders summit in Canada this weekend, or when he meets with North Koreas leader in Singapore next week.

Her absence sparked all kinds of wild speculation, but the first lady has shown no interest in making an appearance just to knock down rumors.

She sent early signals that she will not bow to speculation or public expectations about what she should be doing.

Her first clue that she would be a different first lady came when she decided to continue living at Trump Tower after her husband took office in January 2017, citing a desire to maintain stability for her sons schooling. She and son Barron officially moved to the White House last June.

Mrs. Trump is very strong and independent, Grisham said.

___

Follow Darlene Superville on Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/dsupervilleap
The board of Idea Cellular has called for an Extraordinary General Meeting (EGM) recently, to approve changing the name of Idea Cellular Limited to Vodafone Idea Limited, as the merger of India's second and third ranked telcos nears completion.



The EGM will also consider the board's plan to raise funds via nonconvertible securities of not more than 15,000 crore, which may be used to pare debt, with the merged entity looking to strengthen its balance sheet to take on rivals Reliance Jio and Bharti Airtel.



Vodafone India and Idea Cellular are in the final leg of getting regulatory approvals for merging their operations to create what will be the largest telecom firm in the country, with an almost 42% customer market share and 37% revenue market share.
Jana, the largest provider of free internet in emerging markets, has announced findings from its latest Mobile Majority report, which takes a close look at the latest payment trends in emerging markets. The research was conducted in India from January 1, 2018 through March 31, 2018, during which data around streaming app installs and usage was anonymously observed from users of Janas mCent browser.

Janas mCent browser is the fastest-growing browser in India. Integrated into the billing systems of 311 mobile operators, the technology has cross-border potential as one of the worlds largest compensation platforms, available to 4.56 billion mobile subscribers, or approximately two-thirds of the worlds population.

Google Play Music opened its music streaming doors to Indian users in 2016, and quickly became one of the markets dominant players with its subscription service launching in April last year. While new rumours have surfaced about a planned merger with YouTube Remix later in the year, which is expected to further distance the service from competition, large newcomers like Spotify plan for its own music service launch in the country to compete globally with Apple.

However, as the large scale war between Google, Spotify and Apple escalates, they arent necessarily the only frontrunners in the race to win India consumers. As noted in the Janas report, JioMusic-Saavn was the only streaming media company to make gains in app installs market share across Janas mCent browser through the first quarter of the year, where the merged companies saw a 1.24 per cent share increase during that time, where Google Play Music saw the largest share drop with -1.25 per cent over the same period. Hungama at 0.12 per cent and Amazon at 0.11 per cent, gained the second and third most ground, respectively.

The merger also saw a big increase in time spent in app as it went from a combined 32.5 per cent share of time spent in app on January 1, 2018, to a 37.8 per cent share by March 31, 2018. Over the same time period, Google Play Music dropped significantly from 45.7 per cent to 40.0 per cent, but still remained 2.2 per cent ahead of Jio-Saavn.

Hotstar emerges as the star of video streaming, Netflix fails to gain traction

Among video streaming apps, the study revealed India consumers have a strong preference for regional providers. Hotstar commanded a nearly 70 per cent share of app installs by the quarter ending March 31, 2018, a 6.6 per cent decrease from January 1, 2018, while SonyLIV more than doubled its share from 5.9 per cent to 13 per cent by the end of the quarter. Voot at 10.7 per cent ranked third by the end of March, while Amazon (5 per cent) and Netflix (1.4 per cent) trailed by a wide margin.

The merger of Saavn-Jio will be interesting to watch and could be a precursor to broader consolidation of Indian-based streaming providers banding together to fight against global tech giants like Google, Spotify, and Apple, said Nathan Eagle, Janas founder and CEO. The same holds true for streaming video providers, where the rise of Hotstar is yet another example of Indian consumers hungry appetite for streaming content, but it will take deep pockets to stave off the larger players who are all making large bets in the region.

Theres been a recent explosion of OTT players in India over the last few years, with billions of dollars in investments intended for the market. With more than 25 OTT players in the video space alone, the data points to the fact that consolidation of major players is both inevitable and necessary to survive in a highly competitive environment that is expected to intensify in the region in the coming months.

Survey Methodology

The research was conducted on streaming video and music app usage across Janas mCent browser from January 1, 2018, through March 31, 2018.

Janas Mobile Majority report offers unique insights and trends on mobile browsing behaviour from subscribers in emerging and high growth markets. Headquartered in Boston MA, Jana is the largest provider of subsidised internet access in emerging markets and Janas mCent Browser is one the fastest growing mobile apps in history. With integrations into 311 mobile operators and available to two thirds of the worlds population, mCent Browser combines a personalised browsing experience with subsidised mobile data.

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LG Electronics India, which recently celebrated 21 years in the country, is further stepping up efforts to design and manufacture innovative products and solutions that satisfy the specific requirements of Indian customers.

To mark the occasion, LG rolled out an emotional yet inspirational campaign, themed #CelebratingTheNew, which revolves around how new innovations and new lifestyle aspirations make dreams come true, and more importantly how dreaming up is shaping a new India in 2018.

Celebrating the new is a fresh take on every lifestyle dynamics of parent-kid relationships in India, and how one common thing in our lives passes from generation to generation. LG has captured this philosophy as journey of Innovation from one generation to another in the video.

Amit Gujral, Head - Corporate Marketing, LG Electronics India, commented, Our 21 years long journey in India is a remarkable milestone, and we are determined more than ever before to develop innovative products and solutions that act as catalyst in offering better lifestyle to all its consumers.

Speaking on the campaign, Gujral remarked that the emotionally charged campaign is a true reflection of LGs brand philosophy of making its customers dreams come true. The video effectively depicts the emotions and aspirations of a common man, and how following ones dreams can have a long-lasting impact on their own lives and of their loved ones, he added.

2018 started on a high note for LG Electronics as it fortified its offerings for India with its Signature Series of household electronic goods. Gujral told Adgully, The LG Signature product line-up brings together the companys most advanced technology and best designs ever on appliances like Air Purifier, Refrigerator, Washing Machine and TV. The vision of LG Signature is to stay pure and sophisticated, true to each products essence.

In order to create differentiation in its marketing programme for the latest series, special experiential zones at select malls and other high footfall areas have been created for the consumers.

2017 had been an exciting year for LG Electronics, as shared by Gujral, where the companys futuristic and technologically advanced product launches like OLED TV, Insta View Refrigerator, G6 & V30+ Smartphones, XBOOM, Air Purifiers, Linear Inverter Washing Machine and Dual Inverter ACs created a spurt in its overall business growth, resulting in double digit growth in business performance over FY2016. The company also sharpened its focus on experiential marketing campaigns to improve consumer connect, which also contributed to business growth.

In conversation with Adgully, Amit Gujral speaks more on LGs marketing and advertising strategy for India this year. Excerpts:

How are you fortifying your marketing and advertising plans this year?

We are betting big on experiential marketing campaigns, as we would want consumers to experience LGs technologies and the advancements that we have made in our products in terms of features, benefits and convenience. We are also creating differentiated content for digital platforms and holistically strengthening our digital/ social consumer connect programmes.

#KarSalaam initiative on Republic Day this year, dedicated to the Indian soldiers. The campaign invited the whole nation to come forward and send their wishes to the Indian Armed Forces. Last year, too, we had launched this campaign and contributed Rs 1 crore to the CRPF Welfare Fund. A Guinness record was also made for the longest line of sticky notes. These sticky notes were collected from across India, where people wrote messages for the armed forces.

This was a small step on behalf of LG for all those brave souls who are working extremely hard to keep our country and its citizens safe and secure. Kar Salaam is a platform to bring together the citizens of India to express their gratitude to our soldiers. The selfless devotion our armed forces calls for salutation and what could be a better occasion than the Republic Day? We invited everyone to pour their hearts out and leave no barriers crossed to reach out to them. #KarSalaam celebrates heroism, patriotism and a good life.

Such initiatives help in bringing brand LG closer to consumers.

How are you leveraging digital?

Digital is fast emerging as a preferred medium of consumer connect, and we set new benchmarks in this space in 2017. On the special occasion of LG Indias 20th anniversary last year, we had rolled out a unique Astronaut video brilliantly showcasing how dreams come true with LG. The digital video, which featured across LGs website and other digital platforms including its social media channels, received an overwhelming response from viewers and hit more than 100 million views and also appeared on the Google Leader Board for the year 2017 as one of the most watched videos in its category. This record viewership reiterated that LG yet again struck the right chords with the Indian consumers and understood their story like no other brand. Not only the Astronaut Video, our social media followership grew by more than 200 per cent over 2016, yet again proving the love our customers bestow on brand LG.

Meanwhile, print remains an important medium in our country and has been growing along with the digital mediums of advertising. We shall continue to invest on this platform.

Going forward, what will be LGs strategy to further fortify the brand in India?

LG has been present in India for 21 years now and we are part of almost every household. The key reason for this is that our products are introduced based on consumer insights; besides, we offer the strongest and best-in-class after sales service and differentiated marketing campaigns. We will continue with this strategy.

How is your partnership with Bajaj Finserv panning out?

As a brand, we constantly provide solutions addressing consumer challenges and certainly this partnership is helping consumers to upgrade their durable purchases. Moreover, we were the nations first appliance manufacturing company who launched the first ever co-branded finance card with Bajaj Finserv for our customers in 2017.

This partnership reiterates our belief in continuously enhancing our customers experiences and continue to live up to our brand promise  Lifes Good.

What are your focus areas and vision for LG Electronics in 2018?

As has been the case in the last 21 years, where we have been launching products based on consumer insights, the product line-up for 2018 across categories would be built under our biggest consumer needs of Health conscious and Energy efficient.

We will introduce products across categories which are energy efficient (consuming lesser electricity) and health focused (environment friendly and hygienic). To deliver the benefits of such health and energy conserving products, we shall be conducting pan-India experiential marketing campaigns.

What is your revenue target for this year?

With the new product line-up, strategic experiential and digital marketing activities, we are looking at double digit growth over the previous year.

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The News Broadcasting Standards Authority (NBSA) has looked into complaints against News Nation TV, Republic TV, Times Now, Aaj Tak and India Today, which pertain to new reports as well as sting operations run by the news channels. The complaints range from allegations of factually wrong reports to trial by media.

National Heart Institute, New Delhi Vs News Nation TV

The Complaint: In a complaint dated December 4, 2017, the National Heart Institute alleged that News Nation TV had telecast a story that the Institute had raised false and inflated bills and collected money from one of the relatives of a patient, Raj Rani, who has since expired. The complaint further stated that the Institutes General Manager (Finance & Liaison), SK Shailly, had clarified the issue in detail and categorically informed the reporter that no such bill was ever raised or claimed or collected as alleged by the relatives of the patient and had provided a copy of the original bill to the reporter. National Heart Institute alleged, The news channel team had fabricated and telecast/aired a false story, with a view to malign the reputation of the National Heart Institute amongst general public and apparently with the object of extracting money using arm twisting method, which was factually wrong and not in conformity with responsible journalism.

Broadcasters Response: News Nation TV, in its response dated December 4, 2017, denied the allegation that the broadcaster was biased in its reporting. The broadcaster stated that at no point during the said telecast it had attempted to portray any of the parties involved in the dispute to be at fault, but on the other hand, had merely telecast the interviews/ statements of both the parties in an impartial and honest manner, maintaining the best of the journalistic standards. The broadcaster emphasised that it did not alter the content of the interview or statement of either party, and clearly conveyed the reactions of both parties involved and in particular, reported the following statement of the hospital during the telecast of the interview/ statement of the representative of hospital.

NBSAs Order: On considering contentions of both the parties and the contents of the news report aired by News Nation TV, NBSA was of the view that the story was broadcast without proper or adequate verification of the facts; that the contents of the news report were wrong and without basis.

NBSA has directed News Nation TV to air a regret as per the text furnished by the Authority as follows:

We regret that on 27.11.2017 at 10.30 pm we had broadcast on our channel News Nation a news report against National Heart Institute, East of Kailash, New Delhi, alleging overbilling and excess charging to patients. That was an incorrect report based on wrong information. The report was aired without proper verification of facts from the Hospital, thereby violating the principles relating to impartiality and objectivity in reporting and neutrality. We clarify that there was no intention on our part to bring disrepute to National Heart Institute, East of Kailash, New Delhi.

The message needs to be aired prior to the commencement of the 8 pm news on June 12, 2018 on full screen in large font size with a clearly audible voice-over expressing regret for the said telecast on News Nation TV.

Popular Front of India Vs Republic TV

The Complaint: A complaint filed by M Mohamed Ali Jinnah, General Secretary, Popular Front of India (PFI) against Republic TV accused the English news channel of carrying out a trial by media against the organisation by making false allegations. The complaint stated that in a debate anchored by Arnab Goswami, aired on January 1, 2018, Republic TV had showed a hashtag, #BanPFIDemand. Simultaneously, the channel also conducted a voting on Twitter under the topic: #BanPFI: Should terror linked PFI be banned now?

The complaint further stated that the channel portrayed allegations as facts and conveyed the impression that the charges against PFI were findings of guilt, which was unfair and violative of the Code of Ethics and Guidelines.

Broadcasters Response: Republic TV stated that the claims and contentions in the complaint were false, baseless, vague and unsubstantiated. The broadcaster contended that the news debate was aired based on material relating to four cases shared by the National Investigation Agency with the Ministry of Home Affairs, wherein members of PFI and its affiliated political organisation, namely, Social Democratic Party of India (SDPI), had been charge-sheeted under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, 1967; that one of the four cases, the details of which had been shared by NIA with the MHA, pertained to the charge-sheet filed in relation to the murder of a Rashtriya Swayam Sevak Sangh worker, Rudresh, in Bengaluru. The broadcaster further contended that, as widely reported in print and electronic media, NIA in its charge-sheet had named five members of PH and SDPI as accused individuals responsible for the murder of the RSS worker.

NBSAs Order: NBSA at its meeting held on May 24, 2018 noted that there is only a charge-sheet and no finding by any court of tribunal that PFI is a terror linked organisation, nor had the government declared PFI as a terror organisation or an organisation indulging in unlawful activities. The use of the hashtags and conducting a voting under the topic #Ban PFI: Should terror linked PFI be banned now, the statement The terror link is exposed tonight, and the telecast scroll Terror proof emerges against PFI would amount to a trial and judgment by media on unverified hearsay material. The Authority was, therefore, of the view that the broadcaster had violated the Regulations and Guidelines of NBA/NBSA relating to the need to maintain neutrality, impartiality and fairness and reporting of matters which are sub judice or under investigation.

Hence, NBSA warned the broadcaster to exercise more care and caution while reporting about matters pending trail/ investigation or in using objectionable hashtags in regard to such reports which may give an impression that the broadcaster is indulging in a media trial/ prejudice against the person/ institution being reported upon. NBSA also directed the broadcaster that the video of the said programme, if hosted, on Republic TV website, YouTube or any website or any other links should be removed immediately and confirmed to NBSA.

Popular Front of India Vs Times Now

The Complaint: Republic TV was not the only broadcaster against whom M Mohamed Ali Jinnah of Popular Front of India (PFI) had filed a complaint. The organisation also filed a complaint against Times Now on a news report aired on the channel on October 7, 2017 and November 5, 2017 about the Grand Conference conducted by PFI in Kerala. It was alleged that the channel had showed the hashtags Incubator of Hate Parades and Muslim hate group given free run? in its news report on October 7, 2017, and that on November 5, 2017, Times Now used the hashtags #BanPFI and When will Centre #BANPFI?.

The complainant alleged that the channel had telecast false news item against his organisation with false allegations and added that the channel portrayed mere allegations as facts and conducted a media trial by equating the charges against PFI/ its members as proved offences/ acts of guilt, which was unfair and against principles of natural justice.

Broadcasters Response: Responding to the complainant, Times Now stated that the news report aired on October 7, 2017 focused on the rally of PFIs grand conference in Kerala and raised certain questions. The channel further stated that the references to allegations of terror links of PFI were based on NIAs reports and a dossier prepared by the MHA, as accessed by the channel, which clearly claimed that PFI is allegedly indulging in acts detrimental to overall national security of India and are purportedly pursuing a secret agenda inspired by radical Islam; that the Tribunal under Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (U AP:-1) had referred to PFIs links with banned terror group SIMI; that these allegations and charges documented were of a serious nature and it was in public interest that such allegations were highlighted; that it was in this context and background that the said news report on October 7, 2017.

Times Now maintained that the matter covered by the said news reports was of significant national interest and the same was carried in public interest by placing pertinent issues surrounding the allegations before the public; and the channel carried an objective coverage and discussion on the issue based on reports available with representatives of all possible factions being given due opportunity to react to the said news reports.

NBSAs order: As in the case of Republic TV, NBSA noted that there is only a charge-sheet and no finding by any court of tribunal that PFI is an incubator of hate or is a Hate Group, nor had the government declared PFI as a terror organisation or an organisation indulging in unlawful activities. The use of the hashtags on the assumption that PFI is a hate group which required to be banned would amount to a trial and judgment by media on unverified hearsay material. NBSA was, therefore, of the view that the broadcaster had violated the Regulations and Guidelines of NBA/ NBSA relating to the need to maintain neutrality, impartiality and fairness and reporting of matters which are sub judice or under investigation.

NBSA warned Times Now to exercise more care and caution while reporting about matters pending trail/ investigation or in using objectionable hashtags in regard to such reports which may give an impression that the broadcaster is indulging in a media trial/ prejudice against the person/ institution being reported upon. NBSA also directed the broadcaster that the video of the said programme, if hosted, on the Times Now website, YouTube or any website or any other links should be removed immediately and confirmed to NBSA.

Popular Front of India Vs Aaj Tak and India Today

The Complaints: In separate complaints filed, Mohamed Ali Jinnah of Popular Front of India (PFI) and AS Zainaba, President, National Womens Front (NWF) raised objections against news reports filed by Aaj Tak and India Today, wherein the organisation was allegedly shown to be indulging in Love Jihad and also associating with terror groups. The complaint further alleged that As Zainaba was mentioned to be the head of the womens unit of PFI, whereas the organisation neither had women membership nor a womens wing. The complainants maintained that the said allegations were false, misleading and defamatory. Declaring PFI as Deshdrohi was unacceptable and was intended to malign the image of PFI and to offend the sensitivities of Muslim religious group and create religious intolerance and disharmony.

In its complaint against India Today, it was stated that the channel had aired a Breaking News on December 2, 2017, alleging PFI of illegal conversions, having links with terror groups, including ISIS, SIMI. The news report had further stated that PFI would be banned by the Home Ministry.

Broadcasters Response (Aaj Tak & India Today): The broadcasters reiterated the averments made in their response to the complaint and stated that story based on the sting operation was telecast as recorded; that the material/ footage was not doctored to present a particular point of view; that the broadcaster was willing to submit the entire raw footage taken by it to support its view that the sting operation was not doctored; that the story on Sathya Sarani was supported by and was based on the confidential reports and dossiers of the NIA and Police that mentions that Popular Front of India uses sister outfits like Sathya Sarani to carry out forceful conversions. The broadcasters denied the allegations of holding a media trial.

NBSAs order: After hearing both sides (in the four complaints), NBSA asked the broadcasters to submit the material on which they had based their news reports, including the NIA report, as the said documents had not been submitted earlier. NBSA also directed that the raw footage of the sting operation be submitted to it within 10 days. The complainants were also directed to submit documents in their possession which disprove the broadcasters statements in the broadcasts.

Post considering the complaints, responses and the documents produced by the parties, NBSA was of the view that the scope of its enquiry being restricted to examining whether there was any violation of the NBA/ NBSA Regulations & Guidelines, it would not be able to decide whether the documents relied upon by the broadcasters were fake, as alleged by the complainants. It asked the complainants to approach the appropriate forum in this regard.
This World Environment Day, Tropicana is reaffirming its commitment to the environment by helping consumers plant trees through the Tropicana Gift A Tree initiative. For every purchase of Tropicana 100% or Tropicana Essentials on e-commerce site Grofers, Tropicana will plant a tree in Madhya Pradesh. Tropicana will plant at least 1,500 trees, aimed at benefiting farmers in the Harda district of Madhya Pradesh.

Speaking about the initiative, Vineet Sharma, Brand Director, Tropicana, said, Tropicana is closely linked to nature as all our products are made from the fruit of nature, and our Tropicana Gift A Tree initiative is a small step towards giving back to the environment. Theres no better way to thank nature for its fruits than to gift trees back to nature. We are delighted to join hands with Grofers and Grow-trees for this initiative, which will also give consumers a chance to join this special cause.

Tropicana Gift A Tree was initiated in 2017 with the objective of raising awareness and action for environmental protection. Over 25,000 trees were planted last year in partnership with Grow-trees.com. This year, the company commits to planting an additional 1,500 trees towards farmers in Harda district, Madhya Pradesh for every transaction of Tropicana 100% and/ or Tropicana Essentials on Grofers between May 28, 2018 and June 5, 2018, that is, World Environment Day. With this effort, Tropicana undertakes to give back to nature and contribute towards a greener India.

Speaking about the initiative, Prashant Verma, Vice President- Marketing, Grofers, says We are delighted to partner with Tropicana on this great cause of celebrating World Earth Day. We must appreciate its importance and take forward the call to protect the Earth that we all share. The association with Tropicana has helped us cherish this vital relationship we share with the environment around us.

Speaking on the initiative, actor Kartik Aaryan said, Being a part of conserving nature is something that comes naturally in me. It is something we all have done in school, heard about it, learnt about it. I just feel if everyone does their bit, we are in a safe zone! Tropicana Gift a Tree is an excellent initiative by Tropicana to gift trees back to nature. Tropicana juices are made from fruits, and Gift a Tree is a good way to do something for nature where the fruits come from. I share the brands vision of giving back to nature. Coming from a middle-class family, I was always taught to value what we have and to be environmentally responsible at a personal level. I am excited to do my small bit with Tropicana to raise awareness for the need for planting more trees for the environment. I feel especially warmed to think that as part of this initiative, Tropicana will be planting over 1,500 trees to help farmers in Madhya Pradesh.

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TORONTO, June 04, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Greater Toronto Area REALTORS reported 7,834 sales through TREBs MLS System in May 2018. This result was down by 22.2 per cent compared to May 2017. While the number of sales was down year-over-year, the annual rate of decline was less than reported in February, March and April, when sales were down by more than 30 per cent. On a month-over-month basis, seasonally adjusted May sales were basically flat compared to April.1

Supply of homes available for sale continued to be an issue. New listings were down by 26.2 per cent. The fact that new listings were down by more than sales in comparison to last year means that competition increased between buyers. Recent polling conducted by Ipsos for TREB suggests that listing intentions are down markedly since the fall.

Home ownership remains a sound long-term investment. Unfortunately, many home buyers are still finding it difficult find a home that meets their needs. In a recent Canadian Centre for Economic Analysis study undertaken for the Toronto Real Estate Board, it was found that many people are over-housed in Ontario, with over five million extra bedrooms. These people dont list their homes for sale, because they feel there are no alternative housing types for them to move into. Policy makers need to focus more on the missing middle  home types that bridge the gap between detached houses and condominium apartments, said Tim Syrianos, TREB President.

The MLS Home Price Index (HPI) Composite Benchmark was down by 5.4 per cent year-over-year. The average selling price for all home types combined was down by 6.6 per cent to $805,320. On a seasonally adjusted basis, the average selling price was up by 1.1 per cent compared to April 2018.1

Market conditions are becoming tighter in the Greater Toronto Area and this will provide support for home prices as we move through the second half of 2018 and into 2019. There are emerging indicators pointing toward increased competition between buyers, which generally leads to stronger price growth. In the City of Toronto, for example, average selling prices were at or above average listing prices for all major home types in May, said Jason Mercer, TREBs Director of Market Analysis.

Housing Issues Important to Voters



TREB is releasing the results, today, of a poll conducted by Ipsos Public Affairs regarding issues relevant to the upcoming provincial election.

Housing and real estate issues are top of mind for many Ontario and GTA voters, and they often turn to their REALTOR for opinions on these matters. Thats why we think its important to help shine the spotlight on these issues during the provincial election campaign, said Tim Syrianos, TREB President.

The poll, conducted by on-line survey of 1200 GTA residents (500 in 416 and 700 in 905) between May 18 and May 22, 2018, found that,

Among 9 listed issues (health care, government spending/balancing budget, taxes, housing affordability, energy costs, economy, transportation/traffic, environment/climate change, enhancing social programs), 25% of GTA residents rank housing affordability in their top two most-important issues for the Ontario election campaign;

69% agree (35% strongly/34% somewhat) that a partys platform on housing affordability will influence who they vote for on election day;

Nearly six in ten (56%) of GTA residents believe that government policies should focus equally on increasing the supply of housing and reducing the demand of housing; few believe that they should only be focused on reducing demand;

77% of GTA residents support reducing the provincial land transfer tax and 68% support repealing this tax completely.

Summary of TREB MLS Sales and Average Price May 1 - 31, 2018 2018 2017 Sales Average Price New Listings Sales Average Price New Listings City of Toronto ("416") 3,092 861,970 6,306 3,886 899,980 8,433 Rest of GTA ("905") 4,742 768,381 12,716 6,180 838,361 17,331 GTA 7,834 805,320 19,022 10,066 862,149 25,764





TREB MLS Sales & Average Price By Home Type May 1 - 31, 2018 Sales Average Price 416 905 Total 416 905 Total Detached 782 2,562 3,344 1,426,094 929,401 1,045,553 Yr./Yr. % Change -30.4% -27.9% -28.5% -5.6% -9.0% -8.2% Semi-Detached 242 405 647 1,067,128 665,628 815,803 Yr./Yr. % Change -30.1% -28.9% -29.4% 0.3% -2.3% -1.2% Townhouse 303 997 1,300 741,296 609,923 640,543 Yr./Yr. % Change -17.2% -12.2% -13.4% -0.1% -3.1% -2.5% Condo Apartment 1,745 648 2,393 602,804 455,413 562,892 Yr./Yr. % Change -13.8% -19.9% -15.5% 6.5% 1.2% 5.7%





May 2018 Year-Over-Year Per Cent Change in the MLS HPI Composite (All Types) Single-Family Detached Single-Family Attached Townhouse Apartment TREB Total -5.40% -10.19% -8.46% -4.29% 8.29% Halton Region -3.84% -6.20% -4.20% -4.30% 10.10% Peel Region -5.34% -7.33% -6.83% -6.28% 4.15% City of Toronto 1.01% -8.60% -3.99% 1.04% 10.12% York Region -15.59% -17.50% -17.56% -10.57% 1.02% Durham Region -8.89% -9.07% -9.49% -9.19% -1.15% Orangeville -1.97% -2.10% -2.76% - - South Simcoe County1 -8.75% -9.08% -6.22% - - Source: Toronto Real Estate Board 1South Simcoe includes Adjala-Tosorontio, Bradford West Gwillimbury, Essa, Innisfil and New Tecumseth





Annual Summary of TREB MLS Sales and Average Price Year-to-Date 2018 2017 Sales Average Price New Listings Sales Average Price New Listings City of Toronto ("416") 12,340 832,486 22,050 17,012 883,660 27,593 Rest of GTA ("905") 19,617 756,468 46,718 29,585 880,400 53,835 GTA 31,957 785,822 68,768 46,597 881,591 81,428





Annual TREB MLS Sales & Average Price By Home Type Year-to-Date 2018 Sales Average Price 416 905 Total 416 905 Total Detached 3,199 10,501 13,700 1,339,618 918,270 1,016,656 Yr./Yr. % Change -33.6% -38.9% -37.8% -12.7% -14.9% -13.8% Semi-Detached 981 1,870 2,851 1,022,263 653,520 780,401 Yr./Yr. % Change -25.0% -29.8% -28.2% -4.4% -8.2% -5.9% Townhouse 1,154 4,062 5,216 755,448 603,918 637,443 Yr./Yr. % Change -24.9% -22.7% -23.2% 2.4% -8.1% -5.6% Condo Apartment 6,925 2,759 9,684 586,721 446,307 546,717 Yr./Yr. % Change -24.9% -28.2% -25.9% 7.7% 3.9% 7.0% Seasonally Adjusted TREB MLS Sales and Average Price1

Sales Month-over-Month % Chg. Average Price Month-over-Month % Chg. May. '17 7,409 -19.7% $814,417 -5.4% June. '17 6,267 -15.4% $775,302 -4.8% July. '17 6,127 -2.2% $775,373 0.0% August. '17 6,489 5.9% $773,362 -0.3% September. '17 6,629 2.2% $782,414 1.2% October. '17 6,789 2.4% $786,238 0.5% November. '17 7,699 13.4% $777,036 -1.2% December. '17 8,606 11.8% $783,611 0.8% January. '18 6,528 -24.1% $769,509 -1.8% February. '18 5,948 -8.9% $746,897 -2.9% March. '18 5,851 -1.6% $752,402 0.7% April. '18 5,734 -2.0% $751,068 -0.2% May. '18 5,712 -0.4% $759,158 1.1% Source: Toronto Real Estate Board; CREA Seasonal Adjustment 1 Preliminary seasonal adjustment undertaken by the Canadian Real Estate Association (CREA). Removing normal seasonal variations allows for more meaningful analysis of monthly changes and underlying trends.

Media Inquiries:

Mary Gallagher, Senior Manager Public Affairs

(416) 443-8158

maryg@trebnet.com

TREB is Canadas largest real estate board. Over 49,000 residential and commercial TREB Members serve consumers in the Greater Toronto Area. Greater Toronto REALTORS are passionate about their work. They are governed by a strict Code of Ethics and share a state-of-the-art Multiple Listing Service.

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Uma, a poignant tale, defining the uniqueness of the father-daughter bond, a story of hope and unity, is creating a buzz among all audiences alike. Produced by SVF, the film has a heart-warming and touching storyline which is leaving a lasting impact. Thus, establishing an excitement among the mass to watch the film which is releasing nationally in Mumbai, Delhi NCR, Pune, Hyderabad, Bengaluru, Lucknow, Ranchi, etc. on the same day as Bengal - 1st of June.

To quote Mahesh Bhatt - "In these dark times comes a film of outrageous HOPE! Srijit Mukherjees UMA celebrates the spirit of Kolkata and makes you fall in love with it."

The film is inspired from the true story of Evan Leversage, the Canadian boy suffering from cancer and for whom his village of St. George, Ontario came together to celebrate Christmas two months before the actual festival is celebrated worldwide.

A poignant tale, Uma, is about a young girl (raised in Austria) battling a terminal disease, a father struggling to make his daughters dream come true and a director with his past haunting him. Uma's father, Himadri makes an all-out effort to take her to Kolkata to fulfil her desire to witness Durga Puja, the most celebrated Bengali festival. How many hurdles and dangers would Himadri have to overcome to be able to bring a smile onto his daughter's face?

The Bengali film is directed by National Award winning director Srijit Mukherji (his notable works include Autograph starring Prosenjit Chatterjee, Begum Jaan starring Vidya Balan) and has ace actors Jisshu Sengupta, Anjan Dutt, Sayantika Banerjee, Srabanti, Anirban Bhattacharya and Rudranil Ghosh playing prominent characters. This movie will also mark the debut of Jisshu Sengupta's daughter - Sara Sengupta playing the title role.

Uma, slated to release nationally today, has already been recognised by New York Indian Film Festival (NYIFF) 2018, London Indian Film Festival (LIFF) 2018, India Film Festival of Alberta (IFFA) 2018, Indian Film Festival of Melbourne (IFFM) 2018, Reelworld Film Festival Toronto 2018, Birmingham Indian Film Festival 2018 and Habitat Film Festival New Delhi 2018.

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NEW YORK, June 04, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Integral Ad Science (IAS), a global software company that empowers the advertising industry with ad effectiveness solutions, today announced that it has entered into a definitive agreement to be majority acquired by Vista Equity Partners (Vista). Vista is a leading private equity firm focused on investments in software, data, and technology-enabled businesses.



We are thrilled to partner with the IAS team to help the company accelerate investments that boost innovation and growth to meet the needs of customers, said Brian Sheth, Co-Founder and President of Vista Equity Partners. Brand Safety, Viewability, and Ad Fraud are serious challenges to marketers and publishers around the globe. We live in a digital world and IAS plays a critical role in enabling brands, agencies, publishers, and platforms to navigate the advertising ecosystem.

Founded in 2009 and headquartered in New York City with offices in 13 countries, IAS has become the market leader in verification and optimization--ensuring that every digital ad reaches real consumers in brand-appropriate environments, and has the opportunity to be seen by consumers.

Since the beginning, we have recognized the massive potential for digital advertising but also the challenges that undermine its impact, said IAS CEO Scott Knoll. With the support from Vista, we will continue to focus on enhancing our verification capabilities to protect our customers assets while applying our expertise and data to help our clients to influence more consumers and grow their businesses around the globe.

Vista is a value-added investor with an extensive track record of helping companies achieve operational, product, and customer service excellence by contributing professional expertise and proven best practices. Vistas support will further enable IASs commitment to drive innovation and solve for the most pressing digital advertising challenges, expanding capabilities into additional advertising channels, and scaling the business into new global markets.

Our goal at IAS was to find an investment partner that shared our vision and commitment to leveraging our expertise and data to provide valuable products and solutions that our customers depend on, said IAS Executive Chairman Don Epperson. With Vistas support, we can continue to scale our business and build solutions that help our clients protect and grow their digital investments.

IAS investors Accomplice, August Capital, and Sapphire Ventures will remain shareholders.

The transaction is expected to fully close in Q3 2018. Citi is acting as exclusive financial adviser to Integral Ad Science and Lowenstein Sandler LLP, Goodwin Procter LLP, and Feinberg Hanson are its legal advisers. Kirkland & Ellis LLP and Morrison & Foerster LLP provided legal counsel to Vista Equity Partners.

About IAS

Integral Ad Science (IAS) is a global software company that empowers the advertising industry to effectively grow the worlds leading brands. IAS Ad Effectiveness solutions protect brands digital investments and ensure ads are impactful across all channels. Our ad fraud, viewability, and brand safety technology is the foundation of every ad campaign. With our technology, brands maximize the ability of every impression to capture consumers attention and drive business results on a global scale. Founded in 2009, IAS is headquartered in New York with global operations in 13 countries. Our growth and innovation have been recognized in the Inc. 5000, Crains Fast 50, Forbes Americas Most Promising Companies, and I-COMs Smart Data Marketing Technology Company. Learn more at www.integralads.com.

About Vista Equity Partners

Vista Equity Partners, a U.S.-based investment firm with offices in Austin, San Francisco, Chicago, and Oakland with more than $31 billion in cumulative capital commitments, currently invests in software, data and technology-enabled organizations led by world-class management teams with long-term perspectives. Vista is a value-added investor, contributing professional expertise and multi-level support towards companies realization of their full potential. Vistas investment approach is anchored by a sizable long-term capital base, experience in structuring technology-oriented transactions, and proven management techniques that yield flexibility and opportunity in private equity investing. For more information, please visit www.vistaequitypartners.com.

Contacts

For IAS:

Angela Barnett, 303-929-9163

press@integralads.com

For Vista Equity Partners:

Dafna Tapiero, 202-776-7776

vista@laurelstrategies.com
+3 North Augusta Planning Commission votes against rezoning Seven Gables property North Augusta Planning Commission was met with a large crowd Thursday evening to listen or c

North Augusta residents could see a change in an overlay district that gradually transitions residential areas to commercial areas soon.

North Augusta City Council will meet Monday evening to consider a change to the Citys Neighborhood Preservation Overlay District as well as receive a recommendation from Planning Commission regarding a new Public Safety fire station.

In March, the North Augusta Planning Commission considered a request from Michael Pace with Mountaineer Pest Services to amend the Neighborhood Preservation Overlay District.

The amendment would remove the overlay district from the west side of Georgia Avenue between Briggs Avenue and Maddox Street, where Paces business is located.

Planning Commission ended in a tied vote on a motion to recommend that City Council approve the amendment.

N.A. Planning Commission vote ends in a tie for Neighborhood Preservation amendment North Augusta Planning Commission reached a tie vote on Thursday at its meeting regarding th

In April, City Council tabled an ordinance amending the overlay district.

Monday night, Council will vote to remove the ordinance from the table, and vote on the first two of three readings of the ordinance.

Pace has said in the Planning Commission meeting as well as interviews that he needs room for his business to grow and that he would like to be able to build to general commercial zoning standards. Beneath the overlay, Paces property is zoned GC, general commercial.

Council will also formally receive a recommendation from Planning Commission regarding rezoning property the City owns in order to build a Public Safety fire station. The property is located on Georgia Avenue and is part of the Citys historic district.

Planning Commission unanimously voted against recommending that City Council rezone the property.

City Council will not vote on the rezoning Monday night, just receive the recommendation.

North Augusta City Council will meet Monday, June 4 at 6 p.m. at the municipal building at 100 Georgia Ave. for a study session and at 7 p.m. for the regularly scheduled Council meeting.
One of the complicated aspects of the Syrian civil war is that while two allies may cooperate inside the country, their allegiances outside may contrast differently. While Iran was largely responsible for dragging Russia into the seven-year-long civil war to fight on behalf of the Syrian government, Russia has maintained a positive relationship with Israel, which has carried out attacks against Iranians and the Syrian government while also supporting Syrian opposition forces. This is, of course, due to the fact that Iran and Russias interests in Syria are not completely aligned, noticed mostly by reports that have been denied to varying degrees that Russia and Israel have sought a deal regarding the withdrawal of Iranian forces from southern Syria.

The latest Iranian official to respond to the rumors of a Russia-Israel deal and also to defend Irans presence in Syria is Brig. Gen. Massoud Jazayeri, an adviser to the chief of the Iranian armed forces. The biggest fear of the Zionist regime is to have a border with the fighters of Islam, said Jazayeri June 3 in reference to forces it views as part of the resistance to American and Israeli hegemony in the region. And right now, this has happened, and the US and Israel will knock on any door to change this situation, but they must know that this will not change.

Jazayeri continued, Unlike the American military and regional reactionaries [foreign opposition fighters of the opposition], Iranian advisers are in Syria at the request of the government. He added, Iran and Syria have deep relations that cannot be influenced by the propaganda actions of anyone. Jazayeri stressed that any agreement will only take place between Iran and Syria.

Iranian officials, however, have denied that there are Iranian advisers in southern Syria. Ali Shamkhani, the secretary of Irans Supreme National Security Council, told Shargh newspaper June 2, We have previously said  that Iranian advisers have no presence in southern Syria and have had no role in the implemented operations there.

A number of Iranian analysts view the latest Russia-Israel discussions as a sign that the Syrian oppositions days are numbered and that Israeli is trying to prolong the conflict by insisting on the retreat of Iranians from Syria. Hadi Mohammadi wrote that the Israelis have seen how successful the partnership between Russia, Iran and Syria has been in defeating terrorism in Syria, and that they  along with the United States and Saudi Arabia  have been attempting for the past year to break apart this partnership.

Mohammadi wrote that Russias priority in Syria is to put an end to the lifeline of terrorists in Syria and their foreign supporters. Mohammadi called the Israeli and the US proposal of removing Iranians and Hezbollah away from southern Syria in exchange for negotiating deals in other parts of Syria in which US-backed forces have control a trap to prevent the end of the countrys civil war.

Saad Zaeri, a conservative analyst, wrote that Russias strategy for Lebanon, Syria and Palestine is for there to be no conflict, and that Russias recommendation to both Iran and the Israelis is for both of them to avoid conflict. However, he added, The Russians have not applied pressure on us, nor will Iran accept pressure.
On the first day of what quickly became Irans largest trucker strike in recent years, a driver told his audience on film, Today, May 22, on the ring road of Kavar, we are making sure that none of the vehicles driving between Shiraz and Bandar Abbas can pass. We are stopping everybody.

Six days later, and with thousands more joining throughout the country, hundreds of truckers in the otherwise small and dormant town in central Iran drove up to Shiraz single file, honking loudly.

Despite not having a union, truck drivers in Iran have staged a nationwide strike for almost two weeks now. Unprecedented in terms of geographical spread, the protest showcases not only the growing solidarity of unorganized groups, but also the changing face of social unrest in Iran.

On May 22, truckers in several towns turned off their engines to call for higher freight rates. While the government had ruled months ago that freight rates would increase by up to 20%, workers were angered that this promise had remained largely unimplemented. Truckers also called for higher pensions, better health insurance and cheaper truck repair facilities.

The protest spread like wildfire. Although the total numbers of participants is unknown, one sympathetic foreign union (the Teamsters) estimated the strike affected an unprecedented 160 cities in 25 out of the countrys 31 provinces. Iran counts over half a million registered truck drivers.

In many ways, the demands echo long-standing grievances of teamsters in Iran. Truck driving is a precarious and insecure job. Drivers are usually independently employed or work in small teams. Without a regular employer, they face difficulties accessing state-provided health and pension services. Rampant corruption has also made cultivating personal connections with terminal and port officials exceedingly important. The president of one of the municipal truckers unions said, Even if cargo fees have gone up  the main issue in our job is abuse and intermediaries, who eat up half of a drivers income.

Truckers have struck collectively before. For instance, in the spring of 2016, several thousand workers staged demonstrations in Bandar Abbas, a major port on the Persian Gulf, in response to the slow and unfair distribution of cargo to drivers.

What distinguishes the latest strike from previous industrial actions is its sheer geographical spread. Power in numbers has contributed to the strikes effectiveness. With drivers in entire regions refusing to deliver goods, numerous towns have faced fuel shortages, leading to long lines at gas stations. In some locations, taxi and bus drivers joined the protests.

Such nationwide solidarity is reminiscent of the wave of protests that hit Iran in late December and early January. Another similarity with those protests is that truckers have little to no organizational support. Although truckers unions exist in name, these organizations have very little power and almost no members. These unions also exist only at the municipal level, which leaves national coordination and bargaining with an even weaker and less-representative group of union federations.

Strikers have very explicitly argued that their protest is purely economic and lacks any political dimensions. Despite that, groups opposed to the incumbent moderate government have keenly exploited the protests for their own goals. Media channels close to hard-line Principlists have criticized the governments handling of the transport industry. Former President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad even met with protesting workers to express his support. At the other extreme, exiled groups such as the Mujahedeen-e-Khalq and Reza Pahlavi, a son of the deposed former shah, have zealously proclaimed that the strike is a turning point in the viability of the overall regime.

Meanwhile, President Hassan Rouhani's administration has tried to express its goodwill. While discouraging violent actions, Minister of Roads and Urban Development Abbas Akhundi said, We are not at all upset by the protests of truck drivers and their representatives. I accept the right to protest, and I am convinced that protest is the legal and the natural right of the drivers.

Simultaneously, the government took action to transfer protests from the streets into a less contentious and more bureaucratic bargaining process. Soon after the strike started, the Ministry of Roads entered negotiations with two union federations to reach a deal on behalf of the truckers. The co-opting of these unions allowed the government to pretend to negotiate with truckers directly.

On May 28, the union federations and the Ministry of Roads reached a deal that would see freight rates increase by 20%. The government also promised to resolve issues around drivers insurance and tasked a committee to look into other injustices.

Once this deal was reached, one of the union federations put out a statement declaring that the strike had ended and that all drivers should return to work. So far, the governments strategy appears to have been effective. The number of participants has dwindled rapidly. Scuffles with strike breakers have also been reported.

Nevertheless, truckers continued to protest in several towns until at least June 1, refusing to accept the deal between the government and the unions, demanding instead that freight rates be increased by up to 40%.

In one video posted on YouTube, a trucker from Kermanshah province said, Yesterday the police came by, noting down our number plates and handing out fines, warning that the Mujahedeen [-e-Khalq] wants to commit terrorist attacks  and declaring that the protest was now over. But the protest is not over!

The truck drivers strike is unprecedented in Iran, showing the potential for labor actions in the future. In the absence of representative unions, it is crucial to note the role played by political elites in supporting the protesters, which allowed the strike to spread and escape state repression.

However, such endorsement by conservative groups has not benefited organized labor in general, which tends to be pro-Reformist. The main teachers union staged countrywide demonstrations seeking better pay in at least 32 localities May 10; this also happened to be the day after President Donald Trump decided to pull the United States out of the nuclear deal. In a sharp turnaround from earlier demonstrations, police violently attacked protesters in Tehran. On May 27, a judiciary spokesman said judicial and security bodies  will resolutely confront any group or individual that wants to compromise the countrys security.

What appears to be developing is thus a two-pronged interaction between political elites and protests in Iran. On the one hand, factions opposed to the current moderate administration seek to exploit unorganized social unrest for their own benefit. On the other hand, the increasingly bellicose behavior of the United States has enabled conservative forces inside the country to crack down on organized labor.

In this new and volatile landscape, one thing is certain: Rouhanis administration must try to normalize social protests if it wants to shield itself from attacks by opponents. A multitude of rival forces, both inside and outside Iran, will continue to do their best to turn any form of protest into a political challenge against the government. So far, the unexpected loser of the strike actions hitting the country on a daily basis is organized labor  a situation Reformists must help turn around if they are to maintain electoral support.
Former Mossad chief Tamir Pardo dropped a bombshell in a May 31 interview on Israeli Channel 12's program "Uvda." Pardo implied that during Israel's preparations for a very important top-secret operation, an order was given to covertly wiretap then-Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Benny Gantz as well as Pardo himself. The report claimed that the directive was issued by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. The whole affair is telling of the credibility crisis that has prevailed between Netanyahu and his heads of the various security branches over the years.

Immediately after the interview was broadcast, Pardo found himself facing the same ordeal awaiting every security figure who dares to challenge Netanyahu. The pattern is always the same: First the interview is slandered, then the allegations are denied and finally the whistleblower receives Netanyahus infamous "personal attention." Netanyahu seized on something innocuous that Pardo said in jest in the course of the interview. Describing the activities of the Mossad, Pardo called it a crime syndicate with a license. Mossad heads have been using this term for generations, and it arguably applies to all espionage organizations throughout the world that do not necessarily follow the law in their widespread surveillance activities with the consent of their governments. Netanyahu used the mention of a crime syndicate to attack Pardo, declaring, Mossad is not a crime syndicate, as if that were what Pardo really meant.

Suspicion and hostility have reigned between Netanyahu and Israeli generals as far back as his first term of office (1996-1999), but now he has stooped to a new low. When special operations are planned, such as blowing up the Syrian nuclear reactor in Deir ez-Zor in 2007, it is acceptable to subject high-ranking persons and even elected officials to polygraph tests to deter leaks. But wiretapping the telephones of intelligence heads had never been done before. There is evidently no limit to Netanyahus paranoia, no red lines when it comes to the basic trust that is supposed to exist between the prime minister and the people entrusted with Israels security.

Netanyahu himself denied Pardos allegations. Under heavy pressure, former Shin Bet head Yoram Cohen said that Netanyahu had not asked him specifically to bug the Mossad head or the chief of staff. According to Al-Monitor's sources, this statement is true. The directive included more than 100 parties to the secret in the highest ranks of Israels security apparatus, including the Mossad head and the chief of staff. The Shin Bet refused to wiretap these high-ranking officials, so the task was imposed on the Ministry of Defense's Malmab. But since the Shin Bet did not provide Malmab with the means to do so, the wiretapping was never carried out.

Netanyahu has been this wary throughout his entire political career. When he returned to the prime ministers office in 2009 and was concerned about leaks, he insisted on subjecting all his people to polygraph tests, including the highest placed: his Cabinet secretary, political adviser, military secretary, spokesperson, bureau chief and his offices chief of staff. National Security Adviser Uzi Arad volunteered to be the first to be checked, but asked Netanyahu, What about you? Shouldnt you set a personal example and also subject yourself to the lie detector? Netanyahu quickly brushed the proposal aside.

Netanyahus paranoia is absolute. He is convinced that people are snooping on him everywhere in the world, around the clock, including in his private house in Caesarea. When entertaining visitors in his private courtyard in Caesarea, he has often whispered to his guests that someone is listening. He does not feel secure in his office in Jerusalem, convinced that he is under surveillance even there. He used to convene secret meetings in the Mossads headquarters in the Tel Aviv area, but recently he has moved especially sensitive Cabinet meetings to a massive underground bunker in Jerusalem constructed to withstand a nuclear attack and equipped with all the necessary facilities to run a country under attack. When he is in the United States, Netanyahu is convinced that he is under surveillance in every hotel, in the White House and even Blair House. Occasionally he makes sure to pop over to the Israeli Embassy with its special sterile room, the only venue where he will consult with his senior advisers on truly sensitive issues.

Despite his misgivings, Netanyahu is supposed to trust the heads of the security branches. He is not supposed to force the General Security Services to wiretap their own telephones. Ironically, a large percentage of the most sensitive security leaks of all were caused by Netanyahu himself, whether by accident or on purpose. As opposition chairman in September 2007, Netanyahu almost spilled the beans that Israel attacked the nuclear reactor in Syria during the trickiest moments after the assault. In 1995, Netanyahu stood at the Knessets podium and waved a very confidential document prepared by the Israel Defense Forces.

Throughout his many years as prime minister, Netanyahu has managed to get into arguments with almost all of the security heads. Barely any of them finished their terms of office. In his first term of office, the list included Chief of Staff Amnon Lipkin-Shahak (now deceased), Shin Bet head Ami Ayalon and Mossad head Danny Yatom. Almost all of the higher-ups who have operated under him have criticized Netanyahu severely at some point, including deceased Mossad head Meir Dagan, Chief of Staff Gabi Ashkenazi and Shin Bet head Yuval Diskin. The same is true for their replacements, especially Gantz and Pardo.

Netanyahu was once leery of public confrontations with the heads of security services. One of the most basic working assumptions of Israeli politics over the years was that it was never wise to publicly enter into direct verbal clashes with senior security figures, in light of the popularity of these figures among the Israeli public. The last decade has seen a slow but relentless evolution led by Netanyahu that has changed this reality from one extreme to the other. This process brought us to the current situation in which no one dares to antagonize Netanyahu publicly. No one is immune. Netanyahu is Israel's undisputed public opinion leader and no one can politically survive a public confrontation with him. The fate of those higher-ups and officers serving under him who dont follow the rules is an open secret: slander and public shaming. They will be pulverized by the prime ministers media campaigns and join the long list of high-ranking officials brought down by him.
Two grave developments endangered the fragile Egyptian-mediated cease-fire reached on May 30 between Hamas and Israel following last weeks intense flare-up of hostilities. The first was the renewal of Palestinian protests along Gazas border fence with Israel on June 1 and the subsequent killing of volunteer paramedic Razan Najjar by Israeli soldiers the next day. In the second incident, several mortar shells were fired from Gaza toward Israeli border communities, probably by what Israel dubs renegade Palestinian factions that do not accept Hamas control. The shelling may have been retaliation for the killing of Najjar, whose funeral drew tens of thousands of mourners, a turnout only seen in the past for Hamas leaders killed by Israel.

Every such incident is a reminder that even if neither side wants to engage in a broad military clash, as long as Gaza is so unstable, there is no guarantee that understandings reached between the sides will hold.

The next event that will test the cease-fire is a June 5 protest against Israels victory over Arab armies in the 1967 war and its occupation of Gaza. Hamas had recently marked several key dates for mass demonstrations by the fence. The June 5 Naksa Day" (Arabic for setback) is shaping up as another challenge to the Israel-Hamas understandings reached last week and to soldiers of the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) tasked with preventing Palestinian protesters from breaching the border fence.

In addition to military preparations for the demonstration out of concern that it could deteriorate into the extensive violence that resulted in the deaths of over 100 Palestinians and wounding and maiming of thousands in clashes last month, Israel is also taking diplomatic steps to prevent events from spiraling out of control. Israel conveyed a message to Hamas indicating that June 5 would determine the prospects of easing the Gaza siege and reaching a long-term truce. This is the first time since it imposed its siege on Gaza following the Hamas takeover of the Strip in 2007 that Israel has openly discussed an arrangement with Hamas.

An Israeli defense official who spoke with Al-Monitor on condition of anonymity said Egypt had spelled out this message clearly in the talks with Hamas that resulted in the current cease-fire. Israel is now considering a significant easing of its curbs on Gaza within the framework of a plan formulated by the IDF in coordination with the civil administration. Any comprehensive, long-term agreement with Hamas would likely include an opening of the Gaza border crossings with Israel and construction of a seaport. And while the IDF is obviously not involved in weighing the diplomatic significance of such plans, the political echelons run every proposal by the top military brass for input on the security implications.

The messages conveyed through the Egyptians are of the carrot-and-stick variety: If Hamas signals willingness to restore calm in Gaza, Israel will seriously consider an arrangement.

A barrage of rockets and mortar shells was fired at Israel May 29. Once it stopped, a senior officer in the IDFs Southern Command briefed reporters May 31 on some of the plans under consideration, saying, Four years after Operation Protective Edge, we have to make decisions about whats happening now in Gaza. We can let the situation continue with rocket attacks and escalation. The IDF is willing to enter Gaza and even run it if necessary the day after the war. But we can also decide that this is a good time for an arrangement in Gaza, and there are a number of opportunities. The extent of Hamas' concessions will determine Israels, he said, but warned, Hamas must stop building tunnels, stop the terror against us."

Reports have emerged in recent weeks of Hamas' proposals conveyed to Israel through Egypt and Qatar for a long-term truce in return for a major relaxation of the siege. Israel has yet to respond in detail, but it is giving them more serious consideration than it has to such proposals in the past. The IDF is not talking about a truce, instead using the term regulation that would entail clear rules for easing the crisis affecting Gazas 2 million Palestinian residents. A commitment by Hamas to accept Israels terms, as outlined by the senior IDF officer, could promote such an outcome.

The June 5 protest is a significant hurdle. Hamas is continuing its preparations for the event and does not seem inclined to give it up. If dozens of Palestinians are killed on June 5 in a mass attempt to breach the border fence, Israel will find itself once again facing harsh international condemnation as it did in recent weeks, likely precluding Israeli concessions and a long-term truce. To arrive at an arrangement with Hamas, the Israeli government will also have to prepare the domestic public and ensure political support by hammering the message that such a move will benefit Israels security. If Hamas opts for violent demonstrations against Israel, progress is unlikely.

The messages conveyed to Hamas through Egypt focused on a halt to Palestinian rocket attacks on Israel, but Israel also holds the organization responsible for the protests along the fence and their results. Whereas Hamas assumes that the understandings reached with Cairo apply only to ballistic attacks, Israel also regards the events along the fence as terror activity and demands they be stopped. Thus, Israel sees the upcoming protest as a test of Hamas' intentions regarding a significant truce.

The leader of Hamas in Gaza, Yahya Sinwar, is reportedly pleased with what he views as the achievements of the border violence that restored the festering conflict to the international agenda. Hamas appears intent on bringing a large number of protesters to the fence on June 5 to maintain the momentum of the past two months. Leaders of the movement seem convinced that Israel will be forced to lift its siege if the Palestinians keep upping the pressure on the fence.

Hamas leaders are likely convinced that the more they pressure Israel, the better the chances it will ease the blockade. They fail to understand that their actions risk prompting an opposite Israeli reaction. More bloodshed on the Israel-Gaza border would hurt Israel's willingness to offer carrots to Gaza residents. Instead, the Israeli leadership is likely to opt for the stick.
Russia and the United Arab Emirates have agreed to bolster their cooperation on security and defense, the aluminum and oil markets, and the economy. The countries also agreed to "coordinate efforts to convert the Middle East into a zone free of weapons of mass destruction."

On June 1, Russian President Vladimir Putin met in Moscow with Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, the crown prince of Abu Dhabi  who is also deputy supreme commander of the United Arab Emirates armed forces  and signed a strategic partnership declaration.

A pivotal point in the declaration is the countries goal of strengthening cooperation in security and defense by re-energizing consultations between their respective government agencies. The UAE and Russia have also called for an international counterterrorism coalition that would operate on the basis of respect for the sovereignty of states that had directly suffered from terrorist attacks. The parties also agreed to develop political contacts on key bilateral, regional and international matters.

Russia observes the increasing role for the UAE in the region and the Emirates goal to become a serious regional power with its own political interests, agents of influence and military presence from Libya to Eritrea and from Somalia to Syrian Kurdistan. Therefore, its important for Abu Dhabi and a more pro-active Moscow to coordinate their positions on key issues and find points of convergence on respective foreign policy priorities. The range is rather broad but at this point focuses on efforts to settle onflicts in Syria, Yemen and Libya.

Russian and Emirati approaches toward Syria have grown in many ways. The UAE is coming to believe that both Turkey and Iran have to stop interfering in Arab states' domestic matters. That approach echoes Russias statements on the need for foreign forces  including Turkish and Iranian ones  to leave Syria. In the long term, this stance could serve as a basis for bringing Russian and UAE positions on this issue even closer.

Among its Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) partners, the UAE position toward Damascus had been arguably less assertive. The UAE no longer supports the militant Syrian opposition that calls for the ouster of President Bashar al-Assad but continues to finance those groups that are open to political dialogue. For instance, the UAE backs Syria's Tomorrow Movement, which plays an active mediating role in setting up contacts between the Russians and Syrian opposition groups and the US-backed Kurd-Arab coalition, the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF).

In April, speaking at the FIKR 16 conference in Dubai  which was organized by the nongovernmental organization Arab Thought Foundation  UAE Foreign Minister Anwar Gargash said Arab countries made strategic mistakes regarding the conflict in Syria. He said they shouldn't have allowed non-Arab countries to be involved in deciding Syria's fate and the Arab League should have exerted a more robust political influence. The statement could be seen as UAEs readiness to get involved in the political settlement of the Syrian crisis. If this is the case, Moscow could use this involvement in its own interests, including on issues of reconstruction.

At the same time, the UAE is inclined to support the SDF, especially its Arab component. This is one reason the UAE is sending the message to Ankara that Turkey's presence in Syria is illegal. This also gives Moscow an opportunity to play on the Turkey-UAE antagonism in Syria and thus drive a wedge into the Syrian opposition.

As for Yemen, the UAE is interested in seeing Russia take a more proactive and constructive role in the conflict there. Moscow has been supporting contacts with all parties in that crisis and could indeed play a bigger role in setting up a peace dialogue. Abu Dhabi probably believes that, should Moscow get more involved in the conflict, it would benefit Emirati interests.

Russia has already lowered its profile with the Houthi rebels. Yet that doesnt mean that Moscow at this point favors Yemeni President Abed Rabbo Mansour Hadi, whose relations with the UAE are far from smooth.

Ahmed Saleh the son of former Yemeni President Ali Abdullah Saleh, who was ousted in 2012 and killed in December 2017  might be an acceptable Yemeni leader for the UAE and Russia. He and his Arab nationalist political party, the General Peoples Congress, may prove useful in the future to the UAE. Russia could potentially be an important reinforcing factor in this Emirati calculation. Moscow has been maintaining contact with Ahmed, and Russia will also most likely be more active in its work with the pro-Emirati southern separatists. There are still many in the south who, back in the days of the People's Democratic Republic of Yemen, used to work with the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics.

Russian and Emirati approaches are also similar in Libya. While both support Gen. Khalifa Hifter, who controls much of eastern Libya from Tobruk, the UAE seeks to play the middleman  together with France and Egypt  between Hifter and the opposing government in Tripoli. The UAE had already provided a venue in Abu Dhabi for talks between Hifter and Prime Minister Fayez al-Sarraj of the UN-recognized Government of National Accord in Tripoli. Russia seeks a similar role interacting with all parties in the Libyan conflict while being cautious not to upset the fragile balancing act between Tripoli and Tobruk. Therefore, one shouldnt rule out Abu Dhabi, Cairo and Moscow working closer together on the Libyan track.

The military-technical sphere also remains one of the most promising for bilateral cooperation. Both have accumulated experience with each other in this area: The UAE military has been using Russian weapons such as BMP-3 infantry combat vehicle, Pantsir air defense missile system, Smerch multiple launch rocket system, Igla man-portable air defense missile system and others. The UAEs biggest interest is in joint development of new arms and setting up production on Emirates territory. In the recent past, such joint projects resulted in the production of the NIMR wheeled armored military vehicle. Now the parties are talking about the potential participation of Russian companies in equipping the UAEs new Rabdan 8x8 wheeled infantry fighting vehicle (IFV) and the Enigma 8x8 wheeled IFV with armaments. Joint production of a fifth-generation, light fighter aircraft is also on the table.

As for weapons of mass destruction, their document states: "The parties will actively contribute to the disarmament process on international and regional levels, in particular by strengthening the nonproliferation regime for weapons of mass destruction and related technologies. In this regard, they will coordinate efforts to convert the Middle East into a zone free of weapons of mass destruction."

In their talks, Putin and Al Nahyan also focused on economic cooperation. The declaration they signed suggests they will team up to help stabilize the worlds oil and gas markets, including at international venues such as the Gas Exporting Countries Forum. The parties also plan to establish a special working group on cooperation in the aluminum industry.

A soft-power tool aiding the Russia-UAE economic relationship is the presence of 25,000 Russian citizens who are often employed as specialists in different sectors of the UAE economy. In turn, more than 300 UAE companies are represented in Russia. By and large, of all GCC members, it is the UAE with its rejection of all forms of Islamism that is most acceptable to Moscow. Russia sees its relationship with the UAE as being conducive to political interaction and holding strong cooperation potential.
Among the convictions that Turkish courts have issued involving the 2016 coup attempt, life sentences handed down to military academy cadets stand out as the most lopsided punishment, given the role the young people played on the night of the putsch.

More than 400 cadets, ages 19-22, remain behind bars over the coup attempt, which Ankara blames on followers of Turkish cleric Fethullah Gulen. Gulen, who resides in the United States, denies any involvement.

On May 25, an Istanbul court sentenced 116 Air Force Academy cadets to life for attempting to overthrow the constitutional order by force and violence. They were among about 180 cadets who stood trial in the case, including three women.

On the night of July 15, 2016, the Air Force Academy cadets were at a summer training camp in Yalova, not far from Istanbul. They were put on buses en route to Istanbul for what they were told was a military exercise. In the outskirts of the city, crowds of angry civilians out in the streets to resist the putschists had blocked the road and stopped some of the buses, forcing the cadets and their commanders to get off. In the ensuing fracas, most of the cadets refrained from confronting the civilians and surrendered. But there was still a shootout that claimed the lives of four civilians and left 33 people, most of them civilians, injured.

According to the indictment, the armed cadets  who were ordered to Istanbul by the colonel heading the Yalova air force base  were to deploy at critical locations and provide reinforcement as part of the juntas plans to take control of the city.

The prosecution argued that the cadets had mobile phones, so they had to have been aware that a coup attempt was underway, and they ignored the civilians calls to surrender and eventually did so only because the uprising failed.

According to the indictment, the Air Force Academy was tasked with seizing control in Istanbul and officers serving at the academy played an active part in the events. Air Force Academy commander Gen. Fethi Alpay allegedly was to become Istanbul governor in the juntas plans for martial rule after the coup.

Another group of cadets accused of active involvement in the putsch were from the Army War Academy. On the night of the coup, they were commandeered to the general staff headquarters in Ankara, where clashes took place. Last month, their trial resulted in 54 life sentences and 100 acquittals.

Since the putsch, the families of the imprisoned cadets have been staging protests, which rarely generated media coverage until the courts began handing out life sentences and opposition politicians brought up the plight of the cadets in election speeches ahead of the June 24 elections.

A relative of one of the Air Force Academy cadets told Al-Monitor on condition of anonymity, Those kids, just 19 or 20 years old, were in a chain of command, following orders. Why were they found guilty? A few exceptions aside, the cadets did not commit any violence against the people and did not fire any bullets at all; they laid down their arms and surrendered.

The armys Internal Service Act stipulates absolute obedience to superiors, which is one of the hallmarks of the Turkish Armed Forces (TSK), along with stiff hierarchy and discipline. As a military academy graduate and former army officer, this author can hardly recall a place where obedience and discipline were tougher than in the war academies. Given that climate, the cadets were hardly expected to put up resistance to unlawful orders.

Moreover, families contest the prosecutions claim that the cadets knew a coup attempt was underway. My son learned it was a coup attempt only the next morning while being beaten by the police, one relative, who requested anonymity, told Al-Monitor.

A defense attorney for one of the cadets said, Conscripts and cadets who got involved in the events should not have stood trial on par with ranking officers. Many of them were not even aware that a coup was underway, and even if they were, they could hardly oppose the orders of their commanders, given the way in which they were trained and the TSKs institutional culture.

The lawyer noted also the disparity between sentences emerging from the coup trials. Public conscience will find it hard to accept that a cadet who did not commit any grave crime such as causing death or injury gets a life sentence, while some generals and senior officers who were involved in the events got seven to 10 years in jail, the attorney said.

The families of the cadets have increasingly turned to social media to raise their voices against what they see as blatant injustice. In a pointed post on Twitter after the May 25 ruling, one of the mothers addressed Hulusi Akar, chief of general staff, as the big general who did not feel the need to order his soldiers to stay in the barracks, alluding to controversies surrounding the putsch. Because of you, my son was taken out [of the barracks] and got a life sentence just for that. Look in the mirror and [tell us] what you see, she wrote.

The case of the cadets seems to have become a major challenge for the Turkish legal system in the coup trials, with the judiciary struggling to establish links between the putsch and cadets who are accused of belonging to the Gulenist network, which Turkey considers a terrorist group, but who surrendered that night without committing any serious crimes.

The truth is, however, that 19- or 20-year-old cadets who surrendered to the security forces without causing any harm or using weapons could not have been in a leadership position in the uprising. Handing down life sentences to such young people for just following orders during a clamorous night, when confusion reigned across all ranks of the army, is clearly hurting the public's conscience. The Turkish judiciary still has a chance to fix the scales of justice. The spotlight now moves to the Court of Appeals, with families and defense lawyers determined to fight the life sentences.
Warns fellow shareholders that we are at a critical stage in the Companys history  now is no time to contemplate a change of leadership

Cautions dissident slate could seriously jeopardize our companys asset development

Urges all shareholders to vote their WHITE proxy today

TORONTO, June 04, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- William F Cooke, owning or exercising control or direction over 7.9MM shares or approximately 7.4% of Global Atomic Corporation (Global Atomic or the Company), (TSX-V: GLO), issued an open letter to fellow shareholders in support of the Company.



The full text of Mr. Cookes letter is included below:

Dear fellow Global Atomic Shareholders,

My name is Bill Cooke and I own over 7.9MM shares of Global Atomic or around 7.4% of the stock. This makes me the third largest shareholder of the Company.

While Greyling Investments, Inc. (Greyling) purports to speak on behalf of all shareholders, I assure you that they dont speak for me nor do they speak for other Global Atomic shareholders that Ive spoken to recently. I see no credibility to Greylings attempt to claim control of the Company.

As a long-time investor, I am excited about the future of Global Atomic and have no intention of handing over the reins to a group of people that, to my knowledge, have no experience in building a uranium mine nor in running a zinc concentrate business. Conversely, the current management and the incumbent Board have a proven track record of success in both.

The Companys Niger uranium asset is shaping up to be a world-class deposit and we have seen a steady stream of good news in the last few months. Based on Global Atomics public disclosure, the Company seems to be well down the path of moving towards permit applications and I dont want to risk that with any changes to the Board or management.

Similarly, I believe that the Companys zinc concentrate business has the right manager, the right partner and the right board to oversee this business as it expands. I am supportive of the current Boards commitment to nearly double production capacity and to implement the very latest in technology for the Companys zinc concentrate business. I believe that these investments will bode well for Global Atomics expanding near-term revenue, profitability and cashflow prospects  and the market apparently thinks so too.

I believe that what we as shareholders need right now is the Companys uninterrupted focus on advancing its uranium project and expanding its zinc concentrate business. We dont need the costly and unnecessary distraction of a dissident that hasnt made so much as a thread of an argument as to why we should simply hand over the Company by changing the entire Board. I am saying No way Greyling and I have voted all my shares FOR the incumbent Board.

Sincerely,

William F. Cooke
Pressure against Turkey's largest pro-Kurdish bloc is nothing new. But with under three weeks left before the June 24 presidential and parliamentary polls, the Peoples Democratic Party (HDP) is being squeezed more tightly than ever. HDP officials charge that the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) is trying to prevent the HDP from winning the minimum 10% of the vote needed to take seats in the parliament so as to ensure its continued dominance of the legislative body. Under Turkeys convoluted rules, the first runner-up in a given electoral district picks up a partys seat if it fails to scale the national barrier and in the Kurdish-dominated southeast, that would likely be the AKP. An estimated 80 seats are at stake.

The HDP chronicled the chokehold in a report. Between the start of the election campaign on April 28 and June 3, at least 136 HDP officials were detained and 14 of them arrested. The partys campaign bureaus and stands were attacked. In the southern city of Hatay, unknown assailants shattered the windows of an HDP liaison office and tore down the partys banners on May 28 just hours after the local governors office gathered representatives from parties competing in the race to offer tips on security. The HDP was not invited. In Ankara, HDP offices and street stands were attacked and neighborhood canvassing events interrupted 10 times.

Meral Danis Bestas, an HDP lawmaker representing the southern province of Adana, conceded that while it is impossible to prove the government was orchestrating the attacks, security forces continue to engage in brazen intimidation tactics. Bestas told Al-Monitor they include deploying armored police vehicles within close proximity of HDP rallies, unremitting ID checks that amount to harassment and unleashing scores of policemen into the crowds who menacingly snap photos of attendees. Bestas reiterated charges that provincial governors and other ranking bureaucrats with local army commanders in tow were touring villages and hamlets in the southeast, where they ordered citizen to vote for the AKP or else.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan kept up his salvos against the HDP in the Kurds informal capital Diyarbakir yesterday. Addressing what several seasoned journalists in the city confirmed to Al-Monitor was a fairly modest crowd, Erdogan blamed the HDPs presidential candidate Selahattin Demirtas, who is running his campaign from prison, for deadly protests that erupted in the city in October 2014 over Turkeys perceived lack of support for Kurdish militants against the Islamic State in the Syrian town of Kobani. Who told  my Kurdish brothers to take to the streets.  Then what happened? Fifty-three of our brothers were killed, were martyred. [Their] blood has stained this Demirtas hands, he said.

Demirtas is among thousands of HDP politicians and activists who remain behind bars on thinly evidenced terror charges. Bestas noted that in the township of Pervari in the southeastern province of Siirt, the HDPs entire provincial leadership has been sitting in prison for the past year and a half. Demirtas insists he is being unlawfully held and argues that if there were no legal obstacles to his candidacy, it follows he should be freed pending trial in the plethora of cases hes been slapped with. Among the most serious are those leveled by Erdogan regarding the Kobani demonstrations. Demirtas denies any wrongdoing.

Recent opinion polls suggest the HDP will hold its ground in the elections. Turkeys invasion of Syrian Kurdish Afrin encouraged by Erdogans nationalist allies will have bolstered the partys appeal. Some of Demirtas own popularity continues to draw non-Kurdish liberals as well. A staggering 1.5 million youths will be eligible to vote for the first time. With unemployment rising after 16 years of AKP rule, they offer rich opportunities for the opposition, including the HDP.

Meanwhile, a growing number of people who would typically vote for the secularists now talk about holding their noses and voting for the HDP in the parliamentary contest to deny the AKP a majority. But Bestas is wary, saying, There is no room for complacency. The government is mobilizing all its force to keep us down. We are on a razors edge.
ANKARA, Turkey  Who has a smartphone? Muharrem Ince, the presidential nominee of Turkeys main opposition party, asked the crowd during a recent rally in Denizli. Now, you all start broadcasting, he roared. There is the government media, but there is also the peoples media.

Inces call for social media streaming of his rally was not just an effort to reach out to a wider audience, but also a protest. Ahead of Turkeys critical presidential and parliamentary polls on June 24, opposition parties face an unprecedented blackout by mainstream television channels, almost all of which are now in pro-government hands. Although Ince and his Republican Peoples Party (CHP) still manage to get some coverage, others like the pro-Kurdish Peoples Democratic Party (HDP) are virtually banished from the screens, where President Recep Tayyip Erdogan is an omnipresent figure.

Opposition parties and their supporters have increasingly turned to social media, which some now call the penguin repellent  a reference to the mass anti-government protests in spring 2013, when one of Turkeys main news channels ignored the eruption of unrest at Istanbuls Gezi Park and aired a documentary about penguins instead.

Tezcan Durna, a scholar of political communication, sees the penguin-repellent movement as a form of political resistance. It is another way for opposition voters to resist the oppression and persecution they experience, Durna told Al-Monitor. Ince is basically telling Erdogan, If you have your media, which you bought out with money, I have my own movement, which has sprung up spontaneously and I am part of it. This is Inces way of resisting the medias denial of coverage.

In the May 1-25 period, the countrys two main news channels, NTV and CNN Turk, dedicated a combined 70 hours of coverage to Erdogans Justice and Development Party (AKP) and its election ally, the Nationalist Movement Party (MHP), according to a report by the two opposition-nominated members of Turkeys media watchdog RTUK. The report was made available to Al-Monitor. The CHP and Ince got 22 hours, while the Good Party and its presidential candidate, Meral Aksener, got 17 minutes and the HDP received no coverage at all.

Besides the gap between the government and the opposition, the statistics reflect also a curious gap between the oppositions two strongest candidates in the presidential race  Ince, who is seen as more left-leaning, and the right-wing Aksener, who many believe could lure disgruntled voters from Erdogans conservative base.

According to the Good Party, this is also a deliberate strategy imposed by Erdogan on the media. Lutfu Turkkan, the partys deputy chair in charge of media relations, told Al-Monitor that the positive discrimination accorded to Ince aimed to undermine Aksener, whom Erdogan sees as a stronger rival, especially if the presidential vote goes into a second round. Erdogan wants to compete with Ince. He believes a rival from the left will be easier to defeat, Turkkan said.

In a similar vein, Durna argued that the strategy aimed to deepen polarization in Erdogans favor. According to Durna, Erdogans alliance with the MHP seeks to consolidate the rightist and conservative vote, but the Good Party, founded last year by MHP defectors, is undoing the plan. So is the small Islamist Felicity Party, which has joined the secularist CHP and the Good Party in a rare unity effort on the opposition camp. The three disparate parties have formed an electoral alliance for the parliamentary polls, and though they have fielded separate candidates in the presidential race, they are widely expected to back whichever contender makes it to a possible runoff against Erdogan.

Erdogan wants to convince voters that the election contest is between the right and the left, between Kemalists and Islamists, Durna said. That is why both the Good Party and the Felicity Party are denied coverage [in the mainstream media]  because they are undoing this narrative and the polarization. Similarly, Durna said, the CHP receives more coverage not simply for being the main opposition party, but because its visibility serves Erdogans polarization strategy.

Turkkan said he was making efforts to ease the embargo on Aksener. Referring to the pro-government Demiroren conglomerate, which after its recent acquisition of the Dogan Media Group now controls 70% of the Turkish media, he said, The Demiroren group did not even respond to my appointment requests, while other media groups openly told me they were under pressure and would give [Aksener] airtime if they managed to overcome the pressure.

That even a seasoned and popular politician like Aksener is struggling for airtime illustrates how the profound changes in media ownership under the AKP have come to directly undermine the opposition. In a recent report on the issue, academics Benan Eres and Hakan Yuksel noted that the Turkish media never enjoyed full freedom, but stressed that previous governments sought to keep close ties with the media, while the AKP moved to directly adjust ownership relations according to its wishes. The transformation, they say, has normalized partisan and polarizing editorial policies.

When it comes to state television, things appear even worse for the opposition. In May, public broadcaster TRT dedicated 28 hours of coverage to Erdogan and his alliance, two hours to the CHP and Ince, and nine minutes to the Good Party and Aksener, while completely ignoring the HDP and Felicity, according to RTUK member Ilhan Tasci.

Principles pertaining to democratic legal rules  impartiality, equal opportunity, balanced coverage  have all been trampled on, Tasci told Al-Monitor. Private channels aside, the TRT  a broadcasting institution funded by taxes paid by the entire 80 million nation  is spreading the propaganda of a single man.

Even some in pro-government quarters appear annoyed by the blatant bias. In a May 8 column in the pro-government daily Yeni Safak, communication specialist Ali Saydam called for reflection on how wise it is for TV channels to air only the presidents speeches and offer little chance to the opposition and whether this  even benefits the opposition by victimizing it.

Indeed, recent audience measurements suggest that Turks may be getting tired of watching Erdogan. On May 23, Temel Karamollaoglu, the leader of tiny Felicity Party, beat Erdogan in the TV ratings when he got a rare chance for a live interview on the same evening that Erdogan was interviewed on another channel. Ince has also enjoyed high ratings.
Representatives of at least 10 different Alabama-based bioscience companies are participating in the largest conference of such businesses this week.

The BIO International Convention is taking place this week in Boston.

Among the companies attending will be Innovative Med Concepts (Tuscaloosa), Avanti Polar Lipids (Alabaster), Eurofins Biopharma Services (Huntsville), Discovery BioMed (Birmingham), Bridge Therapeutics (Birmingham), Proximity Biosciences (Auburn), Novocol Healthcare (Huntsville), Serina Therapeutics (Huntsville), Kowa Co. (Montgomery) and Evonik (Birmingham).

The Alabama delegation, according to the state's Department of Commerce, also includes university officials and leaders from major research organizations based in the state. Representatives from Southern Research, HudsonAlpha Institute of Biotechnology and the University of South Alabama's Office of Commercialization and Industry Collaboration are expected to attend.

Kathy Nugent, executive director of the University of Alabama at Birmingham's Bill L. Harbert Institute for Innovation and Entrepreneurship, said taking part is a way to connect to other companies and larger initiatives going on in the world of bioscience.

"What we hope to get out of it is potential partners for some of our therapeutics we have in the pipeline now," Nugent said. "We also want to make connections. It's relationship building, and it also gives us a chance to build visibility for the things we're doing in Birmingham."

Alabama's bioscience industry has a $7.3 billion annual economic impact and supports around 48,000 jobs across the state.
AP Photo/Tamika Moore, AL.com

Miss Alabama 2017, Jessica Procter, is nearing the end of her yearlong reign. She'll crown her successor on Saturday, June 9, at Samford University's Wright Center in Birmingham. Fifty women are hoping to become Miss Alabama 2018, ranging from Miss 9.1.1. to Miss Wiregrass Area. Here's a look at this year's contestants.

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Miss 9.1.1., Victoria Roose

Age: 23.

School: University of North Alabama.

Major: Elementary education.

Hometown: McCalla.

Talent: Piano.

Platform: Note to Self: Building Confidence Through Music.

List three adjectives that describe you: Musical, nurturing, personable.

What characteristics do you have that are totally Alabama? Diversity, well-rounded, dependable, relatable, economical (frugal).

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Miss Appalachian Valley, Lian Remley

Age: 20.

School: University of Alabama.

Major: Finance, economics, accounting.

Hometown: Birmingham.

Talent: Violin.

Platform: Fusing the Arts and Academics.

List three adjectives that describe you: Determined, eloquent, steadfast.

What characteristics do you have that are totally Alabama? I can't stand cold weather. I love eating at Dreamland. Roll Tide, 'nuff said.

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Miss Auburn University, Karson Fair

Age: 21.

School: Auburn University.

Major: Psychology.

Hometown: Benson, N.C.

Talent: Tap dance.

Platform: Know Your Worth.

List three adjectives that describe you: Sincere, hardworking, adaptable.

What characteristics do you have that are totally Alabama? Miss Alabama is a strong, empowering figure who leaves an impact on those around her because of her sincerity and kindness. I feel my heart for others, approachability, strong work ethic, adaptability, determination and compassion embody what it means to be Miss Alabama in 2018

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Miss Auburn Opelika Area, Camden Swatts

Age: 19.

School: Jacksonville State University.

Major: Dietetics.

Hometown: Beauregard.

Talent: Lyrical dance.

Platform: Fibromyalgia Awareness.

List three adjectives that describe you: Optimistic, dedicated, encouraging.

What characteristics do you have that are totally Alabama? Growing up on Lake Martin, I truly enjoy being outdoors and surrounded by Alabama's beautiful scenery, but I love exploring all the modern cities across the state, too. Also, Southern hospitality is something I cherish and apply to how I treat others every day.

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Miss Birmingham, Keely Templeton

Age: 20.

School: University of North Alabama.

Major: Nursing.

Hometown: Danville.

Talent: Dance.

Platform: Souls4Souls.

List three adjectives that describe you: Ambitious, passionate, sincere.

What characteristics do you have that are totally Alabama? My totally Alabama characteristics include: always exhibiting kindness and respect, being charitable, possessing a strong, sweet nature and having the ability to cook a great country meal.

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Miss Cahaba Valley, Brooke Edwards

Age: 19.

School: University of Alabama.

Major: Business.

Hometown: Cullman.

Talent: Vocal.

Platform: Think Before You Drink.

List three adjectives that describe you: Determined, driven, dynamic.

What characteristics do you have that are totally Alabama? A Southern accent, of course! As well as an appreciation for knowing all my neighbors by name.

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Miss Camellia, Loni Blatz

Age: 19.

School: Lurleen B. Wallace State Community College.

Major: Bio-medical science.

Hometown: Andalusia.

Talent: Vocal and piano.

Platform: Priceless.

List three adjectives that describe you: Optimistic, enthusiastic, passionate.

What characteristics do you have that are totally Alabama? When I think Alabama, I think of many hardworking individuals and that is a characteristic that I certainly have.

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Miss Center Point, Shelby Andrews

Age: 20.

School: Auburn University.

Major: Health services administration.

Hometown: Dothan.

Talent: Piano.

Platform: Girls Inc. --"Building Strong,Smart and Bold Young Women."

List three adjectives that describe you: Witty, adventurous, compassionate.

What characteristics do you have that are totally Alabama? My name! I share a name with the main character of "Steel Magnolias," which I feel is fitting for the type of woman that I aim to be and surround myself with. I am a strong, Southern young woman who loves sweet tea but does not back down from a challenge.

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Miss Chattahoochee Valley, Makalyn Heaslett

Age: 19.

School: Auburn University.

Major: Public relations.

Hometown: Muscle Shoals.

Talent: Tap dance.

Platform: Girls, Inc.

List three adjectives that describe you: Altruistic, zealous, motivated.

What characteristics do you have that are totally Alabama? What makes me totally Alabama is that I have a compassionate heart for everyone I meet. Growing up in Alabama, I was instilled with the traits and characteristics of caring for those around me. I have always found a way to connect with those around me and truly show them the care and appreciation they deserve.

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Miss Childersburg Area, Annie Ozment

Age: 19.

School: Auburn University.

Major: Pre-dentistry.

Hometown: Childersburg.

Talent: Tap dance.

Platform: Alabama Childhood Food Solutions: Feeding My Friends.

List three adjectives that describe you: Faithful, disciplined, optimistic.

What characteristics do you have that are totally Alabama? I am resilient. I handle adverse situations like the people of our great state. Our people face tornados, hurricanes, fires and other disasters with resilience. We are strong, determined people.

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Miss Circle City, Lauren Chambliss

Age: 19.

School: University of Alabama.

Major: Environmental engineering.

Hometown: Prattville.

Talent: Piano.

Platform: Foster Care Awareness, "Be The Village."

List three adjectives that describe you: Self aware, strategic, discerning.

What characteristics do you have that are totally Alabama? My most "Alabama" characteristic is my intense love for pimento cheese. I love a good pimento cheese sandwich or biscuit!

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Miss Coastal Alabama, Alexia Williams

Age: 18.

School: Gulf Shores High School.

Hometown: Orange Beach.

Talent: Vocal.

Platform: Patriotic Youth Services.

List three adjectives that describe you: Energetic, enthusiastic, compassionate.

What characteristics do you have that are totally Alabama? Since I am a nanny three days a week and a part-time babysitter, I work with children all the time and love every moment being a mentor to children of all ages.

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Miss Comfort Care, Harley Chapin

Age: 21.

School: University of Alabama at Birmingham.

Major: Graphic design.

Hometown: Columbiana.

Talent: Clogging.

Platform: Lone Warriors.

List three adjectives that describe you: Goofy, determined, open-minded.

What characteristics do you have that are totally Alabama? I am totally Alabama because I am sassy, confident, love super sweet tea and I say "Bless your heart."

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Miss Covered Bridge, Lauren Blue

Age: 23.

School: University of North Alabama.

Major: Business administration.

Hometown: St. Louis, Mo.

Talent: Tap dance.

Platform: "Let's Move!" Through Dance.

List three adjectives that describe you: Energetic, caring, hard working.

What characteristics do you have that are totally Alabama? Southern hospitality, sassy and sweet.

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Miss Friendliest City, Lenze Morris

Age: 22.

School: Auburn University.

Major: Public relations.

Hometown: Ozark.

Talent: Dance.

Platform: Kind Campaign.

List three adjectives that describe you: Intentional, driven, passionate.

What characteristics do you have that are totally Alabama? I am Alabama from the way I talk to the way I walk. Born and raised in Alabama has given me a unique dialect that allows you to guess where I am from within seconds of meeting me and I wouldn't want it any other way. In addition to my accent, growing up with traditional Southern values is evident in the way I carry myself and share Southern hospitality with those around me.

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Miss Gardendale Magnolia Festival, Maggie Jones

Age: 21.

School: University of Alabama.

Major: Chemical engineering.

Hometown: Springville.

Talent: Vocal.

Platform: Soul to Soul for Special Needs.

List three adjectives that describe you: Ambitious, compassionate, reliable.

What characteristics do you have that are totally Alabama? I consider myself totally Alabama because I say "Roll Tide!" I can't seem to get rid of my Southern accent either and cold weather is not my friend!

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Miss Hamilton, Bethany Knight

Age: 18.

School: Hamilton High School.

Hometown: Hamilton.

Talent: Vocal.

Platform: Create the Art, Be the Art.

List three adjectives that describe you: Passionate, uplifting, outgoing.

What characteristics do you have that are totally Alabama? My accent and my undying love for sweet tea.

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Miss Heart of Dixie, Reagan Handley

Age: 18.

School: Auburn University.

Major: Chemical engineering.

Hometown: Gardendale.

Talent: Acro jazz dance.

Platform: Growing Healthy Hearts.

List three adjectives that describe you: Adventurous, energetic, ambitious.

What characteristics do you have that are totally Alabama? I have a love for my grandma's home cooked meals and I am definitely a football fanatic.

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Miss Iron City, Julianna Moreno

Age: 21.

School: University of Alabama at Birmingham.

Major: Post-secondary education.

Hometown: Mount Olive.

Talent: Dance.

Platform: BCRFA.

List three adjectives that describe you: Determined, motivated, joyful.

What characteristics do you have that are totally Alabama? The Alabama football and my Southern accent.

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Miss Jefferson County, Kelsea Trice

Age: 20.

School: University of Montevallo.

Major: Elementary education.

Hometown: Montevallo.

Talent: Vocal.

Platform: Ending Teen Suicide, "Dare to be Different."

List three adjectives that describe you: Optimistic, empathetic, daring.

What characteristics do you have that are totally Alabama? Some of my totally Alabama qualities are my strong love for family and love for Chilton County peach sweet tea.

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Miss Jacksonville State University, Lauren Reaves

Age: 19.

School: Jacksonville State University.

Major: Psychology.

Hometown: Alexandria.

Talent: Flute and dance.

Platform: Autism Speaks.

List three adjectives that describe you: Exuberant, witty, gregarious.

What characteristics do you have that are totally Alabama? My biggest totally Alabama qualities are my strong Southern accent and love of sweet tea.

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Miss Leeds Area, Bailey Kennon

Age: 22.

School: University of Alabama at Birmingham.

Major: Management.

Hometown: Orange Beach.

Talent: Vocal and guitar.

Platform: Dating With Purpose.

List three adjectives that describe you: Empathetic, imaginative, vibrant.

What characteristics do you have that are totally Alabama? For starters, I'm pretty sure my blood runs with sweet tea. On a more serious note, growing up on the Gulf Coast and now representing the City of Leeds -- no matter where you go in Alabama you meet lovely, kind hearted individuals and I strive to be one of those people.

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Miss Lee Macon County, Meg McGuire

Age: 22.

School: University of Alabama.

Major: Public relations, MBA.

Hometown: Tuscumbia.

Talent: Piano.

Platform: Clay's Crew.

List three adjectives that describe you: Witty, adventurous, creative.

What characteristics do you have that are totally Alabama? I got a goat for my fifth birthday, lived in a log cabin for 15 years, and I have run through the tunnel at Bryant Denny Stadium on game day.

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Photo courtesy of Miss Alabama Pageant

Miss Marble Valley, Mary Beth Moore

Age: 21.

School: Troy University.

Major: Dance.

Hometown: Alabaster.

Talent: Tap dance.

Platform: For Greater Bands.

List three adjectives that describe you: Determined, fiesty, compassionate.

What characteristics do you have that are totally Alabama? I have a deep love for sweet tea and BBQ baked potatoes!

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Photo courtesy of Miss Alabama Pageant

Miss Marshall County, Aly York

Age: 20.

School: Samford University.

Major: Pharmacy.

Hometown: Arab.

Talent: Tap dance.

Platform: A Dose of Prevention.

List three adjectives that describe you: Ambitious, compassionate, vibrant.

What characteristics do you have that are totally Alabama? A few summers ago I traveled to California and was chosen to be a contestant on "The Price Is Right." When I ran on stage to meet Drew Carey and he asked me where I was from, I proudly exclaimed, "I'm from Arab, Alabama!" That proclamation was immediately met with an uproar of laughter from the audience due to my Southern accent and the name of my tight-knit hometown. I don't think you can get much more Alabama than that!

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Photo courtesy of Miss Alabama Pageant

Miss North Jefferson Area, Ashlyn Winkler

Age: 19.

School: University of Montevallo.

Major: Speech-language pathology.

Hometown: Dora.

Talent: Piano.

Platform: Shining a Light on Autism Acceptance.

List three adjectives that describe you: Compassionate, dependable, strong-willed.

What characteristics do you have that are totally Alabama? I love some good home cooking, Southern food. Also, my lovely Alabamian accent is a great characteristic that I possess. Everywhere I go people recognize and acknowledge my deep accent.

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Photo courtesy of Miss Alabama Pageant

Miss Northeast Alabama, Chandler Mordecai

Age: 20.

School: University of North Alabama.

Major: Journalism multimedia.

Hometown: Winfield.

Talent: Clogging.

Platform: Victory Over Domestic Violence.

List three adjectives that describe you: Charismatic, purposeful, hilarious.

What characteristics do you have that are totally Alabama? I'm totally Alabama from my Native American heritage to my love of meeting new people, and of course, football Saturdays.

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Photo courtesy of Miss Alabama Pageant

Miss Phenix City, Stella Kontos

Age: 21.

School: Auburn University.

Major: Chemical engineering.

Hometown: Leeds.

Talent: Piano.

Platform: S.T.A.G.E. Science, Technology and Girls in Engineering.

List three adjectives that describe you: Ambitious, passionate, joyful.

What characteristics do you have that are totally Alabama? I am grateful to be a true native of Alabama! I live on a lake and enjoy fishing. And, yes, college football and basketball are my favorite sports!

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Photo courtesy of Miss Alabama Pageant

Miss Quad Cities, Shiann Harper

Age: 21.

School: University of Alabama at Birmingham.

Major: Biology.

Hometown: Mount Olive.

Talent: Tap dance.

Platform: YouthServe.

List three adjectives that describe you: Resilient, humorous, fashion savvy.

What characteristics do you have that are totally Alabama? One of the areas I represent, Muscle Shoals, has a history rooted in music. Like this town, I love music from a variety of genres and always embrace an ever-changing culture. Like most Alabamians, I also love college game days and being a football hostess for the UAB Blazers. Our team has shown strength in the face of adversity, a characteristic I believe I exemplify.

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Photo courtesy of Miss Alabama Pageant

Miss Samford University, Thomason Bryan

Age: 22.

School: Samford University.

Major: Communications studies.

Hometown: Montgomery.

Talent: Vocal.

Platform: Thomason's Target: Ending Alzheimer's and Dementia.

List three adjectives that describe you: Confident, vivacious, practical.

What characteristics do you have that are totally Alabama? A kind smile and a firm handshake and the ability to use the phrase "bless your heart."

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Photo courtesy of Miss Alabama Pageant

Miss Saraland, Sarah Kate Stokley

Age: 18.

School: University of Southern Mississippi.

Major: Speech pathology and audiology.

Hometown: Saraland.

Talent: Pop vocal.

Platform: Project Outreach.

List three adjectives that describe you: Compassionate, friendly, driven.

What characteristics do you have that are totally Alabama? Characteristics that I have that are totally Alabama include compassion and hospitality. As a Mobile Azalea Trail Maid, I am an ambassador for the great city of Mobile, which is famous for its fresh seafood and Southern hospitality. I also take after my mom and her compassion as a nurse and her hospitality as the best cook in the world.

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Photo courtesy of Miss Alabama Pageant

Miss Shelby County, Charity Bowden

Age: 19.

School: University of Montevallo.

Major: Marketing.

Hometown: Hope Hull.

Talent: Vocal.

Platform: My Father's Gift.

List three adjectives that describe you: Loving, dedicated, compassionate.

What characteristics do you have that are totally Alabama? Like Alabama, I am faithful, resilient, musical, competitive and God-fearing!

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Photo courtesy of Miss Alabama Pageant

Miss Smiths Station, Ashton Leddon

Age: 20.

School: Auburn University.

Major: Early childhood education.

Hometown: Auburn.

Talent: Vocal.

Platform: Easter Seals.

List three adjectives that describe you: Compassionate, ambitious, sincere.

What characteristics do you have that are totally Alabama? What makes me totally Alabama is that I go to a school that was formerly known as the cow college, roll trees with toilet paper after a victory, and fly an eagle around our football stadium for good luck. These are also a few reasons why I am proud to be a student at Auburn University.

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Miss Southern Union, Julianna Kelly

Age: 18.

School: Southern Union State Community College.

Major: Agribusiness and economics.

Hometown: Wadley.

Talent: Lyrical dance.

Platform: Funding Mental Health Professionals in Schools.

What characteristics do you have that are totally Alabama? I have the quaintness characteristic that is totally Alabama. Although the people of Alabama are open to change, we love our old-fashioned ways. I also have the Southern charm that Alabama women have; we are unlike anyone else. Alabama women also have a sassy characteristic; we are not afraid to voice our opinion and make sure we are heard. Furthermore, I possess the sassy characteristic.

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Miss St. Clair Area, Braidyn Lazenby

Age: 21.

School: University of Alabama.

Major: Communications studies.

Hometown: Prattville.

Talent: Jazz en pointe.

Platform: Beat the Odds.

List three adjectives that describe you: Passionate, enthusiastic, optimistic.

What characteristics do you have that are totally Alabama? I grew up in a community that treats every child like their own and loves each other despite football team differences. Sweet tea, fresh garden vegetables and warm weather are some of my favorites, too!

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Photo courtesy of Miss Alabama Pageant

Miss Sylacauga, Isabella Powell

Age: 20.

School: University of Alabama.

Major: Vocal performance.

Hometown: Calera.

Talent: Vocal.

Platform: Faces of Adoption.

List three adjectives that describe you: Funny, hard working, insightful.

What characteristics do you have that are totally Alabama? Saying "Roll Tide" after everything and know that a fresh box of Krispy Kreme doughnuts can open a lot of doors.

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Photo courtesy of Miss Alabama Pageant

Miss Tennessee Valley, Tiara Pennington

Age: 18.

School: University of Alabama.

Major: Political science.

Hometown: Helena.

Talent: Vocal.

Platform: National Psoriasis Foundation and Psoriasis Take Action Alabama.

List three adjectives that describe you: Considerate, enthusiastic, determined.

What characteristics do you have that are totally Alabama? My charcteristics that are totally Alabama are friendly, sporty and funny.

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Photo courtesy of Miss Alabama Pageant

Miss Tri County, Caitlyn McTier

Age: 18.

School: University of Alabama.

Major: News media.

Hometown: Sylacauga.

Talent: Vocal.

Platform: Childhood Hunger.

List three adjectives that describe you: LLTenacious, authentic, persistent.

What characteristics do you have that are totally Alabama? For me, Roll Tide is the answer to all questions. I may or may not use the word "y'all" when referring to any group. Orange and blue are not in my color palette, and I love some Blue Bell Ice Cream made right in my hometown, Sylacauga.

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Photo courtesy of Miss Alabama Pageant

Miss Troy University, Madison Neal

Age: 22.

School: Troy University.

Major: Broadcast journalism.

Hometown: Cleveland.

Talent: Vocal.

Platform: Silencing the Stigma: Addiction Awareness.

List three adjectives that describe you: Determined, compassionate, organized.

What characteristics do you have that are totally Alabama? I embrace true Southern hospitality and a sweet spirit.

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Miss Trussville, Sammy Rizzuto

Age: 20.

School: Auburn University.

Major: Physics and mechanical engineering.

Hometown: Long Valley, N.J.

Talent: Vocal.

Platform: Operation Full STEAM Ahead.

List three adjectives that describe you: Tenacious, passionate, bold.

What characteristics do you have that are totally Alabama? Biscuits and gravy are the best breakfast. The Iron Bowl is a holiday. Weekends are for football and church. College sports are more important than professional sports.

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Photo courtesy of Miss Alabama Pageant

Miss Tuscaloosa, Callie Walker

Age: 20.

School: University of Alabama.

Major: Musical theater.

Hometown: Birmingham.

Talent: Ballet.

Platform: "Let's Talk Trash"-- Green Kids for a Green Planet.

List three adjectives that describe you: Spontaneous, quirky, green.

What characteristics do you have that are totally Alabama? I am a sucker for a Milo's sweet tea and I bleed crimson and white, ROLL TIDE!

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Photo courtesy of Miss Alabama Pageant

Miss University of Alabama, Riley Kate Lancaster

Age: 19.

School: University of Alabama.

Major: Public relations.

Hometown: Tuscaloosa.

Talent: Dance.

Platform: Dare to Share.

List three adjectives that describe you: Daring, spunky, underestimated.

What characteristics do you have that are totally Alabama? I have a double name, I am a rabid football fan, and I am on a first-name basis with my deer processor.

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Photo courtesy of Miss Alabama Pageant

Miss University of West Alabama, Kennedi Sanders

Age: 22.

School: University of West Alabama.

Major: Psychology

Hometown: Columbus, Miss.

Talent: Dance.

Platform: Girls Can! Empowering Women.

List three adjectives that describe you: Outgoing, loving, unique.

What characteristics do you have that are totally Alabama? Being a Mississippi native, what makes me totally Alabama is how much I have grown as a person here in this great state and at my school. I do not think I would be the person I am today if it was not for the sweet souls I have met here in Alabama.

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Photo courtesy of Miss Alabama Pageant

Miss UAB, Vishwadha Gunda

Age: 19.

School: University of Alabama at Birmingham.

Major: Public health.

Hometown: Montgomery.

Talent: Dance.

Platform: Strengthening Cultural Consciousness.

List three adjectives that describe you: Persevering, open-minded, spontaneous.

What characteristics do you have that are totally Alabama? My Southern hospitality makes me quite the girl; come to our capital, stop by my place and you'll be sure to sip some of my favorite drink, sweet tea from a mason jar, and jam to Sam Hunt.

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Miss University of Mobile, Erica Burleson

Age: 19.

School: University of Mobile.

Major: Piano performance.

Hometown: Satsuma.

Talent: Violin.

Platform: Hope for the Journey.

List three adjectives that describe you: Consistent, compassionate, driven.

What characteristics do you have that are totally Alabama? I LOVE getting the chance to be hospitable. I enjoy being outdoors and staying active. Alabama is my home, sweet home!

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Photo courtesy of Miss Alabama Pageant

Miss University of North Alabama, Haley Gilbertson

Age: 20.

School: University of North Alabama.

Major: Masters of Arts in English.

Hometown: Arab.

Talent: Tap dance.

Platform: Living our Best Life: Awareness for the Prevention of Diabetes.

List three adjectives that describe you: Free-spirited, creative, charismatic.

What characteristics do you have that are totally Alabama? I love the beach and sunshine!

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Photo courtesy of Miss Alabama Pageant

Miss West Central, Payton Edberg

Age: 22.

School: University of Alabama.

Major: Master of business administration.

Hometown: Enterprise.

Talent: Jazz dance.

Platform: Wiser Women Campaign.

List three adjectives that describe you: Passionate, analytical, determined.

What characteristics do you have that are totally Alabama? I am pursuing my third degree from the University of Alabama. Roll Tide!

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Photo courtesy of Miss Alabama Pageant

Miss Walker County, Chassidy Sumler

Age: 24.

School: University of Alabama at Birmingham.

Major: Biology.

Hometown: Flora, Miss.

Talent: Vocal.

Platform: Preventing Childhood Obesity.

List three adjectives that describe you: Reliable, trustworthy, caring.

What characteristics do you have that are totally Alabama? Lunch is dinner and dinner is supper. Big events are planned around football. Barbecue sauce is better when it's white.

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Photo courtesy of Miss Alabama Pageant

Miss Wallace State, Samantha Galloway

Age: 19.

School: Wallace State Community College.

Major: AS general studies.

Hometown: Fyffe.

Talent: Vocal.

Platform: Eating Disorders.

List three adjectives that describe you: Outgoing, comical, accident prone.

What characteristics do you have that are totally Alabama? I can operate a tractor, drive a stick shift and I was raised on a poultry farm.

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Miss Wiregrass Area, Courtney Willis

Age: 21.

School: Auburn University.

Major: Political science and psychology.

Hometown: Semmes.

Talent: Piano.

Platform: iCool Technological Responsibility.

List three adjectives that describe you: Passionate, distinguished, perseverant.

What characteristics do you have that are totally Alabama? I am adventurous, full of life and always ready to try something new!

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AL.com file photo/Mark Almond

Details on Miss Alabama pageant:

Preliminaries: Wednesday, June 6, through Friday, June 8, at 7 p.m. at the Wright Center, Samford University, 800 Lakeshore Drive, Birmingham.

Finals: Saturday, June 9 at 7 p.m., Wright Center.

Tickets: $85.80-$121 for four-day pass, $34-$43 daily Wednesday-Friday, $48-$60 Saturday, available here.

More info: Miss Alabama website, Facebook page, Instagram page, Twitter feed.
Josh Bean

Who will be Alabama's next governor?

Alabamians will head to the polls June 5 in the first step towards electing the state's next governor.

A slate of statewide offices are on the ballot as Republican and Democrats hold primaries. A runoff, if necessary, will be held July 17; the general election is Nov. 6.

Here's a look at the candidates for Governor:

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Joe Songer

Republican gubernatorial candidates

Four Republicans are seeking the party's nomination for governor.

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Tommy Battle

For more on Battle, go here.

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Scott Dawson

For more on Scott Dawson, go here.

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Bill Hightower

For more on Bill Hightower, go here.

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Kay Ivey

For more on Kay Ivey, go here.

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Michael McAllister

Republican gubernatorial candidate Michael McCallister died in April. His name will appear on the ballot and votes for him will be tallied but not certified, according to the Alabama Secretary of State's Office.

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Joe Songer

Democratic gubernatorial candidates

Six Democrats are seeking their party's gubernatorial nomination.

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Sue Bell Cobb

For more on Sue Bell Cobb, go here.

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Christopher Countryman

For more on Christopher Countryman, go here.

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James Fields

For more on Janmes Fields, go here.

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Walt Maddox

For more on Walt Maddox, go here.

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Doug "New Blue" Smith

For more on Doug "New Blue" Smith, go here.

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Anthony White

For more on Anthony White, go here.

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Lt. Gov. race

Three Republicans are vying for the office of Lt. Gov.: Alabama Public Service Commission President Twinkle Andress Cavanaugh; State Sen. Rusty Glover and State Rep. Will Ainsworth. The winner will face the Democratic nominee, Will Boyd, in the general election on Nov. 6. You can read more on the candidates here.

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Sample ballots

For sample ballots, go here.
Authorities have released the name of a man found shot to death inside his southwest Birmingham home on Friday.

The Jefferson County Coroner's Office identified the victim as Patrick Ladale Maxey. He was 47.

Maxey was discovered at 11:55 a.m. in the 1800 block of Princeton Avenue, said Birmingham police Lt. Pete Williston. He was pronounced dead at noon.

Maxey had cut the yards of several neighbors Friday morning. A friend who was supposed to cut grass with him became concerned when Maxey did not answer his cell phone and went to check him.

Police have not yet released any additional information about the ongoing investigation.

Maxey is Birmingham's 41st this year, and the 65th in all of Jefferson County. Anyone with information is asked to call Birmingham police homicide detectives at 205-254-1764 or Crime Stoppers at 205-254-7777.
Birmingham has a new police chief.

On Monday, Mayor Randall Woodfin named Patrick Smith as the new police chief. Smith is the assistant commanding officer of the Police Sciences and Training

Bureau for the Los Angeles Police Department.

Allen Treadaway, a veteran of the Birmingham Police Department, was named assistant chief. Treadaway will handle day-to-day operations of the police department until Smith's first day on June 25.

"Chief Smith is dedicated to bridge building," Woodfin said. "He understands that a department is only as strong as the community it serves. As he works to build a better department, he will also be working to sustain public trust and bring real change to all 99 of our neighborhoods. We'll be stronger both behind the badge and in front of Chief Smith.

During the announcement, Woodfin said he took his time in making his decision because he wanted to get it right. The search began on Jan. 23.

Deputy Chief Henry Irby, who was one of the candidates, has handled day-to-day operations for the Birmingham Police Department since April 18.

The other chief finalist was Malik Aziz, a division commander with the Dallas Police Department.

Smith was the No. 1 candidate based on an assessment of the finalists and scored high on "leadership credibility and impact," "building relationships and interpersonal awareness" and "valuing diversity and integrity," Woodfin said.

"He will make a great addition to our administration," he said.

Smith, a native of Tuscaloosa, has 28 years law enforcement experience with the Los Angeles police force. He worked his way up the ranks as a patrol officer, police field training officer and instructor, sergeant, lieutenant, captain and most recently police commander.

Smith said he's done his research, and he knows what Birmingham residents want in their next police chief.

"I want to make sure I am here to deliver, and I get you everything you need," he said, adding that he will make sure officers "are delivering on the promises of the mayor, city council and the laws of the land."

When asked if he was an Alabama football fan, Smith responded: "Roll Tide."

"I believe that a positive working relationship with my community is vital in the success of any police organization," Smith said. "I strongly believe in working with the various communities to build bridges and sustain public trust while motivating, training and encouraging employees to achieve crime reduction goals and strategies."

Smith said Monday's announcement is surreal for him.

As a very young man, Smith, who is black, said he remembers officers pulling his father's vehicle over. The officers asked his father many questions about where he was going and what he was doing.

The officers then walked away without explaining why he were pulled over, he said.

"It left a very bad feeling," Smith said.

On the ride home, Smith said his father tried to explain to him the problems in society and what to expect.

"I said when I grow up, I will become chief of police, and I will make sure that doesn't happen," Smith said, adding that his father told him that he could do whatever he wanted to do.

Though his father is no longer with him, he said he could feel his presence with him today.

"I know he is in this room cheering," Smith said.

U.S. Attorney Jay Town issued a statement congratulating Woodfin on his selection of Smith as the next police chief.

"We all look forward to Chief Smith's leadership, vision and continued partnership. Our collective violent crime reduction and outreach task force initiatives have never looked so promising."

Treadaway has served on the Birmingham Police Department since 1989. Most recently, Treadaway had worked as captain of the East Precinct since 2014, which includes the Birmingham Shuttlesworth International Airport. He worked with approximately 170 officers.

"It is an honor to take on this role as assistant chief after 29 years of service, Treadaway said, adding he is most excited about working and support the department's police officers.

Treadaway previously served as captain of the Crimes against Property unit, lieutenant of the Burglary and Auto Theft units and sergeant of the Auto Theft unit and South Precinct.

Currently, Treadaway is a state representative. He's held that position since 2006, sponsoring and co-sponsoring legislation involving law enforcement issues. He is chairman of the Public Safety and Homeland Security Committee.

Treadaway also served as president of the Birmingham Fraternal Order of Police Lodge 1 from 1999 to 2006. In 2006, he was named the Alabama State Fraternal Order of Police's Outstanding Member of the Year.

"Assistant Chief Treadaway knows Birmingham in and out. He knows our strengths,'' Woodfin said. "He knows where we need to improve. He already has the tools to make effective change happen. And together, these two gentlemen will help build a stronger, safer Birmingham."

A total of 57 candidates including local, regional and national contenders, applied by the March 1 deadline.

According to the mayor's office, 11 out of the 57 candidates were identified by search firm Siena Consulting to go through an assessment process, which occurred on March 19. The assessment for the chief candidates included a day in the life of a police chief. It included crisis exercises and role playing.

The new chief replaces A.C. Roper who stepped down on Feb. 16 after serving 10 years in the police department's top position. Roper announced his retirement on Nov. 29, a day after Woodfin took office as mayor

Retired Birmingham police Capt. Orlando Wilson was named interim chief on Feb. 16. Wilson, though, stepped down from his post on Wednesday, April 18 to have a medical procedure. That's when Irby took over day-to-day operations.

Smith on why Bham: I am no stranger to Alabama. To me this is a homecoming. Very excited to represent the men and women of Birmingham Police Department.  Erin Edgemon (@eedgemon) June 4, 2018

Patrick D Smith Resume by Erin Edgemon on Scribd
The mother of a 15-year-old boy accused of leading police on a chase in a stolen MAX bus said she watched in horror as her son barreled through a public housing community with patrol cruisers just behind.

"He passed by me saying, 'I love you' and 'I'm going to kill myself,''' Sherry Pace said. "I was hollering for him to stop. I was like 'Boy, you don't even know how to drive.''

Sunday's bizarre incident began about 3:30 a.m. when Birmingham's South Precinct officers were dispatched to the city's popular Lakeview District on a call of two individuals with guns, said Lt. Pete Williston. Police stopped the teens, who they learned were in possession of a BB gun and a paintball gun.

Williston said the 15-year-old's mother refused to come take custody of him so he was transported to Jefferson County Youth Detention in the 200 block of Second Court North. About 6:30 a.m., the boy escaped custody outside of the facility and 30 minutes later stole a small MAX bus from the parking lot of the bus depot on 31st Street North. Williston said he doesn't know how the teen got from the youth facility to the bus depot.

Pace, who identified her son as Malik Born, said that's not what happened. She said her son - the second-oldest of her six children - sneaked out of the family's Tom Brown Village home sometime during the night without her knowledge. It was about 4:30 a.m., she said, that she awoke to police banging on her door.

Pace was told that her son and his friend had been caught with a BB gun and paintball gun, both of which looked like real firearms, and had tried to rob a woman of her purse. That woman, she said, declined to press charges and the police were bringing the boys home.

They had first gone to the other boy's home, but his mother wasn't there and didn't answer her phone. That's when officers brought both boys to Pace's home. Pace tried to call the other boy's mom, but she said she wasn't coming to get him. That's when police said they would take him into protective custody and take Malik to Jefferson County Youth Detention because he was already on probation on charges stemming from a threat after a fight with another boy.

"My son had a probation officer and the police knew he couldn't get in trouble again,'' Pace said.

Pace said police left with Malik and the other boy and she thought everything was handled. A couple hours later, she learned otherwise.

According to the mother, her son and his friend escaped from the Birmingham police cruiser, scaled a fence and took off running. The friend, she said, was quickly caught but somehow Malik made it quite a distance away and then spotted the MAX bus. "He jumped in it and went to Kingston,'' Pace said.

Malik went to a friend's home and had that friend call Pace to say he was on his way home. "I was thinking, 'Lord he's supposed to be in juvenile' and he got away,'' she said. "I seen Malik driving up the street with the police behind. I was scared. I was afraid he was going to kill himself or someone else."

Pace said a police officer stopped and picked her up. "I got in the chase with them,'' she said. She claims the police car she was in hit the MAX bus, and that Malik then hit another police car at another point.

Police ultimately called off the chase because of the danger it posed. "He was crying, he was hysterical, and he was afraid they were going to kill him,'' she said. "They made it seem like my son was armed and dangerous."

Malik managed to get away again and ran to a home of someone he knows. A short time later, Pace said, she received a call from the U.S. Marshals telling her they were trying to find Malik and said anything she could do to help would be appreciated.

"He called me close to 1 p.m. and told me where he was,'' Pace said. "I told him to get to my house immediately."

Malik showed up a short time later. "He was exhausted, tired and scared. He was asking me, 'What's going to happen?' I'm scared they're going to do something to me.''

"I had a long talk with my son,'' she said. "I told him what you did was dangerous, and it could have been bad. Turn yourself in so you can get this behind you. He understood."

They called the police and a team of officers showed up to take Malik into custody. "They were real nice about the situation,'' Pace said.

Pace said she wants her son to get the help he needs. "He's not a threat. His father is not active in his life and that can be hard,'' she said. "He needs some good structure and guidance. There's only so much I can do."

Police have not corroborated Pace's account of what happened and said they can't comment on charges because of Malik's age. Pace, however, said he is charged with three counts of attempted murder and theft of property and will remain in youth detention until a hearing June 26.

She said she plans to support him every step of the way. "I'm going to be there 100 percent,'' she said. "He wants to be a veterinarian. He's going to be successful."

Community activist Eric Wynn said he is working with the family to get them support. Several mentoring groups already have reached out, he said in a Facebook post on Monday. "This is not a single mother issue, this is a community issue,'' Wynn wrote. "This mother has not failed her son, no single mother has, the community has failed him."

"We know that once released, this child will need all the love, encouraging and support he can get,'' he wrote. "He doesn't need a car, he's not old enough to drive, even though was whipping that bus. He doesn't need money, he needs positive role models. He's an innocent 15-year-old kid, he's the man of the family, he needs guidance. We cannot give up on this kid."

'
Birmingham police are investigating after a person was shot early Monday morning.

Police responded to the 1300 block of Oakland Avenue at approximately 2:30 a.m. and discovered a person had been shot in the face. According to Sgt. Bryan Shelton, the victim was transported to a hospital.

Shelton said police do not know the condition of the victim at this time.

No suspects are in custody.
A Tarrant man is behind bars, accused of opening fire in the parking lot of a Birmingham Church's Chicken last week.

No one was injured in the gunfire, but Birmingham police Lt. Pete Williston said the suspect was trying to shoot someone in the parking lot in the 7500 block of First Avenue North. While doing so, he fired numerous shots into the restaurant and also hit two vehicles.

One of the vehicles was occupied but he other was empty.

The shooting happened shortly after 4:30 p.m. on Wednesday, May 30, 2018. During the investigation, Williston said, detectives were able to identify the suspect as 27-year-old Ladarius Bloxom.

Bloxom was taken into custody at a home in the 1600 block of Hatchet Avenue in Tarrant City. He was placed on a 48-hour hold at the Birmingham City Jail. On June 3, detectives presented the findings of the investigation to the Jefferson County District Attorney's Office.

Bloxom is charged with attempted murder, discharging a firearm into an occupied building, discharging a firearm into an occupied vehicle and discharging a firearm into an unoccupied vehicle.

He is being held in the Jefferson County Jail on bonds totaling $300,000.
VANCOUVER, British Columbia, June 04, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Alexco Resource Corp. (NYSE AMERICAN:AXU) (TSX:AXR) (Alexco or the Company) is pleased to announce that it has entered into an agreement with a syndicate of underwriters (the Underwriters), pursuant to which the Underwriters have agreed to purchase, on a bought deal basis 3,933,000 flow-through common shares (the Flow-Through Shares) at a blended price of approximately C$1.90 per Flow-Through Share for aggregate gross proceeds of C$7,462,650 (the Offering).



The issued securities are comprised of: (i) 966,500 flow-through shares with respect to Canadian exploration expenses priced at $2.05 per Flow-Through Share; (ii) 966,500 flow-through shares with respect to Canadian exploration expenses that also qualify as flow-through mining expenditures priced at $2.05 per Flow-Through Share; and (iii) 2,000,000 flow-through shares with respect to Canadian development expenses priced at $1.75 per Flow-Through Share.

Gross proceeds from the sale of the Flow-Through Shares will be used to fund a surface exploration program, continue the underground drilling program at the Bermingham deposit, and also continue development of the Flame & Moth decline at the Company's Keno Hill Silver project by incurring qualified expenditures.

The Underwriter will receive a cash commission on the sale of the securities, representing 6.0% of the gross proceeds raised.

The Flow-Through Shares to be issued under the Offering will be offered in accordance with the terms of a prospectus supplement to be filed in British Columbia, Alberta, Ontario, Saskatchewan and Manitoba.

Closing is expected on or about June 13, 2018 and is subject to regulatory approval including that of the Toronto Stock Exchange and NYSE American LLC.

This news release does not constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to buy nor shall there be any sale of any of the securities in any jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful, including in the United States. The securities have not been and will not be registered under the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the U.S. Securities Act) or any securities laws of any state of the United States and may not be offered or sold within the United States or to, or for the account or benefit of, U.S. persons (as defined in Regulation S under the U.S. Securities Act) unless registered under the U.S. Securities Act and applicable state securities laws or pursuant to an exemption from such registration requirements.

About Alexco

Alexco Resource Corp. holds the historical high grade Keno Hill Silver District located in Canadas Yukon Territory. Employing a unique business model, Alexco also provides mine-related environmental services, remediation technologies and reclamation and mine closure services to both government and industry clients through the Alexco Environmental Group, its wholly-owned environmental services division.

Contact

Clynton R. Nauman, Executive Chairman and Chief Executive Officer

Lisa May, Director of Investor Relations

Phone: (778) 945-6577

Email: lmay@alexcoresource.com

Some statements (forward-looking statements) in this news release contain forward-looking information concerning the Offering and the use of proceeds thereof, Alexcos anticipated results and developments in Alexcos operations in future periods, planned exploration and development of its properties, plans related to its business and other matters that may occur in the future, made as of the date of this news release. Forward-looking statements may include, but are not limited to, statements with respect to the proposed Offering, anticipated closing of the Offering, potential exercise by the Underwriters of the over-allotment option, anticipated use of proceeds, future remediation and reclamation activities, future mineral exploration, the estimation of mineral reserves and mineral resources, the realization of mineral reserve and mineral resource estimates, future mine construction and development activities, future mine operation and production, the timing of activities and reports, the amount of estimated revenues and expenses, the success of exploration activities, permitting time lines, requirements for additional capital and sources and uses of funds. 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 from those expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements. Such factors include, among others, risks related to regulatory approval of the Offering; actual results and timing of exploration and development activities; actual results and timing of mining activities; actual results and timing of environmental services activities; actual results and timing of remediation and reclamation activities; conclusions of economic evaluations; changes in project parameters as plans continue to be refined; future prices of silver, gold, lead, zinc and other commodities; possible variations in mineable resources, grade or recovery rates; failure of plant, equipment or processes to operate as anticipated; accidents, labour disputes and other risks of the mining industry; First Nation rights and title; continued capitalization and commercial viability; global economic conditions; competition; and delays in obtaining governmental approvals or financing or in the completion of development activities. Forward-looking statements are based on certain assumptions that management believes are reasonable at the time they are made. In making the forward-looking statements included in this news release, Alexco has applied several material assumptions, including, but not limited to, the assumption that regulatory approval of the Offering will be obtained in a timely manner; all conditions precedent to completion of the Offering will be fulfilled in a timely manner; Alexco will be able to raise additional capital as necessary, that the proposed exploration and development will proceed as planned, and that market fundamentals will result in sustained silver, gold, lead and zinc demand and prices. 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. Alexco expressly 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 otherwise required by applicable securities legislation.
A Birmingham teen who escaped custody and then led police on a chase in a stolen MAX transit bus is undergoing evaluation at the hospital.

Monique Grier, director of Jefferson County Youth Detention, said the 15-year-old boy was taken to Children's of Alabama for a medical evaluation once he was placed into the agency's care and then will be processed into the detention center.

"The 15-year-old has been accused of serious violations, but we all have a duty to care,'' Grier said. "This child could greatly benefit from a needs-based assessment, mentoring and strong supervision, all of which he will receive while under the charge of the G. Ross Bell Youth Detention Center."

Sunday's bizarre incident began about 3:30 a.m. when Birmingham's South Precinct officers were dispatched the city's popular Lakeview District on a call of two individuals with guns, said Lt. Pete Williston. Police stopped the teens, who they learned were in possession of a BB gun and a paintball gun.

Williston said the 15-year-old's mother refused to come take custody of him so he was transported to Jefferson County Youth Detention in the 200 block of Second Court North. About 6:30 a.m., the boy escaped custody outside of the facility and 30 minutes later stole a small MAX bus from the parking lot of the bus depot on 31st Street North. Williston said he doesn't know how the teen got from the youth facility to the bus depot.

Officers spotted the stolen bus and attempted to stop the vehicle, but the juvenile would not stop. During the pursuit the teen intentionally struck two patrol vehicles. Police called off the chase and the boy abandoned the stolen vehicle a short time later at Ninth Avenue and 44th Place North.

By 2 p.m., Williston reported the teen had been turned over to police in the Tom Brown Village public housing community. "This was accomplished with the cooperation of his mother,'' he said.

Williston said the officers used all available resources to safely end this incident. "The juvenile suspect took a minor situation to a level that put many lives in danger; to include his own,'' he said. "The Birmingham police officers involved in this incident showed great restraint and fell back on the training they received during their careers to ensure everyone, including the juvenile suspect, remained unharmed."

Authorities have not yet announced formal charges against the teen.

Grier said that while the boy is in the youth detention facility, he will attend school, participate in programs, and attend optional religious services."

The facility, she said, provides the highest quality of structured care to youth in their care through a variety of creative programs and services that teach accountability.

"There is a tremendous need for effective supportive services within the community,'' Grier said. "It is imperative that our youth have access to positive recreational, vocational, and employment opportunities. Not one of our young people are expendable- and the county doesn't want to see anyone discarded. This instance serves as an additional testament to the importance of community,"

"The Youth Detention Facility believes that family support and community reinvestment can help decrease the number of people that go into the juvenile justice system,'' Grier said. "Together, we can make a difference. Let's work together to help break the cycle."
A truck driver found dead in his rig last month was killed during a robbery, according to newly-released court records.

Birmingham police last week announced the arrests of Rodrakius Grays, 39, and Sheena Dixon, 26, on capital murder charges in the May 16 death of 55-year-old Derry S. Anderson. The warrants were issued against them on Wednesday.

According to charging documents, the pair was in the course of committing a theft of an unknown amount of cash from Anderson when he was fatally shot with a pistol.

Anderson was a trucker who was moving a load from Georgia to Arkansas when he was found dead in Birmingham. He was last known by police to be alive the day before his body was discovered. He lived in Ohio but had family in the Birmingham area.

West Precinct officers were dispatched just before 11:30 a.m. that Wednesday to the Citgo on Bankhead Highway after receiving a tip. Anderson was found in the sleeper area of the truck when they went to investigate that tip.

Sheena Dixon

He was pronounced dead on the scene, and authorities initially said his death was unclassified. A day later, however, the Jefferson County Coroner's Office ruled the death a homicide.

The department's Crime Reduction Team arrested both suspects without incident. Grays is from Center Point and Dixon is from Lincoln.

Court records show Dixon pleaded guilty in 2011 to misdemeanor drug charges and received a three-month suspended sentence. Grays pleaded guilty in 2001 to receiving stolen property and was sentenced to two years in prison.

Both remain held without bond in the Jefferson Count Jail. Court dates have not yet been announced.
U.S. Rep. Mo Brooks (R-Huntsville) and challenger Clayton Hinchman swapped allegations and endorsements Monday in press conferences the day before they meet in Tuesday's Republican primary.

Hinchman called a morning press conference at which a second round of retired military officers and corporate leaders endorsed him. An earlier round of endorsements came last week. Speaking for or standing with Hinchman Monday were:

- Retired Lt. Gen. Kevin Brynes, vice president of Raytheon in Huntsville;

- Retired Lt. Gen. Mark Curran, vice president of L-3, a supplier of communications, reconnaissance systems and other technology to the military;

- Retired Maj. Gen. Lynn Collyar, former commanding general of the U.S. Army Aviation & Missile Command and current partner at the financial and legal firm Deloitte;

- Retired Brig. Gen. Bill Forrester, vice president at defense and aerospace contractor Northrop Grumman.

- Retired Col. Bill Marks, former Redstone Arsenal garrison commander and vice president at the engineering and consulting company Geocent;

- Retired Chief Warrant Officer Mike Durant, president and CEO of Pinnacle Solutions and survivor of the "Black Hawk Down" incident in Somalia.

U.S. Rep. Mo Brooks appears at a press conference Monday, June 4, 2018 as he wraps up his run to claim the Republican nomination for a new term in the June 5 primary. (Lee Roop/lroop@al.com)

"There is much at stake today, and our district needs his effective leadership," Brynes said of Hinchman. "His experience and his education, his time in combat, running a business and navigating D.C. places him in an ideal position to represent the people of District 5. He's a leader who's willing to listen, think and to act."

"We need representatives that are going to represent us," Curran said. "Represent our district and represent the issues that are important to us. Things like education, things like a strong defense, space exploration, research and development, agriculture, education. Those are the things that are important to us."

"I believe my opponent's time in office has been nothing but to gain a political promotion," Hinchman said of Brooks. "The people of the Fifth District are not being listened to. They feel that they are being ignored and their biggest issues are of no concern to Mo Brooks."

In his press conference later, Brooks said Hinchman had tried "to trick voters into thinking Mo Brooks was a Never Trumper." He pointed to Trump's endorsement last week and said it "puts an end to Mr. Hinchman's 'Never Trump' deception."

Brooks said Hinchman "before moving to Alabama not long ago to run for Congress ... was a lobbyist for the Military Officers Association in Washington, D.C." He lobbied Congress for "more pay and benefits for generals and other officers," Brooks said.

"It is only logical and natural that members of Mr. Hinchman's lobbyist clientele base would endorse him. I would be surprised if they didn't."

Hinchman said late Monday that he "was never a registered lobbyist."

"My time in Washington was spent as an advocate for service members and their families and wounded warriors," Hinchman said in a statement. "I was also a member of the Elizabeth Dole Foundation advocating for caregivers for severely disabled veterans."

"I have dedicated my life and service to this country," Hinchman said, "and I will not have my advocacy work for veterans and their family members tarnished by a career politician who hasn't served anyone other than his own career political promotions."

(Updated June 4 at 5:09 p.m. to include Hinchman's response to the 'lobbyist' allegation)
State and local governments have removed at least 110 publicly-supported monuments and other Confederate tributes since the 2015 massacre of nine black parishioners by a white supremacist in Charleston, S.C.

But 1,728 Confederate symbols - monuments, school and city names, bridges, holidays, etc. - remain. Of those, 121 are in Alabama, according to an analysis released Monday by the Montgomery-based Southern Poverty Law Center.

"We've seen a remarkable effort to remove Confederate monuments from the public square, yet the impact has been limited by a strong backlash among many white Southerners who still cling to the myth of the 'Lost Cause' and the revisionist history that these monuments represent," said Heidi Beirich, director of the SPLC's Intelligence Project.

The SPLC's account of Alabama's references of the Confederacy includes 60 monuments (eight are located in Montgomery), 30 highway and/or road names, seven schools, five parks, five counties, three cities and three holidays.

The report titled "Whose Heritage? Public Symbols of the Confederacy," was released on Jefferson Davis' birthday, which is a paid state holiday in both Alabama and Mississippi.

The SPLC doesn't advocate for the destruction of the monuments, but would prefer seeing them moving into a state archives or someplace else where they need to be taught in context.

"I am proud of this report and I hope it leads to many conversations," said Lecia Brooks, SPLC's outreach director, during a morning Facebook Live interview.

Alabama has fewer Confederate symbols than a host of Southern states including Mississippi (147), North Carolina (170), South Carolina (194), Georgia (199), Texas (209), and Virginia (242). It has more symbols than Tennessee (99) and Louisiana (83).

But very few symbols have been removed in Alabama, and a state law is in place to protect them. Texas was the most prolific removal of Confederate symbols, at 31 since 2015.

The SPLC records document only one symbol removal in Alabama since the 2015 killings of nine black parishioners in South Carolina church. That occurred last year in Brewton, when Jefferson Davis Community College merged with Faulkner State Community College and Alabama Southern Community College. The renamed institution is Coastal Alabama Community College.

The SPLC is involved in an ongoing lawsuit over the city of Birmingham's decision to cover the Confederate Soldiers and Sailors Monument in Linn Park.

The SPLC also opposes the Alabama Memorial Preservation Act, which was signed into law last year by Alabama Gov. Kay Ivey. The law prohibits the removal, altering or renaming monuments more than 40 years old.

The SPLC report found that most of the symbols were dedicated during the first two decades of the 20th century and during the civil rights movement.

The biggest rise in dedication of monuments and other symbols for the Confederacy first began in 1900, amid the period in which states were enacting Jim Crow laws to disenfranchise newly freed blacks and re-segregate society.

The spike, according the SPLC, last well into the 1920s, when the Ku Klux Klan has a resurgence.

The second spike, the SPLC reports, began in the early 1950s and lasted through the 1960s, as the civil rights movement led to a backlash among segregationists.
Three people were arrested Sunday after allegedly shooting one person in the head and killing another in a Florida town four miles east of the Alabama Stateline.

Christopher Alan Stacey, 37, Christopher James Logan Stacey, 18, and Alexis Ileene Shiffner Cain, 21, were arrested in connection with murder and attempted murder, according to the Escambia County Sheriff.

The two victims, Troy Boutwell and Dalton Davis, were then dumped in Alabama, according to Atmore Chief of Police Chuck Brooks.

Boutwell told investigators that he was visiting a friend at a residence in Walnut Hill, a community near to the Alabama Stateline. The Escambia County report says that Boutwell was shot after getting into an argument the elder of the two Stacey's. It's unclear when Davis died.

When deputies arrived the at the location of the alleged crime they observed a couch being burned in the backyard. It was extinguished in order to preserve evidence. Weapons were also found after a search of the residence.

After being dumped near to Atmore, Boutwell was able to flag down a motorist. He and Davis were dumped in the flatbed of a truck that was found partially submerged in a creek. Boutwell was taken to hospital for treatment.

Christopher Alan Stacey was arrested on suspicion of murder and attempted murder. He is being held in Escambia County without bond.

Christopher James Logan Stacey and Shiffner Cain were both charged as accessories to homicide and attempted homicide, and they are being held on $150,000 bond.

The entire investigation will be dealt with by law enforcement in Florida.
The United Nations has never been shy about attacking the United States.

In recent years, U.N. officials accused the Obama administration of failing to address police brutality and sexual assault in the military. After a white nationalist rally in Charlottesville, Virginia, last year, the U.N. team tasked with monitoring the implementation of the global convention against discrimination called on high-level U.S. politicians and public officials to unequivocally reject racial hate speech. Also last year, the world body called President Donald Trump's attacks on the media "dangerous."

Now, a top human rights investigator is criticizing the United States for failing the poor.

Philip Alston, U.N. special rapporteur on extreme poverty and human rights, has spent the past several months visiting impoverished communities across the United States. In one visit to Alabama, he met a family struggling to maintain their home on an income of $958 a month.

On the day of his visit, he said, sewage was visible inches from the family's house - a reflection of their county's failing infrastructure - and mildew and mold were growing inside. Alston said he had never seen sewage problems like it in the developed world.

"There is a human right for people to live decently," he said at the time.

Alston, a New York University law professor, also paid visits to slum areas in downtown Los Angeles and Puerto Rico.

Now, ahead of a presentation to the U.N. later this month, he is criticizing the Trump administration for gutting the United States' safety net by slashing welfare benefits and access to health insurance.

"If food stamps and access to Medicaid are removed, and housing subsidies cut, then the effect on people living on the margins will be drastic," he told the Guardian, saying the loss of those protections would lead to "severe deprivation."

Alston also lambasted the administration over its recent tax cut, saying that legislation will offer "financial windfalls" to the rich and large corporations, leading to even more inequality.

The government should think harder about how to help those in need rather than "punishing and imprisoning the poor," he said.

"The policies pursued over the past year seem deliberately designed to remove basic protections from the poorest, punish those who are not in employment and make even basic health care into a privilege to be earned, rather than a right of citizenship," Alston said.

About 41 million Americans live in poverty, according to government data, about 12.7 percent of the population. One in three of those are children. The United States has one of the highest youth poverty rates in the developed world.

Critics of Alston point out that those statistics are from 2016, before Trump took office. On Twitter, Alston explained his reasoning this way:

"...The poverty figures for 2017 won't be published until Sept 2018. Poverty is a structural problem, but I strongly believe, backed up by extensive evidence, that a 1.5 trillion tax cut for the rich and the hollowing out of welfare benefits, will make things worse, not great."

The White House did not immediately respond to a request for comment from Reuters. A U.S. official in Geneva disputed Alston's claims, saying that "the Trump Administration has made it a priority to provide economic opportunity for all Americans."
As top officials at a U.S.-Canadian trade conference gathered for dinner Sunday evening in a restaurant near the top of the Mobile skyline, they were treated to a thunderstorm impressive even by Mobile's standards.

It seems to have established a pretty good metaphor for the tone of the 11th annual SEUS-CP conference: The atmospheric disturbance was certainly attention-grabbing, but it didn't prevent business from getting done.

At its official opening Monday morning, more than one of those top delegates referred to the previous night's display as a "light show" incidental to the business of nurturing lucrative economic relationships.

Similarly, more than one referred on Monday morning to the recent eruption of trade-war talk between U.S. and Canada. While that storm was distracting and potentially worrisome, they said, they were going to focus on maintaining deep-rooted trade ties.

SEUS-CP stands for Southeastern U.S.-Canadian Provinces. It's an annual gathering that highlights ties between Canada and the American South, and those ties add up to many billions of dollars in imports and exports. While SEUS-CP is generally in uncontroversial territory, this year is different: Last week, President Donald Trump's administration slapped tariffs on Canadian steel and aluminum. Canadian Premier Justin Trudeau sharply criticized the move, and his administration prepared to impose retaliatory tariffs.

The dispute impacted ongoing efforts to revamp the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA), leading some to fear that effort has been derailed altogether. And there also are concerns that a tariff fight that started with metals could spread to autos and other sectors of the economy. The back and forth is likely to continue as Trump, Trudeau and other world leaders gather this weekend in Canada for a G7 summit.

"We've had a little challenge just now," said Mississippi Governor Phil Bryant, the only governor to head a state delegation at the conference. "The future's big and bright and the important part is Canada and Mississippi and the southeastern United States continue this relationship. ... I think the premier said that these are difficulties between friends. We will overcome those. We will become better and stronger than ever because we must."

Bryant got a laugh when he described his state's relationship with its neighbor to the east, regarding the fight for economic development. "Mississippi and Alabama have his strange relationship," Bryant said. "It's coopertition. It's what we do."

A display promoting Alabama at the SEUS-CP U.S.-Canada trade conference features Moon Pies and beads. (Lawrence Specker/LSpecker@AL.com)

Secretary of Commerce Greg Canfield, who spoke for the Alabama delegation, said he'd seen overwhelming evidence that Canadian investment in Alabama was a major positive force.

"At a time when the benefits of international trade are being debated, at times disputed, at times vigorously," Canfield said, "I think it's very important for us to take a moment to recognize the importance underlying the special relationship between Canada and the six states that make up the south U.S. For many years, two-year trade between the regions has been substantial, and a driver of economic growth in communities large and small ... The SEUS-CP relationship is a textbook example of how international trade can be mutually beneficial by creating jobs, generating opportunities and expanding prosperity."

Nadia Theodore, consul general at the U.S. Consulate of Canada in Atlanta, said that as much as she'd like to avoid talking about the storm outside, she couldn't.

"We are talking about the world's largest bilateral trading relationship by far," she said. "Canada and the United States have a successful economic and security partnership. And the compelling facts speak continue to speak for themselves. At the national level, Canada is the single largest market for the United States. We buy more from the U.S. than China, Japan and the U.K. combined ... Five of the six states in this room have Canada as their number one export market. And each of these six states, by the way, has a trade surplus with Canada."

"Canada and the United States make vehicles together to the benefit of our consumers and workers alike," Theodore said. "For example, Alabama exports $2 billion in automobiles and over $62 million in engines and turbines to Canada. Ottowan auto parts account for the largest share of goods traded between Canada and the southern United States."

"Canada's exports of aluminum serve companies right here in the Southeast, such as Mercedes, Hyundai, Toyota, Boeing, New Flyer and Magna," Theodore said. "All of whom, I am sad to say, could be adversely affected by the recently imposed tariffs on your friend, partner and ally."

After her address, Theodore said she was hopeful that the cooperative spirit of the SEUS-CP gathering could influence higher-level discussions such as the impending G7 meeting.

Trade is "not just about making money for companies," she said. "It's about making money and creating economic opportunities for actual everyday people, everyday citizens. To me, getting those local relationships and those state-level examples is what's going to move the dial. And that's what we're going to do here.

"We're going to have Canadian companies talking to southeast U.S. state companies and telling each other about how important that relationship is and how much these tariffs are going to hurt each other's companies and industries," she said. "And I have every reason to believe those stories are going to trickle up, so to speak."
Alabama Gov. Kay Ivey began a statewide, election eve campaign tour this morning in Montgomery saying she was optimistic but that the decision is up to voters.

"The polls look good but they don't matter anymore. It's all about the people turning out to vote," Ivey said.

The governor faces Huntsville Mayor Tommy Battle, evangelist Scott Dawson of Birmingham and state Sen. Bill Hightower of Mobile in Tuesday's Republican primary.

A runoff will be needed unless one of the candidates gets a majority of the votes. Ivey was asked how confident she is of winning without a runoff. It would be held July 17.

"That's in the hands of the voters and I'm just doing all I can to encourage everybody to get to the polls and vote," Ivey said.

Battle, earlier in an interview with AL.com, said he's confident about being in a runoff with the sitting governor.

Battle is planning a tour around the state on Tuesday with stops in Fairhope, Auburn, Dothan and Hoover before returning to Huntsville for a election watch party.

"It's then a one-on-one competition and a whole new contest," said Battle. "We'll ask her to debate again and again and again and for her to come out to forums and talk about the issues that are out there. That's part of an election, and if you're not doing that then you're not serving the people of Alabama."

Ivey, while in Mobile, repeatedly urged supporters to show up at the polls on Tuesday. Alabama Secretary of State John Merrill is predicting between 25 to 30 percent turnout, which would put turnout lower than recent averages in primary elections.

"The most important thing tomorrow is who shows up at the ballot box," Ivey said. "With your help, and God's grace, we'll win this election."

Ivey is also making stops in Dothan, Auburn and Birmingham today in a jet provided by Great Southern Wood owner and CEO Jimmy Rane, who has supported Ivey throughout the campaign. Rane spoke in support of Ivey in Montgomery, as did state Rep. Reed Ingram of Montgomery.

In Mobile, Gulf Shores Mayor Robert Craft praised Ivey as the state's CEO who needs to remain in office, and credited her calmness and leadership as governor after the resignation last year of former Gov. Robert Bentley.

"Think about what could happen with four more years of that," Craft said.

At Ivey's stop in Huntsville on Monday, she was introduced by Rane as well as Madison County Commission Chair Dale Strong.

"I'm just honored to be a small part of this campaign," Strong said. "I've known Kay for 25 years and I've been on a lot of committees with her. I'll tell you this right here: She's done a phenomenal job for the people of Alabama and the children of Alabama.

"I truly believe that Alabama's finest hours are still ahead."

Dawson is in the final day of a week-long bus tour around the state that has focused on stops in rural Alabama. He will be joined by syndicated radio show hosts Rick & Bubba during stops Monday in Gadsden, Piedmont, Oxford and Saks.

AL.com reporters Paul Gattis and John Sharp contributed to this report.
President Donald Trump's lawyer Rudy Giuliani reportedly said Sunday that Trump could shoot former FBI director James Comey in the Oval Office and still not be indicted for it.

The HuffPost reported that Giuliani, a former federal prosecutor, made the assertion on a day when he conducted a series of interviews in which he discussed the expansive powers granted to the president in the Constitution.

"In no case can he be subpoenaed or indicted," Giuliani said, according to the HuffPost. "I don't know how you can indict while he's in office. No matter what it is."

Giuliani said that impeachment would be the remedy for a president's illegal behavior, offering as an example the hypothetical case of Trump shooting Comey rather than firing him, the HuffPost reported.

"If he shot James Comey, he'd be impeached the next day," Giuliani was quoted as saying. "Impeach him, and then you can do whatever you want to do to him."

Giuliani, who is representing Trump amid special counsel Robert Mueller's investigation into Russian interference in the 2016 presidential election, also appeared on a pair of talk shows Sunday.

On both, Giuliani argued that the president probably has the sweeping constitutional authority to pardon even himself of federal crimes.

"He probably does," Giuliani said, when asked on ABC's "This Week" if Trump has the ability to pardon himself. "He has no intention of pardoning himself, but he probably - not to say he can't."

While arguing that the president has the theoretical ability to pardon himself, Giuliani and other Trump allies on Sunday nonetheless rejected the reality of such a brash move - in part because of the political backlash they said could lead to Trump's impeachment.

On NBC's "Meet the Press," for instance, Giuliani framed the pardon question as purely hypothetical and politically implausible.

"It's not going to happen. It's a hypothetical point," he told host Chuck Todd.
Today is a state holiday in Alabama.

Surprised?

Alabama sets aside the first Monday in June to commemorate the birthday of Jefferson Davis, who served as president of the Confederate States of American from 1861-1865.

Davis was born June 3, 1808 in Kentucky and later represented Mississippi in Congress before serving as U.S. Secretary of War under President Franklin Pierce. Davis was captured at the close of the Civil War, accused of treason and imprisoned, though never tried. He was released two years later and spent his retirement years on the Mississippi Gulf Coast.

The Davis holiday is one of three in Alabama that honors Confederate leaders: Robert E. Lee's birthday, which is marked in January on the same day as Martin Luther King Day; Confederate Memorial Day in April; and Davis' birthday in June.

The state holiday means some offices and agencies will be closed June 4.

Here's what's open and what's closed:

Alabama state offices - closed

Alabama state courts - closed

Car tag offices - Open in some counties, closed in others where Davis' birthday is observed.

U.S. Post Office - normal operations

Banks - open

City and county offices - Most are open.

Alabama is the last state to have a legal holiday set aside solely to commemorate the birth of Davis. Mississippi marks Davis' birthday but includes it in the Memorial Day celebration. In Texas, Davis' birthday is part of "Confederate Heroes Day" while other Southern states, including Florida, Kentucky and Tennessee, have a holiday for Davis on the books but do not give employees a day off.

Earlier this year, the Florida Senate passed a measure to do away with all Confederate holidays. The measure failed in the House.
ST. JOHNS, Newfoundland, June 04, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- ACOD, a partnership between Copenhagen Infrastructure Partners (CIP) and Canadian developer Beothuk Energy Inc. (Beothuk), celebrates the win in Massachusetts that solidified CIPs position as the largest offshore wind developer and investor in North America. The successful Vineyard Wind project will be an 800 MW offshore wind farm off the coast of Marthas Vineyard in Massachusetts and will be built and co-owned with CIPs local partner Avangrid Renewables.



That project will see the first large-scale offshore wind farm built in the United States and positions CIP, and ACOD, to further open up the North American market, including Atlantic Canada.

Like Massachusetts, Atlantic Canada has strong potential for offshore wind and CIP is an ideal partner to help us realise that opportunity in our region, said ACOD President Kirby Mercer. Were excited to work with CIP to deliver the significant economic and environmental benefits for Atlantic Canada, including thousands of jobs during the construction and operational lifetime of our projects.

ACOD has four projects under development in Canada, one in each of the Atlantic Provinces, representing a total private sector investment in excess of CDN$3 Billion.

Atlantic Canada has excellent wind resources and, with offshore wind now a mature industry in Europe, we see this as an opportunity to help governments reduce their reliance on coal and diversify their energy generation in a sustainable and cost-effective way, added Mercer.

CIP is also the leading developer of three Taiwanese offshore wind projects totalling 900MW that were awarded in April 2018 and for which CIP and its Taiwanese partners are committed to establishing a local supply chain as the new offshore wind industry is developing in the Southeast Asia region.

About Atlantic Canada Offshore Developments

Atlantic Canada Offshore Developments (ACOD) is a partnership between leading global offshore wind developer and operator Copenhagen Infrastructure Partners (CIP) and its Canadian partner Beothuk Energy Inc. (BEI), focusing on developing the Atlantic Canada offshore wind projects.

www.acod.co

About Beothuk Energy

Beothuk Energy Inc. (BEI) is a local developer based in St. Johns, NL, Canada. BEI focuses on the development of offshore wind energy projects in North America, as well as the development of public/private partnerships within regulated and unregulated electrical utilities.

About CIP

Copenhagen Infrastructure Partners P/S (CIP) is a fund management company focused on energy infrastructure including offshore wind, onshore wind, solar PV, biomass, transmission and distribution, and waste-to-energy. CIP has more than USD 8 bn under management. CIP and its projects have offices in Copenhagen, the UK, the US, Germany, and Taiwan.

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A man who is a suspect in the killing of a 6-month-old Dothan baby was shot and captured Monday morning by SWAT officers in a town 2 hours north of Orlando.



Carlton James Mathis, 28, was tracked to an address in Bronson, Levy County, where SWAT teams shot at him after he threatened the driver of a red SUV at approximately 4.30 a.m., according to the sheriff of a neighboring county, who wrote about the exchange in a Monday afternoon Facebook post. Officers from Alachua County had tracked Bronson to Levy County.

"Providing that information to the Levy County Sheriff's Office, the Alachua County Sheriff's Office SWAT team responded to Bronson at Levy County's request to assist in locating the suspect," according to the post.

Mathis was treated for his wounds by SWAT at the scene and he was later taken to hospital for treatment.

During these events in Florida, "the Dothan Police Department served a search warrant in their city and located what are believed to be the remains of the child that prompted the search for Mathis," according to the Alachua Sheriff's Office post.

Mathis was charged for aggravated assault by deputies from Levy County, but he will also be held on a warrant from Georgia and as a suspect in the Alabama homicide case.

Dothan Police wrote on Facebook at 9:21 a.m. Monday that Mathis "is currently undergoing treatment. Dothan Police are on the way to the scene as part of the criminal investigation, as well as investigating the crime scene here in Dothan. Details about the murder will be released later."
Alabama's WIC program, a benefit that provides nutritious foods for pregnant women, infants and children, is moving to electronic payments this fall.

The change means WIC recipients will receive a card, similar to a debit card, on which their benefits will be loaded. The card will be known an e-WIC card and replaces the current paper-based delivery system.

The Alabama Department of Public Health is overseeing the change, which is designed to make WIC more secure and easier for retailers.

"Store employees are no longer the "WIC POLICE," ADPH said in a statement. "WIC food items will be identified by the cash register system at the time of purchase. Each WIC approved item will be maintained in the Universal Product Code database, providing stores with a more accurate description of WIC approved items.

"e-WIC will reduce the number of non-approved WIC items being purchased, because non-WIC items will be identified during scanning. Incorrect package size and/or quantity will not be allowed when using the e-WIC card," the agency said.

WIC merchants will have their accounts credited within 48 hours for food benefits redeemed by participants, ADPH said. In addition, retailers will no longer be responsible for applying WIC vendors stamps because claims will be submitted and paid electronically.

WIC recipients will receive a PIN number to use at checkout, eliminating the need for cashiers to verify the signature on the check with the signature on the WIC ID folder, the agency added.

More than 117,000 Alabamians participate in the WIC program, according to USDA data.

The e-WIC cards will be introduced in Montgomery, Elmore and Autauga counties this fall as part of a three-month program. After that, they will be rolled out statewide based on ADPH districts.
The June issue of Vogue Arabia is dedicated to the trailblazing women of Saudi Arabia and the much-awaited June 24 date that will give Saudi women the right to drive. The cover shot is a glamorous photo of Princess Hayfa bint Abdullah Al Saud in the Jeddah desert, perched in the drivers seat of a vintage red Mercedes-Benz convertible.

It is easy to comment on other peoples societies and think that your own society is superior, but the Western world must remember that each country is specific and unique, the princess told Vogue. We have strengths and weaknesses but, invariably, its our culture, and its better to try to understand it than to judge it.

But unlike the wealthy, pampered princess, other Saudi women themselves have been judging and desperately trying to change their society for decades. They have been fighting to lift the travel ban for some time now. In 1990, 47 women piled into cars and drove around the capital before getting arrested and getting thrown in jail. Their passports were confiscated, those with government jobs were fired, and they were denounced in mosques across the country. Similar protests took place in 2011, 2013 and 2014.

Many Saudis believe the faces of these activists should be gracing the cover of Vogue Arabia and social media is ablaze with corrected versions of the magazine. But instead of celebrating the true Saudi heroes, since May 15 at least 11 activists, both women and men, have been arrested. One of the activists is in her 60s and another is 70-years-old. Four have since been released.

Vogue Arabia with propaganda photo of "princess" driving has been "corrected" to honor real Saudi heroes, women fighting for their rights, and call for their release from prison https://t.co/1kutnnNkQQ  Medea Benjamin (@medeabenjamin) May 31, 2018

They are accused of suspicious contact with foreign parties and undermining the security and stability of Saudi Arabia. In a vicious smear campaign, the state-run media released their photos with the word traitor stamped in red across their faces. These peaceful activists may now face up to 20 years in prison for their work against the driving ban.

One of the best-known activists, 28-year-old Loujain al-Hathloul, has been arrested several times, including in March, just days before Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman embarked on a three-week whirlwind visit to the United States to improve Saudi Arabias reputation and his role as the nations chief reformer.

In a spectacular abuse of power, she was snatched from her vehicle in the UAE, deported to Saudi Arabia, imprisoned, and later released with a ban on using social media or leaving the country. Despite complying with the ban, she was re-arrested on May 15 and is reportedly being held incommunicado.

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These Saudi women have been fighting for the right to drive but also for womens rights more broadly. For while gaining the right to drive certainly brings Saudi Arabia a step closer to joining the 21st century, the biggest impediment for women has not been the inability to drive  or the fact that they, by law, must be totally covered in public.

The biggest obstacle to womens freedom is the male guardianship system that is a form of gender apartheid.

Under this system, a woman, no matter her age, is treated as a minor and must live under the supervision of a wali, or guardian. This is a legally recognised male  her father, husband, uncle, or some other male relative (even her son)  who must grant formal permission for most of the significant issues affecting her life. Women are not allowed to marry, obtain a passport, travel  or drive  without the permission of their guardians.

Saudi Arabia is also the most gender-segregated society in the world. The government enforces sex segregation in virtually all workplaces except hospitals, and it fines businesses that fail to comply. In food outlets, all lines and eating areas are separated to keep unrelated men and women apart. The majority of public buildings have separate entrances for men and women. Some even ban women from entering.

Now some of the nations most vociferous advocates for womens equality are behind bars. Human Rights Watch said the arrests have sparked a frenzy of fear. Kareem Chehayeb of Amnesty International says that the recent sweeping crackdown on human rights activists is not an anomaly. While Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman continues to present himself as a reformer, peaceful human rights activism that calls for reforms continues to be criminalised, said Chehayeb. It simply doesnt make sense.

It does make sense, however, when you look at the chilling message it sends to Saudi women. It says that he, Mohammed bin Salman, is the agent of change who will dictate the pace of reform, not the Saudi women who have been fighting for their rights for decades. It says that he, Mohammed bin Salman, deserves and will get the credit for these reforms, not those who have been imprisoned over the years for their advocacy. Bin Salmans message to women is simple: Shut up and drive.

So the next time you hear the hoopla about Saudi women driving or some propaganda story about the reformist crown prince, think about al-Hathloul and the women who have risked their lives not just to drive a car, but to drive out the extreme misogyny that forms the basis of the present-day Saudi regime.

The views expressed in this article are the authors own and do not necessarily reflect Al Jazeeras editorial stance.
Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and his Foreign Minister Chrystia Freeland  the Batman and Robin of Canadian foreign policy  just got played.

An authoritarian masquerading as the leader of the so-called free world just told them, in effect, to buzz off by imposing hefty tariffs on Canadian aluminium and steel imports.

From the outset of Donald Trumps vile, racist, and cruel regime, Trudeau and Freeland calculated that if they only mollified the authoritarian at every disgusting turn rather than scold, let alone confront him, then he would reward them with a diplomatic bauble or two.

Now, anyone with even a passing appreciation of Trumps defining authoritarian nature knew that this Canadian-made Maple syrup strategy was destined to fail miserably.

Predictably, the know-it-all realpolitik types in the media and academia approved of the cool and balanced approach Trudeau and Freeland adopted to try to get Trump to do them a big favour by not putting big tariffs on all sorts of stuff one of the kindest countries in the world exports to its BFF  America.

One Canadian columnist heaped praise on Trudeaus calm response and balancing act. There are sound reasons why Trudeau has taken a deliberate, non-confrontational approach  and so far [he has] managed to stay off his [Trumps] protectionist radar, the scribe wrote.

Shortly after penning his ode to Trudeaus fine line diplomacy, the columnist was hired as a senior communications adviser for Canada-US relations in the prime ministers office.

Not to be outdone in the premature congratulatory department, The New York Times painted Trudeau as a diplomatic Svengali for engineering a never-before-used-end-run around an erratic president by appealing directly to mayors, governors and executives to protect Canadas trade interests.

By organizing a grass-roots network of American officials, lawmakers and businesses, Canada is hoping to contain Mr Trumps protectionist and nationalist impulses, the NYT correspondent wrote, apparently not realising that Trudeaus unique bypass-the-president gambit isnt that unique at all.

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In any event, so much for staving off and containing the authoritarians nativist and protectionist impulses.

The corollary to Trudeau et als circumventing, while simultaneously playing nicey-nice with an authoritarian, has been, of course, saying and doing nothing that might upset or offend the authoritarian.

When Trump called a crowd of neo-Nazis in Charlottesville very fine people, after one of them murdered a young woman, Canadas two top diplomats remained mute. When Trump called Africa a sh*****e, Canadas two top diplomats remained mute. When Trump threatened to trigger a nuclear holocaust in the Korean Peninsula, Canadas two top diplomats didnt remain mute.

Instead, Trudeau told an interviewer: Donald Trump has demonstrated that hes a bit of a disruptive force. He does unpredictable things and sometimes they have positive impacts, sometimes they have negative impacts. Its not my job to opine on, you know, what it is he chooses to do.

Well, their silence about, and deference to, an authoritarian didnt pay the dividends Trudeau, Freeland and all those perpetually wrong realpolitik types were anticipating.

To publicly wipe some of the dozen or so eggs Trump smeared on their pretty faces  figuratively speaking  Trudeau and Freeland sprinted onto NBCs Meet the Press and CNN respectively on Sunday to play the interview equivalent of T-ball.

For his curious and rambling part, Trudeau invoked the invasion of Afghanistan, Normandy in June 1944 and Canadas long-standing contribution to the US military industrial complex to protest Trumps insulting tariffs on NBC.

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Lets recap: The prime minister of Canada wouldnt say that Trump calling neo-Nazis very fine people is insulting. He wouldnt say that Trump calling Africa a sh*****e is insulting. Trump calling Canada a national security risk, however, to justify tariffs on Canadian steel and aluminium is an unacceptable insult too far.

That Trudeau is now upset because an authoritarian didnt exempt Canada from being insulted is indicative of the geopolitical coma hes been comfortably in.

Over on CNN, Freeland posed what she likely considered a convincing, albeit rhetorical question, to American viewers, including, she hoped no doubt, Trump.

So, what you are saying to us, Freeland moaned, is that we, somehow, represent a national security threat to the United States. And I would just say to all of Canadas American friends, and there are so many: Seriously?

Freelands incredulity at what a transparent authoritarian like Trump is prepared to say and do in defence of Americas national interest at the expense of anyone elses national interest, is stupefying.

In retaliation, Batman and Robin have slapped commensurate tariffs on a range of US goods and warned that they, and by extension, Canada, arent going to be pushed around.

On cue, the chest-thumping prompted the realpolitik types to applaud Trudeaus and Freelands belated get tough response and to say: Enough is enough.

Enough was enough a long time ago.

The views expressed in this article are the authors own and do not necessarily reflect Al Jazeeras editorial stance.
Women and children among the dead after gunmen storm villages in Benue state.

At least 13 people have been killed by gunmen in two separate attacks in central Nigerias Benue state, an area that has recently seen a wave of deadly clashes, officials said.

In one attack, attackers, who officials said were armed herdsmen, stormed the Tseadough village in the Kwande area shortly after midnight while people were asleep.

They killed seven people, including women and children, Terdoo Nyor Kenti, a local government leader, told AFP news agency.

From what I gathered, they opened fire and shot sporadically in all directions which rattled everyone, Kenti said.

Seven people were killed at the end, six others were injured while the herdsmen also went away with a woman after burning several houses and farmland in the area, he added.

In a separate attack on Sunday, six people were killed in what was described by local residents as cult violence in the town of Otukpo on Sunday, according to officials.

I am still expecting a clearer picture about this because the police have deployed their personnel, George Alli, a local official, said.

Disputes over territory in central Nigeria have killed more than 300 people in the past two years. Hundreds of thousands of people have also been displaced.
Catalonia leader to meet Spains new PM Pedro Sanchez

Quim Torra said he has communicated with Sanchez after the regions independence bid, but no date has yet been set for talks.
Disaster agency fears death toll could climb even higher because some areas remain inaccessible by rescuers.

At least 25 people have been reported killed and 300 injured, after a volcano erupted in Guatemala, spewing ash and lava over the surrounding area, the countrys disaster management agency has said.

It was feared the death toll could climb even higher because there were communities that could not be accessed by Sunday evening, Sergio Cabanas, Conred agencys general secretary, said.

The dead included a Conred employee and at least three children, officials said.

The army said it had evacuated 3,100 people from around the volcano, 70km south-west of Guatemala City, and posted pictures of soldiers carrying children covered in ashes from houses.

President Jimmy Morales visited Conred headquarters on Sunday evening and later following a cabinet meeting declared a state of emergency in the departments (the states) of Chimaltenango, Sacatepequez and Escuintla.

RAW VIDEO: Guatemala volcano kills at least 25 people. https://t.co/TuOu7VfnMT  The Associated Press (@AP) June 4, 2018

Al Jazeeras David Mercer, reporting from Guatemala City, said that the volcano remains in eruptive phase and rescuers have scaled down the operation at nightfall on Sunday because of safety concerns.

A video posted by the Guatemalan news site Diario La Hora showed an elderly female survivor giving first-hand testimony following the eruption.

Testimonio de una de las afectadas por la erupcion de hoy del volcan de Fuego. Video: @DiariodeCA pic.twitter.com/YwTMB93IAV  Diario La Hora (@lahoragt) June 3, 2018

The ashfall has also forced the capital citys La Aurora International Airport to shut down.

While the vicinity of the volcano is sparsely populated by farming villages, the ashfall is has affected an area with over a million and a half people, Mercer said.

Volcano of fire

The eruption of the 3,763-metre Volcan de Fuego  meaning volcano of fire in Spanish  was the most powerful in recent years, according to the National Institute of Seismology, Volcanology, Meteorology and Hydrology (Insivumeh).

A September 2012 eruption of the volcano saw 10,000 people evacuated, while another in February 2015 forced the closure of the capitals main airport.

Pictures on social media showed residents fleeing from lava and local roads, buildings and trees covered in a layer of ash, while the smoke clouds reached six kilometres above sea level.

Twenty people had to be treated in hospital for burns including at least six children, the health ministry said.

Historical records have documented the volcanos eruptions back to 1531.

Apart from the Fuego volcano, there are two other active volcanos in Guatemala. One of them, Pacaya, is just 20 kilometers from Guatemala City.
As Qatar maintains there is no legitimate justification for blockade, GCC turmoil remains unresolved one year later.

One year has passed since Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Bahrain and Egypt severed diplomatic and trade ties with Qatar, sparking the biggest diplomatic crisis in the Gulf in years.

Land and maritime borders with the Gulf country were shut, air links suspended and Qatari citizens expelled.

The blockade, which began on June 5, 2017, followed US President Donald Trumps visit to Saudi Arabia in May, during which he met several Arab and Muslim leaders.

Accusing Doha of supporting terrorists and being too close to Saudi Arabias region rival Iran, Riyadh said it acted to protect its national security from the dangers of terrorism and extremism.

Qatar has repeatedly rejected the accusations levelled against it, viewing the campaign as an attempt to impose custodianship over the nation. It has called the allegations baseless.





Bahrain and Egypt both gave Qatari embassies 48 hours to leave their countries and recalled their own diplomats and charge daffaires from Doha.

The UAE and Saudi Arabia gave Qatari citizens in their countries two weeks to leave and ordered their own citizens in Qatar to return.

Saudi Arabia also closed the Riyadh bureau of the Al Jazeera Media Network. Jordan followed suit and announced it would scale back its diplomatic ties with Qatar.

With Qatar heavily dependent on food imports, there were concerns that the border closures could lead to food shortages. However, countries such as Iran and Turkey have increased their food exports to Doha, resulting in well-stocked supermarkets.

Deadlines and blacklists

On June 22, the quartet gave Qatar 10 days to comply with a list of 13 demands, which included shutting down Al Jazeera and the Turkish military base in Doha, as well as curbing relations with Iran.

After a two-day extension, Qatar rejected the list as unrealistic, describing the demands as not actionable.

The quartet responded by threatening new sanctions and on July 25 unveiled a terrorist blacklist of 18 groups and individuals, which they claimed have links to Qatar.

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The blacklist later expanded to include 90 names, some affiliated to the Qatar Red Crescent, the International Union of Muslim Scholars, and the International Islamic Council for Dawah and Relief.

The blockade has disrupted businesses, education and transport between Qatar and its neighbours, while also tearing apart inter-GCC marriages.

Qatar described the actions taken by the blockading countries as having no legitimate justification, saying the decisions infringe on its sovereignty.

Both the Emir of Qatar Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani and the countrys foreign minister, Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani, have reiterated the Gulf country is willing to negotiate with the blockading nations and have welcomed calls from international leaders to sit down for talks.

Despite serious high-level Kuwaiti, American, and European mediation efforts, the situation remains unresolved and at a standstill.
Dangerous flows of lava prompt a new round of evacuations of rescue workers and nearby villages.

The death toll from the explosive eruption of Guatemalas Fuego volcano has risen to 109 with at least 197 people still missing.

Search-and-rescue efforts were suspended on Thursday because of the continued presence of scorching volcanic material and poor weather conditions, Guatemalas national disaster agency said.

It rained very hard yesterday  The soil is unstable, said Pablo Castillo, a spokesman for the national police.

Volcan de Fuego, in southern Guatemala, began spewing streams of red-hot lava and shooting out thick smoke and ash on Sunday that rained down onto several regions and the capital, Guatemala City, 30km away from the hardest-hit area.

The 3,763-metre high Fuego Volcano is one of several active among 34 in the Central American country. It lies near the colonial city of Antigua, a UNESCO world heritage site, which has survived several major eruptions previously.

Latest updates as of Friday, June 8.

Friday, June 8

Dangerous flows of lava, ash and toxic gases have poured down several canyons below the crater of Guatemalas Fuego volcano, prompting a new round of evacuations of rescue workers and nearby villages.

In two of the canyons where flows have accumulated, columns of ash rose as high as 6,000 meters, according to a statement by Guatemalas volcanic institute.

The (flows) carry hot vapor, including fine particles similar to cement, two- to three-metre diameter rocks and tree trunks dragged out by the current, the statement added.

The seismological, volcanic and meteorological institute Insivumeh advised the civil aviation authority to take precautions with flights amid renewed activity from the peak, which produced a massive eruption on Sunday.

Authorities have said a communication breakdown between emergency agency and volcanologists in Guatemala delayed evacuations from the surrounding area.

Thursday, June 7

Guatemalan officials warned of falling ash from the Fuego volcano late on Thursday and urged caution with flights as the Central American country recovers from the recent devastating eruptions.

Guatemala prosecutors ordered investigation into whether disaster protocols were followed in the deadly volcanic eruption. A statement from the Public Ministry said the probe will seek to establish whether the necessary protocols were activated that would allow for prudent and timely decisions.

Disaster officials began monitoring increased activity at the Volcano of Fire on Sunday morning, but initially said no evacuations were necessary. A new, more powerful explosion in the afternoon prompted an evacuation order. But fast-moving flows of superheated material and debris washed over villages before many people had time to flee.

Due to dangerous conditions, Guatemalas national disaster agency suspended search-and-rescue efforts at the hardest hit areas.

The agency suspended the search now that 72 hours have passed. Thats the length of time officials had said some victims might have survived. It urged people to stay away from the area.

The hope of finding survivors alive  or even being able to identify bodies  was fading fast. Only 28 of the 99 killed have been identified so far.

Villager Efrain Suarez stood amid smoking holes dotting what used to be the village of San Miguel Los Lotes on the flanks of the mountain. Nobody is going to be able to get them out or say how many are buried here, he said. The bodies are already charred and if heavy machinery comes in they will be torn apart.

The countrys seismology and volcanology institute warned of new flows descending through canyons on the volcanos western slope towards the Pantaleon River, carrying boulders and uprooted tree trunks.

Some residents took matters into their own hands. Oscar Chavez trekked over a mountain with his father and younger brother. Theyre searching for his brother Edgar, sister-in-law Sandra, and nephew Josue. Nobody has seen them since Sundays eruption. Wiping a tear from his eye, Chavez said they searched shelters, hospitals, everywhere  to no avail.

Nohemi Ascon, 41, is the aunt of six children between the ages of one and eight who died in Los Lotes. A photograph taken shortly after the disaster showed their bodies huddled together on a bed in the corner of a room, covered in white ash and blood. Ascon said other family members were still unaccounted for.

Nobody is going to be able to get them out ... the bodies are already charred Efrain Suarez, truck driver

The United States announced it was sending emergency aid, including financial resources, to help meet food, water and sanitation needs.

A US Air Force C-17 carried six Guatemalan children who were badly burned to Texas for treatment. The US embassy in Guatemala said the children will be treated at the Shriners Hospital in Galveston.

Mexico announced it was sending a team of burn specialists, while Chile said it would send equipment to provide an early warning of volcanic eruptions. A team of Cuban doctors resident in Guatemala were providing support in shelters for the displaced.

A team of Cuban doctors resident in Guatemala were providing support in shelters for the displaced. The International Federation of Red Cross said it would release more than $253,000 from its global emergency help to support frontline emergency efforts.

The funds will help Guatemalas Red Cross support 3,000 of the most vulnerable survivors for three months, it said. The head of the International Red Cross, Francesco Rocca, will visit the country on Thursday, the Geneva-based agency said.

Rocca noted ash had fallen across more than half of Guatemala, covering areas where agriculture is crucial. We hope it will not mean a secondary disaster, he said.

President Jimmy Morales has been criticised on social media for failing to quickly respond to offers of international aid.

Wednesday, June 6

New explosions boomed from Guatemalas Fuego volcano, generating a 4,700-metre high column of gray ash and unleashing torrents of molten mud and ash.

The explosions are generating moderate avalanches that have an approximate distance of 800 to 1,000 metres and on their trajectory they are carrying fine material to a height of around 100 metres, the Volcanology Institute said.

Authorities cautiously resumed search-and-rescue operations in towns and villages devastated by the eruption of Guatemalas Volcano of Fire, with time quickly running out to find any survivors.

Firefighters spokesman Julio Sanchez said 72 hours after the eruption there will be little chance of finding anyone alive. We dont rule out the possibility of some person alive, but the condition in which the homes are makes that possibility pretty unlikely.

Al Jazeeras David Mercer, reporting from the scene, said emergency workers were facing a lot of obstacles. Authorities will have to make a decision on whether they keep looking for bodies, or whether they decide to stop the search and declare this town as a massive cemetery.

Authorities David

on  keep looking for bodies, or  stop the search]





Workers poked metal rods into the terrain to release smoke, an indication that super-hot temperatures remained below the surface. Sanchez said some of the ash was still at temperatures between 400 and 700 degrees Celsius.

After a drone survey, police managed to reach a farm where a home had been buried and people were believed to have been trapped inside.

Mirna Priz wept as she sat on a rock at a crossroads, her suitcase in front of her and her 11-year-old son, Allen, and their dog by her side. You feel powerless. I dont know where Im going to go; to leave my things, everything I have. But after seeing what happened Sunday, she said she was afraid to stay.

Authorities in Guatemala are evaluating whether it is safe to resume the search for survivors and the dead. Disaster agency spokesman David de Leon says officials are analysing the terrain to make a decision. Rescuers were concerned about possible dangers posed not only by more volcanic flows but also rain.

Authorities say the window is closing on chances of finding anyone else alive.

Guatemalan President Jimmy Morales has urged calm as the country remains at its highest level of alert following two eruptions of Volcan de Fuego on Tuesday.

I trust in Guatemala, in our institutions, Morales said at a press conference. The world is watching us and wants to help us. I want to thank everyone for that help and join us. This adversity will make us stronger.

This adversity will make us stronger Jimmy Morales

A total of 192 people remain missing since the weekend eruptions, disaster relief agency chief Sergio Cabanas told reporters.

Seven communities in already devastated areas were evacuated as the volcanos activity increased, with rescue operations halted.

The conditions are extremely critical at this moment, Insivumeh Director Eddy Sanchez told reporters.

The search for bodies in mountain villages destroyed by the eruption was progressing slowly, officials said earlier, given the nature of the terrain and the way the volcano released large amounts of boiling mud, rock and ash down the mountain.

Tuesday, June 5

Guatemalas disaster agency reported that superhot volcanic material is once again flowing down the south side of the volcano. The agency ordered new evacuations from areas around it.

Rescue workers pulled more bodies from under the ash and rubble, bringing the death toll to at least 70. But officials said just 17 had been identified so far because the intense heat of the volcanic debris flows left most bodies unrecognisable.

As dawn broke, the volcano continued to rattle with what the countrys volcanology institute said were eight to 10 moderate eruptions per hour  significantly less intense than Sundays big blasts.

But the head of Guatemalas National Institute of Seismology, Eddy Sanchez, said the worst of the volcanic activity appears to be over.

{articleGUID} It is evident that the volcanos energy has decreased and its tendency is to continue decreasing. No eruption is imminent in the coming days, the Republica newspaper quoted him as saying.

The grim recovery effort continued on Tuesday. Using shovels and backhoes, emergency workers dug through the debris and mud, perilous labour on smouldering terrain still hot enough to melt the soles of shoes.

Bodies were so thickly coated with ash that they looked like statues. Rescuers used sledgehammers to break through the roofs of houses buried in debris up to their rooflines to check for anyone trapped inside.

In the village of San Miguel Los Lotes, evidence of destruction was everywhere.

Access is very difficult, and its really hot in the places where were trying to dig bodies out of the ash. The deeper you dig, the more intense the heat, Enrique Morales, a rescue worker, told Al Jazeera.

This is the epicentre of the slide, and its the focus of the rescue efforts right now, said Al Jazeeras David Mercer, reporting from the scene.

Rescue workers are pouring out across this area, going into houses and pulling out bodies. In just 15 minutes weve seen four bodies pulled out. Theres not a lot of hope for survivors.

President Jimmy Morales declared three days of national mourning for the irreparable losses.

People carry to the cemetery the coffins of seven people who died during the eruption of the Volcan de Fuego [Luis Soto/AP]





Monday, June 4

The number of fatalities from a massive volcano eruption rose to 62 on Monday. Only 13 of the dead have been identified so far, Mirna Zeledon, a spokeswoman for Guatemalas National Institute of Forensic Sciences, said.

Among the dead were four people, including a disaster agency official, killed when lava set a house on fire in El Rodeo village in southern Guatemala, National Disaster Coordinator Sergio Cabanas said. Two children were burned to death as they watched the volcanos second eruption this year from a bridge.

A deadly pyroclastic flow  which can travel down a mountain at speeds of more than 100km/hr  shot from the volcano and is likely the cause of most deaths, volcanologist David Rothery told Al Jazeera.

A hot flow of mud, ash and gas swept down from Fuego after a new blast on Monday morning that interrupted disaster workers pulling bodies from the brown sludge that engulfed El Rodeo.

Survivor Hilda Lopez said the volcanic mud swept into her village of San Miguel Los Lotes, just below the mountains flanks, and she didnt know where her mother and sister were.

We were at a party, celebrating the birth of a baby when one of the neighbours shouted at us to come out and see the lava that was coming. We didnt believe it, and when we went out the hot mud was already coming down the street. My mother was stuck there, she couldnt get out, said Lopez, weeping and holding her face in her hands.

Three shelters were housing about 650 people, Marcia Martinez from the disaster relief agency told Al Jazeera.

There is this volcano dust everywhere There are a lot of people here trying to recover bodies or searching for the missing, said Al Jazeeras David Mercer, reporting from the scene.

Rescuers were using heavy machinery and shovels to find victims. Disaster agency chief Sergio Cabanas said helicopters rescued 10 people from areas hit by thick ash, mud or lava.

The Guatemalan President Jimmy Morales declared a state of emergency in the states of Chimaltenango, Sacatepequez and Escuintla.

According to volcanologist Eddy Sanchez, the volcanos temperatures reached 700 degrees Celsius.

Guatemala Citys international airport re-opened after it was closed by falling ash from the eruption of the volcano to the west.

Fuego is one of Central Americas most active volcanos. It was the second eruption this year and the biggest in decades.

Translation: National Civil Police continue the search and rescue of people who have been hurt by # VolcanDeFuego in the village El Rodeo in Escuintla. So far they have rescued children and adults.  Guatemalan National Police

#PNCProtegerYServir Elementos de nuestra Policia Nacional Civil continuan en la busqueda y rescate de personas que han resultado damnificadas por el #VolcanDeFuego en la aldea El Rodeo en Escuintla. Hasta el momento han rescatado a ninos y adultos pic.twitter.com/JxOdkl0xih  PNC Guatemala (@PNCdeGuatemala) June 4, 2018

Guatemalan officials say more than 3,200 people have been evacuated after the volcanic eruption.

We saw the lava was pouring through the corn fields and we ran towards a hill, Consuelo Hernandez, a survivor, told Al Jazeera. Translation: #VolcanDeFuego Resources and humanitarian assistance are being carried out in order to help people affected by the eruption of the Fuego volcano.  National Coordinator for Disaster Reduction in Guatemala



#VolcanDeFuego En estos momentos se realiza carga de recursos y asistencia humanitaria para ser trasladados al albergue ubicado en el Instituto Simon Bergano y Villegas, Escuintla con el fin de ayudar a las personas afectadas por la erupcion del volcan de Fuego. pic.twitter.com/fXaNxtQz30  CONRED (@ConredGuatemala) June 4, 2018

Sunday, June 3
The rights group says Moroccan authorities used excessive, disproportionate force in dealing with economic protests.

Human Rights Watch (HRW) has accused Moroccan authorities of using excessive force against protesters in the eastern city of Jerada, following months of demonstrations over economic hardship.

The rights group denounced the indiscriminate and disproportionate use of force in a new report released on Monday after a series of protests that began after two brothers accidentally died inside a coal pit they were mining illegally in December 2017.

The repression in Jerada has gone well beyond an effort to bring allegedly violent protests to justice, said Sarah Leah Whitson, the Middle East and North Africa director at Human Rights Watch.

It looks like it is about suppressing the right to peaceful protest social and economic conditions.

Heavily reliant on the regions mining industry, the city of Jerada was economically ravaged in 1998 by the closure of its mines.

While formally closed, the mines continued to form an important source of revenue for many of Jeradas residents.

On March 13, the government issued a warning that it had the authority to prevent illegal demonstrations in public.

A crowd of demonstrators gathered in a nearby forest the following day where some protesters threw rocks at members of the police force.

While some protesters threw stones on March 14 and authorities claim they also committed acts of arson, this would not justify the use of indiscriminate and excessive force, or the arrests that began before that date, HRW said.

It would also not justify the suppression of peaceful protests or the alleged mistreatment of detainees, it said.

A video filmed on March 14 and authenticated by the rights group shows at least four police cars driving dangerously close to protesters as they attempted to disperse the crowd.

One boy, identified as 16-year-old Abdelmoula Zaiqer, was severely injured after reportedly being run over by a vehicle belonging to security forces.

Zaiqer suffered trauma to the head, hips, feet and vertebrae, according to a medical report obtained by the rights group. His mother, Najat Mejdaoui said doctors are uncertain whether Zaiqer will ever be able to walk again.

The NGO said that 69 protesters were arrested since May 31, including three minors who were in pre-trial detention or prison.

According to the governments Inter-ministerial Delegation for Human Rights (DIDH by its French acronym), six police cars were burned and 280 security personnel were injured during the clashes, a number the local branch of the Moroccan Association for Human Rights described as very exaggerated.

Earlier on Monday, two miners died in a rockfall in an abandoned Moroccan lead mine in Jerada, Moroccos official MAP news agency said.

Two people, aged 33 and 42, died on Sunday after a lead gallery partially collapsed in the commune of Sidi Boubker in the province of Jerada, it said.

One died at the scene and the other was taken to hospital in the northeastern city of Oujda where he succumbed to his injuries, it added.

Rabat has said it will bar access to the abandoned sites and pledged to increase its support and provide alternative jobs in the area.
TORONTO, June 04, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Following the release of Doug Ford's platform the Ontario Health Coalition has tried to analyze how Mr. Fords plan will impact health care funding. Over the next four years, with four days until the provincial election we still have no firm commitment on the level of hospital funding, nor any clear response to our priority asks to rebuild hospital capacity by reopening closed beds, wards and operating rooms. We do however have considerable information about Mr. Fords planned cuts to provincial revenue and can assess their potential impact on health care for Ontarians.



Multiple economists have crunched the numbers and by every tally the planned cuts amount to tens of billions of dollars. The clearest analysis of Mr. Fords proposed cuts to the provinces revenues  that is the money available for funding our public services and programs  comes from Mike Moffatt, an economist at Western University. This analysis shows that, using Mr. Fords own concrete figures, $22 billion in cuts to provincial revenues is planned over three years.

To put this number in context, economist Hugh Mackenzie tracked the cuts during the Mike Harris/Ernie Eves era. In the first four years of the Harris government, the cumulative loss to provincial revenues used to fund public services was approx. $13 billion. The first term cuts planned by Mr. Ford are actually more than Mike Harris.

What does this mean for health care? Mr. Ford has not said where he will find the money. But we can see what happened under Mike Harris/Ernie Eves to get a sense of what it takes to eliminate billions from the budget:

Between 1993 when they were elected and 2003 when the Harris/Eves government was defeated, a total of more than 11,400 hospital beds was cut. More than one of every three of Ontarios acute care and chronic care hospital beds were closed. [1]

Between 1996 and 2000, 39 hospitals were ordered closed. Six psychiatric hospitals were also closed. Forty-four other hospitals were amalgamated, and Harris restructuring commission also proposed that 100 more hospitals be combined in 18 networks or clusters.

Tens of thousands of nurses, health professionals, patient support service and care workers were laid off or cut through attrition.

Medical errors increased dramatically as the workforce was slashed.

New drug user fees were imposed on seniors.

New user fees for patients waiting in a hospital bed for a nursing home bed were imposed, forcing patients to pay a daily charge (which currently amounts to $1,819.53 per month).

An array of health care services were privatized.

The economist for the Ontario Council of Hospital Unions has totalled the impact of Mr. Fords plan on hospital budgets and has concluded that it would result in a cut of more than 20,250 more hospital nurses, health professionals and support staff in three years. This is equal to more than 3 million hours per year of patient care and services.

There are lots of needs in Ontarios health care system but there are two areas of crises for which we have asked all political parties to make a clear commitment. We can now compare how they stack up:

Doug Ford, PC Party  no commitment on hospital funding, no commitment on reopening any number of beds, operating rooms, or general proposal to end hallway medicine. A plan to open 30,000 long-term care beds with 15.000 in first five years. No commitment to improve care levels in long-term care.

Andrea Horwath, NDP  the NDP has agreed to meet our asks for 5.3% funding increase for public hospital in each year for the next four years and to reopen beds and make a capacity plan to rebuild public hospital capacity to address long wait times. They plan to reopen 2,000 hospital beds as a start. They plan to open 40,000 long-term beds, 15,000 of which in the first five year. The NDP has agreed to meet our asks for a minimum hands-on 4-hour care standard in long-term care homes, to improve levels of care.

Kathleen Wynne, Liberal party  this year, for the election year a one year bump-up of hospital funding by 4.6 per cent slightly short of our asks (5.3 per cent) but a plan to drop hospital funding after election to a 3.2 per cent increase, less than needed to meet population growth and aging. No commitment to re-open hospital beds or restore capacity. A plan to open 30,000 long-term care beds over 10 years with 5,000 in the first five years. A commitment to bring in a four-hour minimum care standard in long-term care. Not clear if this will apply to hands-on care or if it would be watered down by including management and other staffing classifications.

The Ontario Health Coalition is non-partisan and we do not tell people how to vote. Our mandate is to protect and improve public health care services for Ontarians and to foster democratic discussion about policy decisions that impact our health care as such the Coalition is making a last ditch effort to ask Mr. Ford to commit to significant funding reinvestment in our public hospitals, no privatization of health care and improvement of care levels in long term care home and hands-on care levels in long term care homes.

For more information:

Dana Boettger, OHC Communication 416-441-2502 (office)

Natalie Mehra, Executive Director, 416-230-6402 (mobile)
A judge-led inquiry aims to establish the causes of the fire in West London last year, which killed 72 people.

An inquiry into a deadly fire at a residential tower block in London last year has started with judges set to consider the factors that led to the blaze.

Officials say 72 people died on June 14 last year at Grenfell Tower in the west London district of Kensington.

The investigation, which is set to last 18 months, will look at how local authorities responded to the fire, as well as the UKs regulations for high rise buildings.

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Some survivors are critical because the inquiry will not investigate wider issues around social housing but the judge leading the inquiry has sought to calm their worries.

Judge Martin Moore-Bick said he and his team were determined to provide the answers that the families were after.

The start of the inquiry on Monday follows almost two weeks of personal tributes from friends and family aiming to ensure that the victims, who ranged from an 84-year-old woman to a stillborn premature baby are not forgotten during the course of the inquiry.

Some residents accuse officials in Kensington and Chelsea, one of Londons richest boroughs, of ignoring their safety concerns because the publicly owned tower was home to a largely immigrant and working-class population.

The stream of today's hearing is live: https://t.co/5uKAhCMXUN  Grenfell Inquiry (@grenfellinquiry) June 4, 2018

Police say they are considering individual or corporate manslaughter charges in the blaze, but no one has been charged yet.

Grenfell United, a group representing survivors and bereaved families, said the inquiry was the beginning of a long road to justice.

The group, which accuses local authorities and the government of failing to heed residents safety warnings, said the scale of the tragedy has devastated our lives and our community. What makes it even worse for us is the knowledge that these deaths were completely avoidable.
Hani al-Mulki submitted his resignation after widespread anger over price hikes and income tax reform bill.

Jordans King Abdullah II has accepted the resignation of Prime Minister Hani al-Mulki, the countrys royal palace has said.

Mulki submitted his resignation in a meeting with King Abdullah II on Monday.

His resignation comes amid mass protests over price hikes and an income tax reform bill.

According to an official source, the move is aimed at defusing the anger over the economic policies.

Protests have been taking place across the capital Amman and other towns for the last four days. Protesters are calling for the government to scrap the bill. They were also demanding the removal of Mulki, whose government had proposed raising the income tax by at least five percent.

His Majesty King Abdullah II accepted the resignation of Hani Mulkis government #Jordan  RHC (@RHCJO) June 4, 2018

Mulki assumed office in 2016 and was responsible for improving the countrys economy amid regional turmoil and a refugee crisis.

In the wake of Mulkis resignation, Jordanian King Abdullah asked Omar al-Razzaz to form a new government.

Al-Razzaz, a former World Bank economist, is described as a more likeable and accepted character among the Jordanian people.

Change of faces only

Yet, some have questioned whether al-Razzaz will have what it takes to defuse the current tensions.

Musa al-Adwan, a retired Jordanian army general and former deputy chief of staff, told Al Jazeera that while he highly respects al-Razzaz, he is not fit the lead the government at this critical junction.

Al-Razzaz is a technocrat that cannot and should not lead the country during this explosive situation, al-Adwan said.

This is unreal, he added.

Ahmad al-Hajaya, a spokesman for Jordanian Teachers Syndicate, told Al Jazeera that the current change in the government appears to be more or less a change of faces only.

Al-Hajaya said that al-Razzaz is known among the teachers union as an honest public servant.

Unless al-Razzaz is given broad authority to combat corruption and restore public trust, his mandate will not succeed, he said, adding that his syndicate will continue protesting as long as the proposed law remains on the table.

Structural economic problems

Abdallah Ghoushe, a member of Jordans 140,000-strong Engineers Association Board told Al Jazeera that the sacking of former PM Mulki is a good step that might calm the street, but wont put an end to the protests.

Our issue with the government is its proposed tax law and other economic policies, he said.

If this is not resolved as soon as possible, the conflict with the government will remain.

Jordan has long suffered from economic problems and remains heavily reliant on foreign aid. Earlier this year, Jordanians demanded the removal of bread subsidies and protested a sales tax rise.

According to Rami Khouri, a senior fellow and professor at the American University of Beirut, these problems are structural in nature.

The government cant keep up with the economic growth rate to provide jobs or with the expenditures to provide essential services such as housing, security, and education, he told Al Jazeera.

Policemen clash with protesters near the Jordanian Prime Ministers office in Amman, Jordan [Muhammad Hamed/Reuters]

As part of a series of economic reforms to decrease Jordans national debt of $37bn, which is equivalent to 95 percent of the gross domestic product (GDP), the government introduced price increases on basic commodities that have angered many Jordanians.

The cost of fuel has increased five times in 2018, and electricity bills have shot up to 55 percent.

These measures stem from the $723m three-year credit line that the government secured from the International Monetary Fund in 2016.

Amman is the most expensive Arab city to live in, according to a recent report published by The Economist.

Additional reporting by Ali Younes
Government sees new tax law as important economic reform, but protesters say it undermines the poor and middle class.

Jordanian Prime Minister Hani al-Mulki resigned on Monday amid widespread anger over IMF-backed price increases and a new tax reform law.

His resignation follows days of protests over the governments economic policies.

The demonstrations were organised by an independent group known as Hirak Shababi, or youth movement, as well as 33 of Jordans professional associations and civil society groups. They include Jordans Engineers Association and Jordanian Teachers Syndicate  both groups are the biggest in the kingdom with an estimated combined membership of 300,000.

Despite Mulkis resignation  seen as a move aimed at defusing anger over the economic policies  protesters have vowed to continue their demonstrations.

They are demanding the government scrap the new tax law and many are calling for a complete overhaul of its approach to economic and social policies.

Heres what we know so far:

What is the proposed tax?

The new law  which still must be approved by Parliament  will increase the percentage of citizens who will be taxed from 4.5 to 10 percent.

It will lower the taxable income for a family from $34,000 to $22,500 and for an individual from $17,000 to $11,200.

The law proposes raising tax rates for banks from 35 to 40 percent.

It will increase government revenue to between $350m and $430m by 2020-2021, according to Mousa al-Tarawneh, spokesman for the income and sales tax department.

The law will combat tax evasion across all sectors which, according to government figures, amounts to about $800m a year.

The law will also reclassify tax evasion from a criminal misdemeanour to a felony.

The government asserts that 90 percent of Jordanian citizens will not pay taxes because of their poverty rate and family exemptions.

It also maintains the increase is needed for the annual interest of about $1.5bn it pays to service its nearly $40bn debt, according to economic journalist Salameh Derrawi Jordan.

The government has been borrowing more expensive loans to pay for older loans.

Because parliament is not in session, King Abdullah II must call Parliament to convene an exceptional session to discuss the law.

What do critics say?

Critics of the law argue the government has already been taxing Jordanians in many other ways, including a 16 percent sales tax on goods and services, and has raised the prices of bread, fuel, electricity and other commodities.

The government has changed the income tax law four times in the past eight years.

Earlier this year, it imposed a 50-100 percent tax increase on key food staples in an effort to decrease its $700m budget deficit.

Critics say the government is not spending enough resources on critical sectors such as education and healthcare to justify paying higher taxes.

Jordans political model has historically been dependent on foreign aid, which explains its under-taxed system of government. However, that model, critics point out, has led to corruption and a lack of accountability.

At least 80 of Jordans 130 members of parliament have signed a statement pledging not to support the law.

Government spokesman Mohamad al-Momani told local news outlets last week the government will not withdraw the law and will ask parliament members to pass it.

Critics also point out the government has failed to crack down on endemic corruption in its ranks or recover more than $1bn allegedly embezzled or wasted from state coffers.

What are protesters demanding?

Demonstrators accuse the government of covering up its failed economic policies through the introduction of the new income tax legislation.

Protesters have also slammed politicians for squandering public funds and corruption.

Many protesters are also demanding the dissolution of parliament, and want a change in the current political system making it more accountable to the public.

Prior to Mulkis resignation, unions representing tens of thousands of employees in both the public and private sectors also called for a general strike on Wednesday after their demands for the bill to be scrapped were rejected by the government.

How has the government responded?

King Abdullah II accepted Mulikis resignation on Monday.

Omar al-Razzaz, the education minister, has reportedly been tasked by the king to form a new government. Jordans official news agency, however, has not confirmed the appointment

Razzaz, a former World Bank economist, is described as a more likeable and accepted character among the Jordanian people.

In a sign the tax increases could be shelved, state-run Petra news agency, citing the speaker of parliament, said legislators were on course to ask the kings permission to hold an emergency parliamentary session with a majority demanding the legislation be withdrawn.

With reporting by Ali Younes: @Ali_reports
After PMs resignation, protesters call for government to adopt transparent new approach to how it operates.

Jordanians have vowed to continue protesting after the resignation of the countrys prime minister, broadening their demands to include a complete overhaul of the governments system and approach.

The protests began last week amid anger over an income tax reform bill and price increases.

Prime Minister Hani al-Mulki resigned on Monday, a move seen by many as an attempt by the kingdom to defuse the outrage over the economic policies.

But protesters are expected to again take to the streets later on Monday for the fifth consecutive day, demonstrators and organisers say, calling for a new approach to how the government operates.

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Were going to send the government a new message today, Odai Nofal, who hails from the province of Zarqa, told Al Jazeera.

That power lies with the people, that the government needs to be cautious when dealing with its citizens from now on, the 28-year-old said.

If they want to resolve the countrys economic crisis, they should place more of the burden on established corporations rather than their people.

While Jordanians have been chanting and calling for the removal Mulki, who assumed office in 2016, they have also called for transparency, a clear set of goals, and for overall change in government policies.

They also want to reintroduce subsidies on bread and oil process.

We want to dissolve the government and demand a completely new approach to how the government deals with economic and social-related matters, 26-year-old Hussein Smadi, told Al Jazeera.

The young lawyer has been among the first to call on the recent protests in Jordan, which began on Thursday.

Day by day, the number of people in the streets are doubling, Smadi said. This is virtually unprecedented in a place [like] Jordan.

Nothing to lose

The protests in Amman have been organised and led by an independent group referred to as Hirak Shababi, or youth movement, as well as by the various unions representing tens of thousands of employees across the country  including the lawyers syndicate and the press syndicate.

An overwhelming number of politically aware young people took part in the demonstrations, breaking the fear barrier that previously existed, Smadi explained.

People realised they had nothing to lose, he said, noting that those who participated came stripped of their political affiliations.





Unions have also called for a general strike on Wednesday, and vow to continue demonstrating until a new approach to the governments policies is introduced.

Hiba Quntar, a member of Jordans press syndicate, told Al Jazeera that a change of politicians is not enough.

The people want a change in the approach and not the people per say, she said.

Jordan has long suffered from economic problems and remains heavily reliant on foreign aid.

As part of a series of economic reforms to decrease Jordans national debt of more than $37bn, which is equivalent to about 95 percent of the gross domestic product (GDP), the government introduced price rises on basic commodities that have incensed many Jordanians.

Earlier this year, Jordanians demanded the removal of bread subsidies and protested a sales tax increase.

The new draft bill would, therefore, increase the burden on Jordans middle class and poor specifically, who already pay a form of sales and income tax, if the new government does not repeal the bill.

The king has reportedly tasked Education Minister Omar al-Razzaz to form a new government. However, Jordans official news agency, Petra, has not confirmed the appointment.

Al-Razzaz, a former World Bank economist, is described as a more likeable and accepted character among the Jordanian people.

But for those like Smadi, the demand for a new government approach is one they will not compromise.

We dont care if its the same faces  as long as theyre doing things differently, he said.

This time its different

Similarly, Ahmed Momani, a civil rights activist based in Amman, explained that the government has not been in line with the countrys parliament.

We want a national salvation government, Momani, who says he was among the first five people to kick-off the latest wave of demonstrations, said.

A lack of political representation was especially apparent when the countrys syndicates called for the nationwide demonstrations, Momani noted.

How is it that syndicates have replaced political parties? They shouldnt be the ones calling for demonstrations but they did, he said.

Jordanians have also called for an increase in developmental projects, but the recent increase in taxes and a potential one on the way has pushed many to realise that they may no longer be able to make ends meet.

The cost of fuel has increased five times in 2018 and electricity bills have shot up by 55 percent.

The governments economic reform measures stem from the $723m three-year credit line that it secured from the IMF in 2016.

But Jordanians also blame corrupt government officials for the countrys economic downfall.

Why should I pay for the actions of successive governments, Momani said.

Experts noted that the economic issues in Jordan are structural in nature, making it increasingly difficult for the government to provide basic services while the economic growth rate is on the rise.

The latest move by the royal palace to accept the prime ministers resignation has given some Jordanians hope.

They responded with our initial demand in a matter of days, Im sure they will continue to listen and respond to our demands that are in line with the constitution, Nofal said.

This time its different  This is a new phase for Jordan.
Jordans King Abdullah to ask PM Mulki to resign

King Abdullah is expected on Monday to ask Prime Minister Hani al-Mulki to resign in a bid to soothe widespread anger over economic policies that has sparked the largest protests in several years, sources tell Al Jazeera.
Suicide attacker detonated his explosives near a tent where Muslim scholars had gathered to discuss peace efforts.

Several people have been killed in a suicide attack targeting Muslim scholars who had gathered in a tent near the Polytechnic University in Afghanistans Kabul, officials said.

Afghan interior ministry spokesman Najib Danish confirmed to Al Jazeera that at least seven people have been killed and nine others wounded in Mondays attack. He had earlier reported the death toll was 12 people. Police officials also confirmed there were seven deaths.

The attackers was on foot near the gate of the university, Danish told Al Jazeera.

Waheed Majrooh, a spokesman for Afghanistans Ministry of Public Health, told Al Jazeera that at least 12 wounded were transferred to emergency units.

Afghan security forces keep watch at the site of a suicide attack in Kabul, Afghanistan [Omar Sobhani/Reuters]





Al Jazeeras Jennifer Glasse, reporting from Kabul, said the religious scholars across the country had gathered in the tent to issue a fatwa  a religious edict issued by an expert in Islamic law  against suicide bombings and the ongoing war in the country.

The gathering had just finished and the clerics were coming out of the tent when that suicide bomber went off, she said.

They had just come to an agreement saying that suicide bombing was un-Islamic.

No group immediately claimed responsibility for the attack, which underlines deteriorating security ahead of parliamentary and district council elections set for October.

Both the Taliban and the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL, also known as ISIS) have stepped up attacks on Kabul, making it the deadliest place in the country for civilians in recent months.

Security around Kabul has been on high alert in recent days with more checkpoints and patrols as the government warned of attacks by the Taliban on government installations.

On Wednesday, gunmen stormed the heavily fortified headquarters of the interior ministry, battling security forces for more than two hours.

In April, at least 26 people, including nine journalists were killed who had arrived to report on an initial blast and were targeted by a suicide bomber.

A week earlier, at least 57 people were killed in Kabul when a suicide bomber detonated his explosives at the doorway of an ID distribution centre in the voter registration centres.

The Taliban often claim their fight against the foreign forces and their followers in the country is a holy war. They are seeking to return the country to strict Islamic rule after their 2001 ouster by US-backed troops.
Olivier Mahafaly quits to comply with a court ruling that ordered the formation of a new consensus government.

Madagascars Prime Minister Olivier Mahafaly resigned on Monday to comply with a court ruling that ordered the formation of a new consensus government to end the countrys political crisis.

I unconditionally accept this decision because I do not want to block a solution. I hand in my resignation without constraint or regret, Mahafaly told reporters at his office in Antananarivo.

Last month, President Hery Rajaonarimampianina approved an election law under which the main opposition candidate, Marc Ravalomanana, could run for office. The law generated deadly street demonstrations on the Indian Ocean island nation.

The High Constitutional Court ordered Rajaonarimampianina to dissolve his government and appoint a new prime minister with the support of all political parties.

Presidential elections are due this year.

Madagascar is one of the worlds poorest countries, despite reserves of nickel, cobalt, gold, uranium and other minerals. A 2009 coup scared off foreign investors.

Rajaonarimampianina will have to consult other parties in Parliament before appointing a new prime minister.

His party has no legislators in Parliament and he has until June 5 to pick the consensus prime minister in compliance with the court order.
Walking through dry fields of the oasis of Mhamid El Ghizlane, Halim Sbai feels a sense of injustice.

A few decades ago, Sbais homeplace, located in the southeast of Morocco, was lush and full of life.

Now, the Mhamid oasis is arid and has an empty feel to it. The fragile ecosystem finds itself vanishing. Palm trees are sparse and, on the outskirts of the oasis, only treetops stick out of the sand dunes as the Sahara expands.

We dont create causes of climate change. We just experience the effects, said Sbai with that very sense of injustice reflected in his tone.

Climate change, together with poor soil and water management, are the main causes for desertification, turning the land lifeless.

Oases  fertile areas in a desert near a source of water  historically used to be important rest stops for caravans travelling through the Sahara.

Camels cross Draa river, which is mostly dry throughout the year except when the water is released by the dam upstream. Some villages are half empty after residents left seeking better opportunities [Viktorija Mickute/Al Jazeera]

Mhamid was the door to the desert. While resting, people used to communicate with each other and exchange cultural details, added Sbai.

This is where, according to Sbai, people from the north of Mali, south of Algeria and from Mauritania would meet.

Caravans travelled further, he added, but some nomads stayed, creating a culture of tolerance, understanding and resilience.

The oasis dwellers used to rely on herding and farming  they grew vegetables and dates.

There was plenty of water and grass. People used to own herds of goats. There were a lot of palm and date trees, Sbai recalled from his childhood days in the early 1970s when his family still lived in a nomadic tent.

But that was also the time when things began to change rapidly.

The oasis started to receive less rain and, sometimes, even none at all. These changes made agriculture an unreliable source of income and a lot of people abandoned their lands and move to the new centre of Mhamid, just outside of the oasis.

By the end of the decade, Sbais family also moved so he could go to school there. Empty lands left behind were a perfect prey for the desert. Studies show the Sahara has expanded 10 percent in the past century.

Bahadi Habib stands in the plantation, where he helps Sbai plant palm trees [Viktorija Mickute/Al Jazeera]

Additionally, around two-thirds of the Moroccan oases have disappeared over the last century, the government claims

The grim scenario unfolded all around the Maghreb region, affecting oases in Tunisia, Libya and Algeria.

While oases have adapted to an unforgiving Saharan sun, they are vulnerable to the recent changes in climate. North Africa has been experiencing unusual heatwaves and less rain. By 2050, precipitation in North Africa is expected to decrease by at least another 10 to 20 percent.

In addition, the rain has become irregular, disturbing agriculture cycles and leaving people without a decent yield. These changes have led to droughts and flash floods, which are harmful to oases ecosystem.

Poor water management is also a grave concern. In order to improve irrigation and manage the scarce freshwater resources in the southeast of Morocco, the El-Mansour Eddahbi dam was built upstream in 1972 near Ouarzazate.

However, locals in Mhamid argue the reservoir has worsened the situation. They say other oases use most of the water and what comes to Mhamid, which is the last oasis in the valley, is already polluted.

Sbai, right, talks with locals in a cafe in the centre of Mhamid [Viktorija Mickute/Al Jazeera]

As farming became unprofitable, many, including Sbai, jumped on the tourism bandwagon.

After finishing his studies in Marrakesh, Sbai and his brother bought a four-wheel-drive to show tourists around. But they soon realised that kind of tourism could be harmful to the oasis and add to its exhaustion.

When locals were going with tourists to the desert, they were just throwing trash in the sand dunes, said Sbai. In the old days, the rubbish was degradable and didnt cause any damage.

After organising clean-up campaigns in the desert, Sbai and his brother decided to use culture and arts to raise awareness about the vulnerable state of the oases.

Since 2009, they have been hosting an annual music festival with a message of cherishing Saharan culture and environment. They teach children music, organise workshops, cleaning campaigns and plant trees to fight desertification.

This land is so precious to us because its the last oasis before Sahara starts, and its our roots, said Sbai. We consider ourselves protectors of this oasis against the desert. If we leave it, the desert will take over.

Sbai sees migration as the main challenge. Young and active people seek better opportunities in bigger cities in the country and abroad.

Fewer than 7,000 people now live in Mhamid  a figure around 25 percent less what it was in 1980.

People leave the land but people are the biggest barrier that can stop desertification, said Sbai. Its the same case with the houses, if people leave them, the sand moves in within 15 days.

Sbai knows he cannot save the oasis by himself.

We cannot plant all Mhamid. We cannot bring water to the whole oasis. We cannot clean it all. We can only make some noise and shine a light so people can see whats happening.

The Disappearing Oasis is a virtual reality documentary that illustrates the impacts of climate change on the Mhamid oasis in the southeast of Morocco. Follow cultural organiser Halim Sbai as he walks through the oasis and meets other residents who show their daily struggles and talk about the solutions they have been working on.
Ostia: The Italian town torn by mafia violence

A town near Rome, hit hard by poverty and rise of organised crime, has come under the spotlight with Pope Francis visit.
Islamabad, Pakistan  At least 25 people have been wounded after an attack by gunmen on members of the Pashtun Tahafuz Movement (Pashtun Protection Movement or PTM) rights group in northwestern Pakistan, security sources and rights activists say.

Gunmen said to belong to the Pakistan Taliban opened fire on the rights activists, led by PTM leader Ali Wazir at a gathering in the South Waziristan tribal district on Sunday.

Local media reported that at least three members of the movement were killed in the violence, but Al Jazeera was unable to independently verify that figure as communications to the area had been cut.

Video footage released by PTM showed people taking cover in a bazaar in the town of Wana, the capital of South Waziristan, as gunfire rocked the marketplace.

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They started beating people and firing upon them, said Mohsin Dawar, a senior PTM leader. People threw stones back at them. There were a lot of casualties.

Alam Zeb Mehsud, another PTM leader, who coordinated medical aid to the wounded, confirmed the violence to Al Jazeera, saying reports from those injured indicated the death toll could be as high as seven.

Paramilitary forces were deployed soon after the violence broke out, imposing a strict curfew in the area overnight.

At a press briefing on Monday, military spokesperson Major-General Asif Ghafoor told reporters it was a government-sponsored peace committee that had clashed with the PTM activists. He confirmed that paramilitary forces intervened to end the fighting and evacuated the wounded.

Residents told Al Jazeera that several members of the peace committee were former members of the Pakistan Taliban who had surrendered to security forces in recent months.

Strident criticism of Taliban, military

Since January, the PTM has been holding rallies across Pakistan demanding rights for the countrys roughly 30 million ethnic Pashtun citizens, who are mainly resident in the countrys northwest, where Pakistan has fought a bitter war against the Taliban and its allies since 2007.

Its leaders have stood against the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), with several of Wazirs family members killed for their resistance against the armed group. PTM leaders Mehsud and Dawar confirmed that Wazir had recently received Taliban death threats for his involvement with PTM.

PTM has also alleged widespread rights abuses by the countrys military, in particular on the issues of extrajudicial killings and enforced disappearances of terrorism suspects.

According to a government commission on enforced disappearances, more than 4,900 people have been reported missing in Pakistan since 2011.

An Al Jazeera investigation in April documented 22 disappearances, including cases where those taken were held in a network of military-run internment centres without charge, tried by military courts, killed or released after allegedly being tortured.

The PTMs strident and open criticism of Pakistans powerful military  which has ruled Pakistan for roughly half of its 70-year history  is rare in a country where critics of the so-called establishment face widespread censorship.

The core of PTMs leadership, including Wazir and PTM chief Manzoor Pashteen, hails from South Waziristan, once the headquarters of the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), or Pakistan Taliban.

The Pakistani military launched a widespread military operation to retake the district in 2009, forcing TTP fighters into neighbouring North Waziristan. It has undertaken a series of military operations since then to drive the TTPs leadership out of the northwestern tribal districts and into, Pakistani security officials say, northeastern Afghanistan.





The military maintains tight control over the tribal districts, and particularly over South and North Waziristan, through a large deployment of troops and a network of security check posts which control all movement into, out of, and around the districts.

PTM chief Pashteen called for widespread protests on Monday after the attacks, saying the movement was determined to remain peaceful.

The PTM has made constitutional demands. For five months, despite having many protests, we have not shut down a single road for a single minute  Our activists have been detained, they have been tortured, everything has been done to them, but they did not react, he said in a video statement released shortly after the violence in Wana.

We have raised our voices peacefully  The PTM, as human beings, are dealing with [those against it] on the basis of humanity. But they are determined to act like animals.

Asad Hashim is Al Jazeeras Digital Correspondent in Pakistan. He tweets @AsadHashim
SAN ANTONIO, June 04, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- San Antonio chiropractic clinic wants to make area residents aware of an increasingly common occupational hazard, as well as the treatment methods the clinic offers to treat it. According to Dr. Donald Phillips of Dr. Phillips Chiropractic Nutrition and Wellness, a condition commonly known as text neck is a frequent consequence of maintaining an unhealthy head position while consulting mobile devices or other digital monitors. "We want people to understand that their own everyday ergonomic behaviors are the cause of that nagging neck pain and stiffness they may be experiencing. We also want to tell them that they can get relief from this discomfort through conservative care alone," says Dr. Phillips.



Text neck has been described as a form of chronic neck strain caused by holding the head at an unnatural angle, typically drooping forward, for long periods of time. As described by WebMD, the normal 10 to 12 pounds of the head places the equivalent of 27 pounds of load on the neck once it assumes a 15-degree forward tilt. This pressure extends up to 60 pounds when the head reaches a 60-degree tilt.

Dr. Phillips notes that many users of handheld digital devices routinely assume such positions as they read emails scan the Web and compose texts, hence the term "text neck." "It's very easy to become engrossed in what you're doing so that you don't even realize what an unnatural and uncomfortable position your head is in," he says. "Unfortunately, over time this causes chronic strain in the muscles that support the neck, leaving you with pain and stiffness." The chiropractor adds that long-term cases of text neck may also cause cervical spinal alignment problems, from pinched nerves and herniated discs to loss of the natural curvature of the neck.

The phenomenon has received an increasing amount of press in recent years. The New York Times has referred to text neck as an "epidemic" that puts 58 percent of smartphone users at risk for painful neck problems. Dr. Phillips points out that similar problems may arise for desktop computer users who have place their monitors too low for viewing at a comfortable head angle.

Treatment for text neck can usually be managed through conservative care techniques such as chiropractic adjustment. According to Dr. Phillips, adjustments to the cervical spine can correct alignment problems caused by text neck. His clinic also offers massage therapy to loosen muscle tightness and ease muscle spasms.

"The best approach to text neck is prevention," says Dr. Phillips. "We can teach patients how to adopt healthier postures when using their digital devices."

About the Chiropractor: Dr. Phillips Chiropractic Nutrition and Wellness provides non-invasive health, wellness, and physical rehabilitation services for San Antonio, Texas. The clinic directs further inquiries to its main office at (210) 545-1144 or by visiting their website at https://drphillipschiro.com/
Anti-migrant rhetoric means former Prime Minister Janez Jansa faces an uphill battle to find partners for a coalition.

Former Slovenian Prime Minister Janez Jansas far-right anti-immigrant party won nearly double the seats than its closest opponent in parliamentary elections but faces major hurdles in forming a new government.

Slovenian President Borut Pahor said he will offer Jansas Slovenian Democratic Party (SDP) a mandate to form a government after his party won 25 out of the 90 parliament seats up for grabs.

I am not obliged to award the mandate to the relative winner of the election, but I will do so because I strongly believe in democracy, Pahor was quoted in news reports as saying.





Jansas main opponent, Marjan Sarec, and his party won only 13 seats.

Analysts say Jansa faces difficulties in forming a new government because of accusations of radicalism, authoritarianism, and anti-immigrant rhetoric.

He is seen as a close ally of Hungarian Prime Minister Victor Orban who is also known for promoting far-right policies.

Sarec, a former comedian-turned-politician who lost to Pahor in last years presidential election, said on social media he will not support Jansa.

I repeat, we are not forming a coalition with Slovenian Democratic Party. This summer will be twice as hot, Sarec said, though he congratulated the winner.

If Jansa calls us, we can spend some time talking over coffee, and that will not be a problem. But we will repeat what we have said so many times before  there cannot be a coalition.

Sarec also congratulated current Prime Minister Miro Cerar, another former prime minister  Alenka Bratusek, and other socialists, whom he needs if he takes on Jansa in the fight to form a coalition government.

No coalition with Jansa

Cerars Modern Centre Party said it was satisfied with the outcome of the polls. But current Foreign Minister Karl Erjavecs party suffered an election debacle.





Those parties have all denied the possibility of forming a coalition with the SDP.

Jansa is the longest-running politician in Slovenia, a former Yugoslav republic that was the first to leave Yugoslavia in 1992.

Asked how he will form a new government, Jansa said, When some heated heads cool off, we will talk about coalitions.

About 30 years ago, Jansa, then a journalist with the Mladina newspaper, was arrested by Yugoslav authorities along with several others for allegedly revealing military secrets.

The arrests triggered protests demanding democratic change and political reform, which was considered the starting point of Slovenias secession.

Jansa was elected eight times in parliament and twice as prime minister. He also held the post of defence minister.

Slovenia was also the first of the former Yugoslav states to join the European Union and quickly adopted the euro as a common currency.
Nearly 1,000 refugees and migrants are evacuated from two camps in the French capital.

French police have evacuated the last two large migrant camps in Paris, less than a week after they cleared out the bigger Millennaire camp in the capital.

Operations got under way on Monday morning at sites in Porte des Poissonniers and along the Canal Saint Martin.

In a statement, police said they had offered temporary shelter to 973 people residing in the camps.

The camps residents will be subject to a review of their administrative situation which will determine the type of accommodation they would be given, the statement said.

No incidents had taken place during the dismantling of the camp, police said.

French newspaper Le Figaro reported the operation had started in calm.

Yahye, a Sudanese man who had been sleeping by the Canal Saint Martin for two months, told the publication that whether hed be taken to a camp, a house, a stadium, it will be better than here.

Video on social media showed migrants loading belongings onto a bus before getting on as well as abandoned tents and air mattresses surrounded by litter.

Il est 8 heures, le camp de la porte des Poissonniers est demantele. On attend un dernier bus pour une trentaine de personnes. Ici environ 370 personnes + 15 vulnerables (2 familles, 2 mineurs isoles, 3 couples, 3 femmes isolees dont une enceinte) ont ete pris en charge. pic.twitter.com/qEy4tBAl30  Pierre Bouvier (@pibzedog) June 4, 2018

Last Wednesday, police dismantled the Millennaire camp, home to about 1,000 migrants who were taken to accommodation centres around Paris.

More than half of people living there were Sudanese, 14 percent was Eritrean and seven percent was Somali, according to numbers by the French Office of Immigration and Integration.

That operation had passed calmly and without incidents, a statement by police said.

There had been growing concern about the camps. In May two migrants drowned in canals by encampments.

Le Figaro said Mondays operation was the 36th one organised in the French capital in three years.

Europe has faced a migrant crisis since 2015. In that year alone, more than one million refugees and crisis reached Europe by sea.

In 2016, thousands of migrants were cleared from Frances largest migrant camp, the Jungle in Calais.
The hacking of Qatar News Agencys website on May 24, 2017 set into motion a major diplomatic crisis in the Gulf region.

The breach of Qatar News Agency (QNA) and the publication last year of fabricated statements attributed to the Emir of Qatar, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, can be attributed to a Saudi piracy cell, an Al Jazeera investigation has revealed.

According to the investigation, which was broadcast on Sunday, the piracy cell worked from within a leading Saudi ministry in the capital, Riyadh.

The hacking of Qatars state-run news agency and government social media accounts on May 24, 2017, set into motion a major diplomatic crisis in the region, which saw Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain and Egypt sever diplomatic relations and cut off land, air and sea links with Qatar on June 5 last year.

Saudi Arabia and its allies accused Qatar of supporting terrorism and advancing the agenda of their regional rival, Iran. Doha has strongly denied these allegations.

Following the incidents, Doha launched an inquiry accusing hackers of publishing fake remarks attributed to Sheikh Tamim on QNAs platforms.

A fictitious Emirati company based in Azerbaijan asked three Turkish companies, which work on securing online platforms and websites, to detect security breaches in a list of online news websites including QNA. They offered to provide solutions to protect these websites against the security breaches.

According to the investigation, the UAE-owned company ended its operation in Azerbaijan as soon as the data became available to it. The information was then handed over to the Saudi hacking team.

In the meantime, Qatar Institute of Computerisation revealed that Saudi Arabia and its allies created about 187 new Twitter accounts during or before the day of the onset of the crisis.

United States and European officials said, at the time of the incident, that while US government agencies and experts were convinced that QNA and the Qatari governments Twitter feed were hacked, they had not determined who was behind it.

Qatari writer Abdul Aziz al-Ishaq told Al Jazeera that the investigation proved Saudi King Salman bin Abdul Aziz was aware of the planned hacking of QNAs website during his visit to Doha in December 2016.
Residents of Qatar share how they have been affected by a year-long diplomatic crisis with Gulf neighbours and Egypt.

A months-long land, air and sea blockade imposed on Qatar by four Arab countries has made the Gulf state independent, stronger and more united, Qatars residents say, as a major diplomatic crisis drags on, entering a second year.

On June 5, 2017, the four Arab states of Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Bahrain and Egypt cut all diplomatic and trade ties with Qatar, accusing it of supporting terrorism and destabilising the region  allegations Doha has consistently denied.

In the days and weeks following the dispute, cargo ships and hundreds of planes loaded with food from Turkey, Iran, Oman, Morocco and India entered Qatar to ensure there were no immediate shortages of supplies.

As the crisis continued, alternative trade links and flight routes were developed. The blockade also forced the Gulf state to boost its local dairy produce and manufacturing of food items.

Qatar Airways, the countrys national carrier, said it experienced a substantial loss in its last financial year, after losing access to 18 cities in the four blockading nations.





Many families were also affected after the Saudi, Emirati and Bahraini governments told their citizens to return from Qatar.

Qatari nationals residing in those three Gulf nations were also given a two weeks notice to exit the country.

Mediation efforts led by Gulf neighbour Kuwait, as well as apparent shuttle diplomacy by the United States have so far failed to end the year-long dispute.

However, patriotic fervour among Qatars nearly 2.7 million residents has been on the rise this past year, with Qatari flags and stylised portraits of Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani displayed on skyscrapers across the capital, Doha.

With no political solution in sight, Qatars residents  nationals and expatriates  look back at the last 12 months and weigh in on how their lives were affected.

Mohamed Alsherawi, Qatari engineer, 35

Last year was a unique year. The beauty of it is the unity between the nationals and the expatriates.

I never thought that everybody would be side by side, speaking as one, which was really beautiful. And also the government has done exceptional work to overcome all the obstacles in no time.

The thing that affected me personally was my communication with family, elders, cousins and grandparents, who live in those countries that I cant visit. This really touched my heart.

Romeo Ezekiel Ocfemia, Filipino student, 15

Romeo Ezekiel Ocfemia

I would like to commend and congratulate the Qatari government because they have managed to pull through in times of crisis.

They were able to find a new market to temporarily provide the countries food source and they were able to think of a long-term solution by creating and establishing a dairy farm to compensate for the lack of dairy products in Qatar.

Qatar also proved to the world that they dont need Saudi Arabia to be a successful and developed country.

The government stood for what they believed in and fought for their sovereignty.

Shahna Abdul Karim, Indian housewife, 26

The blockade on Qatar shows that it is not just the size, resources or riches of a country that determines its fate, it is also how it is prepared to handle chaos thrown its way and Qatar has proved to be a survivor.

Shahna Abdul Karim

The price hike, in the beginning, was a bit alarming considering our household income. Our monthly budget certainly had to be adjusted and shopping lists had to be altered.

But as time went by, the prices went down and sometimes, even cheaper than what they were before.

Being born and brought up in Qatar, I certainly feel a sense of patriotism every time I see the growing self-sustainability of the country. I did make a conscious effort to switch to Qatari products when it didnt make a major dent in our budget.

The Gulf crisis certainly brought out the better side of Qatars potential. Qatar after June 5, 2017, is certainly much stronger.

Across Doha, billboards have been erected for people to write messages of support for the emir [Cajsa Wikstrom/Al Jazeera] Across Doha, billboards have been erected for people to write messages of support for the emir [Cajsa Wikstrom/Al Jazeera]

Jaber al-Marri, Qatari student, 23

Jaber al-Marri

We thought that after the blockade, we will get less food supplies; turns out that we were wrong.

On the other hand, I felt sad with the way of some Saudi, Emirati and Bahraini citizens have been treating us on the social media with a lack of respect.

I personally think that this crisis will end as long as citizens keep their hands off this subject and focus on something else.

Marcela Daza, Colombian image consultant, 40

Its crazy thinking that it has been a year and it seems it (the Gulf crisis) will not be resolved any time soon.

Marcela Daza

I can see how businesses have been affected, travelling is more expensive and difficult. Even expatriates sometimes are not allowed to enter the blockading countries.

But on the bright side, I can see new products from the more unexpected countries in our supermarkets and a higher sense to build opportunities in the country by locals and foreigners.

Chabbi Houssem, Algerian call centre agent, 28

As someone who has lived in Doha for years, I would say the blockade has definitely changed my life here.

Chabbi Houssem

The cost of living is definitely higher  groceries, gas, etc, all cost more.

Going home takes so much time and way more money than before due to the flights being blocked from certain airspace areas.

Also, I can no longer travel to neighbouring countries based on my resident permit here in Qatar.

All of these things are challenges for me and my family. It has changed how we spend money and how we live our lives on a daily basis.

Qatar proved to the world that they don't need Saudi Arabia to be a successful and developed country. Romeo Ezekiel Ocfemia, Filipino student, 15

Sarah Harrison, British nursery owner, 54

Nearly four years ago, I opened a nursery school. The blockade has affected our business. Parents are hesitant to join the nursery because of the financial implications.

Sarah Harrison

Prices of everyday goods have increased dramatically and many essential items are no longer available in Qatar.

We are supporting parents by reducing our fees to help with the financial crisis.

Dehbi Fares, Moroccan student, 18

In the beginning of the blockade, I thought that everything will change in Qatar.

Dehbi Fares

It was unusual for me, but seeing every person who lives in this country  whether they are Qataris or not  I can see unity and people standing together to prove what is the real Qatar.

Now, it has been one year and I totally forgot that there is any blockade.

There is no shortage on anything. It turned the other way around where I see this country growing even more and more.

Akkash Ahmed, Pakistani procurement manager , 30

Akkash Ahmed

Qatars economy has been shivered for the last one year because as we know Qatar is a big importer and a hefty buyer, rather than manufacturer, in the Middle East.

However, this blockade has given Qatars manufacturing industry a great opportunity to build a major role in Qatars economy and not depend on other countries like China, Iran and India.

Mahmoud Ibrahim, Egyptian technician, 34

Mahmoud Ibrahim

After one year of blockade, I can say it has now just a psychological effect rather than any other effect on me.

Its like being the black sheep in the area. Some airports, I cannot go directly to and air tickets are expensive.

On the work side, only some materials are more expensive and it takes a longer time for them to be available.

Follow Saba Aziz on Twitter: @saba_aziz
Secretary of State Mike Pompeo urges Organization of American States members to kick out Venezuela.

US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo called on members of the Organization of American States (OAS) to suspend Venezuela from the group and bolster sanctions against Nicolas Maduros government.

In his remarks on Monday, Pompeo again condemned last months elections that returned Maduro to power as a sham and said the government had exhausted all options for dialogue.

Ejecting Venezuela would show that the OAS backs up its words with action and would send a powerful message to the Maduro regime, Pompeo told the 34-member OAS assembly in Washington, DC.

Only real elections will allow your government to be included in the family of nations, he said.

Maduro calls the OAS a pawn of American foreign policy and said last year he would pull Venezuela out of the organisation.

Venezuelan Foreign Minister Jorge Arreaza accused the US of violating international law.

The aggression against Venezuela is brutal, its economic, its financial, its commercial, its political, its media, and we are going to press on and we will triumph, Arreaza told the assembly.

.@SecPompeo on #Venezuela: The United States stands steadfast in support of the Venezuelan people and their efforts to return to democracy. pic.twitter.com/XKP2A3MIis  Department of State (@StateDept) June 4, 2018

Arreaza said the situation in Venezuela was a domestic one, placed on the agenda of an international meeting in a spurious manner. Other ministers disagreed.

We must have a continent free of dictatorships, OAS Secretary-General Luis Almagro, a stern critic of Maduro, said as he inaugurated the 48th annual meeting.

Since the May 20 election, Maduro has begun to free opponents jailed after violent anti-government protests last year, casting the move as a peace gesture and calling for international dialogue.

Mondays war of words came after Canada slapped 14 Venezuelan leaders with sanctions, condemning the election as illegitimate and anti-democratic.

Last week, the European Union also called for new presidential elections and prepared to impose sanctions against officials from the South American country.
A generation of children in the besieged Gaza Strip are on the brink of a mental health crisis, a children rights group said.

A whole generation of children in Gaza is balancing on a knife edge where one more shock could have devastating life-long consequences, Marcia Brophy, a senior health adviser at Save the Children, said in a statement on Sunday.

Save the Children, which surveyed 150 young adolescents, with a median age of 14, and 150 caregivers living in the coastal enclave, found that 95 percent of children interviewed displayed symptoms such as feelings of depression, hyperactivity, a preference for being alone, and aggression.

Many children grew up witnessing three Israeli offensives  2008 to 2009, 2012 and 2014  that devastated the strip. Furthermore, the 11-year Egyptian-Israeli blockade has severely curtailed the quality of life in Gaza, where youth unemployment now is at 60 percent and poverty levels increased from 30 to 50 percent.

At least 68 percent of children say they have difficulties sleeping, and 78 percent consider the single biggest source of fear for them was the sound of warplanes.

Yet the research also shows that these children revealed strands of resilience, with 80 percent saying they could openly talk about their problems to their families and friends, and 90 percent saying they felt supported by their parents.

Brophy said that while most of the children tied their security to the presence of their families, the breakdown of that family security is one of the key triggers for mental health issues among children in conflict.

Address the root cause: the blockade

Jennifer Moorehead, Save the Childrens Country Director for the occupied Palestinian territory, told Al Jazeera that in light of the meagre resources that afflict the Gaza Strip, the world has a responsibility to relieve the suffering of the children there.

The international community have to get themselves involved [and] invest their resources and their time to address the root cause of this, which is the blockade, Moorehead said, adding that this reality is preventing any kind of developments from taking place, leaving children trapped without the support services they need.

The international community needs to step up its assistance and introduce more mental health and psycho-social support into schools, extracurricular activities and homes, she said.

Only by doing this immediate step, as well as focusing on ending the blockade and finding a durable and just solution, will children have a more hopeful future.

On Friday the United States vetoed a Kuwait-drafted United Nations Security Council resolution calling for the protection of Palestinian civilians.

At least 120 Palestinians, including 14 children, have been killed and more than 13,000 wounded by Israeli forces during weeks-long peaceful protests in the Gaza Strip near the fence with Israel. Save the Childrens research took place prior to the protests.

This fear grips me and a lot of children

One young adolescent interviewed in the report, who is only known as 15-year-old Samar, said that she always fears whether she will be the target of the next missile attack.

This fear grips me and a lot of children, Samar said. Sometimes during the day, I would think about the nightmares I had the whole time.

The blockade, the air attacks, and the war all affect my dreams, ambitions and personality. I fear what the future holds.

Samar, 15, was interviewed by Save the Children in the Gaza Strip and said that she fears what the future holds [Tim Muir/ Save the Children]

This current situation, Moorehead said, where children have been caught in a cycle of deprivation, was not sustainable.

Its not an option that these kids are going to continue to grow up in this kind of environment, she added, describing the future as one of no horizon and no opportunity.

Kids deserve better than what they are getting now.
Singapore abuzz with preparations for Trump-Kim summit

It was on, then off, but now that the highly anticipated meeting is confirmed for June 12 in Singapore, is the country ready?
Although the anti-migrant SDS may struggle to form a coalition, analysts say the vote highlights rising populism.

With a right-wing, anti-migrant party pulling in the largest number of votes in Slovenias elections, observers are debating where the country fits in the so-called populist wave in Europe.

On Sunday, the Slovenia Democratic Party (SDS) clinched 25 percent of the national vote.

Although it remains unclear if SDS will be able to form a coalition, the partys campaign tactics and rhetoric have aroused concern among analysts who track the ongoing developments around right-wing and far-right populist parties in Europe.

The List of Marjan Sarec (LMS), an anti-establishment party, came in second with just under 13 percent of the vote.

Meanwhile, the centre-left Social Democrats earned 10 percent, the centrist Moderate Centre Party 9.75 percent and the left-wing Levica party nine percent.

With a population of more than two million, Slovenia gained its independence from the Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia in 1991 and was recognised by the European Union the following year.

Despite gaining the largest number of votes, a broader coalition of centrist and left-leaning parties could potentially exclude the SDS.

Far-right Hungarian leader Viktor Orban, who recently won re-election after campaigning on an intensely anti-refugee and anti-Muslim platform, is a vocal backer of the SDS and its leader, former Prime Minister Janez Jansa.

SDS topped the vote at a time when Europe is still reeling from staunchly anti-migrant parties making significant gains in Austria, Italy and elsewhere.

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Peter Kreko, executive director of Political Capital: Policy Research and Consulting Institute, described the results as part of the populist zeitgeist.

Speaking to Al Jazeera, Kreko argued the SDSs electoral campaign was indicative of Orbans soft power in Central Europe and the Balkans.

Growing influence of Hungarys Orban?

While stressing that Slovenias SDS garnered far less support than Orbans ultra-nationalist Fidesz party in Hungarys elections, Kreko said fear mongering over immigration and xenophobia are qualities both share.

The experience of other European countries is that, when a populist party brings this type of message, it has an impact on the broader political spectrum, he said.

Like many analysts, Kreko said Orbans open endorsement of the 59-year-old Jansa and his party were part of a broader transnational process of the Hungarian leader spreading his influence throughout the region.

Orban has nurtured ties with Serbias ruling party, Prime Minister Aleksandar Vucics Serbia Progressive Party, as well as anti-liberal outfits in Croatia, Macedonia and Poland, among others.

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Those efforts have been accompanied by a campaign orchestrated by pro-Orban media to buy up news outlets in Macedonia and push for greater influence in the Balkans, as recently reported by the Organised Crime and Corruption Reporting Project (OCCRP).

Slovenians first

Jansa, who served as Slovenias prime minister from 2004 to 2008 and again from February 2012 to March 2013, declared his partys intentions to put Slovenians first after the preliminary results were announced.

Throughout the campaigning period, Jansa honed in on refugees and migrants, and on Sunday evening he reiterated his rhetoric by proclaiming that migration was the most serious challenge for the majority of Europeans.

The tunnel-vision focus on refugees and migrants is something that resonates even in countries where there are practically no immigrants, according to Kreko.

It is xenophobia without the presence of immigrants, and this is partially the case in Slovenia as well, he added.

More than half a million refugees and migrants passed through Slovenia in 2015 and 2016, although the overwhelming majority continued their journeys to elsewhere in Europe.

In March 2016, Slovenia joined several other countries in central Europe and the Balkans when it sealed its borders to asylum seekers fleeing war and economic devastation.

Noting that it would be an immense struggle for the SDS to form a coalition, Mojca Pajnik, a research councilor at the Ljubljana-based Peace Institute, argued the party has been developing clear features of extremist right-wing populism in recent years.

As part of the right-wing European Peoples Party alliance in the European Parliament, the SDS is aligned with the ruling Austria Peoples Party, Greeces right-wing New Democracy and Polands conservative Civic Platform, among others.

Literally copied Orbans campaign

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In the past, SDS has been criticised for its alleged ties with the anti-Muslim, far-right Identitarian movement and other right-wing youth movements.

Theyve been radicalising in the sense of moving toward more and more elements of autocracy and a more totalitarian way of understanding politics, Pajnik told Al Jazeera.

In the last decade, these feelings have been strengthened.

According to Pajnik, the SDS literally copied Orbans campaign by employing racialised rhetoric in the latest elections.

Slovenia was flooded with hostile billboards across the country in [recent] months Some were attacking NGOs that work on human rights issues. The notion of security of the natives against the insecurity [posed] by migrants was put into focus.

In May, Orban chimed in when he stated the survival of the Slovenian people could only be guaranteed by the SDS winning.

Hurdles remain for the SDS and the only party that has expressed willingness to negotiate a coalition with Jansa is New Slovenia, a conservative Christian party that clenched seven percent of the vote on Sunday.

The good news, speaking from the perspective of human rights, is that many people voted for the left and centre-left, Pajnik continued.

This also means they said no to the Orbanisation of politics in Slovenia.
Ankara says NATO allies decided on a timetable and method for withdrawal of Kurdish fighters from the city.

Turkey and the United States agreed on a plan on the withdrawal of Kurdish fighters considered terrorists by Ankara from the northern Syrian city of Manbij.

The agreement was reached during a meeting between Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu and US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo in Washington, DC, on Monday.

The two sides agreed on a joint work to end a bilateral dispute over the presence of the Peoples Protection Units (YPG) troops in Manbij.

Ankara considers YPG a terrorist group, while Washington views it as a key ally in the fight against Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL, also known as ISIS).

Turkey believes the Kurdish Democratic Union Party (PYD) in Syria and its armed wing YPG have ties to the banned Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK).

The PKK has waged a decades-long armed fight against the Turkish state that has killed tens of thousands of people.

I am pleased that we have achieved considerable progress on the YPG/PKK and we expect concrete results for our meeting with Secretary Pompeo this morning, Cavusoglu was quoted as saying by Anadolu news agency.

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A joint statement by the top diplomats said the agreements includes steps to ensure the security and stability there.

They endorsed a roadmap to this end and underlined their mutual commitment to its implementation, reflecting their agreement to closely follow developments on the ground, it said.

The statement did not unveil details regarding the plan or its timetable.

The move, long sought by Turkey, comes at a time of strain in bilateral ties over wider Syria policy and over Washingtons decision in December to move its embassy in Israel to Jerusalem.

Tensions over YPG

Turkey has been infuriated by US support for the Kurdish fighters in Syria and has threatened to push its offensive in the Afrin region of northern Syria further east to Manbij, risking a confrontation with US troops stationed there.

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State-run Anadolu said last week Turkey and the US had reached a technical agreement on a three-step YPG withdrawal plan in Manbij. The US department of state later denied those reports.

Manbij is a potential flashpoint. The Syrian government, Kurdish fighters, Syrian rebel groups, Turkey and the US all have a military presence in northern Syria.

Relations between Ankara and Washington have deteriorated due to a range of factors, including the sentencing in New York in May of a former Turkish state bank executive to 32 months in prison for taking part in an Iran sanctions-busting scheme, a case Turkey has called a political attack.

Turkey has also caused unease in Washington with its decision to buy S-400 surface-to-air missiles from Russia and drew criticism over its detention of a US Christian pastor, Andrew Brunson, on terrorism charges. He has denied the charges.
Turkeys Erdogan seeks voter support in Diyarbakir

President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has sought to persuade voters in the predominantly Kurdish city to vote for him in June 24 polls.
BELFIELD, N.D., June 04, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Meridian Energy Group, Inc., the leading developer of innovative and environmentally-compliant oil refining facilities, signed a Letter of Intent (LOI) today with Target Lodging (Target) of The Woodlands, Texas to provide the workforce housing for the Davis Refinery project coming to Belfield, North Dakota. This LOI outlines the terms and conditions under which Meridian will be contracting for workforce housing needs at Targets Dunn County Lodge in support of the workforce that will be constructing and then operating the initial phase of the Davis Refinery in Belfield, ND.



Target Lodging, the largest provider in the US of turnkey housing solutions, provides workers with the best in nutrition, sleeping accommodations and amenities in any climate or location. Meridian believes that the North Dakota Department of Health will be awarding Meridian with its Permit to Construct for the Davis Refinery in the very near future, and so the Company is continuing to take preparatory steps to enable the Davis project to move efficiently into construction and then operation. In signing this LOI, Meridian has made a critical advancement in the Davis project, recognizing how essential the comfort and welfare of its workforce will be to its success.

Were extremely excited to approach this next step in the process to make the Davis Refinery a reality, said Lance Medlin, EVP of Projects at Meridian. Our workforce members, the first of which will be comprised of local talent and US Armed Forces veterans, can and should expect the very best accommodations. While theyll undoubtedly be accustomed to the North Dakota climate, we realize theyll miss the comforts of home, so were working hard to make up for that.

Target Lodgings Jack Marshall, Business Development Manager, is ready to begin the process of housing workers at the Davis Refinery. Our team is eager to care for their workforce the other 12 hours they arent on location. Our lodging accommodations will keep their workers safe, well-rested and well-fed while on the job here in Belfield. Our responsibility is to make workers from everywhere feel at home on the job.

Brad Archer, President & CEO of Target Lodging, also believes the LOI in place is a great move for all parties involved. Were proud to be able to provide Target Lodgings culture of safety and well-being to Meridian Energy at the Davis Refinery in the near future. Our belief is that when you focus on your customer as a guest instead of a number, you establish a commitment to quality that makes you a trusted partner.

William Prentice, CEO of Meridian Energy Group is aware of Target Lodgings proven track record. Meridian is very proud that it has been able to attract another world-class organization to the Davis Refinery Team. It is impossible to expect the best of those working at the Davis site unless the living conditions are safe and comfortable, and Target has a proven track record of providing those accommodations to its clients. Although most of the permanent operations workforce will be from surrounding areas, many will be from the region that will require local temporary housing until they can relocate to Belfield and surrounding areas even from other parts of North Dakota.

About Meridian Energy Group, Inc.

The Mission of Meridian Energy Group, Inc. is to provide long-term shareholder value through the development and operation of the cleanest, most efficient and environmentally-compliant crude oil refineries in the world, benefiting the communities and its investors. Established in 2013, Meridian is led by industry experts with a combined 500 years of world-class expertise in energy & hydrocarbon processing, project development, finance, and large capital project management. Meridian Energy Group, Inc.s current headquarters is in Belfield, ND.

For more information, visit: http://www.meridianenergygroupinc.com

About Target Lodging

Target Lodging, an Algeco Scotsman company, is one of the largest providers of turnkey housing solutions in North America. Since 1978, it operates globally in some of the most remote environments, supporting oil, gas and mining with workforce housing, mobile crew camps and extended-stay hotels; government departments and organizations with temporary lodging and refugee integration; and capital projects. Target Lodging is headquartered in The Woodlands, TX.

For more information, visit www.targetlodging.com or call (800) 832-4242.

Media Contact:

Mark Hanes

TallGrass Public Relations

Email: mark.hanes@tallgrasspr.com

Mobile: (917) 359-0697
About the show

A weekly programme that examines and dissects the worlds media, how they operate and the stories they cover. Watch The Listening Post every Saturday at 0830GMT
Referencing recent polls and the popularity of Bernie Sanders among the youth, famed economist Walter E. Williams laments the signals that young people prefer socialism to free market capitalism in America.

The reason for this, he believes, is a result of their ignorance and indoctrination during their school years, from kindergarten through college. For the most part, neither they nor many of their teachers and professors know what free market capitalism is.

I have great admiration for Dr. Williams, but it struck me that this doesnt paint a complete picture.

First of all, the youth may not have a firm grasp on the virtues and benefits of a free market, but they certainly know what socialism is, economically speaking. They know it involves the government engaging in the coerced seizure of wealth from some to provide for others. They just really like that idea.

Secondly, while there is indeed an alarming lack of truthful instruction in schools and universities about socialisms dark and murderous legacy that Dr. Williams later cites in the article (over 116 million deaths in the twentieth century alone), I find the conclusion that public-school teachers and college professors are to blame for the youths affinity for socialism far too convenient and simplistic an explanation.

Academia is generally the scapegoat we point toward when lamenting our indoctrinated leftist youth. But academias tendency to lionize socialism as virtue rather than an evil is not a new phenomenon, to be sure. Its been that way for many decades. There must be something different in these youths experience today which might better explain this trend.

Herein lies the more troubling observation that we seem to prefer not to recognize. Young people are being driven the arms of socialists not solely based upon what theyre being taught in the classroom, but by the example America has set before them.

There are two distinct components to this.

The welfare state, and the collapse of the nuclear family

There can be no reasonable argument against the fact that our American welfare state is a practical manifestation of socialist economic principles. It is the coercive seizure of property from taxpayers predicated upon a moral imperative that a government broker must seize and redistribute wealth to those who need it more.

The welfare state is also an all-out assault upon the institution of marriage and the family. This is because the welfare state is bolstered and grows by this cultivating greater need among constituents, and married couples with families need the welfare state less than single-parent families. It should be noted that the data prove beyond a shadow of doubt that marriage promotes financial self-sufficiency. And as Robert Rector of the Heritage Foundation notes: It is no accident that the collapse of marriage in America largely began with the War on Poverty and the proliferation of means-tested welfare programs that it fostered.

Collapse is an apt description of what has happened to the institution of marriage in America since LBJs crusade to destroy it began. At just a cursory glance, the number of single-parent homes had increased from 9% in 1960 to 34% by 2013.

Why? Its a simple matter of government-subsidized incentives. As means-tested benefits expanded, continues Rector, welfare began to serve as a substitute for a husband in the home, and low-income marriage began to disappear. As marriage is unquestionably a boon toward a familys financial stability, this created a destructive feedback loop: Welfare promoted the decline of marriage, which generated a need for more welfare.

Adding to this problem, the welfare state actually penalizes marriage among this demographic, which is in direr need of this financial stability that marriage can provide. For example, Rector goes on, if a single mother who earns $20,000 per year marries a man who earns the same amount, the couple will typically lose about $12,000 per year in welfare benefits. In effect, the welfare system makes it economically irrational for most low-income couples to marry.

This was a destructive act against the American family, unquestionably. The net effect of this government-approved economic prescription for low-income families is that a massively increasing number of Americans, the children of those households, are entering adulthood today with a sense of entitlement to enjoy the wealth that others have provided via hard work and industrial prowess. It is all entirely normal for them to collect this redistributed wealth, as it was normal for their parents.

This has little to do with what they learned or didnt learn in the classroom. It has everything to do with the example that their parents set for them at home. And it could be argued that their parents set that example because government officials we have elected throughout these past decades have continually incentivized them to do so.

How is it possible that we now wonder why so many among this expanding demographic prefer the idea of wealth redistribution, which is the central tenet of socialism, to the principles of a free market?

And this leads to the second, broader reason.

In the eyes of the youth, our government already practices socialism

Again, this isnt a matter of the youth not understanding that coercive wealth redistribution is the central tenet of socialism. Its a simple matter of the youth observing the examples which are laid before them which America has created.

Interestingly, Dr. Williams notes this, but doesnt seem to recognize that this might be a primary reason as to why so many youths subscribe to the tenets of socialism:

Tragically, two-thirds to three-quarters of the federal budget can be described as Congress taking the rightful earnings of one American to give to another American -- using one American to serve another. Such acts include farm subsidies, business bailouts, Social Security, Medicare, Medicaid, food stamps, welfare, and many other programs.

If up to three-quarters of the revenue that the government seizes from individuals is redistributed for the benefit of others, how is it justifiable to not classify our nation as a socialist state? Like the child of the welfare home, American youths have simply observed that government taking wealth from some to provide for others is simply how the government legitimately works, because that is how the government has worked their entire lives, and for many decades before that.

Yes, we can and should blame academia for dismissing the virtues of individual liberty enshrined in our Constitution, but what have we done in recent decades to protect and advance those virtues? The question is the uncomfortable one, and it is why we prefer to simply blame the professors for indoctrinating our children.

We cannot roll back the legislative mistakes of the past overnight, and I fully understand that. The only question we should ask ourselves is this: what can we do to constrain our federal government in the future from seizing rights which do not belong to it, according to our foundational social contract which was predicated upon the liberty of the individual above all things?

Perhaps our taking bold legislative strides away from socialism today will compel the culture, and our youth, away from socialism in the future. Only then will we reverse what seems to be a rising tide of groomed socialists poised to swallow all of the ideas and virtues that once defined America.

William Sullivan blogs at Political Palaver and can be followed on Twitter.
A claimed nearly unanimous scientific consensus on fear of climate change has caused a push to substantially reduce or even eliminate the use of fossil fuel in favor of solar and wind. But three crucial questions are: 1) is the scientific community really united?, 2) can solar and wind take over any time soon to provide the required vital energy for the maintenance of modern civilization in today's world of 7 billion people?, and 3) has CO2 caused any harm yet? The answer to all three questions is no.

A major theme of this essay is that many assertions can easily be checked out by a simple Google search.

One of the most persistent false impressions, which the mainstream media have ingrained in us, is that 97% of scientists agree that CO2 is indeed doing irreparable harm. However, this figure was obtained not by a respected, impartial polling organization, but by believers for their own purposes.

Exactly what do the 97% agree on? Had the question been "Do you believe that the Earth's climate is changing, and does mankind have an effect on the climate?," the response would not have been 97%, but 100%. But had the question been "Is burning fossil fuel such a threat that there should be a major effort to stop?," who knows? Probably less than 50%. That question was never asked on a large-scale survey, done by a respected polling organization and documented in a place easily available to the public.

To get an idea of how divided the scientific community is, a petition was circulated, led by Friedrich Seitz, the president of the National Academy of Sciences, disputing the ill effects of CO2. It garnered 32,000 signatures, over 9,000 by Ph.D. scientists. To justify the 97%, there would have to be another opposing petition signed by a million scientists.

Still not convinced? Consider this excerpt from Steven Koonin, director of the Institute for Urban Studies at NYU, in the Wall Street Journal, April 17, 2017:

The public is largely unaware of the intense debates within climate science. At a recent national laboratory meeting, I observed more than 100 active government and university researchers challenge one another as they strove to separate human impacts from the climate's natural variability. At issue were not nuances but fundamental aspects of our understanding, such as the apparent  and unexpected  slowing of global sea level rise over the past two decades.

Judging by Koonin's particular experience, the number would be around 50%. So much for the 97%!

Despite the lack of consensus, there is a push by various organizations like the Sierra Club and 350.org, and Al Gore, to end the use of fossil fuel. The Sierra Club website states, "We are ready for 100% clean energy," apparently wrongly believing that solar and wind can replace fossil fuel. But in 1998, about 86% of world energy was from fossil fuel, 9%, nuclear, and solar and wind round off to the nearest integer down to 0%. Google "graph % of world power from solar and wind."

In 2017, after 20 years and hundreds of billions spent to develop and promote solar and wind  around $150B in the USA alone (Google "GAO budget for climate change"; the numbers are 85%, 5%, and rounds off up to 1%). Clearly, solar and wind will be unable to supplant fossil fuel any time soon. But think of what an 85% decrease in energy would mean for your lifestyle: cars, air-conditioning, high-tech medicine, air travel, most electricity, many manufactured goods. All gone, except for society's grand pooh-bahs.

The simple truth is that the world will not voluntarily end the use of fossil fuel until another energy source, most likely nuclear, becomes available at about the same quantity and price. Rapidly developing countries such as China, India, Mexico, Indonesia, and Nigeria understand this ironclad relationship between prosperity and fossil fuel use, even if we in the richer parts of the world have forgotten it. They will not stop using fossil fuel because the Sierra club lectures them to switch to solar and wind so as to save the planet. In fact, before fossil fuel was widely used, civilization was a thin veneer on a human base of poverty and squalor, a veneer supplied by colonies, slavery, and the like. Is this what we want?

Regarding harm CO2 may have done, there is a simple check. (1) Whenever a believer says such and such is happening, check it out with a Google search. For instance, say the claim is that sea levels are rising rapidly, as many definitively asserted when the Paris climate agreement was being negotiated. Simply Google "graph of sea level rise." A variety of graphs will pop up, all showing a persistent rise of between 20 and 30 cm per century, with no increase around 1950 as CO2 levels started to increase.

Say the claim is that ice in Antarctica is rapidly melting. Google "NASA Antarctica ice." It will show that ice is rapidly melting in some regions  for instance, near the Antarctic Peninsula. This provides dramatic pictures for the evening news. However, over the entire huge continent, the most recent NASA measurements of total ice show that ice is not melting, but forming  about 80 billion tons per year.

With an internet search, anyone can check out such assertions of gloom and doom, anywhere, anytime; virtually none stands up to serious scrutiny (1). In fact, it is amazing that the mainstream media have never performed these simple checks. This author is convinced that such journalistic irresponsibility will ultimately harm the media's credibility for decades to come.

It is much more likely that CO2 has been beneficial. It is not a pollutant, but an important nutrient for plants; without atmospheric CO2, life on Earth would not be possible (2). In fact, recent NASA measurements show that over the past 40 or so years of satellite measurements, the earth has been "greening." To see this, Google "NASA measurements of Earth's greening."

So should we be on a breakneck race to replace fossil fuel with solar and wind? Considering that the scientific community is, in reality, divided; the harm to civilization would be catastrophic should solar and wind fail, as they have up to this point; and that up to now, there has been little if any harm to the environment from burning fossil fuel, this author's answer is no.

1. Wallace Manheimer, "Original sin, prophets, witches, communists, preschool sex abuse, and climate change," International Journal of Engineering and Applied Science, July 2017 (open access), vol. 4, p. 66.

https://www.ijeas.org/download_data/IJEAS0407025.pdf

2. See www.CO2coalition.org.
Former President Bill Clinton told CBS "Sunday Morning" that if it were a Democratic president in office instead of Donald Trump, impeachment hearings would have already begun.

CNN:

"I think if the roles were reversed -- now, this is me just talking, but it's based on my experience -- if it were a Democratic president, and these facts were present, most people I know in Washington believe impeachment hearings would have begun already," Clinton told "CBS Sunday Morning." The former Democratic president added, "And most people I know believe that the press would have been that hard, or harder. But these are serious issues." As of last month, the special counsel Robert Mueller's Russia investigation has led to 75 criminal charges, five guilty pleas, and one sentencing. Asked if the media has been unfair to Trump in its reporting on the Russia probe, Clinton said, "I think they have tried by and large to cover this investigation based on the facts."

Clinton is delusional. The notion that the media wouldn't go all out to protect a Democratic president is absurd. Besides, what "facts" is the media covering relating to Russian "collusion" by the president of the United States? Every indictment, every charge, and all guilty pleas have been totally unrelated to "collusion" - most of the charges against Trump aides cover crimes committed before Trump was even running for the office. They have nothing to do with an investigation into Russian "collusion."
Palestinians are launching "arson kites" to set fires in Israel. What is less known is the extent of the damage. It's quite large.

An Israeli has put together what is purported to be a map of the arson fires.

While this map does not come from an official source, it has been reported that over 6,000 acres of land have been burned.

While the United Nations is busy trying to pass resolutions condemning Israel for defending its borders, the U.S. could not get a single other member of the Security Council to vote for a resolution condemning the arsonist attacks from Hamas, which rules the Gaza Strip.

Meanwhile, Gaza, which gets electricity, natural gas, and shipments of supplies from Israel, continues to attack Israel.

Questions for discussion:

1. What other country in the world would be condemned for defending itself from mass attacks?

2. What other country in the world would supply electricity to the territory attacking it?

Ed Straker is the senior writer at Newsmachete.com.
On his Fox News program Friday night, June 1, Sean Hannity made a startling comment. At the end of his opening monologue, he said, "I, Sean Hannity, am the next target of the Deep State." As a source, Hannity cited Jerome Corsi, Ph.D., who made the claim in his latest book, Killing the Deep State.

For the past year, Hannity, the #1 host on cable television news, has been doggedly pursuing the truth about the attempt of the past administration and the Deep State to block the election of Donald Trump in 2016  and when that didn't work, to impugn his capacity to govern. A variety of "kill shots" have been aimed at Hannity's reputation during the past year, including advertiser boycotts, with the intent of having him removed from the air. To date, none of these efforts has succeeded.



Sean Hannity on his Fox News program June 1, 2018. Screenshot by Peter Barry Chowka.

On Friday, as he prepared to break more major new news with the help of his regular contributors investigative journalists John Solomon and Sara Carter, Hannity stopped and directly addressed his audience. From the program's transcript:

SEAN HANNITY, FOX NEWS HOST: And by the way, great news for me tonight. Pay close attention. Remember when Senator Chuck Schumer said that you better not mess with the Intel Community because they will get you six ways to Sunday? This is great news for me. Best-selling author, Jerome Corsi, he's the author of this book out now in book stores, on Amazon.com, BarnesandNoble.com. It's called "Killing the Deep State."

HANNITY: You might remember [Corsi].. He was back -- remember, the group against John Kerry, Vietnam Vets for Truth? He was one of them. He's saying that yours truly, that I, Sean Hannity, am the next target of the Deep State. Wow. Isn't it so great to know that these corrupt officials with their backs against the wall that are desperate people, do desperate things, and people that have the most powerful tools of intelligence, are now going after me? OK. Really? So sadly, after all we have learned, now we have Jerome Corsi's prediction. It doesn't surprise me. Isn't that sad? Are we the United States of America, or are we going to be the former Soviet Union or are we going to be Venezuela? I promise you this one thing, I'm never stopping ever. Here to help break down this damming new report, is "The Hill's" John Solomon. John, good to see you, sir. JOHN SOLOMON, EXECUTIVE VICE PRESIDENT OF DIGITAL VIDEO, THE HILL: Good to see you. HANNITY: Quick question. Do you think that Corsi could be right?



Jerome Corsi. Source: Twitter.

SOLOMON: I don't know. I hope not. I hope that people stay within the law at all times. Right? You don't want to see  (CROSSTALK) HANNITY: Haven't you been told by people that you, certain things were happening to you? SOLOMON: There are times people have raised questions about reporters like myself surveilled. And in the past, the FBI did illegally intercept my mail 10 years ago. There's a public record of the FBI apologizing to me for taking my mail after I broke all the stories about what the FBI knew before 9/11. HANNITY: Yes. That's pretty scary. Again, if that is the case, if people who are trying to get to the truth and exposing corruption then become targets of the deep state and those that have these tools of intelligence, you can say good-bye to the Constitution. It doesn't exist. (CROSSTALK) HANNITY: And by the way  (CROSSTALK) HANNITY:  you might have been unmasked, right? SOLOMON: Don't know. I don't have evidence of it. And I try  (CROSSTALK) HANNITY: You've been told it. SOLOMON: Yes, I got a report.

The rest of Hannity's June 1 program, with the input by Solomon and Sara Carter, can be read here.

Peter Barry Chowka is a veteran reporter and analyst of news on national politics, media, and popular culture. He is a frequent contributor to American Thinker. Follow Peter on Twitter at @pchowka.
George Soros is running into tough times these days. With public awareness of his manipulation of politics rising, his efforts to facilitate a new political order more to his liking are backfiring. On Saturday, Monica Showalter explained how his support became the kiss of death for a district attorney wannabe in San Diego. Today, we learn that the recently- installed populist Italian government, a coalition of two parties, Five Star and The League, is engaging in open verbal warfare with the mega-billionaire.



Soros at the World Economic Forum (via Wikimedia Commons).

Zero Hedge reports:

A feud has broken out between liberal billionaire activist and fervent Clinton supporter, George Soros, and Italy's anti-immigrant League party, which on Friday formed a populist movement in coalition with the 5-Star party, and whose leader Matteo Salvini stepped into his new job as Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of the Interior on Friday, pledging to deport hundreds of thousands of illegal immigrants. ... In response, George Soros flipped out, openly suggesting that Salvini might be financed by Vladimir Putin, saying he is "very worried about Russia's influence on Europe in general and on the new Italian government[."]

+++ George Soros : "gli italiani hanno diritto a sapere se Salvini e finanziato da Putin, io sono molto preoccupato per influenze russe "+++ #economicfest

 Stefano Feltri (@StefanoFeltri) June 3, 2018

"I do not know if Salvini was funded by Moscow, but the public has a right to know" said Soros. Soros translated: Any government who puts their citizens ahead of migrants is now a Putin puppet. The League's economics policy chief, Claudio Borghi hit back against Soros, stating (translated): "Soros worried by the Italian government? Then it means that we are going in the right direction... We understand that those who have speculated for years on the skin of immigrants, financing NGOs and smugglers to invade Italy. "The wind has changed for [Soros] and for all those who have profited from the deaths of hundreds of people."

Italy is not the only European country at war with Soros. His native Hungary, led by Viktor Orban, is throwing his foundations out of Hungary. For this, he faces scurrilous attacks as an anti-Semite, despite the fact that Soros does not practice Judaism and indeed helped Nazis confiscate Jewish property in his youth, and that David Goldman report that Hungary is the "safest country in Europe for Jews."
Yesterday, Kim Jong-un sent an unmistakable signal that he is serious about negotiating with the United States. He fired his top three military officials, according to U.S. sources and South Korea's Yonhap News Agency, replacing them with at least one "moderate" and showing the army that he is firmly in control.

Reuters:

Kim's motivation remains unclear but analysts said the shake-up allows him and the ruling party to tighten control over the Korean People's Army (KPA) at a critical time of international engagement and domestic development. "If Kim Jong Un is set on making peace with the U.S. and South Korea and dealing away at least part of the nuclear program, he will have to put the KPA's influence in a box and keep it there," said Ken Gause, director of the International Affairs Group at CNA, a non-profit research and analysis organization. "This reshuffle has brought to the fore the officers who can do just that. They are loyal to Kim Jong Un and no one else."

It is believed in intelligence circles that Kim does not enjoy the same kind of absolute obedience of the military given to his father and grandfather. He has been in power since 2011 and has slowly weeded out officers whose loyalty to him personally was in question. This bold move to reshape the military leadership may be the culmination of a long process.

Citing an unidentified intelligence official, Yonhap said No Kwang Chol, first vice minister of the Ministry of People's Armed Forces, had replaced Pak Yong Sik as defense chief, while Ri Myong Su was replaced by his deputy, Ri Yong Gil. North Korean state media previously confirmed that Army General Kim Su Gil had replaced Kim Jong Gak as director of the KPA's General Political Bureau. ... Given the military's secondary role in the North's nuclear and missile programs, the moves are likely more about installing a younger, even more trusted cohort of officials who Kim Jong Un can rely on as he confronts a variety of domestic and international issues, said Michael Madden, a North Korea expert at Johns Hopkins University's 38 North website.

As the Reuters article points out, this is a significant generational change:

The moves are likely linked in part to Kim Jong Un's drive to have the military take a bigger role in critical infrastructure projects. That could explain why newly appointed director of the KPA's General Political Bureau, Army General Kim Su Gil, accompanied Kim Jong Un on a field guidance trip to a beach tourist zone with other officials, Madden said. Kim Jong Un is also likely expecting to receive more international economic aid and investment soon as part of the ongoing talks and he wants to prevent corruption that plagued some past projects, Madden said. All of the newly promoted officials are younger than their predecessors, including 63-year-old Ri Yong Gil, who is 21 years younger than Ri Myong Su. "This points to two things: the consolidation of Kim Jong Un's power as the sole leader of North Korea and strengthened cooperation between the North's party and military as the country works towards further economic development," said Yang Moo-jin, professor at the University of North Korean Studies in Seoul.

There should be little doubt now that Kim has accepted the fact that his family's longstanding policy of relying solely on the country's domestic resources  known as juche  is about to be at least partially abandoned in favor of international engagement. But how much will North Korean society open up? As Reagan once said, "a bird on a tether, no matter how long the rope, can always be pulled back." That's why we shouldn't look for Earth-shattering change from the regime.

But any change will be welcome.
If the European Union didn't think Italy's new populist government was serious about getting tough on illegal immigration, new Interior Minister Matteo Salvini disabused them of that idea.

"The party is over for illegal immigrants," Salvini said at a June 2 rally in Vicenza. "They will have to pack their bags, in a polite and calm manner, but they will have to go. Refugees escaping from war are welcome, but all others must leave."

No government official from western europe has spoken so openly about dealing with the hundreds of thousands of economic refugees from North Africa who have arrived in Italy in the last 5 years. Salvini's words must have been a splash of cold water for the rest of the EU.

Soren Kern:

Italy's new interior minister, Matteo Salvini, has vowed to cut aid money for migrants and to deport those who illegally are in the country. "Open doors in Italy for the right people and a one-way ticket out for those who come here to make trouble and think that we will provide for them," Salvini said in the Lombardy region, home to a quarter of the total foreign population in Italy. "One of our top priorities will be deportation." Salvini, leader of the nationalist League (Lega) party, formed a new coalition government with the populist Five Star Movement (M5S) on June 1. The government's program, outlined in a 39-page action plan, promises to crack down on illegal immigration and to deport up to 500,000 undocumented migrants.

There are logistical and legal problems that the new government must overcome to reach that goal, but Salvni made it clear the days of unfettered immigration are over:

According to Italian law, for example, at least two agents must escort each deportee in an elaborate operation. The newspaper La Repubblica described a recent deportation operation of 29 Tunisians, who were escorted on an aircraft chartered from Bulgaria by 74 government agents, including doctors, nurses, armed police and unarmed plainclothes officers, at a total cost of 115,000 ($135,000), or 3,965 per deportee. At this rate, the new government's pledge to deport 500,000 migrants would cost Italian taxpayers nearly 2 billion ($2.3 billion). The previous government allotted around five billion euros to pay for expenses related to the migrant crisis in 2018: 20% is for rescues at sea; 15% for health care, and 65% for migrant reception centres, which currently host around 200,000 people. The new government has said that it wants to divert some of the funds allotted for the reception centers to pay for deportations. In addition to the financial costs, Italy faces legal hurdles that make mass deportations nearly impossible. Article 10, Paragraph 2 of the EU Charter of Fundamental Rights states: "No one may be removed, expelled or extradited to a State where there is a serious risk that he or she would be subjected to the death penalty, torture or other inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment." This law effectively prevents Italy and other EU members from deporting migrants to most countries in the Muslim world.

This statement by Salvini could have been made by any populist politician in Europe:

"Enough of Sicily being the refugee camp of Europe. I will not stand by and do nothing while there are landings after landings of migrants. We need deportation centres. "There are not enough homes or jobs for Italians, let alone for half the African continent. We need to use common sense."

Imagine that! Common sense policies to deal with the flood of refugees. The rise of populist, anti-immigrant governments and parties all over Europe attest to the fact that EU citizens desire common sense policies as well.

There will be tremendous pushback by Germany and France against this, and other policies the eurosceptic Italian government will try to enact. But you have to believe that every pro-illegal immigrant politician in Europe has noticed what's happening in Italy and fully realize the consequences of their continued support for refugee policies that are changing the face and culture of Europe.
A real estate agent was caught on video repeatedly calling a bouncer the n-word outside a Bushwick bar last week, while phoning the cops to warn that if they didn't come soon he'd "end up burying this black guy."

The racist outburst happened early Friday morning outside House of Yes, a bar and performance venue by the Jefferson Street L stop. The man has since been identified by the NY Post as 29-year-old real estate agent Chris Giardina. He was fired from his job at MySpace NYC on Sunday night, according to principal broker Shawn Mullahy.

The six-minute clip shows the man drunkenly berating the bouncer, claiming that he was roughed up while leaving the club, and apparently calling the police to try to get the man arrested.

"Touch me again you fucking n-gger," he can be heard shouting. As a few people in the area jeered, Giardina turned to the man filming and said, "Yeah I said it, because hes punching me you fucking sp-c."



"What is this, Harlem?" Giardina, who is originally from Boston, wondered aloud at one point. Later, he informed the police dispatcher, "Get somebody here or else I'm going to kill somebody."

Pointing at the cameraman and bouncer, he exclaimed, "I hate ignorant people. Sp-cignorant. Blackignorant. You're the n-gger."

Both men on the receiving end of Giardina's racist tirade remained unmoved throughout the ordeal. "This is America," said the person filming. "We're better than this."

Reached for comment, Jacqui Rabkin, a marketing director at House of Yes, told Gothamist, "We are deeply appreciative of the way [the bouncer] kept his composure while the aggressive patron was hurling racial slurs at him, and we feel he acted fully within his rights throughout the interaction.

"We feel we made the right move escorting this patron out of our venue when he became aggressive and engaged in name-calling towards a different security guard indoors, and that decision was validated when we saw how his behavior escalated outdoors," she added.

The video ends shortly after police arrive on the scene, seemingly in response to Giardina's call. According to Rabkin, the cops asked the bouncer if he wanted to press charges, and "he replied that his only desire was for everyone to get home safely and he did not want to waste the emergency unit's valuable time."

On Sunday, Giardina told the Post that he is not racist. "The word that I used, that Im embarrassed by using, was being thrown around the entire time," he explained to the tabloid. It doesnt make me a racist. It makes me an idiot." He also claims the video was manipulated, and the crowd was "actually on my side."

An NYPD spokesperson said there was no record of any arrests at the location at the time of the incident. We've reached out to Giardina and we'll update if we hear back.


It was only a matter of time before the "hate U.S. crowd" would bring up the embargo as the cause of Cuba's deadly May 18 air crash.

Well, it's not true. Cuba is free to purchase spare parts in the world markets. How difficult would it be for Cuba to purchase parts for a Boeing 737? Not difficult at all.

So what happened? Why did Cuba allow such an aircraft to operate?

This is a great summary via my good Cuban friends at Babalu:

When the details of the poor technical condition of the Boeing 737 that crashed in Havana and caused 112 deaths came to light, Cuba's Minister of Transportation Adel Yzquierdo, instead of presenting his resignation, blamed the US "blockade" for the tragedy. Those were his precise instructions, handed down "from the top." But when telling lies, or eating fish, you have to be very careful. Shortly thereafter the British magazine The Economist clarified that the US embargo actually allows Cuba to buy aircraft and parts in the US for their maintenance. Thus, if the Cuban state does not do so, it is due to a lack of funds. The newspaper Granma, meanwhile, reported that the investigation carried out by the regime on the air disaster is not to seek guilty parties, but rather to detect the causes and prevent them from repeating. For those who know how to read between the lines of Castro's normally truculent rhetoric, that official note constituted an admission of guilt. If the dictatorship is not seeking to assign guilt, it is because it knows that it itself was to blame, though it will never admit that. The Cuban dynasty has never accepted any responsibility for its actions. It blames others. It is ingrained in the very DNA of Castroism. Beyond the deplorable technical conditions that precipitated the plane crash, the causes were political, combined with criminal as well as political negligence.

Yes, this is the kind of negligence that would have forced the head of any air safety agency to resign. Or it could have resulted in criminal charges against the owner of the aircraft.

Air crashes happen. In this case, innocent people were put in an aircraft that should have never been in operation.

I understand that there were a few foreigners on that flight. Why don't their families file a lawsuit?

Keep all of the garbage about the embargo out of this. The plane was leased from a Mexican company, so obviously the embargo did not come into play.

Another reason to keep corrupt communist Cuba out of your future travel plans.

PS: You can listen to my show (Canto Talk) and follow me on Twitter.
With thirty thousand marchers in the Israel Day parade and one hundred thousand-plus viewers, Sunday, June 3 was a glorious day. Jews and their well-wishers came from Maryland, Florida, Pennsylvania, Illinois, Israel, and colleges across the country to sing and dance their way up New York's Fifth Avenue. It is an annual event that brings light and life to the Jews of the United States.

Everyone was particularly happy because of the silly human tendency to prefer round numbers. This was Israel's 70th birthday as a modern nation and was noticeably more rowdy and boisterous than last year's 69th birthday celebration. Rain threatened, but no one cared. More politicians came out, and the amplified music had more bass notes and percussion. Marchers greeted bystanders, and bystanders drew marchers to the side for hugs and good wishes. Baby carriages graced various groups, as did some wheelchairs for the elders who insisted on participating. No one except the marching bands felt the need to move in lockstep. Some of the marchers danced their way up the avenue, and then others took over. People who normally do not wear yarmulkes wore them proudly, and no one was afraid  unlike in Europe, where Jewish leaders have urged Jews to wear hats to hide their identities.

Unadulterated happiness in the world is rare. The Israel Day parade was pure fun, full of politics, commercialism, national pride, and universal values, with only seconds of rancor and discord that you had to hunt and peck to find.

By the way, don't bother trying to find coverage of the Israel Day parade in the MSM. No blood was spilled, and so it was not a newsworthy event. Covering the joy of the Jews (or anyone) seems to be politically incorrect in this strange world we have fashioned.
Autodesk has now begun the rollout of its own A.I. assistant called Ava and the company recently revealed how it is going about avoiding a phenomenon commonly referred to as the uncanny valley. In the simplest terms, thats an effect seen when a computer-generated personality becomes too much like a living entity. As the distinction between the two dwindles, people generally tend to become increasingly uncomfortable. Although Autodesk is more well known for its creative product suites and Ava is generally intended as a customer service tool, thats something it is hoping to avoid. For clarity, Ava isnt necessarily new. But it had previously only existed in a text format for chatting. The new rollout is voice and video-enabled. So the company has built several distinct aesthetic traits and personality cues to try and avoid the uncanny valley as much as possible.

Ava begins by explaining to visitors to the site  accessible via the button below  that it is an A.I. The assistant will also explain that users should talk to it as though it is a real human for the best results. Thats similar to Googles solution for Duplex, which will be a Google Assistant tool that can call out to schedule appointments and complete other tasks for users. However, Ava hopes to avoid at least some of the pitfalls encountered by Google by going beyond that precursor to a conversation. The virtual representation of Ava is multicultural or, as described by Autodesks director of machine assistance Rachael Rekart, Ava is ethnically ambiguous. According to Rekart, the assistant is deliberately designed to be a combination of facial features from nearly every corner of the world. The eyes and lips, Rekart elaborates, are intended to represent cultures of Asia and Africa. The voice model, meanwhile, is based on a New Zealand accent. That ambiguity provides a realistic look and feel to Avas avatar without seeming too real. At the same time, the team deliberately gave Ava an unrealistic eye color, featuring purple hues, and dressed the avatar in serious business attire to match its function.

Beyond the digital helpers looks, however, the company also plans to incorporate several useful features which are much closer to human. For starters, over the next few weeks, the company plans to implement machine learning and machine vision to allow Ava to distinguish human emotion. That will allow the A.I. to respond with virtual representations of an emotional response  which will arguably shift things back towards the uncanny valley. To offset that, the machine vision will be used for a more obviously robotic response when users look away from their screen. Namely, Ava will be able to ask if the conversation needs to be paused when users look away for a period of time or stop paying attention to the conversation. The company plans to add voice control over the course of the next year to help automate workflow and navigate tasks in Autodesks software. That will undoubtedly make avoiding the uncanny valley even more difficult, so it remains to be seen if any of the companys efforts will actually work.

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The Lenovo Z5 has just surfaced in two new renders, showing off its thin bezels, rounded display corners, and a really thin chin below the display. Now, the provided renders also suggest that the phone will ship with a frame made out of metal, and its back will probably be made out of metal, even though this render does not reveal that. The power / lock, volume up and volume down keys are included on the right-hand side of the device, while there are no physical buttons located on the left.

An earpiece is not visible in the provided images, and it seems like a front-facing camera and all the necessary sensors are included below the display. If you take a closer look at the chin below the display, you will notice a couple of sensors and a front-facing camera. The front-facing camera seems to be located in the bottom-right corner, while there are several sensors included on its left, one is actually centered below the display. The Lenovo Z5 will be announced tomorrow, on June 5, and the companys VP, Chang Cheng, had released a ton of info thus far. The companys VP already confirmed that the Lenovo Z5 will ship with 4TB of internal storage, while he also shared several renders of the phone, showing off bits and pieces of its design. Lenovos VP also teased compelling battery life for the Lenovo Z5, while he also mentioned that the device will ship with at least 95-percent screen-to-body ratio.

The Lenovo Z5 is expected to support wireless charging as well, while it will probably sport a dual camera setup on the back. Its fingerprint scanner will either be located on the back of the device, or Lenovo may be planning to include an in-display fingerprint scanner here. The Lenovo Z5 is expected to become the companys new flagship smartphone, even though its spec sheet did not leak thus far. The device is expected to ship with the Snapdragon 845 64-bit octa-core processor, and at least 6GB of RAM, while Android 8.1 Oreo will probably come pre-installed on the device.

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UPDATE: Lenovos VP has just shared a new render of the phone (included in the gallery, confirming metal + glass design, and a dual camera setup.
HMD Global is presently working on a new Nokia-branded device that will be equipped with Qualcomms Snapdragon 710 chip, industry insider Roland Quandt said Monday. The handset is planned to debut in either fall or winter, with the main implication here being a fourth-quarter release. The same source added that Googles Pixel-series device featuring the same chip is code-named Bonito, with that particular smartphone also being expected to launch over the final three months of the year, most likely in early October when the companys annual hardware event traditionally takes place.

Originally announced last month, the Snapdragon 710 has been envisioned as a chip that will lead to a new definition of premium mid-range devices offering the vast majority of capabilities of Android flagships without commanding flagship prices. Qualcomm already started sampling the silicon, having said the first products to feature it should hit the market by the end of the quarter, i.e. this month. While HMDs device isnt expected to be among the earliest adopters of the chip, the device in question is likely to launch as the Nokia 7.1 or Nokia 7.1 Plus, as suggested by the Finnish companys previously employed product naming practices.

The Snapdragon 710 is a 10nm module featuring eight cores  six efficiency ones running at up to 1.7GHz and a high-performance dual-core setup clocked at a maximum operating frequency of 2.2GHz. With twice as powerful artificial intelligence computing capabilities compared to the Snapdragon 660, the latest offering from the San Diego, California-based mid-ranger is likely to remain the worlds most powerful non-flagship mobile silicon until next year. HMD itself is presently selling devices covering all price brackets, though its portfolio is still somewhat limited in the United States where the company has yet to attempt competing with high-end handsets. The Nokia brand returned to the smartphone world on a global stage just over a year ago and has already seen success in Europe and select Asian markets, having captured some one-percent of the worlds mobile market in Q4 2017, according to most major industry trackers.
Square Enix Montreal is no longer developing new entries in the Go series of adventure spin-offs, the studios head Patrick Naud revealed in a recent interview with PCGamesInsider. The industry veteran attributed the development to an overall decline in premium mobile games, a trend he says the company has been aware of for some time now. having ultimately concluded it wants to redirect its resources to titles that cater to a much broader audience. Its sad to see that our games are only played by a small slither of the population because of the price point, the developer said in reference to the Go series.

The mobile spin-off franchise ran from 2014 to 2016, having seen the releases of Hitman Go, Lara Croft Go, and Deus Ex Go, in that order. Outside of promotional periods, every one of those titles is priced at $4.99 and also comes with DLC. While the Go series is still widely believed to offer some of the most polished adventure experiences on Android and iOS devices, the abundance of free competitors limited its commercial success by a significant margin, Square Enix Montreal believes. The Canadian studio remains committed to creating high-quality mobile games but its future projects are likely to result in free-to-play experiences, Mr. Naud suggested, adding that the firm continues seeking innovation with both new and existing intellectual properties.

Square Enix Montreal also isnt bothered by copycats, with its chief seeing the volume of studios cloning its formula as the very definition of artistic success, having indicated as much during the same interview. The studio also created Hitman Sniper, another premium mobile game that saw significant success, having climbed the gaming charts on both the Google Play Store and iOS App Store in a wide variety of markets over the course of the last several years. That particular title is also unlikely to see a sequel, at least one that will come in the form of an experience with an upfront fee, as suggested by Mr. Naud.
Debate continues to rage over the number of people who died in Puerto Rico last year as a result of Hurricane Maria. The official death count from the Puerto Rican government has for months been 64, a number that many believed to be a shocking underestimate. Last week, skeptics were bolstered by a study published in The New England Journal of Medicine, which settled on an estimate of 4,645 deaths. And on Friday, the Puerto Rico Department of Health issued a new number, saying there were at least 1,400 additional deaths on the island following Hurricane Maria. But the agency did not state whether or not the deaths are attributed to the hurricane. By comparison, the official death toll from Hurricane Katrina was 1,833.

The 64 deaths directly attributed to the hurricane only include victims who have Hurricane Maria listed on their death certificate as a contributor. For a death to be counted, it needs to be confirmed by the Institute of Forensic Sciences, meaning that the body would have to be brought to San Juan, or a medical examiner would have to travel to the location in order to confirm the death. A Buzzfeed investigation found that 911 bodies were cremated before being examined by a medical examiner, meaning that they were not included in the official death toll.

According to the New York Timeswhich has its own tally of 1,052the government of Puerto Rico says that it counts both direct (like drowning) and indirect deaths (like lack of access to medical care), but the New England Journal of Medicine [NEJM] report states that indirect deaths resulting from worsening of chronic conditions or from delayed medical treatments may not be captured on death certificates.

The government of Puerto Rico is conducting another review of the death toll, partnering with George Washington Universitys Milken Institute School of Public Health. Up until Friday, it had stopped issuing statistics on deaths since December, citing the pending report as the reason why.

The researchers for the NEJM study went directly to peoples homes, using off-road vehicles because of the threat of landslides, to find out who had died there and why. The 4,645 number comes from surveying 3,299 households from January 17 through February 24th, out of an estimated 1,135,507 total households.

A New York Times story about the report points out that the number of deaths could range from 800 to 8,500, and that 4,645 was the midpoint. The studys authors believe that this midpoint number is too low, and that adjusting for survivor bias and household-size distributions increase this estimate to more than 5000.

"If it were 5,000 kittens, there would be outrage, said Elizabeth Yeampierre, executive director of Uprose, one of the many groups protesting outside the United Nations this weekend. "If it was 5,000 dogs, there would be outrage. If it was 5,000 blonde-haired, blue-eyed women, there would be outrage."

Domingo J. Marques, an associate professor of psychology at Albizu University San Juan who helped conduct the NEJM study, told the New York Times that the report's death count is much higher than the official total because of a lack of thorough accounting across the island. People died alone in their houses," Marques said. "Nobody went there. Some of them were covered by a landslide, and months after theyve not recovered the bodies."

The survey also found that 2.8% of the sampled population reportedly left their homes because of the hurricane. The median age of those who left and did not return, or were missing, was 25 years, as compared with a median age of 50 among those staying or dying in the household. It also showed the bleak circumstances for people who remained on the island.

On average, households went 84 days without electricity, 68 days without water, and 41 days without cellular telephone coverage after the hurricane and until December 31, 2017. In the most remote category, 83% of households were without electricity for this entire time period ... Many survey respondents were still without water and electricity at the time of sampling, a finding consistent with other reports.

This method, going door to door using a random sampling, is far different than the ways news outlets have attempted to calculate deaths related to the hurricane. The New York Times used daily death tolls from the Puerto Rican government. CNN surveyed half of all the funeral homes on the island. Puerto Ricos Center for Investigative Journalism spoke to sources in hospitals and learned that bodies are piling up at the morgues of the 69 hospitals in Puerto Rico, of which 70% are not operating.

Both the NEJM report and the Puerto Rico government's announcement likely puts Hurricane Maria as one of the deadliest in U.S. history. Nevertheless, the dramatically higher death toll numbers were not mentioned at all during Sunday's major political talk shows.


Custodian Edgar Lazo and teachers Brandy Keleher, Diane Godfrey, Natalie DeFelice, Bill Boyd and Julie Zats celebrate with the Aspen Middle School principal and the Schenck family after receiving their Kellie Schenck Awards during an assembly on Friday at the Aspen District Theatre.
A legal services business in the UK is set to go public with the London Stock Exchanges largest legal profession IPO.

Knights, which describes itself as one of the UKs fastest growing regional legal and professional services businesses is to seek admission of its ordinary shares to trading on the Alternative Investments Market of the LSX.

The valuation is estimated to exceed the 100 million valuation for Gateley which became the UKs first publicly-listed law firm in 2015.
A new investigation into the city's private waste management system offers an alarming look at how one trash-hauling company has managed to evade regulatory oversight, despite repeated complaints from workers about dangerous conditions and egregious exploitation.

The lengthy expose, co-published Monday by ProPublica and Voice of America, looks at Sanitation Salvage, a Bronx-based carting company run for decades by the wealthy and politically-connected Squitieri brothers. According to reporter Kiera Feldman, the three brothers are "profane taskmasters who push a small army of drivers and off-the-books workers through grueling shifts of 18 hours or longer." Drawing on thousands of pages of public documents and interviews with over a dozen employees, the reporter found that the company "cuts a distinctively brutish profile," even amid the typically dangerous world of private garbage pick-up. (In New York, municipal workers pick up residential trash, while a web of private contractors handle commercial waste.)

A driver for the company has fatally struck two people in the last six months, one of whom was an employee of the company, and the other an elderly pedestrian. In response, City Council members, Teamsters, and safe streets advocates rallied last month outside the Business Integrity Commission [BIC], which oversees the private waste industry, to demand that the company's license be revoked.

"Why has BIC never, never, ever denied or suspended a hauler for a pattern and practice of unsafe [driving] and a complete disregard for safety standards?" Council member Antonio Reynoso, who chairs the council's Sanitation Committee, asked at last month's rally.

Speaking at a City Council hearing last year, BIC Commissioner Daniel Brownell said, "We continue to work collaboratively with leaders from the trade waste industry taking to heart the belief that since running their companies in the city is difficult enough, they should not have to labor under unnecessarily burdensome regulations from BIC."

According to several former and current employees who spoke with Feldman, the Squitieri familywhose members serve on the board of the Bronx Chamber of Commerce, as the president of the North Bronx Democratic Club, and as major local donorsare too powerful to face consequences. Despite receiving multiple complaints from workers alleging their bosses were committing wage theft, creating unsafe conditions, and forcing employees into a sham union run by a convicted mobster, the BIC has consistently renewed the company's license.

Even after it was revealed last month that the man who was struck by a Sanitation Salvage driver was actually an off-the-books employee (and not, as the driver initially claimed, a crazed homeless man), the regulator did nothing to sanction the company. However, recent scrutiny did force Commissioner Brownell to meet with about a dozen mistreated workers earlier this year:

The stories began pouring out: men who worked for years off the books, paid $80 per night; workers logging upwards of 85 or 90 hours a week; the timesheet that the bosses changed so that they werent paid for all their hours; a white supervisor using racial slurs against the black and Hispanic workers; supervisors forcing them to keep working through major injuries; supervisors telling them to take taxis to the hospital instead of ambulancesand then to lie and say they werent hurt on the job; medical insurance cards that were mysteriously rejected; the way the Squitieri brothers loaned workers money, which kept them indebted to the bosses, they said, and thus under managements control.

Last month, Brownell told us that the agency was investigating the company, adding, "If this investigation finds that Sanitation Salvage should no longer be operating on our streets, BIC can initiate the process to revoke the company's license." We've reached out to Brownell to see if the new report will impact the status of that investigation.

You canand shouldread the full report here.


For its latest promotion round, Mills Oakley has elevated 30 lawyers  17 of whom have been named to senior positions.

The national firm is welcoming two Perth lawyers to the partnership. Daniel White, part of the workplace relations, employment, and safety (WRES) group, and Andrew Crean, a member of the firms corporate team. They are both being promoted from special counsel to partner.

It has been three years since we launched our Perth WRES practice and Daniel has been instrumental in developing the team into a respected, Legal 500-recommended practice, Mills Oakley CEO John Nerurker said.
The flamethrowers created by the Boring Company, which in the right hands can be turned into weapons of mass incineration in spite of the fact that Musk labeled them not a flamethrower, has sparked quite a controversy and, in California, a bill meant to prevent locals from setting stuff ablaze.California Assemblyman Miguel Santiago (DLos Angeles) was the one who stepped forward and said enough! to the billionaire. And for a good reason. The 2017 California wildfire season was the most destructive one on record, burning as per the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection 1,381,405 acres (5,590.35 km2) in the state.To prevent another fire outbreak, Santiago put forward a bill that was meant to stop the sale of the gadgets in the state for recreational use, but permitting their sale for use in industrial or agricultural applications.If this is real, Im outraged, and you should be too. If this is a joke, then its a terribly insensitive one given that were coming off of the worst wildfire season in history. Either way: NOT FUNNY. NOT GONNA HAPPEN, the official said when announcing his intention.The bill was immediately contested by gun-rights activists and groups, in spite of support from the police and the fire department.Gun loving Americans had their way apparently as, according to a report by San Francisco Chronicle , the piece of legislation has been buried in the Assembly Appropriations Committee, a body notorious for killing bills.On his part, Elon Musk already stated the flamethrowers are about to ship to their customers in the coming days, so its likely well get to see whether Santiago was right to worry in a very short time.
EV

It doesnt, but what is surprising is what engineering manager Dave Shaw told Motoring.com.au regarding Jaguars future plans. Once people accept that actually theres more benefits that come with an EV rather than negatives, why would that not work in a hypercar? Look around. Rimac is doing an EV hypercar, McLaren is doing an EV hypercar, he told the Australian motoring publication.The last time the British automaker sold a supercar was in the 1990s with the XJ220, a V6-powered midship that held the title of fastest production car (341.7 km/h; 212.3 mph) from 1992 to 1993. Then the C-X75 came to be in 2010 as the spiritual successor of the XJ220. The project didnt go past the concept and a handful of prototypes, and thats a bit of a shame if you look at the bigger picture.As Jaguar prepares to electrify the XJ full-size sedan and next generation of the F-Type, theres no denying theres room for an electric hypercar in the lineup as the halo model of the Leaping Cat from Coventry. EV is a very elegant solution for an automobile, and thats transferable from something thats a city car all the way up to a hypercar," said Shaw, adding that its an exciting time [for electric vehicles].On a related note, the Special Vehicle Operations looks forward to the next Project after the F-Type-based 7 and XE-based 8. Confirmed by former SVO chief exec John Edwards, the Project 9 is surrounded in mystery for the time being. Not even Jaguar knows what it wants from the newcomer, let alone the engineers at SVO.The thing is, Jaguar is too new to thegenre to pour money into the development of an electric hypercar right now. But given time, theres no denying the Leaping Cat will go after the best names in the business with an electrified brawler of its own.
Also known as the L200 and Strada, the Triton is also sold as the Ram 1200 in the United Arab Emirates. But Ram wont base its North American mid-size pickup on the Triton. According to Sergio Marchionne and Mike Manley, the newcomer is a global product that will ride on a new platform.
Despite all that, the space race is booming, with more entities involved in space exploration now that never before. But what if the fuel problem no longer existed? Would we go further, faster?Two European organizations are working on developing a rocket engine that might revolutionize space exploration. None of the them comes from countries that are usually linked to this type of enterprise. The two are the University of Glasgow, Scotland and the Oles Honchar Dnipro National University in Ukraine.For the task at hand, a mixed team of engineers decided to replace a rockets fuel tank with a rod made of a solid plastic fuel on the outside and an oxidizer on the inside.When the rocket is in operation, this rod is pushed into the combustion chamber, igniting and generating thrust. The speed at which the rod is inserted into the chamber can be modified, to allow for more or less thrust to be delivered, as needed.Officially, the new concept is called autophage engine, from the Greek word used to designate the natural mechanism of the cell that disassembles unnecessary components.The workings of the engine concept were published by the team in the Journal of Spacecraft and Rockets. The theory is simple: why not mount the payload to be delivered in space on top of the propellant rod itself?That would allow for the rocket to basically burn itself for fuel. Whats more important is that the rockets themselves could be sized depending on the cargo they are supposed to be launching into space.Work on what might turn out to be a revolutionary concept is only just beginning, The team of engineers managed, for now, to have the rocket burning for 60 seconds in lab tests.While were still at an early stage of development, we have an effective engine testbed in the laboratory in Dnipro, and we are working with our colleagues there to improve it still further, said Patrick Harkness, leader of the Glasgow team.The next step is to secure further funding to investigate how the engine could be incorporated into a launch vehicle.
Early in our primary training, we encountered the concept of maneuvering speed (V A ), or design maneuvering speed as its sometimes called. Were basically told its the speed at below which we should fly in turbulence and when entering advanced maneuvers, hence its name. If were lucky and have a good ground-school instructor, well also learn that V A changes with weight: As the airplanes weight decreases, so will maneuvering speed. Although V A isnt marked on our airspeed indicators, there should be a placard listing it at the airplanes gross weight, with the admonition to not make full control deflections above it.

Out in the practice area, V A often is used as the target speed for en-tering maneuvers like accelerated stalls, chandelles and lazy eights, although some manufacturers may publish a different speed. Basically, when were engaged in maneuvers imposing additional loads on the airframe, we should be flying at or below the airplanes weight-ad-justed VA. But thats not the full story. Some of the things were not told about V A in ground school are learned the hard way.

Background

On December 10, 2015, at about 1347 Mountain time, an experimental Vans RV-7 homebuilt experienced an in-flight breakup and impacted terrain in Hurricane, Utah. The airline transport pilot and passenger were fatally injured; the airplane sustained substantial damage. The airplane was registered to the pilot. Visual conditions existed.

Several witnesses heard the air-planes engine make what sounded like power changes. One witness observed the airplane spiraling and descending in a corkscrew-type maneuver. Other witnesses report-ed observing pieces of the airplane floating in the air.

The accident site was located between a cold front to the north-west and a high-pressure area to the southwest, in an area of strong pressure gradients. The wind profile of a weather model for the accident site estimated the surface horizontal wind was from 220 degrees at eight knots, with winds increasing in speed with height and veering west. The model supported light-to-moderate clear air turbulence from 6,400 feet MSL through 8,000 feet, and mountain wave development from 10,000 to 12,000 feet MSL. Pilot re-ports noted mountain wave activity in the region with moderate-to-severe turbulence near the accident site. An Airmet for moderate turbulence below 18,000 feet was active over the accident site at the accident time.

Investigation

The debris path was about 1,460 feet long and 450 feet wide. All major components of the airplane were located in the debris path. The main wreckage included the fuselage, engine, right wing, half of the left wing, a majority of the left and right elevators and the lower half of the rudder. The vertical stabilizer with the upper half of the rudder still attached was located about 1,420 feet away. The left and right horizontal stabilizers were located about 850 feet and 790 feet, respectively, from the main wreckage. The left aileron was about 430 feet away from the main wreckage; the left outboard wing was located about 320 feet from the main wreckage.

The engine revealed no evidence of mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operation.

The outboard half of the right wing was deformed downward about 15 to 20 degrees at the flap/aileron junction. The upper and lower wing skins were buckled around the area where the wing was deformed downward. The outboard half of the left wing also had separated at the flap/aileron junction. The left wings main spar had fractured where the upper and lower spar caps undergo a net section decrease from inboard to outboard. The outboard half of the left wing was mostly intact with minimal damage noted. Examination of the wing fracture locations revealed damage and deformation consistent with the separation of the outboard portion of the wing in a downward direction.

The horizontal stabilizer for-ward spar fractured about two inches outboard of the fuselage on both sides. Both of the horizontal stabilizer spar caps were deformed down and aft at the fracture location. The elevators were deformed down and aft matching the spar deformation. There was buckling damage on the lower skin of both horizontal stabilizers consistent with the stabilizers separating downward. All fractures exhibited a dull, grainy appearance consistent with overstress separation. There was no evidence of progressive or pre-existing fractures on any of the parts.

No data for the accident flight was recovered from the electronic de-vices found in the wreckage. How-ever, a video camera contained two files recorded on previous flights in which the accident airplane per-formed an aileron roll to the right.

Commercially available radar data revealed two tracks consistent with the accident airplane. One track was 17 minutes long and end-ed at 1332 when the airplane was at 6,150 feet MSL. Altitudes through-out the track varied from 6,150 to 9,350 feet, and groundspeed varied between 24 and 168 knots.

Although the airplanes most recent weight and balance records were not located, an estimated weight and balance was calculated using the airplane kit manufacturers data. Presuming a total fuel load of 42 gallons, the airplane would have been about 128 lbs below its maximum gross weight of 1,800 lbs at the time of the accident.

Probable Cause

The NTSB determined the probable cause(s) of this accident to include: The pilots abrupt flight control inputs, likely above the maneuvering speed, in severe winds and turbulence conditions, which resulted in an in-flight breakup.

Based on the aircrafts radar track, the pilot was maneuvering the airplane, perhaps including aerobatics. The NTSBs probable cause finding combines the G-loading effects of those maneuvers with the atmospheric conditions forecast to exist and concludes the aircraft encountered a wind gust that combined with the G-loading to impose on the airframe loads in excess of its design.

In other words, abrupt maneuvering in turbulent conditions can risk exceeding the airplanes structural limitations. According to the FAAs Airplane Flying Handbook (FAA-H-8083-3B), V A is based on the wings response to a 50-fps gust or elevator movement. Combining turbulence and high G loading induces even greater stress on the aircraft.

Aircraft Profile: Vans RV-7 Experimental

Image: aeroprints.com

Engine: Lycoming IO-360 (Typical)

Empty Weight: 1,100 lbs.

Max Gross T/O Weight: 1,800 lbs.

Typical Cruise Speed: 170 KTAS

Standard Fuel Capacity: 42 gal.

Service Ceiling: 23,000 feet

Range: 674 nm

V SO : 50 KIAS

American Airlines Flight 587

On November 12, 2001, an Airbus A300 operating as American Airlines Flight 587 departed John F. Kennedy International Airport for the Dominican Republic. Shortly after takeoff, it encountered wake turbulence from a 747 that took off ahead of it. The first officer/pilot flying made a series of aggressive, alternating rudder inputs in an attempt to stabilize the airplane. However, his control inputs were so aggressive that the airplanes vertical stabilizer, pictured at right, broke off the airframe and fell into Jamaica Bay.

The NTSB determined the vertical stabilizer failed, in part, after loads beyond its ultimate design were created by the first officers rudder input, even though the airplane was well below its maneuvering speed (V A ) at the time. Prior to the AAL587 crash, pilots had been trained that any abrupt control input made below V A would not break the airplane.

After that accident, definitions like the following from the FAAs Airplane Flying Handbook (FAA-H-8023-3B) were revised to reflect that design requirements do not consider repeated control inputs: The structural design requirements do not cover multiple control inputs in one axis or control inputs in more than one axis at a time at any speed, even below V A . Combined control inputs cause additional bending and twisting forces.

This article originally appeared in the December 2017 issue ofAviation Safetymagazine.

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The new flashpoint in the climate change debate is over the role of oil companies  whether they're culprits, allies, or something of a frenemy.

Why it matters: The burning of fossil fuels these companies produce is a big reason Earths temperature is rising, yet their products are also foundations of the global economy. Whether you love or hate them, what role these companies play is inherent to addressing climate change, particularly in the absence of presidential leadership on the issue.

Driving the news: Pope Francis is hosting a gathering later this week at the Vatican with executives of major oil producers and investment firms to talk about how the companies can address climate change, we reported exclusively Friday. Its a significant and unusual meeting of a relatively progressive Pope with oil companies under pressure in two ways:

Investors : Publicly traded oil and gas companies are facing growing pressure from shareholders to be more transparent about how policies cutting carbon emissions will impact their bottom lines.

: Publicly traded oil and gas companies are facing growing pressure from shareholders to be more transparent about how policies cutting carbon emissions will impact their bottom lines. Lawsuits: The worlds five biggest publicly traded oil companies  ExxonMobil, Chevron, BP, Shell and ConocoPhillips  are defendants in several lawsuits filed around the country by cities and states run by liberal politicians. The lawsuits allege the producers are liable for billions of dollars of damage caused by climate change.

Royal Dutch Shell CEO Ben van Beurden told me recently hes hoping for a truce, but doesnt see it happening soon.

What I find really problematic and disappointing in this point of time is we want to spent the entire bandwidth that we have in society on disagreeing, whereas we should spend that bandwidth on actually working together ... The burning planet will be so visible and so hot that people will say, 'lets get on with stuff.' But I think we are a ways off from that, Im afraid.

 Shell CEO Ben van Beurden

Driven by several factors, some global oil companies are taking increasing steps toward investing in greener technologies and resources. Those efforts are doing little to influence many environmentalists, including Carroll Muffett, president of the Center for International Environmental Law in Washington, D.C., who says the moves are too little, too late and not a substitute for previous actions.

The relevant question isn't whether oil companies are dabbling in renewables again but whether those investments reflect a fundamental shift in their business strategy. We see little sign of such a shift, Muffett said. Regardless, no amount of investment in renewables today will excuse the companies from responsibility for their past conduct and the climate crisis they helped create.

As for the Popes gathering, Muffett said he was reserving judgment.

Another point made by critics: oil executives say they support putting a price on carbon emissions, but they're not actively lobbying Congress for it.

Democratic Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse of Rhode Island, who has sponsored one of the only bills in the last few years putting a price on carbon, says oil companies arent being honest and are continuing to support trade associations that have traditionally opposed such policies.

"If all youre getting is smoke and mirrors and phony baloney, then youre not working with them, theyre not working with you. Its a sham, you shouldnt participate in it, which means you got to go the other way, which is to get them into a courtroom where they got to start telling the truth."

 Whitehouse

Those positions arent shared by others also working toward addressing climate change. Jason Grumet, president of the Bipartisan Policy Center, which gets funding both from oil companies including ExxonMobil and liberal foundations supporting the lawsuits, said ultimately what matters most is collaborating where possible.

The challenge is the scope and scale of the necessary low carbon energy transition, Grumet said. While it is uncomfortable for many environmental advocates to accept, solving the problem with ExxonMobil is going to work much better than trying to do something to ExxonMobil.

What to watch: Exxon, Shell and BP are among corporations backing an effort led by leaders of earlier Republican administrations to get Washington to back a plan pricing carbon emissions. The companies announced their support almost a year ago. The group, the Climate Leadership Council, hasnt made any big public moves since then.

Greg Bertelsen, a senior vice president with the group, said the companies, along with other founding members, meet quarterly. He signaled that some lawmakers could support the carbon policy, at least privately.

Weve been encouraged by the reception that we and our founding member companies and other organizations have received on the Hill from both sides of the aisle, Bertelsen said.

Get more stories like this by signing up for our daily energy newsletter, Generate.
Democrat Patty Schachtner scored a 9-point victory in a special election in Wisconsin's State Senate District 10 last night, flipping a district that had been held by the GOP since 2000 and that President Trump won by 17 points in 2016, per The Huffington Post.

Why it matters: It's a massive swing to Democrats in a Republican-heavy area ahead of November's midterms  and elected GOP officials are spooked:

A tweet previously embedded here has been deleted or was tweeted from an account that has been suspended or deleted.

And that's not all, per Daniel Nichanian at the University of Chicago, there were three other worrying results for Republicans in state special elections last night  though they still managed to hang onto the following seats in these GOP-heavy areas:

South Carolina's House District 99 had a 15% net swing to Democrats.

Iowa's House District 6 had an 18% net swing to Democrats.

Wisconsin's Assembly District 58 had a 25% net swing to Democrats.

One more thing: Republicans maintain their stronghold in Wisconsin. The state is one of 26 Republican trifectas (the governor is Republican, and Republicans have the majority in both the state Assembly and the state Senate). And even with Schachtners win, Republicans will hold a 18-14 majority, per the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel.

Go deeper: If these results show on a national scale in November, they could usher in Trump's greatest nightmare.

Get more stories like this by signing up for our daily morning newsletter, Axios AM.
Malaysia made headlines, and raised eyebrows, last week by announcing it would use crowd-funding to help pay down the crippling national debt. But another move could have much bigger implications  renegotiating big infrastructure contracts with China.

The bigger picture: China's debt-trap diplomacy is spreading across Asia and Africa. Beijing offers attractive, expensive projects to countries that need infrastructure, then leverages debt for influence.

The backdrop: Malaysia is caught under a $250 billion pile of debt. The country has not revealed what portion of that is owed to China, but Beijing's $14 billion railway and a $1.2 billion oil and gas pipeline  among other projects  contribute to the debt, reports the South China Morning Post.

Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad, Malaysia's newly-elected leader, is scrapping a Singaporean project worth billions that would have built a high-speed rail link to Kuala Lumpur. He told reporters the project was "not beneficial" given the cost, per CNN Money. That could set a precedent for how he deals with China.

Malaysia's newly-elected leader, is scrapping a Singaporean project worth billions that would have built a high-speed rail link to Kuala Lumpur. He told reporters the project was "not beneficial" given the cost, per CNN Money. That could set a precedent for how he deals with China. Mahathir also hopes to re-negotiate the Chinese rail project, he told the Financial Times in an interview.

the Chinese rail project, he told the Financial Times in an interview. One of the contract's terms his government takes issue with is that "payments are tied to a timeline stipulated in the contract, not based on completed work," per the Nikkei Asian Review.

his government takes issue with is that "payments are tied to a timeline stipulated in the contract, not based on completed work," per the Nikkei Asian Review.

China has not officially responded, but an editorial in the state-run Global Times newspaper reads, "Chinese-funded projects are not a gift that Kuala Lumpur can refuse without compensation."

What's next: Chinese infrastructure projects carry economic benefits, but they come with long-term commitments. When countries like Angola and Venezuela can't pay, China squeezes them in other ways. It will be interesting to see if Beijing shows flexibility or plays hardball in Malaysia's case.
Saudi Arabia issued drivers' licenses to 10 women as the kingdom moves closer to removing its longstanding ban against women driving in three weeks, reports Bloomberg. The women had already received licenses from other countries, including the United States.

The big picture: Despite that move and a wider push toward modernity under Crown Prince Mohammad bin Salman, the Saudi government still has detained multiple women's rights activists in recent weeks, alleging that they were attempting to undermine the nation's security.
The Trump administration is considering a request by the United Arab Emirates to help the Saudi-led coalition seize a key port in Yemen for humanitarian aid from Iranian-backed Houthi fighters, reports the Wall Street Journal.

The details: Top Yemen specialists in the administration will reportedly meet on Monday to discuss a strategy. The U.S. military has been supporting the Saudi coalition since 2016, targeting al Qaeda and Islamic State fighters. Government sources told the WSJ that key officials are deeply divided over whether the country should expand its involvement.
White House Press Secretary Sarah Sanders announced Monday that President Trump's preliminary meeting with Kim Jong-un in Singapore on June 12th will be at 9am local time (June 11th, 9pm EST).

What to watch: Asked whether the administration is continuing their maximum pressure campaign on North Korea ahead of the summit, added our policy hasnt changed toward Pyongyang. Sander was careful not to mention the term, "maximum pressure," after Trump stated last week that he wanted to avoid the language given the U.S. and North Korea are "getting along now."

More from the briefing:
It's long been said that climate change will be felt earliest and most severely in the poor nations of the world that contributed the least to the problem. A recent study, along with illuminating data from a new World Bank Report, show how this is the case.

Expand chart Change in extremely hot days by the end of the century based on two emissions scenarios. Data: World Bank Atlas of Sustainable Development Goals, 2018; Adapted from a World Bank report; Map: Harry Stevens/Axios

Why this matters: Solving climate change involves a fundamental mismatch between the countries that emit the most greenhouse gases, and those that stand to suffer the earliest and most from the problem. This is part of the reason of why addressing climate change has been so difficult to solve.

A new study, published in Geophysical Research Letters, provides a new way of understanding why a global average temperature increase above 1.5 degrees Celsius (2.7 degrees Fahrenheit) compared to preindustrial levels would be tough for poor, tropical nations to adapt to.

The study uses the concept of a signal-to-noise ratio, factoring in the typical range of temperatures a region is accustomed to.

The signal, according to the study, is the local change in average temperatures related to climate change.

The noise is how variable the temperature normally is for that region.

Outside the tropics, places have greater year-to-year variability in temperatures, and are more adapted to a wide range of temperatures  from cold conditions to sizzling heat.

But in the equatorial regions, where poorer nations tend to be located, society is accustomed to a higher average temperature that has little variability, or low amount of noise, associated with it. Therefore, it wouldn't take much warming to tip the climate outside of the accustomed range, making warming more noticeable.

What they're saying: Study co-author Andrew King, of the ARC Center of Excellence for Climate Extremes and the University of Melbourne in Australia, told Axios that the metric used in the study shows that even the most stringent temperature target under the Paris Climate Agreement would have a major impact in tropical regions by making intolerably hot temperatures far more common.

"The main result is that, in general, it will be the poorest people on the planet who experience the largest shift in their local climate if we go beyond the 1.5 degrees Celsius Paris limit. In the tropics the variability is lower, so the perceptibility of local climate change is higher there."

 King in an email to Axios

The bigger picture: Separate World Bank data released May 24 shows what would happen with heat extremes if there were about 2 degrees Celsius of global warming, and an emissions scenario more consistent with greater than 4 degrees Celsius of warming.

In both scenarios, areas closest to the tropics  including some of the most populated places on the planet  would see a marked increase in days with a heat index exceeding 95 degrees Fahrenheit. The heat index combines temperature and humidity, and is used to measure how hot it feels to the human body.

Take note: The world has already warmed by more than 1-degree Celsius compared to the dawn of the industrial era.

Get more stories like this by signing up for our weekly science newsletter, Axios Science.
Less than one month after being appointed as chief of the Armenian police, Valeri Osipian claimed on Monday to have practically eliminated bribery and other corrupt practices among fellow police officers.

I can announce with confidence that there are now no corrupt elements in the police, he told reporters. I can announce with confidence that I have taken concrete steps.

I dont exclude that one or two of my colleagues [may be corrupt] but I can say for sure that corruption does not exist [as a systemic problem.]

Nikol Pashinian named Osipian to run the national police service on May 10 two days after being elected Armenias prime minister following weeks of anti-government protests led by him.

Osipian was until then a deputy head of Yerevans police department responsible for public order and crowd control. He has been personally present at just about every major anti-government rally staged in the Armenian capital in the past decade. He frequently warned and argued with Pashinian during the protests which the former opposition leader launched on April 13 in a successful attempt to topple Serzh Sarkisian.

Introducing Osipian to high-ranking police officials on May 11, Pashinian said one of his main tasks will be to crack down on corruption in the police ranks which is believed to have long been endemic. Osipian replaced virtual deputy chiefs of the police in the following days.
Armenias Prime Minister Nikol Pashinian on Monday called for an end to anti-government protests in Nagorno-Karabakh sparked by a violent dispute between security officers and other local residents.

Pashinian made what he described as a brotherly request as about 200 people demonstrated in Stepanakert for a fourth day to demand the resignation of the heads of Nagorno-Karabakhs two main law-enforcement agencies blamed for the violence.

The brawl broke outside a Stepanakert car wash on Friday, with two groups of men bitterly arguing and pushing and punching each other for still unclear reasons. Several of them turned out to be officers of Karabakhs National Security Service (NSS). They reportedly seriously injured at least one of the other, civilian participants of the fight.

The incident triggered a demonstration by angry Stepanakert residents who say that it is symptomatic of what they see as impunity enjoyed by members of security forces and their relatives. They blocked the towns main avenue, demanding the resignation of the NSS and police chiefs. The street section has since been the scene of daily anti-government rallies.

Karabakh law-enforcement authorities arrested several individuals, including two NSS officers, in the immediate aftermath of the incident. Karabakhs political leadership pledged to ensure an objective criminal investigation.

These assurances failed to satisfy the protesters, however. Their representatives twice met with Bako Sahakian, the Karabakh president, over the weekend. Sahakian is said to have told them late on Sunday that he is ready, in principle, to sack senior law-enforcement officials but will refrain from doing that now.

The people will not leave until their demands are met, one of the protest leaders said after the demonstrators decided to keep the Stepanakert street closed to traffic on Monday morning.

Meanwhile, Karabakhs parliament set up a multi-party investigative commission at an emergency session held later in the day. The ad hoc commission is tasked with monitoring the probe of the brawl and other abuses allegedly committed by law-enforcement officials.

Pashinian appealed to the protesters late on Monday, saying that any violence is unacceptable regardless of who resorts to it and calling for concrete conclusions to be drawn from the June 1 incident. In a live Facebook broadcast, he praised Sahakian for meeting representatives of the protesters and reaching concrete agreements with them. He hinted that the Karabakh leader agreed to make personnel changes in the local security apparatus after the ongoing criminal inquiry is over.

The protests should therefore end, said the Armenian premier. In a conversation with me, the president of Artsakh (Karabakh) reaffirmed his determination to implement those agreements and it is imperative to enable him to do that, he added.

Pashinians appeal followed serious concerns voiced by some politicians and public figures in Armenia. They warned that a destabilization of the political situation in Karabakh could tempt Azerbaijan to attack Karabakh Armenian positions along the line of contact around the disputed territory.

What happened in Armenia is inadmissible, to put it mildly, for Karabakh, former President Levon Ter-Petrosian said in a weekend statement. I mean mass protests and pressures on the Nagorno-Karabakh Republics authorities. They could have disastrous consequences for a country which is in a state of war.

Ter-Petrosian alluded to the recent mass protests in Armenia that brought Pashinian to power. He said Pashinian must publicly call for an end to the Stepanakert protests.

The Karabakh leaders spokesman, Davit Babayan, sought to allay such fears earlier on Monday. The situation is not critical. This is a form of dialogue, Babayan told RFE/RLs Armenian service (Azatutyun.am).

Babayan also warned against attempts to politicize the June 1 incident and urged the protest leaders to drop their ultimatums issued to the authorities in Stepanakert.
By Sara Israfilbayova

Investment by the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) in Azerbaijan in the first four months of 2018 increased by 253 million euros and at the end of April 2018 totaled 3.07 billion euros.

The bank reported that as of January 1, 2018, the EBRD allocated 2.817 billion euros to Azerbaijan.

The share of the private sector in total investments is 26 percent, 7 percentage points less than at the beginning of the year.

During the period, Azerbaijan paid 290 million euros to the EBRD. As a result, the total amount of payments increased by 14.6 percent and amounted to 2.27 billion euros. The Banks operating assets in Azerbaijan amounted to 986 million euros, an increase of 41.3 percent compared to the beginning of the year.

The number of active EBRD projects in Azerbaijan was 48, and in total, the EBRD has implemented 165 projects in Azerbaijan. The portfolio of active projects at the end of April 2018 amounted to 1.429 billion euros, which is 21.5 percent more than at the end of last year.

Almost half of the EBRDs active portfolio in Azerbaijan - 707 million euros or 49.5 percent  fell on the energy projects, 42.5 percent or 607 million euros  on the infrastructure projects, and 4.9 percent (70 million euros)  on the industrial, commercial and agribusiness projects. Another 3.1 percent (45 million euros) fell on projects involving financial institutions.

The EBRD is an international financial institution founded in 1991. As a multilateral developmental investment bank, the EBRD uses investment as a tool to build market economies.

The Bank was established to support countries of the former Eastern Bloc in the process of establishing their private sectors. To that end, it offers "project financing" for banks, industries and businesses, for new ventures or existing companies.

The EBRD has allocated more than 3 billion to Azerbaijan for implementation of 160 projects since 1992.

One of the main priorities of the EBRD in Azerbaijan for 2017 is support the local corporates with direct financing. The EBRD continues to pursue investments in energy projects, especially where there is a gap to improve efficiency and energy security.

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Sara Israfilbayova is AzerNews staff journalist, follow her on Twitter: @Sara_999Is

Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz
The IDC DX Day Roadshow: All About Innovation conference took place in Baku on May 29, 2018. The event was held under the auspices of International Data Corporation (IDC)  the premier global provider of market intelligence, advisory services, and events in the field of ICT. The event gathered IT managers from large Azerbaijani companies to discuss the integration of digital technology into all areas of business.



The IDC DX Day Roadshow conference series is conducted in various cities of Central Asia, Eastern Europe, and the Caucasus, with the Baku event being one of the series highlights. More than 100 IT experts, analysts, and representatives of leading IT vendors were in attendance this year in Baku.



The event was supported by Azerbaijan's Ministry of Transport, Communications, and High Technologies. Deputy Minister Elmir Tofig oglu Velizadeh opened the conference with a welcoming speech.



Andrew Beklemishev, regional director of IDC in Central Asia, Azerbaijan, and Mongolia, presented the analytical report on the dawn of the digital economy. He indicated key trends disrupting the ICT industry, touching upon topics for future conference discussions. According to IDC, in the next three years, the compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of investments in 3rd Platform technologies will be 4.9 percent. In the same period, investments into technological accelerators, including Internet of Things, cognitive systems and artificial intelligence (AI), robotics, virtual/augmented reality (VR/AR), and 3D printing, will grow annually by post a CAGR of 18.9 percent. The drivers of this spending are the need to transform customer experience, achieve a competitive advantage, and search for new business models.



"The ICT market is settling into a period of collective growth. 3rd Platform technologies are entering a new phase and will create a foundation for accelerated innovation. Change is coming fast. As digital platforms are at the forming and scaling stage, it is important to get involved in this technological trend now, otherwise it may be too late," noted Andrei Beklemishev.



Moving the discussion in a practical direction, Ramiz Shirimov, ICT architect at Bona Dea International Hospital, shared a use case wherein advanced IT was implemented to provide all patients with the highest quality of care. Building a brand-new hospital gave us the unique opportunity to design the IT infrastructure from the ground up, explained Shirimov. We decided to integrate more than 70 medical applications into one Hospital Information System (HIS), which we will use to manage all aspects of hospital operations, from intensive care units to ambulances.



International vendors participating in the conference shared their visions of the potential uses for artificial intelligence, cloud services infrastructure, and converged infrastructure, as well as ways of detecting and preventing contemporary security attacks. Technological reports were delivered by: Rasim Bakhshi, Head of the Lenovo Datacenter Group Channel for Central Asia & Azerbaijan; Oleksandr Rapp, Security Engineer, Check Point Software Technologies Ltd ; Pavel Sotnikov, Managing Director for Eastern Europe, Caucasus and Central Asia, Qualys; Rostislav Nedosekin, Aria Solution Architect in Microsoft Services for CIS, Microsoft Russia; and Alexey Chumarin, Enterprise Architect, Softprom by ERC.



Check Point Software Technologies and Lenovo became gold sponsors of the conference, while silver sponsors included Qualys, Microsoft, and Eurodesign. The Balabit company joined the solutions exhibition space, and InfoCity magazine and the AZERNEWS newspaper provided media support.

International Data Corporation (IDC) is the premier global provider of market intelligence, advisory services, and events for the information technology, telecommunications and consumer technology markets. More than 1,100 IDC analysts worldwide, IDC offers global, regional, and local expertise on technology and industry opportunities and trends in over 110 countries. For more than 53 years, IDC has provided strategic insights to IT professionals, business executives, and the investment community to help them achieve their key business objectives.
By Rashid Shirinov

Distortion of the remarks made by the Russian Foreign Ministry representative is an unimaginable and incomprehensible phenomenon, Spokesperson for the Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry Hikmat Hajiyev told Trend on June 2.

He was responding to the changes in the transcript of the speech by Artyom Kozhin, Deputy Director of the Information and Press Department of the Russian Foreign Ministry.

As a press secretary of the foreign ministry, I cannot understand the reason for the change in the semantic-linguistic way of my Russian colleagues professional and diplomatic oral response, which corresponds to the real essence of the negotiation process on the settlement of the Armenia-Azerbaijan Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, Hajiyev said.

At the press conference on June 1, Kozhin, responding to a question by Trend news agency, said that the statements of Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan on the settlement of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict are unconstructive: In general, loud statements that do not fit onto the appropriate rails, in particular laid by the OSCE, are probably not constructive.

Hajiyev noted that the video presented by Trend clearly shows that the statement was made in the context of the Armenian prime ministers remarks about participation of the separatist regime as a side in the negotiations and this step of the Armenian leadership is called unconstructive. However, it is written in the transcript of the press conference, posted on the official website of the Russian Foreign Ministry, that this is the answer to the question of Trends reporter, the spokesman said.

Hajiyev added that the assertions of the new government of Armenia about participation in the negotiation process of the separatist regime created in the Azerbaijani territories occupied by Armenia are absolutely unfounded, ridiculous and unconstructive.

Armenia is responsible as a state that has occupied the territory of Azerbaijan by force and maintains its military presence in the occupied territories. This responsibility under international law automatically makes Armenia a party to the conflict, he said.

The spokesman added that the OSCE Minsk Group co-chairs themselves stated the groundlessness of this position of Armenia at the meeting with Azerbaijani Foreign Minister Elmar Mammadyarov in Paris on May 15.

As can be seen, the new leadership of Armenia, instead of working towards resolving the conflict on the basis of the accepted existing format, with such unfounded allegations is trying to disrupt or paralyze the negotiation process, Hajiyev noted.

The Nagorno-Karabakh conflict began in 1988 when Armenia made territorial claims against Azerbaijan. As a result of the ensuing war, in 1992 Armenian armed forces occupied 20 percent of Azerbaijan, including the Nagorno-Karabakh region and seven surrounding regions. More than 20,000 Azerbaijanis were killed and over 1 million were displaced as a result of the large-scale hostilities. The 1994 ceasefire agreement was followed by peace negotiations.

Until now, Armenia controls fifth part of Azerbaijans territory and rejects implementing four UN Security Council resolutions on withdrawal of its armed forces from Nagorno-Karabakh and surrounding regions.

---

Rashid Shirinov is AzerNews staff journalist, follow him on Twitter: @RashidShirinov

Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz
By Kamila Aliyeva

Both the Sangachal terminal launch and the upcoming inauguration of TANAP, later in June, constitute noteworthy steps towards the timely implementation of the Southern Gas Corridor pipe network, energy analyst Mariana Liakopoulou said in an interview with Azernews.

However, it is not that the project has faced zero hindrances, since 1999, when the first drillings took place in the Shah Deniz contract area, according to the expert.

We all remember the security challenges for SCP as a result of the 2008 South Ossetian conflict, the wrangling among SOCAR, BOTAS and TPAO, that held back TANAPs shareholders agreement for a couple of months, back in 2012, and the 2015 prolongation by the EC and the Greek, Albanian and Italian regulatory authorities of the validity period of TAPs exemption from EUs third-party access rules due to a delay in the pipelines scheduled completion timeframe, she said.

But, overall, beginning of the SGCs operations is not likely to miss its 2020 deadline, when deliveries from SD2 will have reached their plateau level of 16bcm (6bcm contracted for the Turkish market and 10bcn for European buyers), Liakopoulou noted.

The importance of the SCG for Europe lies in its contribution to the pursued gas-supply diversification and long-term energy security, a core pillar of the envisioned Energy Union strategy aiming at building a fully integrated intra-EU gas market, she said.

Latest approval of loan packages by the EIB, EUs lending arm, and the EBRD for TAP and TANAP, despite the unfolding fossil fuel divestment campaign, that brought about a motion by the Green MEPs against the inclusion of new gas infrastructure in the PCI list, reaffirm Europes determination to move the project forward by providing the much-needed external financing to complement the Azerbaijani State Oil Funds spending, the expert noted.

Unique chance for Azerbaijani gas supplies

As for Azerbaijan itself, the SGC serves as the gas value chain through which the country will have the chance to export significant gas amounts to markets beyond Georgia and Turkey, according to Liakopoulou.

It will also enable SOCARs energy partnerships with member-states traditionally over-reliant on a single gas supplier, like Bulgaria, as well as with ill-gasified candidate countries, like Albania. Lets not forget that TAP was chosen as the third segment of the SGC in 2013 because of its notably shorter and cost-effective (in comparison with other discussed projects, such as Nabucco) length, which allows Europe to utilize reverse flows towards multiple existing and proposed directions (Kula-Sidirokastro, Interconnector Greece-Bulgaria, Ionian-Adriatic Pipeline, Trans Austria Gas Pipeline), she added.

Furthermore, its underground storage facilities ensure a secure and reliable gas supply in case of future energy shortages, like the ones experienced by the EU during the 2006 and 2009 Russia-Ukraine gas disputes, according to the expert.

As the initiator, and currently the only supplier of the SGC, Azerbaijan automatically becomes involved in a broader effort to speed up the gasification of the EU-hopeful Western Balkans and treat gas market integration issues in Southeastern European (SE) and Central and Eastern Europe (CEE) markets, including through the considered Greece-Ukraine Vertical Gas Corridor, starting from TAPs connection to the IGB line on the border between Greece and Bulgaria, she said.

Liakopoulou went on to say that notwithstanding being a major interstate gas system, the SGCs initial 10bcm capacity represents no more than a rather symbolic 2 percent of the EUs total gas consumption.

It should be reminded that TANAPs capacity is scalable up to 23-31BCM/a by 2023-2026, while TAP is also expected to double supplies, as soon as it branches off in the Balkans via IGB and IAP. Against the backdrop of an upward EU gas demand trend, declining domestic production in view of Groningen phase-out by 2022, and in order for the investing companies netback margin to increase, it is vital to have a full SGC, she said.

Investment decisions for two additional compressors as part of TAP, and for another five as part of TANAP, will have to be taken, so that the aforementioned throughput is achieved, according to the expert.

Azerbaijan could possibly add some extra 10BCM to the route by 2025, as by that time the country will have managed to essentially up indigenous gas output either from already producing fields, like Umid, or from currently developed fields, like Absheron. Nevertheless, EUs fundamental vision on the fourth/southern gas corridor, worked out since the start of the 21st century, has to do with a wider number of suppliers from the Caspian and the Middle East, she added.

Additional sources for SGC

Speaking of other gas-rich countries possible participation in the project, Liakopoulou noted that Turkmenistan is the first country that undoubtedly comes to mind when talking about prospective SGC contributors.

For one thing, the country has the reserves in place and ready for delivery following completion of the East-West pipeline in 2015. But the lack of the SGCs eastward extension link, namely the Trans Caspian Gas Pipeline (TCGP), renders this plan presently unfeasible, although still not abandoned by the EU, who will fund the projects study under its 2017 CEF energy call, she said.

Optimism, mainly exuded by Russia, regarding the settlement of the Caspian legal status within 2018, a development that will facilitate bilateral or trilateral cooperation on projects like TCGP without the need for consent of all five littoral states, creates new hope for Turkmenistans gas exports to Europe, according to the expert.

Furthermore, the August 2017 rapprochement between Presidents Ilham Aliyev and Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov could lead to the two countries at some point finding common ground on their Serdar/Kyapaz quarrel, which has also prevented TCGP progress to this day, she stressed.

Still, commercial viability remains a cause of concern after nearly over twenty years of deliberations on the pipeline materialization, according to Liakopoulou.

Finally, the construction of White Stream, that will connect to the Bulgaria-Romania-Hungary-Austria (BRUA) pipeline on the European territory, is highly likely to be set as a prerequisite, in order for Ashgabat to agree to send gas through both strings of TCGP, she added.

The expert pointed out that Irans willingness to negotiate its accession to the SGC had been repeatedly demonstrated after the 2015 nuclear deal conclusion.

Its participation would entail either construction of a 1,800km pipeline from South Pars to the Iranian-Turkish border for direct transportation of domestic supplies through TANAP or further gas swap transactions with Turkmenistan, projected to grow in spite of an ongoing bilateral gas debt tiff. However, the U.S. exit from the JCPOA will discourage investments in new energy infrastructure projects and upstream activity in Iran, possibly bringing negative implications for Irans SGC ambitions, she said.

Liakopoulou further noted that Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan are thought of as two more supplier alternatives for the SGC.

The former could seek to attract investment interest in a 600km-long onshore line from Tengiz field up to Turkmenbashi seaport, although the government has prioritized response to domestic gas demand, especially in the poorly interconnected Astana and Central and Northern regions, prior to any large-scale export projects. The latters highly sulfurous gas constitutes a deterring factor due to processing costs, she said.

No matter which of the above suppliers will get to find a place on the SGC, it is evident that a great deal of new infrastructure has yet to be built in the east of Azerbaijan, a fact that begs the question as to the exact number of bidders for TAPs remaining 10bcm through the open season auctions, in two years time, according to the expert.



New hub for Europe

In conclusion, Liakopoulou said that at a moment when gas LTCs are dying out in Europe, and while the Commission is trying to handle a monopoly abuse case in relation to its dominant gas supplier and gain transparency and liquidity for its markets, the term of regional gas trading hubs has been excessively used with reference to an array of SE countries.

Caspian shipments via the SGC network, along with U.S. LNG imports via the planned Alexandroupolis FSRU in northern Greece, the export versions of the Eastern Mediterranean supplies (East Med pipeline, Israel-Turkey pipeline, Egypt LNG exports) and even the Russian-devised southern supply corridor via Turkish Stream (towards Greece and Italy or Bulgaria and the Balkans), all constitute interconnections and entry points that could set into operation a hub between Greece and Turkey determining spot prices, she said.

Even though it is too early to speak of hub aspirations, one should recognize SGCs conducive role for an impeding proper implementation of the Energy Union precepts concerning obligatory access of SE and CEE member-states and Energy Community parties to at least three different sources of gas, the expert concluded.

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 supplies. The project envisages the transportation of gas from the Caspian region to the European countries through Georgia and Turkey.

At the initial stage, the gas to be produced as part of 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 Stage 2 of the Shah Deniz development, gas will be exported to Turkey and European markets by expanding the South Caucasus Pipeline and the construction of Trans Anatolian Natural Gas Pipeline and Trans Adriatic Pipeline.

The first gas within the Shah Deniz-2 project will be delivered to Turkey in 2018, and to Europe in 2019.

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Kamila Aliyeva is AzerNews staff journalist, follow her on Twitter: @Kami_Aliyeva

Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz
By Kamila Aliyeva

Uzbekistan plans to launch two motorcycle manufacturing plants jointly with leading producers from China and India.

The work on the launch of the plant is carried out within the framework of diversifying the country's automobile industry and developing a competitive environment, podrobno.uz reported.

An enterprise with Chinese Lifan will appear in the Namangan region. This will involve the production of scooters, motorcycles and three-wheeled cargo scooters. It can be said that this is a new technique for our industry, we have never done that. We plan to launch capacities by the end of the year on the basis of the Naryn Mechanical Plant, head of Uzavtosanoat Umidzhan Salimov said.

Lifan is one of the largest enterprises in China. It specializes in the technological development and production, sales and export of automobiles, motorcycles and engines. To date, the company operates through its own network of dealer centers, which exceeds 10,000 salons worldwide. Today, they are open in 42 countries.

The Uzbek side does not intend to repeat past mistakes and will also stimulate the development of competition in this segment, according to Salimov.

Therefore, Uzavtosanoat plans to launch another similar project with Indian Bajaj, he noted.

We are working on the launch of production in Navoi with one of the leaders of the Indian market, Bajaj, and we are negotiating with them to also organize the production of motorcycle equipment, Salimov said.

Bajaj, the largest Indian manufacturer of motorcycles and commercial vehicles, ranks third in the world for the production of two- and three-wheeled vehicles. The brand is widely known in Latin America, Africa, the Middle East, South and South-East Asia, Europe.

At the end of last year, Uzavtosanoat and South Korean DK Group company also signed an agreement on the organization of production of motorcycles and tricycles freight scooters on the territory of the republic.

The agreement will provide an opportunity for the Uzbek side to develop the production of various types of motorcycles and three-wheeled cargo scooters using Korean technologies. The equipment will be presented in an affordable price segment and will meet the needs of the population living in remote and inaccessible regions in the movement and transportation of goods.

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Kamila Aliyeva is AzerNews staff journalist, follow her on Twitter: @Kami_Aliyeva

Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz
By Kamila Aliyeva

Uzbekistan has started sales of cars under the Ravon brand in the domestic market.

Previously, under this brand, the products of GM Uzbekistan automobile plant located in Asaka were only exported, head of Uzavtosanoat Umidjan Salimov said. For domestic customers, the delivery of cars under the Chevrolet brand was carried out.

The Ravon brand for foreign markets was introduced in 2015. Currently, the automobile corporation General Motors and Uzavtosanoat are negotiating the sale of American shares in GM Uzbekistan. According to Salimov, the deal for the redemption of shares is almost complete. Until the end of the year, the U.S. corporation will sell the remaining 10 percent stake in the company.

In 2005, Uzbekistan acquired Daewoo's shares in UzDaewooAuto. Two years later Uzavtoprom (Uzbek Association of Automotive Industry Enterprises) and the U.S.-based General Motors signed an agreement to establish the GM Uzbekistan with an authorized capital of $266.7 million.

GM had previously held a 25 percent stake in the joint venture. Salimov did not specify when and at what price his company, Uzavtosanoat, bought the 15 percent of shares and how much it would pay for the remainder, according to Reuters.

At the same time, negotiations are under way to buy out the GM Powertrain Uzbekistan automobile engine plant, where Americans own over 70 percent of the shares. Nevertheless, GM will continue operating in Uzbekistan on the terms of technical assistance. At the same time, the Uzbek side can continue to produce cars under the Chevrolet brand.

The production of passenger cars in Uzbekistan in January-April this year increased by 26.4 percent, exceeding the mark of 51,000 while manufacturing of automobile engines rose by 37.9 percent to reach 40,780 units.

In the coming years, the company intends to take a dominant role in the automobile market of Kazakhstan through an alliance with the Kazakh Allur Group of Companies JSC, and also to strengthen its position in the Russian market, including through the possible creation of an assembly plant near St. Petersburg.

To date, GM Uzbekistan manufactures eight models at its three production sites in Asaka, Khorezm and Tashkent under the Chevrolet and Ravon brands.

GM Uzbekistan, formerly known as UzDaewooAuto, was created in 1996 on a parity basis by Uzbekistan and South Korean Daewoo Motors.

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Kamila Aliyeva is AzerNews staff journalist, follow her on Twitter: @Kami_Aliyeva

Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz
By Kamila Aliyeva

Uzbekistan intends to export fruit and vegetable products for $1.5 billion.

This was stated by director general of the specialized foreign trade company, Uzagroexport, Sultan Nazarov, Uzbek media outlets reported.

Uzbekistan managed to achieve unprecedented indicators in the export of fruits in May, he noted. As many as 120,000 tons of products worth about $150 million were sent abroad.

Traditionally, our main external markets have become Kazakhstan and Russia. For the diversification of supplies, we plan to increase exports to Asian countries, for example, China, Indonesia, Malaysia and South Korea. A contract for 10,000 tons with Chinese buyers and 5,000 tons with Korean buyers have been signed earlier. This is about the supply of cherries, Nazarov said.

According to forecasts of the company's specialists, 60 percent of exported products will go to Russia in 2018. This will be done both through direct contracts with the largest Russian retail chains, such as X5 Retail Group, Magnet, Holiday, Maria Ra and others, and through re-export via Kazakhstan.

Another direction for increasing export volumes is the promotion of all Uzbek fruit and vegetable products under the UzAgro unified brand. The company has already carried out test deliveries to Russia and Dubai.

This brand will allow formulating common approaches to the quality and safety of products. For its large-scale promotion, first of all, it is necessary to establish quality control at the local level, which we are currently engaged in. We plan that next year we will completely switch to deliveries under the unified brand UzAgro, the director general of the Uzagroexport company said.

In January-April 2018, Uzbekistan exported fruit and vegetable products for $ 115.9 million, thus registering an increase of 41.8 percent. Of the total volume of fruits and vegetables, the share of fruits and berries amounted to 17.3 percent, vegetables - 65.6 percent, and grapes - 13 percent.

In the export of fruit and vegetable products, the main partners were Kazakhstan (of the total volume of 35.4 percent), Russia (13.3 percent), Afghanistan (12.5 percent), Vietnam (6.7 percent), China (5.9 percent), Turkey (5.2 percent), Kyrgyzstan (2.5 percent), Pakistan (2.3 percent) and Iran (2 percent).

Agreements on the supply of fruit and vegetable products for 2018 and 2019 were previously signed with South Korea, China, Saudi Arabia, the U.S., Indonesia, Germany and other countries.

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Kamila Aliyeva is AzerNews staff journalist, follow her on Twitter: @Kami_Aliyeva

Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz
By Kamila Aliyeva

Russias oil giant LUKOIL intends to reach the projected level of gas production in Uzbekistan in 2018, according to the documents of the company.

Director for work with capital markets, acquisition and sale of assets of LUKOIL Pavel Zhdanov noted that the company is pleased with the implementation of projects in Uzbekistan.

LUKOIL increased gas production in Uzbekistan in the first quarter of 2018 more than two times compared to the same period in 2017, according to Zhdanov. In the first quarter of 2018, the company in Uzbekistan produced up to 191,000 barrels of oil equivalent per day against 93,000 barrels of oil per day in January-March 2017.

Gas production in the Gissar field in the first quarter of 2018 amounted to 72,000 barrels of oil equivalent per day (26,000 barrels of oil per day) and in Kandym  119,000 barrels (68,000 barrels).

Zhdanov stressed that the increase in gas production in Uzbekistan is due to the launch of new facilities in Gissar and the first stage of the Kandym gas processing complex. He added that the company has already started work on the second stage of the complex.

Within these two projects, LUKOIL plans to produce up to 18 billion cubic meters of gas in 2019.

LUKOIL has been operating in Kazakhstan since 1995. The company is a party to several onshore production projects and a member of the Caspian Pipeline Consortium (CPC). LUKOIL has been investing substantially both in production projects and in the regions social development.

In Kazakhstan, LUKOIL owns stakes in three oil projects, that is Tengiz (5 percent share), Karachaganak (13.5 percent) and Kumkol (50 percent). LUKOIL also develops fields in the north of the Caspian Sea in the Russian sector - Filanovsky and Korchagin (15 million tons have been extracted since 2010).

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Kamila Aliyeva is AzerNews staff journalist, follow her on Twitter: @Kami_Aliyeva

Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz
On the 20th anniversary of her brother's death, Louvon Harris will return to Jasper, to a park that bears his name.

On Thursday, Harris and her family will mark two decades since James Byrd Jr. was chained to the bumper of a truck by three white men and dragged to his death on arural Jasper County road. The family plans to take part in two celebrations honoring Byrd's legacy and will promote diversity and tolerance.

Harris, who lives in Houston, is board president of the Byrd Foundation for Racial Healing, a group she started after the 1998 hate crime.

"It's important now, more than ever," to remember her brother's senseless murder, she said.

"There are times where Jasper wants to forget that it happened in Jasper," she said. She said some choose to brush Byrd's death aside as history instead of recognizing it and learning from it. "You have to deal with it, face it and let it be known."

Brutality on a country road

Byrd was 49 when he was dragged for three miles on an old logging road on the outskirts of town on June 7, 1998.

The crime, referred to as a "modern-day lynching," drew national attention and brought the Ku Klux Klan and the New Black Panther Party to the County Courthouse for dueling protests.

Shawn Allen Berry, John William King and Lawrence Russell Brewer were found guilty of capital murder in King's death.

RELATED: Before and After: Infamous SE Texas defendants

Berry, 42, who is serving a life sentence, will be eligible for parole in 2038. Brewer was sentenced to death and executed in 2011 at the age of 44.

King, 43, is currently appealing his death penalty conviction, claiming his trial lawyers were ineffective in proving his innocence. The Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals denied his appeal in February, saying Sonny Cribbs and Brack Jones did their best in an "uphill battle," and denied a petition for rehearing in March in which King's lawyer claimed his racist beliefs were fantasies, not the grounds for violent crime. He can still appeal to the U.S. Supreme Court.

Almost three years after Byrd's murder, Texas Gov. Rick Perry signed the James Byrd Jr. Hate Crimes Act, which enforced harsher penalties for crimes committed out of bias against the victim's race, disability, religion, national origin, age, gender or sexual orientation. His predecessor, then-Gov. George W. Bush, had refused to sign the bill, saying that all crimes are hate crimes.

The Matthew Shepard and James Byrd Jr. Hate Crimes Prevention Act was passed by Congress and signed into federal law in 2009.

Murder haunts town

The shocking crime that pushed Jasper into a national spotlight has lingered and likely continues to tarnish the town's reputation, Harris said.

When Harris tells people she's from Jasper, where her father and two of her siblings still live, they associate it with her brother's death immediately, she said.

Newton County Sheriff Billy Rowles, who was the sheriff in Jasper County in 1998, said someone brings it up or asks about it every few weeks.

"There's some people that still like to talk about it," he said.

MORE: Jasper killer's racism 'fantasy' claim denied by court

"We learned a lot out of it," he said last week, including lessons about transparency and relying on common sense.

"The national media was portraying us as a bunch of pot-bellied, beer-drinking, snuff-dipping redneck police," Rowles said. After they voluntarily released the probable cause affidavit, which he said detailed law enforcement's entire case against the three men, "the whole thing turned around."

"Jasper was not the kind of community that people tried to make it out to be," Rowles said last summer, when the Fifth Circuit agreed to hear King's appeal, re-opening the case. "That scar is still there, it's healing."

PHOTOS: Scenes from Lawrence Russell Brewer's execution

Harris said healing comes from acknowledging and addressing the crime and its aftermath, not from "brushing it over."

She said the hate crime legislation will help families in the future whose loved ones are killed in similar "senseless crimes," but "if you're not addressing the inside, the law doesn't help."

"If you forget that this happened," you can't prevent it from happening again, Harris said. "As a family," she said, "you try to move on, and find peace in justice being served."

A family's hope

Harris said she hopes the commemorative events in Jasper are attended by a diverse crowd.

A bench honoring Byrd will be installed outside the courthouse where King and Berry were convicted. Rowles is scheduled to speak at the 9 a.m. ceremony on Thursday.

The Byrd Foundation will sponsor "Fun Day in the Park" at James Byrd Jr. Memorial Park on Burch Street from 10 a.m. to noon Thursday. The event will include awards for participants in a cultural diversity challenge.

The contest tasks children with making a collage that represents diversity. The Foundation promotes "taking a stand when you encounter racism," and interacting with people of different cultures.

"I'm hoping to see more integration" at the events, Harris said, as evidence that the community has moved toward healing.

"When you feel robbed of your loved one, it's a hard thing to get peace with," she said. "We deal with it on a daily basis as a family, and we build from it and reach out."

LTeitz@BeaumontEnterprise.com

Twitter.com/LizTeitz
There's no shortage of things unique to the Lone Star State.

From greetings, foods and traditions Texas is big and old enough to have a culture of its own.

To dive deeper into what makes Texas so Texas-y, Chron.com put together a slideshow above with some neat and historical facts.

After all, sporting a cowboy hat and eating Whataburger will only get you so far in some circles that frequently boast their Texas heritage.

LONE STAR HUNGER: Texas barbecue spots to try since Texas Monthly isn't releasing a top 50 list this year





On the other hand, that Texas pride can often balloon into something else entirely and become a hotbed of misinformation.

Last year, Chron.com reached out to two historians from the University of Houston, Associate Professor of History Dr. Raul Ramos and African American History Professor Dr. Gerald Horne, to find examples of Texas history that have been forgotten or mischaracterized.

Check them out below.

Fernando Ramirez is a reporter for Chron.com and the Houston Chronicle. You can follow him on Twitter at @fernramirez93.
Milwaukee-based Aurora Health Care sold ownership in two joint venture ASCs for around $7 million, according to a BizTimes report.

Here are four things to know:

1. Aurora had entered into the joint ventures with Froedtert & the Medical College of Wisconsin more than five years ago. The health system held 50 percent ownership in Menomonee Falls Ambulatory Surgery Center, which was created in 2011 through a partnership with Froedtert Community Memorial Hospital, as well as 20 percent ownership in Froedtert Surgery Center, created in 2004 with Froedtert Memorial Lutheran Hospital and the Medical College of Wisconsin.

2. The health system sold its 50 percent ownership in Menomonee Falls Ambulatory Surgery Center for $5 million cash considerations and 20 percent ownership in Froedtert Surgery center for $2 million cash considerations to Froedtert & the Medical College of Wisconsin Community Memorial Hospital.

3. As of Dec. 31, 2018, Aurora's carrying value in the two ASCs totaled $5.8 million. The health system reported a 5 percent decrease in operating income for the first quarter of 2018, when the sales occurred.

4. On April 1, Aurora finalized its merger with Advocate Health Care, a Downers Grove, Ill.-based health system. The two systems now combine for nearly $3 billion in first-quarter revenue.
Houston-based HCA Healthcare's Gulf Coast Division joined Greater Houston Healthconnect, the last major Houston-area health system to do so.

Here's what you should know.

1. Healthconnect is a regional, community health information exchange. The system allows providers to access a patient's health information wherever they need it.

2. The exchange receives information from several different EHR systems, presenting to providers a complete medical picture regardless of the EHR system they use.

3. With HCA Healthcare's Gulf Coast Division joining the network, Healthconnect is now one of the largest HIEs in the U.S.

4. Greater Houston Healthconnect CEO Nick Bovino said, "Our community has spoken. With all health systems and most physicians contracted with Healthconnect, the remaining providers should connect for the benefit of their patients."

5. HCA Healthcare's Gulf Coast Division President Tony Villarreal said, "Participating in Healthconnect will assist HCA in delivering the highest quality care, enhance patient safety, improve efficiencies and ultimately drive overall patient satisfaction."
Holland (Mich.) Eye Surgery and Laser Center recently mailed notification letters to patients affected by a 2016 hacking incident, according to databreaches.net.

Here are seven insights.

1. On May 18, Holland Eye issued a statement on the breach to the Holland Sentinel and the incident appeared on HHS' Office for Civil Rights data breach reporting portal.

2. According to the statement, Holland Eye was able to confirm the breach March 28. Holland Eye said an "unauthorized individual accessed the list in June 2016 but concealed the extent of his or her access until" emailing the center March 19, 2018.

3. The hacker accessed a patient list that included patient names, addresses, birthdays, demographic information, health insurance information and Social Security numbers.

4. A hacker called Lifelock contacted databreaches.net and claimed responsibility for the breach. Lifelock claims to have demanded $10,000.00 from Holland Eye to help the organization secure its patients' data.

The hacker allegedly reached out to the clinic over 30 times over two years while selling more than 200 patients' information on AlphaBay and TradeRoute.

5. The OCR portal shows 42,200 patients were affected.

According to databreaches.net, Lifelock shared two date-stamped .csv files he stole from the network. One contained 42,229 records, and the other contained an additional 202,163 records.

6. The law requires entities to notify OCR within 60 days of detecting a data breach.

7. Holland Eye Surgery and Laser Center did not respond to Becker's ASC Review's request for comment.
Peabody, Mass.-based Orthopedic Surgical Center of the North Shore CEO Jarett Landman discusses the challenges his center faces and where North Shore is headed in the future.

Mr. Landman will speak at the Becker's ASC 25th Annual Meeting: The Business and Operations of ASCs, October 18-20, 2018 in Chicago. Click here to learn more and register.

Question: What is the biggest issue your ASC is facing today? What strategy are you using to overcome it?

Jarett Landman: Massachusetts was historically resistant to the transition of traditional inpatient cases  total joints and spine  to the outpatient ASC setting. In 2018, due to patient demand, insurer approval and successful proof of concept in other areas of the country, there has been incredible pressure to be first to market locally to offer these services. Like any new program adoption, careful consideration is given to development of clinical pathways, resource allocation, capital investment and infrastructural requirements. Thankfully, being a late adopter due to the state's regulatory restrictions has its benefits. It has given me the opportunity to leverage colleagues outside of the local geography for protocols as we begin to develop our own joint program.



Q: How is value-based care affecting your ASC or your plans for the future?

JL: I think we have always been well positioned for value-based care. As an independent ASC, we have always been the low-cost provider of services compared to our hospital or HOPD counterparts; same surgeons, same minimally invasive techniques, same quality outcomes and increased customer satisfaction due to the efficiencies and cost savings we provide to our patients. I am excited by the challenge that outpatient total joints will provide, as we again strive to prove that quality healthcare can be delivered safely, effectively and inexpensively.



Q: Over the next two to three years, what is the biggest opportunity for growth of your ASC?

JL: Without question it will be the growth of outpatient total joints and spine. For many years our greatest challenge was remaining lean in a healthcare ecosystem that favored hospital contracts, and that never fully rewarded the value we provided in our reimbursement. Now, as we can manage the episode of care in the outpatient setting effectively, we will open ourselves up to an entirely new book of business driving visits and revenue to the center.
A storage device stolen from Salt Lake City-based University of Utah's John A. Moran Eye Center contained personal and medical information for 607 patients.

Here's what you should know.

1. The health system learned of the theft April 3. The device contained information for patients at Salt Lake City-based University of Utah Hospital and Salt Lake City-based Primary Children's Hospital between July 1, 2014, and March 30.

2. The device contained the full and/or partial names of patients, images of their retina and medical reference numbers tying the data to patient records.

3. No financial data or social security numbers were compromised.

4. The health system informed those affected through mailed letters.

5. U of Utah Health said in a statement, "Protecting the confidentiality of our patients information is a core value for us. Please accept our apologies as we sincerely regret any inconvenience or concern caused by this event. U of U Health is implementing corrective measures and enhancing security in an effort to reduce the risk of an event like this occurring again."
Here are the five most popular gastroenterology and endoscopy stories for the week of May 28 to June 3, 2018.

1. Connecticut hospital seeks majority stake in endoscopy center for $2.3M  5 insights

Click here

2. Former GI physician accused of sexually assaulting patients retains medical license  6 important details

Click here

3. Happy 45th birthday, go get a colonoscopy

Click here

4. gMed rebranding as company readies to launch mobile suite  4 insights

Click here

5. CRC incidence, mortality rates continue to drop  8 insights

Click here
Despite legal pushback from its rival and a court ruling denying its initial construction proposal, Ocala, Fla.-based Munroe Regional Medical Center's latest proposal for a 66-bed facility was approved by the Florida Agency for Health Care Administration June 1, according to the Ocala Star Banner.

The Florida agency first approved Munroe Regional's proposal in December 2016, but three local hospitals owned by Nashville, Tenn.-based based Hospital Corporation of America filed a petition to block its construction..

In November, an administrative law judge sided with the petitioners and recommended that AHCA reverse its approval, claiming it was issued without sufficient analysis and the new hospital would hurt the ability of other are hospitals to hire and retain healthcare professionals.

AHCA reversed its approval Feb. 21.

Then Munroe Regional officials submitted a new certificate of need application for AHCA review, raising the estimated cost of the new facility from $102 million to $110 million.

"I'm very pleased to share with you today that our second application for a certificate of need to build a new hospital at the site of our TimberRidge Emergency Center was approved by the AHCA," Jim O'Loughlin, Munroe Regional's CEO, wrote to the hospital's board of trustees, according to the Ocala Star Banner.

While the Florida agency approved the certificate of need, any party can challenge the AHCA's decision for 21 days.

"This is a long process for us, and obviously there [are] still 21 days that any party can come and challenge that," Cary Pool, chairman of Munroe hospital's board, told the Ocala Star Banner. "I fully expect there will be a challenge."

Munroe Regional is operated by Franklin, Tenn.-based Community Health Systems, which agreed to sell the operating lease to Orlando-based Florida Hospital, pending approval from the Marion County Hospital District board.
Mercyhealth will appeal a June 1 court decision forcing it to halt plans to build a $79 million micro-hospital in Crystal Lake, Ill., according to The Northwest Herald.

Here are five things to know:

1. McHenry County Judge Thomas Meyer ruled June 1 that the proposed 13-bed facility failed to meet state criteria, ending a nearly yearlong battle between Crystal Lake-based Centegra Health System, Downers Grove, Ill.-based Advocate Health and the Illinois Health Facilities and Services Review Board.

2. Centegra and Advocate, which both have medical facilities in Crystal Lake, filed a lawsuit against the Illinois Review Board in July 2017, claiming the board failed to follow state requirements when it approved the facility to have just 13 beds. State criteria required the facility to have at least 100 beds.

3. The lawsuit called for the reversal of the board's approval and asked a judge to revoke Rockford, Ill.-based Mercyhealth's construction permit.

4. Mr. Meyer ruled June 1 in favor of Centegra and Advocate, claiming the facility failed to meet state criteria.

"The difficulty for this court is not the fact that the project failed to meet one or more of the applicable review criteria but rather that it completely disregarded it," Meyer wrote in his decision, according to the Northwest Herald. "It is clear that a 13-bed hospital is not close to meeting the requirement of such a facility containing 100 beds."

5. Mercyhealth President and CEO Javon Bea said he isn't giving up and plans to appeal the June 1 decision.

"We believe the courts decision is not representative of a proper understanding of the facts and law, and we will be appealing the decision," he told The Northwest Herald. "Over 4,500 residents of Crystal Lake signed a petition in support of the Mercyhealth Crystal Lake hospital, and we received overwhelming support from business and community leaders."
Some Missouri residents, particularly those in rural areas, are paying for air ambulance memberships to avoid high medical expenses, according to a St. Louis Post-Dispatch report.

The issue has become a focus for Missourians who don't live close to a trauma center and may find themselves in need of an air ambulance ride. They don't want to be saddled with additional out-of-pocket costs, and air ambulance service members typically are promised they won't have have to pay extra after a patient's transport, according to the newspaper report.

Poplar Bluff (Mo.) Fire Chief Ralph Stucker told.the Post-Dispatch some Missourians even have a sticker on their vehicle indicating which ambulance company someone should contact in case of an emergency, and some employers in the state have included air ambulance memberships as part of benefits offered to their employees.

Missourians in rural areas also see air ambulance memberships frequently advertised.

But air ambulance memberships are not without risks, the paper found, as sometimes the membership does not cover a competing air ambulance provider.

Air ambulance costs have been a hot topic in Missouri. The Post-Dispatch has reported several instances of Missouri families experiencing substantial air ambulance bills after medical emergencies. This occurs when the air ambulance provider is not in the patient's insurance network, meaning patients are on the hook for out-of-network expenses. Last month, U.S. Sen. Claire McCaskill, D-Mo., revealed she had drafted the Air Ambulance Consumer Protection Act, which would give the state more regulatory control over air ambulances.

More articles on healthcare finance:

Vanderbilt University Medical Center points to Epic rollout for 60% drop in operating income

Cleveland Clinic looks to rein in costs as Q1 operating income dips 22%

Pennsylvania hospital accused of overbilling state by $9M
New Jersey Democrat Gov. Phil Murphy signed legislation May 31 to combat surprise out-of-network medical expenses.

Here are eight things to know about the legislation:

1. The legislation, Assembly Bill No. 2039, addresses New Jersey's healthcare delivery system in terms of out-of-network billing and arbitration, as well as disclosure and transparency, according to the governor.

2. Under the bill, healthcare facilities and professionals are required to tell non-emergency patients up front whether the provider is in their insurance network. Healthcare facilities and professionals also are required to provide these patients with an estimate of fees when requested, among other requirements.

3. The legislation also changes provider billing practices for "emergency or urgent" out-of-network care. It specifically sets limits on how much a provider may charge in excess of a deductible, copayment or coinsurance amount the patient would pay within their insurance network, according to the governor.

4. Additionally, the legislation provides a path to resolve out-of-network billing disputes through arbitration. An arbitrator would ultimately decide disagreements between insurers and providers regarding reimbursement for care rendered.

5. Mr. Murphy praised the legislation: "We're closing the loophole and reining in excessive out-of-network costs to prevent residents from receiving that 'big surprise' in their mailbox. At the same time, we're making healthcare more affordable by ensuring these costs are not transferred to consumers through increased health premiums."

6. Supporters of the bill, including advocates for patients, senior citizens, labor unions and businesses, said they are also pleased with the law, hailing it as the strongest such law in the U.S., NJ Spotlight reports.

7. But some physicians, especially specialists, have expressed concerns about the legislation, saying it will negatively affect their negotiating power with insurers, patient care and their revenue, according to the Spotlight. Peter DeNoble, MD, an emergency physician and president of the New Jersey Doctor-Patient Alliance, said: "The law opens up a lot of uncertainty in the healthcare market. That trickles down to an access-to-care problem."

8. New Jersey's governor signed the bill nearly two months after lawmakers passed surprise billing legislation. It becomes effective 90 days after enactment.

Read the full Spotlight report here.

More articles on healthcare finance:

Vanderbilt University Medical Center points to Epic rollout for 60% drop in operating income

Cleveland Clinic looks to rein in costs as Q1 operating income dips 22%

Pennsylvania hospital accused of overbilling state by $9M
IBM confirmed it laid off several Watson Health employees just before the Memorial Day holiday, but the workforce changes don't mean IBM is ending its cognitive healthcare solutions arm, the Herald Sun reports.

An IBM spokesperson confirmed the layoffs, but refused to say how many people lost their jobs.

The layoffs only "[affected] a small percentage of our global Watson Health workforce as we move to more technology-intensive offerings, simplified processes and automation to drive speed," the spokesperson told the Herald Sun.

The extent of the restructuring is unclear. Online commenters at TheLayoff.com and Facebook page Watching IBM stated that nearly 50 percent to 70 percent of staff had been affected, adding that Watson Health's Dallas office employs 230 people, but its Cleveland office and its health analytics unit  Ann Arbor, Mich.-based Truven Health Analytics  likely staff more.

IBM has not filed a mass layoff notice in North Carolina  as is required under the federal Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification Act when a layoff affects more than 50 people if they make up a third or more of the staff at a "single site of employment." Additionally, no WARN Act filings have been submitted in Texas or Ohio, two other states reportedly affected by the layoffs, the Herald Sun reports.

IBM's Watson Health division sought to combine artificial intelligence, machine learning and big data analytics to help medical researchers drive discoveries and aid patient care. In 2015, IBM CEO Ginni Rometty said Watson is the "moon shot [that] will be the impact we have on healthcare."

The project's popularity took a turn after a Jefferies Financial Group report drew skepticism about Watson's promises, and a rollout failed at MD Anderson Cancer Center.

IBM CFO Jim Kavanaugh said the company took "about a $610 million [job] action" in the first quarter of 2018 to "continue repositioning our business."

Despite the setbacks, IBM is continuing its Watson Health division in a deal with Apollo Hospitals, a private healthcare system in India, where it will implement Watson in 10 facilities for oncology and genomics.

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Pikeville (Ky.) Medical Center has cut 130 positions, including 100 layoffs, as it aims for financial improvement, according to a Williamson Daily News report.

The cuts primarily affect support positions, Donovan Blackburn, the medical center's CEO, told media. One hundred employees were laid off, and another 30 positions  which were vacant from people who were fired, who retired or who quit  were cut.

The medical center attributed the cuts to its financial struggles. Mr. Blackburn told media 2016 was the hospital's best financial year, while 2017 was its worst.

The medical center hired about 600 people to staff an 11-story clinic and parking garage it finished in 2015, reports the Williamson Daily News. According to Mr. Blackburn, only 130 of those staffers will now remain.

The CEO said the medical center still plans to expand its heart and vascular institute.

The Williamson Daily News could not immediately reach Mr. Blackburn or the hospital's COO for more comments.

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Vermont Republican Gov. Phil Scott signed a bill May 30 that will pay people $10,000 over two years to move to Vermont and work remotely for an out-of-state employer, according to Quartz.

Vermont's working population is aging quickly, and legislators have been looking for ways to address this crisis. There will be 100 grants available over the first three years of the program, beginning Jan. 1, 2019, with funding for 20 additional grants every year after.

The state also launched an initiative called "Stay to Stay Weekends" which hopes to entice tourists to move to Vermont by offering networking events with employers, entrepreneurs and real estate agents during four select weekends.
Franklin, Tenn.-based Community Health Systems is taking many steps, including divesting hospitals, to improve its finances and reduce its heavy debt load.

As part of a 2016 turnaround plan, CHS announced it would sell off 30 hospitals in 2017. CHS completed the divestiture plan Nov. 1. To further reduce its debt, CHS said it intends to sell another group of hospitals with combined revenue of $2 billion.

CHS has already made progress toward that goal. The company has sold several hospitals this year, including five last week.

On the morning of June 1, the company announced it sold three Tennessee hospitals to Jackson-based West Tennessee Healthcare. Later that day, CHS said it divested 60-bed Byrd Regional Hospital in Leesville, La., to Allegiance Health Management in Shreveport, La., and sold 85-bed Tennova Healthcare-Jamestown (Tenn.) to West Palm Beach, Fla.-based Rennova Health.

CHS will use the proceeds from the transactions to reduce its long-term debt load, which totaled $13.86 billion as of March 31.

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The Georgia Board of Nurses handles over half of its disciplinary cases in secret  meaning patients cannot know which nurses are abusing drugs, how many nurses are addicted or how many relapse, an Atlanta Journal-Constitution investigation found.

Six things to know:

1. The AJC noted one case in which a registered nurse from LaGrange, Ga., displayed "strange behavior" while caring for patients. The nurse's supervisors found patients had not received their medication 27 times  prompting the board to issue a confidential order. The order came to light only after the opioid-addicted nurse failed to comply and had her license suspended.

2. Other Georgia nurses with substance abuse issues have been given second, third and fourth chances when they relapsed, the AJC investigation revealed. The board put one nurse on probation in 2002 for chemical dependence, again in 2013 after she was fired for diverting morphine, and again in 2017 after she had another relapse.

3. GOP Rep. Sharon Cooper of Georgia, MSN, RN, said the nursing board, which consists of nearly all nurses, is more concerned with protecting the nursing profession than patients. "We have boards to protect the public, not to be soft touches," Ms. Cooper said. "I know how bad the drug problem is. And so I really think that the first priority should be to the patient's protection."

4. Janice Izlar, RN, CRNA, who has been president of the nursing board since July 2016, said patient protection is the priority. However, the secrecy helps get nurses more quickly under the board's supervision so the board can monitor them and hold them accountable, Ms. Izlar said.

If the board gets into a battle over trying to revoke nursing licenses, it can be stuck in legal battles for several years, which means these nurses would still be caring for patients without any monitoring from the board, Ms. Izlar said. The lengthy investigative process frequently ends up with an addiction specialist certifying a nurse in recovery is safe to practice, with conditions to keep the nurses under closer supervision, she added.

5. Instead, the board often offers private orders as a way to negotiate this process. "Many times, the nurse does not want their name on a public Board of Nursing website that there has been discipline action," Ms. Izlar said. "And so they will accept the order and actually get under monitoring and under appropriate care that has been determined by their physician. And they will actually sign this order much quicker, and they will go ahead and get into the programs and into monitoring much quicker."

Among other requirements, drug-addicted nurses are required to enter aftercare treatment, submit to random drug screens, notify employers, submit quarterly reports from employers and the nurse's physician and steer clear of jobs with access to drugs. However, these terms end as soon as the order ends, so the drug history of nurses who received private orders remains concealed.

6. Out of 333 disciplinary orders the Georgia Board of Nursing issued in 2017, over half (54 percent) were private, according to statistics the AJC obtained through an open records request. Ms. Izlar said just under half of last year's private orders were alcohol- or drug-related. She could not say how many of the cases involving opioids, she said.

"We encourage consumers to do their homework about their hospitals and providers," said Beth Stephens, a senior policy director for Georgia Watch, the state's leading nonprofit consumer advocacy organization. "So if information about provider discipline is shielded from the public, it makes doing that research very difficult."
Baylor St. Luke's Medical Center in Houston, part of Englewood, Colo.-based Catholic Health Initiatives, put its heart transplant program on a 14-day inactive status June 1, according to ProPublica.

Here are seven things to know:

1. The hospital will turn away all donor hearts while the transplant program is suspended. St. Luke's officials decided to pause the program after a recent investigative report by ProPublica and the Houston Chronicle revealed the hospital's heart transplant survival rate ranks near the bottom nationally, and at least three of nine patients who received heart transplants at the hospital so far in 2018 have died.

2. "We greatly respect and value the trust patients and their families have placed in us over the years, and believe this temporary pause will serve their best interests," Doug Lawson, CEO of CHI Texas Division, said in a written statement to ProPublica. "Although extensive reviews are conducted on each unsuccessful transplant, the recent patient outcomes deserve an in-depth review before we move forward with the program. Our prayers are with the families, as well as all those on the waiting list."

3. The hospital temporarily suspended its heart transplant program about two weeks after ProPublica and the Houston Chronicle reported the program's high volume of transplants in recent years resulted in deaths and unusual complications. The program has also lost several top physicians in recent years, according to the report.

4. Eighty-five percent of patients who received a new heart at St. Luke's between the summer of 2014 and the end of 2016 survived, compared to 91.4 percent nationally, according to ProPublica, which cited data from the Scientific Registry of Transplant Recipients.

5. St. Luke's and Baylor College of Medicine officials told ProPublica improvements were made to the hospital's heart transplant program after a string of deaths in 2015, and the program's one-year survival rate after heart transplants reached 94 percent in 2016 and 2017.

6. At least three of the nine patients who received heart transplants at St. Luke's since the beginning of this year have died, according to ProPublica, which cited information provided by the hospital, data from the United Network for Organ Sharing and interviews with patients' family members.

7. St. Luke's launched a website, HeartTransplantFacts.org, to counter the findings included in the original investigative report by ProPublica and the Houston Chronicle. On June 1, the site was replaced with a notice about the heart transplant program's temporary inactive status.

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The Durham (N.C.) Veterans Affairs Medical center purchased nearly $1.4 million in supplies in 2014 that were sent to a storage facility and never unpacked, according to Stars and Stripes.

The hospital bought $385,000 in computer equipment and $1 million worth of equipment, including vital sign machines, dental chairs and cabinets, according to an anonymous whistleblower who alerted the Special Counsel Office of the U.S. Justice Department in 2017. The goods were stored off-site for years before being discovered, still unused.

"The equipment was stored in an off-site storage facility for several years with no plan in place to put the equipment into use, or to place it at another VA facility with a bona fide need," reads a VA report to the special counsel in 2017.

The facility previously was cited for gathering and using bottled water that expired in 2010, which violates VA policy that states bottled water must be used within one year of purchase.
Phoenix-based The Core Institute's management company is re-branding as Healthcare Outcomes Performance Company, or HOPCo.

HOPCo provides services to manage physician practices, clinically integrated networks and service lines within hospitals using health IT platforms and protocols. The company also works with payers on population health initiatives.

"From managing physician practices in new and unique ways to partnering with hospitals and payers, HOPCo's management services are delivering optimum patient care and increased profitability through value creation," said HOPCo Chairman and CEO David Jacofsky, MD. "We will take on full population-based risk in the musculoskeletal space based on our platform's performance."

Here are four things to know:

1. HOPCo aims to help organizations provide better outcomes for orthopedic patients at a lower cost. The company extends cost savings to patients, hospitals and insurers.

2. With proprietary IT tools and decision-support platforms, HOPCo works with physicians and hospitals to drive evidence-based medicine, tracking data and preventing complications in real time. "We're now able to produce validated predictive analytics, assuring patients the best likelihood of a good outcome," Dr. Jacofsky said.

3. The company has already demonstrated success with managing population health with its medical economics team in addition to the claims analytics tools and wellness programs. HOPCo partners with The Core Institute and Phoenix-based Banner Health already.

4. HOPCo plays a role in clinically integrated networks, aiming to control the continuum of care.
The body representing Northern Ireland's architects has appointed a new president.

Joan McCoy has taken over the reins at the Royal Society of Ulster Architects (RSUA) from outgoing president Paul Crowe.

"Architecture has a tremendous capacity to make life better," Ms McCoy said.

Ms McCoy is a founding director of White Ink Architects, based in Belfast.

The company provides a wide range of architectural services in residential, commercial, industrial and complex projects in both the public and private sector.

Ms McCoy was given the new title at the organisation's annual general meeting at the Titanic Hotel in Belfast.

"I am delighted to take on this leadership role on behalf of architects - and architecture - across Northern Ireland," she said.

"Architects are not just designers they are place makers, shaping our homes, workplaces and daily lives.

"The service they offer improves every project, large or small.

"I wish to pay tribute to my predecessor Paul Crowe - it is thanks to him the society is in such a strong position today."

She added: "His hard work and good judgment have increased the profile and stature of the society and I am grateful to him."

Just last month the RSUA awarded the Liam McCormick Prize for Northern Ireland's building of the year to St Bronagh's Primary School in Rostrevor by d-on architects.
Investment of 150m in ultrafast fibre broadband in country areas of Northern Ireland could generate 1.2bn for the economy, it has been claimed.

A report commissioned by BT found that for every 1 invested in ultrafast fibre broadband, there could be a benefit of around 8 to the economy over the next 15 years.

The main areas to benefit would be in the Fermanagh and Omagh District Council and Mid-Ulster District Council areas, which have been described as being the most disadvantaged when it comes to high-speed broadband.

The authors of the report said the investment in ultrafast broadband would help to realise several of the aims set out in the Department for the Economy's industrial strategy.

These aims include reducing economic inactivity, improving collaboration, increasing global competitiveness and supporting sectors of the economy that rely on digital connectivity.

The report was written by Dr Dan Maldoom, of economic consultancy DotEcon, who called for urgent action.

"Despite the challenges of broadband delivery in the more rural areas of Northern Ireland, high-speed fibre broadband is vital to economic, environmental and even social wellbeing," Dr Maldoom insisted. "This report highlights the potential economic return of the Government's 150m investment in more rural areas.

"(It also highlights) other key benefits to communities across Northern Ireland, such as a reduction in carbon emissions, enhanced digital inclusion and wider access to e-health."

The Government is due to announce plans for investment in the expansion of fibre broadband in Northern Ireland.

Last year, the Government announced funding of 75m per year over two years to provide ultrafast broadband - of speeds of more than 100Mbps - as part of its supply and confidence deal with the DUP.

In April, the Department for the Economy announced it would begin a consultation with political parties on how to use the 150m.
Theresa May, Arlene Foster and Nigel Dodds during talks to finalise DUP confidence and supply agreement

EU negotiators have reportedly set a 12-week deadline for Prime Minister Theresa May to resolve the Irish border issue.

The Cabinet is still examining how to deal with the frontier once the UK quits the European Union next March.

Both the UK and the EU say they are committed to keeping the border open after Brexit - however, a practical solution has not been agreed.

Yesterday DUP leader Arlene Foster threatened to pull out of a deal to prop up Mrs May's Government if it adopts a Brexit deal that treats Northern Ireland differently to the rest of the UK.

Mrs Foster again warned that customs parity with Britain was a "red line" for her party, whose 10 MPs support the Conservatives in Westminster.

The warning came just days after reports that a 10-mile wide buffer zone could be created on the northern side of the frontier - a suggestion dubbed "Alice in Wonderland thinking".

It also came as the PSNI shelved plans to close three border stations because of the uncertainty around Brexit.

The Brussels warning was reportedly issued by Eurocrat Sabine Weyand to UK Brexit negotiator Oliver Robbins.

She has indicated the UK has to come to the negotiating table with what the European Commission sees as a "realistic" position by the end of the summer.

At the weekend the Irish Government indicated the timeframe was even shorter.

Simon Coveney, the Republic's Foreign Minister, said the UK must submit written proposals in the next two weeks or face an uncertain summer of talks.

The DUP insists any Brexit settlement will only have the party's support if it applies to the whole of the UK.

The party is adamant there must be no special arrangements which separate Northern Ireland from Britain.

Yesterday the PSNI confirmed that three border stations earmarked for disposal will now not be sold because of uncertainty about what resources will be needed post-Brexit.

Assistant Chief Constable Stephen Martin said: "The PSNI has a responsibility to keep people safe and we constantly review our resources to ensure that we are best equipped to do this. In light of the UK referendum vote to leave the EU, we are reviewing decisions we previously made about some of our stations identified for disposal.

"Accordingly, it is our intention to pause the disposal of three stations in border areas, namely Warrenpoint, Castlederg and Aughnacloy.

"As the PSNI has not yet received details regarding potential border arrangements, this is a precautionary step to ensure that, whatever Brexit looks like in the future, we will be able to continue to keep our communities safe."

Last week Police Federation chairman Mark Lindsay told this newspaper that at least four major PSNI stations will be needed in border areas to cope with a post-Brexit terror threat.

In other developments yesterday, ministers were forced to deny reports that civil servants have been drawing up scenarios for a 'Doomsday Brexit' that would leave the UK short of medicine, fuel and food within days if it leaves the EU without an agreed trade deal. It is the latest in a series of difficulties facing Mrs May as she struggles to pull together a workable Brexit action plan as negotiating deadlines loom.

Brussels has already rejected several proposals brought forward by the UK Government.

These include a 'customs partnership' idea which proposed that the UK could collect tariffs on behalf of the EU after Brexit, and a plan called 'max-fac' which would manage the Irish border trade and customs issues through technological solutions and a 'trusted trader' scheme.
A shortage of seasonal workers may result in rotten crops and lost profits in Northern Ireland, as industry insiders say the Government needs to allow non-EU workers into the UK.

Workers from Eastern Europe are said to be choosing to stay on the Continent as the implications of Brexit, a weak pound and high travel costs to the UK take their toll.

Shane Donnelly, one of the directors at Donnelly Horticulture near Maghery in Co Armagh, which supplies supermarkets with lettuce and cut flowers, said keeping labour is becoming more difficult.

"We have some people who are going back home to Bulgaria again, and we're finding it hard trying to get people to replace them," he said.

Mr Donnelly said his company is behind with planting at the moment. "We are able to get our stuff picked, but we're not able to get enough stuff planted ... that's one downfall at the moment of some people leaving, as such, and of not being able to replenish your staffing requirements," he added.

Mr Donnelly said the shortage of workers is as much an issue in Northern Ireland and the Republic as it is in Britain.

Stephanie Maurel (above), chief executive of Concordia, which supplies around 10,000 foreign workers to 200 farms in the UK each year, said the company could be 10% short this year, adding that, nationally, the picture will be "a lot, lot worse".

"It's compounding the misery for growers who are planting, and literally they are looking out of their windows not knowing if they're going to have enough workers to harvest and gather in the crops and the fruit," she said.

She added that up to five offers are being put to each seasonal worker but large numbers are not accepting. "The money itself is reasonable, and that doesn't come out as a complaint when we do our surveys and focus groups. What does is that the strength of the pound means that when they convert back into euro and to local currency they're usually better off going to Germany or Scandinavia, because Brexit has actually had an impact on the comparison rates, which is one thing," she revealed.

Ms Maurel said the cost of travel is another issue, with flights from Bulgaria or Romania to Scotland costing up to 250.

And Eastern European countries also now offer a lot more opportunities than they once did.

As well as rotten crops, there are many other consequences to deal with due to a shortage of seasonal workers, such as businesses going bust, farms going into administration and a hit on investing in farms.

Ms Maurel said the Government needs to give the go-ahead to recruit workers outside the EU.

"It's not an immigration issue. It's an agriculture issue," she said.

Alison Capper, a farmer who is chair of the National Farmers Union horticulture and potatoes board, said the consequences of a shortage will be wasted crops and lost revenue and profit, and potentially empty shelves in supermarkets. She said anecdotally it seems growers "have just about enough labour", but that the industry is "very concerned" about the summer months.

"What we've seen happening since the referendum, sterling's devalued, that's one reason. We're not as attractive a place to come and work."

A Government spokesman said: "Defra and the Home Office are working closely to ensure the labour needs of the agriculture sector are met once we leave the EU. We have been clear that up until December 2020, employers in the agricultural and food processing sectors will be free to recruit EU citizens to fill vacancies and those arriving to work will be able to stay in the UK afterwards."
The government has been urged to publish any papers that outline potential 'doomsday' consequences of a no-deal Brexit.

A leaked Whitehall assessment, reportedly setting out the impact of failing to reach an agreement with the EU, was published yesterday by the Sunday Times.

Ministers quickly moved to dismiss reports that civil servants have been drawing up scenarios that would leave the UK short of medicine, fuel and food.

Sinn Fein MP Chris Hazzard called on the government to outline its plans to resolve the border issue.

But Home Secretary Sajid Javid told the BBC's Andrew Marr Show: "I have to say I don't recognise any bit of that at all and as Home Secretary .. I am deeply involved in 'no deal preparations' as much as I am in getting a deal - I'm confident we will get a deal.

"From the work that I have seen and the analysis that has been done, those outcomes ... I don't think any of them would come to pass."

Mr Javid said the government was making progress with Brexit plans, saying: "I'm confident that as we get to the June council meeting, the Prime Minister will have a good set of proposals and our colleagues in Europe will respond positively."

Last month, officials from the Brexit, health and transport departments 'gamed' three scenarios for a no-deal Brexit, according to the Sunday Times.

They considered a 'mild' outcome, a 'severe' shock, and one dubbed 'Armageddon'.

A source said: "In the second scenario, not even the worst, the port of Dover will collapse on day one.

"The supermarkets in Cornwall and Scotland will run out of food within a couple of days, and hospitals will run out of medicines within two weeks."

The assessment suggested that charter aircraft or the RAF would have to be used to ferry supplies around the country.

"You would have to medevac medicine into Britain, and at the end of week two we would be running out of petrol as well," a source said.

Brexiteers attacked the assessment, with Tory former leader Iain Duncan Smith branding it the new Project Fear.

Fellow Conservative MP Conor Burns, who is from Belfast, said: "Do the authors of these reports realise how supine and pathetic they make our country look to the rest of the world?

"The group-think of the last 45 years makes too many incapable of seeing that the EU is not the cause of all good."

Mr Hazzard, the MP for South Down, said any documents relating to a no-deal Brexit must be made public.

"The British Government must allow full public scrutiny of these papers. It is totally unacceptable that they continue to drive us towards the cliff-edge knowing the cataclysmic effects of a no deal exit from Europe," he said.

"We already know from previous scenario planning exercises that the north of Ireland will be worse hit in any Brexit scenario.

"Bearing in mind today's revelations, it is absolutely imperative that the British Government also now publish legal texts on their plans to deal with Ireland."
The mother of a 15-month-old Downpatrick boy with cystic fibrosis is urging the Prime Minister to step in to provide a "life-changing" new drug on the NHS.

Jen Banks (33) said her son Lorcan Maguire is already showing signs of deterioration due to the genetic disease.

It affects around one in 19 people in Ireland and causes a build-up of thick, sticky mucus in the lungs, digestive system and other organs.

Campaigners are calling for the drug Orkambi, which is already available to cystic fibrosis sufferers in the Republic, to be introduced in Northern Ireland and the rest of the UK.

Last month, hundreds of letters were delivered to Theresa May from families and children asking for Orkambi. A protest calling for access to the drug will take place at Belfast City Hall on June 22 from noon until 2pm.

Orkambi is currently not available on the NHS in the UK, with the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) saying that "for the benefits it offers, the cost of Orkambi is currently too high".

Ms Banks said she and husband Dermot knew nothing about cystic fibrosis when Lorcan was born.

"He is a gorgeous, wonderful child, but he is already showing signs of deterioration, with thickening of mucus in his lungs and inability to absorb nutrients from food.

"He has a cough all the time, and every day he has to take two nebuliser drugs, 20 enzymes, two vitamin tablets and two antibiotic tablets - and he is pretty well at the minute. He has to have physio two or three times a day when he is well, to get the mucus to loosen up.

"The main issue which causes death is what happens in the lungs with the mucus - they become a perfect breeding ground for bacteria, so they get infection after infection, then deteriorate.

"Every time we go out and someone coughs you panic, if you smell smoke you panic. We use antibacterial gel constantly.

"My father has Pseudomonas in his lungs and he and Lorcan have to stay three metres apart, which is heartbreaking.

"When he was born we were told by the midwife that life expectancy was up to 31, but these new drugs would mean he could live up until the age of around 47."

Ms Banks said that Orkambi represents a revolutionary treatment for cystic fibrosis.

She continued: "Other drugs only deal with the symptoms, whereas Orkambi actually helps the movement of salt and water through the cells, working at the root of the problem.

"In the Republic, they also have a pipeline deal whereby new drugs for cystic fibrosis are made available when they are developed, and the new drugs being developed now could help up to 90% of sufferers.

"They already have this drug in the Republic, America and across Europe, where it can be used from six years old."

In the absence of a Health Minister, Ms Banks is calling on Mrs May to take action. She added: "Lorcan will die from this unless something is made available. It's really heartbreaking for me."

A Department of Health spokesperson said: "NICE does not recommend the use of lumacaftor and ivacaftor (Orkambi) for treating cystic fibrosis and has published guidance to this effect (TA398).

"In August 2016, the department endorsed TA398 as applicable here, therefore Orkambi is not offered as a routinely commissioned treatment for cystic fibrosis."

A government spokesman said: "Cystic fibrosis is a life-limiting condition and it is absolutely right that patients should have access to cost-effective, innovative medicines and technologies on the NHS. However, Orkambi has not been approved by the healthcare regulatory bodies in England, Scotland or Northern Ireland."
Patrick Brown is challenging his suspension as a councillor after he was convicted of drink driving.

An Alliance councillor was wrongly suspended from his elected position following a drink-driving conviction, the High Court heard.

Lawyers for Patrick Brown claimed the six-month sanction should not have been imposed because the offence had nothing to do with his public role.

The Newry, Mourne and Down councillor is appealing his suspension after being found to have breached the local government code of conduct.

He was held to have brought the council into disrepute by riding his motorbike while under the influence of alcohol in March last year.

But his barrister, Kevin Denvir, argued that the conviction was not covered by a code of conduct confined to matters of public life.

He told the court: "There's nothing in it which would alert the reasonable person to the possibility that a drink-driving offence would fall within the scope of the code."

Mr Brown is challenging the sanction imposed by the Northern Ireland Local Government Commissioner for Standards.

Earlier this year he referred himself to the watchdog after being fined and banned from driving.

In a statement at the time he described his actions as a "a complete error of judgement and entirely out of character for me both as a person and a public representative".

Following an investigation the Commissioner imposed the six-month suspension on the grounds that his conduct had resulted on a conviction and was likely to to diminished public trust and confidence.

Mr Brown, who is reportedly continuing in his role as a councillor pending the outcome of his appeal, was not in court for the hearing.

However, his legal team argued that the penalty was incorrect and should be quashed.

Censuring the councillor for his behaviour would have been a more appropriate sanction, they contended.

Tony McGleenan QC, for the Commissioner, countered that the code of conduct applies at all times - even within a councillor's private life.

Following submissions Mrs Justice Keegan reserved judgment on the challenge.
Bernie Smyth of Precious Life told the Belfast Telegraph she wasn't in a "position to comment" and urged us to contact the centre directly

A Belfast pregnancy centre set up by US anti-abortion activists is falsely telling women abortion causes breast cancer and infertility, an investigation has found.

The Times reported that a counsellor at Stanton Healthcare, based on Great Victoria Street, was secretly recorded telling an undercover reporter that she was "too beautiful for abortion" and a termination would make her breasts "fill with cancer". The centre describes itself as providing "up-to-date, medically accurate information" to pregnant women.

The reporter, claiming to be five weeks pregnant, was reportedly told by the Stanton counsellor that she faced a 50% higher risk of breast cancer by having an abortion before a first child.

The counsellor is also reported to have said: "Girls under 18 who have an abortion - this is drastic - the risk of developing breast cancer increases by 100%."

She also is reported to have claimed that tens of thousands of cancers had been "directly linked to abortion". These claims have been debunked by medical professionals and condemned by a senior gynaecologist as "despicable" bullying of vulnerable women.

Stanton Healthcare, set up by US Christian activist Brandi Swindell, opened in Belfast in 2015, with the backing of high-profile anti-abortion group, Precious Life.

Bernie Smyth of Precious Life told the Belfast Telegraph she wasn't in a "position to comment" and urged us to contact the centre directly.

Since the investigations, UK regulations have been tightened in a bid to crack down on agencies who mislead women seeking information on abortion.

Once the industry is regulated the government plans to change the law so that anyone using the title of crisis pregnancy counsellor would have to be registered.

Anyone posing as a counsellor could face criminal charges.

Stanton Healthcare was contacted by the Belfast Telegraph, but did not respond last night.

However, it told The Times: "Many women in Northern Ireland have sought and found invaluable support at Stanton Belfast during their pregnancy and beyond."
Leah Weir was on holiday in France when she died

A community in Belfast is in shock after the sudden death of Shankill woman Leah Weir while on holiday.

The 28-year-old hairdresser was with friends in France.

Leah's pal Carly Bell Hoey penned a moving tribute to Leah on her Facebook page.

"There are no words that can ever begin to describe the heartache right now," she posted.

"To wake up to such devastation this morning has ripped the hearts from us all... you are the most precious beautiful soul and we are so blessed to have got to spend the last few days with you having the absolute time of our lives."

Beautician Carly described the emotional moment when she had to inform Leah's family of their daughter's death.

"We will never forget the gut wrenching moment and had the painful task of telling those who cared about you that you'd gone," she wrote.

"We don't know what you were thinking - we were all around you and love you with every inch of our entirety.

"You could no longer fight your demons, there are no magic pills or quick fixes for your mental health.

"28 years old and so much to live for, my dad loved you like a daughter, you talked of your next adventure only last night.

"I don't know what switch is hit or how it happened but you said yesterday was the best day of your life.

"To Leah's family - we will get through this together - I love you all and will see you soon."

Leah - also known as Lele - had only just updated her own Facebook profile picture at the weekend.

Carly wrote: "Your beautiful profile picture yesterday made our hearts warm. If only you could see yourself from our eyes.

"It's goodbye for now but not forever, sleep easy best friend, you will be missed more than words can say.

"We love you to infinity."

North Belfast MLA William Humphrey also sent a message of sympathy and condolence to Leah's grieving family.

"My thoughts and sympathies are with Jim, Deborah and the wider family circle," he said.

"The local community is deeply saddened by this tragic loss of life.

"It's so sad that yet another life, a beautiful young lady, has been lost."
Former residents of Magdalene laundries and mother and baby homes in Northern Ireland have been urged to take part in new research. (PA)

Former residents of Magdalene laundries and mother and baby homes in Northern Ireland have been urged to take part in new research.

Hundreds of local women were forced to stay in facilities run by the state, as well as Catholic and Protestant organisations.

Relatively little is known about how the organisations here were run compared to those in the Irish Republic.

There, survivors of Magdalene laundries and their relatives have relived the horrors of rape, abuse and lost lives as they renewed calls for redress.

Last month, a BBC investigation reported that some children may have been moved out of the UK without their mothers consent from Marianvale mother and baby home in Newry, which operated between 1955 and 1984.

The Department of Health has commissioned a year-long research project to build up a detailed picture of the day-to-day practices of a number of relvant institutions, which may be used to decide if a full public inquiry is needed.

The researchers have also confirmed they will address the allegations of illegal adoption.

Professor Sean OConnell from Queens University, Belfast is leading the research with Dr Leanne McCormick from Ulster University.

Professor OConnell said: A smaller number of residential homes operated as so-called Magdalene laundries and a large number of women worked in them, for various lengths of time.

We know a lot about the general history of these mother and baby homes and Magdalene homes; for example, they were all closed by the 1980s and 1990s.

However, much is unknown about the circumstances in which young women found themselves in these institutions.

Dr McCormick urged women who experienced life as a resident of a mother and baby home and/or a Magdalene laundry in Northern Ireland to come forward.

Others with dealings with these institutions at any point before the 1990s have been encouraged to take part. They include clergy, members of religious orders, social workers, family welfare officers, adoption agency employees, medical staff and health and safety inspectors.

Dr McCormick said she understood the experiences were deeply personal and could be distressing for residents and their wider families.

We can reassure any participants that the research will be conducted in a sensitive manner and that there will also be support systems in place for those who choose to come forward to share their personal testimony.

The identities of all interviewees will also be anonymous and will not be revealed without their written permission.

The institutions included in the research are:

1 Good Shepherd Sisters / Marianville / St Marys - 511 Ormeau Rd, Belfast - Type: Mother and Baby Home / Magdalene Laundry

2 Good Shepherd Sisters/ Marianvale / St Marys - 132 Armagh Rd, Newry - Type: Mother and Baby Home / Magdalene Laundry

3 Good Shepherd Sisters / St Marys - Derry Magdalene Laundry, 4 Mater Dei Hostel, 298 Antrim Rd, Belfast - Type: Mother and Baby Home

5 Belfast Midnight Mission / Malone Place Rescue and Maternity Home - Malone Road, Belfast - Type: Mother and Baby Home / Magdalene Laundry

6 Thorndale House (Salvation Army) - Duncairn Avenue, Belfast - Type: Mother and Baby Home

7 Kennedy House - 8 Cliftonville Ave, Belfast - Type: Mother and Baby Home

8 Hopedene Hostel - 55 Dundeal Avenue - Type: Mother and Baby Home

9 Belfast Welfare Hostel - Lisburn Rd, Belfast - Type: Local authority former workhouse

10 Coleraine Welfare Hostel- Type: Local authority former workhouse

11 Mount Oriel Hostel - 4 Mount Oriel, Belfast - Type: Mother and Baby Home

12 Deanery Flatlets- Type: Independent accommodation for unwed mothers

13 Pre-1948 Workhouses - Type: Multifunctional institutions that catered for various groups including unmarried mothers
IRA atrocity banners erected close to a mixed housing estate in south Belfast should be removed, the housing authority behind the scheme said.

New loyalist posters highlighted the republican Kingsmill shootings of 10 Protestant workmen in Co Armagh in 1976 and the 1987 Enniskillen Poppy Day blast.

They were attached to lampposts off Ravenhill Avenue and included the hashtag Stand up against sectarianism, a slogan used by Sinn Fein last year.

Latest campaign by loyalists to intimidate & harass Catholic tenants of shared housing schemes in S Belfast is shameful. This is price of DUP electoral pact with yesterdays men. Radius Housing & PSNI have duty to act before more Catholic families are forced from their homes.  Mairtin O Muilleoir (@newbelfast) June 4, 2018

John McLean, chief executive of Radius Housing which overseas the development, said: These banners should not have been erected and should be removed immediately.

There was no consultation with the people who live in this area and the imagery used is not appropriate for a shared living scheme which is home to families from all backgrounds.

We strongly feel that this is not an appropriate way to display events of the past.

The organisation contacted the PSNI and politicians about signs which referred to a number of republican attacks during the conflict, including the IRAs Shankill bombing in 1993 which killed nine innocent victims.

Mr McLean added: Our staff have been on site to ensure that everyone can enjoy living in their homes and local community without any type of intimidation.

Our prime concern is the welfare of the people who live in Cantrell Close and Global Crescent, and they should not be the focus of a wider political debate.

Last year four Catholic families in Cantrell Close left their homes due to sectarian threats.

Last month loyalist flags in the area were removed.

Expand Close The banners appeared in a mixed housing area (Mairtin O Muilleoir/PA) Press Association Images / Facebook

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Whatsapp The banners appeared in a mixed housing area (Mairtin O Muilleoir/PA)

Sinn Fein Assembly member Mairtin O Muilleoir said it was no coincidence that loyalists were targeting the shared housing schemes at Cantrell and Global.

Theirs is the politics of division and subtraction.

However, they cannot be allowed to defeat the vast majority of the people of Belfast who believe in the politics of addition and multiplication.

SDLP Assembly member Claire Hanna said the atrocities depicted were appalling, sectarian and unjustifiable, but these banners were designed to achieve nothing more than stirring up tension and intimidating residents.

In a grotesque irony, those who erected these banners also put up UVF flags on all routes to these housing developments and have taken no opportunity to condemn the UVFs numerous appalling, sectarian and unjustifiable murders.

Victims of any background deserve more than being used as pawns for one set of paramilitary apologists to score points off another.

DUP South Belfast MP Emma Little-Pengelly has been involved in efforts to defuse tensions in the area.

The DUP has also in the past called for threats against Catholics in the area to be lifted.
Dairdre Hargey said she was mayor for all (Niall Carson/PA)

Sinn Feins new Belfast mayor has said she is willing to consider attending this years historic Remembrance Sunday commemoration in the city.

Deirdre Hargey said she wanted to be a mayor for all citizens and would reach out to the Royal British Legion and locally-based Somme Association to discuss ways to mark the 100th anniversary of the end of the First World War.

Previous Belfast Sinn Fein mayors have laid laurel wreaths in July to commemorate the Battle of the Somme and at the short ceremony at 11am on November 11, the time of the Armistice in 1918.

But they have yet to attend the fuller Remembrance Sunday event, citing concerns over British military trappings.

Sinn Fein president Mary Lou McDonald attended a Remembrance Sunday church service at St Patricks Cathedral in Dublin last year.

Its important that we use these events to reach out and to build cohesion within the communityDeirdre Hargey

I am mayor for all, thats for the unionist community, the nationalist community, new communities that have set up home in Belfast, and I want to reflect that in my year in office, said Ms Hargey.

I think Belfast City Council have done good work around the Decade of Centenaries programme and I attended many events which wouldnt have been from my own background per se.

She added: I do think its important that we use these events to reach out and to build cohesion within the community, that we learn from them.

There are political narratives and different narratives on what happened in our past and I think that all of those narratives need to be respected.

What I hope to do is use the learning of that past in building a cohesive and integrated and shared future in the time ahead.

I will follow suit with other Sinn Fein mayors in the past in terms of the Somme commemoration in July and I would do the same process in terms of paying my respects to that.

Other commemorations I want to look at  I will look at all of those in detail.

I will want to pay my respects to all of those who lost their lives in the wars and indeed other conflicts and indeed the political conflict that happened here in Ireland.

I will address all of those with sensitivity and also in a way of reaching out across the community and representing the community and I will look at those individual issues.

I am also keen to engage with the likes of the Somme Association, the Royal British Legion, to see if there are events that we can do collectively, that recognises that we do have a political past with different narratives to that past but with a recognition that we need to move forward together and thats what I aim to do.

Asked would she consider attending Remembrance Sunday in November, she said: I will consider all requests that come into the office, yes.

Ms Hargey, 38, said she wanted to use her year in office to advance rights issues.

She said she hoped she could play a role in delivering abortion reform, same-sex marriage and protections for Irish language speakers.

I would like to see my year as the mayor for Belfast to enhance those rights, campaign for those rights and be the mayor for equality and rights in Belfast, she said.

The Sinn Fein councillor said she did not believe the promotion of issues that were the source of political contention in Northern Ireland undermined a commitment to be mayor for all.

I am the first citizen for all in Belfast and I do think its important to reflect all views in the city, she said.

That said, I think issues around rights are non-negotiable and I do think as the first citizen I need to stand with those people who are demanding their basic human rights and as the first citizen I will certainly do that.

There has been a sea change right across this island and people want a rights-based society, so I do hope over my year in office there will be advancement for Irish language rights, for marriage equality rights and for increased healthcare rights for women in terms of access in abortion.

I do see there are fundamental human rights that as a society we have a duty to implement and push ahead on.

I will stand with those citizens.
Theresa May has been warned that the campaign for same-sex marriage in Northern Ireland is not going away.

Several thousand activists marched through Belfast at the weekend to demand an end to the ban on gay marriage.

Demonstrators said they would not support a revived Executive if it was not accompanied by an overhaul of the petition of concern, the controversial voting mechanism that has blocked a law change here.

The UK Government has come under pressure to legislate on the issue amid the ongoing absence of power-sharing.

Speaking at Saturday's rally, Armagh-born Labour MP Conor McGinn, who failed in a recent bid to change the law through a Private Member's Bill at Westminster, warned Mrs May that they would not give up the fight.

"The message from the thousands here today in Belfast is loud and clear," he said. "It is a message for the Prime Minister and the Government, and it is: we love equality, we stand with LGBT couples, we demand the same rights as everyone else in the UK and the island of Ireland, and we want equal marriage now. We are on the right side of history.

"We will not give up. This is not going away. And we are going to win."

A majority of MLAs backed the introduction of same-sex marriage the last time it was debated at Stormont, but the DUP blocked it using a petition of concern.

The petition ensures a proposal can only be passed if a majority of unionists and a majority of nationalist MLAs support it, rather than a straightforward majority head count.

John O'Doherty, a prominent activist with the Love Equality coalition campaigning for a law change, told the rally that any future deal between the DUP and Sinn Fein needed to encompass reform of the petition. "We know that at least 55 out of 90 MLAs now back equal marriage. Yet still they cannot deliver," he said.

"No party or group of MLAs should hold a veto over people's lives, over people's rights - and this campaign will not be held to ransom by those who seek to hold Northern Ireland back, who refuse to recognise the rights of LGBT people and our families."

Paula Keenan and her partner Pauline Dempsey, who got married in Dublin as they were unable to in Belfast, were among those at the parade.

"As we head home from Dublin, about 56 miles up the road we are suddenly no longer married," Ms Keenan said.

"Doesn't matter if it's a hard border or a soft border, we're stripped of our rights as soon as we cross it.

"What kind of logic is that? It makes as much sense as Northern Ireland's abortion laws - and they don't make any sense at all."

Actor Bronagh Waugh, who is heavily involved in the campaign, called on Mrs May to "deliver on the promise of equality".

"There can be no second-class citizens in the UK or Ireland," she said.

"Theresa May, we have a message for you. Prime Minister, it is unacceptable that your Government is now colluding in the denial of human rights to people in Northern Ireland.

"We are not second-class citizens. We refuse to be treated as second-class citizens."
A Northern Ireland scam victim has lost 25,000 in an elaborate telephone fraud.

Police have urged vigilance after reports of fraud involving scammers phoning the public purporting to be from computer broadband and search engine providers.

It follows separate cases where victims lost 25,000 and 14,000.

Superintendent Simon Walls said: "The scammers have contacted their intended victims by telephone warning that their online bank accounts had been hacked or there is a problem with their wireless router or broadband speed.

"Typically the victim then gives the scammer remote access to their computer to fix the issue.

"Once the scammer is into the computer and personal details are given by the victim online, bank accounts can be accessed and significant amounts of money lost - money you may well never get back."

Supt Walls urged people to be wary of cold calls.

He added: "Don't allow any cold caller to get remote access to your computer. Be especially suspicious of anyone who asks for personal details, money, banking or credit card information via the telephone.

"If you are at all suspicious about a call that you receive, hang up and phone the organisation that the person is purporting to represent to check their authenticity.

"Ideally, make the call from another telephone so you can be sure the original caller has not remained on the line. Never be pressured into a transaction over the phone.

"Guarding your personal and banking details is essential. Never disclose them to any unauthorised person or allow access to them via your computer."

Contact Action Fraud for advice via www.actionfraud.police.uk or by phoning 0300 123 2040, or call police on the non-emergency number 101.
Northern Ireland Water Limited has pleaded guilty to causing a pollution spill from one of its water stations in Co Londonderry.

The incident occurred near Fortwilliam Bridge, along a stretch of waterway close to the Maghera Road in Tobermore on February 15 last year.

It's the first time Northern Ireland Water, which is a publicly funded but limited company, has been prosecuted in a landmark case in the Crown Court.

A prosecution barrister said the reason why the prosecution was brought to the Crown Court was because of the seriousness of the pollution spillage, which he said had the potential to devastate the aquatic life in the river.

The prosecutor also told Judge Philip Babington that while the maximum fine for the offence in the Magistrate's Court was 20,000, the maximum fine in the Crown Court was unlimited.

The court was told that the company became responsible for Northern Ireland's water and sewerage systems just over ten years ago and that the company has seventy previous convictions for pollution spillages.

The prosecutor said in its latest audited accounts, Northern Ireland Water Limited had a turnover of 422m from which it had made a gross profit of 96 million.

The company's only stakeholder is the Department of Infrastructure to which, according to the latest audited accounts, the company had paid a dividend last year of 23m.

The prosecutor said at 2.24am. on February 15 of last year an alarm went off in the water station. However the field manager waited until 8 a.m. before notifying the area manager and an operator was not sent to the site of the pollution spill until 10.30am.

The prosecution barrister said during that eight hour long delay the pollution spillage continued because where was no automatic shut off in place as a preventative safeguard.

When the polluted water was analysed by scientists it was found to be 142 times over an EU directive limit for poor water quality.

The prosecutor said it was a serious pollution discharge which was completely preventable. He said the pollution spillage was compounded by Northern Ireland Water Limited's initially ineffective reactions and clean-up procedures.

"This was a serious breach which could have had potentially devastating consequences for the river life", he said.

Defence barrister John Rafferty said the spillage occurred because of a blockage in a pipe between the primary settlement tank and the sludge holding tank which was controlled by an electronically operated valve.

He said because of the blockage in the pipe the valve did not fully close which caused the spillage into the neighbouring river system.

Mr Rafferty said since this incident the valve is now operated manually rather then electronically.

The barrister conceded that the judgement call made after the activation of the alarm in the water station was, in this case, the wrong call which lead to a delay in staff arriving on site.

Judge Babington said: "They decided to ignore the potential damage threat to the river by not sending the area operative to the site until eight hours after the alarm was first raised at 2.24am. There was no initial response until 8am and no operative sent to the site until 10.30am."

The defence barrister said Northern Ireland Water Limited was the only publicly funded utility company in the UK and was responsible for thousands of such water stations throughout Northern Ireland. He said while the company had seventy previous convictions, there had been a considerable decrease in those convictions in recent years.

Mr Rafferty said because the public does not pay for water in Northern Ireland, the company depended upon its revenue by subsidy from the Department of Infrastructure and said any potentially heavy fine could impact on that subsidy level.

Judge Babington asked Mr Rafferty "Are you seriously saying to this court if I fine this company which made 96 millions in profits last year that Joe Bloggs out there is going to suffer?".

Mr Rafferty replied that all of the company's profits went to the Department of Infrastructure.

"The profits do not remain in the company's kitty", he said.

Judge Babington said he would sentence the company on Thursday and he ordered that the company's Director of Customer Delivery, Sean McAleese, should attend court for the sentencing hearing.
At least 43 same-sex couples from Northern Ireland have married in the Republic or other parts of the UK, it has been revealed.

BBC research has revealed the figures based on statistics from 2016.

Of those reported, 27 weddings were in the Republic, 11 in Scotland while five took place in England or Wales.

However, the number could be greater as authorities have said some couples give their hotel address for the ceremony.

Northern Ireland is the only part of the UK and Ireland which doesn't recognise same-sex marriage. It means what when the couples return to Northern Ireland their union is only recognised as a civil partnership.

Over the weekend there was a rally in Belfast calling for marriage equality.

Read More

There have been five attempts to introduce same-sex marriage in the Assembly. In 2015 Assembly members backed legalising same-sex marriages by 53 votes to 52. However a DUP petition of concern meant it did not receive the necessary cross-community backing which would allow it onto the statue books.

Given the political deadlock, there has been attempts to legislate from Westminster. However, the UK government has resisted saying the matter is for the devolved institutions to deal with.
A proposal to reverse a decision to give 400k of public money to community groups for bonfire diversion has been rejected at Belfast City Hall.

Last month, the DUP, Sinn Fein and PUP agreed to give 400,000 to community groups for diversionary activities related to July and August bonfires.

Several parties accused the DUP and Sinn Fein of a political carve up over how the allocation was made, as BCCs call-in mechanism, which allows other parties to question decision-making, was removed from the process.

Both the SDLP and Alliance have requested a meeting with the Audit Office over the issue, while the Ulster Unionists have sought legal advice over the process, or lack thereof, that was followed.

At Monday nights meeting of Belfast City Council, Alliance group leader Michael Long attempted to reverse the funding decision as no transparent process was used to select which groups would get the money.

It appears the funding on Belfast City Council is allocated on a who you know basis as opposed to what you know. Truly, when it comes to the DUP and Sinn Fein, some are more equal than others, he said.

Several of the groups awarded money do very good work but the fact remains no-one else had the chance because there was not a proper process in place, and instead the only groups approved are those the two biggest parties decided to back.

Alliance has already requested a meeting with the Audit Office over this matter and I am calling on the organisation to intervene directly to stop this squalid and sordid deal.

"Belfast City Council needs transparency or else it has nothing, and it is clear there that was not in place in this process.

Sinn Fein councillor Ciaran Beattie said the funding was a positive for Belfast and accused those who were speaking out against it of hypocrisy, as previous funding decisions followed the same process and were supported by all parties.

Next year we hope to have a properly designed community festivals fund, open to all so as to help our city move forward in a positive way, he added.

The DUPs Lee Reynolds dismissed concerns in the chamber that the 400k hand out could result in rates increases.

He also said those who were against the decision were the same people who would express concern if we had a negative summer in the city.

Alliance, the SDLP and UUP voted in favour of the proposal to reverse the funding decision, however it was defeated by 30 votes to 20, with Sinn Fein, the DUP and PUP voted against.
DUP deputy leader Nigel Dodds has said his party has yet to make a decision over proposals to redraw Northern Ireland's electoral map.

The North Belfast MP was responding to a report in The Sunday Times stating that the DUP had signalled it was reversing its opposition to boundary changes.

Northern Ireland is losing one constituency as part of wider Government plans to reduce the number of Westminster seats from 650 to 600.

How the reduction from 18 to 17 seats is achieved has become the source of political controversy.

The revised map on changing the constituency boundaries here was published by the Boundary Commission for Northern Ireland in January and put out for public consultation. However, it was radically different from the commission's initial proposals, announced in 2016.

These were heavily criticised by the DUP, which claimed it could undermine political stability.

Analysts suggested the original version would have seen the DUP lose a seat to Sinn Fein in Belfast.

While the initial version could have seen Sinn Fein overtake the DUP as the holder of the largest number of Westminster seats, the second draft would likely see the DUP retain its pre-eminence in Parliament.

The latest revision ditches the plan to cut the number of seats in Belfast from four to three along with radical changes to the constituency landscape beyond the city. All the new named constituencies in the first draft are also gone.

Sinn Fein has reacted angrily to the new plan, claiming the proposals blatantly favour the DUP.

The party has also claimed that the changes would leave at least four constituencies without any nationalist representation at Westminster or Assembly level. Sinn Fein has been particularly critical of the plan to split the town of Dungiven across three different constituencies.

But when the DUP submitted its response to the public consultation back in March, Mr Dodds claimed Sinn Fein was trying to cover up for the fact that it had made no submission to the Boundary Commission during the two-year process.

The next step in the process will see the commission submit a final version of the map to the Government. MPs are set to vote on the overall UK package in the autumn.

The Sunday Times claimed yesterday that the revised blueprint "has now won DUP support".

While the party declined to comment specifically on this when contacted yesterday, Mr Dodds shared the article on his Twitter page along with the comment: "If you are interested in the facts however... we have yet to make our decision on this."

Mr Dodds previously described the second draft as "in no way perfect" but said it was more in line with the thinking of the majority of local parties, including the SDLP.

The Boundary Commission has insisted the changes were made impartially and without political interference.

The commission said "the strength and depth of submissions" received during its consultation on the first set of plans "persuaded us".
Pacemaker Press 4/6/2018 Sinn Fein's Deirdre Hargey has become the new Lord Mayor of Belfast on Monday evening, replacing Alliance's Nuala McAllister. Ms Hargey first joined Belfast City Council in 2010, and has been Sinn Fein's group council leader since February 2018. She is the first woman from Sinn Fein to become the Lord Mayor of Belfast, and only the fifth female lord mayor in the council's history. Pic Colm Lenaghan/Pacemaker

Sinn Fein's Deirdre Hargey has become the new Lord Mayor of Belfast.

Pacemaker Press 4/6/2018 Deirdre Hargey with Sinn Feins previous Lord mayors including Mairtin O Muilleoir, Arder Carson, Alex Maskey and Niall O Donnghaile. Sinn Fein's Deirdre Hargey has become the new Lord Mayor of Belfast on Monday evening, replacing Alliance's Nuala McAllister. Ms Hargey first joined Belfast City Council in 2010, and has been Sinn Fein's group council leader since February 2018. She is the first woman from Sinn Fein to become the Lord Mayor of Belfast, and only the fifth female lord mayor in the council's history. Pic Colm Lenaghan/Pacemaker

Pacemaker Press 4/6/2018 Sinn Fein's Deirdre Hargey has become the new Lord Mayor of Belfast on Monday evening, replacing Alliance's Nuala McAllister. Ms Hargey first joined Belfast City Council in 2010, and has been Sinn Fein's group council leader since February 2018. She is the first woman from Sinn Fein to become the Lord Mayor of Belfast, and only the fifth female lord mayor in the council's history. Pic Colm Lenaghan/Pacemaker

Press Eye - Belfast - Northern Ireland - 4th June 2018 - New Lord Mayor of Belfast, Sinn Fein's Deirdre Hargey pictured at Belfast City Hall with her mother Anne. Photo by Kelvin Boyes / Press Eye.

Pacemaker Press 4/6/2018 Sinn Fein's Deirdre Hargey has become the new Lord Mayor of Belfast on Monday evening, replacing Alliance's Nuala McAllister. Ms Hargey first joined Belfast City Council in 2010, and has been Sinn Fein's group council leader since February 2018. She is the first woman from Sinn Fein to become the Lord Mayor of Belfast, and only the fifth female lord mayor in the council's history. Pic Colm Lenaghan/Pacemaker

Pacemaker Press 4/6/2018 Sinn Fein's Deirdre Hargey has become the new Lord Mayor of Belfast on Monday evening, replacing Alliance's Nuala McAllister. Ms Hargey first joined Belfast City Council in 2010, and has been Sinn Fein's group council leader since February 2018. She is the first woman from Sinn Fein to become the Lord Mayor of Belfast, and only the fifth female lord mayor in the council's history. Pic Colm Lenaghan/Pacemaker

Pacemaker Press 4/6/2018 Deirdre Hargey with Sinn Feins previous Lord mayors including Mairtin O Muilleoir, Arder Carson, Alex Maskey and Niall O Donnghaile. Sinn Fein's Deirdre Hargey has become the new Lord Mayor of Belfast on Monday evening, replacing Alliance's Nuala McAllister. Ms Hargey first joined Belfast City Council in 2010, and has been Sinn Fein's group council leader since February 2018. She is the first woman from Sinn Fein to become the Lord Mayor of Belfast, and only the fifth female lord mayor in the council's history. Pic Colm Lenaghan/Pacemaker

Press Eye - Belfast - Northern Ireland - 4th June 2018 - New Lord Mayor of Belfast, Sinn Fein's Deirdre Hargey pictured at Belfast City Hall with her mother Anne. Photo by Kelvin Boyes / Press Eye.

Sinn Fein's Deirdre Hargey has become the new Lord Mayor of Belfast on Monday evening, replacing Alliance's Nuala McAllister / Credit: Colm Lenaghan - Pacemaker

Sinn Feins new mayor of Belfast has insisted a controversy over one of the citys most notorious murders will not overshadow her elevation to first citizen.

In 2005 Deirdre Hargey was dropped as a prospective election candidate and temporarily suspended from the party when it emerged she was in a city centre bar on the night a fracas erupted that ended with the murder of Robert McCartney on a pavement outside.

The murder of the 33-year-old Belfast father-of-two, which was widely blamed on IRA members, rocked Northern Irelands fragile peace process, coming as it did at a time when Sinn Fein was under pressure to sign up to support the police in the region.

With CCTV video tapes stolen from Magenniss bar in the wake of the killing, and widespread reports of witness intimidation, the republican movement was accused of covering up the murder and attempted murder of Mr McCartneys friend.

Of the 70 or so people in the bar that night, no-one reported seeing anything of the fracas.

Mr McCartneys sisters embarked on a high-profile campaign for justice that took them all the way to the White House in Washington DC.

Ms Hargey did not directly engage with detectives at the time but made statements to a solicitor insisting she saw nothing of the row inside Magenniss that ultimately spilled outside and ended in murder.

Thirteen years on, as it was confirmed she was Sinn Feins chosen candidate as the citys new lord mayor, the 38-year-old politician from the republican Markets area insisted she did all she could to help the McCartney family achieve justice.

I want to take this opportunity to again extend my sincere condolences to the McCartney family, she told the Press Association.

What happened to their brother Robert was wrong, it should not have happened.

I complied fully with the investigationDeirdre Hargey

I complied fully with the investigation and I am conscious that there is an ongoing investigation that is still live into this case. But the family do deserve justice.

Ms Hargey said the police had never asked to interview her upon receipt of her statements.

Indicating her willingness to talk to detectives if they wished her to, she urged anyone with information to come forward.

My main concern is to ensure the family receives justice and I feel that needs to be done through the PSNI and I do feel that any information around incidents pertaining to that night needs to be done through those avenues and I would be open to doing that, as I have done in the past, she said.

I am aware there is an ongoing investigation and I wouldnt want to prejudice that in any way, but what I would say is that if the PSNI or anyone else needs me in terms of helping in that investigation then I will do so.

The councillor denied any suggestion of being part of any alleged cover up.

Certainly not, most certainly not, she said.

I do think I have fully complied with the investigation.

I have always been open to fully complying with the investigation and would call on everyone else to do the same.

If they have any information they need to take it to the authorities for them to investigate, and to ensure that due process happens and justice is returned to the family.

Asked if she was concerned the issue would define her appointment as mayor, she said: No. I offer my condolences, my thoughts are with the McCartney family at this time and I do hope they do see justice.
Prime Minister Theresa May has held discussions on Northern Ireland's strict abortion laws with Tory MPs pressing for change.

With the Commons set to hold an emergency debate on the issue, Mrs May faces pressure from within Conservative ranks to take action.

International Development Secretary Penny Mordaunt, who was made Women and Equalities Minister in April, also attended the briefing in Downing Street on Monday.

Former home secretary Amber Rudd was present, along with ex-education secretary Justine Greening and Maria Miller, chairwoman of the Commons Women and Equalities Committee.

Mrs May has so far resisted calls for Westminster to legislate to relax the abortion regime in Northern Ireland following last month's landslide vote in the Irish Republic to liberalise its termination laws.

Downing Street has made it clear the Government believes the situation should be dealt with by Stormont once the Northern Ireland Assembly is restored.

The Democratic Unionist Party (DUP), whose support Mrs May relies upon for a Commons majority, has insisted abortion is a devolved matter and not something Westminster should get involved with.

After the Irish Republic's two-to-one backing for reform, Ms Mordaunt said the result signalled an "historic and great day for Ireland" and a "hopeful one for Northern Ireland".

She added: "That hope must be met."

Ms Greening said it is now time for "debate and action" to give women in Northern Ireland the same rights as the rest of the UK.

Education Minister Anne Milton suggested she would back liberalisation if there was a free vote, describing the current situation as "anomalous".

The Prime Minister's official spokesman said: "We want to see devolved government in Northern Ireland restored so that locally-elected, democratically accountable politicians can debate fundamental changes and the people of Northern Ireland have a direct say in the process.

"We recognise there are strongly-held views on all sides of the debate in Northern Ireland and that's why our focus is on restoring that democratically-accountable devolved government."

Labour has said it is "looking at legislative options" at Westminster which could force change in Northern Ireland.
Police issued a warning to parents to talk to their children about the dangers of exchanging details online.

Police issued a warning over a possible fake Instagram account asking Northern Ireland teenage boys to send "indecent images".

Carrickfergus PSNI issued the warning on its Facebook page. It said concerned parents had contacted officers to raise the matter.

Other profiles for the PSNI said they had come across the same account - @sarahhbrownn14 - in their districts.

"The female in the profile picture appears to be a stock image found on an internet search," said a police officer.

"We would, as always, warn against friending or accepting requests from anyone you do not know!

"Sarah here looks pleasant enough, Sarah could be legit. Sarah could also be someone else entirely.

"Take five minutes and have this chat with your kids, show them or share this image."

Anyone who has been contacted by the account and may have sent images to it has been urged to contact police.

"We can help. Phone us, but don't delay," added a police officer.

In 2015, 17-year-old Ronan Hughes from County Tyrone took his own life after online blackmailers tricked him into sending them intimate pictures of himself.

The matter was raised by MEP Diane Dodds in the European Parliament to Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg. The social media giant owns Instagram.

He said: The bottom line here is that hate speech, bullying, terror, violence - all this content has no place on our services.

But in order to really execute that we need to upgrade and do a better job of executing our policies.

Police can be contacted on 101.
North West Mountain Rescue Team were involved in a dramatic rescue and evacuation operation at the cliffs at Fair Head in north County Antrim. Credit: North West Mountain Rescue Team

North West Mountain Rescue Team were involved in a dramatic rescue and evacuation operation at the cliffs at Fair Head in north County Antrim. Credit: North West Mountain Rescue Team

North West Mountain Rescue Team were involved in a dramatic rescue and evacuation operation at the cliffs at Fair Head in north County Antrim. Credit: North West Mountain Rescue Team

North West Mountain Rescue Team were involved in a dramatic rescue and evacuation operation at the cliffs at Fair Head in north County Antrim. Credit: North West Mountain Rescue Team

North West Mountain Rescue Team were involved in a dramatic rescue and evacuation operation at the cliffs at Fair Head in north County Antrim. Credit: North West Mountain Rescue Team

North West Mountain Rescue Team were involved in a dramatic rescue and evacuation operation at the cliffs at Fair Head in north County Antrim. Credit: North West Mountain Rescue Team

North West Mountain Rescue Team were involved in a dramatic rescue and evacuation operation at the cliffs at Fair Head in north County Antrim. Credit: North West Mountain Rescue Team

Dramatic footage has emerged of the rescue and evacuation of two climbers who fell up to 50 metres at Fairhead in Co Antrim.

The climbers fell while attempting the Hell's Kitchen route.

The lead climber fell near the top of the route and collided with his belayer [a person on the ground who secures the climber].

Climbers nearby rendered first aid and were assessed by North West Mountain Rescues doctor.

Footage, provided by NWMRT, shows the difficult rescue were the two men were winched to safety from the cliffs.

Members of the Coastguard, Coleraine Search and Rescue, Northern Ireland Ambulance Service and the PSNI were also in attendance.

The Irish Coastguard helicopter airlifted the men for treatment in hospital.

The two men are believed to have suffered broke bones, friction burns and chest injuries.

On Sunday night the climbers were said to be in a stable condition.
Youth is wasted on the young, isn't that what they say? The appointment of Sinn Fein's Orla Nic Biorna as the new Lord Mayor of Belfast surely confirms it.

She's the youngest person to ever hold the office of the city's first citizen, and you'd need to have been living under a rock for the past few days not to be aware of that fact, because it's practically the only thing anyone does know about her.

Nic Biorna is just 20 years old, making her a full five years younger than the previous holder of the record, Niall O Donnghaile, also from Sinn Fein.

As Belfast's Lord Mayors keep getting younger, one can't help wondering what's next? Candidates donning the chain at official events alongside revising for their GCSEs?

Irish language activist Orla Nic Biorna must be congratulated on her fast track rise to prominence, because if that's what floats her boat, then who are we to judge? But why would any young person in his or her right mind want to be Lord Mayor in the first place?

It's not the worst job in the world, but taking it on at a time when you should be out enjoying yourself, unhampered by care and responsibility, just feels like a terrible waste of the best years of your life. Young people should have the freedom to be impulsive, even a little wild, not be watching their every step to make sure they're behaving properly at all times, or shaking hands and making small talk with local dignitaries, cutting ribbons, posing for pictures, shaking more hands.

Young people who throw themselves into this dull round of decorum are putting off experiences that they could be relishing now, in order to have experiences which they could save until they're older anyway.

Asked why they do it, politicians invariably say they want to give something back to the community, and that's very admirable but you don't need to devote yourself 24/7 to politics to make the world a better place. Driving a bus is helping the community too. Starting a business and employing people is helping the community. So is staying at home and raising a family. Politicians don't have a monopoly on civic-mindedness.

Other people are playing an equally, perhaps more, important role by just getting on with their day to day lives, and they don't have to mind their Ps and Qs while doing so.

There's something to be said for leaving political office to older people, who've actually worked in the real world and got a bit of life experience behind them.

There's nothing particularly controversial about that opinion. The Irish had a referendum in 2015 on lowering the age at which someone could become President. The Republic's Constitution states that a candidate must be at least 35 before being eligible for the job. Campaigners wanted to reduce that to 21 years, as it is in other funky, modern countries such as, er, Iran, and some of them even thought making candidates wait that long was unfair. They wanted 18 year olds to be able to stand. Held on the same day as the same sex marriage referendum, the proposal was rejected by a satisfyingly decisive 73% of the electorate, who clearly agreed that the young should stop moaning and wait their turn.

Where's the harm in that?

So much of contemporary culture is dedicated to the worship of youth, it's only fair that some things should be kept back as a privilege of advancing years, especially in a society which suffers from the scourge of ageism.

If anything, we should be raising the minimum age of public representatives, to avoid the dreadful spectacle of young people getting fixed into a certain way of life too soon.

Because that's another problem, too. Public life these days is increasingly dominated by people who decide they want to be politicians at a ridiculously young age and then go into it as a profession, meaning they know nothing of the world beyond those chamber walls. That's not healthy.

Nuala McAllister, who completes her year as Belfast's Lord Mayor today, studied politics and law at Ulster University, and then went straight afterwards into working for the Alliance Party at Stormont.

Guy Spence of the DUP, another youngster when he became deputy Lord Mayor in 2015 at the age of 23, studied political science and government at the same university, and his CV is largely a list of trusteeships and board memberships and other political appointments.

Orla Nic Biorna hasn't even left full-time education yet; she's still studying at St Mary's College.

Alliance leader Naomi Long was, to her credit, a working engineer, but it's increasingly rare to find politicians with such a background. Even when they do have jobs outside politics, candidates now increasingly come from a narrow list of fields. There are so many barristers knocking about the place, it beggars belief.

At least older people such as Arder Carson, who was Sinn Fein's pick for Mayor in 2015, and who worked previously as a butcher in Andersonstown, know what it's like to have a normal 9-to-5 job, like those they're meant to represent. The same goes for Reg Empey, who held the position for the Ulster Unionists a couple of times in the 80s and 90s, and who owned a store on Royal Avenue.

Would any of the current crop of councillors and MLAs even know how to run a business?

More to the point, do they never tire of constantly being around people who spend every waking moment thinking about politics?

So-called millennials seem to look at older people and feel resentment at all the advantages they have, such as greater financial security and social prestige. That's fair enough. They do have it harder than older generations in many ways.

What they're ignoring, though, is that those fiftysomethings and older didn't have these things when they were the same age either. They too had to wait. And waiting's not necessarily a bad thing. It's called deferred gratification.

It doesn't mean you don't get what you want, it just means you don't get it right now.

Waiting may mean you appreciate it more when it comes along.

Good luck to Orla Nic Biorna. Here's hoping she thoroughly enjoys the coming year as Lord Mayor of Belfast.

But to other young people tempted to follow in her footsteps, please think again. City Hall will still be there when you're 50, and spending the evening making polite chit chat with members of the Chamber of Commerce probably won't feel half so onerous then.
Banners in Belfast's Cantrell Close. The banners around Cantrell Close and Global Crescent depict atrocities including the La Mon bombing, Ballymacarrett murder, Bloody Friday, the Mountainview tavern bombing as well as the Shankill and Enniskillen bombings. Picture By :Arthur Allison, Pacemaker.

Banners in Belfast's Cantrell Close. The banners around Cantrell Close and Global Crescent depict atrocities including the La Mon bombing, Ballymacarrett murder, Bloody Friday, the Mountainview tavern bombing as well as the Shankill and Enniskillen bombings. Picture By :Arthur Allison, Pacemaker.

Banners in Belfast's Cantrell Close. The banners around Cantrell Close and Global Crescent depict atrocities including the La Mon bombing, Ballymacarrett murder, Bloody Friday, the Mountainview tavern bombing as well as the Shankill and Enniskillen bombings. Picture By :Arthur Allison, Pacemaker.

Banners in Belfast's Cantrell Close. The banners around Cantrell Close and Global Crescent depict atrocities including the La Mon bombing, Ballymacarrett murder, Bloody Friday, the Mountainview tavern bombing as well as the Shankill and Enniskillen bombings. Picture By :Arthur Allison, Pacemaker.

Banners in Belfast's Cantrell Close. The banners around Cantrell Close and Global Crescent depict atrocities including the La Mon bombing, Ballymacarrett murder, Bloody Friday, the Mountainview tavern bombing as well as the Shankill and Enniskillen bombings. Picture By :Arthur Allison, Pacemaker.

Banners in Belfast's Cantrell Close. The banners around Cantrell Close and Global Crescent depict atrocities including the La Mon bombing, Ballymacarrett murder, Bloody Friday, the Mountainview tavern bombing as well as the Shankill and Enniskillen bombings. Picture By :Arthur Allison, Pacemaker.

Banners in Belfast's Cantrell Close. The banners around Cantrell Close and Global Crescent depict atrocities including the La Mon bombing, Ballymacarrett murder, Bloody Friday, the Mountainview tavern bombing as well as the Shankill and Enniskillen bombings. Picture By :Arthur Allison, Pacemaker.

Banners in Belfast's Cantrell Close. The banners around Cantrell Close and Global Crescent depict atrocities including the La Mon bombing, Ballymacarrett murder, Bloody Friday, the Mountainview tavern bombing as well as the Shankill and Enniskillen bombings. Picture By :Arthur Allison, Pacemaker.

The chief executive of a social housing body has called for the immediate removal of banners depicting IRA atrocities in a Belfast shared housing area.

The banners around Cantrell Close and Global Crescent depict atrocities including the La Mon bombing, Ballymacarrett murder, Bloody Friday, the Mountainview tavern bombing as well as the Shankill and Enniskillen bombings.

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All the banners carry the hashtag 'Stand up against sectarianism' - which had been used by Sinn Fein during its election campaign last year.

Alan McBride, who lost his wife and father-in-law in the Shankill bombing, described the move as "point scoring and grotesque whataboutery". While Gina Murray, who lost her daughter in the same attack, welcomed the move but said loyalist terror attacks could go along side them.

John McLean, chief executive of Radius Housing, which manages the housing area, said the imagery was not appropriate for a shared housing area.

These banners should not have been erected and should be removed immediately," he said.

"There was no consultation with the people who live in this area and the imagery used is not appropriate for a shared living scheme which is home to families from all backgrounds. We strongly feel that this is not an appropriate way to display events of the past.

We have been in contact with the PSNI, as well as local elected representatives, and our staff have been on site to ensure that everyone can enjoy living in their homes and local community without any type of intimidation. Our prime concern is the welfare of the people who live in Cantrell Close and Global Crescent, and they should not be the focus of a wider political debate."

The area has come under the spotlight after last year families in the area moved out of their homes after UVF flags were erected around the area.

Last month loyalist flags were removed. The East Belfast Community Initiative (EBCI) said it had agreed a protocol on the flying of flags in the area. However, later flags were erected in the Ravenhill Avenue area which were said to have been put up outside the protocol and by an "unconnected private individual".

The latest banners have been erected by local members of the community with the support of EBCI.

Sinn Fein south Belfast MLA Mairtin O Muilleoir has requested an urgent meeting of statutory agencies to respond to what he described as "ongoing attempts by loyalists to use flags and banners to intimidate and harass Catholic and nationalists residents".

He said: Its no coincidence that loyalists are targeting the shared housing schemes at Cantrell and Global. Theirs is the politics of division and subtraction. However, they cannot be allowed to defeat the vast majority of the people of Belfast who believe in the politics of addition and multiplication.

Last year, the UVF in east Belfast forced several Catholic families to flee their homes at Cantrell. Shared housing and shared communities are a threat to the sectarian gangs who wish to divide our community. Everyone needs to stand with those at the receiving end of this intimidation.

Its crucial therefore that Radius Housing and the PSNI do more to counter the activities of these gangs.

The political parties enabling the erection of flags to mark out territory and to intimidate and harass ordinary families need to speak out."

The PSNI has been asked for a response.
Banners in Belfast's Cantrell Close. The banners around Cantrell Close and Global Crescent depict atrocities including the La Mon bombing, Ballymacarrett murder, Bloody Friday, the Mountainview tavern bombing as well as the Shankill and Enniskillen bombings. Picture By :Arthur Allison, Pacemaker.

Banners in Belfast's Cantrell Close. The banners around Cantrell Close and Global Crescent depict atrocities including the La Mon bombing, Ballymacarrett murder, Bloody Friday, the Mountainview tavern bombing as well as the Shankill and Enniskillen bombings. Picture By :Arthur Allison, Pacemaker.

Banners in Belfast's Cantrell Close. The banners around Cantrell Close and Global Crescent depict atrocities including the La Mon bombing, Ballymacarrett murder, Bloody Friday, the Mountainview tavern bombing as well as the Shankill and Enniskillen bombings. Picture By :Arthur Allison, Pacemaker.

Banners in Belfast's Cantrell Close. The banners around Cantrell Close and Global Crescent depict atrocities including the La Mon bombing, Ballymacarrett murder, Bloody Friday, the Mountainview tavern bombing as well as the Shankill and Enniskillen bombings. Picture By :Arthur Allison, Pacemaker.

Banners in Belfast's Cantrell Close. The banners around Cantrell Close and Global Crescent depict atrocities including the La Mon bombing, Ballymacarrett murder, Bloody Friday, the Mountainview tavern bombing as well as the Shankill and Enniskillen bombings. Picture By :Arthur Allison, Pacemaker.

Banners in Belfast's Cantrell Close. The banners around Cantrell Close and Global Crescent depict atrocities including the La Mon bombing, Ballymacarrett murder, Bloody Friday, the Mountainview tavern bombing as well as the Shankill and Enniskillen bombings. Picture By :Arthur Allison, Pacemaker.

Banners in Belfast's Cantrell Close. The banners around Cantrell Close and Global Crescent depict atrocities including the La Mon bombing, Ballymacarrett murder, Bloody Friday, the Mountainview tavern bombing as well as the Shankill and Enniskillen bombings. Picture By :Arthur Allison, Pacemaker.

Banners in Belfast's Cantrell Close. The banners around Cantrell Close and Global Crescent depict atrocities including the La Mon bombing, Ballymacarrett murder, Bloody Friday, the Mountainview tavern bombing as well as the Shankill and Enniskillen bombings. Picture By :Arthur Allison, Pacemaker.

The PSNI has said it will only remove flags or banners if they pose a threat to public safety, after material depicting IRA atrocities appeared in a Belfast shared housing estate.

It comes after banners were posted around Cantrell Close and Global Crescent depicting atrocities including the La Mon bombing, Ballymacarrett murder, Bloody Friday, the Mountainview tavern bombing, the Shankill bombing and Enniskillen bombing.

All the banners carry the hashtag 'Stand up against sectarianism' - which had been used by Sinn Fein during its election campaign last year.

Chief Inspector David Moore said police had been made "aware of the banners which have been erected" and had been in contact with representatives from Radius Housing.

"We fully understand that the flying of flags and banners can cause frustration in some communities," he said.

"It is our experience that such issues are most successfully resolved through engagement and collaborative working between local communities and their representatives and police are always ready and willing to be a partner in such arrangements.

"The reality is that while we understand the publics frustration in this matter, Police will only act to remove flags or banners if there are substantial risks to public safety.

"Until the Joint Protocol in Relation to the Display of Flags in Public Areas is updated, the PSNI will continue to work with communities and respond to any issue where there is a concern for public safety or where it is believed a criminal offence has occurred."

John McLean, chief executive of Radius Housing, which manages the housing area, said the imagery was not appropriate for a shared housing area.

These banners should not have been erected and should be removed immediately," he said.

"There was no consultation with the people who live in this area and the imagery used is not appropriate for a shared living scheme which is home to families from all backgrounds. We strongly feel that this is not an appropriate way to display events of the past."
Wiltshire Polices response to the nerve agent attack in Salisbury is expected to cost 7.5 million, the force areas police and crime commissioner has said.

Angus Macpherson, the police and crime commissioner for Wiltshire and Swindon, said he would be asking the Home Office to cover all costs incurred.

Former Russian spy Sergei Skripal, 66, and his daughter Yulia, 33, were found unconscious from the effects of the military nerve agent Novichok on a bench in the cathedral city on March 4.

We've had support from 1,230 officers from 40 Forces across the country. They've been assisting with cordons in #Salisbury over the last 3 months. We wanted to say a huge thank you to all of them with this open letter from @wiltspoliceCC and I: https://t.co/wj72SI40uz pic.twitter.com/SGvAtsCZta  Office Police & Crime Commissioner Wilts & Swindon (@OPCCWiltSwindon) June 4, 2018

They were both admitted to Salisbury District Hospital along with Detective Sergeant Nick Bailey. All three have since been discharged.

Swathes of the city were sealed off as investigators moved in before a massive decontamination operation began.

Mr Macpherson said: The nerve agent attack in Salisbury three months ago has been an unprecedented incident for our force, which has meant significant costs have been incurred because of the scale of the investigation.

At this stage we are estimating that the total cost of Wiltshire Polices response is expected to be 7.5 million.

I want to reassure the public that I am asking the Home Office to cover all our costs.

The Government has already agreed to an initial special grant funding of 1.6 million covering our costs in the last financial year, and the policing minister Nick Hurd MP has recognised the ongoing costs to Wiltshire Police.

I expect the additional costs incurred to be met in this financial year as well.

Expand Close Police officers at a cordon near the Maltings in Salisbury (David Mirzoeff/PA) PA Wire/PA Images / Facebook

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Mr Macpherson praised Wiltshire Polices officers, staff and volunteers, as well as partner agencies for their work.

He said local residents and the business community in Salisbury should also be applauded for their attitude.

The Maltings area of Salisbury, where the Skripals were found, re-opened on May 26  almost 11 weeks after the incident.

Businesses have been adversely affected, with some shoppers avoiding the area due to health and safety concerns.

Moscow has repeatedly denied responsibility for the attack, with Vladimir Putin saying the UKs explanation is not possible.
People found guilty of breaching the ban will face a maximum penalty of an unlimited fine, or up to five years in jail (Ben Birchall/PA)

Tough new rules on the sale of ivory will ensure the African elephant does not become extinct on our watch, MPs have heard.

Environment Secretary Michael Gove told the Commons that the Ivory Bill would bring in one of the worlds toughest bans on ivory sales.

People found guilty of breaching the ban will face a maximum penalty of an unlimited fine, or up to five years in jail.

Mr Gove said: The African elephant is an important species not just because what it symbolises, not just because of the economic impact that tourism makes in Africa, but also because it is a keystone species upon which the health, the biodiversity and the resilience of Africas economy depends.

Unless action is taken in order to interdict the poachers and to reduce the demand for ivory, it could be the case that on our watch as a generation that we see the African elephant meet extinction.

Around 20,000 elephants a year are being slaughtered for their ivory, and wildlife campaigners believe reducing global demand for their tusks is an important part of ending the carnage.

"The UK will once again be taking a global lead on closing ivory markets that have resulted in the decimation of hundreds of thousands of elephants over recent years." Charlie Mayhew of @tusk_org on the new #IvoryBill https://t.co/QCzNrTZavB #EndWildlifeCrime #Ivory pic.twitter.com/VNUMofnBwt  Defra UK (@DefraGovUK) June 4, 2018

Mr Gove added: It would be impossible for any of us to face our children and grandchildren and to say that we had the opportunity to take the steps legislative and otherwise to safeguard this magnificent creature and we failed to act.

The legislation which is before the House today is an opportunity for us in the United Kingdom to play a part and to show leadership.

Mr Gove told MPs that the bill could be amended at committee stage to include a ban on ivory obtained from rhino tusks and Narwhal horns.

Under the terms of the ban there will be certain narrowly defined and carefully targeted exemptions to ensure people are not unfairly impacted.

Items on this list include those comprised of less than 10% ivory by volume and made prior to 1947, and musical instruments with an ivory content of less than 20% and made prior to 1975.

Rare and important items of their type, which are at least 100 years old, will be assessed for their rarity and importance by specialist institutions before exemption permits are issued.

There will also be a specific exemption for portrait miniatures painted on thin slivers of ivory which are at least a century old.

Sales to and between accredited museums will also be exempt, which applies to museums accredited by Arts Council England, the Welsh Government, Museums and Galleries Scotland or the Northern Ireland Museums Council in the UK, or the International Council of Museums outside the UK.

Shadow environment secretary Sue Hayman backed the Bill on behalf of Labour, adding: Its really important this legislation is properly enforced through adequate resourcing.

It must be clear there will be oversight and penalties, including imprisonment as well as heavy fines.

Conservative former environment secretary Owen Paterson also supported the measures and suggested changes to the Bill, including that hippos should also be named in the legislation.

He said: As the Born Free Foundation has indicated, there has been an increase in the purchasing of hippo and other non-elephant ivory in the UK to replace elephant ivory in the internal trade and they infer that the legal and the illegal trades are targeting these other species as the Governments focus is on elephant ivory.

Given that the total number of hippo in Africa is only 25% of the elephant population, a ban must be careful to ensure it doesnt unintentionally place these species under yet more pressure.

So I think itd be sensible to have hippos on the face of the Bill now rather than have a delay of putting them through a statutory instrument later.

The Bill received an unopposed second reading and will undergo further scrutiny at a later date.
Armenias National Security Service (NSS) says that Alexandre Varbedian, banned from entering Armenia since 2002, can now freely enter the country.

NSS Press Center Chief Samson Galstyan relayed the news to Hetq. The underlying reason for Varbedian appearing on an official blacklist was that he belonged to a cult that threatened the security of the Armenia.

That cult turned out to be the Essence Union that Varbedian founded in 1990. The NSS claimed that the organization adhered to a fascist ideology that sought to disseminate national enmity.

Varbedian, a genealogist by profession, had moved from France to Soviet Armenia at the age of five and received his education in Yerevan. He moved back to his birthplace, Marseille, in 1975. Although he acquired French citizenship, he also kept his Soviet passport with him. After Armenia's independence, that transformed to Armenian citizenship at his own request.

However, a law abolishing dual citizenship was passed in 1994 and Varbedian was deprived of his Armenian citizenship three years later. However, in the period from 1998 to 1999 and then from 1999 to 2002, Varbedian lived in Armenia thanks to residence permits he acquired through the Armenian Ministry of Education and Science as well as the Ministry of Culture. In 2002, his permit was not extended, and no reason was cited for the rejection.

For more on the backstory:

French-Armenian Sues Armenia's National Security Service: Wants Entry Ban Lifted
Theresa May has told the new prime minister of Spain that she will engage constructively over the impact of Brexit on Gibraltar.

The PM raised the issue during a telephone call to congratulate socialist Pedro Sanchez, who was sworn in after ousting conservative Mariano Rajoy.

Gibraltar is part of the single market but not the customs union, and voted overwhelmingly for Britain to remain part of the European Union.

The referendum result sparked debate over the future of the territory, with Spain declaring hours later that the Spanish flag on the Rock is much closer than it was before.

Mr Sanchez toppled Mr Rajoy after a court ruling in a major corruption case involving the conservative leaders Popular Party.

A Downing Street spokesman said: The Prime Minister congratulated Prime Minister Sanchez on his new role, noting that Spain was a close ally and that we shared a long history of friendship and co-operation.

She said we look forward to continuing our work together across the full range of our common interests and objectives, including our close security co-operation and commercial ties.

The Prime Minister paid tribute to the Spanish victim of last years London Bridge attack, Ignacio Echeverria. They agreed that his efforts to save others during the attack were truly heroic.

The Prime Minister said the UK was leaving the EU but not Europe, and our relationships with the EU and member states would always be extremely important to us.

They agreed on the importance of protecting the rights of Spanish people in the UK as well as the many UK citizens in Spain.

On Gibraltar, the Prime Minister said the UK would continue to engage constructively with the Government of Gibraltar and the Spanish to address issues arising from the UKs withdrawal from the EU.

They looked forward to meeting at the June European Council.
A man has saved a gosling after its leg was caught in the jaws of a snapping turtle  by a man on a novelty inflatable.

Cary Coppola, 36, spotted the baby goose struggling to swim in a local pond and initially thought it was trapped in a fishing line or pond fountain.

Seeing an animal in need, he and his brother Joe rushed home to grab the rest of their family, as well as collecting swimming gear and a wonderfully colourful raft.

My family all watched knowing something funny would likely happen to me out in the middle of a random pond, Cary, from West Des Moines, Iowa, told the Press Association.

As I got out to help, I pulled its leg up and noticed a huge snapping turtle head was biting onto its leg. It startled me.

I took both of them to shore, where my brother separated the turtle from the goslings leg.

It limped away, but began acting like normal amongst its family. I only assume it will heal fine.

This is heroism at its finest! Nice work fellas!  Nate Podey (@Nate_Podey) June 4, 2018

A good deed well done.
China will not step up its purchases of US products if President Donald Trump goes ahead with his threat to tax billions of dollars worth of Chinese imports, the country said on Sunday.

White House advisers have insisted on fundamental changes in ties between the worlds two biggest economic powers.

Chinas warning came after delegations led by US commerce secretary Wilbur Ross and Chinas top economic official, vice premier Liu He, wrapped up a meeting on Beijings pledge to narrow its trade surplus.

Ross said at the start of the event they had discussed specific American exports China might purchase, but the talks ended with no joint statement and neither side released details.

Both sides appear to have hardened their negotiating stances and are waiting for the other side to blink, said Eswar Prasad, professor of trade policy at Cornell University.

Despite the potential negative repercussions for both economies, the risk of a full-blown China-US trade war, with tariffs and other trade sanctions being imposed by both sides, has risen significantly.

Peter Navarro, director of the White House National Trade Council, was asked on Foxs Sunday Morning Futures if the US was willing to throw away its relationship with China by proceeding with threatened tariff hikes.

He pointed in part to an unfair relationship involving a multi-billion dollar trade deficit, Defence Secretary Jim Mattis warning of Chinas activities in the South China Sea and the threat of China stealing US intellectual property.

Thats a relationship with China that structurally has to change, he said.

We would love to have a peaceful, friendly relationship with China. But were also standing firm that the president is the leader on this.

The United States has threatened to impose tariffs on up to 50 billion dollars (37 billion) of Chinese products in a dispute over Beijings aggressive tactics to challenge US technological dominance.

Trump has asked US trade representative Robert Lighthizer to look for another 100 billion dollars in Chinese products to tax.

China has targeted 50 billion dollars in US products in retaliation.

If the United States introduces trade sanctions including a tariff increase, all the economic and trade achievements negotiated by the two parties will not take effect, said a Chinese government statement, carried by the official Xinhua News Agency.

The negotiating process should be based on the premise of not fighting a trade war, the statement said.

The dispute with China comes at the same time Trump has riled some of Americas closest allies with the imposition of tariffs on steel and aluminium imports.
The nationalist Alternative for Germany partys co-leader has said he regrets the impression created by remarks in which he dismissed the Nazi era as a speck of bird poop in German history.

Alexander Gauland told a gathering of the partys youth wing on Saturday that Germans must take responsibility for 12 years of Nazi rule, but argued that Hitler and the Nazis are just a speck of bird poop in more than 1,000 years of successful German history.

Mr Gaulands comments were defended by many in the party, known by its German acronym AfD, which entered the national parliament in last years election on anti-migrant and anti-establishment sentiment and is now the biggest opposition party.

It was never my intention to trivialise or deride the victims of this criminal systemAlexander Gauland, Alternative for Germany

But there were some dissenting voices: a group representing party moderates, the Alternative Centre, said in a statement late on Sunday that Mr Gaulands comment sounded at best ambiguous and this should not happen to a politician who has a minimum of instinct and sense of responsibility for our history.

It called for a public apology.

On Monday, Mr Gauland asserted in a statement that he had used the words bird poop to express his deepest contempt for Nazism.

He said that many saw the expression as an inappropriate trivialisation but nothing could be further from me than to allow such an impression to arise.

I regret the resulting impression, he added.

It was never my intention to trivialise or deride the victims of this criminal system.

It is shameful that we have to deal with such comments by a lawmaker in parliamentAngela Merkel's spokesman

Chancellor Angela Merkels spokesman Steffen Seibert said it is shameful that we have to deal with such comments by a lawmaker in parliament and that the government strongly rejects any downplaying of the Nazi era.

The general secretary of Mrs Merkels party, Annegret Kramp-Karrenbauer, has argued that Mr Gaulands comments reveal the true nature of a party hiding behind middle-class respectability.

Last year, prominent AfD member Bjoern Hoecke said Germany needs to perform a 180-degree turn when it comes to remembering its past, and said the Berlin memorial to the millions of Jews killed in the Holocaust is a monument of shame.

And before last years election, 77-year-old Mr Gauland said the country has a right to be proud of German soldiers achievements in two world wars.

AfDs leadership also issued a statement on Monday expressing its disapproval of the singing by delegates at Saturdays youth wing meeting of the entire German national anthem  including the verse which begins with Deutschland, Deutschland ueber alles that was dropped after the Nazis defeat.

Damian Lohr, the youth wings leader, said he takes note of the criticism but argued that singing the verse is not banned and that the hymn was abused by the Nazis.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is heading to Europe in a bid to rally support from key allies for amending the international nuclear deal with Iran.

Mr Netanyahu is set to meet with leaders from Germany, France and Britain, beginning with German Chancellor Angela Merkel on Monday.

Addressing his Cabinet on Sunday, Mr Netanyahu said Iran would top his agenda and voiced optimism for the visit.

Like the US, we in Israel have no quarrel with the people of Iran. But we are determined to roll back Iran's aggression. We will not let Iran establish military bases in Syria and we will not let Iran develop nuclear weapons. pic.twitter.com/Tx6qapkvIB  Benjamin Netanyahu (@netanyahu) May 23, 2018

Israel has been a leading critic of the nuclear deal, and more recently, has said it will not allow Iran to establish a permanent military presence in Syria.

For years we stood alone against these twin threats and I think that the situation has changed for the better, Mr Netanyahu said.

Mr Netanyahu unsuccessfully tried to block the landmark deal that which gave Iran relief from crippling sanctions in exchange for curbs on its nuclear programme when it was negotiated in 2015 under President Barack Obama.

The Israeli leader has found a welcome ally in President Donald Trump, who last month withdrew the United States from the deal.

Both the US and Israel hope President Trumps withdrawal can lead all sides into addressing what they say are the deals shortcomings  including sunset provisions that end restrictions on Iranian nuclear activities, such as enriching uranium, as well as permitting Iran to continue to develop long-range missiles.

Mr Netanyahu says that as the deal expires over the next decade or so, Iran will emerge with the ability to produce a nuclear bomb in a very short time.

In addition to the US, the nuclear deal was negotiated by Germany, France, Britain, Russia and China.

The remaining members have said they remain committed to the deal. Iran for now also is honouring the agreement, though some top officials have suggested it resume its enrichment activities.

French President Emmanuel Macrons office said France will insist on having a dialogue with Iran.

An official in his office said Mr Macron, along with Germany and the UK, have all been clear that they will work with the existing deal, viewing it as the best way to control Irans nuclear activity.
Matteo Salvini arrives to visits to a so-called hot spot in the Sicilian port of Pozzallo (Andrea Scarfo/ANSA via AP)

The two pillars of Italys first populist government have been campaigning in Sicily, days after taking office.

Matteo Salvini and Luigi Di Maio, the leaders of the right-wing League and Eurosceptic 5-Star Movement, respectively, were in Sicily on Sunday, a week before council elections on the island region.

They want to capitalise on the momentum of their coalition taking national office on Friday.

Expand Close Demonstrators protested against Matteo Salvini during his visit to Sicily (Andrea Scarfo/ANSA via AP) AP/PA Images / Facebook

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However, with each man emphasising different priorities, there are doubts if the new government will last a full five-year term.

The 5-Star Movement is parliaments largest party thanks to support from southern Italy, where voters in the March election liked Di Maios promise of a minimum income for the unemployed.

The north-based League stokes fears about migrants, who have arrived in huge numbers in Sicily. Salvini vows to expel them.

He dismissed logistical challenges and costs.

Its too costly to keep them in Italy, in hotels, Salvini said. The money would be better spent building a future for them in their home countries.

Many of the Leagues voters associate migrants with crime. Salvini said holding centres for those awaiting deportation would be built so they wont leave from morning till night.

Sicilians in general have shown patience in dealing with the arrival of hundreds of thousands of newcomers. Some islanders angrily rejected the anti-migrant rhetoric.

They protested during Salvinis visit to a so-called hot spot in the Sicilian port of Pozzallo, where many of the ships that rescue migrants crossing the Mediterranean Sea in smugglers boats dock.

Holding a banner reading Refugees welcome, the protesters shouted Salvini, go home! and Salvini, shame on you.

Pozzallo mayor Roberto Ammatuna disputed Salvinis claim that the island had become a refugee camp of Europe.

The mayor retorted: Here there are beaches full, and tourists.
A right-wing opposition party led by a former Slovenian prime minister has won the most votes but not enough to rule the country on its own, an exit poll from a parliamentary election suggested.

The poll carried by public broadcaster TV Slovenia and commercial channel POP TV said that Janez Jansas Slovenian Democratic Party received 24.4% of the vote.

The second-placed party, the List of Marjan Sarec, trailed with 12.6%.

The Modern Center Party of outgoing Prime Minister Miro Cerar was third with 9.8%.

The Left party had 9.5% and the Social Democrats won 9.3%, the poll conducted by the Mediana Institute said.

If confirmed in official returns, the results mean no party secured a majority in Slovenias 90-member parliament and the likely next step is negotiations to form a coalition government.

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The negotiations could keep Mr Jansa from another term as prime minister since other groups have suggested they were unwilling to form an alliance with him. He previously held the office during 2004-2008 and 2012-2013.

Mr Jansa is an ally of Hungarys anti-immigration prime minister, Viktor Orban. His election prowess with Slovenias 1.7 million voters mirrors the growth of right-wing populism in central and eastern Europe following a large influx of migrants from the Middle East and Africa.

A government led by Mr Jansa would shift Slovenia to the right and add an anti-immigrant voice to the European Union. Some 500,000 migrants passed through Slovenia, a country with a population of 2 million, during 2015.

Slovenia, once part of the former Yugoslavia and the native home of US first lady Melania Trump, joined the EU in 2004. It has used the euro as its official currency since 2007.
I regret all sorts of things about the timid way in which the British Government is negotiating Brexit and the foolishness of the Irish Government in allowing itself to be used as a pawn by Brussels, but I absolutely don't regret voting Leave.

In the 1975 referendum I said yes to the question: "Do you think the United Kingdom should stay in the European Community (the Common Market)?"

Then, I dismissed as paranoid the people who said that we would be surrendering sovereignty to power-grabbers, but eventually came to see the UK as a very uneasy fit with what was becoming clear was an increasingly grandiose European project.

Older and wiser, I feared from the outset that the euro might in the long term sink the EU, while causing much misery along the way.

Having been brought up in Dublin, but being a long-time English resident, I had come to think of myself as British-Irish, so it was disconcerting to see that simultaneously the enthusiasm of the Irish Republic for the project had grown.

Yet though what became the EU had had a positive effect in opening the Irish mind, it had nurtured a sense of dependency, had wooed the country into the euro-corset, assisted its plunge into irresponsible debt, sacrificed it to German bankers and bullied it because it was small.

Still, I knew most Irish people hated the very thought of Brexit and that there could be a serious breach between the two countries I love.

I dithered for months; however the arrogant response of the EU establishment - especially Jean-Claude Juncker - to David Cameron's efforts to avert a crisis by agreeing to reforms made me despair.

"I couldn't support staying in what I think has become a sprawling, sclerotic, dysfunctional, bureaucratic hellhole, incapable of meeting such urgent challenges as mass migration and Russian aggression, while demanding a European army that can only undermine Nato," I wrote after the vote.

The hysterical abuse of Leavers that followed and the atrocious behaviour of the European Commission removed any lingering doubts.

The accusations of stupidity, ignorance, xenophobia, racism and little Englandism were deeply unfair.

Ireland, of all countries, should have recognised that to want your independence from foreign interference is a legitimate aim that has nothing to do with narrow nationalism.

Neither the EU nor the UK establishment showed any respect for democracy (which is dismissed as populism if it comes up with the "wrong answers") and Ireland moved from cooperating with the UK to confrontation because a naive new Taoiseach was flattered and bullied by a cynical Brussels cabal.

As Yanis Varoufakis, the Greek ex-finance minister who got his own back at the EU by publishing his covertly-recorded doomed negotiations in the fascinating Adults In The Room, has remarked, it was clear that Michel Barnier was appointed to make sure the negotiations failed.

The English obsession with fairness, compromise, seeing the point of view of the other side and giving them the benefit of the doubt makes them kind neighbours but poor negotiators.

Mrs May made awful errors in allowing Barnier and the boys to set rules that suited only them, in agreeing to sort the bogus issue of a hard border before trade deals were sorted and in taking in any way seriously their cynical dismissal of practical solutions.

How can anyone look at the state the EU is in and want to be part of it?

Because of its size Germany dominates; even by its normal standards Italy is in a right old state, and it is now joining Hungarians and Poles in refusing to obey orders to take destabilising numbers of refugees and economic migrants Mrs Merkel invited in without any consultation whatsoever.

It has just imposed a whole new raft of pointless and costly regulations, from lighting (inefficient and likely to cost the UK 1 billion) and GDPR (which filled our in-boxes full of silly emails about privacy, is well described as "a solution in search of a problem", and estimated to cost the FTSE 100 companies alone about 1.5bn).

Well, if there was a second referendum tomorrow, I wouldn't be dithering.

I'd be out there delivering leaflets, knocking on doors and shouting: "No surrender."
Thai soldiers escort Buddhist monks as they take alms from residents in Bacho, a district in Narathiwat province, May 28, 2018.

Last Friday, Thai Army Commander-in-chief Gen. Chalermchai Sitthisart visited security checkpoints in Cho I-rong, a district in Narathiwat province designated as the site of a potential Safety Zone, or limited ceasefire, in the insurgency-stricken region known as the Deep South.

He reportedly was there to provide moral support to troops who would be on the ground during the implementation of the Safety Zone, a pilot project yet to be implemented but that was agreed upon by a so-called Dialogue Panel of government negotiators and MARA Patani, an umbrella organization of long-standing Patani Malay separatist organizations.

Armed separatist insurgency in Thailands far South surfaced in the 1960s and went under in the late 1980s. The conflict resurfaced again in mid-2001 but wasnt officially acknowledged until Jan. 4, 2004, when scores of insurgents raided an army battalion in Narathiwat and made off with more than 300 weapons.

The one group that dominates the scene on the ground today is the Barisan Revolusi Nasional, the BRN or National Revolutionary Front, which controls virtually all of the insurgents in the Deep South.

BRN refuses to endorse the ongoing talks between Thailand and MARA Patani. Their members said any negotiation would have to be mediated by members of the international community and in line with international best practices.

But, as a gesture of goodwill to the stakeholders of this peace initiative, BRN said it would observe the ceasefire in Cho I-rong district and weeks have passed since its fighters stopped committing acts of violence as a manifestation of this gesture.

We have been told to refrain from carrying out attacks in Cho I-rong district, said a BRN source on the ground.

So far, BRN members have kept their word. But it doesnt mean they have to end their campaign of violent attacks in other parts of this historically contested region. There are nearly 40 districts in the Deep South, where nearly 7,000 people have been killed from insurgency-related violence since January 2004.

Still committed to peace process

Chalermchais visit to Cho I-rong was symbolic. According to one senior military officer who monitors the conflict and the peace talks, it was a message to MARA Patani that Thailand was still committed to this peace initiative in spite of the absence of BRNs endorsement and participation.

Bangkok understands full well that MARA Patani was upset at Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-o-cha for jumping the gun when he announced that Cho I-rong had been designated as the district to come under the Safety Zone.

The rebels were hoping for a more formal announcement to reflect the importance of what they considered a breakthrough of sorts.

It was not clear if Prayuth had breached the protocol on purpose or that he wasnt thinking. Regardless, Bangkok never liked the idea of giving MARA Patani or any other separatist entity from the Malay-speaking South any kind of legitimacy or recognition if it didnt have to. The fact that the government has sent a team of negotiators to meet with them is all the legitimacy they are going to get.

For the BRN, Safety Zone or not, its business as usual. Exactly one day before the start of Ramadan, separatist militants attacked four military outposts and one police station in Yala provinces Krong Pinang and Yaha districts.

Less than a week later, on May 20, BRN militants set off a string of simultaneous bombs at more than 20 ATM machines across the region. The bombs were small and shrapnel was not used. They were not powerful enough to blast the steel cover open. But cash or casualties didnt seem to be their aim.

All the bombings were carried out in downtown areas and, in most cases, just meters away from governments security checkpoints. The explosions were set off simultaneously, about half an hour after sunset when Muslims broke their daily fast and the streets were mostly clear.

Many observers rushed to the conclusion that the attacks were in response to a dispute between teachers and a group of Muslim parents at the Anuban Pattani (Elementary) School over a ban on the hijab, or Islamic headscarf, for Muslim students.

But rebel sources said the attacks were a reminder to the Thai government that they hadnt forgotten about the 2004 Tak Bai massacre, when 78 unarmed Malay Muslims demonstrators died from suffocation after they were stacked one on top another in the back of military transport tracks. Seven were shot dead at the protest site.

The incident took place on October of that year and it was during Ramadan, an Islamic holy month that follows the lunar calendar. Needless to say, the incident radicalized a new generation of separatist militants and became part of the insurgents narrative.

What now for Zamzamin?

Meanwhile in Malaysia, Thailand and elsewhere, stakeholders of this peace initiative are waiting anxiously to see Kuala Lumpurs next move.

Many believe that Ahmad Zamzamin bin Hashim, the designated facilitator of the current official peace process, will be replaced following last months change of governments in Malaysia. Zamzamin was deemed too close to former Prime Minister Najib Razak.

BRN sources said it wouldnt matter if Zamzamin stayed or left because the foundation of this peace initiative had never been sound. Besides the fact that the most important player is not at the table, Thailand has never been interested in addressing the root cause of the conflict.

BRN sources said their leaders wouldnt even consider negotiating with the Thais until their own negotiators and political wing were properly trained and prepared.

Some in the Thai policy circles believe that internationalizing the process should be considered if it means BRN participation. But if Gen. Aksara Kerdpol remains as chief negotiator for Thailand, and Zamzamin stays on as the designated facilitator, one can be certain that BRN will continue to resist being involved in the peace talks.

Don Pathan is a Thailand-based security and development consultant for international organizations. The opinions expressed in this commentary are those of the author and not of BenarNews.
Indonesian counterterror police are questioning six men detained in Sumatra on the weekend, including three who were allegedly plotting to bomb Indonesias national parliament, officials said.

Police picked up three individuals in Pringsewu, near the southern tip of Sumatra, on Sunday, Amran Ampulembang, an intelligence official at Lampung regional police, told BenarNews.

The day before, at Riau University in Pekanbaru, about 700 miles north, authorities seized four handmade bombs and arrested three suspects who were plotting to attack the national parliament building in Jakarta and the provincial parliament building as well, Riau Regional Police Chief Nandang told reporters.

The men, former students of the university, are suspected members of Jemaah Ansharut Daulah (JAD), National Police spokesman Muhammad Iqbal told BenarNews in Jakarta. JAD is composed of about two dozen Indonesian extremist groups that have pledged allegiance to the Islamic State group, according to the U.S. government, which has listed the network as a terrorist entity.

Iqbal confirmed only one arrest in Lampung and declined to say whether that detainee was linked to the three arrested in Riau.

Were still investigating. Still trying to find out, he said.

He also said it was too soon to say whether the men arrested in Riau were linked to a May 16 terror attack on a Pekanbaru police station in which four suspected terrorists and a police officer were killed.

Whether they are linked to the attack on the Riau Regional Police is also being investigated.  As is the question of the money flow and why they were [on campus] when their status is that of alumni, Iqbal said.

But Riau police spokesman Sunarto said one suspect, identified only as Z, had been asked to make a bomb for the attackers, although he did not do so because he was busy.

On May 16, an officer was killed and four other people were injured when a white van rammed into the yard of a police station in Pekanbaru. Four men who got out of the van, including one wielding a samurai sword, were shot dead. The driver fled but was later apprehended.

The attack was one of several terrorism-related incidents in May including suicide bombings at churches in Surabaya and a prison riot at a facility near Jakarta. In all, 51 people  13 civilians, seven police and 31 suspects  died, according to a BenarNews count.

Cheerful

Riau arrestee Z often stayed at the rustic headquarters of a campus environmental group, according to university students who knew him and expressed astonishment at his arrest over terrorism allegations.

Z was a funny, cheerful guy who typically wore T-shirts and hiking boots, said one student, who declined to give his name. Another said he stayed on campus because his parents live outside Pekanbaru.

Indonesias National Counterterrorism Agency earlier named seven campuses where students were at risk of exposure to radicalism, but stressed the list was not exhaustive and only included schools in Java.

The seven schools are University of Indonesia in Jakarta; Bandung Institute of Technology; Bogor Institute of Agriculture; Diponegoro University in Solo; November 10 Institute of Technology in Surabaya; Airlangga University in Surabaya; and Brawijaya University in Malang.
Bystanders crowd around the scene of a two-vehicle accident that killed 14 employees of an American company in Santa Cruz, in the southern Philippine province of Davao del Sur, June 3, 2018.

The 14 employees who were killed when their vehicle crashed into a 10-wheeler truck in the Southern Philippines worked for an American coconut processing company, police said Monday.

Those killed were employees of the local unit of the Franklin Baker Co. who were traveling in a company van when it collided with the truck near Santa Cruz, a town in Davao del Sur province on Sunday, authorities said. Two others were injured in the crash.

The victims driver failed to see the incoming truck. Witnesses told investigators the driver reportedly lost control of the vehicle and slammed into the incoming truck, local police chief Samuel Gadingan said.

Deadly road accidents are common in the Philippines, especially in remote areas.

On average, 34 Filipinos die every day in road accidents, according to government statistics.

In February 2017, 14 Bestlink College students and their driver died when their bus struck an electric pole in Rizal, a province east of Manila.

Mark Navales contributed in Davao City contributed to this story.
Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte (left), speaks with South Korean President Moon Jae-in during a news conference at the presidential Blue House in Seoul, June 4, 2018.

Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte drew a barrage of criticism from womens groups on Monday after he kissed a married Filipina on the lips during a public engagement in South Korea over the weekend.

The incident occurred when Duterte was meeting with the Filipino community in Seoul on Sunday, the second day of his three-day visit to South Korea.

The president called the woman, who said she was married to a South Korean and was the mother of two children, onto the stage and promised her a signed copy of a book by a Filipino journalist that detailed scandals within the influential Catholic Church.

Can you tell your husband this was just a joke, Duterte said as he proceeded to give her a kiss on the lips as the crowd cheered, according to official transcripts of the event.

The woman was just one of the estimated 68,000 Filipinos working and living in South Korea, many of them students and professionals and spouses of Korean nationals.

But womens group Gabriela said the action was a clear display of Dutertes display of power, and a disgusting theatrics of a misogynist president who feels entitled to demean, humiliate or disrespect women according to his whim.

It said the act was meant to divert the Filipinos from the real problems of the country and Dutertes repeated acts of machismo were meant to entertain and distract from the fact that many people were beginning to question his policies, including his anti-drug war that has left thousands dead and corruption scandals that saw him let go of key cabinet officials.

It is also his own perverted way of getting at his women critics, his way of proving he can dominate women at any time, and any place as he chooses, said Joms Salvador, the secretary general of Gabriela.

It is his way of publicly exhibiting his contempt for women, Salvador said.

Another advocacy group, Every Woman, which was founded to combat misogyny under the regime of Duterte, said the president had never viewed women as real people, but merely objects like all the other perks.

Duterte criticizes UN official

Dutertes kiss came two days after the U.N.s Special Rapporteur on the independence of judges and lawyers, Diego Garcia-Sayan, hit out at the president for moves to oust the countrys Supreme Court chief justice.

Duterte had supported moves to remove Chief Justice Maria Lourdes Sereno  the countrys first female head of the judiciary  in Congress but his counsel instead sought to disqualify her on the grounds that she allegedly failed to disclose her net worth publicly.

Sereno denied the charges and said the move was politically motivated after she angered Duterte by speaking out about his drug war.

But Duterte, before leaving for South Korea, said of the U.N. rapporteur: I did not have anything to do with that. Tell that son of a bitch rapporteur to go to hell.

That response was expected, said Carlos Conde, of Human Rights Watch, who claimed the outburst was the same tired, old rhetoric designed to frustrate attempts by the U.N. and the international community to look into thousands and thousands of extrajudicial killings by the police and state agents in the governments war on drugs.

Conde charged that Duterte was simply trying to evade accountability by subjecting his critics to relentless attacks.

The U.N. must not be deterred and should now initiate an investigation into Dutertes continuing drug war, said Conde, HRWs researcher for Asia.

Jeoffrey Maitem in Cotabato, Philippines contributed to this report.
The BGSU alumna and metals/jewelry instructor in the BGSU School of Art says she creates colorful, wearable and functional art laced with sarcastic humor.

The copper and enamel art she produces are fun, charming and poignant in their messages, mostly with themes that explore feminist ideas.

Her unique creations have earned Saneholtz a spot in the Women to Watch Ohio-2018 exhibition. She is one of 10 female metal artists whose work is showcased through July 7 at the Riffe Gallery in downtown Columbus. The exhibition is an offshoot of the Women to Watch exhibitions of the National Museum of Women in the Arts.

Three of Saneholtzs brooches are among the featured artwork in the exhibition that includes jewelry, sculpture and two-dimensional works by women artists in Ohio. The brooches on display are part of her wearable series that features tattooed women.

The humor of these pieces comes in the juxtaposition of the womens images she uses from circa 1950s romance comic books found in her grandmothers house and read by her mother, ideas from antiquated dating guides and the tattoo art she discovered in her research of women with tattoos. During her research, Saneholtz realized many women with tattoos represented an early ideal of feminism.

Among her findings were Betty Broadbent and Annie Howard  tattooed women who were side acts for circuses in the late 1800s and early 1900s. While on one hand, they were sexualized wearing skimpy outfits on stage and showing off their body art, the reality was, they were in control of their bodies, chose to have the tattoos and became financially independent as a result of their decisions to perform in circuses, Saneholtz said.

With her Midwest sarcasm and focus on feminist issues, Saneholtz soon decided the tattoo art was a perfect counterpoint to the male-dependent females from the comic books. Vintage photographs of Broadbents and Howards tattoosapproximately 800 between thembecame the ink on the women from the romance comics and the feminist statement for this series of Saneholtzs artwork.

The petite, curly-headed, dynamic artist comes by her talents and energy naturally; her mother, Karen, a graphic designer with an extraordinary creative eye, has long been a role model, in art, values and tenacity. Though she may have read the comics that depicted women as being dependent on men, her actions and conversations dispelled the myth of the roles of post-World War II suburban housewives and empowered her young daughter to think and create for herself.

Saneholtz also had strong, talented teachers who supported and encouraged her talents. Bowling Green High School art teacher Becky Laabs wrote a grant to the Ohio Arts Council to add metals to her curriculum.


UniQuest CEO Dr. Dean Moss said companys spin-out success rate belied the often-cited rule-of-thumb that up to 90 percent failed.

UniQuest, The University of Queenslands commercialization company, is leading Australia and competing globally in creating spin-out companies based on academic intellectual property.

Speaking at the 2018 BIO International Convention in Boston, UQ Vice-Chancellor and President Professor Peter Hj said more than 100 spin-out companies had been created based on UQ research since 1988, with most addressing unmet medical needs.

These spin-outs have gone on to raise more than $600 million to commercialize world-leading UQ research, he said.

From publicly-available data, UQ is streets ahead of any other Australian university in terms of the number of spin-outs created, and among the highest performing university based technology transfer offices in the world.

About 60 per cent of these spin-outs are in the life sciences, targeting some of the worlds most challenging diseases, including cancer, inflammation and pain.

Others are driving more efficient and effective treatment delivery, such as needle-less vaccines and orally-stable peptide drugs.

Im proud that the UniQuest spin-out success rate is comparatively very high, with 46 percent still operational or having exited the market through a commercial transaction such as a trade sale.

UniQuest CEO Dr. Dean Moss said companys spin-out success rate belied the often-cited rule-of-thumb that up to 90 percent failed.

UniQuests industry-trained staff applies a rigorous technical and commercial diligence process in commercializing our academic intellectual property, he said.

One such successful exit is Spinifex Pharmaceuticals Pty Ltd  developing a potential first-in-class oral treatment for inflammatory and neuropathic pain  which was acquired in a $1 billion deal by Novartis in 2015.

In addition to creating spin-out companies, UniQuest has also been successful in licensing intellectual property to international pharmaceutical companies that have the infrastructure and resources to fund clinical trials and ensure that the IP reaches the market, Dr. Moss said.

Examples include licensing the technology that led to the life-saving Gardasil cervical cancer vaccine, the magnetic resonance imaging technology to Siemens and GE Healthcare, and commercialization agreements with international biotech companies including Merck and Zealand Pharma A/S.

UQ spin-out companies include:

Spinifex  developing a potential first-in-class oral treatment for inflammatory and neuropathic pain. It was acquired in a billion-dollar deal by Novartis in 2015.

Dendright - currently running clinical trials for a new treatment targeting the cause (rather than just the symptoms) of rheumatoid arthritis

QUE Oncology  UQ/Emory University collaboration to develop novel therapies to address unmet medical needs in the treatment of cancer and its consequences. Last year secured US$16m Series A investment to develop an oral, non-hormone drug candidate to treat hot flashes in women receiving anti-estrogen therapy for breast cancer.

Inflazome  developing new medicines to treat inflammatory disorders and raised $22M in a series A investment

Protagonist  developing orally stable peptide drugs, giving patients a potential alternative to injectable-only biologic drugs. Benefits include a high potency at low dose. Last year granted Janssen exclusive worldwide rights to a first-in-class oral peptide receptor antagonist in pre-clinical development for treatment of Irritable Bowel Syndrome.

Vaxxas  commercializing the Nanopatch technology of vaccine delivery that could replace traditional needle and syringe application. It would remove the need to use a needle, potentially eliminate the need to refrigerate the vaccine providing benefits to the developing world and could, in some cases, reduce the amount of vaccine required.

ProGel  technology to microencapsulate friendly living bacteria in probiotics, therapeutic biologics and drugs to help retain its integrity through the acidic stomach environment

NexGen Plants  a novel non-GM technology to introduce pathogen-resistance, production or consumer traits in crops.
IoT is not new, but has been gaining more attention and traction lately.

Health for All has been talked about for the last several decades but then it has not seen the light of the day yet  accessibility to Primary and Secondary care is still a distant dream in our Rural / Semi urban communities. If you consider Urban India, a population of 100 million is supported by 520,000 doctors, while 280 million in Semi-urban is managed by 200,000 doctors and in rural  830 million are taken care by just 65,000 doctors. As can be seen, there is a complete imbalance in need Vs availability.

The 3 main issues that plague India are Cost, Quality and Access. We have not been able to decentralize healthcare  move it away from where the competency is available (Tertiary Centers and Corporate Hospitals) to where it is needed (Primary / Secondary care clinics). Take any infrastructure and it lacks abysmally. The ratio of beds to patients, Doctors to patients, Nurses to patients, CT/MR machines to patients; they are all far below global averages  even when ranked among the developing countries.

But now, medicine is entering an age of democratization as power shifts from hospitals, doctors and other caregivers to patients, potentially leading to dramatic health care improvements. Given the technology adoption trends, the increased awareness among providers and consumers, the time is right for the healthcare industry in India to aggressively embrace the digital revolution. But the true power of digital lies in providing care solutions to patients extending from healthy living, prevention, early diagnosis, treatment to managing the patient at home or in the community and further extending this to the home or primary care centers for chronic disease patients.

Can we ride the telecom/mobile infrastructure to make this happen? Can we use sensors to pick up data and transmit them to central control stations where experts monitor and support dispensation of care? Coupled with the fact that India has over 850 Million mobile users as also over 150 Million internet users, Internet of Things (IoT) can certainly be put to use for decentralization of healthcare.

IoT is not new, but has been gaining more attention and traction lately. The concept of the IoT entails the use of electronic devices that capture or monitor data and are connected to a private or public cloud, enabling them to automatically trigger certain events. Healthcare practitioners are closely watching the development of this trend to see if the IoT will be a part of their future. Internet-connected devices have been introduced to patients in various forms. Whether data comes from fetal monitors, electrocardiograms, temperature monitors or blood glucose levels, tracking health information is vital for some patients. Many of these measures require follow-up interaction with a healthcare professional. This creates an opening for smarter devices to deliver more valuable data, lessening the need for direct patient-physician interaction.

Over a period of time, India will be based on the data collected from IoT devices, building a staggering amount of healthcare data that would be spread among hospitals, primary care providers, researchers, health insurers, and state and central governmentsjust to name a few.

However, in addition to aggregating a massive amount of data, there comes the challenge of maintaining patient privacy. As per Spradlin, figuring out how to leverage that information to deliver better quality care to patients while keeping it secure is a major challenge.

Organisations will have to come together and integrate ideas and technologies, as well as put the right talent and technology in place. They should also structure workflows and incentives to penetrate / optimize deployment of IoT solutions. If all these issues can be addressed, then IoT can be a game changer and we can unleash the full potential of IoT.

Ravi Ramaswamy, Chairman of Healthcare Working Group, IET India IoT Panel and Sr. Director & Head - Health Systems, Philips Innovation Campus.
Growing tension over international trade could damage the airline industry and the world economy, global airlines and aviation executives have warned.

The US government has renewed tariff threats against China and imposed duties on steel and aluminum on US allies Canada, Mexico and the EU.

Any measures that reduce trade and probably consequently limit passenger travel are bad news, Alexandre de Juniac, director general of the International Air Transport Association, said at IATAs annual meeting in Sydney. The group represents most of the worlds main airlines.

We always get concerned when you start to see tensions elevate around global trade and free trade, American Airlines chief executive Doug Parker said. American has not seen any effect yet on revenues, he said.

The uncertainty could curb demand for the business travel, a key driver of profits for the airline industry, said Gloria Guevara Manzo, chief executive of the World Travel and Tourism Council (WTTC). (Business travelers) need to wait and see what happens  will their business be impacted, do they need to diversify, go some other places. War in trade is not good, she said.

Planemakers Boeing and Airbus echoed that uncertainty was bad for business and said free trade helped to drive economic growth and creating jobs. Airbus said the aviation industry existed because people could travel freely and markets were open.

We are in a worldwide industry here, Airbus chief commercial officer Eric Schulz told reporters. We see it in a negative way because it is putting borders and putting constraints for everybody, including our customers. Tariffs would not have a material impact on Boeings results, Randy Tinseth, the companys marketing vice president for commercial airplanes said.

For example, I think 90% of the aluminum we acquire comes domestically, he said. Guevara Manzo also said the WTTC was concerned about tariffs because they meant less money to invest in infrastructure, such as ports, airports and hotels. Steel for hotels is like flour for bakeries, she said.

The annual IATA meeting brings together about 130 CEOs. and 1,000 delegates.
By Sean McCarthaigh

Irish food and drink exports rose 11% to a record 12.5bn last year, according to new figures from Bord Bia.

The latest annual report of Bord Bia, which is due to be published shortly, shows 2017 was the eighth consecutive year of growth for exports of Irish food and drink products with sales recorded in 180 overseas markets.

Bord Bia attributes the boost of an additional 1.2bn in sales to increased output in a number of key areas, rising demand in some markets, and to the emergence of new markets for exports which the Irish food board said was in line with its strategy to sell into new markets.

Bord Bia chairman Dan MacSweeney said the value of exports had now grown by almost 60% or 4.7bn since 2010. He said the performance was not only noteworthy but, in many instances, remarkable, surpassing even the most optimistic expectations.

Bord Bia chief executive Tara McCarthy, said it was a year of convincing performances and exceptional results. The strongest performer was in dairy, which accounted for a third of all export sales, followed by seafood, pig meat, sheep meat and live animals.

However, growth was more modest for edible horticulture due to strong competition as well as for beef, poultry and prepared foods.

The value of exports of dairy products and ingredients rose 19% to just over 4bn  with sales of butter up 60% to almost 900m. Beef remains the second most valuable market with sales of 2.4bn, up 6% in the year, while prepared foods rose 7% to 2.1bn.

The drinks sectors saw exports rise 5% to almost 1.5bn. Trade in live animals rose 20% last year to 175m. The UK remains the most important market for Irish food and drink exports, accounting for 36% of all sales, although it is down from 38% in 2016.

Total exports to the UK last year reversed a decline the previous year, rising 8.5% to a record 4.46bn. However, trade in the rest of Europe posted stronger growth, up 15% to over 4bn. Dairy and pigmeat did particularly well in Germany, France, the Netherlands, and Belgium.

Exports to markets outside Europe rose 17% to top 4bn, with Asia the most important region.
By Louise Walsh

Hundreds of mourners turned out in Co. Meath today for the funeral of one of Sinn Fein's key party figures, Joe Reilly.

The Navan man who was hugely popular cross-party during his 24 years as a Meath County Councillor died last Friday morning from a rare form of cancer.

Former Sinn Fein President and Louth TD Gerry Adams, who led the funeral procession, also said the graveside oration, after being asked by Joe during a recent visit by the duo to the Hill of Tara.

The 67-year old had also arranged for a local band Pilgrim Brothers to play the mourners out of the cemetery with their version of Monty Python's 'Always Look On the Bright Side of Life."

Others mourners included Lord Mayor of Dublin Micheal MacDonncha, Sinn Fein TDS Aengus O'Snodaigh, Dessie Ellis and Peadar Toibin as well as Meath County Council colleagues.

Among the tributes which poured in after his death were from Sinn Fein President Mary Lou McDonald who said the party was 'heartbroken'.

A key player in Sinn Fein and close to the party leadership of Gerry Adams and Martin McGuinness, Joe was a member of the party ard comhairle and was part of the Sinn Fein negotiating team during talks on the formation of the Good Friday agreement.

During this time he visited No. 10 Downing Street a number of times and recently joked that after a meeting in Northern Ireland, the late Mo Mowlam told him he was wearing the 'sexiest socks' in the room.

He was invited onto the podium at last December's Ard Fheis by Gerry Adams during his own retirement speech and the Navan man was given a standing ovation.

Great crowd at Joe Reillys funeral in Navan this afternoon. Joe who organised everything made sure he sent everyone home with a smile on their faces. He gave the last word Pilgrim Street who sang always look on the bright side of life. pic.twitter.com/RIrc3nFBlk  Gerry Adams (@GerryAdamsSF) June 4, 2018

After being caught with other IRA members with explosives in a house in Dublin's Donabate in 1975, he was sentenced to four years in prison, a sentence which was increased to ten years after a failed escape attempt during a court appearance.

He was elected onto Meath County Council in the 1994 local elections and topped the poll in the Navan Urban Council elections in 1999.

He went on to build the party in Meath, growing the number of elected Sinn Fein councillors from just one (himself) to eight at the last local elections.

He even made it to the polling booth to vote to repeal the eighth amendment saying afterwards: "It's the biggest transformation in Irish society for many years and I'm proud to be a part of that.

It's probably the last time I will vote so I'm delighted that my vote was a vote towards victory.

In a statement, Mary Lou McDonald said: "We are heartbroken at the loss of Joe Reilly. Joe was a tireless republican leader and an inspirational friend to so many. He was dearly loved and he will be greatly missed.

"He was a key member of the Sinn Fein negotiation team which brokered the Good Friday Agreement."

Long-time friend and Sinn Fein Louth TD Gerry Adams, who affectionately called Joe 'Roundy', spoke about his long frendship with Joe at the graveside and acknowledged how Joe had been always hugely popular across party divides.

Gerry Adams TD and Cllr Michael Gallagher carry Joe Reilly's coffin.

"I have known Joe for many years. He was a good friend and a long-standing party member," he said in a statement after Joe's death

"Joe was a part of the Sinn Fein leadership which developed our peace strategy and participated in the negotiations that led to the Good Friday Agreement.

I am lucky and honoured to know Joe. He was an extraordinary, compassionate, decent human being. We spent some time together yesterday and he faced his death with great courage. He will be missed.

Meath Sinn Fein TD Peadar Toibin added: "Joe was a good friend who wouldn't shy away from telling you the truth. He was unique and it's fair to say they don't make Joe Reilly's anymore."

Local Fine Gael Minister for State at the Department of Housing, Planning and Local Government Damien English was testament to the cross-party friendships saying: I am very saddened on the death of a true champion of Navan.

"As members of Meath County Council, we served together between 1999-2004.

While our parties would have very clear policy differences nationally, he was a gentleman and a pure pleasure to work with locally.

Fianna Fail TD for Meath West Shane Cassells added: "I served with Joey for 17 years on the council and he worked tirelessly and was a proud son of Navan."
By David Raleigh

The father of a severely disabled boy has made a fresh impassioned plea for help to adapt his house to suit the special needs of his son.

Four year old Shane Enright was born 15 weeks premature weighing a mere 845 grammes.

At six weeks old doctors discovered a bleed on his brian which was covered in cysts.

At eight weeks Shane was diagnosed with spastic diplegia cerebral palsy, and he has little or no muscle control in his hands and legs.

Last weekend he was diagnosed with scoliosis and a trapped nerve on his spine.

Shane moves around his home, in Templeathea, West Limerick, on his knees, and, on a wheelchair.

His father Richard Enright applied to Limerick City and County Council for a 30,000 Housing Adaptation Grant for Disabled Persons - but he was informed he would be entitled to only 15,400 after a means test analysis was carried out.

Mr Enright said he earns an annual salary of approximately 35,000 and his wife Caroline, who is her sons full time carer, receives a weekly careers allowance of 117.

The distraught couple said they cannot afford to meet the estimated 70,000-80,000 to adapt their home.

Shanes occupational therapist has recommended he needs a wet room with a special hoist to lift him into a bath; a store room for his medical equipment; and a larger bedroom.

Richard, who suffers with chronic arthritis and works from home, said he was literally begging for help.

Appealing to tradespeople to help them adapt their house, he said: We are desperate. We cannot make up the shortfall. We are in an appalling situation.

Becoming frustrated with their situation, he added: I am being penalised for wanting to continue to work. Ive been told that Ill get more money if I give up work and claim for more benefits. This is crazy.

The grant should be solely for the person who needs it, not about his family or what they're earning.

Shanes health is deteriorating. All we want to do is provide for him. He will have a lot of operations to face and he needs proper facilities at home.

After the family first public appealed for help last month they were contacted by plasterers and tilers offering their services free of charge.

Thankful to the construction workers for their response, Mr Enright has now called on others to help them get their sons extension built as soon as possible.

We need more tradespeople to be able to put it up. We cant afford it. I'm begging for help, he added.

Mr Enright wrote to the Finian McGrath, the Minister of State with responsibility for Disability, in October 2017, but only received a response last month.

The minister stated he had no role to play in applications for housing adaptation grants for the disabled.

Shane Enright in his wheelchair with father Richard and mother Caroline, at their home in Templeathea, Athea, Co Limerick.

A spokeswoman for the Department of Health said, the detailed administration of the Housing Adaptation Grants for people with a disability, including the assessment, approval and payment of individual grants to applicants, is the responsibility of the relevant local authority.

She added the framework for the operation of the scheme is designed to give an appropriate degree of flexibility to local authorities in its administration.

It is entirely a matter for the Council to prioritise applications on the basis of the medical needs of the applicant and on the urgency and necessity of the identified works and to ensure that the available funding is targeted to those most in need, she added.

A spokesman for the Council stated: We do not comment on individual cases but we are bound by a means test scale set by the Department of the Environment, Housing and Local Government and apply maximum grant aid when allowed."

In a separate response for a request for comment, the HSE in Limerick stated: Unfortunately we cannot comment further on specific details other than to note that housing / building / alterations is a matter for the local council.

In respect of other issues the HSE is appropriately doing everything possible to support the family, it added.

The family have set up a gofundme online fundraising page to help them finance the adaptation of their home for Shane's needs. It has currently raised over 3,000 of a 40,000 goal.
By Tom Tuite

A 31-year-old man charged over the seizure of a loaded revolver in Dublin has been remanded in custody.

As part of investigation into organized crime and threats to life in the Dublin, gardai from the Garda National Drugs and Organised Crime Bureau (GNDOCB), Special Crime Task Force and Crime & Security arrested two men and seized a loaded revolver.

It happened on Saturday afternoon after gardai stopped a man in a car and another on a bicycle at East Wall Road in Dublin 3.

They were taken to Garda stations in north Dublin where they were detained under Section 30 of the Offences Against the State Act, 1939.

Paul Beatty, 31, with an address at Eugene St, Dublin 8, was brought to appear before Judge Bernadette Owens at Dublin District Court on Monday.

He faced two charges under the Firearms Act.

He was accused of unlawful possession of a .38 special calibre Smith & Wesson revolver and five rounds of ammunition on June 2 at Charlemount Parade, Dublin 3.

Detective Enda Gormley of the GNDOCB told the court the accused was charged at Mountjoy Garda station at 6.38pm on Sunday.

He said Mr Beatty was cautioned and made no reply when charged. He told the court he was seeking a remand in custody.

Defence solicitor John ODoherty said his client was not applying for bail at this stage. The judge also acceded to Mr ODohertys request to grant legal aid to Mr Beatty.

The defendant, dressed in a green top and green trousers, did not address the court during the brief hearing.

There was no indication of a plea.

He was remanded in custody to appear again on Wednesday at Cloverhill District Court.

A second man has been released without charge and a file is being prepared for the Director of Public Prosecutions.
By Olivia Kelleher

A man has died following a collision between a van and a tractor on the R522 at Ballincurrig on the Buttevant to Liscarroll Road in Co Cork.

Emergency services including gardai, ambulances, paramedics and Rescue Helicopter 112 have attended at the scene approximately three miles from Buttevant.

The driver of the van, who was in his late 30s, was pronounced dead onsite this afternoon. It is understood the crash occurred shortly after 1pm.

Two passengers in the van, a male and female both in their late teens, were airlifted to Cork University Hospital. Their conditions are understood to be serious.

The driver of the tractor, a man in his late 20s, was not physically harmed.

Diversions were put in place to allow for a forensic examination of the scene.

The road is expected to remain closed for a number of hours.

The cause of the crash is unknown at this juncture.

Investigating gardai are appealing for witnesses to contact Mallow Garda Station 022-31450 or the Garda Confidential Line 1800 666 111.
ANZ Bank, Citigroup and Deutsche Bank will have their first court appearance on criminal charges of alleged cartel conduct next month, as the market mulls the potential penalties that may be imposed.

After the three banks last week flagged they would be charged with alleged cartel behaviour over a 2015 capital raising, the Commonwealth Director of Public Prosecutions (CDPP) on Monday said court attendance notices had been issued.

ANZ Bank will face its first court appearance over alleged cartel conduct next month in Sydney. Credit:James Alcock

Representatives of the banks, and the executives alleged to have engaged in cartel conduct, have been called to appear at the Downing Centre Local Court in Sydney on July 3, for what is expected to be a largely procedural hearing.

It is understood the banks have also seen copies of the charges against them, but it is unclear whether documents setting out in greater detail the allegations will be made public by the court before the first hearing in July.
Christie's is embroiled in a dispute over an Impressionist painting that it sold in good faith, but was looted by the Nazis and was even part of Hermann Goring's private collection.

The work's rightful owners and the dealer who bought the painting from Christie's have accused the auction house of failing to properly investigate its dark past, and then refusing to rescind the sale once its murky provenance became clear.

Premier jour de printemps a Moret (First day of spring in Moret), painted by Alfred Sisley in 1889.

This week, the owner of Premier jour de printemps a Moret (First day of spring in Moret), painted by Alfred Sisley in 1889, is launching legal proceedings against the auction house.

"With Christie's, it's war," said Alain Dreyfus, a French dealer with a gallery in Basel, Switzerland. "They did not do enough research. If you buy a car in a garage and the police come and tell you that it's stolen you hand it back to the garage and get your money back. That's normal," he told The Sunday Telegraph.
Fortescue Metals chairman Andrew "Twiggy" Forrests Australian Industrial Energy will build a floating LNG import terminal in Port Kembla to bring more gas to NSW and Victoria as soon as 2020.

The regasification facility, which will cost between $200 million and $300 million to construct, will also be NSWs first LNG import terminal.

The LNG import terminal will be the first in NSW. Credit:Michele Mossop

The Port Kembla terminal will import up to about 100 petajoules of LNG, which could meet about 75 per cent of NSWs total gas demand.

AIE chief executive James Baulderstone said the import terminal would "solve the gas shortage in NSW", while NSW Minister for Trade and Industry Niall Blair called it a "game changer" for the state.
A former senior US Treasury official has warned the Turnbull government against introducing a 3 per cent turnover-based tax on digital players like Facebook and Google, saying it would discriminate against American companies and is bad policy based on politics rather than economics.

Bob Stack was formerly deputy assistant secretary for international tax affairs at the US Department of Treasury under the Obama administration. He left when Donald Trump was inaugurated and is now managing director in Deloittes Washington office of its international tax services group.

Treasurer Scott Morrison has signalled a tax on big digital companies, saying earlier this year that the new economy shouldn't be some sort of a tax-free environment.

In an exclusive interview with Fairfax Media, Mr Stack, who is in Australia meeting with Treasury officials and local companies, said Australia would be wrong to move unilaterally and such a tax is potentially dangerous for any countries exporting companies into other market jurisdictions".
The operators of a 7-Eleven petrol station in Brisbane have been fined almost $200,000 for short-changing workers and falsifying records to cover it up.

The Fair Work Ombudsman has imposed a $32,130 fine on Avinash Pratap Singh, the part-owner and manager of the petrol station in Vulture Street, East Brisbane.

S&A Enterprises (QLD) Pty Ltd, of which Singh is a director, was also fined $160,650.

Singh and the company admitted paying workers as little as $14.14 an hour, and the company also gave 7-Eleven's head office and the ombudsman false wages records.

Investigators found two students from India were underpaid a total of $5593 for short periods of work in 2014. The workers have been both reimbursed.
A coroner has referred a tour operator, its employee, a skipper and a dive instructor to the Office of Industrial Relations following an inquest into the death of a British backpacker who drowned while scuba diving at the Whitsundays.

Bethany Emily Farrell drowned while scuba diving at Blue Pearl Bay after she became separated from her dive group in February 2015.

British tourist Bethany Farrell died on her first scuba dive in 2015. Credit:Instagram

The 23-year-old had been in Australia for less than a week and was travelling with two other friends, also from the UK, when they booked a three-day-and-night sailing and diving trip with Wings Adventures from Airlie Beach.

A coronial inquest into her death found the young woman, who had never been scuba diving, had been given a brief practical presentation on board and had conducted certain elementary or practical driving skills.
A man has been charged with murder over the disappearance of Brisbane man Sam Price-Purcell.

Mr Price-Purcell was last seen in the Mitchelton area in February 2015 getting into a bright yellow 2010 Holden Commodore SS sedan.

Police searched a number of properties for more clues into Sam Price-Purcell's disappearance.

Police believed the 25-year-old travelled to Toowoomba but was never seen again.

On Monday, detectives charged a 36-year-old Leyburn man, believed to have been an "associate" of Mr Price-Purcell for "some time", with murder.
A woman has died after she was struck by a ute in Brisbanes west on Tuesday morning.

The serious traffic incident happened at the intersection of Honour Avenue and Bridge Street in Chelmer about 7am, police said.

Paramedics on scene treated the 33-year-old woman, who suffered significant head injuries.

She was rushed to Princess Alexandra Hospital in a critical condition but died in hospital as a result of her injuries.
Queensland Rail will be able to advertise for train drivers to the general public after the rail unions bid to block the move was dismissed by the Fair Work Commission last month.

The Rail Tram and Bus Union lodged an appeal last year after QR was cleared by the Fair Work Commission to advertise for 200 drivers and 200 guards following the staffing crisis when hundreds of train services were cancelled in October 2016.

QR will be able to employ drivers from the general public after the rail union lost its appeal last month. Credit:Alamy

The crisis, partly caused by lack of train crew, sparked the Strachan inquiry, which recommended external drivers with no prior QR experience. Previously, drivers had to work for the company before they could move into the role.

The RTBU launched an appeal last year, arguing QR had jumped to external recruitment for drivers and guards before offering career pathways for existing employees, under the Queensland Rail Traincrew Enterprise Agreement 2017.
An 18-year-old private school girl goes missing in Melbourne. Her parents, in China, are sent photos which show their daughter with her wrists and ankles bound.

Her kidnappers demand $100,000 for her safe return, which her parents transfer to a Chinese bank account.

At the same time a friend of the teenagers, unable to find her, reports her missing to Victoria Police. The investigation quickly morphs from a missing persons case to a potential kidnap when detectives speak to her parents.

Police later find the teenager in a hotel room in Melbournes east. She is alone, sitting on a bed and watching television.
Goodbye plastic: Queen Victoria Market has resolved to phase out single use plastic bags in 2019. Credit:Rodger Cummins

Queen Victoria Market will ban plastic bags, following the lead of our major supermarkets.

As Coles and Woolworths on Monday announced a slew of new measures to slash plastic waste, Queen Victoria Market management said by next year, their goods will no longer be sold in single use plastic bags.

The market will consult with traders on the exact timing, but is committed to the move.

In a statement to The Age, Queen Victoria Market CEO Stan Liacos said the market had recently handed customers more than 1500 reusable tote bags, and reusable bags were available to purchase.
Japan has rejected condemnation over its slaughter of 122 pregnant whales in Antarctic waters, saying the "scientific" work confirmed the animals were fertile.

The annual bloodbath in the Southern Ocean made international headlines last week after Fairfax Media reported the gruesome results. The hunt takes place in Australian whale sanctuaries in contravention of international law.

Japan says it annual slaughter of minke whales is required to learn about the Antarctic marine ecosystem. Credit:AFP

The Japanese fleet killed 333 Antarctic minke whales. In addition to the 122 pregnant animals, 114 were juveniles.

In a statement on Monday, the Japanese embassy told Fairfax Media it did not specifically target pregnant whales, even though they comprised more than 95 per cent of the mature females killed.
Pauline Hanson is facing an escalating war with One Nation colleague Brian Burston that could see her sanctioned in Parliament for breaching Senate rules by trying to punish him for refusing to vote the way she wants.

Senator Burston will launch an effort to have the One Nation leader brought before the Senate privileges committee over their spectacular falling out last week when he split from his colleagues on company tax cuts.

Furious at her accusations against him, Senator Burston will seek a finding that Senator Hanson not only tried to interfere with the free exercise of his vote in the upper house but also used intimidation and threats to try to get her way.

One Nation leader Pauline Hanson in 2017 with senators Brian Burston and Malcolm Roberts. Credit:Alex Ellinghausen

Senator Burston wrote to Senator Hanson on Monday to warn it was a possible contempt of the Senate for her to pressure him into changing his vote on the company tax bill.
If all goes to plan, one of New South Wales' favourite beaches will turn maroon next month.

Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk and NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian have settled on this year's Origin bet, choosing where the loser would have to fly the winning state's flag.

In 2016, NSW premier Mike Baird jokingly declared he would display the maroon jersey behind a curtain. Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk delivered jerseys after the state won league and netball competitions. Credit:Nick Moir

The Queensland flag would fly from the Manly Surf Club, while if the Blues win, the NSW flag will fly from the Kurrawa Surf Club on the Gold Coast.

Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk is vice-patron of Surf Life Saving Queensland and wanted to use this year's wager to highlight their services.
Cory Bernardi's Australian Conservatives tilt at Novembers state election was disintegrating on Monday, with the partys leader sharply at odds with its only MP in the state over a contentious new campaign strategy.

Senator Bernardi wants to throw all of the partys resources behind just one candidate in the Victorian election: its sitting upper house MP Rachel Carling-Jenkins.

Australian Conservatives founder Cory Bernardi at a press conference with Victorian MP, Rachel Carling-Jenkins in 2017. Credit:Eddie Jim

But the Metro West MP hit out at the move almost immediately, branding it a retreat and saying rank-and-file party members were furious and threatening to resign.

The party's 4000 or so Victorian members were told on Monday afternoon that Dr Carling-Jenkins, who was first elected to Parliament for the Democratic Labor Party, would be its sole runner when the state goes to the polls.
Victorias Opposition Leader Matthew Guy insists the election of several Mormons to key internal roles at the Liberal Partys recent state council will not result in an ideological lurch to the right.

Mr Guy also defended the democratic right of people in Victorias Mormon community to engage in politics and said it was unreasonable to target people for their religious denomination.

Matthew Guy addresses the Liberal Party's state council in April. Credit:Daniel Pockett

Replace Mormon with any other denomination or any other religion and tell me how that would be acceptable, Mr Guy said in an interview with Neil Mitchell on 3AW on Monday.

I mean, big deal if theyre of one denomination, if they want to join a political party and they do it legally and they do it according to the rules.
Hundreds of indigenous Australian languages risk being lost as the number of people taught to speak them dwindles, but a small robot named Opie and a team of dedicated researchers could be part of the key to preservation.

Researchers at the ARC Centre of Excellence for the Dynamics of Language (CoEDL) are in a race against time to preserve or revive indigenous languages, only 140 of which out of more than 300 are still spoken today. Only 18 of them are still taught to children.

Professor Janet Wiles, the robot Opie, Google's Daan Van Esch (on screen) and Ben Foley at Google HQ in Sydney. Credit:Tim Biggs

Recognising that it would take almost two million hours for human linguists to transcribe and process the 40,000 hours of recordings that CoEDL collected in partnership with indigenous communities, researchers Ben Foley and Professor Janet Wiles have been looking into artificial intelligence technology for ways to increase efficiency.

Last week, CoEDL and Google announced a partnership to transcribe indigenous languages and build AI models that could support linguistic work. So far they've built initial models for six Australian indigenous languages  Bininj Kunwok, Kriol, Mangarayi, Nakkara, Pitjantjatjara, Warlpiri and Wubuy  plus a further five languages spoken in the Asia Pacific.
Seoul: Syrian President Bashar al-Assad has expressed interest in travelling to North Korea to meet Kim Jong-un, North Korean media reported on Sunday, adding another layer of possible intrigue onto the planning for next week's summit between US President Donald Trump and the North Korean leader.

The report by the state-run KCNA news agency gave no details on the timing for a possible trip by Assad, who has rarely left Syria since the country's civil war erupted more than seven years ago. There also was no immediate comment from Syrian officials.

But even the suggestion of Assad's outreach to North Korea is certain to ripple through White House efforts to define an agenda for the planned June 12 summit in Singapore between Trump and Kim. It also reflects Kim's push to shed his reclusive image and seek wider contacts, including apparent efforts underway to hold talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin.

"The optics are horrendous given that Kim Jong-un is trying to posture as a good guy," said Sue Mi Terry, the Korea chair at the Centre for Strategic and International Studies in Washington. "Hosting Assad, one of the worst butchers on the planet, as your first foreign leader visit is not a good PR move."
Washington: The United States is considering sending a warship through the Taiwan Strait, US officials say, in a move that could provoke a sharp reaction from Beijing at a time when Sino-US ties are under pressure from trade disputes and the North Korean nuclear crisis.

A US warship passage, should it happen, could be seen in Taiwan as a fresh sign of support by President Donald Trump after a series of Chinese military drills around the self-ruled island. China claims Taiwan as part of its territory.

The USS Ronald Reagan aircraft carrier in Hong Kong. Credit:AP

US officials told Reuters that the United States had already examined plans for an aircraft carrier passage once this year but ultimately did not pursue them, perhaps because of concerns about upsetting China.
A leading aggregator has announced the appointment of a specialist small business finance provider to its lending panel, to reinforce its support of brokers catering to SME clients.

Finance & Systems Technology (FAST) supports more than 1,300 brokers to arrange over $21billion in both residential and commercial lending for customers annually.

FAST CEO, Brendan Wright, said the appointment of GetCapital showed the aggregators commitment to support its brokers in meeting their business clients needs.

He added, This announcement is very much aligned with FASTs strategy to support brokers to cater to SME clients. Business and commercial finance have long been hallmarks of FASTs unique value proposition, with our broker network now settling more than $7billion in commercial and business lending annually.

The expansion of the small business sector is a key trend Australia-wide. There are now over 2 million SMEs generating almost two thirds of Australias GDP.

Against this backdrop we are seeing increased demand for more diversified services from brokers and FAST is committed to supporting brokers to meet this demand.

GetCapital is focused on delivering affordable loans to small businesses, offering three distinct products: equipment and vehicle finance, flexible business loans and import lines of credit.

Wright said the addition of GetCapital to FASTs lender panel would further diversify the aggregators range of products.

He said, For small businesses, access to working capital is often the greatest priority. GetCapital is an innovative new player that provides great short to medium term solutions for SME clients, delivering the efficiency and agility they need to help run their business.

GetCapital CEO Jamie Osborn said he was delighted to be bringing GetCapitals strategy to FASTs network of experienced finance brokers.

He said, This alliance is evidence of our commitment to working with the broker channel, who provide an invaluable service to SME customers.

We are excited to launch our finance offering to FAST brokers. We are confident that our products, which are fundamentally built for SMEs, will strongly resonate with both brokers and their clients.

GetCapitals products are now live on FASTs lending panel and the lender has been introducing the product suite to FAST brokers across all states through FASTs recent Asset Finance Forum events.

Related stories:

Brokers' client approach stronger than ever

Discussion over fee-for-service is "disaster"

Brokers look to smaller lenders for loans
It has been announced today that Westpac group general manager of third party distribution Tony MacRae is moving to a new role in the bank.

MacRae's new role will see him responsible for Westpac first party home lending as national general manager, retail home ownership distribution.

Warren Shaw, previously head of broker distribution, will take over Tonys third party role in an acting capacity for now.

Bernadette Inglis, group general manager, Westpac retail & premium bank, said, We are delighted to have Tony MacRae join the Westpac Retail lending team. With extensive experience across business and lending, he will be a valuable addition as we continue to help more Australians with home ownership.

I know our third party team will enjoy working under Warren Shaws leadership, and well also continue to play an active role in the ongoing industry collaboration to strengthen good customer outcomes and the industry as a whole.
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Rashtriya (RJD) Chief and convict Lalu Prasad, who was out on provisional bail, returned to Patna from Mumbai, where he had gone for treatment for his heart-related problems.

Lalu was admitted to the Asian Heart Hospital in for treatment of his heart and kidney related ailments on May 23.

He was accompanied by his son Tej Pratap, daughter Misa Bharti, and daughter-in-law Aishwarya.

The former Chief Minister has been convicted in three cases by a special (CBI) court in Ranchi.

He was undergoing treatment at Rajendra Institute Medical Sciences (RIMS) earlier, where he was admitted on March 16 after he complained of discomfort at Birsa Munda Jail, and was later moved to the (AIIMS),

He also reportedly suffers from and
Curfew in pockets of Shillong was relaxed for seven hours on Sunday, even as Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma said the violence that broke out on Thursday was a local issue and not communal in nature.

A team of Shiromani Akali Dal leaders from Delhi visited the capital in view of the clashes involving residents of the Punjabi Line area and employees of state-run buses belonging to the Khasi community. The Punjab government has also sent a team here.

The East Khasi Hills district authorities relaxed the curfew from 8 am to 3 pm to allow churchgoers to attend Sunday services, officials said.

"The problem is very much in a particular locality, on a particular issue. It just happened that two particular communities were involved, but it's not a communal thing," Sangma told a press conference.

The clashes in parts of Shillong were given a communal colour by vested groups and a section of the media outside the state, he said.

A number of those arrested in connection with the violence were from outside East Khasi Hills district, in which Shillong falls, Sangma said.

Police used tear gas shells to disperse protesters in #Shillong, detained five persons. Curfew remains imposed & internet services remain suspended in parts of city after clash broke out b/w 2 groups following escalation of an argument between a woman & a bus conductor #Meghalaya pic.twitter.com/nMmLRss9o9  ANI (@ANI) June 3, 2018

The chief minister said, "Money and liquor were given to people to indulge in violence. We have evidence of it".

The authorities were on the job to trace those funding the violence, he said.

Earlier, a SAD team, including MLA Manjinder Singh Sirsa and the party's Delhi unit president Manjit Singh, met the residents of the violence-hit area, and called on Sangma.

Union Minister of State for Home said in New Delhi that no damage had been caused to any gurdwara or other institutions belonging to the Sikh community in

The Amarinder Singh government in Punjab also decided to rush a four-member team to the Meghalayan capital.

The team would make a ground assessment of the situation in the troubled areas and extend help to the Sikh community there, an official spokesperson said in Chandigarh.

Sangma had called up the Punjab chief minister on Friday night to apprise him of the situation.

Singh has offered all help to the Meghalaya government in ensuring security to the Dalit Sikhs, whose ancestors were reportedly brought to Shillong during the British era.

Officials told PTI here that the curfew which was promulgated in 14 localities in areas in the Lumdiengjri police station and the Cantonment police beat house will continue.

Night curfew would also continue in the entire city from 10 pm to 5 am for the third consecutive day, and Internet services would remain suspended, the officials said.

The Army, kept on standby, had conducted flag marches in various localities after the violence that left at least 10 people including policemen injured.

The violence erupted after a bus handyman was beaten up by a group of residents of the area on Thursday afternoon.

Trouble escalated when rumours spread on social media that the handyman had succumbed to injuries, prompting a group of bus drivers to converge in the Punjabi Line area. The police had to fire teargas shells to disperse them.

The handyman and three injured persons were taken to a hospital where they were administered first-aid.

Violence occurred in Shillong on Friday and Saturday too. Four people were arrested.

However, tourists were not affected by the violence though they have been enquiring about the situation, Shillong Hoteliers Association president Kishen Tibrewala said.

"I hope the state government will handle the situation in a positive manner and it would become normal soon," he said adding that the skirmishes could affect tourism in the state.
IDBI Bank managing director M K Jain will be the fourth deputy governor of the Reserve Bank of India, filling the vacacy after S S Mundra retired on July 31 last year. His term is three years. He is expected to be put in charge of banking supervision, among other duties.

In which case, he will have his hands full. The Basel-III norms took effect on May 17 and Jain will have to lead banks in implementation on the new requirements on liquidity. In the medium to long term, he will have to grapple with bad debts of the banking system and guide on corrective action. Transmission of rate ...
The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) is unhappy with public sector banks (PSBs) for poor implementation of the Lead Bank scheme for financial inclusion. At the crux of the issue is a huge discrepancy in the data supplied at the State Level Bankers Committee (SLBC) and that available through the Core Banking System.

RBI has raised questions about the integrity and timeliness of the data sent by banks, most of it manually compiled. The regulator has called for a standardised system to be developed on the website maintained by each SLBC. This should have the option to ...
Bayer launched a 6 billion euros ($7 billion) rights issue on Sunday, a cornerstone of the financing package for its planned $62.5 billion takeover of seeds maker Monsanto. Bayer last week won U.S. approval for the Monsanto takeover, clearing a major hurdle for a deal that will create by far the largest seeds and pesticides maker. The cash call is smaller than initially envisaged by Bayer because Monsanto reduced its debt while the antitrust review dragged on. Also, Bayer raised 4.5 billion euros more from selling down its stake in plastics maker Covestro than initially ...
At least 12 people have died in a suicide blast which took place near a gathering of top clerics in Afghanistan's Kabul, shortly after they issued a against the ongoing conflict which called such attacks a sin, the capital's police spokesman said on Monday, reported Aljazeera.

"Our initial information shows that the suicide attack took place when guests were exiting the hall" where the meeting was taking place at around 11.30 am (0700 GMT)," police spokesman Hashmat Stanikzai told local broadcaster Tolo News.

"Unfortunately there are many casualties, killed and wounded." The blast detonated outside the hall, he said. A security source confirmed it had been a suicide attack.
Chinas door to talks is open in principle, the country's Foreign Ministry said on Monday, a day after Beijing warned that any trade and business deals reached with Washington would be void if the United States implemented tariffs. The United States and China have threatened tit-for-tat tariffs on goods worth up to $150 billion each, as US President Donald Trump has pushed Beijing to open its economy further and address the United States large trade deficit with China. The two countries ended their latest round of negotiations on Sunday, with US Commerce ...
The addition of Chinese stocks listed on the Shenzhen stock exchange to the MSCI indices is only token at the moment. There's a minuscule weight of 0.39 per cent for 234 A-list China shares in the MSCI Emerging Markets Index.

MSCI is considering only 5 per cent of the free float for inclusion, that too, in two tranches, in May and August. However, this is an important symbolic gesture because it opens the door for China shares to receive higher weight in future. MSCI has finally accepted the case for inclusion of mainland Chinese stocks in its global indices after refusing to do ...
The Indian Naval Ships Sahyadri, Shakti and Kamorta of the Eastern Fleet under the command of Rear Admiral Dinesh K Tripathi, NM, Flag Officer Commanding, Eastern Fleet, would be participating in the 22nd edition of Malabar Exercise, off Guam, US from June 7 to 16, 2018.

As per a government release on Monday, the three Indian Naval Ships are scheduled to reach Guam on June 7 to take part in the Harbour Phase of the exercise.

It is for the first time the Malabar Exercise is being conducted at/ off Guam

Malabar 2017 was held in July last year on the Eastern Sea Board of India, off Chennai and Visakhapatnam.

The scope of the MALABAR 2018 includes professional interactions during the Harbour Phase in Guam from 7 to 10 June and the Sea Phase from 11 to 16 June.

It includes a diverse range of activities at sea including Aircraft Carrier operations, Air Defence, Anti-Submarine Warfare (ASW), Surface Warfare, Visit Board Search and Seizure (VBSS), Joint Manoeuvres and Tactical procedures.

The Indian Navy will be represented by the two indigenously designed and built ships, the multipurpose stealth frigate INS Sahyadri and Anti-Submarine Warfare Corvette, INS Kamorta, Fleet Tanker INS Shakti and Long Range Maritime Patrol Aircraft P8I.

Further, the United States' navies include the Nimitz-class aircraft carrier, USS Ronald Reagan with its air wing; two Ticonderoga class cruisers, USS Antietam and USS Chancellorsville; two Arleigh Burke-class destroyers, USS Benfold and USS Mustin; a Los Angeles-class attack submarine and one Long Range Maritime Patrol Aircraft P8A.

The JMSDF would be represented by a Hyuga class helicopter carrier JS Ise with integral helicopters; Takanami class destroyer JS Suzunami; Akizuki class destroyer JS Fuyuzuki, Japanese Maritime Patrol Aircraft, P1, and a submarine.

The 26-year-old Maritime exercise has grown in scope and complexity and aims to address the variety of shared threats and challenges to maritime security in the Indo-Pacific.

Further, the exercise contributes towards increasing the level of mutual understanding, interoperability and sharing of the best practices between the three navies.

Indian, Japanese, and the US navies will participate in the exercise.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
As many as 48 migrants drowned after their ship sank off at the southern coast of Tunisia, officials said on Sunday.

According to the Tunisian defence ministry, the rescue operations are underway. More than 60 migrants have been rescued so far by the coastguards.

"The coastguard and the navy continue their search with the support of a military plane," Al-Jazeera quoted the Tunisian interior ministry as saying in a statement.

A survivor recounted the horror saying that there were around 180 migrants in the ship, which sank due to a leak, adding that the boat measured at least nine metres long.

Another survivor claimed when the ship started sinking, the captain abandoned the vessel to escape arrest.

"I survived by clinging to wood for nine hours," the second survivor said at a hospital in Sfax in southern Tunisia, where dozens of people are looking for their near and dear ones.

Security officials later confirmed that the ship had around 180 migrants on board, with 80 of them hailing from African countries.

Meanwhile, the United Nations (UN) migration agency, the International Organisation for Migration (IOM) said there were over 70 survivors from the shipwreck.

IOM Spokesperson Flavio Di Giacomo warned that the final number of the migrants missing was still unknown, as per the report.

The latest incident of shipwreck comes after at least 90 migrants were feared drowned off the coast of Libya after their boat capsized in February this year.

In recent years, hundreds of thousands of migrants from sub-Saharan Africa have been rescued from the Mediterranean Sea. They seek to reach Europe to escape armed conflicts in their respective countries and earn a livelihood.

Also, human traffickers increasingly use Tunisia as a launch pad for migrants heading to Europe.

According to data provided by the IOM on its website, 32,080 people had reached Europe by sea so far in 2018, while 660 others had died while attempting to cross the continent.

Europe is experiencing a major influx of migrants who have been trying to cross the continent, mostly through illegal means, since the beginning of the Syrian Civil War in 2011.

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Australia's on Monday agreed to pay 700 million Australian dollars ($530 million) after admitting to breaches in anti- and counter-terrorism laws.

The Australian government's financial intelligence agency AUSTRAC last year had accused the bank of serious systemic breaches of the laws, news.com.au reported.

The will also pay 2.5 million Australian dollars in legal costs to AUSTRAC, subject to approval from the Federal Court. If the court approves the payment, then it will be the largest ever civil fine in the country's corporate history.

CEO Matt Comyn said that the settlement "brings certainty to one of the most significant issues we have faced".

"While not deliberate, we fully appreciate the seriousness of the mistakes we made. Our agreement today is a clear acknowledgment of our failures and is an important step towards moving the bank forward. On behalf of Commonwealth Bank, I apologise to the community for letting them down," Comyn said in a statement.

In August last year, AUSTRAC had launched proceedings, claiming that the Commonwealth Bank failed to monitor lakhs of transactions done through its smart ATM network, which led to the breaching of anti- and counter-terrorism-financing laws, according to the report.

The agency had sought help from the police forces such as Australian Federal Police, New South Wales Police and Western Australia Police to help in their investigations.

In 2012, the intelligent deposit machines were launched without appropriate coding which would send the legally required reports for cash transactions above 10,000 Australian dollars to the regulator.

In 2015, AUSTRAC had asked the Commonwealth Bank to show the several missing transaction reports, which the latter discovered later that it did not send the reports to the financial intelligence agency, the report said.

AUSTRAC CEO Nicole Rose said that non-compliance with the existing laws will not be tolerated and sent a strong message in safeguarding the financial system of Australia from criminal misuse.

"As we have seen in this case, criminals will exploit poor business practices to launder the proceeds of their crimes. This has real impacts on the everyday lives of Australians and puts the community at risk by increasing opportunities for terrorists to support attacks here and overseas, and enabling organised crime groups to peddle drugs to our families and friends," Rose said in a statement.

"We know that businesses are the first line of defence in protecting the community and our financial system from criminal abuse, and it is critical for AML/CTF compliance and risk management to be embedded in business strategy and practices. I hope this result alerts the financial sector to the consequences of poor compliance and reinforces that businesses need to take their obligations seriously," she added.

Both AUSTRAC and the Commonwealth Bank will now approach the Federal Court with the agreement.

The hearing for the same is scheduled to be held in the next few months.
P Chidambaram has been called by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) in connection with the Aircel-Maxis money laundering case, as per sources.

Sources further said that the ED has issued a notice to the former finance minister to appear before the investigating officers on Tuesday for questioning.

Earlier on May 30, a Delhi court allowed Chidambaram protection from arrest till June 5 in the case, after he filed an anticipatory bail plea.

The court also asked ED to reply to the plea moved by Chidambaram by June 5.

P. Chidambaram's son Karti was arrested on February 28 at the Chennai airport on his return from the United Kingdom, for his alleged role in facilitating Foreign Investment Promotion Board (FIPB) clearance for INX Media Ltd. and its directors, Peter and Indrani Mukerjea.

In October last year, during investigation, Enforcement Directorate (ED) found that FIPB approval given by Chidambaram in Aircel-Maxis case was beyond his mandate.

The law enforcement agency, in its investigation, also found that the amount for FIPB approval was wrongly projected to conceal the facts.

The Aircel-Maxis deal refers to a series of allegations of kickbacks in the telecom sector, which was part of the wider 2G scam that engulfed the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) regime.

In 2011, former Aircel head C. Sivasankaran complained to the CBI that he was being forced by then telecom minister Dayanidhi Maran to sell Aircel to the Malaysia-based Maxis Communications group owned by T. Ananda Krishnan.

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Leading French boutique brand Promod will launch its online retail store in India this week.

The Promod online store will offer the full range of items that the brand currently offers abroad in India and at the same prices.

The brand will expand its presence in Tier II and III cities across key markets.

Promod's online shopping portal will allow the customer to order international styles on a click of a button and collect it in stores or vice versa.

Customers in India will be able to pick up their orders at the store of their choice or opt for home delivery.

E-reservation service will start later this year.

The brand promotes accessible fashion clothing, in unpretentious natural styles, creating a French fashion spirit in more than 50 countries. With more than 30 years dynamic experience in women's ready-to-wear retailing, Promod is today one of France's biggest fashion store chains and the brand enjoys huge international success. By 2025 Promod plans to be the top fashion brand, with more than 100 retail doors (points of sales, stand alone, shop-in-shop) widely spread across India.

Nadine Caux, Managing Director at Promod, said, "We initiated our digital sales in India through Myntra and the response has been very encouraging in the first year. We are now looking at offering around 2000+ styles in the coming year and looking at doubling our turnover. This shows a great opportunity for us to launch our own portal and we are confident that consumer satisfaction through this omni channel route will attract more loyalty towards the brand."

"In addition to the launch of Promod e-commerce, we will be launching new stores making the brand available across cities even tier II and III cities. The vision remains to dress every woman and to be a part of her wardrobe. Hence we believe strongly into the digital canal to network with her," added Nadine.

The brand is looking at expanding its retail footprint across India by opening new stores and venturing into the E-commerce

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Goa Customs on Monday confirmed that they had seized 995 grams of gold from an Air India passenger who landed at Goa International Airport on June 3.

A press note issued by R. Manohar, Commissioner of Customs, said that the seized gold was retrieved from under a passenger seat. It was found in two silver pouches by an Air Intelligence Unit (AIU) team in Flight AI-994.

Manohar said that Customs officials identified the passenger and after questioning, he admitted that he had smuggled the gold. He added that the value of the seized gold was Rs.28.62 lakhs and that the investigation was carried out by Additional Commissioner of Customs, Goa, T. Gajalakshmi.

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Up to 100 Dalits from Jind district recently converted to Buddhism after non-fulfilment of their demands, despite protesting for 115 days.

The group had demanded an ordinance by the state government against the Supreme Court ruling that had made amendments to the Schedule Caste/Schedule Tribe Prevention of Atrocities Act, which had introduced a provision of anticipatory bail in the act while directing that there would be no automatic arrests on any complaint filed under the law.

They had also demanded a Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) probe into an alleged gang-rape in Jhansa.

Speaking to ANI, Dinesh Khapad, a Dalit leader, said Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar had agreed to fulfil their demands on March 7. However, protesters had to resort to a religious conversion due to non-fulfilment of the same.

"He (chief minister Khattar) had agreed to fulfill our demands within 12-15 days. We gave an ultimatum on May 20 that we will convert if he doesn't fulfil our demands in a week. He visited Jind on May 26, but did not spare any time to meet our representatives. So we started a march towards Delhi on May 27 and converted to Buddhism on June 2," Khapad added.

On a related note, various Dalit organisations had called for a nationwide shutdown or a 'Bharat Bandh' to protest against the Supreme Court's ruling in March. At least nine persons were killed across the country due to the violent protests that erupted against the ruling in April.

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England all-rounder Chris Woakes has been ruled out of the one-off ODI against Scotland due to a thigh injury.

The 29-year-old bagged four wickets before he was forced to leave the field with tightness in his right quad at the end of the Pakistan's second innings during the drawn second Test of the two-match series against England.

Woakes will now be assessed this week to know the extent of his injury ahead of the five-match ODI series against Australia, beginning June 13 at The Oval.

As a result, Surrey's Tom Curran has been called in the squad as a replacement for injured Woakes, ESPNcricinfo reported.

With this, Woakes becomes the second player to be ruled out of the Scotland ODI after all-rounder Ben Stokes was sidelined for one-off match next weekend and the first part of the five-match series against Australia with a torn hamstring.

Stokes sustained the injury while fielding during a practice session ahead if the ongoing second Test against Pakistan at Headingley. He was later replaced by debutant paceman Sam Curran.

England are also slated to play a one-off ODI against Scotland in Edinburgh on June 10 before they will head to Australian series.

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The Anti-Extortion Cell of Thane police on Monday issued summons to more people including film producer Parag Sanghvi and another person Sameer Buddha in connection with the Indian Premier League (IPL) betting racket.

Police have asked them to appear before it on Tuesday.

A fresh case of extortion has also been registered against bookie Sonu Jalan and gangster Ravi Pujari.

On June 2, the police custody of Sonu Jalan, who has been apprehended in connection with the ongoing probe, has been extended till June 6.

Bollywood star Arbaaz Khan's name has also cropped up in the investigation.

Arbaaz, brother of Bollywood superstar Salman Khan, confessed to placing bets last year and losing Rs. 2.75 crore.

Arbaaz, 50, said he will continue to co-operate with the police in this investigation.

The actor was called for questioning on May 29 by the Anti Extortion Cell, Thane.

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A special Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) court on Monday heard the pleas of the five accused in the 2006 Jammu and Kashmir sex scandal, and will pronounce the quantum of sentence to the accused on June 6.

The case came to light in 2006 when Jammu and Kashmir police got two video CDs showing Kashmiri minors being sexually exploited.

The case was transferred to the CBI in May 2006 after names of influential men emerged in the case.

According to reports, these minors were forced into the sex trade & were exploited sexually by politicians, bureaucrats and police officials.

The Court had held, former Minister of Jammu and Kashmir Ghulam Ahmed Hassan Mir, independent MLA Raman Mattoo, a former Deputy Inspector General (DIG) of Border Security Force (BSF) KC Pandey, former Additional Advocate General Anil Sethi, the then Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) (Srinagar) Mohammad Mir Yusuf, Iqbal Khanday, Hotel owner Riaz Ahmed Kawa, Hilal Ahmed Shah Sabina and her husband Abdul Hamid as accused.

Sabina and her husband, Abdul Hamid is the primary accused for trafficking girls for prostitution.

On February 20, after the victim had refused to comment on the assault, the special CBI court acquitted DSP Mohammad Mir Yusuf.

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Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan on Monday announced that the state government will reimburse the medical expense of Nipah virus affected people.

He also added that the government will allot the amount according to the report by District Collector.

On a related note, Kerala Health Minister KK Shailaja Teacher assured people of the state that the Nipah Virus is now under control but have to take precautionary measures.

Talking to ANI, the minister said, "There won't be 2nd phase of the outbreak, it is almost under control. But we have to take precautionary measures, we can't predict before incubation period. Yesterday and today all results from laboratory tested negative. Hope there are no more positive results."

So far, Nipah Virus has claimed 16 lives in Kerala since traces of the virus were first reported from Kozhikode towards the end of May.

In the wake of the Nipah Virus outbreak in parts of Kerala, schools, colleges, and other educational institutions in Kozhikode will remain shut till June 12.

Since the Nipah virus was confirmed, the Kerala state health department had issued an advisory for people travelling to the state, urging them to be extra cautious while visiting Kozhikode, Malappuram, Wayanad and Kannur districts.

For those unversed, Nipah virus, spread by fruit bats, causes communicable disease and is fatal for both animals and humans.

The symptoms of the disease include fever, headache, drowsiness, respiratory illness, disorientation and mental confusion.

According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), these signs and symptoms can progress to coma within 24-48 hours.

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August 28, 2021, Saturday

The US Intelligence Community assesses that the origins of the novel coronavirus disease may never be definitively identified ...
Three Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MLAs, who were detained here on Monday when they were marching towards the Puducherry Legislative Assembly, were asked by the Madras High Court to approach the Supreme Court.

S. Swaminathan, K. G. Shankar and V. Selvaganapathy were nominated by Lieutenant Governor Kiran Bedi to the union territory's assembly last year. The nominations were later challenged in the high court by MLA Dhanalakshmi Narayan on the grounds that the appointments were done without consulting the Puducherry Chief Minister.

However, the Madras High Court, on March 22, upheld the appointment of the three MLAs, declaring the nominations to be valid, despite which they were barred from entering the assembly premises on March 26.

As the assembly reconvened today, the three MLAs, along with numerous BJP workers, were marching towards the assembly when they were detained.

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The Nepali government proposed to hold the Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation ( BIMSTEC) Summit in August-end or early September.

As per a release issued by Nepal's cabinet, it will propose the said dates for BIMSTEC to its member countries to gain a consensus for the same.

The Nepali government also formed a sub-committee for this purpose.

BIMSTEC is a regional body founded in July 1997 which is formed by countries including India, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Myanmar, Sri Lanka, and Thailand along with Nepal.

Earlier, Secretary General of BIMSTEC M. Shahidul Islam visited Nepal to overlook the preparations for the upcoming summit. He had also met Nepali President Bidhya Devi Bhandari, Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli, and Foreign Minister Pradeep Gyawali.

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Karnataka Chief Minister HD Kumaraswamy said the Cauvery water issue needs to be resolved after setting aside all differences with Tamil Nadu, as it is important for the welfare of farmers from both the states.

Addressing a joint press conference with actor-turned-politician Kamal Haasan, Kumaraswamy said there should be no scope for differences between Karnataka and Tamil Nadu.

"We (Karnataka and Tamil Nadu) have maintained our cordial relationship as brothers and sisters. Whatever the problem is we have to sort it out by not allowing any scope for differences. It is important for the farmers of Karnataka and Tamil Nadu," he said.

Echoing a similar stance, Haasan lauded Kumaraswamy for looking into the matter.

"It (Cauvery Management Board) is being set up. I am happy that here is a chief minister who is looking at it in the same manner. We will like it to be expedited and this attitude is what we are looking forward to. We are sharing the waters, and there is no two ways about it," Haasan said.

On February 16, a three-judge bench of the Supreme Court comprising Chief Justice of India, Dipak Misra and Justices Amitava Roy and AM Khanwilkar directed Karnataka to release 177.25 Thousand Million Cubic feet (TMC) of water, instead of 192 TMC, to Tamil Nadu.

The apex court also ordered the central government to set up the Cauvery Management Board (CMB) and Cauvery Water Regulation Committee (CWRC) within six weeks of pronouncement of the order.

However, the Centre was criticised for failing to comply with the top court's order.

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A day after demanding cancellation of Rashtriya Swayamsewak Sangh (RSS)-organised Iftar party, Mumbai-based activist and advocate Adil Khatri on Monday said the party should be boycotted as the organisation has "anti-Muslim" policy.

"We boycott the iftar party organised by RSS, as RSS has an anti-Muslim policy. Muslims and Dalits are being tortured in the name of 'Gau Raksha' (cow protection) and beef ban," Adil, founder of Jai Ho Foundation, told ANI.

His comments come on the day when the RSS-organised Iftar party is going to be held at Sahyadri guest house here.

In this connection, he, along with another activist Shakeel Shaikh, yesterday complained to the Maharashtra Governor C. Vidyasagar Rao to cancel the party, as it was being organised at a government guest house.

"We are hopeful that the governor will inquire into the matter and we want the party to be cancelled," Khatri said in regard to the complaint.

"We also demand an inquiry against the sanctioning officer on how the permission was granted to a private party," he added.

He said the RSS cannot host a party in the guest house as the same belongs to the government. The guest is not available for public use, but only for official use, he asserted.

"According to the Government Resolution (GR) in 2015, only official work, meeting, workshops can be held there but, Iftar party is a purely religious activity. Though the government can organise such events, RSS organising this party is completely illegal," he said.

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South Korea's defence ministry on Monday said that it would exercise restraint in promoting its planned annual military drills with the United States.

This step would be taken so that the ongoing efforts for denuclearisation and lasting peace on the peninsula don't hamper.

S Korean Defense Minister Song Yong-moo and his U.S. counterpart James Mattis agreed to keep the allies' regular combined military exercises low-key to maintain peace, Yonhap reported.

However, North Korea raised objection to the allied military drills. It also called this a rehearsal for an invasion of the North.

Pyongyang cancelled the planned high-level inter-Korean meeting last month, taking issue with the allies' regular Max Thunder aerial drills.

On May 24, North Korea carried out the demolition of its Punggye-ri nuclear test site in a series of "huge" explosions.

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Bharatiya Janata Party President Amit Shah called on yoga guru Baba Ramdev here on Monday and sought his support for the party in the 2019 general elections.

Shah met Ramdev as part of his ongoing Sampark for Samarthan (Contact for Support) initiative.

"We are meeting all those, who supported us in the formation of the BJP-led government in 2014. We are apprising them of all our work and efforts. We are also seeking support from them for the 2019 elections," Shah said.

"Meeting Baba Ramdev means we are meeting millions of people (who are his followers). He has assured us full support for next year's elections," he added.

On his part, Baba Ramdev praised the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and achievements of his government over the last four years.

Ramdev said: "Prime Minister Modi's leadership is taking the country forward in a new direction. In the last four years, the central government has made us proud through International Yoga Day. The BJP-led government has given us freedom from 'tax terrorism' by introducing a popular taxation system like GST. Prime Minister Modi has wiped off the tears of tens of hundreds of Indian mothers by giving them LPG connections."

He added: "Narendra Modi is the first prime minister in 70 years who is respected by powerful leaders from across the world, including those of the United States, Japan, Russia, and Israel. No previous Prime Minister has received such respect before."

The Sampark for Samarthan initiative was launched by Amit Shah on May 30 in an attempt to reach out to people and generate awareness about the achievements of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his Democratic Alliance (NDA) government in the last four years.

Eyeing the 2019 general elections, Shah has said that he will reach out to at least 50 people personally and give them details of the initiative and inform them about the achievements of the government. He said that each BJP worker has been given the responsibility of contacting at least ten people for the same.

Shah informed that the NaMo App would also be promoted in a similar manner.

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BJP lawmaker Shatrughan Sinha on Monday backed Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar on his recent demonetisation remark and questioned whether any benefit had been accrued from it in the last 19 months.

He said, "Many people have suffered due to demonetisation. Several youth have lost their jobs, daily wage workers have had to return to their villages, many factories have had to shut down. The implementation of the Goods and Services Tax has only worsened matters."

When asked if Nitish Kumar had tarnished his image by joining hands with the Bharatiya Janata Party, Sinha described Kumar as a very close friend and a great leader and added that both had immense mutual respect for one another.

Referring to the unrest in Bihar post the formalization of the JDU-BJP alliance, Sinha described it as absolutely unfortunate and that too under the leadership of Nitish Kumar.

Commenting on the proposed seat-sharing deal between the BJP and the JD (U) in Bihar prior to the 2019 general elections, Sinha said there is still a long way to go for such talks to be firmed up.

Sinha was giving a guarded response to the Janata Dal United unilaterally announcing on Sunday that it will contest 25 of the 40 Lok Sabha seats up for grabs in the 2019 general elections.

This prompted the NDA to commence a preliminary flexing of political muscle.

Sinha added that the BJP is passing through a low political phase following its poor performance in the recently held bye-elections. He made a specific mention of the loss in Kairana.

He said that as a BJP member he was naturally not happy with such results.

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Bharatiya Janata Party MP Shatrughan Sinha on Monday termed Agriculture Minister Radha Mohan Singh's remark on the nationwide farmer protest a 'publicity stunt'.

Sinha's reaction came after Radha Mohan Singh said the 10-day farmer strike was a 'mere media gimmick'.

Sinha said that it is not the farmers but the ministers under Prime Minister Modi's Government who are in dire need of publicity.

"Why would farmers throw away their produce of they are getting the adequate price? Does it make sense? However, unlike the government under the leadership of Atal Bihari Vajpayee, every minister is not known and respected in the cabinet led by Narendra Modi. Hence, in this case, I feel the agriculture minister is more in need of publicity and might have made such a comment for the same reason," Sinha told ANI.

Commenting on the farmers' protest, Singh stressed the importance of recognizing the problems which are affecting the farmer community.

He said that farmers constitute the largest population in the country, and when they are facing a crisis, that should be taken care off.

Sinha added that apart from farmers, the Dalit community, women, even the corporates are not happy with the BJP and the results of which are showing in the consequent defeats of the party in bye-elections.

He said that the BJP should get off their high horses and it is time to realise why so many communities and parties are not happy with the BJP.

Addressing a press conference on June 2, Singh said, "There are around 12 to 14 crore farmers in the country. It is normal for any farmer's organisation to have 1000-2000 farmers and they have to do something extraordinary to get the media's attention."

Meanwhile, a case was registered against Radha Mohan Singh over his remark.

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In an incident of fresh violence, a group of around 400 protesters pelted stones at a Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) camp near Mowlai Bridge here on Sunday night.

The incident comes after the police detained five people in connection with the clashes that broke out between two communities recently.

In the wake of the incident, a curfew has been imposed from 4 PM today to 5 AM tomorrow in the whole city till the unrest subsides. However, police has appealed to the public to not take law and order into their hands.

"We request the public not to take law in their hands and resolve the issue with talks," said Inspector General (IG) CRPF, Prakash D.

On Sunday, the police detained five people in connection with the recent clash that broke out between two communities, after arguments between a woman and a bus conductor intensified.

According to reports, internet services remain suspended in parts of the city.

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External Affairs Minister (EAM) Sushma Swaraj on Monday called on her BRICS counterparts to focus on their commitment to counter terrorism and form an effective and efficient UN Counter Terrorism framework.

Swaraj, who is attending the BRICS (Brazil, South Africa, India, China, and Russia) foreign ministers meeting, highlighted the association's National Security Advisory (NSA) mechanism in this regard and said, "It has consolidated our cooperation in counter-terrorism and security domain."

The EAM also mentioned the statement of Prime Minister Narendra Modi during the previous BRICS summit where he had called for counterterrorism strategy for a joint action with a focus on money-laundering, terrorism financing and cyberspace.

The on-going BRICS ministerial meeting at Johannesburg coincides with the centenary birth anniversary of anti-apartheid revolutionary and former president of South Africa, Nelson Mandela.

Swaraj, while remembering global leaders, said, "Vision of our great leaders Mahatma Gandhi, Nelson Mandela, and Martin Luther will continue to guide us in our common endeavours."

She then went on to highlight the importance of Yoga and Ayurveda system as part of India's traditional medicine saying, this will "Make BRICS tourism endeavours more attractive."

Further, a new development bank and contingency reserves arrangements were recognised as flagship initiatives of BRICS.

Swaraj called for consolidation of their functioning and optimising their outcomes.

Sushma Swaraj, who is on a five-day visit to South Africa, will also chair the IBSA (India, Brazil, South Africa) Foreign Ministers Meeting.

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External Affairs Minister of India Sushma Swaraj on Monday highlighted the importance of BRICS association in shaping the global political, economic, and security spheres, as she welcomed her South African counterpart Lindiwe Sisulu.

This is the first BRICS Foreign Affairs meeting for Sisulu, after she was sworn-in as South Africa's Minister of International Relations and Co-operation in February.

While speaking at the on-going BRICS Foreign Affairs meeting at Johannesburg, Swaraj took note of the timing of the event, which coincided with the era of expanding multilateralism, international trade and evolving rules-based order.

She attached the importance of consolidating intra-BRICS cooperation in the international sphere.

"There have been productive discussions on the margins of United Nations General Assembly in taking stock of the global political affairs," she added.

India's EAM noted that even though the global economy has shown signs of recovery, it still poses challenges to the long-term growth of the BRICS nations.

She further informed that South Africa has tabled proposals on tourism, medicine, governance, and science part network that are expected to be discussed in the meeting.

Further talking about the upcoming BRICS summit 2018, scheduled to be held from 25-27 July at Johannesburg, Swaraj said, "Our deliberation would help in forming groundwork for a successful 10th BRICS summit, scheduled to be held within two months in Johannesburg, which will be attended by our leaders.

The summit will carry a theme of 'Development in Africa in an inclusive manner', which will be attended by the leaders of Brazil, Russia, China, South Africa, and India.

The focus of the summit will be the role of technology as an engine of growth and it significance for future generations and employment prospects.

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Syrian President Bashar-al Assad is set to meet North Korean leader Kim Jong-un in Pyongyang, the North's state media reported on Sunday.

According to a report by the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) citing CNN, Assad will visit North Korea and meet Kim.

The KCNA report, however, did not mention the time and date of the meeting between the two leaders.

Reportedly, days before Kim is scheduled to meet US President Donald Trump for the June 12 summit at Singapore, the former was making plans to meet Assad.

If the meeting does take shape, then Assad will be the first head of state of the to meet Kim Jong-un, after the latter came to power in 2011.

As per the KCNA report, Assad received a diplomatic credential from the Syrian ambassador to North Korea, Mun Jong-nam. The Syrian president was quoted by the report as saying, "The welcomes the remarkable events in the Korean peninsula brought about recently by the outstanding political caliber and wise leadership of HE (His Excellency) Kim Jong Un."

"I am sure that he (Kim) will achieve the final victory and realise the reunification of Korea without fail," it added.

The KCNA report further described the "close ties" between the two countries and quoted Assad as saying that Syria would "fully support all policies and measures" of the North Korean government.

It is to be noted that Assad's father and former Syrian president Hafez al-Assad had met Kim's grandfather and the founder of North Korea, Kim Il Sung in Pyongyang in the 1970s.

In 2015, Syria named a park in Damascus in honour of Kim Il Sung. During the inauguration of the park, Syrian deputy foreign minister Faisal Mikdad called the late North Korean leader "a historic ruler and leader, famous for his struggle to liberate and build his country."

Also, North Korea is suspected of providing Syria with advanced missiles for the past many years.

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Terrorists on Monday hurled a grenade at security forces deployed at Pulwama's Tahab Chowk in Jammu and Kashmir.

No causality has been reported so far.

The area has been cordoned off by the security forces.

Further details are awaited.

Earlier on Saturday, four grenade attacks took place within a span of around four hours in Srinagar.

Terrorists lobbed a grenade in Mominabad-Batamaloo, less than an hour after a grenade was lobbed at Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) personnel in Magarmal Bagh area.

Prior to that, a grenade was lobbed at a CRPF deployment at Badshah Bridge in Srinagar, injuring one jawan.

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United States President Donald Trump's lawyer and former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani on Sunday said that the US President could have the power to pardon himself, but does not have any intentions to do so.

Giuliani, who recently joined Trump's legal team, told ABC's "This Week", "He's not, but he probably does. He has no intention of pardoning himself, but that doesn't say he can't".

"That's another really interesting constitutional question: Can the president pardon himself? It would be an open question. I think it would probably get answered by, 'gosh that's what the (US) Constitution says.' And if you want to change it, change it," he added.

Giuliani's comments come after a report that Trump's lawyers argued in a letter to special counsel Robert Mueller that the president could not have obstructed justice because he has constitutional authority over all federal investigations, The Hill reported.

Giuliani's statements come after a report emerged earlier that Trump's lawyers wrote a letter to special counsel Robert Mueller, who is probing the alleged Russian meddling of the 2016 US election, saying that Trump has constitutional authority over all federal investigations and could not have obstructed justice, as per the report.

The letter, which was accessed by The New York Times argues that the US Constitution gives Trump the broad authority to, "if he wished, terminate the inquiry, or even exercise his power to pardon."

In response to that, Giuliani confirmed that Mueller had not responded to the letter of Trump's lawyers so far.

On May 31, Trump pardoned Indo-American author-filmmaker Dinesh D'Souza, who was accused of making an illegal campaign contribution to the US presidential election in 2016.

D'Souza was sentenced to five years of probation, including eight months living under supervision in a "community confinement center" and a 30,000 dollars fine for violating federal campaign finance laws in 2014, as reported by the CNN.

He had been an infamous personality since the time he accused former president Barack Obama for adopting "the cause of anti-colonialism".

D'Souza was earlier indicted for illegally using straw donors, a person who illegally uses another person's money to make a political contribution in their own name, to contribute to Republican Senate candidate Wendy Long in New York in 2012.

Trump has pardoned several people under his administration including former Vice President Dick Cheney's chief of staff Lewis "Scooter" Libby in the Valerie Plame CIA leak scandal and former Arizona sheriff Joe Arpaio accused of violating election laws.

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President Ram Nath Kovind, will preside over a two-day Conference of Governors and Lt. Governors today and tomorrow, at Rashtrapati Bhavan.

This will be the 49th such Conference to be held in Rashtrapati Bhavan and the second Conference to be presided over by President Kovind.

The first Conference of Governors was held at Rashtrapati Bhavan in 1949. It was presided over by C. Rajagopalachari, then the Governor General of India.

The two-day 2018 Conference will discuss important thematic issues in various sessions.

Today, the Conference will commence with the inaugural address by the President.

The second session will see briefings and presentations on flagship programmes of the Government of India and on internal security.

During this session, presentations will be made by the Vice Chairman and the CEO of NITI Aayog as well as by the Security Advisor.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will also address the gathering.

The third session will cover the theme of higher education in state universities and skill development for employability. The Governor of Gujarat will be the convenor of this session.

During this session, presentations will be made by the Secretary, Higher Education and the Secretary, Department of Industrial Policy and Promotion.

In the fourth session, Governors/Lt. Governors will discuss steps taken on the report 'Rajyapal - Vikas Ke Rajdoot: Catalytic Role of Governors as Agents for Change in Society'. This report was submitted by the Committee of Governors to the President on January 9, 2018. The Committee was constituted during the 48th Conference of Governors in October 2017. The Governor of Andhra Pradesh and Telangana will convene this session.

On June 5, 2018, the fifth session of the Conference of Governors will discuss ideas on how to commemorate the 150thbirth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi. During this session, presentations will be made on Gram Swaraj Abhiyan and Swachhata Internship and Governors/Lt. Governors will make suggestions. The Governor of Uttar Pradesh shall be the convenor of this session.

In the sixth and concluding session, brief presentations on the deliberations in the previous thematic sessions will be made by the convenor Governors.

President Kovind, Vice President Venkaiah Naidu, Prime Minister Modi, Home Minister Rajnath Singh and External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj will address the concluding session.

A special session on Union Territories will be held on June 5, 2018, at which Lt. Governors/Administrators of Union Territories will discuss status of implementation of various flagship programmes. The Cabinet Secretary, Home Secretary and other senior officials will be part of the meeting.

Governors and Lt. Governors of all States and Union Territories will attend the Conference.

The Vice President; Prime Minister; Union Ministers of Home Affairs; External Affairs; Human Resource Development; Skill Development & Entrepreneurship; Minster of State (I/C) of Ministry of Culture and Vice Chairman and CEO of NITI Aayog and other senior officials from various Ministries will also participate.

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Global Compact Network India (GCNI), a local Network of the United Nations Global Compact, New York is holding its annual flagship event 13th National Convention on the theme of 'Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

This year, the Convention by GCNI is of a greater significance as it is coinciding with the UN India Forum being hosted jointly on 7th June, 2018, Hotel Shangri-La, Bengaluru. As part of a long term association, Accenture will support the event as the Knowledge Partner of GCNI. D K Hota, CMD, BEML is leading the convention as the Chairman while Shashi Shanker, CMD, ONGC as the President.

Dr. Harsh Vardhan, Hon'ble Union Minister, Ministry of Science and Technology (India), Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change and Ministry of Earth Sciences, GoI has been invited to grace the Convention as the Chief Guest and Amitabh Kant CEO, NITI Aayog as the Keynote speaker. Apart from them, a board of eminent speakers comprising of CEO, CXOs and Heads from Corporates, PSUs, Academia, Civil Society organizations and UN Agencies globally.

Some of the speakers include Yuri Afanasiev (UN Resident Coordinator India and UNDP Resident Representative in India), Vishvesh Prabhakar (Managing Director, Sustainability, Accenture Strategy), Dr. H Chaturvedi (Director, BIMTECH), Dr. Bhaskar Chatterjee (Secretary General, Indian Steel Association), Dr. Raman Ramachandran (Chairman and Managing Director, BASF India Ltd. and Head, BASF, South Asia), Dr. Shalini Sarin (SVP HR- BG Professional, CSR and BoP Leader- Lighting, Philips), Tom Thomas (CEO, Praxis), Marcos Neto (Director, Istanbul International Center for Private Sector in Development, UNDP), Heather Grady (Vice President, Rockefeller Philanthropy Advisors (RPA), San Francisco), Brig Rajiv Williams (Corporate Head - CSR, JSL Stainless Ltd.).

The unique feature of this Convention is the launch of GCNI - Accenture CEO Study, Exclusive CEO Panel, Concurrent Sessions on SDGs (Quality Education, Integrating Human Rights into Sustainable Strategy, Affordable Urban Housing: Challenges and Perspectives, SDG Philanthropy Platform) and a special session on Innovative Practices Awards 2018 on SDGs.

"The implementation path to achieving SDGs would not only help India grow but also help us growth and sustain our society without taking away what we owe to our future generations. As we inch towards creating the New India, we need to understand what needs to be done and act now," says D K Hota, CMD, BEML.

Kamal Singh, ED, GCNI says, "GCNI Convention 2018 theme puts emphasis on the real, on-ground actions that the businesses need to take to make a real impact on achieving the SDGs while also creating economic value for the Nation. It will include concepts such as organizational performance on SDGs, circular economy etc. which India Inc. needs to follow in the coming years."

Over 400 delegates from Government both Central and State, UN and its systems, Civil Society organizations, SME's, Members of Academia industry bodies' representatives are likely to attend this year's National Convention.

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Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath-led government has decided to sponsor the education of deceased Indian Police Service (IPS) officer Rajesh Sahni's daughter.

On May 29, Sahni, a senior police officer of Uttar Pradesh Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) committed suicide in Lucknow.

The Chief Minister had earlier recommended a Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) probe into the death of Sahani.

On May 30, the Chief Minister held a meeting with Principal Secretary (Home) and DGP UP, where he took the decision. A recommendation in this regard was also sent to the Central Government.

Sahni was Additional Superintendent of Police of Uttar Pradesh ATS.

His body was found inside the ATS office with a bullet wound.

"Rajesh Sahni, Additional Superintendent of Police, ATS, committed suicide by shooting himself on the temple at 1245 hrs in his office with an official weapon. The reason for suicide is being ascertained, "said, Additional Director General (Law and Order) Anand Kumar.

Sahni was a 1992 batch Provincial Police Services (PPS) officer.

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An incident has come to light wherein a minor rape victim has been forcefully married off to a minor boy in Uttar Pradesh's Bareilly district.

Speaking to ANI, a police official said three men had taken away the minor girl and one of them raped her while the rest beat her up.

After committing the crime, according to the police, a Maulvi (a Muslim priest) was then forced to perform the marriage ceremony of the girl with the boy, who is a namesake of the man who raped her.

"Three men grabbed me, gagged me with a cloth and committed the crime. They then threatened me and forcefully made me marry," the victim said.

The police have begun an investigation. None of the accused has been arrested so far.

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India Ratings and Research (Ind-Ra) has published the April edition of its credit digest on India's telecom sector. It highlights the trends in the telecom sector with a focus on subscriber additions, subscriber market share, circle wise additions, broadband subscribers, data usage and pricing.

Key highlights of the report include Ind-Ra's views that Reliance Jio Infocomm Limited's (RJio; IND AAA/Stable) introduction of ultra-low postpaid plans would lead to a further decline in profitability of incumbents as they are likely to revise their postpaid tariffs to retain their customer base.

Subscriber Growth: Subscriber growth remained positive during February and March 2018 on account of new attractive plans launched by telcos, in addition to growth stream of RJio. RJio added 9.4 million new subscribers; while Idea Cellular Limited (Idea) came close second by adding 9.14 million new subscribers. Bharti Airtel Limited (Bharti), Vodafone India Limited (Vodafone) and Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited (BSNL) added 8.4 million, 5.6 million and 2.5 million new subscribers respectively. Exiting telcos reported 8.6 million subscriber losses on a combined basis in March 2018. Visitor location register (VLR- denotes active subscribers) subscribers showed improvement for all the major telcos except for BSNL which remained stagnant in March 2018.

Subscriber Market Share: RJio gained 6.5% subscriber market share during the 12 months ended March 2018.

Top three telcos accounted for 58% of subscriber market share in March 2017, which increased to 62.1% in March 2018. Based on March 2018 data, Bharti's subscriber market share (including TTSL and Telenor) would be 31.5% (February 2018: 31.8%) and that of Vodafone-Idea combined would be 36.4% (36.2%).

Circle-wise Market Position: RJio held number three subscribers position in five out of eight top circles in March 2018 with number two position in Karnataka. Bharti maintained leadership position in six out of the top eight circles, whereas Vodafone number one position was limited to Gujarat circle. Vodafone and Idea on a combined basis would be number one in four circles.

Decline in Average Revenue Per User (ARPU): Competitive plans launched to maintain/increase subscriber base has led to continued decline in ARPU of the telcos with Idea recording the lowest ARPU. RJio recorded the highest decline of 11% qoq in ARPU (per month) in Q4FY18. Telcos continued their focus to increase the percentage of data subscribers as part of total subscribers to earn higher ARPU.

New Draft Telecom Policy: Proposed National Digital Communications Policy would bring about limited respite for the debt-laden telecom sector, although it lays a thrust on digital infrastructure and reflects a shift in the telecommunication regulation landscape. The draft policy proposes a rationalisation in spectrum usage charges to reflect the cost of regulation and administration of spectrum, as well as license fee and Universal Service Obligation Fund levy.

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Key benchmark indices extended fall and hit fresh intraday low in afternoon trade led by weakness in bank stocks. At 13:20 IST, the barometer index, the S&P BSE Sensex, was down 139.74 points or 0.4% at 35,087.52. The Nifty 50 index was down 48.55 points or 0.45% at 10,647.65.

Among secondary barometers, the BSE Mid-Cap index was down 0.44%. The BSE Small-Cap index was down 1.45%. Both these indices underperformed the Sensex.

The market breadth, indicating the overall health of the market, was weak. On BSE, 622 shares rose and 1,901 shares fell. A total of 164 shares were unchanged.

Yes Bank (up 1.29%), Tata Steel (up 1.27%), RIL (up 1.16%), M&M (up 1.16%) and Tata Motors (up 0.89%) edged higher from the Sensex pack.

Asian Paints (down 2.06%), HDFC Bank (down 1.6%), Bharti Airtel (down 1.56%), Hindustan Unilever (down 1.29%) and SBI (down 1.18%) edged lower from the Sensex pack.

Dr Reddy's Laboratories gained 3.29% after the company announced that the audit of its API Srikakulam Plant (SEZ), Andhra Pradesh by the USFDA, has been completed with no observations. The announcement was made on Saturday, 2 June 2018.

Overseas, European stocks were trading higher as optimism for the world's largest economy helped investors put concerns over protectionism to one side. Asian stocks were trading higher, tracking gains seen on Wall Street on Friday, 1 June 2018. US stock-market indices jumped on Friday, following a solid jobs data for May, while shrugging off concerns over Italian politics and trade wars.

The US labor market remains strong with 223,000 new jobs created in May, while the unemployment rate fell to an 18-year low of 3.8%. Wage growth was modest, with the yearly rate of pay rising to 2.7% from 2.6%. Receding fears about political upheaval in Italy also helped boost sentiment.

Despite the positive mood, trade concerns continued to linger after US-China trade talks yielded no major breakthroughs. China threatened that previous trade agreements negotiated by the countries will not take effect if the Trump administration goes ahead with a planned tariff increase.

US allies also took aim during a G-7 finance leaders meeting at metals tariffs imposed by the Trump administration.

On the US data front, the Institute for Supply Management said Friday that its manufacturing index rose to 58.7%, up 1.4% from April and a two-month high.

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Key benchmark indices were trading higher in early trade, tracking positive leads from the global market. At 9:20 IST, the barometer index, the S&P BSE Sensex, was up 180.41 points or 0.51% at 35,407.67. The Nifty 50 index was up 45.90 points or 0.43% at 10,742.10.

Among secondary barometers,the BSE Mid-Cap index was up 0.16%. The BSE Small-Cap index was up 0.05%. Both these indices underperformed the Sensex.

The market breadth, indicating the overall health of the market, was positive. On BSE, 698 shares rose and 526 shares fell. A total of 67 shares were unchanged.

Overseas, Asian stocks were trading higher, tracking gains seen on Wall Street on Friday, 1 June 2018. US stock-market indices jumped on Friday, following a a solid jobs data for May, while shrugging off concerns over Italian politics and trade wars.

The US labor market remains strong with 223,000 new jobs created in May, while the unemployment rate fell to an 18-year low of 3.8%. Wage growth was modest, with the yearly rate of pay rising to 2.7% from 2.6%. Receding fears about political upheaval in Italy also helped boost sentiment.

Despite the positive mood, trade concerns continued to linger after US-China trade talks yielded no major breakthroughs. China threatened that previous trade agreements negotiated by the countries will not take effect if the Trump administration goes ahead with a planned tariff increase.

US allies also took aim during a G-7 finance leaders meeting at metals tariffs imposed by the Trump administration.

On the US data front, the Institute for Supply Management said Friday that its manufacturing index rose to 58.7%, up 1.4% from April and a two-month high.

Back home, Hero MotoCorp was up 0.44%. The company's sales rose 11% to 7.06 lakh units in May 2018 over May 2017. Sustaining strong sales momentum, Hero MotoCorp has continued to further consolidate its domestic market leadership with an all-time high sales for the month of May. The announcement was made after market hours on Friday, 1 June 2018.

Cadila Healthcare was up 0.76%. Zydus Cadila has received the final approval from the USFDA to market Doxycycline HyclateCapsulesUSP, 50mg and 100mg. It is atetracycline antibiotic used for treatment of a wide variety of bacterial infections, including those that cause acne. This medication is also used for prophylaxis of malaria. It will be manufactured at the group's manufacturing facility at SEZ, Ahmedabad. The announcement was made on Saturday, 2 June 2018.

Whirlpool of India was up 2.11%. The board of the company approved a proposal to enter into a strategic joint venture with Elica and acquire 49% equity in Elica PB India. As part of the Joint Venture, Elica PB India will manufacture and distribute cooking and built-in appliances under the Whirlpool brand in India. Elica PB India is a subsidiary of Elica SpA Italy and has been operating in India since 2010. The parties expect the transaction to close in the second half of 2018. The announcement was made on Saturday, 2 June 2018.

Dilip Buildcon was down 2.21%. The company has received Letter of Award by the National Highways Authority of India for a new hybrid annuity project valued at Rs 1313.90 crore in Karnataka. The announcement was made on Saturday, 2 June 2018.

Shivam Autotech was up 3.75%. The company said that the company has achieved approximately 8% increase in sales in the month of May 2018 compared to corresponding month in the previous financial year. The announcement was made after market hours on Friday, 1 June 2018.

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At least 14 people were killed in a suicide bombing on a gathering of Afghanistan's top clerics here on Monday, police said.

The bomber detonated his explosives near the entrance of a compound where over 2,000 religious scholars were meeting in the tent of the Loya Jirga, the council of elders, close to the Kabul Polytechnic University immediately after the clerics issued a fatwa against suicide bombings, the Afghan media reported.

No one immediately claimed responsibility for the attack. Initially, four people were reported killed but according to latest updates, the death toll climbed to 14. At least 17 were injured in the attack, TOLO News reported.

"The suicide attack happened outside the (Loya Jirga) tent when religious scholars were leaving the gathering," Kabul Police spokesman Hashmat Stanikzai said. It was not immediately clear how many of them were among those killed.

"War in its all types is illegal according to Sharia and Islamic laws and it is nothing but shedding the blood of Muslims," the Afghan clerics said in the fatwa.

"Suicide attacks, explosions for killing people, division, insurgency, different types of corruption, robbery, kidnapping and any type of violence are counted as big sins in Islam and are against the order of the Almighty Allah," they said.

The clerics also urged the Taliban to accept the Afghan government's "unconditional" peace offer.

Kabul has been the target of multiple suicide attacks so far this year.

The bloodiest was in January when the Taliban blew up an ambulance bomb near the old Interior Ministry building, leaving more than 100 people dead.

Another such attack in Kabul took place last week, when a group of insurgents attacked the Interior Ministry, leading to a two-hour long siege, in which 10 attackers and one police official were killed.

--IANS

soni/ksk

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Two persons were killed and over half-a-dozen injured when an illegal firecracker stockpile exploded on the outskirts of the Uttar Pradesh capital on Monday, police said.

The explosion took place in a house in Saitha village of Kakori. Rescue operations are underway as a few persons are feared trapped inside the two-storeyed house.

Several houses in the vicinity were also damaged due to the explosion.

Owner of the house Sajay Lodhi told the police that he had rented the house to Naseer and his son Mushir. He said he was unaware that they were involved in illegal manufacturing of firecrackers.

According to the police, the bodies were blown into pieces, as a result their identity could not be ascertained. Villagers told police officers that Naseer and his wife were present in the house at the time of explosion.

--IANS

md/qd/vm

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Twenty-three people, including eight security personnel, were injured on Monday in two grenade attacks by militants in Jammu and Kashmir. One of the victims was a CRPF Deputy Superintendent.

Police said militants hurled a grenade at a police party in Shopian town in the morning, injuring four policemen and 12 civilians.

"The injured were shifted to a hospital for treatment and the area was cordoned off for searches," a police officer said.

Doctors at the Shopian district hospital said the injured included four policemen and 12 civilians.

"A girl with critical splinter injuries was referred to Srinagar for specialized treatment. The SHO (Station House Officer) of Shopian, Gulzar Ahmad, and three constables were injured," a doctor said.

In another attack, militants lobbed a grenade at a Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) patrol in Pulwama town, injuring four CRPF personnel and three civilians.

The injured included CRPF Deputy Superintendent Anuj Pathak.

The attack occurred at 4.45 p.m. The injured have been shifted to a hospital, police said.

The militants have continued to attack security forces despite a unilateral but conditional truce announced by New Delhi during the holy month of Ramadan.

--IANS

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At least 48 migrants died after their boat capsized off the eastern coast of Tunisia, the Tunisian government said.

Sixty-seven others -- from Tunisia and elsewhere -- were rescued by the coastguard, BBC reported on Sunday.

The country has become an important new route for migrants trying to make the crossing to Europe in the past year.

This comes after moves against human traffickers in Libya, who have regularly enslaved, tortured or murdered migrants.

The latest boat to go down off Tunisia was packed with about 180 people, about 100 whom were Tunisian, the country's interior ministry said.

The boat was five miles from the Kerkennah Islands and 16 nautical miles from the city of Sfax, the ministry said. Rescue operations were suspended late on Sunday but will resume on Monday morning, officials said.

One survivor said that the captain had abandoned the boat after it started sinking to escape arrest by the coast guard.

Another survivor, Wael Ferjani, said the boat had a maximum capacity of 90 people - only about the half the number actually on board.

"We could touch the water with our hands, and water was coming into the boat," he said.

"Those who could escape fled, others drowned, we stayed there until almost five in the morning, then fishermen came to help us, and then the army arrived."

Unemployed Tunisians and other Africans often seek to cross the Mediterranean sea in makeshift boats from Tunisia to Sicily in Italy.

The deaths come on the same day Italy's new Interior Minister Matteo Salvini said on a visit to Sicily that the island must stop being "the refugee camp of Europe".

--IANS

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Seven civilians were injured in a grenade attack in Jammu and Kashmir's Shopian district on Monday, police said.

According to the police, militants hurled a grenade at a police party stationed in Shopian town. The grenade missed its target and exploded on a roadside, injuring the civilians.

"The injured have been shifted to hospital. The area has been cordoned off for searches," a police officer said.

--IANS

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Over two dozen peacocks and peahen died and more than 100 were found ill in Haryana in a span of a fortnight, forcing authorities to vaccinate over 24,000 birds in poultry farms to prevent the spread of Newcastle disease.

The peacocks died following an outbreak of Newcastle disease in Gurugram and Faridabad districts. Gurugram Deputy Commissioner Vinay Pratap Singh has ordered and forest department nd Department of Animal Husbandry to inspect all poultry farms to ascertain if they are infected and quarantine them if required.

"A total of 24,122 birds were vaccinated in the last two days. It has also been asked to initiate a vaccination drive among more poultry to prevent the spread of the disease," the official said in a statement.

The disease is a kind of airborne virus that is spread through poultry. Over four dozen birds are being treated at a centre in Bhondsi in the foothills of Aravali here on Sohna road.

--IANS

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With India seeking joint action by the BRICS member states against terrorist financing and money laundering, the grouping on Monday called upon all countries to prevent financing of terrorist networks and terrorist actions from their territories.

"The ministers deplored the continued terrorist attacks, including in some BRICS countries," said a joint statement issued following a BRICS (Brazil, Russia, India, China, South Africa) Foreign Ministers meeting here which was also attended by Indian External Affairs minister Sushma Swaraj.

"They condemned terrorism in all its forms and manifestations wherever committed and by whomsoever," it stated.

The BRICS Foreign Ministers also called for concerted efforts to counter terrorism under the UN auspices "on a firm international legal basis, and expressed their conviction that a comprehensive approach was necessary to ensure effective fight against terrorism".

"They recalled the responsibility of all states to prevent financing of terrorist networks and terrorist actions from their territories," the statement said in what can be seen as a veiled reference to Pakistan.

The ministers also called for an expedited adoption of the India-initiated Comprehensive Convention on International Terrorism in the UN General Assembly.

Earlier on Monday, in her address at the BRICS Foreign Ministers meeting, Sushma Swaraj called for joint action by the grouping against money laundering and financing of terrorists.

She said that Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi has given a call for a BRICS Counter-Terrorism Strategy with joint action against money-laundering, terrorist financing, cyber-space security and de-radicalization being priorities.

"Our leaders have also called for making UN Counter Terrorism framework efficient and effective," she said.

"We reiterate our commitment to implement our Leaders' mandate on counter terrorism under South Africa's BRICS Chairship."

According to the joint statement, the ministers expressed their concern over the deteriorating situation in Afghanistan, particularly the increase in the number and intensity of terrorist-related attacks on the Afghan National Security Forces, the government and civilians.

"The ministers called on the international community to assist the government and the people of Afghanistan with stabilising the security situation in the country as well as for the return of dialogue with the objective of working towards the realisation of peace in the country and an inclusive political process," the statement said.

The ministers also expressed their concern over the ongoing conflict and heightened tensions in the Middle East region, especially with regard to the Israeli-Palestinian situation.

"The ministers reiterate the need for renewed diplomatic efforts to achieving a just, lasting and comprehensive settlement of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict in order to achieve peace and stability in the Middle East on the basis of relevant United Nations resolutions, the Madrid Principles, the Arab Peace Initiative and previous agreements between the parties through negotiations with a view to create an independent, viable, territorially contiguous Palestinian State living side by side in peace and security with Israel," the statement said.

"The ministers reiterated that the status of Jerusalem is one of the final status issues to be defined in the context of negotiations between Israel and Palestine."

They also reaffirmed their commitment for a political resolution of the conflict in Syria, "through an inclusive 'Syrian-led, Syrian-owned' political process which safeguards the state sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity of Syria, in pursuance of United Nations Security Council Resolution 2254 (2015) and taking into account the result of the Congress of the Syrian National Dialogue in Sochi".

On UN Security Council reforms, the ministers underscored the importance of sustained efforts aimed at making the UN more effective and efficient in implementing the mandates conferred upon it.

"In this regard, they committed to intensifying dialogue amongst the BRICS countries on the administration and budget of the United Nations, with a view to strengthening the organisation and preserving its member state-driven character," the statement said.

Brazil and India, apart from Germany and Japan, are part of the G4 that is seeking permanent membership in the UNSC.

"The ministers expressed their support for continued cooperation of BRICS members in areas of mutual interest including through regular exchanges amongst their multilateral missions," the statement said.

--IANS

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The key indices of the Indian equity market -- S&P BSE Sensex and NSE Nifty50 -- ended in the negative territory on Monday after a volatile trade session.

According to market observers, both the key indices had gained nearly a per cent each during the initial trade hour but failed to sustain the northward trajectory as caution over Reserve Bank of India's (RBI) second monetary policy review of the fiscal eroded investor's risk-taking appetite.

The Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) of the RBI began its three-day meet from June 4 to 6 here on Monday.

Accordingly, the wider 50-scrip Nifty of the National Stock Exchange (NSE) closed the day's trade in the red. It closed lower by 67.70 points or 0.63 per cent to 10,628.50 points from its previous close.

The Sensex of the BSE, which opened at 35,503.24 points, closed at 35,011.89 points, 215.37 points or 0.61 per cent lower from the previous session's close at 35,227.26 points.

The Sensex touched a high of 35,555.59 points and a low of 34,982.25 during the trade session.

"Markets corrected further on Monday after a positive morning session led by banking and realty stocks," said Deepak Jasani, Head of Retail Research for HDFC Securities.

"Investors turned cautious ahead of RBI monetary policy review meet which began today. Broad market indices like the BSE Mid Cap and Small Cap indices fell more, thereby underperforming the main indices."

Geojit Financial Services Head of Research Vinod Nair said: "Market erased early gains despite positive momentum in the global market as investors are gradually factoring a rate hike ahead of RBIs monetary policy."

"As the result season is over, market participants are keen on macros, the movement of oil price and rupee will remain the key trigger. On the other hand, the tailwinds caused by prognosis of good monsoon and uptick in economic activity in Q4FY18 will boost consumption led story and rural economy."

On the currency front, the Indian rupee weakened against the US dollar to 67.11-12, from its previous close at 67.06 per greenback.

Sector-wise, the S&P BSE banking index fell by 422.97 points, the consumer durables index was down by 376.37 points and the capital goods index ended 236.38 points lower.

On the other hand, S&P BSE IT index gained 55.34 points followed by the metal index which rose by 31.70 points and the TECK index ended 22.53 points higher.

The major gainers on the Sensex were Dr Reddy's Labs, up 2.86 per cent at Rs 1,996.95; Infosys, up 1.59 per cent at Rs 1,239.60; Mahindra and Mahindra, up 1.45 per cent at Rs 914.60; Tata Steel, up 1.18 per cent at Rs 566.95; and Reliance Industries, up 1.09 per cent at Rs 939.35 per share.

The top losers were HDFC Bank, down 2.99 per cent at Rs 2,046.55; Bharti Airtel, down 2.81 per cent at Rs 371.85; Adani Ports, down 2.47 per cent at Rs 377.60; PowerGrid, down 2.06 per cent at Rs 201.65; and Hindustan Unilever, down 1.73 per cent at Rs 1,562.20 per share.

--IANS

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Chinese and US teams, led by Chinese Vice Premier Liu He and US Secretary of Commerce Wilbur Ross, held economic and trade consultations in Beijing from June 2-3, said a statement.

"To implement the consensus reached in Washington, the two sides have had good communication in various areas such as agriculture and energy, and have made positive and concrete progress while relevant details are yet to be confirmed by both sides," the statement by China said, Xinhua reported on Sunday.

Liu is also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, and chief of the Chinese side of the China-US comprehensive economic dialogue.

"The attitude of the Chinese side remains consistent," said the statement.

To meet the people's ever-growing needs for a better life and the requirements of high-quality economic development, China is willing to increase imports from other countries, including the US, which will benefit people of both countries and the rest of the world, it noted.

"Reform and opening-up as well as expanding domestic demand are China's national strategies. Our set pace will not change," the statement said.

The outcome of the talks should be based on the prerequisite that the two parties meet each other halfway and will not engage in a trade war, according to the statement.

"All economic and trade outcomes of the talks will not take effect if the US side imposes any trade sanctions including raising tariffs," the statement said.

--IANS

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China on Monday hailed as "positive" Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi's remarks on Sino-India relations at a security summit in Singapore last week.

"We have noted the positive remark made by Modi about China-India relations. We highly appreciate it," Ministry's spokesperson Hua Chunying said.

In his keynote address at the Shangri-La Dialogue on Saturday, Modi said India and China had shown wisdom and maturity in handling their complex relations and "Asia and the world will have a better future if the countries work together with trust and confidence, keeping in mind each other's interests".

The Chinese Foreign Ministry said it highly appreciated "positive remarks" by the Indian leader.

Hua recalled the informal meet between Modi and Chinese President Xi Jinping at Wuhan in Beijing and said they were in agreement on several issues.

"In April this year, Xi held an informal meeting with Modi. They had in-depth exchange of views in international landscape and bilateral relations and reached consensus on many issues."

"The two sides agreed to adopt a mature and wise way to handle differences. China is willing to work with the Indian side to maintain the positive momentum of the development of the bilateral relations, to promote mutually beneficial cooperation, properly handle differences and maintain peace and tranquillity along the border areas," Hua said.

"This takes India-China relations forward."

Modi and Xi will meet again on sidelines of the Shanghai Summit at Qingdao on June 9-10.

--IANS

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A Chinese engineer was found dead inside his country's embassy here on Monday, media reports said.

Gayaan Chan was working as an engineer at the Chinese embassy, police were cited as saying by the Express Tribune.

According to the report, the engineer was 28 or 29 years old and had come to Pakistan in May. He was residing inside the embassy's premises and worked for a Chinese company.

In February, a Chinese national was shot dead in a suspected targeted attack in Karachi's Defence locality. Chen Zhu, 45, was in his car when he was attacked.

--IANS

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Ramveer Rauthela, a farmer in this small hamlet in Uttarakhand's Garhwal region, points towards a house with a rusting lock on its front door and sighs: "Earlier, they would often visit home; later, they returned during the harvest; now they even skip festivals."

Villages across this region have many such deserted houses overlooking vacant step farms as agriculture struggles to exist and families migrate to the plains searching for a better life.

However, what makes Tipli distinct are its efforts to bring those families back. Their hope: A micro weather station and a school that gives farmers lessons on climate chnage. This has managed to successfully revive step farming over the past few years and bring people back to their farms.

Rauthela, 58, who left for Delhi some years back, is among those who have re-migrated.

"People migrated because agriculture did not have much to offer and the changing weather and irregular rains make it more difficult. People had no clue about how to cope... and this is where this farming school and weather station have helped," Rauthela told this visiting IANS correspondent.

His family is among 45 farming in the 55-family village. They undertake step farming on around 15 hectares of land and few new polyhouses. Tipli also has a pair of bullocks and plough that can be hired by the farmers at Rs 600 a day.

"Almost vacant three years back, our fields are now cultivated," said Makhani Devi, head of the Tipli panchayat. "We grow tomatoes, capsicum, cucumber, beans and pulses and we recently harvested wheat."

According to the villagers, once the weather station and school came up, more help followed, as it caught the attention of farmers.

Currently, scientists and experts from Krishi Vigyan Kendra (KVK), the Agriculture Science Centre of the College of Forestry at Ranichauri in Tehri Garhwal district, visit the village every alternate Friday and guide the locals with emerging trends as gauged by the weather station.

"It's unique for a village to have its own micro weather station... It has increased their interest and perhaps this is the reason they are returning to their farms. It gives information about hail, rain, etc., so that farmers can plan their activities accordingly," Sumit Chaudhary, Assistant Professor of Agronomy at the College of Forestry, told IANS, after conducting a detailed meeting with the farmers at the school.

Agricultural scientist Dr Tejpal Singh Bisht from the College believes there is an urgent need to replicate this model of a school and micro weather station in other villages as it has "re-defined" the idea of agriculture and horticulture in the hilly hamlets.

"Climate change and its effects altering the crop rotation is a reality... farmers are often clueless, don't get a proper harvest and often quit. The weather station here has changed the idea of cultivation. Just a little help through consultation and they are already moving towards high-end cash crops," Bisht said.

Explaining to the villagers about pests, how to deal with them and the crop they should sow next, Bisht asserted that the KVK is planning to convert Tipli into a seed producing village.

"We want to make an example out of the village so that it is replicated... government aims at doubling the income of farmers over next few years; how would that be possible if there are no farmers here," Bisht said.

Apart from the micro weather station and school, which was build by Church's Auxiliary for Social Action (CASA), a social organisation, on the request of the Indian government, Tipli village also has a 0.5 KW power station, which currently lights up about 50 hamlets -- some inhabited by only one or two families -- around Tipli, and a sand water filter.

"Several villages like Sunarkot, Utkhanda, Than, to name a few, are virtually vacant as most of the families have migrated... through this weather station and school, we did an experiment and it was successful; step farming has revived," Isha Bannerjee, executive program associate-communications at CASA told IANS.

According to social activist Aranya Ranjan from the Uttarakhand Jan Jagriti Sansthan, while re-migration is not impossible for Garhwal, more efforts are needed to revive and bolster the farming sector.

"The village now needs a disease forecasting unit for stronger crops. CASA and KVK are mulling on that and we are sure that this would happen. But what's more important is to replicate it at other villages as well," Ranjan said.

(Kushagra Dixit can be reached at kushagra.d@ians.in)

--IANS

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A criminal, with a reward of Rs 1 lakh on him, has been rearrested after he jumped bail, a police officer said on Monday.

Deepak, 35, a sharp-shooter of Uttar Pradesh-based Hitender Singh Rawat gang, was held on Sunday following a tip off when he came on a bike to west Delhi's Begumpur Chowk to meet a contact.

"A trap was laid near Begumpur Chowk where a biker (later identified as Deepak) was signalled to stop but he whipped out a pistol and tried to fire on the police party. He was however overpowered," said Joint Commissioner of Police Alok Kumar.

"Deepak, a resident of Rohini, was his involvement in a sensational murder case in Hauz Qazi area (of old Delhi). He and nine other associates of Rawat gang had on August 29, 2007 murdered local goon, Vijay Yadav who used to extort money from local builders in the area," he added.

Deepak, who was arrested in 2008, had revealed said some prominent builders hired contract killers of his gang.

In custody subsequently, he was granted interim bail for a period of three weeks on March 20 and supposed to surrender on April 12 but disappeared, the officer added.

"He was trying to make his own gang and was also planning to commit big robberies in Delhi and National Capital Region," said Alok Kumar.

--IANS

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The State Level Bankers Committee on Monday agreed to organise a training programme for bankers to resolve technical issues related to disbursement of old age, disability and widow pensions, on the urging of Delhi Social Welfare Minister Rajendra Pal Gautam.

Addressing the 91st State Level Bankers Committee meeting of Delhi here on Monday, Gautam also raised other issues including the hurdles cropping up on account of Aadhar linking and seeding.

"This is a very peculiar yet profound problem which is affecting senior citizens and disabled persons badly because of techinicalities of Aadhar seeding on NPCI portal.

"Pension beneficiaries are forced to visit either banks or social welfare offices just to claim their increased amount of pensions, leading them to blame the Delhi Government for not giving them solutions. Whereas Aadhar linking and seeding comes under the jurisdiction of banks," he said.

The committee members, including the Reserve Bank of India's Regional Director, agreed to resolve the issue for which a committee is being constituted to monitor its progress on a weekly basis.

--IANS

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At least 13 persons have perished in different incidents, mostly by drowning, in the first monsoon weekend in the past 72 hours.

Five persons, including four of a family, from the Immaculate Conception Colony in Borivali drowned at a beach picnic in Ratnagiri on Sunday afternoon.

They are Monica D'Souza, 44, Sanomi D'Souza, 22, Richa D'Souza, 19, and Mathew D'Souza, 18, besides their neighbour and family friend Kenneth Masters, 56.

The incident occurred at the small Aare-Ware Beach near Devrukh in Ratnagiri when they were en route to famed Ganpatipule.

Apparently ignoring Met warnings, the victims ventured into the choppy waters, but were trapped in a sudden whirlpool that built up at an intersection in the and a creek along the beach.

Their bodies were likely to reach Mumbai on Monday for the last rites in Borivali West's IC Colony which plunged into a pall of gloom.

Two Thane cousins -- Anand Gupta and Nandini Gupta -- drowned when they accidentally walked into a ditch full of water, which was dug up to lay a sewage pipeline, on Sunday.

There were no warning indicators near the ditch excavated near a road by a private contractor appointed by the Thane Municipal Corporation.

In another weekend tragedy, three youths drowned in two separate incidents at the Bhuigaon Beach in Palghar district on Saturday evening.

While the bodies of two -- Rahul Rathod, 18, and Abhivan Shinde, 17, -- washed ashore at Kalamb Beach near Vasai, efforts were on to trace the third, police said.

Police suspect that the youth may have been pulled away by the thick under currents in the as monsoon is round the corner, roughing up the sea on the entire western coast.

Besides, three persons were electrocuted in two separate incidents in Bhandup after the city and surroundings were lashed by sudden thunderstorms on Saturday evening, marking the onset of the monsoon season.
The Central government should divest 100 per cent stake in the national passenger carrier Air India, said aviation consulting firm CAPA India on Monday

"... the government should divest 100 per cent even if it means giving up future upside, because if retaining a stake is blocking the entire sale, it is saddling the government with billions of dollars of red ink," CAPA India said in a report.

"Far better to cut losses now and maximise proceeds today, especially as there is no certainty as to where the airline business cycle will be tomorrow. And a stronger, restructured Air India can deliver significant indirect benefits to the Indian economy by stimulating tourism, trade and job creation, that far outweigh any notional future upside on the sale of 24 per cent equity in the airline in the future."

According to the aviation consulting firm, continuing under government ownership will lead either to an "indefinite drain on the exchequer or to the closure of the airline at a great cost to employees, taxpayers, and to the economy".

"CAPA therefore supports the divestment process and urges the Government of India to put aside this setback and push ahead with the target of concluding the transaction before the end of FY2019, after taking on board investor feedback to structure a more realistic offer," said the report, which came just a few days after the Central government said that it did not receive any bids for the cash-strapped airline.

Last Thursday, the Civil Aviation Ministry said that "no response" was received till 5 p.m. on May 31 which was the extended submission deadline for the 'Expression of Interest' (EOI) bids under AI's divestment process and "Further course of action will be decided appropriately."

The government on May 1 had released a detailed document on clarifications sought by interested bidders regarding the divestment process, including plans to retain 24 per cent stake in the divested entity, provision of ESOPs (employee stock ownership plan) and on the total debt and liabilities which are expected to remain with AI.

On March 28, the government had issued a Preliminary Information Memorandum inviting 'EOIs' for the airline's strategic divestment, along with its shares in AIXL and AISATS (Air India SATS Airport Services) from private entities including the airline's employees.

--IANS

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Vinod Yadav, an engineer from here, has set an example in Haryana by cultivating pearls in his backyard, an official said on Monday.

Yadav, hailing from Jamalpur village here on Pataudi road, is earning more than Rs 4 lakh per year by pearl farming in a 20x20 feet pond.

Gurugram's Deputy Commissioner Vinay Pratap Singh said in 2016, Yadav and his uncle Suresh Kumar came to the District Fisheries Department to get information about fisheries.

He had a 20x20 feet plot due to which he could not afford fish farming on that land.

"In such a situation, District Fisheries Officer Dharmendra Singh guided him to cultivate pearls and sent Yadav to the Central Institute of Fresh Water Aquaculture, Bhubaneswar for a one-month training in pearl culture," Vinay Pratap Singh said.

Today, Yadav is cultivating pearls on almost one bigha land (one fifth of an acre).

Dharmendra Singh said Gurugram is the first district in the state to start pearl farming.

"Due to the good results, other districts are also working in this direction. A 50 per cent subsidy is also given to farmers cultivating pearls by the Fisheries Department," Dharmendra Singh told IANS.

It costs about Rs 40,000 to prepare infrastructure for pearl cultivation and one session of cultivation takes around eight to 10 months.

The officer said natural pearls are formed by nature. On the other hand, cultured pearls are human creations formed by inserting a tissue graft from a donor oyster, upon which a pearl sac forms and the inner side precipitates calcium carbonate in the form of nacre or "mother-of-pearl".

Yadav said: "Initially, we didn't know anything about pearl cultivation except seashell. Fisheries officer Singh told us about pearl cultivation through seashells."

--IANS

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A little over a month after Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chinese President Xi Jinping held an informal summit in China, Indian External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj and her Chinese counterpart Wang Yi met on the sidelines of the BRICS Foreign Ministers meeting here on Monday and discussed ways to maintain momentum in bilateral ties.

Describing the meeting as "continuing multifaceted engagement between two large economies", Indian External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Raveesh Kumar tweeted: "Both leaders discussed ways to maintain the momentum in bilateral and multilateral cooperation."

Modi and Xi held what Sushma Swaraj described as an unprecedented meeting on April 27-28 at the invitation of the Chinese leader in China's Wuhan, where they pledged to keep the India-China border quiet and personally guide their respective armies to avert Doklam-like military stand-off in future.

India and China went to war in 1962 over their border and still carry the baggage of 3,500 km long disputed boundary.

The two Asian giants almost came to blows in 2017 when their armies faced off each other in Doklam on the India-Bhutan-China international trijunction over building of a border road by the Chinese.

In her annual press conference in New Delhi last month, Sushma Swaraj said she and Wang had decided that they would not confine their leaders to listed agenda.

"There were three reasons for this - strong bilateral ties, global issues and mutual trust," she said.

"President Xi told our Prime Minister to call him directly over phone for any issue."

In her press conference, Sushma Swaraj also said that status quo is being maintained at Doklam.

Earlier on Monday, Sushma Swaraj and Wang took part in the BRICS (Brazil, Russia, India, China South Africa) Foreign Ministers meeting in which the Indian leader called for joint action by the grouping against money laundering and terrorist-financing.

--IANS

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Iran's Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif has urged international condemnation of US attitude towards Iran's 2015 landmark nuclear deal, the media reported.

In letters to his counterparts of a number of countries, Zarif on Sunday warned of the dangerous consequences of the US "illegal and unilateral" move to pull out of the nuclear agreement, officially known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), Xinhua reported citing Press TV.

He called for international condemnation of what he called Washington's "extremism," urging the world to withstand US "lawbreaking and bullying behavior."

"Illegal withdrawal of the US government from the JCPOA... is challenging the goals and principles of the Charter of the United Nations and the efficiency of international bodies," the Iranian Foreign Minister said.

Likewise, the US withdrawal from the JCPOA was the country's biggest effort aimed at violating and weakening the nuclear accord and the UN Resolution 2231, adopted in July 2015 to endorse the historic deal, he said.

Zarif further said the JCPOA put an end to an "unnecessary crisis" which lasted for more than one decade.

He emphasized that the agreement's scope, regulations and time frame were the outcome of "accurate, sensitive and balanced multilateral" talks and it is impossible to make any changes on or hold new negotiations about them.

US President Donald Trump announced on May 8 to pull out of the treaty, and vowed to re-impose sanctions on Iran, which was alleviated under the JCPOA.

Iran has said that it will stay in the deal as long as the other five powers remain committed to it despite the US pullout.

--IANS

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An Israeli woman tourist was killed and four others injured when a private vehicle carrying foreigners bound for Leh skidded off the road and fell into a gorge in Himachal Pradesh's Lahaul Valley on Monday, police said.

The injured, three Israelis and an American, were rushed to the Regional Hospital in Kullu town, some 200 km from the state capital.

The vehicle was going to Leh from Manali in Kullu district when it fell into the gorge near Keylong, some 115 km from Manali, Assistant Superintendent of Police Rajesh Dharmani told IANS over phone.

The deceased was identified as Adva Ben Dahan, while the injured were Shahar Gesundheit, Itay Silberman and Noa Shkotai, all Israeli, and Tiffani Brooke Fest, an American.

Police have registered a case and ordered investigations to ascertain the reason behind the accident.

Closed for over five months every year due to heavy snowfall, the 475-km Manali-Leh highway was reopened to motorists last month on completion of the snow-clearing operations.

--IANS

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Please call your State Representative and State Senator and tell them to vote against legislation repealing the Parental Notice of Abortion ...
Jordanian King Abdullah II on Monday appointed former Education Minister Omar Razzaz as the new Prime Minister after the resignation of Hani Mulki from the top post following nationwide protests.

Embattled Prime Minister Mulki submitted resignation to King Abdullah II after major protests were held across the country, with tens of thousands of demonstrators calling for the sacking of the government over a controversial income tax reform bill, Xinhua news agency reported.

Demonstrators demanded the withdrawal of the income tax law, part of several fiscal reforms as part of a $700 million extended fund facility programme signed between Jordan and the International Monetary Fund in 2016.

The bill mainly aims to improve tax collection, curb tax evasion and boost tax revenues, which are expected to increase by 300 million Jordanian dinars ($423 million) annually.

In addition, the proportion of income taxpayers in Jordan is expected to rise from 4.5 per cent to 10 per cent once the bill is enacted. The legislation has been resisted by multiple sectors, including professional associations and investors.

Earlier in the day, 57 lawmakers out of the 130-seat Lower House of the Jordanian Parliament signed a letter asking the country's king to fire Mulki. They said the policies of Mulki had pushed "the country to explode", referring to last week's unprecedented general strike.

"This government no longer has our confidence," the lawmakers wrote in the letter, signed by the National Alliance for Reform, led by the Islamic Action Front, the political wing of Jordan's Muslim Brotherhood.

On Sunday, protesters took to the streets for a fourth consecutive day, despite the government reversing a decision to raise fuel and electricity prices.

--IANSthe

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The opposition disrupted the Kerala Assembly on Monday demanding a CBI probe into the alleged honour killing of a 24-year-old man in Kottayam district for which four policemen have been suspended.

The opening session of the assembly ended early as the Congress-led opposition went up in arms staging protests near the Speaker's podium, as P. Sreeramakrishnan adjourned the house for the day after quickly running through the listed business.

On 28 May, the Kerala Police had fished out the body of Kevin Joseph, who had married Neenu Chacko, 20, belonging to a higher caste. His autopsy revealed he was tortured to death, allegedly by the bride's kin.

--IANS

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(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan on Monday told an all party meeting here that the government would foot the entire medical bills of all those being treated for the malady at Kozhikode and Malappuram.

He said that the work done by the state's health professionals in containing the disease's spread after its outbreak was really encouraging and showed their commitment and dedication. This quick containment has not happened in countries where this virus attack had hit in the past, he added.

"What we have found out is that its due to the effective intervention and the work of these health professionals that the spread of Nipah virus has been contained. Now there need be no fear or panic. The state government will bear all the expenses of these patients who underwent treatment for Nipah," said Vijayan.

The Kerala government also decided to distribute special food kits also as Kozhikode turned out to be the worst affected with 13 deaths, while three deaths were reported in Malappuram.

Vijayan also came down heavily on the mischief played by some elements on social media, terming it was most unwarranted and unpardonable.

As of date, of the 18 positive cases, 16 have died and the remaining two are recovering well at the Kozhikode hospital while the around 2,000 people, who have reported to have come in contact with the affected, are being monitored.

Earlier in the day, on the opening day of the assembly session. opposition legislator P. Abdullah from Kozhikode walked into the floor of the assembly wearing a mask and gloves, which invited immediate criticism from Vijayan and Health Minister K.K. Shailaja, who both termed his show an insult to the efforts of the state government.

But intervening in the issue, Leader of Opposition Ramesh Chennithala said that this was done as Abdullah just wanted to express his solidarity with the people of Kozhikode and it was not an insult.

Meanwhile the Veterinary Association has said that they will approach the Central government with a request that they are interested to do an epidemiological study on the outbreak of Nipah in Kozhikode and should receive support.

"This study is a time-consuming one besides involving a substantial sum of money to conduct the study, as each area has to be mapped and detailed studies have to be done. We are willing to do it and for that we need the support," said the association's Mohan Kumar.

--IANS

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(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
The Maharashtra Congress on Monday said it will lodge a complain with the Election Commission (EC) alleging misuse of power and violations of the election code of conduct by Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, five days after Shiv Sena President Uddhav Thackeray termed the Palghar Lok Sabha bypolls "a farce".

Congress spokesperson Sachin Sawant and other leaders will meet Chief Election Commissioner O.P. Rawat in New Delhi on Tuesday morning with their plea.

They plan to apprise him of how Fadnavis had repeatedly violated the election model code of conduct and misused government machinery in the May 28 by-elections that were held in Palghar besides Bhandara-Gondiya (both in Maharashtra).

"Was the entire election machinery working under the pressures of the Chief Minister, this is the suspicion that has arisen out of the situation during the election process," Sawant said.

He pointed out that during the elections, the Congress complained to the Returning Officers several times regarding this but no action was taken against them by the EC.

The Congress delegation plans to submit a memorandum to the CEC on these issues which have raised serious doubts in the minds of the people, he added.

On May 31, Thackeray had charged that large-scale manipulations were carried out in the Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) with the knowledge of the EC officials.

Accusing the EC of becoming a "corrupt body" and a puppet in the hands of the ruling party, the Sena chief directly questioned whether the CEC had any "control over the election machinery".

In the two Lok Sabha bypolls in the state, the Bharatiya Janata Party retained the Palghar seat trouncing the main Sena rival, but it lost the Bhandara-Gondiya seat to the Nationalist Congress Party.

--IANS

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(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
After the Congress and Nationalist Congress Party, a Maharashtra farm panel has castigated Union Agriculture Minister Radha Mohan Singh for his recent 'anti-farmer jibe' here on Monday.

Vasantrao Naik Sheti Swavalamban Mission (VNSSM) Chairman Kishore Tiwari termed the Central Minister's remarks -- that the ongoing farmers agitation in the country was "a media stunt" -- as "unfortunate and rubbing salt on the wounds of the dying agrarian community".

"Instead of making such statements, the Union Minister should immediately look into the status of the government's agrarian programmes and resolve the farmers' distress," he said.

He called upon Singh to urgently intervene as the bureaucrats -- responsible for implementing the Prime Minster's flagship programmes on credit flow, crop pattern shifting to national demands, input and output cost regulations, etc -- have failed to perform, resulting in the latest farmers protest.

Tiwari pointed out that the Maharashtra government has already announced the mega-farm loans waiver in June 2017 which would cover 90 per cent of the debt-trapped peasants.

"However, till date, bankers have not started giving fresh crop loans to the dying farmers thanks to the hostile farm credit policy of Nabard. The state government has also so far failed to ensure that farmers are paid a fair remunerative price for pulses and gram despite policy announcements," he said.

Additionally, despite the loan package intended to benefit around six million farmers, timely and sufficient credit to the needy debt-trapped farmers for the current seasons has not materialized yet as the state government has no direct control over the functioning of the public sector banks, he pointed out.

In a separate letter to Singh, the VNSSM chief referred to the National Commission on Farmers Chairman M.S. Swaminathan whose report focused on the growing farmland suicides and recommended solutions through a holistic national policy for farmers.

"Though the state government has started working on core issues raised in the Swaminathan Commission report, the ground reality is that the benefits of the government programmes did not reach small and needy farmers," Tiwari rued.

Emphasising that farming is still a largely unorganized sector, there is a dire need to promote the farmers' market where they can avoid middle-men and directly sell produce to the consumers at reasonable prices, he said.

Farmers across the country, including Maharashtra, are on a 10-day agitation to highlight their various pending demands which have resulted in shortages of essentials in the markets and consequently, skyrocketing of prices of vegetables, fruits, food-grains, milk and other items of daily requirements.

--IANS

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(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
US First lady Melania Trump is expected to attend a White House event on Monday evening, 24 days after she made her last public appearance, the media reported.

Despite her planned attendance at Monday's event to honour Gold Star families, the First Lady will not attend the G7 summit to be held from June 8 to 9 in Canada or join her husband President Donald Trump when he travels to Singapore for the planned June 12 summit with North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, according to her spokeswoman Stephanie Grisham.

The reception on Monday is closed to the press, but following 2017 Gold Star families event, the White House released a statement about the event with remarks from Melania Trump, CNN reported.

"Gold Star families have lost an immediate family member who was serving during wartime, and they are a unique and distinct category of individuals who should be cherished. These families have endured the ultimate in pain and sacrifice on behalf of our country, and I am honoured to have spent the evening with them," the statement said.

"My husband and I commit to always pay tribute to our active service military, veterans, and the families who love them."

Gold Star Families for Peace is a US-based organisation founded in January 2005 by individuals who lost family members in the Iraq War, and are thus entitled to display a Gold Star.

The attendance of the First Lady on Monday's reception will mark the first time she has participated in an official event, either alone or by her husband's side, since May 10 at the Andrews Air Force Base as they welcomed home three Americans who had been held prisoners in North Korea.

Her spokeswoman told CNN on Sunday that Melania Trump underwent a medical procedure to treat a benign kidney issue on May 14 at Walter Reed National Military Medical Centre.

The First Lady remained in the hospital for five nights following the procedure prior to returning to the White House on May 19.

Several internet conspiracy theories ranging from plastic surgery to a stealth move back to New York City have been circulated on the social media regarding the First Lady.

Grisham denied the rumours, telling CNN that the First Lady has been recuperating, but also taking meetings with her staff at the White House, discussing her initiatives as well as upcoming events like the Congressional Picnic and Fourth of July.

Melania Trump attended the 2017 G7 summit in Sicily, making headlines on her debut international trip as First Lady.

--IANS

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(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
US First Lady Melania Trump will not attend the G7 summit this year or join her husband President Donald Trump when he travels to Singapore for the planned June 12 summit with North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, according to her spokeswoman.

The First Lady has not been seen publicly for 24 days. She was last spotted with President Trump on May 10 at the Andrews Air Force Base as they welcomed home three Americans who had been held prisoner in North Korea.

Her spokeswoman told CNN on Sunday that Melania Trump underwent a medical procedure to treat a benign kidney issue on May 14 at Walter Reed National Military Medical Centre.

The First Lady remained in the hospital for five nights following the procedure prior to returning to the White House on May 19.

Several internet conspiracy theories raging from plastic surgery to a stealth move back to New York City have been circulated on the social media regarding the First Lady.

Melania Trump's communications director Stephanie Grisham denied the rumours, telling CNN that the First Lady has been recuperating, but also taking meetings with her staff at the White House, discussing her initiatives as well as upcoming events like the Congressional Picnic and Fourth of July.

Melania Trump attended the G7 summit in Sicily last year, making headlines on her debut international trip as First Lady.

For a tour of Taomarina with other G7 leaders' spouses, Trump famously donned a $51,500 floral Dolce and Gabbana jacket, which garnered sartorial praise but also raised eyebrows because of its cost.

On the first couple's last day in Sicily before jetting back to Washington, they stopped at the US naval air base in Sigonella, Sicily, where the First Lady gave brief remarks to troops prior to the President taking the podium.

This year's G7 Summit will take place June 8 to 9 in Quebec, Canada.

--IANS

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(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
The mortal remains of a BSF trooper killed in Pakistan firing a day ago in a ceasefire violation on the international border, reached his native place in Uttar Pradesh's Deoria district on Monday, an official said.

Thousands of people assembled to pay their last respects to slain Border Security Force trooper Satya Narayan Yadav, who was posted as an Additional Sub-Inspector at the 33rd battalion of the BSF in Akhnoor sector of Jammu and Kashmir.

He was killed in firing by the Pakistan Rangers from across the IB in the Pargwal sub-sector on Sunday.

The Uttar Pradesh government has announced an ex-gratia of Rs 25 lakh to the family of Yadav, a government spokesperson said. He added that Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath has spoken to Yadav's son and assured him of a visit at the earliest.

An aunt of Yadav died of heart attack when she heard the news about his demise.

Angry villagers demanded that Prime Minister Narendra Modi should "not just speak" but "take revenge from Pakistan" for the frequent shelling and killing of Indian soldiers.

--IANS

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(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Members of a Parliamentary Committee on Monday grilled top executives of public sector banks on the issue of non-performing assets as well as the huge fraud involving diamantaire Nirav Modi and Punjab National Bank and demanded that the banks come out with a road map to tackle the problem of bad loans stalking the financial sector.

At a meeting of the panel here, the members also posed questions to the banking sector representatives about bank recapitalisation and RBI restrictions in this regard.

SBI Chairman Rajnish Kumar and Punjab National Bank Chairman Sunil Mehta besides representatives of Indian Banks' Association were among those who attended the meeting. Former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh was among the panel members.

Sources said they were asked about the challenges they faced and changes required to prevent frauds.

Some Committee members said there cannot be one category and there should be classification in terms of willful defaulters and non-willful defaulters.

The members said that NPAs can arise due to "government inactiveness" and other factors and there was a need to make such distinction. The banks were asked to come out with a road map with redefining of NPAs.

Sources said the PNB chief was asked about the multi-crore fraud involving Nirav Modi.

He is learnt to have told the members that it was related "to a branch" and was not a failure of the entire bank.

An opposition member is learnt to have responded by saying that beyond a particular amount, the bank boards get involved and the process of sanctioning loans goes into the fast sanction system. He said the issue was not mere working of the banks but their governance.

The sources said bank officials told the members that scams were being dealt with separately and did not represent a systems failure.

The officials also said that there has not been a lack of confidence among people in relation to the public sector banks.

The meeting was held almost a week before the Reserve Bank of India Governor Urjit Patel is scheduled to appear before the Committee on issues related to the banking sector including NPAs and stressed assets.

Sources said the issue of merger of banks also came up at the meeting with some members suggesting the need to be extra careful as it involved "different cultures" besides "chemistry".

They said the proposal of merger of different banks was not the same as merger of associates of State Bank of India.

A member is also learnt to have raised issues concerning autonomy of IBA. He is learnt to have compared the situation with "autonomy" of oil marketing companies, saying they had raised price of petroleum products at a time chosen by the government.

He asked if the banking industry was consulted on major decisions taken by the government and if people were aware of the situation. He is leant to have said independent directors are supposed to be there to protect minority shareholders and they were sometimes relatives of the promoters.

A member also asked about the controversy over conflict of interest in the Rs 3,250 crore loan given by the ICICI Bank to the Videocon Group in 2012. The controlling shareholder of Videocon Group co-founded a separate company with the spouse of ICICI's CEO Chanda Kochhar. A significant portion of the loan has since become non-performing.

Sources said banking industry representatives would send detailed answers to questions raised at the meeting. They expressed hope that NPA situation will improve next year.

According to sources, during his appearance before the panel, Patel is likely to be asked about the bank frauds, including the Nirav Modi case, and better regulation of banks.

Patel said earlier this year that the RBI's regulatory powers over PSBs were weaker than those over the private sector banks.

--IANS

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(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
North Korea has slammed the South Korean military for running counter to the spirit of the Panmunjom Declaration by joining two military drills with the US.

The official North Korean daily Minju Joson said on Sunday in an article that the South Korean military has dispatched three warships, fighter jets and 700 odd troops to the Rim of the Pacific (RIMPAC) joint military exercises to be held in the waters off Hawaii from June 27.

Seoul also announced that it would launch the annual Ulji Freedom Guardian as scheduled in August, said the article, Xinhua news agency reported

"As known, RIMPAC is North Korean-targeted war drill which has been staged biennially since 1971," it said, adding that seeking military confrontation is "against the unanimous demand of all Koreans and the trend of the times."

North Korean top leader Kim Jong Un and South Korean President Moon Jae-in signed the Panmunjom Declaration on April 27, promising to work for national reconciliation and peace of the Korean Peninsula.

The two leaders met again last week to reaffirm their will to implement the declaration.

--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 News photo

CHICAGO - There's a growing moan about Illinois' property taxes being some of the highest in the US. But property taxes aren't determined for the most part in Springfield - most property taxes are determined by your neighbors - the people that fill school boards, park district boards and city councils. Even fire protection districts and mosquito abatement authorities.

And how do they affect property taxes? By being very generous with tax dollars to those that work for the boards such as teachers, park district employees and a myriad of others.

It's not easy or comfortable to hold your neighbors accountable for taking more and more of the funds you manage to accumulate by your hard work. But that's exactly the reality of what Open the Books' found Adam Andrzejewski found needs to be done to begin digging out of the mess the state is in.
Urging the states to work together for the country to achieve its targets within a year, the Union Minister Harsh Vardhan on Monday said that only 60 per cent of 25,000 tonnes of "plastic pollution" generated daily gets recycled.

Presiding over a ministerial conference here to mark World Day, which is being hosted by India this year with the theme to combat "plastic pollution", the ninister said the country now means business.

"Some 25,000 tonnes of plastic pollution is generated in the country every year of which only 60 per cent is processed while rest 40 per cent is pure litter... We mean business and will tackle this menace with all strength," Harsh Vardhan said at the conference.

The 'State of Environment Report India 2015' was released by the minister at the conference.

Lauding Prime Minister Narendra Modi's achievements in the field of environment, he said that the international community believes that India will achieve its pre-2020 or COP21 targets before time.

He said that the ministry was delegating powers to states so they can efficiently work towards environment preservation and fight pollution.

"The developing world complains how it has exploited environment and thus ask for technology and finance, I feel this is important but environment won't be defended unless the society is motivated," he added.

Minister of State for Environment Mahesh Sharma said that while Rs 350 crore was spent last year, this year Rs 650 crore was send to states under the environment protection programme.

Erik Solheim Executive Director of the UN Environment Programme (UNEP), who was also also present at the event, said that it was very important to protect India from pollution as it has an amazing ecosystem

He said India was his choice to host this year's 'World Environment Day' due to a variety of reasons, including its vast population and fast economic growth.

--IANS

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(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
The Parliamentary Standing Committee on Finance will be awarded the Sansad Ratna Award 2018 for its outstanding performance, a top official said on Monday.

"We have decided to honour Departmentally Related Standing Committees with Sansad Ratna Award based on the criteria like the reports presented, numbers of sittings and number of subjects selected and others," K. Srinivasan, Founder, Prime Point Foundation, told IANS.

The Foundation has been awarding top performing MPs since 2010.

"In the Indian Parliamentary system, the Standing Committees plays an important role in studying the subjects and guiding the government. Since, we wanted to create awareness about Standing Committees, we have introduced the Award under this category," Srinivasan added.

The selection of award winners was done by a Jury Committee consisting of eminent parliamentarians.

"M. Veerappa Moily, Chairman of the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Finance will receive the award at a function to be held in Indian Institute of Technology-Madras on Saturday," Srinivasan said.

Former West Bengal Governor M. K. Narayanan and former Chief Election Commissioner of India T. S. Krishnamurthy will present the awards.

According to Srinivasan, during the 16th Lok Sabha till date, the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Finance had selected 67 subjects, held 84 sittings and presented 60 reports as per the data culled from the Lok Sabha website.

There are 24 Departmentally Related Standing Committees in Parliament. Sixteen are known as Lok Sabha Committees and eight as Rajya Sabha Committees.

"We could get data only for 16 Lok Sabha Committees. We could not get data for the Rajya Sabha Committees," Srinivasan said.

In addition, seven MPs (six from Lok Sabha and one from Rajya Sabha) will also be honoured with the Sansad Ratna Award for their individual performances.

He said the names of the seven MPs will be announced on Friday.

These awards were instituted by Prime Point Foundation in 2010 based on the suggestion given by late President A.P.J. Abdul Kalam to celebrate achievers.

This is the only award on behalf of the civil society to honour achievers in Parliament, Srinivasan added.

--IANS

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(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Missing for nearly four months and under fire from the Opposition and on social for his continued absence, ailing Goa Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar on Sunday called up some journalists close to him, informally briefing them about his health and his plans to return from the US.

Parrikar, who is undergoing treatment for advanced pancreatic cancer at a New York hospital since March this year, made the surprise call on Sunday night to at least four local journalists considered close to him.

Speaking to IANS on condition of anonymity, some of these journalists said that they were pleasantly surprised when an Officer on Special Duty attached to the Chief Minister Office's called them on their mobile phone telling them that Parrikar would like to speak to them.

"The first thing he did was enquire about my health, which is ironic because he is the one who is ailing. He sounded a bit weak, but Parrikar told me that two rounds of chemotherapy are likely to be done later this week and after that, his return would depend on his doctor's clearance," said one of the journalists, working for an English daily and covering the Bharatiya Janata Party beat.

Parrikar however did not disclose his exact location or the identity of the hospital he was admitted.

The journalist also said that the Chief Minister explained to him the protocol followed in examining government files and taking decisions.

"Parrikar said that he has a daily conference via telephone with the Chief Secretary and the Principal Secretary to the CMO. Files and documents are scanned and sent to him by email and fax and the Chief Minister's decisions are conveyed over phone, fax or email. He said, that governance can be conducted remotely with ease in these days, thanks to communication devices," he said.

Parrikar's phone calls to the journalists come at a time, when the Bharatiya Janata Party-led coalition government is under fire from the Opposition and civil society, who have accused the Chief Minister of holding on to power and not delegating responsibility to a cabinet minister to run the state in a hands-on manner.

Last week, the Congress also filed a police complaint, alleging that the Chief Minister's email on which officials communicate with Parrikar was being operated in Panaji. The complaint filed by Congress' Sidhanath Buyao with the Crime Branch, alleged that the Parrikar's account was being misused by officials to take decisions in their favour.

Another journalist, who works as a Chief Reporter for a vernacular newspaper, told IANS that Parrikar regularly accesses his email and even complimented him for a news story filed by him last week.

"He congratulated me on the factual correctness of the story. He also assured me that he was feeling well and that thanks to treatment, his health was looking up," said the journalist.

While official sources claim that Parrikar is suffering from advanced pancreatic cancer, neither the Bharatiya Janata Party nor the Chief Minister's Office have officially communicated the severity of his ailment, vaguely describing it as "mild pancreatitis" in unofficial statements.

--IANS

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(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
With intrepid Indian travellers heading for Peru -- 7,000 in 2017 and up 36.9 per cent in the first two months of this year -- should it be a surprise that the South American nation has released four cookbooks "to bring to India our internationally-acclaimed gastronomy" and hopefuly entice more tourists.

"The four cookbooks launched by the Embassy of Peru is an endeavor to bring to India our internationally-acclaimed gastronomy which is little known yet... Five years back there were hardly any restaurants serving Peruvian cuisine in India, but today we have multiple restaurants serving our food in the major cities of India," Luis M. Cabello, the country's Economic and Commercial Counselor," told IANS in an interview.

"It is but natural that our cuisine enters the Indian market, especially since it is very well suited to the Indian palette," he added.

To this end, the cookbooks have been designed "keeping in mind the requirements as much of a home-cook as a restaurant-chef who is looking to diversify the Peruvian dishes available on the menu... The idea is to familiarise Indians with the cuisine and remove the inaccessible, exotic tag from these Peruvian recipes", Cabello added.

Ever since the Commercial Office of Peru in India opened its doors, he said "gastronomy has been an important lateral which we have focused upon, especially considering the importance of good food to any Indian traveler, whether business or leisure".

Educational seminars organised for the tourism trade fraternity have had Peruvian dishes included in the snacks and meals offered after the session. Last year, the commercial office organised meet-ups with National Geographic Traveler India in Kolkata and the focus theme for the end-customer-oriented event was Peruvian gastronomy.

In 2016, Indian celebrity Chef Vicky Ratnani travelled to Peru to visit the Mistura international food fair in Lima.

"Various collaborations with Indian and Peruvian chefs are in the pipeline and we are working towards the strengthening of relations between the industry stalwarts in this sector. On the trade front, Peru is actively and aggressively promoting Peruvian agro-products in India, facilitating the entry of red globe grapes, avocado, quinoa, maca root, among others in India," Cabello explained.

Each of the four cookbooks focuses on classic, traditional recipes based on one of the staples of the Peruvian kitchen. Three look at rice, potato and corn preparations and the fourth at Peruvian cuisine as a whole.

"In addition to the recipes, which include starters, main course and deserts using the staple mentioned, a brief history of the ingredient in Peru is also included... Having read this section of each of the editions, the reader would be better versed with the reasons why Peruvian gastronomy is celebrated in the world," Cabello noted.

Are there any similarities between the food in Peru and that in India?

"The ingredients chosen for these cookbooks reflect the similarities between India and Peru in terms of their food. Rice, potato and corn are considered to be staples in India too, each of these ingredients is used in a variety of shapes, forms and flavours. Similarly in Peru, these ingredients form the basis for many traditional dishes.

"If I were to draw parallels between dishes, India boasts of chicken tikkas whereas Peru has a day dedicated to pollo a la brasa. Paaesh or kheer is nothing but arroz con leche. Indians love their food spicy, very similar to the Peruvian favourites found in picanterias in Lima, Cusco, Arequipa, etc.

"The word picante means spicy in Spanish and these restaurants pay homage to the varieties of chilies used by the Peruvian in the daily kitchen. Indians love their samosas stuffed with potatoes or minced meat, very similar to the empanadas available in Peru, stuffed with varied proteins or cheese. Just as breakfast time is utilized to discuss the menu for lunch and the lunch hour to discuss the dinner spread, in Peru too the family sits around hearty meals to discuss their next meals," Cabello explained.

Does Cabello have a favourite Indian snack?

Bang came the answer: "Raj kachori."

(Vishnu Makhijani can be contacted at vishnu.makhijani@ians.in)

--IANS

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(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
President on Monday accused Prime Minister of giving pre-scripted interviews, claiming his response to real questions would have been an "embarrassment for all".

Gandhi was referring to an interview Modi gave at the Nanyang Technological University (NTU) in Singapore during his recent visit to the city-state.

After Modi answered a question in Hindi, the interpreter started reading from a piece of paper, prompting speculation that the script may be "pre-planned".

"The first Indian PM who takes 'spontaneous' questions that the translator has pre-scripted answers to!



"Good that he doesn't take real questions. Would have been a real embarrassment to us all if he did," Gandhi said on Twitter.

He also tagged a video of Modi's question and the answer along with that given by the English translator.

Gandhi is currently abroad along with his mother and UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi who had gone for a medical check-up to the

Yesterday, leader Shashi Tharoor had tweeted while tagging a news report on the NTU interview, "Oh dear. When the translator says what the PM was supposed to say, but didn't".
Actor Richard Gere says he is the happiest man in the universe after getting married to girlfriend Alejandra Silva in an Indian-inspired wedding.

Silva, 35, and Gere, 68, tied the knot in a ceremony that took place on the actor's ranch outside New York earlier this year.

"I feel like I'm in a true fairytale. Without a doubt, I feel like the luckiest woman in the world," Silva told Hello! of her wedding day.

The couple have been dating since 2014 and met when Gere came to stay at the hotel owned by her family.

Their romantic day was Indian-inspired, with the couple making quite an entrance to their ceremony in a tuk-tuk.

They imported tents from Jaipur and decorated their flowers with Tibetan flags.

"I'm the happiest man in the universe. How could I not be? I'm married to a beautiful woman who is smart, sensitive, committed to helping people, who's fun, patient, who knows how to forgive, who's a great cook, and who makes the best salads in the world," Gere said, reports metro.co.uk.

"Alejandra meditates, she's a vegetarian, a great mother, has the touch of an angel - and she's also Spanish: the land of kings and queens, of Cervantes and Bunuel. You can't get any better than that."

This is the third time he has walked down the aisle. He had a four-year marriage to model Cindy Crawford from 1991 to 1995. He also enjoyed a 14-year marriage with model Carey Lowell, which formally ended in 2016.

Silva was previously married to Govind Friedland, with whom she shares a son.

--IANS

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(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
New co-stars like Saqib Saleem and Freddy Daruwala as well as frequent collaborators Jacqueline Fernandez and Daisy Shah heaped praise on their "Race 3" co-star Salman Khan, calling the superstar a very loving, caring and respectful person to everyone around him.

Jacqueline, who worked with Salman in "Kick", told IANS here: "There is an energy around him that might just make you feel intimidated when you meet Salman first time.

"I do not think he means to be like that but his aura is very strong... even after years, as a friend and co-star, when I am with him on set, I still get very very nervous, conscious... God knows what. I forget my dialogues at times. We all are more relaxed when we are just chatting and chilling...

"However, in the beginning, I used to be conscious even off sets. I think with time, that has gone. Once you know him, you realize he is really a nice man with big heart."

Saqib, who is working with the "Dabangg" star for the first time, said: "In the beginning, I had a moment of feeling overwhelmed. But keeping that aside, I have learnt so many things from him, most importantly to be respectful to people."

"We all have our way to treat our subordinates and collaborators differently. But that man, with a heart of gold, genuinely treats everyone with equal respect whether a spot boy or a film director.

"I think one of the important things that I have learnt is how power lies in togetherness. Nothing is bigger than the power of people that Salman Sir has earned over the period of time. I think, as a public figure, I wish to achieve that," he added.

Seconding his point, Daisy who has worked with Salman in films like "Tere Naam" and "Jai Ho", said: "Yes, I noticed how Salman Sir prioritized other actors in the film before him, though we all know it is a Salman Khan film for the larger audience. He is a people's person. He is a caring person by nature."

Freddy, who got injured during the action workshop before the film started, mentioned: "I was looked after very well. Salman Sir made sure that none of my scenes in the film affect my injury. He is caring by nature. He has a heart of gold.

"He said one thing that I will remember forever - 'If you want to work your best at longest, taking care of your body should be your priority. If you look after your body, your body will look after you in future'."

As the actor got some tips from Salman, he said: "I think on set, as an actor, he is a cool guy. As we all know that he has an experience in cinema, he explains things to his co-stars like us very nicely; about camera angle, how to hold your body in a certain way to look larger on screen. As an actor, those things really help us..."

Directed by Remo D'souza, "Race 3" will release on June 15.

--IANS

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(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Barcelona's French central defender Samuel Umtiti has reached an agreement with the club for a five-year contract extension, the La Liga champions announced.

Umtiti will sign the new contract at the Camp Nou stadium and address a press conference thereafter, reports Efe.

"FC Barcelona and Samuel Umtiti have reached an agreement to extend the player's contract for a further five seasons through to 2022-2023," the club announced in a statement on its Web site on Sunday.

Since joining Barcelona in July 2016 from Olympique Lyonnais, for 25 million euros ($29 million), the Frenchman has become a key element in the Barca defense.

Given the relatively low buyout clause included in the previous contract (60 million euros) and being just 24 years old, Umtiti became a target for many clubs, making extending his contract a priority for Barcelona.

--IANS

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Security agencies were put on alert in and around this Sikh holy city from Monday in view of the 34th anniversary of Operation Blue Star carried out by the Army on the Golden Temple complex in June 1984.

Punjab Police, para-military forces and intelligence personnel were stationed at different locations across Amritsar, particularly in the congested walled city area where the Golden Temple complex is located.

Religious prayers started at the Akal Takht, the highest temporal seat of Sikh religion, on Monday.

The prayers will end on June 6, marked as the anniversary of the Army operation launched to flush out heavily armed terrorists from inside the shrine complex.

Punjab Director General of Police Suresh Arora had reviewed security arrangements in Amritsar on Saturday.

Meanwhile, radical Sikh organisation Dal Khalsa has called for a shutdown in Amritsar on June 6 to protest against the Army action.

Its spokesman Kanwarpal Singh said that Operation Blue Star was the result of a policy of state interference in religious matters of Sikhs.

--IANS

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Tackling trash in the cold, rugged and rocky mountains of the Pir Panjal range of the Himalayas -- the origin of one of north India's major rivers, the Beas, and its tributaries -- is becoming an uphill task.

Mounts of plastic packets of eatables like potato chips, pet bottles and beer cans are threatening the highly fragile ecology of the Rohtang Pass -- a two-hour drive up from this tourist town -- as local authorities dump ecological concerns.

The entire area of the pass, a spot most people prefer to visit at an altitude of 13,050 feet and some 52 km from here, is almost bereft of human habitation.

It remains cut off from the rest of the country more than five months every year owing to heavy snowfall.

"It is really shocking to see these pet bottles and plastic wrappers of eatables lying along these rivulets, remarked Raunaq Bajwa, a tourist from New Delhi.

"Why is the local administration not imposing a blanket ban on carrying these non-biodegradable items to such highly sensitive zones," he asked while speaking to IANS, pointing to waste dumped haphazardly along the banks of the glacial-fed Beas river near Marhi, en route to Rohtang Pass from Manali.

His friend Dilawar Khan wanted to know why the government is not keeping the Himalayas free from litter.

"It seems Rohtang hills are fast becoming the world's highest garbage dump as one can see discarded clothes, food packets and heaps of beer cans and plastic bottles dumped here and there," he added.

The picturesque Rohtang Pass is a major attraction for both domestic and foreign tourists.

According to the state's Tourism Department, tourist spots in and around Manali have an influx of around 1.1 million visitors annually. Tourism is the key source of income for the locals.

"Cleaning up the hills once in a year is not the solution. The local administration has to find a permanent way of waste management," Lal Chand Thakur, a shopkeeper selling eatables at Marhi, said.

He said with the National Green Tribunal (NGT) restricting the entry of tourist vehicles to the Rohtang Pass, the influx of the tourists has massively reduced.

Only 1,200 taxis or private vehicle permits -- 800 petrol and the remaining diesel vehicles -- are issued online daily for the trip to Rohtang Pass.

On similar lines, octogenarian Thakur said, the NGT should also impose tougher penalties on litterbugs beyond Gulaba, which is on the way to the Rohtang Pass and is 26 km from Manali.

Another shopkeeper, Ghanshyam Negi, said the installation of portable toilets at Marhi is not a solution unless there are sewage treatment plants along with waste treatment facilities, which currently do not exist in the area.

The local administration has installed waste disposal and drop off points between Marhi and Rohtang Pass but visitors ignore them.

The NGT, in one of its orders, observed that providing public amenities and ensuring absolute cleanliness at Rohtang Pass and even en route is essential in the interest of

"To provide a clean and decent every authority concerned must ensure absolute cleanliness and the tourists have to cultivate the habit of neither littering nor spoiling the beauty and of the glacier by throwing plastic and other waste," it said.

NGT Chairperson Justice Swatanter Kumar told IANS last year, ahead of his retirement, that scientific studies clearly indicated that glaciers in the Rohtang Pass catchment were receding at a rate of one metre per year.

"Everyone going for a picnic carries coke, popcorn and beer bottles with them -- and then dumps these haphazardly there (at Rohtang Pass). There is plastic trash and human waste. Mule dung is polluting water and soil. This is the case before us," he had said.

A journal of the Asiatic Society says Lieutenants A. Broome and A. Cunningham trekked to the Rohtang Pass on July 7, 1839, to trace the sources of the Punjab's rivers.

Environmentalists say the state should also launch a similar campaign in the Rohtang Pass like the Riverfront Cleaning Campaign that was launched on May 18.

The campaign, supported by the Ministry of Environment and Forests and Climate Change and involving school students and a Territorial Army battalion, will cover three districts -- Mandi, Kullu and Bilaspur, from where the Beas river flows.

It will conclude on World Environment Day that falls on June 5.

India is this year host to the UN Environment-led global event, World Environment Day, and the 2018 theme is "Beat the Plastic Pollution".

(Vishal Gulati can be contacted at vishal.g@ians.in)

--IANS

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Chicago, IL  Today, the Supreme Court ruled in favor of Masterpiece Cakeshop in the LGBTQ civil rights case Masterpiece Cakeshop v. Colorado Civil Rights Commission. Democrat gubernatorial candidate JB Pritzker issued the following statement in response:

While Im disappointed by the Supreme Courts decision to side with Masterpiece Cakeshop, I am encouraged by their emphasis that LGBTQ people must not be discriminated against, said JB Pritzker.

In this country, in 2018, there should never be a situation where any American is turned away from a place of business because of who they love. It goes against our foundational values of equality and equal treatment under the law. And it is fundamentally wrong. Weve made incredible progress in the fight for LGBTQ equality and we cant go backwards. As governor, I will use every tool at my disposal to fight discrimination and will ensure that we remain a welcoming state that treats every person with the respect and dignity they deserve.
Tata Motors on Monday said that it has created an electric mobility vertical and appointed Shailesh Chandra to lead it in addition to his current responsibility.

According to the company, the creation of the new business vertical will enable Tata Motors to deliver on "its aspiration of providing innovative and competitive e-mobility solutions".

"Tata Motors is optimistic about the future of electric vehicles and would play a leading role in the electric mobility evolution in the country," Tata Motors' Chief Executive Officer and Managing Director Guenter Butschek said in a satement.

"We will also leverage on the capabilities of other Tata Group companies to develop the full ecosystem and fast track the adoption of e-mobility."

As per the statement, Chandra has been promoted as President-Electric Mobility Business and Corporate Strategy with immediate effect and will continue to be a member of the Executive Committee.

--IANS

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Actor Sikander Kher, who will be seen playing a negative character in Tigmanshu Dhulia's upcoming film "Milan Talkies", has described him as a master of direction.

"Tigmanshu is very passionate. He is rooted to India and Uttar Pradesh to be precise... this is his zone... He has been with this ('Milan Talkies') script with for many years now. It's like his child that he has nurtured that is going to high school now. As far as him as a director I think his work speaks for itself -- he is a master," Tigmanshu told IANS in an e-mail interaction.

"Milan Talkies" has been shot in Lucknow with Ali Fazal in the lead role.

Shraddha Srinath will make her debut with the film, which also stars Reecha Sinha and Deep Raj Rana, Sanjay Mishra and Ashutosh Rana.

Produced by PS Chhatwal and Prakash Bhatt, the film is scheduled to release this year.

--IANS

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United Nations, April 28 (IANS/MAP) The UN Security Council has adopted a resolution to extend the mandate of the UN Mission for the Referendum in Western Sahara for six months till October 31.

The "Resolution 2414" won the support of 12 of the 15 members of the Security Council on Friday while China, Ethiopia and Russia abstained.

The resolution emphasized the importance of a renewed commitment by the parties to advancing the political process in preparation for a new round of negotiations.

It emphasized the need to make progress towards a "realistic, practicable and enduring political solution" to the question of Western Sahara based on compromise.

The resolution expressed concern over the presence of the Polisario Front, which is fighting with Morocco for the independence of Western Sahara, in the buffer strip in Guerguerat, in the southwestern tip of the disputed territory, and called for its immediate withdrawal.

Moroccan Ambassador to the UN Omar Hilale said after the adoption of the resolution that there would be no political process without the withdrawal of the Polisario Front from Guerguerat.

The resolution also voiced concern over the Polisario Front's announcement of the planned relocation of its administrative functions from Algeria to Bir Lahlou in the northeast of Western Sahara, and called for the Polisario Front to refrain from "any such destabilizing actions".

Western Sahara was partitioned between Morocco and Mauritania at the end of Spain's colonial rule in 1976. When Mauritania, under pressure from Polisario rebels, abandoned all claims to its portion in August 1979, Morocco moved to occupy that sector and asserted administrative control over the whole territory.

Fighting broke out between Morocco and the pro-independence Polisario Front. A ceasefire was signed in 1991.

The UN mission, known by its French acronym as Minurso, was deployed that year to monitor the ceasefire and to organise a referendum on self-determination of the people of Western Sahara.

--IANS/MAP

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(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
A US military plane has made an emergency landing in Ireland due to a technical fault while on a flight mission over the Atlantic, the media reported.

The emergency landing was made at Shannon Airport in the western coastal area of Ireland at about on Sunday afternoon, Xinhua reported citing BreakingNews, adding that nine crew members aboard the plane remained safe and sound during the emergency landing.

The plane is a US Air Force McDonnell Douglas KC-10, an aerial refueling aircraft, which belongs to the 305th Maintenance Squadron based at McQuire Air Force base in the US eastern coastal state of New Jersey, according to the report.

The plane issued an emergency landing request to the Irish aviation authorities after it met a problem with one of its three engines while flying over the Atlantic, said the report.

A large contingent of rescue teams involving fire engines and ambulances were called in before the landing of the plane, it said, adding that the plane was escorted to a remote parking stand after it landed.

A subsequent investigation by engineers revealed that a panel was missing from the plane's left engine.

Shannon Airport is a major airport along the Irish western seaboard.

Due to its unique geographic position, the airport often serves as an emergency landing place for trans-Atlantic flights either due to inclement weather conditions or technical faults.

--IANS

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Actor William Phipps, who starred in sci-fi films of the 1950s and voiced Prince Charming in 1950s "Cinderella", has passed away. He was 96.

Phipps' friend and author Tom Weaver announced the news, adding that Phipps had been battling lung cancer, which was complicated by pneumonia, reports variety.com.

The actor died on June 1 at UCLA Medical Center in Santa Monica, California.

Phipps had originall studies accounting and planned to pursue it as a career while continuing what was then an acting hobby on the side.

In 1941, Phipps decided to forgo his EIU studies and moved to California to pursue his acting dream.

He later enlisted in the Navy after his brother Jack was shot down over the South Pacific, serving as a radioman aboard six ships between 1942 and 1945. After his discharge, he returned to Hollywood and used the G.I. Bill (officially the servicemen's Readjustment Act of 1944, the bill was created to help veterans of World War II) to enroll at the Actors Lab.

Walt Disney himself heard Phipps' audition for the voice role of Prince Charming, and Phipps said he spent two hours one afternoon in January 1949 recording his lines after Disney gave him the role.

According to Phipps, he was paid $100 for the work.

During the film's promotional frame, Disney offered young women the chance to meet the voice behind Prince Charming in a nationwide contest. For the meeting, Phipps was outfitted with a white tie, tails and a top hat, and met the lucky winner in front of a live audience on the stage of the Pantages during a coast-to-coast radio broadcast of Art Linkletter's show.

According to Phipps, "They gave me (I think) $100 pocket money and a limousine and a driver so we could go anywhere we wanted. We went to Ciro's and the Mocambo, which were the two most famous places on the Sunset Strip at the time, and we went to the Trocadero, too.

--IANS

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The Zimbabwe government said on Monday it has taken adequate executive measures to ensure free, fair and credible elections set for July 30.

The government statement came in response to the claims by US senator Chris Coons that President Emmerson Mnangagwa's administration "was making empty promises and deliberately delaying implementing key electoral reforms to disadvantage the opposition", Xinhua news agency reported.

"First, government has guaranteed a peaceful poll, which is why the President has been unambiguous in his call for peace as well as taking the unexampled decision to meet opposition parties as the Nomination Court confirmed who is genuine and who is not," the Herald newspaper quoted Mnangagwa's spokesperson George Charamba as saying.

Charamba said the new Zimbabwe government had taken steps to guarantee a credible poll which included inviting international observers and adequately resourcing the electoral body to smoothly run the elections.

He said the government would not interfere with the operations of the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC).

"Maybe what is unclear to the Senator (Coons) is that ZEC is a constitutional creature whose independence is provided for in the law. Whether, when and how it releases the voters' roll and in what format is for it to determine without undue influence from any player national or international, inside government or outside government," Charamba said.

--IANS

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SPRINGFIELD - Governor Rauner signed the FY 2019 Budget into law Monday morning - with none of the proposals he fought for in years past. That's leaving many scratching their heads. Did he lose the will to fight? Or is his desire for re-election more than doing what needs to be done to correct Illinois' devastating finances?

"It's sad that Governor Rauner signed the Madigan budget that includes the revenues from the 32% increase in your income tax rate," Rep. David McSweeney (R-South Barrington) said after the signing. "We need to reduce spending and CUT Illinois taxes!"

During the House floor discussion on Illinois' $35 billion FY 2019 state budget last week, Rep. McSweeney clearly spelled out exactly why he voted no on the budget others on both sides of the aisle enthusiastically embraced after mulling over it for just a few hours.
After Bharatiya Janata Party's (BJP's) recent bypoll defeats across the country and its own loss in Jokihat, the Janata Dal (United), or JD(U), may be trying to project itself as more than just the saffron party's junior partner in Bihar with a senior party leader stating that Chief Minister Nitish Kumar was the face of the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) in the state. "Nitish Kumar is the face of the NDA in Bihar, that is why he is the chief minister.

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At least a dozen people, including three policemen, were injured in a grenade attack in a busy market area in Jammu and Kashmir's Shopian district, police said.

Militants hurled a grenade on security forces in Shopian town, resulting in injuries to at least nine civilians and three cops, a police official said.

He said the area has been cordoned off and searches started to nab the attackers.

Militants have carried out a series of grenade attacks on security forces and politicians since last week..

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
As many as 120 Dalits from Haryana's Jind district have converted to Buddhism over non-fulfilment of their demands including making SC/ST Act more stringent, Dalit leader Dinesh Khapad claimed today.

He said the dalits had been protesting for past nearly four months demanding CBI probe into the Jind's Dalit girl gangrape andmurder case this year and an ordinance by the state government to make the SC/ST Act more stringent.

"We had a meeting with Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar on March 7. He had then said that all our demands will be met within 15 days," he said, adding their demands remained unfulfilled



On May 31, the 120 individuals belonging to Dalit community from Haryana's Jind district converted to Buddhism in Delhi, Khapad said.

The protesters were also demanding employment for the kin of two martyrs killed in Jammu and Kashmir and government jobs for the family members of a man murdered in Jind.

"On May 20, we had given one more week's time and threatened that we will convert if demands were not met. The chief minister visited Jind on May 26-27, but he did not meet us. It was then that we started our march on foot to Delhi, where we converted on May 31," he said.

"This government showed its anti-Dalit approach and we were left with no other choice," he added.

He said if the government still does not accept their demands, "thousands of others will convert to Buddhism in August".

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
A Delhi Court has convicted three persons in a 2011 terror funding case and sentenced them for the period already undergone.

District Judge Poonam A Bamba held Mohd Sadiq Ginai, Ghulam Jeelani Liloo and Farooq Ahmed Dagga guilty in the case.

According to the prosecution, the trio collected funds from Pakistan through illegal hawala channels to be sent to Jammu and Kashmir for promoting unlawful activities in the state.

The court had in 2012 framed charges against them under various sections of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act.

The NIA had in 2011 filed the charge sheet against the trio, indicting them for collection more than Rs 4.57 crore from Pakistan through hawala channels within three years for funding terrorist activities in the Valley.

The NIA had said Ganai developed a close relationship with one Delhi-based Raj Kumar and his brother-in-law Rajeev Nankani and motivated them to collect money on their behalf from hawala operatives.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Three CRPF personnel were injured when local protesters pelted stones at their camp in Mawlai, an official of the central paramilitary force said today.

The incident took place last night and 15 companies of paramilitary forces have been deployed at various locations in Shillong, CRPF IG Prakash D said.

After curfew was relaxed for eight hours yesterday, fresh bouts of violence broke out last night, prompting police to use tear gas shells to quell a mob, a police officer said.

Normal life continued to remain affected for the fourth day in a row today with curfew imposed in parts of the city under the Lumdiengjri police station and Cantonment Beat House areas since 4 am, he said.

Violence broke out last Thursday after two groups of people in the city's Punjabi Line area clashed after a bus handyman was allegedly beaten up by a group of residents.

More than 10 people, including policemen, were injured in the violence. One person has been arrested so far in connection with the assault.

The Army conducted a flag march in Shillong for the second day today.

Meanwhile, Chief Minister Conrad S Sangma chaired an all-party meeting in Shillong over the clashes.

A four-member team sent by Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh and headed by Cabinet minister Sukhjinder Randhawa met Sangma today.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Four workers have been killed in a gas explosion at a mine in Pakistan's Baluchistan province.

The four belonged to the Swat area of the Khyber Pakhtunkhawa province.

They were killed after the explosion in the mine.

"We rescue six workers who were trapped under the debris but four workers died due to suffocation," one rescue official said.

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Five persons, including a former DIG of the BSF, who have been found guilty by a special CBI court here in the 2006 J&K sex scandal, today sought leniency on various grounds even as the public prosecutor strongly opposed it and demanded exemplary punishment for them.

The arguments on the quantum of punishment concluded today and the sentence will be pronounced on June 6.

On May 30, the court had held five persons guilty including K C Padhi, a former deputy inspector general of the Border Security Force, and Mohammad Ashraf Mir, a former deputy superintendent of police in J&K.

Three others found guilty were Masood Ahmad, Shabir Ahmad Langoo and Shabir Ahmad Laway.

The court acquitted former additional AG Anil Sethi and Mehrajuddin Malik.

The other two accused, Sabeena, who allegedly ran a brothel, and her husband Abdul Hamid Bullah, died during the course of the trial.

The five accused were convicted under Section 376 of the Ranbir Penal Code which deals with the offence of rape.

The five convicts were present before the special CBI court which heard pre-sentencing arguments.

The counsel for the former BSF DIG sought a lesser sentence citing various reasons including 'conduct of the prosecutrix', age of the accused being 67 years, taking into account his family circumstances as his wife died of trauma during the trial and the fact that the accused was alone as his two daughters were married.

Padhi's counsel also submitted that the ex-DIG had served for the country being posted in J&K where he had taken on militants, had no previous conviction in any case, and was not aware of the fact that the victim was a minor.

Shabir Ahmad Langoo's counsel stated that the girl may have been a minor, but she was "mentally very sound".

While praying for "minimum sentence" the counsel argued that crimes against women deserved to be given harsh punishment, but in the light of present case, the "conduct of the prosecutrix" should also be taken into account.

Former DSP Mohd Ashraf Mir's counsel argued that the accused could not judge the age of the girl just by having a look at her physical characteristics and arrive at conclusion that she was a minor.

Besides, he submitted that age factor of the accused being 65 years old and his health issues may also be taken into account and a lesser sentence be awarded.

However, the CBI prosecutor strongly opposed any leniency to any accused.

He argued that it was the duty of people like Padhi, who was a senior BSF official then, to act as protectors of the society.

The CBI prosecutor argued that the minor girls did not know what was going on with them and therefore the arguments of the defence that they were already into immoral activities did not hold much water.

"The minor girl did not have any power to understand what was going on with her... I don't think being a DIG rank officer should be a mitigating factor, rather it should be an aggravating factor. Maximum punishment be given because people were looking up to people like him as a protector since he was occupying a high post," the prosecutor submitted.

Countering Langoo's counsel, the prosecutor said, "the girl was not knowing what was going on with her..mental capacity of the girl is being talked here and to say that she had a mental capacity is making a mockery. She was pulled into this (immoral activities)".

About Mohd Ashraf Mir, he said, "he was a DSP in J&K police then. He knew what he was doing."



The CBI prosecutor said that any of the accused "do not deserve lesser punishment" as they knew what impact their actions were having, besides leaving "mental scars on the girls".

The infamous J&K sex scandal had hit the headlines in 2006 when J&K police had recovered two CDs showing Kashmiri minors were being sexually exploited. The minors were coerced into prostitution and supplied to top police officials, bureaucrats, politicians and surrendered militants.

During investigation in this case, J&K police had prepared a list of 56 suspects including high profile individuals, for their alleged involvement in the sex scandal.

The case was shifted to the CBI in 2006. The Supreme Court shifted the case to Chandigarh in 2006.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
President Ram Nath Kovind today asked the governors of states to act as change makers by improving the lives of marginalised people and enhancing higher standards.

In his opening address at the two-day conference of governors and lt governors, which began at the Rashtrapati Bhavan, he said a governor is a mentor and guide for the state government and an important link in the federal structure.

"The people of the state view the office of the governor and the Raj Bhavan as a fount of ideals and values," Kovind said.

He said there are approximately 100 million people in the country who belong to the Scheduled Tribes.

"As governors you can help in the shaping of a road map for the betterment of lives of our fellow citizens, who have not benefited as much as expected from our development journey," the president said.

He said India is blessed with the largest youth population in the world.

"As governors, you are guardians of our youth in the sense that you can inspire young people to absorb the right moral values and you can motivate them to both pursue modern and remain sensitive to our Indian ethos," Kovind said.

Talking about the higher scenario in the country, the president said 69 per cent of total universities in India come under the purview of state governments and about 94 per cent of students enrolled for higher education study in these universities.

With governors as chancellors of most of these universities, Kovind said, they should provide the necessary impetus and inspiration to these institutions and enhance the level of scholarship.

"You can help ensure that admissions of students and appointments of teachers in state universities are completed well in time and in a transparent manner. You can also help ensure that examinations, declaration of results and convocations take place as scheduled. It is for you to inspire state universities to maintain this discipline and integrity," Kovind said.

The president said it is equally essential to keep the academic curriculum updated to maintain the contemporary relevance of education.

"As governors of your states, it is for you to engage the youth and motivate them to use their academic achievements for the welfare of society and of our country. We need to strive collectively for a better life for our coming generations," he said.

Kovind also sought suggestions from the governors on celebrations for the 150th birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi. "There would be no better way to cherish his memory than to strive for genuine and meaningful social transformation," he said.

The Centre has decided to commemorate the 150th birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi over a 24-month period commencing October 2, 2018.

"Gandhiji gave us an unfailing talisman. He said that to judge the efficacy of any action we contemplate, we should ask ourselves if it would be of help to the weakest, poorest and most disadvantaged person we know. We must keep this talisman in mind and I would welcome suggestions from all of you to put Gandhiji's ideals and values into practice," the president said.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
The farmers of Punjab, whose agitation entered the fourth day today, have decided to call off their stir on June 6, even as the protest would continue in other states.

The decision was taken in a meeting of leaders of different farmers' organisations here today.

The meeting, presided by Bhartiya Kisan Union (BKU-Rajewal) president Balbir Singh Rajewal, was attended by BKU (Lakhowal), BKU (Sidhpur), Indian Farmers Association, BKU (Kadian) and Punjab Dairy Federation Association.

The farmers had begun their agitation from June 1, as part of a nationwide stir, and had stopped supply of vegetables, fruits, milk and other items to various cities protesting the alleged anti-farmer policies of the Centre.

Rajewal said the farmers in Punjab would start supplying vegetables and milk to the cities on Wednesday after paying tributes to six farmers killed in police firing during an agitation in Madhya Pradesh's Mandsaur on June 6 last year.

"But the stir would continue in other states till June 10," he said.

Meanwhile, the farmers held protests in various parts of Punjab and Haryana, with some dumping their produce on roads.

Traders said due to dwindling supplies of farm produce in many mandis, prices were going up.

At a few places in Punjab, including in Bathinda and Moga districts, arguments broke out between the traders and some farmer leaders as the former claimed that they were being stopped from selling the stocked fruits and vegetables.

The decision to stop supplies from June 1 till June 10 was taken by farmers under the banner of Kisan Ekta Manch and Rashtriya Kisan Maha Sangh.

The farmer organisations have been demanding minimum income guarantee scheme, implementation of Swaminathan Commission report and waiver of farmers' debt.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
An example of a problem that could/should have been prevented is the controversial new national education program, Common Core , which was promoted by President Obama and a select committee who developed the program during his presidency. This new education system was launched in spite of an uncommon amount of controversy and concern from parents, teachers, and even experts in various education fields. Highly respected professors and members of the validation committee (Professor R. James Milgram, Dylan William, and Dr. Sandra Stotsky) spoke out about serious problems they saw in Common Core but were ignored by the authors of the new program and the Obama Administration. This prompted the professors to accept invitations from various groups around the country to express their concerns to those who were equally concerned and interested in their objections.

Mistakes are often the best teacher, as they force us to revisit a problem and consider how it can be improved. We examine and rethink what has caused the problem, ultimately enabling us to produce a stronger product. Whether that might be a math problem, a difficult marriage, or a troubled nation, the challenge is to identify potential problems, find the source of the problem, and begin a course to correct all mistakes before they become destructive. When the problem involves a decline of a once exceedingly prosperous nation, the challenge must become a priority and correct as soon as possible.

Common Core as Untested Federal Education Program

One specific complaint echoed by a huge number of concerned parents and patriots was that the Obama administration had ignored a long-held American precedent, established by our forefathers, and had been respected for well over a century. The education of America's children was designated to each individual state and not to the federal government. Why? Our forefathers wisely understood that each state has different cultures, ideals, customs. A one-size education system does not fit all children.

Common Core was an experimental, untested education program introduced at the federal level, without an appropriate number of teachers, school principals, state officials, and parents having an opportunity to examine it. Many Americans found it shocking that an education system was unleashed into most every state, despite the absence of adequate testing first.

None of the warnings or concerns deterred President Obama or those who had heavily invested in this new education program. Since 2009, the Gates Foundations primary U.S. activity has focused on establishing and implementing Common Core, a set of centrally mandated curriculum rules and tests for what children are to learn in each K-12 grade, with the results linked to school and teacher ratings and punitive measures for low performers. The Gates Foundation has spent more than $400 million itself and influenced $4 trillion in U.S. taxpayer funds towards this goal. Eight years later, however, Bill Gates is admitting failure on that project, and a pivot to another that is not likely to go any better as it will be explicitly tied to Common Core and its cousin, the Next Generation Science Standards (which academic reviewers rate as even more obviously low quality ).

American Schools Rank #13 in World

Even though American schools are among the most expensive in the world, American students are mediocre achievers in math, science, and other subjects. In ranking the worlds educational systems, here are the top 5 countries. American schools come in at #14.

South Korea Japan Singapore Hong Kong Finland

In a 2017 Pew report U.S. students academic achievement was shown to fall behind that of their peers in many other countries.In that American schools are among the expensive in the world, why is it that U.S. student5s are among the mediocre achievers in math, science, and other subjects.

Common Core Failed to Meet Its Advertised Promises

It was the decision of the Obama administration that the best way to entice states to buy into the untested Common Core program was to make a deal with each state: the federal government would forgive funds that the state owed them, due to their failure to meet promised goals outlined by George W. Bush's No Child Left Behind program, if they accepted Common Core sight unseen.

Once enacted in school classrooms, more and more parents expressed concern as they became acquainted with Common Core. Finding their concerns politely ignored, parents enrolled their children in private schools, while others discovered home schooling programs to avoid being brainwashed by the progressive Common Core curriculum.

Time revealed those who saw problems with Common were correct. The initial objections raised by professors and parents proved to be valid. Common Core did not meet its advertised promises, nor did it raise national education test scores. Some teachers tried to mix the new program with the old, others found creative ways to help students learn, but Common Core remained unpopular with most who were forced to use it. There is a general agreement, even by Common Core authors, that the new education system did not meet the promised results. Instead it caused parents to distrust our government and caused teachers to work overtime to find ways to overcome the inherent problems associated with teaching the new system.

Powerful Teacher Unions as Impediment to Education

It would be unfair to place the entire blame on Common Core for not improving this nation's educational system. There is another much greater problem that everyone wants to ignore. It is the powerful Teacher Unions that refuse to fire teachers who have proven to be ineffective. Instead they shift under-performing teachers from school to school, until most finally end up in poverty areas where parents are too busy surviving to complain about the problems they see in the educational experiences of their children. This takes a huge toll on their children in general and particularly on their childrens learning experiences.

Another negative trend found in Americas schools is that of introducing material that tends to emasculate boys and men, while at the same time pushes girls and women to be more aggressive and compete with boys and men. This practice has opened once closed doors and opportunities for women, but it has also created new societal problems in the workplace and at home. There are always exceptions, but most women are not naturally as tough as our current society and schools portray them to be. Most men, however, have remained as they have for many thousands of years: bolder, less sensitive, and more aggressive, all qualities that are often necessary in the world of business.

Common Core Designed to Brainwash Children

Common Core must be recognized for what it is, a failed government education system, designed as a way to brainwash children so they grow up to accept, without question, that which elites in our government want established: a new society based on Socialism -- one in which we are all members of a one world order and where our citizens individual liberties and freedoms are reduced if not eliminated. In its place government would control our lives.

As has already happened in our public schools through Common Core, all aspects of religion, except that of Islam instruction, has been removed. In this new society parents would also become less important. Even now children are being told to listen to what their teachers are telling them and not to their parents.

Common Core also discourages critical thinking, that there is only one right way to think and that is the progressive way. This leads to the acceptance of political correctness and demands that we accept that which has destroyed once great nations in the past: rampant immorality and oppressive government. Progressive thinking has led to other irregularities in our society that many Americans now accept as undisputed fact. Can Socialism be far behind when such issues have begun to dominate our society with few serious objections?

Parents Must Take Responsibility

We should review our American history in classrooms, but that is not happening. Most of our schools today do not spend time teaching American History. Civics has also been eliminated from the school curriculum. It was Winston Churchill who said: "A nation that forgets its past has no future. It was Winston Churchill who said: "A nation that forgets its past has no future.

Parents need to be aware of what their children are learning with Common Core. The future of this nation depends on our actions now, as these classrooms of children will one day be making the decisions.

As evidenced by Common Core, federal involvement in education has been an epic failure. It must end. Power, authority, and responsibility must be returned to the state and local government, and parental choice must be implemented for the citizenry. These common-sense practices are what made America great and will do so in the future.
Arunachal Pradesh chief electoral officer Kaling Tayeng allaying fears of political parties in the state today said that there is no scope for tampering the EVMs during the poll process.

The assembly polls in the north eastern state is due next year and the Arunachal Pradesh Congress Committee, Peoples Party of Arunachal and National Peoples Party had drawn the attention of the Election Commission urging it to conduct elections in the state through ballot papers fearing that the ruling BJP government in the state could manipulate the election result by tampering with the EVMs.

We are appealing the ECI to conduct next years elections in Arunachal Pradesh through ballot papers so that the deserving candidates and not the candidates with wealth, power and technology to influence and manipulate the EVM results, win, the parties said in a joint statement yesterday.

Stating that question of tampering EVMs does not arise and "is not at all possible", Tayeng said that the EC had already clarified its position in this matter. The Commission had also discussed the matter with experts and political parties.

The EVMs are cent per cent tamper proof and are not hackable. All the political parties are requested to involve themselves during first level checking (FLC) to clear their doubts," he added.

The CEO in a statement here informed that as per ECIs direction, the FLC) of EVMs and VVPATs in Arunachal Pradesh had started from June one.

The FLC is being done by well-trained engineers from Electronic Corporation of India Limited (ECIL), the manufacturer of EVM and VVPAT machines. Before election, two layers checking of EVMs are done. This is only the first level checking before the general election," he said.

The FLC is done only to identify the defective EVMs/VVPATs which require repairing and the properly working ones are kept under pink paper sealed cover which would be removed during commissioning of EVMs, Taeyng said in a statement.

For the FLC and other EVM-related work, the political parties are involved, he added.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
As farmers' protest entered 6th day in several states, Union Minister Harsimrat Kaur Badal today blamed the Congress' 70-years "misrule" for the current plight of farmers and described the party as "pot calling the kettle black".

She further said Congress President Rahul Gandhi should first address the agrarian crisis in Punjab where farmers are committing suicide every day, before talking about transforming the entire nation.

Farmers in several states including Punjab and Haryana have launched a 10-day agitation to press their demands, including loan waiver and right price for crops. They are dumping vegetables, milk and other farm produce on roads and blocking supplies to cities in several states.

"The current plight of farmers was mainly due to 70-years of misrule by the Congress party," said the food processing minister, who is also a leader of Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD).

"They looted the nation and created policy paralysis. They are now fine talking about farmers. As far as Congress pointing out fingers to say anything is concerned, it is pot calling the kettle black," she told media while highlighting the government's 4-year achievements in the food processing sector.

Before talking about transforming the entire country, the Congress chief should first visit Punjab where five farmers are committing suicide every day, Badal said. The poll promises made to farmers were not fulfilled, she said.

"Before heading to transform the nation, please change small state Punjab so that people have some confidence that you can make a difference," she said adding that Congress should look within before levelling allegations.

SAD is an ally of the ruling NDA. Punjab is ruled by the Congress.

Stating that food processing sector has grown significantly during the four-year NDA rule, Badal said it is all set to become the most robust sector in India to contribute in a big way to the country's growth and double farmers' income by 2022.

In the previous regime, the food processing sector was totally disorganised and the industry was apprehensive of launching new projects or products and committed projects were being delayed and shelved.

"After four years, we have reversed the business and turned it into the most buoyant and happening sector," she said.

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West Bengal government has been ramping up raw silk production in the state and was targeting a production of 2627 metric tonne in the current fiscal.

"Production of raw silk in 2017-18 was 2577 metric tonne. In the current fiscal, production was expected to be higher by 50 metric tonne over last year," state Agriculture Minister Ashish Banerjee said here today.

The state is also planning to add about 1620 acres of cultivable land under sericulture production in the current fiscal, he said.

In 2017-18, land coverage increase was higher with 1733 acres covering all the four varieties of raw silk.

State agriculture department has tied up with departments such as Panchayat and Rural Development, Paschimanchal Unnanyan Affairs, Uttar Banga Unnanyan Affairs for utilising their resources for plantation projects.

"We are trying to help seri-farmers and entrepreneurs through formation of groups, clusters and relevant mechanisation and credit supports," Banerjee said.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
The Congress today alleged that the BJP takes refuge in Pakistan by seeking to polarise and divert public attention whenever it loses an election.

The opposition party's attack came after BJP leader Sambit Patra tweeted a purported video of Mumbai attack mastermind Hafiz Saaed delivering a speech against Prime Minister Modi and wrote, It's not just the yet formed 'Mahagathbandhan' that desperately wants to stop India from having Modi as its PM in 2019".

Patra later said, Of course this is not a comparison! Modi Ji's attack on Black Money and corruption is getting the opposition in India on one page while his attack on terrorism & Surgical Strike is pushing Hafiz Saeed to desperation! This proves that the Modi government is moving the right way!



Another BJP leader reportedly compared the opposition to "Osama supporters".

In response to the BJP leaders' remarks, the Congress said whenever the BJP loses, it takes refuge in Pakistan in its bid to polarise and divert public attention.

"The BJP knows it cannot win on development, that is why they try and divert by bringing in the name of Hafiz Saeed. They do not think at all," Congress leader Pawan Khera said.

The BJP lost the crucial Kairana parliamentary bypoll in Uttar Pradesh last week to a united opposition.

"The BJP speaks in multiple languages, their ideological forefather which is the RSS is the hydra-headed monster which speaks, behaves, acts in various languages contradicting each other," Khera said.

He said such remarks reflect the BJP leaders' mindset and asserted that the people of the country had understood this and would no longer get befooled by such words.

He alleged that the prime minister was not focussed on governance in the country and was abroad most of the time.

Khera claimed that Kashmir has been burning under the NDA rule with normal life shattered in the northern state.

"We do not see a coherent consistent policy on Kashmir as far as Modi Government is concerned," he said.

Taking a dig at the prime minister over his foreign trips, Khera said, "Every 11 days in the last four years at an average you were abroad, sometimes with agenda -- without results, sometimes without agenda -- definitely without results."



To a question on Nitish Kumar, Khera said both the Bihar chief minister and the prime minister should understand that people of the country would no longer be befooled.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
The controversy over BSP supremo



Mayawati converting the 13-A Mall Avenue bungalow into a memorial for Dalit icon Kanshi Ram continued today with the BJP raising doubts over it, saying public was not allowed to visit it till now.

BSP national general secretary Satish Chandra Misra, however, refuted the allegation and said that the memorial was open for public but only after proper security check, the visitors were allowed to enter.

His rebuttal came after BJP spokesman Manish Shukla said, "No one prior to June 2, when the BSP chief announced that she was vacating the bungalow, was allowed to visit the 'Sri Kanshi Ram Ji Yadgar Vishram Sthal'."



"If 13-A Mall Avenue was 'Sri Kanshi Ram Ji Yadgar Vishram Sthal' and it was a museum in the name of Kanshi Ram, why were the common people not allowed entry... people are allowed entry into (other) museums either through ticket or for free," Shukla pointed out.

"The manner in which Mayawati took mediapersons on a guided tour of the bungalow that day (June 2)... did it ever happen before... even the mediapersons who were invited for press conferences there used to be earlier confined to an open place and were not allowed to move around," Shukla stressed.

Misra told PTI that the BJP's contention was "far from truth".

"People were allowed to visit the campus but after proper security check... it was only the small portion (of the property)that was occupied by the party supremo where entry was restricted," he said.

The BSP chief has moved out of the premises with all her belongings and the bungalow has been handed over to the state's Estates Department, Misra said.

On Saturday, the BSP president had said she was "vacating" the portion of the 13-A Mall Avenue bungalow which her party has already declared as the memorial in the name of founder Kanshi Ram.

"I am today vacating the portion of 13-A Mall Avenue occupied by me till now... from now on the entire bungalow in Lucknow will be 'Sri Kanshi Ram Ji Yadgar Vishram Sthal' the memorial named after Kanshi Ram," Mayawati had told newspersons.

Mayawati had said the security and maintenance of the memorial will henceforth be the responsibility of the state government as per the Cabinet decision of 2011.

She had also taken the mediapersons around the entire premises which has murals depicting the struggles of Kanshi Ram as well as his statue along with one of Mayawati herself as she is the "only inheritor of Kanshi Ram as per his will".

Out of the six former UP chief ministers asked to comply with a Supreme Court order, only Congress veteran Narayan Dutt Tiwari has not given up the government accommodation though the deadline set by the Estates Department to vacate the bungalows expired yesterday.

His wife Ujjwala Tiwari has sought more time from the estates department, pleading that her husband was in Delhi in the "last stages" of his life.

"He is bed-ridden for the past eight months and I am also not keeping well. It is not practically possible for me to come down to Lucknow and vacate the premises," she told PTI.

A board reading 'Pandit Narain Dutt Tiwari Sarvjan Vikas Foundation' hangs outside Tiwari's Mall Avenue bungalow.

Mulayam Singh Yadav, his son Akhilesh Yadav had shifted to the VVIP guest house here after the apex court had on May 7 held that nobody was entitled to government accommodation as a former UP chief minister.

Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh, who is also the local MP, has shifted from his bungalow at 4, Kalidas Marg, just next to Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath's home, to his private residence on a 200-sqm plot in posh Gomti Nagar here.

Rajasthan Governor Kalyan Singh's belongings have been moved to the official bungalow of his grandson Sandeep Singh, who is a minister in the Adityanath government.

The Supreme Court's order came on a public interest litigation filed by NGO Lok Prahari following an amendment passed by the assembly to the UP Ministers (Salaries, Allowances and Miscellaneous Provisions) Act, 1981.

The amendment allowed all former chief ministers to occupy government bungalows for lifetime.

The apex court had observed that the amendment was arbitrary and violated the concept of equality.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
The Bombay High Court today said the city civic body cannot evict an NGO, working towards providing medicines and counselling for cancer patients, from a municipal school without following due process of law.

A division bench of Justices A S Oka and Riyaz Chagla was hearing a petition filed by the NGO 'Cancer Aid and Research Foundation' challenging notices issued to it in 2015 and then in April 2018, asking it to vacate the five rooms it was occupying in the municipal school in south Mumbai.

The NGO in its petition said it was given the five rooms on a leave and license agreement since 2003.

In December last year, the high court had asked the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) to reconsider the issue following which the NGO filed a representation before the department concerned in the civic body.

However, in April this year the corporation's education department sent a letter to the NGO asking it to vacate the five rooms within a month. Following this, the NGO approached HC again.

The court today said BMC was asked to reconsider the issue so that the corporation could take a liberal view.

"The petitioner is not doing any profiteering business in those five rooms. They are using it to counsel cancer patients and give them medicines and other basic treatment," Justice Oka said.

"The civic body cannot evict them (the petitioner) by simply issuing a letter. We hold that BMC is not entitled to evict the petitioner in such a manner. If BMC wants to evict the NGO, then it should do it only by following provisions laid down under section 105 (b) of the Mumbai Municipal Corporation Act," the court said.

Under the said section of the Act, the civic body chief has powers to evict a person or organisation if he is satisfied that the premises has been occupied unauthorisedly, has not paid rent or taxes for more than two months or has damaged the property.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
To tackle air pollution, brick kilns in Bihar without green technology will not be allowed to function from September 1, Deputy Chief Minister Sushil Kumar Modi said here today.

Sushil Kumar Modi, who also holds the forest and portfolio, said brick kilns which do not have 'zig-zag technology' will be banned.

At a state ministers' conference here, he said, "For making one lakh bricks, 12 tonne coal is used by traditional brick kilns. The zig-zag technology enables making the same number of bricks by using only 9.9 tonne coal."



Hot air coming out of zig-zag kilns following a three times longer path than the straight line in traditional ones, improving heat transfer, enhanced mixing of fuel and air, thereby leading to improved combustion and less consumption of coal.

At the conference attended by Union Minister Harsh Vardhan, Sushil Kumar Modi batted for introducing an online procedure for diversion of forest lands, thus doing away with submitting a hard copy of such proposals to the Centre.

The states should also be empowered to constitute the State Environment Impact Assessment Authority and State Impact Authorisation Committee without any requiring permission from the Centre, he said.

Raising the issue of Compensatory Afforestation Fund Management and Planning Authority (CAMPA), the Bihar minister said related rules should be notified at the earliest so that the Rs 50,000 crore available under it could be utilised by the states.

He also demanded that states be empowered to sanction funds from the corpus.

The website of the Environment Ministry should be made more user-friendly and a compendium of its circulars should be brought out in a booklet form, he said.

Sushil Kumar Modi sought to know from Vardhan if manufacture of plastic with less than 50 micron thickness could be banned.

He also sought changes in rules and regulations concerned to allow setting up of captive biomedical waste plants by big hospitals and medical colleges, and giving states the power to ban use of motor vehicles older than 15 years.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
BRICS nations today emphasised the importance of an open and inclusive world economy and expressed their firm commitment to free trade, and the centrality of a rules-based, transparent, non-discriminatory, multilateral trading system.

External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj, who is on a five-day trip to South Africa, attended the BRICS (Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa) Foreign Ministers' meeting.

After the meeting, the foreign affairs ministers of BRICS nations reiterated BRICS commitment to multilateralism and a rules-based international order and in this regard reaffirmed the centrality of the UN, the WTO and international law.

The ministers pledged their support to efforts towards making global governance more representative with greater participation of emerging markets and developing countries in global decision making.

The ministers emphasized the importance of an open and inclusive world economy enabling all countries and peoples to share the benefits of globalisation, a statement released after the meeting said.

They underlined their firm commitment to free trade, and the centrality of a rules-based, transparent, non-discriminatory, multilateral trading system as embodied in the World Trade Organisation (WTO), the statement said.

They opposed the new wave of protectionism and the systematic impact of unilateral measures that are incompatible with WTO rules, and undermines global trade, and economic growth.

"They reiterated that the WTO Dispute Settlement System is a cornerstone of the multilateral trading system (MTS) as it is designed to enhance security and predictability in international trade," the statement said.

The ministers reaffirmed their resolve to foster a global economic governance architecture that is more effective and reflective of current global economic landscape, increasing the voice and representation of emerging markets and developing economies, it said.

They reaffirmed their commitment to conclude the



International Monetary Fund's 15th General Review of Quotas, including a new quota formula, by the 2019 Spring Meetings.

The emerging counties, like India, China, Brazil and Russia, has been asking for increased voting rights in IMF, which would reflect their growing share in world economy.

They also deplored the continued terrorist attacks, including in some BRICS countries. They condemned terrorism in all its forms and manifestations wherever committed and by whomsoever.

"They urged concerted efforts to counter terrorism under the UN auspices on a firm international legal basis, and expressed their conviction that a comprehensive approach was necessary to ensure effective fight against terrorism," the statement said.

"They recalled the responsibility of all States to prevent financing of terrorist networks and terrorist actions from their territories," it said.

They expressed concern over the ongoing conflict and heightened tensions in the Middle-East region, especially with regard to the Israeli-Palestinian situation.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
BRICS nations today said they oppose the "new wave of protectionism" and the systematic impact of unilateral measures that are incompatible with WTO rules, apparently referring to US President Donald Trump's tough trade policies.

External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj, who is on a five-day trip to South Africa, attended the BRICS (Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa) Foreign Ministers' meeting.

After the meeting, the foreign affairs ministers of BRICS nations reiterated BRICS commitment to multilateralism and a rules-based international order and in this regard reaffirmed the centrality of the UN, the WTO and international law.

The ministers pledged their support to efforts towards making global governance more representative with greater participation of emerging markets and developing countries in global decision making.

The ministers emphasized the importance of an open and inclusive world economy enabling all countries and peoples to share the benefits of globalisation, a statement released after the meeting said.

They underlined their firm commitment to free trade, and the centrality of a rules-based, transparent, non-discriminatory, multilateral trading system as embodied in the World Trade Organisation (WTO), the statement said.

They opposed the new wave of protectionism and the systematic impact of unilateral measures that are incompatible with WTO rules, and undermines global trade, and economic growth.

"They reiterated that the WTO Dispute Settlement System is a cornerstone of the multilateral trading system (MTS) as it is designed to enhance security and predictability in international trade," the statement said.

The statement came as Trump imposed tariffs on steel and aluminum imports from top US trading partners, including Canada, Mexico and the European Union. He has threatened tariffs on up to USD 200 billion in Chinese imports, raising the potential of a trade war.

The BRICS ministers reaffirmed their resolve to foster a global economic governance architecture that is more effective and reflective of current global economic landscape, increasing the voice and representation of emerging markets and developing economies, it said.

They reaffirmed their commitment to conclude the



International Monetary Fund's 15th General Review of Quotas, including a new quota formula, by the 2019 Spring Meetings.

The emerging counties, like India, China, Brazil and Russia, has been asking for increased voting rights in IMF, which would reflect their growing share in world economy.

They also deplored the continued terrorist attacks, including in some BRICS countries. They condemned terrorism in all its forms and manifestations wherever committed and by whomsoever.

"They urged concerted efforts to counter terrorism under the UN auspices on a firm international legal basis, and expressed their conviction that a comprehensive approach was necessary to ensure effective fight against terrorism," the statement said.

"They recalled the responsibility of all States to prevent financing of terrorist networks and terrorist actions from their territories," it said.

They expressed concern over the ongoing conflict and heightened tensions in the Middle-East region, especially with regard to the Israeli-Palestinian situation.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
A billboard on Sunset Boulevard in Hollywood screams out a stark warning: "drug-resistant gonorrhea alert!" The words are set against a black background and accompanied by a microscope shot of the gonococcus bacteria, which causes the illness now running rampant in California.

Sexually transmitted diseases have made an alarming resurgence across the United States, where 2016 saw a record two million cases of chlamydia, gonorrhea and syphilis, including 628 cases of congenital syphilis.

But California, the most populous US state, stands out for its willingness to tackle the crisis head-on, with cases of the three ailments up 45 percent in 2017 from five years ago.

Thirty babies were stillborn amid 300 reported cases of congenital syphilis, more than in any other US state last year.

"These are incredibly alarming numbers," said Heidi Bauer, chief of the STD control branch of the California Department of Public Health. She said it amounts to an epidemic.

Congenital syphilis had been essentially eliminated from the United States, as it had in developing countries such as Cuba, Thailand and Moldova in the former Soviet Union, said Jeffrey Klausner of the UCLA school of medicine.

"But you know the fact that congenital syphilis is roaring back in the states and in California is a shameful reminder of our inadequate public health programs," he said.

The cases of the stillborn babies are 100 percent preventable and this is "a slap in the face," he added.

Herein the problem seems to lie: the US health system is more reactive than preventive. And there is a lack of prevention and public awareness campaigns in a society in which people do not like to talk about sex.

The striking billboards in Los Angeles are sponsored by an NGO called the AIDS Healthcare Foundation, which aims to prevent or diagnose HIV and provide medical care for those who have it or other sexually transmitted diseases in free clinics.

Another sign about syphilis shows a torso ravaged by open wounds.

The foundation's president, Michael Weinstein, said the NGO's campaign has boosted visits to its clinics by 50 percent in Los Angeles.

By comparison, in south Florida, where cities such as Miami Beach or Fort Lauderdale as considered hotbeds of STDs, such campaigns are barred because they are deemed to be bad for tourism.

"You educate, you prevent, you test. You treat. You contact partners," said Weinstein. "We're not doing any of those things adequately." The discouraging figures will keep rising and "the government is not helping," he warns.

The financial crisis of 2008 -- at the time STDs were not of particular concern -- led to deep cuts in health care spending, so many clinics shut down.

Add to this an increase in poverty, homelessness, drug use and pregnancies undertaken without proper healthcare -- all considered risk factors for congenital syphilis.

California has the world's fifth largest economy but the budget for fighting STDs is a paltry $20 million, which includes money that comes from the federal government.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Cambridge University says it needs the support of schools and parents to improve diversity and help increase the number of black British students it enrols.

A freedom of information request by the Financial Times showed some Cambridge colleges admitted no black British students between 2012 and 2016.

The prestigious university told the newspaper it would not be able to improve diversity "on its own".

"We are already doing a significant bit of outreach, but ultimately the university isn't going to be able to bring about this change on its own. We need the support of schools and parents too," a statement to the newspaper from the university said.

"More needs to be done to prepare high-achieving black students for applications to Cambridge and Oxford, which is why we have significantly increased the funding we contribute to programmes like Target Oxbridge," it said.

Target Oxbridge provides one-to-one training for black students to improve their chances of being admitted to the universities.

The report comes amid criticism of Oxford University for similar failings, the BBC reported today.

Of Cambridge's 29 undergraduate colleges, six admitted fewer than 10 black British or mixed-race students between 2012 and 2016.

One college, St Edmund's, received applications from more than 30 prospective black students - but failed to make an offer to any of them.

Downing College made between eight and 12 offers, out of a total of 95 applications.

Meanwhile, Labour MP David Lammy has called for every university in the UK to publish its annual admissions data, to promote transparency.

After reading Oxford's report into its own admissions data, Lammy told the BBC that Oxford was "failing badly" in its efforts to improve diversity.

He said the university had to explain why - having looked at the data - a person was twice as likely to get in if they were white, not black.

Lammy had previously accused the university of "social apartheid", after a freedom of information request by him revealed 10 out of 32 Oxford colleges did not award a place to any black British pupil with A-levels in 2015.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
An AFP contributor investigating drug cartels shot to death in Mexico. An American freelance journalist fatally shot while embedded with South Sudan rebels. A blogger in Malta killed in a car bomb after reporting on corruption and cronyism.

These were among 18 fallen members of the media whose names were inscribed Monday on the journalists memorial at the Newseum, a Washington museum dedicated to the understanding of the importance of a free press.

Others listed on the memorial included Mohamed Abazied, Hawker Faisal Mohammed and Dilshan Ibash (killed in Syria); Shifa Gardi, Arkan Sharifi, Stephane Villeneuve and Veronique Robert (Iraq); Sudip Dutta Bhaumik and Gauri Lankesh (India); Nikolai Andrushchenko (Russia); Yameen Rasheed (Maldives); Maria Efigenia Vasquez Astudillo (Colombia); Kim Wall (Denmark); and Christopher Iban Lozada (Philippines).

The latest group, including eight women and two freelancers, represents a fraction of the dozens of journalists killed last year on the job but aims to draw public attention to the dangers faced those pursuing the around the world.

The 18 who died "represent the much larger threat to all journalists, who face unprecedented dangers as they strive to provide information about our society, often in countries where press freedom is imperiled or nonexistent," said Jan Neuharth, chief executive of the Freedom Forum, the parent organization of the Newseum.

The memorial wall which was created two decades ago bears the name of more than 2,300 who died in newsgathering since 1835.

The latest group honored included Christopher Allen, a 26-year-old US freelancer shot in the head during a battle between the South Sudanese army and rebels. Government officials claimed he was not targeted. Also included was Maltese investigative journalist Daphne Caruana Galizia, killed by a car bomb last October as she lifted the lid on widespread corruption in the Mediterranean country.

Added to the wall were two Mexican journalists slain following their investigations of drug cartels: Javier Valdez, the founder of weekly newspaper Riodoce and a longtime AFP contributor, shot outside his offices; and Miroslava Breach, a veteran crime and politics reporter found dead inside her car with gunshot wounds to the head.

Holly Williams, a CBS correspondent who spoke at the ceremony, said those honoured showed remarkable bravery in the face of adversity.

Williams said a number of the journalists killed "went about their work knowing that in doing so they were making themselves targets, and I'm humbled by that because it must take a kind of courage that I find frankly unimaginable.

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The BJP today accused the ruling TDP in Andhra Pradesh of indulging in "spit-and-run politics" and carrying out "organised propaganda" against the saffron party's government at the Centre for political gains.

Lashing out at Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu for his attack on the Centre, BJP national spokesperson G V L Narasimha Rao said the TDP supremo was "carrying out an organised propaganda and spreading lies".

Since snapping ties with the NDA in March this year, Naidu has been targeting the BJP at the Centre, accusing them of going back on the "promise" of granting special category status to Andhra Pradesh and also hatching conspiracies against the TDP.

Rao said, "He (Naidu) is trying not only to hoodwink people but also provoke them for political gains. This is opportunistic and cynical "



Naidu was adopting "spit-and run-politics" and trying to sling muck at the BJP and the Narendra Modi government, which was unbecoming of a chief minister, he told reporters here.

The BJP national spokesperson alleged that Naidu had no stability of thought and was spreading "falsehood" on different issues such as the financial assistance to capital city Amaravati and the special economic grant to backward districts.

"How can the state government expect funds without submitting proper utilisation certificates for the money already granted?" he asked.

Rao alleged, "His (Naidu's) only success in the last four years had been in making Andhra Pradesh the number one state in the country in corruption. India Corruption Study, an annual survey of corruption in various states, clearly established this."



While the Centre was ready to help Andhra Pradesh by all means, the state government remained indifferent, he claimed, adding, "We are ready to implement the special (economic) assistance measures promised in September 2016.""However, the state government is not coming forward to do its part, like setting up a special purpose vehicle to draw funds for different projects," Rao said.

The state government only wanted direct fund flow with an "ostensible aim of misappropriating it. We will not let that happen," the senior BJP leader said.

He recalled that the TDP supremo had on April 10 last year proposed a resolution during an NDA meeting that Narendra Modi should continue to be the alliance's prime ministerial candidate in 2019.

"But we all know how he changed colours, putting even a chameleon to shame," Rao said referring to Naidu snapping ties with the NDA over special category status for Andhra Pradesh.

BJP state president Kanna Lakshminarayana alleged the Chandrababu Naidu government had been splurging crores of rupees of public money on wasteful events like "Dharma Porata Deeksha and Nava Nirmana Deeksha."



"Why is people's money being spent on a party's political propaganda?" he asked.

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A Chinese engineer working in Pakistan was found dead today in the premises of the Chinese embassy here, apparently 12 days after his death when the officials from the mission checked his room following a foul smell, a media report said.

The engineer, residing in the premises of the embassy and working for a Chinese company which was closed for renovation, had apparently died around 12 days ago, the Express Tribune reported, citing police sources.

The engineer was 28 to 29 years old and had come to the country in May, police said.

Investigators said the Chinese national appears to have died of natural causes as he suffered from blood pressure related problems.

Security officials said the engineer's room was not checked earlier and officials from the embassy checked it after noticing a foul smell.

Emergency services have shifted the body to a hospital for further examination.

Thousands of Chinese workers are employed in Pakistan, working on a host of projects connected with the USD 50 billion China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC).

Pakistan Army has raised a special force consisting of thousands of personnel to provide security to Chinese personnel working in Pakistan.

In February, a Chinese national, working at a non-CPEC related private shipping firm in Karachi, was shot dead in broad daylight in the city.

Last year, two Chinese nationals, who were believed to be Christian missionaries, were abducted from Quetta and allegedly killed by the Islamic State terror group, which sent shock waves in China.

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In a first, over 60 armed CISF commandos have been deployed to provide anti-terror security cover to a five-star luxury hotel in Mumbai, part of the CSIA airport terminal, which gives a sweeping view of the airport runway.

The hotel -- Taj Santacruz -- is located within the domestic terminal of the Chatrapati Shivaji International Airport (CSIA) and a number of rooms of the facility face the runway.

PTI had first reported in March last year that a squad of about 150 Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) commandos was deployed to secure the hotel on a temporary basis. It has now been made permanent.

"A full contingent of over 60 commando-trained CISF personnel took charge of hotel security on June 2. The squad will be part of the deployment that guards the CSIA," a senior official said.

The cost of the CISF deployment will be borne by the GVK group that operates the CSIA, he said.

The official said the vehicle-borne commandos, armed with assault weapons, will secure the hotel area against any terror bid that may occur or emanate from the hotel.

The airports' security force of the country, guarding 59 civil facilities at present, will also provide a 24X7 anti-sabotage cover to the facility with the deployment of bomb disposal and sniffer dogs units.

The official website of the hotel boasts of having "airport runway, city and pool facing rooms."



The hotel is just a two-minute walk from the domestic terminal and a 10-minute walk from the international terminal of the CSIA.

The luxury address, with 279 rooms and suites, is probably the first airport hotel in the country to give the occupants a clear view of the runway.

This is the first time that the CISF has been deployed to secure a five-star hotel in the private sector after it was mandated to take up such duties in the aftermath of the 2008 Mumbai terror attack.

The move assumes significance as CISF cover is sparingly granted to the private sector.

There have been only 9 such deployments on the campuses of IT major Infosys, the Reliance Corporate Park in Navi Mumbai and the Patanjali Food and Herbal Park of Baba Ramdev in Uttarakhand's Haridwar.

"It was very essential to secure the hotel against terror or any other such bids as the facility is right inside the CSIA terminal area and oversees the tarmac.

"The CISF men will not render control and access of guests at the hotel but will supervise overall security rendered by the private security and the staff of the hotel," the official said.

The CISF and the Bureau of Civil Aviation Security (BCAS) had jointly carried out a security assessment of the hotel, following which armed personnel of the force have now been deployed.

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A 28-year-old student from Karnataka allegedly committed suicide in central Delhi's Rajender Nagar after he was denied entry at a Civil Services examination centre for being late, police said today.

Information was received at the Rajender Nagar police station around 5.55 PM yesterday regarding the suicide by a man, a senior police officer said.

The police team found Varun Chandran, permanent resident of Hosherwatta, Kumta, in Karnataka, hanging from the ceiling fan at his ground floor accommodation in Rajender Nagar.

The body was shifted to RML Hospital and an expert crime team was called to the spot.

A suicide note was found in the room near the body.

After the police conducted enquiries, it found that the deceased was a civil services aspirant and was a tenant at the address.

He had gone to appear for the civils preliminary examination 2018 at the Sarvodya Bal Vidyalaya, Kaseruwalan, Paharganj, the officer said.

"The suicide note revealed that he had reached the examination centre after the closure of entry and was refused entry. According to suicide note, due to this situation, he committed suicide," the officer said.

The post mortem was conducted and dead body was handed over to his sister and brother-in-law.

The Civil Services(pre) Examination 2018 was conducted at test centres across the country yesterday.

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Evolving effective ways to deal with growing challenges of terrorism as well as extremism and boosting trade will be the key focus at the annual summit of Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) in Qingdao on June 9-10 which will be attended by a host of world leaders including Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

Sources said India's national coordinator for the SCO is here to finalise the draft of the summit's declaration and that New Delhi's efforts will be to put its concerns over cross border terrorism in the outcome document.

India has been raising the issue of Pakistan-sponsored terrorism in various multilateral forums with an aim to build pressure on Islamabad to dismantle the terror infrastructure operating from that country.

Sources said ahead of the summit, officials of the SCO member countries are holding hectic parleys to finalise the Qingdao declaration.

India's National Coordinator of the SCO Madhumita Hazarika Bhagat is currently in Beijing, taking part in the discussions.

Sources indicated that India's focus would be to include its concerns over cross border terrorism in the final outcome document but it may be resisted by Pakistan which can manage support from other countries.

The formulation in that case may be that terrorism will not be tolerated in any manifestation, they said.

"Cooperation to combat terrorism, extremism and separatism apart from strengthening trade ties will be among the agreements likely to be inked during the summit of the eight-member grouping at Qingdao," SCO Secretary General Rashid Alimov told PTI.

About six to seven main agreements were expected to be signed at the summit. There will be a dozen documents which will be the product of the summit.

Russian President Vladimir Putin is also expected to attend the summit.

Indian Ambassador to China Gautam Bambawale said since its admission into the SCO last year, India has been taking part in all its activities.

"The aim will be to step up the engagement and collaboration among the grouping," he told PTI here.

Bambawale further said, "The summit will also ensure that the world will be governed by rules-based international order in all spheres. There will be more openness and transparency in various initiatives taken by countries in multilateral activities," he said.

He said India's inclusion at the SCO has further consolidated the group's standing in the world.

Sources said Prime Minister Modi is expected to have around half a dozen bilateral meetings with leaders of the Central Asian countries.

They said Modi will have a bilateral meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping.

The meeting will take place weeks after the two leaders held an informal summit in Wuhan during which they exchanged views on solidifying the relationship between the two Asian powers.

The sources said Modi and Xi are expected to take stock of implementation of decisions taken at the informal summit.

Modi had last month met Russian President Putin in an informal summit in Sochi.

The SCO was founded at a summit in Shanghai in 2001 by the Presidents of Russia, China, Kyrgyz Republic, Kazakhstan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan. India and Pakistan became its members last year.

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As many as 16 projects, including setting up of a cold chain in Madhya Pradesh, were approved under by a commerce ministry scheme to develop infrastructure for promoting exports, a senior official said.

Last year, the commerce ministry launched the Trade Infrastructure for Export Scheme (TIES) to create appropriate infrastructure for development and growth of exports through engagement of central or state agencies.

Of the total scheme outlay of Rs 600 crore, Rs 80 crore was provided in 2017-18 and the same amount will be provided during the current fiscal also, the ministry official said.

The scheme has been launched for three years to 2020.

The approved projects include setting up of an integrated cargo terminal at Imphal international airport; establishment of trade promotion centre in Bhopal; solid waste management system at Noida SEZ; and construction of office cum laboratory complex of export inspection agency at Vishakhapatnam.

The implementing agencies of these projects include Karnataka Fisheries Development Corporation Ltd; Visvesvaraya Trade Promotion Centre, Bengaluru; Cochin SEZ; Airport Authority of India, Coffee Board, Exports Inspection Council and Andhra Pradesh Med Tech Zone (AMTZ).

Unlike Assistance to States for Development of Export Infrastructure and Allied Activities (ASIDE) Scheme, which was funded by the Centre, the cost of projects under TIES are equally shared between the Centre and the states.

The central and state agencies, including Export Promotion Councils, Commodities Boards, SEZ authorities and apex trade bodies are eligible for financial support under the scheme.

The Central government funding will be in the form of grant-in-aid, normally not more than the equity being put in by the implementing agency or 50 per cent of the total equity in the project.

The proposals of the implementing agencies for funding is being considered by an empowered committee, chaired by the commerce secretary.

The scheme helps involve states in promoting export activities in the country. The commerce ministry is taking several steps to promote the country's exports including improving export related infrastructure.

In 2017-18, exports recorded a growth of about 10 per cent to USD 303 billion. Higher growth in outbound shipments helps create employment opportunities, earn foreign exchange and boost economic activities.

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The Meghalaya government convened an all-party meeting today in order to find a permanent solution to the issue of relocation of the sweeper colony inhabited by Punjabis, where an assault incident last week, fanned by fake on the social media, resulted in a clash that has gripped the entire city for the fifth day today.

The meeting decided to constitute a high-level committee under Deputy Chief Minister Prestone Tynsong for relocation of the sweeper colony, also known as the "Punjabi Line", from the Them Metor area near Bara Bazaar.

The government also met stakeholders, including the heads of tribal institutions and representatives of the hawkers' association, who have been affected by the current law-and-order situation in the city. The stakeholders demanded relocation of the Punjabis from the Them Metor area.

The sweeper colony is inhabited by people from Punjab, who were brought to Shillong 200 years ago by the British to work as cleaners and sweepers.

"We have decided to form a high-level committee, which will be headed by Deputy Chief Minister Prestone Tynsong. The other members will include Home Minister James P K Sangma, Urban Affairs Minister Hamlet Dohling, Health and Family Welfare Minister A L Hek, Agriculture Minister Banteidor Lyngdoh and the CEM of KHADC, P N Syiem," Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma told reporters after the meeting.

He said D P Wahlang, Principal Secretary, Education and IT, will be the member-secretary of the committee, which will work towards finding a permanent solution to the long-pending issue of the relocation of the sweeper colony, adding that the panel had already started working.

The chief minister said the Urban Affairs department was instructed to submit a detailed report to the committee on the current position of the sweeper colony, including the legal aspects, past history etc.

He reiterated that the solution to the issue was not on the streets but on the table and that the government was ready to discuss it.

The chief minister also informed that those involved in the assault of local Khasi boys at Them Metor were arrested within 24 hours of the incident and that the police were going to file a chargesheet against one B Mirsa.

Meanwhile, a four-member team of the Punjab government arrived here today and met the chief minister, who briefed them on the issue.

Punjab Minister Sukhjinder Singh Randhawa, who led the team, expressed happiness that the Punjabi people living here were safe.

The visiting team will meet the members of the Punjabi community here tomorrow.

A group of young protesters breached security by entering the main secretariat, shouting slogans. The chief minister later met them and gave a patient hearing to their demands. No action was taken against them.

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The Congress will tomorrow knock the door of the Election Commission of India (ECI), seeking action against Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis for allegedly violating the code of conduct while campaigning for the May 28 bypoll to the Palghar Lok Sabha seat.

Fadnavis, while canvassing for his party BJP, had on May 20 promised to exclude 29 villages from the jurisdiction of the Vasai-Virar Municipal Corporation (VVMC), which is part of Palghar district, the Congress has said.

The announcement amounted to "violation" of the model code of conduct, the main Opposition party has said.

State Congress general secretary Sachin Sawant also accused the ruling BJP of misusing power during the by-election to the tribal-reserved seat located adjoining Mumbai.

BJP's Rajendra Gavit won the by-election, defeating his nearest rival Shrinivas Wanaga of the Shiv Sena by 29,572 votes. Gavit polled 2,72,782 votes, while Wanaga bagged 2,43,210.

Damodar Shingda of the Congress finished a distant fifth with 47,714 votes.

"We are going to complain to the ECI against the chief minister demanding action against him for violating the code of conduct. The ruling party misused power during the by-election.

"We also want the ECI to act against officials who did not act on our initial complaint in this connection," Sawant told PTI over the phone.

Chandrakant Dube, an election agent of Congress candidate Shingda, had on May 23 filed a complaint against Fadnavis with the returning officer (RO).

The party had also submitted a recording of Fadnavis' speech to the RO.

The by-election was necessitated by the death of sitting BJP MP Chintaman Wanaga.

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Archbishop of Goa and Daman Father Filipe Neri Ferrao has said that Constitution was in danger and many people are living in an atmosphere of insecurity.

In a letter addressed to Christians, he said the constitution should be understood better as general elections are drawing closer.

The archbishop also said that human rights are under attack and democracy appears to be in peril.

The letter, issued in the beginning of Pastoral Year that lasts from June 1 to May 31, is addressed to Christians in the Archdiocese of Goa and Daman.

"Today, our Constitution is in danger (and that is) the reason why most of the people are living in insecurity," the archbishop said.

"In this context, particularly as the general elections are fast approaching, we must strive to know our constitution better and work harder to protect it," the letter stated.

The archbishop said that "in recent times, we see a new trend emerging in our country, which demands uniformity in what and how we eat, dress, live and even worship: a kind of mono-culturalism."



"Human rights are under attack and democracy appears to be in peril," Ferrao said, adding that "various minorities fear for their safety. In short, respect for law is frankly on the decline in this country."



He said that people were being uprooted from their land and homes in the name of development and quoted Pope Francis who said that "the first victim of development is the poor person".

"It is easier to trample upon the rights of the poor, because those who will raise their voice for them are very few," he added.

The archbishop called for the participation of Catholics and Church communities in politics and social causes.

"Our parishes and small Christian communities ought to be immersed in this mission of the Church. They should be open to the problems of the world. This social concern should not only remain within the confines of the parish community but should reach out to the whole state and country at large," Ferrao said in the letter.

He said that it was advisable that the faithful play an active role in the political field.

They should, however, follow the dictates of their conscience while doing so and shun "sycophantic" politics, he added.

"They should thus strengthen democracy and, on the other hand, help to improve the functioning of the state administration," he said.

The archbishop also expressed concern about malnutrition among children in the country.

"According to global multi dimensional poverty index, 30 per cent of the global population of children living in poverty reside in India," he said.

"Why India is struck by extreme poverty? 73 per cent of our countrys resources are controlled by 10 per cent of the population. The existing extreme poverty is therefore the result of rampant social injustice prevailing in the country," the archbishop said.

Notably, Delhi archbishop Anil Couto had last month stated in a letter that a "turbulent political atmosphere" posed a threat to India's democratic principles and secular fabric.

In his letter to all parish priests and religious institutions in Delhi archdiocese, Couto had also appealed to the followers of his faith to launch a "prayer campaign" ahead of the 2019 general elections.

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A coordination meeting was held today on the upcoming Kailash Mansarovar Yatra, a Sikkim government official said.

General Manager of Sikkim Tourism Development Corporation (STDC) Vijay Thapa put forward the note on the preparedness and management of the pilgrimage for this year.

Sikkim's Additional Chief Secretary S C Gupta chaired the meeting.

The STDC general manager said that 10 batches of pilgrims will visit Kailash Mansarovar through the state this year.

The first batch of pilgrims, 50 people, will arrive in Sikkim on June 15 after clearing their medical examination in New Delhi and then they will be sent on a four-day acclimatisation to places called 15th Mile and Sherathang.

On the fifth day, the 'yatris' (pilgrims) will have to clear the final medical examination conducted by the Indo Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) and after approval they will head towards the Chinese territory.

This schedule will be followed by all the 10 batches of pilgrims, Thapa said.

The additional chief secretary said that it was important for all departments to be cautious.

Gupta also highlighted the importance of print and social media and stressed on the need for publicity and awareness about the Kailash Mansarovar Yatra, 2018 and passing on relevant information to them.

It was, therefore, essential to update and upload information on paper and online.

For social media #KMY2018 will be used for every tweet or status upload, he said.

They will have to maintain a clear communication so that all issues and emergencies could be handled promptly and efficiently, he said.

Heads of various departments of the state government, District Collector (East) Kapil Meena and other central organisations such as BRO, ITBP, NDRF, customs, immigration and BSNL attended the meeting today, a state government official said.

According to the central government, a total of 1,580 pilgrims will undertake the Kailash Mansarovar Yatra to China this year, with 500 of them taking the Nathu La pass route.

The Nathu La pass route for the yatra had been shut by the Chinese after the Doklam stand-off last year.

Earlier, in April this year, Minister of State for External Affairs V K Singh, in a written reply to a question in the Lok Sabha had said the yatra, for 2018, is scheduled to take place through the Lipulekh route in Uttarakhand and the Nathu La route in Sikkim from June to September.

"There will be 18 batches of 60 yatris each in the Lipulekh route and 10 batches of 50 yatris each in the Nathu La route," Singh had said.

The new route through Nathu La in Sikkim was opened in 2015 after the older route through the Lipulekh Pass in Uttarakhand, the only route earlier, was badly damaged in the Uttarakhand floods in 2013.

At present, both the routes are operational and the route through the Nathu La (Sikkim) is motorable and suitable for senior citizens unable to undertake arduous trekking, and it is shorter, safer and more comfortable, officials said.

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A wanted criminal was killed and a police personnel injured during an encounter near Falawda village here today, police said.

The encounter took place this morning in an area under the Purkazi police station, Superintendent of Police (SP), City, Ombir Singh said.

Ramesh alias Nanu was killed in the the encounter. He was carrying a reward of Rs 50,000, the officer said.

Station House Officer (SHO) Vijay Singh was injured in the incident, the SP said.

The police have seized a motorcycle and a pistol. Ramesh was wanted in more than a dozen cases of loot and murder in Muzaffarnagar and Saharanpur districts, the officer said.

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In view of the ongoing farmer agitation in some of the neighbouring states, the Delhi chief secretary today chaired a meeting to deliberate on the supply and price situation of essential commodities, officials said.

Principal Secretary, Food and Civil Supplies; Delhi Police' Special Commissioner (Law and Order), vice-chairman of the Delhi Agricultural Marketing Board, director of the Animal Husbandry, secretaries of all Agricultural Produce Marketing Committees (APMCs), were among those who attended it.

Essential commodities such as tomato, potato, onion, milk and milk products, food grains, eggs and poultry, were discussed at the meeting.

"It was informed by the secretaries of the APMCs that there has been a negligible impact of the farmers' agitation on the supply of the essential commodities in Delhi. The total arrival and prices have been steady," the government said in a statement.

"The government is closely monitoring the situation. There is no need for any panic by the residents of Delhi," it said.

The supply of tomato was "slightly impacted" yesterday.

For potatoes, the supply is being received from different warehouses across states. Similarly, there is no negative impact on onion supplies, it said.

The market functionaries on the basis of the arrival of these commodities have informed that the variation in the rates of these commodities is very less and sufficient supply is being received regularly in the mandies of Delhi, such as APMC Azadpur, APMC Keshopur and APMC Shahdara.

Chief Secretary Anshu Prakash also reviewed the supply and availability of milk and milk products along with the officials of the Delhi Milk Scheme, Amul and Mother Dairy.

The Delhi Police was requested by the chief secretary to collect information on "any abnormal rise" in the vegetables retail markets of Delhi.

The chief secretary advised the vice-chairman of the Delhi Agricultural Marketing Board to set up a control room which will monitor daily arrival and rates of all the major essential commodities in APMC Azadpur, APMC Keshopur and APMC Shahdara, and report to his office on a daily basis if any large variations are observed, the statement said.

Similar control room will be established by the Civil Supplies Department also. The officers of DMS, Mother Dairy and Safal and Amul representatives were requested to maintain smooth supply of milk and green vegetables in Delhi.

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The Delhi Jal Board (DJB) has withdrawn its plea in the National Green Tribunal that sought directions to the Haryana government to check the "dangerous level of ammonia" in the Yamuna, saying the issues raised in it have been amicably settled.

A bench headed by acting NGT chairperson Justice Jawad Rahim also directed all the stakeholders to file a brief statement of compliance of the directions on Yamuna cleaning by July 25, the next date of hearing.

"The senior counsel H S Phoolka appearing for Delhi Jal Board is present and submits that plea filed on behalf of Delhi Jal Board are not pressed as they have become infructuous in view of the fact that presently the issues have been amicably settled and discussion is in progress for future provision.

"Submissions taken on record. The miscellaneous applications stand disposed of as withdrawn with no order as to cost," the bench said.

The tribunal had earlier slammed the DJB over its submission that Haryana was responsible for the high levels of ammonia in the Yamuna water being provided to the national capital and observed that the river has been reduced to a sewer line in the city.

Asking the DJB what it has done to clean the river water, the bench had made it clear to the body that it was only concerned with the pollution in the river and would not go into the issue of water sharing dispute between the two states.

Earlier, the tribunal had directed the Haryana government to submit an action plan to address the issue of ammonia and other pollutants in the Yamuna.

The NGT had directed the Delhi and Haryana governments to identify and address the sources of pollution in the river.

It had also ordered the Delhi and Haryana governments to hold a meeting to resolve the issue of high ammonia content in the water being provided to the national capital.

The DJB had moved a plea in the tribunal plea alleging high ammonia in water being provided by the Haryana government to Delhi.

The Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) had submitted its analysis report of ammonia at Tajewala in Haryana, Wazirabad water treatment plant, Okhla and ITO barrage in Delhi.

Acting on concerns over the health of the people of Delhi, the tribunal had directed the CPCB to analyse the samples of the river water at the four points



While the DJB had alleged that Haryana was supplying "poisoned sewage water" to the national capital which had 2.6 parts per million of ammonia, the counsel for Haryana had refuted the contention and said there was no breach of any agreement.

The DJB, which supplies water to the city, had approached the tribunal demanding that Haryana be asked to take urgent steps to check the "dangerous level of ammonia" in the Yamuna.

Claiming that the water being released by the state was so polluted that it cannot be treated for drinking, the DJB had said it may cause "a huge and irreparable loss to the citizens of Delhi and has a potential for a grave health crisis and water crisis in the National Capital Region (NCR)".

The petition also claimed that when the water enters Haryana, the ammonia level is nil and very much treatable, whereas when the water enters Delhi, the level is very high.

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Domestic refined copper output is likely to decline by 40 per cent to 5,10,000 tonnes during FY19 on the back of permanent closure of Vedanta's Tuticorin smelter, domestic rating agency CARE Ratings today said.

"In light of the order of the permanent closure of the Tuticorin smelter, the production of domestic refined copper is expected to be around 510 KT during FY19 resulting in 40 per cent drop from the FY18 production levels," it said in a statement.

India's refined copper production during FY18 was 8,43,000 tonnes, it said.

The Tuticorin smelter accounts for 40 per cent of the country's copper smelting capacity, and has contributed to 48 per cent of the refined copper production during FY18, it added.

Tamil Nadu government had last month issued an order for permanent closure of the operation of Sterlite Copper plant in Tuticorin.

India has been a net exporter of refined copper (A grade quality) as there has been excess production in the domestic market.

"Given that refined copper consumption is to increase in the given backdrop of robust infrastructure activities undertaken by the government, closure of the smelter will impact the trade dynamics of India, leading us to resort to additional imports changing the country from a net exporter to a net importer," the statement said.

India exported 3,44,000 tonnes and imported 37,000 tonnes of refined copper during FY18 (April-February), it added.

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Tamil Nadu Assembly today witnessed some light moments when Deputy Chief Minister O Panneerselvam asked colleagues not to call him 'jallikattu nayagan' (hero of bull taming sport) as it would embarass him if he attended an event as a spectator and was asked to tame the animal.

"If they (organisers) say that the jallikattu hero has come and he will tame a bull, then I will be in a tight corner," he said as the House broke into peals of laughter.

Panneerselvam's remark followed Food Minister R Kamaraj addressing him as 'jallikattu nayagan' apparently for his role last year as Chief Minister in facilitating the nod for conducting the bull taming sport in Tamil Nadu.

After the formal nod for the sport in January 2017 by the AIADMK government, ruling party leaders and legislators have often called Panneerselvam as 'jallikattu nayagan' to signify his efforts in facilitating conduct of the sport.

Kamaraj and other Ministers today lauded the efforts of the Tamil Nadu government in getting the Cauvery Management Authority and Cauvery Water Regulation Committee constituted.

While Chief Minister K Palaniswami recalled the efforts of his party-led governments both in the past and present on the Cauvery issue, DMK Deputy leader Duraimurugan spoke of his party chief M Karunanidhi's initiative when the top leader was Chief Minister several times, beginning in 1969.

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More than 3.85 lakh jobs have been created in the food processing sector in the last four years and 4 lakh more will be generated by the end of current fiscal as 15 new mega food parks become operational, Union Minister Harsimrat Kaur Badal said today.

Besides, 3.4 lakh direct and indirect jobs will be created with operations of 122 projects approved under the Pradhan Mantri Kisan SAMPADA Yojana, she said, adding that more avenues will open up as both domestic and global firms commit investment in a big way in the sunrise sector.

Badal said the sector will get a fillip as the government will soon set up a non-banking finance company with private sector to fund food processing projects, she added.

"There has been a transformation in the food processing sector during the four years of our government, when compared to the Congress during 2008-14 when the sector was totally disorganised," Badal told media while highlighting her ministry's achievement in the last four years.

There is an investment commitment of nearly Rs 1,00,000 crore in the last one year alone and out of which investments worth Rs 73,000 crore have started materialising, he said.

"This is just the tip of the iceberg that shall unleash its real potential in the years to come."



Going forward, the government is working on creating an Agro Processing Financial Institution to ensure credit facility to food processing projects, Badal said.

The government is ready with the draft policy on 'Operation Green' scheme which will be launched by next month. Under this scheme, group of farmers would be encouraged to from clusters in key growing areas to encourage production and marketing of of tomato, onion and potato, she added.

Stating that food processing is the key to doubling of farmers income, the minister said 13 mega food parks have been operationalised in states such as Karnataka (Tumkur), Punjab (Fazilka), West Bengal (Murshidabad) among others in the four year of the NDA rule.

"These mega food parks have generated Rs 3,34,854 jobs in four years and benefited 20,725 farmers. Additional 15 mega food parks will be operational by end of the fiscal, creating jobs for around 4 lakh persons," she said.

However during the previous Congress government, only two mega parks were created, generating only 10,600 jobs and benefitting 5,150 farmers.

In total, 42 food parks have been sanctioned. The approval to new parks would be given after ensuring smoothing running of these parks, she added.

With regard to cold chain and value added infrastructure, the Minister said that as many as 85 projects have been operationalised during four-year of NDA government compared with 37 projects during the previous government period.

These chains have generated 51,000 jobs, benefitting 1.55 farmers,she added.

The processing and storage capacity of milk has been increased to 35.55 litres per day, individual quick freezing capacity to Rs 85.25 tonnes per hour, handing capacity of agri-produce to 30.37 lakh tonnes besides launch of 545 reefer vans in the last four years.

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Four people were killed and seven others injured in two separate road accidents in Madhya Pradesh since last evening, police said today.

Two persons were killed after they were hit by a speeding car in Omkareshwar in Khandwa district last evening, they said, adding five others were injured in the accident.

Omkareshwar Police Station in-charge R S Bhadoriya said the car hit four people sitting under a tree near Mortakka village located off the Indore-Ichhapur road, about 60 km from Khandwa.

Two of them, Pratap (45) and Tarachand Sahu (50), were seriously injured and died on their way to a hospital, he said.

The two others and three people travelling in the car were injured and admitted to a hospital at Sanawad town, the police officer added.

In the second mishap, two persons were killed after their car rammed into a tree on Ratibad-Sehore road in the outskirts of Bhopal in the wee hours of today, an official said.

Ratibad Police Station in-charge Ghanshyam Dangi said one of them was identified as Sagar Sharma (25), while the other deceased remains unidentified till now.

Two other car occupants were injured and undergoing treatment in a local hospital, Dangi said.

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Goa BJP leader Francis D'Souza, a senior member of the Cabinet Advisory Committee (CAC) set up by Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar before he left for the US for treatment in March, today proceeded on a month-long vacation to Portugal, drawing ire of opposition Congress.

Goa Pradesh Congress Committee (GPCC) president Girish Chodankar said the absence of D'Souza, who is the second in command of the BJP in Goa after Parrikar, would "further exacerbate the crisis of governance in the state".

The Congress leader has called for Governor Mridula Sinha's intervention in the "current state of affairs".

However, the BJP has termed it a "non-issue".

Chodankar alleged that D'Souza, who heads Urban Development ministry, has handed over the responsibility of his portfolio to Parrikar "who already holds maximum number of departments including Finance, Home, and Education".

"D'Souza has left for Portugal on a month-long vacation even though the state is reeling under uncertainty on mining front and frequent interruption in power supply," he said.

Parrikar has been undergoing treatment for a pancreatic ailment in the US since March this year.

Chodankar recalled that that the party had last month staked claim to form a government in Goa where it had emerged as the single largest party in the Assembly polls held in 2017.

"The Congress already said they can garner necessary supportwithin seven daysof our party leader taking oath as chief minister," he said.

Seeking adoption of the Karnataka example in Goa, the Congress on May 18 staked claim to form a government and submitted to governor a formal letter containing signatures of all the 16 party MLAs.

In the Assembly elections held in March last year, the Congress had bagged 17 seats in the 40-member House, falling short of the majority figure by four seats.

The BJP, which got 14 seats, formed the government in alliance with Goa Forward Party and Maharashtravadi Gomantak Party, both of which had secured three seats each.

Three Independents also went with the BJP.

On Parrikar's condition, Chodankar said nobody knows the exact time of the chief minister's return to his home state.

"There is no clear timeline about Parrikar's return. He has been issuing statements through video messages and phone calls to the journalists," he said.

The Congress leader said there is no senior leader to represent the BJP in the CAC in absence of D'Souza.

"Governor Mridula Sinha who is a matured personality should be sensitive to the current state of affairs and emerge as a Saviour for Goa by acting in accordance with Constitution," he said.

When contacted, state BJP unit president Vinay Tendulkar said that Congress was raising a "non-issue".

"Governance in the state is smooth with Parrikar personally monitoring the administration," he said.

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Budget carrier GoAir today announced special discounted fares as low as Rs 1,299 inclusive of all taxes for a one-way journey across its network under a limited period scheme.

The bookings for the three-day 'Monsoon sale' will begin from midnight today, for travel between June 24 and September 30, a release said.

Since the July quarter is considered a lean period for the travel business, domestic airlines attract customers by offering low fares.

The sale offers fares starting Rs 1,299 (taxes and fees included) and can be availed for travel across all the 23 sectors operated by GoAir, the airline said in a release.

The booking is valid for travel on all non-stop and via flights on GoAir's network, it said, adding tickets booked under this offer are non-refundable (taxes and fees are refundable on cancellation).

Besides, fares vary from sector to sector depending on the route, flight and timings, it added.

The Wadia group-promoted airline currently operates over 1,544 weekly flights to 23 destinations.

It flies to Ahmedabad, Bagdogra, Bhubaneswar, Bengaluru, Chandigarh, Chennai, Delhi, Goa, Guwahati, Jaipur, Jammu, Kochi, Kolkata, Leh, Lucknow, Mumbai, Nagpur, Patna, Port Blair, Pune, Ranchi, Srinagar and Hyderabad.

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Taking a swipe at Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Congress president Rahul Gandhi today accused him of giving scripted interviews and said it would be an "embarrassment to us all" if he did take "real" questions.

Gandhi was referring to an interview Modi gave at the Nanyang Technological University (NTU) in Singapore during his recent visit to the city-state.

After Modi answered a question in Hindi, the interpreter started reading from a piece of paper, prompting speculation that the script may be "pre-planned".

"The first Indian PM who takes 'spontaneous' questions that the translator has pre-scripted answers to!



"Good that he doesn't take real questions. Would have been a real embarrassment to us all if he did," Gandhi said on Twitter.

He also tagged a video of Modi's question and the answer along with that given by the English translator.

Gandhi is currently abroad along with his mother and UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi who had gone for a medical check-up to the United States.

Yesterday, Congress leader Shashi Tharoor had tweeted while tagging a report on the NTU interview, "Oh dear. When the translator says what the PM was supposed to say, but didn't".

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Rajasthan Congress president Sachin Pilot today hit out at the state government for compromising the interests of farmers, labourers and unemployed youths, saying Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje did not listen to the plight of the people in the past four years.

"The BJP has betrayed the people of the state and compromised their interests in the past four years of its dispensation. People do not want to meet Raje as the real face of the BJP has now been exposed," Pilot said at public gatherings in Banswara and Dungarpur districts during "Mera Booth, Mera Gaurav" event today.

"The chief minister did not listen to the plight of the people in the past four years and is now trying to establish dialogue with the people of the state in the election year," he said.

Pilot said farmers have resorted to protests because of the ill-treatment meted out to them by the state government.

The Congress leader alleged that farmers were forced to take the extreme step as the government failed to address their issues and BJP leaders were "rubbing salt into the wounds of the farmers by making off-the-cuff comments."



He said the Congress will soon form government in Rajasthan and take everyone together to work for the development of the state.

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The Delhi High Court has asked the Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) administration to sympathetically consider the plea of a student to allow her to complete her post-graduate course, which she had to abandon mid-way due to trauma after she was sexually harassed by another student of the institute.

Justice Rekha Palli asked the JNU administration to treat the plea of the student as a representation and keep in mind the circumstances under which she was compelled to abandon her studies while considering her request to complete the course.

The university, represented by advocate Harsh Ahuja, assured the court that the student's plea would be taken up as a representation at the next academic council meeting in July and that her request would be considered sympathetically.

Taking note of the assurance given by the university, the court directed it to pass a "reasoned and speaking order" within eight weeks and dispose of the student's plea.

The woman had moved the court after the university denied her permission to complete her MA in German literature on the ground that she had exceeded the time within which she had to finish the course.

According to the woman, she was admitted to the course in 2013-14, but after completing three semesters, had suffered sexual harassment at the hands of a fellow student, who was later rusticated from the university after being held guilty of the offence.

Due to the harassment, she suffered immense trauma and underwent counselling for post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), the student had claimed in her plea.

Due to the trauma, she had not attended any classes in the winter session semesters of 2014-15 and 2015-16. However, when she had sought the relief in 2016-17, the university had denied her request.

The JNU had, on March 16 this year, struck her off the university's rolls.

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The Madras High Court today made it clear that there was no illegality on the part of the Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowment department in issuing eviction notices to shop owners occupying premises of various shrines in Tamil Nadu.

However, it granted time till December 31 for the owners to find out alternative sites.

Justice V Bharathidasan of the Madurai Bench delivered the judgment on a batch of over 200 petitions challenging the eviction notices issued to various petty shop owners in and around various temples.

"..This court is of the view that the petitioners should be given some breathing time enabling them to find out suitable alternative place to carry on their business," Justice V Bharathidasan said.

Petitioners shall be permitted to occupy their respective leasehold premises until December 31, the judge said.

Following the fire accident in Arulmigu Meenakshi Amman Temple at Madurai in February this year in which several shops were gutted, the state government had taken a policy decision to protect temples, more particularly historic shrines and to conserve their architectural heritage.

As part of the decision, the Commissioner, Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowment Department (HR&CE) had issued guidelines to Executive Officers of temples to take precautionary measures to protect the shrines from any fire accident.

Following this, the EOs issued eviction notices directing the lessees to vacate the shops and hand over the possession to temples immediately.

The court is of the view that the authorities were right in issuing notice to the petitioners for eviction irrespective of the fact whether the lessees carry on their business, either inside or outside the temple, the judge said.

It does not find any illegality or irregularity on the matter, Justice Bharathidasan said.

"No doubt the impugned notices of eviction would cause some difficulty to the petitioners.

But at the same time considering the larger public interests in protecting the interest of the temples, the private interest of the petitioners cannot be placed above the public interest," the judge said.

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A public interest litigation has been filed in the Madras High Court seeking a direction to authorities to hand over an Andaman-based elephant to the principal chief conservator of forests and chief wildlife warden here.

The first bench, comprising Chief Justice Indira Banerjee and Justice Abdul Quddhose, issued notice to the wife of the mahout of the Madurai Meenakshi Amman shrine, the commissioner, Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowment, and the principal chief conservator of forest and chief wildlife warden of Chennai, returnable by two weeks.

The notice was issued on a plea from S Muralidharan who submitted that the elephant, Malachi, was originally owned by Masan, a resident of Rangat, North and Middle Andaman district.

Masan had handed over the elephant to Indira, the wife of the temple mahout on September 17, 2007 to be offered as a gift to the shrine.

The petitioner alleged that the elephant was not handed over to the shrine and instead used for begging and for parading in marriage functions, among other things.

The petitioner alleged that ever since it came from the Andamans in 2007, it was subjected to several cruelties and not maintained properly.

The petitioner said the elephant was made to walk on roads and both her front and back legs were tied using heavy chains in such way that it could not run or walk freely.

He moved the court as there was no response to his representations to the principal chief conservator of forests.

The petitioner sought a direction from the court to rescue the elephant from Indira's custody and hand it over to the principal chief conservator of the forests.

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Highlights from the southern region



at 1700 hrs.

MDS2 AP-BJP-TDP



Amaravati(AP): The BJP accused the ruling TDP in Andhra Pradesh of indulging in "spit-and-run politics" and carrying out "organised propaganda" against the saffron party's government at the Centre for political gains.

MDS3 KA-POL-CONG



Bengaluru: Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister G Parameshwara indicated that Congress leaders from the state were likely to visit New Delhi to discuss the list of ministers and portfolio allocation with the party high-command, ahead of the June 6 cabinet expansion in the southern state.

MES2 KL KILLING-ASSEMBLY



Thiruvananthapuram: The alleged incident of honour killing of a Dalit Christian man last month rocked the Kerala Assembly, with the Opposition disrupting the proceedings to press its demand for a CBI probe.

MES3 KL-VIRUS-MLA



Thiruvananthapuram: Kicking up a row, an IUML MLA attended the Kerala Assembly wearing mask and gloves to highlight the impact of Nipah virus in Kozhikode district, triggering a war of words between the ruling LDF and opposition UDF members.

MES5 TN-PRISONERS-LD GOVT



Chennai: The Tamil Nadu government announced the pre-mature release of 67 life convicts who have completed 10 years of imprisonment, in commemoration of the birth centenary of former Chief Minister M G Ramachandran and the move was welcomed by the prinicipal opposition DMK.

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Adarsh Vidyalayas, or model schools, will be set up in the state's 68 assembly constituencies, Himachal Pradesh's Minister Suresh Bhardwaj said here today.

Ten of these model schools will be opened this year and a provision of Rs 25 crore has been made, he said.

The minister said that the MLAs will be mentors of the schools in their respective constituencies.

Residents, who studied in state-run schools and are working at top posts in government departments will also be roped in to increase enrolment of students.

The government will also connect with retired government employees.

Bhardwaj said his main aim was to improve the quality of in the state's government schools.

Steps were being taken to bring the syllabus of the HP Board-affiliated schools on par with the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) and to ensure that NCERT textbooks are used, he added.

Bhardwaj also said that the government was seeking legal opinion to bring the fees of private schools under control.

Speaking about the construction of the campus of the Central University of Himachal Pradesh, Bhardwaj said that most formalities had been completed and the varsity's foundation stone would be laid soon.

He said the government was also filling up 645 vacancies for college faculty through the HP Staff Selection Commission (HPSSC).

He also spoke about the recently launched Jan Manch initiative, a programme aimed at addressing public grievances effectively.

Yesterday, 11 ministers and the assembly speaker organised the Jan Manch meetings in 12 districts and resolved grievances of the people on the spot, he said.

District officials also attended the meetings.

Bhardwaj, along with the state's Food, Civil Supplies and Consumer Affairs Minister Kishan Kapoor, met people at the Dharamsala mini-secretariat today.

The state education minister said that at least one of the four ministers from Kangra would be available at the secretariat every week to meet the public.

The Jan Manch programme was one of the three schemes launched by the Himachal Pradesh government last month to mark the completion of four years of Modi government.

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Veteran actor Richard Gere says he is "the happiest man in the universe" after marrying his girlfriend Alejandra Silva.

The 68-year-old star, who tied the knot with the Spanish activist in an Indian style wedding in May, shared photographs of their D-day with HELLO!



Gere said he found a great life partner in Silva, 35.

"I'm the happiest man in the universe. How could I not be? I'm married to a beautiful woman who is smart, sensitive, committed to helping people, who's fun, patient, who knows how to forgive, who's a great cook - and who makes the best salads in the world!



"Alejandra meditates, she's a vegetarian, a great mother, has the touch of an angel... and she's also Spanish: the land of kings and queens, of Cervantes and Bunuel... You can't get any better than that," he told the magazine.

Silva said Gere wooed her by sending flowers until she agreed to date him and that, now married, he regularly writes her songs



The couple met in Positano in four years when the actor stayed over at her family-owned hotel.

"A friend introduced us, we looked at each other and felt a very strong connection. We couldn't stop looking at each other all night, and since then we haven't been apart," Silva said.

"I feel like I'm in a true fairytale. Without a doubt, I feel like the luckiest woman in the world," she added.

Silva described Gere as the "most humble, sensitive, affectionate, attentive, funny, generous man" she has ever met.

"What can I say? I'm so in love. How would you feel if each morning you were asked: 'What would make you happy today?' Not a day goes by that he doesn't mention how important I am to him. I feel very lucky," she said.

The couple exchanged vows on Gere's ranch outside New York City. Silva converted to to Buddhism and moved to New York.

Tents were imported from Jaipur and the venue was decorated with flowers and Tibetan flags before they made their entrance in a tuk-tuk.

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Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf chief Imran Khan's estranged wife Reham Khan said today her former husband is not 'sadiq and amin' (honest and righteous) in line with Constitutional provisions as he hid his third marriage for two months.

Reham, whose marriage with Khan in 2015 ended after 10 months, asked Supreme Court Chief Justice Saqib Nisar to take suo motu notice of the matter.

She claimed Khan had kept his marriage to faith healer Bushra Maneka under wraps for two months and equivocated when pressed for an answer. This constituted a violation of Article 62 and 63 of the Constitution, she was quoted as saying by the Pakistani media.

Nawaz Sharif was disqualified as prime minister in the Panama Papers case by the Supreme Court under the same provision.

Reham is expected to launch a book before the general elections, Express reported earlier. The book is premised on her personal experiences as a mother, wife, journalist and warrior.

She also criticised Khan over the recent nominations of candidates for the caretaker chief minister for Punjab, for which the party has come under fire after it withdrew the name of its proposed candidate Nasir Khosa.

"How can a person run a country if he cannot give a name for the caretaker chief minister," she asked.

Reham has remained at the centre of controversy after the manuscript of her book was leaked online, which irked several PTI leaders who took to Twitter to accuse her of being part of an "agenda" ahead of the July 25 general elections.

65-year-old Khan's previous two marriages ended in divorce. His first marriage was with Jemima Goldsmith, daughter of a British billionaire, in 1995, which lasted nine years. Khan has two sons from her.

Rumours about Khan's third marriage started circulating in January. However, he had rejected media reports that he had secretly married Bushra on January 1.

On February 19, Khan's Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf spokesperson Fawad Chaudhary said that the party chief married Bushra in a simple ceremony.

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India is among the top five e-waste generating countries in the world besides China, the US, Japan and Germany, according to a report.

Among states, Maharashtra contributes the largest e-waste of 19.8 per cent but recycles only about 47,810 tonne per annum (TPA), the report released by Assocham and NEC today said ahead of the Day on June 5.

Tamil Nadu with e-waste contribution of 13 per cent recycled about 52,427 TPA; Uttar Pradesh (10.1 per cent) recycles about 86,130 TPA; West Bengal (9.8 per cent), Delhi (9.5 per cent ), Karnataka (8.9 per cent), Gujarat (8.8 per cent) and Madhya Pradesh 7.6 per cent.

The global volume of e-waste is expected to reach 52.2 million tonne (MT) or 6.8 kg per inhabitant by 2021 from 44.7 MT in 2016 at a compound annual growth rate of 20 per cent, according to the study.

Of the total e-waste produced in 2016, only 20 per cent (8.9 MT) is documented to be collected properly and recycled, while there is no record of the remaining, e-waste, the study said.

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India on Monday received its cheapest under a long-term deal as Russia began shipping natural gas at a delivered price of close to $7 per million British thermal unit.

At current oil prices, the Russian rate is $1.5 per mmBtu less than the price at which Qatar, India's oldest supplier, delivered liquefied natural gas (LNG).

Russian supplies are also cheaper by $1-1.5 per mmBtu than the sourced from Australia and the US.

Oil Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, who flew in here to witnessed arrival of first ship under a 20-year import deal with Gazprom, termed the event as Golden Day in the India's energy pursuit.

State-owned gas utility Ltd had in January taken advantage of Russian company's inability to deliver LNG from the previously agreed Schtokman project in the Barents Sea, to renegotiate price agreed in 2012.

GAIL also deferred taking deliveries of full 2.5 million tonnes a year LNG. The contract period was extended by three years to accommodate the supplies not taken in initial years as well as get an additional 2 million tonnes over-and-above the 50 million tonnes it had agreed to take in 2012 over the 20 year contract period.

LNG carrier 'LNG Kano ', bringing cargo from Russian supplier Gazprom, docked at Ltd's import facility here this morning.

Gazprom supplied the 3.4 trillion British thermal unit (TBtu) of cargo from Nigeria. "First we renegotiated price of LNG from Qatar, then reworked Australian supplies and now gas from Russia under renegotiated terms has started to flow, Pradhan said after receiving the LNG cargo.

India will import LNG worth an estimated $25 billion over the contract period from Russia, he said. "Gazprom price (after being reworked) is very competitive."



While he did not give details, sources with direct knowledge of the development said the reworked price at current oil rate comes to close to $7 per mmBtu, which is cheaper than the delivered price of LNG under the 25-year deal with RasGas of Qatar.

Also it is cheaper than Gorgon LNG from Australia and Henry-hub linked US LNG, supplies of which started only a few weeks back.

India, Pradhan said, is pushing towards a gas-based economy by raising the share of environment friendly fuel in the energy basket to 15 per cent from current 6.2 per cent.

There exists huge scope for gas usage in Indian economy -- from generating power to producing quality steel, he said, adding that increasing gas share would also help the country meet its COP21 commitment to cutting carbon emission.

India is dependent on imports to meet 45 per cent of its gas needs.

Beginning of supplies from Russia comes within weeks of India importing its first ever LNG cargo from US under a long-term import deal.

Pradhan said the starting of LNG imports from Russia has added a new dimension to the Indo-Russian bilateral relations, particularly in the oil & gas sector.



Russia has emerged as a long-term source for India's hydrocarbon imports, he said.

Stating that the government is committed to transforming India into a gas-based economy, he said investments are being made for augmenting natural gas infrastructure, including pipelines, LNG import terminals and City Gas Distribution networks. ?



In the last few years, Indian companies have made investment of more than USD 10 billion in acquiring varying stakes in strategic Russian projects including Sakhalin-1, Vankorneft and Taas-Yuryakh. On the other hand, Russian company led consortium has committed an investment of USD 13 billion in Esaar Oil in 2016.

Russia is currently, world's largest crude oil & second largest gas producer in the world. India is world's third largest energy consumer and fourth largest importer of LNG. ?



GAIL has renegotiated with Russian supplier Gazprom the terms of the 20-year deal to import 2.5 million tonnes a year of LNG. Both price and volume ramp up have been renegotiated.

GAIL Chairman and Managing Director B C Tripathi said the contracted volume has been lowered from 2.5 million tonnes to 0.5 MT in the first year 2018-19; 0.75 MT in 2019-20; 1.5 MT in the third year 2020-21.

The company has committed to importing the full 2.5 MT a year by the fourth year and make up for the initial volume reduction over the remaining length of the contract.

Also, the price indexation has been changed from the Japan Customs-cleared Crude to Brent, and the oil-linked slope of the contract formula lowered, and therefore the final price.

Sources said the renegotiated contract provides for diverting a part of the volume, originally contracted on a delivered ex-ship basis, to other markets.

Under the re-worked deal with Gazprom, the duration of the contract has been extended by three years and the Indian company has agreed to buy an additional six million tonnes of LNG volumes.

The pricing of the super-cooled fuel has been changed from 9 month linkage to Japanese Customs cleared crude to three months average of Brent, sources said.



The deferral will allow GAIL more time to find customers for the imported gas.

GAIL had signed the original deal on August 29, 2012 with Gazprom Marketing and Trading Singapore Pte Ltd (GMTS), Singapore.

The deal was renegotiated in January this year. Gazprom will supply LNG from Yamal LNG project in the Arctic peninsula.

India has been making the most of its position as one of the world's biggest energy consumers to strike better bargains for its companies.

Last year, India got US energy major Exxon Mobil Corp to lower price of 1.5 MT a year of LNG from Gorgon project in Australia, saving Rs 4,000 crore in import bill.
Intermittent firing and shelling by Pakistani troops was reported in Akhnoor sector of Jammu and Kashmir in the early hours today, a senior BSF officer said.

The limited firing targeting at least four border outposts was reported in Akhnoor sector which was responded accordingly," the officer said.

However, there was no report of any ceasefire violation after 0215 hours. He said calm is prevailing but the situation continues to remain tense.

Yesterday, two BSF personnel including an officer were killed and 14 persons, mostly civilians, were injured in heavy firing and shelling by Pakistan in Akhnoor, Kanachak and Khour sectors.

The violation came nearly a week after the director generals of military operations (DGMOs) of both countries agreed to implement the ceasefire pact of 2003 in letter and spirit.

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Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav today asked if Prime Minister Narendra Modi's recent visit to Indonesia and Malaysia during the month of Ramzan an attempt towards "international appeasement" of the minority community.

During an interview with PTI, he claimed that the people of not only Uttar Pradesh, but of the entire country was upset with the BJP as other than making promises it "did nothing else".

Citing a proverb, Yadav said, "With empty stomach, people have now understood that the BJP does not mean business."



Asking the BJP to restrain its leaders from making "absurd" comments, he said, "The BJP should learn to face defeats or else they will be not be able to digest the outcome of the 2019 Lok Sabha elections in which the opposition will stage a comeback."



Slamming the BJP for accusing his party of practising minority appeasement, the Samajwadi Party chief said, "Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath says he does not celebrate Eid as he is a Hindu. The BJP charges us with practising Muslim appeasement. Modi has just visited Indonesia and Malaysia during the month of Ramzan. Is it an attempt towards 'international appeasement' of the Muslims?"Adityanath had reportedly said that he is a Hindu and does not celebrate Eid, drawing sharp criticisim from opposition.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi was for the first time on an official visit to Indonesia - the world's most populous Muslim-majority nation - last month. He has visited Singapore twice and Malaysia once in 2015.

Modi had also visited Indonesia's grand Istiqlal Mosque, the largest in southeast Asia, with President Joko Widodo.

Indonesia is not only the world's most populous Muslim country, followed by India, but the third largest democracy. Hindus comprise two per cent of Indonesia's population and form close to a 90 per cent majority on the island of Bali.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Megastar Amitabh Bachchan said it took eight years for India to become polio free and he is happy to have contributed to the cause.

India was declared polio-free in 2014 by World Health Organisation (WHO).

The 75-year-old actor, who became the UNICEF goodwill ambassador for the polio eradication campaign in India in 2002, believes his erstwhile on-screen persona of an angry young man played a catalyst in spreading awareness about the disease.

"When we started the campaign, it wasn't very successful, as people were not very receptive to the thought. But then Piyush (Pandey) wanted me to be the angry old man and talk loudly in my ads scolding the people for not taking the polio drops. And it worked.

"When a few ladies in the rural areas were asked as to why they came for the polio drops, they quipped that they did not want to anger Amitji any further. It took eight years to eradicate polio from our country and I am happy could contribute to it," Bachchan said in a press release.

The actor recently was felicitated with the 'Master of Creativity' title at Kyoorius Creative Awards that honours excellence in creativity.

Bachchan was honoured for his contribution in the world of advertising and marketing.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
In a bid to boost the Jammu and Kashmir economy, the Mehbooba Mufti-led government is all set to host in July-end its first ever "global investors meet", aimed at harnessing hydro power potential of 20,000 mega watts in the state.

Jammu and Kashmir has exploited only about 16 per cent of the estimated 20,000 MW of hydro-power potential for the past two decades even as the energy demand has been growing gradually, creating a wider demand-supply gap.

"I am hosting (first-ever) global investor meet by July-end (in the state to focus on harnessing of the huge hydro power potential of J&K)," Minister for power Sunil Sharma told PTI today.

The investors from hydro-power sector from across the world, not from India only, will take part in the meet, he said adding, "We will give a presentation on the hydro power potential of J&K before them".

Some of the world's top most hydro-power generation companies are expected to take part in the global investor meet in Srinagar by July-end.

They will be asked for investment in harnessing of the hydro power potential of J&K, he said.

Jammu and Kashmir has exploited only about 16 per cent of the estimated 20,000 MW of hydro-power potential even as the energy demand has been growing gradually creating a wider demand-supply gap, the state economic survey 2017 said.

The estimated hydro-power potential of Jammu and Kashmir is 20,000 MW, of which about 16,475 MW has been identified.

"This comprises 11,283 MW in Chenab basin, 3,084 MW in Jhelum basin, 500 MW in Ravi Basin and 1,608 MW in Indus basin. Only 3,263.46 MW, about 20 per cent of the identified potential of 16,475 MW and only about 16 per cent of the estimated potential of 20,000 MW has been exploited until now which comprises 1,211.96 MW in the state sector, 2,009 MW in central sector and 42.5 MW in private sector," the report said.

Blaming the previous dispensations for failure to tap such a huge power potential, Sharma said if we sincerely harness this potential, it will change the fate and narrative of Jammu and Kashmir towards peace progress and prosperity.

"The rivers of J&K are biggest resource for our economic growth, employment generation and new era of development. We have not been able to tap our rivers. we have kept J&K hostage to certain laws. World has changed since then but J&K has lagged behind," Sharma said.

J&K has such a power policy, which instead of attracting the investments, have discouraged investors, he said adding that development and economy should be kept out of the any redlines of laws and acts.

"State economy will be given fillip by this (harnessing of hydro power on our rivers). Water is our biggest resource than tourism and agriculture. I am sincere to bring major changes in this sector," Sharma said.

Various reforms are underway at the level of the state government and the Centre for making the power sector more efficient and more competitive. While there is some progress, but the power shortage continues to haunt the state and is a major constraint for the development of the industry, he added.

A total of 3,263.46 MW has been harnessed on three western rivers from Jehlum, Chenab and Indus through state, central and public private partnership mode of execution.

While four projects -- 9 MW Dah project, 9 MW Hanu project, 37.5 MW Parnai project and 48 MW Lower Kalnai project -- are under execution, Chenab Valley Power Project has been entrusted to implement three hydro power projects in Kishtwar, including 1,000 MW Pakal Dul, 624 MW Kiru and 540 MW Kwar. Prime Minister Narendra Modi has recently laid foundation of the Pakal Dul.

The biggest problem is on the distribution front as Aggregate Technical and Commercial (AT-C) losses of the state are on the higher side.

The main reasons for such high losses are technical as well as commercial. To minimise losses, the system needs up-gradation and improvements, especially in existing outdated distribution network. However, with the efforts of the government the AT-C losses, which were estimated at 61.30 per cent in 2014-15 were reduced to 58.82 per cent in 2015-16. This has been posing a major challenge to the fiscal health of the state.

The minister said that the reforms under power sector also include creation of new transmission corridors on a fast-track basis, creation of smart grid infrastructure and promotion of joint ventures under participatory mode.

The economic survey report of 2017 says the energy demand in Jammu and Kashmir has gradually increased by about two to three per cent annually up to the financial year 2015-16.

During the financial year 2016-17, the energy demand has increased by 1.6 per cent over the previous year. However, against the energy requirement of 18,487.59 MUs, the state has met a restricted energy demand of 15,667.449 MUs, thereby reducing the energy deficit from 21.83 per cent in 2015-16 to 15.25 per cent in 2016-17, the report said.

Though there is a gradual increase in the recovery of tariff since 2002-03, yet the gap between the targets and actual revenue realised has not been bridged. In the year 2016-17, the revenue target was Rs 3860.36 crore, out of which the pure revenue was Rs 1,715.32 crore and along with miscellaneous revenue and electricity duty, the total revenue realized was Rs 1877.72 crore, which is 48.64 per cent only.

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As the NDA in Bihar faces the ticklish question of seat sharing for 2019 Lok Sabha elections, major constituents JD(U) and BJP have started building their case for a bigger portion of the 40 seats from the state.

The JD (U) has insisted that Chief Minister Nitish Kumar is the leader of the alliance and it has been the "senior partner" in the state, indicating that it should get a major share. Reacting to it, the BJP today said while it agreed Kumar was the face of NDA in Bihar, the Lok Sabha elections will be fought under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, thus staking claim to a major share in the seats.

The question at the core of the debate is whether the poor showing of JD(U) in the last Lok Sabha elections in 2014 when it was out of NDA or whether its much improved showing in the 2015 assembly elections would be taken as the yardstick for deciding the number of seats to be given to the Nitish Kumar-led party in the coming Lok Sabha polls.

While the JD(U) had gone it all alone in the 2014 Lok Sabha poll and won just two sets, it registered an impressive presence in the assembly elections held a year later as a partner of the RJD and the Congress in the Grand Alliance.

In 2009 Lok Sabha polls, when the two fought together, the JD(U) had won 22 out of 25 seats it had contested while the BJP won 12 out of 15.

Nitish Kumar has always been the leader of the NDA in Bihar. JD(U) has always been the senior coalition partner, the proverbial big brother. There is nothing new in that, JD(U) spokesman Ajay Alok told reporters here echoing the line taken by party leaders K. C. Tyagi and Pawan Varma after a high-level party meeting yesterday.

Alok was responding to queries over reports in a section of the media that it was resolved at a meeting of the party's core committee yesterday that JD(U) will play the role of big brother in Bihar just like the BJP does in Delhi.

Varma had said Nitish Kumar is the face of the NDA in Bihar. That is why he is the Chief Minister.

To a query whether the JD(U), which had only two members in the Lok Sabha, was likely to press for a seat-sharing arrangement commensurate with its relatively higher strength in the state assembly, Alok said, In the past, there have been occasions when the JD(U) has fought on 25 out of the 40 Lok Sabha seats in Bihar and the BJP has contested 15.

He, however, added under different circumstances, it would require all NDA constituents to sit together and thrash out a seat-sharing arrangement that is acceptable to all.

After Kumar snapped ties with the BJP in 2013, smaller parties like Ram Vilas Paswan's Lok Janshakti Party and the Rashtriya Lok Samata Party, headed by Kumar's associate-turned-critic Upendra Kushwaha joined the NDA which went on to win a total of 31 seats in the state in 2014 lok Sabha elections out of which BJP bagged 22.

While Kushwaha has demanded that seat-sharing be decided at the earliest, Paswan is also understood to have taken up the matter with BJP president Amit Shah when he called on him in Delhi last week.

Meanwhile, BJP leaders sought to play down JD(U)'s stance.

Narendra Modi is the face of the NDA in the country while Nitish Kumar is its leader in Bihar. Where is a contradiction in that," Deputy Chief Minister Sushil Kumar Modi told reporters in Delhi,



Seat-sharing is not a big issue when our hearts have united (dil mil gaye). When the time comes, all of us will sit together and decide, the BJP leader, who was in the national capital to attend a meeting of state environment ministers, said.

Union Minister Giriraj Singh, who has been known to be a bitter critic of Kumar,



also struck a conciliatory note, saying he is the chief minister of the state and Narendra Modi is the Prime Minister of the country. Why are some people trying to make a controversy out of that.

However, the party's state vice-president Mithilesh Tiwari said it is beyond doubt that the Lok Sabha polls will be fought under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

Replying to a query, he said, If the JD(U) is trying to put pressure, through the media, for a favourable seat-sharing arrangement, then it should not do so.

Union Minister Ram Kripal Yadav, a former close aide of RJD supremo Lalu Prasad who had joined the BJP in 2014, also said, I cannot comment on seat-sharing but Lok Sabha polls will be fought under the leadership of Narendra Modi.

The NDA in Bihar is scheduled to hold a meeting here, the first since the chief minister rejoined the coalition, on Thursday.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Karnataka Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy today pitched for finding an amicable solution to the Cauvery water sharing dispute with Tamil Nadu after film star-turned politician Kamal Hassan met him here and took up the issue.

Speaking to reporters along with Hassan, he underlined the need for a cordial relationship between the two neighbouring states and said that the farmers of Karnataka were as important as their Tamil Nadu counterparts.

"What Kamal Hassan has said about the Cauvery Management Board (authority) is that both the states should maintain cordial relationship. Whatever problem is there, we have to equally share it. Karnataka farmers are as important as Tamil Nadu farmers. The issue should be sorted out cordially without giving a scope for any differences," Kumaraswamy said.

Hassan, who recently launched his political outfit 'Makkal Needhi Maiam', replied in the affirmative to a question whether he took up the issue of the Cauvery board (authority) and expressed satisfaction over the attitude of Kumaraswamy.

"Yes. It has been set up. We would like it to be expedited and this attitude (of Kumaraswamy) is what we are looking forward to. We are like brothers. I am happy there is the chief minister who is looking at it in the same manner," he said.

Noting that Cauvery had been there even when they were not born, the actor said, "It will be there, it should be there."



Acting on the Supreme Court's direction, the Centre had on Friday last constituted the CMA to address the dispute over sharing of river water among the riparian states of Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Kerala and Puducherry.

The apex court had directed the government on February 16, to form the CMA within six weeks in a verdict that marginally increased Karnataka's share of Cauvery water, reduced the allocation for Tamil Nadu and sought to settle the protracted water dispute between the two southern states.

When Hassan was reminded that the governments in Tamil Nadu always tried to resolve the issue through court, he said courts were never a solution to the problem.

It was only the people-to-people contact that can resolve the issue.

"I see hope in the conversation I had with him (Kumaraswamy) and that's more important. The way forward will be found by people with a mindset to go forward," said Hassan.

To a question whether he would discuss with the Tamil Nadu government just as he spoke to Hassan, Kumaraswamy said he was prepared, provided his counterpart was ready for talks.

Kumaraswamy stressed that it was the duty of the two governments to resolve the disputes within the framework of the Constitution and the federal system.

Replying to a query whether the Tamil Nadu government's line of thinking was similar to his, Hassan said, "It doesn't matter. I come on behalf of people and he (Kumaraswamy) is also talking on behalf of the people."



When asked whether he wanted to be the bridge between th egovernments of Karnataka and Tamil Nadu, Hassan said he can be "a squirrel, a bridge and even the slippers people walk on.""I can be anything, sir. I am ready to be that because I am a new party. I am a child. I am willing to have no luggage,I have no egos. I have come here to just ask because the Kuruvai (paddy) crops are coming up and fortunately after his (Kumaraswamy) swearing in, the catchment has seen some rain. So, you can afford to be kind," Hassan added.

Water for irrigation is traditionally released from the Mettur Dam in Tamil Nadu for Kuruvai on June 12 annually, but seems unlikely this year as had been on several other occasions due to low storage.

Karnataka had, early last month, said it was not in a position to release Cauvery water to Tamil Nadu.

Haasan's meeting with Kumaraswamy comes at a time when his contemporary Rajinikanth, who has announced his intentions to launch a political party, is facing a ban on his upcoming film "Kaala" in Karnataka over his remarks on Cauvery issue.

However, replying to a question, Haasan said the issue was not discussed in his meeting with the chief minister.

"Discussion was not about 'Kaala'. Not a word was spoken about it. There is a (film) chamber, business community who will take care of it," he added.

Upset with Rajinikanth's reported statement that whichever government comes to power in Karnataka should implement the Supreme Court order on Cauvery water sharing in toto, the Karnataka Film Chamber of Commerce (KFCC) has announced it would not allow screening of 'Kaala', due for release on June 7, in the state.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister G Parameshwara today indicated that Congress leaders from the state were likely to visit New Delhi to discuss the list of ministers and portfolio allocation with the party high-command, ahead of the June 6 cabinet expansion in the southern state.

"Whether we are going (to Delhi) today or tomorrow, I am not sure. The information is that (Congress president) Rahul Gandhi will arrive today (from abroad). Once he is back, he will call us, we will go then," Parameshwara, who is also the state Congress chief, told reporters here.

Both the parties in the ruling coalition in Karnataka -- the Congress and the JD(S) -- have announced a power-sharing agreement, under which the portfolios to be held by each partner have also been mentioned.

Under the agreement, the Congress would get the Home, Irrigation, Bangalore City Development and Law and Parliamentary Affairs portfolios among others.

The portfolios of the JD(S) include Finance, Excise, Information, Intelligence, Public Works Department, Power, Cooperation, Tourism, Education and Transport.

According to Congress sources, several senior party leaders with ministerial aspirations are camping in Delhi amidst reports that those who served as ministers for long may be deputed for party work and new faces would be accommodated in the cabinet.

Responding to a question in this regard, Parameshwara said, "There is no such discussion...."



He added that there were opinions that those who had been ministers for long should not be given ministerial berths and new faces should be given a chance as despite winning elections on multiple occasions, they had not got the opportunity.

The high-command would look into such suggestions while deciding on portfolio allocation, Parameshwara said.

Hectic lobbying for ministerial berths is also on in the JD(S) camp and a few senior party MLAs are reportedly upset over H D Revanna, son of party supremo H D Deve Gowda, lobbying for two portfolios, including Energy.

Parameshwara also ruled out any differences with the JD(S) on selecting the district in-charge ministers, especially in the old Mysuru region.

JD(S) leader H D Kumaraswamy and Parameshwara were sworn in as chief minister and deputy chief minister of Karnataka respectively on May 23.

On S R Patil resigning from the post of Karnataka Congress working president, Parameshwara said the senior leader had not discussed the matter with him.

Stating that he was not aware of the reasons for Patil's resignation, he said, "I will talk to him and find out why has he resigned. What I have come to know is that he was unhappy about some party workers staging a protest in front of his house in Bagalkote."



Patil had yesterday said he had tendered his resignation, owning moral responsibility for the party's "unsatisfactory performance" in last month's Assembly polls in north Karnataka.

According to Congress sources, Patil is upset as he was allegedly sidelined during the process of government formation with the JD(S).

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Kanye West has revealed he was diagnosed with a "mental condition" when he was 39.

The 40-year-old rapper said he did not consider his condition as a "disability", but a "superpower", People magazine reported.

"I had never been diagnosed until I was 39," West said during an interview recorded with radio host Big Boy after his Wyoming listening party for his new album 'YE'.

When he clarified that he was diagnosed with a "mental condition", the rapper added, "But like I said on the album, it's not a disability, it's a superpower."



The recording artiste, however, declined to specify what he had been diagnosed with during the interview.

West had already confirmed on his new LP that he is bipolar, calling the condition his "superpower".

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
The ban on Rajinikanth's film 'Kaala' in Karnataka by the state film body has not gone down well with senior BJP leader K S Eshwarappa, who said artistes arenational assets and not limited to any region or language.

"Irrespective of the field they are in, artistes are assets to the nation. They are not limited to any region or language," he told reporters in Chikkamagaluru.

The BJP leader was reacting to the Karnataka Film Chamber of Commerce decision not to allow screening of the film, due for release on June 7.

The KFCC is upset with Rajinikanth over his reported statement that whichever government comes to power in Karnataka should implement the Supreme Court order on Cauvery water sharing in toto.

The film star has often faced the wrath of pro-Kannada organisations for his comments on the Cauvery issue.

"Rajkumar (Kannada matinee idol) was not just limited to Karnataka. He won many awards in different parts of the country. Artistes and actors belong to the whole nation.

The BJP leader said he would not buy the argument from anybody to oppose any movie just because it is from a particular region and a particular language and pointed out that Kannada films could face the same consequences in future.

Karnataka has a sizeable Tamil population and a huge Rajinikanth fan following.

'Kaala' is scheduled for a worldwide release on June 7.

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Kicking up a row, an IUML MLA today attended the Kerala Assembly wearing mask and gloves to highlight the impact of Nipah virus in Kozhikode district, triggering a war of words between the ruling LDF and opposition UDF members.

The Kuttiady MLA, Parakkal Abdulla walked into the assembly wearing mask and gloves, and was seen greeting the opposition members.

While Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, said the member's behaviour amounted to 'trivialising' a serious issue, Health minister, K K Shylaja described it as a 'ridiculous act.'



The state was maintaining extreme vigil following the outbreak of the deadly virus.

Since the Nipah virus was confirmed, government has taken all necessary steps to contain it. The health department has intervened efficiently.

Even then, the MLA has come to the house wearing a mask which amounted to self ridicule, Vijayan said attacking the member.

Health minister said there are certain criteria for wearing a mask.

If the member was infected by the virus, he should not have come to the house, she said.

Leader of Opposition Ramesh Chennithala said he was told by the MLA that in Kozhikode everyone was wearing mask and walking around and so he had come to the house as a symbolic gesture.

Abdulla said his act was only to bring the government's attention to the situation in Kuttiyadi-Perambra region, the epicenter of the Nipah virus.

Speaker P Sreeramakrishnan also enquired from the member why he wore the mask.

Sixteen persons have lost their lives so far to Nipah virus (NiV) in two districts, Kozhikode and Malappuram, of the state since the confirmation of the deadly virus on May 17.

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A Motor Accident Claims Tribunal (MACT) has awarded over Rs 15 lakh as compensation to the kin of a woman who died after being hit by a motorcycle while walking across a bridge in north Delhi in 2014.

MACT Presiding Officer Sukhvir Singh Malhotra directed United India Insurance Company limited, the insurer of the offending vehicle, to pay Rs 15, 82,000 to the husband and two sons of the 46-year-old north Delhi resident Prem Latha.

The tribunal, however, gave liberty to the insurance company to proceed against the rider of the offending bike and recover the compensation amount as it had established that the north Delhi resident Suresh was riding without a driving licence.

"It is proved on record that respondent no. 1 (Suresh) was not having any driving licence at the time of accident. Since, the driver has failed to produce any driving license, an adverse inference is drawn against him. Hence, insurance company has been able to establish its statutory defence," the tribunal said.

"However, being the insurer, responded no. 3 (insurance company) is primarily liable to indemnify the insured of offending vehicle under section 149 (1) of the Motor Vehicles Act. Since it has been able to establish its statutory defence, it shall be at liberty to recover the compensation amount from the registered owner but after paying the compensation amount to the petitioners," it said.

According to the complaint filed by the husband of the deceased, she was hit by the motor bike while they were walking across a bridge near Bawana, in north Delhi on April 30, 2014.

Suresh, during the trial, claimed in the court that accident was not caused due to his negligence rather the victim was going on the wrong side of the road.

The tribunal noted that the rider, however, chose not to examine the witnesses in the case to prove his innocence.

"Respondent no. 1 (Suresh) did not approach to any higher authority or any forum against his false implication in this case," the tribunal said.

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A alleged rape-victim, on her way to a court hearing today, was attacked with an acid-like chemical by two unidentified motorcycle borne youth, police said.

The 18-year-old woman, who was on foot at the time of the incident, was attacked by two persons who escaped, they said.

The woman was on her way to attend a court hearing in connection with the rape case.

The woman had alleged she was raped by a youth from Jammu in a hotel here last year, police said.

She was rushed to the Government Multi-Specialty Hospital (GMSH) in sector 16 for treatment, police said, adding the matter was being investigated and the woman's statement being recorded.

The incident took place in an area near the PGIMER and Panjab University.

Police said the woman did not sustain any serious injury, but was under treatment after she complained of a burning sensation in her eyes and face.

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The mercy petition of Indian national Kulbhushan Jadhav, sentenced to death on spying charges, is still pending with the Pakistan Army chief for adjudication, the military said today.

India had moved the Hague-based ICJ in May last after Jadhav, 47, was sentenced to death by a Pakistani military court on charges of espionage and terrorism. A 10-member bench of the ICJ on May 18 had restrained Pakistan from executing Jadhav till adjudication of the case.

Pakistan Army spokesman said today that the mercy petition of Jadhav was still pending with Chief of Army Staff Qamar Jawad Bajwa.

"The mercy petition of Kulbhushan is with the Army Chief. It is his (COAS) prerogative to decide; whenever he wishes he can decide. But whenever the decision is taken, we will inform about it," said Maj Gen Asif Ghafoor, the Director General of Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) - the media wing of the army.

Pakistan claims that its security forces arrested Jadhav from restive Balochistan province on March 3, 2016 after he reportedly entered from Iran.

However, India maintains that Jadhav was kidnapped from Iran where he had business interests after retiring from the Navy. Jadhav's sentencing had evoked a sharp reaction in India.

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Prices of vegetables soared amid disruptions in supplies and procurement of milk was also hit in parts of Rajasthan as farmers' agitation entered the fourth day today.

"Jaipur Dairy alone has suffered a loss of nearly Rs 1 crore as 'anti-social elements' spilled nearly 60,000 litres of milk on roads. Twelve tankers were vandalised. Jaipur Dairy has lodged 8-9 FIRs for damaging and manhandling employees," Jaipur Dairy chairman Om Prakash Punia told PTI.

He said that problems are being witnessed in Sikar, Chomu, Kaladera and parts of Jaipur.

Vegetable prices have shot up by 25-30 per cent in Jaipur due to ongoing farmers' agitation.

The prices of vegetables have increased by 25-30 per cent in the last three days because of restricted supply due to the farmers' agitation, a vegetable vendor at Muhana vegetable market said.

Vegetables are supplied in Muhana mandi, Lal Kothi mandi and to other retail markets in the city from areas like Sanganer and Chomu (Jaipur) but farmers are not supplying to the mandis (large wholesale markets), he said.

Meanwhile, farmers' body holding agitation in the state has blamed "anti-social elements" for spilling milk on roads and disrupting milk procurement.

Protests have been peaceful and successful. Anti-social elements are behind disrupting milk procurement and spilling it on roads. We have set up milk points for consumers outside city limits for urban population, a core committee member of the Rashtriya Kisan Mahasangh said.

The 10-day Gaon Bandh (rural shutdown) farmer protest was called ahead of the first anniversary of the death of several farmers in police firing in Mandsaur of Madhya Pradesh, which sections of farmers supported in Rajasthan as well. The protest started on Friday demanding loan waiver, higher prices for their produce and immediate implementation of the Swaminathan Commission report on farming.

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Two people were killed at an abandoned mine in a northeastern region of Morocco that has been hit by social unrest sparked by similar accidents, authorities said.

The accident happened when a shaft collapsed on the pair in the Sidi Boubker commune of Jerada province yesterday as they tried to mine lead.

"Two people, aged around 33 and 42, died on Sunday following the partial collapse of a lead gallery in Sidi Boubker," the local authorities said, quoted by Moroccan outlets.

"The victims were extracted from inside the gallery by a group of their companions," they were quoted as saying.

"One of the victims, who was still alive, was rushed to hospital at Oujda university... but later succumbed to their injuries." Moroccan authorities have vowed to close all abandoned mines in Jerada after months of social unrest in the former mining region.

In March, police told AFP a maximum of 300 of the mines remained open out of more than 3,200 wells in Jerada, with those abandoned presenting a "clear danger".

Jerada has seen waves of peaceful demonstrations since the deaths in December of two brothers trapped in an abandoned mine shaft, as they tried to mine coal.

Two additional deaths under similar circumstances sparked anger and indignation among residents in the economically devastated town, which official statistics rank among the poorest in the kingdom.

Protesters have demanded "economic alternatives" to "death mines", from which hundreds of miners have struggled to make a living despite their closure in the late 1990s.

Protesters have also lambasted the "coal barons", local notables who are mostly elected officials and have permits to resell coal taken from closed mines.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
The fourth day of the ongoing farmers' stir across several states saw a mixed impact with prices of agricultural produce including vegetables rising in some urban areas while their supply remained normal in others.

The situation was by and large peaceful.

Farmers in Punjab decided to call off their stir on June 6 even as the protest would continue in other states.

In Madhya Pradesh's Mandsaur, where six people were killed in police firing on June 6 last year, the impact was palpable as only 200 farmers reached the local 'mandi' to sell their produce today, said an official.

"On normal days, over 4,000 farmers arrive at the mandi. Today only 200 farmers came in with their produce," said Mandsaur Krishi Upaj Mandi Inspector Balwant Singh Rathore.

Traders, however, claimed there was no shortage of fresh farm produce.

Bhagwandas Meghnani, president of Mandsaur's Wholesale Traders Union, said, "There is no shortage, as of now, because people had stored sufficient amount of vegetables ahead of the agitation. However, farmers from some areas are not arriving at the market."



However, in Indore the price of vegetables were rising.

President of the traders' union in Indore's Ahilyabai Holkar Vegetable Market, Sundardas Makhija, told PTI that the arrival in the mandi had reduced to half.

There is an average increase of 20 per cent in prices of tomatoes, lady finger, green chillies, bitter gourd and other vegetables, he said.

Makhija claimed the prices of vegetables had registered a decline during the first three days of the farmers' agitation as retailers and buyers had stored vegetables ahead of the agitation.

Bhopal's Krishi Upaj Mandi secretary Vinay Prakash Pateria claimed the arrival of grains, fruits and vegetables was normal. Mohammed Abid, a wholesale trader in Bhopal's Nav Bahar Sabji Mandi, claimed the prices had, infact, come down. The reports from markets in Neemuch, Jhabua and Ratlam also indicated normal arrival of vegetables.

In Athner town in Betul district, agitating farmers threw vegetables and poured milk on the streets, said Siddharth Priyadarshan, inspector in charge, Athner police station.

The Rashtriya Kisan Mazdoor Mahasangh (RKMM), a federation of about 130 agitating farmers' organisations, staged a protest in Vidisha alleging harassment by the administration.

Inspector-General of Police (Intelligence) Makrand Deuskar told reporters that Madhya Pradesh remained by and large peaceful.

Police said the security had been beefed up at Pipliya Mandi of Mandsaur district ahead of Congress chief Rahul Gandhi's public meeting on June 6.

State Congress chief Kamal Nath alleged the administration was trying to ensure that Gandhi's rally turns out to be a flop.

The Congress, however, came under attack from Union Minister Harsimrat Kaur Badal who blamed the party's '70-year misrule' for the current plight of farmers.

Rahul Gandhi should first address the agrarian crisis in Punjab where farmers were committing suicide under Congress rule every day, before talking about transforming the entire nation, she said.

"They looted the nation and created policy paralysis. They are now fine talking about farmers. As far as Congress pointing out fingers to say anything is concerned, it is pot calling the kettle black," Badal told the media in New Delhi while highlighting the Union government's 4-year achievements in the food processing sector.

In Rajasthan's Jaipur, prices of vegetables rose amid disruptions in supplies and procurement of milk was also hit in some parts.

"Jaipur Dairy alone has suffered a loss of nearly Rs 1 crore as 'anti-social elements' spilled nearly 60,000 litres of milk on roads. Twelve tankers were vandalised. Jaipur Dairy has lodged 8-9 FIRs for damaging and manhandling employees," Jaipur Dairy chairman Om Prakash Punia told PTI.

He said that problems were witnessed in Sikar, Chomu, Kaladera and parts of Jaipur.

The prices of vegetables have increased by 25-30 per cent in the last three days because of restricted supply due to the farmers' agitation, a vegetable vendor at Muhana vegetable market said.

Meanwhile, a farmers' body functionary blamed "anti-social elements" for spilling milk on roads and disrupting procurement.

Protests have been peaceful and successful. Anti-social elements are behind disrupting milk procurement and spilling it on roads. We have set up milk points for consumers outside city limits for urban population, a core committee member of the Rashtriya Kisan Mahasangh said.

Farmers in Punjab, meanwhile, have decided to call off their stir on June 6, after a meeting presided by Bhartiya Kisan Union (BKU-Rajewal) president Balbir Singh Rajewal and attended by other leaders.

Rajewal said the farmers in Punjab would start supplying vegetables and milk to the cities on Wednesday after paying tributes to six farmers killed in police firing during an agitation in Madhya Pradesh's Mandsaur on June 6 last year.

"But the stir would continue in other states till June 10," he said.

Meanwhile, the farmers held protests in various parts of Punjab and Haryana, with some dumping their produce on roads. Traders said due to dwindling supplies of farm produce in many mandis, prices were rising.

At a few places in Punjab, including in Bathinda and Moga districts, arguments broke out between the traders and some farmer leaders as the former claimed that they were being stopped from selling the stocked fruits and vegetables.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Continuing his attack on Narendra Modi government, former finance minister P Chidambaram today said the ruling dispensation has "harmed" the economy through its policies.

"Demonetisation was a foolish decision. (Migrating to) Goods and Services Tax (GST) structure was a good idea. I had proposed it in 2006 when I was finance minister. However, the BJP, then in opposition, had opposed it for eight years. After coming to power in 2014, the BJP introduced GST in a wrong manner," the senior Congress leader said while addressing a lecture on "Indian Economy: Scenario and Impact", organised by the Kolhapur Chamber of Commerce and Industries.

He said the GST has become a Gabbar Singh Tax under the current NDA government.

The former finance minister also accused the Central government of "total failure" in handling the "banking crisis".

"Management of the economy in era of globalisation needs a different and complex skill set. In the current situation, the Indian Economy needs a drastic medicine. Please, don't harm the economy anymore in the remaining one year," he said.

Chidambaram had said last night in Thane that Indian economy has become like a car whose three tyres are punctured even as he attacked the Modi government on rising petroleum prices and other issues.

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Handset maker Motorola aims to expand the number of its 'Moto Hubs' to 1,000 by the next quarter as it looks to further strengthen its play in India's offline retail segment.

The company, which launched the latest edition of its flagship Moto G series, currently has about 600 Moto Hubs.

"India is a key part of our global plans. While we have a very strong online presence, we are also building up the retail piece. We have 600 Moto Hubs across the country and we are looking at taking this number to 1,000 by next quarter," Lenovo Mobile Business Asia Pacific Head Shashank Sharma told PTI.

Motorola, which is part of Chinese technology giant Lenovo Group, had re-entered the Indian market in 2014 in an exclusive partnership with e-commerce Flipkart. Since then, it has expanded its presence on other online as well as offline retail platforms.

Sharma said the company has recently piloted 'Pitstop', where the company allowed Motorola phone users to get their out-of-warranty phones repaired at minimal charges.

"Users brought their out-of-warranty phones and paid for only the parts that were changed. It was a pilot we ran and we will see if we can expand the model elsewhere," he said.

Lenovo, which ranked as the fourth largest smartphone brand in India (in terms of shipment as per IDC data) till December 2017 quarter, lost its position in the top 5 in the first quarter of 2018.

"Competition and numbers keep changing. What we are focussing on is delivering innovation and premium products to customers at not-so-premium prices. We are here for the long-term," Sharma said.

As per IDC data, Xiaomi led the smartphone segment in terms of shipment with 30.3 per cent market share, followed by Samsung (25.1 per cent), Oppo (7.4 per cent), Vivo (6.7 per cent) and Transsion (4.6 per cent) in the January-March 2018 quarter.

Talking about the new phones, Sharma said "the new 'moto g6' and 'g6 play' offer the perfect combinations of features for consumers who don't want to compromise on quality, style or experience".

The phones have the innovations that matter most to users. They are smarter...and focus on immersive display, glass design and have the speed and power of Qualcomm Snapdragon processors, he added.

Moto g6 will be available for Rs 13,999 onwards, while moto g6 Play is priced at Rs 11,999.

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The fourth day of the ongoing farmers' stir in Madhya Pradesh saw a mixed response with some traders claiming the supply of vegetables at the agriculture markets had weakened while others termed it normal.

A senior police official said the situation in the state today was largely peaceful.

Several farmers' organisations have been agitating since June 1 as part of the 10-day "Gaon Bandh" (village shutdown) stir demanding remunerative prices for produce and waiver of farm loans.

In Mandsaur, where six people were killed in police firing on June 6 last year, only 200 farmers reached the local Mandi to sell their produce today, said an official.

"On normal days, over 4,000 farmers arrive at the Mandi. Today only 200 farmers came in with their produce," said Mandsaur Krishi Upaj Mandi inspector Balwant Singh Rathore.

Traders, however, claimed there was no shortage of fresh farm produce at the Mandsaur Mandi.

Bhagwandas Meghnani, president of Mandsaur's Wholesale Traders Union, said, "There is no shortage, as of now, because people had stored sufficient amount of vegetables ahead of the agitation. However, farmers from some areas are not arriving at the market."



Another trader, Jitu Meghnani, said the arrival of vegetables was adequate to meet the current requirement.

In Indore the price of vegetables were rising.

President of the traders' union in Indore's Ahilyabai Holkar Vegetable Market, Sundardas Makhija, told PTI, "When compared to normal days, the arrival in the Mandi has reduced to half. There is an average increase of 20 per cent in prices of tomatoes, lady finger, green chillies, bitter gourds and other vegetables."



He said the local wholesale vegetable market was largely dependent on neighbouring states like Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan and Maharashtra.

Makhija claimed the prices of vegetables had registered a decline during the first three days of the farmers' agitation because retailers as well as buyers had stored vegetables ahead of the agitation.

"Since the stock of vegetables in people's homes and traders' warehouses has reduced now, it is expected that the business in the wholesale market would speed up soon," he said.

Bhopal's Krishi Upaj Mandi secretary Vinay Prakash Pateria claimed the arrival of grains, fruits and vegetables was normal today, adding that no increase in prices was noticed.

Mohammed Abid, a wholesale trader in Bhopal's Nav Bahar Sabji Mandi, claimed the prices had, infact, come down due to arrival of fresh farm produce.

The reports from markets in Neemuch, Jhabua and Ratlam also indicated normal arrival of vegetables.

Inspector-General of Police (Intelligence) Makrand Deuskar told reporters here that the state remained by and large peaceful on day four of the stir.

In Athner town in Betul district, agitating farmers threw vegetables and poured milk on the streets, said Siddharth Priyadarshan, inspector in charge, Athner police station.

Six people were detained and later let off, he said.

Meanwhile, the Rashtriya Kisan Mazdoor Mahasangh (RKMM), a federation of about 130 agitating farmers' organisations, staged a protest in Vidisha alleging harassment by the administration.

The Mahasangh's spokesman Rahul Raj claimed the police had detained RKMM office-bearers in several places including Rajgarh and Singrauli.

Police said the security had been beefed up at Pipliya Mandi of Mandsaur district ahead of Congress chief Rahul Gandhi's public meeting there on June 6, the first anniversary of the killing of six farmers in police firing.

Inspector General of Police (Ujjain Range) Rakesh Gupta inspected the venue of Gandhi's public meeting. State Congress chief Kamal Nath, however, alleged the administration was trying to ensure that Gandhi's rally turns out to be a flop.

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A premier naval yard has achieved a decrease of 11 per cent energy consumption compared to the last financial year and replaced 95 per cent of the conventional street lights with LED lights, the Indian Navy said in a statement today.

More than 1,000 lights have been replaced with smart timer-based street lights and 21 MW solar photovoltaic projects have been undertaken with meticulous planning by the Indian Navy towards achieving the Centre's target of 100 GW by 2022 under the Jawaharlal Nehru National Solar Mission (JNNSM), it added.

"One of the premier naval yard has achieved a decrease of 11 per cent in energy consumption compared to the last financial year, it said while 95 per cent of conventional street lights of the repair yards have been replaced with LED lights and over 1,000 have been changed over with smart timer-based street lights," the statement released ahead of the World Day said.

It, however, did not name the yard.

A Segregated Waste Collection Centre (SWCC) was inaugurated with the support from the Defence Wives Welfare Association (DWWA) at Port Blair.

The SWCC, launched as part of the Swachh Bharat mission, incorporates modern methods of waste collection and management system.

Segregated wet garbage at an average of 400 kg is received per day for processing at the SWCC, the statement added.

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A nerve agent attack on a former Russian spy and his daughter in the UK in March cost the police force a whopping 7.5 million pounds to probe the "unprecedented incident", the police said today.

Former Russian spy Sergei Skripal, 66 and his daughter Yulia, 33, were poisoned in the English city of Salisbury on March 4. The UK says Russia was behind the attack but Moscow denies involvement.

According to the region's Police and Crime Commissioner Angus Macpherson, the Wiltshire Police "came to the fore" with more than 140 officers on duty at the height of the operation.

He described it as a "massive effort" which also involved 40 other UK forces, the BBC reported.

Skripal and Yulia were poisoned by a military-grade nerve agent called Novichok.

Macpherson revealed the financial costing of 7.5 million pounds and said the figure could still rise.

He described it as a "national operation which must be paid for nationally".

"I don't want anyone to forget the undertaking of policing minister Nick Hurd when he said [the government] would meet the costs," he said.

Macpherson also thanked the people of Salisbury "for showing their resilience" while investigation and decontamination work was carried out.

Wiltshire Police Chief Constable Kier Pritchard described it as an "unprecedented incident" which saw "the very best of UK policing".

Skripal and his daughter were taken to Salisbury District Hospital after coming into contact with the nerve agent.

Wiltshire Police Detective Sergant Nick Bailey, who was one of the first on the scene, was also admitted to hospital for treatment.

While all three have since been discharged, Skripal and Yulia have been taken to an undisclosed place by British authorities.

The Maltings shopping area, where the incident took place, was closed to allow extensive decontamination work to be carried out and reopened on May 26.

Some 250,000 pounds has been given to businesses in the city affected by the aftermath, some of which saw revenues drop by 80 per cent, the report said.

The incident also led to deterioration of UK-Russia ties with both countries expelling several diplomats.

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The National Green Tribunal has ordered closure of eight industrial units in Uttarakhand's Sitarganj area after the Central Pollution Control Board found them violating pollution norms.

A bench headed by Justice Raghuvendra S Rathore asked the authorities to shut down Gujarat Ambuja Exports Limited, Fleetguard Filters Pvt Ltd, Speciality Industrial Polymers & Coatings Pvt Ltd, Henken Chembond Surface Ace Tech Ltd, Western Consolidated Pvt Ltd, Balaji Action Buildwell Pvt Ltd, Reckitt and Benkiser Unit 1, and Reckitt and Benkiser Unit 2.

"We order that all these industries shall be shut down immediately. The Collector, Uddam Singh Nagar and Superintendent of Police as well as Member Secretary state pollution control board shall ensure that all these industries are shut down forthwith," the bench said.

The tribunal also directed the CPCB to submit a report with respect to the remaining industries which they have already inspected and submit the analysis report by June 18.

It had earlier directed the CPCB to inspect and take samples from industries located in the vicinity of Uttarakhand village of Siddh Garbyang so that the polluting units can be shut.

The tribunal had earlier appointed senior advocate Raj Panjwani and advocate Meera Gopal to assist it on a complaint of the residents of the Uttarakhand village, alleging discharge of untreated chemical effluents in drains by industries located in the vicinity.

The villagers had contended that there was complete violation of environmental laws and pollution norms by a large number of industries at the SIDCUL industrial park, located in the vicinity of Siddh Garbyang.

Terming the situation as alarming, the bench had directed its registry to register the villagers' letter as a petition and asked the Uttarakhand state pollution control board to inspect the industrial units around the village.

The NGT had issued notices to the Uttarakhand government, District Magistrate of Udham Singh Nagar, state pollution control board, and Managing Director of SIDCUL, and sought their responses.

The state pollution board was directed to identify the industries which were discharging untreated effluent and causing air and ground water pollution. It had also been asked to inform the tribunal on whether the industries were complying with the conditions of clearance.

The complainants had said the industrial units were spewing black soot which deposited black dust on the village houses, especially in the morning and evening hours due to which it was difficult for the residents to sit outside their houses or do any work.

"During rainy season, the effluent spread over the agriculture fields and even the tube wells of the village are having coloured water which is not fit for human or animal consumption," the petition had said.

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At least five people died in the flashpoint city of Masaya in Nicaragua during a night of clashes between police and anti-government protesters, a rights group said today, with residents describing scenes of terror in the streets.

The city saw running battles all weekend between residents armed with home-made mortars and slingshots who are trying to repel riot police and what they say are paramilitary forces loyal to President Daniel Ortega.

More than 100 people have died in the violence sweeping Nicaragua since protests erupted on April 18 against Ortega, the man who has dominated the Central American country's politics for four decades.

The new death toll in Masaya, a city of just over 100,000 people next door to the capital Managua, counted victims killed between Sunday night and Monday morning, according to Alvaro Leiva, head of the Nicaraguan Association for the Protection of Human Rights (ANPDH).

The agency has identified just one of the victims so far, a 23-year-old teacher named Carlos Lopez, who was killed by a bullet in the torso -- indicating "he was executed, no doubt, by snipers," Leiva said.

"There is a profound violation of human rights" in Masaya, said Leiva.

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Newly appointed Northern Army commanderLt Gen Ranbir Singh today called on Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti here today.

During the meeting, the Army Commander briefed the chief minister about the overall security scenario including the implementation of Ramzan ceasefire in the state, an official spokesman said.

"The Chief Minister advised Lt Gen Singh to work in synergy with other security agencies and ensure that maximum relief is extended to people and the hope generated by the ceasefire among common masses is sustained and further carried forward," the spokesman said.

Lt Gen Singh briefed the chief minister about the situation along borders in the state and measures being taken for the safety and security of people, he said.

This was the first meeting of Lt Gen Singh with the chief minister after he took over as the Army Commander of Northern Command.

Earlier, Lt Gen Singh reviewed the overall security scenario in Kashmir.

"The Army Commander was briefed by the Chinar Corps Commander, Lt Gen AK Bhatt, at Badami Bagh Cantonment on the overall security situation and major operational, logistical and administrative aspects pertaining to the Corps," a defence spokesman said.

Lt Gen Singh also visited the forward areas in the frontier district of Kupwara where the Army Commander was briefed by the commanders on ground as regards the operational preparedness.

"During his interaction with the troops, Lt Gen Ranbir Singh lauded their professionalism, sharp vigil along the Line of Control and high morale and exhorted them to remain alert for any eventuality," the spokesman said.

Lt Gen Singh also interacted with various officials from the government and civil administration and appreciated the synergy being maintained through the joint efforts of all the agencies which he said was the most critical aspect of successful counter terrorist operations.

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It will now take just 20 minutes to travel from Shimla to Chandigarh on a heli-taxi flagged off by Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur today.

Thakur launched the service from the Jubbar-hatti airport, 22 km from here. It will be operated on Mondays and Fridays.

The Shimla-Chandigarh heli-taxi will take off at 8 am. The return flight will take to the air at 9 am. The fare has been fixed at Rs 2,999.

Operated by Pawan Hans, the service will reduce the travel time from 4 hours to just 20 minutes.

The tickets can be purchased online from the Pawan Hans website, while a special counter has also been set up at the airport for this purpose.

Thakur said the services would be extended to Manali and Rohtang Pass.

The possibility of starting heli-taxi joy rides for Shikari Devi, Dharamshala, Chamba etc. would also be explored, he said.

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One person was killed and a number of people were injured in a clash between supporters of two political parties in CoochBehar district, police said today.

The clash between the supporters of the two parties took place at Jamaldaha area of the district yesterday in which Ramjan Mian was killed and many people were injured, they said.

The police, however, did not specify the number of injured persons.

A large contingent of police force was deployed in the area to maintain peace, they added.

CoochBehar district CPI(M) leaders claimed that deceased Ramjan Mian was their active supporter and their newly elected gram panchayat member of Jamaldaha, Atabul Islamd was among the injured.

The CPI(M) leaders alleged that the clash started when Trinamool Congress workers tried to set the house of Islam on fire which was resisted by CPI(M) activists.

The Trinamool Congress has denied the CPI(M) allegations.

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Over-crowded wards and overtime duty of doctors are not excuses to justify medical negligence, the Delhi State Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission has observed, while asking a renowned government hospital here to pay Rs 1.1 million to a man whose wife died due to its deficient service.

The commission directed the Safdurjung hospital, one of largest central government hospitals in India, to ensure that an adequate number of doctors or specialists remain on duty irrespective of the fact that a particular day is a working day or a holiday.

The panel, headed by judicial member N P Kaushik, while referring to report from Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS) which had taken strong exception to the hospital's conduct, said there was "gross negligence" on the part of the hospital as the 42-year-old patient could neither be shifted to ICU nor put on ventilator due to non-availability of beds.

"It is clear that there is an admission of 'deficiency in service' on the part of the treating doctors especially as per report given by the panel of experts appointed by DGHS.

"A senior resident on call attended the patient, patient needed to be ventilated. No ventilator was available in the ICU. On a second reference to ICU on April 26, 2006 at 6 am, again no bed was available in ICU. Patient could not be put on ventilator. Patient died at 8 am. It is nothing but a case of gross negligence," the commission said.

Besides referring to the DGHS report, it also considered the report by (MCI), and Delhi Medical Council (DMC) which had observed that the management of the hospital was required to undertake appropriate steps for improving communication between doctors and relatives of patient.

The hospital had denied all the allegations levelled against it and said it made every timely effort to provide appropriate treatment to the patient.

It said that the patient or her attendants were at liberty to seek discharge if they were feeling dissatisfied with the treatment.

The commission, however, granted the compensation to the patient's husband Sudhir Verma and passed a slew of directions for the hospital, including addressing lack of ICU beds and proper training for doctors.

"Before parting, it may be mentioned here that the hospital must address the problem of lack of ICU beds and ventilators. It also must ensure that an adequate number of doctors/ specialists remain on duty irrespective of the fact that a particular day is a working day or a holiday.

"All doctors must be given training to record the investigations done in the investigation chart. Laboratories in emergency department should function effectively even on holidays. The results of tests given by such labs should be reliable. Overloaded wards and extra hours of duty of doctors and staff should never become an excuse to justify negligence," it said.

The commission also observed that weekend holidays were no justification for lesser number of doctors and paramedical staff in hospital.

"Treating doctors shifted the blame to the factor of overcrowding in the hospital. Holidays of Saturday or Sunday is no justification for detailing lesser number of doctors and paramedical staff. Experts have admitted that it was the non-availability of beds in ICU that the patient could not be transferred to ICU.

"Experts have opined that Contrast Enhanced CT Fundoscopy could have further assisted in diagnosis. It clearly goes to shows that standard protocol was not followed. The hospital was, therefore, negligent and deficient in service. Seriousness of the condition of the patient was never explained to the relatives/attendants," it observed.

According to the complaint lodged by Verma, his wife Kiran was being treated for and at another hospital when she suffered severe in her abdomen on April 22, 2006.

Her husband rushed her to with all her reports but she allegedly could not get proper treatment till 40 hours of her admission.

Verma, while seeking Rs 4.5 million compensation, alleged that after his wife was put on drip, she started feeling restless and vomited. He informed the staff there but her health kept deteriorating, he claimed.

He further claimed that his wife was not attended by any doctor nor any tests were conducted till the next day and ultimately she died four days later due to medical negligence.
Pakistan's military hit back at mounting criticism of its long campaign against militancy and stressed its support for upcoming elections in a major public relations offensive today.

The push comes one day after a rights group clashed with Taliban-linked militants in the country's northwest, sparking fresh claims the military was backing proxy forces based in Pakistan that are fighting in Afghanistan.

Sunday's fight between activists from the Pashtun Protection Movement (PTM) and miliants during a rally Sunday left at least two dead and dozens injured on the Afghan border, according to a local official.

PTM has been calling for investigations into disappearances and extrajudicial killings by Pakistan's security establishment, while also echoing accusations that the military allowed extremists a safe haven from which to launch attacks in Afghanistan.

But in a wide-ranging press conference, chief military spokesman Major General Asif Ghafoor slammed accusations that the country was harbouring militants and accused PTM of being manipulated by "enemies of Pakistan".

He went on to defend the conduct of Pakistan's fight against insurgents, noting that thousands had lost their lives in the country's battle against extremism. "War is a cruel action and not a fair game, more than 70,000 Pakistanis and 16,000 soldiers have been killed and wounded in this war," said Ghafoor during a press conference in the garrison city of Rawalpindi.

Ghafoor was also at pains to emphasise the military's support for elections set in July, as tensions mount following the ousting of former prime minister Nawaz Sharif by the Supreme Court on corruption charges last year.

Ghafoor said the military stood by Pakistan's political development ahead of what is likely to be only the second democratic transfer of power in the nation's 70-year history.

"There is nobody else happier than the army over the completion of parliament and government's tenure," Ghafoor said.

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A Palestinian armed with an axe was shot dead trying to breach the Gaza-Israel border today, the Israeli army said.

An army statement said troops thwarted an "infiltration attempt" by "two terrorists who damaged the security fence and were armed with an axe." Soldiers "fired towards the terrorists, killing one of them," it added, without clarifying what happened to the second suspect.

There was no immediate confirmation from the health ministry in Gaza. The death brings to 125 the number of Palestinians killed by Israeli fire in Gaza since March 30.

The vast majority have been killed during weeks of protests along the border. Protests peaked on May 14 when at least 61 people were killed as tens of thousands approached the heavily fortified border in a demonstration coinciding with the controversial opening of the US embassy in Jerusalem.

On Friday a 21-year-old female medic was shot dead in southern Gaza.

No Israelis have been killed.

The Jewish state accuses Gaza's Islamist rulers Hamas of using the protests as an excuse to carry out attacks.

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Parliamentarians today asked bankers to prepare a road map to deal with mounting bad loans in the system, which touched Rs 8.31 trillion at end-December 2017.

It was also emphasised during a meeting of the bankers with Parliamentary Standing Committee on Finance, headed by Lok Sabha MP Verappa Moily, that corporates should not be painted with a same brush as all are not wilful defaulters, said sources.

Among others, Chairperson and PNB MD Sunil Mehta briefed the panel on various aspects of non-performing assets (NPAs) and frauds.

too will brief the committee later this month.

Gross of state-owned banks had crossed Rs 7.77 trillion crore at the end of December 2017, according to official data.

During the meeting, one of the committee members also wondered why pubic money was being used to recapitalise the state-owned banks which are losing money due to frauds and defaults by corporates, sources added.

The committee was earlier briefed by Financial Services Secretary about issues related to the sector.

Former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, who is also a member of the committee, is likely to attend the meeting.
A on Monday asked the Indian Banks' Association (IBA) to prepare a road map for addressing the issue of mounting bad loans and also posed queries on the alleged "nepotism" by MD and CEO in a loan to Videocon Group.



During a meeting between the bankers and the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Finance, headed by Lok Sabha MP Verappa Moily, it was emphasised that corporates should not be painted with a same brush as all are not wilful defaulters, said sources.



Non-performing assets (NPAs) touched Rs 8.31 trillion at end-December 2017.Among others, IBA Deputy Chairman and SBI chief and PNB MD Sunil Mehta briefed the panel on various aspects of non-performing assets (NPAs) and banking frauds. Senior advisor of IBA Alok Gautam was also present in the meeting, sources added.RBI Governor Urjit Patel too will brief the committee later this month. Sources said that some of the members had questions on allegations against Kochhar. One of the member wanted to know if "nepotism" was also going on in private sector The Bank has already constituted an independent enquiry into the allegations of quid pro quo against Kochhar in providing loan to Videocon Group.Sources further said TMC MP and member of the panel Dinesh Trivedi wondered why pubic money was being used to recapitalise the state-owned which are losing money due to frauds and defaults by corporates.Some members quizzed the bank officials whether "aggressive lending" during the successive UPA governments was the reason for the mounting NPAs in the banking system, especially in state-owned lenders. Gross NPAs of state-owned had crossed Rs 7.77 trillion at the end of December 2017, according to official data.BJP MP Nishikant Dubey said Indian banks need not adhere to international capital adequacy norms (Basel-III) as it is leading to more provisioning of capital, sources said.The committee was earlier briefed by Financial Services Secretary Rajiv Kumar about issues related to the banking sector.

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Paraguay's government says President Horacio Cartes will open the country's new embassy to Israel in Jerusalem on Tuesday, following similar steps by the United States and Guatemala.

Government spokesman Mariano Mercado says Cartes will leave for the trip on Saturday.

The decision to move the embassy to Jerusalem has been controversial in Paraguay. It comes less than two months before Mario Abdo Benitez replaces Cartes, and the president-elect has said he wasn't consulted.

Israel claims the entire city as its eternal capital. Palestinians want east Jerusalem as their future capital and were infuriated by the embassy moves.

Most countries maintain embassies in Tel Aviv and have balked at moving them until the international legal status of the city has been resolved.

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Paris police today began evacuating around 1,000 migrants from two makeshift camps in the city, five days after another 1,000 were taken to temporary lodgings.

The operation began at dawn at a camp along the Canal St Martin northeast of the city centre where an estimated 550 mainly Afghan migrants were staying, an AFP reporter said.

Another 450 people were being evacuated from a camp to the north at Porte de la Chapelle, police and city authorities said in a joint statement.

The St Martin Canal is near the site of a sprawling former camp by the Stalingrad Metro stop, which was cleared only to spring up again several times last year.

Claims for refugee status will be given a "complete and in-depth examination", the statement said.

Today's operation comes less than a week after the dismantling of a camp along the Canal St Denis, north of the St Martin canal, where around 1,000 migrants mainly from Eritrea and Sudan had sheltered.

Concerns had grown in recent weeks over the conditions at the makeshift camps. One migrant drowned in the St Martin canal last month, while a brawl left a migrant seriously injured at the St Denis camp.

"They say we can stay in shelters for not very long, that we'll have three meals a day. That's good," said a migrant who gave his name only as Souleimane, wearing a rasta cap over his dreadlocks.

"Life here was very, very difficult." Many migrants hope for refugee status but may be facing expulsion under centrist President Emmanuel Macron's tougher approach to immigration.

Some have arrived in Paris from the northern port of Calais, where migrants have flocked for years hoping to stow away on trucks to Britain.

France received a record 100,000 asylum applications last year and offered refugee status to around 30,000 people, official figures show. Forced expulsions numbered 14,900.

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Delhi Police today filed a charge sheet in a court here against Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia, former AAP leader Yogendra Yadav and others in a 2014 protest case.

The final report filed before Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate Samar Vishal accused the 59 persons, including some AAP lawmakers and workers, of joining or continuing in unlawful assembly, knowing that it has been commanded to disperse and disobedience to the order duly promulgated by a public servant.

The court has posted the matter for taking consideration of the matter on July 5.

The matter relates to the protest staged by the accused after AAP convener Arvind Kejriwal was taken into judicial custody when he refused to furnish a bail bond in a defamation case filed by BJP leader Nitin Gadkari.

A Delhi court had sent Kejriwal to two-day judicial custody in May 2014 after he refused to furnish the bail amount of Rs 10,000.

With their leader in Tihar, party members and AAP supporters gathered outside the high-security jail to protest against the arrest and clashed with the police.

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The police today foiled an immolation bid by two Congress MLAs over farmers' issues near the district collectorate here and detained both of them, an official said.

Virendra Jagtap and Yashmomati Thakur, the legislators from Dhamangaon Railway and Teosa constituencies respectively in Amravati district, were detained just before they could pour kerosene and set themselves ablaze, Deputy Commissioner of Police Chinmay Pandit said.

The local Congress unit had recently taken out a 'silent morcha' and given an ultimatum to the district administration to ask the agricultural produce market committee (APMC) to start procurement of 'tur' (a pulse variety) and 'harbhara' (gram), Jagtap told PTI.

The party had also demanded that farmers be given arrears of three months for their crops which were already procured, he said.

"Since there was no response, we protested against the administration's apathy by taking out a morcha to the district collectorate today," he said.

The two MLAs had also threatened to immolate themselves in front of the collectorate.

However, the district police had deployed personnel in plain clothes at the place in advance and detained the two legislators when they came to immolate themselves.

The two MLAs were detained and later released, Pandit said.

Later Jagtap accused the BJP government of being "thick-skinned" and "insensitive" towards farmers.

"With monsoon just around the corner, the government has purchased tur and gram from only 25 to 30 per cent farmers who had registered online. The prices of tur and gram have now fallen," he said.

He claimed that 67 per cent farmers from the district were yet to benefit from the government's loan waiver scheme.

"Their (farmers') condition is miserable. They don't have money to cultivate their land for kharif crops or to pay for labour. It is the government's good fortune that farmers are letting ministers and (ruling party) MLAs move freely," he said.

If the situation does not improve, farmers will not let the ministers and legislators move freely, Jagtap warned.

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Police shot and wounded a knife-wielding man inside Berlin's main cathedral today but said there was no indication the assailant had a "terrorist" motive.

Officers cordoned off the entrances to the landmark in the heart of the German capital after the incident, in which one policeman was also hurt by what was believed to be a police bullet.

About 100 people were visiting the cathedral at the time of the incident and had been evacuated by staff by the time two police officers arrived at the scene. "Shortly after 4 pm (1400 GMT) police shot at a rampaging man at Berlin Cathedral," police said in a tweet.

"He was wounded in the leg."



Both the assailant and the officer were being treated in hospital.

A spokesman later added that the man was a 53-year-old Austrian who had been brandishing a knife and was "verbally aggressive". When the two officers arrived at the scene, the man was at the altar.

Witnesses told local media that the man appeared "very confused". The iron-domed Protestant cathedral, one of the city's top tourist attractions, is on Museum Island off east Berlin's main Unter den Linden boulevard and close to the Alexanderplatz shopping district.

"Based on what we know so far, we have no information that the suspect in any way had a terrorist or Islamist motive," a police spokesman said.

An AFP reporter said the entrances to the building were blocked off with red-and-white police tape and several officers with automatic weapons were patrolling the scene.

DPA agency said some witnesses were taken away to receive psychological counselling.

The shooting comes with authorities in a state of high alert for jihadist attacks after several assaults claimed by the Islamic State group in the country.

Like other European nations, Germany remains a target for Islamist militant groups, in particular because of its involvement in the coalition fighting IS in Iraq and Syria, and its deployment in Afghanistan since 2001.

In the worst jihadist attack in the country to date, Tunisian asylum seeker Anis Amri rammed a truck into crowds at a Berlin Christmas market in December 2016, killing 12.

The assault occurred in the shadow of the Kaiser Wilhelm Memorial Church, a war-damaged landmark in the west of the capital.

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BJP national general secretary Kailash Vijayvargiya today said the party would move the Calcutta High Court, and if needed the Supreme Court, to unearth the truth behind the deaths of two party workers in Purulia district.

The senior BJP leader was addressing a gathering at Maguria under Daspur police station area in West Midnapore district where three local leaders and panchayat members of the CPI(M) and another leader from the Trinamool Congress joined the party.

Two independent panchayat members also joined the BJP in presence of Vijayvargiya.

"We will soon move the high court, and the Supreme Court if needed, to know the truth behind the murders of two party workers in Purulia district," he said.

The two were found hanging in the district, where the BJP fared comparatively well in the recently held panchayat election, on May 30 and June 2.

The BJP leader alleged the two were murdered because of instigation by senior Trinamool Congress leaders.

The TMC leaders had denied any involvement of the party in the two deaths.

The police claimed that the second incident was a case of suicide.

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Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh will begin his two-day visit to Jammu and Kashmir on June 7 during which he will review the suspension of operations in Ramzan and also meet those affected by cross-border shelling, officials here said.

This is the second high-level visit to the state after the announcement of unilateral ceasefire by the Centre from May 16. Earlier, Prime Minister Narendra Modi had visited all the three regions of the state -- Ladakh, Srinagar and Jammu.

During his stay in Kashmir, the home minister will travel to the frontier district of Kupwara where he will review some projects being undertaken as part of the Border Area Development Programme, officials said.

Later, he will review the suspension of anti-militancy operations during the holy month of Ramzan with top police, paramilitary and central security agency officials, they said.

The need for such an exercise was to understand the impact of the suspension of operations on the life of citizens, the officials said.

Singh is also expected to discuss with the state government and security officials the possibility of extending the suspension of operations beyond Eid and during the period of the Amarnath Yatra, which will begin on June 28.

The recent incidents of stone pelting, attacks on security forces in the Kashmir Valley and infiltration attempts along the border will also figure in the meetings Singh will have with the top brass of the security forces, an official said.

The home minister's visit comes amidst an offer for talks with the Hurriyat Conference.

The separatist amalgam, however, has made it clear that it was ready for a dialogue only if there was clarity on the initiative and Jammu and Kashmir is declared "disputed", and a few other conditions are met.

On the second day of the tour, the home minister will visit Jammu and will take stock of the situation along the international border where over a dozen security personnel have been killed in firing by Pakistani forces.

Several thousand people living along the border were also evacuated and taken to safer places due to the continuous firing from across the border, another official said.

The central government has already decided to construct more than 28,400 bunkers in Jammu and Kashmir for the safety of residents living along the Indo-Pak border who often face shelling from the Pakistani side.

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The Kerala High Court today directed over 400 workers of the State Road Transport Corporation, who have availed a long leave and taken up jobs abroad, to rejoin duty within one and a half months.

Over 400 employees belonging to various categories have taken a long leave from the loss-making corporation and have taken up jobs abroad.

The KSRTC Managing Director had recently issued an order directing them to rejoin duty by June 1, failing which their services would be terminated.

Challenging the order, the affected employees had moved the High Court, seeking more time to rejoin work.

When the case came up today, Justice Anu Sivaraman granted them one and a half months to rejoin duty.

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The Jammu and Kashmir National Panthers Party (JKNPP) today staged a protest against the BJP-led governments in the state and the Centre and called for immediate revocation of the unilateral ceasefire following a series of attacks on security forces.

Led by JKNPP Chairman Harsh Dev Singh, the protestors assembled at the Exhibition Ground and raised slogans against the BJP governments at the Centre and in the state.

Condemning the spurt in violence in the Valley, Singh warned that the situation could go out of hand, leading to more deaths and destruction, if the Centre did not revoke the ceasefire.

On May 16, the Centre had asked security forces to not launch operations in Jammu and Kashmir during the holy month of Ramzan.

Asserting that the militants had proved that terrorism had no religion, the JKNPP chief said the Non-Initiation of Combat Operations (NICO) had seriously demoralized the Army.

NICO may prove to be counter-productive and provide an opportunity to the terrorists to regroup, he added.

The protestors also denounced the central and state governments for failing to handle the situation at the border with Pakistan.

There have been a series of attacks on security personnel since last week. Earlier today, at least 16 people, including four policemen, were wounded in Shopian district when militants hurled a grenade at security forces in a busy market.

Yesterday, two BSF jawans were killed and 13 civilians injured in indiscriminate firing by Pakistani troops in Akhnoor, Kanachak and Khour sectors of Jammu.

The incidents came nearly a week after DGMOs of the two countries agreed to implement the ceasefire pact of 2003 in "letter and spirit".

The BJP was also criticised for not fulfilling its pre-poll promise of providing five marla plots (roughly 1, 360 sq.ft of land) to residents of border villages in safer places.

Singh said due to the shelling and firing by Pakistan, the border dwellers, especially women and children, were living in a terrifying atmosphere.

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The Indian Railways is working on increasing the speeds of all long distance passenger trains by 25 km per hour by 2022 which will reduce travel time considerably, Minister of State for Railways Rajen Gohain said here today.

The railways ministry has also asked the national carrier to double the average speed of freight trains by 2022, Gohain told newspersons here after inaugurating a Santragachi- Chennai Central weekly Antyodaya Express train service.

"We have asked all the zonal railway general managers to work on increasing the speed of long distance passenger trains by five kms per hour every year, thus reaching the target of 25 km per hour increase in speed by 2022," Gohain said.

He said the ministry wanted to reduce travel time considerably to ensure passengers reached their destinations within a reasonable time.

In order to decongest major terminal stations like Howrah, work is on to develop infrastructure at satellite stations nearby so that these can be used for originating and terminating journey of long distance express trains, he said.

South Eastern Railway general manager S N Agarwal said that congestion at major terminal stations are one of the causes for delay in train movement. Santragachi and Shalimar stations near Howrah are being developed for the purpose to provide proper facilities to passengers of long distance trains.

Asked about the lack of adequate number of fast trains between the Northeast and Kolkata, Gohain said the ministry is considering a new airconditioned express train between Guwahati and the metropolis.

"Discussions are on for introducing an overnight superfast express train between Guwahati and Kolkata," he added.

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The Reserve Bank of India today said they ensured cash availability to the extent of 95 per cent in Telangana for the newly launched 'Rythu Bandhu' investment support scheme for farmers.

The Telangana government under the scheme, which was launched last month, provided input costs by giving them Rs 4,000 each for every acre for two seasons in a year through specially printed cheques.

There were apprehensions that time about the availability of sufficient cash with banks.

The government allotted Rs 12,000 crore in the budget for the scheme.

"We (RBI) have already supplied Rs 5,400 crore currency which is nearly 95 per cent of the scheme.

"The feedback has been very good. We have been taking feedback both from the bank and the State Finance Department. There were no complaints of lack of cash in bank branches."



"There may be issues with regard to names misprinting on cheques and mismatch between e-pattadar passbook and cheques. Those are being rectified by the state government," RBI regional director R Subramanian told PTI.

A senior government official had earlier said the scheme would cost about Rs 57,000 crore for the current season.

Over 59 lakh cheques were printed by eight participating banks led by the SBI, and handed over to the state government for distribution, which had in turn handed over to the beneficiaries.

To a query, Subramanian said the currency situation in both Andhra Pradesh and Telangana has improved now and the problem existed during April.

"There was the situation of cash scarcity in the first half of April. That was not just restricted to Telangana, but was seen in many other states also," he said.

"RBI clarified that it was not a case of logistical problem We are also supplying cash to banks specifically to load ATMs," the RBI official said.

If ATMs go dry, public has genuine reason to feel unhappy. The situation has definitely improved. We are getting the figures from States. The situation which was there in the first half of April is not there now," he explained.

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After the US, Russia today began supplying LNG to India under a long-term deal as world's fourth-largest buyer of liquefied natural gas (LNG) diversifies import basket to meet its vast energy needs.

LNG carrier 'LNG Kano', carrying a cargo from Russian supplier Gazprom, docked at Petronet LNG's import facility here this morning, officials said.

Gazprom supplied the 3.4 trillion British thermal unit (TBtu) of cargo from Nigeria.

The LNG cargo was received by Oil Minister Dharmendra Pradhan.

Today will be considered as Golden Day in India's energy roadmap, he told reporters here. "First we renegotiate price of LNG from Qatar, then reworked Australian supplies and now gas from Russia under renegotiated terms have started to flow."



India will import LNG worth an estimated USD 25 billion over the contract period of 20 years years from Russia, he adding, "Gazprom price (after being reworked) is very competitive."



"Four years back, we were importing LNG from only Qatar. Today we are getting LNG from Australia, US and now Russia," Pradhan said.

India, he said, is pushing towards a gas-based economy by raising the share of environment-friendly fuel in the energy basket to 15 per cent from current 6.2 per cent.

There exists huge scope for gas usage in the Indian economy - from generating power to producing quality steel, he said adding that increasing gas share would also help the country meet its COP21 commitment to cutting carbon emission.

India is dependent on imports to meet 45 per cent of its gas needs.

Beginning of supplies from Russia comes within weeks of India importing its first ever LNG cargo from the US under a long-term import deal.

Pradhan said that the starting of LNG imports from Russia has added a new dimension to the Indo-Russian bilateral relations, particularly in the oil and gas sector. ?



Russia has emerged as a long-term source for India's hydrocarbon imports, he said. ?



Stating that government is committed towards transforming India into a gas-based economy, he said investments are being made for augmenting natural gas infrastructure. ?



In the last few years, Indian companies have made investment of more than USD 10 billion in acquiring varying stakes in strategic Russian projects including Sakhalin-1, Vankorneft and Taas-Yuryakh.

On the other hand, Russian company-led consortium has committed an investment of USD 13 billion in Essar Oil in 2016.

GAIL has renegotiated with Russian supplier Gazprom the terms of the 20-year deal to import 2.5 million tonnes a year of LNG. Both price and volume ramp up have been renegotiated.

Company Chairman and Managing Director B C Tripathi said the contracted volume has been lowered from 2.5 million tonnes (MT) to 0.5 MT in the first year 2018-19, 0.75 MT in 2019-20, 1.5 MT in the third year 2020-21.

GAIL has committed to importing the full 2.5 MT a year by the fourth year and make up for the initial volume reduction over the remaining length of the contract.

Also, the price indexation has been changed from the Japan customs-cleared crude to Brent, and the oil-linked slope of the contract formula lowered, and therefore the final price.

Sources said the renegotiated contract provides for diverting a part of the volume, originally contracted on a delivered ex-ship basis, to other markets.

Under the re-worked deal with Gazprom, the duration of the contract has been extended by three years and the Indian company has agreed to buy an additional six million tonnes of LNG volumes.

The pricing of the super-cooled fuel has been changed from 9 month linkage of Japanese customs-cleared crude to three months average of Brent, sources said. ?



The deferral will allow GAIL more time to find customers for the imported gas.

GAIL had signed the original deal on August 29, 2012, with Gazprom Marketing and Trading Singapore Pte Ltd (GMTS), Singapore. The deal was renegotiated in January this year.

Gazprom will supply LNG from Yamal LNG project in the Arctic peninsula.

India has been making the most of its position as one of the world's biggest energy consumers to strike better bargains for its companies.

Last year, India got US energy major Exxon Mobil Corp to lower price of 1.5 MT a year of LNG from Gorgon project in Australia, saving Rs 4,000 crore in import bill. At the time of signing, in 2009, the Gorgon LNG price with US-based ExxonMobil was agreed upon at 14.5 per cent.

In late 2015, it had renegotiated the price of the long-term deal to import 7.5 MT per year of LNG from Qatar, helping save Rs 8,000 crore.

Most recently, GAIL has been trying to renegotiate the price and terms of 3.5 MT a year US Sabine Pass contract with Cheniere Energy.

The contract was signed on an FOB basis in 2011, with the price formula set at 115 per cent of the Henry Hub gas price plus a fixed USD 3 per million British thermal unit terminal usage charge.

Sources said when the Russian deal was first signed, Gazprom envisaged supplying India with LNG from its planned Schtokman project in the Barents Sea, which was subsequently scrapped as the shale gas revolution in the United States removed a key customer base.

The resulting contractual inconsistency gave GAIL a foothold to re-open the Gazprom deal, sources said.

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A Russian court on Monday sentenced a Ukrainian journalist to 12 years in a strict regime penal colony after he was found guilty of espionage, in a case Kiev has condemned as "politically motivated".

Journalist Roman Sushchenko, who worked for Ukrainian state agency Ukrinform for more than a decade, was detained in Moscow in 2016. Russia's FSB security agency accused him of serving in Ukrainian military intelligence and gathering state secrets.

Sushchenko, who had pleaded innocent, told AFP he would appeal the "unjust" verdict delivered by Judge Oleg Muzychenko of Moscow City Court.

The 49-year-old reporter's lawyer, Mark Feigin, earlier told AFP that prosecutors had asked for a 14-year sentence, out of a maximum of 20 years. Kiev last week slammed the trial, with the Ukrainian foreign ministry spokeswoman Mariana Betsa calling the case "politically motivated".

The case comes amid a recent uptick in violence in the conflict between Ukrainian troops and Russia-backed separatists in eastern Ukraine that broke out following Russia's annexation of Crimea from Ukraine in 2014 and has killed more than 10,000 people.

Sushchenko was working as Ukrinform's Paris correspondent at the time of his arrest and the agency said that he was detained while visiting Moscow on holiday. In his final speech in court he said he was framed by the Russian security service, his lawyer told Interfax agency.

Feigin earlier suggested Moscow and Kiev could be planning a prisoner exchange since a journalist working for Russian state news agency RIA Novosti is now in detention in Ukraine awaiting trial on treason charges.

The journalist, Kyrylo Vyshynsky, has dual Russian and Ukrainian citizenship.

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The Supreme Court today sought reply from the Centre on a plea challenging the Medical Council of India (MCI) norm laying down upper age limit of 25 years for general category aspirants to apply for National Eligibility-cum-Entrance Test (NEET) for MBBS and BDS courses.

A bench comprising justices Adarsh Kumar Goel and Ashok Bhushan issued notices to the Centre, the CBSE and the Kerala government on the plea by a group of 170 medical aspirants and posted the matter for hearing on July 10.

The group of aspirants have challenged the Delhi High Court's May 11 judgement dismissing the pleas challenging the MCI notification laying down the upper age limit of 25 and 30 years for general and reserved categories respectively to apply for NEET for MBBS and BDS courses.

However, the high court had struck down a clause in the notification which bars students from the open schools or those who have studied privately from appearing in the test.

During the brief hearing today, the counsel appearing for the students told the apex court that the limitation of 25 years was "completely arbitrary".

According to the January 22 notification, candidates who have studied in open school, students who have had biology or biotechnology as an additional subject and those who have taken more than two years to complete their 11th and 12th and students who have studied privately were not eligible to apply for the examination.

The high court, while passing its interim order earlier on February 28, had made it clear that while the candidates will be allowed to submit their application for the entrance test, it does not mean they can sit for the examination which was held on May 6.

The high court's verdict had come on several petitions moved by medical aspirants who were aggrieved by several other eligibility norms barring them from applying for the NEET-UG for which the last date for submission of application was March 9.

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Serena Williams announced her shock withdrawal from the French Open on Monday with injury just minutes before her scheduled fourth-round clash against long-time rival Maria Sharapova.

The 36-year-old said she had suffered a pectoral muscle injury in her third-round win over Julia Goerges and "can't serve at all".

The 23-time Grand Slam champion added that she would stay in Paris for scans on the injury to find out how long she will be out of action.

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Loktantrik Janata Dal, an outfit floated by supporters of rebel leader Sharad Yadav, today accused the JD(U) of turning their political battle into a "personal fight" by filing an SLP in the Supreme Court seeking Yadav's eviction from official residence and said he is being targeted for efforts to bring opposition parties together against the BJP.

The special leave petition (SLP) filed JD(U) leader R C P Singh has sought overturning of a Delhi High Court order, which without staying Yadav's disqualification from the Rajya Sabha, allowed him to stay in his official house and enjoy other perks.

"The JD(U) has clearly made it a personal matter by going out of the way to evict Yadav. The SLP is generally filed in matter of high importance. Is it a matter of national importance?" asked Javed Raza, a close aide of Yadav.

Rajya Sabha Chairman M Venkaiah Naidu had disqualified Yadav on a plea by Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar-led JD(U), which had cited his association with its rivals like the RJD and the Congress to revoke his membership.

Yadav had gone to Delhi High Court against the decision.

Raza said Yadav has been targeted because he did not "bow down" to the BJP after it won over Kumar.

"The JD(U) has made this a personal fight against it. And it has the support of the Union government," he said.

Yadav had parted ways with Kumar after he decided to ally with the BJP last year.

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Electric vehicles (EV) manufacturers' body SMEV has asked the Heavy Industries Ministry to reconsider the proposed cap of incentive to 20 per cent of ex-factory price of EVs under FAME II scheme, saying it would adversely affect the two-wheelers segment.

In a letter to Heavy Industries and Public Enterprises Minister Anant Geete, the Society of Manufacturers of Electric Vehicles (SMEV) said if the proposed cap is implemented the cost of mass use electric two-wheelers will shoot up.

"There is a limit of 20 per cent of the ex-factory price on the incentive. This is drastically reducing the incentive on affordable e-two wheelers, making them unaffordable for the common man," said SMEV Director Sohinder Gill in the letter.

It is very clear that two-wheeler customers will not pay much higher than petrol two-wheelers at least for the next few years till the total cost of ownership advantage is clearly established, he added.

Stating that maximum price adoption would happen at prices similar to basic petrol two-wheelers priced between Rs 50,000 and Rs 65,000, Gill said under the proposed FAME II scheme, prices of e-scooter with speed of 50kmph and range of 70 km would be costlier by Rs 9,013 when compared to FAME I (Faster Adoption and Manufacturing of Hybrid and Electric Vehicles in India) scheme.

"Majority of volumes of sales are at these affordable price points and therefore leading to a major reversal of e-mobility," he said in the letter.

When contacted, Gill told PTI, "If the proposal is implemented as it is under FAME II, then many of our members are unlikely to continue to sell electric two-wheelers as they play only in the mass segment."



In fact, many members are now trying to clear stocks by September before the expected implementation of FAME II in October, he added.

Gill further said under FAME I high speed (above 25kmph) electric scooter powered by lithium ion battery received incentive of Rs 22,000 and the SMEV was expecting it would go up further in FAME II for greater mass adoption.

"Unfortunately, the reverse has happened and we are requesting the government to rectify this anomaly cap on incentive to 20 per cent of ex-factory price," he said.

The SMEV also said it was apparent that FAME II favours adoption of high priced e-two-wheelers, which would "lead to a very miniscule volume from the rich customers, depriving the common man the advantage of cleaner and economic electric two-wheelers".

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Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan today the spread of the Nipah virus, which has so far claimed 16 lives in Kerala,has been controlled, but people should be alert.

"There is no alarming situation now. The spread of the virus has been controlled. But people should remain alert," he said.

The Chief Minister said wrong messages were being spread in the social media about the Nipah virus, scaring the people and this should end.

Vijayan was speaking at an all-party meeting, convened to review steps taken by the government to combat spread of the virus.

The Chief Minister said the government would bear the medical expenses of affected families. Ration kits would be distributed to the affected in Kozhikode and Malappuram districts, he added.

Leader of the opposition in the assembly Ramesh Chennithala said all the parties fully backed the government's efforts to control the virus.

A total of 244 samples have been tested for the Nipah virus so far, of which 18 were positive and 226 negative.

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West Bengal Minister Partha Chatterjee today said the college authorities should take stern action against the senior students who had allegedly stripped a first year student and filmed him naked inside a room in the college.

If the St Paul's Cathedral College authorities failed to take action against the three accused students as per law, "We will take action against the college authorities," Chatterjee told reporters here.

The video clip of the May 17 incident, which went viral on social media, showed the student pleading for mercy at St Paul's Cathedral College even as he was forced to remove his clothes in front of a group of people.

A college spokesman said, a seven-member committee consisting of faculty members and non-teaching staff has been formed to probe the allegations of the first year student.

The panel was asked to submit its report in a week.

The student told reporters at the college campus today that he has lodged an FIR against four persons - including three Trinamool Congress Chhatra Parishad activists - and a former college student who frequently visits the college.

The college spokesman confirmed that a police team visited the north Kolkata institution in the afternoon and talked to the complainant and the authorities.

The minister yesterday confirmed having received a written complaint from the student on the matter.

The first-year student who also claimed to be a member of the Trinamool Congress Chhatra Parishad yesterday said he was tortured by the accused when he inquired about the expenses incurred for arranging an upcoming fest in the college.

TMCP state president Jaya Dutta said the union will take strict action against those named in the complaint, if they were found guilty.

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External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj today underlined that multilateralism, international trade and rules based world order was facing "strong head-winds" as she called for joint action by the BRICS nations against money laundering, terrorist-financing and de-radicalisation.

Swaraj, who is on a five-day trip to South Africa, was attending BRICS (Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa) Foreign Ministers' meeting. The meeting is expected to lay the foundation for the annual summit of the grouping in Johannesburg next month.

"Our deliberations here will contribute towards enriching intra BRICS cooperation further," Swaraj said.

India attaches importance to the role of BRICS in consolidating intra-BRICS cooperation and in international affairs, she was quoted as saying by a statement by the Ministry of External Affairs.

Swaraj called for joint action of the BRICS nations against challenges to long-term growth.

"Our meeting today takes place at a time when multilateralism, international trade, and rules based world order face strong head-winds," Swaraj said.

"Though, the global growth has exhibited signs of recovery, the challenges to long-term growth continue to persist. Ensuring that the benefits of globalisation are shared widely remains a challenge," she added.

"Prime Minister Modi had given a call for a BRICS Counter-Terrorism Strategy for joint-action with a focus on money laundering, terrorist-finance, cyber-space and de-radicalization as our priorities," Swaraj said.

"Our leaders have also called for making UN Counter Terrorism framework efficient and effective. We reiterate our commitment to implement our Leaders' mandate on counter terrorism under South Africa's BRICS Chairship," she said.

The other foreign ministers attending the meeting were China's Wang Yi, South Africa's Lindiwe Sisulu, Brazil's Marcos Bezerra Abbott Galvao and Russia's Sergey Lavrov.

BRICS Cooperation in strategic areas of security, counter-terrorism, UN reforms, peacekeeping, de-radicalisation, cyber security, energy security, global governance, and international and regional hot-spot issues are deliberated in detail during National Security Advisor's meetings, she said.

"It is imperative now that the common ground reached in our NSAs meeting on setting up a BRICS Security Forum is implemented fully," she said.

Swaraj said that India welcomes South Africa's Summit theme devoted to Development in Africa in an inclusive manner.

"We also welcome the focus on technology as the engine of future-growth and its significance for future generations and their employment prospects," she added.

Swaraj will also chair a meeting of Foreign Ministers of IBSA (India, Brazil, South Africa), another bloc working to deepen coordination among the three countries on major global issues.

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External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj has discussed with South African President Cyril Ramaphosa enhanced engagement between the two countries and greater cooperation in areas of skill development, agriculture and information technology.

Swaraj arrived here yesterday on a five-day visit during which she will attend meetings of BRICS (Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa) and IBSA (India, Brazil, South Africa) -- the two major groupings where India has been playing a key role.

Swaraj met Ramaphosa who recalled his meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi at the Commonwealth Summit in London and conveyed his commitment to take the bilateral relations to the next level, according to a statement by the Ministry of External Affairs.

"The enhanced engagement between the two countries, especially in the aftermath of the India-South Africa Business Summit, and greater cooperation in areas such as skill development, agriculture, IT etc were also discussed," it said.

Swaraj conveyed her felicitations on his assumption of office as President and mentioned that the year 2018 was of special significance for both India and South Africa since they both were commemorating the 25th anniversary of diplomatic relations, 100th birth anniversary of the iconic leader Nelson Mandela and the 125th anniversary of the Pietermaritzburg incident of Mahatma Gandhi.

Ramaphosa recalled the great legacy left behind by Mahatma Gandhi in South Africa for future generations.

A young Mahatma Gandhi was thrown out of a train compartment in Pietermaritzburg railway station. The 1893 incident proved to be a turning point in Gandhi's fight against racial discrimination in South Africa.

Swaraj will also attend a series of events marking the 125th anniversary of the historic incident.

During the visit, Swaraj will participate in the BRICS (Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa) Foreign Ministers' meeting today which is expected to lay the foundation for the annual summit of the grouping in Johannesburg next month.

She will also chair a meeting of Foreign Ministers of IBSA (India, Brazil, South Africa), another bloc working to deepen coordination among the three countries on major global issues.

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External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj today



expressed India's willingness to contribute towards enriching intra-BRICS cooperation further.

Swaraj, who is on a five-day trip to South Africa, was attending meeting of BRICS (Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa) Foreign Ministers' meeting. The summit is expected to lay the foundation for the annual summit of the grouping in Johannesburg next month.

"Our deliberations here will contribute towards enriching intra BRICS cooperation further," Swaraj was quoted as saying at the opening of the BRICS foreign ministers summit by Ruchira Kamboj, High Commissioner for India to South Africa and Lesotho.

"All-dimensional and multi-layered cooperation that upholds development and multilateralism! Swaraj with other BRICS Ministers for the group photo before Ministerial Conference," Ministry of External Affairs Spokesperson Raveesh Kumar tweeted along with a picture of Swaraj with other foreign ministers of the BRICS nations.

Swaraj will also chair a meeting of Foreign Ministers of IBSA (India, Brazil, South Africa), another bloc working to deepen coordination among the three countries on major global issues.

Swaraj earlier discussed with South African President Cyril Ramaphosa enhanced engagement between the two countries and greater cooperation in areas of skill development, agriculture and information technology.

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External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj today met her Chinese counterpart Wang Yi on the sidelines of the BRICS Ministerial Conference in South Africa during which the two leaders discussed ways to maintain the momentum in bilateral and multilateral cooperation.

Swaraj, who is on a five-day trip to South Africa, attended the BRICS (Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa) Foreign Ministers' meeting. It was held to lay the foundation for the annual summit of the grouping in Johannesburg next month which is expected to be attended by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

"Continuing multifaceted engagement between two large economies! EAM @SushmaSwaraj and Foreign Minister of China Wang Yi met on the sidelines of the BRICS Ministerial Conference. Both leaders discussed ways to maintain the momentum in bilateral and multilateral cooperation," Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Raveesh Kumar tweeted.

Swaraj will also chair a meeting of Foreign Ministers of IBSA (India, Brazil, South Africa), another bloc working to deepen coordination among the three countries on major global issues.

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Taiwan's air force said today it was searching for an F-16 fighter jet that went missing at the start of annual live-fire drills.

The single-seat jet disappeared off the radar over mountainous terrain in the northeastern county of Keelung at 13:43 pm (0543 GMT), 34 minutes after take off, the air force said in a statement.

It added that it was making "all efforts" to search for the missing pilot, Major Wu Yen-ting.

Wu was also involved in the last F-16 accident in Taiwan, in 2013, when he parachuted to safety following a suspected mechanical failure.

The five-day drill kicked off Monday with troops practising thwarting a Chinese "invasion" by simulating surprise coastal assaults to reflect increased military threats from Beijing.

Although Taiwan is a self-ruling democracy, it has never formally declared independence from the mainland and Beijing still sees it as a renegade province to be brought back into the fold, by force if necessary.

Taiwan's defence ministry has said the main goal of the drill is to counter any future Chinese military mission to the island.

As relations have soured between Beijing and Taiwan's President Tsai Ing-wen, China has increasingly flexed its military muscles.

It held live-fire drills in April in the Taiwan Strait -- the narrow waterway separating the Chinese mainland from Taiwan -- following weeks of naval manoeuvres in the area.

In November, Taiwan's air force temporarily grounded all its Mirage jets as it searched for a pilot who went missing while conducting a training mission in one of the French-made fighters. Both pilot and plane are yet to be found.

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There were no signs of thaw in the bitter ties between the bureaucracy and the AAP government, as all senior officials stayed away from the Iftar party hosted by Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal this evening.

The party at the Palika Services Officers Institute in the Chanakyapuri area remained a low-key affair, as most of the prominent invitees, including Lieutenant Governor Anil Baijal and former chief minister Shiela Dikshit, choose to give it a miss.

Chief Secretary Anshu Prakash and other senior officials also did not attend the event.

Several AAP MLAs were also conspicuous by their absence.

Deputy chief minister Manish Sisodia and ministers Imran Hussain, Satyendra Jain and Gopal Rai were present.

Addressing the media after Iftar, Kejriwal said some forces were trying to divide the nation on religious lines.

The Delhi government under Kejriwal has had frequent run-ins with the police and the bureaucracy.

The latest flashpoint was the alleged attack on Prakash by Aam Aadmi Party lawmakers at Kejriwal's residence in February.

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Actor Jason Statham has said that he always wanted to get into a battle with a shark and is glad that he finally got the opportunity in "The Meg".

The 50-year-old actor plays the boss of an underwater research facility that discovers a lost kingdom of believed-to-be-extinct creatures in the Jon Turteltaub-directed film.

"I mean, who doesn't want to watch a movie about the biggest shark that's ever existed? And I get to be in it? This is as good as it gets," Statham said in an interview with Empire magazine.

When asked whether he would come to blows with the shark, Statham joked, "Fisticuffs with the megalodon? I can't tell you that. I'm not saying it doesn't happen."



The actor also said that working with Turteltaub reminded him the making of "Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels" with director Guy Ritchie.

"The money is different, obviously, but things are structured in ways that are more similar than you might think. But more like Guy, all Jon does is crack jokes and trivialise his ability. He goofs around all the time, keeps things relaxed - but he has this amazing technical ability. He knows what he's doing," Statham said.

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ABC News(PARKLAND, Fla.) -- While most of his peers will be having fun soaking in their final summer before college, David Hogg will be traveling across the country to call for change, lobbying Washington, D.C. in an effort to protect students from mass shootings like the one he survived this year.



After the deadly shooting at Marjory Stoneman High School in Parkland, Florida, where 17 students and staff teachers were killed, Hogg rose to prominence as one of the first students to speak out survivors in the spotlight.



Hogg said he leaped into adulthood in the wake of the Feb. 14 attack, helping to force forcing a national conversation about gun control. But Now, just hours after receiving his high school diploma on Sunday, Hogg said he will continue to focus on common sense gun regulations and encourage young people to vote. but also incorporate broader goals looking to cast his net beyond gun control.



I'm gonna be taking a gap year and not going to college for a year so that I can continue to work on these issues and promote sensible legislation, for example -- not just around gun control, but around youth voter turnout, Hogg said in an interview with ABC News Nightline. I think the fact that I was -- that I got my draft card on my 18th birthday here -- but the federal government can't register me to vote is ridiculous.



There's a reason why the youth of America are affected by so many issues that don't affect other kids in more developed countries and it's because we do not vote, he added.



He said he'll be taking his cause directly to the lawmakers in Washington before setting out on a 60-day road trip called March for Our Lives: Road to Change that will take him from on more than 50 stops nationwide, from Florida to Alaska.



"Over the summer I'm also gonna be going to D.C. a lot to lobby. And I'm gonna be traveling way more than I ever have in my life -- to try to fix this issue," he said.



In the weeks and months after the February 14th shooting, Hogg says he worked to make sure the story didnt fade from the national spotlight. Hogg was one of the first students to speak out on-camera after a former classmate allegedly stormed into his school and opened fire with an AR-15-style rifle.



I don't think I really ever saw myself as an advocate before, said Hogg, whose aspirations had included following his fathers footsteps in the FBI or a career in aerospace research. I felt a necessity to speak out -- as kind of the main architect behind the messaging of #NeverAgain because I was really one of the first people to do that and I was the first person, really, on camera from our school at the time, he said. I feel like a lot of the time the only story that came out was, 'These kids they're only for gun control,' but that's not the case he said, noting their advocacy for mental health and behavioral intervention programs. . ... We're for a lot of things.



He didnt know any of the victims personally, but he said their deaths thrust him into activism and forced him to think about complex issues that had never crossed his mind before.



Hogg says he wants people to focus less on the politics of gun reform and more on saving young lives.



Think about the families that are out there right now who have never thought about gun control, never thought about mental health care funding, never thought about behavioral intervention programs or the NRA or any of this stuff, but will have to tomorrow, he said, referring to the likelihood of another deadly school shooting. Because tomorrow, they don't know it yet, but their kid's going to die and they're gonna have to think about that for the rest of their lives.



Hogg stirred controversy recently with his protests and boycotts against corporations tied to the National Rifle Association (NRA). Hogg led a protest against Publix last month over their donations to Florida governor candidate Adam Putnam, an outspoken supporter of the NRA. Publix also made donations to Stoneman Douglas after the shooting.



That was like a huge kick to the stomach because you [Publix] say that you support us and then you go out and give [money to] a guy that's literally an NRA sellout, Hogg said. I decided to do the die-in at Publix because I was tired of the complacency again and again.



We need to hold corporate America responsible just like we hold our politicians responsible, he added. The grocery company vowed to suspend all political contributions in the wake of the protests, which Hogg called somewhat of a win, but he wants more.



I ask Publix to take the money back. If they can't take it out of Adam Putnam's campaign, match that amount and donate it to the Stoneman Douglas Victims' Fund, he said. When Publix supports an NRA sellout, they are absolutely complicit in those deaths.



Hogg says he plans to narrow the political divide around gun control through activism.



Now, Hogg said hes looking to focus on the aspects of gun violence that affect everyone.



Hogg says he sees gun violence as a bipartisan issue and hopes to work across the aisle to enact change. So long as we face this divisiveness in Washington and states and even at the local level amongst citizens, we're never gonna solve this by working against each other. So why not work with each other? We all wanna save children's lives, Hogg said. Bullets don't discriminate. They don't care if you're a Republican or if you're a Democrat We have to make sure that the people that are in power that refuse to take action on this are no longer in power.



The best way to prevent so many bad things is well-educated voting, he added.



What affects everybody is a lack of voter turnout, resulting in these people getting elected that don't wanna work to promote any common-sense gun legislation, Hogg said.



He plans to spend his entire summer traveling, boosting voter turnout among young people and focusing on issues he believes all Americans can identify with.



I think we're going to, like, 75 stops over the summer, just constantly going to districts with youth that are affected by this, visiting people that are affected by this and getting youth out to vote, he said about the bus trip, March for Our Lives: Road to Change.



Copyright  2018, ABC Radio. All rights reserved.
Three people, including two members of a family, were killed in a collision when a car, cycle and truck collided on the Ambala-Jagadhri road near Dheen village, around 20 km from here, police said today.

A third member of the family was seriously injured in the collision.

The deceased were identified as Harjeet Singh (49) and his son Prabhjot Singh (16) and Vijender Singh, the cyclist, the police said.

Harjeet was headed back home after work with his two sons last night when one of the tyres of his car burst, causing the vehicle to collide with a truck, they said.

Vijender Singh, who was crossing the road at that time on his cycle, was also hit by the car, police added.

Harjeet's younger son is undergoing treatment at the local civil hospital.

A case has been registered by the police.

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Stoutly defending the action against those who indulged in violence during the anti-Sterlite stir, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister K Palaniswami today told the state assembly that no government should encourge anti-social elements.

Citing violent incidents on May 22 and 23 such as hurling of petrol bombs and beating up people with wooden logs and damaging public property, he asked "are they general public? there were, hence, some miscreants and anti-socials."



He was replying to Leader of Opposition M K Stalin of DMK who wanted the government to withdraw cases against the Tuticorin protesters.

The protest demanding closure of Sterlite's copper plant in Tuticorin turned violent and 13 people were killed in police firing.

The chief minister said several parties were holding protests and the ruling AIADMK too had launched agitations when it was in the opposition and asked "did we take wooden logs or petrol bombs then?"



He rejected the opposition's claim that the government was portraying people who protested against Sterlite as anti-socials.

"I would like to clarify that we are calling only such elements (who indulged in violence) as anti-socials and not the general public," the chief minister said.

People who protested righteously to for their rights were given due permission and appropriate security as well, he said.

Palaniswami said no government should encourage those who indulge in violence, anti-socials and miscreants as it would lead to a big problem later.

Stalin said the protesters were "not anti-socials, poisonous elements or terrorists."



Claiming that 'tension', continued in Tuticorin in view of police personnel carrying out house to house checks, he asked the government to take steps to stop it.

Congress Legislature Party leader K R Ramasamy echoed DMK's stand and wanted the cases to be withdrawn.

Palaniswami said police arrested only those who indulged in violence based on evidence such as photograph and not the general public. The government also will not allow detention of public, he added.

Intervening, Stalin said there were also images of police men in plainclothes taking aim to shoot at the protesters and he hoped that such things too would have come to the notice of the Chief Minister.

Referring to the one-person Commission of Inquiry led by retired judge Aruna Jagadeesan constituted to go into the Tuticorin incidents, the chief minister said information related to the violence can be submitted to it.

He reiterated that based on the findings and recommendations of the commission, appropriate action will be taken against those who committed wrongs.

Taking on DMK's stand that the closure was not permanent as only a Government Order was issued, he emphasised that it was legally valid citing legal provisions and related technicalities.

"The plant cannot be opened. It is permanently closed and sealed." All the permissions like boiler license and power connection were cancelled, he said.

When Stalin sought a House resolution affirming the closure of Sterlite plant since there were chances of the company approaching the court on the issue, Law Minister C Ve Shanmugam cited matters that had gone to court in the past despite such a course.

Despite an assembly resolution of 2011 recommending commutation of the death sentence awarded to Rajiv Gandhi assassination case convicts, the issue went to the court, he said.

Similarly, despite the inclusion of Tamil Nadu's 69 per cent reservation under the 9th Schedule of the Constitution which bars judicial review, the matter went to court. He said matters like legislation or a resolution could be taken up by courts for review.

Deputy Chief Minister O Panneerselvam said if the Sterlite matter went to court it will be legally demonstrated that the closure was in tune with the state's powers.

Stalin reiterated his party's demand for enhancement of compensation to the victims of violence which includes a solatium of Rs one crore for the kin of those who died in police firing.

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The Tamil Nadu government today announced the pre-mature release of 67 life convicts who have completed 10 years of imprisonment, in commemoration of the birth centenary of former Chief Minister MG Ramachandran.

In the first phase, 67 convicts who have served 10 years, in prisons across the state, as on February 25 would be released, an official release said.

The decision had been announced by chief minister K Palaniswami during an MGR birth centenary event at Dindigul in December last.

Two government orders envisaging guidelines for the release of prisoners have been issued, it added.

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The Tamil Nadu government today announced the pre-mature release of 67 life convicts who have completed 10 years of imprisonment, in commemoration of the birth centenary of former Chief Minister M G Ramachandran and the move was welcomed by the prinicipal opposition DMK.

In the first phase, 67 convicts who have served 10 years, in prisons across the state, as on February 25 would be released, an official release said.

The decision had been announced by chief minister K Palaniswami during an MGR birth centenary event at Dindigul in December last.

In accordance with Article 161 of the Constitution, which empowers a Governor to grant pardons and to commute sentences and as per guidelines of the Supreme Court and High Courts on the issue of pre-mature release, two Government Orders were issed.

The GOs, envisage guidelines for the release of prisoners, it added.

Welcoming the move, Leader of Opposition, M K Stalin, asked why the announcement was not made in the Assembly and if it was in keeping with the House tradition.

Law Minister C Ve Shanmugam said the release of prisoners, being proposed by the government was a "continuing task," indicating that was why an announcement in this regard was not made in the House.

Governor Banwarilal Purohit has to give sanction for the proposed release of prisoners, Shanmugam said adding a case by case review of convicts' including their criminal background was being done in keeping with the Supreme Court guidelines.

"Unlike the release of prisoners during your (DMK) regime (2006-11), now it is being done on a case by case basis as per Supreme Court guidelines," he said.

In the Central prisons in the State, committees were set up to give recommendations for remission of sentence, he noted.

Prisoners were being evaluated for release on factors like the length of their detention (if it was 10 or 20 years) in prisons and if they faced serious ailments.

Founder of AIADMK and mentor of late J Jayalalithaa, M G Ramachandran (1917-1987) was Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu between 1977 and 1987.

Tamil Nadu government celebrated his birth centenary year across the state.

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The ruling AIADMK continued its barbs against its former leader and AMMK founder TTV Dhinkaran in the Tamil Nadu assembly with a minister today slamming him for his criticism of the government over the Cauvery issue.

Municipal Administration Minister S P Velumani asked how many times did the RK Nagar MLA raise the Cauvery issue in Parliament in the past when he had been a member of both the Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha.

"He (Dhinakaran) was not even in our party for 10 years (as late party chief J Jayalalithaa had expelled him). How many times had he raised the Cauvery issue in the Parliament," he said during a debate in the Tamil Nadu Assembly.

Dhinakaran was not present in the house when the minister hit out at him.

He had been critical of the government's handling of the Cauvery issue, especially its approach in the court.

Velumani's criticism of Dhinakaran comes days after the House witnessed sharp exchange of words between Electricity Minister P Thangamani and the Amma Makkal Munnetra Kazhagam leader over the issue of phased implementation of prohibition.

Dhinakaran had then staged a walkout after he was disallowed to respond to a veiled reference by Thangamani to an alcoholic beverages manufacturing company reportedly owned by the extended family of his aunt V K Sasikala.

Today, winding up the debate for the grants for his department, Velumani credited Chief Minister K Palaniswami with taking efforts for a verdict in the inter-state dispute that would be beneficial to the farmers of the state.

Acting on the Supreme Court's direction, the Centre on June 1 constituted the Cauvery Management Authority to address the dispute over sharing of river water among Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Kerala and Puducherry and issued a gazette notification.

Velumani also said Palaniswami and deputy Chief Minister O Panneeselvam were "steering the party forward," ten months after the two leaders merged the respective factions led by them.

He announced a number of schemes, including integrated drinking water projects, that will be implemented in several parts of the state.

The Minister said 11 municipal corporations and 93 municipalities in the state have already been announced "open defecation free."



One more corporation and 31 municipalities will be added to the list by October this year, he added.

On the state government's key scheme of providing free laptops to school and college students, Velumani said over 37 lakh systems have been distributed from 2011-12 to 2016-17, at an overall cost of about Rs 5,500 crore.

The Minister, who also holds the Implementation of Special Programme portfolio under which the laptop scheme is covered, said the government intended to target 5.43 lakh students in 2017-18, at an allocation of Rs 758 crore.

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US President Donald Trump today asserted an "absolute right" to pardon himself, once again lashing out at a probe into possible collusion with Russian election meddling and obstruction of justice.

"As has been stated by numerous legal scholars, I have the absolute right to PARDON myself, but why would I do that when I have done nothing wrong?" he said on Twitter.

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US President Donald Trump today touted his first 500 days in the White House, saying many believe he has achieved more than any of his predecessors in that same time frame.

He also said under his leadership, America has become the best economy ever.

Trump has imposed penalty tariffs on steel and aluminum imports from major US trading partners, including Canada.

"This is my 500th. Day in Office and we have accomplished a lot - many believe more than any President in his first 500 days," Trump tweeted.

"Massive tax & regulation cuts, military & vets, lower crime & illegal immigration, stronger borders, judgeships, best economy & jobs ever, and much more..." he said.

Asserting that since taking office, Trump has strengthened American leadership, security, prosperity, and accountability, the White House said "after 500 days, the results are clear: the American economy is stronger, American workers are experiencing more opportunities, confidence is soaring, and business is booming".

"Trump has re-asserted American leadership on the world stage, secured vital investments in our military, and stood up against threats to our national security. Trump has put the American people first and made government more accountable," the White House said.

Trump followed through on his promise to move the US Embassy in Israel to Jerusalem, the White House said, adding that he ordered an end to United States participation in the horrible Iran deal and immediately began the process of re-imposing sanctions that had been lifted or waived.

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US President Donald Trump would meet North Korean leader Kim Jong-un at 9 am Singapore time on June 12, the White House announced today.

"I can tell you the president has been receiving daily briefings on North Korea from his national security team, and I can also tell you the schedule tentatively, for that first meeting will be on June 12 at 9:00 AM Singapore time, and take place June 11, 9:00 PM East Coast time," White House Press Secretary Sarah Sanders told reporters at her daily conference.

The Trump administration, she said, is actively preparing for the June 12 summit between the US President and the North Korean leader.

"The advance team in Singapore is finalising logistical preparations and will remain in place until the summit begins. In the DMZ, the US Ambassador's delegation continues diplomatic negotiations with the North Korean delegation. Discussions have been very positive, and significant progress has been made," Sanders said.

Last week, Trump met with a top North Korean official at the White House to plan for the summit. The official handed him a letter from Kim Jong-un.

"I am not going to get into the specifics of the letter, but as the president said, they were interesting, and we feel like things are continuing to move forward, and good progress has been made, and we're continuing to prepare for the president's summit," Sanders said.

When asked whether Trump supports a meeting between Russian President Vladimir Putin and Kim Jong-un, she said the focus of the administration right now was the President's meeting with the North Korean leader. "And the President will make his views known directly to him when we're in Singapore, and our focus will continue to be on denuclearisation," Sanders said.

Responding to a question on "maximum pressure" policy on North Korea, the press secretary said the US policy towards Pyongyang has not changed. "Our policy hasn't changed. And as the president stated, we have sanctions on. They're very powerful, and we would not take those sanctions off unless North Korea denuclearises," she said.

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It "would be outrageous" for a sitting US president to pardon himself, former attorney Preet Bharara has asserted after Donald Trump's lawyer said probably the President has the power to pardon himself in the Russia collusion affair.

The question of self-pardon arose after the New York Times published a 20-page letter to the special counsel Robert Mueller from Trump's lawyers.

In the letter, they say the president has absolute power as US legal chief to end investigations, or "even exercise his power to pardon".

Asked about the letter of Trump's attorney Jay Sekulow and then-Trump lawyer John Dowd, Trump's attorney Rudy Giuliani said yesterday that the President is not going to pardon himself but "probably does" have the power to do it.

"He has no intention of pardoning himself," Giuliani told ABC's "This Week." He added, "It would be an open question. I think it would probably get answered by gosh, that's what the Constitution says, and if you want to change it, change it. But yes."



Reacting to the letter as well as Giuliani's explanation, Bharara, the Indian-origin attorney, who was fired by President Trump last year, said that it "would be outrageous" for a sitting president to pardon himself.

"I think (if) the President decided he was going to pardon himself, I think that's almost self-executing impeachment," Bharara, a CNN legal analyst, said on CNN's "State of the Union."



"Whether or not there is a minor legal argument that some law professor somewhere in a legal journal can make that the President can pardon, that's not what the framers could have intended. That's not what the American people, I think, would be able to stand for," he said.

Bharara, who served as the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York from 2009 to 2017, said that he doesn't believe Giuliani's assertion that the President is not considering granting himself a pardon.

"Rudy, just like Jay Sekulow, keeps coming up with things that end up being false. When he says the President is not contemplating something, I have no faith in that whatsoever," he said.

The case stems from the investigation by special counsel Mueller into alleged collusion between the Trump team and Russian officials in the 2016 election campaign that brought the Republican billionaire to power.

Trump has always maintained there was no collusion and that the investigation is a "witch hunt".

Part of Mueller's investigation is looking at whether Trump sought to criminally obstruct it, especially with the sacking of ex-National Security Adviser Michael Flynn and former FBI director James Comey, and with his reaction to Attorney General Jeff Sessions' recusal from the investigation.

In the letter to Mueller, which was sent in January, Sekulow and Dowd has acknowledged for the first time that Trump "dictated" a statement put out about his son's controversial 2016 meeting with Russians at Trump Tower, CNN reported.

It also says that the letter contradicts several public statements by Sekulow and also by White House Press Secretary Sarah Sanders, who said Trump "certainly didn't dictate," but rather "weighed in, offered suggestion like any father would do."



House Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy said he does not think a president should pardon himself or herself.

"I don't believe that would be a legal question," McCarthy, a Republican lawmaker from California, said.

"The President is not saying he is going to pardon himself. I don't know why we're walking through hypotheticals here in this process. The President has never said he pardoned himself. I don't know where the President would go forward pardoning himself. But I don't think a president should pardon themselves," McCarthy added.

Mueller has so far indicted 19 people as part of his probe, including four members of the Trump campaign team or administration.

A total of 13 Russians have also been charged over their links to the Internet Research Agency, a Russian "troll factory" accused of spreading fake stories through US social media.

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US President Donald Trump today slammed China and America's two neighbours - Canada and Mexico - for unfair trade practices, which he said is unacceptable.

"Farmers have not been doing well for 15 years. Mexico, Canada, China and others have treated them unfairly," Trump tweeted as he assured his country to change this dynamic through his ongoing trade deals.

"By the time I finish trade talks, that will change. Big trade barriers against US farmers, and other businesses, will finally be broken. Massive trade deficits no longer!" he said.

The US and China have held trade talks to deescalate tensions between the two sides.

The world's two largest economies have been at loggerheads over trade and industrial practices for months with the talks under way in the Chinese capital - the third formal round of negotiations.

The discussions are intended to ease tensions after Washington said it would follow through with tariffs on Chinese imports despite a truce reached between the two sides in the US last month.

"The US has made such bad trade deals over so many years that we can only WIN!" Trump said.

"China already charges a tax of 16 per cent on soybeans. Canada has all sorts of trade barriers on our Agricultural products. Not acceptable!" Trump said in another tweet.

Meanwhile, the White House said that the recently concluded trade negotiations in China focused on reducing the US' trade deficit by facilitating the supply of agricultural and energy products to meet China's growing consumption needs, which will help support growth and employment in the United States.

The US officials conveyed President Donald Trump's clear goal for achieving a fair-trading relationship with China, it said, adding that the delegations will now report back to receive guidance on the path forward.

The meeting comes as fears of an all-out global trade war intensified after the European Union, Canada and Mexico drew up retaliatory measures to Washington's stinging steel and aluminium tariffs that came into effect on Friday.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis today asked the BJP office-bearers to try for a pre-poll alliance with the Shiv Sena for the state and general elections slated for next year, a senior BJP leader said today.

The two parties, constituents in the state government, had mounted an acrimonious campaign for the Palghar Lok Sabha bypoll which was held on May 28.

The BJP won the seat with its candidate Rajendra Gavit defeating Sena's Shrinivas Wanaga by a margin of 29,572 votes.

"Fadnavis asked the party's state office-bearers to try for a pre-poll alliance with Shiv Sena. But, he said that if the alliance does not materialise, we should prepare to contest alone," Raosaheb Danve, the BJP's state unit chief told reporters here.

The chief minister was speaking to the office-bearers at a party meeting to take stock of the BJP's performance in the Palghar and Bhandara-Gondiya bypolls as well as to discuss the strategy for the Lok Sabha elections next year.

The Sena, however, has stated several times in the past few months that it would contest all future polls alone.

The resolution to part ways with the BJP and go for it alone in the Lok Sabha and Assembly polls next year was tabled and passed unanimously at Sena's National Executive meeting held in January this year.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Tunisia's navy scoured choppy waters today for survivors and victims of the Mediterranean's worst shipwreck in months, with the UN migration agency warning more than 100 people may have been killed.

A total of 68 survivors were rescued yesterday off the coast of Sfax in southern Tunisia, while 48 bodies were recovered according to Tunisia's defence ministry. A survivor told AFP that more than 180 people were crammed onto the boat -- double its capacity -- when it started taking on water and sank.

"The search operation restarted at 4:00 GMT with the help of nine navy units, one helicopter and divers," Mohammed Salah Sagaama, commander of Sfax's naval base, told AFP.

"Up until 10:00 GMT, no more bodies have been recovered," he added, saying the search efforts were hampered by strong winds and limited visibility. So far 10 Tunisians have been identified among the victims and 14 people from other African nations.

Tunisia, like other North African nations, is a gateway for migrants trying to cross the Mediterranean to Europe.

In March, 120 mainly Tunisian migrants were rescued by the navy trying to reach Italy.

A spokesman for the International Organization for Migration on Monday said the death toll from the latest disaster could more than double. "According to updated info, the shipwreck off the Tunisian coasts may have caused over 110 deaths: 48 bodies recovered, maybe about 64 missing," Flavio di Giacomo wrote on Twitter.

The figure confirmed by Tunisian authorities already makes the shipwreck the deadliest in the Mediterranean since February 2, when 90 people drowned off the coast of Libya, according to the IOM.

The Sfax incident came as nine Syrians including seven children drowned on Sunday when their vessel sank off the coast of Turkey as they were trying to reach Europe.

Spanish maritime rescue meanwhile said one person was reported drowned, while 240 migrants were rescued over the weekend.

More than 650 people have been recorded as dead or missing in the Mediterranean so far this year, while at least 33,270 have survived the crossing to Europe.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Noted lawyer Ujjwal Nikam today escaped unhurt in a road accident involving his car and an escort vehicle in Khandala ghat section on Pune-Mumbai expressway, police said.

However, two police personnel in the escort vehicle sustained minor injuries.

The accident occurred at around 8 PM when Nikam was on his way to Mumbai.

According to a Raigad police official, an escort vehicle of police rammed Nikam's car from behind when his driver slowed down after seeing an accident involving other vehicle in the ghat section.

"The moment he reduced the speed, the escort vehicle hit Nikam's car from behind," he said, adding that two police personnel in the vehicle sustained minor injuries.

"Nikam escaped unhurt in the incident," the officer said, adding that the two personnel were taken to a hospital while Nikam proceeded towards Mumbai.

Nikam is a special public prosecutor who has worked on prominent murder and terrorism cases.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
British MPs will hold a string of key votes on Brexit during a single day next week, the government revealed today, warning rebels not to use the opportunity to challenge its EU strategy.

In what promises to be a day of drama lasting well into the evening, the House of Commons will decide on June 12 whether to retain or reject 15 amendments made by the House of Lords to a landmark Brexit bill.

Among the changes the government will be seeking to overturn include one giving parliament the right to decide what happens if Britain fails to agree terms of its withdrawal with the European Union.

Other amendments to the EU (Withdrawal) Bill would keep Britain's economy closely aligned to the bloc, contrary to Prime Minister Theresa May's policy to leave both the EU's single market and customs union.

Chief whip Julian Smith, who is in charge of enforcing parliamentary discipline in May's Conservative party, wrote to MPs setting out the date for the votes -- and warning would-be rebels.

He said he looked forward to working with them to deliver a bill "that reflects both the referendum result (to leave the EU) and the Conservative party manifesto we all stood on last year".

May had been accused of delaying debate of the Lords amendments for fear of defeat by a handful of Conservative rebels and opposition MPs, who together may be able to overturn her slim Commons majority.

She drew condemnation on Monday for squeezing more than a dozen amendments passed over weeks in the Lords into one frenzied day in the lower chamber.

"This government is really taking the piss -- and treating the British people with contempt," said Green MP Caroline Lucas on Twitter.

"We wait weeks and weeks, and then they force the whole bill through in one session. And they call themselves democrats." The main opposition Labour party has said it will back 14 of the 15 Lords amendments to the EU (Withdrawal) Bill, which sets the legal framework for Brexit.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
A 65-year-old deaf and mute under-trial prisoner, believed to be a Pakistani national, died during treatment at a hospital here, officials said today.

He was arrested along the International Border in Akhnoor sector in 2015 and was lodged at the district jail in Amphalla here, they said.

The prisoner fell sick on the night of May 29 and was admitted in Government Medical College hospital, where he died yesterday due to multiple organ failure, the officials said.

The postmortem of the deceased was conducted and the procedure laid down for unclaimed bodies would be followed in this case, they said.

It was believed that the man had crossed into India from Pakistan, but since he was deaf and mute his identity remained unknown, the officials said.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Unilateral trade restrictive actions by some developed countries could derail the fragile global economic recovery which would have implications on job scenario, Commerce and Industry Minister Suresh Prabhu has said.

Prabhu was speaking at an informal gathering of 28 member countries of the World Trade Organisation (WTO) in Paris on May 31, according to a release by the commerce ministry.

On the recent cycle of unilateral trade measures and proposed counter measures, Prabhu said "actions and counter actions such as this could stop the fragile global economic recovery in its tracks, with consequences for jobs, GDP growth and development that would harm everyone and could also irrevocably damage the rules-based multilateral system built up with hard work over many years".

Instead of using such actions to deal with any inadequacy or unfairness in the WTO provisions, the best course of action would be deal with such issues within the multi-lateral framework, he said.

The US has imposed high duties on steel and aluminium items, which has led to trade war like situation.

On e-commerce, Prabhu said India has been actively engaging in the WTO on the sector "even though it is premature to discuss binding multilateral rules for e-commerce".

He also said the WTO already has a full agenda and India has "reservations" about the introduction of new issues such as investment facilitation in the WTO lest fundamental issues in agriculture and development get neglected.

He also said there were already a number of ministerial mandates to guide work at the WTO and negotiators have been working for years on many issues.

"Work should be resumed based on existing mandates, declarations and decisions...It would be counterproductive and harmful to the system to ignore the ministerial mandates and all the work done so far and re-set the negotiations," he added.

He also cautioned that while some countries viewed plurilateral discussions as a stepping stone to multilateral agreements, such initiatives could, on the contrary, weaken the multilateral trading system.

The minister stressed on the need to work together quickly to address the challenges which the WTO is facing at present.

Stating that trade must contribute to development, he said that India and many other developing countries have to accord priority to addressing the challenges in the journey towards greater trade liberalisation and global integration.

He cautioned that any endeavour at the WTO for reciprocal trade rules, which ignored this reality, would further deepen the divide and aggravate the disenchantment with globalisation.

Further the minister said that the dispute settlement arm of the WTO was the central pillar in providing security and predictability to the system and members should commence the selection process to fill the vacancies in the Appellate Body.

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The Vadodara airport authorities have sought permission from the Airports Authority of India (AAI) for operating the facility round-the-clock.

At present, the airport, located in the city's Harni area, operates from 6 am to 9.45 pm.

It operates around 22 commercial flights per day.

In addition, private airline Jet Airways is also set to launch flights to Udaipur, Indore, Bengaluru, Delhi and Mumbai from September, Vadodara airport director Charan Singh said today.

The city is also set to host dignitaries from several countries in October for the inauguration of the 182-metre tall 'Statue of Unity', dedicated to India's first Home minister Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, in the neighbouring Narmada district, about 90 km from here.

In view of these developments, "we have written a letter to AAI seeking permission for operating the facility round-the-clock," Singh told PTI.

"Our priority is to improve the facilities for passengers and increase the cargo transport," he said.

In the last couple of years, the number of aircraft landing at the Vadodara airport has considerably increased and the passenger traffic has also gone up, Singh said.

Vadodara will get more domestic connectivity from the new integrated terminal building from September, he added.

Two aerobridges are also expected to be operational soon at the airport to ferry passengers directly from the gate to the aircraft.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi had in October 2016 inaugurated the new terminal building at the airport.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Bihar Deputy Chief Minister and BJP leader Sushil Kumar Modi today said Chief Minister Nitish Kumar is the ruling alliance' leader in the state and the NDA will seek votes in the 2019 Lok Sabha polls in the name of the JD(U) leader and that of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's works.

His comments a day after the JD(U) demanded that Kumar be projected as the BJP-led NDA's face in Bihar.

In Delhi for an official event, the Bihar BJP leader said he did not see any contradiction in the JD(U)'s stand as Kumar, as the chief minister, had been the NDA's leader earlier as well when he was a BJP ally.

"Narendra Modi is the country's prime minister while Nitish Kumar is the leader in Bihar. So the votes we will get in Bihar will be in Narendra Modi's name and in the name of Kumar's works. I don't see any contradiction here. Kumar is the face in Bihar while Narendra Modi is the prime ministerial face in the country," he told reporters.

He, however, parried query on division of 40 Lok Sabha seats in the state among the four NDA parties, which include Ram Vilas Paswan-led LJP, Upendra Kushwaha-led RLSP besides the JD(U) and BJP.

He said the seat-sharing will be decided at an opportune time.

The Bihar deputy chief minister, however, asserted that division of seats will be a smooth affairs, saying "When hearts have met, then seats are not a big issue".

The JD(U) was the senior partner in Bihar till 2013 when it walked out of the BJP-led NDA. It had contested 25 seats in the 2009 polls while the BJP fought on 15.

However, the BJP had swept the 2014 polls, winning 22 seats while its allies LJP and RLSP won six and three seats respectively. The JD(U) won only two, when it was not part of the NDA alliance.

Recent statements from JD(U) leaders are being seen as an attempt by the party to ensure that the BJP does not dictate terms during the seat-sharing talks.

Sushil Modi asserted that the NDA will win all 40 seats in Bihar in 2019, saying the opposition RJD-Congress alliance has weakened after Kumar left it to join the NDA and 70 per cent voters are with the ruling alliance.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
CPI(M)'s Saji Cheriyan, who secured a massive win in the recent Chengannur bypoll, was today sworn-in as a member of the Kerala Assembly.

Cheriyan took the oath soon after question hour on the first day of the 11th assembly session.

He later shook hands with the Speaker,P Sreeramakrishnan, Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, leader of the opposition Ramesh Chennithala and other minister and MLAs.

Some of his family members were present in the gallery.

The bypoll was necessitated due to the death of sitting member K K Ramachandran Nair (CPI-M) in January this year.

Cheriyan won by 20,956 votes, the highest ever margin in the constituency, over his nearest rival D Vijayakumar (Congress).

The victory in Chengannur has come as a morale booster for the CPI(M)-led LDF government, headed by Pinarayi Vijayan, which was facing flak from the opposition and media over alleged police laxity and high-handedness in handling various cases in recent times.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
By Hugh Bronstein and Daniela DesantisASUNCION (Reuters) - Paraguay is forecast to export more soybeans than neighboring grains powerhouse Argentina for the first time this year as growers in the smaller country push to increase output and fill the supply gap left by a drought on the Argentine Pampas.Paraguay produces around 3.0 percent of global supply. Any additional exports are likely to be snapped up in a market buffeted by tension over trade policy between top soy importer China, and the world's second-largest soybean exporter, the United States.Land-locked Paraguay sends most of its ...
(Reuters) - The government is likely to announce a bailout package of more than over 70 billion rupees ($1.04 billion) to the cash-starved sugar mills to help clear dues to farmers, the Times of India reported on Monday, citing the Press Trust of India.The country's Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs is scheduled to meet on Tuesday to decide on the bailout, according to the report.The government is keen to placate India's 50 million cane growers, who make up an influential political lobby, especially with national elections barely a year away in May 2019.Last month, the government had ...
JOHANNESBURG (Reuters) - Global auditor KPMG said on Monday it will layoff up to 400 people as it closes offices in South Africa following a corruption scandal that resulted in the firm losing several major clients."These hard decisions were necessary to put the firm on a more sustainable footing, while ensuring we continue to offer our clients the best service and support," Nhlamulo Dlomu, chief executive of KPMG South Africa, said in a statement.KPMG has been under scrutiny since 2017 when its inquiry found flaws in work it did for the national tax agency. The auditor has said it is ...
By Nandita Bose and Tatiana BautzerNEW YORK/SAO PAULO (Reuters) - Walmart Inc said on Monday that it has sold an 80 percent stake in its Brazilian operations to private equity firm Advent International, exiting an underperforming business in its third major international deal since April.The world's biggest retailer has been looking to jumpstart its overseas business by retreating from lower-growth markets and investing in places like China and India. Brazil had for a decade been the focus of expansion but the unit stumbled in recent years as operational issues compounded the effects of a ...
Saturday is a day that the Ministry of External Affairs in unlikely to forget in a hurry. Because the lady at the helm of affairs, Sushma Swaraj, had dropped off the radar for 14 minutes, causing a major scare at home and abroad.

The Indian Air Force flight carrying the External Affairs Minister to Mauritius, enroute to South Africa, and the Mauritian Air Traffic Control (ATC) could not establish contact with each other for 14 minutes after the plane entered the island nation's airspace. The Mauritian ATC activated the uncertainty phase, known as INCERFA in aviation parlance, ahead of the stipulated time lapse.

"Mauritius ATC activated the uncertainty phase without allowing the stipulated time period of 30 minutes to lapse from the time when the aircraft last contacted ATC. This was perhaps done because the flight was carrying a VIP," the Airports Authority of India (AAI) said in a statement.

Since the Embraer-135 aircraft, which was carrying the minister, does not boast a long range, it had stopovers at Thiruvananthapuram and Mauritius for refuelling. The flight had left for Mauritius from Thiruvananthapuram at 2.08 pm. The Male ATC had established contact with the flight at 4.44 pm IST after it entered the airspace of the Maldives from the Indian airspace.

The IFC 31 could not contact the Mauritius ATC after entering the Mauritian airspace, causing the latter to hit the panic button. However, there was a sigh of relief when the aircraft came in contact with the ATC there at 4.58 pm, the AAI said.

An official conversant with the ATC issues over the Indian Ocean region told PTI that the problem in contacting the flight could have arisen due to weak radar coverage as flights have to rely on VHF communication, which have their own set of issues. But after the panic was resolved, Swaraj safely landed in Mauritius and during her transit halt she met Prime Minister Pravind Kumar Jugnauth. She also had an interaction with her Mauritian counterpart Seetanah Lutchmeenaraidoo.

The minister is now in South Africa to attend meetings of BRICS and IBSA - the two major groups where India has been playing a major role. She will also meet the top leadership of the country.

For the record, BRICS is a five-nation economic bloc comprising Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa, and IBSA is a platform for India, Brazil and South Africa to cooperate on matters of common interest in respect of global governance issues, including in the security domain.

With PTI inputs
The Deep Industries stock plunged in Monday trade after the firm said on Friday the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) registered a case against 13 officials of ONGC and Deep after complaint filed by ONGC's vigilance dept regarding contract with ONGC. The company in a filing to the BSE said, "This is the same matter of GDU Contract of ONGC, Rajahrnundry which is currently under dispute and writ petitions have been filed by us with Hon. High Court of judicature at Hyderabad."

The case was filed for alleged irregularities in a contract worth Rs 312 crore ($46.61 mn ) given to Deep Industries in 2014 for supplying gas dehydration units for ONGC's Rajahmundry plant in Andhra Pradesh.

Those named in the FIR in connection with the alleged scam in 2014 include former executive director D G Sanyal, then director (Onshore) Ashok Verma and ex-DGM (Production) Arup Ratan Das.

They have been accused of abusing their official position in giving a contract worth Rs 312 crore given to Deep Industries, an accused in the case, for supplying the gas dehyrdation units (GDUs), causing a loss of Rs 80 crore to ONGC, the Central Bureau of Investigation said.

The officials had awarded the contract to Deep Industries by overlooking the guidelines of the public sector undertaking and the fact that the company was ineligible due to technical deficiencies, the agency alleged.

In response, Deep Industries has filed writ petitions with the high court in Hyderabad.

The small cap stock closed at a fresh 52-week low of 107.15 level falling 19.98% in trade today.

The stock opened at 128 level today, a loss of 4.41%.

There were no buyers, only sellers for the stock after negative news hit the stock.

The stock has been falling for the last five days and has fallen nearly 30% during the same period.

The stock is down 47.86% since the beginning of this year. The stock has fallen 65.42% during the last one year.

Deep Industries is engaged in the business of oil and gas field services, and exploration and production. The company primarily provides support activities for petroleum and natural gas mining. The company provides high pressure air and gas compression and gas dehydration services on charter hire basis.

Meanwhile, the ONGC stock closed 1.71% lower at 170 level on BSE.
The government is considering merging at least four state-run banks as part of a larger consolidation plan - triggered by rising bad loans. The banks that could face the merger are: Bank of Baroda, IDBI Bank Ltd, Oriental Bank of Commerce and Central Bank of India, according to a report in the Mint. These four banks are under pressure with combined loss of Rs 21,646.38 crore in the financial year 2017-18. The merger will allow the weak banks to sell assets, reduce overheads and shut money-losing branches, the report said.

This year on May 25, Bank of Baroda reported a net loss of Rs 3,102.34 crore in the Jan-March quarter due to a jump in provisions for bad loans. The bank's provisions for non-performing assets for the quarter rose by 190 per cent year-on-year to Rs 7,052.53 crore in the last quarter of FY 2017-18.

After BoB, IDBI was the next to report net loss due to bad loans. IDBI Bank posted a net loss of Rs 5,662.76 crore in Q4 with gross NPA rising to 27.95 per cent of its loans at March 2018.

Except Bank of Baroda, all three banks - IDBI Bank Ltd, Oriental Bank of Commerce and Central Bank of India - are under the RBI's Prompt Corrective Action (PCA) framework. The PCA framework is a mechanism to maintain sound financial health of the banks. It facilitates banks - in breach of risk thresholds for identified areas of monitoring such as capital and asset quality - to take corrective measures so that they are protected from going into financial crisis.

Once placed under PCA, the banks are barred from distributing dividends, remitting profits and disbursing fresh loans. Banks are also stopped from expanding their branch networks and need to maintain higher provisions. Recently, IDBI Bank created a special department for managing bad loans and monitoring credit after it was put under watch by the RBI.

According to the report today, the department of financial services is considering a 51 per cent stake sale in IDBI Bank to a strategic partner for Rs 9,000-10,000 crore. "Dilution of (government) stake in IDBI Bank could also be achieved through stake sale to private equity investors," the business daily reported, citing a source.

Last year in August, the Union Cabinet chaired by Prime Minister Modi gave in-principle approval for public sector banks to amalgamate through an alternative mechanism. The government in a statement said that the decision would facilitate consolidation among the nationalised banks to create strong and competitive banks.

Months later, the government constituted the mechanism under the chairmanship of Finance Minister Arun Jaitley. In a press statement issued then, the government said: "The decision is expected to facilitate the creation of strong and competitive banks in public sector space to meet the credit needs of a growing economy, absorb shocks and have the capacity to raise resources without depending unduly on the state exchequer."

The mechanism will oversee the proposals coming from boards of PSBs for consolidation.
On Saturday, in a welcome move, the Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs (CBIC) came out with a 32-page document covering frequently asked questions (FAQs) on the applicability of the Goods and Services Tax (GST) on the banking sector, the insurance sector as well as stock broking services.

In April, plenty of brouhaha ensued when banks were slapped with a service tax notice for non-payment of service tax - plus interest and penalty - on some of the free services extended to their customers. So the Department of Financial Services had subsequently approached its revenue counterpart to clear the confusion on the topic, and the recently-released FAQ does just that.

"Section 7 of the CGST Act, 2017 read with Schedule I thereto provides that services supplied without consideration to related persons or distinct persons only would qualify as 'supply'. Also import of services by bank from a related person or from any of its establishments outside India in the course or furtherance of business will be supply even if imported without consideration. Therefore, where the services are supplied by a supplier without consideration to an unrelated recipient or a person other than a related or distinct person, the same would not amount to supply and not liable to GST," read the document.

The FAQ hence made it clear that free services, like ATM withdrawals and cheque book issuance, provided by banks to customers will not attract GST. It added that the CGST Act, 2017 specifically excludes money and securities. The former, as defined in the Act, includes instruments like cheques, drafts, pay orders, promissory notes, letters of credit, et al. "Therefore, activities that are only transactions in such instruments would be outside the definition of service. This would include transactions in Commercial Paper and Certificate of Deposit (as they are in the nature of promissory notes), issuance of drafts or letters of credit, etc," it explained.

However, any "related activity" for which a separate consideration is charged would come under GST's ambit "if other elements of taxability" are present. So, for example, GST would be levied on any service charge tacked on for making drafts. Significantly, any additional interest slapped on customers for defaulting in repaying loan instalments will be liable to GST. The same is true for charges imposed on late payment of credit card dues. "Services provided by banks to RBI would be taxable as these are not covered by any of the exemptions or excluded from the purview of GST under the CGST Act, 2017 or under the IGST Act, 2017," it added. The FAQ further explained finance lease as a method of borrowing against the asset and made it clear that "interest on finance lease transactions will be taxable under GST".

Pratik Jain, PwC Partner & Leader, Indirect Tax, said that the FAQs are very significant as globally the financial service sector is considered as most complex from GST standpoint. "Transactions relating to securitisation, derivatives, future and forward contracts have been clarified to be exempt from GST, which have been debated since introduction of GST. While few aspects such as taxability of transactions between Indian and overseas offices of same bank still need some more clarity, industry would welcome the government's initiative," said Jain.

The FAQ section on the insurance sector made clear that "The service of re-insurance falls within the scope of supply, and is chargeable to GST." The purchase of insurance policies by NRIs, where the premium is paid through the Non-Resident External Bank account, will also attract GST. That is because the amounts from such accounts are paid in Indian Rupees and "are not received in convertible foreign exchange", hence life insurance services here are treated as "inter-State supplies and subject to GST".

On whether GST will be levied on the exit-load of mutual funds, the department said exit load in the form of a fee (whether or not as a fixed percentage of the investment) is liable to GST. "Even if the exit load is in the form of units in the fund, it may be concluded that the consideration received in money was later converted to NAV units," it added.

The FAQ also made it clear that brokerage earned in stock broking service is liable to GST. Moreover, any interest/ delayed payment charges charged for delay in payment of brokerage amount/settlement obligations/margin trading facility shall also come under the GST ambit.

While the document is certainly very comprehensive, CBIC could do more to introduce transparency and clarity. According to Jain, further clarifications around services provided by multiple branches and to multiple locations of customers would provide much-needed certainty to the industry and reduce possibility of litigation.

With PTI inputs
As the release date of Rajnikanth's upcoming movie approaches, trouble for the superstar continues. After the actor's statement on the Cauvery dispute between Tamil Nadu and Karnataka, Rajnikanth's new movie Kaala has been banned in Karnataka. The Karnataka Film Chamber of Commerce (KFCC) is upset with Rajinikanth's comments following which it decided not to allow screening of Kaala, due for release on June 7 in the state. Now the Film Federation of India (FFI) has jumped in and has requested the South Indian Film Chamber of Commerce (SIFCC) today to expedite its release in the state. FFI President Sakshi Mehra spoke to SIFCC to let the movie release in Karnataka in the interest of the film industry. On May 20, Rajnikanth reportedly said, "Let us not get into the technicalities of whether it is going to be an authority or a board. The court has given a clear ruling," after the Supreme Court directed Karnataka to release 2 tmc ft of Cauvery water to Tamil Nadu on May 3.

SIFCC Secretary L Suresh said they had sent a letter to KFCC to solve the problem by convening a meeting with the Kannada outfits. "I have spoken to KFCC president Sa Ra Govindu and also written a letter to him. The KFCC would probably call for a meeting with the outfits tomorrow or the day after," he said. Suresh said it is unfortunate that cinema is being mixed with politics, which would only result in a loss to the film industry. "The ban on Kaala will not only affect the Tamil film industry, but also the Kannada film fraternity and the Indian film industry as a whole," he further added.

Karnataka Rajinikanth Fans Association has also written to KFCC, seeking Chief Minister HD Kumaraswamy's intervention to solve the issue. "Politics should not be mixed with cinema. Rajinikanth had made remarks on the formation of Cauvery water board, which could be beneficial to both Karnataka and Tamil Nadu," President of Karnataka Rajinikanth Fans Association, Rajani Santosh said. It must be mentioned that the actor has often faced the ire of pro-Kannada organisations for his comments on the Cauvery dispute.

On Sunday, Minister of State for Finance and Shipping Pon Radhakrishnan asked DMK working president MK Stalin to request its ally, Congress, in Karnataka to take steps to release the film.

Popular actor Prakash Raj who is known for freely expressing his views said that while he does not agree with Rajnikanth's comments, he does not see why the release of his film should be banned in the state. He said that the Cauvery dispute is a touchy subject for both Tamil Nadu and Karnataka and a practical solution must be found together. "There is a deep bond between man and a river. So when we talk of Cauvery we do extremely emotional about it. This is true of people from both states of Karnataka and Tamil Nadu where emotions run high when we try to find a solution to share water. But getting emotional does not solve an issue; we need to be practical about it too," a statement posted by Raj on Twitter read.

"A statement made by actor Rajinikanth has hurt us deeply. Yes, I agree. In order to express our dissent, a few organisations have called for a ban on the film. Is that what we Kannadigas want? We don't know and we will never know. If the film is released and people decide not to see it as a mark of their protest only then will be able to gauge what people really want. But these fringe elements deciding on behalf of the people will not let us know it. Who are these people to decide what most Kannadigas want or don't want?" said the actor.

(With PTI inputs)
High-quality development is unthinkable without innovation. The development of science and technology depends on multiple factors, with science and technology administration playing a crucial role. Science and technology administration in China have made marginal improvements over the past decades, but some bad habits remain entrenched. On May 28, President Xi Jinping emphasized at a meeting of Chinas science and engineering academicians that the country should be willing to take risks and work through difficulties to overcome ideological obstacles and reform its administration of the science and technology sectors. In order to measure the success of reforms in Chinas science and technology administration, we must observe the extent to which it respects the standards and normal processes of scientific research.

Chinas total investment in science and technology is considerable, thanks to the large size of its economy as a whole, and the financial problems that researchers in the past faced have mostly been eradicated. In 2017, spending on research and development accounted for 2% of Chinas gross domestic product, roughly equivalent to levels in the European Union. Chinas numbers of research and development personnel, papers published in international scientific journals, and new patents are among the highest in the world. However, the general consensus is that China is still not a strong player in science and technology fields, and its current capabilities are insufficient for meeting its development needs. The gap between China and developed countries is still relatively wide, and China lacks self-sufficiency in some key areas.

The main reason for this is a lag in the reform of Chinas science and technology administration. Technology and the arts together represent the height of human creativity, and they require an environment of tolerance and freedom just as living things need oxygen. Government management of science and technology research should, first and foremost, serve the research itself, and should be different from other kinds of government policy. Chinas science and technology administration must truly realize the full potential of human and other resources, and official strategies should trust and respect scientific talent, rather than prioritizing the whims and beliefs of senior officials.

The key is to demolish the administrative legacy of the planned economy in order to respect scientific research standards and practices. Using administrative measures to directly manage research projects not only causes inefficiency and waste, but also hinders the cultivation and growth of innovators. The frequently criticized culture in which seniority and relationships determine which research projects are favored and allocated resources is largely a product of this kind of administration. Under this system, scientific and technological excellence are no longer the criteria by which research is judged. It is not surprising, then, that in China, scientific ideas become distorted and research becomes governed by unspoken, nonscientific rules. Many young scientists are happy to abandon academic standards in order to be promoted to directors of research offices. People have already become accustomed to such strange things.

Allocation of funding for scientific research has become increasingly driven by rigid administrative practices in recent years, with researchers complaining that strict management of expenses has affected their work. The arrest of top animal-cloning researcher Li Ning for corruption in 2014 has cast a large shadow over management of scientific expenses in China. The central government has repeatedly made promises that it will improve the management of research projects and science funding, but the problem has not yet been effectively solved. This is because the solution is not simply a matter of fixing a few procedures, but rather requires a fundamental reorientation of the countrys scientific research system.

The debate over what relationship scientific research should have with the free market has been raging in China for years. This is largely caused by a conflation of pure scientific research with applied science due to the crudeness and inertia of administrative management. Although projects frequently combine the two types of scientific research, they are fundamentally different. The Chinese government should explore suitable administrative practices for the development of pure and applied science, separately. Otherwise, the country will likely find itself in the embarrassing situation of not being able to make general breakthroughs in pure science research, despite occasional gratifying achievements in individual fields that fail to be developed further. It will also have difficulty resolving the disconnect between the economy and science and technology, and once researchers receive patents and professional titles, the results of their work will frequently be ignored. China must make greater progress in encouraging pure research, in order to reach achievements benefiting the size and potential of its economy. The country should refrain from shortsightedness and an overemphasis on utility.

Policies to promote scientific and technological innovation must cover a wide range of issues, including determining the role of the government and establishing a mechanism for innovative collaboration between industry, education, and research. The drawbacks of direct government involvement in science and technology research, fragmentation of management, and overlap between institutions are clear and must be dealt with in a timely manner. The main function of the government should be to create infrastructure and institutions for the development of science and technology, rather than to determine the specifics of how projects should be run and evaluated. The government should also realize that the key to good scientific research doesnt only lie within the fields of science and technology, that China lacks a market environment of fair competition for scientific research, and that intellectual property rights lack protection. Chinas central government is attempting to improve the current situation. It unveiled in August 2015 a plan for deepening reform in science and technology by 2020, and one of the tasks mentioned in the plan is actively creating a fair, open and transparent market environment with strict intellectual property protections. The public eagerly awaits the implementation of this plan.

Well-built scientific research and education systems are not enough to ensure world-class technological innovation, nor are they enough to guarantee smooth industry application of scientific breakthroughs. The current mechanisms for collaboration between industry, education, and research does not work smoothly enough. One of the main reasons is the relative disconnect between research and educational institutions and industry. China needs to further clarify the roles of businesses and institutions within the process of innovation in order to make full use of the massive scientific and technological resources available to research and higher education institutes, and to encourage researchers. In recent years, the government has encouraged researchers to approach businesses with project proposals or to share their research results. However, because of a lack of safeguards, scientific researchers are reluctant to do so. Mechanisms for cooperative innovation should be enshrined in law in order to ensure stability and sustainability, rather than simply laid out in official documents or individual leaders statements.

Like Chinas education system, its science and technology system has been criticized for years but remains unimproved. This situation must change. The central government has tasked the relevant departments with finding solutions as soon as possible. But while it is not difficult to publish a few documents offering solutions, China will achieve true reform of its scientific research system only through the respect for and compliance with the rules of science itself. Only then will the famous question asked by rocket scientist Qian Xuesen  Why cant we cultivate top-notch talent?  be solved, and Chinas ambition to become a truly innovative country be realized.

Translated by Teng Jing Xuan (jingxuanteng@caixin.com)
The China Banking and Insurance Regulatory Commission has said that filling leadership roles at financial institutions with those who served on the regulator helps prevent and resolve financial risks. Photo: VCG

Chinas banking and insurance regulator has said that a spate of regulators moving into positions at financial institutions  despite recent rules to clamp down on the practice  reflects recruitment needs.

Recent moves by cadres from the banking and insurance regulator to positions at financial institutions reflects the need to integrate the principle of cadres being administered by the party and marketization of recruitment needs, a representative from the China Banking and Insurance Regulatory Commission (CBIRC) told the China Securities Journal, one of three flagship financial newspapers under the official Xinhua News Agency.

The the principle of cadres being administered by the party refers to Communist Party committees role in personnel arrangements.

Filling leadership roles at financial institutions with such personnel, including cadres who possess rich supervisory experience, meets the need to prevent and resolve financial risks, the CBIRC representative said.

Caixin learned on May 30 that Chen Qiong, deputy secretary of the Discipline Inspection Commission and director of the Inspection Office at the CBIRC, will assume a new role as vice secretary of the Communist Party committee at Minsheng Bank. Chen may eventually assume the role of vice governor at the bank after completing administrative processes, Caixin learned. Days earlier, Deng Zhiyi was named director of China Orient Asset Management shortly after leaving his role as head of the trust department at Chinas banking regulator.

Pilot rules released last year put tougher restrictions on the revolving door between regulators and those institutions that they regulate. For example, the rules that ban senior officials family members from working at, or having a more than 5% stake in, entities that the officials supervise have been expanded to include parents, siblings, and parents siblings, in addition to spouses and children.

The rules, issued by the banking regulator before it was merged with the insurance regulator to form the CBIRC, also blocked senior officials from taking jobs at financial institutions within three years of leaving their government posts.

Chinas Civil Servant Law, enacted in 2006, has similar clauses barring regulatory officials from taking industry positions within certain periods. But in practice, there are still loopholes that make it possible to bypass the rules, several sources told Caixin earlier.

Those holding posts higher than a section chief at the CBIRC require approval from the party committee before they take up a position at a financial institution, according to the current rules.

Wu Hongyuran contributed to this article.

Contact reporter Liu Xiao (liuxiao@caixin.com)
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The Canberra Olympic Pool is a "unique prize waiting to be fully exploited" and "ripe for renewal", a community swimming club says. The Molonglo Water Dragons Masters Swimming Club has called on the ACT Government to make a "modest investment" in the Civic pool so unique community asset does not fall into disrepair. Club president John Collis fears talk of a new stadium in Civic on the site means funding for the pool has been frozen. The ACT Government said it would continue to maintain the facility, however, it currently had no plans to upgrade the precinct. Mr Collis recently wrote to the government after a number of incidents, including an attempted car jacking and people begging for money near parking meters, had caused club members to question their safety. Mr Collis said the combination of inadequate lighting in the car park and the extension of pay parking until 10pm had driven people from area, increasingly isolating nighttime pool users and putting them at risk. He said modest investment to bring more people into the area would improve public safety and help reap better value from the pool. Mr Collis was concerned that speculation about a new stadium in Civic would "lead to the sort of policy paralysis where Governments hold back on maintaining a community asset till it becomes run down and its removal is justified". "We need a Government that is prepared to capitalise on its assets and fully exploit the unique property portfolio it has been elected to manage on our behalf," Mr Collis said. "A modest investment in this unique community asset could see the area fully lit up, with safe bicycle access and parking facilities, and a cafe where visitors can gather. "The Civic Pool is a unique prize waiting to be fully exploited. It comes with a ready-made clientele ... and growing market of nearby residents and visitors to the city waiting to be served. "It is a year-round all weather community sport and fitness facility and it needs the support of our Government to bring it back to a standard where people can expect to be able to use it safely, day and night, without being attacked, carjacked or accosted for money." An ACT Government spokeswoman said the government had not frozen investment in the facility because of speculation surrounding a new stadium in Civic. However, she said "at this stage there are no planned upgrades for the Canberra Olympic Pool and it will be business as usual for the next swimming season. "There will be extensive consultation before there are any changes to the operation of the pool facility and its precinct." Police statistics showed there had not been an increase in crime around the precinct, however, the government spokeswoman said lighting had been improved and would be further upgraded in the near future. "In late May 2018 Roads ACT repaired two defective streetlights at the car park adjacent to the Canberra Olympic Pool off Allara Street. A third defective streetlight will be reinstated soon once a panel issue is rectified," she said. "Roads ACT has undertaken a lighting assessment of this car park and determined that additional streetlight outreach arms could be added to some of the streetlights surrounding the car park. "This would provide additional lighting. This work will be programmed within the next fortnight."

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The ACT opposition will call for an investigation into possible business losses suffered by traders caused by Gungahlin construction works. Gungahlin Sultan Turkish Cuisine co-owner Radhika Reddy said the restaurant was supposed to be her retirement plan but the downturn has eaten into her savings. Ms Reddy also said her staff were threatening to leave as she cuts hours to make up for the loss of trade. "I think people are refraining from coming to Gungahlin," Ms Reddy said. "There's no traffic flow, it's completely dead. It's a lot of hassle for people." "Ramadan should have been a busy period for us. Even our employees are surprised at the level of trading now." Ms Reddy has also been issued with a legal notice by her landlord for overdue rent but said her landlord was also being cautious because of the state of trade in Gungahlin. "I've run businesses all around for about 22 years in Canberra. This is the first time I've been affected so badly," Ms Reddy said. Liberal MLA James Milligan said he would move a motion on Wednesday calling for the ACT government to engage external contractors to investigate potential downturn and provide compensation options. Established family operated businesses experiencing financial losses are looking at job cutsand extreme debt to stay afloat," Mr Milligan said. Mr Milligan has previously called on Transport Minister Meegan Fitzharris to conduct a work health and safety assessment of the impacts of light rail construction on people working in the area and customers. The light rail project is exempt from the Environment Protection Act 1997 and the Environment Protection Regulation 2005. The works around Gungahlin are part of light rail construction and a redevelopment of the town centre on Hibberson Street. Light rail works have caused similar headaches for businesses in Sydney's George Street, where the government has recently announced it would compensate affected owners.

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Two Caltex petrol stations in Canberra have been conducting remediation works on land believed to be contaminated by leaking fuel storage tanks. The two independently owned stations, in Kaleen and Mitchell, applied for exemptions related to the work in April last year. On April 5 an application was lodged with the ACT government seeking an environmental impact statement exemption for work at the Caltex on Maribyrnong Avenue, Kaleen. Two days later, a similar exemption was lodged with the government concerning remediation work at the Caltex on Lysaught Street, Mitchell. Contamination was found to present a low risk to human health at both sites. The exemption application for the Kaleen service station said the underground tanks would be replaced to reduce the risk of future leaks. This will ensure that the risk of future leakages is minimised as infrastructure is brought up to current industry standards, and that the contaminated soil on site can be removed so further leaching into soil and groundwater does not occur. In addition to remediating contaminated land at the Kaleen site, a development application also outlined plans for a new building, fuel lines and bowsers at the site. The objective of the [underground petrol storage system] removal works is to install new tanks and lines, and at the same time to remove former fuel infrastructure and any significantly contaminated soil around the infrastructure, so that the site is suitable for continued use as a service station, engineers wrote. A remediation action plan prepared for the Kaleen site in April 2017 said the presence of contamination was likely due to leaks from underground storage tanks. Environmental consultants from engineering firm WSP identified contamination at the Mitchell Caltex following routine testing in 2015. Groundwater data from the [environmental site assessment] investigation showed dissolved hydrocarbon impacts in all four groundwater monitoring wells in the vicinity of the tank farm, read a 2016 report prepared for the service stations owners. Human health and/or environmental assessment criteria was exceeded in all four monitoring wells in the 2015 [environmental site assessment]. The 2015 report by engineers WSP said there was no evidence that freshwater ecosystems had been contaminated by the leak. However, delineation of the detected groundwater contamination is necessary to fully assess this risk, they wrote. On the advice of officials, Planning Minister Mick Gentleman granted both applications exemptions from the environmental impact statement process. In both cases officials said an impact statement would not be required because extensive environmental studies had already been completed. Mitchell station owner Ross Di Bartolo said the leak at his site had been picked-up during routine testing and thoroughly addressed by environmental engineers. He said he had spent almost $1 million on environmental reports, remediation and follow-up testing at the site, which would soon re-open. Kaleen station owner John Evangelista said the old petrol tanks and lines were removed as part of a site upgrade project. "The ACT Environment Protection Authority (EPA) has approved the installation of the new tanks and lines in support of the use of the site as a service station," he said. "We anticipate the site being reopened by late June 2018." A Caltex spokeswoman said the company supplied the two sites and did not own the petrol infrastructure.

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Published On Jun 04, 2018 12:25 PM By Raunak for Mahindra XUV500

The new platform, which will debut with the next-gen SsangYong Korando, might also underpin the second-gen XUV500

Pictured: First-gen SsangYong Korando facelift

SsangYongs UK boss has revealed that the next-gen Korando will come in an all-electric avatar alongside conventional powertrains. Expected to hit European markets next year, the all-electric midsize SUV from the Mahindra-owned South Korean automaker is said to be unveiled in 2020. In Europe, the Korando goes up against midsize SUVs such as the Hyundai Tucson, Jeep Compass and the Kia Sportage.

Why is it important to us?

Mahindra has already announced that it will co-develop the second-gen XUV500s platform with SsangYong. And, we believe, theres a possibility that the second-gen versions of the Korando and the XUV500 will have a lot in common.

Although it isnt official (about the new Korando and XUV500 sharing platform), it doesnt make sense for the group to come up with two different platforms for cars in similar segments. Ford too might share this platform for its midsize SUV aimed primarily at the Indian market as the American automaker recently partnered with Mahindra for joint development of vehicles.

Pictured: 2018 Mahindra XUV500 Facelift

How will the next-gen Korando shape up?

Pictured: SsangYong e-SIV Concept

Nick Laird, Managing Director, SsangYong Motor UK said that the upcoming Korando EV, which is likely to be based on SsangYongs e-SIV concept that was showcased at the 2018 Geneva Motor Show, will be a huge step forward, even over the current model. It sticks to the companys roots and DNA of trying to be a proper SUV and crossover brand".

The all-electric e-SIV puts out 190PS of power and features a 61.5kWh battery pack. The concept offers a cruising range of 320km-450km and its batteries can be juiced up to 80 per cent in 50 minutes using a fast charger. It has an electronically limited top speed of 150kmph.

Pictured: SsangYong e-SIV Concept

Now, Mahindra has recently announced that it will invest Rs 500 crore in its Chakan facility to manufacture EVs and various related components. So, the next-gen XUV500 might also feature this all-electric powertrain.

Coming back to the next-gen Korando (probably the XUV500 as well), it is expected borrow design cues from the concept as SsangYong highlighted that the e-SIV previews the design of SsangYongs next-generation C-segment SUV (midsize SUV).

The e-SIV follows SsangYongs latest design language, New Horizon, Smart Dynamism, which can also be seen on the upcoming Rexton. The concept looks boxy in comparison to the outgoing model. While the 2010 first-gen Korando was designed by Giugiaro, the second-gen model might take inputs from Mahindra-owned Pininfarina. Heres how the e-SIV stacks up against the existing XUV500 and the Korando in terms of its dimensions.

SsangYong e-SIV Mahindra XUV500 SsangYong Korando Length 4,460mm 4,585mm 4,410mm Width 1,870mm 1,890mm 1,830mm Height 1,630mm 1,785mm 1,710mm Wheelbase 2,675mm 2,700mm 2,650mm

Besides equipping it with the e-SIVs EV powertrain, SsangYong is also planning to introduce a diesel-hybrid version of the upcoming Korando. Im interested to see how diesel hybrid plays out. I think there's a place for diesel hybrid, said Laird. The next-gen XUV500 might also benefit from the same. In 2022, we expect stricter emission norms, in the form of CAFE (corporate average fuel efficiency), to be implemented in India. It would require automakers to take strict measures to improve fleet efficiency and curb CO2 emissions. In such a scenario, we expect carmakers to have multiple mild- and fully hybrid products in their portfolio.

Check out: 2018 Mahindra XUV500 Facelift: First Drive Review

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Read More on : Mahindra XUV500 diesel
Modified On Jan 09, 2019 02:03 PM By CarDekho

The electric MG ZS SUV is expected to have a range of around 300km

Update: The upcoming MG SUV has been christened Hector. Read more about it here.

MG Motor has maintained from the very first day that its open to manufacturing new energy vehicles in India. The carmaker has also been testing the Roewe ERX5 in India along with the Baojun E100 small car -- both electric cars made under the SAIC Motor Corp. umbrella in China. For the uninitiated, SAIC owns MG Motor.

Now, MG Motors president and managing director in India, Rajeev Chaba, has revealed that the company is mulling the launch of an electric version of its ZS SUV in India. The electric ZS, which is referred to as ZSe, is still under development and is expected to be revealed in the UK in 2018. It is touted to draw electric tech from its Roewe electric SUV sibling, the ERX5 SUV.

The Roewe ERX5 is a midsize SUV, roughly the size of the Hyundai Tucson. It is powered by an electric motor that makes a maximum power of 115PS and 255Nm of peak torque. It has a 48.3kWh lithium ion battery that offers a maximum range of 425km. Roewe claims that the ERX5s battery can be topped up to 80 per cent in 40 minutes.

If MG plans to bring the ZSe to India, expect the range to be somewhere around 300km and pricing to be in the range of Rs 25 lakh - which is very aggressive for a long-range EV and might be achieved with local assembly. The ZSe will also have a plug-in hybrid version in the UK but its not clear whether thats being considered for India. For reference, the MG ZS is a compact SUV that locks horns with cars like the Maruti Suzuki S-Cross and Hyundai Creta.

If launched in India, the ZSe would make for the brands halo product and will, probably, become the first fully electric SUV in the country. Upon launch, the company will offer a charging box for home or office with some infra setup in the 2-3 major cities where it will retail its cars in India.

MG Motor is planning to enter the Indian market in the first half of 2019 with an SUV that would rival the Jeep Compass. This first SUV will be powered by conventional petrol and diesel engines and is expected to be priced aggressively.
Indian Navy has released an employment notification calling out for aspirants to apply for the post of Cadet through BTech Cadet Entry Scheme. Those interested can check out the eligibility, salary scale, how to apply and the complete details of the government job here. Selected candidates can earn up to INR 96204 per month. The last date to apply for the government job is June 21, 2018.

Indian Navy Recruitment 2018 For Sailors

Indian Navy Recruitment 2018 Vacancy Details

CRITERIA DETAILS Name Of The Post Cadet Organisation Indian Navy Educational Qualification Class 12 graduates from science (PCM) stream who had written JEE Main 2018 Age Limit Must be born between July 2, 1999 and Jan 1, 2002 Skills Required Physical fitness Salary Scale INR 83448 to INR 96204 per month Job Location India Industry Navy Experience Freshers can apply Application Start Date June 2, 2018 Application End Date June 21, 2018

Also Read: Indian Air Force Recruitment 2018 For 182 Vacancies In SSC

How To Apply For Indian Navy Recruitment 2018

In order to apply for Indian Navy Recruitment 2018, follow these steps:

Step 1: Log on to the Indian Navy official website.

Step 2: Click on the Apply Online option on the home page.

Step 3: Click on the Register button to register as a new user.

Step 4: Select the option to register with or without Aadhar number.

Step 5: The registration form will be displayed on the screen. Enter your details in the fields provided.

Step 6: Upload your ID and address proof.

Step 7: Enter the captcha code.

Step 8: Click Save.

Step 9: Go back to the home page and login using your credentials to complete the registration process.

Click here to read the detailed official notification.
Ministry Of Defence has released an employment notification calling out for aspirants to apply for the post of Tradesman Mate. Those interested can check out the eligibility, salary scale, how to apply and the complete details of the government job here. Selected candidates can earn up to INR 18000 along with other allowances and government benefits. The last date to apply for the government job is June 23, 2018.

Indian Navy Recruitment 2018: Earn Up To INR 96204

Ministry Of Defence Recruitment 2018 Vacancy Details

CRITERIA DETAILS Name Of The Post Tradesman Mate

Organisation Ministry Of Defence Educational Qualification Class 10 graduate Age Limit 18 to 25 years Skills Required Physical fitness and knowledge of Hindi Salary Scale INR 18000 Job Location India Industry Defence Experience Not required Selection Process Physical Endurance Test and Written Test Application Start Date June 2, 2018 Application End Date June 23, 2018

Also Read: Indian Air Force Recruitment 2018 For 182 Vacancies In SSC

How To Apply For Ministry Of Defence Recruitment 2018

In order to apply for Ministry Of Defence Recruitment 2018, follow these steps:

Step 1: Log on to the official job advertisment on the employment news website.

Step 2: Scroll down to the bottom of the page to find the application form.

Step 3: Download and print it.

Step 4: Enter your details in the fields provided.

Step 5: Send the complete application form to Defence Ministry.

Ministry Of Defence Recruitment 2018 Application Format And Mailing Address

Superscribe on the envelope, "Application for the psot of Tradesman Mate" and send it to:

Commanding Officer 56 Infantry Divisional

Ordnance Unit, PIN- 909056, c/o 99 APO

Click here to read the detailed official notification.
Ministry of Railways has released an employment notification calling out for aspirants to apply for the post of Railway Claims Tribunal Judicial Member. Those interested can check out the eligibility, salary scale, how to apply and the complete details of the government job here. Selected candidates can earn up to industry standards. The last date to apply for the government job is June 27, 2018.

Selected candidates will be allocated one vacancy per location mentioned below and 2 vacancies at Guwahati alone. The person has to be a qualified judge of the high court in the first place in order to be eligible. Also, his scale of pay must have not been less than the Joint Secretary of the Government of India.

Rail University At Gujarat Admissions 2018 Open: Apply Before June 30!

Ministry Of Railways Recruitment 2018 Vacancy Details

CRITERIA DETAILS Name Of The Post Railway Claims Tribunal Judicial Member Organisation Ministry of Railways Number Of Vacancies 11 Term Of Office 5 years Educational Qualification Bachelor's degree in law Age Limit Not mentioned Skills Required Judiciary skills Salary Scale INR 224400 Job Location Chandigarh, Bhubaneswar, Ranchi, Mumbai, Bhopal, Nagpur, Amaravati, Secunderabad, Jaipur and Guwahati Industry Railways and law Experience 3 years Application Start Date June 2, 2018 Application End Date June 27, 2018



Also Read: IRCON International Limited Recruitment 2018 For Supervisor

How To Apply For Ministry Of Railways Recruitment 2018

In order to apply for Ministry of Railways Recruitment 2018, follow these steps:

Step 1: Make a hand-written application for the post of Railway Claims Tribunal Judicial Member.

Step 2: Cover it in an envelope and send it to the Ministry of Railways.

Ministry Of Railways Recruitment 2018 Application Format And Mailing Address

Superscribe on the envelope, "Application for the post of Railway Claims Tribunal Judicial Member" and send it to:

Under Secretary-II/E(O)II, Railway Board, Room No. 211 A, Rail Bhawan, New Delhi - 110001

Click here to read the detailed official notification.
Manipur Public Service Commission (MPSC) has released an employment notification calling out for aspirants to apply for the post of Dental Surgeon. Those interested can check out the eligibility, salary scale, how to apply and the complete details of the government job here. Selected candidates can earn up to INR 40000. The last date to apply for the government job is June 15, 2018.

JKPSC Recruitment 2018 For Civil Judges: Earn Up To INR 44770!

MPSC Recruitment 2018 Vacancy Details

CRITERIA DETAILS Name Of The Post Dental Surgeon Organisation Manipur Public Service Commission (MPSC) Educational Qualification First class dental degree from a recognised university Age Limit 21 to 38 years (relaxation will be provided for reserved category) Skills Required Clinical judgement Salary Scale INR 9300 to INR 40000 Job Location Manipur Industry Dental Probation Period 2 years Experience Not required Application Fees INR 500 Selection Process Written exam Application Start Date June 1, 2018 Application End Date June 15, 2018 Exam Date June 30, 2018

Also Read: OPSC Recruitment 2018 For Assistant Horticulture Officer: Earn Up To INR 40000!

How To Apply For MPSC Recruitment 2018

In order to apply for MPSC Recruitment 2018, follow these steps:

Step 1: Log on to the MPSC official website.

Step 2: Click on the SIGN UP option for One Time Registration.

Step 3: The registration form will be displayed on the screen. Enter your details in the fields provided.

Step 4: Confirm that you are not a robot by clicking on the checkbox.

Step 5: Click Submit and complete the registration process. Follow the subsequent steps to finish the application process.

Fields To Fill In The Application Form

Personal information

Parents information

Educational qualification

Language skills

Experience if any

Uploading of relevant documents

Click here to read the detailed official notification.
Telangana State Public Service Commission (TSPSC) has released an employment notification calling out for aspirants to apply for various posts. Those interested can check out the eligibility, salary scale, how to apply and the complete details of the government job here. Selected candidates can earn up to INR 49870. The last date to apply for the government job is July 6, 2018.

Engineering Jobs 2018 In Telangana: TSNPDCL Is Hiring Electrical Engineers!

TSPSC Recruitment 2018 Vacancy Details

CRITERIA DETAILS Name Of The Posts Junior Assistant, Junior Stenographer and Typist Organisation Telangana State Public Service Commission (TSPSC) Educational Qualification Bachelor's degree in any stream from a recognised university Age Limit 18 to 44 years Skills Required Typewriting skills Salary Scale INR 49870 Job Location Telangana Industry Civil services Experience Freshers can apply Application Start Date June 6, 2018 Application End Date July 6, 2018

Also Read: TNPSC Recruitment 2018 For 805 Horticulture Officers

How To Apply For TSPSC Recruitment 2018

In order to apply for TSPSC Recruitment 2018, follow these steps:

Step 1: Log on to the TSPSC official website.

Step 2: Click on the button to go into the website.

Step 3: On the right-hand side of the home page, under CANDIDATE SERVICES, click on the link that reads, Direct Recruitment.

Step 4: The list of recruitment notifications will be displayed on the screen. Click on the application link against NOTIFICATION NO.11/2018, Dt. 02/06/2018 JUNIOR ASSISTANT IN TELANGANA STATE ROAD TRANSPORT CORPORATION (GENERAL RECRUITMENT).

Step 5: The application link will be active from June 6, 2018. The application form will be displayed on the screen once you click on the active link.

Step 6: Enter your particulars in the fields provided, upload the necessary documents and submit them. Follow the subsequent pages to complete the application process.

Click here to read the detailed official notification.
It was in the 1990s that the Indian contribution to the global economy was first recognised. It was around this time that the dot-com boom happened. Over the years, Indian engineers started ruling the software world. A growing number of Indian engineers even settled abroad while working for these firms. At the same time, a growing number of Information Technology (IT) firms started being established in the country.

With places like Bangalore and Gurgaon becoming the IT hubs, more and more Indians found themselves jobs in this field. Over the years, IT became a major contributor to the country's economy. Today IT companies are seen in abundance in many other cities as well.

These days, irrespective of the field of specialisation that one indulges in most Indian engineers land themselves with IT jobs. Compared to other core jobs, this field offers engineers a higher pay as well as the comfort of being employed in better working conditions. To make things easier, most major IT companies actually visit a number of colleges across the country in order to recruit students.

Because of all of these, a major chunk of the engineering graduates land themselves with IT jobs. With so many people being employed here every month, it is obvious that not all of them will be able to get promoted. Thus, you need to work hard and play it smart if you really want to advance in your IT career. This article talks about some tips that will help you do so.

1. Ask For An Evaluation

Everyone wants to hear good about themselves and none of us really want to face unpleasant things. However, it is important for you to realise that you can improve professionally only if you know what your mistakes are and you make efforts to learn from those.

In that context, asking your boss for an evaluation will work wonders. Use those insights to improve your career. You can also consider reaching out to colleagues and solicit constructive criticism. If you can use these to your benefit, you will climb up the corporate ladder very fast in the IT world.

2. Do Not Procrastinate

This is something that has been told to you ever since your primary school but you haven't taken this too seriously. Now that you are in the professional world, if you really want to make it big, you will have to cure your procrastination. Your procrastination is what is hindering your performance.

The incomplete tasks are piling up one on top of the other, and at the end of the day the pack becomes (or will become if it hasn't already) so huge that it will be practically impossible for you to do justice to each of them and yet meet the deadlines.

3. Utilise Your Breaks

In any IT job you will get about an hour of break every day. You can either choose to spend the time checking out Facebook notifications or you can actually watch some informative video that is related to your field of work. If you do this for a month, you will be amazed to see that you have accumulated a considerable number of hours of productive learning.

4. Learn When You Exercise

Nobody can deny the fact that a sound body is an utmost necessity in the pursuit of professional success. But while you are toiling hard at the gym, you can make double use of the time and learn something productive.

These days, there are tons of audiobooks available that you can simply plug in. If you do so, the same hours that you spend at the gym can be utilised to build both, a healthy mind and body.

5. Utilise Travel Time Well

Most IT companies are located in the metros and all of us are well aware of the traffic scenario in such places. Thus, if you are working for an IT firm, chances are that you spend quite a fraction of your waking up hours in some form of transport.

In order to utilise the time that you spend here, install work-related applications on your phone/laptop. If you can work for those extra couple of hours everyday, at the end of the year, you will be amazed to see that you are yards ahead of your peers and colleagues in terms of professional accomplishment.

6. Master The Art Of Marketing

It is a well-established fact that in today's context merely being good in your job does not suffice. You need to tell people how good you are and only then will they buy it. In such a situation, it is very important for an individual to be able to market themselves and their abilities. However, there is a thin line between marketing yourself and showing off your abilities.

Understand that no one likes a narcissist. Hence, if you really want to make it big in the world of IT, you just have to draw the line yourself and work hard to ensure that you are in marketing yourself. The day when you are able to do that, there shall be no looking back in your quest for professional success in the world of IT.
California lawmakers are said to be considering a proposal to help utilities shoulder billions of dollars in potential liability costs while offering relief to wildfire victims by setting up a compensation fund that would be backed by the state and the power companies.

Details, including the size, are still being worked out and the proposal  one of a number of options being considered  may not come together, according to people familiar with the discussions who asked not to be identified because they arent public. The fund could issue bonds, with the payments potentially provided by utility shareholders, ratepayers and revenue from the states cap-and-trade program or general fund, the people said.

October fires destroyed large swaths of California wine country, including thousands of homes, and killed 44 people, while blazes in December hit areas near Los Angeles. Statewide insurance claims topped $12 billion as of March, according to the California Department of Insurance.

California law can hold utilities including PG&E Corp., Edison International and Sempra Energy liable for costs if their equipment is found to have caused a fire, even if they followed safety rules. The money in the proposed fund could be available for utilities in situations in which they werent found to be negligent or regulators determined they acted appropriately.

We are aware of the proposal but are not prepared to speculate on what the outcome will look like, Allison Torres, a spokeswoman for Sempras San Diego Gas & Electric utility, said in an email. We will continue to stay engaged on the topic for the benefit of our customers.

For fire victims, the advantage of a fund would be quicker payouts and compensation for those who lacked full or any insurance coverage, the people said. For investor-owned utilities operated by PG&E and Edison, the benefit would be not having to absorb all at once a large liability that could raise borrowing costs or cause financial distress. Both utilities and Sempra have been aggressively lobbying lawmakers in Sacramento to amend the law that would hold them liable if their equipment sparked a fire, even if they werent negligent.

Utility Liability

PG&E could face $15 billion in claims from some of the worst wildfires in state history  the ones that charred Northern California wine country  and Edison faces more than $4 billion for blazes in the southern part of the state, according to credit rating agency Fitch Ratings.

Although we have not seen legislative language, we think the concept of a catastrophic wildfire fund is worth exploring, Steve Conroy, an Edison spokesman, said in an emailed statement. PG&E declined to comment.

Last week, California officials said PG&Es equipment was the source of four of the smaller wildfires that broke out last year and the utility had violated state laws in three of them.

At the least, the fund would serve the victims of the 2017 fires, one of the people said. Ideally, the fund would also assist victims of future natural disasters that officials say are becoming more common due to climate change such as floods. Lawmakers would need to pass legislation to establish the fund.

Ali Bay, a spokeswoman for Governor Jerry Brown, said it was premature for the office to comment. Spokesmen for the state Senate and Assembly leadership said they couldnt immediately comment.

The idea of setting up a fund to deal with the ramifications of a natural disaster isnt a new one: California created an Earthquake Authority in 1996 after homeowners found it almost impossible to get insurance after the Northridge quake. Insurance companies helped finance the startup of the publicly managed entity, which covers more than 75 percent of the residential earthquake-insurance market.

Copyright 2021 Bloomberg.
On Wednesday (13) the two presenters met in the studio to talk about the changes to Jornal Hoje. As announced...
CDC changes leadership at ARM to halt the decline

04 June 2018

British development financiers CDC have brought in Sophia Bianchi and Rohit Anand as new directors at ARM Cement, to replace replaced Ketso Gordhan and Pepe Meijer, after seeing its investment in Kenyas Athi River Mining (ARM) plummet buy more than 90 per cent in just three years.



CDC reported a KES6.9bn (US$68m) loss for the 2017 financial year on declining sales. The UK-based investment firm had to act to try and halt the slide.



"The replacement of two board nomineesbring in substantial experience in turnaround situations and financial restructuring in emerging markets," the board said in a press release.



The British firm bought a 42 per cent stake in ARM Cement in April 2016 for KES14bn when the company's shares were trading at KES37 with a market capitalisation of KES35bn. In a steep descent, the share price stood at KES2.95 by Thursday's closing with the firm's market capitalisation of KES2.8bn putting the CDC investment at about KES1.1bn.



ARM has been left with soaring loans, price wars and under utilisation of its clinker plant in Tanzania due to a government ban on coal imports. According to the financials, money generated from operations fell by more than 70 per cent from KES1.6bn in 2016 to KES473m last year.



Theer has been no sign of a turnaround in fortunes for ARM in 2018. A GFK Bimonthly Retail Report showed that between January and February 2018, Athi River Mining's Rhino Cement and East African Portland Cement's Blue Triangle brands lost ground to rivals Bamburi, National and Mombasa. Bamburi grew 33 per cent, while Mombasa and National Cement gained to close 20.3 per cent and 19.3 per cent respectively in February 2018.

Across the border, ARM said the entry of a new player in southern Tanzania sparked a price war that slashed prices by about 30 per cent. "Two of the existing players increased capacity and the overall supply in cement was significantly higher than demand," said ARM Cement.

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When it comes to nuclear war with North Korea, we know some important things, but were in the dark about others. We know the masterminds behind the countrys nuclear program and how our economy will suffer if North Korea attacks the United States. What we dont know is what will push Kim Jong Un over the edge and prompt him to launch a nuke. Yet we have an idea of the allies, territories, and U.S. cities that would be hit first if North Korea attacks the United States with its growing nuclear arsenal.

Well start near Pyongyang, North Korea, and work our way out. Along the way, well discuss an overlooked U.S. ally (page 4) and two important continental American cities (pages 11 and 12). Were not saying these places are in imminent danger, only that North Koreas Hwasong-14 rocket can reach them with its 10,000-kilometer (6,200-mile) range.

1. South Korea

Distance from Pyongyang: 121 miles

This is the most obvious target for North Korea. South Koreas capital in Seoul is just 121 miles away, and the bad blood between the two countries dates back to the Korean War. South Korea is a major U.S. ally, so attacking there is roughly the same as a North Korea attack on the United States.

Next: A country the U.S. counts as an ally.

2. China

Distance from Pyongyang: 502 miles

Despite some combative rhetoric, President Donald Trump admires China to a certain degree and is committed to saving jobs there, so we count the country as an ally. The Chinese capital in Beijing is just 502 miles away across the Yellow Sea, which puts it in North Koreas range. However, China is basically North Koreas only ally, so we highly doubt a nuclear attack will happen.

Next: Americas longtime diplomatic friend is a target.

3. Japan

Distance from Pyongyang: 799 miles

Japan and the United States have been allies since the end of World War Two, so were sure Tokyo, at 799 miles from Pyongyang, is a target. Hitting the Japanese capital is akin to North Korea hitting the United States directly.

Next: A key strategic target for North Korea.

4. Philippines

Distance from Pyongyang: 1,708 miles

If North Korea attacks the United States directly, you can bet the Philippines will be targeted, too. The U.S. has five military bases there, and destroying those bases would impact Americas ability to strike back.

Next: Setting foot on U.S. soil.

5. Guam

Distance from Pyongyang: 2,128 miles

Sometimes its hard to remember this fact, but Guam is part of the United States. Roughly 160,000 people live there, including 7,000 U.S. troops at a joint Navy and Air Force base. Its so close to the Korean peninsula that theres a good chance Guam will be a prime target if North Korea attacks the United States.

Next: Its not a big city, but bombing it makes a point.

6. Anchorage, Alaska

Distance from Pyongyang: 3,724 miles

Anchorage is far from the biggest U.S. city with a little more than 400,000 people in the metro area, but bombing it would make a point. With an attack on Anchorage, North Korea would be able to claim it attacked a city in one of the 50 states.

Next: Just like Guam, but with a major difference.

7. Honolulu

Distance from Pyongyang: 4,589 miles

We visited Guam just a minute ago, and Honolulu is nearly identical but with one major difference. Its an actual state rather than a territory.

The Army, Navy, and Air Force all have bases or barracks near Honolulu, and the Marine Corps has a base on the north side of Oahu. Its a strategic target and one of the places in the bulls-eye if North Korea attacks the United States.

Next: A major U.S. ally under attack.

8. Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada

Distance from Pyongyang: 5,038 miles

Canada and the United States are extremely close allies, but Vancouver is a major Canadian city threatened by North Korean missiles. Its one of Canadas most populous cities with nearly 2 million people and its a vital shipping port.

Next: Hitting this city would be a major blow to the energy industry.

9. Edmonton, Alberta, Canada

Distance from Pyongyang: 5,130 miles

Its one of Canadas biggest cities, but thats not the only reason Edmonton is a target. Northern Albertas vast oil-heavy tar sands make Edmonton a major player in crude oil.

Next: One more major city north of the border.

10. Calgary, Alberta, Canada

Distance from Pyongyang: 5,241 miles

Calgary will be a major target if North Korea attacks the United States and its allies. The city houses major gas, oil, and energy companies that produce 87% of Canadas oil and natural gas and 66% of its coal.

Next: Hitting this city will cripple the United States.

11. Seattle

Distance from Pyongyang: 5,133 miles

Major companies such as Microsoft, Boeing, and money making giant Amazon call Seattle and its suburbs home. Sending a missile there would cripple America and its economy, which is why were sure it will be targeted if North Korea attacks the United States.

Next: Lets spin the record again.

12. San Francisco

Distance from Pyongyang: 5,605 miles

Apple. Facebook. Google. Those are just a few major companies with headquarters near San Francisco, and all of them are American icons. Apple and Google (Alphabet) are two of the five most profitable companies in the U.S. Add in the fact San Francisco and nearby San Jose have tons of innovators and other smart people living there, and were sure this city is on the hit list if and when North Korea attacks the United States.

Next: Were sure this city is a target.

13. Los Angeles

Distance from Pyongyang: 5,934 miles

If North Korea attacks the United States, it will trigger nuclear winter and a global disaster, and if it happens you can bet Los Angeles will be a target. As the largest city on the west coast, were sure its in the cross-hairs.

Next: There are bigger cities, but this would be an important target.

14. Las Vegas

Distance from Pyongyang: 5,960 miles

Other U.S. cities are larger than Las Vegas, but Sin City would still be an important target. Taking out the city with a reputation for being Americas playground would be a symbolic blow to America and the rest of the world.

Next: Three reasons this city is on the hit list.

15. San Diego

Distance from Pyongyang: 6,044 miles

We can think of at least three reasons San Diego makes the hit list if North Korea attacks the United States:

Its just within North Koreas range.

San Diego has a huge naval base with 46 ships.

Its a population center and the city adds new people every day.

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Read more: Want to Live in Your Favorite Movie Houses? This Is How Much It Will Cost You
81 Percent of UK Non-Christians Don't Believe Churches Making Things Better Christian Post Contributor | 04 June, 2018 by Anugrah Kumar

A vast majority of non-Christians in the United Kingdom think the Church is not making any difference to society, and even about a third of the Christian population is uncertain of their religious institution's significance, according to a new study by World Vision UK and Barna Global.

The study, which looked into how the U.K. public views the church, found that four out of five, or 81 percent of, non-Christians don't believe that Christian churches are making a positive difference in the world. When asked if "Christian churches in the U.K. are making a positive difference in the world," only 19 percent of non-Christians agreed. Forty-one percent said they disagree and 40 percent said they don't know.

The survey, which was launched at Lambeth Palace last week, also found that even many Christians in the country say they are uncertain of the global (31 percent) or local (32 percent) significance of their churches, though they primarily give the institution a positive assessment.

Further, 33 percent of U.K. adults see the Church as a benefit to the world, and 35 percent see the religious institution as helping their own community. However, 31 percent disagree with the former, 26 percent with the latter.

This contrasts with what church leaders think the church's impression is, as nearly half of them assume that non-Christians still celebrate the U.K. Church's global impact. "The gap in perceptions grows wider when focusing locally; a large majority of church leaders (86% "strongly" + "somewhat") agrees non-Christians welcome churches' community presencebut, in reality, just one in five non-Christian adults (20%) says they do."

"I think as a researcher who's looked at the ... challenging circumstances  the good, the bad and the ugly of some of the public perception of faith  a lot in the US as well as in the UK now, I think it can be discouraging," David Kinnaman, co-founder of Barna, told Premier. "We have to be careful to not become cynical and depressed by that."

He added, "I find that it's not the first time the Church has had a poor reputation. Jesus himself promises that we'll be misunderstood in our society and we actually don't need to overly concern ourselves with the image  good or bad of the culture. We really need to worry about being faithful as Christians."

The study was done "to equip the Church to be more effective in transforming lives for the sake of the gospel."

Read more about 81 Percent of UK Non-Christians Don't Believe Churches Making Things Better on The Christian Post.
Arkansas Priest Hopes to Spread Gospel as Contestant on 'American Ninja Warrior' 04 June, 2018 by Leonardo Blair , |

Father Stephen Gadberry, pastor of St. Mary Church in Batesville and St. Cecilia Church in Newport, Arkansas, will appear as a contestant on the new season of the popular NBC reality show "American Ninja Warrior," to compete for the $1 million grand prize when it kicks off on Wednesday night and he's also hoping to share his faith while he's at it.

Gadberry, 32, in addition to being a priest, is a physical trainer who previously served in the U.S. Air Force.

He told the Catholic News Agency that he was inspired to apply to compete on the show by Sean Bryan, another proud Catholic contestant who competed on the show twice and was known for wearing a shirt reflecting the colors of the papal flag and words "Papal Ninja."

And while the competition comes with the $1 million grand prize, Gadberry told the publication that his main motivation to compete is to evangelize.

"[Evangelizing] is the primary reason for me doing this. The Lord tells us to go out and make disciples of all nations," he said. "As this platform has stumbled into my lap ... I can further deliver the message of the Gospel that I am supposed to as a priest."

In an interview with Word on Fire last month, he said he was ordained as a Catholic priest two years ago on May 28, 2016. The ordination, he said, was a culmination of 10 years of "priestly formation and prayerful discernment."

"This process began in late autumn of 2005, shortly after I enlisted in the military. You could say that was when I first heard 'the call.' With increased mass attendance with active participation, and more personal prayer and silence, I began having 'random thoughts' of priesthood. These would come about while I was at work, at the grocery store, and even at the gym. I became more and more aware of them and started paying more attention to them," he said.

Gadberry, who lost his father and older sister in a motor vehicle accident in 1994, told Catholic News Service his parishioners are happy that he is competing on the show because he's "sharing the joy of being Catholic."

"What they're excited about is that the church that they're a part of is doing things that people usually wouldn't imagine. So their church is going to the peripheries is what Pope Francis says," he told CNS.

"They're telling all these other people of different faiths and denominations that 'my church is not one that is stuck in a box. My church is one that can go and do crazy stuff. Come check it out,'" he said.

He has become known among confirmation students at St. Mary Church as "Father Flex" and he likes it because it goes well with the "jesusismyhomie" hashtag he regularly uses on Instagram.

Read more about this Arkansas Priest as Contestant on American Ninja Warrior on The Christian Post.
Church Sued for $2.3 Million for Not Hosting LGBT Event in Building It Owns 04 June, 2018 by Michael Gryboski , |

An Oregon business has filed a complaint against a church that prohibited it from hosting an LGBT event in a building owned by the church, claiming that the fallout from that decision has harmed the company.

In 2015, Ambridge Event Center, which once rented out a space owned by Holy Rosary Church for various events, was compelled to reject an LGBT group's request to hold an event on the property due to the church's "morals clause."

In a lawsuit filed last week in Multnomah County Circuit Court in Oregon, Ambridge alleged that the church's rules against them hosting the LGBT event caused them harm. They are seeking $2.3 million in damages.

The PFLAG Portland Black Chapter, an African-American LGBT support group, sent a request to Ambridge to have an event held at the venue they were renting from Holy Rosary.

Ambridge had to decline the request and then apologized, stating that the refusal came at the order of Holy Rosary.

Although PFLAG considered filing a complaint with the Oregon Bureau of Labor and Industries, the organization did not do so in part because churches are exempted from state antidiscrimination law, according to Oregon Live.

Rod Dreher, a senior editor at The American Conservative and author of the book, The Benedict Option, wrote in a column published Tuesday that "this will not be the last challenge of this sort against churches."

"If an LGBT activist group targets a private business for working with a church it considers to be anti-LGBT, and its campaign results in that business going under, will the business owners take the church to court seeking damages? It would seem to me to be a frivolous lawsuit, but then again, in this climate, who knows?" wrote Dreher.

"The fact that Holy Rosary Church has to defend itself in this ridiculous lawsuit is a burden on a charitable organization that no doubt operates on a very tight margin."

Read more about Church Being Sued For Not Hosting LGBT Event on The Christian Post.
Mike Pence: Ministers of the Gospel, Prayer Warriors Have Biggest Impact 'in the Life of a Nation' CP Reporter | 04 June, 2018 by Brandon Showalter

Vice President Pence said Friday that other than Gold star military families, those who pray and minister the Gospel "are the greatest consequence in the life of a nation."

In a speech to pastors and ministry leaders at the Watchmen on the Wall national briefing Friday at Hyatt Regency hotel on Capitol Hill, the vice president told hundreds of attendees that it was his and the president's conviction "that the pulpits that you stand at are of much greater consequence than any podium behind which he and I stand, so thank you for your service to the Gospel."

Pence took time to recount several of the Trump administration's achievements in the past 15 months, mentioning his judicial appointments, including Neil Gorsuch on the Supreme Court, the 2017 executive order protecting religious liberty, and pledged to continue working toward the repeal of the Johnson amendment.

He spoke of Trump's efforts to aid persecuted Christians and religious minorities overseas, noting how they had redirected government funds to USAID channels that had previously flowed through the United Nations. To enthusiastic applause he spoke of Trump's decision to recognize Jerusalem as Israel's capital and relocate the U.S. embassy there.

"I couldn't be more proud to serve as vice president to the most pro-life president in American history," Pence stressed, listing some of Trump's policies, including his move last week reinstating a Reagan-era rule restricting Title X funds from going to organizations that perform or refer women for abortions.

"He and I have gotten to be very close. I mean, obviously we are a lot alike," he joked. "I get it. He's big city, I'm small town. He's very charismatic, interesting, memorable. I'm ... me. But we're alike in every way that matters," he said, describing some similarities in their upbringings.

Pence recommended that the crowd check out David Brody's book, The Faith of Donald J. Trump: A Spiritual Biography, which explores the president's faith and spiritual heritage.

"Other than a whole lot of zeros, President Trump and I have a whole lot in common. A lot of zeros," he said to laughter, referring to his boss' wealth.

"Keep being watchmen and women on the wall," Pence said, "keep doing what you're doing. It's making a difference."

He made a point to praise Gold star military families, which he had visited prior to his speech, saying: "I truly do believe that other than the service of those who wear the uniform of the United States, especially our cherished fallen, the ministries that you lead, the prayers that you pray, are the greatest consequence in the life of a nation."

Read more about Mike Pence's Message to the Ministers and Prayers Warriors on The Christian Post.
Shall the Geeks Inherit the Earth? Christian Post Op-Ed Contributor | 04 June, 2018 by Jerry Newcombe

Jesus said the meek shall inherit the earth. But today, could it be that the "geeks" of Silicon Valley are instead trying to inherit the earth?

Brent Bozell, head of the Media Research Center (MRC), just released a blockbuster report on the problem of censorship by big tech Silicon Valley companies, like YouTube, Twitter, Facebook, and Google. The report is called "CENSORED! How Online Media Companies Are Suppressing Conservative Speech."

The MRC points out, "Like it or not, social media is the communication form of the future---not just in the U.S., but worldwide. Just Facebook and Twitter combined reach 1.8 billion people. More than two-thirds of all Americans (68 percent) use Facebook. YouTube is pushing out TV as the most popular place to watch video. Google is the No. 1 search engine in both the U.S. and the world."

This is not just a war of ideas, observes the MRC: "It's a war against ideas. It's a clear effort to censor the conservative worldview from the public conversation."

My first exposure to this censorship against Christian and conservative content online involves David Kyle Foster, a former homosexual healed through Jesus. He makes high-quality testimonial videos of lives healed from sexual brokenness through Christ.

Foster said on my radio show, "We had been on Vimeo for almost nine years. We spent a lot of money establishing our presence there, and they didn't complain about our content at all. In fact, our content is always respectful, kind, compassionate. It's intended to bring healing to people who are looking for healing."

But then, Vimeo pulled all 800 of Foster's videos down one day. Foster says, "They invented this fiction that we were harassing homosexuals, we were demeaning to them---none of this is true."

This type of suppression of conservative or Christian content in social media is happening a lot lately.

I spoke recently with political commentator Ben Shapiro for an upcoming D. James Kennedy Ministries television special on this whole issue.

Shapiro noted there's a difference between a platform and a publisher. His outfit, DailyWire.com, is a publisher. They are responsible for the content they publish. In contrast, Facebook claims to be a neutral platform where others get to publish their own content. But in gearing their platform to suppress conservative content and promote liberal material, they are acting as a publisher, determining content, while claiming to be merely a platform.

Even Mark Zuckerberg, CEO of Facebook, testified before Congress last month: "I understand where that concern is coming from because Facebook and the tech industry are located in Silicon Valley, which is an extremely left-leaning place."

Fighting such bias, conservative radio host Dennis Prager sued YouTube and their parent company, Google, last year for censoring his Prager University videos.

Read more about Shall the Geeks Inherit the Earth? on The Christian Post.
UMC Megachurch Hosts Ramadan Dinner With Muslims to 'Demonstrate Love of Christ' 04 June, 2018 by Michael Gryboski , |

The largest United Methodist Church congregation in the United States hosted a dinner with the local Muslim community as part of the Islamic season of Ramadan.

Church of the Resurrection of Leawood, Kansas, which is headed by the Rev. Adam Hamilton, hosted the iftar dinner, the meal which Muslims eat after sunset during Ramadan, on May 22.

In an interview with The Christian Post on Wednesday, Hamilton explained that his church wanted to "dissipate fear" and "demonstrate the love of Christ" by holding the event.

"We've been trying to look for ways to build bridges with the Muslim community in Kansas City and to demonstrate the love of Christ to them," said Hamilton.

"There's an organization here in Kansas City who said [to us], 'is there any interest you all would have in having an iftar dinner with us?' We talked about it last year and we said, 'let's do that.'"

About 320 people attended the event last week, including about 40 Muslims. In addition to dinner the event featured opening remarks by Hamilton and a Muslim representative of the interfaith group the Dialogue Institute of Kansas City.

Hamilton explained to CP that each table had about six to eight people, including members of Church of the Resurrection and at least one or two Muslims. From there, both groups engaged in conversation about matters including how Ramadan is celebrated and experiences with fasting.

"In the end, I think it was a chance for Muslims to get to know who we are. That we're a congregation of people who try to demonstrate the love of Christ," Hamilton noted.

"We had a chance, our people enjoyed the chance to hear other people's stories and hear what they experienced in their fasting and why it was important to them."

Hamilton felt that both Muslims and Christians who attended the event learned from each other in what the senior pastor and best-selling author described as a "win-win."

The church's interfaith dinner event comes as some claim there is rising hostility toward Muslims in America, especially those from an immigrant background.

Read more about UMC's Megachurch Ramadan Dinner with Muslims on The Christian Post.
In 2020, we were the church on our heels. A global pandemic shut down much of our world. But the church has been on the move since it was birthed; it will continue to be on the move until God makes all things new.
Longtime Thomas Nelson Publishers CEO Sam Moore, who went from selling Bibles door-to-door to running one of the biggest Bible businesses in the world, died Friday at age 88.

Moore led Thomas Nelsonnow a division of HarperCollins Christian Publishingfor 47 years, expanding it to become the top publisher of Bibles and Christian books.

From when he bought the company in 1969 to his retirement over a decade ago, Thomas Nelson and its imprints published more than 300 million Bibles as well as popular titles by Christian leaders such as Jerry Falwell, Billy Graham, Max Lucado, and Charles Stanley.

Sam was a unique man who embraced Gods plan for his life every day with courage and enthusiasm, said Mark Schoenwald, president and CEO of HarperCollins Christian Publishing. He dedicated his lifes work to preach and teach the good news of the gospel. Sam impacted and changed the lives of countless people with his time, effort, and resources.

As one profile described him, Moore viewed the Bible both as a believer and as a businessman. He prompted Thomas Nelsons multimillion-dollar launch of the New King James Version (NKJV) of the Bible in 1983, inspired by his young sons confusion over the traditional KJV text.

By the mid-80s, Thomas Nelson had grown its profits by more than a quarter a year for over a decade, moving Moores company from 10th in religious publishing to the top spot. As CEO, he had an ambitious vision for what the company could offer Christian customers.

"My dream is to package that product in as many beautiful covers, to put as much helps, illustrations, and the most beautiful typeface, so you can take this book and love it and read it and cherish it, he told the Associated Press in 1985.

His dream came true. Moore expanded the scope of Christian resources sold by Thomas Nelson to the range of products todays evangelicals have come to expect from major publishers.

By the early 1990s, Newsweek reported that Thomas Nelson publishes seven of the nine major translations of the Bible and presents them in more than 650 different stylesincluding study Bibles, brides Bibles, giant-print Bibles, gift Bibles, and even a babys Bible called Precious Moments. To counter dampened growth in the Bible market, Moore then focused on an inspirational line sold at Walmart, Zig Ziglars business books, and Amy Grant records.

Born in Lebanon as Salim Ziady, Moore moved the United States at 19 in the 1950s and sold Bibles door-to-door to pay for his tuition at the University of South Carolina. Several years later, the young entrepreneur established his own company in Nashville, where he connected with the citys most promising businessmen to build on its early success and employ area college students as a sales force just like he had been.

By the time British publisher Thomas Nelson and Sons approached Moore in 1969 about a job heading its US division, he was able to buy them outright. He dropped the and Sons and set the company on a trajectory for acquisitions and growth.

People here in this company love God, too, and they have a mission to do a good return to the shareholders equity, to honor God in their lives and to help humanity, the former CEO said in 1985. When you believe in what youre doing, you get fired up.

Moore went on to become friends with Jerry Falwell Sr. and a major supporter of Liberty Universitys business program.

Moores HarperCollins Christian obituary cited Romans 8:28 as his life verse, quoting the NKJV translation he made a reality: And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to his purpose.
In the biggest religious liberty case of the year, the US Supreme Court sided 72 against a state commission that unfairly singled out a Christian baker who declined to decorate a cake for a same-sex wedding.

The high court ruled that state penalties levied against Jack Phillips, the Colorado business owner at the center of Masterpiece Cakeshop Ltd. v. Colorado Civil Rights Commission, violated his First Amendment rights to free exercise of religion since the regulations were not applied neutrally.

While the court clearly came down in Phillipss favor, Anthony Kennedy acknowledged in the courts opinion that similar cases (like those that have come up involving photographers and florists, as well as pizza shops and a range of other businesses) may be adjudicated differently.

As SCOTUSblog wrote in summary, the decision still allows for the government to bar discrimination against same-sex couples, so long as the law is applied neutrally and without hostility to religion. But whether the very same law could sometimes violate free speech rights is still totally open.

According to religious liberty scholar Thomas Berg, law professor at the University of St. Thomas in Minnesota, the Masterpiece Cakeshop ruling opposes outright religious hostility but offers little indication on how future cases would pan out in different contexts.

This is a narrow, fact-based ruling, resting on two sorts of indicators that the Colorado state decision-makers were hostile to Phillipss traditionalist religious beliefs about marriage, he told CT:

First were statements by various civil-rights commissioners denigrating or dismissing his beliefs (one called them despicable pieces of rhetoric and compared them to slavery and the Holocaust; another said theres no right for a person to act on his religious beliefs if he wants to do business in this state). Officials in future cases can easily avoid this problem by not articulating such views publicly, even if they hold them. That might not change any results. Second was that Colorado was inconsistent in several ways in prohibiting Phillips from declining to provide a same-sex-wedding cake, while allowing other bakers to decline to provide cakes with anti-gay messages.

Despite the narrow ruling, todays decision still has religious freedom advocates celebrating.

No one should be forced to violate their faith in order to earn a living, and Jack, who Ive met and consider a friend, just wants to be free to live out his faith in his chosen profession, stated Jim Daly, president of Focus on the Family in Colorado Springs, who was delighted at the ruling and its implications for religious freedom.

Phillips, who had provided cakes for gay customers in other circumstances, argued that making a cake for a same-sex wedding would be an endorsement of the marriage and a violation of his beliefs.

I know Jack would want me to remind all of us that his court victory is not a time for gloating or disrespect toward those who disagree with us, Daly said. Rather, we have an opportunity to build bridges and forge trust and mutual respect with our neighbors, coworkers, and fellow citizens who have a different opinion than ours.

Mark Rienzi, president of Becket (formerly the Becket Fund for Religious Liberty), called the decision a strong message to governments across the country that they must respectrather than punishreligious diversity on important issues.

Writing for the Southern Baptist Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission (ERLC), Joe Carter noted that the implications of todays ruling are limited. He concluded:

What is significant about the case, though, is that the Court reiterated, as Justice Kagan says, that state actors cannot show hostility to religious views; rather, they must give those views neutral and respectful consideration.

In the courts opinion, Kennedy addressed the process and decision-making made by the state agency in Phillipss instance in particular.

The Commissions hostility was inconsistent with the First Amendments guarantee that our laws be applied in a manner that is neutral toward religion, he wrote. Phillips was entitled to a neutral decisionmaker who would give full and fair consideration to his religious objection as he sought to assert it in all of the circumstances in which this case was presented, considered, and decided.

The unequal treatment in this case was relatively straightforward: While the state commission did not allow Phillips to refuse to bake the cake on religious grounds, three other Colorado bakers were not penalized for turning down a cake request that would have required them to violate their secular commitments, wrote Neil Gorsuchthe courts newest justice and himself a native Coloradanin a concurring opinion.

That kind of judgmental dismissal of a sincerely held religious belief is, of course, antithetical to the First Amendment and cannot begin to satisfy strict scrutiny, he wrote. The Constitution protects not just popular religious exercises from the condemnation of civil authorities. It protects them all.

Since the decision centered around the state commissions failure to act neutrally with regards to Phillipss religious freedom defense, the accommodation exception for Masterpiece Cakeshop does not universally apply to all Christians who desire to refuse service to LGBT customers on religious grounds.

The outcome of cases like this in other circumstances must await further elaboration in the courts, all in the context of recognizing that these disputes must be resolved with tolerance, without undue respect to sincere religious beliefs, and without subjecting gay persons to indignities when they seek goods and services in an open market, Kennedy wrote.

Berg and other religious liberty experts have weighed in on the decisions impact on Christian businesses as well as the questions left unanswered.

Despite predictions that the Supreme Court would end up split over this much-anticipated case, the rest of the court concurred with Kennedy, with only Ruth Bader Ginsburg and Sonia Sotomayor dissenting.

CT previously reported how Phillips received the backing of the Trump administration and what was at stake for conservative Christians in the wedding industry.
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I enrolled at Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary (SWBTS) in the fall of 1980. Over the next nine years, I received two degrees from the seminary and taught philosophy of religion there.

Dr. Russell Dilday, president of Southwestern during my time at the seminary, remains one of the most significant mentors in my life. Much at Southwestern has changed since then, but I continue to be grateful for my years at the seminary.

Recent events at SWBTS have generated national headlines. As a Southwestern graduate and former faculty member, I have a personal perspective on this issue. I recognize that many of you are not Baptist, but the topic we will discuss today transcends denominations and is relevant to all believers.

What happened at Southwestern Seminary

Dr. Paige Patterson became president of Southwestern Seminary in 2003. A week ago, the seminary's trustees responded to escalating criticism of his leadership, especially his statements about women, by voting to change his status to president emeritus. They invited him to reside at the on-campus Baptist Heritage Center as theologian-in-residence and provided ongoing compensation.

His status changed again two days ago.

The trustee board's executive committee made this May 30 announcement: "New information confirmed this morning was presented regarding the handling of an allegation of sexual abuse against a student during Dr. Paige Patterson's presidency at another institution and resulting issues connected with statements to the Board of Trustees that are inconsistent with SWBTS's biblically informed core values."

As a result, the executive committee "unanimously resolved to terminate Dr. Paige Patterson, effective immediately, removing all the benefits, rights and privileges provided by the May 22-23 board meeting."

This "new information" reportedly included testimony from a woman who says she was raped in 2003 when she was pursuing a degree from Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary in North Carolina. Patterson was president of Southeastern at the time.

She reported the attack the next morning to the administrator who handled student discipline, who in turn reported the incident to Patterson. He met with her but did not report the attack to the police. She claims that he encouraged her not to, as well.

The student was put on probation for two years but doesn't know why, saying it was perhaps because she was with a man alone in her apartment, which was against seminary policy.

"There is no male or female"

The firing of Paige Patterson comes at a time when our society is more focused on protecting and valuing women than ever before.

Time magazine designated "The Silence Breakers"the women whose stories launched the #MeToo movementas its 2017 "Person of the Year." In one twenty-four-hour period, the #MeToo movement received more than twelve million Facebook posts, comments, and reactions. Harvey Weinstein's indictment by a New York City grand jury was the latest chapter in this unfolding story.

Southwestern's trustees appropriately declared in their May 30 statement, "SWBTS denounces all abusive behavior, any behavior that enables abuse, any failure to protect the abused and any failure to safeguard those who are vulnerable to abuse." Many Southern Baptist leaders have praised the trustees for their decisive action.

Nonetheless, as the issues that led to this Daily Article demonstrate, we need to declare and defend the rights and value of women as strongly as possible.

I am the husband of an amazingly gifted wife, the father-in-law of two incredible women, and the grandfather of a perfect (I may be biased) granddaughter. Each of them is indescribably precious to me, and even more to their Father in heaven.

It should go without saying that they should never have to face abuse. It should go without saying that if they do, they should receive every last measure of support and protection from their family, their church, and society.

But obviously, these things need to be said.

Evangelicals can disagree regarding the biblical roles of husbands and wives. We can disagree on the role of women as pastors and preachers. (For my view supporting women in ministry, click here.)

But we must not disagree regarding the value of women. Scripture boldly proclaims: "There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is no male or female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus" (Galatians 3:28). Every woman is just as cherished by God as every man.

Any seminary, church, organization, or family that demeans, objectifies, or oppresses women is unbiblical and sinful. Any man who sees any woman as less than his equal is wrong. There are no exceptions.

How God loves each of us

I will be eternally grateful for two Baptists who knocked on my apartment door and invited me to their church. The pastor's wife taught my Sunday school class and led me to faith in Jesus. Baptists provided for my education from college through my doctorate. I pastored four amazing Baptist churches and continue to serve with world-changing Baptist institutions.

I embrace the historic Baptist distinctives of local church autonomy, the priesthood of every believer, and the separation of church and state. While I know that God's Kingdom is much larger than any single denomination or church, I am indebted to the Baptists whose faithfulness continues to shape my life and work.

But no denomination, church, or leader is above biblical accountability. I affirm the SWBTS trustees for their decisive action and hope it sends a clear and powerful signal that all women are to be respected, affirmed, and celebrated.

Jesus chose women to support his ministry (Luke 8:1-3), declare his resurrection (John 20:11-18), and help lead his church (Romans 16:1-7). If we love and serve him, we must love and serve everyone he loves.

St. Augustine famously stated, "God loves each of us as if there were only one of us." So should we.

Originally posted at Denison Forum.
Life of evangelist Luis Palau coming to the big screen in 'Palau the Movie' this October

"Palau the Movie" is gearing up for an October release and the autobiographical film will journey through renowned evangelist Luis Palau's life, who started out as a bold young street preacher who would go on to impact the world for Jesus.

Shot in Argentina, "Palau the Movie" will tell the beloved evangelist's full story. As seen in the trailer the movie will begin with a young Palau who loses his father and then has to help out his poor family. He would eventually be inspired by the late Billy Graham, which would help him to get into ministry. The film also shows some of the trials he faced as a street preacher turned a faith leader in this generation.

During a recent interview with the Christian Post, Palau's son, Andrew, described a scene in the film where Palau is seen listening to Graham over the radio and the power and authority in his voice served as confirmation for Palau about his own call to God.

"Mr. Graham gave him that vision or that confirmation by the Spirit from a distance and then later by God's grace, Mr. Graham gave him some advice and some help that was critical along the way," Andrew explained.

The movie began filming shortly before Palau made the public announcement that he was diagnosed with Stage 4 lung cancer at the top of the year.

"Did you know some friends of the ministry have decided to do a movie on my life?" Palau revealed in a Facebook post containing a video of well-known Argentine actor, TV host and producer Gaston Pauls dressed as a young Palau.

"It's quite surreal watching someone take on your persona and story. Please join us in praying for the movie, that it would honor the Lord and clearly share the Good News." Palau celebrated.

Andrew admitted that he was happy his father agreed to do the film before learning of the cancer or else it might not have been approved.

"We're really lucky that he said yes to doing the movie before he got the cancer because one thing I've seen about him, as he approaches being closer with the Lord, is he doesn't want people talking about himself," Andrew told CP.

Adding, "This movie doesn't glorify him, it's an honest look at how many of us ... we're all the same, we wrestle through the same battles but we also can have the same victories if we take the principles of the Bible to heart."

Palau was joined by his two sons, Kevin and Andrew, in January to make the devastating cancer announcement.

"We wanted to tape this video to tell the whole world that love dad and the work that we do what's been going on in dad's life," Kevin, president of Luis Palau Ministries, said in the social media video posted.

"To our surprise, the early report that we got just before Christmas [said] that there was some cancer inside one of dad's lungs," Kevin explained. "Just a few days ago we got the word that it's stage 4 lung cancer. That's a shock, especially with someone who's always been as healthy as dad," he continued.

Palau added that's it's been an emotional time for him. He confessed that the first thing he did was cry.

"This is sad, I don't feel panic or horror. If [I'm] healed, hallelujah! And many people are praying that the Lord will do a miracle. It would take literally a miracle, medically speaking," Palau shared.

Despite the sad news, production on "Palau the Movie" continued and the 83-year-old is remaining optimistic that he will be around to see all the Lord will do the rest of the year.

The film was written and directed by Kevin Knoblock and along with Pauls, features Alexandra Bard (who plays Palau's wife, Pat), Santiago Achaga, (22-year-old Luis Palau), Agustin Amoedo (10-year-old Luis Palau), Fabian Carrasco (Palau's father, Luis Sr.), Darren Dowler (Billy Graham) and more.

"Palau the Movie" will be released in Latin America and the USA in October 2018. For more information visit the film's Facebook page or PalautheMovie.com.
Supreme Court rules in favor of Christian baker Jack Phillips in gay wedding cake refusal

The United States Supreme Court ruled in favor of Colorado Christian baker Jack Phillips on Monday in overwhelming fashion, saying that the state government's hostility towards his refusal to make a same-sex wedding cake violated the U.S. Constitution.

In a 7-2 vote, the nation's high court ruled that the state of Colorado violated the Free Exercise Clause of the First Amendment when it penalized Phillips and his Masterpiece Cakeshop in Lakewood for violating a state discrimination law by refusing to bake a custom cake to celebrate the wedding of Dave Mullins and Charlie Craig.

"The laws and the Constitution can, and in some instances must, protect gay persons and gay couples in the exercise of their civil rights, but religious and philosophical objections to gay marriage are protected views and in some instances protected forms of expression," a summary of court's majority opinion states.

"While it is unexceptional that Colorado law can protect gay persons in acquiring products and services on the same terms and conditions as are offered to other members of the public, the law must be applied in a manner that is neutral toward religion."

The court reasoned that Phillips use of his artistic abilities to make a wedding cake carries a "significant First Amendment speech component and implicates his deep and sincere religious beliefs."

"His dilemma was understandable in 2012, which was before Colorado recognized the validity of gay marriages performed in the State and before this Court issued United States v. Windsor," the ruling explained. "Given the State's position at the time, there is some force to Phillips' argument that he was not unreasonable in deeming his decision lawful."

The court points out that Colorado law at the time gave the storekeepers "some latitude to decline to create specific messages they considered offensive."

"Indeed, while the instant enforcement proceedings were pending, the State Civil Rights Division concluded in at least three cases that a baker acted lawfully in declining to create cakes with decorations that demeaned gay persons or gay marriages," the court stated. "Phillips too was entitled to a neutral and respectful consideration of his claims in all the circumstances of the case."

The court criticized the Colorado Civil Rights Commission's clear bias against Phillips' Christian beliefs, which first ruled that Phillips violated that state discrimination law after the couple filed a complaint. The opinion states that the commission showed a "clear and impermissible hostility toward the sincere religious beliefs motivating his objection."

"At several points during its meeting, commissioners endorsed the view that religious beliefs cannot legitimately be carried into the public sphere or commercial domain, implying that religious beliefs and persons are less than fully welcome in Colorado's business community," the majority opinion written by Justice Anthony Kennedy states. "One commissioner suggested that Phillips can believe 'what he wants to believe,' but cannot act on his religious beliefs 'if he decides to do business in the state.'"

The opinion even stated that the "commissioner even went so far as to compare Phillips' invocation of his sincerely held religious beliefs to defenses of slavery and the Holocaust."

"This sentiment is inappropriate for a Commission charged with the solemn responsibility of fair and neutral enforcement of Colorado's antidiscrimination law  a law that protects discrimination on the basis of religion as well as sexual orientation," the opinion states.

The court also stated that more evidence of "hostility" towards Phillips was shown by the fact that he received "different treatment" than that of the bakers with objections to making cakes that were deemed to have "anti-gay" messages.

The two justices who dissented were Justices Ruth Bader Ginsburg and Sonia Sotomayor.

Alliance Defending Freedom attorney Kristen Waggoner, who defended Phillips in the case, said in a statement that "government hostility toward people of faith has no place in our society."

"The court was right to condemn that," she said. "Tolerance and respect for good-faith differences of opinion are essential in a society like ours. This decision makes clear that the government must respect Jack's beliefs about marriage."

Following the court's ruling, many Christian leaders took to social media to voice their support of the decision.

"We thank God for answered prayer!" Franklin Graham wrote on Twitter. "Today the Supreme Court has ruled in favor of Jack Phillips, the Colorado baker who refused to create a wedding cake for a same-sex marriage ceremony. This is a huge win for religious freedom!"

Russell Moore, president of the Southern Baptist Convention's Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission, also said that the ruling is a "win."

"What we don't need are governments forcing people to use their gifts to say things that go against their deepest-held convictions," Moore said in a video statement. "So this ruling is a win not only for those of us who are Christians who hold to a pro-marriage, pro-family viewpoint but also for all Americans for freedom of conscience and freedom of speech."

Despite the outcome, the American Civil Liberties Union, the law firm representing the couple, argued that the court's ruling was "based on concerns specific to the case."

"The Court did NOT rule that the Constitution gives a right to discriminate," the law group wrote on Twitter.

"As a nation, we've already rejected the idea that businesses open to the public have a license to discriminate against people because of who they are," another ACLU tweet reads.

Conservative blogger Matt Walsh made a similar argument.

"Do not call this 'a huge win for religious liberty.' It simply isn't," he wrote in a tweet. "That is an inaccurate and misleading statement. This is a huge win for Jack Phillips, specifically, but it does precisely nothing to help the general cause of religious liberty."

The Alliance Defending Freedom will hold a press call Monday afternoon to answer questions about the ruling. An update will follow.

READ MORE ABOUT THE CASE HERE:

Donald Trump's administration backs Christian baker in gay-cake case:

https://www.christiantoday.com/article/donald-trumps-administration-backs-christian-baker-in-gay-cake-case/113335.htm

Christian baker tells 'The View' hosts Jesus wouldn't bake a cake for a same-sex wedding:

https://www.christiantoday.com/article/christian-baker-tells-the-view-hosts-jesus-wouldnt-bake-a-cake-for-a-same-sex-wedding/110597.htm



Originally published in The Christian Post. Re-published here with permission.
'Theodicy Beyond the Death of God': Church decline and the 'evangelistic impatience'

One autumn day in 2004 there was a knock at the door. A Hasidic-looking man wearing a cap smiled benevolently and asked for Dr Lancaster. 'That's me,' I said. 'Hi,' he said.

'I'm the new Canon Theologian at Manchester Cathedral and I understand from my predecessor that you know a great deal about Jewish mysticism.'

We never looked back.

Andrew went on to praise, in his earlier book, Hegel versus 'Interfaith Dialogue', the Broughton Park Dialogue Group, which he and I had co-founded.

His latest book is called Theodicy Beyond the Death of 'God' and he has invited me to review it because of its potential not only for the Church's renewal but for a rethinking of what the Church has to learn from dialogue with Jews.

Andrew's former teacher, Rowan Williams, has said: 'My view is still that Andrew is the most really distinguished mind in the C of E, and I owe him a lot.'

This book certainly bears out Rowan's assessment of Andrew as an exceptional thinker.

According to Andrew, the current affliction and 'original sin' of the contemporary Church of England is its 'evangelistic impatience'. What should interest theologians is 'love of truth'. The current Church is 'corrupted by collusion with such impatience'. For this to be remedied, according to Andrew, 'theology and mission should be in tension.'

Andrew himself was ordained in 1980 and 'ever since, the Church has declined in membership and become the panicky Church which no longer knows what it is for. It is full of rampaging evangelistic impatience.'

Andrew criticizes three main areas of Christian engagement since 1980: homogeneousness, crude dogmatic certainty and magnifying the power of G-d.

For Jesus, who was Jewish (amazing how often this fact is left out of the equation) G-d is a verb and can only be known negatively. The great Maimonides (1135-1204) emphasises this fact. We can only know what G-d is not  s/he is not a potentate wearing a mitre, but the humble voice of dissidence and humility.

Andrew is in favour of diversity  also a very Jewish approach - and he is against 'mega churches'.

Andrew prefers 'truth-as-openness' to 'truth-as-correctness' and invites us to compare the 'genuine saint' with the 'devout psychopath'. The psychopath may be learned and sophisticated but the saint is open to others, not out to deceive and flatter.

With 'truth-as-openness', according to Andrew, G-d cannot be 'almighty'  i.e., seeking fame, power or career, but searches instead after meaning in life.

The Gospel is 'missold through evangelistic impatience. Faith is about truth-as-openness and the overcoming of resentment.'

And here I would add that that is what Holocaust survivors have done. Being murdered by Nazis and their aiders and abettors in Eastern Europe, they picked themselves up, and started building  rebuilding, and especially in their ancient homeland of Israel.

Many survivors whose entire families had been burned in the gas chambers built hospitals instead of demanding restitution for their stolen homes and lands in Europe. These survivors looked forward, not back. This state of mind is what Andrew is advocating for Christians.

As for those ever-increasing 'secularists' who don't believe in G-d, Andrew describes these as 'clinging onto resentment'. For Andrew, theodicy is the 'vindicated G-d'. Creation, and especially the 'formless and void' of Genesis 1, contain the possibility of evil but also the possibility of overcoming evil.

Creation creates another space, but does not remove the 'abyss' which we also encounter in Genesis 1.

There is therefore a constant embattlement with truth.

Andrew finds the true definition of a saint in Isaiah 40-55, in the 'suffering servant' passages. The Kingdom of Judah has been exiled to Babylon. And Jerusalem, the Jewish capital, has been destroyed. Why should people worship G-d if He lets His people suffer?

Fast forward to the 20th century, this is also what people also asked in the death camps. Inmates of Auschwitz and Belsen put G-d on trial, found Him guilty, but still continued to worship Him and carry out the mitzvot in the camps  as best as they could.

For Andrew, the originality of Isaiah lies in the authentication of G-d by the suffering of His people. It is suffering which makes us saints.

When G-d creates the world, he 'shrinks' (this is the concept known in Kabbalah as tzimtzum  contraction).

Creation is therefore a form of shrinkage, not of expansion.

Evangelistic impatience denies shrinkage and instead stresses 'miracles'.

By shrinking however we are able to open ourselves up in empathy with our neighbours. 'Truth- as-correctness' does not save us. To be saved is to be opened up. Monotheisms generally suffer from being 'correct'.

Simply increasing congregations is not a positive step. Diversity is positive. Feeling at home in a congregation is a negative outcome. A person should be challenged in Church by 'difference'.

According to Andrew, the 'catastrophic decline' in Church numbers is due to the 'profound corruption' in the Church which needs 'purging'. 'G-d is shrinking us and we should not battle against it in panic.'

Living as I do in the largest Jewish ward per head of population in the country, I know what Andrew is saying and agree.

What Andrew, who is sorely missed from this street, is saying is that this expansionist approach is a catastrophe for the Church itself. The Church should look to the rock from which she is hewn, unlearn all its triumphalism and take a leaf out of the Jewish book, which always emphasises humility.

I say this out of love, because I am still engaged in clergy training. My view is that even if there is one Anglican left who is not totally hostile and aggressive, they should be given a chance. But G-d is losing patience with the Church of England and Andrew is one of the only sane voices left. His radical solutions should therefore be heeded before it is too late and this country descends into total paganism.

A longer verson of this article is available.

Dr Irene Lancaster is a Jewish academic, author and translator who has established university courses on Jewish history, Jewish studies and the Hebrew Bible.
Bill Montgomery/Houston Chronicle

Gasoline prices in Houston and across the country fell slightly last week alongside crude oil prices amid uncertainty about whether OPEC will boost production at a time when U.S. output is soaring.

The average price in the Houston area fell 0.8 cents to $2.74 a gallon, while the national average dropped by nearly 2 cents to $2.94 a gallon, according to GasBuddy, which tracks fuel prices nationwide.
Transwestern

Equus Capital Partners has landed several new tenants including Wholesome Sweeteners in One Sugar Creek, an 11-story office building in Sugar Land, after completing renovations designed by Ziegler Cooper Architects last year.

The leases total 26,259 square feet at 1 Sugar Creek Center Blvd., commercial real estate firm Transwestern said.
Houston's John Allen Stephens premieres new tune "Asterisk Pts. I And II" exclusively on chron.com. Listen above.

If you're looking for a summer soundtrack, this is a great way to kick it off.

It's a sinewy, elegant pop song with yearning vocals that previews an equally alluring solo album, "radioclub.lp," due later this year.

SUMMER CONCERTS: Childish Gambino, Bad Bunny, Shania Twain and so much more

Stephens is previously of pop group New York City Queens, who disbanded in 2015. He's also the owner of Third Coast Recording Co. and co-produced the upcoming sophomore album from The Suffers.

"Asterisks" is about "failure and self doubt, to be sure," Stephens says. "But it's also about love; loving someone else more than you love yourself."

The "radioclub.lp" title and concept were inspired directly by anime film "Paprika." Stephens envisions it is a collection "that sounds like you're just flipping the stations. One song is r&b. The next is more electronic. The next is vintage-tinged synth pop."

"Radioclub.lp" is due Aug. 3.
Former President George H.W. Bush was discharged Monday from the Maine hospital that has been treating him for low blood pressure the past eight days, his spokesman said on Monday.

The nation's 41st president had been taken on May 27 to Southern Maine Health Care in Biddeford, about 20 miles south of Portland, one week after he left Houston for Kennebunkport, his summer home.
An infant has died after being left in a hot truck for as many as three hours Monday near Baytown.

Authorities were called to the 3100 block of East Jones Road, near Baytown, Monday around 2:30 p.m. to reports of a 9-month-old girl who was left unattended inside a truck for "an extended period of time," according to the Harris County Sheriff's Office.

The parents allegedly drove home around 11 a.m. and left the girl unattended in the truck, each assuming the other had brought her in, according to Harris County Sheriff Ed Gonzalez. The parents were taking care of their other child's medical needs when the 9-month-old was forgotten, Gonzalez added.

"When they arrived home, in the hustle and bustle of getting kids out and attending to other things, they apparently forgot the 9-month-old was left inside the vehicle," Gonzalez said. "It's a tragic outcome, one we see too often."

The parents only recognized the baby was not inside their home when they could not hear her making any noise, Gonzalez said.

The child was rushed to the San Jacinto Hospital in critical condition because of the extreme heat, authorities said. She later died.

The parents are cooperating with homicide detectives, Gonzalez said.

Neither parent is facing charges yet as the investigation at the scene and at the hospital continues.

"At this point, we have grieving parents," Gonzalez said. "We're sensitive to that as well. At the end of the day, it's a tragic outcome for everybody involved."

Monday afternoon's high temperature in Baytown reached 91 degrees with a heat index of 100, according to the National Weather Service.

Text CHRON to 77453 to receive breaking news alerts by text message.

Jay R. Jordan is a breaking news reporter at Chron.com. Follow him on Twitter at @JayRJordan.

Editor's Note: An earlier version of this story incorrectly identified the location of the alleged incident.


The honeymoon didn't last long between chef Richard Knight and Harold's Restaurant & Tap Room. That marriage has come to an end after only months but the two are parting on good terms.

"Richard and I are friends and we part amicably," said Harold's owner Alli Jarrett in announcing that Knight, hired in March as executive chef, was moving on.

In a statement released Monday Jarrett said that Knight, who thundered onto the Houston restaurant scene with Feast and later distinguished himself at his own Hunky Dory restaurant, has left to focus on his family and filmmaking. "I believe in following your heart so I wish Richard and his family all good things," Jarrett stated.

EAT HERE: Try these Heights restaurants that will make your mouth water

Knight and his wife Carrie recently began work on a reality food show called "Show Us Your Goods" that showcases the work of local farmers and food purveyors. Produced in Houston, the show is being pitched as a TV series and individual episodes are making their way on the film festival circuit.

In a statement Knight said that his family and his commitments promoting "Show Us Your Goods" were his priorities, and that remaining at Harold's would not be fair to Jarrett or the restaurant. "I love and respect her very much and wish her nothing but success in this business she pours her heart and soul into daily," Knight said. "Regardless of my departure, Alli and I remain friends and will be for life."

Jarrett said she will soon work to fill the position of executive chef. Knight had replaced longtime executive chef Antoine Ware.

Jarrett also is working on opening a seafood and raw bar called Low Tide at Finn Hall, the downtown food hall expected to open mid-2018.
Houston teen Michael Brown made headlines this spring after he applied -- and was accepted to -- 20 top colleges around the country.

But Rice University's new vice president for enrollment said last week that applicants to Rice are likely to have submitted applications to fewer than 10 schools -- making Brown's story far from the norm.

Yvonne Romero da Silva said on Thursday that anecdotes that show students applying to dozens of schools are "the exception," citing research on Rice's applicants conducted this year.

Out-of-state applicants submitted materials to an average of seven schools, and in-state applicants applied to three or four schools, Romero da Silva said, speaking at a higher education event hosted by the New York Times.

High-school guidance counselors play a key role in helping students decide how to proceed, she said.

ADMISSIONS: Many Rice applications read in under 10 minutes

She had been asked by Times op-ed columnist Frank Bruni whether the Common Application, which now allows students to apply to more than 700 institutions, contributed to students' willingness to apply to dozens of schools.

"There is this element of choice that I think we value as Americans that we don't want to limit," she said. "But it's choice within reason, and it's choice within some realistic set."

Brown, a 17-year-old from Houston's Third Ward, applied to 20 colleges and universities, including four Ivy League schools. He was accepted by every one, with a full ride to each and more than $260,000 in scholarships, and chose to attend Stanford University in California.

Other students, in Houston and around the country, went viral for similar feats. In 2017, Alief ISD senior Amina Mabizari, earned admission to seven Ivy league schools and other top colleges, deciding to attend Yale University.

Also last year, Cy-Fair ISD student Eghosa Amadin chose to attend Stanford after also earning acceptance to seven Ivy League universities.

RESEARCH: Focus takes away from teaching students, Ruth Simmons says

On Thursday, Bruni asked Romero da Silva whether colleges should be recruiting so heavily, given their low acceptance rates.

She said universities should not shut down wide recruitment, as it would limit information on colleges to students who were already considering elite schools.

"Only the students and families that knew about our institutions would know to apply and know about the opportunities," she 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.
Things are starting to trickle in from the National Hardware Show and the Do It Best Show. Its never fast enough for me. Im about as patient as a kid waiting his turn in line at Baskin Robbins complaining loudly. But something small came in with big implications.

When customers ask me how to tighten up a stripped-out wooden screw hole, I suggest a toothpick and glue to take up space, and put the screw back in. It works, but you have to wait for the glue to set. And I already confessed to you about how patient I am. Screw-It-Again is a way to fix stripped-out wood screw holes fast and easy. Its a threaded anchor that will fit down into the stripped hole and its scored to break off at the exact right depth. Each anchor is two inches long so you can use several times. It fits a small #2 screw and up to #16 size screw. Its notched at the top to fit a Phillips head or a Flat head screwdriver. Fix your stripped-out hole by taking out the existing screw. Gently screw in the Screw-It-Again anchor into the existing hole.

When you cant screw the anchor in any further, snap it off. Then re-insert your screw into the anchor and tighten. It will be as tight as it was when new. Repairing your kitchen cabinet hinge is so easy; you dont have to remove the hinge, just screw in the new anchor. If you have a stripped screw in the kitchen cabinets, in a door frame, wooden furniture, anywhere a wood screw fits  there is now an easy fix for kitchen remodeling.

I have to tell you, the rep for Screw - It - Again nearly knocked me down trying to get my attention to show me his product, but I am so glad he did. Check out their website www.screw-it-again.com.

Now to the email 

Question: We are already on water restrictions in our town. I refused just to let my grass go, so I will be hand watering. Do you have any suggestions on a good nozzle?

Answer: You know my favorite is Little Big Shot. It has a light weight brass nozzle that uses 40 percent less water but will give you just as much force as one of those jet nozzles. It never leaks because of the Perma Washer and fits any standard sized hose. Go from powerful spray to a pinpoint steam with just a twist of the Little Big Shot nozzle. You can find them almost anywhere, and they retail for under $12.

Question: I cannot believe it, but I saw a little mouse in my garage. My scream probably broke the sound barrier. Now I refused to let him or her live in my garage, but I dont want to use a glue trap or a normal snap trap, ugh. So do you have any idea what I can use to get rid of that pest?

Answer: If you do not want to use a traditional trap, use a repellant. Shakeaway Mouse Repellant comes in small packets that you can put in the garage. They are completely safe if you have small pets. My little Max just gave them a sniff and walked the other direction. I guess that is exactly what we want the mice to do also. You can also use Shakeaway Mouse Repellant inside, under cabinets and pantry. Put them in your RVs, outdoor sheds, greenhouse  anywhere you see activity. They also make a Rat Repellant which is twice as strong and made to be used outside. The packets last for 90 days.

Question: I have mildew just around the caulking of my bathtub. It drives me crazy! I feel like a cleaning fool and then I walk into the bath, and that black stain is staring back at me. What you suggest that I use to clean.

Answer: Since you have a porcelain tub and a ceramic tile surround, you can clean with just a spray of Zep Mold and Mildew Stain Remover. Start with a dry surface, spray, let it work and then rinse. You might have to spray it twice. It has a strong smell, so open up a window.

If you cannot find the products mentioned here locally, you can find them at www.happyhandyman.com. Click on Shop Johnnies Favorites, or call the store at 210-341-1573. Email Trudy Chuoke Lesage at happyhandyman2@yahoo.com. Mail can be sent to Johnnie Chuokes Home and Hardware, 2361 NW Military, San Antonio, TX 78231.
When Houston native Rebecca Thompson graduated from McGovern Medical School at The University of Texas Science Center at Houston (UTHealth) on May 18, she continued her familys four-generation legacy.

Her parents Gretchen Zimmerman, M.D., and David Thompson, M.D., and twin brother Richard Thompson, M.D., are all physicians who also did their studies at McGovern Medical School at UTHealth. Its also where Zimmerman and David Thompson first met 38 years ago while they were general surgery residents. Her extended family  an uncle, her grandfather and great-grandfather  were doctors as well.

While some of her other family members knew right away they wanted to be doctors, Thompson took a somewhat different path, wanting to be an engineer. She received an undergraduate degree in civil/agricultural engineering and a masters in biomedical engineering, both at McGill University in Montreal.

I always loved math and science as a child. I decided to pursue engineering because I knew it was challenging and I wanted to challenge myself. I also wanted to explore something different than the rest of my family, all of whom had studied biological sciences/pre-medicine, Thompson said.

But eventually, she felt the pull toward the medical field. She entered into the McGovern Medical School just as her brother was finishing.

Thompson noted that she felt lucky to be able to see her brother go through the whole process before she did.

I remember how interesting it was to listen to him talk to my mom and dad about medical stuff, and I thought, Wow, I want this, Thompson said.

Thompson said that it was extremely hard to go back to school, at a time when her peers were getting established in their careers, but her parents and her brother were supportive.

She had her family helping her out every step of the way though, her parents quizzing her before big exams and her brother Richard giving her tips.

When they were studying, we would all go out together and discuss the questions and had a good time doing it. Its a lot of hard work, not everyone wants to do it. You give up a lot, but it had been very rewarding, Zimmerman, Thompsons mother, said.

About her parents, Thompson said that they worked long, hard hours, and they had great values and strong personalities. Academics were always important to them.

Without them and their support, I probably would have never considered a career change possible at this point in my life. However, I encourage anyone out there who wants to make a change or go back to school. Never tell yourself, It's too late, it's too hard, or I'm too old, Thompson said.

According to Thompson, her mother was also an inspiration to her, being one of a few women in the surgical field at the time.

She had a lot to juggle and she had to do it all without many female mentors; blazing her own trail, Thompson said.

Zimmerman said that she never encouraged her children to follow the medical career, but she is glad they did.

I was not surprised, but I was very pleased and proud of her. It was a decision they both made on their own, Zimmerman said.

Thompsons plan is to finish her residency at the McGovern Medical School to become an anesthesiologist, which she will start in July.

She says that she has learned to not plan five years in advance, but she is excited to see where her career goes, and hopes to practice as a physician for as long as she can.

In the meantime, she feels like this time in her life is special, for both her and her family.

I do feel a stronger bond to my family being able to share this vocation with them, kind of like I am now a part of the club, Thompson said.

As Thompson and her brother move forward, her parents are getting ready to retire. They have a combined service of 83 years with McGovern Medical School.

It is nostalgic, Zimmerman said. They are just beginning when we are finishing. There is some sadness in leaving, but I think it is good timing.

I'm ready for my career to start and I'm excited to see what the future will bring. As for them, I'm very happy that they get to start a new chapter in their lives and hope that they can learn to relax a little and live the slow life! They absolutely deserve it, Thompson said.

rebecca.hazen@chron.com
May 25

At 8:37 a.m., an officer was dispatched to the West U PD Lobby in reference to a case of identity theft.

Minor Accident / FSGI An officer was dispatched to the West U PD Lobby in reference to a victim reporting an unknown vehicle backed into his work van, causing minor damage. The suspect vehicle left the scene before providing information.

At 1:02 p.m,., an officer was dispatched to the Harris County Jail I.P.C., to pick up a prisoner (Tammerian Bell) who was ready for pickup with outstanding West University Warrants. Officer arrived and took custody of prisoner, subsequently transferring to the west u jail facility without incident.

May 27

Identity Theft At 2:12 p.m., an officer was dispatched to the West U PD Lobby to speak with a victim of identity theft.

May 28

An officer observed a vehicle traveling southbound in the 6100 block of Buffalo Speedway with no visible registration. A traffic stop was initiated and the vehicle came to a stop in the 3100 block of University. Upon further investigation, the driver (Jerry Guzman) was arrested for Driving while License Invalid.

May 30

An officer was dispatched to the 5600 block of Kirby in reference to a burglary of a motor vehicle. An unknown suspect entered the victims vehicle and removed several items.

May 31

Officers were dispatched to the 2900 block of Jarrard in regards to an assault that had just occurred.
A judge on Monday granted permission to the Fort Bend ISD to exhume human remains found at the construction site of a new technical center, a ruling that will allow the district to learn more about bodies that they believe have been buried there for at least a century.

"We care deeply about who was buried there," said Robert Scamardo, an attorney representing the school district, after the hearing. "We're going to continue to do what we think is in the best interest (and) respect the dignity of those people."

State District Judge John Hawkins advised attorneys representing the school district to include more details about the process as part of their proposed order submitted to the court, which has yet to be signed. Hawkins granted the school district permission based on their petition to exhume the remains, according to school district spokeswoman Amanda Bubela.

Ninety-four graves have been identified this year at the construction site, which is located on University Boulevard and Chatham. Construction was halted on the part of the site where the graves were found, but continues on other parts of the site. The James Reese Career and Technical Center is scheduled to open in fall 2019.

During the hearing, Reginald Moore, a community activist with a longstanding interest in a nearby gated cemetery, and Ken Brown, a University of Houston anthropology professor who's advised Moore on cemetery issues for years, told Hawkins that the school district should hire someone with a specialized knowledge of African-American history to help examine the remains. They also believe the school district should make sure that they're notifying descendants as they learn more about the bodies.

"You need to be able to have somebody that can not only do the history, but can also bring in somebody that can talk to people today," Brown said after the hearing. "It's the people that really count. That's why I'm so irritated. They're treating them like they're dead bodies with nobody attached to them at all today."

Moore had warned school officials not to build the technical center in the area. As an advocate of the nearby Old Imperial Farm cemetery, he has long believed that neighboring tracts contained the remains of those who'd been part of the the convict leasing system, which allowed private companies to profit from the labor of convicts, in many cases African-Americans imprisoned on trumped-up charges. In the decades after slavery ended, they worked on sugar-cane plantations in conditions so bad that Sugar Land was nicknamed "Hell-hole on the Brazos."

He believes the remains found at the construction site, which are 100 to 200 years old, could be prisoners from the convict leasing system or possibly slaves.

The judge explained that because he does not own the land, he does not have legal authority to tell the school district how to exhume the remains. Hawkins said he felt the school district had followed the law properly concerning the graves.

Scamardo said the school district was open to hiring someone with expertise in African-American history and eventually notifying descendants, but he first would focus on examining the remains.

"We have as much of a concern and desire to learn about the history as anyone does," said Scamardo.

As part of the process, "no remains or graves will be removed from the property at this time," according to the petition to exhume submitted by the school district.

The exhumations will be completed by Goshawk Environmental Consulting under the supervision of the Texas Historical Commission. During the process, forensic anthropologists and archaeologists of Goshawk will gather historical data including "the sex, age, race, medical condition and possible causes of death of the humans laid to rest at the FBISD Burial Site," according to the petition.

Moore said he feels optimistic about the process so far and is expected to meet with members of the school district to discuss the matter further on Tuesday.

However, Moore still expressed concern that the district was moving too fast, adding that he thinks there are more than 94 graves on the site.

There may be "additional bodies all over that tract," he said.

brooke.lewis@chron.com
Approximately one in five or 43.8 million adults in the United States faces mental illness issues in any given year, but according to a licensed clinician, just one-third of those individuals seek treatment. Houston-area nonprofit re:MIND has offered support groups for those affected by depression or bipolar disorder for 15 years.

Megan Gust, licensed clinician and program director for re:MIND, said depression and bipolar disorder impacts many people and can make getting through daily life difficult.

Depression (major depressive disorder or clinical depression) is a common but serious mood disorder. It causes severe symptoms that affect how you feel, think and handle daily activities such as sleeping, eating or working, Gust said. Bipolar disorder, also known as manic-depressive illness, is a brain disorder that causes unusual shifts in mood, energy, activity levels and the ability to carry out day-to-day tasks.

Some of the symptoms of depression, Gust said, include persistent sadness, constant feelings of hopelessness, a decreased interest in hobbies or activities or having less energy, problems sleeping or thoughts of death or suicide. She said individuals with bipolar disorder go through, periods of unusually intense emotion, changes in sleep patterns and activity levels and unusual behaviors. These distinct periods are called mood episodes [and] are drastically different from the moods and behaviors that are typical for the person.

Joe Gorczyca, chairman of the re:MIND board of directors, has worked with the organization for seven years and said he sees how its support groups make a positive difference in peoples lives.

Participants begin to talk with other participants about their experiences and associate with facilitators and mentors, which is great to see. Usually, when someone is talking about a challenge they have faced, there is someone else in the room who has experienced a very similar situation, he said. Re:MIND has really helped many individuals develop a strong support system.

Re:MIND also tries to improve mental health awareness in the Houston community, and Gust said that is particularly important this year because of the emotional and mental effects of Hurricane Harvey.

The roots of re:MIND started in 1979 when a group of individuals that wanted to help those in the community living with depression and bipolar disorder formed the Depressive Manic Disorder Association Greater Houston. In 2003, the organization changed its name to Depression and Bipolar Support Alliance Greater Houston and became a 501(c)(3) corporation. The first support group met at Chapelwood United Methodist Church in Memorial, where the groups founder Gary Levering went to church. In 2017, DBSA changed its name again to re:MIND.

Gorczyca said that today re:MIND has 80 support groups that meet in 65 sites in Harris, Fort Bend and Montgomery counties and outlying locations including Baytown, Clear Lake, Cypress, Katy, Kingwood, Missouri City, Pasadena, Pearland, Richmond, Spring and The Woodlands.

Gorczyca said re:MINDs free and confidential groups last an hour and half and are led by licensed mental health clinicians who are professionally supervised.

Re:MIND offers general support groups, which are open to anyone 18 and over experiencing signs and symptoms of, or diagnosed with, depression or bipolar disorder. Re:MIND also offers adolescent groups that are open to individuals between 13 and 17 years of age, Gorczyca said.

In addition, he said re:MIND helps Houston-area teens through working with school counselors, social workers and support staff and with the organization Communities in Schools Houston. It has groups designed specifically for LGBT individuals, young adults and those experiencing transitional housing. In addition, friends and family groups support people who care about someone experiencing depression or bipolar disorder and who are often impacted themselves.

Caring for a loved one, such as a spouse, parent, friend or child with a mental disorder can be emotionally exhausting and mentally challenging, Gorczyca said. Studies have shown that caregivers, when compared to the general population, suffer twice the rate of depression.

According to Gorczyca, re:MINDs financial support comes solely gifts from individuals, foundations and corporate donors, and the organization does not receive funds from DBSA National or the government. One way to contribute is by attending the annual luncheon, which is slated for Sept. 25, 2018. To learn more about re:MIND or to donate, visit www.remindsupport.org or call 713-600-1131. For a list of the support groups, visit www.remindsupport.org/list-of-houston-support-groups. To attend a group, no registration or fee is required: just show up.

Gorczyca said mental health is an important issue that needs to be addressed.

We are living in a society that is dealing with high stress, fractured families and violence. Shootings in our schools and in our streets are a constant threat, he said. Suicide has grown to be the second leading cause of death in youth 10 to 14 years and the third leading cause of death in young adults 15 to 24 years.

Gorczyca urged those in need to seek help and take advantage of the services re:MIND has to offer.

I appeal to everyone to get involved in dealing with our mental health needs. If you need help, please ask someone to help you get treatment. If you know someone needs help, please get them help. At re:MIND, we can help you find the resources that you need.

tracy.maness@hcnonline.com
A McMeans Junior High School eighth-grader and a Katy High School senior took top honors in this years Patriots Pen and Voice of Democracy contests.

Katy High School senior Emily Schweizerhof said her presentation for the Voice of Democracy contest was inspired by books she read in Advanced Placement literature. This years contest theme was American History: Our Hope for the Future.

Schweizerhof said she was reading Lord of the Flies and got involved in classroom discussion about banned books. I looked up a list of banned books, said Schweizerhof. It made me realize society does not want to read about history. Its important to learn about history and to read a banned book, she continued. To see bad things from the past so we can learn instead of burying them and pretending we did not know they happened.

Schweizerhof will be attending Texas A&M University and majoring in civil engineering.

The Voice of Democracy contest is open to students in grades 9-12 who are asked to come up with an oral presentation of between three and five minutes.

McMeans Junior High School eighth-grader Nia Adeogun won top honors for her essay In the Patriotic Pen contest written to the theme of Americas Gift to My Generation. Her mom, Nichele Adeogun encouraged her to enter.

My parents both have been in the military, said Adeogun. It helped to have that connection and to veterans when I was writing my story.

Both her mom and dad, Taiwo Adeogun, served in the air force. Her father also served in the navy, she added.

The contest was open to students in grades 6-8 who were asked to write an essay of between 300 and 400 words.

Each Katy winner receive a certificate, pin and check.

This year we had eight Voice of Democracy submissions and 32 Patriots Pen entries, said Don Byrne, Katy Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 9182 adjutant honor guard webmaster. He said there are always more Patriot Pen entries compared with Voice of Democracy submissions for some reason.

One thing is our entries this year were lower than normal due to Harvey, said Bryne. Schools were just getting started and didnt have time to make students aware until after they came back.

Judging begins at the local level with guidelines provided by the VFW. A committee listens to the Voice of Democracy tape and reads the Patriots Pen essays. Post members work on the taped entries and auxiliary members handle the essays.

This year two Patriots Pen winners were selected and sent to our District 17. The district judges them and sends winners on to state. State then judges and sends winners on to national. At our mid-winter gathering, in Austin, they present the winners and award the scholarships, said Bryne.

Byrne said he will be posting information on the Katy VFW website soon so that students wont need to wait for the start of school to obtain the information for next years contest. Oct. 31, 2018 will be the deadline for entries in the 2018-19 Patriots Pen and Voice of Democracy contests. The 2018-19 theme for Patriots Pen is Why I Honor the American Flag. The grand prize is a $5,000 award. The 2018-19 theme for Voice of Democracy is Why My Vote Matters. The grand prize is a $30,000 award.

Last year we were late, due to the storm, getting information distributed, said Byrne. I am the incoming commander, this year, and plan on getting with Katy ISD and some private schools to try to get some early energy into the program this year. It really depends on teachers encouraging students to participate.
The Development Corporation of Richmond is partnering with Friends of North Richmond, Attack Poverty and Texas Workforce Solutions to match job seekers with a past criminal conviction to employers willing to offer them a second chance.

The Second Chance Job Fair will be June 14, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., at Mamie George Community Center, 1111 Collins Road in Richmond.

The job fair will offer probationers, parolees and individuals with a previous criminal conviction an opportunity to interview with employers and learn about educational opportunities from local technical and community colleges.

Cameron Goodman, Development Corporation of Richmonds executive director, said, I spoke to some partners of the North Richmond area and it became clear it is a big need in the area. Previous convictions are roadblocks to employment.

It is the first time this type of job fair is being offered locally. Goodman, who started his position five months ago, said he offered a similar job fair when he worked in Waco.

Nationwide, approximately one/third of Americans have some type of criminal record, he said. The fair is intended to connect job seekers, with a past conviction, to employers willing to interview the potential employee and provide the job seeker with an opportunity to discuss any items in their background.

With unemployment pegged at about 3.9 percent, Goodman added, Employers may be more willing to give opportunities to this population.

Studies have shown that many employers providing second chance employment opportunities benefit from higher employee retention and may qualify for tax benefits such as the Work Opportunity Tax Credit, which provides a tax credit for hiring individuals facing barriers to employment, added Goodman in a news release.

Goodman hopes to have between 12 and 14 employers at the job fair plus four to five community organizations.

More Information Want to Go? What: Second Chance Job Fair Where: Mamie George Community center, 1111 Collins Road, Richmond When: 10 a.m.-2 p.m. June 14 Contact: Potential employers may email cgoodman@richmondtx.gov Job seekers are asked to register at www.richmondecodev.com/page/SecondChanceJobFair See More Collapse

Employers interested in participating in the job fair are encouraged to contact Goodman at cgoodman@richmondtx.gov.

We will bring any kind of resource to help individuals get back on their feet and an opportunity for employment, Goodman added.

For example, Fort Bend Transit representatives are invited to the job fair to provide information on transportation options to get to work or training. Another participant will be Texas State Technical College (TSTC), which has a campus in nearby Rosenberg.

The economic development corporation gave them (TSTC) $1 million over 10 years, explained Goodman. Theyre a huge asset for our community. We wanted to contribute to make that project possible.

The college offers customized training for employers and programs such as industrial maintenance technology, cybersecurity, telecommunications convergence technology and welding technology. Goodman said they offer skill-training programs for students who are not looking for a four-year degree.

Goodman doesnt have a good feel about how many potential employees may attend the job fair. Hes hoping between 100 and 150 people will attend. Job seekers are asked to visit http://www.richmondecodev.com/page/SecondChanceJobFair to register for the event. Hes also spreading the word in the community about the job fair, including contacting Fort Bend Countys Community Supervision and Corrections Department (formerly known as Adult Probation Probation Department) and asking its officers to make their clients aware of the upcoming event.

Job seekers are asked to bring updated copies of resumes, be prepared for in-person interviews and dress professionally.

Theres a chance the Second Chance Job Fair could become an annual or semiannual event, said Goodman. We really thankful for the support from community partners to make this possible, he added.

The entire community benefits when individuals with a past conviction are able to find full-time employment. Employment is one of, if not the most, important factors to reducing the recidivism rate - that is the number of individuals who are arrested after being released, Goodman said. When individuals are able to support themselves and their families, we all share in the benefit of a safer community with a stronger local economy.
A Texas prison major has resigned amid an investigation into allegations he orchestrated the planting of two screwdrivers in an inmate's cell apparently as part of a disciplinary quota system at the Ramsey Unit.

Four other officers at the Brazoria County lock-up were fired in connection with the investigation into the planted evidence, according to Texas Department of Criminal Justice spokesman Jeremy Desel.

"This appears to be an isolated incident that started with that major," Desel said. "All parties involved including that major did not show integrity and did not uphold what is one of this agency's core values."

Jennifer Erschabek of Texas Inmate Families Association said the departures offer prisoners' families confirmation of what they already suspected.

"We've been claiming in the past that family members are being set up with these cases, but it's been so hard to prove  and we finally have the proof," she said. "I am just so thankful that our voices finally are being heard. We look forward to working with TDCJ to make sure this doesn't happen in the future."

RECRUITING BOOST: Texas prisons bump up officer starting salaries 12 percent

The quota for writing inmate disciplinary reports came to light in mid-May after the Houston Chronicle obtained copies of an email from Capt. Reginald Gilbert ordering officers to write up prisoners or face disciplinary consequences themselves.

"Effective March 10, 2018, each Sergeant will be required to turn in at least two (2) cases written by officers for a Level 2 Code 35 'Unauthorized Storage of Property,'" he wrote. "Two each day is my requirement. Remember this is to be done each workday without exception."

Any sergeants who missed their daily quota, Gilbert wrote, would face consequences ranging from documenting the oversight on an employee performance log to formal disciplinary action.

A couple hours later, Major Juan Jackson responded, noting that the "below instructions will help greatly in fighting a gig," which former union president Lance Lowry said is slang for an audit.

STILL A 'BOYS' CLUB': Texas prison system faces allegations of harassment, discrimination

Weeks later, prison officials abandoned the quota system, but TDCJ started investigating last month after the Chronicle reported on the short-lived scheme. Officials said they would review all disciplinary cases across the system and look for spikes or abnormalities.

The audit found similar short-lived disciplinary quota systems had once been in place at three other units in recent months, Desel said. "Several" officers were demoted as a result of the probe.

Then on May 25, a prisoner's mother fired off a letter to TDCJ's Office of the Inspector General, alleging that her son had been set up with a bogus case by guards at the Ramsey Unit, apparently in connection with the disciplinary quota.

OIG started investigating and determined she was likely correct, Desel said.

Jackson, who'd already been knocked down from major to lieutenant and sent to the hospital unit in Galveston, was walked off the unit Thursday and resigned under investigation. On Friday, Lt. James Thomas, Sgt. Marcos Gallegos and Officer George Wolfe were all recommended for dismissal, and on Monday Sgt. Darryll Winston was recommended for dismissal as well.

Gilbert, who wrote the original email, was later demoted, Desel said.

NEW INVESTIGATOR: New Texas prisons inspector general to take the helm in June

There is still an ongoing OIG investigation into the matter as well as in internal TDCJ investigation, which will take a broader look at the Ramsey Unit and the prison culture there. Officials will also examine "any and all" disciplinary actions for the last three months involving any of the five employees believed to be involved in the evidence-planting scheme.

"Cases are going to be presented to the special prosecutor's office," Desel said. "If there is a determination that there's violation of the law it's our intent to see prosecution to the fullest extent of the law for those involved."

State Rep. James White, the Woodville Republican who chairs the House Corrections Committee, thanked investigators for their work on the case.

"These weren't just front-line officers," he said. "These were management folks. We're very grateful for the work of the OIG and their work in making sure that these staff members will face justice."
A Houston family is embroiled in a legal battle with the previous owners of their home after they discovered their house was once used to grow large amounts of marijuana.

The home on Willow Wind Lane was everything Vinnie and Monique Nguyen were looking for when they moved in August 2015, the family's attorney George Edwards said in a news release. The property was eventually rented to their daughter and her family.

"A few months into them moving into the home, son Jimmy Phan, Jr. began to suffer from respiratory difficulties. Soon thereafter, their young daughter also began to suffer from the same respiratory difficulties and had to be hospitalized," Edwards said.

WHOA: Texas Wesleyan rejects Colorado baseball recruit because of state's pot laws

Renovations were ultimately done on the home which uncovered mold behind the walls, in the ceiling, and underneath the floors, Edwards said. This wasn't the only thing the Nguyen family uncovered.

In October 2012, the home's previous owner, Andrew Nguyen, had been charged by the Houston Police Department with possession of nearly 100 pounds of marijuana plants found throughout the interior of the house, according to the HPD police record.

IN OTHER MARIJUANA NEWS: Harris County crime lab employee fired for handling of marijuana testing

"Affiant along with other Houston Police Officers entered the premises at the above referenced address and saw the following things: in every room of the house which included the living room, the kitchen, the family room and numerous bedrooms a plant like substance that affiant recognized to be marijuana by its smell and by its appearance was being grown, cultivated, harvested, or processed for distribution," HPD added in its report.

Andrew Nguyen pleaded guilty to possession of marijuana and was placed on probation, according to court documents.

The Nguyen's have since sued Andrew Nguyen for failing to "disclose their awareness

of previous water penetration onto and into the property," civil court documents state.

Andrew Nguyen's attorney Mitchell Katine believes his client is a victim who did not know about any mold. Katine also told Chron.com that his client reduced the price of the house by $6,000.

"They did not cover anything up. They offered the buyers any inspection they wanted," Katine said. "There is no evidence that the marijuana growing caused any mold."

The parties are due back in court Aug. 27.

Fernando Alfonso III is a digital reporter at Chron.com. Follow him on Twitter at @fernalfonso.
Arguing that letter-grade ratings in Children At Risk's 2017 school report card don't give a fair picture of its students' achievements, Pasadena ISD points to efforts to address the challenges of educating the district's large number of at-risk youths.

Under Houston-based Children At Risk's current guidelines, only 15 of PISD's 45 elementary schools, three of its 10 middle schools and one of its five high schools rated above a C.

In the elementary category, five schools received an F - Williams, Richey, Jessup, DeZavala Middle and Keller Middle.

The nonprofit group did single out one district school, Jensen Elementary, led by Principal Judy Diaz, as a "Gold Ribbon" campus, a recognition which identifies schools that rank at an A or B and where more than 75 percent of students are economically disadvantaged. The school was ranked as a B minus.

Of the district's high schools, Pasadena Memorial was rated as a B plus, Dobie received a C and Pasadena, Sam Rayburn and South Houston each received a D plus.

Pasadena ISD spokesman Art Del Barrio said the district's stance on an A-F grading system used by Children At Risk as well as the Texas Education Agency is contained in a resolution approved earlier this year which states that such a system "creates a false impression about students, ignores the unique strengths of each school and unfairly reduces each student's worth to the school's assigned worth."

This district is calling on the state legislature to repeal House Bill 2804, passed in 2015, which uses a A-F grading system that puts most of the weight upon state standardized tests. Children At Risk uses a similar system, although it states on its website that its criteria factors in economic breakdowns for each campus within a district.

PISD trustees, like the more than 300 districts throughout the state that passed similar resolutions, want lawmakers to allow districts to develop their own assessment system using customized curriculums which meet student needs.

In a statement following passage of the resolution, PISD superintendent DeeAnn Powell wrote that "the A through F grading system is not an accurate representation of the school district and our talented students, many of whom come from diverse backgrounds."

"Our understanding right now is that they have looked at it further and there are going to be some changes, but they haven't trickled down to the districts yet," Del Barrio said.

Until the A-F system is used by the state in the fall of 2018, schools will continue to be graded on a pass or fail system.

The district is calling for a ranking method which takes into account more than standardized test scores or the percentage of students taking advanced placement classes.

According to district figures, 80 percent of students receive free or reduced-price lunches, a stark difference from neighboring districts like Pearland, which has a 28 percent rating for students receiving those lunches and Clear Creek ISD where that percentage is 22 percent.

"When a system gives you a comparison against other districts and campuses with the same percentage of economically disadvantaged (students)," Summers said, "that is what puts you on an ideal scale versus just taking it as flat rate without considering those other things."

Among Pasadena ISD's middle schools, Children At Risk gave Bondy the highest rating - B plus - and Park View the lowest, a D. Southmore and Jackson were rated as a B minus and Thompson, San Jacinto and Beverly Hills got a C plus. South Houston and Queens were rated a D plus.

In the elementary category, three campuses - South Belt, Meador and Moore - received As and Atkinson and Golden Acres each rated as A minus.

The PLC approach

Mindful of gaps in learning among students, the district uses the Professional Learning Community method, which fosters a collaborative system for educators to develop more individualized teaching tools to meets students' needs, said Donna Summers, PISD's director of research and evaluation.

"Literacy is our primary emphasis, especially in younger grades, to build that knowledge base and that foundation they may not have walking in the door and adding to it every year," she said.

For districts with many students on the lower end of the economic spectrum, filling in holes in learning remains an ongoing challenge.

"You have a lot of kids coming into pre-K whose parents have never read to them and so they don't even know their alphabet," Del Barrio said.

Del Barrio, who taught math in the Rio Grande Valley, where a high percentage of his students were considered at-risk, says conscientious teachers look for ways to create equity in learning.

"Every teacher is going to have their way of identifying gaps and their own technique in filling them, and by identifying gaps and filling them, that's how the district resolves the problems of economically disadvantaged children - and what these children have missed - and getting them caught up," he said.

Regardless, he said, "You have kids in school that want to learn and are going to learn and teachers that are there every single day, rolling up their sleeves trying to figure out how they're going to help that kid learn. As long as you have teachers out there giving it their all every day it doesn't matter whether you are in an affluent district or a poorer district, those kids are going to learn. It's up to the teacher to engage them."

For more information about Children at Risk and its 2017 ratings, visit http://childrenatrisk.org. For the group's comments on Jensen Elementary School, visit http://bit.ly/2rvjEL2.
Gun violence on school campuses around the country has been on the rise. The recent tragedy at Santa Fe ISD - right here in our own backyard in Texas - has caused alarm among students, parents, grandparents and the entire community, understandably so. Random acts of violence like these make no sense to people of sound mind and good character.

Just last week, the Coldspring-Oakhurst High School campus safety plan was activated because of an alleged bomb threat. Our district police department took quick action, county authorities were notified, and students and staff were evacuated in a matter of minutes.

Parents and guardians were contacted through the district call-out system and given the option to pick up students at the off-site evacuation location. Notifications and updates went out on social media for parents who may have been out of reach by phone or email. Eventually, the high school campus was cleared by authorities, and the remaining students were returned to campus without incident.

There was no bomb in this instance. But as a district, our top priority is the safety and security of our students and staff. We take every threat seriously. Even before the tragedies in Florida and Santa Fe, our police chief and administrators had conducted campus safety reviews, researched proven security methods, and implemented increased safety measures.

COCISD Police Chief Roosevelt Joseph has also coordinated countywide emergency drills with the sheriffs office, DPS, the SJC Office of Emergency Management, and other emergency offices. We increased drills on the campus level. After the Florida shootings, the COCISD Board of Trustees voted to approve the hiring of armed, trained police officers to be posted on each campus and other security improvements.

No plan is 100 percent fail-safe, thats just the way life is. But being as prepared as possible for a variety of emergency situations is the key to keeping our kids and our employees out of harms way. We plan for many different scenarios with many different contingencies to try to predict the what-ifs. After a safety plan has been activated - such as the one last week - we meet to go over what worked and what we can do to improve. We will continue to review our safety plans and make changes where they are needed.

Last week showed us that our students, faculty and staff were prepared and did a great job of staying calm and following procedures that were put in place for just such an event. Our parents, guardians, and community members were a great support, and our police department and other emergency officials put in hours of hard work to make sure our high school campus was safe. We deeply appreciate all of you.

School districts are very aware of the concerns for student safety in the current climate of uncertainty and random acts of violence. We are on the side of students. Our main goal, like yours, is to provide a safe environment where kids can learn, grow and become productive citizens and leaders of tomorrow. By being as prepared as possible, and with the support of our parents and community, we can make that happen.

May you have a happy, safe summer break!
A tireless advocate in black, Andy Kahan announced his retirement this week after decades as the city's face of victims' rights.

A former parole officer, Kahan  the city of Houston victim advocate  built a name for himself waging war against the sale of "murderabilia," crusading against the release of sex offenders and lobbying for legislation to keep criminals behind bars.

"Effective immediately I am now officially RETIRED," he wrote on Facebook this week. "Like the semi-good athlete I believe I am, you know when it's best to step down and move on."

A blunt and sometimes polarizing figure, the New York native also generated a strong base of opposition among inmate advocates and prison reformers who disliked his harsh rhetoric on incarceration and release.

The 58-year-old started his tenure with the city of Houston in the early 1990s during the rise of the victims' rights movement in a tough-on-crime era.

"He was appointed right at the time when there was a big prison build-up," said Michael Berryhill, a Texas Southern University journalism professor. "The position was kind of invented."

Victims' rights turned into a campaign issue during the 1991 mayoral race. Kahan, with roughly a decade of probation and parole jobs under his belt, started speaking out about the hot topic of the day  and something clicked.

After Bob Lanier won the mayor's race and took the helm of the city, he created a crime victims assistance office amid local outrage over mandatory early release laws that let violent felons out after serving a small fraction of their sentences.

When Kahan started in May 1992, there was no model for what the job would look like.

"The mayor's chief of staff looked at me and said, 'I haven't the faintest idea what you're supposed to be doing, so do what you're supposed to do,'" Kahan said. "There wasn't a manual to read and I couldn't call New York, Los Angeles or Chicago and ask, 'How are you guys doing this?' But what an opportunity."

Shortly after kicking off his new gig, Kahan morphed the position into a mix of advocacy, media appearances and lobbying work.

In his retirement announcement online, he pointed to "more than 20" pieces of legislation he pushed for, including creating an anti-murderabilia law, prohibiting criminals from benefiting financially from their crimes. He also cited laws extending the time between parole reviews for certain offenders and abolishing the mandatory release law that inspired the creation of the crime victims' office in the first place.

"The things that reform systems are personal tragedies," he wrote. "Nobody gives up status quo without being pushed into a wall and in some cases public embarrassment  for which I was not shy about exposing, nor stepping on toes and sometimes they bite back viciously."

Under the reins of then-Mayor Annise Parker, Kahan's role moved under the umbrella of the Houston Police Department, a shift that initially sparked concern among victim rights groups. But he quickly settled into his new office at 1200 Travis, still eager to offer a quick quote for the media and a supportive shoulder for crime victims.

Always outspoken and often controversial, Kahan and his work have sparked pushback and criticism over the years. His name has become a lightning rod and sometimes source of scorn among some anti-death penalty activists and prisoners' rights reformers.

At one point, he was reportedly under investigation for obtaining confidential information in an effort to derail a notorious prisoner's bid for parole.

"If our city government believes at all in rehabilitation and giving a second chance then why the hell they would ever hire Andy Kahan, I will never understand," parole attorney Bill Habern said Monday.

The criticism hasn't fazed Kahan.

"If I please everyone, I'm not doing my job," he once told the Chronicle.

It's not clear what Kahan has in store for the future.

"What an incredible, remarkable journey I have had for over 26 years serving so many victims, organizations, non-profits, law enforcement, criminal justice professionals and elected officials," he wrote online. "I could not have achieved anything without all your help and let me tell you we made quite a difference in victims rights and empowering victims to feel like they were part of our justice system."

With shifting attitudes toward crime and punishment, however, some questioned whether the city still needs a victims' advocate.

"It's an interesting political question," Berryhill said. "The general notion is, what is the victim's advocate job? Is it wanting harsher sentences? Is it wanting people locked up longer? This is the one place liberals and conservatives meet, on sentencing reform."

Alan Bernstein, communications director for Mayor Sylvester Turner, confirmed the city plans to maintain a victims' advocate position, though the aim is to move it back under the umbrella of the mayor's office.

EquuSearch founder Tim Miller hopes the replacement will be up to the task.

"I don't think that anybody is ever going to fill Andy's shoes," Miller said. "I am hoping that the city has got somebody even half as good to fill his role."
A 14-year-old boy has been charged with capital murder in the April shooting death of a woman outside of her Chinatown home, Houston police said.

The boy, whose identity was not released because he is a minor, was arrested on Sunday, two months after Tuyen Nguyen was shot to death outside her home in the 9500 block of Langdon.

The boy told investigators that he was riding in a car with several other underage people in the neighborhood before he saw Nguyen, Houston Police Department spokesman Kese Smith said. The boy said he asked the driver to stop so he could use the bathroom.

But instead, he got out of the car and attempted to rob Nguyen, he told police. He confessed to the shooting, the spokesman added.

The teen told police that the driver didn't know he was going to rob Nguyen, Smith said.

The womans fiance found her in front of their house around 6 a.m. on April 5. Her keys were still in her hands, police said after the shooting.

Nguyen, 29, left her mothers house around 11 p.m. on April 4 to return to her Chinatown home, police said. Nguyens fiance then told investigators he woke up, noticed she wasnt home and found her in the front yard as he was leaving for work.

She had at least one gunshot wound and died at the scene, police said.
AUSTIN  Longtime civil servant Cecile Young is temporarily taking the helm of the embattled Texas Health and Human Services Commission, as the state seeks a permanent leader following a string of contracting issues at the agency.

"We know we have challenges and we are focused on finding solutions and fixing the problems. We have a strong foundation because of our staff across the state," Young said in a statement.
One man died and two others were injured Monday morning in a shooting in southwest Houston, police said.

Gunfire broke out around 3:30 a.m. in the 15600 block of Markwood, when two men got in a fight, according to the Houston Police Department.
The launch date of NASA's problem-plagued, $8 billion James Webb Space Telescope is changing once again, but the new schedule won't be announced until later this month, officials said Monday.

The telescope, the successor to the Hubble Space Telescope, was initially expected to launch in 2007 but has faced repeated delays and burgeoning costs. The launch date most recently was delayed to May 2020, which will likely push project costs over the $8 billion cap set by Congress in 2011.

The mission has been so problematic that a 10-member, Independent Review Board was tasked with reviewing it. They presented their findings to top NASA officials last month, who will then use that information to "define the new launch schedule," a NASA spokesperson said Monday.

"After the launch date is established, NASA will be able to provide a new cost estimate," the statement read.

READ MORE: External board to review problem-fraught $8.8 billion James Webb Telescope.

The Webb telescope is one of NASA's most complex and expensive projects to date, meant to revolutionize the world's understanding of planet and star formation.

Initially, it was expected to cost $1 billion and be launched in 2007. That price tag later jumped to $3.5 billion with a launch target of 2011. It has continued to increase since then with the most recent missed launch targeted for June 2019.

Last month, NASA Administrator Jim Bridenstine told U.S. Senators that the space agency likely will ask for more money for the project beyond the $8 billion funding cap set by Congress in 2011.

"We have spent so much money at this point that it's important" we continue, Bridenstine said during a U.S. Senate committee meeting. "We have to come to a meeting of the minds and figure out how do we go forward with the program if we need to go above the cap set by Congress."

READ MORE: Bridenstine: NASA may ask Congress for more money for James Webb Telescope.

President Donald Trump's budget proposal for NASA in the coming budget year includes funds to keep the project on track. However, it would cancel Webb's successor, the Wide-Field Infrared Survey Telescope (WFIRST), "due to its significant cost and higher priorities within NASA," according to a budget document.

WFIRST was being built to study dark energy, exoplanets and infrared astrophysics, and the National Academy of Sciences recommended that it follow Webb.

But the cost of the project, set to be launched in the mid-2020s, has ballooned to $3.6 billion, well above initial projections.

Since Trump's proposed budget must be approved by Congress, work on WFIRST is continuing in the interim.

Alex Stuckey covers NASA and the environment for the Houston Chronicle. You can reach her at alex.stuckey@chron.com or Twitter.com/alexdstuckey.
A Houston lawmaker has joined the nationwide fight to remove a question slated for the 2020 U.S. Census.

On Friday, State Representative Gene Wu announced that he named himself as a plaintiff in a lawsuit challenging the addition of a citizenship question to the 2020 census.

The nine-word question "Is this person a citizen of the United States?" has been criticized for discouraging immigrants from participating in the upcoming census and if answered, providing sensitive information to the government in an era that aggressively seeks to crackdown and deport undocumented immigrants.

"It's a very obvious attempt to scare a population into not filling out the form," Wu, who represents Houston's Gulfton area, told Chron.com. "It's not subtle in the least bit."

Changes to the US Census Bureau were announced in March. Shortly after, a dozen states vying to remove the question which had not used in a census since 1950 sued the government. By April, several lawsuits against the census had been filed.

LEAKED: Photo reveals 'mass trial' of immigrants in Texas courtroom

One of the lawsuits currently in play, and the one recently joined by Wu, is spearheaded by 21 organizations, many of them nonprofits and civil rights advocacy groups.

"I represent one of the largest immigrant populations in the entire state," Wu said. "I represent one of the largest refugee populations in the entire nation."

"We have people from all around the world, people who are here legally, people without papers, people who are here under asylum, people who are citizens who are immigrants," he said.

"They're very distrustful of the current U.S. government, even the ones who are citizens," Wu said. "I think this is a very boldfaced attempt to scare them into not filling out the census paperwork."

According to Wu, unfilled censuses are a big problem for his constituents since it impacts redistricting and funding for federal and state programs.

INTERVIEW: Dan Patrick compares separating immigrant families to child protective services

"Census results are used to apportion seats in the U.S. House of Representatives, to draw political district boundaries for federal, state and local offices, and to direct billions of dollars in federal spending," explained the Houston Chronicle's Editorial Board in March. "If large numbers of immigrants dont answer the census questionnaire in 2020, it would lead to disastrous consequences for places with large numbers of immigrants."

"The citizenship question is bad for the census, bad for the country and especially bad for Texas," wrote the Editorial Board. "That our states elected officials are cheering on its adoption is shameful."

Fernando Ramirez is a reporter for Chron.com and the Houston Chronicle. You can follow him on Twitter at @fernramirez93.
There are a bunch of different ways to do democracy. In Western Europe, most countries have proportional representation and a lot of different parties representing voter interests. In this country weve gone with a two-party system and winner-take-all elections.

During the middle of the 20th century, it seemed like wed chosen the right approach. The proportional multiparty system allowed an extremist named Adolf Hitler to rise to power with the initial support of a tiny fraction of Germanys voters. Both American parties, meanwhile, seemed to bend toward compromise, knowing they had to win over the median voter in order to get to 50.1 percent majorities.

But even then, as Lee Drutman of the think tank New America points out, America really had a four-party system. There were liberal Republicans from places like the Northeast and conservative Republicans from the West. There were liberal Democrats on the coasts and conservative Democrats from the South. The four groups floated into different legislative coalitions depending on the issue and the moment, allowing for flexible bipartisan majorities.

Now the two-party system has rigidified and ossified. The two parties no longer bend to the center. They push to the extremes, where the donor bases and their media propaganda arms are. More and more people feel politically homeless, alienated from both parties and without any say in how the country is run.

Moreover, the whole way of practicing politics has been transformed. Each party imagines that it is one wave election from destroying the other side and gaining total power. Therefore, as Drutman notes, theres no interest in compromise, just winning and losing, gloating and seething.

Partisans chief interest is in proving that the other party is despicable  in ramping up fear, hatred and the negative polarization that is the central feature of contemporary American politics.

The result is that people, especially the young, lose faith in democratic norms altogether. There are more than 6,000 breweries in America, but when it comes to our politics, we get to choose between Soviet Refrigerator Factory A and Soviet Refrigerator Factory B.

The good news is that we dont have to live with this system. Theres nothing in the Constitution that says there have to be only two parties. Theres nothing in the Constitution about parties at all. Theres not even anything in the Constitution mandating that each congressional district have only one member and be represented by one party. We could have a much fairer and better system with the passage of a law.

The way to do that is through multimember districts and ranked-choice voting. In populous states, the congressional districts would be bigger, with around three to five members per district. Voters would rank the candidates on the ballot. If no candidate had a majority of first-place votes, then the candidate with the fewest first-place votes would be eliminated. Voters who preferred that candidate would have their second-choice vote counted instead. The process would be repeated until you get your winners.

This system makes it much easier for third and fourth parties to form, because voting for a third party no longer means voting for one with no chance of winning. You get a much more supple representation of the different political tendencies that actually exist in the country.

The process also means that people with minority views in their region have a greater chance to be represented in Congress. A district in Southern California, for example, might elect a Bernie Sanders-type progressive, a centrist business Democrat and a conservative.

The current system  wherein a vast majority of seats are safely red or blue and noncompetitive, with only a handful of fiercely contested districts  disappears. Every district becomes a swing district, each vote much more important. Congress begins to work differently because with multiple parties you no longer have stagnant trench warfare  you have shifting coalition-building.

Theres a reason voters in proportional representation countries are less disenchanted with politics than we are. Their systems work better.

Over the last few decades, a lot of work has been done to fight gerrymandering, a reform that would have only a marginal effect on our politics. The good news is that attention seems to be shifting to ranked-choice voting, a change that would have much bigger and better effects.

In 2016, voters in Maine passed a referendum installing ranked-choice voting. The states Legislature has done everything it can to fight it, but it looks like voters there will use the system for their June 12 primary, and have a chance to make the system permanent.

Rep. Don Beyer, D-Va., introduced legislation in Congress last year to make this kind of system national. Groups like FairVote champion the reform nationwide, and writers like Drutman are tireless advocates.

Right now our politics is heading in a truly horrendous direction  with vicious, binary political divisions overlapping with and exacerbating historical racial divisions. If were going to have just one structural reform to head off that nightmare, ranked-choice voting in multimember districts is the one to choose.
For decades, admission to New York Citys eight elite specialized high schools has been based strictly on a high-stakes test administered to the citys eighth-graders. The meritocratic premise is simple: regardless of who you are or how much your parents make, if you hit a certain score on the test, youre guaranteed a place in one of these high schools, all among the best in the United States. But if Mayor Bill de Blasio gets his way, New York will scrap this venerable system for one that is as close to a race-based quota scheme as constitutionally possible.

Progressives criticize the admissions test as an instrument of segregation because black and Latino kids are underrepresented among students accepted at schools like Stuyvesant, Bronx Science, and Brooklyn Tech. Indeed, in 2016, Stuyvesant had only 20 black students among a student body of more than 3,000. Brooklyn Tech, where de Blasios son went, is somewhat more racially diverse, with 14.8 percent black and Latino representation. But in a city where blacks and Latinos make up two out of every three public school students, black and Latino enrollment in the most elite secondary schools is undeniably thina direct result of student performance on the entrance test.

Yesterday, the mayor, backed by his new schools chancellor, Richard Carranza, announced that he plans to scrap the entrance test for the eight elite schools and replace it with a system offering admission to the kids in the top 7 percent of every junior school in the city. This change, according to the mayor, will make the schools look like New York City and answer the demand for fairness that supposedly rings across the five boroughs.

Chancellor Carranza chimed in, saying that as a man of color, and a parent of children of color, Im proud to work with our Mayor to foster true equity and excellence at our specialized high schools. Carranza, who has no prior experience in New York City, has not been shy about talking about his ethnic heritage and the special insight it gives him into the citys educational needs. Last month, he told a parent concerned about a plan to overhaul radically her local junior high schools admissions procedures that she should sign up to take implicit-bias classes. Carranza regards school screening as elitism, or even disguised racism. Why are we segregating kids based on test scores? he asks.

Talking about racial disparities across the citys schools as segregationas teachers union president Michael Mulgrew did last weekis an abuse of language. School segregation in the United States refers distinctly to Jim Crow-era practices of legal, enforced separation of blacks from whites. The loaded word segregation stirs anger and resentment and in the present context implies that disparities in admissions are a function of white racism. David E. Kirkland, who runs NYUs Metropolitan Center for Research on Equity and The Transformation of Schools, made this claim in a press release circulated by the mayors office: Weve known for some time that the exclusion of Black and Brown students from the Citys specialized high schools and the kinds of opportunity hoarding enjoyed by more privilege (sic) racial and ethnic communities were in fact de jure consequences of lingering legacies of racism and white supremacy.

In fact, the primary beneficiaries of the current systemas Kirkland surely knows are nonwhite. Asian students, many of whom are immigrants themselves or the children of immigrants from China, Bangladesh, India, and Pakistan, are dramatically overrepresented in the specialized high schools. Though Asians constitute less than 16 percent of the citywide school population, they make up more than half of the students in the elite schools and a staggering 75 percent of the kids at Stuyvesant High School.

The new system that de Blasio wants to impose, which will require legislative approval, is engineered to increase black and Latino enrollment. It is a quota system in all but name. Granting elite school admission to the top 7 percent of every junior high school will have two immediate effects. It will place bright but underprepared black and Latino students from poor middle schools into demanding educational environments where they will find themselves lost, in a classic example of institutional mismatch. And it will deny thousands of talented Asian students a place that they have earned in elite schools.

And there is a third effect. The quality of the elite schoolsthe jewel of the citys school systemwill be diminished, if not destroyed. But de Blasio will be out of office by then. Some future mayor will have to deal with the fallout from the decision to sacrifice merit to racial diversity and equality of opportunity to equality of outcome.

Photo: Benjamin Kanter/Mayoral Photo Office
Its mostly accepted wisdom in policy circles: automation means that manufacturing employment is destined to follow the historical example of farm work, becoming a negligible share of the U.S. workforce. Even those who embrace the Trump administrations efforts to onshore factories say that we should be honest about the facts, especially to those Americans still out of work. The erudite Ben Sasse, a senator with a Ph.D. in history, has called the transformation an irreversible trend.

On the other hand, the latest Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) data show that over the past 12 months, industrial domains created twice as many jobs as did the health-care sector, and IT, retail, leisure, transportation, and government saw little net job creation. As part of the industrial sector, the BLS counts goods-producing activities in manufacturing, construction, and miningall of which saw employment expand over the past year. Manufacturing alone added 25 percent more jobs than did professional and technical services.

What gives? The received wisdom is that we, the advanced postindustrial nations, live in a time of declining demand for factory work and the old manual-centric trades that produce goods. So is this recent trend a short-term aberration? Sasse is not the only one prophesying the disappearance of American manufacturing employment; lots of respected analyses say that were at the beginning of a long-term trend in which artificial intelligence and robots will ultimately wipe out factory labor-hours. But it is precisely in the long term that the postindustrial tropethe analogy between what happened to agricultural labor and what will happen, were told, to factory workbreaks down.

Farm jobs disappeared for a simple reason: technology vastly reduced the labor-hours needed to produce a unit of food, while the growth in demand for food was (and remains) limited. Unlike food, however, the demand for things that we invent and make is essentially unlimited. Demand for food rises from population growth, boosted by the malnourished eventually eating about as much as people in developed nations. After that threshold is reached, though, there is a limit to how much people eat: per capita calorie consumption in the richest and fattest countries is only two times the subsistence level.

The big changes in societal consumption are found in the variety and quantity of fabricated things that we own or use. Globally, unmet demand for manufactured items is at least 10 to 100 times greater than present consumption. In emerging economies, per capita ownership of everything from air conditioners and cars to computers and home furnishings is so low that potential demand growth far outstrips anything in agriculture. Thus, even big gains in manufacturing productivityfewer labor-hours per unit of output can leave overall factory employment largely unchanged, assuming that global demand keeps growing.

Compared with America circa 1870, todays productivity in both farming and industry is fantastically better. Farming has declined from 60 percent to a 2 percent share of all employment. But the industrial share of employment has remained remarkably similar over that entire period.

As for the unexplained decline in the share of Americans employed in industry over the recent decade, we cant blame automation, because manufacturers IT investment has actually been stagnant. And, over the same period, Japan and Germany experienced less than half the U.S. decline in industrial share of employment. The new factor that pushed many U.S. firms and jobs into involuntary offshoring over the past decade was the unprecedented proliferation of regulations covering every aspect of industrial processes and a doubling of federal regulators, which made competitive manufacturing impossible.

The mantra of the post-industrialists is always this time its different. If America is undergoing an inevitable transition to a post-manufacturing economy, then reining in regulations is irrelevant, they say. Further, as emerging nations modernize, getting richer and buying more things, theyll increasingly do their own manufacturing anyway.

However, in a technologically sophisticated world where innovation can flourish, novel things will always be invented, creating demands for new manufactured goods. We need look no further back than a decade ago, to the invention of the iPhone, and the hundreds of billions of dollars spent to create the infrastructure of the Internet that has collaterally enabled all manner of new online services. The earlier advent of commercial jet travel offers another historical lesson. The hundreds of billions of dollars in annual aviation manufacturing supports todays massive vacation and leisure industry. Only 15 percent of airline passengers are business travelers.

Its nearly impossible for pundits and economists to predict what new products will emerge. But thats precisely where innovators and engineers come in: they dont predict the future, they invent it. Before cars were invented, there was no demand for carsor for paved roads. Before plastics, there was no demand for plastics. Chemical industries employed only 100,000 people early in the 20th century and now employ nearly 1 million Americans.

No one in 1963, during the Kennedy era, predicted the personal computer or the Internet. (Well, almost no one.) No one, at the time of the Chicago Worlds Fair of 1893when the world was afire with innovationpredicted the radio. Yet by 1927, one-third of the money Americans spent on furniture was spent on radios. (Commercialization of home radios drove RCAs stock up higher and faster than has happened for any tech company in the more recent past.)

Nonetheless, it is possible to predict the future that has already happened, as the great management consultant Peter Drucker once saidby looking at what has already been invented but hasnt yet been made commercially viable. The still-nascent Internet of Things will ultimately need trillions of sensors and smart devices, not to mention a new and expanded infrastructure far bigger in scope than the Internet of people requires. Then theres the emergence of bio-electronics: biologically compatible computers, sensors, and communications. Think of these as smart sensors that you can tattoo, implant, or eat, for myriad imaginable and unimaginable diagnostic and therapeutic health functions. It will lead to a manufacturing industry as big as todays $400 billion semiconductor sector.

Does anyone doubt that there will be more drones, or new classes of video displays? Innovators have already created paper-thin and conformable displays; odds are that these will one day be manufactured on a scale that windows are made today. And while last year saw the manufacture of only about 400,000 industrial robots, 10 million service robots were sold. Demand will take off as these technologies improvecall it an irreversible trend. Useful robots and cobotsthose that safely and intuitively work alongside peoplewill not only improve manufacturing but will also transform retail and security, surgery, physical rehabilitation, elder care, and hospital cleaning. If ever there were a service sector in need of a tech-driven productivity boost, its health care. Global robot manufacturing will eventually rival todays $3-trillion-a-year automobile sector.

Since Joseph Schumpeter created the phrase creative destruction to describe the evolution of an industrial economy, pundits and economists have been preoccupied with the destruction side. But its the creative feature of tech that matters. Demand for manufactured goods is on the cusp of the greatest expansion in history. The scale and nature of that demand cant be met unless manufacturing productivity and sophistication continue to see rapid gains. Robots, both physical and virtual, will be essential to achieving those gains. In short: the argument that manufacturing employment is destined to become irrelevant is wildly overstated.

Photo by Matt Cardy/Getty Images
The British Red Cross has reported a 32.8m increase in its income over the last financial year, due in part to the publics response to the terrorist attacks in London and Manchester, as well as the Grenfell Tower disaster.

The charity's latest set of accounts for the year ending 31 December 2017, seen by Civil Society News and published today, show a 13 per cent increase in its annual income to 284.5m.

In that time, the British Red Cross saw an 18 per cent increase in voluntary donations as well as legacies, which accounted together for 45 per cent, or 159.7m of the charitys total income.

Income from our supporters remains our biggest source of income, and the overall fundraising performance continued to reflect an enormous level of effort from our many supporters, volunteers and corporate partners, said the accounts.

Domestically, the tragic events that occurred in Manchester and at Grenfell saw the country unite as the British public donated a staggering amount to the British Red Cross in our efforts to aid those affected by these crises.

Increase in domestic crisis response spending

The British Red Cross spent 276.1m last year, an overall increase of 17 per cent on the previous financial year.

Of this whole, the British Red Cross spent 220.9m on charitable activities - 140.1m in the United Kingdom and 80.8m spent internationally.

In response to the aforementioned domestic emergencies faced by the UK in 2017, total expenditure on crisis response domestically rose by 82 per cent last year to 46.5m.

In a year which saw the British Red Crosss income from donations and legacies increase by nearly 20 per cent, its fundraising spend actually fell marginally. The charity spent 29.2m on fundraising in 2017, 200,000 less than it spent on fundraising the previous years.

The accounts said the reason for this was the ongoing rollout of changes to fundraising regulation and activities in the sector, which continue to impact on our fundraising investment.

In the 2017 financial year, the charity employed 3,349 full-time equivalent staff members, down from over 3,500 in 2016. The charity paid out a total of over 600,000 in redundancies last year.

In terms of staff costs, the charity spent 94.4m in salaries, pensions and national insurance, in the financial year ending 31 December 2017. This was down from 95.9m the previous year.

There were 52 staff members paid 60,000 a year or more by the charity in 2017. The highest paid employee at the charity in 2017 was Mike Adamson, its chief executive, who was paid 173,000.

Fundraising complaints and gender pay gap

As part of new reporting requirements bought in by both the Charities Act 2018 and the updated Equality Act 2010, the Red Cross has also published data around its gender pay gap and total number of fundraising complaints.

As of 5 April 2017, the British Red Cross reported a mean gender pay gap of 11.8 per cent and a median pay gap of 8.9 per cent. This was despite that fact that, in terms of gender distribution throughout its workforce, the organisation is nearly two-thirds female.

The charity also reported a 42.4 per cent mean gender bonus gap and a 64.3 per cent median gender bonus gap  although the organisation blamed these discrepancies on its no discontinued retail incentive scheme.

In terms of total fundraising complaints, the British Red Cross reported that it received a total of 256 complaints from members of the public.

It also said it had nothing to report in respect of failures and/or breaches to either the Information Commissioners Office or the Fundraising Regulator.

To coincide with the charity's accounts being published today, Mike Adamson has written a blog discussing the year that was for the British Red Cross, and outlining his plans for the future.
Samaritans volunteers offer something incredibly special. People call us when they are struggling to cope and want to talk to someone about it. They are probably at their most vulnerable, so it is a major act of trust. Trust is a fundamental part of what makes Samaritans work. People reach out to us when they are at their lowest point, and this takes courage.

For our callers, knowing that the person at the end of the line is there because they want to be and not because they are being paid, may make the difference between them calling us, or not.

Because its an important part of what we offer, we want to build on this feeling of trust. In keeping with the theme of this years Volunteers Week, Volunteering for All, we want to become more diverse and representative of the communities that need Samaritans the most. For example, we know that men, and those from lower socio-economic groups, are more at risk of suicide.

Attracting more volunteers

If we can attract more volunteers from these groups, we can build that feeling of trust and make a difference to a person in their time of need. It helps people to relate to the voice at the end of the phone. Ultimately it might mean the difference between a life saved, or lost. Weve done a lot in this area already. Just head to our Twitter, Facebook and Instagram channels across the Week to see a snapshot of our volunteers  who they are and why they give their time.

Philip from Bridgend, who has been a volunteer for 40 years, takes to the streets to let the local community know about Samaritans. Its the awareness raising that we do on the street, how we let people know what Samaritans is, and that our volunteers are available 24/7, and they know that they can visit us at the branch, he said.

Young people are another group wed like to attract more volunteers from. Elena is 29 and a software developer by day. She says: Samaritans is totally different from my real job, which is a part of it I really like. It shows that you can never really judge anyone, because you dont know what someone is going through. Sometimes you just need someone to listen and say: that sounds really tough, and be there with you in that moment.

About emphasising and providing emotional support, not judging

Which illustrates that being a Samaritans volunteer is also about empathising, providing emotional support to the person at the end of the line and not judging, whatever the circumstances.

People may not know that we have many volunteers with disabilities. Ian Taylor, 55, volunteers at our Norwich branch and uses a wheelchair. Its open to absolutely everyone, he says. Theres no such thing as an average volunteer, we are all unique. Thats whats makes it good, we are all different.

Ive only been working for Samaritans for two months, but Ive already been blown away by the level of commitment from our volunteers. Its like nothing Ive ever seen before. And that goes for every single one of them: we simply couldnt operate without those who, for example, lead branch recruitment, or support with administration.

I havent met a person at Samaritans yet who isnt committed to improving our service so that we can answer more calls and be there for everyone struggling to cope.

This sentiment is echoed by our branches, the name we give to our 201 centres across the UK and Ireland where volunteers go to do their shifts, responding to more than 5 million calls for help every year from people who are feeling overwhelmed. Catherine, who is a branch director (volunteer role) at North West Surrey Samaritans in Weybridge, says, We think being a Samaritan is often as valuable for us as it is for the people were supporting. Its really powerful to know that youve just spent your time supporting someone who may have had nowhere else to turn without feeling judged, or being told what to do.

Catherine and her team are very mindful of the benefits for volunteers, and motivations of people who would like to volunteer with us. And they can really vary, but every caller gets the same care.

At Samaritans, were all individuals bringing different views, cultural experiences and thoughts to the charity, and its this diversity that gives us the strength to reach more people who are struggling.

In the end though, what unites Samaritans volunteers is this: no matter what the individual differences, or the role our volunteers undertake, they all experience an enormous sense of satisfaction and pride in knowing theyve played a part in supporting a person in their crucial hour of need.

And thats why Samaritans volunteers are ordinary people who are doing something extraordinary. If you want to find out more about how you too can participate in this feeling of satisfaction and pride through volunteering for Samaritans, click here.

Civil Society Media is hosting its Charity People & Culture Conference on 18 September 2018. For more information, and to book, click here.




Last year was an unprecedented time in the history of the British Red Cross. The summer of 2017 brought with it a series of devastating UK emergencies alongside complex global crises affecting millions of people. The Red Cross was created nearly 150 years ago to respond in these moments. And it was heartening to see a huge outpouring of kindness from the British public in response.

The British Red Cross is supporting people through some of the defining crises of our time, both domestically and internationally  frail, elderly people caught in the revolving door between hospital and home, loneliness, refugees, chronic hunger, terror attacks, natural disasters, and ongoing conflicts around the world.

People are often surprised when they hear that the majority of our charitable expenditure is actually spent here in the UK (over 60 per cent in 2017). From providing assistance during an emergency, to making sure people know what to do in a crisis through our first aid training, we are supporting people around the clock across the country. Last year we were called out to an emergency in the UK every four hours.

In 2017, the generous British public helped us raise an incredible 284.5m for people in crisis, a record figure. The income growth is largely due to our role in raising money for the people affected by last summers domestic tragedies. The Manchester Arena bombing, London Bridge attack and the Grenfell Tower Fire took place within three weeks in 2017. Generous donations from the public, global stars and many businesses enabled us to raise 28m for the victims and their families. 100 per cent of this funding went to those affected.

I had the privilege to meet some of the many people we have supported in the last year  from the hurricanes in the British Virgin Islands, the conflict in Syria, to the tragedies on our own doorstep at Grenfell, Manchester and London Bridge. Every time I sat down and heard peoples stories, I was moved by the power of human kindness and compassion to support people in some of their darkest moments.

'We must adapt'

However, as we approach our 150th anniversary in 2020 we are forced to confront a changing climate. The fundraising environment is increasingly challenging, while demand for our services only rises. In common with other charities, a combination of a saturated market and new fundraising guidelines (which we have welcomed from the beginning) mean a projected reduction in regular donations. In order to continue supporting people in crisis, we must diversify our income and adapt to the current financial realities.

We estimate that up to five million people come into contact with the British Red Cross each year  each of these is a chance for us to connect and inspire people to join us in ways that work for them, whatever their stage of life. To reflect this desire for long-term, ongoing relationships with our donors and supporters, we have created a new role, a chief supporter officer, which will replace the role of executive director of fundraising. I am delighted that Paul Amadi, a hugely experienced and progressive fundraiser who embraces this new world of supporter engagement, will be joining us this summer.

As always, our focus must be on how we can make the biggest impact where it is needed most, within the resources available. This means adapting the way we deliver our services to ensure we are best placed to achieve our vision of a world where everyone gets the help they need in a crisis. We are doing this by developing innovative new service delivery models and encouraging a real culture of creativity and curiosity. To achieve this we need a workforce that reflects the people we are trying to support. I am personally leading our inclusion and diversity strategy so that we access the best talent wherever it may be found. We're also working to reduce the gender pay gap and increase diversity among our staff and volunteers.

Weve been evolving since 1870 to remain relevant and to ensure we fulfil our mission to mobilise the power of humanity so people in crisis get the help they need. While these may be turbulent times, both at home and overseas, we will ensure we are ready to support people through whatever the next 150 years bring.

Kindness comes in many forms. And theres something every single one of us can do to help. Thats why we connect those whove got kindness to share, to those who need it most, every day.

And we will keep doing this, for the next 150 years and beyond.

Read The Power of Kindness  Trustee report and accounts, 2017.
Just 48 hours before the start of hurricane season, CBS Correspondent David Begnaud was back in the US territory of Puerto Rico, reporting about a Harvard study that estimates the number of deaths linked to Hurricane Maria at more than 4,000. (The Puerto Rican government now estimates the number of dead at around 1,400.)

Begnaud made a name for himself by relentlessly covering the island when few others did, before, during, and in the months after the devastating hurricane which hit the island and other parts of the Caribbean last summer. Even while on assignment for other topics, Begnaud has continued to report on the ongoing recovery efforts, and the thousands of homes still without power. His Facebook posts often draw hundreds of comments and thousands of shares. Despite being an outsider with no roots to Puerto Rico, Begnauds work has earned him a level of respect, admiration, and loyalty in the community that few other reporters or news organizations can match.

CJR spoke to Begnaud on phone while he was in Puerto Rico in late May, shortly before this years hurricane season began on June 1. This conversation has been edited and condensed for clarity.

RELATED: After new death toll report Friday, Sunday TV ignores Puerto Rico

What was the moment that you decided that you needed to go back to the island? Was this trip planned ahead of this years hurricane season or something you were planning to do for a while?

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When the headline came out [on May 29] that a Harvard study estimated that 4,600 people had died, my bosses got to me before I could even put my fingers on the phone to call them. They said, We need to go. And I was actually on vacation [at home in Dallas] and I said, Im already on my way. I think it was a no-brainer for us. It was a given that if youre going to tell the story, sure, somebody sitting on a chair from New York could have done it. We wanted to be on the ground here.

Did you go directly from vacation to the island?

I did. I was at home. It was Tuesday. I had a doctors appointment and a number of personal obligations and commitments that I had made for the week. I was taking advantage of some comp time off, having spent [chuckles] quite a bit of time in Hawaii covering the volcano. Just taking a week off. My phone started blowing up and before the bosses could even get to me. There were people online who were saying, Have you seen? Have you heard? And so I cancelled my appointments, packed the bag, and headed to the airport.

Theres been a lot of criticism about the lack of coverage even with this report about the ongoing state of the island ahead of this hurricane season.

Im just immensely gratefulas I look back at the coverage over the last 48 hoursthat my bosses made it a priority to have time in the show. And not only in the show, but in the A block of both CBS This Morning and the CBS Evening News. Ive covered natural disasters since I was 18 years old, as a kid with a dream of being a journalist who started out right out of high school with my CBS affiliate in Lafayette, Louisiana. Ive been covering hurricanes since then and the numbers are appalling. Now, there is an estimate, done by Harvard, published in a reputable journal, that underwent a peer review before it was published. It is an estimate. But even the estimate, done by the experts, it just leaves people aghast.

Its not my job to say how other people should feel. But I believe that it should be a national story that continues and doesnt fall off the front page. When our job has ended after certain assignments, Ive tried to keep the story going.

There really is no personal investment. I didnt know a Puerto Rican before I came here. I had never met one unfortunately and I had never been to the island. I didnt know much about the culture or the history. But Ive come to feel a sense of investment: Their story deserves to be told. If not on television, then on social media. Weve been able to find an audiencethere are 300,000 people who are continually engaging on Facebook or on Twitter. I just want to keep the story going. I dont want to criticize other people and whether they should be running it. I just want to say thanks to my folks for making it a priority to put it on TV and get our crew here.

Ive seen you gather news tips and directly connect to sources through Facebook and also use it as sort of a back channel for people who cant get access to broadcast news. In the year that youve been following this story, how much has social media become a way for you to connect to people on and off the island?

I never realized social media could be such a powerful tool. I heard it could be. But that wasnt my experience as a journalist until Puerto Rico. Social media has given me the option to hold politicians and leaders accountable in ways that I wouldnt otherwise even on television or in trying to make a phone call.

Ive made a very clear effort to not take a side, not state an opinion. Let people know what Im doing and what the process is along the way. An example: Yesterday, I wanted to find out who the people at Harvard talked to [to produce their estimate of the number of people who died after Maria]. I had some of my own questions I wanted to ask them, and Harvard said, Were not going to share that information, as a matter of privacy. I thought, How am I going to talk to these people?

And then it occurred to me just talk to the people. Ask them. Theres some hesitance usually about tipping off the competition. But Im not really competing with anyone on this story. Its too important. It involves lives that people are still living, and that have been lost. So I put out a message and I said, If youve got a story of a relative who died and you think its an indirect related death to the storm please let me know. The response was overwhelming. Theyre still coming in. Nearly a dozen an hour. And that was another report by the way that helped frame our story that aired on the CBS Evening News.

What I think is important about storytelling is to let people know what youre doing along the way. Instead of writing a piece last night for the evening news that was a minute and 45 seconds, whacked together beautifully or whatever, I wanted to to give people the raw aspects. So you saw me in the car riding to meet a woman. And having a FaceTime conversation with a woman in New Jersey. We talked about that: Do we want to use the FaceTime interview on television?

Peeling the bandaid away, and showing people the back channel of how you went about getting that storyI think viewers appreciate that. Ive come to learn they appreciate it online, and I love when my bosses give me the ability to show that on television as well.

Broadcast news often gets criticized for doing long interviews and only showing 10 seconds of it. How did you discover people were interested and willing to regularly watch these larger components of your reporting?

Id love to tell you that Ive got a social media philosophy and a plan for how to reach an audience. I dont. What I do is I start the day, I interviewed the [Harvard researcher] and I said, I think people at home should be able to see the questions that were asked. We gave the man time in the piece but I think the soundbite was roughly 12 to 15 seconds. It was a nearly 20 minute interview. I wanted the people to have the benefit [so I put the whole video online].

People have actually told me, I always look out for your report and then I go back to see if you posted the raw video online. And so when I can, I do. I think its beneficial.

In the weeks right after the hurricane there were journalists actively trying to connect people to their families. There has been a lot of debate about journalists as impartial observers, but now there seems to be a shift in thinking: If you have the resources and the means, why not extend these resources to the people that youre reporting on? What are you thoughts on that?

Its an interesting, complicated, question that I struggle to answer. Its not my job to be a first responder. And theres nothing heroic that we did in our coverage, though people have been very kind with their praise and thanks. We were not the ones who were saving lives. I do believe that there comes a point and I first experienced that at Hurricane Harvey where I was allowed to get into the boat with the Cajun Navys civilian samaritan rescuing people. He said to me, Now heres the deal: You get in. You help out. I thought, Well, if Im getting in his boat, Im playing by his rules. When he rescued a woman who came walking out of her home in the knee-deep water, I ended up putting the woman on my back. A photo was taken by a photographer from The Houston Chronicle and I remember when the picture went out I thought, Should I have done that? But then I thought, Why wouldnt I? Was I going to leave the woman standing in her boat just looking at me?

The way I look at it, when youre in the moment and you can do something to help someone else, do it. We have standards at CBS News that are very strict. I remember being near the Guajataca dam and meeting a woman who, on a scathingly hot day, was standing in her home. There was water all over the slab of the floor, the entire roof was gone, and she was just desperate. She was so far away from seemingly anybody who could come and help her living in a rural area. We found her and I had a satellite phone. More than anythinga roof, food, help, sympathyshe wanted to let her daughter in Chicago know that she was OK. And we gave her the phone and let her call her family. Somebody might argue that we shouldnt have done that but we did. I have no regrets about it.

When journalists find themselves in situations where humanity takes over, I think if you follow your heart, more often than not, youre not going to betray your own standards and youre going to do what any good human being would do.

I think at our core we are all ethical people bound by the highest standards, and thats always in the back of my mind. But otherwise Im doing what is right in that moment. I guess if it would have been perceived as something wrong my bosses would have spoken to me about it. But that hasnt happened.

The next hurricane season is already starting, and you are scheduled to be in Manhattan for the National Puerto Rican Parade. What you think youll be covering this season?

Im really looking forward to being with the Puerto Rican Day Parade. I have a special place in my heart for Puerto Ricans. You cant spend the time that weve spent here and tell the stories that we have without coming to appreciate their culture, their passion, and their story.

I still dont understand why the people of Puerto Rico are okay with being treated like second-class citizens. Please dont misunderstand what Im saying and I trust that you will not take it out of context. As long as Ive been here [in Puerto Rico] people have always said to me, We are second class citizens. Thats just the way it is. And I think naively, maybe, not knowing the history of people feeling like second-class citizens here over the last many decades, I have come in and said, Thats not okay. You dont have to. You shouldnt.

Its not about being their advocate. Its the same thing I would do if at Hurricane Harvey there were injustices that went unanswered or in San Bernardino after a terror attack or in Orlando at the Pulse nightclub shooting where I stood for two weeks telling that story. There are injustices happening here and people are accustomed to them. Were going to proceed forward as if its not okay, and ask the questions to politicians and put the feet on the fire. Not only here on the island but in Washington. So many people do not know that Puerto Ricans cant vote for president, at least those on the island, and they dont have a voting member in Congress. Its our job to see how things can be made better here, just like we would do in any other story in any other state.

Do you think its racism, why Puerto Ricans are being treated this way?

No, I hadnt even thought about that. To think whether its racism takes me down another road of another story that I dont think is in my wheelhouse. Mine has always been what is happening now? What needs to be done about it? I dont want to stray from what our obligation has been from day one: What happened, whats the aftermath, and whats being done to fix it?

There are other people more experienced, better versed, to answer questions about whether its racism toward Puerto Ricans, or other things. I want to make sure to stay in my lane; one of my favorite sayings is, Stay in your lane and there wont be no traffic. I want to make sure I dont get run afoul of anyone else trying to pontificate or editorialize or share my opinion. My opinion doesnt matter. I just want to keep telling the story. I want to keep getting that into a block of our broadcast. As long as Ive got an audience that will listen, Ive got the desire to keep telling the story.

ICYMI: How journalism got so out of touch with the people it covers

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Karen K. Ho is a freelance business, culture and media reporter, based in New York. She is also a former Delacorte Fellow at CJR. Follow her on Twitter @karenkho.
Following a study published last week that pegged the estimated number of deaths caused by Hurricane Maria north of 4,500, the Puerto Rican government released Friday for the first time official mortality figures showing at least 1,400 deaths. Whatever the actual number, the natural disaster, and the human failure in its aftermath, is one of the worst in American history. Yet it continues to be sidelined in coverage.

On the major Sunday talk showsthe purest distillation of what the media and political establishments consider worth discussingnot once was Puerto Rico mentioned, The Washington Posts James Downie writes in a Sunday evening opinion piece. A estimated death toll this largeand the fact that the bumbling response to the hurricane probably increased that tollshould be top-of-the-hour news for days.

One of the few mentions the story did receive on Sunday TV was not a political show, but on CNNs media analysis program Reliable Sourcesan irony that speaks to the problem. Why is it that Puerto Rico has been shortchanged by the press? host Brian Stelter asked his panel, as part of the three and a half minute segment on the topic. Democratic strategist Maria Cardona argued that if these were 5,000 American citizens stateside and if they werent brown and if they didnt speak Spanish, I think we would be talking more about this.

Puerto Rico has been undercovered since Hurricane Maria first made landfall. Individual outlets and reportersCBSs David Begnaud, NPRs Adrian Florido, the Associated Presss Danica Coto, among othershave provided consistent coverage, but when compared to the attention given other stories, especially by commentators and pundits, Puerto Rico remains an afterthought for too many major outlets. The firestorm around Roseanne Barrs comments overwhelming news of a shocking new death count provided a striking contrast, but this has been an issue for months.

RELATED: Puerto Ricos devastation takes a backseat to Roseanne coverage

It probably doesnt help that mentions of Puerto Rico have been absent from President Trumps Twitter feed, the main driver of newscycles in 2018. Celebrity is easy to cover and viewers reward outlets who do it. Reporting on the administration, and the investigations into its actions, is obviously vital. And it can be difficult to find a news peg amidst a slowly unfolding catastrophe in an industry forever focused on whats new. But by any measure, Puerto Rico deserved more, and the media has consistently failed to deliver.

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Below, more on the reckoning with Marias aftermath in Puerto Rico.

A sobering memorial: NPRs Adrian Florido reports from San Juan, where a memorial has formed in the wake of last weeks report. The impromptu displayhundreds of sneakers and dress shoes and high heels and baby slipperswas at once a somber memorial to Puerto Ricos dead and a quiet yet visually arresting protest against what many islanders see as their governments bungled accounting of the loss of life that the hurricane inflicted, Florido writes.

NPRs Adrian Florido reports from San Juan, where a memorial has formed in the wake of last weeks report. The impromptu displayhundreds of sneakers and dress shoes and high heels and baby slipperswas at once a somber memorial to Puerto Ricos dead and a quiet yet visually arresting protest against what many islanders see as their governments bungled accounting of the loss of life that the hurricane inflicted, Florido writes. How many dead?: The Harvard study referenced in many reports estimated the number of additional deaths caused by Maria at 4,645. The islands department of health now says at least 1,400 died. The official estimate until last week was 64. The Washington Posts Glenn Kessler attempts to explain the discrepancies.

The Harvard study referenced in many reports estimated the number of additional deaths caused by Maria at 4,645. The islands department of health now says at least 1,400 died. The official estimate until last week was 64. The Washington Posts Glenn Kessler attempts to explain the discrepancies. The shame in Puerto Rico: The New York Times Editorial Board argues that the chief reason for the slow and inadequate response to Marias devastation has been the perception in Washington, and especially in the White House, of Puerto Rico as a second-class United States territory where poverty, hardship and shoddy government are accepted as the norm.

Other notable stories

The big subject on the Sunday shows was the presidents legal strategy. On Saturday, The New York Times reported on a confidential memo, sent by President Trumps lawyers to Special Counsel Robert Mueller in January in an attempt to head off a possible subpoena. Mr. Trumps lawyers fear that if he answers questions, either voluntarily or in front of a grand jury, he risks exposing himself to accusations of lying to investigators, a potential crime or impeachable offense, write the Timess Michael S. Schmidt, Maggie Haberman, Charlie Savage, and Matt Apuzzo.

More troubling revelations about Facebooks data policies from The New York Timess Gabriel J.X. Dance, Nicholas Confessore, and Michael LaForgia. They report that the tech giant gave phone and other device makers access to vast amounts of its users personal information. The partnerships, whose scope has not previously been reported, raise concerns about the companys privacy protections and compliance with a 2011 consent decree with the Federal Trade Commission, the Times

The Daily Beasts Andrew Kirell and Maxwell Tani examine Fox Business host Maria Bartiromos journey from relatively apolitical financial journalist to leading booster of all things Trump. While Bartiromo still covers the markets, Kirell and Tani note that she has adopted an overtly friendly tone toward Trump.

CNNs Hadas Gold reports that President Trump intends to nominate Michael Pack, a conservative documentarian and Stephen Bannon ally, to lead the Broadcasting Board of Governors. The board controls US government-funded media outlets like Voice of America and Radio Free Europe and is considered the countrys largest public diplomacy program, Gold writes. It reaches an audience of 278 million in more than 100 countries and 61 languages.

From our new print issue: Gabriel Snyder sits down with Kurt Andersen, Erica Cerulo, Choire Sicha, and Elizabeth Spiers to discuss whether journalists make good entrepreneurs. All four made the leap into running their own businesses, but they stress that its not an easy transition.

BuzzFeeds Steven Perlberg writes that reporting on the White House is getting more difficult. Trumps inner circle has solidified, and the president is increasingly acting on his own, Perlberg writes. Meetings are getting smaller, reducing the number of people with proximity to information.

Raju Narisetti, most recently the CEO of Gizmodo Media Group, is joining the Columbia Journalism School faculty and will serve as the new director of the Knight-Bagehot Fellowship in Economics and Business Journalism.

ICYMI: Do we need journalism schools?

Has America ever needed a media watchdog more than now? Help us by joining CJR today

Pete Vernon is a former CJR staff writer. Follow him on Twitter @ByPeteVernon.
Ascot to Acquire Greyhawk Insurance Company

Ascot US Holding Corporation announced the acquisition of Greyhawk Insurance Company, and its wholly owned subsidiary Greyhawk Specialty Insurance Company (Greyhawk Specialty). Greyhawk is a Colorado domiciled admitted lines insurer and has been in runoff since 2006. Greyhawk Specialty is a dormant Rhode Island domiciled Excess & Surplus lines insurer. The acquisitions are subject to regulatory approvals.

The Greyhawk companies will expand Ascots U.S. platform and provide increased access to the U.S. insurance markets.

Ascot Group Limited is a Bermuda domiciled global specialist in insurance and reinsurance. Built on a foundation of underwriting expertise, the Group compromises three divisions: Ascot Underwriting Limited- a Managing Agent for Syndicate 1414 at Lloyds; Ascot Reinsurance Company Limited-a Bermuda based specialty reinsurer; and Ethos Specialty Insurance Services LLC-a New York based Managing General Agent (MGA).

Ascot Group is owned by the Canadian Pension Plan Investment Board (CPPIB), the largest pension plan in Canada with over C$300 billion in invested assets.

CNA Opens New Global Headquarters

June 1, 2018, marks the official opening of CNA Center  the new, modern global headquarters for more than 1,700 Chicago-based CNA employees, located at 151 North Franklin Street in Chicagos Loop business district.

The relocation makes it easier for employees to connect all that CNA has to offer its customers. Upgrades in technology across all locations are enabling easier, faster connections both internally and externally. CNAs network of approximately 6,300 employees, thousands of partners and 79 locations has been designed and built to better deliver products and services to customers, whether located in a major metropolitan area or a small town in any of the more than 200 countries and territories that CNA is able to serve.

ACD Releases Enhanced Photo Estimating Mobile App

AutoClaims Direct (ACD), an auto claims technology, decision support, advisory and service network aggregator to the property/casualty industry, announced the launch of Self(ie), an all-new, fully-enhanced version of the companys photo estimating solution to speed up the processing and resolution of claims.

The new release was built from the ground up with a modern and intuitive user interface that requires no downloads and can be white labeled for insurers. When a claim qualifies for photo estimating, ACD promptly sends a Self(ie) link to the vehicle owner through a text message or email. Customers are then guided step-by-step through a smart user experience and all photos are immediately transmitted back to ACD allowing appraisers to assess the extent of damage and complete estimates in as little as one hour.
Officials in the Texas county hardest hit by Hurricane Harvey announced Wednesday they will seek the publics input before finalizing a list of critical flood-control projects voters will be asked to approve during an estimated $2.5 billion bond referendum.

Harris County  home to Houston  plans to hold at least 23 community meetings before the Aug. 25 bond election.

Harris County Judge Ed Emmett called the election one of the most important decisions in the countys history.

We need to make sure that the public feels like they were part of designing this process. Just as the public was part of rescuing their neighbors, the public was part of helping their neighbors recover. Ultimate recovery is mitigation like this, making the community resilient, said Emmett, the countys top elected official. Were all in this together. Its critical that they be involved.

The August special election would fall on the one-year anniversary of Harveys Texas landfall. Harveys torrential rainfall made it to the Houston area a day later.

The hurricane and the devastating rain that followed last summer caused an estimated $125 billion in damage statewide and flooded thousands of homes in the Houston area.

If the bond referendum is approved, most homeowners would see their overall property tax bill increase by no more than 1.4 percent over a 15 year period, no more than 2 or 3 cents per $100 of a homes assessed valuation, Emmett said.

Projects being considered include the widening of local bayous, voluntary home buyouts, building additional stormwater detention basins and improving drainage systems through partnerships with area cities and utility districts.

Many of the flood control projects being proposed have been discussed for years but have either remained partially completed or confined to the pages of sketches and blueprints due to a lack of money or political will.

One of the most widely discussed flood control projects after Harvey  a new reservoir  was not set to be included in the list.

Russell Poppe, executive director of the Harris County Flood Control District, said funding would be included in the bond proposal to help pay for a study looking at the possibility of building a third reservoir or improving the capacity of the countys two existing reservoirs, which filled to capacity during Harvey and contributed to flooding hundreds of homes. A new reservoir would likely have to be built by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, which maintains the countys two other reservoirs.

At a symposium on hurricane preparedness earlier Wednesday, Roy Wright, the former director of the National Flood Insurance Program, praised the efforts of Harris County, saying that lessening a communitys risk during a natural disaster has to be done through actions, like the proposed bond referendum, that have an impact on a neighborhood and community scale.

Harris County commissioners were expected to formally call for the election during their June 12 meeting.

The county needed to get permission to hold the special election from Gov. Greg Abbott, who granted it earlier this month.

Various community and environmental groups have implored commissioners to ensure that the projects proposed by the bond referendum also help mitigate flooding in lower-income neighborhoods.

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In a blow to the owner of Opry Mills Mall, the Tennessee Supreme Court has let stand a lower courts ruling that stripped $150 million of insurance coverage for the 2010 flood.

The states highest court announced Monday that it would not hear an appeal from the Simon Property Group. The decision let stand a ruling from an appellate court that found the mall was located in a high hazard flood zone, and therefore only entitled to a maximum of $50 million in insurance coverage.

The owners of Opry Mills had asked the Tennessee Supreme Court to reverse a ruling that reduced their 2010 flood insurance coverage from $200 to $50 million. Severe flooding closed the Nashville, Tenn., shopping mall for an extended period.

The mall was submerged in 10 feet (3 meters) of water during the flood that killed 11 people in Nashville and damaged some of the citys most iconic structures. A total of 26 people died in the flood in Tennessee and Kentucky.

It took two years for the entire property to be rebuilt and cost millions of dollars. After an initial cleanup, progress on the reconstruction had been stalled because insurers would provide only $50 million. The Mills company said the mall suffered more than $200 million in damage and filed suit in 2011 against 17 insurance companies claiming they owed another $150 million.

A jury awarded the property group $200 million from a group of insurers after hearing the amount of loss the mall sustained from the flood. However, the Tennessee Court of Appeals overturned that verdict and said the $50 million was the maximum amount of coverage due because the insurance policies made exceptions for properties in high hazard flood zones, court records show.

An attorney who represents Simon Property Group did not respond to a message seeking comment.

Copyright 2021 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
Allen Owen, the mayor of Missouri City, Texas, wants to do more to protect his town from the next disaster. But the city hasnt gotten any of the roughly $1 million in federal disaster funds he said its owed after Hurricane Harvey. That means less money to flood-proof the local bayou, install bigger pumps or buy and demolish homes that keep flooding.

Were getting into hurricane season, Owen, a Republican, said in an interview. Its going to happen again.

With the arrival of a new hurricane season Friday, towns and cities in Florida and Texas are still waiting for hundreds of millions of dollars in promised reimbursement from the U.S. Federal Emergency Management Agency for last years record destruction. In Texas, more than one-third of the expected $695 million is still outstanding. And thats a wild success compared with Florida, where less than 1 percent of the promised $83 million in federal money has reached cities and counties.

The result is that local governments must tap emergency funds, borrow money and cut spending, leaving them less fiscal room to get ready for the next disaster.

If we have another storm this year, then well really be in trouble, said Roman Gastesi, administrator of Monroe County, Florida, which is waiting for $34 million.

In the meantime, the county has implemented what he called a pretty severe austerity program, including a hiring freeze, purchasing constraints and new limits on public services.

Advocacy groups and federal auditors say the fault lies with an unwieldy reimbursement process and the fact that FEMA is stretched thin by the pace and scale of disasters. FEMA says the responsibility lies with the states, who act as middlemen in distributing the funds.

For the cities that are in the front lines of this, its very concerning, said Yucel Ors, program director for public safety for the National League of Cities. Its very difficult to meet all the demands that are out there.

The National Association of Counties is also getting complaints from its members, according to spokesman Fred Wong. He said he didnt know whether that reflects problems with the process, or simply the unusually high number of counties hit by last years disasters.

The money comes from FEMAs Public Assistance program, which has gotten poor marks from federal auditors. After last years disasters, the U.S. Government Accountability Office called it a complex and multistep grant program, with an extensive paperwork and review process and too few trained staff, leading to delays in funding.

The program is supposed to pay local governments at least 75 percent of the cost of emergency services, debris removal and repairing or replacing public infrastructure after a presidentially declared disaster. It is FEMAs largest disaster grants program, committing more than $36 billion between 2009 and 2016.

The agency had planned to overhaul it this year to address the GAOs concerns. When last years disasters struck, FEMA decided to speed up the overhaul, introducing the new system ahead of schedule. The result of that shift, according to Chris Currie, the offices director for emergency management, was some degree of bureaucratic disruption  exacerbated by the scale of last years disasters, and FEMAs already overworked staff.

Not everybody was trained and ready to go, Currie said in an interview. Our concerns about the workforce being ready  they certainly havent gotten any better, because the workload is only going up.

Jenny Burke, a FEMA spokeswoman, rejected the notion that the agency has been slow delivering disaster aid, saying that criticism does not reflect the true recovery process or progress that continues to be made following last years historic disasters.

She said any concerns about the pace of reimbursements should be directed to state governments. Once funding reaches the states, tribes and territories, it is their responsibility to disburse funds to local governments, Burke said.

In a closed-door meeting at FEMA headquarters earlier this month with local officials and associations of cities, the agencys director, Brock Long, said the agency needs to move faster, according to the National League of Cities Ors, who attended the meeting.

FEMA acknowledged that they need to work to improve the way that the money is getting out there, Ors said. He said Long described getting aid out more quickly as one of their priorities.

When asked whether Texas had been too slow in distributing FEMA aid to its cities and counties, Tom Vinger, a spokesman for the Texas Department of Public Safety, said it was a top priority to help communities recover as quickly as possible. He called the grants a joint effort between the state, FEMA and local governments.

As far as Missouri City, Vinger said the state is still waiting for local officials to provide more documentation of its costs.

In Florida, getting money to cities and counties hit by Hurricane Irma has been even slower. Of the $83 million in Public Assistance money promised by FEMA, the state has distributed just $604,000, according to Alberto Moscoso, spokesman for the Florida Division of Emergency Management.

Moscoso said the state is just trying to be thorough.

The state is pursuing a deliberate method of reviewing these payments, Moscoso said. He noted that if FEMA later decides any of those payments were spent improperly, its the state  rather than local governments  that is responsible for paying FEMA back.

Still, Moscoso rejected the notion that the program is moving slowly. Its very early in the recovery process, he said.

Officials in the Florida Keys, which experienced the greatest damage from Irma, feel differently.

After Irma crashed into the Keys, Monroe County officials submitted paperwork for $35 million in reimbursement from FEMA. The expenses included $547,000 in sheltering and evacuation costs, $110,000 in medical supplies for fire and rescue services and $17 million in debris removal.

As of last week, the county had received less than 2 percent of that money. Moscoso said the county has yet to submit all the required documentation. Its a long and complicated process, he said.

To get by, Monroe County took out a bank loan for $40 million. Were borrowing money to be able to pay the bills, said Gastesi, the county administrator.

Jeff Branch, a legislative advocate for the Florida League of Cities, said the Keys concerns reflect a broader complaint statewide. And he said its not just funds from Irma that have been delayed.

Our members are still waiting on reimbursements dating back to Matthew, Branch said, referring to a hurricane that hit Florida in October 2016.

Copyright 2021 Bloomberg.
Subtropical Storm Alberto kicked off the Atlantic hurricane season a week early, but dont take that as a harbinger of terrible weather. In fact, cooler ocean temperatures are already spurring researchers to scale back forecasts for this year.

Expect six hurricanes this season, according to a report Thursday from Colorado State University. Thats down from early April when the researchers predicted seven. Theyre forecasting 13 additional named storms after Alberto, which formed last week in the Gulf of Mexico.

The shift is due in part to colder waters in the tropical Atlantic, according to Phil Klotzbach, lead author of the report. Waters near and west of the Azores are running 2 to 3 degrees Fahrenheit (1 to 2 degrees Celsius) cooler than this time last year, a feature likely to suppress storm activity.

Last year we had a super-hot Atlantic, Klotzbach said in an interview. And we went from near-record warmth to really cold.

That puts this year on track to be slightly above the average of 12 named storms. There may be two major hurricanes, with winds of at least 111 miles (179 kilometers) per hour, in line with the average.

Water temperatures have dropped since Colorado States earlier hurricane forecast, which called for 14 named storms, and if that doesnt change the storm forecast may be lowered again, Klotzbach said.

Hurricanes can wreak havoc on energy markets as about 5 percent of U.S. natural gas and 17 percent of crude is produced in the Gulf of Mexico, according to the Energy Information Administration. Florida is the worlds second-largest producer of orange juice and along the Atlantic and Gulf coasts, there are more than 6.6 million homes with an estimated reconstruction cost of $1.5 trillion, according to the Insurance Information Institute in New York.

High Pressure

Stronger-than-normal high pressure over the Atlantic is responsible for the ocean cooling. High pressure churns up the ocean, boosting evaporation and cooling the water. A Pacific El Nino, which increases wind shear across the Atlantic that can tear apart hurricanes and tropical storms, is not expected to play a role this year, Klotzbach said.

Theres a 51 percent chance the continental U.S. will suffer a major hurricane, down from 63 percent in an April and in line with the 20th Century average, according to the report. Hurricane-vulnerable coastline accounts for 45 percent of U.S. refining capacity and 51 percent of gas processing.

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration said last week that 10 to 16 named storms may form this season with five to nine developing into hurricanes.

Last year the U.S. was hit by three major hurricanes  Harvey, Irma and Maria  that helped drive total losses to more than $215 billion, according to Munich Re. It was the most costly season on record, surpassing 2005 which produced Katrina. Overall 17 named storms formed in 2017, which fell in line with NOAAs prediction of 11 to 17.

Subtropical storm Alberto made landfall Monday at Laguna Beach, Florida. The storm made its way across central Alabama bringing heavy rains that threaten the U.S. South with economic losses of $1 billion. While early storms like Alberto can draw a lot of attention, theyre not a sign of an active season.

The amount of interest in that storm, for a subtropical piece of nothing, was very high, Klotzbach said. After last year, the intensity of interest with these hurricanes is very high.

Copyright 2021 Bloomberg.
Floridas governor and Legislature promised a dizzying array of fixes following the devastation of last years hurricanes. But heading into a new storm season, the state has enacted only a few changes  the largest aimed at protecting seniors in nursing homes.

Fridays official start of hurricane season also arrives as the state continues to feel the effects of two storms last year. Hurricane Irma ripped across the state last September and was blamed for 84 deaths in Florida, as well as over $8.6 billion in property damage. Hurricane Maria, which decimated Puerto Rico last October, led to mass relocations to the Sunshine State.

After having no significant storms from 2006 to 2015, three storms have made landfall in the state the past two years.

As hard as it was last year, people worked together well, Gov. Rick Scott said recently at the Governors Hurricane Conference in West Palm Beach. I think almost everyone is pleased with debris removal, but it is the rebuilding that takes time.

The Florida House of Representatives Select Committee on Hurricane Response and Preparedness issued 78 recommendations over the past year, with 27 being acted upon, mostly as appropriations in the state budget. The recommendations ranged from ensuring generators and three days of fuel in nursing homes and assisted living facilities to creating a disaster preparedness sales tax holiday.

Priorities for most people remain ensuring access to fuel and transportation, following a massive and chaotic evacuation during Irma that left residents scrambling for fuel and clogging Floridas highways. Scott directed the states Department of Transportation to better identify larger gas stations along evacuation routes and improve delivery of fuel to those areas.

Legislators recommended having the state consider using one-way traffic flows on major highways, but Scott, citing state transportation officials, instead backed the use of highway shoulders to relieve congestion. Authorities allowed drivers to use shoulders several times during Irma.

Craig Fugate, who was the states top emergency official under Gov. Jeb Bush and later headed FEMA under President Barack Obama, said one way to ease congestion during evacuations is pointing people to shelters closer to their homes.

If you look at last year we had a lot of people driving long distances. We have so many new residents that we forgot past lessons, he said. How do you keep them engaged and prepared and pass on the lessons that we learned the hard way between the quiet and active periods?

One way could be through improvements in forecasting from the National Hurricane Center. Director Ken Graham said new public advisories are absolutely huge for the work emergency managers do ahead of any storm. Those include the expected time for tropical storm-force winds to arrive onshore and maps that show possible storm surge.

Its about understanding the risk, its understanding if youre in an evacuation zone, and understanding you may not have far to go to get away from that risk, Graham said.

The state also has named a new top emergency management official, Wes Maul, following the resignation after seven years of Bryan Koon, who said he would return to the private sector.

Maul served as the departments chief of staff for 17 months but had no other prior emergency management experience. Maul declined to answer questions about his level of experience, but the governors office has cited Mauls work at the department so far  including responses to storms and mass shootings  as an indicator that Maul is up to the task.

The governor is confident in Maul, Scott spokesman McKinley Lewis said.

Graham said his offices job with any new officials is going to be to educate.  Were going to spend time spinning them up on the hurricane season, spinning them up on the science.

Scott, a Republican, is leaving office due to term limits. Florida has not been hit with a hurricane the year of a gubernatorial election since 1964. The states response during a storm could quickly become a campaign issue for governor and the U.S. Senate as Scott is challenging three-term Democratic U.S. Sen. Bill Nelson in November.

Fugate said no matter the year  or the stakes  the mission remains the same.

They have to be ready for stuff you would expect, but also be prepared for what could happen, he said. We have our planning assumptions, but you also have to adjust to what the public is doing.

(Associated Press writer Jennifer Kay in West Palm Beach, Florida, contributed to this report.)

Copyright 2021 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
A city in central Oregon seeks $62,000 from a tree removal company that accidentally cut down a big spruce that was slated to become the citys Christmas tree.

In a lawsuit filed last week, Redmond officials allege that workers trespassed on land owned by the city and removed a tree that was intended to be part of a park expansion near City Hall, The Bulletin newspaper reported .

Keith Leitz, human resources director for the city, said the 40-foot (12-meter) blue spruce is difficult to replace, because of its size and location near the center of town. He said the city resorted to a lawsuit because it couldnt agree with the company on compensation.

The mistake occurred in March after a property management company asked Fagen Tree & Chips to remove a spruce.

Company owner Wade Fagen said an employee accidentally went to a property three blocks to the east, where he encountered a similar spruce tree with tape and cones around it. He said the removal was an honest mistake and criticized the city for taking legal action.

I think theyre just trying to profit off a bad situation, Fagen said Tuesday.

The citys tree was marked with tape and cones to prevent it from being removed, Leitz said. The parcel the tree sat on had been transferred to the city as part of a plan to expand Centennial Park in downtown Redmond.

As part of the expansion, a house near the tree in question was removed, but Leitz said the city was careful to keep the tree safe. He said the plan was to use the spruce as a Christmas tree once the park was completed in 2019.

The suit invokes an Oregon law that says that anyone who unlawfully removes a tree on someone elses property is liable for three times the cost of the damage. Fagen said the statute is designed to prevent timber theft, and shouldnt be applied to an inadvertent removal.

Theres no value (to me); I wasnt stealing anything, Fagen said.

Copyright 2021 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
AKRON, Ohio - Bounce Innovation Hub has added four team members: Entrepreneurs in Residence Michael Haritakis and Victoria Tifft, Director of Entrepreneurial Services Christopher Mazziotto, and Program Coordinator EbaNee Bond.

Veteran founders Haritakis and Tifft will work with Bounce resident companies, offering one-on-one consulting and guidance for navigating the startup landscape. Mazziotto and Bond will build programs and services that help the needs of companies at Bounce, as well as others in the region.

"As we continue to build momentum, it's important that we increase and improve services and programs for our companies and those out in the community," said Bounce CEO Doug Weintraub in a news release. "This impressive group of professionals, with their combined experience in the startup space, helps further solidify Bounce's position as the center for entrepreneurial activities in Akron and surrounding counties. If you have an idea you can grow into a company, they will help you get there."

Michael Haritakis

As entrepreneur in residence, Michael Haritakis works with Bounce's biomedical companies. He co-founded Thermedx, LLC, a medical device manufacturing startup. He also served in leadership roles for several manufacturing and software industry startups. Haritakis received a bachelor's degree in business from the University of Cincinnati, a Juris Doctor from Cleveland State University and a master's degree in entrepreneurship and management from Case Western Reserve University.

Victoria Tifft

As entrepreneur in residence, Victoria Tifft works with a variety of companies. She has more than 30 years of experience in the entrepreneurial sector. Most recently, she served as CEO of Clinical Research Management from 1994 until 2018. In 2016, she sold the company to a publicly traded competitor. She also works with four additional firms and serves on several boards in the area. Her son, Matt Tifft, is a professional NASCAR driver for Richard Childress Racing. She is working with her son's team to bring corporate sponsor and business-to-business opportunities to the area. She received a bachelor's degree in biology from the University of Akron and a master's degree in business and leadership from Case Western Reserve University.

Christopher Mazziotto

As director of entrepreneurial services, Christopher Mazziotto will facilitate Bounce's incubator and accelerator, oversee the mentor network, and plan programs and events that aim to engage the Bounce community. Most recently, Mazziotto was the director of operations at reSET, a Connecticut-based startup accelerator program. In his role, he mentored early-stage startups, offered entrepreneurial education and built a startup support network. Mazziotto received a bachelor's degree in economics from Central Connecticut State University and is a graduate of the Financial Leadership Program at United Technologies Corporation.

EbaNee Bond

As program coordinator, EbaNee Bond supports companies at Bounce. She assists with program implementation, such as the Entrepreneurial Signature Program, community-based programs and Bounce and partner events. She also serves as a joint employee with Bounce's partners at the University of Akron Research Foundation as an Akron Entrepreneur fellow. She recently graduated from The University of Akron with a bachelor's degree in mechanical engineering.

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CLEVELAND, Ohio -- A federal appeals court on Monday removed U.S. District Judge John Adams from hearing the case of two men arrested with more than 200 pounds of cocaine to Cleveland, saying the Akron judge appeared ready to give harsh sentences before he had all the necessary information.

A three-judge panel from the 6th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals said the judge gave inadequate reasons why he rejected the plea agreements of Alejandro Cota-Luna and Antonio Navarro-Gaytan.

The panel ruled the case must be reassigned "to maintain the integrity of our judicial system and to ensure that these cases are heard by a judge whose impartiality cannot reasonably be questioned."

(You can read the full opinion here or at the bottom of this story.)

The 6th Circuit's ruling is the latest in a string of setbacks for Adams, an embattled judge who has a reputation for erratic behavior on and off the bench.

Cota-Luna and Navarro-Gaytan were arrested in 2016 after federal agents found the large cocaine stash below a semi trailer. They pleaded guilty in January 2017 to drug conspiracy charges and reached agreements with federal prosecutors that, if the judge accepted, would require him to sentence both men to about three years in prison.

Antonio Navarro-Gaytan, left, and Alejandro Cota-Luna

Adams clearly did not think this was enough time.

At first, he rejected the plea agreements that required him to impose the specific sentences. Pushed for a reason why, Adams said he thought the sentences might be too lenient given the amount of cocaine. He also wanted to take into account certain "relevant conduct" when sentencing, the appeals court panel wrote.

A few days later, both men entered new plea agreements that recommended, but did not require, the judge to impose the same sentences. In May 2017, Adams went far and above the recommendations, sentencing both men to 10 years in federal prison.

The 6th Circuit panel's decision says Adams appeared to reject assertions from the government, defense attorneys and the U.S. Probation Office that said both men were minor players in a larger drug operation and that they were only doing the work for fear of retribution from the Mexican drug cartel.

While a judge has the ability to reject plea agreements, he or she must give good reasons for doing so. In this case, Adams didn't give any, the panel wrote.

"The district court appeared predisposed to imposing harsh sentences on both defendants, and the district court relied on legally erroneous interpretations of the guidelines, speculative musings about the cartel's motivations, and unsupported assertions about Defendants' knowledge and experience to reach that result," states the opinion, written by Judge Eric Clay.

Terry Gilbert, Navarro-Gaytan's attorney, said he was happy for his client.

"He did not deserve such a sentence in which all sides agreed was not appropriate," Gilbert said.

Cota-Luna's attorney Marisa Serrat said in a statement that "there were significant mitigating factors that were not properly considered at his initial sentencing hearing. Our client and his family are anxious for a new Judge to address the unique facts of this case and apply the Court's Opinion."

Adams did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Accounting for Monday's decision, the 6th Circuit has, on at least three recent occasions, issued orders either removing or reassigning cases involving Adams, who was appointed to the federal bench in 2003 by President George W. Bush.

The appeals court in May 2016 forced Adams to recuse himself from a criminal case involving a man charged with creating and passing counterfeit money. The judge had refused to step aside even after the defendant claimed he frequently used heroin with the judge's brother and nephew.

The 6th Circuit also removed Adams from hearing a lawsuit filed by a group of firefighters against the city of Akron alleging discrimination in the city's promotion process. The court in September 2015 ruled that Adams "contributed greatly" to delays in what ended up being litigation that stretched out over a decade.

The appeals court also admonished Adams in 2013 for publicly reprimanding federal public defender Debra Migdal for issuing subpoenas in a criminal case, writing that the judge abused his discretion and that he "relied on clearly erroneous factual findings."

Two judicial conduct panels have found Adams committed misconduct when he issued an order in February 2013 to a magistrate judge who missed a deadline to submit a report and recommendation in a Social Security case. Both reports also referenced other examples of problematic behavior, from being unwilling to engage with his colleagues on the bench, being hostile toward magistrate judges or, in one instance, blocking in an intern's car when the intern accidentally parked in Adams' space.

The panels ordered Adams to undergo a mental-health examination, and the judge sued in federal court in Washington, D.C. to fight the order. The lawsuit is pending.

If you would like to comment on this story, please visit Monday's crime and courts comments section.
CLEVELAND, Ohio - Sierra Nevada Brewing Co. founder Ken Grossman and his son Brian will hold a meet-and-greet at the Winking Lizard party center at 6 p.m. Monday, June 18.

Tickets are $10 and include a Sierra Nevada Pale Ale, sandwich buffet and copy of Ken Grossman's 2013 book, "Beyond the Pale."

The father-son duo will offer a brief history of the brewery and hold a Q and A session. The Grossmans also will hold a public meet and greet at 8 p.m. at the Winking Lizard.

After home brewing in the 1970s, the senior Grossman founded Sierra Nevada in Chico, California, in 1980, predating the wave of craft breweries ushered in with the likes of Great Lakes Brewing Co., Rogue and Deschutes in the latter part of the decade. In 2014, Sierra Nevada opened a brewery in Mills River, N.C.

Winking Lizard is at 25380 Miles Road, Bedford Heights.

In June, all Winking Lizards will feature a Sierra Nevada mini tour with the flagship Pale Ale, Tropical Torpedo India Pale Ale, Kellerweis wheat ale and Otra Vez Lime & Agave, a Gose-style ale.
Patrick Doyle, Associated Press

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Ohio is caught in the middle of a trade war between President Trump and Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau.

After it was announced that Trump's administration would subject the European Union, Canada and Mexico to steel and aluminum tariffs, Canadian Foreign Affairs Minister Chrystia Freeland said that $16.6 billion in tariffs will go into effect July 1, and will stay in place until the U.S. removes the steel and aluminum restrictions.

Midwestern industrial states, like Ohio, stand to feel the effects of the trade war. Of Ohio's $18.9 billion in exports to Canada last year, $1.75 billion in goods could fall under the new tariffs.

So, which Ohio industries face potential blowback from Trump's decision?

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1. Vehicles and parts

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Chuck Crow, The Plain Dealer

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It's no surprise that Ohio's second-largest exporting industry would be hit by a trade war with Canada. It might even get hit the hardest, since our neighbors to the north receive more Ohio-built American vehicles than any other country.

In 2017, we sent them vehicles and parts totaling $4.2 billion. This would most affect Ohio cities like Cincinnati, Dayton, Springfield and Toledo, which count transportation as their largest export sector.

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2. Industrial Machinery, including computers

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Thomas Ondrey, The Plain Dealer

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Ohio's leading export in 2017 was industrial machinery, at about $9 billion - of which $3.6 billion was sold to Canada. Leading products come from across the state and include spark ignitions, piston engines, turbojets and other gas turbines, and pumps and compressors.

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, about 700,000 Ohioans work in manufacturing, making it one of the largest industries in the Buckeye state.

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3. Electrical Machinery

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Chuck Crow, The Plain Dealer

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From ATMs to X-ray machines, Ohio remains a top-ranked source for electrical equipment and appliances in the U.S. The state exported over $1 billion in electrical machinery to Canada in 2017.

Canton and Mansfield also make smaller parts like fuses, plugs, boards, panels, converters and transformers.

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4. Plastics

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Marvin Fong, The Plain Dealer

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Ohio is one of the nation's leading sources for plastic, rubber and non-metallic mineral products. Plastic boxes, bags and closures top the list of plastics produced in Ohio and exported to Canada.

In 2017, the state exported $999 million in plastic goods to Canada, which represents about a third of our total plastic exports - $3 billion - for the year. This would affect the Akron area the most, with its plastics and rubber production.

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5. Iron and Steel

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Susan Glaser, The Plain Dealer

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They don't call it the Steel Valley for nothin'. Data from the 2017 U.S. Geological Survey show that Ohio produces 11 to 14 percent of U.S. raw steel production, ranking it 2nd in the country.

Ohioans in cities like Youngstown and Steubenville produced $1.3 billion in iron and steel exports last year, and Canada was again Ohio's top trading partner with $541 million.
CLEVELAND, Ohio - Cuyahoga County hopes to add to its "green" resume by helping other government agencies take advantage of solar power.

The Greater Cleveland Regional Transit Authority, the Northeast Ohio Solid Waste District and the City of Cleveland Heights are among public entities that have expressed interest in putting solar panels on some of their buildings, according to county Sustainability Director Mike Foley.

To that end, the county's Board of Control agreed Monday to expand the county's contract with Washington, D.C.-based Solar United Neighbors Corp. by $10,000 to analyze the opportunities and to solicit a contractor who could do the work.

"We think there's logic to it," Foley said in an interview with cleveland.com after the Board of Control meeting.

The county already works with Solar United Neighbors to develop solar co-ops for residential customers. Last year, one such co-op put solar arrays on 32 homes, Foley said.

Solar United Neighbors will help determine whether installations at the publicly owned buildings can be bundled in such a way to make the work attractive to a contractor, Foley said.

The contractor would likely take ownership of the solar sites through a power-purchase agreement that would enable the government agencies to immediately start paying the same or less for their electricity, and to eventually acquire the panels after federal tax credits expire.

Local governments cannot take advantage of the federal tax credits because they don't pay federal taxes, Foley said. So, it makes sense for the solar panels to be initially owned by a private entity. The 30 percent tax credit on solar installations will start to phase out after 2019, Foley said, which means the demand, and cost, of solar panels will probably go up next year.

Foley said he envisions the county Animal Shelter in Valley View, the county Medical Examiner's Office in Cleveland's University Circle and a garage in Newburgh Heights to be among the publicly owned buildings in the mix.

Each of the publicly owned buildings in the co-op would accrue savings by reducing the amount of electricity they receive from the grid. Cuyahoga County has already made a significant investment in solar power, but through a different process.

The county arranged for a solar farm to be built on a sealed dump In Brooklyn. The agreement calls for the developer to sell four megawatts of electricity to city-owned Cleveland Public Power. When the electricity starts flowing later this year, CPP will sell electricity to the county at a negotiated rate.
CLEVELAND, Ohio - The city of Cleveland intends to move its police headquarters into the building that houses cleveland.com and was once home to The Plain Dealer.

Mayor Frank Jackson, in a Monday interview with cleveland.com, said the new location will be more cost effective than the current headquarters at the Justice Center complex downtown. It will allow improvements to technology and space to consolidate offices that now are scattered around the city.

The project is a $59.5 million deal that includes the purchase and alteration of the building at 1801 Superior Ave. The package includes a $19.5 million purchase agreement for the site, with some negotiating still to come.

The city has engaged GLP Superior Ltd., led by Fred Geis, to buy and renovate the property.

The target for completing the move to the new headquarters is next spring, police Chief Calvin Williams said.

City Council introduced legislation needed to approval the deal at its meeting Monday evening. Council approval will be needed for the deal to proceed.

Council's Safety Committee is expected to have a hearing on the proposed deal on Wednesday. The vote by the full council could come at its meeting July 18.

The move is part of part of a bigger plan to get the city out of the jail business and out of the Justice Center downtown.

The building, constructed in 2000, will have to be renovated for the police department. When finished, it will provide a much more welcoming environment for visitors and a better work environment for officers, Williams said.

Ultimately about 600 people will work in the police headquarters, Williams said. About 200 of them will be civilians. Another 100 or so will be command and administrative staff. The remainder will be police investigatory units.

Under a deal the city struck last fall with Cuyahoga County, the county agreed to buy the current police headquarters for $9.25 million. The title of the building will be transferred on Oct. 2, 2018.

Once the deal closes, the city will be able to stay in the Justice Center temporarily, but it will have to pay rent to the county. That rental cost put pressure on the city to settle where its new headquarters would be.

"What we don't want to do is to pay [the money from selling the building] all back in a lease," Jackson said.

Last June, Cleveland City Council approved a deal the Jackson administration negotiated with Cuyahoga County under which the county will take over all jail operations and the city will close its lockup at the Justice Center.

Under the deal, the city will pay the county $99 a day per person to house its prisoners at the county jail, which also is part of the Justice Center complex. The long-discussed deal is expected to save Cleveland about $5 million a year.

In July, the city hired Colliers International, a global real estate broker with offices in Cleveland, to help find a suitable site for the police headquarters. It helped narrow the search to three potential sites.

The cleveland.com site, built in 2000, was the only one that didn't involve new construction.

In 2014, The Plain Dealer moved part of its editorial staff into offices at Tower City Center. Copy editing and design staff joined the production staff at the newspaper's Tiedeman Road facility in Brooklyn.

Cleveland.com moved into newly renovated offices at 1801 Superior that same year. The building also provides office space to other tenants, including the YMCA of Greater Cleveland and the Center for Economic Opportunities of Greater Cleveland.

The city, through a developer, will help those tenants find new quarters, Williams said.

Cleveland.com will move to new quarters downtown, a change Editor and President Chris Quinn said will benefit the company, just as the new headquarters benefits the city. The plan is for Advance Ohio's staff to move into the Western Reserve building on West 9th Street.

"This is a good move for us and, I think, for the police," Quinn said. "The content and sales teams at Advance Ohio will move into what is becoming a vibrant corner of downtown, near the Flats East Bank. And our current building, which is beautiful but under-used, will see full occupancy, which will be healthy for the neighborhood."

George Rodrigue, president of Plain Dealer Publishing Co, which owns the building, said: "We're glad that after a series of arms-length negotiations we've been able to reach agreement in principle on terms of the sale. The building has a proud history, and we hope it will serve the needs of the police department well."
MACEDONIA, Ohio -- The Summit County Medical Examiner's Office has identified a man that Macedonia police say was killed by his son.

Joseph Clark, 62, of Macedonia died from stab wounds to his neck, the medical examiner said. He also suffered stab wounds to other parts of his body.

Michael Clark, 28, is charged with murder in his father's death. Police took him into custody a day after the stabbing. He remains in the Summit County Jail on $1 million bond.

Joseph Clark and a 58-year-old woman were both found May 28 in a bedroom at a home on Griswold Circle, located off Firestone Lane between Ohio 8 and Interstate 271.

Clark was pronounced dead at the home. The woman was rushed to Akron City Hospital after firefighters treated her at the scene, Macedonia police have said. The woman is still alive.

Michael Clark waived his right to a preliminary hearing Monday in Stow Municipal Court. A Summit County grand jury will now consider his case.

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3 arrested along with 5kg opium from Dang

Police have arrested three persons on charges of possession and distribution of opium from Ghorahi, Dang on Sunday.
CLEVELAND, Ohio-- A teller at a Catholic credit union is accused of stealing more than $15,000 during a three-month span.

Paula Bradley, 42, is charged with second-degree felony theft. She is not in police custody and a warrant was issued May 29 for her arrest.

Bradley was hired as a teller at the St. Colman and Affiliates Federal Credit Union in February 2017, police reports say. Part of her duties required that she count all the money in her drawer at the end of each night and report the amount to the head teller, police reports say.

Her boss reported that on Feb. 7, Bradley's drawer came up short, according to police reports. She was temporarily suspended while the bank conducted an audit.

The manager of the credit union reported to police that Bradley said she knew her drawer was short money and "fudged" the numbers so she "wouldn't look stupid," according to police reports.

She later denied stealing the money but offered to repay the missing money when she got her income tax check, police reports say.

The credit union finished the audit and found she stole $15,688 between Dec. 1, 2017 and Feb. 1, 2018, according to court records.

The company unsuccessfully tried to reach Bradley for two weeks before reporting the missing money to police in March.

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CLEVELAND, Ohio -- A Warrensville Heights man was sentenced to prison for leading a drug operation where several people with links to a Mexican drug cartel brought large amounts of fentanyl, heroin, cocaine from Chicago and New York to o Northeast Ohio, federal prosecutors say.

Alfonso Rodrigo, 37, who led the drug conspiracy will spend the next 16 years in federal prison, the U.S. Attorney's Office said.

Rodrigo was one of 20 people charged who worked together between 2010 and this year and got drugs from Chicago and Yonkers, New York. The drugs were then sold in the Cleveland area, prosecutor's said.

Federal agents seized 64 pounds of cocaine, 18 pounds of heroin and more than two pounds of of fentanyl. Authorities also recovered $350,000 and several firearms as during the six year investigation, officials said.

Ismael Acosta, 39, of Cleveland Heights, was sentenced to 15 years in prison; David Urrabazo Maldonado, 31, of Medera, California, was sentenced 10 years; Jonathan Stepp, 34, of Cleveland, sentenced to nine years in prison; and Jose Hernandez, 57, of Chicago, was sentenced to nearly five years in prison.

Federal authorities said those convicted have ties to the Sinaloa drug cartel.

Acosta received heroin from suppliers in Chicago, while Jose Hernandez supplied vehicles with secret trap compartments to hid and transport drugs. They used a house on West 130th Street in Cleveland to store and distribute the drugs and drug money, prosecutor said. A house on Maple Heights Boulevard in Maple Heights was also used in the drug operation, officials said.

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PANAMA CITY, Florida -- This is no half-baked story.

A deputy trying to take down a suspect armed with a hammer threw cans of Bush's extra-brown-sugar baked beans at the man, distracting him and eventually allowing officers to apprehend him, reports say.

The incident occurred last week.

According to the Panama City News Herald, Bay County Sheriff Tommy Ford, Deputy Chief Joel Heape and Maj. Jimmy Stanford were on their way to lunch when they received a call of a gunman inside Rainbow Food Store.

Initial reports said a shot had been fired and one person was wounded.

When the officers arrived, the suspect came outside the store holding only a hammer, then went back in the store, the News Herald reports.

The officers followed the suspect inside and the man tried to hit the officers with his hammer, reports say.

It was then that Stanford went to the cans of beans.

"My thoughts were I could take these and hit him with them and they're not going to kill him, a less lethal alternative," Stanford tells the News Herald. "And it should get his attention diverted away from the sheriff and the chief and they could apprehend him."

The suspect charged at Ford and Heape, who were able to tackle him and take him into custody.

The suspect, Justin Tyler Stanford, 25, is charged with assault with a deadly weapon on an officer and other offenses, the Associated Press reports.

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DALLAS, Texas -- A woman has been charged with murder after police say she shot and killed her husband because he was beating the family cat.

Mary Harrison, 47, is being held in the Dallas County Jail on a $100,000 bond, the Dallas Morning News reports.

The Fort Worth Star-Telegram reports the shooting occurred just before 7 a.m. Saturday.

Harrison met police at the door after the shooting was reported and said she and her husband, Dexter Harrison, 49, had been arguing. She said her husband also had been beating the family's cat.

According to the Star-Telegram, Mary Harrison admitted to shooting her husband, who died at Presbyterian Hospital.

CBS DFW reports that neighbors say two teenage sons live with the couple.

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PARMA, Ohio -- A famous Ukrainian proverb states, "A friendly word is better than a heavy cake." Odds are Sergiy Nadal, mayor of the Ukrainian city Ternopil, will be the recipient of both when he makes a special stateside visit this week to Parma.

"We have a full agenda," Parma Mayor Tim DeGeeter said. "He's one of the top progressive mayors in the Ukraine and wants to move his country forward. So we're excited about his visit here."

Visiting June 5-8, Nadal and Ternopil National Economic University's Andriy Krysovatyy will naturally be spending plenty of time in Parma's Ukrainian Village.

"We have a strong Ukrainian Village community, and it's an opportunity for him to visit churches and leaders here," DeGeeter said. "I'm know they're very excited about it.

"It's my understanding we have a lot of Ukrainian immigrants that have moved here to Northeast Ohio and Parma originally from this area of the Ukraine."

The itinerary includes visits to Rudy's Streudel, Parma Rib N Rock, the Watershed Stewardship Center and Kent State University. There's also a roundtable scheduled with Ukrainian-American community leaders.

"We'll sign a memorandum of intent to establish a partner city relationship," DeGeeter said. "Also, he's interested in our planning process and economic development. Overall, it's showcasing Parma.

"A number of other cities of our size and smaller have these sister city relationships. It's good will to try to foster better international relations, possible economic development opportunities and an exchange of ideas and best practices."

This isn't the first time Parma has been visited by Ukrainian officials. DeGeeter said the Ukrainian ambassador to the United States previously toured the city's Ukrainian Village.

Considering Nadal's visit to Parma, does that mean DeGeeter will return the favor anytime soon?

"Nothing has been scheduled yet," DeGeeter said. "If I would go to the Ukraine, we would not use city dollars. We'd fund it elsewhere."
PARMA, Ohio -- The Traveling Vietnam Wall will make its first visit to Parma June 28 through July 1 at Cuyahoga Community College's Western Campus. The touring exhibit is presented by the American Veterans Traveling Tribute.

"I'm proud the city is involved in this," Mayor Tim DeGeeter said. "There's a great schedule of events. It's going to be a very exciting time for our city and surrounding communities.

"It's just a great opportunity to recognize those veterans and families, and to have them come out and look for a loved one, family member or friend whose name is engraved on the wall," he said.

Along with an expected 1,000 Rolling Thunder motorcycle riders, a University Hospitals helicopter will lead the Traveling Wall escort, beginning northbound on Interstate 71, exiting at Bagley Road and proceeding to the Tri-C Western Campus, where an American flag hoisted in the air by Parma and Parma Heights fire department fire trucks will await.

An Honor Guard will be present, with residents encouraged to take part in a Pledge of Allegiance. The official opening ceremony is set for 3 p.m. June 28. The Wall is open 24 hours a day.

Parma Treasurer Tom Mastroianni was part of the team responsible for bringing the Traveling Vietnam Wall to Parma.

"Commander Bill Schiffer from the American Legion Post 703 approached me to assist with bringing the Traveling Vietnam Wall to Parma," Mastrioni said.

"I feel it's important for all of us to honor those that have given the ultimate sacrifice to our country, and certainly the Vietnam War veterans killed in action deserve our respect," Mastroianni said.

The entire event is sponsored by American Legion Post 703. Commander Schiffer said planning began late last year.

"Hopefully, the various surrounding communities will attend this prestigious memorial and pay tribute to the 58,318 veterans who paid the ultimate sacrifice dying for our country, as well as protecting and preserving freedom and liberty during this very unpopular war," said Vietnam vet Schiffer.

The arrival of the Traveling Vietnam Wall to Parma falls right in line with the city's recent tributes to veterans, including those from Parma Heights and Seven Hills.

"As mayor, I participate in two Memorial Day services where I give remarks," DeGeeter said. "I'm very honored to do that. Also, last year the city honored Korean War veterans. Two years ago, we recognized World War II veterans.

"That was one of the most honored things I've been a part of as mayor, to pay tribute to the Greatest Generation. We named over 35 World War II veterans as Citizen of the Month."

The mayor said the city teaming up with American Legion Post 703 epitomizes the spirit of Parma's motto, "Progress Through Partnerships."

"It's going to be a very exciting time for our communities, surrounding communities, the sponsors that have put this together and the volunteers working to do this," DeGeeter said. "I think it'll be meaningful."
ROCKY RIVER, Ohio -- Dozens of people attended the May 29 City Council meeting to hear the council's final vote on a contentious zoning issue on Lake Road.

Council passed the rezoning in a close vote -- 4-3 -- allowing a change from R1 single family to R3 and R4 multi-family zoning for the property. Voting in favor of the rezoning were John Shepard, Michael O'Donnell, Christopher Klym and James Moran. Voting against the rezoning were Thomas Hunt, David Furry and Brian Sindelar.

The project will create luxury, eco-friendly, single-floor living for empty nesters and young professionals, according to the developer. It is contiguous to a neighborhood of single-family homes.

All seven council members made statements about the issue before the vote was taken. Those in favor noted that although the plan isn't perfect, it is a positive for the city. They also noted that the Planning Commission favored the project all along, and that its input should be respected. They also said the project is compatible with the city's master plan.

The council members who opposed the rezoning said they don't believe the project is compatible with the master plan, and that there is no way to hold the developer's "feet to the fire" regarding the development code rules for building the project. They also said traffic, as well as the environment, will be adversely affected.

John Carney, part of the development team from Brickhaus Partners, commented prior to the meeting that the development will be a great addition to Rocky River and that it will increase property values.

After the meeting, Carney noted: "This project is wonderful for the city. ... We have tried to reach out to (those opposed), but we are in the development business."

He added, "We are going to keep our word" in reference to the concerns of those opposed to the project, as well as the forthcoming development agreement for the actual construction.

Malcolm and Mary Wood, who live immediately next to the parcel of land where the project will be built, are two of a group of residents who have consistently opposed the project. They commented after the meeting was over.

Mary said: "My big worry now is that the developer will try to get variances because, at one time, the Planning Commission said they would work with them to get what they wanted. To us, that signified that if something doesn't work to their advantage, they will get a variance and be allowed to do something they shouldn't be allowed to do, especially if they can't meet the fire code."

Malcolm said, "In our opinion, the councilmen misinterpreted what the (master) plan says."

He said there is incompatibility with the more modern, flat-roofed style of the proposed building, as it does not conform to nearby homes that have gabled roofs. He also noted, "They were ignoring the Ohio fire code."

The Woods said they hope to participate as the process continues through the building phase. "We hope it is not in private meetings behind closed doors," said Malcolm.

From another perspective, Rocky River resident Jen Davis said she is very happy the rezoning passed because of its anticipated impact on the school system.

"I was the co-chair of the Rocky River school levies, and the fact that this (project) will bring $700,000 a year to the city and the schools is amazing," she said.

Mayor Pam Bobst did not return a call for comment on the passage of the rezoning.

Correction: It was incorrectly reported that Michael O'Donnell voted NAY and Thomas Hunt voted YAY. This story has been updated to show O'Donnell voted YAY and Hunt voted NAY.
Another suspect sent to custody

The Morang District Court on Sunday remanded Tsering Wangel Ghale, a suspect in the 33kg gold smuggling case and the subsequent murder of alleged carrier Sanam Shakya, in judicial custody.
Defence minister-led panel to steer project

The government has decided to form a monitoring committee led by Deputy Prime Minister and Defence Minister Ishwar Pokhrel for spearheading construction of the Kathmandu-Tarai Expressway.
A man stands before the city skyline in Hong Kong on May 4, 2017.

Hong Kong has long dreamed of combining its financial and trade punch with research muscle to develop high-tech ideas that spur jobs and growth.

In reality, the global trade emporium has mostly watched as the nearby mainland Chinese city of Shenzhen soared ahead, hosting tech giants Huawei, Tencent and ZTE.

Panic bells have been ringing as experts warn Hong Kong must shed an outdated and largely hands-off attitude toward innovation and technology or fall further behind in the 21st century.

"Innovate or die," was the stark message delivered in a study released May 14 by the Hong Kong Academy of Engineering Sciences, the Chinese Academy of Engineering and the Institute for Public Policy at the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology.

"There is no time to lose," the report said, stressing that Hong Kong is destined to be "left behind" without innovation.

Some see hope for Hong Kong to realize its tech ambitions in an ambitious Chinese government initiative that envisions the southern region centered on Guangzhou, Shenzhen and Hong Kong as a potential rival to California's Silicon Valley.

The proposed Greater Bay Area includes a total of 11 Chinese cities  including gambling center Macau  with a population close to 70 million people.

William Ma, co-chief investment officer at Noah Holdings, said Hong Kong needs to use the Greater Bay Area project to get closer to Shenzhen, which he said is destined to grow as big as Beijing and Shanghai.

Shenzhen is "more entrepreneurial" and focused on "new growth high-tech" companies and industry, he told CNBC.

The joint academic report, based on a year-long study, put it more bluntly: "Shenzhen has surpassed Hong Kong as the most competitive city in China," it said.
The ambassador added that "a lot of conservatives" in Europe had reached out to him about how they felt there was a "resurgence going on," Breitbart said.

"I absolutely want to empower other conservatives throughout Europe, other leaders. I think there is a groundswell of conservative policies that are taking hold because of the failed policies of the left," Grenell told the conservative news site.

U.S. Ambassador to Germany Richard Grenell said he wanted to "empower" conservatives in Europe, right-wing media platform Breitbart News reported .

The comments from Grenell, a former spokesman for the U.S. at the United Nations during the Bush administration, have drawn some criticism over his apparent line-crossing when it comes to diplomatic norms.

"When I raised concerns to Grenell about politicizing this post, he personally assured me that once he became Ambassador he would stay out of politics. This interview is awful - Ambassadors aren't supposed to "empower" any political party overseas," Chris Murphy, a Democratic U.S. Senator for the state of Connecticut, said in a tweet.

Chris Murphy tweet: "When I raised concerns to Grenell about politicizing this post, he personally assured me that once he became Ambassador he would stay out of politics. This interview is awful - Ambassadors aren't supposed to "empower" any political party overseas."

The U.S. State Department and Germany's embassy in Washington, D.C., did not reply to emailed requests for comment sent outside of regular working hours.

Grenell's comments also came at a time when ties between the U.S. and Germany, as well as other members of the European Union, have become increasingly fraught. German Chancellor Angela Merkel, who former president Barack Obama once referred to as his "closest ally," has had a rocky relationship with U.S. President Donald Trump.

Some took the ambassador's comments as an affront to Merkel's government: She leads a center-right party that has been on the defensive against a growing far-right movement.

Tensions between the U.S. and the European Union have also run high, most recently after Trump's administration decided to apply tariffs on steel and aluminum imports on the European Union.
All of your life you've been told to keep your Social Security number secret and safe. However, it's often requested during everyday moments, such as when you visit the doctor, open a bank account or start a new job. Have you ever considered how safe it is when you share your Social Security number?

This can be problematic, especially since data breaches are commonplace. It seems like one is always in the news these days. While the government hasn't indicated the total number of Social Security numbers subject to theft or fraud, a 2015 NPR interview that included data from Verizon, reveals that 60 percent to 80 percent of numbers already have been accessed by hackers.

These stats are even more frightening when you consider that the government doesn't like to replace numbers. In 2014 it issued fewer than 250 new Social Security numbers due to misuse. Given that incidents of fraud continue to rise and how devastating the Equifax breach was, it may not be realistic to rely on the government to fix the problem.

More from Straight Talk:

Four ways retirees botch Social Security

How money can, in fact, buy happiness

Debts to watch as Fed raises rates

It's crucial to recognize the dangers and do what you can to protect yourself. While we can't do much against substantial data breaches, there are a few recommended steps you can take to do your part in securing your Social Security info.

1. Don't give out your number. It sounds simple, but there are many occasions you may be asked for your Social Security info. The problem is that you are rarely obligated to comply. Except for your job, financial institutions, the Internal Revenue Service and other government programs, no one should require you to give it out.

You may have to really push back, but you can even tell your health-care provider "no" if you wish. Considering that many breaches have involved medical records, it's not a bad idea to shut them down when they ask.

2. Run your credit report annually. While you can't always tell if someone has your Social Security number, many of the red flags can be spotted on your free annual credit report from all three major companies. If someone has inquired about your credit using your number and without your permission, this will show.

You can also quickly check for suspicious new lines of credit. You are entitled to a free credit report each year from Equifax, Experian and Transunion, although you can pay for more frequent credit monitoring and identity protection from companies such as Credit Karma or LifeLock.
When Jason Payne set out to find his girlfriend the perfect engagement ring, he was already facing more pressure than most men looking to take the plunge. His girlfriend had ethical concerns and didn't want to risk sporting a "blood diamond," one mined in a conflict-riddled region of Africa where the sale of the stone helps fuel violence. So instead, Payne proposed with a sapphire ring and felt good about his decision. Then he read about something that promised to turn the diamond industry upside down  laboratories were successfully growing diamonds at equivalent quality to mined diamonds without the stigma, and they were being sold at a fraction of the price.

Jason Payne and Lindsay Reinsmith launched Ada Diamonds together after struggling to find a lab-grown diamond engagement ring.

When his then-fiance, Lindsay Reinsmith, expressed an interest in adding the gemstones to the ring he picked out, the couple realized a gap in the market when they struggled to find anyone willing to work with them. "People that actually grew laboratory-grown diamonds were not interested in selling them loose to a consumer," and none of the custom jewelers in San Francisco, where the couple lived, would work with laboratory grown diamonds, Payne tells CNBC Make It. "So we founded Ada Diamonds to fix that problem  to create the company that we wish existed when we were going through our own personal journey to build a custom ring."

The couple added a pair of .40 carat lab-grown diamonds to their original sapphire ring after getting engaged. Though they were looking for larger diamonds, the technology had not yet improved to support such sizes. Jason Payne |

With less than $1 million raised from friends and family, the couple launched Ada Diamonds in 2015 to join the new, blossoming lab-grown diamond industry. Already in the industry was the likes of Diamond Foundry, backed by Leonardo DiCaprio (who starred in the 2006 film "Blood Diamond," which brought attention to the darker side of the diamond mining industry). Sourcing lab-grown diamonds from growers around the world  from Tel Aviv to San Francisco  Ada Diamonds works to create custom engagement rings, necklaces and other jewelry pieces for clients. Everything is crafted by hand in the U.S. and generally comes in at about a 30 percent discount to mined diamond equivalents, the company says. While lab-grown diamonds have recently gained in popularity  even the industry pioneers at DeBeers has announced it will sell them  the technology behind growing the gems has existed since 1953 when it was developed by General Electric. Then, the process was mostly used to produce cutting and polishing tools. As the technology improved, costs decreased and the idea of using diamonds grown in labs specifically for use in jewelry started steadily gaining traction over the last five years. Rather than waiting millions of years for the pressure of the earth to crystalize carbon into a diamond, the laboratories from which Ada Diamonds sources its gems can simulate the same intense pressure and temperatures with heat and hydraulic presses and have a finished 1-carat stone in as little as a week.

Large industrial presses like this one exert intense pressure over extended periods of time to create a diamond. Ada Diamonds |

"If you took the entire Eiffel Tower and you flipped it upside down and you put the point of the Eiffel Tower on top of that carbon, that's the pressure it takes to make a diamond," Payne explains. "They are the exact same crystal of carbon." Generally, the growing process is negligibly cheaper than mining the gems, according to Morgan Stanley estimates. But in order to entice customers, lab-grown diamonds are typically priced at about a 30 percent discount to an equivalent mined diamond with similar specifications at the retail level. But Reinsmith credits more than just a cheaper price for the growing popularity of lab-grown diamonds. Part of the reason she says Ada Diamond's sales have doubled for the past two years is because of changing consumer habits.

Ada Diamonds creates bespoke fine jewelry with lab-grown diamonds. The company customizes intricate designs and more simple designs like this signature .95 carat solitaire. Ada Diamonds |

"These are the same consumers that demanded organic food  they care where everything comes from," she says. "On top of that they are really early adopters of technology and they appreciate sustainability." What is, perhaps, most impressive is the quality of the gems themselves. Independent gemological societies like International Gemological Institute rate lab-grown diamonds much the same they would a mined diamond. Reports look mostly identical  with ratings for a diamond's clarity, color, carat size and cut  but include an indication if a diamond is lab-grown. "It's something that a layperson cannot differentiate or distinguish nor could a gemologist with standard gemologist tools," Payne says, admitting that laboratories can use specialized lighting equipment and microscopes "to detect that the crystal structure is too perfect to have come out of the chaos of the earth." How lab-grown diamonds actually compare CNBC Make It took a $4,000 ring Ada Diamonds provided, featuring 18-karat white gold and a .95-carat lab-grown stone, to New York's famed diamond district. The same ring with a mined diamond would typically cost just over $5,000, according to diamond-pricing company Rapaport.

A lab-grown diamond ring sits on a tray after the diamond was set in an 18-karat gold setting. CNBC | Zack Guzman

Without being provided context that the diamond was in fact lab-grown, one jeweler offered $3,800 and another $3,000 after inspecting it under magnification. While most jewelers matched the independent ratings for the diamond's clarity and color, not a single one was able to identify it as lab-grown. Once that fact was revealed, every offer to buy the ring was immediately revoked. "So why did you have to bulls--- me?" one jeweler asks. Ironically, before we revealed it was a lab-grown stone, the jeweler jockeying to buy the ring for $3,800 even offered to replace the center stone in the ring we put in front of him with "a lab-grown diamond." Dennis Dalton, a New York jeweler who says he's sold millions of dollars worth of diamonds over his 40-plus years in the industry, hasn't encountered any customers asking for lab-grown engagement rings. Offering both mined diamonds and lab-grown diamonds might raise suspicions in customers' minds as to which they are actually getting, he says. For that reason, Dalton has no plans to ever offer anything like the ring we brought in.

Dennis Dalton has run his own jewelry business for decades. He says there are smarter ways to save on price than buying lab-grown diamonds. CNBC | Richard Washington

"The question is, it's a lab-grown diamond for $4,000. Why not use moissanite or cubic zirconia?" he asks, comparing lab-grown diamonds to lesser-quality synthetic gems that have been used as diamond substitutes. "If you're only getting [a] 20, 30 percent price difference, just pick the right [mined] diamond." But in order to truly understand if it's worth buying a lab-grown diamond, it's helpful to first appreciate what spawned the tradition of buying diamond engagement rings in the first place. Are lab-grown diamonds worth buying? As investigative journalist Jay Epstein revealed in a 1982 story, the practice in America began in the 1930s after De Beers, then a monopolistic diamond company, launched a marketing campaign to stir up demand after discovering a supply-shattering cache of unmined diamonds in South Africa. Though there was a tradition of giving diamond rings going back centuries with European royalty, according to a De Beers spokesperson, in the U.S. at the time, a diamond ring was not a necessity, nor was it widely considered to be part of the engagement process. Yet after years of messaging to Americans, including the famous slogan "A Diamond is Forever," that all changed, wrote Epstein. By 1979, De Beers wholesale diamond sales had increased to $2.1 billion (compared to just $23 million in 1939), thanks in large part to engagement ring sales, Epstein reported. A 1951 memo from N. W. Ayer, the marketing agency behind the campaign, explained, "for a number of years we have found evidence that the diamond engagement ring tradition is consistently growing stronger. Jewelers now tell us 'a girl is not engaged unless she has a diamond engagement ring.'" But it wasn't just the idea of buying a diamond as a symbol of everlasting love that De Beers was selling. Eventually it began to tell the public exactly how to buy a diamond. In the 1980s, a new series of ads established a benchmark that people still believe today as the acceptable amount a man should spend on a ring by asking, "Isn't two months' salary a small price to pay for something that lasts forever?" According to a De Beers spokesperson, the amount was based on consumer research at the time.

The company also succeeded in propagating exactly what elements determined a diamond's worth. For a long time, a large emphasis had been placed on a diamond's size, until De Beers had a reason to change the notion that bigger was always better. When the company's stranglehold on supply was threatened by a 1950s discovery by the Soviets of smaller diamonds in Siberia, De Beers partnered with its competition to avoid competing on price and promised to help market them. Ads explaining "how to buy a diamond" stressed the "importance of quality, color and cut," Epstein wrote, and drowned out a previous emphasis on carat size. According to a De Beers spokesperson, the practice of discerning how perfect a gemstone is by looking at its internal clarity was in place before the introduction of the the "four C's" (cut, clarity, color and carat size), as they are known, but the structure offered a more precise way of assessing value. The average size of diamonds sold fell from one carat in 1939 to about .28 of a carat in 1976, nearly mirroring the exact carat weight of the Siberian diamonds De Beers had been distributing, according to Epstein. In the diamond trade, the four C's remain the key characteristics people use to determine a diamond's worth.

A 1959 advertisement from De Beers emphasizes "color, clarity, cut" and stresses that "purity is significant, no matter what the size." De Beers Advertisement, 1959


Trump has complained bitterly about stonewalling by Democrats, who withheld support early on for many of the president's Cabinet-level nominees. Half of Trump's Cabinet picks were approved by slim majorities. Education Secretary Betsy Devos, for example, required a tie-breaking vote from Vice President Mike Pence.



But Democrats in Congress say they can't stall nominations that haven't been made.



As of Monday, the White House had yet to put forward the names of candidates for 204 of the 665 key positions that require Senate confirmation, according to the Partnership for Public Service, a nonpartisan group that advises incoming administrations.



The longest list of empty desks waiting to be filled is at the State Department, where more than 40 top jobs are vacant. Dozens of ambassadors appointed by the Obama administration were fired by Trump on Inauguration Day and have yet to be replaced.

The unfilled jobs also include key positions throughout the executive branch charged with rooting out waste, fraud and abuse. Despite Trump's campaign vows to "drain the swamp," his administration has been slow to hire agency watchdogs, known as inspectors general, tasked with reviewing the way the government conducts its business and spends taxpayers' money.
Sonnenfeld, who said he knows Schultz well, thinks that future holds a role in public service  possibly as president. He believes Schultz has a "genuine interest."

The executive chairman of Starbucks announced Monday he is stepping down from the role effective June 26. In a memo to employees, Schultz said, "I'll be thinking about a range of options for myself, from philanthropy to public service, but I'm a long way from knowing what the future holds."

Schultz is "young, healthy and has such passion," Sonnenfeld said Monday on "Closing Bell."

"Howard has never been a member of the business roundtable. He's not a standard part of corporate America. He's a maverick," he added. "But he's always engaged in social issues. He's not going to stop now. He's now going to be Prometheus unbound. He's going to go soaring on this."

Schultz, who is seen as the architect of the modern Starbucks, told Andrew Ross Sorkin on Monday he has been deeply concerned about the nation  the growing division at home and the U.S.' standing in the world.

"One of the things I want to do in my next chapter is to figure out if there is a role I can play in giving back," he told the paper. "I'm not exactly sure what that means yet."

When asked if he was considering a run for president, he said, "I intend to think about a range of options, and that could include public service. But I'm a long way from making any decisions about the future."

Sonnenfeld, a CNBC contributor, said if Schultz "doesn't engage in something big, there is an awkwardness."

That's because if something goes wrong with current Starbucks management, people will run back to Schultz "like he's a potential government in exile."

"When they go outside if they don't engage in something else they wind up inadvertently becoming a magnet for disaffection of different constituents," he added.

When Schultz steps down he will become the chairman emeritus of Starbucks. He served as the company's chief executive from 1987 to 2000, stepping down to focus on the company's global strategy. He returned to the head position in 2008 in an effort to revitalize the brand and stepped down, once again, in 2017.

 CNBC's Sarah Whitten contributed to this report.
If the U.S. wants China to play fair on trade, pushing away like-minded allies is not the way to make it happen, a leader of the American business community in China said Monday. "Maybe it's the worst tactic, as far as we can see here in China," William Zarit, chairman of the American Chamber of Commerce in China, told CNBC's "Street Signs Europe," referring to President Donald Trump's imposition of metals tariffs on close trading partners last week. The Trump administration on Thursday announced sweeping steel and aluminum tariffs on Canada, Mexico and the European Union (EU) under a ruling called Section 232 that cites national security concerns. All three were exempt for a month following Trump's initial announcement of the measures in early spring, and their leaders have issued scathing criticisms and threats of retaliation in response. "We see the U.S. needs to work with like-minded countries whose economies are based on competition and market forces," Zarit said. "And so this tactic, we here don't see this tactic makes a lot of sense because we do need to work with our allies to address the differences of our economic structures." Known as AmCham for short, the non-profit and non-governmental organization represents more than 3,300 individuals from 900 companies operating across China.

Pressuring China

U.S. officials are in negotiations with their Chinese counterparts to stave off a potential trade war, as the Trump administration pushes for Beijing to reduce the trade deficit between the two countries and adopt fairer trade practices. China exports far more of its goods to the U.S. than America exports to China, resulting in Beijing's record-high trade surplus of $375.2 billion in 2017. Talks were said to be making some progress when Trump announced last week that Washington would impose tariffs on $50 billion worth of hi-tech Chinese products, leading officials in Beijing to threaten to drop any potential deals if the tariffs went ahead.

Chinese commercial practices are a genuine concern for foreign companies there, but American investors want a way forward that includes allies, rather than turn them away with trade restrictions, said Jake Parker, vice president of China operations at the U.S.-China Business Council. "We'd like to see the administration work with other multilateral allies to bring pressure to bear against China for its discriminatory policies," Parker told CNBC, saying that there was a broad consensus in the international community that U.S. and foreign industry in China needed to be better protected. "However, when we impose steel tariffs and potentially automotive tariffs on these countries, it makes it less likely for them to want to collaborate with U.S., even if they agree with this consensus on some of the challenges that companies face in the China market," he said.

China's highly restrictive market

Foreign investors have long lamented China's restrictive investment laws, which shield and subsidize local enterprises from competition and lack adequate protection for companies' intellectual property rights. Foreign investment laws require joint ventures of at least 50 percent Chinese ownership in a range of sectors from manufacturing and automotives to securities and technology  a requirement that does not exist in European and American markets.

Kay | E+ | Getty Images

Beijing also mandates forced technology transfers, U.S. investors say, whereby international businesses are forced to share their critical technology with Chinese joint venture partners. Beijing has in recent months promised to lift some of the ownership restrictions in certain sectors and halt the forced tech transfers. Among G20 countries, China remains the most restrictive in terms of openness to direct investment. And numbers reveal the extent of the imbalance: a joint report by think tanks Rhodium and the Mercator Institute for China Studies found that in 2016, China made 35.1 billion worth of acquisitions in the EU, while EU acquisitions in China for the same year totaled a mere 7.7 billion.

Investment concerns trump the trade deficit
F1Soft acquires online shopping portal BhatBhateniOnline.com

BhatBhateniOnline.com, one of Nepals popular online shopping portal, has been acquired by F1Soft International, the owners of eSewa  Nepals first and leading online payment platform.
Apple co-founder Steve Wozniak famously said the iPhone X would be the first model of the device he would not get on day one. In December, Apple CEO Tim Cook sent "The Woz"  as he is often called  an iPhone X.

And the Woz's verdict? "Plus and minus," he told CNBC in an interview on Monday.

When he got the device he criticized the Face ID function, which lets you unlock the phone with your face, saying that he prefers using a fingerprint.

And he also had an issue with the home button that is located on the side of the device. It has a number of functions, such as activating Apple's voice assistant Siri or to wake the handset up. A few months on, The Woz is still not impressed by the home button.

"The greatest thing about the iPhone X for me is a little more screen space that's in my pocket. As far as the face ID, it really hasn't worked as well for me as Touch ID and I really like the ones where you touch on the back. It hasn't been like, 'Oh my gosh, it's the greatest thing in the world,'" Wozniak said.

"The worst thing about it is the combination power and home key button which has about eight different functions in terms of when you push it and how you push it and how long you push it. It's kind of confusing... and that's not the nature of Apple products."

Wozniak, who co-founded Apple with Steve Jobs in 1976, spoke to CNBC at an event at the Money 20/20 conference in Amsterdam, Netherlands, hosted by Feedzai.

Apple's annual developers conference also kicks off Monday. Several rumors have suggested that the company could unveil a refreshed version of its lower-priced iPhone SE. This could help it continue to grow iPhone sales with people who don't want to fork out for the $999 iPhone X, but also in emerging markets such as India.

"I'm actually for the lower cost models," Wozniak said. "At one point, we actually introduced two iPhones  the iPhone 5C and the iPhone 5S. The S had the fingerprint detection, the C did not. It was $100 cheaper, a smaller, little classic-y looking phone.

"I loved that phone. I loved the design of it. I think it was one of the best designs Apple ever did for how it looked and felt and did the main things for a good price. It was a good trade-off. So I think that is an appropriate place for Apple to be."
Apple is introducing more controls to allow Safari users to control who gets their personal information online, including limiting data tracking across websites, the company announced on Monday at Apple's annual conference for software developers, WWDC.

The move helps Apple respond to increasing user concerns about privacy online, but could make it harder for websites and advertisers to target ads efficiently.

One advertising agency executive told CNBC Apple's new limits on tracking put Facebook and Google in a "precarious place" because it would block their ability to follow users across the web as well as attribute how many individual users were clicking on links or what kinds of people were looking at ads.

In addition to not having attribution info, the other big impact will the limits on the data ad providers get from multiple sources in order to target advertising, said Forrester vice president and principal analyst Thomas Husson. Apple's decision to introduce more privacy controls differentiates them from other tech companies like Facebook and Google and could make customers more loyal, he said.

"While in their interest, such an approach is perfectly aligned with Apple's DNA and business model," Husson said. "Apple is definitely ahead when it comes to using privacy as a competitive advantage."

One of the main updates asks users to opt-in to allow websites to track their browsing behavior on Safari, including sites with a "share" button or comments section provided by companies like Facebook or Google.

To demo the new feature, Federighi showed how Safari showed a pop up notice asking a user to allow Facebook to have access to cookie and website data before they were allowed to comment on a website. Though the website was not run by Facebook, its comments section allowed people to use Facebook Login to post their thoughts.

Users previously had to opt-out if they did not want to be tracked like this in most cases. In the past, ad providers could use cookies on websites to follow browsing history on any website they served advertising on. It was only 24 hours after a user visited a site that tracking was limited to the specific site they visited. With this update, third parties are automatically blocked.

"Now that it applies immediately, frequently visited sites  and not just Facebook  should be impacted," Forrester's Husson said.

Apple will also limit "fingerprinting," or the ability for companies to pinpoint precisely which device is visiting a website. That will make it "dramatically more difficult" for data companies to collect user information, Federighi explained, but could also make it harder for websites advertisers to measure how many people saw a particular piece of content.

Other protections include adding higher level protections against outside companies accessing information on a user's contacts, photos, calendars and reminders.

"There can be a lot of sensitive data on your devices, and we think you should be in control of who sees it," Apple's senior vice president of software engineering Craig Federighi said.

"We believe your private data should remain private," Federighi said.

The changes will have the most dramatic effect on mobile usage and tracking. Safari is the second most popular web browser with about a quarter of U.S. internet users using the browser on mobile and desktop according to the federal government's Digital Analytics Program. It is also the default web browser on Apple's massively popular iPhone. The company sold 52 million iPhones in the quarter ended March 31.

Apple found itself embroiled in privacy issues after a New York Times report alleged Facebook shared its user data with Apple and other device makers without explicit consent. Facebook made deals with these companies to allow them access to user account information and activities. In exchange, the device makers included its Messenger, "like" buttons and other Facebook features in their products.

While Facebook blocked developers from accessing friends' user information in 2015, it did not stop hardware companies from receiving the information. Facebook defended the decision, saying the contracts with device makers only gave limited use of user information for different versions "the Facebook experience" as opposed to third-party applications.
Merck & Co. Keytruda cancer treatment drug. Source: Merck & Co.

Every year in Chicago, tens of thousands of people with a stake in cancer research gather in the nation's largest convention center to learn about the latest developments in treating the disease. The updates at the American Society of Clinical Oncology conference can be practice-changing for doctors, life-changing for patients, and  for investors  market-moving. Many of the most stock-moving results were released over the weekend. Here are five takeaways.

Merck retains lead in lung cancer

"#ASCO18 is about lung cancer treatment," Hal Burstein of the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, wrote on Twitter on Saturday. Burstein tweet And the winning drug for treating lung cancer, the leading cause of cancer-related deaths and the biggest market for cancer drugs, continues to be Merck's immunotherapy Keytruda. In results presented over the weekend, Merck's drug was shown to be more effective as an initial treatment for patients with advanced nonsmall cell lung cancer, the most common form of the deadly disease, than chemotherapy. A study in patients whose cancer expressed a biomarker known as PD-L1 showed that those treated first with Keytruda lived a median four to eight months longer than those on chemotherapy. What's more, they experienced fewer onerous side effects. "I view this as a double win for patients," John Heymach, an ASCO expert with the MD Anderson Cancer Center, said in a media briefing Sunday. "Not only are patients living longer ... but they're also receiving a treatment that has substantially less toxicity." Another Keytruda study, in squamous nonsmall cell lung cancer  which accounts for 25 to 30 percent of cases  "should establish the Keytruda/chemo combo as the new standard of care," Jefferies analyst Ian Hilliker said in a Sunday research note. Merck's drug competes with others, such as by Bristol-Myers Squibb and Roche. Data on Roche's drug Tecentriq, used to treat advanced squamous nonsmall cell lung cancer, was also presented in a media briefing over the weekend. It showed that adding Tecentriq to chemotherapy reduced patients' risk of death, or their disease worsening, by 29 percent versus chemotherapy alone. Bristol's chief scientific officer, Thomas Lynch, recently referred to the Merck and Bristol medicines as Coke and Pepsi: More similar than different when it comes to treating lung cancer. After the results from this weekend? "All hail the king," wrote investor Brad Loncar on Twitter, referring to Merck.

Loxo does it again

Young biotech Loxo Oncology was the belle of ASCO last year with data on its targeted medicine larotrectinib, which showed dramatic benefit for patients with rare cancers. That drug is now before the FDA for review. This year, the company is back with the same strategy on another target, called RET fusions, which Loxo says are found in 2 percent of nonsmall cell lung cancer, and 10 to 20 percent of papillary and other thyroid cancers. In a study of 82 patients, 77 percent of patients with RET-fusion cancers showed a response  meaning their tumors shrank  after taking Loxo's drug LOXO-292. In patients with RET-mutated medullary thyroid cancer, the response rate was 45 percent. Six weeks ago, Loxo competitor Blueprint Medicines reported results for its drug BLU-667 on the same target. In nonsmall-cell lung cancer, the response rate was 50 percent; in medullary thyroid cancer, it was 40 percent.

High expectations for Bluebird and Celgene

Nick Leschly, CEO of Bluebird Bio in Cambridge. Wendy Maeda | The Boston Globe | Getty Images

Some of the first data most anticipated by Wall Street that emerged from ASCO were presented Friday evening on Celgene and Bluebird Bio's personalized immunotherapy for multiple myeloma. The treatment is a CAR-T  for chimeric antigen receptor T-cell therapy. It involves removing a patient's T-cells, genetically modifying them to identify a target on cancer cells (in this case, one called BCMA), and then giving them back to the patient. Expectations were high running into the conference: Evercore ISI pegged them at an extension of patients' time without their cancer progressing (a measure known as PFS, for progression-free survival) of 12 to 15 months. The data came in with a PFS of 11.8 months. Though some investors may be disappointed with the data, Bluebird CEO Nick Leschly expressed excitement, noting in an interview Saturday that patients in the trial had already tried a median of seven other therapies that had stopped working for them. Analysts were also supportive of the data. "We think data looks quite good, especially in very sick population, and supports blockbuster potential for Celgene," Jefferies analyst Michael Yee wrote in a research note. Bluebird and Celgene are partners.

Nektar and Bristol advance partnered drug, after head-scratching data

Nektar signed a $1.85 billion deal with Bristol in February to partner on its drug NKTR-214, which the companies hope will improve the efficacy of Bristol's immunotherapy drug Opdivo. However, results of a study of those drugs in combination reported Saturday were confusing. That's because they include patients in different stages of the trial: For example, in melanoma, 11 of 13 patients in the first stage of the trial responded to the combination therapy. But in stage 2, which had a shorter follow-up time, just 14 of 28 did. Investors will have questions about why response rates declined from stage 1 to stage 2, but Bristol-Myers' head of oncology development, Dr. Fouad Namouni, called the results "encouraging." The companies are now planning to move the combination into a larger, confirmatory trial with hopes the results will support regulatory approval.

This should spare a lot more folks from chemo that won't really have much benefit. Doug Schenkel. Cowen analyst

A win for personalized medicine
Benedict Cumberbatch is best known for playing a hero in the BBC series "Sherlock" and the Marvel movie "Doctor Strange" but, while taking an Uber in London recently, he stopped a crime in real life: He jumped out of the car to help a young delivery man being mugged by four other men.

"He stood there instructing them in the street, shouting, 'Leave him alone'. It was only then I recognized Benedict," Uber driver Manuel Dias, 53, tells British newspaper The Sun. "The cyclist was lucky, Benedict's a superhero."

Cumberbatch, 41, and his wife Sophie Hunter were reportedly taking an Uber to a club, Dias says, when the actor spotted a food delivery cyclist being pushed around and Cumberbatch "sprinted into the fray" to pull the men away from the bloodied cyclist.

"Then it all got a bit surreal. Here was Sherlock Holmes fighting off four attackers just round the corner from Baker Street," Dias says.
Even if he was the commander in chief today, former President Bill Clinton said he would make the same decision not to resign in the wake of his infamous sex scandal with then-White House intern, Monica Lewinsky.

"I think I did the right thing" by holding on to the presidency after being impeached by the House of Representatives, Clinton said in an NBC News interview that aired Monday on the "Today" show. "I defended the constitution."

Clinton's affair with Lewinsky was folded into the Whitewater investigation in January 1998 by special prosecutor Kenneth Starr. By December of that year, Clinton had been impeached by the Republican-led House of Representatives. He was acquitted by the Senate, which was also controlled by Republicans, in early 1999.

While the #MeToo movement has raised awareness about sexual misconduct, Clinton said that the facts in his case would be the same regardless of the time period.

"People would be using the facts instead of the imagined facts. If the facts were the same today, I wouldn't" resign, said the former president, who served two full terms between 1993 and 2001.

Clinton said in the interview that the #MeToo phenomenon is "long overdue," though he holds some reservations.

"I still have some questions about some of the decisions which have been made," Clinton said.

He also said he thinks his presidential scandal has been revived in part because of the allegations against President Donald Trump, who has been accused of sexual misconduct by multiple women.

"A lot of the facts have been conveniently omitted to make the story work. I think partly because they're frustrated that they [have] all these serious allegations against the current occupant of the Oval Office, and his voters don't seem to care," Clinton said.

As the list of powerful men accused of sexual misconduct grew over the last year, some Democrats offered critical remarks about Clinton  notably Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand, D-N.Y., who said in November that he should have resigned over the affair.

Asked if he had apologized to Lewinsky, Clinton said "I have not talked to her" after noting that he had apologized "to everybody in the world" at the time.
A competitive race in New Jersey, which has not elected a GOP senator in decades, would have major implications for the partisan breakdown in the Senate.

The Republican candidate is criticizing Menendez for corruption allegations, and the senator is in turn slamming Celgene's cancer drug pricing practices.

Hugin has piled millions of his own dollars into his effort to win a Senate seat in the blue state.

Former Celgene CEO Bob Hugin is expected to win the New Jersey GOP Senate primary on Tuesday and take on Democratic Sen. Bob Menendez, who is dogged by corruption allegations.

Robert Hugin, former CEO of Celgene Corp. Olivia Michael | CNBC

New Jersey holds its primary elections Tuesday, but Republican Senate candidate Bob Hugin is already looking toward November. The former CEO of drugmaker Celgene has unleashed a flurry of television ads attacking incumbent Democratic Sen. Bob Menendez for corruption charges that ended in a mistrial last year. Hugin, 63, aims to make the blue-state Senate race largely a referendum on the two-term senator's conduct. The political newcomer has already piled $7.5 million of his own money into his campaign to blanket the airwaves with his message. As Hugin entered the Peppercorn diner in his hometown of Summit, New Jersey, last week, a waitress quickly exclaimed that she recognized him from the TV ads. His media campaign even followed him into the restaurant. A Hugin campaign ad questioning Menendez's moral fitness for office came on a TV there while the GOP candidate spoke to CNBC. Seeking to break through in a state friendly to Democrats, Hugin has tried to spread his message far and wide. In an interview, Hugin cast himself as a "different kind of Republican" who would promote bipartisan health-care policy and could differ with President Donald Trump on issues such as immigration. He says he ran partly on a commitment to give back to New Jersey, and is undaunted by the challenge of facing a Democratic incumbent in a blue state during a year in which Democratic voter turnout is expected to be strong. "We were originally morally outraged and offended, and if I didn't step in, who was going to step in to make sure that people in New Jersey had a choice? It's bad for democracy," Hugin said, arguing Menendez has a "character issue." "So this wasn't my life's dream to do this, but I just felt both an opportunity and a responsibility to ensure the people of New Jersey have a choice about the direction of the state and the country," he added. Both Hugin and Menendez face opponents in their Senate primaries Tuesday. The men are expected to win comfortably, however, and have already turned their attention to one another in what could become a nasty race. Already, Hugin and national GOP groups have relentlessly targeted Menendez for his ethics issues, while the senator's campaign has hit Hugin for Celgene's cancer drug price hikes while he led the company.

Ethics issues weigh on Menendez

U.S. Sen. Robert Menendez Getty Images

A competitive race in New Jersey, which has not elected a Republican to the Senate in more than three decades, would have major implications for control of the Senate and the agenda the chamber pursues next year. Democrats and independents who caucus with them are defending 26 Senate seats in November, most of those in states with a more Republican tilt than New Jersey. The GOP aims to keep or expand its 51 to 49 seat majority in the chamber. The New Jersey race as of now appears to favor Menendez, 64. Nonpartisan election analysis sites Cook Political Report and Sabato's Crystal Ball both rate the seat as "likely" Democratic, while another nonpartisan site, Inside Elections, considers it "solid" Democratic. Quinnipiac University and Monmouth University polls in March and April found advantages of 17 and 21 percentage points, respectively, for Menendez over Hugin. A separate Fairleigh Dickinson University survey taken last month raised eyebrows, though. It showed only a 4 percentage point edge for Menendez, with 46 percent of registered voters undecided. The Fairleigh Dickinson pollsters attributed the results largely to the allegations that Menendez accepted undisclosed gifts from wealthy Florida eye doctor Salomon Melgen in exchange for official favors. The senator emerged from his trial legally unscathed, but got bipartisan admonishment in April from the Senate Ethics Committee, which ordered him to pay back the gifts. Melgen was separately sentenced to 17 years in prison after getting convicted of defrauding Medicare of $73 million. Menendez's lawyers have disputed the ethics panel's findings and stressed that the Justice Department dropped charges against him. In responding to Hugin's criticism, Menendez's campaign highlighted the senator's focus on policy. "Senator Menendez is focused on the issues that matter most to our state, like making sure that every New Jerseyan has access to affordable, quality healthcare, preventing more senseless gun violence, and growing our economy in a way that creates more opportunity for everyone, not just the wealthy," Menendez campaign chairman Michael Soliman said in a statement. "This is what matters to people; they want to know how their lives are going to get better and that's what Senator Menendez is working to deliver."

Menendez slams Celgene drug prices

Soliman also slammed Hugin's record at Celgene, saying the GOP candidate "spent his career there fighting competition from generic manufacturers" to raise prices on the company's cancer drugs. As of December, Celgene had raised the price of cancer drug Revlimid by 88 percent over seven years, according to Bloomberg. Soliman noted that Trump's Food and Drug Administration highlighted Celgene as one of the companies hindering the possible production of cheaper generic drug alternatives. In previewing the list of companies released by the FDA last month, Health and Human Services Secretary Alex Azar said, "we know that certain brand-name manufacturers are abusing the system by blocking access to samples and hiding behind FDA's rules when they do it."

Hugin has taken pride in his nearly two-decade tenure at the Summit-based Celgene, which ended in February. He has run partly on a record of creating jobs in the state, which he called a "hard thing to do." When Hugin left the company this year, Celgene said it had 7,500 employees, up from 2,500 in 2010. The Republican candidate said Celgene has "created value" and "walked the walk" by putting nearly 40 percent of its revenue back into research and development of new products. He also downplayed Menendez's criticism because the senator's campaign has taken contributions from the pharmaceutical industry, including $2,500 from Celgene's political action committee last year. Asked whether he had any role in deciding whether the money went to Menendez, Hugin said he was "not aware" that he had attended a Celgene PAC meeting.

Hugin runs on NJ roots and bipartisan cooperation

Hugin has not only promoted his role in helping to grow a New Jersey-based company but also highlighted his roots in the state. The Republican candidate grew up in Union City, New Jersey, and says he became the first person in his family to attend college when he went to Princeton University. He later served seven years of active duty in the U.S. Marine Corps before working at J.P. Morgan and Celgene. His description of humble beginnings in New Jersey echoes Menendez, a son of Cuban immigrants who also grew up in Union City. At Celgene, Hugin accumulated the wealth he has loaned liberally to his campaign. Tax returns show he and his wife earned nearly $34 million in 2015 and 2016 combined, according to Politico. At the company, Hugin also gained experience he thinks will help him be a senator. He believes he can become an effective voice in Congress on health care, in particular. "I think it's an area where I can be a very positive force for ensuring that we have the kind of substantive dialogue on a bipartisan basis to deal with these issue. That's what the American people want," Hugin said.

Health care is not the only area where Hugin believes he can help to strike a balance between the major parties. He also highlighted immigration, where he echoed many centrist Republicans in Congress by calling for comprehensive immigration reform that includes a pathway to citizenship for young immigrants brought to the U.S. illegally as children. Menendez is part of a bipartisan group of senators seeking legal protections for so-called Dreamers without the tight restrictions on legal immigration supported by Trump. As of last year, New Jersey had the ninth-highest number of individuals protected from deportation by the Obama-era Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program among states, according to U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. The candidate could distance himself from Republican leaders on a few other issues, such as state and local tax deductions and abortion. He opposes the GOP's $10,000 cap on the deductions, which are popular in his state. He also identifies as pro-choice.

Hugin expects to spend more of his own money
Boeing is taking on aerospace giants United Technologies and Honeywell with a new joint venture that will build and service a critical component for all commercial airplanes.



The joint venture between Boeing and French engine manufacturer Safran will build auxiliary power units. APU engines are used primarily to start the main engines and power aircraft systems when planes are on the ground.



The APU market has long been dominated by Honeywell and United Technologies, which use the component as part of a suite of avionics and services sold to airlines and cargo operators. Boeing expects it can win some of that business by partnering with Safran.



"This strategic partnership will leverage Boeing's deep customer and airplane knowledge along with Safran's experience in designing and producing complex propulsion assemblies to deliver expanded, innovative services solutions to our customers," said Stan Deal, president and CEO of Boeing Global Services.



The move is the latest in Boeing's drive to grow its fledgling services business and comes one month after the company announced it will spend $3.2 billion to acquire aerospace parts distributor KLX.



At Boeing's annual meeting in early May, CEO Dennis Muilenburg said, "We continue to see global services as our biggest market growth opportunity."



The APU market is essentially a duopoly between Honeywell and United Technologies. In recent years, both companies have expanded the products and services they sell to airlines as a way to maintain strong margins and leverage with customers. For example, United Technologies acquired Rockwell Collins last year while Honeywell's CEO has indicated his company may spend as much as $21 billion over the next three years acquiring companies.



Boeing is not saying how much it is investing in the joint venture with Safran but it expects the deal to close this year. When the new entity will start manufacturing APUs has not yet been determined.
Chinese regulators have opened investigations into several foreign memory chip makers following a surge in prices that has attracted government concern.

Samsung, the Korean electronics company, said in a statement on Monday that investigators from the State Administration for Market Regulation had visited its Chinese sales offices at the end of last month. The company was "co-operating with Chinese authorities", it said.

Micron, the US memory chip giant, told Reuters on Friday that it had also been visited by SAMR. Micron could not be reached for comment. Fresh investigations were first reported by The Wall Street Journal on Monday.

China is seeking to become self-sufficient in memory chips, which are an essential component in everything from smartphones to web servers. But the market in DRAM chips, a major form of memory chip, is highly concentrated in three non-Chinese producers  South Korea's Samsung and SK Hynix, and the US's Micron.

State media reported last December that regulators had approached Samsung over rising prices.

China Daily, a state media mouthpiece, at the time quoted Xu Xinyu, an official with the Pricing Supervision Department of the National Development and Reform Commission, saying: "We have noticed the price surge and will pay more attention to future problems that may be caused by 'price fixing' in the sector."

Dan Wang, technology analyst at consultancy Gavekal Dragonomics in Hong Kong, suggested that Beijing may now be negotiating prices with the three companies, adding: "Memory prices have significantly risen in the last two years. China imports more semiconductors than crude oil by value, and the government is not happy about the price increases."

The Trump administration's ban on Chinese telecoms company ZTE buying supplies from the US, including semiconductors, has made the health of China's domestic chip industry an important consideration in trade tensions. At the same time, regulatory approval for US chip giant Qualcomm's proposed merger with NXP is said to be nearing the finish line but no official deadline has been announced by Beijing.

Regulators did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

More from the Financial Times:

Dialog warns on revenue hit after Apple move

The endless SMR II

Western Digital seeks Japan's support for Toshiba chip unit
Forbes estimated Wanstrath's net worth at $360 million in 2016 when GitHub was valued at $2 billion. With Microsoft's acquisition of the company nearly quadrupling that, Wanstrath's personal net worth will likely also swell upon closing of the deal.

Executive chairman Chris Wanstrath, now 33, co-founded San Francisco-based GitHub in 2008 along with fellow software developers Tom Preston-Werner, 38, and PJ Hyett, 35. In a decade, the company has grown into the world's largest host service for software code, from more than 24 million individual users. GitHub, which told CNBC last year it was on track for $200 million in annual subscription revenue.

Microsoft announced on Monday that it has agreed to acquire GitHub  an online platform where software developers store vast amounts of computer code  for roughly $7.5 billion worth of stock.

In a blog post on Monday, Wanstrath wrote that he "could have never imagined" the Microsoft acquisition when GitHub launched 10 years ago. "[GitHub] was a powerful but niche tool, clouds were just things in the sky, and Microsoft was a very different company," he said.+

Indeed, Wanstrath has come a long way from college dropout and self-taught programmer.

As a kid growing up in Ohio, Wanstrath tried teaching himself computer programming. "I wanted to be a developer, make video games and websites. I always wanted to be a part of a team building things that people love," he told Entrepreneur in 2017.

By the early 2000s, Wanstrath hadn't lost his love for computers, but he decided to major in English at the University of Cincinnati. "I figured whatever I did in life, I'd have to speak, read, write English," he said in an interview last year with Fortune's Michal Lev-Ram.

Still, he wanted to be a software developer.

"I don't ever think I thought that a degree was going to be necessary. I thought skills were necessary. All I wanted to do was start learning a lot," he said in a 2014 interview with the University of Cincinnati's magazine.

He took a couple of computer programming classes, which helped him get serious about software coding to the point that he felt he could turn it into a career.

The online community of developers using the PHP computer programming language, won over Wanstrath, as they offered help and encouragement when he was just learning to code. "They were trying to help share knowledge and build each other up and teach me things," he told Lev-Ram.

Wanstrath found himself "not going to school and skipping class," he told Lev-Ram. He was spending more time coding than studying, he said.

"Instead of doing drugs or whatever, I was programming. So, my parents were equally mad at me [as if I'd been doing drugs]," he told Lev-Ram.

After about two years of college, in 2005, CBS-owned tech website CNET offered Wanstrath a job. Because he was basically self-taught as a programmer, Wanstrath worried about his ability to succeed. But he decided to take the leap. He quit school to move to San Francisco and take the developer gig.

"Do 20 year olds think about risks?" Wanstrath asked during the interview with the University of Cincinnati's magazine.

At CNET, Wanstrath worked as a developer on projects related to the websites GameSpot and Chowhound, which were both acquired by the media company.

In October 2007, Wanstrath connected with Preston-Werner at a San Francisco meet-up for the community of developers working in the Ruby on Rails programming language.

Much like Wanstrath, Preston-Werner is a college dropout (he left Harvey Mudd College in 1999 after two years). Preston-Werner had previously founded a digital avatar startup, called Gravatar, that he sold to web developer Automattic in 2007 for an undisclosed amount.

The two discussed the software developer community's need for a service where large amounts of source code could be stored while users to collaborate with one another on their software projects.

WANSTRATH TWEET

"For the next three months Chris and I spent ridiculous hours planning and coding GitHub," Preston-Werner wrote in a post on his personal website in 2008.

Wanstrath and Preston-Werner launched a private beta version of GitHub in January 2008. The next month, they added their third co-founder in Wyett, who had worked at CNET with Wanstrath as a senior software engineer on the Chowhound project.

By March 2008, Wanstrath said in a blog post, GitHub already had 2,000 users for its beta version. GitHub launched for public use in April 2008  a little more than a decade before Microsoft announced its acquisition on Monday. Once the site went public, GitHub caught on gradually within the developer community, reaching 100,000 users by July 2009.

With its popularity among software developers, GitHub was able to survive without outside funding for the better part of four years, charging individual programmers and businesses money for monthly access to the platform.

In 2012, GitHub finally announced its first outside fundraising. Silicon Valley venture capital firm Andreesen Horowitz put up $100 million in its largest-ever (at that point) investment. The firm said at the time that GitHub had been growing its revenue by 300 percent annually since launching.
Following is the transcript of a First On CNBC interview with Rupert Hogg, CEO, Cathay Pacific Airways. The interview was broadcast on CNBC's Squawk Box on 4 June 2018.

All references must be sourced to a "CNBC Interview'.

Interviewed by CNBC's Matthew Taylor.

MATT TAYLOR: What is the biggest challenge from where you sit when it comes to aviation at the moment? Is it the rising fuel costs because these things go in ebbs and flows? Is it trade protectionism or is it something else?

RUPERT HOGG: Obviously each airline has a different market and a different set of circumstances. Just talking about rising fuel prices, we have a very young long-haul fleet. The average age of our long-haul fleet, which is about nearly a hundred aircrafts, is five and a half years old. We've taken 22 new A350-900s over the last two years and that is the latest composite aircraft design as you know. And we take a new aircraft a month for the next four years. So what that means in sum is that, although the price of fuel is rising, our consumption is not growing as fast as the units of production we're putting into the air. So I think that's the issue with fuel. On the issue with trade and trade protection if you like or trade wars, we're a very big cargo carrier. We are probably the largest or one of the largest combination cargo carriers in the world. We've got 20 747 freighters. And unusually 85% of our fleet is twin aisle so we can carry a lot of freight in the belly of our aircraft, about 50-50 as it happens. So a trade war would be bad for us. But having said that, what we carry is consumer electronics effectively. They are sort of a barometer of what people want to buy and if they feel like spending their disposable income and so far we haven't seen any let up in volumes. So I think the bigger tariffs disputes on aluminium and other things probably won't affect air freight in that way.

M: You've said that you expect the core airline business to return to profit next year. But you have been pressured by some of your Chinese and Middle East rivals. Is that expectation still on track for a return to profitability in 2019?

R: I take you back a year and a bit into our transformation programme. We always said that would be a 3-year programme. I guess the principle reason we launched that programme is although the markets that we serve are growing, and this year I think we are talking about 150 million international trips from China alone, the capacity is growing faster. So it is true that lots of airlines are competing for that business. At the end of the day, capacity is growing in front of demand. So when that happens, the yields drop and the net result for us particularly on the passenger side is that we have two years of negative revenue growth, topline growth. Last year, the same thing happened. And so we said we need to transform our business to make sure we are fit for purpose and we can compete and win going forward. We're on track to do that, we did what we said we would do last year which is to keep our unit cost flat. We said we would return above our cost of capital at the end of that programme in 2019 and that implies profitability. So I am not going to make any forecast for the future but that's our target. At the moment, we are on track to do that.

M: We saw a particularly strong second half of the year when you look at the two halves. I know that there was a full year loss but there was a strong turnaround in the second half. What was driving that?

H: The cargo business is being very strong. We've invested a lot in addition to these aircrafts I was talking about. We have the state of the art terminal. It takes two and a half million tonnes in Hong Kong. So we are well set-up to serve that market. I think that the world economy is generally being quite benign and that is good for front-end traffic. Hong Kong is a huge tourist destination, tourist numbers inbound and tourist numbers are up. So, a combination of these factors plus a lot of the things we've been doing in our transformation programme. Some of those things are to have an impact too so the trend in the second half of the year are much healthier than in the first half of the year.

M: I mentioned four billion HKD in cost out, is there any more work to do on that front? Can you get any more cost out or do you think four billion dollars is essentially the sweet spot number?

H: We have seven hundred initiatives and we have lots of things going on in lots of different areas. We have always been of the view that there is no silver bullet and that we just have to make ourselves more productive. Our plan is based around three basic objectives. The first is to find new sources of revenue. The second is to really understand our customers and deliver what they value and the third is to make ourselves more productive. I know all of those fronts we are making good progress so if I took the value to our customers for instance; we are launching a new dining concept in our long-haul business class starting next month. By the end of the year, we would have rolled that out to 12 new routes and by the middle of next year, we would have rolled out that new concept across all of our long-haul business class. We're looking at food in the other classes as well, same approach. We are doing a lot in the digital environment to make it easier for people to serve themselves, to check-in and things like that. In terms of new sources of revenue, one of the things you would've seen this year is that we are launching 9 new destinations. Hong Kong is a super connected city, super connected hub, we are trying to join points that haven't been joined to Hong Kong before or have been in our view underserved or the market merits it. So we have done 5 long hauls - three in Europe alone. I've just come from Dublin where we launched the inaugural Dublin to Hong Kong service which is also the first Ireland to Asian non-stop service. We've launched Brussels and Copenhagen this year. In September, we start services to Washington and that's a big move for us. At the back end of the year, we are going to launch a service to Cape Town as well which will be rather like what we did with Christchurch last year, it will be a seasonal service. I think from Cathay Pacific, you will see an expansion of our hub, which is the largest international hub in Asia. You'll see new destinations coming online, which is good for the strength of that hub and for connectivity and you'll see more seasonal flying.

M: Like many other airlines, these ultra-long haul services are definitely something that you are looking at. Just one final question before we let you go. Back to competition, geographically, where I am in Australia, Cathay has been very dominant on that Hong Kong to Australia route, but we do have increased competition coming in the likes of Virgin starting Melbourne to Hong Kong, and starting next month even Sydney to Hong Kong. Is that a concern? I mean, they are only going to be doing one flight a day and Sydney to Hong Kong, you guys do like three services right?

H: Yes, so Sydney to Hong Kong, we are four services a day and to Australia, we are 79 services a week. Competition is good for the market and one of the ironies of Asia is that this is where the centre of aviation is heading and this is where the growth is. The traffic is quite condensed onto the big cities pairs and there is a lot more competition on those city pairs in Asia than in this part of the world, as it is in in other parts of the world. That's going to be good for the customers I think and we are all about competing and winning and that is exactly what we intend to do with this transformation programme.

END

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FinMin says budget inclusive, oriented towards prosperity

Finance Minister Yuba Raj Khatiwada has stressed the need of emphasising on effective implementation of the budget.
As restaurant stocks rise in lockstep with consumer sentiment and job growth, CNBC's Jim Cramer recruited technician Bob Lang to find the best investments in the dining space. Lang, the founder of ExplosiveOptions.net and part of TheStreet.com's Trifecta Stocks newsletter team, found three fast-casual chains doing particularly well: Chipotle, Del Taco and El Pollo Loco. "At a time when some people have been worried about rising raw costs and increased competition, ... these three companies have been putting on a pretty good show," Cramer said on Monday. So, to explain why Lang thought all three stocks could outperform the broader restaurant sector in the near term, the "Mad Money" host turned to Lang's technical analysis.

Chipotle Mexican Grill

The once-left-for-dead Chipotle has been making a serious comeback after two food safety incidents  an E.coli outbreak in 2015 and a norovirus outbreak in 2017  crushed the stock. When the market sold off in early February, Chipotle's shares finally managed to bottom in the $240s. Since then, the stock has been roaring, boosted by a strong quarterly report in April. Lang pointed out that the stock's Relative Strength Index, a tool that tracks momentum, has been extremely positive since the company's April 25 earnings report. He also noted some favorable volume trends: Chipotle's stock is no longer overbought, meaning that it could be ready for another run higher, and each recent rally has occurred on strong volume, meaning that the stock's latest moves higher have been "the real deal," Cramer said. "In the end, Chipotle is Lang's favorite stock in the group here, and he thinks that this $443 stock can rally to $480 and then perhaps even [to] $500 in the not-too-distant future," Cramer said.

Del Taco Restaurants Inc.

Like Chipotle, shares of Del Taco, a small-cap, more speculative Mexican food chain, have recovered handsomely since their March lows, gaining nearly 25 percent. Lang liked the strength he saw in this chart's Relative Strength Index. More importantly, he liked that Del Taco's moving average convergence-divergence indicator, which predicts changes in a stock's trajectory before they happen, made a bullish crossover in April. The crossover, depicted by the black line in the chart above crossing over the red one, sent shares of the 300-restaurant eatery even higher. "But Lang believes that Del Taco could have even more upside," Cramer said. "While the stock is approaching the ceiling of resistance from where it gapped down in March  at $12.50, right near the 200-day moving average  Lang believes it can make a run at that level and then push higher." "As he sees it, the path of least resistance takes Del Taco to just under $14. That's roughly 13 percent from these levels," the "Mad Money" host added. "I like that call."

El Pollo Loco Holdings Inc.

For fellow small-cap Mexican chain El Pollo Loco, Lang used the stock's weekly chart. Shares of El Pollo Loco recently made a run at their 50-week moving average, met their ceiling of resistance, then abated. But according to Lang, there was more to that move than met the eye. "Based on the action here, Lang thinks this could be a wildcard for upside," Cramer said. "Why? Well, El Pollo Loco recently made a higher low  that's a good sign  and the volume trends have been improving, ... meaning the volume is higher on up days than down days." "Meanwhile, the Relative Strength Index, RSI, keeps climbing, and in April, the moving average convergence-divergence indicator made that bullish crossover," he continued. All in all, Lang thought that by the end of this year, El Pollo Loco's stock could push above its ceiling of resistance and rally to its 2017 highs of around $15.

Conclusions

Despite Chipotle's share-shattering scandals and Del Taco and El Pollo Loco's comparatively speculative situations, Cramer and Lang agreed that this dining sub-cohort's bounce was worth watching. "After spending a long time in the wilderness, these Mexican restaurant chains have been making some remarkable comebacks here," the "Mad Money" host concluded. "The charts, as interpreted by Bob Lang, suggest that Chipotle, Del Taco and El Pollo Loco still have plenty of upside here and I think he's got a strong case. That said, Chipotle is the only one of these three that's not extremely speculative, so please be extra careful with the other two."

WATCH: Cramer's charts taco 'bout Mexican food stocks
A week ago, CNBC's Jim Cramer was trying to placate investors' fears about a political crisis in Italy, which sent global markets reeling and resulted in the appointment of a new prime minister.

A spike in Italian bond yields sparked the concerns. But now, one week later, they've recovered to their pre-crisis levels, making Cramer wonder why investors were so spooked in the first place.

"Some investors hate anything that threatens the status quo, even in a place like Italy where the status quo is objectively kind of terrible," the "Mad Money" host explained on Monday.

Others, he said, are so skittish that they balk at any and all uncertainty, even if it doesn't apply to the United States, "because they are trained to react to any new input with fear."

Still, what concerned Cramer most about the Italy debacle was not how investors reacted to the news, but the lack of context with which it was reported.

"It's very easy to gin up fear-inducing headlines when two supposedly extremist parties form a coalition to take power, but, man, it's hard to see how they could do a worse job than the guys they were replacing," he said. "Why doesn't anybody say that?"

He offered some perspective: Italy has very little growth, 11 percent unemployment and a budget that is unraveling due to pressures from a growing refugee population.

Moreover, Cramer argued that many of Europe's recent, seemingly chaotic movements have actually created investment opportunities because of how short-lived they've been.

"Now, obviously the press can't [avoid] a story like this," he said. "But you can give people some context, and when it comes to Italy, a little context could've gone a long way."

This idea brought Cramer back to one of his biggest long-term concerns: that market experts frequently fuel investors' fears without facing the consequences of being wrong.

"That is the way this business works: bulls are always punished more harshly for being wrong than the bears are," he said. "But you can expect it and you can exploit it the next time we get some huge sell-off on a story that has nothing to do with the United States, just like this Italian job."
Widely followed cryptocurrency start-up Ripple is shelling out millions to some top universities to speed up adoption of blockchain technology.

The company announced a partnership with 17 schools Monday, including the University of North Carolina, MIT and the University of Pennsylvania. Through the "University Blockchain Research Initiative" program, Ripple will donate $50 million for research and development in blockchain, cryptocurrency and digital payments.

The donation is in dollars and not the cryptocurrency, the company said.

"As globalization increases, so does the demand for technological solutions and talent to solve the world's hardest financial problems, such as retail remittances," Eric van Miltenburg, Ripple's SVP of business operations, said in an email.

The company said the initiative was launched in part because of a demand for jobs. More than 4,500 job openings with the terms "blockchain" or "cryptocurrency" were posted on LinkedIn last year, Ripple said, a 150 percent increase from a year earlier.

Blockchain is the technology that underpins cryptocurrencies like bitcoin. While there are countless uses for that technology, Ripple's focus is on real-time transaction settlements for banks. It has announced partnerships with U.S. money transfer giants MoneyGram and Western Union as well as American Express and Santander.

Ripple is officially the name of the San Francisco-based company, which is developing a network for faster global financial payments. XRP is the name of the digital token that financial institutions on the network can use to transact quickly.

Some university research and projects will involve Ripple's technology and the cryptocurrency XRP but it is not a requirement, the company said.

The cryptocurrency was trading near 65 cents Monday, according to CoinDesk. XRP is one of the worst performing digital currencies in 2018, down more than 70 percent year to date.

Ripple owns about 60 billion of the 100 billion XRP ever made, bringing its market cap based on Monday's price and its holdings alone close to $39 billion.
Estonia said Monday it is not planning to launch a national cryptocurrency and that it never planned to do so.

A government spokeswoman said the Baltic nation was not looking to issue its own national cryptocurrency as it already uses the euro as its official currency.

Instead, Estonia plans to "explore various possibilities" for blockchain technology, such as the use of crypto tokens within its "e-residency" program, which gives both Estonians and foreigners a digital form of identification.

Last year, Kaspar Korjus, managing director at Estonia's e-residency program, announced the proposal for a cryptocurrency called "estcoin" that could be issued by Estonia. Korjus said at the time that the estcoin tokens could be launched through an initial coin offering (ICO)  a form of fundraising for start-ups where new digital tokens are sold to raise money.

Estonia joined the euro zone  a bloc of countries that have adopted the single currency  in 2010, becoming the first former Soviet nation to do so.

Initial reports of Estonia's interest in cryptocurrency sparked a reaction from Europe's central bank chief. Mario Draghi, president of the European Central Bank, said that "no (European Union) member state can introduce its own currency."

Triin Oppi, Estonia's media adviser, disputed a report by Bloomberg that claimed the country had "scaled down" plans to launch a cryptocurrency. She said such plans "never existed."

Oppi said that the e-residency program had "initiated a discussion" into whether Estonia should issue its own cryptocurrency and that the estcoin proposal was still on the table "within the e-residency community."

She said that the Estonian government was considering the possibility of providing a legal framework for ICOs, similar to a proposal from Japan.

"We strongly believe in the potential of blockchain technology as a tool for economic development, empowerment and inclusion and we notice that several private and public institutions worldwide are also exploring its opportunities," Oppi told CNBC in an email Monday.

"Estonia already has a vital start-up sector and we are looking for various initiatives to make it even stronger. One possible avenue is to explore possibilities to provide, within EU legislation, clear guidelines for companies that want to conduct ICOs legally and responsibly."
The pan-European Stoxx 600 closed provisionally up 0.3 percent, with most sectors and major bourses in positive territory. Europe's utility stocks led the gains Monday, up 1.4 percent. Italgas, Pennon Group and Iberdrola were among the top sectoral performers, all trading around 3 percent higher. Meanwhile, the region's banking index was also trading higher following a week of political turmoil in Italy and Spain. The Financial Times reported French bank Societe Generale and Italian rival Unicredit were exploring the possibility of a merger. Shares of Societe Generale rose more than 1 percent while Unicredit's stock price fell 1 percent. Looking at individual stocks, French flag carrier Air France-KLM surged near the top of the European benchmark after AccorHotels said Sunday it was reviewing whether to buy a stake in the company. AccorHotels reportedly said it had previously held discussions with Air France about the possibility to develop joint projects. Shares of Air France rose almost 5.5 percent, while AccorHotel slumped towards the bottom of the index  down almost 7 percent.

On Wall Street, stocks rose, adding to gains seen in the previous session, as Apple led the technology sector to a record high.

Meanwhile in the U.K., Clydesdale and Yorkshire Bank (CYBG) said on Sunday that it had upped its bid for challenger bank Virgin Money. The deal would create the U.K.'s sixth-largest lender. The takeover panel deadline for the deal is 5 p.m. London time Monday afternoon.

In European Union member Slovenia, preliminary results showed that an anti-immigration party has won a parliamentary election which took place Sunday.

German Chancellor Angela Merkel spoke about the euro zone in a newspaper interview published on Sunday, in which she supported some of French counterpart Emmanuel Macron's calls for more solidarity within the monetary union. The French government said on Sunday that the show of unity was a "positive move." But in the same interview Merkel also ruled out debt relief for Italy, saying that unity within the euro zone did not mean that it should become a debt-sharing bloc.
White House physician Dr. Ronny Jackson speaks to reporters at the White House in Washington, DC on Tuesday, Jan. 16, 2018.

Rear Adm. Ronny Jackson's bid to lead the Department of Veterans Affairs was derailed by damning allegations of workplace misconduct. Those allegations are now under investigation by a government watchdog group.

The Defense Department's Office of the Inspector General "has initiated an investigation into allegations related to Rear Admiral (Lower Half) Ronny L. Jackson," said Bruce Anderson, a spokesman for the office, in a statement to CNBC on Monday.

Anderson told CNN, which first reported the inspector general's probe, that the investigation was initiated last month. Anderson did not immediately respond to CNBC's additional questions about the investigation.

Jackson was appointed as the White House's personal physician to President Barack Obama in 2013. He continued to serve under President Donald Trump, who nominated him in March to run the Veterans Affairs Department  the federal government's second-largest agency  succeeding David Shulkin.

Jackson's nomination process was quickly threatened by news reports quoting sources saying that he drank to excess on the job, handed out prescription pills without proper discretion and created a hostile work environment.

Many of the allegations came from Sen. Jon Tester, D-Mont., ranking member on the Senate's Committee on Veterans' Affairs, who cited reports from about 20 people that had raised concerns about Jackson.

A spokeswoman for Sen. Tester's office did not immediately provide a comment to CNBC. The White House did not immediately respond to CNBC's request for comment.

The Secret Service appeared to dispute at least one of the allegations, reporting in April that it had no record of an incident involving Jackson drunkenly banging on a door on an overseas trip. The White House disputed another allegation, saying there was no evidence that Jackson "wrecked" a vehicle while intoxicated.

After Jackson withdrew his nomination, Trump called on Tester to resign.

Trump tweet

Jackson is reportedly still working at the White House, though not as Trump's doctor.
The Greek government is confident that rules surrounding its debt repayments will be relaxed this month, despite reports that the International Monetary Fund (IMF) is unlikely to unlock more money for Athens.

"The general atmosphere is that there will be an agreement on debt at the June Eurogroup," a Greek government official, who did not want to be named as discussions are still ongoing, told CNBC Monday morning via telephone.

The Eurogroup, which combines the finance ministers from the 19 euro zone members, said in late April that all the final details on the Greek bailout program  due to end in August  will be decided no later than June 21, when the finance ministers next meet.

However, with little more than two weeks to go, Greece is yet to know what these restructuring measures will look like.

This is a critical issue for the IMF, which has said it will only disburse money to Greece if there are clear changes for Greece's debt profile. So far, all the money that Greece has received under its third bailout program has come from Europe and it's still waiting for a slice from the Washington, D.C.-based IMF. The IMF has said that it will not disburse any funds until Europe agrees on specific measures that will make Greek debt more sustainable over the long term. Greece has a debt-to-GDP (gross domestic product) of 180 percent.

Michalis Psalidopoulos, Greece's representative at the IMF, told the state-run Athens-Macedonian news agency Sunday that it is likely the Fund will only be a technical advisor in the program.

This is because bureaucratic procedures within the IMF require time to approve a financial disbursement, and as the days go by it gets increasingly difficult to do so before the end of the program in August.

The Financial Times also reported Friday that German Chancellor Angela Merkel's party had dropped its insistence on having the IMF on board. It's important to recall that back in 2015, the German parliament approved another Greek rescue on the condition that the IMF would be part of the program.

When contacted by CNBC, the IMF said it could not comment on Psalidopoulos' statements, as he is a representative of the Greek government at the Fund's board.

The Fund added however that talks on Greek debt relief will continue.

"The importance of the IMF's involvement was not to do with its proposed funding commitment, which was tiny, but with giving credibility to Greece when it exits the program and returns to the international capital markets," Joan Hoey, regional director for Europe at the Economist Intelligence Unit, told CNBC via email.
Ghimire to visit Delhi after internal bleeding reappears

Doctors at Grande Hospital have suggested Poet Laureate Madhav Prasad Ghimire be taken to Delhi again for treatment after they found that his problem of internal bleeding had reappeared.
"If under the Twenty-Fifth Amendment the President declared that he was temporarily unable to perform the duties of the office, the Vice President would become Acting President and as such could pardon the President. Thereafter the President could either resign or resume the duties of his office," Lawton wrote.

But 44 years ago, when the Justice Department was faced with the possibility that President Richard Nixon might try to pardon himself, a top lawyer in the department in a memorandum to the deputy attorney general said the answer to that question was an unequivocal "No."

A number of legal scholars Monday, on the heels of Trump's tweet proclaiming his power to pardon himself, agreed with Lawton.

But other leading legal experts disagreed, including some who otherwise are critics of the president.

Below, 12 experts weigh in on Trump's claim.

Jamal Greene, Dwight Professor of Law at Columbia Law School

"The Constitution grants the president power to issue pardons for federal crimes," Greene told CNBC. "It doesn't say he can't pardon himself, so there's an argument to be made, but I think the better view is that a ban on self-pardons is implicit. Giving the president the power to be a judge in his own criminal case is inconsistent with this being a rule of law society. It would enable the president theoretically to commit the worst federal crimes imaginable  terrorism, treason, etc.  with impeachment as the only remedy. Reading the Constitution to require that should be avoided if at all possible."

Greene tweet.

Jens David Ohlin, vice dean and professor at Cornell Law School

"The self-pardon would be a disastrous move for Trump," Ohlin told CNBC. "It would accelerate impeachment. Even talking about self-pardon helps galvanize the anti-Trump movement in the run-up to the midterm elections that will decide the makeup of the House and the Senate. It is hard to predict how the Supreme Court would react to a self-pardon, but certainly it would be viewed by most of the electorate as corrupt. It's the ultimate expression of Trump's vision of the president as monarch, rather than rule by co-equal branches of government as expressed by the Founding Fathers."



Richard Pildes, Sudler Family Professor of Constitutional Law at New York University School of Law

"Nothing in the Constitution or existing constitutional doctrine directly addresses the issue of a presidential self-pardon," Pildes told CNBC. "But much of constitutional law is based on reasoning from the underlying design of the Constitution and the structures it creates, and a presidential self-pardon is so radically inconsistent with the Constitution's commitments to (1) limited government; (2) the separation of powers; (3) and elected officials being accountable to the rule of law that I doubt any court would uphold the legality of a presidential self-pardon."

Margaret Love, former U.S. pardon attorney

"The answer has to be no," Love told CNBC. "In US v. Nixon, the Court basically said that Nixon as the subject of a criminal investigation did not speak for the government and therefore could not withhold the tapes from the prosecutor who did. This case teaches that the president cannot act in an official capacity to benefit himself against an authorized criminal prosecution. My first career was in medieval history and what Trump seems to be relying on is something like the ancient religious theory of kingship where the king has one corporal body that is mortal and may die, and another official body that lives on in his successors (as in "the king is dead, long live the king"). So the only way a self-pardon could work, both as a practical and theoretical matter, would be for the immortal official President to pardon the mortal Donald's crimes. I don't know how it would work otherwise - and I think it is foreclosed by US v. Nixon."



Mark Tushnet, William Nelson Cromwell Professor of Law at Harvard Law School

"The constitutional arguments about self-pardoning are ... complex, and no one should have strongly held views about the correct analysis," Tushnet told CNBC. "That said, my view is that the weight of the arguments lies in favor of finding that the president has the power to self-pardon, because of the president's power to 'take care that the laws be faithfully executed.' This gives the president a great deal of discretion about initiating and terminating investigations, coupled with the absence of express limitations on the pardon power (other than barring pardoning in cases of impeachment, which isn't, technically, a criminal proceeding). But, as almost everyone also acknowledges, exercising the power to self-pardon would almost certainly trigger sufficient public outrage to make impeachment a realistic possibility  or, put another way, exercising the power to self-pardon, if the president has it, would be extraordinarily politically unwise (ordinarily). But, again, we aren't in ordinary times, and perhaps a self-pardon wouldn't trigger that reaction in the present circumstances."



Mark Osler, Professor and Robert and Marion Short Distinguished Chair in Law at the University of St. Thomas

"He can issue himself a pardon warrant," Osler told CNBC. "There is nothing to stop him from doing so. The question is what happens next. It probably could not be challenged until a prosecutor presented a charge against him, and he then relied on the Pardon as a defense."

Richard Painter, former chief ethics lawyer to President George W. Bush

"He absolutely cannot pardon himself," Painter told CNBC. "I do not know of an instance in human history in which a king has pardoned himself. The pope does confession to another priest. A pardon is by its very nature when one person pardons another. The point is, the constitution uses the word pardon, and a pardon is by very nature a situation that involves two people, or between God and a human being. We even say 'Forgive us our trespasses,' in The Lord's Prayer."



Preet Bharara, former United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York

"I think (if) the President decided he was going to pardon himself, I think that's almost self-executing impeachment," Bharara told CNN's "State of the Union" on Sunday.

"Whether or not there is a minor legal argument that some law professor somewhere in a legal journal can make that the president can pardon, that's not what the framers could have intended. That's not what the American people, I think, would be able to stand for."



Renato Mariotti, former federal prosecutor

"You don't need to be a lawyer to understand why courts would never uphold a president's power to commit crimes and then pardon himself for them," Mariotti wrote in a post on Twitter Monday. In a separate post, he wrote: "Many legal experts call Trump's legal arguments 'novel,' but that doesn't go far enough. His arguments have never been made before because they're extreme and dangerous. They will be rejected by courts because they're consistent with tyranny, not our Constitution. "

https://twitter.com/renato_mariotti/status/1003628075387584513

Mariotti second tweet.

Harvey Silverglate, Civil Liberties Attorney at the law firm of Zalkind Duncan & Bernstein and co-founder of the Foundation for Individual Rights in Education

"Since the question of presidential self-pardons turns on a constitutional provision  the president's pardon power  where there is no judicial precedent that answers the question, I think it is wise to simply take the text of the Constitution at face value," Silverglate told CNBC in an email. "The president is given the unequivocal power to pardon. ("[He] shall have Power to grant Reprieves and Pardons for Offenses against the United States, except in Cases of Impeachment"  Article II, Section 2.) There is no expressed limitation governing whom the president may or may not pardon. Therefore it seems quite clear to me that the President may pardon himself."



John Brennan, former director of the CIA

"The constitutional powers granted to the president for pardon are quite broad," Brennan said Monday on "MSNBC Live with Hallie Jackson." He added: "It doesn't exclude explicitly the president's pardoning of himself."

Nicholas Gravante, Jr., partner at the law firm of Boies Schiller Flexner

"I'm not sure that there's a definitive answer," Gravante told CNBC. "The notion of somebody taking office and then being able to pardon themselves for things they have done while in office would give any president the freedom to act lawlessly and then simply be allowed to pardon themselves from the consequences of such actions prior to leaving office. In effect, the president would be not subject to the rules of law. and this is a country that is governed by the rule of law."


Howard Schultz is stepping down from his role as executive chairman of Starbucks, effective June 26, according to a memo sent to employees Monday.



Schultz is seen as the architect of the modern Starbucks, having overseen its expansion from a single coffee shop that opened in Seattle's Pike Place Market in 1971. He joined Starbucks in 1982 as director of operations and marketing. Over time he grew it into the iconic brand it is today, with more than 28,000 locations globally.



Schultz's latest leadership transition sparked speculation about his potential political plans: He has been a supporter of former President Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton during her bid for president. Some have already questioned whether he would pursue his own presidential run.

"I'll be thinking about a range of options for myself, from philanthropy to public service, but I'm a long way from knowing what the future holds," Schultz said in the memo.



Myron E. Ullman, former chairman and CEO of J.C. Penney, was named chair, while Mellody Hobson, president and director of Chicago-based investment management firm Ariel Investments, will be named vice chair.



Schultz, who now will become its chairman emeritus, served as the company's chief executive from 1987 to 2000, stepping down to focus on the company's global strategy. He remained on as chairman of the board. At that time, there were only 350 cafes located outside of the U.S.



From 2000 to 2008, Starbucks rapidly expanded from 3,500 to about 16,000 locations, but for Schultz, the quality of the brand and its coffee had deteriorated. He returned to the head position in 2008 to revitalize it.



Again in 2017, Schultz stepped down, handing the keys over to current CEO Kevin Johnson. Once more, he picked up the mantle of executive chairman of the brand, this time focusing on Starbucks' Roastery and Reserve Bar expansion.



"I set out to build a company that my father, a blue-collar worker and World War II veteran, never had a chance to work for. Together we've done that, and so much more, by balancing profitability and social conscience, compassion and rigor, and love and responsibility," he said.

Schultz laid the groundwork for Starbucks' extensive employee benefits including, health care, stock ownership and free college tuition. As CEO, Schultz also lead global hiring initiatives for veterans and military spouses as well as refugees.

He is currently writing a book about his social work and his efforts "to redefine the role and responsibility of a public company in an ever-changing society."

"Howard Schultz has been a pioneer in setting and maintaining a culture of social responsibility  both environmentally and socially  while being able to maintain financial performance," Tim Hubbard, assistant professor of management at the University of Notre Dame's Mendoza College of Business, told CNBC via email. "He has served as an example to other executives who work towards socially responsible firms, and as an example to board members who frequently cite his behavior as models for executives."
In the years before he confirmed his plans to leave Starbucks on Monday, Howard Schultz took an active role in politics through both his words and money.

Schultz has previously denied speculation that he could run for president. Still, he indicated Monday that he will leave the door open to a career in politics once he exits his role as the coffee chain's executive chairman later this month.

"I want to be truthful with you without creating more speculative headlines. For some time now, I have been deeply concerned about our country  the growing division at home and our standing in the world. One of the things I want to do in my next chapter is to figure out if there is a role I can play in giving back. I'm not exactly sure what that means yet," he told Andrew Ross Sorkin of CNBC and The New York Times on Monday.

He told employees that he will think about "a range of options" from "philanthropy to public service."
Loews Hotels CEO Jonathan Tisch said Monday that the U.S. hotel industry is "losing market share" due in part to the Trump administration's so-called extreme vetting of foreign visitors.

"Our concern as an industry is related to inbound international travelers," Tisch said on CNBC's "Squawk Box." He's also a co-owner of the New York Giants.

"Visitors want to feel welcome, they want to feel safe," he said. "Even though business is pretty good ... the number of inbound international travelers in the U.S. is losing market share."

"That's due to a variety of reasons," including the president's policies and rhetoric concerning background checks on people who want to come to America.

President Donald Trump has repeatedly said "extreme vetting" of foreigners entering the U.S., a frequent promise since the campaign, is needed to prevent terrorism.

Tisch said the U.S. certainly needs border security, but also "open doors."

The president last year proposed to eliminate Brand USA, a federally funded organization that promotes the U.S. overseas as a tourist destination.

Ending Brand USA would be a "mistake," said Tisch, whose business has 24 hotels with six others under development. The program offers strong returns and doesn't cost American taxpayers "one single dollar," he added.

Tisch, co-chairman of the hotel group's parent, Loews, urged those in the industry to work with elected officials about "putting out a welcoming message" because inbound travelers "stay longer [and] spend more money."

Tisch wrote an op-ed published published Monday, which dealt with the slowdown of international visitors and subsequent U.S. economic impact.



The White House did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

 Disclosure: Lowes Hotels is working on additional property partnerships with NBCUniversal, which along with CNBC is owned by Comcast.
The need for a different kind of experience is what prompted Marriott International to enter the vacation rental market dominated by Airbnb, CEO Arne Sorenson told CNBC on Monday.

Formulated with groups in mind, Marriott announced a six-month pilot program in April, in partnership with London-based home rental management company Hostmaker, which does still work with other services, including Airbnb and Home Away.

"Increasingly, people are looking for places that groups can stay," Sorenson told CNBC's Seema Mody on "Squawk on the Street." "Think about a family group, or think about a college reunion, or a bridesmaid weekend, whatever it is."

Airbnb, founded in 2008, is a popular website and app that allows users to reserve short-term lodging in private residences.

Addressing why it took Marriott 10 years to get into the vacation rental business, Sorenson said it look awhile for Marriott to become comfortable with the laws and regulations around the practice.

Laws vary city by city, with some localities prohibiting people from hosting paying guests in their homes for short-term stays.

Sorenson also said Airbnb's initial model didn't work for Marriott. "Airbnb's first generation of home sharing was really about an extra bedroom, or a sofa, in somebody's house," he said. "That's not the kind of experience that we necessarily want to deliver."

The Marriott vacation rental website platform, Tribute Portfolio Homes, allows users to select from 200 different homes being offered by residents in the London area.

Marriott has ended up with "something that is curated, which has service attributes to it, which has got design function to it, has got key delivery," Sorenson said. "So you end up with something curated with services more like a hotel platform."

Airbnb was not immediately available to respond to CNBC's request for comment on Marriott's new offering.
KHALIL MAZRAAWI | AFP | Getty Images

Jordanian Prime Minister Hani Mulki resigned from his government position Monday in the wake of several days of mass protests in the capital Amman  the country's largest demonstrations in more than five years. The resignation, reported by Reuters quoting an official source, was said to have been brokered during a meeting with the country's King Abdullah II, who called for "national dialogue" in the wake of public anger over tax increases. The hike on taxes and price increases on many basic goods were imposed as part of an International Monetary Fund (IMF) austerity package designed to reduce the Middle Eastern country's debt. More than 3,000 protesters were gathered outside the prime minister's office Sunday, according to various media reports, chanting slogans like "the ones raising prices want to burn the country" and "this is our Jordan, Mulki should leave." Jordan's government, which has seen seven different prime minsters in the last 10 years, has been pursuing economic reforms as part of a $723 million three-year line of credit from the IMF. The country of nearly 10 million has a 94 percent debt-to-GDP ratio, and the loan aims to cut this to 77 percent by 2021 through reforms that will "bolster economic growth" and achieve "gradual fiscal consolidation," according to the IMF.

Painful price hikes

But the pain of the reforms has been too much for many ordinary Jordanians, who have seen fuel prices rise several times and electricity costs jump 55 percent since the start of the year. A draft law on income tax, which would see taxes on employees raised by at least 5 percent and on businesses between 20 and 40 percent, is currently awaiting approval in parliament. Sandwiched between several geopolitical conflicts and overwhelmed by a burgeoning population of refugees from Syria, Iraq and the occupied Palestinian territories, Jordan already has a 20 percent poverty rate, and youth unemployment hovers at around 40 percent.

KHALIL MAZRAAWI | AFP | Getty Images

But the fiscal measures were needed, according to Marcus Chenevix, Middle East and North Africa analyst at TS Lombard. "Reform of some kind is certainly necessary. The current deficit is massive, more than 10 percent of GDP, government debt has nearly doubled since 2007 ... The country cannot go on like this," Chenevix told CNBC, adding that the unrest of the last week was a long time coming. "Fundamentally, growth in the Jordanian economy has been slowing for a decade  something had to give."

Threats to stability
Mastercard is looking at ways to integrate its payments system into voice assistants made by Google and Amazon to let people pay by talking to a device, a top executive from the company told CNBC on Monday.

The U.S. payments giant has a product called Masterpass that allows a user to upload credit card details and acts as an easy way to pay for things online.

Recently, the company launched a facility for people to pay with Masterpass for products within Facebook Messenger. A user would interact with a brand by messaging them on Messenger. When they buy a product, Masterpass can be used to pay.

It's a trend Mastercard is calling "conversational commerce" and it extends to voice too. Ann Cairns, vice chairman at Mastercard, said that buying items using voice assistants like Amazon's Alexa or Google Assistant will "become very big" in the future.

When asked whether Mastercard is looking to integrate Masterpass with these voice assistants, Cairns said, "Yes, of course."

"We're looking at all of these technologies and we're thinking about how they link on the Mastercard network," Cairns told CNBC at the Money 20/20 Europe fintech conference in Amsterdam, Netherlands, on Monday.

Masterpass can be used to pay for apps on the Google Play store. Mastercards can be used on Amazon and Google already too. Cairns said any integration into voice assistants would be an extension of the relationship between Mastercard and the technology firms.

"We're already integrated into many of Amazon's and Google's products so really it's more of a new product function, product line, that we're looking at. But we're also looking at how is artificial intelligence deployed," she said.

Mastercard is watching for ways to adapt to the shifts in consumer behavior when it comes to payments. Masterpass was the company's answer to products such as Apple Pay. A number of technology firms are increasingly dipping their toes into financial services and Mastercard is trying to stay ahead through some of these technology products.
As McDonald's seeks to modernize its business, the company is placing a big bet on mobile and other tech platforms.

McDonald's has been systematically adding self-service ordering kiosks and table service to stores as it works to "build a better McDonald's."

"What we're finding is when people dwell more, they select more," CEO Steve Easterbrook told CNBC on "Squawk on the Street" on Monday. "There's a little bit of an average check boost."

In fact, the company plans to upgrade 1,000 stores with this technology every quarter for the next eight to nine quarters.

"If you think about only two years ago, if you were a customer there were two ways you can get served at McDonald's," Easterbrook said. "You walked to the front counter and line up and take your drink and find a table or you go through the drive through. We're introducing many options. They can order through mobile, they can come curbside and we'll run it out as well as the existing traditional ways. You can pay in different ways and customize your food in different ways. I think we're trying to add more choice and variety."
French President Emmanuel Macron and German Chancelor Angela Merkel during a press conference at Elysee Palace on August 28, 2017 in Paris, France. Aurelien Meunier | Getty Images

German Chancellor Angela Merkel ended her silence on euro zone reform by showing some willingness to increase risk-sharing  a long-standing issue for many politicians in Berlin. Merkel on Sunday revealed her vision for the future of the euro zone bailout fund  the European Stability Mechanism (ESM)  and for an investment budget to support euro countries with structural problems, in an interview with the Frankfurter Allgemeine Sonntagszeitung newspaper. Her comments come a few weeks ahead of a key European Union summit, where many leaders, especially French President Emmanuel Macron, want to sign-off on specific policies to upgrade the euro zone. Macron went as far as asking for a euro zone finance minister. Many politicians in Europe had criticized Merkel for not setting out clearly her thoughts on euro reform. "This is Merkel's first attempt to lay out a position on euro zone reform," Constantine Fraser, Europe analyst at TS Lombard, told CNBC via email. "She knows she has to engage with demands for more risk-sharing, but also has to bring onboard the conservatives in her CDU-CSU (coalition), and act, in a way, as the spokeswoman for the skeptical smaller northern European countries."

What's Merkel proposing?

Merkel wants the ESM, which currently is responsible for lending money to economically fragile countries, to focus on strengthening budgetary discipline. Under her plans, the ESM would monitor each euro country to make sure they are following fiscal rules. Other proposals, from the European Commission and France, have suggested the ESM should become an instrument to prevent future financial crises. In Merkel's eyes, the future ESM should provide long and short-term loans. The former should only be awarded if the entire euro zone was at risk and on the basis of deep structural reforms within the recipient country. Short-term lending should only be granted to countries suffering from external circumstances, such as a recession.

German Chancellor Angela Merkel attends a two-euro-coin presentation in Berlin on January 29, 2015. Tobias Schwarz | AFP | Getty Images

Merkel was clear that the ESM should remain an intergovernmental institution. If Merkel receives support for her idea, then the different euro governments would have stronger powers when considering future bailouts. Her second proposal, for a euro zone investment budget, seems less ambitious than an idea presented by France's Macron, who wants to build a euro zone tool able to deliver fiscal stimulus to respond to economic shocks. Merkel, on the other hand, wants the investment budget to deal with issues only in countries with fewer economic problems, in other words to support innovation and technology. Such investments should never exceed a figure in the low double-digits of billions. This mechanism would be overseen by the different euro parliaments. "Paris and Berlin are still a long way apart  and Merkel's proposals also still fall short of the architecture most economists think would be necessary to make the euro zone more robust," Fraser from TS Lombard said.

He added that Merkel's vision for an investment budget "is so small as to be macro-economically insignificant." Holger Schmieding, an economist at Berenberg, said in a note Monday that "while Paris praised her comments as a significant step closer to the positions that French President Emmanuel Macron laid out 250 days ago, Merkel did not break much new ground."

What does this mean for the June summit?
Miami Beach, Florida, one of the most popular resort cities for short-term rentals, is cracking down on illegal listings by proposing strict requirements on how properties are advertised. The sweeping changes to an existing law, if approved, could have a major impact on the short-term rental market. "I wish Airbnb and some of these other home-sharing platforms would be responsible and simply say, 'We're not going to send people into neighborhoods which forbid this kind of behavior,'" said Miami Beach Mayor Dan Gelber, who is proposing the changes. Miami Beach prohibits rentals for less than six months and one day unless the property is in a legally permissible zone, such as most of tourist-dense South Beach. Short-term rentals are largely illegal in the residential areas of the city. The city already imposes stiff fines for illegal short-term rentals that start at $20,000 for the first violation. But the activity has continued despite the tough enforcement. The mayor's proposal comes on the heels of a CNBC investigation last month which found the city trying to enforce regulations on illegal listings, through the fines and routine visits by code compliance. The investigation also found commercial companies leasing properties and turning them into illegal rentals, not only in Miami Beach but in other cities around the country. Property owners who rent out rooms in Miami Beach are now required to have a resort tax certification number and a business tax receipt number, which is a business license. Since rooms are being rented out, owners must pay the resort tax to the city. Short-term rental platforms are not covered under the existing law.

The proposed amendment would require each property owner engaging in short-term rentals to "conspicuously display the city-issued business tax receipt number in every advertisement or listing of any type in connection with the rental of the residential property," the proposal states. "Failure to comply with this requirement shall create a rebuttable presumption that the residential property is being operated without the proper registration."

It is expected to be on the City Commission's agenda in July.

Airbnb did not immediately respond to a request for comment. But in an interview at Airbnb headquarters in San Francisco last month, Chris Lehane, the company's head of global policy, said Airbnb is open to talks with Miami Beach.

"There has to be two parts to this," Lehane said. "They have to be able to work with us so that they can effectively enforce. Government has the authority and responsibility to do enforcement."

He said: "We can give them the tools. We can give them the information. They're presumably trying to do enforcement right now. Not particularly successfully, on one hand, because this activity has always existed there. On the other hand, because it's really difficult for them to be at the end of the day, able to enforce a middle-class family who's trying to make a few extra bucks."

Asked repeatedly why Airbnb won't block illegal listings in Miami Beach on its own, Lehane said: "We've worked with cities all over the country. We've put in something called a pass-through registration system. Cities can determine if something is in the permissible area or not. We've done that. We've done it all over the place. Happy to do that in a place like Miami Beach."

Gelber said: "Airbnb's business model is not compatible with the kind of recognition that short-term rentals are not broadly in the public interest in cities. So they're either going to fight or they're going to change."

Leslie Cafferty, spokesperson for Booking Holdings' booking.com, told CNBC, "We abide by all local laws and so if the law changes, we will accommodate."



Expedia, which owns HomeAway, did not immediately respond to a request for comment.



Cities around the world have cracked down on illegal short-term rentals in various ways. For example, last year, Airbnb and HomeAway, reached a settlement with San Francisco. The two platforms agreed to enforce regulations passed in 2014 that require them to register all hosts.

The settlement also requires Airbnb and HomeAway to collect data from people who list their units for under 30 days, information San Francisco can use when determining who can register.

The goal of the agreement was to limit the number of "commercial de facto year-round hotels," according to Omar Masry, senior analyst of the San Francisco Office of Short-term Rental Administration and Enforcement.

"We tend to see a strong correlation with quality-of-life issues, noise and parties," Masry said about commercially operated listings, adding they "rarely see this with short-term rentals playing by the rules."

Since the new rules went into effect last September, the number of listings has dropped from around 10,000 to 4,000.

Masry said the city has been working closely with Airbnb to identify illegal listings and remove them from the platform.

"We've seen a massive reduction in illegal listings, including many folks who we had seen operating ... high-volume short-term rentals across the city," Masry said.

In order to register with San Francisco, hosts must provide personal information such as proof of residency in the unit, a driver's license, photo identification and basic listing information for the property. Hosts must also pay fees for a business registration certificate and a short-term residential rental certificate.
Govt plans to send rhino pair to China ahead of PMs State visit

The government is planning to send at least a pair of one-horned rhinoceros to China ahead of Prime Minister KP Sharma Olis five-day state visit to the northern neighbouring nation which begins on June 19.
Microsoft on Monday announced plans to acquire software developer platform GitHub in a deal valued at $7.5 billion.

GitHub was valued at $2 billion in its last funding round in 2015, though it has yet to turn a profit.

Microsoft has seen its once-dominant Windows unit slip in market share in recent years, spurring a cloud-first reorganization and sending Microsoft looking for alternatives to court developers.

"Microsoft is a developer-first company, and by joining forces with GitHub we strengthen our commitment to developer freedom, openness and innovation," Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella said in a statement. "We recognize the community responsibility we take on with this agreement and will do our best work to empower every developer to build, innovate and solve the world's most pressing challenges."

Microsoft vice president Nat Friedman will assume the role of GitHub CEO, the company said. He takes over for the developer platform's founder Chris Wanstrath, who stepped down 10 months ago.

"The future of software development is bright, and I'm thrilled to be joining forces with Microsoft to help make it a reality," Wanstrath said. "Their focus on developers lines up perfectly with our own, and their scale, tools and global cloud will play a huge role in making GitHub even more valuable for developers everywhere."

GitHub's tools have become essential to software developers, who use it to store code, keep track of updates and discuss issues.

The privately held company has more than 23 million individual users in more than 1.5 million organizations. It was on track to book more than $200 million in subscription revenue, including more than $110 million from companies using its enterprise product, GitHub told CNBC last fall. The platform has been named to CNBC's Disruptor List five times.

GitHub's financials will be reported under Microsoft's Intelligent Cloud segment. The tie-up will "accelerate enterprise use of GitHub and bring Microsoft's developer tools and services to new audiences," Microsoft said.

Microsoft has reportedly flirted with buying GitHub in the past, including in 2016, although GitHub denied those reports. A partnership could give Microsoft another connection point to the developers it needs to court in order to build applications on its various platforms, including the Azure cloud. Microsoft could also use data from GitHub to improve its artificial intelligence products.

Microsoft doesn't expect to make money off the deal until 2020 but said it will have minimal negative impact on earnings.

Talks to acquire GitHub were first reported Friday by Business Insider. The deal is expected to close by the end of 2018, Microsoft said.

CNBC's Jordan Novet contributed to this story.
on Monday said it expects revenue to fall in the second quarter after a decline in bookings following a deadly engine failure aboard one of its flights in April.

Southwest, which carries more travelers within the U.S. than any other airline, forecast a 3 percent drop compared with a year ago, in the revenue it generates per each seat it flies a mile, a key industry metric. The airline had warned of a 1 percent to 3 percent drop in operating revenue per available seat mile in April following the accident after it pulled marketing.

Southwest, a low-cost airline with peppy advertising campaigns, changed its website and tone after the April 17 accident. A fan blade broke off one of Southwest's Boeing 737's engines when a New York to Dallas flight was flying above 30,000 feet. Debris scattered, rupturing a window and partially sucking one passenger out of the opening. The plane made an emergency landing in Philadelphia. The passenger died.
Michael Cohen, personal lawyer to U.S. President Donald Trump, arrives at federal court in New York, U.S., on Wednesday, May 30, 2018.

The priviliged documents will not be turned over to federal prosecutors in New York who are conducting a criminal investigation of Cohen. The 51-year longtime lawyer for Trump is under scrutiny for various business dealings, as well as a $130,000 hush-money payment to porn star Stormy Daniels on the eve of the 2016 presidential election.

A court appointed watchdog in the case of President Donald Trump's lawyer, Michael Cohen, released an initial report Monday which found that relatively few documents in an initial tranche of documents that were seized from Cohen in a raid met the standard of being subject to attorney client privilege.

In a report to the court, Special Master Barbara Jones said Cohen's lawyers and Trump's lawyers had identified 17 items in an initial group of eight boxes that they believed to be privileged or partially privileged, out of 639 total. Of those 17, Jones agreed with them on 14 of them, and rejected the claim of privilege on the other three.

Among the contents of two phones and one iPad, Jones reports that Cohen's lawyers had flagged 156 items out of a total of more than 290,000 as either privileged, partially privileged, or highly personal. In this case, Jones agreed with the Trump Organization's and Cohen's attorneys.

From the report:

1. Contents of Eight Boxes of Hard Copy Materials:Out of 639 total items consisting of 12,543 pages, the Special Master agrees with the Plaintiff and/or Intervenors and finds that 14 items are Privileged and/or Partially Privileged.The Special Master also finds that 3 items are not privileged. 2. Contents of Two Phones and an iPad: Out of 291,770 total items, the Special Master agrees with the Plaintiff and/or Intervenors and finds that 148 items are Privileged and/or Partially Privileged and that 7 items are Highly Personal.

This review represents only a fraction of the total documents seized in the April 9 raid of Cohen's office, home and hotel room, which included computer hard drives that are expected to contain hundreds of thousands more files.

Immediately following the raid, lawyers for the Trump Organization and Cohen voiced concerns that an unknown number of the files could be protected by attorney client privilege, and they objected to a special team of prosecutors being assigned to review the files for privilege.

While Jones is not finished with her review, Monday's report seems to weigh against the initial concerns expressed by Cohen's attorneys, that a potentially large number of documents would be privileged.
Check out the companies making headlines before the bell:

Microsoft  The tech giant has held talks recently with GitHub to discuss acquiring the software developer platform. GitHub was last valued at $2 billion in its last funding round 2015, but the price tag for an acquisition could be $5 billion or more, based on a price that was floated last year.

Facebook  Facebook struck at least 60 data-sharing partnerships with smartphone and tablet makers such as Apple, Amazon, Microsoft, and Samsung over the last decade, according to a report by The New York Times.

Delta Air Lines  The airline said on Saturday it is investigating the death of a dog that died after it traveled in one of its plane's cargo holds during a cross-country flight. The dog was traveling from Phoenix to Newark via Detroit, where he was found dead.

Bayer  The German drugmaker will retire Monsanto's name as it finishes the $63 billion takeover of the U.S. seeds maker on Thursday, the company announced. Bayer has received all required approvals from regulatory authorities, it said in a statement on Monday.

Boeing  Randy Tinseth, Boeing's vice president of marketing, told CNBC Monday that the past eight and a half years of growth in the aviation industry have been "very strong." Tinseth said he thinks the "market's in a pretty good place" as passenger air travel numbers continue to be higher than expected.

MGM Resorts  A union for casino-hotel workers says it has reached a tentative agreement with MGM Resorts, covering nearly half of the 50,000 employees threatening to strike in Las Vegas.

Cathay Pacific  CEO Rupert Hogg told CNBC on Monday is on track to return its first annual profit in three years in 2019. Hogg explained that Cathay Pacific has not been impacted in a big way by the higher oil prices because of the many newer aircraft it has in its fleet.

Whirlpool  Credit Suisse upgraded the stock of the home appliances manufactured, to "outperform" from "neutral."

Nektar Therapeutics  Mixed results from studies combining Nektar's experimental drug NKTR-214 with Bristol-Myers Squibb's cancer immunotherapy led J.P. Morgan to lower its price target on Nektar's stock, to $78 per share to $90 per share.
Tesla shareholders are gearing up to swipe left or right, depending on whether they want Elon Musk to keep both his titles as chairman and chief executive.

A New York start-up aiming to make voting easier for regular shareholders who don't know the nitty-gritty details of proxy ballots and shareholder meetings is using the Tesla vote as its debut moment.

People who want to voice their opinions for or against an independent chairman at Tesla can sign up for the digital site, called Say. They will be able to connect it to their brokerage account to verify they own Tesla shares, and then click one of two buttons, one for keeping Musk in that role and one against. It is a mobile app and a website.

Ultimately, the app is aiming to make it easier for regular investors to take advantage of their ownership rights and make their votes count, Say's co-founder and CEO Jeffrey Cruttenden told CNBC. He got the idea through his other start-up, a micro-investing robo advisor called Acorns.

For Tesla's meeting, the Say "vote" is really a poll. Actual ballots cast for the Tesla proxy had to come from shareholders of record as of April 12 and voted through a broker. Say is working on connecting to brokers so it can handle shareholder verification and voting at some point in the future.

Technology has made trading and investing easy, but the voting part of it for a long time "has not been exactly customer-friendly," Cruttenden said.

"The proxy voting experience was so terrible that we really wanted to make sure that we could improve it," he said on CNBC's "Squawk Box" on Monday.

It's an open question how motivated Tesla's shareholders will be to vote for change. While big fund companies and professional investors have high rates of voting participation, only 27 percent of retail investors vote, according to a report by Broadridge Financial and PwC.

And voting tends to go along with management recommendations. Last year, 93 percent of votes were cast in support of director nominees and 84 percent in support of executive pay, the report said.

Tesla is nearly half-owned by big fund companies, and Musk holds another nearly 20 percent stake, according to FactSet.

Cruttenden said generally, turnout is low for electronic proxy voting, about 5 percent, as well as paper ballots, about 30 percent. And it skews to older, wealthier shareholders. Younger or newer investors don't necessarily know they can vote, he said.

Tesla shareholders vote for an independent chairman at the electric automaker's annual meeting Tuesday. Musk has been chairman since 2004 and CEO since 2008.

A shareholder proposal pushing the idea of an independent chairman has the support of proxy voting advisors Glass Lewis and Institutional Shareholder Services, though the company is urging people to vote against it.

The shareholder contends that the job has gotten too complex for one person. Musk has been scrambling to get Tesla's Model 3 production on track against scrutiny of the company's manufacturing abilities. He also has a variety of other projects, including space transport, solar power and high-speed tunnel travel.

"The complexity of large-scale manufacturing and the challenges of successfully commercializing new technologies and new manufacturing and marketing techniques suggest that shareholders would be better served by having Musk focus on running the company, and allowing an independent director to run the board," ISS said in a report last month.

It is usually difficult for shareholders to win campaigns, though big labor unions representing pensions and faith-based groups have raised issues from corporate governance to environmental and social issues for years with mixed results.

Activists led by a religious group recently won a surprise vote at gunmaker Sturm Ruger, requiring it to prepare a report on the risks associated with its business.

The shareholder pushing the vote at Tesla isn't a major activist with a big following, either. Instead, Jing Zhao, a California resident with just 12 shares of Tesla, says he filed the proposal to bring the issue to the attention of the board and will be content that shareholders got to consider it, whether or not it passes.

"Even if this does not get the majority, it puts pressure on the board," Zhao told CNBC in a phone interview. "I don't believe even a superhuman can do so many things."

Say is backed with $8 million in first-round funding from Steve Cohen's Point72 Ventures and other investors.

Eventually, the app can be used to vote on issues at other companies, but Cruttenden says he picked Tesla's meeting because it was a prominent stock and a big enough issue to draw attention, regardless of the outcome of the vote itself. "When owners get together, that's very powerful," he said.
The co-founder of an online money transfer service claimed that cryptocurrencies aren't flexible enough to be adopted on a widespread basis.

TransferWise is an Estonian developed and U.K.-based money transfer service, launched in January 2011. Its co-founder and CEO, Kristo Kaarmann, said Monday that while cryptocurrencies are interesting, they currently have limited use.

"It would be super exciting if the world decides that everyone will use it to buy homes and cars and sandwiches," he told CNBC's Arjun Kharpal at the Money 2020 conference in Amsterdam.

"But the last currency we launched (our service for) was the Egyptian pound and there is actually more things to do with an Egyptian pound than some of these cryptocurrencies," Kaarmann added.

Cryptocurrencies have excited investors and the financial services industry who cite a potential for global use. However, problems with exchange platforms, wild fluctuations in value, and an association with criminality have led to questions over the technology's worth.
The world could fall behind China when it comes to developing artificial intelligence (AI), the former president of the European Commission warned Monday.

Jose Manuel Barroso, now non-executive chairman at Goldman Sachs International, told CNBC's Arjun Kharpal that Beijing is getting on with development in AI.

"The Chinese are not only making statements, they are investing money," he said at the AI Deep Dive in partnership with Feedzai at Money2020.

Barroso added that his sentiment was not negative toward China and that, in the main, Chinese-led science would benefit the world.

The Goldman employee said Europe, in particular, "should not be naive" and must defend itself by ensuring that more money is committed to AI development.

He said there was evidence that this was happening with European countries that are net contributors to Brussels being asked to provide 100 billion euros ($117 billion) over the next seven years to scientific research.

Barroso said Goldman Sachs itself was heavily increasing investment in AI and, at times, it felt like there were more software engineers than financiers within the company.

On data privacy, Barroso said a "revolution" was going on after the Facebook data scandal and that stronger regulation was set to come in globally.

Alongside London-based elections consultancy Cambridge Analytica, Facebook is at the center of an ongoing dispute over the alleged harvesting and use of personal data.

"I don't believe that our democracies will accept their private data not to be protected," Barroso said.
The IRS will propose rules to address the federal income-tax treatment of payments filers make in return for a state or local tax credit.

Study: 33 states offer a state tax credit to residents who contribute to tuition scholarship programs and other state-related endeavors.

Camille Tokerud | Getty Images

As the Internal Revenue Service takes aim at blue states' new tax workarounds, questions remain on whether the agency might take a closer look at red states' tax credit programs. The Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, which went into effect this year, capped at $10,000 the state and local tax deduction filers can claim on their federal income-tax return. New York, New Jersey and Connecticut recently have passed laws to create a workaround: They will permit municipalities to establish charitable funds to pay for local services and offer property tax credits to incentivize homeowners to make contributions. Those who donate to the funds can claim a charitable tax deduction on their federal returns, exceeding the $10,000 cap on SALT deductions.

The IRS and Treasury announced upcoming proposed rules to address these plans, but lawyers and tax experts wonder whether the regulation will affect already-existing programs in Alabama, South Carolina and other states. "These kinds of programs aren't new," said Daniel Rosen, a partner in the North America tax practice group at Baker & McKenzie. "There are over 30 states that enable some kind of state tax credit in exchange for contributions to a state-sponsored fund or a private charitable fund," he said. "I don't see a way the IRS can credibly thread the needle, attack New Jersey and leave in place Alabama."

It's when you get up and above a 70 percent tax credit  that's when taxpayers start to view these as not being charitable programs at all but as ways to pad their own bank accounts. Carl Davis research director, Institute on Taxation and Economic Policy

Countering that, Lesley Searcy, executive director for the Alabama Opportunity Scholarship Fund said, "Our program has been in place since 2013  well before the new tax law." "We hope that any new IRS rules around the charitable deduction will not hurt tax-credit scholarship programs, and we certainly don't think there would be any intent to do so," she said. The Yellowhammer State's scholarship fund allows individuals to donate up to 50 percent of their Alabama income-tax liability or $50,000. Donors collect a dollar-for-dollar tax credit on their state returns. The IRS did not have further comment beyond its announcement that a proposed rule is on its way. Here's what you should know about the state tax-credit programs that are currently available to the charitably inclined.

Charitable contributions

Douglas P Sacha | Getty Images

A research paper authored by a group of tax law academics pointed to more than 100 existing state charitable tax-credit plans in 33 states. Those plans vary from conservation easements to private school tuition scholarship programs. For instance, individuals and businesses who pay South Carolina taxes can make a donation to Exceptional SC, a scholarship fund for children with exceptional needs, and claim a dollar-for-dollar tax credit against their state income-tax liability. Indiana offers a school scholarship tax credit to individuals or businesses who donate to scholarship-granting organizations. Those who give to an eligible organization may take advantage of a 50 percent credit against their state tax liability.

Charitable intent or tax payment

Catherine Lane | Getty Images

A main point of contention among tax experts is whether these programs are similar to the new plans sprouting in New York and New Jersey. "None of these [existing] programs were designed as ways to reduce federal tax liability," said Jared Walczak, senior policy analyst at the Tax Foundation. "They are intended to promote giving, and the tax deductions weren't capped when they were created." A key distinction is whether the contribution is made to provide a charitable benefit or paid in lieu of a tax. More from Investor Toolkit

Deferring compensation now can build retirement wealth

Having multiple advisors could increase your risk of poor returns

How your student loans can hurt you later on "Any payment made in satisfaction of a liability is considered a tax payment," Walczak said. Rosen of Baker & McKenzie, however, said that it's difficult to draw a legal distinction between the new SALT workarounds and plans that already exist. He said that the tax code considers two points when it comes to charitable contributions: Is the organization entitled to receive charitable contributions? Did the donor receive something of value in exchange for the donation? "If you have an old car in your driveway and you hear an ad for Kars for Kids, then you just want to get rid of the car," Rosen said. "You don't need to have a charitable intent to make the contribution."

A closer look

Getty Images
Where you work really can increase your chances of getting a raise. Career site PayScale crunched the numbers to find the cities that offer the highest likelihood of your receiving a raise after asking for one. Ogden, Utah, and Honolulu, Hawaii, top the list, with 85 percent and 82 percent of workers, respectively, getting a raise after sitting down with their managers. But while companies in Ogden reward proactive employees, the city has one of the lowest percentage of employees saying they get unsolicited raises. This town apparently takes to heart the maxim, "Ask and you shall receive."

Employees working in the nation's tech hubs like San Jose, San Francisco and Seattle also see higher than average rates of success in securing a raise. Meanwhile, employees in Gary, Indiana, do not fare as well. Just over half of people asking for a raise get one here, while 47 percent are denied. To arrive at these findings, PayScale surveyed over 160,000 people about their salary and their history of asking for raises, as well as their demographics, job and company characteristics.

If you want a raise without asking for one
NAC should buy six Twin Otter planes

A committee has made its recommendation to buy six new Viking Air DHC6-400 Twin Otter aircraft to Nepal Airlines Corporation (NAC). The five-member committee had been formed to evaluate the need for NAC to purchase new aircraft to serve the domestic sector.
TransferWise announced a partnership Monday with France's Groupe BPCE to offer its low-cost money transfer service to the lender's customers, marking the first integration of the U.K. start-up's product with a major bank.

The London, U.K.-headquartered firm specializes in cross-currency money transfers at a lower cost than traditional banks. The process of moving currencies around the world is typically expensive because of a large cut taken by banks and unfavorable exchange rates. But TransferWise allows users to transfer money from one currency to another with a fee of around 0.5 percent and at the mid-market exchange rate.

TransferWise has around 3 million users transferring 2 billion euros ($2.3 billion) each month, and it is looking to boost its reach through the BPCE partnership. BPCE is the second-largest banking group in France. TransferWise will have access to the company's more than 15 million customers.

The service will be integrated via the group's banking apps starting in 2019, the companies said in the announcement made at the Money 2020 Europe fintech (financial technology) conference in Amsterdam, Netherlands.

Groupe BPCE is the first major mainstream bank to partner with TransferWise which has typically been seen as a challenger to the incumbents. German start-up bank N26 and Estonia's LHV have previously partnered with TransferWise.
President Donald Trump said Monday he has "the absolute right" to pardon himself  but added that he has "done nothing wrong."

Trump tweet

The tweet followed The New York Times' publication of a confidential letter over the weekend, in which Trump's lawyers argued to special counsel Robert Mueller that the president's broad powers mean he could not have obstructed justice.

The 20-page letter also suggested that the president even wields the constitutional ability to exercise the pardon power in matters related to the special counsel's probe of the links between the Trump campaign and Russia.

The assertion that a U.S. president holds an "absolute" power to pardon himself was endorsed on Sunday by Rudy Giuliani, the former mayor of New York and a current member of Trump's legal team.

Read more: Trump lays out two rationales for pardoning himself in the Mueller probe

In an ABC News interview, Giuliani said Trump "probably does" have the power to pardon himself, though "he has no intention" of doing so.

In word and action, Trump's latest uses of the pardon power could hold implications for how the president plans to act as the Russia probe, and the numerous lawsuits it has spawned, move forward.

Trump exercised his power to pardon last week for a sixth time, for conservative author and filmmaker Dinesh D'Souza, who was convicted of making an illegal campaign contribution. In a tweet, Trump said D'Souza "was treated very unfairly by our government!"

Later that day, Trump told reporters he was considering pardoning celebrity lifestyle guru Martha Stewart and was considering commuting the sentence of ex-Gov. Rod Blagojevich of Illinois. He said both also had been treated "unfairly."

Stewart was convicted in 2004 and sentenced to five months for a conviction related to a stock-selling scheme. Blagojevich, a Democrat, was sentenced in 2011 to 14 years in prison on corruption convictions, including trying to trade the Senate seat that became vacant when President Barack Obama went to the White House. Stewart and Blagojevich had ties to Trump's "Celebrity Apprentice" reality TV show.

But Trump's latest tweets suggest he may be considering pardons for the very people who could be offering information about him to federal investigators.

In just over a year, the special counsel has issued more than a dozen indictments, against Russians accused of working to affect the 2016 election as well as former Trump campaign officials, such as former campaign chief Paul Manafort.

Mueller's team has also secured guilty pleas from Trump's first national security advisor, Michael Flynn, and Manafort's longtime associate, Rick Gates, among others. Both men have agreed to fully cooperate with the probe.

No president has ever pardoned themselves. But a Justice Department memorandum from 1974  shortly before the resignation of President Richard Nixon  asserted that the president did not possess such a power.

"Under the fundamental rule that no one may be a judge in his own case, the President cannot pardon himself," Mary Lawton, former acting assistant attorney general for the Office of Legal Counsel, said in the memorandum.

Mark Osler, a former federal prosecutor who runs a commutations clinic at the University of St. Thomas, said the most controversial legal question is not the pardon itself, but what comes after.

"He can issue himself a pardon warrant. There is nothing to stop him from doing so," Osler said. "The question is what happens next. It could be that it could not be challenged until a prosecutor presented a charge against him, and he relied on the pardon as a defense."

Trump attacked the legal legitimacy of the special counsel in a follow-up tweet. Mueller's team, which was appointed by Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein in May 2017, is "totally UNCONSTITUTIONAL," Trump said.

The president maintained in both tweets that he has done "nothing wrong."

Trump tweet 2

Numerous Trump campaign associates and other individuals have been interviewed as part of Mueller's investigation. While Trump has previously said he would like to participate in an interview, the letter argues that the special counsel must meet a high standard to prove that only the president himself could provide the information they seek.

The special counsel is also looking into whether an obstruction of justice occurred as part of the investigations into Russian meddling and possible collusion with the Trump campaign.

But Trump's lawyers contend in the letter that the commander in chief "could neither constitutionally nor legally constitute obstruction because that would amount to him obstructing himself, and that he could, if he wished, terminate the inquiry, or even exercise his power to pardon if he so desired."

A spokesman for the special counsel declined to comment on Trump's tweets. The White House did not immediately respond to CNBC's request for comment.

--CNBC's Tucker Higgins contributed to this report.
The question of whether or not either of these assertions is true, however, is immaterial to the president's arguments about pardons. By Trump's logic, if he didn't do anything wrong, then any accusation that he did is, by definition, a false accusation.

Trump's lawyers have told media outlets that the president is convinced that neither he nor anyone on his campaign ever colluded with Russia. Trump's lawyers also say he does not believe he has obstructed justice while in office. Trump himself has repeatedly denied that he colluded with Russia or obstructed an investigation of Moscow's meddling.

Disguised as a hypothetical situation, Trump's first rationale for pardoning himself was simply that he didn't do anything wrong.

The arguments, made on Twitter, were accompanied by Trump's assertion that he has "the absolute right to PARDON myself." They were the latest signs that Trump is considering drastic action in order to protect himself from special counsel Robert Mueller 's Russia investigation.

President Donald Trump on Monday laid out two rationales that he could use to justify granting himself a pardon in the event that he is ever charged with a federal crime.

President Donald Trump speaks to members of the media on the South Lawn of the White House in Washington, D.C.

Moreover, the accusations Trump is talking about would almost certainly stem from the special counsel, which Trump regularly accuses of acting as an arm of the so-called deep state, a conspiracy orchestrated by his political enemies.

This means that any accusation would not only be false, it would also have been concocted by Trump's enemies in the Justice Department  bureaucrats willing to use the power of the state not to advance justice, but to destroy Trump.

By this reasoning, Trump's situation would be similar to that of conservative author Dinesh D'Souza, who pleaded guilty to federal campaign finance violations. Trump granted D'Souza a pardon just last week.

TRUMP TWEET 2

In addition to the D'Souza model of using his presidential pardon powers to remedy an "unfair" prosecution of himself, Trump on Monday suggested a second rationale by which he would be justified in granting himself a pardon in the Mueller probe.

TRUMP TWEET 3

A variation on Trump's first argument, his second claim went further, arguing that the special counsel's office was not merely corrupted by politics, it was out-and-out unconstitutional. (Trump's second tweet was originally posted at 9:07 a.m. Monday. It was later deleted and reposted at 10:01 a.m., this time with the correct spelling of "counsel.")

It's unclear precisely why Trump believes the probe violates the Constitution, but on Sunday, he tweeted snippets of an interview on Fox News Channel with Mark Penn, a former Hillary Clinton campaign strategist who has argued that Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein and Mueller had conflicts of interest that should have precluded their involvement in an investigation of the Trump campaign.

Penn has also publicly questioned whether the broad investigative authority granted to the special counsel by the Justice Department is in keeping with what the framers of the Constitution intended.

TRUMP TWEET 4

Setting aside Trump's widely debunked claim that the Clinton campaign conspired with Russia, the president's argument that the special counsel is unconstitutional is a relatively new one for Trump. More often, he has claimed that the probe is a hoax, a witch hunt or a conspiracy.

Yet by aping Penn's argument in his tweet, the president appeared to be trying to bring a new level of legal gravitas to his tirades against the Mueller investigation.

If the special counsel's probe were indeed unconstitutional, Trump could easily argue that this means any evidence uncovered during the probe, and any charges based on that evidence, would be unconstitutional, too.

If the entire Mueller investigation is the equivalent of one, big unconstitutional search, as Trump appeared to claim on Monday, then pardoning individuals targeted by the probe, including himself, would be tantamount to righting a wrong and to protecting constitutional rights.

The White House didn't immediately respond to a request for comment on Trump's arguments.
Italy's biggest bank, UniCredit SpA is exploring a merger with France's Societe Generale SA in a move that would see the European banks leading the way for banking mergers on the continent, the FT said on Sunday.

UniCredit's French chief executive, Jean-Pierre Mustier, a former head of SocGen's investment banking unit, has been developing the idea for several months now, the FT said, citing sources.

Although no formal approach has been made, SocGen directors have also been exploring the possibility of a combination, according to the newspaper.

Senior executives representing both parties stressed planning was at an early stage, the FT said, and that Italy's volatile political situation caused a delay in the timetable for a deal from the original plan of 18 months.

On Sunday, SocGen denied "any board discussion regarding a potential merger with UniCredit", according to an emailed statement to Reuters.

UniCredit declined to comment on the FT report, while saying their 'Transform 2019' turnaround plan is based on "organic assumptions".

SocGen has been at the center of speculation over merger talks with UniCredit, while more recent takeover talk within the European banking industry has centered on Germany's Commerzbank AG.

Societe Generale Chief Executive Frederic Oudea said in November last year that cross-border bank deals in Europe were unlikely over the coming quarters, adding that the bank's new three-year strategy would put it in a strong position for mergers when the time came.
A cocktail served at the new United Airlines Polaris lounge at Newark Liberty airport. Leslie Josephs | CNBC

There are more ways than ever to gain access to an airport lounge, away from the masses: frequent-flyer status, credit card perks, day passes, subscription services. Those won't get you through the door at United Airlines' new 27,000-square-foot Polaris lounge, which opened on Monday at Newark Liberty International Airport. The Polaris lounge is reserved for travelers with tickets aboard Polaris, United's new international business class, and international first- and business-class passengers booked on its Star Alliance partners. Booked in first class on a domestic ticket or short-haul business class? You're off to the more basic United Club lounges.

Hors d'oeuvres served at the new United Airlines Polaris lounge at Newark Liberty Airport. Leslie Josephs | CNBC

The airline is raising the velvet rope for the bright new facility, which features showers with rainfall shower heads, 10 daybeds with Saks Fifth Avenue-branded blankets (the airline said the blankets are washed on site) and an extensive menu that includes dishes such as polenta fries and braised lamb.

Shower facilities at the new United Airlines Polaris lounge at Newark International. Leslie Josephs | CNBC

United's business-class ticket prices vary but a round-trip from Newark to London's Heathrow Airport in early July was about $4,200. The airline, like its competitors, is trying to court well-heeled travelers, but the Polaris rollout, which includes new seating and lounge construction, has been slow since it was first announced in 2016. The airline needed more space for the lounges because the product appeared more popular than it anticipated, leading to construction delays, spokesman Robert Einhorn said. The airline set up a website where the public can track its progress on installing the new Polaris seats on board and when it opens lounges. Both United and Delta are in the middle of rolling out new seating in premium international cabins. United's Polaris has pods instead of seats, while Delta is offering suites with sliding doors. United last month said it would offer some business-class travelers access to a private terminal and a lift in a BMW 7-Series sedan. Just about 5 percent of travelers in the first seven months of 2017 flew in a premium-class cabin, which includes business class, but they accounted for around a quarter of revenues, according to the International Air Transport Association, a trade group representing the world's biggest airlines.
The hot-and-cold relationship between the world's two largest economies could potentially take a turn for the worse on June 12. Not because of the anticipated U.S.-North Korea summit scheduled for that day, but due to a new office building in Taiwan. The American Institute in Taiwan, a non-profit that operates as the de-facto U.S. embassy in Taipei, is set to launch its new office that day and a senior U.S. official  many theorize it could be National Security Advisor John Bolton  is widely expected to attend. The $250 million facility is reportedly twice the size of the current building and represents a major strengthening of U.S.-Taiwan relations. But it could also add strain to a U.S.-China relationship that's already weighed down by trade tensions.

President Donald Trump visits the Forbidden City with China's President Xi Jinping in Beijing on November 8, 2017. Jonathan Ernst | Reuters

The Asian powerhouse, which claims Taiwan under a policy known as "One China," opposes other countries pursuing relations with the self-ruled island. That means nations seeking ties with China must cut off diplomatic links with Taipei. Washington did that in 1979 but it created the American Institute, or AIT, the same year to maintain relations on an unofficial basis. Trump's outreach to Taiwan, which includes a 2016 telephone call with President Tsai Ing-wen, increased arms sales and a law that ended restrictions on official travel between U.S. and Taiwanese officials, has already irked Beijing. That piece of legislation, according to the Chinese embassy in Washington, violated the political foundation of the Sino-U.S. relationship.

[The U.S.] should therefore seize opportunities to signal its opposition to China's punitive tactics. Sending a senior U.S. official is one of those opportunities. Richard Bush Brookings Institution

Depending on which high-ranking White House employee attends the AIT launch, Beijing's displeasure could grow. Not only is China unhappy "with the scope and scale of the U.S. relationship with Taiwan, particularly in the security field," the country "also objects to U.S. actions that suggest that its relationship with Taiwan is actually official," Richard Bush, senior fellow at the Brookings Institution, said in a recent note for the U.S.-based think tank: "If it had its way, it would probably prefer that Washington have a simple trade office in Taipei, as other countries have." The new AIT compound was expected to house barracks for U.S. marines, according to Taiwanese media, but AIT director Kin Moy dismissed those reports in a May press conference. The de-facto ambassador said increased U.S. support for Taiwan did not mean Washington was changing its acknowledgment of the "One China" policy  despite Chinese media indicating otherwise. Bush, a former AIT chairman, described how the institute has operated out of a complex built in the 1950s, noting that employees "have long deserved a new building."
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Press secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders is set to field reporters' questions on Monday, shortly after President Donald Trump said he wields the "absolute right" to pardon himself.

Trump followed that assertion of executive power with a tweet attacking the special counsel as being "totally UNCONSTITUTIONAL!"

trump tweet 1

trump tweet 2

The pair of tweets raised new questions about how Trump and his legal team view their options for fighting back against the special counsel's probe of Russian election interference.

His tweets came after The New York Times published a confidential letter from Trump's lawyers arguing that the president's broad executive powers allow him to issue pardons related to the Russia probe.

Trump also flexed the power last week, granting a pardon to conservative commentator Dinesh D'Souza, who was convicted of making an illegal campaign contribution. He also floated the possibility of forgiving the conviction of celebrity chef and entrepreneur Martha Stewart and commuting the sentence of Illinois ex-Gov. Rod Blagojevich.

The Monday morning tweets also came amid ongoing challenges on North Korean denuclearization and the prospects of a global trade war with U.S. allies. On Friday, Trump said that an unprecedented meeting with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, which he had canceled days prior, would take place on its originally scheduled date of June 12 after all.

The president tempered expectations with his Friday announcement, saying he believed multiple meetings would be needed to work toward the ultimate goal of North Korean denuclearization.

While Trump attempts to forge new ties with North Korea, U.S. allies are sounding off about his administration's plan to slap steel and aluminium tariffs on Canada, Mexico and the European Union.

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau castigated the Trump administration for arguing that Canada's trade practices posed a national security threat. His foreign minister, Chrystia Freeland, announced Friday that Canada planned to respond with dollar-for-dollar tariffs on imports from the U.S.
1. Artificial intelligence for voice

Artificial intelligence (A.I.) will continue to dominate fintech in new ways. In 2018 we will see businesses use A.I. technology to develop new commerce interfaces, with the number of companies looking into voice set to increase.

Consumers are becoming more at ease using digital assistants and several are now readily available for use in the home. Call centers are an example of where voice will excel, with bots being able to offer help and direct calls more quickly and easily.

Voice assistants are also being developed to handle banking functions. OCBC Bank recently partnered with Google to launch the first A.I.-powered voice banking in Singapore. This allows customers to start conversations about bank services which include calculating mortgage loan amounts, planning future savings, receiving the latest finance market updates and searching for nearby branches or ATMs.

Mastercards Vice Chairman Ann Carins gave an insightful keynote speech on conversational commerce. Voice technology has a fantastically important role in fintech because it becomes a frictionless consumer experience, she said. But there has to be trust behind it.

There is still progress to be made but with big improvements in the underlying technology, voice interfaces are poised to provide a truly frictionless experience  and its one technology that customers seem eager and ready to embrace.
Nepal proposes dates for Bimstec Summit

Nepal has decided to propose two dates for the fourth summit of the Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation.
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Javid 1) MI5 could share intelligence on terror suspects

Terror victims of London Bridge hailed a year on  The Times

Home Secretary Sajid Javid is to reveal plans for MI5 to declassify and share information on UK citizens suspected of having terrorist sympathies. The security services currently hold information on around 20,000 such people, labelled subjects of concern. Mr Javid will make the announcement later in a speech relating to the overhaul of UK counter-terror strategy. Mr Javid is also expected to say he wants to eradicate safe spaces that are exploited by violent extremists. In his first speech on security since replacing Amber Rudd as home secretary, Mr Javid will suggest increased  and faster  sharing of information between security services, the private sector and other partners.  BBC

>Yesterday: WATCH: Javid stresses neighbourhood policing role in combatting terror

Javid 2) Home Secretary refuses to endorse tens of thousands immigration target

Sajid Javid has publicly criticised Theresa Mays migration policy and refused to endorse her target of reducing the number of people coming to the UK to tens of thousands. The Home Secretary was repeatedly asked whether he supports the Prime Ministers target of reducing net migration levels to the tens of thousands. He refused to explicitly say that he supports the target, instead saying that he supports the policies in the Conservative Partys manifesto. He told the Andrew Marr show on BBC One: Im committed to our manifesto. Ill be working towards, rightly, reducing net migration and bringing it to lower sustainable levels.  Daily Telegraph

Moving on from immigration obsession  Christian May, City AM

May expected to lift visa cap for doctors from outside the EU within weeks  Daily Telegraph

Businesses cheer rethink  Daily Telegraph

>Yesterday: WATCH: Gardiner on Labours immigration policy. Migration will fluctuate according to the economys needs.

Javid 3) We dont deal with the unrepresentative Muslim Council of Britain

The Muslim Council of Britain is unrepresentative, Sajid Javid, the home secretary, said as he rejected its call for an investigation into alleged Islamophobia in the Conservative PartyYesterday Mr Javid hit back at the council, an umbrella body for hundreds of mosques and other organisations, which had said that it witnesses incidents of Islamophobia from Tory officials, candidates and supporters more than weekly. Baroness Warsi, the first female Muslim cabinet minister, has also called on Theresa May to acknowledge that Islamophobia was a problem in the party. Mr Javid told The Andrew Marr Show on BBC One: I am afraid I dont agree with her.he added: The Muslim Council of Britain [MCB] does not represent Muslims in this country. You find me a group of Muslims that thinks theyre represented by the MCB. I would be very suspicious of anything that theyve got to say not least because, under the last Labour government  and a policy continued by us  we dont deal with the MCB . . . because too many of their members have made favourable comments on extremists and thats not acceptable.  BBC

>Yesterday: Iman Atta on Comment: The call for an inquiry into Tory anti-Muslim prejudice isnt new. We made it two years ago. It still stands.

Ellwood calls for amnesty for British troops who served in Ulster

Conservative defence minister who served in Northern Ireland has called for an amnesty to prevent army veterans being pursued by ambulance chasers, admitting he would not want them knocking on my door. Tobias Ellwood said he would not support any inquiry which could potentially see members of his former platoon facing historic allegations into old age, as he claimed that he himself had knocked over a few milk bottles during his deployment to the province. It comes after The Telegraph revealed last month that plans for an inquiry into the Troubles did not include an amnesty for British troops, despite calls for it to be time-limited to protect elderly veterans, some of whom are now in their seventies.  Daily Telegraph

Brexit 1) Lords was wrong to vote against the will of the people says Lloyd-Webber

Britain hints at staying in European VAT area  Financial Times

Khan urges MPs to back the Lords Amendments  The Guardian

The House of Lords has become very political and was wrong to vote against the government on Brexit legislation, Lord Lloyd-Webber has said. In his final speech in the Lords last July, Lord Lloyd-Webber, who voted to remain in the EU, said he feared that Brexit was hastening Putins dream of the break-up of the EU  and with it, potentially, western civilisation. Yesterday, however, he took aim at the upper chambers approach to Brexit. I do not think you can possibly be part of an unelected House and vote against the will of the people, he told The Andrew Marr Show on BBC One. It seems to me to be wrong.  The Times

>Yesterday: Tory Diary: Our survey. Almost two-thirds of Tory members dont have confidence in the Governments handling of Brexit.

Brexit 2) Better to have no deal than be a rule taker warns Swinburne

The UK should be prepared to walk from a Brexit trade deal with Brussels to protect the City rather than settle for becoming a rule taker of the EU, a senior Conservative MEP has said.One option  outlined in the EUs draft Brexit negotiating guidelines in March  would be offering access under Brussels so-called equivalence regime. But this has raised fears the UK financial services sector  which accounts for 11pc of UK economic output and contributed 72bn last year in tax  would then become a rule taker of Brussels, with the threat of access being revoked at 30 days notice. Kay Swinburne, a Conservative MEP and vice-chairman of the European Parliaments economic committee, told The Daily Telegraph she believed this was unacceptable.  Daily Telegraph

Brexit 3) Doomsday scenario a gamma minus piece of work declares Rees-Mogg

Project Fears laughable doomsday report is trying to scare Britain away from a successful no-deal Brexit  The Sun Says

Whitehall accused of hysteria  Daily Mail

Brexit 4) Pressure to give Gibraltar an MP at Westminster

Doomsday Brexit scenario warning that Britain will be hit with shortages of medicine, food and fuel if it tries to leave the EU without a deal is Project Fear on speed. Whitehall officials have reportedly begun contingency planning for the Port of Dover to collapse on day one if Britain crashes out of the European Union, leading to critical shortages of supplies. The Brexit Department, Department of Health and Department for Transport have drawn up plans for a no-deal Brexit including a mile one, severe one and one dubbed Armageddon. However Jacob Rees-Mogg, a senior Tory eurosceptic MP, said that it was a gamma minus piece of work and economically illiterate.  Daily Telegraph

Pressure was mounting last night for Gibraltar to have its own Member of Parliament in Westminster after Brexit, with a petition signed by 40 percent of the voting population. It emerges two weeks before MPs will be asked to debate the prospect of the overseas territory securing its post-Brexit future as a fully-fledged member of the United Kingdom. With 23,000 voters Gibraltar would not be the smallest constituency  Nah h-Eileanan an Iar, in the Outer Hebrides, has just 21,260. But senior government insiders on the Rock say the move, if accepted by the majority of Gibraltarians, would more likely see it share an MP with Cornwall.  Daily Express

Brexit 5) Compromise and accept some rules, proposes Open Europe

Switzerland should be the model  The Sun

A leading Eurosceptic campaign group wants the UK to accept substantial portions of the EUs rules after Brexit to chart a compromise between hardline leavers and extreme remainers. Open Europe, a think tank with close ties to prominent Brexiteers, says today that the UK should in effect become a rule-taker on regulations over goods while writing its own rules on services. The model will be anathema to pro-Brexit campaigners, who want the UK to abandon red tape emanating from Brussels, but it is being pitched as a compromise option that would appeal to the bulk of the Conservative parliamentary party.  The Times

>Today: Stephen Booth on Comment: Our Brexit proposal. Integrate for goods, diverge for services.

Brexit 6) May needs to get tough says Kavanagh:

Chief EU bully Michel Barnier last week spat out the words that should be carved on the hearts of all those fighting to overturn Brexit. We dont want to negotiate. We dont want to compromise, he confessed to Vice online news. Now we all know. Our grovelling attempt to buy a friendly, friction-free and costly trade deal was doomed from the start..Her 39bn cheque is the trump card. With Greece destitute, Italy imploding and Austria, Poland and Hungary near revolt over immigration, the EU needs all the friends  and money  it can get.  Trevor Kavanagh, The Sun

Pro-European MPs have a moral duty to resist Brexit  Nick Clegg, The Times

We dont need Brexit. I have a plan to build a modern, fairer Britain  Will Hutton, The Guardian

Johnson could faced a whipped vote on Heathrow third runway

Seely warns of Russian destabilisaton

Theresa May is facing a rebellion by Boris Johnson and senior Tory MPs after it emerged that she is considering whipping a vote on third runway at Heathrow later this month. The Prime Minister had been expected to give Mr Johnson and dozens of anti-Heathrow Tory MPs a licence to rebel by handing them a free vote on the runway in a bid to avoid destabilising the Government. However The Telegraph understands Mrs May is now considering imposing a three-line whip on the vote next month amid concerns that the Government could lose.  Daily Telegraph

Russian scare tactics will threaten our stability for years to come, a hard-hitting report says. Tory MP Bob Seely said the Kremlins use of hackers, trolls, paid protesters and misinformation are all part of a full spectrum destabilisation strategy against the West. Mr Seely, who compared the approach to a Russian doll, said at least 50 tools of state power are being used in a bid to interfere with Western countries. He said: From fake news aimed at Europe to the propaganda of RT, and from the occupation of Crimea to the streets of Salisbury, Russia is waging a very modern kind of conflict on the West  as well as on the Russian people themselves. Putins tactics owe much to the active measures practised by the KGB during the Cold War, subverting truth to undermine our faith in our institutions.  The Sun

Khan under pressure over crime as speculation continues over who his Tory rival will be

Will Tories pick top Brexiteer and Leave.EU co-founder for London mayor?  Andrew Pierce, Daily Mail

Sadiq Khan faces the prospect of a Conservative challenger from September at a time when there are concerns about knife crime, questions about Transport for Londons finances, and uncertainty about how far the capitals mayor is able to address the housing crisisKhan has been accused of failing on his election pledge to make London safer, although he announced an as yet largely unspent 45m knife crime fund in February. But in response to the criticisms, the mayor told the Guardian he is not getting enough money from central government for policing.  The Guardian

>Today: Shaun Bailey on Local Government: We are the party of social mobility  but we must increase our focus on disadvantaged communities

Corbyn would return Elgin Marbles to Greece if elected Prime Minister

Jeremy Corbyn will order the British Museum to return the Elgin Marbles to Greece if elected Prime Minister, opening the door to dozens of historical artefacts being repatriated under a Labour government. The Labour leader has claimed that the Parthenon sculptures belong to Greece and that on entering Downing Street he would begin constructive talks with its government to begin the process of their return.  Daily Telegraph

>Yesterday: WATCH: The Tracey Ullman sketch that is riling the Corbynistas

Voters get bored with politicians more quickly these days claims Brown

Alastair Campbell criticised by his daughter for calling women birds  Daily Express

Sinn Fein voters will defect to DUP over abortions

The days of prime ministers staying in power for more than a decade are over because the era of 24-hour news has shortened the shelf life of politicians, Gordon Brown said yesterday. The former Labour prime minister, who occupied 10 Downing Street between 2007 and 2010, claimed the hourly news cycle meant voters got bored quickly if they were stuck with the same personalities. He also suggested that the constant invasion into politicians private lives made it hard for them to survive. Saying the country would never again have a prime minister serving 11 years like Margaret Thatcher, Mr Brown told the Hay Festival: There will be no ten years of any other prime minister again.  Daily Mail

Sinn Fein voters will switch allegiance to the Democratic Unionist Party because of its opposition to liberalising Northern Irelands abortion laws, Arlene Foster has claimed. The DUP leader said that she had been contacted by republicans after the Republics decisive referendum, saying that the DUP was the only party that supports the unborn. Abortion is illegal in Northern Ireland unless there is a serious risk to the mothers health, making it far more restrictive than Great Britain.  The Times

MPs call for change in the law  The Guardian

>Yesterday: WATCH: Foster on abortion. I have had e-mails from nationalists and republicans saying that they will be voting DUP.

SNP split over independence plans

Israel warns that Iran is trying to build a bomb

Nicola Sturgeon has been branded borderline delusional after describing the reaction to the SNPs Growth Commission as heartening. Despite a week of intense criticism from the Left of the Yes movement, the First Minister said publication of the 354-page report had shifted political debate in a very positive direction.  The Herald

Israel raised the pressure on Britain and its European partners last night to tear up the nuclear deal with Iran by sharing secret files showing Tehrans determination to build a bomb. One of the key documents, seen by The Times, is a memorandum that formally hands responsibility for the production of weapons-grade enriched uranium to the Iranian defence ministry. This and other written orders are part of a cache of 100,000 files snatched from a Tehran warehouse by agents of Mossad, the Israeli intelligence agency, in January.  The Times

Tehrans Untruths  Leader, The Times

Right wing party tops the poll in Slovenian elections

Thorpe hitman vanishes  again

The anti-immigrant Slovenian Democratic Party (SDS) has emerged as the largest party in Slovenias general election. With nearly all votes counted SDS had 25% of the vote, officials said. The centre-left anti-establishment LMS party came second with 12.7%. Analysts say SDS may find it difficult to form a coalition. The poll was called in March after centre-left PM Miro Cerar quit amid strikes, coalition wrangling and a damaging Supreme Court ruling. The SDS is led by former PM Janez Jansa, who has been a vocal supporter of Hungarys nationalist Prime Minister Viktor Orban.  BBC

The investigation into one of Britains most notorious political scandals descended into total farce last night. In an astonishing turn of events, police were first forced to admit that the prime suspect in the plot to kill Jeremy Thorpes gay ex-lover is actually still alive. Then, when embarrassed officers raced to Andrew Newtons Surrey home to confront him yesterday, they found he had vanished, leaving the humiliated force empty-handed. But Newton was seen walking to the house he is believed to share with Patsy Frankham on Saturday, after a spot of shopping.  Daily Mail

Moore: Aitken will make a fine priest

News in brief

Call to abolish by-elections for hereditary peers  Independent

California dreaming  Oliver Wiseman, CapX

In full: Priti Patels dossier to the Electoral Commission on possible Remain campaign overspending  Brexit Central

Sajid Javid starts to defy Theresa May on immigration  Fraser Nelson, The Spectator

Italys new hard-right government is the biggest threat the EU has faced  George Eaton, New Statesman

Jonathan Aitken has been an MP, a Cabinet minister, the chairman of a bank, a prisoner and a bankrupt. Now, at the age of 75, he is to be a clergyman. The first-ever woman Bishop of London, Sarah Mullally, will make him her first-ever ordinand at the end of this month.Obviously the role of any priest touches all aspects of life, but the specific purpose of Mr Aitkens ordination is to minister (unpaid) in prisons. He will surely be good at this. He has the fellow feeling and experience required. He notices, by direct observation, particular prison problems of our time  the unmet spiritual needs of prison officers, the growth of Islam at the expense of enfeebled Christianity, and the growing number of sex criminals, desperately lonely because they are despised not only by the outside world but by other inmates.  Charles Moore, Daily Telegraph
Fiona Bruce is MP for Congleton.

Hanging on the coat-tails of the momentum created by the Irish referendum, a group of MPs are campaigning to remove abortion from the criminal law.

Decriminalisation, they call it  because we apparently need a modern abortion law. At first glance, this might seem reasonable. Compassionate, even  until you realise the shocking extremism of their demands. It is easy to be confused here, because the Sunday shows were full of talk of extending abortion to Northern Ireland.

Lets end the confusion. This campaign is not just about Northern Ireland. Itis about liberalising abortion law in the whole of the UK. As Stella Creasy tweeted yesterday: Please ask your MP to stand with us repealing OAPA so that the whole of the U.K. can have modern abortion laws including Northern Ireland.

The OAPA is the Offences Against the Person Act, 1861. This is the core statute governing abortion in England and Wales. It provides that abortion (procuring miscarriage) is a grave offence. The Abortion Act, 1967, sets out exceptions to these offences, which are interpreted very broadly. Indeed, despite what some of campaigners suggest, we have one of the most liberal abortion laws in the world.

Our 24 week abortion limit is twice the EU average. Most other countries impose a 12 week limit. This isnt entirely arbitrary  12 weeks is the time of the first ultrasound scan, where, for anyone who has been through it  as I have  it is impossible to see the child in utero as anything other than a baby (which, by the way, is universally the term that midwives will use at this point). Irelands proposed (and entirely modern) law will also be 12 weeks. Our 24 week limit is already much, much too long, extending beyond the point at which premature babies have been known to survive outside the womb. And we dont even have a limit for abortion for serious handicap (also the legal term), in which case abortion is permissible to birth. Yes, we have up-to-birth abortion for disability in this country.

So if these campaigners really wanted a modern law they would back a reduction in the upper-time limit. But that is not what they want. They want to repeal sections 58 and possibly 59 of the Offences Against the Person Act (OAPA). If theyre really wanting to remove abortion from the criminal law, they will also seek to repeal the Infant Life Preservation Act, 1929 (ILPA) which still stands on the statue book and criminalises child destruction.

Without the OAPA, the exceptions outlined in the Abortion Act, 1967 become redundant. There is no longer any offence to need a defence. Even if they were to leave the ILPA and Abortion Act in place (which, would be a funny kind of decriminalisation), they seem to have overlooked that these two Acts of Parliament bear no relation to each other any more  they were decoupled in the early 1990s. So the Abortion Act (as amended) would have no use whatsoever. It would itself need to be repealed.

What would be the effect of such a change?

The upper time limit would be completely abolished. Stripping this of the jargon, this means abortion throughout pregnancy. Campaigners respond that medical regulation would be enough to govern the practice of abortion in the U.K. What they are not telling you is that there would be nothing in primary legislation to prevent a doctor (who was willing) from stopping the beating heart of a child one day before birth.

Time-limits are only half of the story. According to our current law, those seeking abortion have to persuade a doctor that continuing the pregnancy would be bad for their mental health. Pro-choice campaigners dont like this. They often argue that those seeking abortion should not have to offer any reason. This is what is called abortion-on-demand, and it is what Stella Creasys team would like to see in the U.K. But, this, too, is obfuscation. As every GP knows, the law has been interpreted so liberally, that the effect has been to provide for abortion on demand up to 24 weeks. Even Ann Furedi, whose tax-funded organisation, the British Pregnancy Advisory Service, is leading the decriminalisation campaign admitted as much. She said: Nevertheless the law, which appears highly restrictive on paper, can be interpreted liberally by doctors And, because the law has been interpreted in this way, it has met the needs of many women

Lets go back to basics. No-one with knowledge of developments in embryological/ foetal science over the past 25 years will argue that a pregnancy is not a human being. The pro-life position is simply that denying smaller human beings rights is illogical and inconsistent. This is not a religious argument. When Christopher Hitchens, no fan of religion, was asked do you consider yourself pro-life, he replied:

If the concept child means anything, the concept unborn child can be said to mean something. And all the discoveries of embryology, which have been very considerable in the last generation or so, and of viability, appear to confirm that opinion, which I think should be innate of everyone. Its innate in the Hippocratic Oath. Its instinct in anyone whos ever watched a sonogram, and so forth. So yes is my answer.

Creasy will reportedly attempt to secure an urgent question on the issue today, and is hoping for an urgent debate (and possibly a vote). MPs should be not be duped. Bringing our law into line with other more modern ones would mean passing more restrictive legislation. The truth is that this is bald opportunism  using Northern Ireland as leverage to attempt to introduce an extreme law that would see abortion on demand throughout pregnancy, with the convenient side effect that it will also weaken our Governments position. We should resist it.


Iain Stewart is a member of the Transport Select Committee, and is MP for Milton Keynes South.

The industry-led consultation on ticketing and fares is welcome news for rail customers. The country has moved on since 1995  now rail fares and ticketing must do too. The rail industry has launched a consultation to seek root and branch reform of ticketing and fares regulations that date back to the mid-1990s. This is a unique opportunity to make fares easier for customers, and to build trust in our railway.

From my experience as a member of the Transport Select Committee, I recognise that the railway has come a long way since 1995. The number of railway journeys taken last year alone topped 1.7 billion  more than ever before. The UK has one of the safest railways in Europe and has the highest level of satisfaction of any major railway in Europe. There are 28 per cent more services, and the railway employs 47 per cent more people than it did in 1997.

However, one area where our railway has not moved on is ticketing and fares. First introduced in 1995, what was well-intentioned regulation has since become enmeshed with complexity and requirements from rafts of subsequent franchise agreements. Twenty-three years on, we are now faced with around 55 million different fares on offer.

This matters, because not only should customers be able easily to choose the right ticket for them, but also because it is ticket receipts that increasingly underpin the progress we are seeing right now, and will see in the future.

There is now record investment in the railways, with the Government overseeing the greatest transformation since the steam age, and with an additional 13.8 billion of private sector investment. This is delivering new carriages (7,000 by 2021), more services (6,400 a week), and a station building and upgrade programme of 5 billion.

Indeed, the signs of what is coming down the tracks are visible in my constituency of Milton Keynes South, with plans for a major line build/rebuilding programme  East West Rail  which, if successful, would establish a new Oxford-Milton Keynes-Cambridge growth corridor, with the potential to support 1.1 million new jobs and to boost gross value added by 163 billion.

By any measure, substantial progress has been made, but crucially we need to ensure that customers trust the fares on offer  so they can see their money in action.

This Government is absolutely right in wanting to ensure the right balance of cost burden between the taxpayer and the passenger. Conservatives understand that there is no magic money tree, and that we need to be mindful of a situation in which rail competes for funding with the NHS, policing and other vital public services. In doing this, we need to make sure that customers have confidence that they are buying the right ticket for them.

At the moment, thats not the case. Recent independent research by KPMG shows that only one in three rail customers was very confident that they bought the best value ticket for their last journey, and that less than one in three customers was very satisfied with their experience of buying a ticket.

This is hardly surprising given that the system has not changed, while the way we live and work has. The number of people in part-time work and self-employment has increased by over a third in 22 years. Increasingly flexible working patterns mean that we no longer ask for the same standard range of tickets that we used to, with the total number of season ticket journeys taken last year falling by 21 million on the year before.

Beyond this, advances in technology have undoubtedly disrupted and in many ways improved our lives, and we need to ensure we leverage the benefits of change on the railway. Greater uptake of smart ticketing and enabling of customers to buy tickets through smartphones are just some examples of ways in which customer experience can be improved.

Reform represents a challenge, but also a significant opportunity for change. That is why I welcome the rail industrys and Transport Focus efforts in grasping the nettle and tackling this issue. The consultation will ask customers, businesses, passenger groups, employees and the public to have their say on what the fares system should look like, and I am calling on my constituents, and all those with an interest or a stake in the change to feed into this consultation to help make fares easier for everyone, now and for the long-term. The railway has moved on, now fares and ticketing must do too.
Stephen Booth is Director of Policy and Research at Open Europe.

After a short hiatus, Brexit will be back at the top of the political agenda in the coming weeks. The Government faces crunch votes on the Withdrawal Bill in the Commons, we are due a White Paper setting out the Cabinets Brexit policy in greater detail and, at the end of June, Theresa May will meet with EU leaders for another showdown in Brussels.

However, there doesnt yet appear to be a way through the current stalemate. All the while, time is slipping away and EU negotiators are turning the screws on Britain. Businesses dont know what to plan for, which is dampening UK growth. The Prime Minister needs a plan for our future trade with the EU that can command support in Parliament and Brussels, and quickly.

Today, Open Europe publishes a blueprint for a pragmatic deal that could break the deadlock. Broadly, our proposal is that the UK should seek continued deep integration with the EU for trade in goods and greater freedom to go its own way on services. This type of relationship would reflect the existing pattern of UK-EU trade and the nature of the UK economy.

Of the major European economies, the UK is uniquely orientated towards services. They make up around 80 per cent of our GDP, nearly half our exports, with well over 60 per cent of those exports destined for non-EU countries. The UK cannot afford to be a rule-taker from Brussels over such a large swathe of its economy.

Reportedly, the Bank of England is deeply concerned by the Treasurys willingness to countenance significant EU influence over UK financial services regulation under a Brexit deal. The Bank is right that the UK must have responsibility for setting its own rules in an area in which UK interests have often clashed with those in other EU states. There is also little chance of the EU agreeing to the UKs most ambitious proposals for financial services access.

Services may dwarf manufacturing in terms of UK output, yet goods still make up just over half of UK exports. And, whereas only 37 per cent of UK services are exported to the EU, 48 per cent of our goods are. UK manufacturers of complex products such as cars and chemicals have become increasingly integrated into pan-European supply chains, which would be difficult to substitute for more distant partners.

The time devoted to seemingly circular arguments about customs partnerships or max fac belies the fact that the costliest barriers to trade are likely to be regulatory. In order to minimise barriers to trade in goods, the UK should maintain the EUs existing rules on goods and agree broadly to follow future rules. Some Brexiteers might wince at this prospect, but there is limited benefit from regulatory divergence in these sectors  companies in non-EU states often choose to follow these rules anyway.

Equally, as a non-EU member, the UK could not be forced to adhere to a future EU rule deemed to be particularly intolerable. However, a decision by Parliament to depart from EU regulations could lead to retaliation and a diminution in market access. The costs and benefits of such an approach, and inevitable row with the EU, would need to be weighed by future governments and parliaments.

Meanwhile, Remainers should accept that it is not possible or desirable to recreate the existing economic relationship with the EU from the outside. First, with some exceptions, the Single Market in services has largely been a disappointment. Second, UK demands for an unprecedented level of services access from outside the Single Market would surely be met with an unacceptable EU counter-demand for the UK to relinquish control over so-called level-playing field issues. It would not be sustainable for the UK to mirror all future EU regulations over the domestic economy including on taxation, employment and labour rules, and so on.

Giving up some control  or sovereignty  over goods regulation, is a price worth paying for strong market access. In other areas, it makes little economic and certainly no political sense. This is a compromise that should win support amongst pragmatists on all sides of the debate.
Five years ago, the TaxPayers Alliance reported that in the last year, five times more Labour people were appointed to public bodies than Tories.

Since then, the figures have varied, and some Conservative members or supporters have been selected to fill important posts.

Nonetheless, it remains the case that, since it took office in 2010, our Party has punched beneath its weight when it comes to public appointments. One of the reasons seems to be that Tories simply dont apply in the same number as Labour supporters.

To help remedy this, every week we put up links to some of the main public appointments vacancies, so that qualified Conservatives might be aware of the opportunities presented.

         

Trade Remedies Authority  Chair

This is an exciting and high-profile role for a candidate with the right skills to help establish and subsequently lead a new dynamic body. The position will suit a candidate interested in creating real impact by delivering a priority new function, and to someone seeking an opportunity which offers both intellectual challenge and considerable stakeholder engagement. We are interested in candidates with experience of setting up public bodies successfully. Candidates will benefit from possessing a knowledge of international trade. The Chair will have responsibility for delivering the Governments commitment to ensuring the TRA is able to investigate and recommend trade remedies measures by the time the UK leaves the EU. The TRA Chair will lead on a number of critical areas, including developing the TRAs corporate governance structures and setting its strategic vision.

Time: 2-3 days per week, minimum 110 days per annum.

Remuneration: 63,400 per annum.

Closes: 07 June

         

Competition & Markets Authority  Inquiry Chair

The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) works to promote competition for the benefit of consumers, both within and outside the UK. Its aim is to make markets work well for consumers, businesses and the economy, with a strong consumer protection role. In order to meet these responsibilities it operates with flexibility, speed and transparency. The CMA is an independent non-ministerial department based in London. It has over 600 employees and has representatives in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. From 1 April 2014, it took over many of the functions of the Competition Commission and the Office of Fair Trading.

Time: Around four days per week.

Remuneration: 141,000 pro rata.

Closes: 11 June

         

BDTPS Ltd  Chair

The Chair of the BPDTS Board will be able to demonstrate excellent communication and strong and effective leadership qualities to shape and support the delivery of the strategic objectives required to support the Department for Work and Pensions in fulfilling its mission and objectives. The successful candidate will have responsibility for: providing clear, strategic leadership to the Board, ensuring its meetings are focused on the organisations current and future priorities and that all Board members contribute fully and effectively; working closely with the Board especially the Chief Executive, ensuring BPDTS is managed effectively and that BPDTS objectives and strategy are translated into clear management objectives; reviewing and setting the BPDTS strategic direction within a framework agreed with DWP and its Ministers, ensuring that plans and targets are clear and appropriate

Time: 20 days per annum.

Remuneration: 10,000 per annum.

Closes: 17 June

         

Low Pay Commission  Chair

The Low Pay Commission (LPC) is a high-profile and independent organisation that works to improve the lives of over 2 million workers in the UK by advising the Government on the rates at which the National Living Wage and National Minimum Wage should be paid. The LPCs goal is to help as many low-paid workers as possible while keeping in mind the impact that wages have on the economy and rates of employment growth. The core of the Commissions task is reach the right balance on wages through careful consideration of evidence of economic trends and the testimony of individual workers through front-line visits. Across its lifetime the minimum wage has been highly successful in raising pay for low-paid workers without a significant negative impact on jobs.

Time: Up to 3 days per month.

Remuneration: 530.96 per diem.

Closes: 18 June

         

Parole Board  Chair

The Parole Board plays a vital role in the criminal justice system by ensuring public protection and in supporting the rehabilitation of prisoners. The recent publicity surrounding the Boards decision in the case of Worboys demonstrates the high degree of scrutiny and accountability required of the Chair. The position of Chair is challenging, demanding and rewarding and requires an exceptional individual to provide first class leadership. To be successful in the role, the Chair will need to be able to: provide strong leadership to Parole Board members and staff; build diversity and inclusiveness at all levels of the organisation; ensure the independence of the Board whilst developing and maintaining strong relationships with Ministers; the Justice Committee; senior MoJ Officials and; a wide range of stakeholders in the criminal justice system.

Time: Up to 2 days per week.

Remuneration: 400 per diem.

Closes: 19 June

         

Consumer Council for Water  Local Consumer Advocate

Local Consumer Advocates are formally committee members, but are referred to as LCAs. They are allocated to the Committee that serves the consumers of their local water company. The primary role of a Local Consumer Advocate is to: advise and inform the Board on key consumer issues and to be a presence for the CCWater Board in the region; work with the local team to achieve CCWaters objectives as set out in our Forward Work Programme; review customer complaint cases about local water companies when asked; from time to time members may be engaged, selectively, on policy development work with members of other committees and staff

Time: 4 days per month.

Remuneration: 4,510 plus expenses.

Closes: 07 July
Congratulations to Jeremy Hunt who today has become the longest serving Health Secretary. He has served 2,100 days  beating the previous record set by Norman Fowler who was in post during the 1980s for five years and 273 days. Of course Lord Fowler might gently point out that his burden was rather greater. In those days it was the Department of Health and Social Security; it was split in two in 1988.

Hunt has had his share of controversies as Health Secretary  as he did in his previous post of Culture Secretary when his Special Advisor resigned amidst claims that relations with News Corporation had been too cosy during the BskyB bid. Yet Hunts tenacity has proved formidable. In January this year there was a cabinet reshuffle. One of the big changes was to be that Hunt would become Business Secretary. But he persuaded the Prime Minister to let him stay at health  and he was given an enhanced role with responsibility for social care as well. In 2016 it was actually reported that he had been sacked. The previous year the briefing was that he would be replaced as Health Secretary by Liz Truss.

Hunt then tweeted: Reports of my death have been greatly exaggerated Thrilled to be back in the best job in Government. On the subject of Twitter, few Tory politicians have used it as effectively as Hunt. Most Ministers are inclined to be rather aloof in their approach  just issuing the occasional grand pronouncement. Hunt is more combative, taking on his critics robustly  especially when they have made factual errors.

Andrew Lansley, Hunts predecessor as Health Secretary, brought in important reforms, introduced as the Health and Social Care Act 2012. When Hunt was asked in Parliament last month if he thought they had worked as intended he replied quoting Chou En-Lais comment about the French Revolutions impact: it is too early to tell.

A key component of the Lansleys reforms was de-politicisation of the NHS. Power would be devolved. Simon Stevens, Chief Executive of NHS England, is the boss. Yet whatever the process might be Hunts mentality is not to shrug and let them get on with it. Given Nigel Lawsons famous observation that the NHS is the closest thing the English people have now to a religion Hunt has been rather brave. He has not been so sacrilegious as to challenge the basis for the NHS  indeed he is pushing increasingly hard for it to be given more money. But Hunt has been more willing to attack the failings of the NHS than any of his predecessors. When a scandal takes place Hunt will say so  rather than try to excuse it or cover it up.

If Lansley wanted the power to go to the professionals, Hunt concern is to empower the patients. His approach was to apply accountability and transparency. When he was a new MP he was interviewed for 18 Doughty Street he said that he spent a couple of years in Japan and learnt the important lesson never be afraid to copy. The comment was made in relation to Lib Dem campaigning techniques in his constituency of South West Surrey. But we can see that his health reforms have, quite openly, been inspired by the ones implemented some years for education. Ofsted-style inspections were brought in followed by new leadership teams being imposed on those rated as inadequate. Performance tables would be published.

Last November Hunt wrote for this site about the Colchester NHS Foundation Trust having been turned around as a vindication of this approach.

In some ways Hunts success in surviving so long is all the more extraordinary given the turbulence he has endured. The British Medical Association passed a vote of no confidence in him. There was anger among junior doctors leading to strike action  while the aim of a truly seven-day NHS was noble they felt cheated over the imposition of new contracts.

Just after he was appointed Hunt decided to go ahead with a family holiday, which had already been booked. The BBC says:

While on holiday, he read the report into the Stafford Hospital scandal, which Sir Robert Francis had just finished. Those close to him said the findings had horrified him. It was not just the poor care and suffering that had happened, but that it had been allowed to go on so long without the alarm being raised.

He came back convinced he needed to champion patient safety. In the following years, he went on to overhaul the inspection regime, introduce a new duty of candour on staff and fresh rules about whistle-blowers.

Someone working with him at the time told me this was classic Jeremy. They said: He likes to pick a central theme and focus on it relentlessly. It is how he believes you get things done in government.

While this milestone is impressive the smart money is on Hunt staying in office for years to come. Perhaps after Brexit is complete it will be announced that Theresa May is standing down. A new Prime Minister is then chosen and the press are briefed that as part of a big reshuffle there will be a new Health Secretary. Hunt goes into Downing Street and tells the new PM he isnt having any such nonsense and will be staying in post. Hunt then emerges triumphant.

Presumably at some stage  perhaps in another 2,100 days time  there will be a new Health Secretary. I suspect that after he is gone we will miss him.
Our survey. Almost one in four Tory members want May to resign now. And over two in three want her gone before the next election.

Last month, the findings were:

Yes, now: 13 per cent.

Yes, before 2022: 50 per cent.

No: 34 per cent.

Dont know: 2 per cent.

So the proportion of our panel respondents wanting the Prime Minister to resign as party leader now has risen by ten per cent in a month. And the proportion not wishing her to quit at all is down from just over a third to a bit over a quarter.

Here again is the combined total of those believing that Theresa May should stand down as Party leader either now or before the next election  for each month since last summers general election.

69 per cent (April)

63 per cent (March)

55 per cent (February)

71 per cent (January)

59 per cent (December).

62 per cent (November).

64 per cent (October).

65 per cent (September).

61 per cent (August).

62 per cent (July).

71 per cent (June).

What has clearly happens is that this figure stood at seven out of ten party members last June, in the immediate aftermath of the calamitous general election campaign. It peaked again in January in the wake of the bungled Cabinet reshuffle.

Now it is at its third highest rating on record. The only credible explanation is that Mays policy of delay over the Brexit negotiation is damaging her position, and further procrastination is likely to do so even further.

Her best rating came in February in the aftermath of her impressive handling of the Salisbury attack. The only other time it has dipped below 60 per cent was in December, in the wake of that months draft agreement with the EU (the joint report).

So each monthly answer to this question since the general election has found that over half the respondents want a new Party leader in place to contest the next election. This is not a stable platform for a premiership.
Warnings about the dire risks of antibiotic resistance date back to 1945, when the scientist credited with discovering penicillin said that he feared an unknown day in the future when penicillin can be bought by anyone in the shops.

As it turns out, antibiotics in the United States and other industrialized nations still require a doctors prescription, preventing the ignorant man as scientist Alexander Fleming described him, from picking up penicillin at the store and giving himself an incorrect dose. But for farm animals, thats been a different story

At animal feed stores, meat and poultry producers for decades have been able to purchase antibiotics in bulk that humans could only access for themselves with a doctors visit and a prescription. That scenario led some humans to apparently medicate themselves by shopping at PetSmart rather than seeing a doctor. But more importantly, it allowed farmers to medicate their herds cheaply and efficiently.

On massive farms, animals that spent much of their lives in close-confinement and unsanitary conditions were given a cocktail of antibiotics on a routine basis to prevent diseases. Being fed antibiotics routinely also proved to make animals grow fatter more quickly.

These two factors have made mass antibiotic usage an enormously popular practice on the corporate mega-farms that have come to characterize the American meat industry.

After decades of new and more frightening warnings from the public health community about the risks of antibiotic overuse -- namely, that wonder drugs like Penicillin could lose their effectiveness in the face of rare bacteria that have evolved to resist modern medicine -- the United States government finally decided to act.

Under the Obama administration, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) took what a former commissioner said was the first significant step in dealing with this important public health concern in 20 years.

Rules that were introduced in 2013 and implemented in January 2017 required all farmers to obtain something like a prescription before dosing their herds with medically important antibiotic drugs, or antibiotics that are also used to treat illnesses in humans.

Under the Obama administrations 2017 rules, a Veterinary Feed Directive (VFD) signed by a licensed veterinarian must be presented at any feed store before a farmer can buy antibiotics for his livestock, ending the days of over-the-counter antibiotic sales at pet stores.

Food safety groups at the time raised concerns that getting a VFD could turn out to be just as easy for major meat producers as buying antibiotics over-the-counter, but those concerns were waived away.

Its a big shift from the current situation, in which animal producers can go to a local feed store and buy these medicines over the counter and there is no oversight at all, the FDAs then-commissioner Michael Taylor claimed at the time.

Pork industry rejects findings

Over a year later, however, a new report published by the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC) suggests that getting a VFD isnt so difficult after all.

Analyzing sales data of antibiotics to pork producers, the group determined that medically important antibiotics continue to be sold in roughly the same amount to pigs as they are to humans.

Strictly comparing antibiotic sales in different livestock, the pork industry constitutes a significant chunk of sales (37 percent), the report says. When livestock sales and human sales are factored together, the NRDC found that 27 percent of all medically important antibiotics sold in the United States go straight to pigs.

The irresponsible use of antibiotics on pig farms has created ripe conditions for drug-resistant bacteria -- as well as the genes that foster resistance -- to multiply and spread from farms to people, the report says.

The National Pork Producers Council (NPPC), the lobbying arm of the pork industry, argues that the NRDCs report is misleading because it is analyzing antibiotic sales rather than actual antibiotic usage.

While the 37 percent figure may be correct, sales arent uses; an NPPC spokesman tells ConsumerAffairs via email.

But even if that is true, advocacy groups say they sales remain one of the only few reliable options to track antibiotic usage in the meat industry. The NRDC report says that government data on the issue is scare, and the lack of clear data unnecessarily hampers public and government efforts to reduce antibiotic overuse.

The pork industry also argues that pig and cow producers are unfairly judged because their animals live longer and are larger than other livestock, which they say make them more likely to get sick and require antibiotics

The US pork industry never has said it has no part to play in the efforts to combat the very real problem of antibiotic resistance, but food-animal producers seem to be the only segment being asked (mandated?) to address the problem, the NPPC spokesman complains.

Regulatory loopholes

While the pork industry seems to claim that it is being unfairly targeted in the antibiotic resistance crisis and burdened by regulations, research suggests that the opposite is true. The industry actually faces very few mandates or barriers in obtaining antibiotics, according to Dr. David Wallinga, a public health researcher at the NRDC who authored the antibiotics report.

Part of the problem, Wallinga says, is that those feed directives that were supposed to function as something like prescriptions for the meat industry are poorly regulated and ripe with loopholes.

For example, he says its unclear under the Obama-era legislation whether the veterinarians who write the directives are required to write a new prescription every time, or whether the same prescription can be reused repeatedly for an unknown duration of time on an unknown number of animals.

He also points out that a veterinarian who is employed by a meat producer is likely going to do whatever that company wants, regardless of whether it is in the publics interest.

"What constitutes veterinary oversight is a huge grey area, Wallinga tells ConsumerAffairs. Ultimately, his report suggests that reform lies at the feet of major pork producers rather than government regulations.

Overuse of antibiotics occurs within a markedly changed U.S. pork industry dominated by larger, more specialized farms.these entities have the power to catalyze much-needed change in how antibiotics are used throughout the pork production chain, the report concludes.

The growing superbug epidemic

A prime example of one such entity with the power to catalyze much-needed change would be Smithfield foods. The Virginia-based company, which is technically a subsidiary of a massive pork corporation that is based in China, remains the largest pork company in the United States.

Smithfield Foods employs staff veterinarians and utilizes contract veterinarians who prescribe any necessary medications, a public relations agency that represents Smithfield Foods sent ConsumerAffairs in a prepared statement. The agency spokesman directed other specific questions to the Antibiotics Policy page on Smithfields website, which claims that the company uses antibiotics safely and judiciously.

But researchers continue to uncover growing evidence of superbugs at farms and on food. Several years ago, Ohio researchers discovered what they said was an extremely rare superbug on a pig farm, and they said they had no idea how it could have arrived there.

While the researchers stressed at the time that there was no evidence the superbug actually reached the food chain, public health researchers also continue to uncover evidence that other superbugs are already appearing on raw meat sold in grocery stores.

On Thursday, the Environmental Working Group said that their own analysis of federal government data uncovered that 71 percent of pork chops sold in American grocery stores are contaminated with antibiotic-resistant bacteria. The group said that was also true for 62 percent of beef samples, 79 percent of turkey samples, and 36 percent of chicken samples.

Wallinga, the NRDC researcher, says that antibiotic usage on chicken farms has dropped in recent years because major producers like Perdue voluntarily decided to scale down its usage.

"But the consumers have also stepped up and demanded chicken raised with fewer antibiotics, he adds, leading industry giants to reconsider their ways. "By contrast we haven't seen that kind of leadership by either companies producing pork, or, with a few exceptions, by restaurants serving pork. "

The World Health Organization has identified antibiotic-resistance as a growing public health threat, and researchers in Europe predict that if no action is taken to address this, superbugs will kill 10 million people worldwide each year by 2050.
Police make public 4 involved in Dhangadhi looting

Police on Monday made public four suspects arrested for their alleged involvement in the looting of Rs 900,000 near the NCC Bank based in Old Customs Road in Dhangadhi on May 27.
Made in China 2025, which was first announced in 2015, outlines Beijings aspirations for the worlds most populous nation to dominate the global economy of the future in areas such as electric vehicles, satellites, and industrial robots. In the area of industrial robots, in particular, China is making impressive progress. Conditions are ideal in China for building a thriving robotics industry, serving both the domestic and overseas markets.

First, the government doesnt stint on offering generous tax breaks and subsidies to robotics startups. Second, these companies have the potential to scale up quickly because the domestic market is so large and its economy so heavily industrialized, but thus far only patchily automated. Third, pressure from the government on Chinese manufacturers to automate and competition from other low-cost manufacturing markets is creating huge demand for industrial robots to boost efficiencies and lower costs.

Startups and takeovers

All this means that ambitious annual goals set by the Chinese government for the manufacture of industrial robots dont look unreasonable: 150,000 produced per year in 2020; 260,000 in 2025; and 400,000 in 2030. If achieved, the plan could generate $88 billion over the next decade.

At least some of those revenues can be expected to come from customers abroad. In February, three-year-old Chinese robotics start-up Geek+ Robotics, which builds robots for warehouse environments and works with major Chinese retailers and logistics companies, announced it had achieved the CE Mark approval for its systems that it needs to expand into Europe.

Growth in Chinese robotics systems isnt just about promising startups. Despite the governments aversion in recent years to outbound cashflows, Beijing seems prepared to make an exception when it comes to Chinese companies buying robotics companies from elsewhere.

In 2016, for example, the Chinese consumer products manufacturer Midea acquired Kuka. Kuka CEO Till Reuter has reiterated the companys goal of becoming "number one in robotics in China." The two companies have announced plans to build a robot park in Mideas home district of Shunde, in Guangdong Province, with capacity to produce 75,000 robots and automated guidance vehicles (AGVs) by 2024, according to Reuters.

Other key M&A transactions over the last couple of years include ChemChinas 2016 takeover of German company KraussMaffei; Chongqing Nanshang Investment Groups acquisition of HTI Cybernautics of Sterling Heights, Michigan in October 2017; and in November last year, Huachangda Intelligent Equipments purchase of Robot System Products, a 2003 spin-off from ABB with 70 employees in Sweden, Germany, and China.

Robotics powerhouse

In short, China looks on its way to becoming a robotics powerhouse-both as a buyer and a seller-and numerous statistics back this up.

On the buyer side of things, there is its "robot density" to consider. This is a measure based on the number of robot units per 10,000 workers in a nations manufacturing sector. According to the International Federation of Robotics (IFR), Chinas development of robot density "was the most dynamic in the world" during 2016. Due to the significant growth of robot installations, the density rate rose from 25 units in 2013 to 68 units in 2016, an IFR report noted.

While today Chinas robot density ranks at only 23rd worldwide, according to the authors of the IFR report, "The government intends to forge ahead and make it into the worlds top 10 most intensively automated nations by 2020." By then, Chinas robot density should be more like 150 units per 10,000 workers and China will account for 40% of global robotics sales.

On the seller side, the Chinese government makes no secret of the fact that it would like the nation not just to become self-sufficient when it comes to industrial robots, but also to beat traditional sellers from elsewhere in the world to the biggest slice of global market share.

Certainly, Chinas robotics bosses are setting their sights wider than the domestic market. The Robotics Industries Association (RIA) in the U.S., for example, recently has announced its first Chinese member, the Siasun Robot & Automation Company.

"We sought out a membership with RIA because we recognized that if we are to expand in North America and other countries, its important to have a relationship with an organization that can offer the support and connections we need to achieve our growth goals," said Dr. Daokui Qu, Siasun founder and CEO. Chinas robotics ambitions prove the country has an enormous part to play in the future of automated and smart manufacturing.

Jessica Twentyman is an author at Vinelake, a CFE Media content partner. This article originally appeared here. Edited by Chris Vavra, production editor, Control Engineering, CFE Media, cvavra@cfemedia.com.

MORE ANSWERS

Keywords: robotics

Made in China 2025 is focused on expanding the countrys robotics industry.

is focused on expanding the countrys robotics industry. The Chinese manufacturing industry is largely unautomated, which gives the countrys robotics industry a lot of room to expand.

is largely unautomated, which gives the countrys robotics industry a lot of room to expand. The favorable market has many companies looking to expand in Europe and North America through mergers and acquisitions and through trade associations.

Consider this

How will Chinas expansion affect other countries and what are they doing in this growing market?
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Website duniainvestasi.com uses latest and advanced technologies. It supports HTTPS and GZIP compression. The main html page has a size of 68174 bytes (66.58 kb uncompressed) and 7866 bytes (7.68 kb compressed).

This CoolSocial report was updated on 2021-10-07, you can refresh this analysis whenever you want.
CORNWALL, Ontario  The Canadian Union of Public Service Employees (CUPE) announced in a press release on Tuesday, May 29 that the City of Cornwall had rejected their most recent offer.

Representatives of CUPE locals 234, 3251, 3251-01 and 5734 met on Thursday, May 24, and Friday, May 25, with the City of Cornwall, the CUPE press release reads. CUPE made a substantive offer to address the Citys stated concerns in bargaining. CUPE made a major move that could have ended the current strike.

The union stated that they received word from the City that they had rejected their most recent offer and had instead requested a supervised vote of their most recent offer to the Union.

According the CUPE the offer made to the union by the City on May 15 the day before the strike began contained provisions that were rejected by 93 percent of their members in the strike mandate.

CUPEs representatives remain committed to the bargaining process, said Alison Denis, CUPE National Representative. We hope the City is able to exhibit some of the same resolve to find a negotiated settlement. So far, they appear to be happy to keep people out on strike and have Cornwall residents go without vital services. We are disappointed, but we remain available to bargain if the City changes its mind.

The date for the supervised vote will be determined by the Ministry of Labour.

The City for its part said that it believed that its employees should hear the offer that their union rejected.

It is important that our employees are well informed and fully aware of the Citys fair best and final offer, said Mayor OShaughnessy in an emailed statement to the media from the City of Cornwall.

The City said that it would be preparing materials to communicate their offer directly to the employees.

The City would also like to recognize that our employees have conducted their activities with professionalism, courtesy and respect for our residents through this labour disruption, the statement reads.
SOUTH DUNDAS, Ontario  On May 24, 2018 at approximately 7:11 a.m. Stormont, Dundas & Glengarry (SD&G) Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) officer responded to a single vehicle collision on Highway 401, South Dundas Township.

Investigation has indicated that a commercial rental truck was travelling eastbound on Highway 401 when, for reasons under investigation, left the roadway coming to rest in the center median near Church road overpass. The adult male driver (lone occupant) of the rental truck driver was uninjured. Officers located boxes containing unstamped, fine cut raw tobacco in the rental truck.

Further investigation revealed that a pair of vehicles (rental trucks) were travelling in a convoy and were heavily loaded with boxes containing unstamped, fine cut raw tobacco. Three adult males, aged 28, 31 and 35 years old from Brampton, Ontario were arrested without incident for Possession of Unstamped Tobacco.

SD&G OPP received assistance from the CRTF (Cornwall Regional task Force) which is a joint forces partnership that includes the Royal Canadian Mounted Police, the Ontario Provincial Police, the Canada Border Services Agency and the Ontario Ministry of Finance.

The three adult males were released and will appear in Morrisburg Court on July 3rd, 2018. RCMP Charges for Possession of Unstamped Tobacco, contrary to the Excise Act (2001) are pending.

14,662 Kilograms of tobacco were seized, with an estimated value of $1,319,580.00.
Hello,

I am writing you to address some personal concerns of mine over statements made by a fellow candidate of the Ontario New Democratic Party. I know, earlier in this campaign period, my partys candidate for Mississauga Centre made inappropriate and offensive remarks about the proud symbol of our veterans, the poppy.

Like our leader, Andrea Horwath, I do not share these views. These remarks were as offensive and disappointing to myself as I know they are to you. I keep a copy of our Charter of Rights and Freedoms on my fridge at home. I know our history, and how that document is the result of brave men and women serving our nation.

My professional background is in community reporting. I strongly value the rights and freedoms which have been protected by our armed service people for generations. I have had the honour to attend Remembrance Day events at the Legion Branch 297 for Cornwall Seaway News, and have heard and shared the stories of our veterans. Ive covered many events in the last couple of years, but that one will always stand out in my memory.

As Student Union President and board member at St. Lawrence College I proudly organized and delivered our Remembrance Day ceremonies in 2013 & 2014, ensuring it was a respected and widely attended event.

While I have not served our nations armed forces myself, I do come from a family with a proud heritage of service. With our history stretching back to the Second World War, most recently, two of my cousins served in Afghanistan. My great grandfather and great grandmother would never had met had he not served in World War Two.

Its my view that we must honour the sacrifices made for us, so that people like myself can run for office in a free and democratic society. Despite the political controversies which continuously surround military operations, we need to honour that sacrifice. I also believe we, as political leaders, need to walk the talk, and take seriously the mental and physical health concerns many veterans face on an ongoing basis.

I apologize, sincerely, as a community member, local reporter, and provincial candidate.

I am truly sorry those remarks were made.

In the future, I look forward to continuing to meet many of you and support the great work that Legion Branch 297 does in our community and for our veterans, and likewise for the other service club branches across our region.

Sincerely,

Marc Benoit

Ontario New Democratic Candidate

StormontDundasSouth Glengarry
CORNWALL, Ontario  A 26-year-old Cornwall man was arrested on June 1, 2018 and charged with the following:

Assault

Threats

Mischief under $5,000

Assault with a weapon

Forcible confinement

Intimidation

It is alleged between February 2016 and April 2018 the man assaulted his girlfriend, hitting with her a bat on one occasion, and damaged some of her personal belongings. He also allegedly prevented her from leaving the residence and made threats to harm her. Police were contacted and an investigation ensued. On June 1, 2018 the man attended police headquarters to deal with the matter. He was taken into custody, charged accordingly and held for a bail hearing. His name was not released as it would identify the victim in the matter.

CRIMINAL HARASSMENT, BREACH

CORNWALL, Ontario  A 40-year-old Long Sault man was arrested on June 1, 2018 and charged with criminal harassment and breach of probation for communicating with his ex-common-law wife. It is alleged the man communicated with his ex-common-law wife on numerous occasions between Nov. 2017 and May 2018, despite being on conditions not to communicate with her. Police were contacted and an investigation ensued. On June 1, 2018 the man attended police headquarters to deal with the matter. He was taken into custody, charged accordingly and held for a bail hearing. His name was not released as it would identify the victim in the matter.

ASSAULT

CORNWALL, Ontario  A 36-year-old Cornwall man was arrested on June 1, 2018 and charged with domestic assault. It is alleged during an argument on June 1, 2018 the man assaulted his common-law wife and police were contacted. During the investigation the man was taken into custody, charged accordingly and held for a bail hearing. His name was not released as it would identify the victim in the matter.

ASSAULT, BREACH

CORNWALL, Ontario  A 28-year-old Cornwall man was arrested on June 1, 2018 and charged with domestic assault, assault and breach of probation for failing to keep the peace. It is alleged during an argument on May 31, 2018, the man assaulted his common-law wife. It is further alleged on June 1, 2018, the man assaulted his father, as well as his common-law wife, and police were contacted. During the investigation the man was taken into custody, charged accordingly and held for a bail hearing. His name was not released as it would identify the victims in the matter.

DANGEROUS OPERATION, MISCHIEF, ASSAULT

CORNWALL, Ontario  A 39-year-old Cornwall woman was arrested on June 1, 2018 and charged with dangerous operation of a motor vehicle, mischief and domestic assault. It is alleged on June 1, 2018, the woman assaulted her common-law husband and then drove in a dangerous manner, damaging a garage door. Police were contacted and an investigation ensued. During the investigation, she was taken into custody, charged accordingly and held for a bail hearing. Her name was not released as it would identify the victim in the matter.

OBSTRUCT POLICE, BREACHES, POSSESSION OF PROPERTY OBTAINED BY CRIME, FAIL TO APPEAR PRINTS

CORNWALL, Ontario  Sonny Ashby, 18, of Cornwall and Austin-Taylor Anderson, 19, of Cornwall were both arrested on June 2, 2018 and charged as follows:

Sonny Ashby:

Obstruct police

Breach of undertaking (failing to notify police of change of address and failing to abide by curfew of 11 p.m.  6 a.m.)

Possession of property obtained by crime

Failing to appear for prints

Austin-Taylor Anderson:

Breach of undertaking (failing to keep the peace)

Breach of probation (failing to keep the peace)

Possession of property obtained by crime

It is alleged in the early morning hours on June 2, 2018, while responding to a suspicious persons call, police located the two men and found them to be in possession of two bicycles that did not belong to them. It is further alleged the one man identified himself as someone else and had failed to attend for prints on May 31, 2018. Both men were taken into custody, charged accordingly, and held for a bail hearing.

ASSAULT, THREATS

CORNWALL, Ontario  An 86-year-old Cornwall man was arrested on June 3, 2018 and charged with domestic assault and threats. It is alleged during an argument on June 3, 2018 the man assaulted his wife and made threats to harm her. Police were contacted and investigation ensued. On June 3, 2018 the man attended police headquarters to deal with the matter. He was taken into custody, charged accordingly and held for a bail hearing. His name was not released as it would identify the victim in the matter.

BREACH

CORNWALL, Ontario  Barry McVey, 51, of Cornwall was arrested on June 3, 2018 and charged with breach of undertaking for failing to reside at a specific address and failing to notify a change of address to police. He was also charged with breach of probation for failing to keep the peace. It is alleged the man was found to be in breach of his conditions when police attended a suspicious person complaint and an investigation ensued. During the investigation the man was taken into custody, charged accordingly and held for a bail hearing.

THREATS

CORNWALL, Ontario  A 20-year-old Cornwall man was arrested on June 3, 2018 and charged with uttering threats. It is alleged during an argument on June 1, 2018 the man made threats to harm his ex-girlfriend and police were contacted. On June 3, 2018 the man was taken into custody, charged accordingly and held for a bail hearing. His name was not released as it would identify the victim in the matter.

There were 153 calls for service in the City of Cornwall in over the weekend (8 a.m. Friday to 8 a.m. Monday morning). To see whats happening in your neighbourhood visit our Crime Plot Map. CCPS reserves the right to not post all calls for service in order to protect the identity of the victims.
CORNWALL, Ontario  The Social Development Council of Cornwall and Area (SDC) welcomed Carilyne Hebert as the new Executive Director on Monday, May 28. Hebert is replacing Alex de Wit, who acted as the Executive Director since 2012.

I feel like everything Ive been doing for the last several years has really lead me in this direction, and this where Im meant to be right now, said Hebert.

Hebert has worked in the non-profit sector for the past eight years with the Agape Centre, Contact North, the Eastern Ontario Training Board and Big Brother Big Sisters. She has also served as a City Councillor. With her new role on the SDC, Hebert is uncertain if she will be running for a City Councillor position again this year.

Im certain that Carilyne will lead the SDC towards bigger and better things and in new creative directions, said de Wit in a press release.

Hebert was involved with humanitarian efforts in the Dominican Republic during high school, and this led her to pursue a career that would directly helping others. She attended St. Lawrence College for one year of a two-year Business Diploma and then went on to university. After discovering that university wasnt for her, she came back to Cornwall and eventually applied for a position with the SDC.

Unfortunately, the Council didnt choose Hebert for the position because she hadnt completed her Business Diploma.

I hung up the phone, walked into my bosss office, quit my job and went back to school, said Hebert. This was about eight or nine years ago. So, because I was turned down for a job with the SDC, I went back to school and finished my Business Diploma. And before I finished my diploma, I already had a job with the Agape Centre.

Hebert looks forward to meeting with members of the community and discovering where there are gaps in local services and involvement. She is excited to accomplish this with the Vibrant Community Roundtable project, while maintaining the four pillars of the SDC: info and referrals, employability, food security and battling poverty. Some issues already at the forefront of this initiative include poverty, food security and access to transportation.

There are a lot of moving parts with this organization and Im really happy to be in a leadership role for all of these really amazing initiatives that are, in their own way, making great change in the community, said Hebert.
CORNWALL, Ontario  On Saturday, June 2, three churches in the city participated in The Big Give. Attendees could donate or take from a rummage sale, and services were provided by hairdressers, a nail technician and a massage therapist.

We like to take advantage of opportunities to bless the community, said Miia Naugler, The Big Give coordinator for the Harvest Christian Fellowship. We thought this would be a great opportunity to do that. So everything was free. People like to give when theyre getting something. They have a hard time just being blessed without feeling that they have to contribute something back.

Naugler is a member of the Harvest Christian Fellowship and has been organizing The Big Give at her church for the last four years. The church had over 20 volunteers helping with this years event.

According to Naugler, Immanuel Christian Reformed Church has also been participating in The Big Give for the last four years, and The First Baptist Church of Cornwall participated for the first time this year. This year 130 churches participated across Canada.

One of the great things about this event is people were able to get some of their practical needs met with furniture and appliances, but there were also a lot of things that people want like toys and clothes  just things that a lot of us take for granted. We can receive blessing and we can give blessing and I think thats something people tend to forget, said Naugler.

Chelsea Looyen, 11, a volunteer at The Big Give, also volunteers with the churchs media team and childrens group, and she has spearheaded a Bible study group at her elementary school. Looyen said she loves her church and likes to take initiative whenever possible.

Naugler believes that teaching practical skills to children within the church is essential for life experience. Children have the opportunity to volunteer within a multimedia team and at a cafe, located in the church.

I think its important for the community to have opportunities for people to be generous with what they have, and with their time. But its also important for people to be able to receive that generosity, said Naugler.
Provinces urge centre to reconsider budget

Provincial executives of all seven provinces have urged the federal government to reconsider the budget allocated for their provinces.
Microsoft revealed its plans to buy open source code repository GitHub in a deal valued at $7.5 billion on Monday.

GitHub, a San Francisco-based startup, provides a global platform that more than 28 million developers use to share code and work together on open source projects. Microsoft said that the all-stock deal will accelerate enterprise use of GitHub while still giving developers access to the platform they love.

According to Redmond, Wash.-based Microsoft, privately-held GitHub will retain its "developer-first ethos" and will operate independently to provide an open platform for all developers across all industries.

[Related: GitHub Adds To Online Service Capabilities In A Bid For Business Developers]

"Developers will continue to be able to use the programming languages, tools and operating systems of their choice for their projects -- and will still be able to deploy their code to any operating system, any cloud and any device," Microsoft said in its official statement announcing the deal.

Microsoft's Corporate Vice President Nat Friedman, the founder of former mobile app development platform Xamarin, a company that was acquired by Microsoft in 2016, will become GitHub's new CEO. GitHubs current CEO, Chris Wanstrath, will become a Microsoft technical fellow and will report to Microsoft's Executive Vice President Scott Guthrie.

"Microsoft is a developer-first company, and by joining forces with GitHub we strengthen our commitment to developer freedom, openness and innovation," said Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella in a statement. "We recognize the community responsibility we take on with this agreement and will do our best work to empower every developer to build, innovate and solve the worlds most pressing challenges."

Reports surfaced Friday that Microsoft had resumed talks to buy GitHub.

Sources close to both companies told Business Insider last week that Microsoft has been considering an acquisition for a few years, but negotiations have been on and off until now.

GitHub was valued at $2 billion during its last funding round in 2015.

The deal is subject to regulatory review and the two companies expect the transaction to close by the end of 2018.
Hewlett Packard Enterprise on Monday unveiled updates to much of its hybrid cloud management software, including HPE OneView and HPE OneSphere, aimed at speeding up infrastructure and workload deployments and extending private and public cloud support.

HPE also said that it has reached the 1-million mark in terms of HPE OneView licenses.

The enhancements to the HPE OneView and HPE OneSphere platforms comes as HPE continues to grow its software-defined infrastructure for managing hybrid on-premises and cloud environments, said Rick Lewis, senior vice president and genera manager of the Software Defined and Cloud Group for the Palo Alto, Calif.-based vendor.

[Related: Synergy, Project 'New Stack' Included In HPE's Platform For The Future Data Center]

Lewis, speaking before an audience of press and analysts, said HPE has been quickly pivoting to services and software to solve customers' hybrid infrastructure issues. "This is an area where we're quite frankly investing heavily in," Lewis said.

Key to this is a focus on software-defined infrastructures, including storage, networking, and management platform, where HPE has made a huge commitment, Lewis said.

These include major enhancements to HPE OneView, the company's software-defined platform it says allows users to compose fluid pools of physical and virtual compute, storage, and fabric resources into any configuration as needed for any application.

HPE OneView, which can be used with HPE ProLiant and Apollo servers and 3PAR storage, has been seeing a 160-percent growth rate year over year, Lewis said. "It's the heart and soul of composability," he said.

The new version, HPE OneView 4.1, adds updates to be done cluster-wide on a rolling basis, and provides for 50-percent faster firmware updates to the Gen10 ProLiant servers on which Synergy is built, Lewis said.

HPE OneView 4.1 is getting enhanced Microsoft support, including support for Microsoft Azure Stack Log Analytics and improved integration with Microsoft System Center. On the VMware side, it is getting the ability to manage lifecycle operations for virtual machine farms with VMware vRealize Orchestrator as well as other new integration enhancements, he said.

With HPE OneView 4.1, customers will also get new reference configurations for Chef automation, as well as a reference architecture for using HPE Synergy with Red Had OpenShift Container platform, he said.

The enhancements to HPE OneView are huge, said Alan Rogers, chief technology officer at Stoneworks Technologies, an Ottawa, Ontario-based solution provider and HPE platinum-level partner.

Rogers told CRN that his company has deployed HPE Synergy in some of Canada's biggest government and enterprise clients because of its approach to building flexible IT infrastructures.

"It's a question of, how do I go to cloud without going to the cloud," he said. "To me, Synergy is a cloud-in-a-box. It's a scalable cloud infrastructure, all on one platform, with the ability to carve resource pools across compute, storage, and networking."

HPE OneView is central to making HPE Synergy an application-enabled platform rather than one that is dependent on the underlying infrastructure, Rogers said.

"Most of our customers are getting away from traditional infrastructure management, and moving to application and client delivery," he said. "It's more about managing the business, and less on managing the infrastructure."

The fact that HPE OneView allows non-disruptive rolling cluster updates is a critical new change, Rogers said. "If you can imagine managing a VMware infrastructure with multiple hosts, and VMware making hundreds of updates every year," he said. "Not having to do the updates on a per-host basis is huge. And for HPE, this is a big differentiator from its competitors."

Adding rolling firmware updates to HPE OneView is also a big deal for customers, Rogers said. "Customers don't want to look at infrastructure on a box basis," he said. "Rolling firmware updates takes a lot of work away from the administrators. They won't have to look at a new update, test it, prepare it, send it to a node, and then repeat. Now the updates will be done with zero impact. Customers won't even know they were updated."

HPE also updated its HPE OneSphere platform for managing both on-premises IT and multi-cloud environments from a single console, Lewis said.

New to HPE OneSphere, which until now has worked with Amazon Web Services, is expanded support for Microsoft Azure cloud and for KVM, the default hypervisor in OpenStack cloud infrastructures, Lewis said.

HPE does not give its OneSphere platform a version number because it is based on agile development and so there are no big version roll-outs, he said.

In addition to the new HPE OneView and HPE OneSphere enhancements, HPE has continued to invest in a wide range of software-defined technologies the company offers for building hybrid IT infrastructures.

Lewis cited as examples HPE Synergy Composable Infrastructure, a software-defined platform for quickly deploying resources across dynamic pools of physical and virtual resources for any application. Over 1,600 customers have already deployed HPE Synergy, making it the company's fastest-growing infrastructure play, he said.

HPE Synergy was recently enhanced with both Chef Automate and Red Hat OpenShift container platform integration, he said.

Lewis also cited HPE SimpliVity, a software-defined hyper-converged infrastructure offering acquired early last year by HPE. SimpliVity currently has over 2,900 customers, and its business is growing at 2.5-times the market growth rate, he said.

Recent enhancements to HPE SimpliVity include Microsoft Hyper-V capabilities, SAP HANA certification, and automated hypervisor updates, he said.

More recently, HPE last month unveiled plans to acquire Plexxi, a provider of software-defined data fabric networking technology. Lewis said the acquisition is scheduled to close before the end of July, which will enable HPE to expand its existing software-defined infrastructure capabilities.

Plexxi will be built into HPE Synergy, Lewis said. "With the addition of Plexxi, we can do our Composable Infrastructure in a single rack," he said.

By year-end, he said, HPE plans to use Plexxi as part of a move to bring complete composable rack and blade solutions to market.
Qualys has signed a letter of intent to purchase one of its channel partners to increase its visibility in the military, national security and federal government arenas.

The Foster City, Calif.-based cloud security vendor said its planned acquisition of Arlington Va.-based Second Front Systems would provide Qualys with more domain expertise around building and delivering cybersecurity offerings tailored for the defense, intelligence, and law enforcement communities.

Second Front provides advisory services and cybersecurity offerings to government agencies addressing national security needs, including those dealing with classified information, according to Qualys chairman and CEO Philippe Courtot. The Second Front team has expertise helping federal agencies build state-of-the-art cybersecurity capabilities as they embark upon their digitization efforts, Courtot said.

[RELATED: Qualys Dives Into Mobile, IoT Security With Buy Of Startup 1Mobility]

"We're very serious about the federal business," Courtot told CRN. ""We have everything the federal market needs  scale, accuracy, and immediacy."

Courtot said Second Front has a superb team, and will be actively soliciting partners in the U.S. government space to better address the needs of the federal market. With capabilities on-premise, in the cloud, on the endpoint, and  starting in early 2019  on mobile devices, Courtot said Qualys is well-positioned to address the needs of federal customers.

Second Front provides advisory services to technology companies seeking to inject their product or offering into the national security market, leveraging proof-of-concept pilots, lightweight systems integration, and a range of contracting vehicles, according to the company's LinkedIn page.

The company's partners are typically both venture-backed and commercial proven, and have often received investments from organizations like the CIA's venture capital firm, In-Q-Tel as well as the Army Venture Capital Initiative, and DARPA, according to its LinkedIn page. In addition to its Washington D.C.-area offices, Second Front has operations in both Silicon Valley and Chicago.

Second Front has been delivering security capabilities to federal agencies using the Qualys Gov Platform, which has been identifying, detecting, protecting, and responding to cyber threats while helping customers meet regulatory and compliance requirements and protect digital transformation efforts. The Gov Platform has been FedRAMP authorized since 2016.

The terms of the letter of intent for the proposed acquisition are non-binding, and Qualys and Second Front would need to negotiate and enter into definitive agreements before proceeding with the proposal. If the parties come to an agreement, Qualys would expect the deal to close in the second half of this year, with Second Front operating as an independent subsidiary within Qualys' federal division.

Qualys' stock climbed more than 2 percent to $79.85 in trading Monday, with the proposed Second Front acquisition announced before the market opened. Terms of the deal were not disclosed.

Second Front was founded in 2014 and employs between two and 10 people, according to LinkedIn. The company was founded and has been led by Peter Dixon, a major in the U.S. Marine Corps who previously worked at risk-based authentication provider ThreatMetrix and the U.S. State Department.

Meanwhile, two high-profile generals  Peter Pace, chairman of the joint chiefs of staff from 2005 to 2007; and Stanley McChrystal, commander of the International security assistance force in 2009 and 2010  sit on Second Front's board of directors.

This is Qualys' third acquisition in recent months. The company bought Singapore-based 1Mobility in April to extend the power of its cloud-based security and compliance platform to millions of mobile and IoT devices.

Five months earlier, Qualys purchased Reston, Va.-based startup NetWatcher, which provides businesses with a real-time view of potential security vulnerabilities such as weak passwords, unsafe behavior and outdated software.
Mark Bregman has resigned from NetApp as its chief technology officer in a move that a couple of the storage company's top channel partners said seems to reflect its recent reorganization into three separate businesses.

Bregman has served since the fall of 2015 as NetApp's senior vice president and chief technology officer.

News of his departure was first reported by the Silicon Valley Business Journal.

[Related: Q&A: NetApp CTO Bregman On Data Fabric, Big Acquisitions And 'Weeds' In The EMC Garden]

A NetApp spokesperson on Monday confirmed Bregman's departure via email to CRN, saying he "has decided to pursue interests outside of NetApp. We wish him well and thank him for his contributions."

NetApp, in a follow-up email, said the company has no plans to hire a new CTO because of the company's recent reorganization into three business units.

"Due to the realignment of engineering resources behind the three new business units, we are not planning to fill a CTO role," the spokesperson wrote in that email.

NetApp did not provide additional information on Bregman's departure. Bregman did not respond to a request from CRN for additional information by press time.

NetApp early this year reorganized its business into three business units.

The company's storage systems and software business unit, led by Joel Reich, executive vice president of product operations, includes the company's storage arrays. The cloud infrastructure business unit, under Senior Vice President and General Manager Brad Anderson, focuses on converged and hyper-converged infrastructure, NetApp SolidFire all-flash arrays, and NetApp StorageGRID object-based storage. The cloud business unit, led by Senior Vice President Anthony Lye, focuses on developing NetApp's Data Fabric technology.

Bregman did not give advance notice to NetApp channel partners of his departure, said John Woodall, vice president of engineering at Integrated Archive Systems, a Palo Alto, Calif.-based solution provider and one of NetApp's top channel partners.

However, Woodall told CRN, despite some reports and tweets to the contrary, it doesn't appear that Bregman left because of any issues at NetApp.

"NetApp is a company with very good financials, and a very good product strategy," he said. "For instance, the company's Cloud Volumes technology is now in all three of the top hyperscale cloud providers. NetApp is stronger than any time I have ever seen it. And it has an exciting roadmap."

Instead, Woodall said, Bregman may have left because the CTO position is not as relevant as it was before.

Woodall said that NetApp's reorganization early this year into three business units has given the company three strong technology leaders.

"Does it make sense for a company like NetApp with a broad focus on storage, the cloud, and software, to have a single CTO in overall charge of the technology direction when each business unit has their own strong leaders," he said.

Glenn Dekhayser, field chief technology officer at Red8, a Costa Mesa, Calif.-based solution provider and long-time NetApp channel partner, told CRN he thinks Bregman's departure is related to the reorganization.

"It probably makes more sense to have three 'CTOs' instead of an over-arching CTO," Dekhayser said.

This especially makes sense given that the three business units, while in sync with NetApp's overall vision, are not necessarily in sync with each other, Dekhayser said.

"The Cloud business unit is releasing something every two weeks," he said. "It's cloud-based technology. The don't need to prepare and deliver a full software package to customers. But the Storage Systems and Software business unit releases a new version of OnTap every six months. These technologies are related, but putting them in three separate business units gives them more agility. NetApp doesn't need to led the Cloud business unit be held up by the cadence of OnTap."

Both Woodall and Dekhayser said they were unaware in advance that Bregman would be leaving, and have not heard about where he might be going.

Both also said that Bregman was a strong technologist and had a strong channel focus.

"In a perfect world, he will end up in another company where I can work with him," Woodall said.
What About GitHub?

Microsoft's CEO Satya Nadella took to CNBC on Monday to talk about the company's latest planned acquisition that is taking the developer world by storm and sending the company's stock soaring to an all-time high on Monday morning: Microsoft said it would buy GitHub in a deal worth $7.5 billion. Nadella pledged that Microsoft, a company that started out building developer tools, will keep GitHub true to its independent, "developer-first" value proposition, while also touching upon the company's integration plans with GitHub.

Here are excerpts from Nadella's CNBC interview on its planned GitHub purchase.
Qatar court sentences Nepali man to death for murdering Qatari national

A court in Qatar has sentenced death penalty to a Nepali man by a firing squad for murdering a Qatari national Umair Mohammed Umair Al Ramzani Al-Nauimi.
Elite Cruises could start service from Qingdao, China, by the end of this year, adding another player to a dynamic Chinese cruise market.

The Singapore-registered company has signed a cooperation deal with Wuchang Shipbuilding Industry Group Company, a subsidiary of China Shipbuilding Industry Corporation, eyeing the potential of locally-built luxury and expedition ships.

Elite was registered in Singapore in 2016 for for the purpose of cruise-ship building and cruise operations management, according to local sources.

Now, after building up an international team in Singapore, the company said it has identified a second-hand cruise ship to acquire in hopes of entering the Chinese domestic market.

Chairman Lei Zhang said he plans to acquire at least three ships from major cruise lines. Long term, he wants to build ships in Qingdao.

Elite is said to have financing in place to the tune of $80 million.

Plans are centered around Qingdao, where the company plans to open a headquarters and operators center, as well as a crew training school.
Darren Mondezie and Johnathan Neverson arent the first to try mixing parking with modern technology, but they are looking to be the most convenient with their startup Liberty Parker.

The Stratford-based business focuses on making parking and finding available spaces easier with their parking garage guidance system, the Parker Marker. They created the program and physical device to help parking garage owners and staff monitor and use every space they have.

Were aiming to do something state of the art and something new, Mondezie said, stating the device will help staff and lot owners to monitor their vacant and occupied spaces in real time.

In the past, the Stratford residents said garage staff would think they were utilizing the entire lot when theyd have roughly 85 percent occupancy, which would ultimately hurt their bottom line.

The Parker Marker works as a sensor and is screwed into individual parking spaces while garage owners and staff use a smartphone- and tablet-compatible guidance system to keep tabs on vacancy and occupancy. As a car pulls into the space, the marker will register it as occupied until the drive pulls back out.

Along with optimizing garage use, Neverson said the Parker Marker was also designed to benefit drivers. While garage staff can use the program to monitor their spaces, drivers can use the program to locate open spots using Parker Markers from home, cutting their search time out of the equation.

I think that gives people an advantage, Neverson said

As an accounting and business management student at Southern Connecticut State University, Neverson, who graduated this year, said one of the biggest problems he and his classmates faced was finding parking when they were pressed for time.

As you start looking around for that parking spot you realize youre not going to be able to make that exam in five minutes, he said.

Neverson teamed up with his childhood friend Mondezie, who graduated from Fairfield University with an engineering degree, to address what they considered an underserved sector.

For metro areas like downtown Bridgeport, which has its share of parking struggles, Mondezie said the Parker Marker system could be a viable solution to maximize the use of spaces on streets.

It wouldnt be difficult to bring it into Bridgeport or any of the cities, for that matter, he said. I think the main thing is introducing it to the cities for them to feel comfortable because this is something thats going to be brand new.

The duo is looking to secure funding for the product line and clientele in different cities.

While their first product is focused on parking garages and lots, Mondezie and Neverson said they are exploring ideas for curbside models. Development of that product hasnt begun.
A new national study showing that 70 percent of women with the most common type of breast cancer dont benefit from chemotherapy is a big deal, said at least one local expert.

Thats a lot more patients who are not going to need chemotherapy, said Dr. Denise Barajas, medical director for the Hewitt Center for Breast Health at Griffin Hospital in Derby. This is great, because chemotherapy is very toxic, and if people arent benefiting from it, you dont have to prescribe it.

The Trial Assigning Individualized Options for Treatment, also known as the TAILORx trial supported by the National Cancer Institute, opened in 2006 and was designed to determine whether hormone therapy alone is inferior to hormone therapy plus chemotherapy when it comes to treating certain kinds of breast cancer.

After skin cancer, breast cancer is the most common cancer in American women, according to the American Cancer Society. There is a one-in-eight chance a woman will develop breast cancer in her lifetime. Though chemotherapy is sometimes used to treat breast cancer, it can carry serious side effects, including hair loss, fertility issues, infection, fatigue and memory loss.

In some cases, chemotherapy itself can lead to serious illness, said Erin Fusco, visiting assistant professor of nursing at Quinnipiac University.

The side effects are so difficult for some people to deal with, she said. Some of these medicines can be very harsh.

Assessing risk

More than 10,000 women with early stage, HR-positive, HER2-negative, axillary lymph node-negative breast cancer were enrolled in the TAILORx trial at 1,182 sites in the U.S., Australia, Canada, Ireland, New Zealand and Peru.

The tumors of participants were analyzed using a 21-gene expression test, which determined the risk for breast cancer recurrence. They were assigned a score between 0 and 100 based on how likely their cancer was to recur.

Barajas said earlier research has shown that women with a low risk score (between 0 and 10) could receive hormone therapy only, and that those with a risk score of 26 or higher should be treated with a combination of hormone therapy and chemotherapy.

But, as for those with scores between 11 and 25 we didnt know what to do, Barajas said. Some patients in that group would choose to have chemotherapy if they thought it would have some benefit, and some chose not to.

Barajas said she and other doctors hoped the TAILORx trial would provide more direction on what to do with these so-called intermediate patients who were neither high risk or low risk.

Similar rates

For the study, patients in the intermediate range were randomly assigned to receive either hormone therapy alone, or hormone therapy combined with chemotherapy. What researchers found was that the proportion of women who had not died or had a recurrence or new cancer was similar in both groups.

According to the researchers, five years after treatment, the rate of disease-free survival was 92.8 percent for those who had hormone therapy alone and 93.1 percent for those who also had chemo. The overall five-year survival rate was 98 percent for those who received hormone therapy alone and 98.1 percent for those who received both therapies.

More Information Fast facts on TAILORx Here are a few facts on the TAILORx trial, which studied whether women with the most common kind of breast cancer got more benefits from chemotherapy combined with hormone therapy than from hormone therapy alone. Opened in 2006 Enrolled 10,273 women with early-stage, HR-positive, HER2-negative, axillary lymph node-negative breast cancer at 1,182 sites in the U.S., Australia, Canada, Ireland, New Zealand and Peru. Women with an intermediate risk of breast cancer recurrence were randomly assigned to be treated just with hormone therapy or with a combination of chemo and hormone therapy. Five years after treatment, the rate of disease-free survival was 92.8 percent for those who had hormone therapy alone and 93.1 percent for those who also had chemo. Nine years after treatment, the rate was 83.3 percent for those with hormone therapy alone and 84.3 percent for those with both therapies. The findings suggest that chemotherapy may be avoided in about 70 percent of women with the type of cancer studied. Source: The National Institutes of Health's National Cancer Institute See More Collapse

Ultimately, the study concluded that most women with an intermediate recurrence score could avoid chemotherapy and do only hormone therapy. However, researchers did find that a small group of these women  those 50 and younger with a risk recurrence score of 16 to 25  might still benefit from chemotherapy.

Fusco said there will need to be some validation studies done before the findings of the study become standard practice in treating cancer. But, she said, the project certainly feels like a game changer for women with certain kinds of breast cancer.

Its a lot to undergo chemotherapy, Fusco said. So if you don't have to undergo it, thats huge.
The following narrative is culled from interviews, police reports, court documents, court testimony and prior media reports.

BRIDGEPORT -- Kim and Tim Donnelly, Christopher DiMeo and Nicole Pearce. Two very diverse couples on a collision course.

One couple, DiMeo and Pearce, were on the hunt to support their $300-a-day drug habit. The Donnellys, of Fairfield, were devoted to family, friends and community. On the evening of Feb. 2, 2005, their worlds collided and ended in bullets and death in the Donnellys' Post Road jewelry store.

DiMeo, accused of coldly gunning down the Donnellys, is facing a trial this week that could lead to him getting the death penalty. Pearce now faces a lengthy prison term.

These two couples could not have been more opposite.

Kim and Tim Donnelly, both 52, were popular in the Fairfield community for their warmth, generosity and even naivete. They were high school sweethearts, married at 21, taking over the longtime jewelry business started by Kim Donnelly's father, Donald Wickert. They treated their steady customers like family and created individualized Celtic-style jewelry for fellow members of the local Gaelic-American Club.

After their two children, Tara and Eric, were born, Kim Donnelly went to work in the finance department at Fairfield University to earn more money for the family while her husband continued to run the jewelry store. When their children graduated from Fairfield University, Kim Donnelly returned to work full time with her husband in the store.

More News Jewelry store murder suspect to return to New York

Steeped in community and family in the quiet, affluent town of Fairfield, it was almost like the couple couldn't even envision that someone like DiMeo could exist, never protecting themselves or their jewelry store on the Post Road with a good security system.

A TROUBLED LIFE

DiMeo, according to the arguments of his lawyers, was living a much different life. He appeared doomed from the beginning.

More Information The following narrative is culled from interviews, police reports, court documents, court testimony and prior media reports. See More Collapse

He was born in 1981 on the North Shore of Long Island to drug-addicted parents who fought constantly. His father, who walked out when DiMeo was a toddler, was later arrested for armed robbery in Florida and ended up dying in Iowa in 2002, a penniless drifter. His mother, Maryann Taylor-Casey, was often strung out on drugs. She lived off a number of boyfriends and government assistance, leaving a young DiMeo with a number of different relatives.

DiMeo developed a drug habit of his own in high school, which he supported with petty thefts. In 2002 he was sentenced to three years in prison for burglarizing a home and a store. After his release, he went to live with his grandparents in the San Diego area.

It was in San Diego that DiMeo met Pearce, a drug addict who was on parole herself for a burglary conviction.

In October 2004, two weeks after DiMeo and Pearce met, DiMeo stole his grandmother's Honda Passport sport utility vehicle and the couple headed east.

DiMeo and Pearce initially lived with DiMeo's mother in Hicksville, N.Y., where the three of them spent much of the day high on heroin. DiMeo attempted to support their drug habit by selling heroin. As their addictions increased -- mainly because Pearce said the heroin they obtained in New York was not as powerful as the heroin they got in California -- DiMeo looked to other means of support.

A VIOLENT PATH

On Nov. 30, 2004, police said DiMeo broke into a home on Havemeyer Lane in Greenwich while Pearce waited in an SUV. Among the items he took from the home was a .40-caliber Heckler & Koch pistol.

A week later, armed with the stolen pistol, DiMeo walked into Robert's Jewelers in Westbury, N.Y., to attempt his first jewelry store robbery. But he hadn't planned it out.

After getting the proprietor to turn over jewelry to him at gunpoint, DiMeo tried to leave, only to find he had been locked inside by the store's security system. He threatened to kill the proprietor unless he let him out. DiMeo was also captured on the store's security camera.

The robbery provided a valuable lesson for DiMeo. Before his second robbery on Dec. 21, 2004, at J&J Jewelers in Glen Head, N.Y., he had his mother and Pearce case the store for him first to ensure it didn't have the same type of security system as Robert's in Westbury.

The store, owned by Thomas Renison, a 48-year-old father of two, had no surveillance cameras and limited security.

DiMeo made his move.

After waiting outside a small convenience store so he could make sure there were no customers in the jewelry store, DiMeo walked in and began chatting with Renison.

DiMeo said he was thinking of getting an engagement ring for his girlfriend and Renison was only too happy to show him what he had in the display case.

Then, police said, DiMeo pulled out the gun.

Renison would end up dead on the floor of the store, shot several times in the chest.

DiMeo would later tell police that Renison made a grab for DiMeo's gun, at which time DiMeo claims he blacked out. It is the same defense he would later use in the Donnelly killings. However, as in the Donnelly case, Long Island police said DiMeo's claim of Renison making a grab for DiMeo's gun is not supported by the physical evidence at the scene.

After the murder, DiMeo fled in the stolen SUV with Pearce and his mother.

A month later, on Jan. 26, 2005, the money gone from the Renison murder-robbery, DiMeo decided to hit another jewelry store. This time his target was the Rockland Jewelry Center in Nanuet, N.Y.

He walked into the store and began his usual exchange with a female employee. He was dismayed to see that there were no stones in any of the engagement rings in the display case. He then produced his gun and fled with about $100,000 worth of jewelry.

Asked later by police why he hadn't killed the female clerk, DiMeo calmly stated that she hadn't given him a reason.

With New York police on a manhunt for him, DiMeo decided to extend his crime area to Connecticut.

On Feb. 1, 2005, DiMeo and Pearce drove around looking for their next target. Pearce had a copy of the Fairfield County Yellow Pages opened to jewelry stores on her lap.

SCOPING OUT THE TARGET

After checking out several stores in the area the couple narrowed their possible targets to three on the Post Road in Fairfield.

Pearce went into the stores checking to see how many employees worked in each and whether the stores had surveillance cameras and other security. Each time she would come back to the SUV and sketch out the interior of the store on a small piece of paper from memory. Only the Donnelly store, at 1438 Post Road, met DiMeo's criteria.

There wasn't a lot of foot traffic by the store, customers did not have to be buzzed inside and there were no surveillance cameras. The husband and wife were the only ones inside.

The morning of the planned robbery, DiMeo seemed nervous. He shot up 10 bags of heroin to calm his nerves and Pearce did about half that.

That afternoon, DiMeo and Pearce drove to Fairfield from their apartment in the Richmond Hill section of Queens, N.Y. A short distance from the Donnelly store, Pearce begged DiMeo to pull over. The day before, while casing the store, Pearce briefly chatted with the Donnellys, and they seemed like a nice couple. She was now afraid DiMeo would end up killing one or both of them, and she didn't want any part of it. So she convinced him to drop her off at the train station. She would wait for him back at their Queens apartment.

It was about 5 p.m. when DiMeo, now alone, pulled up near the Donnellys' store. He feigned interest in the windows of the adjoining stores while keeping an eye on the Donnellys, who were preparing to close up for the evening.

When DiMeo walked into the store Tim Donnelly had the safe open, preparing to put away items from the display cases.

DiMeo told him he wanted to see some engagement rings and that he was thinking of getting one for his girlfriend. Tim Donnelly began showing him some rings. But DiMeo changed his mind. Maybe he wasn't ready for an engagement ring, how about a nice bracelet? Kim Donnelly offered to show him some really nice ones and DiMeo asked her to try one on so he could see how it looked on a woman's wrist.

As the couple moved up toward the counter DiMeo pulled the gun out of the gray plastic bag he was holding.

Tim Donnelly was shot first. Five .40-caliber bullets entered his body, including one dead center to his chest.

His wife screamed and reached for the telephone. She was shot five times, including once in the back.

William "Liam" Burke, the Donnellys' landlord and friend, had been working that evening sorting through files in his father's law office above the Donnellys' store when he heard the gunshots and Kim Donnelly's screams.

He ran down the stairs to the street and walked back and forth on the sidewalk in front of the building looking for the source of the screams. But he saw no activity in the street. Then his attention focused on the Donnellys' store.

A man, who he didn't recognize, appeared to be putting items from the display counter into a gray or silver shopping bag. As Burke stared into the store through the window the man glanced up. Seeing Burke standing there, DiMeo waved to him. Burke assumed the man was a relative of the Donnellys. His assumption appeared to be corroborated a few minutes later as the man walked out of the store.

"I'm da uncle," DiMeo responded in a New York accent to Burke's unasked question.

But Burke became suspicious when the man didn't lock the door behind him. He went into the store and found Tim Donnelly's body. He ran back to his office and called police.

When Fairfield Police Sgt. Thomas Mrozek arrived on the scene, he found Tim Donnelly lying on his back on the floor behind the counter. There was a large pool of coagulated blood along the left side of his body. Mrozek checked Donnelly's neck but could not detect a pulse. He was pronounced dead at the scene.

Nearby, Officer James Chueka discovered Kim Donnelly. She was lying in a fetal position, unconscious but still breathing. She had a weak pulse.

EMTs dragged her into the center of the room and began performing CPR. She was taken to Bridgeport Hospital, where she was pronounced dead at 6:34 p.m.

When DiMeo returned to the apartment in New York, Pearce said he appeared agitated.

"It didn't go good," she would later recall him saying. They both injected heroin and went to sleep.

DiMeo would later tell police that Tim Donnelly had made a grab for his gun and then he blacked out. He claimed he didn't know he killed the couple until he saw a report about the murders on the TV news.

ON THE RUN

Police from both New York and Connecticut now hot on his trail, DiMeo suggested to Pearce that they go on a little vacation to Atlantic City. He left the SUV on a street in Brooklyn where police would later find the gun used in both the Donnelly and Renison killings. They sold the jewelry to a fence for $7,000, then used the money to buy heroin.

In New Jersey, they checked into the Ascot Motel, a budget motel about one block from the Atlantic City Police Department.

On the evening of Feb. 3, 2005, as police began to close in on their search, DiMeo and Pearce shot up some heroin, then went to gamble at one of the casinos. When they returned to their motel room several hours later, they injected heroin again and went to sleep.

The next morning, Pearce woke up first. She got up quietly to avoid waking DiMeo, dressed and left the room, heading for the lobby to pay their bill. But a cadre of police, wearing bullet-proof vests and carrying assault rifles, were waiting for her and quickly took her into custody.

They held her across the street, peppering her with questions about DiMeo and whether or not he had a gun. Police lined the hall leading to DiMeo's room, demanding he come out. After a standoff that lasted hours, he finally agreed to surrender.

Later, DiMeo chomped on a McDonald's Happy Meal hamburger -- standard fare for all prisoners at the Atlantic City Police Department --while police from the different departments lined up for their chance to talk to him.

DiMeo agreed to be taken back to New York-- which has no death penalty-- to be tried for the crimes there, but he fought extradition to Connecticut, which does have the death penalty.

In July 2005, DiMeo pleaded guilty to first-degree murder and robbery charges for the death of Renison. He also pleaded guilty to robbery charges for the other two N.Y. jewelry store thefts. He was sentenced to a life term.

Pearce pleaded guilty to participating in the Renison robbery and was sentenced to 20 years. DiMeo's mother received a 15-year prison term for being the getaway driver.

Pearce agreed immediately to be brought to Connecticut for prosecution, but DiMeo continued to fight extradition all the way up the line of New York courts.

In March 2007, the New York State Court of Appeals denied DiMeo's final appeal to stay in that state and he was immediately whisked to Connecticut.
Few national tragedies have resulted in political controversy quite like the 17 murders at a high school in Parkland, Florida. I live a mile from that school.

As a serial entrepreneur with many friends who are founders and CEOs of other major businesses in Florida, we all knew we had to do something. But what? How could we help those in need without hurting our own businesses and exposing our employees to controversy they didnt ask for?

We asked ourselves three questions, and the answers pointed us in the right direction. Heres what we ended up doing. Maybe it will inform your own efforts, or maybe youll want to join ours...

Related: Entrepreneurs Shouldn't Discuss Political Issues, Right? Not So Fast, Experts Say.

1. How can we ease pain and avoid politics?

Some entrepreneurs cynically try to capitalize on current events by drawing connections to their businesses. It seldom works well. See Entrepreneurs list of The 7 Biggest Social Media Fails of 2017, which included Pepsi getting involved in Black Lives Matter and Uber trying to support immigration protests. Both went badly and led to apologies.

After the Parkland tragedy, many businesses stayed silent, even as the nation engaged in a tense gun control debate. Here in South Florida, we grappled with a very practical matter: How do you provide mental health counseling not only to the students and teachers at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School but also to the traumatized community?

So I decided to focus my efforts solely on mental health, resisting all urges and pleas to comment on anything else. I followed the first rule of being a successful entrepreneur: Stay on message and avoid distractions.

Related: Why Social Media Giants Are Taking Discreet Steps to Combat Militant Propaganda

2. Is it better to start our own charity or donate to an existing one?

Its much easier to donate to a charity than create one, but the rewards can far outpace the work  especially if you look at the situation as an entrepreneur would. In this case, I couldnt find an existing charity that fulfilled the niche I wanted to pursue. No other charity was focused on curating, explaining and sharing in one place all the vetted and highly regarded counseling services available to the South Florida community.

I created Parkland Cares and donated six figures to the effort. The website is a one-stop shop for anyone seeking immediate and long-term mental health counseling and programs for shooting survivors, their families,and the community-at-large. Its been worth the effort and the money because, like any good entrepreneur Im providing a service no one else presently is.

Related: 10 Incredible Nonprofits and the Women Behind Them

3. Will you go it alone or have help at every step?

For a minute, I was worried the workload would consume me, but many business leaders immediately responded to Parkland Cares. The response has been so generous we will be able to offer grants to nonprofit mental health providers by the end of the year. Many of the providers could be entrepreneurial efforts to offer new services, especially to underserved communities.

Obviously, as community leaders, were expected to give back. I didnt realize how those leaders would respond when they saw one of their own doing something new. If you do the same in your own community, I bet youll be surprised.

Related:

Analysing the Unconventional Trend : Photography and Videography as Freelance Entrepreneurship

How to be Charitable After a Mass Shooting Without Getting Sucked Into Political Controversy

Here's How This Networking Platform is Helping Entrepreneurs Scale



Copyright 2018 Entrepreneur.com Inc., All rights reserved
Rural Bajhang folk struggle for health care

Villagers in Chuwaban of Durgathali Rural Municipality and Budkhori of Chhabis Pathibhera Rural Municipality in Bajhang district are compelled to walk for more than five hours to receive basic health services.
Heres a question that I came across recently: Can you do VUCA?

I dont know about you, but I had never heard that question, nor was I familiar with the acronym. It turns out that it has been used by large companies in planning exercises and actually originated with the U.S. Army. It stands for volatility, uncertainty, complexity and ambiguity. Certainly, it describes the very dynamic environment that credit unions find themselves in these days.

The VUCA concept challenges leaders to ask whether they are ready to manage and govern in an environment with a whole lot of VUCA.

I recently visited Normandy Beach on the northern coast of France where the infamous D-Day invasion took place on June 6, 1944. This was the largest amphibious military operation in history. Thankfully, the Allied forces prevailed in this pivotal battle that ultimately led to the liberation of Western Europe from Nazi control during World War II.

The numbers were simply staggering. The night prior to the invasion, 822 aircraft filled with parachutists headed for drop zones in Normandy. An additional 13,000 aircraft were mobilized to provide air cover and support for the invasion. By morning, 18,000 parachutists were already on the ground. Despite heavy casualties, especially on Omaha Beach, by days end, 155,000 Allied troops had stormed the beaches. Within 10 days, the number grew to 500,000 and within three weeks it was 2 million, and the Allied troops were poised to continue their march across Europe to courageously liberate Paris, France and Western Europe.

This was the ultimate example of volatility, uncertainty, complexity and ambiguity. Bombing targets were missed, many mistakes were made and unnecessary deaths and injuries resulted. Over 15,000 French civilians were killed by Allied bombing, largely because our military then lacked the capability of targeting smart bombs like we have today. Ninety percent of the amphibious tanks sank in the Omaha landing, soldiers were unnecessarily seasick due to a well-intentioned large breakfast prior to the attack, and on and on. But despite the mistakes, success was achieved because waiting for better weather or more preparation werent viable options.

As I looked out at that vast Normandy Beach, and as I toured the American soldiers cemetery where 9,500 U.S. soldiers were laid to rest, it reminded me that managing and leading a business pales in significance when compared to these big battles that truly changed the world. Whether in military exercises or business strategies, failing to act can sometimes be the worst strategy of all. So, preparing for success and trusting our teams, even in the face of volatility, uncertainty, complexity and ambiguity represent the true leadership imperative.

The accounting firm Deloitte recently published its 2018 Banking Outlook and suggested that there are six important challenges for financial institutions to consider as they do their strategic planning. They include:

Customer centricity Regulatory recalibration Technology management Mitigating cyber risk Fintechs and BigTechs Reimagining the workforce

After reading this report, I realized that for service providers like CU Solutions Group, we need to create and reinvent our offerings so that they align with these big challenges that credit unions will be facing for many years. CUSG offers an array of technology, marketing and HR performance solutions for credit unions and other clients. We also recently launched our Strategic Advisory Services program designed to complement and support our various products and services.

As credit unions gear up for their strategic plan updates this year, I suggest that the following six questions should be addressed while realizing that the ultimate leadership imperative focuses on knowing what to change and what to preserve.

For instance, credit unions may choose to keep and improve their branch and ATM networks, cooperative principles, commitment to social mission, focus on local geography and fields of membership, commitment to the credit union brand and the focus on member service as differentiators.

Theres a great quote from the ultimate technologist, the late Steve Jobs, that should ring true with credit union leaders as they grapple with the unprecedented pressure for change in a digital world. He said, Technology is nothing. Whats important is that you have faith in people, that theyre basically good and smart, and if you give them tools, theyll do wonderful things with them.

Due to credit unions relatively small size, they will never compete with the mega-banks and their technology budgets. But simple tools like good mobile apps, LifeSteps Wallet and remote deposit capture should be affordable for almost any credit union. Starting with the more practical and affordable technology tools while emphasizing how they can improve service, should be the focus for most credit unions limited technology budgets.

Here are the six questions that every credit union should address in their planning exercises:

Do we have a well-defined member experience program? This program should include improvements in leveraging member data, improving talent management strategies and working with partners to tackle pain points that are getting in the way of improving member service. Are we engaged in legislative and regulatory advocacy efforts with our associations? With a new director at the CFPB, a new NCUA Chairman and a Trump administration that favors regulatory relief, there are good opportunities to reduce regulatory burden, even as we work to preserve and improve the federal and state charters. However, every credit union needs to be engaged in identifying the specific issues that need to be addressed by the industry and then get actively involved in all facets of advocacy with national and state associations, including PAC donations, lawmaker meetings and local relationship building. Are we committed enough to our mobile strategies? CU Solutions Group is committed to helping credit unions improve their mobile service offerings with products like LifeSteps Wallet and other a la carte mobile apps. But an omni-channel strategy that emphasizes mobile still needs to give attention to market-segmentation data, improving member experience in branches, card offerings, lending practices and call centers and using technology to make operations more efficiently.

Cyber risk will be a huge challenge for credit unions in the future and regulators will require more planning and execution here. But starting with the basics, credit unions should patch systems, invest in cyber risk solutions, dedicate staff to IT security and partner where necessary. In 2014, Chase suffered a major attack that affected 76 million households and 7 million small businesses which ultimately cost the bank nearly $1 billion. Cyber risks are growing exponentially and all businesses including credit unions need to see this as a big priority. Are we looking to partner with Fintech companies and even BigTech companies like PayPal, Apple, Google and Microsoft? More and more banks are seeing companies like Apple, Quicken Loans and PayPal as frenemies vs. competitors. These companies are considered BigTechs vs. the so-called fintech companies that are disrupting payments, lending and other traditional banking services. It will be more important for companies like CUSG to find ways to partner with great technology leaders like Sprint, Intuit and PayPal to add value for credit unions and their members. Are we investing enough in leadership development and a new workforce ready for the digital world? Reimagining the workforce is what credit unions of all sizes need to do. This begins with the composition of boards of directors, the CEO and the entire team. Credit unions need to objectively ask themselves if they have the right people for the mission ahead. And if not, they need to invest in training as well as recruitment strategies that help attract, retain and develop the workforce of the future. In a 2017 MIT survey, 56 percent of banking executives are taking on projects that require learning new skills; and 60 percent say they are developing digital talent to position for the future.



CUSG offers great solutions like Performance Pro , Compease and Strategic Advisory Services to help credit unions deploy the best HR strategies for the future. Newer products like Planning Pro and GovernEase will help credit unions plan and govern more effectively.

The banking model of the future will no longer focus on branches, call centers, online, mobile and mail delivery channels in isolation. The new model will put mobile at the center of a wheel surrounded by branches, online, call centers, mail communication and open APIs. Putting mobile at the center makes it less of an afterthought but rather the primary channel. An omni-channel approach suggests that a personal touch should always be the differentiator for credit unions. And like Steve Jobs said, technology is not the goal, but rather the tools that help meet member needs in the most member-centric way possible.

Just like the incredible D-Day invasion that changed the course of World War II, in our far more limited spheres of influence at credit unions, we need to manage through VUCA with well-thought-out planning strategies that ask and respond to these important questions. For CUSG, we welcome our role of assisting in as many of these dimensions as possible while focusing on our product strengths in areas of technology, marketing and HR performance challenges.
Something must have happened, but I didnt see why. Then I read this in the Wall Street Journal.

As Americans become more adventurous with the grocery cart, food aisles are undergoing a transformation that is no less significant than marketplace changes sparked by Amazon, Spotify, Uber or Netflix. But the disrupters in food are more likely to look like a guy at the farmers market selling some unique recipe from the bed of a pickup than a snazzy startup working in an office full of ping-pong tablesand this presents a unique challenge to publicly traded giants struggling to cope in an era where buying mainstream grub is increasingly passe.

Sure were talking about $2.5 million in revenue, but there are hundreds of them taking hundreds of millions of dollars from the big guys and thats a problem, Caitlin James told me this weekend when I asked why her Detroit-based cold-press juice company could be a threat to companies like PepsiCo Inc. Ms. James is co-founder of Drought, a scrappy local operation that routinely commands more than 10 bucks for a 12-ounce fruit drink that tastes like it just spilled out of a countertop juicer and is now expanding to grocery giants, including Whole Foods.

The latest victim in the food wars is Denise Morrison, the longtime Campbell Soup Co. chief executive who stepped down last week after a series of trials failed to shake the existential crisis the 149-year-old companys brands face. Ms. Morrison pushed for change, experimenting with everything from lentils in a bag to a string of acquisitions. She established an internal venture fund to scout for promising mom-and-pops and last month launched an innovation accelerator.

Ultimately, she didnt succeed. Shifting consumer demands seemed to have moved faster than Campbellss Soup. This is a business with a market capitalization of $10.3 billion.

Might they shift their views when it comes to purchasing financial services, preferring local FIs that serve to strengthen the communities they serve?

Why not?
It was heartening to see Prime Minister Narendra Modi wish George Fernandes on his birthday using Twitter, and acknowledging his contribution to Indian democracy. Fernandes is 88 now, bed-ridden for the past few years, and unable to comprehend the developments in Indian politics. But in his prime, he was a livewire. His role in post-independence era is indisputable, for he fought for the common citizenry for nearly five decades. Public memory is short, they say. Sadly, in Fernandes' case it is even shorter.

Greetings to Mr. George Fernandes on his birthday. Generations of Indians will remain grateful to George Saheb for his historic role in preserving Indias democracy. A peoples person, he distinguished himself as a capable administrator. I pray for George Sahebs good health. pic.twitter.com/35ADgNuKQS  Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) June 3, 2018

Fernandes was my childhood hero. I do not hesitate in saying it even today. His office, famously known as "204, Charni Road", or "Donshe Chaar" in Marathi, was right opposite my home in Girgaum in Mumbai. It was a typical Marathi middle class-area, not used to labour union offices. I don't know why George decided to set up his first office here. Probably because it was close to the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation headquarters.

Those days, Fernandes had mobilised a vast union of BMC class IV employees in Mumbai.

I was eight or nine years old when I first saw Fernandes, and was awestruck by him. He symbolised hope. A boy from north Karnataka, worked as a hotel worker in Bombay, slept on the streets until P D'mello took him under his wings, and rose to become the most powerful union leader in the financial capital of India. He had more than 1.5 lakh municipal workers, BEST employees and taxi drivers under his control. He could shut Mumbai down with a single call. From the chief minister to the municipal commissioner, Fernandes had the might to take on everyone.

He became a national figure overnight after the 1967 Lok Sabha elections. SK Patil, leader of Mumbai Congress, known to be filling party coffers since Jawaharlal Nehru's time, had a reputation of being unbeatable. George overwhelmed him in his own constituency and defeated him with the ease of handling a switch. That was the first of the many victories that earned him the reputation of being a "giant killer".

For a man with a larger than life personality, Fernandes could even pull off an exaggeration convincingly with the public. I have met him several times, and experienced the euphoria he generated among the people. Even during the twilight of his career, in the 1990s, I have seen a packed Shivaji Park going crazy over him. It happened during a union rally. Sharad Rao and several other leaders delivered their speeches, but Fernandes couldn't be seen anywhere. After a while, he made a heroic entry, where he walked towards the stage through the crowd that went berserk. He had won the rally even before he started to speak.

During his initial days in Mumbai, he earned the respect and love of the people because he was genuinely involved with people's issues, and not a facade to gain popularity. He had gone down on railway tracks to stop the trains during the 1974 railway strike. He had the fire in the belly, and people were smitten by it. He faced police torture for it, but it only intensified his fighting spirit.

Fernandes, therefore, was a natural face to fight Indira Gandhi's Emergency. He was arrested for hatching the Baroda Dynamite Conspiracy, which he had organised to throw out Indira's government. When asked whether such violent means are justified to save democracy, he said, "Anything is justified to save democracy."

He spent the entire period of Emergency in jail, and was not even released during the historic 1977 Lok Sabha elections. But he fought from jail, and won the Muzaffarpur constituency by a landslide. The fact that he could pull off such a thing despite being in jail added insult to injury for Indira Gandhi, and she hated him. He was the poster boy of Janata Party, and his chained photograph had become a household image.

Fernandes reluctantly became a minister in the Janata Party cabinet. But he took charge of the ministry of industry, and took no time to leave a socialist stamp on it by banning Coke. We probably can't comprehend the importance of the decision in the liberal world, but in 1977, taking on an international giant was a bold move. That, in effect, enabled the birth of Thumbs Up in India.

In VP Singh's cabinet in 1989, he marked his legacy as railways minister by introducing the historic Konkan Railway, along with the then finance minister Madhu Dandavate. I tweeted in the morning that not many remember Fernandes today.

Today is George Fernandes birthday. I feel sorry for him, people dont even remember him now. One may not agree with his opportunistic politics, but his life is a thriller and definitely deserves a biopic or a biography/novel.  nikhil wagle (@waglenikhil) June 3, 2018

But a user quickly responded, "Those who travel by Kokan Railway do." As defence minister in Vajpayee cabinet, he was equally popular among the lower ranks of the Indian Army as he responded to their needs.

When the Janata Party split, Fernandes' downfall began. He backed the Morarji Desai government and defected to the rebel camp the next day, which cost him his hard earned credibility. And post Mandal, he could not find his space in India politics. He never had a devoted vote bank like Lalu Yadav. He always banked on his popularity, whether in Mumbai or, later, in Bihar. He was a Christian who rarely played the minority card. He spoke seven languages and was a true product of inclusive India.

The likes of Nitish or Lalu could not afford a leader like Fernandes overshadowing them in Bihar. To sustain his relevance in national politics, he drifted towards the BJP. His relationship with Atal Bihari Vajpayee and LK Advani was excellent, but the move turned out to be the last nail in the coffin of his credibility.

After the 2002 riots in Gujarat, he ended up defending Narendra Modi and that was the culmination of a tragedy. It was a great fall from grace for a leader who had represented international human rights organisations in India.

Unfortunately, the last few years of political hara-kiri have overshadowed his electrifying career and the essential people-centric role he played in the post-independence era. Fernandes' story is one of tragedy.

Nonetheless, he certainly deserves an objective biography or a biopic. After all, Vajpayee was not the only right man caught in the wrong company. Happy birthday, Fernandes!

Also read: Why this Kargil martyr's daughter is angry about how India doesn't respect its Army
The BJP has tasted defeat in Uttar Pradesh, again. The partys loss in the Kairana Parliamentary and Noorpur Assembly by-elections comes barely months after the drubbing in the Gorakhpur and Phoolpur Vidhan Sabha by-polls. While the string of defeats raises questions on the popularity of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, it squarely puts in the dock UPs chief minister, Yogi Adityanath.

The UP CM is facing the heat on both the Hindutva as well as vikas fronts. Photo: PTI

Before Adityanaths swearing-in, the BJP had clinched victory after massive victory in Uttar Pradesh. The 2014 Lok Sabha and the 2017 Assembly elections had seen the party notch up handsome wins. However, the saffron castle seems to be developing cracks now.

Uttar Pradesh forms the backbone of the BJPs brute majority in the Parliament. Its impressive show in the 2017 Vidhan Sabha polls saw the party come back to power in the state after 14 years in style. This was possible mainly because of the Modi magic. The party had not declared a CM candidate before the polls, but after the convincing victory, Modi and Amit Shah decided to give the top post to Yogi Adityanath.

Disturbed caste arithmetic

The BJPs sweep of the 2017 elections was made possible to a large degree thanks to OBC and Dalit votes. However, Adityanath has failed in maintaining the very caste coalition that propelled him to power.

The OBC and Dalit communities were not given adequate representation in the government. Moreover, members of Yogis own caste, the Thakurs, were involved in violent clashes with Dalits in Saharanpur. Yogi has also been accused of favouring the Thakurs, over which his own ministers have questioned him. The Opposition, meanwhile, has used these incidents to woo these castes away from the BJP.

Growth engine a non-starter

PM Modi himself is an MP from Uttar Pradeshs Varanasi. The locals, thus, had naturally hoped that his constituency would see achche din soon, on the lines of the famed Gujarat model of progress. The PM too had announced that he would turn UP into a growth engine before 2019.

However, it has been more than a year since the BJP came to power in the state, and there is not much to show on the progress front. In fact, Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Ydav has gone as far as to say that the Yogi cant bring development to the state, and is more suited to conducting religious rituals.

Gorakhpur over Lucknow?

Adityanath, along with being the CM of UP, is also the head priest of the Gorakhnath temple, and has been the Gorakhpur MP for five terms. Even now, he seems incapable of pulling himself out of Gorakhpur, and makes trips to the city every month. The Opposition, thus, has been accusing him of attending more to his mahant duties than to the CMs.

Fading saffron

For years, Adityanath has been a proud face of hardline Hindutva. After becoming the CM, he has tried to soften his image somewhat, which has not gone down well with his core supporters. His new slogan is kisi se bhedbhaav nahin aur kisi kee manuhaar nahin (no discrimination, no adulation).

Adityanath sweeping the Taj Mahal did not go down well with the fans of his Tejo Mahalaya theory. Photo: ANI

He is suddenly sweeping the Taj Mahal (which he once insisted was Tejo Mahalaya), talking of visiting mosques, trying to modernise madarsas. His erstwhile ardent supporters see this as a departure from the agenda of Hindutva.

Silence on Ram mandir

A grand Ram temple in Ayodhya has always been on the BJP manifesto. But now that the party is in power in both the Centre and the state, it has gone relatively silent on the mandir issue. Adityanath in the Opposition had been a vocal votary of the Ram temple. But as CM, he is talking of sorting out the issue through dialogue and in the courtroom.

Failed Kairana experiment

The Rashtriya Lok Dal (RLD) winning in Kairana and the SP in Noorpur has strengthened the idea of a grand opposition alliance to take on the BJP. Despite trying hard, the saffron party was unable to polarise votes along communal lines in these by-polls.

Fielding Tabassum Hasan, a Muslim candidate, in the Kairana by-poll had been an ambitious experiment by the RLD, which paid off.

The social equation of Kairana is the same as much of western UP. It is this area which, after the 2013 Muzaffarnagar riots, saw a vertical split of Hindu-Muslim votes and benefitted the BJP immensely in the 2014 and the 2017 elections.

In fact, in 2014, the RLD had failed to win even a single seat in western UP, considered its stronghold. Party president Ajit Singh himself had lost the election from Bhagpat, in Kairanas neighbourhood.

In such a scenario, fielding a Muslim woman candidate in the Kairana by-poll had been an ambitious experiment by the RLD, which it managed to pull off thanks to Opposition unity. With this one stroke, the Opposition proved it had managed to stem the communal polarisation of votes in the area.

It has been more than a year since the poster-boy of hardline Hindutva took over Indias most populous state, and the BJP has suffered nothing but electoral reverses since. The party has lost the seats represented by its chief minister (Adityanaths Gorakhpur) and deputy chief minister (Keshav Prasad Mauryas Phulpur), and now the communally sensitive Kairana.

This, at a time when the 2019 General Elections are not too far away, is a major reason for alarm. Can we say the Adityanath masterstroke has in fact proven to be a lost gamble?

Also read: Why Kairana by-poll will set the stage for 2019 general elections
We seem to be headed for some interesting times in the year ahead. For the sadharan (ordinary) citizens, reading the morning papers over a cup of tea, the political future of our fair land appears rather muddled.

The bhaktas contend that the recent setbacks to the ruling party in by-elections to state legislatures and national Parliament are insignificant. As a senior party member said on television, you have to take a few steps back to make a long jump ahead, a clever but singularly inept statement, since it implies that the "step back"  defeats in by-polls  was a deliberate strategy to help future "leaps forward" .

Gaffes on national TV apart, their belief is clear: The charisma of their supreme leader, the ruthless back office "skills" of their political managers and the fundamental strength of a "united and resurgent" Hindu identity will overcome considerations of caste, poverty, unemployment, inequality, local and regional loyalty and other issues that move voters.

Those in opposition to the ruling dispensation  "sickulars" and others  insist gleefully, however, that the end is near, the writing is on the wall and that this is the beginning of the end for the Hindutva brigade. Religious identity per se has never been enough to unify a fractured social and political fabric ridden with local and regional considerations of economic interest and related issues of power, privilege and patronage.

The arithmetic being put forward is simple. The Opposition parties put together are garnering a majority of votes and, therefore, if they come together they will win the national elections in 2019. Drilling down a little, the logic would appear to be that the regionally significant Opposition, if aligned with the remnants of the once nationally significant Congress, can muster enough votes to win the forthcoming national and state elections.

This reasoning requires one of two possible scenarios to emerge.

In states where the Congress has been reduced to insignificance, the regional satraps who have battled each other for years for positions of power and the very substantial fruits thereof, have to put aside the past, work together and "share and share alike" the loaves and fishes of office.

At one level, it is a question of personal egos, and the ability to let the dead past bury its dead and make a new cooperative future. At another more serious level, this requires the fundamental social realities, and the vote banks that emerged from there and underlie the political differences between these regional leaders, to be dealt with.

If for example, the different political bases that sustain these competing politicians are based on caste and class issues  rich, landowning "upper" castes versus poor landless "lower" castes  then the sustainability of their gatbandhan will depend on the extent to which the underlying socio-economic fissures can be papered over or otherwise contained in the interests of political unity. If the contradictions at the grass-roots level are particularly strong, the efforts at unity are likely to be doomed.

In states where the Congress still has a political presence, the problem of longstanding political differences and conflict in state-level politics will be aggravated by the ghosts of the Congress' past. The fundamental issue here is the difficulty of stepping down from a position of enormous entitlement and unquestioned power to one where you are just another team player, an important one perhaps, but still, just one of the "boys" instead of the capo di tutti capi.

Generations of power and privilege have a tendency to create a sense of entitlement that makes the adoption of realpolitik, and the malleability and accommodation that it requires very difficult, especially when the realpolitik requires a "stepping down" to lower levels of power and significance.

The writing appears to be on the wall. Opposition unity  a phrase that, given Indian political history, is generally considered an oxymoron  appears a necessary condition and perhaps, just perhaps, a sufficient condition for stopping the Modi-Shah juggernaut in the forthcoming elections.

But can all concerned actually see and act on the writing on the wall?

Remember that there are none so blind as they who will not see.

We are certainly going to see some interesting developments in the year to come.

Also read: Criticise Rahul Gandhi for his politics, but not for being a dutiful son
Sanchez Energy Corporation, an independent exploration and production company, focuses on the acquisition and development of U.S. onshore unconventional oil and natural gas resources. It engages in the horizontal development of resources from the Eagle Ford Shale in South Texas. It also holds an undeveloped acreage position in the Tuscaloosa Marine Shale (TMS) in Mississippi and Louisiana. As of December 31, 2017, the company had assembled approximately 285,000 net acres in the Eagle Ford Shale; and owned approximately 37,000 net acres in the TMS. Sanchez Energy Corporation was founded in 2011 and is headquartered in Houston, Texas.

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Sum of its parts

It is a fact that the break away, disintegration and formation of splinter groups in the name of ideological differences and revisionism is a common phenomenon in left (communist) parties all over the world; and the plethora of such splinter groups in Nepal very much validates this fact.
Bitauto Holdings Limited, through its subsidiaries, provides internet content and marketing services, and transaction services for the automobile industry in the People's Republic of China. It operates in three segments: Advertising and Subscription Business, Transaction Services Business, and Digital Marketing Solutions Business. The Advertising and Subscription Business segment offers advertising services, including automobile pricing and promotional information, specifications, reviews, and consumer feedback to automakers through its bitauto.com Website. It also provides transaction-focused online advertisement and promotional services for automakers, automobile dealers, auto finance partners, and insurance companies; and Web-based and mobile-based integrated digital marketing solutions to automobile dealers. The Transaction Services Business segment offers transaction platform and self-operated financing services. The Digital Marketing Solutions Business segment offers one-stop digital marketing solutions, including website creation and maintenance, online public relation, online marketing campaign, advertising agency, big data application, and digital image creation services. The company was founded in 2000 and is headquartered in Beijing, the People's Republic of China.

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Cenovus Energy Inc., together with its subsidiaries, develops, produces, and markets crude oil, natural gas liquids, and natural gas in Canada, the United States and the Asia Pacific region. The company operates through Oil Sands, Conventional, and Refining and Marketing segments. The Oil Sands segment develops and produces bitumen in northeast Alberta. Its bitumen assets include Foster Creek, Christina Lake, and Narrows Lake, as well as other projects in the early stages of development. The Conventional segment holds assets primarily located in Elmworth-Wapiti, Kaybob-Edson, and Clearwater operating areas of British Columbia and Alberta, as well as various interests in natural gas processing facilities. The Refining and Marketing segment transports and sells crude oil, natural gas, and NGLs. This segment owns a 50% ownership in Wood River and Borger refineries located in the United States; and owns and operates a crude-by-rail terminal in Alberta. Cenovus Energy Inc. was founded in 2009 and is headquartered in Calgary, Canada.

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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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Wall Street analysts have given Emergent Capital 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 Emergent Capital wasn't one of them. MarketBeat thinks these five companies may be even better buys.

View MarketBeat's top stock picks here.
National Bank of Canada provides various financial products and services to retail, commercial, corporate, and institutional clients in Canada and internationally. It operates through four segments: Personal and Commercial, Wealth Management, Financial Markets, and U.S. Specialty Finance and International. The Personal and Commercial segment offers personal banking services, including transaction solutions, mortgage loans and home equity lines of credit, consumer loans, payment solutions, savings and investment solutions; various insurance products; and commercial banking services, such as credit, and deposit and investment solutions, as well as international trade, foreign exchange transactions, payroll, cash management, insurance, electronic transactions, and complimentary services. The Wealth Management segment provides investment solutions, trust and estate services, banking services, lending services, guaranteed investment certificates, mutual funds, notes, structured products, and other wealth management solutions through internal and third-party distribution networks. The Financial Markets segment offers risk management products and services; and debt and equity underwriting; advisory services in the areas of mergers and acquisitions, and financing. The U.S. Specialty Finance and International segment provides specialty finance expertise; financial products and services to individuals and businesses in Cambodia; and the activities of targeted investments in certain emerging markets. The company also offers credit cards. It provides its services through a network of 483 branches and 1,573 banking machines. The company was founded in 1859 and is headquartered in Montreal, Canada.

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The Madhes connection

On the surface of things, the entry of the Sanghiya Samajbadi Forum Nepal (SSFN) into the government does not seem like an event that will have massive political importance. Only two SSFN leaders have been granted ministerial portfoliosUpendra Yadav as Deputy Prime Minister (DPM) and Health Minister, and Mohammad Istiyaq Raya as Minister for Urban Development.
The following companies are subsidiares of Prudential Financial: 210-220 E. 22nd Street SSGA Owner LLC, AIG Edison, AIG Star, AREF Cayman Co Ltd., AREF GP II Pte. Ltd., AREF GP Ltd., ASPF II - Feeder Fund GmbH, ASPF II - Verwaltungs - GmbH & Co. KG, ASPF II Management GmbH, ASPF III (Scots) L.P., ASSURANCE, AST Investment Services Inc., Adlerwerke CB Investment LLC, Administradora de Fondos de Pensiones Habitat S.A., Administradora de Inversiones Previsionales SpA, Aoba Life Insurance Company, Asia Property Fund III GP S.a.r.l., Assurance IQ LLC, Assurance Intelligence LLC, BSC CP LP, Braeloch Holdings Inc., Braeloch Successor Corporation, Brazilian Capital Fund GP Limited, Broad Street Global Advisors LLC, Broome Street Holdings LLC, CB German Retail LLC, CLIS Co. Ltd., COLICO INC., Campus Drive LLC, Capital Agricultural Property Services Inc., Chadwick Boulevard Investment Holdings Co. LLC, Cibecue LLC, Coconino LLC, Colico II Inc., Columbus Drive Partners L.P., Commerce Street Holdings LLC, Commerce Street Investments LLC, Coolidge LLC, Coral Reef GP, Coral Reef L.P., Coral Reef Unit Trust, Cottage Street Investments LLC, Cottage Street Orbit Acquisition LLC, DHFL PRAMERICA LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY LIMITED, DICKENS AVENUE HOLDINGS VI LLC, DICKENS AVENUE PARTNERS VI (Ireland) L.P., DICKENS AVENUE PARTNERS VI (US) L.P., Don Cesar Investor LLC, Dryden Arizona Reinsurance Term Company, Dryden Finance II LLC, EVP II GP S.a r.l., EVP II Sweden Resi I GP S.a r.l., Edison Place Senior Note LLC, Essex LLC, EuroCore GP S.a r.l., European Value Partners GP S.a.r.l., Everbright PGIM Fund Management Co. Ltd., Flagstaff LLC, GA 1600 Commons LLC, GA 333 Hennepin Investor LLC, GA BV LLC, GA Bay Area GP LLC, GA Bay Area Investor LLC, GA Belden LLC, GA CLARENDON LLC, GA Cal Crossings LLC, GA Collins LLC, GA E. 22nd Street Apartments Holdings LLC, GA East 86 Street LLC, GA JHCII LLC, GA MENLO PARK INVESTOR LLC, GA Manor at Harbour Island LLC, GA Metro LLC, GA Mission LLC, GA TRITON INVESTOR LLC, GA W Paces LLC, GA/MDI 333 Hennepin Associates LLC, GIBRALTAR BSN HOLDINGS SDN BHD, GIBRALTAR INDIA SOLUTIONS LLP, Gateway Holdings II LLC, Gateway Holdings LLC, German Retail Income CP LP, Gibraltar BSN Life Berhad, Gibraltar International Insurance Services Company Inc., Gibraltar International Service LLC, Gibraltar Reinsurance Company Ltd., Gibraltar Universal Life Reinsurance Company, Glenealy International Limited, Global Portfolio Strategies Inc., Gold GP Limited, Gold II L.P., Gold L.P., Graham Resources Inc., Graham Royalty Ltd., Green Tree GP, Green Tree L.P., Greenlee LLC, Halsey Street Investments LLC, Hirakata LLC, IVP Fund GP LLC, Impact Investments Bridges UK S.a.r.l, Inter-Atlantic G Fund L.P., Inversiones Previsionales Chile SpA, Inversiones Previsionales Dos SpA, Ironbound Fund LLC, Jennison Associates LLC, Kyarra S.a r.l., Kyoei Annuity Home Co. Ltd., LINEUP LLC, Lake Street Partners IV L.P., MC GA COLLINS HOLDINGS LLC, MC GA COLLINS REALTY LLC, MC Insurance Agency Services LLC, Manor at Harbour Island LLC, Marble Canyon LLC, Maricopa LLC, Market Street Holdings IV LLC, Morenci LLC, Mulberry Street Holdings LLC, Mulberry Street Investment L.P., Mulberry Street Partners LLC, Mullin TBG Insurance Agency Services LLC, MullinTBG Insurance Agency Services, National Family Assurance Group LLC, New Savanna, Orchard Street Acres Inc., PAI Bay Farm LLC, PAI Bayrock Groves LLC, PAI Belvidere Farms LLC, PAI Big Cypress Farm LLC, PAI Corcoran 640 Ranch LLC, PAI DeKalb Farm LLC, PAI Delano 1500 Ranches LLC, PAI Flicker Orchard LLC, PAI Good Hope Farm LLC, PAI Hawk Creek Ranch LLC, PAI Hills Valley Ranches LLC, PAI Holly Hill Groves LLC, PAI Hunt Farm LLC, PAI Jackson Bayou Farm LLC, PAI Lake Placid Groves LLC, PAI Wallula Gap Vineyard LLC, PCP V Cayman AIV GP L.P., PEREF II Co-Invest 1 GP S.a r.l., PEREF II GP S.a r.l., PEREF II PV S.r.l, PFI EM-Tech Fund I LLC, PG Business Service Co. Ltd, PG Collection Service Co. Ltd., PGA Asian Retail Limited, PGA European Limited, PGI Co. Ltd, PGIM (Australia) Pty Ltd, PGIM (Hong Kong) Ltd., PGIM (Scots) Limited, PGIM (Shanghai) Company Ltd., PGIM (Singapore) Pte. Ltd., PGIM AVP IV GP S.a r.l., PGIM Advisory (Shanghai) Co. Ltd., PGIM Agricultural Investments GP LLC, PGIM Agricultural Investors LP, PGIM Broad Market High Yield Bond Fund L.P., PGIM Broad Market High Yield Bond Partners LLC, PGIM Capital Partners Management (Feeder) VI LLC, PGIM Capital Partners Management Fund VI L.P., PGIM European Financing Limited, PGIM European Services Limited, PGIM Financial Limited, PGIM Fixed Income Alternatives Fund II L.P., PGIM Fixed Income Alternatives Fund L.P., PGIM Fixed Income Alternatives GP LLC, PGIM Fixed Income Alternatives II GP LLC, PGIM Foreign Investments Inc., PGIM Holding Company LLC, PGIM INDIA ASSET MANAGEMENT PRIVATE LIMITED, PGIM INDIA TRUSTEES PRIVATE LIMITED, PGIM Inc., PGIM International Financing Inc., PGIM Investments LLC, PGIM Japan Co. Ltd., PGIM Korea Inc., PGIM LTIF Berlin GP S.a r.l., PGIM LTIF Berlin MLP S.ar.l., PGIM LTIF GP S.a.r.l., PGIM Limited, PGIM Loan Originator Manager Limited, PGIM M Campus GP S.a r.l., PGIM Management Partner Limited, PGIM MetaProp Investor LP LLC, PGIM Netherlands B.V., PGIM Overseas Investment Fund Management (Shanghai) Company Ltd, PGIM Private Capital (Ireland) Limited, PGIM Private Capital Limited, PGIM Private Placement Investors Inc., PGIM Private Placement Investors L.P., PGIM REF EUROPE SCSp, PGIM REF Europe GP S.a r.l., PGIM REF Europe Member LLC, PGIM REF Intermediary Services Inc., PGIM Real Estate (Japan) Ltd., PGIM Real Estate (UK) Limited, PGIM Real Estate CD S.a.r.l., PGIM Real Estate Capital VII GP S.a r.l., PGIM Real Estate Carry & Co-Invest GP LLC, PGIM Real Estate Carry & Co-Invest GP S.a r.l., PGIM Real Estate Carry & Co-Invest L.P., PGIM Real Estate Carry & Co-Invest SCSp, PGIM Real Estate Co-Invest Holdings LLC, PGIM Real Estate Debt GmbH, PGIM Real Estate Finance Holding Company, PGIM Real Estate Finance LLC, PGIM Real Estate France SAS, PGIM Real Estate Germany AG, PGIM Real Estate Global Debt GP LLC, PGIM Real Estate Inmuebles S. de R.L. de C.V, PGIM Real Estate Italy S.r.l., PGIM Real Estate Loan Services Inc., PGIM Real Estate Luxembourg S.A., PGIM Real Estate MVP Administradora IV S. de R.L. de C.V., PGIM Real Estate MVP Administradora V S. de R.L. de C.V., PGIM Real Estate MVP Inmuebles IV S. de R.L. de C.V., PGIM Real Estate MVP Inmuebles V S. de R.L. de C.V., PGIM Real Estate Management Luxembourg S.a.r.l., PGIM Real Estate Mexico S.C., PGIM Real Estate S. de R.L. de C.V., PGIM Real Estate U.S. Debt Fund GP LLC, PGIM Senior Loan Opportunities Management (Feeder) I LLC, PGIM Senior Loan Opportunities Management Fund I L.P., PGIM Strategic Financing LLC, PGIM Strategic Investments Inc., PGIM USPF VI Manager LLC, PGIM Warehouse Inc., PGLH of Delaware Inc., PIFM Holdco LLC, PIIC Limited, PIISC Holdings (UK) Limited, PIM KF Blocker Holdings LLC, PIM KF Blocker V Holdings LLC, PIM USPF V Manager LLC, PLA Administradora Industrial SRL, PLA Administradora LLC, PLA Administradora S. de R.L. de C.V., PLA Asesoria Profesional II S. de R.L. de C.V., PLA Asesoria Profesional S.de R.L. de C.V., PLA Co-Investor LLC, PLA Mexico Industrial Manager I LLC, PLA Mexico Industrial Manager II LLC, PLA Mexico Residential Manager I LLC, PLA Residential Fund III Aggregating Manager LLC, PLA Residential Fund III Limited Manager LLC, PLA Residential Fund III Manager LLC, PLA Residential Fund IV Aggregating Manager LLC, PLA Residential Fund IV Manager LLC, PLA Retail Fund I Blue LP, PLA Retail Fund I LP, PLA Retail Fund I Manager LLC, PLA Retail Fund I Red LP, PLA Retail Fund II Aggregating Manager LLC, PLA Retail Fund II LLC, PLA Retail Fund II LP, PLA Retail Fund II Manager LLC, PLA Retail Fund II U.S. Carry/Co-Invest LP, PLA Services Manager Mexico LLC, PLAI Limited, PMCF Holdings LLC, PMCF Properties LLC, PPPF General Partner LLP, PR GA SCP Apartments LLC, PRAMERICA PRECAP VI GP (SCOTS FEEDER) LLP, PRAMERICA PRECAP VI GP LLP, PRECO ACCOUNT III LLC, PRECO ACCOUNT PARTNERSHIP III LP, PRECO Account IV LLC, PRECO Account Partnership IV LP, PRECO III GP LLP, PREFG Hanwha Manager LLC, PREI Acquisition I Inc., PREI Acquisition II Inc., PREI Acquisition LLC, PREI HYDG LLC, PREI International Inc., PRIAC Property Acquisitions LLC, PRICOA Management Partner Limited, PRISA Fund Manager LLC, PRISA II Fund Manager LLC, PRISA II Pooled Manager LLC, PRISA III Fund GP LLC, PRISA III Fund PIM LLC, PRREF II Fund Manager LLC, PRU 3XSquare LLC, PRUCO LLC, PRUDENTIAL CAPITAL ENERGY PARTNERS MANAGEMENT (FEEDER) LLC, PRUDENTIAL MORTGAGE SKP MEMBER LLC, PRUDENTIAL MORTGAGE SKP REIT LLC, PRUDENTIAL MORTGAGE SKP VENTURE 2 LLC, PRUDENTIAL MORTGAGE SKP VENTURE LLC, PT PFI Mega Life Insurance, Passaic Fund LLC, Pine Tree GP, Pine Tree L.P., Platinum GP Limited, Platinum II L.P., Platinum L.P., Pramerica (Hong Kong) Holdings Limited, Pramerica (Luxembourg) CP GP S.a.r.l., Pramerica (Scots) CP GP LLP, Pramerica Business Consulting (Shanghai) Company Limited, Pramerica EVP CP LP, Pramerica Financial Asia Headquarters Pte. Ltd., Pramerica Financial Asia Limited, Pramerica Fixed Income Funds Management Limited, Pramerica Fosun Life Insurance Co. Ltd., Pramerica General Partner LLP, Pramerica Holdings Ltd, Pramerica Insurance Agency (China) Company Ltd., Pramerica PRECAP I GP LLP, Pramerica PRECAP II GP LLP, Pramerica PRECAP III GP LLP, Pramerica PRECAP IV GP LLP, Pramerica Pan European Real Estate (Scots) LP, Pramerica Property Partners Fund (Scotland) Limited Partnership, Pramerica Real Estate Capital I (Scotland) Limited Partnership, Pramerica Real Estate Capital I GP (Scots Feeder) LLP, Pramerica Real Estate Capital II (Scots) Limited Partnership, Pramerica Real Estate Capital III (Scots) Limited Partnership, Pramerica Real Estate Capital IV (Scots) Limited Partnership, Pramerica Real Estate Capital IV GP (Scots Feeder) LLP, Pramerica Real Estate Capital IV GP Limited, Pramerica Real Estate Capital V (Netherlands) GP LLP, Pramerica Real Estate Capital V (Scots) Limited Partnership, Pramerica Real Estate Capital VI (Scots) Limited Partnership, Pramerica SGR S.p.A, Pramerica Systems Ireland Limited, Preco III (Scotland) Limited Partnership, Pru 101 Wood LLC, Pru Alpha Partners I LLC, Pru Fixed Income Emerging Markets Partners I LLC, PruVen Capital Partners Fund I L.P., Pruco Assignment Corporation, Pruco Life Insurance Company, Pruco Life Insurance Company of New Jersey, Pruco Securities LLC, Prudential 900 Aviation Boulevard LLC, Prudential Affordable Mortgage Company LLC, Prudential Agricultural Property Holding Company LLC, Prudential Annuities Distributors Inc., Prudential Annuities Holding Company Inc., Prudential Annuities Inc., Prudential Annuities Information Services & Technology Corporation, Prudential Annuities Life Assurance Corporation, Prudential Arizona Reinsurance Captive Company, Prudential Arizona Reinsurance Term Company, Prudential Arizona Reinsurance Universal Company, Prudential Bank & Trust FSB, Prudential Capital Energy Opportunity Fund L.P., Prudential Capital Energy Partners L.P., Prudential Capital Energy Partners Management Fund L.P., Prudential Capital Partners Management Fund IV L.P., Prudential Capital and Investment Services LLC, Prudential Chile II SpA, Prudential Chile SpA, Prudential Commercial Property Holding Company LLC, Prudential Customer Solutions LLC, Prudential Equity Group LLC, Prudential Financial Securities Investment Trust Enterprise, Prudential Fixed Income Global Liquidity Relative Value Partners LLC, Prudential Fixed Income U.S. Relative Value Partners LLC, Prudential Funding LLC, Prudential General Services of Japan Y.K., Prudential Gibraltar Agency Co. Ltd., Prudential Global Funding LLC, Prudential Holdings of Japan Inc., Prudential Huntoon Paige Associates LLC, Prudential IBH Holdco Inc., Prudential Impact Investments Mortgage Loans LLC, Prudential Impact Investments Private Debt LLC, Prudential Impact Investments Private Equity LLC, Prudential Industrial Properties LLC, Prudential Insurance Agency LLC, Prudential International Insurance Holdings Ltd., Prudential International Insurance Service Company L.L.C., Prudential International Investments Advisers LLC, Prudential International Investments Company LLC, Prudential International Investments LLC, Prudential Investment Management Services LLC, Prudential Japan Holdings LLC, Prudential Legacy Insurance Company of New Jersey, Prudential Life Insurance Company of Taiwan Inc., Prudential Mortgage Asset Holdings 1 Japan Investment Business Limited Partnership, Prudential Mortgage Asset Holdings 2 Japan Investment Business Limited Partnership, Prudential Mortgage Capital Asset Holding Company LLC, Prudential Mortgage Capital Funding LLC, Prudential Mortgage Capital Holdings LLC, Prudential Multifamily Mortgage LLC, Prudential Mutual Fund Services LLC, Prudential Newark Realty LLC, Prudential QOZ Investment Fund 1 LLC, Prudential Realty Securities Inc., Prudential Retirement Financial Services Holding LLC, Prudential Retirement Holdings LLC, Prudential Retirement Insurance and Annuity Company, Prudential Securities Secured Financing Corporation, Prudential Securities Structured Assets Inc., Prudential Seguros Mexico S.A. de C.V., Prudential Seguros S.A., Prudential Servicios S. de R.L. de C.V., Prudential Structured Settlement Company, Prudential Systems Japan Limited, Prudential Term Reinsurance Company, Prudential Trust Co. Ltd., Prudential Trust Company, Prudential Universal Reinsurance Company, Prudential Workplace Solutions Group Services LLC, Prudential do Brasil Seguros de Vida S.A., Prudential do Brasil Vida em Grupo S.A., Prudential/TMW Real Estate Group LLC, Pruservicos Participacoes Ltda., QMA JP EM All Cap Equity Partners LLC, QMA LLC, QMA Wadhwani LLP, Quartzsite LLC, Residential Services Corporation of America LLC, Rio CP LP, Rock European Real Estate Holdings S.ar.l., Rock Global Real Estate LLC, Rock Kensington Limited, Rock Marty GP S.a r.l., Rock Oxford S.a r.l., Rock UK Real Estate Holdings S.ar.l., Rock UK Real Estate II S.a.r.l., Rockstone Co. Ltd., Rosado Grande LLC, Ross Avenue Energy Fund Holdings LLC, Ross Avenue Minerals 2012 LLC, SCP Apartments LLC, SENIOR HOUSING PARTNERS VI GP LLC, SENIOR HOUSING PARTNERSHIP FUND VI GP LLC, SHP IV Carried Interest LP, SHP V Carried Interest L.P., SMP Holdings Inc., SVIIT Holdings Inc., Sanei Collection Service Co. Ltd. (Kabushiki Kaisha Sanei Shuuno Service), Senior Housing Partners IV L.L.C., Senior Housing Partners V LLC, Senior Housing Partnership Fund IV L.L.C., Senior Housing Partnership Fund V LLC, Sterling Private Placement Management LLP, Stetson Street Partners L.P., Strand Investments Limited, TBG Insurance Services Corporation, TENSATOR HOLDINGS LTD, TF Proveedora S.C., TMW ASPF I Verwaltungs GmbH & Co. KG, TMW ASPF Management GmbH, TMW Management LLC, TMW Real Estate Group LLC, TMW Realty Advisors LLC, TMW USPF Verwaltungs GmbH, TRGOAG Company Inc., The Gibraltar Life Insurance Co. Ltd., The Keynes Dynamic Beta Strategy (US) Fund GP LLC, The Prudential Assigned Settlement Services Corp., The Prudential Brazilian Capital Fund LP, The Prudential Gibraltar Financial Life Insurance Co. Ltd., The Prudential Home Mortgage Company Inc., The Prudential Insurance Company of America, The Prudential Life Insurance Company Ltd., The Prudential Real Estate Financial Services of America Inc., The WMF Group, Thurloe Commercial Guernsey Limited, Times Square Center Associates, USPF V - Verwaltungs - GmbH & Co. KG, USPF V Carry LLC, USPF V Co-Invest LLC, USPF V Investment LP, United States Property Fund VI GP S.a r.l., Vailsburg Fund LLC, Vantage Casualty Insurance Company, Wabash Avenue Holdings V LLC, Wabash Avenue Partners V L.P., Wadhwani Capital Limited, Waveland Avenue Holdings I LLC, Waveland Avenue Partners I (Ireland) L.P., Waveland Avenue Partners I (US) L.P., Wellness Services Ecossistema De Bem Estar Ltda., Wellness Services SRL, Yamato Life, and Yavapai LLC.
Three arrested under suspicion of trafficking girl to India

Police on Sunday evening arrested three persons including an Indian national involved in taking a young girl from Mahakali municipality of Kanchanpur to India.
Brookdale Senior Living, Inc. engages in the operation of senior living communities. The firm manages independent living, assisted living and dementia-care communities and continuing care retirement centers. It operates through the following segments: Independent Living Assisted Living & Memory Care, CCRCs, Health Care Services and Management Services. The Independent Living segment is primarily designed for middle to upper income seniors who desire an upscale residential environment providing the highest quality of service. The Assisted Living & Memory Care segment offer housing and 24-hour assistance with ADLs to mid-acuity frail and elderly residents. The CCRCs segment offers a variety of living arrangements and services to accommodate all levels of physical ability and health. The Healthcare Services segment provides home health, hospice and outpatient therapy services, as well as education and wellness programs, to residents of many communities and to seniors living outside communities. The Management Services segment composes of communities operated by the company pursuant to management agreements. The company was founded in 1978 and is headquartered in Brentwood, TN.

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Three former police officials seek probe commission

Three Nepal Police former officials have demanded a commission or task force to investigate the 33kg gold smuggling case and subsequent murder of Sanam Shakya, an alleged gold carrier.
Centrica plc operates as an integrated energy company in the United Kingdom, Ireland, Norway, North America, and internationally. The company operates through British Gas, Energy Marketing & Trading, Centrica Business Solutions, Bord GAis Energy, and Upstream segments. It supplies gas and electricity to residential customers, as well as offers energy-related services; and generates power from combined cycle gas turbines and nuclear assets. The company also provides installation, repair, and maintenance services for domestic central heating, plumbing and drains, home electrical, and gas and kitchen appliances; and heating, ventilation, and air conditioning equipment, as well as offers breakdown services. In addition, it is involved in the procurement, trading, and optimization of energy; procurement and sale of LNG; and supplies energy efficiency solutions and technologies to residential customers. Further, the company produces and processes gas and oil; develops new fields to maintain reserves; constructs, owns, and exploits infrastructure; and engages in the social enterprise investment fund activities. Additionally, it provides vehicle leasing, commercial, and insurance services, as well as energy management products and services; and operates a gas storage and franchise network. The company was formerly known as Yieldtop plc and changed its name to Centrica plc in December 1996. Centrica plc was incorporated in 1995 and is based in Windsor, the United Kingdom.

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The following companies are subsidiares of Abbott Laboratories: 3A Nutrition (Vietnam) Company Limited, ABON Biopharm (Hangzhou) Co. Ltd., AGA Medical Belgium, AGA Medical Corporation, AGA Medical Holdings Inc., ALR Holdings, AML Medical LLC, APK Advanced Medical Technologies LLC, ATS Bermuda Holdings Limited, ATS Laboratories Inc., Abbott, Abbott (Jiaxing) Nutrition Co. Ltd., Abbott (UK) Finance Limited, Abbott (UK) Holdings Limited, Abbott AG, Abbott Asia Holdings Limited, Abbott Asia Investments Limited, Abbott Australasia Holdings Limited, Abbott Australasia Pty Ltd, Abbott B.V., Abbott Bahamas Overseas Businesses Corporation, Abbott Belgian Investments, Abbott Bermuda Holding Ltd., Abbott Biologicals B.V., Abbott Biologicals LLC, Abbott Bulgaria Luxembourg S.a r.l., Abbott Capital India Limited, Abbott Cardiovascular Inc., Abbott Cardiovascular Systems Inc., Abbott Delaware LLC, Abbott Diabetes Care Inc., Abbott Diabetes Care Limited, Abbott Diabetes Care Sales Corporation, Abbott Diagnostics GmbH, Abbott Diagnostics International Ltd., Abbott Diagnostics Technologies AS, Abbott Doral Investments S.L., Abbott Equity Holdings Unlimited, Abbott Equity Investments LLC, Abbott Established Products Holdings (Gibraltar) Limited, Abbott Finance Company SA, Abbott Financial Holdings SRL, Abbott France S.A.S., Abbott Fund Tanzania Limited, Abbott Gesellschaft m.b.H., Abbott GmbH & Co. KG, Abbott Health Products LLC, Abbott Healthcare (Puerto Rico) Ltd., Abbott Healthcare B.V., Abbott Healthcare Costa Rica S.A., Abbott Healthcare LLC, Abbott Healthcare Luxembourg S.a r.l., Abbott Healthcare Private Limited, Abbott Healthcare Products B.V., Abbott Healthcare Products Ltd, Abbott Holding (Gibraltar) Limited, Abbott Holding GmbH, Abbott Holding Subsidiary (Gibraltar) Limited, Abbott Holding Subsidiary (Gibraltar) Limited Luxembourg S.C.S., Abbott Holdings B.V., Abbott Holdings LLC, Abbott Holdings Limited, Abbott Holdings Poland Spoka z ograniczona odpowiedzialnoscia, Abbott Hungary Korlatolt Felelossegu Tarsasag, Abbott Iberian Investments (2) Limited, Abbott Iberian Investments Limited, Abbott India Limited, Abbott Informatics Asia Pacific Limited, Abbott Informatics Canada Inc, Abbott Informatics Corporation, Abbott Informatics Europe Limited, Abbott Informatics France, Abbott Informatics Germany GmbH, Abbott Informatics Netherlands B.V., Abbott Informatics Singapore Pte. Limited, Abbott Informatics Spain S.A., Abbott Informatics Technologies Ltd, Abbott International Corporation, Abbott International Enterprises Ltd., Abbott International Holdings Limited, Abbott International LLC, Abbott International Luxembourg S.ar.l., Abbott Investments Luxembourg S.a r.l., Abbott Ireland, Abbott Ireland Financing Designated Activity Company, Abbott Ireland Limited, Abbott Japan Co. Ltd., Abbott Kazakhstan Limited Liability Partnership, Abbott Knoll Investments B.V., Abbott Korea Limited, Abbott Laboratories (Bangladesh) Limited, Abbott Laboratories (Chile) Holdco (Dos) SpA, Abbott Laboratories (Chile) Holdco SpA, Abbott Laboratories (Malaysia) Sdn. Bhd., Abbott Laboratories (Mozambique) Limitada, Abbott Laboratories (Pakistan) Limited, Abbott Laboratories (Philippines), Abbott Laboratories (Puerto Rico) Incorporated, Abbott Laboratories (Singapore) Private Limited, Abbott Laboratories A/S, Abbott Laboratories Argentina Sociedad Anonima, Abbott Laboratories B.V., Abbott Laboratories C.A., Abbott Laboratories Finance B.V., Abbott Laboratories GmbH, Abbott Laboratories Inc., Abbott Laboratories International LLC, Abbott Laboratories Ireland Limited, Abbott Laboratories Limited, Abbott Laboratories Limited - Laboratoires Abbott Limitee, Abbott Laboratories NZ Limited, Abbott Laboratories Pacific Ltd., Abbott Laboratories Poland Spoka z ograniczona odpowiedzialnoscia, Abbott Laboratories Products B.V., Abbott Laboratories Residential Development Fund Inc., Abbott Laboratories S.A., Abbott Laboratories SA, Abbott Laboratories Services Corp., Abbott Laboratories Slovakia s.r.o., Abbott Laboratories South Africa (Pty) Ltd., Abbott Laboratories Trading (Shanghai) Co. Ltd., Abbott Laboratories Trustee Company Limited, Abbott Laboratories Uruguay S.A., Abbott Laboratories Vascular Enterprises, Abbott Laboratories d.o.o., Abbott Laboratories de Chile Limitada, Abbott Laboratories de Colombia S.A., Abbott Laboratories de Mexico S.A. de C.V., Abbott Laboratories druzba za farmacijo in diagnostiko d.o.o., Abbott Laboratories s.r.o., Abbott Laboratories(Hellas) Societe Anonyme, Abbott Laboratorios S.A., Abbott Laboratorios S.A., Abbott Laboratorios del Ecuador Cia. Ltda., Abbott Laboratuarlari Ithalat Ihracat ve Ticaret Ltd.Sti, Abbott Laboratorios Lda, Abbott Laboratorios do Brasil Ltda., Abbott Limited Egypt LLC, Abbott Logistics B.V., Abbott Management GmbH, Abbott Management LLC, Abbott Manufacturing Singapore Private Limited, Abbott Mature Products International Unlimited Company, Abbott Mature Products Management Limited, Abbott Medical (Hong Kong) Limited, Abbott Medical (Malaysia) Sdn. Bhd., Abbott Medical (Portugal) Distribuicao de Produtos Medicos Lda, Abbott Medical (Schweiz) AG, Abbott Medical (Shanghai) Co. Ltd., Abbott Medical (Singapore) Pte. Ltd., Abbott Medical (Thailand) Co. Ltd., Abbott Medical Australia Pty. Ltd., Abbott Medical Austria Ges.m.b.H., Abbott Medical Balkan d.o.o. Beograd (Novi Beograd), Abbott Medical Belgium, Abbott Medical Canada Inc./ Medicale Abbott Canada Inc., Abbott Medical Danmark A/S, Abbott Medical Devices Trading (Shanghai) Co. Ltd., Abbott Medical Espana S.A., Abbott Medical Estonia OU, Abbott Medical Finland Oy, Abbott Medical France SAS, Abbott Medical GmbH, Abbott Medical Hellas Limited Liability Trading Company, Abbott Medical Ireland Limited, Abbott Medical Italia S.p.A., Abbott Medical Japan Co. Ltd., Abbott Medical Korea Limited, Abbott Medical Korlatolt Felelossegu Tarsasag, Abbott Medical Laboratories LTD, Abbott Medical Nederland B.V., Abbott Medical New Zealand Limited, Abbott Medical Norway AS, Abbott Medical Overseas Cyprus Limited, Abbott Medical Sweden AB, Abbott Medical Taiwan Co., Abbott Medical U.K. Limited, Abbott Medical spoka z ograniczona odpowiedzialnoscia, Abbott Middle East S.A.R.L., Abbott Molecular Inc., Abbott Morocco SARL, Abbott Nederland C.V., Abbott Nederland Luxembourg S.a r.l., Abbott Netherlands Investments B.V., Abbott Norge AS, Abbott Nutrition Limited, Abbott Nutrition Manufacturing Inc., Abbott Operations Singapore Pte. Ltd., Abbott Operations Uruguay S.R.L., Abbott Overseas Cyprus Limited, Abbott Overseas Luxembourg S.a r.l., Abbott Overseas S.A., Abbott Oy, Abbott Point of Care Canada Limited, Abbott Point of Care Inc., Abbott Poland Luxembourg S.a r.l., Abbott Procurement LLC, Abbott Products (Philippines) Inc., Abbott Products (Spain) S.L., Abbott Products Algerie EURL, Abbott Products B.V., Abbott Products Distribution SAS, Abbott Products Egypt LLC, Abbott Products Limited, Abbott Products Limited Liability Company, Abbott Products Luxembourg S.a r.l., Abbott Products Operations AG, Abbott Products Operations LLC, Abbott Products Romania S.R.L., Abbott Products Tunisie S.A.R.L., Abbott Products Unlimited Company, Abbott Resources Inc., Abbott Resources International Inc., Abbott S.r.l., Abbott Saudi Arabia Trading Company, Abbott Scandinavia Aktiebolag, Abbott Sociedad Anonima de Capital Variable, Abbott South Africa Luxembourg S.a r.l., Abbott Strategic Opportunities Limited, Abbott Trading Company Inc., Abbott Universal LLC, Abbott Vascular Devices (2) Limited, Abbott Vascular Devices Limited, Abbott Vascular Inc., Abbott Vascular Instruments Deutschland GmbH, Abbott Vascular International, Abbott Vascular Japan Co. Ltd, Abbott Vascular Limitada, Abbott Vascular Netherlands B.V., Abbott Vascular Solutions Inc., Abbott Ventures Inc., Abbott West Indies Limited, Abbott drustvo sa ogranicenom odgovornoscu za trgovinu i usluge, Advanced Neuromodulation Systems Inc., Alere, Alere (Shanghai) Diagnostics Co. Ltd., Alere (Shanghai) Healthcare Management Co. Ltd., Alere (Shanghai) Medical Sales Co. Ltd., Alere (Shanghai) Technology Co. Ltd., Alere A/S, Alere AB, Alere AS, Alere AS Holdings Limited, Alere BBI Holdings Limited, Alere Bangladesh Limited, Alere China Co. Ltd., Alere Colombia S.A., Alere Connect LLC, Alere Connected Health Limited, Alere Connected Health Ltd., Alere Diagnostics GmbH, Alere DoA Holding GmbH, Alere GmbH, Alere GmbH (Austria), Alere GmbH (Germany), Alere HK Holdings Ltd., Alere Health B.V., Alere Health BVBA, Alere Health Corp., Alere Health Sdn Bhd, Alere Health Services B.V., Alere Healthcare (Pty) Limited, Alere Healthcare Connections Limited, Alere Healthcare Inc., Alere Healthcare Nigeria Limited, Alere Healthcare S.L., Alere Holdco Inc., Alere Holding GmbH, Alere Holdings Bermuda Limited, Alere Holdings Pty Limited, Alere Home Monitoring Inc., Alere Inc., Alere Informatics Inc., Alere International Holding Corp., Alere International Limited, Alere Lda, Alere Limited, Alere Limited (New Zealand), Alere Medical BVBA, Alere Medical Co. Ltd., Alere Medical Pakistan (Private) Limited, Alere Medical Private Limited, Alere North America LLC, Alere Oy Ab, Alere Philippines Inc., Alere Phoenix ACQ Inc., Alere Pte Ltd, Alere S.A., Alere S.r.l., Alere S/A, Alere SAS, Alere San Diego Inc., Alere Scarborough Inc., Alere Spain S.L., Alere Switzerland GmbH, Alere Technologies GmbH, Alere Technologies Holdings Limited, Alere Technologies Limited, Alere Toxicology AB, Alere Toxicology Inc., Alere Toxicology S.r.l., Alere Toxicology Services Inc., Alere Toxicology plc, Alere UK Holdings Limited, Alere UK Subco Limited, Alere ULC, Alere US Holdings LLC, Alere s.r.o., Alisoc Investment & Co, Amedica Biotech Inc., Ameditech Inc., American Generics S.A.S., American Medical Supplies Inc., American Pharmacist Inc., Antares S.A., Apica Cardiovascular Limited, Aquagestion Capacitacion S.A., Aquagestion S.A., Arriva Medical LLC, Arriva Medical Philippines Inc., Arvis Investments Limited, Atlas Farmaceutica S.A., Avee Laboratories Inc., Axis-Shield AD III AS, Axis-Shield AD IV AS, Axis-Shield AS, Axis-Shield Diagnostics Limited, Axis-Shield Ltd., BBI Animal Health Limited, BBI Diagnostics Group 2 Public Limited Company, Banco de Vida S.A., Bioabsorbable Vascular Solutions Inc., Bioalgae S.A., Biohealth LLC, Biosite Incorporated, Bosque Bonito S.A., Branan Medical Corporation, Brandex Europe C.V., British Colloids Limited, CFR Chile S.A., CFR Interamericas EL Salvador Sociedad Anonima de Capital Variable, CFR Interamericas Nicaragua Sociedad Anonima, CFR Interamericas Panama S.A., CFR Pharmaceuticals, California Property Holdings III LLC, CardioMEMS LLC, Caripharm Inc., Cephea Valve Technologies, Cephea Valve Technologies Inc., Colibri Medical Aktiebolag, Comercializadora y Distribuidora CFR Interamericas Honduras S.A., Concateno South Limited, Concateno UK Limited, Consorcio Tecnologico en Biomedicina Clinico-Molecular S.A., Continuum Services LLC, Cozart Limited, Dextech S.A., Diagnostik Nord GmbH, Distribuciones Uquifa S.A.S., Domesco Medical Import-Export Joint-Stock Corporation, Duphar International Research B.V., Endocardial Solutions, Epocal (US) Inc, Esprit de Vie S.A., European Chemicals & Co, European Drug Testing Service EDTS AB, European Services S.A., Evalve Inc., Evalve International Inc., FARMINDUSTRIA S.A., Fada Pharma Paraguay Sociedad Anonima, Fadapharma del Ecuador S.A., Farmaceutica Mont Blanc S.L., Farmacologia Em Aquicultura Veterinaria Ltda., Farmacologia en Aquacultura Veterinaria FAV Ecuador S.A., Farmacologia en Aquacultura Veterinaria FAV S.A., Fernwood Investment S.A., First Check Diagnostics LLC, Focus Pharmaceutical S.A.S., Forensics Limited, Forestcreek Overseas S.A., Fournier Pharma Corp., Fournier Pharma GmbH, Fournier Pharmaceuticals Limited, Framed B.V., Gabmed GmbH, Garden Hills LLC, Global Analytical Development LLC, Globapharm & CO LP, Glomed Pharmaceutical Company Limited, Golnorth Investments S.A., Gynocare Limited, Gynopharm Sociedad Anonima, Gynopharm de Centroamerica S.A., Gynopharm de Venezuela C.A., Hi-Tronics Designs Inc., IDEV Technologies Inc., IG Innovations Limited, IMTC Finance B.V., IMTC Holdings B.V., IMTC Technologies Inc., Ibis Biosciences LLC, Igloo Zone Chile S.A., Igloo Zone S.L., Inmobiliaria Naknek S.A.C., Innovacon Inc., Instant Tech Subsidiary Acquisition Inc., Instant Technologies Inc., Instituto de Criopreservacion de Chile S.A., Integrated Vascular Systems Inc., Inverness Canadian Acquisition Corporation, Inverness Medical (Beijing) Co. Ltd., Inverness Medical Innovations Australia Pty Ltd., Inverness Medical Innovations Hong Kong Limited, Inverness Medical Innovations SK LLC, Inverness Medical Investments LLC, Inverness Medical LLC, Inverness Medical Shimla Private Limited, Inversiones K2 SpA, Inversiones Komodo S.R.L., Ionian Technologies LLC, Irvine Biomedical Inc., Kalila Medical, Kangshenyunga S.A., Knoll UK Investments Unlimited, LLC VeroInPharm, Laboratoires Fournier S.A.S., Laboratorio Franco Colombiano Lafrancol S.A.S., Laboratorio Franco Colombiano del Ecuador S.A., Laboratorio Internacional Argentino S.A., Laboratorio Synthesis S.A.S., Laboratorios Lafi Limitada, Laboratorios Naturmedik S.A.S., Laboratorios Pauly Pharmaceutical S.A.S., Laboratorios Recalcine S.A., Laboratorios Transpharm S.A., Laboratory Specialists of America Inc., Lafrancol Dominicana S.A.S., Lafrancol Guatemala S.A. Sociedad Anonima, Lafrancol Internacional S.A.S, Lafrancol Peru S.R.L, Lake Forest Investments LLC, Lightlab Imaging Inc., Limited Liability Company Abbott Laboratories, Limited Liability Company Abbott Ukraine, Limited Liability Company VEROPHARM, Lung Fung Hong (China) Limited, Mansbridge Pharmaceuticals Limited, MediGuide LLC, MediGuide Ltd., Medscreen Holdings Limited, Metropolitana Farmaceutica S.A., Midwest Properties LLC, Murex Argentina S.A., Murex Biotech Limited, Murex Biotech South Africa, Murex Diagnostics Inc., Murex Diagnostics International Inc., Natural Supplement Association LLC, Negocios Denia Sociedad Anonima, Neosalud S.A.C., Nether Pharma N.P. C.V., NeuroTherm LLC, Normann Pharma-Handels GmbH, North Shore Properties Inc., Novamedi S.A., Novasalud.com S.A., Nutravida S.A., OJSC Voronezhkhimpharm, Omnilab Iberia Sociedad Limitada, OptiMedica, Orgenics France SAS, Orgenics International Holdings B.V., Orgenics Ltd., PBM-Selfcare LLC, PDD II LLC, PDD LLC, PT Alere Health, PT. Abbott Indonesia, PT. Abbott Products Indonesia, Pacesetter Inc., Pantech (RF) (PTY) LTD, Pembrooke Occupational Health Inc., Penagos S.A., Pharma International Sociedad Anonima, Pharmaceutical Technologies (Pharmatech) S.A., Pharmatech Boliviana S.A., Polygon Labs S.A., Quality Assured Services Inc., RF Medical Holdings LLC, RTL Holdings Inc., Ramses Business Corp., Recben Xenerics Farmaceutica Limitada, Redwood Toxicology Laboratory Inc., Rich Horizons International Limited, SC VEROPHARM, SJ Medical Mexico S de R.L. de C.V., SJM International Inc., SJM Thunder Holding Company, SPDH Inc., Saboya Enterprises Corporation, Salviac Limited, Scanax AS, Sealing Solutions Inc., Selfcare Technology Inc., Shandong Abbott Dairy Product Co. Ltd., Shanghai Abbott Medical Devices Science and Technology Co. Ltd., Shanghai Abbott Pharmaceutical Co. Ltd., Shanghai Si Fa Pharmaceutical Company Limited, Sinensix & Co., Spinal Modulation LLC, St. Jude Medical, St. Jude Medical AB, St. Jude Medical ATG Inc., St. Jude Medical Argentina S.A., St. Jude Medical Asia Pacific Holdings GK, St. Jude Medical Atrial Fibrillation Division Inc., St. Jude Medical Brasil Ltda., St. Jude Medical Business Services Inc., St. Jude Medical Cardiology Division Inc., St. Jude Medical Colombia Ltda., St. Jude Medical Coordination Center, St. Jude Medical Costa Rica Limitada, St. Jude Medical Europe Inc., St. Jude Medical Export Ges.m.b.H., St. Jude Medical GVA Sarl, St. Jude Medical Holdings B.V., St. Jude Medical India Private Limited, St. Jude Medical International Holding, St. Jude Medical LLC, St. Jude Medical Luxembourg, St. Jude Medical Luxembourg Holdings II, St. Jude Medical Luxembourg Holdings NT, St. Jude Medical Luxembourg Holdings SMI S.a r.l., St. Jude Medical Luxembourg Holdings TC S.a r.l., St. Jude Medical Mexico Business Services S. de R.L. de C.V., St. Jude Medical Middle East DMCC, St. Jude Medical Operations (Malaysia) Sdn. Bhd., St. Jude Medical Puerto Rico LLC, St. Jude Medical S.C. Inc., St. Jude Medical Systems AB, St. Jude Medical Turkey Medikal Urunler Ticaret Limited Sirketi, Standard Diagnostics Inc., Standing Stone LLC, Swan-Myers Incorporated, TC1 LLC, Tendyne Holdings Inc., Tendyne Medical Inc., Thoratec Delaware LLC, Thoratec Europe Limited, Thoratec LLC, Thoratec Switzerland GmbH, Tobal Products Incorporated, Topera GmbH in Liquidation, Topera Inc., Tremora S.A., Tuenir S.A., TwistDx, UAB Abbott Laboratories, UAB Abbott Medical Lithuania, Union-Madison Realty Company Inc., Unipath Limited (dba Alere International/aka Cranfield), Unipath Management Limited, Unipath Pension Trustee Limited, Veropharm, Veropharm Limited Liability Partnership, Vida Cell Inversiones S.A., Vida Cell S.A., Vivalsol, W&R Pharma Handels GmbH, Western Pharmaceuticals S.A., X Technologies Inc., Yissum Holding Limited, ZonePerfect Nutrition Company, eScreen Canada ULC, eScreen Inc.,      ( ), and Abbott Laboratories Baltics.
Two arrested for raping disabled girl and a teenager

Police have arrested two youths in accusation of raping a disabled girl child and a woman.
The following companies are subsidiares of BorgWarner: B80 Italia S.r.l., BERU AG, BW El Salto S.A. De C.V., BWA Receivables Corporation, BWA Turbo Systems Holding LLC, Borg Warner Europe Holdings (PDS) B. V., BorgWarner (China) Investment Co. Ltd., BorgWarner (Reman) Holdings L.L.C., BorgWarner (Thailand) Limited, BorgWarner Aftermarket Europe GmbH, BorgWarner Alternators Inc., BorgWarner Arden LLC, BorgWarner Arnstadt RE GmbH & Co. KG, BorgWarner Asia Inc., BorgWarner Automotive Asia Limited, BorgWarner Automotive Components (Beijing) Co. Ltd., BorgWarner Automotive Components (Jiangsu) Co. Ltd., BorgWarner Automotive Components (Ningbo) Co. Ltd., BorgWarner Automotive Components (Tianjin) Co. Ltd., BorgWarner Automotive Components (Wuhan) Co. Ltd., BorgWarner Brasil Ltda., BorgWarner Chungju Co. LLC, BorgWarner Comercial e Distribuidora de Pecas para Veiculos Automotores Ltda., BorgWarner Comercializadora PDS S. de R.L. de C.V., BorgWarner Componentes PDS S. de R.L. de C.V., BorgWarner Cooling Systems (India) Private Limited, BorgWarner Cooling Systems GmbH, BorgWarner Diversified Transmission Products Services Inc., BorgWarner Drivetrain Engineering GmbH, BorgWarner Drivetrain Management Services de Mexico S.A. de C.V., BorgWarner Drivetrain de Mexico S.A. de C.V., BorgWarner Electric Motors L.L.C., BorgWarner Emissions Systems (Ningbo) Co. Ltd., BorgWarner Emissions Systems (Ningbo) Co. Ltd., BorgWarner Emissions Systems Holding LLC, BorgWarner Emissions Systems India Private Limited, BorgWarner Emissions Systems LLC, BorgWarner Emissions Systems Portugal Unipessoal LDA, BorgWarner Emissions Systems Spain S.L.U., BorgWarner Emissions Systems of Michigan Inc., BorgWarner Emissions Talegaon Private Limited, BorgWarner Engineering Ketsch RE GmbH & Co. KG, BorgWarner Engineering Kibo RE GmbH & Co. KG, BorgWarner Esslingen GmbH, BorgWarner Europe GmbH, BorgWarner Europe Holding S.a. r. l., BorgWarner Gateshead Limited, BorgWarner Germany Holding GmbH, BorgWarner Germany Holding Services GmbH, BorgWarner Germany REH GmbH, BorgWarner Germany REM GmbH, BorgWarner Germany Verwaltungs GmbH, BorgWarner Global Holding S.a. r. l., BorgWarner Heidelberg I RE GmbH & Co. KG, BorgWarner Heidelberg II RE GmbH & Co. KG, BorgWarner Heidelberg REH GmbH, BorgWarner Heidelberg REM GmbH, BorgWarner Holding Inc., BorgWarner Holdings Limited, BorgWarner Hungary Kft., BorgWarner IT Services Europe GmbH, BorgWarner India Holdings Inc., BorgWarner Investment Holding Inc., BorgWarner Ithaca LLC, BorgWarner Ketsch Plant RE GmbH & Co. KG, BorgWarner Ketsch REH GmbH, BorgWarner Ketsch REM GmbH, BorgWarner Kft., BorgWarner Kibo RE GmbH & Co. KG, BorgWarner Korea Holdings (PDS) B.V., BorgWarner Korea Holdings LLC, BorgWarner Korea LLC, BorgWarner Limited, BorgWarner Ludwigsburg GmbH, BorgWarner Ludwigsburg RE GmbH & Co. KG, BorgWarner Markdorf Plant RE GmbH & Co. KG, BorgWarner Markdorf REH GmbH, BorgWarner Markdorf REM GmbH, BorgWarner Massachusetts Inc., BorgWarner Mauritius Holdings Ltd., BorgWarner Mexico Holding BV, BorgWarner Mexico Holdings II LLC, BorgWarner Mexico Holdings LLC, BorgWarner Morse Systems India Private Limited, BorgWarner Morse Systems Italy S.r.l., BorgWarner Morse Systems Japan K.K., BorgWarner Morse Systems Mexico S.A. de C.V., BorgWarner Muggendorf RE GmbH & Co. KG, BorgWarner NW Inc., BorgWarner Netherlands Holdings (PDS) B.V., BorgWarner Oroszlany Kft., BorgWarner PDS (Anderson) L.L.C., BorgWarner PDS (Changnyeong) LLC, BorgWarner PDS (Indiana) Inc., BorgWarner PDS (Livonia) Inc., BorgWarner PDS (Ochang) LLC, BorgWarner PDS (Thailand) Limited, BorgWarner PDS (USA) Inc., BorgWarner PDS Brasil Produtos Automotivos Ltda., BorgWarner PDS Irapuato S. de R.L. de C.V., BorgWarner PDS Mexico Holdings S. de R.L. de C.V., BorgWarner PDS Technologies L.L.C., BorgWarner Poland Sp. z o.o., BorgWarner Pyongtaek LLC, BorgWarner Romeo Power LLC, BorgWarner Rzeszow Sp. z o.o., BorgWarner Shenglong (Ningbo) Co. Ltd., BorgWarner South Asia LLC, BorgWarner Southborough Inc., BorgWarner Spain Holding S.L.U, BorgWarner Sweden AB, BorgWarner Systems Lugo S.r.l., BorgWarner Thermal Systems Inc., BorgWarner Thermal Systems of Michigan Inc., BorgWarner TorqTransfer Systems Beijing Co. Ltd., BorgWarner Tralee Ltd., BorgWarner Transmission Products LLC, BorgWarner Transmission Systems Arnstadt GmbH, BorgWarner Transmission Systems GmbH, BorgWarner Transmission Systems Korea LLC, BorgWarner Transmission Systems Tulle S.A.S., BorgWarner Trustees Limited, BorgWarner Turbo & Emissions Systems France S.A.S., BorgWarner Turbo Systems Engineering GmbH, BorgWarner Turbo Systems GmbH, BorgWarner Turbo Systems LLC, BorgWarner Turbo Systems Worldwide Headquarters GmbH, BorgWarner Turbo Systems of Michigan Inc., BorgWarner Turbo and Emissions Systems de Mexico S.A. de C.V., BorgWarner UK Financing Ltd., BorgWarner UK Holding and Services Ltd., BorgWarner US Holding LLC, BorgWarner USA Industries L.L.C., BorgWarner United Transmission Systems Co. Ltd., BorgWarner Waterloo Inc., BorgWarner Wrexham Limited, Cascadia Motion LLC, Creon Insurance Agency Limited, Delphi Technologies, Dytech ENSA, Gustav Wahler GmbH u. Co. KG, Haldex, Kuhlman LLC, Kysor Europe Limited, M. & M. Knopf Auto Parts L.L.C., NSK-Warner (Shanghai) Co. Ltd., NSK-Warner K.K., NSK-Warner Mexico S.A. de C.V, NSK-Warner U.S.A. Inc., New PDS Corp., Old Remco Holdings L.L.C., Old Remco International Holdings L.L.C., Remy International, SeohanWarner Turbo Systems LLC, Sevcon, Sevcon New Energy Technology (Hubei) Company Limited, and Transmission Systems AutoForm LLC.
Wall Street analysts have given Gafisa 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 Gafisa wasn't one of them. MarketBeat thinks these five companies may be even better buys.

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Two injured in truck-jeep collision in Dhading

Two people were injured when a truck and a jeep collided with each other along the Prithvi Highway at Dhading district on Monday.
Medtronic Plc is a medical technology company, which engages in the development, manufacture, distribution, and sale of device-based medical therapies and services. It operates through the following segments: Cardiac and Vascular Group; Minimally Invasive Technologies Group; Restorative Therapies Group; and Diabetes Group. The Cardiac and Vascular Group segment consists of products for the diagnosis, treatment, and management of cardiac rhythm disorders and cardiovascular disease. The Minimally Invasive Technologies Group segment focuses on respiratory system, gastrointestinal tract, renal system, lungs, pelvic region, kidneys, and obesity diseases. The Restorative Therapies Group segment comprises of neurostimulation therapies and drug delivery systems for the treatment of chronic pain, as well as areas of the spine and brain, along with pelvic health and conditions of the ear, nose, and throat. The Diabetes Group segment offers insulin pumps, coninuous glucose monitoring systems, and insulin pump consumables. The company was founded in 1949 and is headquartered in Dublin, Ireland.

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The following companies are subsidiares of Stryker: ActiViews, Aimago SA, Alcott Indemnity Company, Arrinex Inc, Arrinex Inc., Ascent Healthcare Solutions, Berchtold, Berchtold + Fritz GmbH, Berchtold Consulting GmbH, Berchtold Corporation, Berchtold GmbH & Co. KG, Berchtold Holding Switzerland GmbH, CHG Hospital Beds, Cactus LLC, Cardan Robotics, Changzhou Orthomed Medical Instrument Company Limited, Concentric Medical, Concentric Medical Inc., Entellus Medical, Entellus Medical Europe Ltd, Entellus Medical Inc., GYS Tech LLC, Gaymar Industries, Gongping (Shanghai) Medical Devices Trading Co. Ltd., Groupe Bertec, HeartSine Technologies LLC, HeartSine Technologies Limited, Howmedica International S. de R.L., Howmedica Osteonics Corp., Hygia Health Services, Hygia Healthcare Services Inc., HyperBranch, HyperBranch Technology Inc., ITAPCo Limited, Image Guided Technologies, Imorphics Limited, Infinity MSD Corp., Infinity MSE Corp., Infinity MSF Corp., Infomedix Communications, Instratek, InstruMedics L.L.C, Invuity Inc., Ivy Sports Medicine, Ivy Sports Medicine LLC, Jiangsu Chuangyi Medical Instrument Company Limited, Jolife AB, K2M Germany GmbH, K2M Group, K2M Group Holdings Inc., K2M Holdings Inc., K2M Iberia Medcomtech S.L.U., K2M Inc., K2M Solutions Australia Pty Ltd, K2M Spine Solutions (Schweiz) GmbH, K2M UK Limited, Loon Intermediateco LLC, MAKO Surgical, MAKO Surgical Corp, Memometal Technologies, Mobius Imaging, Mobius Imaging LLC, Muka Metal, Muka Metal Ticaret ve Sanayi Anaonim Sirketi, NV Stryker SA, Nettrick Limited, Novadaq Corp, Novadaq Hong Kong Ltd, Novadaq Technologies, Novadaq Technologies ULC, OOO "Stryker", Orneo Ozel Saglk Hizmetleri Medikal Ticaret Anonim Sirketi, OrthoSpace, OrthoSpace Ltd., OrthoSpace US Inc., Orthomed (Hong Kong) Medical Instrument Company Limited, Orthovita, Orthovita Inc., OtisMed, P.C. Sweden Holding AB, Patient Safety Technologies, Patton Surgical, Pficonprod Pty. Ltd., Physio-Control, Physio-Control (Shanghai) Sales Co. Ltd., Physio-Control Brazil Vendas Ltda., Physio-Control Czech Sales s.r.o., Physio-Control Holdings Cooperatief U.A., Physio-Control Holdings Inc, Physio-Control Hungary Sales Kft, Physio-Control Inc., Physio-Control India Sales Pvt. Ltd, Physio-Control Investments LLC, Physio-Control Lebanon Sales Offshore s.a.l., Physio-Control Manufacturing Inc., Physio-Control Operations Netherlands B.V., Physio-Control Sales Limited Liability Company, Physio-Control Singapore Pte. Ltd., Physio-Control South Africa Sales Pty. Ltd., Physio-Control UK Sales Ltd., Pivot Medical, PlasmaSol, Porex Technologies, SSI Divestiture Inc., SYK Costa Rica Services Sociedad De Responsabilidad Limitada, SafeAir AG, SafeWire, Sage Products, Sage Products Coperatief U.A., Sage Products Holdings II LLC, Sage Products Holdings III LLC, Sage Products LLC, Scopis GmbH, Sightline Technologies, Small Bone Innovations, SpineCore, Spirox Inc., Stanmore Implants Worldwide, Stanmore Implants Worldwide Limited, Stanmore Inc., Stryker (Barbados) Foreign Sales Corporation, Stryker (Beijing) Healthcare Products Co. Ltd., Stryker (Shanghai) Healthcare Products Co. Ltd., Stryker (Suzhou) Medical Technology Co Ltd, Stryker (Thailand) Limited, Stryker AB, Stryker Acquisitions BV, Stryker Asia Holdings CV, Stryker Australia LLC, Stryker Australia Pty. Ltd., Stryker Austria GmbH, Stryker B.V., Stryker Berchtold BV, Stryker Beteiligungs GmbH, Stryker Canada GP ULC, Stryker Canada Holding Company, Stryker Canada Manufacturing ULC, Stryker Canada ULC, Stryker Canadian Management ULC, Stryker Canadian Sales Holding Company ULC, Stryker Capital BV, Stryker China Limited, Stryker Colombia SAS, Stryker Communications Inc., Stryker Corporation (Chile) y Compania Limitada, Stryker Corporation (Malaysia) Sdn. Bhd., Stryker Customs Brokers LLC, Stryker Czech Republic s.r.o., Stryker Delaware Inc., Stryker EMEA Supply Chain Services BV, Stryker Employment Company LLC, Stryker European Coordination Center BV, Stryker European Holdings Cooperatief U.A, Stryker European Holdings I LLC, Stryker European Holdings II LLC, Stryker European Holdings LLC, Stryker European Holdings V LLC, Stryker European Operations B.V., Stryker European Operations Holdings I BV, Stryker European Operations Holdings II BV, Stryker European Operations Holdings III BV, Stryker European Operations Holdings LLC, Stryker European Operations Limited, Stryker European Technologies C.V., Stryker Far East Inc., Stryker Foreign Acquisitions Inc., Stryker France Holding SNC, Stryker France MM Holdings SAS, Stryker France SAS, Stryker Funding B.V., Stryker GI Services CV, Stryker Global Technology Center Private Limited, Stryker GmbH, Stryker GmbH & Co. KG, Stryker Grundstucks GmbH & Co KG, Stryker Grundstucks Verwaltungs GmbH, Stryker Holdings BV, Stryker IFSC Designated Activity Company, Stryker Iberia SL Unipersonal, Stryker India Private Limited, Stryker International Acquisitions BV, Stryker International Holdings BV, Stryker Investment Holdings B.V., Stryker Ireland Holding Unlimited Company, Stryker Ireland Limited, Stryker Italia S.r.l. S.U., Stryker Japan Holdings BV, Stryker Japan K.K., Stryker Korea Ltd., Stryker Lebanon (Offshore) S.A.L., Stryker Leibinger GmbH & Co. KG, Stryker Luxembourg Holdings S.a.r.l., Stryker Luxembourg Sarl, Stryker Manufacturing S. de R.L. de C.V., Stryker Mauritius Holding Ltd., Stryker Medical London LP, Stryker Medtech K.K., Stryker Medtech Limited, Stryker Mexico Holdings B.V., Stryker Mexico SA de CV, Stryker NV Operations Limited, Stryker Nederland BV, Stryker New Zealand Limited, Stryker Osteonics AG, Stryker Pacific Limited, Stryker Performance Solutions LLC, Stryker Polska Sp.z.o.o., Stryker Portugal - Produtos Medicos Unipessoal Lda., Stryker Professional Latin America S. de R.L. de C.V., Stryker Puerto Rico Limited, Stryker Romania SRL, Stryker Sage Inc., Stryker Sales Corporation, Stryker Servicios Administrativos S.de R.L. de C.V., Stryker Singapore Private Limited, Stryker South Africa (Proprietary) Limited, Stryker Spine SAS, Stryker Spine Sarl, Stryker Sustainability Solutions Inc., Stryker Tibbi Cihazlan Sanayi ve Ticaret Limited Sirketi, Stryker Trauma GmbH, Stryker Turkish Holdings BV, Stryker UK Ltd, Stryker Verwaltungs GmbH, Stryker Vietnam Company Limited, Stryker do Brasil Ltda, Surpass Medical, Synergetics, TG SP Holdings Corp, TSO3 Corp, TSO3 Inc, Trauson, Trauson (China) Medical Instrument Company Limited, Trauson (Hong Kong) Company Limited, Trauson Holdings (BVI) Company Limited, Trauson Holdings (Hong Kong) Company Limited, Trauson Holdings Company Limited, VEXIM SA, Vexim, Waterloo Bedding Co., Wright Medical Group, ZipLine Medical Consulting (Shanghai) Co. Ltd., ZipLine Medical Hong Kong Limited, ZipLine Medical Inc., and eTrauma.com.
The following companies are subsidiares of Hewlett Packard Enterprise: 3Com International Inc., 3PAR Inc., Apogee, Aruba Networks Inc., Aruba Networks International Cayman, Aruba Networks International Limited, BlueData Software, Cloud Cruiser, Cloud Technology Partners, Cloud Technology Partners Inc., Compaq Computer (Mauritius), Compaq Trademark B.V., Cray, Cray Inc., EDS World Corporation (Far East) LLC, EYP Mission Critical Facilities Inc., H3C Holdings Limited, HP Enterprise Services Australia Pty Ltd, HP Financial Services (Australia) Pty Limited, HP Financial Services (Chile) Limitada, HP Financial Services (Japan) K.K., HP Financial Services Arrendamento Mercantil S.A., HP Financial Services Company (Korea), HP Financial Services International Holdings Company, HPE Government LLC, HPFS Global Holdings I LLC, HPFS Global Holdings II LLC, HPFS Rental S.R.L., Hangzhou H3C Technologies Co. Ltd, Hewlett Packard Caribe BV LLC, Hewlett Packard Colombia Ltda., Hewlett Packard Enterprise (China) Co. Ltd., Hewlett Packard Enterprise B.V., Hewlett Packard Enterprise B.V. Amstelveen Meyrin Branch, Hewlett Packard Enterprise Canada Co., Hewlett Packard Enterprise Canada Co. Hewlett Packard Enterprise Canada Cie, Hewlett Packard Enterprise Costa Rica Limitada, Hewlett Packard Enterprise GlobalSoft Private Limited, Hewlett Packard Enterprise India Private Limited, Hewlett Packard Enterprise Ireland Limited, Hewlett Packard Enterprise Luxembourg SCA, Hewlett Packard Enterprise Polska sp. z o.o., Hewlett Packard Pathfinder LLC, Hewlett Packard Taiwan Ltd., Hewlett-Packard (Israel) Ltd., Hewlett-Packard (M) Sdn. Bhd., Hewlett-Packard (Nigeria) Limited, Hewlett-Packard (Schweiz) GmbH, Hewlett-Packard (Tanzania) Limited, Hewlett-Packard (Thailand) Limited, Hewlett-Packard ApS, Hewlett-Packard Argentina S.R.L., Hewlett-Packard Asia Pacific Pte. Ltd., Hewlett-Packard Australia Pty Ltd, Hewlett-Packard Belgium SPRL/BVBA, Hewlett-Packard Bermuda Enterprises LLC, Hewlett-Packard Brasil Ltda., Hewlett-Packard Bulgaria EOOD, Hewlett-Packard Caribe B.V., Hewlett-Packard Caribe Y Andina B.V. LLC, Hewlett-Packard Chile Comercial Limitada, Hewlett-Packard Cyprus Ltd, Hewlett-Packard Ecuador Cia. Ltda., Hewlett-Packard Egypt Ltd., Hewlett-Packard Financial Services (India) Private Limited, Hewlett-Packard Financial Services Canada Company, Hewlett-Packard Financial Services Company, Hewlett-Packard France SAS, Hewlett-Packard G1 SPV (Cayman) Company, Hewlett-Packard Gesellschaft mbH, Hewlett-Packard Ghana Limited, Hewlett-Packard GmbH, Hewlett-Packard Guatemala Limitada, Hewlett-Packard HK SAR Ltd., Hewlett-Packard Hellas EPE, Hewlett-Packard Holdings Ltd., Hewlett-Packard International Bank Designated Activity Company, Hewlett-Packard International Bank Public Limited Company, Hewlett-Packard International Sarl, Hewlett-Packard Italiana S.r.l., Hewlett-Packard Japan Ltd., Hewlett-Packard Korea Ltd., Hewlett-Packard Leasing Limited, Hewlett-Packard Limited, Hewlett-Packard Luxembourg Enterprises LLC, Hewlett-Packard Macau Limited, Hewlett-Packard Manufacturing Ltd, Hewlett-Packard Marigalante Ltd., Hewlett-Packard Mexico S. de R.L. de C.V., Hewlett-Packard Middle East FZ-LLC, Hewlett-Packard Mocambique Limitada - Sociedada em Liquidacao, Hewlett-Packard Nederland B.V., Hewlett-Packard New Zealand, Hewlett-Packard Norge AS, Hewlett-Packard OY, Hewlett-Packard Operations Mexico S. de R.L. de C.V., Hewlett-Packard Peru S.R.L., Hewlett-Packard Philippines Corporation, Hewlett-Packard Portugal Lda., Hewlett-Packard SARL, Hewlett-Packard SIA, Hewlett-Packard Servicios Espana S.L., Hewlett-Packard Singapore (Sales) Pte. Ltd., Hewlett-Packard South Africa (Proprietary) Limited, Hewlett-Packard Sverige AB, Hewlett-Packard Technology Center Inc., Hewlett-Packard Teknoloji Cozumleri Limited Sirketi, Hewlett-Packard The Hague B.V., Hewlett-Packard Venezuela S.R.L., Hewlett-Packard Vision Limited, Hewlett-Packard d.o.o., Hewlett-Packard s.r.o., Limited Liability Company Hewlett Packard Enterprise, MapR Technologies, New H3C Technologies Co. Ltd., Niara Inc., Nimble Storage, Nimble Storage Inc., Nimble Storage Israel Ltd, Nimble Storage Japan GK, Nimble Storage UK Limited, Plexxi, RedPixie, SGI (Silicon Graphics), Sapphire Holding Co, Scytale, Shanghai Hewlett-Packard Co. Ltd., Silver Peak, SimpliVity, Sinope Holding B.V., Trilead, UAB ES Hague Lietuva, and Unis Huashan Technologies Co. Limited.
Bayer expects synergies to deliver annual contributions of USD 1.2 billion to EBITDA before special items as of 2022.

New Delhi: German chemical and pharma major Bayer AG today said it will complete the multi-billion dollar acquisition of US-based biotech major Monsanto on June 7, following all regulatory approvals.

In India, both entities have presence in production and sale of vegetable seeds, cotton seeds as well as in production and sale of non-selective herbicides.

Bayer had announced its intention to acquire Monsanto in May 2016 and signed an agreement with the US company for USD 128 per share in September 2016. Currently that corresponds to a total cost of about USD 63 billion taking into account Monsanto's debt outstanding as of February 28, 2018.

Bayer has agreed to the divestiture of businesses which generated 2.2 billion euros in sales in 2017 for an aggregate base purchase price of 7.6 billion euros.

"Bayer will become the sole shareholder of Monsanto on June 7," said Werner Baumann, Chairman of the board of management of Bayer AG in a statement.

According to the conditional approval from the United States Department of Justice, the integration of Monsanto into Bayer can take place as soon as the divestments to BASF have been completed. This is expected to be in approximately two months, he said.

"We have diligently prepared for the upcoming integration over the past two years. Our extensive experience in integrating other large companies has proven that we can and will be successful," Baumann said.

Bayer will remain the company name. Monsanto will no longer be a company name. The acquired products will retain their brand names and become part of the Bayer portfolio.

In order to acquire Monsanto, Bayer said it secured initial bridge financing of USD 57 billion. As announced in September 2016, this is being refinanced by a combination of equity and debt transactions, some of which have already been completed. The final equity measure will be a rights issue, which was announced yesterday.

"The acquisition of Monsanto is a strategic milestone in strengthening our portfolio of leading businesses in health and nutrition. We will double the size of our agriculture business and create a leading innovation engine in agriculture...," Baumann added.

Stating that the acquisition is anticipated to generate significant value, Bayer said it expects a positive contribution to core earnings per share starting in 2019.

From 2021 onward, that contribution is expected to be in double-digit percentage. Moreover, adjusted for divestments, Bayer expects synergies to deliver annual contributions of USD 1.2 billion to EBITDA before special items as of 2022, it added.
Handset maker Motorola aims to expand the number of its 'Moto Hubs' to 1,000 by the next quarter as it looks to further strengthen its play in India's offline retail segment.

New Delhi: Handset maker Motorola aims to expand the number of its 'Moto Hubs' to 1,000 by the next quarter as it looks to further strengthen its play in India's offline retail segment.

The company, which launched the latest edition of its flagship Moto G series, currently has about 600 Moto Hubs. "India is a key part of our global plans. While we have a very strong online presence, we are also building up the retail piece. We have 600 Moto Hubs across the country and we are looking at taking this number to 1,000 by next quarter," Lenovo Mobile Business Asia Pacific Head Shashank Sharma told PTI.

Motorola, which is part of Chinese technology giant Lenovo Group, had re-entered the Indian market in 2014 in an exclusive partnership with e-commerce Flipkart. Since then, it has expanded its presence on other online as well as offline retail platforms.

Sharma said the company has recently piloted 'Pitstop', where the company allowed Motorola phone users to get their out-of-warranty phones repaired at minimal charges.

"Users brought their out-of-warranty phones and paid for only the parts that were changed. It was a pilot we ran and we will see if we can expand the model elsewhere," he said.

Lenovo, which ranked as the fourth largest smartphone brand in India (in terms of shipment as per IDC data) till December 2017 quarter, lost its position in the top 5 in the first quarter of 2018.

"Competition and numbers keep changing. What we are focussing on is delivering innovation and premium products to customers at not-so-premium prices. We are here for the long-term," Sharma said.

As per IDC data, Xiaomi led the smartphone segment in terms of shipment with 30.3 per cent market share, followed by Samsung (25.1 per cent), Oppo (7.4 per cent), Vivo (6.7 per cent) and Transsion (4.6 per cent) in the January-March 2018 quarter.

Talking about the new phones, Sharma said "the new 'moto g6' and 'g6 play' offer the perfect combinations of features for consumers who don't want to compromise on quality, style or experience".

The phones have the innovations that matter most to users. They are smarter...and focus on immersive display, glass design and have the speed and power of Qualcomm Snapdragon processors, he added. Moto g6 will be available for Rs 13,999 onwards, while moto g6 Play is priced at Rs 11,999.
Dahej: After the US, Russia on Monday began supplying LNG to India under a long-term deal as world's fourth-largest buyer of liquefied natural gas (LNG) diversifies import basket to meet its vast energy needs.

LNG carrier 'LNG Kano', carrying a cargo from Russian supplier Gazprom, docked at Petronet LNG's import facility here this morning, officials said. Gazprom supplied the 3.4 trillion British thermal unit (TBtu) of cargo from Nigeria.

The LNG cargo was received by Oil Minister Dharmendra Pradhan. Today will be considered as Golden Day in India's energy roadmap, he told reporters here.

"First we renegotiate price of LNG from Qatar, then reworked Australian supplies and now gas from Russia under renegotiated terms have started to flow." India will import LNG worth an estimated USD 25 billion over the contract period of 20 years years from Russia, he adding, "Gazprom price (after being reworked) is very competitive."

"Four years back, we were importing LNG from only Qatar. Today we are getting LNG from Australia, US and now Russia," Pradhan said. India, he said, is pushing towards a gas-based economy by raising the share of environment-friendly fuel in the energy basket to 15 per cent from current 6.2 per cent.

There exists huge scope for gas usage in the Indian economy - from generating power to producing quality steel, he said adding that increasing gas share would also help the country meet its COP21 commitment to cutting carbon emission. India is dependent on imports to meet 45 per cent of its gas needs.

Beginning of supplies from Russia comes within weeks of India importing its first ever LNG cargo from the US under a long-term import deal. Pradhan said that the starting of LNG imports from Russia has added a new dimension to the Indo-Russian bilateral relations, particularly in the oil and gas sector. Russia has emerged as a long-term source for India's hydrocarbon imports, he said.

Stating that government is committed towards transforming India into a gas-based economy, he said investments are being made for augmenting natural gas infrastructure.

In the last few years, Indian companies have made investment of more than USD 10 billion in acquiring varying stakes in strategic Russian projects including Sakhalin-1, Vankorneft and Taas-Yuryakh.

On the other hand, Russian company-led consortium has committed an investment of USD 13 billion in Essar Oil in 2016. GAIL has renegotiated with Russian supplier Gazprom the terms of the 20-year deal to import 2.5 million tonnes a year of LNG. Both price and volume ramp up have been renegotiated.

Company Chairman and Managing Director B C Tripathi said the contracted volume has been lowered from 2.5 million tonnes (MT) to 0.5 MT in the first year 2018-19, 0.75 MT in 2019-20, 1.5 MT in the third year 2020-21.

GAIL has committed to importing the full 2.5 MT a year by the fourth year and make up for the initial volume reduction over the remaining length of the contract.

Also, the price indexation has been changed from the Japan customs-cleared crude to Brent, and the oil-linked slope of the contract formula lowered, and therefore the final price.

Sources said the renegotiated contract provides for diverting a part of the volume, originally contracted on a delivered ex-ship basis, to other markets.

Under the re-worked deal with Gazprom, the duration of the contract has been extended by three years and the Indian company has agreed to buy an additional six million tonnes of LNG volumes.

The pricing of the super-cooled fuel has been changed from 9 month linkage of Japanese customs-cleared crude to three months average of Brent, sources said.

The deferral will allow GAIL more time to find customers for the imported gas. GAIL had signed the original deal on August 29, 2012, with Gazprom Marketing and Trading Singapore Pte Ltd (GMTS), Singapore.

The deal was renegotiated in January this year. Gazprom will supply LNG from Yamal LNG project in the Arctic peninsula. India has been making the most of its position as one of the world's biggest energy consumers to strike better bargains for its companies.

Last year, India got US energy major Exxon Mobil Corp to lower price of 1.5 MT a year of LNG from Gorgon project in Australia, saving Rs 4,000 crore in import bill.

At the time of signing, in 2009, the Gorgon LNG price with US-based ExxonMobil was agreed upon at 14.5 per cent. In late 2015, it had renegotiated the price of the long-term deal to import 7.5 MT per year of LNG from Qatar, helping save Rs 8,000 crore.

Most recently, GAIL has been trying to renegotiate the price and terms of 3.5 MT a year US Sabine Pass contract with Cheniere Energy. The contract was signed on an FOB basis in 2011, with the price formula set at 115 per cent of the Henry Hub gas price plus a fixed USD 3 per million British thermal unit terminal usage charge.

Sources said when the Russian deal was first signed, Gazprom envisaged supplying India with LNG from its planned Schtokman project in the Barents Sea, which was subsequently scrapped as the shale gas revolution in the United States removed a key customer base. The resulting contractual inconsistency gave GAIL a foothold to re-open the Gazprom deal, sources said.
It is a sad day for Ranveer Singh and his fans as his dear grandmother, who was as important to him as oxygen and water, breathed her last.

She was reportedly unwell since a long time and her cause of death isnt known as yet. Ranveers to-be wife Deepika Padukone visited her in the hospital too.

Ranveer Singh was supposed to attend a press conference with regards to him being appointed as the brand ambassador of Switzerland tourism, but he obviously cancelled the event to be there with his family.

The actor is also expected to soon start shooting for his and Rohit Shettys upcoming movie Simmba, which also stars Sara Ali Khan with him. The film is produced by Karan Johar.
Mumbai: After the success of Aryavir, eminent author Anita Shirodkar has launched her much awaited fictional novel Sitanshu. The book is the second part of her mythological trilogy Guardians of the Blue Lotus and picks up the plot from the cliff-hanger at the end of Aryavir.

The event was graced by actor Roshan Abbas and actress Amrita Puri, who enthusiastically engaged Anita Shirodkar in a conversation about the complex mythological universe she has brought to life.

Upon being asked how she manages to keep up with the expansive universe, its innumerable characters and the complexity of the plot, the author explained the methods she uses to direct her ideas in a productive manner so that the storyline stays on track.

Set in ancient India, the trilogy explores the mystical kingdom of Kamalkund, whose heir is Aryavir- a blue-eyed prince who is blessed by Indivara, a sacred blue lotus.

Aryavirs journey is explored in book one - with his beloved tiger Kar and friend Sitanshu, he faces the challenges that life throws his way. In this novel, the journey of the characters continues as the plot thickens against the backdrop of the war between Kamalkund and Kalipura.

Sitanshu, a newly minted warrior and Astradhari, is about to discover the path to his own destiny.

Anita Shirodkar explains why the second novel is named after the character Sitanshu, This book not only unravels the mysteries which were established in the first book, but it also gives a glimpse into where we are heading for final culmination of the series. Sitanshu is becoming a major part of that storyline."

According to the author Aryavir and Sitanshu have never imagined that life could take them in separate directions, but when so much is at stake in the Old World, unexpected situations are going to arise. In a sense, Sitanshu comes into his own as book two comes to a close.

The fascinating world created by Anita not only explores the outer journey of the characters but also their inner journey of self-discovery, as their experiences shape the decisions they take. The epic is written in a contemporary style, a signature approach of the author.
This is not the first time Larson has run for office.

A US accountant, running for Congress, has claimed it is okay for adults to have sex with children, as young as 10 year olds.

According to Nathan Larson, he is an open supporter of paedophilia and thinks it is okay for men to have sex with children.

The 37-year-old accountant who says he is running as an independent for a US House seat in Virginia's 10th congressional district, gave an astonishing interview with a local news station, saying there needs to be one thing in place, marriage.

He told WJLA that he doesn't have a problem with paedophilia and added: Like, if it's in the context of a marriage, then it, I think it's usually fine."

The phone chat with the station's Tim Barber, saw him being asked if there was some sort of age limit.

The would-be politician responds: Yeah, I think it would be fine. Probably."

According to The Huffington Post, his campaign website shared an IP address with chatrooms that talked about paedophilia and raping women.

The politician's views are like those in the 1970s in the UK by Paedophile Information Exchange (PIE), which campaigned to legalise child-sex.

According to WJLA, Larson in the past has admitted a court charge of threatening to kill the US president. He had gone to prison but had his voting rights restored in 2016 when then-Governor Terry McAuliffe restored voting rights for felons.

Turns out, this is not the first time Larson has run for office, according to Fox. His platform in the past has apparently included legalising child pornography, repealing women's right to vote and abolishing state funding for girls to attend high school and college.
Mr Syed Ali Jafery, a private tour operator and a Shia leader, said operators collect low amounts by telling them that the rest of the money is being paid by charitable organisations who are sponsoring the pilgrimage. (Representational Image)

Hyderabad: Some people intending to go on pilgrimage to Saudi Arabia and Iran are getting cheated by tour operators who are offering them throwaway prices. Cases are coming to the fore in the city after such operators failed to arrange travel for the Umrah pilgrimage and duped the intended pilgrims after collecting money.

The Dabeerpura police registered two cases against KSS Tour Operators for allegedly duping the public. A few hundred persons turned up at the police station demanding action against the company.

Similar cases are reported round the year from the city involving tour operators who in most cases not hold licences and just tie up with established tour operators on commission basis.

In the Dabeerpura case, the intended pilgrims paid between Rs 18,000 and Rs 35,000 each to the tour operator through his agents.

The pilgrimage costs between Rs 55,000 and Rs 80,000 and even more depending upon the pilgrimage season and facilities asked for. Some fly-by-night operators offer the pilgrimage at half the cost, collect the money and disappear, said Mr Mohammed Siraj Khan, general secretary, the Haj and Umrah tour organisers association.

He said that these operators do not have licences issued by the government or local agencies.

Still, they collect money and promise that they will organise the Umrah pilgrimage at a cost of Rs 20,000 to Rs 25,000. We cannot even get an air ticket at that price, he said.

Mr Syed Ali Jafery, a private tour operator and a Shia leader, said operators collect low amounts by telling them that the rest of the money is being paid by charitable organisations who are sponsoring the pilgrimage.
Central Zone Task Force nabbed a man on charges of cheating students preparing to go abroad and promising to help them pass (International English Language Testing System) IELTS and (Test of English as a Foreign Language) TOEFL on Sunday.

Hyderabad: The Central Zone Task Force nabbed a man on charges of cheating students preparing to go abroad and promising to help them pass (International English Language Testing System) IELTS and (Test of English as a Foreign Language) TOEFL on Sunday. So far he is suspected to have cheated 40 people to the tune of Rs 50 lakh, police said.

The arrested was identified as K. Kiran Kumar, a resident of Malaysian Township, Kukatpally and a native of Nizamabad district. Yuvraj Singh from Jalandhar, Punjab is absconding.

According to the police, Kiran Kumar completed his engineering in 2013 from Nizamabad and worked as a site engineer for GPNR Constructions at Bengaluru till 2016 for Rs 20,000 a month. He then decided to go abroad to earn more and moved back to Hyderabad two years ago with a plan to move to Australia.

He started preparing for IELTS, which is conducted for non-native English speakers wanting to study abroad. During this, he came in contact with Yuvraj, who claimed to be a main consultant and having links with people conducting the exams. He demanded Rs 1.5 lakh from each candidate to get a good score, police said.

Initially Kiran, got the keys of IELTS, TOEFL with the help of Singh and handed them over to 40 students. They secured good marks and left abroad.

About 40 others did not score well as he did not provide the key on time and cheated them. He used to give the key hours before the exams. He then gave Rs 1.5 lakh to Singh as commission and spent the remaining amount lavishly, police said.

So far, four cases have been booked against him one each at Chaitanyapuri, Malakpet, Mirchowk and Saifabad police stations. Kiran Kumar was handed over to the Saifabad police for further investigation.
The woman shared 28 OTPs with the caller who swindled her of Rs 6,98,973. (Representational Image)

Mumbai: A 40-year-old woman from Navi Mumbais Nerul was cheated of nearly 7 lakh after she shared her one-time passwords 28 times over a week with a fraudster.

The fraudster called her up, masquerading as a bank official.

According to a report in The Times of India, the woman, Tasneem Mujjakkar Modak, had a credit of Rs 7.20 lakh in her account with a nationalised bank.

She received a call from the banker on May 17 who told her that her debit card has been blocked owing to some technical faults.

He then asked for her card details to unblock her debit card.

According to the police, Modak provided all details sought by the fraudster, including her 16-digit debit card number, name as printed on the card and also the 3-digit CVV number which is supposed to be kept confidential.

Over a week, the woman shared 28 OTPs with the caller who swindled her of Rs 6,98,973, TOI report further said.

Modak approached the police on May 29 and an FIR was registered at the Nerul police station.

The transactions were carried out in Mumbai, Noida, Gurgaon, Kolkata and Bengaluru, police said.

Modak has told the police that the concept of online banking is completely alien to her.
The brothers, Srikanth, 20 and Yelleswamy alias Yellesh, 18, who are both dropouts, lured the girl with chocolates and candies in the afternoon.

Hyderabad: A 9-year-old Class V student was raped by a 20-year-old neighbour a week ago, and was sexually assaulted again by his 18-year-old brother on Sunday, Banjara Hills police said.

The brothers, Srikanth, 20 and Yelleswamy alias Yellesh, 18, who are both dropouts, lured the girl with chocolates and candies in the afternoon when elders were out working, said the police inspector of Banjara Hills, K. Srinivas.

The issue came to light when the girl approached her mother on Monday, stating that Yellesh had sexually assaulted her on Sunday and Srikanth raped her one week ago, following which her parents approached the police, said the official. Officials stated that the duo are absconding.

Srikanth raped the child a week ago and yesterday his brother Yellesh did the same. The duo are pressurising the victims family to withdraw the case, said the president of an NGO for children, Achyuta Rao.

Based on a complaint from her parents, the police booked cases against the brothers under relevant Sections of the Indian Penal Code and PoCSO Act.
During his visit, Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited the Chulia Mosque, one of the oldest mosques in Singapore. (Photo: Twitter | @narendramodi)

Lucknow: Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav on Monday asked if Prime Minister Narendra Modis recent visit to Indonesia and Malaysia during the month of Ramzan was an attempt towards international appeasement of the minority community.

During an interview with news agency PTI, he claimed that the people of not only Uttar Pradesh, but of the entire country were upset with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) as other than making promises it did nothing else.

Citing a proverb, Akhilesh Yadav said, With empty stomach, people have now understood that the BJP does not mean business.

Asking the BJP to restrain its leaders from making absurd comments, he said, The BJP should learn to face defeats or else they will be not be able to digest the outcome of the 2019 Lok Sabha elections in which the Opposition will stage a comeback.

Slamming the BJP for accusing his party of practising minority appeasement, the Samajwadi Party chief said, Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath says he does not celebrate Eid as he is a Hindu. The BJP charges us with practising Muslim appeasement. Modi has just visited Indonesia and Malaysia during the month of Ramzan. Is it an attempt towards international appeasement of the Muslims?

Adityanath had reportedly said that he is a Hindu and does not celebrate Eid, drawing sharp criticism from the Opposition.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi was for the first time on an official visit to Indonesia - the worlds most populous Muslim-majority nation - last month. He has visited Singapore twice and Malaysia once in 2015.

Modi also visited Indonesias grand Istiqlal Mosque, the largest in southeast Asia, with President Joko Widodo.

Indonesia is not only the worlds most populous Muslim country, followed by India, but the third largest democracy. Hindus comprise 2 per cent of Indonesias population and form close to a 90 per cent majority on the island of Bali.
New Delhi: The BJP has decided to go all aggressive in Mamata Banerjee ruled West Bengal where it claims to have lost nearly 20 activists to the political killing unleashed by the ruling TMC over the recently concluded panchayat polls.

The saffron party emerged as the main rival to the ruling TMC in these panchayat polls, which the party feels is a major morale booster for its cadre. The BJP accused the TMC of surpassing the violent legacy of the Communist rule in the state after two of its workers were killed allegedly by the TMC this week for supporting the BJP in Purulia, one of the regions where the party gained significantly in the elections.

BJP president Amit Shah has called a meeting of senior party leaders from the state in the coming days to finalise the strategy, which would also involve holding marches, rallies, mobilisation of youth, intellectuals and visit of senior leaders, including Union ministers, to the state to highlight how the culturally and intellectually rich state has been facing the consequences of TMCs votebank politics. The saffron party claims that its presence is now at almost 70 per cent of the nearly 50,000 booths across the state, which is an indication of growing support for it in the West Bengal where its organisational strength was minimal before 2014.

While the BJP accuses the TMC of appeasement politics, the former is blamed by Ms Banerjee and her party of trying to implement its own Hindutva agenda.

The RSS and its affiliates have been roped in to assist the BJPs efforts to increase its support base ahead of the Lok Sabha elections, with Sangh Parivar cadre from other states being deployed in West Bengal. Mr Shah had earlier claimed the BJP will win at least 22 of the 44 Lok Sabha seats in West Bengal next year.
In the suicide note, Varun also apologised to his family and begged them to forget him. (Representational Image)

New Delhi: A 28-year-old UPSC (Union Public Service Commission) aspirant allegedly hung himself in Delhi on Sunday after he was denied entry in the examination hall.

Varun, a student from Karnataka, was not allowed inside an examination centre at Paharganj in north Delhi, allegedly because he was late. He killed himself inside a room he rented at Rajendra Nagar, the police said.

The police have found a suicide note in which Varun wrote, The rules are fine but there should be some leniency.

In the suicide note, Varun also apologised to his family and begged them to forget him.

According to reports, Varuns body was discovered by one of his female friends, who also took the exam. She told police that she kept calling him but couldnt get a response all day and worried about the chain of events that had transpired earlier in the day, she went to his rented accommodation, where he was staying, to check on him. She said Varun did not open the door.

When she peered through the window, she saw Varun hanging from the ceiling fan and called the police.

Varun had reportedly been preparing for the exam for a long time.

The UPSC conducted the Civil Services Preliminary Exam 2018 on June 3 at various test centres across the country.
Srinagar: Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister, Mehbooba Mufti, on Sunday urged separatists and all other shades of political opinion in the restive State to come forward and respond positively to the Centres dialogue officer.

All political parties and other shades of political opinion ought to play their role in getting people of the State out of the unending cycle of violence. The government at the Centre has said that it is ready to hold talks with all including Pakistan and separatists to find out lasting solution to the imbroglio peacefully, she said.

She made a fervent appeal to separatists and others to seize the opportunity asserting that the people of the State particularly the youth are suffering enormously due to turmoil and there is urgency of coming to their rescue by joining the dialogue process. We all need to give them a safe, secure and peaceful future, she said while speaking at a convention of her Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) here.

Referring to the All-Party meet convened by her in Srinagar last month, the Chief Minister said that the idea behind it was to find ways and means to get the State out of the difficult situation it has been caught due to unending violence. We at the meet decided to ask the government at the Centre to declare ceasefire during the holy month of Ramzan. Our request was conceded and with that we made beginning. Now the onus to take it forward lies on all other political parties. They need to contribute positively towards this peace project, she said.

She said that conditional ceasefire and offer of talks made by the Centre was a golden opportunity to separatists to stop bloodshed in the State. There are other parties which are not in the mainstream, and if they have some other agenda, they have an opportunity now if they want to stop bloodshed. We always say that there has to be a political solution to the problem of Kashmir and the Army, CRPF or police cannot resolve it. It can only be resolved politically thorough dialogue. And when there is an offer of dialogue from the Centre, I request all stake holders to come forward to save J&K and its economy, she said.

Ms. Mufti wanted the political parties and other stakeholders to ponder over No matter on which side of the divide youth get killed, the ultimate loss is of the State and its people. She said, We all have to put our heads together and play a positive role towards putting an end to this loss. If this opportunity is lost, there will be nobody left there tomorrow to plead our case.

The Chief Minister also said that good neighbourly relations between India and Pakistan are in the best interest of the people of J&K as these have direct bearing on them. When they fight it is the people of the State particularly those living in close proximity to the border who suffer. When even arch rivals North Korea and South Korea can meet to resolve why cant India and Pakistan,?, she asked.

Separatist leader and Kashmir's chief Muslim cleric Mirwaiz Umar Farooq had earlier on Saturday said the incidents in which Kashmiri youth have been killed or injured in the use of force by security forces do not augur well for the Centres reported plan to hold dialogue with separatist leadership and Pakistan.

Nobody is against (holding) dialogue. We also favour resolution of all issues through peaceful talks. But you need to create atmosphere conducive for such an engagement, he said adding that the killing of Srinagar youth after he was over ran by a CRPF vehicle on Friday and other incident of violence and reprisals involving the Army and other security forces reported from various parts of the Valley during past few days will not be any helpful.

While speaking to this newspaper, the Mirwaiz said, Before you wish to hold talks you need to create a favourable atmosphere for it. Today Kashmiri youth are being targeted with bullets and pellets and now you have started killing them by running your vehicles over them. Talks can be held but only when you change the policy of using military might to suppress the voice of people in Jammu and Kashmir.
Kuttiady MLA Parakkal Abdulla said his act was only to bring the governments attention to the situation in Kuttiyadi-Perambra region, the epicentre of the Nipah virus. (Photo: ANI | Twitter)

Thiruvananthapuram: An MLA of Indian Union Muslim League (IUML) on Monday attended the Kerala Assembly wearing a mask and gloves to highlight the impact of Nipah virus in Kozhikode district, triggering a war of words between the ruling LDF and opposition UDF members.

The Kuttiady MLA, Parakkal Abdulla, walked into the assembly wearing mask and gloves, and was seen greeting the Opposition members.

While chief minister Pinarayi Vijayan said the members behaviour amounted to trivialising a serious issue, health minister K K Shylaja described it as a ridiculous act.

The state was maintaining extreme vigil following the outbreak of the deadly virus.

Since the Nipah virus was confirmed, government has taken all necessary steps to contain it. The health department has intervened efficiently. Even then, the MLA has come to the house wearing a mask which amounted to self ridicule, Vijayan said.

The health minister said there was certain criterion for wearing a mask. If the member was infected by the virus, he should not have come to the house, she said.

(Photo: ANI | Twitter)

Leader of opposition Ramesh Chennithala said he was told by the MLA that in Kozhikode everyone was wearing masks and so he had come to the House as a symbolic gesture.

Abdulla said his act was only to bring the governments attention to the situation in Kuttiyadi-Perambra region, the epicentre of the Nipah virus.

Speaker P Sreeramakrishnan also enquired from the member why he wore the mask.

Sixteen people have lost their lives so far to Nipah virus (NiV) in two districts, Kozhikode and Malappuram, of the state since the confirmation of the deadly virus on May 17.
Congress president Rahul Gandhi has often accused Prime Minister Narendra Modi of dodging answers to 'real questions' he and other opposition leaders have asked. (Photo: File)

New Delhi: Congress president Rahul Gandhi on Monday accused Prime Minister Narendra Modi of giving scripted interviews, claiming his response to real questions would have been an "embarrassment for all".

"The first Indian Prime Minister who takes 'spontaneous' questions that the translator has pre-scripted answers to," the Congress president tweeted.

"Good that he doesn't take real questions... Would have been a real embarrassment for us all if he did," Rahul Gandhi ridiculed, attaching a video where the translator is heard purportedly reading out a scripted answer.

The first Indian PM who takes "spontaneous" questions that the translator has pre-scripted answers to!



Good that he doesn't take real questions. Would have been a real embarrassment to us all if he did. pic.twitter.com/8Iyfgiaseh  Rahul Gandhi (@RahulGandhi) June 4, 2018

The video that he posted was reportedly that of a question and answer session that the Prime Minister addressed at Singapore's Nanyang Technological University (NTU) last Friday.

The Prime Minister was responding to a question on challenges faced by Asia. After he finished speaking, his English translator read out an answer that was far longer and included details and data that were not told by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in his answer.

Rahul Gandhi has often accused Prime Minister Narendra Modi of dodging answers to "real questions" he and other opposition leaders have asked.
The officials said another 16 were missing mainly from the twin districts and a probe was on to ascertain whether they have joined any terror group. (Photo: Representational/ANI)

Srinagar: The unilateral ceasefire during the holy month of Ramzan may have brought a halt to anti-terrorist operations in Kashmir but security agencies have warned of a rise in recruitment of local youths into terrorist groups, that has crossed 80, and a rise in infiltration from various sides of the Line of Control (LoC).

The security agency officials said the highly-volatile Shopian and Pulwama districts in South Kashmir continued to contribute more youths to terrorist groups which included outfits like ISIS-Kashmir and Ansar Ghazwat-ul-Hind, a group which claims support of the Al-Qaeda.

As many as 20 more youths have joined terror groups in the month of May which included Rouf from Ganderbal, a fourth-semester student pursuing a diploma course in government polytechnic, the officials said.

An Unani doctor, Shams-Ul-Haq Mengnoo, who is the brother of an IPS officer, Inam Ul-Haq-Mengnoo, has also been reported missing from Shopian and it is said that he may have joined terror groups, they said, adding that the figure at the end of April this year was 45.

The officials said another 16 were missing mainly from the twin districts and a probe was on to ascertain whether they have joined any terror group.

The officials said infiltration was also picking up and some of the terrorists had managed to sneak in from Poonch and Rajouri district of Jammu region as well as from the LoC in the Kashmir Valley. This created a more alarming situation for the security forces which were readying themselves for the two-month long Amarnath Yatra beginning this month-end.

Year 2018, according to the officials, may end up as the worst year in terms of the number of youths joining various terror groups as the figures indicated that 81 youths had joined until May this year. In 2017, a total of 126 youths had picked up guns. It was the highest number since 2010, according to a recent data presented in the state assembly and Parliament.

There has been a steady rise in the number of youth taking up arms in the Valley since 2014 onwards as compared to 2010-2013 when figures stood at 54, 23, 21 and 6 in the respective years. In 2014, the number shot up to 53 and in 2015, it reached 66 before touching the highest mark of 88 in 2016, the data showed.

This year's recruitment of youth joining terrorism includes Junaid Ashraf Sehrai, 26, an MBA degree holder from Kashmir University, and son of Mohammed Ashraf Sehrai, who took over as chairman of Tehreek-e-Hurriyat from Syed Ali Shah Geelani. Tehreek-e-Hurriyat is a pro-Pakistan amalgam of separatists groups.

The list also includes a 26-year-old PhD scholar Mannan Bashir Wani hailing from Kupwara, officials said. Wani was studying in the Aligarh Muslim University (AMU).

According to a report prepared by the Jammu and Kashmir CID, which has been shared with the Union Home Ministry, the past three years have witnessed a consistent rise in the number of active local terrorists even in the face of successful anti-terror operations undertaken by the security forces.

"It, therefore, becomes imperative for the state to deconstruct why, while militants are being killed, militancy continues to rise," the report had said.

The report said the situation is such that terrorist encounters "have turned into a spectacle in the recent years with attacks on encounter sites by protesters followed by glamourised funerals."

"The entire phenomenon has had a tendency to create an emotionally charged environment which is ideal for recruiting fresh cadres," it said.

The report, while drawing a correlation between the terrorists killed in encounters and the new recruitment, said, "It has been found that encounters of local militants are part of a vicious circle that acts as a catalyst to push further recruitment."

"Large glorified funerals of militants have also been witnessing the presence of active militants who give gun salutes to their killed associate. The presence of militants in these funerals not only eulogises the deaths of militants but at the same time brings the active militants into open interaction with civilians," the report said, warning that such an interaction was one of the important steps in facilitating recruitment.
A file photo of students and staff of schools run by RSS strongman Kalladka Prabhakar Bhat protesting when the previous Congress government stopped the benefits of the meal scheme to the schools.

Mangaluru: Two schools run by the Vivekananda Vidyavardhaka Sangha, whose members belong to the Sangh Parivar, have agreed to be part of the state governments Akshara Dasoha mid-day meal scheme after refusing to have anything to do with it under the Siddaramaiah government.

The Sri Rama Vidya Kendra, Kalladka and Sri Devi School, Puncha had refused to be part of Akshara Dasoha after the last government stopped their grants from the Sri Kollur Mookambika Temple that helped them feed their children. Both parents and children of the schools, who held protests, accused the then district in -charge minister, B Ramanath Rai of indulging in hate politics and BJP leaders like MP, Shobha Karandlaje began a drive to collect rice and money to help the institutions feed the children.

When the government suggested they take advantage of its Akshara Dasoha scheme to provide mid-day meals to the children, they refused. Now, however, with the change of government and local MLA, the school managements have agreed to be part of the scheme, according to Bantwal MLA, U Rajesh Naik.

This was confirmed by Akshara Dasoha in-charge officer, Rajalakshmi. However the scheme will be extended to only 908 students of the aided (high school ) section of the Kalladka institution, which has 3000 students in all as under the norms, Akshara Dasoha is meant only for aided schools.

As the primary section of the school is unaided, even if the government provides students food under Akshara Dasoha, the school still has to feed the remaining 2000 students of the unaided primary section through donors. However we are trying our best to do something for these children too," Mr Naik said.
Bengaluru: Actor-politician Kamal Haasan on Monday met Karnataka Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy to discuss the contentious Cauvery water sharing issue.

Expressing contentment over the meeting, Kamal Haasan said, "I see hope in the conversation with Kumaraswamy, the way forward will be found by people sharing similar mindsets.

Addressing a joint press conference after the hour-long meeting, Kumaraswamy said the two states of Tamil and Karnataka must resolve the issue through dialogue, a report in The Indian Express said.

The issue of Cauvery water sharing is one of the key points of conflict between Tamil Nadu and its neighbour Karnataka.

Last month, actor-politician Rajinikanth asked the new government in Karnataka to release to Tamil Nadu its share of Cauvery river water as mandated by the Supreme Court.

Also Read: Rajinikanth will change his stand on Cauvery if he visits K'taka: H D Kumaraswamy

However, responding to the superstars remark, Kumaraswamy said, I request Rajinikanth, please come and see the situation in our dams, what has happened to our farmers. After seeing that, if you (Rajinikanth) still want water, let's discuss."
'Five Eyes' is an exclusive club of spy rings from Australia, New Zealand, Canada, UK and US that collaborate to intercept information for diplomatic, security, military and economic needs.

New Delhi: The shadowy US-led Five Eyes worldwide spy alliance may be developing cracks and currently runs the risk of a collapse due to increasing concerns regarding the growing Chinese influence on New Zealand, which is one of its members.

Incidentally, New Zealands Government Communications Security Bureau (GCSB) was entrusted with the task of spying on India and then passing on the information to the United States National Security Agency (NSA).

Five Eyes is an exclusive club of spy rings from five countries  Australia, New Zealand, Canada, United Kingdom and the United States of America  that collaborate to intercept information from other countries to be used for diplomatic, security, military and economic benefits.

Voicing concern on the influence China has started enjoying in New Zealand because of increasing economic ties, a very recent report prepared by experts in a workshop organised by the Canadian Security Intelligence Service (CSIS) said: New Zealand governments have also encouraged China to be active in New Zealands region, from the South Pacific to Antarctica: initially as a balance to Soviet influence, as an aid donor and scientific partner, and since 2014 as part of the diversification of New Zealands military links away from Five Eyes partnerships.

Last year, New Zealand became the first Western country to sign a cooperation agreement with China on the Belt and Road policy.

The report adds: New Zealand is valuable to China, as well as to other states such as Russia, as a soft underbelly through which to access Five Eyes intelligence.

During a recent Congressional hearing of the US-China Economic and Security Review Commission on April 5, Peter Mattis, a leading expert on China in the US, who had also served as an international affairs analyst for the US government previously, testified: ...at some level the Five Eyes or the Four Eyes need to have a discussion about whether or not New Zealand can remain given this problem with the political core....
Chennai: Journalist Jawahar Nadar has accused the Kaala team of portraying his father in a negative light. The film Kaala, in which Rajinikanth plays a Tamil gangster from Mumbai, is said to be based on a real life don. And Jawahar Nadar believes it is his father S. Thiraviam Nadar.

Nadar has demanded a written apology, failing which he has threatened to file a defamation suit seeking `101 crore as damages while demanding an apology within 36 hours.

According to a television report, the Mumbai-based journalist says his father was a jaggery and sugar merchant. He had moved to Mumbai from Tamil Nadu's Thoothukudi district in 1957 and over a period of time was nicknamed Gudwala Seth and Kaala Seth.

The journalist claims his father was never involved in illegal activities as may have been portrayed in the film.

The actors team, now extremely busy with the June 7 release of the film in several screens worldwide, said they would give an apt reply at the right time.

Kaala has such a buzz about it that there were no new Tamil films released last Friday (June 1) as those movies would have had to make way for the mega release on June 7. Kaala is set to hit a record number of screens on Thursday.
Vijayawada: In what could embarrass TD supremo and AP Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu and his trusted aide and former civil aviation minister P. Ashok Gajapathi Raju, top executives of AirAsia, the Malaysia-based international airline, had allegedly discussed that if they play nice with Mr Naidu they can get everything.

The alleged conversation is contained in an audiotape purportedly between Air Asia Group chief executive officer Tony Fernandes and airlines India CEO Mittu Chandilya on getting international route licences. The tape is said to be in possession of the CBI which had booked Mr Fernandes recently in a case of alleged bribery.

In the FIR, the CBI has alleged that Mr Fernandes and others violated FDI norms and paid bribes to unknown civil aviation ministry officials and others in an attempt to get an international operations licence for AirAsia India Limited (AAIL) during 2015-16 when Mr Raju was civil aviation minister.

While the allegations have been denied by Air Asia, the voices on the audiotape could not be independently verified.
Actor Rajinikanth today approached the Karnataka High Court seeking the release of his film Kaala in Karnataka, where his remarks on the release of Cauvery waters have hugely upset the film fraternity. (Photo: File)

Bengaluru: Actor Rajinikanth today approached the Karnataka High Court seeking the release of his film Kaala in Karnataka, where his remarks on the release of Cauvery waters have hugely upset the film fraternity.

The superstar's film is slated to be released across the country on Thursday, June 7. But in Karnataka, the Film Chambers of Commerce has banned it.

KFCC president Sa Ra Govindu has admitted that the actor's statement on Cauvery was responsible for the move. "The ban will remain because neither will he apologise for his statement nor are we going to pardon him," news agency PTI quoted him as saying.

Also Read: Rajinikanth's fans, film body seek intervention to lift ban on 'Kaala' in Karnataka

After the Karnataka Assembly election results were announced on May 15, Rajinikanth reportedly said whichever government comes to power, Karnataka should release Cauvery waters.

Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy had responded by asking Rajinikanth to visit the state and see the condition of farmers and the water level in the dams before commenting on the matter.

Rajinikanth has a great fan following in Karnataka, especially in Bengaluru and Kolar, where there is a considerable Tamil population. But the 67-year-old actor's comments on the Cauvery issue have often made him the target of pro-Kannada organisations.
New Delhi: The Film Federation of India has reportedly requested the South Indian Film Chamber of Commerce (SIFCC) to intervene in decision made by the Karnataka Film Chamber of Commerce (KFCC) to ban upcoming film 'Kaala', starring Rajinikanth, in the state of Karnataka, reports news agency PTI.

The KFCC banned the release of 'Kaala' earlier this month in protest against the 67-year-old actor's alleged comments on the Cauvery row, in which he favoured the Supreme Court's order on sharing the water from Cauvery River.

As per a PTI report, Sakshi Mehra, president of the Film Federation of India, requested the SIFCC to talk with KFCC to lift the ban on 'Kaala'.

Accordingly, SIFCC secretary L Suresh sent a letter to KFCC to suggesting conducting a meeting with the Kannada outfits opposing the film's release.

"I have spoken to KFCC president Sa Ra Govindu and also written a letter to him. The KFCC would probably call for a meeting with the outfits tomorrow or the day after," he said.

The SIFCC secretary also told PTI that cinema being mixed with politics in this way is "unfortunate" and it will only "result in a loss to the film industry."

He said, "The ban on Kaala will not only affect the Tamil film industry, but also the Kannada film fraternity and the Indian film industry as a whole."

Meanwhile, Karnataka Rajinikanth Fans Association also wrote to the KFCC seeking intervention. Rajani Santosh, president of the fans association, told PTI: "Politics should not be mixed with cinema. Rajinikanth had made remarks on the formation of Cauvery water board, which could be beneficial to both Karnataka and Tamil Nadu."

Kaala is produced by Rajinikanth's son-in-law Dhanush and directed by Pa Ranjith. The film also stars Huma Qureshi and Nana Patekar.'

Kaala' is scheduled for a worldwide release on June 7.
Mumbai: A major fire broke out at the Income Tax office located in multi-storeyed Scindia House in South Mumbai on Friday.

The building, a well-known landmark in South Mumbai, also houses the office of the Debt Recovery Tribunal (DRT). The DRT office was stocking documents and evidence relating to high-profile cases like the Nirav Modi  Punjab National Bank (PNB) scam and many other which is being investigated by the department.

Many Twitter users expressed suspicion over the fire accident as documents and evidence relating to major cases were said to be lost.

Five fire engines were rushed to the site to douse the flames, an official said.
Hyderabad: Even as the Goods and Services Tax (GST) is completing one year, MSMEs (micro, small and medium enterprises) in Telangana state and Andhra Pradesh are still finding it difficult to file returns every month.

The multiple returns are complicated and expensive to fill for small units, according to the Federation of TS and AP Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FTAPCCI). The federation has asked the Centre to open more help centres to ease the process. MSMEs want GST officials to speed up the process during the non-drive periods as well.

While Hyderabad holds the leading position in the refund process, Visakhapatnam lags behind and this shows organisational imbalance in GST system, observed an entrepreneur.

Out of over three lakh GST assesses, including SGST and CGST in Telangana state and AP, there are about 70,000 MSMEs. A majority of them are unable to file returns properly. This is mainly due to lack of awareness and infrastructure support, said Abhay Jain, chairman, GST and Customs Committee, of FTAPCCI.

The Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs has established help centres (GST Seva Kendras) in 30 divisions in the states.

The good thing is that several MSMEs have started filing returns, but are facing multiple problems such as technical glitches and errors in entering data. A majority of MSMEs cant afford to hire CAs and accountants for filing GST returns. The expenditure to file GST returns varies from `5,000 to over `10,000 every month, Mr Jain said.

The federation urged the Central and state governments to open more help desks to support MSMEs in filing returns. During special drives, export refund process has been speeded up and is benefiting units below Rs 5 crore turnover, Mr Jain said.

Sector wants tax refund camps

The ITC refund drive taken up by CBIC was providing respite to the industry.

An exporter said that it was cumbersome to file an application for ITC refund owing to technical glitches. Generally, input tax credit and exports happen in different months. Then a major challenge lies in getting an ITC refund especially because the process is partly electronic and partly manual. This is creating technical complexities, while enhancing the transaction cost as well, he said.

The amount sanctioned against the count (number of applications for refund) was almost 80 per cent in Hyderabad and Mumbai, while it was about 20 per cent in Visakhapatnam.

Chennai and Nagpur reached the 80-per cent mark in the ITC refund amount sanctioned during the latest drive by CBIC. This highlights the gaps in the government mechanism and the industry as well, Mr Abhay Jain, chairman, GST and Customs Commi-ttee, of FTAPCCI, said.

Chief commissioners and commissioners of Vizag and other zones that fell below the national average have been asked to improve the performance in processing the ITC refunds.

GST assesses say that only during refund drive periods, the process had speeded up, but it was very slow during normal months. The officials come out with such data during such special drives, said an entrepreneur from Balanagar industrial area.

The CBIC is organising a special refund fortnight till June 14, ensuring quick processing of ITC refund applications. MSMEs are hoping that the second phase of ITC refund will address several issues that they are facing.

The board had carried out a drive in March to clear refund applications.
New Delhi: A VIP Embraer aircraft carrying external affairs minister Sushma Swaraj to Mauritius, on her way to South Africa, had gone incommunicado for 14 minutes, triggering a scare after the Air Traffic Control of the island nation pressed the panic button, an official statement said on Sunday.

The flight had left for Mauritius from Thiruvananthapuram at 2.08 pm. The Male ATC had established contact with the flight at 4.44 pm IST after it entered the airspace of the Maldives from the Indian airspace.

The IFC 31 could not contact the Mauritius ATC after entering the Mauritian airspace, causing panic. However, there was a sigh of relief when the aircraft came in contact with the ATC there at 4.58 pm, the AAI said.

Since the Embraer-135 aircraft, carrying the minister, does not have a long range, it had stopovers at Thiruvananthapuram and Mauritius for refuelling.

Government sources said the crew of the flight followed the laid down procedure to deal with the situation. Swaraj on Sunday arrived in South Africa on a five-day visit.
Hyderabad: Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao on Monday said that `5 lakh free life insurance scheme covering 58 lakh farmers in the state is the single greatest thing he has done in his life.

The life of a farmer is like playing a game of snakes and ladders. Many risks have to be overcome and you have the job to ensure that farmers emerge as winners, he added.

He also said farmers must be educated in cropping patterns so that they plant crops in accordance with demand and also based on the kind of soil in the area.

Depending on the climatic conditions, soil category, wind speed, rainfall and temperature, the entire land in the state will be divided into crop colonies by agriculture scientists. In accordance with this division, the farmers should go for a cropping pattern and accordingly they need to be educated," Mr Rao suggested.

Mr Rao also suggested that agricultural lands around and near towns and cities must grow vegetables to meet the needs of surrounding areas. People living in towns and cities could buy these vegetables, which will benefit both the farmer and consumer.

Mr Rao said the government is devising plans to establish food processing units all over the state.
Hyderabad: Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao on Monday said that Rs 5 lakh free life insurance scheme covering 58 lakh farmers in the state is the single greatest thing he has done in his life.

The Telangana state government on Monday signed a memorandum of understanding with the Life Insurance Corporation of India to implement the scheme.

Every farmer in the age group 18 to 60 years will be insured for his life at a premium of Rs 2,271 per head to be borne by the government.

The death could be due to any reason and the affected family will get Rs 5 lakh compensation within ten days of the claim being submitted.

The insured farmer will have to propose a nominee. The insurance bonds will be distributed from August 15.

Addressing a meeting of agriculture officials and farmers at HICC, the CM said the focus of the state government would now be on setting up crop colonies, unification of small land holdings and farm mechanisation to make agriculture financially viable for farmers.

He said crops and foodgrain procurement in the state must be regulated to ensure that all farmers do not opt for the same crops and dont bring agri produce to market all at the same time, which leads to prices crashing.

Mr Rao gave a set of directions to agricultural officers saying that implementation of the insurance scheme will be their responsibility.
Hyderabad: Life Insurance Corporation of India chairman V.K. Sharma on Monday lauded Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Raos welfare measures for farmers and termed him a the only one visionary in India for launching the `5-lakh free insurance scheme.

The LIC chairman said he had travelled the length and breadth of the country on his various job assignments but had never seen a chief minister like Mr Rao who thought of farmers prosperity with unique schemes like Rythu Bandhu and free insurance by spending Rs 12,000 crore per year.

I come from a farmer family. My father has been a farmer, my grandfather has been a farmer. I have served at places from Kashmir to Kanyakumari and Somnath to Silchar. Nowhere else I could find so many schemes for farmers. This is the first time I am coming across such a unique scheme where somebody has thought about prosperity of the farmers.

Everybody pushes the farmers into debts by by giving easy loans. There is only one visionary leader today in the country who has really put his heart for the prosperity of the farmer and that is Mr K. Chandrasekhar Rao. He is a real rythu bandhu, he said.

The LIC chairman was addressing a meeting at HICC after signing an MoU with state government to implement the free insurance scheme. Getting the chance to implement this scheme is a real privilege for us, Mr Sharma said.
Hyderabad: A first-of-its-kind research article said small dams across rivers have been misjudged to not have environmental impact as opposed to large dams in India. The article focuses on the Western Ghats.

The article was written by PhD student and graduate assistant Suman Jumani of the soil and water sciences department of the University of Florida in collaboration with Wildlife Conservation Society, ATREE and National Centre for Biological Sciences.

The report states: Small hydropower projects have disrupted the longitudinal, lateral and vertical connectivity of rivers, altered physico-chemical characteristics, blocked sediment and nutrient transport, obstructed fish migration, and encouraged fish invasion.

Two dammed tributaries and one undammed tributary of the Nethravati river in Karnataka was selected for the study.

Flow alterations were caused by small dams which caused the width and depth of the streams to be diminished drastically.

Lead author Jumani said, The report talks about how dewatering causes community shifts by selectively favouring eurytopic fish which can tolerate ecological changes over rheophilic fish that are adapted to flowing river waters. The varying flow also causes decline in fishery yields.

Speaking about displacement, Ms Jumani told this newspaper: There have been a few instances where small hydroelectric projects (SHPs) have caused significant submergence leading to rehabilitation activity. For example, the allotted Kukke Stage-1 SHP on the Nethravti river would submerge over 700 acres of forest and agricultural land.

With reduced stream flows, water temperatures would soar higher, and dissolved oxygen levels would fall lower.

We collected fish from the dammed and dammed parts of the Nethravati river and identified the same standard taxonomic keys. We knew that the chemical and biological process on which the fish are dependent on would alter in case of SHPs, she said.

More generalist and not specialist species of fish that are unique to rivers were found with native species being driven to extinction, she said. She also stated that fish species richness can bounce back with flow restoration.

By restoring river flows, we reduce habitat fragmentation and allow sediment, nutrients and aquatic plants and animals to move freely, Ms Jumani said.

The tagline, If you cant reuse it, refuse it has gone viral with a call for citizens to be alert to ensure that water bodies are safe. With more plastic than fish is expected in oceans by 2050, a global attempt is being made to curb marine pollution.

Low prices make plastic a top choice

World Environment Day stresses the theme Ban Plastic Pollution, targeting one-time usage products made of plastic such as plastics cups, bottles, spoons, forks and straws among others. These items are mostly often found in eateries and have an adverse effect on ones health.

Most of these items end up in the sea or landfills. Mr Anmol Roy, an environmentalist said, Despite the invention of wooden spoons and even spoons that are edible after ones meal, plastic is still the top most choice because of its disposability and the low cost. Unless the government bans items such as these, no action will be taken. Plastic bags are not the only items that are a bane on the environment but are the sole focus of officials.

Medical experts state that the ill-effects of plastic, especially when plastic packaging comes in contact with hot food on ones health, is immense.

Dr T. Unnikrishnan, a general physician, said, As per recent medical studies, the leaching of plastic components and chemicals increases by 50 per cent if we add hot food or water into a bowl or glass. Even microwave safe containers leach chemicals.

He said plastic that accumulates in the body over time cannot be removed. It can also be carcinogenic. We should avoid plastic for our health just like for the environment.
Minister K.T. Rama Rao along with other senior officials release the Annual report of the industries department in Hyderabad on Monday. (Photo:DECCAN CHRONICLE)

Hyderabad: Telangana registered a double digit growth in Gross State Domestic Product (GSDP) at 10.4 per cent as against the national GDP growth of 6.6 per cent in 2017-18. This is highest growth ever since the formation of the state.

The countrys youngest state grew at 7.4 per cent in FY15, 8.6 per cent in FY16 and 10.1 per cent in FY17. The share of the state in the national GDP rose by nine basis points in the last financial year alone, said minister K.T. Rama Rao. Telangana states GSDP rose from Rs 6.42 lakh crore to Rs 7.33 lakh crore 2017-18 in current prices. At constant prices, the GSDP rose from Rs 4.98 lakh crore in 2016-17 to Rs 5.49 lakh crore.

Elaborating on the highlights, Mr Rama Rao said, Telangana accounts for 2.9 per cent of Indias population, but contributes 4.37 per cent to the national GDP. The share of Telangana in Indias GDP rose by 35 basis points during the past three years. The industrial growth has created 5,27,607 jobs in the state.

The state government introduced TSiPASS in June 2015 and has since attracted Rs 1,23,478 crore investments via 6,469 units that created 5,27,607 jobs, according to the latest annual report on the industry.

Of the total investment received in three years, the state got Rs 58,581 crore in 2017-18. The industry-friendly policy is enabling the state government to attract more units. The investments last year alone accounted for 47.44 per cent of the total investment received in three years. This shows growing acceptance of TSiPASS, Mr Rama Rao said.

Mr Rama Rao along with industry secretary Jayesh Ranjan, Telangana Indus-trial Health Clinic Ltd adviser Dr B.Yeeram Raju, CII-Telangana president Sanjay Singh, senior officials and representatives of industry released the 2017-18 annual report on industry here on Monday.

Elaborating on the industry performance during the past three years, Mr Rama Rao said: Out of the total clearances issued to 6,469 units, 4,624 units have commenced operations, while 616 units are in an advanced stage of beginning commercial operations. The remaining 761 units are yet to begin construction work.

To provide comprehensive infrastructure to entrepreneurs, the TS Industrial Infrastructure Corporation developed 148 industrial parks in 2017-18 fiscal and allotted 195.25 acre to 460 units. This created 50,000 jobs and attracted Rs 1,444.67 crore investment, the minister said.

On relocating polluting industrial units to outside the Outer Ring Road (ORR), Mr Rama Rao said, We have identified 19 locations outside ORR within a distance of 100 km for relocating polluting industrial units. It doesnt mean we are shifting pollution from one place to another.

He said the government would create infrastructure with effluent treatment facility along with social infrastructure. The government will not force units to relocate immediately; there will be sufficient time for them. We will create industrial and social infrastructure. The government has decided to offer incentives to the units to relocate, he said.

On the proposed industrial parks, Mr Rama Rao said MSME Green Indus-trial Park would be operational this year. It is coming up on 377 acres at Buggapadu in Khammam district and will create 12,250 direct employment opportunities.

The government had earlier decided to set up two MSME parks in every Assembly constituency. Hyderabad Pharma City has got environment clearances and we sent the proposal to the Union forest ministry for approval, he said.

Pharma City is expected to attract Rs 64,00 crore investment and generate 4.2 lakh jobs. Kakatiya Textiles Park will be the largest in the country as it will generate 1.13 lakh jobs with an investment of Rs 11,586 crore. National Industrial Manufacturing Zone, Women Entrepreneurs Park and LED Park, Food Park and Spices Park will become operational very soon, he said.
Hyderabad: Residents of Vasavinagar and Kharkhana in the Secunderabad Cantonment Board (SCB) have complained that Reliance Jio is installing poles in their area without the permission of the colony association.

The poles are being installed by the company to lay optical fibre cables. A total of 1,172 nine-metre-tall poles are being installed. Mr Telukunta Satish Gupta, president of the Vasavinagar Welfare Association, said Last time when other network companies installed poles for their optical fibre cables, our drainages got damaged. Neither the company nor the SCB took care of it for a long time. How can we allow it this time?

Work has been halted, and residents said they will not allow it to commence till they get an assurance that the colony wont be affected. Reliance officials claimed that they had got permission from the state government and the Cantonment Board to install poles. Colony associations are demanding that the company should take their permission, as they are the ones answerable to residents if there is any damage done to infrastructure.

According to the permission letter with the SCB, Reliance Jio is already paying a security deposit to the board, which is twice the amount of annual rent that it pays for each electric pole.

When the situation was explained to ward board member, B. Anita, she said, Though the board has given permission, residents can still fight for their rights. Sometimes, these companies do their work and leave after damaging pipelines. This has happened earlier also.

The Vasavinagar Colony Association is demanding a written assurance along with a refundable security deposit. But Reliance Jio is not ready for this as it has paid a security deposit to the SCB and has secured permission.
Vijayawada: In what could embarrass TD supremo and AP Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu and his trusted aide and former civil aviation minister P. Ashok Gajapathi Raju, top executives of Air Asia, the Malaysia-based international airline, had allegedly discussed that if they play nice with Mr Naidu they can get everything.

In the audiotape of an alleged 33-minute conversation, which is said to be in the possession of a Delhi-based media group, Air Asia Group India CEO Mittu Chandilya talks about his closeness to Mr Raju. Mr Chandilya tells the airlines chief executive officer Tony Fernandes that Mr Naidu was potentially the prime minister candidate, but he was now Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh.

His finance minister is now the civil aviation minister. If you play nice with Chandrababu Naidu, we will get everything. The civil aviation minister told me. They want to build Vizag into aviation centre. They are willing to give zero tax on ATF as long as we put a hub there. The minister told me that he doesnt want to be seen physically with me that much, but you tell me what you want. This guy is like Modi. Its good to have him on our side, Mr Chandilya purportedly tells Mr Fernandes in the tape.

The alleged conversation took place when Mr Chandliya was giving a presentation to Mr Fernandes in the presence of lobbyist Rajender Dubey.

The CBI last Friday questioned Mr Dubey, director of the Singapore-based HNR Trading Pte Limited. It has summoned Mr Fernandes on June 6.

Mr Fernandes was booked by the CBI for bribing officials to amend the 5/20 rule that mandated domestic airlines to have five years of experience and 20 aircraft to fly international.
Bengaluru: Congress working president, S.R. Patils resignation has triggered a fresh round of speculation that the camp owning allegiance to Congress Legislature Party (CLP) leader, Siddaramaiah, is making a last ditch effort to ensure the creation of one more Deputy CM post ahead of the swearing-in of ministers scheduled for June 6, or else insist on the KPCC presidents post for north-Karnataka region.

Speaking to Deccan Chronicle, a senior leader in the Congress said Mr Patil is perceived as Mr Siddaramaiah's close aide as he had given him charge of Badami constituency, where he had contested and won. The source added that a section of Congress leaders have not been able to digest the fact that the party has handed over the state on a platter to the JD(S) for five years.

"Many leaders, especially from south Karantaka are averse to any kind of relationship with the Gowdas or the JD(S). This coalition does not benefit them in any way as the JD(S) voters are traditionally anti-Congress voters, so if the party enters into a pact with the Congress, they will not vote for the coalition.

Hence, it is better to have our plan B ready for any eventuality. The party needs to placate Lingayats in a big way in the event of the Vokkligas deserting us and consolidating in favour of the Gowdas in the next elections," the source explained.

The source further added that the minority vote bank which had consolidated in favour of the Congress this election, will drift away if the coalition takes off. "Neither the Vokkaligas, nor the minorities or Lingayats will come to our rescue in South Karnataka while the JD(S) and BJP will be the biggest gainers at our expense," he source claimed.
Hyderabad: Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao will address a meeting of agriculture officials on Monday ahead of the beginning of the kharif season on setting up crop colonies, farm mechanisation and establishment of food processing units.

All agriculture extension officers, district agriculture officers and coordinators of Rythu Samanvaya Samitis have been invited for the meeting.

The meeting will primarily focus on the implementation of Rythu Bandhu scheme, distribution of pattadar passbooks, 24x7 free power supply to agriculture, investment support, Rs 5 lakh free insurance scheme for farmers that will be launched on August 15.

The government has appointed an agriculture extension officer to cover 5,000-acre land parcels. Mr Rao directed the AEOs to come with a detailed report on the extent of agriculture land, crop sown area, cropping pattern in their jurisdiction and come out with suggestion on how crop colonies could be set up in their areas to increase productivity and enhance the income of farmers.

The CM wanted agriculture department to adopt mechanisation by assessing the existing facilities and the future requirement. He instructed officials to see that the required machinery and implements are made available to every farmer from the nursery stage to the harvest.

Mr Rao said that adequate budget provision would be made for funds next year. He said that to supplement and complement various crops that are produced, food processing units are to be established. Similarly pulp units are to be established for the benefit of horticulture farmers.

Mr Rao said farmers preferred cropping in a traditional manner, and this needs to be changed by educating them and providing the required skills to go for profitable crops.

He said the present scenario of importing flowers, fruits and vegetables should be reversed and Telangana state should be in a position to export them.
Hyderabad: BJP state president Dr K. Laxman said on Sunday that people across the country were rejecting corrupt and dynasty politics and the same would be repeated in Telangana state. He called the TRS a corrupt and family party, which he said would be ousted.

He was speaking at a meeting where leaders and activists from other parties joined the BJP on Sunday in the presence of Uppal party legislator N.V.S.S. Prabhakar.

Dr Laxman criticised the TRS government and the previous Congress regimes saying only private contractors had benefited during their tenure. Dr Laxman said that people of the state would teach them a lesson in 2019.

He said that the youth, BCs, SCs, STs, and minorities were supporting the BJP from every nook and corner of the country and Telangana state was no exception.

Dr Laxman said that the Congress, which once ruled the country with 420 MPs from all states. had been restricted to 44 in the 2014 elections. He said that the Congress had looted the country, particularly the Telugu speaking states. He said that a former prime minister (Rajiv Gandhi) had acknowledged the loot by saying that only 15 paise of every `1 released by the Centre reaches the farmers. Under the BJP rule, people were enjoying 100 per cent benefits, he said.

Dr Laxman said the CAG had exposed corruption in the state government. He said that Telangana state was found to be No 2 in the country in corruption.

Dr Laxman alleged that the TRS government was ruining the education system. If government is committed to filling the 16,000 vacancies in the education department, it should have started recruitment before the start of academic year. Announcing it on June 2 does not make any sense, Dr Laxman said.
New Delhi: A day after BJP national spokesperson Sambit Patra had claimed that the grand alliance of the Opposition parties was trying to prevent Prime Minister Narendra Modi from returning to power just like terrorists and 26/11 Mumbai attacks accused Hafiz Saeed, his party colleague and Union minister Giriraj Singh on Monday said, Maoists, casteists, feudalists and supporters of 9/11 US attack mastermind Osama bin Laden have united against the NDA ahead of the Lok Sabha polls.

He, however, exuded confidence that the NDA boat will surely cross the 2019 stage while moving at a steady rate. Opposition leaders condemned the BJP leaders statements and advised them that there is a line of civility in politics which one must not cross.

Maoists, casteists, feudalists, and supporters of Osama bin Laden have all united against the NDA. But, floating on the uninterrupted river of progre-ss, NDAs boat will surely cross the 2019 stage while moving at a steady rate, the minister tweeted.

On Sunday, Mr Patra had tweeted: Its not just the not yet formed mahagatbandhan that desperately wants to stop India from having Modi as its PM in 2019 ..there are others as well... desperately trying for d same! Hafiz Saeed openly saying that he will shed blood of Narendra Modi along with a video of Hafiz Saaed delivering a hate speech against Mr Modi.

However, Mr Patra later issued a clarification saying, Of course this is not a comparison! Modi Jis attack on Black Money and corruption is getting the opposition in India on one page while his attack on terrorism and Surgical Strike is pushing Hafeez Sayed to desperation! This proves that the Modi government is moving the right way!

Former Delhi chief minister and senior Congress leader Sheila Dixit described the BJP leaders statements as shocking and said that there is a line of civility in politics which one must not cross.

She also said that one must remember that while we are all political adversaries, we are not enemies in real life. We cannot be. One must never indulge in personal attacks.
Laced into the gnashing of teeth in the Congress ranks over the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sanghs invitation to former President Pranab Mukherjee can be heard the grinding of axes. Why did the RSS ask a supposedly dyed-in-the-wool Congressman to be chief guest at an event to mark the culmination of 23 days of physical training and ideological indoctrination for Hindutvas stalwarts? Why for that matter has the man who worshipped the ground Indira Gandhi trod on accepted the invitation? Not only do the answers to these poseurs promise  threaten?  to make the run-up to the next general election, and its aftermath, additionally exciting, they make one wonder when and where the idea of a Third Front, flaunted in Bengaluru recently, was really born. For all one knows, the former President might roundly lecture his Nagpur audience on the abiding virtues of cultural tolerance and secularism and the need for vigorous pluralism as opposed to majoritarian domination for a multi-religious country like India. But, somehow, that seems unlikely. If the RSS had wanted a repetition of the gospel according to Jawaharlal Nehru, it would have invited Rahul Gandhi or perhaps his mother. Its not for lay folk to divine how minds work in the magic circle of pendulous bellies over baggy khaki shorts (which the faithful curiously called knickers until 2016, when they were replaced by the supposed dignity of brown trousers), short-sleeved white shirts and black caps.

All that can be assumed is that the invitation was calculated to sow confusion and dissension in the Congress ranks (which it has already done), assure Mr Mukherjee that life can begin after the presidentship ends, and yield dividends for the RSS and its protege, the Bharatiya Janata Party. The RSS may have spawned the old Jan Sangh, but the roles were reversed in 2014 as they were not in 1998 when Atal Behari Vajpayee took over. Despite periodic media reports of rifts between the two, the pracharaks,swayamsevaks and sarsanghchalaks are well aware that the BJPs formidable temporal power makes all the difference. Without it they would have been bracketed with other socio-religious welfare organisations like the Bharat Sevashram Sangha and Ramakrishna Mission and dismissed with a casual namaskar and a token donation in a land teeming with all manner of self-anointed and self-serving godmen, to use that horrible Indian infliction on the English language. Therefore, any major RSS initiative must not only benefit both organisations but also enjoy the BJPs full endorsement. If Narendra Modi and Amit Shah didnt actually advise Mohan Bhagwat to invite the former President, they must be privy to the invitation. Having worked so closely with Mr Mukherjee for the last three years of his presidency, they must have a shrewd understanding of what animates him most. They may remember the nameplate on a Lutyens bungalow R. Venkataraman, Former President of India, suggesting that the trappings of Rashtrapati Bhavan were missed. P.V. Narasimha Raos comment was: As a lover of anonymity, I have never even had a visiting card! Very few politicians love anonymity.

The former President does nothing lightly. Everyone is therefore eager to interpret his acceptance. He must know that however earth-shattering his speech in Nagpur may be, what really counts is his presence there. The saffron brigade diligently proclaims that Mahatma Gandhi, B.R. Ambedkar and Jayaprakash Narayan also graced RSS events. Never do they breathe a word of what these worthies uttered. They probably didnt say anything momentous. If they did say anything of consequence, it may have passed over the heads of listeners. The RSSs singular philosophy hardly makes it a forum for intellectual discussion.

If Mr Mukherjee has nevertheless agreed, it must be for his own sake rather than the host organisations. Given his stature, political experience and erudition, going to Nagpur cant be just a propitiatory gesture like Visva-Bharatis officiating vice-chancellor Sabuj Koli Sen parroting the BJPs election slogan Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas to curry favour with Mr Modi who was in the audience. Sycophancy runs in Indias life blood. But Mr Mukherjees devotion was to Indira Gandhi, and then  possibly because she was so obsessed with her younger son  to Sanjay.

If theres anything to compete with these personal loyalties, it is his unfulfilled ambition. Its said the political future was discussed with Naveen Patnaik at a Rashtrapati Bhawan lunch last year, and Mamata Banerjee was then informed over the telephone. This is linked with another lunch in Bhubaneswar in January, ostensibly to launch a biography of Biju Patnaik. The latters sons guests included L.K. Advani, H.D. Deve Gowda and Sitaram Yechury, apart, of course, from Mr Mukherjee. A picture shows the six ageing men engrossed in the food on their plantain leaves. Its no secret that Mr Mukherjee hoped to succeed Indira Gandhi in 1984. He has himself confessed that 20 years later he expected Sonia Gandhi to nominate him. In between, he spent seven years in the political wilderness, writing at the end that India held no future outside the Congress fold for a secular, liberal democrat. Citizen Mukherjee  as he calls himself on Twitter  is unlikely to flout that analysis in the twilight of his life. But he is a determined man. As he once joked, his initials  PM  indicate his political destiny. He might achieve it yet as the non-party consensus leader of a coalition ministry of all the talents if 2019 produces a hung Lok Sabha. The law doesnt forbid an active political role to a former President. In another world, King Simeon of Bulgaria, who reigned from 1943 to 1946, was the Bulgarian republics elected Prime Minister from 2001 to 2005. The visit to Nagpur may signify Barkis is willing.
Beat Plastic Pollution, the theme for World Environment Day 2018, is a call for action and invites us all to consider how we can make changes in our everyday lives to reduce the heavy burden of plastic pollution on our cities, water bodies, forests and our own health. Studies show that plastic is produced more than any other human-made material, except cement and steel. The total plastic production in 2015 was 380 million tonnes. Out of the 8.3 billion tonnes of plastic produced so far, only around nine per cent was recycled, 12 per cent was incinerated, while the remaining 79 per cent was discarded in landfills or dumped in open spaces across the country. Every year the world uses 500 billion plastic bags. Plastic bottles are the biggest contributor in waste piling up as one million bottles are bought every minute throughout the world. 50 percent of the plastic, we use is single-use or disposable. According to the Central Pollution Control Board (2015), an average of 25,940 tonnes of plastic waste is generated every day by the Tier-I and Tier-II cities in India.

Consider the cost of disposal. Getting rid of large quantities of waste is often beyond the financial capacities of urban local bodies. There is also poor institutional capacity and low political will to address the problem. Many cities lack the facilities for safe disposal of municipal solid waste. The most common disposal practice across the country is uncontrolled dumping. Achieving the objectives of the Swachchh Bharat Abhiyan is therefore practicable only if the country works towards reducing the generation of waste by inculcating simple habits like reduce, reuse and recycle, in tandem with proper segregation and treatment practices. Organic and biodegradable waste, which constitutes 50-60 per cent of the countrys urban waste, can be converted into compost, thereby solving half of Indias waste problems. The market for compost has enormous potential in India, which is predominantly a agriculture-based country and many states moving towards organic farming.

Consider the tale of two cities from Kerala. The Thiruvananthapuram Municipal Corporation (TMC) is known for its innovation to improve its services and one of the latest examples is its new approach to dispose of its municipal solid waste. The corporation launched a campaign called Ente Nagaram, Sundara Nagaram, which means My City. Beautiful City, in 2014, after its failure over centralised solid waste management. As a result of the mass awareness campaign, Thiruvananthapuram citys residents were sensitised to treat the bio-degradable waste or kitchen waste at the source itself. At present, there is no collection of bio-degradable waste within the corporation limits. This is to encourage the public to take responsibility of the garbage they generate. The TMC supplied required number of waste disposal and treatment systems like three-layered bucket-sized kitchen bins and pipe bins free of cost or at nominal cost to its residents. The TMC also installed community biogas plants, community-owned aerobic bins, for those households who do not have the space to keep kitchen bins or fix pipe bins, in each and every ward of the city. So far more than 1.5 lakh households are processing the bio-degradable waste at source and around 50 biogas plants have been constructed. Strict penalty with fines ranging from Rs 5,000 to Rs 10,000 are levied on those who dump their waste in public.

The TMC has an agreement with Clean Kerala Co Ltd for treating the plastic and e-waste. There is a separate provision for collecting the plastic waste from households and institutions for further treatment at the rate of Rs 60 per month. Only dry and clean plastic covers, packets and other materials are collected and received at the designated counters. These are further taken to respective shredding units and handed over to Clean Kerala Co for further use. The decentralised waste management is successfully implemented in the city of Alappuzha in Kerala as well. The Alappuzha municipality took efforts to decentralise the waste management rather than continuing with the usual collect-and-dump type model in open landfills. The Alappuzha municipality earned a few national awards and the UNEP recently recognised it as one of the five top clean cities in the world. The experiments by Thiruvananthapu-ram and Alappuzha with decentralised waste management thus have inspired other municipalities to successfully replicate the same models within the state. To give the required thrust, a state policy has been developed to bring a thousand village panchayats to instal aerobic bins to process organic waste.

The Solid Waste Management Rules of 2016 and the Plastic Waste Management Rules of 2016 are a welcome move. But a greater push and clarity is needed to ensure its effective implementation. While the rules place liabilities on the producers of plastic waste to contribute to its collection and disposal, this is practically unworkable as most producers are small and informal. Likewise, the mandatory door-to-door collection of segregated waste is hardly followed in most cities. Only a coordinated effort of all stakeholders can help reduce the cost of waste management rather than thrusting the responsibility solely on the shoulders of the municipal authorities. Public consultation and participation of citizens from the very beginning coupled, with information campaigns across all sectors, is therefore vital for the successful enforcement of the rules. While India is hosting this years World Environment Day, its the right time for our cities to learn and replicate some of these successful models and contribute positively towards addressing the menace of plastic.

The writers work for CUTS International
The beta version of Neighbourly is available on the Google Play Store for all smartphones in Mumbai running Android 4.3 and higher.

Google has recently launched a new app called Neighbourly, which helps people source local information from their neighbours. The beta version of Neighbourly is available on the Google Play Store for all smartphones in Mumbai running Android 4.3 (Jelly Bean) and higher.

Neighbours have the most up-to-date, relevant and accurate information about where they live. Thats why the app makes it easy for people to ask local questions and find answers they can trust. Neighbourly lets people share their own expertise and keep up with their neighbourhood safely, the company said.

The Neighbourly app helps its users in three ways:

- Ask the neighbourhood a question. Ask a question, and it's routed to the relevant neighbourhood experts who can help. Using Google's voice recognition, you can speak your question or answer into the app, just like talking to a neighbour. It works in English and eight Indian languages.

-Share local expertise. Easily swipe left and right through the questions and give answers. The app rewards the most helpful neighbours with badges and exclusive community events.

-Keep up with the neighbourhood safely. Browse, ask and answer questions without sharing personal information. Personal details such as phone number, full name and other contact information are kept private when you use Neighbourly. And every member that joins Neighbourly makes the Neighbourly Promise to be civil and help improve the neighbourhood.

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Nokia has not disappointed when it comes to offering software updates and this time around the situation is no different. Nokia has always provided latest updates to their lineup of smartphones and ahead of their recent launch of the Nokia 2.1, Nokia 3.1 and Nokia 5.1, HMD Global market manager, Neil Broadley confirmed that the latest major version of Android will come to the entire Nokia lineup. This is a part of Nokias commitment to its mantra of pure, secure, and up-to-date.

This should come as no surprise because this isnt the first time Nokia has stated that it would update their smartphones to Android P. However, this time it also stated that their newest smartphones, Nokia 2.1, Nokia 3.1 and Nokia 5.1 would also be receiving the Android P update.

HMD Global confirmed that Android P will be available for all Nokia handsets ranging from the Nokia 1 right up to the Nokia Sirocco. While all of Nokias handsets would receive the Android P update, Nokia 1 and Nokia 2.1 will receive an Android Go edition of the Android P OS.

A few days ago, HMD Global introduces its new Nokia mid-range smartphones  the Nokia 5.1, Nokia 3.1 and Nokia 2.1. These phones are considered to be updated versions of last years trio of Nokia devices. The new trio of phones is based on Android 8.0 Oreo OS.

The Nokia 5.1 features a 5.5-inch Full HD+ display with a Gorilla Glass 3 protection. It comes loaded with a MediaTek 6755S processor coupled with 2/3GB of RAM and 16/32GB of storage. Additionally, the storage space can be bumped up to 128GB more with the use of a microSD card. The Nokia 5.1 features a 6MP camera on the rear and an 8MP selfie shooter on the front. It is comes fitted with a 3000mAh battery.

The Nokia 3.1 features a similar display technology but in a smaller screen size that is measured at 5.2-inches. This handset has a MediaTek 6750N processor and like the Nokia 5.1, it too has 2/3GB of RAM and 16/32GB of storage. The camera here is a 13MP primary camera and also features an 8MP front camera sensor. Bluetooth v5.0 is found here and the Nokia 3.1 is fuelled by a 2990mAh battery.

The Nokia 2.1 is the cheapest offering from the trio of handsets launched and HMD Global has added Android Go here. It features a 5.5-inch HD 16:9 display and is built on Qualcomms Snapdragon 425 chipset with 1GB of RAM and 8GB of internal storage. The cameras found here are an 8MP sensor at the rear and a 5MP front-facing shooter. The battery found here is 4000mAh.

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Other former US Presidents such as Barack Obama, George W. Bush and Bill Clinton have hosted the iftar dinner. (Photo: File)

Washington: United States President Donald Trump is set to host an iftar dinner at the White House next week to celebrate the holy month of Ramzan.

According to a White House official, the iftar dinner is scheduled to be held on June 13. A guest list was, however, not made available by the office, according to Politico.

Muslims around the world fast from sunrise to sunset and break their fast with an evening meal known as iftar.

This is the first time Trump will be hosting the dinner after the White House did not hold the ceremony last year, breaking a long-established tradition.

Other former US Presidents such as Barack Obama, George W. Bush and Bill Clinton have hosted the iftar dinner, as per the report.

Last month, Trump issued a statement marking the start of Ramzan as saying, "Ramadan reminds us of the richness Muslims add to the religious tapestry of American life."

Trump reportedly has an uneasy relationship with the Muslims. After he came to power as the US President last year, Trump called for a "total and complete ban" on all Muslims entering the country.

He cited them as refugees and terrorists, inviting a massive backlash from people all over the world.

Trump had even signed an executive order banning Muslims from several countries such as Iran, Iraq and Syria from entering the US.

Since May 17, Muslims around the globe are observing a rigorous month of fasting to commemorate the first revelation of the Quran to Prophet Muhammad.

Considered as the holiest month, Ramzan is also observed as a month of doing good deeds and abstaining from sinful deeds.

Eid-ul-Fitr will mark the end of Ramzan, on June 14 or June 15, depending upon the visual sightings of the crescent moon.
Responding to questions, Giuliani said that the political ramifications of Trump pardoning himself would be tough. (Photo: File/AP)

Washington: US President Donald Trump has no intention to pardon himself from any charges stemming from the probe into Russian meddling, his top personal attorney said on June 3 cautioning that such a move by the president would result in his immediate impeachment.

Rudy Giuliani, who just joined Trump's legal team in May, took shots at special counsel Robert Mueller.

"He's not, but he probably does. He has no intention of pardoning himself," Giuliani told ABC News in another Sunday interview as he made rounds of Sunday talk shows.

"That's another really interesting constitutional question: Can the president pardon himself? It would be an open question. I think it would probably get answered by, 'gosh that's what the Constitution says.' And if you want to change it, change it. But, yeah," Giuliani said in response to a question.

The former FBI Director, Mueller, is currently carrying investigations into the alleged interference of Russia in the 2016 presidential elections.

Responding to questions, Giuliani said that the political ramifications of Trump pardoning himself would be tough. "Pardoning other people is one thing, pardoning yourself is another. Other presidents have pardoned people in circumstances like this both in their administration and sometimes the next president, even of a different party will come along and pardon," he said.

Giuliani refuted reports that by pardoning individuals like Indian American Dinesh D'Souza, Trump is sending a signal to those caught up in the Russia investigation.

Also Read: Trump criticised for pardoning Indian-American who was sentenced to 5 yrs probation
The bomb exploded at the entrance to a giant tent, near residential buildings in the west of Kabul, after most of the clerics had left, a witness said. (Photo: AFP)

Kabul: A motorcycle suicide bomber killed at least eight people near a gathering of Muslim clerics in the Afghan capital after they had issued a fatwa against suicide bombings, officials said, in the latest in a series of attacks to hit Kabul.

The bomb exploded at the entrance to a giant tent, near residential buildings in the west of Kabul, after most of the clerics had left, a witness said. Women living nearby were crying as they gathered with their families.

People were wounded, people were shouting, a witness told Reuters.

No group immediately claimed responsibility for the attack, which underlines deteriorating security ahead of parliamentary and district council elections set for Oct. 20.

The Taliban, fighting to restore strict Islamic rule after their 2001 ouster at the hands of U.S.-led troops, denied involvement.

More than 2,000 religious scholars from across the country began meeting on Sunday at the Loya Jirga (Grand Council) tent, denouncing years of conflict. They issued a fatwa, or religious ruling, outlawing suicide bombings and demanding that Taliban militants restore peace to allow foreign troops to leave.

A series of bombings in Kabul has killed dozens of people in recent months and shown no sign of easing during the Muslim holy month of Ramadan.

On Wednesday, gunmen armed with assault rifles and grenade launchers stormed the heavily fortified headquarters of the interior ministry, battling security forces for more than two hours.

In April, two explosions in Kabul killed at least 26 people, including nine journalists who had arrived to report on an initial blast and were targeted by a suicide bomber.

A week earlier, 60 people were killed and more than 100 wounded when a suicide bomber blew himself up outside a voter registration centre in the city.

Militant group Islamic State has claimed responsibility for many attacks in Kabul but security officials say several are much more likely to be the work of the Haqqani network, a group affiliated with the Taliban.

Provincial cities have also been hit as the Taliban have stepped up operations across the country since they announced the beginning of their annual spring offensive in April.
Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav today took a jibe at Prime Minister Narendra Modi over his Indonesia and Malaysia visits during the month of Ramzan asking whether the tour was aimed at "international appeasement" of the minority community, a comment promptly trashed by the BJP.

Speaking to PTI, Yadav also claimed that people of not just Uttar Pradesh but the entire country were upset with the BJP which apart from making promises had done "nothing else".

"Bhookhe pet na hot Bhajan Gopala (Even prayers to the Lord can't be sung on an empty stomach)," the former chief minister said taking another dig on the saffron party to press home his point that issues of hunger were often more important to people than even religious matters.

Yadav said the people had realised that the BJP does not mean business. "The BJP should learn to face defeats or else they will not be able to digest the outcome of the 2019 Lok Sabha elections in which the opposition will stage a comeback," he claimed.

Attacking the BJP, which has often accused SP of playing politics of minority appeasement, the Samajwadi Party chief said, "Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath says he does not celebrate Eid as he is a Hindu. The BJP charges us with practising Muslim appeasement. Modi has just visited Indonesia and Malaysia during the month of Ramzan. Is it an attempt towards international appeasement of the Muslims?"

However, the former chief minister's jibe soon attracted a sharp retort from the BJP.

"A person who could not save his government in the state cannot understand international policies and politics," BJP spokesperson Shalabh Mani Tripathi said.

It is because of Prime Minister Modi that our country is being recognised as a 'Vishwa guru' (world leader), Tripathi added.

"While a temple is (being) constructed in Dubai, Pakistan is being side-lined at the international level, because of our PM," the BJP spokesperson said.

Tripathi advised the SP chief to "widen his thoughts" for a better understanding of international politics.

"He should shun his narrow thoughts...rather he should widen his thoughts so that he understands international politics better," he said.

The image of our country has got a boost in the Modi regime and Yadav cannot dub it as 'Muslim appeasement', the BJP spokesperson remarked.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi was for the first time on an official visit to Indonesia - the world's most populous Muslim-majority nation - last month.

Modi also visited Indonesia's grand Istiqlal Mosque, the largest in southeast Asia, with President Joko Widodo.

Indonesia is not only the world's most populous Muslim country, followed by India but the third largest democracy. Hindus comprise two percent of Indonesia's population and form close to a 90 percent majority on the island of Bali.
Taylor Dahl, a recent Brigham Young University advertising graduate, had never been very interested in family history.

But shortly after he returned from his two-year mission for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Birmingham, England, in December 2014, something led him to ask his father for old family pictures.

He found a box of thousands of old slides with pictures from his grandfathers life, some of which hadnt been seen in 50 years. His grandfather, Paul Eugene Dahl, died while Taylor Dahl was on his mission.

I was just fascinated from the beginning, Dahl said about the pictures. Theyre just so beautiful, especially the fact that I didnt know my grandfather was even into photography.

Dahl, a photographer himself, said he was absolutely enthralled with the old photographs. He was so enthralled that, after a few years of preparation, he traveled around Europe recreating 59 of his grandfathers photos, standing exactly where his grandfather stood in 1950.

A labor of love

Shortly after finding the photos, Dahl asked his parents permission to take the slides with him to BYU, where he undertook the project of scanning each photo individually at BYUs Family History Library. It took him a year of slowly scanning the photos to finish the process.

When Dahl was scanning the photos, the thought first occurred to him to recreate the photos. He was especially intrigued by 59 of them, which his grandfather took while traveling around Europe in 1950 after completing his mission in Finland.

However, Dahl said it just seemed like an unrealistic pipe dream at the time.

The thought kept coming back to me, Dahl said. I was like, Thats just crazy. Im not going to make a trip to Europe just to do that, as awesome as it would be.

About a year later, however, BYUs advertising program announced a study abroad trip to Europe. Dahl, an advertising student at the time, realized many of the cities he was going to visit for the trip were cities where his grandfather had taken photos.

Once I realized I was gonna go to Europe, I was like, Im gonna retake as many of these as I can, Dahl said.

After Dahl committed to the study abroad program and knew he would get the chance to recreate the photos, he began the most painstaking part of the process: using Google Street View to find the exact location of each photo, all the way down to identifying the exact coordinates to capture the right angle.

That was actually really fun, Dahl said. I kind of felt like a detective in a way, using Google Street view to find these places.

According to Dahl, it would sometimes take hours of research to find the location for a single photo, but it was rewarding to finally find one of the locations. He compared it to the joy that people feel when theyre doing family history and finally find a name theyve been researching.

Recreating the photos

With his preparation completed, Dahl finally recreated the pictures in the summer of 2017. After the study abroad trip ended, he stayed in Europe an additional two weeks so he could recreate more photos. He backpacked from Amsterdam to Rome and ultimately recreated photos in eight countries.

For the sake of authenticity, Dahl purchased the exact model camera his grandfather had used, an Argus C3. He found the name of the camera while reading in one of his grandfathers mission journals.

It was more fun that way, doing it with the same camera in the same places trying to retake the exact photo, Dahl said. Its just fun.

Dahl said the camera was around 70 years old, so he wasnt sure the photos would turn out well. Just in case, he took backups with his phone.

I shoot on film as well, but a lot of the cameras I use are a lot more sophisticated and modern. This thing is ancient, Dahl said. But a lot of the photos turned out really great, and I was really pleasantly surprised.

Sometimes it was impossible to take photos in the exact spot where his grandfather stood, simply because the world had changed in the 67 years between the photos. However, in many instances, Dahl knew he was right where his grandpa had been.

Hes one of those people that I really look up to and respect and admire and love and want to follow his footsteps, Dahl said. In a way, symbolically, I was following in his footsteps right then in this way.

Lessons learned

Despite being one of many grandchildren, Dahl said he always had a great relationship with his grandfather. His grandfather lived in California, while Dahl lived in Gilbert, Arizona, but they would see each other several times a year.

I always really respected him. Hes just a really great man, and I couldnt say enough good things about him, Dahl said. He was a great father to my father, and, in turn, my dad was a great father to me. I just have a lot of respect for him and the life that he lived.

However, his relationship with his grandfather changed in many ways after his project. In addition to scanning thousands of photos and recreating 59 of them, Dahl also read many of his grandfathers journals.

It was a really cool, deeper insight, because I only knew my grandfather as an older man, Dahl said. It was cool to see him how he was when he was around my age, and see how he thought and how he saw the world.

Dahl also enjoyed reading about his grandfathers mistakes and how he overcame them. He was only familiar with his grandfather as a righteous patriarch who worked for the LDS Church his entire adult life as an institute director.

Just to hear that he was human and just like me was very humanizing, Dahl said. Even though I knew him, it was a whole new facet that I discovered through the process.

Besides everything Dahl learned about his grandfather throughout his Grandpas Photos project, it changed the way he viewed family history. According to Dahl, he always thought family history was limited to indexing and searching for names, activities that werent as appealing to him as a creative person.

Prior to this, I really hadnt done any family history work, but this is a way I was able to really be passionate about something and cultivate that relationship beyond the grave, Dahl said. Even though I didnt do any saving ordinances for him, its a way of honoring him.

Dahl said this project was just the beginning of his involvement with family history work. He plans on recreating photos until hes recreated all of them. Then, he said, hell try to find pictures of his other grandparents.

Not everyones going to find a box of thousands of slides, but I think there are other ways that people can connect with their ancestors and their loved ones, even if it isnt through pictures, Dahl said. A lot of people just view family history as saving ordinances, which at the end of the day is probably the most important part, but I think really its so we can grow closer to our family tree. For me, this is just a very real way that I can do that.

The 60th photo

Dahl traveled to eight European countries and five capital cities to recreate his grandfathers photos. However, his favorite photo of the project  the 60th and final photo  was taken in Provo, on the lawn outside BYU's Eyring Science Center.

The photo and its recreation show both Taylor Dahl and Paul Eugene Dahl, his grandfather, on BYU graduation day. Its the only photo in the project that includes photos of themselves rather than places they visited.

I think thats the one picture that connects me to him in the project, Dahl said. My grandpa hardly took any pictures of himself, and I kind of do the same thing, but I think thats the connection at the end of the all.

Dahl intends to publish a book of all the photos, even if its just for his family members to enjoy. He said the final page will be their graduation pictures, side by side (in which you can hardly tell the two apart).

Thats what the project is all about, Dahl said. A way that I could connect with my grandpa.
Following the end of World War II, misfortune separated Korea at the 38th parallel. Soviet Russia occupied the north, and the United States occupied the south. In 1948, a United Nations commission supervised elections in South Korea; Kim Il Sung became prime minister of the Communist Party in North Korea, and Soviet troops left North Korea by the end of 1948. United States troops left South Korea by mid-1949.

One year after American troops left South Korea, North Korea invaded South Korea. United States forces assisted South Korea in their defense, along with other countries of the United Nations. The armistice left North Korea still the aggressor.

This should be stressed in "talks" that are anticipated. I am personally grateful for my 1952-53 military experience in Korea. The time I experienced in Korea and the Korean friends I have made at home have brought love and respect for these people. I hope for a positive end to the "armistice" and bring peace in Korea.

Permit families divided between north and south to reunite. Help North Korean people experience life as it can be, as it should be. Let's overcome the sinful decision of 1945 to divide Korea, that Korea may again be a "Land of the morning calm."

Rulon Teerlink

Millcreek
EDEN, Weber County  A woman had to swim to safety after she crashed into Pineview Reservoir on Saturday.

Weber County deputies were called to the reservoir at roughly 3:45 p.m. after multiple witnesses saw the vehicle crash into the water, Weber County Sheriff's Sgt. Nealy Adams reported.

The driver, who was in her early 20s, was traveling south on Highway 158 when she veered off the road, overcorrected and lost control. The vehicle launched over the pullout area and landed in the reservoir, Adams said.

The woman was able to take off her seat belt and swim to safety, the sergeant said. She was taken to a local hospital by friends and family for minor scrapes and bruises.

On Sunday, a local tow company pulled the vehicle out of the water.

Adams said police did not suspect drugs or alcohol to be a contributing factor; they only investigated the crash for a lane travel violation.

 Katie McKellar
SALT LAKE CITY  Sporting all things rainbow, event organizers said a record-breaking number gathered in downtown Salt Lake City Sunday to celebrate the yearly Utah Pride Parade.

Utah Pride Festival estimated that 100,000 people turned out for the parade, which kicked off the final day of the 43rd annual event, a four-day celebration of the state's LGBT community.

More than four decades after its small beginning in 1974, the 2018 festival boasted about 180 parade entries that marched for more than two hours along 200 South.

"It was the biggest Pride fest for sure," said Wyatt Seipp, the festival's communication director, adding that roughly 50,000 paid to enter the festival's grounds.

"It's a fantastic thing for us to all come together and be ourselves," Seipp said.

While the LGBT community has seen progress over recent years  including the legalization of gay marriage  Seipp said the community still has to "fight for rights in the workplace" and to overcome other social issues.

"This is a party  but it's a party with a purpose," Seipp said, noting that all proceeds benefit the Utah Pride Center, which provides resources to the LGBT community, including suicide prevention and other mental health services.

Nicole Muir and her fiancee, Nicole Arnold, said they traveled from Park City to join the festivities.

"Here in Utah, it can be kind of rough for us," Arnold said. "It's really nice to just be yourself and be around those who are alike. Everyone's so supportive; it's a great community to be a part of."

Parade participants included Salt Lake City Mayor Jackie Biskupski, Salt Lake police officers and firefighters, and other local organizations such as Downtown Alliance, Equality Utah, University of Utah, and the Humane Society of Utah. Small and big local businesses also joined, along with major corporations such as Delta Airlines, American Airlines, U.S. Bank, Discover Card and eBay.

Political candidates also joined the festivities, including Salt Lake County Mayor Ben McAdams, who stood atop his orange bus and waved as it rolled down 200 South. Others included Salt Lake County District Attorney Sim Gill, Salt Lake County Sheriff Rosie Rivera, and Salt Lake City Councilman Derek Kitchen, who is running for a seat in the Utah Senate.

Elliott Cummings and Trinity Kangas, both 14, came from West Jordan to see the parade. They cheered and waved rainbow flags as they watched entries march by.

"I just want to be myself and express myself," said Cummings, who identifies as transgender/non-binary. "We just come here to be ourselves."

Kangas, wearing rainbow shoelaces, said she came to "celebrate everybody, even the people who hate us."

"People are starting to realize you should just be you, and not care about what other people think," Kangas said. "It's about self-love and acceptance."

Amid the crowd of thousands lining 200 South, a group of about a dozen protesters stood in a barricaded space at one street corner along the parade route, holding large signs condemning the LGBT community and proclaiming homosexuality a sin.

One protester shouted at passersby, calling them "disgusting." For the most part, onlookers ignored the protesters or laughed as they walked by, while others stopped to shout back or take selfies with the protesters as a backdrop.

At one point, a parade participant sprayed the protesters with silly string. Others yelled, "We love you" as they marched by, blew kisses, or waved signs with messages of unity and tolerance, including, "Be accepting, be accepted."

A handful of Salt Lake police officers stood watch nearby. They occasionally stepped in when arguments became heated, but the event was peaceful. No arrests or violent incidents were reported, according to the department.

Scott Hennesy, of South Jordan, stood directly behind the protesters and waved a giant, rainbow flag.

"We're all equal," Hennesy said. "We just want everybody to support each other, to love each other. You can have religious differences, but to preach hate just does not cut it."

Contributing: Jared Page
WEST JORDAN  A Bluffdale man who kidnapped a woman and nearly beat her to death in a car has been sent to prison.

Timothy James Peterson, 35, was ordered to serve at least 15 years and up to life on Thursday. A jury convicted him of aggravated kidnapping, a first-degree felony, in February.

In September 2017, a Bluffdale police officer on patrol in Wardle Fields Regional Park found Peterson assaulting the woman in a car. She told officers he hit her in the head and face and choked her over the course of six hours as he drove her around Salt Lake County, holding her neck so she couldn't escape. Doctors believed she was lucky to be alive, police said.

On Thursday, 3rd District Judge Katie Bernards-Goodman also ordered Peterson to serve lesser prison terms on other convictions in the same case. He was sentenced to at least one and up to 15 years for aggravated assault, a second-degree felony; and up to one year for failing to stop at the command of a law enforcer, a class A misdemeanor. The judge allowed those sentences to run at the same time as the longer kidnapping term.

Jurors in February acquitted Peterson of a charge mayhem, a second-degree felony.

In 2014, Peterson was shot by a West Jordan police officer and was later acquitted of assaulting the officer in the moments before the gunfire. Prosecutors chose not to criminally charge the officer.
SALT LAKE CITY  The U.S Attorney's Office in Utah will get six new prosecutors as part of a Trump administration effort to fight violent crime, illegal immigration and the opioid crisis.

Three of new assistant U.S. attorneys will target violent crime cases, two will focus on immigration crimes and one will handle civil enforcement cases, said U.S. Attorney John Huber.

We will put these positions to good use as we continue our commitment to reducing violent crime in Utah neighborhoods," he said in a statement.

The Department of Justice announced Monday that it is allocating 311 positions nationwide  190 violent crime prosecutors, 86 civil attorneys and 35 immigration prosecutors.

Many of the civil enforcement attorneys will work with the newly created Prescription Interdiction and Litigation Task Force, which targets the opioid crisis on multiple levels, according to the Justice Department.

Attorney General Jeff Sessions said the new assistant U.S. attorney positions represents the largest increase in decades.
SALT LAKE CITY  Choosing a career can be a tough decision. For Kirsti Rinne, the choice was simple: Her job chose her.

"Initially I became a nurse practitioner, but I was really interested in global health," she said, sitting in an exam room at University Hospital.

Her path became clear, she said, when she was only 16, living in Beijing with her father, who was working as a consultant.

"We lived in an apartment right next to a shantytown," said Rinne. "We would go to the market through the shantytown, and I think it was just one of those ages where so much of what you want to be is shaped."

After becoming a nurse practitioner, she applied to Doctors Without Borders, but was told what they really needed was midwives. Instead of giving up and following a more traditional path, Rinne went back to school. In 2015, she landed in Ethiopia, ready to deploy her skills as a midwife.

"There's no electricity, there's no running water, there's no cellphone access, there's no internet access," she said. "So it was unlike anywhere I'd been. My first day off in Ethiopia, it was a Sunday, and I was sitting down and writing about my experience and how happy I was to be there, and just blown away by what a different world it is there."

She spent six months on the ground in Ethiopia. And this year, she went to Africa again: this time to South Sudan.

"It was very, very different," Rinne said. "South Sudan is one of the newest countries in the world, and it has been in a protracted war for years. It was a war zone. So I heard gunfire every day. We oftentimes had people coming in who were victims of violence. On top of that, because people are always on the move, there's no resources."

Although Rinne says security was tight and she felt safe, theirs was the only health care facility in the entire region  meaning the work was nonstop.

"I had patients walk one or two days to come and  get care," she said.

She was also the only person trained to handle pregnancies  meaning she was on call 24 hours a day, and delivered an unbelievable 150 babies in three short months.

"So crazy," Rinne said. "I mean, it was busy. It was hard. There were lots of nights where I had to ask myself, 'Why am I doing this?' And it was to be part of something bigger."

With all the people she helped  all the mothers, all the babies, all the victims of sexual violence  Rinne says she gained just as much as she gave.

"You take every superfluous thing away," she said. "I wore the same thing, I ate the same thing, I did the same thing every single day, and you learn about what's really important to you.

"What matters is people, what matters is relationships, what matters is experiences. Everything else is just extra."
SALT LAKE CITY  The LDS Church released a brief response Monday to the U.S. Supreme Court ruling that the state of Colorado failed to respect the religious rights of a baker who said his Christian faith prevented him for providing a cake for a same-sex wedding.

"The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints welcomes todays Supreme Court decision," church spokesman Eric Hawkins said. "The nations laws can protect both religious liberty and the rights of LGBT citizens. That is the meaning of fairness for all."

In January 2015, LDS leaders announced a "fairness for all" approach to balancing religious and lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender rights. They said the church supports nondiscrimination legislation protecting gays against inequity in employment, housing and places of public accommodation like restaurants and hotels if ordinances and laws include language protecting religious liberty and specifying how to apply the First Amendment guarantees to the free exercise of religion in each case.

Last fall, the LDS Church filed a joint friend-of-the-court brief with seven other churches or organizations in the case of Masterpiece Cakeshop v. Colorado Civil Rights Commission. The brief argued that the Supreme Court, after protecting the right of same-sex couples to marry in 2015, "must hold that religious dissenters from same-sex marriage have the same liberty to live consistently with their identity."

The brief appealed for protection for conscientious objectors and same-sex couples.

"The classic American response to deep conflicts like that between gay rights and traditional religious faith is to protect the liberty of both sides," the brief stated. "The very arguments that underlie protection of same-sex marriage also support strong protection for religious liberty. Religious believers and same-sex couples each argue that a fundamental component of their identity, and the conduct that flows from that identity, should be left to each individual, free of all nonessential regulation."

The brief noted the LDS Church's support and participation in legislation passed by the Utah Legislature in 2015 securing rights for LGBT residents while protecting religious freedom.

"When religious and LGBT interests conflict, the church advocates civility, protection of core rights for all, and reasonable compromise, with the goal being pluralism rather than domination by either side," the brief stated in its explanation of the LDS position. "The church joins this brief out of a conviction that this court must rigorously protect basic First Amendment rights to free speech and the free exercise of religion to safeguard the conditions that make such pluralism possible."
Brian De Palma To Write A Horror Film On Harvey Weinstein Scandal

'Carrie' director Brian De Palma is known for making horror movies. The veteran has recently said that he is currently writing the script for a film based on the Harvey Weinstein sexual abuse and harassment scandal. The 77-year-old director, who became a force to reckon with after "Carrie" released in 1976, is set to return to the genre after a hiatus of over 40 years.





De Palma told French publication, Le Parisien, "I'm writing a film about this scandal, a project I'm talking about with a French producer. He added, "My character won't be named Harvey Weinstein but it will be a horror film, with a sexual aggressor, and it will take place in the film industry.





De Palma has not mentioned anything about completing the script. Moreover, the director also has films such as Scarface, Dressed to Kill, The Untouchables and the original Mission: Impossible to his credit. He has recently wrapped up crime thriller Domino, starring Nikolaj Coster-Waldau, Carice van Houten and Guy Pearce and said working on the film was "a horrible experience" and that the film might not release.





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Source: cdn1.thr.com




Khloe Kardishian, Jenners Did Not Attend Brody Jenners Wedding

Brody Jenner, the 34-year-old reality star tied the knot with his longtime love, Kaitlynn Carter, at the Nihi Sumba resort in Bali, Indonesia on Saturday. The thing which surprised everyone was the absence of his half-sisters Kim, Kourtney and Khloe Kardashian. The sisters were nowhere to be seen during the wedding.





As per the reports, even the Jenner sisters were not in attendance. My two little sisters, we never even heard from them. They never even RSVPd I dont think, said the former Hills star. We sent them an invite but we just never heard anything back. Well, theyll be missed. I would have loved to have them there, he added.





Notably, Caitlyn Jenner seemed busy somewhere else. She was in Austria with friend Sofia Hutchins attending the LIFE+ Solidarity Gala instead. Moreover, the couple posted several fun photos and videos from Indonesia in the lead up to their special day.





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Source: www.lehren.com




All You Need To Know About Arbaaz Khan's IPL Betting Scandal

Bollywood actor, producer, and director Arbaaz Khan was summoned by Thane Police yesterday in relation to a betting scandal. The actor was part of a betting ring led by bookie Sonu Jalan aka Sonu Batla who had operations running in India and abroad. Arbaaz confessed to having placed bets on IPL matches. Here's everything you need to know about Arbaaz Khan's betting scandal:

Arbaaz's Involvement: He earlier today confessed to the Police that he had been placing bets on IPL matches for the past 6 years. The actor placed his bets through bookie Sonu Jalan and was brought face to face with him today. The police had issued a summon to Arbaaz to appear before them and record his statement yesterday.

The money: Arbaaz Khan confessed that he lost 2.8 Crore Rupees to Sonu Jalan by placing bets on IPL matches and he wasn't paying Jalan back. The bookie had threatened the actor as confirmed during his interrogation by the police.

Who is Sonu Jalan?

Sonu Jalan is a bookie who also goes by the name of Sonu Batla and operates numerous betting rings in India and abroad. Their ring places bets on IPL as well as international matches. He is said to be connected to Underworld don Dawood Ibrahim.

How The Police nabbed Sonu Jalan?

Jalan was visiting a person (who was called for questioning) at the Kalyan Court and when the police became aware of Jalan's presence, they arrested him. The police then laid a trap for all the other persons involved in this betting ring and this is when Arbaaz's name cropped up.

Who are all involved?

The anti-extortion cell of the Police arrested Gautam Sawla, Khushal Rama Bhiya, Bittu Joshi, Nikhil and Nitish Punjani in connection to the betting ring. A diary has also been recovered by the police which contains notes by Jalan and is full of his contacts many of whom are prominent personalities and big names in Bollywood.
Paycode has rolled out a secure biometric solution in Zambia in partnership with Ingenico Group.

The program has enabled the distribution of $22 million in subsidies across rural Zambia within 3 months.

Since 7 November 2017, the program has allowed registered farmers to access a government-funded program, the FISP subsidy, in which farmers make a co-payment of ZMK 400 (US$40) and the Ministry of Agriculture provides an additional ZMK 1600 (US$160).

During enrolment, a program agent captures the farmers fingerprints and associates them with their ID for authentication. Subsequently, farmers are issued with an FISP (Farmer Input Support Program) electronic wallet to be used at participating approved agro-dealers equipped with Ingenico Group biometric smart terminals. During the transaction, they can use their fingerprint for authentication. The previously unbanked users can now access agricultural material subsidies in 30 Zambian districts.



In a pioneering move for areas that are lacking widespread financial infrastructure, the Zambian government has been able to successfully bring banking and additional funding to farmers in rural regions. Ingenico Group was chosen as a provider of biometric smart terminals because of its strong experience and expertise, the robustness of its solution as well as its world-class biometric technology.



Ingenico Group, jointly with its long-term partner Paycode, worked closely with the Ministry of Agriculture to design and launch this solution. Gabe Ruhan, Director of Paycode Zambia, commented: We are proud to have served the Ministry of Agriculture by providing world-class technology that works in the remotest environments. We look forward to expanding our solution so every Zambian can have their money at their fingertips.



Francois Voyron, Middle East and Africa Managing Director at Ingenico Group, commented: This solution demonstrates our ability to support governments in deploying innovative subsidy programs rapidly, successfully and in remote regions. As a matter of fact within 3 months, 91% of eligible farmers have already purchased materials using the new solution.
Cartoon characters should not be used to promote unhealthy food such as sugary breakfast cereals, a group of MPs have said.

Removing fictional characters such as Tony the Tiger (Frosties) and the Milky Bar Kid is one of the suggestions the House of Commons Health Select Committee has recommended to help combat rising rates of childhood obesity.

The committees recommendation to ban brand-generated characters or licensed TV and film characters follows a report which revealed more than 20,000 children in the UK are severely obese when they leave primary school.

While the government ups its efforts to tackle obesity rates, more and more people are reducing their risk of prediabetes and type 2 diabetes by cutting out sugar, restricting highly processed food intake and eating real food. Research shows that sugar, in particular, is significantly linked with diabetes and heart disease, among other complications.

Our Low Carb Program has helped thousands of people put type 2 diabetes into remissio, helping them come off diabetes medication, whilst also enjoying an array of delicious, healthy foods and recipes.

The Health Select Committees other recommendations include restrictions on junk food price promotions, for supermarkets to be forced to remove sugary, unhealthy snacks from checkout areas, and for social media firms like Facebook to reduce childrens exposure to junk food advertising.

Chief among the recommendations, which has been backed by campaigners such as TV chef Jamie Oliver and Action on Sugar, is for a ban on junk food adverts before the 9pm TV watershed.

Dr Sarah Wollasto, Conservative MP and chairwoman of the committee, said: Children are becoming obese at an earlier age and staying obese for longer. The consequences for these children are appalling and this can no longer be ignored.

The Department of Health launched its sugar tax earlier this year, and has reiterated its commitment to delivering on a childhood obesity strategy which they say is the most ambitious in the world.

A spokesman added: We are in the process of working up an updated plan, and will be in a position to say more shortly.
A team of specialist surgeons have developed a surgical approach which reduces major leg amputation rates by around 23%.

Staff from the Manchester Royal Infirmary aimed to address the increasing rates of the two leading diabetes complications: arterial disease and limb amputation.

Three years ago a team of podiatric and vascular surgeons formed the Lower Limb Preservation Team and have significantly changed health outcomes for patients.

A recent study has unveiled how successful the revolutionary team has bee, with the findings having been published in the Diabetic Foot Journal.

Professor Paul Chadwick, clinical director at the College of Podiatry and co-author of the paper said: We are now seeing a situation where the number amputations resulting from diabetic and non-diabetic foot ulcers is about the same.

The close collaboration between podiatric surgeons and vascular surgeons has, to a large extent, been responsible for a reduction in the major amputation rate of about 23 per cent in Manchester over three years.

Foot care is especially important in people with diabetes because poor blood sugar control can increase the risk of problems such as foot ulcers or nerve damage. That is why annual foot screenings are recommended for those with the condition.

Arterial disease, meanwhile, is another common diabetes complication that happens when blood vessels in the legs become blocked or narrowed.

Prof Chadwick added: An increasing number of specialist foot procedures have to be performed on patients with a compromised vascular supply to the foot or leg, so having both kinds of surgeons making the clinical decisions together gives the patient best chance of a good outcome.

Furthermore, podiatric surgery is now providing important training for the next generation of vascular surgeons, arming them with new reconstructive techniques that they too can pass on.
A new report in a US-based national daily has claimed that Facebook, which is already mired in data-sharing controversy with British political consulting firm Cambridge Analytica, had struck a deal with at least 60 device-makers which allowed them to access the personal information of the platforms users. The social media giant has defended the contracts.

The New York Times quoted Facebook officials as saying that the company reached data-sharing partnerships with Apple, Amazon, BlackBerry, Microsoft, Samsung, among others, over the last decade, before the Facebook app were widely available on smartphones.

The report also claims that the deals allowed Facebook to expand its reach and let device makers offer customers popular features of the social network, such as messaging, like buttons and address books". Although Facebook started winding up the deals in April, several of these are still in effect.

The report also mentions that with these deals, Facebook could have breached 2011 consent agreement to safeguard users personal information and might face hefty fines.

However, Facebook officials have defended the partnerships by saying that the contracts were strictly limited use of the data and they knew no cases where the data had been misused.

These partnerships work very differently from the way in which app developers use our platform, the national daily quoted Ime Archibong, a Facebook Vice President, as saying. Archibong said that unlike developers that provide games and services to Facebook users, the device partners can use Facebook data only to provide versions of the Facebook experience.

The revelation comes after Facebook got embroiled in a scandal wherein Cambridge Analytica was found to be improperly gathering detailed Facebook information of more than 87 million users.

Company CEO Mark Zuckerberg appeared before the US Congress and in a written testimony, apologised for the mistake. He told the US Congress that he was "responsible for" not preventing the social media platform from being used for harm, including fake news, foreign interference in elections and hate speech.

"We didn't take a broad enough view of our responsibility and that was a big mistake," Zuckerberg was quoted as saying in a prepared testimony released by the US House Energy and Commerce Committee. "It was my mistake, and I'm sorry. I started Facebook, I run it and I'm responsible for what happens here," he said in the remarks.

Recently, Zuckerberg apologised for the data breach in front of leaders from the European Parliament. Zuckerberg stressed that the social networking giant is trying to plug loopholes across its services, including curbing fake news and political interference on its platform in the wake of upcoming elections globally, including in India.

"Whether it's fake news, foreign interference in elections or developers misusing people's information, we didn't take a broad enough view of our responsibilities. That was a mistake, and I'm sorry," Zuckerberg said while testifying during a round-table with EU regulators in the Belgian capital.

Out of about 2.2 billion users, Facebook has 400 million users in Europe and the EU is ready to implement the more stringent General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) to safeguard people's privacy from May 25. "We're going even further to comply with strong new rules. In addition to GDPR, we're also working to give people important new controls," Zuckerberg said as he was grilled by the EU leaders.

Facebook would hire 20,000 people to work on safety and security by the end of the year, the Facebook CEO told them, adding that the company plans to employ 10,000 people across 12 European cities by the end of 2018.

"There are 18 million small businesses in Europe that use Facebook today, mostly for free," he said, adding that he is committed to Europe. "Ireland is home to our European Headquarters. London is home to our biggest engineering team outside the US and Paris is home to our Artificial Intelligence (AI) research lab. We have data centres in Sweden, Ireland and Denmark," he told the EU leaders.

Zuckerberg said that in the wake of data scandal, Facebook has audited thousands of apps and has suspended more than 200 apps from its platform.
Ahead of its annual 2018 Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC) in San Jose, California, a leak by a developer has showed that Apple may launch a dark mode in macOS 10.14 and a new News app. The event, which will take place from June 4 through June 8, might see the launch of several updates to iOS, macOS, tvOS and watchOS.

The present macOS has a dark mode but it only reflects in the dock and menu bar.

According to a report by MacRumours, developer Steven Troughton-Smith discovered a 30-second video on Apples servers that reported to have showed Xcode 10 running on macOS 10. The developer said that he found the video within an API on the backend of the Mac App Store. The video showed that the Trash icon in the dock is darker which suggests a system-wide dark mode, including in apps. The video also showed an Apple News icon in the dock.

Ladies and gentlemen, I give you Xcode 10 on macOS 10.14. Dark Appearance, Apple News, App Store w/ video previews pic.twitter.com/rJlDy81W4W  Steve Troughton-Smith (@stroughtonsmith) June 2, 2018

Interestingly, the desktop background is a picture of Mojave Desert in California during the night. This might mean that the name of the next version of macOS could be Mojave.

Taiwan-based market research firm KGI recently reported that Apples new line of MacBooks is likely to show better year-over-year (YoY) growth in unit sales, between 13-16 per cent in 2018, which will be better than both iPads and iPhones. KGI analyst Ming-Chi Kuo said that he was positive on the outlook for Apple MacBook. He also reiterated his prediction of a new more-affordable MacBook Air in the pipeline for release this year.

Apple was earlier reported to launch the successor to the iPhone SE at WWDC this year, but it looks like the phone might not appear at the event afterall. Bloomberg recently reported that "people familiar with the plans" said that Apple will not announce any new hardware at all this time at WWDC. Instead, the California-based multinational tech giant will focus on software improvements. Also, according to a report on a Chinese website, Apple is set to launch an upgraded iPhone SE later this year. Chinese website QQ states the upcoming could be powered by the Apple 10 chipset coupled with 2GB RAM and could be available in 32GB and 128GB storage variants.

The website also claims that the phone could retain TouchID, which makes sense if Apple wants to keep the phone priced below $500. What seems unlikely however is the websites claim that the iPhone SE 2 will have a 4.2-inch display instead of a 4-inch one. If indeed Apple has to fit a newer screen, it has to overhaul the current manufacturing process and design a new one. In fact, Kuo had said the refreshed iPhone SE will retain the size and dimensions of its predecessor, so it it unlikely that the new iPhone SE will receive a screen size refresh. According to the analyst, the iPhone SE wont even have wireless charging and FaceID.
Bayer to phase out Monsanto brand name post closing of deal on 7 June

German agro-chemicals giant Bayer AG plans to complete the acquisition of Monsanto on 7 June, becoming its sole shareholder in a blockbuster $66-billion deal.

Accordingly, Bayer will remain the name of the merged entity, with Monsanto's name fading away. The acquired products will retain their brand names and become part of the Bayer portfolio.

See: Monsanto shareholders approve $66-bn acquisition by Bayer) Bayer and Monsanto had in September 2016, announced the signing of a definitive agreement under which Bayer would acquire Monsanto for $128 per share in an all-cash transaction. (

The combined business will benefit from Monsantos leadership in seeds and traits and Climate Corporation platform along with Bayers broad crop protection product line across a comprehensive range of indications and crops in all key geographies.

Together, the combined companies will have leading innovation capabilities and R&D technology platforms, with an annual pro-forma R&D budget of approximately 2.5 billion.

The acquisition of Monsanto is a strategic milestone in strengthening our portfolio of leading businesses in health and nutrition," said Werner Baumann, chairman of the board of management of Bayer AG.

"We will double the size of our agriculture business and create a leading innovation engine in agriculture, positioning us to better serve our customers and unlock the long-term growth potential in the sector.

Bayer announced its intention to acquire Monsanto in May 2016 and signed an agreement with the US company for $128-per share in September 2016. Currently that corresponds to a total cost of approximately $63 billion taking into account Monsantos debt outstanding as of 28 February 2018.

In order to allay regulatory concerns, Bayer agreed to the divestiture of certain businesses, which generated 2.2 billion in sales in 2017 for an aggregate base purchase price of 7.6 billion.

Including Monsanto and taking the divestitures into account, the health and agriculture businesses would have been roughly equal in size in 2017, with total pro forma sales of around 45 billion including combined Crop Science sales of around 20 billion.

In 2017, both companies together employed approximately 115,000 people, accounting for the divestments.

The acquisition is anticipated to generate significant value. Bayer expects a positive contribution to core earnings per share starting in 2019. From 2021 onward, that contribution is expected to be double-digit percentage.

Moreover, adjusted for divestments, Bayer expects synergies to deliver annual contributions of $1.2 billion to EBITDA before special items as of 2022.

In order to acquire Monsanto, Bayer secured initial bridge financing of $57 billion US dollars, and refinanced by a combination of equity and debt, some of which have already been completed. The final equity measure will be a rights issue.

According to the conditional approval from the United States Department of Justice, the integration of Monsanto into Bayer can take place as soon as the divestments to BASF have been completed.

This is expected to be in approximately two months. We have diligently prepared for the upcoming integration over the past two years. Our extensive experience in integrating other large companies has proven that we can and will be successful, said Baumann.

Innovation is vital to produce more healthy, safe and affordable food for a growing population in a more sustainable manner. The combination of the two businesses will allow us to deliver more innovation faster and provide solutions tailored to the needs of farmers around the world, said Liam Condon, Bayer Board Member and President of the Crop Science Division. Going forward, our teams in the labs and in the field will be able to take a much more holistic approach to innovation as we address the enormous challenges we face in agriculture.

Including Monsanto and taking the divestitures into account, the total R&D investment of Bayer in 2017 would have been around 5.7 billion euros. Of that, 2.4 billion euros would have been spent in the combined agriculture business on a pro forma basis.

Strengthened commitment to sustainability and responsibility

Bayer is fully aware of the heightened responsibility that a leadership position in agriculture entails. The company will continue to further strengthen its commitment in the area of sustainability. As a leader, Bayer is fully committed to upholding the highest ethical and responsibility standards, strengthening access to health and nutrition, and further reducing its environmental footprint. We will apply the same rigor to achieving our sustainability targets as we do to our financial targets, said Baumann.

Bayer is also committed to further enhancing stakeholder engagement. Baumann said: We aim to deepen our dialogue with society. We will listen to our critics and work together where we find common ground. Agriculture is too important to allow ideological differences to bring progress to a standstill. We have to talk to each other. We need to listen to each other. Its the only way to build bridges.
Saudi threatens to strike Qatar over missile deal with Russia: report

The Saudi-Qatar discord has again come to the fore with Saudi Arabia threatening to strike Qatar if it bought Russian S-400 long-range missiles that can strike targets over 400 km away.

Riyadh is reported to have written to France's Emmanuel Macron to intervene and has threatened military action if Qatar went ahead with its acquisition plan.

Saudi Arabia has threatened military action against Qatar if it goes ahead and acquires Russia's top of the range S-400 air defence missile system, Le Monde daily reported.

Saudi Arabia "would be ready to take all necessary measures to eliminate this defence system, including military action," the newspaper wrote.

Citing information it had obtained, Le Monde said Friday that Riyadh had written to French President Emmanuel Macron asking him to intervene to prevent the deal going ahead and to help preserve regional stability.

Saudi Arabia and some other Arab countries, including Bahrain and the United Arab Emirates, broke off relations with Qatar in June last year over alleged support to Iran and radical Islamic groups.

Saudi and its allies subsequently imposed economic sanctions on Qatar, which has consistently rejected the charges against it.

An isolated Qatar has sought new friends, including Russia. In January this year Doha announced that talks with Moscow on supplying the sophisticated S-400 system were at an "advanced stage".

Le Monde said that in the letter sent to the French president, Saudi King Salman had expressed his "deep concern" with the discussions between Doha and Moscow and warned about the risk of escalation.
EC probing Cong allegation of 6 million bogus voters in MP

The Election Commission (EC) has ordered a probe into allegations of large-scale discrepancies in the voters list in Madhya Pradesh after the Congress Party complained of large-scale manipulation of voters list.

The Congress has alleged that there are at least 6 million bogus voters in Madhya Pradesh, which is headed for assembly elections in November. It has also submitted evidence to the EC to buttress its claim.

We have provided evidence to the EC. There are approximately 60 lakh fake voters registered in the state. These are not merely mistakes. The lists have been deliberately altered at the behest of BJP government in the state, MP and state unit Congress chief Kamal Nath said.

How is it possible that the states population has increased by 24 per cent but the number of voters has gone up by 40 per cent? he asked.

The poll panel formed four teams, consisting of two members each, to probe the matter. The panel has been asked to submit a report by 7 June.

The panel has been asked to inquire into each specific issues raised in the Congress Partys complaint, find out alleged fake voters names, if any, pinpointing how it happened and fix responsibility to initiate appropriate action.

The probe teams will visit Narela, Bhojpur, Seoni-Malwa and Hoshangabad assembly seats to ascertain how the discrepancies occurred, the EC said, adding that the panel will also fix responsibility for multiple and fake entries.

The Congress has submitted a memorandum to the poll panel along with instances of multiple entries of the same voter with different names at he same address in a given assembly constituency as well as those of one voter listed in multiple assembly constituencies, again with the same address.

It has sought the removal of all duplicate entries in the electoral rolls of 230 assembly constituencies to conduct free and fair elections.
Trump speaks of new trade deal as Canada hits back at US tariffs on steel, aluminium

A day after Canada announced Can$16.6 billion ($12.8 billion) in duties on US goods, hitting back at US tariffs on steel and aluminium, US President Donald Trump said he might prefer to end the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) and opt for separate pacts with Canada and Mexico.

I wouldnt mind seeing NAFTA where you go by a different name, where you make a separate deal with Canada and a separate deal with Mexico. Because youre talking about a very different two countries, Trump told reporters.

Trumps announcement comes after Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau on Thursday hit back at US tariffs on steel and aluminium with Can$16.6 billion ($12.8 billion) in duties on US goods, and accused American President Donald Trump of lacking "common sense."

Canadians, industry and even opposition parties applauded the prime minister's unusually pointed rebuke of Trump and retaliatory tariffs.

"Trudeau uttered some of the harshest words a prime minister has directed at an American administration in decades," said Toronto Star columnist Chantal Hebert, calling this a "watershed moment in the Donald Trump-era Canada/US relationship."

"It is not every day that a Canadian head of government pointedly notes that he is dealing with a US administration that is short on common sense" or "that a prime minister uses a news conference to dig in his heels in a trade negotiation," she noted.

Canada and the United States have been at odds over softwood lumber and aircrafts even as they spoke of negotiations, along with Mexico, a revamp of the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA).

Washington had granted Canada and Mexico an exemption on the metals tariffs to give the parties time to successfully renegotiate the 1994 continental trade pact.

But those talks are now bogged down. And, on Thursday, the US announced tariffs of 25 per cent on steel and 10 per cent on aluminium from Canada and others, from Friday.

Canada responded with duties of 25 per cent on US steel and aluminium, and 10 per cent on consumer goods such as ketchup, orange juice, sailboats and washing machines, which will take effect 1 July.

"The government of Canada is confident that shared values, geography and common interests will ultimately overcome protectionism," Trudeau told a news conference on Thursday.

"We have to believe that at some point common sense will prevail, but we see no sign of that in this action today by the US administration."

He said Ottawa would try to convince Washington to repeal the tariffs, but the Trump administration has so far stood firm.
Mamata spurns RERA, passes own diluted law

The Mamata Banerjee-led government in West Bengal has opted out of the Real Estate (Regulation and Development) Act two years after it was promulgated by the Centre.

The West Bengal government instead notified the West Bengal Housing Industry Regulation Act (HIRA), diluting at least two key provisions of RERA, with regard to common space and force majeure, in a way that favours developers.

The controversial decision comes on the back of a renewed attempt by the centre to convince the West Bengal government to notify RERA rules.

On 14 May, the central advisory committee under the ministry of housing and urban affairs in Delhi formed a sub-committee to pave the way for implementation of RERA in Bengal.

The rules of the West Bengal Housing Industry Regulation Act (HIRA) were drafted in January 2017, before deciding to have its own Act (HIRA).

West Bengal, which has historically been lax in protecting the interests of home buyers, drafted new rules as early as in January 2017 before deciding to have its own Act (HIRA).

The diluted Bengal Act compromises at least two key RERA provisions that protect home buyers interest.

Under the West Bengal HIRA, builders can continue to sell uncovered parking space in the common area as garage space.

RERA had plugged this loophole by defining garage as an enclosed space with a roof and three walls.

It further clarified that garage doesnt include unenclosed or uncovered parking space.

But HIRA defines garage as garage and parking space, as sanctioned by the competent authority, thus compromising buyers interests.

HIRA also dilutes the force majeure clause in RERA, allowing builders to bypass the strict delivery schedule.

Under RERA, developers can invoke the clause only in case of war, drought, flood, earthquake, fire or any other calamity caused by nature, a clause that has been upheld by the Bombay High Court.

According to the Bengal Act, force majeure can be declared for any other circumstances as may be prescribed.

Under this provision, developers can give any excuse for delay in delivery of home buyers.
The Papal Nuncio to Ireland, Archbishop Jude Thaddeus Okolo, made his first visit to Irelands ancient Christian shrine of Lough Derg recently.

He was there to take part in the annual Clogher Diocesan One-Day Retreat at the world-famous place of pilgrimage.

Archbishop Okolo was accompanied by the First Secretary at the Papal Nunciature, Monsignor Piotr Tarnawski as well as the religious sisters who assist there. They were greeted on arrival by the Prior of Lough Derg, Fr. La Flynn and by the Diocesan Administrator of the Diocese of Clogher, Monsignor Joseph McGuinness.

Several hundred people took part in the retreat, which was led by members of the Lough Derg team, Maureen Boyle and Mary McDaid, together with Fr. Flynn.



Meditation and prayer

The day featured periods of meditation, prayer, talks, time for the sacrament of reconciliation and the praying of the Way of the Cross in the beautiful basilica of St Patrick, with its windows by Harry Clarke which depict the moments of Jesus passion and death.

In the afternoon, the Papal Nuncio was the chief celebrant of the Mass, assisted by a number of priests from across the diocese and elsewhere. Archbishop Okolo gave a very moving and hope-filled homily.



Prayers offered

Prayers were offered for the success of the process that is underway for the selection of a new bishop for the Diocese of Clogher.

The diocese has been without a bishop since the retirement of Bishop Liam MacDaid in October 2016.

The one-day retreats at Lough Derg will recommence on the weekend of 18/19 August.

The three-day pilgrimage season begins on Friday, 1 June and lasts until 15 August.

The three-day pilgrimage is a programme of prayer, fasting (one simple Lough Derg meal each day) walking bare-footed and 24hr Vigil.



Hidden strengths

Without shoes and sleep and little food, people are confronted with the essential aspects of life. People can often discover hidden strengths and rediscover what really matters in life. For more information, visit www.loughderg.org or call 00353 (0) 71 9861518.
Is there anyone who can make the health system fit for purpose? Will the Catholic Church survive in Ireland? Should it matter?

These are but a few of the questions that will be addressed at the MacGill Summer School this year.

The school is expected to take place on dates between Sunday, July 22nd to Friday, July 27th.

On Sunday, July 22nd the French Ambassador to Ireland, H.E. Stephane Clouzat will perform the official opening.

The occasion will be followed by the 18th Annual John Hume Lecture which will be delivered by the former Taoiseach, Bertie Ahern.

During the rest of the week, the sessions will include; 'Beyond Brexit: Ireland in Europe - the future scenario? 'What does the cervical check debacle tell us about our governance and accountability? Will the upcoming general election provide us with the government and the governance we need?

The founding Director of the MacGill Summer School, Joe Mullholland, said that manyof the issues facing Irish society will be brought to the table and in the true spirit of democracy, people can both listen and debate the issues.

We will be looking at the health system in general. Is there anyone who can make it fit for purpose? We will be looking at the Catholic Church. Will it survive? Will it matter?

Ireland is a changing society and we need to look where the change is taking us, he said.

He added that the economy will also be under scrutiny and key speakers will address and discuss the matters at hand.

This year will mark the 38th year of the Annual MacGill Summer School and Arts Week. MacGill therefore has, a very full agenda which will reflect many of the issues of our time with over fifty eminent and highly qualified contributors who will look at and analyse these issues in a dispassionate and informed manner.

All in all, participants at MacGill can look forward to a very stimulating week.

There is a huge agenda and it is far reaching. It also concerns everyone, Mr. Mullholland said.

He said that one of the strengths of MacGill is that the discussions always look forward and never look back.

We will look at democracy and the dark forces undermining democracy - whether we realise it or not. The discussions are multi-faceted, as always, he said. He described the agenda as being one is 'very important.'

The key speaker this year will be the European Commissioner for Agriculture and Rural Development Phil Hogan. He is at the centre of the European Commission which runs Europe, said Mr. Mullholland adding that people from both sides of the border will be interested in his views.
Anneke van den Broek, founder and CEO of Australias most awarded pet care brand Rufus & Coco, started her entrepreneurial journey at just six years of age, breeding mice and selling them to the local pet shop for 40c each.

This entrepreneurial spirit and an unwavering belief that she could achieve anything she set her mind to, helped when it came time to leave a high-flying corporate career behind to launch her business, taking on the likes of Mars and Nestle who, at that time, dominated the pet care market.

At the age of five, my father sat me at the edge of our large pool at home and told me to tell myself five times loudly I can do anything I want to if I try, until I was yelling it. That day I swam for the first time to the end of pool and back unaided, shares Anneke.

With that same passion and determination, shes taken Rufus & Coco from a startup to a globally successful brand, in stores across nine countries and stocked locally in Coles, Woolworths and select IGA supermarkets, pet specialty stores and online.

Celebrating their 10th Birthday this year, Rufus & Coco are marking the milestone with the launch of their grooming range into 1,459 pet stores across North America.

Success didnt come easily though. Prior to launching Rufus & Coco, Anneke began her career in the cut-throat fashion industry and by age 23 was single-handedly running 300 David Jones fashion shows across Australia each year.

Executive Management roles soon followed and by age 29, Anneke had secured the position of Marketing Director of Blackmores, leading a large, cross-functional team.

It was during her travels to attend health trade shows around the globe, that Anneke recognised a growing need for natural alternatives in pet care. Having owned more than 40 pets in her life she had struggled to find such products herself.

The natural health and supplements industry was booming, yet there werent many all-natural supplement and grooming options for pets.

Recognising a gap in the market along with the sweeping global trend towards pet humanization, she set about developing quality Best of Breed products that would make a genuine difference in the lives of pets and their owners.

Like many entrepreneurs, I had a handful of ideas I wanted to bring to life and had to really hone in on what I was most passionate about, she says. I grew up with rabbits, turtles, mice, cats  pets were already such a huge part of my life.

I remember drawing up a business plan on a napkin while holidaying in Bali and Rufus & Coco was born. It was a longer and tougher journey to success than I could have imagined but any time someone doubted me it made me doggedly determined to succeed.

I began operating like a big business from the outset with a strategic mentality, implementing 1, 3 and 5-year plans that laid the foundations for growth.

I learnt quickly that when you dont have the big dollars behind you, its harder to get the same doors to open. This is why we are still with many of our earliest suppliers and partners who took a chance on supporting us from the start.

Rufus & Coco has now received 7 product awards recognizing innovation and product excellence.

With each success weve had, our goalposts have shifted. I honestly believe Rufus & Coco can achieve anything we set out to. With a focus on innovation and creating products that truly solve customer problems, we plan to continue our international expansion and support of pets and their owners, locally and abroad.
The Fair Work Commission today delivered its annual wage review  the highest percentage weve seen since 2011. This decision will have a significant impact on all businesses and industries and over 2.3 million employees who are paid at the National Minimum Wage or minimum Modern Award rates.

From the first full pay period commencing on or after 1 July 2018:

all Modern Award rates will increase by 3.5 per cent (with weekly wages rounded to the nearest $0.10)

the National Minimum Wage will increase by 3.5 per cent to $18.93 per hour (and $719.20 per week for a full-time employee), an increase of $0.64 per hour for the hourly rate

The Commissions decision only confirms the basic increase in minimum rates while confirmation of the specific rates (including new allowance rates) for each individual Award have not yet been released. These will be released before 1 July 2018.

If its not broken

Josh Vikis, Senior Employment Relations Adviser of Employsure  a workplace specialist firm representing over 17,000 SMEs says the increase is high comparative to other OECD countries: Australia has high wages and high living standards. Our minimum wage is one of the highest in the world.

Raising the minimum wage actually makes it harder to employ people according to Vikis, adding, We have significant consultations with small businesses and the overwhelming view is that this increase will affect their bottom line significantly. Since small businesses employ majority of the Australian workforce and generate a fifth of our GDP, it is vital that they are provided with sufficient support to remain profitable whilst spurring growth.

While the Commission took into consideration the 27 years of strong economic growth, Vikis questions why such a high increase, when we are doing so well?

Changing business practices.

SMEs may initially face an overall increase in the cost of doing business due to higher wage costs and competition for manpower from the larger firms. As I see it, SMEs will need to consider reducing costs, increasing prices, reducing staff or reducing operating hoursor a mixed approach to maintain current profitability, he said, pointing out that todays decision mostly impacts the little guys, because larger businesses can afford to pay above Award rates.

The weekly wage bill for Australian businesses could increase up to $55 million and most SMEs wont be charging customers 3.5 percent extra from July 1, but will need to come up with an extra $24.30 per week per employee, paid at the expense of their bottom line.

To afford the increases to minimum wage, many small businesses have to adjust their business models. Some businesses simply need to reduce their profit targets and take their extra payroll costs from their profits. Businesses that already operate on tight profit margins need to find money in other places.

Eliminating Jobs.

In some cases, small businesses may deal with the shift by eliminating employees, says Vikis, We hear many small business employers already reducing the number of employees to keep up the rising costs of business. Whats worse, some decide to work even harder and put in even more time themselves.

Sit tight, you dont need to act yet.

If you pay your staff at Award level, the increase to minimum rates take effect from the first full pay period commencing on or after 1 July 2018.

Vikis advises, If you already pay above Award rates, you may not be required to increase your employees wages, provided the rates you pay are above the increased minimum Award rates (and you are not required to increase employees wages under their contracts of employment or applicable enterprise agreement), he said.

Employsure, is Australias largest workplace advisory firm working with over 18,000 businesses, receiving over 200,000 advice calls every year, conducting over 800 face-to-face meetings per week, traveling over 1.5 million kilometres per year to visit business owners.


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Demandbase officially announced ABM Analytics during its annual ABM Innovation Summit in San Francisco last week. The new tech, part of the company's account-based marketing platform, leverages its account identification technology to help marketers analyze performance from advertising to pipeline and revenue figures.

"Artificial intelligence gives business-to-business marketers a clear view into the behavior of their target accounts," said Peter Isaacson, CMO at Demandbase.

"In the past, B2B marketers have had access to basic filmographic information about their audiences, such as names, titles, phone numbers," he told CRM Buyer.

AI takes this basic insight and provides information to help marketers understand what their target accounts are interested in, across the Web, Isaacson said.

The technology allows marketers to view comparisons of various accounts within targeted revenue parameters, or control the metrics to identify companies with different segments of employees, or show how campaigns are performing at different states of the sales funnel, Isaacson said.

Click to Enlarge Image

Demandbase has been testing ABM analytics with several different customers. It has enabled some of them to couple disparate data sources -- for example, Web engagement and CRM data -- for the first time, allowing them a better understanding of their business impact.

"Not only has it delivered insight into how their ABM campaigns are performing, but it has also opened up new doors for testing and optimization," Isaacson said.

The company earlier this year launched its AI-based conversion solution, which integrates with Salesforce, Slack and LinkedIn Sales Navigator to reach target accounts and develop insights.

Growth of AI

Artificial intelligence last year grew at an accelerated pace with real-use cases in sales and marketing, noted Cindy Zhou, principal analyst at Constellation Research.

"AI is already revolutionizing marketing by helping marketers target the right audience with relevant offers based on their areas of interest, the core of ABM," she told CRM Buyer. "Instead of a manual process, AI can quickly help marketers analyze existing data sets to find ideal customer profiles and make suggestions on the best options."

Demandbase's 2016 acquisition of Spiderbook, a data science firm, allowed it to infuse AI and automation capabilities into large data sets, noted Wayne Cichanski, vice president of search strategy at iQuanti.

"This can identify data trends that would predict the [likelihood] of a company to make a purchase, to uncovering the right buyers within those flagged accounts," he told CRM Buyer.

The technology allows billions of Web pages, keywords and profile interests to be scanned and mapped into predictability matrix, offering far more insight than traditional demographic information, Cichanski said.

ABM Collaboration

Separately Demandbase announced the extension of its ABM collaboration with Salesforce Pardot, which integrates contacts and account information in the Salesforce system with its AI-based data from the Demandbase Conversion Solution.

The integrated data will allow ABM teams to see everything -- from which Web pages a targeted account has viewed to the keywords and issues used for online searches.

"Customers of Salesforce Pardot and Demandbase will be able to leverage contact and account records from Salesforce Pardot with real-time intent data and account insights from Demandbase," said Nate Skinner, vice president of product marketing at Salesforce Pardot.

The integration is meant to allow joint customers of the two firms to better engage existing and prospective customers.

David Jones has been an ECT News Network reporter since 2015. His areas of focus include cybersecurity, e-commerce, open source, gaming, artificial intelligence and autonomous vehicles. He has written for numerous media outlets, including Reuters, Bloomberg, Crain's New York Business and The New York Times. Email David.




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Cisco has reduced the poaching of endangered rhinos in Africa by a whopping 96 percent. This success comes at a time when kids appear to be increasingly at risk from rogue school shooters and the United States government seems deadlocked on gun control.

Guns kill rhinos as well, but the focus of Cisco's tech is on catching the poachers who kill around 1,000 endangered rhinos a year, rather than on taking away their weapons of choice. Where implemented, the solution has all but eliminated the problem.

The rhino problem in Africa presents logistics issues that are relevant to the U.S. border problem. In both cases, the goal is to keep unauthorized people out, but because the borders are so extensive, the cost of staffing to protect them is problematic.

Technology is a force multiplier, though, and I believe a solution similar to the one Cisco and Dimension Data developed to protect the rhino population could be used to provide better protection for schools and the U.S. border.

I'll share some thoughts on the application of technology to improve problem-solving and then close with my product of the week: my latest favorite laptop.

Applying Enterprise Security Solutions to World Problems

One of the fascinating aspects of Cisco's efforts to protect endangered species is that the methods used aren't far removed from how we now protect against electronic intrusions. It used to be that we relied largely on firewalls and perimeter protection to keep our enterprises safe. However, as firewalls became more porous and attackers more creative, we accepted that walls wouldn't work by themselves and moved to assuming attackers would get in.

That shifted our efforts from perimeter protection toward in-depth protection, with emphasis on monitoring activity inside the enterprise. As a result, we can identify and eliminate attacks, whether internally or externally sourced, more effectively.

Once you can effectively isolate potentially harmful behavior from normal behavior, you can target attackers and more likely catch them in the act -- before they can do much damage or steal much data.

Granted, these defense in-depth methods have required a massive increase in the creation and application of artificial intelligence and instrumentation to get to scale. Once developed, though, the methods have broad applications outside of site security. For instance...

Saving the Rhinos

The issue with any form of animal protection in Africa is that there is a vast expanse of land but very little funding for people to patrol it effectively. Borders are hundreds of miles long, making a perimeter defense problematic (and no one is going to build Africa a wall). If you could identify the threat location in time, resources could be concentrated to deal with it. To accomplish that, it was necessary to shift the goal away from the near-impossible task of securing a massive site, and toward rapid threat identification.

A variety of instruments and sensors can be used for site monitoring. Networked vibration sensors, motion sensors, cameras and microphones can monitor massive areas with relatively low staffing. For instance, gunshots can be triangulated rapidly using a relatively modest number of sensors. Drones then can be used to locate poachers, so that resources can be sent in to arrest them.

At some future point, it might be possible to automate arrests using robots and drones, further reducing the need for human staff, along with the related risks.

While this approach doesn't prevent poachers from getting in, it does identify them once they are present and tracks them inside. Even if the poachers make a kill, it is nearly impossible for them to get out with it.

Cisco's initial effort has been so successful that the company is replicating it through a program called "Connected Conservation." The goal is to protect endangered species on land and water around the world. The hope is that once the technology is in place, it will eradicate most forms of poaching for things like rhino horns and elephant tusks.

Preventing School Shootings

Addressing the problem of school safety in large part seems to revolve around arguments limiting access to guns. However, schools face a variety of risks that often are far more prevalent than gun violence. Illegal drugs, children seized or abused by adults or other children, suicides, and bullying are but a few of the issues making schools unsafe.

Applying the same kind of monitoring and artificial intelligence to schools should offer similar benefits to those derived from the fight against poachers, without excessively impacting privacy. Schools already are heavy users of security cameras. Adding more microphones and overlaying the solutions with artificial intelligence, so that likely threats could be identified more quickly, probably would have a greater near-term impact than attempts to eliminate guns.

Even if guns were in use, being able to triangulate the shooter would allow on-site security resources and arriving law enforcement to isolate and eliminate the threat more rapidly. It also would allow the school to notify classrooms regarding lockdown or escape protocols more effectively, reducing the potential for hostage-taking, and getting kids out of harm's way.

Once in place, the AI could flag bullying behavior, spot violence, abuse or harassment, regardless of their form, and potentially identify people that could become future threats due to unusual behavior.

With similar technology, we could make schools far safer than they now.

Border Wall

The same could be said of the U.S. borders. For a fraction of the cost of a border wall, we could have a massive increase in our ability to monitor the border, identify those crossing illegally, and more effectively target those wishing to do the country harm (arms and drug smugglers).

With facial recognition software, we could scan for repeat offenders, known national criminals and gang members, enabling law enforcement to prioritize their capture. Compared to walls, which can be flown over or dug under, technological defense in-depth solutions would be vastly harder to overcome. Coupled with fast-response drones and potentially robotics, these types of solutions could cover huge areas, protecting the borders far more effectively than a static wall ever could.

Wrapping Up: Better, Faster, Cheaper, Safer

What Cisco highlights with its rhino-protection efforts in Africa is that enterprise security methods can be applied to physical security problems with amazing results. These same methods could be used to protect our schools and borders for a fraction of the cost and aggravation of gun control laws and physical walls.

Approaches that are better, faster, cheaper -- and that lead to safer -- are what technology is famous for. What Cisco demonstrated in Africa could have similar success in schools and help secure our borders.

Maybe it is time to use something we are good at to solve the nation's problems rather than just argue about them. The U.S. is the world leader in technology. Perhaps it is technology that we need to tap to solve some of our bigger problems. Technology can keep us safer -- we just need to use it properly.

AMD -- along with Dell, HP and Lenovo -- has rolled out a series of Ryzen-powered laptops and desktop machines. Given how badly Intel has been behaving of late, a lot of folks have been looking at AMD alternatives but not finding many that were that compelling -- up to now.

That changed last week. I was particularly taken by HP's offerings, which range from 13.3 inches to nearly 16 inches. The one I consider the best balance of size, performance and price is the HP EliteBook 735 G5.

HP EliteBook 735 G5

HP has been going after Apple aggressively of late, and its designs showcase that effort.

Looking as though they were carved out of aluminum complete with ports and stunning displays, HP's new laptops are a showcase for its One Life product strategy. "One Life" means that you aren't an employee or a consumer but both -- and in a laptop you want what you want, when you want it. That means attractive designs and full security features.

HP currently leads the segment with security features, including features that prevent your BIOS from being compromised, keep your critical security features running, and make sure a hostile website can't infect you.

One unique feature is HP Sure View, which provides an optional integrated privacy screen so the person next to you can't see your work or watch the movie you are watching. It is my view that every laptop should have this, and HP largely stands alone right now.

Like a lot of folks, I no longer trust Intel. I mean if the firm's own CEO doesn't believe it is a good investment, then neither should I. Thankfully, a number of strong AMD alternative products have entered the market all of a sudden, with the HP EliteBook 735 G5 moving to the top. That is enough to make it my product of the week.

The opinions expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of ECT News Network.

Rob Enderle has been an ECT News Network columnist since 2003. His areas of interest include AI, autonomous driving, drones, personal technology, emerging technology, regulation, litigation, M&E, and technology in politics. He has an MBA in human resources, marketing and computer science. He is also a certified management accountant. Enderle currently is president and principal analyst of the Enderle Group, a consultancy that serves the technology industry. He formerly served as a senior research fellow at Giga Information Group and Forrester. Email Rob.


LEIDEN  Home furnishings giant, IKEA has explained its decision not sign on to the 2018 extension of the Accord on Fire and Building Safety in Bangladesh despite sourcing many of the materials for its textile products from the nation.

The Swedish firm spoke to Ecotextile News to clarify the safety regulation present in its supply chain following pressure exerted by Clean Clothes Campaign (CCC) which sought to ensure IKEA, and several other high-profile retailers, became Accord signatories.

CCC has claimed companies including The North Face, GAP, Walmart and IKEA which didnt sign the original Accord and have  until now  not joined the 2018 extension should reconsider rather than either creating their own, less credible and binding alternative or sticking to completely voluntary measures.
2017 broke the record for increased renewable energy capacity, Reuters reported Sunday. But it still isn't enough to reduce carbon dioxide emissions in line with the goals of the Paris agreement.

These are the conclusions of the Renewables 2018 Global Status Report, the most recent annual report from Renewable Energy Policy Network for the 21st Century (REN21), an organization that works to facilitate a transition to renewable energy by sharing knowledge, developing policy and urging action.

The report found that the power sector was making inspiring progress in moving towards a renewable future, but that more had to be done by the heating, cooling and transport sectors, which account for 80 percent of global energy demand.

"We may be racing down the pathway towards a 100 percent renewable electricity future but when it comes to heating, cooling and transport, we are coasting along as if we had all the time in the world. Sadly, we don't," REN21 Executive Sec. Randa Adib told Reuters.

Renewable electricity strides included the fact that 70 percent of all new power capacity added to the grid in 2017 came from renewable sources. This was mostly due to the falling price of solar and wind power. Renewable power upped its capacity by almost 9 percent compared with 2016, it's largest annual increase ever.

Solar took the lead, making up almost 55 percent of that increased renewable capacity. The REN21 report found that more solar capacity was installed than capacity for fossil fuels or nuclear energy, echoing an earlier UN-backed report that found that more additional solar capacity was installed in 2017 than all other fuel sources combined. Wind made up 29 percent of new renewable capacity, and hydropower 11 percent.

In another hopeful indicator, the report found that adding new renewable energy capacity was cheaper than adding new fossil fuel capacity in many parts of the world and, in some places, even cheaper than continuing to run existing fossil fuel plants.

However, despite these positive tidings, the report acknowledged that greenhouse gas emissions had also increased by 1.4 percent in 2017, the first time they rose in four years. The report linked this to an increased energy demand of 2.1 percent largely due to economic growth.

The report further highlighted the work that needed to be done in the heating, cooling and transportation sectors. While electricity accounts for only 20 percent of final global energy use, renewable energy accounted for 25 percent of global electricity use. On the other hand, heating and cooling account for 48 percent of final energy use, but only about 10 percent of that is powered by renewable sources and around 16 percent by traditional biomass. Transportation accounts for 32 percent of final energy use, and only around 3 percent of that comes from renewables, according to the report's highlights.

The disparity in progress between the electric and other sectors is reflected in policy: 146 countries (out of 197) have set targets for increasing renewable energy use in the power sector, but only 48 have set renewable targets for heating and cooling and only 42 for transportation.
Bayer plans to complete its $63 billion acquisition of Monsanto on Thursday after receiving all required approvals from regulatory authorities.

The German pharmaceutical company will also retire the St. Louis-based corporation's 117-year-old name.

"Bayer will remain the company name. Monsanto will no longer be a company name. The acquired products will retain their brand names and become part of the Bayer portfolio," Bayer announced Monday.

Fortune pointed out that name-changes during acquisitions is unusual, especially when a company is very recognizable. However, as one of the world's most hated companies, ditching Monsanto's name was not only expected, it was likely Bayer's best way forward.

Monsanto's historical line-up of products includes banned and highly toxic chemicals such as 2,4,5-trichlorophenoxyacetic acid (a dioxin-containing component of the defoliant Agent Orange); PCBs (polychlorinated biphenyl); and Lasso, a herbicide banned in Europe. Glyphosate, the main ingredient in Monsanto's best-selling weedkiller RoundUp, is the most widely used pesticide in the world and likely the most controversial. Monsanto is also the largest maker of genetically modified (GMO) seeds, giving them major hand control of the world food supply.

Activists have also condemned the company's pursuit of lawsuits against small farmers to protect its patents on seeds.

Bayer announced its intention to acquire Monsanto in May 2016, a move that will create world's largest integrated pesticides and seeds company.

Critics have dubbed the purchase as a "merger from hell." A recent poll found that the vast majority of surveyed farmers were concerned that the integrated company will use its dominance in one product to push sales of other products. They also expressed fears that that the merged entity will control data about farm practices and increase pressure for chemically dependent farming.

"We aim to deepen our dialogue with society," said Bayer CEO Werner Baumann, in a statement. "We will listen to our critics and work together where we find common ground. Agriculture is too important to allow ideological differences to bring progress to a standstill. We have to talk to each other. We need to listen to each other. It's the only way to build bridges."

President Trump's Department of Justice approved a deal in which Bayer agreed to the largest divestiture in American antitrust enforcement history. The drug-maker will sell assets worth roughly $9 billion to chemical giant BASF.

"Innovation is vital to produce more healthy, safe and affordable food for a growing population in a more sustainable manner. The combination of the two businesses will allow us to deliver more innovation faster and provide solutions tailored to the needs of farmers around the world," said Liam Condon, Bayer board member and president of the crop science division, in a statement. "Going forward, our teams in the labs and in the field will be able to take a much more holistic approach to innovation as we address the enormous challenges we face in agriculture."
A pilot whale died in southern Thailand last week after swallowing 17 pounds of plastic waste, despite a five-day effort to save the animal's life.

A necropsy revealed that the plastic debris, which included 80 plastic bags, clogged the whale's stomach, Reuters reported.

The whale was found in critical condition in a canal near Thailand's border with Malaysia on May 28. Photos posted on Thai Whales' Facebook page show a group of people tending to the whale and trying to keep it afloat.

According to Thailand's Department of Marine and Coastal Resources, the whale vomited five plastic bags on Friday and eventually died that afternoon.

"This plastic rubbish made the whale sick and unable to hunt for food," the department said on its website.

Grisly photos on the marine department's Facebook page show dozens of black plastic bags exhumed from the whale.

"Ask your heart to see if you're still going to dump the trash," the post stated.

Jatuporn Buruspat, head of the department, told Reuters the whale probably mistook the floating plastic bags for food.

Around the world, an estimated 8 million metric tons of plastic waste gets dumped in our oceans every year. A 2015 study found that 60 percent of the world's plastic waste comes from just five countries: China, Indonesia, the Philippines, Thailand and Vietnam.

Thon Thamrongnawasawat, a marine biologist and lecturer at Kasetsart University, told AFP that about 300 marine animals including pilot whales, sea turtles and dolphins die each year in Thailand after ingesting plastic.

"It's a huge problem," he said. "We use a lot of plastic."

"If you have 80 plastic bags in your stomach, you die," Thamrongnawasawat added.

The pilot whale's death is another grim reminder of the harmful impact of ocean pollution. In April, a 6-ton, 33-foot-long juvenile sperm whale was found dead in southern Spain. A necropsy reveled it ingested 64 pounds of mostly plastic garbage.

Folks around the world expressed sadness about the latest man-made tragedy.

"Many in the region and around the world are extremely concerned about such incidents," Suresh Valiyaveettil, an expert in polymer chemistry at the National University of Singapore, told the New York Times in an email. "Considering the amount of plastic in the ocean, unfortunately, such incidents are going to be more common in the near future."

Tomorrow will mark the United Nations' World Environment Day, which centers around the theme of beating plastic pollution.

On Monday in Vietnam, 41 embassies and international organizations signed a Code of Conduct on Combating Plastic Pollution.

According to Vietnam News, signatories include Austria, Belgium, Canada, Denmark, the European Union, Finland, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Slovakia, Sri Lanka, Sweden, Switzerland, the UK and the U.S. as well as 16 UN agencies, funds, program, offices and the World Bank.
By Pete Stauffer

Ever since the United Nations declared June 8th to be World Oceans Day in 2002, people and groups from around the world have used the occasion to celebrate the ocean and take steps to protect it. Now, with the ocean facing more threats than ever, it's time for all of us to come together to protect our treasured marine environment.

Our federal leaders are waging an unprecedented assault on the ocean. The Trump administration has proposed new offshore drilling in more than 90 percent of U.S. waters, while targeting marine protections for potential repeal. Meanwhile, plastic pollution continues to proliferate in our ocean, choking and entangling marine wildlife, as government leaders and corporate interests refuse to take meaningful steps to address the problem.

This is why grassroots action is desperately needed to protect the health of our ocean. As Mahatma Gandhi famously said, "If the people lead, the leaders will follow." So, on June 8th, let us all be reminded of our responsibility as ocean advocates to protect this incredible resource for now and the future.

Here are three ways to take action on #WorldOceansDay 2018.

1. Tell Your Federal Leaders to Stop the Rollback of Ocean Protections

The administration and members of congress need to hear from people who value the ocean and oppose proposals that would damage the marine environment. Please visit Surfrider's Stop Offshore Drilling campaign page to learn how you can take action to defend our coastlines from new oil rigs. Please also complete this action alert to urge your representatives to support our Marine Sanctuaries and National Monuments. Or better yet, pick up the phone and call your representatives in the Senate and House! For more information on Surfrider's Ocean Protection initiative click here.

2. Reduce Your Consumption of Plastics With a #ZeroPlasticLunch!

Plastic pollution represents one of the greatest threats to the health of our ocean. Every year, millions of tons of plastic enters marine waters, wreaking havoc on wildlife and ecosystems. That's why the theme of this year's World Oceans Day is preventing plastic pollution and encouraging solutions for a healthy ocean. Surfrider is partnering with CNN to ask students around the world to celebrate #WorldOceansDay with a #ZeroPlasticLunch. Join by sharing photos of your lunch on social media using the hashtag #ZeroPlasticLunch and tagging @surfrider with changes you made to your meal and why. For more tips on reducing your consumption of plastics, please visit Surfrider's Rise Above Plastics page.

3. Join the March for the Ocean (or Wear Blue to Show Support)

On Saturday, June 9th, ocean advocates are assembling in Washington DC and sister events around the country to March for the Ocean. The goal is to show grassroots support for stopping offshore drilling, reducing plastic pollution, and preserving coastlines in the face of rising seas. Surfrider Foundation will have a strong presence at the march, with chapter members and staff traveling to our nation's capital for the event. Those who can't make it to Washington DC are encouraged to 'Wear Blue for the Ocean' to show their support in local communities and on social media. For more information go to: www.marchforocean.com and engage with #MarchForOcean on your favorite social channels.
Beyond the usual drive mode settings and sound enhancement, you have a few other adjustments at your disposal. As in other electric vehicles, you can change the level of regenerative braking, which affects how much the vehicle starts slowing when you release the accelerator. When using the most aggressive regenerative braking setting, you can largely drive the I-Pace with the right pedal alone and only apply the mechanical brakes when you need to stop very quickly. You can also decide whether the I-Pace creeps forward when you release the brake pedal (like a regular car does) or stays stationary until you press the accelerator.
Despite the spread of nearsightedness among U.S. schoolchildren, nearly 1 in 3 has not had a vision screening in at least two years, according to a new Education Week Research Center analysis of federal data, and research suggests several ways schools may help reduce childrens risk of bad eyesight.

Myopia, or nearsightedness, means that a person has good vision for close objects but difficulty seeing things farther away. The problem, caused when the eyeball grows too long from back to front, can in more severe cases mean that a student cannot see clearly even a foot in front of her face.

In 2017, the National Eye Institute, part of the National Institutes of Health, reported that nearly 42 percent of Americans are nearsighted, compared with only 25 percent in the 1970s. About 4 percent have severe, or high myopia, which can lead to blindness.

The problem is just as bad or worse in some other industrialized countries. Australia and Great Britain have seen similar increases in myopia. In China, India, and throughout industrialized Asia, the National Eye Institute reported that 80 percent to 90 percent of all high school graduates are nearsighted, and 20 percent have high myopia.

The rate of children needing glasses is so much greater than I ever imagined, said Carolyn Amberry, who is in her 17th year as a school nurse at Long Beach Unified schools in California. At Lincoln Elementary, one high-poverty school where Amberry worked, I couldnt believe at a school of 1,200 kids, I had more than 300 needing glasses.

Natural Light Helps

Nearsightedness does run in families, but the spread of the vision problems has raised concerns among educators and researchers. Studies have pointed to both the rise of computer and mobile use and the reduction of recess in schools as potentially contributing to the problem.

With technology nowadays, [students] faces are always in a screen, said Leila Bajarin, who coordinates vision screenings for students at Kalihi Waena Elementary in Hawaii. I think that makes [eyesight] deteriorate a lot quicker at a young age.

Shes not wrong, research says, but longitudinal studies suggest that reading and studying either on computers or in printso-called near work"do not fully explain the rapidly rising rates of nearsightedness.

Theres no question that the [electronic] devices and students starting to use them so early contributes to the earlier onset of myopia were seeing, said optometrist Amanda Hikin, but a lot of the kids we are seeing are [in poverty] and may not have as much access to some of those things. But still we see quite a lot of myopia and astigmatism.

Instead, researchers including Donald Mutti, an optometry professor at Ohio State University in Columbus, have found what children do inside is less important a predictor of myopia than the time children spend outside. Young childrens eyes grow quickly in infancy and toddlerhood, but that growth slows during the school years. If instead, the eye continues to lengthen at its early pace, light coming through the lens will not focus correctly, creating myopia. Mutti and other researchers have suggested exposure to natural light in the elementary years helps to trigger the slower pace of growthso being outside less during and after school also may boost the risk of nearsightedness.

Spotting Vision Problems

The American Association for Pediatric Ophthalmology and Strabismus recommends children have their vision checked at least every other year after age 5, but states differ widely in whether and how often students are screened. In Connecticut and New Jersey, for example, just over 23 percent of children younger than 18 have not had a vision check in the past two years; in Idaho and Nevada, that share is more than 40 percent, according to the research center analysis of data from the National Survey of Childrens Health, an ongoing federal study of children in more than 364,000 households across the country. Children in poverty also were more likely than their wealthier peers to go two years or more without screening, the analysis showed.

At Kalihi Waena Elementary, Bajarin recalled one child, who was among the more than 32 percent of schoolchildren in Hawaii who hadnt had their eyes tested in two years. The 5th graders teachers noticed she had trouble seeing two years ago"She was moved up [in the classroom], but even at the front of the class, there is information up on all walls that she couldnt see, Bajarin saidbut for two years, her father argued he didnt have time to take his daughter for an eye exam. Thankfully, we convinced him before she aged out of our school.

The 5th grader ultimately got an exam and free glasses during a screening event by Vision to Learn, a nonprofit that works with schools in 12 states to identify and correct vision problems among students in poverty. In the groups first screening of about 200 of Kalihi Waenas 480 P-5 students, 75 students needed glasses, including several older elementary students.

It helped a lot, behaviorally, in the classroom with a lot of the kids, said Bajarin, the schools parent-community networking coordinator. Some of [the students], they wont speak up, because they dont know that they have an actual vision problem. When they can see better, they dont feel so insecure and that they have to act up, ... and getting glasses, it was something for them that boosted their confidence because they could take ownership of it.

Nationwide, 70 percent of the children for whom Vision to Learn provides glasses had never had their vision corrected before, and another 20 percent have outdated prescriptions, according to Damian Carroll, the groups national director.

When the children finally get to the eye exam and are told they needed glasses, it is often just such a shock, Carroll said. The kid doesnt realize theres a problem because its the way the world has always looked, and its just not something parents first think of when the child is struggling in school.

Long Beachs Amberry agreed; on her own, she said, she was only able to get follow-up exams and glasses for 50 percent to 70 percent of students who failed their initial vision screenings before the school began working with nonprofits to provide on-campus exams and fittings.

Hikin, the optometrist, said Vision to Learn and other groups that work with schools also increasingly are moving away from testing vision using the traditional letter-and-shape eye charts (which were the focus of the national survey), and toward using auto-refractors, handheld machines that gauge vision by measuring how light changes as it enters a persons eye. That sort of testing can be done on less verbal and younger children.

Mary Beth Thurston, a school nurse at Long Beach Unified, said her district also works with the local Lions Club to get 3- and 4-year-olds in its preschool programs tested for glasses. Last year, she said about eight out of the 200 students tested ended up needing new glasses. Next year, the district will try to pair students medical physicals and vision screenings, to encourage more families to get their children tested.

Gaining Focus

Screening and getting glasses to students, while important, is only a start, Amberry said. Lincoln Elementary in Long Beach made a photo gallery of students wearing their glasses to boost their confidence and held popsicle parties for those who wore their glasses regularly, both to encourage students to wear them and to report quickly if they were lost or broken. Reading teachers also began referring struggling students for vision screenings earlier, at the same time they tried academic interventions.

Other studies suggest getting children outside more can lower their risk of developing vision problems. Mutti of OSU found that for children of nearsighted parents, about 20 percent of those who spent at least 14 hours a week outside developed nearsightedness, compared to 60 percent of children with the same genetic risk who spent less time outdoors. Similarly, large randomized-controlled studies in Australia and China found primary schoolchildren who got more than 40 minutes a day of outdoor activities were more than 20 percent less likely to develop nearsightedness. But getting outside more did not necessarily slow the progression of myopia in students who had already developed deteriorating vision.

In a separate 2017 study in China, a team of researchers from that country as well as from Australia, the United Kingdom, and the United States tested a so-called bright classroom, built with wall-sized clear and light-diffusing glass and intended to provide more access to natural light while reducing glare or distractions from outside the classroom. The study found over the course of a year, light from the blue-green part of the spectrumwhich has been associated with lower risk of nearsightednesswas significantly higher in the prototype classroom than traditional classrooms, and a group of 230 students and teachers testing the room reported it was more comfortable for reading than a typical classroom.

However, the yearlong pilot was too short to tell whether students who used the bright classroom actually became less likely to develop myopia than those in regular classrooms.
Newcomer dies in Supersport race



Adam Lyon

The organisers of the TT have announced a Scottish rider died during today's Supersport 1 race.

26-year-old Adam Lyon was killed in an incident on the third lap at Casey's just after the 28th milestone.

Lyon was a newcomer to the TT and had qualified in 24th place for today's race.

ACU Events Ltd have passed on their sympathy to his family and friends.
It's been almost 15 years since Friends ended. However, the friendship between co-stars Jennifer Aniston and Courteney Cox lives on.

Keeping It Classy In Coordinated Chanel

The two ladies have stayed close over the intervening years, with their latest appearance together happening at an environmental benefit dinner, thrown in partnership with Chanel, in Malibu.

Adorably, the long-time pals even showed up in coordinating outfits for the event. Aniston, 49, wore an all-black in a tuxedo jacket, high-waisted pants, and a crisp shirt along with heels and a Chanel clutch.

Meanwhile, Cox, 59, opted for a white blouse with her own black, high-waisted pants. Rather than a clutch, she carried a Chanel handbag.

Nurturing A Lifelong Friendship

The two ladies were seen getting dinner together just last month, in L.A. hotspot Craig's alongside another famous friend, Ellen Degeneres. They mostly kept to themselves, leaving quickly to avoid any attention once they finished eating.

Back in February, Cox held Aniston's 49th birthday party at her California home, with all of her BFFs in attendance, including Suddenly Susan actress Andrea Bendewald. Elsewhere, Cox, Aniston, and fellow Friends star Lisa Kudrow all also reportedly keep in contact via a text chain.

According to PEOPLE, Aniston joined Cox, Jimmy Kimmel, and his wife Molly McNearney for a holiday in Tahiti back in March. The actress also narrowly avoided ex Justin Theroux while attending a party for their son.

Leaning On Her Friends During A Difficult Time

The beloved Hollywood couple announced their shock split earlier this year, after almost three years of wedded bliss and seven together. Aniston hasn't been seen in public too much since the divorce, preferring to spend time with her friends.

According to a source close to the famous exes, Theroux is happily moving on while Aniston does the same, and there is no bad blood between the two of them. She's been linked to another ex, Brad Pitt, as well as actor Vince Vaughn in the intervening time, but the source claims Aniston is focused on her friends right now.

"Her friends always invite her out and to parties. Jen has a very caring group of friends that take care of her," advises the insider.

Friends aired for 10 seasons, with the final episode airing in 2004. The cast has reunited periodically in the intervening years, with five of the original six cast-members appearing on an NBC special honoring director James Burrows. Matthew Perry, the only one missing due to theater commitments in London, appeared in a videotaped message.
2018-06-04

Maeci

The Ambassador of Italy in the USA, Armando Varricchio, was received at the White House together with officials from the Embassy and International Financial Institutions to celebrate the 72nd anniversary of the foundation of the Republic.

Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, and formerMayor of New York and current attorney of President Trump, Rudy Giuliani, also attended the event, organized in collaboration with the National Italian American Foundation (NIAF).

During the event, Counselor to the President Kellyanne Conway, who also has Italian origins, read a message by President Trump. The message highlighted the profound bonds that connect our two Countries and also the paramount contribution given by over 18 million Americans with Italian origin to American politics, economy, culture and society.

During his speech Ambassador Varricchio mentioned the swearing in of the new Italian Government and confirmed Italys enduring commitment to strengthening its relationships with the United States. Italy and the United States  continued Ambassador Varricchio  are united by the same values and ideals that guide our two Countries and that are the basis of our friendship and of the outstanding relations between the two sides of the Atlantica friendship that needs to be nourished and that is continuously sustained by a constant dialogue at all levels and in all fields. The protagonists of this dialogue are the many Americans of Italian origin, who represent a real bridge between the two Allied Countries, two friends.

Secretary of State Mike Pompeo intervened to remember the fruitful cooperation between the US and Italy on the most important dossiers: international security and stability, above all. He expressed his wish to visit Rome soon and also highlighted Italys constant contribution to American culture.

---------------------------------------------------------

Presidential Message

Melania and I extend a warm welcome to those visiting the White House for the 2nd annual Republic Day Celebration.

Each year, on the second day of June, the people of Italy celebrate Republic Day. This holiday commemorates the historic vote of 1946, which ended the reign of the Italian Monarchy and gave birth to a new era of freedom and democracy for the Italian people.

Our Nation joins in honoring the Republic Day, and the vibrant history of Italy, as we reaffirm the deep and enduring bonds that link our two countries. Many of the founding tenets of American democracy can be traced to the writings of Roman philosophers and Italian thinkers. We are proud of this legacy and the great Italian Americans who continue to strengthen our country.

Today, many aspects of American life are influenced by more than 18 billion Americans of Italian heritage. As leaders of American industry, selfless warriors on the battlefield, iconic athletes and entertainers, public servants, and some of the greatest minds in the areas of math, science, art, law, and medicine  Italian Americans continue to contribute to the story of American Greatness.

As we come together to mark this truly special day for the people of Italy and the United States, Melania and I send our best wishes to those gathered for a memorable Republic Day.
Preliminary results from a study of childhood cancer survivors show that they are more likely to experience sleep problems and daytime sleepiness as adults, and those who report poor sleep have a greater likelihood of persistent or worsened emotional distress.

Sleep disorders are related to emotional and physical health in the general population, but research in survivors of childhood cancer is limited. This study characterized sleep behaviors in adults who had survived childhood cancer and examined associations among sleep, cancer diagnoses, treatment exposures, and emotional functioning.

Results show that cancer survivors were more likely than siblings to report sleep problems as adults. After adjustment for age, survivors were 31 percent more likely to report daytime sleepiness and 26 percent more likely to have poor "sleep efficiency," which represents the percentage of total time in bed spent asleep. Relative to survivors without distress, survivors who developed emotional distress from baseline to follow-up evidenced poor sleep efficiency, restricted sleep time, fatigue, daytime sleepiness, snoring, and frequent use of sleep medications or sleep aids.

"Our results indicate that for survivors of childhood cancer who reported sleep problems, there is a greater likelihood of worsening or persistent psychological distress," said lead author Lauren Daniel, PhD, an assistant professor of psychology at Rutgers University-Camden in New Jersey. "Thus, addressing disrupted sleep in these survivors may improve long-term psychological functioning."

The study involved 1,933 childhood cancer survivors enrolled in the Childhood Cancer Survivor Study, 50.8 percent of whom were female. Participants had a mean age of 35 years and a mean time since diagnosis of 23.5 years. The study also involved 380 siblings with a mean age of 33 years. Both groups completed sleep quality (Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index), fatigue (Functional Assessment of Chronic Illness Therapy-Fatigue), and sleepiness (Epworth Sleepiness Scale) measures. Emotional functioning was assessed about 8 years before and 2 years after the sleep survey.

According to Daniel, the results emphasize the importance of addressing sleep problems in cancer survivors.

"Sleep is quite amenable to behavioral interventions, said Daniel. "Efforts that improve sleep may improve both health and quality of life in long-term childhood cancer survivors."

The research abstract was published recently in an online supplement of the journal Sleep and will be presented Monday, June 4, in Baltimore at SLEEP 2018, the 32nd annual meeting of the Associated Professional Sleep Societies LLC (APSS), which is a joint venture of the American Academy of Sleep Medicine and the Sleep Research Society.

###

This study was funded by the National Cancer Institute of the National Institutes of Health.

Abstract Title: Sleep Behaviors And Patterns In Adult Survivors Of Childhood Cancers: A Report From The Childhood Cancer Survivor Study (CCSS)

Abstract ID: 0863

Poster Presentation: Monday, June 4, 5 p.m. to 7 p.m., Board 149

Oral Presentation: Tuesday, June 5, 1:30 p.m. to 1:45 p.m., Room 339

Presenter: Lauren Daniel, PhD

For a copy of the abstract or to arrange an interview with the study author or an AASM spokesperson, please contact AASM Communications Coordinator Corinne Lederhouse at 630-737-9700, ext. 9366, or clederhouse@aasm.org.

About the American Academy of Sleep Medicine

Established in 1975, the American Academy of Sleep Medicine (AASM) improves sleep health and promotes high quality, patient-centered care through advocacy, education, strategic research, and practice standards (www.aasm.org). The AASM has a combined membership of 10,000 accredited member sleep centers and individual members, including physicians, scientists and other health care professionals. For more information about sleep and sleep disorders, including a directory of AASM-accredited member sleep centers, visit http://www.sleepeducation.org.
Killeen, TX (76540)

Today

Scattered thunderstorms in the morning, then partly cloudy late. High 83F. Winds SSE at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 50%..

Tonight

Clear to partly cloudy. Low around 70F. Winds S at 5 to 10 mph.
According to a recent study, a newly developed algorithm may be the key to optimizing alertness with caffeine.

Caffeine is the most widely consumed stimulant to counter the effects of sleep loss on neurobehavioral performance. However, to be safe and most effective, it must be consumed at the right time and in the right amount. This study proposed an automated optimization algorithm to identify safe and effective caffeine-dosing strategies that maximize alertness under any sleep-loss condition.

"We found that by using our algorithm, which determines when and how much caffeine a subject should consume, we can improve alertness by up to 64 percent, while consuming the same total amount of caffeine," said principal investigator and senior author Jaques Reifman, PhD. "Alternatively, a subject can reduce caffeine consumption by up to 65 percent and still achieve equivalent improvements in alertness."

Reifman is a senior research scientist and director of DoD Biotechnology High Performance Computing Software Applications Institute and the Telemedicine and Advanced Technology Research Center at the U.S. Army Medical Research and Materiel Command in Ft. Detrick, Maryland.

The study used a validated mathematical model, which predicts the effects of sleep loss and caffeine on psychomotor vigilance task (PVT) performance and combined it with a computationally efficient optimization algorithm to determine when and how much caffeine to consume to safely maximize alertness during sleep loss. The algorithm takes a user-provided sleep/wake schedule and maximum allowed caffeine as inputs and provides a caffeine-dosing strategy as the output.

The algorithm was assessed by computing and comparing dosing strategies for four previously published experimental studies of sleep loss. For each study, two dosing strategies were computed--one which enhanced the predicted PVT performance using the same total amount of caffeine as in the original studies, and another which achieved an equivalent level of performance as in the original studies using a lower amount of caffeine.

Compared to the original dosing strategies used in the studies, the U.S. Army's algorithm identified strategies that enhanced neurobehavioral performance by up to 64 percent, or reduced caffeine consumption by up to 65 percent. According to the authors, these results suggest that the algorithm can tailor the timing and amount of caffeine to the particular sleep/wake schedule of each study condition to maximize its benefits.

"Our algorithm is the first quantitative tool that provides automated, customized guidance for safe and effective caffeine dosing to maximize alertness at the most needed times during any sleep-loss condition," said Reifman.

###

The research abstract was published recently in an online supplement of the journal Sleep and will be presented Monday, June 4, in Baltimore at SLEEP 2018, the 32nd annual meeting of the Associated Professional Sleep Societies LLC (APSS), which is a joint venture of the American Academy of Sleep Medicine and the Sleep Research Society.

This work was sponsored by the Military Operational Medicine Program Area Directorate of the U.S. Army Medical Research and Materiel Command, Ft. Detrick, MD, and by the U.S. Department of Defense Medical Research and Development Program (Grant No. DMRDP_13200).

Abstract Title: Caffeine Dosage Strategies that Efficiently Enhance Alertness during Sleep Loss

Abstract ID: 0215

Presentation Date: Monday, June 4

Oral Presentation: 11:30 a.m. to 11:45 a.m., Room 319

Presenter: Francisco Vital-Lopez, PhD

For a copy of the abstract or to arrange an interview with the study author or an AASM spokesperson, please contact AASM Communications Coordinator Corinne Lederhouse at 630-737-9700, ext. 9366, or clederhouse@aasm.org.

About the American Academy of Sleep Medicine

Established in 1975, the American Academy of Sleep Medicine (AASM) improves sleep health and promotes high quality, patient-centered care through advocacy, education, strategic research, and practice standards http://www.aasm.org. The AASM has a combined membership of 10,000 accredited member sleep centers and individual members, including physicians, scientists and other health care professionals. For more information about sleep and sleep disorders, including a directory of AASM-accredited member sleep centers, visit http://www.sleepeducation.org.
DALLAS, June 4, 2018 --Limited healthy literacy is a major barrier blocking many people from achieving good cardiovascular health or benefiting from effective treatment for heart attacks, heart failure, strokes and other cardiovascular diseases, according to a scientific statement published in the American Heart Association's journal Circulation.

Health literacy encompasses not only the ability to read, but skills such as being able to ask questions about your care, understand documents with medical terminology, perform the basic arithmetic needed to take medication correctly and negotiate with health care providers and insurance companies. Inability to do these things effectively can have serious health consequences.

The statement provides an overview of the issues faced by people with limited health literacy, based on a review of studies on the topic that were published between 2004 and 2016. Highlights include:

More than half of people with low health literacy did not recognize a blood pressure reading of 160/100 mmHg as abnormal and limited health literacy makes it 1.8 to 2.7 times less likely that those with high blood pressure will get it under control;

People with low health literacy are more likely to be dependent on nicotine and are 3 times as likely to relapse after going through a smoking cessation program;

People with diabetes and low health literacy are more likely to develop complications of the disease, such as diabetic retinopathy. They are 1.7 times less likely to use an online patient portal, which is an increasingly used technology for patient communication and disease management;

Parents with low health literacy are twice as likely to perceive their overweight child as being normal weight.

"The opportunities for communication failure by healthcare providers who treat people for heart disease risk factors, heart diseases and strokes are rampant," said Jared W. Magnani, M.D., M.Sc., chair of the writing group for the scientific statement and associate professor of medicine at the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine in Pennsylvania. "Many patients do not understand the written materials they receive as part of health care, or do not have the numeric skills to understand quantitative information. Also, medical care uses a considerable amount of specialized terminology, which some call jargon.

"A patient with limited health literacy may not understand that a stress test described as "positive" is not a good result.," he continued. "Or we instruct patients to avoid sodium, when they may not know how to identify and quantify sodium intake or even how to interpret nutrition labels."

Currently, only 12 percent of Americans have the health literacy skills to successfully navigate the health care system, and the difficulties associated with inadequate health literacy will likely get worse, the committee found. Limited health literacy is common among racial and ethnic minorities, older adults, people who with limited English skills and those with less education and economic stability, according to the statement. The statement authors emphasized that even people with higher education may have poor or limited health literacy if they are not familiar with health terminology and face situations that beyond their normal experience.

"The last decade has seen technological and pharmacologic advances in health care, cardiac devices, and mobile health initiatives alongside a growing emphasis on shared decision-making and patient-reported outcomes. If we don't address health literacy these advances won't benefit many of the people who have the greatest need," Magnani said.

The authors of the statement advocate the use of The Universal Precautions Toolkit, which was created by the federal Agency for Health Research and Quality.

"The toolkit reminds us that health literacy is not a patient problem but is the result of the complexities of health care delivery. It calls on health care professionals to make changes that improve access to care for all patients," said Magnani. Some of the strategies recommended for healthcare providers in the toolkit include:

Avoiding jargon and integrating pictures as teaching tools;

Creating understandable forms, informed consents and brochures;

Improving patient follow-up and telephone access;

Asking patients to bring in all of their medications so that the healthcare provider can assess medication adherence and safety;

Considering the patient's culture, customs and beliefs in their care;

Linking patients to support from specialists, case management and community resources.

"We employ specialized care for our patients and expect them to understand the reasons for it and make lifestyle changes and take medications daily, many of them for life. We owe it to our patients to ensure that they fully understand their conditions and treatments," Magnani said.

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Co-authors are Mahasin S. Mujahid, Ph.D., M.S.; Herbert D. Aronow, M.D., M.P.H.; Crystal W. Cene, M.D., M.P.H.; Victoria Vaughan Dickson, Ph.D., R.N.; Edward Havranek, M.D.; Lewis B. Morgenstern, M.D.; Michael K. Paasche-Orlow, M.D., M.S.; Amu Pollak, M.D.; and Joshua Willey, M.D., Author disclosures are on the manuscript.

Additional Resources:

Heart/brain infographics are available on the right column of the release link https://newsroom.heart.org/news/limited-health-literacy-is-a-major-barrier-to-heart-disease-prevention-and-treatment?preview=b93eddc9efca16233c932d807efd622b

After June 4, view the manscript online. (to be added)

Low health literacy linked to heart failure deaths after hospitalization

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The American Heart Association is devoted to saving people from heart disease and stroke - the two leading causes of death in the world. We team with millions of volunteers to fund innovative research, fight for stronger public health policies, and provide lifesaving tools and information to prevent and treat these diseases. The Dallas-based association is the nation's oldest and largest voluntary organization dedicated to fighting heart disease and stroke. To learn more or to get involved, call 1-800-AHA-USA1, visit heart.org or call any of our offices around the country. Follow us on Facebook and Twitter.
It makes no difference whether colorectal cancer patients are CT-scanned twice or five times in the first three years after surgery. The survival rate after five years is the same. This is shown by a large Danish/Swedish randomised controlled trial

Logically, it would seem that more follow-up testing of cancer patients must be better than less - but this is not the case for patients who undergo surgery for colorectal cancer.

This is an important conclusion from a study where 2,509 patients with colorectal cancer were offered two and five follow-up tests in the form of CT scans combined with a blood test spread over the first three years after the operation. The results have just been published in the scientific journal JAMA.

In some cases, the extra scans meant that a cancer relapse was discovered earlier, but this did not increase the chances of the patients surviving the first five years. And this is despite the fact that all of the test subjects were referred for further examination at specialist departments following the slightest suspicion that the cancer had returned.

The futile extra scans should be compared to the fact that many countries have actually increased the amount of follow-up testing in the belief that more testing improves survival.

"The three extra scans don't achieve anything. Twenty per cent of the patients experience relapses, and approximately eleven per cent die within the first five years due to the recurrence of their cancer. This is the case irrespective of whether they have been scanned two or five times. There is no significant difference. The money is therefore spent in vain, while the extra scans expose patients to unnecessary radiation," says Clinical Professor, DMSc Sren Laurberg.

Another important partial result is that the number of relapses - the above-mentioned twenty per cent - is modest in relation to what the researchers expected.

"All of the test subjects have been stage 2 and 3 patients with advanced cancer, so we expected that this figure would be at least the double. It's an encouraging sign that the diagnosis and treatment has been significantly improved in recent years," says Sren Laurberg, who works at the Department of Clinical Medicine at Aarhus University and at the section for colorectal and mamma-endocrine surgery in the Department of Surgery at Aarhus University hospital.

The project was launched in January 2006 on the initiative of Peer Wille-Jrgensen, who is a consultant at Bispebjerg Hospital. His wish was to verify a number of smaller and therefore uncertain studies which indicated that it was possible to improve survival rates after surgery for colorectal cancer through more frequent follow-ups.

With this in mind, Peer Wille-Jrgensen formed a steering committee of leading Danish, Swedish and English surgeons who together designed and planned the research project, which they named COLOFOL. The committee included Clinical Professor Sren Laurberg and Professor Henrik Toft Srensen from the Department of Clinical Epidemiology. They were responsible for the data analysis.

In the trial, half of the patients were offered two follow-ups after drawing lots, while the control group comprising the other half were also offered the three extra CT scans. An important element was the preparation of fixed guidelines for which examinations should be carried out if it was suspected that the cancer had returned in one of the test subjects.

The clinical randomised study ran from 2006 until December 2010 with a concluding five-year follow-up at the end of 2015. Since then, two-and-a-half years have been spent on analysing results from across the participating countries.

"From the beginning, we wanted to get more countries involved in the study, and we were in discussions with Norway and Ireland, amongst others. But they pulled out because they had already introduced extra scans, and it's practically impossible to find test subjects who're willing to say yes to fewer follow-ups," explains Sren Laurberg, who describes the research result as an important 'non-result' in relation to the clinical guidelines in the many countries which recommend more frequent follow-ups.

He expects that the study will lead to the recommended frequency of follow-ups being reduced - probably to the Danish level, where the follow-up for patients after colorectal cancer operations has remained at one and three years.

"As I see it, the study has in this way prevented the introduction of more frequent follow-ups after surgery for colorectal cancer on a less than stringent basis," says Sren Laurberg, who points out that there is a tendency towards ever more follow-ups and diagnostic imaging - also for other forms of cancer.

"But they must make a difference. In Denmark a CT scan costs DKK 2,500 (US dollar 395), so with regard to the question of two or five scans, savings of DKK 7,500 (US dollar 1185) per patient can be made, without even thinking of the working hours at the hospitals and lost working hours for the people who take time off work and spend it on an unnecessary scanning," says Sren Laurberg.

The study is an unblinded clinical randomised study.

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Important partners apart from Sren Laurberg, Peer Wille-Jrgensen and Henrik Toft Srensen, who are named in the article, include now deceased Professor Lars Pahlman, Uppsala University, and Professor Ingvar Syk, Lund University.
Interfering with inflammatory signals produced by heart muscle cells might someday provide novel therapeutic strategies for atrial fibrillation, according to an international team of researchers who have published their findings in the journal Circulation.

"Atrial fibrillation is the most common heart arrhythmia, and it is particularly observed in the elderly human population, which is growing worldwide," said corresponding author Dr. Na Li, assistant professor of medicine and of molecular physiology and biophysics at Baylor College of Medicine. "Atrial fibrillation can increase a person's risks for stroke and related heart problems."

Inflammation has long been implicated in many cardiovascular diseases including atrial fibrillation, but only as a bystander. This has changed as significant clinical evidence suggests that the inflammatory response, including inflammatory mediators called cytokines, are strongly associated with the progression of this disease. In this study, Li and her colleagues set out to determine whether inflammatory signaling could be playing a causative role in atrial fibrillation.

"We focused on an inflammatory signaling called NLRP3 inflammasome, which is typically associated with innate immune cells, like macrophages and monocytes," Li said. "Little is known, however, of the role this inflammasome plays in heart cells. We looked at the heart-specific inflammasone and asked what functions it plays in the heart and its possible link to atrial fibrillation."

Li and her colleagues worked with both a mouse model of atrial fibrillation and with human heart tissue from patients with the condition. In the mouse model, the researchers genetically engineered mice to express a form of NLRP3 inflammasome that is constantly active only in heart cells, and then assessed whether these mice were more vulnerable to atrial arrhythmia.

"We found that mice with active NLRP3 inflammasome in their heart cells developed precursors of sustained atrial arrhythmia, such as spontaneous atrial contractions," Li said. "These spontaneous atrial contractions were suppressed by treating the mice with a specific NLRP3 inflammasome inhibitor or by specifically knocking down the NLRP3 inflammasome gene in heart cells. This indicates that in this model, activation of this inflammasome in heart cells alone is sufficient to promote events that have often been associated with the development of atrial fibrillation."

Looking to determine a human connection, the researchers analyzed human heart cells from patients with atrial arrhythmia and found increased levels of NLRP3 inflammasome activity, supporting their idea that this inflammasone may play a role in the human condition.

"It is well known that the function of the NLRP3 inflammasome is to prime immune cells for the release of cytokines that mediate an inflammatory response. Here we show for the first time that this inflammasome pathway also can mediate in a non-immune cell - a heart cell - other functions that are independent of producing cytokines," Li said. "To our surprise, we found that the activation of this inflammasome pathway in heart cells can affect many proteins that are involved in modulating the electrophysiology of cardiac cells. Enhancing this pathway ultimately leads to abnormal electrical patterns that are similar to those observed in atrial fibrillation in the mouse model."

The researchers propose that combining the results of previous clinical trials with their basic research findings can lead to novel therapies based on targeting the inflammasone pathway in heart cells.

Li and her colleagues are now looking into factors that may trigger activation of inflammasome signaling in heart cells.

"There is clinical evidence that modifying risk factors for atrial fibrillation - obesity, diabetes and sleep apnea, for instance - can lead to significant reduction of atrial fibrillation incidence," Li said. "We want to investigate whether these factors, which are also commonly associated with an inflammatory response, can in addition promote atrial fibrillation through the inflammasome pathway in heart cells."

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Other contributors to this work include Chunxia Yao, Tina Veleva, Larry Scott, Shuyi Cao, Luge Li, Gong Chen, Prince Jeyabal, Xiaolu Pan, Katherina M. Alsina, Issam Abu-Taha, Shokoufeh Ghezelbash, Corey L. Reynolds, Ying H. Shen, Scott A. LeMaire, Wilhelm Schmitz, Frank U. Muller, Ali El-Armouche, N. Tony Eissa, Christine Beeton, Stanley Nattel, Xander H. T. Wehrens and Dobromir Dobrev. Visit this link for a complete list of author affiliations.

This work was supported by the National Institutes of Health grants R56-HL131649 and R01-HL136389. Additional support was provided by the American Heart Association (14SDG20080008), the German Research Foundation DFG (Do 769/4-1), the German Center for Cardiovascular Research and the Canadian Institutes of Health Research and the Heart and Stroke Foundation of Canada.
The highest burden of cervical cancer is concentrated in sub-Saharan Africa, where it is the main cause of cancer mortality among women. Therefore, the introduction of the vaccine against HPV (the causative agent of cervical cancer) is urgent and strategic to achieve the global health targets. Mozambique is one of the countries with the highest incidence of cervical cancer, and 40% of asymptomatic women in reproductive age are estimated to be infected by HPV. In 2013, Gavi funded a demonstration programme for HPV vaccination prior to the introduction of the vaccine at the national level. The programme targeted adolescent girls (10-19 years of age) in three areas of the country.

The goal of this study was to assess the awareness on cervical cancer and HPV infection, and predict the acceptance of HPV vaccination, among adolescent girls in three districts of Mozambique. The survey results show that a great majority of adolescent girls (around 80%) had heard of cervical cancer and was aware it could be prevented, although few knew about HPV infection and its association with cervical cancer or the importance of vaccinating before the debut of sexual activity. The results also showed that more than 90% of adolescent girls were willing to be vaccinated if the vaccine was available in the country. Awareness and acceptability levels were higher among girls where information campaigns had been conducted as part of the demonstation programme.

"These results are very encouraging", says lead author Azucena Bardaji, "and confirm the critical role of awareness-raising campaigns in the communities". As senior author Khatia Munguambe points out, the results indicate that the best option for the Mozambican Ministry of Health would be delivering the vaccine at school and complementing with community and health center strategies to reach those girls that have dropped out of school. The study received support from the Government of Mozambique, Gavi (the Vaccine Alliance), the Barcelona City Hall and the Aga Khan Foundation.

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Professor Jean-Pierre Changeux, has been selected as the winner of the ALBERT EINSTEIN World Award of Science and Professor Malik Maaza, will be awarded with the JOSE VASCONCELOS World Award of Education.

Professor Jean-Pierre Changeux, Emeritus Professor of Neuroscience at the Institut Pasteur and College de France, where he was Chair of Cellular Communications from 1976 to 2006, and at the International Faculty, Kavli Institute for Brain & Mind, University of California (San Diego), has been selected as the winner of the 2018 ALBERT EINSTEIN World Award of Science.

The prize is awarded in recognition of his exceptional scientific achievements and leadership in the field of neuroscience and especially for his pioneering contributions to the science and understanding of neuroreceptors for the past 50 years. Prof. Changeux's breakthrough discovery of the acetylcholine receptor as a model membrane receptor was ground-breaking since it has proven to be one of the most central regulatory mechanisms in biology. This has led to an original insight into the chemistry of the brain and ultimately the brain-mind relationship.

The jury acknowledged the significant impact of his research on healthcare and on our understanding of human neural processes. Prof. Changeux's deep thought on the mechanism of neural networks has narrowed the gap between molecular biology and cognitive sciences.

At the beginning of his career in the 1960s, working with Jacques Monod, Francois Jacob and Jeffries Wyman, he made a breakthrough that led to the development of the theory of allosteric transitions in proteins. This now well-established theory postulated that regulatory ligands control the activity of the active sites of enzymes when they bind to topologically distinct sites.

Soon after, he proposed a similar concept to explain the behaviour of synaptic receptors for neurotransmitters. During the decades that followed, he proved this hypothesis too. He characterized and purified the acetylcholine receptor from the electric organ of a fish, the first receptor for a neurotransmitter and ligand-gated ion channel to be identified.

Further studies have shown that human diseases are associated with mutations that change the conformational equilibrium of allosteric proteins, including growth factor receptors. Furthermore, many of the drugs developed to modulate receptors coupled to G proteins are in fact allosteric modulators. Currently, many pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies are developing allosteric modulators of receptors or other key proteins in human cells for use as efficient drugs in neurological disorders as well as other diseases including cancer.

Moving from the molecules and the isolated neurons or muscle cells to the development of neuronal networks, Prof. Changeux and his colleagues made a far-reaching contribution by first proposing in mathematical terms and then testing the theory that the long-term epigenesis of neuronal networks occurs by the selective stabilization and elimination of developing synapses.

At the same time, Jean-Pierre Changeux and his colleagues proposed theoretical models for defined cognitive tasks that bridge the gap between molecular biology and cognitive sciences and where allosteric receptors play a key role in the regulation of synaptic efficacy. Furthermore, they put forward an original hypothesis describing a neuronal mechanism for conscious access, implying a "global neuronal workspace" composed of a brain-scale horizontal network of reciprocally connected long axon pyramidal neurons.

Jean-Pierre Changeux has been concerned about the ethical consequences of recent progress in neuroscience for medicine and for society in general, and has made it widely known in his popular work L'homme neuronal, (Neuronal Man: The Biology of The Mind), 1983, and his book with the philosopher Paul Ricoeur La Nature et la Regle (1998), What makes us think? a neuroscientist and a philosopher argue about ethics, human nature and the brain 2000. This major work was followed by books on the way we perceive paintings and music or how we think and speak, all of which were further enhanced by his vast knowledge of art, music, history and philosophy.

During his career, he has accumulated a vast collection of works of art, mostly paintings, lithographs and prints of the seventeenth century. Part of this was donated to the Bossuet Art Museum in Meaux.

Professor Changeux has received many major scientific acknowledgements and prizes, among them the Wolf Prize in Medicine (1983), Grand Prix de la Fondation pour la Recherche Medicale (1997), the Linus Pauling medal (1999) and the Balzan prize (2001). He was invited to become a member of various academies of Science and Letters, among them Academia Europaea, Accademia dei Lincei, Leopoldina and the French Academie des Sciences. He is doctor honoris causa of almost twenty universities worldwide.

Professor Malik Maaza

The 2018 JOSE VASCONCELOS World Award of Education will be granted to Professor Malik Maaza, Professor at the University of South Africa (UNISA) and at iThemba LABS-National Research Foundation of South Africa, and holder of the UNESCO-UNISA Africa Chair in Nanosciences and Nanotechnology, UNESCO, Paris, France.

The Award acknowledges Prof. Maaza's vision of the importance of education for societal development and sustainability. It recognizes his international and humanistic approach to science education as well as his commitment to training and mentoring young scientists on the African continent. To this end, he has worked tirelessly to raise funds worldwide to support foreign researchers from less affluent countries. He has assisted scientists from war zones in Africa and the Middle East to pursue their research goals and has also organized periodic exchanges by renowned scientists of Israeli and Arabic origin, seeking to build bridges through science.

The Jury were additionally impressed by his promotion of Women in Science in conservative communities.

Professor Malik Maaza is an African physicist and an accomplished researcher and educator, born in Algeria in 1963 and working in South Africa. His clear vision of how science can be used as a tool to empower individuals to address some of humanity's most pressing challenges has been demonstrated through his commitment to training and mentoring young scientists.

He is greatly respected for his work as a pioneer of nanoscience and nanotechnology on the African continent and, most importantly, for his accomplishments as outstanding educator and dedicated mentor. He has significantly contributed to the education of numerous PhD students and postdoctoral researchers.

Malik Maaza has also played a crucial part in keeping South Africa at the leading edge of international research. In this sense, he plays a key strategic and planning role in developing South Africa research programmes and research grant proposals. His work has earned him international recognition by UNESCO, which appointed him to the first South-South Chair in Nanosciences & Nanotechnology: the UNESCO UNISA Africa Chair in Nanosciences and Nanotechnology, also known as U2ACN2. Recognized by the global scientific community for the value of his published work through frequent invitations to speak at international events, he acts as an ambassador and voice of the African continent in the multidisciplinary field of nanotechnology.

Professor Maaza's contributions in the area of education are not confined to the classroom. He has created platforms for the introduction of emerging areas of education like material science, space sciences and laser sciences. He has set up many new facilities that underpin a wide range of scientific programmes, established his own team and exploited his own expertise and ideas to build strong relations with both academia and industry at national and international level.

Professor Malik Maaza' dedication to the cause of Women in Science is also witnessed through his role as a member of the international as well as the Sub-Saharan juries of L'Oreal-UNESCO Award for Women in Science. He is a major player in promoting the role of women in science, especially those living in low and medium income countries and is also a peace activist, using science as a powerful path for fostering human relations between young researchers.

His work as UNESCO Chair has had a huge impact on building capacities among the future generation of African scientists.

This year the World Cultural Council will celebrate its 35th Award Ceremony on Thursday 8th November 2018 at 16:30 hrs. in City University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong. This innovative university is an ideal environment for recognizing the outstanding achievements of the WCC's laureates and celebrating the inspiration that they bring as role models for future generations.

As part of the programme, the WCC, in cooperation with City University, organizes Laureates' Lectures to create an opportunity for interaction between the local community and the winners. These lectures will take place on Wednesday 7th November.

During the Award Ceremony, the World Cultural Council will grant special acknowledgements to young researchers or scholars from Hong Kong who have achieved outstanding performance in the fields of science, education or the arts. This year, nine promising young research leaders from City University Hong Kong will receive a Commemorative Diploma for their exemplary work at an early stage of their careers.

For more than three decades the World Cultural Council has been recognizing individuals that have made exceptional achievements in science, education and the arts, with the final objective of promoting tolerance, peace and fraternity, seeking to encourage the use of science, art and education to further the well-being of humanity.

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Related links:

http://www.consejoculturalmundial.org

http://www.cityu.edu.hk/2018-wcc/

COPYRIGHT  2018 CONSEJO CULTURAL MUNDIAL. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

OFFICIAL BANNER FOR THE ANNOUNCEMENT OF THE 2018 WORLD CULTURAL COUNCIL AWARDS
Beijing, May 31, 2018: The May 2018 issue includes four original research articles, a reflection article, a China Focus article and a Letter to the Editor addressing various topics in family medicine in both China and internationally.

The first featured article in this issue is an original research article entitled "Geographic and health system correlates of interprofessional oral health practice" by authors Sean G. Boynes, Abigail Lauer and Amy Martin. Caries activity is one of the most common diseases of childhood, and prevention/intervention by primary care teams can positively impact patient results. This analysis examined unknown correlates of oral health prevention and intervention at geographic, organizational, and system levels relating to the impact of referral mechanisms and systems as well as health information technology on fluoride varnish administration and risk-based oral evaluations.

The second featured article is a reflection article entitled "The role of the teaching practice in undergraduate education - A British perspective" by Patricia Houlston. This article describes and reflects on the role of the teaching practice in undergraduate education on the basis of the author's experience in the United Kingdom. Recognizing that China is addressing the huge task of developing a general practice workforce in an unprecedented short time, I hope that sharing these ideas will be helpful. General practitioners are well able to teach the basics of medicine. However, their real strengths come when they are focusing on key consulting skills needed for general practice, developing reflective lifelong learners, and cultivating good attitudes. The practice is also able to demonstrate preventive medicine, chronic disease management, and multidisciplinary care. By providing exposure to general practice at this early stage in a medical career, the teaching practice will hopefully inspire and attract the general practice workforce of the future.

The third featured article is a China Focus article entitled "Impacts from the implementation of a Novel Clinical Pharmacist Training Program in Changsha, Hunan Province, China by Ping Xu, Da Xiong Xiang, Andrew J. Cave and Hoan Linh Banh. This is the first clinical pharmacy train-the-trainer program in China in collaboration with a university in Canada teaching clinical pharmacists how to provide direct patient care and to conduct clinical research. The program was well accepted by the hospital staff and administration. As a result of the changes implemented, the hospital was ranked as having the third best clinical pharmacy department in China.

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Other articles published in the issue include:>

Original Research

Prevalence of risk factors for noncommunicable diseases among rural women in Yemen Gawad M.A. Alwabr

Cross-sectional analysis of obesity and high blood pressure among undergraduate students of a University Medical College in South India

Sravan Kumar Chenji, Chythra R. Rao, Saranya Sivanesan, Veena Kamath, Asha Kamath

Genetic screening for quality-of-life improvement and post-genetic testing consideration in Saudi Arabia

Faten Dhawi, Faisal Shehab Alotaibi

Letter to the Editor

Has Mayaro virus always existed or is it new?

Juan Vargas

FMCH is available on the IngentaConnect platform and at Family Medicine and Community Health. Submissions may be made using ScholarOne Manuscripts. There are no author submission or article processing fees. FMCH is indexed in the ESCI, EBSCO, OCLC, Primo Central (Ex Libris), Scopus, Sherpa Romeo, Ulrichsweb, DOAJ, WPRIM, NISC (National Information Services Corporation) and Index Copernicus Databases. Follow FMCH on Twitter @FMCHJournal; or Facebook. http://www.ingentaconnect.com/content/cscript/fmch/2016/00000004/00000004

Full bibliographic information

Volume 6, Number 2

Family Medicine and Community Health

ISSN 2305-6983 (Print); ISSN: 2009-8774 (Online)
Impacts from the implementation of a Novel Clinical Pharmacist Training Program in Changsha, Hunan Province, China

In the current issue of Family Medicine and Community Health (Volume 6, Number 2, 2018, pp. 89-92(4); DOI: https://doi.org/10.15212/FMCH.2017.0142, researchers Ping Xu and Da Xiong Xiang, of The Second Xiangya Hospital of Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, China, along with colleagues Andrew J. Cave and Hoan Linh Banh from the Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada describe the first clinical pharmacy train-the-trainer program in China in collaboration with a Canadian university - the University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta.

The Ministry of Health and Family Planning of the People's Republic of China has issued a mandate to all hospitals to implement clinical pharmacy services by 2020. Implementation of clinical pharmacy services to provide pharmaceutical care is a priority. The Second Xiangya Hospital of Central South University (SXHCSU) in collaboration with the University of Alberta has implemented a structured train-the-trainer program to train pharmacists to provide direct patient care in collaboration with physicians, to teach/mentor other pharmacists and students from Hunan province, and to conduct clinical pharmacy research.

Following the train-the-trainer program, pharmacists at SXHCSU are now providing comprehensive pharmaceutical care to all patients. The pharmacy clinical leader has developed and implemented a structured training program for clinical pharmacists. The clinical pharmacists are also conducting clinical pharmacy-related research. In October 2016 the Ministry of Health ranked SXHCSU as having the third best hospital pharmacy in China due to the outcomes of the training collaboration with the University of Alberta.

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FMCH is available on the IngentaConnect platform and at Family Medicine and Community Health. Submissions may be made using ScholarOne Manuscripts. There are no author submission or article processing fees. FMCH is indexed in the ESCI, EBSCO, OCLC, Primo Central (Ex Libris), Scopus, Sherpa Romeo, Ulrichsweb, DOAJ, WPRIM, NISC (National Information Services Corporation) and Index Copernicus Databases. Follow FMCH on Twitter @FMCHJournal; or Facebook.
Trauma experienced by a parent during childhood has long-reaching consequences - maybe even to the point of negatively impacting their own children's health, a new Drexel University study found.

"It is well known that adverse childhood experiences can lead to serious and wide-ranging effects on the health of the people who go through them," said Felice Le-Scherban, PhD, the study's lead researcher and an assistant professor in Drexel's Dornsife School of Public Health. "A lot of these health problems - such as substance abuse, depression or chronic illnesses like cardiovascular disease - can affect how parents care for their kids and the environments where they grow up."

"Adverse childhood experiences" are described as serious traumas or stress a person experiences during their formative years. This might include something like abuse or exposure to violence and/or drugs. The study, published in Pediatrics, looked into surveys taken by 350 Philadelphia parents who answered questions about their own "ACEs."

It found that for every type of "ACE" a parent went through, their children had 19 percent higher odds of poorer health and 17 percent higher odds of having asthma.

"If we only look at the within-individual effects of ACEs, we may be underestimating their lasting impact on health across multiple generations," Le-Scherban said of the study team's motivations. "Looking intergenerationally gives us a more comprehensive picture of the long-term processes that might affect children's health."

"By the same token, acting to prevent ACEs and helping those who have experienced them can potentially have benefits extending to future generations," Le-Scherban added.

Among the parents who were surveyed:

- Nearly 42 percent said they'd witnessed violence (seeing someone shot, stabbed or beaten) as a child - 38 percent said they lived with a problem drinker or someone who used illicit drugs during their youth - Roughly 37 percent said that they had been physically abused as children

While those were the most common ACEs, there were many others that received strong responses, including experiencing racial discrimination and sexual abuse.

Overall, 85 percent of parents experienced at least one ACE. The more ACEs a parent had suffered as a child, the more likely their own children were to have poorer health status.

One of the other areas that Le-Scherban and her fellow researchers focused on was behavior in the survey respondents' children that could have an impact on health. They found that each ACE a parent had experienced was tied to an additional 16 percent higher odds that their children would have excessive TV-watching habits. While not a direct health outcome, it sets up a child for potentially poorer health habits down the line.

And though ACEs are more prevalent in populations low on the socioeconomic scale, that doesn't explain everything, Le-Scherban said.

"It's important to remember that ACEs, and their effects, occur across the socioeconomic spectrum," Le-Scherban commented.

While the links can't be definitively established as causal yet, they suggest that it's important to keep studying the multigenerational effects that trauma has on health, according to Le-Scherban.

"We need to know more about the specific pathways through which parental ACEs might harm child health so we can minimize these harms," she said. "On the flip side, it's important to learn more about the factors that promote resilience to help parents and their children thrive despite past trauma."

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Washington, DC, June 4, 2018 -- Preschool irritability and concurrent irritability were uniquely associated with aberrant patterns of reward-related brain connectivity, highlighting the importance of developmental timing of irritability for brain function, finds a study published in the June 2018 issue of the Journal of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry (JAACAP).

Irritability is one of the most frequent reasons for treatment referral and is present across multiple emotional and behavioral disorders, said lead author Lea Dougherty, PhD, a clinical psychologist at the University of Maryland College Park. Chronic irritability in school-age children and adolescents predicts depressive and anxiety disorders, suicidality, and functional impairment in adulthood. Despite its prevalence and central role in developmental psychopathology, the pathophysiology of irritability is largely unknown.

These findings provide some insight into the neural circuitry underlying irritability and is a step toward uncovering biomarkers for early identification and treatment of youth irritability, Dr. Dougherty added.

The findings were based on a subset of children recruited for a longitudinal study examining early risk for depression. Childrens irritability was assessed during the preschool period (ages 3.0-5.9 years) and three years later (ages 5.9-9.6 years). At the follow-up assessment, 46 children (28 females) performed monetary incentive delay tasks in which they either received rewards if they successfully hit a target, or no reward regardless of performance, while being scanned with fMRI imaging.

The research team found that children who had more severe preschool irritability, controlling for concurrent irritability, exhibited altered reward-related connectivity: right amygdala with insula and inferior parietal lobe as well as left ventral striatum with lingual gyrus, post-central gyrus, superior parietal lobe and culmen.

Children with more versus less severe irritability concurrent with the neuroimaging assessment, controlling for preschool irritability, exhibited a similar pattern of altered connectivity between left and right amygdalae and superior frontal gyrus, and between left ventral striatum and precuneus and culmen. Neural differences associated with irritability were most evident between reward and no reward conditions when participants missed the target. These findings highlight how reward-related neural circuits may be altered in youth with increased irritability during preschool and school-age, suggesting possible mechanisms underlying mood dysregulation.

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Notes for editors

The article is "Preschool and School-Age Irritability Predict Reward-Related Brain Function," by Lea Dougherty, PhD, Karen T. G. Schwartz, MS, Maria Kryza-Lacombe, MA, Jill Weisberg, PhD, Philip A. Spechler, MA, and Jillian Lee Wiggins, PhD (https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jaac.2018.03.012). It appears in the Journal of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, volume 57, issue 6 (June 2018), published by Elsevier.

Dr. Dougherty and Mr. Spechler are with the University of Maryland, College Park. Drs. Wiggins and Weisberg, Mss. Schwartz and Kryzo-Lacome are with San Diego State University and University of California, San Diego Joint Doctoral Program in Clinical Psychology.

This research was supported by the Maryland Neuroimaging Center Seed Grant Program (LRD), National Science Foundation in partnership with the University of Maryland Type: ADVANCE Program for Inclusive Excellence (LRD & Tracy Riggins), University of Maryland College of Behavioral and Social Sciences Deans MRI Research Initiative RFP Program (LRD & Tracy Riggins), Behavioral and Social Sciences Deans Research Initiative (LRD), and the Research and Scholarship Award (LRD).

Copies of this paper are available to credentialed journalists upon request; please contact Mary Billingsley at mbillingsley@aacap.org">mbillingsley@aacap.org or +1 202 587 9672. Journalists wishing to interview the authors may contact Lea Dougherty, PhD, Department of Psychology, University of Maryland, College Park, MD 20742 at ldougher@umd.edu">ldougher@umd.edu.

About JAACAP

Journal of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry (JAACAP) is the official publication of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry. JAACAP is the leading journal focusing exclusively on today's psychiatric research and treatment of the child and adolescent. Published twelve times per year, each issue is committed to its mission of advancing the science of pediatric mental health and promoting the care of youth and their families.

The Journal's purpose is to advance research, clinical practice, and theory in child and adolescent psychiatry. It is interested in manuscripts from diverse viewpoints, including genetic, epidemiological, neurobiological, cognitive, behavioral, psychodynamic, social, cultural, and economic. Studies of diagnostic reliability and validity, psychotherapeutic and psychopharmacological treatment efficacy, and mental health services effectiveness are encouraged. The Journal also seeks to promote the well-being of children and families by publishing scholarly papers on such subjects as health policy, legislation, advocacy, culture and society, and service provision as they pertain to the mental health of children and families. http://www.jaacap.org

About Elsevier Elsevier is a global information analytics business that helps institutions and professionals advance healthcare, open science and improve performance for the benefit of humanity. Elsevier provides digital solutions and tools in the areas of strategic research management, R&D performance, clinical decision support and professional education, including ScienceDirect, Scopus, SciVal, ClinicalKey and Sherpath. Elsevier publishes over 2,500 digitized journals, including The Lancet and Cell, more than 38,000 e-book titles and many iconic reference works, including Gray's Anatomy. Elsevier is part of RELX Group, a global provider of information and analytics for professionals and business customers across industries. http://www.elsevier.com

Media contact

Mary Billingsley

JAACAP Editorial Office

+1 202 587 9672

mbillingsley@aacap.org">mbillingsley@aacap.org

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1. Yes. The medical data shows it will be beneficial to get one. The sooner the better.

2. Yes. Theres no rush, but I plan to get one sometime in the next few months.

3. No. Im not sold on the need for a booster. Besides, the case numbers are falliing.

4. No. I havent been vaccinated for COVID-19, and I dont plan to get the booster, either.

5. Unsure. It may be smart to wait and see how beneficial the booster shots prove to be.

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Randomized phase III clinical trial results to be presented today in the plenary session at ASCO 2018 Annual Meeting and published today in the New England Journal of Medicine

New findings from the groundbreaking Trial Assigning Individualized Options for Treatment (Rx), or TAILORx trial, show no benefit from chemotherapy for 70 percent of women with the most common type of breast cancer. The study found that for women with hormone receptor (HR)-positive, HER2-negative, axillary lymph node-negative breast cancer, treatment with chemotherapy and hormone therapy after surgery is not more beneficial than treatment with hormone therapy alone. The new data, released at the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) annual meeting in Chicago, will help inform treatment decisions for many women with early-stage breast cancer.

The trial was supported by the National Cancer Institute (NCI), part of the National Institutes of Health, and designed and led by the ECOG-ACRIN Cancer Research Group. Findings from the study will be published in The New England Journal of Medicine.

"The new results from TAILORx give clinicians high-quality data to inform personalized treatment recommendations for women," said lead author Joseph A. Sparano, M.D., associate director for clinical research at the Albert Einstein Cancer Center and Montefiore Health System in New York City and vice chair of the ECOG-ACRIN Cancer Research Group. "These data confirm that using a 21-gene expression test to assess the risk of cancer recurrence can spare women unnecessary treatment if the test indicates that chemotherapy is not likely to provide benefit."

TAILORx, a phase 3 clinical trial, opened in 2006 and was designed to provide an evidence-based answer to the question of whether hormone therapy alone is not inferior to hormone therapy plus chemotherapy. The trial used a molecular test (Oncotype DX Breast Recurrence Score) that assesses the expression of 21 genes associated with breast cancer recurrence to assign women with early-stage, HR-positive, HER2-negative, axillary lymph node-negative breast cancer to the most appropriate and effective post-operative treatment. The trial enrolled 10,273 women with this type of breast cancer at 1,182 sites in the United States, Australia, Canada, Ireland, New Zealand, and Peru.

When patients enrolled in the trial, their tumors were analyzed using the 21-gene expression test and assigned a risk score (on a scale of 0-100) for cancer recurrence. Based on evidence from earlier trials, women in the trial who had a score in the low-risk range (0-10) received hormone therapy only, and those who had a score in the high-risk range (26 and above) were treated with hormone therapy and chemotherapy.

Women in the trial who had a score in the intermediate range (11-25) were randomly assigned to receive hormone therapy alone or hormone therapy with adjuvant chemotherapy. The goal was to assess whether women who received hormone therapy alone had outcomes that were as good as those among women who received chemotherapy in addition to hormone therapy.

"Until now, we've been able to recommend treatment for women with these cancers at high and low risk of recurrence, but women at intermediate risk have been uncertain about the appropriate strategy to take," said Jeffrey Abrams, M.D., associate director of NCI's Cancer Therapy Evaluation Program. "These findings, showing no benefit from receiving chemotherapy plus hormone therapy for most patients in this intermediate-risk group, will go a long way to support oncologists and patients in decisions about the best course of treatment."

The researchers found that the primary endpoint of the trial, invasive disease-free survival--the proportion of women who had not died or developed a recurrence or a second primary cancer--was very similar in both groups. Five years after treatment, the rate of invasive disease-free survival was 92.8 percent for those who had hormone therapy alone and 93.1 percent for those who also had chemotherapy. At nine years, the rate was 83.3 percent for those with hormone therapy alone and 84.3 percent for the group that had both therapies. None of these differences were considered statistically significant.

The rates of overall survival were also very similar in the two groups. At five years, the overall survival rate was 98.0 percent for those who received hormone therapy alone and 98.1 percent for those who received both therapies, and at nine years the respective overall survival rates were 93.9 percent and 93.8 percent.

The researchers also found that women with a score of 0-10 had very low recurrence rates with hormone therapy alone at nine years (3 percent). This confirms similar findings from earlier studies. In addition, they found that women with a score of 26-100 had a distant recurrence rate of 13 percent despite receiving both chemotherapy and hormone therapy. This finding indicates the need to develop more effective therapies for women at high risk of recurrence.

According to the authors, the new findings suggest that chemotherapy may be avoided in about 70 percent of women with hormone receptor-positive, HER2-negative, node-negative breast cancer:

older than 50 and with a recurrence score of 11-25 (45 percent)

any age with a recurrence score of 0-10 (16 percent)

50 years old or younger with a recurrence score of 11-15 (8 percent)

The findings suggest that chemotherapy may be considered for the remaining 30 percent of women with hormone receptor-positive, HER2-negative, node-negative breast cancer:

any age with a recurrence score of 26-100 (17 percent)

50 years old or younger with a recurrence score of 16-25 (14 percent)

The new results demonstrate that chemotherapy is not beneficial for most women in the intermediate-risk group. This data adds to findings from a TAILORx analysis published in 2015 that provided prospective evidence that the gene expression test could identify women with a low risk of recurrence who could be spared chemotherapy.

There is one caveat to the new findings. When the researchers analyzed premenopausal women and those less than 50 years old at the higher part of the intermediate risk range (16-25) separately, the results showed there may be a small benefit from chemotherapy, and thus these women should consider chemotherapy with their doctor. However, it is unclear if this benefit is due to the effect of chemotherapy or to endocrine suppression caused by chemotherapy-induced menopause.

"Before TAILORx, there was uncertainty about the best treatment for women with a mid-range score of 11-25 on the Oncotype DX Breast Recurrence Score test. The trial was designed to address this question, and provides a very definitive answer," said Dr. Sparano. "Any woman with early-stage breast cancer 75 years or younger should have the 21-gene expression test and discuss the results with her doctor to guide her decision to the right therapy."

TAILORx was one of the first large-scale trials to examine a methodology for personalizing cancer treatment. When the trial was activated, the best available genomic profiling data in women with early-stage breast cancer were retrospective.

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The study was supported in part by the Breast Cancer Research Foundation, Komen Foundation, and the Breast Cancer Research Stamp. The stamp funding provided more than $5 million to the trial. Since 1998, when the charity stamp was authorized by Congress and first issued by the United States Postal Service, more than $86 million has been raised for breast cancer research. The net proceeds from sales of the stamp are transferred to NIH and the Medical Research Program of the Department of Defense to fund breast cancer research.

The genomic assay used in the trial was the Oncotype DX Breast Recurrence Score test from Genomic Health, Inc., Redwood City, California.

About the ECOG-ACRIN Cancer Research Group (ECOG-ACRIN): ECOG-ACRIN is a membership-based scientific organization that designs and conducts cancer research involving adults who have or are at risk of developing cancer. Research personnel in nearly 1,200 member institutions are involved in Group science, which is organized into three programs: Cancer Control and Outcomes, Therapeutic Studies, and Biomarker Sciences. The Group's primary funding is from the National Cancer Institute (NCI). Visit http://www.ecog-acrin.org, follow on Twitter @eaonc, or call 215-789-3631.

About the National Cancer Institute (NCI): NCI leads the National Cancer Program and NIH's efforts to dramatically reduce the prevalence of cancer and improve the lives of cancer patients and their families, through research into prevention and cancer biology, the development of new interventions, and the training and mentoring of new researchers. For more information about cancer, please visit the NCI website at cancer.gov or call NCI's Contact Center (formerly known as the Cancer Information Service) at 1-800-4-CANCER (1-800-422-6237).

About the National Institutes of Health (NIH): NIH, the nation's medical research agency, includes 27 Institutes and Centers and is a component of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. NIH is the primary federal agency conducting and supporting basic, clinical, and translational medical research, and is investigating the causes, treatments, and cures for both common and rare diseases. For more information about NIH and its programs, visit nih.gov.
New research presented at this year's Euroanaesthesia congress in Copenhagen, Denmark shows that hypnosedation is a valuable alternative to conventional general anaesthesia.

Hypnosedation is a technique which combines hypnosis, conscious sedation (where drugs are used to make the patient comfortable and relaxed while remaining conscious), and local anaesthesia to block pain. It has previously been shown to decrease the need for medication, reduce adverse effects, and to accelerate postoperative rehabilitation when compared to general anaesthesia in which the patient is rendered unconscious.

This research team led by Dr Aurore Marcou and colleagues from the Institut Curie, Paris, France, say: "By minimising effects of anaesthesia on vital functions while preserving the patients' well-being, it contributes to a sustainable development of anaesthesia."

The authors performed a retrospective study of 150 cancer patients who were treated at the Institut Curie between 2011 and 2017, and whose operations were performed under hypnosis. Procedures were conducted with the usual safety conditions and monitoring in place, however they excluded all premedication or hypnotic drugs. A continuous supply of the opioid remifentanil was given during each operation to keep the patients comfortable, and they were provided with the usual anti-sickness drugs and a painkiller as a preventative measure. Local or locoregional anaesthesia was performed depending on the type and location of surgery, but the patient remained conscious throughout the procedure.

Hypnosedation was used in breast surgeries (including total mastectomies), which represented 90% of the surgeries in this study, and also gynaecological surgeries, colonoscopies, and superficial plastic surgeries (representing 10% between them). The mean duration of procedures was 60 minutes (30 to 160 minutes), and the mean length of stay in the recovery room was 35 minutes. Patients were aged from 18 to 100 years with a mean of 60.5 years, with 22% older than 75 years. Individuals were grouped according to the severity of their condition, with 2% being classified as having severe cardiac, respiratory, or renal failures that seriously questioned the benefit of using traditional general anaesthesia.

The authors found that in 99% of cases, hypnosedation provided comfortable conditions for both the patient and the surgeon operating on them. Patient discomfort happened in just two cases, and in both of these, general anaesthesia was quickly and easily implemented.

The authors conclude that: "Hypnosedation can be proposed as a useful alternative to general anaesthesia in various types of surgeries including major breast surgeries. By minimising effects of anaesthesia, this technique is particularly valuable for vulnerable patients. Hypnosis benefits the patient as well as the caregivers."

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BOULDER, Colo., USA: Five hundred and forty million years ago, during the Cambrian period, life suddenly went nuts. "Blossomed" is far too mild a word: instead, geologists call this sudden diversification an "explosion." But what exactly sparked the Cambrian explosion?

Now, a new study suggests that wild swings in oxygen levels may have sent life scrambling to adapt, leading to a major burst of diversity. That, says lead author Guangyi Wei of Yale University, challenges the long-held explanation that gradually rising oxygen simply reached a life-fueling tipping point. The study was just published online ahead of print in Geology.

Wei explains that the goal was to reconstruct a continuous record of global marine oxygen levels from the late Ediacaran (latest pre-Cambrian) into the early Cambrian. To do that, the team, from Yale and Nanjing University in China, measured changes in uranium isotope ratios that reflect changing marine oxygen levels, as recorded in carbonates deposited during that interval, from China.

The results revealed huge global swings from anoxic-completely depleted in oxygen to oxygenated conditions over periods of two to ten million years. Such big ups and downs in oxygen, the scientists suggest, could have destabilized ecosystems, fragmented habitats, and triggered an explosion of changing life forms.

The study provides some of the first direct evidence that the Cambrian explosion came on the heels of major variations in oxygen, says Wei. "It would be great to get more data from other regions and time intervals," he adds.

Wei also poses the obvious next question: what caused such huge swings in oxygen in the first place? Some possibilities: Tectonics, biological processes, or climate shifts.

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FEATURED ARTICLE

Marine redox fluctuation as a potential trigger for the Cambrian explosion

Guangyi Wei et al. Contact: wgynjues@gmail.com; guangyi.wei@yale.edu. Geology, https://pubs.geoscienceworld.org/gsa/geology/article/531401/marine-redox-fluctuation-as-a-potential-trigger.

GEOLOGY articles are online http://geology.geoscienceworld.org/content/early/recent. Representatives of the media may obtain complimentary articles by contacting Kea Giles at the e-mail address above. Please discuss articles of interest with the authors before publishing stories on their work, and please make reference to GEOLOGY in articles published. Non-media requests for articles may be directed to GSA Sales and Service, gsaservice@geosociety.org.

http://www.geosociety.org
AMES, Iowa - Using the physics equivalent of the strobe photography that captures every twitch of a cheetah in full sprint, researchers have used ultrafast spectroscopy to visualize electrons interacting as a hidden state of matter in a superconductive alloy.

It takes intense, single-cycle pulses of photons - flashes - hitting the cooled alloy at terahertz speed - trillions of cycles per second - to switch on this hidden state of matter by modifying quantum interactions down at the atomic and subatomic levels.

And then it takes a second terahertz light to trigger an ultrafast camera to take images of the state of matter that, when fully understood and tuned, could one day have implications for faster, heat-free, quantum computing, information storage and communication.

The discovery of this new switching scheme and hidden quantum phase was full of conceptual and technical challenges.

To find new, emergent electron states of matter beyond solids, liquids and gases, today's condensed matter physicists can no longer fully rely on traditional, slow, thermodynamic tuning methods such as changing temperatures, pressures, chemical compositions or magnetic fields, said Jigang Wang, an Iowa State University professor of physics and astronomy and a faculty scientist at the U.S. Department of Energy's Ames Laboratory.

"The grand, open question of what state is hidden underneath superconductivity is universal, but poorly understood," Wang said. "Some hidden states appear to be inaccessible with any thermodynamic tuning methods."

The new quantum switching scheme developed by the researchers (they call it terahertz light-quantum-tuning) uses short pulses of trillionths of a second at terahertz frequency to selectively bombard, without heating, superconducting niobium-tin, which at ultracold temperatures can conduct electricity without resistance. The flashes suddenly switch the model compound to a hidden state of matter.

The scientific journal Nature Materials has just published a paper describing the discovery. Wang is corresponding author. Leading authors are Xu Yang and Chirag Vaswani, Iowa State graduate students in physics and astronomy.

In most cases, exotic states of matter such as the one described in this research paper are unstable and short-lived. In this case, the state of matter is metastable, meaning it doesn't decay to a stable state for an order of magnitude longer than other, more typical transient states of matter.

The fast speed of the switch to a hidden quantum state likely has something to do with that.

"Here, the quantum quench (change) is so fast, the system is trapped in a strange 'plateau' and doesn't know how to go back," Wang said. "With this fast-quench, yet non-thermal system, there's no normal place to go."

A remaining challenge for the researchers is to figure out how to control and further stabilize the hidden state and determine if it is suitable for quantum logic operations, Wang said. That could allow researchers to harness the hidden state for practical functions such as quantum computing and for fundamental tests of bizarre quantum mechanics.

It all starts with the researchers' discovery of a new quantum switching scheme that gives them access to new and hidden states of matter.

Said Wang: "We are creating and controlling a new quantum matter that can't be achieved by any other means."

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The research team:

Ilias Perakis, professor and chair of physics at the University of Alabama at Birmingham, and Martin Mootz, a postdoctoral research associate at Alabama Birmingham, helped develop the theory used to interpret the experiments. Other co-authors of the Nature Materials paper are Chang-Beom Eom, the Theodore H. Geballe Professor and Harvey D. Spangler Distinguished Professor in materials science and engineering at the University of Wisconsin-Madison; Christopher Sundahl and Jong-Hoon Kang, researchers at Wisconsin-Madison; Peter Orth, an Iowa State assistant professor of physics and astronomy; Liang Luo, an Iowa State postdoctoral research associate; and Pia Gagel, a doctoral student at the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology in Germany.

The support

A grant from the U.S. Army Research Laboratory's Army Research Office supported the work at Iowa State. The W.M. Keck Foundation of Los Angeles supported, in part, the terahertz instrument. The Department of Energy supported work at Wisconsin. University startup funds supported the work at Alabama Birmingham.
Japan -- Even bonobos lose their appetites with enough 'ick'.

These primates, known for their liberal attitudes toward sex, are also generally open-minded when it comes to new foods -- as long as the grub is clean.

Researchers from Kyoto University's Primate Research Institute have now found that a bonobo's curiosity transforms into caution when food is presented with or near feces, soil, or bad smells. Their study was published in the journal Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society B.

In nature, parasites and pathogens are everywhere, and many enter our bodies by riding along with food. We therefore need a way to detect these hitchhikers with the help of our various senses.

"Current studies suggest that animals evolved a system to protect against such threats, now known as the adaptive system of disgust," explains Cecile Sarabian, lead author of the study. "For example, bodily fluids are universal disgust elicitors in humans, and recently, we published evidence that the same reaction exists in our primate cousins."

In a series of experiments, bonobos were presented with different food choices involving novel food items: foods contaminated with feces or soil; chains of food items linked to a contaminant; previously contaminated food; or only the odors of feces or rotting food.

Although bonobos happily gobbled up clean food, they steadfastly avoided anything contaminated. Moreover, their sensitivity toward contamination risk seemed to wane the farther away a food item was located from the source of contamination.

Another experiment showed that bonobos are less likely to engage in exploratory activities like touching and tasting substrates, or even using tools to achieve a goal when confronted with 'bad' smells.

"These results fit with what one would expect if bonobos had a system of disgust driving their behavioral decision making," says Sarabian. "Interestingly though, bonobo infants and juveniles showed much less precaution, matching human infant behavior in similar contexts."

One hypothesis they have is that while infants may get sick from this kind of behavior, it helps them build their immune systems at a critical time in their development.

The team has yet to conclude if bonobos themselves express disgust in a way we can recognize, but plan to continue their research and further investigate the origins of disgust in humans.

"There's some evidence from humans and other animals -- classically with rats -- on what we call food neophobia, which is an inclination to stay away from or be cautious around new foods," adds senior author Andrew MacIntosh. "This might also be related to our tendencies to avoid things that might make us sick, with different individuals being more or less conservative in both cases."

"In our study, the bonobos seemed eager to tuck into novel fruits, which tells us that they are not very food-neophobic, or at least they automatically associate fruits they've never seen before with food," MacIntosh continues. "But we need more information about how they might react to a range of new foods before we can try to link food-neophobia with contamination sensitivity in other primates."

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The paper "Feeding decisions under contamination risk in bonobos" appeared 4 June 2018 in the journal Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society B, with doi: 10.1098/rstb.2017.0195

Kyoto University is one of Japan and Asia's premier research institutions, founded in 1897 and responsible for producing numerous Nobel laureates and winners of other prestigious international prizes. A broad curriculum across the arts and sciences at both undergraduate and graduate levels is complemented by numerous research centers, as well as facilities and offices around Japan and the world. For more information please see: http://www.kyoto-u.ac.jp/en
Japanese researcher at Kanazawa University creates new method to improve ensemble simulation of extreme weather events, such as typhoons, under future climate change

Kanazawa, Japan - Predictions of how climate change may affect extreme weather systems, such as typhoons, are usually conducted using general circulation models (GCMs), which represent physical processes in the atmosphere or oceans.

However, GCMs can be affected by uncertainties including imperfections in the model, such as the model's inability to fully describe the processes giving rise to the extreme weather, and uncertainties in the effects of future carbon emissions. To offset this, several different predictions should be made when modeling future climates, using an approach known as ensemble modeling. However, generating the wide range of data needed to begin an ensemble simulation can be complex and computationally demanding.

Now, Associate Professor Kenji Taniguchi of Japan's Kanazawa University has developed a new simple method for generating the large amount of data required to initiate ensemble modeling. In his recent article, published in Journal of Geophysical Research: Atmospheres, Taniguchi provides details of how the method works, and demonstrates its effectiveness for ensemble simulation of a typhoon event and an ensemble global warming simulation.

"The new method has several advantages over previously used approaches," Taniguchi says. "It has high computational stability, it can begin at any time and date, and it doesn't require any particular atmospheric structure; so, it can be used for simulating any type of weather event."

The method was demonstrated to provide suitable initial conditions for the typhoon and global warming simulations.

He notes the new method can provide the variety of conditions needed to explore the broad possibilities of meteorological phenomena. It could also allow assessment of changes in the probability of extreme events based on a wide spread of wind speed, pressure, and rainfall data.

The new method, after some further refinement and development, could contribute to improving the practical use of future global warming experiments in estimation of the probability of risk factors for extreme events and related impact assessments.

"Only one GCM output was used in this study, and there were various other assumptions about the structure of the data," Taniguchi says. "In future work, simulations with multiple GCM outputs should be included to consider the uncertainties inherent in different GCMs and we should think about tailoring the data distribution to each individual case."

Although developed originally for global warming studies, the possible applications of Taniguchi's new method are wide. It has potential for use in a broad range of problems requiring ensemble simulation, such as import assessment of variations in land cover change and sea surface temperature etc.

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Policymakers are being misinformed by the results of economic models that underestimate the future risks of climate change impacts, according to a new journal paper by authors in the United States and the United Kingdom, which is published today (4 June 2018).

The paper in the Review of Environmental Economics and Policy calls for the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) to improve how it analyses the results of economic modelling as it prepares its Sixth Assessment Report, due to be published in 2021 and 2022.

The paper's authors, Thomas Stoerk of the Environmental Defense Fund, Gernot Wagner of the Harvard University Center for the Environment and Bob Ward of the ESRC Centre for Climate Change Economics and Policy at the London School of Economics and Political Science, draw attention to "mounting evidence that current economic models of the aggregate global impacts of climate change are inadequate in their treatment of uncertainty and grossly underestimate potential future risks".

They warn that the "integrated assessment models" used by economists "largely ignore the potential for 'tipping points' beyond which impacts accelerate, become unstoppable, or become irreversible". As a result "they inadequately account for the potential damages from climate change, especially at moderate to high levels of warming", due to rises in global mean temperature of more than 2 Celsius degrees.

The authors draw attention to "a major discrepancy between scientific and economic estimates of the impacts of unmanaged future climate change". They state: "These discrepancies between the physical and the economic impact estimates are large, and they matter. However, physical impacts are often not translated into monetary terms and they have largely been ignored by climate economists."

The paper states that the IPCC Sixth Assessment Report should "strengthen its focus on decision making under uncertainty" and "focus on estimating how the uncertainty itself affects economic and financial cost estimates of climate change".

The authors point out that the preparation of the report "can act as a broad forum that brings together scientists and economists with a goal of quantifying the impacts of climate change".

They suggest that this would allow the IPCC to "provide policymakers with a more robust and rigorous way of assessing the potential future risks of economic damage from climate change".

The authors have written to Professor Hans-Otto Portner and Professor Debra Roberts, the Co-Chairs of IPCC Working Group II, to draw attention to the new paper.

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To obtain a copy of the paper on ''Recommendations for Improving the Treatment of Risk and Uncertainty in Economic Estimates of Climate Impacts in the Sixth Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change Assessment Report', or to arrange interviews with the authors, please contact Victoria Druce on +44 (0) 207 107 5865 or v.druce@lse.ac.uk or Anne Marie Borrego on +1 (202) 572-3508 or aborrego@edf.org.

NOTES FOR EDITORS

1. The Environmental Defense Fund is one of the world's largest environmental organizations, with more than two million members and a staff of 700 scientists, economists, policy experts, and other professionals around the world.

2. The webpage for the Harvard University Center for the Environment is https://environment.harvard.edu.

3. The ESRC Centre for Climate Change Economics and Policy is hosted by the University of Leeds and the London School of Economics and Political Science. It is funded by the UK Economic and Social Research Council. The Centre's mission is to advance public and private action on climate change through rigorous, innovative research.
WASHINGTON, DC - Nineteen top high school math students were honored June 4 during a ceremony in Washington, D.C. More than 300,000 students participated in the MAA American Mathematics Competitions (AMC), organized by the Mathematical Association of America (MAA) which culminates in the USA Mathematical Olympiad, the final invitational exam in a challenging series of MAA AMC competitions. The winners of the 47th Annual United States of America Mathematical Olympiad (USAMO), twelve high school students with the top scores in the competition, were announced at the event.

The ceremony also honored the members of the U.S. team that competed in the 7th Annual European Girls' Mathematical Olympiad in Italy this April. The team which is organized and trained by the MAA American Mathematics Competitions took second place in the international competition against teams from 52 countries. Team members included Megan Joshi, Wanlin Li, Emily Wen, and Catherine Wu.

The MAA also announced which students will compete on the U.S. team that it organizes and trains for the International Mathematical Olympiad in Cluj-Napoca, Romania, from July 3-14, 2018. Prior to a second place finish in 2017, the U.S. team won first place in 2015 and 2016, at the International Mathematical Olympiad in which top high school math students compete with their international peers from more than 100 countries.

Jim Kurose, Assistant Director for Artificial Intelligence, White House Office of Science and Technology Policy honored the students during the award ceremony for their achievement in mathematics.

Before the June 4 award ceremony, the students were honored at the National Science Foundation which supports fundamental research and education across all fields of science and engineering as an independent federal agency. The Chief Operating Officer of the National Science Foundation, Joan Ferrini-Mundy, greeted each of the top math students during a reception.

"The Mathematical Association of America honors each math olympian for their hard work at the highest levels of high school math competitions. We congratulate these top math students on their achievement on the national and international stage and are proud to organize their participation through the MAA American Mathematics Competitions," said Michael Pearson, the executive director of the Mathematical Association of America. "We look forward to their future success as they develop as leaders in diverse fields that increasingly rely on quantitative skills to address issues critical to the future of society."

The 2018 USA Mathematical Olympiad winners are (in alphabetical order): Eric Gan, Thomas Guo, Vincent Huang, Joshua Lee, Michael Ren, Victor Rong, Carl Schildkraut, Mihir Singhal, Edward Wan, Brandon Wang, Guanpeng Xu, and Andrew Yao. Singhal returns for his third USAMO win and Ren, and Rong were among the top twelve scorers in 2017.

The first and second ranked USA Mathematical Olympiad winners received scholarships worth a total of $45,000 from the Akamai Foundation and each of the twelve USA Mathematical Olympiad winners and members of the European Girls' Mathematical Olympiad team received $500 each for the Robert P. Balles Mathematical Olympiad Prize. The Balles Prize awarded $1000 each to members of the International Mathematical Olympiad team.

The 2018 U.S. International Mathematical Olympiad team is: Adam Ardeishar, Andrew Gu, Vincent Huang, James Lin, Michael Ren, and Mihir Singhal. Gu, Huang, and Lin are returning team members from 2017.

The winners of the United States of America Junior Mathematical Olympiad (USAJMO), who are the top MAA American Mathematics Competitions students in 10th grade and below were also announced June 4. They are Ankit Bisain, Andrew Cai, Yunseo Choi, Sebastian Jeon, Benjamin Kang, Arav Karighattam, Jeffrey Kwan, Huaye Lin, Maximus Lu, Samuel Wang, and Benjamin Wright.

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CAMBRIDGE, MA -- MIT researchers, working with scientists from Brigham and Women's Hospital, have developed a new way to power and communicate with devices implanted deep within the human body. Such devices could be used to deliver drugs, monitor conditions inside the body, or treat disease by stimulating the brain with electricity or light.

The implants are powered by radio frequency waves, which can safely pass through human tissues. In tests in animals, the researchers showed that the waves can power devices located 10 centimeters deep in tissue, from a distance of 1 meter.

"Even though these tiny implantable devices have no batteries, we can now communicate with them from a distance outside the body. This opens up entirely new types of medical applications," says Fadel Adib, an assistant professor in MIT's Media Lab and a senior author of the paper, which will be presented at the Association for Computing Machinery Special Interest Group on Data Communication (SIGCOMM) conference in August.

Because they do not require a battery, the devices can be tiny. In this study, the researchers tested a prototype about the size of a grain of rice, but they anticipate that it could be made even smaller.

"Having the capacity to communicate with these systems without the need for a battery would be a significant advance. These devices could be compatible with sensing conditions as well as aiding in the delivery of a drug," says Giovanni Traverso, an assistant professor at Brigham and Women's Hospital (BWH), Harvard Medical School, a research affiliate at MIT's Koch Institute for Integrative Cancer Research, and an author of the paper.

Other authors of the paper are Media Lab postdoc Yunfei Ma, Media Lab graduate student Zhihong Luo, and Koch Institute and BWH affiliate postdoc Christoph Steiger.

Wireless communication

Medical devices that can be ingested or implanted in the body could offer doctors new ways to diagnose, monitor, and treat many diseases. Traverso's lab is now working on a variety of ingestible systems that can be used to deliver drugs, monitor vital signs, and detect movement of the GI tract.

In the brain, implantable electrodes that deliver an electrical current are used for a technique known as deep brain stimulation, which is often used to treat Parkinson's disease or epilepsy. These electrodes are now controlled by a pacemaker-like device implanted under the skin, which could be eliminated if wireless power is used. Wireless brain implants could also help deliver light to stimulate or inhibit neuron activity through optogenetics, which so far has not been adapted for use in humans but could be useful for treating many neurological disorders.

Currently, implantable medical devices, such as pacemakers, carry their own batteries, which occupy most of the space on the device and offer a limited lifespan. Adib, who envisions much smaller, battery-free devices, has been exploring the possibility of wirelessly powering implantable devices with radio waves emitted by antennas outside the body.

Until now, this has been difficult to achieve because radio waves tend to dissipate as they pass through the body, so they end up being too weak to supply enough power. To overcome that, the researchers devised a system that they call "In Vivo Networking" (IVN). This system relies on an array of antennas that emit radio waves of slightly different frequencies. As the radio waves travel, they overlap and combine in different ways. At certain points, where the high points of the waves overlap, they can provide enough energy to power an implanted sensor.

"We chose frequencies that are slightly different from each other, and in doing so, we know that at some point in time these are going to reach their highs at the same time. When they reach their highs at the same time, they are able to overcome the energy threshold needed to power the device," Adib says.

With the new system, the researchers don't need to know the exact location of the sensors in the body, as the power is transmitted over a large area. This also means that they can power multiple devices at once. At the same time that the sensors receive a burst of power, they also receive a signal telling them to relay information back to the antenna. This signal could also be used to stimulate release of a drug, a burst of electricity, or a pulse of light, the researchers say.

Long-distance power

In tests in pigs, the researchers showed they could send power from up to a meter outside the body, to a sensor that was 10 centimeters deep in the body. If the sensors are located very close to the skin's surface, they can be powered from up to 38 meters away.

"There's currently a tradeoff between how deep you can go and how far you can go outside the body," Adib says.

The researchers are now working on making the power delivery more efficient and transferring it over greater distances. This technology also has the potential to improve RFID applications in other areas such as inventory control, retail analytics, and "smart" environments, allowing for longer-distance object tracking and communication, the researchers say.

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The research was funded by the Media Lab Consortium and the National Institutes of Health.
By comparing different types of remote atomic clocks, physicists at the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) have performed the most accurate test ever of a key principle underlying Albert Einstein's famous theory of general relativity, which describes how gravity relates to space and time.

The NIST result, made possible by continual improvements in the world's most accurate atomic clocks, yields a record-low, exceedingly small value for a quantity that Einstein predicted to be zero.

As described in a Nature Physics paper posted online June 4, NIST researchers used the solar system as a laboratory for testing Einstein's thought experiment involving Earth as a freefalling elevator. Einstein theorized that all objects located in such an elevator would accelerate at the same rate, as if they were in a uniform gravitational field--or no gravity at all. Moreover, he predicted, these objects' properties relative to each other would remain constant during the elevator's free-fall.

In their experiment, the NIST team regarded Earth as an elevator falling through the Sun's gravitational field. They compared recorded data on the "ticks" of two types of atomic clocks located around the world to show they remained in sync over 14 years, even as the gravitational pull on the elevator varied during the Earth's slightly off-kilter orbit around the sun. Researchers compared data from 1999 to 2014 for a total of 12 clocks--four hydrogen masers (microwave lasers) in the NIST time scale with eight of the most accurate cesium fountain atomic clocks operated by metrology laboratories in the United States, the United Kingdom, France, Germany and Italy.

The experiment was designed to test a prediction of general relativity, the principle of local position invariance (LPI), which holds that in a falling elevator, measures of nongravitational effects are independent of time and place. One such measurement compares the frequencies of electromagnetic radiation from atomic clocks at different locations. The researchers constrained the violation of LPI to a value of 0.00000022 plus or minus 0.00000025--the most miniscule number yet, consistent with general relativity's predicted result of zero, and corresponding to no violation. This means the ratio of hydrogen to cesium frequencies remained the same as the clocks moved together in the falling elevator.

This result has five times less uncertainty than NIST's best previous measurement of the LPI violation, translating to five times greater sensitivity. That earlier 2007 result, from a 7-year comparison of cesium and hydrogen atomic clocks, was 20 times more sensitive than the previous tests.

The latest measurement advance is due to improvements in several areas, namely more accurate cesium fountain atomic clocks, better time transfer processes (which enable devices at different locations to compare their time signals), and the latest data for computing the position and velocity of Earth in space, NIST's Bijunath Patla said.

"But the main reason we did this work was to highlight how atomic clocks are used to test fundamental physics; in particular, the foundations of general relativity," Patla said. "This is the claim made most often when clockmakers strive for better stability and accuracy. We tie together tests of general relativity with atomic clocks, note the limitations of the current generation of clocks, and present a future outlook for how next-generation clocks will become very relevant."

Further limits on LPI are unlikely to be obtained using hydrogen and cesium clocks, the researchers say, but experimental next-generation clocks based on optical frequencies, which are much higher than the frequencies of hydrogen and cesium clocks, could offer much more sensitive results. NIST already operates a variety of these clocks based on atoms such as ytterbium and strontium.

Because so many scientific theories and calculations are intertwined, NIST researchers used their new value for the LPI violation to calculate variations in several fundamental "constants" of nature, physical quantities thought to be universal and widely used in physics. Their results for the light quark mass were the best ever, while results for the fine structure constant agreed with previously reported values for any pair of atoms.

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The work was funded in part by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration.

Paper: N. Ashby, T.E. Parker and B.R. Patla. 2018. A null test of general relativity based on a long-term comparison of atomic transition frequencies. Nature Physics. June 4. Advance Online Publication
Researchers from the HSE Institute of Education surveyed teachers in vocational secondary schools in the Moscow Region, and compared the new advantages and disadvantages brought by the new conditions in their lives. https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/10609393.2018.1451190?scroll=top&needAccess=true

How employees are remunerated in any industry always generates many questions and ambiguous decisions. And if we talk about the teaching community, then the question is complicated even more by limited funding and the various ways in which funds can be redistributed.

In essence, the effective (performance-based) contract is just a metaphor for a detailed labor contract, which is individually tailored to the employee and is tied to the performance indicators of each employee and the organization as a whole. The authors of the idea believed that the effective contract would not just raise the teachers' pay, but would fully relieve them from the necessity to work on the side somewhere else. The monthly payments would consist of the guaranteed part and individual incentive payments, calculated on the basis of the teacher's work outcomes, workload, qualification and experience. This was considered as a way to increase teachers' motivation and improve the prestige of the teaching profession in general.

Critics of the innovation mentioned that only a small portion of teachers' salaries are guaranteed, and the regional differences in salary levels are high. In addition, salary growth is provided by an increase in certain teachers' workload, with decreasing workload for the others. The criteria for evaluating teachers' performance are also causing controversy. Teaching is a creative profession, and some skeptics believe that material incentives run the risk of accomplishing nothing.

Still, the gradual transition to the effective contract system started in 2013. Over the course of a relatively short period of time most vocational secondary schools (VSS) concluded addenda to the employment contracts of their current teachers and offered new contracts to their recently hired employees.

In order to better understand how the teachers view the changes, Pavel Derkachev and Alexey Zinovyev surveyed 253 teachers from 83 VSSs in the Moscow Region. The organizations included both schools that have switched to the effective contract, as well as those that have not yet adopted the model. The schools were grouped according to the following criteria:

Geography (distance from Moscow);

Productivity (number of teachers per student);

Finances (size of the average salary of teachers and vocational trainers);

Level of educational programs (share of students who study in skilled worker training programs).

Teachers working in different payment systems were chosen from each cluster, and divided into two groups: experimental group (105 people), and control group (148).

Researchers asked questions to the teachers, such as, the correspondence between the expected salary and the real one, the need to look for additional earnings, the frequency of performance evaluation, and whether the teacher believes their profession is prestigious. The questionnaire consisted of 31 questions.

Importantly, there were no significant differences in the socio-economic status (age, number of children in the family, qualification grade, total number of years of teaching experience, and length of tenure in the current position) of the respondents in the experimental and control groups.

As a result of the survey, the researchers concluded that teachers at schools that have switched to the effective contract are quite satisfied with the innovation. They more highly assess their financial situation and have greater trust in the compensation plan. They believe that the compensation plan is more tightly connected to the quality of teaching than teachers at schools that have not transitioned to an effective contract. Furthermore, they have greater expectations of their future incomes.

At the same time, the introduction of performance-based contracts has led to increased frequency of assessments that teachers at schools have to undergo: excessive assessment procedures can reduce the amount of time that teachers have to teach.

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How do you put a 13-ton hat on a giant statue? That's what a team of researchers is trying to figure out with their study of Easter Island statues and the red hats that sit atop some of them.

"Lots of people have come up with ideas, but we are the first to come up with an idea that uses archaeological evidence," said Sean W. Hixon, graduate student in anthropology, Penn State.

Rapa Nui --Easter Island, Chile -- sits in the Southern Pacific Ocean more than 2,000 miles from Chile in South America. The island is about 15 miles long and 7.6 miles wide at its widest with an area of about 63 square miles. According to the researchers, the island was first inhabited in the 13th century by Polynesian travelers.

The statues, carved from volcanic tuff, came from one quarry on the island, while the hats, made of red scoria, came from a different quarry 7.5 miles away on the other side of the island.

Previous research by Carl P. Lipo, professor of anthropology, Binghamton University, and Terry Hunt, professor of anthropology and dean of the Honors College, University of Arizona, determined that the statues, which can be up to 33 feet tall and weigh 81 tons, were moved into place along well-prepared roads using a walking/rocking motion, similar to the way a refrigerator is moved.

"The statues were moved in a fashion using simple physics-based processes in a way that was elegant and remarkably effective," said Lipo. Not all statues made it to their final locations, and the fallen and/or broken ones showed that, to move them, the statues were carved so they leaned forward and were later leveled off for final placement.

The hats, with diameters up to 6.5 feet and weighing 13 tons, might have been rolled across the island, but once they arrived at their intended statues, they still needed to be lifted onto the statues' heads. The islanders probably carved the hats cylindrically and rolled them to the statues before further carving the hats to attain the final shapes, which vary from cylindrical to conical and which usually have a smaller cylindrical projection on the top. Chips of red scoria are found in the platform of some of the statue hat combinations.

"We were interested in figuring out the method of hat transport and placement of the hats that best agrees with the archaeological record," said Hixon.

The researchers took multiple photographs of many Rapa Nui hats to see what attributes of the hats were the same throughout. Using photogrammetry and 3-D imaging, they created images of the hats with all their details.

"We assumed they were all transported and placed in the same way," said Hixon. "So we looked for features that were the same on all the hats and all the statues."

The only features they found the same were indentations at the bases of the hats, and these indentations fit the tops of the statues' heads. If the hats had been slid in place on top of the statues, then the soft stone ridges on the margin of the indentations would have been destroyed. So the islanders must have used some other method.

Previous researchers suggested that the statues and the hats were united before they were lifted in place, but the remnants of broken or abandoned statues, and other evidence for walking the statues, indicates this was not the approach used and that the hats were most likely raised to the top of standing statues.

Many of the hats left around the island are much larger than those placed on statues.

"The best explanation for the transport of the pukao (hats) from the quarry is by rolling the raw material to the location of the moai (statues)," said Lipo. "Once at the moai, the pukao were rolled up large ramps to the top of a standing statue using a parbuckling technique." Parbuckling is a simple and efficient technique for rolling objects and is often used to right ships that have capsized. The center of a long rope is fixed to the top of a ramp and the two trailing ends are wrapped around the cylinder to be moved. The rope ends are then brought to the top where workers pull on the ropes to move the cylinder up the ramp.

Besides reducing the force needed to move the hats, this arrangement also makes it easier to stabilize the hat on the trip up because the hat typically will not roll back down the slope. The researchers report in the current issue of the Journal of Archaeological Science, that 15 or fewer workers could move the largest preform hats up the ramps.

Once the hat was at the top of the ramp, it could not simply be pushed into place because of the ridges on the margin of the hat base indentation. Rather, the researchers believe that the hats were tipped up onto the statues.

First the hat would be modified to its final form, some including a second, smaller cylindrical piece on top.

The hats could be rotated 90 degrees and then levered up with small wooden levers to sit on the statue tops, or the ramp could be slightly to the side, so that rotation in the small space at the top of the ramp would be unnecessary. Then the hat would simply be levered and pivoted on edge and into place.

The ramps were then disassembled and became the wings of the platform surrounding the statues.

"This is the first time anyone has systematically explored the evidence for how the giant hats were placed on the top of the heads of the massive statues of Easter Island," said Lipo. "Our work combines cutting-edge 3-D modeling with artifact analysis and models drawn from physics to arrive at the best answer."

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Also working on this project were Ben McMorran, associate professor of physics, University of Oregon, and Terry L. Hunt, dean, Honors College, University of Arizona.

The National Science Foundation supported this work, which was conducted with CONAF, the Consejo de Monumentos, Office of the Provincial Governor of Easter Island and Consejo de Ancianos, Chile.
A Rutgers-led team of physicists has demonstrated a way to conduct electricity between transistors without energy loss, opening the door to low-power electronics and, potentially, quantum computing that would be far faster than today's computers.

Their findings, which involved using a special mix of materials with magnetic and insulator properties, are published online in Nature Physics.

"This material, although it's much diluted in terms of magnetic properties, can still behave like a magnet and conducts electricity at low temperature without energy loss," said Weida Wu, senior author of the study and associate professor in the Department of Physics and Astronomy at Rutgers University-New Brunswick. "At least in principle, if you can make it work at a higher temperature, you can use it for electronic interconnections within silicon chips used in computers and other devices."

Study co-authors in China combined chromium and vanadium as magnetic elements with an insulator consisting of bismuth, antimony and tellurium. When electrons in this special material are aligned in one direction - like a compass needle pointing north - an electric current can only flow along its edges in one direction, leading to zero energy loss. That means electricity could be conducted between transistors within silicon chips used in computers and other electronics with maximum efficiency.

Current silicon chips use primarily metal for electrical interconnections in transistors, but that leads to substantial energy loss, Wu said.

The scientists demonstrated the uniform alignment of spinning electrons in the special magnetic insulator - called the quantum anomalous Hall insulator. It conducts electricity without energy loss when the temperature is close to absolute zero: minus 459.67 degrees Fahrenheit. Next steps would include demonstrating the phenomenon at a much higher and more practical temperature for electronics, along with building a platform for quantum computing.

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The study was led by Wenbo Wang, a physics doctoral student in Rutgers' School of Graduate Studies. Co-authors include scientists at Tsinghua University and the Collaborative Innovation Center of Quantum Matter, both in Beijing, China.
This transition will result in clear winners, importers such as China and the EU, and losers, exporters such as Russia, the USA or Canada, which could see their fossil-fuel industries nearly shut down. If these countries keep up their investment and production levels despite declining demand, the global wealth loss could be huge: 1-4 trillion dollars, a loss comparable to that which triggered the financial crisis in 2007. Even the USA could not pull out from the transition, as it would only hurt itself even more. Global climate policy is therefore no longer a 'prisoner's dilemma' game. These findings by researchers from Radboud University, the University of Cambridge (C-EENRG), Cambridge Econometrics, The Open University (UK) and the University of Macau are published in Nature Climate Change.

A dangerous 'carbon bubble'

Several major economies rely heavily on fossil-fuel production and exports. The price of fossil-fuel companies' shares is calculated under the assumption that all fossil-fuel reserves will be consumed. But to do so would be inconsistent with the tight carbon budget set in the 2015 Paris Agreement, which limits the increase in global average temperature to 'well below 2C above pre-industrial levels'. So far, this prospect has not deterred continuing investment in fossil fuels because many believe that climate policies will not be adopted, or at least not in the near future.

However, and crucially, researchers now show that ongoing technological change, by itself and even without new climate policies, is already reducing global demand growth for fossil fuels, which could peak in the near future. New climate policies would only aggravate the impact. Continuing investment in fossil fuels is therefore creating a dangerous 'carbon bubble' that could burst, with massive economic and geopolitical consequences.

Winners and losers

The scientists modelled the decline of demand for fossil fuels using novel modelling techniques that track the diffusion of low-carbon technologies on the basis of empirical data. Examples are technologies in power generation, cars and households that become more efficient and therefore diminish the use of fossil fuels. They then tracked what this means for national economies, as some economies lose an important industry (mostly due to loss of competitiveness), while other economies get rid of high current fossil-fuel expenditures and imports. "This means that by 2035, Gross Domestic Product (GDP) growth is affected negatively in producer countries (e.g. USA, Russia), while it is affected positively in importing countries (e.g. EU, China)", Dr Jean-Francois Mercure of Radboud University/C-EENRG explains.

'Free-riding' climate change mitigation: good or bad idea?

With the USA's withdrawal from the Paris Agreement, the scientists also modelled what would happen if the USA did indeed continue to invest in fossil-fuel assets instead of diversifying and divesting from them. The analysis shows their GDP would be reduced even further. Dr Mercure clarifies this point: "With a declining global fossil-fuel demand, fossil-fuel production in the USA is becoming uncompetitive, and may shut down. If the USA remains in the Paris Agreement, it will promote new low-carbon technologies and reduce its consumption of fossil fuels, creating jobs and mitigating its loss of income, despite losing its fossil-fuel industry. If it pulls out, it will nevertheless lose its fossil-fuel industry, but by not promoting low-carbon technologies, will miss out on job creation opportunities, while increasing its fossil-fuel imports by not reducing its domestic fossil-fuel consumption. The outcome is therefore worse if the USA pulls out."

A new financial crisis?

The study findings support the existence of a carbon bubble which, if not deflated early, could lead to a discounted global wealth loss of between 1 to 4 trillion dollars, a loss comparable to what triggered the 2007 financial crisis. "If countries keep investing in equipment to search for, extract, process and transport fossil fuels, even though their demand declines, they will end up losing money on these investments on top of their losses due to limited exports", Mercure explains. "Countries should instead carefully deflate the carbon bubble through investment in a variety of industries and steady divestment. The way in which this is done will determine the impact of the ongoing low-carbon transition on the financial sector."

Hector Pollitt, study co-author from Cambridge Econometrics and C-EENRG, adds: "This new research clearly shows the mismatch between the reductions in fossil fuel consumption required to meet carbon targets and the behaviour of investors. Governments have an important role to play in emphasising commitments to meet the Paris Agreement to ensure that the significant detrimental economic and geopolitical consequences we have identified are avoided."

Divestment and creative destruction

The process of transition towards a low-carbon economy is now becoming inevitable, as policies supporting this change have been developed and gradually implemented for some time. "New efficiency standards imply that we do more with the same amounts of energy, as older, less efficient technologies are gradually phased out. The transition is therefore irreversible; however its pace can vary according to whether and how new climate policies are implemented."

The scientists conclude that further economic damage from a potential bubble burst could be avoided by decarbonising early. "Divestment is a prudential thing to do. We should be carefully looking at where we are investing our money. For instance, much like companies, pension funds and other institutions currently invest in fossil-fuel assets. Following recommendations from central banks, commercial banks are increasingly looking at the financial risks of stranded fossil-fuel assets, even though their possible impacts have not yet been fully determined. Until now, observers mostly paid attention to the likely effectiveness of climate policies, but not to the ongoing and effectively irreversible technological transition. This level of 'creative destruction' appears inevitable now and must be carefully managed", Mercure concludes.

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Publication

J.-F. Mercure, H.Pollitt, J.E. Vinuales, N.R.Edwards, P.B.Holden, U.Chewpreecha, P.Salas, I.Sogannaes, A.Lam, F.Knobloch. Macroeconomic impact of stranded fossil-fuel assets. Nature Climate Change. DOI: 10.1038/s41558-018-0182-1
Drought is one of the severe natural disasters to impact human society and occurs widely and frequently in China, causing considerable damage to the living environment of humans. The Yellow River basin (YRB) of China shows great vulnerability to drought in the major basins; thus, drought monitoring in the YRB is particularly important. A recent study reveals the temporal and spatial characteristics of the multi-scale drought in the Yellow River basin in the past 55 years.

The research paper was entitled "study of the temporal and spatial patterns of drought in the Yellow River basin based on SPEI", which was published in Science China: Earth Sciences recently, written by Professor Yang Haibo of the Zhengzhou University. The Extreme-point Symmetric Mode Decomposition (ESMD) and Bernaola-Galvan Segmentation Algorithm (BGSA) was used in this paper. The annual and seasonal variation, frequency and intensity of drought were studied in the YRB.

Influenced by geographical location and the East Asian monsoon climate, the hydrometeorological conditions of the YRB are complicated and varied. With a deficiency of water resources and disequilibrium of the precipitation distribution, the YRB is the most vulnerable area affected by drought in the major basins of China. Therefore, drought monitoring in the YRB is particularly important. It is necessary to clarify the various drought-staged characteristics in the temporal scale, especially under the fluctuant drought variations caused by climate change in recent years. The YRB spans a wide range of 23 longitudes and 10 latitudes. Different climatic types and topographic features lead to obvious differences in the spatial distribution of drought in the YRB; thus, it is necessary to study each subzone in the spatial scale.

In this study, the latest Extreme-point Symmetric Mode Decomposition (ESMD) was applied to the time-frequency decomposition of the meteorological drought index SPEI. Drought periods with 2.9, 5, 10.2 and 18.3 years were characterized by ESMD. The Bernaola-Galvan Segmentation Algorithm (BGSA) can be used to divide the long research period with the obtained variability of each mean segment. And three stages (1961-1996, 1997-2002 and 2003-2015) were detected by BGSA. It was concluded that the most serious drought happened in the middle stage (1997~2002 years). In this paper, after the spatial interpolation from the original station data, the raster-based SPEI were obtained to calculate the drought frequency and intensity. It is more continuous and precise in the spatial scale compared with the direct interpolating value from station-based results. The sequence of drought frequency was summer, spring, autumn and winter with mean values of 71.0%, 47.2%, 10.2% and 6.9%, respectively. And the sequence of drought intensity was summer, spring, winter and autumn with mean values of 0.93, 0.40, 0.05 and 0.04, respectively. The paper identified the spatial and temporal patterns of drought in the YRB for the last 55 years, and put forward the targeted drought resistance measures according to the characteristics of the YRB and the various subzones, which provided reference and basis for the monitoring and early warning of drought in other areas.

The research results enrich the study of drought in the YRB. The temporal and spatial evolution patterns of drought in the YRB were analysed in detail to provide a scientific decision-making basis for avoiding drought disasters, and to produce greater practical significance to study the evolution and scientific development of drought in the YRB under the changing environment.

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This research was funded by Henan Province Scientific and Technological Project (No. 162102410066 & 172102410075), the National Key Research and Development Plan (No. 2016YFC0401407) and the open research fund of the State Key Laboratory of Simulation and Regulation of Water Cycle in River Basin at the China Institute of Water Resources and Hydropower Research (No. IWHR-SKL-201701).

See the article: Wang F, Wang Z, Yang H, Zhao Y. 2018. Study of the temporal and spatial patterns of drought in the Yellow River basin based on SPEI. Science China Earth Sciences, 61, https://doi.org/10.1007/s11430-017-9198-2
BUFFALO, N.Y. -- For decades, clinicians treating multiple sclerosis (MS) have interpreted the appearance of new or expanding brain lesions on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans as a sign that a patient's disease is getting worse. Now, University at Buffalo researchers are finding that it may be the atrophy or disappearance of these lesions into cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) that is a better indicator of who will develop disability.

The five-year study, conducted by MS researchers in the Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences at UB, was published in the Journal of Neuroimaging. Similar findings also resulted from their 10-year study of 176 patients that they presented at the annual meeting of the American Academy of Neurology (AAN) in Los Angeles in April.

Robert Zivadinov, MD, PhD, first author on the 10-year study and senior author on the five-year study, said: "Using the appearance of new brain lesions and the enlargement of existing ones as the indicator of disease progression, there was no sign of who would develop disability during five or 10 years of follow-up, but when we used the amount of brain lesion volume that had atrophied, we could predict within the first six months who would develop disability progression over long-term follow-up."

Zivadinov, a professor of neurology in the Jacobs School and director of the Buffalo Neuroimaging Analysis Center (BNAC) in the Jacobs School, also directs the Center for Biomedical Imaging at UB's Clinical and Translational Science Institute.

Brain lesions and MS

Brain lesions in general are a sign of damage to the brain, such as physical trauma, a stroke, normal aging or chronic disease. Patients with MS receive MRI scans as part of their routine care so that doctors can track the appearance of new lesions and the enlargement of existing ones, typically seen as indicators of disease progression. Approval by the Food and Drug Administration for new MS drugs typically depends on the drug's ability to reduce the number of brain lesions over 24 months.

Zivadinov noted that according to this premise, the loss of brain lesions could inadvertently be seen as a sign that the patient's condition is improving. MS is characterized by the loss of myelin sheaths surrounding axons in the brain and disrupting the brain's ability to send and receive neuronal messages. The growth of new myelin sheaths around axons may demonstrate that some brain tissue has been repaired spontaneously or as the result of medication.

In order to focus specifically on the disappearance of lesions that likely indicate pathological change like atrophy, not beneficial change, like resolution or remyelination, the researchers looked exclusively at lesions seen on previous scans that were later replaced by cerebrospinal fluid.

"How do we know the lesions have disappeared?" asked Zivadinov. "Because where there was brain lesion tissue before, there now is just fluid."

Lesions disappearing into cerebrospinal fluid

"The big news here is that we did the opposite of what has been done in the last 40 years," said Michael G. Dwyer, PhD, assistant professor of neurology and bioinformatics in the Jacobs School and first author on the five-year study in the Journal of Neuroimaging. "Instead of looking at new brain lesions, we looked at the phenomenon of brain lesions disappearing into the cerebrospinal fluid."

The researchers looked specifically at the rate of brain lesion loss due to atrophy compared to accumulation of lesion volume seen both at baseline and follow-up. They found that the amount of lesion volume that atrophied was the only significant lesion parameter that correlated with clinical disability as measured by the Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS), the most widely used method of quantifying disability in MS.

"We didn't find a correlation between people who developed more or larger lesions and developed increased disability," said Dwyer, "but we did find that atrophy of lesion volume predicted the development of more physical disability."

While patients with relapsing remitting MS showed the highest amount of new lesions during the study, patients with progressive MS -- the most severe subtype -- had the most accelerated volume of brain lesion atrophy. The UB researchers said this indicates that this new imaging biomarker could be particularly important in transitional phases between relapsing and progressive MS subtypes.

"Paradoxically, we see that lesion volume goes up in the initial phases of the disease and then plateaus in the later stages," said Zivadinov. "When the lesions decrease over time, it's not because the patient lesions are healing but because many of these lesions are disappearing, turning into cerebrospinal fluid."

More robust than whole brain atrophy

Another important scientific finding of the studies, Zivadinov continued, is that atrophied brain lesions were a more robust predictor of disability progression than the development of whole brain atrophy itself, the most accepted biomarker of neurodegeneration in MS.

"Our data suggest that atrophied lesions are not a small, secondary phenomenon in MS, and instead indicate that they may play an increasingly important role in predicting who will develop a more severe and progressive disease," he said.

The five-year study involved 192 patients with one of the three subtypes of the disease: clinically isolated syndrome, the earliest stage; relapsing remitting, an intermediate stage; or progressive, the most severe stage. In that study, patients underwent imaging studies in the Center for Biomedical Imaging in the Clinical and Translational Science Institute at UB and BNAC.

The volume of lesions was quantified at the start of the study and patients received yearly scans on the same 3 Tesla MRI machine for more than five years. Lesion volumes were calculated over the five years of the study.

In the 10-year study, the researchers conducted analyses at the Center for Biomedical Imaging in the Clinical and Translational Science Institute and the BNAC at UB. Patients in that study were scanned at the Department of Radiology and followed in the Department of Neurology and the Center of Clinical Neuroscience, all in the Charles University in Prague, Czech Republic.

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Co-authors on the Journal of Neuroimaging study are: Niels Bergsland, PhD, research assistant professor of neurology in the Jacobs School and BNAC; Michael G. Dwyer, III, PhD, assistant professor of neurology and bioinformatics; Deepa P. Ramasamy, MD, clinical trial neuroimager, BNAC; Dejan Jakimovski, MD, PhD candidate at UB, and Bianca Weinstock-Guttman, MD, professor of neurology in the Jacobs School and a neurologist with UBMD Neurology.

In addition to Dwyer, Bergsland and Ramasamy, other co-authors on the 10-year study presented at AAN are Jesper Hagemeier, research scientist at BNAC, and Tomas Uher, MD, PhD, Manuela Vaneckova, MD, PhD, Eva Havrdova, PhD and Dana Horakova, MD, PhD, all of Charles University in Prague, Czech Republic.

The research on atrophied brain lesion volume received no external funding but was supported in part by BNAC and the Center for Biomedical Imaging at the Clinical and Translational Science Institute at UB.
Berkeley, CA - 4th June - The Haas School of Business at the University of California, Berkeley today announced its participation in the University Blockchain Research Initiative, a new program founded by Ripple to support academic research, technical development, and innovation in blockchain, cryptocurrency, and digital payments.

Berkeley Haas will receive a multi-year, multi-million-dollar gift from Ripple to build on the school's leadership in advancing understanding of how these technologies are transforming multiple industries, and in educating leaders who will bring them to market. The school will develop a comprehensive program focused on blockchain and distributed systems, as well as cryptocurrency and digital payments.

"This is the perfect partnership: Berkeley with our triple strengths of an outstanding business school, outstanding STEM education and research, and our location in the Bay Area--the heart of innovation--and Ripple, with its remarkable leadership in remaking how global payments are done," said Haas Dean Rich Lyons.

Berkeley Haas is one of 17 prestigious universities around the world and one of only two business schools in the U.S. partnering with Ripple on the $50 million University Blockchain Research Initiative.

Housed within the Institute for Business and Social Impact (IBSI) in collaboration with the #1-ranked Master of Financial Engineering Program, the Berkeley Haas blockchain research program will link to the wide array of expertise and initiatives underway across campus. These initiatives include strategic collaborations with other UC Berkeley schools and departments including the engineering and law schools; a new Haas FinTech Center under development; as well as student-led initiatives such as the Haas FinTech Club and Blockchain at Berkeley. The program will support pioneering academic research examining the changes these technologies are bringing to a wide range of industries and the financial system, and how they might be harnessed to reduce poverty and enhance the greater good.

"Exploring and advancing uses of blockchain to solve business and societal problems are core to the mission of Berkeley Haas and its Institute for Business and Social Impact," said IBSI Faculty Director Laura Tyson. "This partnership with Ripple comes at the perfect time for UC Berkeley, as our students across campus are demanding even more classes, research opportunities, and activities related to blockchain."

The Berkeley Haas program will provide financial support for academic research, graduate and undergraduate research projects, student experiential learning, and events and student activities such as competitions, conferences, and guest speakers. Berkeley Haas will determine the research topics and areas of focus. In addition to financial resources, Ripple has committed to providing strategic guidance and technical resources as needed.

Eric van Miltenburg, Ripple's senior vice president of Global Operations, said the initiative will help meet the growing demand for talent, learning, research, and project-based experience in blockchain and fintech more broadly.

"Academia has traditionally been a critical driver of technical innovation. The University Blockchain Research Initiative is an acknowledgment of the vital importance of the unique role universities will play in advancing our understanding and application of cryptography and blockchain technology. It also speaks to the reality that university graduates will fuel a continually evolving and maturing financial marketplace and workforce," said Eric van Miltenburg, SVP of Global Operations at Ripple. "Much of the enthusiasm and activity to date around blockchain is disconnected from real use cases that result in clear benefits to businesses or civil society. While Ripple won't dictate research parameters, we are excited to play a role in helping to support faculty and student-led projects that explore increasingly useful applications of blockchain and cryptocurrencies."

Berkeley Haas' ability to reach across campus departments and disciplines will help fuel diverse teaching, research, and technical developments that will contribute to the global blockchain ecosystem. The school is also committed to increasing diversity and inclusion across all its programs, most recently with the addition of a new chief diversity officer and the launch of the Center for Equity, Gender and Leadership.

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About the Haas School of Business

As the second-oldest business school in the United States, the Haas School of Business at the University of California, Berkeley is one of the world's leading producers of new ideas and knowledge in all areas of business. The school offers outstanding management education to about 2,300 undergraduate and graduate students each year who come from around the world to study in one of its six degree-granting programs.

About the University of California, Berkeley

The University of California, Berkeley is one of the world's most iconic teaching and research institutions. Since 1868, Berkeley has fueled a perpetual renaissance, generating unparalleled intellectual, economic and social value in California, the United States, and the world. Considered among the best universities in the world and the top public university in the United States, Berkeley has more departments ranked in the top 10 than any other school.

About Ripple

Ripple provides one frictionless experience to send money globally using the power of blockchain. By joining Ripple's growing, global network, financial institutions can process their customers' payments anywhere in the world instantly, reliably and cost-effectively. Banks and payment providers can use the digital asset XRP to further reduce their costs and access new markets. With offices in San Francisco, New York, London, Luxembourg, Mumbai, Singapore and Sydney, Ripple has more than 100 customers around the world.
Fossil fuel stocks have long been a safe financial bet. With the International Energy Agency projecting price rises until 2040, and governments prevaricating or rowing back on the Paris Agreement, investor confidence is set to remain high.

However, new research suggests that the momentum behind technological change in the global power and transportation sectors will lead to a dramatic decline in demand for fossil fuels in the near future.

The study indicates that this will now happen regardless of apparent market certainty or the adoption of climate policies - or lack thereof - by major nations.

Detailed simulations produced by an international team of economists and policy experts show this fall in demand has the potential to leave vast reserves of fossil fuels as "stranded assets": abruptly shifting from high to low value sometime before 2035.

Such a sharp slump in fossil fuel price could cause a huge "carbon bubble" built on long-term investments to burst. According to the study, the equivalent of between one and four trillion US dollars could be wiped off the global economy in fossil fuel assets alone. A loss of US$0.25 trillion triggered the crash of 2008 by comparison.

Publishing their findings today in the journal Nature Climate Change, researchers from Cambridge University (UK), Radboud University (NL), the Open University (UK), Macau University, and Cambridge Econometrics, argue that there will be clear economic winners and losers as a consequence.

Japan, China and many EU nations currently rely on high-cost fossil fuel imports to meet energy needs. They could see national expenditure fall and - with the right investment in low-carbon technologies - a boost to Gross Domestic Product (GDP) as well as increased employment in sustainable industries.

However, major carbon exporters with relatively high production costs, such as Canada, the United States and Russia, would see domestic fossil fuel industries collapse. Researchers warn that losses will only be exacerbated if incumbent governments continue to neglect renewable energy in favour of carbon-intensive economies.

The study repeatedly ran simulations to gauge the outcomes of numerous combinations of global economic and environmental change. It is the first time that the evolution of low-carbon technologies has been mapped from historical data and incorporated into 'integrated assessment modeling'.

"Until now, observers mostly paid attention to the likely effectiveness of climate policies, but not to the ongoing and effectively irreversible technological transition," said Dr Jean-Francois Mercure, study lead author from Radboud University and Cambridge University's Centre for Environment, Energy and Natural Resource Governance (C-EENRG).

Prof Jorge Vinuales, study co-author from Cambridge University and founder of C-EENRG, said: "Our analysis suggests that, contrary to investor expectations, the stranding of fossil fuels assets may happen even without new climate policies. This suggests a carbon bubble is forming and it is likely to burst."

"Individual nations cannot avoid the situation by ignoring the Paris Agreement or burying their heads in coal and tar sands," he said. "For too long, global climate policy has been seen as a prisoner's dilemma game, where some nations can do nothing and get a 'free ride' on the efforts of others. Our results show this is no longer the case."

However, one of the most alarming economic possibilities suggested by the study comes with a sudden push for climate policies - a 'two-degree target' scenario - combined with declines in fossil fuel demand but continued levels of production. This could see an initial US$4 trillion of fossil fuel assets vanish off the balance sheets.

"If we are to defuse this time-bomb in the global economy, we need to move promptly but cautiously," said Hector Pollitt, study co-author from Cambridge Econometrics and C-EENRG. "The carbon bubble must be deflated before it becomes too big, but progress must also be carefully managed."

One of the factors that may contribute to the tumult created by fossil fuel asset stranding is what's known as a "sell-out" by OPEC (Organisation of the Petroleum Exporting Countries) nations in the Middle East.

"If OPEC nations maintain production levels as prices drop, they will crowd out the market," said Pollitt. "OPEC nations will be the only ones able to produce fossil fuels at the low costs required, and exporters such as the US and Canada will be unable to compete."

Vinuales observes that China is poised to gain most from fossil fuel stranding. "China is already a world leader in renewable energy technologies, and needs to deploy them domestically to tackle dangerous levels of pollution. Additionally, stranding would take a higher toll on some of its main geopolitical competitors. China has a strong incentive to push for climate policies."

The study authors suggest that economic damage from adherence to fossil fuels may lead to political upheaval of the kind we are perhaps already seeing. "Mass unemployment from carbon-based industries could feed public disenchantment and populist politics," Vinuales said.

The authors argue that initial actions should include the diversifying of energy supplies as well as investment portfolios. "Divestment from fossil fuels is both a prudential and necessary thing to do," said Mercure. "Investment and pension funds need to evaluate how much of their money is in fossil fuel assets and reassess the risk they are taking."

"A useful step would be to expand financial disclosure requirements, making companies and financial managers reveal assets at risk from fossil fuel decline, so that it becomes reflected in asset prices," Mercure added.

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Over a decade, Emma Matthews has progressed from fearing for her son's life every night to being safe in the knowledge that his diabetes is well managed thanks to the long-term success of "miracle treatment" tablets.

Until he was four, Jack frequently had life-threatening low blood sugar (hypos) at night as a result of the insulin injections he took several times a day to treat his neonatal diabetes. He was among the first to switch from insulin injections to sulphonylurea tablets 14 years ago, thanks to research led by the University of Exeter 'involving an international collaboration with groups in Norway, Italy, France and Poland. . Today, the team's new research in The Lancet Diabetes and Endocrinology reveals that the treatment is just as successful over the long-term and still providing excellent sugar control after 10 years.

Neonatal diabetes is diagnosed before the age of six months. Half of all cases are caused by a mutation in their KCNJ11 gene - which is involved in keeping insulin-producing cells in the pancreas working properly. This results in life threatening diabetes soon after birth. Led by the University of Exeter, the new decade-long analysis of 81 patients from 20 different countries was funded by the Wellcome Trust and Diabetes UK. It shows that these people can be treated successfully through sulphonylurea tablets, with excellent blood sugar control in the long term.

Professor Andrew Hattersley is the lead of the genetic diabetes research team at the University of Exeter Medical School. In 2006, they discovered that around half of people with neonatal diabetes can come off insulin injections and be treated more effectively with sulphonylurea tablets. In these people, the tablets provide the key to unlocking the closed door of the insulin-producing beta cells.

Professor Hattersley said: "Switching from regular insulin injections was life-changing for these people who had been on insulin all their life; many described it as "a miracle treatment". Not only does this eradicate the need to inject with insulin several times a day, it also means much better blood sugar control. This is the first study to establish that this treatment is safe and works excellently for at least 10 years and all indications are that it will continue to work for decades more. This is great news for the thousands of patients who have made the switch from insulin."

Dr Pamela Bowman, of the University of Exeter Medical School, who led the study, said: "It was incredibly exciting to help people make the switch from insulin to simple tablets - but the question was, would the benefits last? Half of people with type 2 diabetes treated with sulphonylureas no longer have good blood sugar control after five years. Our study has found that in neonatal diabetes, the tablets are safe and they work long term - with 93% of people in the study remaining on sulphonylureas alone after 10 years, with excellent blood sugar control."

Today, Jack's diabetes is so well managed that Emma has not had to worry about his condition since he changed treatment.

"It's like we've gone from living in a horror film to living in a rom com," said Emma, a nurse from Essex in the UK. "Before Jack switched treatment, every single night was a living nightmare. His blood sugar levels were all over the place, and I didn't think he was going to be alive when I went into his bedroom in the morning."

Now, Jack has recently celebrated his 18th birthday, with 150 guests. "We're so proud of our charming young man," said Emma. "He makes friends wherever he goes. Dealing with Jack's diabetes was particularly hard because of his severe learning difficulties. I honestly don't think he'd still be with us if it wasn't for the research at Exeter."

Dr Elizabeth Robertson, Director of Research at Diabetes UK, said: "It's so important that people living with rare forms of diabetes, like neonatal diabetes, receive the right diagnosis and treatment. That's why we are delighted to have been able to help fund this vital work, demonstrating for the first time that sulphonylurea tablets are a safe and effective way for some people with neonatal diabetes to manage their condition for the long term. Moving forward, we hope research will uncover ways to prevent the developmental issues people with neonatal diabetes face.

"Nine out of ten people with this condition can switch from insulin therapy when they get the right diagnosis, so we would like all children diagnosed with diabetes under six months to be tested for neonatal diabetes, so the right treatment can help them get the best start in life."

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The paper, 'Effectiveness and safety of long-term treatment with sulphonylureas in neonatal diabetes due to KCNJ11 mutations: an international cohort study' is published in The Lancet Diabetes and Endocrinology.

To find out more about diabetes research at Exeter, visit http://www.exeter.ac.uk/departments/diabetes/ or follow #Exeterdiabetes on Twitter.
Research from the University of Illinois at Chicago has found that some of the genes affected by alcohol and inflammation are also implicated in processes that clear amyloid beta -- the protein that forms globs of plaques in the brain and which contributes to neuronal damage and the cognitive impairment associated with Alzheimer's disease.

Previous studies investigating the effects of alcohol consumption on Alzheimer's disease have been controversial -- some have indicated that alcohol has a protective effect, while others have pointed to a deleterious role for alcohol in the development of this neurocognitive disease. Recent research has suggested that alcohol consumption, and its impact on the immune system and inflammation in the brain, may be the vehicle through which alcohol might exert its influence on the development of Alzheimer's disease, but no previous studies have directly evaluated which genes are affected by alcohol in cells in the brain involved in protecting against Alzheimer's disease.

Dr. Douglas Feinstein, professor of anesthesiology in the University of Illinois at Chicago College of Medicine, along with other researchers conducted a cell-based study which suggests that alcohol may impede the clearance of amyloid beta in the brain. Their results are published in the Journal of Neuroinflammation.

Feinstein and his colleagues wanted to determine which genes were affected by both alcohol and high levels of inflammation in microglial cells. These are cells that support neural cells in the brain and elsewhere in the body. One of their functions is to engulf and digest the amyloid beta protein plaques characteristic of Alzheimer's disease in a process known as phagocytosis. Microglial cells are also known to express high levels of inflammatory markers due to chronic alcohol exposure.

The researchers exposed rat microglial cells to alcohol, pro-inflammatory chemicals called cytokines, or alcohol and cytokines in the lab for 24 hours, and then looked at changes in gene expression under each condition. They also looked at the impact of alcohol exposure on the cells' ability to engulf amyloid beta.

They found that gene expression was altered for 312 genes under the alcohol condition; for 3,082 for the pro-inflammatory condition, and 3,552 for the alcohol and pro-inflammatory condition. Changes in gene expression -- either an increase or decrease in expression compared to normal levels -- averaged about 16 percent and ranged from a 50 percent decrease to a 72 percent increase. Just a handful of genes were involved in both phagocytosis and inflammation.

"Among the genes we saw altered were many involved in phagocytosis, which is the first time this has been shown," Feinstein said. "While these studies were performed in isolated cells, our results suggest that alcohol impedes the ability of mircroglia to keep the brain clear of amyloid beta and may contribute to the development of Alzheimer's disease."

After the researchers exposed the cells to alcohol levels at doses that are comparable to those found in humans after binge drinking or in heavy drinkers, they found that microglial phagocytosis was significantly suppressed by about 15 percent after one hour. "We didn't continue the study to see whether phagocytosis was further impaired after longer exposures to alcohol," Feinstein said, "but it appears that these changes in microglial cells could be a contributing factor to the development of Alzheimer's disease."

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Subhash Pandey from the University of Illinois at Chicago and the Jesse Brown VA Medical Center in Chicago; Handojo Kusumo and Sergey Kalinin from the University of Illinois at Chicago; Marta Gonzalez-Prieto and Jose Madrigal from the Complutense University of Madrid; Hannah Scheiblich and Michael Heneka from the University of Bonn, Germany; and Lucia Lisi from Catholic University Medical School, Rome, are co-authors on the paper.

This research was supported in part by grant P50AA-022538 from the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism and a Research Career Scientist award from the Department of Veterans Affairs.
CHAMPAIGN, Ill. -- Using a new algorithm, University of Illinois researchers may have found the solution to an age-old dilemma plaguing satellite imagery - whether to sacrifice high spatial resolution in the interest of generating images more frequently, or vice versa. The team's new tool eliminates this trade-off by fusing high-resolution and high-frequency satellite data into one integrated product, and can generate 30-meter daily continuous images going back to the year 2000.

Monitoring of agriculture, urban development, environmental quality and economic development are just a few ways people make use of satellite data. The new algorithm is generic enough for use in virtually any application.

In agricultural applications, imaging at 10- to 30-meter resolution is critical for farmers to see field-level rapid and subtle changes in crop conditions that affect yield, such as crop stress and disturbance after extreme weather events. Existing data have either insufficient spatial resolution or low frequency, the researchers said. Farmers usually require information with both high-resolution and near real-time occurrence.

"We struggled to find public satellite data that has both high spatial resolution and high frequency in our own research - it simply did not exist," said natural resources and environmental sciences professor and study co-author Kaiyu Guan. "So we took the initiative to produce it ourselves."

Guan, a Blue Waters professor at the National Center for Supercomputing Applications at Illinois, teamed up with professor Jian Peng and graduate student Yunan Luo of computer science to develop an algorithm that fuses satellite images from multiple sources into continuous, daily high-resolution images. The researchers describe their methodology and findings in the journal Remote Sensing of Environment.

"We first ingested all of the available satellite data sets into Blue Waters, the National Science Foundation's leadership class supercomputer. With a click of a button to run our algorithm, what automatically comes out are daily high-resolution images available for all sorts of scientific applications," Guan said.

Previous researchers have developed methods for fusing high-resolution spatial and temporal data, but these came with limitations. Almost all of the algorithms lacked automation and could not simultaneously deal with missing pixels and temporal fusion. These drawbacks led to short-term and localized applications.

To overcome the limitations of previous methods, the team designed the algorithm to automatically integrate information from existing data. This compensates for missing information resulting from cloud coverage or data gaps. The new algorithm can create images without any missing pixels, for any site or region, by leveraging time-series information and relations with neighboring pixels.

In addition to near-real-time daily high-resolution data collection, the team envisions building long-term daily, continental-scale images for various applications. "The type of high-quality satellite data required to run this algorithm has been collected since 2000, meaning we can generate daily 30-meter resolution images for any location on this planet going back in time," Guan said.

"This can be used to study changes in agricultural productivity, ecosystem and polar ice dynamics since 2000 in much higher detail than previously possible," Peng said. "Our approach may revolutionize the use of satellite data."

The researchers have already successfully fused surface reflectance data in Champaign County, Ill., and generated daily time series for the growing season of 2017 at 30-meter resolution.

To see a video of this surface reflectance data click here.

"Even though others have invested in similar technology, they could not go back in time like we can," Guan said. "The data sources for our algorithms use the most rigorous data from NASA or the European Space Agency and produce daily fusion data that is ready for research and practical applications." Guan said.

"Generating this sort of data requires significant computing resources, making accessibility difficult," Peng said. "We want to share the output with the broader scientific community and we are working to find a way to make that possible."

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NASA, the National Science Foundation and the State of Illinois supported this research.

Editor's notes:

To reach Kaiyu Guan, call 217-300-2690; kaiyug@illinois.edu.

To reach Jian Peng, call 217-300-2825; jianpeng@illinois.edu.

The paper "STAIR: A generic and fully-automated method to fuse multiple sources of optical satellite data to generate a high-resolution, daily and cloud-/gap-free surface reflectance product" is available online and from the U. of I. News Bureau.

DOI: 10.1016/j.rse.2018.04.042
These results indicate that T cells in the brain may be an important reservoir for HIV in patients that should be targeted by HIV cure approaches

A new study by University of North Carolina School of Medicine researchers has found that T cells, a type of white blood cell and an essential part of the immune system, are sufficient by themselves to establish and maintain an HIV infection in the brain.

"These results are paradigm changing," said co-corresponding author J. Victor Garcia, PhD, Oliver Smithies Investigator, professor of Medicine and a member of the UNC Institute for Global Health and Infectious Diseases, the UNC Center for AIDS Research and the UNC Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center. "We have demonstrated for the first time that infection of the brain can be established and maintained by both human macrophages and T cells."

The study, published today in the Journal of Clinical Investigation, builds upon previous work by the same group of researchers, which found that the virus persists in HIV-infected macrophages and demonstrated the ability of tissue macrophages to support HIV replication in vivo in the total absence of human T cells. Macrophages are large white blood cells found in tissues throughout the body including the liver, lung, bone marrow and brain.

HIV/AIDs researchers long believed that myeloid cells are critical for HIV infection of the central nervous system. But more recent research indicates that HIV infection in cerebral spinal fluid can originate from both T cells and/or macrophages.

To directly address whether or not T cells contribute to the seeding and persistence of HIV infection in the brain, researchers in the laboratories of Angela Wahl, PhD and Garcia used a humanized T-cell only mouse model to determine whether or not myeloid cells are essential for HIV infection of the brain.

The study's lead author is Jenna B. Honeycutt, PhD, a postdoctoral research associate in the division of infectious diseases at UNC and the UNC Center for AIDS Research.

"In our studies we show that T cells are a major target of HIV infection in the brain, both in the presence and in the absence of macrophages," said Honeycutt. "In addition we describe a previously unknown phenomenon that occurs in the central nervous system rapidly after infection - specifically, a significant depletion of CD4 T cells within 1-2 weeks of infection in the brain.

"This has previously been reported for mucosal tissues, but has not been reported previously in the brain. We also report that the depletion of CD4+ T cells in the brain can be efficiently reversed by antiretroviral therapy," said Honeycutt, whose work on this research recently led to her being awarded the Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center's Pagano Award.

Another significant aspect of this work is that it establishes that the brain is not an immune-privileged site as previously thought, and that the possibility of a persistent reservoir for HIV in the brain has been severely underestimated.

"Despite effective suppression of HIV virus in the blood by antiretroviral therapy, we were still able to detect virus in the brain in more than 65 percent of the brains analyzed," said Wahl, who is co-corresponding author of the study. "These results indicate that the brain may be an important reservoir for HIV in patients that should be targeted by HIV cure approaches. Future studies will be needed to determine if the virus that persists in the brain during ART is able to re-ignite the infection if ART is removed."

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This work was supported by grants from the National Institute of Mental Health, the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, UNC CFAR, the Natural Science Foundation of Guangdong Province, China, the UNC-South China STD Research Training Center and by CARE, a Martin Delaney Collaboratory, of the NIAID, NINDS, NIDA, and NIMH of the National Institutes of Health.
CHICAGO - In a small Phase II study of early-stage breast cancer patients with BRCA1/2 mutations, researchers at The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center found that more than half of the women who took the PARP inhibitor talazoparib once daily prior to surgery had no evidence of disease at the time of surgery. If further validated in larger, confirmatory trials, the oral medication could replace chemotherapy for these patients.

The trial, which expands upon a feasibility study published in npj Breast Cancer, was presented today as an oral presentation at the 2018 American Society of Clinical Oncology Annual Meeting by Jennifer Litton, M.D., associate professor of Breast Medical Oncology.

"To my knowledge, this study is the first time that a single-agent targeted therapy has shown a pathologic complete response in women with BRCA mutations, including those with triple negative breast cancer," said Litton.

Mutations in the BRCA1/2 genes account for 5 to 10 percent of all breast cancers, including most hereditary cancers - a population often diagnosed at a younger age - and 10 to 25 percent of triple negative breast cancers, a most-aggressive type of the disease.

BRCA mutations cause defects in normal DNA damage repair. PARP inhibitors block an additional DNA repair pathway, and the anti-tumor effects of PARP inhibitors can be intensified in patients with BRCA mutations. Talazoparib works by not only inhibiting the PARP enzyme, but by trapping the enzyme on DNA to further prevent DNA repair. This new research follows the randomized, Phase III EMBRACA trial, also led by Litton, which found talazoparib extended progression-free survival and improved quality-of-life measures over available chemotherapies for patients with metastatic breast cancer and BRCA mutations.

While the goal always is to move promising drugs from the metastatic setting to the front line, previous studies with PARP inhibitors combined with chemotherapies resulted in high rates of toxicities for patients, explained Litton.

"Given the toxicities and the fear that young women may not want to forgo upfront chemotherapy because many had aggressive disease, there were concerns that patients would even want to enroll on the pilot study. Instead, we had incredibly strong accrual and our median tumor volume decrease by ultrasound was 88 percent after just two months of patients receiving a single dose of talazoparib once a day," said Litton. "With these dramatic findings, the feasibility study was stopped and re-designed into the current trial."

For the single institution Phase II study, Litton and her colleagues enrolled 20 women with stage I-III BRCA+ breast cancer. Of note, 17 of the women had triple negative disease. None of the patients had received previous therapy for invasive breast cancer. All but one patient completed six months of talazoparib once daily; one woman completed five months of the therapy and then withdrew consent. Participants then had surgery followed by the appropriate chemotherapy regimen. The study's primary endpoint was residual cancer burden (RCB), or complete resolution of tumor.

At the time of surgery, the researchers found that 53 percent of the women (10 of 19) achieved pathological complete response, or a score of RCB0; combined, 63 percent (12 of 19) received a score of RCB0 and RCB1. Both scores have the same positive expected outcome. Of those women who received a RCB0 or RCB1, 10 had triple negative breast cancer.

Toxicities included blood count deficiencies, which could be managed by close monitoring of cell counts and platelets, and giving dose reductions and transfusions. Some patients also experienced grade 1 alopecia.

"Our findings are very early, and future studies will need to validate our results," said Litton. "However, the idea of taking a pill once a day and having similar - if not better - response rates without the quality-of-life issues women experience on chemotherapy could be tremendous for our patients."

Litton and her colleagues also were able to make parallel mouse models of the patients' breast tumors to better study responses and resistance, as well as provide the models to other investigators to expand the collective knowledge of PARP inhibitors.

As follow up, a Phase II, single-arm trial with a similar design is open; Litton is the national principal investigator.

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The study was completed with funding support from the Breast Cancer Moon Shot, part of MD Anderson's Moon Shots Program, a collaborative effort to accelerate the development of scientific discoveries into clinical advances that save patients' lives. The research also was supported by the Toomim Family Fund and Pfizer/Medivation.

Litton has research funding with EMD Serono, Astra-Zeneca, Pfizer and Genentech, and she serves on advisory boards for Pfizer and Astra-Zeneca, all uncompensated.

In addition to Litton, other authors on the all-MD Anderson study include: Gary Whitman, M.D., Marion E. Scoggins, M.D., Beatriz E. Adrada, M.D., all of Diagnostic Radiology; Kenneth R. Hess, Ph.D., Biostatistics; Carlos H. Barcenas, M.D., Rashmi K. Murthy, M.D., Senthil Damodaran, M.D, Ph.D., Banu Arun, M.D., Nuhad Ibrahim, M.D., Stacy Moulder, M.D., Jill Schwartz-Gomez, all of Breast Medical Oncology; Sarah M. DeSnyder, M.D., Breast Surgical Oncology; and Abenaa Breswter, M.D., Clinical Cancer Prevention. Elizabeth A. Mittendorf, M.D., Ph.D. is now at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute.
DETROIT - Haipeng Liu, Ph.D., assistant professor of chemical engineering at Wayne State University, received a Faculty Early Career Development (CAREER) award from the National Science Foundation to fund his research on vaccine adjuvants that can improve the treatment and care of cancer patients.

The five-year, $539,422 grant will support his project, "Engineering Molecular Adjuvants for Cancer Vaccines." Liu's work aims to address the effectiveness and safety concerns of adjuvants - substances that are added to vaccines to improve the body's immune response and decrease the amount of vaccine needed - in order to advance more clinical studies.

"This project focuses on integrating molecular engineering and immunology to gain fundamental insight into important aspects of how to rationally design molecular adjuvants for therapeutic cancer vaccines that are safe and can overcome tumor related immune suppression," said Liu.

Liu's strategy is to construct a series of chemically-modified physical models to predict how a molecule's structure will affect its functionality, and to study the adjuvant-immune system interactions at the tissue, cellular, and subcellular levels.

"The knowledge gained through these efforts will bridge the gap between synthetic chemistry and immunology, and give rise to the design of the next generation of molecular adjuvants for cancer vaccines," said Liu.

NSF CAREER awards, the most prestigious honor bestowed by the organization to rising researchers, emphasize the integration of research and education. Liu plans to leverage his research to enhance the college's graduate certificate program in polymer engineering, with the goal of attracting underrepresented students to the field.

Liu joined the Wayne State faculty in 2013. His research focuses on the integration of synthetic chemistry and materials engineering for improving vaccines against infectious diseases and cancer. He holds a Ph.D. in chemistry from Purdue University, has co-authored three patents and more than 30 scientific manuscripts, and has had his research cited more than 1,600 times.

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The grant number for this National Science Foundation award is 1750607.

Wayne State University is one of the nation's pre-eminent public research institutions in an urban setting. Through its multidisciplinary approach to research and education, and its ongoing collaboration with government, industry and other institutions, the university seeks to enhance economic growth and improve the quality of life in the city of Detroit, the state of Michigan and throughout the world. For more information about research at Wayne State University, visit http://www.research.wayne.edu.
Zeno Group has appointed Margaret Key to the new position of CEO, Zeno Asia Pacific.

In the newly-created CEO post, Key will join Zenos Global Leadership Team and oversee a growing staff of 135 professionals in India, Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia and Australia as well as the network of Zeno+ partners across the region. Key brings extensive industry leadership experience throughout North and South Asia, most recently as CEO, Asia-Pacific for Burson-Marsteller.

We are thrilled to have someone of Margarets high profile and caliber join Zeno in Asia Pacific, a vitally important region as our business continues to expand and globalize, said Barby K. Siegel, CEO of Zeno Group. In addition to her deft leadership skills, Margaret understands the balance of local experience and global strategy. This is especially important as more and more of our clients look to us for an integrated Asia solution.

Zenos client portfolio in APAC features world class brands such as Lenovo, Wuling Motors, Netflix, Intel, Prudential, Johnson & Johnson and Temasek. Zeno in APAC offers a range of modern communications and earned media capabilities across consumer, technology and health sectors, with deep expertise in digital and analytics.

Most recently, Key served as CEO, Asia Pacific at Burson-Marsteller, where she managed a diverse portfolio across 17 offices in eight countries. Previously, she served as MD for Edelman in Korea and Japan, and before that, held communications positions with Hyundai and Hilton in Seoul, Korea. Among her major client relationships, Key has counseled and led pan-Asia communications for Huawei, Ford Motor, Delta, Bayer and LG.

Zenos fearless, entrepreneurial culture is the perfect place for me, and the ideal opportunity at this time given their incredible momentum globally and commitment specifically to expanding in Asia, said Key. Its also a welcome return for me to the Daniel J. Edelman family, where my career first began.

Key will be based in Seoul, Korea, her longtime home, with her husband and family.

Read more news about (internet advertising India, internet advertising, advertising India, digital advertising India, media advertising India)
The Canadian Dollar continued to chop sideways against the US Dollar after being rejected strongly from 1.30 and now trading a little above 1.29.

The relationship between the US and Canada appears to be once again fraying as Trudeau has denounced the tariffs as an affront to a longstanding alliance and puts the state of NAFTA in jeopardy once again.

Scotiabank believe that the CAD exchange rates remain undervalued but is unlikely to rally while uncertainties persist in the marketplace,

Bank of Canada rate expectations are steady and OIS are still pricing just under 20bpts of tightening for July and another hike by December. The near-term risk lies with the U.S. payrolls release and its impact on the broader tone. Domestic risk is limited ahead of next weeks trade and employment releases. The Bank of Canada also releases its Financial System Review on Thursday. CADs undervaluation, relative to fair value, is likely to continue for the foreseeable future as market participants assess the outlook for NAFTA
Last weeks eurozone political dramas seem very distant as EURUSD starts the week with a strong session. Data will be key in shaping central bank policy for the rest of the year. The RBA will make a decision on the cash rate this week, with other data and speakers likely to cause volatility.

The issue of whether last weeks US dollar reversal was for real may have been answered early this week as the DXY dollar basket has fallen to new lows at 93.66. This has allowed the EURUSD to trade back above 1.17; a far cry away from last Tuesdays panic below 1.155 when some commentatotors were worried the EU was in danger of imploding due to Italian politics.

With political concerns now likely to fade, attention can now shift back to what shpould be the main drivers over the remainder of the yeat: central bank monetary policy and the data that will shape it.

With that in mind, lets look at what the week has in store.

Monday June 04

There are no Fed speakers this week as they are in the purdah period prior to the rate decision next week. Data is also light, although as the UK Manufacturing PMI boosted sterling last week, the Construction PMI may also have a larger than normal effect. BoE Etheridge speak at 15:45, and BoE MPC member Tenreyro (voter, centrist) is on at 17:00 (GMT).

Tuesday June 05

Australian yields rose sharply last Friday in anticipation of a possible hike at the RBA rate decision meeting, although consensus is still for a hold. Notably the bank has said that falling house prices (Australian house prices have fallen for eight months in a row) are not a consideration. We now have a partially priced in hike, so expect AUD volatility whatever happens. Also, in addition to a raft of PMIs is the US JOLTS Job Openings report at 14:00. ECB President Draghi speaks along with his predecessor Jean-Claude Trichet in Frankfurt at 13:00. BoE Cunliffe (dove, voter) speaks at 11:00.

Wednesday June 06

Following the rate decision, Australian GDP is estimated to be twice last months figure at 0.8%. A miss on this ambitious estimate could reverse any movement upward from the rate decision (or vice versa on a beat after a rate hold). We have three ECB speakers today Praet (dove, voter) at 07:00, Hakkarainen at 13:30, and Angeloni at 16:10. BoE Tenreyro speak again at 09:00, and BoE McCafferty (hawk, voter) is scheduled to do a vox pop Q&A on London LBC Radio.

Thursday June 07

Eurozone GDP rarely makes much of a splash and usually comes in as estimated, as the individual nations have already reported. Of more interest are the CB speakers, BoE Ramsden (voter, position unknown and therefore interesting) at 14:00, and BoC Poloz discussing the contents of the Canadian Financial System Review. Another former CB leader is on today, Ben Bernanke discusses Lesson Learned from 10 Years of QE at 18:00. NDX component (1.302%) AVGO reports after the bell.

Friday June 08

Today sees Canadas NFP and other employment figures, a week after the US NFP. The jobs estimate is not available at the time of writing, but an improvement of last months negative figure is likely. USDCAD sharp movement is still expected. Staying north of the 49th parallel, the two-day G7 Summit opens in Quebec. The only CB speaker today is ECB Mersch (hawkish, voter) at 07:15. Markets will also start to position themselves for the following weeks all important US (and EU) rate decisions, where a US hike is widely (91.3% per FedWatch) expected.

AUDUSD will be a particularly interesting pair to trade during the week, with the RBA and Australian GDP likely to cause volatility. In the context of a broad US dollar reversal lower, AUDUSD could rally strongly given the right domestic drivers.
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Singapore, the United States and Mozambique: three countries, three very different apprenticeship experiences. What do they hope to learn in Switzerland this week at akey congress on vocational and professional training?

While Singapore, with an unemployment rate of 2%, is looking to expand its educational options with vocational training, Mozambique, which has 25% unemployment, sees apprenticeships as a way of giving youth skills and jobs. The US has about 4% jobless, but an acknowledged deficit in skilled workers.

To find out how apprenticeships work in their homelands, swissinfo.ch contacted an expert from each of these countries attending the 3rd International Vocational and Professional Education and Training (VPET) Congress, which starts in Winterthur on June 6.

Switzerlands own dual system, that combines education with an apprenticeship at a host company, is often held up as a model for others.

Ong Ye Kung, Minister for Education, Singapore

The minister, who is not unfamiliar with Swiss-style education  he holds an MBA from the Institute of Management Development in Lausanne  says that he is honoured to speak at the event. Switzerland and Singapore are small nations, tapping on the wider region and the world to earn a living, and placing great emphasis on developing our people. While the objective is the same, our approaches and policies towards education and talent development are different due to our respective unique historical and cultural circumstances. This makes for rich mutual learning. Over the years, successive Education Ministers have visited Switzerland, almost on an annual basis, to learn about your system.

Ong says however that a change in mind-set is still needed towards vocational training in Singapore. While some progress has been made, we need to encourage more companies to train their workforces, he says. Among the initiatives he cites that involve employers are the new apprenticeship-based technical diploma at the Singapore Institute of Technical Education and the SkillsFuture programmes (earn and learn; work-study degree programme).

At the heart of it, our aim is to develop a system of diverse pathways, where our young can choose from options within the spectrum of academic learning and apprenticeship-based vocational training, and find a path that suits them, plays to their strengths, and helps them chart fulfilling careers.

Kathryn P. Castelloes, Apprenticeship Director, North Carolina Community Colleges, US

Castelloes oversees apprenticeships programmes in North Carolina and ensures they meet state and federal requirements. The states model combines on-the-job learning and classroom instruction across a variety of apprenticeships and ages, including for veterans. More than 600 employers pay apprentices across the state, but North Carolina wants to expand this further.

Castelloes hopes to take back innovative ideas and best practices from the congress. I would also like to learn more on potential policies that could be utilised in my state, such that more apprenticeships could be adopted within our educational systems, she says.

Companies, such as precision engineering company Daetwyler, run apprenticeships along the Swiss model in North Carolina. Daetwyler began apprenticeships in 1995 and continues to be a leader for apprenticeships throughout the nation. The Swiss system is being viewed more and more as a model to be duplicated by others. The system is gaining more attention, increasingly promoted as more companies become involved, Castelloes notes.

Also speaking at the congress will be US State Secretary of Education, Betsy DeVos. Her presence comes soon after the Trump administration announced a multi-million boost for apprenticeship and career/technical education programmes.

Mzikazi Ntuli, Grant Administrator and Programme Development Advisor,ADPP, Mozambique

The growing problem of youth unemployment and underemployment is one of the main socio-economic development concerns of most African governments. Without job-related skills, youth and adults cannot benefit from the employment opportunities that offer a decent income, says Ntuli. The apprenticeship situation in her country is not well-developed, with most opportunities being offered by the private sector and NGOs like hers.

Vocational education is currently being reformed in Mozambique. This should result in a more demand-led training system, providing people with more market relevant skills and more economic opportunities, Ntuli says. Nearly 80% of the labour force has not completed first level primary education, according to government figures.

Ntulis congress contribution will be, in her words, an authentic African success story: talking about two ADPP -backed projects to boost employability and entrepreneurship among young people, especially women, in Mozambique. One is focused on delivering market-led vocational training and the other on using open, distance and technology based education to improve employability and entrepreneurships for women and girls victims of child early and forced marriage.

Apart from learning from other apprenticeship systems, Ntuli also hopes to find out how people have maximised technology to provide professional skills via vocational education programmes. In Africa we are starting to bring technology into education and training. I want to learn what has worked and what were some of the key success factors, she says.

*All interviews were conducted via email

VPET 18 swissinfo.ch is the media partner of the 3rd International Congress on Vocational and Professional Education and Training (VPET 18) which runs from June 6 -8, 2018. Around 425 people from industry, politics and education are expected to attend, from around 80 countries. The congress aims to engage in open discussion and exchange good practices. The motto is Skills for Employability and Careers  which will focus on the current challenges faced by the economy. Topics include digitalization, lifelong learning and curricula development. Not missing, of course, are the apprentices, who will present aspects of their training in the Skills Village.
Chancellor Angela Merkel on Monday condemned as "shameful" remarks by a leader of Germany's far-right AfD party likening the Nazi era to a mere "speck of bird shit" in the country's long history.

It is shameful that we have to respond to such comments made by a member of the German Bundestag (lower house of parliament), Merkels spokesman Steffen Seibert told reporters in Berlin.

The government completely and unequivocally rejects any relativisation, any downplaying of the Nazi crimes, Seibert said, describing Hitlers regime and the Holocaust as a singular crime against humanity.

It was only because Germans acknowledged their everlasting responsibility for the immense suffering caused, he added, that the country has been able to once again become a good partner to other nations.

Seibert was reacting to comments made at the weekend by AfD co-leader Alexander Gauland, who told members of the partys youth wing that there was more to the countrys history than the 12 years of the Nazi regime.

Hitler and the Nazis are just a speck of bird shit in over 1,000 years of successful German history, Gauland said.

The comments unleashed a storm of criticsm in Germany, including from President Frank-Walter Steinmeier who accused Gauland of minimising the pain of the victims and seeking to sow new hatred.

We must all stand against this, Steinmeier said.

Merkels spokesman said condemnation of Gaulands words was shared by the government, the chancellor and fortunately the overwhelming majority of German people.

Set up in 2013, the anti-Islam, anti-immigrant AfD has risen to become the countrys largest opposition party after capitalising on anger over the arrival of more than a million asylum seekers since 2015.

It took nearly 13 percent of the vote in last years election, winning its first seats in the national parliament where its lawmakers have changed the tone of debate.

Gauland has repeatedly stirred controversy with speeches attacking Islam and immigrants. He has also argued that Germany should be proud of its veterans of two world wars.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu warned German Chancellor Angela Merkel Monday that Iranian meddling in the Middle East could touch off massive new refugee flows to Europe, as they clashed about the future of the nuclear deal with Tehran.

At the start of a three-day European tour dominated by strategic differences on Iran, Netanyahu charged that Tehran has been able to bankroll a growing military presence in countries such as Syria and Yemen because sanctions had been lifted in exchange for its halt in nuclear enrichment activities.

Iran wants to basically conduct a religious campaign in largely Sunni Syria but try to convert Sunnis, he said at a joint press conference with Merkel.

This will inflame another religious war  this time a religious war inside Syria and the consequences will be many, many more refugees and you know where exactly they will come, he said.

More than one million asylum seekers, with Syrians making up the biggest group, arrived in Germany since 2015, creating deep new political divisions in the country and shrinking Merkels ruling majority in her fourth term.

Germany, France and Britain are three of the signatories of the 2015 Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) between world powers and Iran, aimed at keeping Tehran from acquiring nuclear weapons.

Netanyahu, who has long railed against the deal, will continue on to Paris for meetings with French President Emmanuel Macron on Tuesday and British Prime Minister Theresa May on Wednesday.

All three countries have vowed to try to salvage the hard-fought accord since President Donald Trump announced the US withdrawal from it last month.

The European powers argue it is the best way to head off a regional arms race and have vowed with Russia and China, the two other signatory countries, to keep it alive.

 Malignant cancerous tumour 

Merkel insisted that the Europeans and Israel were united by the goal that Iran must never get a nuclear weapon but acknowledged deep differences with Netanyahu on how we can best achieve this.

She defended the nuclear accord as ensuring at least for a certain time, that Irans activities are under control noting that Tehran had been on the brink of having a nuclear weapon before the deal was signed.

But she acknowledged that a supplementary deal with Tehran covering its ballistic missile programme as well as its interventions in countries such as Lebanon, Syria, Iraq and Yemen was needed.

But we believe that this can be achieved with tough negotiations, she said.

Asked about Iranian supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei comments on Twitter Sunday calling Iran a malignant cancerous tumour, Merkel said Germany and its partners had repeatedly and with great clarity told Iran that we will stand up for Israels right to security.

Western powers view Irans involvement in its neighbours affairs as destabilising for the region while Israel sees it as a direct threat to its existence.

Foes Iran and Israel have been kept at bay for decades. However, an unprecedented May 10 escalation in Syria that saw Israel bomb alleged Iranian targets after blaming Tehran for a rocket barrage has sparked fears of open war.

Israel is considered the leading military power in the Middle East and believed to be the only country in the region to possess nuclear weapons.

 Far-right minimising Holocaust 

The visit to Germany, traditionally Israels closest European ally due to the enduring responsibility Berlin accepts for the Holocaust, comes at a time of further diplomatic tensions.

Merkel has repeatedly criticised expanding Israeli settlements in occupied Palestinian territory as destructive to long-thwarted hopes for a two-state solution.

She nevertheless defended Israels right to retaliate against rocket attacks from Gaza amid the worst military flare-up in the beleaguered Palestinian enclave since a 2014 war.

Netanyahu thanked Merkel for her efforts to fight a resurgence of anti-Semitism in Germany stemming from homegrown extremists and the massive influx of Muslim asylum seekers since 2015.

Alexander Gauland, a leader of the far-right Alternative for Germany, the biggest opposition party in parliament, unleashed a storm of protest at the weekend when he described the Nazi period and the Holocaust as little more than a speck of bird shit in over 1,000 years of successful German history.
A Spanish court has ruled that a Deliveroo rider should have been treated as an employee, and not as a self-employed contractor, in the first ruling over the rights of the online food group's staffers in the country.

A court in the city of Valencia said it has concluded there exists an employment relationship between the two parties in the case of the rider who had worked for Deliveroo since October 2016 and was recently fired for lack of availability.

The court ordered he be reinstated or be paid 705.13 euros ($821.97) in compensation, according to the ruling dated June 1 which was made public Monday.

Online food platforms have bloomed worldwide, allowing people to order from local restaurants via mobile phones, with dishes delivered to their homes or offices shortly afterwards, often by young bicycle couriers.

Companies like Deliveroo and other gig economy groups such as Uber are involved in legal battles in several countries over whether drivers should be classified as employees, which makes the firms responsible for paying minimum wages and making social benefit contributions. In Spain, another case is being fought in the courts in Barcelona.

Deliveroo said it would study the Valencia courts ruling before deciding its next steps.

The case refers to a delivery man who had an older contract which does not reflect the existing method of cooperation between riders and Deliveroo, it added in a statement.

Deliveroo said the self-employed status of riders in its new contracts had been confirmed by courts across Europe.

Local union Intersindical Valenciana, which had backed the rider in his court case, said the ruling was very positive and in line with a recent report by the Labour Inspectorate of Valencia calling for Deliveroo riders to be considered employees.
Former European parliament president Josep Borrell will be nominated as Spain's foreign minister in new Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez's Socialist government, a Socialist party source told AFP.

Borrell, a 71-year-old former leader of Spains Socialists, has accepted Sanchezs invitation, making him the first confirmed member of his cabinet, the source added.

He will replace Alfonso Dastis, a career diplomat, who occupied the post under ousted conservative premier Mariano Rajoy.

Sanchez, a 46-year-old economist with no government experience, was sworn in on Saturday, a day after defeating Rajoys minority conservative government in a no-confidence vote in parliament sparked by fury over a corruption scandal.

Borrell, who is from Catalonia and has been vocal in his opposition to the wealthy northeastern regions separatist drive, served as deputy finance minister, and then public works minister, under former Socialist prime minister Felipe Gonzalez, who was in power between 1982 and 1996.

He was elected leader of the Socialists in 1998 but he was forced to resing the following year before a 2000 general election over a financial scandal involving two of his former co-workers when he as deputy finance minister. He was president of the European parliament between 2004 and 2007.
The president of Niger accused foreign NGOs of making an "unjustified fuss" over 26 civil society activists who have been held since March after a banned demonstration in Niamey.

I would like to reassure you, Madam; Niger is a democratic country which upholds the rule of law, President Mahamadou Issoufou told a Radio France International journalist after meeting his French counterpart Emmanuel Macron.

RFI, please dont apply double standards: be objective, he continued. Were not asking you to support us, and were not asking you to drag us down.

The majority of the 26 detainees were arrested on March 25 after protesting new taxes they consider antisocial, which led to clashes with police.

Amnesty International and Oxfam were among 10 NGOs calling for their release and an end to their prosecutions last month.

But Issoufou said the activists had flouted a ban against protesting at midnight when authorities were unable to ensure security in the current situation.

We applied the law, he said, claiming the same thing would have been done in Paris, Washington, Rome, Berlin or London.

He also declared himself a convinced democrat, assuring that he would not seek a new term in 2021 after being re-elected to a second and final term in 2016.

Regarding his countrys participation in the G5 Sahel force to combat Islamic militants across the region, Issoufou called for increased funding for the 5,000-member force.

France has helped garner pledges totalling 420 million euros ($490 million) to pay for the soldiers from Niger alongside Burkina Faso, Chad, Mali and Mauritania.

The 420 million euros will finance the force for a year, he said.

We need to be thinking about looking for sources of financing for the other years.

Issoufou also said two aid workers taken hostage were still alive, saying they were probably being held in Mali.

Jorg Lange, a German, was seized in April in western Niger, before being taken north toward Mali.

An American, Jeffery Woodke, was kidnapped in October 2016 in the Tahoua region, about 350 kilometres (215 miles) northwest of Niamey.

Weve had news, we know they are alive, Issoufou told France 24 television later Monday. We continue to work at creating the conditions for their release.
Britain announced Monday the resumption of the privatisation of the Royal Bank of Scotland, which was rescued with taxpayers' cash at the height of the global financial crisis.

The government said a 7.7-percent slice in Edinburgh-based RBS will be off-loaded, trimming its total holding from 70.1 percent to 62.4 percent.

UK Government Investments (UKGI), which manages the stake, said it expected to sell 925 million shares to institutional investors for an undisclosed amount, after chancellor (finance minister) Philip Hammond gave the green light.

The stake is worth 2.6 billion (3.0 billion euros, $3.5 billion) at the current share price.

UKGI today advised the Chancellor it would be appropriate to conduct the second sale of the governments shareholding in the Royal Bank of Scotland, the Treasury said in a statement.

The Chancellor agreed with that advice and has authorised the process to begin.

Troubled RBS was rescued with 45.5 billion of taxpayers cash during the global financial crisis in the worlds biggest banking bailout.

The government had decided in 2015 to start selling a chunk of its stake of about 80 percent in RBS but the plan was carried out only partially owing to the lenders low share price.

In November 2017, the government said it would recommence RBS privatisation by March 2019.

Under the plan, the government aims to sell two-thirds of its stake for roughly 15.0 billion over a five-year period.

Last year, RBS had posted its first annual bottom-line profit since 2007, following a huge drop in litigation costs.

The bank was meanwhile fined $4.9 billion last month by the US Justice Department over its role in the sub-prime crisis.

However RBS described the penalty  which was less than analysts had feared  as a milestone moment which removed uncertainty over the group.

Like other banks, RBS had packaged toxic US sub-prime mortgages into risky financial derivatives and sold them to customers, a practice that helped trigger the 2008 housing meltdown and subsequent global recession.

rfj/bp
Britain's Supreme Court will rule Thursday on whether Northern Ireland's abortion laws contravene human rights legislation, threatening another headache for Prime Minister Theresa May as she seeks to drive Brexit through parliament.

The court will decide whether the laws, which are set by the devolved government in Belfast, breach rights legislation by banning abortion in cases of rape, incest or serious foetal anomaly.

The seven Supreme Court justices last October heard the Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission (NIHRC) claim that the current situation criminalised exceptionally vulnerable women.

If they agree, then it will be up to London and Belfast to find a solution, setting May on collision course with the anti-abortion Democratic Unionist Party (DUP).

The DUP is the biggest party in Northern Ireland and also props up Mays minority government, giving her the votes she needs to get Brexit legislation through the House of Commons.

Adding to the complication, Northern Ireland has been unable to form a power-sharing government for over a year, meaning responsibility may fall on Westminster to unilaterally change national law if the judges rule in favour of the NIHRC.

Opposition Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn warned DUP leader Arlene Foster that, in the absence of a functioning assembly, clearly the UK parliament has responsibility to adhere to human rights standards.

Labours position has always been that abortion rights should be extended, without fear or favour, across the whole of the UK, he added.

The NIHRC argued in October that the current law subjects women to inhuman and degrading treatment, causing physical and mental torture  in violation of the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR).

 Irelands landmark vote 

Unlike in mainland Britain, abortion is illegal in Northern Ireland except when a womans life is at risk or there is a permanent or serious danger to her mental or physical health.

The devolved Northern Ireland Assembly voted in February 2016 against legalising abortion in cases of fatal foetal abnormality, rape or incest, and anyone who unlawfully carries out an abortion could be jailed for life.

But the case for change has received fresh impetus from the Republic of Irelands landmark referendum vote to legalise abortion last month.

More than 66 percent of voters backed repealing the constitutional ban on terminations, raising pressure on its neighbour to follow suit.

May insists Northern Irelands assembly should deal with the issue, but a ruling against its abortion laws could lead to a declaration of incompatibility with British legislation.

We recognise there are strongly held views on all sides of the debate in Northern Ireland and thats why our focus is on restoring that democratically accountable devolved government, Mays spokesman said.

We consider this to be a devolved matter.

But Sarah Wollaston, a senior MP from Mays Conservative Party, said she expects a cross-party push in the coming months to directly bring Northern Irelands abortion laws in line with the rest of UK.

Sinn Fein and the SDLP, the two major parties representing Northern Irelands Irish Catholics, and the cross-community Alliance Party, back overturning the ban.

Belfasts High Court ruled in December 2015 that the law was incompatible with article eight of the ECHR  the right to respect for private and family life  due to the absence of exceptions in cases of fatal foetal abnormalities and pregnancies resulting from sexual offences.

But three of Northern Irelands most senior judges overturned that decision in June last year, saying it was a question for the elected assembly, not the courts.
A former sex worker was made a dame in the Queen's Birthday honours list in New Zealand on Monday, in recognition of her services to the sex industry.

Catherine Healy was instrumental in bringing about New Zealands 2003 decriminalising of sex work and the introduction of some of the most liberal prostitution laws in the world.

But the 62-year-old said she was surprised at the honour, which officially makes her a dame companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit.

Its not something I would have expected, she told Radio New Zealand.

In fact, I always say I expect to be arrested at dawn, not to have this kind of tremendous honour and I was just very affected, very touched.

Healy has led the New Zealand Prostitutes Collective since 1989 and her honours citation said she had built it into a globally respected public health provider.

She spearheaded the campaign for the 2003 law reform which allowed brothels and street workers to operate legally.

The reform meant sex workers were covered by employment, health and safety laws, giving them rights they had never previously enjoyed.

Healy said her new title showed how much attitudes had changed.

This honour, and to have it given to me, is about saying, Okay, its okay, you can come in from the cold, you and yours, she told the national broadcaster.

New Zealand awards honours twice a year  at New Year and to mark the official birthday of Queen Elizabeth II in early June.

Other recipients honoured on Monday included former prime minister Bill English, who was made a knight.
Monday, June 4, 2018

The 1960s Pasadena, CA car scene was mind-blowing! The streets were filled with Ferraris, Lambos, Cads, Lincolns, Avantis, Rolls, Bentleys, Corvettes, Mercedes, BMWs, and T-Birds.

As an actor at the Pasadena Playhouse, Jonnie King lived in the dorms off Colorado Boulevard, the main cruising street for awesome cars. In 1965, when he left Pasadena for Hollywood to continue his acting career, Jonnie moved into the historic Highland Towers Apartments. This Hollywood icon had housed the likes of Mary Martin, with young son Larry Hagman, and William Faulkner while he worked on the films, The Big Sleep and To Have and Have Not.

Jonnie had a front-row seat to LAs constant car parade, and fell in love with the cars. He knew from the age of eight that being on the radio was his real passion, and was sure he could come up with a way to combine the two.

In 1967 Jonnie started his radio career. Moving to St. Louis, he worked behind the scenes learning the business, an over time hosted shows and built a loyal fan base. In 1972 he received an opportunity to work for Detroit radio station WDRQ-FM. What a lucky break to be able to broadcast in one of the top five markets in the country. Jonnie quickly created a built-in audience of fans who became long-time listeners. His warmth, humor, and sincerity became trademarks of communication that continued throughout his career, and listeners loved it.

In the summer of 73, Jonnie returned to St. Louis, to work at sister station KSLQ-FM. While in St. Louis, he met Charles Schmidt, a dealer selling Rolls, Bentley, Porsche, Mercedes, BMW, and Lincoln Continental classic cars. Similar to Ferrari of Los Gatos, Charlies dealership had a customer list including the likes of Sammy Davis, Jr., Bob Hope, Elvis, and more.

Jonnie, already a car buff from his days in Hollywood watching classic cars cruise Colorado Boulevard, liked to frequent Charlies place. Charlie had never met a gearhead." radio personality and took a particular liking to Jonnie. He allowed him to drive many of the cars they spent time discussing.

Dream Car and Opportunity Vanish

One night on his way home, Jonnie stopped by Charlies and saw one of his personal favoritesa red 72 Ferrari Dino 246 GTS that mesmerized him. As he sat in the car dreaming of owning it, Charlie broke Jonnies daydream.

Take it for a spin.."

Jonnie couldnt believe the offer but declined, I dont want to drive a Ferrari for the first time after dark. The opportunity didnt happen again, and the car sold to someone else.

Jonnie may have lost the opportunity to drive the Dino that night, but it didnt stop him from dreaming. And two years later, he found another dream car, a 1967 Jaguar XKE 4.2 Coupe, and purchased it. He nicknamed it J.J.." and said it was, The fastest car Ive ever owned.." The last of the pure." XKEs, this two-passenger model included glassed in headlights, and a dual-overhead-cam V-6 engine, with no significant smog control. The engine was easy to work on, and since it had been in production so long, was almost bulletproof. In 1975, Jaguars were rarely seen in St. Louis, and this remains true even today. The car attracted a crowd when parked, and many times Jonnie had to ask onlookers to move so he could get in and drive away.

Over the years, Jonnie added to his collection of classic cars and automobile memorabilia. In addition to the Jaguar, his collection included a 58 Thunderbird, 57 Dodge Mild Custom, 53 Buick Special, 68 Cougar XR-7, 59 Plymouth Suburban Station Wagon, a rare 66 Thunderbird, and a California/Arizona Survivor 57 Dodge D-500. His custom-built California 61 Buick INVICTA was featured in car magazines and is now on display at Darryl Starbirds National Rod and Custom Hall of Fame Museum.

A Passion for Cars Turns into Forever Lasting Hall of Fame

In 2005, Jonnie decided to celebrate 40 years of radio broadcasting by creating The Legends of Rod & Custom Hall of Fame." website. He started doing interviews with the hot rod legends the following year. His series of interviews went online when the site previewed in July 2007. He called the website his dream come true.." The site enabled him to share his passion, knowledge, and enthusiasm for American hot rods and custom cars. The live interviews he recorded include the actual voices of the greatest legends of the Rod & Custom Industry.

Jonnies interview with Dick Magoo." Megogurac, builder of the Deucari, was published in a prior post.

You can listen to other interviews of some of the most legendary hot rod and custom car designers, builders, and owners by visiting www.legends.thewwbc.net.

Do you know any of the members of The Legends of Rod & Custom Hall of Fame? Do you have a personal story about any of them? Please share the story here, or leave a comment below.

In the next post, a young Ford sales manager named Lee Iacocca becomes legendary when he implements a financing arrangement similar to the one used at Ferrari of Los Gatos.
When it comes to classic cocktails, the craft cocktail scene has plateaued. At this point, how much better can a sidecar or old fashioned get, really?

Some San Antonio bars have blazed on in a new direction that still respects classic technique while finding new flavors to delight their patrons.

Here are the 10 best.

Best: Juniper Tar

This dark, upscale haven of marble and crystal continues to produce some of the citys most elegant and fascinating spirits-forward cocktails. With exotic tastes from Hungarian dessert wines, grape spirits from Bolivia, Armagnac and a host of assorted aperitifs and other surprises, buying a cocktail here can feel like buying passage to another land.

Co-owner, beverage director and general manager Benjamin Krick and his team often find themselves in teacher mode, explaining what the ingredients are on their ambitious menu to the curious. But the friendly vibe here means that those who just want a cold beer will feel just as comfortable as those looking to expand their palate.

The menu was just recently refreshed and some more cocktail-specific glassware added, but the mission to explore the world in a glass remains the same, and oh, what a delicious world it is. DT

244 W. Houston St.

210-229-1833

juniper-tar.com; Facebook: @JuniperTarSA

Barbaro

Barbaro has a strong and extensive cocktail program that, true to the spirit of owner Chad Carey, mixes its excellence with heavy doses and humor and irreverence.

Name your classic quaff of choice, and the bartenders will make you a fine one. But the drinks menu  organized by The Good (lighter aperitifs), The Bad (they belie the booze) and The Ugly (all booze)  is where the real charm lies.

Cocktail names reference movies (Im Your Huckleberry), TV (Blanche Deveraux) and music (When Doves Cry), but the flavors are original, balanced and delicious. NC

2720 McCullough Ave.

210-320-2261

barbarosanantonio.com; Facebook: @barbarosanantonio

The Bar at Bohanans

Since The Bar at Bohanans opened almost 10 years ago, it has been the training ground for many of San Antonios top bartenders and, with owner and chef Mark Bohanan leading the charge, the founding force behind the San Antonio Cocktail Conference.

Its not just a waiting lounge for reservations at Bohanans Prime Steaks and Seafood upstairs. The relaxing dim light, elegant decor, deep leather armchairs and note-perfect classic cocktails and extensive wine list make this a place to visit all on its own.

The menu also includes refined bar food selections, from charcuterie and salads to heavier options like braised akaushi short ribs and meatballs. DT

219 E. Houston St.

210-472-2202

bohanansbar.com

The Brooklynite

Since Jeret Pena opened it in 2012, The Brooklynite has been one of the most highly regarded watering holes in San Antonio, with an emphasis on premium ingredients and an inventive seasonal cocktail menu. The boisterous bar has gained a following for its playful theme nights, especially Tiki Tuesday.

That playfulness belies the serious craft behind the drinks, which season to season remain well balanced and just plain good. DT

516 Brooklyn Ave.

210-444-0707

thebrooklynitesa.com; Facebook: @TheBrooklynite

Downstairs (at The Esquire Tavern)

Downstairs is located just below The Esquire Tavern and is accessed through a staircase toward the left as you enter the main bar or from the River Walk. And while its owned and was developed by the same folks from The Esquire, its an entirely different world.

Descend into this dark lair of black leather banquettes and chairs and black floors and get ready for some of San Antonio most colorful drinks, both in their imagining and their presentation. In addition to well-crafted classics, ciders, sherrys and wines, theres a crazy creative cocktail menu with drinks all utilizing corn in many forms: masa, syrup, corn spirits and corn milk. The menu itself is printed on corn paper made in Oaxaca.

And if you get nibbly, theres an impressive selection of charcuterie, cheeses and oysters. DT

155 E. Commerce St.

210-222-2521

esquiretavern-sa.com/downstairs; Facebook: @EsquireDownstairs

The Esquire Tavern

Except for a five-year hiatus, The Esquire Tavern has carried the torch as a popular San Antonio landmark for more than eight decades. The bars seedy vibe has been cleaned up, and its now a more stylish, well-mannered version of its former self.

Classic and seasonal cocktails are highlights of the menu, which also includes a proper craft beer selection and a roster of elevated entrees and bar snacks. All of this adds up to a place that has received two James Beard Award nominations for the nations Outstanding Bar Program.

The famously long bar is still there, booths still line up like sentries as you enter, and the patio has a killer River Walk view. DT

155 E. Commerce St.

210-222-2521

esquiretavern-sa.com; Facebook: @EsquireTavernSA

Hanzo

Hanzo, a Japanese, izakaya-style bar, opened less than a year ago but is already a neighborhood favorite, its bravado with its drinks and decor winning over Alamo Heights. Jasmine tea, matcha and yuzu wine play well with traditional booze for a cocktail menu full of Asian twists and funny, punny names like Miso Hungry and Shiso Thursty.

Sake fans will love the list of offerings here, too.

The food menu has been expanded beyond bar snacks since opening, and now includes ramen, pork ribs, a poke bowl and more, making Hanzo an option for dinner. NC

7701 Broadway St., Suite 124

210-826-1488

hanzobar.com; Facebook: @hanzobarsa

High Street Wine Co.

High Street Wine Co.s team sources hard-to-find wines by the glass or bottle and presents them with consummate knowledge without an ounce of pretension or snootiness, because wine should be fun. Because drinking.

Advanced sommelier Scott Ota, the general manager and beverage director, and his team are congenial tour guides through the more than 170 labels here. Want a glass to go while you shop around The Pearl? Done. Want some charcuterie and cheese? Done. Want to just sit a while in the modern steel and wood bar and people-watch and daydream? Done.

And if you want to geek out about a wine region or type, or just learn more about it, that can be done, too. NC

302 Pearl Parkway, Suite 104, in The Pearl

210-908-9144

highstreetwine.com; Facebook: @highstreetwine

The Modernist

The Modernist is like the fantasy come to life of what would it be like if the older kids on the Brady Bunch ever had a house party while their parents were away. But, like, cool, man.

Olaf Harmel, the granddaddy of S.A.s cocktail scene, and Gerry Shirley, who formerly owned Bar du Mon Ami in its prime when Harmel was there, are back together in this tiny new venture that brings a mid-century, retro-cool aesthetic to decor and cocktails.

Like the jazz playing through a speaker, the team here loves to riff, and when told that youd like, say, something light, maybe citrusy and with gin, theyll come up with something just for you  and for a price less than comparable bars. Food bonus: Order food from Grayze across the street and they will bring it to you to eat in the bar. NC

516 E. Grayson St.

210-446-8699

Facebook: @themodernistsa

Rosella at the Rand

The latest outpost of the ever-expanding Rosella Coffee Co. empire goes beyond roasted beans and avocado toast with a full restaurant and bar  and with outstanding results. The cocktail menu mixes classics with a fun and sophisticated list of seasonal drinks. A lovely wine list with tasting notes and beer round out the bar offerings.

The space is light-filled and modern, with French touches of black and brass, banquettes and a marble bar and table. And with outlets located all along the bar, its a natural for plugging and working with some coffee and seamlessly transitioning to happy hour all from the same spot. Cheers to that! DT

114 Houston St.

210-595-1410

rosellacoffee.com; Facebook: @RosellaAtRand

espicer@express-news.net | Twitter: @Spiced1 | Instagram: @spiceoflife_en
TEXAS HILL COUNTRY  For the least few years, Texas wine has started to rise in national profile, in no small part because its making better wine than ever. The state has set itself apart from other wine regions by experimenting with and planting varietals well suited to the heat and drought cycles here.

These often are Mediterranean varietals that originated from areas with similar climates. These arent your common chardonnays, merlots or cabernet sauvignons. Think temperanillo, albarino, tannat and sangiovese.

Today Texas has over 4,000 acres of producing vineyard farmland and around 300 wineries. Here are the 10 best from the wineries closest to San Antonio, those along U.S. 290 from Comfort to the Dripping Springs/Driftwood area.

Best: Duchman Family Winery

Walking up to the Duchman winery is like crossing into a kind of family oasis, with a big grassy yard, tree-shaded tables, corn hole and Jenga to keep the kids playing while their folks take in some of the best Texas wine the state has to offer.

Owners Drs. Stan and Lisa Duchman opened their Italianate villa-style winery in 2004 based on their love of Old World-style Italian wines. The grapes of Italy grow especially well in the wine-growing regions of Texas, so Duchman sources only Texas grapes of Italian varietals.

The wines here give a Texas terroir twist to classic, Old World flavors, producing a rich, fruity montepulciano that youll want to keep drinking long after youve finished your lamb chops, and a high-acid vermentino with just enough citrus and floral notes to make it a worthy sipper all summer long.

13308 FM 150 W., Driftwood

512-858-1470

duchmanwinery.com

Specialties: Vermentino and montepulciano

Hilmy Cellars

Hilmys vineyard was planted in 2009 with 3,000 sangiovese vines. Less than a decade later, its already producing some fascinating creations.

The muscat is aged to be off-dry, producing a lighter version of the almost syrupy sweet standard. The 2015 Doo.Zwa.Zo (phonetically two birds in French) is a playful blend of viognier and chenin blanc producing a creamy, minerally and green white beautifully balanced by stone fruit. And the malbec is all gorgeous berry tamed by French oak.

The beautiful, modern winery has an extensive outdoor patio overlooking the vineyard and natural farm, manned by two hard-working Great Pyrenees dogs who keep the deer away and by a flock of guinea fowl who gobble up the bugs.

12346 E. U.S. 290, Fredericksburg

830-644-2482

hilmywine.com

Specialties: Red and white blends, muscat

Inwood Estates Vineyards

Although it sounds like an urban myth, this whole enterprise started in 1981 with vineyards just outside Dallas. Yes, you read that right. It was one of the first vineyards in Texas and one devoted to the study of what varietals were best suited to the state and produced the best wine.

Fast-forward almost four decades, and the Dallas vineyards are still a thing, though grapes from around the state are used, and the good Texas wines from owner and winemaker Dan Gatlin are going strong. The reds stand out here, especially the blends.

The winery and tasting room was built in 2005 and features a small bistro and a large patio.

10303 E. U.S. 290, Fredericksburg

830-997-2304

inwoodwines.com

Specialties: Tempranillo, cabernet sauvignon, blends

Kuhlman Cellars

This is one of the Hill Countrys most memorable tasting experiences, as each glass is paired with a small bite created by San Antonio chef Chris Cook, whos worked at a variety of San Antonio hotels and restaurants including Brasserie Pavil and Las Canarias at Omni La Mansion del Rio.

Chris and Jennifer Cobb opened Kuhlman Cellars in October 2014, showcasing wines, mostly Texas blends in a southern French style, that shine with food. Tastings are held in the actual cellar, where the chilled air (there are blankets if you get cold) is perfumed with aging wine.

The property is gorgeous, with a light-filled shop and rooftop seating space where you can while away an afternoon sipping vino and taking in the expansive views.

18421 E. U.S. 290, Stonewall

512-920-2675

kuhlmancellars.com

Specialties: Proprietary blends Calcaria and Barranca

Lewis Wines

A teeny tasting room, a huge covered deck, a friendly, energetic coonhound mix named Buddy and a lot of good wine poured by folks who clearly love what they do.

Native Texans Doug Lewis and Duncan McNabb, co-owners and winemakers at Lewis Wines, began working together at Pedernales Cellars in 2009. They founded Lewis Wines in 2010, with a focus on varietals mostly from from Southern France, Spain and Portugal. The estate vineyard was planted in 2014.

The wines include an unusually light and creamy chenin blanc, a slightly effervescent vinho verde-style blanc du bois and verdelho blend and a classically Old World-style tempranillo with just a hint of vanilla.

3209 W. U.S. 290, Johnson City

512-987-0660

lewiswines.com

Specialties: Blanc du bois and tempranillo

Lost Draw Cellars

This charmingly barnlike Fredericksburg winery celebrates the grapes of the Texas High Plains around Lubbock, often overlooked varietals more commonly used for blending. The tasting room is located on what used to be co-founder and managing partner Troy Ottmers family oil business.

Cinsault is one of the highlights here. In Lost Draws hands, this red blending grape is aged in concrete and bottled unfiltered to produce a light red with hints of smoke and pepper. The Gemutlichkeit (German for a cheerful, cozy situation, loosely) white blends various grapes depending on the vintage, including picpoul blanc, marsanne, grenache blanc, viognier and roussanne.

An expansive crushed granite patio has a stage for live music, and small bites are available for tastings upon request.

113 E. Park St., Fredericksburg

830-992-3251

lostdrawcellars.com

Specialties: Gemutlichkeit white blend, cinsault, rose

Pedernales Cellars

The Stonewall winery, led by winemaker David Kuhlken, his sister Julie Kuhlken and her husband, Fredrik Osterberg, specializes in Spanish and Rhone-style wine with grapes from Texas. Its long been a Hill Country favorite.

Its standout viognier is perfect for Texas summers, with refreshing lemon acidity balanced by stone fruit and a touch of honey. It also produces noteworthy tempranillo and some of the richer red blends to be found in the region.

The winery itself is welcoming, with a large deck perfect for setting up a picnic with a bottle of wine while you take in the views and Hill Country breezes.

2916 Upper Albert Road, Stonewall

830-644-2037

pedernalescellars.com

Specialties: Tempranillo, viognier

Pontotoc Vineyard

Location, location, location. Pontotoc Vineyard celebrates all things Hill Country by sourcing all its grapes from the region, naming each bottle after a Hill Country landmark and setting the tasting room in a classically Hill Country stone cottage in downtown Fredericksburg, with a large stone-walled courtyard weingarten.

Attorney Carl Money, a fifth-generation Texas farmer, and his wife, Frances, founded Pontotoc Vineyard in the tiny town of Pontotoc in Mason County. The pair purchased the entire downtown site of the town and planted a 5-acre estate vineyard of tempranillo grapes. Well-known Texas winemaker Don Pullum makes the wine.

320 W. Main St., Fredericksburg

512-658-0023

pontotocvineyard.com

Specialties: Tempranillo

Wedding Oak Winery

Mike and Lynn McHenry planted their Cherokee Vineyard in 2000 just south of San Saba, opening Wedding Oak Winery in the historic heart of San Saba. They tagged Penny Adams, the first woman wine master in Texas, as winemaker.

The tasting room in Fredericksburg is surrounded by lush greenery as its tucked into the back of Wildseed Farms. Wedding Oak produces several standout and award-winning whites and white blends perfect for sipping through the Texas summer.

100 Legacy Drive at Wildseed Farms, Fredericksburg

830-997-2510

weddingoakwinery.com

Specialties: Albarino, tempranillo

William Chris Vineyards

Partners William Blackmon and Chris Brundrett opened the first William Chris Vineyards tasting room in 2010 in a small restored Texas farmhouse on their Hye property.

A blend of corrugated metal and modern lines, the tasting room has a large deck surrounded by country views.

William Chris started with a Bordeaux-style blend of cabernet, merlot and petite verdot called Enchante, which continues to go strong. Mary Ruth, named after Blackmons mother, is a blend of blanc du bois, orange muscat and white muscat with balanced floral notes and acidity. It is one of William Chris most popular wines.

10352 E. U.S. 290, Hye

830-998-7654

williamchriswines.com

Specialities: Mourvedre, Enchante red blend

espicer@express-news.net | Twitter: @Spiced1 | Instagram: @spiceoflife_en
Billy Calzada /San Antonio Express-News

A judge Monday denied the San Antonio Independent School District teachers unions request for a temporary injunction to stop a charter school network from taking over operations of Stewart Elementary School.

The union, the San Antonio Alliance of Teachers and Support Personnel, had sued to nullify the contract between SAISD and Democracy Prep Public Schools, which takes effect July 1. In Mondays ruling, state District Judge Karen H. Pozza denied requests from SAISD and Democracy Prep to dismiss the lawsuit outright.
More than a decade after a sexual assault scandal rocked the Texas Department of Criminal Justice, the agency still is a boys club plagued by sexual harassment and a culture that makes it difficult for women to get promoted despite efforts to bring them into the ranks, more than a dozen current and former employees contend.

Three of the 10 highest-paid employees in the prison system and about 25 percent of wardens are women, an analysis of 2017 state data shows.

But female officers also have to contend with harassment from co-workers, masturbating inmates and fear of retaliation if they complain, lawsuits, state records and interviews state.

You think its the inmates you have to worry about, said one former employee, who asked not to be identified, but its actually the people you work with.

Some women told of enduring lewd comments or inappropriate contact from co-workers. One female employee said she and other women guards picked jobs working around inmates to avoid having contact with the men who supervised them.

The latest allegations come amid the rise of the #MeToo movement, which has focused a national spotlight on allegations of sexual abuse and harassment.

Also, they follow a $250,000 settlement reached by the department last year in a lawsuit accusing a male lieutenant of raping an officer he supervised  a claim reminiscent of former assistant director Sammy Buentello, who retired in 2004 amid criminal charges and a high-dollar lawsuit by multiple women accusing him of sexual harassment and assault.

Era long gone

TDCJ officials, however, say that sort of workplace environment is a thing of the past.

Any days of a male-dominated culture are long gone, said Lorie Davis, director of TDCJs Institutional Division and the highest-ranking woman in the agency. We have a lot of women that move up through the ranks.

The numbers reinforce that Texas prisons still are hard places to be a woman.

More than 44 percent of TDCJ employees are female, but those numbers include administrative assistants, librarians, attorneys and the high-ranking officials overseeing it all.

Even fewer guards  just 38 percent of the more than 22,000 corrections officers  are women.

Higher ranks are even more male-dominated.

About 27 percent of sergeants are women. Moving up, about 25 percent of captains, 26 percent of lieutenants, and just 21 percent of majors and assistant wardens are women.

You just have a culture of indifference, the good-old-boy system as they call it, said Lance Lowry, a Huntsville corrections officer and former union president. And the numbers clearly reflect that. If 38 percent of the officers are female, 38 percent of the sergeants should be, too.

The disparity in promotions corresponds to a disparity in the average pay, with women earning about $2,700 a year less than men throughout the department, 2017 data show.

Prison spokesman Jeremy Desel said its not clear why more women arent in the upper ranks, but he stressed that supervisors are selected through a competitive interview process.

It would be difficult to pinpoint a specific (reason) why the numbers are what they are, Desel said. It is important to note that corrections officers are not the only employees in TDCJ.

Other positions  such as parole officers, administrative assistants and accountants  are disproportionately female. Food service managers, guards who work in the kitchens, are more than 50 percent female, even at the highest rank.

Working inside mens prisons hasnt always been an option for women in Texas. But a series of lawsuits ending with a 1988 consent decree opened up all prison jobs to women.

In short order, women started working their way up the ranks.

Around 1990, Janie Cockrell became the first female warden in a mens prison, and in the years that followed, more women began taking on leadership roles, a Houston Press account in the mid-1990s reported.

But at the same time, some found themselves subject to sexual harassment and more.

The most serious accusations came to the fore in 2004, when Buentello left the department amid criminal charges stemming from claims hed tried to rape one co-worker, groped another while she was in the hospital, pulled his penis out while hugging still another and touched, bullied or exposed himself to several others in a pattern of abuse that had gone unchecked for years.

Buentello retired early and received probation on the criminal charges. The prison system paid out at least $600,000 for the lawsuits.

Workers today say such behavior isnt entirely a thing of the past. One officer at a unit north of Huntsville described sexual harassment as a routine occurrence.

Its like an everyday thing, she said.

Some women recounted forcible kissing, unwanted touching and being relegated to cleaning offices even as ranking officers.

Theres a supervisor every day that talks about going to the Holiday Inn, another officer said. But were in corrections so I just laugh it off.

In November 2016, state documents show, a female employee at the Telford Unit in East Texas filed a complaint alleging an assistant warden had routinely harassed her, pretending to masturbate in his office, simulating intercourse with his desk and sending her a picture of his penis.

There were no witnesses, and the assistant warden denied many of the claims, records show.

He said the lewd text was intended for his wife, but an internal investigation found him guilty of misconduct and he no longer is employed by the agency.

In spring 2017, a corrections officer at the Michael Unit in East Texas was fired following an incident in which he allegedly suggested a female co-worker should have anal sex, then bent her forward on a desk and bit her neck.

That wasnt the first complaint against the officer, though he brushed it off as joking and said he was baffled by the allegations, the documents state.

An investigator concluded the behavior was not sexual harassment, but said it did rise to the level of discourteous conduct of a sexual nature, according to state records.

Lawsuit and firing

A few months later, a female officer at the Telford Unit in East Texas won a $250,000 settlement in a lawsuit that accused a lieutenant of allegedly pulling down her pants and raping her against a staircase, according to her lawyer, Louise Tausch.

The lieutenant was fired 13 months later, according to court records. He never was indicted, Tausch said.

We won the lawsuit, said the former guard, who asked not to be named. I still feel defeated because what happened to me is still going on  and the guy who did it to me is still free.

Not all the women who were interviewed experienced a pattern of misconduct. Some suggested theyd been insulated by their age or placement at a womens unit, or by being married to men in the agency.

Michelle Lyons, a former prison spokeswoman who recently published a book highly critical of the agency, recounted occasional lewd comments but described them as isolated incidents.

Davis said such behavior is a thing of the past.

I havent experienced sexual harassment as a female in our agency in years, she said. Years and years, not since I was a corrections officer literally 30 years ago.

Its also easier to move up than it once was, she said.

Whatever glass ceilings once existed are gone, Davis said. We have a lot of women that move up through the ranks.

After starting as an officer, she moved up the career ladder to sergeant, lieutenant, warden and region director, with some other steps in between.

Now, Davis said, she takes seriously the role of playing mentor to younger women in the department.

I believe that Im a testament to a womans ability to promote in our agency, she said.

Officials stressed the department is committed to making sure workers are treated fairly and respectfully.

The Texas Department of Criminal Justice employs more than 37,000 individuals and is the largest state agency, Desel said. TDCJ has a strong employee grievance and EEO (Equal Employment Opportunity) policy in place and has zero tolerance for retaliation and sexual harassment.

From 2007 to 2017, there were more than 3,500 sexual harassment and gender discrimination complaints filed within the department. But many incidents may go unreported, current and former employees say.

It is in many cases a male-dominated culture, and you go into it knowing that, so you go in more reluctant to report things, said Lyons, the former spokeswoman. You dont want to be seen as the weaker sex and you feel to a certain extent that you have to be tougher. You want to show that you can joke around with the boys.

Lyons resigned from the department in 2012 amid charges that shed fudged her time cards, but she later went on to win a $63,000 settlement from the department after filing a lawsuit saying shed been unfairly targeted because of her gender.

Other women cited similar fears of retaliation.

Everybody had to be careful, said the former Telford officer who sued over rape. They were aware of that; and the very few women that did speak out, they didnt have a job very long.

Her concerns echoed what women said nearly 15 years earlier in the aftermath of the Buentello case.

There is a code of silence, and women who come forward face retaliation for breaking that code, Kathleen Day, a Corpus Christi lawyer who handled the lawsuits against the disgraced officer, told the Houston Chronicle in 2004. They get the message that if you file a complaint, you will be punished.

Even today, a pending lawsuit alleges retaliation.

Last November, former prison gang expert Maryanne Denner filed a federal suit accusing prison officials of providing inaccurate information to prospective employers checking into her work history.

The motivation, she said, stemmed from a sexual harassment suit filed against the agency a decade earlier.

Denner won $120,000 in the sexual harassment case. Her new case accusing the department of retaliation is scheduled to go to trial next year.

System unchanged?

She hasnt worked at TDCJ since 2003, but said shes confident its not much different today.

Its a good old boy system and it always has been and its never, ever going to change, she said. I still get phone calls, emails, text messages from people saying, I was wrongfully terminated because Im a woman.

Officials stressed the departments culture isnt what it once was.

Aside from guidance from higher-ranking employees, the agency supports its staff through an Employee Assistance Program, a hotline for free counseling.

Tanisha Woods, a union chapter president and Gatesville sergeant, said theres less harassment at womens units, and that the department has made good efforts to thwart it.

The department partners with local workforce development boards to recruit more women, and employees have mandatory discrimination training twice a year.

As leaders, weve developed a culture where thats not tolerated, Davis said. Weve developed a zero-tolerance policy for that.

Staff Writers Alejandra Matos and Matt Dempsey contributed to this report.
CORPUS CHRISTI  The white and brownish-black bird in the photo was covered in so many cactus spines, Alyssa Barrett barely could make out its coloring, let alone its species.

But something about the crook in its beak made her pulse quicken. It looked like the beak of a magnificent frigatebird, primarily found soaring over tropical and subtropical waters of the Pacific and Atlantic oceans.

Dare she think it? Frigatebirds, with their 7- to 8-foot wingspan, didnt frequent the South Texas area.

But in the days following a hurricane as devastating as Harvey, anything seemed possible to Barrett, the Texas State Aquariums wildlife care manager. Shed just spent several sleepless nights keeping the facilitys multitude of animals alive through the storm.

Barrett and her colleagues rushed to bring the injured bird, discovered by a local resident near Baffin Bay, about an hour southwest of Corpus Christi, to the aquarium for treatment.

The bird was, in fact, a frigatebird. And it was more injured than they imagined.

The bird, aptly named Storm, never will fly again. It now lives in the aquariums Caribbean Journey exhibit, and the Association of Zoos and Aquariums believe its the only bird of its kind in captivity at an accredited facility in North America.

During Harvey, aquarium officials took in other birds and marine animals from the University of Texas at Austin Marine Science Institute in Port Aransas and the Aquarium at Rockport Harbor  both areas that were devastated by the storm.

They rescued pets such as macaws, goats and chickens abandoned by owners who were fleeing Harvey. And after the storm passed, they took in and cared for injured brown pelicans, turtles and other marine life.

Most returned to the wild. Others, like Storm, never will.

This kind of rehabilitation work is nothing new for the aquarium; it has been part of its mission, along with conservation, since its opening almost 30 years ago.

Its become such an important part of their work, officials said, that they plan to open a new rehabilitation facility on their campus as early as 2021. Officials expect it will cost up to $20 million.

A new state-of-the-art building is important, aquarium CEO and President Tom Schmid said, because its only a matter of time before the Gulf of Mexico has another environmental disaster like Deepwater Horizon. When that oil rig exploded in April 2010, nearly 3.2 million barrels of oil spilled into the Gulf, harming animals, marine life and coral.

We need to make sure we are ready for any environmental issue out there, he said.

History of rehabilitation

As the dim morning hours stretched into afternoon at the aquarium this spring, hundreds of shrieking children swarmed past Storms open-air habitat and dozens of cawing birds flew overhead.

But in all that time, Storm didnt move from the perch on her log. She cant  not really.

After Harvey, aquarium personnel spent hours surgically removing the cactus spines embedded in her skin. But they couldnt fix her mangled wrist joint, a problem for frigatebirds that spend most of their time soaring over oceans.

Their feet arent built for walking, and their feathers arent waterproof, making swimming even more difficult.

So now she sits on her log all day, occasionally interacting with her similarly flightless friend, Amos the white pelican. Amos had been shot through both wings with a shotgun before Harvey. Aquarium personnel couldnt save his flight despite numerous surgeries to reset the bones.

Amos wanted a friend more than the frigatebird, but it works, said Lauren Wilson, the aquariums curator of birds and mammals.

There likely isnt a habitat in the aquarium that better exemplifies its life-saving work than the one with Storm and Amos. Both likely would be dead if it werent for aquarium personnel.

And that work has been decades in the making.

Three years after the aquarium opened in 1990, it became a federally permitted animal rehabilitation facility.

Staffers started small, rescuing and rehabilitating injured and cold-stunned sea turtles. Eventually, they moved onto shorebirds, raptors, dolphins and even manatees.

The ultimate goal, Barrett said, is to release the injured animals back into the wild. The hallway walls of the rehabilitation building feature picture after picture of successful animal releases, from white pelicans and sea turtles to hawks and other raptors.

In the past five years, the aquarium has successfully released 65 percent of the 2,500 or so birds, sea turtles and marine mammals that have come in for care.

But sometimes, their work is not enough to get an animal back to the wild. So its home becomes the aquarium, under the watchful care of aquarium personnel.

Eye on conservation

The sun shines so brightly in the aquariums new Caribbean Journey exhibit that squinting is required most times of the day.

Its an understandable hazard in a 71,000-square-foot space covered almost entirely with a domed, glass ceiling.

When aquarium leaders started building the exhibit several years ago, they wanted to make the environment as similar as possible to what animals would experience in the wild. In part, that means exposure to natural light so they can see the sun go up and down and take seasonal cues that they would in the wild, said Jesse Gilbert, the aquariums chief operating officer and senior vice president.

But they didnt want to limit those benefits to above-ground animals like flamingos, blue-crowned motmots, scarlet ibises and keel-billed toucans. They wanted those benefits to stretch to animals below the sea.

To achieve that, the exhibit spaces underwater living areas were designed with open-air tops, meaning the sharks, stingrays and other sea life also can track the movements of the sun, Gilbert said.

Additionally, aquarium officials pump in salt water from Corpus Christi Bay, which means the sea life are living in the same water as they would in the wild.

It makes for an amazing experience for both the people and the animals, Gilbert said.

And the results since the exhibit opened last year have been better than aquarium leadership could have ever imagined.

This spring, the flamingos started constructing nests in preparation for breeding. Several baby sharks can be seen zooming around their 400,000-gallon exhibit. A number of exotic birds already have hatched chicks, and the stingrays have the characteristic grate marks associated with breeding rituals.

We didnt expect breeding to happen, and certainly not this quickly,  Gilbert said. But this habitat has created an environment where it is happening.

When we leave this building, we have to make sure we did everything we could to make their life better, Emma Gilbert said.

Starting this summer, the four aquarium dolphins also will participate in a worldwide study to determine how physical habitat, animal training and environmental enrichment affect the welfare of aquatic animals.

We cant ask a dolphin how its doing, so we have to look at indicators of welfare, such as stress level and social behaviors, Lance Miller, principal investigator on the study and the Chicago Zoological Societys senior director of animal welfare research, has said previously.

Additionally, the aquarium is working with SECORE (Sexual Coral Reproduction) International, a worldwide coral conservation group, to help grow coral. Put simply, they collect polyp eggs, fertilize them in a lab and return them to the ocean when they are grown.

Even the unfortunate circumstances that landed Storm in the aquarium last year can help with conservation. Very little is known about the species, Jesse Gilbert said, so the Texas aquariums observations of Storm will only help the species survive in the wild.

Needed expansion

When Harvey laid waste to the Texas coast, it took with it the Amos Rehabilitation Keep at the University of Texas at Austin institute  leaving the state with one less turtle rehabilitation facility as cold-stunning season approached.

Sea turtles are cold-blooded and therefore need warm water to survive. Once water dips below 60 degrees, their heart rate and circulation decreases and they go into shock. They can develop pneumonia or even die.

Aquarium officials knew they had to do something to make up for the deficit. So they expanded their own facility to 18 tanks from six, a renovation that cost about $45,000.

We realized we needed more sea turtle capacity, so we pushed up the implementation of a plan to expand the turtle rehab facility, opening in October as opposed to later, Schmid said.

The move ended up being a fortuitous one.

After southern Texas saw its first snowfall in years in December, 334 lethargic and unresponsive sea turtles started surfacing across the Texas Coast. Just a month later, a five-day cold snap resulted in the worst cold-stunning event the state has seen. About 2,100 sea turtles were cold-stunned compared with the previous high of about 1,600 in the 2010-11 winter season.

Officials hope to further expand that ability when they complete construction on the new rehabilitation facility in about three years. The new facility will eventually allow the aquarium to provide state-of-the-art care to injured animals, as well as to expand the coral reef research.

Schmids goal is to complete the design plan and cost estimate for the project by the end of 2018. Because they are not state funded, officials also will need to put together a fundraising plan for the facility, which will cost from $15 million to $20 million.

He hopes to break ground as early as 2020 and open in 2021.
When Jackie Gorman took local townhome builder Charlie Turner on a tour of the East Side in 2011, she told him to close his eyes and imagine the potential for development amidst the areas vacant lots and aging homes.

Today, no imagination is required.

Eight years after Gorman became CEO of the nonprofit San Antonio for Growth on the Eastside, investors are flocking to many of the areas historic neighborhoods to refurbish homes, build new condos and open trendy retail shops. Several blockbuster construction projects are in the works, including a $150 million mixed-use development in Denver Heights, a tech innovation center at the abandoned Merchants Ice complex and a 271-unit apartment complex by national developer NRP Group.

During Gormans tenure, SAGE has helped steer public and private investment to the East Side and coordinate the efforts of the areas stakeholders  residents, neighborhood leaders, SAISD and city and county officials.

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On any day, Gorman might be pitching the East Side to investors, meeting with local officials to put together an incentive package, filling out applications for federal grants, raising money from donors, or deciding how to distribute the nonprofits funds to invest in new businesses or help fix up storefronts. She also serves on city commissions as well as the boards for ChildSafe and Goodwill San Antonio.

She also works to address the East Sides persistent poverty and the concerns of longtime residents who say new development is diluting the culture of their neighborhoods and causing their property taxes to surge. Discontent over the areas rapid growth has led to high-profile battles over new developments such as a proposed apartment complex next to the Hays Street Bridge. About once a month, Gorman hosts some East Side residents for a dinner at which they discuss gentrification and other issues.

What folks have told me that theyre really concerned about is new people moving into a community and not recognizing that this was a community long before they came, she said.

Gorman, whose father was in the U.S. Army, grew up all over the U.S., spending parts of her childhood in Detroit, Kansas, Virginia and Illinois; she graduated from high school in Panama. Coming from a military family gave her self-confidence and a willingness to try different things, she said.

If you are going to be a stable person as a military kid, you cant be shy, because you are always in new situations all the time, she said.

She joined the army herself after graduating from the University of Michigan. After serving for three years, she spent time working for Procter & Gamble, a national homebuilder and the local branch of Texas A&M University, while earning a masters in business administration from the University of Texas at Austin. She later set out on her own as a consultant and a headhunter. She was recruited as SAGEs CEO in 2010.

Gorman recently sat down to talk with the Express-News at SAGEs offices just east of downtown. Heres an edited transcript of that conversation.

Now Playing: Business reporter Richard Webner sat down to talk with Jackie Gorman, CEO of San Antonio for Growth on the East Side. Video: San Antonio Express-News

Q: What drew you to community service?

More Information What's your favorite meal that can be purchased on the East Side: That's difficult because I have recently become a vegan. So, if you would have asked me this months ago, we would've been talking about barbecue or something from Tony G's (Soul Food). Where I am most likely to eat on the East Side right now is Sweet Yams. They have great organic vegetables and they make a really good portobello mushroom burger. Where do you live in town: The south Far East Side, between China Grove and Adkins. It's quiet... The East Side is still my community. I still shop on the East Side. That's still where my life happens. What are your hobbies outside of work: I love to bake and decorate cakes. I actually have a little side business to support my hobby called Beck Road Bakery, and so I do wedding cakes and custom cakes for birthdays and things like that. Recently, I've gotten into creative card-making and doing stuff with paper. If I'm doing a very intricate cake, I could do it for the entire weekend. That's truly my zen place. I can go home, go into my cake room, the next thing I know, it's 3 o'clock in the morning and I'm just sitting there intricately working on something. I'm not an artistic person, but I am a technician, so I can look at somebody else's picture and turn it into something. What do you like to read: Anything. I do audiobooks a lot because I absolutely have to multitask. I hardly ever do one thing at a time. So, right now, the audiobook that I'm listening to is a time-travel, fantasy kind of thing (The Sapphire Brooch). It doesn't mean that last week, I might not have been listening to... what did I listen to last week? (The Daily Show host) Trevor Noah's book. I listen to the books while I work on my cakes. I listen to the books while I'm driving. I listen to the books while I'm cleaning my house. I've always got an earbud listening to something. If I am not actually doing something that requires me to think, I'm listening to a book. I can't do it at work, though. I wish I could, by I can't. See More Collapse

A: Its part of the values that I was raised in. Community service, in our family, is not an option. Its an expectation. I was a Girl Scout growing up  thats why I was board chair of the Girl Scouts here. Somebody did it for me, and I need to do it for someone else.

Q: Who was your role model growing up?

A: My parents. If you say youre going to do it, do it. Thats probably the number one thing that I got from my parents.

Q: Who do you look up to now?

A: A very dear friend of mine who is 95 years old. Her name is Laura Banks-Reed. I admire her because she has such grace and wisdom and shes become my surrogate mother since my mother passed. Shes that person who can call me and say, You shouldnt have done that.

I also look up to (former Mayor) Ivy Taylor. Im always very impressed by how she has managed to balance her career and her family.

Q: Do you consider Ivy Taylor a friend?

A: Yes, I do. Her faith is bedrock in who she is, and even though I dont always agree with everything that she does or says, I totally respect and understand why she does it. I believe that you dont necessarily have to believe what your friends believe all the time.

Q: Is faith a big part of your life?

A: Absolutely. I go by the precept that God has blessed me, and so its my responsibility to share my blessings. The blessing is not mine to keep, its mine to share.

Q: The East Side, like many parts of San Antonio, has a problem with poverty. How can you ensure that the new developments being built will create jobs for East Siders?

A: Youve got to talk about education and training.

SAGE works closely with SAISD  how do we make our East Side schools stronger? How do we make sure that the students that are graduating from Sam Houston and other high schools are meeting the needs of our employers on the East Side? Thats an important piece to address poverty.

We can train people forever for high-paying jobs, and we do a very good job of that. But until we create the housing and the other infrastructures that they need to stay in this community, what happens is we train them and they leave. Then theyre back-filled by somebody in an even worse circumstance, so the community never changes.

Q: With all the new development on the East Side, residents are concerned about increased density and rising property taxes. What is your strategy for juggling the new development with the people who already live there?

A: Its a double-edged sword, because in 2010 and 2011, the near East Side particularly had the highest concentration of vacant lots and abandoned structures of any other part of the city. And we still have a pretty high amount of that. When new people are moving in, were filling in empty spaces. Thats one of the biggest things that I run into when Im trying to recruit retail into this community, is that we dont have the density. So, from a business standpoint, Im thinking this is great.

Read more: Oil rig count ticks up slightly in Texas, nation

Also, minority communities have been told for generations that the way to achieve generational wealth is through homeownership. Well, the only way that happens is if the value of the property that you own appreciates. So, again, on one side these growing property values are creating wealth for these families.

On the other side, though, these same growing property values are increasing the property tax loads for these folks. I told somebody the other day that I feel sometimes like I have multiple personalities because I can see the business case for it, but I can also see the personal case for it.

Q: Can you think of any particular policies that can help?

A: There are some things that other cities have done to mitigate this impact of taxing.

I am an advocate of a policy of freezing property taxes in high-growth areas. I used to call it the Urban Pioneer Tax. So, if youre an early adaptor, you move into an area thats showing a high amount of growth. Then, when the area receives this designation, your property taxes are frozen at that level. And they cant go up for X number of years. The value of your property can go up, but youre not going to pay any more taxes anywhere at this point.

Q: Theres a perception of the East Side having a crime problem. How do you fight that perception?

A: We have to, number one, hold the media responsible when they dont get the story quite right. Because Ive just seen some egregious errors, about things that were attributed to the East Side that were not even near the East Side.

Number two is we have to do a better job of telling the positive stories  things like talking about the success of the academic decathlon team at Sam Houston High School versus the craziness thats happening on the streets.

When you look at the numbers, though, crime is no worse on the East Side than anyplace else. I think whats worse on the East Side is coverage of crime.

Q: We reported last year that almost a third of San Antonios homicides occurred on the East Side in 2016. But you dont think crime is worse than elsewhere?

A: I really dont. I work on the East Side, and I dont get on the freeway to go home. I drive through the East Side. Im here sometimes until 11 or 12 p.m., one in the morning. Ive never felt uncomfortable driving home in the dead of night or walking out of here going to my car, even. This is a community like any other community. Things happen here, absolutely. Is that the defining factor of this community? No, its not.

Q: During your time at SAGE, what have you learned about creating development?

A: You always have to get the community involved first. You cant plan a development and then step in and talk to the community. Luckily it wasnt my experience, but its an experience I watched over and over again.

Q: What advantages do existing residents get from new development?

A: They get new amenities. What we hear, when we talk to neighborhoods  What do you want? What should we be working on?  its always about amenities. Also, investments in infrastructure. You know, sidewalks and streets, and lighting, and those types of things. So there are definitely some benefits. And, I think, improved schools.

Q: What do you think is the best strategy for creating affordable housing on the East Side?

A: Its very important that we dont have these segregated pockets. We cant build a beautiful new facility and make it 100 percent low-income housing because what youve done is created a pretty pocket of poverty.

Weve got to integrate better. Thats one of our issues as a community, is that we are economically segregated. You cannot grow a community like that.

The other piece is, though, weve got to do some things that will encourage and support homeownership. To that end, SAGE is looking at becoming a (federally-designated) Community Development Financial Institution for the specific reason of providing loans and technical assistance to people who want to buy an existing home and renovate it.

What we know is that low- to moderate-income individuals, while they may be able to afford that home, they dont necessarily have the technical skills to take it through working with an architect and picking the contractors. So the model that were trying to design would be that we would support them through that, as well as provide the mortgage support.

Q: Are you concerned that NIMBYism (Not In My Backyard) could hamper development on the East Side?

A: Not traditional NIMBY-ism. But I do think that we have some folks who are not necessarily development-friendly. And thats not a bad thing at all. To speak with a very loud voice that may not necessarily represent their true influence in the community  they impact things negatively that they shouldnt.

Q: Are you thinking of the Hay Street Bridge right now?

A: Im not trying to comment on that one. This is the thing: We havent learned as a community to speak with one voice. And so the loudest voice gets heard. But the loudest voice does not necessarily represent the most people.

Richard Webner is a San Antonio Express-News staff writer. Read more of his stories here. | rwebner@express-news.net | @RWebner
The embattled Royal Bank of Scotland is putting its downtown Stamford office building up for sale, but it plans to keep operating there for many more years, Hearst Connecticut Media has learned.

RBS decision fits into a cost-cutting plan for a firm whose chronic financial and regulatory troubles have led to hundreds of layoffs in recent years at its regional headquarters at 600 Washington Blvd. The sale is not expected to directly affect the approximately 500 employees who remain in Stamford and focus on RBS NatWest Markets corporate and institutional banking services.

As we have reduced the size of our global footprint, it now makes economic sense for RBS to sell the building at 600 Washington Blvd., and lease back the office space that we require, RBS said in a statement. Our NatWest Markets U.S. sales and trading operations in Stamford remain a core part of our business, providing our customers with access to the U.S. dollar markets across currencies, rates and financing.

The bank declined to name its asking price for 600 Washington, which was appraised last year at about $150 million, according to the Vision Appraisal property database.

RBS also did not immediately comment on how the sale would affect its plan to construct two residential buildings, with a total of 456 units, on vacant land adjacent to the office block.

Commercial real estate firm JLL, RBS exclusive U.S. leasing and sales agent, would broker the sale, which is expected to be completed between the summer and fall of this year.

RBS lease-back agreement with the new owner would run for 10 years, according to JLL officials.

This property will appeal to a wide variety of buyers because its a prime location with incredible quality and a credit-worthy tenancy, said JLL Managing Director Gil Ohls. Youve got three of the largest banks representing three of the wealthiest countries in the world. Its hard to get stronger than that.

At 600 Washington, RBS takes about 90,000 square feet in the 12-floor building, according to JLL. Another investment-banking giant, Switzerlands UBS, occupies about 120,000 square feet, while Citizens Bank takes about 35,000 square feet. The 11th floor, the top office level, has vacant space for additional tenants.

In the same structure, Bank of America plans to open later this year an approximately 115,000-square-foot center. The sale would not affect BoAs plans at 600 Washington, a company spokeswoman said Monday.

RBS opened the steel-and-glass tower in 2009. A package of up to $100 million in state tax credits supported a company investment of $400 million in the hub.

Fiscal and regulatory troubles have wracked the firm in the years since it established its Stamford presence.

The impact of the 2008 financial crisis led to a bailout by the British government. United Kingdom Treasury officials announced Monday a plan to sell a 7.7 percent stake in RBS, reducing its ownership to about 62 percent as the bank moves toward privatization.

Between 2008 and 2016, RBS incurred nine consecutive annual losses. The company bounced back in 2017 with a profit of about $1 billion.

Last month, RBS announced it had agreed to a $4.9 billion settlement with the U.S. Department of Justice to resolve an investigation into the banks sale and underwriting of mortgage-backed securities in the lead-up to the financial crisis.

Among other recent U.S. cases, state Attorney General George Jepsen announced in October 2016 a $120 million settlement with the bank tied to its oversight of mortgage-backed securities. It represented the largest penalty against a company in the states history.

In February 2017, the U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission ordered RBS to pay an $85 million civil penalty to settle charges that traders at the Stamford offices tried to manipulate a benchmark for interest-rate products during a period spanning the financial crisis.

Stemming from the losses and fines, the bank has laid off about 750 Stamford-based employees since the beginning of 2015.

RBS jobs cuts created the space for the other tenants at 600 Washington. In 2016, UBS transferred its own reduced Stamford operations from the office tower and annex across the street at 677 Washington Blvd.

Covering more than 700,000 square feet, 677 Washington now stands as the citys largest office vacancy.

pschott@scni.com; 203-964-2236; Twitter: @paulschott
COLUMBUS  The Public Utilities Commission of Ohio wants Ohioans to remember that when hiring a moving company, you have rights guaranteed by law and enforced by the commission.

Before deciding to hire a mover, ensure they are properly registered with the commission to do business in Ohio (for in-state moves), or the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (for interstate moves).

When planning your move, it is important to know a few things about your rights regarding estimates, bill of lading, insurance coverage and claims.

Estimate

An estimate is the expected cost, in writing, the company provides to you prior to your move. The estimate should be in writing unless your move will cost $500 or less or is scheduled within five days of request.

The moving company has the option of providing you with one of three kinds of estimates: nonbinding, binding and guaranteed-not-to-exceed.

The type will be clearly stated on the estimate. Do not assume that something is included in the estimate if it is not in writing.

Bill of lading

The bill of lading is similar to a receipt, identifies who owns the household goods on the moving companys truck. A bill of lading will be attached to the estimate while the shipment is in route.

You may request an inventory of your household goods when the company is loading them, but the company may charge an additional fee for that service.

Liability coverage

All moving companies are responsible for the value of the goods transported. Companies must have cargo insurance in an amount equal to the declared value of your shipment.

Moving companies may offer different types of reimbursement for lost or damaged goods, but must offer full replacement value. Generally, the higher the carrier cargo liability, the higher the cost to you. On your estimate, you will initial to indicate the type of coverage you choose.

The moving company may reserve the right to repair any damaged items prior to replacing regardless of the level of coverage selected. This must be stated in your written estimate.

If the company does not have a reimbursement option, you are entitled to the full replacement value of any lost or damaged goods.

Claim

Claims are a written explanation of any loss or damage to any items during your move, submitted to the moving company. The company must provide you with at least 60 days to file a claim.

The company must acknowledge the receipt of your claim, in writing, within 15 days after they receive it. The company, within 30 days of receiving your claim, must pay, decline, or make a firm compromise settlement offer.

If you are planning an interstate move, visit the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration website for more information.

Visit www.PUCO.ohio.gov for more information on hiring a moving company, a moving to-do checklist and a list of registered household goods movers.

If you cannot resolve a dispute with your moving company, contact the commission at 1-s800-686-PUCO (7826) or file a complaint online.
RANDOLPH, Ohio  The Portage County Randolph Fair is hoping to make some major upgrades by the 2019 fair season.

The fair is launching an $800,000 campaign to build a 22,000 square foot Junior Fair Livestock Building to replace outdated swine, lamb and goat buildings with a single building that will house all three species.

We decided to put it all under one roof because its easier and it looks better, said Tracey Koszalka, Portage County Fair Board president.

The new facility would also provide a larger show and auction ring.

We have one of the largest junior fair livestock sales in the state and we have a tiny sale arena, said Koszalka.

Also included in this campaign is providing heating and air conditioning to the Hubbard Building on the fairgrounds, making it available to the community for year-round events.

This is the first time we are asking the community for help.

Funding

This is the first time we are asking the community for help, said Koszalka, who added the fair board typically takes care of new fair projects on its own.

Due to the size of the effort, the fair board hired Fair Funding out of Cincinnati, to execute a leadership assessment and campaign.

The assessment of 30 local businesses and community members found that individuals and companies were in full support of this campaign.

The fair board has committed $100,000 toward the $800,000 goal to get things started. Additionally, the 21 board members have committed to donating individually to the fund.

The campaign has also received the assistance of Bill Wallbrown of Deerfield Ag Services and Todd Brugmann from Oscar Brugmann Sand & Gravel as campaign co-chairmen.

The fair board is asking for community support in the way of five-year pledges, which are 100 percent tax deductible. Gifts of corn and soybeans, land, stock and cash will also be accepted.

Construction

Demolition of the old buildings is proposed to begin after the 2018 fair season, and Koszalka is hopeful construction will be completed by early summer next year.

Phase two of the project is to add heating and air conditioning to the Hubbard Building on the grounds, which can be rented for weddings, graduation parties and other events throughout the year.

The first thing is taking care of our kids, said Koszalka.

We are very excited for it, and I think the kids and 4-H advisers are excited for it was well.

Making a pledge

A campaign fund is currently being set up through The Portage Foundation for the Portage County Randolph Fair project.

For more information on the campaign, contact fair board member Debi Heppe at 330-325-7476 or visit the fair website.
Place Your Advert

Thousands of Active jobseekers are looking for new agricultural positions in 2020. Call us now to discuss the options for advertising your vacancy in our job section.
German chemical giant Bayer plans to complete the acquisition of Monsanto on Thursday following the receipt of all required approvals from regulatory authorities.

Bayer will become the sole shareholder of Monsanto on Thursday June 7. According to the conditional approval from the United States Department of Justice, the integration of Monsanto into Bayer can take place as soon as the divestments to BASF have been completed. This is expected to be in approximately two months.

Bayer first announced its intention to acquire Monsanto in May 2016 and signed an agreement with the US company for $128 dollars per share in September 2016.

The acquisition is anticipated to generate significant value. Bayer expects a positive contribution to core earnings per share starting in 2019. From 2021 onward, that contribution is expected to be double-digit percentage.

In 2017, both companies together employed approximately 115,000 people.

The acquisition of Monsanto is a strategic milestone in strengthening our portfolio of leading businesses in health and nutrition, said Werner Baumann, Chairman of the Board of Management of Bayer AG.

We will double the size of our agriculture business and create a leading innovation engine in agriculture, positioning us to better serve our customers and unlock the long-term growth potential in the sector.

Bayer will remain the company name, and Monsanto will no longer be a company name. The acquired products will retain their brand names and become part of the Bayer portfolio.

In a statement, Bayer said it is "fully aware" of the heightened responsibility that a leadership position in agriculture entails. It confirmed that the company will strengthen its commitment in the area of sustainability.
New rural crime survey seeks to gain insight from farmers

It asks what farmers think of policing in their area
Oh No!

It all began when Bipasha took to Instagram on Sunday to share a photo from the hospital bed which was captioned as "This is what happens when the younger sister @vi_basu is on hospital duty."

We Second That

Earlier the actress had posted, " Being sick sucksBeen sick for way tooooo long!!!! Enough I say... Enough  @mamtaanand10 get well soon too, my dear twinzie. Thank you for all the amazing natural remedies  about time... all should work on us now."

The Mystery

Bipasha's post triggered a lot of reactions and left her fans wondering what the actress was suffering from.

Bipasha Reveals Why She's Hospitalized

Finally, Bipasha took her Twitter handle and wrote, "To all my well wishers... just a stubborn bacterial infection.Will be fit and fabulous soon."

On The Work Front

The actress will be reuniting with her hubby Karan Singh Grover on-screen for Aadat. A source earlier told Mumbai Mirror, " The film will be shot completely in London in a 45-day schedule. Initially set to go on the floors in May, it will now kick off on June 7, as assembling the cast and crew took some time. While buzz was that it was being planned as a slice-of- life film, it will now have a thriller element added to it and is expected to hit theaters by the year-end."
Shame On Priyanka Chopra, Says Twitterati

This user took to Twitter and showed his disgust by saying "Shame on Quantico" and "Shame on Priyanka Chopra". The anger and frustration are evident as no Indian national has ever set off a bomb, just to frame Pakistan.

This User Tags Donald Trump

Another frustrated user tags the President of the United States, Donald Trump and ires his complaint to him stating that Quantico has a secret ploy to defame India and all of this is being done deliberately.

This Is Not True!

Another user says there's no need to blame others when we as Indians don't stand up for each other and the tweet was directed to the Quantico star Priyanka Chopra.

Ridiculous & Non Sense

This user questioned the motives of Priyanka Chopra and Quantico by called the entire show as "ridiculous and nonsensical stuff."

The Rohingya Crisis

This user connected Priyanka Chopra's support of Bangladeshi Rohingyas by saying that she supports them and not her own countrymen. The user even stated that PeeCee is now a money hungry actress.

Upset & Angry

It looks like Indians are now getting a feel that Priyanka Chopra has turned her back against them and is focused on making a career in Hollywood, even at the cost of defaming India.

Be Sensible

While Twitter was ablaze with the Priyanka Chopra's Quantico controversy, a user asked his fellow countrymen to not use abusive language to Priyanka Chopra as that will hamper the entire conversation and make them look in a bad light.
Ranveer Singh's Grandmother Passes Away  FilmiBeat

Ranveer Singh's grandmother passed away last night on June 4, 2018 and the details about her sudden demise has not been revealed yet. Reports were previously doing the rounds that Ranveer Singh's grandmother was unwell since a long time and the exact reason of her illness was not known to the public.

It was reported that even Deepika Padukone visited Ranveer Singh's ailing grandmother at a hospital in Mumbai on January 2018 and spent quality time with her. The Padmaavat star, Ranveer Singh, shared a very close bond with his grandmother.

Ranveer Singh has cancelled all public appearances and work related commitments and is bereaving the demise of his grandmother and wants to spend his time with his family members and near and dear ones.

He once opened up to Grazia Magazine about his grandmother by showcasing his love to her by saying, "As important to me as oxygen and water. I am very affectionate with everybody - my fans, my family. I was raised that way. My grandmother mollycoddled me. There was lots of hugging and kissing in my house."

Filmibeat offers our heartfelt condolences to Ranveer Singh and his family on the demise of their beloved one.

Take A Wild Guess! Kareena Kapoor Had Rejected These 2 Blockbuster Movies
Salman's Warm Gesture

Salman told Mumbai Mirror, "I have been looking at scripts and we need to finalize the right script for Bobby now. I am personally looking into the story and locking the director for the film."

Salman Wants To Bring Bobby Back On Screen Like This

He said, "The script will bring Bobby back as a Greek God. Back in the day, Bobby was fondly called Jattallion' by friends. It was a grand way of describing him - a good-looking and charming star. And that's what we'll bring him back as."

Are You Listening, Bobby Deol?

"The production will be well-timed, will have the right budget and a complete mass appeal. Action and dance will be taken to the next level too. If Bobby thought he worked hard for Race 3, he doesn't know what's coming," the superstar further added.

On His Shirtless Scene With Bobby

Before Race 3 rolled, Bobby took months to get into shape for his role. Speaking about it Salman quipped, "He was also taking his shirt completely off for the first time ever, that too in the same frame as me! Bobby's looking really good in the film. He's done some fantastic work."

Salman Has This To Say About Bobby's Role In Housefull 4

"Next up, Bobby's doing Sajid Nadiadwala's (also one of Salman's oldest producer-friends) Housefull 4. That's a great pick for him because it will suit his personality beautifully. Everyone will enjoy him in his hatke look."

On Playing A Mentor To Bobby Deol

"They have been crediting me for everything - distributor, writer, lyricist, actor - I've been closely involved with casting. If this film (Race 3) fails, they're all going to blame me," Salman told Mumbai Mirror with a laugh.
Sweet, We Say!

Riddhima Kapoor gifted Alia Bhatt a pretty bracelet and the latter took to Instagram to share the pic of the gift and also thanked Riddhima for her sweet gesture.

We Know Its Price As Well!

According to TOI, the bracelet is a 14 carat gold and diamond bracelet with a semi-precious stone at its centre and its total cost is Rs 27,810.

How Alia & Ranbir Came So Closer?

An insider informs a leading daily about how love blossomed between them and said, "Alia spoke about how getting to work with Ranbir was a dream come true for her and that she had a crush on the Saawariya actor."

The Duo Spent New Year Together!

"The two took off to Bulgaria, first for a recce with Ayan and then later for the film's shoot. Alia and Ranbir also spent New Year's Eve in Bulgaria and Alia's Instagram (photograph) was proof of their budding friendship."

Ranbir-Alia's Joint Appearance At A B-town Party

Media went berserk when lovebirds Ranbir Kapoor and Alia Bhatt made a joint appearance at Sonam Kapoor's wedding reception, stuffing gossip-mongers with enough of fodders!

In fact, while promoting Raazi too, Alia also dropped subtle hints about dating Ranbir and never denied the rumours firmly.

Neetu Kapoor Bonds With Alia

Going by Neetu Kapoor's comments on Alia Bhatt's posts on Instagram, one can assume that the duo does share a warm bonding. And things are not similar to what used to be between Neetu Kapoor and Katrina Kaif.

The Kapoors Gel With The Bhatts

Recently, Rishi Kapoor also tweeted about being close to the Bhatt family and dropped a major hint about Ranbir-Alia's affair.
Well, it is the time of #kuthipokkals, a term in Malayalam used to describe the digging up of the pictures from the past by commenting and liking old pictures on Facebook. Meanwhile, the Malayalam actors are the ones who have been targeted with many users digging up the pictures of their stars from the past.

Many of the top celebrities of Malayalam cinema have now fallen prey to #kuthipokkals on Facebook and the pictures posted by the stars in the past have been doing the rounds on their timelines.

Meanwhile, actor Aju Varghese has won the attention of all by coming up with some fine responses to the new trend on social media. The actor himself has sent out a few pictures from the past and thus not allowing others to dig them up.
Favourite Film - Mersal

Vijay's action-drama Mersal bagged the 'Best Film' award and gave the star's fans a reason to rejoice. Directed by Atlee it also had Kajal Aggarwal in the lead and was a treat for 'Thalapathy' fans.

Best Film - Aruvi

The surprise hit Aruvi was adjudged the 'Best Film'. It featured newcomer Aditi Balan in the lead and was one of the most acclaimed films of 2017.

Best Actor Female - Nayanthara (Aramm)

Nayanthara bagged the 'Best Actor' award for her powerful performance in the hard-hitting Aramm. The film featured her in the role of a collector and touched upon the issue of water scarcity.

Favourite Heroine - Nayanthara

Tamil cinema's 'Thalaivi' was also named the 'Favourtite Heroine' much to the delight of her die-hard fans.

Best Director - Pushkar Gayathri (Vikram Vedha)

Pushkar and Gayathri bagged the 'Best Director' award for their crime-thriller Vikram Vedha. The film featured Madhavan in the role of a cop while Vijay Sethupathi played the role of a gangster.

Favourite Director - Atlee (Mersal)

Young film-maker Atlee won the 'Favourite Director' award for Mersal and added another feather to his cap. The film marked his second collaboration with Vijay.

Best Actor Male - Vijay Sethupathi (Vikram Vedha)

'Makkal Selvan' bagged the honour courtesy his raw and intense act in the commercially successful Vikram Vedha. As expected, fans were quite happy about the underrated star getting the award.
Perfect Family!

Both Krushna and Kashmira looked happy with their twins as they posed with their adorable munchkins. All the four colour co-ordinated in black (and white) outfits and looked as perfect family'! The couple were seen holding their kids in their arms as they cut the cake.

Guests At Rayaan & Krishaangs Birthday Bash

Rakhi Sawant, Monalisa & Vikrant Singh, Mahi Vij, Adaa Khan, Karanvir Bohra and his wife Teejay Sidhu with their twins, Karan Mehra & Nisha Rawal with their kid, Ravi Kishen and others graced the birthday party.

Monalisa & Vikrant

Monalisa shared a few pictures snapped with Vikrant, Krushna, Kashmira, Rakhi Sawant, Pooja Banerjee & Kunal Verma , and wrote, "About Tonight.... congratulations @krushna30 @kashmera1." - (sic)

Karanvir & Teejay With Their Adorable Twins

Karanvir Bohra and Teejay Sidhu were also present at the event, with their cute munchkins, Bella And Vienna. Karanvir and Teejay's twins looked cute and adorable in green dresses as they posed for cameras.

Karan & Nisha With Their Kid

Yeh Rishta Kya Kehlata Hai actor, Karan Mehra and his wife Nisha Rawal along with their cute baby boy, Kavish Mehra also graced the ceremony.

Adaa Khan

Adaa shared this picture and wrote, "I want to go back to believing in everything and knowing nothing at all ! #happyme #childhoodeveryday #mickeymouse #garfield  ."

Kashmira

It has to be recalled that Kashmira had revealed that she didn't have time or luxury to wait (for a baby). She had also revealed that she tried to conceive 14 times in 3 years, but all her attempts failed.

Krushna Abhishek

Krushna had revealed as to how the arrival of his babies affected him. He told a leading daily, "I've become more responsible. I've never been an actor who relies on his producers. I've always been in such a position that I can walk off anytime. I never had the fear of a show not working or being ousted from it. But after having kids, I get that feeling. I'm no longer as carefree; there is a fear that keeps me in check."


KENILWORTH (NJ) (dpa-AFX) - Eisai Inc. and Merck & Co Inc. (MRK) announced results from presentations of new data and analyses of LENVIMA or lenvatinib, an orally available kinase inhibitor discovered by Eisai, in combination with Merck's anti-PD-1 therapy, KEYTRUDA (pembrolizumab), in four different tumor types: unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma or HCC, squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck or SCCHN, advanced renal cell carcinoma (RCC), and advanced endometrial carcinoma EC.



The data are included in presentations at the 54th Annual Meeting of the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) in Chicago from June 1-5. LENVIMA and KEYTRUDA are not approved for use in combination in any cancer types today.



The release discusses investigational uses for FDA-approved products. It is not intended to convey conclusions about efficacy and safety.



Study 116/KEYNOTE-524 is a Phase 1b open-label, single-arm multicenter study evaluating the tolerability and safety of the combination of LENVIMA (12 mg/day for patients weighing - 60 kg, 8 mg/day for patients weighing < 60 kg) and KEYTRUDA (200 mg intravenously every 3 weeks) in patients with unresectable HCC, Barcelona Clinic Liver Cancer (BCLC) stage B (not eligible for transarterial chemoembolization [TACE]) or C, Child-Pugh class A, and ECOG performance status of 0 or 1.



The primary endpoint was safety; secondary and exploratory endpoints included overall survival (OS), objective response rate (ORR), progression-free survival (PFS) and time to progression (TTP) using modified Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumors (mRECIST) criteria. Tumor assessments of complete or partial response (CR or PR) were confirmed greater than or equal to four weeks after initial response. Part 1 evaluated tolerability by assessing dose-limiting toxicities (DLTs) during the first cycle of treatment in patients for whom no other appropriate therapy was available.



After tolerability was confirmed, additional patients with no prior systemic therapy for unresectable HCC were enrolled (Part 2). The expansion part of the study will evaluate ORR and duration of response as measured by mRECIST.



Study 111/KEYNOTE-526 is a multicenter, open-label, single-arm Phase 1b/2 basket trial evaluating the combination of LENVIMA (20 mg/day) with KEYTRUDA (200 mg intravenously every three weeks) in patients with selected solid tumors. Patients were not preselected based on PD-L1 status. The primary endpoint of the Phase 1b study was to determine the maximum tolerated dose of KEYTRUDA and LENVIMA in combination. The primary endpoint of the Phase 2 portion is investigator-assessed ORR at week 24 based on immune-related RECIST (irRECIST). The secondary efficacy endpoints included ORR, PFS, and duration of response for patients with complete or partial responses.



Copyright RTT News/dpa-AFX

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STOCKHOLM, June 4, 2018 /PRNewswire/ --

ASSA ABLOY has sold its Wood Door business in the US to Masonite (NYSE: DOOR).

The ASSA ABLOY Wood Door business consists of two companies Graham Wood Doors, based in Mason City, Iowa and The Maiman Company, based in Springfield, Missouri with a total of 275 employees. Graham is a manufacturer of flush architectural wood doors and Maiman is a manufacturer of thermal fused doors and stile and rail doors. The business had a turnover in 2017 of approximately USD 70 million (approx. SEK 600 million).

"I find it very satisfying that with Masonite the Wood Door business and employees get a committed, experienced owner that gives the business a new home and creates opportunities for the future," says Nico Delvaux, President and CEO of ASSA ABLOY.

"It was important to us that our customers, architects and end-users have continuity for products, service and support so these businesses are in good hands," states Lucas Boselli, Executive Vice President of ASSA ABLOY and Head of the Americas Division. "We will continue our focus on our steel door and frame leadership development in the market."

The transaction will have a positive effect on ASSA ABLOY's operating margin and be neutral to EPS.

For more information, please contact:

Nico Delvaux, President and CEO, tel. no: +46 8 506 485 82

Carolina Dybeck Happe, CFO and Executive Vice President, tel. no: +46 8 506 485 72

About ASSA ABLOY

ASSA ABLOY is the global leader in door opening solutions, dedicated to satisfying end-user needs for security, safety and convenience. Since its formation in 1994, ASSA ABLOY has grown from a regional company into an international group with about 47,500 employees, operations in more than 70 countries and sales of SEK 76 billion. In the fast-growing electromechanical security segment, the Group has a leading position in areas such as access control, identification technology, entrance automation and hotel security.

This information was brought to you by Cision http://news.cision.com

http://news.cision.com/assa-abloy/r/assa-abloy-sells-wood-door-business-in-the-us-to-masonite,c2539302

The following files are available for download:
SEOUL, South Korea, June 4, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- GLOSFER, a first-generation blockchain company in South Korea, successfully launched the main network of Hycon blockchain, marking the true beginning of the Infinity Project.

The Main Network launch signifies that the users can now set up a digital wallet (https://wallet.hycon.io/) and begin mining.

HYCON's code has been publicly released on GitHub as scheduled. The code has been thoroughly examined and implemented by the GLOSFER in-house development team, as well as externally reviewed and audited by third-party security specialists Entersoft Australia.

Jane Hong, Director of Marketing for HYCON, said: "This is a great moment for the team, everyone including the blockchain engineers, the marketing and business development team, and the various parts of the company which encompasses the Infinity Project," adding that "we'd like to thank you wholeheartedly for your support."

"The release of the HYCON blockchain marks the start of the real hard work. We look forward to impressing the world with our future development plans," said GLOSFER CEO, Taewon Kim.

About GLOSFER: GLOSFER is a leading blockchain technology and services company in South Korea. Building on its roots as a first-generation blockchain company, GLOSFER strives to expand its activities into various industries to bolster its reach in both domestic and international markets, by leveraging innovative technologies and services, including its PHP API blockchain platform PACKUTH and its online and offline cryptocurrency trading platforms. With its upcoming Infinity Project, powered by its HYCON coin, the company seeks to establish and facilitate its cryptocurrency ecosystem while contributing to a more transparent and fair society based on blockchain technology through cooperation with public institutions.

Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/700362/HYCON.jpg
LUNARIS TM Human & Mouse 6-Plex T Cell Characterization Kits are validated for quantitative analysis of soluble effector molecules secreted by distinct T cell populations, including IFN-y, IL-2, IL-4, IL-17A, TGF-1, and Granzyme B



The accurate and reproducible generation of biomarker profiles allows for the unraveling of an altered number or functions of differentiated T cell subsets and spots potential points on intervention in pathologies ranging from autoimmune diseases to cancer



Launch marks the further step in expanding AYOXXA's portfolio for fully scalable biomarker analysis in translational research using murine and human samples

COLOGNE, GERMANY / ACCESSWIRE / June 4, 2018 / AYOXXA Biosystems GmbH, an international biotechnology company offering a range of products and services which enable advances in translational proteomics, today announced the expansion of its catalogue of kits for fully scalable multiplex protein analysis with the introduction of LUNARISTM Human & Mouse 6-Plex T Cell Characterization Kits. The Kits are validated for quantitative analysis of soluble effector molecules secreted by distinct T cell populations that serve as biomarkers for specific population subsets. The kit enables translational research in areas including immune response biology, autoimmune disorders and cancer using murine and human samples.

"From our customers we have learned there is an urgent need for scalable tools that enable the exploration of complex biological processes and the translation of results from basic research through biomarker validation into clinical trials," said Dr. Markus Zumbansen, Chief Technology Officer of AYOXXA. "With the launch of the new LUNARISTM Human & Mouse 6-Plex T Cell Characterization Kits we are expanding our portfolio of kits for biomarker analysis and helping scientists to understand the complexity of T cell differentiation in relevant research areas such as immune response, autoimmune disorders and cancer."

LUNARISTM Human & Mouse 6-Plex T Cell Characterization Kits

Validated, scalable, robust

The LUNARISTM Human & Mouse 6-Plex T Cell Characterization Kits allow for the quantification of soluble effector molecules secreted by cultured T cells that serve as biomarkers of specific population subsets. Resulting profiles discriminate proinflammatory Th1 cells, anti-inflammatory Th2 cells, regulatory Th17 cells, immunosuppressive Treg cells, and cytotoxic T cells based on the detection of IFN-y, IL-4, IL-17A, TGF-1, and Granzyme B, respectively. In addition, the kits allow for the concurrent quantitative measurement of IL-2 as a biomarker for T cell activation and proliferation.

LUNARISTM Kits include all components necessary to perform the assay and readout on the LUNARISTM Reader: LUNARISTM BioChips, LUNARISTM Decoding File, LUNARISTM Analysis Suite, diluents, buffers, reagents, standards and instructions for use.

LUNARISTM Human & Mouse 6-Plex T Cell Characterization Kits are optimized to run on AYOXXA's proprietary multiplex protein analysis system LUNARISTM, a fully integrated system that can be incorporated into any laboratory routine and is optimized to provide an easy-to-use, standardized workflow from sample to result. It combines the familiarity of standard immunoassay workflows with an unmatched capability for low sample volumes, scalability from low- to high-throughput applications and market leading data quality. The system comprises a dedicated LUNARISTM Reader and best-in-class LUNARISTM Software for image-based analysis with a 100% read-out of data points.

LUNARISTM kits follow a classical sandwich immunoassay principle with fluorescence readout. The BioChips and assays are painstakingly optimized using the best quality antibody-pairs to ensure the highest assay sensitivity and specificity with minimal cross-reactivity in a multiplex format. Due to the innovative BioChip format and planar geometry, LUNARISTM assays can be performed with sample volumes as low as 3L - which represents only 1/10 of the volume required by comparable multiplex technologies. This low minimum volume requirement enables multiplex protein analysis from precious and scarce sample sources.

The new LUNARISTM Human & Mouse 6-Plex T Cell Characterization Kits add to the already existing portfolio of standardized biomarker kits for the study of inflammation and immune response, as well as assay kits optimized for an extensive range of cytokines and growth factors, and those optimized for specific application areas, such as ophthalmology. For more information on the LUNARISTM Kit portfolio, please visit AYOXXA's website.

AYOXXA will be participating the BIO International Convention 2018 taking place from June 4th - 6th at the Boston Convention and Exhibition Center (BCEC) in Boston, MA, USA. If you are interested in meeting with Wolfgang Kintzel, Co-CEO of AYOXXA and Dr. Karin Roesch, AYOXXA's Director Business Development U.S. during the event, please send an invitation through the BIO One-on-One Partnering System or contact Kirsten Sievert at kirsten.sievert@ayoxxa.com directly. In addition, the Company will also be available for media interviews and background discussions.

About T cell differentiation

Antigen presentation and intracellular signaling prompt the differentiation of naive T cells into effector subsets that mount effective immune responses. This differentiation process is carefully orchestrated. Dysregulation leading to an altered number or function of differentiated T cell subsets can result in pathologies ranging from autoimmunity to cancer.

Thus, a research tool that allows accurate and reproducible identification of predominant T cell subsets in cell culture experiments can help unravel the complexity and spot potential points of therapeutic intervention. Each T cell subset secretes a characteristic repertoire of effector cytokines that stabilize T cell differentiation and/or contribute to pathogen clearance. These soluble molecules can be exploited as markers of T cell subtypes and thus, characterize the outcomes of differentiation.

About AYOXXA

AYOXXA Biosystems GmbH is an international life science company based in Cologne (Germany) with offices in Boston, MA (USA) and Singapore. AYOXXA enables its customers and partners to utilize its reliable and optimized platform technology to fuel breakthroughs in all areas of life science research and to enhance success in translational science.

With LUNARISTM, its proprietary innovative beads-on-a-chip multiplexing platform for advanced protein analysis, the Company is paving the way for translating knowledge generated in a laboratory environment through clinical studies in support of basic biology and across drug development. With its advantages in terms of quality, flexibility, robustness and efficiency, LUNARISTM enables fully scalable quantitative validation of biomarkers in minute amounts of biological samples. AYOXXA is commercializing a growing portfolio of standardized ready-to-use biomarker analysis assays, with a focus on the biology of inflammation and immune response.

For more information, please visit www.ayoxxa.com

Follow AYOXXA on LinkedIn.

LUNARISTM products are intended "for research use only" and may not be used in diagnostic procedures.

Media Contacts

AYOXXA Biosystems GmbH

Dr. Marion Lammertz

Marketing Manager Communications

P: +49 (0) 221 222529 41

E: marion.lammertz@ayoxxa.com

MC Services AG



Dr. Solveigh Mahler

+49 (0) 211 529 252 19

solveigh.maehler@mc-services.eu

AYOXXA Biosystems GmbH
HARLOW, England, June 4, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Raytheon United Kingdom (UK) has appointed Lord (Tom) Strathclyde as board chairman, effective 4 June 2018. Lord Strathclyde was Leader of the UK's House of Lords, 2010-2013, and leader of the Conservative Party in the House of Lords, 1998-2013.

"In the last two years, Raytheon UK has invested more than 20 million opening new facilities in England, Scotland and Wales to serve global customers," said Richard Daniel, Chief Executive and Managing Director, Raytheon UK. "Lord Strathclyde's extensive business and government experience, including senior ministerial positions in the departments of Environment, Education, and Trade and Industry, will provide a foothold of counsel and guidance in key areas that will help Raytheon deliver products and capabilities to serve our UK customer needs and grow our ability to export and build international business."

Lord Strathclyde holds a number of non-executive director posts and senior advisory positions. Previously, he held a range of senior positions within the financial services sector including:

Director at Trafigura Beheer BV (2013-16)

NED to Scottish Mortgage Investment Trust (2004-10)

NED at Marketform Group, the Lloyd's based insurance company (2003-10)

Chairman of Trafalgar Capital Management, Ltd (2001-10)

NED at Hampden Agencies, the Lloyd's of London members agency (2007-10)

Before serving in Government, he was an associate director at Bain Clarkson, (now Aon) (1982-88).

He is currently Governor of Wellington College, a board member of the think tank the Centre for Policy Studies, and is chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Battersea Power Station Foundation which supports charities in underprivileged areas of South London.

Lord Strathclyde said: "Raytheon has a long heritage in the UK and, over the years, has invested in people, technology and infrastructure. Raytheon has made a serious long-term commitment to the UK, our national defence and increasing UK exports. I shall do all I can to help Raytheon at this crucial time in opening up new markets and providing the best possible value to UK taxpayers."

About Raytheon UK

Raytheon UK is a subsidiary of Raytheon Company. It is a prime contractor and major supplier to the U.K. Ministry of Defence and has developed strong capabilities in mission systems integration in defence, national security and commercial markets. Raytheon UK also designs, develops and manufactures a range of high-technology electronic systems and software at facilities in Harlow, Glenrothes, Gloucester, Waddington, Broughton and Manchester.

About Raytheon

Raytheon Company, with 2017 sales of $25 billion and 64,000 employees, is a technology and innovation leader specializing in defense, civil government and cybersecurity solutions. With a history of innovation spanning 96 years, Raytheon provides state-of-the-art electronics, mission systems integration, C5I products and services, sensing, effects, and mission support for customers in more than 80 countries. Raytheon is headquartered in Waltham, Mass. Follow us on Twitter.

www.raytheon.com

Media Contact

Alicia Tetlow

T: +44 (0)1279 407897

M: +44 (0)7471 350145

alicia.tetlow@raytheon.co.uk

Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/629408/Raytheon_Logo.jpg


BRUSSELS/FRANKFURT/PARIS (dpa-AFX) - European stocks were broadly higher on Monday, with underlying sentiment supported by upbeat U.S. jobs data, easing of political tensions in Italy and Spain and fresh deal-making news.



On the data front, Eurozone investor sentiment deteriorated sharply in June largely reflecting political uncertainties in Italy, survey data from think tank Sentix showed.



The investor confidence index slid to 9.3 from 19.2 in May. This was the lowest score since October 2016 and below the expected level of 19.0.



U.K. construction activity growth remained stable in May, survey data from IHS Markit and Chartered Institute of Procurement & Supply showed. The corresponding index held steady at 52.5 while economists expected it to drop to 51.8.



The pan-European Stoxx Europe 600 index was up over 1 percent at 386.91 in late opening deals after climbing 1 percent on Friday.



The German DAX was moving up 0.3 percent, France's CAC 40 index was gaining 0.4 percent and the U.K.'s FTSE 100 was climbing 0.8 percent.



Compagnie Financiere Richemont gained about 1 percent. The Swiss luxury goods group said that it has completed the sale of its wholly-owned subsidiary, Lancel, a French luxury leather goods company, to Piquadro S.p.A., an Italian leather goods group.



Novartis rose half a percent after announcing positive results from the third Phase III trial of Kisqali.



UniCredit shares rose over 1 percent. According to the Financial Times, the Italian bank is considering a merger with France's Societe Generale. Shares of the latter jumped 2 percent.



DS Smith rallied 3.2 percent in London after it announced the proposed acquisition of Papeles y Cartones de Europa, S.A., known as Europac, a Western European integrated packaging business.



Lender CYBG gained about 1 percent after it launched a revised offer to buy challenger bank Virgin Money.



France's AccorHotels slumped 6.5 percent after it confirmed an interest in buying a minority stake in Air France-KLM. Shares of the latter jumped as much as 7 percent.



Copyright RTT News/dpa-AFX

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NEW YORK CITY (dpa-AFX) - Osprey Energy Acquisition Corp. (OSPR, OSPRU, OSPRW), an energy-focused special purpose acquisition entity, announced a definitive agreement to acquire the assets of Royal Resources, an entity owned by funds managed by Blackstone Energy Partners and Blackstone Capital Partners. The acquired Royal assets represent the entirety of Blackstone's mineral interests in the Eagle Ford Shale, and the transaction will create a company with a total enterprise value of approximately $894 million. The combined company, which will be named Falcon Minerals Corp., will be led by Osprey's management team. Blackstone will retain a significant ownership stake in Falcon Minerals at closing representing approximately 47% of outstanding common stock. To finance the transaction, Osprey has entered into agreements to sell in a private placement approximately 11.5 million shares of its class A common stock at a price of $10.00 per share, for a total of approximately $115 million. The investors in the private placement include leading financial institutions, as well as members of Osprey management. Osprey has also entered into a debt commitment agreement with certain lenders, pursuant to which the lenders have committed to make available to Osprey at closing a $500 million revolving credit facility with an initial borrowing base of $115 million. 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.
Toronto, Ontario--(Newsfile Corp. - June 4, 2018) - Gunpowder Capital Corp. (CSE: GPC) (CSE: GPC.PR.A) (OTCQB: GNPWF) (FSE: YS6N) ("Gunpowder" or the "Corporation") announced that effective May 30, 2018 it has signed a Letter of Intent ('LOI") where Gunpowder Capital Corp. has proposed to acquire the business, trademarks and the assets of IBliss Inc. (the "Acquisition"), a Toronto based e-juice manufacturer and distributor.

The completion of the acquisition is contingent upon IBliss completing the audit of its Financial Statements, the completion of the due diligence process, and the two parties entering into a definitive agreement.

Should the two parties enter into a definitive agreement, Gunpowder will provide the current shareholders of IBliss a one-time payment of Two Hundred and Fifty Thousand Dollars ("$250,000.00") CDN. Furthermore, Gunpowder will also allocate Four Hundred Thousand Dollars ("$400,000.00") CDN of funds from its treasury which will be used to replace IBliss's current debt. These amounts will be financed by Gunpowder from its current working capital.

Upon completion, IBliss will become a fully owned subsidiary of Gunpowder Capital Corp., and will appoint Mr. Paul Haber to the Board of IBliss to act as Chairman and Mr. Igal Sudman as Director. The current shareholders of IBliss will nominate one additional member to the Board of IBliss. Should the acquisition become completed, Gunpowder intends on making the IBliss subsidiary a publicly traded entity, and will commence the process of qualifying the IBliss subsidiary in becoming a reporting issuer in the Province of Ontario so that the entity can become listed onto a Canadian based Stock Exchange. Upon the listing of IBliss as a standalone public entity, Gunpowder will pay an additional $400,000 and issue 28 million shares to the current shareholders and finders in the transaction leaving Gunpowder with approximately 7 million shares or 20% of the current float of IBliss. The shares issued to the founders will be subject to escrow and earn-out provisions. IBliss currently has 70 shares issued and outstanding which will be split on a 500,000 for 1 basis post closing to facilitate the above allocation.

About Gunpowder Capital Corp.

Gunpowder Capital Corp., is a merchant bank and advisory services firm based in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Gunpowder invests in both publicly traded and private businesses that have successful management teams and attractive economic models. Gunpowder partners with these businesses to support their growth initiatives with its proven methodology of appropriate financing and structured exits. Gunpowder offers debt financing, including mezzanine and bridge loans, equity financing and advisory services. Gunpowder is also building a portfolio of companies in which it takes a long term position and view. For more information please visit www.gunpowdercapitalcorp.com.

About IBliss Inc.

Based in Toronto, iBliss is a e-juice company manufacturer and distributor. Established in 2014, with one thing in mind and that is to provide an alternative solution to help people quit smoking! iBliss manufactures a limitless range of flavor profiles and cater to the tastes of anyone from a beginner to a hobbyist. Our 20,000 square feet, ISO 7 manufacturing facility outputs 10,000 bottles of FDA registered, TPD compliant ejuice/eliquid a day. For more information please visit https://iblissvapor.com.

For further information please contact:

Mr. Frank Kordy

CEO & Director

Gunpowder Capital Corp.

T: (647) 466-4037

E: frank.kordy@gunpowdercapitalcorp.com

Mr. Paul Haber

CFO

Gunpowder Capital Corp.

T: (416) 363-3833

E: paul.haber@gunpowdercapitalcorp.com

Forward-Looking Statements

Information set forth in this news release may involve forward-looking statements under applicable securities laws. The forward-looking statements contained herein are expressly qualified in their entirety by this cautionary statement. The forward-looking statements included in this document are made as of the date of this document and the Corporation disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as expressly required by applicable securities legislation. Although Management believes that the expectations represented in such forward-looking statements are reasonable, there can be no assurance that such expectations will prove to be correct. This news release does not constitute an offer to sell or solicitation of an offer to buy any of the securities described herein and accordingly undue reliance should not be put on such. Neither CSE nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the CSE) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

- 30 -
New York, New York--(Newsfile Corp. - June 4, 2018) - CannabisNewsAudio announces the Audio Press Release (APR) titled "CBD Market Set for Huge Growth," featuring Marijuana Company of America Inc. (OTC Pink: MCOA).

To hear the NetworkNewsAudio version, visit http://cnw.fm/Jbm3u

To read the original editorial, visit http://cnw.fm/lI2NZ

Earlier this month, MCOA announced (http://cnw.fm/WxIg1) that it had engaged Kim Castle of Verve Integrative to create a market strategy and manage a direct response television ad campaign to promote its hempSMART product line. Initially, hempSMART will be working with Verve Integrative to develop a market strategy and television commercial for its hempSMART Full Spectrum Pet Drops, which will air on cable networks this summer. The commercial spot will have featured placement on the official ecommerce site of a popular direct-response TV company and will be broadly promoted on integrated social media outlets. "We are very pleased to partner with hempSMART on their journey to bring such thoughtful and well-developed products to the people who need natural relief and enhanced health solutions. I wish hempSMART Pet Drops were available to support my cherished dog when we were going through a health challenge together," said Castle, who, along with her team, bring more than 25 years of experience in many variations of media strategy, development and production. Their clients include Disney, GM, ABC, Paramount, and Grey Group. MCOA CEO Donald Steinberg noted that "Kim's experience gives us an excellent opportunity to greatly expand the marketing strategy for the hempSMART brand and product line. We are honored that the hempSMART product line will be managed by her and the Verve Integrative team. We look forward to the new television commercial airing this summer."

About Marijuana Company of America, Inc.

MCOA is a corporation which participates in: (1) product research and development of legal hemp-based consumer products under the brand name "hempSMART", that targets general health and well-being; (2) an affiliate marketing program to promote and sell its legal hemp-based consumer products containing CBD; (3) leasing of real property to separate business entities engaged in the growth and sale of cannabis in those states and jurisdictions where cannabis has been legalized and properly regulated for medicinal and recreations use; and, (4) the expansion of its business into ancillary areas of the legalized cannabis and hemp industry, as the legalized markets and opportunities in this segment mature and develop. For more information, visit the company's website at www.MarijuanaCompanyofAmerica.com

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Chicago (ots/PRNewswire) -Not intended for US, Canada and UK-based media- Two-year follow-up data on meaningful durable response, overall survival (OS) and progression-free survival (PFS) to be presented in patients with metastatic Merkel cell carcinoma (mMCC), a rare and aggressive type of skin cancerMerck and Pfizer today announced that updated efficacy and safety data from the pivotal JAVELIN Merkel 200 trial of BAVENCIO (avelumab) in patients with metastatic Merkel cell carcinoma (mMCC), will be presented as an oral abstract session at the 54th American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) Annual Meeting on Monday, June 4 from 10:12-10:24 a.m. CDT in Chicago, IL. At this two year follow-up update of the pivotal study, BAVENCIO continues to demonstrate clinically meaningful durable responses and stable rates of progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS) from previous analyses in patients who responded to this treatment. Clinical activity was observed across all patient subgroups, irrespective of PD-L1 expression in tumor tissue or Merkel cell polyomavirus status. The safety profile for BAVENCIO in this trial has not changed with longer follow-up and remains consistent with that observed in the overall JAVELIN clinical development program."These efficacy and safety results build upon the data that supported our FDA approval," said Luciano Rossetti, M.D., Executive Vice President, Global Head of Research & Development at the Biopharma business of Merck. "Alongside our other data at ASCO, this two-year analysis is a significant advance in our understanding of the utility of BAVENCIO in MCC patients."In JAVELIN Merkel 200 - an open-label, single-arm Phase II study - patients with histologically confirmed mMCC whose disease had progressed on or after chemotherapy administrated for distant metastatic disease received BAVENCIO 10 mg/kg intravenously every two weeks until disease progression or unacceptable toxicity. Eighty-eight patients were followed for a median of 29.2 months (range 24.8-38.1 months). The confirmed overall response rate (ORR) of 33% (95% confidence interval [CI] 23.3-43.8; complete response in 11.4%) remained unchanged from previous analyses reported at both one year and 18 months. Responses remained ongoing in 19 of 29 patients who responded to treatment, including 12 patients whose duration of response exceeded two years. Durable responses led to stable rates of PFS (29% at 12 months, 29% at 18 months and 26% at 24 months). Median OS was 12.6 months (95% CI 7.5-17.1) and the two-year OS rate was 36% (50% at 12 months and 39% at 18 months). With a minimum follow-up of two years, no new safety signals were identified for BAVENCIO and was consistent with prior reports. Sixty-seven patients (76.1%) had a treatment related adverse event (TRAE), 10 patients (11.4%) had a Grade 3 or less TRAE and 20 patients (22.7%) had an immune-related adverse event. No treatment-related deaths occurred."These results represent a key milestone for patients with mMCC, as chemotherapy has historically been the only treatment option for this devastating disease," said Chris Boshoff, M.D., Ph.D., Senior Vice President and Head of Immuno-Oncology, Early Development and Translational Oncology, Pfizer Global Product Development. "These data, alongside the additional real-world data which are also being presented at ASCO, strengthen our confidence in BAVENCIO as a treatment option for this rare and aggressive skin cancer."In addition to these updated JAVELIN Merkel 200 data, results from a global expanded access program for BAVENCIO as a second-line treatment for patients with mMCC will be presented. These data will be presented during a poster session on Monday, June 4 from1:15-4:45 p.m. CDT.The alliance's JAVELIN clinical development program involves at least 30 clinical programs, including seven Phase III trials, and nearly 8,300 patients across more than 15 tumor types.*BAVENCIO (avelumab) was first approved in the US in 2017 by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for the treatment of adults and pediatric patients 12 years and older with metastatic Merkel cell carcinoma (mMCC). In addition to the FDA accelerated approval in mMCC, avelumab is also approved in the US under accelerated approval for the treatment of patients with locally advanced or metastatic urothelial carcinoma (UC) who have disease progression during or following platinum-containing chemotherapy, or who have disease progression within 12 months of neoadjuvant or adjuvant treatment with platinum-containing chemotherapy. These indications are approved under accelerated approval based on tumor response rate and duration of response. Continued approval for these indications may be contingent upon verification and description of clinical benefit in confirmatory trials.About JAVELIN Merkel 200JAVELIN Merkel 200 is an international, multicenter, open-label, single-arm Phase II study of BAVENCIO conducted in 88 patients with metastatic MCC. Patients in this study were generally elderly (median age was 72.5 years, range 33-88 years) and pre-treated, with at least one line of chemotherapy (one [59.1%], two [29.5%] or three or more [11.4%] previous treatments). Patients received BAVENCIO 10 mg/kg intravenously once every two weeks. The protocol-defined analysis set for efficacy and safety consisted of all patients who received at least one dose of study treatment. The cut-off date for the planned primary analysis was six months after start of study treatment of the last patient. The primary endpoint of the study was confirmed best overall response according to RECIST v1.1 and assessed by an independent review committee. Secondary endpoints were duration of response, PFS, OS, response status by RECIST at six and 12 months, safety and tolerability, pharmacokinetics, and immunogenicity of BAVENCIO.About AvelumabAvelumab is a human anti-programmed death ligand-1 (PD-L1) antibody. Avelumab has been shown in preclinical models to engage both the adaptive and innate immune functions. By blocking the interaction of PD-L1 with PD-1 receptors, avelumab has been shown to release the suppression of the T cell-mediated antitumor immune response in preclinical models.[2]-[4] Avelumab has also been shown to induce NK cell-mediated direct tumor cell lysis via antibody-dependent cell-mediated cytotoxicity (ADCC) in vitro.[4]-[6] In November 2014, Merck and Pfizer announced a strategic alliance to co-develop and co-commercialize avelumab.Approved Indications in the USThe FDA granted accelerated approval for avelumab (BAVENCIO) for the treatment of (i) adults and pediatric patients 12 years and older with metastatic Merkel cell carcinoma (mMCC) and (ii) patients with locally advanced or metastatic urothelial carcinoma (mUC) who have disease progression during or following platinum-containing chemotherapy, or have disease progression within 12 months of neoadjuvant or adjuvant treatment with platinum-containing chemotherapy. These indications are approved under accelerated approval based on tumor response rate and duration of response. Continued approval for these indications may be contingent upon verification and description of clinical benefit in confirmatory trials.Important Safety Information from the US FDA Approval LabelThe warnings and precautions for BAVENCIO include immune-mediated adverse reactions (such as pneumonitis, hepatitis, colitis, endocrinopathies, nephritis and renal dysfunction, and other adverse reactions), infusion-related reactions and embryo-fetal toxicity.Common adverse reactions (reported in at least 20% of patients) in patients treated with BAVENCIO for mMCC and patients with locally advanced or mUC include fatigue, musculoskeletal pain, diarrhea, nausea, infusion-related reaction, peripheral edema, decreased appetite/hypophagia, urinary tract infection and rash.About the Merck-Pfizer AllianceImmuno-oncology is a top priority for Merck and Pfizer. The global strategic alliance between Merck and Pfizer enables the companies to benefit from each other's strengths and capabilities and further explore the therapeutic potential of avelumab, an anti-PD-L1 antibody initially discovered and developed by Merck. The immuno-oncology alliance is jointly developing and commercializing avelumab and advancing Pfizer's PD-1 antibody. The alliance is focused on developing high-priority international clinical programs to investigate avelumab as a monotherapy as well as in combination regimens, and is striving to find new ways to treat cancer.All Merck Press Releases are distributed by e-mail at the same time they become available on the Merck Website. Please go to http://www.merckgroup.com/subscribe to register online, change your selection or discontinue this service.About MerckMerck is a leading science and technology company in healthcare, life science and performance materials. Almost 53,000 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 2017, Merck generated sales of EUR 15.3 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, Darmstadt, Germany holds the global rights to the "Merck" name and brand except in the United States and Canada, where the company operates as EMD Serono, MilliporeSigma and EMD Performance Materials.Pfizer Inc.: Working together for a healthier worldAt Pfizer, we apply science and our global resources to bring therapies to people that extend and significantly improve their lives. We strive to set the standard for quality, safety and value in the discovery, development and manufacture of health care products. Our global portfolio includes medicines and vaccines as well as many of the world's best-known consumer health care products. Every day, Pfizer colleagues work across developed and emerging markets to advance wellness, prevention, treatments and cures that challenge the most feared diseases of our time. Consistent with our responsibility as one of the world's premier innovative biopharmaceutical companies, we collaborate with health care providers, governments and local communities to support and expand access to reliable, affordable health care around the world. For more than 150 years, we have worked to make a difference for all who rely on us. We routinely post information that may be important to investors on our website at http://www.pfizer.com. In addition, to learn more, please visit us at http://www.pfizer.com and follow us on Twitter at @Pfizer (http://cts .businesswire.com/ct/CT?id=smartlink&url=https%3A%2F%2Ftwitter.com%2F pfizer&esheet=51356409&newsitemid=20160606005771&lan=en-US&anchor=%40 Pfizer&index=4&md5=e87fe5c6856741051dc884b6867e3ffa) and @Pfizer_News (http://cts.businesswire.com/ct/CT?id=smartlink&url=https%3A%2F%2Ftwi tter.com%2Fpfizer_news&esheet=51356409&newsitemid=20160606005771&lan= en-US&anchor=%40Pfizer_News&index=5&md5=cf5e63756f6ab5c12fc077e5e9006 8e3), LinkedIn (https://www.linkedin.com/company/pfizer) YouTube and like us on Facebook at Facebook.com/Pfizer (http://cts.businesswire.c om/ct/CT?id=smartlink&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2FPfizer&esh eet=51356409&newsitemid=20160606005771&lan=en-US&anchor=Facebook.com% 2FPfizer&index=7&md5=288d5bd99c7df784e0916061c5cfd713).Pfizer Disclosure NoticeThe information contained in this release is as of June 4, 2018. Pfizer assumes no obligation to update forward-looking statements contained in this release as the result of new information or future events or developments.This release contains forward-looking information about avelumab, the Merck-Pfizer Alliance involving anti-PD-L1 and anti-PD-1 therapies, and clinical development plans, including their potential benefits, that involves substantial risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such statements. Risks and uncertainties include, among other things, uncertainties regarding the commercial success of avelumab; the uncertainties inherent in research and development, including the ability to meet anticipated clinical study commencement and completion dates and regulatory submission dates, as well as the possibility of unfavorable study results, including unfavorable new clinical data and additional analyses of existing clinical data; risks associated with interim data; the risk that clinical trial data are subject to differing interpretations, and, even when we view data as sufficient to support the safety and/or effectiveness of a product candidate, regulatory authorities may not share our views and may require additional data or may deny approval altogether; whether regulatory authorities will be satisfied with the design of and results from our clinical studies; whether and when any drug applications may be filed in any jurisdictions for potential indications for avelumab, combination therapies or other product candidates; whether and when regulatory authorities in any jurisdictions where applications are pending or may be submitted for avelumab, combination therapies or other product candidates may approve any such applications, which will depend on the assessment by such regulatory authorities of the benefit-risk profile suggested by the totality of the efficacy and safety information submitted; decisions by regulatory authorities regarding labeling and other matters that could affect the availability or commercial potential of avelumab, combination therapies or other product candidates; and competitive developments.A further description of risks and uncertainties can be found in Pfizer's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2016, and in its subsequent reports on Form 10-Q, including in the sections thereof captioned "Risk Factors" and "Forward-Looking Information and Factors That May Affect Future Results", as well as in its subsequent reports on Form 8-K, all of which are filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission and available at http://www.sec.gov and http://www.pfizer.com.References1. Nghiem P. Two-year efficacy and safety update from JAVELIN Merkel 200 part A: a phase 2 study of avelumab in metastatic Merkel cell carcinoma progressed on chemotherapy. Abstract 9507. To be presented at ASCO 2018, June 1-4, 2018. Chicago, IL. 2. Dolan DE, Gupta S. PD-1 pathway inhibitors: changing the landscape of cancer immunotherapy. Cancer Control 2014;21(3):231-7. 3. Dahan R, Sega E, Engelhardt J, et al. Fc?Rs modulate the anti-tumor activity of antibodies targeting the PD-1/PD-L1 axis. Cancer Cell 2015;28(3):285-95. 4. Boyerinas B, Jochems C, Fantini M, et al. Antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity activity of a novel anti-PD-L1 antibody avelumab (MSB0010718C) on human tumor cells. Cancer Immunol Res 2015;3(10):1148-57. 5. Kohrt HE, Houot R, Marabelle A, et al. Combination strategies to enhance antitumor ADCC. Immunotherapy 2012;4(5):511-27. 6. Hamilton G, Rath B. Avelumab: combining immune checkpoint inhibition and antibody-dependent cytotoxicity. Expert Opin Biol Ther 2017;17(4):515-23.ContactsMerckMediaFriederike Segeberg+49-6151-72-6328Investor Relations+49-6151-72-3321PfizerMedia (US)Jessica Smith+1-212-733-6213Investor RelationsRyan Crowe+1-212-733-8160(Logo: http://mma.prnewswire.com/media/611425/Merck_Pfizer_Logo.jpg )ots Originaltext: Merck KGaA Im Internet recherchierbar: http://www.presseportal.de
Mundipharma brings its cancer supportive care expertise to Vietnam after signing agreement with Helsinn Group for ALOXI

(palonosetron HCl)

Mundipharma and Helsinn Group expand exclusive licensing and distribution agreement for anti-emetic medicine ALOXI

This agreement builds on similar existing arrangements in a range of territories.

SINGAPORE and LUGANO, August 15, 2018: Mundipharma and Helsinn Group signed a licensing and distribution agreement for the anti-emetic agent ALOXI

in Vietnam, extending an international collaboration.

ALOXI.

Chemotherapy-Induced Nausea and Vomiting (CINV) is one of the most common and distressing side effects of cancer chemotherapy. Mundipharma and Helsinn are experts in the CINV field with decades of shared experience and are currently providing medicine to CINV sufferers.

Mundipharma CEO, Raman Singh said, "This important extension of our portfolio in Vietnam offers relief to patients suffering from the side effects of chemotherapy and enables patients and healthcare providers to benefit from our expertise in this area."

Riccardo Braglia, Helsinn Group Vice Chairman and CEO, commented: "Helsinn and Mundipharma have an effective, longstanding partnership and Mundipharma successfully markets, promotes and distributes a number of our products across a range of territories.

We're delighted to be able to extend this relationship through this agreement."

ENDS

About the Helsinn Group

Helsinn is a privately owned pharmaceutical group with an extensive portfolio of marketed cancer care products and a robust drug development pipeline. Since 1976, Helsinn has been improving the everyday lives of patients, guided by core family values of respect, integrity and quality. The Group works across pharmaceuticals, biotechnology, medical devices and nutritional supplements and has expertise in research, development, manufacture and the commercialization of therapeutic and supportive care products for cancer, pain and inflammation and gastroenterology. In 2016, Helsinn created the Helsinn Investment Fund to support early-stage investment opportunities in areas of unmet patient need. The company is headquartered in Lugano, Switzerland, with operating subsidiaries in Switzerland, Ireland, the U.S., Monaco, and China, as well as a product presence in approximately 190 countries globally.

For more information, please visit www.helsinn.com

About Mundipharma

Mundipharma is a network of independent associated companies, which are privately owned entities, covering pharmaceutical markets in Asia-Pacific, Latin America, the Middle East and Africa. The headquarters for these territories is in Singapore. Mundipharma consistently delivers high-quality medicines while standing by the values it represents. Its mission is to alleviate the suffering of patients and to substantially improve their quality of life. Mundipharma is dedicated to bringing to patients the benefit of novel treatment options in fields such as pain, oncology, oncology supportive care, ophthalmology, respiratory disease and consumer healthcare.

For further information, please contact:

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HONG KONG, CHINA / ACCESSWIRE / June 4, 2018 / "Technology Innovation makes Hong Kong a great city once more," Mrs. Carrie Lam, the Chief Executive of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, proposed at the Gala dinner of the first Hong Kong Nobel Heroes Day.

The Hong Kong Nobel Heroes Day and The New Financial Forum of Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macau Greater Bay Area was held successfully on April 7th. The event produced greater opportunities and cooperation platforms for economic development and technology innovation in Hong Kong, Macau and Mainland China.

As the organizer, Ausvic Capital Limited invited five Nobel Prize laureates, principal officials of HKSAR government, leaders from Hong Kong science and technology fields, well-known universities, bank executives, twenty business elites from corporates holding 500 billion assets, and one hundred elite entrepreneurs holding $100 billion in assets. Blockchain experts from all over the world came together for Hong Kong introduction of innovative talents in science and technology, and talking about the future of Blockchain development.

Series of activities arranged in the Hong Kong Nobel Heroes Day

The Morning "Nobel Heroes and Youth Summit" was organized by Hong Kong United Youth Association (HKUYA). Dr. Aaron J. Ciechanover, 2004 Nobel Prize Laureate in Chemistry; Sir Tim Hunt, 2001 Nobel Prize in Medicine or Physiology; and six other Guests engaged in a dialogue with Hong Kong youth on the topics: The Interrelationship of China and The World, Developing Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macau Greater Bay Area, Hong Kong Youth Dance with National Development. The Summit aims at exploring China's future development, meanwhile commemorating China Reform and Opening-up for 40 years.

The New Financial Forum of Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macau Greater Bay Area was organized at the afternoon by Ausvic Capital Limited. In the New Financial Forum, Finn E. Kydland, the winner of the 2004 Nobel Economics Prize, gave an opening keynote speech. In the speech, Finn E. Kydland pointed out that Chinese entrepreneurs needed a more opening environment to better fulfill their business ideas, and that such changes was going. As an important financial center in the world, Hong Kong's unique geographical advantages and development stage could accelerate the development of financial technology better.

Roger Ver, known as "Bitcoin Jesus," emphasized in his speech that people tend to get entangled in decentralization and ignore practical issues. Due to the disadvantages of low transaction rates, high transaction fees, and limited computing power, Bitcoin's practicality is declining. On the other hand, Bitcoin cash is more widely accepted by enterprises because of its low transaction fee and fast transaction speed, becoming a truly "digital currency." We should see the advantages of Bitcoin cash, and jointly create a strong, trusted network for Bitcoin cash.

Dr. Hu Zhanghong, chairman and president of CCB International, stressed that the success of the blockchain is not based on speculation. It is necessary to focus on the underlying development, embrace supervision, and be more open and transparent.

Founder of Ausvic Capital Limited, Mr. Chen Ping pointed out in his speech that the future world is a smart world. Technologies such as blockchain, Internet of Things, and artificial intelligence would build a new generation of internet-based value. Blockchain technology would promote efficiency and reduce the cost of enterprises. Mr. Chen was very optimistic on the development of blockchain technology.

Mr. Zhang Junyong, Member of National People's Congress of Hong Kong District and the Chairman of Hong Kong Blockchain Association, expressed that under the promotion of the construction of The Belt and Road and the Greater Bay Area Strategy, he hoped that Hong Kong would formulate a global standard for blockchain technology. Hong Kong's comprehensive cooperation with Nobel laureates and global high-level talents would attract more innovators and lead the innovation in blockchain.

During the Forum, representatives from all fields delivered speeches and participated in discussions, including Zaki Manian, founder of Skuchain; Tom Ding, founder of String Labs; Mr. Lin Tengjun, representative of the National People's Congress and chairman of the Board of Directors of Sunshine Holdings; Mr. Li Shan, member of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference of the Hong Kong SAR and CEO of Silk Road Finance; Prof. Dawn Song from the University of Berkeley; Prof. Xiao Geng, from the University of Hong Kong; and Prof. Zhang Junsen from the Chinese University of Hong Kong; Jack Liu, president of Circle Asia; Jolin Li and Brent Xu; the responsible persons from Consensys Asia; Will Martino, founder of Kadena, and its chief engineer Monica Quaintance; Lin Xiahong, founder of Bodhi; Trent McConaghy, founder of Ocean Protocol; and Alex Xu, operation director of 0x. They discussed and shared ideas in detail regarding topics such as the underlying technology of the blockchain, application scenarios, regulation policy, and future investment opportunities.

The Establishment of Blockchain Future Leaders Fund

In the New Financial Forum inspiring move, the Blockchain Future Leaders Fund announced its establishment, initiated by Mr. Chen Ping, founder of Ausvic Capital Limited. The founders and Executives of Council included Roger Ver, Jeremy Allaire, Tom Ding, Zaki Manian, and Amino Capital from Silicon Valley.

Blockchain Future Leaders Fund upholds the core ideals of fairness, impartiality, and objectivity. It aims to reward these outstanding talents who have made significant contributions to the development of the blockchain industry. Each year, it will recognize heroes from all over the world, screening blockchain future leaders and awarding the winners with cryptocurrency. Blockchain Future Leaders Fund will establish a blockchain research center with one or two world-renowned universities and publish a high-standard blockchain industry report at the annual conference.

In 2018, three winners were finally selected by Blockchain Future Leaders Fund. Each of the following winners was awarded 20 Bitcoin cash: 1. Paul Sztorc, founder of Hivemind and Drivechain; 2. Will Warren, co-founder and CEO of OX; and 3. Sean Bowe, Zcash engineer. Blockchain Future Leaders Fund honored the three winners and encouraged them to make new contributions to the blockchain industry.

We learned that the selection plan of 2019 Blockchain Future Leaders Project is still under preparation. It is expected that global selections and roadshows will be launched in January next year. The main countries and cities in consideration include Hong Kong, China; Tokyo, Japan; San Francisco, CA; Munich, Germany; and more. Blockchain Future Leader nominated awards will consist of: 1. Cryptography, Architecture, and Distributed Technology Awards; 2. Blockchain Consensus Mechanism & Economic System Design Award; and 3. Blockchain Application and Community Collaboration Awards.

Blockchain Future Leader Fund adopted an internal recommendation system for adding new members of the board. The accession of new members requires unanimous consent from all the existing members. The first award fund is donated by the members of the board. It will receive donations in the future, and the Fund's operations will be operated by the earnings obtained from the investment of the donations. The Fund plans to carry out a global screening every year. The Fund appoints one or more world-class famous scientific research institutions or universities to undertake the job of nominating and selecting potential award recipients, referring to the selection mechanism of the Nobel Prize. The result of the selection would be finalized by the Standing Council of the Fund. During the selection conference, a closed door meeting of the members of council will be held to review the Fund's annual work, future developing direction of the industry, and decision-making on critical issues.

In 2018, the Blockchain Future Leader selection board conducted a fierce discussion on the award setting, award category, number of winners, and reward methods for nearly seven hours. After continuous communications, debates, and trade-offs, 11 candidates were listed, three of which were finally selected by vote.

"Nobel Heroes DayHong Kong Summit Dinner" was organized by Hong Kong Society of Economists and Lindau Nobel Prize Winners Conference, co-organized by Hua Jing Society and Ausvic Capital Limited. At the Gala Dinner, we were very honored to have invited Mrs. Carrie Lam, the Chief Executive of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, and representatives of senior political officials to participate in our event. In addition, we also invited five Nobel Laureates, and they were Dr. Aaron J. Ciechanover, 2004 Nobel Prize Laureate in Chemistry; Dr. Finn E. Kydland, 2004 Nobel Prize Laureate in Economics; Sir James Mirrlees, 1996 Nobel Prize Laureate in Economics; Sir Tim Hunt, 2001 Nobel Prize in Medicine or Physiology; Jose Manuel Ramos- Horta, 1996 Nobel Peace Prize winner and former President of East Timor. During the dinner, Mrs. Carrie Lam gave a warmly welcomed speech. And Nobel Laureates engaged in two key topics: When Dragon Meets Heroes: East-Meets-West on Innovation Discussion; Unleash Your Superpower: Be the Next World Changer. The Gala Dinner ended in a happy and relaxed atmosphere.

As the organizer of the event, Mr. Chen Ping, founder of Ausvic Capital Limited and the initiator of the Blockchain Future Leaders Fund, expressed in an interview with reporters that the purpose of this event was to attract more entrepreneurs to understand more about blockchain and hoped that blockchain technology could save costs and improve efficiency for enterprises. He hoped that leaders from all fields would be more competitive in the world arena through the application of blockchain technology. This was a grand event for corporate and blockchain experts. It was a completely novel blockchain technology conference which aimed to help those in business. This event was successfully held, and Mr. Chen hopes to hold the event annually in Hong Kong. He hopes that the "Hong Kong Nobel Heroes Day" would become another landmark event in China following the Wuzhen Internet Conference and the Boao Forum for Asia.

Mr. Chen Ping expected further the "Hong Kong Nobel Heroes Day Forum" to become a long-term cooperation platform for Nobel laureates in Hong Kong and to provide a better platform for economic development and technological innovation in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region and China. Mr. Chen also hoped that the Blockchain Future Leader Fund would serve the development of a better global economy, serve the world's peace, and promote the evolution of blockchain technology. He believed that in three years or so, the Blockchain Future Leader Fund would become an influencer and voice of authority in the global blockchain industry.

SOURCE: Blockchain Future Leaders Fund
The FTSE 250 remained in the green on Monday afternoon, as global trade concerns were shrugged off and European markets surged as political worries around Italy and Spain appeared to ebb. Stobart Group was among the leading risers amid reports of intensifying boardroom conflict, with the firm's ex-chief executive accusing the other directors of defaming him. Andrew Tinkler said last month that he would be voting against the reappointment of chairman Iain Ferguson at the AGM later in June - a ...

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.


ATLANTA (dpa-AFX) - Delta Air Lines Inc. (DAL) said it is investigating the death of a pet dog that died during a layover at Detroit. The dog was traveling from Phoenix to Newark via Detroit.



The eight-year-old Pomeranian, Alejandro, was found dead Wednesday morning in its carrier in a cargo facility at the Detroit Metropolitan Airport.



'Delta is conducting a thorough review of the situation and have been working directly with Alejandro's family to support them however we can. As part of that review, we want to find out more about why this may have occurred to ensure it doesn't happen again and we have offered to have Alejandro evaluated by a veterinarian to learn more,' Delta said in a statement.



The Deliagrazie family, owner of Alejandro, is being represented by attorney Evan Oshan.



Oshan has also represented the family of Kokito, the French bulldog that died earlier this year after a United Airlines flight attendant forced the animal to travel in an overhead bin on a three-hour flight from Houston to New York.



Alejandro is the latest dog to die or be lost in a cross-country flight this year. At least four dog deaths have occurred while in the care of U.S. airlines this year.



In March, United Airlines said it was suspending its Petsafe program with immediate effect. PetSafe is United Airlines' specially designed program for transporting animals that are not eligible to travel in the aircraft cabin.



More recently, United Airlines made several changes to its pet travel policy in May and placed restrictions on dozens of dog and cat breeds from its cargo hold.



According to data provided by the U.S. Department of Transportation, 506,994 pets were transported by U.S. airlines in 2017. Of this, 24 pets died, while 15 were injured and one pet was lost. 18 of these deaths were reported by United Airlines, while two deaths were reported by Delta.



Copyright RTT News/dpa-AFX

Kostenloser Wertpapierhandel auf Smartbroker.de
4 June 2018

Indigo Holdings plc

("Indigo" or the "Company")

Withdrawal from NEX Exchange Growth Market

Indigo Holdings plc (NEX: INGO), the Middle East focused Investment Company that provides investors with exposure to early stage businesses, announces that it has today submitted a request to the NEX Exchange Growth Market ("NEX"), that its ordinary shares be withdrawn from trading on NEX, with such withdrawal to take effect as of market close on 3 July 2018 ("Withdrawal").

The Company notes that under the NEX Exchange Growth Market - Rules for Issuers, if irrevocable undertakings representing 75 per cent or more of the voting rights to approve a resolution proposing the Withdrawal, NEX may grant a derogation from the requirement to approve a resolution at a general meeting.

The Company has received irrevocable undertakings of approximately 76% per cent of shareholders eligible to vote at a general meeting, that they would vote in favour of any resolution to approve the Withdrawal.

The shareholders who have given these undertakings are as follows:

Shareholder Number of ordinary shares % of Issued Share Capital Turquoise Group 13,333,333 32.13% Ramin Rabii 4,540,226 10.94% Rouzbeh Pirouz 1,330,898 3.21% Celeste Investment Capital 8,308,233 20.02% Sarem Kerman 661,180 1.53% Nicholas Harwood 350,724 0.81% Radman Rabii 2,195,336 5.29% Jhubin Alaghband 603,326 1.39% Kamran Adle 136,910 0.32% Sanam Mahoozi 221,468 0.51%

Effect of the Withdrawal on Shareholders

The principal effect of the Withdrawal is anticipated to be a reduction in the liquidity and marketability of the Ordinary Shares. There would no longer be a formal market mechanism enabling shareholders to trade their ordinary shares on NEX or any other recognised market or trading exchange.

No dealing and settlement arrangements will be in place following the withdrawal from NEX.

Following the Withdrawal, the Company will no longer be required to comply with any of the specific corporate governance requirements for companies admitted to trading on NEX. In addition, Peterhouse Capital Limited will cease to be the Company's NEX Corporate Adviser and the NEX Exchange Growth Market - Rules for Issuers will no longer apply to the Company. The Company will, however, remain subject to the City Code on Takeovers and Mergers.

The Directors of the Company accept responsibility for the content of this announcement.

For further information please contact:
Pexa-Vec selectively targets tumor tissue after intravenous (i. v.) administration and stimulates the adaptive and innate anti-tumor immune response

Pexa-Vec induces expression of PD-L1 and PD-1 pathways reinforcing the rationale for combination with immune checkpoint inhibitors

Of the four evaluable patients with liver metastases, one showed complete tumor pathological response at the time of surgery

Data support ongoing development of Transgene's Vaccinia virus-based oncolytics (Pexa-Vec, TG6002 drug candidates and Invir.IOTM preclinical candidates)

Regulatory News:

Transgene (Paris:TNG), a biotech company that designs and develops virus-based immunotherapies against cancers and infectious diseases, and University of Leeds, announce that new clinical data1 obtained with Pexa-Vec further demonstrate anti-tumor activity after intravenous (i. v.) infusion. These data were presented by Dr. Alan Anthoney (University of Leeds) in a poster presentation at the American Society for Clinical Oncology (ASCO) Annual Meeting, June 4, in Chicago.

These first clinical results confirm Pexa-Vec's activation of anti-tumor immunity and targeted oncolytic activity. The key findings of the trial show:

selective expression and replication of Pexa-Vec in the tumor tissues

induction of a robust anti-tumor immune response : with the stimulation of an adaptive response (T cells) targeted to tumor specific antigens, the activation of innate immune response (NK cells), and an elevation of cytokines associated with immune stimulation;

: one partial and one complete necrosis of tumors among the patients with colorectal cancer and liver metastases (pathological responses);

among the patients with colorectal cancer and liver metastases (pathological responses); upregulation of PD-L1 and PD-1 signaling molecules, a finding that strongly supports the rationale for combining Pexa-Vec with anti-PD-1 inhibitors.

Dr Alan Anthoney, Consultant in Medical Oncology at Leeds Teaching Hospitals, Senior Lecturer in the Institute of Cancer Pathology at the University of Leeds and principal investigator of the trial, said: "We are very encouraged to report that a single IV administration of Pexa-Vec displayed cytolytic activity at tumor sites, where it elicited a robust activation of tumor-antigen specific immune cells. In one patient with colorectal cancer liver metastasis a complete pathological response has been observed. These data clearly support the anti-tumor activity of Pexa-Vec. The final data from this trial will be published in an upcoming paper. Our decision to lead this clinical trial, investigating the potential of new weapons against cancers, testifies to our commitment at Leeds University and Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust to evaluate new innovative options that might improve the lives of our patients with cancer."

Maud Brandely, Chief Medical Officer of Transgene, added: "These very positive translational data confirm the targeted oncolytic activity and the potential of Pexa-Vec in advanced stages cancers. The observed upregulation of PD-1 and PD-L1 positive pathways strongly supports the rationale for combining Pexa-Vec with anti-PD-1 immunotherapies, which is the focus of an ongoing Phase 1/2 trial in the first-line treatment of liver cancer (HCC). These data are also crucial for our next generation of multifunctional oncolytic viruses based on our Invir.IOTM platform: this trial clearly shows that Vaccinia virus based immunotherapeutics can reach the tumor sites after i. v. administration, and selectively replicate within cancer cells. This neoadjuvant trial is the first clinical trial led by Transgene to readout this year. We look forward to announcing additional clinical results this year, not only with Pexa-Vec, but also on our four other clinical-stage immunotherapeutics.

About the Pexa-Vec "neo-adjuvant" trial:

This clinical study is aimed at evaluating the biological effects of pre-operative intravenous administration of Pexa-Vec prior to planned surgical resection of locally advanced/poor prognosis or metastatic cancers. This single center, open label, non-randomized trial recruited 9 patients including 8 evaluable patients (3 with metastatic melanoma and 5 with colorectal cancer metastases to the liver). They received a single intravenous dose of 1x109 pfu of Pexa-Vec, 14 days prior to planned surgery. Up to 6 blood samples were collected pre- and post- injection for each patient. Imaging was performed prior at baseline and within 7 days prior to surgery. Tumor tissue was collected at surgery for histologic and translational assessments.

University of Leeds is the sponsor of the trial that was supported by Transgene and run through the NIHR Clinical Research Facility at St James' Hospital, Leeds.

The poster is available on Transgene's website.

End

Notes to editors

About Pexa-Vec

Pexa-Vec (JX594) is an oncolytic immunotherapeutic based on an oncolytic vaccinia virus armed with a GM-CSF gene that promotes an anti-tumor immune response. Pexa-Vec is designed to selectively target and destroy cancer cells through three different mechanisms of action: selectively destroy cancer cells through the direct lysis (breakdown) of cancer cells through viral replication, reduce the blood supply to tumors through vascular disruption, and stimulate the body's immune response against cancer cells.

Pexa-Vec is currently being evaluated in a Phase 3 trial in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC, liver cancer) in combination with sorafenib (current standard of care). Other trials evaluating the oncolytic virus in solid tumors are underway and expected to readout in 2018, including a Phase 2 trial in combination with nivolumab (HCC).

Transgene has exclusive rights to develop and commercialize Pexa-Vec for the treatment of solid tumors in Europe. Its partner SillaJen, Inc. is focused on developing Pexa-Vec for the North American market and has also granted exclusive development and commercial rights to Pexa-Vec in Hong Kong and The People's Republic of China to Lee's Pharmaceutical.

About University of Leeds

The University of Leeds is one of the largest higher education institutions in the UK, with more than 33,000 students from more than 150 different countries, and a member of the Russell Group of research-intensive universities.

We are a top ten university for research and impact power in the UK, according to the 2014 Research Excellence Framework, and are in the top 100 for academic reputation in the QS World University Rankings 2018. Additionally, the University was awarded a Gold rating by the Government's Teaching Excellence Framework in 2017, recognising its 'consistently outstanding' teaching and learning provision. Twenty-six of our academics have been awarded National Teaching Fellowships more than any other institution in England, Northern Ireland and Wales reflecting the excellence of our teaching. www.leeds.ac.uk

Follow University of Leeds or tag us in to coverage

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About Transgene

Transgene (Euronext: TNG), part of Institut Merieux, is a publicly traded French biotechnology company focused on designing and developing targeted immunotherapies for the treatment of cancer and infectious diseases. Transgene's programs utilize viral vector technology with the goal of indirectly or directly killing infected or cancerous cells. The Company's lead clinical-stage programs are: TG4010, a therapeutic vaccine against non-small cell lung cancer, Pexa-Vec, an oncolytic virus against liver cancer, and TG4001, a therapeutic vaccine against HPV-positive head and neck cancers. The Company has several other programs in clinical development, including TG1050 (chronic hepatitis B) and TG6002 (solid tumors).

With its proprietary Invir.IOTM, Transgene builds on its expertise in viral vectors engineering to design a new generation of multifunctional oncolytic viruses.

Transgene is based in Strasbourg, France, and has additional operations in Lyon, as well as a joint venture in China. Additional information about Transgene is available at www.transgene.fr

Follow us on Twitter: @TransgeneSA

Disclaimer

This press release contains forward-looking statements, which are subject to numerous risks and uncertainties, which could cause actual results to differ materially from those anticipated. There can be no guarantee that (i) the results of pre-clinical work and prior clinical trials will be predictive of the results of the clinical trials currently underway, (ii) regulatory authorities will agree with the Company's further development plans for its therapies, or (iii) the Company will find development and commercialization partners for its therapies in a timely manner and on satisfactory terms and conditions, if at all. The occurrence of any of these risks could have a significant negative outcome for the Company's activities, perspectives, financial situation, results and development.

For a discussion of risks and uncertainties which could cause the Company's actual results, financial condition, performance or achievements to differ from those contained in the forward-looking statements, please refer to the Risk Factors ("Facteurs de Risques") section of the Document de Reference, available on the AMF website (http://www.amf-france.org) or on Transgene's website (www.transgene.fr). Forward-looking statements speak only as of the date on which they are made, and Transgene undertakes no obligation to update these forward-looking statements, even if new information becomes available in the future.

1 n 8; 3 patients with metastatic melanoma and 5 with colorectal cancer metastases to the liver

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20180604005904/en/

Contacts:

Transgene:

Lucie Larguier, +33 (0)3 88 27 91 04

Director Corporate Communications IR

investorrelations@transgene.fr

or

University of Leeds

+44 113 343 4031

pressoffice@leeds.ac.uk

or

Media contacts:

Citigate Dewe Rogerson

David Dible/Marine Perrier, 44 (0)20 7638 9571

transgene@citigatedewerogerson.com
ROYAL DUTCH SHELL PLC FIRST QUARTER 2018 EURO AND GBP EQUIVALENT DIVIDEND PAYMENTS

The Hague, June 4, 2018 - The Board of Royal Dutch Shell plc ("RDS") today announced the pounds sterling and euro equivalent dividend payments in respect of the first quarter 2018 interim dividend, which was announced on April 26, 2018 at US$0.47 per A ordinary share ("A Share") and B ordinary share ("B Share").

Dividends on A Shares will be paid, by default, in euro at the rate of 0.4011 per A Share. Holders of A Shares who have validly submitted pounds sterling currency elections by May 25, 2018 will be entitled to a dividend of 35.18p per A Share.

Dividends on B Shares will be paid, by default, in pounds sterling at the rate of 35.18p per B Share. Holders of B Shares who have validly submitted euro currency elections by May 25, 2018 will be entitled to a dividend of 0.4011 per B Share.

This dividend will be payable on June 18, 2018 to those members whose names were on the Register of Members on May 11, 2018.

Taxation - cash dividend

Cash dividends on A Shares will be subject to the deduction of Dutch dividend withholding tax at the rate of 15%, which may be reduced in certain circumstances. Non-Dutch resident shareholders, depending on their particular circumstances, may be entitled to a full or partial refund of Dutch dividend withholding tax.

Furthermore, in April 2016, there were changes to the UK taxation of dividends. The dividend tax credit was abolished, and a tax free dividend allowance introduced, this was 5,000 for the 2016/17 and 2017/18 tax years and reduced to 2,000 for the 2018/19 tax year. Dividend income in excess of the allowance is taxable at the following rates: 7.5% within the basic rate band; 32.5% within the higher rate band; and 38.1% on dividend income taxable at the additional rate.

If you are uncertain as to the tax treatment of any dividends you should consult your own tax advisor.

Royal Dutch Shell plc

ENQUIRIES:

Investor Relations:

Europe + 31 (0) 70 377 4540

North America +1 832 337 2034

Media:

International +44 (0) 207 934 5550

Americas +1 832 337 4355

CAUTIONARY NOTE

The companies in which Royal Dutch Shell plc directly and indirectly owns investments are separate legal entities. In this announcement "Shell", "Shell group" and "Royal Dutch Shell" are sometimes used for convenience where references are made to Royal Dutch Shell plc and its subsidiaries in general. Likewise, the words "we", "us" and "our" are also used to refer to Royal Dutch Shell plc and its subsidiaries in general or to those who work for them. These terms are also used where no useful purpose is served by identifying the particular entity or entities. ''Subsidiaries'', "Shell subsidiaries" and "Shell companies" as used in this announcement refer to entities over which Royal Dutch Shell plc either directly or indirectly has control. Entities and unincorporated arrangements over which Shell has joint control are generally referred to as "joint ventures" and "joint operations", respectively. Entities over which Shell has significant influence but neither control nor joint control are referred to as "associates". The term "Shell interest" is used for convenience to indicate the direct and/or indirect ownership interest held by Shell in an entity or unincorporated joint arrangement, after exclusion of all third-party interest.

This announcement contains forward-looking statements (within the meaning of the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995) concerning the financial condition, results of operations and businesses of Royal Dutch Shell. All statements other than statements of historical fact are, or may be deemed to be, forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are statements of future expectations that are based on management's current expectations and assumptions and involve known and unknown risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results, performance or events to differ materially from those expressed or implied in these statements. Forward-looking statements include, among other things, statements concerning the potential exposure of Royal Dutch Shell to market risks and statements expressing management's expectations, beliefs, estimates, forecasts, projections and assumptions. These forward-looking statements are identified by their use of terms and phrases such as "aim", "ambition', ''anticipate'', ''believe'', ''could'', ''estimate'', ''expect'', ''goals'', ''intend'', ''may'', ''objectives'', ''outlook'', ''plan'', ''probably'', ''project'', ''risks'', "schedule", ''seek'', ''should'', ''target'', ''will'' and similar terms and phrases. There are a number of factors that could affect the future operations of Royal Dutch Shell and could cause those results to differ materially from those expressed in the forward-looking statements included in this announcement, including (without limitation): (a) price fluctuations in crude oil and natural gas; (b) changes in demand for Shell's products; (c) currency fluctuations; (d) drilling and production results; (e) reserves estimates; (f) loss of market share and industry competition; (g) environmental and physical risks; (h) risks associated with the identification of suitable potential acquisition properties and targets, and successful negotiation and completion of such transactions; (i) the risk of doing business in developing countries and countries subject to international sanctions; (j) legislative, fiscal and regulatory developments including regulatory measures addressing climate change; (k) economic and financial market conditions in various countries and regions; (l) political risks, including the risks of expropriation and renegotiation of the terms of contracts with governmental entities, delays or advancements in the approval of projects and delays in the reimbursement for shared costs; and (m) changes in trading conditions. No assurance is provided that future dividend payments will match or exceed previous dividend payments. All forward-looking statements contained in this announcement are expressly qualified in their entirety by the cautionary statements contained or referred to in this section. Readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. Additional risk factors that may affect future results are contained in Royal Dutch Shell's Form 20-F for the year ended December 31, 2017 (available at www.shell.com/investor and www.sec.gov ). These risk factors also expressly qualify all forward-looking statements contained in this announcement and should be considered by the reader. Each forward-looking statement speaks only as of the date of this announcement, June 4, 2018. Neither Royal Dutch Shell plc nor any of its subsidiaries undertake any obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statement as a result of new information, future events or other information. In light of these risks, results could differ materially from those stated, implied or inferred from the forward-looking statements contained in this announcement.

This announcement may contain references to Shell's website. These references are for the readers' convenience only. Shell is not incorporating by reference any information posted on www.shell.com.

We may have used certain terms, such as resources, in this announcement that the United States Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) strictly prohibits us from including in our filings with the SEC. U.S. Investors are urged to consider closely the disclosure in our Form 20-F, File No 1-32575, available on the SEC website www.sec.gov.

LEI number of Royal Dutch Shell plc: 21380068P1DRHMJ8KU70
Cracker is first project for the Total, Borealis and NOVA Chemicals joint venture

PORT ARTHUR, Texas, June 4, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Bayport Polymers LLC ("Bay-Pol"), a joint venture of Total S.A. ("Total") and Novealis Holdings LLC - a joint venture of Borealis AG ("Borealis") and NOVA Chemicals Inc. ("NOVA Chemicals") - held the official groundbreaking ceremony for the construction of a new ethane cracker at the Total Port Arthur Refinery.

The new $1.7-billion ethane cracker is the first project under construction by the recently-formed Bay-Pol joint venture.

The new 1 Mt/y ethane cracker is being built alongside Total's Port Arthur Refinery and the existing Total/BASF steam cracker and is expected to start up in 2020. About 1,500 jobs will be created during the peak engineering and construction activity, and, once fully operational, the cracker will require about 60 full-time jobs.

"This is an important milestone for our new company," said Diane Chamberlain, Bay-Pol President. "The power of partnership demonstrated here today firmly positions Bay-Pol to deliver innovative products and applications to new and existing customers, while reinforcing our position in an increasingly competitive polyethylene market."

The groundbreaking ceremony saw senior executives of the joint venture in attendance, including Bernard Pinatel, President, Refining & Chemicals, Total, Mark Garrett, CEO, Borealis, Todd Karran, CEO, NOVA Chemicals, alongside Diane Chamberlain and the Bay-Pol leadership team.

Speaking at the event, the three partners commented:

"We are excited to see the construction of our first project in the joint venture with Borealis and NOVA. This project is in perfect alignment with Total's strategy to expand in petrochemicals by leveraging our integrated platforms like Port Arthur and taking advantage of the abundance of ethane in the U.S. With our partners, we are ready to provide for the growing demand for superior products to the marketplace," said Bernard Pinatel, President, Refining & Chemicals, Total.

said Bernard Pinatel, President, Refining & Chemicals, Total. "We are excited to see this project come to fruition and officially break ground. The new ethane steam cracker is a key growth initiative for Borealis. Our partnership with Total and NOVA Chemicals will position us as a leader in the U.S. and allow us to deploy sophisticated technology with our partners," said Borealis Chief Executive Mark Garrett.

said Borealis Chief Executive Mark Garrett. "The ethane steam cracker is the first phase of our joint venture with Total and Borealis, which will help us gain additional access to the U.S. Gulf Coast. This project will allow us to better serve our customers throughout the Americas by delivering a broader slate of products that help make everyday life healthier, easier and safer," said Todd Karran, CEO, NOVA Chemicals.

About Bayport Polymers LLC ("Bay-Pol")

Bay-Pol is a joint venture 50% owned by Total and 50% owned by Novealis Holdings LLC, a joint venture between Borealis and NOVA Chemicals. The JV is the translation of the growth ambitions of each of the partners. It combines Total's existing Bayport, Texas, polyethylene 400 kt/y facility with the Borealis proprietary Borstar technology and NOVA Chemicals' deep customer and technical expertise in polyethylene to deliver a broad range of products to help meet the growing global demand for plastic products. It also includes the under-construction 1Mt/y ethane steam cracker in Port Arthur, Texas, and a new 625 kt/y Borstar polyethylene unit at the Bayport site subject to Final Investment Decision.

About Total

Total is a global integrated energy producer and provider, a leading international oil and gas company, a major player in low-carbon energies. Our 98,000 employees are committed to better energy that is safer, cleaner, more efficient, more innovative and accessible to as many people as possible. As a responsible corporate citizen, we focus on ensuring that our operations in more than 130 countries worldwide consistently deliver economic, social and environmental benefits. www.total.com

About NOVA Chemicals

NOVA Chemicals develops and manufactures chemicals and plastic resins that make everyday life safer, healthier and easier. Our employees work to ensure health, safety, security and environmental stewardship through our commitment to sustainability and Responsible Care. NOVA Chemicals, headquartered in Calgary, Alberta, Canada, is wholly-owned, ultimately by Mubadala Investment Company of the Emirate of Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. www.novachem.com

About Borealis

Borealis is a leading provider of innovative solutions in the fields of polyolefins, base chemicals and fertilizers. With its head office in Vienna, Austria, the company currently has around 6,600 employees and operates in over 120 countries. Borealis generated EUR 7.5 billion in sales revenue and a net profit of EUR 1,095 million in 2017. Mubadala, through its holding company, owns 64% of the company, with the remaining 36% belonging to Austria-based OMV, an integrated, international oil and gas company. Borealis provides services and products to customers around the world in collaboration with Borouge, a joint venture with the Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (ADNOC). www.borealisgroup.com

NOVA Chemicals' logo is a registered trademark of NOVA Brands Ltd.; authorized use. Responsible Care is a registered trademark of the Chemistry Industry Association of Canada. Borstar is a registered trademark of the Borealis Group.

Cautionary note

This press release, from which no legal consequences may be drawn, is for information purposes only. The entities in which TOTAL S.A. directly or indirectly owns investments are separate legal entities. TOTAL S.A. has no liability for their acts or omissions. In this document, the terms "Total" and "Total Group" are sometimes used for convenience where general references are made to TOTAL S.A. and/or its subsidiaries. Likewise, the words "we", "us" and "our" may also be used to refer to subsidiaries in general or to those who work for them.

This press release may contain forward-looking information and statements that are based on a number of economic data and assumptions made in a given economic, competitive and regulatory environment. They may prove to be inaccurate in the future and are subject to a number of risk factors. Neither TOTAL S.A., Borealis AG and NOVA Chemicals Corporation nor any of their respective subsidiaries assumes any obligation to update publicly any forward-looking information or statement, objectives or trends contained in this document whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

For further information please contact:

Total

Media Relations: Tricia Fuller, Communications Manager, Total American Services

Tricia.Fuller@Total.com

Investor Relations: Robert Hammond, Investor Relations Manager, Total American Services

ir.tx@Total.com

NOVA Chemicals

Media Relations: Jennifer Nanz, Corporate Communications Leader Jennifer.Nanz@Novachem.com

Investors Relations: Patty Masry, Financial Reporting & Investor Relations Manager

Patty.Masry@Novachem.com

Borealis

Media Relations: Patrick Laureys, Senior External Communications Manager

Patrick.Laureys@Borealisgroup.com

Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/700602/Total_Logo.jpg

Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/700604/Borealis_Logo.jpg

Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/700603/NOVA_Chemicals_Logo.jpg
Regulatory News:

After signature of the JCPOA1 on July 14th, 2015 and the lifting of international sanctions against Iran on January 16th, 2016, Groupe PSA (Paris:UG) signed joint venture agreements with Iran Khodro on June 21th, 2016 and Saipa on October 6th, 2016. The purpose of these JVs, which are fully compliant with UN resolutions and current US, European and French regulation, is to offer Iranian customers modern Peugeot and Citroen vehicles, designed to the highest level of safety, comfort and environmental protection.

Following the US withdrawal from the JCPOA announced on May 8th, 2018, the Group has begun to suspend its JVs activities, in order to comply with US law by August 6th, 2018. With the support of the French Government, the Groupe PSA is engaging with the US authorities to consider a waiver.

Groupe PSA is monitoring the regulatory context and is in contact with the authorities of the countries concerned, in order to remain compliant with all regulations.

As Groupe PSA's operations in Iran represent less than 1% of its turnover, this context does not alter the overall objectives of the Push to Pass plan, nor current financial guidance.

About Groupe PSA

Groupe PSA designs unique automotive experiences and delivers mobility solutions to meet all customer expectations. The Group has five car brands, PeugeotCitroenDSOpel and Vauxhall and provides a wide array of mobility and smart services under the Free2Move brand. Its 'Push to Pass' strategic plan represents a first step towards the achievement of the Group's vision to be "a global carmaker with cutting-edge efficiency and a leading mobility provider sustaining lifetime customer relationships". An early innovator in the field of autonomous and connected cars, Groupe PSA is also involved in financing activities through Banque PSA Finance and in automotive equipment via Faurecia. Find out more at groupe-psa.com/en.

Media library: medialibrary.groupe-psa.com @GroupePSA_EN

1 Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action signed in Vienna

Communications Division www.groupe-psa.com/en - +33 6 61 93 29 36- @GroupePSA

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20180604006034/en/

Contacts:

Media:

Groupe PSA

Karine Douet, +33 6 61 64 03 83

karine.douet@mpsa.com
Stocks extended the positive run from the end of last week on Monday, as global trade concerns were shrugged off as political worries around Italy and Spain appeared to ebb away. The FTSE 100 ended the session up 39.52 points or 0.51% at 7,741.29, helped as the pound fell 0.3% against the US dollar to 1.3311 and 0.5% on the euro at 1.1388. Sterling was lower despite reports that Downing Street plans to propose to Brussels a time-limited extension of the current tariff arrangement with the ...

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.
Burnaby, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - June 4, 2018) - Procon Holdings Inc. ("Procon" or the "Company"), is pleased to announce that it has closed a transaction with Promec Mining Contractor Inc. (to be renamed Procon Canada East Ltd./ Procon Est du Canada Ltee) ("PCE"), headquartered in the province of Quebec, and its shareholders, whereby Procon will become a 70% shareholder of PCE.

All shareholders of PCE and the sole shareholder of Procon fully support this transaction.

"Procon's acquisition of PCE provides the Procon Group with immediate access to the robust Quebec mining market, an experienced mining contracting team based in Val-d'Or, and a base of operations from which we will better serve our customers in Ontario and Eastern Canada. The addition of PCE firmly establishes the Procon Group as a pan-Canadian mining contractor and will provide a solid foundation for future growth into international markets," stated John McVey, CEO of the Procon Group.

"We are also announcing the appointment of John Caldbick as the President of PCE. John will be based in Val-d'Or, Quebec. We are very pleased to add an industry veteran like John to the Procon Group's senior leadership team. His significant mine development and contracting experience in Eastern Canada will serve us well as we grow our base of operations in Val-d'Or and beyond," Mr. McVey further commented.

"It's a pleasure to join the Procon Group team and to execute on the Company's vision for growth in Central and Eastern Canada," stated Mr. Caldbick.

Further details of the transaction are available on the Company's web site: www.procongroup.com.

For additional information please contact:

John Caldbick

President

PCE

1400 4th Avenue,

Val-d'Or, QC, Canada J9P 5Z9

Telephone: 819.824.2074

Natasha Faucher

Manager, Business Development

Procon Mining & Tunnelling Ltd.

108-4664 Lougheed Highway

Burnaby, BC, Canada V5C 5T5

Telephone: 604.296.3462

Forward Looking Statements:

This news release contains certain statements that may be deemed "forward-looking statements. Forward looking statements are statements that are not historical facts and are generally, but not always, identified by the words "expects", "plans", "anticipates", "believes", "intends", "estimates", "projects", "potential" and similar expressions, or that events or conditions "will", "would", "may", "could" or "should" occur. Although the Company believes the expectations expressed in such forward-looking statements are based on reasonable assumptions, such statements are not guarantees of future performance and actual results or realities may differ materially from those in forward looking statements. Forward looking statements are based on the beliefs, estimates and opinions of the Company's management on the date the statements are made. Except as required by law, the Company undertakes no obligation to update these forward-looking statements in the event that management's beliefs, estimates or opinions, or other factors, should change.
Ramji brings decades of payments and software leadership to position

CINCINNATI and LONDON, June 4, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Vantiv, now Worldpay, Inc. (NYSE: WP), a leading payments technology company, announced today that it has appointed Asif Ramji to the role of Chief Product Officer (CPO), effective today. He will report to Executive Chairman & Co-CEO Charles Drucker and become a member of the company's Executive Committee.

As CPO, Ramji will be responsible for the development of Worldpay's customer-centric and innovative product solutions and overall global product strategy. Ramji is currently president and CEO of Paymetric, which was acquired by Vantiv, now Worldpay, in 2017. As its president and CEO, he helped shape Paymetric into a global enterprise leader for secure cloud-based payments, specifically focused on B2B payments.

"Asif's software leadership and payments expertise will serve him well as Worldpay continues to drive payments innovation with customer-centric products," said Charles Drucker, executive chairman and co-CEO of Worldpay. "As Chief Product Officer, I am confident that Asif will help the new Worldpay forge the future of payments for our clients."

Prior to Paymetric, Ramji led several entrepreneurial businesses and led the product ideation, strategy and execution for numerous payment platform companies, including Ernex, a leading gift card and loyalty solution provider, which was acquired by Moneris Solutions.

"As the world's largest acquirer of credit and debit card transactions, Worldpay has a duty to our clients and partners to provide cutting-edge products," said Ramji. "Their success is paramount, and I am eager to work towards that challenge daily."

Ramji serves on many industry and community boards, including the Alliance Theater Board of Trustees, the Metro Atlanta Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors, Children's Healthcare of Atlanta's Foundation Board and the Atlanta Fintech Taskforce. Mr. Ramji was recently awarded the national 2017 Entrepreneur of the Year by Ernst & Young for Financial Services and has received multiple industry awards for value creation and operational excellence.

For more information on Worldpay, visit worldpay.com.

About Worldpay

Worldpay, Inc. (NYSE: WP; LSE: WPY) is a leading payments technology company with unique capability to power global integrated omni-commerce. With industry-leading scale and an unmatched integrated technology platform, Worldpay offers clients a comprehensive suite of products and services globally, delivered through a single provider.

Worldpay processes over 40 billion transactions annually through more than 300 payment types across 146 countries and 126 currencies. The company's growth strategy includes expanding into high-growth markets, verticals and customer segments, including global eCommerce, Integrated Payments and B2B.

Worldpay, Inc. was formed in 2018 through the combination of the No. 1 merchant acquirers in the U.S. and the U.K. Worldpay, Inc. trades on the New York Stock Exchange as "WP" and the London Stock Exchange as "WPY."

Visit us at www.worldpay.com.

For more information, please contact:





Worldpay, Inc. Email Telephone Adam Kiefaber, Leader, Communications Adam.Kiefaber@worldpay.com (513) 900-5097

Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/628755/Worldpay_logo_Logo.jpg
WEST MELBOURNE, FL / ACCESSWIRE / June 4, 2018 / BK Technologies, Inc. (BKTI) (f/k/a RELM Wireless Corporation (NYSE American: RWC)), today announced that its Board of Directors declared a quarterly dividend of $0.02 per share of the Company's common stock, payable on July 16, 2018 to shareholders of record of the Company's common stock as of the close of business on July 2, 2018.

Kyle Cerminara, Chairman of the Board, said, "We are pleased to continue the Company's capital return program with the declaration of our ninth consecutive quarterly dividend. The capital return program also includes stock repurchases. We believe the Company has ample working capital to sustain the program while funding our development, growth and investment objectives."

About BK Technologies, Inc.

As an American manufacturer for over 70 years, the Company is deeply rooted in the public safety communications industry, manufacturing high-specification communications equipment of unsurpassed reliability and value for use by public safety professionals and government agencies. Advances include a broad new line of leading digital two-way radios compliant with APCO Project 25 specifications. The Company's products are manufactured and distributed worldwide under BK Radio and RELM brand names. The Company maintains its headquarters in West Melbourne, Florida and can be contacted through its website at www.bktechnologies.com or directly at 1-800-821-2900.

CONTACT:

BK Technologies, Inc.

William Kelly, EVP & CFO

(321) 984-1414



SOURCE: BK Technologies, Inc.
CAMARILLO, California, June 4, 2018 /PRNewswire/ --

BNK Petroleum Inc. (the "Company") (TSX: BKX) is providing an update on the Glenn 16-2H and WLC 14-1H wells.

The Glenn 16-2H well has been producing for over two months and has a 60 day initial production (IP) rate of 594 barrels of oil equivalent per day (BOEPD), with over 500 barrels being oil from its one mile lateral. The well is currently producing an average of 508 BOEPD of which 414 barrels are oil. This slightly exceeds the possible type curve prepared by our outside reserve evaluators at the end of last year.

The WLC 14-1H well started flowing back but was shut in last week to retrieve a part that was lodged in the lateral and was likely restricting the flowback. The part has been successfully removed and flowback is expected to resume this week. The start of the 30 day IP rate will begin after the flowback has recommenced.

At the current price of oil at over $65 USD a barrel, our incremental netbacks for these wells are estimated to be approximately $35 USD a barrel which represents a substantial contribution to the Company's cash flow.

About BNK Petroleum Inc.

BNK Petroleum Inc. is an international oil and gas exploration and production company focused on finding and exploiting large, predominately unconventional oil and gas resource plays. Through its subsidiaries, the Company owns and operates shale oil and gas properties in the United States. Additionally, the Company is utilizing its technical and operational expertise to identify and acquire additional unconventional projects. The Company's shares are traded on the Toronto Stock Exchange under the stock symbol BKX and on the OTCQX under the stock symbol BNKPF.

Cautionary Statements

In this news release and the Company's other public disclosure: The references to barrels of oil equivalent ("Boes") reflect natural gas, natural gas liquids and oil. Boes may be misleading, particularly if used in isolation. A Boe conversion ratio of 6 Mcf:1 Bbl is based on an energy equivalency conversion method primarily applicable at the burner tip and does not represent a value equivalency at the wellhead. Given that the value ratio based on the current price of crude oil as compared to natural gas is significantly different from the energy equivalency of 6:1, utilizing a conversion on a 6:1 basis may be misleading as an indication of value.Possible reserves are those additional reserves that are less certain to be recovered than probable reserves. There is a 10% probability that the quantities actually recovered will equal or exceed the sum of proved plus probable plus possible reserves.Readers should be aware that references to initial production rates and other short-term production rates are preliminary in nature and are not necessarily indicative of long-term performance or of ultimate recovery.Readers are referred to the full description of the results of the Company's December 31, 2017 independent reserves evaluation and other oil and gas information contained in its Form 51-101F1 Statement of Reserves Data and Other Oil and Gas Information for the year ended December 31, 2017, which the Company filed on SEDAR on March 14, 2018. Netback per barrel, net operating income and funds from operations (collectively, the "Company's Non-GAAP Measures") are not measures recognized under Canadian generally accepted accounting principles ("GAAP") and do not have any standardized meanings prescribed by GAAP. The Company's Non-GAAP Measures are described and reconciled to the GAAP measures in the management's discussion and analysis which are available under the Company's profile at http://www.sedar.com.

Caution Regarding Forward-Looking Information

Certain statements contained in this news release constitute "forward-looking information" as such term is used in applicable Canadian securities laws, including statements regarding the timing of and expected results from planned Caney wells development.Forward-looking information is based on plans and estimates of management and interpretations of data by the Company's technical team at the date the data is provided and is subject to several factors and assumptions of management, including that that indications of early results are reasonably accurate predictors of the prospectiveness of the shale intervals, that required regulatory approvals will be available when required, that no unforeseen delays, unexpected geological or other effects, including flooding and extended interruptions due to inclement or hazardous weather conditions, equipment failures, permitting delays or labor or contract disputes are encountered, that the development plans of the Company and its co-venturers will not change, that the offset operator's operations will proceed as expected by management, that the demand for oil and gas will be sustained, that the price of oil will be sustained or increase, that the Company will continue to be able to access sufficient capital through financings, farm-ins or other participation arrangements to maintain its projects, and that global economic conditions will not deteriorate in a manner that has an adverse impact on the Company's business, its ability to advance its business strategy and the industry as a whole.Forward-looking information is subject to a variety of risks and uncertainties and other factors that could cause plans, estimates and actual results to vary materially from those projected in such forward-looking information.Factors that could cause the forward-looking information in this news release to change or to be inaccurate include, but are not limited to, the risk that any of the assumptions on which such forward looking information is based vary or prove to be invalid, including that the Company or its subsidiaries is not able for any reason to obtain and provide the information necessary to secure required approvals or that required regulatory approvals are otherwise not available when required, that unexpected geological results are encountered, that equipment failures, permitting delays or labor or contract disputes or shortages are encountered, the risks associated with the oil and gas industry (e.g. operational risks in development, exploration and production; delays or changes in plans with respect to exploration and development projects or capital expenditures; the uncertainty of reserve and resource estimates and projections relating to production, costs and expenses, and health, safety and environmental risks, including flooding and extended interruptions due to inclement or hazardous weather conditions), that the offset operator's operations have unexpected adverse effects on the Company's operations, that completion techniques require further optimization, that production rates do not match the Company's assumptions, that very low or no production rates are achieved, that the price of oil will decline, that the Company is unable to access required capital, that occurrences such as those that are assumed will not occur, do in fact occur, and those conditions that are assumed will continue or improve, do not continue or improve, and the other risks and uncertainties applicable to exploration and development activities and the Company's business as set forth in the Company's management discussion and analysis and its annual information form, both of which are available for viewing under the Company's profile at http://www.sedar.com, any of which could result in delays, cessation in planned work or loss of one or more concessions and have an adverse effect on the Company and its financial condition. The Company undertakes no obligation to update these forward-looking statements, other than as required by applicable law.

Wolf E. Regener, +1-(805)-484-3613, Email: investorrelations@bnkpetroleum.com, Website: http://www.bnkpetroleum.com
While the Narendra Modi-led government has made a lot of promises to entrepreneurs, how many of these have really helped the startup sector? The jury is still out on this.

Four years have passed since Narendra Modi assumed power and report cards are being handed out. Some of those cards will take stock of goings-on in the startup ecosystem.

The startup sector has received a lot of attention, all thanks to a slew of programmes from the Modi sarkar.

Upbeat numbers

India logged an addition of over 1,000 startups in 2017, strengthening its position as the third-largest startup ecosystem across the world, amidst intensifying competition from countries like the UK and Israel. This takes the total number of technology startups to nearly 5,200, according to a Nasscom Startup Report.

An April 2018 government press statement stated that as against 797 recognitions in fiscal 2016-17, some 7,968 startups received recognition in financial year 2017-18. Furthermore, it said that a total of 8,765 startups have been recognised by the Department of Industrial Policy and Promotion (DIPP) since January 2016.

While the Narendra Modi-led government has made a lot of promises to entrepreneurs, how many of these have really helped the startup sector? The jury is still out on this. However, the general consensus is that the Modi-led regime is the first government that has paid more than a nodding acknowledgment to entrepreneurship.

Five years of UPA-II against four years of the NDA government and the latter has done well for not just the startup sector but also for micro, small and medium enterprises, said Arvind Singhal, Chairman, Technopak Advisors.

The good news for the sector, industry players told Firstpost, is that the word startup is understood for what it is. There is no ambiguity about what the word stands for. Earlier, if a prospective entrepreneur quit a lucrative job to roll out a startup, he/she would find it difficult to convince family members about the decision more so because the world startup wasnt understood. The government has -- through its schemes and following PM Modis talk about the sector  made the term a familiar one, said Ashish Bhatia, founder, India Accelerator  that runs incubation programmes for startups.

For starters, the governments schemes, over four years, have helped financial services develop in tandem with e-commerce growth. India is now one of the key markets for fintech firms as a result of the huge demand for services, said analysts.

"Theres strong support from the government by way of initiatives such as the Jan-Dhan financial inclusion program, the biometric-based Aadhaar initiative that aims to give every Indian a unique identification number, and the Unified Payments Interface. Policies such as Digital India have also made the average Indian more confident about transacting online. This has created a market for fintech companies," said Adhil Shetty, Co-founder & CEO, BankBazaar.

Strong India story

When Walmart said it will invest almost $16 billion in Bengaluru-based Flipkart, it showed that the American firm is convinced about Indias growth story. This investment by the US retail giant tells us that Modi and his government have done a good job of selling the India story to the world. Investors believe in Indias economic growth, said Singhal.

Credit should go to the prime minister for encouraging global investors to invest in the country, said Salma Moosa, Founder and MD, Startups Club -- a community driven company that hand-holds young firms. Moosa said shes convinced that her Bengaluru-based firm could attract investors like Michael Marks only because Modi could successfully sell the India story abroad. Startup Club collaborates with Marks venture capital (VC) firm Innoventure Partners. Marks has investments in Twitter and in Elon Musks SpaceX.

Red-tapism persists

Not everybody is gung-ho about the governments startup push. With good ideas, prospective entrepreneurs know whom to approach and where to go, thanks to the awareness created by the slew of programmes and policies by the government. But these are ideas and they do no amount to anything if the efficacy is not there, Bhatia said.

Bhatia pointed to the SIDBI startup fund and asked as to how many startups were funded by it?

Red-tapism exits, which applicants have to pole-vault, and its not worth their time, he said. Having acronyms and making announcements every Independence Day is good but it should work on the ground. There is not much fuel there and hence it is a huge obstacle.

That said, the gains of the new policies and programmes would be reaped by the next generation of startups, Bhatia added.

Hurdles remain

The governments landmark moves such as demonetisation and the roll out of the Goods and Services Tax (GST) impacted the sector, said Abhijeet Kashyape, CEO & Co-Founder, Monjin Interviews -- a digital video assessment platform where candidates meet interviewers basis their skills. But thats not it. There are other issues in the startup ecosystem, like the angel tax for instance. Several startups have raised concerns about the move to tax angel funds under Section 56 of the Income Tax Act, which taxes funds received by an entity. As many as 18 startups have received notices from tax authorities.

The said Section states that when a closely-held company issues its shares at a price more than its fair market value, the amount received in excess of the fair market value will be taxed as income from other sources.

This is not going to encourage angel investors to invest in a startup, said Paula Mariwala, an angel investor herself. The angel tax is a deterrent, she opined. But the government and its various arms like the Niti Aayog, the DIPP and others are proactively talking to players in the ecosystem to iron-out these issues, she added

Bottlenecks remain

As the sector matures, the government needs to resolve bottlenecks in funding, ease of doing business and further simplify regulations impacting day-to-day business, said Raman Kumar, Chairman, CASHe. Given the lack of seed stage funds, it is a herculean task for most entrepreneurs to raise money.

While the Indian startup ecosystem has come a long way, "policies for startups need to be liberalised further", said startup accelerator Green House Ventures founder Vikram Upadhyaya. Capital gains tax incentives should be optimised for both domestic and overseas investors as the move would not only increase domestic investments in startups but would also enhance foreign inflows, Upadhyaya added.

And, with talk of a new regulator [to monitor the startup funding space], it is not doing much to help boost the sector but will only drive away investors, cautioned Harish HV, a Bengaluru-based management consultant. (https://www.livemint.com/Companies/PxKfZwsTbqRnDDYzenA4SI/Govt-weighs-move-to-set-up-regulator-for-startup-funding-ma.html)

Sector focus

If one were to look at the startup ecosystem, its evident that it has gone through various phases. Year 2014, the year Modi was voted to power, was when a number of startups were spawned. 2016 saw a lot of correction and 2017 was a year of consolidation, said Alok Ranjan, CEO, Flipcarbon, an HR firm.

"Year 2018 is going to be the year of highest focus in term of financial services and technology. Cities that will see traction will be Hyderabad, Chennai, Ahmedabad and Mumbai. We will see a boom in terms of opportunity. We need to give this government time, [as it] is catering to a 1.3 billion people, or one-sixth of the worlds population," Ranjan added.

The government now needs to focus on two things: job creation and boosting the agriculture sector, said Prakarsh Gagdani, CEO, 5Paisa.com, a discount broking subsidiary of IIFL.

The markets have largely tracked economic development over the last four years and domestic investors have invested with trust. Going ahead, I believe there would be cautious optimism, especially in the run-up to the 2019 elections, Gagdani added.

Its clear. While the government has given a much-needed boost to the startup ecosystem, it needs to do a lot more to make things more effective and seamless on the ground.
The government must ensure that Air India focuses on its core competency to turn around, and could plan for an IPO in three to four years.

After the current failed attempt to get any suitor for Air India, there are many voices looking at the reasons for this ignominy. The terms of the Air India swayamvar were so tough that there was no Arjuna to pierce the birds eye. Or, there was a problem in the placement of the bird, to the extent that suitors could not see the bird itself. People were looking for a clean exit (a 100 percent disinvestment) but here the brides father wanted to accompany the bride with a residual 24 percent stake. The strategy of linking AISATS and Air India Express to the sale of Air India could also have been a demotivating factor.

Whatever be the calculations of the advisor in packaging the sale of Air India in this manner, it clearly lacked common sense. It is apparent that the current terms of disinvestment were not favourable for any interested party.

The happiest people in India after this botched attempt would be the employees of the ailing national carrier. They had been resisting the government's attempt in various forums and their wish was fulfilled in a very bizarre manner. Now that the whole exercise has come to an end, the government should rethink its strategy about dealing with the future of Air India.

I view this as a blessing in disguise for the government. The government should not think of tinkering with the current package of divestment and make it friendlier to the investor  which actually means compromising its interests. I would suggest that the government should continue to run Air India. As far as an operational team is concerned Air India has the best team in the airline industry. The airline has invested hundreds of crores of rupees in building its IT infrastructure and systems to make it compliant with the Star Alliance. The problem lies with its financial structure.

To make Air India viable financially viable, the government should take care of its accumulated losses and current account liabilities. The government should float a special purpose vehicle (SPV) where these losses and the bulk of the current account liabilities are transferred along with non-operating immovable assets. Once this is done Air India can start showing better bottom-line  better than its competitors in the Indian market. When we look at the history of profit margins of various airlines in the world  they range from a low of about 2.5 percent to a high of approximately eight percent.

For the Asia-Pacific region, these margins have been higher than the world average. So, at a turnover of nearly Rs 18,000 crore, the airline should be able to make a good profit.

This requires that the airline is run by professionals and not general administrators. Administrators are good for policy implementation and not for a competitive business. This is not a comment on the versatility of our IAS officers, who can do anything and everything as assigned to them.

While running the airline the government should look at the other subsidiary companies of Air India and find professional and strategic partners to make them more efficient and effective. There is an urgent need to take such a measure in its MRO and airport services. Then, there is a need to revisit its catering and hospitality services. Air India needs to focus on its core competency to turn around. And after a couple of years the government can plan an initial public offering (IPO) and list the airline on the stock market. In three-to-four years time, the government can offload some more shares and transfer all the money from the IPO and the share-sale to the SPV to nullify all accumulated losses and current liabilities assigned to the SPV.

The government can also ask insurer LIC or any other government agency with the financial strength to support any gap in running day-to-day operations in exchange for shares allotted to them. This will not be a charity by these institutions and they will be able to make good money at the end of few years.

The government should be happy that it has got another shot at setting things right at Air India.

(The writer is Director at VES Institute of Management, Mumbai)
BERLIN (Reuters) - Bayer launched a 6 billion euros ($7 billion) rights issue on Sunday, a cornerstone of the financing package for its planned $62.5 billion takeover of seeds maker Monsanto. Bayer last week won U.S. approval for the Monsanto takeover, clearing a major hurdle for a deal that will create by far the largest seeds and pesticides maker

BERLIN (Reuters) - Bayer launched a 6 billion euros ($7 billion) rights issue on Sunday, a cornerstone of the financing package for its planned $62.5 billion takeover of seeds maker Monsanto.

Bayer last week won U.S. approval for the Monsanto takeover, clearing a major hurdle for a deal that will create by far the largest seeds and pesticides maker.

The cash call is smaller than initially envisaged by Bayer because Monsanto reduced its debt while the antitrust review dragged on.

Also, Bayer raised 4.5 billion euros more from selling down its stake in plastics maker Covestro than initially expected.

The German drugmaker also grossed 7.6 billion euros in proceeds from selling assets to BASF, as the antitrust reviews were stricter than anticipated, but that did not cut the need to raise money via a share issue because future cash flows to service debts would also be lower.

When the merger was agreed in September 2016, Bayer said it would raise $19 billion worth of fresh equity capital for the takeover deal, parts of which was covered by issuing 4 billion euros in mandatory convertible notes in November 2016.

Bayer has said it would close the transaction very soon, which it needs to do because Monsanto could withdraw from the takeover agreement and seek a higher price after June 14.

Bayer is set to close the transaction on June 7, according to a media report on Sunday.

Bayer will create an agricultural supplies giant with sales of about 20 billion euros, based on 2017 figures, when taking into account the divestments.

At current foreign exchange rates, that compares to about 12.4 billion euros at DowDuPont's Corteva Agriscience unit, 11 billion euros at ChemChina's Syngenta and 7.9 billion at BASF, including businesses to be acquired.

($1 = 0.8576 euros)

(Reporting by Emma Thomasson and Ludwig Burger. Editing by Jane Merriman)

This story has not been edited by Firstpost staff and is generated by auto-feed.
Refusing to debar Binani Cement's CoC from carrying on with further proceedings, the court said that 'no final order may be passed'

New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Monday said that Binani Cement's Committee of Creditors (CoC) is not debarred from considering the revised Ultratceh bid to acquire the beleaguered company but restrained it from taking a final decision.

Refusing to debar the CoC from carrying on with further proceedings, which would be subject to the orders of the court, a vacation bench of Justice Adarsh Kumar Goel and Justice Ashok Bhushan, however, said that "no final order may be passed".

"In the meantime, no final order may be passed. This order will not debar further proceedings subject to orders of this Court," said the order passed by the bench on Monday.

The court also issued notice to Ultratech Cement and others on the plea by the Dalmia Bharat Group's Rajputana Properties Private Ltd (RPPL) challenging the Kolkata NCLT order asking the CoC to consider revised bid by Ultratech Cement.

The Kolkata Bench of NCLT had in early May asked the CoC to consider revised bid by Ultratech Cement.

Ultratech's revised bid is more than Rs 1,000 crore higher than the one offered by the RPPL.

The court directed the next hearing of the matter on 2 July.

The RPPL, which had in the first round offered highest bid to acquire Binani Cement urged the court to bar the CoC from considering the revised bid by Ultratech Cement and taking a decision.

This was opposed by the Additional Solicitor General (ASG) Maninder Singh, appearing for the lender banks, and Senior Counsel Abhishek Manu Singhvi who appeared for Ultratech Cement.

ASG Singh told the court that the lender banks cannot be oblivious to Rs 1,019 crore more coming from the revised bid. He said let the RPPL make a matching bid.

Senior Counsel Singhvi told the court that Ultratech was making 100 per cent payments whereas RPPL offer was accompanied with a 100 per cent "hair-cut" of income tax and 100 per cent "hair-cut" of other payments.

The RPPL has moved the top court challenging the direction to CoC to consider the revised bid of the Ultratech Cement after its bid was less than that of the RPPL.
CBDT's clarification came following media reports claiming the records were destroyed in the fire.

New Delhi: The government on Sunday said the records related to the investigation into the Nirav Modi and Mehul Choksi case were safe as they were transferred out before a fire broke out in the Income Tax Office in Mumbai.

The clarification came following media reports claiming the records were destroyed in the fire.

"News reports have been appearing in some sections of the media alleging that records and documents relating to investigation into the Nirav Modi (and) Mehul Choksi case have been destroyed in the Scindia House fire in Income Tax Office in Mumbai," the Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT) said in a statement.

"It is hereby clarified that the said reports are completely false and misdirected," it said.

The department further clarified that the documents and records of the ongoing investigations into the case had already been transferred to the assessment units housed in different buildings as part of the assessment process.

"Apprehensions about any loss or damage to the records and documents relating to the Nirav Modi and Mehul Choksi case in the said fire at the IT Office are, therefore, misplaced," the statement said.

The Income Tax Department is investigating the over Rs 13,400 crore banking fraud, allegedly committed by diamantaire Nirav Modi and his uncle Mehul Choksi during 2011-2017.
Congress on Monday questioned Modi government's 'silence' and 'non-interference' on ICICI bank 'fraud', asking why it didn't order a probe

New Delhi: In view of fresh allegations levelled by a whistleblower against ICICI Bank CEO Chanda Kochhar over fraud loans, the Congress on Monday questioned Modi government's "silence" and "non-interference" on the issue, asking why it didn't order a probe.

"Instead of oversight, audit, regulations and protection of interests of account holder's depositors, stakeholders and shareholders, Modi government is busy protecting its crony friends," Congress spokesperson Pawan Khera told media persons in New Delhi.

"Why did the government not order a thorough probe when the news reports and whistleblower's letters to the prime minister emerged as early in March this year?

"What explains the complete silence and the declared non-interference of the Modi government in this saga of ICICI Bank frauds?" he asked.

Khera also asked would acting Finance Minister Piyush Goyal, who himself has been accused of conflict of interest and impropriety, order an investigation asking every CEO of private banks to declare their relationship with any loanee.

Noting that the government itself has admitted that NPAs of all banks have risen by 230 per cent - from Rs 2,51,054 crore in March 2014 to Rs 8,31,141 crore in December 2017, he said that lack of oversight and regulatory mechanisms have precipitated into massive bank loot scams worth Rs 61,036 crore and have eroded the trust of the common people in banks.

"The Rs.2,849 crore exposure of the ICICI Bank and the behind the scenes murky deals questions the role of its CEO in one such saga of banking fraud," he added.
While some of the ICICI Bank board members want MK Sharma to continue, others prefer former Bank of Baroda chairman and managing director MD Mallya

Private sector ICICI Bank has initiated the process of appointment of non-executive chairman as the term of incumbent MK Sharma is coming to an end on 30 June.

The process has started and the board has to take a call if the appointment has to be made from the existing pool of independent directors or by inviting an outsider to take up the position, sources said. As the term of the current chairman is coming to an end so a new chairman has to be appointed, sources added.

Among various independent directors, seasoned banker and former Bank of Baroda chairman and managing director MD Mallya is set to be front-runner to succeed Sharma.

Mallya was recently appointed to the ICICI Bank board as an independent director on 29 May.

Who is MD Mallya?

The CBI, in April, questioned six former senior officials of the Bank of Baroda, including its former CMD Mallya, in connection with the alleged Rs 2,919 crore loan fraud by Rotomac. The case relates to loans worth Rs 2,919 crore, given to Rotomac Global Pvt. Ltd. from 2008, by a consortium of seven nationalised banks. The CBI initiated action on a complaint by Bank of Baroda, a member of the consortium led by the Bank of India (BoI), which had also approached the agency.

Mallya, 65, prior to joining Bank of Baroda, was the Chairman & Managing Director of Bank of Maharashtra, according to ICICI Bank's website.

Other independent directors are Uday Chitale, Dileep Choksi, Neelam Dhawan, Radhakrishnan Nair, VK Sharma (LIC Chairman), and Lok Ranjan (government nominee director).

ICICI Bank loan controversy

ICICI Bank is facing the heat in view of the allegations made against its CEO and MD Chanda Kochhar for allegedly providing loans on quid pro quo basis to benefit family members.

Last week, the board of India's largest private sector lender ICICI Bank had ordered an independent probe into allegations of 'conflict of interest' and 'quid pro quo' in Kochhar's dealing with certain borrowers.

There are allegations of involvement of Kochhar and her family members in a loan provided to Videocon group on a quid pro quo basis.

It was alleged that Videocon Group pumped money into NuPower Renewables, a firm owned by Deepak Kochhar, husband of Chanda Kochhar.

Last month, market regulator Sebi had served a notice on Kochhar on dealings of the bank with Videocon Group and Nupower.

The scope of enquiry would be comprehensive and include all relevant matters arising out of and in course of examination of the facts and wherever warranted, use of forensics/email reviews and recordal of statements of relevant personal, the statement had said.

The enquiry, the bank had said, will be conducted by an 'independent and credible' person.

The whistle-blower had alleged that the bank's MD and CEO had not adhered to provisions relating to code of conduct of the bank and legal and regulatory provisions relating to conflict of interest over a period of time and also alleged quid pro quo in the course of Kochhar's work in dealing with certain customers/borrowers of the bank.

Interestingly in April, the board had expressed full confidence in Kochhar and ruled out any quid pro quo as alleged with regard to certain loan given to Videocon group.

The regulator filing, which came today after close of stock market, further said the enquiry will cover all "connected matters" in the course of investigations to bring the matter to a final close.

With inputs from PTI
Suresh Prabhu said that India has reservations about the introduction of new issues such as Investment Facilitation in the WTO

New Delhi: Reiterating its commitment to the multilateral trading system, India has described the recent US protectionist measures as a setback for the fragile global economic recovery ongoing and potentially permanently damaging to the World Trade Organisation (WTO) regime.

In his intervention at the WTO's informal ministerial in Paris last week, Commerce Minister Suresh Prabhu also expressed India's reservations about introducing new issues in the WTO agenda at the expense of addressing fundamental issues in agriculture and development, a Commerce Ministry release said in New Delhi on Monday.

On the recent cycle of unilateral trade measures and proposed counter measures, he said that actions and counter actions such as this could stop the fragile global economic recovery in its tracks, with consequences for jobs, GDP growth and development that would harm everyone and could also irrevocably damage the rules-based multilateral system built up with hard work over many years, it said.

"Instead of using such actions to deal with any inadequacy or unfairness in the WTO provisions, the best course of action would be deal with such issues within the WTO," Prabhu said.

In March, US President Donald Trump slapped import tariffs of 25 percent on steel and 10 percent on aluminium, unfolding the prospect of an all-out global trade war. China retaliated in April imposing tariffs as high as 25 percent on 128 American products.

According to the statement, Prabhu also "said that India has reservations about the introduction of new issues such as Investment Facilitation in the WTO lest fundamental issues in agriculture and development get neglected."

At the Buenos Aires ministerial in December which failed to reach an agreement due to the US intransigence on the issue of food stockholding, India continued to press for the reduction of farm subsidies by developed countries and resisted inclusion of new issues on the negotiating table like e-commerce and investment facilitation into the ongoing Doha Round of talks that have a developmental agenda, in case these dilute the commitment to complete the existing agenda.

Stating that trade must contribute to development, he said that governments in India and many other developing countries have to accord priority to addressing the challenges in the journey towards greater trade liberalisation and global integration, the statement said.

"He cautioned that any endeavour at the WTO for reciprocal trade rules, which ignored this reality, would further deepen the divide and aggravate the disenchantment with globalisation," it added.

The ministry also said that Prabhu separately met WTO Director General Roberto Azevedo and discussed the current international situation arising "from various unilateral trade actions and counter actions" and the challenges facing the WTO.
A 28-year-old UPSC aspirant committed suicide by hanging himself in Delhi's Rajendra Nagar on Sunday after being denied entry in the examination hall for reaching late.

A 28-year-old UPSC aspirant committed suicide by hanging himself in Delhi's Rajendra Nagar on Sunday after being denied entry in the examination hall for reaching late. According to CNNNews18, The man, identified as Varun, was a resident of Karnataka who was staying in a rented apartment in Delhi while preparing for the examination.

He was supposed to write the exam at the Paharganj centre on Sunday but was denied entry as he was late.

He has left behind a short suicide note which mentions being denied entry to the examination as the reason for him taking the drastic step. He has also written that at times examination rules should be relaxed for due considerations.

Meanwhile, according to ANI, the Delhi Police has said that further investigation is underway in the case and more details are awaited.

The civil services examination is conducted by the UPSC annually in three stages - preliminary, main and interview - to select officers for the Indian Administrative Service (IAS), Indian Foreign Service (IFS) and Indian Police Service (IPS) among others. This year, the exam was conducted in two shifts at various centres across the country on 3 June.
The incident happened on Monday after Union WCD minister Maneka Gandhi met the air hostess working at Air India.

On Monday, Union minister Maneka Gandhi directed the head of the Internal Complaints Committee of Air India to complete the probe in the allegations levelled by one of its staffers by the end of June.

Maneka, Union Minister for Women and Child Development (WCD), met the air hostess in New Delhi on Monday after the latter wrote a letter accusing a senior executive of sexual harassment and highlighted the alleged hesitance on the part of Air India authorities to probe the incident.

The victim also reached out to Civil Aviation Minister Suresh Prabhu. According to a WCD ministry official, Maneka has also taken up the matter with Prabhu.

"The minister has also spoken to the head of Internal Complaints Committee of Air India and has directed her to complete the inquiry within June," an official statement said.

WCD goofs up

Meanwhile, the WCD was embarrassed after a major faux pass, soon after the victim met Maneka. A ministry press note erroneously revealed the name of the victim, in a gross violation of norms for handling cases of sexual harassment, India Today reported.

However, after journalists flagged the mistake, the ministry promptly retracted the press statement and issued a fresh one omitting the name of the victim.

The victim, who accused a senior executive in Air India of sexually harassing women at the workplace, has been pursuing the case since September and said she was forced to reach out to the Union ministers in absence of concrete action on her complaint.

In a letter addressed to Prabhu and also marked to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the air hostess had asked for appointing a "neutral" investigation committee to look into the incident. Responding to the letter, the civil aviation minister tweeted, "Asked Air India CMD to immediately address the issue. If necessary, will appoint another committee."

The air hostess has alleged that she had been harassed for the last six years by the senior executive, describing him as a "predator" and equal, if not worse, than Harvey Weinstein, the Hollywood film maker charged with sexual misconduct by leading actresses.

"This senior executive is a predator and has sexually propositioned me, abused me, used abusive languages on other women in my presence, spoken of sexual acts with me and other women in my presence in office premises... he has insulted me and denied me positions and privileges after I rejected his advances and he had made my life a misery at work and continues to do so," she said in her letter dated 25 May.

The woman said that she would reveal the name of the executive if she gets an audience with the aviation minister. The air hostess maintained that she had lodged a complaint with Air India in September and written to then CMD Rajiv Bansal but "none was forthcoming". She also accused the airline's women cell of dragging its feet.

With inputs from PTI
A National Conference leader expressed grave concern over the increased shelling from across the border in Jammu and Kashmir, saying the people along the LoC and International Border had virtually become fodder for Pakistani cannons.

Jammu: A senior National Conference (NC) leader on Sunday expressed grave concern over the increased shelling from across the border, saying the people along the Line of Control (LoC) and International Border (IB) in Jammu and Kashmir had virtually become fodder for Pakistani cannons.

"The BJP has made border dwellers fodder for Pakistani cannons. The BJP-led government at the Centre cannot shrug off its responsibility for the volatile situation on borders, as it has completely failed in instilling a sense of security among the border dwellers due to policy paralysis," NC provincial president and MLA Devender Singh Rana told reporters at the sidelines of a function in Jammu.

He said instead of insulating the residents of forward areas from recurring border skirmishes, the central government is sending confusing signals to compatriots.

"For the past four years, the Centre has neither been able to settle the issues with Pakistan through dialogue to hold the ceasefire agreement reached during the tenure of former prime minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee in 2003 nor is there any roadmap to counter the incessant shelling," Rana said.

"In the process, the people of Jammu and Kashmir especially those on the borders, are living in perpetual fear," he said.

"Due to jingoistic posturing, the situation has been allowed to drift without any concrete response to the hostilities, as a result of which the people of the forward areas are made to run helter-skelter for their lives," he said.

Stating that the scenario across the LoC and IB is quite volatile, Rana said, "Today, the tremors of shelling and gun roars were even heard in the Jammu city and its peripheries, which reflects the enormity of the border situation."

He lauded the resilience of the people in braving the brunt with fortitude.

The provincial president also criticised the PDP-BJP government for its "insensitivity" towards the border people, saying "it has abdicated its responsibilities in ensuring their safety".

"The government which fails in instilling confidence among the people has no right to govern, he said, adding that propriety demands the coalition partners to put in their papers as it has failed to deliver.

He claimed that the victims of the cross-border shelling have not been compensated and what's even worse  the administration has not even made an attempt to assess losses and damages suffered by the residents.

"The entire population been robbed of their livelihood, children deprived of their studies, farmers restrained from farming and private property has suffered the brunt, he added.
The Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) today announced the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET) results 2018 at 12:45 am on the official website www.cbseneet.nic.in.

The Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) on Monday announced the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET) results 2018 at 12:45 am on its official website www.cbseneet.nic.in.

According to an India Today report, Kalpana Kumari topped the exam with 99.99 percent, and scored 691 marks out of 720. She has scored 171 out of 180 in physics, 160 out of 180 in chemistry, 360 out of 360 in biology (Biology and Zoology).

This year, 6,34,897 students passed the NEET exam and scored over 50 percent. Students who qualified for NEET 2018 would now be required to register for the online counselling, according to a report in The Indian Express.

The cut-off for the open category is from 691 to 119. An all-India merit list of the qualified candidates will be prepared on the basis of the marks obtained in the exam and CBSE will provide the rank.

NEET UG is conducted for admission to MBBS/BDS courses in India in medical/dental colleges run with the approval of the Medical Council of India/Dental Council of India. The exam was conducted in Hindi, English, Urdu, Gujarati, Marathi, Oriya, Bengali, Assamese, Telugu, Tamil and Kannada.
The mortal remains of a Border Security Force (BSF) trooper who was killed on Sunday in a ceasefire violation by Pakistan on the International Border (IB), reached his native place in Uttar Pradesh's Deoria district on Monday

Lucknow: The mortal remains of a Border Security Force (BSF) trooper who was killed on Sunday in a ceasefire violation by Pakistan on the International Border (IB), reached his native place in Uttar Pradesh's Deoria district on Monday, an official said.

Thousands of people assembled to pay their last respects to slain BSF trooper Satya Narayan Yadav, who was posted as an Additional Sub-Inspector at the 33rd battalion of the BSF in Akhnoor sector of Jammu and Kashmir.

He was killed in firing by the Pakistan Rangers from across the IB in the Pargwal sub-sector on Sunday.

The Uttar Pradesh government has announced an ex-gratia of Rs 25 lakh to the family of Yadav, a government spokesperson said. He added that Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath has spoken to Yadav's son and has assured him of a visit at the earliest.

An aunt of Yadav died of heart attack when she heard the news about his demise.

Angry villagers demanded that Prime Minister Narendra Modi should "not just speak" but "take revenge from Pakistan" for the frequent shelling and killing of Indian soldiers.
Centre is working on a policy for Chinese Buddhist monks who wish to meet the Dalai Lama in India.

Centre is working on a policy for Chinese Buddhist monks who wish to meet the Dalai Lama in India, according to a report. A senior government official told The Hindu that a cogent policy had to be put in place as India did not wish to antagonise the Chinese monks nor compromise on "national security".

The report further said that the move comes amid security concerns of Chinese monks coming to India through the porous Nepal border without proper documents.

Chinese monks have to register with the Tibet reception centres in India if they want to visit the Dalai Lama's headquarters.

"On many occasions, fearing a backlash once they return to China, the Tibetan monks travel first to Nepal and enter India through the porous border. They dont want to leave any paper trail," the official told The Hindu.

To get to India, Tibetans cross into Nepal at the Tibet-Nepal border, often without passports.

The Nepali Police detained 41 Tibetans who were trying to cross the border into India in 2016, according to The New York Times. Rajendra Bista, a police officer in Nepal, told Reuters that the detainees had no travel documents.

Reports suggest that China has been cracking down on Tibetans in India and Nepal and asking them to return home. In 2017, according to The Washington Post, authorities from the Tibetan government-in-exile said that the Chinese government barred an estimated 7,000 Tibetan pilgrims from attending a 10-day gathering in India. Most of the 7,000 already had travelled legally to India and were forced to return early. Only 300 remained.
Prices of vegetables soared amid disruptions in supplies and procurement of milk was also hit in parts of Rajasthan as farmers' agitation entered the fourth day on Monday.

Jaipur: Prices of vegetables soared amid disruptions in supplies and procurement of milk was also hit in parts of Rajasthan as farmers' agitation entered the fourth day on Monday.

"Jaipur Dairy alone has suffered a loss of nearly Rs 1 crore as 'anti-social elements' spilled nearly 60,000 litres of milk on roads. Twelve tankers were vandalised. Jaipur Dairy has lodged eight-nine FIRs for damaging and manhandling employees," Jaipur Dairy chairman Om Prakash Punia told PTI.

He said that problems are being witnessed in Sikar, Chomu, Kaladera and parts of Jaipur.

Vegetable prices have shot up by 25-30 percent in Jaipur due to ongoing farmers' agitation.

The prices of vegetables have increased by 25-30 percent in the last three days because of restricted supply due to the farmers' agitation, a vegetable vendor at Muhana vegetable market said.

Vegetables are supplied in Muhana mandi, Lal Kothi mandi and to other retail markets in the city from areas like Sanganer and Chomu (Jaipur) but farmers are not supplying to the mandis (large wholesale markets), he said.

Meanwhile, farmers' body holding agitation in the state has blamed "anti-social elements" for spilling milk on roads and disrupting milk procurement.

Protests have been peaceful and successful. Anti-social elements are behind disrupting milk procurement and spilling it on roads. We have set up milk points for consumers outside city limits for urban population, a core committee member of the Rashtriya Kisan Mahasangh said.

The 10-day Gaon Bandh (rural shutdown) farmer protest was called ahead of the first anniversary of the death of several farmers in police firing in Mandsaur of Madhya Pradesh, which sections of farmers supported in Rajasthan as well. The protest started on Friday demanding loan waiver, higher prices for their produce and immediate implementation of the Swaminathan Commission report on farming.
Arunachal Pradesh is seeing strong opposition to the Citizenship Amendment Bill, which, if passed, will allow persecuted refugees to apply for citizenship.

Itanagar: In Arunachal Pradesh, there is a strong opposition to the Citizenship (Amendment) Bill, 2016, which, if passed, will allow persecuted Tibetans, Chakmas and Hajongs to be eligible to apply for Indian citizenship.

Multiple organisations in Arunachal, a predominantly tribal state, have been opposing citizenship to the refugees, saying it would affect the ethnic composition of the state.

The Citizenship (Amendment) Bill was introduced in the Lok Sabha to amend the Citizenship Act, 1955. The amendment allows illegal immigrants belonging to minority communities from Bangladesh, Afghanistan and Pakistan to apply for Indian citizenship if they have lived here for six years. These minority communities include Hajongs (Hindus), Sikhs, Chakmas (Buddhists), Jains, Parsis and Christians.

Many of these refugees had fled to India in the 1960s to escape religious persecution in Chittagong Hill area of Bangladesh (then part of East Pakistan). Most of them found refuge in Arunachal, then a part of North East Frontier Agency (NEFA). The refugees have been allotted land and are provided with all basic amenities by the state government.

In September 2017, the BJP government at the Centre cleared citizenship for more than one lakh refugees, sparking protests from multiple organisations and the general public.

The Bill has seen major protests in Assam and Meghalaya as well, with the Meghalaya cabinet led by Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma being the first to openly oppose it.

In Arunachal, the All Arunachal Pradesh Students Union (AAPSU) and the Opposition, mainly the Peoples Party of Arunachal and the Congress, have strongly opposed the Bill. The state BJP, too, has voiced its reservations about the Bill.

Supreme Court's order

The situation in Arunachal has been tense since the Supreme Court in 2015 directed the Centre to grant citizenship to these refugees. Last year, giving in to the popular anti-refugee sentiment, the Centre announced it would grant 'limited citizenship' to Chakma and Hajong refugees. This meant that they would not be given rights, including ownership of land, enjoyed by scheduled tribes in the state.

The government said refugees would get Inner Line Permits (ILP), which would allow them to travel and work. One requires an ILP to visit Arunachal. The ILP is an official travel document issued by the Government of India to allow a foreigner to travel into a protected area for a certain period of time. This system introduced by the British is in place in Arunachal Pradesh, Mizoram and Nagaland in the northeast.

Highlighting the requirement of ILP in the state, Kamen Ringu, president of People's Party of Arunachal, said Tibetans, Chakmas and Hajongs have settled here without them. He said there are almost 30,000 Tibetans in Arunachal. He said that while the state dwellers have allowed them to stay here on humanitarian grounds, they should be governed by the ILP and not granted citizenship.

The AAPSU has been more vehement in its opposition to granting citizenship to the Chakmas and Hajongs. "Arunachal is a restricted state. In Assam, anyone who came before 1971 is considered a citizen. In Arunachal, only the indigenous tribes who have been living here for centuries are considered citizens.

The Chakmas and the Hajongs came to Arunachal in multiple batches, starting about 1963, but they will never get rights to land here. Under the banner of NESO (North East Students' Organisation), we are opposing it. India has the second largest population in the world, do you think we can accommodate more people here?" asked AAPSU president Hawa Bagang.

Bagang said that they were opposed to even 'limited citizenship' being granted to refugees, alleging that many of them were indulging in crimes.

Minority in their homeland

Explaining the opposition to the Bill, Kenter Joya Riba, managing editor of Eastern Sentinel, an English daily published from Itanagar, said, "You have to understand the fact that the indigenous tribes of Arunachal are in minority in their own state. Of the total population of 16 lakh, the indigenous population is only between six to seven lakh. On the other hand, Chakmas and Hajongs have grown from 1,400 when they started migrating to the state to around a lakh now."

Riba added, "The local residents are worried that their fate would be same as that of the indigenous tribes of Tripura who were outnumbered by Bengali refugees. According to the 2009 UNESCO Atlas of the World's Languages in danger, 26 languages of Arunachal Pradesh have been identified as endangered."

Thus, the indigenous tribes fear the erosion of not just their rights but also their culture. Added to this is also the worry that once conferred citizenship, Chakmas and Hajongs would also be granted Scheduled Tribe status, which will lead to a battle for reserved jobs. According to Arunachal Pradesh's native inhabitants, this underlines the need for the Centre to arrive at a solution that safeguards their rights.

The author is a Guwahati-based freelance writer and a member of 101Reporters.com, a pan-India network of grassroots reporters.
At least 13 people have perished in different incidents, mostly by drowning, in the first monsoon weekend in the past 72 hours.

Mumbai: At least 13 people have perished in different incidents, mostly by drowning, in the first monsoon weekend in the past 72 hours.

Five people, including four members of a family from the Immaculate Conception colony in Borivali, drowned at a beach picnic in Ratnagiri on Sunday afternoon.

They are Monica D'Souza (44), Sanomi D'Souza (22), Richa D'Souza (19), and Mathew D'Souza (18), along with their neighbour and family friend Kenneth Masters (56).

The incident occurred at the Aare-Ware Beach near Devrukh in Ratnagiri, when they were en-route to Ganpatipule.

Apparently ignoring MET warnings, the victims ventured into the choppy waters, but were trapped in a sudden whirlpool that built up at an intersection in the Arabian Sea and a creek along the beach.

Their bodies were likely to reach Mumbai on Monday for the last rites in Borivali (West)'s IC colony which has plunged into a pall of gloom.

Two Thane cousins  Anand Gupta and Nandini Gupta  drowned when they accidentally walked into a ditch full of water, which was dug up to lay a sewage pipeline, on Sunday.

There were no warning indicators around the ditch excavated near a road by a private contractor appointed by the Thane Municipal Corporation (TMC).

In another weekend tragedy, three youths drowned in two separate incidents at the Bhuigaon Beach in Palghar district on Saturday evening.

While the bodies of two, Rahul Rathod (18) and Abhivan Shinde (17), washed ashore at Kalamb Beach near Vasai, efforts were on to trace the third, police said.

Police suspect that the youth may have been pulled away by the thick under-currents in the Arabian Sea as monsoon is round the corner, making the sea rough on the entire western coast.

Besides, three persons were electrocuted in two separate incidents in Bhandup after the city and surrounding areas were lashed by sudden thunderstorms on Saturday evening, marking the onset of the monsoon season.
Four people were killed and seven others injured in two separate road accidents in Madhya Pradesh since Sunday evening, police said on Monday.

Bhopal: Four people were killed and seven others injured in two separate road accidents in Madhya Pradesh since Sunday evening, police said on Monday.

Two persons were killed after they were hit by a speeding car in Omkareshwar in Khandwa district last evening, they said, adding five others were injured in the accident.

Omkareshwar Police Station in-charge R S Bhadoriya said the car hit four people sitting under a tree near Mortakka village located off the Indore-Ichhapur road, about 60 km from Khandwa.

Two of them, Pratap (45) and Tarachand Sahu (50), were seriously injured and died on their way to a hospital, he said.

The two others and three people travelling in the car were injured and admitted to a hospital at Sanawad town, the police officer added.

In the second mishap, two persons were killed after their car rammed into a tree on Ratibad-Sehore road in the outskirts of Bhopal in the wee hours of Monday, an official said. Ratibad Police Station in-charge Ghanshyam Dangi said one of them was identified as Sagar Sharma (25), while the other deceased remains unidentified till now.

Two other car occupants were injured and undergoing treatment in a local hospital, Dangi said.
Jammu and Kashmir Police on Sunday arrested a government school teacher for allegedly raping a woman on the pretext of marriage and then blackmailing her by using her indecent videos and pictures, an official said.

Jammu: Police on Sunday arrested a government school teacher for allegedly raping a woman on the pretext of marriage and then blackmailing her by using her indecent videos and pictures, an official said.

The incident came to fore when the victim approached the police to lodge a complaint against the accused, he said.

"Waseem Hussain Butt, a resident of Doda, allegedly developed intimate relations with the girl, who was studying Female Multipurpose Health Worker (FMPHW) training course, and later circulated her videos and photos on the social media," the official said.

He said a case under sections 66 and 67 of the IT Act and various sections of the Ranbir Penal Code was registered against the accused in Kishtwar police station.

The accused circulated her videos and photos on the social media after the victim got engaged to someone else, the official said.

"During investigation, it was revealed that the accused had also developed intimacy with a number of other girls to blackmail, terrorise and sexually abuse them," he said.

The girl also tried to end her life but was saved by her parents and subsequently brought to the police station for lodging a complaint against the accused, he added.
Union minister Harsh Vardhan on Monday said if states work together, the country will achieve all its environment-related targets within a year.

New Delhi: Union minister Harsh Vardhan on Monday said if states work together, the country will achieve all its environment-related targets within a year.

Speaking at the state environment ministers' conference, he said that an emotional attachment with the environment is imperative for its preservation.

"We mean business. If all the state environment ministers work together, the country will be at the top of achievements on various environmental parameters," the environment minister said.

The 'State of Environment Report India 2015' was released by the Vardhan at the conference.

Lauding the achievements of the Modi government towards achievements in the field of environment, he said the international community believes India will achieve all its targets before the stipulated time frame.

He also claimed that the ministry was delegating powers to states to enable them to work more efficiently for environment preservation and fight pollution.

Executive Director, United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), Erik Solheim was also present at the event.

He said India was his choice to host 2018's 'World Environment Day' due to a variety of reasons, including its vast population and fast economic growth.

Citing rapid urbanisation in India, Solheim said environment needs to be made a "citizens issue". Minister of State for Environment, Forest and Climate Change Mahesh Sharma called for action against plastic pollution.

He pointed out that if steps are not taken to check it, future generations will bear its consequences.

"The cooperation of states is necessary for starting a campaign against plastic pollution," Sharma said.

Vardhan also released a plastic cover-free magazine of the National Geographic.

Bihar deputy chief minister Sushil Kumar Modi also addressed a session and highlighted issues related to states.

He demanded delegation of powers to states to combat pollution and preserve the environment.
The Centre has approved the deployment of six additional companies of paramilitary forces in Shillong, where fresh bouts of violence broke out last night, prompting police to use tear gas shells to quell a mob, a top police officer said.

Shillong: The Centre has approved the deployment of six additional companies of paramilitary forces in Shillong, where fresh bouts of violence broke out last night, prompting police to use tear gas shells to quell a mob, a top police officer said.

Normal life continued to remain affected for the fourth day in a row on Monday with curfew imposed in parts of the city under the Lumdiengjri police station and Cantonment Beat House areas during the morning hours, he said.

Violence broke out last Thursday after two groups of people in the city's Punjabi Line area clashed after a bus handyman was allegedly beaten up by a group of residents. More than 10 people, including policemen, were injured in the violence. One person has been arrested so far in connection with the assault.

Security would be tightened in 14 localities of the Meghalaya capital that were mainly affected by the clashes, Director General of Police (DGP) S B Singh said."The Home Ministry has sanctioned the deployment of four additional CRPF and two ITBP companies. The state's SF-10 commandoes along with a CRPF company and the district forces are already monitoring the situation on the ground," Singh said.

Last night, the police had forced some protesters, who were apparently involved in the clashes, to leave their hideouts at the Mawkhar and Mission Compound areas near Motphran, a few metres away from the Punjabi Line area, a district administration official said. In retaliation, the protesters overturned a police van near Roberts Hospital and assaulted an on-duty officer in public view, he said. The official said as the agitators refused to let go of their strongholds, police had to fire teargas shells to bring the situation under control.

Meghalaya home minister James Sangma on Monday appealed to people to stay calm and said the government is doing everything to restore peace in the city. "The agitators should stop protesting as the government has already met many of their demands, which included the arrest of the accused in the assault of the bus handyman on 31 May," he said. East Khasi Hills Deputy Commissioner P S Dkhar said a decision to relax the curfew will be reviewed later today depending on the law and order situation. "Curfew continues to remain in force in the 14 localities of the city all throughout the day. In the other parts, however, the clampdown has been restricted between 4 pm and 5 am. A decision on the future course of action can be taken only after a meeting of the authorities," he said.

Chief minister Conrad Sangma had said on Sunday that the violence was a local issue and some people with vested interests had been trying to give a communal colour to it. "The problem is very much in a particular locality, on a particular issue. It just happened that two particular communities were involved, but it's not a communal thing," the CM had said.

Concerned about reports of security threats in Punjabi Line area of Shillong, the Amarinder Singh government in Punjab said on Sunday it would send a four-member team, headed by Cabinet minister Sukhjinder Randhawa, to the Meghalaya capital, to assess the situation. Singh has sought Meghalaya chief minister Sangma's cooperation in facilitating the team's visit.
Even today, the demography of the Kashmir Valley , Jammu and Ladakh are distinct from each other. As a policy, irrespective of local disapproval, the Indian establishments attempt should have been to homogenise this demography across the state.

Well, as a fiction author, I often am in a position to take liberties which policy makers and people in decision making positions cant. This wishful thinking it the audacity of hope and optimism.

My latest book, When The Chief Fell in Love has a maverick futuristic chapter set in the Kashmir of 2030. It imagines a Kashmir where all is well and working backwards, spells out a broad roadmap towards achieving that utopian solution to the Kashmir dispute.

Peeling off some of the surreal elements of the roadmap and keeping it as realistic as possible, this is what it would read like.

First of all, Article 35(A) needs to be quashed by the Supreme Court. The article carries the bizarre provision of vesting full authority in the state assembly of determining who qualifies to be permanent resident of Kashmir. This Article violates Article 15 of the Constitution, providing for equality to all, and if challenged unequivocally in the Supreme Court, it will not be able to stand legal scrutiny.

Second, lets unapologetically acknowledge Kashmir is a demographic problem. Much of its problems emanated from the basic fact that for a land area that big, there were far too many ethnically diverse groups living within it. So, while the Kashmir Valley comprised largely of Kashmiri Muslims, with a small percentage of Kashmiri Hindu Pandits, in Jammu, majority of the population was Dogra. Ladakh was Buddhist, while Gilgit and Balistan (now a part of Pakistan) had a majority population of Dardi and Balti tribes. The areas of Muzzafarabad and Mir, which are now part of POK, had a Punjabi-Muslim population, dissimilar from the Valley Muslims.

Even today, the demography of the Kashmir Valley , Jammu and Ladakh are distinct from each other. As a policy, irrespective of local disapproval, the Indian establishments attempt should have been to homogenise this demography across the state. Merging two districts of Himachal with the Valley could have been an option. In as difficult as it may seem today, it was not impossible to achieve this in the 25 years after Independence, more so in a phase when the National Conference and Congress had merged together in the 60s.

The government would probably have had to hard-sell the idea of restructuring the state purely on the economic plank and prove that it was more in the nature of an economic package for Jammu and Kashmir as it would boost the states revenues. But then this astute step would have secured peace in the years to come.

It is unlikely that a conducive situation for something as path-breaking will emerge in the foreseeable future but if ever it does, it will be in the long term interests of Indias future to explore this discourse- altering solution. Third, the country wouldnt lose anything if we were to discuss whether Pakistan-occupied-Kashmir as an independent country like Bangladesh will serve Indias strategic interests better.

Finally, Kashmir needs a new political narrative. The last successful narrative was Atal Bihari Vajpayee's  "Kashmiriyat, Jamhooriyat, Insaniyat". Now, is the time to add Hindustaniyant to it. Kashmiriyat needs to merge with Hindustaniyat.

Adi Shankaracharya had explored Kashmir in the 8th century; it was a second home to Sufi saints from central Asia in the thirteenth and fourteenth centuries . Adi Shankaracharya and Sufi saint Noor-ud-ddin Noorani need to be invoked to rid the valley out of Wahabi influences.

The broad solution to the Kashmir issue is simple: Kashmir needs to own India. Only a complete and un-hindered integration with India can solve its problems. For this, Delhi will have to reach out to the valley more than ever before, as much as the valley will have to shrug off its cynicism and show more gratitude.

Bottom line is that a vexed issue like Kashmir needs a big hearted, unconventional solution which hasnt been considered yet.

The author is a BJP leader and tweets @tuhins. Views expressed are personal
BERLIN (Reuters) - Iran's activities across the Middle East threaten to drive another wave of refugees to Europe, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said after talks with German Chancellor Angela Merkel on Monday. Netanyahu, on a tour to persuade European countries to follow the U.S. administration of Donald Trump in tearing up a nuclear non-proliferation deal with Iran, said the country was using proceeds from eased sanctions to finance conflict

BERLIN (Reuters) - Iran's activities across the Middle East threaten to drive another wave of refugees to Europe, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said after talks with German Chancellor Angela Merkel on Monday.

Netanyahu, on a tour to persuade European countries to follow the U.S. administration of Donald Trump in tearing up a nuclear non-proliferation deal with Iran, said the country was using proceeds from eased sanctions to finance conflict.

Iran wanted to expand and deploy Shi'ite militias it commanded to convert Muslims from the Sunni branch of Islam, he said at a joint news conference with Merkel.

"This will inflame a religious war, and the consequences will be many more refugees and you know exactly where they'll come," he added.

In 2015 Germany and other European countries saw an influx of more than a million migrants, fuelling the rise of far-right parties.

Many were refugees from civil war in Syria, where Iran is a crucial military ally of President Bashar al-Assad against rebels who are mainly Sunni.

Merkel said she agreed that Iran's activities in the Middle East were a concern, particularly for Israel's security. But she said talks and the nuclear agreement torn up by the United States offered ways of thwarting Iran's nuclear and regional ambitions.

"We support Israel's right to security and have said this to Iran at all times," she said. "We have the same goal that Iran must never get a nuclear weapon and the difference between us is how to do that."

(Reporting by Thomas Escritt; editing by Andrew Roche)

This story has not been edited by Firstpost staff and is generated by auto-feed.
James Mattis praised Narendra Modi's take at the Shangri-La Dialogue on the dangers of accepting loans that are 'too good to be true'.

Washington: US defence secretary James Mattis has praised Prime Minister Narendra Modi for speaking about massive debts, saying he made a really good point about the dangers of accepting loans that are "too good to be true".

Mattis met the prime minister on the sidelines of the International Institute for Strategic Studies' 17th Asia Security Summit  also known as the Shangri-La Dialogue  in Singapore on Saturday. Prime Minister Modi delivered the keynote address at the annual conference.

"He (Modi) made a really good point there about the dangers of accepting loans that are too good to be true, and being forced into another agenda," Mattis told reporters on his way back home from the Shangri-La Dialogue in Singapore on Sunday.

"I remember India (Modi), that speech. It was like listening to one of those old-timey people. I thought he was really great, and you know just hammering home. I really liked his point about massive debt," Mattis said.

Massive debt  and I was thinking that night after I went back to my room, you could lose your sovereignty and your freedom from debt more than a soldier with a bayoneted rifle, you know? You can lose it economically instead, the US defence secretary said.

Modi had criticised governments that put other nations under "impossible burdens of debt". Both were likely references to China for its behaviour in the disputed South China Sea and its Belt and Road Initiative infrastructure projects which involves giving loans to other countries.

China has given massive loans to countries like Sri Lanka and Pakistan which, according to reports, have become a burden on them.

"They must empower nations, not place them under impossible debt burden. They must promote trade, not strategic competition. On these principles, we are prepared to work with everyone," Modi said amidst the growing global concern over the so-called Chinese model of "debt diplomacy."

Responding to a question, if Mattis would be invited to China after his strong remarks against them at Singapore, he said, he is still going there. "I'm still certainly going to China. They're entitled to their view. I saw them at lunch on Sunday, which would have been after I spoke, and we enjoyed our Coca-Cola together, and we talked. Nothing adversarial at all," he said.

Meanwhile, in Washington, Pentagon spokesperson Captain Jeff Davis said on Sunday that India and the US have pledged to continue their strong bilateral strategic partnership and affirmed their commitment to maintaining peace, stability and prosperity in the region.
A woman allegedly starved to death in Jharkhand's Mangargaddi village in Dumri because her family could not obtain a ration card that assures access to the subsidised ration through government's Public Distribution System, according to several media reports.

A woman allegedly starved to death in Jharkhand's Mangargaddi village in Dumri because her family could not obtain a ration card that assures access to the subsidised ration through government's Public Distribution System (PDS), according to several media reports.

According to a report in The New Indian Express, 58-year-old Savitri Devi was denied foodgrains at the PDS shops after her ration card was cancelled in 2012.

Savitri was reportedly going without food for three days before she died of starvation on Saturday. The villagers found out about her death only on Sunday. Savitris husband had passed away 10 years ago and her two sons have migrated to Uttar Pradesh and Maharashtra to earn a living, according to the report.

Speaking to The Indian Express, Hulas Mahato, Savitri's younger son said that his mother did not receive the pension for BPL widows in the last three years. He said that after his father's death in 2010, the family's income had declined and the meagre produce from their farm and the partly stipend he was earning through an apprenticeship programme in Uttar Pradesh was not sufficient to feed the family, he added. Mahato said his elder brothers wife, her three children, his wife and their daughter lived with his mother.

According to a report in the Hindustan Times, the earthen stove in the house has not been used since since 30 May and the family of seven, including the four children, have been going without food.

Meanwhile, the authorities confirmed Savitri's death but a probe has been ordered into the causes of her death and whether or not an application was filed at the block office to avail a ration card. The Indian Express report said that the Food and Supplies Minister Saryu Roy has directed the deputy commissioner to file a detailed report by a senior official. The district officers have, however, prima facie, ruled out the starvation theory.

"Initial findings say the woman was suffering from paralysis and she could have succumbed due to it. A team of senior officers has been sent to the village to conduct a detailed inquiry," Deputy Development Commissioner (DDC) who is officiating as Deputy Commissioner (DC) of Giridih, Mukund Das told Hindustan Times.

However, NDTV quoted news agency ANI as reporting that another official (who was not named in the report) blamed the negligence on part of the authorities as the reason why the family could not get a ration card. "Due to the negligence of authorities, her ration card could not be made, which is why she was unable to get food," he said.

The report further said that Dumri MLA Jagarnath Mahto termed the incident a "matter of grave concern" and blamed the negligence of officers for the family's failure to avail the card. The JMM legislator blamed the state government and claimed that Savitri died because she was not getting any facility under government schemes.

Meanwhile, Ram Prasad Mahto, the mukhiya of Chainpur Panchayat, under which Magangaddi village falls, confirmed that the family of the deceased neither had a ration card nor an old age pension facility. "Though she had applied a few years ago officials rejected her case that without any reason," Hindustan Times quoted him as saying.

This was reportedly the fifth such incident of starvation since September 2017.

In January, Budhni Soren died of hunger in Giridh. "There have been seven deaths from starvation in our area. There was no food for days on end in the homes of these poor tribals. I myself was witness to how there was no food in Budhnis house for fifteen days at a stretch. She lived in a phus ka ghar (straw hut) and would go into the forests to pluck the leaves of the mahua tree to make pattals from them. The district administration has tried to pass off their deaths as being the result of an illness, but all of us who were her neighbours know the reality," said Vishwanath from Girdih in Jharkhand told Firstpost.

In December, 67-year-old Etwariya Devi from Sonpurwa village of Garhwa district died of hunger after her family was unable to procure food after the Aadhaar-enabled point of sales (PoS) machine couldnt authenticate the biometrics of her daughter-in-law, The Wire reported.

Another such incident came to light in October when an 11-year-old died of starvation in Jharkhands Simdega district after her familys ration card was cancelled because it was not linked to their Aadhaar number. Santoshi, who had depended on her school's mid-day meals had barely any food for nearly eight days because of Durga Puja holidays before she died, the report quoted activists as saying.

However, the government had contended that Santoshi had died of malaria, not starvation, even as it acknowledged 'teething troubles' in linking the controversial Aadhaar scheme to crucial welfare schemes such as the PDS system.

These accounts highlight the government's apparent apathy and the system's failure to control deaths due to starvation, as Global Hunger Index of 2017 revealed poor rankings for India, which ranked 100 out of 119 countries on the global hunger index: Behind North Korea, Bangladesh and Iraq but ahead of Pakistan, according to a report in The Hindu.
Congress leaders from Karnataka are likely to visit New Delhi to discuss portfolio allocation ahead of the 6 June cabinet expansion in the southern state.

Bengaluru: Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister G Parameshwara on Monday indicated that Congress leaders from the state are likely to visit New Delhi to discuss the list of ministers and portfolio allocation with the party high-command, ahead of the 6 June cabinet expansion in the southern state.

"Whether we are going (to Delhi) today (Monday) or tomorrow (Tuesday), I am not sure. The information is that (Congress president) Rahul Gandhi will arrive on Monday (from abroad). Once he is back, he will call us, we will go then," Parameshwara, who is also the state Congress chief, told reporters.

Both the parties in the ruling coalition in Karnataka  the Congress and the JD(S)  have announced a power-sharing agreement, under which the portfolios to be held by each partner have also been mentioned.

Under the agreement, the Congress would get the Home, Irrigation, Bangalore City Development and Law and Parliamentary Affairs portfolios among others.

The portfolios of the JD(S) include Finance, Excise, Information, Intelligence, Public Works Department, Power, Cooperation, Tourism, Education and Transport.

According to Congress sources, several senior party leaders with ministerial aspirations are camping in Delhi amidst reports that those who served as ministers for long may be deputed for party work and new faces would be accommodated in the cabinet. Responding to a question in this regard, Parameshwara said, "There is no such discussion...."

He added that there were opinions that those who had been ministers for long should not be given ministerial berths and new faces should be given a chance as despite winning elections on multiple occasions, they had not got the opportunity. The high-command would look into such suggestions while deciding on portfolio allocation, Parameshwara said.

Hectic lobbying for ministerial berths is also on in the JD(S) camp and a few senior party Members of Legislative Assembly are reportedly upset over H D Revanna, son of party supremo H D Deve Gowda, lobbying for two portfolios, including Energy.

Parameshwara also ruled out any differences with the JD(S) on selecting the district in-charge ministers, especially in the old Mysuru region.

JD(S) leader H D Kumaraswamy and Parameshwara were sworn in as chief minister and deputy chief minister of Karnataka respectively on 23 May.

On S R Patil resigning from the post of Karnataka Congress working president, Parameshwara said the senior leader had not discussed the matter with him.

Stating that he was not aware of the reasons for Patil's resignation, he said, "I will talk to him and find out why has he resigned. What I have come to know is that he was unhappy about some party workers staging a protest in front of his house in Bagalkote."

Patil had yesterday said he had tendered his resignation, owning moral responsibility for the party's "unsatisfactory performance" in last month's Assembly polls in north Karnataka. According to Congress sources, Patil is upset as he was allegedly sidelined during the process of government formation with the JD(S).
Kerala High Court held that its power to issue writs of habeas corpus cannot be utilised to separate live-in couples, as long as they have attained the age of majority.

In May 2017, the Kerala High Court upheld the habeas corpus petition of KM Ashokan, and pronounced that his daughter, Hadiya (Akhila) was not capable of taking her own decisions around marriage and religious rights. In doing so, the court also nullified her marriage to Shafin Jahan; the court had also invoked its parens patriae jurisdiction. The judgment went against all principles laid down in the Constitution of India and violated Hadiyas constitutional rights under Article 14 (equality before law), Article 21 (right to life and dignity) and Article 25 (right to freedom of religion).

A year later, in a twist of fate, the Kerala High Court held that its power to issue writs of habeas corpus cannot be utilised to separate live-in couples, as long as they have attained the age of majority. The court observed, We cannot close our eyes to the fact that live-in relationships have become rampant in our society and such living partners cannot be separated by the issue of a writ of habeas corpus provided they are major. The constitutional court is bound to respect the unfettered right of a major to have live-in relationship even though the same may not be palatable to the orthodox section of the society.

A Bench of Justices V Chitambaresh and KP Jyothindranath passed the judgment as a response to a petition filed by the father of a 19-year-old woman who prayed for the issuance of a habeas corpus writ. The woman lives with her 18-year-old partner, and her father contended that his daughter was in the illegal custody of the respondent. The petition stated that since the respondent had not completed 21 years of age, he was a child as defined under Section 2(a) of the Prohibition of Child Marriage Act, 2006, and therefore, there could not be a valid marriage between his daughter and the respondent, and any child born of them can only be illegitimate in the eyes of the law. The father also added that he is not in favour of a live-in relationship but would be willing to let go of his daughter with the respondent after a legal and valid marriage.

The court observed that the couple is in a live-in relationship of their own volition. Moreover, the judges noted that the girl had attained puberty, and had the capacity to marry both under the provisions of Prohibition of Child Marriage Act as well as under Section 251 of the Mahomedan Law. Espousing a progressive bent and citing its judgment in Nandakumar v. State of Kerala as well as the Supreme Courts decision in the Hadiya case, the court stated: [S]he being a major has a right to live whatever she wants to as is permissible or to move as per her choice. The girl has every right to live with the youth even outside her wedlock since the live-in relationship has been statutorily recognised by the legislature itself.

The judgment is progressive and liberal, but it fails to draw similarities between a marital and live-in relationship, and therefore, keeps live-in relationships in the grey area of morality. Live-in relationships have been statutorily recognised but such recognition holds no value if the judiciary believes it would not be palatable to the orthodox section of the society.

Moreover, by keeping the dichotomy of live-in relationships and heteronormative marriage at the Centre, the judiciary is reluctant to examine the larger issue of rights of women. There is a need to look the right to bodily autonomy and decision making of women as a broader right, and not just in context of marriage versus live-in relationships.

The judiciary is aware of coercion and the gross violations that occur against women in our society when it comes to the right to marry, and how it is symptomatic of something else that is underpinning such violations: The vulnerability of women, especially young women in India. However, the bench did not bring this up. It brought up the issue of rights of women to have live-in relationships but did not feel the need to define her rights.

In my opinion, the judgement feels incomplete. It does not examine the context or trajectory of the issue: It does not examine why or how parents have begun to use habeas corpus petitions to bring their daughters home, and how this is a gross violation of the right to bodily autonomy of women. Linked to this is a context that legitimises forced marriage, and how marriage is seen as a solution in the absence of other rights that women are denied.

The court could have deconstructed the right to bodily autonomy, and put a precedent in place which could have aided the judiciary in treating future cases regarding choice and marriage as rights violation cases, instead of adopting a protectionist approach that infantilises women. However, the bench decided not to comment on the broader issue of rights.

In many ways, this judgment could have righted the first order that the Kerala High Court passed in the Hadiya case. While it cited the Supreme Court decision on Hadiya, and stated that the courts cannot, as long as the choice remains, assume the role of parens patriae, it does not explain in constitutional principles the reason behind this. To me, the judgment feels perfunctory, and does very little to change the relationship of women and their right of choice and autonomy within marriages and within families.
The latest attack on Indian forward points by Pakistani forces, in which two BSF jawans were killed on Sunday, has yet again proved that Islamabad says one thing and does another, said the BSF IG

Jammu: The latest attack on Indian forward points by Pakistani forces, in which two BSF jawans were killed on Sunday, has yet again proved that Islamabad says one thing and does another, a senior official said in Jammu.

The attack also triggered outrage with Jammu and Kashmir Power Minister Sunil Sharma saying Pakistan should be taught a lesson for its misadventures.

Asked whether Pakistan could be trusted after the ceasefire violation at a time when DGMOs of the two countries have agreed to implement the 2003 border peace pact, BSF's Jammu frontier IG Ram Awtar said while we have strictly implemented the decision, the action of Pakistan is before all of you.

The senior Border Security Force (BSF) officer ruled out that sniping or an attack by enemy personnel wearing 'thermal camouflage suits' had led to the two casualties on the International Border (IB) in Jammu. Both BSF personnel fell to cross-border firing from Pakistan, he said.

Assistant Sub-inspector Satya Narayan Yadav and Constable Vijay Kumar Pandey  both residents of Uttar Pradesh  were killed and 13 civilians injured in unprovoked and indiscriminate firing by Pakistani rangers in Akhnoor, Kanachak and Khour sectors of Jammu district on Sunday, officials said.

The violation comes nearly a week after DGMOs of both countries agreed to implement the ceasefire pact of 2003 in 'letter and spirit'.

The ceasefire violation by Pakistan after the recent DGMO level talks between New Delhi and Islamabad again proves that the neighbouring country's words do not match its deeds, said Awtar.

It is saying something but doing something else. The latest incident proved it once again, he said.

Awtar said the BSF was strictly implementing the decision taken at the DGMO level by the two countries last week.

Suddenly, Pakistan started firing around 1.15 am, injuring two of our personnel who later succumbed, he said referring to the latest incident. It was targeted firing on forward duty points by Pakistan, he added.

Talking to reporters after the wreath laying ceremony of the deceased personnel at the force headquarters here, the BSF officer said the casualties were not the result of sniping but of sudden cross-border firing from Pakistan.

We have strongly responded and in the coming days we will come to know about the damage suffered by Pakistan in the retaliatory action, he said.

He said the BSF did not target civilian locations but Pakistani forces did.

We only targeted the locations that targeted us but Pakistan, on the other hand, started targeting civilian areas of Pragwal and Kanachak since wee hours resulting in civilian casualties and damage to civil property, Awtar said.

Asked about rumours suggesting the casualties were caused by personnel wearing 'thermal camouflage suits' to avoid detection, he said I don't think something like that happened in this case.

There is a need to study this case thoroughly. After every incident we do a detailed study and accordingly take precautionary measures for the future. This incident of cross-border firing will be probed as well, the BSF IG said.

Earlier on Sunday, the bodies of two slain personnel were brought to the BSF headquarters where the wreath ceremony was held to bid farewell to them.

State Power Minister Sunil Sharma and former health minister Bali Baghat joined senior BSF, police and civil officers to pay tributes to the slain personnel whose bodies were later sent to their hometowns in Uttar Pradesh.

Power Minister Sharma warned Pakistan to desist from such activities or get ready to be wiped out from the face of the earth.

This time the central government is very determined and our message to Pakistan is to either change or get ready to be wiped out, the power minister said.

He saluted the bravery of the security personnel and said there is tolerance level and India has shown much patience. I think the time has come we should teach Pakistan a lesson for its misadventures.

He lauded border residents for braving frequent Pakistan shelling and said the time was not far when they will get rid of this menace.

Though it is the domain of the Centre, defence ministry and defence strategists, we understand that we are not going to tolerate the killings anymore. We are making our efforts to normalize the situation but they are showing desperation and hurling grenades and firing on the borders, he said. India would not be cowed down by such actions, he asserted.
Madhya Pradesh remained largely peaceful on the third day of the 10-day agitation by farmers demanding remunerative prices for their produce and waiver of farm loans, among others.

Bhopal/Mandsaur: Madhya Pradesh remained largely peaceful on Sunday on the third day of the 10-day agitation by farmers demanding remunerative prices for their produce and waiver of farm loans, among others.

BJP MP Shatrughan Sinha, former union finance minister Yashwant Sinha, and ex-VHP leader Praveen Togadia are likely to join the farmers' stir in Mandsaur, the epicentre of 2017's agitation in which six peasants were killed in police firing, on 8 June.

"Yashwant Sinha, Shatrughan Sinha and Praveen Togadia would attend our 'Dhikkar Diwas' (condemnation day) programme and condolence meeting which we have rescheduled to 8 June instead of 6 June," said Rashtriya Kisan Mazdoor Mahasangh president Shivkumar Sharma 'Kakkaji'.

Mahasangh, a federation of 130 farmers' bodies from across the country, is spearheading the nationwide protest.

Sharma alleged the police have been trying to break the ongoing gaon bandh agitation by forcing farmers to come out of their villages with agriculture produce.

"This is a gaon bandh (village shutdown) agitation and farmers are not coming out of their villages. However, police are trying to make farmers leave villages by adopting various means. At places, the administration is sharing fake videos showing that farmers are not participating in the agitation," he alleged.

Police have beefed up security in Mandsaur ahead of Congress president Rahul Gandhi's visit on 6 June to mark the first anniversary of killing of six farmers. Police have deployed drones to monitor traffic during Gandhi's rally.

Superintendent of Police Manoj Kumar Singh said drones were brought from Bhopal "to keep an eye on traffic movement for security reasons during Rahul's public meeting".

Five companies of the Special Armed Force (SAF) are keeping a vigil across the district. Meanwhile, Sharma said prices of vegetables are going up in urban areas due to non-arrival of vegetables.

However, Mandsaur Mandi (agriculture market) inspector Samir Das said the arrival of vegetables was normal.

Bhopal Krishi Upaj Mandi secretary Vinay Prakash Pateria said 2,500 quintals of vegetables arrived in the local agriculture market due to Sunday and that there is no impact of the ongoing agitation.

"Sunday was a holiday in mandis. However, about 2,500 quintals of vegetables arrived in (Bhopal) mandi as usual. There is no impact of the ongoing agitation," Pateria said.

Farmers in Madhya Pradesh launched the 10-day-long agitation on 1 June as part of a nationwide strike to press for their demands, including waiver of loans and the right price for crops.

Farmers had held protests across the state in 2017 demanding better prices for their crops.

In the wake of the protests, the state government in October 2017 launched Bhavantar Bhugtan Yojana, a scheme to protect farmers over falling farm prices.
The police foiled an immolation bid by Congress Members of Legislative Assembly over farmers' issues near the district collectorate, detaining both of them.

Amravati: The police on Monday foiled an immolation bid by two Congress MLAs over farmers' issues near the district collectorate in Amravati and detained both of them, an official said.

Virendra Jagtap and Yashmomati Thakur, the legislators from Dhamangaon Railway and Teosa constituencies respectively in Amravati district, were detained just before they could pour kerosene and set themselves ablaze, Deputy Commissioner of Police Chinmay Pandit said.

The local Congress unit had recently taken out a 'silent morcha' and given an ultimatum to the district administration to ask the agricultural produce market committee (APMC) to start procurement of 'tur' (a pulse variety) and 'harbhara' (gram), Jagtap told PTI.

The party had also demanded that farmers be given arrears of three months for their crops which were already procured, he said.

"Since there was no response, we protested against the administration's apathy by taking out a morcha to the district collectorate," he said.

The two MLAs had also threatened to immolate themselves in front of the collectorate.

However, the district police had deployed personnel in plain clothes at the place in advance and detained the two legislators when they came to immolate themselves.

The two MLAs were detained and later released, Pandit said. Later Jagtap accused the Bharatiya Janta Party government of being "thick-skinned" and "insensitive" towards farmers.

"With monsoon just around the corner, the government has purchased tur and gram from only 25 to 30 percent farmers who had registered online. The prices of tur and gram have now fallen," he said.

He claimed that 67 percent farmers from the district were yet to benefit from the government's loan waiver scheme.

"Their (farmers') condition is miserable. They don't have money to cultivate their land for kharif crops or to pay for labour. It is the government's good fortune that farmers are letting ministers and (ruling party) MLAs move freely," he said.

If the situation does not improve, farmers will not let the ministers and legislators move freely, Jagtap warned.
Chief opposition DMK welcomed the announcement by Tamil Nadu government to pre-maturely release 67 life convicts to commemorate the birth centenary of MGR.

Chennai: The Tamil Nadu government on Monday announced the pre-mature release of 67 life convicts who have completed 10 years of imprisonment, in commemoration of the birth centenary of former Chief Minister M G Ramachandran and the move was welcomed by the principal opposition DMK.

In the first phase, 67 convicts who have served 10 years in prisons across the state as on 25 February would be released, an official release said.

The decision had been announced by Chief Minister K Palaniswami during an MGR birth centenary event at Dindigul in December last.

In accordance with Article 161 of the Constitution, which empowers a governor to grant pardons and to commute sentences and as per guidelines of the Supreme Court and high courts on the issue of pre-mature release, two government orders were issued.

The GOs envisage guidelines for the release of prisoners, it added.

Welcoming the move in the Assembly, Leader of Opposition MK Stalin asked why the announcement was not made in the House, since it is in session, questioning if it was in line with the tradition.

Law Minister C Ve Shanmugam said the release of prisoners being proposed by the government was a "continuing task," indicating that was why an announcement in this regard was not made in the House.

Governor Banwarilal Purohit has to give sanction for the proposed release of prisoners, Shanmugam said adding a case by case review of convicts including their criminal background was being done in keeping with the Supreme Court guidelines.

"Unlike the release of prisoners during your (DMK) regime (2006-11), now it is being done on a case by case basis as per the Supreme Court guidelines," he said.

In the central prisons in the state, committees were set up to give recommendations for remission of sentence, he noted.

Prisoners were being evaluated for release on factors like the length of their detention (if it was 10 or 20 years) in prisons and if they faced serious ailments.

Founder of AIADMK and mentor of late J Jayalalithaa, M G Ramachandran (1917-1987) was Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu between 1977 and 1987.

Tamil Nadu government celebrated his birth centenary year across the state.
Since Whatsapp and few other social messaging tools have turned into a breeding ground for fake news and mischievous misinformation leading to lynching of innocents, the Ministry of Home Affairs has asked the Intelligence Bureau and State police forces to raise special units for deflating deceptions going viral.

Since Whatsapp and few other social messaging tools have turned into a breeding ground for fake news and mischievous misinformation leading to lynching of innocents, the Ministry of Home Affairs has asked the Intelligence Bureau and State police forces to raise special units for deflating deceptions going viral. According to the top sources, the move was initiated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who recently expressed concerns over anti-social elements using various social media platforms to spread malicious content.

In the present circumstances, it is difficult for the law enforcement agencies to monitor the flow of vitriolic messages masquerading as news or authentic information on encrypted messaging services, including Whatsapp, which is one of the most popular services in India. At least four states in South India  Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Telangana and Andhra Pradesh  have witnessed violent attacks recently after fake news of child lifting by a gang went viral.

A man seeking alms on occasion of Ramzan was beaten to death following the rumors on Whatsapp in Chandrayangutta, Hyderabad. Mob attacks were also reported from Nizamabad and Bibinagar. The local police had claimed that messages and old photographs from Syria and Sri Lanka were being circulated to incite the mob. Several villages in Telangana were also gripped by rumors circulating on Whatsapp and two juveniles were arrested last month for circulating voice message with photographs of three innocent people calling them child kidnappers in Mahabubnagar.

The response of the law enforcement agencies to such messages was to educate common man to differentiate between the real and fake news and eventually prevent spreading panic. However, the recent incidents shows the great technology enabler, like messaging, could easily turn into a disruptor. Is it technically possible to immediately find out the origin of objectionable messages and the faces behind it?

Srinath Reddy, head of IT Cell of Hyderabad Police said his team has developed certain mechanism to identify the people spreading fake news and inflammatory contents through whatsapp and other messaging services. Reddy, who successfully countered several such campaign and prevented violence, told Firstpost that he is using backtrack method to identify the administrator of Whatsapp and Facebook groups peddling fake news with intent to cause violence. Although, he admitted that Whatsapp remained a major challenge for the force involved in countering fake and malicious content.

It is a painstaking work that we do through coordination between monitoring team at the command centre and field officers. The admin is primarily responsible for generating and forwarding the content. Through backtracking our effort is trace the location of admin and take further action. We have successfully carried out this operation recently when rumors about Child lifting and people out there to steal money started causing deaths. Our main challenge is whatsapp, which cannot be monitored but through this method while keeping an eye on admin and receivers, we can contain the situation," Reddy said.

Messaging Apps Killing People

The prime minister's directive has also suggested that these specialised groups created by states under the supervision of intelligence agency and the Ministry of Home Affairs should study the terminology and secret codes that might be used in local and regional languages in order to combat the circulation of inflammatory content.

"Create groups and special units to study and examine the mode terminology and secret codes, which are used by anti-social elements in various languages for disseminating mischievous messages over social media," Modi is understood to have told the top security officers.

Hyderabad polices Reddy said they have developed an app called Hawk Eye that is being used to effectively counter the misinformation campaign. He said at least 15 lakh mobile users in Telangana have subscribed to the app and that facilitates them to make a complaint if they come across anything objectionable and the police also uses it send notifications from time to time to educate them.

We have a social media command and control centre that works 24x7 and have developed database of 17-18 lakh subscribers. Whenever the control room comes across inflammatory messages, it sends counter messages in various languages including Telugu, English, Hindi, Urdu and Tamil to neutralize the impact of rumors. We are also organizing awareness camps in different parts of the state, Reddy said.

On the other hand, Ministry of Home Affairs has been pushing for institutional arrangements for handling menace created by the rumors on social media platforms. The ministry had earlier advised for state and district level cell to handle criminal activities in the virtual sphere. The ministry in its annual report 2017-18 has observed that criminal activities in virtual world has gone up. A total 12,317 cases were reported in 2016 against 11,592 such offences in 2015.

Mukesh Sahay, who just demitted office of Director General of Police of Assam, said that the problem is encryption in the new age messaging apps and while it has been able to extend individual privacy a certain section within the society has taken advantage of it to indulge in anti-social and anti-national activities. Sahay said even insurgent groups based in Myanmar are increasingly using Whatsapp to make extortion calls to businessmen based in India and these communications are difficult to intercept.

Technology per se is neutral. A particular section may use it nicely for good cause and we have seen whatsapp and Facebook has been a great enabler in some cases. But, I would not deny the fact that some people are using it as a tool to create trouble and ultimately leading to killing of innocents. Radicals are also using it to spread tentacles far and wide by indoctrinating gullible youths. We must ensure personal privacy is balanced against the national interest. We need to develop technology to break the encryption and ask the service providers give us access through law of the land.The government is already on this aspect. In Assam, we have started Cyber Dome an integrated structure for enhanced virtual patrolling to neutralise the inflammatory contents, Sahay said further adding that idea is not to block the social messaging platforms but regulate it properly with enhanced capabilities.

In May 2017, similar attacks were reported from Jharkhand. The mob was infuriated over fake Whatsapp messages and innocents were targetted by the locals. The incidents had created uproar in the state and police had come under tremendous pressure to tackle rumors on social media that was killing people. A senior officer in the law enforcement agencies said they are focusing on educating people through community outreach because these platforms are not only used to spread rumors but has been used as a tool to circulate videos of sexual violence.

The focus is to have technology as well as manpower to handle that at the district level to prevent such incidents. We are educating police personnel in our training programmes that they need to tell people to make good use of such platforms that is powerful and facilitator. We need to tell the villagers in simple language that with growing technology one can create a nuclear bomb or electricity. It depends how one uses this powerful technology, the officer said.

Based on the order of Supreme Court in the case related to circulation of videos of sexual violence, a committee headed by Dr Ajay Kumar, the then additional secretary in the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology was constituted to come out with solutions and advise the court on feasibility of ensuring that videos depicting rape, gang rape and child pornography are not available for circulation.

The panel took the help of Indian as well as foreign experts to tackle the menace and even representatives from Whatsapp submitted a presentation before the committee. There was a proposal deliberated within the committee that Whatsapp should make further improvement in their reporting process which would enable easier reporting of contents in the app while maintaining the integrity of the contents and metadata available on phone at the time of reporting. However, the proposal for " Compute the Photo DNA has, VideoHash at Whatsapp Client on MobileHandset level, and transmit then to central Whatsapp server for matching with CP/RGR Hashes database' was dropped as committee decided not to pursue it. The committee also discussed a proposal that a cell must be created within the aegis of the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) or Ministry of Home Affairs to tackle free flow of violent videos on social media platform. Panel was of the view that India needs to have Central Reporting Mechanism, which could be India's hotline portal, as has been done in other countries like US.

The Whatsapp Inc founded by Jan Koum and Brian Acton had issued a statement on 15 May, 2018 warning the peddlers of inflammatory information. It said: When we receive reports of a bad actor sending unwanted messages - like SPAM or abusive content - on either WhatsApp or Facebook, we share information and can take action including blocking them across both services. We encourage you to report problematic content to us. Please keep in mind that to help ensure the safety, confidentiality and security of your messages, we generally do not have the contents of messages available to us, which limits our ability to verify the report and take action. When needed, you can take a screenshot of the content and share it, along with any available contact info, with appropriate law enforcement authorities.
The NNPG has decided to suspend its ongoing talks with the Centre on the Naga political issue following a raid at its co-convener's residence on 2 June.

Dimapur: The working committee of the Naga National Political Groups (NNPG) has decided to suspend its ongoing talks with the Centre on the Naga political issue following a raid by security personnel at its co-convener's residence on 2 June, according to an NNPG statement.

The decision was taken by the group's working committee in an emergency meeting in Dimapur on Sunday. The raid shows it will serve no purpose to continue the dialogue as all the progress made during the talks between the two entities appear to be a trivial matter for the Union government, NNPG leaders alleged in the statement.

The working committee has decided to suspend all negotiations with the Union government unless it comes clean on the actions of its agencies, it said.

The residence of the committee's co-convener Vizosieihou Nagi at Kohima district's Jotsoma village was raided by security forces on 2 June, the statement said.

However, he was not in the house at the time of the raid, it said, adding that Nagi is also the general secretary of the NNC-NA (non-accordist).

The next round of talks is scheduled to be held in New Delhi on 7 June.

The Centre and the NNPG's working committee officially began a political dialogue in 2017 to resolve the protracted Naga political issue.

The GPRN/NSCN, Federal Government of Nagaland (FGN), NNC (parent body), National People's Government of Nagaland (NPGN) of the NNC (NA), NSCN (Reformation) and Naga National Council/ Government Democratic Republic of Nagaland (NNC/GDRN) (NA) are part of the NNPG.
The situation in Kerala at present, following the outbreak of Nipah virus, which has so far claimed 16 lives, is not alarming as no new cases have been reported, a high-level review meeting said on Sunday

Thiruvananthapuram: The situation in Kerala at present, following the outbreak of Nipah virus, which has so far claimed 16 lives, is not alarming as no new cases have been reported, a high-level review meeting said on Sunday.The meeting, chaired by Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan was attended, among others, by Additional Chief Secretary (Health) Rajiv Sadanandan and DGP Loknath Behara and senior IAS officers.

The collectors of Kozhikode and Malappuram districts, the worst affected by the virus, participated in the meeting through video conferencing, a press release said.

So far there has been 18 positive cases of Nipah infection, of whom 16 people have died.

Since there have been no more fresh cases, there was no need to be afraid of the virus, it said.

In the second phase of the infection, very few cases have come up, the release said adding the deaths of two patients-one each at Kannur and Wayanad were not due to the virus.

Until the virus was fully brought under control, the team of expert doctors from Thiruvananthapuram would continue to monitor the situation at Kozhikode, the meeting decided.

Monitoring by Indian Council for Medical Research and National Institute of Epidemology will also continue in Kozhikode.

Around 2,000 people are under observation of the health department. They are suspected to have come in contact with the infected persons.

The chief minister also directed the Kozhikode and Malappuram district Collectors to deliver free kits of rice and other essential food articles to the homes of those under observation and those in need of them.

Re-opening of schools and colleges in Kozhikode and Malappuram has been deferred to 12 June as a precautionary measure and the Public Service Commisison has postponed all examinations.
Parliament, or all political activity, hinges on two hands of the clock. Recent events have shown that power can often be wrested in a matter of minutes.

Editor's note: The recently concluded Budget Session of Parliament was, by all accounts, the least productive in at least a decade, marked by protest, adjournment, and very little constructive debate, let alone passage of bills. Firstpost will examine, by way of a multi-part series spread across a six-week span, the reasons why the Parliamentary process in particular, and the democratic apparatus in general, has failed India's citizens. The clutch of essays, written by experts in the Constitution and constitutional law, will investigate the defects, introduced by design, that have enabled the degeneration of legislative functioning. Series has been curated by Bangalore-based lawyer and tutor of democracy and active citizenship, Malavika Prasad.

Parliament, or all political activity it seems, hinges on the two hands of the clock. It is all about the timing, perhaps now more than ever, when political power can be wrested in a matter of minutes. The 48 months of the present government, the three weeks of a truncated Winter Session of Parliament, the 15 days given to a political party to prove its majority on the floor of the Assembly, the 36 minutes of the Budget Session 2018 in Lok Sabha during which the entire Budget and all attendant Bills were passed without any discussion  time has been courting much controversy.

Time in Parliament is mostly seen from the perspective of time spent on debates or time wasted on disruptions. The recently concluded Budget Session of Lok Sabha witnessed only 34.05 hours of work as against 127.45 hours of interruptions or forced adjournments. The 29 sittings of Lok Sabha, if smoothly conducted would have led to 174 hours of work, during which, in an almost utopian scenario, all of the 67 bills pending before the session could have been passed. Only five Bills, however, could be passed which included the Finance Bill (fiscal proposals of the government) and Appropriation Bill (budgetary proposals of the government).

But the interplay between time and politics is much more nuanced. In the hands of political players, especially those in power, time  ordinarily, an instrument for enhancing democratic rights  can paradoxically become an instrument to undermine democratic decision-making.

Take for instance the five bills that were notoriously passed without any debate on the floor of the House over two days, amidst chaos and continuous sloganeering by MPs which the Speaker chose to overlook. A No-Confidence Motion, on the other hand, remained pending for 13 days as it was not allowed to be similarly taken up amidst chaos.

It is commonly said that democracy is undermined when the government does not make a concerted effort to reach out to the Opposition to prevent any wastage of Parliament's time. What is less often explored is the manner in which time is manipulated or even wasted at will during parliamentary proceedings, often to evade discussions and confrontation.

In this two-part piece, we explore the various contexts in which "time" is used as an instrument to weaken the democratic functioning of Parliament, and why, despite its limitations, time is seen as an appropriate metric for the conduct of political processes in a democracy.

Selective invocation of rules of procedure with respect to time

Many parliamentary procedures are time-bound with prescribed timelines for undertaking various activities  time for submitting questions, time for giving notices for debates etc. Though timelines are prescribed for administrative ease, there is a genuine expectation of a certain quality of outcome at the end of that time period.

Though the passage of time by itself does not guarantee the achievement of intended quality-outcomes, bypassing time-bound procedures indicts the legitimacy of the outcome. It is for this reason that set parliamentary procedures and unwritten conventions are disturbed only under exceptional circumstances. However, deviations from procedure and convention have now become more common.

On 28 December, 2017, the law minister introduced the Muslim Women (Protection of Rights on Marriage) Bill, 2017. Per Rule 74 of Rules of Procedure and Conduct of Business in Lok Sabha, a motion for consideration and passing of a bill should be made two days after introduction of a bill. The premise of this rule is that sufficient time should be made available to MPs to study the bill and to suggest amendments, the notices for which have to be submitted a day in advance, per Rule 79.

In this case, for no stated reason, the Speaker allowed the Bill to be taken up for consideration on the same day on which it was introduced, providing MPs with little over an hour's time to submit notices for amendments. When several Opposition MPs questioned the hurry in which the Bill was being considered, asking that the Bill be put to a Standing Committee for greater scrutiny, no coherent reasons were provided by the minister. Despite vehement opposition, after four hours of debate, the Bill was passed by Lok Sabha.

In Rajya Sabha, when the Bill came up for debate, several Opposition MPs submitted a notice to refer the Bill to a Select Committee. Arun Jaitley, the Leader of the House in Rajya Sabha, opposed these notices and one of the reasons cited was that the notices were not submitted a day in advance, as required by the rules, and the government was 'taken by surprise' by the sudden notices.

Time-bound procedures are overlooked by government in one House and sought to be enforced in the other House.

The same selective respect for rules is showcased by the Opposition. Perhaps, both the government and the Opposition are vying to outwit each other, but in the process, the sanctity of the policy-making process suffers.

Controlling Parliament's time, controlling the discourse

Parliament embodies the will of the people, represented through individual legislators. However, it is the executive which sets the time for parliamentary sessions and drives most of the legislative agenda. This is based on an unstated, though debatable, understanding that the executive, through the performance of this function, implements the peoples mandate.

A question rarely asked is whether the political executive can legitimately command the time of legislators in this manner, as legislators' time is representative of the time of the public. This question assumes importance because this unbridled power, coupled with a lack of understanding about the kinds of demands on our time that a government can legitimately make, can be easily misused with no recourse.

Unlike the South African parliament, which announces the schedule for the whole year at the beginning of the year, or the Swiss parliament, which announces the schedule not only for the current year but also for the following two years, the dates for any session of Indian Parliament are announced only three to four weeks prior to a session.

The only date known with certainty is perhaps the date of presenting the Budget. Can the political executive unilaterally decide and impose session schedules upon legislators, at short notice? Or, drawing inspiration from the work of Elizabeth F Cohen in The Political Value of Time (2018), can the government legitimately exercise a prerogative to command the time of citizens, in absence of any mechanism to seek accountability to prevent the kind of situation as arose in the Winter Session of 2017?

By convention, the Winter Session of Parliament usually begins in the second or third week of November and wraps up before Christmas. In 2017, however, in the wake of the Gujarat Assembly elections which had kept most of the ministers and MPs occupied, the Winter Session started only on 15 December, 2017, and ended on 5 January, 2018, making it one of the shortest sessions of the current Lok Sabha.

The government can be criticised for prioritising electioneering over policy-making, but on deeper inspection, it appears that the seemingly mundane function of deciding the dates of a parliamentary session enables the government to control the discourse as well.

When a Parliamentary Question was asked on why the Winter Session was delayed, the Minister of Parliamentary Affairs responded that time and duration of each session is decided by the government keeping in view the 'exigencies of legislative business'. He then justified the rescheduling of Winter Session by citing precedents from the years 1990, 1994 and 2013.

In doing so, the underlying argument was that 'if an event has occurred a certain number of times in the past, it gains legitimacy despite its normative dubiousness, and thus can be replicated'. Needless to say, the delay in commencement of the Winter Session added yet another dangerous precedent to the list, which future governments can take advantage of.

Put differently, it appears that 'exigencies of legislative business' are not the sole consideration of such decisions which are unethical if not outrightly unconstitutional given the lack of accountability that characterises the decision-making process. One way to democratise this process would be for Parliament to constitute a Joint Committee comprising representatives of all parties and independents, from both Houses, to decide the timetable for each session of Parliament at the beginning of a year, akin to the South African process.

Compromising legislative time in Parliament through ordinance making

It must be remembered that legislative business is conducted outside of Parliament's time as well. Such business is carried out through the formulation of rules, part of a routine executive exercise, or by the promulgation of Ordinances, an exceptional power to be sparingly used according to the Constitution. Governments, however, have made the exercise of extraordinary powers routine. Ordinance promulgation has been no exception to this trend, being resorted to in cases where smooth passage through Parliament is a tough bet.

Once promulgated, an Ordinance has to be approved within six weeks of the first sitting of Parliament session immediately following its promulgation. This time limitation then becomes a legislative exigency and if, despite this, the government fails to get the Ordinance approved, it is re-promulgated.

In the past, the government has undertaken multiple re-promulgations of Ordinances as it bides its time in Parliament  the Right to Fair Compensation and Transparency in Land Acquisition, Rehabilitation and Resettlement Amendment Ordinance 2015 was promulgated thrice, the Enemy Property (Amendment and Validation) Ordinance 2016 was promulgated five times in one year itself, setting a record of sorts.

Aside from being a 'fraud on the Constitution', successive and mechanical re-promulgation of Ordinances makes a mockery of Parliament, whose job is to legislate by deliberation. One may ask: why to allocate time for legislative deliberations when Parliament is merely required to approve Ordinances promulgated by the government, which would anyway be re-promulgated at the slightest indication of parliamentary resistance.

Despite all these ways in which Parliament's time can be dictated by the whims of the government, time remains one of the most crucial measures of the success of a Parliament's session.

Why it is so and whether it is desirable will be explored in the second part of this piece.

Read about the series: Budget Session 2018 washout, worst in over a decade, shows why legislature desperately needs reform agenda

Read Part 1: Obsolete system of voice votes needs to be replaced with electronic voting

Read Part 2: Examining legislative avenues available to keep govt accountable, exercise necessary oversight

Read Part 3: Core problem cannot be fixed till we introduce checks on Speaker's discretionary powers

Read Part 4: Strengthening committee system can improve quality of drafted laws, fast-track implementation

Read Part 5: 'Bye-Partisanship'; What Indian legislature needs to break deadlocks, improve discourse

Read Part 6: Waning legislative influence, lack of clear mission flags need to redefine Rajya Sabha's functioning

Read Part 7: Political parties must be tamed, their incomes regulated to revive Indian democracy

Read Part 8: Anti-Defection Law must be curbed to empower legislature, promote deliberative democracy

Read Part 9: Corporate funding of elections continues to bankrupt legislative morality, weaken electoral integrity

Read Part 10: Enabling stakeholder consultations in policy-making can deepen democracy, improve transparency

Read Part 12: Understanding 'political value' of time and how it is weaponised in democracy

Verma is a lawyer, public policy enthusiast, and founder of Maadhyam - a digital platform enabling stakeholder participation in policy-making. Citizens can engage with Maadhyam on Twitter and Facebook.
A policeman was injured in an exchange of fire with cow smugglers in Bharatpur district of Rajasthan on Monday. Police rescued 21 animals from the possession of the accused.

Jaipur: A policeman was injured in an exchange of fire with cow smugglers in Bharatpur district of Rajasthan, police said on Monday.

Police rescued 21 animals from the possession of the accused, identified as Hasham and Shaukat, who were smuggling them in a truck on Sunday night.

When a police party tried to stop them near Kaman area, they opened fire at the police. A policeman received a minor injury in the exchange of fire, SP, Bharatpur, Anil Tank said.

Both the accused were held by the police and placed under arrest.

Hasham has cases of murder and cow smuggling, among others, against him, he said.
President Ram Nath Kovind asked the governors to act as change makers by improving lives of marginalised people and enhancing education standards.

New Delhi: President Ram Nath Kovind on Monday asked the governors of states to act as change makers by improving the lives of marginalised people and enhancing higher education standards.

In his opening address at the two-day conference of governors and lieutenant governor (lt) governors, which began at the Rashtrapati Bhavan, he said a governor is a mentor and guide for the state government and an important link in the federal structure.

"The people of the state view the office of the governor and the Raj Bhavan as a fount of ideals and values," Kovind said.

He said there are approximately 100 million people in the country who belong to the Scheduled Tribes.

"As governors you can help in the shaping of a road map for the betterment of lives of our fellow citizens, who have not benefited as much as expected from our development journey," the president said.

He said India is blessed with the largest youth population in the world.

"As governors, you are guardians of our youth, in the sense that you can inspire young people to absorb the right moral values and you can motivate them to both pursue modern education and remain sensitive to our Indian ethos," Kovind said.

Talking about the higher education scenario in the country, the president said 69 per cent of total universities in India come under the purview of state governments and about 94 per cent of students enrolled for higher education study in these universities.

With governors as chancellors of most of these universities, Kovind said, they should provide the necessary impetus and inspiration to these institutions and enhance the level of scholarship.

"You can help ensure that admissions of students and appointments of teachers in state universities are completed well in time and in a transparent manner. You can also help ensure that examinations, declaration of results and convocations take place as scheduled. It is for you to inspire state universities to maintain this discipline and integrity," Kovind said.

The president said it is equally essential to keep the academic curriculum updated to maintain the contemporary relevance of education.

"As governors of your states, it is for you to engage the youth and motivate them to use their academic achievements for the welfare of society and of our country. We need to strive collectively for a better life for our coming generations," he said.

Kovind also sought suggestions from the governors on celebrations for the 150th birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi.

"There would be no better way to cherish his memory than to strive for genuine and meaningful social transformation," he said.

The Centre has decided to commemorate the 150th birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi over a 24-month period commencing 2 October , 2018.

"Gandhiji gave us an unfailing talisman. He said that to judge the efficacy of any action we contemplate, we should ask ourselves if it would be of help to the weakest, poorest and most disadvantaged person we know. We must keep this talisman in mind and I would welcome suggestions from all of you to put Gandhiji's ideals and values into practice," the president said.
The Reserve Bank of India said on Monday that they ensured cash availability of upto 95 percent in Telangana for the newly launched 'Rythu Bandhu' investment support scheme for farmers.

Hyderabad: The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) said on Monday that they ensured cash availability to the extent of 95 percent in Telangana for the newly launched 'Rythu Bandhu' investment support scheme for farmers. The Telangana government under the scheme, which was launched last month, provided input costs by giving them Rs 4,000 each for every acre for two seasons in a year through specially printed cheques.

There were apprehensions that time about the availability of sufficient cash with banks. The government allotted Rs 12,000 crore in the budget for the scheme. "We (RBI) have already supplied Rs 5,400 crore currency which is nearly 95 percent of the scheme. The feedback has been very good. We have been taking feedback both from the bank and the State finance department."

"There were no complaints of lack of cash in bank branches. There may be issues with regard to names misprinting on cheques and mismatch between e-pattadar passbook and cheques. Those are being rectified by the state government," RBI regional director R Subramanian told PTI. A senior government official had earlier said the scheme would cost about Rs 57,000 crore for the current season.

Over 59 lakh cheques were printed by eight participating banks led by the SBI, and handed over to the state government for distribution, which had in turn handed over to the beneficiaries. To a query, Subramanian said the currency situation in both Andhra Pradesh and Telangana has improved now and the problem existed during April. "There was the situation of cash scarcity in the first half of April. That was not just restricted to Telangana, but was seen in many other states also," he said. "RBI clarified that it was not a case of logistical problem. We are also supplying cash to banks specifically to load ATMs," the RBI official said.

"If ATMs go dry, public has genuine reason to feel unhappy. The situation has definitely improved. We are getting the figures from states. The situation which was there in the first half of April is not there now," he explained.
Unrest in Shillong began after an altercation between women from Sweepers Lane, many of whom were Dalit Sikhs, and Shillong Public Transport Service employees.

Shillong: After four days of violence, curfew was imposed across Shillong on Monday afternoon. According to Peter Sansan Dkhar, deputy commissioner, East Khasi Hills, blanket curfew will be enforced from 4 pm till 5 am on Tuesday. Curfew has been imposed in the whole of Shillong as there is a likelihood that a breach of peace may spread to other parts of the city, Dkhar said.

News of the curfew caused panic with parents rushing to collect their children from school. On Sunday evening, curfew was re-imposed when during a seven-hour respite, protesters took to the streets and started pelting stones at the police in Motphran and adjoining areas. The stone pelting continued until early Monday morning. The state government has called for an all-party meeting to discuss the situation in the city.

The problem began on the morning of 31 May, when an altercation between women from Sweepers Lane, many of whom were Dalit Sikhs, and employees of the Shillong Public Transport Service (SPTS) turned violent and a few people suffered minor injuries. By nightfall, the situation had turned tense when 500 SPTS employees gathered to march to Sweepers Lane. According to Davis Nestell R Marak, East Khasi Hills superintendent of police, a rival group from Sweepers Lane set off to confront this first group and police had to intervene to disperse the crowd, which he says was armed with daggers and knives.

Marak says, There was an apprehension that it would lead to serious clashes, due to which a lathi charge was ordered. It took a long time for the conflict to be contained. We were able to contain the group by around 2.30 am.

What fuelled the anger were rumours flying around on social media that one of those injured in the clash on 31 May had died. Home minister James K Sangma said on 1 June that all the 3G and 4G services had been stopped to prevent false news from spreading on social media. The services remain suspended till now.

Meghalaya chief minister Conrad Kongkal Sangma alleged that those indulging in stone-pelting were funded by certain unidentified people. His remarks sparked a fresh round of abuse on social media.

Aibok Jyrwa, a student said, As chief minister, I believe (he) is not supposed to say something like that, especially on national media. The message will be taken in the wrong way. The ones who started all this, the Khasis, have now become the victims! Another social media user, Jop Scott Shylla, complained, What an incapable chief minister we have! How could he blame others for his inability to take the situation in control? It is spineless on his part to put the blame on others

Meanwhile, Punjab chief minister Amarinder Singh on Monday rushed a team of four senior Congress leaders to Shillong to assess the situation.

The leaders who have been sent to Shillong include MLAs Sukhjinder Randhawa and Kuldeep Singh Vaid, and MPs Gurjeet Aujla and Ravneet Bittu. The team was to meet Dalit Sikhs in Shillong to see how the government of Punjab could assist them.

An official statement from the Punjab chief ministers office stated that Captain Amarinder Singh has sought Meghalaya chief minister Conrad Sangmas co-operation in facilitating the teams visit and ensuring their access to the areas from where reports of tension or trouble were coming in.

Amid reports of simmering tension, the chief minister has also urged Sangma to provide full protection and safety for the Sikh community and their religious institutions in the state, said a spokesperson.

Amarinder Singh has offered all possible help to the Meghalaya government in ensuring the security of the Dalit Sikhs, whose ancestors were reportedly brought to Shillong during colonial times. He said the Centre should intervene if necessary to defuse the communal tensions in which the Sikhs in Shillong are caught.

The tension in Shillong also invited sharp criticism from people across Punjab who vented their anger on social media claiming that nothing was being done to protect Sikhs.

Ravjyot Singh, a resident of Ludhiana who owns a gas agency, said that the government of Meghalaya should protect the minority Sikhs who have been living in the state for decades. While Sikhs are the first to help anyone irrespective of their religion or caste, they are themselves being subjected to violence, he said.

(Kyrmenlang Uriah is a Meghalaya-based journalist and and a member of 101Reporters.com, a pan-India network of grassroots reporters.)
The authorities on Monday extended curfew in the Shillong as violence continued in tension-hit areas the previous night, with mobs indulging in stone-pelting on security forces for the last four days.

Shillong: The authorities on Monday extended curfew in the Meghalaya capital as violence continued in tension-hit areas the previous night, with mobs indulging in stone-pelting on security forces for the last four days.

"Curfew has been imposed from 4 pm on Monday to 5 am Tuesday in Shillong as there is likelihood that breach of peace may spread to other parts of the city," Deputy Commissioner, East Khasi Hills, Peter S Dkhar told IANS. "The situation is very tense in those areas," he said while adding that suspension of mobile internet services would continue, besides prohibiting the illegal sale of petrol and diesel.

On 1 June, the district magistrate imposed curfew in areas under Lumdiengjri police station and Cantonment Beat House in view of the breakdown of law and order in Motphran, Mawkhar and adjoining areas following the 31 May clash. Although, the curfew was relaxed for seven hours from 8 am on Sunday, the mob continued to pelt stones at security forces forcing the police to fire tear gas shells.

The mob also attacked an undertrial prisoner van carrying a mentally-unstable person, who was referred to be admitted at the KJP Robert Hospital, Inspector General of Police, H Nongpluh told IANS. On Sunday, Chief Minister Conrad Sangma said the police has "found out that there are certain people who are funding this agitation".

Meanwhile, a Sikh delegation led by Delhi legislator Manjinder Singh Sirsa met Sangma and expressed satisfaction that the "Sikhs were safe" in Meghalaya. Shillong-based Sikh community leader Gurjeet Singh denied media reports that a gurudwara was torched or desecrated. Minister of State for Home Affairs Kiren Rijiju has also denied rumours of the alleged attack.

The clash erupted after a skirmish between some women and a driver of Shillong Public Transport Service bus at Them Meteor, which led to an assault of three persons. The violence continued even after the parties involved in the skirmish reached a compromise.
Shillong: Curfew in pockets of Shillong was relaxed for seven hours on Sunday, even as Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma said the violence that broke out on Thursday was a local issue and not communal in nature.

A team of Shiromani Akali Dal leaders from Delhi visited the Meghalaya capital in view of the clashes involving residents of the Punjabi Line area and employees of state-run buses belonging to the Khasi community. The Punjab government has also sent a team in Shillong.

The East Khasi Hills district authorities relaxed the curfew from 8 am to 3 pm to allow churchgoers to attend Sunday services, officials said.

"The problem is very much in a particular locality, on a particular issue. It just happened that two particular communities were involved, but it's not a communal thing," Sangma told a press conference in Shillong.

The clashes in parts of Shillong were given a communal colour by vested groups and a section of the media outside the state, he said. A number of those arrested in connection with the violence were from outside East Khasi Hills district, in which Shillong falls, Sangma said.

The chief minister said, "Money and liquor were given to people to indulge in violence. We have evidence of it". The authorities were on the job to trace those funding the violence, he said.

Earlier, a SAD team, including MLA Manjinder Singh Sirsa and the party's Delhi unit president Manjit Singh, met the residents of the violence-hit area, and called on Sangma.

Union Minister of State for Home Kiren Rijiju said in New Delhi that no damage had been caused to any gurdwara or other institutions belonging to the Sikh community in Meghalaya. The Amarinder Singh government in Punjab also decided to rush a four-member team to the Meghalayan capital.

The team would make a ground assessment of the situation in the troubled areas and extend help to the Sikh community there, an official spokesperson said in Chandigarh. Sangma had called up the Punjab chief minister on Friday night to apprise him of the situation.

Singh has offered all help to the Meghalaya government in ensuring security to the Dalit Sikhs, whose ancestors were reportedly brought to Shillong during the British era. Officials told PTI that the curfew which was promulgated in 14 localities in areas in the Lumdiengjri police station and the Cantonment police beat house will continue. Night curfew would also continue in the entire city from 10 pm to 5 am for the third consecutive day, and Internet services would remain suspended, the officials said.

The Army, kept on standby, had conducted flag marches in various localities after the violence that left at least 10 people including policemen injured. The violence erupted after a bus handyman was beaten up by a group of residents of the area on Thursday afternoon. Trouble escalated when rumours spread on social media that the handyman had succumbed to injuries, prompting a group of bus drivers to converge in the Punjabi Line area. The police had to fire teargas shells to disperse them. The handyman and three injured persons were taken to a hospital where they were administered first-aid.

Violence occurred in Shillong on Friday and Saturday too. Four people were arrested. However, tourists were not affected by the violence though they have been enquiring about the situation, Shillong Hoteliers Association president Kishen Tibrewala said. "I hope the state government will handle the situation in a positive manner and it would become normal soon," he said adding that the skirmishes could affect tourism in the state.
At least 16 people, including four policemen, were injured in a grenade attack in a busy market area in Jammu and Kashmir's Shopian district, police said.

Srinagar: At least 16 people, including four policemen, were injured in a grenade attack in a busy market area in Jammu and Kashmir's Shopian district, police said.

Militants hurled a grenade on security forces in Shopian town, resulting in injuries to at least 12 civilians and four cops, a police official said. He said the area has been cordoned off and searches started to nab the attackers.

Militants have carried out a series of grenade attacks on security forces and politicians since last week.

Meanwhile, former Jammu and Kashmir chief minister Omar Abdullah has condemned the attack calling them an "act of cowardice".

Agree completely. This terrorist attack is an act of cowardice & should be resoundingly condemned by all. https://t.co/7qf3MIgJXE  Omar Abdullah (@OmarAbdullah) June 4, 2018

With inputs from PTI
Late last year, the issue of pesticides took centre stage in the national conversation as at least 40 people had died after accidentally inhaling them.

In India, at least 14,341 people killed themselves using insecticides in 2014. The following year, the number increased by nearly 70 percent to 23,930. From 10.9 percent in 2014, the percentage of suicides involving insecticides went up to 18 percent in 2015, according to data from the National Crime Records Bureau. However, official figures do not reflect reality. A study on suicide mortality in India put the number at nearly 50 percent. Poisoning, mostly from pesticides (chiefly organophosphates) used in agriculture, was the leading method of suicide in both men and women, corresponding to about 92,000 deaths nationally at ages 15 years and older, reads the study. This is more than 250 suicides a day, in India alone.

Across the world, one person commits suicide using pesticides every 40 seconds, according to Centre for Pesticide Suicide Prevention (CPSP), a philanthropically funded research and policy initiative within the University of Edinburgh, UK. The best way to prevent these suicides is to ban highly hazardous pesticides, the CPSP wrote to the Centre on 30 May. Most persons who engage in suicidal behaviour do not want to die, with suicide serving as a response to psychosocial stressors. A large proportion of pesticide suicides are impulsive, with a person contemplating suicide for less than 10 minutes. If a person is prevented from using a highly lethal method, they may use a method with lower lethality, with an increased chance of survival, or the suicidal impulse may pass, reads the their expert submission to SK Malhotra, Agriculture Commissioner, Department of Agriculture & Family Welfare Ministry of Agriculture and Family Welfare, Government of India.

Malhotra is heading a committee that was set up in October 2017, with a two-month tenure, to evaluate objections and suggestions received in response to a gazette notification on banning/phasing out of certain pesticides. The notification itself was based on recommendations given by the Anupam Verma Committee, which were further reviewed by the registration committee that Malhotra now heads.

After comments were received in response to the notification in December 2016, the government had set up a committee at the end of March 2017, headed by JS Sandhu, the then deputy director general (crop science) in Indian Council for Agricultural Research (ICAR). This committee was asked to submit its report within one month. However, Sandhu did not finalise a report, and he retired in July 2017. Three months later, in October, SK Malhotra took over.

The Anupam Verma Committee was set up in 2013 to review 66 pesticides used in the country but banned elsewhere, and to make recommendations on whether to ban these pesticides. In 2015, the Verma committee recommended that 12 highly toxic pesticides should be banned from 1 January, 2018, and six more should be phased out by 1 January, 2021.

In March 2018, the Supreme Court passed orders specifying 19 June, 2018, as the deadline for the evaluation to be finished, and for a decision to be taken by the Ministry of Agriculture's committee (incorrectly referred to by the government counsel as the Dr JS Sandhu Committee, even though he had retired by then). The court further ordered that subsequent implementation of the decision should take place within 15 days.

Forming committee after committee is a delaying tactic being adopted by the government. I dont understand why the government is dragging its feet to simply implement a decision that it took in 2015, said Kavitha Kuruganti, convenor of Alliance for Sustainable and Holistic Agriculture (ASHA). Following the deaths of at least 40 farmers due to pesticide poisoning in 2017, Kuruganti and other farmer activists petitioned the Supreme Court on the inordinate delays in banning at least 99 pesticides that are banned in more than one other country and 104 pesticides that are banned in at least one other country in the world. The government doesnt seem to realise the magnitude of the problem. Hundreds of farmers are killing themselves every day, and the government cannot afford to be this lax. It looks like it is under pressure from the pesticide industry, said Kuruganti.

Implementing legislations to limit the use of highly toxic pesticides has been a highly successful approach to suicide reduction in countries like Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, and South Korea, where small-scale farming is common, said Centre For Pesticide Suicide Prevention.

Sri Lanka saw a 70 percent reduction in suicides over 20 years after the ban of several pesticides. After the introduction of highly hazardous pesticides (HHPs) into small-scale rural agricultural practice in the 1960s, the suicide rate increased from 5/100,000 people older than 8 years to 57/100,000 in 1995, reads their expert submission. Taking note of the increasing suicides, the Pesticide Registrar of the island country banned parathion and methylparathion in 1984. Eleven years later, all WHO Class I toxicity pesticides were banned in 1995. There was a sudden, rapid fall in total suicides from that time. Subsequent bans of WHO Toxicity Class II pesticides endosulfan (in 1998), dimethoate, fenthion, and paraquat (in 2008-2011) have led to further major reductions in case fatality for pesticide poisoning and suicides, reads their report.

Late last year, the issue of pesticides took centre stage in the national conversation as at least 40 people had died after accidentally inhaling them. Several theories were floated on why so many accidents happened in 2017 alone  including good rains, subsequently taller crops causing farmers to spray pesticides upwards. However, of the 40 who died, 12 had inhaled Monocrotophos. In 2013, the same pesticide was responsible for the death of 23 children in Bihar when a vessel used to store pesticides was inadvertently used for cooking. This highly toxic pesticide, which the UN asked India to ban as early as 2009, is still easily available across the country. While it is banned in at least 46 countries, Anupam Verma thinks the onus is on farmers, and not the government. I have seen farmers sitting on the back of tractors and spraying openly without any protection for themselves. But, given such a large number of deaths at one time, there has to be more to it than just spraying. Just by spraying, people would not die because antidotes are available he told Firstpost in an earlier interview. Nevertheless, monocrotophos is in the list of 12 pesticides that were to be banned by 1 January this year. Six months later, they are still available.

Despite several attempts to contact, SK Malhotra was not available for a comment.
Sushma Swaraj expressed India's willingness to contribute towards enriching intra-BRICS co-operation further at a Foreign Ministers' meeting of BRICS

Johannesburg: External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj on Monday expressed India's willingness to contribute towards enriching intra-BRICS co-operation further.

Swaraj, who is on a five-day trip to South Africa, was attending a Foreign Ministers' meeting of BRICS (Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa). The summit is expected to lay the foundation for the annual summit of the grouping in Johannesburg next month.

All-dimensional and multi-layered cooperation that upholds development and multilateralism! EAM @SushmaSwaraj with other BRICS Ministers for the group photo before Ministerial Conference. pic.twitter.com/ma8yd4ftwK  Raveesh Kumar (@MEAIndia) June 4, 2018

"Our deliberations here will contribute towards enriching intra-BRICS co-operation further," Swaraj was quoted as saying at the opening of the BRICS Foreign Ministers' summit by Ruchira Kamboj, High Commissioner for India to South Africa and Lesotho.

"All-dimensional and multi-layered co-operation that upholds development and multilateralism! Swaraj with other BRICS Ministers for the group photo before Ministerial Conference," Ministry of External Affairs Spokesperson Raveesh Kumar tweeted along with a picture of Swaraj with other foreign ministers of the BRICS nations.

Swaraj will also chair a meeting of Foreign Ministers of IBSA (India, Brazil, South Africa), another bloc working to deepen co-ordination among the three countries on major global issues.

Swaraj earlier discussed with South African president Cyril Ramaphosa enhanced engagement between the two countries and greater co-operation in areas of skill development, agriculture and information technology.
External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj has discussed with South African President Cyril Ramaphosa enhanced engagement between the two countries and greater cooperation in areas of skill development, agriculture and information technology.

Johannesburg: External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj, on a state visit to South Africa, discussed enhanced engagement between the two nations and greater cooperation in areas of skill development, agriculture and information technology with President Cyril Ramaphosa.

Swaraj arrived in Johannesburg on Sunday on a five-day visit during which she will be attending meetings of BRICS (Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa) and IBSA (India, Brazil, South Africa)- the two major groupings where India has been playing a key role.

Swaraj met Ramaphosa who recalled his meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi at the Commonwealth Summit in London and conveyed his commitment to take the bilateral relations to the next level, according to a statement by the Ministry of External Affairs.

"The enhanced engagement between the two countries, especially in the aftermath of the India-South Africa Business Summit, and greater cooperation in areas such as skill development, agriculture, IT etc were also discussed", it said.

Swaraj conveyed her felicitations on his assumption of office as president and mentioned that the year 2018 was of special significance for both India and South Africa since they both were commemorating the 25th anniversary of diplomatic relations, 100th birth anniversary of the iconic leader Nelson Mandela and the 125th anniversary of the Pietermaritzburg incident of Mahatma Gandhi.

Ramaphosa recalled the great legacy left behind by Mahatma Gandhi in South Africa for future generations.

A young Mahatma Gandhi was thrown out of a train compartment in Pietermaritzburg railway station. The 1893 incident proved to be a turning point in Gandhi's fight against racial discrimination in South Africa.

Swaraj will also be attending a series of events marking the 125th anniversary of the historic incident.

During the visit, Swaraj will be participating in the BRICS (Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa) Foreign Ministers' meeting on Monday which is expected to lay the foundation for the annual summit of the grouping in Johannesburg in July.

She will also be chairing a meeting of Foreign Ministers of IBSA (India, Brazil, South Africa), another bloc working to deepen coordination among the three countries on major global issues.
Tamil Nadu chief minister K. Palaniswami on Monday said the Thoothukudi police are arresting only those people who indulged in arson and violence on 22 May.

Chennai: Tamil Nadu chief minister K Palaniswami on Monday said the Thoothukudi police are arresting only those people who indulged in arson and violence on 22 May.

Speaking in the Assembly, he noted that Tamil Nadu "is the only state witnessing a large number of protests in the country" and "protection is given to the people to such an extent".

Palaniswami said permission and protection are given to genuine protestors who want to serve the people or secure their rights from the government.

He said there is sufficient photographic evidence about anti-social elements throwing petrol bombs, setting vehicles on fire and carrying logs during the 22 May protests by the anti-Sterlite Copper smelter plant movement members in Thoothukudi.

"We are showing such persons as anti-social elements and not the general public," Palaniswami said.

He said police are arresting the culprits with proper evidence only.

He also assured the House that action will be taken against those officials who were wrong, based on the report and recommendations of the one-person inquiry commission headed by retired a high court judge into the 22 May violence in Thoothukudi.

In a statement, Palaniswami announced a solatium of Rs 10 lakh to the family of Valliammal who died due to burn injuries in a hospital after the bus in which she was travelling was set on fire on 25 May by some anti-social elements.

Valliammal was admitted to a hospital and died on 31 May.

Palaniswami said the bus was set on fire following the violence and police firing in Thoothukudi.
By Ivan Ssenabulya.

Insurance Regulatory Authority has been dragged to court over un-uniformed and mandatory motor third party insurance fees.

Steven Ssekigozi a concerned citizen challenges the compulsory enforcement by police for motor vehicle owners to pay 3rd party insurance.

In the 30th May suet before the High Court Civil Division, Ssekigozi contends that according to the Insurance ACT anyone to pay a cover is an agreement by will not mandatory.

He says government vehicles are also exempted from paying the 3rd party insurance, seeking court to declare it unlawful and task the regulator to come up with a clear national insurance policy.

He wants the IRA board be disbanded for incompetence and all the money collected be refunded to the consolidated fund.

Currently motor 3rd party insurance fees vary, with some vehicles paying 30,000/-, 40,000/- and others 80,000/-

He petitioned court through his lawyers, Tropical Law Advocates but the matter not yet fixed for hearing.

Among the other respondents are Bank of Uganda and the Attorney General.
The police on Monday foiled an immolation bid by two Congress MLAs over farmers' issues near the district collectorate and detained both of them, an official said.

Amravati: The police on Monday foiled an immolation bid by two Congress MLAs over farmers' issues near the district collectorate and detained both of them, an official said.

Virendra Jagtap and Yashmomati Thakur, the legislators from Dhamangaon Railway and Teosa constituencies respectively in Amravati district, were detained just before they could pour kerosene and set themselves ablaze, Deputy Commissioner of Police Chinmay Pandit said.

The local Congress unit had recently taken out a 'silent morcha' and given an ultimatum to the district administration to ask the Agricultural Produce Market Committee (APMC) to start procurement of tur and harbhara , Jagtap told PTI.

The party had also demanded that farmers be given arrears of three months for their crops which were already procured, he said.

"Since there was no response, we protested against the administration's apathy by taking out a morcha to the district collectorate today," he said.

The two MLAs had also threatened to immolate themselves in front of the collectorate. However, the district police had deployed personnel in plain clothes at the place in advance and detained the two legislators when they came to immolate themselves.

The two MLAs were detained and later released, Pandit said. Later Jagtap accused the BJP government of being "thick-skinned" and "insensitive" towards farmers.

"With monsoon just around the corner, the government has purchased tur and gram from only 25 to 30 percent farmers who had registered online. The prices of tur and gram have now fallen," he said.

He claimed that 67 per cent farmers from the district were yet to benefit from the government's loan waiver scheme.

"Their (farmers') condition is miserable. They don't have money to cultivate their land for kharif crops or to pay for labour. It is the government's good fortune that farmers are letting ministers and (ruling party) MLAs move freely," he said.

If the situation does not improve, farmers will not let the ministers and legislators move freely, Jagtap warned.
Chief Minister Trivendra Singh Rawat on Monday sought the support of people of the state for building a polythene-free Uttarakhand.

Dehradun: Chief Minister Trivendra Singh Rawat on Monday sought the support of people of the state for building a polythene-free Uttarakhand.

In his message to the people on the eve of the World Environment Day, Rawat expressed his government's commitment to build a polythene-free Uttarakhand, but said that the objective could not be achieved without their support.

The theme of the World Environment Day 2018 is 'Beat Plastic Pollution'.

Describing Uttarakhand as the flag-bearer of environment protection due to its huge forest wealth and rivers, he said besides government efforts, public support is a must for protecting the state's rich biodiversity.

The chief minister appealed to the people, public representatives and voluntary organisations to make the public aware of the importance of environment protection and make efforts for its preservation.

He said along with the plantation of trees, there is a need to make efforts to keep the rivers and water resources clean.

Rawat said efforts are being made to rejuvenate the Rispana river (Rishiparna) in Dehradun and the Kosi river in Almora. Moreover, special efforts are being made for water conservation and focus is on rain water harvesting.
The Vadodara airport authorities have sought permission from the Airports Authority of India (AAI) for operating the facility round-the-clock.

Vadodara: The Vadodara airport authorities have sought permission from the Airports Authority of India (AAI) for operating the facility round-the-clock.

At present, the airport, located in the city's Harni area, operates from 6 am to 9.45 pm.

It operates around 22 commercial flights per day.

In addition, private airline Jet Airways is also set to launch flights to Udaipur, Indore, Bengaluru, Delhi and Mumbai from September, Vadodara airport director Charan Singh said on Monday.

The city is also set to host dignitaries from several countries in October for the inauguration of the 182 metre tall 'Statue of Unity', dedicated to India's first Home minister Sardar Vallabhbhai

Patel, in the neighbouring Narmada district, about 90 km from Vadodara.

In view of these developments, "We have written a letter to AAI seeking permission for operating the facility round-the-clock," Singh told PTI.

"Our priority is to improve the facilities for passengers and increase the cargo transport," he said.

In the last couple of years, the number of aircraft landing at the Vadodara airport has considerably increased and the passenger traffic has also gone up, Singh said.

Vadodara will get more domestic connectivity from the new integrated terminal building from September, he added.

Two aerobridges are also expected to be operational soon at the airport to ferry passengers directly from the gate to the aircraft.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi had in October 2016 inaugurated the new terminal building at the airport.
Jharkhand has been on top when it comes to the number of people killed for practising alleged witchcraft for four consecutive years between 2013 and 2016.

Lohar Singh Munda, 50, and his wife were killed and their bodies buried in a forest in Jharkhand's Namkom, about 35 kilometres away from the state capital Ranchi, last month. They were accused of witchcraft and lynched by villagers after a three-year-old boy from the village fell ill.

Despite the state and central government taking several steps to spread awareness and protect people from being branded as witches, instances of people being abused or killed continue to increase in the state.

Jharkhand has been on top when it comes to the number of people killed for practising alleged witchcraft for four consecutive years between 2013 and 2016, in India, according to data available with the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB). In 2016, 27 such cases were reported in the state and between 2001 and 2016 a total of 523 such cases have been reported.

Jharkhand police figures show that six people have been killed for allegedly practising witchcraft this year. In 2017, the number of people killed for witchcraft was 41.

Citing Dumra, an interior village in Saraikela district, as an example, Ajay Jaiswal, secretary of the Association for Social and Human Awareness (ASHA), a social welfare organisation, said, "Over 30 women in the village (Dumra) have been branded as witches. The villagers form a group and attack these 'witches' every time someone falls sick in the village. They are called names, beaten up, tonsured and forced to eat human excreta."

Jaiswal added that recently an octogenarian in Daltonganj district was brutally beaten by villagers after a local youth died of cancer.

Vulnerable villages being identified

The state government has geared up awareness campaigns to curb the age-old superstition, including organising Nukkad Nataks, putting up hoardings and flagging off a number of awareness vehicles across the state.

Jharkhand's women and child development department has also directed deputy commissioners and superintendents of police of all 24 districts in the state, to survey and identify the vulnerable spots in their districts where witch hunting is rampant.

"The district administration officials are to identify the vulnerable spots and launch awareness drives in the areas. Also, they have to identify the witch doctors and link them to various employment schemes so that they quit their 'practice'," said women and child development department secretary Vinay Choubey.

While Jaiswal agrees that awareness is the only way to eradicate the social evil completely from districts in the state, he feels that the Witchcraft Prevention Act, 2001 has not proven to be very helpful.

"The punishment for branding a woman a witch and getting her treated by a witch doctor under the Act is only an imprisonment of three months to one year and a fine of Rs 2,000. This is not enough. We need a stricter law in order to curb this practice," said Jaiswal.

Land grab behind most witch hunts

Jaiswal pointed out that property disputes and attempts of land grabbing are among the primary reasons leading to individuals being branded as witches.

In Kochbong village in Namkom, one Sunita Devi and her family has been accused of witchcraft. Traumatised by constant taunts, Sunita's husband lost his mental stability and had to be admitted to the Ranchi Institute of Neuro-Psychiatry and Allied Sciences (RINPAS) for treatment.

For every accident on Ring Road, villagers blame Sunita's family, who own several acres of land, valued at almost Rs 1 crore, along the road. The rumour about the family was spread by land dealers so that villagers chase the family away and their land can easily be grabbed. We had to interfere and threaten villagers with police action in order to save the family," said Jaiswal.

"We conducted a survey in 10 villages and found that every village has at least five to 10 witches; most of whom are widowed and living alone on their properties. Rumours of them being witches are spread to grab their land," said Sanjay Mishra, head of the Bharatiya Kisan Sangh (BKS), a social welfare organisation. The BKS has been working against witch-hunting in 10 villages under Murhu and Torpa blocks in Khunti, for the last five months. These villages are dominated by the Munda tribe and witch hunts are a common practice in the area.

Illiteracy and lack of awareness are some other avenues that need to be dealt with in order to completely eradicate the superstitious evil. "When someone falls ill in a village, she or he is not taken to a medical practitioner but instead to a witch doctor. When the witch doctor fails to cure the person he blames the most vulnerable woman in the village of practising witchcraft," said Mishra.

Entire families victimised

"I was beaten, tortured and kicked out of the village. I went to the police, but they refused to register my FIR. The sub-divisional officer of the area heard my plea and finally took action against the culprits," said 70-year-old Chhutni Mahato, a resident of Saraikela who was forced to drink urine and banished from her village for allegedly practising witchcraft in 1995.

Presently, Mahato works with ASHA, which runs a shelter home for children in need in Ranchi. At least eight children of branded 'witches' are living in the home as their mothers were forced to flee their villages.

Jaiswal said entire families and apart from being physically abused, individuals are often forced to undergo tremendous emotional torture. "Villagers don't eat the food touched by the 'witches', nobody crosses from their door, children are hidden away from them," he said.

"A woman of Khunti who was branded a witch had approached us with her three children, begging us to take care of them as she cannot return to her village and has nowhere to go. We took the children in and she moved to a relative's house in a different village," he added.

In Raisimla village, 35-year-old twins Anita and Sunita (names changed), remain unmarried as nobody wants to wed the daughters of a witch; their mother was branded a witch a few years ago and forced to leave the village.

While not much data is available on when witch hunts actually began among tribal communities in the region, it definitely goes back to many centuries.

FR Fidelis de Sa briefly mentions the ill-treatment of two women from Ranchi on suspicions of being witches that came to light in 1890, in his 1975 book, Crisis in Chhota Nagpur, under 'The Witchcraft Case'.

However, authorities concerned started taking major steps to eradicate the practice only after a dozen people were killed in Chaibasa for allegedly practising witchcraft in 1992.

"BKS, along with the district administration had organised a conference in Ranchi. This was the first time that people branded as witches and witch doctors were brought together on the same platform to discuss this social evil. The then SSP Amitabh Chaudhary and DC Uday Pratap Singh put in tremendous efforts to spread awareness," said Mishra.

The author is a member of The NewsCart, a Bengaluru-based media startup.
Packets of potato chips, plastic bottles, beer cans are threatening the ecology of the Rohtang Pass, as local authorities disregard ecological concerns.

Manali: Tackling trash in the cold, rugged, and rocky mountains of the Pir Panjal range of the Himalayas is becoming an uphill task. The area is the origin of one of north India's major rivers, the Beas and its tributaries.

Mounds of plastic snacks packets, plastic pet bottles and beer cans are threatening the highly fragile ecology of the Rohtang Pass, as local authorities disregard ecological concerns.

The entire area of the pass which is a popular tourist spot is at an altitude of 13,050 feet and almost 52 kilometres from Manali, Himachal Pradesh. The pass is almost bereft of human habitation.

It remains cut off from the rest of the country for more than five months every year owing to heavy snowfall.

"It is really shocking to see these plastic bottles and wrappers of eatables lying along these rivulets, remarked Raunaq Bajwa, a tourist from New Delhi.

"Why is the local administration not imposing a blanket ban on carrying these non-biodegradable items to such highly sensitive zones?" he asked while referring to waste dumped haphazardly along the banks of the glacial-fed Beas river near Marhi, en-route Rohtang Pass.

His friend Dilawar Khan wanted to know why the government is not keeping the Himalayas free from litter. "It seems that the Rohtang hills are fast becoming the world's highest garbage dump as one sees discarded clothes, food packets, heaps of beer cans, and plastic bottles dumped here and there," Khan said.

The picturesque Rohtang Pass is a major attraction for both domestic and foreign tourists. According to the state's tourism department, tourist spots in and around Manali have an influx of around 1.1 million visitors annually. Tourism is the key source of income for the locals.

"Cleaning up the hills once in a year is not the solution. The local administration has to find a permanent way of waste management," said Lal Chand Thakur, a shopkeeper selling eatables at Marhi.

Additionally, he added that with the National Green Tribunal (NGT) restricting the entry of tourist vehicles to Rohtang Pass, the influx of tourists has massively reduced.

Only 1,200 taxis or private vehicle permits  800 petrol and the remaining diesel vehicles  are daily issued online for the trip to Rohtang Pass.

On similar lines, Thakur said, the NGT should also impose tougher penalties on litterbugs beyond Gulaba, which is on the way to the Rohtang Pass.

Another shopkeeper, Ghanshyam Negi, said the installation of portable toilets at Marhi is not a solution unless there are sewage treatment plants along with waste treatment facilities, which currently do not exist in the area.

The local administration has installed waste disposal and drop off points between Marhi and Rohtang Pass, but visitors ignore them.

The NGT, in one of its orders, observed that providing public amenities and ensuring absolute cleanliness at Rohtang Pass and even en-route is essential in the interest of the environment.

"To provide a clean and decent environment, every authority concerned must ensure absolute cleanliness, and the tourists have to cultivate the habit of neither littering nor spoiling the beauty and environment of the glacier by throwing plastic and other waste," it said.

NGT chairperson Justice Swatanter Kumar, ahead of his retirement last year, said that scientific studies clearly indicated that glaciers in the Rohtang Pass catchment were receding at a rate of one metre per year.

"Everyone going for a picnic carries aerated drinks, popcorn, and beer bottles with them, and then dumps these haphazardly at the pass. There are plastic trash and human waste. Mule dung is polluting water and soil. This is the case before us," he said at the time.

A journal of the Asiatic Society says Lieutenants A Broome and A Cunningham trekked to the Rohtang Pass on 7 July 1839, to trace the sources of Punjab's rivers.

Environmentalists say the state should launch a campaign like the Riverfront Cleaning Campaign that was launched on 18 May, again.

The campaign is supported by the Ministry of Environment and Forests and Climate Change. It involved school students and a Territorial Army battalion and is covering three districts -- Mandi, Kullu and Bilaspur from where the Beas river flows.

The Riverfront Cleaning Campaign will conclude on World Environment Day that falls on 5 June.

India is this years host to the United Nations Environment-led global event, World Environment Day and the 2018 theme is Beat the Plastic Pollution.
The AAPs move to seek an alliance with the Congress, its former bete-noire, in the Lok Sabha polls is an addition to its long list of political flip-flops.

The Aam Aadmi Partys move to seek an alliance with the Congress, its former bete-noire, in the forthcoming Lok Sabha polls is an addition to its long list of political flip-flops. What is even worse is that Ajay Maken, the Delhi Congress chief, has flatly denied any possibility of an alliance with the party.

Speculations of an AAP-Congress alliance were triggered by a tweet by Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal, in which he said that the people miss Dr Manmohan Singh as Indias prime minister.

People missing an educated PM like Dr Manmohan Singh Its dawning on people now -PM       https://t.co/BQTVtMbTO2  Arvind Kejriwal (@ArvindKejriwal) May 31, 2018

The tweet was seen as an attempt to get closer to the Congress, and it surprised many. After all, Arvind Kejriwals political career was shaped by his agitation against the UPA government led by Manmohan Singh. Kejriwal had launched himself into politics in 2013 after using the India Against Corruption (IAC) movement led by Gandhian Anna Hazare as a springboard. He formed the AAP along with a few of his associates in the movement. In his days with IAC, Kejriwal was perhaps the most vocal leader in terms of expressing criticism against the then government over the 2G, Adarsh and CWG scams. He had also attacked Manmohan Singh in unequivocal terms 

A corrupt Congress made Manmohan Singh its face at Centre. Manmohan failed to check corruption within congress and his own Govt.  Arvind Kejriwal (@ArvindKejriwal) October 23, 2013

Two years later, in 2015, the AAP routed the Congress, bagging 67 out of 70 seats in the Delhi Assembly. The grand old party, which had ruled Delhi for three successive terms, could not even win a single seat in that election.

Congress denies tie-up with AAP

Even though speculations about an alliance between the Congress and AAP are rife, the grand old party has been quick to deny any such development.

Ajay Maken, the Delhi chief of the Congress tweeted:

On so called offer of AAP to Congress for 3 seats,look at my reply to Kejriwal! When the people of Delhi are continuously rejecting Kejriwal Govt, why should we come to their rescue? After all, Kejriwal with team Anna supported by RSS, helped in creating this monster of Modi! pic.twitter.com/D8IwcqF0t9  Ajay Maken (@ajaymaken) June 1, 2018

On the other hand, Dilip Pandey of the AAP claimed that talks with the Congress are indeed on.

The AAP's decision to attempt a tie-up with the Congress is likely to have stemmed from the fear that many voters who supported it in 2015 may switch back to the latter party in the Lok Sabha election.

In the 2015 Assembly polls, the AAP bagged 54.3 percent votes. The BJP had then got 32.2 percent of the vote share, while the figure for the Congress was a mere 9.7 percent.

In the previous election, the Congress and BJP together had garnered 58.7 percent of the votes.

The new politics proposed by the AAP was meant to be an alternative to the politics of the main two parties Congress and BJP, and that of the third front.

However, its recent move to seek an alliance with the Congress seems like the death knell of a dream. It gives the impression that the party is content playing a complementary role to the Congress.

Some of the AAP's actions in its early days did indicate that it was unwilling to set itself apart from other parties by chalking out a clear political ideology for itself.

In June 2013, Kejriwal had said in an interview, I want to make it very clear. We are not wedded to any ideology.

Perhaps this lack of ideology of the AAP did not have a negative effect on its prospects in its early days, as public opinion had been affected by the anti-corruption campaign of IAC. All the same, it is also true that the party did not taste success outside Delhi.

Yogendra Yadav, a founding leader of the AAP who left the party later, spoke about the crisis within the party to the media. Let alone an ideology, the party does not even have a vision for the states of India other than Delhi, he had said.

After the NDA regime led by Narendra Modi took over from the UPA, corruption did not remain an issue in national politics in the same way that it did earlier. The ideological deficiency of the AAP soon became evident.

It is no wonder then that the party has little presence outside of Delhi. It has been pushed to the wall by the BJP's robust political machinery and ideologically motivated force. Perhaps, it is for this reason that the AAP is now looking meekly looking to its earlier foe for help.
Akhilesh Yadav asked if PM Modi's visit to Indonesia and Malaysia during the month of Ramzan is an attempt towards 'international appeasement'.

Lucknow: Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav on Monday asked if Prime Minister Narendra Modi's recent visit to Indonesia and Malaysia during the month of Ramzan is an attempt towards "international appeasement" of the minority community.

During an interview with PTI, he claimed that the people of not only Uttar Pradesh, but of the entire country was upset with the Bharatiya Janta Party (BJP) as other than making promises it "did nothing else".

Citing a proverb, Yadav said, "With empty stomach, people have now understood that the BJP does not mean business."

Asking the BJP to restrain its leaders from making "absurd" comments, he said, "The BJP should learn to face defeats or else they will be not be able to digest the outcome of the 2019 Lok Sabha elections in which the opposition will stage a comeback."

Slamming the BJP for accusing his party of practising minority appeasement, the Samajwadi Party chief said, "Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath says he does not celebrate Eid as he is a Hindu. The BJP charges us with practising Muslim appeasement. Modi has just visited Indonesia and Malaysia during the month of Ramzan. Is it an attempt towards 'international appeasement' of the Muslims?"

Prime Minister Narendra Modi was for the first time on an official visit to Indonesia - the world's most populous Muslim-majority nation, last month.

He has visited Singapore twice and Malaysia once in 2015.

Modi had also visited Indonesia's grand Istiqlal Mosque, the largest in southeast Asia, with President Joko Widodo.

Indonesia is not only the world's most populous Muslim country, followed by India, but the third largest democracy.

Hindus comprise two per cent of Indonesia's population and form close to a 90 per cent majority on the island of Bali.
Two frontline Hindutva organisations in Assam which had been trying to expand their base have been jolted by the mass resignation of their cadres. As many as 13,900 trained cadres belonging to Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) and its youth wing Bajrang Dal have put in their papers in a revolt that had been silently brewing for the past year and left a vacuum in these organisations.

Two frontline Hindutva organisations in Assam which had been trying to expand their base have been jolted by the mass resignation of their cadres. As many as 13,900 cadres of Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) and its youth wing Bajrang Dal have put in their papers in a revolt that had been silently brewing for the past year and left a vacuum in these organisations.

The decision followed a meeting convened by senior activists of the twin outfits at Sukreswar Temple in Guwahati on 22 May which also gave the nod to joining a new group soon to be floated by Pravin Togadia, the estranged and former working president of the VHP's international wing.

Around 95 percent of Bajrang Dal and 80 percent of VHP cadres have resigned across all the districts where we had a presence. This also includes the ten members of the state committee that had 11 members and now only about a hundred cadres are left in these organisations, said former Bajrang Dal president of Guwahati unit Deepjyoti Sharma.

Sharma and his coterie had been in the vanguard of the expansion drive of VHP and Bajrang Dal in Assam. In a short span, they managed to establish the footprints of these groups over a vast expanse in Assam covering 28 of 33 districts. Their support base was bigger in central and lower Assam which were impacted by illegal migration from Bangladesh. Last year, the Congress accused these groups of organising training camps with weapons at several places in Assam.

Functionaries claimed that the friction with central leadership started after the rape and murder of a minor in Nagaon that left the state shaken. The state unit was restrained from issuing statements and cadres prevented from taking part in movements, functionaries added.

The subsequent clash took place over the controversial Citizenship Amendment Bill, 2016, which saw Assam engulfed with agitations of even greater intensity, which are still on. Assam has been reeling under protests and demonstrations demanding repeal of the Bill which legitimises a section of non-Muslim migrants from Bangladesh. The Assam Accord, which was inked in 1985 between the government and All Assam Students Union (AASU), however, does not distinguish foreign nationals on the basis of religion.

Incidentally, the views expressed by the Assam unit of Bajrang Dal on the Bill to leadership also found an echo among some BJP workers who initiated a signature campaign in Guwahati against the plan to bring changes to the Citizenship Act. Even as they were preparing to send the long list to the party president Amit Shah, they were told by the partys top leaders to abstain from such activities since a statement would be issued after the National Register of Citizens is completed on 30 June.

For now, most of the Bajrang Dal and VHP cadres are upbeat about Togadias new party which they believe will give them autonomy to shape their own policy over local issues. We feel Togadia would be a better alternative. He will give us freedom to voice our support on all local issues and also take part in the agitations, said Nilav Das, former general secretary of Bajrang Dals Guwahati unit. Das believes that Togadias party would be devoid of the deficiencies that crippled the Bajrang Dal and VHP.

Activists also expect the new organisation to lay greater emphasis on social service and a campaign against misgovernance. A delegation from Guwahati is expected to meet Togadia in the capital towards the latter part of this month.
Lok Sabha member from Madhya Pradesh, Congress's Jyotiraditya Scindia, had advised the ECI during a meeting in Delhi to take help from technology experts to track and fix duplications in voters list.

The Election Commission of India (ECI) has sent a team to Madhya Pradesh to look into the allegations that the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has been getting bogus voters list prepared to tip the election in its favour.

The Congress has alleged that the state ministers have been misusing their office and have thus got 60 lakh bogus names added to voters list. Acting on the complaint, the ECI set up a special team, which arrived in the state's capital Bhopal on Monday to find out the truth. The team includes principal secretary-rank officer Sumit Mukherjee and ECI's Information Technology director VN Shukla.

Senior Congress leader Mahendra Singh Chouhan  who unsuccessfully contested 2013 Assembly poll against chief minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan  had first raised the issue of bogus voters list at a press conference in October 2017. He told Firstpost that the Congress conducted a physical verification of voters list and discovered the extent of bogus names that have crept in.

To cite an example from Narela Assembly constituency, he said they found that a small shanty of 600 square feet area has 117 voters registered. He said they found many such households with more than a hundred registered voters, all belonging to different religions and castes.

He claimed that BJP MLA from Narela and a state minister, Vishwas Sarang, has his brother's, wife's and sister's name enrolled in multiple constituencies. He said he had brought this to the attention of Madhya Pradesh's Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) Salina Singh, after which the names of the MLAs kin were deleted from the voters list. However, in response to 117 voters being under one roof, he said the election office explained it as a clerical mistake but did not mention rectifying the mistake.

Systematic manipulation

Mahendra Singh alleged that the voters list is manipulated in a systematic manner. He accused Sarang of running a parallel election office in his constituency. He said the minister gets voter registration forms filled at his office and gets them approved from the election office without anybody questioning it. He alleged that some employees working in the election office told him they were helpless and under pressure to toe the line.

Congress spokesperson Pankaj Chaturvedi said the ruling party has formed a nexus with government employees who are in charge of voters list and that this operation has the nod of senior officials.

Modifying voters list is the responsibility of Booth-Level Officers (BLO), who are generally Class III employees of the state government. They report to election supervisors, who are generally senior clerical employees such as section officer or revenue inspectors. These officers work under assistant returning officer, who reports to the returning officer (rank of deputy collector or sub-divisional magistrate). The district returning officer, the collector, is the final authority in this chain of command.

Requesting anonymity, a BLO told Firstpost that the entire staff works under pressure from the senior officials.

Minor voters, major issue

Former spokesperson of state Congress and a part of the party's team that exposed irregularities in the voters list, Sajid Qureshi, said photographs and identities of even minors are being used in large numbers to make bogus voters list. He explained how the same person can tackle the indelible ink and cast vote multiple times. He said people use fake fingernails, available easily as a fashion accessory for women, and some chemical to wipe off the ink and fool the system.

Chaturvedi said that ahead of Assembly by-elections to Kolaras and Mungaoli seats, held this February, the Congress submitted a list of approximately 20,000 bogus voters in Kolaras and around 18,000 in Mungaoli to the Election Commission. He said the collector of Ashoknagar was removed from his position after that and the Congress won both the seats. He reasoned that since the BJP never complained about fake voters, it must mean the party was benefiting from them.

The BJP denied any wrongdoing on its part. Party spokesperson Rahul Kothari said the Congress is trying to create uncertainty in the minds of voters with such allegations. He accused the Congress of always trying to create a mountain out of a molehill to benefit in elections. He called the entire issue a conspiracy of the Congress and demanded action against the guilty.

Corrective measures

Lok Sabha member from Madhya Pradesh, Congress's Jyotiraditya Scindia, had advised the ECI during a meeting in Delhi to take help from technology experts to track and fix duplications in voters list. Congress spokesperson Ravi Saxena asked why the ECI cannot develop such a software if a political party can.

Nodal officer, media communication - election, Pralay Shrivastava, admitted that voters list must be riddled with duplications of names owing to some technical glitches in the newly introduced system by the BLOs. To rectify the issue, he said the ECI is conducting a Special Summary Revision of the voters list. Under this endeavour, he informed that BLOs are conducting door-to-door verification of the voters list. He said more than eight lakh names have been deleted already. He said the final voters list would be published by 27 September this year. The states CEO has written a letter to collectors of all the districts to pay special attention on revision of voters list.

Meanwhile, the ECI's team would conduct probe in Bhojpur Assembly constituency represented by minister Surendra Patwa, Hoshangabad Assembly constituency represented by Vidhan Sabha speaker Sitasaran Sharma and Seoni Malwa constituency represented by former minister Sartaj Singh. The team has to submit its findings by 7 June.

Shahroz Afridi is a Bhopal-based freelance writer and a member of 101Reporters.com, a pan-India network of grassroots reporters
Hitting out at the Opposition for uniting against the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) ahead of the 2019 general elections to Lok Sabha, BJP MP Giriraj Singh likened them to 'Maoists, casteists, feudalists and supporters of Osama bin Laden'.

Hitting out at the Opposition for uniting against the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) ahead of the 2019 general elections to Lok Sabha, BJP MP Giriraj Singh likened them to "Maoists, casteists, feudalists and supporters of Osama bin Laden" on Monday.

"Maoists, casteists, feudalists, and supporters of Osama bin Laden have all united against the NDA. But, floating on the uninterrupted river of progress, NDA's boat will surely cross the 2019 stage while moving at a steady rate," he said, in a tweet in Hindi.

 ,,     (NDA)             NDA      2019       Giriraj Singh (@girirajsinghbjp) June 4, 2018

Singh's comment came a day after BJP national spokesperson Sambit Patra tweeted how the united Opposition and others like the 26/11 mastermind Hafiz Saeed were trying to stop Narendra Modi from becoming the prime minister in 2019. He later tweeted to clarify that his remark was not aimed at comparing the two. "Modi's attack on black money and corruption is getting the Opposition in India on one page while his attack on terrorism and the surgical strike is pushing Hafiz Saeed to desperation. This proves that the Modi government is moving the right way," Patra said.

Its not just the not yet formed  that desperately wants to stop India from having Modi as its PM in 2019 ..there are others as well..desperately trying for d same! Hafiz Saeed openly saying that he will shed blood of Narendra Modi https://t.co/Zdw0qY8i7c via @YouTube  Sambit Patra (@sambitswaraj) June 3, 2018

Off course this is not a comparison!

Modi Jis attack on Black Money and corruption is getting the opposition in India on one page while His attack on terrorism & Surgical Strike is pushing Hafeez Sayed to desperation!

This proves that the Modi government is moving the right way! https://t.co/CBu3uSTVRu  Sambit Patra (@sambitswaraj) June 3, 2018

Sports Minister Rajyavardhan Rathore, too, tweeted on similar lines. Singh's use of "NDA" and the sudden surge in tweets by BJP leaders predicting their win in 2019 comes against the backdrop of Shiv Sena saying that the saffron party does not need "friends and allies anymore". Shiv Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray had recently made the remark while accusing the party of buying voters in the Palghar Lok Sabha bypoll.

Parties with total ideological differences are talking of coming together for grabbing power COME WHAT MAY. 2019 elections will be crucial for Indias future. Honest and hard working citizens see PM @NarendraModi Ji's govt standing up for them. https://t.co/3zP5Jp9LB3 pic.twitter.com/L1WnxgtR76  Rajyavardhan Rathore (@Ra_THORe) June 3, 2018

An unofficial 'mahagathbandhan', or the grand coalition alliance, has been forged by the Opposition parties in the run-up to the 2019 election. In the recent Lok Sabha and state Assembly bypolls, held on 28 May, a united Opposition got a major boost as the BJP and its allies were limited to just three seats out of the total 15 that went to polls.

The talks of a united Opposition front began early in 2018. Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) leader Sharad Pawar had convened a meeting of Opposition parties in January.

In March, UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi held a dinner with Opposition leaders. At the time, there was a call for a non-BJP, non-Congress front as well following a proposal by TRS chief and Telangana chief minister K Chandrashekhar Rao for a national consultation process on the matter.

Trinamool Congress chief and West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee also met several leaders like AAP's Arvind Kejriwal, Pawar, and Gandhi. Telugu Desam Party (TDP), after becoming the first major party to exit the NDA, also became involved in the discussions for a united Opposition.

During the swearing-in of JD(S) leader HD Kumaraswamy as Karnataka chief minister on 23 May, a host of Opposition leaders attended the ceremony in a rare public show of unity. The BJP had then observed a "black day" across Karnataka, with Patra dubbing the presence of the Opposition leaders as a "celebration of corruption".

With inputs from agencies
Actor-politician Kamal Haasan and Karnataka chief minister HD Kumaraswamy met in Bengaluru on Monday and discussed the issue of Cauvery water-sharing.

Actor-politician Kamal Haasan and Karnataka chief minister HD Kumaraswamy met in Bengaluru on Monday and discussed the issue of Cauvery water-sharing, while maintaining that farmers from both states were equally important.

The two leaders held a joint press conference after their meeting. "Whatever problem is there, we must equally share itfarmers from both states are important, Kumaraswamy told mediapersons, reported The Indian Express.

According to The Hindu, Kumaraswamy said that "maintaining a harmonious relations between the two states and expediting the resolution of the issue keeping the interest of farmers of both the states in mind were discussed".

Makkal Needhi Maiam chief Haasan also said he was happy with the chief minister's response. "We are sharing the water. There are no two ways about itI am happy to know that the chief minister is looking at it in the same manner, he said.

Haasan added that though the matter was still in court, the dispute needed to be settled between the people. "The court should be the last resort. If people of Tamil Nadu and Karnataka come together, I see hope in the conversation I had with him (Kumaraswamy)," The News Minute quoted Haasan as saying.

Last week, the Centre formed the Cauvery Water Management Authority after much delay. The Supreme Court had ordered the central government to expedite the process to ensure smooth distribution of water to Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Kerala and Puducherry during the summer months.
The JD(U) core committee met in Patna on Sunday ahead of a meeting of the NDA scheduled this week, after which a senior party leader said Nitish Kumar is the face of the NDA in Bihar.

Patna: The JD(U) core committee met in Patna on Sunday ahead of a meeting of the National Democratic Alliance scheduled later this week, after which a senior party leader said Chief Minister Nitish Kumar is the face of the NDA in Bihar.

Kumar, also the JD(U) national president, held the core committee meeting at his residence.

JD(U) national general secretaries KC Tyagi and Pavan Varma, who arrived from New Delhi, poll strategist Prashant Kishor and a few other state leaders took part in the meeting.

The meeting assumes significance as the BJP-led NDA, which the JD(U) joined in August last year, is scheduled to hold a meeting in Bihar on 7 June. During the NDA meeting, to be attended by Kumar, the coalition partners are likely to discuss their strategy in the state for the next Lok Sabha polls.

Emerging out of the chief minister's residence after the meeting, Varma told reporters that Kumar "is the face of the NDA in Bihar, that is why he is the chief minister. JD(U) is the largest constituent of the coalition".

Varma's remark assumes significance amidst speculation in political circles here that the JD(U), which has only two Lok Sabha members, might press for a seat-sharing arrangement commensurate with its strength in the Bihar assembly where it has about 70 MLAs against nearly 50 of the BJP.

Besides the JD(U) and the BJP, the NDA in Bihar comprises Ram Vilas Paswan's Lok Janshakti Party and Upendra Kushwaha's Rashtriya Lok Samata Party.

The BJP had bagged 22 out of the 40 Lok Sabha seats in the state in 2014, when the JD(U) had fought separately.

However, in the wake of the poor show by the BJP in a number of bypolls recently, its allies have started voicing the need for better coordination within the NDA instead of a "big brotherly attitude" displayed by the senior coalition partner.

Asked about Kumar's renewed demand for special status to Bihar, Varma said "the party had never given up the demand. To fight for this legitimate right of the state is the JD(U)'s commitment".

He, however, declined to divulge the details of the consultations held with Kumar.
Pranab Mukherjee consenting to be chief guest at RSS' headquarters should be seen as the Sangh's attempt to broaden its base and appropriate iconic figures.

Former President Pranab Mukherjee consenting to be the chief guest at the Rashtriya Swayamsewak Sangh's headquarters in Nagpur on 7 June should be seen as the RSS' attempt to broaden its base and appropriate iconic figures.

Contrary to popular perception, the chequered history of RSS-Congress relations has seen the two cosy up, bringing dividends to both sides.

However, a closer look at Mukherjee's political and personal ambitions is also merited. To do this, it will be instructive to look at the results of a recent mood of the nation survey conducted by CSDS-Lokniti; it indicates that the BJP, on its own, will not manage the number of seats required to come back to power. A fractured mandate, naturally, will present an opportunity for people like Mukherjee to play a part in the tug and pull of power politics in 2019.

Cast back to R Venkataraman's stint as president for reference; he served between 1987-1992. This was the period when voters repeatedly returned a fractured mandate (in 1989 and 1991) and the country reluctantly accepted coalition governments as a means of governance.

During this time, Venkataraman, or RV as he was known, made a conscious effort to propagate a concept of the national government during a fractured verdict. In 1989, VP Singh headed a coalition government with support from both the political right and the left but without opting for a 'national government'. In 1991, PV Narasimha Rao counted on support from the Left to run his minority government.

On both occasions, Mukherjee, who was equally thick with RV, PV and VP, had watched developments from close quarters.

As for the RSS, it is of significance that in early April this year, the head of this organisation, Mohan Bhagwat, had asserted that slogans like 'Congress-mukt Bharat' were mere political phrases. He had remarked during a Pune speech: "These are political slogans. It is not the language of the RSS. The word 'mukt' (free or liberated from) is used in politics. We never use the language of excluding anyone."

Behind the scenes, Bhagwat's remarks had generated considerable interest. The RSS, having developed its deep interest in the "political, social, economic and cultural well-being" of the country, is said to be wary of Sonia Gandhi repeating 2004 to stitch a rainbow coalition and positioning her 'temple-hopping' son as a key political player.

Those who don't track Indian politics closely have little understanding of Congress-RSS ties. Though the country's first prime minister, Jawaharlal Nehru, was generally unsparing in criticising the RSS, he occasionally praised the Sangh Parivar, particularly when Pakistan attacked Jammu and Kashmir soon after Independence and Sangh volunteers had gone there to help. During the Chinese aggression, too, Nehru had acknowledged services rendered by the RSS and even invited the RSS to participate in the 1963 Republic Day parade.

After Indira Gandhi's assassination in 1984, it was reported that Rajiv Gandhi held a secret meeting with RSS chief Balasaheb Deoras resulting in the RSS cadre supporting the Congress in the 1984 Lok Sabha elections despite the presence of the BJP on the political scene. Rajiv had met Bhaurau Deoras, younger brother of Balasaheb, at least half a dozen times at different locations.

The RSS support for the Congress was evident even before Indira's assassination. It was evident in an article authored by veteran RSS ideologue Nanaji Deshmukh. Published in a Hindi magazine Pratipaksh (titled 'Moments of Soul searching', in the 25 November, 1984 edition), Deshmukh's article ended with a call to bless and cooperate with Rajiv when voting was less than a month away.

Deshmukh had described Indira thus: (she) ultimately did secure a permanent place at the doorstep of history as a great martyr. With her dynamism born out of her fearlessness and dexterity, she was able to take the country forward like a colossus for over a decade she alone had the ability to run the decadent political system of our corrupt and divided society"

Prior to this, Indira had sought to cultivate the majority community, accepting the invitation to launch the VHP's Ekatmata Yatra, also called the Ganga Jal Yatra.

Throughout his tenure as Congress president and prime minister, Rao was accused of going soft on RSS. In fact, before Babri Masjid fell on 6 December, 1992, Rao was in close touch with top RSS leadership in order to find an out-of-court settlement for the vexed Ayodhya issue. When Professor Rajendra Singh (Rajju Bhaiya) took over as RSS chief in 1994, a joke in a section of the Congress was: "aare Rao sahib phir rah gaye (Oh Rao has missed his chance again)."

A word about Mukherjee's ties with 10, Janpath should provide an indication about the former president's less-than-reverential regard for the present-day Congress party. Many in the Congress feel Mukherjee will go down in history as one of the best prime ministers India did not have. There are those who question Sonia's decision to make him president in 2012. Mukherjee has himself admitted in his memoirs that he was under the "impression" in 2012 that Sonia wanted to move aside Dr Manmohan Singh and crown Mukherjee as UPA's prime minister.

Congressmen attribute Sonia's lack of warmth towards Mukherjee to his uneasy ties with Rajiv. Mukherjee was expelled from the Congress in 1984 for allegedly showing defiance towards Rajiv.

Mukherjee was with Rajiv in Bengal when news of the attack on Indira reached them. The duo returned in the same aircraft. One version is that overwhelmed by grief, Mukherjee went to the aircraft's toilet and wept. He then chose to sit at the back of the aircraft because his eyes were red. But his opponents within the Congress accused him of "plotting and scheming" against Rajiv.

Another version has it that when Rajiv had posed a "theoretical question" about the "caretaker prime minister", Mukherjee had stressed on "seniority", which was later construed as his desire to occupy the prime minister's chair.

Interestingly, sources close to Sonia do not view Mukherjee's five years as president as "remarkable". He was often seen as maintaining the status quo, and who, unlike Shankar Dayal Sharma, KR Narayanan or APJ Abdul Kalam, failed to assert himself or make any significant pronouncements.

After retirement, Mukherjee has seen a lot of visitors at his 10, Rajaji Marg residence. And it is generally believed that a section of the political class, which is unsure of Rahul's ability to either lead a rainbow coalition or make Congress a stronger organisation, is working behind-the-scenes so Mukherjee takes a more "pro-active role in national life".

It is in view of such developments that one must consider Mukherjee's acceptance of the RSS invitation  it could be one of several options the former president has to re-enter public life, including engaging with third front protagonists like Naveen Patnaik and restless Congressmen unsure of Rahul's prowess.

Kidwai is an Observer Research Foundation visiting fellow, and author of the recently released Ballot: Ten Episodes that Shaped India's Democracy.
Giriraj Singh and Sambit Patra are not helping the BJP and Prime Minister Narendra Modi build the right narrative for 2019 by making acidic remarks about the desperate Opposition unity moves and comparing comparing rival leaders to Hafiz Saeed and Osama bin Laden

Giriraj Singh and Sambit Patra are not helping the BJP and Prime Minister Narendra Modi build the right narrative for 2019 by making acidic remarks about the desperate Opposition unity moves and comparing rival leaders to Hafiz Saeed and Osama bin Laden. In fact, it could even be counterproductive.

Singh and Patra may defend their statements and argue that their actions need to be seen in perspective and proper context but they have been in politics for a long time and they need to realise that it is the simple, paraphrased one-liner which frames the public debate.

Singh, Patra and their BJP colleagues have used these one-liners on their rivals to great effect and thus those on the other side of the fence will lose no time in returning the favour.

First, let's see what Singh and Patra said in their tweets:

 ,,     (NDA)             NDA      2019       Giriraj Singh (@girirajsinghbjp) June 4, 2018

Patra's tweet, posted a day earlier, was even more direct. Patra compared the Opposition's plan of a grand alliance against Modi to Hafiz Saeed. Patra attached a video of Saeed making vitriolic statements against Modi and inciting his followers to violence.

Its not just the not yet formed  that desperately wants to stop India from having Modi as its PM in 2019 ..there are others as well..desperately trying for d same! Hafiz Saeed openly saying that he will shed blood of Narendra Modi https://t.co/Zdw0qY8i7c via @YouTube  Sambit Patra (@sambitswaraj) June 3, 2018

Patra later clarified his remarks on Twitter, but remained defiant:

Off course this is not a comparison!

Modi Jis attack on Black Money and corruption is getting the opposition in India on one page while His attack on terrorism & Surgical Strike is pushing Hafeez Sayed to desperation!

This proves that the Modi government is moving the right way! https://t.co/CBu3uSTVRu  Sambit Patra (@sambitswaraj) June 3, 2018

Its a fact that Modi is perceived to be a strong leader and a polarising figure. He has been in power at the Centre for past four years but his status on both these counts remains same. He is still India's most popular leader and it is only natural that when faced with an existential crisis, all anti-Modi and anti-BJP parties and social groups are coming together.

Pakistan and terror outfits emanating from Pakistani soil are surely not comfortable with a stable and strong government in India. But the question is whether the two need to be clubbed together and, if so, will it serve any purpose in making people rally behind Modi and the BJP in upcoming Assembly elections in four states and the 2019 general election?

It should be noted that BJP president Amit Shahs statement in the run-up to Bihar electionif BJP loses, then celebrations would erupt in Pakistanwas not endorsed by the voters. The people are closely watching the Opposition's move to unite: Unlikely allies and bitter enemies coming together in sheer desperation because they feel threatened about their existence in the face of the might of the Modi-Shah combine.

The united Opposition defeated BJP in three successive bypolls in Uttar Pradesh: Gorakhpur, Phulpur and Kairana. But the BJP can console itself with the fact that despite four parties coming together (with other groups in tow), the victory margin in Kairana for the Opposition candidate was not as large as they would have liked.

Creating a scare about unlikely allies: Weak, small and driven by a singular anti-Modi agenda without offering the people any positives can only be part of BJPs narrative. People overwhelmingly voted for Modi in 2014 because of the hope he generated and the dreams he could potentially realise. He was expected to take people out of the despair that prevailed during the UPA-II.

Modi still dominates popularity ratings because he is seen to be sincere in pursuing a development agenda.

His public rallies are a clever mix of talking tall on development and rhetoric against the Opposition, particularly Sonia and Rahul Gandhi.

The BJPs challenge for 2019 lies in unveiling a theme that helps build a national narrative around the importance of Modi's return to power: An idea which would emotively bind people the way it did in 2014, seeing a messiah in Modi. Their success on that count would mean that a good number of voters would be guided by connect and chemistry of Modi and not by the caste arithmetic of the united Opposition. Thus, the focus should be on Modi and the hopes he can raise rather than the fear of terror masterminds that some BJP leaders are trying to shine a light on.

For a combined Opposition, the best case scenario is for them to make the 2019 election an aggregate of state elections and not a national election that focusses on one leader and a particular style of government. The BJP would want exactly the opposite.

Minority Affairs Minister Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi was right when, in a response to a question in Panaji, he said the next election would be fought on development, development and development. Naqvi knows very well that elections would not be fought only on development agenda and that in the end, emotive issues would win out. However, he didnt give his partys political rivals a chance to make noise.
00:34 (IST)

Updates coming to macOS Mojave: Dark Mode, Continuity Photo, News, Stocks, Safari, Mac App Store

Dark Mode comes to macOS Mojave inspired by the Mojave Desert nights

Xcode also comes in Dark Mode

Dynamic desktop changes according to the time of day

Mojave brings desktop stacks to clean up your desktop

Quick Look integrates Mark Up

Screenshots becomes even more powerful with Mojave allowing users to record animations on screen and more

Continuity Photo lets you share details from your phone to your desktop and more.

News and Stocks now comes to Mac

Voice Memos comes to macOS Mojave as well.

Home also comes to the macOS allowing for Siri voice control via MacBooks and Macs

Safari brings better ad and data tracking protection with better ad blocking

Mac App Store gets a revamp with a new Discover Tab, Top Charts, all inspired by the iOS App Store

There are new Work, Play and Developers tabs.

Video previews also come to the Mac App Store

Also new is a ratings and review API for Mac Apps

Microsoft will bring Office 365 to Mac App Store
tech2 News Staff

Motorola is all set to launch its Moto G6 and G6 Play smartphones at an event in Delhi later today. Both handsets were launched in Brazil last month, so their existence and specifications arent up for debate. The launch event will start at 11.45 am.

Brazil also saw the launch of the G6 Plus, which hasnt yet been announced for India.

How to watch

The event can be streamed LIVE on YouTube, where it will be kicked off at 11.45 am.

The event will also be streamed live on Twitter via Moto Showtime.

Moto G6

The Moto G6 is powered by a Qualcomm Snapdragon 450 SoC and 3 GB / 4 GB of RAM. Storage options include 32 GB / 64 GB options, with support for 256 GB microSD cards. The display is a 5.7-inch FHD+ (2160x1080) IPS unit in an 18:9 aspect ratio. Thankfully, it doesnt have a notch.

Cameras include a 12 MP + 5 MP f/1.8 dual rear camera setup and an 8 MP unit with an LED flash on the front. The rear camera supports FHD 60 fps recording, time lapse and slow-motion video.

Connectivity options include dual-SIM support, Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n/ac, Bluetooth 4.2, USB Type-C and a 3.5 mm headphone jack.

The battery is a 3,000 mAh unit with support for Motorolas TurboPower fast charging standard.

The glass-bodied phone features a fingerprint sensor on the front of the device, placed on the chin below the display. This device is expected to sell at between Rs 12,000 and Rs 16,000.

Moto G6 Play

The cheaper G6 Play features a Snapdragon 427 SoC thats paired with 2 GB / 3 GB of RAM and 16 GB / 32 GB of internal storage. This is expandable by up to 128 GB via a microSD card.

The display is the same size as the one the G6 (5.7 inches), but at half the resolution (HD+).

You also dont get a dual-camera on this phone, with the rear being a 13 MP f/2.0 unit and the front unit being an 8 MP one with LED flash.

This phone does come with a larger, 4,000 mAh battery and support for TurboPower charging.

Connectivity options include dual-SIM, Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n/ac, Bluetooth 4.2, NFC, microUSB and a 3.5 mm headphone jack.

The fingerprint sensor is located on the rear of the device, under the camera.

You can also follow us on Twitter for details and updates. Also, be sure to check back in after the launch even for a full review of the Moto G6.
Lenovo, the parent company of Motorola, launched its latest device the Moto X4 on 13 November in the Indian market. This launch comes right after the company launched Moto G5S Plus.

During the launch event, the company emphasised on how it wants to focus on the design of the smartphone in addition to optimised user experience to stand apart from the crowd. Lenovo has priced the base model of the Moto X4 with 3 GB RAM and 32 GB internal storage at Rs 20,999 and the top end model with 4 GB RAM and 64 GB internal storage at Rs 22,999. But, competition like Xiaomi Mi A1 and its own Moto G5S Plus and Z2 Play will give the device a tough competition.

We reviewed the Xiaomi Mi A1 and concluded that Android One and respectable mid-range specifications make for and great value proposition, especially in a price conscious market like India. We reviewed the Moto G5S Plus and stated that the device is a winning combination of good internal specifications, optimised software with competitive pricing. However, the camera needed improvements. With the launch of Moto X4, the company sent us a review unit with 4 GB RAM and 64 GB internal storage, the premium of the two variants.

The smartphone looks brilliant and similar to the Moto G5S Plus, it packs a dual camera setup on the back of the device. I have used it as my daily driver for last 10 days, pushing the smartphone to its limits in terms of usage. After extensive tests and usage, the Moto X4 has left me quite impressed. Heres why!

Build and Design: 8.5/10

The highlight of the Moto X4 is the design and it is the first thing you will notice when you take the device out of the box. I loved the design when I first took it out of the box regardless some doubts about the fingerprints on the glass back of the device. However, my concerns about the design have been unfounded as even though the back of the phone catches fingerprints, they can be easily wiped off without leaving a smudge.

The device looks premium and it was a common thing for friends and people around to inquire about phone everytime I took it out of my pocket. Lenovo has opted for a new design which refreshed the old X-series with full glass panels on the front as well as back with Corning Gorilla Glass 3. One should note that glass front and back means that the device is more vulnerable to breaking despite the Gorilla Glass 3 protection. Lenovo has stated that it would be better to use a case with the device, to ensure that the back of the device has additional protection.

Moto X4 feels sturdy and rigid in hand without any squeaking parts except probably stiff hardware buttons on the side of the device. The company has changed a number of things when it comes to the design to ensure that this is different than the current Moto G and Moto Z series. Some smaller changes include the change in shape of the fingerprint scanner on the front of the smartphone to ensure that users can easily use the One-key navigation, a Moto experience feature.

The device features a camera bump on the back, but Moto has turned that into a design opportunity. It has paid attention with the glass design around the camera bump to make it resemble a premium watch face like aesthetic. This does not mean that the bump and all the problems like unevenness, when put on a flat surface and risk of scratching the device, go away.

Moto X4 comes with a Type-C reversible USB port on the bottom of the device along with the 3.5-mm headphone jack. The SIM-tray is located towards the left side on the top of the device. The SIM tray is not rigid plastic or metal from the inside. Instead, it is a flexible plastic which is a nice touch.

You will find the volume buttons and the power button a little towards the top on the right-hand side of the device. Looking at the device from the front, you will find the 16 MP camera module at the top-right corner of the device along with the LED-flash on the top-left side of the device. There are no buttons on the left. Little details with antenna bands neatly running along the borders to integrate with the design and polished metal finish make a huge difference.

The company has also stated that the device comes with IP68-rating which means that the device remains protected from spills and dust.

Features: 7.5/10

Moto X4 features a 5.2-inch FHD display panel. Lenovo has packed a Qualcomm Snapdragon 630 SoC with an octa-core CPU clocked at up to 2.2 GHz along with Adreno 508 GPU to handle graphics-intensive tasks. The phone comes in two variants, the first with 3 GB RAM and 32 GB internal storage and the second variant with 4 GB RAM and 64 GB internal storage. Both the variants get the option to expand storage up to 2 TB using an external microSD card.

There is a dual camera setup with a 12 MP and an 8 MP camera sensor on the back of the smartphone. Moto X4 comes with a 16 MP camera module on the front of the device for good selfies. The device also packs a 3,000 mAh battery with TurboCharge.

It will come with Android Nougat 7.1.1 out of the box along with Moto experiences that include the newly introduced Moto Key, existing Moto Actions, Moto Display and Moto Voice. Lenovo has added accelerometer, gyroscope, proximity, compass and fingerprint on the front as sensors to enhance the user experience of the smartphone.

Lenovo has added Type-C USB port, GPS, NFC, Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, Bluetooth v5 with A2DP, LE, aptX, and EDR support, a 3.5 mm headphone jack and Dual nano-SIM slots for connectivity.

Display: 8/10

The Moto X4 features a 5.2-inch full-HD (1080 x 1920 pixels) LTPS IPS LCD display panel with Corning Gorilla Glass 3 for added protection. The LCD panel comes with a 424 PPI pixel density and a 68.4 percent screen-to-body ratio. These things seem to be improved when compared to previous Moto G devices or the Moto devices launched earlier this year.

The display looks bright and vibrant with good viewing angles. The brightness level does take a hit when viewed from extreme angles. The display is sharp and one can see all the details of the contents of the screen without any ghosting or haze. The screen is reflective so you will end up searching for shade when trying to view the screen and try to read the contents on the screen under direct sunlight. This is not to say that the brightness is the problem. Instead, the amount of light reflected back is the problem. The video viewing experience on the X4 is good as well.

Software: 8/10

Moto has brought back the usual bunch of tweaks to the stock Android experience in the form of Moto app along with interesting additions such as the Moto Key and Object Detection. The device packs Android Nougat 7.1.1 out of the box along with 1 September 2017 Android security patch and we can expect Android 8.0 Oreo-based update in early 2018. The software is fast and zippy out of the box and did not show any signs of slowing down despite pushing it to its limits.

I felt that the speed on system animations was sped up out of the box making it somewhat jarring in terms of transition animations. The UI seemed to skip frames because of the speed of the transition and animations. Android gives users the option to change the animation speed as part of the Developer Options in the operating system.

One needs to enable these options. I enabled them and changed the animation speed to normal and found out that it solved the issue with sped up animations that gave a feeling that the UI was skipping frames. This change turned the UI experience across the system to buttery smooth as one would expect from a well optimised operating system.

Similar to the last offering, the Moto G5S Plus, the X4 comes with a minimal amount of bloatware where users get stock Android with Moto, Device Help, and Files apps along with standard Google apps. Lenovo has added LinkedIn and Outlook in the device that can count as bloatware. The Moto app comes with Moto Actions, Moto Display, Moto Voice, and the newly introduced Moto Key feature to add to the functionality of the device. Lenovo has added the Google Assistant navigation bar animation, circular app icons and app shortcuts that we've only seen on the Pixel and other Moto devices like the Moto Z2 Play and Moto G5S Plus.

The new Moto Key feature is Lenovos attempt to make multi-device authentication easy. To clarify, Moto Key in the Moto app on the device is only a part of the entire software package which includes a full-fledged Moto Key companion app for the desktop and a Google Chrome extension. The software package as a whole allows users to log into their Windows-powered devices using the fingerprint sensor on you Moto X4 for the login authentication. This functionality extends to logging in on websites on your Windows-powered device when you are using Google Chrome. This means that if you want to log in to Facebook on your desktop, you can login without the need to type in the password by just using the fingerprint on your X4.

The entire software solution worked fine without any hiccups. However, the Moto Key software for Windows created a separate login user account for authentication to work to access my Windows account. Moto has also added a new Object and Monument detection in its camera software which Ill talk more about in the camera section.

Last but not the least, Lenovo had already launched the Moto X4 in other markets like the United States. However, the X4 in the United States is powered by Googles Android One program which enables faster updates rolled directly from Google. It would have been great to see an Android One-powered Moto device in the Indian market as a competition to Xiaomi Mi A1 but the company clarified that it did not feel the need to launch it in India because of the already-present near stock Android experience. The reason for Lenovo to launch one in the United States is because it wanted to get on the Google Project Fi network. Moto X4 also supports Amazon Alexa out of the box in the US. In India, it wasn't available at the time of testing. In essence, it is expected to function like the Google Assistant on the X4.

Performance: 7.5/10

Moto X4 performs admirably well when it comes to day-to-day usage. It handled my regular use without any problems and left me impressed as a daily driver device. I did not encounter any lags during my extended session while playing heavy duty games like Modern Combat 5, Asphalt 8: Airborne, Dead Trigger 2 and Gear Club.

It did get mildly warm around the upper left area on the back of the device, on the left of the camera bump, during the extended gaming sessions. But the heat dissipation was quick to bring the surface temperature back to normal. All the everyday apps such as WhatsApp, Skype, music streaming on Google Play Music and using Adobe Photoshop Express to edit images ran without a hitch.

I did not encounter any issue while placing cellular or internet calls on the X4 and the connectivity and voice clarity was spot on. The bundled earphones with the device were decent with a good audio quality for any pair of bundled earphones.

Talking about the benchmark scores, Moto X4 is one of the first smartphones with Qualcomm Snapdragon 630 SoC that packs an octa-core CPU clocked at up to 2.2 GHz along with Adreno 508 GPU in the Indian market. The scores were definitely higher than those of Snapdragon 625 and Snapdragon 626 and lower from Snapdragon 650 and 652 but there is no other smartphone in the Indian market that comes with Snapdragon 630 at the time of writing.

Camera: 7/10

Moto X4 comes with a dual camera setup. It has changed the type of setup that comes with the X4 when compared with the Moto G5S Plus. This time in addition to a 12 MP sensor with f/2.0 aperture, the device comes with a wide-angle 8 MP camera sensor with f/2.2 aperture. It comes with phase detection autofocus along with a dual tone flash unit on the back of the device. Moto has added a 16 MP camera module on the front of the device along with f/2.0 aperture and a LED flash unit.

Users can shoot 4K videos from the rear camera while the front camera can shoot 1080p videos. Lenovo has brought back the usual features in the camera department like Selective Focus, Replace background options in the Depth Editor app from the Moto G5S Plus. There's a new feature called the Adaptive low light on the front camera for better selfies in dimly lit conditions. The software combines the pixels captured by the camera and then outputs a smaller resolution image with lower noise and better image quality. The software also comes with a new feature called Spot Color where users can tap on any colour in the live view-finder to keep that colour while turning the rest of the image into black and white. You can also increase or decrease the intensity of the colour using a slider on the screen.

The software also added an on-screen button to switch between the regular and the wide-angle lens on the back. However, the speed of the switching mechanism is slow with noticeable lag. The company can optimise the switching time in future software updates. Another problem with the button is the fact that sometimes it was hard to stop it in highly reflective situations like direct sunlight or abundance of light from the surroundings, with the on-device view-finder pointing at a light background.

Moving on to the quality of images, the ones shot in decent lighting conditions are good with fair amount of details. The camera tends to overexpose images at times but nothing that cant be fixed using a software patch. However, the quality of images takes a hit when we try to zoom in to find the finer details in the images. There is no texture in the image despite good lighting conditions and some images look like a painting.

The situation takes a turn for the worse at night when a lot of noise is noticed in the images. The problems with the lack of texture are not limited to certain situations as it extends across the board including for HDR images as well. The company needs to improve the low light performance of the X4. The adaptive low light mode is not of much help when it comes to performance in dimly lit conditions. The images turn blotchy and grainy while shooting dark scenes. Moto has added a professional mode allowing users to tinker with shutter speed, white balance, ISO and focus of the camera and it does help with the noise reduction while experimenting with settings. The wide-angle lens on the back camera provides a great field of view allowing users to take those group selfies by flipping the phone around. The images are distorted around the corner but the field of view makes them interesting. The image quality using the wide-angle lens does take a hit because of distortion and slower aperture but the quality is good and it allows users to experiment with some unique framing opportunities. Lenovo has also added a new feature called the Object detection or Monument detection mode with Qualcomm Snapdragon 630 SoC. Qualcomm announced the details about the onboard neural engine that is backed with the Snapdragon 630. Users will need to enable it in the camera settings and then download a database that can help the device detect the 1200 monuments.

The feature is powered by the Neural Processing Engine (NPE) on the chip that has been designed to bring artificial intelligence (AI) experiences on the device. The feature allows the camera to identify the landmarks in near real-time and also provides additional information about the landmarks. The Object detection feature is powered by CloudSight where the images clicked are sent to the CloudSight server and the system runs image recognition, text recognition and other things to extrapolate the object in the image.

Battery: 8/10

Lenovo has managed to ensure that the X4 is optimised to provide good battery life. The device easily lasted a normal work day for me that included heavy usage comprising of three email accounts on sync, constant emailing, WhatsApp messages, 10-15 photos, listening to musing for 1-1.5 hours, 1-1.5 hour of YouTube videos, and an hour of gaming. The X4 scored 10 hours and 3 minutes in the PCMark for Android Work 2.0 battery test reaffirming that the battery performance in the device is respectable.

Users will get 3,000 mAh non-removable Lithium-Ion battery along with a 15W Turbo-Charger. The device supports Turbocharging to charge the device from 0 to 100 percent in 1 hour and 48 minutes.

Verdict and Price in India

Moto X4 is another impressive device by Lenovo that offers great near-stock Android software experience along with optimised battery performance. The device could handle anything that I threw at it. However, the primary highlight of the device is how premium and classy it looks without compromising on the performance front. The device does need some polishing when it comes to the camera department, but that is similar to previous Moto devices. Moto has priced the lower variant of the X4 at Rs 20,999 and the high-end variant is priced at Rs 22,999.

Even though the price may look a tad bit expensive, the company has provided a compelling package. The device wins hands down in the design department as well as the performance department considering there is no other device with Snapdragon 630 SoC in the Indian smartphone market at this price point.

The Moto X4 triumphs over two of the only devices that could challenge the X4 in this price segment, Oppo F3 Plus and Huawei Honor 9i. Other competing devices around the price segment can be the Moto G5S Plus and the Moto Z2 Play.

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Two men died after a shaft collapsed on them in an abandoned mine in Morocco. This sparked indignation among the people of Jerada, the northeastern city of Morocco.

Rabat (Morocco): Two people were killed at an abandoned mine in a northeastern region of Morocco that has been hit by social unrest sparked by similar accidents, authorities said. The accident happened when a shaft collapsed on the pair in the Sidi Boubker commune of Jerada province on Sunday as they tried to mine lead.

"Two people, aged around 33 and 42, died on Sunday following the partial collapse of a lead gallery in Sidi Boubker," the local authorities said, quoted by Moroccan news outlets.

"The victims were extracted from inside the gallery by a group of their companions," they were quoted as saying. "One of the victims, who was still alive, was rushed to hospital at Oujda University but later succumbed to their injuries." Moroccan authorities have vowed to close all abandoned mines in Jerada after months of social unrest in the former mining region.

In March, police told AFP a maximum of 300 of the mines remained open out of more than 3,200 wells in Jerada, with those abandoned presenting a "clear danger". Jerada has seen waves of peaceful demonstrations since the deaths in December of two brothers trapped in an abandoned mine shaft, as they tried to mine coal.

Two additional deaths under similar circumstances sparked anger and indignation among residents in the economically devastated town, which official statistics rank among the poorest in the kingdom. Protesters have demanded "economic alternatives" to "death mines", from which hundreds of miners have struggled to make a living despite their closure in the late 1990s.

Protesters have also lambasted the "coal barons", local notables who are mostly elected officials and have permits to resell coal taken from closed mines.
Six militants have been killed after an attack on Pakistan army posts along the country's border with Afghanistan.

Islamabad: Six militants have been killed after a thwarted attack on Pakistan army posts along the country's border with Afghanistan, the military said on Sunday.

Five soldiers were injured in two separate attacks in Balochistan, a restive province in Pakistan's south, and the tribal district of Bajaur in the country's far north.

"Security forces responded effectively and repulsed attacks, killing six terrorists," the military said in a statement, adding that four troops from the paramilitary Frontier Corps and an Air Force soldier had been injured.

The attacks targeted soldiers working to erect a fence along the length of Pakistan's 2400 kilometre border with Afghanistan, across which Pakistan alleges militants sneak into the country from its western neighbour.

Islamabad accuses Afghanistan of allowing militants hiding across the border to launch attacks on Pakistani military targets.

Several Islamist militant groups are active in Balochistan, including the Taliban and local affiliates of the Islamic State group.

The Taliban and other militant groups are also active in Bajaur, which has witnessed a spate of roadside bombings and other insurgent attacks in recent years.
TUNIS (Reuters) - At least 35 migrants were killed when their boat sank off Tunisia's southern coast and 67 others were rescued by the coast guard, the Defence Ministry said on Sunday. The rescue operation was ongoing, the ministry said in a statement. The migrants were of Tunisian and other nationalities

TUNIS (Reuters) - At least 35 migrants were killed when their boat sank off Tunisia's southern coast and 67 others were rescued by the coast guard, the Defence Ministry said on Sunday.

The rescue operation was ongoing, the ministry said in a statement. The migrants were of Tunisian and other nationalities.

Human traffickers increasingly use Tunisia as a launch pad for migrants heading to Europe as Libyas coast guard, aided by armed groups, has tightened controls.

Security officials said the boat was packed with about 180 migrants, including 80 from other African countries.

Unemployed Tunisians and other Africans often try to depart in makeshift boats from Tunisia to Sicily in Italy.

Separately, nine people including six children died on Sunday after a speedboat carrying 15 refugees sank off the coast of Turkey's southern province of Antalya, the Turkish coast guard said in a statement.

Reducing the flow of migrants into Italy is one of the aims of the anti-immigrant League party in Italy and its leader Matteo Salvini who was sworn in as the country's new interior minister on Friday.

Salvini and his party have promised to block the arrival of boat migrants from Africa and to deport up to 100,000 illegal immigrants per year.

"The objective is to save lives. And this is done by preventing the departures of the boats of death that are a business for some and a disgrace for the rest of the world," Salvini said in a statement commenting on both the incidents.

"I will work to ensure that all the international organisations commit to stop departures, landings and deaths."

As of May 30, 32,080 people had reached Europe by sea so far this year, the International Organization for Migration (IOM) said on its website. Some 660 had died attempting the crossing, it said.

(Reporting by Tarek Amara in TUNIS and Agnieszka Flak in MILAN; Writing by Ulf Laessing; Editing by Raissa Kasolowsky, Dale Hudson and Jane Merriman)

This story has not been edited by Firstpost staff and is generated by auto-feed.
Berlin police shot and wounded a 53-year-old Austrian man who yelled and waved a knife inside the cathedral in the center of the German capital on Sunday, a police spokesman said.

Berlin: Berlin police shot and wounded a 53-year-old Austrian man who yelled and waved a knife inside the cathedral in the center of the German capital on Sunday, a police spokesman said.

There was no immediate indication the man's reported actions were linked to terrorism, Berlin police spokesman Winfrid Wenzel said. The dpa news agency quoted police as saying the man appeared to be confused.

Wenzel said the incident began when the man entered the Berliner Dom and waved a knife in the area of the altar. Cathedral employees called police and safely escorted about 100 visitors out of the holy site.

Two officers responded to the call and asked the suspect repeatedly to put down the knife, to no avail, police said. The officers used a chemical spray to disarm him, but it did not seem to have an effect.

One of the officers then opened fire, wounding the man. The second officer also was inadvertently wounded by the shot fired by his colleague, Berlin police said.

Both the suspect and the police officer were taken to a hospital. Police said the suspect underwent surgery, while the officer was treated for minor injuries and released.

Initial reports had said the officer was seriously wounded.

The area around the cathedral is typically crowded with tourists and visitors, particularly on Sunday. A Sunday evening prayer service at the church was cancelled.
Chinas door to talks is open in principle, the countrys foreign ministry said on Monday.

Beijing: Chinas door to talks is open in principle, the countrys foreign ministry said on Monday, a day after Beijing warned that any trade and business deals reached with Washington would be void if the United States implemented tariffs.

The United States and China have threatened tit-for-tat tariffs on goods worth up to $150 billion each, as US president Donald Trump has pushed Beijing to open its economy further and address the United States large trade deficit with China.

The two countries ended their latest round of negotiations on Sunday, with US commerce secretary Wilbur Ross and his delegation leaving Beijing without making a public statement, and China making no mention of any new agreements.

Following Chinese vice-premier Liu Hes talks with Ross, China referred instead to a consensus reached last month in Washington, when China agreed to increase significantly its purchases of US goods and services.

It also warned that any tariffs and other trade measures implemented by Washington would derail any agreements between the two sides.

Foreign ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying referred questions to the countrys commerce ministry when asked at a regular news briefing when and where a next round of talks might occur, and if Liu was preparing to go to the United States.

But I think Chinas position in principle is very clear, which is that Chinas door to dialogue and consultations is always open, Hua said.

China is sincere in wanting to appropriately resolve the problem via talks, she added, without elaborating.

Chinas State Council Information Office and the Commerce Ministry did not reply to Reuters request for comment on the issue.

In an editorial, the official state-run China Daily said the outcome of the weekend talks suggested both sides had continued to take a constructive approach, but warned of Trumps unpredictability.

Trump claims that he is seeking fairness and reciprocity in the US' economic relationship with China, but so far he has sought to extort gains from China using the economic advantages the US has, it said.

At the end of last months talks in Washington, the two countries released a joint statement, and US treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin later said the trade war was on hold.

But just when it appeared a trade truce between the two economic heavyweights was on the cards, the White House last week warned it would pursue tariffs on $50 billion worth of Chinese imports, as well as impose restrictions on Chinese investments in the United States and tighter export controls.

The heightened trade tensions with China come as Trump has angered US allies, including Canada, Mexico and the European Union, with tariffs on metal imports.
China has balked at stepping up its purchases of American products if President Donald Trump follows through on his threat to tax Chinese imports.

Beijing: China has balked at stepping up its purchases of American products, raising the odds of a trade war, if President Donald Trump follows through on his threat to tax billions of dollars' worth of Chinese imports.

The warning from Beijing came after delegations led by US commerce secretary Wilbur Ross and China's top economic official, Vice Premier Liu He, wrapped up talks on Beijing's pledge to narrow its trade surplus. White House advisers were insisting on fundamental changes in ties between the world's two biggest economic powers.

At the outset of the event Ross said the two sides had discussed specific American exports China might purchase, but the talks ended with no joint statement and neither side released details.

"Both sides appear to have hardened their negotiating stances and are waiting for the other side to blink," said Eswar Prasad, professor of trade policy at Cornell University. "Despite the potential negative repercussions for both economies, the risk of a full-blown China-US trade war, with tariffs and other trade sanctions being imposed by both sides, has risen significantly."

Asked specifically on Fox's Sunday Morning Futures if the US is willing to throw away its relationship with China by proceeding with threatened tariff hikes, Peter Navarro, director of the White House National Trade Council, pointed in part to an unfair relationship involving a multi-billion dollar trade deficit, Defense Secretary Jim Mattis' warning of China's activities in the South China Sea and the threat of China stealing US intellectual property.

"That's a relationship with China that structurally has to change," he said. "We would love to have a peaceful, friendly relationship with China. But we're also standing firm that the president is the leader on this."

The US has threatened to impose tariffs on up to $50 billion of Chinese products in a dispute over Beijing's aggressive tactics to challenge US technological dominance; Trump has asked US Trade Rep. Robert Lighthizer to look for another $100 billion in Chinese products to tax. China has targeted $50 billion in US products for possible retaliation.

Tensions temporarily eased on 19 May after China promised to "significantly increase" its purchases of US farm, energy and other products. Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin said then that the US tariffs were suspended and the trade war was "on hold." The purchases are meant to reduce America's massive trade deficit in goods and services with China, which last year came to $337 billion, according to the US commerce department.

After the apparent ceasefire, global financial markets rallied in relief.

But Trump upended the truce last Tuesday by renewing his threat to impose 25 percent tariffs on $50 billion in Chinese high-tech goods. The tariffs are meant to pressure Beijing for allegedly stealing trade secrets and forcing foreign companies to hand over technology in exchange for access to the Chinese market. Navarro later called Mnuchin's conciliatory comments "an unfortunate soundbite."

Ross nonetheless journeyed to Beijing on Friday to work out details of the vague agreement Mnuchin had earlier cobbled together with the Chinese vice premier. China balked at making concessions unless the US lifted the tariff threat.

"If the United States introduces trade sanctions including a tariff increase, all the economic and trade achievements negotiated by the two parties will not take effect," said a Chinese government statement, carried by the official Xinhua News Agency.

The negotiating process should be "based on the premise" of not fighting a "trade war," the statement said.

The dispute with China comes at the same time Trump has riled some of America's closest allies with the imposition of tariffs on steel and aluminum imports.

After a three-day meeting of finance ministers from the G7 industrial nations that ended on Saturday in Canada, Canadian finance minister Bill Morneau issued a summary saying the other six members want Trump to hear their message of "concern and disappointment" over the US trade actions.

Allies including Canada and the European Union are threatening retaliatory tariffs.

Canadian prime minister Justin Trudeau told NBC's Meet the Press on Sunday that the reciprocal tariffs would hurt both US and Canadian workers and consumers. He also pushed back against the argument that Canadian steel poses a US security threat.

"The idea that we are somehow a national security threat to the United States is quite frankly insulting and unacceptable," he said. Bruno Le Maire, France's finance and economy minister, also called the US tariffs unjustified. "We regret that our common work together at the level of the G7 has been put at risk by the decisions taken by the American administration on trade and on tariffs," he said.

Trade analysts had warned Ross's hand might be weakened if the Trump administration alienated allies who share complaints about Chinese technology policy and a flood of low-priced steel, aluminum and other exports.
The US Government believes that information leaked by Edward Snowden in 2013 will have a impact on surveillance and security measures for years to come.

Washington: National Security Agency (NSA) contractor Edward Snowden blew the lid off US government surveillance methods five years ago, but intelligence chiefs complain that revelations from the trove of classified documents he disclosed are still trickling out.

These revelations include recent reporting on a mass surveillance program run by close US ally Japan and information on how the NSA targeted bitcoin users to gather intelligence to combat narcotics and money laundering. The Intercept, an investigative publication with access to Snowden documents, published stories on both subjects.

The top US counterintelligence official said journalists have released only about 1 percent of the data taken by the 34-year-old American, now living in exile in Russia, "so we don't see this issue ending anytime soon."

"This past year, we had more international Snowden-related documents and breaches than ever," Bill Evanina, who directs the National Counterintelligence and Security Center, said at a recent conference. "Since 2013, when Snowden left, there have been thousands of articles around the world with really sensitive stuff that's been leaked."

On 5 June, 2013, The Guardian in Britain published the first story based on Snowden's disclosures. It revealed that a secret court order was allowing the US government to get Verizon to share the phone records of millions of Americans. Later stories, including those in The Washington Post, disclosed other snooping and how American and British spy agencies had accessed information from cables carrying the world's telephone and internet traffic.

Snowden's defenders maintain that the US government has for years exaggerated the damage that his disclosures have caused. Glenn Greenwald, an Intercept co-founder and former journalist at The Guardian, said there are "thousands upon thousands of documents" that journalists have chosen not to publish because they would harm peoples' reputation or privacy rights or because it would expose "legitimate surveillance programs."

"It's been almost five years since newspapers around the world began reporting on the Snowden archive and the NSA has offered all kinds of shrill and reckless rhetoric about the 'damage' it has caused, but never any evidence of a single case of a life being endangered let alone harmed," Greenwald added.

US intelligence officials say they are still counting the cost of his disclosures that went beyond actual intelligence collected to how it was collected. Evanina said intelligence agencies are finishing their seventh classified assessment of the damage.

Joel Melstad, a spokesman for the counterintelligence center, said five US intelligence agencies contributed to the latest damage assessment, which itself is highly classified. Melstad said damage has been observed or verified in five categories of information the US government keeps classified to protect national security.

According to Melstad, Snowden-disclosed documents have put US personnel or facilities at risk around the world, damaged intelligence collection efforts, exposed tools used to amass intelligence, destabilized US partnerships abroad and exposed US intelligence operations, capabilities and priorities.

"With each additional disclosure, the damage is compounded  providing more detail to what our adversaries have already learned," Melstad said.

Steven Aftergood, a declassification expert at the Federation of American Scientists, said he thinks intelligence agencies are continuing to do Snowden damage assessments because the disclosures' relevance to foreign targets might take time to recognize and understand. He said the way that intelligence targets adapt based on information revealed and the impact on how the US collects intelligence could continue for years. He also added that any damage that Snowden caused to US intelligence partners abroad would have been felt immediately after the disclosures began in 2013.

Moscow has resisted US pressure to extradite Snowden, who faces US charges that could land him in prison for up to 30 years. From exile, Snowden often does online public speaking and has been active in developing tools that reporters can use, especially in authoritarian countries, to detect whether they are under surveillance.

Snowden supporters say that the government is exaggerating when it claims he took more than 1 million documents and that far fewer have actually been disclosed.

"I think the number of NSA documents that have been published is in the hundreds and not the thousands," said Snowden's lawyer, Ben Wizner. He said the government has never produced any public evidence that the released materials have cause "genuine harm" to US national security.

"The mainstream view among intelligence professionals is that every day and every year that has gone by has lessened the value and importance of the Snowden archives," Wizner said. "The idea that information that was current in 2013  and a lot of it was much older than that  might still alert somebody to anything in 2018 seems like a stretch."

Greenwald said the journalists were handed some 9,000 to 10,000 secret documents under the condition that they avoid disclosing any information that could harm innocent people, and that they give the NSA a chance to argue against the release of certain classified materials.

"We've honored his request with each document we've released," Greenwald said. "In most cases, we've rejected the NSA's arguments as unsubstantiated, but always gave them the opportunity for input, and will continue to do so."

He said that in 2016, The Intercept announced a program to disclose Snowden documents in bulk and open the collection to journalists and other experts around the world. Greenwald said that since then, hundreds of documents have been disclosed at a time after careful reviews.
US President Donald Trump defended his tough trade negotiations with China, Canada and Mexico on Monday, saying that U.S. farmers have been treated 'unfairly.' The president vowed to turn the tide and break down large trade barriers with top trading partners.

Washington: US President Donald Trump defended his tough trade negotiations with China, Canada and Mexico on Monday, saying that U.S. farmers have been treated "unfairly." The president vowed to turn the tide and break down large trade barriers with top trading partners.

Trump opened the week with a series of tweets pointing to his ongoing trade talks with China and a slew of U.S. allies, pointing to his work to help the nation's agriculture industry. He tweeted that farmers hadn't been "doing well for 15 years," blaming the policies of Mexico, Canada and China.

"By the time I finish trade talks, that will change. Big trade barriers against U.S. farmers, and other businesses, will finally be broken. Massive trade deficits no longer!" Trump tweeted. In a separate tweet, he wrote that China "already charges a tax of 16% on soybeans. Canada has all sorts of trade barriers on our Agricultural products. Not acceptable!"

The president last week imposed tariffs on steel and aluminum imports from top U.S. trading partners, including Canada, Mexico and the European Union. And he has threatened tariffs on up to $200 billion in Chinese imports, raising the potential for retaliation in a dispute involving the globe's two largest economies.

Senate Republicans have warned that the tariffs could dampen the economic gains from the GOP tax cuts and sour the mood among voters as lawmakers are campaigning to protect the Republican majority in Congress.

Many farm-belt lawmakers worry that the trade disputes could make American farmers the target of retaliation. Mexico, for example, has said it will penalize U.S. imports including pork, apples, grapes and cheeses.

Groups backed by the influential Koch brothers' network announced they were launching a new multimillion dollar campaign to oppose tariffs and highlight the benefits of free trade. The groups  Freedom Partners Chamber of Commerce, Americans for Prosperity and The LIBRE Initiative  called on Congress to exert oversight by requiring House and Senate votes on any new tariffs and urged the lifting of the recent steel and aluminum tariffs as well as those being proposed on goods from China.

Freedom Partners' James Davis said they wanted to confront "protectionist ideas" they say would hold back the economy.

Trump has also received blowback from world leaders. British Prime Minister Theresa May told Trump that his decision to impose tariffs on steel and aluminum imports from the European Union was "unjustified and deeply disappointing."

Trump's hard-line rhetoric comes as Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross returns from China as part of the ongoing trade discussions. The White House said the meeting focused on reducing the U.S. trade deficit by having China buy more agricultural and energy products.

But China said any agreements with Washington in their talks on settling a sprawling trade dispute "will not take effect" if threatened U.S. sanctions including tariff hikes go ahead.
It is important to understand that what 'denuclearisation' means for the US and South Korea, may not mean the same thing for North Korea, which could complicate talks between Donald Trump and Kim Jong-un.

As US president Donald Trump and North Korea's leader Kim Jong-un gear up for the much-awaited 12 June summit in Singapore, the term "denuclearisation" figures heavily in conversations surrounding the event.

On Saturday, Defence Secretary Jim Mattis reiterated the terms of sanctions relief for North Korea. "North Korea will receive relief only when it demonstrates verifiable and irreversible steps to denuclearisation," he said, speaking at a security conference in Singapore.

During the most recent meeting between Kim Jong-un and South Korean president Moon Jae-in on 26 May, the latter said: "Kim stressed again that he had a firm determination towards complete denuclearisation."

However, there may be a possible spanner in the works that could complicate matters between Trump and Kim: The word 'denuclearisation' may have different connotations for Washington, Seoul and Pyongyang.

What 'denuclearisation' means to the US

The US wants nothing short of a complete, verifiable, irreversible dismantlement (CVID) of North Korea's nuclear weapons and the facilities needed to build those weapons as soon as possible. The intention is to ensure the existing facilities cannot be reactivated after they've been dismantled. The use of CVID as official policy dates back to October 2006, when the United Nations Security Council condemned Pyongyang's nuclear test, and has been used consistently since in all UN resolution criticising North Korea's nuclear ambitions.

In the event of a "complete denuclearisation", US will expect international bodies such as the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) to be allowed to conduct regular inspections to keep track of Kim's nuclear programme.

What 'denuclearisation' means to North Korea

For Kim, his country's nuclear programme is a "powerful treasured sword". North Korea, for decades, has been pushing a concept of "denuclearisation" that bears no resemblance to the American definition, vowing to pursue nuclear development unless Washington removes its troops from the Korean Peninsula and the nuclear umbrella defending South Korea and Japan.

At the height of the Cold War, US deployed strategic nuclear weapons in South Korea in the 1960s, which remained with the country till 1992, according to a report in The Diplomat. However, according to CNN, North Korea considers US presence on the peninsula as a serious nuclear threat, given the latter's huge stockpile of nuclear arsenal. And they have good reason to be.

The US has an unparalleled ability to project power around the world and can reach targets anywhere with conventional or nuclear munitions. It has long-range bombers, mid-air refuelling capabilities, and a fleet of nuclear submarines constantly at sea, each armed with phenomenal destructive power.

In 2016, North Korea laid out conditions for disbanding its nuclear programme, which included that US and Seoul allow international verification to remove all previously stationed weapons in South Korea, guarantee the US would never deploy nuclear weapons on the Korean Peninsula, and not use it to threaten Pyongyang or attack it.

The main argument Pyongyang makes, as Olly Terry writes in The Diplomat, is: How can we be expected to give up our nuclear security guarantees, when our neighbours/enemies in the South still have American nuclear security guarantees protecting them?

Analysts believe the most likely compromise could be North Korea agreeing to freeze weapons and missile tests and possibly cap its weapons development in return for sanctions relief and a reduction or freezing of joint US-South Korean military drills.

However, such a proposition is a highly unattractive course of action for the US as Washington would not want to give up its strategic advantage of having troops and military present in the region. In fact, Jim Mattis recently made clear that the issue of US troops stationed in South Korea will not be "on the table" at the summit between Trump and Kim.

Why Kim won't agree to Trump's 'denuclearisation'

The autocratic regime believes the US and South Korea want to topple his government. According to Vox, the North Korean leader is aware of what happened in other countries such as Iraq and Libya under similar circumstances. When Saddam Hussein persuaded the world he had weapons of mass destruction (he didn't), the US invaded Iraq in 2003 and drove him out of power. Hussein eventually died, too.

In Libya, Muammar Qaddafi gave up his nuclear programme in order to build better ties with the Western world. Instead, he was ousted and brutally killed by a mob.

Ukraine presents another example. Between 1994 and 1996, the country had agreed to deliver nuclear weapons to Russia which the former Soviet Union had left there, with promise of receiving security memorandums from the US, Russia and other countries, as per Nikkei Asian Review. However, following numerous military incursions, Russia annexed part of Ukraine in 2014.

According to Nikkei, even if Kim agrees to abandon his nuclear programme, he will demand that he his family's dynasty be not encroached. Crippling international sanctions have also weakened the North Korean economy.

'Complete denuclearisation of the Korean peninsula'

As the long warring Korean neighbours met at a historic summit at the Demilitarised Zone in April, the leaders of the two nations promised to achieve "a nuclear-free Korean Peninsula through complete denuclearisation".

Even in statements released from North Korea, Kim has always called for nuclear disarmament of both North and South Korea. The Northwhich invaded its neighbour in 1950is the only one of the two Koreas to possess nuclear weapons, but the South has a security alliance with the US.

The US has 28,500 troops stationed in South Korea (to defend it from its neighbour), and Washington's nuclear arsenal is a key part of its defence capabilities: It does not have a "no first use" policy.

Pyongyang says it needs nuclear weapons to defend itself against the United States, and interprets threats against it widely: It has regularly condemned US-South Korean joint military exercises as preparations for invasion.

Under the 1953 Mutual Defence Treaty between South Korea and the US, Washington is duty-bound to come to its ally's aid if attacked.

Most analysts and political observers believe that Kim isn't talking about dismantling, and abandoning his nuclear programme completely. North Korea has long said it is open to eventually giving up its nuclear arsenal if the US withdraws its troops from South Korea and ends its nuclear umbrella security alliance with Seoul, among other conditions.

What's the compromise the two could reach?

According to The Diplomat, the amicable compromise would be to agree to the creation of a "nuclear free weapons zone" (NFWZ). It was an idea floated by former North Korean leader Kim Il-sung in the 1990s whereby neighbouring regions, countries and continents agree not to deploy nuclear weapons in their backyards.

Internationally, NFWZs are desirable as they can be enforced with Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons Treaty (NPT), UN resolutions and international declarations. With a NFWZ, member countries' safety is inter-dependent. which takes away the risk of using weapons to threaten neighbouring countries. Latin America, Carribean, Southeast Asia and Africa are UN-recognised nuclear free weapons zone.

For negotiations between US and North Korea, the road ahead is likely bumpy.

With inputs from agencies
US president Donald Trump on Monday asserted an 'absolute right' to pardon himself, once again lashing out at a probe into possible collusion with Russian election meddling and obstruction of justice.

Washington: US president Donald Trump on Monday asserted an "absolute right" to pardon himself, once again lashing out at a probe into possible collusion with Russian election meddling and obstruction of justice.

Trump tweeted:

As has been stated by numerous legal scholars, I have the absolute right to PARDON myself, but why would I do that when I have done nothing wrong? In the meantime, the never ending Witch Hunt, led by 13 very Angry and Conflicted Democrats (& others) continues into the mid-terms!  Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) June 4, 2018

It was believed to be the first time Trump himself has asserted the power, although his lawyers have taken an expansive views of the president's prerogatives, including the right to pardon.

A Trump lawyer, Rudy Giuliani, argued on Sunday that the president "probably" had the power to pardon himself, but doing so would have "tough" political ramifications.

In a letter to Robert Mueller, the special counsel investigating the Russia meddling, the president's lawyers argued in January that Trump "could, if he wished, terminate the inquiry, or even exercise his power to pardon if he so desired."
An attorney for US president Donald Trump stressed on Sunday that the president's legal team would contest any effort to force the president to testify in front of a grand jury during the special counsel's Russia probe but downplayed the idea that Trump could pardon himself.

Washington: An attorney for US president Donald Trump stressed on Sunday that the president's legal team would contest any effort to force the president to testify in front of a grand jury during the special counsel's Russia probe but downplayed the idea that Trump could pardon himself.

Rudy Giuliani, in a series of television interviews, emphasised one of the main arguments in a newly unveiled letter sent by Trump's lawyers to special counsel Robert Mueller back in January: that a president can't be given a grand jury subpoena as part of the investigation into foreign meddling in the 2016 election.

But he distanced himself from one of their bolder arguments in the letter, which was first reported Saturday by The New York Times, that a president could not have committed obstruction of justice because he has authority to "if he wished, terminate the inquiry, or even exercise his power to pardon."

"Pardoning himself would be unthinkable and probably lead to immediate impeachment," Giuliani told NBC's Meet the Press. ''And he has no need to do it, he's done nothing wrong."

The former New York City mayor, who was not on the legal team when the letter was written, added that Trump "probably does" have the power to pardon himself, an assertion challenged by legal scholars, but says the president's legal team hasn't discussed that option, which many observers believe could plunge the nation into a constitutional crisis.

"I think the political ramifications would be tough," Giuliani told ABC's This Week. ''Pardoning other people is one thing, pardoning yourself is tough."

Trump has issued two unrelated pardons in recent days and discussed others, a move that has been interpreted as a possible signal to allies ensnared in the Russia probe.

The letter is dated 29 January and addressed to Mueller from John Dowd, a Trump lawyer who has since resigned from the legal team. Mueller has requested an interview with the president to determine whether he had criminal intent to obstruct the investigation into his associates' possible links to Russia's election interference.

Giuliani said Sunday that a decision about an interview would not be made until after Trump's summit with North Korean leader Kim Jong-un on 12 June in Singapore, and he cast doubt that it would occur at all.

"I mean, we're leaning toward not," Giuliani told ABC. "But look, if they can convince us that it will be brief, it would be to the point, there were five or six points they have to clarify, and with that, we can get this  this long nightmare for the  for the American public over."

Trump's legal team has long pushed the special counsel to narrow the scope of its interview. Giuliani also suggested that Trump's lawyers had been incorrect when they denied that the president was involved with the letter that offered an explanation for Donald Trump Jr's 2016 Trump Tower meeting with Russians who offered damaging information on Democrat Hillary Clinton.

"This is the reason you don't let the president testify," Giuliani told ABC. "Our recollection keeps changing, or we're not even asked a question and somebody makes an assumption."

If Trump does not consent to an interview, Mueller will have to decide whether to go forward with a historic grand jury subpoena. His team raised the possibility in March of subpoenaing the president, but it is not clear if it is still under active consideration.

A court battle is likely if Trump's team argues that the president can't be forced to answer questions or be charged with obstruction of justice. Former president Bill Clinton was charged with obstruction in 1998 by the House of Representatives as part of his impeachment trial. And one of the articles of impeachment prepared against ex-president Richard Nixon in 1974 was for obstruction.

Giuliani suggested Sunday that, despite the president's broad powers, a theoretical charge of obstruction may be possible in some cases. Topics of Mueller's obstruction investigation include the firings of FBI director James Comey and former national security adviser Michael Flynn, as well as Trump's reaction to Attorney General Jeff Sessions' recusal from the Russia investigation.

In addition to the legal battles, Trump's team and allies have waged a public relations campaign against Mueller and the Justice Department to discredit the investigation and soften the impact of the special counsel's potential findings. Giuliani said last week that the special counsel probe may be an "entirely illegitimate investigation" and need to be curtailed because, in his estimation, it was based on inappropriately obtained information from an informant and Comey's memos.

In reality, the FBI began a counterintelligence investigation in July 2016 to determine if Trump campaign associates were coordinating with Russia to tip the election. The investigation was opened after the hacking of Democratic emails that intelligence officials later formally attributed to Russia.

Trump's team has asked for a briefing about the informant, but Giuliani said on Sunday that the president would not order the Justice Department to comply because it would negatively affect public opinion. But he continued to cast doubt on the special counsel's eventual findings, suggesting that Trump has already offered explanations for the matters being investigated and that the special counsel was biased against the president.

"For every one of these things he did, we can write out five reasons why he did it," Giuliani said. "If four of them are completely innocent and one of them is your assumption that it's a guilty motive, which (Trump) would deny, you can't possibly prosecute him."

The special counsel's office did not respond to a request for comment.

Trump, who was spending a rainy Washington weekend at Camp David, also unleashed a new attack on the Justice Department, which he has repeatedly painted as corrupt and biased against him.

"As only one of two people left who could become President, why wouldn't the FBI or Department of "Justice" have told me that they were secretly investigating Paul Manafort (on charges that were 10 years old and had been previously dropped) during my campaign? Should have told me!" Trump tweeted.

As only one of two people left who could become President, why wouldnt the FBI or Department of Justice have told me that they were secretly investigating Paul Manafort (on charges that were 10 years old and had been previously dropped) during my campaign? Should have told me!  Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) June 3, 2018

Manafort, who was Trump's campaign chairman, faces charges of acting as an unregistered foreign agent and money-laundering conspiracy and also two false-statement charges related to information he shared with the Justice Department about his Ukrainian political work. Trump has argued that the claims predate Manafort's involvement with his Republican campaign. The FBI has not said it told the campaign about the investigation, though the bureau did provide a routine briefing for the campaign about foreign counterintelligence threats.
BERLIN (Reuters) - German police on Sunday said they had shot and injured a man who had rampaged with a knife through the Berlin Cathedral, and also said there were no signs the incident was politically motivated. Police said on Twitter that officers rushed to the scene after a staff member at the Berliner Dom, a major tourist attraction on the historic Museum Island in the German capital, called the emergency services to report the incident.

BERLIN (Reuters) - German police on Sunday said they had shot and injured a man who had rampaged with a knife through the Berlin Cathedral, and also said there were no signs the incident was politically motivated.

Police said on Twitter that officers rushed to the scene after a staff member at the Berliner Dom, a major tourist attraction on the historic Museum Island in the German capital, called the emergency services to report the incident.

A policeman shot the knife-wielding man in the legs. One policeman was also injured, police said, providing no details on how the injuries were sustained.

Both the suspect and the police officer were taken to hospital for treatment. Some 100 people were at the Dom at the time, police said.

"There are no indications that the motive was terrorism- or Islamist-related," police wrote on Twitter.

(Reporting by Tom Koerkemeier and Scot Stevenson; Writing by Joseph Nasr; editing by David Stamp/David Evans and Jane Merriman)

This story has not been edited by Firstpost staff and is generated by auto-feed.
International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons, a Nobel Prize winning, anti-nuclear organization has offered to pay for North Korea's president Kim Jong-un's stay in Singapore during the US- North Korea summit.

Tokyo: A Nobel Prize-winning anti-nuclear group offered on Monday to pay for next week's historic summit between the US and North Korea- including the delicate issue of Kim Jong-un's hotel bill.

But one of the main concerns to address is, who is likely to pay for the North Korean leaders stay in Singapore. The US is prepared to pay but fears offending North Korea, the Washington Post wrote last week.

The International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons (ICAN) said it was willing to help resolve the impasse by bankrolling Kim's delegation, using part of the $1.1 million cash prize it received for winning last year's Nobel Peace Prize.

"We are ready to shoulder the cost of the summit, naturally including expenses for accommodation and conference venues," said Akira Kawasaki, an ICAN representative in Japan. "If holding the summit is in danger because of financial problems, we are ready to shoulder the cost as it is an important, historic meeting," he added.

Kawasaki declined to say how much ICAN could stump up but said part of the Nobel Prize award would be put to the summit "in order to support peace in the Korean peninsula and a nuclear weapon-free world". The sum would be negotiated if North Korea accepted the offer, he said.

The presidential suite at the Fullerton boasts, according to its website, a baby grand piano and claims to be "the most exclusive hotel suite in Singapore." With a private elevator offering exclusive access, the suite is 201 square metres and reportedly costs more than $6,000 for one night.

Reporters camped outside the hotel last week to catch a glimpse of Kim Chang-son, Kim's de facto chief of staff, who travelled to Singapore to lay the groundwork for the 12 June summit. The Singapore dialogue will be the first time a sitting US president has met a North Korean leader.

Talks are expected to focus on denuclearisation of the Korean peninsula and improving relations between Washington and Pyongyang.
Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu embarks on Monday on a three-day European tour in Germany set to be dominated by strategic differences on Iran

Berlin: Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu embarks on Monday on a three-day European tour in Germany set to be dominated by strategic differences on Iran, as leaders attempt to rescue the nuclear deal after US withdrawal.

With partners in Berlin, Paris and London still reeling from President Donald Trump's decision last month to exit the hard-fought 2015 accord, Netanyahu is expected to seek European cooperation on a still-to-be-determined Plan B.

"The aim to prevent Iran from developing any kind of nuclear capacity was always the foundation of international policy on Iran," Israel's ambassador to Germany, Jeremy Issacharoff, told AFP ahead of the visit.

Issacharoff said that despite "differences of opinion" on how to achieve the aim of hemming in Iran on nuclear matters, "we share the same goal".

Germany, France and Britain are three of the signatories of the 2015 Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) between world powers and Iran, aimed at keeping Tehran from acquiring nuclear weapons.

Netanyahu, who has railed against the deal which offers sanctions relief in exchange for strict limits on Iran's nuclear activities, will hold talks with Chancellor Angela Merkel in Berlin in the late afternoon, followed by a joint news conference.

He will continue on to Paris for meetings with French president Emmanuel Macron on Tuesday and British prime minister Theresa May on Wednesday.

'Not perfect'

In the face of the US retreat, all three leaders strongly defend the agreement as the best way to head off a regional arms race and have vowed with Russia and China, the two other signatory countries, to keep it alive.

German foreign minister Heiko Maas huddled with his Chinese counterpart Wang Yi on Thursday and insisted that Berlin "wants to maintain the nuclear agreement and make sure Iran maintains it too".

At the same news conference, Wang launched an unvarnished attack on US reliability in global affairs under Trump.

"It is a truism of international law that international accords must be respected... (and) major countries must set an example, not do the opposite," he said.

Supporters also fear the reimposition of US sanctions could hit European firms that have done business with Iran since the accord was signed.

Merkel has acknowledged that while European powers see the JCPOA as the best guarantee against an Iran with nuclear weapons, it is "not perfect".

The Europeans have proposed hammering out a supplementary deal with Tehran covering its ballistic missile programme as well as its interventions in countries such as Lebanon, Syria, Iraq and Yemen.

Western powers view Iran's meddling as destabilising for the region while Israel sees it as a direct threat to its existence.

"I will discuss with them ways to block Iran's nuclear aspirations and Iran's expansion in West Asia," Netanyahu said last week of his European meetings, noting the issues were "crucial to Israel's security".

Israel is considered the leading military power in West Asia and believed to be the only country in the region to possess nuclear weapons.

Far-right 'minimising Holocaust'

The visit to Germany, traditionally Israel's closest European ally due to the enduring responsibility Berlin accepts for the Holocaust, comes at a time of further diplomatic tensions.

Merkel has repeatedly criticised expanding Israeli settlements in occupied Palestinian territory as destructive to long-thwarted hopes for a two-state solution.

However Berlin has defended Israel's right to retaliate against rocket attacks from Gaza amid the worst military flare-up in the beleaguered Palestinian enclave since a 2014 war.

Meanwhile Merkel has vowed in recent months to fight a resurgence of anti-Semitism in Germany stemming from homegrown extremists and the massive influx of Muslim asylum seekers since the refugee crisis of 2015.

Alexander Gauland, a leader of the far-right Alternative for Germany, the biggest opposition party in parliament, unleashed a storm of protest at the weekend when he described the Nazi period and the Holocaust as little more than a "speck of bird shit in over 1,000 years of successful German history".
Iran's foreign minister, Mohammad Javad Zarif called for international condemnation against America's 'extremism' and 'lawbreaking and bullying behaviour'.

Tehran: The world should stand up to Washingtons bullying behaviour, Irans foreign minister was quoted as saying on Sunday by state media in a letter to counterparts, as the top diplomat intensifies efforts to save a nuclear deal after a US exit.

US president Donald Trump pulled out in May from the 2015 accord between Iran and world powers that lifted sanctions on Tehran in exchange for curbs to its nuclear programme.

The remaining signatories of the deal  France, Germany, Britain, Russia and China  still see the international accord as the best chance of stopping Tehran developing a nuclear weapon and are trying to salvage it.

In a letter from Iranian foreign minister Mohammad Javad Zarif to his counterparts last week, he asked the remaining signatories and other trade partners to make up for Irans losses caused by the US exit, if they sought to save the deal.

The JCPOA (nuclear deal) does not belong to its signatories, so one party can reject it based on domestic policies or political differences with a former ruling administration, Zarif was quoted as saying in the letter, parts of which were published by the state news agency IRNA on Sunday.

The nuclear deal was the result of meticulous, sensitive and balanced multilateral talks, Zarif said, and could not be renegotiated as the United States has demanded.

He said US illegal withdrawal from the deal and its bullying methods to bring other governments in line with that decision have discredited the rule of law in international arena.

Irans top leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has set out a series of conditions on for European powers if they want Tehran to stay in the nuclear deal, including steps to safeguard trade with Tehran and guarantee Iranian oil sales.

The remaining parties to the nuclear deal have warned the US that its decision to withdraw from the pact jeopardises efforts to limit Irans ability to develop atomic weapons.

Trump abandoned the agreement on 8 May, arguing that he wanted a bigger deal that not only limited Irans atomic work but also reined in its support for proxies in Syria, Iraq, Yemen and Lebanon and that curbed its ballistic missile programme.
Iran's top leader says anyone who fires one missile at his country 'will be hit by 10' in response, but dismisses fears of war as 'propaganda' by the West.

Tehran: Iran's top leader says anyone who fires one missile at his country "will be hit by 10" in response, but dismisses fears of war as "propaganda" by the West.

Tensions have soared since the Donald Trump administration withdrew from the landmark 2015 nuclear accord and vowed to restore sanctions unless Iran meets a list of strict demands.

In a speech Monday, Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei said he had ordered atomic authorities to increase the country's nuclear enrichment capacity. The increase he detailed in his speech would not exceed limits set by the nuclear accord, which European countries have said they hope to salvage.

The agreement reached by the Obama administration, along with Britain, France, Germany, China, Russia and Iran, lifted international sanctions on Iran in return for curbs on its nuclear activities.

The head of the United Nations' nuclear watchdog renewed calls for Iran to provide "timely and proactive cooperation" in inspections that are part of the deal meant to prevent it from developing nuclear weapons.

Yukiya Amano spoke Monday to the board of governors of the International Atomic Energy Agency in Vienna.

Last month, in its first report since the U.S. withdrawal from the 2015 nuclear deal that Israel also opposes, the IAEA said that Iran continues to stay below the maximum level to which it allowed to enrich uranium and appears to be fulfilling other obligations. But it said Iran is slow when it comes to "complementary access" inspections.

Amano said Tuesday that "timely and proactive cooperation by Iran in providing such access would facilitate implementation ... and enhance confidence."
Israel says it plans to deduct from tax funds it collects for the Palestinians to compensate Israeli victims of arson attacks living near the Gaza Strip.

Jerusalem: Israel says it plans to deduct from tax funds it collects for the Palestinians the amount needed to compensate Israelis living near the Gaza Strip who have come under a wave of arson attacks.

Israel has been battling fires caused by kites rigged with incendiary devices launched by Palestinians in Gaza that have damaged forests and torched agricultural fields. The fires have disrupted daily life in communities near the Gaza Strip.

The kites have been flown by Gazans who have staged weekly protests since late March during which more than 115 Palestinians have been killed by Israeli army fire.

The statement from Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office on Sunday didn't disclose how much would be deducted.

Israeli Army Radio put the cost of damages at 5 million shekels ($1.4 million).
Over three months after Justin Trudeau's much-criticised State trip to India, the Canadian prime minister gave a self-deprecating account of his India visit

Over three months after Justin Trudeau's much criticised State trip to India, the Canadian prime minister gave a self-deprecating account of his India visit at the annual Parliamentary Press Gallery Dinner in Ottawa, describing it as the "trip to end all trips".

Speaking at the annual dinner, Trudeau began his 15-minute speech with a slideshow titled "India Trip 2018 :("  which began with an upside down map of India  to loud applause from the audience. "Let's rip off that band aid," he said, as he began his "very short summary" of his visit.

Trudeau joked about being received at the airport by Minister of State for Agriculture Gajendra Shekhawat, and not Prime Minister Narendra Modi or even a Cabinet as is usually the norm. This apparent snub by the Indian government was criticised both in national and international media.

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 Canadian prime minister also joked about the criticism he received for overdoing traditional outfits that he wore during that eight-day visit.

Reacting to a picture of him with Infosys CEO Salil Parekh, Trudeau said, "Here I am, meeting with the CEO of Infosys  a company that for the record announced new investments in Canada, during the course of this trip. But you guys didnt report on its because I was wearing a shirt and tie. Boring."

Following this slide came a photograph of Trudeau dressed in a golden sherwani with Bollywood actor Shah Rukh Khan in a black suit. "Wow! One of us is seriously underdressed," Trudeau said. "How embarrassing for him!"

During the trip in February, Trudeau had toured through several states in the country and visited multiple places of political and historical significance. He went been to the Sabarmati Ashram in Gujarat, Golden Temple in Amritsar and Jama Masjid in New Delhi, among many others.

He did meet Modi towards the end of the trip, in addition to meeting three state chief ministers: Gujarat's Vijay Rupani, Maharashtra's Devendra Fadnavis and Punjab's Amarinder Singh.

The "rocky" trip was widely criticised in Canadian media (see here, here and here for Toronto Sun's coverage) as well, with some saying it threw "some unexpected light on the deep hidden mistrust creeping into Canada-India relations on his watch, which could destroy decades of patient diplomacy by both sides".

In conclusion, Trudeau said in his speech last week, "That was India, ladies and gentlemen. The trip to end all trips."

"Seriously, I told my team I'm not going anywhere ever again," he said.
Madagascar prime minister Olivier Mahafaly Solonandrasana announced his resignation on Monday, in the first step towards the naming of a 'consensus' premier to resolve a political crisis sparked by controversial electoral reforms.

Antananarivo: Madagascar prime minister Olivier Mahafaly Solonandrasana announced his resignation on Monday, in the first step towards the naming of a "consensus" premier to resolve a political crisis sparked by controversial electoral reforms.

Madagascar has been rocked by violent protests since 21 April that initially sought to oppose the new laws the opposition said were crafted to bar their candidates from participating in elections planned for later this year.

The Constitutional Court has ordered President Hery Rajaonarimampianina to form a government of national unity with a "consensus prime minister" to avert a full-blown crisis. For that to happen, the current government was required to resign and the president was ordered to name a new prime minister by 12 June.

"I will tender my resignation to the president on Monday. As a statesman, I cannot be an obstacle to the life of the nation," Solonandrasana told a press briefing.

"I resign willingly and with happiness. I have no regrets and I can leave with my head held high." "I will leave this magnificent palace, (but) I tell you this is not 'goodbye'," he added without giving details of his future plans.

No successor to Solonandrasana has yet been named.
North Koreas top three military officials have been removed from their posts, a senior U.S. official said on Sunday, a move analysts said could support efforts by the Norths young leader to jump-start economic development and engage with the world.

Washington/Seoul: North Koreas top three military officials have been removed from their posts, a senior US official said on Sunday, a move analysts said could support efforts by the Norths young leader to jump-start economic development and engage with the world.

Seoul, too, is monitoring developments in the North's military, it said on Monday after reports said Pyongyang replaced three of its top military officials.

Kim Jong-un is preparing for a high-stakes summit with US president Donald Trump in Singapore on 12 June, the first such meeting between a North Korean leader and a sitting US president.

Kims motivation remains unclear but analysts said the shake-up allows him and the ruling party to tighten control over the Korean Peoples Army (KPA) at a critical time of international engagement and domestic development.

According to researchers at NK Leadership Watch, the change at the top of the GPB "represents a continuation of tightening Party control over the KPA". But new GPB director Kim Su-gil was a "highly trusted" lieutenant of leader Kim Jong-un, it added, who appointed him to the Pyongyang party committee -- once a powerbase for his uncle Jang Song-thaek -- after having the older man executed for treason in 2013.

If Kim Jong-un is set on making peace with the US and South Korea and dealing away at least part of the nuclear program, he will have to put the KPAs influence in a box and keep it there, said Ken Gause, director of the International Affairs Group at CNA, a non-profit research and analysis organisation.

This reshuffle has brought to the fore the officers who can do just that. They are loyal to Kim Jong-un and no one else.

Trump revived the Singapore summit on Friday after canceling it a week earlier.

Some Dissent

The United States is seeking a negotiated end to North Koreas nuclear weapons program and U.S. officials believe there was some dissension in the military about Kims approaches to South Korea and the United States.

Trump wants North Korea to denuclearise, or get rid of its nuclear arsenal, in return for relief from economic sanctions. North Koreas leadership is believed to regard nuclear weapons as crucial to its survival, while Kim has said he plans to focus on economic development.

The US official did not identify the three ousted military officials.

Citing an unidentified intelligence official, Yonhap said No Kwang-chol, first vice minister of the Ministry of Peoples Armed Forces, had replaced Pak Yong-sik as defense chief, while Ri Myong-su was replaced by his deputy, Ri Yong-gil. North Korean state media previously confirmed that Army General Kim Su-gil had replaced Kim Jong-gak as director of the KPAs General Political Bureau.

The White House, State Department, CIA and Office of the Director of National Intelligence did not respond immediately to requests for official comment.
More than 50 migrants drowned in the Mediterranean, the majority off the coasts of Tunisia and Turkey.

Sfax: More than 50 migrants drowned in the Mediterranean, the majority off the coasts of Tunisia and Turkey, while Italy marked a sea change in its policy.

Tunisian authorities said 48 bodies were recovered off the country's southern coast on Sunday, close to the city of Sfax, while 68 people were rescued.

"The boat had a maximum capacity of 75 to 90 people, but there were more than 180 of us," said Wael Ferjani, a Tunisian survivor from the southern region of Gabes.

While water leaked into the boat, some passengers jumped into the sea and drowned, he told AFP.

The latest death toll was published around 7.00 pm, after the search and rescue operation had ended for the day.

The hunt for survivors would continue on Monday morning, Mohammed Salah Sagaama from Sfax's naval base told AFP.

Tunisians and migrants regularly try to cross the Mediterranean to seek a better future in Europe, with 120 mainly Tunisians rescued by their navy in March after trying to reach Italy.

In October, a collision between a migrant boat and a Tunisian military ship left at least 44 dead, in what Prime Minister Youssef Chahed called a "national disaster".

The latest shipwreck is the most deadly in the Mediterranean since 2 February, when 90 people drowned off the coast of Libya, according to the International Organization for Migration (IOM).

Across the Mediterranean, nine Syrians including seven children drowned when their vessel sank off the coast of Turkey.

The group were travelling in a speedboat intending to head illegally to Europe, when the boat hit trouble off the coast of the southern Antalya province, state media reports said.

The oldest child to drown was 14 and the youngest just three, according to the Anadolu news agency.

Six adults were reportedly rescued including a couple who lost five of their children in the disaster.

Turkey was the main sea route for migrants to Europe in 2015, when more than a million people crossed to Greece.

That year 3,771 people were recorded as dead or missing in the Mediterranean by the United Nations refugee agency.

So far this year, 32,601 migrants and refugees have survived the sea crossing and 649 have been recorded as dead or missing.

A deal struck with the European Union in 2016 has drastically reduced the amount of people trying to make the sea crossing, although observers say the numbers have been ticking up again in recent months.

The focal point for Mediterranean migration in recent years has been Italy, where more than 700,000 migrants have arrived since 2013.

On Sunday the country's new hardline interior minister, Matteo Salvini, headed to Sicily, one of the main landing points for those rescued at sea, to push his anti-immigration agenda.

His predecessor signed a controversial deal with authorities and militias in Libya -- the key departure point on the route to Italy -- which has driven down overall arrival numbers by 75 per cent since last summer.

But Salvini has pledged to go further still, vowing to cut the number of arrivals and speed up deportations.

"The good times for illegals is over -- get ready to pack your bags," he said on Saturday at a rally in Italy's north.

The latest arrivals, some 158 people, were rescued by a humanitarian boat and reached southern Sicily on Friday.

Meanwhile Spanish maritime rescue units said Sunday they have picked up 240 migrants since the start of the weekend, with one person reported drowned.

Migration will be high on the agenda Tuesday when European Union interior ministers meet in Luxembourg and discuss the bloc's contested Dublin rule, under which would-be refugees must file for asylum in the first member country they enter.

Many of those landing on the Mediterranean coast see their arrival point as a pathway to their final destination, but the Dublin rule and tightening border checks have meant migrants are increasingly stuck in southern Europe.
Paris police began evacuating around 1,000 migrants from two makeshift camps in the city, five days after another 1,000 were taken to temporary lodgings.

Paris: Paris police on Monday began evacuating around 1,000 migrants from two makeshift camps in the city, five days after another 1,000 were taken to temporary lodgings.

The operation began at dawn at a camp along the Canal St Martin northeast of the city centre where an estimated 550 mainly Afghan migrants were staying, an AFP reporter said. Another 450 people were being evacuated from a camp to the north at Porte de la Chapelle, police and city authorities said in a joint statement.

The St Martin Canal is near the site of a sprawling former camp by the Stalingrad Metro stop, which was cleared only to spring up again several times last year.

Claims for refugee status will be given a "complete and in-depth examination", the statement said.

Monday's operation comes less than a week after the dismantling of a camp along the Canal St Denis, north of the St Martin canal, where around 1,000 migrants mainly from Eritrea and Sudan had sheltered.

Concerns had grown in recent weeks over the conditions at the makeshift camps. One migrant drowned in the St Martin canal last month, while a brawl left a migrant seriously injured at the St Denis camp.

"They say we can stay in shelters for not very long, that we'll have three meals a day. That's good," said a migrant who gave his name only as Souleimane, wearing a rasta cap over his dreadlocks. "Life here was very, very difficult."

Many migrants hope for refugee status but may be facing expulsion under centrist President Emmanuel Macron's tougher approach to immigration.

Some have arrived in Paris from the northern port of Calais, where migrants have flocked for years hoping to stow away on trucks to Britain.

France received a record 100,000 asylum applications last year and offered refugee status to around 30,000 people, official figures show. Forced expulsions numbered 14,900.
The spat began when a murdered maid was found in her employer's freezer, prompting Duterte to lash out at the 'inhuman' treatment of migrant workers

Seoul: Philippine president Rodrigo Duterte apologised to Kuwait on Sunday for his "harsh" words at the height of a months-long diplomatic row over the treatment of domestic workers.

The spat began in February when a murdered Filipina maid was found in her employer's freezer in the Gulf state, prompting Duterte to lash out at the "inhuman" treatment of migrant workers and ban workers from travelling to Kuwait.

"For the first time I would say that I was harsh in my language maybe because that was a result of an emotional outburst. But I'd like to apologise now," Duterte said, addressing Kuwait directly in a speech before expatriate Filipinos living in South Korea.

"I'm sorry for the language that I was using but I'm very satisfied with... how you responded to the problems of my country."

Authorities in Manila say around 2,62,000 Filipinos worked in Kuwait before February, with many employed as household maids.

They are among over two million Filipinos employed in the region, whose remittances are a lifeline to the Philippine economy.

At the height of the diplomatic flap, Duterte alleged Arab employers routinely rape Filipina workers, force them to work 21 hours a day and feed them scraps.

"Is there something wrong with your culture? Is there something wrong with your values?" the Philippine leader said then.

Kuwaiti authorities expelled Manila's envoy in April over footage showing embassy staff helping Filipino workers flee allegedly abusive bosses in Kuwait.

Tensions cooled last month after the two nations sealed an agreement on workplace safety guarantees for Filipinos working in Kuwait, prompting Duterte to lift the employment ban.

On Sunday, Duterte said he hoped to visit Kuwait to express his gratitude.

"I'd like to thank the Kuwaiti government for understanding us and keeping their faith (in) us and practically (giving in) to all of my demands," Duterte said.

His demands included giving Filipino workers a day off and seven hours of sleep each night, as well as allowing them to keep their passports and phones  often confiscated by employers, Duterte said.
VIENNA (Reuters) - Russian President Vladimir Putin, in an interview broadcast on Monday, said he did not want to divide the European Union as he prepared to visit Austria in his first bilateral trip to a West European country in almost a year. 'We do not pursue the objective of dividing anything or anyone in the EU,' Putin told broadcaster ORF

VIENNA (Reuters) - Russian President Vladimir Putin, in an interview broadcast on Monday, said he did not want to divide the European Union as he prepared to visit Austria in his first bilateral trip to a West European country in almost a year.

"We do not pursue the objective of dividing anything or anyone in the EU," Putin told broadcaster ORF.

"We are far more interested in the EU being united and flourishing because the EU is our most important trading and economic partner."

Putin, who has not made a bilateral visit to a West European country since he went to Finland last July, will meet government and business leaders in Austria in a trip which officially marks 50 years since the two countries' energy firms Gazprom and OMV first signed a gas supply deal.

He will attend a business conference with envoys from both countries.

But the issue of EU sanctions, imposed on Russia because of its support for pro-Russian separatists in eastern Ukraine, will weigh in any official talks he has.

Moscow's ties with EU countries remain strained after Russia's annexation of Crimea, its involvement in Syria and eastern Ukraine and the poisoning of a former Russian double agent in Britain. London has blamed the nerve agent poisoning of Sergei Skripal and his daughter on Russia but Moscow has denied any involvement.

Austria's coalition government of conservatives and the pro-Putin far right was in a minority of EU governments that did not expel any Russian diplomats over the Skripal case and Austria, despite its membership of the EU, points to its history of neutrality and its relatively warm relations with Russia.

Moscow wants the EU to lift sanctions, but the bloc has linked that to progress on the ground, which has not happened.

Austria, which takes over the rotating EU presidency in July, has said it wants to act as a bridge between east and west.

The leader of the far-right Freedom Party, which has a cooperation agreement with Putin's United Russia party, called this weekend for sanctions to be lifted.

But Chancellor Sebastian Kurz and his conservatives, who control Austria's EU policy, have said Austria will toe the EU line.

"We decide pragmatically whether to cooperate with someone politically," Putin said when asked in the interview about United Russia's ties with far-right parties.

"We try to work with those who publicly express the wish themselves to work with us," he added.

(Reporting by Francois Murphy; Additional reporting by Denis Pinchuk in Moscow; Editing by Richard Balmforth)

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By Tuvan Gumrukcu and Ece Toksabay ANKARA (Reuters) - Turkey and the United States on Monday endorsed a roadmap for the northern Syrian city of Manbij and underlined their mutual commitment to its implementation following a meeting of their foreign ministers in Washington, according to a joint statement. The move, long sought by Turkey, comes at a time of strain in bilateral ties over wider Syria policy and over Washington's decision in December to move its embassy in Israel to Jerusalem.

By Tuvan Gumrukcu and Ece Toksabay

ANKARA (Reuters) - Turkey and the United States on Monday endorsed a roadmap for the northern Syrian city of Manbij and underlined their mutual commitment to its implementation following a meeting of their foreign ministers in Washington, according to a joint statement.

The move, long sought by Turkey, comes at a time of strain in bilateral ties over wider Syria policy and over Washington's decision in December to move its embassy in Israel to Jerusalem.

Turkey has been infuriated by U.S. support for the Kurdish YPG militia in Syria, which it views as a terrorist organisation, and has threatened to push its offensive in the Afrin region of northern Syria further east to Manbij, risking confrontation with U.S. troops stationed there. Washington views the YPG as a key ally in the fight against Islamic State.

At their talks in Washington, Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu and U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo also discussed cooperation in Syria, along with potential steps to improve security in Manbij, they said in a joint statement.

"They endorsed a road map to this end," the statement said.

The Pentagon has long feared that Manbij could become a flashpoint in Syria, with U.S.-backed forces who cleared the city of Islamic State fighters clashing with Turkish forces. That would put Washington in the unenviable position of either fighting a NATO ally or abandoning its proxy forces in Syria.

The statement did not explicitly spell out how Turkey and the United States would resolve the Manbij issue or detail next steps in the so-called roadmap.

"The aim of this roadmap is the clearing of Manbij of all terror organisations and the permanent instatement of safety and stability," Cavusoglu told a press conference in Washington.

"In the first step, the determination of parameters for common plans for the removal of YPG-PYD from Manbij - you can also call it PKK - will be determined."

The reference to the PKK was a jab at Washington. Ankara considers the YPG to be an arm of the PKK, which both the United States and Turkey consider a terrorist group.

F-35 sale?

Cavusoglu said Turkish and U.S. units would together implement security and stability in Manbij, and the removal of all YPG organisations from Manbij would be completed.

"In the long term, this road map that will implemented in Manbij will be carried to other regions to implement security and stability in other regions in Syria. Meaning the cooperation will continue in other regions," he added.

The Syrian government, Kurdish militants, Syrian rebel groups, Turkey and the United States all have a military presence in northern Syria.

Relations between Ankara and Washington have deteriorated due to a range of factors, including the sentencing in New York in May of a former Turkish state bank executive to 32 months in prison for taking part in an Iran sanctions-busting scheme, a case Turkey has called a political attack.

Turkey has also caused unease in Washington with its decision to buy S-400 surface-to-air missiles from Russia and drew criticism over its detention of a U.S. Christian pastor, Andrew Brunson, on terrorism charges. He has denied the charges.

Also at issue is the potential sale of F-35 fighter jets to Ankara.

Last month a U.S. Senate committee floated a defence policy bill that included a measure that would prevent Turkey from purchasing Lockheed Martin-made F-35 Joint Strike Fighter jets.

NATO ally Turkey was also faulted for its agreement with Russia in December to buy the S-400 surface-to-air missile system.

The move to buy S-400s, which are incompatible with NATO systems, has unnerved NATO member countries, which are already wary of Moscow's military presence in the Middle East, prompting NATO officials to warn Turkey of unspecified consequences.

Turkey plans to buy 100 of the F-35 jets, and has had talks with Washington about the purchase of Patriot missiles which could be an alternative to the S-400 system.

A Capitol Hill source said that if the F-35 sale were derailed and not replaced by another buyer, each F-35 of the same model would increase in price by about $1 million for the United States and it allies.

Ankara wants the missile batteries to boost defence capabilities amid threats from Kurdish and Islamist militants at home and conflicts across its borders in Syria and Iraq.

(Additional reporting by Mike Stone and Phil Stewart in Washington; Editing by Gareth Jones and James Dalgleish)

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By Sarah N. Lynch WASHINGTON (Reuters) - A former officer with the U.S

By Sarah N. Lynch

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - A former officer with the U.S. Defense Intelligence Agency was arrested over the weekend for allegedly trying to spy on the United States for China, the Justice Department said on Monday.

The Federal Bureau of Investigation took Ron Rockwell Hansen, 58, into custody on Saturday while he was on his way to the Seattle-Tacoma International Airport to get a connecting flight to China.

The department said he has been accused of trying to transmit national defence information to China and with receiving "hundreds of thousands of dollars" while acting illegally as an agent for the Chinese government.

Reuters could not immediately learn who may be representing Hansen in the case.

Hansen is the latest person in a string of former U.S. intelligence officers to be swept up in criminal probes related to spying for the Chinese.

Earlier this year, former CIA case officer Jerry Chun Shing Lee was indicted for conspiring to gather or deliver national defence information to China.

Another former U.S. intelligence employee named Kevin Mallory is on trial in Virginia, also in connection with selling secrets to China.

In the new case announced Monday, prosecutors said that Hansen speaks fluent Mandarin-Chinese and Russian.

He served as a case officer for the Defense Intelligence Agency while on active military duty from 2000-2006, and later continued that line of work as a civilian employee and a contractor.

He also held a top secret clearance for years.

The government said that between 2013 and 2017, he travelled between the two countries attending conferences and provided the information he learned to China's intelligence service.

He was paid via wire transfers, cash and credit cards. He also allegedly improperly sold export-controlled technology.

His alleged actions are a betrayal of our nation's security and the American people and are an affront to his former intelligence community colleagues," said John Demers, the head of the Justice Department's National Security Division.

He is expected to appear before a magistrate judge in Seattle later on Monday, and is charged in a 15-count complaint.

(Reporting by Sarah N. Lynch; Editing by James Dalgleish)

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By Lawrence Hurley WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The U.S. Supreme Court on Monday handed a victory on narrow grounds to a Colorado baker who refused based on his Christian beliefs to make a wedding cake for a gay couple, stopping short of setting a major precedent allowing people to claim religious exemptions from anti-discrimination laws.

By Lawrence Hurley

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The U.S. Supreme Court on Monday handed a victory on narrow grounds to a Colorado baker who refused based on his Christian beliefs to make a wedding cake for a gay couple, stopping short of setting a major precedent allowing people to claim religious exemptions from anti-discrimination laws.

The justices, in a 7-2 decision, said the Colorado Civil Rights Commission showed an impermissible hostility toward religion when it found that baker Jack Phillips violated the state's anti-discrimination law by rebuffing gay couple David Mullins and Charlie Craig in 2012. The state law bars businesses from refusing service based on race, sex, marital status or sexual orientation.

The court concluded that the commission violated Phillips' religious rights under the U.S. Constitution's First Amendment.

But the justices did not issue a definitive ruling on the circumstances under which people can seek exemptions from anti-discrimination laws based on religion. The decision also did not address important claims raised in the case including whether baking a cake is a kind of expressive act protected by the Constitution's free speech guarantee.

Two of the court's four liberals, Stephen Breyer and Elena Kagan, joined the five conservative justices in the ruling authored by Justice Anthony Kennedy, who also wrote the landmark 2015 decision legalizing gay marriage nationwide.

The baker case became a cultural flashpoint in the United States, underscoring the tensions between gay rights proponents and conservative Christians.

Both sides claimed a measure of victory. The couple's supporters noted that the ruling embraced the importance of gay rights and made it clear that businesses open to the public must serve everyone. The baker's lawyers said the ruling emphasized that the government must respect religious beliefs.

"Our society has come to the recognition that gay persons and gay couples cannot be treated as social outcasts or as inferior in dignity and worth," Kennedy wrote.

But Kennedy said the state commission's hostility towards religion "was inconsistent with the First Amendment's guarantee that our laws be applied in a manner that is neutral towards religion."

In one exchange at a 2014 hearing before the commission cited by Kennedy, former commissioner Diann Rice said that "freedom of religion, and religion, has been used to justify all kinds of discrimination throughout history, whether it be slavery, whether it be the Holocaust."

Kennedy said the commission ruled the opposite way in three cases brought against bakers in which the business owners refused to bake cakes containing messages that demeaned gay people or same-sex marriage.

Republican President Donald Trump's administration, which intervened in the case in support of Phillips, welcomed the ruling. "The First Amendment prohibits governments from discriminating against citizens on the basis of religious beliefs," Attorney General Jeff Sessions said in a statement.

'MORAL AND RELIGIOUS REASONS'

The decision made it clear that even if the court ultimately rules in a future case that bakers or other businesses that sell creative products such as florists and wedding photographers can avoid punishment under anti-discrimination laws, most businesses open to the public would have no such defence.

Kennedy wrote that any ruling in favour of creative professionals must be "sufficiently constrained, lest all purveyors of goods and services who object to gay marriages for moral and religious reasons in effect be allowed to put up signs saying 'no goods or services will be sold if they will be used for gay marriages,' something that would impose a serious stigma on gay persons."

Of the 50 states, 21 including Colorado have anti-discrimination laws protecting gay people.

The case marked a test for Kennedy, who has authored significant rulings that advanced gay rights but also is a strong advocate for free speech rights and religious freedom.

"The outcome of cases like this in other circumstances must await further elaboration in the courts, all in the context of recognising that these disputes must be resolved with tolerance, without undue disrespect to sincere religious beliefs, and without subjecting gay persons to indignities when they seek goods and services in an open market," Kennedy wrote.

Mullins and Craig were planning their wedding in Massachusetts in 2012 and wanted the cake for a reception in Colorado, where gay marriage was not yet legal. During a brief encounter at Phillips' Masterpiece Cakeshop in the Denver suburb of Lakewood, the baker politely but firmly refused, leaving the couple distraught.

They filed a successful complaint with the state commission, the first step in the six-year-old legal battle. State courts sided with the couple, prompting Phillips to appeal to the top U.S. court.

"Today's decision means our fight against discrimination and unfair treatment will continue," the couple, represented by the American Civil Liberties Union, said in a statement. "We have always believed that in America, you should not be turned away from a business open to the public because of who you are."

Mullins and Craig said Phillips was using his Christian faith as pretext for unlawful discrimination based on sexual orientation.

Phillips and others like him who believe that gay marriage is inconsistent with their Christian beliefs have said they should not be required to effectively endorse the practice.

"Government hostility towards people of faith has no place in our society, yet the state of Colorado was openly antagonistic towards Jack's religious beliefs about marriage. The court was right to condemn that," said lawyer Kristen Waggoner of the conservative Christian group Alliance Defending Freedom, which represents Phillips.

Phillips himself was not available for comment.

The litigation, along with similar cases around the country, is part of a conservative Christian backlash to the Supreme Court's gay marriage ruling.

The court will soon have the opportunity to signal its approach to handling similar cases. The justices on Thursday are set to consider whether to hear an appeal filed by a flower shop owner in Washington state who refused to create an arrangement to celebrate a gay wedding based on her Christian beliefs.

(Reporting by Lawrence Hurley; Additional reporting by Andrew Chung; Editing by Will Dunham)

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A shift in traditional alliances found in the Arab Gulf has become apparent in the wake of Saudi Arabia and the UAE's year-old trade embargo on Qatar.

Dubai: At a time when the United States hopes to exert maximum pressure on Iran, a regional bloc created by Gulf Arab countries to counter Tehran looks increasingly more divided ahead of the anniversary of the diplomatic crisis in Qatar.

A coalition of Arab Gulf countries launched the economic boycott of Qatar which stopped Qatar Airways flights from using their airspace, closed off the country's sole land border with Saudi Arabia and blocked its ships from using their ports.

The lack of cooperation among the six members of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) has already seen the US limit some military exercises. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo has also been sent to the region to urge allies to end the boycott of Qatar, a tiny, gas-rich nation.

The GCC consists of Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates. On 5 June 2017, Bahrain, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, along with Egypt, cut ties to Qatar, citing its close links with Iran and Qatar's alleged support for extremist groups in the region.

Amid the dispute, Qatar restored full diplomatic ties with Iran. And just like Iran after the US pulled out of the nuclear deal with Tehran, Qatar appears to have no interest in ceding any ground, having already decried the demands as an affront to its sovereignty.

Ahead of the anniversary, Qatar's Government Communication Office began sending messages out with the hashtags "movingforward" and "Qatarstronger."

That leaves the GCC adrift at a time of regional tension.

The GCC has long been viewed as a regional counterweight to Iran and crucial for the US military. Bahrain hosts the US Navy's 5th Fleet and Kuwait is home to US Army Central. UAE military bases host American fighter jets, drones and soldiers, while Dubai's Jebel Ali port is the navy's busiest foreign port of call. Qatar's massive al-Udeid Air Base holds the forward headquarters of the US military's Central Command.

While hosting no troops, Oman does allow US forces access to its bases and serves as a crucial go-between for America and Western diplomats and Iran. Saudi Arabia also relies on US military support for its ongoing war in Yemen against Shiite rebels there.

The Qatar dispute has seen a public reordering of the GCC, with Saudi Arabia and the neighboring UAE taking an increasingly neoconservative foreign policy, as seen in their military intervention in Yemen. Ties between Abu Dhabi's crown prince, 57-year-old Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, and Saudi Arabia's 32-year-old Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman have grown closer. Bahrain, long dependent on Saudi money to aid its troubled economy, cast its lot with Saudi and the UAE.

Kuwait, ruled by 88-year-old Sheikh Sabah Al Ahmad Al Sabah, has sought to mediate the dispute. It hosted a GCC summit in December that it hoped would bring the bloc together. Instead, it only saw the UAE and Saudi Arabia upstage it by announcing its own closer union.

For Oman and its 77-year-old ruler, Sultan Qaboos bin Said, the country has sought to maintain its own separate diplomatic identity from the larger GCC. The sultanate's ports also have become a crucial lifeline to Qatar.

Both Kuwait and Oman feel the pressure of the diplomatic dispute. The two countries have yet to prepare for the coming generational leadership shifts that await them, as there is no clear successor to Sultan Qaboos, while an internal dispute among the branches of Kuwait's ruling family remains likely.

The two have also undoubtedly seen the criticism by Saudi and Emirati media of Qatar's ruling emir, 38-year-old Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, which has included promoting exiled Qataris as possible leaders for the country. Open criticism of ruling families is extremely rare among Gulf Arab nations, even during the border disputes in the 1990s that saw some skirmishes.

Threats of military action were also directed towards Qatar in the early days of the crisis. The combined troops and equipment of Saudi Arabia and the UAE dwarf those of Kuwait, Oman and Qatar's armed forces.

Gulf Arab nations have relied on US military power as a safety net since former president Jimmy Carter's 1980 pledge to use force to defend its interests in the Persian Gulf. The aftermath of the 1991 Gulf War cemented that, as has America's reliance on Gulf bases for its wars in Afghanistan and Iraq.

However, it remains unclear what options the US would have in a confrontation between Gulf Arab nations themselves, even though one does not look imminent.

Gulf states also have grown increasingly wary of President Donald Trump who initially came out in support of the nations boycotting Qatar, only later to back off. Investigations into Trump also have touched the UAE and Qatar, while nations involved in the dispute have spent millions of dollars on Washington lobbyists and influence peddlers.

For now, the crisis has improved ties between Qatar and Iran. The Islamic Republic immediately opened its airspace to Qatar Airways after the boycotting nations blocked its routes and sent food and other goods into Doha. In return, Qatar has restored full diplomatic relations with Iran, with which it shares a massive offshore natural gas field.
First Lady Melania Trump isn't joining her husband Donald Trump at the G7 summit in Quebec this week or planning to accompany him to the expected meeting with North Korea's leader in Singapore the week after.

Washington: First Lady Melania Trump isn't joining her husband at the G7 summit in Quebec this week or planning to accompany him to the expected meeting with North Korea's leader in Singapore the week after, spokeswoman Stephanie Grisham said Sunday.

Melania's decision not to go to Quebec is a departure from 2017, when she made an international summit debut at the G7 meeting in Italy and followed up at the forum of G20 industrialized and developing nations in Germany. Spouses typically get together at events of their own during the meetings of world leaders.

The first lady stayed behind on Friday when President Donald Trump, his daughters, eldest son and son-in-law went to the Camp David retreat for the weekend. She hasn't made a public appearance since before her five-day hospital stay in mid-May for treatment of a kidney condition the White House only described as benign.

Grisham said earlier that the first lady has been meeting with staff and working on projects. Melania is scheduled to join the president on Monday in hosting a reception, closed to the press, for Gold Star families.

"She will not attend the G7 and there are no plans for her to travel to Singapore at this time," Grisham said.

The G7 summit will be held in Quebec on Friday and Saturday. The president plans to meet North Korean leader Kim Jong Un on 12 June in Singapore, the first leaders' summit between two countries that are still formally at war.
China lashed out at the United States after it marked the anniversary of Tiananmen protests by urging Beijing to disclose casualty numbers in the crackdown.

Beijing: China lashed out at the United States on Monday after Washington marked the anniversary of the 1989 Tiananmen protests by urging Beijing to disclose how many people were killed in the crackdown.

United States Secretary of State Mike Pompeo issued a statement to "remember the tragic loss of innocent lives" on 4 June, 1989, when the Communist Party sent tanks to quash the peaceful demonstrations around Tiananmen Square in Beijing.

Open discussion of the crackdown is forbidden in China, where hundreds -perhaps more- died. A British diplomatic cable released in 2017 said at least 10,000 people were killed.

Pompeo quoted the dissident Liu Xiaobo, a Nobel Peace Prize laureate who died of cancer while in custody in 2017, as saying: "The ghosts of June 4th have not yet been laid to rest."

The chief United States diplomat added: "We join others in the international community in urging the Chinese government to make a full public accounting of those killed, detained or missing."

He also urged China to release those jailed for trying to keep the memory of the protests alive, and stop harassing Tiananmen participants and their relatives.

The protests are branded a "counter-revolutionary rebellion" by Chinese authorities and many on the mainland remain unaware of the crackdown due to censorship.

"The Chinese government has already come to a clear conclusion regarding the political disturbances that occurred in the late 1980s," Chinese foreign ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying told a regular press briefing.

Pompeo's statement is "groundlessly accusing the Chinese government and interfering in China's internal affairs. The Chinese side is strongly dissatisfied and resolutely opposes this," Hua said. She said China has lodged an official diplomatic protest with the United States.

"We urge the US to abandon prejudice, correct mistakes, stop irresponsible remarks, stop interfering in China's internal affairs, and do more to develop Sino-US relations instead of doing things to undermine" them, she said.

Families of pro-democracy protesters killed in the 1989 bloodbath have recently written an open letter urging President Xi Jinping to acknowledge their suffering and "re-evaluate the June Fourth massacre". The semi-autonomous territory of Hong Kong is the only place on Chinese soil where the anniversary is openly marked with a famous vigil in Victoria Park on 4 June each year.
Russian President Vladimir Putin ridiculed the U.S. indictment of 13 Russians in a television interview broadcast Monday, scoffing at the notion that a person described as his chef could interfere with a U.S. presidential election.

Moscow: Russian President Vladimir Putin ridiculed the U.S. indictment of 13 Russians in a television interview broadcast Monday, scoffing at the notion that a person described as his chef could interfere with a U.S. presidential election.

Special counsel Robert Mueller in February charged Yevgeny Prigozhin, a wealthy businessman dubbed "Putin's chef," and 12 others in an alleged conspiracy to meddle in the 2016 election.

Putin dismissed the charges as "ridiculous" during an interview with Austrian public broadcaster ORF broadcast late Monday.

"How low the Western information and political environment has fallen if a restaurateur from Russia could influence elections in the United States or a European country," the Russia leader said.

The 13 people indicted are accused of an elaborate plot to disrupt the U.S. election that allegedly included running a huge social media campaign from their headquarters in St. Petersburg, dubbed the "'troll farm."

Prigozhin has been dubbed "Putin's chef" by Russian media because his restaurants and catering businesses have hosted the Kremlin leader's dinners with foreign dignitaries.

Putin told ORF that the Russian government has no connection to Prigozhin's activities. When pressed further, he pointed to Hungarian-American financier and philanthropist George Soros, alleging that Soros meddles in the affairs of various nations while "our American friends often tell me that America has nothing to do with it."

"Ask the (U.S.) Department of State why he does it," Putin said. "The Department of State would tell you that it has no relation to that, it's Mr. Soros' private business. Well, here it's Mr. Prigozhin's private business."

Asked about his interactions with U.S. President Donald Trump, Putin said political infighting in Washington was hampering their contacts.

In a phone call to Putin in March, Trump proposed their holding a summit. U.S. and Russian officials haven't discussed specifics yet.

"In my view, it's a result of the acute political struggle continuing in the U.S.," Putin said.

He emphasized that his meeting with Trump would be important as an opportunity to discuss arms control and preventing a new arms race.
If the future of energy were a storybook, then renewable energy would play the part of the hero. That would leave oil and gas producers as the villains -- and it's not difficult to see why. The transportation, electricity generation, and industrial sectors account for 78% of America's total carbon emissions. A couple of famous oil spills don't really help from the PR perspective, either.

That has led many public and private institutions to expel any holdings in the oil and gas industry from their endowments, but that might not be a wise strategy in the long run. Displacing and replacing fossil fuels won't be easy. Nor cheap. That leads to an inconvenient reality for most narratives surrounding clean energy: moving to a renewable future as quickly as possible will require help from the incredible capital generation capabilities of the world's largest oil companies.

The numbers are impossible to ignore. Consider that ExxonMobil (NYSE:XOM), Royal Dutch Shell (NYSE:RDS.A) (NYSE:RDS.B), Chevron (NYSE:CVX), BP (NYSE:BP), and Total SA (NYSE:TTE) have generated a combined $44.6 billion in free cash flow in the last 12 months. That's a whole lot of solar panels. Or research and development. Or equity investments in promising start-ups.

Turns out, big oil is doing all of the above. Here's where and how these companies are investing billions of dollars in renewable energy technologies.

Fossil fuel leaders going green

Far from being a villain, big oil is perhaps one of the most important allies for renewable energy. The world's oil supermajors generate significant levels of cash flow, boast infrastructure networks that span the globe, and have the most to lose from falling behind the technology curve. It's still early in the oil and gas industry's transition, but the largest energy companies are leaving no stone unturned in their quest for dominating clean energy supply chains.

Oil Company Selected Renewable Energy Investments ExxonMobil A $500 million joint venture with Synthetic Genomics to genetically engineer photosynthetic algae to produce renewable crude from sunlight and carbon dioxide. Royal Dutch Shell Purchased a 44% stake in solar developer Silicon Ranch for $217 million, acquired on-site power generation management company MP2 Energy. Chevron Small investments in projects spanning wind power, solar, and geothermal that can power a combined 113,000 U.S. homes; leader in renewable diesel infrastructure. BP Owns 1.4 gigawatts (GW) of American wind power and solar leader Lightsource BP; 50-50 joint venture with DuPont (DowDuPont) in next-generation renewable fuels. Total SA Total Energy Ventures has invested roughly $160 million in 20 start-ups spanning solid-state lithium ion batteries, microbial fuel factories, and enhanced cellulosic sugar recovery. Owns 56% of solar panel manufacturer SunPower.

ExxonMobil is quietly allocating $1 billion per year to conduct basic research in low-carbon technologies. While that makes it unlikely that any products will be commercialized in the next decade, some of the highest-impact technologies in use today sprung from basic research.

The oil supermajor has a heavy focus on synthetic biology in particular. It hopes to prove the commercial feasibility of deploying genetically engineered algae in large outdoor farms capable of producing 10,000 barrels per day of renewable crude from sunlight and industrial CO2. If it can achieve that, then the modular design could scale to much larger levels.

ExxonMobil is also developing genetically engineered microbes with Renewable Energy Group, the nation's largest biodiesel producer, that could produce biodiesel from waste biomass (read: not food sources like corn ethanol). Other projects include fuel cells that capture and consume CO2 to produce electricity and new technology for manufacturing plastics with 50% less CO2 emissions.

BP is also interested in leveraging its global liquid fuels infrastructure, from refining to distribution, with renewable liquids. It produces about 200 million gallons of low-carbon ethanol each year in Brazil. The three facilities also burn leftover agricultural wastes to power themselves and send an extra 850 gigawatt-hours of electricity generation to the grid.

It, too, is interested in the promise of synthetic biology. BP and DuPont have teamed up to form a joint venture called Butamax. The goal is to utilize genetically engineered microbes to manufacture an alcohol called butanol, which is ideal for blending into gasoline, much the same way ethanol comprises 10% of gasoline fuel volumes in the United States.

But butanol is more energy dense, can be used in existing infrastructure (including vehicle and boat engines) without causing corrosion, and could be used in blends up to 16%. Butamax is developing technology that could retrofit existing ethanol facilities to churn out butanol, which could make the transition relatively swift and smooth. If successful, the total market opportunity is over 20 billion gallons per year in the United States.

BP also cut a check totaling $200 million to acquire a 43% stake in solar leader Lightsource, now called Lightsource BP, which has commissioned 1.3 GW of solar and has another 2 GW of backlog. It underscores a growing shift toward renewable electricity generation among the world's largest oil companies.

For instance, after failing to gain much traction developing engineered microbes to produce renewable fuels itself, Royal Dutch Shell has decided to focus on solar power and energy efficiency. In the same month BP snagged an equity stake in Lightsource, Holland's supermajor announced a $217 million deal for a 44% stake in solar developer Silicon Ranch. It owns 880 megawatts (MW) of projects with another 1 GW in the pipeline.

Royal Dutch Shell also recently acquired MP2 Energy, which specializes in power management solutions and owns a portfolio including utility-scale solar, distributed solar, wind, and even landfill gas. That looks similar to Chevron's approach to renewable power to date: all over the place.

Chevron has equity stakes in solar, wind, and geothermal production facilities that can power about 113,000 American homes each year. That's not much, but it's a good start as the company begins honing its renewables strategy. It may be needed sooner than later, as it has a heavy presence on the green energy-hungry West Coast of the United States, which will begin rolling out increasingly aggressive clean power policies in the coming years.

Chevron has also invested in next-generation renewable fuels without much success, but still sees a bright future for renewable diesel. Not to be confused with biodiesel, renewable diesel can be used with no blending limitations when added to petroleum-based diesel. The company has been testing 6% to 20% blending rates for certain terminals in California.

Of course, no discussion of renewable energy is complete without mentioning the incredible efforts of French energy giant Total. The company has established a goal of generating 20% of its business from low-carbon products in 20 years' time. It's well on its way.

Total is the undisputed king of oil and gas producers investing in clean energy and low-carbon technologies, even starting a venture capital fund that has spent $160 million to date in about 20 early stage companies. That may not seem like much, but the companies that survive will require increasing amounts of funding in the future. Total is perfectly positioned to provide it -- or acquire the most promising start-ups -- which means that $160 million figure should swell significantly in the coming years.

Total also owns a whopping 56% of leading global solar cell and solar panel manufacturer SunPower, which could be on the cusp of turning in sustainably profitable operations. It spent over $1.3 billion to acquire renewable energy leader Lampiris and energy storage developer Saft. It's currently funding renewable fuel technologies including the breakdown of agricultural wastes and genetically engineered microbes that can make drop-in jet fuel. It is, in a word, making the blueprint for the rest of its oil supermajor peers to follow when investing in renewable energy.

This transition is just getting started

To date, big oil investments in renewable energy have spanned practical slow-and-steady approaches (solar panels) to big, bold bets (next-generation energy storage or genetically engineered algae). However, not all companies have a coherent strategy in place just yet. For instance, whereas ExxonMobil wants to develop next-generation renewable fuels that can be dropped into its existing refining and distribution network, Chevron has yet to pick a defined path in clean energy.

That's something investors should keep in mind. Then again, these massive oil companies are just getting started. In other words, like it or not, the road to a renewable energy future is probably paved with the profits of oil and gas operations.
China is investing tens of billions of dollars every year into renewable energy deployment and supply chains. Its motivations are simple: The country wants to improve its environmental footprint and air quality, develop a leadership position in global markets, and increase national security and energy independence (you don't have to import renewable energy).

These plans are also longer-term than many headlines would lead investors to believe. For instance, China isn't using renewable energy to immediately replace coal-fired power plants, which supplied 72% of the country's electricity in 2015 -- more than double the share of coal in the electric grids of the United States.

That's because renewable energy is one of the least efficient ways to go about replacing coal consumption in a short period of time. Instead, China is hurriedly building natural gas and liquefied natural gas (LNG) import infrastructure to replace coal in the near-term. In fact, the country is single-handedly shifting global markets, having imported 58% more LNG in the first four months of 2018 than in the year-ago period, with American supply playing a central role. Energy investors shouldn't overlook the opportunities this creates.

Natural gas replacing and displacing coal

China can't use renewable energy to replace coal overnight, because wind and solar power are much less efficient. For instance, Chinese coal-fired power plants boasted capacity factors (the rate at which a generation asset produces at its installed capacity) of 48% in 2017. That's very low, hinting at a glut of coal capacity, but it's significantly better than the country's renewables. In 2017 Chinese wind and solar had capacity factors of just 21.3% and 10.7%, respectively.

What that means is simple: Replacing the electricity generation provided by 1 gigawatt of coal in China would require the installation of 2.3 GW of wind or 4.5 GW of solar. Natural gas, on the other hand, is on par with coal when it comes to capacity factor, making it a more efficient use of capital for time-constrained direct replacement of coal-fired power in the grid and industrial base. And that's exactly what China is doing.

Nearly 90% of China's year-over-year growth in gas consumption last year went to industrial and residential heating applications. That trend will sweep through electricity generation in the coming years as more natural gas transportation, storage, and power infrastructure is added. Consider several statistics that summarize the incredible trend underlying the country's preparations for a gas-heavy future:

Growth has come quickly. In 2010 China imported 10 million metric tons (mtpa) of LNG. That grew to 20 mtpa in 2015, and just shy of 40 mtpa last year. In the first four months of 2018 imports hit 15.75 million metric tons.

In 2010 China imported 10 million metric tons (mtpa) of LNG. That grew to 20 mtpa in 2015, and just shy of 40 mtpa last year. In the first four months of 2018 imports hit 15.75 million metric tons. Growth will continue. The country has 17 LNG import terminals, boasting a combined capacity of 7.4 billion cubic feet per day (Bcf/d), which is expected to grow to 11.2 Bcf/d by 2021 according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration.

The country has 17 LNG import terminals, boasting a combined capacity of 7.4 billion cubic feet per day (Bcf/d), which is expected to grow to 11.2 Bcf/d by 2021 according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration. We ain't seen nothing yet. By 2035 the nation is expected to import a staggering 200 mtpa. Last year the entire global LNG trade amounted to 294 mtpa.

It's all part of the government's mandate to quickly replace coal throughout the economy, in everything from residential heating to steel manufacturing to electricity generation. It couldn't come at a better time for American natural gas producers, which are increasingly relying on exports to shuttle away excess supply.

American energy exports to China are booming

In February 2018, leading American LNG supplier Cheniere Energy (NYSEMKT:LNG) signed its first major long-term deal with a Chinese customer, China National Petroleum Corporation. It was relatively small in terms of the total market opportunity at just 1.2 mtpa, but it was an important foot in the door for both the company and other companies with export capacity along the coasts of the United States.

It makes sense Cheniere Energy would be among the first to sling LNG China's way, as it was the first American company to export sizable quantities of product. The first cargoes only left shores in 2016, but the United States is already a leading LNG exporter and will soon become the third-largest supplier behind Australia and Qatar. China will play a critical role in that ascension to the top.

In 2017 fully 15% of American LNG exports ended up in China through spot market purchases, but that will increase as more export capacity comes online in the next several years and formal supply deals are signed. By 2020 the United States will boast 9.5 Bcf/d of export capacity -- and Cheniere Energy could own half of that with its Sabine Pass and Corpus Christi terminals. Others will be close behind.

Consider the number of proposed and approved LNG export terminals in the United States, as reported by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission as of April 2018:

LNG Export Terminal Type Capacity Approved, under construction 8.13 Bcf/d Approved, not yet under construction 6.79 Bcf/d Proposed, pending 23.58 Bcf/d Pre-filing 3.69 Bcf/d

That's a massive amount of capacity that could come online by 2030 from a diverse set of companies, but investors don't have to wait that long.

In 2019 shipments will begin from the Cameron LNG export facility, which includes a 16.6% equity stake from leading LNG trader and French energy giant Total SA and a 50% stake from Sempra Energy (NYSE:SRE). The Gulf Coast facility will bring three production units online by the early 2020's capable of exporting 15 mtpa, or a little over 2 Bcf/d, valued at over $10 billion. An additional two production units could increase the facility's total export volume to 25 mtpa, or 3.5 Bcf/d.

The West Coast, which offers an easier shipping path to Asian markets than the Gulf Coast, could also get in on the action. Canadian pipeline operator Pembina Pipeline (NYSE:PBA) acquired the Jordon Cove LNG project in Oregon when it purchased Veresen in late 2017. While investment and regulatory decisions remain uncertain (ironically due to fears in early 2016 of an oversupplied LNG market), investors could know the project's fate by the end of 2018. Increased demand in China and Japan might ensure the 1 Bcf/d project is built after all.

There's even diversity in approaches: Delfin LNG recently had a floating LNG facility in the Gulf of Mexico approved by regulators, which could boast 13 mtpa (1.8 Bcf/d) of LNG export capacity and start shipments by 2022, and would deal almost exclusively with Chinese customers. As CEO Greg Vesey recently told Reuters, "[F]or us, it's strictly been about marketing to China." For energy investors, that's a key theme that shouldn't be overlooked.

LNG is the key to displacing coal

Despite investing billions upon billions of dollars in renewable energy infrastructure and supply chains, it remains a long-term play for a country as large as China. The nation is much too large, power-hungry, and industrious to switch its power generation to renewables overnight. That, combined with low capacity factors for Chinese wind and solar, explains why the government is prioritizing the switch to natural gas from domestic production and imports to displace coal more quickly. It also creates a huge opportunity for energy investors, especially as more American export terminals come online in the coming years.
Last month, Kinder Morgan (NYSE:KMI) finally gave up on its controversial expansion of the Trans Mountain Pipeline in Canada by selling the entire system to the Government of Canada for 4.5 billion Canadian dollars ($3.5 billion). As a result, the company will lose out on the opportunity to invest $5.7 billion in expanding the system, which would have generated CA$1.1 billion ($850 million) of annual earnings for the company's Canadian subsidiary Kinder Morgan Canada (TSX:KML). That's a big blow to Kinder Morgan as well, since this one project represented 48% of its capital project backlog.

However, it's important to note that this move didn't completely wipe out Kinder Morgan's growth potential. The company still has several compelling expansion projects underway, and others in development with the potential to move the needle in the coming years.

Down, but not depleted

As of the end of the first quarter, Kinder Morgan's long-term capital project backlog stood at $12 billion. That number will fall by $5.7 billion upon the removal of Trans Mountain, leaving the company with roughly $6.3 billion of secured capital projects. The bulk of what remains is natural gas pipeline projects, which totaled $4.3 billion. In addition, the company plans to invest $1.3 billion in growing its oil business, $400 million to expand its carbon dioxide assets, $200 million on its terminals business, and about $100 million on product pipelines projects. Overall, $4.6 billion of the company's remaining investment will be to build fee-based assets, which also should generate an incremental $850 million in annual EBITDA, representing about 12% growth from 2017's level.

One of the largest investments currently under construction is the Elba Island liquefied natural gas (LNG) export facility near Savannah, Georgia. The nearly $2 billion project -- partially financed by a joint venture with a private equity fund -- will begin coming online in the middle of this year, and continue starting up in phases through the middle of 2019. As those facilities commence operations, they'll liquefy natural gas that Kinder Morgan will sell to Royal Dutch Shell under long-term fee-based contracts so the global oil giant can export it to world markets.

Another major project for Kinder Morgan is the Gulf Coast Express Pipeline. The company owns a 50% stake in the $1.7 billion expansion, which will move natural gas from the Permian Basin to the Gulf Coast. This project should come online in October of 2019 and supply the company and its partners with steady cash flow for years to come, secured by long-term contracts with natural gas shippers.

There's more coming down the pipeline

In addition to the projects the company has already secured, it has several others in development. On Kinder Morgan's first-quarter conference call, CEO Steve Kean stated that after signing up enough shippers to fill the capacity of Gulf Coast Express, the company has turned its attention to a second pipeline and is already in early-stage discussions with shippers. Meanwhile, the company is working on several small but very high-return projects. One $30 million expansion could generate $15 million in incremental earnings, according to the CEO.

Among the many expansion opportunities it's pursuing is within Natural Gas Pipeline Company of America (NGPL), which it jointly owns with Brookfield Infrastructure Partners (NYSE:BIP). According to Brookfield, the two companies are making good progress on securing up to $300 million of proposed expansion projects that could generate $90 million in incremental earnings. The partners are also in advanced discussions on a potential second phase of NGPL's Gulf Coast Southbound Expansion Project.

On top of continuing to develop growth projects internally, Kinder Morgan could also partner with financially strapped peers to help them fund some of their expansions. After closing the sale of Trans Mountain, Kinder Morgan's Canadian subsidiary will have more than $3 billion in cash at its disposal. The company could use that money to buy another midstream company with a large expansion backlog, or partner with one to fund some expansion projects. At the corporate level this year, Kinder Morgan has about $200 million in unallocated free cash flow that it could use as seed money to help fund expansion projects developed by others, if it's unable to secure more projects internally.

Clarity will come in time

While the decision to hand over Trans Mountain to Canada will ding Kinder Morgan's growth prospects, it's important for investors to understand that the company has several other expansions underway that will move the needle over the next couple of years. Meanwhile, Kinder Morgan has other opportunities in the pipeline and still more options to explore. As the pipeline giant starts locking up these growth projects, it should help lift the weight of uncertainty that has pushed its stock down to a bottom-of-the-barrel valuation.
The science of LED headlights

You've been there - driving at night on a remote 2-lane road, and some inconsiderate *** is driving toward you with blinding blue headlights. If you were to flash your highs, you'd probably discover the light burning into the back side of your skull was just the other driver's low beams, and the return flash of his/her high beams now scalds your face and knuckles.



To that I say... I don't want to be one of those guys that makes everybody flash their highs at me because my headlights are blinding them - but I want to see those suicidal deer before they bound into my path at night. Shopping for options, I see in the mad dash to come up with aftermarket LEDs, everybody is shooting for more lumens - with little or no regard for the drivers facing their product. You already know how you feel about too much blue in your face - but there is also the part about aim. Modern headlights have a cut line, where they shoot far enough down the road to drive highway speeds, but they don't shine into the glass line (windows on other vehicles).



Responsible LED headlight bulb purveyors are now offering "Adjustable Beam" LED bulbs. This may sound like some fun feature we can tinker with from the cab, like one of the police search lights - but that's not what this is. You can now spend a little time with a tool on the bulb, adjusting the cut line to match the factory cut line. It's a little trial and error, but it certainly beats returning to halogen because you can't keep the other drivers from flashing you at night.



I can't do much about the blue-ish hue, the best I can do is go for minimum K in the specs. 6000K is tolerable, but 5000K would be closer to ideal. I saw a product that bragged about 7500K color temperature - that's the blue we really hate. Install a set of those 7500K lights, get a coal tune, add some long freaking mirror arms - and you can be known as a "FINO" (Ford in name only). The Dodge guys will welcome you into the club with open arms.
Creating firewise communities in Wisconsin

June 4, 2018



Controlled burn in Wisconsin. Photo by Derek Casbon/USFWS.

Living close to nature has its perks - peace and quiet, cool wildlife sightings and easy access to hunting, fishing and hiking. For several decades, we at the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service have been working with our neighbors and partners to make public lands safer and healthier for everyone. Learn about a recent success story in Wisconsin and how you can make your property firewise.

Not too far from the capital of Wisconsin is Shovelers Sink Waterfowl Production Area, 175 acres of oak savanna, grasslands and wetlands set aside for waterfowl and other wildlife. This protected area is part of Leopold Wetland Management District and is a great place to go birding, hunting or just get outside and go for a walk. Bringing back healthy habitats to the area is a constant fight against non-native and invasive brush species like buckthorn and honeysuckle, as well as spotted knapweed and purple loosestrife. For our neighbors, this battle against invasives can be loud and smokey to say the least. In the case of Shovelers Sink, and a lot of the other waterfowl production areas we manage, we take a community approach and see a real benefit to sharing habitat restoration efforts across our boundaries onto the private lands that surround these areas. By bringing our neighbors into the process, we all benefit.

Fire professionals refer to these sensitive areas as the wildland urban interface - roughly defined as the zone where natural areas and development meet. The interface has gained increasing importance as more Americans build homes in rural settings adjacent to public lands. We work closely with neighboring communities to reduce future wildfire risks to homes near National Wildlife Refuge System lands. You can help stop the spread of wildland fire to your property by creating whats called defensible space, a buffer between the buildings on your property and the grasses, trees, shrubs and surrounding undeveloped lands. This space helps to slow or stop wildfire and keeps your house away from direct flames and radiant heat.



Fire Management Specialist Derek Casbon burning cattail. Photo by USFWS.

You might be wondering why we burn lands to restore them. It can seem counterintuitive when you see wildlife management activities like controlled burns, mechanical thinning and native seeding projects in progress. Seeing open flame and smoke or large machinery in a protected area without knowing the wider plan can leave people confused and irritated. Thats why weve been working over the years to reach out to our neighbors and explain our long-term goals for protected areas like Shovelers Sink. We do this the old fashioned way, going door to door. Meeting our neighbors face to face is an important part of creating these restoration projects.

Meet Fire Management Specialist Derek Casbon, hes a U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service firefighter with more than two decades of experience and while hes an expert in restoring habitat, hes also somewhat of a salesman. Casbon leads a fire management team that works year-round to plan and execute this type of specialized restoration across 17 counties in southeastern Wisconsin. Three years ago, Casbon started meeting with neighboring landowners across a two square-mile residential area near Shovelers Sink. Since then, hes brought all the surrounding property owners into the project. Over the past two years, Casbon and his team have treated 57 acres of U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service land and five acres of private land through low to moderate intensity fire. Along with reseeding efforts, hes seeing more native plants and wildlife in the area.

As native plants take hold, neighbors do too. Whether its duck habitat, native birds relying on food and nesting, bees pollinating, nature enthusiasts enjoying the area or salamanders just being salamanders, the importance of maintaining such a valuable piece of land is obvious, said Doug Post, caretaker for a nearby property.

Life will keep growing at Shovelers Sink and other waterfowl production areas at Leopold Wetland Management District. Casbon says that his team will continue to thin non-native plants in the area and keep alternating the burn cycle to maintain a healthy ecosystem. Hell keep meeting up with neighbors and look for new opportunities to bring property owners on to the firewise team.

Learn more about Leopold Wetland Management District and how you can get involved.
ASUS ROG gaming smartphone with controller teased News oi-Vishal Kawadkar Another gaming smartphone on its way.

ASUS is set to launch a new Android gaming smartphone under its ROG brand next week. The company has teased the upcoming smartphone on its Twitter handle. The image hints that the smartphone will come with or alongside a physical controller.

While the teaser isn't necessarily a perfect representative of the final product, the controller shown here doesn't have any physical button. It's still a mystery what kind of design ASUS has opted for.

The new smartphone will continue the trend of gaming smartphones that was revived last year with the advent of Razer Phone. Since then, two other OEMs- Xiaomi and Nubia have also launched their gaming smartphones. The ASUS-made smartphone targeting mobile gamers will be officially announced at a conference taking place before the trade show itself, with the firm scheduling the event for Monday, June 4.

Asus building a gaming smartphone doesn't come as a surprise, considering its experience in the PC gaming industry with its Strix and Republic of Gamers (ROG) sub-brands. However, gaming smartphones are yet to fully take flight in the smartphone industry.

Besides, Nubia recently showcased its Red Magic gaming smartphone, going in direct competition with the Razer Phone and Xiaomi's Black Shark smartphone. Now the reports are pouring in saying that the first sale of the Red Magic phone only lasted 37 seconds. The smartphone was announced in mid-April and is company's first attempt to cater mobile gamers.

Nubia tried several prototypes before going ahead with a flashy LED stripe on the rear panel. The top-end variant of the device comes with a Qualcomm Snapdragon 845, 8GB of RAM, and 128GB of internal storage, while the base model has 64GB storage and 6GB of RAM. Other features include a 6-inch FHD+ display with an 18:9 aspect ratio. It comes equipped with a 24MP rear camera and an 8MP front-facing camera. It has a USB Type-C port, 3.5mm audio jack, and starts at the equivalent of roughly $500

Asus join hands with Paytm Mall, launches Vivobook X507

The company also made headlines when it sent invites for the Red Magic launch event to its rivals Razen and Xiaomi. The company also posted the image on its social media handle which is addressed to two of its rival gaming brands - Razer Phone and Black Shark.

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Google to launch Snapdragon 710-powered Pixel phone in 2019 News oi-Vishal Kawadkar Google might be working on a new mid-range smartphone for the Indian market.

Google seems to be prepping to introduce some mid-range Pixel smartphones to its portfolio. After rumors of a mid-range Pixel targeting India, known tipster Roland Quandt has leaked more information about next year's Pixel phones.

According to Quandt, who has many verified leaks under his belt, Google is working on a "mobile" device that will be powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon 710 chip. The phone will be launched in the first half next year, and the company has already started working on it.

While the leakster speculates the phone could have a Pixel branding, he doesn't offer any specific detail about the device. That being said, it's unlikely that Google would launch a tablet considering it has removed the tablet section from its Android website.

This could mean that the device in question could be the second generation of mid-range Pixel phones. The first iteration could be launched in July or August this year and will target India and other growing markets.

Talking of the processor, Snapdragon 710 is Qualcomm's new chip for "upper mid-range" devices. It brings high performance and a rich feature set to devices that fall under the 400-$500 price bracket. Xiaomi's recently launched Mi 8 SE is the first smartphone to incorporate the Snapdragon 710.

Snapdragon 710, compared to its precursor SD 660, has better performance, a 30 percent decrease in battery consumption, and support for advanced machine learning alongside other AI features.

Another Bloomberg report claims the next-generation Google Pixel smartphones might arrive in October this year. If this turns out to be true, then these phones will be announced just a month after the unveiling of the 2019 iPhones.

The report also adds Verizon will be the exclusive US carrier partner for the Google Pixel phones for the third consecutive year. The report does not stop with the launch and availability details. It goes on stating that the larger model - the Pixel 3 XL will come with a dual-camera setup at the front. It is said that both the selfie camera sensors will be positioned inside the notch on top of the display.

Top 10 Tips & Tricks for Google Pixel 2 and Pixel 2 XL

It will be interesting to see how the consumers respond to the alleged mid-range Pixel smartphone. Currently, the phone is in the development stage, so before you get too excited, there are chances that the device might never make to the masses. We request our readers to take this piece of information with a pinch of salt.

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Mobiistar plans to launch 5 more smartphones by the end of 2018 News oi-Priyanka The XQ Dual features Qualcomm Snapdragon 430 Octa-Core that is coupled along with 3GB RAM and 32GB ROM, which is expandable up to 128GB via microSD card.

With an aim to increase its presence in the Indian market and achieve one of the top five positions, nine-year-old Vietnamese phone-maker Mobiistar is planning to launch five more devices by the end of this year.

"We are planning to launch five more devices by the end of this year," Carl Ngo Co-founder and CEO of Mobiistar told GizBot.

However, he refuses to divulge into further details regarding the upcoming products but said, "We want to give a meaningful experience to our customers."

With regards to entering into the Indian market, Carl told us, "We look at the size, growth, potential of converting feature phone user into smartphone user and the technology revolution like 4G is happening here at a very fast and strong pace."He also said that the adoption of the 4G feature phones in India is quite interesting to see.

Mobiistar entered the Indian market with the launch of XQ Dual and CQ, priced at Rs 7,999 and Rs. 4,999 respectively.

The company has also partnered up with Reliance Jio under which users will get Rs. 2,200 instant cashback on select plans. The Mobiistar selfie smartphone series come with Complete Mobile Protection plan which will offer warranty in cases of hardware-software issues, broken screen, liquid damage, repair & replacement and even doorstep pickup and drop. This will come at a very special price of Rs. 99.

Meanwhile, the company has tied up V-Sun technologies for manufacturing or assembling its product in the country.

The XQ Dual features Qualcomm Snapdragon 430 Octa-Core that is coupled along with 3GB RAM and 32GB ROM, which is expandable up to 128GB via microSD card.

Mobiistar XQ Dual and CQ First Impressions

On the software front, the device runs on dated Android 7.1.2 Nougat, while the CQ smartphone comes with 2GB RAM and 16GB ROM.

Best Mobiles in India

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Oppo Find X renders and specs leak: All you need to know News oi-Abhinaya Prabhu Oppo Find X details are out.

Oppo surprised its fans by teasing the long-awaited Find series flagship smartphone. Alleged to be called Find X, this device will be the sequel to the Find 7 smartphone launched back in 2014. The company has created a website for the Find X wand the tagline reads, "Explore is the eternal home of the Find Collection" suggesting that the device will be packed with advanced features.

Following the official teasers, the tipsters have taken to the Chinese social networks to reveal several aspects of the smartphone. A Weibo user has shared the key specifications of the smartphone. There are speculations that the device could be unveiled sometime in June.

Leaked renders reveal the design

Another Weibo user has posted a set of renders of the smartphone giving us a glance at its design. The smartphone is seen to sport a dual-camera setup at its rear. The rear panel seems to have a starry sky texture with a light at its chin sans a fingerprint sensor. The display appears to have a small notch at its top.

Oppo Find X key specs revealed

Going by the same, the Oppo Find X will arrive with a 6.42-inch display with a full-screen design and 2K resolution, which translates to narrow bezels at the sides. The hardware aspects are said to include a Snapdragon 845 SoC paired with 8GB RAM and an ample 256GB internal storage capacity.

3D facial recognition

Joining the iPhone X and Mi 8 Explorer Edition, this smartphone is said to arrive with support for 3D facial recognition. It is likely to use a structured light 3D module for 3D facial scanning. Notably, Xiaomi and Oppo were rumored to be working on such as a feature as the iPhone X late last year. While Xiaomi unveiled the device, the Find X is said to be the Oppo phone with such a feature.

Dual cameras with 5x optical zoom

The tipster goes on stating that the smartphone from Oppo will have a dual-camera setup with 5x optical zoom. This shouldn't be surprising as the company showcased such a feature at the MWC 2017 tech show last year.

Super VOOC flash charging

The Find X is believed to be powered by a 4000mAh battery along with Super VOOC flash charging, which is likely to charge the device completely in just 15 minutes. The speculations do not end here as the other features of the Find X are said to include an in-display fingerprint sensor and support 5G connectivity. Notably, there is no information regarding these feature from the tipster.

Best Mobiles in India
Vivo NEX spotted on 3C listings; to arrive in three variants News oi-Abhinaya Prabhu Vivo NEX, NEX A and NEX S appear on a Chinese certification agency.

Vivo APEX is the concept phone, which has entered mass production under the moniker Vivo NEX. A few days back, we came across a teaser image suggesting that the smartphone could be unveiled at an event on June 12. Also, there are claims that there will be two variants of the device of which one variant is expected to arrive without a pop-up selfie camera. Now, three variants of the smartphone have been spotted on 3C listings.

3C is a Chinese agency, which verifies the eligibility of the upcoming products. Three variants of the device have been spotted on the 3C listing and these are likely dubbed Vivo NEX, NEX A and NEX S. While the NEX S recently appeared on the Geekbench database, this the first time we have come across speculations regarding the NEX A.

The listing on the Chinese agency does not reveal any further details regarding the upcoming smartphone. We get to know that these smartphones support various charging profiles such as 5V/2A, 9V/2A and 10V/2.25A. As per GSMArena citing a report by DealnTech, the NEX A is believed to be exclusive to the Chinese market while the other two will be launched in the global markets too.

Vivo NEX specs to expect

Talking about the Vivo NEX, the device boasts of a borderless design with an almost 100% screen-to-body ratio. The company has decided to make use of a periscope seflie camera that can be pulled out in a fraction of a second from the top of the device. The media reports suggest that the high-end variant of will get an octa-core Snapdragon 845 SoC, 8GB RAM and 128GB storage space. This model is expected to be priced over $1000.

It is believed Vivo will unveil another affordable variant using a Snapdragon 710 SoC paired with 6GB RAM and 128GB storage space, This variant is expected to be priced under $800.

Vivo X21 review

Given that the smartphone could be announced on June 12, we expect Vivo to set the ground for another innovation in the smartphone arena with its concept smartphone. We will also get a clarity on how different the three variants of the device are at the launch event next week.

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Google will not renew its controversial Project Maven following employee revolt News oi-Sandeep Sarkar Following the contract's closure, Google will not renew its contract on the controversial project.

It was only a couple of weeks ago that a number of Google employees had raised concerns regarding the tech giant's involvement in the controversial 'Project Maven'. Now, Google has decided that it will not renew the contract with the US Department of Defense in order to provide AI-based software to aid the US military's drone warfare.

According to some sources from the web, the decision was announced by Google Cloud CEO, Diane Greene, during a meeting with the employees back on Friday morning. As per the report, Google is working on keeping its part of the deal and will complete the contract which is set to be expired in 2019. Following the contract's closure, Google will not renew its contract on the controversial project. However, there has been no official comment that has been made by Google regarding the contract's renewal.

Also, a large number of Google employees had put in their resignation due to the ethnicity concern related to this project. It is being said that the mass resignations last month was the result month-long agitation by a huge number of Google employees. A number of employees had also signed a letter addressing company's CEO, Sundar Pichai, requesting him to pull out of the project. The letter read that, 'We believe that Google should not be in the business of war'. The employees also demanded that the company should make a policy against taking on future military work.

For our readers who are unaware about the Project Maven, we would like to add that the project is one of the controversial US military programs which make use of AI (Artificial Intelligence) in order to automatically ID images of objects so that it increases the accuracy of targeted attacks. Also, the Pentagon official is also said to be interested in expanding the reach of the project for other purposes as well. It is being further reported that the US military has been planning to use the technology to "analyze more parts of the globe and other types of data, such as the contents of captured disk drives".

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Vodafone offers discounts on international roaming; join hands with Visa News oi-Priyanka Visa Travel Prepaid Cardholders with a Vodafone postpaid connection can get a discount of Rs. 750 on this plan, thus getting this service for just Rs. 4250.

India's second largest telecom operator Vodafone has partnered with Visa as part of which post-paid customers who use their Visa Travel Prepaid Card, can now get discounts of Rs. 500 to Rs. 750 on Vodafone i-RoamFREE packs with 10 days and 28 days validity.

The telco said that i-RoamFREE plan for 28 days covers 65 countries and is priced at Rs. 5000. Visa Travel Prepaid Cardholders with a Vodafone postpaid connection can get a discount of Rs. 750 on this plan, thus getting this service for just Rs. 4250.

Vodafone i-RoamFREE plan for 10 days is priced at Rs 3500 where and Visa Travel Prepaid Cardholders can get a discount of Rs 500, effectively making the service available at Rs. 3000.

Avneesh Khosla, Associate Director - Consumer Business, Vodafone India, said: "Vodafone i-RoamFREE plans bring to the table an unparalleled combination of exclusive benefits, high-speed experience, worry-free roaming and great connectivity."

He said: "Our tie-up with Visa further strengthens our value proposition of 'Best Ever International Roaming plan'. So now, whether one is backpacking across Europe, visiting family in the US, shopping in Dubai or attending conferences in Singapore - one can enjoy free calls and data and travel worry-free with the best-in-class prepaid travel card option."

Vodafone i-RoamFREE plans cover 65 countries as part of which they offer unlimited data and calls in 20 countries like USA, Europe, UAE, UK, Singapore, Thailand, Malaysia, New Zealand and unlimited free incoming calls and free data in 45 other countries.

"As a recent Visa survey pointed out, 97 percent of Indian travelers want to stay connected to the internet while traveling, which is the highest compared to their global peers. Our association with Vodafone will ensure that the Indian traveler now has an added incentive to stay connected to the internet and in touch with their loved ones even while on travel across the world," said, Murali Nair, Vice President & Head of Client Relationship Management, India for Visa.

How to remove your number from true caller app

Vodafone i-RoamFREE partnership with Visa will shortly be extended to Vodafone prepaid customers too.

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Luxury cosmetic and beauty brand Bluemercury, which is owned by Macys, has plans to open a storefront on Greenwich Avenue.

The upcoming shop is slated to open at 254 Greenwich Ave., filling the space formerly occupied by Calypso, which closed in 2017. Window wrappings covering the storefront say it will open this summer.
Prior to becoming a full-time branded content consultant and speaker, Melanie Deziel leveraged her degrees in journalism from the University of Connecticut and Syracuse University to lead the content creation and strategy for The New York Times, HuffPost Partner Studio and Time Incs portfolio of 35-plus media properties.

At Social Media Marketing World 2018, I had a chance to catch up with Deziel to discuss the differences between marketing and storytelling, which are often mistaken as being one in the same.

In the interview above we discuss the following key differences and strategies around both tactics including:

Marketing is trying to sell whereas storytelling is trying to connect, entertain or inspire your audience.

The reality is that most C-suite executives arent consuming Snapchat or Instagram Stories on the regular, which is why a clear distinction should be made.

As I explained recently to an executive at a well-known Fortune 500 brand, your story is what makes your company human and relatable -- not your products or services, which is what you sell.

In todays day and age, people want to feel connected to the brands that they buy from, which is why social media networks like Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat and even LinkedIn are placing high emphasis on real-time video content such as Stories and live video. When used as tools, these content formats help you transform your companys sales and marketing department into a newsroom with insights and updates as told by real people such as employees and influencers.

The key to storytelling is what makes you stand out, which is what most companies struggle with conveying.

I often suggest that brands begin with their own employees who can articulate why they like working for their organization and show what a day in the life on their job looks like and then scale outward by engaging existing customers and influencers who can be the face and voice of the brand as well.

As Deziel and I discussed, content is like dating and hooking up. If it looks good and appealing then youre likely to stick around and consume, engage and hopefully buy from the brand.

While more brands and creators shift their focus away from traditional digital marketing into storytelling, many struggle with the reality that the "view" metrics arent going to quickly be in the thousands overnight. That's why its important to leverage existing communities like Reddit and even Instagram hashtags to get your content in front of users who might not follow you (yet) but rather follow the topic of discussion or subject matter.

Watch more videos from Carlos Gil on his YouTube channel here.

Related:

How Brand Storytelling Is the Missing Link to Building a Loyal Community of Followers

Snapchat's Parent Company Plans to Invest $1.5 Million in Media Startups

Why This Entrepreneur Knew He Was Meant to Start His Own Business



Copyright 2018 Entrepreneur.com Inc., All rights reserved
As an outsider in the beverage industry trying to find a way to reach more consumers, landing my product in Starbucks stores was a huge win. It also seemed like a natural fit, as Starbucks at the time was looking for healthier bottled drink options.

Related: How the Rifle Paper Co. Founders Turned a Side Hustle Into a Thriving Lifestyle Brand

The partnership was initially planned to start with a limited launch of our blackberry flavor in 500 stores, which would have been significant for us at the time. But, shortly before launch, Starbucks decided to go even bigger, placing our product in 11,000 stores across the country.

I was ecstatic, but we had a major operational hurdle to overcome: Before selling to Starbucks, we had to actually produce the product and get it ready in time for each major shipment. That also meant we had to pay for each large order up front.

It was stressful, but we were eager for the opportunity to share hint water with a wider audience -- so the team and I rolled up our sleeves and made it happen.

The difference one call can make

Things were going great as new consumers began to discover and enjoy our product for the first time. We had set up weekly sales goals that we consistently surpassed. This is how it went for about a year, and I felt like we had settled into a great rhythm.

Then, as we were preparing our next huge order for shipment, I got the shock of a lifetime. Starbucks called and said that it had shifted its business strategy and would begin filling its cases with more food and fewer beverages. Our product would be removed from stores within a week.

Related: How the Founder of This Luxury Sleepwear Startup Looks to Her Founder Husband For Mentorship

I'm not one to cry very often, but this seemed like the right occasion to make an exception. We had a warehouse full of product we had paid for, with no idea what we were going to do with it. To say that it was a scary moment is an understatement. While logically I knew this was something that was completely out of our control, it felt like a failure. Starbucks was a huge platform for us that was performing very well, so to lose that partnership was devastating.

Once I had the chance to collect myself, I took a deep breath and reminded myself that all was not lost and I still had a great product that consumers loved. I firmly believe that when one door closes another door opens, so while the task of finding a home for the Starbucks shipment that amounted to six months worth of product seemed daunting, I knew we could do it. I was determined not to give up, and immediately began looking for alternatives to our partnership with Starbucks.

Just a couple weeks later, I got another call -- this time, from Amazon. The ecommerce site wanted to sell hint water and requested a large product order within just a few weeks. As fate would have it we happened to have a lot of blackberry hint on-hand and ready to ship. When I asked the buyer how he knew about us, he told me he had seen hint at Starbucks. This brought everything full circle and made it clear that everything has its purpose, and while the relationship with Starbucks may have been short-lived it had a very big impact.

Related: Ayah Bdeir Wants to Ignite the Inner Inventor in Us All

Finding light in adversity

Selling on Amazon worked out great, and continues to be big piece of our business. Our customers loved the online access to our product, and a few years later it led us to launch our own direct-to-consumer business, which has been a huge revenue driver. It has also helped us foster even closer relationships with our customers, which informs every decision we make, since at the end of the day we are here to make our customers lives better.

Starbucks was great for sales, but it was even better for broadening our awareness. While the short-term "failure" of losing that deal was hard to swallow, ultimately it opened up so many doors and pushed us to try a new way of doing things.

This experience reinforced my belief that everything in life is connected and happens for a reason. When something bad happens, you have to hope to find the light in it and keep moving forward until you discover why things happened the way they did. Every fall is an opportunity to get up and try something new and better.

I learned that when things get challenging as an entrepreneur, don't give up on your dream -- instead, find a way to see the opportunity in the chaos and challenge of a difficult situation.

Related:

How I Overcame Losing One of My Biggest Customers

How I Made the Most of the Hungarian Mindset to Grow My Business

How I Turned a Crisis Into a Brand-Defining Moment



Copyright 2018 Entrepreneur.com Inc., All rights reserved
Lenovo VP Chang Cheng is expected to announce tomorrow the Lenovo Z5 - a flagship phone with a bezel-less front. According to leaked images, the panel will not have a notch, but there is a chin underneath that will house the selfie camera, proximity sensor and eventually an LED flash.

A Lenovo device with model number L78011 also appeared on Geekbench. It reached 1332 in Single-Core Score and 4696 in Multi-Core Score, thanks to its Snapdragon 660 chipset and 6 GB RAM. It is a bit off of other devices, powered by the same platform, like the Oppo R15 Pro. The alleged Lenovo Z5 is most likely still a pre-launch unit, so well give the results the benefit of doubt.

The phone will be announced in Beijing as a successor of the highly popular ZUK series. According to Cheng, the Z5 will have a massive battery, 4 TB microSD support and the company's proprietary ZUI on top of Android.

Source 1  Source 2 (in Chinese) | Via
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Havre Daily News staff

A recount of a tied vote for a building reserve fund levy for Cottonwood Schools came out with the vote still tied, 42 in favor and 42 opposed.

With the recount, the levy fails.

Voters also voted down an increase for Cottonwood schools general fund levy, with 38 votes in favor and 48 votes opposed.
Havre Police Department

Eusebio Barron McGillis of Havre, 35, and Elizabeth Joyanna Vernwald of Havre, 26, were each issued a summons on a charge of theft of labor or services or use of property after a Friday 9:50 a.m. caller from a 9th Avenue business reported an unpaid bill of $450.



A no contact order violation was reported Friday at 1:37 p.m. at the police station.



Jared Ray Lamere-MacDonald of Havre, 21, was arrested on a theft charge after a First Street Northeast caller reported Friday at 4:18 p.m. a woman had stolen a phone.



A caller at a Havre shipping company reported Friday at 6 p.m. a package that might contain drugs.



Cody Curtis Donoven of Havre, 30, was issued a summons Friday at 7:22 p.m. at the police station on a criminal contempt charge related to a 24/7 Sobriety Program violation.



Shane Miles Ironmaker of Havre, 31, was arrested on a partner or family member assault charge after a Friday 8:31 p.m. report of a man leaving the scene of a disturbance on Hidden Valley Drive prompted a vehicle check on Eighth Street at 8:35 p.m.



Esequeil Pepe Velasquez of Havre, 40, was arrested on charges of aggravated driving under the influence, driving with a suspended or revoked drivers license and violations of conditions of release, and Nikkita Marie Denny of Box Elder, 19, was issued a summons on a minor in possession charge after a Second Street business callers 10:56 p.m. complaint Friday of people yelling in a white Camaro and pulling out onto the street prompted a vehicle stop on Second Street at 10:58 p.m.



Four summonses were issued during an officers investigation of suspicious activity off Fourth Street Saturday at 3:20 a.m. No information was provided about the summonses.



Ryan Patrick Eagan of Jamestown, New York, 22, was arrested on charges of disorderly conduct and open container in the city after a First Street West business caller reported Saturday at 5:15 a.m. a man passed out in the hallway.



Kenneth Lee Looksbehind of Box Elder, 48, was arrested on charges of disorderly conduct and revocation of a suspended or deferred sentence after a caller at a First Street business reported Saturday at 3:05 p.m. a man had been physically fighting with someone outside and was, at the time of the call, being verbally disruptive.



John Joseph Bear Jr. of Havre, 29, was issued a summons on a shoplifting charge after a Saturday 3:32 p.m. request from a First Street business owner to have officers review surveillance footage of a possible theft.



Jonathan Michael Corcoran of Great Falls, 37, was arrested on a Justice or City court warrant after shoplifters were reported at a U.S. Highway 2 Northwest business Saturday at 3:38 p.m.



A woman turned in at the police station a wallet found in a bank lobby Saturday at 3:52 p.m.



A noninjury vehicle crash was reported Saturday at 4:58 p.m. on First Street.



Officers investigated a Saturday 11:25 p.m. report of a woman punching a man in the face at a First Street West business.



Jenessa Leigh Talks Different of Harlem, 21, was arrested on charges of aggravated DUI, wrong way driving and failure to carry proof of vehicle insurance, after a Saturday 11:51 p.m. caller reported a woman passed out or shaking in the drivers seat in front of a First Avenue house.



Cyprienne Frances Guardipee of Dodson, 18, was issued a summons on an MIP charge after an officer investigated suspicious activity at Eighth Street and Third Avenue Sunday at 12:25 a.m.



Craig Lee Belcourt of Box Elder, 40, was arrest on charges of disorderly conduct and open container after a Second Street caller reported Sunday at 2:38 a.m. a man was beating on his door trying to get into the house.



Douglas A. Partain of Saint Louis, Illinois, 49, was arrested on a disorderly conduct charge after a caller at a U.S. Highway 2 West business reported a man screaming profanity Sunday at 2:56 a.m. Sunday.



Falcon Meyers of Havre, 22, was arrested on a partner or family member assault charge after a Third Street caller reported Sunday at 6:15 p.m. a man and woman had been outside yelling at each other then the man locked the woman and child out of the house.



Jeremie Daniel Brandon of Havre, 41, was arrested on a Justice or City court warrant after an officer gave assistance to another agency on First Street at 1:55 a.m. today.



An officer initiated investigation men walking on First Street this morning at 2:19 a.m.

Hill County Sheriffs Office

Joseph Raymond Moore of Box Elder, 25, and Joseph Tyler Henderson of Havre, 25, were each arrested on state District Court warrants at the detention center Friday at 3:46 p.m.



A Third Avenue caller requested a welfare check at 3:55 p.m. Friday.



A 15-year-old was issued a summons on a shoplifting charge after a caller at a U.S. Highway 2 West business reported a juvenile shoplifter Friday at 9:38 p.m.



A Sunday 2:43 a.m. caller reported a man lying along the road and jumping out at vehicles on U.S. Highway 87.



Patrick Charles Ziemann of Havre, 56, was arrested on a Justice or City court warrant during a vehicle stop on First Street Sunday at 4:01 p.m.



Aryn K.C. Gardipee of Box Elder, 18, was arrested on charges of DUI, under 21, and driving with a suspended or revoked drivers license while deputies were assisting another agency at 2:22 a.m. today.

Havre Fire Department

Emergency medical personnel responded to two calls Friday, three calls Saturday and six Sunday.

Havre Animal Shelter

This morning the shelter held two medium-hair cats with sex listed as unknown, three medium-hair male cats and one female short-hair cat.



The shelter also held this morning a 24-week-old male American Staffordshire Terrier, a 4-year-1-month-old female German shepherd-Labrador retriever cross, a 1-year-3-month-old male Labrador retriever-Boston terrier cross, a 19-week-old male Australian shepherd and a 26-week-old female Labrador retriever.

Births

A girl was born Thursday May 31, 2018, to Johnnie Raining Bird and George Henderson Jr. of Box Elder and Rocky Boy.



A girl was born Saturday, June 2, 2018, to Kelli and Christopher Voss of Havre.
Tom Brown of Havre wears authentic frontiersman clothing as he cleans a canon after it was just fired Saturday at Fort Assinniboine during Havre's Living History event.

Many locations this weekend offered tours and activities during Havre's Living History, helping breathe new life in an older time and celebrating Havre's rich and full life with the community and tourists of all ages.

Havre kicked off its annual Living History Saturday, with events including at Havre Beneath the Streets, Fort Assinniboine, Wahkpa Chu'gn Buffalo Jump, High-Line Heritage House and the H. Earl Clack Memorial Museum.

The North Central Montana Everything Antique Show was held at the Great Northern Fairgrounds Friday through Sunday in conjunction with Living History.

Living H...
The campaign season is revving up with the Democratic and Republican parties opening their headquarters here in Havre, with both parties confident that their candidates will win the upcoming general election Nov. 6.

The Hill County GOP is committed to victory in 2018, said Andrew Brekke, Hill County Republican party chairman.

His counterpart with the Democrats said much the same.

Rep. Jacob Bachmeier, D-Havre, Hill County Democratic party chairman, said he is sure the Democratic party will win and that he looks forward to the campaign season.

Bachmeier, who is up for...
In its decision, the FWC said the current economic conditions supported an increase, ...the economic indicators now point more unequivocally to a healthy national economy and labour market.

The Australian Council of Trade Unions (ACTU) wanted an increase of $50 a week, arguing it would help Australians grappling with the rising cost of living.

Minister for Small and Family Business, the Workplace and Deregulation, Craig Laundy said the FWC had reinforced a wage rise of the size proposed by the ACTU would, ...carry a substantial risk of reducing the employment opportunities for low-skilled workers, including many young persons, who are looking for work.

As is its standard practice, the FWC considered evidence from unions, employer representatives, community groups, state governments and the Commonwealth to reach its decision.

The decision compares to a 3.3% increase in 2017 and a 2.4% increase in 2016 for the national minimum wage and award wages.
In a mix of keynotes, case studies and panel discussions, speakers from Queensland Airports, .NetComm Wireless, Telstra, Adobe, ELMO, Synchrony Global, LinkGroup, oOh!Media and many more will discuss the hot topics of collecting and analysing HR data, overcoming the challenges of deployment, implementation and integration, change leadership in HR technology projects and emerging technology.

HRD is offering readers Super Saver discounts to attend the Summit. Book in now to save up $400 per person. Additional savings apply if you purchase a Dual Pass and bring your IT manager along to share the insights.

To find out more go to http://sydney.hrtechsummit.com/.

The HR Tech Summit will be held at the Westin Sydney on Wednesday 19 September.




We're a family of seven living in Georgia where Andrew's working as a professor at GSU. You can read more about us here
MossColumn: Why did McDonald lose?

Green shows precincts Griffin won, orange McDonald.

The temptation on Tuesday night, May 8, was to describe the sheriffs primary election as a stunning upset. We dont expect an incumbent untainted by scandal to lose an election, especially not in a 58.5 to 41.5 percent landslide. That it happened begs the question: Why?

In 42 years of covering politics, campaigns and elections, Ive learned that political upsets, like wave elections, dont happen because of one thing. They happen when a series of issues peels off the incumbents or controlling partys support, one issue at a time, until the percentage adds up to 50 percent plus 1. Thats what I think was at play when voters fired Charlie McDonald and hired Lowell Griffin to replace him.

Lets start with the most obvious and most damaging one  McDonalds law enforcement training center. Voters will tolerate big capital spending by government, as long as theyre convinced of a demonstrated need. Voters understand, for instance, that schools age out and need to be placed. For all the fuss over Hendersonville High School construction, little of the friction has focused on cost. Until the recent blowup over who knew the true cost when, the conflict was between new construction and keeping the old  not the cost.

McDonald never effectively made the case for why he needed a training center. Voters could not get their head around paying $20 million  or $6 million  for live-action scenario training, tactical drills and 360-degree shooting practice. It was amazing to watch how quickly and decisively commissioners dropped plans for shooting ranges when their meeting room overflowed with angry homeowners. In August 2015, commissioners abandoned the Camp Flintlock site in Green River. They folded like lawn chairs, McDonald told me some months later. Next, the board dropped a site on Pinnacle Mountain before it even came to a public discussion. The proposed Blue Ridge Community College location, an idea intended to remove the Not in My Backyard dynamic, backfired bigtime. At $22 million, the indoor facility under an acre of roof inspired an even broader uprising based on fiscal conservatism and opponents belief that gunshots and explosions were incompatible with the classroom experience. A year after he had quietly told commissioners to pull the plug on the BRCC site, McDonald was in voters crosshairs again, going public with the Macedonia Road site in rural Saluda. If our elected commissioners and County Manager Steve Wyatt thought they were doing McDonald a favor by bringing up the training center days before the primary, they badly miscalculated. Hundreds of residents gathered at the Grove Street Courthouse to protest the shooting range on Saturday, April 14. A standing-room-only crowd filled a meeting room at Saluda fire station on Monday, April 16. One-stop voting started two days later.

Read the spreadsheet to see what happened. McDonald got shellacked in the precincts in and around Macedonia Road. Griffin won 84 percent of the vote in Raven Rock and 73 percent in Green River.

* * * * *

While McDonald and the commissioners were busy shooting themselves in the foot on the training center, that wasnt the only dynamic. McDonald won with 50.4 percent in the 2014 primary, which meant half the primary voters picked someone else  Michael Brown or Erik Summey. Brown is from a family of deputies who served in the Ab Jackson era, which ended when a young upstart named George Erwin ousted Sheriff Jackson in the 1994 primary. The Ridge has been trying to get the sheriffs office back ever since and in Lowell Griffin those apple country voters had a deeply rooted native to support. It didnt hurt that his brother, Robert, is the longtime chief of Edneyville Fire & Rescue. Firefighters stick together  and they talk and they vote. Brown won 30 percent of the vote four years ago. Id say that was a reliable base number for Griffin. He needed 20 more points to close the deal.

Griffin won the Edneyville box with an astounding 78 percent of the vote and took the Bat Cave, North Blue Ridge and Clear Creek precincts with at least 70 points.

I suspect that the farm community bailed on McDonald. I say that because I was surprised to see the reaction to a relatively minor crackdown on undocumented immigrants by the 287G program under ICE weeks before the election.

During their only debate, Griffin refused to commit to continuing a local partnership on ICE enforcement.

Under President Obama, Im guessing that apple and produce growers and greenhouse operators considered ICE enforcement a modest threat. Under President Trump, they may view immigration enforcement as an existential threat. Shift a few more points from the incumbent to the challenger.

Speaking of Trump, McDonald scored the political optic of the year when he appeared at a White House roundtable on school safety with the Man of Hair. Or did he? Was McDonalds close association with the right wing of his party  including Trump and Freedom Caucus leader and Tea Party favorite Mark Meadows  an asset or a liability? Plenty of spiritual Democrats are registered independents in our county; otherwise they cede their ability to influence local politics.

Griffin also won the Mills River precincts, where community members have expressed anger over McDonalds actions in the manhunt for Phillip Michael Stroupe, who is charged with the murder of Tommy Bryson.

Add up the issues and the May 8 primary election outcome seems less mysterious.

McDonald ran as a reformer and I would accept his campaign rhetoric that he had served as a reformer. It turned out it wasnt enough to claim that he had fixed a broken culture. When voters feel like government action threatens their homestead  for most people, their biggest financial investment  they have long memories.

* * * * *



Reach editor Bill Moss at billmoss@hendersonvillelightning.com.




Apple Festival announces 2018 Apple Ambassador

Alivia Breanna Nix

A rising senior at North Henderson High School has been named the 2018 Apple Ambassador for Western North Carolina's largest summer festival, the North Carolina Apple Festival announced.

The ambassador is Alivia Breanna Nix, the daughter of Tammy and Brent Nix. As the Apple Ambassador, Nix will receive a $2,000 college scholarship.

The Apple Ambassador and Runner-up are awarded a Evelyn Lutz Hill Memorial Scholarship. This scholarship honors Ms. Hill, who served as the Secretary of the North Carolina Apple Growers for many years. She was serving as the president of the North Carolina Apple Festival, when she passed away in 2004. Runner-up is Sierra Dawn Lindsey, of East Henderson High School, the daughter of Tonya Lindsey. She receives a $1,000 college scholarship.

The Apple Ambassador represents the festival and at other events across the state that promote Henderson County and the apple industry. Each year, the festival selects an ambassador from local rising high school seniors. Applicants are required to submit their transcripts, list of activities and letters of recommendation and write an essay on the Apple Festival and the importance of the apple industry to the area. The Apple Ambassador is selected based on this information and through an interview process.

Other applicants were Emily Elizabeth Bowles - North Henderson High School; Sarah Abigail Erwin - East Henderson High School; Lauren Elizabeth McMurray - West Henderson High School; Shylee Alexis Stocks - West Henderson High School; Nichola Rae Jarvis - Hendersonville High School and Caitlin Dawn Conroy - Hendersonville High School .
Rape victims are to receive greater protection in court due to a change in the law.

The reforms mean that defendants have lost their automatic right to cross-examine victims.

It significantly reduces the possibility of a rape victim being quizzed in court by their alleged attacker.

The prospect of being challenged by defendants has been blamed by some campaigners for deterring rape victims from coming forward to report attacks.

Justice Minister Charlie Flanagan has also signed orders bringing in changes that give victims of crime the option of giving testimony behind a screen or by video-link.

This option was previously only available to complainants in trials involving sexual or violent crime.

These measures are separate from anything that may emerge from a review by Mr Flanagan of how rape cases are conducted here in the wake of the Belfast rape trial earlier this year.

That case ended in the acquittal of Ireland and Ulster rugby players Paddy Jackson and Stuart Olding, both of whom had been charged with rape.

Mr Flanagan said the Northern Ireland trial "resulted in great anxiety across the country".

Vulnerable

He said that he expected to have the review finished by the end of the summer.

Mr Flanagan told the Herald that the changes introduced in recent days must be seen against the background of "what is a very adversarial courts system in Ireland".

He said this system saw the State pitched against the defendant and meant that vulnerable complainants and witnesses needed to be supported, "particularly in cases of a sexual nature".

Under the new procedures, defendants in rape and other sex cases who choose to act as their own legal representatives no longer have the automatic right to directly cross-examine their alleged victim.

Instead, it is now up to the judge to decide if this will be allowed, with free legal aid being offered to defendants who have been refused permission to conduct cross-examinations themselves.

There are new regulations on the use of sensitive counselling records in sexual-offence trials.

Mr Flanagan said this was an "important new safeguard", which would ensure that the appropriateness of disclosing such information may be considered at a pre-trial hearing that would take into account the impact it may have on complainants.
Provo's Municipal Council votes to get public input on new way of parking management

Provos Municipal Council is on the verge of reversing a problem that has plagued parts of Provo for more than 50 years. For more than three years, Provos parking committee, headed by Councilman David Harding, has had an on-street parking plan under analysis and scrutiny. They have worked long, and sometimes tedious, hours according to Harding to try and get it market savvy and simple. Parking issues have been a thorn in the side of students, homeowners and developers since the days of Ernest Wilkinson was presidents of Brigham Young University. One factor affecting the parking ...
Where to go to see this fall's foliage show in the Tri-State area
These pictures prove that Sonam Kapoor has great friends even outside Bollywood. The actors friend, Natasha Poonawala threw a big party for her at her Mumbai home to celebrate Sonams wedding with Anand Ahuja.

Sonam and Anand arrived hand-in-had to the party and looked every bit the perfect couple that they are. Sonam wore a navy blue off-shoulder gown with puffy sleeves and her hair tied back. Anand opted for a dark, dapper suit.

The two met their friends from BollywoodKaran Johar, Amrita Arora, Malaika Arora, Karisma Kapoor and more. They clicked a bunch of pictures at the party and many of them are now available for everyone to see on Instagram.They also cut a cake and had a great time together.

Squad at #natashapoonawalla party bash #aboutlastnight A post shared by Redspoon Filmy (@redspoonfilmy) on Jun 3, 2018 at 5:28am PDT

Sonam and Anand tied the knot on May 8 at her aunts home in Mumbai. The beautiful and private wedding was followed by a wedding reception/dance party at night which was attended by all the biggest stars of Bollywood.

Sonam is currently riding high on the success of her film, Veere Di Wedding. The film, a buddy comedy about four women, also stars Kareena Kapoor Khan, Swara Bhaskar and Shikha Talsania.

Follow @htshowbiz for more
Bollywood actor Yami Gautam is currently preparing for her roles in Aditya Dhars Uri and Shahid Kapoor-starrer Batti Gul Meter Chalu. In Batti Gul Metre Chalu, Yami plays the role of a lawyer and she recently attended a few hearings at the Bombay High Court to prepare for her role. For Uri, Yami plans to get MMA training.

Yami Gautam at the Bombay High Court.

 I am planning to attend one of the court sessions for sure before starting Batti. As of now since its summer holidays my lawyer friend and team are figuring a vacation bench session that I can attend basis my schedule currently. I am looking forward to the real experience at a court, Yami had earlier said in a press statement.

Yami plays a pivotal role in the film as a lawyer alongside Shahid in the film that also stars Shraddha Kapoor. It is directed by Shree Narayan Singh and discusses the discrepancies of electric billing in small towns.

Yami headed to court over the weekend to watch a vacation bench session following advice from her lawyer friend. Shraddha and Shahid will be shooting the drama around Tehri and Dehradun till mid-June. The next and final schedule for the film will be in Mumbai, where actor Yami Gautam will join the team.

Follow @htshowbiz for more
Scan through Ritesh Jethvas Instagram page, and youd find pictures featuring prominent personalities such as Nikhil Chinappa, Disha Patani, Ranvijay Singha, Sophie Choudry, Arjun Kapoor, and Raftaar. Sharing each of these 250-odd frames is also Ritesh, whose eyes give away the thrill of it all.

I just love taking selfies with celebrities. When people ask me why, I tell them, Its not every day that you get to meet Bipasha Basu or Ranveer Singh. So, when you do find a chance, you need to freeze the moment with a selfie, exclaims the 24-year-old from Mumbai, who also boasts of a selfie with Shah Rukh Khan.

Do we have a name for Ritesh based on his love for selfies? Its definitely going to be the Celebrity Specialist.

But wait, hes surely not the only kind? Lets take a look at some of the other types of selfie takers that we often come across.

The Humanitarian

When Soumya Sen (24) walks into a restaurant, he isnt only on the lookout for whats best on the menu. He also makes it a point to click multiple selfieswith both the decor and the food in the backgroundbefore putting them up on social media.

Lights, camera, action: What kind of a selfie taker are you?

Pictures like that fetch me comments such as, Hey, I wish I could travel to this place you went to or eat the food you ate! This means my selfies make everybody happy, and that, in turn, makes me happy, says the Bengaluru-based software engineer and part-time food blogger, adding that, A selfie cant be only about your face. It has to serve a greater purpose!

Now, isnt The Humanitarian the appropriate title for Soumya, and all others like him?

The Never-Quite-Satisfied Soul

How many tries does it take to get the perfect selfie? Ask New Delhi-based Hemant Sandhu (22), and hed probably say, I am still figuring it out. The MNC professional confesses that if he takes anywhere between 15 and 20 selfies, hell manage to like one, or even none.

So, why does he still take selfies? Because, can anybody be possibly ready to take 20 pictures of mine?

When asked why he thinks his selfies arent up to the mark, he remarks, I guess its my face; can I do something about it?

Seems Hemant will never quite be satisfied, no matter how many selfies he takes! Go talk to him if you can relate to his feelings.

The Unrelenting Spirit

Jui Banerjee (36), a Noida-based homemaker, was in for a good laugh on her trip to Paris last year. She recalls how a friend who was accompanying her visited the Eiffel Tower twice only because he had forgotten to take a selfie there the first time, and came back with a close-up picture of his face, with only the tip of the tower visible.

Lights, camera, action: What kind of a selfie taker are you?

It was hilarious. He really doesnt know the basics of taking a selfie, says Jui. Another time, at a party, the same friend took a groupfie where he himself was barely noticeable.

But, all said and done, nothing stops Juis friend from taking selfies. After the incident at Paris, Jui has dubbed him the Unrelenting Spirit. Raise your hands if you are one, too!

The Perfectionist

Imagine pizza sitting right under your nose, but you cant touch it. Its because you are waiting to eat it with your friend, whos busy taking pictures of herself on her phone. And, just when you think shes done, she says, Hold on. I think my hair was not quite right in this picture.

Lights, camera, action: What kind of a selfie taker are you?

Something similar happened to Mriganka Sen, a journalist from New Delhi, when she had gone to a cafe with a colleague.

I was very hungry, and couldnt wait to eat the food that had just come in. But my colleague went on taking selfies because she couldnt find the right angle. Completely fed up, I ordered something only for myself, reminisces the 27-year-old.

Perhaps, its these little traits that make our selfies so unique and memorable. After all, a selfie is about celebrating yourself, just the way you are. A new TVC by OPPO aptly conveys this message.

The leading electronics gadget maker recently came out with the OPPO F7, which has a 25 MP front camera. It is also AI-powered, meaning it lets an algorithm decide how much beautification is needed to enhance the quality of your pictures, without making them look too processed. There is also a Vivid mode, which allows you to add colour to your selfie, thereby making it look more vibrant.

The best part is that the camera comes with Sensor HDR technology, which lets you take selfies in challenging light conditions. Oh, and did you know that OPPO is the first smartphone company to offer a Super Full Screen display that has a resolution of 2280x1080 pixels? No matter where you are and what you are doing, this phone will let you make every moment special with a selfie.

Shutterbugs, are you ready?
On Monday, India received its cheapest LNG under a long-term deal as Russia began shipping natural gas at a delivered price of close to $7 per million British thermal unit.

At current oil prices, the Russian rate is $1.5 per mmBtu less than the price at which Qatar, Indias oldest supplier, delivered liquefied natural gas (LNG). Russian supplies are also cheaper by $1-1.5 per mmBtu than the LNG sourced from Australia and the US.

Oil minister Dharmendra Pradhan, who flew to Gujarat to witness the arrival of the first LNG ship under a 20-year import deal with Gazprom, termed the event as golden day in the Indias energy pursuit.

State-owned gas utility GAIL India Ltd had in January taken advantage of Russian companys inability to deliver LNG from the previously agreed Schtokman project in the Barents Sea, to renegotiate price agreed in 2012.

GAIL also deferred taking deliveries of full 2.5 million tonnes a year LNG. The contract period was extended by three years to accommodate the supplies not taken in initial years as well as get an additional 2 million tonnes over-and-above the 50 million tonnes it had agreed to take in 2012 over the 20 year contract period.

LNG carrier LNG Kano, bringing cargo from Russian supplier Gazprom, docked at Petronet LNG Ltds import facility here this morning.

Gazprom supplied the 3.4 trillion British thermal unit (TBtu) of cargo from Nigeria. First we renegotiated price of LNG from Qatar, then reworked Australian supplies and now gas from Russia under renegotiated terms has started to flow, Pradhan said after receiving the LNG cargo.

India will import LNG worth an estimated $25 billion over the contract period from Russia, he said. Gazprom price (after being reworked) is very competitive.

While he did not give details, sources with direct knowledge of the development said the reworked price at current oil rate comes to close to $7 per mmBtu, which is cheaper than the delivered price of LNG under the 25-year deal with RasGas of Qatar.

It is also cheaper than Gorgon LNG from Australia and Henry-hub linked US LNG, supplies of which started only a few weeks back.

India, Pradhan said, is pushing towards a gas-based economy by raising the share of environment friendly fuel in the energy basket to 15% from current 6.2%.

There exists huge scope for gas usage in Indian economy -- from generating power to producing quality steel, he said, adding that increasing gas share would also help the country meet its COP21 commitment to cutting carbon emission. India is dependent on imports to meet 45% of its gas needs.

Beginning of supplies from Russia comes within weeks of India importing its first ever LNG cargo from US under a long-term import deal.

Pradhan said the starting of LNG imports from Russia has added a new dimension to the Indo-Russian bilateral relations, particularly in the oil & gas sector. Russia has emerged as a long-term source for Indias hydrocarbon imports, he said.

Stating that the government is committed to transforming India into a gas-based economy, he said investments are being made for augmenting natural gas infrastructure, including pipelines, LNG import terminals and City Gas Distribution networks. 

In the last few years, Indian companies have made investment of more than $10 billion in acquiring varying stakes in strategic Russian projects including Sakhalin-1, Vankorneft and Taas-Yuryakh. On the other hand, Russian company led consortium has committed an investment of $13 billion in Essar Oil in 2016.

Russia is currently, worlds largest crude oil & second largest gas producer in the world. India is worlds third largest energy consumer and fourth largest importer of LNG. 

GAIL has renegotiated with Russian supplier Gazprom the terms of the 20-year deal to import 2.5 million tonnes a year of LNG. Both price and volume ramp up have been renegotiated.

GAIL Chairman and Managing Director B C Tripathi said the contracted volume has been lowered from 2.5 million tonnes to 0.5 MT in the first year 2018-19,0.75 MT in 2019-20; 1.5 MT in the third year 2020- 21.

The company has committed to importing the full 2.5 MT a year by the fourth year and make up for the initial volume reduction over the remaining length of the contract.

Also, the price indexation has been changed from the Japan Customs-cleared Crude to Brent, and the oil-linked slope of the contract formula lowered, and therefore the final price.

Sources said the renegotiated contract provides for diverting a part of the volume, originally contracted on a delivered ex-ship basis, to other markets.

Under the re-worked deal with Gazprom, the duration of the contract has been extended by three years and the Indian company has agreed to buy an additional six million tonnes of LNG volumes.

The pricing of the super-cooled fuel has been changed from 9 month linkage to Japanese Customs cleared crude to three months average of Brent, sources said. 

The deferral will allow GAIL more time to find customers for the imported gas.

GAIL had signed the original deal on August 29, 2012 with Gazprom Marketing and Trading Singapore Pte Ltd (GMTS), Singapore.

The deal was renegotiated in January this year. Gazprom will supply LNG from Yamal LNG project in the Arctic peninsula.

India has been making the most of its position as one of the worlds biggest energy consumers to strike better bargains for its companies.

Last year, India got US energy major Exxon Mobil Corp to lower price of 1.5 MT a year of LNG from Gorgon project in Australia, saving Rs 4,000 crore in import bill.
Officials in New Delhi are busy preparing to welcome representatives of the United Nations these days. People from various parts of the world will converge here on June 5 for the World Environment Day. This years theme is Beat Plastic Pollution. As the host, it is Indias responsibility to take a meaningful initiative on this issue. Though, plastic, in India, is only a part of the massive problem of pollution.

To begin with, some bad news. The stream of water in the Yamuna has become so feeble in Haryana and areas adjoining Uttar Pradesh that people are unable to even immerse the remains of their loved ones. As a result, instead of cremating them, nearby villagers have begin burying the remains of their loved ones. They are now waiting for the rains. After it rains, the Yamunas stream will once again get stronger and the souls of their ancestors can rest in peace.

This isnt happening for the first time. The trend has only strengthened over the past three decades. The conditions have worsened so much that the devout who gather for the Ganga Dussehra in the border areas of Uttar Pradesh and Haryana dont have enough water to carry out the aachman (a customary sip of holy water before the religious prayers). Some enterprising people have begun to deploy diesel pump sets on the banks of the Yamuna to provide them with water. One wishes they understood that this isnt a problem that can be solved in one day.

After getting this news when we begin to investigate, the correspondents from Hindustan found that the Ganga is also drifting into a similar situation. In Varanasi, right in between the main flow of the river some islands of sand have emerged. These are so big and solid that some daredevil youth have been carrying out stunts on their bikes on these. As we already know, the Cauvery and the Krishna dry up for more than 100 days of the year, before they can complete their course. As they originated from the Himalayas, the Ganga and the Yamuna used to be exceptions to this. The Himalayan glaciers sent them to the plains and a number of small rivers also contribute. That these two rivers will reach such a scenario was something that was unimaginable till a few years ago.

Statistics from a number of researchers also indicate this decline of our rivers owing to widespread pollution. In its latest study, the Central Pollution Control Board discovered that the number of polluted rivers in India has risen from 121 to 275 over the last five years. The main reason for this is that sewage falls into these rivers, in 29 states. Will the future generations of Indians read about rivers only in history books? Will that unfortunate day come when well have photographs and legends but no rivers to speak of? Without rivers, where will India, known as shasya shyamla (a land always covered with a harvest) be?

The sorry state of our rivers is linked with the groundwater situation. A report by the Central Groundwater Board reveals that after Punjab and Rajasthan, Delhi is the third most overexploited groundwater state in India. The groundwater crisis has affected 56% tehsils in the Capital. The situation in other parts of the country is also bad. River pollution, shortage of groundwater and the use of all kinds of chemicals has led to the water in many parts of India becoming dangerous. According to the National Rural Drinking Water Project, 1.47 million people staying in 16,689 areas of the country drink water with excessive arsenic. Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Bengal and Assam are the states most affected by this. If you have noticed many more cancer patients around you these days, this could be one of the reasons.

Not just contaminated water, air pollution too is choking people. A study by the Centre for Environment and Energy Development and IIT, Delhi, found that the rate of fatalities owing to air pollution has increased in the Gangetic plains. They say between 150 and 300 people per 100,000 are dying owing to air pollution. A greater number of people are falling prey to diseases of the lung, heart and other similar ailments. Meerut and Agra have left other towns behind in this malaise. Will you still address Meerut as the City of Revolution and Agra the City of Love?

When rivers stopped to be jivandayini (life-supporting) and air begin to choke cities, one should realise that everything will collapse unless corrective steps are taken. There is a danger hovering over Indian civilisation.

While fighting this issue, our governments need to be sensitive and determined and need greater public awareness. We should remember that it was nature that gave birth to human beings and we need it for our survival. We are the ones dependent on nature and not the other way round..

Shashi Shekhar is editor-in-chief, Hindustan

letters@hindustantimes.com
A 45-year-old music teacher of National Institute of Visually Handicapped (NIVH) here was arrested on Monday for allegedly sexually assaulting at least two students of the institute, police said.

The arrest came following an investigation done by police in the state capitals Rajpur area on two complaints lodged against the teacher. Ramesh Kashyap was arrested from his house on NIVH campus in Rajpur Road here.

The first incident came to light when a 13-year-old boys father lodged a complaint with the State Commission for Protection of Child Rights (SCPCR) on May 5.

Another case was registered by a member of NGO Bachpan Bachao Andolan in the Rajpur police station after which police registered a case under sections of POCSO Act.

During the investigation, police gathered evidences against Kashyap and presented the two victims before a court, where they recorded their statements, a police officer said. Medical examinations of the victims were also done, he said.
Going by current concentration of plastic waste in a day in total municipal solid waste of 81 cities of Uttarakhand, which is 17% at present, average tonnes of plastic waste is going to double in 2041, according to a latest survey.

The survey conducted by the Uttarakhand Environment Protection & Pollution Control Board (UEPPCB) in 2016-17, 272.22 tonnes per day plastic is reported from the total waste which is going to increase 457.63 tonnes in 2014.

It is going to pose severe implications to the hill state.

SP Subuddhi, UEPPCB member secretary, said, Current percentage of plastic waste is already alarming. And if we continue to excessively use the plastic like today, then the plastic content would be nearly doubled by next 23 years.

Dehradun is the topmost city to contribute the highest plastic percentage in the waste. The survey stated that 327.9 tonnes per day of plastic is added to the waste in the state capital which is going to increase to 584.051 tonnes per day.

Second is Haridwar with 236.5 tonnes a day and it is going to increase by 368.363 tonnes a day in the given period.

Activists said increasing population and tourism were two main reasons behind this malaise.

Even of population and tourism are two reasons which are plaguing hills, every citizen of the state could contribute to curb plastic use. People should stop buying plastic and could also promote others in their family and circle too, said Mahesh Bhandari, president Doon resident Welfare Front that worked to replace polythene bags with jute and cloth bags in the city.

Some even demand a policy to ban plastic manufacturers and also create strict rules for tourists.

Uttarakhand is a tourist abode. Whether religious or wildlife, people from India and abroad come here. We need to have a strategy in place so that tourists could not bring in plastic. Meanwhile, those manufacturing plastic should also be banned, said Sunita Rawat, a resident of GMS road.

The Uttarakhand government in 2015 notified banning plastic, but its implementation could not be done.

The UEPPCB member secretary said in Garhwal and Kumaon regions, officers were raiding shops and retailers, but a comprehensive campaign was still missing.
The Uttarakhand unit of BJP has demanded more representation from the state in the Union cabinet amid speculation that Prime Minister Narendra Modi may soon expand his council of ministers ahead of the 2019 general election.

At present, partys Dalit face Ajay Tamta, one of the five parliamentarians from the hill state, is the lone representative from Uttarakhand in the Union cabinet.

If Modi chooses to carry out the fourth expansion of his cabinet, it could be his last as hardly a year is left for the next parliamentary polls, said a state BJP leader, who is familiar with the developments in the partys central unit.

A section of state BJP leaders, however, demanded that Modi induct into his Cabinet one of the four parliamentarians representing Uttarakhand or recently elected Rajya Sabha member from the state Anil Baluni.

Tamta was inducted into the Union cabinet when Modi expanded it third time last year.

BJP state unit president Ajay Bhatt, however, refused to comment on the issue stating that cabinet reshuffle or expansion is the prime ministers prerogative.

Besides Tamta, other four BJP parliamentarians are three former chief ministers BC Khanduri, Ramesh Pokhariyal Nishank and BS Koshiyari, and Mala Rajya Laxmi Shah.

Khanduri, Nishank and Koshiyari represent Pauri, Haridwar and Naintial Lok Sabha seats, respectively. Shah represents Tehri.

A section of BJP leaders have demanded that Modi induct into his cabinet some more faces from the state citing several reasons.

For one, that would help boost the morale of our party workers, which would benefit us ahead of the next (2019) parliamentary polls, for which not much time is left now, said state BJP leader Pushkar Singh Kala.

Such a move, he clarified, would also help balance the caste equations in BJPs favour.

Dalits in our state have got the representation following the BJP parliamentarians induction into the cabinet, he said referring to union minister of state for textiles Ajay Tamta.

It is now time the upper castes also got representation in the Union cabinet because they are in a majority.

Former state BJP vice president Lakhiram Joshi said if Prime Minister Modi chooses to induct some of the three parliamentarians from Garhwal, it would help balance the regional equations ahead of the Lok Sabha polls.

Regional equations went awry after Tamta, a Kumaoni, was inducted into the Cabinet whereas Garhwal went unrepresented, he said.

BJP insiders, however, said Uttarakhand with just five Lok Sabha seats is unlikely to get one more representation in the Union Cabinet.

Besides, Modi will expand his cabinet in view of the political equations unfolding ahead of the next general elections, a state BJP office bearer said.

State BJP vice president Jyoti Prasad Gairola said the next cabinet expansion, whenever it happens, would be carried out to give a push for development in the country.

Party insiders, however, said Modi might carry out his fourth and supposedly last Cabinet expansion ahead of the next general elections to induct some of the parliamentarians belonging to the BJP allies.

Such a move has been necessitated after some of the NDA allies of the ruling BJP like the Telugu Desam Party recently opted out of the Modi government, a leader of the BJPs state unit said requesting anonymity.

Parliamentarians belonging to the BJP allies who stand a chance in the Union Cabinet during its next expansion could also be from the states that will be going to polls this year, he pointed out referring to Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh.
Karachi, Bazooka, Atom Bomb, Black Russian, Parachute and Pikachu are neither weapons nor cartoon characters. They are not related to either Pakistan or Russia. Nor do they have anything to do with fireworks.

They are street lingo for popular drug cocktails, the Delhi Police have found.

A senior Delhi Police officer said that such terms are usually used by local drug traders so that their business can be carried on, undiscovered. Deputy commissioner of police (New Delhi), Madhur Verma, said, We have come across certain slang terms used by the drug syndicates to keep their business hidden. While Karachi is a code used for heroin mixed with phenobarbital (a sleeping drug) and methaqualone (a depressant), the word Bazooka is used to refer to a mixture of crack cocaine and marijuana. Atom Bomb is the code for marijuana and heroin mixed together.

Such drug cocktails are popular in rave parties, he added.

Most deals are struck over the phone and many times, the police get tips from informers. Both become difficult when street lingo is used for drugs.

Verma confirmed the police has, in recent months, seized significant quantities of methaqualone, ecstasy, and methamphetamine. Most are being pumped into the capital from across the border (Pakistan) and being transported to the party hubs of the city, he added.

A second police officer, who did not wish to be named explained that a mixture of hashish and opium together is referred to as Black Russian, while that of crack and heroin is Parachute. Pikachu is the code for small pills containing phencyclidine (hallucination drug) and ecstasy, he said.

DCP Verma said that the terms themselves are new and came to light in the wake of the recent seizures.

The Delhi Police in May last year seized 6.5 lakh tablets of maphedron and methaqualone worth Rs 30 crore. In June last year an international syndicate involved in smuggling of contraband drug MDMA (methylenedioxymethamphetamine) which is a party drug popularly known as ICE was busted. The value of ICE seized was Rs 40 crore, he added.

The DCP said drug-trafficking has become a great challenge for the police and related agencies. Drug syndicates use these slang terms to keep themselves away from police suspicion (while striking deals). We have intensified operations against the use of drugs in the capital and every police district has a dedicated Special Narcotics Unit for this purpose. We also have an elite investigation unit of narcotics in the our crime branch.
Nearly four months after Raghubir Nagar in west Delhi lost one of its residents to what police said was a case of honour killing, when the clock stuck 7.17 pm on Sunday evening, over hundreds of people gathered at a lane in the area to partake in an iftar party. They wanted to spread the message of peace by remembering the local Hindu boy who was killed because of his relationship with a Muslim woman.

Ankit Saxena, 23, a freelance wedding photographer, was murdered in front of his family in February by the relatives of a woman he was courting since they were opposed to the inter-faith affair.

Five months after the incident, his father Yashpal organised the iftar on Sunday with the help of their neighbour Mohammad Izhar Alam. Alams family, Ankits friends and neighbours pitched in to cut fruits, make roohafza (a cool drink) and distribute food among people who gathered to attend the iftar outside their home.

In attendance were not just their neighbours, but also former bureaucrat and activist Harsh Mander and Gorakhpur doctor Kafeel Ahmad Khan. A poster with several photographs of Ankit Saxena, including one wherein he is seen wearing a skull cap, and another in which he is seen wearing a turban, adorned a wall in the lane.

Alam is like my brother and he suggested we can do this. I really liked the idea but I did not know how to do it so he said he would arrange everything. We hope this will help spread the message of peace and harmony, Yashpal said, adding, I thought we should do this as it would be an auspicious start to the trust that I have set up in Ankits name.

Ankit Saxena and his girlfriend lived in the same neighbourhood and were reportedly in a relationship for two years.

Speaking on the side of the iftar party, Yashpal said, I want them (the accused in Ankits murder) to be hanged. But I wont hate everyone from their community just because they belonged to it. There should be love and peace. My only child is gone but I want his name to live forever.

Meanwhile, while eating their meal, neighbours recalled what a happy-go-lucky man Ankit was. Pushpa Otwal, a neighbour, said she knew Ankit since his childhood and that she had come to attend the iftar in his memory. I have never attended an iftar in my life and I didnt know what it is like. But Yashpal ji explained it is just like how we fast during navratras. This is a very good step, she said. Mander said, This is a message for humanity... many of us are not fasting but when we sit together and eat, it sends a message that we are brothers and sisters, he said.

Kafeel, the suspended paediatrician of the BRD Medical College in Uttar Pradeshs Gorakhpur, said Ankits father has set a big example.
In the 2013 assembly election, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) won 40 of 224 assembly seats in Karnataka. A year later, it swept 17 of the 28 Lok Sabha seats in the state, thanks to the reunification of factions, which included BS Yeddyurappas Karnataka Janata Party and the Reddy brothers acolyte B Sriramulus Badavara Shramikara Raitara Congress. The Congress and the Janata Dal (Secular) won nine and two seats respectively in 2014. In the recent assembly elections, the BJP won 104 of the 223 seats. It expected to do well in 2019, repeat, perhaps even better its 2014 performance, but the coming together of the Congress and the JD(S) has changed a lot of things.

Apart from forming a government, the two partners have announced their decision to form a pre-poll alliance in 2019. This isnt good news for the BJP. In the assembly polls, the Congress got a little over 38% of the vote but won 79 seats, the BJP won 36% of the votes and won 104 seats while the JD(S) won 17.5% of the votes for 38 seats. The BJPs seat share to voter share ratio was high because of the division in the non-BJP votes. With the aggregation of those votes, the coalition partners can hope to sweep not just the old Mysuru area where they are traditional combatants but also get more seats in the states Mumbai Karnataka and Central Karnataka regions, and Bengaluru. Assuming that there will be a smooth seat allocation and transfer of votes between the coalition partners, the Congress-JD(S) combine can win 21 of the 28 seats in the state. The BJP can hope to get only six seats where its vote share is higher than the combined vote share of the coalition partners, primarily in Coastal and Hyderabad Karnataka. One seat in Hyderabad Karnataka would be too close to call with both sides almost evenly matched.

The BJP which is facing a united opposition in several northern states, was hoping for an easier fight in Karnataka. If the coalition endures, that looks difficult. BJP president Amit Shah and former chief minister BS Yeddyurappa will now have to come up with a new plan for Karnataka.
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Page: 1 2 3 FBI Agent Shoots Guy While Showing Off Drunk in Denver Bar racer ac

lop guest

User ID: 444418

06-04-2018 04:24 PM











Post: #1 FBI Agent Shoots Guy While Showing Off Drunk in Denver Bar

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According to a Denver police news release, the wounded guy was transported to the hospital with a gunshot wound in the leg. The doctors expect he will survive. The name of the agent wasnt released because he hasnt been charged.



link to video In a bar called Mile High Spirits in Denver, Colorado, an armed off-duty FBI agent was showing off on the dancefloor. He did a backflip, during which his loaded gun fell out of the holster. Since he was drunk, the agent picked it up with his finger on the trigger, discharging a round into a random guy.According to a Denver police news release, the wounded guy was transported to the hospital with a gunshot wound in the leg. The doctors expect he will survive. The name of the agent wasnt released because he hasnt been charged.link to video https://www.bitchute.com/embed/jnPC1mtxNbSi LoP Guest

lop guest

User ID: 444425

06-04-2018 04:26 PM











Post: #2 RE: FBI Agent Shoots Guy While Showing Off Drunk in Denver Bar

Hahahahahaha LoP Guest

lop guest

User ID: 56113

06-04-2018 04:31 PM











Post: #3 RE: FBI Agent Shoots Guy While Showing Off Drunk in Denver Bar

racer ac Wrote: (06-04-2018 04:24 PM) The name of the agent wasnt released because he hasnt been charged.

wtf, he sould be charged and banned from police. wtf, he sould be charged and banned from police. LoP Guest

lop guest

User ID: 381174

06-04-2018 04:35 PM











Post: #4 RE: FBI Agent Shoots Guy While Showing Off Drunk in Denver Bar

Smart guy, carrying a concealed weapon while not only drinking in a bar, but dancing and back flipping.



Must be those rigorous standards of selecting agents and then training them. spo snouou

Vocem sine nomine audivit!

User ID: 350320

06-04-2018 04:37 PM



Posts: 67,593









Post: #5 RE: FBI Agent Shoots Guy While Showing Off Drunk in Denver Bar









BTW on what authority do we understand this person to be with the FBI?

not saying he wasn't but he could be any drunk concealed carry fkr.



thanks.. I had a bet with someone that one of you would post this within 2hBTW on what authority do we understand this person to be with the FBI?not saying he wasn't but he could be any drunk concealed carry fkr. racer ac

lop guest

User ID: 444418

06-04-2018 04:38 PM











Post: #6 RE: FBI Agent Shoots Guy While Showing Off Drunk in Denver Bar

LoP Guest Wrote: (06-04-2018 04:31 PM) racer ac Wrote: (06-04-2018 04:24 PM) The name of the agent wasnt released because he hasnt been charged.

wtf, he sould be charged and banned from police.

He's not a police officer but a Federal Agent, suppose to be picked as the brightest and best train by the US government.



He's not a police officer but a Federal Agent, suppose to be picked as the brightest and best train by the US government. racer ac

lop guest

User ID: 444418

06-04-2018 04:41 PM











Post: #7 RE: FBI Agent Shoots Guy While Showing Off Drunk in Denver Bar

spo snouou Wrote: (06-04-2018 04:37 PM) thanks.. I had a bet with someone that one of you would post this within 2h







BTW on what authority do we understand this person to be with the FBI?

not saying he wasn't but he could be any drunk concealed carry fkr.





Ny post link: Ny post link: https://nypost.com/2018/06/03/off-duty-f...ng-at-bar/ LoP Guest

lop guest

User ID: 441657

06-04-2018 04:49 PM











Post: #8 RE: FBI Agent Shoots Guy While Showing Off Drunk in Denver Bar

Love the way he just picks the gun back up and sticks it back in his pants like nothing happened. LoP Guest

lop guest

User ID: 441631

06-04-2018 04:59 PM











Post: #9 RE: FBI Agent Shoots Guy While Showing Off Drunk in Denver Bar

Panic at the disco!



In that the FBI has been shooting itself in the foot with regularity lately, this represents progress. He probably should be promoted to the Mueller team.







spo snouou

Vocem sine nomine audivit!

User ID: 350320

06-04-2018 05:19 PM



Posts: 67,593









Post: #10 RE: FBI Agent Shoots Guy While Showing Off Drunk in Denver Bar

racer ac Wrote: (06-04-2018 04:41 PM) spo snouou Wrote: (06-04-2018 04:37 PM) thanks.. I had a bet with someone that one of you would post this within 2h







BTW on what authority do we understand this person to be with the FBI?

not saying he wasn't but he could be any drunk concealed carry fkr.





Ny post link: https://nypost.com/2018/06/03/off-duty-f...ng-at-bar/

Quote: The victim was treated at an area hospital for a non-life-threatening injury, according to ABC  7 Denver.



The agent was taken to Denver Police Headquarters, and eventually released to an FBI handler, the network reported.

So the network is at the moment the only source for the FBI part of the story ?



Just hypothetically , if turned out to be not an FBI agent , would you accept that?



It probably is, that would be retarded to the max to try push a fake news viral video pushing that type of propaganda So the network is at the moment the only source for the FBI part of the story ?Just hypothetically , if turned out to be not an FBI agent , would you accept that?It probably is, that would be retarded to the max to try push a fake news viral video pushing that type of propaganda racer ac

lop guest

User ID: 444418

06-04-2018 05:27 PM











Post: #11 RE: FBI Agent Shoots Guy While Showing Off Drunk in Denver Bar

spo snouou Wrote: (06-04-2018 05:19 PM) So the network is at the moment the only source for the FBI part of the story ?



Just hypothetically , if turned out to be not an FBI agent , would you accept that?



It probably is, that would be retarded to the max to try push a fake news viral video pushing that type of propaganda

You work for the FBI or something? You work for the FBI or something? LoP Guest

lop guest

User ID: 405248

06-04-2018 05:42 PM











Post: #12 RE: FBI Agent Shoots Guy While Showing Off Drunk in Denver Bar

LoP Guest Wrote: (06-04-2018 04:31 PM) racer ac Wrote: (06-04-2018 04:24 PM) The name of the agent wasnt released because he hasnt been charged.

wtf, he sould be charged and banned from police.

no kidding no kidding LoP Guest

lop guest

User ID: 381174

06-04-2018 05:44 PM











Post: #13 RE: FBI Agent Shoots Guy While Showing Off Drunk in Denver Bar

LoP Guest Wrote: (06-04-2018 04:49 PM) Love the way he just picks the gun back up and sticks it back in his pants like nothing happened.

We should call him Frank Drebin Jr.







We should call him Frank Drebin Jr. eclipsed

Registered User

User ID: 443054

06-04-2018 06:47 PM



Posts: 2,290









Post: #14 RE: FBI Agent Shoots Guy While Showing Off Drunk in Denver Bar

should it have been in a holster?

if not,

how about a safety on the gun?



like the FBI needs anything more to be shown as dangerous to the public.



did anyone notice that he didnt even go see if the guy shot was okay?

he just walked away.



nice.... LoP Guest

lop guest

User ID: 381174

06-04-2018 07:36 PM











Post: #15 RE: FBI Agent Shoots Guy While Showing Off Drunk in Denver Bar

eclipsed Wrote: (06-04-2018 06:47 PM) should it have been in a holster?

if not,

how about a safety on the gun?



like the FBI needs anything more to be shown as dangerous to the public.



did anyone notice that he didnt even go see if the guy shot was okay?

he just walked away.



nice....

Yes in a holster, he just stuck it down his pants like a gang banger probably to impress the chicks lol.



I think I read somewhere else that a glock doesn't have a safety, but it has some kind of safety mechanism on the trigger, requires more than 5 lbs pressure or something to pull the trigger.



Anyway you don't pick up a loaded firearm from the floor by putting your finger through the trigger, they teach that on the first day of firearms safety courses.



The guy is a complete idiot and if the FBI doesn't fire his ass it means he has a relative high up in the organization. Yes in a holster, he just stuck it down his pants like a gang banger probably to impress the chicks lol.I think I read somewhere else that a glock doesn't have a safety, but it has some kind of safety mechanism on the trigger, requires more than 5 lbs pressure or something to pull the trigger.Anyway you don't pick up a loaded firearm from the floor by putting your finger through the trigger, they teach that on the first day of firearms safety courses.The guy is a complete idiot and if the FBI doesn't fire his ass it means he has a relative high up in the organization. Advertisement


















The Medical Council of Indias (MCI) decision to keep an upper age limit for the National Eligibility-cum-Entrance Test (NEET) for admission to medical colleges has come under the scrutiny of the Supreme Court.

A bench of justices AK Goel and Ashok Bhushan, while issuing notice on a petition challenging the policy, agreed to examine the validity of an amendment to the MCI Regulations on Graduate Medical Education of 1997. The amendment that was notified on January 22, stipulated an upper age limit of 25 years for general category candidates and of 30 years for those belonging to the Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes and Other Backward Classes (OBC) as well as those is the physically handicapped categories.

The Delhi High Court had on May 11 upheld the regulation. It had held that a 17- or 18-year-old candidate will find it difficult to compete with older and more experienced candidates.

Senior advocate Amarendra Sharan, arguing for the petitioners, told the court the regulation is artificial and serves no real objective. The Regulation is bad as per the (MCI Oversight) Committee as well as the central government that has recommended deletion of the upper age limit as the country needs more doctors, the lawyer said.

But the bench noted that the regulations are in exercise of legislative power to which Sharan replied: When candidates secure higher marks, it increases competition, resulting in better doctors.

The court, however, declined interim relief as the results of NEET 2018 were being declared on Monday.

In a related development, the court also refused to entertain a petition that wanted it to put on hold the NEET results for 2018. The petitioner claimed there were a lot of mistakes in the translation of the NEET question paper from English to other languages.
Reducing the board exam season from the current seven weeks to around a month could be one way to improve the process and also prevent leaks of papers, a committee formed by the Human Resource Development ministry after the recent CBSE papers leak incident is likely to recommend, Hindustan Times has learnt.

Doing so would involve considerable logistical juggling, though, because CBSE (Central Board of Secondary Education) offers 168 courses in Class 12 and 70 in Class 10, and multiple permutations and combinations are possible. Given that there are no restrictions on what students can opt for, conducting these exams usually takes about seven weeks, a member of the committee said.

The way out, added this person who spoke on condition of anonymity, may be to pick courses that have been opted for by very few students and have the schools where these students study be the base for the board exams in such courses that can actually be held before the other board exams begin. For instance, in 2018, only three students opted for a course in music production, one for a course in maternal and child health, and one for a course on fundamentals of nursing.

For such courses and other similar courses we can set the school itself as the centre (currently external centres are selected). This will ensure that these exams are held earlier and those that have more number of students we can hold it in March and complete them within a months time, this person said.

This could reduce the exam period from seven weeks to four or five weeks. The committee has also suggested following a double encrypted system for exam papers which is foolproof.

Under the system the exam paper will be doubly encrypted and will be printed at the centre itself. Logistics of electricity, printers and manpower will be taken care of. This will reduce the chances of any paper leak substantially, added the member.

Another suggestion made by the committee is that the question papers should have watermarks depending on the exam centres. That way, if there is a leak, it becomes easy to identify the centre from which the leak has happened.

Meanwhile, the committee has also had a subsidiary discussion on whether CBSE should offer baskets of subjects and the students can pick from various baskets. ICSE and IB, two other boards offer around 30 to 35 subjects in board exams.

The panel headed by VS Oberoi, a former secretary of the ministry of human resource development (MHRD), and comprising seven others, was formed in April after the Class 10 mathematics and Class 12 economics papers leaked, which triggered criticism of the way the board held exams. A re-test was held for Class 12 students, but CBSE decided against one for Class 10.

The HRD had tasked the committee with reviewing all aspects related to security checks built in to the examination system to ensure that question papers reach the examinees without being tampered with. The panel was also asked to assess potential points of weakness in the present system of transporting question papers from the printing presses to the examination halls.
In a narrow street in Subhash Nagar, near the citys main bus stand, is an innocuous-looking two-room temple, painted pink, one of perhaps thousands such, maybe more, that dot India.

Most people pass by it without a second glance. Yet, this temple is special.

It is the only known temple dedicated to Guru Dronacharya, the teacher of the Pandavas and the Kauravas in the Hindu epic, Mahabharata.

Two years ago, Gurgaon was renamed Gurugram in honour of Dronacharya, but that hasnt meant anything to the temple, which is boxed between houses in Subhash Nagar.

Historians are divided on whether there was any connection between Gurugram and Dronocharya, but the temple itself is close to 150 years old. It is different from the temple at Bhim Nagar that is dedicated to Ekalayva, the tribal warrior who, when refused instruction from Dronacharya, practised before a statue of the guru and became proficient in archery (before sacrificing his thumb at the insistence of the guru).

Locals in Subhash Nagar say the temple was established in 1872 by Singha Bhagat, a resident who donated acres of land in honour of Dronacharaya.

Singha Bhagat was a disciple of Sheetla Mata, wife of Dronacharaya. It was during his time that the temple was first made, said Kali Ram Sharma. The 73-year-old Sharma belongs to one of the five families which are looking after the upkeep of the temple.

Sheetla Mata, of course, is a popular deity in Haryana, and Gurugram has a popular temple dedicated to her that was built in the 18th century by a Rajasthan royal.

The Dronacharya temple is in the corner of a narrow street, shaded from public view by the leaves of a banana tree that stands adjacent to it. The two-room temple houses idols of several gods and goddesses which coexist with a massive statue of Dronacharya placed bang in the centre of the hall. The wall behind the towering white statue pictorially depicts the story of Dronacharya teaching his students.

My ancestors have been looking after the temple for generations. Nine generations of our family have stayed here and devoted our time to honour the legacy of the guru. Over the years, the temple had worn out but we got repairs done. Last year, the residents crowdfunded Rs 1.3 lakh for glass enclosures that were required for the safety of the idols in the temple. We treat the temple like a shared cultural heritage and have been supporting it as such, said Sharma.

Sharmas son Vijay and his family run the temple from 5 in the morning till 10:30 at night.

We have a lot of faith in the temple. Its a legacy that I have inherited from my father and one that I plan to honour, said 43-year-old Vijay.

While the Sheetla Mata temple is popular, not many people know about the Gurus temple. People have a lot of faith in Sheetla Mata and when they get to know that her husband has a temple here, they come and pay their respects. A few days back, a family came all the way from Mumbai to visit the temple, said Vijay.

Sharma rues the fact the temple has received little attention from the government.

Gurgaon was renamed to Gurugram because of the guru but unfortunately, not many know about the presence of his temple. People should be familiarised with the legacy of the guru. We have plans of submitting a proposal to get the area close to the temple renamed to Guru Dronacharya Nagar. This would increase peoples awareness about the temple and make it more popular, said Sharma.

Experts see little merit in changing the name of the area based on oral history.

There is no historical evidence to prove Dronacharyas connection with the place. Sometimes these are just anecdotes that get passed on from one generation to another, said historian KC Yadav.

Still, if Gurgaon can become Gurugram in honour of Dronacharya, Subhash Nagar can surely become Guru Dronacharya Nagar.
Foot overbridges (Fobs) built along the Delhi Gurgaon Expressway, at Iffco Chowk, Hero Honda Chowk, and Rajiv Chowk, have become unsafe for pedestrians as they are being used by two-wheeler riders looking to cross a junction in less time or as short cuts. This encroachment of the pedestrian facility, and lack of rule enforcement by the traffic police has left the most vulnerable section of road users exposed to the threat of meeting with accidents.

Motorists said the increased distance between turns in the expressway have left them with no choice. After the construction of an underpass and flyover, the nearest cut for taking a turn towards New Delhi is at Kherki Daula, 5km from Hero Honda Chowk. I have no choice but to use the FOB to cross the road. This is not correct, but I blame the authorities for it, Sajid Ansari, a resident of Ghatola village, said.

Two-wheeler riders said they also use the Fobs to avoid traffic congestion. Shankar Chowk is heavily congested during peak hours. So, to go towards MG Road, I simply cross over using the Fobs at Iffco Chowk. This cuts my travel time by 25 minutes, Kiran Dev Singh, a Sikanderpur resident, said.

Pedestrians said that theyre now extra cautious while walking on the Fobs as two-wheeler riders zip past at high speeds.

Odisha migrant Bappi Biswal, who resides in Jharsa village, uses the FOB at Iffco Chowk every day, and has met with accidents because of it.

On two occasions, I was hit by a two-wheeler and collapsed. Fortunately, the injuries were minor. I cant afford medical expenses, he said.

Pedestrians said the FOB at Hero Honda Chowk is the worstaffected, especially during peak hours. Two-wheelers come from both sides of the FOB. This is a common sight during peak hours at the Hero Honda FOB. People on foot walk in the middle to avoid being hit, Amit Saini, a resident of Ghatola village, said.

Despite being aware of the problems, authorities concerned have done little to address them.

The National Highways Authority of India officials (NHAI) said expressway concessionaire Millennium City Expressways Private Limited (MCEPL) is responsible for ensuring Fobs are not used by motorists. However, the concessionaire said they lack the enforcement power to address this problem.

Signboards informing two-wheeler riders from entering the Fobs are in place. This is an enforcement issue, which must be handled by the MCEPL with assistance from the traffic police, NHAI project director Ashok Sharma said.

MCEPL CEO S Raguraman said, We have deployed marshals at the Fobs. Since they cannot penalise violators, deploying them becomes pointless. We have discussed this issue with traffic police on several occasions.

ACP (highways) Hira Singh said, For now, the traffic police has advised officials concerned to install iron grills or small gates at the entrance of Fobs to stop two-wheelers.

Road experts suggest that to address this intrusion, authorities must first identify the problem that forces two-wheeler riders to use the FOB and then work on the enforcement aspect.

If the reasons compelling two-wheeler riders to access Fobs are other than those emerging from bad engineering, then they must be penalised and rules must be enforced more strictly, Sewa Ram, professor of transport planning at the School of Planning and Architecture, New Delhi, said.
Cancer treatments that attack tumors based on their individual genetic traits, and not just their location in the body, could extend survival for twice as many patients, says a new study done by the MD Anderson Cancer Center in Texas.

Targeted therapy involves testing tumours for clues about their genetic mutation, and matching drugs to block the cancers growth on a molecular level. Such targeted options have risen dramatically in the last two decades, and offers hope that tumour testing and cell-free DNA analysis may eventually become the standard of care.

A new study by Montefiore Medical Center in New York also showed that women with early-stage breast cancer could safely skip chemotherapy after gene testing without hurting their chances of beating the disease.

I am optimistic that in the next few years we will dramatically improve the outcomes of patients with cancer with increasing implementation of precision medicine, said Apostolia Tsimberidou, professor of investigational cancer therapeutics at MD Anderson Cancer Center in Texas and the lead investigator of the study.

Patients are now being tested for hundreds of actionable genes, amplifications and mutations, as well as for immune markers. (Shutterstock)

What the study shows

Tsimberidou and her colleagues began studying the impact of these therapies in 2007, after seeing the success of Gleevec (imatinib)  a breakthrough drug approved by US regulators in 2001, that showed huge success against leukemia. Their study, titled IMPACT, is the first and largest to look at survival across cancer types and different targeted therapies. More than 3,700 patients at Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center enrolled from 2007 to 2013.

All had advanced cancers, or end-stage disease involving cancers of the gastrointestinal tract, breast, or lung. Melanoma and cancer of the female reproductive tract were also included, along with more rare types of cancer. Those enrolled had typically tried at least four  and sometimes up to 16  other treatments that failed to halt the growth of cancer.

More than 1,300 were found to have tumours with at least one genetic change. Of these, 711 received a treatment that matched the biology of the tumour. Another 596 received a treatment that was not matched, often because no matched treatment for the patient were available at the time. After three years, 15% of people treated with targeted cancer therapies were alive, compared to seven percent in the non-targeted group. After 10 years, six percent of the targeted group was alive, compared to just one percent in the other group.

This method of molecularly profiling tumours, understanding their genetics and how to act on that is the wave of the future. (Getty Images)

Far from a cure

On the whole, targeted therapies led to an average of four months of life without the cancer advancing, known as progression-free survival, and nine extra months of overall survival. Those who were treated with traditional approaches lived just under three months without cancer growing, and 7.3 months longer overall.

This method of molecularly profiling tumours, understanding their genetics and how to act on that is the wave of the future, said Catherine Diefenbach, an oncologist at New York University (NYU) Langone, who was not involved in the study. For Diefenbach, the study illustrates a paradigm shift in cancer treatment, whereby cancers are no longer treated on the neighbourhood of the body in which they arise.

Prior to precision medicine, patients were treated based on what kind of cancer they had. But a breast cancer patient can have a cell that is much more like a lung cancer patient, genetically, than another breast cancer, she said.

The field of precision medicine has grown immensely since the study began, said Tsimberidou, recalling that back in 2007, they tested for no more than one to two genes. Now patients are being tested for hundreds of actionable genes, amplifications and mutations, as well as for immune markers, she said.

Immunotherapy could help in blood cancer and melanoma. (Shutterstock)

Other novel studies on treating cancer

* A 2015 trial at the National Institutes of Health Clinical Center offered the first evidence that immunotherapy, which has already seen some success in blood cancers and melanoma, could work against cervical cancer.

* Scientists at the University of Delaware have developed a two-way process to kill liver cancer cells and inhibit tumour growth. At first, they silenced a key cellular enzyme, and then they added a powerful drug.This research could accelerate the development of new treatments for liver cancer, which is currently difficult to cure.

* According to a study conducted by the University of East Anglia, cancer therapies that cut off blood supply to a tumour could be more effective in combination with existing chemotherapeutic drugs.

* A study led by The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Centre found that a drug has potential as a new therapeutic strategy for bone cancer.

(With inputs from AFP)

Follow @htlifeandstyle for more
Angelina Jolie, as hard as it may be to believe, turns 43 on Monday. While we are sure her six kids will make the day really special for their mom, we have decided to celebrate it in our own little way.

Of the several roles that Angelina has played on screen, none has been quite as impressive as how excellently she plays a loving mother to her kids. Maddox (16), Pax (14), Zahara (13), Shiloh (12), Vivienne (9) and Knox (9) have all found a great mother in her, who loves them more than anything in the world.

While Angelina and her estranged husband Brad Pitt usually keep their kids away from limelight, they have still posed together as a family for many magazines. Here are some of the best, most adorable pictures of Angelina and her kids:

A post shared by Angelina Jolie (@angelinajolieofficial) on Oct 8, 2016 at 7:34am PDT

A post shared by Angelina Jolie (@angelinajolieofficial) on Dec 8, 2016 at 9:00am PST

A post shared by Angelina Jolie (@angelinajolieofficial) on May 15, 2017 at 6:15am PDT

A post shared by Angelina Jolie (@angelinajolieofficial) on Feb 24, 2017 at 6:48am PST

A post shared by Angelina Jolie (@angelinajolieofficial) on Sep 14, 2017 at 1:38am PDT

A post shared by Angelina Jolie (@angelinajolieofficial) on Feb 22, 2018 at 12:00pm PST

A post shared by Angelina Jolie (@angelinajolieofficial) on Feb 26, 2018 at 11:29am PST

A post shared by Angelina Jolie (@angelinajolieofficial) on Jun 20, 2016 at 9:43am PDT

When Jolie spoke to former US Secretary of State, John Kerry for Elle magazines March issue, she revealed the one advice she has for her daughters.

I tell my daughters, What sets you apart is what you are willing to do for others. Anyone can put on a dress and makeup. Its your mind that will define you. Find out who you are, what you think, and what you stand for. And fight for others to have those same freedoms. A life of service is worth living, she said.

Angelina started shooting for Maleficent 2 last week with Elle Fanning. According to a report on People.com, all six of her kids are attending school on the sets itself.

Follow @htshowbiz for more
At least 12 people and four policemen were injured when an unidentified person hurled a grenade at security personnel in Jammu and Kashmirs Shopian, police said on Monday, amid a unilateral Ramzan ceasefire announced by the Centre last month.

Militants today afternoon lobbed a grenade at Shopian in Batapora area which exploded inflicting injuries to several civilians and few policemen. The grenade exploded along the roadside amid the civilian population, a police spokesperson said.

A young girl has received critical injuries in this explosion, he said adding that the injured were shifted to a hospital.

Police also fired some shorts in the air and the area was cordoned by security personnel.

#SpotVisuals: Terrorists hurled grenade on police party at Batapora Chowk in Shopian district; #JammuAndKashmir pic.twitter.com/qHhqwEt2H8  ANI (@ANI) June 4, 2018

No militant organisation has claimed responsibility for the attack.

Several attacks have been reported during the holy Muslim month when the security forces have suspended operations against militants in Kashmir.

Eight people including four paramilitary Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) troopers and an equal number of civilians were injured on Saturday in four grenade attacks carried out by the militants.
The body of a six-year-old girl, who went missing on Saturday, was found with her throat slit and blood on her private parts in a farmhouse in Balegarh village of Haryanas Yamunanagar district on Sunday, police said on Monday, adding to the rising number of brutal sexual assaults on children in the country.

The victim is the daughter of a migrant labourer from Jharkhand. She went missing on Saturday afternoon and her body was recovered from a pit on Sunday morning, Yamunanagars superintendent of police Rajesh Kalia said while speaking to the Hindustan Times.

In the preliminary investigations, it seems a case of murder after rape as her throat was slit with a sharp-edged weapon, and there was blood on her private parts, Kalia added.

Police said several families of labourers live inside the farmhouse and the accused could be one of the labourers as nobody from outside can enter the area without permission.

The police detained some suspects but they were released after interrogation. The investigations are on and we will arrest the accused soon, the SP said.

The police have registered a case under the Prevention of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act, 2012, and murder against unknown person under the Indian Penal Code.

Government figures show that a child is sexually abused every 15 minutes in India. According to the National Crime Records Bureau report for 2016, there was a sharp spike in cases of rape against children with an increase of such incidents by over 82% as compared to 2015.
Third Front governments failed in the past because the Congress was never a part of them, Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) leader Tejashwi Yadav has said, adding that there would be nothing wrong in Congress president Rahul Gandhi claiming the Prime Ministers post if his party emerged as the single largest in the 2019 Lok Sabha elections.

Yadav, who is emerging as a key Opposition leader as his father Lalu Prasad battles deteriorating health and a string of court cases, said the smaller opposition parties needed to strengthen the Congress, which was in direct contests with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in 18 states.

I agree (that Third Fronts have failed). But remember in those alliances, the Congress was not present. When the Congress came in the alliance, it gave us UPA 1 and UPA 2. The UPA (United Progressive Alliance) ran for a full 10 years. The Congress is the biggest Opposition party. It is the responsibility of the Congress to take others along with them. Now, for the sake of the country, we have to discard our egos. Wherever the Congress is powerful, we have to strengthen it, Yadav said in an interview with Hindustan Times.

Opposition parties are banding together against the BJP for next years general election, motivated by recent wins in by-elections across states. A combined Opposition defeated the BJP in Uttar Pradeshs Kairana Lok Sabha bypoll last month by preventing the division of anti-BJP votes.

Yadav said if the people had made up their mind to make Rahul the PM, no one can stop him. His logic is not wrong. Whoever is the largest partylike the BJP in 2014has claimed the Prime Ministers post. If some other party emerges as the largest, they too, can claim. Where is the problem to make such a claim? he said.

On the issue of leadership in the Opposition ahead of the 2019 elections, the RJD leader said all parties needed to be respected and given their due share in seat adjustments.

So far, no one has officially claimed to be the leader. Has Mamata Banerjee publicly said she wants to be the leader? Has Chandrababu (Naidu) or Mayawati has said so? I think the leadership issue will be decided after the polls.

Also read: If people want Rahul Gandhi as PM, no one can stop him, says Tejashwi Yadav
The Congress on Monday questioned the Modi governments silence on allegations levelled by a whistleblower against ICICI Bank CEO Chanda Kochhar over fraud loans, wondering why it hasnt ordered a probe into the alleged scam.

The Rs 2,849 crore exposure of the ICICI Bank and behind the scenes murky deals questions the role of its CEO in one such saga of banking fraud, Congress spokesperson Pawan Khera told reporters.

Media reports and whistle-blowers have alleged that the ICCI Bank CEO and her family have invested Rs 325 crore in subsidiary of a large consortium, which on record has a loan default and is a large NPA.

Khera said the government itself has admitted that non-performing assets have risen by 230% - from Rs 2,51,054 crore in March 2014 to Rs 8,31,141 crore in December 2017.

Lack of oversight and regulatory mechanisms have precipitated into massive bank loot scams worth Rs 61,036 crore and have eroded the trust of the common people in banks, he said.

The Congress leader said that after much delay, the Securities and Exchange Board of India has given a show cause notice to the ICICI Banks CEO, stating that the bank didnt adhere to its code of conduct, which required the disclosure of any conflict of interest in the case involving Videocon Group and NuPower Renewables, a firm owned by Kochars husband.

He said despite the four stages of audit - statutory, internal, and concurrent audits and RBI inspection - that every bank goes through, the entire fraud escaped everybodys attention.

Khera asked if acting finance minister Piyush Goyal, who himself has been accused of conflict of interest and impropriety, would order an investigation asking all CEOs of private banks to declare their relationship with any loanee.

Instead of oversight, audit, regulations and protection of interests of account holders depositors, stakeholders and shareholders, Modi government is busy protecting its crony friends, he alleged.

Why did the government not order a thorough probe when the news reports and whistle-blowers letters to the Prime Minister emerged as early in March this year? Khera asked.

What explains the complete silence and the declared non-interference of the Modi government in this saga of ICICI Bank frauds?
An eatery owner was shot dead by a customer near Kolkata on Sunday for asking the latter to pay the due money.

Police arrested Mohammad Firoz (26) on Monday for shooting dead Sanjay Mandal (40), the owner of the eatery in Bhatpara, an industrial suburb in North 24 Paraganas district.

We have arrested Firoz. He shot Sanjoy Mandal at the restaurant on Sunday evening. There were three more persons with him. We hope to catch them too, said deputy commissioner of Barrackpore police, K Kannan.

The officer said Firoz fired two shots at Mandal following an altercation.

Firoz and three youths arrived at Mandal Restaurant, a roadside eatery, around 9 pm on Sunday. They asked him to pack biriyani for them. When Mandal asked them to pay, they refused, saying he was over-charging.

At this point, Mandal told them to clear the dues of Rs 190 for the biriyani that they had taken a few days ago. It led to an altercation and Firoz whipped out a pistol and shot Mandal.
A case was lodged against Union Agriculture Minister Radha Mohan Singh in Bihars Muzaffarpur district on Monday for insulting farmers, a lawyer said.

Social activist Tamanna Hashmi filed the case in the Chief Judicial Magistrates court. It will be heard next week.

Commenting on the ongoing nationwide agitation by thousands of farmers demanding loan waiver and higher price for their produce among other things, the minister had said some farmers are doing it for media attention.

There are crores of farmers in the country but only a few farmers have been staging protest. It has no relevance at all, he had said.

The 10-day protests that started on June 1 coincide with the farmers agitation in Mandsaur of Madhya Pradesh last year when seven farmers had died in a police firing on June 6.

Farmers in the agrarian states of Punjab, Haryana, Maharashtra and Rajasthan on Friday joined the protest call given by various farmer organisations.

Radha Mohan Singhs comments that farmers were committing suicide just for media coverage have been widely criticised.
The Hyderabad high court on Monday dismissed a review petition of the ruling Telangana Rashtra Samithi seeking expulsion of two Congress MLAs from the Telangana state assembly for their alleged misconduct in the House on the first day of the budget session on March 12.

A division bench comprising acting chief justice Ramesh Ranganathan and justice K Vijayalakshmi upheld the verdict given by the single judge on April 17 revoking the expulsion of Nalgonda MLA Komatireddy Venkat Reddy and Alampur MLA S A Sampath Kumar.

In their review petition, 12 TRS MLAs challenged the judgement of the single judge stating that the two Congress MLAs had damaged the dignity and decorum of the House and hence, the House had passed a unanimous resolution expelling the duo for the rest of the assemblys tenure.

Supreme Court senior counsel and Congress leader Abhishek Manu Singhvi who argued on behalf of Venkat Reddy and Sampath Kumar asserted that a group of TRS MLAs had no authority challenge the court verdict, as only the assembly Speaker or the secretary had the right to appeal.

On May 13, a day after the alleged misconduct, Telangana assembly Speaker S Madhusudhana Chary expelled Venkat Reddy and Sampath Kumar for the rest of the term of the assembly for their alleged unruly behaviour in the House the previous day when Governor E S L Narasimhan was addressing the joint session of the assembly and legislative council.

The TRS produced a video clipping in which Venkat Reddy was seen throwing headphones at the podium and alleged that it had hit legislative council chairman K Swamy Goud, sitting beside the Governor, resulting in an injury to his eye.

Within hours of the Speaker announcing the expulsion of the MLAs, the Telangana government had issued a gazette notification, notifying the two vacancies in the assembly and sent the same to Election Commission of India requesting it to conduct the by-elections for the vacant seats.

Subsequently, the two MLAs moved the high court, challenging the expulsion. Venkat Reddy argued that he had not intentionally thrown the headphone at the podium and that it had not hit the legislative council chairman.

There are no visuals as to where the headphone has fallen. Though there were at least two cameras focussing only on the podium, the TRS members did not produce any evidence to show that the headphone had indeed hit Swamy Gouds eye, Singhvi argued.

During the hearings, the high court called for the visuals of the entire assembly proceedings of the day. But the counsel for the government could not produce any visuals despite adjourning the hearing a few times, eventually leading to the resignation on May 27 of Advocate General D Prakash Reddy who argued the case for the government.

Telangana Pradesh Congress Committee president Capt N Uttam Kumar Reddy demanded that chief minister K Chandrasekhar Rao and assembly speaker S Madhusudhana Chary resign from their seats on moral grounds, following the court verdict.
Karnataka Bhavan in Delhis Chanakyapuri area is the hottest address for Congress leaders from the southern state at the moment.

More than 20 MLAs and MLCs from the party are camping in the national Capital to lobby for berths with the party high command ahead of the proposed Cabinet expansion on Wednesday of the Janata Dal (Secular)-Congress coalition government.

According to an understanding between the coalition partners, Congress is expected to get 22 of the 34 possible ministerial berths.

Some of the prominent Congress MLAs in the Capital who are in line for ministerial berths include Dinesh Gundu Rao, Krishna Byre Gowda, RV Deshpande, Eshwar Khandre, Ajay Singh, Vijay Singh, Rajshekar Patil and Umesh Jadhav.

But at the same time, there is some uncertainty and tension in the Congress camp, particularly over how berths will be divided between leaders of north and south Karnataka.

A greater portion of cabinet berths need to be given to North Karnataka MLAs. Also ignoring Veerashiva-Lingayats has cost the party dearly in elections and I hope the high command will address that, said a senior Congress MLA from northern Karnataka who asked not to be named.

On Sunday, the working president of the Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC) SR Patil resigned from his post. While he said he was taking moral responsibility for fewer seats won by the party in the May 12 assembly elections, his party colleague and former Hungud MLA, Vijayanand Kashappanavar, alleged that Patil was posturing for a post.

Did it take him nearly three weeks to realise his moral responsibility? Knowing that he is unlikely to get a berth, his resignation is to put pressure on the party high command. I am sure the party high command will reward loyal party men rather than those who worked for the defeat of their colleagues in these elections, Kashappanavar said.

There is talk in party circles that Patil is likely to throw his hat in the fight for the KPCC presidents post.

When asked about his next role, Patil said: I am ready to take on any responsibility that the party wants me to.

Party insiders said that KPCC campaign committee chairman DK Shivakumar, who helped stop Congress MLAs from being lured by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) after the polls is miffed at not being given either the deputy CMs post or his favoured energy portfolio.

But Parameshwara dispelled such talk. Shivakumar is a disciplined solider of the party and there is no unhappiness. He will be rewarded by the party appropriately, he said.

Senior Congress leader and MLC VS Ugrappa insisted there was no dissidence in the party on ministry formation.

Everybody will abide by the directions of the high command. It is natural in a democracy that leaders might aspire for certain positions. However. the partys decision is final.

Ugrappa pointed out that he, too, was a contender for a ministerial berth I am not a Sannyasi in politics. As a senior leader, yes I am also a contender, but will abide by whatever party decides.

Even as Congress MLAs lobby for ministerial berths, the BJP seems to be watching developments closely.

Former deputy CM and senior BJP leader KS Eshwarappa said the unholy alliance between the Congress and JD(S) will be eventually brought down due to their greed of power.

The Congress was quick to respond. If the BJP thinks that it can come to power somehow by using unethical means, it is living in a fools paradise. We might have differences of opinion but BJP will not be able to take advantage of it, Ugrappa said.
Tejashwi Yadav, 28, has been leading the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) with reasonable success in the absence of his father Lalu Yadav, who is in prison. The partys victory in the recent Jokihat assembly bypoll, coming not long after a win in the Araria Lok Sabha by-election, has enhanced Tejashwis stock as a challenger to the Nitish Kumar-Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) government in Bihar and a key player in any potential Opposition alliance for the 2019 general elections. Tejashwi spoke to Saubhadra Chatterji and Kumar Uttam about the Third Front, the leadership issue ahead of next years polls, and the importance of the Congress in a federal alliance. Edited excerpts:

How do you view the recent bypoll results across different states?

It is clear that the so-called Modi Wave was created on the basis of lies and tantra-mantra (hocus-pocus). After four years of the BJP rule at the Centre, the Opposition has a nearly 100% strike rate in by-elections. Once they were ruling social media, but now the BJP is in trouble there too as people have started asking questions.

We have to take forward what Lalu-ji said in terms of political experiment. We have to stop the BJP because we have to save the Constitution and democracy. We dont want laws from Nagpur (RSS headquarters). We want Babasaheb Ambedkars Constitution.

Can the Grand Alliance in Bihar be a model for Opposition unity?

The BJP spread communal poison and hatred. Thats why, to stop the BJP, we decided to make a Mahagathbandhan (Grand Alliance), despite knowing that Nitish Kumar and his associates are not trustworthy and the JD(U) (Janata Dal United) was with the BJP for 17 years. Even then we made Nitish Kumar the chief minister.

Much before electoral pacts in states such as Uttar Pradesh, Maharashtra and Jharkhand, we made the alliance in Bihar. If Mayawati and Akhilesh had formed an alliance and the Opposition had a pact in Jharkhand, the BJP would not have come to power in these states. But the Opposition parties committed an error and it helped the BJP.

There might be negotiations for seat sharing in Lok Sabha polls. But till now, things are going smoothly and parties are respecting each other, making compromises where necessary. The way the SP (Samajwadi Party), BSP (Bahujan Samaj Party), Congress and RLD (Rashtriya Lok Dal) fought Kairana was a good sign.

There are major grievances among the farmers, workers and young people. (Prime Minister Narendra) Modi spoke about job creation, pitched demonetisation as a game-changer, launched the GST (goods and services tax) as if it would it would achieve everything. He promised a lot but failed to fulfil even 1% of it. Now people are seeking answers. This Opposition unity is very important. People are now realising the reality and the design of the BJP.

If we will continue like this and judge our strength on winnability, then it will be difficult for the BJP.

BJP President Amit Shah says that the BJP lost bypolls due to local issues.

What else can Amit Shah say? He has no excuses. In the Lok Sabha bypolls, the BJP sought votes on the basis of Modis development work. There were no local issues in those polls. His excuses wont cut ice.

The BJP is fast losing its vote share. Does he expect that they will get the same share of votes which they got in 2014? The people will judge the BJPs performance -- its false promises and its falsehoods -- this time. The BJP, too, is dependent on allies in many states. Look at the North-east. The BJP formed a government (in Meghalaya) after getting just two seats. And still they claim its a victory for Narendra Modi.

This politics of the BJP wont go on forever. In UP, Bihar and West Bengal, the BJP collectively holds 116 seats. But there are clear signs that in UP their fortune is going down. They even lost the Gorakhpur bypoll.

In 2014, the BJP had majority on its own in Lok Sabha. Now the government is dependent on allies. The allies are disgruntled. The Shiv Sena has made it clear that it wants to fight elections alone. Chandrababdu Naidu has left the coalition. In Bihar, Jitan Ram Manjhi has also come out of the NDA. Look at the recent statements of (the Lok Jan Shakti Partys) Ram Vilas Paswan (an ally of the BJP). The ideologies of these parties dont match with the BJPs.

How do you describe the Nitish Kumar-BJP relationship?

Its a marriage of convenience. Both Nitish and the BJP have no ideology. The BJP wants to impose the law of Nagpur. But if you see the pact between Opposition parties, you will find ideological similarities. They are bound by secularism and socialism. We believe in the Constitution, Ambedkar and (Mahatma) Gandhi.

But Modi talks about Ambedkar in almost every speech. He recently inaugurated the Ambedkar memorial which no other government thought of doing so.

There is a vast difference between what he says and what he does. Look at the BJP-ruled states. Dalits are tortured and killed almost on a daily basis. And more than Modi, it is Mohan Bhagwat (RSS chief) who yields power. Modi talks against corruption but allows Lalit Modi, Nirav Modi to flee. They want to show that the man is good but maybe the party is not good. That is again false propaganda. Look at what he is doing. The BJPs Ananth Hegde said we have come to change the Constitution but the BJP didnt sack him. Ask Modi, who is right -- Godse or Gandhi? He will not answer.

You talk about alliance of different parties. But in the history of Indian politics, Third Fronts have never been successful.

I agree with this. But remember in those alliances, the Congress was not present. When the Congress came in the alliance, it gave us UPA 1 and UPA 2. The UPA (United Progressive Alliance) ran for a full 10 years. The Congress is the biggest Opposition party. It is the responsibility of the Congress to take others along with them. Now, for the sake of the country, we have to discard our egos. Wherever the Congress is powerful, we have to strengthen it. In 18 states, the Congress is in a direct fight with the BJP. The main role has to be played by the Congress.

Rahul Gandhi said that if the Congress becomes the largest party, he is ready to be the PM.

His logic is not wrong. Whoever is the largest party  like the BJP in 2014  has claimed the Prime Ministers post. If some other party emerges as the largest, they too, can claim it. Where is the problem in making such a claim? In this democracy everyone has the right to express his or her mind. But more importantly, we have to see whether they go for a pre-poll or post-poll alliance. We need better understanding too.

In Karnataka, if the Congress and JD(S) (Janata Dal Secular) had entered into a pre-poll alliance, they could have easily formed the government. As far as we are concerned, our influence is in 2-3 states. In our limited capacity, we will strive for unity among Opposition parties. And if the people of this country have made up their mind to make Rahul the PM, no one can stop him.

But under the leadership of Rahul Gandhi, critics say that the Congress lost several states.

Rahul Gandhi is capable. He or even Sonia maam could have been the PM much earlier. He wanted to gain experience. But the way he is interacting with smaller parties, there is a big difference between what Rahul was then and (what he is) now. He faces tough questions, unlike Modi who never gives answers. In Gujarat, Rahul gave the BJP a run for its money. Now, wherever Rahul goes, Modi and Amit Shah are forced to enhance their campaign. Why is Modi so scared of Rahul Gandhi?

How important it is to sort out the leadership issue among the Opposition parties?

I hope all parties reach an agreement. Every party needs to be respected and given its due share in seat adjustments. But so far, no one has officially claimed to be the leader. Has Mamata Banerjee publicly said she wants to be the leader? Have Chandrababu or Mayawati said so? Some media people asked me if I am also in the race (laughs). Just for the sake of it, you can name anyone as the leader. I think the leadership issue will be decided after the polls. And if there is a post-poll alliance, then there will be no problem over the leadership issue.

The BJP in 2014 was able to make a rainbow coalition comprising of different castes. Can you do the same?

It will happen. People are unhappy with the Modi governments policies like demonetisation or selling off assets to MNCs in the name of FDI. Their own voters are in illusion. As far as castes are concerned, the BJP wants to turn Dalits into slaves. Parties like the RJD have acceptability across caste lines. Now, they are projecting as if Hindus are with the BJP. They are dividing the voters.

Will you keep doors open for Nitish Kumar and Ramvilas Paswan in the anti-BJP front?

When Nitish left us and joined hands with the BJP, papa (Lalu Prasad) was asked the same question and he firmly said, No. After Nitish insulted the peoples mandate, people saw him as a turncoat. Now, if we take him back, people will accuse us of doing the same thing. They will say, we are paltimaar (somersaulters). We highlighted 36 scams in the Bihar assembly against the earlier BJP-JDU government. How can we forget that?

As far as Paswan and Upendra Khushwaha are concerned, if they take a decision and admits their errors, then we can consider their plea to return to our side.

Many observers say that in Bihar you are fast becoming the biggest leader among the new generation politicians.

I will be very grateful to my Nitish chacha (uncle) for giving me this opportunity to become the leader of the Opposition at this very young age. During my tenure as minister, I formed a panel to take decisions and stopped the source of corruption at ministerial levels. People who thought I wont be able to perform, I have proved them wrong. But I am still learning as there is no end of knowledge.

What is the difference between the RJD of Lalu Prasad and the RJD under Tejashwi?

Its the same RJD of Lalu-ji. Even if he is not here right now, our party will run on his ideology.

Also read: Congress key to success of Opposition front against BJP, says Tejashwi Yadav
India and Pakistan attempted for a second time in a week to reinforce a 2003 ceasefire along the Line of Control that appears to lie in tatters following repeated incidents of firing along the border. Sector commanders of the Border Security Force (BSF) and the Pakistan Rangers held a flag meeting on Monday evening in Jammu and Kashmirs RS Pura, a day after Pakistani sniper fire and shelling killed two BSF personnel and injured 12 villagers .

The meeting came on a day when at least 12 people and four policemen were injured in Kashmirs Shopian after an unidentified person hurled a grenade at security personnel.

In the evening, another grenade strike in Pulwama injured four security personnel and three civilians, the 12th such attack since the director generals of military operations (DGMOs) of the two countries met on May 29 and agreed to sincere measures to curb border violence. On May 16, India also announced the cessation of operations by security forces in the state in the holy month of Ramzan.

BSF Jammu frontier inspector general Ram Awtar said the three sector commanders of the BSF Jammu frontier participated at the sector commander level flag meeting. Pak Rangers were led by a sector commander and wing commanders.

The meeting was held at the Octroi border outpost of the BSF in Suchetgarh area. The next such meeting will be held on June 21, a senior BSF officer said on the condition of anonymity.

Todays meeting is likely to bring firing-free environment, particularly for border area villagers on both sides. Commanders on both sides agreed to keep talks on at every level to develop confidence between two border guarding forces, said the officer mentioned above.

The BSF blames Pakistan for repeatedly breaking the ceasefire along the Line of Control and the international border.

The force claims Pakistan has violated the ceasefire 1,100 times since 2003.

On Sunday, Awtar said Pakistan Rangers were not adhering to the ceasefire agreement in letter and spirit and that there was difference between the words and deeds of Pakistan.

Last month, the Centre announced a unilateral cessation of operations of security forces during the holy month of Ramzan but there has been no let up in the violence, compelling Union minister of state for home Hansraj Ahir to say this week that the government would be constrained to revoke the Ramzan ceasefire if Pakistan continued cross-border firing. We had decided to suspend operations in view of Ramzan. However, there is no respite in cross-border terrorism and ceasefire violations on the part of Pakistan. We will be constrained to revoke the ceasefire agreement, he said.

On Monday, Pakistan said India and Pakistan were two nuclear powers and there was no space for war between the two countries. Director general of Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) Asif Ghafoor claimed 1,881 incidents in 2017 left 52 dead and 254 injured and that the number of cross-border incidents had climbed north of 1,500 by the first week of June in 2018 alone. We are willing to ignore the first shot that is fired from the Indian side, provided it does not result in a casualty on our side, Ghafoor said, adding the second shot would be responded to in kind.

After nine days of intense shelling by Pakistan from May 15 to May 23 left 12 people dead and 56 others injured, besides displacing over one lakh people from Jammu, Samba and Kathua districts, the two countries had a DGMO level talk on May 29 to restore the November 2003 ceasefire agreement .

Increased shelling from Pakistan has created panic in border villages, forcing the state government to open relief camps for villagers fleeing their homes.

The state capital of Srinagar has also been on edge since Saturday after a 21-year-old man was run over by a Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) vehicle that was targeted by protesters after Friday prayers.

Amid a flare up in grenade attacks, which also injured four CRPF troopers and four civilians on Saturday, home minister Rajnath Singh is visiting the state on June 7 and 8 to review security, especially in light of the annual Amarnath Yatra pilgrimage that begins on June 28.
The Indian Army will place an order for only 250,000 modern assault rifles -- just a third of its total requirement -- driven by budgetary constraints and the need to speed up deliveries, a person with knowledge of the matter said.

The 1.3 million-strong military pruned its original requirement for 800,000 rifles, which would have cost $2.5 billion, to prioritise spending and advance the purchase of more up-to-date equipment, the person said, asking not to be identified as the information is not yet public.

The defence force has 450,000 infantry troopers, of whom only half go into ground battle and use the rifle as their primary weapon. The rest are support soldiers, the person said.

The moves are part of Prime Minister Narendra Modis $250 billion push to modernise Indias armed forces, as infantry continue to face the brunt of deadly attacks in disputed border areas such as Kashmir and the Northeast. Plans to buy new equipment from overseas, however, have been held back by bureaucratic delays and the militarys desire to balance the needs of its troops against efforts to build equipment domestically under Modis Make in India program, a key plank in his drive to boost local manufacturing.

A scouting team will be leaving later this month to meet with foreign rifle-makers, including Colts Manufacturing Company LLC, Italys Fabbrica dArmi Pietro Beretta S.p.A, Swiss Sig Sauer Inc., the Czech Republics Ceska Zbrojovka and Israel Weapons Industry Ltd. to identify the most suitable weapon, the person said.

To meet the requirement of the rest of the force, the army intends to make do with a mix of 400,000 Kalashnikov rifles and the India-made INSAS rifles. The Indian Armys shopping spree for small arms was triggered by its decision to phase out the two decade-old INSAS rifle, introduced in the late 1990s and built by the state-owned Ordnance Factory.

This story has been published from an agency feed without modifications to the text. Only the headline has been changed.
The BSF and Pakistan Rangers held a sector-commander level flag meeting at Octroi post in Suchetgarh area of RS Pura sector Monday evening to restore sanity on the border after Pakistani firing killed two BSF men and injured 14 civilians on Sunday in Pargwal sector of Jammu district.

The Rangers had requested for the flag meeting after sustained retaliatory fire by the BSF following Sundays sniper fire and shelling in Pargwal sector, a BSF official said.

BSF DIG PS Dhiman led the Indian side while Pakistani Rangers were led by Brigadier Amjad Hussain.

BSF Jammu frontier inspector general Ram Awtar said, Three sector commanders of the BSF Jammu frontier participated at the sector commander level flag meeting. Pakistan Rangers were led by Brigadier Amjad Hussain while deputy inspector general PS Dhiman led the BSF.

A BSF-Pak Rangers sector commander level meeting was held at 1730 hours (5.30 pm) on Monday opposite own Octroi border outpost. The meeting was held in conducive atmosphere with prime focus to maintain peace and tranquility on the border, said a senior BSF officer. It was further decided to hold next sector commander level meeting on June 21, he added.

Todays meeting is likely to bring firing-free environment, particularly for border area villagers on both sides. Commanders on both sides agreed to keep talks on at every level to develop confidence between two border guarding forces, he said.

After a nine-day long intense shelling by Pakistan from May 15 to May 23 left 12 people dead and 56 others injured besides displacing over one lakh people from Jammu, Samba and Kathua districts, the two countries had a DGMO level talk on May 29 to restore November 2003 ceasefire agreement to bring calm to the borders.

On May 20 Pakistan Rangers, who had initiated unprovoked fire from May 15 to May 23, had contacted BSF Jammu over hotline with a plea to stop firing.

On Sunday, BSF IG Ram Awtar had stated that the Pakistan Rangers were not adhering to the ceasefire agreement in letter and spirit and that there was difference between words and deeds of Pakistani troops.

Pakistani sniper fire and shelling on Sunday that killed two BSF men and injured 14 villagers again shattered hopes of sanity on the borders and caused fear among the villagers living close to the live border in the plains of Jammu.

Amid a spike in grenade attacks in Kashmir and tense borders, Union home minister Rajnath Singh is scheduled to visit the state on June 7 and 8 to review security, especially in light of the annual Amarnath Yatra pilgrimage that begins on June 28.

Pakistan has violated the ceasefire along the Line of Control (LoC) and the international border close to 1,100 times this year, resulting in the death of over 35 people.
Indian economy has become like a car whose three tyres are punctured, former finance minister P Chidambaram said in Thane as he attacked the Narendra Modi government on rising petroleum prices and other issues.

Private investment, private consumption, exports and government expenditures are four growth engines of an economy. Its like four tyres of a car. If one or two tyres are punctured, it will slow down but in our case, three tyres are punctured, the senior Congress leader said on Sunday at an event organised by the Maharashtra Congress unit.

Government expenditure is on only in healthcare and in some other amenities, he said.

To keep this expenditure going on, the government has continued taxing petrol, diesel and even LPG. It is squeezing money from people in such taxes and spending some from it on public amenities, Chidambaram said.

Did you see any investment in the power sector recently, he questioned.

For example, out of the 10 major companies that went into insolvency, five were steel companies. How can you expect any investment in such sectors, he wondered.

Chidambaram also criticised the government for introducing a five-slab Goods and Services Tax (GST) regime.

Post-demonstration this government has introduced GST with five tax slabs with a cess over it. In other countries, GST is just one tax system but we can have two types of taxation in India. Still, having five slabs is not what we had imagined about GST, he said.

He said that the government is incompetent in addressing the economic issues, which has worsened under the current dispensation.

Industrial utilisation is mere 60 per cent in the country. The export of merchandise, during the UPA was USD 315 billion, which was USD 303 billion last year. Before that, it was not even USD 300 billion. This shows we are not earning from exports too, the former finance minister said.

He mocked the Pradhan Mantri Mudra Yojana of the Modi government under which loans of up to Rs 10 lakh are provided to non-corporate, non-farm small/micro enterprises.

The average amount of disbursed Mudra loan is Rs 43,000 per person. No major investment can be done with such low amount, except one wants to run a Pakoda stall, Chidambaram said in an apparent reference to Modis remarks that selling pakodas is also a form of employment.

He said compared to social blunders of the NDA government, economic mistakes are curable and correctable.

The BJP-led government has suddenly given a message to certain communities that they are second-rank citizens of this country. There is a lot of unrest over food habits, social behaviour, active anti-Romeo squads in the country, he said.
Tamil actor-turned-politician Kamal Haasan on Monday met Karnataka chief minister HD Kumaraswamy and discussed the issue of Cauvery river water sharing with neighbouring Tamil Nadu.

Kumaraswamy told reporters here: We (Kamal and I) discussed the issue of the (Cauvery) Water Management Board. Both Karnataka and Tamil Nadu maintain a cordial relationship over the Cauvery issue and it will be solved through mutual understanding.

The Central government on June 1 notified the Cauvery Water Management Authority (CWMA) to implement the sharing of water between the southern states.

Farmers of both Karnataka and Tamil Nadu are equally important, the Chief Minister said after meeting the Makkal Needhi Maiam party chief at his home office.

Kamal said the water sharing issue can be resolved if the states come together for dialogue.

Court should be the last resort. If the people of Tamil Nadu and Karnataka come together, the issue can be resolved, he said.

Tamil Nadu would like to see the setting up of the CWMA expedited, he added.

Kamals visit to Karnataka comes after the states film distributors voluntarily decided to not screen Tamil actor Rajinikanths Kaala in theatres across the state protesting against the superstars stand on the Cauvery river row.

Asked about the Tamil film not being screened in Karnataka, he said the discussion with the Chief Minister did not include the subject of movies.

This discussion (with Kumaraswamy) was not about films. There is a film chamber to look into the issue. This issue (of Cauvery water) is more important, he added.

In a related development, Kannada actor Prakash Raj said the film fraternity was being targeted. What has the film Kaala got to do with the Cauvery issue? Why is film fraternity targeted always?

Will the JD-S-Congress government let fringe elements take law into their hands... like the BJP did with Padmaavat or will you step in to assure common man his right for choice? Raj tweeted.
Two families in Kashmir, one from Pulwama district and another from Kulgam district, approached the police on Monday with claims that two out of the five suspected militants killed on Line of Control in north Kashmirs Kupwara on May 26 were their sons.

Police said that families of Sheeraz Ahmad from Pulwama and Mudasir Ahmad from Kulgam in south Kashmir want their bodies for proper burial.

We received applications from families of Sheeraz and Mudasir today. It needs to be confirmed because the militants have already been buried. We will follow the legal procedure for the identification, said Shriram Ambarkar Dinkar, superintendent of police, Kupwara.

He said that police may go for their DNA identification if the deputy commissioner who is also the district magistrate gives go ahead for the exhumation of the bodies.

On May 26, army had said five militants were killed while they were trying to cross Line of Control in Tanghdar sector of Kupwara.

We had credible inputs about the infiltration of the militants. We detected their movement on May 24 on the icy peaks. So ambush was laid at several places on and infiltrators walked into ambush and were challenged, they retaliated starting a gunfight, Brigadier PK Mishra, Commander Tanghdar Brigade had told the media.

The army also claimed that latest weaponry was seized from the infiltrators. The army was not sure about the identities of the militants but had suspected them to be foreigners affiliated with Lashkar-e-Taiba. The bodies were buried at Badwan in Tanghdar on May 27.

Police said that Sheeraz Ahmad, 24, was missing since September 2017 while Mudasir Ahmad, reportedly a government teacher, went missing after he travelled to Pakistan on a valid visa in March 2017.

Pulwamas superintendent of police Mohammad Aslam said that the family of Sheeraz told them that they came to know about the death of their son when someone came to their home with the news. Kulgam district police chief Harmeet Singh said that the family of Mudasir had seen the photos of their slain son on social media.

Kupwara deputy commissioner Khalid Jahangir said that he will take a call whether to exhume the bodies or not after getting a factual report from police.
An MLA of Indian Union Muslim League (IUML) on Monday attended the Kerala Assembly wearing a mask and gloves to highlight the impact of Nipah virus in Kozhikode district, triggering a war of words between the ruling LDF and opposition UDF members.

The Kuttiady MLA, Parakkal Abdulla, walked into the assembly wearing mask and gloves, and was seen greeting the Opposition members.

While chief minister Pinarayi Vijayan said the members behaviour amounted to trivialising a serious issue, health minister KK Shylaja described it as a ridiculous act.

The state was maintaining extreme vigil following the outbreak of the deadly virus.

Since the Nipah virus was confirmed, government has taken all necessary steps to contain it. The health department has intervened efficiently. Even then, the MLA has come to the house wearing a mask which amounted to self ridicule, Vijayan said.

The health minister said there was a certain criteria for wearing a mask. If the member was infected by the virus, he should not have come to the house, she said.

Leader of opposition Ramesh Chennithala said he was told by the MLA that in Kozhikode everyone was wearing masks and so he had come to the House as a symbolic gesture.

Abdulla said his act was only to bring the governments attention to the situation in Kuttiyadi-Perambra region, the epicentre of the Nipah virus.

Speaker P Sreeramakrishnan also enquired from the member why he wore the mask.

Sixteen people have lost their lives so far to Nipah virus (NiV) in two districts, Kozhikode and Malappuram, of the state since the confirmation of the deadly virus on May 17.
A theatre owner who was hailed after he helped crack a sexual assault on a minor girl that eventually led to the arrest of a businessman and the girls mother last month, was arrested on Monday on charges that he informed the Childline, not the police about the incident.

The arrest of K Satheesh in Edappal town of Malappuram drew sharp criticism from many quarters. When his arrest snowballed into a big controversy, police let him off on bail.

But Malappuram superintendent of police Pratheesh Kumar denied that there was any vindictiveness in the theatre owners arrest.

His arrest was part of the investigation and there was no other motive behind it, Kumar said.

Last month, many including Kerala Women Commission chairperson MC Josephine had lauded Satheesh for taking the initiative that led to the arrest of the businessman and the minors mother.

Police arrested him on trumped up charges. They are trying to hide their laxity. The commission will look into it, said Josephine.

Many activists and others also condemned his arrest. How can you shoot the messenger? His arrest will send wrong signal to others and force them to keep silent even if they witness such a crime, said former Kerala police chief T P Senkumar.

Mondays drama about Satheeshs arrest and his release later in the day is the latest embarrassment for the Kerala Police which in recent times has been accused of custodial excesses and laxity in policing.

Moyideen Kutty, a middle-aged weakthy businessman, was arrested after CCTV clippings of the two-hour-long assault on the minor girl in the darkness of the cinema hall surfaced last month. Later the mother was also arrested after it was found the minor was abused with her consent. There were serious lapses on the part of police and they allegedly tried to hush up the case.

The incident took place on April 18. The night vision cameras in the theatre captured video footage of the man, flanked by a middle-aged woman on his right and a minor girl on his left, engaging in sexual acts with both. The theatre owner checked the visuals after one of the viewers alerted him. He immediately alerted the Childline officials who in turn informed the police on April 25.

However, police did not immediately register a case against the accused. They swung into action more than three weeks later only when the media exposed the incident and arrested Kutty and the girls mother on May 12. A sub-inspector of Changarakulam police station was suspended and investigation was handed over to a special investigation team after severe criticism of the way the police handled the complaint.

Both the mother and the businessman were later charged under provisions of Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act (Pocso). Kutty runs a chain of jewellery shops and restaurants and also owns a lodge. The mother and her 10-year-old daughter were reportedly occupying one of the rooms in the lodge and residents said Kutty often took both of them out in his luxury car.
Police in Assam arrested a trader on Monday on charges of posting communally sensitive and pro-Pakistan comments from the Facebook account of his neighbour to spite him.

The comments praising Pakistan and derogatory remarks about Assamese and Hindus posted on poultry shop owner Ahedul Alis page had led to tension in Sorbhog town in Barpeta district, 145 km west of Guwahati on Sunday night.

The nature of the comments led some people to burn down Alis shop. Police swung into action swiftly and detained Ali, informed Violet Baruah, superintendent of police, Barpeta.

On questioning, Ali revealed that he wasnt technologically savvy and denied posting any offensive comments.

Investigations by police about the IP address from where the comments were posted led them to Jyotish Nath, a footwear shop owner, whose establishment was close to Alis poultry shop.

On questioning, Nath revealed that he had opened Alis Facebook account some months ago and was aware of the log-in id and password.

Nath said he had enmity with Ali over money and other personal issues. On Sunday, he accessed the Alis account and posted the comments to target him, said Baruah.

Police said Nath doesnt have any political connections. Police have slapped sections of IT Act and IPC against Nath and are conducting further investigations.

Incidentally, Sorbhog assembly seat is represented by Ranjeet Kumar Dass, Assam state unit president of BJP.
Some members of the Animal Welfare Board of India (AWBI) are fraudulently and illegally using the state emblem of India on their letterheads and visiting cards, according to a complaint lodged with the union environment ministry on May 28.

Maneka Gandhi, union women and child development minister, wrote a letter to union environment and forest minister Harsh Vardhan in this regard last week.

It has been brought to my knowledge that some persons associated with the Animal Welfare Board of India are openly using the emblem on their letterheads and visiting cards to influence state governments and extort personal favours from people, Gandhi wrote in her letter to Vardhan.

As a recent example, Gandhi has cited a letter sent to the Uttarakhand government by Mohan Singh Ahluwalia, a member of AWBI on May 21. The letter states that Ahluwalia would be visiting Rishikesh and Hariwdar. A request was made that he be treated as a state guest.

When contacted Ahluwalia said, We usually make such requests. It is up to the state government concerned whether they would entertain it or not. The letterhead using the state emblem was printed with permission from the secretary of the board. This is same for everyone.

SP Gupta chairman of AWBI said, I have not seen the letter. But this is entirely illegal as only the secretary of the board can make such requests. No member has the right to be treated as a state guest...

Gandhi in her letter to Vardhan has said that this is a case of misrepresentation and fraud.

Some of the persons using the emblem have not even been nominated as members of the AWBI but are simply persons working with the chairman. This is disgraceful situation more because such illegal demands are being made not only using the emblem of the state, but also under the logo and banner of the ministry of environment, forests and climate change, she stated in her letter.
The Nipah infection has been contained but the government would continue to monitor the affected areas, Kerala chief minister Pinarayi Vijayan said on Monday.

The highly contagious virus that causes high fever, headache and coma in extreme cases killed 17 people in north Kerala, a majority of them in Kozhikode district, triggering panic.

We will not lower the vigil. But at the same time people should not go by fake campaign being carried out by a section of the social media, the CM said at an all-party meeting.

Addressing the meeting held in the state capital, Vijayan said no new cases were reported and secondary infection contained effectively.

The government would continue to provide free ration to the 2,500 people who were under observation in Kozhikode and neighbouring Malappuram districts, he said.

Teams from the Indian Council of Medical Research and the National Institute of Epidemiology would keep monitoring the affected districts, he said, adding the government would foot the bill of those undergoing treatment.

Only two persons remain in hospital and were responding well to the treatment, health minister KK Shailaja said.

Opposition parties pledged their support to the government. The meet has also lauded the role of medical staff, health officials and district administration in controlling the spread of the dreaded disease, which has a mortality rate of 70% and has no vaccine.

During the day, treasury and opposition benches clashed in the assembly after Parakkal Abdulla of the IUML came to the House wearing mask and gloves. Abdullas assembly segment Kuttiyadi bore the brunt of the Nipah.

The health minister accused the MLA of trivialising a serious issue for publicity. Abdulla said he wanted to draw the governments attention to the grave situation prevailing in his constituency.

The infection might be in check but there is still no clarity on the source of virus, which spreads from pigs or fruit bats. Humans contract the virus by consuming fruit or date palm sap contaminated by infected bats but human-to-human transmission happens through body fluids.

Two rounds of tests on bats, both insectivorous and fruit, have turned negative.

The animal husbandry department has decided to defer the search for the primary source of infection, an official said on condition of anonymity. The main concern was to control the spread and the search would divert attention, the official said.

Finding the virus-carrier from among millions of fruit bats would be tedious and it would be done scientifically once the situation returned to normal, the official said.
The JD(U) has said that Bihar chief minister Nitish Kumar would be the face of the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) for the 2019 Lok Sabha elections in Bihar.

Nitish Kumar will be the face of the NDA in Bihar for the Lok Sabha elections, K C Tyagi, JD(U) national general secretary and spokesperson, said on Sunday, apparently admitting that the ground realities had changed since 2014, when Narendra Modi had single-handedly steered the NDA to victory in the Lok Sabha polls, both in the state and the country.

The assertion from the JD(U) camp, after four-hour-long discussions between senior leaders and Kumar at his residence in Patna on Sunday, comes days after the recent electoral reverses triggered the question on whether the Modi magic was on the wane.

Tyagi recently called for a tweak in the BJPs strategy, after the NDA lost the Jokihat bypoll to RJD, saying that the BJP-led NDA needed to reinvent its strategy.

Upendra Kushwaha-led RLSP, another NDA partner, had also flagged the lack of coordination among allies.

When asked whether there was no dispute on Kumars stature in the NDA camp in Bihar, Tyagi said, Our concern is to get the maximum mileage and full dividends out of his image for the NDA.

Another national general secretary of the party, Pavan K Varma, who along with Prashant Kishor, chief strategist of the Grand Alliance in the 2015 state assembly polls, is learnt to have attended the meeting, said: Kumar is the tallest leader and the BJP, LJP and RLSP will have to approach the LS polls under his leadership.

Tyagi said his party was confident of a smooth seat sharing process and that the JD(U) would get an honourable share in the process.

On Saturday, RLSPs Kushwaha had called for an early settlement of the seat sharing exercise.

However, his partys rebel MP Arun Kumar on Sunday tried to play down the JD(U)s announcement on the leadership and seat sharing issue, terming it pre-poll muscle flexing.

The JD(U), which has once again started raising the special state status demand, is also intensifying efforts to expand the partys national footprint and will try to register its presence in the three states that go to polls this year: Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan. The party wants to do away with the tag of being a blind follower of the BJP and send out a message that it is not on a weak footing.

Varma, who dubbed Sundays meeting as routine, said that the leadership discussed ways and means for expanding the partys organisation and strengthening it ahead of the polls.
Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav on Monday asked if Prime Minister Narendra Modis recent visit to Indonesia and Malaysia during the month of Ramzan was an attempt towards international appeasement of the minority community.

During an interview with PTI, he claimed that the people of not only Uttar Pradesh, but of the entire country were upset with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) as other than making promises it did nothing else.

Citing a proverb, Yadav said, With empty stomach, people have now understood that the BJP does not mean business.

Asking the BJP to restrain its leaders from making absurd comments, he said, The BJP should learn to face defeats or else they will be not be able to digest the outcome of the 2019 Lok Sabha elections in which the Opposition will stage a comeback.

Slamming the BJP for accusing his party of practising minority appeasement, the Samajwadi Party chief said, Chief minister Yogi Adityanath says he does not celebrate Eid as he is a Hindu. The BJP charges us with practising Muslim appeasement. Modi has just visited Indonesia and Malaysia during the month of Ramzan. Is it an attempt towards international appeasement of the Muslims?

Adityanath had reportedly said that he is a Hindu and does not celebrate Eid, drawing sharp criticism from the Opposition.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi was for the first time on an official visit to Indonesia - the worlds most populous Muslim-majority nation - last month. He has visited Singapore twice and Malaysia once in 2015.

Modi also visited Indonesias grand Istiqlal Mosque, the largest in southeast Asia, with President Joko Widodo.

Indonesia is not only the worlds most populous Muslim country, followed by India, but the third largest democracy. Hindus comprise 2% of Indonesias population and form close to a 90% majority on the island of Bali.
Farmers organizations in Punjab on Monday decided to call off their four-day-old strike from June 6 after clashes between farmers and milk vendors were reported across the state.

The strike in Punjab and other states that started on June 1 was scheduled to end on June 10. The strike had caused a spike in vegetable prices in cities including Mumbai, Delhi and Jaipur as supplies were disrupted.

The government was trying to divide the farmers as it was shaken by the success of their protest programme. Some anti-social elements infiltrated our protest and kept harassing the common man. The decision to call off the protest prematurely was taken on the request of Progressive Dairy Farmers Association, said Balbir Singh Rajewal, state president of the Bhartiya Kisan Union (Rajewal), at a news conference.

Rajewal said that though the unions had asked the farmers to stop the supply of vegetables and milk, they never appealed to anyone to resort to violence. We had held protests even in the past but had never seen such violence. Farmers and milk vendors have come to blows at different locations and we thought it was better to call off the strike, said Rajewal. On Saturday evening, a group of protesting farmers and dairy owners had a heated exchange after which shots were fired in the air.

As part of the protest, dairy farm owners were not allowed to sell their produce to government-run milk plants and other dairies for supply in cities. Some commercial dairy farmers had also said that with mounting losses, they would have no other option but to withdraw from the protest and sell milk to plants. Others said they were considering setting up chabeels (giving milk out for free) on roads or donating it to orphanages and old age homes.

Rajewal said that the mounting pressure from the dairy farmers led to the decision to call off the strike. The government has learnt its lessons through our protest. We only wanted that the middlemen who make all the moolah, should be checked and the farmers get their profit share. The middlemen buy veggies at cheap prices from the farmers and sell it at a price which is even five times more to the consumers. We wanted to reverse it so that the consumers get the vegetables at cheaper prices and farmers should get some profit, said Rajewal.

The protest will be formally called off on June 6 after paying tributes to the six farmers who had lost their lives during an agitation last year.
The authorities on Monday extended curfew in the Meghalaya capital as violence continued in tension-hit areas the previous night with mobs indulging in stone-pelting on security forces for the last four days.

Curfew has been imposed from 4 pm on Monday to 5 am Tuesday in Shillong as there is likelihood that breach of peace may spread to other parts of the city, Deputy Commissioner, East Khasi Hills, Peter S Dkhar told IANS.

The situation is very tense in those areas, he said, adding that suspension of internet on mobile services would continue besides prohibiting the illegal sale of petrol and diesel.

The Centre has approved deployment of six additional companies of paramilitary forces in Shillong, a top official told PTI. The Home Ministry has sanctioned the deployment of four additional CRPF and two ITBP companies. The states SF-10 commandoes along with a CRPF company and the district forces are already monitoring the situation on the ground, Director General of Police (DGP) SB Singh said.

Three CRPF personnel were injured when local protesters pelted stones at their camp in Mawlai on Sunday night, an official of the central paramilitary force said on Monday.

Meghalaya Home Minister James Sangma appealed to people to stay calm and said the government is doing everything to restore peace in the city.

The agitators should stop protesting as the government has already met many of their demands, which included the arrest of the accused in the assault of the bus handyman on May 31, he said.

On June 1, the district magistrate imposed curfew in areas under Lumdiengjri police station and Cantonment Beat House in view of the breakdown of law and order in Motphran, Mawkhar and adjoining areas following the May 31 clash.

Although, the curfew was relaxed for seven hours from 8 am on Sunday, the mob continued to pelt stones at security forces forcing the police to fire tear gas shells.

The mob also attacked an undertrial prisoner van carrying a mentally-unstable person, who was referred to be admitted at the KJP Robert Hospital, Inspector General of Police, H. Nongpluh told IANS.

On Sunday, Chief Minister Conrad Sangma said the police have found out that there are certain people who are funding this agitation.

Meanwhile, a Sikh delegation led by Delhi legislator Manjinder Singh Sirsa met Sangma and expressed satisfaction that the Sikhs were safe in Meghalaya.

Shillong-based Sikh community leader Gurjeet Singh denied media reports that a gurudwara was torched or desecrated.

Minister of State for Home Affairs Kiren Rijiju has also denied rumours of the alleged attack.

The clash erupted after a skirmish between some women and a driver of Shillong Public Transport Service bus at Them Meteor, which led to an assault of three persons.

The violence continued even after the parties involved in the skirmish reached a compromise.
A launch failure, an incommunicado satellite and an unprecedented satellite recall, all in the space of less than a year, may not necessarily harm the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO)s hard-earned reputation as a trusty launcher of commercial space missions. Yet, it does cast a shadow on missions that are critical to Indias needs, analysts say.

Almost two months after Isro lost contact with Geostationary Satellite 6A, a communication satellite, the chances of the agency retrieving it are slim. Orbit raising manoeuvres have failed, so the satellite is not in the correct orbit. Its power reserves are mostly likely depleted, and it is on its way to becoming space junk.

We are in the process of planning another satellite to ensure continuity of services, Isro chairman K Sivan said.

Launches are the most spectacular, and most risky, part of a space mission and attention tends to fade once the rocket is out of view. But unlike for commercial launches, the agencys responsibility for Indian satellites extends beyond placing them in orbit. The satellites have to complete their missions and provide useful data that feeds into everything from communication and navigation services to scientific advancements.

Isro maintains that its future launch operations have not been affected, but the recent recall of GSAT-11 from a launch station in French Guiana weeks before its scheduled launch suggests the agency is on edge. Isro works on a shoestring budget, it cannot afford failures, said Rajeswari Pillai Rajagopalan, head, nuclear and space policy initiative, Observer Research Foundation. The first thing to consider is the direct monetary losses.

Like all Indian satellites launched by Isro in recent years, GSAT-6A was not insured.

According to former Isro chairman AS Kiran Kumar, India only has half the number of satellites it requires to meet its needs, ranging from data services to weather prediction, so the loss of each satellite hurts.

Foreign launches are costly, which is why Isro is trying to develop indigenous capacity to launch heavy satellites like the GSAT-11, which weighs 5,725 kg. The cost of launching Chandrayaan II from India is about half of what it would cost if it were launched from a foreign launch site, according to Isro.

Recalling a satellite for additional checks adds to the cost, but the loss of GSAT-11 is a chance it is not prepared to take. Apart from the monetary losses, it affects strategic operations, as is the case with the GSAT. It means they will have to wait a few more years for the same facility, said Rajagopalan.

GSAT-6A was an advanced communications satellite that was supposed to complement the GSAT-6, which was launched in 2015 to provide military communications with a mission life of nine years. They would have boosted communication in difficult terrains and cellular blind spots like deserts and snow-clad mountains with the use of small hand-held devices.

The other service of strategic importance is navigation. Most service providers and institutions rely on GPS, a navigation system developed by the US. The development of an indigenous GPS called NavIC is considered vital to protecting Indias strategic interests, a point that was driven home during the Kargil war in 1999 when the US denied India access to GPS, hampering military operations.

A constellation of seven satellites is required to provide a fully functioning GPS service covering all of India. The failure of clocks on IRNSS-1A, launched in 2013, meant that a replacement was required. The launch of the replacement satellite IRNSS-1H failed last year because the heat shield did not separate. The heat shield protects the satellite from the high temperatures when the rocket traverses the earths atmosphere, but should separate once the launch vehicle leaves the earths atmosphere.

Another replacement satellite, IRNSS-1I, was launched in April.

The operations that depend on a host of satellites to work together require all satellites to be in place in a set time frame. In its report on Isro in March 2018, the Comptroller and Auditor General criticised the agency for failing to commission NavIC because all the required satellites were not in orbit.

Analysts downplay questions of credibility because as a commercial launcher, Isro, through its commercial arm Antrix, has managed to capture the market for small satellite launches.

Senior Isro officials said the agencys client base for the Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle, the agencys most reliable launch rocket, is stable. The GSAT-6A issue is not that worrying because the problem was with the satellite, not the launch vehicle. It does not erode the credibility of Isro as a commercial launcher, Ratan Shrivastava, advisor with the space division at the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI), said.

The commercial launch market is lucrative and expanding, estimated to be worth $30 billion by 2025. Competition among the launch service providers has heated up in recent decades with the entry of private players such as SpaceX and Blue Origin and use of game-changing technologies such as reusable rockets that drastically lower launch costs. China has already announced plans to launch reusable space rockets to compete with private players.

Chairman Sivan emphasised that Isro is a research and development (R&D) agency.When we have spare capacity in our launch vehicles, we provide commercial services. PSLV has launched the largest number of small satellites in the world, Sivan said. Isro is not a commercial provider of space-based services; however it undertakes all measures to ensure that cost of access to space is optimised and comparable with industry benchmarks, he said.

A real test of the agencys R&D capacity will be the high-profile but much-delayed Chandrayaan II mission to land a rover near the south pole of the moon scheduled for October-November this year. It was postponed from the April launch date for further tests. We have full resources to carry out our present as well as future developmental activities, Sivan said.
Tamil Nadu chief minister Edappadi Palaniswami on Monday informed the state assembly that the state had decided to permanently close down the Sterlite copper plant in Thoothukudi.

The state had already consulted legal experts and passed a government order under the Water (Prevention and control of pollution) Act, 1974, to close down the plant and will ensure that there are no options left for the company to reopen the plant, he added.

Responding to DMK leader MK Stalin, who raked up the issue in assembly, Palaniswami said the state has withdrawn the land allotment order issued for the plants expansion.

Further, water and electricity connections had also been cut. He also said the plants trade licence and the license issued to the boilers had been annulled. Under these circumstances, there are no possibilities for the plant to function, he added.

Refuting Stalins charges that innocent people were booked by the police, the CM strongly justified arrests made in the case.

The state cannot be a silent spectator when the public peace and their property are ransacked in the name of protests. The anti socials and infiltrators had to be dealt strongly. Today, Tamil Nadu tops the list in number of protests in the country as the police give permission for all such protests. When AIADMK was an opposition party, we took out protests and staged demonstrations, but we never carried wooden logs and hurled petrol bombs, the CM said adding that all those who triggered the violence have been identified and will be arrested.

The state had formulated a judicial inquiry to be headed by a former judge justice Aruna Jagadeesan.

Members of the public can reach out to the commission with material evidence and whoever is responsible for the violence will not be spared, the chief minister said.

MK Stalin also demanded Rs 1 crore compensation for those who were killed in the police firing on May 22.

Meanwhile, Thoothukudi district SP Murali Ramba appeared before the members of National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), who began their probe into the police firing. Justice Aruna Jagadeesan also began her probe into the violence. In a related development, the Coordinating committee for Peoples Inquest, comprising former judges and senior bureaucrats, in its interim report, alleged that the district administration was guilty of serious excesses.
A lawyer from Chennai, who allegedly cheated families of victims of the 2004 Kumbakonam school tragedy, has been asked by the Supreme Court to deposit Rs 50 lakh with the Madras high court to avoid attachment of his and his relatives properties by investigating agencies.

A bench headed by Justice Kurien Joseph was hearing advocate S Tamilarasans appeal against a Madras high court direction ordering a probe against him and attachment of his and his relatives bank accounts and properties. The HC had also asked the Tamil Nadu Bar Council to take action against him and ordered suspension of his practise.

The court told him that the order will be vacated if he made the deposit with the HC within three weeks. As an interim measure, the top court put on hold registration of a criminal case against Tamilasaran and also the suspension of his practice.

The court also said that if victims, similarly situated to the petitioners before the HC, approach the court, then the advocate shall deposit the amount at the rate of Rs 1 lakh per victim.

Tamilarasan was engaged by families to fight cases against the state government after a fire broke out at Sri Krishna School, Kumbakonam, in which 94 students died and 18 sustained burn injuries. The state had deposited money into the bank accounts of the families after a court order.

According to the victims, Tamilarasan allegedly asked the claimants to give two undated cheques and had obtained signatures on blank papers under threat and coercion. He allegedly deducted Rs 2.3 lakh from each of account. It was revealed that Tamilarasan transferred more than Rs 2 crore to his and his family members accounts.
External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj has discussed with South African President Cyril Ramaphosa enhanced engagement between the two countries and greater cooperation in areas of skill development, agriculture and information technology.

Swaraj arrived here on Sunday on a five-day visit during which she will attend meetings of BRICS (Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa) and IBSA (India, Brazil, South Africa) -- the two major groupings where India has been playing a key role.

Swaraj met Ramaphosa who recalled his meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi at the Commonwealth Summit in London and conveyed his commitment to take the bilateral relations to the next level, according to a statement by the Ministry of External Affairs.

The enhanced engagement between the two countries, especially in the aftermath of the India-South Africa Business Summit, and greater cooperation in areas such as skill development, agriculture, IT etc were also discussed, it said.

Swaraj conveyed her felicitations on his assumption of office as President and mentioned that the year 2018 was of special significance for both India and South Africa since they both were commemorating the 25th anniversary of diplomatic relations, 100th birth anniversary of the iconic leader Nelson Mandela and the 125th anniversary of the Pietermaritzburg incident of Mahatma Gandhi.

Ramaphosa recalled the great legacy left behind by Mahatma Gandhi in South Africa for future generations.

A young Mahatma Gandhi was thrown out of a train compartment in Pietermaritzburg railway station. The 1893 incident proved to be a turning point in Gandhis fight against racial discrimination in South Africa.

Swaraj will also attend a series of events marking the 125th anniversary of the historic incident.

During the visit, Swaraj will participate in the BRICS (Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa) Foreign Ministers meeting today which is expected to lay the foundation for the annual summit of the grouping in Johannesburg next month.

She will also chair a meeting of Foreign Ministers of IBSA (India, Brazil, South Africa), another bloc working to deepen coordination among the three countries on major global issues.
A 41-year-old Tamil television actress was arrested by the police on Saturday for allegedly running a prostitution racket in a resort in Panaiyur on the outskirts of Chennai, officials said on Monday.

Sangeetha Balan and her partner Sathish, who was also arrested, were produced before the chief metropolitan magistrates court at Egmore. The court sent them to jail for 15 days.

Inspector Mahalakshmi of the police departments anti-vice squad wing said they received an information about a prostitution ring being run by Balan.

While we raided a private resort at Panaiyur on the East Coast Road following an information from a private source, we found four young girls involved in prostitution, Mahalakshmi said while speaking to the Hindustan Times.

During the course of the inquiry, the girls revealed that Sangeetha Balan was the mastermind behind this sex racket and lured them as sex workers, she added.

The inspector said Balans partner promised the girls a big sum of money and a chance to feature in lead roles in the movie and television shows.

The retrieved girls are the junior artists in serials and cinema... One is from outside the state she added.

They have been sent to a rehabilitation centre in Mylapore.

Chennai-based Balan has been acting since 1996 when she made her acting debut in Karuppu Roja. A well-known face in the Tamil television industry, she has appeared in popular shows like Vaani Rani, Chellamay Aval, Sabitha alias Sababathi and Valli.

Police sources added that Balan turned to the flesh trade in the last couple of years.

The squad has directed the resort owners in Panaiyur to enquire people before giving out rooms to them and inform the department if they found anything wrong.
Lodged in Assams Silchar Central Jail for violating the Foreigners Act, two Bangladesh-origin 100-year-olds found themselves on the receiving end of contradictory verdicts.

While 110-year-old Unamati Biswas was acquitted on the basis of the September 9, 2015 notification which grants protection to minorities from Pakistan and Bangladesh who came to India before December 2014 and sought shelter, 101-year-old Chandradhar Das was declared a foreigner and sent to a detention camp in the same jail, apparently because the tribunal did not consider the automatic application of the notification in his case.

Around 10 years ago, Unamati and her son Datu Biswas (60) had crossed over to India from Jagannath Pur, in neighbouring Sylhet district of Bangladesh, coaxed by a cousin on this side.

I carried my mother in a cane basket as we crossed through a churai rasta (secret crossing), he said, explaining how he sold his house for Rs 7 lakh and came to India, leaving his wife and three children behind, hoping to build a house here.

I left them with another cousin thinking that I will call them once the house is built, he said.

Unamati did not want her only son to go alone, and accompanied him, not knowing the fate that awaited them.

After crossing over, the two paid all the money to the cousin. Rs 1 lakh was what was barely left with us, Datu said.

But when they demanded the money back, the cousin threw them out of the house and they were subsequently apprehended by the Cachar police in May 2017 from a school in Silchar where they had taken shelter.

On Tuesday, relief came. The local court acquitted both mother and son, in what is reportedly the first instance of an Assam court opting for the Centres 2015 notification to acquit a person.

Sitting on a wooden chair, Unamati says she may be even 125 years old. I even remember when Indira Gandhi got married (in 1942), she said as Datu looked on.

Now, all the centenarian wants to do is go back to Bangladesh. There is nothing left here. I want to go back to my grandchildren, she said, tears welling up her eyes.

A Foreigners Tribunals in Assams Goalpara. More than 1,000 people have been put in detention camps which work out of six jails in Assam after they were declared as foreigners. (HT File Photo)

But while she deals with a complex extradition process, the other 100-year old in the jail, Chandradhar Das waits for relief.

Das was declared a foreigner ex parte (before the tribunal heard his side of the story) as he could not appear before it despite being summoned thrice.

He was not well and it was impossible for him to travel in that state, said his daughter, Nyuti Roy, adding that Das has been in the jail hospital since his detention. He sobs every time I visit him.

Das, who used to live in Dhaka, came to Tripura in 1955. There were about 20 families, including Dass who fled fearing religious prosecution in what was then East Pakistan, according to his relatives. He even has a refugee registration card from those days and has been a voter, Roy pointed out.

But the family is left with no option, but to move the high court now.

Das is among more than 1,000 people who have been put in detention camps which work out of six jails in the state after they were declared as foreigners. There are 116 of them in Silchar Jail alone where they live with convicted criminals and under-trials in gross violation of human rights.

While Muslims will have to approach higher courts to appeal against the tribunals verdict, Hindus, including Das, and several minorities from Bangladesh could be set free immediately if the tribunals were to implement the 2015 notification, lawyers say.

The Centre, in an affidavit to the Calcutta high court in the case of Ranajit Mazumdar has said how the notification would apply automatically. Yet, the tribunals and the courts in Assam are not doing it, explained Dharmananda Deb, a lawyer in Silchar.

The tribunals are appointed by the state government. Is Assam not a part of India? he asked.

He, however, said the judge considering the 2015 notification and acquitting Biswas is a welcome sign.
A constable of the Kanpur Police was suspended on Sunday for his abusive tweet against the family of a man who was stabbed to death in Delhi allegedly by his girlfriends relatives, an official said.

Kanpurs senior superintendent of police Akhilesh Kumar took the step against Arvind Singh Parihar after an inquiry found him guilty of writing the offensive tweet. Parihar was posted at Babupurwa police station in Kanpur.

Babupurwas circle officer Ajit Kumar Rajak, who was asked to inquire into the post, said Parihar admitted he made a wrong comment on Twitter. He confirmed Parihars suspension.

Parihar had posted his response to a tweet by a news channel about the family of 23-year-old Ankit Saxena hosting an iftar party in the Muslims holy month of Ramzan to help spread the message of peace and harmony.

The freelance wedding photographer was murdered in front of his family in February allegedly by the relatives of a woman he was in a relationship with as they were opposed to the inter-faith affair.

When Parihar was called out by Twitter user Shahid Ansari, the constable responded with a number of objectionable replies to him on Sunday morning.

Ansari posted screenshots of the constables tweets and tagged the chief minister, the director general of police and the CMs office.
A farmers organisation in Punjab called off its protest on Monday after a scuffle between protesting farmers and milk suppliers in several parts of the state on day four of the Goan Bandh (village blockade) even as prices of vegetables, fruits and milk continued to soar in several cities like Delhi, Mumbai and Chandigarh.

Balbir Singh Rajewal, president of a faction of Bharatiya Kisan Union (BKU), said there were reports of fracas between protesting farmers and milk suppliers in Amritsar, Faridkot, Mohali, Moga, Gidderbaha and some other places in the past two days. I have never supported any violent stir. There was no support from the state government and the situation was going out of hand at some places. We do not want any clashes, he said, justifying the decision to call off the agitation in the state.

However, in many other parts of Punjab, tension prevailed as farmers tried to prevent other farmers and traders from carrying vegetables, fruits and milk to urban areas. Traders clashed with farmers in Gidderbaha town, forcing police to intervene who then booked two farmers.

The decision to stop supplies from June 1 till June 10 was taken by farmers under the banner of Kisan Ekta Manch and Rashtriya Kisan Maha Sangh to press for minimum income guarantee scheme, implementation of Swaminathan Commission report, and waiver of farmers debt.

Elsewhere, a farmers organisation announced plans intensify the agitation. The government hasnt fulfilled promises it had given last year. We have no option but to intensify our protests, said Ajit Nawale, state general secretary, All India Kisan Sabha, one of the farmers unions participating in the strike.

Disruption in supply has led to a sharp rise in prices of vegetable and milk in Jaipur as well.

Jaipur Dairy alone has suffered a loss of nearly Rs 1 crore as anti-social elements spilled nearly 60,000 litres of milk on roads. Twelve tankers were vandalised. Jaipur Dairy has lodged eight-nine FIRs for damaging and manhandling employees, said Om Prakash Punia, chairman, Jaipur Dairy.

The prices of vegetables have increased by 25%-30% in the last three days because of restricted supply, a vegetable vendor at Muhana vegetable market said.

In Madhya Pradesh, farmers spilled milk and threw vegetables on roads at several places after which the police arrested some of the farmers. In Betul district, six farmers were held and later released on bail after they threw vegetables on road. Farmers in Khargone also threw vegetables while at Neelbad in Bhopal, vegetable growers distributed free vegetables among people to register their protest against the governments policies.

Inspector general (intelligence) Makarand Deoskar said Patidar leader Hardik Patel will not be allowed to hold any public meeting in the state till June 10 due to the ongoing agitation.

In Maharashtra, police claimed to have foiled immolation bids by two Congress legislators near district headquarters in Amravati. Legislators Virendra Jagtap and Yashmomati Thakur were detained just before they could pour kerosene and set themselves ablaze, said Chinmay Pandit, deputy commissioner of police.

Jagtap said they decided to take the step to protest against the failure of the agricultural produce market committee (APMC) to start procurement of tur (a pulse variety) and harbhara (gram) to provide relief to farmers. Market associations in Maharashtra claimed that prices of fruits and vegetables have increased by about 10% in most cities, including Mumbai and Pune.
Gujarats Dalit MLA Jignesh Mevani, during his frequent visits to Rajasthan, has appealed to scheduled castes to defeat the ruling BJP in assembly polls due by the year-end, but Dalits in Barmer have created something of a catch-22 situation for the opposition Congress.

At a meeting organised on Monday, Dalits staked their claim to the Barmer assembly constituency, an unreserved seat won by Mevaram Jain on a Congress ticket.

Addressing the meeting, Dalit leaders Laxman Badera and Udaram Meghwal said their community, which always supported Congress candidates after independence, had backed Jain for two consecutive terms. They wanted Jain to leave the seat for a Dalit candidate in the next assembly polls.

If the Congress does not field a Dalit from Barmer, the party would face defeat in all seats in the district where Dalits constitute about 25% of voters, Badera and Meghwal warned.

The Congress and the BJP have been fielding Dalit candidates in only one reserved seat out of nine in the Barmer parliamentary constituency, they said.

Badera and Meghwal said they were forced to stake claim to the Barmer seat after the incidents on and after the April 2 Bharat Bandh. They alleged that Jain in collusion with the local police has harassed the Dalits.

Badera and Meghwal said Dalits wont support any Congress candidate if Jain does not make way for a candidate from their community in the Barmer seat.

Other leaders present at the meeting said the BSP is the only party for Dalits and demanded that the BJP and the Congress be boycotted. They suggested that the BSP be supported to teach a lesson to both the parties. At the end of the meeting, Dalits said they would support the candidate decided upon by the community.

Reacting to the demand, Congress district president Fateh Khan said, Nobody from the Dalit community has met me or informed me about such a demand. I came to know about it through newspapers. Refuting any trouble for the Congress, Khan said, The party high command will finalise the tickets and all sections will be entertained.

Meanwhile, Congress MLA Jain organised a parallel meeting of Dalits at his office. He said, I am being targeted under a planned conspiracy. I always supported the Dalit community and got a favourable treatment from them.


Two policemen were injured in an exchange of fire with cow smugglers at Kaman in Bharatpur district, police said on Monday. The police rescued 21 animals and arrested two smugglers on Sunday night.

The two injured were rushed to a community health centre in Kaman where doctors referred assistant sub-inspector Ram Ratan to district Raj Bahadur Memorial Hospital in a critical condition and Banay Singh is still undergoing treatment at the health centre. Station house officer of Kaman police Neki Ram Chaudhary was discharged after treatment.

After getting information about the smugglers, a police team, led by station house officer Neki Ram Chaudhary, set out to raid the smugglers.

The police set up a barricade at the Bhagat Singh intersection to catch a truck transporting bovines to a slaughterhouse in Haryana across the border.

SHO Neki Ram Chaudhary said that after receiving information, we set up the barricade to stop the trucks transporting the bovines. Cow smugglers, in one such truck, started firing at the police and two policemen were injured.

The smugglers in the truck managed to flee but two travelling in a car were arrested. The accused have been identified as Kada Mev, 37, from Kanbadi village and Shaukat Mev, 35, from Jamalgarh in Haryana.

The police also recovered two country-made weapons, 11 live cartridges from the possession of the accused. The police have arrested them under section Rajasthan Bovine Animal (Prohibition of Slaughter and Regulation Temporary Migration or Export) Act 1995, Arms Act, 307, and Excise Act.

Kada Mev already has charges of loot and cow smuggling registered against him in Bharatpur Kaman, Jurahara, Pahari, Sikri, Deeg, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh and Alwar police stations. He has been absconding for a long time and the Rajasthan, Haryana and Uttar Pradesh police had announced a reward for his capture.

The rescued cows were shifted to cow shelters while the truck and cars number plates were found to be fake.

On May 18, police had rescued 42 stray bovines and detained a minor near Mungaska village when cow smugglers were trying to carry the bovines to Haryana.

The state government has set up six cow protection police outposts in the district to control cow smuggling.

Smuggling of cows for their meat is a big business in Mevat area of eastern Rajasthan.
While chief minister Vasundhara Raje had announced two lakh power connections for the agriculture sector in this years budget, a circular issued by the state government has put the onus of installing power infrastructure on farmers.

The move has put the farmers in a fix. The government is offering an option to the farmers, waiting for the agriculture power connection for past many years, to install power infrastructure at their own level besides ensuring its security and maintenance.

Till date, the power department was installing the power infrastructure or arranging the task through department contractors.

In a recent move, the government has suggested that the farmers, who want immediate power connection, will either have to install power infrastructure or wait for their turn.

However, even this option is for only those who have applied for power connection before January 2012.

Farmers are shocked with this option as it is totally a technical task and they dont have any expertise in this matter.

Farmers are in a dilemma because if they dont accept governments option, they will have to wait for many years.

The discom will by supply the material such as wires and reimburse 750 per pole (measured as standard distance between two poles).

In the last budget, the chief minister announced to release two lakhs power connection and set the cut-off date as January 2012.

According to official data obtained from Jaipur discom, about 2.90 lakh farmers in Rajasthan have applied for the agriculture power connection out of which 61,988 farmers have been issued connection demand note (to deposit a nominal amount) before electricity connection is provided.

Out of this, the department has given power connection to 7,333 farmers.

In Barmer, 24,994 farmers, who have applied for the agricultural power connection after February 2010, are waiting for their connection.

The data further revealed that till January 2018, the department had released only 1,076 connection in Barmer against pendency of 24,994.

Now, after the chief ministers recent announcement, the department has listed out 9,570 out of 24,994 applicants to whom connection will be released in this year.

Under this new move, the government has issued a circular in which it is mentioned that that to reduce pendency of power connection, those who want immediate connections has to install power infrastructure including laying down of electricity line and installation of power sub-station.

The government has also offered reimbursement to such applicant saying that 750 on per span will be adjusted in their next bills.

However, farmers are not taking interest in this scheme. After which government also directed power department officials to ensure maximum publicity of this scheme.

Confirming the report, Goparam Sirvi, chief engineer at Jodhpur Discom in Barmer, said they have got direction to release immediate power connection to the farmers who are ready to install power infrastructure at their own level.

Hemraj Choudhary, a farmer, said he doesnt have expertise in laying down electricity line and installation of power sub-station. He said it was very risky task.
The Kolkata Police on Monday registered an FIR against three students and a temporary non-teaching staff of the 153-year-old St Pauls Cathedral Mission College for stripping a second-year student in the college last month after he asked the accused to submit expenditure of the students union they headed.

The victim is the welfare secretary of the union.

The accused also shot the scene on their phones and circulated it. It shows the student crouching on the floor in embarrassment. The incident took place in the evening of May 17 at the union room of the college adjacent to the principals office.

The video went viral on June 2 attracting the attention of the authorities.

The FIR was registered after Bengals education minister and secretary general of Trinamool Congress Partha Chatterjee said he had asked the aggrieved student to file a police complaint.

The victim got in touch with me on Sunday and I advised him to lodge a police complaint. I have told the administration to take strict action without caring for who belongs to which camp, Chatterjee said.

If the college does not take any action against the accused, we will take steps against the college authorities, the minister warned.

Hours after Chatterjees warning, college authorities announced setting up an eight-member probe committee and asked it to submit a report on the incident in a week.

Though there have been a lot of allegations of torture and atrocities on the campus against members and leaders of Trinamool Congress Chhatra Parishad (TMCP) in different districts of Bengal over the past few years, there has been no parallel of this incident.

According to officers of Amherst Street police station where the complaint was lodged on Sunday night, the accused were Arnab Ghosh, Sheikh Enamul Haq, Avijit Dolui (students) and Ananta Pramanik (non-teaching staff).

Though Ghosh claimed he is the unit president of TMCP in the college, the state president of the ruling partys student arm said they did not have any unit in that college.

Former TMCP state president Shankudeb Panda and TMCP leader of Calcutta University Rumana Akhtar also criticised the incident.

We are not concerned about whether the culprits or the victim owe allegiance to TMCP. We want exemplary punishment for the accused and we will organise a programme to express solidarity with the victim, said Rumana Akhtar, president of Calcutta University Students Union and a TMCP leader.

The victim told the media he saw the four drinking alcohol on the evening of May 17 before they attacked him.

There was no security guard at that time in the college, the victim told the media. I am feeling insecure and tense simply because those who tortured me are roaming free.

Some ex-students visit occasionally. It is difficult to define outsiders, said Debasish Mondal, teacher-in-charge of the college.

College authorities have decided to suspended the temporary employee.
Demanding the price for a plate of biryani proved fatal for an eatery owner in West Bengals North 24 Parganas district, police said on Monday.

Sanjay Mondal was allegedly shot dead on Sunday evening just for asking Rs 190 for the plate of biryani from four customers.

Police said they have arrested one person and search for other co-accused is on.

The tussle started over a plate of biryani and one of the customers shot Sanjay Mondal. He was taken to a hospital where he was pronounced dead. An FIR was lodged and we have arrested accused Mohammad Firoz, the police said.

As of now we think it is related to biryani only but our investigation is on.

Mondals brother said: Firoz shot my brother. There were four people: Raja, Firoz, Mogri and Salman. They are hooligans. We all are very scared and dont know how to run our business peacefully.
Three people were killed and as many injured in an explosion at an illegal fire-cracker factory in Munna Lal Kheda village of Kakori near Lucknow on Monday.

The impact of the explosion was so severe that the body parts of the victims were flung several meters from the blast site and the house from where the factory was operating was completely demolished.

The deceased have been identified as Nasir, 45, who was running the illegal factory, and his daughter Nasreen, 18. They were residents of Faridipur in Dubagga which falls under Thakurganj police station.

The third victim was Ram Saran, a labourer from Bahraich. He was employed at a snacks factory operating from the adjacent house.

The three injured were Vinod and Lalji, both relatives, and Ram Prasad. All of them are from Lakhimpur Kheri district, about 130 km from the state capital. They were rushed to KGMU.

After the incident, police raided Nasirs house in Faridipur and detained his son and wife. During the raid, the police also recovered crackers from the house.

Police said Nasir had rented the place for Rs 700 per month to operate the factory about six months ago.

Nasir had an explosives manufacturing licence that expired around six months ago. He was running the fire factory illegally from the house of Lodhi that he took on rent, said Gaurav Grover, superintendent of police (Rural).

As news of the blast spread in the area, a large number of people from adjoining villages reached the blast site.

Cops had a tough time in recovering the body parts of the deceased from the nearby fields as small lumps of body parts were scattered all across the area.
BSF jawan from Deoria Satyanarayan Yadav was one of the two personnel, who were killed in cross border firing by Pakistani rangers in Akhnoor, Jammu and Kashmir on Sunday night.

Pakistan side resorted to unprovoked firing by targeting forward duty points at International Border (IB) in Pragwal around 0115 hours, causing critical injuries to assistant sub-inspector S N Yadav (48) and constable VK Pandey, said a senior BSF officer. He said both the injured were evacuated to medical facilities but succumbed to injuries.

Yadav is survived by his three sons, wife and father Ayodhya Yadav, who is a farmer. Yadav was posted with 33 BSF batallion in Akhnoor

Meanwhile, a pall of gloom descended in the village when Yadavs wife Susheela Devi received a call from the BSF camp at 5 am on Monday informing about her husbands martyrdom.

As soon as the news spread, locals began gathering at his house to condole the bereaved family members. SDM Rakesh Kumar, who visited the family along with other officials, expressed condolence and said the body was likely to reach the village by Monday evening. Villagers expressed displeasure that no public representative came to meet the family.

Meanwhile, martyrs father Ayodhya Yadav said had he more sons he would have sacrificed all of them for Bharat Mata. Sons of Bharat Mata will continue to be killed until Pakistan is given a befitting reply. The time has come to teach a lesson to the enemy country in its own language, said an emotional Ayodhya as he burst into tears.

Satyanarayan who had joined the army 20 years back soon after passing class 10, was the only son among five siblings.

Locals said that owing to the deteriorating health of his father, Satyanarayan wanted to come back home after taking early retirement. In March this year he had visited the village and made a failed bid to settle his familys land dispute.

Incidentally, when news of his martyrdom reached the family none of his three sons were present in the village.

(With PTI inputs)
Students of 15 government primary schools and five secondary schools in Lucknow may now hope to get improved basic infrastructure, such as, better classrooms, library, playground, science laboratory and facility for digital literacy, through a phased plan to be implemented over the next five to six years.

MY SCHOOL BANNER The MoU aims at enabling positive transformation in schools, leading to enhanced enrolments, attendance, retention and learning outcomes of students. The programme will focus on strengthening school infrastructure and making the teaching-learning process more dynamic with avenues for holistic growth and development. Intervention for every school will be planned keeping in mind the institutes baseline quality and capacity.

To improve the quality of education and infrastructure in 20 government schools, the district administration on Saturday signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with HCL Foundation -- the corporate social responsibility arm of HCL Technologies Ltd.

The schools were identified jointly with the Lucknow district administration, said district magistrate Kaushal Raj Sharma.

We are pleased to be associated with the My School Project. We firmly believe that all-inclusive education is every childs right. We think this programme will strengthen our commitment towards providing the right platform for education that every child deserves, he said.

This MoU is a long-term commitment towards providing quality education to children. Under the My School banner, the HCL Foundation and the district administration will work together to achieve the larger goal of ensuring quality education for all, said Diwakar Tripathi, representative of home minister Rajnath Singh in his Lok Sabha constituency Lucknow.

The My School initiative under HCLs Uday programme looks at improving school enrolments, attendance and learning outcomes, by investing in innovative teaching and learning techniques as well as providing HCL volunteers to assist the school staff and students, said Nidhi Pundhir, director-head, CSR & HCL Foundation.

We want to build capacities of teachers and school administration to strengthen leadership. Also, there will be mechanisms for integration and engagement of communities with the schools so as to generate community-based learning solutions, She said.
In a shocking incident, a six-year-old daughter of a slum dweller was gang-raped allegedly by four minor boys staying in her neighbourhood in Indira Nagar police area late on Saturday night, police said. The police have taken a 14-year-old boy in custody after registering an FIR in this connection. Efforts are on to nab other culprits who were not found at their houses.

Inspector, Indira Nagar police station, Mukul Prakash Verma said the girl was sent for a medical examination. He said the girls condition was stated to be out of danger and that she was undergoing treatment in a hospital.

The inspector said the FIR under Sections 376-D (gang rape), 342 (illegal confinement) and 506 (criminal intimidation) of the IPC was lodged against the four boys on the complaint of the girls mother.

Verma further said the girls mother stated that the boys allegedly kidnapped her daughter when she was sleeping in the open outside her hut in Faridinagar locality and outraged her modesty at a secluded spot. He said the girls mother got alerted and started searching for her daughter when she incidentally woke up at around 2am and found her missing.

The inspector said some locals spotted the girl lying in a semi-unconscious state in bushes at around 250 metres from her house on Sunday morning. He further said the arrested boy, a son of a domestic help, stays along with her family in a rented accommodation at a little distance from the girls house. Verma said the remaining boys, all in 14-16 age group, also stay in the same vicinity. They were found missing from their houses when a police team went there, the inspector said. A team has been formed to trace them, he added.
In a bid to promote solar power plants, the Yogi government has decided to waive off hundred per cent land registration fees for those willing to set up solar power plants.

Uttar Pradesh has a solar energy potential of 22300 MW which the Yogi government has decided to harness to meet the target of 10700 MW by 2022. Hence the state government is going all out to promote solar power plants by introducing various subsidies for those willing to do it.

Electricity generated by these solar power plants is transferred to the grid, an interconnected network for transferring electricity from producers to consumers. This is part of the state governments decision to promote private participation in generation of electricity through solar power.

At present, the state has solar projects that are generating 512 MW electricity. Out of this, 280 MW was generated in 2017-18. To meet the target of generating 10,700 MW of electricity through solar power the state government will set up around 6000 solar plants, Brajesh Pathak, additional energy minister in the state government, had said recently.

Another major decision that the state government has taken to promote solar power is to provide transmission lines up to 15 km from solar energy plants of 50-150MW capacity. The government has taken this decision considering the fact that transmission of electricity is a costly affair.

It may be pointed out that Gautam Adani, chairman of the Adani group, has pledged to invest Rs 35000 crore in Uttar Pradesh in the next five years. A sizable part of this investment will be in solar power plants. At the investors summit in February, Gautam Adani had pledged to set up 1000 mw solar power plant and a 500 mw solar park in Uttar Pradesh.

Gujarat based Adani groups core business activities include commodities trading, Mundra port operations, distribution of natural gas and renewable energy.

The state government has already come up with a new solar power policy  the Uttar Pradesh Solar Power Policy 2017 under which it intends to provide electricity to every village. Solar power will play a major role in fulfilling this objective.
Revenge

Director - Coralie Fargeat

Cast - Matilda Lutz, Kevin Janssens, Vincent Colombe

Rating - 4/5

Scrolling through Twitter last week, one tweet stuck out from the usual unhealthy mix of hate-mongering and racism. It was clear, after letting it simmer for a couple of seconds, that it was indeed the Tweet of the Day.

Replying to a post by Teen Vogue plugging a gloriously inept article titled How to get your best summer vagina one genius lamented, Im going to have to have a suboptimal vagina this summer as Im concentrating on getting the perfect winter anus.

Apologies for being this graphic this early, but I promise you theres a point to this. Also, if youve read some of the horror stories about the film were about to discuss, youd agree that its sort of fitting that were starting off in this manner.

Anyway, the tweet. Profanity by itself  devoid of any subtext, layers or wit  is utterly pointless, regardless of whether it is a man or a woman using it. We saw this in the recent film, Veere Di Wedding, in which several characters lines were punctuated with random, jarring cussing. Sure, in a country like ours, where only a year ago, a similar female ensemble film, Lipstick Under My Burkha, was butchered for simply showing women being women, not censoring cursing is some sort of progress. But dont mistake shock value for good writing.

Which is why I bring up that brilliant tweet. In one lacerating sentence, the writer exposed the ridiculousness of what Teen Vogue was presenting. It gave the illusion of profanity without ever using any. And thats what makes it funny, and in a weird way, extremely feminist.

Similarly, simply hiring a woman in the lead role and handing her a gun does not qualify an action movie as feminist. Having a female character kill people  or use the F-word  isnt being particularly progressive. Men do that all the time in movies, and its hardly the sort of behaviour to emulate.

And that is why Revenge, despite its disarmingly unimaginative title, is the action movie equivalent of that wonderful tweet  bitingly intelligent, unapologetically subversive and a true example of 21st century feminist cinema.

Kevin Janssens plays Richard, lead creep.

But subversion isnt easily achieved. By definition, to be subversive, certain rules must be broken. The challenge lies in convincing the viewer that theyre watching one kind of movie, and then to pull the rug from under their feet. So if the opening couple of scenes in Revenge remind you of a Michael Bay film  lurid oversaturated colours, gross sexualisation of female bodies, shot with a hungry camera  dont be surprised.

We see Jen, our heroine (played by Matilda Lutz), as she prances around in short shorts and crop tops, sucking suggestively on a lollipop. Her boyfriend, Richard, a square-jawed yuppie cheating on his wife, has brought Jen to his secluded desert home, thirsty for some time alone. But their getaway is rudely interrupted by his two friends, who arrive early for the hunting trip theyd planned.

Soon enough, a hunt will be conducted, but not in the manner that any of the characters had anticipated. After a night of heavy drinking and partying, Jen dances with Stan, the most disgustingly grotesque of Richards two friends. Stan, using the same logic that weve heard some of our own ministers spout, sees Jens openness as an invitation. The next morning, when Richard is away on an errand, he rapes her.

Dont be surprised if Revenge reminds you of a Michael Bay movie.

At first, Richard is aghast at what has happened. But immediately, it is clear that he isnt as reliable as he looks. He begins scolding Stan, and Dimitri, the third friend who had looked the other way when he heard Jens screams  almost as a mother would when her toddler breaks an expensive vase while her back is turned. He decides that letting Jen return to the city could create certain difficulties for him, an important businessman. So along with the two monsters, he drags her to a cliff and pushes her over the edge.

They watch as Jen is impaled by a dead tree stump, and convinced that no one could survive the fall, they return. But Jen does indeed survive, and in one of the most skin-crawlingly uncomfortable sequences youll see this year, she pries herself off the stump, and crawls into the safety of a cave, where she performs graphic surgery upon herself and emerges, very literally, like a phoenix. And then she hunts them down, the men who violated her, by penetrating them  with bullets and knives and sheer brute force.

There is a lot of symbolism in Revenge, and a lot of it is very on the nose.

First-time feature director Coralie Fargeat knows what shes doing, and to make her point, she must lure you in. Like a magician, she must distract you, and when she has your attention where she wants it, thats when she makes her revelation. This 180-degree switch in style is aided by a blindsiding pivot in perspective  the film begins as a sick representation of the male gaze  Jen is very much an object in those early scenes, just waiting to be devoured, but towards the end, transforms into a look at the world through female eyes  constantly on the edge, burning with anger and always the underdog.

What Fargeat has achieved in Revenge is similar to what Julia Ducournau did last year with her feminist cannibal film, Raw. Both directors used the language of horror cinema to convey ideas specific to women, by combining French arthouse storytelling with American exploitation.

Theyd make for a rough double bill, but these are films designed for seasoned horror fans, not casual passers-by. Revenge is available on Netflix.

Watch the Revenge trailer here

Follow @htshowbiz for more

The author tweets @RohanNaahar

ott:10:ht-entertainment_listing-desktop
A 35-year-old senior resident doctor of Tata Memorial Hospital, who lived in the hospital premises, committed suicide on Saturday night by injecting herself with an overdose of anaesthesia drugs.

The Bhoiwada police found that the doctor, Rupali Shivaji Kalkundre, was suffering from depression and undergoing treatment for it. Dattarey Patil, senior inspector, Bhoiwada police station, said an accidental death case has been registered and further investigation is on.

According to the police, Kalkundre was found dead by her husband, also a doctor at the hospital, when he returned home at around 4.30pm. When he got no response after ringing the door bell and knocking, he opened the door with another key and found Kalkundre unconscious. He rushed her to the hospital as he stayed in the hospital premises. She was declared dead as she had overdosed on a shot of anaesthesia drugs which were found by the police and family members, said an official from the Bhoiwada police station.

The police have not yet found a suicide note. Kalkundre was working as a fellow in anaesthesia at the hospital. Despite best efforts, she could not be revived. The case was handed over to the concerned police station and a case of suicide was registered. She was under treatment for depression for the past few years, said SH Jafri, public relations officer, Tata Memorial Hospital.
The Santacruz police on Sunday night registered a case against actor-producer Armaan Kohli for allegedly hitting his live-in partner Neeru Randhawa. According to police, the 46-year-old has been accused by his live-in partner, a model, of beating her up after an argument broke out between the two.

We have registered a case after the woman gave us a statement on Sunday night. There was an argument between the two over some monetary issue after which the complainant claims the actor assaulted her, said an officer.

Police on Sunday night received an EPR call from a hospital. After police reached the hospital, they saw Neeru receiving treatment for her injuries. She had also received head injuries for which she had gone to the hospital. We recorded her statement after which it was clear that Kohli had allegedly assaulted her post an argument, said another officer.

The woman alleged they were discussing about money, when Kohli lost his temper and started hitting her. After a case was registered with the police, a team was formed to investigate into the matter and the womans statement was recorded. We went to the residence where the complainant was allegedly beaten but Kohli was not present there. We are looking for him for further interrogation. His statement will be recorded and past records will be checked. No arrest has been made yet, added the officer.

Our team could not find Kohli at the residence. He is absconding and a team is searching for him, said Shantanu Pawar, senior police officer from Santacruz police station.

A case under section 326 (punishment for voluntarily causing grievous hurt by dangerous weapons or means) of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) has been registered.
Criticising the Bharatiya Janata Party-led Maharashtra government once again, the Shiv Sena on Monday said that after farmers, now struggling traders are committing suicide because of unfriendly policies.

In an editorial in the Sena mouthpiece Saamana, the party, an alliance partner in the state government, cited the suicide of one Dattatreya Gund, a chana dal (chick pea) trader from Kalamb in Osmanabad district, and said that many policies, including the rolling out of the Goods and Services Tax (GST), are driving Maharashtras traders and small business owners to kill themselves.

Gund had purchased 800 quintals of chick peas and he did not see the possibility of it selling in the near future, the editorial said. It alleged that Gund, before hanging himself, left a suicide note to Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis stating that government policies had finished business owners. Things were going alright, just then your government policies and drought have finished us. Make changes in policies and save farmers and business owners, his note said, according to Saamana.

The Sena has been attacking the state government relentlessly, ever since it announced that it would go solo in all upcoming elections. The rift between the two ruling parties widened further after the Sena for the first time fielded a candidate in the Palghar Lok Sabha bypolls, held last week.

Several announcements, including a Minimum Support Price (MSP) for farmers, Jalyukt Shivar, free seeds, farm loan waiver and crop insurance, were made in the past four years, but the benefit of these schemes have not reached the ordinary farmers, nor the businessmen, the editorial said. The empty promises of the state government to give MSP for agricultural produce and to buy it have been highlighted by this suicide.
With the Class 12 Higher Secondary Certificate (HSC) results announced last week and the Secondary School Certificate (SSC) examinations results scheduled to be announced this week, colleges are preparing for the admission season.

Be it admission to degree courses or the more competitive junior college courses, colleges are equipping themselves to answer queries from aspirants. While many institutes wait until after admissions to clear the doubts of students, a handful of institutes are ready to help students even before the process begins. Be it conducting workshops or organising help desks for students, various institutes are going all in to guide the new batch of students.

St Andrews College in Bandra has been selected as a help centre for junior college aspirants for some time now. The institute welcomes students and their queries and helps them find answers to questions on courses and seats. The help centre apart, our college doors are always open to students. Its a regular sight to find Class 10 students and their parents visit our campus and seek clarity either with the admissions process, or their confusion with which course to choose for junior college, said Marie Fernandes, principal, St Andrews College.

UPG College in Vile Parle encourages students to apply for short-term certificate courses throughout the summer vacations. This year, the Shri Vile Parle Kelavani Mandal (SVKM), which runs many colleges in Vile Parle including UPG College and Mithibai College, organised a career fair for all interested Class 10 students. This is an annual fair and we invite experts from various fields to come under one roof and help clear doubts of students. The aim is to make their transition from school to college as smooth as possible, said Anju Kapoor principal of UPG College. She added that students were also introduced to career counsellors, to help them understand the options available in higher education for their benefit.

At Bandras R D National College, a help desk will be set up as soon as state education boards SSC results are announced. Once the junior college admission schedule is out, many students come to the college with numerous questions and we make sure a help desk is in place for them. Their questions can range from which course or stream to choose or how to handle curricular and co-curricular activities in college  our help desk is always at their service, said Dinesh Panjwani, principal.

School students are using these services to the best of their advantage. Just because I score well in my exam does not mean Ill be interested in science courses. After sitting for a workshop in a city college I realised how arts too has various career options and thats exactly what Ill be choosing during admissions, said Siyona Mascarenhas, an ICSE student, who hopes to bag a seat in St Xaviers College this year.

The Maharashtra State Board for Secondary and Higher Secondary Education (MSBSHSE) has selected some city colleges as help centres for the upcoming junior college admissions. Students and parents are allowed to visit the campus and seek clarity with any admission-related problems including the form-filling process, which has already begun.

City colleges have also set up help desks for Class 10 and 12 students, and their parents. Counsellors have also been placed on help desks for those unsure about the college and course they should choose.
For the past one-and-a-half years, flamingos have winged away from their usual stop at mudflats and mangroves in Raigad districts Uran. Reason: Construction of jetties, cargo terminals and roads by the Jawaharlal Nehru Port Trust (JNPT). Other agencies have also been blamed for destroying the prime flamingo habitat.

The Bombay Natural History Society (BNHS), a wildlife research organisation, confirmed that construction is driving away the migratory birds. Whether it is small or large wetlands, Uran has lost all of its flamingo habitat, said Deepak Apte, director, BNHS. We have time and again informed the state that flamingos and other wetland birds are being squeezed into smaller areas. This does not bode well for the proposed Navi Mumbai airport where these birds have already begun congregating.

The local fishing (Koli) community has been fighting a legal battle to save the ecosystem from destruction for the past four decades. They alleged that even though the matter has been in courts since 2013, the JNPT has not stopped construction on wetlands. They hope that the Supreme Court (SC), which is likely to pass its judgment in July, will rule in their favour.

JNPT officials said they are the land owners, and different courts have approved mangrove removal.

Four villages hit

HT visited six spots at Uran, Hanuman Koliwada, Gavhan and Belpada villages for a reality check. These villages have 1,630 families which are mostly dependent on fishing. Here, fishermen have reported large scale environmental violations: mangrove destruction by blocking tidal channels and reclaiming wetlands. The fishing community has documents from the forest department that show that 4,500 mangrove trees had perished, with wood from the destroyed trees stored behind terminals.

Over the past five years, more than 1,000 hectares (equivalent to 675 Wankhede Stadiums) of mangroves and wetlands have either been destroyed or dried up for construction by JNPT, and in the past three decades, the figure is over 20,000 hectares in the four villages. The scale of destruction is huge: each family has lost catch worth 25,000 per month and the natural environment has turned barren, said Ramdas Koli, 76, head of a fishing committee from the four villages, called Paramparik Macchimar Bachao Kruit Samiti. Koli has petitioned to the National Green Tribunal (NGT) and SC in cases related to mangrove destruction.

Undeterred by the legal battle, JNPT, as an owner of the mangrove land, said it has sought 277 hectares for a special economic zone (SEZ)

We have got approvals, including premissions from the forest department. We had the permission to destroy 19 hectares of mangroves, but we only removed 15 hectares, said SV Madabhavi, chief manager of JNPTs port, planning and development department.

He added that some complaints are surfacing because environmentalists must have spotted some areas where tidal water ingress had stopped. There is no case of cutting of mangroves. In fact, we have complied with all conditions, and even paid compensation to the state for mangrove restoration, said Madabhavi.

Mangrove cell denies giving nod

Contrary to the JNPTs claim to have green clearances for SEZ, the mangrove unit of the forest department, after HT shared the images of mangrove destruction with it (see case studies), denied giving its nod to the project.

The Bombay high court on January 27, 2010 made it clear that irrespective of land ownership, the destruction of any mangroves in Maharashtra will attract provisions and penalties under the Forest Conservation Act, 1980 and the Environment Protection Act, 1986, said N Vasudevan, additional principal chief conservator of the state mangrove cell. Based on the directions from the state government, we will examine the situation. The state environment department said it will direct its mangrove cell to issue notices to JNPT for ecological destruction as alleged by the Kolis. The Maharashtra Coastal Zone Management Authority (MCZMA) issued environment clearances to JNPT, on the condition that mangroves should not be destroyed, said Satish Gavai, additional chief secretary of the environment department and chairman of MCZMA.

Waiting for relief

In October 2013, fisherman Ramdas Koli filed a complaint with the NGT to draw its attention to alleged ecological violations by the public sector units (PSUs), risking the livelihood of residents of the four villages. After a protracted battle between PSUs and the Koli community, in August 2015, a SC bench ordered the PSUs to pay the compensation. We have already paid our compensation share of 64 crore to the registry of the SC, said Madabhavi.

Dilip Koli, another fishermen, said none of the residents has received a single rupee from the PSUs. Lawyers representing the Kolis said for the past three years the matter has been relegated to the background. Zaman Ali, counsel representing Ramdas Koli and 1,630 fishing families in SC, said the SC has listed the matter for July 23.

Activists said this is the largest wetland destruction in India.

The Uran wetlands, a thriving ecosystem for birds and aquatic life, have been systematically decimated, said Stalin D, director, NGO Vanashakti. Hundreds of acres of mangroves are being killed either by dumping debris in Uran taluka. This urbanisation has paralysed the lives of the fishing community, said BN Kumar, activist and Navi Mumbai resident.

Meanwhile, upset over mangrove destruction, members of a Navi-Mumbai based fishing community filed fresh complaints with various state government bodies on May 29. These areas are natural sources to combat pollution and heat, and act as bulwark against floods. These valuable resources need to be restored. This kind of senseless development will displace the local fishing community and destroy the ecological diversity, said Nandkumar Pawar, head, Shree Ekvira Aai Pratishthan.
Fifty-year-old Ahmed Khalid Kamal Shaikh, alias Lambu, who was arrested in connection with the 1993 serial blasts case last week, claimed that he is innocent and had nothing to do with the blasts.

Shaikh was produced before the designated TADA court on Monday where the CBI sought his custody for 14 days for interrogation. The court said that Shaikhs custodial interrogation is not required but has remanded him to CBI custody till June 14.

Shaikh was arrested by the Gujarat ATS on Thursday after which the CBI took his custody and obtained transit remand from the Gujarat court till Monday.

In the meantime, CBI counsel Deepak Salvi told the court on Monday that Shaikh had expressed his desire to give his confession statement. The court was informed that after complying with mandatory process, his confession was recorded on Monday morning which he also confirmed before the magistrate court.

However, Shaikhs lawyer Farhana Shah objected that he was not willing to give any confessions. Hearing the discrepancies, TADA judge SM Bhosle enquired with Shaikh if he had given any statement.

Shaikh said, Officers showed me the statement. I told them I had no connection with the blast. Other than that, I accepted all the other statements and signed.

Contradicting to Shaikhs stand, CBI in its remand application claimed that the accused had attended the meeting organised by Dawood Ibrahim in Dubai. The agency claimed that towards the end of January 1993 or in the beginning of February 1993, Shaikh had attended conspiracy meeting held in Dubai. The agency further claimed that as decided in the said meeting, Shaikh, along with other accused were also sent to Pakistan for training in handling of arms and ammunition, throwing grenades and making bombs.

Salvi while seeking his further custody contended that Shaikh has made several revelations in his confession statement which the agency needs to verify and obtain further evidence to that effect. Shah objected to the plea.
The Thane anti-extortion cell on Monday summoned producer Parag Sanghvi and Samir Buddha, brother of former policeman Sohail Buddha, in connection with the IPL betting racket.

Samir Buddha and Sanghvi have been asked to come by Tuesday morning to record their statements.

Samirs brother Sohail served as assistant police inspector for 22 years before opting to take voluntary retirement.

Police said it was also found during investigation that prominent bookie Sonu Jalan, who has been arrested in the case, was using Samirs four-wheeler to travel within the city. Police are also investigating Sohail Buddhas role in the case.

Pradeep Sharma, senior police inspector, Thane anti-extortion cell said,Dilip Ludhani, boss of the arrested bookie Sonu Jalan, is on the run. A few other top bookies are also on the run -- Kolkata Junior, Chirag Vallabh, Munir Khan and Kiran Malla. All these accused had taken the help of gangster Ravi Pujari to threaten and extort money from many bookies.

Sharma added , We are most likely to make actor Arbaaz Khan prime witness in the case. Police said they have begun the process to get four websites banned in India -- www. betntake.com, www.diamondexchg.com, www.betnwatch.com and www.gemx.site.

Police are also investigating Ravi Pujaris involvement in the betting racket.

They also said that the mobile phones that have been seized as part of the investigation are under scanner.
For the past eight months, the Jawaharlal Nehru Port Trust (JNPT), Indias largest container port, has been dumping unsegregated materials, including 20,000kg of plastic, in the sea, at a site 12 kilometres off the southern tip of Mumbai. This has been revealed after the state environment department was tipped off by fishermen, who claim they have been fishing out large quantities of plastic, specifically from the area where JNPT is allegedly depositing waste.

The site allotted to the port is for dumping sand, silt, clay and rocks, dredged during the ports deepening. After the fisher folk informed the environment department officials of such an activity, they conducted an inquiry into the matter. The officials have confirmed that 20 tonnes (20,000kg) of plastic is being dumped daily at the offshore site. The department has decided to issue a notice to JNPT, asking the port authorities on their failure to segregate plastic.

JNPT authorities, however, have denied allegations, claiming that plastic is a floating material and therefore, did not get accumulated with dredged material. The area where we are carrying out dredging is less than 3% or 4% of the entire harbour.So the machines catch only solid material and no plastic, and the process is a highly technical one, said SV Madabhavi, chief manager  Port, Planning and Development, JNPT.

A member of the fishing community from Cuffe Parade, who had approached the government on the issue, said, We have lost our everyday catch worth 20,000 for the last eight months from this area. During monsoon, in case of high tide, plastic trash lands up on beaches and mangroves along Mumbais coastline.

Satish Gavai, additional chief secretary, state environment department and chairman, Maharashtra Coastal Zone Management Authority (MCZMA), said, When permissions were issued to JNPT for dredging, segregation of plastic from the dredged material was the primary directive, with treatment of the material being the secondary directive. While there is no indication regarding treatment, mixed plastic waste is being dumped to the bottom of the ocean, which is extremely dangerous. We will be issuing a notice to the port soon.

Meanwhile, a study by the Helmholtz Centre for Polar and Marine Research in Germany, conducted last year had revealed that the seas near Mumbai are among the most polluted ones in the world, with maximum amount of plastic accumulation, among other sources of domestic waste.
The bodies of five members of a family from Borivli, who drowned in a beach in Ratnagiri on Sunday, was brought to the city on Monday evening.

Kenneth Masters, 54, his sister Monica Dsouza, 44, and her children Sanomi, 22, Rachael, 19, and Mathew, 18, drowned when they had gone on a picnic to Ganpatipule. The bodies have been kept in the morgue at Shatabdi Hospital. The funeral will be held on Wednesday in Gorai.

People close to the family said after Monicas husband Bento died, Kenneth looked after the family, including the childrens education. They were a close-knit family, said Carmo Monteiro, a social worker.

Monteiro said the family had hired a cab for the trip and on the way back to Mumbai, they stopped at Aare-Ware beach, near Ganpatipule.

Patrick Masters, brother of Kenneth, said the family left Mumbai on Saturday morning to check out a property and also for a small vacation. They took a break at the beach, said Patrick.

Kenneths wife Leena, 52, and Monicas mother-in-law Rita, 70, were with the group. Rita was sitting in the cab. Leena, who had entered the water, managed to save herself. The familys relatives from Australia and Canada are on their way to Mumbai, said Abhishek Ghosalkar, a political leader from the area.
A 27-year-old alleged robber who entered a Nalla Sopara flat on Sunday afternoon and slashed a 30-year-old woman and her father-in-law was arrested by the police.

Priti Mishra, 30, sustained multiple cuts on her face and other parts of her body. She needed 250 stitches at a private hospital on being admitted there after the assault. She was discharged on Monday. Her father-in-law Jayprakash Mishra,63, also suffered injuries.

The accused has been identified as Mohammed Azghar Sattar, 27.

Priti was in her bedroom taking an afternoon seista along with her younger daughter. She had kept the main door of the house ajar in order to beat the heat. Taking advantage of this, Khan entered the house and demanded Rs30,000 in cash from Priti. When Priti refused to give him the money, he demanded the keys to the safety locker and on her refusal, he started to slash her, police said.

Pritis father-in-law, who is ailing, was sleeping in another bedroom of the ground floor flat in Nalla Sopara (West). Suddenly, on hearing Priti scream for help, Mishra rushed out of his room to find Khan slashing Pritis face with a knife.

My daughter-in-law suffered slashes on her cheek, head, right hand and other parts of her face, said Mishra. When Mishra tried to save Priti from Khans assault, the accused assaulted Mishra too, the police said. However,Mishra managed to reach the flats balcony and screamed for help.

In a bid to stop Mishra, Khan got hold of Pritis 11-year-old daughter and threatened to kill her. When that did not stop Mishra, Khan started slashing him too with the knife. Priti used this opportunity to run out of the house and ask for help from neighbours. While one of the neighbours tried to negotiate with Khan and asked him to spare the family, Mishra manage to overpower Khan. Khan was later handed over to the police.

Khan was arrested under sections 459 (causing hurt during trespass) and 397 (dacoity) of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) . He was produced before the Vasai court on Monday and remanded in police custody for two days, said a Nalla Sopara police official.

Police said that Khan lives in Navi Mumbai and is an electrician by profession. He had visited Pritis flat three days ago to repair her inverter machine. Police said Khan must have noticed that Priti used to keep the main door ajar in the afternoons to beat the heat.
The state has upped its ante against tuberculosis (TB), as the health department has expanded access to the newest anti-TB drug, bedaquiline, to patients across Maharashtra.

Facts about tuberculosis TB is an airborne disease caused by a bacterium called Mycobacterium Tuberculosis. Although it typically affects the lungs, which is known as pulmonary TB, it can also infect other parts of the body, called extra-pulmonary TB. Inappropriate or incorrect use of antimicrobial drugs, or use of ineffective formulations of drugs and premature treatment interruption can cause drug resistance, says the World Health Organization. Bedaquiline is an anti-TB drug used specifically to treat TB patients who are resistant to most powerful anti-TB drugs such as rifampicin, isoniazid, and other core anti-TB drugs, and have developed multidrug-resistant TB. It is the first anti-TB drug to have been rolled out in the last 40 years.

The access to the drug was limited to Mumbai until last year, keeping patients suffering from extensively drug-resistant (XDR) form of TB away from the reach of bedaquiline.

An official from the state health department said since April 18, new patients with (XDR)  three from Thane, seven from Sangli, four each from Nashik and Akola  have begun the six-month-long course of the drug.

The decision has come in after the Supreme Court said that the drug must be made available to all the patients eligible, based on the drug-resistance pattern. Earlier, the drug was only available for patients in Mumbai, the official said.

The court had said the domicile or residence of patients is not a criterion for eligibility of bedaquiline under the governments conditional access programme.

World Health Organization (WHO) has recommended the drug based on the severity of the resistance. XDR is a rare form of Multi Drug Resistance (MDR) TB infection that is resistant to at least four of the core anti-TB drugs.

Not all patients can be given the drug. There is an inclusion criterion. Patients must be above 18 years of age and are required to be admitted to a hospital for a period of two weeks, said Sanjeev Kamble, director, Directorate of Health Services, Maharashtra.

Bedaquiline is also available to patients undergoing treatment in private hospitals. But the sale of the drug is banned in India. It is available only on doctors recommendation with the city or district TB officers.

Doctors treating patients can approach the TB officer after checking the patients drug resistance. The patient will be administered the drug at the hospital where the treatment is ongoing, a WHO official said.
The crime branch in Thane on Monday busted what is alleged to be a multi-hundred crore cryptocurrency scam that operated for two years under the guise of a real estate firm.

A senior police officer from the Thane crime branch told HT that during the raid, investigators found another office in Vikhroli from where the scam was run, and that some police personnel were allegedly involved in the racket and their roles are being probed.

The scam was devised by The Flintstone Group, an alleged real estate company, that promised its investors not only flats, but citizenship in African and Caribbean countries where, it said, their cryptocurrency would be legal tender in a few years. Flintstone Groups cryptocurrency was called MoneyTradeCoin (MTC), and was used as bait for investors to put in more money with the lure of high returns and international citizenship.

The total value of money invested by gullible investors ran into hundreds of crores, police said on Monday. Yesterdays raids and subsequent detentions were the result of a complaint by a Thane businessman who claimed that he and five of his colleagues had invested Rs 1.7 crore in MTC, but had not received any feedback from Flintstone officials even after the promised date.

A cryptocurrency is a complex, decentralised digital asset that is operated using what is called blockchain technology. Unlike regular currency, there is no regulator or any control over the value of cryptocurrency.

The first such currency was Bitcoin released in 2009, and since then, there are over 4000 cryptocurrencies available for trade online. They are legal in some countries, but not in India.

The police detained two people on Monday, while the mastermind of the alleged scam  Flintstone Group managing director Amit Lakhanpal  is reportedly absconding. Police say he may have left the country a few days ago fearing legal action.

A police officer said Lakhanpals office had several photos of him posing with leading political personalities in order to impress his prospective clients. He may have even invested in a Bollywood film featuring a major male star, but we are verifying this, he said.

According the Lakhanpals website, MoneyTrade Coin is an intellectual property jointly owned by Dubai based firm Bitcoin Global FZE, UAE and Money Trade Coin Ltd, UK. Mr. Amit M. Lakhanpal, is the Director of Money Trade Coin Ltd (and is one of the key members of Bitcoin Global FZE and MD of Flintstone Group, India).

Flintstones Thane office had 20 employees, while the Vikhroli firm had 50. A senior police officer from Thane crime branch unit 1 said, Employees here were using MTC. Pal and his associates promised investors a 20-times return on investment in a mere six months. But once the deadline passed, the company made several excused to not release the money.

The officer added, A few days ago, some investors even went to Dubai to meet Lakhanpal, but they were allegedly threatened, and were told that they should not ask for their money. We also found that Lakhanpal had never constructed any building, even though he claimed to run a real estate company.

The police have registered a case under several sections of Indian Penal Code, Maharashtra Protection of Investors and Depositors (MPID) Act, and the Chit Fund Act
The Matunga police have arrested three persons for impersonating policemen and raiding a paan shop in Matunga to extort money.

Prakash Thumre, 37, Durgesh Gupta, 51, and Harshad Batkar, 32, on Sunday posed as policemen from the Kalyan crime branch while threatening Ashish Pandey, the paan shop owner, for illegally selling gutkha. They said they would register a case against Pandey if he did not pay them 15,000.

The amount was then brought down to 6,000, said a policeman from the Mautunga police station. The paan-wala handed them 3,000 and asked them to wait further before contacting the police.

Along with an assistant police inspector of police, three constables reached the paan shop and apprehended the fake policemen.

Thumre, Gupta and Batkar were found having more than 40,000 in cash. They claim this is the first time they tried to pull off something like this but they may have a history of the same. Batkar claims he works with the Police Times newspaper and may have done this earlier, the official said.

Balasaheb Kakad, a senior police inspector with the Matunga police station said the case against the trio was registered under sections 420(cheating and dishonestly inducing delivery of property), 170 (personating a public servant) and 34 (acts done by several persons in furtherance of common intention) of the Indian Penal Code.

Kakad said further investigations are also on.
A Naraingarh-based civil judge-cum-judicial magistrate and an advocate were killed and another advocate was seriously injured after their Ford Fortuner overturned near Naraingarhs Danoura village, about 50km from Chandigarh, on Sunday morning.

The deceased have been identified as judicial officer Sahil Yadav, a native of Gurugram posted at Naraingarh for the last two years, and advocate Rajan Gupta, a four-time Naraingarh Bar Association president.

Advocate Rajiv Singh has been admitted to Government Medical College and Hospital (GMCH), Sector 32, Chandigarh.

Onlookers said Gupta suddenly lost control of the speeding vehicle that then rammed into a roadside tree and overturned.

They said Gupta was killed on the spot, while the judge and the other advocate were taken to GMCH-32, where Yadav succumbed to his injuries.

Following the accident, a police team, several advocates and locals reached the spot and shifted Guptas body to Ambala civil hospital for autopsy. The body was handed over to the family and cremated on Sunday evening, police said.

A large number of lawyers, judicial officers and people from cross-section of society attended the cremation.

Ambala District Bar Association president Umrish Gandhi said the deaths were a great loss to the legal fraternity.
A Kurali man was killed while his friend and an ice-cream vendor were injured after a speeding car hit them near Kisan Bhawan in Sector 35 late of Saturday night.

Gagan Gautam, 26, who worked at a sweetmeat shop, was on a bike with his friend Kuldeep and had stopped to have ice-cream when the Tata Indica car coming from the Sector 22/23 side hit them before fleeing, said police.

The bikers were rushed to the Post Graduate Institute of Medical Education and Research (PGIMER) where Gagan was declared brought dead while Kuldeeps condition is stated to be critical.

Om Parkash, the ice-cream vendor and a resident of Kajheri village, is also undergoing treatment at Government Multi Specialty Hospital, Sector 16.

Balongi man held

Police later traced and arrested the car driver using its Haryana registration number.

The driver has been identified as Karan, 26, of Balongi. He claimed his foot got stuck in between the clutch and brake following which he lost control of the vehicle. He was returning from Panchkula after visiting his sister and fled as he got panicked, said Sector-36 station house officer (SHO) Ranjodh Singh

A case has been registered under Section 304A (causing death due to negligence), 279 (rash driving) and 337(causing hurt by endangering life of others) of the Indian Penal Code.
A 65-year-old woman allegedly died after going without food for three days in Mangargaddi village under Dumri block, around 38 km away from district headquarters of Giridih, prompting chief minister Raghubar Das to order the district administration on Monday to probe the death.

Savitri Devi died on Saturday and was cremated on Sunday. District administration officials, however, said initial investigations have revealed the woman was suffering from paralysis.

Since September 5 last year, five people have allegedly died of hunger in different parts of the state but the administration has denied the charges of starvation deaths in all the cases. Food and civil supply minister Saryu Roy had also formed a high-powered committee to probe the reasons behind these deaths. The committee is yet to submit its report.

Savitris family members claimed that she had eaten nothing for 72 hours before she succumbed to starvation on Saturday. The earthen stove in the house was not used since May 30 and the family of seven, including Savitris two daughters-in-law and four grandchildren, have been without food.

Deputy development commissioner (DDC) who is officiating as deputy commissioner (DC) of Giridih, Mukund Das, denied the starvation theory and said investigation is under progress.

Initial findings say the woman was suffering from paralysis and she could have succumbed due to it. A team of senior officers has been sent to the village to conduct a detailed inquiry, he added.

Two the deceaseds sons work outside the state. One of them, Bhusabal, works on a transmission line project in Maharashtra, and Hulas, who has been working with a private firm in Rampur, Uttar Pradesh for the past six months.

Hulas said the family was in bad financial condition as he was not able to earn enough to send anything back home. I could not send a single penny to my house for last six months, he added.

Ram Prasad Mahto, the Mukhiya of Chainpur Panchayat, under which Magangaddi village is located under, said the deceased neither had a ration card nor an old age pension facility.

Though she had applied a few years ago officials rejected her case that without any reason, he told reporters.

Local MLA of Dumri Jagarnath Mahto of Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) who rushed to spot after the report, held the state government responsible for the tragedy.

All conditions and circumstances in her house suggested that Savitri Devi had died because of starvation. She was not getting any facility under government schemes, he charged.
Rana Daggubati starrer Haathi Mere Saathi, directed by Prabhu Solomon, will be released in Hindi,Tamil and Telugu. The makers have now revealed the titles of the Tamil and Telugu version as Kaadan and Aranya respectively. The film has Vishnu Vishaal playing a pivotal role in Tamil and Telugu, while the Hindi version of the film will see Pulkrit Samrat play the role. Female actors Zoya Hussain and Kalki Koechlin will be seen in all three versions of the film.

The film is a tribute to the yesteryear classic of the same name starring Rajesh Khanna. However the plot is completely different. According to the buzz in the industry, the film is about wildlife conservation, centred mainly around elephants.

Titles finalised... Eros #HaathiMereSaathi titled #Kaadan in Tamil and #Aranya in Telugu... Stars Rana Daggubati, Zoya Hussain and Kalki Kanmani feature in all three languages... Pulkit Samrat's part in Hindi version will be portrayed by Vishnu Vishal in Tamil and Telugu.  taran adarsh (@taran_adarsh) June 4, 2018

Ranas first look in the film also revealed that the actor will be playing the role of a mahout in this movie. In a recent Twitter AMA, the actor had revealed that he had lost a lot of weight to play his part in the film.

Rana Daggubati had prepared for his role reportedly by spending a fortnight with abut 15-18 elephants to get used to being with them onscreen. The film is shot in Thailand and parts of India. Speaking about this, Rana had told Mumbai Mirror, Yes, Ill need to do more for this film. Ill be taking 15-20 days before the shoot to stay with the elephants in the jungle and get familiar with them before I start filming. At the same time, we are also doing a bunch of workshops because the story is inspired by two events, so we are trying to get as authentic as we can in the filming process,

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As Kaala readies for release on June 7, Rajinikanths fans cant be blamed for expecting that the film would sweep the competition away. Many producers do not release their films around the time when Rajinikanths movies hit the screens the producers of Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom do not seem to have any such inhibitions.

Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom is set to take Kaala head on in what can turn out to be an epic box-office battle. With both films releasing in multiple languages, it will be interesting to watch the fight for box-office supremacy.

Produced by Dhanush and directed by Pa. Ranjith, Kaala, a story of uprising set against the backdrop of Mumbai, was originally made in Tamil, but it will be released in Telugu as well as Hindi in dubbed versions. The film is expected to be released in over 2000 screens across the country. Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom, the sequel to 2015s blockbuster Jurassic World, will release in English, Hindi, Tamil and Telugu in over 2300 screens around the country. According to trade pundits, there will be a neck-to-neck competition between the two films at the box-office.

Trade analyst Trinath says Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom wont be a pushover. Being a Rajinikanth film, Kaala definitely has an upper hand, but lets not forget that the Jurassic World was a box-office sensation in India when it released in 2015. The film minted around Rs. 150 crore from India alone. Its sure to take a very strong opening, thanks to the franchises loyal fan base. In Tamil Nadu, Kaala will definitely have an advantage as it is thalaivars home turf.

The trailer of Kaala was released on Monday and going by the visuals, the film will touch upon the topic of fighting for ones rights. With dialogues like our body is our only weapon, the films theme about uprising is sure to resonate strongly, especially in the wake of protests against the Sterlite plant in Tuticorin, Tamil Nadu. The masses are sure to lap up Kaala, not just because its a Rajinikanth film, but mainly because of its theme of fighting for rights.

A leading distributor on the condition of anonymity said that Kaala will undoubtedly do well in Tamil Nadu. But he also pointed out that the films uncanny resemblance to Kabali, both in set-up and storyline may not appeal to everybody as some might find it repetitive.

A lot of people could see traces of Kabali after the release of Kaala trailer last evening. The Kabali hangover could be a turn-off for some people. Nevertheless, Kaala is sure to take a grand opening, thanks to the Rajinikanth phenomenon.

Kaala marks the second collaboration of Ranjith and Rajinikanth after Kabali. The superstar plays a slum lord-turned-gangster in the film which also features Nana Patekar, Huma Qureshi, Anjali Patil and Pankaj Tripathi in crucial roles. Kaala, according to its director, is about the diverse families with different culture and language that live in Mumbais Dharavi slum

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Outside a crumbling neoclassic building on a seedy Athens street, a tour guide marks the spot where one of Greeces greatest writers Costas Tachtsis used to cruise in drag. A few blocks away, the English poet Lord Byron became infatuated with the 12-year-old daughter of his Greek landlady before succumbing to the charms of a French boy.

In the 19th century, Greece was an exotic land full of eroticism, tour guide Nicolaos Nicolaides, a historian by training, tells his group. To European travellers, visiting ancient sites was more of an excuse. Erotic adventures was what they were really hoping for, he adds with a laugh.

The walking tour through the capitals same-sex landmarks is the inaugural event of Athens Pride 2018, held in the capital since 2005 but significantly expanded this year. Instead of a single day of events, this years roster is week-long and includes a bike ride, awareness seminars, street parties and performances, plus the customary parade through the city centre on June 9. Some 50,000 people participated in last years parade, compared to just 500 people in 2005.

Historian Nicolas Nicolaides gives a walking tour of landmarks of same-sex love in Athens on June 1, 2018, as part of a week-long roster of events for the annual Athens Pride event. (AFP)

In 2005, our aim was just to attract people from the community, thats how hesitant they were, organiser Andrea Gilbert told a recent press conference on the event, hosted by the French embassy. Its very important for a young person to have one day per year when they can feel wonderful about being themselves, she said. The celebration is held amid some important strides for LGBT rights in the country.

In 2015, the leftist-led government approved a law establishing the right to civil partnership for same-sex couples. In October, transgender persons were for the first time given the right to legally determine their chosen sex on official documents. And last month, parliament gave surrogate parental rights to couples in a same-sex civil union.

All have been landmark rulings in a country where homosexuality is taboo for most politicians and publicly opposed by the powerful Orthodox Church. Earlier this year, a prominent bishop went on trial after labelling gay people the dregs of society and called on his followers to spit on them. He was charged with public incitement to violence and abuse of ecclesiastical duties, but a court in his local diocese dropped the case.

Historian Nicolas Nicolaides gives a walking tour of landmarks. (AFP)

In ancient times, notes Nicolaides, not only was perfect love that between two men, but Athenian democracy also owes a debt to two male lovers in the 6th century BC. Harmodius and Aristogeiton were worshipped as demigods in Athens after slaying the tyrant Hipparchus in an apparent personal dispute.

And while there is scant evidence to confirm the poet Sappho as a lesbian icon  a later product of Victorian times  homosexuality among men was an accepted part of life in antiquity before the rise of Christianity. However, Athens Pride spokesperson Raphael Bilidas insists that much remains to be done to combat homophobia in modern Greek society. The pride is an answer to what many people continue to say today, that we should be ashamed of ourselves, he said. As long as this mentality persists, we will not be equal, Bilidas said.

As an example, he cited several families with a transgender parent. If that parent wants to change their status to transgender, they must first divorce. There is no provision for transgender parenthood in marriage at present, Bilidas said.

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Game of Thrones stars Emilia Clarke and Jason Momoa had a reunion on Sunday, and pictures of the two of them were shared online by Clarke, who is currently shooting for the shows final season.

In the picture, she can be seen in Momoas arms, comparing her pose to the classic scene from Dirty Dancing. FYI...This is the closest youll ever get to me attempting that lift from dirty dancing. Yes, my man is sitting. Yes, theres no lake. And yes, I have no idea Im NOT being raised above his head.(Id like to take a moment to thank alcohol for giving me courage to attempt this. Ever.), she wrote with the picture, tagging Momoa and Game of Thrones with it.

Clarke plays Daenerys Targaryen in the hit fantasy television show, and Momoa found fame after playing her husband, Khal Drogo in the shows first season. The reunion has fans speculating if Drogo will be resurrected in the shows eighth season, or if there will be a flashback scene featuring the former couple. Momoa also recently posed with the shows creators, Dan Weiss and David Benioff, and Clarkes co-star, Kit Harington. Sharing the pictures on his Instagram, he wrote, Im so grateful to be apart of the greatest show on earth. Im honored to be able to come to Ireland and celebrate with my friends. Im just here for kisses and hugs and The black stuff mahalo David and Dan you are legends . Congrats to the talented crew and cast. Aloha j.

Both Clarke and Momoa have gone on to have successful careers in Hollywood after breaking out with GoT. She played Sarah Connor in the ill-fated Terminator Genisys and was most recently seen in Solo: A Star Wars Story. Momoa will reprise his role as Aquaman in the DC characters solo adventure, due out in November.

The final season of Game of Thrones is scheduled to premiere in 2019.

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One of the oldest Hindu temples in Singapore  Sri Krishna temple  was re-sanctified by priests flown in from India in a consecration ceremony called Maha Samprokshanam, done every 12-15 years, which was attended by some 10,000 devotees.

Singapores communications and information minister S Iswaran and Indian priests led the devotees at the ceremony to re-sanctify the 148-year-old temple.

The ceremony that began on Sunday, marked the start of a 48-day consecration process of the temple that underwent renovation for over four years at a cost of nearly $4million, The Straits Times reported on Monday.

The ceremony is organised every 12-15 years in Singapores Hindu temples, many of which were built by Indian migrants over 100 years ago.

In the four-year process, the temple committee collaborated with artists and technical advisers to review and endorse ideas for the renovation. The dome and statues around it were clad in gold-plated copper, while decorative works on the pillars required two sculptors crafting them on site for over three years.

In the main hall, eight cement shrines were replaced with onyx sanctums. The stone, chosen for its durability, were sourced from India and tested at the National University of Singapore for authenticity and hardiness.

The Sri Krishna Temple was established in 1870 in Waterloo Street, which was then known as Church Street. The temple remains at its original site and was gazetted for conservation in June 2014.

Speaking to reporters after the event, Iswaran said the temple showed how Singaporeans shared one anothers beliefs and culture, leading to a sense of community and mutual respect.

One very interesting feature of this temple is the fact that it has appealed to Singaporeans of diverse religious and ethnic backgrounds, he said.
Hundreds of Communist Party of China and government officials have committed suicide in recent years, a state media report has said, putting rare official focus on what is thought to be an epidemic in the corridors of power.

At least five party and government officials committed suicide in one month, said the report in the Global Times tabloid, adding that the tally of such suicides between 2009 and 2017 is now 283.

The actual number could be higher as there could be cases that werent made public, said Zhu Zhuohong from the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS), which researched the data.

That could well be true.

A report by Hindustan Times in July 2016 had said more than 150 officials from government departments had committed suicide since 2013. The broad break-up: 46 in 2013, 54 in 2014 and 30 in 2015.

The data was collected from open sources and scattered media reports.

New data from CAS showed at least 40 officials had committed suicide in 2017. Many officials jumped from tall buildings to end their lives and a majority killed themselves at office.

Work pressure with strict oversight and tight deadlines is the major cause. Career setbacks contribute to the pressure, and less time left for marriage and family adds to it, Zhu said.

There is no evidence to link the suicides to the enhanced anti-corruption drive  President Xi Jinpings much publicised crusade against graft that has netted thousands of officials, Global Times reported.

But other experts said there could be a link.

Alleged corrupt officials will be under tremendous pressure from their patrons or collaborators (within the Communist Party) and the pressure can also get to their families. At the end, some of them will choose to kill themselves in order to protect their faction or just to protect their own families, said Kin-man Chan, professor of Sociology at the Chinese University of Hong Kong.

Zhuang Deshui from the Research Centre for Government Integrity-Building at Peking University said there was no evidence to support the corruption-to-suicide connection but the incidents did send a warning that the psychological state of officials must be monitored.

There could be multiple reasons to commit suicide. Not one. But sometimes, people might kill themselves to save their families from being shamed, Paul Yip, director of the Hong Kong-based Centre for Suicide Research and Prevention, had said two years ago.
US President Donald Trumps wife, Melania Trump, will skip this weeks G7 summit in Quebec and does not plan to attend the planned June 12 summit in Singapore with North Korea, the White House said on Sunday.

Melania Trump attended the G7 meeting in Italy last year. The US first lady, 48, has not been seen in public since May 10 when she and the president welcomed home three Americans who had been held prisoner in North Korea.

She underwent a surgical procedure on May 14 to treat a benign kidney condition and was released from the hospital on May 19.

She will not attend the G7 and there are no plans for her to travel to Singapore at this time, her spokeswoman, Stephanie Grisham, said in an email on Sunday.

The White House said late on Sunday that the president and first lady would host a reception on Monday evening for the families of service members killed in the line of duty. The reception is not open to the press, the White House added.

Last Wednesday, Melania Trump tweeted in response to news stories about her absence from public view.

I see the media is working overtime speculating where I am & what Im doing. Rest assured, Im here at the @WhiteHouse w my family, feeling great, & working hard on behalf of children & the American people! she wrote on Twitter.

A reporter for CNBC tweeted that he saw the first lady in the White House last Tuesday with her aides.
At least three supporters of the Pashtun Tahaffuz Movement (PTM), a body spearheading a movement to protect the rights of Pashtuns, were killed and 20 others injured when armed members of a pro-government militant faction targeted a gathering in the South Waziristan tribal region of northwest Pakistan.

The attackers belonging to a so-called aman (peace) committee mounted the attack at Wana, the headquarters of South Waziristan, on Sunday. PTM supporters accused the Pakistani military of orchestrating the attack with the help of good Taliban whom they accuse the army of harbouring.

Arif Wazir, a cousin of PTM leader Ali Wazir, and Noor Ali Wazir, a journalist, were reported to be among the injured. Ali Wazir was present on the occasion and was reported to be safe after the attack. Those with critical injuries were taken to Dera Ismail Khan, an adjacent district, for treatment.

Leading human rights activist and Awami National Party leader Afrasiab Khattak said, The plausible deniability over official patronage to the Taliban is blown away by the bloodshed in Wana. The proxy is used on both sides of the Durand Line against Pashtuns and Afghans."

Another political analyst, Imran Khan, tweeted about how the "good Taliban" were being harboured inside cantonment areas.

A senior journalist from North Waziristan told the Daily Times that his sources had confirmed the attack was orchestrated by the Mullah Nazir militant faction.

On Saturday, aman committee members had threatened Ali Wazir that his house in the area would be torched if he did not disassociate himself from the PTM.

The armed assailants arrived in pick-up trucks at the main bazaar of Wana, where the gathering was being held. They started an argument with PTM supporters. Some of them torched a nearby stall selling caps similar to those worn by PTM chief Manzoor Pashteen.

This infuriated PTM workers and escalated the clash, said a tribesman who was present at the site.

Insisting that the aman committee members were Taliban fighters in disguise, he said the assailants opened fire at the gathering using heavy weapons. PTM workers pelted stones on them, leaving two men in the convoy injured, he said.

Soon after the clash, security forces arrived to quell the situation, and latest reports suggested that a curfew was enforced in Wana.

Later, PTM leader Pashteen addressed his supporters on social media and claimed that 10 workers of the movement had died in the clash. Multiple protests were reported from across the country to condemn the attack but mainstream media did not report on them.

Local media reported that separately, a sit-in at Mir Ali, a small town in North Waziristan, was underway for the second consecutive day on Sunday to condemn the targeted killing of Hamidullah Wazir, a political moharir of the local administration, by unidentified gunmen.

The gunmen had on Friday night ambushed his vehicle and indiscriminately fired at it, killing Hamidullah Wazir and injuring three guards.
A nerve attack on a former Russian spy and his daughter in the United Kingdom in March cost the police force a whopping 7.5 million pounds to probe the unprecedented incident, police said on Monday.

Former Russian spy Sergei Skripal, 66 and his daughter Yulia, 33, were poisoned in the English city of Salisbury on March 4. The UK says Russia was behind the attack but Moscow denies involvement.

According to the regions police and crime commissioner Angus Macpherson, the Wiltshire Police came to the fore with more than 140 officers on duty at the height of the operation.

He described it as a massive effort which also involved 40 other UK forces, the BBC reported.

Skripal and Yulia were poisoned by a military-grade nerve agent called Novichok.

Macpherson revealed the financial costing of 7.5 million pounds and said the figure could still rise.

He described it as a national operation which must be paid for nationally.

I dont want anyone to forget the undertaking of policing minister Nick Hurd when he said (the government) would meet the costs, he said.

Macpherson also thanked the people of Salisbury for showing their resilience while investigation and decontamination work was carried out.

Wiltshire Police chief constable Kier Pritchard described it as an unprecedented incident which saw the very best of UK policing.

Skripal and his daughter were taken to Salisbury District Hospital after coming into contact with the nerve agent.

Wiltshire Police Detective Sergant Nick Bailey, who was one of the first on the scene, was also admitted to hospital for treatment.

While all three have since been discharged, Skripal and Yulia have been taken to an undisclosed place by British authorities.

The Maltings shopping area, where the incident took place, was closed to allow extensive decontamination work to be carried out and reopened on May 26.

Some 2,50,000 pounds has been given to businesses in the city affected by the aftermath, some of which saw revenues drop by 80%, the report said.

The incident also led to deterioration of UK-Russia ties with both countries expelling several diplomats.
Russian President Vladimir Putin blamed political ructions in the United States for difficulties in arranging a summit with President Donald Trump, in remarks broadcast on Monday.

Trump said in March the two leaders would meet soon. But since then already fragile ties between Washington and Moscow have been strained further by the conflict in Syria and the poisoning of a former Russian spy in Britain.

Putin said last month the proposed summit was beset by problems and was not working out for now.

Asked by Austrian broadcaster ORF why it was taking so long to arrange, he said: You have to ask our colleagues in the USA. In my view it is the consequence of the fierce domestic political contest in the United States.

Putin, who gave ORF an interview ahead of a visit to Austria on Tuesday, did not elaborate.

Trump is under pressure from special counsel Robert Muellers investigation into whether Russia meddled in the 2016 US election and whether there was collusion with Trumps campaign - something both he and Moscow deny.

In one of our last discussions, Donald said he is concerned about the danger of a new arms race. I agree with him entirely, Putin said in a short extract released ahead of the full interview, to be broadcast on Monday evening.

Apart from mentioning the US withdrawal in 2002 from the Anti-Ballistic Missile Treaty, Putin did not elaborate.

Trump made a similarly vague reference to the issue in April, when he said Stop the arms race? in a tweet that also mentioned providing help for the Russian economy.
At least 14 people were killed in a suicide bombing on a gathering of Afghanistans top clerics in Kabul on Monday, police said.

The bomber detonated his explosives near the entrance of a compound where over 2,000 religious scholars were meeting in the tent of the Loya Jirga, the council of elders, close to Kabul Polytechnic University immediately after the clerics issued a fatwa against suicide bombings, the Afghan media reported.

No one immediately claimed responsibility for the attack. Initially, four people were reported killed, but according to latest updates, the death toll climbed to 14. At least 17 were injured in the attack, TOLO News reported.

The suicide attack took place outside the (Loya Jirga) tent when religious scholars were leaving the gathering, Kabul Police spokesman Hashmat Stanikzai said. It was not immediately clear how many of them were among those killed.

War in its all types is illegal according to Sharia and Islamic laws and it is nothing but shedding the blood of Muslims, the Afghan clerics said in the fatwa.

Suicide attacks, explosions for killing people, division, insurgency, different types of corruption, robbery, kidnapping and any type of violence are counted as big sins in Islam and are against the order of the Almighty Allah, they said.

The clerics also urged the Taliban to accept the Afghan governments unconditional peace offer.

Kabul has been the target of multiple suicide attacks so far this year.

The bloodiest was in January when the Taliban blew up an ambulance bomb near the old interior ministry building, leaving more than 100 people dead.

Another such attack in Kabul took place last week, when a group of insurgents attacked the interior ministry, leading to a two-hour long siege, in which 10 attackers and one police official were killed.
It would be outrageous for a sitting US president to pardon himself, former attorney Preet Bharara has asserted after Donald Trumps lawyer said probably the President has the power to pardon himself in the Russia collusion affair.

The question of self-pardon arose after the New York Times published a 20-page letter to the special counsel Robert Mueller from Trumps lawyers.

In the letter, they say the president has absolute power as US legal chief to end investigations, or even exercise his power to pardon.

Asked about the letter of Trumps attorney Jay Sekulow and then-Trump lawyer John Dowd, Trumps attorney Rudy Giuliani said yesterday that the President is not going to pardon himself but probably does have the power to do it.

He has no intention of pardoning himself, Giuliani told ABCs This Week. He added, It would be an open question. I think it would probably get answered by gosh, thats what the Constitution says, and if you want to change it, change it. But yes.

Reacting to the letter as well as Giulianis explanation, Bharara, the Indian-origin attorney, who was fired by President Trump last year, said that it would be outrageous for a sitting president to pardon himself.

I think (if) the President decided he was going to pardon himself, I think thats almost self-executing impeachment, Bharara, a CNN legal analyst, said on CNNs State of the Union.

Whether or not there is a minor legal argument that some law professor somewhere in a legal journal can make that the President can pardon, thats not what the framers could have intended. Thats not what the American people, I think, would be able to stand for, he said.

Bharara, who served as the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York from 2009 to 2017, said that he doesnt believe Giulianis assertion that the President is not considering granting himself a pardon.

Rudy, just like Jay Sekulow, keeps coming up with things that end up being false. When he says the President is not contemplating something, I have no faith in that whatsoever, he said.

The case stems from the investigation by special counsel Mueller into alleged collusion between the Trump team and Russian officials in the 2016 election campaign that brought the Republican billionaire to power.

Trump has always maintained there was no collusion and that the investigation is a witch hunt.

Part of Muellers investigation is looking at whether Trump sought to criminally obstruct it, especially with the sacking of ex-National Security Adviser Michael Flynn and former FBI director James Comey, and with his reaction to Attorney General Jeff Sessions recusal from the investigation.

In the letter to Mueller, which was sent in January, Sekulow and Dowd has acknowledged for the first time that Trump dictated a statement put out about his sons controversial 2016 meeting with Russians at Trump Tower, CNN reported.

It also says that the letter contradicts several public statements by Sekulow and also by White House Press Secretary Sarah Sanders, who said Trump certainly didnt dictate, but rather weighed in, offered suggestion like any father would do.

House Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy said he does not think a president should pardon himself or herself.

I dont believe that would be a legal question, McCarthy, a Republican lawmaker from California, said.

The President is not saying he is going to pardon himself. I dont know why were walking through hypotheticals here in this process. The President has never said he pardoned himself. I dont know where the President would go forward pardoning himself. But I dont think a president should pardon themselves, McCarthy added.

Mueller has so far indicted 19 people as part of his probe, including four members of the Trump campaign team or administration.

A total of 13 Russians have also been charged over their links to the Internet Research Agency, a Russian troll factory accused of spreading fake news stories through US social media.
British home secretary Sajid Javid on Monday said Islamist terrorists are the biggest threat, and promised they will have no safe spaces under his watch, whether online or offline.

Delivering a major speech on security, Javid said security agencies had foiled 25 Islamist plots since June 2013, 12 of them since March 2017. He also said Muslims were the biggest victims of Islamist terrorism.

Recalling a conversation he had with his daughter after the 2015 Charlie Hebdo attack, Javid said: I know they are not true Muslims. But theres no avoiding the fact that these people they self-identify as Muslims.

Let me be very clear. Muslims are in no way responsible for the acts of a tiny minority who twist their faith. And I know that there is no such thing as a single, homogenous Muslim community. Muslims live and thrive in all walks of British life and society.

Setting out new counter-terrorism measures, Javid said security agencies were handling over 500 live operations involving roughly 3,000 individuals. Besides, he said there were over 20,000 individuals who had been investigated and may again pose a threat.

The biggest threat, he said, emanated from Islamist terrorism  including al-Qaeda, but particularly from Daesh (Islamic State), but added that extreme right-wing terrorism was also an increasing threat.

(Theres) one other thing that Islamists and the far right have in common As a home secretary with a name like Sajid Javid  Im everything that they despise. So the way I see it, I must be doing something right, he said.

Setting out his no-safe-spaces approach, he said: Ultimately, our approach is about ensuring that there are no safe spaces for terrorists. No safe spaces internationally in which terrorist ideology can develop and from where complex attacks can be launched.

No safe spaces in the UK for terrorists to spread their vile views, or for them to plan and carry out attacks. And no safe spaces online for terrorist propaganda and technical expertise to be shared, and for people to be radicalised in a matter of weeks.

On security and intelligence links with the European Union after Brexit, Javid said EU members states were opposed to the European Commissions plans to limit security cooperation with the UK after Brexit.

He suggested that limiting security cooperation could increase the chances of a terror attack in Europe, and expressed confidence that the UK would get a deal to maintain security cooperation, despite the commissions stance.
External Article

4 June 2018

A year ago, travel industry leaders warned about the economic impact from a potential slowdown in international visitors. Unfortunately, that slowdown has arrived. While global travel is growing, the U.S. share of the market fell nearly 13% over the past few years. That means we missed out on 7.4 million international visitors, $32 billion in additional spending and 100,000 more jobs. While America is losing visitors, Germany, Australia, the U.K. and Canada are seeing their market share increase.When it comes to conveying America's image to the world, public policy and public rhetoric matter, and to many international travelers right now, America's message is not very welcoming. One effective response is Brand USA, a public-private partnership created by Congress to promote America as the best destination for international visitors. Last year, as a result of the marketing and advertising programs of Brand USA, more than one million international visitors came to America and generated $8.5 billion for our economy. The program returns an estimated $28 in visitor spending for every $1 invested -- without a single dollar from U.S. taxpayers.
Performance

4 June 2018

Cape Town retains the biggest share of planned hotel development in South Africa despite showing a decrease in total planned rooms, according to a regional focus from the influential annual hotel pipeline survey by W Hospitality Group.



Cape Town has 25% of the South African development pipeline, with 1,063 rooms in six hotels. Durban now has 16% with 697 rooms in five hotels, an increase of 40% in terms of total rooms on last year.



Pretoria has 11% of the pipeline with 463 rooms in three hotels. Johannesburg has only 10% of the pipeline with 432 rooms in four hotels and Umhlanga has 7% of the pipeline with 298 rooms in two hotels.



Compared with last year, development is slowing in Cape Town and Pretoria, with the number of planned rooms down 22% and 28% respectively. In contrast Durban, Johannesburg and Umhlanga are seeing growth of 40%, 23% and 113% respectively.W Hospitality Group's Managing Director, Trevor Ward said: "Whilst Cape Town continues to offer great opportunities for hotel investment, it is exciting to see new hotel construction projects all over South Africa, in places such as: Addo, Ballito, Boschendaal, Hermanus, Kruger, Malelane, Mossel Bay, Nelspruit, Paarl, Polokwane, Port Elizabeth, Rosebank, St. Francis, Stellenbosch, Tsitsikama and Umfolozi.



This year's pipeline report, now in its 10th edition, has 41 contributors, reporting 418 deals with over 100 brands across Africa. Year-on-year performance for Africa as a whole in 2018 shows growth, but more muted than in recent years - 25% growth in the number of pipeline rooms in 2015; 19% in 2016, and 13% in 2017, much the same as the 14 per cent growth in 2018.



Hotel development in Africa in general and South Africa in particular will be a core topic on the agenda of the Africa Hotel Investment Forum (AHIF) Regional Briefing, taking place in Cape Town on 13th June, where speakers will include senior executives from Hilton, Marriott and other leading brands plus economists, financiers and expert advisors to the hospitality industry.

The event takes place in parallel with AviaDev, the aviation development conference, which was launched by Bench Events in 2015. Matthew Weihs, MD, Bench Events commented: "Hotel development is successful when more tourists come, and a significant contributing factor is air access. In this respect, one has to congratulate local government and trade associations in South Africa for their efforts to encourage tourism-oriented development and their concerted initiatives to attract more flights."

IATA has identified that the top 10 fastest growing aviation economies over the next 20 years will all be in Africa. Both AHIF and AviaDev aim to facilitate this growth through their conference programmes, involving top industry executives and highly-rated advisors, coupled to a meeting system which facilitates unrivalled networking opportunities.

About the Africa Hotel Investment Forum (AHIF)

AHIF is the premier hotel investment conference in Africa, attracting many prominent international hotel owners, investors, financiers, management companies and their advisers. It is organised by Bench Events (www.benchevents.com), who has a long track record of delivering multiple premium hotel investment conferences and forums across Europe, the Middle East, Africa, Asia and Latin America. Bench Events' mission is enabling prosperity by facilitating growth, networking, and thought leadership in the hospitality industry worldwide. www.benchevents.com.

Sponsors of AHIF are: Host Partners: Ministry of Tourism and Wildlife, Kenya; Platinum Sponsors: AccorHotels, Hilton, Marriott International and Radisson Hotel Group; Gold Sponsors: Best Western Hotels & Resorts, City Blue Hotels, Cabo International Partners B.V., Colliers International, Hotel Partners Africa, Insignia, JLL, STR, Stuart and Partners, Swiss Education Group and Wyndham Worldwide.
When it was announced at the last minute that Kanye West would be throwing a listening party for his latest album, Ye, everybody was wondering what was going to happen. As it turns out, Kanye would end up flying out dozens of his friends, collaborators, and industry insiders to crowd around a campfire to listen to his album for the first time. Oh, and Connor too.

Connor isn't famous, just a big fan of Kanye. Big enough that he was willing to make the trip down to Wyoming from his home state of Colorado to try his shot at getting into the party. In an interview with triple j, Connor explained his motivations for crashing the party.

"Im a huge Kanye fan," Connor said. "I learned about it the morning that everybody learned about it. Id already heard Kanye was in Wyoming and heard through a Pusha T interview he was staying at the Amangani Hotel."

After making his way to the hotel where Kanye was staying, several armed guards made his chance of sneaking in slim. However, a chance encounter with Tony Williams allowed him to procure a wristband and enter the ranch.

Connor ended up in the crowd, mingling among the celebrities and musicians. He says he made it a mission to talk to everyone he could, including Kim Kardashian and Kanye West. The experience was surreal.

"It was so surreal seeing all these people online and in my music playlists for all these years and then being able to stand next to them," said Connor. "I was crying too at some points. It was so crazy."
After the "Who Run It" challenge blew up, capturing the entire rap world with nearly everybody taking part in freestyling over the classic Three 6 Mafia beat, DJ Paul and Juicy J both took part in freestyles of their own. With Juicy J's relationship somewhat flawed after no longer working with Triple 6 since 2014, his connection to DJ Paul is also understandably broken to an extent. While both proudly represent Three 6 Mafia in their current music, only one of them is still wearing the uniform according to Paul. Unloading a series of tweets against his former brethren, DJ Paul took a swing at Juicy J for switching up his clique while still claiming Triple 6.

The self-proclaimed "King of Memphis" had a lot to get off his chest as he began his rant by praising Three 6 Mafia as the "BEST GROUP OF ALL TIMES," claiming he's the only member still wearing the uniform. That's when the Juicy slander began and, while he never mentioned the rapper by name, it was very clear who he was referring to. Writing that he "gave up on mafia" before switching over to a new crew, DJ Paul called the Stay Trippy artist an actor, not a rapper. Before telling him to retire, the K.O.M. created a new hashtag, insisting that Juicy "#StopHollinMafia."

Check out the entire thread below. DJ Paul does not hold back his true feelings as he is clearly still passionate about Three 6 Mafia and will do anything to protect the image of the group.
Drake may not actually respond to Pusha T's scathing diss track "The Spirit Of Adidon," at least not if he's taking the advice of J. Prince. The Rap-A-Lot Records CEO who has often come to Drake's defense in times of conflict, says he advised the Toronto rapper to opt out of his beef with Pusha following the release of "Adidon."

In an interview with Fadam Got da Juice and DJ Reddz of DTLR Radio Saturday, Prince explained his reasoning for wanting to take the high road. "A man to attack a man's mother, father, a man who's dying -- I feel that's disrespectful," he said. "If you wanna leave it on a level playing field -- I get at you, you get at me, then bring it on, let the best man win. Imagine we got into a fight and I go whip your momma ass, I hit your daddy in the jaw... I call it a pigpen mentality."



Prince then revealed that he had spoken to Drake on the phone about it. "I made an OG call to Drake this morning tellin' him 'I don't want you to respond to this'," he said. "We gon' put this to bed because we can't get in the pigpen with pigs, because pigs turn into hogs and then hogs get slaughtered. We didn't work this hard to get slaughtered over nothin'."

Prince did not elaborate on whether Drake agreed to lay the beef to rest.

J. Prince and Drake have known each other since Prince's son Jas Prince discovered the rapper on Myspace in 2007 and signed him to Aspire Music Group before he cut a deal to move to Cash Money. J. Prince was listed as an executive producer on both Thank Me Later and Nothing Was The Same.
Janet Jackson and her ex-husband Qatari billionaire Wissam Al Mana split last year after five years of marriage. Just months before the two broke up, Jackson gave birth to their son, Eissa Al Mana. Eissa, who is now one year old, was in his father's custody this weekend when Jackson called police in fear for her child's life.

According to E!, Jackson called the police to do a welfare check on her son on Saturday night while he was staying at the Nobu Hotel in Malibu with his father. A watch commander confirmed to E! that Jackson made the call at about 10 PM, and that she was not at the hotel at the time. When police arrived, Jackson was on the scene but authorities discerned that her child's safety was not in danger and he was allowed to stay with the father.

ET spoke with Janet Jackson's brother, Randy Jackson, who claimed that the nanny was the reason that his sister became worried in the first place. Randy stated that the nanny was helping Wissam Al Mana care for his son, but he became aggressive, and she was frightened. He continued on to claim that the nanny was "terrified by his behavior and locked herself in a bathroom, so she could contact Janet.
Mark Wahlberg is among the most notable non-athlete celebrity sneaker collectors, especially when it comes to one of a kind Air Jordans and exclusive PEs limited to "Friends & Family."

Last week, Wahlberg flexed some of his newest rare Airs with a special pair of Air Jordan 4s in celebration of the brand new Wahlburgers location at the Mall of America in Minnesota. Inspired by his family's burger chain, the kicks are doused in green accompanied by translucent wings and outsoles with removable Wahlburgers logo tongue patches.

This "Wahlburgers" Air Jordan 4 is similar to the custom black colorway that sneaker customizer Mache designed for Wahlberg last year, but it's rumored that this green rendition is an official Jordan Brand collab.

That said, it's still unlikely that this pair will ever release and if there is more than one pair in existence, they'll likely be reserved to Wahlberg's family and friends of the program.
Despite a 60% chance of rain, The Roots Picnic in Philadelphia was able to thug it out for most of the day as fans enjoyed the 11th annual festivities up until the headliners were set to take the stage Saturday night (June 2).

Originally, Dave Chappelle was to host the ritualistic Roots jam session with the likes of Brandy, 2 Chainz, and plenty of other surprise guests set to hit the stage. But, heavy rains meant the act was over shortly after it began.

Due to the dangerous weather, read a screen monitor, we are forced to end the show.

While speculation pegged Lauryn Hill and Chance The Rapper as a few names set to join The Roots crew, that part was left up to mystery until a set list surfaced, revealing that Common, M.O.P., and Busta Rhymes would have been joining the band.

Philly: this is a hazard, Questlove penned in a series of tweets addressing the unfortunate news. Of course I can play in ANY situation but lives are on the line and its a hazard. If someone were to get electrocuted or worse -I cant have that on my head man. The city told us to stop for a bit [] Sorry yall. Id like to think myself as a renegade rebel but lightning says nope.

All the while, though, attendees were witness to some lit sets, including DJ Drama, who brought out T.I., Freeway, and Lil Baby while Lil Uzi Vert delivered on an electrifying performance just before The Roots took to the stage.
It seems that members of the A$AP Mob are being accused left and right of behaving inappropriately with Smooky Margielaa now being accused of rape. The allegations come less than one month after A$AP Bari was arrested on sexual assault charges. Co-founder of the streetwear brand VLONE, Bari's history of sexual assault stems from incidents occurring last year and with there now being fresh accusations against another member of the Mob, A$AP Rocky may need to be more careful with who he chooses to associate with.

According to Spanish publication El Espanol, Smooky Margielaa and his crew are being investigated for a rape that was reported backstage at one of his shows. The incident reportedly took place at Barcelona hotspot Razzmatazz, leading to the 15-year-old rapper canceling the only remaining show on his European tour. Smooky and his gang are being accused by a 17-year-old girl and, because a minor is involved, details are very limited for the moment. According to the publication, Smooky has simply been identified in the case and has not been arrested. A total of six men were allegedly in the room during the assault with one forcing the woman to perform oral sex on him while she was penetrated anally.

The Bronx artist was scheduled to perform one more show in Copenhagen, Denmark to end his tour. However, due to the harsh circumstances that now surround him, the show was canceled. As details come out, we will keep you updated.

UPDATE:

Smooky has responded to these allegations and calls them "FALSE." He tells HNHH that he was not even there, and this "has nothing to do with me."

The young artist assures us he's getting to the bottom of this story, while stating unequivocally that the report is untrue.

We'll keep you posted if any new updates on this story transpire.
Sofia Richie has broken up with Scott Disick due to cheating and other "toxic" behavior, reports E! News. The two split on Friday, one day after Kanye West's Wyoming listening party where Disick was spotted flirting with another woman. He is also reported to have cheated on Richie in Miami, according to Us Weekly.

"Sofia broke up with Scott after the pictures and rumors of his behavior in Wyoming were floating around," says a Source from E!. "She couldn't take it anymore. Scott has been off the rails recently and is not in a good place. He goes in waves of partying really hard and then will have his good days and it's just very toxic behavior. It's very up and down." The same source believes the two will eventually work things out.

Last month, Richie reportedly inked a deal to appear on Keeping Up With The Kardashians. It is unclear if the appearance will still take place.

When the two were first rumored to be dating last October, Sofia's father, Lionel Richie, expressed his opposition to his 19-year-old daughter dating the then-34-year-old Disick. "Have I been in shock?! I'm the dad, come on," he said. "Im scared to death, are you kidding me?"
Tekashi 6ix9ine continues to prove himself as the clown prince of the rap game, as he continues his trolling assault against the entire city of Chicago.

Over the weekend, the tension between 6ix9ine and Chief Keef was elevated after 6ix9ine took several shots at him on Instagram, making fun of him and Lil Reese for not actually living their raps. Of course, afterwards somebody took real life shots at Chief Keef outside his hotel, but 6ix9ine has continued to mess with him anyway.

Tekashi 6ix9ine seems to think that he's invincible, so if he's taking on two Chicago rappers, why not piss off a few others? It appears now that 6ix9ine has been stalking Chicago rapper G Herbo's Instagram comments, telling him to "succ my dicc," and continuing to mock Chief Keef.

He does this on at least two different Instagram posts. The first was a meme posted by Worldstar that uses lyrics from Trippie Redd, Chief Keef, and Tadoe's "I Kill People." 6ix9ine mentions that its G Herbo's "man" who's lyrics they were, though that line was actually said by Trippie. The second was a DJ Akademiks repost of a TMZ video, where Chief Keef refuses to talk about the shooting incident.

In neither case did G Herbo even bother to respond to 6ix9ine, so it appears that he's opting to just ignore him for the time being. Given 6ix9ine's constant need to beef with everybody and anybody, that's probably the most effective way of dealing with him. Check out 6ix9ine's comments below.
Dmitry Krivonos is developing a personal tracking device with a stronger battery than others on the market. To pursue this endeavor, he left his home in Minsk, Belarus, and launched the startup in Houston.

Krivonos was lured by local efforts to promote tech entrepreneurs  and by seed money and connections promised through a new program launched by Softeq, a 21-year-old Houston company that develops custom software and hardware for its clients.

I think this place will be evolving and developing, Krivonos said, and is probably the right place to start a new company.

Krivonos is the first entrepreneur accepted into the Start@Softeq program. In partnership with Station Houston, the program provides funding, development support and Station Houston membership to startups developing cybersecurity, Internet of Things or robotics-related technologies.

'WE'RE A BUILDER': Station Houston connects entrepreneurs with big industry

Attracting outside entrepreneurs. Providing seed capital. Connecting them with an established company and potentially its Fortune 500 customers. Its the type of momentum Houston is hoping to accelerate as the city seeks to become a hotbed for lucrative technology companies and venture capital.

Rather than just watch it, we would get hands on involved and figure out how we would bring this vision to life, said Joel Carter, vice president of business development for Softeq and program administrator for Start@Softeq.

In exchange for 10 percent equity, the four-month Start@Softeq program provides entrepreneurs with $25,000 in cash, an additional $25,000 worth of assistance from developers at Softeq and six months of membership at Station Houston, a hub for tech innovation and entrepreneurship.

The first class will complete the program this fall, ideally culminating during a week-long, citywide event for startups. This could allow Start@Softeq entrepreneurs to pitch their businesses and seek further resources. Softeq hopes to launch another class in the spring and then continue growing its program.

They want to find great entrepreneurs to invest and work with, said John JR Reale, co-founder and CEO of Station Houston.   They want to be supportive of the broader initiative of what were doing here in town.

Krivonos is developing a GPS tracker than can be hooked onto pet collars, childrens backpacks and other items. The battery should last six months to a year, he said, compared with current devices that have to be recharged every few days.

SPACE TOURISM: Houston startup announces hotel for the final frontier

He said the local network provided by Start@Softeq was an especially appealing draw to Houston. Plus, he used to work at Softeq in Belarus, and he trusts the company and its developers.

Start@Softeq is close to filling two more positions: one in cybersecurity and one in robotics. Focusing on these types of businesses dovetails with a broader local initiative spearheaded by Houston Exponential, which formed last fall when three of the citys innovation groups joined forces.

Its absolutely aligned with everything that Houston Exponential has set out to do, said Brian Richards, managing director of the Houston Innovation Hub at Accenture and chair of the Thematic Focus Areas committee for Houston Exponential.

The nonprofit, which merged the Houston Technology Center with the Greater Houston Partnership's technology innovation roundtable and the Mayor's Technology & Innovation Task Force, has identified robotics, cybersecurity and Internet of Things among focus areas where Houston could plant a flag and become well known.

It chose these areas by looking at Houstons existing strengths and by looking at technologies that could be used across multiple Houston industries, attract venture capital and encourage startup density, Richards said.

Connecting startups with larger enterprises is also essential for this ecosystem, and the partnership between Softeq and Station Houston enhances the latters role as an intermediary, said Ed Egan, director of the Rice University Baker Institutes McNair Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation.

THE CANNON: New startup district coming to west Houston

He likes that Station Houston is getting an accelerator-like program, though he hopes Station Houston one day will be able to open a full-service accelerator of its own. Thats a common feature for entrepreneurial hubs.

Reale said Station Houston continues to evolve its membership offerings based on its business strategy and entrepreneur needs. Whether Station Houston will add an in-house accelerator program remains to be seen. Either way, he hopes creating startup density will spur many more business accelerator and accelerator-like programs throughout the city.

He wouldnt call Start@Softeq a formal accelerator program. Instead, he said its designed to assist entrepreneurs in launching and building a minimum viable product with the help of Softeq and at Station Houston.

It makes entrepreneurship accessible, he said.

andrea.rumbaugh@chron.com

twitter.com/andrearumbaugh
Ella Brennan, the woman who put New Orleans on the culinary map and mentored some of the countrys greatest chefs, also made an impact on the Houston dining scene with Brennans of Houston, the restaurant her family founded in 1967.

She had great affection for the Bayou City, where her unique brand of haute Creole cuisine continues to make its mark.

Mom was very much an admirer of Houston and its what-have-you-done-lately spirit, said Brennans son, Alex Brennan-Martin, president of Brennans of Houston. She said in New Orleans they talk about it, in Houston they do it. She always liked Houston because it was a can-do city.

When she died Thursday at 92, the lights at Brennans iconic Commanders Palace in New Orleans were dimmed to acknowledge a life in the hospitality business that began in 1943 when her older brother, Owen Brennan, put her to work at his Old Absinthe House bar on Bourbon Street. She got her first shot in the restaurant industry when Owen and their father purchased Vieux Carre across the street in 1946. She helped turn that unremarkable eatery into a restaurant known for its food, wine and service.

The Brennan familys fame grew exponentially with the opening of Brennans in May 1956, the restaurant that brought national attention and Hollywood glamour to the French Quarter. Though its debut was colored by Owens death six months prior, Ella Brennan and her family made Brennans a hit, and for years, it defined New Orleans dining and popularized Bananas Foster, the restaurants best-selling dessert that Ella Brennan helped create at Vieux Carre.

Her involvement at Brennans ended in 1973 when she was fired following a power struggle with Owens widow, who with her sons controlled 52 percent of the business. The split was devastating to Brennan  but there was a remarkable second act to come.

She and her sister, Adelaide, had purchased Commanders Palace in 1969, and they set out to transform the restaurant into the dining powerhouse it is today. Her championing of the citys indigenous cuisine and the chefs she brought in to execute her vision of fine dining  including Paul Prudhomme and Emeril Lagasse  remain her legacy.

In the split with Brennans, Ella Brennan and her family took control of three Brennans restaurants outside of New Orleans, including Houstons.

Alex Brennan-Martin said his mother applied her same exacting standards to the Houston restaurant, where she also mentored chefs.

Chris Shepherd, who won the James Beard Award for Best Chef Southwest in 2014 for his work at Underbelly, is among the chefs who passed through the Brennans of Houston kitchen. In an Instagram post following Brennans death, Shepherd wrote: Words cannot express my gratitude for what the family has done for me and everyone you touched. Ella, you changed a lot of lives and we are all better for being in yours. You will be missed but your lessons about this industry will live on forever.

While largely out of the public eye at the time of her death, Brennan continued to be a presence on the New Orleans dining scene.

Two years ago she released a memoir, written with her daughter Ti Martin, that traced the remarkable life of an Irish Channel-born girl who possessed no cooking skills but played a major role in making New Orleans a world-class dining destination. Miss Ella of Commanders Palace was published about the same time that the documentary Ella Brennan: Commanding the Table was released. The latter screened at the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston.

She cant really boil water, said Lagasse in 2015. But, he said, Shes one of the greatest restaurateurs Ive ever met. She has an incredible palate and an even more incredible mind. And she just has this way with people, of leading and showing the way of exceptional hospitality.

Brennan summed up her lifes experience in 2015: I had a barrel of fun, and if anybody calls that work theyre crazy.

greg.morago@chron.com

twitter.com/gregmorago
The assertion by President Donald Trump's lawyers that he cannot obstruct justice because he has absolute authority over all federal investigations is legally problematic, analysts say, because it would essentially mean the nation's commander in chief is above the law.

But the president's powers are expansive, and many questions remain about how Trump's office could protect him from the special counsel investigation examining whether his campaign coordinated with Russia to interfere with the 2016 presidential election.

"The fact is, everything that we're seeing, there is no precedent for," said Jacob Frenkel, who worked in the independent counsel's office in the late 1990s and is now at the law firm Dickinson Wright.

In a 20-page letter submitted to the special counsel's office this year, Trump's attorneys asserted that "the President's actions here, by virtue of his position as the chief law enforcement officer, could neither constitutionally nor legally constitute obstruction because that would amount to him obstructing himself." They also asserted that "he could, if he wished, terminate the inquiry, or even exercise his power to pardon if he so desired."

Legal analysts said that as the head of the executive branch, Trump could issue pardons, fire senior officials or order them to shut down investigations. But if his motives were corrupt, such actions could constitute obstruction.

The principle laid out in the letter is "a ludicrous legal theory," said Neal Katyal, a former acting solicitor general who now works in private practice at Hogan Lovells. "The idea that a president can't obstruct justice died with King George III, with a brief attempt at revival by Richard Nixon."

The letter, signed by lawyers John Dowd and Jay Sekulow, was part of a bid to keep Trump from having to sit for an interview with Special Counsel Robert Mueller, especially on questions about whether he obstructed justice. The attorneys asserted that Mueller's team had "an ample record upon which to base your findings of no obstruction," and thus there was no need for the president to talk with investigators.

"This memo is a polite way of taking 20 pages to say, 'He's not coming in without a subpoena, and even then, you're in for a protracted fight,' " Frenkel said.

Mueller is exploring whether the president meant to thwart law enforcement by, among other things, asking then-FBI Director James Comey not to pursue a probe of former national security adviser Michael Flynn, firing Comey, and pressuring the attorney general, Jeff Sessions, to either resign or take command of Mueller's probe. Sessions recused himself because of his role within the Trump campaign.

The letter aimed to rebut each piece of the case. The lawyers asserted that Comey's firing was justified because it was recommended by the attorney general and deputy attorney general. They wrote that Trump disputes having told Comey to let go of the Flynn investigation, and that even if he had, the president could not have intended to obstruct justice because the White House had indications the Flynn investigation was not ongoing at the time.

The lawyers also made the technical argument that an FBI investigation, unlike a grand jury investigation, did not count under the law as a "proceeding" that could be obstructed. But that seemed to overlook a 2002 law that makes it illegal to obstruct even proceedings that have not yet begun.

Many of the legal issues the president's team raised have little precedent, legal analysts said. No president, for example, has ever tried to pardon himself.

Rudy Giuliani, an attorney for the president, said during television appearances Sunday that while Trump "probably" had the power to pardon himself, he had no intention of doing so. The move, Giuliani said, could spark impeachment proceedings.

Jonathan Turley, a law professor at George Washington University, said he believed the president has the authority to pardon himself, and using pardons as a piece of an obstruction case might be problematic "because the nature of the act is to bar prosecutions or set aside convictions."

"That has been something of a parlor game for constitutional scholars for years, and many of the fun hypotheticals that we used to enjoy over beers all seem to be coming to fruition under the Trump administration," Turley said.

Jed Shugerman, a Fordham University Law School professor, said raising the idea of pardons could be read as a warning to Mueller that if he pushes to subpoena Trump, the president could escalate the fight by pardoning people under investigation.

"There is a real practical consequence for the republic if Trump is able to win the silence of other defendants with the use of these pardons," Shugerman said. "If he's making an implicit threat that he could escalate this with pardons, there's nothing in the letter to indicate that he's not willing to pardon himself."

It is unclear, too, whether and to what extent Mueller might be able to compel Trump to testify, if the president will not agree to a voluntary interview. By virtue of his office, the president does enjoy special protections. The Justice Department has twice opined that a sitting president cannot be indicted, and Giuliani has said Mueller's team conveyed to the president's lawyers they will honor that guidance.

Those opinions, though, are not the same as a court decision, nor do they rule out a president being forced to testify. Independent counsel Kenneth Starr served President Bill Clinton with a subpoena to compel him to appear before a grand jury, but it was withdrawn after Clinton agreed to testify voluntarily.

Trump's lawyers pointed to case law suggesting Mueller would have to show that investigators were unable to obtain the same information elsewhere before demanding an interview with Trump. Turley said, though, that because an obstruction case hinges on intent, Trump might have a hard time convincing a judge that investigators could get that information without talking to him.

"In issues of intent, there's only one person on Earth that can conclusively speak to that issue, and that is the president himself," Turley said.

If Trump were served with a subpoena, legal analysts said they expect he would challenge it, and the dispute would almost certainly escalate to the Supreme Court. They said that while the courts might ultimately limit what the president could be asked, it was unlikely they would agree with the president's legal interpretation that he cannot obstruct justice.

"For me, it is difficult to believe that any Supreme Court justice would endorse the right of a president to be lawless, in the sense of being entirely above the application of law," Frenkel said.

---

The Washington Post's Tom Hamburger and Joel Achenbach contributed to this report.
CHICAGO  Most women with early-stage breast cancer can safely skip chemotherapy without hurting their chances of beating the disease, doctors are reporting from a landmark study that used genetic testing to gauge each patient's risk.

The study is the largest ever done of breast cancer treatment, and the results are expected to spare up to 70,000 patients a year in the United States and many more elsewhere the ordeal and expense of these drugs. About 260,000 women will be diagnosed with breast cancer this year in the United States, and 41,000 will die from the disease.

The impact is tremendous, said the study leader, Dr. Joseph Sparano of Montefiore Medical Center in New York. Most women in this situation don't need treatment beyond surgery and hormone therapy, he said.

Moving Away From Chemo

Cancer care has been evolving away from chemotherapy  older drugs with harsh side effects  in favor of gene-targeting therapies, hormone blockers and immune system treatments. When chemo is used now, it's sometimes for shorter periods or lower doses than it once was.

For example, another study at the conference found that Merck's immunotherapy drug Keytruda worked better than chemo as initial treatment for most people with the most common type of lung cancer, and with far fewer side effects.

The breast cancer study focused on cases in which chemo's value increasingly is in doubt: women with early-stage disease that has not spread to lymph nodes, is hormone-positive (meaning its growth is fueled by estrogen or progesterone) and is not the type that the drug Herceptin targets.

The usual treatment is surgery followed by years of a hormone-blocking drug. But many women also are urged to have chemo to help kill any stray cancer cells. Doctors know that most don't need it, but evidence is thin on who can forgo it.

The study gave 10,273 patients a test called Oncotype DX, which uses a biopsy sample to measure the activity of genes involved in cell growth and response to hormone therapy, to estimate the risk that a cancer will recur.

Debra Reese, 61, was diagnosed with breast cancer after a routine mammogram in October and treated at MD Anderson in Houston.

When she first was told about the mammogram results, she said she thought it must be some kind of mistake. No one in her family had a history of breast cancer, she said.

Doctors found a 2-centimeter tumor in her left breast and diagnosed her with invasive ductal carcinoma, the most common type of breast cancer. It is called invasive when it has spread to the surrounding tissue.

After surgery in January, she met with her oncologist at MD Anderson, Jennifer Litton, who recommended she take the Oncotype DX test. She was told the results fall into three categories: high, medium and low risk.

The test results showed she was in the low category, she said, with about a 9 percent chance of reoccurrence without chemotherapy. She discussed her options with the doctor and with her husband, and ultimately opted not to do it.

Honestly, I was relieved to not have to go through chemo, she said. Being down at MD Anderson, Ive met a lot of women who have had to go through that It has a huge impact on them and their families.

What The Study Found

The study was funded by the National Cancer Institute, some foundations and proceeds from the U.S. breast cancer postage stamp. Results were discussed Sunday at an American Society of Clinical Oncology conference in Chicago and published by the New England Journal of Medicine.

All women like those in the study should get gene testing to guide their care, said Dr. Richard Schilsky, chief medical officer of the oncology society. Oncotype DX costs around $4,000, which Medicare and many insurers cover. Similar tests including one called MammaPrint also are widely used.

Testing solved a big problem of figuring out who needs chemo, said Dr. Harold Burstein of the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute in Boston. Many women think if I don't get chemotherapy I'm going to die, and if I get chemo I'm going to be cured, but the results show there's a sliding scale of benefit and sometimes none, he said.

About 17 percent of women had high-risk scores and were advised to have chemo. The 16 percent with low-risk scores now know they can skip chemo, based on earlier results from this study.

The new results are on the 67 percent of women at intermediate risk. All had surgery and hormone therapy, and half also got chemo.

After nine years, 94 percent of both groups were still alive, and about 84 percent were alive without signs of cancer, so adding chemo made no difference.

Certain women 50 or younger did benefit from chemo; slightly fewer cases of cancer spreading far beyond the breast occurred among some of them given chemo, depending on their risk scores on the gene test.

Adine Usher, 78, who lives in Hartsdale, New York, joined the study 10 years ago at Montefiore and was randomly assigned to the group given chemo.

I was a little relieved. I sort of viewed chemo as extra insurance, she said. The treatments weren't pleasant, she concedes. Her hair fell out, she developed an infection and was hospitalized for a low white blood count, but it was over fairly quickly and I'm really glad I had it.

If doctors had recommended she skip chemo based on the gene test, I would have accepted that, she said. I'm a firm believer in medical research.

Houston Chronicle reporter Susan Carroll contributed to this report.
Its against the law in Texas to let any loaded gun get in the hands of a child.

 Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick on May 20 in an interview on ABC News This Week

Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick told a national TV audience after the May 18 Santa Fe High School shooting that he doesnt see a need for more gun regulation in that Texas already bars children from having loaded weapons.

We decided to check Patricks reference to law given that the Santa Fe shooting suspect is alleged to have used his fathers shotgun and handgun in the attack. Our research identified the 1995 law, though we also learned it wouldnt apply to the Santa Fe case because the suspect is 17.

Patrick, taking questions from George Stephanopoulos on the May 20 edition of ABCs This Week, said: Gun control, I believe, starts at home, George. Every person who owns a gun must be accountable for their guns at home.  We dont know all the facts yet. But this particular young man got his guns in some way from his parents home. You should have your guns locked up. Its against the law in Texas to let any loaded gun get in the hands of a child, for example.

Law confirmed

Our online search for such a law led us to a webpage about preventing Texas children from getting guns created by the San Francisco-based Giffords Law Center to Prevent Gun Violence. That page says Texas has a law holding a person criminally liable if he or she, with criminal negligence, fails to secure a readily dischargeable firearm and a child under age 17 gains access to it.

Next, we turned to section 46.13 of the Texas penal code, titled Making a Firearm Accessible to a Child, which defines a readily dischargeable firearm as one loaded with ammunition, whether or not a round is in the chamber.

The law states:

A person commits an offense if a child gains access to a readily dischargeable firearm and the person with criminal negligence:

(1) failed to secure the firearm; or

(2) left the firearm in a place to which the person knew or should have known the child would gain access.

Under the law, secure means to take steps that a reasonable person would take to prevent the access to a readily dischargeable firearm by a child, including but not limited to placing a firearm in a locked container or temporarily rendering the firearm inoperable by a trigger lock or other means.

The law otherwise provides defenses to prosecution starting with whether the childs access was supervised by a person older than 18 and the firearm was for hunting, sporting or other lawful purposes.

Under the law, a violation is a Class C misdemeanor or a Class A misdemeanor if the child discharges the firearm and causes death or serious bodily injury to himself or another person.

Legislative history

Records show the legislation creating the law won approval in 1995, the same year that then-state Sen. Jerry Patterson, R-Pasadena, shepherded into law the states concealed-carry measure.

We connected with Patterson, who told us by email that the child-specific proposal, initiated by Rep. Al Edwards, D-Houston, had momentum that year in part due to testimony by a Houston couple whose son died in an accidental shooting. The boys mother, Linda Tarr, testified at the time: This bill is to save children. It is not a gun-control bill. This is a gun-responsibility act, and children are our responsibility.'

Effective law?

We also wondered about the laws effects.

The April 1995 Austin American-Statesman news report where we spotted Tarrs testimony said that in 1993, 42 children younger than 17 had been killed in accidents involving firearms.

There have lately been fewer such deaths, according to figures we requested from the Texas Department of State Health Services. Spokesman Chris Van Deusen emailed us a chart indicating that in 2014-15, 11 Texas children younger than 17 were killed in accidents involving firearms.

Separately, Ari Freilich, a lawyer for the Giffords center, said by email that Texas is among 27 states with child access prevention laws potentially making adults legally accountable for letting minors gain unsupervised access to guns.

But Freilich called the Texas law weaker than laws in some states because it only applies to adults who leave readily operable loaded firearms accessible to unsupervised minors.

As a result, Texas law would likely not apply even if an adult left an unsupervised minor home alone with an unloaded firearm out on the table right next to a box of ammunition, Freilich wrote.

After the Santa Fe shooting, the center posted a memo to Gov. Greg Abbott stating the law should be amended, at the least, to apply to minors under 18 and to cases where an adult leaves unloaded firearms and ammunition accessible to the minor.

We also asked the NRA-tied Texas State Rifle Association about the law. By phone, Alice Gene Tripp praised it, saying: It doesnt try to criminalize how you store your guns. It simply puts a penalty in statute if you dont do it effectively. Texas allows adults to make adult decisions and penalizes those who dont do it correctly.

Our ruling

Patrick said: Its against the law in Texas to let any loaded gun get in the hands of a child.

A 1995 state law makes it a misdemeanor if a person with criminal negligence fails to secure a loaded gun and a child younger than 17 accesses it or if a person leaves the gun where he or she knew or should have known the child would get it.

We rate this claim True: The statement is accurate and theres nothing significant missing.
One of the oldest concepts of punishment can be found in the Bible  an eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth.

Andre Thomas loved memorizing Bible verses when he was in Sunday school at Harmony Baptist Church, according to a Texas Monthly profile. But after he was arrested for murder, Thomas took the concept further  gouging out his own right eye while awaiting trial. After a jury sentenced him to death, Thomas pulled out his remaining eye and ate it.

Despite a long history of severe mental illness that includes those and other episodes of self-mutilation, Texas continues to seek to execute Thomas. It is another instance of the death penalty run amok  a cruel and increasingly unusual practice that should be put to an end.

RELATED: A rush to death risks executing the innocent

ALSO: Abolish the death penalty and support the survivors

On June 5, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit will hear oral argument in the case of Thomas, who suffers from schizophrenia characterized by psychotic delusions and hyper-religious preoccupations. His lawyers claim he was actively psychotic at the time he murdered and mutilated his ex-wife, his own son and his former wifes daughter by another man, according to his attorneys and medical experts.

Incredibly, Thomas two original defense attorneys never introduced evidence in his trial about Thomas long history of mental illness, suicide attempts and visits to doctors seeking help immediately before the crime.

RELATED: Quality of counsel is crucial when life or liberty are at stake

His appellate attorneys subsequently have raised important questions both about his competence, and about whether members of the all-white jury that sentenced him to die were biased against him on racial grounds. Thomas is African-American. His former wife was white and both children were biracial. Yet four jurors allowed to serve in his case expressed opposition to interracial marriage. One said it wasnt what God intended. Another said, We should stay with our bloodline.

At this point, Thomas is not even seeking relief  hes just asking for a Certificate of Appealability, a step required before the court would actually consider his case and whether to offer relief. The state is opposing that effort.

Texas should drop its appeal and agree that Thomas sentence should be commuted to life. He should be allowed to spend the rest of his days in a jail cell where the demons of his mental illness and the pangs of his own conscience will alternately torment him. The rest of us should contemplate what another Bible verse says about taking an eye for an eye  Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord.
Ten people were killed and 13 others injured in the horrible tragedy that shook the Santa Fe community, our state, and the nation last month. Sadly, this massacre was not some sort of anomaly, like it would have been in every other highly developed nation in the world.

The United States is, and has been for some time, experiencing a school gun violence epidemic. This is nothing short of a public health crisis  a crisis that has prompted many across our nation to demand changes to our gun laws and enhanced school safety measures now.

EDITORIAL: A call for special session on guns

PULITZER FINALIST: We, the (gun) people

In Texas specifically, there have been calls by lawmakers on both sides of the aisle for Gov. Greg Abbott to call a special session of the Texas Legislature to address the issue of gun violence in our schools.

Special sessions of the Texas Legislature have traditionally been used to take care of unfinished business from regular sessions of the Legislature or to address issues of statewide importance or impact that arise between regular sessions. Addressing the school gun violence epidemic would clearly fall into the latter category of long-acknowledged, legitimate reasons for calling a special session, and I would not be opposed to Abbott calling a session for this purpose  in theory.

In practice, calling legislators back for a special session this summer to address gun violence in our schools is not likely to achieve much given our current crop of state leaders.

EDITORIAL: Santa Fe shooter's dad didn't keep his guns secure

To be perfectly frank, unless Abbott, Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick and several House and Senate Republicans who have not announced their retirement from the Legislature work with House and Senate Democrats to forge bipartisan consensus around some key policy recommendations before we convene in special session, then a special session will almost certainly fail to generate any meaningful legislation aimed at protecting our kids.

In fact, without such a consensus on such an important and emotional topic, a special session will almost certainly amount to nothing more than a $1 million taxpayer-funded political commercial for lawmakers on both sides of the aisle and a grave disappointment to the parents of Texas schoolchildren. Avoiding this outcome will take a rare combination of political will and leadership skills the likes of which we have not seen in our state since folks with names like Bob Bullock and Pete Laney could regularly be found walking the halls of the Texas Capitol.

RELATED: A high school senior speaks out for gun rights

ALSO: A Texas Ranger calls for gun sense

But consensus does not just form spontaneously. Consensus must be built, and Abbott has given no indication that he is willing to expend any of his political capital to help build the consensus he claims would be required for him to call a special session on school gun violence.

Sadly, this has become the new normal in Austin.

Abbott has demonstrated that he is more than happy to lead the charge when it comes to passing highly contentious, highly partisan legislation, such as the now notorious bathroom bill. He even called a special session for that exact purpose. But when it comes to passing bipartisan legislation to combat our school gun violence epidemic, all Texans get from their governor is, Call me back when youve got yourself a consensus.

My experience with the Texas Legislature goes back nearly 20 years, and the fact is that unless our current state leaders step up to the plate and expend some of their political capital to achieve a bipartisan consensus on school gun violence before calling lawmakers to Austin, a special session will turn into yet another missed opportunity by the Legislature to help our Texas schoolchildren.

Johnson is a state representative for Texas House District 100 in the Dallas area.
We know that Palmerston North is a much more affordable place to live and we believe Council, with its management team, are able to make the important decisions to ensure we continue to offer fair remuneration and good support for our employees, he said.

Our current rates are based on an external report showing this rate to be in line with the cost of living for Palmerston North and by setting our minimum wage rate at $1.75 higher than the governments minimum wage rate, we are already moving in the right direction.

Even though there was a large number of submissions in support of an increase in the minimum wage rate, Council has recently increased its minimum wage from $17.50 to $18.25 (the current minimum wage set by government is $16.50).

This decision will be confirmed once the 10 Year Plan is finalised by Council on 25 June.

The councils decision is significant, given the fact that along with the District Health Board, the local authority is one of the biggest employers in the area, according to Public Service Association organiser Kevin Bunker.
If those students want to carry on in New Zealand, then, obviously, theyve got the opportunity to apply for different visas, but they will be labour-market-tested visas, and theyll need to demonstrate that theyve got skills that are in demand here in New Zealand, said Lees-Galloway.

He added that one aspect of the Post Study Work Visas under the current system is that after the first year, students have to demonstrate that theyre in a job that is relevant to the area that they have studied.

Unfortunately, whats resulted from that is employers saying to those students, Look, Ill enhance your job description, or Ill try to make it look like youre working in an area that youve studied, and in return for that, I expect a big payment.

Lees-Galloway said a lot of students are going into those jobs, theyre getting their wages, and then they walk down to the ATM, they take a lot of cash out and pay that money straight back to the employer.

Thats the kind of exploitation that weve seen, he said.
Speaking on the survey in general, Mark Scanlon, CEO of Personal Group, commented: An overwhelming 85% of workers believe that their employers have a responsibility to support the health and wellbeing of staff.

We agree, not least because a workforce with easy access to medical advice will be healthier, happier and more productive.

Dr Brian McManus, Medical Director at videoDoc, added: The results of this study suggest a worrying trend that employees are prioritizing work over health. As demands on employee productivity increase, employees feel pressured to simply struggle on regardless.

Safeguarding the health of the workforce may well fall into HRs remit  but dont forget to protect your own health too.
College Tourist, by Roslyn Kent, University of Calgary

Failing to prepare is like preparing to fail; get organized, check off that list and do your research before you go overseas to the United Kingdom--you won't regret be over prepared.



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It's normal to be overwhelmed by all the check lists, packing lists and shopping lists that you'll undoubtedly be inundated with prior to leaving for your exchange in the UK. Emotions aside, the last thing you'll want to deal with before you leave is the logistics of your exchange; unfortunately, your mom can't do it all for you. Not sure what you'll need while overseas? Here's what you should and shouldn't do prior to leaving for your whirlwind study abroad experience:

Don't:



1. Overpack: You won't be wanting to bring all your unnecessary bulky toiletries. You will be able to buy almost all of them there (unless you need to use specific brands) and chances are, they'll be even cheaper overseas (hello Poundland!).

2. Buy a roaming package for your phone: Phone plans are dirt cheap in the UK (the cheapest you'll pay is 5/month or at the most, 15/month, which will probably included unlimited data and lots of texting and calling). If you extend your phone plan from home it will still cost you more, especially for data--you'll want data in case you get lost. Try to get a month by month plan so you're not tied down to anything. If you can, sign up with Three Mobile, that way you can use your phone for free in 10 other countries in Europe!

3. Pay for unnecessary visas: Make sure you're aware of exactly which visa you'll need while in the UK. It's likely your home university's study abroad office will assist you in this, but avoid seeking advice elsewhere (i.e. from friends who've never studied abroad). If you're a citizen of a commonwealth country then you won't have to pay for a visa at all if you only plan to stay in the UK for six months. Research the different options and be wary of paying for a visa you won't need.

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4. Bring your hair dryer and straightener: If you want to avoid bringing home a broken hair dryer/straightener, it's highly advisable that you buy a cheap one over there and share with your roommates. Oftentimes, North American hair dryers and straighteners aren't equipped to handle the voltage of a UK outlet. If you're certain yours can handle it then go ahead and bring it with you, if not, it's better to be safe than sorry!

5. Pack clothing for all climates: When you go travelling during your study abroad, it's highly unlikely that the weather will be the same everywhere you go. It could be snowing in Poland and sunny and warm in Spain in a matter of a couple of weeks. Avoid having to buy a new pair of shorts or some mittens once you get there and pack a few pieces of clothing for each season--you won't regret it.

Do:



1. Plan ahead for travelling: Is there anything you can bring with you that will help you plan for your eurotrip? It might be helpful to pack some of your things in a travelling backpacking of 30L or more and even bring along smaller items like a money belt, a lock for a hostel locker, a day pack or universal plug converters. These are things that you might not know where to buy once you arrive in the UK and they're quite easy to pack.

2. Prepare how you will spend money abroad: Are you going to open a bank account once you're there? Are you planning to use your visa? The former will involve wiring money over from your bank (more costly) or getting a bank draft before you go with the funds you will want to deposit in a new account once you arrive in the UK (cheaper). Talk to your bank personally and decide what the most affordable option is for you. Remember to keep in mind exchange rates and fees that your visa will incur.

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3. Take out cash: You'll want a decent (but not hefty) amount of cash on hand for when you arrive in the UK in case you aren't able to set up your bank account right away or your visa doesn't work (also to pay for transportation on your first day). You might think you have it all figured out but you should still expect the unexpected.

4. Arrange how you will get to your new accommodation from the airport: It's never fun to be stranded in a new place, especially when you're jet lagged and incredibly overwhelmed. It's likely that there will be a train station in or near the airport you land in that will take you to your destination. Do your research before you go or talk to friends who have already studied abroad at the same university about the best way to get to where you need to be. Chances are you won't have a working phone for GPS when you arrive, which is something you might not think about until you actually land.

5. Bring photos from home: Order some 47 prints of your family and friends so you can put them up on your bedroom wall once you arrive; they wont take up space and they're relatively cheap to print. The first week of your study abroad can be the most challenging--mentally and emotionally--and you'll thank yourself later when you have a reminder of home to look at on a daily basis.



6. Pack a journal: Buy a journal for yourself and write down something new for every day of your exchange. You may not believe it now, but your study abroad will flash before your eyes and before you know it, you'll be packing up your bags to head back home. There's no better souvenir to have than a journal filled with your favourite study abroad memories. It can also serve as a reminder of the names of places, people and specific things you encountered; you'd be surprised just how much you forget once you arrive back home.

A couple extra things to do when you arrive:



1. Buy a 16-25 railcard: If you think that you'll be doing a lot of travel by train to different places in the UK (I wouldn't think twice about this one!), then you'll definitely want to get yourself a railcard because it will get you 1/3 off all train tickets for the entire duration of your exchange. You can order one online and have it sent to your address in the UK once you arrive.
Documentary on how Senegals fisheries crisis drives migration

June 01,2018 | Source: ANSA

The documentary 'Mareyeurs' by director Matteo Raffaelli explores how exploitation of fish stocks in Senegal can drive young people to migrate to Europe.



The documentary 'Mareyeurs' by director Matteo Raffaelli explores how exploitation of fish stocks in Senegal can drive young people to migrate to Europe.



The film, produced by Ocean Film in collaboration with HF4, tells the story of Ibrahima, a young intermediary between local fishermen and fisheries in Senegal, who is worried about the depletion of fish stocks and his diminishing income. It has been presented in France and will preview in Italy at the Migranti Film Festival (June 1-4) in Pollenzo on June 2.



The documentary wants to tell Europeans that "if we don't take steps to protect the environment and safeguard a primary asset such as fish stocks the result will be that over a million people from Senegal alone will want to move to Europe," director Raffaelli told ANSAmed.



"Francesco Congiu (the film's producer) introduced me to the crisis in the fishing sector in Senegal," the director said. The idea of the documentary came about "to tell of a world that it known only to very few people", he added. In Senegal Raffaelli met Ibrahima. "A wife, a daughter, a house, a job: a normal life, that deserved to be made known," he said. Instead of making a documentary on intensive fishing, "I decided it was more interesting to focus on the mareyeurs, who are a backbone of Senegalese society". Raffaelli believes it is wrong to separate the issue of migration from that of sustainable resource use.



"Paying more for a product in Europe but with the certainty that it comes from an artisinal industry means that the people working in that industry are ensured survival," he said. It is precisely the break-up of this industry that drives Ibrahima to consider leaving.



"Fish stocks have fallen by 80 percent over the last 10 years for two essential reasons: intensive fishing and pollution. Ibrahima, a young man with a family, experiences this lack of products for himself. So it is obvious, as it often is for us Europeans, that the choice is to find somewhere for a better life," Raffaelli says.



Ibrahima's future remains uncertain. The documentary sets out to narrate not the outcome of his adventure but "his life path", including "the encounter with his relatives and friends, who moreover advise him not to leave" because life is tough in Europe and the journey can be dangerous. 'Mareyeurs' is not an expose of the emergency aspect of migration, but "the story of the dilemma of someone who is set to lose something should they leave".



Raffaelli believes it is important to focus not on the differences between Africa and Europe but on "the affinities, through the normal stories of people who do not want to leave their home countries. Research shows that a quality African product guarantees economic stability, which is the basic element for slowing migration flows." Trailer: https://vimeo.com/232982371

Theme(s): Communities and Organisations.
NGOs poised to revive dwindling fishing industry in Ghana

by Paul Yankey

May 30,2018 | Source: Modern Ghana

Mr.Kyei Kwadwo Yamoah,Programmes Manager of Friends of The Nation,an NGO,has advised fishers to lend the required support to his outfit to revive the fishing industry in most fishing communities in Ghana.



He said as the new fishing law comes into force next year,it behooves the NGO to equip stakeholders in the fishing industry to take advantage of a training programme dubbed,Evidence Gathering which seeks to empower fishers to gather evidence on illegal fishing acts on the sea.



Mr.Yamoah was addressing a Visibility Durbar for fishers,fisher folks,fish mongers and chief fishermen at Dixcove in the Ahanta West Municipality of Western Region.



Dubbed,"Far Ban Bo"(Protecting Fisheries Livelihoods),the four-year project is being implemented in Ghana by a consortium of NGOs consisting of CARE(the lead),Friends Of The Nation(FoN) and Oxfam for the period January 2017 to December 2020 with funding from the European Union(EU).



The purpose of the durbar was to increase and maintain visibility on "Far Ban Bo" Project and its activities and re-sensitize the community on the Village Saving and Loan Association(VSLA).



As part of the programme,the NGO would train an Illegal,Unregulated,Unreported(IUU) fishing practices committee and build their capacity to handle special mobile phones,binoculars and other apparatus to track illegal fishing vessels on the sea.



The training would also involve incentive monitoring for the local committee and co-management which would afford the local illegal fishing committee and fishing enforcement bodies to work hand in hand.



Mr.Yamoah said the training module would empower the IUU fishing committee to gather enough evidence for the police to effect arrest of illegal fishing.



He bemoaned that a lot of generators for light fishing have been seized at Sekondi and appealed to the Police Command to expose illegal fishing acts through a news conference to serve as deterrent to others adding that the GHC300 penalty on light fishing was not punitive enough as such the new law would prescribe stiffer punishment to abate the nuisance in the fishing industry.



The Programmes Manager said the NGO has formed the VSLA to enhance investment spending to afford women the opportunity to invest the monies they save in productive livelihood ventures such as vegetable farming among others to ensure sustainability based on local resource mobility.



The Head of the Fisheries Enforcement Unit at the Fisheries Commission in Takoradi,Sergeant Wonder Kpedator advised the fishing communities to form volunteer groups to track illegal fishing activities.



He said illegal fishing was horrible in Sekondi with a number of illegal fishing equipment seized and other fishers arraigned before court.



Sergeant Kpedator entreated fishers to comply with the fishing laws to help increase the fish stock in the sea.



He charged the local Police force to respond quickly to the arrest of illegal fishers for prosecution.



The Chief Fisherman for Dixcove,Nana Kwaku Dazie appealed to the NGO and the Fisheries Commission to enact a law which binds all Chief Fishermen to be culpable of illegal fishing acts in their areas of jurisdiction.

Theme(s): Others.
Harnessing blue economy must consider social inclusion, responsible stewardship

by AMB MACHARIA KAMAU and SIDDHARTH CHATTERJEE

May 30,2018 | Source: The Star

In April 2018, Commonwealth leaders met in a retreat at a royal residence in the English county of Berkshire and agreed on strategies to deepen trade in their 53-member organisation, improve security, tackle climate change, and work together for the betterment of the lives of the people of the Commonwealth.



During the Commonwealth Summit, Kenya received support for its plan to host a High Level Sustainable Blue Economy Conference scheduled to take place from 26-28th November 2018 in Nairobi.



Under the theme Blue Economy and the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, the conference presents an opportune moment for advancing global conversation on both the productive and sustainable side of the blue economy.



The conference will lay the case for a sustainable exploitation of the oceans, Seas, rivers and lakes for the economic empowerment of all communities.



Canada stepped forward as a co-host during bilateral talks between President Uhuru Kenyatta and Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau at Lancaster House, London, on the margins of the Commonwealth Heads of Government (CHOGM) meeting.



"Our meeting gives us an opportunity to speak about the great relationship between Kenya and Canada. Canada is pleased with the excellent conference on the blue economy you are hosting and is ready to partner with you," Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said.



Kenya welcomes other countries to join this important initiative as co-hosts. Kenya also welcomes partnerships from governments, academia, private sector, international organisations, political and thought leaders from around the world to share ideas, experience and knowledge on how countries can implement Blue Economy action plans in their countries.



Africas economies have continued to post remarkable growth rates, largely driven by the richness of its land-based natural resources. Yet even though 38 of the continents 54 states are coastal and 90% of its trade is sea-borne, Africas blue potential remains largely untapped.



The African Great Lakes constitute the largest proportion of surface freshwater in the world and it is easy to see why the African Union refers to the Blue Economy as the "New Frontier of African Renaissance".



The potential of the blue economy in Africa is largely unexploited due to uneven focus on land as the most important factor of production.



While Africa is endowed with large water bodies, the communities living in close proximity to such lakes, seas and oceans in the continent are among the poorest in the region.



The realisation of the limitations presented by land as a factor of production in the continent, especially in view of climate change, has necessitated governments and other stakeholders to focus on the immense potential for growth presented by the water resources.



A good illustration of Africas maritime resources potential is the island nation of Mauritius, one of the smallest countries in the world, which has territorial waters the size of South Africa but has one of the strongest blue economies in Africa, ranking 3rd in per capita income in 2015.



Ironically, the narrative on the continents maritime space has for long veered towards the bad news on illegal harvesting, degradation, depletion and maritime insecurity.



This narrative is changing gradually, with recent initiatives indicating that countries are looking at full exploitation and management of Africas Blue Economy as a potential source of wealth for the continents growing population.



With forecasts placing the value of maritime-related activities at 2.5 trillion Euros per year by 2020, the continents hidden treasure could catapult its fortunes.



Kenya is one of several African countries that are formulating strategies to mainstream the Blue Economy in national development plans. Broadly the sub-sectors of the blue economy in Kenya include fisheries & aquaculture, maritime transport & logistics services, extractive industries which include offshore mining of gas & oil, titanium, rare earth (niobium), and culture, tourism and leisure & lifestyle.



In the past the country has largely focused on fisheries both for domestic and export markets  a sector that accounts for only about 0.5 per cent of GDP  yet Kenya has a maritime territory of 230,000 square kilometres and 200 nautical miles offshore.



The groundwork for regulatory and policy changes has started, with the Fisheries Management and Development Act 2016 and establishment of the Blue Economy Implementation Committee indicating the governments intention to utilise its marine resources for economic growth while conserving the same for future generations.



The government ban on single use plastic bags is another demonstration of commitment to ensuring plastic waste does not continue to threaten the environment, including marine life. There has also been a move to protect the coral reef, home to one of the worlds most diverse marine eco-systems.



As Africa enjoins itself to the a paradigm shift to the blue economy, and looks for pathways towards being at the centre of global trade based on the Blue Economy, rather than just the supplier of unprocessed raw materials, among the greatest hurdles will be responsible management, so that the wealth generation is inclusive and ecologically sound.



To achieve this, countries must importantly work on current conflicts that are driven by lack of demarcation of maritime and aquatic boundaries. This has been a constant source of tensions between neighbouring countries, not only threatening any long-term investment considerations, but also leading to irresponsible use of resources.



With the potential gains from the Blue Economy, states have no option but to fast-track resolution of disputes and strengthen their maritime and riparian cooperation mechanisms. This will provide grounds for working on interstate economies of scale and develop strategies for bridging technical and infrastructure gaps among States.



In line with SDG 14, development of this sector must also promote social inclusion while ensuring environmental sustainability. In this respect, the continent owes special consideration to people living along the shores of oceans, lakes and rivers, essentially youth and women.



The question of how this new frontier can address poverty reduction and hunger when leaving no one behind must be a central consideration.



Sadly, Global citizens have already demonstrated considerable recklessness in managing land-based resources. The relatively untouched frontier of Blue Economy must be handled with the highest environmental stewardship and social responsibility.



Kenya and Canada are committed to this and the United Nations family is fully in support of this important initiative which could leapfrog Kenyas and indeed the worlds economic growth.



We, therefore, invite the world to Nairobi on 26th to 28th November 2018, to participate in a global conversation and showcase technology and innovation on the most appropriate strategies for productive, sustainable and inclusive use of the numerous resources in the seas, oceans, rivers and lakes.

 2018 The Star, Kenya

Theme(s): Others.
Photo by Jabin Botsford/The Washington Post via Getty Images(WASHINGTON) -- First lady Melania Trump will not be joining President Donald Trump on his upcoming trips to the G7 summit in Quebec and the highly anticipated summit between the United States and North Korea in Singapore, her spokeswoman told ABC News.



The 48-year-old first lady has not been seen in public since May 10, when she and the president welcomed home three American detainees from North Korea.



On May 14, the White House announced that Melania Trump underwent a medical procedure to treat a benign kidney condition. She remained at Walter Reed Medical Center until May 19.



Sunday marks the 24th day she has not been seen in public.



Last week, as questions swirled about the state of her health and the hashtag #whereisMelania trended online, she tweeted that she was "feeling great" and "working hard on behalf of children and the American people."



Stephanie Grisham, the first lady's director of communications, told ABC News last Wednesday she was "doing really well."



"She's been involved in several internal meetings with staff all last week, and that continues this week. We've been going over initiatives and other long-term planning for events such as the congressional picnic and Fourth of July," Grisham said.



Last year, Melania Trump joined the president for his first G7 trip to Taormina, Italy, where she participated in public appearances with the spouses of other G7 leaders. She had a formal dinner and took in a performance by La Scala Philharmonic Orchestra at the Ancient Theatre of Taormina.



During the trip, the first lady made an international splash for her glamorous fashion choices.

She has also accompanied the president on visits as far away as Saudi Arabia, France, Japan and China.

The two-day G7 summit in Quebec begins June 8.

Copyright  2018, ABC Radio. All rights reserved.
Imperial Valley News Center

Justice Department Secures Largest Negotiated Merger Divestiture Ever to Preserve Competition Threatened by Bayers Acquisition of Monsanto

Washington, DC - The Department of Justice announced Monday that it is requiring Bayer AG to divest businesses and assets collectively worth approximately $9 billion in order to proceed with its proposed $66 billion acquisition of Monsanto Company. The proposed divestiture to BASF, an experienced chemical company with a substantial crop protection business, will fully resolve all horizontal and vertical competition concerns. As a result, American farmers and consumers will continue to benefit from competition in this industry.

This comprehensive structural solution to significant horizontal and vertical competition concernsthe largest negotiated merger divestiture ever required by the United Statespreserves competition in the sale of these critical agricultural products and protects American farmers and consumers, said Assistant Attorney General Makan Delrahim of the Antitrust Division. We commend the parties for working with the Antitrust Division to resolve our concerns on behalf of American consumers.

The Departments Antitrust Division today filed a civil antitrust lawsuit in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia to block the proposed transaction while simultaneously filing a proposed settlement that, if approved by the court, would resolve the Departments competitive concerns.

Bayer, based in Leverkusen, Germany, and Monsanto, headquartered in St. Louis, Missouri, are two of the largest agricultural companies in the world. They compete to provide farmers with a broad range of seed and crop protection products. Bayer and Monsanto also have been leaders in developing technologies that have allowed farmers to increase significantly crop yields and improve efficiency. Without the agreed-to divestitures, the proposed merger would likely result in higher prices, lower quality, and fewer choices across a wide array of seed and crop protection products. The merger also threatened to stifle the innovation in agricultural technologies that has delivered significant benefits to American farmers and consumers.

Under the terms of the proposed settlement, Bayer must divest those Bayer businesses that compete with Monsanto today. These include Bayers cotton, canola, soybean, and vegetable seed businesses, as well as Bayers Liberty herbicide business, a key competitor of Monsantos well-known Roundup herbicide.

The settlement also requires structural divestitures to remedy the competitive harm that would result from the vertical integration of certain significant Bayer seed treatment businesses with Monsantos leading seed businesses. Additionally, because Bayer and Monsanto currently compete to develop new products and services, the settlement requires the divestiture of certain intellectual property and research capabilities, including pipeline R&D projects. Finally, in order to fully prevent competitive harm from the merger, the settlement requires the divestiture of additional complementary assets that are needed to ensure that BASF has the same innovation incentives, capabilities and scale that Bayer would have as an independent competitor including, most notably, Bayers nascent digital agriculture business.

The settlement also includes, consistent with other settlements in this Administration, several provisions designed to improve the effectiveness of the decree and the Divisions future ability to enforce it.

The Department expressed thanks to its enforcement partners around the world, especially its counterparts at the European Commission, the Canadian Competition Bureau, and the Administrative Council for Economic Defense (CADE) of Brazil, for their close and constructive collaboration on this matter.

As required by the Tunney Act, the proposed settlement, along with the Departments competitive impact statement, will be published in the Federal Register. Any person may submit written comments concerning the proposed settlement within 60 days of its publication to Kathleen S. ONeill, Chief, Transportation, Energy & Agriculture Section, Antitrust Division, U.S. Department of Justice, 450 Fifth Street, N.W., Suite 8000, Washington, D.C. 20530. At the conclusion of the 60-day comment period, the court may enter the final judgment upon a finding that it serves the public interest.
Imperial Valley News Center

Latin King Members Convicted of Conspiracy to Participate in Racketeering Activity, Including the Murder of a 15-Year Old Boy

Indianapolis. Indiana - Two Lake County, Indiana men, both members of the Chicago-based Latin Kings, were convicted by a federal jury in the Northern District of Indiana of conspiracy to participate in racketeering activity and conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute and distribute cocaine, marijuana and alprazolam, announced Acting Assistant Attorney General John P. Cronan of the Justice Departments Criminal Division and U.S. Attorney Thomas L. Kirsch II for the Northern District of Indiana.

Darrick Vallodolid aka Deuce, 28, of Hobart, Indiana and Robert Nieto aka Cowboy, 44, of Gary, Indiana were convicted after an 11-day jury trial before District Court Judge Philip P. Simon. The jury found that, as part of the racketeering conspiracy, on Sunday, April 12, 2009, Victor Lusinski, 15, of Lansing, Illinois, was riding a bicycle near an elementary school in Hammond, Indiana, when Vallodolid shot and killed him with a .22 caliber firearm, believing him to be a rival gang member. The evidence at trial showed that on Dec. 2, 2013, Rolando Correa, 22, of Gary, Indiana, was killed in Gary when coming to the aid of his next door neighbors, who were victims of a home invasion robbery which Nieto assisted in setting up and listened to a police scanner to assist in the escape of the robbers. The jury also found that Vallodolid and Nieto each conspired to distribute or possess with intent to distribute five kilograms or more of cocaine as part of the racketeering conspiracy and drug conspiracy. The jury also found that Vallodolid and Nieto each conspired to distribute or possess with intent to distribute 100 kilograms or more of marijuana as part of the drug conspiracy.

The defendants participated in unspeakable violence on behalf of their vicious Latin Kings gang, including the senseless murder of a 15-year-old boy who was riding his bicycle near an elementary school in Hammond, said Acting Assistant Attorney General Cronan. These convictions further demonstrate the Department of Justices ongoing and unwavering commitment to attacking the scourge of gang violence on the streets of Chicago, Hammond, Gary, and throughout our country.

Reducing violent crime in Northern Indiana is a top priority of my office, said U.S. Attorney Kirsch. Yesterdays guilty verdict of two killers for the Latin Kings street gang, along with the convictions of dozens of other violent gang members, will take them off of our streets and put them behind bars. My office and our federal, state, and local law enforcement partners will continue to aggressively prosecute gang members like Vallodolid and Nieto and take them off our streets.

According to evidence presented at trial and case documents, approximately 43 defendants have been charged with racketeering conspiracy as members of the Latin Kings in a criminal conspiracy that spanned a time period from 2003 until November 2017. The racketeering conspiracy charge alleges that gang members and associates were participants in a racketeering conspiracy that involved murder, attempted murder, aggravated assault, sex trafficking, and narcotics distribution.

This case is the result of the investigative efforts of the ATF/HIDTA FIRE Task Force; the East Chicago Police Department; the FBI Gang Response Investigative Team; the Gary Police Department; the Hammond Police Department; the Lake County, Indiana Sheriffs Department and Lake County High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area officers and agents. The Lake County Prosecutors Office also has provided assistance. This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys David J. Nozick and Dean Lanter of the Northern District of Indiana along with Trial Attorney Joseph Cooley of the Criminal Divisions Organized Crime and Gang Section.
Imperial Valley News Center

Japanese Auto Parts Company Pleads Guilty to Antitrust Conspiracy Involving Steel Tubes

Washington, DC - Maruyasu Industries Co. Ltd., an automotive parts manufacturer headquartered in the Aichi Prefecture in Japan, pleaded guilty and was sentenced to pay a $12 million criminal fine for its role in a criminal conspiracy to fix prices, rig bids, and allocate customers for automotive steel tubes incorporated into vehicles sold in the United States and elsewhere, the Department of Justice announced Thursday.

Automotive steel tubes are used in fuel distribution, braking and other automotive systems and are sometimes divided into two categories  chassis tubes and engine parts. Chassis tubes, such as brake and fuel tubes, tend to be located in the body of a vehicle while engine parts, such as fuel injection rails, oil level tubes and oil strainer tubes, are associated with the function of a vehicles engine.

Maruyasu pleaded guilty to a charge contained in an Indictment returned by a grand jury on June 15, 2016, in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Ohio. According to the plea agreement, Maruyasu participated in a conspiracy to suppress and eliminate competition by agreeing to fix prices, allocate customers, and rig bids for automotive steel tubes sold to automobile manufacturers in Japan and incorporated into vehicles sold in the United States, in violation of the Sherman Act.

The Indictment also charged Maruyasus wholly-owned U.S. subsidiary, Curtis-Maruyasu America Inc., and sales executives Tadao Hirade, Kazunori Kobayashi, Satoru Murai, and Yoshihiro Shigematsu. Concurrent with the Courts imposition of the sentence against Maruyasu, the United States moved to dismiss the Indictment as to Curtis-Maruyasu America Inc., Hirade, Kobayashi, and Shigematsu. The sales executives will be required to cooperate with the government in any future prosecutions related to the charged conspiracy.

The Antitrust Divisions prosecution of widespread collusion in the auto parts industry has yielded more than $2.9 billion in fines and convictions of 46 corporations and 32 executives, said Assistant Attorney General Makan Delrahim of the Justice Departments Antitrust Division. The Division and its law enforcement partners will continue to protect American consumers and the free markets by aggressively prosecuting antitrust crimes.

Bid rigging, price fixing and other schemes hurt consumers and undermine our economic system, said Special Agent in Charge Amy S. Hess of the FBIs Louisville Field Office. We will continue our work with the Department of Justice Antitrust Division to uncover schemes aimed at creating an unfair competitive advantage.

This plea represents another victory for U.S. consumers and we greatly appreciate the opportunity to partner with the FBI and Department of Justice Antitrust Division in this endeavor, said Special Agent in Charge Duane Townsend of the Department of Commerce Office of Inspector General.

Todays plea is the result of an investigation conducted by the Antitrust Divisions Chicago Office, the Department of Commerce Office of Inspector Generals Denver Field Office, and the FBIs Louisville Field Office, Covington Resident Agency, with assistance from the FBI headquarters International Corruption Unit and the U.S. Attorneys Office for the Southern District of Ohio.
Imperial Valley News Center

Honduran Man Who Planned to Detonate Explosive at Miami Mall Sentenced to 210 Months for Attempting to Provide Material Support to ISIS

Miami, Florida - Vicente Adolfo Solano, 53, a citizen of Honduras residing in Miami, was sentenced to 210 months in prison, to be followed by a lifetime of supervised release, for attempting to provide material support to the Islamic State of Iraq and al-Sham (ISIS), a designated foreign terrorist organization, after planning to detonate an explosive device at a Miami mall. Solano pleaded guilty on March 14.

Assistant Attorney General for National Security John C. Demers, U.S. Attorney Benjamin G. Greenberg for the Southern District of Florida, and Special Agent in Charge Robert F. Lasky of the FBIs Miami Field Office made the announcement after sentencing by U.S. District Judge Paul C. Huck.

The efforts of the dedicated women and men of the FBI and the South Florida Joint Terrorism Task Force have kept the people of Miami safe from this ISIS supporter and ensured Solano will go to prison, said Assistant Attorney General Demers. I am grateful for our law enforcement partners, and I applaud our prosecutors for todays successful outcome and the message it sends: we will not tolerate threats to our country or its people.

Any individual who plots to support a foreign terrorist organization puts our local community at risk and this threat remains a top priority for our U.S. Attorneys Office and our law enforcement partners, stated U.S. Attorney Greenberg. Todays sentence speaks to those who harbor extremist ideals  your terroristic agenda will be thwarted and your punishment of years in prison will be your only lasting legacy.

Solano dreamed of detonating an explosive device in a crowded Miami area mall, but he was denied his terroristic aspirations by the outstanding work and team effort of the South Florida Joint Terrorism Task Force, said Special Agent in Charge Lasky. This is a job well done by a group of professionals who must remain eternally vigilant.

According to the stipulated factual basis filed with the Court, in early 2017, Solano told an individual, who later became a Confidential Human Source (CHS) for the government, that he was upset with the United States and wanted to conduct an attack in Miami. Later, Solano told this CHS that he wanted to join ISIS.

Solano planned to place and detonate an explosive device in a crowded area of a popular Miami mall. Solano discussed his plot with the CHS and two undercover FBI employees. According to the complaint, Solano provided three videos to the CHS, in which Solano makes pro-ISIS statements and expresses anti-U.S. sentiments. Just prior to his arrest, Solano took possession of what he believed was an explosive device, took steps to arm it, and walked toward a mall entrance in order to carry out his attack. Unbeknownst to Solano, the device was inert and did not pose a risk to the public. Solano was taken into custody prior to entering the Mall.

Judge Huck imposed a sentence below the statutory maximum recommended by the advisory sentencing guidelines and advocated by the government, noting that the defendant is currently in removal proceedings and will be returned to his native country of Honduras following his prison term. Solano had been residing in the United States under Temporary Protected Status. His protected status has since been revoked.

Mr. Demers and Mr. Greenberg commended the investigative efforts of the FBI and the South Florida Joint Terrorism Task Force. This case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Karen E. Gilbert for the Southern District of Florida and Trial Attorney Jolie Zimmerman of the National Security Divisions Counterterrorism Section.
District Court Issues Order to Prevent California Individual From Distributing Adulterated Fish or Fishery Products

Los Angeles, California - A federal court enjoined Michel G. Blanchet of Los Angeles, California, from preparing, processing, and distributing adulterated fish or fishery products without first taking required remedial action, the Department of Justice announced Wednesday.

The injunction ordered by the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California requires Blanchet to implement various consumer safety measures before resuming the preparation, processing or distribution of fish or fishery products. The injunction stems from a complaint the Department filed on Oct. 3, 2017, at the request of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

Blanchet was the owner and President of a business in Los Angeles, California, that processed and distributed fish or fishery products, including salmon, trout, and sturgeon.

Blanchet agreed to settle the litigation and be bound by a consent decree of permanent injunction. As part of the settlement, Blanchet represented that he is not engaged in receiving, preparing, processing, holding or distributing fish or fishery products. Under the permanent injunction, if Blanchet intends to resume such activity, he must notify FDA in writing in advance, comply with specific remedial measures set forth in the injunction, and allow his facility to be subject to FDA inspection.

The Department of Justice is committed to ensuring that processors and distributors of seafood products comply with laws designed to protect consumers, said Acting Assistant Attorney General Chad A. Readler of the Justice Departments Civil Division. The Department of Justice continues to work with the FDA to ensure that consumers are protected from potentially unsafe food.

According to the complaint, FDA inspected Blanchets business on numerous occasions, including two times in 2016. The complaint alleged that Blanchet failed to comply with federal regulations by failing to adequately control the risk of Listeria monocytogenes (L. mono) and Clostridium botulinum (C bot.) toxin formation in vacuum-packed fish or fishery products. The regulations require every fish and fishery product processor to conduct, or have conducted for it, a hazard analysis to determine whether there are food safety hazards that are reasonably likely to occur during the processing of each kind of fish or fishery product that it processes.

According to the complaint, FDAs analysis of environmental samples collected during its January-February 2016 inspection revealed the presence of L. mono contamination in multiple locations throughout Blanchets business. The complaint also alleged that FDAs analysis of environmental samples collected during its subsequent inspection in July-August 2016 also revealed the presence of L. mono contamination in multiple locations throughout the business.

The government is represented by Trial Attorney Monica Groat of the Civil Divisions Consumer Protection Branch, with the assistance of Associate General Counsel for Enforcement Roselle Oberstein of the Department of Health and Human Services Office of General Counsels Food and Drug Division.
United States Settles Lawsuit Alleging That Contractor Falsely Overcharged the U.S. Navy for Ship Husbanding Services

Washington, DC - Inchcape Shipping Services Holdings Limited and certain of its subsidiaries (collectively, Inchcape) have agreed to pay $20,000,000 to resolve allegations that they violated the False Claims Act by knowingly overbilling the U.S. Navy under contracts for ship husbanding services, the Department of Justice announced. Inchcape is a marine services contractor headquartered in the United Kingdom.

Inchcape provided goods and services to Navy ships at ports in several regions throughout the world, including southwest Asia, Africa, Panama, North America, South America and Mexico. Inchcape provided ships with food and other subsistence items, waste removal, telephone services, ship-to-shore transportation, force protection services and local transportation. The lawsuit alleged that from 2005 to 2014, Inchcape knowingly overbilled the Navy for these services by submitting invoices that overstated the quantity of goods and services provided, billing at rates in excess of applicable contract rates, and double-billing for some goods and services.

Federal contractors may only charge the government for costs allowed by their federal contracts, said Acting Assistant Attorney General Chad A. Readler, head of the Justice Departments Civil Division. The Department of Justice will take action against contractors that knowingly submit inflated claims to the armed forcesor any other agency of the United Statesas those inflated claims wrongfully divert taxpayer dollars.

We trust contractors supporting our warfighters to act with the utmost integrity and expect them to comply with their obligations to bill the government as called for by their contracts, said U.S. Attorney for the District of Columbia Jessie K. Liu. This settlement reflects our Offices strong commitment to holding accountable those who violate these fundamental principles, no matter where they may be located.

"This settlement demonstrates that the Department of the Navy will continue to hold contractors accountable for the agreements they make to supply our fleet, said Secretary of the Navy Richard V. Spencer. The Department expects strict adherence to higher standards within the Department and expects the same from its contractors."

Fraud is an abuse of the system that siphons resources away from the American warfighter, said Jeremy Gauthier, Special Agent in Charge of the Naval Criminal Investigative Services Washington D.C. field office. NCIS will continue to work with our law enforcement partners to hold responsible those who would put personal gain above corporate integrity.

The lawsuit was brought under the qui tam, or whistleblower, provisions of the False Claims Act by three former employees of Inchcape, Noah Rudolph, Andrea Ford and Lawrence Cosgriff. Under the act, a private citizen may bring suit on behalf of the United States for false claims and share in any recovery. The government may intervene in the case, as it did here. The False Claims Act allows the government to recover treble damages and penalties from those who violate it. As part of todays resolution, the whistleblowers will receive approximately $4.4 million.

The case was handled jointly by the Civil Divisions Commercial Litigation Branch and the U.S. Attorneys Office of the District of Columbia, with assistance from the Department of the Navy and the Naval Criminal Investigative Service.

The case is captioned United States ex rel. Rudolph v. Inchcape Shipping Services Holdings Limited, et al., No. 1:10-cv-01109 (D.D.C). The claims alleged in the case are allegations only, and there has been no determination of liability.
International Hacker-For-Hire Who Conspired With and Aided Russian FSB Officers Sentenced to 60 Months in Prison

San Francisco, California - Karim Baratov, aka Kay, aka Karim Taloverov, aka Karim Akehmet Tokbergenov, 23, was sentenced to five years in prison and ordered to pay a fine, which encompasses all of his remaining assets.

Assistant Attorney General for National Security John C. Demers, Acting U.S. Attorney Alex G. Tse for the Northern District of California, and Special Agent in Charge John F. Bennett of the FBIs San Francisco Field Office made the announcement. The sentence was handed down Tuesday by U.S. District Judge the Honorable Vince Chhabria.

Criminal hackers and the countries that sponsor them make a grave mistake when they target American companies and citizens. We will identify them wherever they are and bring them to justice, said Assistant Attorney General Demers. I would like to thank Canadian law enforcement authorities for their tremendous assistance in bringing Baratov to justice. We will continue to work with our foreign partners to find and prosecute those who would violate our laws.

The sentence imposed reflects the seriousness of hacking for hire, said Acting U.S. Attorney Tse. Hackers such as Baratov ply their trade without regard for the criminal objectives of the people who hire and pay them. These hackers are not minor players; they are a critical tool used by criminals to obtain and exploit personal information illegally. In sentencing Baratov to five years in prison, the Court sent a clear message to hackers that participating in cyber attacks sponsored by nation states will result in significant consequences.

It's difficult to overstate the unprecedented nature of this conspiracy, in which members of a foreign intelligence service directed and empowered criminal hackers to conduct a massive cyber-attack against 500 million victim user accounts, said Special Agent in Charge Bennett. Today's sentencing demonstrates the FBI's unwavering commitment to disrupt and prosecute malicious cyber actors despite their attempts to conceal their identities and hide from justice.

Baratov, a Canadian national and resident, and three other defendants, including two officers of the Russian Federal Security Service (FSB), Russias domestic law enforcement and intelligence service, were charged with a number of offenses relating to the hacking of webmail accounts at Yahoo and other service providers. In particular, the defendants were charged in a computer hacking conspiracy in which the two Russian FSB officers hired criminal hackers to collect information through computer intrusions in the United States and abroad, which resulted in the unauthorized access of Yahoos network and the spear phishing of webmail accounts at other service providers between January 2014 and December 2016.

Baratovs role in the charged conspiracy was to hack webmail accounts of individuals of interest to his coconspirator who was working for the FSB and send those accounts passwords to Dokuchaev in exchange for money.

The Indictment is available here, and its allegations are summarized in greater detail in the press release that attended the unsealing of the Indictment on March 15, 2017.

Baratov has been detained since his arrest in Canada in March 2017. Baratov waived extradition to the United States and was transferred to the Northern District of California in August 2017. In November 2017, Baratov pleaded guilty to Count One and Counts Forty through Forty-Seven of the Indictment. Count One charged Baratov, Dokuchaev, Sushchin and Belan with conspiring to violate the Computer Fraud and Abuse Act by stealing information from protected computers and causing damage to protected computers. Counts Forty through Forty-Seven charged Baratov and Dokuchaev with aggravated identity theft. As part of his plea agreement, Baratov not only admitted to agreeing and attempting to hack at least 80 webmail accounts on behalf of one of his FSB co-conspirators, but also to hacking more than 11,000 webmail accounts in total from in or around 2010 until his March 2017 arrest by Canadian authorities. In addition to any prison sentence, Baratov agreed to pay restitution to his victims, and to pay a fine up to $2,250,000, at $250,000 per count, with any assets he has remaining after satisfying a restitution award.

The FBI, led by the San Francisco Field Office, conducted the investigation that resulted in the charges in the Indictment. The case is being prosecuted by the U.S. Attorneys Office for the Northern District of California and the U.S. Department of Justice National Security Divisions Counterintelligence and Export Control Section, with support from the Justice Departments Office of International Affairs.
Howard Schultz announced on Monday that he was stepping down after more than three decades at Starbucks. Schultz has led the coffee chain, as a CEO and an executive chairman, since the late 1980s.

"Who could have imagined how far we would travel together, from 11 stores in 1987 to more than 28,000 stores in 77 countries," Schultz said in a letter to current and former employees. "But these numbers are not the true measures of our success. Starbucks changed the way millions of people drink coffee, this is true, but we also changed people's lives in communities around the world for the better."

Schultz's departure from the chain comes after years of rumors of the businessman's political aspirations -- something Schultz acknowledged in an interview with The New York Times.
When I was 15 years old, my mom picked me up from high school one day (since I didn't have my license yet).

I had to be excused a few minutes early from class, because I had a meeting.

We drove 45 minutes north into downtown Boston, and my mom waited in the car as I took the elevator up the Prudential Center tower. I walked into the offices of the famous Boston Duck Tours, excited for my first real sales presentation.

I had emailed with its marketing director for weeks after a referral from my neighbor. We spoke on the phone to discuss the end-of-year corporate video that the company hoped I could help produce. I mailed an example video to BDT's office to give it a sense of the quality it could expect.

I just didn't say that I was 15.

The look on everyone's face as I entered the conference room was priceless. But more priceless was my experience as a young entrepreneur. If you're thinking of starting a business when you're older, here's why you should get started now instead.

1. You're already under-promising.

In business, one of the best things you can do is under-promise and over-deliver. That gap is what creates high value in the eyes of your customer.

Well, as a young entrepreneur, your customers know they are taking a bit of a risk. It's true. Their expectations are a bit lower, and there is an altruistic component to wanting to help you get started.

So, when you deliver an amazing product or service, these early supporters will become your largest fans.

2. The stakes are lower.

A lot of my college friends said they wanted to start their own businesses. Very few have.

When you get a job and start to take on real responsibilities like a mortgage, car loans, or even a family, it's harder to make the decision to step away from your well-paying job.

As a student or recent graduate, you probably aren't rolling in the dough yet. And you probably aren't rolling in the responsibility. So take this opportunity to get your hands dirty and build something before it gets too hard to try.

3. Students get meetings.

In my opening example, my client didn't know how young I was. But, as I grew my business, I played the "I'm a student" card more than a few times to get meetings with prospects.

Here's the lesson, and the angle: Ask for help. Everyone wants to help a student, but rather than trying to go for the sale, go for the feedback.

Explain to your prospect or partner what it is that you're doing, and why the person's feedback or support would really help get you started. In my case, many of those in my early meetings turned into customers, because they wanted to help me at the first opportunity they could.

4. You can focus on building results, not a resume.

Taking a corporate gig out of school is certainly appealing. You get a salary to start paying off student loans and a comfortable place to collect some real-world experience. But, if you're like most recent graduates, you'll have your eyes open for the next job, and then the next job.

Monster.com recommends that job hoppers focus on key experiences at each company to land the next role. As an entrepreneur, the experience is one of an owner, a manager, a sales representative, a marketer, and everything in between.

As you build a company, you build customers. You build revenue and results that can springboard you into working for a competitor, working for a new startup, or working for the same corporation that you were previously considering, perhaps a few rungs up the ladder.
When it comes to women and venture capital, the most often-cited numbers don't show much progress. If anything, they seem to be saying that things are getting worse. Using the most current data available, Babson's Diana Project found that teams with a woman co-founder got 18 percent of venture capital in 2013; at the end of 2017, Crunchbase, using a different methodology, pegged that number at just 10 percent.

But in the past few months, there have been a number of signs that women entrepreneurs, and ventures designed to funnel more money to them, are finally starting to break through. There's new money being allocated to women, and some of the money already invested in women entrepreneurs is starting to pay off, big-time.

In roughly chronological order, here are seven signs the ground is beginning to shift for women founders:

1. New Voices looks to invest $100 million in black women.

In November 2017, Richelieu Dennis sold his company, Sundial Brands, to Unilever. Sundial built its business developing and selling hair and skincare products for Black women, and Dennis has thought long and hard about the community upon which his business depends. As part of the Unilever deal, he insisted on the formation of the New Voices Fund, a $100 million venture fund that will invest in Black women entrepreneurs. At Black Women Talk Tech in February, Richelieu said that he expected New Voices to make its first investments in the second quarter of 2018.

2. A dream investor backs women in tech.

Melinda Gates is no stranger to entrepreneurship, of course. But in February she made her first startup investment from Pivotal Ventures, which is separate from Gates Foundation money. Gates put $200,000 into Alice, a machine-learning platform designed to integrate more women into the startup ecosystem. It's co-founded by Elizabeth Gore and Carolyn Rodz. The investment is structured as a so-called impact investment, and doesn't need to be repaid.

In a story written by my colleague Diana Ransom, Gates made it clear that she's serious about supporting women in tech. "The data tells us that a lack of diversity in tech limits innovation," she said. "If we choose to accept the status quo, we're also accepting the constraints it imposes on human progress."

3. Women take on traditional venture capital with All Raise.

"Last year shone a spotlight on all the bad things you hear about venture capitalists and startups," says Jess Lee, the former CEO of Polyvore, now a partner at Sequoia Capital. But when she spoke with Aileen Lee, the founder of Cowboy Ventures, she found Aileen Lee had a slightly different take: "It feels like there is a window to do things." The first meeting of what would become All Raise, which became an association for women in venture capital, was a dinner of about 15 women held last summer. By April, All Raise had officially launched with two big goals: Double the number of women in venture capital and double the share of venture capital going to women.

Since then, All Raise has instituted Female Founder Office Hours, recruiting 30 venture capitalists to provide advice and mentoring at five live events in San Francisco, New York, Los Angeles, and Boston. They also encouraged more than 700 founders to sign a pledge saying that the diversity of their investors was important to them. Says Maha Ibrahim, a founding member of All Raise and a general partner at Canaan Partners, "There has been more activity around females, minorities, and people of color in the last couple of years than I've seen in my 18 years in the business." All Raise's next task: Recruiting men to join the cause.

4. Boston Scientific buys a woman-led health tech company.

On April 16, nVision Medical, a company that is developing an early-screening device for ovarian cancer, sold to Boston Scientific for $150 million, plus an additional $125 million if the company meets certain milestones. NVision was founded by a woman--32 year-old Surbhi Sarna--and also addresses a problem unique to women. So its success supports the thesis that women entrepreneurs are more likely than male entrepreneurs to help solve important problems that are experienced by women.

Importantly, nVision was also partly funded by women who believe that venture capitalists' reluctance to fund women-led companies is creating a market opportunity for those who will. NVision's A round included both Golden Seeds and Astia Angels, both of which were formed specifically to invest in women-led companies. Astia participated again in the B round.

Sharon Vosmek, the CEO of Astia, says the various Astia Angels investors realized a return between 6x and 7.3x with the nVision sale, and could see another 40 percent if nVision hits its milestones in the next few years. Vosmek says the internal rate of return of the Astia Angels portfolio is double what Astia modeled when it launched its investment strategy. NVision is the fourth exit for Astia Angels, which began investing in startups in April 2013.

5. Portfolia, a family of women-run funds, has its first exit.

Portfolia, which was founded to help women learn to become angel investors, announced its first exit, OtoSense, in May. It returned more than 2x to investors, but the investment is just two years old. OtoSense applies artificial intelligence to the analysis of sound. It has applications in home health care--is that a baby crying or just someone yelling?--but also in manufacturing, where it can help determine if a machine needs some type of repair or upkeep.

Each of Portfolia's funds concentrates on a specific sector, and can accommodate a maximum of 99 investors. They invest in "areas where we know women are the buyers, even within corporate," says Trish Costello, the founder of Portfolia, which she says "almost always" backs gender-balanced teams.

Portfolia currently has six funds, including a FemTech fund launched in April, and about $6 million under management. Next up will be an Inclusion Fund, which will invest in people of color and LGBTQ individuals. There are plans for a food and AgTech Fund by the end of the year. By that time, Portfolia hopes to have $10 million under management.

6. Arlan Hamilton launches $36 million fund for black women founders.

On May 5, Arlan Hamilton, the founder of Backstage Capital, announced that she was raising a $36 million fund to invest in companies founded by black women. She plans to invest $1 million at a time, in 36 companies. "They're calling it a 'diversity fund,'" she tweeted triumphantly. "I'm calling it an IT'S ABOUT DAMN TIME fund."

Hamilton's first fund raised $5 million to invest in women, people of color, and those who identify as LGBT. To raise it, she quit a job in the music industry, learned everything she could about venture capital, and for a while slept on the floor of San Francisco's airport--she was that broke. Eventually, she recruited such big-name limited partners as Marc Andreessen and Chris Sacca. Her 80 portfolio companies include clothing companies Wildfang and Haute Hijab; Airfordable, which lets people pay off airline tickets in installments; and Kairos, an artificial intelligence company.

7. Female Founders Fund raises $27 million.

Female Founders Fund is exactly what it sounds like--an early-stage fund that invests in female founders. It's own founder, Anu Duggal, says she needed to hold 700 meetings to close the first fund, which raised $5 million and closed in 2014. Since then, portfolio company Tala has gone one to raise a $30 million B round to help it make micro-loans via phone, and wedding company Zola raised a $100 million Series C. In May, Female Founders Fund announced the closing of its second fund, at $27 million.
Editor's note: This tour of small businesses across the country highlights the imagination, diversity, and resilience of American enterprise.

Last year, a vandal snuck through a broken fence at Greenlawn Cemetery in Columbus, Ohio, and shattered a 90-year-old stained glass window in a mausoleum. Where once delicate white lilies bloomed before a purple sky, now there was a gaping wound.

Stained glass windows are complex puzzles of prismatic art. Replacing one piece requires skill; rebuilding a window left in shards requires mastery. Fortunately, Greenlawn had a master on call: Franklin Art Glass Studios. For decades, the family business has restored and crafted windows for the cemetery--as well as for houses of worship, universities, homes, hospitals, and businesses around the country.

Today, the mausoleum window--wholly restored, its colors newly vivid--"actually looks better than it did before," says Randel Rogers, president and executive director of the Greenlawn Cemetery Association. "It really came out beautiful."

Housed in historic German Village just south of downtown Columbus, Franklin Art Glass combines design and production facilities with retail supplies and classes for hobbyists eager to produce their own sun-catchers and terrariums. A volume buyer of glass, it also acts as distributor for smaller artisanal studios. "They come to us and we sell them one or two square feet or a single sheet," says Gary Helf, the fourth-generation owner, who came onboard in 1971. "We are able to sell something to almost every stained glass studio in the state of Ohio."

The company employs 20 people, a large operation for the industry. In the 1970s and '80s, when it produced more than 45,000 hanging lamps for Wendy's Old-Fashioned Hamburgers, headcount reached 42. But that's as far as mass production ever went. Virtually all of Franklin's offerings are custom in some fashion. Designers and fabricators do everything by hand, one piece of glass at a time. "The only difference between today and the beginning of time is we have electricity," Helf says.

The company designs and fabricates windows for the ecclesiastical, residential, and commercial markets, but the bulk of its work is restoration. While few new traditional-style churches are being built these days, many existing ones have windows that date back a century or more. The company must take them out, tear them apart, and completely rebuild them. "We have to try to match the craftsman's work that he did 100 years ago and make them last another 150 years," Help says.

The work done for Greenlawn, where Helf's team is currently sprucing up glass in multiple family mausoleums, is typical. Especially tricky are the color-saturated Tiffany windows in the cemetery's ornate Huntington Chapel. "When you are looking at work on Tiffany windows that are over 100 years old you need to have that high-quality specialized artist," Rogers says. "They are hard to find, but Franklin Art Glass is it."

Hard times to hamburgers

Franklin's story begins with the Columbus-based Von Gerichten Art Glass Company, founded in the late 19th century by two brothers from Germany. Helf's great-grandfather was shop foreman at that business, and his grandfather, Henry "Elmore" Helf, worked there as well. In 1924, Henry and two colleagues from Von Gerichten broke away to start Franklin Art Glass Studios, named for the county in which the new business resided.

For a while work was plentiful. Windows in the city's many 19th century churches were dirty and aging. Homeowners wanted stained glass for stair landings and the tops of doors. "In those days, before insulated glass, every single window in the house--even the garage--might have stained glass," Helf says.

But the Depression cracked the fledgling glass company. One co-founder departed, leaving Henry Helf and Wilhelm Kielblock, an artist and expert in religious stained glass whom Von Gerichten had brought over from Germany. Helf ran the business, while Kielblock worked on windows. The company scraped by for several years doing mostly repairs. "There is a story that one of them had a diamond ring they pawned to buy materials," Helf says.

In the late '30s, after the company had recovered, Kielblock left to become an independent designer. In 1945 Helf's father, James, returned to Columbus from Germany, where he'd been a prisoner of war, and assumed control of the company.

In those post-war years the ecclesiastical market for windows remained down, but more companies and homeowners started decorating with stained glass. In 1969, a new fast-food restaurant opened in downtown Columbus, a few blocks from Franklin Art Glass. The interior designer for Wendy's asked James Helf to craft Tiffany-style lamps to suspend from its ceiling, and the restaurant's proliferating franchisees followed suit.

The Wendy's business lasted more than 15 years. Franklin Art Glass has since made windows for other chains, including Victoria's Secret and White Castle.

Custom saints

Restoring stained glass windows is like assembling the world's most fragile, expensive puzzle. "There are thousands of pieces of glass in a window, and we try to keep it as intact as possible when we take it out," says Helf, explaining the process. Employees photograph the window in situ and then again in the studio. Next, they cover it with a huge piece of paper and do a rubbing--like a grave rubbing--that becomes a kind of blueprint, dictating the exact size, shape, and position of each piece. After taking the window apart and cleaning every piece, they rebuild it on top of the rubbing.

If a piece of glass is broken, normally workers can glue it back together. But sometimes--when vandals or storms wreak havoc, for example--the damage is too extensive. "In those cases, we make a brand-new piece that mimics the old piece," Helf says. "If there's a certain blue the factory made 100 years ago but no longer makes, we get as close as we can."

Franklin Art Glass also will custom-design any original work a buyer wants. Residential windows, most of which cost under $1,000, often depict flowers or scenes from nature. But not all commissions are reverent or even tasteful. "We did a boy sitting on the john for a bathroom," says Helf, who displays his family and college crests in stained glass at home.

Institutional work is, of course, much costlier. For example, a large church needing many windows might pay half a million dollars. Windows illustrating religious scenes are less common in new ecclesiastical architecture, which often favors bold abstract patterns or images like landscapes or doves. When a commission does come in for a religious story window--Christ blessing the children, say--Franklin's designers work with the customer on a detailed vision, down to the specific iconographer. "They say, 'We want Saint Matthew,'" Helf says. "OK. How do you want Saint Matthew depicted?"

Recently, the company has experienced a flurry of hospital chapel jobs. There the imagery is typically either nondenominational (geometric patterns, hands of many colors) or multi-denominational (symbols from multiple major religions). Designers may shade those windows so they grow lighter or darker bottom-to-top, which draws the eyes upward. The goal, Helf says, is to create an environment conducive to prayer and meditation.
Jack Phillips stands for a portrait near a display of wedding cakes in his Masterpiece Cakeshop in Lakewood, CO on Thursday, September 1, 2016. Getty Images

The U.S. Supreme Court Just handed down a 7-2 decision in favor of the baker in Masterpiece Cakeshop, Ltd. v. Colorado Civil Rights Commission, saying that the baker had the First Amendment right to not bake and decorate a wedding cake for a gay couple as that violated his sincerely held religious beliefs.

What does this mean for your business?

Most likely nothing. The decision is very narrowly tailored to where strongly held religious beliefs clash with other civil rights. The court was careful to note that the baker was willing to make a birthday cake for the gay couple, but not a wedding cake, as he felt that would violate his religious beliefs.

They pointed out that no one would expect that a "member of the clergy who objects to gay marriage on moral and religious grounds" could be "compelled to perform the ceremony without denial of his or her right to the free exercise of religion." Yet, we wouldn't want to extend that protection to everyone and everything related to marriage. Could a chair rental company refuse to rent chairs to a wedding they disagreed with?

Under this decision, no. The court relied on the owner of Masterpiece Cakeshop's description that a cake is an artistic expression and therefore covered by the First Amendment. The result would have been different if the baker "refused to sell any goods or any cakes for gay weddings."

In other words, the refusal has to directly meet two qualifications:

The refusal is related to free speech and expression The person refusing has sincerely held religious beliefs.

If you, or one of your employees, has a strong religious belief that prohibits him or her from creating something for a customer, you're not required to do so. If it's an employee who has an objection, you would have to offer a reasonable accommodation to the employee to not participate in the speech-related activity.

This court specifically said this case does not decide all other pending cases involving the conflict between religious views and gay marriage, and they will have to be further hammered out in the courts. In other words, neither side should consider this matter resolved.

The big takeaway for business: You need to see both sides.

The Supreme Court blasted the Colorado Civil Rights Commission's handling of the case. They wrote:

That consideration was compromised, however, by the Commission's treatment of Philips' case, which showed elements of a clear and impermissible hostility toward the sincere religious beliefs motivating his objection. As the record shows, some of the commissioners at the Commission's formal, public hearings endorsed the view that religious beliefs cannot legitimately be carried into the public sphere or commercial domain, disparaged Phillips' faith as despicable and characterized it as merely rhetorical, and compared his invocation of his sincerely held religious beliefs to defenses of slavery and the Holocaust. No commissioners objected to the comments. Nor were they mentioned in the later state-court ruling or disavowed in the briefs filed here. The comments thus cast doubt on the fairness and impartiality of the Commission's adjudication of Phillips' case.

In other words, the court didn't believe that the commission looked at the case fairly, and as such, they couldn't trust the outcome of the decision.
Down and Out in Paris and London is an extraordinary and curious book: beautifully phrased, meticulous, honest and funny. George Orwells 1933 memoir, and a study of poverty, is a book both rooted in its era and able to transcend it.

Orwell is a renowned progressive thinker, yet his good intentions occasionally mask questionable practises. When he sells his gentlemens clothes to adopt the costume of the poor, a modern audience cant help but query this methodology, for instance.

Yet this is a book that has inspired countless people to try to understand the personal and political issues at the heart of homelessness  and continues to do so today.

After reading the book as a young man, my own father was moved to sleep in a shop doorway on the streets of Exeter and was horrified by what he experienced. He carried this sense of injustice through his working life, even creating a scheme connecting companies with charities to establish temporary shelters in disused office buildings.

The Orwell Societys 1984 LIVE  (Robin Boot)

When The Orwell Foundation approached me about this project  following the success of a similar event I ran based on 1984 last year  I remembered this family story. I was delighted to discover that the book still burns brightly with the sense of unfairness and the desire to create change that so inspired my father.

A sense of injustice is central to all of Orwells work and continues to inspire. What still shines forth from Down and Out is what Orwell himself calls a desire to push the world in a certain direction, a need to expose a lie or alter other peoples ideas of the society they should strive after.

BAFTA awards 2018  in pictures Show all 26 1 /26 BAFTA awards 2018  in pictures BAFTA awards 2018  in pictures Francis McDormand collects her award for Leading Actress for film Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri Rex BAFTA awards 2018  in pictures British-Irish filmmaker Martin McDonagh, Producer Peter Czernin, US actor Sam Rockwell, actress Frances McDormand and British producer Graham Broadbent in the press room after winning Best Film for Three Billboards outside Ebbing, Missouri EPA BAFTA awards 2018  in pictures Gary Oldman collecting his Leading Actor award for playing Winston Churchill in Darkest Hour Rex BAFTA awards 2018  in pictures Allison Janney with the award for Supporting Actress for her work on the film I, Tonya AFP/Getty BAFTA awards 2018  in pictures US actor Sam Rockwell with the award for Supporting Actor for his work on the film Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri AFP/Getty BAFTA awards 2018  in pictures Lee Unkrich and Darla K. Anderson accept the award for Animated Film for their effort Coco Rex BAFTA awards 2018  in pictures Sir Ridley Scott accepting his BAFTA fellowship Rex BAFTA awards 2018  in pictures Daniel Kaluuya collecting his Rising Star Award Rex BAFTA awards 2018  in pictures Lily James (left) and Gemma Arterton (right) with Rungano Nyoni and Emily Morgan and their BAFTA for Outstanding Debut by a British Writer, Director or Producer PA BAFTA awards 2018  in pictures Alex Gibson, Mark Weingarten, Gregg Landaker, Richard King and Gary A. Rizzo after winning the award for Sound for Dunkirk EPA BAFTA awards 2018  in pictures Paul Austerberry, Jeff Melvin and Shane Vieau with their awards for Production Design for the film The Shape of Water Reuters BAFTA awards 2018  in pictures James McIvory with the BAFTA for Best Adapted Screenplay with Gugu Mbatha-Raw and Orlando Bloom PA BAFTA awards 2018  in pictures Jonas Mortensen, Sam Spruell, Dylan Naden and Colin O'Toole, winners of the British Short Film award for the movie Cowboy Dave Getty BAFTA awards 2018  in pictures Paul Machliss and Jonathan Amos with their award for Editing. The pair won their gongs for their work on the film Baby Driver PA BAFTA awards 2018  in pictures Richard R. Hoover, Gerd Nefzer, John Nelson and Paul Lambert after winning the award for Special Visual Effects for Blade Runner 2049 EPA BAFTA awards 2018  in pictures Nik Powell and Jon Wardle with the Outstanding British Contribution To Cinema award on behalf of the National Film and Television School Getty BAFTA awards 2018  in pictures Raoul Peck poses with the award for Best Documentary for film I Am Not Your Negro AFP/Getty BAFTA awards 2018  in pictures Mark Bridges with his Costume Design award for his work on Phantom Thread Rex BAFTA awards 2018  in pictures David Malinowski, Ivana Primorac, Lucy Sibbick and Kazuhiro Tsuji win Best Make Up and Hair for film Darkest Hour Rex BAFTA awards 2018  in pictures Alexandre Desplat with his Original Music gong for The Shape of Water PA BAFTA awards 2018  in pictures Peter Czernin, Martin McDonagh and Graham Broadbent with their awards for Outstanding British Film for Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri EPA BAFTA awards 2018  in pictures Joanna Lumley in her first year as presenter of the awards Rex BAFTA awards 2018  in pictures Chiwetel Ejiofor and Frances Aaternir arrive on the red carpet wearing their Times Up badges Reuters BAFTA awards 2018  in pictures (L to R) Letitia Wright, Hayley Squires, Ruth Wilson, Tessa Thompson, Marai Larasi, guest, Gemma Chan, Gemma Arterton, Gwen Davis, Andrea Riseborough, Eileen Pullen, Greta Gerwig, Salma Hayek, Phyll Opoku-Gyimah and Barbara Broccoli Rex BAFTA awards 2018  in pictures Gemma Arterton with guests Eileen Pullen and Gwen Davis, two former sewing machine operators who famously went on strike in a Dagenham car plant in 1968 in protest against the gender pay gap. Their story was later made into a film, Made in Dagenham, and then converted for the stage where Arterton starred in the role of Rita PA BAFTA awards 2018  in pictures Sisters Uncut stage a protest against the closing of domestic abuse refuges on the red carpet prior to the ceremony. Their T-shirts read Times Up Theresa in reference to British Prime Minister Theresa May Reuters

The book both illuminates the huge change between 1933 and now and exposes horrifying similarities. As Orwell reveals the cruelty of a lack of workers rights, where livelihoods are lost overnight or jobs not secure from one day to the next day, a modern audience cannot help but hear the words zero hours contracts. Job insecurity is still a major driver of homelessness nearly 90 years later.

As Orwell describes the police arresting rough sleepers or moving them on, he foreshadows recent events such as the cleansing of the streets of Windsor before the royal wedding, and fines presented to beggars in Coventry. As he describes the stories in the Sunday papers about beggarswith two thousand pounds sewn into their trousers we can hear the headlines from this very year in a national newspaper proclaiming fake homeless are earning 150 a day.

Hannah Price is directing Down and Out: Live

Orwells books, however, are more than treatises aiming to right political wrongs. Aside from his political intentions, much of Orwells appeal has always rested in his brilliance as a writer: his ability to distil vast ideas or injustices into perfect phrases, his descriptive passages artfully conjuring the backstreets of 1930s Paris, and his sense of the preciousness of humanity, bringing people clearly and colourfully to life.

His writing is also very funny. He has an extraordinary sense of timing, landing both punchlines and small moments of beauty. Some of these arent immediately apparent  but when you hear the book read aloud, they leap out at you.

In this staging of Down and Out, Jack Monroe, Peter Hitchens, Simon Callow, David Schneider, Bonnie Greer, Sali Hughes and Jon Snow will read passages as actors perform, play music or respond to the themes Orwell raises. In rehearsals it has been extraordinary to hear his words out loud, allowing us to experience the book in a completely different way.

Orwell wrote in his diary that what he most wanted to do was to make political writing into an art. He understood, as we all do, that a list of statistics cant impact on the soul in the same way as a great novel, a beautiful piece of music or a brilliant play. Orwells understanding that the political also needs to embrace the artistic is the driver behind this event.

Simon Callow is among the actors performing in Down and Out: Live (Rex) (Rex Features)

By including new poems  we have contemporary responses by poets Joelle Taylor, Sabrina Mahfouz and Adam Kammerling  music, sound design, projections and lighting, we hope to further this urge by fusing the creative and the political in a direct way.

Orwells desire to see things as they are consistently led him towards the people most affected by vast social injustices. In his essays, his diaries and novels he immerses himself in the lives of those who are suffering, to see from their perspective: to listen and learn.

We aim to do likewise. We have been lucky enough to have been working with homelessness charities The Connection, YMCA and Centrepoint, meaning we will hear the voices of those directly affected by this issue.

Ten brave and brilliant people have been kind enough to share their stories of homelessness with us. Their contribution will make this production deeply personal and entirely political.

And this was also at the heart of Orwells own project. When he writes that the people he meets in Down and Out are just ordinary human beings, he is stating an obvious fact  but one that, even today, is still too often forgotten.

Down and Out: Live takes place 2pm-6pm on 6 June, followed by a panel discussion titled Homelessness and Rough Sleeping in London: What are the Policy Solutions? until 8pm, at Stone Nest, Charing Cross Road (ucl.ac.uk/festival-of-culture). Visitors can drop in and out and are encouraged to bring a sleeping bag to sit on and then leave it as a donation to homelessness charities. A live stream will be available to watch here.
Director Woody Allen thinks that instead of being vilified by the #MeToo movement he should be a "poster boy" for it.

In an interview with Argentinian news show Periodismo Para Todos, Allen discussed his feelings about the movement against sexual misconduct and abuse in Hollywood.

"Im a big advocate of the #MeToo movement," said the 82-year-old director on Monday. "I feel when they find people who harass innocent women and men, its a good thing that theyre exposing them."

Recommended Cate Blanchett speaks out over Woody Allen allegations

Allen then added, "But you know I - I should be the poster boy for the #MeToo movement, because I have worked in movies for 50 years. Ive worked with hundreds of actresses and not a single one - big ones, famous ones, ones starting out - have ever, ever suggested any kind of impropriety at all. Ive always had a wonderful record with them."

In light of sexual abuse allegations from his adopted daughter Dylan Farrow, Hollywood actors and actresses including Mira Sorvino, Greta Gerwig and Michael Caine have decided not to work with Allen moving forward.

In 1993, Allen was accused of molesting Dylan at seven years old in their Connecticut home.

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The fast moving Glass fire has burned over 1,000 acres and has destroyed homes Getty World news in pictures 26 September 2020 A villager along with a child offers prayers next to a carcass of a wild elephant that officials say was electrocuted in Rani Reserve Forest on the outskirts of Guwahati, India AFP via Getty World news in pictures 25 September 2020 The casket of late Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg is seen in Statuary Hall in the US Capitol to lie in state in Washington, DC AFP via Getty World news in pictures 24 September 2020 An anti-government protester holds up an image of a pro-democracy commemorative plaque at a rally outside Thailand's parliament in Bangkok, as activists gathered to demand a new constitution AFP via Getty World news in pictures 23 September 2020 A whale stranded on a beach in Macquarie Harbour on the rugged west coast of Tasmania, as hundreds of pilot whales have died in a mass stranding in southern Australia despite efforts to save them, with rescuers racing to free a few dozen survivors The Mercury/AFP via Getty World news in pictures 22 September 2020 State civil employee candidates wearing face masks and shields take a test in Surabaya AFP via Getty World news in pictures 21 September 2020 A man sweeps at the Taj Mahal monument on the day of its reopening after being closed for more than six months due to the coronavirus pandemic AP World news in pictures 20 September 2020 A deer looks for food in a burnt area, caused by the Bobcat fire, in Pearblossom, California EPA World news in pictures 19 September 2020 Anti-government protesters hold their mobile phones aloft as they take part in a pro-democracy rally in Bangkok. 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While the claims were investigated, a prosecutor didn't want to put Dylan through the difficulties of a trial, but the judge said Allen's behaviour towards his daughter was "grossly inappropriate," The New York Times reported.

Allen has continued to maintain his innocence since the claims surfaced 25 years ago.

He claimed that ex Mia Farrow was helping Dylan lie about the allegations in an act of vengeance against him for dating Mia's other adopted daughter Soon-Yi Previn, who he'd later marry.

"This is something that has been thoroughly looked at 25 years ago by all the authorities and everybody came to the conclusion that it was untrue," Allen said. "And that was the end and Ive gone on with my life. For it to come back now, its a terrible thing to accuse a person of. Im a man with a family and my own children. So, of course, its upsetting."

He continued to express his distress at being put in the category of serial abusers.

"If there is something like the #MeToo movement now, you root for them, you want them to bring to justice these terrible harassers, these people who do all these terrible things," he said. "And I think thats a good thing. What bothers me is that I get linked with them. People who have been accused by 20 women, 50 women, 100 women of abuse and abuse and abuse - and I, who was only accused by one woman in a child custody case which was looked at and proven to be untrue, I get lumped in with these people."
Taylor Swift gave a passionate speech at her concert in Chicago to mark the beginning of Pride Month.

The pop star shared a heartfelt moment with fans before performing her single "Delicate" - wearing a rainbow dress - which was dedicated to the LGBT+ community.

"It's very brave to be vulnerable about your feelings in any situation, but it's even more brave to be honest about your feelings and who you love when you know that it might be met with adversity from society," she told her audience.

"This month and every month I want to send my love and respect to everybody who has been brave enough to be honest about how they feel, to live their lives as they are, as they feel they should be, as they identify.

"This is a month where I think we need to celebrate how far we've come, but I think we also need to acknowledge how far we have left to go. I want to send my love and respect to everybody who hasn't felt comfortable enough to come out yet... and may you do that on your own time and may we end up with a world where everyone can live and love equally and no one has to be afraid to say how they feel," she continued.

"When it comes to feelings and when it comes to love and searching for someone to spend your whole life with... it's all just really, really delicate."

Fans shared their appreciation for the message on Twitter after Swift's show, posting footage and quotes from the speech on social media.

Swift's tour lands in the UK and Ireland later this week, beginning on 8 June in Manchester, where she will perform two shows at the Etihad Stadium, before travelling to Wembley Stadium in London for two nights, and then to Dublin, at Croke Park Stadium.
Lost Voice Guy has won Britains Got Talent 2018.

Over 2.5 million people voted in this years finale, the comic beating Robert White (the bookies favourite) and Donchez Dacres, who placed second and third respectively, to be crowned the overall winner.

The 37-year-old from Newcastle has cerebral palsy which affects his ability to speak and uses a voice synthesiser for his act.

The comedian, real name Lee Ridley, has become the first ever stand-up comedian to win the prestigious award, taking home the 250,000 prize money and the opportunity to play fore the Queen at the Royal Variety Performance.

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Speaking to the audience via a synthesiser after being named this years champion, Ridley said: I have been blown away by the support of the judges and the general public.

Im very excited to perform in front of the Queen. Ive loved her since she sang Bohemian Rhapsody.

Simon Cowell, one of the shows judges, said: To you, you so deserve this. Im so happy.

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Lee was diagnosed at six months old and played his first comedy show in 2012, telling The Independent in 2014: It was my mate who suggested that comedy might be a good idea. I couldnt see how it would work but Id always enjoyed stand up though so the idea stuck in the back of my head. Eventually I decided to give it a try because I knew Id regret if it I didnt.

The Britains Got Talent finale also saw surprise appearances from the Royal Weddings Bishop Michael Curry and Hollywood actor Channing Tatum who announced Magic Mike will be coming to London.
Whether with a new breed of waterproof smartphone or underwater camera, taking pictures and filming under the sea is increasingly an option for us all.

Of course, if you want to get those all important jealousy-inducing Instagram snaps, youre going to want to show your followers just how crystal clear the water and how colourful the fish really were.

Taking underwater pictures or footage, however, is a lot harder than it looks.

(Patrick Dykstra (Patrick Dykstra)

One man who knows this better than anyone is Patrick Dykstra, a cameraman who most famously worked on Blue Planet II, filming manta rays in the Maldives, orca and humpback whales in Norway and more.

Dysktra was last month back in the Maldives for a residency at Coco Bodu Hithi, a luxury resort with its own coral reef teaming with turtles, rays and the whole cast of Finding Nemo, before heading off to Svalbard for three weeks.

Coco Bodu Hithi is a luxury island in the Maldives surrounded by one of best reefs in North Male Atol. Hawksbill turtles are frequently spotted near the Water Villas, while oriental sweet lips, giant parrot fish, and octopi live close to the shore all around the island. For swimmers looking for something more dramatic, the reef on the east side of the island, near the top tier of villas, the Coco Residences, is where you might see sharks, eagle rays, giant table corals and sea anemones.

(Coco Bodu Hithi (Coco Bodu Hithi)

Due to the nature of his work, Dykstra doesnt stay in one place for long, but we managed to track him down in the Maldives and pick his brain on how regular people without any fancy equipment can create impressive underwater content.

How to take great underwater pictures and video, according to Blue Planet II cameraman Patrick Dykstra:

1. Try and keep your hand as stable as you can

Always try to hold the camera as still as possible. Its not easy in the water, but it is the main thing that differentiates professional from amateur footage, Dykstra told The Independent. It can help if you weight your underwater camera housing to be neutrally buoyant using floats and weights as needed, even GoPro housings.

Of course, you also want to be neutrally buoyant yourself as much as possible. Its easier to hold steady shots when you arent floating or sinking.

2. Set your camera to 60, 90 or even 120 frames per second, then play it back at half the speed or slower

Because its rarely practical to have a tripod when filming underwater, filming at a setting that allows you to use slow motion (off-speed) is important, Dykstra explains.

In order to play back decent quality video, you need at least 24 frames per second, so by filming at a setting with more than that, you can play your footage back using slow motion.

Slowing underwater footage slightly makes it more stable and gives it a more professional look, Dykstra adds.

(Patrick Dykstra (Patrick Dykstra)

3. Keep the sun behind you

When the sun is shining, ideally you want to have it at your back: This allows your shot to have more colour and cuts down on the amount of backscatter in your shots, which are small particles in the water that often get lit up by the sun, Dykstra explains.

This is particularly important when using relatively basic equipment. Keep aware of the suns position and adjust your angle accordingly.

4. Film for the story you are telling, not just what looks pretty

Its all very well filming angles and moments that look pretty, but you need to think about what youre actually going to do with the footage later. A bunch of pretty shots can't always tell a story, Dykstra points out.

If you know what you are going to do with the footage and you do some research to get familiar with the animal in question and its behaviour, there is a better chance of having the shots you need when youre done filming.

5. Have fun!

Much like filming at gigs or taking pictures of sunsets, it can be all too easy to become so focussed on filming that you forget to appreciate what youre seeing with your own eyes.

Dont get so caught up in looking through the viewfinder and forget to enjoy yourself! Dykstra stresses. If you are out having a good time, it often comes through in your shots and people enjoy seeing them. I know that I tend to stay out longer and put in more effort when its fun to be there!
The government should make it mandatory for large companies and pension funds to report their exposure to climate change risks, a committee of MPs has said.

Current rules encourage short-term thinking while neglecting concerns such as sustainability, the Environmental Audit Committee (EAC) said. It recommended that new rules on climate change disclosure should be in place by 2022.

Institutional investors are sometimes confused about the extent of pension trustees duty to consider environmental risks, the MPs said.

The report urges the government to lay down in law the duty that pension funds and other large asset owners have to consider the long-term value of their investment. In light of this duty, institutional investors should be considering environmental risks, the committee said.

This is especially important given the long time horizons of pension funds investments and the huge sums of money involved, the committee said. UK pension funds manage trillions of pounds worth of assets.

Mary Creagh MP, chair of the Environmental Audit Committee, said: We need to fix the incentives in our financial system that encourage short-term thinking. Long-term sustainability must be factored into financial decision making.

Climate change poses financial risks to a range of investments  from food and farming, to infrastructure, construction and insurance liability. The low-carbon transition also presents exciting opportunities in clean energy, transport and tech that could benefit UK businesses.

We want to see mandatory climate risk reporting and a clarification in law that pension trustees have a duty to consider long-term sustainability, not just short-term returns.

The committee said pension savers should be given a greater opportunity to engage with decisions about where their money is invested.

The government should require fiduciaries to actively seek the views of their beneficiaries when producing statements of investment principles, the MPs said.

The recommendations come amid growing international momentum encouraging financial reporting on sustainability.

Rachel Howarth, senior policy officer at campaign group Share Action welcomed the report.

"Endemic short-termism in the UK pension and investment system poses huge risks to the financial and wider interests of individual savers," she said.

"We were particularly pleased to see the recommendation that climate risk reporting should apply equally to asset owners (such as pension funds) and their investment managers."

Ms Howarth added: "It is extraordinarily outdated for risk-bearing pension savers not to be provided routinely with information that allows an assessment of whether their pension schemes are managing climate-related financial risks effectively compared with other schemes."
Hotel Chocolat has paid back 6.4m it borrowed from customers through bonds that paid a return in the form of boxes of luxury chocolate.

The chocolate bonds issued in 2010 and 2014 helped to create 600 jobs, open new stores and develop cocoa sustainability projects in St Lucia and Ghana, the company said.

Customers who invested 2,000 in the 2010 bond received six boxes of chocolates per year, each priced at 18.95, equivalent to 6.72 per cent interest.

The upmarket chocolatier said it used some of the money to build four model farms that supply disease-resistant cocoa seedlings and demonstrate best-practice cocoa growing techniques to improve farmers incomes.

The British company said it also built a fully operational community medical centre in Osuben, Ghana.

Angus Thirlwell, co-founder and chief executive of Hotel Chocolat, said: Thanks to the support of our amazing chocolate bond-holders, we were able to invest in ethical cocoa, British manufacturing, create hundreds of jobs and then repay them in full, as planned.

Founded in 1993, the company has developed a loyal following that it sought to capitalise on when it first offered the innovative chocolate bonds to 100,000 members of its tasting club in May 2010.

Other companies have also attempted to tap their customers for investment in recent years as bank lending has become more restricted.

Mexican restaurant chain Chilango issued a burrito bond paying 8 per cent in 2014, while subscription wine seller Naked Wines offered a bond in 2013 that paid 7 per cent in cash or 10 per cent in booze.
The government has announced it plans to sell a 7.7 per cent stake in Royal Bank of Scotland, as it restarts the process to privatise the lender after bailing it out during the financial crisis.

According to a Treasury announcement, UK Government Investments told the chancellor on Monday that it would be appropriate to conduct the second sale of the governments shareholding in the Royal Bank of Scotland. The first divestment of part of the governments stake took place in 2015, when George Osborne authorised the sale of 600m shares at a loss of around 1bn.

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The government bought approximately 80 per cent of the bank in order to save it from going under during the financial crisis, shelling out 45.5bn for shares price at more than 500p each.

However, the lenders share price is significantly lower than that now, trading at just over 280p on Monday, and selling off the stake at current prices represents a huge loss for the taxpayer.

Last week, Labour warned Philip Hammond against resuming the selling of shares in RBS, and said there was no economic justification for such a move.

John McDonnell, the shadow chancellor, said: There is no economic justification for a further sell-off of RBS shares and it beggars belief that this government is considering selling shares at an even bigger loss to the taxpayer than the 1bn George Osborne managed.

All further sales of RBS shares should be halted, and the bank reorganised under public control to help provide the patient, long-term investment capital that businesses across the country so urgently need. The next Labour government will deliver a banking system that works for the many, not the few.
A woman has been completely cured of breast cancer after doctors tweaked her immune system, enabling it to destroy the tumours that had spread through her body.

The treatment, which succeeded after all other conventional treatments had failed, marks the first successful application of T-cell immunotherapy for late-stage breast cancer.

While the technique is still in its early days, scientists have welcomed its potential as a future treatment for cancers that have resisted all other forms of therapy.

Judy Perkins, a 49-year-old engineer from Florida, was selected to undergo the cutting edge treatment after several chemotherapy sessions had failed to kill the tumour, which had begun to spread to her liver. Before the new treatment, doctors had given her three years to live.

She was treated by a team led by Dr Steven Rosenberg at the National Cancer Institute (NCI) in Maryland.

The clinical trial, which is still ongoing, used modified T-cells  which make up part the bodys immune response  to tackle the patients tumours.

Doctors caring for Ms Perkins during her recovery described her return to health as "remarkable". She has now been entirely free of cancer for two years.

Immunotherapy, which involves stimulating the bodys natural defences to fight cancer, is already being used to tackle certain cancers, and some forms are already available on the NHS.

However, the response rate to even the most successful treatments is relatively low, with one recently trialled therapy showing strong effects in only around 10 per cent of prostate cancer patients.

Previous clinical trials using immunotherapy to treat breast cancer have proved largely ineffective.

The new approach pioneered by Dr Rosenberg and his team was based on an existing technique called adoptive cell transfer that has proved effective when treating melanoma, but not other forms of the disease.

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Cancer specialists have described the news as significant evidence that this new approach to immunotherapy could succeed where others have failed.

This research is experimental right now, said Dr Rosenberg.

But because this new approach to immunotherapy is dependent on mutations, not on cancer type, it is in a sense a blueprint we can use for the treatment of many types of cancer.

The NCI teams method involved taking T-cells that specifically target cell mutations within patients tumours. These cells were then grown in large numbers in the lab and infused back into the patient.

To treat the patient in this trial, Dr Rosenberg and his colleagues sequenced genetic material from one of her tumours to identify mutations that were specific to her case.

They then used this information to pinpoint the T-cells capable of targeting those mutations.

The results of this work were published in the journal Nature Medicine.

Professor Alan Melcher, an immunotherapy expert at the Institute of Cancer Research, said this exciting study showed a remarkable success in terms of translating our basic biological understanding of how the immune system responds to cancer into a real treatment of real benefit for this particular woman.

However, he noted the treatment would probably not work for everyone, and that further successful trials will be necessary before it can be rolled out widely.

The actual feasibility, not to mention the cost of it, has not been addressed  but the excitement is around the proof of principle, Professor Melcher, who was not involved in the research, told The Independent.

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This is an area in which the technology is moving so quickly that things that seem impractical at the moment in very few years time may well be deliverable.

Other experts agreed that while these initial results would need to be confirmed in larger clinical trials, they hold promise for a variety of particularly stubborn forms of cancer.

This is another piece of evidence confirming that some cancers are recognisable by the bodys immune system and that if this can be stimulated in the right way, even cancers that have spread to different parts of the body may be treatable, said Professor Peter Johnson of the Cancer Research UK Centre at Southampton General Hospital.

This is an illustrative case report that highlights, once again, the power of immunotherapy, said Dr Tom Misteli, director of the NCIs Centre for Cancer Research.

If confirmed in a larger study, it promises to further extend the reach of this T-cell therapy to a broader spectrum of cancers.

In an article commenting on the results of Dr Rosenbergs trial, Dr Laszlo Radvanyi of the Ontario Institute for Cancer Research said they provided evidence that we are now at the cusp of a major revolution in cancer immunotherapy.
Irans top leader has said the country will attack ten times over if is targeted by its enemies, a threat directed at the US and Israel after Donald Trump pulled out of the Iran nuclear deal.

In a televised speech, Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei urged the nations youth to stand up to pressure from the US in the aftermath of Mr Trumps decision last month to exit from the landmark seven-party accord. The decision resulted in the reimposition of sanctions that had been lifted as part of the deal.

Tehran will attack 10 times more if attacked by enemies.The enemies dont want an independent Iran in the region, said Mr Khamenei, according to Reuters. We will continue our support to oppressed nationsour enemies have staged economic and psychological warfare against us and new American sanctions are part of it.

Since the US announced it was withdrawing from the 2015 agreement, the EU, along with Russia, China and Iran, have been discussing whether the deal is still workable without the involvement of the US, which has great leverage over global financial transactions.

One of the endeavours being pursued by the EU is the revival of legislation that would allow European companies to continue doing business with Iran, despite US sanctions. The so-called blocking statute was introduced in 1996 to circumvent US sanctions on Cuba but was never used.

Reports suggest an updated version of the measure should be in force before 6 August, when the first sanctions take effect.

 President Donald Trump states if Iran restarts their nuclear program there will be severe consequences

We have the duty, the Commission and the European Union, to do what we can to protect our European businesses, especially SMEs, European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker said in a statement, referring to small and medium-sized companies.

The comments from Mr Khamenei came as Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu travelled to Europe for meetings in Germany, France and the UK. Mr Netanyahu, who was among the loudest voices calling on the US to pull out of the Iran deal and praising Mr Trump for doing so, met on Monday with German Chancellor Angela Merkel.

Before he left for Europe, Mr Netanyahu met with his cabinet and tweeted about his determination to stop Iran obtaining a nuclear weapon. Iran has always insisted it has no nuclear ambitions, beyond developing the technology for providing energy.

Israel attack Iran targets in Syria: overnight airstrike in pictures Show all 10 1 /10 Israel attack Iran targets in Syria: overnight airstrike in pictures Israel attack Iran targets in Syria: overnight airstrike in pictures Missiles rise into the sky as Israeli missiles hit air defense position and other military bases, in Damascus Syrian Central Military Media, via AP Israel attack Iran targets in Syria: overnight airstrike in pictures Missile fire is seen from Damascus Reuters Israel attack Iran targets in Syria: overnight airstrike in pictures An Israeli flag is seen placed on Mount Bental in the Israeli-annexed Golan Heights. Israel's army said today it had carried out widespread raids against Iranian targets in Syria overnight after rocket fire towards its forces it blamed on Iran, marking a sharp escalation between the two enemies. Israel carried out the raids after it said around 20 rockets, either Fajr or Grad type, were fired from Syria at its forces in the occupied Golan Heights at around midnight. AFP/Getty Israel attack Iran targets in Syria: overnight airstrike in pictures The Israeli military on Thursday said it attacked "dozens" of Iranian targets in neighboring Syria in response to an Iranian rocket barrage on Israeli positions in the Golan Heights AP Israel attack Iran targets in Syria: overnight airstrike in pictures Israeli artillery deployed missiles toward Syrian military targets, on the Golan Heights EPA Israel attack Iran targets in Syria: overnight airstrike in pictures Missile fire is seen over Daraa Reuters Israel attack Iran targets in Syria: overnight airstrike in pictures Air defence systems intercepting Israeli missiles over Syrian airspace AFP/SANA Israel attack Iran targets in Syria: overnight airstrike in pictures Israeli soldiers walk among armored vehicles in the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights Reuters Israel attack Iran targets in Syria: overnight airstrike in pictures Syrian air defense missiles are seen in the sky over the capital Damascus EPA Israel attack Iran targets in Syria: overnight airstrike in pictures Air defence systems intercepting Israeli missiles over Syrian airspace. Israeli missile strikes fired at Syria hit military bases, as well as an arms depot and military radar. AFP/SANA

This week I will meet with three European leaders Emmanuel Macron, Angela Merkel and Theresa May, Netanyahu said. Israel will not let Iran obtain nuclear arms,

After meeting the meeting between the German and Israeli leaders, Ms Merkel said she agreed with Mr Netanyahu that Irans activities in the Middle East were a concern, particularly for Israel.

While it has never admitted possessing them, Israel is the only country in the region that is armed with nuclear weapons.

We agree that the question of Irans regional influence is worrying, especially for Israels security, Mr Merkel told a joint news conference with Mr Netanyahu after their meeting in Berlin.
UPDATE 21.10.19. Cllr Freedmans suspension from the Conservative Party was lifted in September 2018, following an investigation by her Conservative Association and the Party.

Two Conservative councillors have been suspended following allegations that they posted Islamophobic comments on social media.

The suspensions come as pressure continues to grow on the party to conduct a formal inquiry into Islamophobia following calls from the Muslim Council of Britain (MCB) and 11 separate Muslim councils around the UK.

Linda Freedman, a councillor in Barnet, was suspended by the Conservative Party after it appeared she expressed support for the detention of Muslims on social media.

She tweeted in response to a Washington Post article by actor George Takei warning against internment of Muslims in the United States.

They interned my German ones for one year during WW2. It was the right thing to do for the sake of security, Ms Freedman said.

Councillor Ian Hibberd from Southampton has also been suspended after he commented on a picture posted by fellow councillor Harmeet Singh Brar asking: Why are you dressed like a p***.

Mr Hibberd is under investigation but Mr Brar said he felt the response from the party to investigate was a get out.

I felt when I spoke out about racism I was isolated and casted out, he told The Independent.

That was the major reason why I left.

Mr Brar has now left the Conservative Party altogether saying it was due to two years of bullying, harassment and racism.

The news comes as The Independent revealed the former mayor of Lowestoft had been suspended for posting Islamophobic comments online.

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. 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A search began for possible survivors after a scanner detected a pulse one month after the mega-blast at the adjacent port AFP via Getty World news in pictures 3 September 2020 A full moon next to the Virgen del Panecillo statue in Quito, Ecuador EPA World news in pictures 2 September 2020 A Palestinian woman reacts as Israeli forces demolish her animal shed near Hebron in the Israeli-occupied West Bank Reuters World news in pictures 1 September 2020 Students protest against presidential elections results in Minsk TUT.BY/AFP via Getty World news in pictures 31 August 2020 The pack rides during the 3rd stage of the Tour de France between Nice and Sisteron AFP via Getty World news in pictures 30 August 2020 Law enforcement officers block a street during a rally of opposition supporters protesting against presidential election results in Minsk, Belarus Reuters World news in pictures 29 August 2020 A woman holding a placard reading "Stop Censorship - Yes to the Freedom of Expression" shouts in a megaphone during a protest against the mandatory wearing of face masks in Paris. 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. 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Stephen Ardley, a member of the Waveney District Council, allegedly said it was unbelievable that a Muslim had been elected and went on to describe those who voted for him as blind.

Mr Ardleys comment on a Facebook post said: I think its unbelievable that a Muslim was actually elected the mayor of this great Christian country  oh wait hes Labour so the blind just vote red and left.

The suspensions add to the growing list of investigations after examples of Islamophobia demonstrated by Conservative councillors and candidates that have been revealed in recent months.

The MCB said: We are starting to see even more examples of Islamophobia within the Conservative Party. It is no longer good enough to say that these cases are being investigated.

There needs to be an independent inquiry and we continue to hope that the party will heed our call.
During secondary school, my sister unsuccessfully tried to take her own life and my friends brother died by suicide a couple of years later. I didn't think it hit me at the time, but it did.

I had taken an overdose more than once too, but being diagnosed with heart failure in 2010 gave my life a new meaning  things began to get better when I came out of hospital. And then, at the end of August last year, my sister died by suicide.

For Kieran Fitzpatrick, 37, suicide has plagued his whole life. He has been unable to escape his own mental struggles following his sister's death. I tried to take my own life again, it completely threw me off guard.

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Kieran is from Downpatrick, a small picturesque Northern Irish town not far from Belfast, with just under 20,000 residents. The town is famous for being the final resting place of St Patrick, the patron saint of Ireland, who according to legend, banished snakes from the island.

Today, the historic town is one of many in Northern Ireland facing a new and more deadly foe, a suicide epidemic. According to the Northern Ireland Statistic and Research Agency, 297 people took their own life in Ireland in 2016 alone.

What concerns mental health professionals most is the rapid increase in the annual number of suicides since the signing of the Good Friday Agreement in 1998, despite the newly formed Assembly hopes to usher in a new era of prosperity and stability. In 1998, records show that 143 people took their own lives in Ireland, fewer than half of the number in 2016.

Another disconcerting statistic shows that more people in Northern Ireland have died by taking their own lives since the signing of the agreement than from violence during the Troubles.

Downpatrick, where St Patrick allegedly banished snakes. Today's foe is suicide (Getty) (Getty Images)

Worryingly, suicide rates in Northern Ireland have also soared at a much faster rate than the rest of the UK. According to a report by the Samaritans, overall suicide rates in the UK have increased by 3.8 per cent since 2014, with a 2 per cent increase in England.

However, the number of deaths attributed to suicide in Northern Ireland has increased by 18.5 per cent during the same period, according to the findings. Northern Ireland's suicide trend is not representative of the whole country. Rates have actually decreased by 13.1 per cent in the Republic of Ireland, the lowest number there since 1993.

Male suicides are more common. In 2016, 221 took their lives, compared with 76 women, with men aged between 30-35 making up the largest group.

A further Samaritans report found that the number of men taking their own lives in Northern Ireland per 100,000 of the population had increased by 82 per cent from 1985 to 2015.

So why is Northern Ireland experiencing such an alarming and ever increasing suicide epidemic? Siobhan ONeill is a professor of Mental Health Sciences at Ulster University and she has undertaken the largest study into mental health in Northern Irelands history.

For Siobhan, the most significant factor is the legacy of the Troubles themselves and a failure to provide adequate treatment for those affected by the violence they witnessed. Her study into mental health revealed that almost 40 per cent of the Northern Irish population had witnessed a traumatic event associated with the Troubles, 18 per cent had seen someone dead or seriously injured.

She also studied the prevalence of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), discovering that Northern Ireland had the highest rates out of the 30 countries examined, including South Africa and Lebanon.

We see a clear link between seeing trauma and then someone inflicting trauma on themselves, Siobhan explains.

We have the issue now of living in a post-conflict society where people have to process what has been gained because of all the fighting.

All the evidence we have shows that people in Northern Ireland are re-interpreting what they have seen or even done and it re-traumatises them."

A perceived lack of purpose following the signing of the Good Friday Agreement can also be attributed as a cause.

When a society goes through conflict, it actually causes social cohesion because it brings people together to fight against something, Siobhan adds.

When that ends you see an increase in suicide rates because the connection that was there has gone. People have lost that power and a legacy of poverty and hopelessness returns.

Despite this urgent need, Northern Ireland still receives significantly less funding to deal with suicide and mental health problems than the rest of the United Kingdom.

According to a study conducted by Northern Ireland's department of health in 2014, the country is reported to have a 25 per cent overall prevalence of mental health problems than England.

We have a 20 per cent smaller budget than in England, with a 25 per cent greater need, rebukes Michael McGimpsey, the former minister of the department.

Although funding for primary care has increased in Northern Ireland by 136.2 per cent since 2009, mental health services have experienced annual monetary reductions until 2016, a study by the Commission on Acute Adult Psychiatric Care found.

Specialist mental health services are needed to deal with the unique concerns posed by the aftermath of the Troubles. David Babington is the chairman of Action Mental Health (AMH), a Northern Irish charity which aims to improve the quality of life for people with mental health needs.

Derry: British paratroopers round up demonstrators on Bloody Sunday, 30 January 1972. Paratroopers opened fire on the civil rights march, killing 14 civilians (Getty) (Getty Images)

AMH runs a variety of services, from teaching employers how to address mental ill-health in the workplace, to offering school children the chance to discuss any concerns they may have with therapists. The charity also offers free qualifications and counselling to help sufferers get back on their feet.

Babington is concerned about the lack of political representation for Northern Ireland, despite the specific challenges its society faces.

He recently led a delegation of charity representatives to Westminster where they met with MPs from the Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) and Sinn Fein, as well as members of the House of Lords, in order to raise awareness of surging suicide rates.

A request to meet with the Secretary of State, Karen Bradley, remains unanswered. Many of the problems come against the background that we dont have a local assembly that would normally look after us and our issues and control the health budget here, Babington told the Independent.

We havent had a proper devolved administration here since the end of 2016; it has been over a year now and there is no prospect for this to change.

"After telling politicians that we need help, we were promised more funding for mental health which still hasnt been given."

Alongside the legacy of the Troubles and a critical lack of mental health funding, there is an apparent depletion of political will to address the high rates of deprivation and unemployment, particularly in areas of North and East Belfast where spiralling alcohol and drug dependency levels are causing suicide figures to rise.

Northern Irish society is also considered to be one of the most conservative in Western Europe, with the church retaining a strong influence over societal norms.

Particular religious denominations mean that whole waves of our population feel much more closeted, Siobhan states.

Its simply a toxic mix of factors, echoes Babington. Many local charities and voluntary groups are working hard to bridge the funding and services gap.

Peter Thompson is a centre co-ordinator at the Ballysillan Youth for Christ (BYFC) organisation, known as the Blue Houses'. They work in an area of North Belfast with some of the highest rates of poverty in the whole of Northern Ireland.

Around 60 per cent of the population of Ballysillan also has no or a low-level of qualifications. Alongside running workshops and drop-in sessions, BYFC's volunteers also work tirelessly in local schools, alleviating pressing mental health issues and run inter-generational workshops to assist parents struggling to raise their children while living with the legacy of the Troubles.

Their volunteers work in local schools to alleviate pressing mental health issues and run inter-generational workshops to assist parents struggling to raise their children while living with the legacy of the Troubles.

However, the future of the Blue Houses hangs in the balance.

We have lost some significant funding recently and have found it difficult to access other funding streams." Peter Thompson confides.

If we dont have a major turnaround in the next few months our team will be reduced to two employees, which will be a disaster for the community and young people.

Northern Ireland is full of people like Peter who possess a genuine will to change the lives of those suffering from mental health problems.

However, organisations suffer from severe funding constraints and a lack of country specific services.

Envious eyes are cast across the Irish Sea to England, where in April Jeremy Hunt introduced 25 million of additional funding to tackle suicide rates in England, with nothing announced for Northern Ireland.

In Downpatrick, Kieran attributes AMHs group therapy sessions and skills workshops to saving his life.

Suicide rates have gone up since the Troubles. Having a cause to fight unites people and gives them a reason for living (AFP/Getty) (AFP/Getty Images)

He obtained his Level 2 Customer Service qualification through the group, obtained a work placement and was then given a permanent position.

Im in a good place now, he says, smiling.

You can still have your days where you question yourself, but I can put my past behind me and go on. I dont think that I could have done this without the help of AMH and the stress management and personal development courses that they offered.

Along with several friends, Kieran has now opened his own mental health charity called All Lives Are Precious (ALPS).

It was a proud moment for Kieran when the organisation recently held its first Downpatricks Got Talent competition, which aims to show local youth that they are talented and that their future is indeed a bright one.

The money that we should have been getting for mental health just hasnt been released, Kieran asserts.

All my life I was a nationalist but I dont care who is in power now. I just want somebody to be there to offer the funds that are needed."

I catch up with Siobhan ONeill for one last time, she is celebrating her daughters first birthday. Laughing as her daughter attempts to snatch the phone off her while we are in mid conversation, she reveals her true motivations for working in the sector.

ONeill suffered a breakdown herself after a crisis in her personal life and was struck by how many people she knew in Northern Ireland who were being crippled by mental health issues. I just didnt want the next generation and my child to have to go through what me and many of my friends have been through, she says with determination.

I want it to be so much better for them, you know?

If you have been affected by any of the issues discussed in this article you can contact the Samaritans on (0)20 8394 8300.

The organisation also runs local offices in Northern Ireland on +44 (0)28 9066 4422, in Scotland on +44 (0)131 556 7058, in Wales on +44 (0)29 2022 2008, in Ireland on +353 1 6710071.
An explosive eruption at the Volcan de Fuego in southern Guatemala has left at least 25 people dead after pyroclastic flows surged down the sides of the mountain, burying villages and people.

As smoke and ash rained onto the nearby capital, volcanic materials covered an 8km (5-mile) radius around the initial eruption site.

The volcano has been reliably active for three years, with a heartbeat that saw it erupt around once every 25 days.

However, the latest event has been particularly devastating for surrounding communities, and has already caused destruction on a scale that has not been seen in recent years.
An 18-year-old woman has been found guilty of plotting a terrorist attack in London as part of the UKs first known all-women Isis cell.

Safaa Boular, who planned a grenade and gun attack on the British Museum, became the countrys youngest convicted female terror plotter.

The Old Bailey heard the teenager discussed the attack with her sister and mother using Alice in Wonderland-themed coded language after she was stopped from joining her husband in Syria.

She was found guilty today of preparing acts of terrorism abroad and in the UK.

The jury took two days to deliberate before delivering a verdict. Boular did not react when the decision was read out.

Judge Mark Dennis QC put off sentencing for around six weeks for a report to be compiled.

Safaa Boular enlisted her sister, fellow Isis supporter Rizlaine Boular, 22, after Safaa was remanded in custody over an attempt to travel to Syria. Their mother, Mina Dich, 44, was also involved in discussions.

Both the 22-year-old and the 44-year-old from Vauxhall, south London, pleaded guilty to preparing acts of terrorism and will be sentenced at a later date.

They were caught out after a proactive investigation by MI5 and counter terrorism police.

The court heard how the women used words based on an Alice in Wonderland tea party when talking about their plots over the phone.

Rizlaine said she knew a few recipes for some amazing cakes for a proper like English tea party kind of thing.

Safaa told her sister: You can be the Mad Hatter cause your hairs crazy.

Mother-of-four Dich responded: That will be fun.

The court heard that it all began after Safaa Boular became involved with Naweed Hussain, 32  an Isis fighter  after the pair met online when she was 16. She said they had been introduced by a female Isis recruiter after the Paris terror attacks.

They married in an online ceremony and talked of donning his-and-hers suicide belts to achieve martyrdom together.

Police uncovered Boulars plans to join him following an airport stop in August 2016 where her passport was confiscated.

UK news in pictures Show all 50 1 /50 UK news in pictures UK news in pictures 13 October 2021 Police officers detain a man as Insulate Britain activists block a roundabout at a junction on the M25 motorway during a protest in Thurrock Reuters UK news in pictures 12 October 2021 The aerial climate installation by Swiss artivist Dan Acher 'We Are Watching' is unveiled at Our Dynamic Earth in Edinburgh PA UK news in pictures 10 October 2021 A young girl is helped by a Border Force officer as a group of people thought to be migrants are brought in to Dover, Kent, following a small boat incident in the Channel. PA UK news in pictures 9 October 2021 People walk past a life-size sculpture of British singer John Lennon entitled "Imagine", by sculptor Lawrence Holofcener, displayed to mark what would have been the 81st birthday for the former member of the Beatles in Carnaby Street Reuters UK news in pictures 8 October 2021 WW II veteran, 96-year-old Lorna Cockayne, who served in the Women's Royal Naval Service (WRNS), popularly and officially known as the Wrens, as a Bletchley Park codebreaker, poses for a photograph with the Legion d'honneur after receiving it during a ceremony at the Pear at Parley in Ferndown, Bournemouth PA UK news in pictures 7 October 2021 British comedian Jo Brand poses with cut-out silhouettes representing women outside the Metropolitan Police headquarters New Scotland Yard, to highlight violence against women by male police officers or former police officers AFP via Getty UK news in pictures 6 October 2021 A protester, wearing a mask of Johnson, holds a sign reading Question it all on the final day of the Tory conference Getty UK news in pictures 5 October 2021 Members of Insulate Britain outside the Royal Courts of Justice in London, before a hearing over the injunction banning the environmental activists from blocking the M25 PA UK news in pictures 4 October 2021 A delegate passes a street cleaner on the second day of the annual Conservative Party Conference being held at the Manchester Central convention centre AFP via Getty UK news in pictures 3 October 2021 Margaret Thatcher-themed mugs for sale at the annual Conservative Party conference in Manchester EPA UK news in pictures 2 October 2021 A couple make their way through a flooded underpass in Bristol as a yellow weather warning for rain and wind is issued for parts of the UK Tom Wren/SWNS UK news in pictures 1 October 2021 A driver talks to members of the media after passing his HGV (Heavy Goods Vehicle) driving test at National Driving Centre in Croydon, south London AFP via Getty Images UK news in pictures 30 September 2021 The centrepiece One Thousand Springs by Japanese artist Chiharu Shiota is seen ahead of the beginning of the Japan Festival, a celebration of the countrys plants, art and culture running from 2-31 October, at Kew Gardens in London PA UK news in pictures 29 September 2021 The family of Betty Campbell unveil the bronze sculpture of her during the unveiling of the statue in Central Square, Cardiff, of Betty Campbell, Wales' first black headteacher PA UK news in pictures 28 September 2021 A sign referring to the lack of fuel is placed at the entrance to a petrol station in London AP UK news in pictures 27 September 2021 Police officers detain a protester from Insulate Britain occupying a roundabout leading from the M25 motorway to Heathrow Airport in London PA UK news in pictures 26 September 2021 Labour Party leader Sir Keir Starmer watches the Arsenal v Tottenham Hotspur match at The Font pub in Brighton PA UK news in pictures 25 September 2021 Scottish pro-independence supporters hold a march and rally outside the Scottish Parliament in Edinburgh, Scotland Getty Images UK news in pictures 24 September 2021 Police officers remove two protesters from the top of a tanker, as Insulate Britain block the A20 in Kent, which provides access to the Port of Dover in Kent. The environmental activists have moved location after been banned from campaigning on the M25 motorway in London PA UK news in pictures 23 September 2021 Gabriella, the seven year old daughter of imprisoned British-Iranian Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe, joins in a game on a giant snakes and ladders board in Parliament Square, to show the ups and downs of her mothers case to mark the 2,000 days she has been detained in Iran AP UK news in pictures 22 September 2021 A new sign hangs on the Millicent Fawcett statue after it was altered by CrackTheCrises coalition activists to highlight the climate crisis as a feminist struggle in Parliament Square in London EPA UK news in pictures 21 September 2021 Gabriella Diment prepares a monumental bronze patinated fibreglass wall sculpture depicting household cavalry soldiers on horseback which is expected to be sold for 12,000-18,000 when it goes up for auction at Summers Place Auctions in Billinghurst, Kent PA UK news in pictures 20 September 2021 Florist Judith Blacklock puts the finishing touches to a floral carousel installation in Halkin Arcade, which she has designed with Neill Strain for the Belgravia in Bloom festival, running from September 20-26, in London PA UK news in pictures 19 September 2021 Bubbles surround Manchester Uniteds Cristiano Ronaldo before the match against West Ham at London Stadium Action Images/Reuters UK news in pictures 18 September 2021 Children take part in the Settrington Cup Pedal Car Race as motoring enthusiasts attend the Goodwood Revival, a three-day historic car racing festival in Goodwood, Chichester, Reuters UK news in pictures 17 September 2021 Hugo, 7, from London rides past a 4x7 metre rainbow arch, made entirely of recycled aluminium cans, which has been installed by recycling initiative 'Every Can Counts', in partnership with The City of London Corporation in front of St Paul's Cathedral in London, to encourage members of the public to recycle their drinks cans ahead of recycling week, which starts on 20 September PA UK news in pictures 16 September 2021 Sheikeh MOhammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, leader of Abu Dhabi, leaves Downing Street after meeting with Boris Johnson PA UK news in pictures 15 September 2021 Children pose by ice sculptures depicting people collecting water by charity Water Aid to show the fragility of water and the threat posed by climate change in London AFP/Getty 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

She began scoping out locations for possible attacks while she was out on bail.

As well as the British Museum, she also checked out the MI6 headquarters, all the while spurred on by Hussain, who sent her lovey-dovey messages.

Her husband was killed in a drone strike, but not before he had revealed his intentions to British secret service agents posing as IS supporters online.

Boular learned of his death on 4 April last year, after an agent pretending to be Hussains commander let her know online what happened.

The grief-stricken teenager then decided she wanted to join her husband and revealed to the undercover agent about how he had planned to attack the British Musuem.

She said he had discussed carrying out the attack with a tokarev Russian-made pistol and pineapples  code for grenades.

After her younger sister was remanded in custody, Rizlaine Boular took a more active role in the plot.

The 22-year-old bought knives and a rucksack from Sainsburys and scoped out the Palace of Westminster along with her mother. They did not know they were under surveillance by counter terrorism police at the time.

Rizlaine Boular shared her plans with her friend Khawla Barghouthi, 21, and practised a knife attack at her home in Willesden, northwest London.

Barghouthi has since admitted to failing to alert authorities.

Rizlaine Boular was shot when armed police moved in to arrest the gang but made a full recovery.

Safaa Boular claimed during her trial that Hussain had groomed her. She said Hussain had made three attempts to get her to attack the UK  over Christmas 2016, Valentines Day and around her birthday in March last year  but she declined.

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She said in the past she had wanted a peaceful married life in Raqqa, where women were not called umbrella or post box for wearing Islamic dress  but said she had changed since her arrest and now opts to wear Western clothes rather than a burka.

The teenager, who had viewed graphic beheadings and discussed killing former US President Barack Obama, told the court: Nothing online is real.

Counter terrorism chief Dean Haydon, of Scotland Yard, described her as a confident, articulate, intelligent and a relatively mature 18-year-old who had been quite devious in hiding the plot.

He said the dysfunctional family had access to a vast amount of extremist material.

The senior national coordinator for counter terrorism said the case demonstrated a worrying rise in youngsters being arrested for terrorism.

This was, without doubt, a major investigation, a proactive investigation. This involved a family with murderous intent, the first all-female terrorist plot in the UK connected to Daesh.

Its difficult to say if we will see more females. We have seen young children involved in martyrdom attacks. We have seen Daesh using young children.

Here in the UK, we have seen an increase in young people, teenagers, getting involved.

Arrests of youngsters have increased over the last 12 months and clearly that is a concern for us.

Press Association contributed to this report
A fire safety expert has said she cannot be sure a Hotpoint fridge-freezer was the initial cause of the Grenfell Tower fire.

The appliance in the kitchen of flat 16 of the high-rise block had been widely blamed for the blaze.

An official report by a forensic scientist at the University of Dundee that was published on the opening day of evidence hearings in Grenfell Tower inquiry, confirmed the fire started in flat 16.

But it also said the exact cause of the fire was unknown.

On the basis of the available evidence, it is more likely than not that the area of origin of the fire was in, or around, the tall fridge freezer in the southeast part of the kitchen, Professor Niamh Nic Daid wrote.

The cause of the fire remains undetermined although, based on the available information, it is more likely than not be be an accidental cause rather than a deliberate act.

The originating fire within flat 16 extended out of the kitchen window of the flat and at some point re-entered through the window of the bedroom next to the living room of flat 16 causing further damage to the flat.

She added that further electrical examination undertaken by a forensic electrical engineer was required to examine unknown materials found in the space between the fridge-freezer and the window before cause could be established.

UK news in pictures Show all 50 1 /50 UK news in pictures UK news in pictures 10 October 2021 A young girl is helped by a Border Force officer as a group of people thought to be migrants are brought in to Dover, Kent, following a small boat incident in the Channel. PA UK news in pictures 9 October 2021 People walk past a life-size sculpture of British singer John Lennon entitled "Imagine", by sculptor Lawrence Holofcener, displayed to mark what would have been the 81st birthday for the former member of the Beatles in Carnaby Street Reuters UK news in pictures 8 October 2021 WW II veteran, 96-year-old Lorna Cockayne, who served in the Women's Royal Naval Service (WRNS), popularly and officially known as the Wrens, as a Bletchley Park codebreaker, poses for a photograph with the Legion d'honneur after receiving it during a ceremony at the Pear at Parley in Ferndown, Bournemouth PA UK news in pictures 7 October 2021 British comedian Jo Brand poses with cut-out silhouettes representing women outside the Metropolitan Police headquarters New Scotland Yard, to highlight violence against women by male police officers or former police officers AFP via Getty UK news in pictures 6 October 2021 A protester, wearing a mask of Johnson, holds a sign reading Question it all on the final day of the Tory conference Getty UK news in pictures 5 October 2021 Members of Insulate Britain outside the Royal Courts of Justice in London, before a hearing over the injunction banning the environmental activists from blocking the M25 PA UK news in pictures 4 October 2021 A delegate passes a street cleaner on the second day of the annual Conservative Party Conference being held at the Manchester Central convention centre AFP via Getty UK news in pictures 3 October 2021 Margaret Thatcher-themed mugs for sale at the annual Conservative Party conference in Manchester EPA UK news in pictures 2 October 2021 A couple make their way through a flooded underpass in Bristol as a yellow weather warning for rain and wind is issued for parts of the UK Tom Wren/SWNS UK news in pictures 1 October 2021 A driver talks to members of the media after passing his HGV (Heavy Goods Vehicle) driving test at National Driving Centre in Croydon, south London AFP via Getty Images UK news in pictures 30 September 2021 The centrepiece One Thousand Springs by Japanese artist Chiharu Shiota is seen ahead of the beginning of the Japan Festival, a celebration of the countrys plants, art and culture running from 2-31 October, at Kew Gardens in London PA UK news in pictures 29 September 2021 The family of Betty Campbell unveil the bronze sculpture of her during the unveiling of the statue in Central Square, Cardiff, of Betty Campbell, Wales' first black headteacher PA UK news in pictures 28 September 2021 A sign referring to the lack of fuel is placed at the entrance to a petrol station in London AP UK news in pictures 27 September 2021 Police officers detain a protester from Insulate Britain occupying a roundabout leading from the M25 motorway to Heathrow Airport in London PA UK news in pictures 26 September 2021 Labour Party leader Sir Keir Starmer watches the Arsenal v Tottenham Hotspur match at The Font pub in Brighton PA UK news in pictures 25 September 2021 Scottish pro-independence supporters hold a march and rally outside the Scottish Parliament in Edinburgh, Scotland Getty Images UK news in pictures 24 September 2021 Police officers remove two protesters from the top of a tanker, as Insulate Britain block the A20 in Kent, which provides access to the Port of Dover in Kent. The environmental activists have moved location after been banned from campaigning on the M25 motorway in London PA UK news in pictures 23 September 2021 Gabriella, the seven year old daughter of imprisoned British-Iranian Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe, joins in a game on a giant snakes and ladders board in Parliament Square, to show the ups and downs of her mothers case to mark the 2,000 days she has been detained in Iran AP UK news in pictures 22 September 2021 A new sign hangs on the Millicent Fawcett statue after it was altered by CrackTheCrises coalition activists to highlight the climate crisis as a feminist struggle in Parliament Square in London EPA UK news in pictures 21 September 2021 Gabriella Diment prepares a monumental bronze patinated fibreglass wall sculpture depicting household cavalry soldiers on horseback which is expected to be sold for 12,000-18,000 when it goes up for auction at Summers Place Auctions in Billinghurst, Kent PA UK news in pictures 20 September 2021 Florist Judith Blacklock puts the finishing touches to a floral carousel installation in Halkin Arcade, which she has designed with Neill Strain for the Belgravia in Bloom festival, running from September 20-26, in London PA UK news in pictures 19 September 2021 Bubbles surround Manchester Uniteds Cristiano Ronaldo before the match against West Ham at London Stadium Action Images/Reuters UK news in pictures 18 September 2021 Children take part in the Settrington Cup Pedal Car Race as motoring enthusiasts attend the Goodwood Revival, a three-day historic car racing festival in Goodwood, Chichester, Reuters UK news in pictures 17 September 2021 Hugo, 7, from London rides past a 4x7 metre rainbow arch, made entirely of recycled aluminium cans, which has been installed by recycling initiative 'Every Can Counts', in partnership with The City of London Corporation in front of St Paul's Cathedral in London, to encourage members of the public to recycle their drinks cans ahead of recycling week, which starts on 20 September PA UK news in pictures 16 September 2021 Sheikeh MOhammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, leader of Abu Dhabi, leaves Downing Street after meeting with Boris Johnson PA UK news in pictures 15 September 2021 Children pose by ice sculptures depicting people collecting water by charity Water Aid to show the fragility of water and the threat posed by climate change in London AFP/Getty 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

Another expert report also published on Monday said the initial stay put advice quickly became inappropriate as the flames began to spread across the outside of Grenfell Tower barely half an hour after the fire started.

It would have been better for residents to flee via the stairs rather than remaining in their homes, according to the report.
The LGBT+ community comes together across the world every June to celebrate Pride Month.

While events actually take place across the summer, June was chosen to remember the Stonewall Riots that broke out in Greenwich Village, New York City, in summer 1969 after police raided one of the city's most popular gay clubs, prompting the regulars to fight back in protest.

A year later, marchers coordinated by activist Brenda Howard and others gathered in New York to celebrate "Christopher Street Liberation Day", alluding to the Manhattan address of the Stonewall Inn, which, along with parallel events in Los Angeles and San Francisco, marked the anniversary of a watershed moment in the history of LGBT+ rights.

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An annual tradition was born, with more and more cities across the globe staging their own carnivals and street parades to celebrate gay, lesbian and trans culture.

US President Bill Clinton officially declared June "Gay and Lesbian Pride Month" in June 1999 before fellow Democrat Barack Obama extended its title to the more inclusive "Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Pride Month" 10 years later.

The movement has served an important campaigning role over the years, calling for the mainstream acceptance of sexual diversity and drawing attention to a range of rights issues and injustices associated with the cause.

Pride has made huge strides in securing rights and fairer representation for LGBT+ citizens in the West and plays an important role in providing a platform from which the community can speak out against discrimination and prejudice.

But it still has work to do at a time when more than 70 countries around the world continue to enforce homophobic legislation. Turkish police dispersing a march in Istanbul with tear gas and rubber bullets in 2015 and banning the event in 2016 and 2017 outright on "security grounds" underlines the ongoing relevance of the demonstration.

More recent reports of homophobic violence being carried out in Chechnya and Indonesia further emphasise the need for education to encourage greater tolerance.

Pride Month around the globe Show all 16 1 /16 Pride Month around the globe Pride Month around the globe Thousands take to streets of Sao Paulo to join the Pride Parade on June 3rd Reuters Pride Month around the globe A bulldog is dressed for the occasion at the Pride Parade in Queens, New York on June 3rd Reuters Pride Month around the globe A reveller in a unicorn mask watches on as the Baltic Pride Parade passes by in Riga, Latvia EPA Pride Month around the globe Rome's Pride Parade passes the Colosseum AP Pride Month around the globe The US and the Republic of Ireland marked the beginning of Pride Month by incorporating the rainbow into their kits at an international friendly in Dublin on June 2nd Reuters Pride Month around the globe A marching band takes part in the annual Pride Parade in Athens on June 9th AFP/Getty Pride Month around the globe Pride is celebrated at the annual parade in San Juan, Puerto Rico on June 3rd AFP/Getty Pride Month around the globe Taylor Swift marked the beginning of Pride Month with a speech at her Chicago concert on June 1st. She s"It's very brave to be vulnerable about your feelings in any situation, but it's even more brave to be honest about your feelings and who you love when you know that it might be met with adversity from society," Getty Pride Month around the globe Members of the RAF await the start of the Pride Parade in York on June 9th Getty Pride Month around the globe Pride is celebrated with a great many balloons at the 11th Pride Parade in Sofia, Bulgaria on June 9th AFP/Getty Pride Month around the globe Pride is celebrated in the streets of Tel Aviv, Israel on June 8th EPA Pride Month around the globe Thousands take to streets of Sao Paulo to join the Pride Parade on June 3rd EPA Pride Month around the globe US players mark Pride Month by wearing rainbow coloured numbers on their shirts in an international football friendly against France Reuters Pride Month around the globe Thousands take to streets of Sao Paulo to join the Pride Parade on June 3rd Reuters Pride Month around the globe Pride is celebrated at the parade in Ciudad Juarez, Mexico on June 10th AFP/Getty Pride Month around the globe Great Western Railway, which covers England's West Country, unveils a Pride train at Paddington station on June 7th Getty

This year's London Pride parade is scheduled for Saturday 7 July while the UK's largest event takes place in Brighton on Saturday 4 August, coinciding with the Pride Festival held at Preston Park between 3 and 5 August, which is this year being headlined by the one and only Britney Spears.

Other key events taking place across Britain this summer include:

Pride Edinburgh - 16 June

Pride Glasgow - 14 July

Bristol Pride - 14 July

Newcastle-upon-Tyne - 21 July

Belfast Gay Pride Festival - 27 July-5 August

Norwich Pride - 28 July

Sheffield Pride - 28 July

Nottingham Pride - 29 July

Pride Cymru - 25 August

Manchester Pride - 25 August

In Europe, this summer's biggest Pride events are:

Riga, Latvia - 9 June

Rome, Italy - 9 June

Vienna, Austria - June 16

Dublin, Ireland - 21-30 June

Barcelona, Spain - 30 June

Paris, France - 30 June

Madrid, Spain - 7 July

Budapest, Hungary - 7-8 July

Frankfurt, Germany - 21 July

Berlin, Germany - 27-29 July

Oslo, Norway - 27-30 June

Amsterdam, the Netherlands - 3-5 August

Stockholm, Sweden - 4 August

Prague, Czech Republic - 11 August

Copenhagen, Denmark - 18 August

Even further afield, you can celebrate Pride in these cities:
Six years ago a painting worth 1m was stolen from a gallery in Berkshire and its devastated owners feared they would never see it again.

The artwork has since been returned after police found it under a bed next to three kilograms of cocaine and 15,000 ecstasy tablets.

Cookham from Englefield the work by Sir Stanley Spencer, was taken from the Stanley Spencer Gallery in 2012.

Its whereabouts remained a mystery until police arrested Harry Fisher, 28, in June last year when they searched his west London flat after finding a kilogram of cocaine and 30,000 in cash in his Mercedes.

The Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) said the paintings owners, who were devastated at the loss, were reunited with the artwork last month.

Graphic designer Susan Elsden had lent the piece  commissioned by her grandfather, a friend of Spencer  to the gallery in the 1990s.

Arts Minister Michael Ellis said: Spencer is one our most renowned painters and a true great of the 20th century. It is wonderful that this story has had a happy ending and the painting has been returned to its rightful owners.

Detective Constable Sophie Hayes, of the Metropolitan Polices art and antiques unit, said: The art and antiques unit was delighted to assist with the recovery and return of this important painting.

The circumstances of its recovery underline the links between cultural heritage crime and wider criminality.

The fact that the painting was stolen five years before it was recovered did not hinder a prosecution for handling stolen goods, demonstrating the Met will pursue these matters wherever possible, no matter how much time has elapsed.

Described by the Stanley Spencer Gallery gallery as undoubtedly one of our greatest British artists, Sir Spencer often used the Berkshire village of his birth, Cookham, as inspiration for his work during a 45-year career.

He died in 1959, the same year he was knighted.

Sir Spencer is considered as a master of 20th-century British art and is well known for vivid recreations of his Berkshire home.

According to a cache of love letters released in 2016, his private life was as colourful as his paintings.

Art history is littered with occasions of theft, but stolen paintings quite often manage to find their way home somehow.

In 1911, in perhaps the most notorious art theft of the 20th century, Da Vincis Mona Lisa was stolen by a worker who had been hired to install protective glass at the Louvre.

Vincenzo Preuggia made off with the masterpiece hidden under his coat. He later attempted to justify the crime as an act of patriotism, after he had returned the painting to Italy and tried to sell it to the director of a major gallery in Florence. He was jailed for seven months.

UK news in pictures Show all 50 1 /50 UK news in pictures UK news in pictures 7 October 2021 British comedian Jo Brand poses with cut-out silhouettes representing women outside the Metropolitan Police headquarters New Scotland Yard in London AFP via Getty UK news in pictures 6 October 2021 A protester, wearing a mask of Johnson, holds a sign reading Question it all on the final day of the Tory conference Getty UK news in pictures 5 October 2021 Members of Insulate Britain outside the Royal Courts of Justice in London, before a hearing over the injunction banning the environmental activists from blocking the M25 PA UK news in pictures 4 October 2021 A delegate passes a street cleaner on the second day of the annual Conservative Party Conference being held at the Manchester Central convention centre AFP via Getty UK news in pictures 3 October 2021 Margaret Thatcher-themed mugs for sale at the annual Conservative Party conference in Manchester EPA UK news in pictures 2 October 2021 A couple make their way through a flooded underpass in Bristol as a yellow weather warning for rain and wind is issued for parts of the UK Tom Wren/SWNS UK news in pictures 1 October 2021 A driver talks to members of the media after passing his HGV (Heavy Goods Vehicle) driving test at National Driving Centre in Croydon, south London AFP via Getty Images UK news in pictures 30 September 2021 The centrepiece One Thousand Springs by Japanese artist Chiharu Shiota is seen ahead of the beginning of the Japan Festival, a celebration of the countrys plants, art and culture running from 2-31 October, at Kew Gardens in London PA UK news in pictures 29 September 2021 The family of Betty Campbell unveil the bronze sculpture of her during the unveiling of the statue in Central Square, Cardiff, of Betty Campbell, Wales' first black headteacher PA UK news in pictures 28 September 2021 A sign referring to the lack of fuel is placed at the entrance to a petrol station in London AP UK news in pictures 27 September 2021 Police officers detain a protester from Insulate Britain occupying a roundabout leading from the M25 motorway to Heathrow Airport in London PA UK news in pictures 26 September 2021 Labour Party leader Sir Keir Starmer watches the Arsenal v Tottenham Hotspur match at The Font pub in Brighton PA UK news in pictures 25 September 2021 Scottish pro-independence supporters hold a march and rally outside the Scottish Parliament in Edinburgh, Scotland Getty Images UK news in pictures 24 September 2021 Police officers remove two protesters from the top of a tanker, as Insulate Britain block the A20 in Kent, which provides access to the Port of Dover in Kent. The environmental activists have moved location after been banned from campaigning on the M25 motorway in London PA UK news in pictures 23 September 2021 Gabriella, the seven year old daughter of imprisoned British-Iranian Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe, joins in a game on a giant snakes and ladders board in Parliament Square, to show the ups and downs of her mothers case to mark the 2,000 days she has been detained in Iran AP UK news in pictures 22 September 2021 A new sign hangs on the Millicent Fawcett statue after it was altered by CrackTheCrises coalition activists to highlight the climate crisis as a feminist struggle in Parliament Square in London EPA UK news in pictures 21 September 2021 Gabriella Diment prepares a monumental bronze patinated fibreglass wall sculpture depicting household cavalry soldiers on horseback which is expected to be sold for 12,000-18,000 when it goes up for auction at Summers Place Auctions in Billinghurst, Kent PA UK news in pictures 20 September 2021 Florist Judith Blacklock puts the finishing touches to a floral carousel installation in Halkin Arcade, which she has designed with Neill Strain for the Belgravia in Bloom festival, running from September 20-26, in London PA UK news in pictures 19 September 2021 Bubbles surround Manchester Uniteds Cristiano Ronaldo before the match against West Ham at London Stadium Action Images/Reuters UK news in pictures 18 September 2021 Children take part in the Settrington Cup Pedal Car Race as motoring enthusiasts attend the Goodwood Revival, a three-day historic car racing festival in Goodwood, Chichester, Reuters UK news in pictures 17 September 2021 Hugo, 7, from London rides past a 4x7 metre rainbow arch, made entirely of recycled aluminium cans, which has been installed by recycling initiative 'Every Can Counts', in partnership with The City of London Corporation in front of St Paul's Cathedral in London, to encourage members of the public to recycle their drinks cans ahead of recycling week, which starts on 20 September PA UK news in pictures 16 September 2021 Sheikeh MOhammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, leader of Abu Dhabi, leaves Downing Street after meeting with Boris Johnson PA UK news in pictures 15 September 2021 Children pose by ice sculptures depicting people collecting water by charity Water Aid to show the fragility of water and the threat posed by climate change in London AFP/Getty 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

In 2003, 4m worth of artworks by Vincent van Gogh, Pablo Picasso, and Paul Gauguin were stolen in an audacious heist from Manchesters Whitworth art gallery.

The artworks were found three days later rolled up in a derelict public toilet with a note that claimed: The intention was not to steal. Only to highlight the woeful security.
A warm and dry week could culminate in more thunderstorms battering some parts of the UK this weekend.

The Met Office said there was still a high degree of uncertainty about what form the extreme weather will take but more heavy rain could hit Britain over the coming weekend.

However it said the country would remain predominantly sunny and dry for most Britons  with temperatures in London on Saturday rising as high as 27C.

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It is still staying warm into the weekend. There is a risk of thunderstorms for this weekend in the south-east and far western parts of the UK but there is still quite a bit of uncertainty into exact location and frequency, Bonnie Diamond, a spokesperson for the Met Office, told The Independent.

The temperature in the capital on Saturday will be an average of 23 but could rise to temperatures of 26C or 27C at best.

She said sunshine should start to burst through cloud in London on Monday afternoon despite it being relatively overcast at present.

If you are across western or the south west of UK you can expect sunny spells on Monday. London is quite cloudy but you should see the sun starting to break through this afternoon, Ms Diamond said.

She said most Britons would enjoy a warm and relatively dry week. It is set to be a warm week which will be dry for many. It will be cloudy at times but there will be plenty of sunshine around and especially from tomorrow onwards, she said.

After a cloudy start for many on Tuesday, it will be a generally fine and dry day across most areas of Britain, and there will be some substantial periods of sunshine.

UK news in pictures Show all 50 1 /50 UK news in pictures UK news in pictures 10 October 2021 A young girl is helped by a Border Force officer as a group of people thought to be migrants are brought in to Dover, Kent, following a small boat incident in the Channel. PA UK news in pictures 9 October 2021 People walk past a life-size sculpture of British singer John Lennon entitled "Imagine", by sculptor Lawrence Holofcener, displayed to mark what would have been the 81st birthday for the former member of the Beatles in Carnaby Street Reuters UK news in pictures 8 October 2021 WW II veteran, 96-year-old Lorna Cockayne, who served in the Women's Royal Naval Service (WRNS), popularly and officially known as the Wrens, as a Bletchley Park codebreaker, poses for a photograph with the Legion d'honneur after receiving it during a ceremony at the Pear at Parley in Ferndown, Bournemouth PA UK news in pictures 7 October 2021 British comedian Jo Brand poses with cut-out silhouettes representing women outside the Metropolitan Police headquarters New Scotland Yard, to highlight violence against women by male police officers or former police officers AFP via Getty UK news in pictures 6 October 2021 A protester, wearing a mask of Johnson, holds a sign reading Question it all on the final day of the Tory conference Getty UK news in pictures 5 October 2021 Members of Insulate Britain outside the Royal Courts of Justice in London, before a hearing over the injunction banning the environmental activists from blocking the M25 PA UK news in pictures 4 October 2021 A delegate passes a street cleaner on the second day of the annual Conservative Party Conference being held at the Manchester Central convention centre AFP via Getty UK news in pictures 3 October 2021 Margaret Thatcher-themed mugs for sale at the annual Conservative Party conference in Manchester EPA UK news in pictures 2 October 2021 A couple make their way through a flooded underpass in Bristol as a yellow weather warning for rain and wind is issued for parts of the UK Tom Wren/SWNS UK news in pictures 1 October 2021 A driver talks to members of the media after passing his HGV (Heavy Goods Vehicle) driving test at National Driving Centre in Croydon, south London AFP via Getty Images UK news in pictures 30 September 2021 The centrepiece One Thousand Springs by Japanese artist Chiharu Shiota is seen ahead of the beginning of the Japan Festival, a celebration of the countrys plants, art and culture running from 2-31 October, at Kew Gardens in London PA UK news in pictures 29 September 2021 The family of Betty Campbell unveil the bronze sculpture of her during the unveiling of the statue in Central Square, Cardiff, of Betty Campbell, Wales' first black headteacher PA UK news in pictures 28 September 2021 A sign referring to the lack of fuel is placed at the entrance to a petrol station in London AP UK news in pictures 27 September 2021 Police officers detain a protester from Insulate Britain occupying a roundabout leading from the M25 motorway to Heathrow Airport in London PA UK news in pictures 26 September 2021 Labour Party leader Sir Keir Starmer watches the Arsenal v Tottenham Hotspur match at The Font pub in Brighton PA UK news in pictures 25 September 2021 Scottish pro-independence supporters hold a march and rally outside the Scottish Parliament in Edinburgh, Scotland Getty Images UK news in pictures 24 September 2021 Police officers remove two protesters from the top of a tanker, as Insulate Britain block the A20 in Kent, which provides access to the Port of Dover in Kent. The environmental activists have moved location after been banned from campaigning on the M25 motorway in London PA UK news in pictures 23 September 2021 Gabriella, the seven year old daughter of imprisoned British-Iranian Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe, joins in a game on a giant snakes and ladders board in Parliament Square, to show the ups and downs of her mothers case to mark the 2,000 days she has been detained in Iran AP UK news in pictures 22 September 2021 A new sign hangs on the Millicent Fawcett statue after it was altered by CrackTheCrises coalition activists to highlight the climate crisis as a feminist struggle in Parliament Square in London EPA UK news in pictures 21 September 2021 Gabriella Diment prepares a monumental bronze patinated fibreglass wall sculpture depicting household cavalry soldiers on horseback which is expected to be sold for 12,000-18,000 when it goes up for auction at Summers Place Auctions in Billinghurst, Kent PA UK news in pictures 20 September 2021 Florist Judith Blacklock puts the finishing touches to a floral carousel installation in Halkin Arcade, which she has designed with Neill Strain for the Belgravia in Bloom festival, running from September 20-26, in London PA UK news in pictures 19 September 2021 Bubbles surround Manchester Uniteds Cristiano Ronaldo before the match against West Ham at London Stadium Action Images/Reuters UK news in pictures 18 September 2021 Children take part in the Settrington Cup Pedal Car Race as motoring enthusiasts attend the Goodwood Revival, a three-day historic car racing festival in Goodwood, Chichester, Reuters UK news in pictures 17 September 2021 Hugo, 7, from London rides past a 4x7 metre rainbow arch, made entirely of recycled aluminium cans, which has been installed by recycling initiative 'Every Can Counts', in partnership with The City of London Corporation in front of St Paul's Cathedral in London, to encourage members of the public to recycle their drinks cans ahead of recycling week, which starts on 20 September PA UK news in pictures 16 September 2021 Sheikeh MOhammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, leader of Abu Dhabi, leaves Downing Street after meeting with Boris Johnson PA UK news in pictures 15 September 2021 Children pose by ice sculptures depicting people collecting water by charity Water Aid to show the fragility of water and the threat posed by climate change in London AFP/Getty 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

It is expected to remain cloudy in the far south-west, and there will be the slight chance of a shower for Northern Ireland.

Yellow weather warnings remain in place in some areas between 1pm and 8pm on Monday  with thunderstorms maybe expected to develop across parts of western Scotland and Northern Ireland.

Brits are warned of possible delays on rail and roads, damage to homes and power outages prompted by flooding.

There is a small chance that homes and businesses could be flooded quickly, with damage to some buildings from floodwater, lightning strikes, hail or strong winds, says a notice on the Met Offices website.

This comes after parts of the country were hit by torrential rain and flooding at the end of last week - with people forced to wade through water and lightning starting a fire in dramatic scenes.

On Thursday evening, Didcot Parkway railway station in Oxfordshire flooded. It was more than a foot under water, meaning passengers had to walk through deep waters or have firefighters come to their aid.

Travellers reported seeing raw sewage flowing from drains on social media and one commuter said she had been given a piggyback through the flooded underpass.

Some 100 people had to be evacuated from the Old Fire Station arts centre in Oxford after water started coming through the roof. In Herefordshire, homes were flooded and lightning sparked a small fire at a house in Colwall.
The Home Office is failing to meet its own pledge to resolve Windrush cases within two weeks of receiving evidence from those affected, it has emerged.

David Lammy, the Labour MP who spearheaded the campaign that highlighted the plight of the Windrush generation, said he has sent letters to the Home Office regarding a dozen separate cases in his constituency, none of which has been dealt with within the deadline.

The Labour MP told The Independent seven of these individual's cases had passed the two week target and a further six cases were approaching the deadline but were yet to receive any replies or confirmations.

Separately, a Windrush man in Yorkshire who has lived in Britain in 1965 told The Independent he waited four weeks to receive his biometric residence permit after contacting the taskforce in April after the scandal broke.

A dedicated taskforce set up by the Home Office in the wake of the scandal to help Commonwealth citizens confirm their UK status has so far taken more than 13,000 calls, of which 5,000 have been identified as potential cases.

Announcing the new team in April, the then Home Secretary Amber Rudd said: This team will help these applicants demonstrate they are entitled to live in the UK and will be tasked with resolving cases within two weeks of when the evidence has been provided.

Lorenzo Hoyte, 61, contacted the taskforce when the scandal broke out in April, and waited for a month before he received his biometric card, which identifies ones rights to studying, working or receiving benefits in the UK.

The Barbados-born welder, who arrived in the UK when he was nine, said his inability to acquire documentation had prevented him from getting a full-time job and taking out a mortgage, and meant he was unable to go to his mothers funeral or watch his sister perform for the UK in the Olympics.

They dont give you information. No ones telling you anything. You have to find out over the internet. Before Windrush, before anyone knew this was happening, youd call up and just go around in circles, and thats what its going to get like again. They pass you from pillar to post., said Mr Hoyte.

Id have thought with something as important as this theyd have acknowledged it with a message or phone call or something."

Mr Hoyte recalled being "frightened to death" before the Windrush campaign because of fears that trying to resolve issues with the Home Office could lead to deportation.

I no longer have the fear of being deported so I can now get in touch with the Home Office. But before all of this came out you would speak to other people in the black community and hear tales about people who have tried to get in touch with the government and ended up getting deported, he said.

When that happens, you try and keep a low profile and stay out of the governments way. You dont know if someone is going to come and get you.

Lorenzo Hoyte (R) and his son. Mr Hoyte has lived in the UK since 1965 (Lorenzo Hoyte)

It comes after Mr Javid revealed last month that there were 63 cases of Caribbean nationals who may have been removed from the country despite living in the UK legally for decades.

Responding to the government's failure to meet its two-week target, Mr Lammy said: Its absolutely shocking that the Home Office is failing to even meet its own deadlines after putting so many Windrush citizens through so much undue pain and suffering.

How many more cases have missed this deadline? If this is happening to seven of my constituents then this problem will be widespread and raises serious questions about whether the Home Offices taskforce is fit for purpose.

Windrush generation: threat of deportation from UK Show all 15 1 /15 Windrush generation: threat of deportation from UK Windrush generation: threat of deportation from UK The ex-troopship 'Empire Windrush' arriving at Tilbury Docks from Jamaica, with 482 Jamaicans on board, emigrating to Britain. Getty Windrush generation: threat of deportation from UK Jamaican immigrants being welcomed by RAF officials from the Colonial Office after the ex-troopship 'Empire Windrush' landed them at Tilbury. PA Windrush generation: threat of deportation from UK Alford Gardner who arrived in Britain in 1948 on the first Windrush ship to dock in Tilbury, Essex, speaking at his home in Leeds PA Windrush generation: threat of deportation from UK Alford Gardner in Leeds shortly after he arrived in Britain in 1948 on the first Windrush ship to dock in Tilbury, Essex PA Windrush generation: threat of deportation from UK Gardner was 22 years old when he boarded the ship in Kingston, Jamaica, with his brother Gladstone before they and hundreds of Caribbean migrants called on to rebuild post-war Britain disembarked the ship in Tilbury Docks PA Windrush generation: threat of deportation from UK Alford Gardner (right), during his RAF service in 1947 PA Windrush generation: threat of deportation from UK The son of Ruth Williams, a Windrush-generation immigrant, wants to the leave the country after threats of deportation. According to his mother, Mr Haynes applied for British citizenship in 2016 but was rejected, despite Ms Williams having lived in the UK almost permanently since arriving from St Vincent and the Grenadines in 1959. Ruth Williams, 75, said she felt "betrayed" by Britain after the Home Office twice turned down applications for her 35-year-old son, Mozi Haynes, to remain in the country. Ms Williams is understood to have cancer and said she relies heavily on her son for support. PA Windrush generation: threat of deportation from UK The British liner 'Empire Windrush' at port in 1954. Getty Windrush generation: threat of deportation from UK Ruth Williams, 75, with her British passport. "I feel betrayed and a second class citizen in my own country," she said. "This makes me so sad and the Home Office must show some compassion. "I am unwell and almost 75, I live on my own and I need my son to stay here. I need my family around me and I cant face being alone. He has applied to the Home Office and been refused twice." PA Windrush generation: threat of deportation from UK From the top, hopeful Jamaican boxers Charles Smith, Ten Ansel, Essi Reid, John Hazel, Boy Solas and manager Mortimer Martin arrive at Tilbury on the Empire Windrush in the hope of finding work in Britain. Getty Windrush generation: threat of deportation from UK Jamaicans reading a newspaper whilst on board the ex-troopship 'Empire Windrush' bound for Tilbury docks in Essex. Getty Windrush generation: threat of deportation from UK After half a century in Britain, Anthony Bryan decided it was time to go abroad. But the decision set off a nightmare that saw him lose his job, detained twice and almost deported to Jamaica. AFP/Getty Windrush generation: threat of deportation from UK Jamaica-born Anthony Bryan poses outside his home in Edmonton, north London. Now 60 and a grandfather, Bryan thought the issue could be resolved swiftly, as he legally moved to Britain with his family as part of the Windrush generation of Caribbean migrants after World War II. In 1948, the ship Windrush brought the first group of migrants from the West Indies to help rebuild post-war Britain, and many others followed from around the Commonwealth. A 1971 law gave them indefinite leave to remain, but many never formalised their status, often because they were children who came over on their parents' passports and then never applied for their own. AFP/Getty Windrush generation: threat of deportation from UK Three Jamaican immigrants (left to right) John Hazel, a 21-year-old boxer, Harold Wilmot, 32, and John Richards, a 22-year-old carpenter, arriving at Tilbury on board the ex-troopship 'Empire Windrush', smartly dressed in zoot suits and trilby hats. Getty Windrush generation: threat of deportation from UK Newly arrived Jamaican immigrants on board the 'Empire Windrush' at Tilbury in 1948. Getty

The Home Secretary should consider spending less time in TV studios and more time sorting out his department and getting a grip of this crisis."

The Windrush scandal has seen people who arrived from the Caribbean between the late 1940s and early 1970s, who have every right to be in the country, targeted by immigration officials.

Some have lost jobs and homes for failing to have the right paperwork, while there have also been stories of people being denied critical medical treatment and being targeted for deportation.

A Home Office spokesperson told The Independent: The Home Office has been clear that we want to swiftly put right the wrongs that have been done to this generation and are committed to supporting those involved through the process.

We have been clear that we will aim to resolve all Windrush cases within two weeks of obtaining the necessary evidence.
Theresa May will seek to overturn all 15 Lords defeats on her flagship Brexit legislation in a single dramatic day next week, putting her authority on the line.

MPs have been warned they will be voting into the early hours of Wednesday morning when the EU withdrawal bill finally returns to the Commons next Tuesday, after weeks of delay.

Key controversies including leaving the EU customs union and single market, the Irish border and parliaments power if the governments exit deal is rejected will all be up for grabs.

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However, the decision to try to ram through 15 votes in a single sitting  on all the crucial Brexit issues  immediately drew fierce criticism from Labour.

Chuka Umunna, a leading opponent of Brexit, said: This is a shameful attempt by the Government to avoid difficult questions about the chaotic mess theyve made of the Brexit negotiations.

It is unfortunately in keeping with their whole approach to Brexit: shambolic, lacking transparency or accountability and contemptuous of basic parliamentary scrutiny.

And David Lammy, another pro-EU Labour MP, said: This shows total contempt of parliament to try and railroad 15 amendments through in just a single session.

This piece of legislation will have huge consequences for the future of our country for generations to come.

The decision comes after many months in which the Commons has considered little legislation, packing its schedule with vote-free debates instead.

Three days of scrutiny were expected on the Lords amendments, not a single 12-hour sitting  with an entire day for the customs union and single market.

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

The legislation was ripped apart during its 20-day passage through the Lords, where the 15 defeats also included reversals on the feared loss of environmental and human rights protections.

Tory rebels are confident they can repeat some of those defeats in the Commons  which had prompted a fearful Downing Street to put the bill on hold.

There was even speculation that it could be abandoned altogether and subsumed into the legislation to implement the Brexit deal  which must pass by next March.

However, the prime minister was under fierce pressure from Brexit-backing Tories to face down her pro-EU rebels and enforce her promises on the customs union and single market.

In a letter to Conservative MPs, chief whip Julian Smith warned them they would be voting well beyond the normal finishing time, on a number of divisions.

And he made a pointed reference to voting in line with both the referendum result and the Conservative party manifesto we all stood on last year.

The biggest flashpoint is likely to be over the customs union, after the cabinets failure to agree a common position on future customs rules to take into the negotiations.

The successful Lords amendment did not state the UK should stay in a customs union, only requiring the government to set out, by 31 October, the steps it has taken to negotiate one.

However, defeat in the Commons would increase the chances of a later vote, on the trade or customs bills, in favour of membership.

The showdown on the European Economic Area  in effect, staying in the single market  will see a huge Labour revolt against Jeremy Corbyns rejection of the proposal.

The meaningful vote amendment passed by peers would require the prime minister to follow any direction set by MPs if her deal is rejected  potentially delaying Brexit beyond next March.

Unless overturned by MPs, it increases the chances of sending the government back to the negotiating table, or even forcing a fresh referendum on Brexit, its supporters hope.

When it was passed at the end of April, Liam Fox, the trade secretary, protested: The implication of the Lords amendment last night is that we could be delaying exit from the EU indefinitely.

Earlier, it emerged that the prime minister is poised to break her promise to publish ambitious and precise plans for Brexit this month, after more cabinet infighting.

A detailed white paper  designed to put the UK on the front foot in the troubled talks  is now not expected to appear until after a crunch EU summit at the end of June.

The document was due to be published before the two-day Brussels summit, starting on June 28, but Ms Mays spokesman refused to say that timetable would be met.

Ive not put a timeframe on it, other than we will bring it forward as soon as possible, he said.

Downing Street did insist the UK would be fully prepared for leaving the EU without a deal, after The Sunday Times revealed civil servants had warned of a Doomsday Brexit that would create shortages of medicine, fuel and food.

Her spokesman said Ms May still believed that no deal is better than a bad deal and that a significant amount of work had been done to make sure the UK could cope without a Brexit agreement.
Theresa Mays promise to publish ambitious and precise plans for Brexit this month is likely to be broken after more cabinet infighting.

A detailed white paper  designed to put the UK on the front foot in the troubled talks  is now not expected to appear until after a crunch EU summit at the end of June.

The document is said to still be riddled with red ink, with the prime minister reluctant to confront warring cabinet ministers over controversies including future customs rules and the Irish border.

It was due to be published before the two-day Brussels summit, starting on 28 June, but Ms Mays spokesman refused to say that timetable would be met. Ive not put a timeframe on it, other than we will bring it forward as soon as possible, he said.

If the white paper does not appear until after the summit, it will not be published until July  despite the promise to set out detailed, ambitious and precise proposals in June.

Such a delay will be seized on as fresh evidence that the cabinet is fatally split on customs arrangements and how to avoid border checks in Ireland.

Brexit threatens life on the Irish border: in pictures Show all 15 1 /15 Brexit threatens life on the Irish border: in pictures Brexit threatens life on the Irish border: in pictures An abandoned shop is seen in Mullan, Co Monaghan. The building was home to four families who left during the Troubles. The town was largely abandoned after the hard border was put in place during the conflict. Mullan has seen some regeneration in recent years, but faces an uncertain future with Brexit on the horizon Reuters Brexit threatens life on the Irish border: in pictures A defaced Welcome to Northern Ireland sign stands on the border in Middletown, Co Armagh Reuters Brexit threatens life on the Irish border: in pictures Mervyn Johnson owns a garage in the border town of Pettigo, which straddles the counties of Donegal and Fermanagh. Ive been here since 1956, it was a bit of a problem for a few years. My premises has been blown up about six or seven times, we just kept building and starting again, Johnson said laughing. We just got used to it [the hard border] really but now that its gone, we wouldn't like it back again Reuters Brexit threatens life on the Irish border: in pictures Farmer Gordon Crocketts Coshquin farm straddles both Derry/Londonderry in the North and Donegal in the Republic. At the minute there is no real problem, you can cross the border as free as you want. We could cross it six or eight times a day, said Crockett. If there was any sort of obstruction it would slow down our work every day Reuters Brexit threatens life on the Irish border: in pictures John Murphy flies the European flag outside his home near the border village of Forkhill, Co Armagh Reuters Brexit threatens life on the Irish border: in pictures Potter Brenda McGinn stands outside her Mullan, Co Monaghan, studio  the former Jas Boylan shoe factory which was the main employer in the area until it shut down due to the Troubles. When I came back, this would have been somewhere you would have driven through and have been quite sad. It was a decrepit looking village, said McGinn, whose Busy Bee Ceramics is one of a handful of enterprises restoring life to the community. Now this is a revitalised, old hidden village Reuters Brexit threatens life on the Irish border: in pictures Union Flag colours painted on kerbstones and bus-stops along the border village of Newbuildings, Co Derry/Londonderry Reuters Brexit threatens life on the Irish border: in pictures Grass reflected in Lattone Lough, which is split by the border between Cavan and Fermanagh, seen from near Ballinacor, Northern Ireland Reuters Brexit threatens life on the Irish border: in pictures Donegalman David McClintock sits in the Border Cafe in the village of Muff, which straddles Donegal and Derry/Londonderry Reuters Brexit threatens life on the Irish border: in pictures An old Irish phone box stands alongside a bus stop in the border town of Glaslough, Co Monaghan Reuters Brexit threatens life on the Irish border: in pictures Billboards are viewed from inside a disused customs hut in Carrickcarnon, Co Down, on the border with Co Louth in the Republic Reuters Brexit threatens life on the Irish border: in pictures Seamus McQuaid takes packages that locals on the Irish side of the border have delivered to his business, McQuaid Auto-Parts, to save money on postal fees, near the Co Fermanagh village of Newtownbutler. I live in the south but the business is in the North, said McQaid. "I wholesale into the Republic of Ireland so if theres duty, Ill have to set up a company 200 yards up the road to sell to my customers. Ill have to bring the same product in through Dublin instead of Belfast Reuters Brexit threatens life on the Irish border: in pictures A disused Great Northern Railway line and station that was for customs and excise on the border town of Glenfarne, Co Leitrim Reuters Brexit threatens life on the Irish border: in pictures Alice Mullen, from Monaghan in the Republic of Ireland, does her shopping at a former customs post on the border in Middletown, Co Armagh. Id be very worried if it was a hard border, I remember when people were divided. I would be very afraid of the threat to the peace process, it was a dreadful time to live through. Even to go to mass on a Sunday, youd have to go through checkpoints. It is terribly stressful, said Mullen. All those barricades and boundaries were pulled down. I see it as a huge big exercise of trust and I do believe everyone breathed a sigh of relief Reuters Brexit threatens life on the Irish border: in pictures A bus stop and red post box stand in the border town of Jonesborough, Co Armagh Reuters

Hopes of a breakthrough this month are also fading on the continent. Peter Ptassek, Germanys Brexit envoy, tweeted that little meaningful progress would be reached at the summit.

Not many are expecting very much now, he wrote. If this is so, October would then have to solve ALL problems  withdrawal, Northern Ireland, governance and future  in one go. Odds are still unclear.

Meanwhile, No 10 is expected to publish its own plans for the backstop option, to keep the Irish border open, possibly at the end of this week.

The prime minister has rejected the EUs proposal for Northern Ireland only to keep EU customs and regulations, if no other solution can be found, because it would create a border in the Irish Sea.

Pro-Brexit cabinet ministers have agreed to a temporary UK-wide version of the backstop  but Brussels has already rejected Ms Mays insistence that it must be time limited.

When the white paper was announced last month, it was hailed as the opportunity for the UK to start negotiating with Brussels on its terms  instead of simply reacting to EU proposals.

However, hopes that the cabinet could reach agreement on which of two suggested customs arrangements it will back have since drained away.

A majority of key ministers rejected Ms Mays preferred customs partnership  which would see the UK collect EU tariffs  and it cannot be implemented before 2023 anyway.

Meanwhile, customs chiefs appeared to torpedo the alternative, technology based max fac proposal favoured by Brexiteers, after revealing it would cost businesses up 20bn a year.

As well as customs, the white paper is also designed to cover long-term arrangements for security, financial services, aviation and fisheries  which are all meant to be agreed in principle by October.

David Davis, the Brexit Secretary, was keen to publish before the summit, but appears to have been unable to convince the prime minister to demand cabinet consensus.

Her spokesman described this months get-together as merely a staging post, saying: We are working towards reaching an agreement in October.
Ministers are facing calls to scrap the undemocratic farce of electing hereditary peers as new analysis reveals the average poll only attracts 29 voters.

Ahead of a by-election to replace Earl Baldwin of Bewdley, critics described the system as a bizarre hangover from feudal times, where some elections are decided by as few as three voters.

Labour abolished the majority of hereditary peerages in 1999 but around 90 still remain, accounting for some 12 per cent of the House of Lords. In most circumstances, if one dies, quits or retires then the successor is voted for by members of their own party.

Analysis by the Electoral Reform Society (ERS) found that the average electorate for normal hereditary by-election is only 32 voters, with only 29 people usually turning out.

The group found that four by-elections had more candidates than electors in recent years  including a by-election for Labour hereditary peers with 11 candidates and only three voters.

Some 3,190 votes have been cast in the last 32 by-elections, which began in 2003, compared to the last 32 Commons by-elections, where 931,725 votes have been cast.

ERS chief executive Darren Hughes said: These so-called by-elections are an undemocratic farce  and make mockery of our democracy.

This time, around 25 peers are set to decide which aristocrat remains in parliament to vote on our laws, for the rest of their lives.

That is not democracy  and its time we ended this bizarre hangover from feudal times.

Its vital for trust and faith in our democracy that the forthcoming farce of a by-election  brought about by the retirement of Earl Baldwin of Bewdley  will be the last.

The public should decide who votes on our laws  not a tiny clique of aristocrats.

Labour peer Lord Grocott is trying to axe the by-elections through a private members bill but his efforts were blocked by a handful of hereditary peers in March.

However, Conservative frontbencher Lord Young of Cookham said the government will not obstruct his bill and offered it more parliamentary time.

Lord Grocott told The Independent: These were only supposed to be a temporary measure but its now gone on for 19 years.

There have been 32 hereditary by-elections, so I mean thats a third of all hereditary peers who have been replaced. Its ridiculous.

You have this situation where the government is trying to reduce the size of the Lords and the House of Commons but you have 92 peers who cannot be touched.

Only one woman is eligible to stand in the upcoming by-election out of more than 200 candidates, and just 31 peers will be able to vote, according to a written parliamentary question to Lord Grocott.

The poll will also cost taxpayers more than 1,140 to stage.

Liberal Democrat MP Tom Brake said the issue was another reminder of how archaic, undemocratic and outdated the Lords is.

Recommended Peers ready to drive out lazy lords if May agrees to a cap on numbers

Liberal Democrats have long argued for an elected upper chamber, but sadly attempts to introduce reform were thwarted by the self-interest of the other two parties, he said.

Isnt it ironic, however, that murmurs from the Tories have changed in recent weeks as a result of the Lords defeating them on the EU Withdrawal Bill on fifteen occasions?

Lord Fowler, the Lords speaker, has welcomed efforts to slash the size of the upper chamber after a key Lords committee recommended limiting any peers term to 15 years and adopting a new two-out, one in system to accelerate a reduction in numbers.

A Lords spokesperson said: The House of Lords recognises the need for reform and, following a report from the Lord Speakers committee on the size of the house in October 2017, showed overwhelming support for reducing and capping the size of the house, and for linking new appointments to general election results.

UK news in pictures Show all 50 1 /50 UK news in pictures UK news in pictures 12 October 2021 The aerial climate installation by Swiss artivist Dan Acher 'We Are Watching' is unveiled at Our Dynamic Earth in Edinburgh PA UK news in pictures 10 October 2021 A young girl is helped by a Border Force officer as a group of people thought to be migrants are brought in to Dover, Kent, following a small boat incident in the Channel. 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The environmental activists have moved location after been banned from campaigning on the M25 motorway in London PA UK news in pictures 23 September 2021 Gabriella, the seven year old daughter of imprisoned British-Iranian Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe, joins in a game on a giant snakes and ladders board in Parliament Square, to show the ups and downs of her mothers case to mark the 2,000 days she has been detained in Iran AP UK news in pictures 22 September 2021 A new sign hangs on the Millicent Fawcett statue after it was altered by CrackTheCrises coalition activists to highlight the climate crisis as a feminist struggle in Parliament Square in London EPA UK news in pictures 21 September 2021 Gabriella Diment prepares a monumental bronze patinated fibreglass wall sculpture depicting household cavalry soldiers on horseback which is expected to be sold for 12,000-18,000 when it goes up for auction at Summers Place Auctions in Billinghurst, Kent PA UK news in pictures 20 September 2021 Florist Judith Blacklock puts the finishing touches to a floral carousel installation in Halkin Arcade, which she has designed with Neill Strain for the Belgravia in Bloom festival, running from September 20-26, in London PA UK news in pictures 19 September 2021 Bubbles surround Manchester Uniteds Cristiano Ronaldo before the match against West Ham at London Stadium Action Images/Reuters UK news in pictures 18 September 2021 Children take part in the Settrington Cup Pedal Car Race as motoring enthusiasts attend the Goodwood Revival, a three-day historic car racing festival in Goodwood, Chichester, Reuters UK news in pictures 17 September 2021 Hugo, 7, from London rides past a 4x7 metre rainbow arch, made entirely of recycled aluminium cans, which has been installed by recycling initiative 'Every Can Counts', in partnership with The City of London Corporation in front of St Paul's Cathedral in London, to encourage members of the public to recycle their drinks cans ahead of recycling week, which starts on 20 September PA UK news in pictures 16 September 2021 Sheikeh MOhammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, leader of Abu Dhabi, leaves Downing Street after meeting with Boris Johnson PA UK news in pictures 15 September 2021 Children pose by ice sculptures depicting people collecting water by charity Water Aid to show the fragility of water and the threat posed by climate change in London AFP/Getty 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. 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It comes after Theresa May was accused of hypocrisy after appointing nine new Tory peers to the House of Lords, including several ex-ministers, despite promising that senior politicians would not receive automatic ennoblement.

Her announcement coincided with the eve of the royal wedding between the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, prompting claims that the prime minister had tried to sneak out the news when it would receive little attention.

Candidates for the upcoming by-election will be announced on 15 June, with the count on 4 July.
Theresa May is on the verge of lifting an immigration cap that prevents doctors and nurses coming to Britain to work in the NHS, according to reports.

The prime minister has faced pressure from within her Cabinet to act, amid concerns that strict immigration quotas are stopping vacancies in the health service being filled.

Currently, doctors wanting to come to the UK from non-EU countries are affected by a cap on the number of tier 2 visas that can be given out. This type of visa is given to skilled workers, but under government regulations only 20,700 are allowed to be granted each year.

If the quota for each month is met then skilled workers seeking to come to the UK are refused. This has been the case for each of the past six months, leading NHS bosses to warn about a crippling lack of skilled staff, and pressure on the government to lift the cap.

But how many NHS workers come from abroad, and how big a difference would raising the cap make?

1,518 applications for visas by foreign doctors were turned down in the four months to March 2018. This suggests that, if the cap were raised, around 4,500 more doctors could come to the UK each year.

The health service is heavily reliant on staff from overseas.

In total, around 139,000 of the 1.2 million NHS employees are foreign nationals  equating to one in eight (12.5 per cent).

Of these, around 62,000  or 5.6 per cent of all employees - come from EU countries. 45,000 come from Asia, and 21,000 are from African countries.

The most common nationalities are Indian (18,300), Filipino (15,400), Irish (13,000) and Polish (8,500).

Everyone the Government blames for the NHS crisis  except themselves Show all 6 1 /6 Everyone the Government blames for the NHS crisis  except themselves Everyone the Government blames for the NHS crisis  except themselves The elderly We acknowledge that there are pressures on the health service, there are always extra pressures on the NHS in the winter, but we have the added pressures of the ageing population and the growing complex needs of the population, Theresa May has said. Waits of over 12 hours in A&E among elderly people have more than doubled in two years, according to figures from NHS Digital. Getty Everyone the Government blames for the NHS crisis  except themselves Patients going to A&E instead of seeing their GPs Jeremy Hunt has called for a honest discussion with the public about the purpose of A&E departments, saying that around a third of A&E patients were in hospital unnecessarily. Mr Hunt told Radio 4s Today programme the NHS now had more doctors, nurses and funding than ever, but explained what he called very serious problems at some hospitals by suggesting pressures were increasing in part because people are going to A&Es when they should not. He urged patients to visit their GP for non-emergency illnesses, outlined plans to release time for family doctors to support urgent care work, and said the NHS will soon be able to deliver seven-day access to a GP from 8am to 8pm. But doctors struggling amid a GP recruitment crisis said Mr Hunts plans were unrealistic and demanded the Government commit to investing in all areas of the overstretched health service. Getty Everyone the Government blames for the NHS crisis  except themselves Simon Stevens, head of NHS England Reports that key members of Ms Mays team used internal meetings to accuse Simon Stevens, head of NHS England, of being unenthusiastic and unresponsive have been rejected by Downing Street. Mr Stevens had allegedly rejected claims made by Ms May that the NHS had been given more funding than required. Getty Everyone the Government blames for the NHS crisis  except themselves Previous health policy, not funding In an interview with Sky Newss Sophy Ridge, Ms May acknowledged the NHS faced pressures but said it was a problem that had been ducked by government over the years. She refuted the claim that hospitals were tackling a humanitarian crisis and said health funding was at record levels. We asked the NHS a while back to set out what it needed over the next five years in terms of its plan for the future and the funding that it would need, said the Prime Minister. They did that, we gave them that funding, in fact we gave them more funding than they required Funding is now at record levels for the NHS, more money has been going in. But doctors accused Ms May of being in denial about how the lack of additional funding provided for health and social care were behind a spiralling crisis in NHS hospitals. Getty Images Everyone the Government blames for the NHS crisis  except themselves Target to treat all A&E patients within four hours Mr Hunt was accused of watering down the flagship target to treat all A&E patients within four hours. The Health Secretary told MPs the promise  introduced by Tony Blairs government in 2000  should only be for those who actually need it. Amid jeers in the Commons, Mr Hunt said only four other countries pledged to treat all patients within a similar timeframe and all had less stringent rules. But Ms May has now said the Government will stand by the four-hour target for A&E, which says 95 per cent of patients must be dealt with within that time frame. Getty Images Everyone the Government blames for the NHS crisis  except themselves No one Mr Hunt was accused of hiding from the public eye following news of the Red Crosss comments and didnt make an official statement for two days. He was also filmed refusing to answer questions from journalists who pursued him down the street yesterday to ask whether he planned to scrap the four-hour A&E waiting time target. Sky News reporter Beth Rigby pressed the Health Secretary on his position on the matter, saying the public will want to know, Mr Hunt. Sorry Beth, Ive answered questions about this already, replied Mr Hunt. But you didnt answer questions on this. You said it was over-interpreted in the House of Commons and you didnt want to water it down. Is that what youre saying? said Ms Rigby. Its very difficult, because how are we going to explain to the public what your intention is, when you change your position and then wont answer the question, Mr Hunt. But the Health Secretary maintained his silence until he reached his car and got in. Getty

These figures are for all NHS staff, but the changes the government is considering making would relate only to specialist workers - namely doctors.

Among doctors, the proportion of non-British NHS staff is much higher: 26 per cent are foreign nationals.

12 per cent of NHS doctors come from Asia, with two-thirds of this group being either Indian or Pakistani. 10 per cent are from EU countries  most commonly Ireland. A further 3 per cent come from African nations.

The proportion of foreign doctors in the NHS has fallen in recent years amid a tightening of immigration rules. In 2009, 30 per cent of NHS doctors were non-British, but by 2017 that figure had dropped to 26 per cent.

Among nurses  who Jeremy Hunt, the health secretary, also wants exempted from the immigration cap  the proportion of non-British staff is lower.

Only 16 per cent of nurses and health visitors in the NHS are non-British. 7 per cent (21,200) come from EU countries  mostly Ireland, Spain and Portugal. A further 6 per cent are from Asia  the vast majority from India or The Philippines - and another two 2 per cent come from African countries.
London mayor Sadiq Khan is calling on the government to appoint a social housing tenant as the countrys first independent commissioner for residents.

The new housing tsar would make sure the voices of social housing tenants are heard in the corridors of power, the mayor said, almost a year after the Grenfell Tower fire.

The appointee would have a similar role to the childrens commissioner, possessing legal powers and sitting separately to the governments social accommodation regulator.

The Labour mayor first called for a commissioner on social housing to be appointed in September 2017, in the aftermath of the north Kensington blaze. Following a consultation on the proposals, Mr Khan is demanding the representative should themselves live in low-rent accommodation.

Before presenting a revised housing strategy to the London Assembly, Mr Khan said: I grew up on a council estate, so I know just how important social housing is.

Im deeply concerned that social housing tenants voices are not being heard in the corridors of power and thats why we need an independent commissioner to stand up for social tenants.

It is clear to me, and to many Londoners who contributed ideas to my strategy, that this person should themselves be someone who lives in social housing.

Todays strategy sets out how we are doing everything within our power to build more social rented and other genuinely affordable homes, helping councils to build more homes themselves, and making sure that residents voices are heard.

But its also clear theres only so far we can go without government stepping up  it is crucial they give councils and City Hall the resources and powers we need for a step change in the number of affordable homes we can build.

As part of his strategy to improve the capitals housing, the mayor launched a landlord checker that aims to name and shame poor property owners. All London boroughs have signed up to the online resource, which also seeks to help people find affordable homes.

The mayors revised housing strategy also includes an additional 1.67bn of affordable housing investment the mayor secured from government earlier this year. The majority of this will be spent on new homes on social rent levels, the mayor said.

In April the mayor said work started on a record 12,500 affordable properties in 2017-18, up from 6,725 in 2016-17.

Regardless, questions have been raised about Mr Khans ability to tackle the size of the capitals housing crisis, since private developers have proved reluctant to build large quantities of affordable homes.

Despite Mr Khans objections, a development of 700 homes in Ilford included just 4 per cent affordable housing. The borough has a policy where 50 per cent of all new homes should be affordable.

UK news in pictures Show all 50 1 /50 UK news in pictures UK news in pictures 8 October 2021 WW II veteran, 96-year-old Lorna Cockayne, who served in the Women's Royal Naval Service (WRNS), popularly and officially known as the Wrens, as a Bletchley Park codebreaker, poses for a photograph with the Legion d'honneur after receiving it during a ceremony at the Pear at Parley in Ferndown, Bournemouth PA UK news in pictures 7 October 2021 British comedian Jo Brand poses with cut-out silhouettes representing women outside the Metropolitan Police headquarters New Scotland Yard, to highlight violence against women by male police officers or former police officers AFP via Getty UK news in pictures 6 October 2021 A protester, wearing a mask of Johnson, holds a sign reading Question it all on the final day of the Tory conference Getty UK news in pictures 5 October 2021 Members of Insulate Britain outside the Royal Courts of Justice in London, before a hearing over the injunction banning the environmental activists from blocking the M25 PA UK news in pictures 4 October 2021 A delegate passes a street cleaner on the second day of the annual Conservative Party Conference being held at the Manchester Central convention centre AFP via Getty UK news in pictures 3 October 2021 Margaret Thatcher-themed mugs for sale at the annual Conservative Party conference in Manchester EPA UK news in pictures 2 October 2021 A couple make their way through a flooded underpass in Bristol as a yellow weather warning for rain and wind is issued for parts of the UK Tom Wren/SWNS UK news in pictures 1 October 2021 A driver talks to members of the media after passing his HGV (Heavy Goods Vehicle) driving test at National Driving Centre in Croydon, south London AFP via Getty Images UK news in pictures 30 September 2021 The centrepiece One Thousand Springs by Japanese artist Chiharu Shiota is seen ahead of the beginning of the Japan Festival, a celebration of the countrys plants, art and culture running from 2-31 October, at Kew Gardens in London PA UK news in pictures 29 September 2021 The family of Betty Campbell unveil the bronze sculpture of her during the unveiling of the statue in Central Square, Cardiff, of Betty Campbell, Wales' first black headteacher PA UK news in pictures 28 September 2021 A sign referring to the lack of fuel is placed at the entrance to a petrol station in London AP UK news in pictures 27 September 2021 Police officers detain a protester from Insulate Britain occupying a roundabout leading from the M25 motorway to Heathrow Airport in London PA UK news in pictures 26 September 2021 Labour Party leader Sir Keir Starmer watches the Arsenal v Tottenham Hotspur match at The Font pub in Brighton PA UK news in pictures 25 September 2021 Scottish pro-independence supporters hold a march and rally outside the Scottish Parliament in Edinburgh, Scotland Getty Images UK news in pictures 24 September 2021 Police officers remove two protesters from the top of a tanker, as Insulate Britain block the A20 in Kent, which provides access to the Port of Dover in Kent. The environmental activists have moved location after been banned from campaigning on the M25 motorway in London PA UK news in pictures 23 September 2021 Gabriella, the seven year old daughter of imprisoned British-Iranian Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe, joins in a game on a giant snakes and ladders board in Parliament Square, to show the ups and downs of her mothers case to mark the 2,000 days she has been detained in Iran AP UK news in pictures 22 September 2021 A new sign hangs on the Millicent Fawcett statue after it was altered by CrackTheCrises coalition activists to highlight the climate crisis as a feminist struggle in Parliament Square in London EPA UK news in pictures 21 September 2021 Gabriella Diment prepares a monumental bronze patinated fibreglass wall sculpture depicting household cavalry soldiers on horseback which is expected to be sold for 12,000-18,000 when it goes up for auction at Summers Place Auctions in Billinghurst, Kent PA UK news in pictures 20 September 2021 Florist Judith Blacklock puts the finishing touches to a floral carousel installation in Halkin Arcade, which she has designed with Neill Strain for the Belgravia in Bloom festival, running from September 20-26, in London PA UK news in pictures 19 September 2021 Bubbles surround Manchester Uniteds Cristiano Ronaldo before the match against West Ham at London Stadium Action Images/Reuters UK news in pictures 18 September 2021 Children take part in the Settrington Cup Pedal Car Race as motoring enthusiasts attend the Goodwood Revival, a three-day historic car racing festival in Goodwood, Chichester, Reuters UK news in pictures 17 September 2021 Hugo, 7, from London rides past a 4x7 metre rainbow arch, made entirely of recycled aluminium cans, which has been installed by recycling initiative 'Every Can Counts', in partnership with The City of London Corporation in front of St Paul's Cathedral in London, to encourage members of the public to recycle their drinks cans ahead of recycling week, which starts on 20 September PA UK news in pictures 16 September 2021 Sheikeh MOhammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, leader of Abu Dhabi, leaves Downing Street after meeting with Boris Johnson PA UK news in pictures 15 September 2021 Children pose by ice sculptures depicting people collecting water by charity Water Aid to show the fragility of water and the threat posed by climate change in London AFP/Getty 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

Mr Khans demand that a social housing tenant be appointed commissioner came after evidence hearings in the Grenfell Tower inquiry began on Monday. Expert reports released on the morning documented a catalogue of serious safety breaches that contributed to the blaze that killed 72 people.

More than 150 social tower blocks across England have been found to have aluminum composite material (ACM) cladding, blamed for spreading the fire in north Kensington in the early hours of 14 June.

Yet the latest statistics have revealed only 10 of those high-rises have had the panelling replaced.
Sajid Javid has warned the European Union that it would be "wrong and reckless" to weaken security ties with the UK after Brexit.

Pointing to splits in the EU, the home secretary said most European ministers do not support the "hard line" approach taken by Brussels on security cooperation, as they rely heavily on British intelligence to thwart terror attacks.

Mr Javid said the European Commission wanted to treat the UK as a "third country" but many of his counterparts have told him privately that they oppose such a move.

Security has become a key factor in the Brexit talks, as questions marks hang over the UK's future use of vital crime-fighting tools such as the European Arrest Warrant, and Europol, the EU's law enforcement agency, both of which have been highlighted by senior police and counter-terror figures.

Tensions have ramped up over security cooperation after it emerged the EU was considering excluding Britain from its Galileo satellite navigation system - prompting fury in Whitehall.

In his first security speech since becoming home secretary, Mr Javid said: "We have always been absolutely clear that although we voted to leave the European Union, we are as committed as ever to European security.

"We want, and we need, a deep and special security partnership with the EU after we leave. And the EU needs it too.

"There is not a single European interior minister who wants to reduce the level of co-operation on security that we have now.

"When the British people voted to leave the European Union, they were not voting for us to stop working with our European allies to keep everyone safe.

"So it would be wrong and reckless for anyone to advocate any unnecessary reduction in this co-operation."

Theresa May came in for criticism from EU leaders when she appeared to use security matters as a bargaining chip in her Article 50 letter, which formally triggered the two-year Brexit countdown.

However the government has changed its stance and become vocal in its efforts to secure a bespoke partnership after Britain leaves the bloc.

Mr Javid said the EU was "not speaking with one voice" on security, as the commission had a "hard line" at the moment on several matters as part of the negotiations.

He told the audience in London: Ive met with a number of European interior ministers...and every single one that Ive met, theyve absolutely agreed, they not only want the cooperation to continue as it is but they also are open to how can we make it even deeper.

One of the reasons is they rely so much on the intelligence information we provide them, and theres not going to be a single European interior minister that would want to explain - if we weren't cooperating as we did today - after an attack how it could have been stopped if the British had still been involved, perhaps with some secret intelligence.

And obviously the benefits are both ways. We all benefit and that is very easy to see."

UK news in pictures Show all 50 1 /50 UK news in pictures UK news in pictures 13 October 2021 Police officers detain a man as Insulate Britain activists block a roundabout at a junction on the M25 motorway during a protest in Thurrock Reuters UK news in pictures 12 October 2021 The aerial climate installation by Swiss artivist Dan Acher 'We Are Watching' is unveiled at Our Dynamic Earth in Edinburgh PA UK news in pictures 10 October 2021 A young girl is helped by a Border Force officer as a group of people thought to be migrants are brought in to Dover, Kent, following a small boat incident in the Channel. PA UK news in pictures 9 October 2021 People walk past a life-size sculpture of British singer John Lennon entitled "Imagine", by sculptor Lawrence Holofcener, displayed to mark what would have been the 81st birthday for the former member of the Beatles in Carnaby Street Reuters UK news in pictures 8 October 2021 WW II veteran, 96-year-old Lorna Cockayne, who served in the Women's Royal Naval Service (WRNS), popularly and officially known as the Wrens, as a Bletchley Park codebreaker, poses for a photograph with the Legion d'honneur after receiving it during a ceremony at the Pear at Parley in Ferndown, Bournemouth PA UK news in pictures 7 October 2021 British comedian Jo Brand poses with cut-out silhouettes representing women outside the Metropolitan Police headquarters New Scotland Yard, to highlight violence against women by male police officers or former police officers AFP via Getty UK news in pictures 6 October 2021 A protester, wearing a mask of Johnson, holds a sign reading Question it all on the final day of the Tory conference Getty UK news in pictures 5 October 2021 Members of Insulate Britain outside the Royal Courts of Justice in London, before a hearing over the injunction banning the environmental activists from blocking the M25 PA UK news in pictures 4 October 2021 A delegate passes a street cleaner on the second day of the annual Conservative Party Conference being held at the Manchester Central convention centre AFP via Getty UK news in pictures 3 October 2021 Margaret Thatcher-themed mugs for sale at the annual Conservative Party conference in Manchester EPA UK news in pictures 2 October 2021 A couple make their way through a flooded underpass in Bristol as a yellow weather warning for rain and wind is issued for parts of the UK Tom Wren/SWNS UK news in pictures 1 October 2021 A driver talks to members of the media after passing his HGV (Heavy Goods Vehicle) driving test at National Driving Centre in Croydon, south London AFP via Getty Images UK news in pictures 30 September 2021 The centrepiece One Thousand Springs by Japanese artist Chiharu Shiota is seen ahead of the beginning of the Japan Festival, a celebration of the countrys plants, art and culture running from 2-31 October, at Kew Gardens in London PA UK news in pictures 29 September 2021 The family of Betty Campbell unveil the bronze sculpture of her during the unveiling of the statue in Central Square, Cardiff, of Betty Campbell, Wales' first black headteacher PA UK news in pictures 28 September 2021 A sign referring to the lack of fuel is placed at the entrance to a petrol station in London AP UK news in pictures 27 September 2021 Police officers detain a protester from Insulate Britain occupying a roundabout leading from the M25 motorway to Heathrow Airport in London PA UK news in pictures 26 September 2021 Labour Party leader Sir Keir Starmer watches the Arsenal v Tottenham Hotspur match at The Font pub in Brighton PA UK news in pictures 25 September 2021 Scottish pro-independence supporters hold a march and rally outside the Scottish Parliament in Edinburgh, Scotland Getty Images UK news in pictures 24 September 2021 Police officers remove two protesters from the top of a tanker, as Insulate Britain block the A20 in Kent, which provides access to the Port of Dover in Kent. The environmental activists have moved location after been banned from campaigning on the M25 motorway in London PA UK news in pictures 23 September 2021 Gabriella, the seven year old daughter of imprisoned British-Iranian Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe, joins in a game on a giant snakes and ladders board in Parliament Square, to show the ups and downs of her mothers case to mark the 2,000 days she has been detained in Iran AP UK news in pictures 22 September 2021 A new sign hangs on the Millicent Fawcett statue after it was altered by CrackTheCrises coalition activists to highlight the climate crisis as a feminist struggle in Parliament Square in London EPA UK news in pictures 21 September 2021 Gabriella Diment prepares a monumental bronze patinated fibreglass wall sculpture depicting household cavalry soldiers on horseback which is expected to be sold for 12,000-18,000 when it goes up for auction at Summers Place Auctions in Billinghurst, Kent PA UK news in pictures 20 September 2021 Florist Judith Blacklock puts the finishing touches to a floral carousel installation in Halkin Arcade, which she has designed with Neill Strain for the Belgravia in Bloom festival, running from September 20-26, in London PA UK news in pictures 19 September 2021 Bubbles surround Manchester Uniteds Cristiano Ronaldo before the match against West Ham at London Stadium Action Images/Reuters UK news in pictures 18 September 2021 Children take part in the Settrington Cup Pedal Car Race as motoring enthusiasts attend the Goodwood Revival, a three-day historic car racing festival in Goodwood, Chichester, Reuters UK news in pictures 17 September 2021 Hugo, 7, from London rides past a 4x7 metre rainbow arch, made entirely of recycled aluminium cans, which has been installed by recycling initiative 'Every Can Counts', in partnership with The City of London Corporation in front of St Paul's Cathedral in London, to encourage members of the public to recycle their drinks cans ahead of recycling week, which starts on 20 September PA UK news in pictures 16 September 2021 Sheikeh MOhammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, leader of Abu Dhabi, leaves Downing Street after meeting with Boris Johnson PA UK news in pictures 15 September 2021 Children pose by ice sculptures depicting people collecting water by charity Water Aid to show the fragility of water and the threat posed by climate change in London AFP/Getty 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

Mr Javid said he was "quite confident" that Britain would continue to work with Brussels after it leaves the bloc on security matters.

The comments came as he launched the government's refreshed counter-terror strategy in response to what he described as a "step change" in the extremist threat.

Under the plans, security services will share intelligence with local councils, government officials and the police to speed up the response to thwarting terror attacks.

Mr Javid also announced plans to:

* Firm up proposals to increase maximum sentences for some offences, such as repeatedly viewing terror content online

* Outline a new approach to managing the rising threat from extreme right-wing violence

* Set out steps to enhance the use of data to track suspects by police and MI5

* Emphasise the need for collaboration with the private sector on tackling terrorist material online

Security services have warned that the Islamist terror threat will remain at its current heightened level for at least another two years, while the risk from extreme right-wing terrorism is on the rise.

The Home Office revealed that 12 Islamist and four extreme right-wing attack plots have been foiled since March, while MI5 and police are running more than 500 live operations involving roughly 3,000 "subjects of interest" at any one time.

More than 20,000 people who have previously been investigated could also pose a threat.
Security bosses will hand out information on people suspected of having extremist sympathies to councils, government officials and the police under the governments new counter-terror plans.

Sajid Javid, the home secretary, pledged to declassify intelligence to speed up the response to potential attacks, as he warned of a step change in the terror threat after the UK suffered a wave of attacks in 2017.

In a highly unusual move, MI5 will share information about around 20,000 people who have been investigated but are not active suspects, starting with pilots in London, the West Midlands and Greater Manchester.

However, the move drew concern over human rights implications, with civil liberties warning against turning local authorities into unwilling and untrained agents of the security services.

In his first major speech on security since becoming home secretary, Mr Javid accused Islamist extremists of twisting the faith and praised British Muslims for fighting radicalisation in their communities.

Mr Javid, who is the first home secretary of Muslim heritage, argued that right-wing extremists have more in common with Islamist terrorists than they think.

He said: These people want to destroy the values we hold dear, and undermine the freedoms that make us who we are.

And theres one other thing that Islamists and the far right have in common. As a home secretary with a name like Sajid Javid, Im everything they despise.

So the way I see it, I must be doing something right.

Under the plans, retailers will be required to alert MI5 and the police more quickly to suspicious orders, such a large quantities of chemicals, amid growing concern over the reduction in time between the conception and execution of terror plots.

Mr Javid said: Im committed to improving how we work with businesses across a range of issues.

That includes faster alerts for suspicious purchases, improving security at crowded places across the UK, and reducing the vulnerability of our critical infrastructure.

Mr Javid made clear his support for the Prevent programme, which he will describe as a vital part of counter terror efforts.

Misapprehensions around Prevent are often based on distortions, he said.

They are based on a lack of understanding about the grassroots work involved, and the efforts by civil society groups and public sector workers to protect vulnerable people.

We have a moral and social obligation to protect and support vulnerable people from the twisted propaganda of those seeking to radicalise them, and Prevent is about doing just that.

Civil liberties campaigners said the strategy was heavy on soundbites, light on substance.

Corey Stoughton, Libertys advocacy director, said: The government continues to use dangerously vague definitions of extremism to tarnish communities, encourage policing by prejudice and press service providers and local authorities into becoming unwilling and untrained agents of the security services.

Yet again they attack encryption and talk up data analytics, while offering no actual proposals and no explanation of how our privacy and cybersecurity will be protected. If and when they come up with something concrete we will be scrutinising it closely.

The strategy also:

* Commits to new anti-terror legislation aimed at boosting powers available to police and prosecutors so they can intervene at an earlier stage in investigations

* Sets out plans for longer prison sentences for some terror-related crimes and strengthened management of offenders after they are released

* Details how 900 individuals of national security concern have travelled from the UK to engage with the Syrian conflict, with 40 per cent having returned

UK news in pictures Show all 50 1 /50 UK news in pictures UK news in pictures 13 October 2021 Police officers detain a man as Insulate Britain activists block a roundabout at a junction on the M25 motorway during a protest in Thurrock Reuters UK news in pictures 12 October 2021 The aerial climate installation by Swiss artivist Dan Acher 'We Are Watching' is unveiled at Our Dynamic Earth in Edinburgh PA UK news in pictures 10 October 2021 A young girl is helped by a Border Force officer as a group of people thought to be migrants are brought in to Dover, Kent, following a small boat incident in the Channel. PA UK news in pictures 9 October 2021 People walk past a life-size sculpture of British singer John Lennon entitled "Imagine", by sculptor Lawrence Holofcener, displayed to mark what would have been the 81st birthday for the former member of the Beatles in Carnaby Street Reuters UK news in pictures 8 October 2021 WW II veteran, 96-year-old Lorna Cockayne, who served in the Women's Royal Naval Service (WRNS), popularly and officially known as the Wrens, as a Bletchley Park codebreaker, poses for a photograph with the Legion d'honneur after receiving it during a ceremony at the Pear at Parley in Ferndown, Bournemouth PA UK news in pictures 7 October 2021 British comedian Jo Brand poses with cut-out silhouettes representing women outside the Metropolitan Police headquarters New Scotland Yard, to highlight violence against women by male police officers or former police officers AFP via Getty UK news in pictures 6 October 2021 A protester, wearing a mask of Johnson, holds a sign reading Question it all on the final day of the Tory conference Getty UK news in pictures 5 October 2021 Members of Insulate Britain outside the Royal Courts of Justice in London, before a hearing over the injunction banning the environmental activists from blocking the M25 PA UK news in pictures 4 October 2021 A delegate passes a street cleaner on the second day of the annual Conservative Party Conference being held at the Manchester Central convention centre AFP via Getty UK news in pictures 3 October 2021 Margaret Thatcher-themed mugs for sale at the annual Conservative Party conference in Manchester EPA UK news in pictures 2 October 2021 A couple make their way through a flooded underpass in Bristol as a yellow weather warning for rain and wind is issued for parts of the UK Tom Wren/SWNS UK news in pictures 1 October 2021 A driver talks to members of the media after passing his HGV (Heavy Goods Vehicle) driving test at National Driving Centre in Croydon, south London AFP via Getty Images UK news in pictures 30 September 2021 The centrepiece One Thousand Springs by Japanese artist Chiharu Shiota is seen ahead of the beginning of the Japan Festival, a celebration of the countrys plants, art and culture running from 2-31 October, at Kew Gardens in London PA UK news in pictures 29 September 2021 The family of Betty Campbell unveil the bronze sculpture of her during the unveiling of the statue in Central Square, Cardiff, of Betty Campbell, Wales' first black headteacher PA UK news in pictures 28 September 2021 A sign referring to the lack of fuel is placed at the entrance to a petrol station in London AP UK news in pictures 27 September 2021 Police officers detain a protester from Insulate Britain occupying a roundabout leading from the M25 motorway to Heathrow Airport in London PA UK news in pictures 26 September 2021 Labour Party leader Sir Keir Starmer watches the Arsenal v Tottenham Hotspur match at The Font pub in Brighton PA UK news in pictures 25 September 2021 Scottish pro-independence supporters hold a march and rally outside the Scottish Parliament in Edinburgh, Scotland Getty Images UK news in pictures 24 September 2021 Police officers remove two protesters from the top of a tanker, as Insulate Britain block the A20 in Kent, which provides access to the Port of Dover in Kent. The environmental activists have moved location after been banned from campaigning on the M25 motorway in London PA UK news in pictures 23 September 2021 Gabriella, the seven year old daughter of imprisoned British-Iranian Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe, joins in a game on a giant snakes and ladders board in Parliament Square, to show the ups and downs of her mothers case to mark the 2,000 days she has been detained in Iran AP UK news in pictures 22 September 2021 A new sign hangs on the Millicent Fawcett statue after it was altered by CrackTheCrises coalition activists to highlight the climate crisis as a feminist struggle in Parliament Square in London EPA UK news in pictures 21 September 2021 Gabriella Diment prepares a monumental bronze patinated fibreglass wall sculpture depicting household cavalry soldiers on horseback which is expected to be sold for 12,000-18,000 when it goes up for auction at Summers Place Auctions in Billinghurst, Kent PA UK news in pictures 20 September 2021 Florist Judith Blacklock puts the finishing touches to a floral carousel installation in Halkin Arcade, which she has designed with Neill Strain for the Belgravia in Bloom festival, running from September 20-26, in London PA UK news in pictures 19 September 2021 Bubbles surround Manchester Uniteds Cristiano Ronaldo before the match against West Ham at London Stadium Action Images/Reuters UK news in pictures 18 September 2021 Children take part in the Settrington Cup Pedal Car Race as motoring enthusiasts attend the Goodwood Revival, a three-day historic car racing festival in Goodwood, Chichester, Reuters UK news in pictures 17 September 2021 Hugo, 7, from London rides past a 4x7 metre rainbow arch, made entirely of recycled aluminium cans, which has been installed by recycling initiative 'Every Can Counts', in partnership with The City of London Corporation in front of St Paul's Cathedral in London, to encourage members of the public to recycle their drinks cans ahead of recycling week, which starts on 20 September PA UK news in pictures 16 September 2021 Sheikeh MOhammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, leader of Abu Dhabi, leaves Downing Street after meeting with Boris Johnson PA UK news in pictures 15 September 2021 Children pose by ice sculptures depicting people collecting water by charity Water Aid to show the fragility of water and the threat posed by climate change in London AFP/Getty 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

* Calls for closer ties with the private sector to speed up alerts about suspicious purchases and eradicate online safe spaces for terrorists

* States that MI5 will have a greater role in the assessment and investigation of extreme right-wing terrorism

Security services have warned that the Islamist terror threat will remain at its current heightened level for at least another two years, while the risk from extreme right-wing terrorism is on the rise.

The Home Office revealed that 12 Islamist and four extreme right-wing attack plots have been foiled since March, while MI5 and police are running more than 500 live operations involving roughly 3,000 subjects of interest at any one time.

More than 20,000 people who have previously been investigated could also pose a threat.
Theresa May has rebuked Donald Trump over his "unjustified and deeply disappointing" plan to impose punitive steel tariffs on US imports, Downing Street has said.

The president sparked fears of a transatlantic trade war when the United States slapped massive tariffs on imports of steel and aluminium from allies including Canada, the EU and Mexico last week.

Ms May's official spokesman said the 30-minute call was "constructive" and both leaders would discuss the issue further at the crucial G7 summit in Canada this week.

Recommended EU takes Donald Trump to WTO court over steel tariffs

Mr Trump originally imposed the tariffs in March, a move he said was motivated by the fact that relying too heavily on imported metals was a threat to America's national security.

But he gave Canada, Mexico and the EU a short exemption for negotiations, which expired at midnight on Thursday.

The PM's spokesman told a Westminster briefing: The prime minister raised the US decision to apply tariffs to EU steel and aluminium imports, which she said was unjustified and deeply disappointing.

"The prime minister said the US, UK and EU are close national security allies and we recognise the importance of the values of open and fair trade across the world.

"The prime minister also underlined the need to safeguard jobs that would potentially be affected by the decision."

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

In the Commons, Liam Fox, the trade secretary, faced a Liberal Democrat call for the US to be suspended from the G7 group of advanced economies if it continues to act like a rogue state.

And Barry Gardiner, Labours shadow trade secretary, urged the Government to stand up to Mr Trump, saying: We do not want a trade war, most rational people believe there are no winners.

Only President Trump has said he believes he can win one. The UK and the EU must stand up to this behaviour and restore the rules-based system.

Dr Fox said a tit-for-tat dispute will help nobody, warning it was very easy to see how this ramps up into a global trading disaster.

However, he said the UK was working with the European commission on plans for retaliatory duties on US goods and on taking the dispute to the World Trade Organisation (WTO).

Dr Fox said the American decision to use national security as a rationale for the tariffs created a worrying global precedent.

Were the United States to be successful it sets a precedent for others do the same and to use national security as pretext for protectionism, and secondly, it leads the WTO into the realms of having to determine what is and what is not acceptable as a definition for national security, something the WTO has always shied away from, he said.

Gareth Stace, director of trade body UK Steel, said the US tariffs were a hammer blow to British producers which will significantly undermine their ability to export to the States.

"The top priority for UK Government must be to continue to support the European Commission to secure a complete and permanent exemption for the EU from these absurd tariffs, he said.

We dearly hope that this experience does not foreshadow post-Brexit trading for British companies, with the UK isolated and battling over trade issues on different fronts, without the heft of the EU behind us. The prospects are undoubtedly a cause for concern.
Scientists fear an invasive species of toad could wreak havoc on Madagascars ecosystem  because no predators on the island can withstand the toxins secreted in its skin.

Asian common toads are only thought to have arrived in the country as stowaways on ships in 2011, but are already causing concern for Malagasy authorities.

The species has spread rapidly and its population boom shows no sign of slowing down thanks to the isolated nature of the island.

Recommended Australia halts the relentless advance of the cane toad

Madagascar has no native toads and while populations of predators in Asia have evolved to withstand the animals poisonous skin, conservationists have feared the countys indigenous species would not have the same resistance.

Now, it appears their worst fears have been proven correct by an international study by experts from Bangor University, the Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, the University of Braunschweig and the Natural History Museums of Munich, Stuttgart and Turin.

In research published in the journal Current Biology, scientists analysed the genes of 27 snakes, two lizards, two frogs, eight mammals and 28 birds that could potentially feed on the toads.

However, only one native Malagasy species  a rodent known as the white-tailed antsangy  showed evidence of any kind of resistance to the toxin.

Our findings confirm that the invasive toads are likely to have a significant impact on many Malagasy endemic species, adding to the country's existing conservation problems and potentially endangering many of Madagascar's most iconic endemic species, such as tenrecs and the enigmatic fossa, as well as a plethora of other species, said Nicholas Casewell, of the Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine.

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

Researchers are now concerned the Asian toads impact could be as disastrous as the introduction of the cane toad into Australia some 80 years ago.

First released into the wild in an attempt to control insects feeding on sugar cane crops, the amphibian spread across huge swathes of the country.

The species is thought to have depleted populations of native animals it preys on, while also killing would-be predators who are poisoned by its toxins.

In Australia, the introduction of cane toads has caused profound perturbation to many ecosystems by removing key predators from local food webs with their toxins, said Dr Wolfgang Wuster, of Bangor Universitys school of biological sciences.

Similar effects are likely to occur in Madagascar, where toads were never present before, as well; predators that frequently feed on toads and do not rapidly learn or evolve to avoid them are likely to become much rarer or possibly extinct.
A man suspected of killing four people in three days in Arizona, fatally shot himself as police prepared to enter his hotel room.

The alleged murderer has not yet been identified publicly, but Phoenix police sergeant Vince Lewis said the suspect was an adult male and likely shot at SWAT officers just before killing himself in a Scottsdale extended stay hotel. We have a deceased suspect at this point, the primary person we were looking for, he said.

Police said they believe the man who killed himself on Monday was responsible for the death of Dr Steven Pitt, a forensic psychiatrist who became well-known for his work on the infamous homicide investigation of JonBenet Ramsey, the six-year-old beauty queen found murdered in her Colorado home on Christmas Day 1996.

He had also helped investigators catch the Baseline Killer, Mark Goudeau, a serial murderer also in Arizona who was responsible for the deaths of nine people.

Police also said the suspect was likely responsible for the homicides of two paralegals who worked for the family law firm Burt, Feldman, Grenier. Forty-eight-year-old Veleria Sharp and Laura Anderson, 49, and marriage and divorce counsellor Marshall Levine, 72, all of the Phoenix and Scottsdale, Arizona, area. Ms Sharp and Ms Anderson were killed within 24 hours of Mr Pitt, according to police.

 Sacramento DA: 'we found the needle in the haystack' after Golden State Killer caught in Sacramento

The manhunt for the suspect had left many in the local mental health community worried for their safety.

Erin M Nelson, who had worked with Mr Pitt for nearly 25 years, told the New York Times: You have to be aware. Certainly everyone in this field understands that when you have human behaviour and human emotion involved, at times that results in dangerousness.

World news in pictures Show all 50 1 /50 World news in pictures World news in pictures 30 September 2020 Pope Francis prays with priests at the end of a limited public audience at the San Damaso courtyard in The Vatican AFP via Getty World news in pictures 29 September 2020 A girl's silhouette is seen from behind a fabric in a tent along a beach by Beit Lahia in the northern Gaza Strip AFP via Getty World news in pictures 28 September 2020 A Chinese woman takes a photo of herself in front of a flower display dedicated to frontline health care workers during the COVID-19 pandemic in Beijing, China. China will celebrate national day marking the founding of the People's Republic of China on October 1st Getty World news in pictures 27 September 2020 The Glass Mountain Inn burns as the Glass Fire moves through the area in St. Helena, California. The fast moving Glass fire has burned over 1,000 acres and has destroyed homes Getty World news in pictures 26 September 2020 A villager along with a child offers prayers next to a carcass of a wild elephant that officials say was electrocuted in Rani Reserve Forest on the outskirts of Guwahati, India AFP via Getty World news in pictures 25 September 2020 The casket of late Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg is seen in Statuary Hall in the US Capitol to lie in state in Washington, DC AFP via Getty World news in pictures 24 September 2020 An anti-government protester holds up an image of a pro-democracy commemorative plaque at a rally outside Thailand's parliament in Bangkok, as activists gathered to demand a new constitution AFP via Getty World news in pictures 23 September 2020 A whale stranded on a beach in Macquarie Harbour on the rugged west coast of Tasmania, as hundreds of pilot whales have died in a mass stranding in southern Australia despite efforts to save them, with rescuers racing to free a few dozen survivors The Mercury/AFP via Getty World news in pictures 22 September 2020 State civil employee candidates wearing face masks and shields take a test in Surabaya AFP via Getty World news in pictures 21 September 2020 A man sweeps at the Taj Mahal monument on the day of its reopening after being closed for more than six months due to the coronavirus pandemic AP World news in pictures 20 September 2020 A deer looks for food in a burnt area, caused by the Bobcat fire, in Pearblossom, California EPA World news in pictures 19 September 2020 Anti-government protesters hold their mobile phones aloft as they take part in a pro-democracy rally in Bangkok. Tens of thousands of pro-democracy protesters massed close to Thailand's royal palace, in a huge rally calling for PM Prayut Chan-O-Cha to step down and demanding reforms to the monarchy AFP via Getty World news in pictures 18 September 2020 Supporters of Iraqi Shi'ite cleric Moqtada al-Sadr maintain social distancing as they attend Friday prayers after the coronavirus disease restrictions were eased, in Kufa mosque, near Najaf, Iraq Reuters World news in pictures 17 September 2020 A protester climbs on The Triumph of the Republic at 'the Place de la Nation' as thousands of protesters take part in a demonstration during a national day strike called by labor unions asking for better salary and against jobs cut in Paris, France EPA World news in pictures 16 September 2020 A fire raging near the Lazzaretto of Ancona in Italy. The huge blaze broke out overnight at the port of Ancona. Firefighters have brought the fire under control but they expected to keep working through the day EPA World news in pictures 15 September 2020 Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny posing for a selfie with his family at Berlin's Charite hospital. In an Instagram post he said he could now breathe independently following his suspected poisoning last month Alexei Navalny/Instagram/AFP World news in pictures 14 September 2020 Japan's Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga, former Defense Minister Shigeru Ishiba and former Foreign Minister Fumio Kishida celebrate after Suga was elected as new head of the ruling party at the Liberal Democratic Party's leadership election in Tokyo Reuters World news in pictures 13 September 2020 A man stands behind a burning barricade during the fifth straight day of protests against police brutality in Bogota AFP via Getty World news in pictures 12 September 2020 Police officers block and detain protesters during an opposition rally to protest the official presidential election results in Minsk, Belarus. Daily protests calling for the authoritarian president's resignation are now in their second month AP World news in pictures 11 September 2020 Members of 'Omnium Cultural' celebrate the 20th 'Festa per la llibertat' ('Fiesta for the freedom') to mark the Day of Catalonia in Barcelona. Omnion Cultural fights for the independence of Catalonia EPA World news in pictures 10 September 2020 The Moria refugee camp, two days after Greece's biggest migrant camp, was destroyed by fire. Thousands of asylum seekers on the island of Lesbos are now homeless AFP via Getty World news in pictures 9 September 2020 Pope Francis takes off his face mask as he arrives by car to hold a limited public audience at the San Damaso courtyard in The Vatican AFP via Getty World news in pictures 8 September 2020 A home is engulfed in flames during the "Creek Fire" in the Tollhouse area of California AFP via Getty World news in pictures 7 September 2020 A couple take photos along a sea wall of the waves brought by Typhoon Haishen in the eastern port city of Sokcho AFP via Getty World news in pictures 6 September 2020 Novak Djokovic and a tournament official tends to a linesperson who was struck with a ball by Djokovic during his match against Pablo Carreno Busta at the US Open USA Today Sports/Reuters World news in pictures 5 September 2020 Protesters confront police at the Shrine of Remembrance in Melbourne, Australia, during an anti-lockdown rally AFP via Getty World news in pictures 4 September 2020 A woman looks on from a rooftop as rescue workers dig through the rubble of a damaged building in Beirut. A search began for possible survivors after a scanner detected a pulse one month after the mega-blast at the adjacent port AFP via Getty World news in pictures 3 September 2020 A full moon next to the Virgen del Panecillo statue in Quito, Ecuador EPA World news in pictures 2 September 2020 A Palestinian woman reacts as Israeli forces demolish her animal shed near Hebron in the Israeli-occupied West Bank Reuters World news in pictures 1 September 2020 Students protest against presidential elections results in Minsk TUT.BY/AFP via Getty World news in pictures 31 August 2020 The pack rides during the 3rd stage of the Tour de France between Nice and Sisteron AFP via Getty World news in pictures 30 August 2020 Law enforcement officers block a street during a rally of opposition supporters protesting against presidential election results in Minsk, Belarus Reuters World news in pictures 29 August 2020 A woman holding a placard reading "Stop Censorship - Yes to the Freedom of Expression" shouts in a megaphone during a protest against the mandatory wearing of face masks in Paris. Masks, which were already compulsory on public transport, in enclosed public spaces, and outdoors in Paris in certain high-congestion areas around tourist sites, were made mandatory outdoors citywide on August 28 to fight the rising coronavirus infections AFP via Getty World news in pictures 28 August 2020 Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe bows to the national flag at the start of a press conference at the prime minister official residence in Tokyo. Abe announced he will resign over health problems, in a bombshell development that kicks off a leadership contest in the world's third-largest economy AFP via Getty World news in pictures 27 August 2020 Residents take cover behind a tree trunk from rubber bullets fired by South African Police Service (SAPS) in Eldorado Park, near Johannesburg, during a protest by community members after a 16-year old boy was reported dead AFP via Getty World news in pictures 26 August 2020 People scatter rose petals on a statue of Mother Teresa marking her 110th birth anniversary in Ahmedabad AFP via Getty World news in pictures 25 August 2020 An aerial view shows beach-goers standing on salt formations in the Dead Sea near Ein Bokeq, Israel Reuters World news in pictures 24 August 2020 Health workers use a fingertip pulse oximeter and check the body temperature of a fisherwoman inside the Dharavi slum during a door-to-door Covid-19 coronavirus screening in Mumbai AFP via Getty World news in pictures 23 August 2020 People carry an idol of the Hindu god Ganesh, the deity of prosperity, to immerse it off the coast of the Arabian sea during the Ganesh Chaturthi festival in Mumbai, India Reuters World news in pictures 22 August 2020 Firefighters watch as flames from the LNU Lightning Complex fires approach a home in Napa County, California AP World news in pictures 21 August 2020 Members of the Israeli security forces arrest a Palestinian demonstrator during a rally to protest against Israel's plan to annex parts of the occupied West Bank AFP via Getty World news in pictures 20 August 2020 A man pushes his bicycle through a deserted road after prohibitory orders were imposed by district officials for a week to contain the spread of the Covid-19 in Kathmandu AFP via Getty World news in pictures 19 August 2020 A car burns while parked at a residence in Vacaville, California. Dozens of fires are burning out of control throughout Northern California as fire resources are spread thin AFP via Getty World news in pictures 18 August 2020 Students use their mobile phones as flashlights at an anti-government rally at Mahidol University in Nakhon Pathom. Thailand has seen near-daily protests in recent weeks by students demanding the resignation of Prime Minister Prayut Chan-O-Cha AFP via Getty World news in pictures 17 August 2020 Members of the Kayapo tribe block the BR163 highway during a protest outside Novo Progresso in Para state, Brazil. Indigenous protesters blocked a major transamazonian highway to protest against the lack of governmental support during the COVID-19 novel coronavirus pandemic and illegal deforestation in and around their territories AFP via Getty World news in pictures 16 August 2020 Lightning forks over the San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge as a storm passes over Oakland AP World news in pictures 15 August 2020 Belarus opposition supporters gather near the Pushkinskaya metro station where Alexander Taraikovsky, a 34-year-old protester died on August 10, during their protest rally in central Minsk AFP via Getty World news in pictures 14 August 2020 AlphaTauri's driver Daniil Kvyat takes part in the second practice session at the Circuit de Catalunya in Montmelo near Barcelona ahead of the Spanish F1 Grand Prix AFP via Getty World news in pictures 13 August 2020 Soldiers of the Brazilian Armed Forces during a disinfection of the Christ The Redeemer statue at the Corcovado mountain prior to the opening of the touristic attraction in Rio AFP via Getty World news in pictures 12 August 2020 Young elephant bulls tussle playfully on World Elephant Day at the Amboseli National Park in Kenya AFP via Getty

Mr Lewis told the Associated Press that despite the suspects death, the investigation is ongoing and no possible motive has been released to the public as yet.

Going off a witness sketch of the suspect describing him as a bald man wearing a fedora-like, short-brimmed hat, police had tracked the suspect to the hotel in the wake of Mr Levines murder on Saturday evening.
The Supreme Court has ruled in favour of a Colorado baker who refused to make a cake for a same sex wedding because of a religious objection.

The decision found that the Colorado Civil Rights Commission (CCRC) showed hostility towards the baker and his religious beliefs, violating religious protection laws in the US.

The 7-2 decision presented a win for the baker, Jack Phillips, but did not address the broader constitutional questions that the case brought forwards.

The case stems from a 2012 incident when Masterpiece Cakeshop refused to make a wedding cake for the same sex couple, but offered to sell them other baked goods like birthday cakes. Following the rejection, the couple approached the CCRC claiming that they were wrongfully discriminated against because of their sexual orientation. Same sex marriage was not recognised by the state of Colorado at the time.

In writing his majority opinion for the court, Justice Anthony Kennedy noted on Monday the peculiar nature of the cause, where free speech is defined in the context of expression through the creation of a customised cake for a ceremony that the baker strongly disagreed with on religious grounds.

The freedoms asserted here are both the freedom of speech and the free exercise of religion. The free speech aspect of this case is difficult, for few persons who have seen a beautiful wedding cake might have thought of its creation as an exercise of protected speech, Mr Kennedy wrote. This is an instructive example, however, of the proposition that the application of constitutional freedoms in new contexts can deepen our understanding of their meaning.

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 ruling relies heavily on the actions of commissioners on the CCRC after the couple filed a complaint against Masterpiece Cakeshop. Those commissioners, according to the Monday ruling, disparaged Phillips faith as despicable and characterised it as merely rhetorical, and compared his invocation of his sincerely held religious beliefs to defences of slavery and the Holocaust. In addition, the court noted, the commission determined that any message on the cake would be attributable to the customer of the cake  not the baker  even though the CCRC had ruled the opposite way previously when tasked with determining potential discrimination over objections to anti-gay messaging.

The neutral and respectful consideration to which Phillips was entitled was compromised here, Mr Kennedy wrote. The Civil Rights Commissions treatment of his case has some elements of a clear and impermissible hostility towards the sincere religious beliefs that motivated his objection.

David Mullins and Charlie Craig approached Masterpiece Cakeshop in Lakewood, Colorado, in 2012, and asked the business to make a cake for their upcoming wedding, which they planned to have in Massachusetts. Mr Phillips then refused to serve them, saying that he would not use his baking talents to create a message supporting same sex marriage that runs counter to his religious beliefs on the subject.

Mr Mullins and Mr Craig argued at the time that they were humiliated by the rejection, and took their complaint to the CCRC. That commission ruled in their favour, as did the Colorado court of appeals, which found that Mr Phillips right to free speech had not been violated.

 These are the questions LGBT+ people are sick of hearing

Gay rights organisations have argued that gay couples should have access to the same services provided to the general public, and that a ruling in favour of Maserpiece Cakeshop would undermine the landmark 2015 Supreme Court decision that made same sex marriage legal.

Meanwhile, religious groups have argued that forcing those with deeply held beliefs against same sex marriage is akin to forcing individuals to speak  which the Supreme Court has long held is a violation of First Amendment rights.

The Trump administration, which intervened on behalf of the baker, welcomed Monday's ruling.

"The First Amendment prohibits governments from discriminating against citizens on the basis of religious beliefs," Attorney General Jeff Sessions said in a statement.

In response to the Monday ruling, the American Civil Liberties Union, which argued the case on behalf of Mr Mullins and Mr Craig, said that the courts had actually reaffirmed their core belief that people should have equal access to services provided to the public, even though the court had reversed the decision in this particular case.

The court reversed the Masterpiece Cakeshop decision based on concerns unique to the case but reaffirmed its longstanding rule that states can prevent the harms of discrimination in the marketplace, including against LGBT people, Louise Melling, the deputy legal director of the ACLU, said in a statement.

In a statement issued after the ruling on Monday, Mr Phillips Supreme Court lawyer praised the decision.

Government hostility toward people of faith has no place in our society, yet the state of Colorado was openly antagonistic toward Jacks religious beliefs about marriage. The court was right to condemn that, said Kristen Waggoner, the Alliance Defending Freedom senior counsel who argued Phillips case.
The death toll from Guatemalas volcano eruption has leapt to at least 69, as rescuers hunted for possible survivors beneath rivers of ash and mud, and braced for the number of fatalities to rise yet higher.

The director of Guatemalas National Institute of Forensic Science announced the new figure, a sharp increase in the number killed by the eruption of the nations Volcano of Fire. The official, Fanuel Garcia, said only 17 of those bodies had so far been identified, and that the remains recovered were discovered in the hamlets of Los Lotes and El Rodeo.

"It is very difficult for us to identify them because some of the dead lost their features or their fingerprints" from the red-hot flows, Mr Garcia said. "We are going to have to resort to other methods... and if possible take DNA samples to identify them."

Another official said Sundays eruption triggered floods of fast-moving mixtures of very hot gas and volcanic  known as pyroclastic flows, that buried surrounding villages and residents had little time to escape.

Recommended Huge rescue effort underway in Guatemala after volcano kills dozens

Its a river of lava that overflowed its banks and affected the El Rodeo village, Sergio Cabanas, head of Guatemalas disaster agency Conred, told the Associated Press. There are injured, burned and dead people.

He said four people had died when lava set a house on fire and two children were killed while standing on a bridge watching the eruption. A total of two million people had been affected, he added.

Officials said dozens of people were still missing after the countrys most violent volcanic eruption in more than a century. The Central American nation is famed for its volcanos and contains 34 of them.

Sundays eruption at the Fuego volcano, 25 miles southwest of the capital Guatemala City, spewed rock, gas and ash into the sky.

 Guatemala volcano eruption buries people across three villages

Emergency personnel in helicopters managed to pull at least 10 people alive from ash drifts and mud flows that were up to the rooflines of some homes. As a result, crews had to use sledgehammers to break through the roofs to see if anyone was trapped inside, the AP said.

The eruption of Fuego  Spanish for fire  on Sunday was the biggest in decades, forcing the closure of Guatemalas main international airport and dumping ash on thousands of acres of coffee farms situated on the normally cooler climes of the volcanos slopes.

At one point, the task of pulling out bodies was halted, after the new eruption and an apparent landslide on the southern slopes of Fuego triggered fresh evacuations.

They gave the emergency order to evacuate, and we all went running, one rescue volunteer told a local television crew. We were pulling out bodies. Were going to wait a half hour before entering again.

Reuters reported that witnesses near the volcano said more people had been evacuated beyond a five-mile perimeter from the site after the latest explosion.

Fuego, one of several active volcanoes in Guatemala, is near the colonial city of Antigua, a Unesco world heritage site that has survived several eruptions. The latest activity is mostly on the far side of the volcano, facing the Pacific coast.

President Jimmy Morales has declared three days of national mourning.

Hilda Lopez said the volcanic mud swept into her village of San Miguel Los Lotes, just below the mountains flanks, and she did not know where her mother and sister were.

We were at a party, celebrating the birth of a baby, when one of the neighbours shouted at us to come out and see the lava that was coming, she said. We didnt believe it, and when we went out the hot mud was already coming down the street.
A huge volcanic eruption has engulfed homes and fields across three towns in Guatemala, killing at least 25 people with local officials warning the death toll is expected to rise.

Volcan de Fuego, whose name means "Volcano of Fire", spewed an 8km (5-mile) stream of red hot lava and belched a thick plume of black smoke and ash that rained onto the capital and other regions.

One video purportedly from the worst-affected village of El Rodeo showed the charred remains of three victims strewn atop the steaming, ashen remnants of a pyroclastic flow.

Rescue agencies estimate around 300 people have been injured, but they have struggled to reach rural areas cut off by the eruption. Authorities have been unable to account for an undetermined number of people and say whole villages remain unaccounted for.

A rescue worker carries a child covered with ash after Fuego volcano erupted violently in El Rodeo, Guatemala (Reuters)

"Unfortunately El Rodeo was buried and we haven't been able to reach the La Libertad village because of the lava and maybe there are people that died there too," said Sergio Cabanas, the general secretary of Guatemala's CONRED national disaster management agency.

In another video, a visibly exhausted woman, her face blackened from ash, said she had narrowly escaped as lava poured through corn fields.

She said "plenty" of members of her family had been left behind. "Not everyone escaped, I think they were buried," Consuelo Hernandez told news outlet Diario de Centroamerica.

Eddy Sanchez, director of the country's seismology and volcanology institute, said the flows reached temperatures of about 700C (1,300F)

Dramatic video showed a fast-moving lahar, or flow of pyroclastic material and slurry, slamming into and partly destroying a bridge on a road between Sacatepequez and Escuintla.

Homes were still burning in El Rodeo late on Sunday, and a charred stench hung over the town.

Amid darkness and rain, the rescue effort was suspended until early Monday morning, municipal firefighters' spokesman Cecilio Chacaj said.

Among the fatalities were four people, including a disaster agency official, killed when lava set a house on fire in El Rodeo village, national disaster coordinator Sergio Cabanas said.

Two children were burned to death as they watched the volcano's second eruption this year from a bridge, he added.

Another victim was found in the streets of El Rodeo by volunteer firefighters, but the person died in an ambulance.

At an ad-hoc morgue in the town of Alotenango, at least three bodies lay covered with blue sheets.

Guatemala's disaster agency said 3,100 people had evacuated nearby communities, and ash fall from the eruption was affecting an area with about 1.7 million of country's 15 million or so people. Shelters were opened for those forced to flee.

Guatemala volcano: dozens dead after Volcan de Fuego eruption Show all 16 1 /16 Guatemala volcano: dozens dead after Volcan de Fuego eruption Guatemala volcano: dozens dead after Volcan de Fuego eruption Guatemalan police evacuate people in the village of El Porvenir following the eruption of Volcan de Fuego EPA Guatemala volcano: dozens dead after Volcan de Fuego eruption A rescue worker helps a woman covered with ash Reuters Guatemala volcano: dozens dead after Volcan de Fuego eruption Volcano Fuego during an eruptive pulse AFP/Getty Guatemala volcano: dozens dead after Volcan de Fuego eruption Emergency personnel rescuing a person EPA/Ministry of Defense Guatemala Guatemala volcano: dozens dead after Volcan de Fuego eruption Residents take refuge in a shelter south of Guatemala City following the eruption of Volcan de Fuego AFP/Getty Guatemala volcano: dozens dead after Volcan de Fuego eruption The eruption of Volcan de Fuego is captured from Alotenango, southwest of Guatemala City AFP/Getty Guatemala volcano: dozens dead after Volcan de Fuego eruption AFP/Getty Guatemala volcano: dozens dead after Volcan de Fuego eruption Residents stand behind a safety cordon following the eruption of Volcan de Fuego Reuters Guatemala volcano: dozens dead after Volcan de Fuego eruption Relatives react as volunteers carry a coffin with the body of Sergio Vasquez who died following the eruption AFP/Getty Guatemala volcano: dozens dead after Volcan de Fuego eruption People flee the ash covered village of El Rodeo, south of Guatemala City AFP/Getty Guatemala volcano: dozens dead after Volcan de Fuego eruption Police officers in protective masks guard the area around the village of El Rodeo following the eruption of Volcan de Fuego Reuters Guatemala volcano: dozens dead after Volcan de Fuego eruption An ash covered child is rescued in the village of El Rodeo following the eruption of Volcan de Fuego Reuters Guatemala volcano: dozens dead after Volcan de Fuego eruption Soldiers sweep up ash at La Aurora International Airport Reuters Guatemala volcano: dozens dead after Volcan de Fuego eruption A young girl is carried by a rescue worker in the village of El Rodeo following the eruption of Volcan de Fuego EPA Guatemala volcano: dozens dead after Volcan de Fuego eruption Reuters Guatemala volcano: dozens dead after Volcan de Fuego eruption Fuego volcano after it erupted violently Reuters

"Currently the volcano continues to erupt and there exists a high potential for (pyroclastic) avalanches of debris," the disaster agency said late on Sunday via Twitter, quoting Sanchez, the director of the seismology and volcanology institute.

Guatemalan president Jimmy Morales said he would issue a declaration of a state of emergency to be approved by Congress and urged people to heed warnings from emergency officials.

Ash fell on the Guatemala City area as well as the departments of Sacatepequez, Chimaltenango and Escuintla, which are in south-central Guatemala around the volcano. Streets and houses were covered in the colonial town of Antigua, a popular tourist destination.

Aviation authorities closed the capital's international airport because of the danger posed to planes by the ash.

One of Central America's most active volcanoes, the conical Volcan de Fuego reaches an altitude of 12,346 feet (3,763 meters) above sea level at its peak.

Additional reporting by AP, Reuters
A woman who survived the Guatemala volcano eruption said she believes her family was buried in the disaster.

Volcan de Fuego, whose name means "Volcano of Fire", devastated three towns over the weekend in the Central American country, killing at least 25 people.

Consuelo Hernandez was filmed covered in ash as she walked down a road, fearful that her entire family had been buried by the eruption.

Recommended Dozens dead as huge volcanic eruption buries people alive in Guatemala

"Not everyone escaped. I think they were buried," she told the camera man.

When asked how she survived, she said: "Because we saw the lava pouring through the corn fields and we ran towards the hill."

The volcano suffered a vulcanian eruption - a violent and sudden volcanic blast which often throws large amounts of debris into the air and is accompanied by fast-moving lava flows.

Rescue agencies estimate that at least 300 people have been injured, with the blast raining ash down on the country's nearby capital of Guatemala City, forcing the international airport to close.

One video taken near the disaster showed dead bodies lying on top of the pyroclastic flow. Rescue workers have been searching for survivors and have evacuated more than 3,000 people from their homes.

The Fuego Volcano in eruption, seen from Alotenango municipality (AFP/Getty Images)

Sergio Cabanas, head of the country's National Disaster Management Agency (Conred), said his agency has been unable to reach one affected village due to the lava flow.

He told a local radio station: "Unfortunately El Rodeo was buried and we haven't been able to reach the La Libertad village because of the lava and maybe there are people that died there too."

Several children and workers from the Conred agency are among the dead, Mr Cabanas added.

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

Guatemala's president Jimmy Morales said he is considering declaring a state of emergency due to the disaster, with rescue agencies warning that heavy rains could cause mudslides in the coming days due to the eruption.

Eddy Sanchez, director of the National Institute for Seismology, Vulcanology, Meteorology and Hydrology of Guatemala, has warned the volcano is still in an active state, and has advised local people to stay off the roads.

Volcan de Fuego is one of the most active volcanos in Central America, with the recent eruption being the largest it has experienced since 1974.
 Close Guatemala 'Fuego' volcano eruption kills dozens bringing national emergency

Rescuers have pulled survivors and bodies from the charred aftermath of the powerful eruption of Guatemala's Volcan de Fuego, or Volcano of Fire, with the death toll rose to 62 and set to increase.

The head of of Guatemala's National Forensic Sciences Institute reported the latest death toll, after the volcano erupted on Sunday, engulfing homes in three villages in the central American country and cutting off several communities from aid.

The disaster caught residents of remote mountain hamlets off guard, with little or no time to flee to safety and whole villages remain unaccounted for. Thirteen of the victims have so far been identified, with hundreds of others left injured..

As Guatemalan authorities dealt with rescue operations Israel said it had delivered food, blankets and medicine through its embassy.

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Bodies were so thickly coated with ash that they looked like statues, and rescuers were forced to use sledgehammers to break through the roofs of houses buried in debris up to their rooflines to try to see if anyone was trapped inside.

It is very difficult for us to identify them because some of the dead lost their features or their fingerprints from the red-hot flows, Fanuel Garcia, director of the National Institute of Forensic Sciences said. We are going to have to resort to other methods ... and if possible take DNA samples to identify them.

Guatemalan authorities say they had been closely monitoring the Volcano of Fire, one of Central America's most active, after activity picked up around 6am Sunday.

Guatemala volcano: dozens dead after Volcan de Fuego eruption Show all 16 1 /16 Guatemala volcano: dozens dead after Volcan de Fuego eruption Guatemala volcano: dozens dead after Volcan de Fuego eruption Guatemalan police evacuate people in the village of El Porvenir following the eruption of Volcan de Fuego EPA Guatemala volcano: dozens dead after Volcan de Fuego eruption A rescue worker helps a woman covered with ash Reuters Guatemala volcano: dozens dead after Volcan de Fuego eruption Volcano Fuego during an eruptive pulse AFP/Getty Guatemala volcano: dozens dead after Volcan de Fuego eruption Emergency personnel rescuing a person EPA/Ministry of Defense Guatemala Guatemala volcano: dozens dead after Volcan de Fuego eruption Residents take refuge in a shelter south of Guatemala City following the eruption of Volcan de Fuego AFP/Getty Guatemala volcano: dozens dead after Volcan de Fuego eruption The eruption of Volcan de Fuego is captured from Alotenango, southwest of Guatemala City AFP/Getty Guatemala volcano: dozens dead after Volcan de Fuego eruption AFP/Getty Guatemala volcano: dozens dead after Volcan de Fuego eruption Residents stand behind a safety cordon following the eruption of Volcan de Fuego Reuters Guatemala volcano: dozens dead after Volcan de Fuego eruption Relatives react as volunteers carry a coffin with the body of Sergio Vasquez who died following the eruption AFP/Getty Guatemala volcano: dozens dead after Volcan de Fuego eruption People flee the ash covered village of El Rodeo, south of Guatemala City AFP/Getty Guatemala volcano: dozens dead after Volcan de Fuego eruption Police officers in protective masks guard the area around the village of El Rodeo following the eruption of Volcan de Fuego Reuters Guatemala volcano: dozens dead after Volcan de Fuego eruption An ash covered child is rescued in the village of El Rodeo following the eruption of Volcan de Fuego Reuters Guatemala volcano: dozens dead after Volcan de Fuego eruption Soldiers sweep up ash at La Aurora International Airport Reuters Guatemala volcano: dozens dead after Volcan de Fuego eruption A young girl is carried by a rescue worker in the village of El Rodeo following the eruption of Volcan de Fuego EPA Guatemala volcano: dozens dead after Volcan de Fuego eruption Reuters Guatemala volcano: dozens dead after Volcan de Fuego eruption Fuego volcano after it erupted violently Reuters

The volcano has registered a number of minor eruptions over the years, and no evacuations were ordered as scientific experts reported the activity was decreasing.

Guatemala's disaster agency, Conred, issued a number of standard precautions, advising people to wear protective face masks, clean their rooftops of ash once the eruption was over and cover any food and water intended for human consumption. It also said to heed any recommendations from authorities. Guatemala City's international airport was closed due to the danger to planes.

Conred spokesman David de Leon said that around 2pm the volcano registered a new, more powerful explosion.

Soon, searing flows of lava, ash and rock mixed with water and debris were gushing down the volcano's flanks, blocking roads and burning homes.

It travelled much faster. It arrived in communities right when the evacuation alerts were being sent out, de Leon said.

Authorities scrambled to issue an evacuation order. Some communities emptied out safely. But in places like Los Lotes and the village of El Rodeo, about eight miles downslope from the crater, it was too late for many.

Associated Press
The international community has rushed to pledge aid to Guatemala after a huge volcanic eruption in the country.

At least 25 people have died after Volcan de Fuego, whose name means "Volcano of Fire", spewed an 8km (5-mile) stream of lava and belched thick black smoke and ash that rained onto the capital and other regions.

Rescue agencies estimate around 300 people have been injured but the number is likely to be higher as they have struggled to reach rural areas cut off by the eruption.

Video footage from the worst-affected village of El Rodeo showed the charred remains of three victims atop the steaming lava.

In another video, a visibly exhausted woman, her face blackened from ash, said she had narrowly escaped as lava poured through corn fields.

"Unfortunately El Rodeo was buried and we haven't been able to reach the La Libertad village because of the lava and maybe there are people that died there too," said Sergio Cabanas, the general secretary of Guatemala's CONRED national disaster management agency.

The international community has now pledged its support for the region.

The G13 - an international group consisting of leaders of the heads of government from Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the UK, the US and Russia, plus Brazil, China, India, Mexico and South Africa - has offered its support to those affected by the volcano eruption.

"The G13 is at the disposal of the Guatemalan authorities to help with the Volcan Fuego tragedy and sends its condolences to those affected," a tweet on the official account for the British Embassy in Guatemala said.

World news in pictures Show all 50 1 /50 World news in pictures World news in pictures 30 September 2020 Pope Francis prays with priests at the end of a limited public audience at the San Damaso courtyard in The Vatican AFP via Getty World news in pictures 29 September 2020 A girl's silhouette is seen from behind a fabric in a tent along a beach by Beit Lahia in the northern Gaza Strip AFP via Getty World news in pictures 28 September 2020 A Chinese woman takes a photo of herself in front of a flower display dedicated to frontline health care workers during the COVID-19 pandemic in Beijing, China. China will celebrate national day marking the founding of the People's Republic of China on October 1st Getty World news in pictures 27 September 2020 The Glass Mountain Inn burns as the Glass Fire moves through the area in St. Helena, California. The fast moving Glass fire has burned over 1,000 acres and has destroyed homes Getty World news in pictures 26 September 2020 A villager along with a child offers prayers next to a carcass of a wild elephant that officials say was electrocuted in Rani Reserve Forest on the outskirts of Guwahati, India AFP via Getty World news in pictures 25 September 2020 The casket of late Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg is seen in Statuary Hall in the US Capitol to lie in state in Washington, DC AFP via Getty World news in pictures 24 September 2020 An anti-government protester holds up an image of a pro-democracy commemorative plaque at a rally outside Thailand's parliament in Bangkok, as activists gathered to demand a new constitution AFP via Getty World news in pictures 23 September 2020 A whale stranded on a beach in Macquarie Harbour on the rugged west coast of Tasmania, as hundreds of pilot whales have died in a mass stranding in southern Australia despite efforts to save them, with rescuers racing to free a few dozen survivors The Mercury/AFP via Getty World news in pictures 22 September 2020 State civil employee candidates wearing face masks and shields take a test in Surabaya AFP via Getty World news in pictures 21 September 2020 A man sweeps at the Taj Mahal monument on the day of its reopening after being closed for more than six months due to the coronavirus pandemic AP World news in pictures 20 September 2020 A deer looks for food in a burnt area, caused by the Bobcat fire, in Pearblossom, California EPA World news in pictures 19 September 2020 Anti-government protesters hold their mobile phones aloft as they take part in a pro-democracy rally in Bangkok. Tens of thousands of pro-democracy protesters massed close to Thailand's royal palace, in a huge rally calling for PM Prayut Chan-O-Cha to step down and demanding reforms to the monarchy AFP via Getty World news in pictures 18 September 2020 Supporters of Iraqi Shi'ite cleric Moqtada al-Sadr maintain social distancing as they attend Friday prayers after the coronavirus disease restrictions were eased, in Kufa mosque, near Najaf, Iraq Reuters World news in pictures 17 September 2020 A protester climbs on The Triumph of the Republic at 'the Place de la Nation' as thousands of protesters take part in a demonstration during a national day strike called by labor unions asking for better salary and against jobs cut in Paris, France EPA World news in pictures 16 September 2020 A fire raging near the Lazzaretto of Ancona in Italy. The huge blaze broke out overnight at the port of Ancona. Firefighters have brought the fire under control but they expected to keep working through the day EPA World news in pictures 15 September 2020 Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny posing for a selfie with his family at Berlin's Charite hospital. In an Instagram post he said he could now breathe independently following his suspected poisoning last month Alexei Navalny/Instagram/AFP World news in pictures 14 September 2020 Japan's Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga, former Defense Minister Shigeru Ishiba and former Foreign Minister Fumio Kishida celebrate after Suga was elected as new head of the ruling party at the Liberal Democratic Party's leadership election in Tokyo Reuters World news in pictures 13 September 2020 A man stands behind a burning barricade during the fifth straight day of protests against police brutality in Bogota AFP via Getty World news in pictures 12 September 2020 Police officers block and detain protesters during an opposition rally to protest the official presidential election results in Minsk, Belarus. Daily protests calling for the authoritarian president's resignation are now in their second month AP World news in pictures 11 September 2020 Members of 'Omnium Cultural' celebrate the 20th 'Festa per la llibertat' ('Fiesta for the freedom') to mark the Day of Catalonia in Barcelona. Omnion Cultural fights for the independence of Catalonia EPA World news in pictures 10 September 2020 The Moria refugee camp, two days after Greece's biggest migrant camp, was destroyed by fire. Thousands of asylum seekers on the island of Lesbos are now homeless AFP via Getty World news in pictures 9 September 2020 Pope Francis takes off his face mask as he arrives by car to hold a limited public audience at the San Damaso courtyard in The Vatican AFP via Getty World news in pictures 8 September 2020 A home is engulfed in flames during the "Creek Fire" in the Tollhouse area of California AFP via Getty World news in pictures 7 September 2020 A couple take photos along a sea wall of the waves brought by Typhoon Haishen in the eastern port city of Sokcho AFP via Getty World news in pictures 6 September 2020 Novak Djokovic and a tournament official tends to a linesperson who was struck with a ball by Djokovic during his match against Pablo Carreno Busta at the US Open USA Today Sports/Reuters World news in pictures 5 September 2020 Protesters confront police at the Shrine of Remembrance in Melbourne, Australia, during an anti-lockdown rally AFP via Getty World news in pictures 4 September 2020 A woman looks on from a rooftop as rescue workers dig through the rubble of a damaged building in Beirut. A search began for possible survivors after a scanner detected a pulse one month after the mega-blast at the adjacent port AFP via Getty World news in pictures 3 September 2020 A full moon next to the Virgen del Panecillo statue in Quito, Ecuador EPA World news in pictures 2 September 2020 A Palestinian woman reacts as Israeli forces demolish her animal shed near Hebron in the Israeli-occupied West Bank Reuters World news in pictures 1 September 2020 Students protest against presidential elections results in Minsk TUT.BY/AFP via Getty World news in pictures 31 August 2020 The pack rides during the 3rd stage of the Tour de France between Nice and Sisteron AFP via Getty World news in pictures 30 August 2020 Law enforcement officers block a street during a rally of opposition supporters protesting against presidential election results in Minsk, Belarus Reuters World news in pictures 29 August 2020 A woman holding a placard reading "Stop Censorship - Yes to the Freedom of Expression" shouts in a megaphone during a protest against the mandatory wearing of face masks in Paris. Masks, which were already compulsory on public transport, in enclosed public spaces, and outdoors in Paris in certain high-congestion areas around tourist sites, were made mandatory outdoors citywide on August 28 to fight the rising coronavirus infections AFP via Getty World news in pictures 28 August 2020 Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe bows to the national flag at the start of a press conference at the prime minister official residence in Tokyo. Abe announced he will resign over health problems, in a bombshell development that kicks off a leadership contest in the world's third-largest economy AFP via Getty World news in pictures 27 August 2020 Residents take cover behind a tree trunk from rubber bullets fired by South African Police Service (SAPS) in Eldorado Park, near Johannesburg, during a protest by community members after a 16-year old boy was reported dead AFP via Getty World news in pictures 26 August 2020 People scatter rose petals on a statue of Mother Teresa marking her 110th birth anniversary in Ahmedabad AFP via Getty World news in pictures 25 August 2020 An aerial view shows beach-goers standing on salt formations in the Dead Sea near Ein Bokeq, Israel Reuters World news in pictures 24 August 2020 Health workers use a fingertip pulse oximeter and check the body temperature of a fisherwoman inside the Dharavi slum during a door-to-door Covid-19 coronavirus screening in Mumbai AFP via Getty World news in pictures 23 August 2020 People carry an idol of the Hindu god Ganesh, the deity of prosperity, to immerse it off the coast of the Arabian sea during the Ganesh Chaturthi festival in Mumbai, India Reuters World news in pictures 22 August 2020 Firefighters watch as flames from the LNU Lightning Complex fires approach a home in Napa County, California AP World news in pictures 21 August 2020 Members of the Israeli security forces arrest a Palestinian demonstrator during a rally to protest against Israel's plan to annex parts of the occupied West Bank AFP via Getty World news in pictures 20 August 2020 A man pushes his bicycle through a deserted road after prohibitory orders were imposed by district officials for a week to contain the spread of the Covid-19 in Kathmandu AFP via Getty World news in pictures 19 August 2020 A car burns while parked at a residence in Vacaville, California. Dozens of fires are burning out of control throughout Northern California as fire resources are spread thin AFP via Getty World news in pictures 18 August 2020 Students use their mobile phones as flashlights at an anti-government rally at Mahidol University in Nakhon Pathom. Thailand has seen near-daily protests in recent weeks by students demanding the resignation of Prime Minister Prayut Chan-O-Cha AFP via Getty World news in pictures 17 August 2020 Members of the Kayapo tribe block the BR163 highway during a protest outside Novo Progresso in Para state, Brazil. Indigenous protesters blocked a major transamazonian highway to protest against the lack of governmental support during the COVID-19 novel coronavirus pandemic and illegal deforestation in and around their territories AFP via Getty World news in pictures 16 August 2020 Lightning forks over the San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge as a storm passes over Oakland AP World news in pictures 15 August 2020 Belarus opposition supporters gather near the Pushkinskaya metro station where Alexander Taraikovsky, a 34-year-old protester died on August 10, during their protest rally in central Minsk AFP via Getty World news in pictures 14 August 2020 AlphaTauri's driver Daniil Kvyat takes part in the second practice session at the Circuit de Catalunya in Montmelo near Barcelona ahead of the Spanish F1 Grand Prix AFP via Getty World news in pictures 13 August 2020 Soldiers of the Brazilian Armed Forces during a disinfection of the Christ The Redeemer statue at the Corcovado mountain prior to the opening of the touristic attraction in Rio AFP via Getty World news in pictures 12 August 2020 Young elephant bulls tussle playfully on World Elephant Day at the Amboseli National Park in Kenya AFP via Getty

Israel also announced that it had delivered food, blankets and medicine to Guatemala.

Israel's Foreign Ministry said it extended the assistance through its embassy in Guatemala and that a further assessment will be held with local authorities later.

The two nations have grown increasingly close in recent years. Last month, Guatemala followed the US by moving its embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem, becoming the second country to do so.

Agencies contributed to this report
Late night talk show host Jimmy Fallon surprised students at the Florida secondary school where a gunman killed 17 in February, turning up unannounced to deliver the commencement speech on Sunday night at the school's graduation ceremony.

The comedian, who hosts The Tonight Show, congratulated the seniors of Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School who received their diplomas.

Four families received diplomas on behalf of loved ones who were killed in the Valentines Day bloodshed.

Fallon urged students in the small city of Parkland, which is around 45 miles north of Miami, to move forward and dont let anything stop you.

"You are not just the future - you are the present. Keep changing the world. Keep making us proud, he said.

"Today you're graduating from high school. You should feel incredibly proud of yourselves. That doesn't mean you should rest on your laurels - or your yannys," he quipped.

This is a reference to the Yanny or Laurel auditory illusion which went viral last month and prompted the internet to explode into heated debate. The name being said depends on the perception of the listener  some hear Laurel while others hear Yanny.

"Some of you will grow up to hear yanny, some of you will grow up to hear laurel, but the most important thing for you to know is that neither of these things will matter by the end of the summer," he said.

World news in pictures Show all 50 1 /50 World news in pictures World news in pictures 30 September 2020 Pope Francis prays with priests at the end of a limited public audience at the San Damaso courtyard in The Vatican AFP via Getty World news in pictures 29 September 2020 A girl's silhouette is seen from behind a fabric in a tent along a beach by Beit Lahia in the northern Gaza Strip AFP via Getty World news in pictures 28 September 2020 A Chinese woman takes a photo of herself in front of a flower display dedicated to frontline health care workers during the COVID-19 pandemic in Beijing, China. China will celebrate national day marking the founding of the People's Republic of China on October 1st Getty World news in pictures 27 September 2020 The Glass Mountain Inn burns as the Glass Fire moves through the area in St. Helena, California. The fast moving Glass fire has burned over 1,000 acres and has destroyed homes Getty World news in pictures 26 September 2020 A villager along with a child offers prayers next to a carcass of a wild elephant that officials say was electrocuted in Rani Reserve Forest on the outskirts of Guwahati, India AFP via Getty World news in pictures 25 September 2020 The casket of late Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg is seen in Statuary Hall in the US Capitol to lie in state in Washington, DC AFP via Getty World news in pictures 24 September 2020 An anti-government protester holds up an image of a pro-democracy commemorative plaque at a rally outside Thailand's parliament in Bangkok, as activists gathered to demand a new constitution AFP via Getty World news in pictures 23 September 2020 A whale stranded on a beach in Macquarie Harbour on the rugged west coast of Tasmania, as hundreds of pilot whales have died in a mass stranding in southern Australia despite efforts to save them, with rescuers racing to free a few dozen survivors The Mercury/AFP via Getty World news in pictures 22 September 2020 State civil employee candidates wearing face masks and shields take a test in Surabaya AFP via Getty World news in pictures 21 September 2020 A man sweeps at the Taj Mahal monument on the day of its reopening after being closed for more than six months due to the coronavirus pandemic AP World news in pictures 20 September 2020 A deer looks for food in a burnt area, caused by the Bobcat fire, in Pearblossom, California EPA World news in pictures 19 September 2020 Anti-government protesters hold their mobile phones aloft as they take part in a pro-democracy rally in Bangkok. Tens of thousands of pro-democracy protesters massed close to Thailand's royal palace, in a huge rally calling for PM Prayut Chan-O-Cha to step down and demanding reforms to the monarchy AFP via Getty World news in pictures 18 September 2020 Supporters of Iraqi Shi'ite cleric Moqtada al-Sadr maintain social distancing as they attend Friday prayers after the coronavirus disease restrictions were eased, in Kufa mosque, near Najaf, Iraq Reuters World news in pictures 17 September 2020 A protester climbs on The Triumph of the Republic at 'the Place de la Nation' as thousands of protesters take part in a demonstration during a national day strike called by labor unions asking for better salary and against jobs cut in Paris, France EPA World news in pictures 16 September 2020 A fire raging near the Lazzaretto of Ancona in Italy. The huge blaze broke out overnight at the port of Ancona. Firefighters have brought the fire under control but they expected to keep working through the day EPA World news in pictures 15 September 2020 Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny posing for a selfie with his family at Berlin's Charite hospital. In an Instagram post he said he could now breathe independently following his suspected poisoning last month Alexei Navalny/Instagram/AFP World news in pictures 14 September 2020 Japan's Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga, former Defense Minister Shigeru Ishiba and former Foreign Minister Fumio Kishida celebrate after Suga was elected as new head of the ruling party at the Liberal Democratic Party's leadership election in Tokyo Reuters World news in pictures 13 September 2020 A man stands behind a burning barricade during the fifth straight day of protests against police brutality in Bogota AFP via Getty World news in pictures 12 September 2020 Police officers block and detain protesters during an opposition rally to protest the official presidential election results in Minsk, Belarus. Daily protests calling for the authoritarian president's resignation are now in their second month AP World news in pictures 11 September 2020 Members of 'Omnium Cultural' celebrate the 20th 'Festa per la llibertat' ('Fiesta for the freedom') to mark the Day of Catalonia in Barcelona. Omnion Cultural fights for the independence of Catalonia EPA World news in pictures 10 September 2020 The Moria refugee camp, two days after Greece's biggest migrant camp, was destroyed by fire. Thousands of asylum seekers on the island of Lesbos are now homeless AFP via Getty World news in pictures 9 September 2020 Pope Francis takes off his face mask as he arrives by car to hold a limited public audience at the San Damaso courtyard in The Vatican AFP via Getty World news in pictures 8 September 2020 A home is engulfed in flames during the "Creek Fire" in the Tollhouse area of California AFP via Getty World news in pictures 7 September 2020 A couple take photos along a sea wall of the waves brought by Typhoon Haishen in the eastern port city of Sokcho AFP via Getty World news in pictures 6 September 2020 Novak Djokovic and a tournament official tends to a linesperson who was struck with a ball by Djokovic during his match against Pablo Carreno Busta at the US Open USA Today Sports/Reuters World news in pictures 5 September 2020 Protesters confront police at the Shrine of Remembrance in Melbourne, Australia, during an anti-lockdown rally AFP via Getty World news in pictures 4 September 2020 A woman looks on from a rooftop as rescue workers dig through the rubble of a damaged building in Beirut. A search began for possible survivors after a scanner detected a pulse one month after the mega-blast at the adjacent port AFP via Getty World news in pictures 3 September 2020 A full moon next to the Virgen del Panecillo statue in Quito, Ecuador EPA World news in pictures 2 September 2020 A Palestinian woman reacts as Israeli forces demolish her animal shed near Hebron in the Israeli-occupied West Bank Reuters World news in pictures 1 September 2020 Students protest against presidential elections results in Minsk TUT.BY/AFP via Getty World news in pictures 31 August 2020 The pack rides during the 3rd stage of the Tour de France between Nice and Sisteron AFP via Getty World news in pictures 30 August 2020 Law enforcement officers block a street during a rally of opposition supporters protesting against presidential election results in Minsk, Belarus Reuters World news in pictures 29 August 2020 A woman holding a placard reading "Stop Censorship - Yes to the Freedom of Expression" shouts in a megaphone during a protest against the mandatory wearing of face masks in Paris. Masks, which were already compulsory on public transport, in enclosed public spaces, and outdoors in Paris in certain high-congestion areas around tourist sites, were made mandatory outdoors citywide on August 28 to fight the rising coronavirus infections AFP via Getty World news in pictures 28 August 2020 Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe bows to the national flag at the start of a press conference at the prime minister official residence in Tokyo. Abe announced he will resign over health problems, in a bombshell development that kicks off a leadership contest in the world's third-largest economy AFP via Getty World news in pictures 27 August 2020 Residents take cover behind a tree trunk from rubber bullets fired by South African Police Service (SAPS) in Eldorado Park, near Johannesburg, during a protest by community members after a 16-year old boy was reported dead AFP via Getty World news in pictures 26 August 2020 People scatter rose petals on a statue of Mother Teresa marking her 110th birth anniversary in Ahmedabad AFP via Getty World news in pictures 25 August 2020 An aerial view shows beach-goers standing on salt formations in the Dead Sea near Ein Bokeq, Israel Reuters World news in pictures 24 August 2020 Health workers use a fingertip pulse oximeter and check the body temperature of a fisherwoman inside the Dharavi slum during a door-to-door Covid-19 coronavirus screening in Mumbai AFP via Getty World news in pictures 23 August 2020 People carry an idol of the Hindu god Ganesh, the deity of prosperity, to immerse it off the coast of the Arabian sea during the Ganesh Chaturthi festival in Mumbai, India Reuters World news in pictures 22 August 2020 Firefighters watch as flames from the LNU Lightning Complex fires approach a home in Napa County, California AP World news in pictures 21 August 2020 Members of the Israeli security forces arrest a Palestinian demonstrator during a rally to protest against Israel's plan to annex parts of the occupied West Bank AFP via Getty World news in pictures 20 August 2020 A man pushes his bicycle through a deserted road after prohibitory orders were imposed by district officials for a week to contain the spread of the Covid-19 in Kathmandu AFP via Getty World news in pictures 19 August 2020 A car burns while parked at a residence in Vacaville, California. Dozens of fires are burning out of control throughout Northern California as fire resources are spread thin AFP via Getty World news in pictures 18 August 2020 Students use their mobile phones as flashlights at an anti-government rally at Mahidol University in Nakhon Pathom. Thailand has seen near-daily protests in recent weeks by students demanding the resignation of Prime Minister Prayut Chan-O-Cha AFP via Getty World news in pictures 17 August 2020 Members of the Kayapo tribe block the BR163 highway during a protest outside Novo Progresso in Para state, Brazil. Indigenous protesters blocked a major transamazonian highway to protest against the lack of governmental support during the COVID-19 novel coronavirus pandemic and illegal deforestation in and around their territories AFP via Getty World news in pictures 16 August 2020 Lightning forks over the San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge as a storm passes over Oakland AP World news in pictures 15 August 2020 Belarus opposition supporters gather near the Pushkinskaya metro station where Alexander Taraikovsky, a 34-year-old protester died on August 10, during their protest rally in central Minsk AFP via Getty World news in pictures 14 August 2020 AlphaTauri's driver Daniil Kvyat takes part in the second practice session at the Circuit de Catalunya in Montmelo near Barcelona ahead of the Spanish F1 Grand Prix AFP via Getty World news in pictures 13 August 2020 Soldiers of the Brazilian Armed Forces during a disinfection of the Christ The Redeemer statue at the Corcovado mountain prior to the opening of the touristic attraction in Rio AFP via Getty World news in pictures 12 August 2020 Young elephant bulls tussle playfully on World Elephant Day at the Amboseli National Park in Kenya AFP via Getty

"Here's what will matter: you, the class of 2018, will have graduated. And you won't be classmates anymore. You'll be adults who Facebook search each other at two in the morning for the next ten years."

Fallon then adopted a more serious tone as he offered advice to the graduating seniors to help them in the future.

"The first thing is this: when something feels hard, remember that it gets better. Choose to move forward. Don't let anything stop you."

He noted that he had met some of the students at the March for Our Lives earlier this year, calling it "an amazing day."

"Thank you for your courage and your bravery," he said.

Graduate Shannon Recor said she was pleased Fallon had come to the event saying he "made us laugh and cry.

He brought a positive energy - I'm glad he came, she added.

Principal Ty Thompson underscored the honours for the dead students on Twitter.

"Remember those not with us, and celebrate all the successes the Class of 2018 has brought to the community and the world!" Mr Thompson tweeted.

Fourteen students and three staff members died in the attack in Parkland on 14 February. A former student, Nikolas Cruz, 19, is charged with their deaths and with wounding 17 other people.

Lawyers for Mr Cruz have said the teenager would plead guilty in exchange for a sentence of life without parole. Prosecutors are seeking the death penalty.
A black Ohio state legislator says that she has been repeatedly stopped by security screeners at the statehouse when her white colleagues have not, and was even told at one point that a guard needed to search her bag because she didnt look like a legislator.

Representative Emilia Sykes told The Independent that the incidents have been occurring since she assumed office in 2015, and she believes they are related to her race and gender. The incident where she was told she does not look like a legislator  the guard later said that she does not look old enough  occurred in early 2017, but she says several encounters have followed and preceded that run-in.

I showed my badge, I had my lapel pin on, I pointed at it and asked if I could get through without being searched. The answer was, emphatically, no, Ms Sykes said of the early 2017 encounter. I wasnt hiding anything, but that was not the rule as far as I understood it to be. I was not going to let my personal affects be searched.

Ms Sykes was arriving at the state house from nearby office buildings connected via an underground tunnel when the security guard said that they needed to search her bag. Legislators had previously been told that they could avoid searches if they showed their badge, or had a unique lapel that proved they were elected officials.

Ms Sykes was accompanied by a fellow Ohio state representative  a 65-year-old white man  who told the guard that she was an elected official, but the guard said he didnt care. After a moment, the guard relented and did not search her bag. Ms Sykes said that she turned around moments later and demanded to know why the guard had insisted on searching her.

He said, you know, you dont look like a legislator. He said, 'you look too young to be a legislator, Ms Sykes said.

In pictures: Nelson Mandelas death dominates world newspaper headlines Show all 12 1 /12 In pictures: Nelson Mandelas death dominates world newspaper headlines In pictures: Nelson Mandelas death dominates world newspaper headlines newspapers-8.jpg Getty Images In pictures: Nelson Mandelas death dominates world newspaper headlines newspapers-2.jpg AP In pictures: Nelson Mandelas death dominates world newspaper headlines newspapers-3.jpg Getty Images In pictures: Nelson Mandelas death dominates world newspaper headlines newspapers-4.jpg AP In pictures: Nelson Mandelas death dominates world newspaper headlines newspapers-5.jpg Getty Images In pictures: Nelson Mandelas death dominates world newspaper headlines newspapers-7.jpg Getty Images In pictures: Nelson Mandelas death dominates world newspaper headlines newspapers-9.jpg AP In pictures: Nelson Mandelas death dominates world newspaper headlines newspapers-12.jpg Getty Images In pictures: Nelson Mandelas death dominates world newspaper headlines newspapers-10.jpg AP In pictures: Nelson Mandelas death dominates world newspaper headlines newspapers-6.jpg Getty Images In pictures: Nelson Mandelas death dominates world newspaper headlines newspapers-11.jpg AP In pictures: Nelson Mandelas death dominates world newspaper headlines newspapers-1.jpg Reuters

Ms Sykes said that she was later told by the statehouse sergeant of arms that she had done everything correctly, and that she had not misunderstood the policy that should have allowed her to bypass the bag search with her badge or lapel.

When asked if she buys the argument that the guard thought she was too young, Ms Sykes dismissed the claim  she is 32, and Ohio citizens only need to be 18 to serve in the statehouse  and said that she believes her treatment reflects an attitude or expectation that politicians are middle-aged white men.

I dont buy that at all. Im not the youngest in the general assembly. I havent been 18 in a while, Ms Sykes said. I am well beyond the minimum age requirement. And, again, thats not an acceptable response. There was nothing in the security memorandum that says you have to show your badge and your pin and look old enough.

The Ohio general assembly sergeant at arms referred questions about these incidents to the Ohio State Highway Patrol, which provides officers for security at the statehouse. A request for comment and clarification was not immediately returned to The Independent by the Ohio State Highway Patrol public information officer.

Ms Sykes said that her encounters show that there is a racist attitude towards the types of people who are in elected officials, even though women like her show that the face of leadership includes black women. It has included black women for a long time  and it will continue to include black women.

I followed every rule that they had, and even a couple extras, and still that was not enough, Ms Sykes said. What else do I have to do to prove to you or show to you that Im allowed to be here? If its totally upon my looks, I mean, give me a break. That cant be how we determine who does and does not have access to leadership.
Melania Trump is to miss the G7 summit this week and will also not attend the highly anticipated meeting with North Korea the week after.

The White House issued a statement saying The First Lady would not be joining her husband at the international meeting of world leaders in Quebec over the weekend.

It comes after Ms Trumps five-day stay in hospital in mid-May, when she was treated for a benign kidney condition.

She has not been seen in public since 10 May when she and the president welcomed home three Americans who had been held prisoner in North Korea.

It is usual for the spouses of world leaders to attend G7 summits, where they gather at events of their own.

Ms Trump made her international summit debut last year at the G7 meeting in Italy, following it up with a visit to the G20 forum in Germany later in the year.

She also missed out on a weekend retreat to Camp David, where Donald Trump, his daughters, eldest son and son-in-law all visited.

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

Spokeswoman for Ms Trump, Stephanie Grisham, said: She will not attend the G7 and there are no plans for her to travel to Singapore at this time.

The meeting in Singapore between Mr Trump and Kim Jong-Un is scheduled for 12 June, but for some time it was unclear whether it would actually go ahead.

The White House initially scrapped the plans after claiming Pyongyang had shown hostility, but after some negotiations, it was announced that the talks were back on.

Ms Grisham earlier said the first lady had been meeting with staff and working on projects.

She is expected to join her husband in hosting a reception for Gold Star families  relatives of service members killed in the line of duty  on Monday evening, which is closed to the press.

Responding to media speculation about her absence from the public eye, Melania Trump posted on Twitter last Wednesday: I see the media is working overtime speculating where I am & what Im doing.

Rest assured, Im here at the @WhiteHouse w my family, feeling great, & working hard on behalf of children & the American people!

Agencies contributed to this report.
Melania Trump has announced she will not accompany her husband to the upcoming G7 or Singapore summits  a move experts say is out of character for a first lady, and for Ms Trump herself.

The first ladys spokesperson said on Monday that she would not attend the G7 summit in Quebec this week, or the Singapore summit with North Koreas Kim Jong-un the week after. The news came three weeks after Ms Trump was briefly hospitalised for a kidney procedure, and 26 days since she was last seen in public.

Jean Harris, a professor of political science and women's studies at Scranton University, said it was out of character for Ms Trump not to attend the G7 summit, which she attended last year in Sicily.

Every first lady approaches the job differently, although there are certain expectations, Ms Harris explained ...With Melania, we have seen her typically travel with her husband internationally, and shes been more active in public when she travelled internationally.

Her decision not to attend the Singapore summit was less surprising, Ms Harris added, as there would likely be less time for socialising than at the G7.

Donald Trump's international Presidential trips Show all 22 1 /22 Donald Trump's international Presidential trips Donald Trump's international Presidential trips French President Emmanuel Macron and US President Donald Trump AFP/Getty Images Donald Trump's international Presidential trips French President Emmanuel Macron and US President Donald Trump talk as they leave the Army Museum at Les Invalides in Paris AFP/Getty Images Donald Trump's international Presidential trips German Chancellor Angela Merkel and US President Donald Trump arrive for the group photo at the G7 Taormina summit on the island of Sicily in May 2017 Getty Images Donald Trump's international Presidential trips Mr Trump was pressed on the subject at the G7 summit in Italy Getty Donald Trump's international Presidential trips US President Donald Trump gives a speeech at the Warsaw Uprising Monument on Krasinski Square Getty Donald Trump's international Presidential trips US President Donald Trump and Britain's Prime Minister Theresa May during a ceremony at the NATO headquarters before the start of a summit in Brussels, Belgium Reuters Donald Trump's international Presidential trips Montenegro's Prime Minister Dusko Markovic is seen to the right of Donald Trump at a Nato summit in Brussels REUTERS Donald Trump's international Presidential trips Pope Francis meeting with US President Donald J. Trump EPA Donald Trump's international Presidential trips Pope Francis poses with US President Donald Trump and First Lady Melania Trump AFP/Getty Images Donald Trump's international Presidential trips US President Donald Trump arrives at Palazzo del Quirinale ahead of the meeting with Italian President Sergio Mattarella Ufficio Stampa Presidenza della via Getty Donald Trump's international Presidential trips US President Donald Trump is seen during a joint press conference with the Palestinian leader at the presidential palace in the West Bank city of Bethlehem AFP/Getty Images Donald Trump's international Presidential trips Palestinian president Mahmoud Abbas meets US President Donald Trump PPO via Getty Donald Trump's international Presidential trips Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu speaks with US President Donald Trump prior to the President's departure GPO via Getty Images Donald Trump's international Presidential trips US President Donald Trump and Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu shake hands after delivering a speech at the Israel Museum AFP/Getty Images Donald Trump's international Presidential trips US President Donald Trump and First Lady Melania Trump lay a wreath in the Hall of Remembrance as White House senior advisor Jared Kushner and Ivanka Trump watch on during a visit to the Yad Vashem Holocaust Memorial museum AFP/Getty Images Donald Trump's international Presidential trips US President Donald Trump visit to Yad Vashem Holocaust museum in Jerusalem accompanied by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu GPO via Getty Images Donald Trump's international Presidential trips US President Donald Trump takes his seat before his speech to the Arab Islamic American Summit in Riyadh in Saudi Arabia Reuters Donald Trump's international Presidential trips Saudi Arabia's King Salman bin Abdulaziz al-Saud, US President Donald Trump and US First Lady Melania Trump look at a display of Saudi modern art at the Saudi Royal Court in Riyadh AFP/Getty Images Donald Trump's international Presidential trips US President Donald Trump and Saudi Arabia's King Salman bin Abdulaziz al-Saud take part in a signing ceremony at the Saudi Royal Court in Riyadh AFP/Getty Images Donald Trump's international Presidential trips King Salman presents Donald Trump with The Collar of Abdulaziz al-Saud Medal at the Royal Court Palace on 20 May AP Donald Trump's international Presidential trips US President Donald Trump is welcomed by Saudi King Salman bin Abdulaziz al-Saud upon arrival at King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh AFP/Getty Images Donald Trump's international Presidential trips U.S. President Donald Trump and first lady Melania Trump walk on the South Lawn prior to their first foreign trip Getty Images

Ms Trump was hospitalised last month after undergoing surgery for what her office called a "benign kidney condition". The surgery in question generally requires a one-night hospital stay, but Ms Trump stayed at the Walter Reed National Military Medical Centre for five.

Ms Trumps long hospital stay and subsequent public absence have fuelled conspiracy theories about her whereabouts. Stacy Cordery, a history professor at Iowa State University, said such rumours would likely persist until the White House provided sufficient rationale for her absence.

The fact that there does not appear to be any logical reason for why she's not going [to the summits] is likely to fuel our suspicions that the Trump marriage is distant and or dysfunctional, Mr Cordery said.

She added: There's so little information coming from Ms Trump's media team that Americans  and really, people around the world  are forced to fill in the blanks.

The White House has provided few updates on Ms Trump's condition in recent weeks, aside from the first lady's own tweet in which she said she was "feeling great, & working hard on behalf of children & the American people!"

 Excruciating moment Melania refuses to hold Donald Trump's hand before finally giving in

Mr Trump will travel to Quebec next week to meet with leaders from Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, and the United Kingdom. He will then go to Singapore for a highly anticipated summit with North Korea on the country's nuclear weapons programme.

Both Ms Cordery and Ms Harris said first ladies often fill important roles at these events, and Ms Trumps presence would be missed. First ladies often help to soften a presidents image on such trips, Ms Cordery said, and can talk up their husband's accomplishments without making him appear egotistical.

Additionally, many first ladies use these trips to advance their own, personal causes. Ms Trump recently launched an anti-bullying campaign called Be Best, and could have used this opportunity to network with anti-bullying experts and advocates in other countries.

[These summits] are an opportunity to build and strengthen relationships with the other spouses and with the leaders as well," said Anita McBride, an expert on American first ladies. "It's always great to have the US first lady and I am sure she will be missed."
A woman has been accused of shooting her husband to death because he was beating the family cat, according to police.

Police say that Mary Harrison, a 47-year-old woman in Dallas, was taken into custody after her husband, Dexter, died of gunshot wounds at an area hospital Saturday.

Ms Harrison told police on the scene that she and her husband had been arguing, and that he had been beating the family cat, according to a police report.

Recommended FBI agent shoots man by mistake after dropping gun during backflip

She later voluntarily waived her rights at police headquarters, and told police that she was the one who shot her husband.

The suspect was transported to Jack Evans Head Quarters, where she reported that she shot her husband as he was beating the family cat, a statement from police read.

She has been charged with murder, and was still in police custody as of Sunday. She has a $100,000 bail.

 Man unaware he is about to be shot in the back of head saved after gun jams

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

Neighbours have told local media that the cat in question had recently gone missing, and that Ms Harrison had posted signs to try and find the feline.

The cat was eventually returned before the shooting, according to that report.

Texas is one of 31 states where the death penalty is a sentencing option for prosecutors, and the state has executed at least 474 people since 1976, when the death sentence was reintroduced in the United States.

It is not clear if Ms Harrison might face the death penalty, as the punishment is generally reserved for the most severe cases of capital murder.
Today marks the 31st anniversary of the Tiananmen Square Massacre in Beijing.

Remembered in China more euphemistically as the 4 June incident, the events of that day in early summer 1989 are among the bloodiest in modern political history.

Hundreds of civilians were killed by the 200,000-strong Peoples Liberation Army in a brutal crackdown on student pro-democracy protesters that sent shockwaves around the world.

The military had been called in after Deng Xiaopings governing Communist Party of China (CPC) declared martial law in the capital, seeking to end six weeks of nationwide demonstrations.

One million Chinese youth had occupied the famous landmark to stage hunger strikes and call for an end to state corruption, greater transparency and increased civil liberties following the death of reform-minded party leader Hu Yaobang on 15 April.

The demonstrations in Tiananmen Square were proving an embarrassment to the Chinese government ahead of the visit of Soviet premier Mikhail Gorbachev, whose arrival would pull China into the global media spotlight, hence the sudden urgency to clear the streets.

Tiananmen Square massacre: Timeline of events Show all 12 1 /12 Tiananmen Square massacre: Timeline of events Tiananmen Square massacre: Timeline of events Man blocks tank A tank driving down a road nearby Tiananmen Square is blocked by an unidentified man on 5 June. The picture is seen around the globe as a protest against the previous days events, when tensions that had been building for months came to a head... Bettmann Archive via Getty Tiananmen Square massacre: Timeline of events Hu Yaobang dies - 15 April Former general secretary of the Communist Party Hu Yaobang dies aged 73 of a heart attack. He was a leading reformer of the Chinese system who the public saw to be unfairly removed from government. Citizens flock to Tiananmen Square to mourn him. Mourning soon turns to anger as they dwell on the state of China. AFP/Getty Tiananmen Square massacre: Timeline of events Protests spread - 17 April In the days after Hu's death, university students around China are organising. On 17 April, thousands of students march on Tiananmen Square to demand democracy and greater freedoms. AFP/Getty Tiananmen Square massacre: Timeline of events "We must a clear stand against disturbances" - 26 April So begins the editorial on the front page of the People's Daily, the Chinese state newspaper, on 26 April. The editorial goes on to attack the protesters as anti-party and anti-government. Protesters read a clear message that the government is against them and call for the editorial to be retracted. Tiananmen Square massacre: Timeline of events Protests spread further - 4 May Thousands more students in five cities across China join the protests. Head of the Communist Party Zhao Ziyang tells a meeting of bankers that the protests are sure to subside. Pictured are journalists from the China Daily newspaper showing support in Tiananmen Square. Protesters were calling for freedom of the press, among other rights common to democracies Reuters Tiananmen Square massacre: Timeline of events Hunger strikes begin - 13 May Hundreds of students begin hunger strikes, upping the stakes of the protests. Pictured: Paramedics remove a student protester who has been on hunger strike on 17 May 1989 AFP/Getty Tiananmen Square massacre: Timeline of events Zhao visits Tiananmen Square - 19 May Now doubting that the strikes will subside without intervention from the government, party head Zhao Ziyang visits Tiananmen Square and urges students to end the hunger strike. Chinese premier Li Peng briefly joins Zhao but leaves soon after arriving. Zhao was removed from office later in the day. AFP/Getty Tiananmen Square massacre: Timeline of events Martial law declared - 20 May Chinese premier Li Peng declares martial law. Soldiers move in on Tiananmen Square but many are held up by protesters. Soldiers are ordered not to fire on civilians. AFP/Getty Tiananmen Square massacre: Timeline of events Protests continue - 22 May to 1 June On 22 May, a military helicopter drops leaflets above Tiananmen Square that instruct protesters to leave immediately. Despite this, protests continue while the army withdraws. Reuters Tiananmen Square massacre: Timeline of events Soldiers move in to clear the square - 3 June On the evening of 3 June, soldiers advance with force. Protesters are warned that the troops have the right to use any methods necessary to clear the square. AFP/Getty Tiananmen Square massacre: Timeline of events Soldiers open fire - 4 June In the early hours of the morning, some troops begin to shoot dead protesters who defy their efforts to clear the square. Pictured: A man is covered in blood after the People's Liberation Army open fire on protesters in Tiananmen Square Getty Tiananmen Square massacre: Timeline of events Man blocks tank - 5 June A tank driving down a road nearby Tiananmen Square is blocked by an unidentified man. The picture is seen around the globe as a protest against the previous days events. Bettmann Archive via Getty

After initially trying to use non-violent methods to disperse the demonstrators and then telling them they had one hour in which to leave, members of the 27th Group Army opened fire on the crowd with automatic rifles just five minutes later. Snipers rained down bullets from rooftops, troops bayoneted the injured and armoured personnel carriers rolled in, many of which ran over students who had linked arms to form human chains.

The bodies were cleared away by bulldozers for incineration and blood was hosed into the gutters. The wounded were raced to hospital in bicycle rickshaws.

While the CPC insisted the massacre was necessary to avoid a counter-revolutionary riot, then US president George HW Bush denounced the violence and prime minister Margaret Thatcher said she was shocked and appalled.

China officially recorded the number of dead as no more than 300 while the Chinese Red Cross on the ground said it was more like 2,700. But Sir Alan Donald, Britains ambassador to China at the time, said the death toll was much higher.

Writing in a contemporary memo that was only declassified in 2017, Sir Alan expressed his belief that the number of dead was really 10,454 and suggested that the 27th Group Army, 60 per cent illiterate and called primitives, had been especially chosen for the task because of its reputation for unquestioning obedience.

In another piece of recently declassified correspondence, the same diplomat had warned Downing Street that the massacre was inevitable. The Chinese government has decided that there is no way to avoid bloodshed, he wrote 20 May 1989.

Tiananmen Square is most commonly remembered for the Tank Man, one of the most iconic protest images ever recorded: a lone man holding two shopping bags standing immovable in the path of four tanks.

This extraordinary moment was captured by five foreign press photographers from a hotel balconies looking down on the horrors below. Stuart Franklins version appeared in Time and Life magazines after the roll of film was smuggled out of China inside a box of tea. Charlie Cole, whose picture won the 1990 World Press Photo of the year, only managed to get his film out after concealing it inside a toilet when the authorities raided his room, forcing him to surrender a dummy roll and sign a confession that he had taken photographs in contravention of martial law. Stuart Wideners picture for AP was the most widely distributed.

The Tank Man has been identified as 19-year-old archaeology student Wang Weilin, but his fate remains unknown. General secretary Jiang Zemin denied any knowledge of his arrest but insisted he would not have been run over or subsequently executed. Some believe he escaped to Taiwan.

His story was made the subject of Lucy Kirkwoods play Chimerica in 2013.

Today, Tiananmen Square is never mentioned in Chinese media and is not taught in schools. A heightened police presence at the site is the only tacit nod to what occurred there 29 years previously.

The current US secretary of state, Mike Pompeo, has however called on China to make a full public accounting of those killed, detained or missing.

Chinese artist Badiucao has also inspired a social media campaign to mark the anniversary, encouraging young people around the world to dress as the Tank Man and pose in front of significant landmarks to express their opposition to Chinas still authoritarian government. The bags they brandish commonly feature images of the childrens cartoon characters Winnie the Pooh and Peppa Pig, both outlawed by Beijing.
A German MP has denied trivialising Adolf Hitler and the Nazi party after he downplayed the horror of the Holocaust in the context of Germany's history.

Alexander Gauland, co-leader of the far-right Alternative for Germany party (AFD), sparked outrage for branding the crimes of Hitler and the Nazis as a speck of birds**t in 1,000 years of glorious German history.

Yes, we plead guilty to those 12 years, the 77-year-old politician, who is one of two joint AfD leaders, said of the Nazi era at a meeting of the AfDs youth wing called the Young Alternative.

But we have a glorious history and one, my friends, that lasted a lot longer than those damned 12 years. Hitler and the Nazis are just a speck of birds**t in over 1,000 years of glorious German history.

Mr Gauland was criticised by Holocaust survivors groups and people hailing from across the political spectrum in Germany on Sunday for the remarks.

But on Monday he sought to deny that he had meant to trivialise the Nazis and their crimes  arguing his comments had been misunderstood or misinterpreted. He said he had voiced his "deepest contempt" for National Socialism in the speech he made on 2 June.

"For me, 'birds***' is and remains the lowest piece of filth - animal excrement that I compared National Socialism with," he said in a statement.

He added: "It was never my intention to trivialise or even deride the victims of this criminal system.

The AfD, which has stirred controversy for its members attitudes to the Nazis, was originally founded as a Eurosceptic party in 2013. The AfD won seats in parliament for the first time in September by capitalising on a surge of discontent against Chancellor Angela Merkels decision in 2015 to open Germanys borders to more than a million asylum-seeking migrants.

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 far-right party is now the third largest party in parliament - recasting the German political landscape and taking voters from Ms Merkels conservatives and the centre-left Social Democrats.

The Nazi dictatorship continues to be a massively sensitive issue in the country - with Germany forging its post-World War Two identity on the belief of keeping the memory of the six million Jews murdered by the Nazis alive.

The AfD has capitalised on the fact celebrating German identity has remained taboo since the Second World War  with standing for the national anthem and waving flags often frowned upon - by embracing an unapologetically nationalist agenda.

On Monday, the German government condemned Mr Gaulands initial comments. Steffen Seibert, spokesman for Ms Merkel, said it was shameful a member of the German national parliament had made such remarks

Mr Seibert said: "The Nazi regime and the crime of the Holocaust conceived by the Nazi regime are unique, a real crime against humanity, and immeasurable suffering was the result in many countries, including here in Germany.

"It's only because we Germans proclaim the perpetual responsibility that comes from that - and all German governments since the first government of the Federal Republic of Germany have done that, including this one - that Germany was able to become a respected country again and good partner for other countries and peoples in the world.

The International Auschwitz Committee, a Holocaust survivors organisation, branded his remarks as undignified and unbearable.

For Auschwitz survivors, Gauland's coolly calculated and inflammatory statements are just repulsive, Christoph Heubner, the groups executive vice-president said.

"Fifty million dead in the Second World War, the Holocaust, the doctrine of total war: to call it all birds*** is a slap in the face for victims, and a relativisation of what was done in Germanys name, Annegret Kramp-Karrenbauer, the chairman of Ms Merkels Christian Democrat party (CDU) said.

Anyone who supports the AfD has to consider what theyre really buying into behind the bourgeois mask.

AfD co-leader Joerg Meuthen told Zeit Online the rhetoric Mr Gauland had chosen was "inappropriate" but added it was clear from the whole speech he had not been playing down or relativising Nazi atrocities.

Mr Gauland became caught up in controversy last year when he said Germans should be proud of what their soldiers succeeded in achieving in World War One and Two.

If Britain has the right to be proud of Churchill then we have the right to be proud of the proud of the achievements of German soldiers in two world wars, he said.

There was also public fury after it surfaced the rarely used first verse of the German national anthem was belted out at the AfD youth wing event where Mr Gauland spoke.

The verse, which begins Deutschland, Deutschland, uber alles, or Germany, Germany, above all is deemed offensive because it was adopted by the Nazis.

The AfD's federal board released a statement saying it was dismayed by the youth wing singing stanzas that are no longer part of the national anthem at the event.

Additional reporting by Reuters
From Hungary to France, far-right nationalists are winning elections or gaining new ground across Europe.

Here is a quick primer on some of the populist leaders from across the continent, what they believe, and what they have done or want to do.

Viktor Orban  Hungary, Fidesz

Hungarian prime minister Viktor Orban addresses supporters after declaring victory in the country's parliamentary elections (Reuters)

Prime Minister of Hungary

 Threatening to shut down NGOs that help refugees

 Running state backed hate campaign against George Soros

 Removing constitutional checks and balances

We have replaced a shipwrecked liberal democracy with a 21st-century Christian democracy Viktor Orban

Matteo Salvini  Italy, Lega

League party leader Matteo Salvini talks during a news conference the day after Italys parliamentary elections (Reuters)

Leader of Italys junior governing party

 Has pledged to deport 500,000 irregular migrants

 Says joining the euro was a mistake

 Wants to end sanctions against Russia

The only antidote to racism is to control, regulate and limit immigration Matteo Salvini

Heinz-Christian Strache  Austria, FPO

Heinz-Christian Strache of the FPO and his coalition partner Sebastian Kurz of the OVP (Getty)

Deputy prime minister of Austria

 Wants to drive Islam out of public life Austria

 Threatening mosque closures

 Wants to end sanctions against Russia

Let us put an end to this policy of Islamisation as soon as possible Heinz-Christian Strache

Marine Le Pen  France, Front National

Marine Le Pen talks to journalists (Getty)

Runner-up in French presidential election

 Wants policies to favour native French

 Says she would hold an EU referendum

 Wants to deport irregular migrants

Im not offended when I hear President Donald Trump say America first. In fact, I want America first for the American people, I want Britain first for the British people and I want France first for the French people Marine Le Pen

Janez Jansa  Slovenia, Slovenian Democratic Party

Janez Jansa, leader of the Slovenian Democratic Party (SDS), speaks to the media and supporters after the general election in Ljubljana (REUTERS) (Reuters)

Leader of Slovenias largest party

 Says country is run by secretive former Communist cabal

 Appointed political allies to press agencies

 Sent to prison for alleged corruption but overturned by Constitutional Court

Our party puts Slovenia, Slovenians first Janez Jansa

Alexander Gauland  Germany, AfD

Mr Gauland, co-lead candidate of the Alternative for Germany (AfD) at an election count (Getty)

Leader of first far-right party in the Bundestag in decades

 Says Islam is not a part of Germany

 Wants ban on public Islamic symbols

 Wants to leave the euro

A German or English football team hasnt been German or English in the classical sense for a long time Alexander Gauland

Jarosaw Kaczynski  Poland, Law and Justice

Leader of Law and Justice party Jaroslaw Kaczynski, the power behind the scenes in the Polish government (Kacper Pempel/Reuters)

Chairman of Polands governing party

 Says migrants spread infectious diseases

 Wants to ban gay people from being teachers

 Constitutional changes to give government more power over courts
The prime minister of Israel has embarked on a three-day trip to Europe to lobby national leaders against the Iran nuclear deal, which he opposes.

Benjamin Netanyahu flew to Berlin for talks with Angela Merkel on Monday, and will travel to Paris on Tuesday to meet with Emmanuel Macron before coming to Britain on Wednesday for discussions with Theresa May.

The EUs three biggest economies, along with the European Union in its own right, are signatories to the Joint Comprehensive plan of Action  and all have signalled that they strongly support maintaining the deal.

Speaking ahead of the visit, Mr Netanyahu said: I will meet there with three leaders and will discuss two subjects: Iran and Iran.

Donald Trump, the US president, pulled his country out of the agreement to reduce Iranian nuclear stockpiles and activity in exchange for the lifting of sanctions, but the European allies  as well as China and Russia  have said they will continue with the deal.

Mr Netanyahu is also expected to raise Irans wider influence in the region, such as its intervention in Syria on the side of the Assad regime. He may receive a more positive response from leaders on this issue, as British diplomats have said they are open to concerns about Irans activities.

At a joint press conference with Mr Netanyahu in Berlin on the first day of the trip, the German Chancellor said said she agreed Irans activities in the Middle East were a concern.

 Benjamin Netanyahu supports US rejection of Iran nuclear deal: 'Israel has opposed Iran's nuclear deal from the start'

We agree that the question of Irans regional influence is worrying, especially for Israels security, she said.

The EU has announced it is looking at ways to counteract re-imposed US sanctions against Iran that might hit EU firms doing business with the Islamic Republic. The UK, France and Germany responded to Mr Trumps withdrawal from the deal by expressing regret and concern, while the European Commission said the deal was an international agreement that could not be cancelled only by the US.

Israels intelligence agency Mossad says it has obtained secret files showing Iran wants to build a nuclear weapon, and Mr Netanyahu says his country will share some of the documents with the intelligence services of the UK, Germany, and France.

However, Israel has repeatedly made such claims, including in a presentation ahead of Mr Trumps decision to pull out of the deal  which was widely derided by analysts as providing no new or current information.

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 International Atomic Energy Agency, the international body tasked with enforcing the Iran nuclear deal, which was signed by Barack Obama on behalf of the US, has repeatedly said Iran is sticking to its side of the bargain.

The Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson and his European counterparts met with Irans foreign minister in Brussels last month to discuss how to safeguard the deal.
A boat carrying migrants toward Europe has sunk off the coast of Tunisia drowning at least 46 people, though dozens more could be missing, the North African nation's defence ministry has said.

The ministry said 68 people were rescued overnight after the boat sank in the Mediterranean Sea near Kerkennah island, off Tunisia's eastern coast. Authorities said the vessel was believed to have been carrying about 180 passengers.

Rachid Bouhoula, the defense ministry press officer, said a rescue and recovery operation continued in the waters around the island.

The ministry said earlier that those rescued included 61 Tunisians and seven people from other countries. In recent months, Tunisia increasingly has become a point of departure for Europe-bound migrants fleeing poverty and conflicts in Africa and the Middle East.

Earlier on Sunday, Turkish officials reported that nine migrants, including six children, drowned when a boat capsized in the eastern Mediterranean near the town of Demre in the southern province of Antalya. Turkey's coast guard rescued four others and a fifth migrant was saved by a passing fishing vessel. The migrants' nationalities have not been identified.

At the height of the migrant crisis in 2015, more than 857,000 people reached Greece from Turkey. A 2016 deal between Turkey and the European Union has dramatically reduced the numbers of migrants coming into Greece.

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Spain's maritime rescue service announced Sunday that it had rescued a total of 240 people trying to cross the Mediterranean from North Africa over the weekend, and one person had apparently drowned. It said the migrants were in 11 small boats attempting the perilous crossing from Africa to Spain.

The UN says at least 660 migrants have died crossing the Mediterranean so far this year. Through the first four months of 2018, a total of 22,439 migrants reached European shores, with 4,409 of them arriving in Spain.

AP
An eight-year-old Pomeranian dog was found dead in its carrier during a layover at Detroit Metropolitan Airport, en route from Phoenix to Newark, New Jersey last Wednesday.

Delta Air Lines, the operator, is reported to be thoroughly investigating the incident.

The dog, named Alejandro, who was being held in a carrier in a cargo facility, was reported to have been checked on and alive at 6am when the layover period began, according to a lawyer representing the dogs owner, Michael Dellegrazie. When he was checked on again between 8am and 8.30am, airline officials made the grisly discovery.

CNN reported that a Delta spokesperson said that the animal was found with vomit and fluids in the carrier.

Dellegrazie told CNN that he believed some sort of foul play may have been involved and that he wanted answers.

In a statement, Delta said:

Pets are important members of the family and we are focused on the wellbeing of all animals we transport. Delta is conducting a thorough review of the situation to ensure this does not happen again and have been working directly with Alejandros family to support them however we can.

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As part of that review, Delta offered to have Alejandro evaluated by a veterinarian while in our possession to find out more about why this may have occurred. We are disappointed that we were not allowed to have a necropsy performed immediately following this unfortunate situation. The family now has Alejandro and we continue to offer our support.

This is not the first time animals have been harmed in transit on airline flights. In March this year, a 10-month-old puppy died on a United Airlines flight after an attendant allegedly forced the owners to put it in an overhead bin, despite guidance stating that the animal should be placed under the seat of the passenger in front.

In 2017, US airlines transported over half a million pets. Of these, 24 died, 15 were injured and one was lost, according to data released by the U.S. Department of Transportation.
Thousands of travellers hoping to leave Guatemala after the deadly eruption of the Fuego volcano are waiting to see if the capitals airport will soon re-open.

The US Embassy in Guatemala City warns: The new eruption has generated a fast-moving current of hot gas and volcanic matter in the direction of the city.

Dozens of flights from La Aurora airport, on the southern outskirts of Guatemala City, have been halted because of volcanic ash falling from the nearby volcano.

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Departures to Atlanta, Houston, Los Angeles and Miami are among those cancelled. There are no direct flights to and from the UK.

United Airlines, one of the leading US carriers to the city, is allowing passengers to switch flights up to Thursday.

The authorities say they hope to re-open the airport at 2.15pm local time (7.15pm BST). The military has been deployed to sweep the runway and taxiways.

Clean sweep: members of the Guatemalan army clearing the apron at the capitals airport (Army of Guatemala)

Even when La Aurora re-opens, restoring operations to normal will take some time; flights from the US, Mexico, El Salvador, Panama and Colombia to Guatemala City are currently unable to depart.

The Foreign Office is warning British citizens: Visitors and residents should exercise extra caution in areas to the southeast, southwest and due south of the volcano; there will an increased risk of fast-moving debris flows in the coming days, particularly following heavy rain.

Monitor local news channels and follow the advice given by the Guatemalan Meteorological Office.

The authority currently says: There is ash in the environment at a distance of 20km in the volcanic perimeter.

Laura Rendell-Dunn of the specialist operator Journey Latin America, said: We do not have any clients in Guatemala. Our next booking to Guatemala in on 29 June.

Journey Latin America would like to offer their deepest sympathies to all those affected by this tragedy.

About 15,000 British tourists visit Guatemala each year, and it is thought that nearly 1,000 are currently in the country. The historic town of Antigua is popular with foreigners learning Spanish.

Other attractions include the rich Mayan history and climbing volcanoes.

The capital itself is not regarded as a prime attraction, and has a reputation for danger.

Guatemala volcano: dozens dead after Volcan de Fuego eruption Show all 16 1 /16 Guatemala volcano: dozens dead after Volcan de Fuego eruption Guatemala volcano: dozens dead after Volcan de Fuego eruption Guatemalan police evacuate people in the village of El Porvenir following the eruption of Volcan de Fuego EPA Guatemala volcano: dozens dead after Volcan de Fuego eruption A rescue worker helps a woman covered with ash Reuters Guatemala volcano: dozens dead after Volcan de Fuego eruption Volcano Fuego during an eruptive pulse AFP/Getty Guatemala volcano: dozens dead after Volcan de Fuego eruption Emergency personnel rescuing a person EPA/Ministry of Defense Guatemala Guatemala volcano: dozens dead after Volcan de Fuego eruption Residents take refuge in a shelter south of Guatemala City following the eruption of Volcan de Fuego AFP/Getty Guatemala volcano: dozens dead after Volcan de Fuego eruption The eruption of Volcan de Fuego is captured from Alotenango, southwest of Guatemala City AFP/Getty Guatemala volcano: dozens dead after Volcan de Fuego eruption AFP/Getty Guatemala volcano: dozens dead after Volcan de Fuego eruption Residents stand behind a safety cordon following the eruption of Volcan de Fuego Reuters Guatemala volcano: dozens dead after Volcan de Fuego eruption Relatives react as volunteers carry a coffin with the body of Sergio Vasquez who died following the eruption AFP/Getty Guatemala volcano: dozens dead after Volcan de Fuego eruption People flee the ash covered village of El Rodeo, south of Guatemala City AFP/Getty Guatemala volcano: dozens dead after Volcan de Fuego eruption Police officers in protective masks guard the area around the village of El Rodeo following the eruption of Volcan de Fuego Reuters Guatemala volcano: dozens dead after Volcan de Fuego eruption An ash covered child is rescued in the village of El Rodeo following the eruption of Volcan de Fuego Reuters Guatemala volcano: dozens dead after Volcan de Fuego eruption Soldiers sweep up ash at La Aurora International Airport Reuters Guatemala volcano: dozens dead after Volcan de Fuego eruption A young girl is carried by a rescue worker in the village of El Rodeo following the eruption of Volcan de Fuego EPA Guatemala volcano: dozens dead after Volcan de Fuego eruption Reuters Guatemala volcano: dozens dead after Volcan de Fuego eruption Fuego volcano after it erupted violently Reuters

The Foreign Office warns: No parts of Guatemala City are free from crime; this includes Zone 10 (Zona Viva)  popular with tourists and foreign residents. Take care in Zone 1 (historical centre) where the cheaper hotels are situated and several bus routes terminate.

Guatemalas National Coordinator for Disaster Reduction is advising people to cover their eyes, mouth and nose; cover food and potable water storage containers; and those with respiratory problems to seek medical attention.

It is also telling visitors: To tourist agencies and tourists: the ascent to the volcano due to the eruption is prohibited.
Since being catapulted into a global spotlight at a young age, musician Demi Lovato has continuously used her platform to discuss crucial issues. The last 12 months in particular have seen her speak candidly about her own battles with addiction, self-harm and eating disorders, and her social media accounts have been frequently flooded with messages in support of sexual assault survivors.

Thats why its particularly surprising to see that Lovato is currently making headlines for an incendiary tweet sent during a Twitter Q&A with fans.

When asked about the funniest prank she had ever pulled, the star responded: I hired a lady of the night in Vegas and sent her to [her bodyguard] Maxs hotel room to surprise him. She walked into his room without permission and grabbed him in his area and he freaked the f**k out hahahahaha.

Unsurprisingly, her admission was met with a barrage of criticism, to which she initially responded: I swear I could tweet something about craving jelly beans and it would offend someone. This dismissive tweet rightly added fuel to the fire.

What Lovato seemingly failed to realise is that she wasnt describing a hilarious prank; instead, she was essentially claiming that she paid a sex worker to sexually assault her bodyguard.

In legal terms, sexual assault occurs when someone is touched sexually without consent. The fact that her bodyguard freaked the f**k out seems to indicate he wasnt exactly thrilled at being groped without permission, yet even Lovatos follow-up apology was a cop-out: Im sorry if anyone was offended.

Lovato also cited 2013 track Warrior, a track whose lyrics depict resilience in the face of abuse, in her defence, saying: Of all people I know about sexual abuse. You dont need to educate me.

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That sort of dismissive tone is commonly found discussions of male sexual assault victims. The months following the New York Times landmark expose of now-convicted predator Harvey Weinstein saw scores of famous women sharing their own stories, but nestled in among these voices were a tiny handful of men  of which Anthony Rapp and Terry Crews were the highest-profile examples  whose stories were buried, ignored and under-discussed.

Rape Crisis UK figures show that women are much more likely to be victims of sexual assault than men, but we cant ignore the fact that one in six cases are perpetrated against men as well. Three out of four suicides are committed by men, making it the single biggest killer of men under the age of 49. Studies show that men are less likely to speak about their mental health and equally unlikely to seek help when they are disturbed by something. The pressure on them to remain stoic in the face of pressure  including sexual pressure, like the sort it sounds like Demi Lovato inflicted on her bodyguard  cant be ignored as a contributing factor.

Ive had my own experiences of sexual assault. Some were trivial and easy to dismiss, others less so  and then, last year, I was followed home, groped and threatened with rape after a night out.

Im not saying this to centre myself as a man in the wider discussion about sexual assault and rape, but instead to highlight that these things do happen. As a young, queer man, my experiences are my own. I cant speak for other men, but I can say that this incident wasnt isolated, and that I know male friends  of different ages, ethnicities and sexualities  have been through similar ordeals.

UK news in pictures Show all 50 1 /50 UK news in pictures UK news in pictures 8 October 2021 WW II veteran, 96-year-old Lorna Cockayne, who served in the Women's Royal Naval Service (WRNS), popularly and officially known as the Wrens, as a Bletchley Park codebreaker, poses for a photograph with the Legion d'honneur after receiving it during a ceremony at the Pear at Parley in Ferndown, Bournemouth PA UK news in pictures 7 October 2021 British comedian Jo Brand poses with cut-out silhouettes representing women outside the Metropolitan Police headquarters New Scotland Yard, to highlight violence against women by male police officers or former police officers AFP via Getty UK news in pictures 6 October 2021 A protester, wearing a mask of Johnson, holds a sign reading Question it all on the final day of the Tory conference Getty UK news in pictures 5 October 2021 Members of Insulate Britain outside the Royal Courts of Justice in London, before a hearing over the injunction banning the environmental activists from blocking the M25 PA UK news in pictures 4 October 2021 A delegate passes a street cleaner on the second day of the annual Conservative Party Conference being held at the Manchester Central convention centre AFP via Getty UK news in pictures 3 October 2021 Margaret Thatcher-themed mugs for sale at the annual Conservative Party conference in Manchester EPA UK news in pictures 2 October 2021 A couple make their way through a flooded underpass in Bristol as a yellow weather warning for rain and wind is issued for parts of the UK Tom Wren/SWNS UK news in pictures 1 October 2021 A driver talks to members of the media after passing his HGV (Heavy Goods Vehicle) driving test at National Driving Centre in Croydon, south London AFP via Getty Images UK news in pictures 30 September 2021 The centrepiece One Thousand Springs by Japanese artist Chiharu Shiota is seen ahead of the beginning of the Japan Festival, a celebration of the countrys plants, art and culture running from 2-31 October, at Kew Gardens in London PA UK news in pictures 29 September 2021 The family of Betty Campbell unveil the bronze sculpture of her during the unveiling of the statue in Central Square, Cardiff, of Betty Campbell, Wales' first black headteacher PA UK news in pictures 28 September 2021 A sign referring to the lack of fuel is placed at the entrance to a petrol station in London AP UK news in pictures 27 September 2021 Police officers detain a protester from Insulate Britain occupying a roundabout leading from the M25 motorway to Heathrow Airport in London PA UK news in pictures 26 September 2021 Labour Party leader Sir Keir Starmer watches the Arsenal v Tottenham Hotspur match at The Font pub in Brighton PA UK news in pictures 25 September 2021 Scottish pro-independence supporters hold a march and rally outside the Scottish Parliament in Edinburgh, Scotland Getty Images UK news in pictures 24 September 2021 Police officers remove two protesters from the top of a tanker, as Insulate Britain block the A20 in Kent, which provides access to the Port of Dover in Kent. The environmental activists have moved location after been banned from campaigning on the M25 motorway in London PA UK news in pictures 23 September 2021 Gabriella, the seven year old daughter of imprisoned British-Iranian Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe, joins in a game on a giant snakes and ladders board in Parliament Square, to show the ups and downs of her mothers case to mark the 2,000 days she has been detained in Iran AP UK news in pictures 22 September 2021 A new sign hangs on the Millicent Fawcett statue after it was altered by CrackTheCrises coalition activists to highlight the climate crisis as a feminist struggle in Parliament Square in London EPA UK news in pictures 21 September 2021 Gabriella Diment prepares a monumental bronze patinated fibreglass wall sculpture depicting household cavalry soldiers on horseback which is expected to be sold for 12,000-18,000 when it goes up for auction at Summers Place Auctions in Billinghurst, Kent PA UK news in pictures 20 September 2021 Florist Judith Blacklock puts the finishing touches to a floral carousel installation in Halkin Arcade, which she has designed with Neill Strain for the Belgravia in Bloom festival, running from September 20-26, in London PA UK news in pictures 19 September 2021 Bubbles surround Manchester Uniteds Cristiano Ronaldo before the match against West Ham at London Stadium Action Images/Reuters UK news in pictures 18 September 2021 Children take part in the Settrington Cup Pedal Car Race as motoring enthusiasts attend the Goodwood Revival, a three-day historic car racing festival in Goodwood, Chichester, Reuters UK news in pictures 17 September 2021 Hugo, 7, from London rides past a 4x7 metre rainbow arch, made entirely of recycled aluminium cans, which has been installed by recycling initiative 'Every Can Counts', in partnership with The City of London Corporation in front of St Paul's Cathedral in London, to encourage members of the public to recycle their drinks cans ahead of recycling week, which starts on 20 September PA UK news in pictures 16 September 2021 Sheikeh MOhammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, leader of Abu Dhabi, leaves Downing Street after meeting with Boris Johnson PA UK news in pictures 15 September 2021 Children pose by ice sculptures depicting people collecting water by charity Water Aid to show the fragility of water and the threat posed by climate change in London AFP/Getty 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

The fact that Lovato was so quick to dismiss the incident she described shows that, on the whole, our attitudes need to change. Countless features have called for a rethink of the way we discuss sexual assault revelatory conversations have shown that what was once written off as bad sex or nothing more than a joke should be analysed in more detail and called out for what it really is.

Theres another story entirely to be written about Lovatos scapegoating  and misguided description  of a sex worker, who becomes nothing more than the butt of her joke and a vicarious perpetrator. Sex workers shouldnt be used as pawns in your weird pranks to be joked about online, and they certainly shouldnt be unwittingly drawn into nonconsensual scenarios.

Despite the increase in mainstream media attention, conversations around sexual assault are still way narrower than they should be. Demi Lovato has proven today that we need to widen our scope and talk about the male experience of sexual assault alongside the female experience; we dont diminish one by recognising the seriousness of both.

If you have been affected by sexual violence, you can find help via the NHS

Rape Crisis offers specialist support for women and girls; and the The Survivors Trust supports people of any gender
My favourite tweet of last week was a picture of Trump sitting like a giant ginger boar at his oval desk with the other reality TV star Kim Kardashian standing prettily beside him. The comedy caption read, You are Melania now because, as we all know, the real Melania Trump hasnt been seen in public now for over three weeks.

Mrs Flotus was last spotted back in May heading to hospital for a kidney procedure which many, more cynical than I, have interpreted as a facelift.

OK, I have no idea about the state of her kidneys, but her face certainly doesnt need lifting: the womans cheekbones can be seen from space and she has a jawline sharp enough to slice her husbands spammy buttocks so thinly that they could fill 1,000 school lunch boxes with presidential Polony. So where is she and whats she up to?

Because, despite reassuring tweets from both the president and Melania herself (allegedly) claiming she is taking things easy at the White House, there have been no sightings of the woman, not even from a blurry distance, waving from a bedroom window and giving a thumbs-up sign in her dressing gown. In fact, there is something of the Agatha Christie novel about The Mystery of the Missing First Lady and in the absence of Miss Marple, Ive been giving the case some thought.

For starters, she could be hiding under the bed, eating snacks which are slid in on a tray by a loyal aide (rice crackers, mostly, and little cartons of coconut water and hot dogs and crisps when she gets really peckish). There she lies, just biding her time and waiting until Donald is really off guard when she will jump out and give him the shock of his life, leading to a fatal coronary and early widowhood. Listen, its just an idea.

First ladies have been under public scrutiny for years and its no wonder some of them find the pressure too much and crack up. Its well documented that Betty Ford owned up to alcohol and substance abuse during her husbands presidency and in doing so was hugely instrumental in raising dependency awareness. The Betty Ford Rehabilitation Clinic for addicts opened in Rancho Mirage California back in 1982 precisely because of this consciousness raising.

Now Im not suggesting that Melania has had a massive wobbly, but personally I wouldnt blame her if she hadnt combed her hair for a month and was sitting in a pair of the old mans Y-fronts swigging Special Brew.

First ladies are renowned for many things. Jackie Kennedy had the best wardrobe and at 31 was the youngest first lady to move in and totally revamp the White House. Eleanor Roosevelt, at 511, tied with Michelle Obama as the tallest first lady; and Michelle, of course, had the best arms.Trivia aside, many first ladies have achieved extraordinary humanitarian work on top of behaving graciously at all times and not turning up at important dos with laddered tights.

However, throughout history there have been incidents of odd and slightly antisocial Flotus behavior including accusations of pipe smoking, lesbian affairs and sheer bloody-mindedness.

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

Some women just arent cut out for the job  for example, poor melancholic Jane Means Appleton Pierce (wife of the 14th president Franklin Pierce, 1853-57) who, in mourning for her three dead sons, all of whom died either in infancy or childhood, wore black constantly and barely left her White House bedroom. Here Jane spent most of her time writing letters to her adored late son Bennie who was killed aged 11 before his mothers eyes in a tragic rail accident.

Then there was Mary Todd Lincoln (wife of the one who got shot at the theatre) whose erratic behavior, wild spending sprees and vicious temper tantrums earned her the nickname The Hellcat of the White House. Poor Mary, eventually committed to an asylum by her only surviving son, was probably suffering from pernicious anaemia, an autoimmune disease which causes a simple vitamin B12 deficiency that is easily treated today.

But back to Melania. I hope shes run away, because in a story that is already unreal, I cannot see anything being more unbelievable than what has already happened.

In my head, she has scarpered off to join the circus, because when I close my eyes I can just see Melania doing acrobatics on the back of a white pony. I can easily imagine her flying through the air on a trapeze, her tiny wrists being caught by the strong, slightly hairy hand of a man wearing bulging white trousers and not much else  fly, Melania, fly!

Of course back in real life, when Agatha Christie herself went missing, she was eventually found in Harrogate. Maybe thats where Melania will eventually pitch up, happily enrolled on one of Bettys teashop baking courses, folding soft warm dough into her mouth and not caring if the buttons are popping off her pant suit.

All conjecture aside, wherever she is and whatever shes doing, I hope shes doing OK.
Depending on which side of the Brexit debate you sit, it has been easy to blame obtuse EU bureaucrats or incompetent Westminster officials for the fragile state of negotiations. Behind the scenes, the DUP is the link in the chain that is increasingly likely to snap.

Soon after DUP leader Arlene Foster told Sky News that any Brexit deal that treated Northern Ireland differently to the rest of the UK would be her only red line, a cross-party coalition, including senior Tory MPs, announced that Foster could not have her cake and eat it. If she wanted equal application of Brexit in Northern Ireland, she would also have to accept same sex marriage and abortion.

The coalition is now calling for a vote in the Commons to repeal parts of a 19th century UK-wide law so that, instead of imposing a new law in Northern Ireland, the move would force the whole country to update its legislation. This strategy could work. As a minority government, she is vulnerable to a rebellion from just seven MPs from her own party. Theresa May granted Northern Irish women the right to free abortions on the NHS in England last year, but only because Labour MP Stella Creasy wanted to include an amendment on the issue in the Queens speech, and to prevent embarrassment, she allowed the change in law before being defeated by a vote.

Our prime minister would also be unwise to ignore this issue post-MeToo. Womens rights have recently enjoyed a domino effect, from the exposure of other predators and faux feminists, to initiating new conversations on consent and abortion. Abortion campaigners have been working hard for decades, but the MeToo movement has allowed us to surf on such a strong wave that it caused Steve Bannon to worry that we would bring down the patriarchy.

Northern Irish women protesting anti-abortion laws take illegal pills Show all 8 1 /8 Northern Irish women protesting anti-abortion laws take illegal pills Northern Irish women protesting anti-abortion laws take illegal pills Campaigners intervene after police try to lead away one of the three women (centre with sunglasses) who publicly took an abortion pill during a demonstration outside Belfast's Crown and High Courts, where counter-demonstrations were held by both sides of the Northern Irish abortion argument. PA Northern Irish women protesting anti-abortion laws take illegal pills Police officers watch on from close by as abortion rights campaign group ROSA, Reproductive Rights Against Oppression, Sexism and Austerity hold a protest in Belfast Getty Northern Irish women protesting anti-abortion laws take illegal pills Eleanor Crossey Malone takes an abortion pill as abortion rights campaign group ROSA, Reproductive Rights Against Oppression, Sexism and Austerity distribute abortion pills Getty Northern Irish women protesting anti-abortion laws take illegal pills Ruth Coppinger TD addresses the crowds outside Belfast's Crown and High Courts where counter-demonstrations were held by both sides of the Northen Irish abortion argument. PA Northern Irish women protesting anti-abortion laws take illegal pills Eleanor Crossey Malone displays an abortion pill packet after taking a pill Getty Northern Irish women protesting anti-abortion laws take illegal pills Protestors dressed as hand maidens stand as abortion rights campaign group ROSA, Reproductive Rights Against Oppression, Sexism and Austerity distribute abortion pills from a touring bus Getty Northern Irish women protesting anti-abortion laws take illegal pills An unidentified woman takes an abortion pill as abortion rights campaign group ROSA, Reproductive Rights Against Oppression, Sexism and Austerity distribute abortion pills from a touring bus Getty Images Northern Irish women protesting anti-abortion laws take illegal pills A robot drone delivers abortion pills as abortion rights campaign group ROSA, Reproductive Rights Against Oppression, Sexism and Austerity distribute abortion pills Getty

Campaigners also know they have to act now, because the public conscience can be fickle. Irelands resounding clamour last month to repeal the eighth amendment, which only came into force in the 1980s, has kept this wheel of momentum turning. Its ironic that Ireland, a once deeply Catholic country, is now looking like a bastion of progress compared to its northern neighbour and much of Europe that has become infected with nationalism.

But how to proceed? On Question Time last week, the panellists debated the Northern Irish abortion issue with two women, three men and nobody from Northern Ireland. Some of the panellists were keen to allow a referendum, claiming abortion was a devolved issue. Why would bodily autonomy be devolved rather than, say, Brexit? As Labour MP Caroline Flint said on the show, abortion is a human rights issue.

Even if there was a referendum, it would need to be sanctioned by Westminster. And the DUP wouldnt be keen on that either, given the latest polls show public opinion leans heavily towards decriminalisation in the case of rape and incest. A referendum result is not legally binding and there is no functioning government in Stormont to thrash out exactly what a new law would mean.

 Irish abortion referendum: The moment it was announced Ireland voted 66% in favour of repealing the eighth amendment

It is not enough to demand that Northern Ireland catch up with UK law. Abortion is still technically illegal in the UK. It requires permission from two doctors. Women in England are not allowed to take abortion pills at home  meaning that if they dont live next door to a hospital, they could have their miscarriage in a taxi on the way home. They can only get an abortion until 24 weeks. At abortion clinics, women are often surrounded by protesters, holding placards with harrowing imagery of foetuses. There is no law preventing this harassment.

It is fair to say the deal Theresa May made with the DUP wasnt thought through. It was a frantic, last ditch attempt by the Tories to claw back power after calling a snap election to capitalise on their high approval ratings, which then fell through the floor.

But in a bid to keep control, the Tory government hadnt banked on the national conscience reaching a new level on LGBTQ+ and gender equality; they hadnt foreseen the risk of jeopardising the Good Friday Agreement or the possibility of a hard border. And they should have known, surely, that giving Northern Ireland 1bn two years ago would not keep those DUP red lines at bay forever.

Two years after the Brexit referendum, this deal with the 10 DUP MPs could be about to crumble. And wouldnt it be glorious if the catalyst was womens rights catching up with the 21st century.
The British people are being walked "towards the Dover cliffs" and the risk of a "nightmare-scenario" Brexit, Labour Party leader Brendan Howlin has said.

He made the remarks after alleged UK government contingency planning scenarios emerged suggesting that Brexit would result in food and petrol shortages there in the event of a failure to reach a deal with the EU.

"If the no-deal scenario materialises we owe it to our friends in the UK to support a referendum which would allow the UK to reverse the previous referendum result," Mr Howlin said.

He also criticised the British government for failing to put forward a solution to avoiding a hard Border in Ireland, and warned: "We are running out of time."

UK Prime Minister Theresa May's government is under pressure from Brussels and Dublin to put forward its plan for the Irish Border before a crunch EU summit later this month.

The British 'Sunday Times' newspaper reported that in one possible no-deal scenario, secret contingency planning by UK officials would see the port of Dover collapse on day one of Brexit.

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Supermarkets in Scotland and Cornwall would run out of food within days.

And petrol pumps would start to run dry within two weeks.

Mr Howlin warned that such a scenario would have an impact on working and poorer people first.

"The British political establishment has been walking the British people towards the Dover cliffs for two years now," he said.

British Home Secretary Sajid Javid was asked about the newspaper report on the BBC's 'The Andrew Marr Show'.

"I have to say I don't recognise any bit of that at all and, as home secretary, as anyone would expect, I'm deeply involved in no-deal preparations as much as I am of course in getting a deal," he said.

He said that he didn't think any such outcome would come to pass.

Mr Javid said that his government is focused on achieving a Brexit deal with the EU.

But he argued that even in the event this didn't happen, it is important for other countries that trade would continue.

He said he believes there will be "good progress" in relation to British proposals on future customs arrangements which are crucial to avoiding a hard Border in Ireland.

The British cabinet is divided on how to solve the Border issue, with some, led by Mrs May, favouring some form of customs partnership with the EU.

Others, including Brexit secretary David Davis, have put forward so-called maximum facilitation, or 'max fac', proposals involving technological solutions.

Mr Javid said that there has been "robust debate".

But he added: "I'm absolutely confident as we get to the June [EU] council meeting that the prime minister will have a good set of proposals and our colleagues in Europe will respond positively."

Meanwhile, DUP leader Arlene Foster has responded to a leaked proposal that is being drawn up by Mr Davis for a 16km 'buffer zone' and a joint EU and UK status as a solution to the Northern Ireland Border.

Derided

The suggestion has been widely derided both here and in Britain since it emerged late last week.

Ms Foster dismissed the idea as "pure speculation".

She said that her party wasn't consulted on it.

Mrs May's government relies on the DUP to stay in power.

Ms Foster told Sky News that a "red line" for the DUP is to ensure Northern Ireland is not treated differently to the rest of the UK.

"I have confidence that she knows that she cannot bring forward anything that will breach that red line or we simply will not be able to support it," she said.
John Heslin MSD, Liam Egan Mullinahone Co-op (joint sponsor), Jan Jensma Irish Grassland Association (IGA) president, John Large host farmer and Jack O'Connor (MSD) joint sponsor, at the IGA sheep event on the large farm at Gortnahoe, Co Tipperary

After an extremely difficult and late spring everything has changed for the better.

With grass growth improving, meal feeding of ewes was cut out the first week of May.

We are only feeding hoggets that are rearing twins and this will stop soon. We are just using up what meal is still in the shed.

Their lambs have access to creep feeder and are eating about 200grs per head per day. We will keep feeding creep up until weaning.

We are dividing paddocks with three rows of poly wire for ewes and lambs, allowing them enough grass for three days. This gives us a good clean-out of the grass quickly and helps with re-growth. We have taken out some paddocks for silage, putting on two bags of 18.6.12 per acre.

These should be ready for cutting the second week of June. We have more that will be ready to cut the end of May.

This will all be made into baled silage; mowed and tedded out to improve dry matter then baled on the third day after mowing.

Our aim is to push on grazing ground to get maximum growth, taking out all extra grass for winter feed. When we look back at this time last year we had 100 surplus bales left over from the year before and over 100 bales made.

This year we have just a few bales of hay in the shed so the push is on to gather up somewhere about 700 bales between hay and silage for the coming winter.

All the CPT lambs were weighed the last days of April. They had an average live-weight of 17.3kg. Surprisingly the Belclare lambs were the heaviest at 18.2kg, with the other three breeds on 17kg.

When you subtract the birth weight, 4.7kg, and divide by their age (46 days) you get an average daily gain of 270grs. This is below our target of 300grs/day. We would hope to make up some ground before weaning, but we would still expect to be below our target of 30kg.

All these lambs were dosed the same day for both nematodirus and Coccidiosis, showing an immediate response with any scouring lambs drying up.

They were all put through the foot-bath made up of zinc-sulphate to treat them for scald.

The April born lambs were dosed last week, we also dosed the hogget ewes rearing twins as they need every chance to hold body condition. Just the hoggets rearing singles and their lambs have to be dosed now. We use Cydectin on the hoggets and a white drench for the lambs.

Our priority now is to keep grass quality right by taking out grass when we have too much and going in with fertiliser when we see a deficit arising.

Worms

Keep on top of worm burden in lambs by taking samples and knowing when to dose. Foot-bath every time sheep are in the yard and get prepared to treat for fly-strike by dagging dirty ewes.

We will use a pour-on product on both ewes and lambs. With ewes not having been shorn until late July, they will get full rate "click" which should cover them for at least two months.

The Irish Grassland Sheep Association used our farm last week as the farm visit part of their conference day.

It was very well organised, with three excellent speakers in the morning session at the hotel. After lunch a good crowd arrived on our farm where a couple of hours were spent explaining and discussing our farming system with the help of my Teagasc advisers and Sheep Ireland.

It is important to share knowledge and no harm to open your gates to people who are involved in the same business and are also interested in sharing their information with you. I would like to thank the Grassland Association and to everyone who attended.

John Large farms at Gortnahoe, Co Tipperary
Apple is setting new controls for parents to control the amount of time that their children can spend on iPhones and iPads.

The controls include time limits on specific apps or the whole phone. Once the time limit expires, the phone needs parental input to continue working.

The feature, Screen Time, is account-based and works across all of a childs iOS devices.

Parents set the Screen Time settings remotely for their child within a Family Sharing group or directly on the childs device.

Settings, reports and allowances are based on total usage.

Using the new feature. Parents can access their childs activity report from their own iPhone or iPad to see where their child spends their time. They can then set App Limits for them.

The Screen Time feature gives parents the ability to schedule a block of time to limit when their childs iOS device cant be used, such as at bedtime. During downtime, notifications from apps wont be displayed and a badge will appear on apps to indicate they are not allowed to be used. Parents can choose specific apps like Phone or Books, that will always be available, even during downtime or after a limit is spent.

The App Limits feature allows people to set a specific amount of time to be in an app, and a notification will display when a time limit is about to expire.

It creates daily and weekly activity reports that show the total time a person spends in each app they use, usage across categories of apps, how many notifications they receive and how often they pick up their iPhone or iPad.

The new feature was announced at the companys Worldwide Developer Conference (WWDC), held in California.

Other new features launched included group FaceTime messages with up to 32 people able to participate in a FaceTime call.

Apple also announced that it wants to block Facebook and other social media companies from tracking iPhone, iPad and Mac users around the web.

When an ad tracks a user through information gleaned from Facebook or another data-sharing company, Apple devices will ask users whether they want to allow the tracking to happen.

Apple will also not be merging iOS and MacOS, according to Apple's senior vice president of Software Engineering, Craig Federighi.

Of course not, he said. We love the Mac. Its explicitly created for Mac hardware and has flexibility of storage and power.

However, he said that iOS apps will be made to work on Macs easier with new developer tools.
Canada will host leaders of its fellow G7 group of big economies at a summit in Charlevoix on Friday and Saturday, including Donald Trump, Angela Merkel, Emmanuel Macron, and the incoming Italian prime minister, in what's set to be an unusually fractious meeting after the US imposed steel tariffs on its closest allies, including Canada and the EU, last week.

While western leaders meet in Canada, leaders of the Shanghai Co-operation Organisation (SCO) states, including Russia's Vladimir Putin, India's Narendra Modi and Pakistani Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi will meet on Saturday in China's northern port city of Qingdao.

The bank holiday at home means it's a short week. May Exchequer returns tomorrow will be a good pointer in terms of the overall budget out-turn for 2018. May is the second-largest tax collection month of the year.

It's a quiet week for corporate earnings and events - Amryt (tomorrow) and GAN (Thursday) will host their annual general meetings. GAN's push into the US gaming sector has been revitalised by a court ruling that is set to liberalise the market.
OPEC and non-Opec Arab oil ministers stressed the need for continued co-operation between oil producers after their current pact to maintain a supply cut expires at the end of 2018, Kuwait's state news agency KUNA has reported.

The agreement has helped raise oil prices to above $80 (69) a barrel and reduce a global oil supply glut.

The Organisation of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (Opec), along with Russia and several other producers, agreed to cut output by about 1.8 million barrels per day (bpd), starting from January 2017. The curbs have driven down inventories and pushed up oil prices.

Opec ministers from Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Kuwait and Algeria, along with their counterpart from non-Opec Oman, gathered in Kuwait on Saturday for an unofficial meeting of a joint ministerial committee that monitors compliance with the agreement.

The ministers "stressed the need to maintain the existing co-operation and continue the successful endeavour carried out by the participating countries", according to a statement by the committee, known as the JMMC, published on KUNA.

"They called for sustaining the current partnership in order to continuously adapt to ongoing market dynamics in pursuit of the interests of consumers and producers whilst promoting healthy global economic growth."

The ministers also "emphasised the need for healthy market conditions that stimulate adequate investments in the energy sector, in order to ensure stable oil supplies are made available in a timely manner to meet growing demand and offset declines in some parts of the world," the statement added. (Reuters)
Bikers Michael Thompson, Mark Astle, Mark Ozzie Taylor and Ralph Zirkinitzer ride their Harley-Davidson motor bikes through the Gap of Dunloe, Killarney, Co Kerry, during Ireland Bikefest which took place this weekend. Harley-Davidsons were among the first products to be hit with EU tariffs. Photo: Don MacMonagle

Blame China, Europe and others who are breaking trade rules, not Donald Trump, White House economic adviser Larry Kudlow said yesterday, as China warned that all commitments so far in talks with the US over trade will be withdrawn if the US imposes tariffs.

"Don't blame Trump," Mr Kudlow said on 'Fox News Sunday'. "Blame China, blame Europe, blame Nafta, blame those who don't want reciprocal trading, tariff rates and protectionism."

The US president's imposition of tariffs on steel and aluminium last week and the apparent impasse in US/Chinese trade talks has set the world's biggest economies on a collision course and provoked fear of tit-for-tat measures escalating into a global trade war.

Airline chiefs at a major conference in Australia over the weekend said they were on the front line. "Any measures that reduce trade and probably consequently limit passenger travel are bad news," Alexandre de Juniac, director general of the International Air Transport Association (IATA), said at the association's annual meeting in Sydney. The group represents airlines including Aer Lingus.

"We always get concerned when you start to see tensions elevate around global trade and free trade," American Airlines Group chief executive Doug Parker said.

The uncertainty could curb demand for business travel, a key driver of airline profits, said Gloria Guevara Manzo, chief executive of the World Travel and Tourism Council (WTTC).

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"[Business travellers] need to wait and see what happens - will their business be impacted, do they need to diversify, go some other places. War in trade is not good," she said.

The annual IATA meeting brings together about 130 CEOs and 1,000 delegates. This year's event took place against a background of rising fuel costs and global trade tensions.

Both the US and China reported some progress in discussions over the weekend about how to reduce China's $375bn goods-trade surplus with the US, but Mr Trump's revival last week of a plan to slap tariffs on $50bn of Chinese imports has cast the talks into turmoil.

"If the US rolls out trade measures including tariffs, all the agreements reached in the negotiations won't take effect," state-run Xinhua News Agency reported yesterday, citing a statement from the Chinese team that met with a US delegation led by Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross. The Xinhua report came after Mr Ross met Chinese vice premier Liu He for talks that Mr Ross called "friendly and frank, and covered some useful topics about specific export items".

"The US can't have its cake and eat it too," an editorial published by the state-run 'Global Times' said. The US "needs to choose between tariffs and exporting more to China".

The stakes are high for the global economy, which is cruising at its fastest pace of growth in seven years.

Finance leaders of the G7 group of big economies vented anger over the Trump administration's metal import tariffs on Saturday, ending their three-day meeting with a stern rebuke.

In a rare show of division, the six other G7 member countries issued a statement asking US Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin to convey their "unanimous concern and disappointment" about the tariffs.

"We're concerned that these actions are actually not conducive to helping our economy, they actually are destructive, and that is consistently held across the six countries that expressed their point of view to Secretary Mnuchin," Canadian Finance Minister Bill Morneau said at a news conference after the meeting ended in the Canadian mountain resort town of Whistler, British Columbia.

The statement, written by Canada, also called for "decisive action" to resolve the tariff dispute at a G7 leaders' summit starting this Friday in Charlevoix, Quebec.
Gay Byrne started out in broadcasting some 60 years ago and for a great chunk of that time he was the father confessor to a people trying to keep their feet in a shifting world. A poll in 1998, when he was still chairing the public forum of The Late Late Show, named him as both Ireland's most disliked individual and its most loved.

On Once More With Meaning (RTE1) there was just love, and truckloads of respect. The special programme revisited The Meaning Of Life, which ran for 13 series and gave Gaybo the chance to tackle big names on the big issues of life, the universe and everything.

The stellar guest list was testament in itself to the regard in which he is held. They came with no product to plug, just for what one called the "privilege" of a pow-wow with Gay. Many left having revealed themselves to an extent they'd never intended nor imagined. Brenda Fricker explained: "The subject (matter) was so big you couldn't prepare."

Princess Di's brother, Charles Spencer, said: "It was the interview I remember most in my life because it was such an intense experience." Bono recognised his "unusual mind for the most probing question". Michael Parkinson recalled studying Gay's technique, saying: "I used to marvel at the way he did it... trying to make other people look very interesting."

During Gaybo's long reign as undisputed ruler of the airways, a favourite taunt of his detractors was that he was unintellectual. Perhaps, but he had something greater in his locker. Earl Spencer hit the nail on the head, identifying his "extraordinary emotional intelligence". Brenda Fricker told how he could create a comfort zone for his interviewees that was "always kind but dangerous... He gives you that feeling of courage."

If Constance Smith had been blessed with just a little emotional intelligence, it's very possible that no one would ever ask the question "Constance who?". The Limerick-born actress could have been a star, but she never made it past being a contender. Constance Smith: Tragoid Hollywood (TG4) opened with footage of Smith presenting an Oscar at the 1952 Academy Awards alongside host Danny Kaye. That fleeting moment was to prove the high point of a career that began when she escaped a life of Dublin tenement misery by winning a beauty contest, and finally came to a sorry end when she was thrown in jail for stabbing her lover.

Tragoid Hollywood told an astonishing story with some striking parallels to these Me Too times, with movie mogul Darryl F Zanuck in the Harvey Weinstein role. Zanuck recruited Smith as a studio starlet and casting couch fodder, but the strong-minded Irishwoman wouldn't play ball. There were other producers and other studios and she might have saved her career by cultivating other alliances, but the heavily conflicted Connie just couldn't get on with people.

The final act in her Hollywood career came when she became pregnant by her actor husband Brian Forbes, and the studio forced her to have an abortion because motherhood was not in her contract. Plucked from squalor, Constance Smith ended in squalor, drinking rough with Irish down-and-outs in London's Soho. She died in 2003.

Drink figures large in two shows about bright young things that finished up their latest runs this week. Can't Cope, Won't Cope (RTE2) closed its second season on a distinct downer, with the self-absorbed womancers Aisling and Danielle fleeing the big smoke drinking cans on the train home with their tails between their legs. When the show first aired, it was bracketed with Derry Girls and The Young Offenders as proof that Irish TV comedy is in rude good health. But it never shared the joyous, madcap streak of the other two, and by now it has been squeezed dry of every last laugh.

As straight drama, however, it's far from a lost cause, once you get past some clunky right-on writing. The modern condition gets covered from every imaginable angle, from the morning-after pill to borderline alcoholism to LGBT issues, to the point where it seems there's a little too much box-ticking afoot, however well-intentioned.

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One thing Can't Cope, Won't Cope demonstrates in spades is that today's Irish twentysomethings are as messed-up, directionless and hedonistic as their parents were at the same age. Those parents fell over in a lot of the same places, made similar life-changing misjudgments, and probably turned out okay. So, using Can't Cope... as a yardstick, you could easily conclude that the generation gap has shrunk almost to vanishing point. But then you turn on Made In Chelsea (Channel 4) and that generation gap widens to Grand Canyon proportions. To anyone raised on traditional TV conventions such as plot and dialogue, this guided tour around Sloane Square is a voyage into a chilling void.

Made In Chelsea had its end-of-season party this week, which consisted mostly of putting crude questions to actors pretending to be real people about their scripted on-off love lives. The makers call it 'structured reality', but there is nothing real about this ode to emptiness. Real life has action and feeling and the occasional spark of wit.

With Made In Chelsea every last trace of all these things has been carefully liposuctioned out. "I am, like, madly in love with you," one mannequin tells another with the deep-felt urgency of a girlfriend in a coma. To witness this show is to be constantly brought back to Dorothy Parker's wicked put-down of Katharine Hepburn, who "ran the whole gamut of emotions from A to B". No one on Made In Chelsea gets close to B
Justice Minister Charlie Flanagan is considering the introduction of advocates who would attend court to assist alleged rape victims in the wake of the recent high-profile trial in Belfast.

Mr Flanagan said the Northern Ireland trial "resulted in great anxiety across the country" and he expects a review of how rape cases are handled here will be finished by the end of the summer.

Concerns arose about how rapes trials are carried out after the Belfast case where the woman who made the complaint faced questions from four separate legal teams.

That case ended in the acquittal of all four defendants, including Ireland and Ulster rugby players Paddy Jackson and Stuart Olding who were found not guilty of rape.

There have been calls from campaign groups and Fianna Fail for complainants in rape cases to be provided with their own legal representation. Mr Flanagan said this was under consideration as part of the ongoing review but he said it is a "challenge" due to the nature of Ireland's common law system, where the State brings cases on behalf of complainants.

Mr Flanagan said he did not expect the matter to be resolved early.

But he said he hopes to have two forms of proposed measures prepared at the end of the summer - legislative changes - and others involving practice and procedure that "can be done in the more immediate term".

"I think there's much more we can do in that regard in order to assist vulnerable witnesses. An advocate for example attending the court, assisting a vulnerable witness before, during and after [the trial] is important."

Mr Flanagan stressed this would be different to legal representation.

He said: "I met many advocacy groups formally here in the department in order to see how best we could set about improving the situation for vulnerable witnesses and complainants."

He added that one concern raised with him as part of the review concerned the delays and uncertainty surrounding court cases and he is keen to ensure that more judges are appointed.

He said another issue of importance was Garda training in sensitive cases relating to sexual offences and he said this is being rolled out.

"We need to ensure that the gardai are fully trained to deal with the unique circumstances of these cases," he said.

Mr Flanagan's remarks come as new protections for victims of crime have been brought into force. The measures introduced in recent days are separate to anything which may emerge from his review of how rape cases are handled,

Mr Flanagan told the Irish Independent the new provisions must be seen against the background of "what is a very adversarial courts system in Ireland". He said this system saw the State pitched against the defendant and meant that vulnerable complainants and witnesses needed to be supported, "particularly in cases of a sexual nature".

Under the new procedures, defendants in rape and other sexual-offences cases who choose to act as their own legal representatives no longer have the automatic right to directly cross-examine their alleged victim. It is now up to the judge to decide if this will be allowed, with free legal aid being offered to defendants who have been refused permission to conduct cross-examinations themselves.

There is also a provision allowing for the regulation of the use of sensitive counselling records in sexual-offence trials.

Mr Flanagan said this was an "important new safeguard", which would ensure that the appropriateness of disclosing such information may be considered at a pre-trial hearing that would take into account the impact it may have on complainants.

More broadly, other victims of crime can now avail of the option of giving evidence by video-link or behind a screen.

This was previously only available to complainants in sexual or violent-crime trials.

And the use of an intermediary or pre-recorded statement will be available to child victims of any crime.

Mr Flanagan said: "Our criminal justice system needs to be a warmer place, needs to be a more understanding place, and needs to accommodate complainants and indeed vulnerable witnesses in a new way.

"This is an issue that's close to my heart because I practiced law for many years and I have seen at first hand the very cold and distant nature of our courts system for many people," he added. He said he is pleased the Victims of Crime Act has been implemented as it ensures they are at the centre of the courts system.
A man is to appear in court this morning after a suspected gangland hit was foiled over the weekend.

He was charged by gardai yesterday following the seizure of a loaded revolver in a significant Garda operation in Dublin's north-inner city on Saturday afternoon.

Two men, aged 27 and 30, were detained at separate locations by heavily armed gardai shortly after 4.30pm in the Dublin 3 area.

A revolver was found on the 30-year-old man as he cycled a bike along East Wall Road, while the 27-year-old was arrested in a car on nearby Clonmore Road.

A source last night told the Irish Independent that gardai intervened and arrested the pair over fears there was an imminent threat to life.

"The exact target has not yet been established, but a number of Hutch family members and associates live in the immediate area and could have been potential victims," the source said.

Yesterday gardai charged one man and he will appear before the Criminal Courts of Justice this morning.

The second man was released without charge and a file is being prepared for the Director of Public Prosecutions.

The two men have been regularly stopped and searched by gardai in the North Dock area in recent weeks. Gardai are probing if they were carrying out surveillance on a potential target in that area on those occasions. They are believed to be working for the Kinahan cartel.

A Garda spokeswoman said that Saturday's arrests were part of an "ongoing investigation into organised crime and threats to life in the Dublin region".

The operation was led by detectives from the Drugs and Organised Crime Bureau (DOCB), who were assisted by officers from the Special Crime Task Force and the Garda Crime and Security section.

The men were held in Garda stations in north Dublin under section 30 of the Offences Against the State Act, so could be held for up to three days.

Both men are well known to gardai and were previously jailed over a similar incident.

The men received lengthy prison terms after being caught with a loaded revolver in a stolen car in north Dublin almost a decade ago. On that occasion, gardai believe they were on their way to carry out a shooting linked to a local dispute.

The 27-year-old arrested over Saturday's gun seizure was also recently arrested over a botched hit linked to the Kinahan cartel.

The planned shooting, in the south-east of the country, was foiled when armed units swooped on a number of men as they were on their way to target a Hutch family member aged in his 30s.

Two men were questioned over that incident and released without charge.

A third man, who is aged in his late 20s and from the north-inner city, is still wanted by gardai in relation to that gun seizure.

Last month it emerged that more than 500 people have had threats made to their lives in Dublin as part of three ongoing feuds, particularly the Hutch/Kinahan dispute.

Assistant Garda Commissioner Pat Leahy, in charge of the Dublin region, said there were 11 critical threats and a further 51 severe threats, while 71 have been described as substantial.

The Hutch/Kinahan feud has so far claimed up to 18 lives both in Ireland and abroad.
Members of the Defence Forces searching for the missing phone of murdered Carmon Reilly

Crowds of heartbroken friends and loved ones paid their respects to tragic Cameron Reilly this weekend in his community of Dunleer, Co Louth.

The 18-year-old lay in repose at Connors Funeral Home, Dunleer, on Saturday and yesterday, with large queues of people lining up to offer their condolences.

Local parish priest Fr Michael Murtagh held a prayer ceremony for the young man in the run up to his funeral, which will take place in Saint Brigid's Church, Dunleer, later today.

Meanwhile, teenagers who were drinking with Cameron in the hours before he was killed have handed in their mobile phones to be examined by gardai investigating his murder.

They are among a group of up to 20 youngsters who were with Cameron the night before his body was found in a field in Dunleer.

He had been beaten and strangled.

The group had been drinking and playing music at that spot until after midnight.

Many of the youths have volunteered their devices to detectives so photos, videos, texts and WhatsApp messages exchanged on the night can be examined, a source said.

Detectives hope the phones will help piece together Cameron's last movements. They will also be looking for evidence of any disagreements that may have occurred in the hours before he was killed, and the identity of who was last in his company.

Gardai believe they have spoken to most of the young people who were with Cameron on the night of his murder, but others have yet to come forward.

Over the weekend, two sites near the teen's home were sealed off as part of a large-scale operation to find Cameron's iPhone, which may hold vital information.

Army units, the Coast Guard and Civil Defence mounted a painstaking search using machinery and hand tools to clear undergrowth.

Investigators have also drained a reservoir as part of the search for the missing iPhone, with the help of Louth Fire and Rescue Service.

The site is beside the field where his body was found, and is understood to hold three million gallons of water.
Ultrasound machines need to be operated by trained sonographers, who are in short supply. (Stock Image)

Ultrasound machines used by GPs to examine women seeking a medical abortion need to be reliable, otherwise there is a risk of a reading error similar to mistakes made by CervicalCheck, a leading GP has warned.

Dr John O'Brien, president of the Irish College of General Practitioners (ICGP), said the provision of ultrasound machines used to date a pregnancy is one of the many areas that must be worked out before services to provide abortion up to 12 weeks of pregnancy are ready.

Ultrasound machines need to be operated by trained sonographers, who are in short supply.

He asked: "How will the legislation define 12 weeks? Is it on the say-so of the mother's dates or ultrasound? Having the machine is only half the battle.

"You need to have somebody who can use it and read it properly in an accredited way so that you are not in a missed situation. We don't want a situation like CervicalCheck again.

"There is a lot more complexity around what we do before we are ready to roll out the service. I don't want to be standing in the way of anybody but the work is there and it needs doing."

Dr O'Brien outlined his views, along with Dr Andrew Jordan, chairman of the National Association of General Practitioners, during a discussion on the proposed abortion law on Newstalk radio's 'Between the Lines' presented by Andrea Gilligan. He said the ICGP had begun discussions with the Institute of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists around drawing up guidelines for doctors on how to operate the legislation.

There is a fear among many doctors, who are already overwhelmed, that this is yet more work being piled on them, he warned. The GP service is already "groaning at the seams" and suffering the effects of cuts which left an average practice of 1,000 patients with a 120,000 drop in income annually.

Dr Jordan described proposals by Health Minister Simon Harris to set up "exclusion zones" around services providing abortion as "abhorrent".

The exclusion zones would be aimed a protecting providers of services from potential protesters.

However, Dr Jordan said: "The only part of the health service where a person can walk in the door and be face-to- face with a clinician is general practice. The last thing any GP will want is anything in his surgery that adds to confrontation between him and the public at large.

"The idea of having to put an exclusion zone around a clinic is abhorrent."

He pointed out that any doctor can be a conscientious objector but the GP who does not provide medical abortion has a responsibility to refer the patient to a colleague who does.

He did not believe it would be necessary to provide a list of providers, and predicted that there will be GPs who will deliver a service, but it will not be known.

He said this will happen in remote rural practices where doctors have a relationship with patients over generations.

The cuts in fees to GPs have left general practice going "down the toilet", and the practices reliant on income from medical card holders are struggling.

He warned against "unseemly haste" in bringing in the service which the Government says will be in place by January 1 next, the start of the most chaotic week in the health service annually.

"We need to pedal back and take the foot off the gas. It needs to be right and fit for purpose," he added.
A tourist in his 20s has reportedly died after plunging from an apartment block in Magaluf.

The 20-year-old, locally named as Thomas Owen Hughes, is said to have arrived in Majorca on Saturday.

He was initially described by police on the island as Irish - but on Monday morning they said he was British.

The apartment block where he was found, Eden Roc, is the same one where Scot Natalie Cormack died in April after falling from a seventh-floor ledge.

Mr Hughes's body was found at around 11am yesterday. Local reports said the dead man was staying at a nearby hotel and not Eden Roc.

One source said: "A neighbour alerted police around 11am, saying they could see a person lying on the ground.

"He fell from a height of around 20 metres."

Another said the circumstances were still being investigated and it was too early to reach any conclusions as to why it had happened.

It was not immediately clear if the man died some time before his body was spotted.

A duty court in Palma, Spain, has been placed in charge of an investigation into the man's death and is awaiting a full police report.
The 15-year Ennis Junior Cert student who lost his life while trying to save the life of his friend in a double drowning tragedy has been described as a most extraordinary and inspirational young man.

Addressing mourners at a packed St Peter & Paul Cathedral in Ennis, Fr Ger Fitzgerald also said that Shay Moloney had the heart of a warrior.

Last Thursday, third year student at St Flannans College, brave' and 'courageous Shay drowned when trying to save the life of his friend, Jack Kenneally (15) in a lake at a disused quarry at Knockanean outside Ennis.

Scores of Junior Cert students due to commence their exams on Wednesday returned to the Church for the second funeral in as many days after attending the funeral of Jack on Sunday.

Outside the Church was once more the scene of heartrending images as Shays friends wept and comforted each other while students from St Flannans College and players from Ennis RFC and Shay and Jacks u15 Young Munster rivals formed a guard of honour while Shay's remains in a white coffin draped with purple ribbon passed by.

Both boys were born in January 2003 and were friends since primary school where they attended the Holy Family School in Ennis and this year the two Brothers in Arms played starring roles in the Ennis u15 rugby team.

Expand Close Jack Kenneally, right, and Shay Moloney drowned while swimming in the quarry lake at Knockanean on the outskirts of Ennis (Ennis RFC/PA) / Facebook

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Whatsapp Jack Kenneally, right, and Shay Moloney drowned while swimming in the quarry lake at Knockanean on the outskirts of Ennis (Ennis RFC/PA)

In his tribute to Shay, his uncle, Louie told mourners that the family is completely heartbroken that Shay is not around to enjoy the warm tributes from the rugby world.

He said: There have been touching tributes in recent days from the IRFU and Irish rugby teams wearing black arm bands while playing and messages of support from professional rugby players that would simply have lit up Shays world. Shay would have been in his element, the centre of attention.

Mr Moloney went on: Shay, sleep the long sleep. Always remember that your Mammy loves you more than life and your family loves you more than life. Sleep peaceful now Shay. Forever young. Forever our little warrior. Forever our hero.

Mr Moloney said that Shays personality had that x-factor where everyone left him feeling special due to his rogueish and outgoing personality.

He said: We were so proud of Shay and the person he had become. He had recently sprouted into a young man with all the qualities to take on the world - the world was at his feet with the great family support that Shay had.

In his tribute, Fr Fitzgerald recalled meeting Shay during his Confirmation year in a classroom at the Holy Family School across the road from the Cathedral.

The priest recalled: Shay had not the slightest bit of interest in what I was saying and instead was ripping up a piece of paper to put on a ruler.

Fr Fitzgerald said that Shay fired the piece of paper with the ruler but didn't hit the intended target of a classmate and instead hit me on the head instead.

Fr Fitzgerald said: He looked at me with his extraordinary smile, almost laughing at me and said Sorry about that Father.

Later that year when Shay was about to be anointed with Confirmation Oil, Shay quipped to Fr Fitzgerald: Will this mess up my hair?

Fr Fitzgerald said that what has happened has no words - it is horrible and awful and our hearts are ripped apart.

Fr Fitzgerald said that Shays friends were his whole life and everything to him.

Addressing the hundreds of teenagers decked out in the St Flannans College uniform and Ennis RFC colours, Fr Fitzgerald said: It is okay not to be okay and I would encourage you to hold your head high like Shay would.

He said: Look after one another like Shay would and mind one another like Shay would and help one another like Shay would. Feel courageous like Shay was and love life like Shay did. Always remember to respect everyone like Shay did and be proud of who you are like Shay was.

Fr Fitzgerald said that Shay was a level headed young man, an example of how to live your life and when anyone had a worry or a problem he would always want to remedy it.

Some of the symbols of Shays life brought to the altar included a family photo, a rugby ball, his rugby boots, concert tickets and his rugby bag.

Louie Moloney later told the congregation: Shay crammed more into his 15 years than most do in a lifetime. Shay was a character in every sense of the word with a bubbly personality and a cheeky grin for everyone.

He said: There was more than a hint of devilment in that grin and he had two blue eyes that could light up the world. Shay was loved by those who met him. His circle of friends was immense. He had a happy personality that was contagious and he had a way of dealing with people of all ages and they were always falling for his charms.

Shay Moloney was later laid to rest at Drumcliffe cemetery outside Ennis where the remains of his friend, Jack Kenneally were laid to rest 24 hours earlier.
Two men were detained and a firearm was seized by detectives (Julien Behal/PA)

A 31-year-old man has been remanded in custody after being charged in relation to a firearm seizure in Dublin over the weekend.

Paul Beatty appeared before a special sitting of Dublin District Court this morning after a revolver was recovered in the north-inner city area.

Two men were detained and a firearm was seized by detectives in an operation targeting organised crime and threats to life in the Dublin Region.

This morning Det Gda Enda Gormley of the Drugs and Organised Crime Bureau (DOCB), gave evidence of arrest, charge and caution before Dublin District Court.

Det Gda Gormley told the court that Paul Beatty, of Eugene Street, Dublin 8, was arrested yesterday at 5.33pm at Mountjoy Garda station. He was then charged in the presence of Sgt Joe Healy at 6.33pm.

He was charged with possession of a .38 Smith and Wesson revolver and possession of five rounds of ammunition, under the Firearms Act, at Charlemont Parade, Ballybough on Saturday afternoon.

Paul Beatty made no reply when the charges were put to him.

There was no application made for bail, and Mr Beatty was remanded in custody to appear before Cloverhill District Court at 10.30am on Wednesday.

Gardai also made no objection to free legal aid which was granted by Judge Bernadette Owens.

The accused did not address the court but signaled to his solicitor that he could not hear as gardai gave evidence in the brief hearing.

A 27-year-old man who was arrested in relation to the investigation has since been released without charge and a file will be prepared for the DPP.
Police in Northern Ireland have expressed dismay after receiving a 999 call from a member of the public complaining about their local tanning salon being shut down.

The caller was annoyed they had lost out on pre-paid minutes under the tubes.

Posting on its Facebook page, the PSNI said: "Whilst the call handler is taking this call, listening to the story and politely dealing with the call, someone else is in a queue to have their call answered.

"That call might, just might, be more important than 25 minutes of exposure to UV rays.

"Proper use of the 999 system?

"You decide."
A tourist has reportedly died after plunging from a Magaluf apartment block.

The 20-year-old is, who has been named locally as Thomas Owen Hughes, is said to have arrived in Majorca yesterday.

He was initially described by police on the island as Irish - but on Monday morning they said he was British.

The apartment block where he was found, Eden Roc, is the same one where Scot Natalie Cormack died in April after falling from a seventh-floor ledge.

Local reports said the dead man involved in the latest tragedy, who has not been named, was staying at a nearby hotel and not Eden Roc.

Police have launched an investigation.

Investigators were unable to confirm local reports he was staying at a hotel in Magaluf and not at the Eden Roc apartment block he was found dead at.

One source said: A neighbour alerted police around 11am, saying they could see a person lying on the ground.

He fell from a height of around 20 metres.

Another said the circumstances were still being investigated and it was too early to reach any conclusions as to why it had happened.

It was not immediately clear this morning if the man died some time before his body was spotted.

A duty court in Palma has been placed in charge of an investigation into the mans death and is awaiting a full police report.

An autopsy is expected to be carried out tomorrow in the Majorcan capital.

Investigators from the Civil Guard force were on the ground yesterday.

Neighbours are thought to have told officers they heard a lot of noise around 4am, but it is unclear at this stage if it is connected to the death plunge.

He is said to have been identified by friends.

Civil Guard sources said they could offer no immediate information about why it had happened and were still investigating.

Paramedics called to the scene could do nothing to save the man and he was pronounced dead at the spot where he was found.

His body was taken away just before 1.30pm local time.

Natalie Cormack, the 19-year-old Magaluf worker from West Kilbride, Ayrshire, laid undiscovered for several hours before she was found dead on April 27.

She lost her balance after trying to get into the apartment block when she found the door locked and discovered she didnt have her key.
Bill Flynn (right) with Martin McGuinness, Ian Paisley and Paula Dobriansky at an event in New York Photo: John Harrison/PA Wire

Ireland's deputy premier has led tributes to the late peacemaker Bill Flynn, describing him as a giant of Irish-America.

Simon Coveney tweeted that it was with sadness that he learned of Mr Flynn's death.

A prominent supporter of the peace process, Mr Flynn died in the US on Saturday, aged 92.

Mr Coveney said Mr Flynn was a key figure in US support for peace on the island of Ireland.

Mr Coveney wrote: "He showed real leadership in mobilising Irish American support for peace. Very proud of his contribution."

He added: "Our thoughts with his family and friends."

Expand Close Bill Flynn (right) in New York with then Northern Ireland Deputy First Minister Seamus Mallon in 2000 Photo: Paul Faith/PA Wire / Facebook

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Whatsapp Bill Flynn (right) in New York with then Northern Ireland Deputy First Minister Seamus Mallon in 2000 Photo: Paul Faith/PA Wire

Mr Flynn was the first Irish-American chairman of the National Committee on American Foreign Policy, the group that issued the invitation to former Sinn Fein leader Gerry Adams to speak in the US in the 1990s.

Mr Adams expressed his sympathies to the family on the death of a man he called his "good friend Bill Flynn".

"I want to extend my sincerest condolences and solidarity to Peggy Flynn and the Flynn family," he said.

"He was one of America's foremost business leaders, as well as a patron of great causes in support of humanitarian, civil liberties and health issues."

He added: "In Ireland and among Irish Americans, he is also one of those, along with Niall O'Dowd, Chuck Feeney and Bruce Morrison, who played a pivotal role in creating the conditions for the IRA cessation in August 1994, and in opening up political support in the USA for the Irish peace process."

Mr Adams said he had known Mr Flynn for more than 25 years.

"In 1994 he arranged for the National Committee on American Foreign Policy to organise a conference on Ireland to which I was invited," Mr Adams said.

"I applied for a visa which was eventually agreed and I received a 48 hour restricted visa to New York.

"It was a key moment in the efforts for peace."

Sinn Fein president Mary Lou McDonald also paid tribute to Mr Flynn.

Ms McDonald said Mr Flynn made sure that he reached out to all those affected by the conflict and forged relationships with people from the Unionist and Loyalist backgrounds.

"His commitment to peace in Ireland remained till his death," she said.

Ms McDonald added that Mr Flynn would be missed both in America and in Ireland.

Born in New York, Mr Flynn's parents came from counties Mayo and Down.

A graduate of Fordham University, he received a CBE for his exceptional contribution to peace and reconciliation in Northern Ireland.
Paula with her daughter Caitlin. They may travel to Ireland to find relatives

Paula Douglas has no evidence she was 'illegally adopted' except what her parents and relatives told her. Her Irish parents emigrated from Dublin to the US when she was two months old after she was handed over "by the nuns", she said.

She said her adoptive parents disclosed later that they were asked by the nuns to bring two little boys with them on the flight to America and deliver them to people at the airport.

"The Church paid for the flights of my parents in return for bringing the two boys I assume the parents who got the boys paid the nuns quite a bit of money for them," she said.

Ms Douglas (59) lives in Livermore in northern California where she works as an executive assistant in the insurance industry.

Growing up in California, she said it was "a huge secret" within the family that she was adopted.

Her 1959 birth certificate listed her adoptive parents Ron and Lil Holmes as her birth parents.

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She said both her parents were 5ft 1in tall while she is 5ft 6in tall. Ron had red hair, Lil had dark hair, and Paula had blonde hair.

Her parents told her that they had got her "from the nuns" in Ireland.

It was explained to her later that nuns had told her adoptive parents that if she was to be officially adopted by them, the process would take a year, at least.

But if Paula was listed as their natural child, they would be free to have her straight away and could take her to America immediately.

She said she has a male relative who was legally adopted through Saint Patrick's Guild adoption agency in Dublin and that relatives said the nuns who handed her over also belonged to the same agency.

Children's Minister Katherine Zappone disclosed last week there was conclusive evidence that at least 126 babies since 1952 were given by St Patrick's Guild to adoptive parents who were registered as their natural parents on their birth certificates.

Paula said that her adoptive mother had to undergo a medical examination before emigrating to America and she was advised to declare that she had given birth to Paula on April 2, a week earlier than the actual birth date.

Paula said she was informed that when the doctor began asking questions during the medical examination, people took the doctor aside and explained the situation to him and he then signed whatever forms were necessary.

As a result, her birth certificate has an incorrect date of April 2 when it should be April 9, as well as incorrectly listing her adoptive parents as her birth parents, she said.

"I never thought what happened was illegal. It was only after I saw the movie Philomena that I later discovered it was illegal," she said.

The movie was based on the true story of Irishwoman Philomena Lee, who searched in vain for her son, Michael Hess, who was taken from her in a mother and baby home in Co Tipperary. The film revealed that, years later, nuns thwarted efforts by Philomena and her son to be reunited.

Hess became legal adviser to two US presidents and died without ever being reunited with Philomena.

Paula said: "I watched the movie with my daughter Caitlin. We were both crying. I was raised to respect the Church, priests and nuns but I lost a lot of respect for the Church."

She said she made contact with people through websites and learned that what had happened in her own case was against the law.

"I realised what happened was wrong and that I needed to make it right," she said.

Paula visited Ireland and made contact with officials who told her there was no record of her in any adoption files.

"I just hope I will be one of the people who are now being contacted by Tusla who have been found to be illegally adopted. I would love to know who was my birth mother," she said.

"My parents were good people and they gave me a very good life. My mother and father were good church-going Irish Catholics and they believed whatever the Church told them They were just working-class people and no money was exchanged for me," she said.

Paula said she was informed that people had escorted little children on flights to the US on a number of occasions in return for their own airfares.

Her father has passed away and her elderly mother now suffers from Alzheimer's disease. She is their only child.

She does not believe that the religious order was motivated by compassion and kindness in finding adoptive parents in the US for Irish babies.

"I believe it was just their way of fixing a problem. And then it became a way of making money for fixing the problem," she said.

"I would love to think my birth mother is still alive.

"I like to think she was a kind and compassionate woman who had no choice but to give up her baby," she said.

Paula does not think much about her birth father and said he might not even have known what had happened.

With a complete lack of any official documents about her birth parents, she turned to DNA testing in the US to see if any genetic links could be found to anyone.

She said the DNA testing appeared to show she had a grandfather from the Killenaule area of Co Tipperary.

She said she and her daughter Caitlin may visit Ireland later this year to see if they can make any progress in finding blood relatives.

"I find the whole thing to be mentally very draining. I have to take a break from it at times," she said.

It has been reported that the practice of falsifying birth records was a relatively widespread practice in the first 60 years of the State.

It has been alleged several adoption agencies and smaller nursing homes may have colluded in the illegal practice and that many doctors, social, workers, priests and nuns had some involvement in these matters.

In the 1950s, American and German newspapers published stories of Irish babies being 'sold' to couples in the US.

The Adoption Rights Alliance believes the practice was widespread.

Paula said she remains a very spiritual person and gets comfort from going to church "every once in a while" but she feels "very disappointed" about how things were done all those years ago.
Justice Minister Charlie Flanagan has ruled out a Fine Gael coalition with Sinn Fein because, as he put it, "a leopard doesn't change its spots".

Fine Gael has been accused by Fianna Fail of cosying up to Sinn Fein and entering into an "unholy alliance" with Mary Lou McDonald's party in order to get the controversial Judicial Appointments Bill through the Dail.

But Mr Flanagan - who has been a strident critic of Sinn Fein throughout his career - is categoric on the prospect of any coalition arrangement.

Will it happen in the future? "No."

Even decades into the future? "I don't see it."

Mr Flanagan argues that Sinn Fein's economic policies would "bankrupt the State".

He also claims there's an absence of democratic structures in Sinn Fein and "the shadows of Belfast" are evident in how the party operates.

After Ms McDonald assumed the leadership of Sinn Fein she insisted that "the IRA has gone away" and that Sinn Fein is a "fully formed independent democratic party".

Mr Flanagan pointed to her "deliberate" use of the republican slogan 'tiocfaidh ar la' in her first speech as leader and the incident that led to the resignation of Sinn Fein MP Barry McElduff as examples of how the party hasn't changed. Mr McElduff was suspended by Sinn Fein and later resigned over a social media video in which he appeared to joke about the sectarian Kingsmill massacre.

Mr Flanagan said he "fundamentally" disagrees with Dail remarks by Sinn Fein TD Aengus O Snodaigh who claimed Special Criminal Court judges had shown "anti-republican" bias.

The Justice Minister said the greatest threat facing the State is from dissident republicans in the Border area and the need for the Special Criminal Court is "firmly established".

Asked if he would prefer not to be relying on Sinn Fein support to get the Judicial Appointments Bill through the Dail, Mr Flanagan points to the Government's "minority position".

He doesn't accept that Fine Gael did a deal with Sinn Fein that would see the rival party get new sentencing guidelines for judges introduced in later legislation.

Mr Flanagan insisted that Fine Gael has been calling for such guidelines to reduce inconsistencies in sentencing - while maintaining the independence of judges - for years.

In relation to the post-Brexit status of the Border with Northern Ireland, Mr Flanagan said he doesn't envisage a return to the security situation of the Troubles.

But he said: "I'm disappointed at the level of uncertainty surrounding Brexit.

"I would hope that the British government would come forward with a plan at the earliest opportunity."

Mr Flanagan said he meets the acting Garda Commissioner Donall O Cualain regularly to discuss the issue and contingency planning is taking place against the backdrop of the closest ever relations between gardai and the PSNI.

He said this relationship must continue "irrespective of Brexit".

Gardai have been hit by a series of controversies in recent times including issues relating to whistleblowers, the bogus breath test scandal, and finances at Templemore training college. Mr Flanagan said he sees a "determination" among Garda management to ensure such controversies are "firmly in the past".

He said he looks forward to the appointment of a new Garda commissioner by the end of the summer.

Mr Flanagan says there are currently "unprecedented resources" being provided to gardai and that he wants it to be "one of the leading police services in the world with modern equipment, technology and best practice".

He says that the plan to increase staffing of gardai to 21,000 over the next three years - including 4,000 civilian personnel and 2,000 Garda reserve - will free up more officers for front-line duties.

On the future of the Confidence and Supply deal with Fianna Fail - which is up for renegotiation after the Budget - Mr Flanagan said: "I don't see the need for an early election."

He said he has a full programme of reforms across gardai, the courts, prisons, immigration and equality.

"I don't wish to be distracted by a general election," he said.
Yes campaigners calling for abortion rights in the North during the referendum count in Dublin Castle

DUP leader Arlene Foster has claimed that some republican voters will support her party in future elections due to Sinn Fein's stance on abortion.

Meanwhile, the former Northern Ireland first minister also said she found some of the celebrations following the Yes win in the abortion referendum "distasteful".

Abortions are currently only allowed in Northern Ireland in strict circumstances if the life or mental health of the mother is at risk. The passing of the referendum to repeal the Eighth Amendment here has led to calls for more liberal laws north of the Border and for Westminster to intervene amid the continuing absence of the Northern Ireland power-sharing Assembly.

Sinn Fein supported a Yes vote in the referendum and last night said the prospect of its voters switching allegiance to the DUP over the abortion issue was "not credible".

Ms Foster told Sky News that the issue of abortion was not a matter for Westminster and that it should be discussed by the Northern Ireland Assembly when it gets back up and running.

She said she and her party have a right to hold different views to others on abortion, saying "that's called tolerance".

"I have had emails from people in the Republic of Ireland feeling very disenfranchised, can't quite believe what has happened.

"I have had emails from nationalists and republicans in Northern Ireland not quite believing what is going on and saying they will be voting for the DUP because they believe we are the only party that supports the unborn."

It was put to Ms Foster that people would find it hard to believe some Sinn Fein voters would vote for the DUP.

Ms Foster said people vote for different reasons.

"For some people this is the number one issue for them when it comes to casting their vote.

"I think it would be wrong not to acknowledge that there will be those who, in my own constituency and right across Northern Ireland who feel so very strongly about this issue, that they will cast their vote on that basis."

Last night a Sinn Fein spokesperson said abortion is "not a unionist versus nationalist issue".

"It affects women from all communities. It is about coming at the issue with compassion and respect, trusting women and their doctors."

The statement added: "While there are some with strongly held views, it is not credible to suggest that it will make republicans become unionists.

"Just as it is not credible to suggest that unionists who support and trust women on this issue will become republicans.

"It is simply a wrong that needs put right," the Sinn Fein statement added.

Ms Foster also criticised some of the celebrations after the Yes win in the referendum.

"Abortion is a very emotive subject, a very sensitive subject and therefore it deserves serious discussion and a serious, mature debate.

"It certainly does not deserve the antics that we've seen recently...I did find it, I have to say, quite distasteful to see people dancing about on the streets in relation to the referendum results."

Health Minister Simon Harris said there has been revisionism among those claiming the atmosphere since the result was over-celebratory.

"It certainly wasn't a celebration, it was emotion and there was pure relief in people's eyes with tears not far from the surface," he said.
Students, parents and teachers are being urged by Samaritans Ireland to look after their mental health this exam season.

The charity is asking those sitting exams and carers of children who are taking their Junior Certificate or Leaving Certificate this Wednesday to put their well-being ahead of their results.

This can be an incredibly stressful time not only for the young person, but for other family members, carers and even teachers, said Cindy OShea, the Regional Director for Samaritans in Ireland.

We would urge anyone involved in exams and supporting young people with their studies to ensure students look after their emotional health. That way they are likely to cope better with the stress of exams, and achieve better too.

As tens of thousands of students across the country prepare to sit their State exams, Ms OShea stressed the importance of learning to listening to others, coping strategies and accessing support during demanding times.

Samaritans offers a 24-hour anonymous service for anyone that needs help coping with emotional distress or is at risk of suicide. Trained volunteers in Samaritans branches also regularly visit schools and colleges to talk to students about the importance of emotional and mental health.

Samaritans are here 24 hours a day, seven days a week, to offer a listening ear and emotional support to those who need us most on the phone, by text, email and in person. Anyone struggling to cope over the coming weeks does not have to suffer alone, said Ms OShea.

The world can often seem a busy and stressful place and many young people are anxious, not only about school and their grades, but about their home life or peers. It is important that young people learn to manage their emotions, build resilience and develop their communication skills to ensure they can positively cope with difficulties they face.

Anyone feeling overwhelmed by exam pressure, or is concerned about someone else can contact Samaritans for free from any phone on 116-123 or text 087-260-9090/email jo@samaritans.ie.
The findings also showed 32pc of people used social media "a great deal"

Fear of missing out (Fomo) is one of the greatest causes of social media addiction, a study has found.

Psychologists have suggested Fomo, irrational beliefs and poor mental health were the primary factors in the addictive behaviour.

Results also showed that those who use significantly more social media platforms are at a higher risk of addiction.

A study conducted by Nottingham Trent University found that around 5pc of participants could be classed as having a high risk of addiction.

The findings also showed 32pc of people used social media "a great deal" - with the same figure saying they suffered problems due to their social networking use.

Dr Halley Pontes, a psychologist at the university's School of Social Sciences, said: "When experiencing Fomo chronically, it could lead to addictive behaviour towards social media use.

"It is important to know that Fomo may be worsened by the fact that we are being constantly reminded about what we are missing out on via all the notifications we receive to our phones.

"One potential strategy to curb Fomo may be to manage which notifications we want to receive."

Dr Pontes continued: "Although the origin of Fomo may vary from one person to another, it is often a result of a deficit in psychological need, such as social connection.

"For this reason, living a socially fulfilling life where psychological needs towards social connections can be met may also help overcome anxiety associated with Fomo.

"Previous studies have tended to focus exclusively on Facebook addiction, but we have gone beyond this to examine a range of social networking sites. We hope the findings might also be of use to therapists in helping them to refine their treatment."
Immunotherapy drugs work by stimulating the immune system to recognise and fight the cancer, and are used to treat some advanced cancers, including lung and melanoma. Stock Image: Getty Images/iStockphoto

Prostate cancer patients with weeks or months left to live could survive longer after undergoing immunotherapy treatment, a major trial has shown.

More than a third of men with a very advanced form of the cancer were still alive, and one in 10 had not seen the cancer grow, after a year on the drug pembrolizumab, the study found.

It is the first time immunotherapy has been shown to benefit some men with prostate cancer, the researchers said.

The results of the trial, led by a team at the Institute of Cancer Research, London, and the Royal Marsden NHS Foundation Trust, will be presented at the American Society of Clinical Oncology annual meeting in Chicago.

Professor Johann de Bono, director of the drug development unit, said: "I have these men who are basically dying, with weeks to months to live, who we gave this drug to and had complete responses. Their cancers shrunk, disappeared actually, with minimal cancer left on scans."

He added: "These are amazing results, and these are men whose cancers had all the treatments, they had everything possible, they've got no treatments left, and they are in trouble.

"They have very short life spans left."

Immunotherapy drugs work by stimulating the immune system to recognise and fight the cancer, and are used to treat some advanced cancers, including lung and melanoma.

Tumours

The trial of 258 men with advanced prostate cancer found they lived much longer when treated with "checkpoint inhibitor" pembrolizumab.

Around 38pc were still alive after a year and 11pc did not see the cancer grow, the results show.

Professor de Bono said: "Our study has found that immunotherapy can benefit a subset of men with advanced, otherwise untreatable prostate cancer, and these are most likely to include patients who have specific DNA repair mutations within their tumours.

"This will be another arrow to the quiver for a subset of prostate cancers and the results are preliminary but very promising."

Previous trials using immunotherapy in prostate cancer have been unsuccessful but the latest research examined the genetics of the tumours and found particular groups of patients may benefit.

While only 5pc of men in the trial saw their tumours shrink or disappear after treatment, many of those had mutations in genes involved in repairing DNA in their tumours.

The researchers suggest these mutating cancer cells may be easy for the immune system to recognise and attack because they look different from healthy cells.

Data from some other cancer types, such as bowel, has similarly shown tumours with defects in DNA repair mutations are more susceptible to immunotherapy.

Only around 20pc of cancer patients respond to immunotherapy and researchers do not fully understand why.
Ewoud and Jantje Van Den Berg - known as Ed and Jane to their Irish friends - first came to live in Ireland in the 1970s.

"I remember arriving at Dublin Port off the ferry in the early hours of the morning in 1974," recalls Ed. "We got lost in the city centre and came across a herd of cattle being driven down the street. Those were very different times, and it felt like a very different place."

The couple spent six happy years living near Mullingar with their two daughters, before Ed's parent company called him back to Holland. When it came to the time for him to retire in 2001, though, he and Jane made the decision to return to Ireland.

"The thing about Holland," explains Ed, "is that it's half the size of Ireland and now has a population of 17 million people. It's very crowded. There is nowhere that you can find the complete silence that you have in Ireland. You can always hear roads or radios or people, whereas here there is complete solitude and tranquility."

Expand Close The former Franciscan monastery dating from 1857 has been home to the couple since 2001 and includes a Great Hall, a tower, orchard with teahouse and 20 acres of land. / Facebook

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Whatsapp The former Franciscan monastery dating from 1857 has been home to the couple since 2001 and includes a Great Hall, a tower, orchard with teahouse and 20 acres of land.

"'Here' is Highlake House in Ballinaheglish, Co Roscommon, a former Franciscan monastery dating from 1857, which has been home to Ed and Jane since 2001.

It is a fine two-storey, four-bedroom period residence, centrally situated on 20 acres of elevated land. In contrast to other, larger monasteries, Highlake was only ever home to 14 brothers, and its relatively modest scale has adapted well to being used as a private residence.

The foundation stone for Highlake was laid in 1857, when Co Fermanagh man Brother Hugh Farmer was given 40 acres of land by Lord de Freyne. Continuing a monastic tradition that had existed for centuries, the Franciscan monks worked as educators, providing local children with training in farming, horticulture and woodwork, until the last ties with the religious order were severed in the late 1960s when the monastery and nearby school closed, with the monastery being sold to a local farmer keen to acquire the land on which it stood.

In 1996, Highlake was sold to a couple who embarked upon the process of renovation, before coming into the ownership of Ed and Jane in 2001.

"We set about continuing the renovation with a keen eye to the history of the buildings," says Ed.

The work involved the re-plumbing, re-wiring and insulating of the main house, and - after a discovery of dry rot - the virtual re-building of the stable wing, where there are a series of rooms on the first floor above the stables. In the end, the work turned out to be much more extensive than the Van Den Bergs had originally envisaged.

Expand Close The former Franciscan monastery includes a Great Hall, a tower, orchard with teahouse and 20 acres of land. / Facebook

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Whatsapp The former Franciscan monastery includes a Great Hall, a tower, orchard with teahouse and 20 acres of land.

"At one point," says Ed, "I did ask myself what on earth we were doing! But now the house is very liveable. Of course, new owners may want to do more, but it works well as it is and we find it very comfortable."

Among the many unusual features of Highlake House is its private chapel, or Great Hall, with frescoed walls featuring a unique Celtic serpent motif that is an ancient symbol of healing and wisdom, and an altar salvaged by Ed from a church in Holland that was bombed in World War Two.

Ed and Jane hire out the chapel for private ceremonies - weddings, baptisms, blessings and the like - and say that they enjoy sitting there for a quiet half hour on Sundays, listening to chanting on the sound system.

"The acoustics are enormous," says Ed.

Although the chapel is listed, it does not have to be used as a chapel and there is permission for a change of use to a drawing room.

A tower room and bell room date from the 1900s - the bells are set to ring on the hour but can also be rung manually - and a 36sqm double-height studio with a catwalk and large Georgian window facing south to the formal inner yard is where Jane, an artist, likes to paint.

Expand Close Ewoud and Jenny van den Berg in the chapel at Highlake House, Ballinaheglish, Co Roscommon. Photo: Brian Farrell / Facebook

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Whatsapp Ewoud and Jenny van den Berg in the chapel at Highlake House, Ballinaheglish, Co Roscommon. Photo: Brian Farrell

In total, the main house has 277sqm of living space. The living and dining room both have working fireplaces and, adjacent to the kitchen are the pantry, laundry, flower room - every civilised home should have one - and office, ancillary spaces that make the business of living comfortably so much easier.

There are four bedrooms, two of which are en suite; the main bedroom also has a dressing room.

A plethora of outbuildings includes a workshop, store-rooms, barn and stable. An orchard with teahouse extends to over an acre, and there is plenty of room to grow vegetables, keep chickens and achieve a good level of self-sufficiency.

The rest of the land - an 8.8 acre field to the west of the house, a 1.8 acre field to the north and a 3.5 acre field to the east - is rented out for grazing to a local farmer on a month to month basis.

A further 6.7 acres located opposite the main entrance has full planning permission for a four-bedroom bungalow and garage and is available by separate transaction.

Ed and Jane have two daughters, one living in Cavan and the other in Holland, and they are selling Highlake with the intention of buying a smaller house in Ireland and an apartment in Holland, allowing them to have a foot in both camps.

"One of our favourite things to do is to drive on the back roads through Connemara and stop and picnic on the side of the road," says Ed. "Often we never see another person. That's one of the reasons we love Ireland so much."

New owners could of course continue to enjoy Highlake as Ed and Jane have done for the past 17 years, as a private residence, but the property also clearly has the potential to be used as a wedding venue, boutique hotel or guesthouse, or as a base from which to grow an equestrian business or stud farm.

Agent: Sherry FitzGerald P Burke (090) 662 7200

Expand Expand Previous Next Close An idyllic spot at Highlake House. Highlake House, Ballinaheglish, Co Roscommon. / Facebook

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Were you to come across an online advert for a two-bedroom house in Portobello with a rental price of 480 a month, it's likely you'd think it was a mistake. Yet an advert of this very nature, placed a few weeks ago, proved to be genuine

VPS Property Guardians, who placed the ad, perhaps not surprisingly, were inundated with calls, and the property was snapped up promptly by two couples. But the good news is that this isn't a one-off. If you pass muster as a property guardian, you could be looking at a serious chunk of change left over from your monthly rental bill. VPS's properties across Europe run a wide gamut, from office blocks and lighthouses to a prison in Holland (which was turned into a co-working hub).

"We had about 1,700 people respond to the ad," says Doug Edwards, managing director of VPS Guardian Services. "We had such an overwhelming response that we had to take the [Portobello] ad down. The whole thing really comes down to location, location, location. When we advertise a property on the outskirts of cities, the response won't be as much. We have lots of properties with developers, and we do the compliance work and make sure the buildings are completely compliant with legislation, are 100pc safe and we have all the certs. A lot of these large buildings may sit empty for some time and, rather than having an asset costing them thousands in security, they get it secured by us."

Property guardians move into and maintain houses that are in turn looked after by vacant property management companies like VPS Property Guardians or Camelot Europe. Owners of properties hand them over to these companies mainly for security reasons. And because there is an element of upkeep and security involved, the rents are much lower.

"We had Charles Haughey's former home [in Kinsealy] for five years, and guardians lived in there for 270 a month," explains Eoin Brennan, country manager for Camelot Europe. "We also had a castle in Athlone that was built in 1180. Around 170 a month would be considered an average regional price and, as you go up the ladder and closer to Dublin, you wouldn't pay more than about 450. That might be for a two-bedroom house in Dalkey."

Paying Camelot's monthly management fees, guardians can expect costs of anywhere between 31 to 128 per week for a room. They are also asked to put down a fully refundable deposit of 370 for properties in Dublin and 278 for properties elsewhere. Guardians are also obliged to purchase a fire pack and pay a small administration fee. The spec and furnishings vary from one property to the next, but all are safe and comfortable.

Expand Close Evgeniya Em in Dublin 6. Photo: Tony Gavin / Facebook

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Those rental prices sound almost too good to be true, and Brennan points out the properties are rented with one or two minor caveats.

"We can't have guardians that are under 18, so that rules out many families right away," he explains. "We also give about four weeks' notice to guardians to end the agreement, so that can be a real sticking point for some. We also do monthly inspections, so if you're a guardian, you can expect someone from the company to be in your house once a month. Still, in the event that a property does get sold, that can mean notice of eight to 12 weeks, and conveyancing can take three months."

As to why a homeowner or building owner might resort to using property guardians as opposed to renting on the mainstream rental market, Brennan notes: "The reality is you're then tied into 12-month leases [in the rental market]. This offers real flexibility for the client. They know that within four weeks, they can get their property back. We can occupy these buildings on their behalf, keep them maintained, clean and secure."

For Niamh McConnell, who volunteers with wildlife rescue groups, it's a small price to pay. She is currently between properties but, until recently, she was living in an empty convent in Crosshaven for three years (192 a month), enjoying a sea view from her bedroom window. Previously, she lived in Loreto Abbey in Rathfarnham (350 a month), until the Department of Education repurchased the property. Before that, Niamh lived in an old garda station in Dalkey. The low rental rates, she explains, means that she can afford to occasionally work with rescue groups on a voluntary basis.

"I grew up abroad, and came home in my 30s, so this is a very interesting way to county-hop," she says. "It's like a house-share but with much bigger dimensions. You share communal areas like the bathrooms and kitchen, and about half a dozen other guardians live in the place, but you get to meet interesting people.

"Being a guardian gives me a quality of life I wouldn't have in the normal rental market, and I have money to spend on other things," she adds.

She admits that the lack of security can sometimes be a downside, especially if she finds herself in a dream home. And the guardian arrangement is perhaps best for those who tend to travel light.

"That part can be a bit hard. I'd become very fond of living in Crosshaven, for instance," she says. "We were also really attached to Rathfarnham. But in a way it's a reality check - don't get too emotionally attached."

Evgeniya Em, who runs a Dublin tattoo parlour, has been a Camelot guardian for three years and has noticed the ongoing benefits of being a reliable occupier.

She was recently invited to live in a studio apartment in the heart of Dublin 6, where she pays 450 a month (including bills). She resides in the Georgian building with four other professionals, who all live independently from each other. Previously, she had been living in a cottage in Castleknock with three other people; the entire house cost 450 for the four tenants, including bills.

"The [Dublin 6] studio has everything I need," explains Evgeniya. "I'd had really bad experiences with landlords in the past, and I'd paid them a lot of money and not been treated well. Here, if something needs fixing, the guys come in and do it fast. But there are some rules - you have to respect the place, respect the people and have no parties. It's a different mindset.

"To be a guardian you need the mentality to be on the move and willing to go somewhere," she adds. "But I'm glad I get to financially breathe and save for whatever expenses I'll need down the line. I'm glad I'm no longer in the rat race."

In the past, demand for guardian properties has far outstripped supply, but Brennan has noticed a tip in the balance.

"We've often had an issue getting enough properties for all our applicants, but that is being flipped on its head of late," he explains. "We're pretty much signing an extra six buildings a week. Some of the buildings are voluntary hand-backs, where the owners are not in a position to pay, and the banks are prepared to take the property back on a voluntary agreement."

Given the current market, Camelot and VPS have been inundated with people applying for their properties. "Most people love the flexibility of the arrangement, but we have so many stories of people who have come on as guardians for three years, saved the money for a house deposit, and then gone on to buy their own home."

And given that the average rent for a two-bedroom Portobello house can exceed 2,000 a month, the four people who eventually moved into that recently advertised property for 480 felt like they had struck lucky.

"They were over the moon," says Edwards. "Their first reaction was, 'you have no idea how much money I can save. Now I can afford to live a little in this city, rather than just survive'."

For information on Camelot Europe's services, see ie.cameloteurope.com. For information on VPS Property Guardians, see vpsgroup.com

How to get bumped up the list

1. Be flexible Its about being available at the right time, says VPSs Doug Edwards. We do security, criminal, reference and credit checks, and we make sure people are who they say they are. But flexibility will help to move people to the top of the list.

2. Sign up for alerts Companies will offer a headstart to applicants who have signed up for email notifications. Expect a few days head start on everyone else.

3. Be a dream tenant Keeping a property clean and safe wont be forgotten by those whose job it is to find guardians. The waiting list can be really long, but once youre willing to work hand-in-hand with the [Camelot] guys, they do look after you, especially if youd like to relocate closer to the city centre,  notes Evgeniya Em, a guardian living in Dublin 6.
Reclaimed Antonio Dos tiles, around 6 each: Spanish encaustic tiles are having a moment across flooring, back splashes and even islands, maitlandandpoate.com

Transform a simple Ikea kitchen with these slick hand-built custom cabinet fronts, which come in on-trend finishes and hues. From around 1,048 for a small kitchen, customfronts.co.uk

Instagram has a lot to answer for. When it comes to design trends, little has shaken things up in the interior design world in recent years as much as the photo-sharing network. It helped fuel the explosion of huge global trends like Scandi chic and cemented the cult status of 'millennial pink'. A trend can live or die by the number of Likes it gathers, giving us a quick and easy way to see what looks are on their way out and which are only just ascending.

For a while now, my feed has been lighting up with increasingly adventurous kitchen designs that really showcase their owner's personality and are a lot more playful with colour.

"What we're seeing on social media - and in the showroom - is that dark colours are certainly alive, from navy right through to black," says Ronan Carey, director at Newcastle Design (newcastledesign.ie), who create bespoke kitchens.

"White just doesn't seem to have the same impact right now, though we are seeing a lot more punchy feature colours like limes and yellows."

Safer bets, which started with creams and evolved into greys, are slowly easing their way out. "There's a definite increase in the 'I don't want grey' trend," laughs Ronan. "Without a doubt, navy is the new grey."

Ciara Elliott, an interiors journalist and hugely popular Instagrammer (@ciaraelliott) who hosts the #ColourMyHome hashtag, sharing top pics posted using the tag with her 18,000 followers, agrees.

"The mood is moving away from the Scandi greys and neutrals, and people are ready to experiment again," she says. "When it comes to kitchens, people are still hesitant to paint their units in anything more daring than a dark blue or dark green, but then when it comes to splashbacks, tiling and other touches like that, we have become a lot more adventurous."

She's noticed a big move away from 'the utilitarian kitchen look' with a more eclectic mix of artwork and vintage pieces coming to the fore. "People are putting a bit more thought into lights and light fixtures, which makes all the difference in embracing a more colourful mix," she says.

If you're going for a custom-built kitchen, don't feel you have to make your colour choice in the showroom either; waiting until it has been installed might encourage you to be a bit bolder and explore more playful finishes.

"We often paint the kitchen after it's installed, which allows you to test various options out," says Ronan.

Ciara is in the process of renovating her own home (follow the #RedHouseReno tag for updates), and turned to her Instagram feed for kitchen inspiration. "I have seen so much cool stuff on Insta," she says. "I love all the exposed brick and the use of salvaged wood for islands and floors."

She explains that even if you're keeping things more budget-friendly with an Ikea fit-out, there are still plenty of ways to add a personal touch.

"We have put in a very simple white kitchen, which I am going to jazz up with custom fronts," says Ciara. "I also love seeing how people pimp a kitchen with new handles, rugs, bar stools, and industrial worktops - it can make all the difference and you really don't need loads of money to do it."

Estate eggshell paint in Cook's Blue, 1.5 litres, 110

A bright, rich pigment that works great as a base hue, farrow-ball.com

Brass handle, 5

These antique-style brass handles will add a warm vintage touch, aprilandthebear.com

Small yellow jug, 62.50

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Pendant light, 176

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Velvet bar stool, 300

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Reclaimed Antonio Dos tiles, around 6 each

Spanish encaustic tiles are having a moment across flooring, back splashes and even islands, maitlandandpoate.com
When your aeroplane seat's antimacassar bears the name of a goddess - Frigg, queen of the gods, no less - you know you're in for a journey, and a destination, less ordinary.

My friend Carmel (aka Freyja, most glorious goddess of beauty and love) and I were travelling Saga (business) class on Icelandair to Reykjavik; both of us bursting with excitement at the prospect.

Having settled into our vast seats, we toasted our trip with Champagne proffered by a willowy Nordic blonde cabin crew - a real-life goddess - and settled in to enjoy the flight. Such was the level of comfort, we were loath to disembark, having been pampered royally, not least with some of the best food I've ever eaten on an aircraft: Icelandic lamb fillet, with cranberry, smoked ham, barley salad and a luscious Camembert. Washed down with more champers, naturally!

Keflavik Airport, originally built by the American military, is about 50km from Reykjavik ('smoky bay'). Our taxi journey to the capital is on black roads, flanked by vast 500-year-old lava fields, and our driver tells of the island's mischievous elves and their elf stones, which are larger inside than out. Reykjavik itself, a low-rise conurbation situated on Faxafloi Bay, is home to one-third of the country's total population of 330,000 inhabitants. Originally a Viking settlement and a whaling port, today it's a cosmopolitan city; the world's northernmost. Downtown Reykjavik is dense with picturesque corrugated-iron houses, painted in primary colours, a striking contrast against the mutable skyscape.

The Icelandair Hotel Reykjavik Marina is our lodgings for the duration; it's a quirky establishment, down a slipway and right on the water, with views of fishing vessels in dry dock and far-off snowy peaks.

Iceland is perhaps unique in that it runs entirely on renewable energy - hydro and geothermal power; Iceland's 'gold'. As a result, all the interior spaces are incredibly cosy; there's none of that overpowering stuffy heat one often encounters in hotels. Having freshened up and had a quick gawk at the hotel's eclectic mix of polished concrete floors, lush textiles and mid-century modern furniture, we headed out to explore. Reykjavik Marina is less than 10 minutes' walk from the city centre. The streets are spotless, and easy to navigate. We wandered in the general direction of the futuristic Hallgrimskirkja: a Lutheran church, national sanctuary, and Reykjavik's tallest building, named for religious poet Hallgrimur Petursson. Building began in 1945 but dragged on until 1986, the year in which Reykjavik celebrated 200 years as a city. It's a phenomenal structure, built entirely out of forbidding gray concrete, and resembles a cross between the Chrysler building and the Giant's Causeway. It's guarded by a huge effigy of Icelandic explorer Leif Eriksson, who 'discovered' America 500 years before Columbus.

Our bellies were calling, so we tried Durum, a pizzeria in the heart of old Reykjavik. There's no two ways about it: eating out in Reykjavik is expensive, so much so that many visitors forgo it and stock up in the supermarket and duty free instead. A (very good) pizza (for one) and a glass of wine cost 28, but we relished our pricey fast food, and, giddy with excitement, headed to catch our Blue Lagoon bus.

The famous hot pool is a 50-minute drive from the capital, and isn't actually a natural pool, unlike many of the others that dot the landscape. The reality is rather less romantic: it's a pool of water from the geothermal power plant that you can see from the Lagoon itself. That said, it didn't disappoint.

The building, like so many in Iceland, is made of natural materials - stone, wood, slate - and complements the surrounding landscape. Inside is a conveyor belt of efficiency: you show your pre-booked ticket (everyone gets a time slot; we had chosen 8pm), you are given, depending on your entry class (we were Premium), a towel, robe, flip-flops, and a wristband that gives you access to lockers and allows you to 'buy' items and pay on exit. We couldn't wait to get our clothes off! If you're prudish, be aware that you must shower naked before putting on your swimsuit, but also know that the body-positive Scandis won't bat an eyelid. Once swimsuited up, we headed out into the frigid air and stepped into the milky-blue silica-rich hot water: oh joy! The experience is truly like no other, and for the entire time we were there - two hours - we continually sighed with pleasure. It's that good. The water is no deeper than shoulder height, and shallower in places, but the lagoon is very large, and it's possible to get a good swim in. There's a Mask Bar - silica, and algae - and you can opt for an in-water massage or head for one of the saunas or steam rooms. Masks on, we purchased proseccos from the swim-up bar and luxuriated in the 39C water, watching the sun dip slowly behind the black lava; our fellow Blue Lagoon-ers resembling white-faced zombies lost in the thrall of the silky waters.

Next morning, we were up with the lark in advance of our trip to the Golden Circle - a 300km loop that encompasses a triad of wonders: Thingvellir National Park, Geysir Geothermal Area, and Gullfoss waterfall. But first, breakfast. The hotel's morning spread was lavish, with everything from steamed vegetables and tuna salad to six different types of bread, blueberry skyr and dairy-free porridge (my barista Americano cost me 4.50; regular coffee is included, however).

Lea Gestsdottir Gayet, a former mountaineering guide, was to be our chaperone, and as she drove, she filled us in on Icelandic life and culture. In Iceland, there are two seasons: winter and summer. The weather is very unpredictable - as we were to discover that day; proper gear is vital if you're visiting, as it can be sunny one minute and blowing a gale with sheeting rain the next. In summer, people celebrate the light, and spend much time outdoors; in fact, year round, most socialising is done in the local pool. Every town and village has one.

Iceland has been a republic only since 1944, having previously been part of the Kingdom of Denmark, and was uninhabited until the 8th Century. It was settled by Celts from the British Isles and, later, Norsemen. In 930AD, the Althing, the world's oldest parliament, was established, at Thingvellir, the first stop on our route. It's a national park, and the only place in the world where the Mid-Atlantic Rift is above sea level and you can clearly see the edge of the North American and Eurasian tectonic plates - my friend Carmel, an ecologist, got understandably excited by this geological wonder. Thingvellir (this area, and much of Iceland, has featured on Game of Thrones) itself has long been the location of historic moments in Iceland's history - in 1,000AD, the Old Norse pagan belief system was jettisoned for Christianity, and in 1944, Icelanders declared their independence from Denmark. The park is also home to one of the world's top dive sites, Silfra ravine, where visibility extends to 100 metres, such is the clarity of the glacial water.

Next up on our adventure was Gullfoss, the golden waterfall. The 32-metre-high double waterfall on the Hvita (White) River is an awe-inspiring sight that betters even mighty Niagara. In 1907, an English man had designs on harnessing its power for electricity generation, but the farmer on whose land it was refused, saying, "I do not sell my friends". Investors later inveigled him into selling and the farmer's daughter, Sigridur, fought hard to save her beloved waterfalls. With the help of Sveinn Bjornsson, who became Iceland's first president, she eventually succeeded, and she's known as the world's first environmentalist.

Not far away is the third spectacular element of the Golden Circle: Geysir Geothermal Area, in the Haukadalur Valley. To witness these primordial pools of boiling water is to be transported back to prehistory. This is a rare phenomenon - a mere 1,000 geysers are to be found worldwide. The volcanic activity in the valley is intense: billowing steam bursts give the area an eerie air. There are several geysers here, including the original of the species, Geysir (from the Old Norse 'to gush'). Geysir rarely erupts now, but neighbouring Strokkur ('churn'), blows every few minutes. Down from its 19th Century 60-metre peak, it is still a sight to behold; we stand spellbound, while the blue water bubbles as if it were alive, then: boom! A pillar of steaming liquid shoots into the air, eliciting much oohing and aahing at what is truly an awesome spectacle.

We spend our evening dining at an Indian - expensive but fabulous - having opted out of locating traditional Icelandic fare of hakarl (putrefied shark) or svid (sheep's head), and finish with a few Viking beers in Bravo, an Icelandic pub with a very friendly barman. We reluctantly leave before midnight, mindful of our early flight, and as we walk back under the still-bright sky, the clear air in our lungs, our skin silky-soft from silica and steam, we catch a glimpse of ourselves in a shop window. Our eyes are shining; we are goddesses.

TAKE TWO: Top attractions

Hallgrimskirkja

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For 1,000 krona (8), you can ascend this architectural wonder's tower and enjoy a bird's eye view of Reykjavik. Design buffs should seek out the steel and glass geometric form of the Harpa concert hall.

Icelandic horses

Everywhere you go, youll spot the diminutive Icelandic horse. These tough equines live outdoors all year round and have a unique fifth gait, the tolt, during which at least one hoof always touches the ground.

Getting there

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Icelandair (icelandair.com) offers direct flights six times a week from Dublin to Reykjavik, from 125.42 per person return travelling in economy, including all taxes, fees and charges.

Icelandair offers the opportunity to stopover in Iceland at no additional airfare when you're flying transatlantic to one of its 22 North American destinations.
Joanne Larby is healing.

Larby, a former montessori teacher turned makeup artist turned influencer, was part of an early influx of 'normal women' who identified the power of Instagram back in 2012 and cultivated a loyal audience over a number of a years.

By 2018, she seemed to be riding high - she has a successful line of makeup brushes, published a book and was preparing for another product launch this year. But then, something shifted in Instagram consumerism - an account was created, then another one, and finally one that pulled no punches, one intended on 'calling out' Irish influencers.

The 'Bloggers Unveiled' account, which Joanne avoids mentioning by name, was a hot commodity earlier this year. It's an anonymously run social media page which published before and after pictures of influencers showing their changing appearances, outing them for not being transparent in sponsored posts and pointing out the hypocrisy of some in relation to previous campaigns they were paid to take part in, like posting videos of someone who previously promoted the Road Safety Authority (RSA) campaign, for not wearing a seatbelt correctly.

But for Joanne, it was much more personal and seemed largely focused on her fondness for picture editing.

At one stage, nearly all posts were focused on Joanne and ironically, the page itself reached influencer status by default; its gossip became fodder for water cooler chat and later, encouraged Yes votes in the referendum campaign. So intense was the attention that Joanne took a two week break (a lifetime in influencer terms) to reassess her goals.

She admits to going a little heavy handed in the pictures she published, saying she was struggling to find her footing as a businesswoman trying to put the best image forward of herself, while also being seen as a 'real' person, which is often the root of the appeal for social media personalities.

"As far as I could see, the main issue was photo editing, that was a huge bone of contention. Theres two sides. Im not a stupid businesswoman: when you are a business and a brand, you are an individual and you portray a personality of an individual while keeping the substance professional and that of a brand," she explains to Independent.ie Style.

Youre competing as an actual brand, but youre also an individual. Unless youre in this a long time, you aren't always aware of photo editing going on and why it would be used.

They see your appearance as a lie. Editing has occurred in paintings back in historical times. Corsets were worn for a smaller waist and now, theres lip fillers and photoshop. Instagram is selling a life, product or not. Youre selling being on the beach, showing a fabulous dress or a tasty dinner."

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That self-imposed digital detox gave her the opportunity to reflect on her longer term strategy and she aims to be more transparent with her appearance going forward.

I can see both sides. Im not naive to think it came across as a lack of transparency. Ireland is really crying out for a really raw, honest lifestyle - theyre sick of the overly polished," she says.

As a consumer, what we digest is under our control as well. If its making us miserable and we are unsure, we can choose to unfollow it.

We have a responsibility to be aware to unfollow something making you unhappy. Advertising will continue to exist in this way if we keep buying sexy things. Not by calling me out. Im not the scapegoat to change the entire industry."

At the time, she said things became so intense that her mother's workplace was targeted and subsequently, she was brought in to discuss it with human resources.

I did get a massive influx of negativity. Ive been doing this five to six years, Ive never experienced those kind of negative comments from individuals, mainly from that page, from people who perhaps didnt follow me separately. It was without knowing the other side of people who followed me for a long time, know my content and what Im about...but thats what happens when something goes viral," she says.

What came from that was that my mom got messages and her work was contacted, my brands that I was in ambassador roles for were urged to drop me. It resulted in financial losses and affected my livelihood.

It was personal - they called me every name under the sun and I got letters urging me to kill myself."

Soon, images of her began circulating in the guise of setting an 'Instagram vs Real Life' agenda, with pictures of her at event purporting to show her 'real' shape and the airbrushed images she posted on her feed. She says neither representation is the 'real' her as her weight fluctuates often.

Trying to catch someone at their worst angle isnt particularly nice. It is a celebrity culture in a way, but its not like paparazzi. Im in this weird realm where Im not a celebrity and its not paps taking pictures, but Im not a normal girl where no one will take a picture. I have no protection from it," she says.

They would contact my friends and family and make sure I saw what they were saying. I tried to find out what the goal was from that page - theres no earning from it, its only really trying to remove me from this industry.

"Thats unpleasant. How could someone despise me that much they want me to lose work? You have to feel very sorry for that scenario. That is consumed another person's life and they collated that much information over years to put it up, then its a mob mentality. I would feel really, really sad for that individual."

Larby says she has never suffered with disordered eating, but describes herself as a woman "of extremes". During a brief move to London last year, she gained a whole new level of followers who were following her fitness journey as she dropped dress sizes thanks to an intense fitness regime, eventually dropping from a size 16 to her lowest size of an 8.

She considers herself "a bit softer" since moving back home to Dublin.

Ive always fluctuated in my weight, some saw me as a plus model to doing bikini competitions, now Im somewhere in the middle. Ill wear a size 8, 10, 12 and 14 today, I have all those sizes in my wardrobe. Its easier to get a bad picture of me because Im curvier. Im tempted to edit because Im curvier, but its naive to think its not happening with slim girls as well," she said.

I took the criticism on board. It [the break] wasnt just a selfish break or showing a lack of strength. I wanted to quiet the noise, go back to my roots and utilise the comments made, dissecting the most impactful ones. My audience is incredibly important to me. Its what I do. If my customer is not happy, you need to listen to that as a brand. I pride myself on never burning a bridge and being a real person.

I have been a level weight, around a size 10, for about two years. I went slightly smaller in London and Im slightly softer now because Im not into training as heavily as I was. I feel comfortable in what size I am.

Three years ago, when I was bigger, I did genuinely feel a huge pressure to be a smaller size or to keep up what I had done. I wasnt as big online, I wasnt seeing people in person, there were no meet and greets or workshops, I was in this bubble wrapped universe that served its purpose - to be able to work with brands and create and aesthetic and professional feed.

As awful as it sounds, I looked around me and though there were so many smaller girls and a certain look that seems to be making it. I hate to say it but I was influenced by celebrity culture."

What about those claims that she cut off the tags of size 16 clothing, claimed they were smaller and then sold them on Depop?

Genuinely, there was someone from 2012 who purchased shorts in a size 16 and she wanted a refund since this page surfaced," she began. "Not to sound facetious, but its so beyond ludicrous. Thats like going into River Island with something from 2012 after seeing a massive media attack and asking for a refund.

I have never in my life ripped off anyone through Depop. It has nothing to do with size or being embarrassing about my size. I cut tags off because they irritate me and its an OCD thing. I could count how many clothes Ive sold on Depop, its not a secret business, Ive sold maybe 30 dresses over the last three to four years. It started at the request of my followers."

So, why does she think she was targeted so aggressively?

I think because I was a plus model, I was very relatable - a real girl. I dont come from money, theres no silver spoon; everything Ive done, Ive worked for myself. I launched my book and beauty brand without an agent. All my graft was by myself. I think I was admirable in a business sense and aesthetically, I looked like a normal girl," she says.

Honestly, when I moved to London, I was going to to the gym a lot more and integrating more fitness and training, which created a disconnect with the original followers. Now there were ones who wanted to see a transformation and the OG ones who were unnerved by the change.

I went from wearing a size 16 to an eight and I started seeing abs I never had in my life. It was a big change in myself. I 100% became obsessed with the gym, it was unhealthy for my mindset. My lifestyle in London was very different as I had more time, I was starting to build my business from the ground up there."

It's clear her largest concern became her family - her mother, whom she describes as a "positive, supportive" woman was soon the subject of a barrage of criticism on her personal page which was a private account. Her mother, who is since retired, began working for her daughter part-time to help her with her growing business.

My mum is on Instagram, shes a normal, supportive mum who is positive about what Ive achieved and her page is private. If something happened, she would get follow requests for people trying to snoop. They were telling her she was a terrible mother, delusional, a post that involved my directly turned to slagging because I was employing her," she said.

"She is now retired and I was taking her on for two days a week for personal reasons. To be able to be in the position to employ a family member is a positive and it was made into a negative. Her workplace was mentioned, HR called her in as a result because they were tagging her workplace and all of a sudden, it became really personal."

Over time, the goal to turn Joanne into a persona non grata worked, albeit for a brief moment. Two clients ended their work relationships with her to "avoid the drama", but she says she maintains good relationships with both.

A couple of brands that when everything was at its worst, two were mentioned, they pulled away not wanting to be part of negativity. It was less to do with me, we left on good terms where they wanted to be away from that realm. It was very upsetting for everyone involved. It gave me the headspace to take the time offline and come back when I was ready," she explains.

Since coming back to social media, she says the response to her new, more honest approach has been "very positive" and the women of Ireland were "crying out" for a more relatable personality.

Now Im much more raw and less polished. Im much more like myself and how I have always been in real life. I am very comfortable in real life with no makeup, showing my flaws. Online, it seems like Ive built up more of an insecure appearance over the years. Now, its much more clear that Im comfortable in my own skin. Ive been very candid about things like my hair loss to show people that I am strong, comfortable in who I am, and wanting to help other people."

Photography: Kyran O'Brien

Styling: Rebecca Rose, using clothing from Debenhams and Jervis Shopping Centre
BERLIN, GERMANY - FEBRUARY 10: Actor Richard Gere and girlfriend Alejandra Silva attend the 'The Dinner' premiere during the 67th Berlinale International Film Festival Berlin at Berlinale Palace on February 10, 2017 in Berlin, Germany. (Photo by Pascal Le Segretain/Getty Images)

MADRID, SPAIN - MAY 31: Alejandra Silva and actor Richard Gere attend the 'Norman: The Moderate Rise and Tragic Fall of a New York Fixer' (Norman: El Hombre Que Lo Conseguia Todo) premiere at the Callao cinema on May 31, 2017 in Madrid, Spain. (Photo by Carlos Alvarez/Getty Images)

SAN SEBASTIAN, SPAIN - SEPTEMBER 24: Richard Gere and Alejandra Silva attend 'Time Out Of Mind' photocall during 64th San sebastian Film Festival on September 24, 2016 in San Sebastian, Spain. (Photo by Carlos Alvarez/Getty Images)

SAN SEBASTIAN, SPAIN - SEPTEMBER 24: Richard Gere and Alejandra Silva attend 'Time Out Of Mind' premiere during 64th San Sebastian Film Festival on September 24, 2016 in San Sebastian, Spain. (Photo by Carlos Alvarez/Getty Images)

Richard Gere and Alejandra Silva on their wedding day in April. (HELLO!)

Richard Gere and his new wife Alejandra Silva as they appear in this weeks Hello! magazine

Richard Gere has declared he is the happiest man in the world after marrying third wife Alejandra Silva.

Richard, 68, wed Spanish publicist and activist Alejandra, 35, in a lavish Indian-inspired ceremony at the actors ranch outside New York City in April.

Talking to Hello! magazine about their big day, Richard, who was previously married to actress Carey Lowell and model Cindy Crawford, said he is still on cloud nine.

"Im the happiest man in the universe," he beamed. "How could I not be? Im married to a beautiful woman who is smart, sensitive, committed to helping people, whos fun, patient, who knows how to forgive, whos a great cook  and who makes the best salads in the world!

"Alejandra meditates, shes a vegetarian, a great mother, has the touch of an angel... and shes also Spanish: the land of kings and queens, of Cervantes and Bunuel... You cant get any better than that."

Alejandra also heaped praise on her movie star husband, admitting she feels like shes living in a true fairytale.

The couple met in 2014 when the Pretty Woman actor stayed in Alejandras family-owned hotel in Positano, Italy, and a friend introduced them.

I feel like Im in a true fairytale," Alejandra shared. "Without a doubt, I feel like the luckiest woman in the world.

"He is the most humble, sensitive, affectionate, attentive, funny, generous man that Ive ever met. What can I say? Im so in love! How would you feel if each morning you were asked: What would make you happy today? Not a day goes by that he doesnt mention how important I am to him. I feel very lucky."
Volcan de Fuego blows outs a thick cloud of ash, as seen from Alotenango, Guatemala (Santiago Billy/AP)

A fiery volcanic eruption in Guatemala has sent lava flowing into rural communities, killing at least 25 as rescuers struggled to reach people where homes and roads were charred and blanketed with ash.

The death toll rose late on Sunday with 18 bodies found in the community of San Miguel Los Lotes, disaster agency spokesman David de Leon said, adding to the seven victims previously confirmed elsewhere earlier in the day.

At least 20 people were injured, and authorities have said they feared the death toll could rise with an undetermined number of people unaccounted for.

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Whatsapp Fidelina Lopez, right, is consoled by her daughter Claudia in a shelter near the Volcano of Fire in Alotenango, Guatemala (AP Photo/Luis Soto)

The Volcan de Fuego, or Volcano of Fire, exploded in a hail of ash and molten rock, blanketing nearby villages in heavy ash and later lava began flowing down the mountains flank and across homes and roads.

Eddy Sanchez, director of the countrys seismology and volcanology institute, said the flows reached temperatures of about 700C (1,300F)

Dramatic video showed a fast-moving lahar, or flow of pyroclastic material and slurry, slamming into and partly destroying a bridge on a road between Sacatepequez and Escuintla.

Sacatepezuez television published images of a charred landscape where the lava came into contact with homes. Three bodies lay partially buried in ash-coloured debris from the volcano, which lies about 27 miles from Guatemala City.

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Other videos from local media showed residents walking barefoot and covered in muddy residue.

Not everyone was able to get out. I think they ended up buried, Consuelo Hernandez, a resident of the village of El Rodeo, told the newspaper Diario de Centroamerica.

Where we saw the lava fall, we ran to a hillside to escape, she added.

#VolcanDeFuego El Equipo de Respuesta Inmediata -ERI- de la Secretaria Ejecutiva de la CONRED realizan la sistematizacion y coordinacion de las acciones ante la actividad del volcan de Fuego en las comunidades aledanas al volcan. pic.twitter.com/4fxUkpAYCn  CONRED (@ConredGuatemala) June 4, 2018

Homes were still burning in El Rodeo late on Sunday, and a charred stench hung over the town.

Hundreds of rescue workers, including firefighters, police and soldiers, worked to help any survivors and recover any more bodies amid the still-smoking lava.

Firefighters said they had seen some people who were trapped, but roads were cut by pyroclastic flows and they had been unable to reach them.

Amid darkness and rain, the rescue effort was suspended until early Monday morning, municipal firefighters spokesman Cecilio Chacaj said.

#VolcanDeFuego En estos momentos ya no se reporta caida de ceniza en los municipios de Acatenango, San Andres Itzapa, Chimaltenango, Patzicia, Saragoza, Patzun y Tecpan Guatemala.

Fuente: Aroldo Santelel, Delegado Departamental de la Secretaria Ejecutiva de la CONRED. pic.twitter.com/b2xCeox1E7  CONRED (@ConredGuatemala) June 3, 2018

Among the fatalities were four people, including a disaster agency official, killed when lava set a house on fire in El Rodeo village, national disaster coordinator Sergio Cabanas said.

Two children were burned to death as they watched the volcanos second eruption this year from a bridge, he added.

Another victim was found in the streets of El Rodeo by volunteer firefighters, but the person died in an ambulance.

At an ad-hoc morgue in the town of Alotenango, at least three bodies lay covered with blue sheets.

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Guatemalas disaster agency said 3,100 people had evacuated nearby communities, and ash fall from the eruption was affecting an area with about 1.7 million of countrys 15 million or so people. Shelters were opened for those forced to flee.

Currently the volcano continues to erupt and there exists a high potential for (pyroclastic) avalanches of debris, the disaster agency said late on Sunday via Twitter, quoting Sanchez, the director of the seismology and volcanology institute.

Guatemalan president Jimmy Morales said he would issue a declaration of a state of emergency to be approved by Congress and urged people to heed warnings from emergency officials.

Ash fell on the Guatemala City area as well as the departments of Sacatepequez, Chimaltenango and Escuintla, which are in south-central Guatemala around the volcano. Streets and houses were covered in the colonial town of Antigua, a popular tourist destination.

Aviation authorities closed the capitals international airport because of the danger posed to planes by the ash.

One of Central Americas most active volcanoes, the conical Volcan de Fuego reaches an altitude of 12,346 feet (3,763 meters) above sea level at its peak.
Philippines President Rodrigo Duterte leans in to kiss a worker at the podium during a town hall-style meeting in Seoul, South Korea (PTV via AP)

Critics have condemned the Philippine president for kissing a woman on the lips before thousands of cheering Filipino workers while on a visit to South Korea.

One senator called the act a despicable display of sexism and grave abuse of authority.

President Rodrigo Duterte sought a kiss from the Philippine woman after he called her on stage to give her a copy of a book at a town hall-style meeting with Filipino workers on Sunday in Seoul.

A despicable display of sexism and grave abuse of authorityPhilippine senator

When Mr Duterte asked if she could explain to her husband that the antic was just a joke, and she said yes, the president leaned in and kissed her as thousands erupted in cheers.

Mr Duterte told the crowd it was just for fun, but critics condemned what they said was his latest macho antic degrading women.
Two women comfort each other during a commemoration service on London Bridge. Photo: Getty

British Prime Minister Theresa May joined survivors, victims' families and emergency workers at a memorial service to mark a year since a deadly vehicle-and-knife attack brought terror to London Bridge.

Eight people were killed and almost 50 injured when three Isil-inspired extremists ran down pedestrians on the bridge, then stabbed people at packed bars and restaurants in nearby Borough Market, one of London's main foodie hubs. The three attackers were shot dead by police within minutes.

The rampage came two weeks after a bombing at an Ariana Grande concert in Manchester Arena that killed 22 people.

More than 700 people gathered yesterday inside the centuries-old Southwark Cathedral, nestled between the bridge and the market on the lively south bank of the River Thames.

Dean of Southwark Andrew Nunn said he hoped the service of remembrance "helps our healing". "Love is stronger than hate. Light is stronger than darkness. Life is stronger than death," he said. "It was true a year ago. It is as true today."

After the service, families of the dead planted an olive tree on the cathedral grounds, using compost made from floral tributes left by mourners after the attack.

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Whatsapp Metropolitan Police Cressida Dick, Mayor of London Sadiq Khan, Prime Minister Theresa May and Home Secretary Sajid Javid present bouquets of flowers at the commemoration

Mrs May, London Mayor Sadiq Khan and some of the injured laid flowers beside the bridge before a national minute of silence at 4.30pm. The words #LondonUnited were projected onto the bridge at dusk.

In a statement, the prime minister paid tribute to the bravery of first responders and others, including Ignacio Echeverria, a Spanish man who tackled the attackers with his skateboard and was killed.

Mrs May said the fact that seven of the eight victims came from outside Britain - from France, Spain, Australia and Canada - was "a reflection of our great cosmopolitan capital, whose energy and values bring together people from across the world, and a tragic reminder that the threat from terrorism transcends borders and impacts us all.

"Our resolve to stand firm and overcome this threat together has never been stronger," she said.

The London Bridge carnage was one of a string of attacks in Britain in 2017 involving Islamic or far-right extremists that killed 36 people in all.
Alistair Campbell, the former spin doctor to Tony Blair, was left red-faced when his daughter grilled him on live radio about his attitude towards women.

The former Labour adviser, who was standing in for Nigel Farage on LBC in London, was debating feminism when his daughter Grace called in.

Grace, a writer and film maker, told her father he needed to "unpick" certain behaviours in order to "truly be a feminist."

She said: "So I've thought of some examples with you, which I'm going to talk about.

"Firstly, you still call women 'birds', which I think you don't even think about the impact that has.

"If you truly want to be a feminist, women aren't birds; birds are birds, birds can fly, women can't fly.

"You call women 'women'; you don't call them 'birds'."

Mr Campbell responded by saying he did not remember calling women birds, but promised not to do so again.

Grace (28) then went on to criticise her father for not doing jobs around the house.

She said: "I've noticed what you do - which a lot of men do - they make up the excuse of 'I can't.'

"So 'I don't know how to change the laundry, I don't know how to use the coffee machine, so I can't.' Instead of saying you can't, just learn how to use an espresso machine."

Mr Campbell said he was "very impractical," adding: "Anything else you want to tell your dad off for?"

His daughter said he needed to feel more comfortable talking about periods. She said: "If you really want to be a feminist, you need to be able to talk about periods; periods are a natural thing.

"If I tell you I'm going to change my tampon, you grimace and cover your ears.

"Being able to talk about periods like they're a normal thing that happen to women, they're not disgusting, this is a big thing for the whole period conversation.

"We need to break down that taboo and make them normal things."

She concluded: "You've got to educate yourself on things, it's work, you've got to really do that if you really want to properly be a feminist.

"You've got to educate yourself and talk to women properly."
A man has been arrested after a 100-year-old woman's neck was broken in an attack in which her handbag was stolen.

The victim also suffered bruising to her face as she was approached from behind, knocked over and deprived of her green handbag at 8.45am on May 28.

Derbyshire Police said the woman is recovering from her injuries.

A 39-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of robbery after the incident close to the junction of St Chads Road and Empress Road in Normanton, Derby.

The force said they are still keen to speak to anyone who saw a beige Seat Leon which was found close to where the attack took place.

Police are appealing for anyone with dash cam or CCTV footage that shows the vehicle with registration plate SL02 KVZ to come forward.
Angela Merkel has backed much deeper European integration in relation to the refugee crisis and defence, but rejected a "debt union" that would share the cost of financial crisis.

In a wide-ranging newspaper interview yesterday, the German chancellor said the principle of solidarity among eurozone member states should not turn the single currency bloc into a debt-sharing union.

It will be seen as a response to French President Emmanuel Macron's call last September for more solidarity in the eurozone.

In her interview in the 'Frankfurter Allgemeine Sonntagszeitung', Ms Merkel backed turning the eurozone's ESM rescue fund into a European Monetary Fund (EMF) with cash to bail out member states, but only under strict conditions.

"Such loans would be spread over 30 years and be conditioned on sweeping structural reforms," she said.

The interview was published days after the formation of a new Italian government made up of the Five Star Movement and the League, both hostile to the euro and the package of post-crisis fiscal rules originally championed by Ms Merkel.

"I will approach the new Italian government openly and work with it instead of speculating about its intentions," Ms Merkel said.

Also yesterday, in an opinion article, the billionaire financier and activist George Soros said "Europe's flawed migration policies" were partly to blame for the rise of populist parties in Italy because they had imposed an unfair burden on the country.

Italians also have "legitimate complaints as to the way the euro area is being managed", he said.

Italy has been the first landfall for hundreds of thousands of migrants crossing the Mediterranean from North Africa. Since 2015, France and Austria have closed their borders to migrants seeking to leave Italy for northern Europe, Mr Soros said.

Under Chancellor Merkel, Germany also accepted a huge number of asylum seekers in 2015 in particular, before an EU deal with Turkey to close the so-called Western Balkan route from Syria to Germany via Turkey and Greece.

In her interview yesterday, she said Europe should set up a joint agency for refugees that would decide on applications for asylum at Europe's outer borders on the basis of common procedures, that would then likely see successful asylum seekers relocated across the union. It would mark the end of the so-called Dublin Regulation, under which asylum applications must be processed in the first country where a refugee arrives.

The German chancellor said the EU border agency Frontex should be developed into a "true European border police" that can act autonomously.

She also backed greater military co-operation, calling for the establishment of a European Security Council.

That's a potential challenge to Ireland and other traditionally neutral member states including Austria, Finland and Sweden.

Meanwhile, Mr Soros said the EU should pay Italy to support and integrate the migrants who are arriving there in disproportionate numbers, because relocating them isn't "possible nor desirable".

Italy is now the EU's "most pressing problem" because it challenges the union's core values, he said.

But he cautioned against Brussels trying to give Italy lessons that would drive more of the electorate toward the populists.

The new Italian government may fall this year, or early in 2019, he wrote in an opinion piece for the 'Corriere della Sera' newspaper.
Police cleared the cathedral and tried to calm the man. Photo: Fabrizio Bensch/Reuters

Berlin police have ruled out terrorism after they shot and wounded a 53-year-old Austrian man who waved a knife inside a Berlin cathedral yesterday.

The Dpa news agency quoted police as saying the man appeared to be confused.

Berlin police spokesman Winfrid Wenzel said the incident began when the man entered the Berliner Dom and waved a knife near the altar. Cathedral employees called police and safely escorted about 100 visitors out of the holy site.

One of the two officers responding to the call opened fire, wounding the man, Mr Wenzel said. The second officer also was inadvertently wounded by the shot or shots fired by his colleague.

Both the suspect and the police officer were taken to a hospital. Dpa said the officer was in serious condition.

According to other reports, the man was running through the cathedral, waving a knife, being "verbally aggressive" and causing widespread panic among visitors.

Police cleared the cathedral and tried to calm the man. When that failed, one of the officers shot him in the legs to incapacitate him. He was being held under arrest in a hospital last night where his wounds were being treated.

The area around the cathedral is typically crowded with tourists and visitors, particularly on Sundays.
French gendarmes clearing out a makeshift camp along side of the canal Saint Martin (Francois Mori/AP)

French police have evacuated around 500 migrants  mostly Afghans and Africans  from a makeshift tent encampment in central Paris.

In the dawn operation on Monday, buses took them to lodgings in the Paris region where they can pursue asylum requests.

James Okafor, who fled Nigeria after being attacked, said he will be very happy to leave because it will help him meet officials who will decide if he can stay in France.

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Others were apprehensive, since most of the migrants do not speak French or English.

Two migrants drowned last month nearby and fights at camps have led to injuries, increasing the pressure on officials to close them.

In three years, police have evacuated 28,000 migrants from Paris camps.
Hotel Chocolat has repaid 6.4 million of its so-called Chocolate Bonds which the confectioner said helped create 600 jobs in the UK.

The bonds were issued through its Chocolate Tasting Club subsidiary in 2010 and 2014, paying a return to holders in the form of luxury chocolate boxes and Hotel Chocolat gift cards.

The company said proceeds supported the firms growth and contributed to the creation of 600 jobs in the UK as well as new store openings in both the UK and Ireland.

Thanks to the support of our amazing Chocolate Bond-holders, we were able to invest in ethical cocoa, British manufacturing, create hundreds of jobs and then repay them in full, as plannedCo-founder and chief executive Angus Thirlwell

It also helped with capital investment in manufacturing in the UK and increased support for its cocoa growers in Saint Lucia and Ghana.

Co-founder and chief executive Angus Thirlwell said: Thanks to the support of our amazing Chocolate Bond-holders, we were able to invest in ethical cocoa, British manufacturing, create hundreds of jobs and then repay them in full, as planned.

Hotel Chocolat shares were up as much as 0.3% in morning trading on Monday.

The London-listed business in February reported a 15% rise in half-year sales to 71.7 million.

The confectioner also recorded a 15% rise in pre-tax profits for the six months to December 31 to 12.9 million, up from 11.2 million a year earlier.

The company said improved inefficiencies and growing scale  having opened 10 new stores over the period  helped offset headwinds including the impact of the weaker pound.

Its next trading update is due in July.
Melania Trump has made her first public appearance in 24 days (Danny Lawson/PA)

After more than three weeks out of sight, Melania Trump at last has teed up an appearance at a White House event.

The US first lady served as co-host with the president at a reception on Monday to honour the families of those killed during military service.

But the event was closed to the news media out of respect for the families  meaning the first lady was still only seen in the flesh by those in attendance.

Others will have to wait for photos and video to hit social media.

It is the second year the Trumps have opened the White House to Gold Star families.

The first lady said in a written statement after last Junes event that these families are a unique and distinct category of individuals who should be cherished.

Mrs Trump has not been seen in public since the overnight hours of May 10 when she and President Donald Trump travelled to a military base in Maryland to welcome home three Americans who had been released from captivity in North Korea.

Four days later, the White House announced that she had been taken to hospital to treat a benign kidney condition.

On behalf of all White House Staff, we are thankful for @FLOTUS' successful procedure and wish her a swift recovery.  The White House 45 Archived (@WhiteHouse45) May 14, 2018

The closest first lady parallel to Mrs Trumps time out of the public spotlight is Bess Truman, who did few events as first lady because of discomfort around the media, said Anita McBride, a veteran of three Republican administrations who last served as chief of staff to first lady Laura Bush.

Mrs Truman also spent a lot of time in Missouri with her mother.

Nancy Reagan spent several weeks out of public view after a mastectomy, but continued to meet with staff and do other work behind the scenes.

Public interest in and news media coverage of first ladies exploded during the Obama administration, the first White House to extensively use social media to spread its brand, Ms McBride said.

But first ladies are not elected and technically are still private citizens, and each one gets to tailor the job to suit her.

She is going to do this job her way, Ms McBride said of Mrs Trump. Its her style and we just have to accept that.

Mrs Trump stayed in the hospital for five days and has kept out of public view since returning home May 19.

She has been meeting with staff and working on upcoming projects, according to spokeswoman Stephanie Grisham.

Ms Grisham said the Gold Star families event is important to Mrs Trump and has been on her calendar for some time.

It is still unclear when the first lady will make an appearance in public.

She is not scheduled to accompany Donald Trump to an annual world leaders summit in Canada this weekend, or when he meets with North Koreas leader in Singapore next week.

Her absence has sparked all kinds of wild speculation but the first lady has shown no interest in making an appearance just to knock down rumours.

She sent early signals that she will not bow to speculation or public expectations about what she should be doing.

Her first clue that she would be a different first lady came when she decided to continue living at Trump Tower after her husband took office in January 2017, citing a desire to maintain stability for her sons schooling.

She and son Barron officially moved to the White House last June.

Mrs Trump is very strong and independent, Ms Grisham said.
Melania Trump has not made a public appearance since before a five-day hospital stay in mid-May (Susan Walsh/AP)

US first lady Melania Trump is not joining her husband at the G7 summit in Quebec this week or planning to accompany him to the expected meeting with North Koreas leader in Singapore the week after, spokeswoman Stephanie Grisham said.

Mrs Trumps decision not to go to Quebec is a departure from last year, when she made an international summit debut at the G7 meeting in Italy and followed up at the forum of G20 industrialised and developing nations in Germany.

Spouses typically get together at events of their own during the meetings of world leaders.

The first lady stayed behind on Friday when President Donald Trump, his daughters, eldest son and son-in-law went to the Camp David retreat for the weekend.

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She has not made a public appearance since before her five-day hospital stay in mid-May for treatment of a kidney condition the White House only described as benign.

Ms Grisham said earlier that the first lady has been meeting with staff and working on projects.

She will not attend the G7 and there are no plans for her to travel to Singapore at this time, Ms Grisham said.

The G7 summit will be held in Quebec on Friday and Saturday.

The president plans to meet North Korean leader Kim Jong Un on June 12 in Singapore, the first leaders summit between two countries that are still formally at war.
Nomad Foods said the deal would help it get a foothold in the roast dinner market (Steve Parsons/PA)

Nomad Foods has agreed to buy frozen food brand Aunt Bessies for 240 million euro (210 million).

Aunt Bessies was purchased from Yorkshire-based food group William Jackson & Son, and is set to include its factory in Hull.

Nomad Foods said that the deal would help it get a foothold in the roast dinner market as Aunt Bessies is best known for frozen Yorkshire puddings and potato products.

It will also further develop Nomads portfolio in the UK, which it called a strategically important market.

The company, which is listed on the New York Stock Exchange, already owns Birds Eye and earlier this year snapped up Goodfellas Pizza from Green Isle Foods, a subsidiary of Boparan Holdings.

Nomad Foods co-chairman and founder Noam Gottesman, said: The acquisition of Aunt Bessies illustrates the power of our value creation model which is fuelled by organic revenue growth, strong free cash flow and disciplined M&A.

Similar to Goodfellas Pizza, which we acquired earlier this year, Aunt Bessies is expected to be immediately accretive to earnings while providing complementary category exposure, synergy opportunities and new avenues for growth.

We look forward to welcoming the Aunt Bessies team to our organisation and working together to build on their success.

Aunt Bessies reported revenues of around 123 million euro (107 million) in the year to April 2018, while adjusted underlying earnings reached 23 million euro (20 million) .

A media spokesman for Nomad Foods said that Aunt Bessies employs fewer than 400 people, all of whom are set to join the company through the acquisition.

The deal is expected to be completed during the third quarter of this year, subject to regulatory approvals.

Nomad Foods also owns brands including Iglo, Findus, la Cocinera, and Lutosa.
US Defence Secretary James Mattis has warned of a "bumpy road" to the negotiating table with Kim Jong-un, as nuclear talks with North Korea, tentatively scheduled for June 12, still appear to hang in the balance.

He cautioned against high expectations, days after US President Donald Trump had announced that the previously cancelled meeting in Singapore was on again, calling it a "getting-to-know-you meeting".

General Mattis has spent the past few days in Singapore, shoring up support from allies before the meeting, which is seen by the US as the first step towards denuclearising the Korean peninsula.

"We can anticipate, at best, a bumpy road to the negotiations," he said, speaking at the beginning of a security meeting with his South Korean and Japanese counterparts yesterday.

"In this moment, we are steadfastly committed to strengthening even further our defence co-operation as the best means for preserving the peace.

"As defence ministers, we must maintain a strong, collaborative defensive stance, so we enable our diplomats to negotiate from a calm position of strength in this critical time."

His remarks came as Bashar al-Assad, the Syrian president, said that he planned to visit Mr Kim in North Korea.

"I am going to visit and meet... Kim Jong-un," Mr Assad said, as reported by KCNA, the North's state-run news agency.

He added: "The world welcomes the remarkable events in the Korean peninsula, brought about recently by the outstanding political calibre and wise leadership of Kim Jong-un." ( Daily Telegraph, London)

Telegraph Media Group Limited [2021]
Sen. Robert Kennedy addresses the crowd from stage of Ambassador Hotel in LA moments before his assassination. Photo: Getty

In the late hours of June 5 1968, the bustling, crowded Embassy Room of Californias Ambassador Hotel was filled with a new generation of Americans demanding changeand they knew just the man who could enact it.

Joyful chants of hope and excitement filled the room as supporters of New York Senator Robert Francis Kennedy took the stage to announce victory in the California Democratic presidential primary.

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But the moment of inspiration and optimism quickly turned to fear and devastation. Only moments after leaving the stage, the Irish American icon was fatally shot while exiting through the hotel kitchen.

As panic and horror filled the hotel kitchen and staff, a teenage busboy cradled the senators wounded head.

50 years later, that busboyJuan Romerohas shared details of RFKs final moments with the world.

In an interview with StoryCorps, Mr Romero explained the moment the senator was shot in front of him and his final words: I remember extending my hand as far as I could and then I remember him shaking my hand and as he let go, somebody shot him. I kneeled down to him and put my hand between the cold concrete and his head just to make him comfortable.

I could see his lips moving so I put my ear next to his lips and I heard him say Is everybody ok? and I said Yes, everybodys okay.

Mr Romero then retrieved his rosary beads for the Catholic senator: I could feel a steady stream of blood coming through my fingers. I had a rosary in my shirt pocket and I took it out thinking that he would need it a lot more than me.

The then 17-year-old said he went to school the next day because he didnt even want to think about the horrifying experience, but was recognised on the bus.

This woman was reading the newspaper and you could see my picture in there with the senator on the floor, he explained. She says This is you, isnt it? And I remember looking at my hands and there was dried blood in between my nails.

The experience haunted him further when he began receiving mass amounts of letters addressed to the busboy at the Ambassador Hotel.

There was a couple of angry letters, he recalled. One of them even went as far as to say that If he hadnt stopped to shake your hand, the senator would have been alive, so I should be ashamed of myself for being so selfish.

RFK was assassinated only four years after his brother President John Fitzgerald Kennedy. The New York senator was incredibly passionate about civil rights and is seen as an icon of modern American liberalism.

Despite the tragic memory, Mr Romero speaks fondly of RFK and still recalls the moment he first saw him while delivering room service the day before the assassination: He put down the phone and says, Come on in, boys. You could tell when he was looking at you that hes not looking through youhes taking you into account. And I remember walking out of there like I was 10 feet tall.

In 2010, Mr Romero said he felt the need to visit RFKs grave in Arlington Virginia to ask for forgiveness: I still get emotional, tears come out, but I went to visit his grave in 2010. I felt like I needed to ask Kennedy to forgive me for not being able to stop those bullets from harming him.

The former busboy even bought his first-ever suit for the occasion:  I felt like it would be a sign of respect to buy a suit. I never owned a suit in my life and so when I wore the suit and I stood in front of his grave, I felt a little bit like that first day that I met him.

I felt important. I felt American. And I felt good.
The US Supreme Court has ruled in favor of a Christian baker who refused to make a wedding cake for a gay couple, saying the decision was unlikely to have a sweeping legal impact.

The nation's highest court said the baker's religious rights were violated when a state Civil Rights Commission decided he had broken Colorado's anti-discrimination law.

The refusal by baker Jack Phillips in 2012 to make a cake for David Mullins and Charlie Craig became a cultural flashpoint, seen as part of a conservative Christian backlash to the Supreme Court's ruling allowing gay marriage.

President Donald Trump's administration intervened in support of the baker.

But the Supreme Court ruling did not address broader questions of religious exemptions from anti-discrimination laws or whether baking a cake is protected as free speech under the U.S. Constitution, experts said.

"The broad rule that the bakery was looking for here was that it had a license to discriminate," said James Essex, an attorney with the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU).

"They most emphatically did not get that ruling from this court today."

The decision made it clear that even if the court ultimately rules in a future case that bakers or other businesses that sell creative products such as florists and wedding photographers can avoid punishment under anti-discrimination laws, most businesses open to the public would have no such defense.

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Nonetheless, the couple, Mullins and Craig, said they were disappointed.

"No one should have to face the shame, embarrassment and humiliation of being told 'we don't serve your kind here' that we faced," they said on an ACLU conference call with reporters.

Annise Parker, head of the LGBTQ Victory Institute, expressed concern it could "open the floodgates" to discrimination.

"Homophobic forces will purposefully over-interpret the ruling and challenge existing non-discrimination laws by refusing service to LGBTQ people ... denying them dinner at a restaurant, lodging at a hotel, or renting an apartment," Parker said in a statement.

The Human Rights Coalition echoed the view that the ruling "did not change our nation's fundamental civil rights laws."

"Regardless of today's decision, the fact remains that LGBTQ people face alarming levels of discrimination all across the country," the civil rights group said.

Essex added that the issue is "not about cakes."

"It is about access to health care. It's about access to education. It's about employment. It's about people being fired from jobs because their employer has a religious objection to who they are," he said. The ACLU represented the gay couple.

"There is an intentional campaign out there of people who are opposed to LGBT rights but also to equality more broadly," he said. "I'm sure they are out there saying this is a broad victory."

Colorado Christian University President Donald Sweeting called it "an enormous milestone victory" for "religious freedom and freedom of conscience."

"We are grateful that the court upheld these today," he said in a statement.
Richard Gere and his new wife Alejandra Silva as they appear in this weeks Hello! magazine

Actor Richard Gere says he's the "happiest man in the universe" after marrying his third wife Alejandra Silva.

The 'Pretty Woman' star (68) tied the knot with the Spanish activist (35) in an Indian-inspired ceremony at Gere's ranch outside of New York in April.

In an interview with 'Hello!' magazine, Gere said: "I'm married to a beautiful woman who is smart, sensitive, committed to helping people, who's fun, patient, who knows how to forgive, who's a great cook - and who makes the best salads in the world.

"Alejandra meditates, she's a vegetarian, a great mother, has the touch of an angel and she's also Spanish - the land of kings and queens, of Cervantes and Bunuel. You can't get any better than that."

The couple met after the Hollywood star stayed at a hotel Ms Silva's family owns in Positano in Italy in 2014.

Ms Silva is an activist who runs a charity that is trying to eradicate homelessness in Spain.
US President Donald Trump probably has the power to pardon himself if collusion with Russia is proved, according to his lawyer, Rudy Giuliani.

Mr Trump is under pressure from special counsel Robert Mueller's investigation into Russia's role in the 2016 US election.

Mr Giuliani insisted, however, that Mr Trump "has no intention of pardoning himself", but that the US constitution, which gives a president the authority to issue pardons, "doesn't say he can't".

Speaking on ABC's 'This Week' programme, Mr Giuliani added: "It would be an open question. I think it would probably get answered by, gosh, that's what the constitution says."

Mr Mueller is investigating whether Russia meddled in the presidential election and whether Mr Trump's campaign colluded with Moscow. Mr Mueller, whose investigation already has led to criminal charges against Trump campaign aides including former campaign chairman Paul Manafort, is also looking into whether Mr Trump unlawfully sought to obstruct the Russia investigation.

Both Russia and Mr Trump deny collusion, and the president has denied obstructing the probe.

Mr Giuliani noted that the political ramifications of a self-pardon could be severe. He said: "The president of the United States pardoning himself would just be unthinkable. And it would lead to probably an immediate impeachment."

Under the constitution, a president can be impeached by the House of Representatives and then removed from office by the Senate.

The possibility of a self-pardon appeared to be raised in a January 29 letter from Mr Trump's lawyers to Mr Mueller, published by the 'New York Times' on Saturday, arguing that the president could not have obstructed the probe given the powers granted to him by the constitution.

"It remains our position that the president's actions here, by virtue of his position as the chief law enforcement officer, could neither constitutionally nor legally constitute obstruction because that would amount to him obstructing himself, and that he could, if he wished, terminate the inquiry, or even exercise his power to pardon if he so desired," Mr Trump's lawyers wrote.

The letter did not explicitly describe the possibility of Mr Trump pardoning himself.

Whether Mr Trump may pardon himself is a matter of some debate.

A justice department memo dated four days before former president Richard Nixon resigned in 1974 during the Watergate political corruption scandal took the view that "under the fundamental rule that no one may be a judge in his own case, the president cannot pardon himself".

House Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy, a Republican, made clear he did not think Mr Trump or any other president should pardon himself. "I don't think a president should pardon themselves," he told CNN.

Former Manhattan US Attorney Preet Bharara, fired by Mr Trump last year along with numerous other federal prosecutors, said it would be "outrageous" for a sitting president to pardon himself and that doing so would represent "almost self-executing impeachment".

"Whether or not there is a minor legal argument that some law professor somewhere in a legal journal can make that the president can pardon, that's not what the framers could have intended," Mr Bharara said.
US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo has urged China to disclose the details of people killed, detained or missing during the Chinese militarys crackdown in Tiananmen Square 29 years ago.

Mr Pompeo marked Mondays anniversary of the suppression of the Beijing demonstrations on June 4, 1989, saying: We remember the tragic loss of innocent lives.

We join others in the international community in urging the Chinese government to make a full public accounting of those killed, detained or missing.

He cited the Chinese dissident Liu Xiaobo, who wrote in his 2010 Nobel Peace Prize speech, delivered in absentia: The ghosts of June 4 have not yet been laid to rest.

.@SecPompeo: We remember the tragic loss of innocent lives in Tiananmen Square. The protection of human rights is a fundamental duty of all countries & we join w/ int'l community in urging #China to make a full public accounting of the events 29 years ago. https://t.co/uTsdHzlKSE  Department of State (@StateDept) June 3, 2018

Mr Liu last year became only the second Nobel Peace Prize winner to die in police custody.

Mr Pompeos statement also called on Chinese authorities to release those who have been jailed for their efforts to keep alive the memory of the crackdown and to stop harassing the protests participants and their families.

Hundreds of unarmed protesters and onlookers were killed late on June 3 and the early hours of June 4, 1989, after Chinas Communist leaders ordered the military to retake Tiananmen Square from the student-led demonstrators.

The topic remains taboo in mainland China and any form of commemoration, whether public or private, is banned.

In Hong Kong, tens of thousands of people gather every year in Victoria Park on the evening of June 4 to remember the victims in the only large-scale public commemoration held on Chinese soil.
Without explanation, the Trump administration has reversed course on a gaming agreement that paves the way for a new tribally-owned casino in Connecticut.

The Mohegan Tribe had been kept in the dark for 10 months after submitting its Class III gaming compact to the Bureau of Indian Affairs for review. The wait finally ended with the publication of a notice published in the Federal Register on Friday , stating that the agreement is "considered to have been approved."

The document, which was signed by John Tahsuda, the Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary for Indian Affairs at the Department of the Interior , overtly acknowledges that federal law requires action on a gaming compact "within 45 days of its submission." But it does not otherwise explain why that never happened in this situation.

The Department of the Interior has made effective the tribal-state agreement amendments which it was obligated to do months ago," three Democratic members of Connecticut's delegation to Congress pointed out in a press release on Thursday, after the BIA sent the notice to the Federal Register at 8:45am that morning.

The New England Casino Race: Tribal and commercial gaming facilities in Connecticut, Massachusetts and Rhode Island

The notice does not speak to the Mohegan Tribe's partner in the new casino either. The Mashantucket Pequot Tribal Nation also has been kept in the dark since August 2, 2017, when both tribes submitted their agreements to the BIA for review.

Exactly 45 days later, the BIA offered a murky response. Instead of approving -- or even rejecting -- the updated agreements, the agency told the tribes on September 2, 2017, that action was "unnecessary at this time."

The answer left the tribes in an awkward position. Even though they do not need federal approval to open the new casino -- it was authorized under state law -- they promised not to move forward unless their agreements were published in the Federal Register

So the tribes went to court to compel publication of the notices. That's when the Trump administration came up with a curious justification with respect to the Mashantuckets -- due to the way the tribe's original agreement was approved back in the 1990s, the BIA was not required to take action within 45 days , government attorneys argued.

The response was silent with respect to the Mohegans. But documents obtained by POLITICO through a Freedom of Information Act request show that the Trump administration, on September 2, 2017, decided not to approve the tribal agreements after higher-level political officials at Interior reviewed them.

The trust relationship at work? A document obtained by POLITICO could explain why the Trump administration has failed to approve gaming agreements for two tribes, if only anyone were able to read the heavily-redacted memo.

The exact rationale for that move, though, remains unclear. A subsequent document is almost entirely blacked out but the title of the memorandum offers a big clue: it's a justification for the Secretary of the Interior to "not act on a Class III gaming compact submitted for review."

The Office of Inspector General at the Department of the Interior has since launched an investigation into the matter. That might be why the Mohegan Tribe's agreement was finally published, the Democratic lawmakers suggested.

"We are hopeful that this development allows the project to now move forward in the interest of tribes and the state. As the Inspector General continues its investigation, that timing will no doubt become a new focus, the Sen. Richard Blumenthal (D), Sen. Chris Murphy (D) and Rep. Joe Courtney (D) said in their joint statement.

The tribes had been hoping to open their casino before the end of this year. The timing, as well as the location of the project, was a direct response to a non-Indian commercial facility going up just across the border in Massachusetts.

The facility, known as MGM Springfield , is in fact opening ahead of schedule on August 24.

MGM Resorts International, the developer of the project, has been lobbying the Trump administration in hopes of derailing the tribes after failing to stop them in court. The firm also has dangled a rival casino in Connecticut, though state lawmakers have not bought in.

The tribal casino is to be located in the city of East Windsor. MGM Springfield is less than 15 miles away.

We are pleased that the department is taking this step and we expect similar action on the Mashantucket Pequot tribal amendments in the very near future, a spokesperson for the tribal venture said in a statement quoted in the Connecticut media. Our goal has never changed. We want to do right by Connecticut and to preserve the strong relationship between our tribal nations and the state. Todays decision is the latest step in our overall goal to preserve thousands of good paying jobs and millions in state tax revenue.

Read More on the Story: Interior relents on Connecticut casino deal (The Connecticut Mirror May 31, 2018) Interior to publish notice of Mohegan-state gaming amendment (The New London Day May 31, 2018) Feds issue approval for tribes' proposed Connecticut casino (The Associated Press June 1, 2018)

An Opinion: Editorial: Continue working with tribes on gaming issues (The New London Day June 3, 2018)

Federal Register Notice: Indian Gaming; Tribal-State Class III Gaming Compact Taking Effect in the State of Connecticut (June 1, 2018)

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Neal Tapio comments on tribal reservations

By Harold FrazierChairman, Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe

Today I have read the comments from Neal Tapio regarding the treaties and reservations

I am deeply offended by these remarks about our children. The children that struggle everyday with poverty and broken families do not need a desperate politician desperately trying to gain votes by pandering to the bigots and racists to remind them of their predicament.

But let me talk of our children. Before South Dakota was ever a state the Great Sioux Nation had a natural and peaceful way of taking care of our children that never placed them in a position to be taken advantage. I would like Mr. Tapio to know that has changed since the introduction of the boarding schools and social services.

The South Dakota Department of Social Services is the program now responsible for the placement of children. Along with the many state and private institutions given permission to traffic our children these organizations are the real source of this tragedy. Indeed, many times the tribal governments were historically powerless to take actions and when we did it was not a quick process.

The failing of certain programs and pocket lining Mr. Tapio is referring to were actually state endeavors and not tribal. It has been though, a common tactic of the attacker and accomplices to blame the victims for the problem. Anything to take blame from themselves and justify the guilt they refuse to acknowledge. Once that lie is accepted then you are either all in or part of the problem.

Now let me talk of the treaties. It is painfully obvious Mr. Tapio has not read the treaties. Because if he had, he would realize the treaties are not the problem. The problem is the United States has never honored any treaty they have made with us. If those treaties were honored then who knows how prosperous our Tribes would be and healthy our family environments would turn out.

Which leads me to our reservations. We have been forced onto these lands and then systematically swindled out of these lands by illegal acts of Congress. The reservations have incubated our people as we come to terms with the genocidal destruction of our families and culture.

But we have become stronger and smarter. Our forefathers did the best they could for our survival. It is an attitude we still carry with us today.

Reservations are no longer a problem for us, but it appears they are for Mr. Tapio. I propose then Mr. Tapio work to return our treaty territories to the Great Sioux Nation and we would gladly leave the reservations. Of course, Mr. Tapio would know this if he would have visited with myself or any other tribal leader.

Lastly, let me talk of South Dakota. We do not need another oil industry opportunist willing to sell the people of South Dakota out for self-gain. Together Sioux Tribal members and South Dakotans can make a prosperous future where everyone has an equal opportunity for success.

If we stand together and vote to send what is the best of South Dakota to Washington D.C. and not what is the worst of South Dakota.

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Veere Di Wedding actress Swara Bhaskar has been facing the wrath of playing a bold character onscreen from her recently released film. Swara, who often voices her opinions on the issues that matters the nations, has to also bear the brunt of those who are against the opinion.

Like when she took up a stand to condemn the victims of Kathua and Unnao rape cases, she was slammed by many for her selective activism. People were against her to a level that they even uninstalled Amazon app when she was part of the brand's campaign. And now that her film Veere Di Wedding has been released, Swara is again facing backlash.

Also Read: People Delete Amazon App For Its Association With Swara Bhaskar, #BoycottAmazon Trends

A lot of people have been tweeting identical messages tagging her, and she is of course unfazed by the paid trolls.

For some weird reasons, people who cant spell Masturbation are going to watch #VeereDiWedding with their Grandmothers and want answers from @ReallySwara pic.twitter.com/CAB1ab5b4O  Joy (@Joydas) June 2, 2018

Also Read: Swara Bhaskar Shuts Down Trolls Criticising Her Masturbation Scene In Veere Di Wedding With An Epic Reply

As if this was not enough, she is also now receiving flak from our neighbouring country, Pakistan. Among a lot of other trolls, Pakistani actress Urwa Hocane has slammed her for her contradictory opinions about Pakistan.

Pakistan is the country that you @ReallySwara referred to,in 2015, as the Best country you have ever visited and it has only gotten better in the last few years in every aspect along with when it comes to having bigger hearts and welcoming our guests . 1/3  URWA HOCANE (@VJURWA) June 2, 2018

2/3 While youre on this spree of empowering women,i must say youve become a bitter person. And all of this is odd coming from a citizen of a state that bans their own films i.e. #Padmavat so lets not talk about women empowerment.  URWA HOCANE (@VJURWA) June 2, 2018

3/3 This only reflects on u as an ignorant person who is also quiet contradictory in her own statements. Its not a failing state for sure but u come across as a Failing Human Being !!! @ReallySwara

From the citizen of the Phenomenal Pakistan   URWA HOCANE (@VJURWA) June 2, 2018

She posted a video on Twitter having two clips  one from an old interview for a Pakistani channel in which she is seen praising the country and its people and the other one is from a conversation between Veere Di Wedding team and Rajeev Masand for a recent interview in which she calls Pakistan a failing state.

I dont understand why we keep taking pleasure from all the silly things that happen in Pakistan, she says calling out Pakistans non-secularity. She also says that Pakistans vocabulary is way more worse than we do.

This has sparked debate on social media. Some of the Indian fans doesnt support Swara at this. To which, Swara quips, Looks like Indo-Pak peace is on the horizon.

Looks like Indo-Pak peace is on the horizon!  #DushmanKaDushmanDost pic.twitter.com/sq4foSDhFc  Swara Bhasker (@ReallySwara) June 3, 2018

Do you support Swara Bhaskar at this? Tell us in the comments section below.
Haryana government, in a bid to meet the national sanitation mission, has hired a private company for segregation, disposal and generation of electricity and fertilisers at the Bandhawari treatment plant. The plant has been closed for the last four years after nearby villages complained of series of health issues.

Rao Narbir Singh, the environment and forest minister of Haryana, said this will be a first of its kind plant in India with a capacity of waste disposal and generation of electricity with any investment from the state government.

"We have given Bandhwari solid waste treatment plant to a company named Eco Green Energy on lease for 20 years. The company has state-of-the-art technology to dispose of waste generated from Haryana's two major cities- Gurugram and Faridabad. The company will invest its own money and earn profits through the sale of electricity generated from this plant," he said. "Besides, the plant will also have the capacity to produce fertilisers as well."

The main challenge of this plant is to segregate and dispose of present waste to the tune of 25 lakh tonne. Gurugram and Faridabad generate about 1600 tonne of solid waste per day which is dumped here.

pti

Elaborating about the project, Ankit Aggarwal, the CEO of the company told India Today: "The primary objective is to minimise the stink from spreading in the area and therefore we are spraying air purifiers so that there is no health hazard for residents of adjoining villages. The total investment of this project is Rs 500 crore and the plant capacity is to dispose of 2,500 tonnes per day and generate 25-megawatt electricity every 24 hours."
1. Navy Officers Rescue 38 Stranded Indian Citizens From A Cyclone Hit Island In Yemen

The Indian Navy showed immense bravery on one of their latest rescue operations that happened on Sunday. The navy personnel rescued 38 Indians in a swift operation, from Socotra island in Yemen where they were stranded for nearly 10 days after a severe cyclonic storm hit the area. Read More

2. Haryana To Produce Fertilizer & Electricity From 1600 Tons Of Waste From Gurugram And Faridabad

Haryana government, in a bid to meet the national sanitation mission, has hired a private company for segregation, disposal and generation of electricity and fertilisers at the Bandhawari treatment plant. The plant has been closed for the last four years after nearby villages complained of series of health issues. Read More

3. Despite Warnings Of Global Warming, Rich Countries To Spend $100 Billion On Using Fossil Fuels

The world's major industrial democracies spend at least $100 billion each year to prop up oil, gas and coal consumption, despite vows to end fossil fuel subsidies by 2025, a report said on Monday ahead of the G7 summit in Canada. Read More

4. Chinese Farms Breed Cockroaches That Can Eat Kitchen Waste And Treat Stomach Ailments

Three billion cockroaches are eating 15 tonnes of kitchen waste each day to solve the long-time environment issue of discarded food, according to the South China Morning Post, a Hong Kong-based Chinese daily. Read More

5. Pregnant Cow Sentenced To Death For Crossing Bulgarian Border To Enter Serbia

A pregnant cow called Penka has been awarded a death sentence for wandering and crossing over to the European border. Penka had walked away from the herd near the Bulgarian village of Kopilovtsi and crossed the border into Serbia, a non-EU country. Read More

6. Security Agencies Fear That Kashmiri Men Have Joined Militant Groups In Large Number This Year

The agencies feared that highly volatile Shopian and Pulwama district in South Kashmir continued to contribute more youths to the militant groups like ISIS-Kashmir and Ansar Ghazawat-ul-Hind, a group which claims support of the Al-Qaeda. Read More
The unilateral ceasefire during the holy month of Ramzan may have brought a halt to anti-militancy operations in Jammu and Kashmir, but security agencies have warned that it may lead to the rise in recruitment of the local youths into militant groups which has crossed 80 and a rise in infiltration from various sides of the Line Of Control (LoC).

The agencies feared that highly volatile Shopian and Pulwama district in South Kashmir continued to contribute more youths to the militant groups like ISIS-Kashmir and Ansar Ghazawat-ul-Hind, a group which claims support of the Al-Qaeda.

afp

In May alone 20 youths have joined militant groups including Rouf from Ganderbal, a fourth-semester student pursuing a diploma course in government polytechnic, the security official said.

A Unani doctors who went missing in April may have joined militant groups which will take the number of youth joining the groups to 45 by end of April. He is the brother of IPS Inamulhaq Mengnoo.

The officials said another 16 were missing mainly from the twin districts and a probe was on to ascertain whether they have joined any terror group. As the agencies are getting ready for Amarnath Yatra, the holy pilgrimage for Hindus which begins in Junes end, this rise would prove dangerous as it puts the yatra at risk of coming under terror attack.

The security officials may end up as the year seeing most youth joining various militant groups and this number has already gone to 81 youth until May this year.

afp

In 2017, the number was 126 and it was highest since 2010 as between 2010-2013, the number of people joining militant groups was 54, 23, 21 and 6 respectively.

In 2014, the number shot up to 53 and in 2015, it further went up 66 touching another high in 2016 to 88.
Global warming may be the biggest threat to planet earth and humans seem to be taking it rather lightly. This is seen with the decisions being made by the richest countries in the world on their expenditure on fossil fuels.

The world's major industrial democracies spend at least $100 billion each year to prop up oil, gas and coal consumption, despite vows to end fossil fuel subsidies by 2025, a report said on Monday ahead of the G7 summit in Canada.

reuters

Britain, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan and the United States - known as the Group of Seven (G7) - pledged in 2016 to phase out their support for fossil fuels by 2025. But a study led by Britain's Overseas Development Insitute (ODI) found they spent at least $100 billion a year to support fossil fuels at home and abroad in 2015 and 2016, reported Reuters.

Accountability in question

"Governments often say they have no public resources to support the clean energy transition," the study's lead author Shelagh Whitley told the Thomson Reuters Foundation. "What we're trying to do is highlight that those resources are there (but) it is being used inefficiently.

"The G7 has pledged to phase out fossil fuel subsidies, but they don't have any systems in terms of accountability to meet the pledges - they don't have roadmaps or plans," added Whitley, head of the ODI's climate division.

reuters

Researchers scrutinised and scored each country against indicators such as transparency, pledges and commitments, as well as their progress towards ending the use, support and production of fossil fuels. Researchers scrutinised and scored each country against indicators such as transparency, pledges and commitments

France was ranked the highest overall, scoring 63 out of 100 points, followed by Germany (62), Canada (54) and the UK (47), the report said. The United States scored lowest with 42 out of 100 points due to its support for fossil fuel production and its withdrawal from a 2015 global pact to fight climate change.

Moving away from pollution

President Donald Trump announced a year ago he was ditching the deal agreed upon by nearly 200 countries over opposition from businesses and U.S. allies. The 2015 Paris agreement committed nations to curbing greenhouse emissions and keeping the global hike in temperatures "well below" 2 degrees Celsius (3.6 Fahrenheit) above pre-industrial times.



reuters

Britain scored the lowest on transparency for denying that its government provided fossil fuel subsidies, even though it supported tax breaks for North Sea oil and gas exploration, the report said.

The study, which was co-authored by Oil Change International, the International Institute for Sustainable Development and the Natural Resources Defense Council, urged G7 governments to set concrete plans to end fossil fuel subsidies by 2025 as pledged. "What should be a low-hanging fruit in terms of moving public resources away from fossil fuels is not happening, or where it is happening, it's not happening fast enough," said the ODI's Whitley.
Crossing borders without required documents can be considered a serious offence - for humans, at least. While humans can take care of themselves and not stray into unknown areas without knowledge, animals happen to be an exception to this. Would animals be punished too if they strayed beyond borders?

A pregnant cow called Penka has been awarded a death sentence for wandering and crossing over to the European border. Penka had walked away from the herd near the Bulgarian village of Kopilovtsi and crossed the border into Serbia, a non-EU country.

representational / reuters

Penka is due to give birth in about three weeks. The bovine was returned to its owner, Ivan Haralampiev, in a perfectly healthy condition. However, the Bulgarian officers emphasised on the strict EU rules and said that Penka must be put down, a report by The Independent revealed. According to European Commission guidelines, cows must be presented at border checkpoints with documents verifying they are healthy.

representational / reuters

The guidelines say, "The certification must accompany the animals en route to the EU and when they are presented for entry into the EU at an approved EU Border Inspection Post. However, considering Penka's case, an online petition was started demanding the European Parliament to make an exception.

"We believe that Penka's case reflects a lack of compassion on the part of EU officialdom for everyday people, such as Penka's owner, who is absolutely distraught," the petition said.
GBPJPY Weekly Chart Bull Flag Near Completion Tradable Patterns - 1 hour ago The GBPJPY is trying to form its 6th straight green daily candle, but could begin consolidating today as it bumps up against ascending wedge resistance (on the daily chart). Significantly, the GBPJPY... ^GBPJPY : 155.545 (+0.57%)

From cars to gasoline, surging prices match a 13-year high AP - Wed Oct 13, 6:28PM CDT WASHINGTON (AP)  Another jump in consumer prices in September sent inflation up 5.4% from where it was a year ago, matching the largest increase since 2008 as tangled global supply lines continue to... $SPX : 4,363.80 (+0.30%) $DOWI : 34,377.81 (unch) $IUXX : 14,774.60 (+0.77%)

Facebook expands harassment policy to protect public figures AP - Wed Oct 13, 6:19PM CDT Facebook will expand its policies on harassment to remove more harmful content, the company said Wednesday in its latest change following congressional testimony from a whistleblower who faulted the social... $SPX : 4,363.80 (+0.30%) $DOWI : 34,377.81 (unch) $IUXX : 14,774.60 (+0.77%)

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Soy Market Closes Midweek Mixed Barchart - Wed Oct 13, 4:56PM CDT Bean prices ended the Wednesday session off the lows but still 3 to 4 1/2 cents lower for the day. New crop soybean futures closed 5 1/4 to 6 cents lower. The October soy products roll off the board tomorrow.... CLX21 : 81.24 (+0.99%) ZSX21 : 1198-6 (+0.29%) ZSPAUS.CM : 11.5280 (-0.20%) ZSF22 : 1209-4 (+0.29%) ZSX21 : 1198-6 (+0.29%)

Shootin' the Bull Swift Trading Company - Wed Oct 13, 4:39PM CDT No, today's down move didn't sway my analysis a bit.
Exclusive Features

In a shifting legal and business landscape, theres never been a better time for brokers to check that their transport clients policies remain fit for purpose, according to David Brando and Alexander Sawtell of NTI
The divestment is expected to complete by the end of 2018.

Legal & General is proud to have been a founding member of IndiaFirst Life and to have helped steer the company to its current position in the market, aided by the strong support of our joint venture partners, Bank of Baroda and Andhra Bank, said group commercial director Simon Burke. Legal & General has refocused its insurance business in recent years on the UK and the US and as a consequence we have disposed of a number of operations, including our businesses in the Netherlands, Ireland, France, Egypt, and the Gulf.

We are now following this strategy in relation to our stake in IndiaFirst Life. We are delighted to have reached an agreement in principle with Warburg Pincus, subject to regulatory approvals.

For IndiaFirst Life managing director and chief executive R.M. Vishakha, Legal & General has been an extremely supportive partner and an integral part of the Mumbai-headquartered firms growth journey.

As we enter a new phase of growth, we welcome Warburg Pincus as a shareholder to support our drive towards value creation, said the executive, who has held his positions since April 2015. We are truly fortunate that both our shareholding banks are confident and supportive of our plans. We look forward to continued strong growth under the combined guidance of our shareholders."

Founded in 2009, IndiaFirst Life is a joint venture between Legal & General (26% stake), Bank of Baroda (44%), and Andhra Bank (30%). With over INR12,622 crore (about 1.4 billion) of assets under management as of the end of March 2018, it is present in more than a thousand cities across India offering health, protection, retirement, savings, and wealth management products.

IndiaFirst Life has demonstrated remarkable performance over the last few years, and we are excited to be partnering with Bank of Baroda and Andhra Bank to support the continued growth of the company and to help create value for all stakeholders, said Mumbai-based Narendra Ostawal, managing director at Warburg Pincus. We look forward to backing R.M. Vishakha and the management team of IndiaFirst Life, and supporting them to create one of Indias leading life insurance companies.

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An Alabama farmer has been accused of participating in a wide-ranging crop insurance scam, and federal authorities are seeking nearly $1 million in restitution if he is convicted.

Prosecutors said that Dexter Day Gilbert, of Wiregrass, Ala., received funds from the federal Noninsured Crop Disaster Assistance Program to which he wasnt legally entitled, according to a report by The Dothan Eagle.
The DOI first became involved in January of 2014, when it received a tip through its consumer hotline that a string of fires between December 2011 and September 2013 were connected. The fires had burned homes, businesses and warehouses. The tipster who called in with the connection gave the exact address where the next fire would occur, according to the DOI. The department launched a joint investigation with the San Jose Fire Department and the district attorneys offices for Santa Clara and San Joaquin counties. That investigation revealed that two fires had occurred at a business owned by the Chens. Two of their homes had also burned.

The residential fires were all reported as having started when chicken was left unattended on the stove.

The Chens allegedly orchestrated the entire situation to make it appear as though the fire was the result of a careless cooking incident and then planted many of the same smoke damaged items, which they had already claimed from other alleged fires in homes, warehouses and businesses, the DOI said in a news release.

Tyler Chen, along with business associate Ha Nguyen, also rented a number of warehouses for an import-export business they owned. Investigators alleged that Tyler Chen and Nguyen used smoke-damaged items to claim fire damage in their warehouses.

The Chens also allegedly recruited a family member, a co-worker and another local business owner to participate in the scheme.
The customer experience of people who were insured and who are insured with traditional policies is extremely negative. Many people who submitted a claim still did not get paid. It means that you either live without a roof, without TVs working, you may not have money to buy generators, or you just leave the island, said Renat Khasanshyn, co-founder of Etherisc, a decentralized insurance platform for insurance products, who called those experiences completely unacceptable.

The combination of dissatisfaction with current offerings and a relatively high GDP, which leaves the potential for high losses, made the island an ideal place to launch HurricaneGuard, an insurance policy that releases automatic claims if wind speeds are recorded within 30 miles of the insureds home or business. The customer obtains the product through the official website or other distribution channels, provides the address for the property, and pays the premium. If a hurricane strikes the region and the government reports wind speeds associated with a Category 3 hurricane or higher, insureds will receive a payout thats sent right to their bank account within 72 hours.

HurricaneGuard is a supplementary insurance with a fixed benefit policy that does not cover property loss, and relies on actuarial proof that certain wind speeds correlate highly to specific amounts of losses.

Based on this high correlation, the payouts are made where its almost certain that the loss has occurred and [the insureds] have to certify that, yes, indeed they have a loss, explained Khasanshyn. Following the launch in Puerto Rico, we plan to make this product available in the regions which have the most interest from distribution partners that are willing to bundle the product with their customer experience.

As blockchain-based insurance solutions continue to enter the market, the reaction to HurricaneGuard has so far been enthusiastic  even among regulators in Puerto Rico, who are welcoming the product with a lot of interest.

Existing carriers do not offer such products, said Khasanshyn. The regulators themselves and their relatives, theyve been affected too, theyre insureds as well. They also didnt get paid on policies so everyone is in the same boat.



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Rejecting the hackers offer, Ticketfly did not pay the ransom. In retaliation, the hacker posted the user data it had stolen from the site. MarketWatch reported that while Ticketfly would not say how many customer accounts were breached, an analysis through data breach-tracking website haveibeenpwned.com said that over 26 million accounts were possibly affected by the attack.

The ticketing company serves customers in both the US and Canada.

As a security measure, Ticketfly shut down most of its website following the leak.

Due to a recent cyber incident, Ticketfly.com is offline, the company confirmed in a statement on its site. Weve engaged leading third-party forensic and cybersecurity experts to investigate and help us address the issue, and have done this with your security top of mind.

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A member of holding company Associated Banc-Corp has closed its acquisition of an independent insurance agency based in Minneapolis.

The member, Associated Benefits and Risk Consulting (ABRC), has acquired Anderson Insurance & Investment Agency; terms of the transaction were not disclosed.

Following the transaction, Anderson will be part of ABRC  a multi-line insurance and consulting firm with 400 employees that serves the Midwest. ABRC believes that the deal will solidify its presence among the USs top 45 insurance brokerage firms. The Anderson team will gain access to Associateds banking and financial services, further helping its clientele.

Key executives on the Anderson team will continue in leadership roles. They will work with ABRC senior leadership to oversee the integration and expansion of the business.

These two strong teams will together provide customers with even more options and resources in financial and risk management services to ensure their businesses are as strong and successful as possible, said ABRC CEO Dean Hildebrandt.

Founded in 1927, Anderson adds a suite of complementary services and significant expertise in workers compensation and executive risk management services, a release said.

In February, ABRC had announced its plans to acquire Diversified Insurance Solutions in Wisconsin.

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But in true Darwinian fashion, success in todays evolving marketplace will ultimately come down to survival of the fittest. There are a few deeply engrained pain points in the intermediary channel that need to be addressed in order for independent agents to keep their place at the heart of the industry.

In May, Vertafore hosted over 2,000 insurance professionals at its annual user conference, Accelerate, powered by NetVU, where the insurance solutions provider unveiled a series of software updates and product innovations it hopes will strengthen the independent agent channel, cut out major pain points and inefficiencies, and empower agencies to do more with the resources they have.

Were releasing a number of upgrades to our flagship agency management system AMS360, which has over 51,000 users in the US today. First up, were launching a cloud-based modular application that integrates data directly from the AMS into commercial property & casualty proposals. It converts the proposal process (which is often highly manual, littered with errors, and subject to errors & omissions exposures) from days and weeks worth of work to just hours. Its AMS agnostic and will be released for Sagitta later in the year, Ray told Insurance Business.

A second feature were excited to launch this summer as part of our AMS360 upgrade is automated eDocs processing. Document processing and filing is a huge driver of inefficiency for independent agencies. Our product TransactNOW will track eDocs as they arrive, identify what they pertain to and which policy they relate to, and then route the eDoc to the appropriate folder in the AMS with an actionable alert to notify relevant parties. Were really excited about this because of the efficiency it will generate.

Efficiency, efficiency, efficiency  thats where independent agents need to up their game, according to Ray. To boost productivity, Vertafore recently added Business Process Analytics to WorkSmart, its workflow solution for agencies, and ImageRight, a similar solution for carriers. Business Process Analytics gives users the ability to visualize and analyze workflow trends, enabling agencies to better manage capacity, cost and forward planning.

At the Accelerate conference, the firm also revealed the growth and progress of its recently acquired insurance intelligence solution RiskMatch, which provides independent agents with insights about customers, the market, and the entire insurance distribution channel. Vertafore has almost completed the exercise of integrating all of its AMS360 online data into the RiskMatch solution, meaning any of the 6,000 agencies using AMS360 can quickly tap into RiskMatch and make the most of the solutions analytic capabilities.

Think of it as a Match.com for agencies and carriers, said Ray. Independent agencies can use RiskMatch to write more policies by cross-selling, because it provides benchmark data showing coverage that similar clients and prospects are buying. It also shows the risk appetite of the carriers, so it leads to a better matching of agents and carriers.

Were really excited about all of these upgrades. At Vertafore, were dedicated to the independent agency channel and were providing technology that can enable agencies to cut out inefficiencies and thrive in todays marketplace.

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Stroock has hired Huhnsik Chung as a partner in the firms insurance and reinsurance practice within its New York office.

He arrives to the firm from Baker McKenzie, where he chaired the North America Insurance practice. Joining Chung is an associate, Nicholas Secara, also from Baker McKenzie.

Secara represents insurers and reinsurers in arbitrations and judicial proceedings as well as commercial transactions. He co-founded the Insurance Federation of New York Inc., Emerging Leaders. He has also served as a special assistant corporation counsel for the Law Department of the City of New York.

Chung represents insurance industry clients in disputes in domestic and international arbitrations and judicial proceedings. He has served as lead counsel in more than 70 such actions in the U.S. and abroad.

He also provides regulatory, licensing and structuring advice on matters such as insurtech start-ups, captives, mergers and acquisitions, insurance-linked securities, wrap-up insurance and new product development. He handles the insurance component of mergers and acquisitions and regulatory matters, and he is regularly retained to resolve business of insurance disputes.

In the fintech space, Chung has also been at the forefront of blockchain development and deployment in his representation of accelerators, exchanges and sponsors of initial coin offerings in offshore jurisdictions. Additionally, Chung maintains close ties with South Korean-focused companies and assists Korean clients in business and insurance matters globally.

At Stroock, Chung joins an insurance litigation team representing national and multinational insurers and reinsurers in a range of matters, including high-exposure reinsurance matters, complex coverage and bad faith disputes and consumer class actions. Stroocks reinsurance representations span areas such as life reinsurance, natural catastrophes, asbestos and environmental, aviation, financial guarantee, workers compensation, broker negligence and MGA disputes. The teams insurance coverage expertise include CGL, excess/umbrella, professional liability, workers compensation, D&O and commercial property lines, among others.

Stroock provides strategic transactional, regulatory and litigation advice to advance the business objectives of financial institutions, multinational corporations and entrepreneurial businesses in the U.S. and globally. The firm has offices in New York, Los Angeles, Miami and Washington, D.C.

Source: Stroock

Topics Mergers Legislation New York Reinsurance
Delawares House Substitute 1 for House Bill 80 (HS 1 for HB 80), signed into law on August 1, 2017, went into effect on May 1 of this year.

As a result of the legislation, Delaware consumers with policies through one insurer have seen an average decrease of $252, according to a press release issued by the Delaware Department of Insurance. The average decrease in rates for those 75-years-old and older across all Delaware companies has been $117.32, the release added.

In addition to its main goal of limiting the use of credit information in rating personal insurance, HS 1 for HB 80 prohibits insurance companies from increasing rates on current customers based solely on turning 75-years-old and older or for having a change in marital status due to the death of a spouse.

For currently insured 74-year-olds, this means that barring no other changes in rating factors, insurance rates will no longer increase because of advancing age.

This legislation was my highest priority for the last legislative session, said Delaware Insurance Commissioner Trinidad Navarro in the press release. With the help of our General Assembly, we were able to take significant steps to level the playing field between Delawares insurance consumers and the insurance industry.

Source: Delaware Department of Insurance

Topics Trends Auto Pricing Trends
A jury has awarded $31 million to an Iraq War veteran and his wife after a swimming accident at the University of Rhode Island left him paralyzed from the chest down.

The Providence Journal reports a Superior Court jury ruled in favor of Brett and Stacie Smith in a lawsuit against URI.

Brett Smith was injured in 2014 when he struck his head on a submerged rock in a pond at URIs Alton Jones campus. He was there to attend a wedding and was among other guests swimming in the pond.

His lawyer says staff members indicated swimming was allowed when guests had asked, even though it is prohibited. The lawsuit accused URI of negligence.

The Journal says a URI representative did not immediately respond to an email.

Information from: The Providence Journal

Copyright 2021 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
Monica Ningen has been appointed president and chief executive officer of Swiss Re Canada and English Caribbean. Ningen succeeds Veronica Scotti, who has been named chairperson for Global Partnerships.

Ningen has 20 years of experience in the re/insurance industry. She began her career at reinsurance broker E.W. Blanch. She joined Swiss Re in 2006 when Swiss Re acquired GE Insurance Solutions. Since that time, she has held several leadership roles in Property Underwriting, most recently as head of Property Underwriting U.S. and Canada.

Ningen will be based in Toronto.

Scotti joined Swiss Re in 1999 as part of the Fox Pitt Kelton acquisition. Prior to her role in Canada, she held several leadership positions in Client Markets. She will relocate to Zurich for her new role.

Topics Canada Swiss Re
Berkshire Hathaway Specialty Insurance (BHSI) has appointed Mark Lingafelter as president, BHSI, Australasia. He assumes responsibility for the BHSI Australasia region from Chris Colahan, who is moving into the role of president of the specialty insurance operation in the UK & Europe.

Lingafelter, who will be based in BHSIs Sydney office, was most recently chief underwriting officer, Asia Pacific for QBE Insurance. Before that he spent more than 11 years as managing director at Chubb of Australia.

Colahan joined BHSI in February 2015, previously serving as the chief executive officer of Asia and Hong Kong, for the RSA Insurance Group. He will be based in the London office.

BHSI provides commercial property, casualty, healthcare, executive and professional lines, and marine insurance.

Topics Europe Berkshire Hathaway
A fraudster who masqueraded as the son of a victim of the Grenfell Tower fire has been sentenced to 18 months in prison.

Mohammad Gamoota, 31, claimed his father died in the London blaze so he could be entitled to some 7,000 ($9,350) pounds in aid meant for fire survivors.

Prosecutors say Gamoota researched news articles about the 72 real victims of the fire to make his claims for cash and a hotel stay sound more convincing.

Kate Mulholland, from the Crown Prosecution Service, says when suspicions were aroused, Gamoota disappeared, but authorities tracked him down.

On Friday, Gamoota pleaded guilty to two counts of fraud.

Judge Robin Johnson told him: Looking at your case I am satisfied that any right-minded person would look on your behavior with utter revulsion.

Copyright 2021 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Topics Fraud
A central Ohio school district has agreed to pay nearly a half-million dollars to settle lawsuits filed by families of students who were sexually abused by a teacher.

The Columbus Dispatch reports that the Olentangy Local School District is paying $235,000 to settle one suit and $125,000 to settle another. A third agreement for $130,000 is pending in Delaware County Probate Court because it involves a girl who is still a minor.

Matthew Rausenberg was accused of groping and assaulting at least nine girls at Arrowhead Elementary over the years. He had taught in the district for 14 years.

He is serving a prison sentence of more than 100 years after being convicted in 2016 on multiple counts of gross sexual imposition, kidnapping and pandering sexually oriented materials.

Copyright 2021 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Topics Lawsuits Abuse Molestation Education Ohio
The Illinois General Assembly has passed a bill that requires the pre-approval of workers compensation insurance rates by the Illinois Department of Insurance.

The legislation also permits sensible corporate restructuring for insurers and reinsurers, according to the American Insurance Association. But, according to AIAs Steve Schneider, vice president for state affairs, Midwest region, the group is disappointed that policymakers have chosen to mix poorly conceived government-driven rate controls with reasonable, sensible reforms. Illinois already has the most competitive marketplace for workers compensation insurance in the nation  reversing course and putting the state in charge of setting rates for workers compensation insurance does nothing to fix the true cost drivers of Illinois workers compensation system.

Under the bill, rate filings must be made at least 30 days before they are implemented. Additionally, if a carrier intends to deviate from the filing of a licensed rating organization of which it is a member, the insurer will be required to justify the deviation, the bill states.

Filings must be approved by the director of insurance. It is deemed to be legal and effective if not disapproved by the director within 30 days of the rate filing.

The bill is SB 1737; House Amendment 1 contains the sections relevant to workers compensation rate filing.

Topics Workers' Compensation Illinois
An anonymous bidder has agreed to pay $3,300,100 at auction to have a private lunch with Warren Buffett, the billionaire chairman of Berkshire Hathaway Inc .

The winning bid came near the end of a five-day online auction on eBay to benefit the Glide Foundation, a San Francisco charity that serves people who are poor, homeless or battling substance abuse. It was the third highest price in the 19 years Buffett has offered lunch, near the record $3,456,789 bid in both the 2012 and 2016 auctions. This years auction drew 136 bids from just six bidders before ending on Friday night.

The auction helps cover Glides $20 million annual budget, which goes toward providing roughly 750,000 free meals, shelter, HIV and Hepatitis C tests, job training, and childrens day care and after-school programs.

Glide really takes people who have hit rock bottom and helps bring them back, Buffett said in a statement. Buffett, 87, has raised $29.6 million for Glide through the 19 auctions. His first wife Susan, who died in 2004, introduced him to Glide after volunteering there.

The Reverend Cecil Williams, 88, Glides charismatic co-founder, remains a minister at its affiliated church. The $3.3 million is an extraordinary gift, not just the money but the fact that Warren Buffett lends his name and reputation and shines a light on the work Glide does, Glides president, Karen Hanrahan, said by phone. Demand for our services is skyrocketing, in this city of innovation and wealth.

The winning bidder and up to seven friends can dine with Buffett at the Smith & Wollensky steak house in Manhattan. Buffett will discuss anything apart from what he might invest in next.

Ted Weschler, a hedge fund manager, paid a combined $5.25 million to win the 2010 and 2011 auctions, and later joined Berkshire as one of Buffetts investment managers.

Berkshire has more than 90 businesses in the insurance, energy, food and retail, industrial, railroad, real estate and other sectors, and also invests in companies such as Apple Inc., Wells Fargo & Co. and Coca-Cola Co.

According to Glide, these bidders have won its auctions:

2000: Pete Budlong, $25,000

2001: Jim Halperin and Scott Tilson, $20,000

2002: Jim Halperin and Scott Tilson, $25,000

2003: David Einhorn, Greenlight Capital, $250,100

2004: Jason Choo, Singapore, $202,100

2005: Anonymous, $351,100

2006: Yongping Duan, California, $620,100

2007: Mohnish Pabrai, Guy Spier, Harina Kapoor, $650,100

2008: Zhao Danyang, Pure Heart Asset Management, China, $2,110,100

2009: Courtenay Wolfe, Salida Capital, Canada, $1,680,300

2010: Ted Weschler, $2,626,311

2011: Ted Weschler, $2,626,411

2012: Anonymous, $3,456,789

2013: Anonymous, $1,000,100

2014: Andy Chua, Singapore, $2,166,766

2015: Zhu Ye, Dalian Zeus Entertainment Co, China, $2,345,678 2016: Anonymous, $3,456,789

2017: Anonymous, $2,679,001 2018: Anonymous, $3,300,100

(Reporting by Jonathan Stempel in New York Editing by Paul Simao)
The U.S. Supreme Court threw out a finding that a Colorado baker illegally discriminated when he refused to make a cake to celebrate a same-sex wedding.

The narrow ruling didnt reach the broad free-speech and religious-rights issues that had prompted the justices to take up the case. A seven-justice majority said the Colorado Civil Rights Commission finding in the bakers case was tainted by animus toward religion.

Writing for the court, Justice Anthony Kennedy pointed to one commissioners comments that religion had been used to justify slavery and the Holocaust and that invoking religion to hurt others is despicable.

The commissions hostility was inconsistent with the First Amendments guarantee that our laws be applied in a manner that is neutral toward religion, Kennedy wrote.

Justices Ruth Bader Ginsburg and Sonia Sotomayor dissented.

Two other members of the courts liberal wing, Stephen Breyer and Elena Kagan, joined the majority while writing separately to say they read courts opinion as a limited one.

The Civil Rights Commission had required bakery owner Jack Phillips to either make cakes for gay weddings or stop making custom wedding cakes at all.

The dispute began in 2012, before gay marriage was legal in Colorado, when David Mullins and Charlie Craig visited Phillipss suburban Denver bakery, Masterpiece Cakeshop. The two men wanted a cake for a reception they planned to hold in Colorado after they married in Massachusetts.

Phillips told the couple he didnt make cakes for same-sex weddings, prompting them to file a civil rights complaint. State officials joined the case against Phillips, and a Colorado appeals court ruled against the bakery.

The case is Masterpiece Cakeshop v. Colorado Civil Rights Commission, 16-111.

Copyright 2021 Bloomberg.

Topics Colorado
Insurers are limiting how much coverage energy companies can buy to protect themselves against a major attack by hackers, potentially leaving investors, customers and taxpayers on the hook for sizable losses.

Brit Insurance, a syndicate that works with Lloyds of London, limits cybersecurity policies to around $300 million, according to underwriter James Bright. While companies can piece together policies from different insurers to boost that limit, the costs can be prohibitive, often requiring third-party assessments of security that can need upgrading.

The result is an industry largely unprepared for a hacker-triggered catastrophe, according to cybersecurity experts. The Exxon Valdez oil spill cleanup, for instance, cost $7 billion. Those kind of numbers have left insurers anxious over the lack of quantifiable information in an expanding market, and concerned the energy industrys protections may not be adequate.

Energy companies tend to have a superman fallacy, said Dante Disparte, the head of Risk Cooperative, a Washington-based brokerage. They dont believe bad things will happen to them, or they believe the government will help them get back on the field.

Its a belief thats drawing concern from the U.S. government, according to Disparte, who said he met with Treasury Department staff in mid-May. The government, along with industry groups and companies, are in the early stages of discussing the need for a cyber version of the Federal Deposit Insurance Corp., with energy as an initial target, he said. The Treasury Department wouldnt immediately comment.

Taxpayer Protection

The goal, according to Disparte: Keep taxpayers from saddling the bill for potential problems. The energy sector is too big to fail, too big to hide and no single energy company is able to fund the risk on their own, he said.

In the meantime, cyber insurance is one of the fastest growing segments of the more than $5 trillion global insurance market. The market for standalone cyber plans among all industries was about $1.75 billion to $2 billion in 2017, and the U.S. accounted for 90 percent of that, said Nolan Wilson, the Miami-based leader of the energy practice at Aon Plc, an industry consultant.

By the end of 2018, the global market could grow to $5 billion, including tack-ons to property and liability insurance, according to Jurgen Reinhart, chief underwriter for cyber at Munich RE, an insurance group based in Germany. So far, though, the energy industry makes up just a sliver of the market, less than 3 percent, he said.

Predicting Weather

We have very sophisticated insurance products for things like hurricanes, tornadoes, earthquakes and even terrorism, said Brian Walker, a principal at The CAP Group in Dallas, a risk advisory firm. You can predict those. But you have a very difficult time predicting what is going to happen in cyber.

Insurers are struggling with how to bind their risk within the energy world, he said. The geographic scope and the size of the impact are not estimable.

How big can the problem be? Energy companies have enormous supply chain relationships, said Disparte, so an attack anywhere along the line could have far-reaching implications.

A cyber-specific policy for a major energy provider or pipeline might cover everything from replacing software and equipment in the event of an explosion, to indemnifying companies against lawsuits resulting from environmental damage, or the loss of power to customers. In some cases, generating facilities can service millions of customers across broad communities.

Operations Halted

Earlier this year, Schneider Electric SE reported that a hack of its Tricon software resulted in at least one customer halting a plants operations. While no cost was given for that shutdown, A.P. Moller-Maersk A/S, the container ship giant, last year reported a loss of roughly $300 million related to a cyberattack on its operation.

In such a scenario, just getting a skilled cybersecurity crew out to a single site can cost $10,000 in the U.S., according to Duncan Greatwood, chief executive officer of Xage Security, which works with industrial operations based in Palo Alto, California. Multiplying that across numerous systems using, or connected through, the same or similar software can quickly add up.

The development of cyber insurance for the energy industry will be critical because insurers help drive safety code and building codes, according to Disparte. The same best practice thinking is needed for the technology used by energy providers, he said.

All Risks

But getting coverage is complicated. Many energy companies assume theyre covered by their All Risks policies, but theres either fine print cutting out cyber attacks or they have never been tested for this new, fast-evolving threat, said Brit Insurances Bright.

Its a gray area, he said, adding that Lloyds has been trying to educate brokers and customers about the need for a plan that specifically includes cyber coverage.

Theres no question the problem is growing. An analysis released in March by the FBI and Homeland Security said that hackers are conducting a broad assault on the U.S. electric grid, water processing plants, air transportation facilities and other targets in rolling attacks on some of the countrys most sensitive infrastructure.

Cyberattacks are literally happening hundreds of thousands of times a day, U.S. Energy Secretary Rick Perry told lawmakers during a March hearing.

March Attacks

In late March, at least half a dozen pipeline operators shut down their third-party electronic communications due to a cyberattack. Those actions became known because they affected traders and customers. The problem for insurers is that energy companies arent required by law to disclose attacks, and often dont, seeking to avoid becoming bigger targets, and drawing public or investor scrutiny.

Three major oil and gas pipelines, for instance, were hit by so-called ransomware this year that were never publicly reported. These attacks sought payments based on their threats to open pipes or overpressure systems to explode, according to Xages Greatwood.

Fracking Fluid

In the Permian, an oil driller recently found that a vendors employee hacked into a system to take precious fracking fluid out of a tank to resell it on the side. Its unclear how long the theft was going on, but its not unusual for such attacks to be undetected for months, said Maureen Krezmien, director of sales for oil and gas industry solutions at GS Labs LLC in Dallas.

Its unclear how the two threats were countered. The cybersecurity firms involved wouldnt disclose more details on the incidents for confidentiality reasons. Raushaunah Muhammad, a spokesperson for the Federal Bureau of Investigation, declined to comment and Homeland Security didnt respond to requests seeking comment.

While these specific cases appeared to be motivated by profit, and didnt result in reportable pipeline accidents, they point to an expanding  and potentially costly  assault on infrastructure largely responsible for keeping the U.S. economy running.

With oil prices on the rise this year, producers are getting a little bit better cash flow and they are opening up their wallets during discussions on protecting themselves, their employees and infrastructure from cyber threats, according to GS Labs Krezmien. But they still remain slower to adopt cyber coverage compared to other industries, she said.

I dont like to use fear as a sales driver, Krezmien said. But this is the real Y2K. At this point of my career Im looking at this and saying its not my favorite approach but its at a point where its necessary.

Copyright 2021 Bloomberg.

Topics Cyber USA Energy Oil Gas
In an empty lot where Vincent Shields Houston home once stood, he points out properties whose owners were driven out after Hurricane Harvey inundated the region last summer.

On this street theres probably less than 30 percent occupancy, said Shields, who tore down his house after the city ruled damage exceeded half its value and it would have to be elevated before being repaired. He and his wife moved into an apartment and began planning a new, higher home at the same location.

It has been roughly nine months since Hurricane Harvey dumped trillions of gallons of water on the U.S. Gulf Coast, killing 68 people and causing an estimated $125 billion in property damage.

Shields and some 25,000 Texas households are still displaced, according to the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). Nearly 80,000 homes across Texas had 18 inches of floodwater or more during Harvey.

In Houston, data on people still out of their homes and awaiting repairs are not available from the city. But U.S. Postal Service figures show 11,500 Houston homes became vacant between June 2017 and February 2018.

With the 2018 hurricane season beginning June 1, around 400 Houston households are still living in hotel rooms funded by FEMA, according to the agencys latest data. Many others remain in temporary housing uncertain about their return home.

According to interviews with residents and neighborhood groups, many owners of flooded homes are still enmeshed in the emotionally fraught and expensive process of deciding whether to repair or elevate, or put their property up for sale.

Shields said the months since Harvey have been tough and fears that another major storm before the region fully recovers would be devastating.

I can survive this once  health, wealth, physically  but I cant do it again, he said.

After three floods since 2014, local officials have added home-building restrictions and rules on rebuilding in flood-prone areas, giving owners of damaged homes costly new factors to consider.

Houston officials this year passed an ordinance requiring certain dwellings to be raised to the 500-year floodplain level plus two feet. Previously, only new homes had to start one foot above the 100-year level.

Jacked Up Homes

The requirements have forced some owners to jack up existing homes to avoid the next flood.

Houston homes, typically built on slab foundations, can be mechanically raised for an average cost of $100,000 to $300,000 in a months-long project, said Wayne Fairley, a managing director at house elevating company Planet Three Elevation.

Fairley has tripled his workforce since Harvey to meet growing demand, he said. Subcontractors who once handled plumbing and electrical projects for the company now work for him full time.

There were a lot of contracts signed post-Harvey, said Fairley. About 5 to 10 percent of his clients are elevating their homes preemptively, and a large portion of his work is in Houstons Meyerland neighborhood, which was hit by three major floods in recent years.

Nancy Wilson and her husband decided to tear down and build anew rather than spend the estimated $250,000 to raise and then remodel their 1950s home. The new house will be six feet higher than the old one, which got two feet of water during Harvey.

Im almost positive it will flood again, said Wilson, a therapist, who hopes to move back by early next year. In the interim, the family is living a few miles away in a rental property.

Honestly, I wish we were rebuilding higher, said Wilson. Six feet might not be high enough.

Still in Limbo

Gwen McGlory moved to west Houstons Cinco Ranch neighborhood a decade ago for its good schools and gated subdivisions. Her house flooded after the city released water from a nearby reservoir to relieve stress on a dam, forcing her to find temporary housing.

Now, most mornings she drops her 14-year-old daughter off long before school has opened and picks her up hours after it has closed because the school system lacks funding to provide transportation from her current location.

Its concerning when Im dropping her off at a dark school, McGlory said, who is worried the transportation issues will continue into the next school year.

McGlory says she received $33,000 from FEMA after Harvey. Of that, $17,000 was earmarked for home repairs, despite bids from contractors pegging her damages closer to $70,000. The Red Cross worker recently was accepted to a rebuild and repair program run by a community group.

Im so overwhelmed. I am working and a single parent with two kids. Ive never rebuilt a house before, said McGlory, who had no flood insurance because her house was not in a floodplain.

While McGlory considered selling her property, an investor shortly after the storm offered $100,000 less than what she had paid for it.

Historically, home values in hard-hit areas can fall between 7 and 20 percent immediately after a flood, said Ed Wolff, president of real estate firm Beth Wolff Realtors and governmental affairs chair for the Houston Association of Realtors.

You see a rebound after 18 to 24 months. As we get further away from the event the memories fade, said Wolff, who decided to elevate his Meyerland home by almost six feet after Harvey and returned in early May.

The devastation of Harvey has pushed local officials and agencies to expand efforts to mitigate the impact of floods. Last year, county officials authorized $20 million to buy out homes that have routinely flooded.

The Harris County Flood Control District, which established its own buyout program in 1985, recently submitted a grant for state funding to buy homes damaged by Harvey. It has also focused on repairs to drainage infrastructure and removing debris from Harvey that could block waterways before the next hurricane.

Officials across the nation are becoming more aware of the dangers of urban flooding, which is aggravated by unbridled development, said Sam Brody, a professor in the Department of Marine Sciences and flooding expert at Texas A&M University in Galveston.

Harvey exposed these underlying problems that cities such as Houston, Miami and Chicago face, he said.

Texas is considering sweeping changes, including urging residents to buy flood insurance and raising the level of new homes, he said.

But the measures will take time to implement, Brody said. There is a good likelihood we are going to get a major storm event before we are even partially recovered from this one.

(Reporting by Liz Hampton and Ernest Scheyder in Houston and Jon Herskovitz in Austin; Editing by Gary McWilliams and Richard Chang)

Topics Catastrophe Natural Disasters Texas Flood Hurricane
A Dallas appeals court has upheld a $9.3 million verdict against the Choctaw Nation after finding the southern Oklahoma tribe liable for a charter bus crash that killed two elderly passengers.

The Court of Appeals for Texas 5th District unanimously dismissed the tribes appeal of a 2016 Dallas County ruling saying it was liable for the deaths of Alice Stanley and Paula Hahn, the Oklahoman reported.

The appellate court was correct in affirming the jurys verdict in this horrifying crash, said Frank Branson, an attorney for Stanleys estate and children.

The bus was traveling to the tribes casino in Durant, Oklahoma, when it crashed in Irving, Texas. Many of the issues the Choctaw Nation raised revolve around whether the tribe is liable for the negligence of the bus operators.

Group organizer Sue Taylor was not a tribal employee but had signed an agreement with the tribe acknowledging she wouldnt distract the driver.

Taylor had argued with driver Loyd Rieve on the morning of the crash about whether to drive on a turnpike, according to court records. A jury said that distraction led to the crash, and found the tribe, Rieve and bus company Cardinal to be liable.

The tribe alleged in its appeal that bus operation was completely in Cardinals control, Rieve wasnt a borrowed employee, Taylor didnt act as an agent of the tribe and also didnt interfere with the driving. The appeals court rejected those arguments.

Casino operators cannot escape responsibility when they negotiate bus contracts based on the absolute lowest bid without considering the safety of their passengers, Branson said.

Choctaw Nation associate general counsel Brad Mallett said the tribe is considering its options after the appeals court ruling.

Copyright 2021 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Topics Oklahoma
Floridas governor and Legislature promised a dizzying array of fixes following the devastation of last years hurricanes. But heading into a new storm season, the state has enacted only a few changes  the largest aimed at protecting seniors in nursing homes.

Fridays official start of hurricane season also arrived as the state continues to feel the effects of two storms last year. Hurricane Irma ripped across the state last September and was blamed for 84 deaths in Florida, as well as over $8.6 billion in property damage. Hurricane Maria, which decimated Puerto Rico last October, led to mass relocations to the Sunshine State.

After having no significant storms from 2006 to 2015, three storms have made landfall in the state the past two years.

As hard as it was last year, people worked together well, Gov. Rick Scott said recently at the Governors Hurricane Conference in West Palm Beach. I think almost everyone is pleased with debris removal, but it is the rebuilding that takes time.

The Florida House of Representatives Select Committee on Hurricane Response and Preparedness issued 78 recommendations over the past year, with 27 being acted upon, mostly as appropriations in the state budget. The recommendations ranged from ensuring generators and three days of fuel in nursing homes and assisted living facilities to creating a disaster preparedness sales tax holiday.

Priorities for most people remain ensuring access to fuel and transportation, following a massive and chaotic evacuation during Irma that left residents scrambling for fuel and clogging Floridas highways. Scott directed the states Department of Transportation to better identify larger gas stations along evacuation routes and improve delivery of fuel to those areas.

Legislators recommended having the state consider using one-way traffic flows on major highways, but Scott, citing state transportation officials, instead backed the use of highway shoulders to relieve congestion. Authorities allowed drivers to use shoulders several times during Irma.

Craig Fugate, who was the states top emergency official under Gov. Jeb Bush and later headed FEMA under President Barack Obama, said one way to ease congestion during evacuations is pointing people to shelters closer to their homes.

If you look at last year we had a lot of people driving long distances. We have so many new residents that we forgot past lessons, he said. How do you keep them engaged and prepared and pass on the lessons that we learned the hard way between the quiet and active periods?

One way could be through improvements in forecasting from the National Hurricane Center. Director Ken Graham said new public advisories are absolutely huge for the work emergency managers do ahead of any storm. Those include the expected time for tropical storm-force winds to arrive onshore and maps that show possible storm surge.

Its about understanding the risk, its understanding if youre in an evacuation zone, and understanding you may not have far to go to get away from that risk, Graham said.

The state also has named a new top emergency management official, Wes Maul, following the resignation after seven years of Bryan Koon, who said he would return to the private sector.

Maul served as the departments chief of staff for 17 months but had no other prior emergency management experience. Maul declined to answer questions about his level of experience, but the governors office has cited Mauls work at the department so far _ including responses to storms and mass shootings  as an indicator that Maul is up to the task.

The governor is confident in Maul, Scott spokesman McKinley Lewis said.

Graham said his offices job with any new officials is going to be to educate.  Were going to spend time spinning them up on the hurricane season, spinning them up on the science.

Scott, a Republican, is leaving office due to term limits. Florida has not been hit with a hurricane the year of a gubernatorial election since 1964. The states response during a storm could quickly become a campaign issue for governor and the U.S. Senate as Scott is challenging three-term Democratic U.S. Sen. Bill Nelson in November.

Fugate said no matter the year  or the stakes  the mission remains the same.

They have to be ready for stuff you would expect, but also be prepared for what could happen, he said. We have our planning assumptions, but you also have to adjust to what the public is doing.

___

Associated Press writer Jennifer Kay in West Palm Beach, Florida, contributed to this report.

Copyright 2021 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Topics Catastrophe Natural Disasters Florida Hurricane
Farmers in western North Carolina are adding up their losses after the heavy rains from Subtropical Storm Alberto.

Hendersonville farmer Randy Edmundson thinks about 70 of his 110 acres (44 hectares) are under water after the storms. Edmundson told the Asheville Citizen-Times many of his crops have drowned and the wet conditions will delay planting.

He says up to 45 acres (18 hectares) of sweet corn will be lost. Edmundson says two acres of strawberries, his squash beds and half of his crookneck and zucchini squash were destroyed. Young cucumbers and tomato plants are gone.

He says the loss is sweet corn alone was worth about $60,000.

Edmundson knows many farmers face the same problems.

He says it will probably be about three weeks before he can plant new crops.

Across the region, county officials are conducted initial damage assessments over the weekend. State and federal damage assessment teams will join those officials next week as warranted. The local damage assessments are the first step in determining what, if any, state or federal disaster assistance programs are available to help residents recover.

Utility officials in Gaston County blame heavy rain for a sewage spill that released 165,000 gallons, some of it into the Catawba River.

The spill was cleaned up and reported to the N.C. Division of Water Resources.

Copyright 2021 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Topics Profit Loss Flood Agribusiness North Carolina
General Motors Co. agreed to settle a lawsuit filed by a motorcyclist involved in a minor crash with one of its self-driving cars in San Francisco late last year, the U.S. automaker said on Friday.

Oscar Nilsson sued GM in U.S. District Court in January for negligence over a December 2017 crash in which he was injured.

The settlement, reported earlier by car-focused website Jalopnik, was filed on Wednesday. Lawyers said in the joint court filing they plan to finalize details by the end of June.

Nilssons suit claimed the self-driving GM Cruise suddenly veered back into Nilssons lane, striking him and knocking him to the ground.

GMs report on the crash to California regulators said the car was operating in heavy traffic, when it saw a space between two vehicles in the left lane and began to merge. At the same time, a vehicle decelerated and the self-driving car stopped making the lane change and returned to the center lane.

As the Cruise was re-centering itself, the motorcyclist that had just lane-split between two vehicles in the center and right lanes moved into the center lane, glanced the side of the Cruise, wobbled, and fell over, the report said. GM said a police report found Nilsson at fault for attempting to overtake and pass the Cruise, but Nilssons lawyer said he was not issued a citation in the incident.

Nilssons suit said he suffered injuries to his neck and shoulder and will require lengthy treatment and was required to take disability leave.

GM spokeswoman Jordana Strosberg confirmed in an email on Friday that both sides mutually agreed to resolve the lawsuit.

Sergei Lemberg, a lawyer for Nilsson, declined to disclose any details except to confirm that the case has resolved to my clients satisfaction.

On Thursday, Japans SoftBank Group Corp said it would invest $2.25 billion in GMs autonomous vehicle unit Cruise, a deal that sent GM shares up nearly 13 percent.

The move is one of the highest profile, largest investments to date in self-driving technology, an industry that could revolutionize transportation but faces engineering, safety and regulatory challenges.

Of roughly 40 crashes involving self-driving vehicles reported to California regulators since January 2017, 33 involved GM Cruise vehicles, but none have been declared to be the fault of GM Cruise, California records show.

GM vehicles in urban areas face more complex driving tasks than in suburbs.

While it seems crazy to test in an absurdly complex place like San Francisco, its absolutely necessary, Cruise CEO Kyle Vogt wrote in an October blog post. We believe its the fastest way to achieve the level of performance and reliability needed to deploy self-driving cars at scale in a sustainable way.

(Reporting by Shepardson in Washington, Editing by Rosalba OBrien)

Related:

Topics Lawsuits California Auto Autonomous Vehicles
What Is a Registered Education Savings Plan?

A Registered Education Savings Plan (RESP), sponsored by the Canadian government, encourages investing in a child's future post-secondary education. Subscribers to an RESP make contributions that build up tax-free earnings. The government contributes a certain amount to these plans for children under age 18.

Contributors do not receive a tax deduction for investments in an RESP. There are no taxes due until funds are taken out to pay for a childs education. At that time, contributions made into the RESP are returned tax-free, although contributors earnings from the plan are taxed. The money the government pays out is taxed to the students. However, since a large number of students have little to no income, many can withdraw the money tax-free.

Understanding Registered Education Savings Plans (RESP)

A Registered Education Savings Plan (RESP) lets parents in Canada begin saving for their childrens education at birth, with the government pitching in part of the tab. Parents or guardians simply walk into a bank, credit union or other financial institution to open up an account. Anyone can contribute, whether it's mom, dad, neighbor, or a favorite aunt or uncle.

The money given out by the Canadian government is taxed, but since so many students have little to no income, many can withdraw the money tax-free.

The government then matches the money up to a certain percentage and deposits it into the childs RESP. The extra funds the government deposits are called the Canadian Education and Savings Grant. The amount provided is graduated, based on family income. Matching benefits apply only on the first $2,500 in contribution per year. The amount of the grant is capped at a maximum of $7,200.

Once in college, the child receives educational assistance payments (EAPs). These EAPs count as income for the child (beneficiary). If the beneficiary doesn't receive paymentseither by the choice of the contributor or because the beneficiary does not attend a post-secondary institutionthe contributor will receive the amount in the RESP back tax-free.

Key Takeaways A Registered Education Savings Plan (RESP) is a college plan sponsored by the Canadian government.

Subscribers to an RESP make contributions that build up tax-free earnings for paying for higher education.

In addition to parental contributions, the government contributes a certain amount to these plans for children under age 18.

The Canadian government caps the lifetime contribution limit of $50,000 per beneficiary from all RESPs combined.

If a child doesn't pursue an approved post-secondary education training program within 36 years of opening the account, the government can request the grant money back.

There are penalties and income tax incurred on investment earnings that are withdrawn from an RESP and not used for college or vocational school.

The number of allowed plans per child is unlimited. However, there is a lifetime contribution limit of $50,000 per beneficiary from all RESPs combined.

Pros and Cons of Registered Education Savings Plans

Generally, the plans are easy to access and provide strong investment incentives. Because parents won't initially pay taxes on the money, they have a dual incentive to save for their child's education; they avoid paying taxes and get bonus money from the government for the child's education in the process.

There are a few catches. If a child doesn't pursue an approved post-secondary education training program, such as college or trade school, within 36 years of opening the account, the government can request the grant money back.  Also, any investment earnings that are withdrawn from the RESP that are not used for education-related expenses incur income tax plus an additional 20% penalty.
What Are the Unemployment Compensation Amendments of 1992?

The Unemployment Compensation Amendments of 1992 are a law in the United States that allows an employee who loses their job to roll over their employer-sponsored retirement savings into a qualified retirement plan, such as an individual retirement account (IRA), without tax consequences. The provision allowing former employees to do this was included among other amendments to the Emergency Unemployment Compensation Act of 1991, which at the time extended emergency unemployment benefits.

Key Takeaways The Unemployment Compensation Amendments of 1992 are a law that allows an employee who loses their job to roll over their employer-sponsored retirement savings into an individual retirement account (IRA), or other qualified retirement plan, without tax consequences.

Employers must give employees the option of a direct transfer to the new account.

Because direct transfers do not count as a distribution, the amount transferred is not considered taxable income.

Employees who choose to receive the funds directly, not as a direct transfer, are subject to a mandatory 20% withholding tax of the withdrawal amount.

Understanding the Unemployment Compensation Amendments of 1992

Under the Unemployment Compensation Amendments of 1992, if you lose your job, then your employer is required to provide you with the option of rolling over your retirement savings in a company-sponsored plan, such as a 401(k), to an IRA or other qualified retirement plan account that you choose.

The law allows employees the option of trustee-to-trustee transfers. In a trustee-to-trustee transfer, also called a direct transfer, the funds are not paid directly to the account holder, nor does the account holder receive a check made payable to the new account. Instead, the two financial institutions facilitate the transfer on your behalf.

With a trustee-to-trustee transfer, no taxes are withheld from the amount that is transferred. Also, the transfer does not count as a distribution, which means that the amount is not considered taxable income.

If you choose to receive the funds in a check, then there is a mandatory withholding of 20% of the withdrawal amount that is paid to the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) to cover federal income tax, regardless of how much you may ultimately end up owing. For example, if you effectively only owe 12% at tax time, this means youll have to wait until you file your taxes to get that 8% back.

If you lose your job, then withdrawing funds from your employers retirement plan as a lump sum before you are at least age 59 should be a last resort. In addition to tax penalties, you will lose part of your nest egg and diminish its power to accrue earnings on a tax-deferred basis. This could put you significantly behind in saving for retirement.

Special Considerations

Most 401(k) plan rules state that if you have less than $1,000 in your account, then an employer is automatically allowed to cash it out and give the funds to you directly. In general, if you have $1,000 to $5,000, then your employer will put it in an IRA if you dont tell them what do do with the funds.

Some employers allow you to leave your retirement savings in the companys plan even after you have left if you meet a minimum balance requirementtypically more than $5,000 in your account. But keep in mind that if you leave your account with your old employer, then you will no longer be able to contribute to it.

If you choose to move your retirement savings to an IRA, then you will have a wider range of investment choices than with the employers plan. Typically, 401(k)s offer several mutual funds, ranging from conservative to aggressive, from which an employee can choose. With an IRA, most types of investments are available.
The Minister for Justice Charlie Flanagan expects a review, into how rape cases are handled, will be finished by the end of the summer.

Among proposals being considered is the introduction of advocates to attend court to assist alleged rape victims, according to the Irish Independent.
Ailin Quinlan talks to parents who are determined to give their son as full a life as possible.

TWO days after her son was born, Deirdre OGorman asked the question that no parent even wants to think about:

Does this mean that Finn will die? she asked her newborns paediatrician in March 2016.

Deirdre, a beautician, and her husband Tristan, a software architect, had just been informed that little Finn had a rare neurological condition that theyd never heard of.

Lissencephaly, which is also known as smooth brain condition results in a situation where the folds of the brain, used to transmit signals are missing, or smoothed out, causing serious developmental complications for a baby.

The only warning that something might have been amiss during Deirdres pregnancy was a scan at 20 weeks showing that Finn was very small.

Doctors couldnt pinpoint anything wrong other than that he was not growing as normal, Tristan recalls.

An amniocentesis showed nothing wrong, while an MRI scan at 30 weeks was inconclusive.

Our obstetrician was still confident and felt there was a 95% chance of everything being fine. There was only a very small chance of something being wrong. We were reasonably confident, although there was a concern that he might be premature, says Tristan, recalling that Finn was born at 37 weeks via an elective caesarean section.

Weighing just 4lb 30z, Finn was placed in an incubator.

He was small but perfect and did all the things a baby should do. At this stage we were relieved that things seemed to be OK, Tristan recalls.

However, two days after Finn was born  and following another MRI scan  the young couples paediatrician told them that Finn had a rare neurological condition, one theyd never heard of.

My wife asked Does this mean Finn will die?, recalls Tristan now.

It wasnt even on my horizon; I was surprised to hear Deirdre ask that.

They were referred to the neurology team and learned that Finns life expectancy was just two years  but that some children with the condition had lived longer than that. They were also told what to expect:

Finn would have profound developmental delays. He would never walk or talk, that he might not smile or be sociable and that after a few months there would be epilepsy and a failure to thrive. He would need 24/7 care, says Tristan.

Deirdre gave up her job as a beautician and the couple took Finn home to their house in the seaside village of Whitegate.

For a while everything was fine, but at age three months Finn was rushed to hospital with a suspected seizure. More and more seizures began to occur.

We spent most of the next three months in and out of hospital because he kept having seizures, says Tristan who recalls that at one point the baby was having 70 or 80 seizures a day.

Deirdre OGorman with their son Finn.

Medication failed to bring the epilepsy under control, while little Finn was also unable to keep feeds down.

Its been a very stressful time.

Observes Tristan: Youre fire-fighting constantly. I often say to Deirdre that when we wake up it is like a boxer preparing to go into the ring  you dont know what the day will hold, but there is always something that has to be faced head-on, he ponders.

However, while things can be rough its certainly not all doom and gloom, as he points out.

Finn is a lovely little boy. He is our favourite person!

Eventually doctors came up with a new medication which started to take effect and Finn became seizure-free for several months. However, during this period his feeding continued to be an issue and he eventually had to have a peg fitted to his tummy.

However, he was still experiencing significant digestive problems  Finn was throwing up continually. At 14 months he had an operation to improve his ability to digest.

It helped but he still gets chronic retching, explains Tristan.

Now aged two, Finn can go for days or weeks without a seizure  but when it happens, he can still have up to seven seizures a day.

He still needs round the clock care.

The epilepsy is more manageable but it flares up now and again, explains Tristan, adding that Finn is continually peg-fed for 13 hours a day and also gets multiple rounds of medication  a total of 13 different medications daily.

ON TOP of all of this, secretions of mucus and saliva pool in his chest so he has to be suctioned several times a day or have a nebuliser to help him breathe. His muscle tone has become weak and he is beginning to develop scoliosis and hip dysplasia.

The couple have support both from the Jack and Jill Foundation which provides them several hours home support, while the only dedicated childrens hospice in the State, LauraLynn offers the family 15 days respite annually.

LauraLynns annual fundraising appeal runs all this week to Friday, June 8

LauraLynns medical staff understand Finns condition very well and they look after all his needs during the stay, says Tristan, who says that although the couple still tend to stay with Finn, the respite gives them some time to themselves, allowing allows them to enjoy normal things  a visit with relatives, a meal out with friends or a days shopping.

We know when hes at LauraLynn we can switch off a little bit because Finn is in such good hands, Tristan says, adding that the hospice staff have also given the couple invaluable information and advice about equipment that helps them provide better care for Finn.

I dont know where wed be without LauraLynn and the Jack and Jill Foundation, he says.

He and Deirdre take things day by day:

We dont know what lies ahead  we cannot predict what will happen. We dont know how long Finn will be with us  he could be gone tomorrow, so we just want to make his life as happy as possible and make every single day count.

The annual Childrens Hospice Week takes place this year from June 4 to 8 For information on ways to support LauraLynn - from organising coffee mornings to spinning or simply to make a donation, Visit https://lauralynn.ie/events/childrens-hospice-week-2018/ *Call 01-2893151 or text SUPERHERO to 50300 to donate 4 to LauraLynn.Text costs 4. LauraLynn will receive a minimum of 3.25. Service Provider: LIKECHARITY. Helpline: 076 6805278.
Denise O'Donoughe meets Amie Brennan - a fashion and design blogger.

Amie Brennan is based in Galway and runs a fashion and design blog called Floralesque.com.

Amie enjoys featuring Irish designers and discussing fashion trends.

The key focus of Floralesque is Irish design and sharing my love of it with my audience.

I have always loved Irish design and learning more about the people who create the pieces and where their inspiration comes from. We have featured well over 60 Irish designers to date, such as Emma Manley, Don ONeill, Blaithin Ennis, Lucy Nagle, and so many more.

Learning about their journeys and inspirations I find personally very inspiring in my own life.

Irelands wealth of design talent excites Amie. We are so lucky in Ireland to have such amazing talent on our very doorstep and I love nothing more than finding a new designer who is just after releasing their first collection  you can just sense the feeling of excitement and anticipation.

Amie says she started the website as she loves writing.

It has never been about numbers for me  it has always been somewhere I can express my passions and I love interacting with others on the platform as well.

I am perhaps more of an exception to the current industry, as writing is my key focus, and not increasing numbers on social media.

Amie says she focuses on her blog as she believes social media can be unpredictable as a primary platform.

With the ever-changing world of social media, I do sometimes worry for those who are mainly on a specific platform and do not own their own little piece of the internet. With the owners of many platforms, changing algorithm,s etc, it must be worrying if that is the main platform that you use.

She admits it can be a solitary experience.

There are some downsides of blogging, for example, sometimes it is just you and your computer screen. That can be lonely.

However, she has met many interesting fellow bloggers through her writing, as well as connecting with her own readers and interesting designers.

I have met so many amazing people through blogging. Galway has some fantastic bloggers and I have loved getting to know them. I have also met some amazing stylists and designers by going to London Fashion Week and without the blog that would never have happened.

I love meeting new people and in general those who follow Floralesque have similar interests and it is great to have interesting conversations online and to also learn from others as well.
Emily Logan looks at how issues surrounding adopted children and their rights have continually hit brick walls and delays in the Governments legislative process.

MUCH of the recent public debate on information and tracing for people who have been adopted in and from Ireland appears to suggest that the matter has only been under consideration for the last three years.

A look back at some of the key moments in the last 15 years is a reminder that, in the absence of legislation, adopted childrens rights continue to be denied.

In 2003, Brian Lenihan, then minister for children, announced a review of Irish adoption legislation, the first since adoption was legislated for in 1952. This work culminated in the Adoption Bill, which established the Adoption Authority of Ireland (AAI) and led to the ratification of the Hague Convention, the first international instrument to regulate inter-country adoption on a global basis.

At the time, it was seen as controversial and bureaucratic, but its purpose was to protect children and their families from the risks of irregular or premature adoption abroad. These risks, especially in low-income countries, were very real because of the large sums of money involved and its attraction to unscrupulous individuals.

One of the expressed intentions of the ministers review was to address access to records and making contact with birth parents, for a variety of complex reasons, not least concern about the Constitutional right to privacy of parents, which some believe is overstated; the tracing of information about birth for people who are adopted never made it onto the statute books.

In my previous role as Ombudsman for Children for 11 years, I was familiar with the peaks of media interest in child protection.

I saw how politicians were tuned in to the potential political implications of any child protection case, given the collapse of government in 1994 following the mishandling of the extradition of paedophile Brendan Smyth.

The public was not aware of the imbalance of rights in cases of adoption until the tragic case of Tristan Dowse in 2003. Tristan, like numerous children around the globe, was abandoned by his adoptive parents in an Indonesian orphanage.

So why were we in Ireland so interested? Because Tristans father was Irish. The public was unanimous in its outrage.

In terms of public debate, none was more divisive than the debate on balancing of rights between children who were adopted and their biological parents, in the case of Baby Ann in 2006.

Readers will probably remember Ann, a two-year-old girl who had lived with her prospective parents since she was three months old, and was returned to her natural parents on the basis of a Supreme Court decision.

While Justice John Mac Menamin ruled in the High Court that Ann would be psychologically damaged if she was taken away from her prospective adoptive parents, the Supreme Court rejected those findings.

In the Supreme Court judgment, Justice Catherine McGuinness noted, amongst other things, that in light of her birth parents subsequent marriage there was now no realistic possibility that Ann could be adopted by the prospective adoptive couple.

The Adoption Bill was published in early 2009. In my capacity as Ombudsman for Children I published advice on the draft legislation, where I recommended the addition of a provision on information and tracing.

The right to information about a persons birth is protected by both the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child and the European Convention on Human Rights.

It is also given further expression in the Hague Convention and the Revised European Convention on the Adoption of Children.

Every child has a right to know and be cared for by his or her parents, as far as possible. The UN Convention further requires that states respect the right of the child to preserve his or her identity, including nationality, name, and family relations.

Looking at the jurisprudence or philosophy of law in the judgments of the European Court of Human Rights relevant to this issue, the Court has held that under Article 8 of the European Convention on Human Rights, people have a right to receive the information necessary to know and to understand their childhood and early development, including the identity of their parents.

The court has also held that birth, and the circumstances where a child is born, form part of a childs, and subsequently the adults, private life guaranteed by the convention.

This right is not absolute and must be balanced against the rights of other parties not to have identifying information about them disclosed.

Later in 2009, politicians and lobbyists clashed in a row about inter-country adoption following a report by Unicef on Vietnam. The report, outlined a litany of concerns about the level and nature of intercountry adoptions from Vietnam, influenced by foreign demand.

The report stated that the availability of children who were adoptable corresponded more to the existence of foreign adopters than to the needs of abandoned and orphaned children in Vietnam.

Unicef described the circumstances under which babies become adoptable as being unclear and disturbing. The political and correct response was not to renew Irelands bilateral agreement with Vietnam on intercountry adoption.

In 2010, we witnessed, not just here in Ireland but around the globe, an extraordinary response to the children affected by the Haiti earthquake. Multiple dramatic images of children being rescued led to what the New York Times described as an international adoption bonanza in which certain safeguards were ignored, with children being further traumatised by their removal from familiar environments.

Unicef responded by refusing to place lost or separated children in orphanages, fearing they would be improperly put into the adoption process before they had the chance to be reunited with surviving relatives. Unfortunately, we know now all too well that their fears were correct.

Sadly, we are not alone in our continued denial of related rights. These include the rights of the child, contained in the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child, to preserve his or her identity, including nationality, name and family relations.

Our commitment to rights contained in the European Convention on Human Rights is questionable, particularly the right to respect for private and family life for children and adults who have been adopted.

Thirteen years after the announcement of that initial review of adoption legislation, the general scheme of the Adoption (Information and Tracing Bill) was finally published in 2016.

However, it is hard to explain why it has been in the Houses of the Oireachtas for three years. It cannot simply be a matter of administration.

For adults who have been adopted, it is reasonable to question and to seek to understand how this legislation, with the potential of such criminal acts as falsifying information and illegal registration, will ensure respect for the identity of children and adults who have or will be adopted in the future.

Given the statute of limitations in Ireland, the recent referral of files by An Garda Siochana to the Director of Prosecutions may yield no prosecutions. There is no such thing as an illegal adoption.

A person is either adopted or they are not. This latest terrible revelation must be the final straw in the denial and subordination of the rights of children and adults who were adopted in and from Ireland.

Emily Logan, Chief Commissioner of the Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission
Early in his career, Seamus OReilly applied for a post from which the previous incumbent had been fired, after a chemotherapy overdose left one woman dead and another with irreversible heart damage. He didnt end up in the job but remained interested in how the hospital responded to its mistakes. One key measure was the establishment of Patient Family Advisory Committees. Professor OReilly tells Health Correspondent Catherine Shanahan that the time is ripe to consider a similar move here, in light of the CervicalCheck scandal.

It was 1996 when Seamus OReilly interviewed for a job in medical oncology at the Dana Farber Cancer Institute in Boston, a year after the discovery that chemotherapy overdoses had killed 39-year-old Betty Lehman, a Boston Globe health columnist and mother of two, and caused irreversible heart damage to 53-year-old teacher, Maureen Bateman.

The women were receiving experimental breast cancer treatment and a young doctor decided an instruction that read cyclophosphamide dose 4 grams/sq m (of body surface area) over 4 days meant four grams each day and not, as per the correct interpretation, 4 grams spread over four days.

A flawed research protocol appeared to confirm his mistake. For Ms Lehman, the consequences were fatal; for Ms Bateman, tragic.

Such a searing, and ultimately, public mistake, meant the incident became well known in the cancer community. Professor OReilly was aware of it when he applied for the job.

Although he ultimately remained at John Hopkins Hospital in Baltimore, where he was subsequently assistant professor in medical oncology, he retained an interest in the Dana-Farber, and in its learning.

I remember when I visited the hospital at the time, it was a very sobering environment to walk into. The events had just taken place and become public, he says.

A decade later, he attended a major cancer conference in the US where, at a meeting on health and safety, a document was presented outlining what the Dana-Farber had done in the interim to improve patient safety (Key Learning from the Dana-Farber Cancer Institutes 10-Year Patient Safety Journey).

Prof OReilly, a consultant medical oncologist in the South/Southwest Hospital Group, attended the discussion where he encountered the idea of Patient Family Advisory Committees (PFACs) for the first time.

I think the importance of the document about the Boston hospital is not how things go wrong, its how they are dealt with when they go wrong.

At this meeting, they said when things go wrong, patients want four things. They want an apology, an explanation, a reassurance that things wouldnt go wrong again  in other words whats being done in the system to safeguard against error  and they want compensation.

But compensation is only part of it, its not all of it. I think that sometimes, where people talk about litigation, its not all about money. Its actually about acknowledgement and reassurance.

By way of illustration, Prof OReilly refers to a case in Galway, where a family sued the HSE following the death of their daughter, and how a condition of the settlement was the appointment of a paediatric endocrinologist.

In this particular case, six-year-old Aibha Conroy died three days after she was brought to University Hospital Galway suffering from low blood sugar. Having successfully sued the HSE, the familys solicitor said their entire mission was to ensure that if another child presented with hypoglycaemia, the hospital would have the necessary expertise.

That was an intrinsic part of the settlement, Prof OReilly says. It showed how effective families could be in bringing about positive change.

I think I felt that what theyd done in Dana-Farber, in terms of PFACs coming into the hospitals, being integrated with the service, would be a voice from outside. It would also prevent institutionalisation.

When you have people coming from the outside in, you have fresh eyes and they also see whats acceptable or not.

I mean whats acceptable to a health care professional after 20 years working at the coalface may not be acceptable to what someone working in retail or banking might see in the treatment of a 60-year-old patient  how our hospitals are structured, mixed gender accommodation onwards, toilet facilities on six-bedded wards  those kind of things.

But I think it might also empower society to improve healthcare more by being more involved.

Prof OReilly acknowledges setting up such committees would bring challenges  such as governance.

Theres no point in asking someone to come on a committee if you are not going to empower them, to say to them If you come in, we will listen.

And who you pick to come in is important. I feel you could start small [with PFACs] and trial it. There are eight cancer centres in Ireland, there are three cancer screening programmes, so maybe start with that.

They are all under the National Cancer Control Programme, so you have a single governing organisation above it and each centre could set up its own PFAC.

I think it might lead to a better health service. Certainly the current formula is not working despite significant investment.

Does Prof OReilly see an opportunity in the movement towards hospital trusts to create a structure that would facilitate PFACs within the groups?

Yes. I think there is concern that the HSE is top down and it needs to be bottom up.

He says people working in the HSE need to be empowered to create an environment where constructive decision making can take place.

That doesnt seem to happen at the moment. I think you need to break the HSE into smaller units. I think part of the problem is when people feel they are part of a huge organisation, it disempowers them.

In the States where I worked, it was a huge hospital, 1,000 to, 2,000 doctors coming to work there every day, it was a huge organisation.

But it was divided into units. So we were the cancer centre and while we were part of the whole, we saw ourselves as the cancer centre.

And the childrens centre, the eye centre, different units where it was big enough to perform and small enough for people to feel a sense of purpose, a sense of loyalty, a sense of belonging  and that reflects in patient care.

Prof OReilly has worked in Cork hospitals for roughly 18 years. Has there been a change in that time in the way patients are notified about mistakes?

We are generally quite upfront about it if a mistake is made, he says, although people are justifiably concerned about litigation and fitness to practice hearings.

Has he made mistakes and put his hand up? Yes, every clinician has, he says.

Is there institutional support for owning up to a mistake?

I think there is support but I think the system could be better, he says.

I think the risk management of patient complaints could be better resourced so that patient concerns are dealt with more promptly, because delays in dealing with a concern escalates it.

I also think there needs to be a system of learning when mistakes occur.

He says the purpose of the CervicalCheck audit, (which women were controversially not told about at the time) was a learning exercise, to look at how the screening service could be improved.

He says the same could apply to medical negligence cases, where hospitals could review cases where claims were settled to see what could be done better to prevent similar claims in the future.

The State Claims Agency (which defends claims against the State) could have some system whereby settled claims against a hospital are reviewed by all staff in the hospital, to see what can be learned from them.

I think we need to have more structures in place where learning can occur from the adverse events that have occurred.

Does he encourage staff in his own department to come forward if mistakes are made?

We have a reflective meeting every month where adverse events are discussed and the learning curve comes from that. And we look at how structures can be improved from that.

But are patients automatically informed if a mistake is made?

You have to notify them. They would be aware of it themselves  a complication from treatment, for instance, or a delayed x-ray result.

We tell them and we urge our team to tell. We would say to tell because, you know, its never pleasant not to tell. And its never pleasant to tell.

These meetings are not pleasant. But the longer you wait to tell, the worse it becomes.

He believes there is no alternative to mandatory open disclosure.

There are things you have to legislate for, because otherwise it becomes discretionary, and there are things in medicine, in life, where its human nature not to own up.

When things go wrong and you are having conversations with family, its very unpleasant, by its nature. It can be very adversarial and very stressful.

Prof OReilly says hes concerned in the current environment that the resources for our risk management department may need to be increased significantly.

By current environment he means the fallout from the CervicalCheck scandal, the erosion of public confidence in the health service, in the context of the HSE not telling 209 women with cervical cancer that a clinical audit of their past tests had found their original smears had failed to pick up cancer warning signs.

And the fact that in 175 of these cases, had abnormal smears been identified, they could have benefited from treatment.

How does Prof OReilly, a cancer doctor, feel the CervicalCheck scandal has been handled and have any of the patients he treats said they are not going to go for screening as a result?

That hasnt happened, he says, the number of calls to the hotlines and the calls to GPs practices would suggest people are concerned about false negatives, they are not concerned about getting the test done.

What are false negative rates like for the cancers he treats, such as breast cancer?

It can be as high as 50%, he says, for some forms of breast cancer.

But if you look at mammography screening, it saves lives.

He believes public trust is going to be the biggest casualty of the CervicalCheck scandal. More than a month after the story broke, he says the problem is greater than we anticipated.

I think the concern that arises from it is the factor of trust between patients and the medical community.

And I have talked to colleagues around the country and all of them have reported that.

In fact, one hospital has had to assign an administrative officer to deal totally with just processing patient concerns  so its significant.

It came up at a teleconference among oncologists recently.

What I am hearing from colleagues across the country is that there has been an escalation in patient concerns across cancers, and I think clinicians are very aware of it.

Moreover, heightened patient concern has led to people looking to review results, going back years. This was creating a significant additional workload, in terms of the administrative logistics of retrieving and photocopying patient files, Prof OReilly said.

Our hospitals are reporting increased Freedom of Information requests since CervicalCheck broke. It was happening before that, but its escalated now.

The hospital group I work in, the South/Southwest hospital group, people are looking for their medical files. And we are also finding patients in the clinic are asking about results from five years earlier.

In fact, the CervicalCheck scandal is the worst health crisis Prof OReilly has witnessed during his almost two decades of working in the Irish health service.

Which is concerning because we invest as much in healthcare as any other OECD nation.

We cant afford it as a society. I mean we have 10,000 people homeless, we have major infrastructural issues, so spending more is not a solution, but maybe we should be spending better.

The recession hasnt helped because the expansion in intrastructure thats needed to deal with the population hasnt occurred.

And my concern is if we keep going the way we are, the stresses on the system are going to increase over time.

Cancer is my area of interest, but in my lifetime, dementia will replace cancer as the second leading cause of death, after cardiovascular disease.

The figures are very sobering and the societal challenges are going to be enormous for that.

I think we really need more societal involvement in our hospitals because I think if that happened, our hospitals would work better and they would be better for patients.

It would also allow society see the challenges that are there in delivering healthcare, and it might also mean more community empowerment to deal with those problems.

If you have a PFAC assessing, for example, Emergency Department overcrowding on a regular basis and liaising with other PFACs about it, that will raise the profile of it.

And within the governance structures, have some definable goals/achievable goals for this.

I just felt introducing PFACs was a novel approach. Weve tried loads of different things. We keep repeating ourselves even though we are very aware of history.

Would it be challenging to introduce PFACs?

Yes. But it might be very productive. I think the unfortunate thing is we keep making the same mistake in society, where we put the institution first.

So weve had the Mother and Baby home scandals, weve had hepatitis C, weve had Susie Long, Rebecca OMalley. There is a recurring theme.

I think that if we dont do something different on this occasion, if we dont do something differently to address the issues, were condemned to repeat them.
It revealed that an average of just 44% of gardai were in direct contact with the public. The latest annual report of An Garda Siochanas audit committee expressed concern about the low level of gardai performing frontline duties.

The committee pointed out that both the forces Policing Plan and the Garda Inspectorate have highlighted the importance of ensuring that the maximum number of gardai are assigned to high visibility policing duties with direct contact with the public. They also recommend that administrative roles should be undertaken by civil servants to the fullest extent possible.

The chairman of the Garda audit committee, Cyril Sullivan, said the findings of an internal survey conducted last year were very disappointing in relation to the deployment of civilian staff to roles held by gardai, especially as 90% of the Garda budget is spent on staffing.

The committee would like to see greater results in respect of this strategy, said Dr Sullivan.

Overall, it is estimated that 2,055 gardai could be removed from desk duties as a result of a new civilian by default recruitment policy.

The latest available figures show a total of 49 gardai have been returned to frontline policing by April 2018.

A Garda spokesman said the force had already accepted that the pace of redeployment had not been as fast as originally anticipated but that plans are in place to accelerate the process.

Commenting on the numbers engaged in fronting policing, he said: The deployment of personnel on any given day in a division will depend on the policing requirements. Members not on patrol could be involved in other policing activity such as investigations, providing crime prevention advice and appearing in court.

The Cork City division has been the biggest beneficiary, with six gardai in the city returning to operational duties, followed by Dublin South Central with five gardai.

In its most recently published quarterly report to the Minister for Justice in December 2017, the Policing Authority expressed disappointment at the lack of progress in the civilianisation of the force as figures showed only 14 gardai at the time had been taken off desk duties and restored to frontline services.

It claimed there had been a failure to make meaningful progress on the issue.

Policing Authority chairwoman Josephine Feehily said they continued to be concerned and frustrated with the lack of pace at which civilianisation and redeployment is happening.

Following repeated requests for information on the subject from the Policing Authority, Garda management estimated at the start of 2017 that 163 gardai should be able to return to frontline duties as a result of 500 civilian staff expected to be recruited last year.

Ultimately, only 122 civilian posts were filled.

Garda management submitted business cases for the recruitment of 410 staff, but only 154 had been sanctioned by the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform.

Ms Feehily said a large number of business cases were only submitted late in 2017 with many lacking sufficient detail or quality.

The Garda watchdog also expressed concern that many serving gardai have spoken with some cynicism about exercises aimed at redeployment.
Michael Dineen, aged 27, of Ardmhuilanne, Mitchelstown, was charged with the murder of Patrick ODonnell, aged 37, at Willie Andies bar at New Square in the town on Friday.

Mr Dineen appeared before a special sitting of Mallow District Court in North Cork yesterday afternoon.

Detective Sergeant James OShea gave evidence of arrest, charge, and caution in the case.

Judge Aingeal Ni Chonduin heard that Mr Dineen made no reply to the charge when it was put to him.

He made no comment during the short hearing.

Mr Dineens solicitor, Cathal Lombard, applied for free legal aid in the case.

Judge Ni Chonduin granted legal aid and agreed to a request that Mr Dineen receive appropriate medical attention while in custody.

Inspector Michael Corbett applied to remand the accused in custody.

Mr Dineen was remanded in custody to appear again at Fermoy District Court on June 8.

Mr ODonnell became a father for the fourth time in recent months. He lived with his family in the Stag Park area of Mitchelstown.

Security was tight for the case.

An autopsy was carried out on the deceased at CUH over the weekend. The results were not released for operational reasons.

Meanwhile, tributes have been paid yesterday to popular father of three Seamus Bell, who died in hospital, four months after he was allegedly assaulted.

Known as Seamie, Mr Bell had been out marking the christening of his twin daughters Cara and Ava when on January 20, the alleged incident happened on Main St, Carrickmacross, Co Monaghan.

He had been in a coma in hospital ever since, with family members and his partner Edel maintaining a bedside vigil.

Mr Bell, who was from Foxfield, Carrickmacross, also has a son, Raphael, from a previous relationship.

He passed away in Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital, Drogheda, on Saturday.

The tributes to Mr Bell were led by his friend and former employer, champion boxer Christina McMahon.

It is devastating news, it hasnt really hit me yet. He was an amazing man with a bubbly personality, she said.

This is a devastating situation not only for his family but also for the town.

An autopsy on Mr Bells remains was carried out by State pathologist Marie Cassidy yesterday.

The results of that will be included in a file being prepared for the DPP.

The Garda Press Office said Vytautas Racys, aged 34, of Loughglack, Carrickmacross, was arrested on January 21 in connection with the investigation.

He is currently in custody in Cloverhill Prison charged with an offence under section 4 Non Fatal Offences Against the Person Act 1997, and is due to appear in Court in Cloverhill on June 21.
That is according to junior finance minister Michael DArcy, who said talks should start over the summer, given Ireland could enter a rocky period with a transatlantic trade war and Brexit both looming.

The Wexford TDs comments reinforce concerns already expressed by Taoiseach Leo Varadkar when he said last year that he would not like to see the confidence and supply deal between the two parties drop dead the day after the budget.

Mr Varadkars spokesman this weekend confirmed that was still the position of the Government.

This week, the Cabinet will formally agree the date for the budget and the publication of the summer economic statement. This will add to pressure on Fianna Fail to engage in talks on renewing the support deal.

While Mr DArcy said he understood the hesitation in the opposition party to tie its TDs to another one or two-year deal, he said this is necessary given the potential instability ahead.

We are running into a really crucially important period for Ireland in the next six to nine months. The body politic has to be absolutely responsible. That means this existing Government has to ask for an extension. It is pretty clear and we will be asking for an extension, he said.

I can understand the position Fianna Fail finds themselves in. Theyve been responsible, putting a Government in place. Now the question they have to answer when they are asked is are they prepared to continue to be responsible in this crucial period? The latest is October when there has to be some clarity.

Mr DArcy said it was his personal opinion that talks must start in the summer.

I think they should start sooner rather than later, he said.

Big issues will be fiscal stability; we are in a less stable period now that we were 12 months ago. The potential for trade wars, Brexit is less clear than it was a year ago. So we are in a period of time where things look rocky.

The conversation about the extension of the confidence and supply depends on Fianna Fail. Weve shown to be good partners, we have adhered to what we said we would do. The countrys on a good pathway. Unemployment is down to 5%, we are spending more in departments than we were ever spending before.

Are there issues? Sure there are, but we are working hard to try and resolve those issues.

Several senior Fianna Fail figures say the housing and health crises could be reasons not to renew the support deal. Others accept that essentially pulling the plug on the minority government going into Brexit negotiations this year would be naive and damage Fianna Fail in the long run.

Mr DArcy said: We are in Government, we have a deal that stands only for the next six months. Theres a legitimate question [to have that extended in the interests of stability of the country].

But that is a question for Fianna Fail. And well see whether Fianna Fail put the country first.
Health Minister Simon Harris has signalled he will oppose the move, in line with a Government commitment that abortions will be legal without specific indication in the first 12 weeks of pregnancy.

The move would delay the passing of the legislation to give effect to the resounding vote to repeal the Eighth Amendment and liberalise Irelands abortion laws.

Independent TDs Mattie McGrath and Michael Collins said at the weekend that they would support proposals to specifically exclude disability in a pregnancy as grounds for a termination.

Mr Collins, a Cork South West TD with the Rural Independent Group (RIG), said:

If it means RIG have to table it, we wont be found wanting if it protects people with disabilities, he said.

The TD, who opposed holding a referendum at all, told the Irish Examiner he would be consulting with other fellow-minded Independents about such an amendment. A spokeswoman for Mr Harris yesterday said that, under the general scheme for terminations, it would be illegal to allow for an abortion here in circumstances other than those specified, which did not include for a disability, for conditions such as fatal foetal abnormality.

The spokeswoman added: TDs are perfectly entitled to bring amendments but it remains the case that the general scheme does not permit termination on grounds of disability, and nor will the final legislation.

Fianna Fails Mary Butler, who backed a no vote, also said she would back such an amendment to ban terminations where a disability is diagnosed.

It is thought pro-life TDs would propose the changes when the draft legislation is published and comes to committee stage in the Dail in July or for report stage in September.

They have maintained that they will not delay the passage of the legislation, but that they are entitled to introduce amendments.

Elsewhere, Mr Harris yesterday told Newstalk radio that there would be no abortion clinics in Ireland and that terminations would be overseen by GP services, as advocated by voters in the referendum.

He also said he expects to receive a progress reporting into the preliminary investigation into the cervical cancer controversy in the coming days.

Details of the Scally scoping inquiry would be made public, confirmed Mr Harris.

The review by Gabriel Scally into the CervicalCheck screening programme is examining the non-disclosure of information from audits to patients and what the HSE and the Department of Health knew. It will assess the operation of the laboratories contracted for tests and also consult with Vicky Phelan, the Limerick women who exposed the scandal.
Now the Fethard Horse Country Experience (FHCE) in Co Tipperary has lined up a new range of promotions to encourage more people to enjoy its unique offering of culture, history and sport as well as Fethards historic and picturesque surroundings.

The museum, officially opened last year by local resident Andrew Lloyd Webber, received an unusual birthday present last week when trainer Joseph OBrien presented the Melbourne Cup which his superstar thoroughbred Rekindling won last November, to be displayed for the coming season.

It joins the Cheltenham Gold Cup won by War of Attrition, trained locally by Mouse Morris, in 2006 as well as a wealth of other memorabilia including the skeleton of multiple champion horse racing sire Sadlers Wells, formerly resident just up the road at Coolmore Stud.

FHCE was hoping to welcome about 3,000 visitors during its first eight months of operation but recorded 6,500 people going through the doors of the historic building, originally built as a Tholsel and used variously over the years as a town hall, fire station, library, market venue, and general community centre.

In its new guise as a museum, it also hosts community events and acts as a hub for locals and visitors alike.

This year brings an opportunity to see inside the world-famous Coolmore Stud, only available by visiting the horse country experience museum first, while a number of local eateries including McCarthys Hotel, Dooks Fine Foods and Emilys Delicatessen are offering 10% discounts to FHCE visitors.

So far, the museum has attracted visitors from Sri Lanka, New Zealand, Japan, Canada, the US, Australia, China, and the United Arab Emirates, with a positive knock-on effect for the historic walled town.

After a number of years where the whole of Ireland experienced the harsh realities of the economic downturn, it is extremely rewarding and encouraging to see the regeneration of our town, said chairman of the Fethard Community Heritage Centre Jimmy OSullivan.The museum is the culmination of a number of years of hard work from both the local community and our supporters and funders, for which we are extremely grateful.

The 1.6m investment, supported by Tipperary County Council as well as the Magnier family of Coolmore Stud, the Andrew Lloyd Webber Foundation, Failte Ireland, and the Leader Programme, places Fethard as a key destination in Irelands Ancient East.

The high-spec museum was developed by Event Communications, who were also responsible for the Titanic Museum in Belfast, the Guinness Storehouse in Dublin, and EPIC at the CHQ Building in Dublin.
Monday, June 4th, 2018 (3:02 pm) - Score 5,315

Internet and mobile provider EE has today reduced the price of their fixed line home broadband and phone (line rental) bundles, which will be available to new customers who order before 25th June 2018 and will then last for the first 18 months of service before returning to normal.

Subscribers typically receive unlimited usage, an included wireless router, phone line rental (standard call rates), UK and Ireland based customer support, a 5GB mobile data boost (only if youre an EE pay monthly mobile customer), free setup and if you need a new line installed then this may attract a one-off 30 charge.

Broadband (10Mbps Average)

PRICE: 19 a month for the first 18 months (30 thereafter) Fibre Broadband (36Mbps Average)

PRICE: 26 a month for the first 18 months (35 thereafter) Fibre Plus Broadband (67Mbps Average)

PRICE: 30 a month for the first 18 months (40 thereafter) Fibre Max Broadband (67Mbps Average)*

PRICE: 42 a month for the first 18 months (52.50 thereafter) * Includes Call Plus + Anytime UK and International calls add-ons.

Customers can optionally add a Pay TV service or various free UK call allowances on top for a few extra pounds per month.
Customer engagement software vendor Pegasystems has added Google to its list of certified cloud platforms.

Pegasystems has already certified Microsoft Azure, Amazon Web Services, and Pivotal Cloud Foundry as alternatives to its own AWS-based Pega Cloud for customers who don't want to run the CRM and other applications on their own systems.

That list has been extended to include Google Cloud Platform.

According to the company. this reinforces Pega's commitment to provide its clients with the flexibility to select the right deployment model that fits their needs and avoid vendor lock-in.

"In their ongoing digital transformation journeys, businesses need the flexibility to accelerate the value of cloud that goes beyond cost," said Pegasystems chief technical systems officer Frank Guerrera.

"Our partnership with Google Cloud allows us to provide clients with the option to leverage the power of Pega on Google Cloud's secure and dynamic cloud platform. This expands our ability to empower clients to choose the right cloud solution that meets the challenges of today and tomorrow."

Customers choosing to run Pega software on a supported cloud benefit from 24/7 customer support, no penalties for migration to or from any supported cloud environment, continuous certification of Pega Platform and all Pega applications on currently supported clouds, and reference architectures, configurations and support documentation.

The company offers an e-book to help customers select the right cloud.
No matter if youre an FPS or MOBA kind of player, global computer manufacturer ASUS has you covered with the announcement of its new ROG Strix Hero II and ROG Strix Scar II high-end gaming laptops.

Gone are the days when a gaming laptop meant you had to carry a tank of a device with you or compromise the framerate compared to your PC-playing competition. At the international COMPUTEX 2018 event in Taiwan on Monday, ASUS announced the latest entrants in its gaming laptop line-up under the Republic of Gaming (ROG) brand: the ROG Strix Hero II and the ROG Strix Scar II.

The two laptops are differentiated by spec and by type of gameplay predominantly played, said Chin-Hao Kung, ASUS EMEA TPR lead.

With the ROG Strix Hero II bravery knows no bounds, and it is designed for MOBA gameplay. With the ROG Strix Scar II precision knows no bounds, and it is designed for FPS gameplay, he said.

MOBA refers to multiplayer online battle arena games like League of Legends, Data 2 or Heroes of the Storm, while FPS is first-person shooter games like the Doom and Call of Duty series.

The machines are subtlety different  the Hero IIs keyboard highlights the QWER keys, while the Scar II distinguishes the WSAD keys.

Differences aside, both models share impressive grunty hardware, with options providing storage ranging up to 512Gb NVMe PCIe 3.0 x 4 SSD and up to 1Tb FireCuda SSHD, video cards up to GeForce GTX 1070 GPUs, RAM up to 32Gb 2666MHz dual-channel SDRAM, and the 8th generation Coffee Lake Intel i7 CPU.

Either way, its a desktop-inspired layout with ergonomically-designed keys with 0.25mm-deep keycap curves, 20-million-keystroke lifespans and N-key rollover to ensure no keyboard lock-ups when multiple keys are pressed.

Design-wise, the laptops feature two contrasting brushed finishes with an illuminated ROG logo, a patented trapezoid-cut lid, a super narrow bezel design that is 2.33cm narrower than previous models, an RGB lightbar that leverages ASUS Aura Sync technology to keep your light patterns in concert across all your ROG peripherals and devices, and an incredible 15.6 full high-definition 144Hz / 3ms panel.

ASUS says these laptops are the first to offer a 144Hz refresh rate and 3ms response time in their display panels.

The company is also particularly proud of the trapezoid-cut lid, explaining a normal laptop lid blocks airflow at the back and may cause overheating in some instances. Its lid instead avoids this problem, improving thermal efficiency by up to 27% over traditional designs.

This thermal efficiency cannot be overstated. Just how the Death Stars weak point was a thermal exhaust port, so too heat is the enemy of gaming. The more powerful your computer, the more heat it generates; the more heat it generates, the more likely it will overheat and shut down.

Yet, to pack so much punch in a compact and portable device, ASUS has employed its research and development smarts to bring about what it labelsHyperCool Pro  upgraded 12v fans with more blades  from 59 to 71 providing 20% faster fan speed, 42.5% more airflow and 92% more air pressure. All this means you can game at maximum frame rates for longer, and your laptop will be cooler and quieter while doing it.

The laptops also feature extended cladding for even cooling, unique heat-pipe designs, patented anti-dust cooling systems based on centrifugal fan modules with two anti-dust tunnels. The fans are ultra-thin with 0.1mm copper cooling fans, half the thickness of regular fans, offering 10% increased surface area for heat dissipation.

The fans can be controlled by the system, but the user also has direct control over them, with silent, balanced and overboots modes available, the latter providing maximum cooling.

To ensure maximum Wi-Fi performance, the laptops offer ROG RangeBoost technology with four antennas and smarts to cover Wi-Fi dead spots, overall providing 30% wider coverage than dual-antenna configurations. ASUS says these are the worlds first gaming laptops to feature multi-antenna Wi-Fi.

The laptops also deliver clear, loud and accurate audio via powerful side-firing speakers delivering immersive sound that is up to 200% louder than previous models, with increased dynamic range and bass.

Both laptops will be available from July 2018 from the ASUS Shop, Harvey Norman and select channel partners. The base model comes in at $2699 with these specs:

i7-8750H processor

16Gb RAM

1Tb SSHD + 256 PCIe storage

GTX 1060 video

FHD 144Hz 3ms panel

The laptops are 36.1 x 26.2 x 2.61cm in size and weigh 2.4kg. They are festooned with connectivity options:

1 x USB 3.1 gen 2 type-C

2 x USB 3.1 gen 1

1 x USB 3.1 gen 2

1 x Mini DisplayPort 1.2

1 x HDMI 2.0

1 x RJ-45 jack

1 x SD card reader

1 x 3.5mm headphone and microphone combo

1 x Kensington lock

iTWire has already had a chance to play with these laptops at COMPUTEX 2018; they were visually stunning, responsive and smooth, and the keyboard and touchpad were a pleasure to operate. iTWire will provide a detailed hands-on review in coming months.

The writer is attending COMPUTEX 2018 as a guest of ASUS.
The US Government could soon ask Chinese telecommunications company ZTE Corporation to pay a fine of US$1.7 billion as part of a deal to allow the firm to start trading again.

Reuters reported that the US Department of Commerce would also want to have unrestricted access to the company's premises to verify that American components were being used as claimed by the company.

In 2017, ZTE paid more than US$2.3 billion to 211 American suppliers.

The US also asked for metrics about the US components used to be posted on a website.

ZTE was hit with a seven-year export ban in April, with the US saying it had not abided by the terms of an agreement reached in 2016 after the company had been found to be flouting US sanctions on selling devices to Iran, North Korea and Cuba.

The company paid a fine of US$1.2 billion for the offence, but did not discipline certain employees as it agreed to do as part of the settlement.

The report said that ZTE would also be asked to appoint a new board and executive team within 30 days. However, it added that the deal had not yet been finalised and the terms could change.

The US and China have been holding talks to try and avert an all-out trade war, with a third round of talks held in Beijing last week.
Philippines, Azerbaijan seek bilateral opportunities

posted June 04, 2018 at 06:35 pm by Othel V. Campos June 04, 2018 at 06:35 pm

The Philippines and Azerbaijan are looking for bilateral opportunities in cross-border trade, including an alternative fuel source for the Philippines and the supply of halal food and fruits. Trade Secretary Ramon Lopez met with Azerbaijan Ambassador Tamerlan Garayev in the last day of May to discuss a possible trading cooperation. Our meeting with Consul Garayev is part of the governments strategy to seek out non-traditional trading partners. We see a lot complementation between our countries, said Lopez.The Philippines is keen on exporting tropical fruits, like bananas and mangoes, to Azerbaijan to expand the countrys market for Halal products. Azerbaijan has a predominantly Muslim population. The Philippines sees the Eurasian country as an alternative source of fuel since oil and natural gas account for around 90 percent of Azerbaijans total exports.

COMMENT DISCLAIMER: Reader comments posted on this Web site are not in any way endorsed by Manila Standard. Comments are views by manilastandard.net readers who exercise their right to free expression and they do not necessarily represent or reflect the position or viewpoint of manilastandard.net. While reserving this publications right to delete comments that are deemed offensive, indecent or inconsistent with Manila Standard editorial standards, Manila Standard may not be held liable for any false information posted by readers in this comments section.
Google has told its staff that it will not renew its deal with the Pentagon to work on Project Maven, a project which provides the military with AI technology to better identify images on the battlefield.

But the company gave no assurance that it would not get involved in similar projects in the future, The Intercept reported.

The company said it would work on Maven until the end of 2019, but the 18-month-old contract would not be renewed.

The announcement was made by Google's cloud chief Diane Greene, at a Friday morning all-hands briefing known internally as the weather report".

GOOGLE MOTTOS: A HISTORY



1999: Don't Be Evil

2003: Try Your Hardest To Not Be Evil

2008: Make A Reasonable Effort To Avoid Being Evil

2013: What Is Evil, Really, When You Get Down To It, I Mean Really

2018: *just a series of high-pitched giggles*  MGK Hockey 1234 (@mightygodking) 28 March 2018

Google isa US$10 billion cloud deal with the Department of Defence which is to be awarded before the end of the year. However, many of the company's employees believe there would be strong objections to providing cloud services to support combat operations.

The company got involved in the Maven project due to its close connections with the Defence Innovation Board through Eric Schmidt, the former chairman of its parent company, Alphabet.

Schmidt was appointed as chairman of the Board in March 2016.

Last week, leaked emails from Google showed that Project Maven would have earned the company up to US$250 million a year, much above the US$15 million figure that was initially made public.

A month after news of the project became public, the Pentagon provided another US$100 million towards the program.

Staff at Google had expressed disquiet over the company's involvement in the project. More than 3000 staff signed a letter submitted to senior management to protest against the decision to get involved in Maven.

In May, a dozen workers quit Google, expressing concern over the use of AI in drone warfare and the company's political decisions and the degree to which the trust of users would be eroded by this decision.
Amaysim has evolved from a mobile phone virtual network operator company into a utilities provider, and is taking advantage of its offerings to make deals to get you to switch.

With a survey conducted for Amaysim of 1011 people nationwide in May 2018 showing that "almost 3 in 5 (57%) of the population are concerned that they are spending too much money due to having their household services such as mobile, energy and broadband with multiple providers, with a further 57% citing that they found the process of managing different utilities time consuming", Amaysim wants to tempt you into trying its energy, gas and solar deals.

The company famously brought the original $40 plan with unlimited talk and text to the market, with 4GB of data, which has since evolved to deliver gigabytes more data and a range of price points, all the way down to its $10 per 28-day deal, alongside its $10 as-you-go plan that has a 365-day lifespan (depending on your usage, of course).

Amaysim is now offering "Aussie households two 15GB Unlimited mobile plans for a year for free (currently valued at $40 for 28 days, that is $1040 annually), when switching their energy to one of Amaysims eligible electricity, gas or solar plans".

Julian Ogrin, chief executive of Amaysim, said: Our research shows that the time of having different providers for your utilities is coming to an end. Australian consumers are ready for the one provider that does it all. The free mobile offer demonstrates just one of the benefits of consolidating your household services into the one provider.

"Amaysim reduces unnecessary stress and hassle from Australian households by creating simple home services under the one roof. Time equals money and if theres a better deal, customers should take it!

(About) 97% of Aussies use up to 15GB of data a month, so we are confident our plan will cover all their mobile needs. Switching to one of our energy plans and receiving two free mobile plans for a year is a fantastic opportunity for couples and families to reduce their household bills.

Amaysim reminds us that it has "broadened its products and services beyond the traditional telco model into a home service provider, with an amazingly simple customer experience. All services feature no lock-in contracts, giving customers total flexibility with their decision".

Naturally, this is a "limited time offer" that is "only available for ten days from 00:01am 4 June until 11:59pm on 14 June".

More information is available at Amaysim here.

Here are the details of the mobile plan in question:

MOBILE PLAN

15GB of data

Unlimited talk & text to standard numbers in Australia

Unlimited international to standard calls to 10 countries.

300 mins international standard calls to a further 22 countries.

RRP: $40/28 days

ENERGY PLAN

Pay-on-time discounts of usage and supply charges:

Electricity:

QLD: 5%

NSW: 8%

VIC: 5%

SA: 9%

Gas:

NSW: 5%

VIC: 5%

Solar:
One-third of the appeals made by those who were slugged with debts by Centrelink, over what has come to be known as the Federal Government's robo-debt scheme, have been upheld by the Administrative Appeals Tribunal.

Statistics provided during Senate Estimates showed that since the program was launched by the government in mid-2016, 461 cases had been decided by the AAT.

Of these, 265 (63.7%) had been left unchanged, 10 (2.4%) varied from the original estimates, and 141 (33.89%) had been set aside, Australian Greens Senator Rachel Siewert said in a statement.

Centrelink sent tens of thousands of letters to people before Christmas in 2016, telling them that their earnings were at variance with what they had declared to the Australian Taxation Office.

This led to the discovery of a large number of errors in the claims made by Centrelink, leading to an inquiry by a Senate panel being set up in February.

The report of the panel, issued in June 2017, called for immediate cessation of the robo-debt program until all the issues reported were fixed.

Siewert said the program had caused a great deal of stress for people who, in many cases, were innocent.

This has caused immense stress to Australians who have accessed the social safety net and had to go back and prove a debt was not owed, often having to find paperwork from years ago to prove innocence," she said.

For a third of debts to be set aside for those who had the courage to actually appeal should raise concerns about other debts. One in three is a significant amount to overturn.

I, for one, have not forgotten that there are many Australians still receiving incorrect or false debts to their detriment, and urge those who receive debt notices to interrogate and challenge the debt.

The government must abandon the automated debt recovery robo-debt program and must reinstate human oversight when it comes to checking debts potentially owed to Centrelink."

A spokesperson from the Department of Human Services said: "As part of a data matching review, people are given ample opportunity to explain their circumstances prior to determining whether there is a debt.

"Importantly, the opportunity for the person to provide information and seek a reassessment remains open.

"Where a debt is reassessed, it does not necessarily mean that the original decision was incorrect, as that decision was based on information available at the time.

"The reviews set aside by the AAT make up less than 0.1% of reviews that have been completed with a debt. Appeals to the AAT (First Review) are merit review proceedings. The parties to such proceedings are able to provide the AAT with fresh evidence (that is, evidence not available at the time of the making of the original review decision). That fresh evidence may lead to the original decision being set aside or varied."
Software behemoth Microsoft has announced that it is acquiring software code repository GitHub for US$7.5 billion (A$9.79 billion) in Microsoft stock.

The announcement had been widely expected, with nearly every technology news site of note reporting it on Monday. The deal is expected to close by the end of 2018.

A statement from Microsoft said GitHub had something in the region of 28 million developers working on 80 million repositories. Microsoft has been one of the bigger code contributors to the site.

Should I buy #GitHub 2018 Home Edition or GitHub 2018 Professional?  PB (@bangsabassi) June 3, 2018

The reaction from open-source developers to the news has not exactly been salutary as can be seen from the embedded tweets and comments on Linux Weekly News.

I have felt a great disturbance in the force. As if millions of Octocat stickers cried out in terror as they were pealed away from laptops. #GitHub pic.twitter.com/ljxyehsNNS  ?Taylor Riggan? (@triggan) June 3, 2018

Microsoft is a developer-first company, and by joining forces with GitHub we strengthen our commitment to developer freedom, openness and innovation, said Satya Nadella, chief executive of Microsoft.

We recognise the community responsibility we take on with this agreement and will do our best work to empower every developer to build, innovate and solve the worlds most pressing challenges.

Microsoft Corporate vice-president Nat Friedman, founder of Xamarin and an open source veteran, will assume the role of GitHub chief executive. GitHubs current chief executive, Chris Wanstrath, will become a Microsoft technical fellow, reporting to executive vice-president Scott Guthrie, to work on strategic software initiatives.

After the deal is closed, Microsoft said it expected GitHubs financials to be reported as part of the Intelligent Cloud segment.

"Microsoft expects the acquisition will be accretive to operating income in fiscal year 2020 on a non-GAAP basis, and to have minimal dilution of less than 1% to earnings per share in fiscal years 2019 and 2020 on a non-GAAP basis, based on the expected close time frame," the company said.

One obvious way to show trustworthiness, Microsoft: open source the GitHub code. People don't use GH because it has secret magic but because everyone's already there; opening it wouldn't change that. And then we can all help fix the little annoyances that drive us mad every day. https://t.co/VgMYi5XxHn  Stuart Langridge (@sil) 3 June 2018

"Non-GAAP excludes expected impact of purchase accounting adjustments, as well as integration and transaction-related expenses. An incremental share buyback, beyond Microsofts recent historical quarterly pace, is expected to offset stock consideration paid within six months after closing. Microsoft will use a portion of the remaining approximately US$30 billion of its current share repurchase authorisation for the purchase."

Photo: courtesy Microsoft
Huawei Australia chairman John Lord has launched a strong defence of the company and its operations, saying that if it were excluded from the 5G network build locally it would be of huge significance for the company.

Lord told Radio National's Breakfast program on Monday that at the moment most of Huawei's business in Australia was 4G.

"And we are providing more than 55% of Australia's 4G requirements across the whole nation," he told interviewer Hamish Macdonald.

Asked what the implications would be in terms of jobs and Huawei's commercial presence if it were denied a role in 5G, Lord refused to speculate.

"The future is all supposition and we certainly hope that is not the case, but as I said it's about 70% of our business, we have about 750 Australians employed," he said. "It's just huge and this is still the main part of our business in Australia: mobile broadband."

Macdonald asked whether a Western telecommunications company would be allowed to play the same role in China that Huawei was seeking to play in Australia.

Said Lord: "They are there. Some of our biggest competitors when we first started off in China were all Western companies. In fact, all the major cities in China were only supplied by Western companies until Huawei got (to a) sufficient size back in about 2000."

When Macdonald said there was a difference with 5G "because of the nature of this being critical infrastructure", Lord said "We would argue that there's a lot of critical infrastructure and as an ex-military person I'm well aware of those. No, we see 5G as the natural next step,a huge leap in technology from 4G."

He added: "We've gone through 2G, 3G 4G, and now into 5G which gives us all the advantages of getting rid of that latency So you get real automatic cars and lots of other benefits."

John Lord: "...it's been reported across the media that Huawei could be a year or 18 months ahead of competitors (in 5G). And that's where we want to stay."

Macdonald again pressed on with a similar query, saying: "There will be physical things run off 5G like the IoT which makes this a far more critical question. Would a Western telco be allowed to play the role in China that you want to play here?"

To which Lord replied: "At the moment, we're running critical things off 4G, and in the same way 5G is going to allow us to do it far better to the benefit of all societies. Already we are running autonomous vehicles, already we are doing supervision of mines and Santos is a big project we have done. (And) Southeast Water, overseeing the water utilities in Melbourne. We're running those off 4G, they'll be done better off 5G. It is a mobile broadband technology."

When Macdonald again asked about Western companies, Lord responded: "They can get into the market, (but) there's no doubt that Huawei has a lead in this, and in fairness, in 5G, it's not just Huawei saying it, but it's been reported across the media that Huawei could be a year or 18 months ahead of competitors. And that's where we want to stay."

In Australia, nearly six years ago, Huawei was denied any role in supplying equipment to the country's national broadband network project, following advice by ASIS, one of Australia's spy agencies

Lord was asked about China's intelligence laws released in June last year, one article of which says: "All organisations and citizens shall in accordance with the law support, co-operate and collaborate with national intelligence work and guard the secrecy of national intelligence they are aware of. The state will protect individuals and organisations that support, co-operate and collaborate with national intelligence work."

After reading this out, Macdonald asked: "Can you see why that might be problematic for Australia?"

Lord said he had a different view: "I see that Chinese law is obeyed in China, in Australia we obey Australian law. in the UK, we obey UK laws.

"We're in Europe in a huge way and we obey their laws. Whichever country or region we're in, we obey the rules and laws of that country. And the US has the same type of rules in place, perhaps not exactly the same, Australia's about to introduce similar laws about persuasion or lobbying, and every country's got the right to do that within their own boundaries."

Asked whether the law did not extend to the company from China, Lord replied: "It's not a problem because when you say reach through that technology, we provide those vendors, Optus, Vodafone, TPG, maybe Telstra, with equipment.

"They operate the equipment. Now we may do maintenance, which is done by the more than 700 employees who are Australian, or we sub-contract it. We don't have Chinese nationals doing the maintenance on the equipment we provide to the major telcos, and they are the operators, not us."

Macdonald pressed Lord on software updates to equipment, saying these would originate in China. But Lord pointed out that he was wrong. "Well, no, (the updates come) from all different parts of the world. We actually run 14 R&D centres around the world of which only half are in China. We have them in Italy, the UK, Russia, our R&D centres are spread, we don't duplicate," he said.

Macdonald also pointed to article 12 of the same law which says that "National intelligence agencies may establish co-operative relationships with relevant individuals and organisations and entrust them to undertake relevant work."

And he added: "This is so clearly a problem."

But Lord said he did not see it as a problem "in Australia because Australian law says you can't do that. And Huawei obeys the law in every country that it operates. We are in more than 170 countries, providing 45 of the 50 big telcos with their equipment. If we do one thing wrong, our business is dead."

Asked what Huawei would follow in Australia if a Chinese law conflicted with an Australian law, Lord had a pointblank answer: "The Australian law."

When Macdonald expressed cynicism that the Australian public would believe this, Lord replied: "I certainly hope the Australian public does (believe us). Same as we would expect our major companies in other countries to obey those laws. And if they are uncomfortable with them, pull out."

Lord said Huawei had agreed to oversight by the UK spy agency GCHQ, "because that was the way to enter the market and be as open as possible. And that's what we are offering around the world. Canada does it in a slightly different way, it has a third party (doing the oversight).

"Spain's Telefonica uses a lab that we have in Huawei which is completely sealed and they take over. We are offering this to all countries around the world. We believe that all telcos should be open, and equipment should be checked. We build equipment on the supposition that nations or companies or rogues will try and crack your equipment. So the one that has the best cyber security is the best business."

Macdonald touched on the advice given to Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull by the US when he visited that country, saying, "Reports say they warned him that Huawei's involvement in Australia's 5G network was one of the top two risks to Australian and US cyber security."

He asked how Turnbull could ignore that kind of advice coming from Australia's closest security ally.

Said Lord: "I haven't spoken to the PM since his return. I have had a lot of discussions over previous years with Malcolm Turnbull and he is quite knowledgeable on telecommunications. He (Turnbull) also spoke to (British Prime Minister Theresa) May and (Canada's Prime Minister Justin) Trudeau in London after that US meeting. So he may well have an opinion from their observations, saying they are doing trials with Huawei for 5G in Canada and the UK, (both of) which are part of the Five Eyes."

He said a decision on such things was up to Turnbull and his government, adding "There's a lot going on in the US at the moment, trade wars and deals and things. So there's many reasons why the US may give advice like that."

Huawei faced problems in the US in January, with a deal for AT&T to sell its phones on plans being cancelled at the last minute.

And following this, Verizon was reported to have yielded to pressure from the US Government to stop selling Huawei devices. In February, US intelligence chiefs warned against the use of Huawei equipment.

Asked about Huawei founder Ren Zhengfei, Lord pointed out that contrary to Macdonald's assertion that Ren was a telecommunications technician  and thus "something that people saw as a concern"  he was actually a construction engineer.

"Ren and I often have a joke about this, because of course I was in the military too, and he was a very junior officer, only a major," he said.

"Now Ren Zhengfei is a construction engineer, not a telecommunications engineer and to this day, Ren approves every building built in Huawei personally because that's his passion: architecture. As I said he's a construction engineer. Yes, he was in the military along with all young men of his age and then he was pensioned off from the military when they reduced its size."

Lord denied that Huawei had any ongoing contracts with the Chinese military. "No, we don't make any military equipment. We may sell them phones, I'm not sure, but I do hope they use Huawei mobiles. But we do not make any military equipment at all. What we make all round the world is equipment for commercial purchases."

He also said there were no joint R&D ventures with the military. "Not as far as I know and definitely the briefings I've had with my fellow global board members, no, we're not. We do commercial R&D in our own facilities," he said, adding that he had visited five or six of the company's R&D facilities.

Macdonald raised the issue of forthcoming legislation in Australia, both the Telecommunications Sector Security Reforms, which has been described as an anti-Huawei bill, and laws to stop lobbying, and asked if Lord saw the former legislation as an anti-Huawei law.

Lord said it was true that the TSSR had been described that way. "The answer would be no, we support that bill, we actually put a submission into the initial draft bill many years ago, we've worked with the communications bodies within Canberra who lobby for the industry and accept what that bill means and support it for the industry," he replied.

"Huawei, as a company, has no difficulty with any of these laws, we will obey all laws. Perhaps John Lord will look at the latest legislation on individuals because it would be sad if directors of companies cannot speak to politicians without being labelled as lobbyists. A director of a company will always want to put that company's views across."

Lord was also quizzed about using lobbyists in Australia and taking politicians to China to see Huawei's facilities. He said he did not know of any political lobbying firm that Huawei was employing now.

"We often employ individuals and we have, in the past, employed companies to help us with Canberra, but we are not lobbying any particular company at the moment except I, as the chairman and chief executive, visiting politicians and explaining where we are."

He said politicians, academics and journalists had all been taken to China to see Huawei's facilities, adding that he personally had taken about a dozen politicians in the last seven years.

Regarding expenses for these trips, he said the non-politicians had to get themselves to China, "and it is only the actual Huawei bits that we cover. Obviously, you come into our campus which is huge and we give you lunch".
Gamers are taking up too much bandwidth, according to the NBN Co chief.

The chief of NBN Co, the company rolling out Australia's national broadband network, has blamed gamers for congestion at peak times on the fixed wireless network and hinted that they may be subject to slower speeds to fix the problem.

Chief executive Bill Morrow told a parliamentary hearing in Sydney on Monday afternoon that any heavy users who would be targeted by a fair use policy were "gamers predominantly", the Australian Broadcasting Corporation reported.

But this is at variance with what the NBN Co itself published in December 2016. In a blog post about the amount of data used by gamers, the company wrote: "Believe it or not, some of the biggest online games use very little data while youre playing compared to streaming HD video or even high-fidelity audio.

"Where streaming 4K video can use as much as 7 gigabytes (GB) per hour and high-quality audio streaming gets up to around 125 megabytes (MB) per hour, (but usually sits at around half that) certain online games use as little as 10MB per hour."

On Monday, Morrow said: "While people are gaming it is a high bandwidth requirement that is a steady streaming process.

"This is where you can do things, to where you can traffic shape  where you say, 'no, no, no, we can only offer you service when you're not impacting somebody else'."

But he also said the NBN Co did not know about the behaviour of end users to be sure that they were gamers, referring instead to "people who do have familiarity with it".

When he was told by Labor regional communications spokesperson Stephen Jones that he had painted gamers as a problem, Morrow then denied this.

"I said there were super users out there consuming terabytes of data and the question is should we actually groom those down? It's a consideration," Morrow responded.

Labor's Shadow Communications Minister Michelle Rowland and Jones jointly described Morrow's singling out of gamers as "both misguided and disappointing".

"It beggars belief that Australians are being categorised and criticised for using the Internet," they said in a statement, pointing also to the NBN Co's own statements on gaming which iTWire has already mentioned above.

"This ill-judged assertion was made despite the Cisco Visual Network Index forecasting that online gaming would only account for 2.9% consumer traffic in 2018, up from 2.4% in 2017."

Rowland and Jones said the on-and-off messaging highlighted "a concerning pattern of hype and under-delivery by the public relations arm of the company, which for too long has placed spin above substance at the taxpayers expense".

"Regional Australians want NBN Co to focus on configuring its network to deliver the best possible experience," they said.

"Making promises to deliver a 100 Mbps upgrade path  then 'killing it'  and now taking a swipe at online gamers for simply using the internet, is a misguided strategy to achieve this objective."
Justice Bernette Ho was declared by the Department of Foreign Affairs as the first Philippine-born and newest judge in the Court of Queens Bench of Alberta in Calgary, Canada. Philippine Consul General to Calgary Gilberto Asuque, who attended Hos swearing-in ceremony, said that it was a great honor and pride to have a Filipino lawyer in Canada. I would like to express the great honor and pride not only of Filipinos in Canada but also in the Philippines and all over the world for having Justice Ho as the first Philippine-born Canadian to hold a high judicial position, Asuque said. Ho took her oath of office and allegiance to Her Majesty The Queen in a swearing-in ceremony in May 2018 before Associate Chief Justice John Rooke and the other justices at the Calgary Courts Center.Asuque said, Ho was only seven months old when her Filipino parents and four siblings migrated to Calgary, Canada in 1971. Ho completed her early education in Cochrane, Alberta and completed her BA Communication Studies from the University of Calgary in 1992 served, and her law studies from the University of Alberta in 1995.
The Republican and Democratic primaries are June 12. There have been some polling location changes announced:
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In the early years of the American republic, James Madison warned his fellow countrymen that their chosen system of governance would only survive if they adhered to the principles of representation and kept factionalism in check. In the era of Donald Trump, it would seem that these two conditions are no longer being met.

Berkeley, Ca. (Project Syndicate)  From the very beginning of the American experiment, Alexander Hamilton, one of the new countrys founders, had serious doubts about democracy. It is impossible to read the history of the petty republics of Greece and Italy without feeling sensations of horror and disgust at the  state of perpetual vibration between the extremes of tyranny and anarchy, he wrote in The Federalist Papers No. 9.

But Hamilton went on to praise such principles as, The regular distribution of power into distinct departments; the introduction of legislative balances and checks; the institution of courts composed of judges holding their offices during good behavior; the representation of the people in the legislature. These, he wrote, are means, and powerful means, by which the excellences of republican government may be retained and its imperfections lessened or avoided.

And yet those improvements in the science of politics that Hamilton identified could apply just as well to monarchies as to republics, and in fact emerged from monarchies. The Plantagenet kings who ruled England between the twelfth and fifteenth centuries professionalized the judiciary, and established the precedent of securing parliamentary consent before levying taxes. Likewise, the professional bureaucracy and distribution of power that one would expect to find in a republic were also enshrined in the Council of the Indies and the Council of Castile under the sixteenth-century Spanish monarch Philip II.

If Hamiltons favored political institutions had just as much potential to improve monarchy as to improve republicanism, then why did he have so much confidence in the latter form of governance? He never addressed that question, but another founder, James Madison, devoted considerable attention to it.

Judging by his contributions to The Federalist Papers, Madisons position revolved around two core ideas: representation, which he welcomed; and faction, which he warned against. With respect to representation, Madison surmised that, The public voice, pronounced by the representatives of the people, will be more consonant to the public good than if pronounced by the people themselves.

Madison expected elected representatives to look outward, assessing the peoples interests and drawing on their knowledge and ideas. But he also hoped that elected officials would look inward, to the government and to one another, to ensure that policies were well crafted. Through prudent representation, a republican form of government can enjoy the advantages of professionalization and expertise, as well as new ideas from society, as it pursues the public interest.

What do you think?

At the same time, Madison stressed the importance of avoiding factionalism, which he defined as, some common impulse of passion, or of interest, adverse to the rights of other citizens, or to the permanent and aggregate interests of the community. A monarchy or aristocracy, of course, is nothing but a faction  one that is firmly in control and under little pressure to work for the public interest or consider new ideas. But in a republic, Madison observed, a faction could rule only if it commanded an electoral majority. That is why, when you take in a greater variety of parties and interests, he wrote, you make it less probable that a majority of the whole will have a common motive to invade the rights of other citizens.

The problem, of course, is that majorities with a malign common motive emerge nonetheless. That is how the US got the near-century-long period of Jim Crow racial persecution following the Civil War, the herding of Japanese-Americans into concentration camps during World War II, and other shameful episodes.

Or consider what today we would call the ethnic cleansing of Cherokee land in the early nineteenth century  an act of state-sanctioned forced migration known as the Trail of Tears. When the US Supreme Court ruled in 1832 that the Cherokee were in fact a sovereign nation, then-President Andrew Jackson simply ignored it. The decision of the Supreme Court has fell still born, he told Brigadier General John Coffee, and cannot coerce Georgia to yield to its mandate.

Jackson thus rejected a decision handed down by what Hamilton would call judges holding their offices during good behavior. In doing so, he confirmed Madisons fear that if bureaucracy, established procedure, and deliberation cannot transcend the passions of a majority faction, then there can be no republican remedy for the diseases most incident to republican government.

Meanwhile, it has been more than a century since the constitutional and semi-constitutional monarchies of Europe faced their own political crises. In the event, they did not move toward centralized socialist dictatorships or strongman plebiscitary ethnocracies, but rather toward representative parliamentary democracy.

The American experiment has not yet reached a point of existential crisis. But there can be little doubt that the US in the Trump era is experiencing the problems that Madison foresaw when he warned that enlightened statesmen capable of making clashing interests  subservient to the public good  will not always be at the helm.

The two primary advantages of republican democracy that Madison identified  prudent, informed representation and the transcendence of factionalism  seem to have gone missing. For republican democracy to remain the best form of government, they will need to be rediscovered.
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Once upon a time, if it was big and it was a technological advance, Id expect to hear it was happening in the United States. As Trump flushes the toilet on true American greatness (its intellectual capital, ability to attract talent from around the world, its open-mindedness and freedom for innovation, its commitment to the environment) and watches it swirl away into the sewer of hate and backwardness, other world powers are chomping at the bit to rise. India is one of them.

The Hindu holy book, the Bhagavad-Gita, described God this way If the light of a thousand suns were to burst forth at once in the sky, that would be like the splendor of that mighty one.

India is in the process of letting the light reflected in PV panels like thousand suns light up its society, in the process helping save the earth from deadly carbon dioxide emissions.

Mercom India reports that five of the worlds largest solar power installations are now being constructed in India, according to the US-based Institute for Energy Economics and Financial Analysis (IEEFA). The five, among the 14 largest such solar farms being implemented now around the world, include These are: Bhadla Industrial Solar Park (2,225 MW), Pavagada Solar Park (2 GW), Ananthapuramu  I Solar Park (1.5 GW), Kadapa Ultra Mega Solar Park (1 GW), and Rewa Solar Park (750 MW).

And there is morea sixth and biggest of all in the pipeline. India has approved the building of a new 5000 megawatt solar farm in the northwestern state of Gujarat, which on completion will be the largest in India, more than twice as big as the massive 2,255 MW Bhadla solar park now being built in Rajasthan. Gujarat state has 300 sunny days a year and also has strong wind potential.

India is not forging ahead on the solar front as fast as China. But in 2017 for the first time more solar capacity was installed than new coal. India intends to have 275 gigawatts of renewable capacity by 2027 and is counting on solar to provide two-thirds of it. This configuration differs from Germany and the US, where wind far outstrips solar progress so far.

But India is innovating by auctioning 2.5 gigawatts of wind-solar hybrid power, combining the two. The advantages of wind-solar are that the installation cost is 15% less than pure solar or pure wind, and they are significantly more efficient together (wind often picks up at night or in cloudier seasons, replacing lost pv generation).

Coal and gas for electricity generation now make up two-thirds of Indias capacity, but in ten years it will fall to only 43%, according to Mercom and the study.

Solar at the moment makes up nearly 7 percent of Indias electricity generation capacity, or 22 gigawatts. But the solar contribution nearly doubled in just a year, from March 2017 to March 2018, from 3.76 percent. At this rate, the IEEFA predictions seem very conservative and could easily be rapidly outstripped.

Solar energy only accounts for about 1.3% of American electricity generation.

Featured Image: India One Solar Thermal Power Plant in Rajasthan, India. WIKIMEDIA COMMMONS



Bonus video:

Wildfilms India: Massive Solar plant at Sangareddy in Telangana: aerial view of Indias renewables focus
LONDON and CALGARY, Alberta, June 04, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Mkango Resources Ltd. (AIM:MKA) (TSXV:MKA) (the "Company" or "Mkango") is pleased to announce that a major diamond drilling programme has commenced at the Songwe Hill Rare Earths Project (Songwe) in Malawi. The drilling programme is a key component of the Feasibility Study for Songwe, which is being fully funded by Talaxis Limited (Talaxis), a subsidiary of Noble Group Ltd.

The drilling programme is for a minimum of 5,000 metres and will be focused on infill, step-out and geotechnical drilling. Over 50 drill pads have been constructed along with new access roads and enlarged camp infrastructure.

Mkango completed two successful drilling programmes at Songwe in 2011 and 2012, totaling approximately 6,850 metres and culminating in a maiden Mineral Resource Estimate. Mkango is targeting completion of an updated Mineral Resource Estimate by the end of 2018.

On Mkango publishing an NI 43-101 technical report in relation to the updated Mineral Resource Estimate, Talaxis will invest a further 7 million to fund completion of the Feasibility Study for Songwe.

In coming weeks, Mkango will be hosting investor and analyst site visits to Songwe and the Thambani Uranium-Tantalum-Niobium Project, also in Malawi.

William Dawes, CEO, commented: We are delighted to announce the commencement of the drilling programme at Songwe. This is a culmination of extensive preparatory work completed over recent months and we are excited to kick off what will be the largest drill programme to date at Songwe. Mkango is fully funded to completion of a feasibility study with a clearly defined pathway to production. We look forward to keeping the market updated as we progress through the drilling programme and other major milestones.

About Mkango Resources Limited

Mkango's primary business is the exploration for rare earth elements and associated minerals in the Republic of Malawi, a country whose hospitable people have earned it a reputation as the warm heart of Africa. The Company holds interests in three exclusive prospecting licenses in Malawi, the Phalombe licence, the Thambani licence and the Chimimbe Hill licence.

The main exploration target in the 80% held Phalombe licence is the Songwe Hill rare earths deposit, which features carbonatite-hosted rare earth mineralisation and was subject to previous exploration in the late 1980s. Mkango completed an updated Pre-Feasibility Study for the project in November 2015 and a Feasibility Study is currently underway, the initial phases of which include a major drilling programme.

Under the terms of an agreement with Talaxis, Talaxis will fully fund the Feasibility Study for Songwe by investing 12 million for a 49% interest in the project (via Mkango subsidiary Lancaster Exploration Ltd). Talaxis will also have the option to acquire a further 26% interest by arranging funding for project development including funding the equity component thereof. If Talaxis exercises its option, Mkango will retain a 25% interest, free carried to production. To-date, Talaxis has invested 5 million, which is funding the initial phase of the Feasibility Study, for a 20% interest in the project with Mkango holding 80%.

By investing a further 2 million, Talaxis will acquire a 49% interest in Maginito Ltd, a new subsidiary of Mkango focused on neodymium alloy powders, magnets and other technologies. This includes the collaboration with Metalysis Ltd announced in September 2017, which is focused on advanced alloys using neodymium or praseodymium with other elements for permanent magnet manufacturing. Permanent magnets are critical materials for most electric vehicles, direct drive wind turbines and many other high growth applications. Neodymium is a key rare earth component at Songwe. To date, Talaxis has invested 1 million for a 24.5% interest in Maginito with Mkango holding 75.5%.

The main exploration targets in Mkangos remaining two 100% held licences are, in the Thambani licence, uranium, niobium, tantalum and zircon and, in the Chimimbe Hill licence, nickel and cobalt.

For more information, please visit www.mkango.ca.

Market Abuse Regulation (MAR) Disclosure

Certain information contained in this announcement may have been deemed inside information for the purposes of Article 7 of Regulation (EU) No 596/2014 until the release of this announcement.

Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements



This news release contains forward-looking statements (within the meaning of that term under applicable securities laws) with respect to Mkango, its business and the Project. Generally, forward looking statements can be identified by the use of words such as plans, expects or is expected, scheduled, estimates intends, anticipates, believes, or variations of such words and phrases, or statements that certain actions, events or results can, may, could, would, should, might or will, occur or be achieved, or the negative connotations thereof. Forward looking statements in this news release include statements with respect to the global market for products using the rare earth metals the Company is exploring for, completion of the feasibility study and of the transactions contemplated in the Agreement, as well as the use of proceeds from the investments into the Company by Talaxis and the timing of such expenditures. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking statements, as there can be no assurance that the plans, intentions or expectations upon which they are based will occur. By their nature, forward-looking statements involve numerous assumptions, known and unknown risks and uncertainties, both general and specific, that contribute to the possibility that the predictions, forecasts, projections and other forward-looking statements will not occur, which may cause actual performance and results in future periods to differ materially from any estimates or projections of future performance or results expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Such factors and risks include, without limiting the foregoing, market demand for the metals and associated downstream products for which Mkango is exploring, researching and developing, the positive results of a feasibility study on the Project, delays in obtaining financing or governmental or stock exchange approvals. The forward-looking statements contained in this news release are made as of the date of this news release. Except as required by law, the Company disclaims any intention and assumes no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by applicable law. Additionally, the Company undertakes no obligation to comment on the expectations of, or statements made by, third parties in respect of the matters discussed above.

For further information on Mkango, please contact:

Mkango Resources Limited

William Dawes

Chief Executive Officer

This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

UK: +44 207 3722 744

Canada: +1 403 444 5979

www.mkango.ca

@MkangoResources

Alexander Lemon

President

This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Blytheweigh

Financial Public Relations

Tim Blythe, Camilla Horsfall, Nick Elwes

UK: +44 207 138 3204

SP Angel Corporate Finance LLP

Nominated Adviser and Joint Broker

Jeff Keating, Caroline Rowe

UK: +44 20 3470 0470

Alternative Resource Capital

Joint Broker

Alex Wood, Rob Collins

UK: +44 20 7186 9004; +44 20 7186 9001

The TSX Venture Exchange has neither approved nor disapproved the contents of this press release. Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

This press release does not constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to buy any equity or other securities of the Company in the United States. The securities of the Company will not be registered under the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the U.S. Securities Act) and may not be offered or sold within the United States to, or for the account or benefit of, U.S. persons except in certain transactions exempt from the registration requirements of the U.S. Securities Act.
Jinggoy chided for badmouthing Luy

posted June 04, 2018 at 11:05 pm by Maricel Cruz June 04, 2018 at 11:05 pm

The Sandiganbayan on Monday chided former senator Jinggoy Estrada for badmouthing whistle-blower Benhur Luy, who testified against the former legislator in the plunder case in connection with the alleged pork barrel scam. Estrada blurted out, gago while Luy was being cross-examined by defense lawyer Paul Mar Arias. Associate Justice Rafael Lagos heard Estrada said the cuss word, prompting him to tell the former senator, Mr. Estrada, do not make any side comment. I will cite you in contempt. I am sorry, sir, replied Estrada, who attended his first hearing after returning from a 31-day trip in the United States.Arias tried to destroy Luys credibility during the cross examination. Luy earlier testified before the anti-graft court that he had personal knowledge that Estrada received kickbacks when he channeled his Priority Development Assistance Fund or pork barrel projects to the fake non-government organizations of alleged scam mastermind Janet Lim-Napoles between 2004 to 2012.

COMMENT DISCLAIMER: Reader comments posted on this Web site are not in any way endorsed by Manila Standard. Comments are views by manilastandard.net readers who exercise their right to free expression and they do not necessarily represent or reflect the position or viewpoint of manilastandard.net. While reserving this publications right to delete comments that are deemed offensive, indecent or inconsistent with Manila Standard editorial standards, Manila Standard may not be held liable for any false information posted by readers in this comments section.
An important event of the transitional justice week was the start of trial in Tunisia in the case of Kamel Matmati, who was kidnapped by former president Ben Alis police, died under torture 27 years ago and his body disappeared without a trace.

Kamel Matmatis case was transferred by the Truth and Dignity Commission on March 2 to the specialized chamber at the court in Gabes. This trial is the first before a specialized chamber and so is seen as a test case. The 14 accused, including ex-president Ben Ali, his interior minister Abdallah Kallel, former police chief Mohamed Ali Ganzoui and state security chief Ezzedine Jenaieh, are all absent. This absence says a lot about the culture of impunity in Tunisia and the power of the security services, according to Amna Guellali, Tunisia director of Human Rights Watch.

The charges are serious. Presiding judge Habib Ben Yahia, referring to the report of the Truth Commissions investigation unit, said they were accused of having participated in crimes against humanity, torture, homicide and forced disappearance.

The investigations found that Kamel Matmati died under torture a few hours after his arrest. But to cover up the crime, the police made the family believe he was still alive. His mother only learned the truth 17 years after his death. I went desperately round all the prisons in the country looking for him, she says. I was almost living at the Interior Ministry, the Tunis Tribunal or the corridors of the human rights council. My questions all went without answers. Matmatis wife left food and clothes for him in all the police stations and prisons in Gabes.

His daughter, who was five when he disappeared, asks like the rest of the family that his body can be recovered. I never spoke the word daddy before, because he was nowhere, she says. I would like to be able to do it at last in front of his coffin.

This shows once again how necessary it is for victims and their families that justice be done, even if this trial has not been covered as it deserves by the Tunisian media. On national television, it was given only a short item at the end of the news bulletin. Other media coverage was weak or absent.

UN judges

But justice is not a universal and infallible recipe, as pointed out by JusticeInfo editorial advisor Pierre Hazan, who questions the way the United Nations selects its judges. International criminal justice puts forward the idea of universal, detached justice delivered by judges who are themselves completely independent and impartial because they are not part of the reality of societies at war whose crimes they judge, he writes. But the practices of the United Nations, international and mixed tribunals are questionable in terms of this image.

A closer look reveals that UN selection of judges is often subject to pressure from different interest groups. As JusticeInfo wrote in a previous article, Swiss judge Robert Roth was forced to resign because, in the eyes of the court president, the fact his wife is Jewish could taint public perception of an independent, impartial tribunal charged with prosecuting crimes in Lebanon.

The last example this week of a country in need of justice and reconciliation is Egypt, where the president has just got himself elected in an electoral mascarade. In an interview, human rights defender Mohamed Lotfy, whose wife Amal Fathy has been imprisoned to intimidate her, explains: Many people thought the regime would calm down after its victory. But it is continuing the same way. Political activists and civil society live in fear again, because a new threshold has been crossed with repression that would have been unimaginable a year ago. It is really scary. The media are controlled, while the authorities are also restricting access more and more to Internet and social media.

Faced with this assault on democracy, the international community remains silent. Its very disappointing that there is so little reaction, says Lofty, because the absence of democratic space could well give new impetus to the terrorists that the government wants to fight.
Update on network resources and library status

Monday, June 4, 2018



The historic Farrell Library portion of Hale Library before May 22, 2018. | Download this photo.





MANHATTAN  Following the May 22 roof fire at Hale Library, most of the shared network services are available for students, faculty and staff. Some programs are still being evaluated or are undergoing maintenance. A list of operational systems and frequently asked IT questions is available on the IT Services blog.

With an increase in network activity starting today, it is possible for stressed equipment to fail, which may cause temporary outages. Please be patient if an unplanned outage occurs. IT Services is monitoring all network equipment and continues to order and replace equipment as needed.

Read about library services after the Hale Library Fire.






The Department of Foreign Affairs assured the family of murdered Henry John Acorda, an overseas Filipino worker in Slovakia, that it will do everything to make sure that his murder will be brought to justice. In a statement, the DFA also assured that the agency has already provided a lawyer to handle the case and assist the family in preparing for the repatriation of Acordas remains. The Consulate has already discussed Acordas case with local lawyers, the DFA said. We give our assurance to Henrys family that we will do everything to make sure that those responsible for his death are brought to justice, the DFA said.Based on the report of the Philippine Embassy in Vienna, Acorda succumbed to injuries he sustained after he was beaten up in a street in Slovakias capital city, Bratislava. On May 26, Acorda was attacked by two men when he tried to defend two women they were harassing.
Jim Rose writes in Stuff:

The new Government is deeply troubled by the 30 per cent increase in the prison muster since 2011. But nearly all those additional prisoners are gang members, who are now where they belong.

The number of gang members in prison has increased by 350 per cent since 2011; from 1051 in April 2011 to 3711 in April 2017 (see graphic). These are violent career criminals getting what they deserve.

What is important to note is that the number of prisoners without any gang affiliations has barely increased at all since 2011  by 5 per cent, from 6020 to 6353. That is no crisis.




By Kang Seung-woo







Multicultural Family Music Broadcasting, run by Woongjin Group, broadcast live Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte's meeting with his fellow Filipinos living in Korea, Sunday.







Duterte, who arrived in Korea earlier in the day for a three-day visit, attended the event in Seoul to commemorate the 120th anniversary of Philippine Independence Day, where he was hailed by the Filipino community here, comprised of workers, students, professionals, missionaries and marriage migrants.







According to the Woongjin Foundation, the music broadcasting program streamed it live Facebook page to the world after it obtained permission to do so by the Philippine Embassy in Korea.







Woongjin began broadcasting the music program as a communication tool to help foreign residents here settle stably in the country and overcome their homesickness.







Currently, the 24/7 program is available in eight languages -- Chinese, Vietnamese, Filipino, Thai, Japanese, Mongolian, Arabic and Russian -- through 22 channels on six media -- internet, satellite broadcasting, internet protocol TV, cable TV, smart TV and smartphone.







The programs are about Korean culture and traditions and provide daily tips on life in the country, news about the eight countries it covers, Korean-language classes and K-pop for foreign residents and people overseas.







According to the foundation, the broadcasts for multicultural families have been emerging as a must-do item among foreigners in Korea, as evidenced by the combined number of listeners that neared 50 million as of last month.







On the back of its success, the broadcasting of multicultural music has won the Migration Advocacy and Media Awards three times in 2011, 2015 and 2017.







The prize was conceived in 2011 by the Commission on Filipinos Overseas to recognize the significant role of the media in raising public awareness of issues related to Filipino migration, the challenges of migration and development, and advocating the cause and promoting a positive image of Filipinos overseas.






By Kim Ji-myung





The on-again off-again June 12 talks between North Korean leader Kim Jong-un and U.S. President Donald Trump are just nine days away. The venue is chosen and the main agenda is under discussion.



However, we know that anything can happen before the meeting actually takes place in Singapore as planned.



In my Feb. 10 column, "Post-crisis prophecy of unification," I introduced forecasts on national unification made by famed figures. A famous 1975 prophecy of a Buddhist master-monk was that Korea would have a lady president; and then near the end of her presidency, unification would come. Recently another renowned fortuneteller predicted that unification is just around the corner.



Looking back, numerous international symposia were held to learn lessons from the German experience and to prepare Korea for unification since the fall of the Berlin Wall in October 1990.



Are we ready to face the reality of a unified Korea?



As of now, even if unification is realized, not many Koreans would portray a country where people from the North Korea and South Korea will move immediately to the other side of the peninsula to form a mixed community. Some argue that maybe South Korea and China will need to reinforce the borders to prevent the movement of people.



As the German case shows, integrating long-separated people into one country, physically and mentally, will take more than a few decades.



An Australian scholar came up with a calculation that the historical unification alone would have a cost of around $3 trillion.



A survey by the Asan Institute made in 2014 showed that less than 35 percent of Koreans in their 20s were willing to pay additional taxes to fund the enormous projected cost, although more than 70 percent of them expressed interest in unification.



Previous governments tried but failed to introduce a unification tax to prepare for the $3 trillion cost, which equals almost all of South Korea's annual national income.



Newspaper companies began their own projects in preparation for national unification.



One of the leading conservative dailies in South Korea, the Chosun Ilbo, launched a massive "unification is the future" campaign in 2014. The "Unification and Sharing Foundation" was created in 2015. Some 1.7 million people donated, raising 313.7 billion won. The foundation has supported unification-related activities by individuals and organizations.



On the other hand, the Joong-ang Ilbo's approach is non-financial but very creative. The 1090 Peace and Unification Campaign was launched in March 2013. The core of the campaign comprise volunteers who are ready to donate their expertise and talent to the North Korean people when possible.



The name "1090" refers to "all people" from their 10s to their 90s. Their catch phrase is "North Korea in my daily life, exchanges and unity in my life."



A campaign leader explained the basic concept. "We will begin by asking what we can do if we are able to communicate with North Korea once it becomes unified," he said.



"The 1090 movement will become a grassroots unification movement that will resolve the conflicts between South and North Korea through resolution of inter-Korean conflicts through the revitalization of youth unification education," said Hong Seok-hyun, a 1090 advisor.



The members prepare themselves with practical knowledge about the North Korean people  what they need in everyday life such as items and services for their healthcare, work such as farming, husbandry, forestation, useful learning of foreign languages including English.



The lecture series "Knowing North Korea in Life" is supported by the 1090 Movement, Sookmyung Women's University and Duksung Women's University. The lectures cover diverse topics about life in North Korean. They are offered on an Open Course Ware online.



College students formed a North Korea study society to gain deeper understanding of the daily lives of people who live in the northern part of the peninsula, which is different from students' ideology study in the 1980s.



Although critical issues such as human rights, the risks and pains of those North Korean refugees and South Koreans still held in the North have remained un-tabled in inter-Korean talks, each of us needs to be prepared for the time of unification.



The writer (Heritagekorea21@gmail.com) is the chairwoman of the Korea Heritage Education Institute (K*Heritage).


A former sex worker was made a dame in the Queens Birthday honors list in New Zealand on Monday, in recognition of her services to the sex industry. Catherine Healy was instrumental in bringing about New Zealands 2003 decriminalizing of sex work and the introduction of some of the most liberal prostitution laws in the world. But the 62-year-old said she was surprised at the honor, which officially makes her a dame companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit. Its not something I would have expected, she told Radio New Zealand. In fact, I always say I expect to be arrested at dawn, not to have this kind of tremendous honor and I was just very affected, very touched. Healy has led the New Zealand Prostitutes Collective since 1989 and her honors citation said she had built it into a globally respected public health provider.

She spearheaded the campaign for the 2003 law reform which allowed brothels and street workers to operate legally.The reform meant sex workers were covered by employment, health and safety laws, giving them rights they had never previously enjoyed. Healy said her new title showed how much attitudes had changed. This honor, and to have it given to me, is about saying, Okay, its okay, you can come in from the cold, you and yours, she told the national broadcaster. New Zealand awards honors twice a yearat New Year and to mark the official birthday of Queen Elizabeth II in early June. Other recipients honored on Monday included former prime minister Bill English, who was made a knight.
OLD TIES, NEW ALLIES. President Rodrigo Duterte (left) reaches for a hand shake with South Korean President Moon Jae-in after a meeting at the presidential Blue House in Seoul June 4, 2018. Duterte and Moon met for the first time. AFP

The Philippines and South Korea signed four agreements, including a $172.64-million loan for the new Cebu international port, during President Rodrigo Dutertes visit to Seoul, Malacanang on Monday said. Foreign Affairs Undersecretary Ernesto Abella said the signing of the accords on agriculture, trade, transportation and science and technology, were witnessed by Duterte and South Korean President Moon Jae-in. With the MOU on agricultural cooperation signed today, various activities are now being lined up, including technology transfer on mechanization and irrigation, said Agriculture Secretary Manny Pinol. In a speech before Filipinos at the Grand Hilton Hotel in Seoul, Duterte said the Philippines is considering buying helicopters from South Korea to boost the capability of the Armed Forces of the Philippines. Duterte is on a three-day visit to Seoul to further strengthen Philippine-South Korean bilateral ties, especially on trade, investments and defense and security. The Philippines was supposed to purchase 23 helicopters from Canada but Duterte ordered the cancellation of the $234-million deal in February after the Canadian government set conditions that the choppers should not be used for combat operations. You know, originally we had them. We ordered Bell [helicopters] from Canada. They said they will deliver Bell helicopters but you cannot use it against you own citizens, the President said. The Canadian government said the choppers should be used only for air ambulance but Duterte said the Philippines has to protect its citizens from enemies of the state. My citizens are joining the New Peoples Army, the communists, and they are fighting [against the] government and killing my soldiers and my policemen and civilians. Its a dirty war and the people are dying, he said.Duterte said the country is also facing the problem of terrorism, which he predicted would remain in the next 10 to 15 years.The President thanked the South Korean government for treating well the more than 66,000 Filipinos living and working in Korea. I would like to thank [the South Korean] government for hosting so many Filipinos here and keeping them safe here, Duterte said. Accompanied by his Cabinet members, Duterte was welcomed by nearly 2,000 flag-carrying and cheering Filipinos who chanted his name after the President was introduced by Foreign Affairs Secretary Alan Peter Cayetano. Philippine Ambassador to Republic of Korea Raul Hernandez said most of the Filipinos are based in the Seoul Metropolitan Area and the surrounding towns in the Gyeonggi province. He also noted that Filipinos are given equal coverage and protection as locals and enjoy the same wages, working hours, privileges, as well as insurance, benefits, and other support programs. Duterte used part of his speech to apologize for his attacks on Kuwait. Id like to even thank the government of Kuwait. And for the first time, I would say that I was harsh in my language. Maybe because that was a result of emotional outburst. But Id like to apologize now. Im sorry for the language that I was using, Duterte said. He said he was satisfied with the way Kuwait responded to the problems besetting Filipino workers in the Gulf state. Duterte said the relations between Kuwait and the Philippines were returning to normal following the granting of the conditions protecting the welfare of Filipinos working there. These include a guaranteed seven-hour sleep period and one dayoff a week, and the non-confiscation of cellphones and passports.
The countrys biggest labor federation on Monday demanded the return of P20 billion that they say was illegally collected by the Bureau of Internal Revenue from minimum wage earners for seven months in 2008. The Associated Labor Unions-Trade Union Congress of the Philippines said the cash would help workers families cope with the rapidly rising prices of goods and services. ALU-TUCP president Michael Mendoza cited a Jan. 24, 2017 Supreme Court ruling that nullified two provisions of a BIR revenue regulation that disqualified minimum wage earners from tax exemptions on income above P30,000. This developed as a party-list lawmaker backed the proposed 25-percent increase in the statutory minimum wage for the 190,000 Filipino domestic workers in Hong Kong. ACTS-OFW Rep. Aniceto Bertiz III said: If Hong Kong wants to stay competitive and keep on attracting dependable and educated Filipino household staff, it has to bump up at a faster rate their minimum pay. Hong Kong families are under pressure to hold on to their Filipino domestic workers amid the lure of greener pastures in mainland China, Bertiz said. There is pent-up demand for Filipino household staff in mainland China, primarily from the growing number of wealthy Chinese families with a second child and from the expatriates there, he said. The TUCP had challenged the BIR regulation before the Supreme Court, which ruled in its favor when it found that minimum wage earners should not be taxed under Republic Act 9502. While the law became effective June 17, 2008, the BIR issued its revenue regulation and collected income tax from workers for seven months before suspending the collections. Minimum wage earners need this additional cash, which they rightfully own, Mendoza said. We urge the BIR to return the money, including legal interest, now. Until now, the BIR and the DoF [Department of Finance] have not complied with the high court order for them to make a cash refund. The ALU-TUCP estimated that the refund, including the interest earned from 2008 to 2017, would reach P20 billion. We cannot understand why the BIR and the DoF is quick to squeeze money from the workers but it takes forever for them to return what they illegally collected. Mahiya naman kayo! [Shame on you!], said Alan Tanjusay, ALU-TUCP spokesman, speaking in a mix of English and Filipino. The workers worked hard for that money. Give it back!According to Bertiz, affluent families in China want their children to learn English at an early age to prepare them for future higher education in America, Britain, Australia and elsewhere. This is why they are willing to offer higher pay for English-speaking Filipino staff to help around the house, the lawmaker said. Hong Kongs Labor department periodically reviews the minimum wage and other benefits for foreign domestic workers and is expected to announce improvements in September. Advocates for domestic workers rights in Hong Kong are pushing for an HK$5,500 (about P36,800) monthly minimum wage, which is 25 percent higher than the current floor pay. At present, foreign domestic workers in Hong Kong are entitled to a minimum allowable wage of HK$4,410 (about P29,500) per month, plus a food allowance of at least HK$1,053 (P7,050) per month if they are not provided free meals by the employer. Filipinos account for 53 percent of the 360,000 foreign domestic workers in Hong Kong, Bertiz said. Hong Kong has acknowledged it could lose up to 50 percent of its Filipino domestic workers due to superior pay in the mainland ranging from the Chinese yuan equivalent of HK$8,600 (P57,600) to HK$15,500 (P103,900). Even without the mainland demand factor, Hong Kong would still need an additional 240,000 foreign domestic workers in the years ahead, partly to help look after its growing number of seniors, according to the autonomous Chinese territorys Labor and Welfare Bureau. The number of Hong Kong residents aged 65 or older is projected to double from 1.16 million in 2016 to 2.37 million by 2036. Filipino workers in Hong Kong, including professionals, sent home US$735.2 million (P39.59 billion) in 2017, based on data from the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas. They sent home another US$188.7 million (P9.92 billion) from January to March this year. The amounts do not include money transferred via non-bank channels, such as through other Filipino workers who come home for vacations.
Seoul-Seoul is monitoring developments in the Norths military, it said Monday after reports Pyongyang replaced three of its top military officials ahead of a summit with the United States. President Donald Trump is due to meet with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un on June 12 in Singapore with Pyongyangs nuclear arsenal high on the agenda and reports said that the reshuffle could be aimed at taming the military. Late last month the Norths state media revealed that Kim Su Gil had been appointed as director of the militarys powerful General Political Bureau (GPB), replacing Kim Jong Gak. According to Yonhap news agency, which cited intelligence sources, the chief of the general staff Ri Myong Su has also been replaced by his deputy, Ri Yong Gil. And defense minister Pak Yong Sik has been succeeded by No Kwang Chol, previously first vice minister, it added. The wholesale reshuffle would be unusual if confirmed, Seouls unification ministry said. We will monitor related developments, ministry spokesman Baik Tae-hyun told reporters. Pyongyangs military, known as the Korean Peoples Army, is immensely influential in the North and a center of power in its own right, symbolized by the way Kim is habitually flanked by generals on one side and civilians on the other when attending major ceremonial events.According to researchers at NK Leadership Watch, the change at the top of the GPB represents a continuation of a tightening Party control over the KPA. The political bureau could be in a position to resist policy decisions by the leadership or try to profit from future South Korean economic aid, it said. But new GPB director Kim Su Gil was a highly trusted lieutenant of leader Kim Jong Un, it added, who appointed him to the Pyongyang party committeeonce a power base for his uncle Jang Song Thaekafter having the older man executed for treason in 2013. Reports said the wider changes could be aimed at preventing objections in the Norths senior military ranks to any sudden changes in the countrys nuclear policy. No Kwang Chol, the new defense minister, was known as a moderate, Yonhap cited the intelligence source as saying. The North appears to have brought in new figures... as the previous officials lacked flexibility in thinking, the source said.
Qatar has distanced itself from a potential war against Iran as its defense minister questions Israels and the White Houses hardline on the Islamic Republic.

Is it wise to call the United States and to call Israel to go and fight Iran?  Whether any third party is trying to push the region or some country in the region to start a war in Iran, this will be very dangerous, said Khalid bin Mohammad al-Attiyah, Minister of State for Defense and Deputy Prime Minister of the State of Qatar, during a defense conference at Singapore.

Al-Attiyad also indicated that Qatar will not be used as base to attack Iran. The Senior Qatari official told reporters his country was not a fan of war.

Qatar is home to al-Udeid Air Base; the largest US military base in the region. Around 10,000 US troops are stationed in the Gulf gas-rich country and are deployed in the fight against terrorism carried out by the US and its allies.

The Qatari official called on world powers to consider dialogue over war as a way to salvage the 2015 nuclear accord. The accords future has been on the line after US President Donald Trump withdrew America last month.

Everyone should keep holding on to this and advance with this. In my own judgement, I think the United States is wiser than to enter in a war with Iran, he said.

Iran is next door. We should call Iran, put all the files on the table and start to discuss to bring peace rather than war, he added.

Qatar has fallen out with its neighbors led by Saudi Arabia over its alleged support for terrorism and close ties with Iran. It has since June last year been facing a sea, air and land blockade that has crippled its food supply. Iran and Turkey have emerged as its largest suppliers.
Syrian President Bashar-al Assad is set to meet North Korean leader Kim Jong-un in Pyongyang, the North's state media reported on Sunday. According to a report by the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) citing CNN, Assad will visit North Korea to meet Kim.

The KCNA report, however, did not mention the time and date of the meeting between the two leaders. Reportedly, days before Kim is scheduled to meet U.S. President Donald Trump for the June 12 summit at Singapore, the former was making plans to meet Assad.

If the meeting takes place in Pyongyang, it would be the first time that a head of state has visited Kim in North Korea after he took charge of the country.

The news of Assads proposed visit comes amid a flurry of diplomatic activity for North Korea following a thaw in relations with its southern neighbour at this years Winter Olympics. Since then, Kim has met South Koreas President Moon Jae-in twice, has met U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo twice, has travelled to China to meet President Xi Jinping, again twice, received India's Minister of State for External Affairs General V.K. Singh and most recently hosted Russias Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov.

As per the KCNA report, Assad received the diplomatic credentials of North Korea's Syrian ambassador, Mun Jong-nam after which the news of the possible meet broke out. The Syrian president was quoted by the report as saying, "The world welcomes the remarkable events in the Korean peninsula brought about recently by the outstanding political calibre and wise leadership of HE (His Excellency) Kim Jong Un." "I am sure that he (Kim) will achieve the final victory and realise the reunification of Korea without fail," it added.

The KCNA report further described the "close ties" between the two countries and quoted Assad as saying that Syria would "fully support all policies and measures" of the North Korean government.

It is to be noted that Assad's father and former Syrian president Hafez al-Assad had met Kim's grandfather and the founder of North Korea, Kim Il Sung in Pyongyang in the 1970s.

In 2015, Syria named a park in Damascus in honour of Kim Il Sung. During the inauguration of the park, Syrian deputy foreign minister Faisal Mikdad called the late North Korean leader "a historic ruler and leader, famous for his struggle to liberate and build his country."

Kims decision to host Bashar Al-Assad, who has been condemned by the world for his brutal crackdown of protesters in Syria as well as for using chemical weapons against civilians is bound to raise eyebrows in the U.S. as Washington is scrambling to finalise details for the June 12 meet between U.S. President Donald Trump and Kim Jong-un.

The U.S. has in the past six months carried out multiple air strikes against Syrian weapons infrastructure in retaliation for its alleged bombing of civilian enclaves with chemical compounds. Donald Trump has also referred to Assad as an animal after news broke of the Syrian government's bombings of the Syrian enclave of Ghouta. Syria's civil war has claimed at least 5,00,000 lives and displaced 12 million people i.e. 50 percent of the country's population. This begs the question, is Kims scheduled meet with Assad another provocation to test the U.S. resolve? (With Agency inputs)

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Jun 04, 2018 05:30 AM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).
Prominent anti-corruption journalist Said Boudour was arrested late last week after publishing some alleged factual evidences about the seizure of cocaine in the port of Oran, the second city of the country.

Boudour, according Algerie Part, a media that he writes for, was approached by a dozen of plain cloth security forces on Thursday in Oran, few minutes before Ftour (breaking of the fasting).

He was arrested outside the building of the Algerian human rights defense League (LADDH), the league and the media note. Boudour is also member of the League.

The arrest, according to Algerie Part, is connected to the seizure of 700 kg of cocaine onboard a vessel shipping meat reportedly bought from Brazil.

The reporter and human rights activist published a series of articles in which he released damning evidences.

Algerian coastguard raided May 29 a vessel from Brazil carrying halal meat. They discovered 701 kg of cocaine. Fourteen people had been arrested in connection with the seizure.

Security forces, the day before the arrest, showed up at Boudours family house to look for him over claims that he was wanted by the police office of the city, the LADDH said.

The security forces also nabbed Nourredine Tounsi, a whistleblower who denounced corruption practices at the port of Oran. Both were sent to capital Algiers for hearing.
A pregnant cow that wandered over the EU border has been sentenced to death. Penka walked away from her near the Bulgarian village of Kopilovtsi and crossed into Serbia across the border which is a non-EU country. The cow was deemed fit by Serbian vets and was returned to its owner, Ivan Haralampiev. However, according to AFP, Bulgarian officials said that the cow should be treated according to EU rules.

A veterinary expert, Lyubomir Lyubomirov, told AFP, "It is not for us to decide. We are only implementing rules that come from Brussels." John Flack, a Conservative MEP, has written to the prime minister of Bulgaria, Boyko Borissov, and the president of the European Union, Antonio Tajani. He added saying, "Surely this is a case where pragmatism should prevail over a strict reading of the rules."

According to the European Commission guidelines, cows must be presented at border checkpoints with documents stating that they are healthy. It reads, "The certification must accompany the animals en route to the EU and when they are presented for entry into the EU at an approved EU Border Inspection Post."

The incident has garnered a lot of attention and now a petition on change.org is urging the European Parliament to make an exception in Penka's case. The petition reads, "We believe that Penkas case reflects a lack of compassion on the part of EU officialdom for everyday people, such as Penkas owner, who is absolutely distraught."

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Jun 03, 2018 10:05 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).
This Wednesday marks a big day for more than 2,000 students and their families from across Laois as they begin their Leaving and Junior Certificate exams.

Figures from the State Examinations Commission also reveal an increase in the number sitting the exams in Laois compared with 2017. The total sitting the exams in Laois also exceeds 2,000 for the first time.

In total, 2,051 secondary school students will sit State exams in Laois this year. Slightly more males than females are registered.

Most of these, 1,108, will sit the Junior Cert. The number of candidates is up by more than 100 on last year..

A total of 904 pupils will sit the Leaving Cert exam - up from 875 in 2017.

A total of 39 students will take the Leaving Cert Applied exams.

While the number of students taking the exams nationally is falling, the trend is upwards in Laois in line with the population boom.

Laois has moved ahead of Offaly and is catching Kilkenny in the league table of numbers sitting the exams.

The exams get underway on Wednesday morning, June 6 at schools in Portlaoise, Portarlington, Mountmellick, Ballinakill, Mountrath, Clonaslee, Rathdowney and Knockbeg.

Students in both Junior and Leaving cyles start with English.

The Junior Cert exams end on June 21 while the Leaving Cert finishes on June 23. The Leaving Cert Applied programme ends on June 16.

The Leaving Cert results will be published on Wednesday, August 16, while the Junior Cert results will be out in September.

In total, 120,967 are entered to start exams nationally this week - 62,948 in Junior Cert and 55,255 at Leaving Cert and 2,744 Leaving Cert Applied.

First round offers for places third level colleges are made on August 20.

READ MORE - DR EDDIE MURPHY HELPS WITH EXAM STRESS

Mr. Pat Burke, Chairman of the State Examinations Commission (SEC), and his fellow Commissioners extend their very best wishes on behalf of the SEC to all sitting the state examinations in 2018.

The state examinations are a milestone for students, their families and schools. The reassurance of families and the wider community is an essential support for students sitting examinations. For its part, the Commission will continue its work in ensuring that the examinations meet the highest standards of fairness and transparency.

The Board and staff of the State Examinations Commission are very aware of the effort which students, their families

and schools have invested in the forthcoming examinations and extend their best wishes to all.

Over 4 million examination papers have been securely distributed to the examination superintendents involved in supervising the written examinations.

The examinations will be held in some 5,223 examination centres across the country over the course of the examination period.
With nearly 40% of adults in Ireland concerned about scams in their everyday lives, OFTEC, representing the domestic oil and solid fuel heating industry, is calling for homeowners to protect themselves and their homes during Scam Awareness Month taking place this June.

Joining the Citizens Advice scam awareness campaign, OFTEC is urging householders to be aware of potential fraud and over-pricing tricks carried out by some dishonest doorstep callers.

OFTEC research shows that 59% of households in Connacht have oil as their main type of home heating, whilst research from FraudSMART has revealed 58% of people in Ireland feel more vulnerable to fraud now than they did in 2015.

It is recommended that when answering your door to any unexpected caller, to always take precautions so you dont miss a trick and protect your home from unwanted and unsafe risks. OFTEC is encouraging homeowners to look for the badge to ensure technicians are registered to carry out work on their home.

David Blevings, OFTEC Ireland Manager, said, We recognise the importance of raising awareness of the concerning levels for scams carried out in homes across Connacht. With oil as the most popular source of heating for over half of Connacht homes, we aim to ensure that householders remain vigilant and not miss any underhanded tricks from unregistered technicians and installers. Any heating services carried out unprofessionally can be extremely unsafe.

We run a competent person registration service which certifies technicians and provides them with identity badges with the OFTEC logo on it, to prove the technicians certification and membership. Our registered members in Ireland are all extremely professional and will do a safe, thorough job of servicing, repairing, upgrading or installing new heating systems.

To be OFTEC registered, technicians have demonstrated their competence through independent testing, have been inspected on-site and carry full insurance.

There are a large number of OFTEC registered technicians across Ireland, which are endorsed by the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI). Householders can check through the organisations website to find out if their installer is registered or to find a registered technician to price a job.

To find your nearest OFTEC registered technical, visit www.oftec.org.uk/Consumers/FindTechnician
Gardai are investigating an alleged sexual assault of a female at the Cowboys and Heroes Festival, Drumcoura, Co Leitrim at the weekend.

Gardai received a report from management of the festival on Saturday morning, June 2 at 6.30am. The injured party was staying in the camping area of the festival when an uninvited male entered her tent. An alleged sexual assault took place.

The culprit fled the scene and Gardai are seeking information in relation to the iddentity of the male.

Anyone with any information, who witnessed or heard the assault should contact Carrick-on-Shannon Garda Station on 071 9650510 or the Garda Confidential Line 1800 666 111.

The festival's management condemned the incident in a strongly worded statement.

Organiser Simon Power said he went to the scene when alerted by festival security at around 5am and spoke to the alleged victim and her friends. He said that while it was his understanding that the woman was not raped, she was subjected to "an abhorrent act and an inexcusable violation" by "a drunken idiot".

Gardai said they made two arrests at the festival, one for breach of the peace and another for public order. Gardai are also investigating a report of assault at the venue at the weekend.

Despite these incidents, Superintendent Kevin English has complimented the management on a well run event that attracted thousands of people at the weekend.
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Two men have been refused bail after they appeared in court charged in connection with a spate of burglaries in west Limerick and north Kerry.

According to RTE, Patrick Roche, aged 43, of Woodview, Tralee and Martin O'Sullivan, aged 25, who has addresses at Market Street Tralee and in Athea County Limerick appeared before Judge Aingeal Ni Chonduin at a special sitting of Tralee District Court this Monday evening.

Gardai have confirmed to the Limerick Leader that each defendant has been charged with 11 counts of burglary relating to offences which are alleged to have taken place in recent days.

Nine of the offences are alleged to have happened at locations in Athea, Abbeyfeale and Glin while two are alleged to have occurred at Moyvane and in Listowel.

It is alleged that commercial premises, sporting clubs and two private homes were broken into during the crime spree.

Inspector Liam Wallace said there was an objection to bail in each case as gardai had concerns the defendants would re-offend and would not abide by any bail conditions if released.

Fears were also expressed that efforts would made to dispose of the stolen property which has not been recovered by gardai.

Judge Ni Chonduin was told a file is being prepared for the DPP and that more serious charges may be preferred.

Both men were refused bail and the pair were remanded in custody to appear before Listowel District Court on Wednesday.
WORK has already started on devising a new rent scheme for Limerick, council chief executive Conn Murray has told councillors.

But he assured them it would be a fair and equitable system and he hoped to have it in place in time for the next council budget.

Earlier, Cllr Kevin Sheahan said Adare Rathkeale councillors had unanimously agreed on a motion calling on the council to immediately begin the harmonisation of rents by tenants in the city and county.

It appears a long period of time has elapsed since rents were looked at properly, Cllr Sheahan said.

All I am looking for is a level playing field,  said Mayor Stephen Keary who instigated the Adare Rathkeale motion.

I fear that in harmonising rents there will be rent hikes in the city, Cllr Cian Prendiville warned. We do not want this harmonisation to be an excuse to hike up rents for people who are already struggling.

Mr Murray rejected the idea that harmonisation would be used as an excuse for anything, stressing again it would be fair and equitable to ensure it is income based.
LIMERICK councillors are to formally object to an Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) licence for Irish Cements 10m alternative fuels project, although their own executive gave the project the green light for planning.

At a meeting of Limerick City and County Council this Monday, councillors supported a lengthy submission from Cllr James Collins, outlining objections to Irish Cements application for a licence to begin industrial incineration at its plant in Mungret.

Missed a fine evening to sit through almost 5 hours of council meetings, but Limerick City & County Council just agreed a motion (unopposed) to make a submission to the EPA objecting to Irish Cement's plans to incinerate waste in the Mungret factory. #LAP #IrishCement  Tim Hourigan (@HouriganTim) May 28, 2018

This comes on top of submissions already made by the Metropolitan District councillors and by some individual councillors.

If a motion goes to the EPA from us collectively, it will send a very strong message we do not want and we will not tolerate industrial incineration in our community, Cllr Collins said.

Two agencies, the EPA and the HSE are passing the buck, he argued The EPA say their responsibility is to monitor levels of emissions deemed to be safe. But science changes, he pointed out, and in years to come these so-called safe levels could change. The HSE say they do not currently track the effects of these emissions on public health, he continued.

Moreover, he pointed out, there wasnt even a baseline against which to gauge possible future health effects which, given the drop zone for dioxins, could be up to 30km.

The HSE by its own admission, does not have the expertise to assess the risk of industrial incineration on public health. It does not have the data or the resources to understand or investigate the clusters of cancer and pulmonary ailments that have been described in the vicinity of the plant over many decades, even using existing raw materials and fuels. If there are significant unknown health risks with the existing process how can we allow that risk to be radically increased by introducing toxins?

We will only know about dioxins when they build up in the food chain, Cllr Elenora Hogan FG said, supporting the motion to lodge an objection. And she pointed out that the EPA was relying on Irish Cement to self-monitor emissions.

Cllr Daniel Butler said there was a whole list of highly toxic and dangerous liquids and fuel types which could be incinerated by Irish Cement and this presented a frightening prospect to him and his neighbours.

Residents were talking about leaving the area, he warned, and they needed to be supported.

Cllr Seighin OCeallaigh SF said dioxins made their way into the food chain through red meat and Limerick had over 175,000 animals, dairy and beef cattle as well as sheep which could be affected by being within the dioxin fall-out radius. Cllr Sean Lynch FF said if the licence were granted it would constitute a breach of the 1992 UN Convention on Human Rights.

We want the EPA to understand the worries and concerns people have, Cllr Kieran OHanlon FF said.

But Fine Gaels Cllr Bill ODonnell had a difficulty. He was and remains neutral on the Irish Cement project, he told the meeting. I dont know if what they are proposing to do is any worse than what they are already doing. The thing will be taken on its merits, he said. I dont want to object to a submission. But I dont object (to the licence application). Can I be forced to object through majority vote?

If we make a submission as councillors are we happy there are no repercussions? Cllr John Sheahan asked.

I dont believe there is anything in this submission that would leave us open to legal challenge, Cllr Collins said.

I am uncomfortable putting my name to a report I cant stand over, Cllr ODonnell said.

The objections are based on health, Cllr Paul Kerr Solidarity said, arguing that there is no safe limit to dioxins. It mightnt happen overnight. It only becomes apparent years later.

Speaking to the Limerick Leader following the meeting, Cllr Collins pointed out that Irish Cement had consistently claimed there were no health risks yet some 40 substances on list of waste materials for incineration were subsequently excluded by An Bord Pleanala as being too hazardous.

We are hoping the EPA will reject the application outright, Cllr Collins continued. But if they need further time, we hope they will include an oral hearing at the very least.

The objection from the councillors will join over 3,000 objections already lodged with the EPA including two objections from the Metropolitan District councillors. It could be the highest number of objections to an EPA licence yet, Cllr Collins said. And we are still encouraging people to lodge their own objections.

It is embarrassing for the council, that we as a body of councillors are objecting to something which was given planning permission by the council executive, Cllr Collins added.

Councillors had asked the executive to work with them, to come in with them, he said, but so far, there was no sign of a submission from the executive despite having indicated it would make one.
ALMOST a third of the 43,251 patients on a waiting list in Limerick have been waiting for more than a year, new monthly statistics reveal.

According to the monthly National Treatment Purchase Fund figures, there were 43,251 patients on a waiting list at University Hospital Limerick, St Johns Hospital and Croom Orthopaedic Hospital in April.

These figures are at an all-time high. It is a marginal increase on March figures when there were 43,195 patients waiting for appointments and treatment between the three hospitals.

There were 39,256 people on an outpatient waiting list; 31,035 at UHL, 1,166 at St Johns, and 7,055 at Croom.

In March, there were 39,158 on an outpatient waiting list.

Croom Orthopaedic was the only hospital to see a drop on both outpatient and inpatient waiting lists.

There were 3,995 inpatients on Limerick waiting lists, a 42-person decrease on March figures.

There were 13,507 patients waiting for more than a year for both appointments and treatment31.2% of the overall waiting list figures.

Last week, it was reported that there were 898 children on an outpatient waiting list at University Hospital Limerick, which Deputy Willie ODea described as disgraceful.

A UL Hospitals Group spokesperson said 97% of paediatric patients are waiting for less than nine months. He added that the rate of children waiting for more than a year has reduced from 6% to 0.5% since the end of February.
As protests continue in different parts of Jordan demanding the withdrawal of the draft text on income tax and the change of the economic system, the Jordanian government, led by Prime Minister Hani Mulqi, presented Monday his resignation to King Abdellah II.

King Abdellah II accepted the resignation of the Hani Mulqi government, said a statement from Jordans Royal Office.

On Saturday, King Abdullah II had called on the government and parliament to conduct a comprehensive and reasonable national dialogue on the tax bill, saying it is unfair for the citizen to pay the consequences of tax reforms alone.

Hani Mulqi, who has been in charge of the government since May 2016, has been the subject of popular condemnation for several days after the cabinet announced measures denounced by the population. These include a tax bill on incomes and higher fuel and electricity prices.

The protests, the largest in five years, have been taking place for several days in Amman and other cities in the kingdom.

The tax bill has been presented on the recommendations of the International Monetary Fund (IMF). It provides for an increase of at least 5% of taxes for individuals and imposes taxes on people with an annual salary of 8,000 dinars (about 9,700). Corporate taxes must increase by 20 to 40%.

The IMF approved in 2016 a $723 million line of credit over three years for the kingdom. In return, Amman pledged to implement structural reforms and gradually reduce its public debt to 77% of GDP by 2021, against 94% in 2015.

Jordan hosts hundreds of thousands of Syrian refugees, a fact that also weighs heavily on the countrys economy.
INCENSED Independent councillor Frankie Daly has hit out at Irish Water over its dangerous reinstatement road works in a busy suburb.

Cllr Daly criticised the Irish Waters works, which took place at the junction outside St Nessans Church and Ballycummin Road.

He said a number of elderly people have approached Cllr Daly in relation to the matter. And now the northside politician is calling on the utility to make safe this danger immediately.

A spokesperson for Irish Water explained that it carried out temporary road repairs in Raheen following an emergency excavation to fix a burst water main in March.

We would like to apologise for any inconvenience as a result of these essential works and thank the public for their patience as we complete them.

Cllr Daly said the least locals expect is a pothole of this magnitude on the route they are using.

Irish Water plan to run a pipeline from Parteen to Dublin as part of a project in excess a billion euro proposal  to back-up Dublins water supply  yet it cannot ensure basic reinstatement works are carried out in a safe way is madness, he told The Leader.

He said: The public in many instances blame the council for these type of works that are carried out by Irish water. This is a common theme across Limerick roads that are not reinstated to a satisfactory level by Irish Water thus again causing a serious hazard and putting the public at risk. This shambolic approach to public safety needs to be addressed immediately.

Other councillors over the past two years have brought up the issue of reinstatement works by Irish Water, with officials at council meetings.
LIMERICK City Community Radio (LCCR) is facing homelessness by August as its lease expires.

Staff at LCCR, which broadcasts seven-days a week on 99.9FM, and online, have been told by its landlord, the Limerick and Clare Education and Training Board, it will have to vacate its premises at Presentation Court in Sexton Street this summer.

At this months metropolitan meeting, Cllr James Collins raised the stations plight, and urged the council to consider making space available in Nicholas Street for a studio.

They are seeking our help. They are in crisis, but they provide an incredible service, the Fianna Fail man told the meeting.

After being told by Seamus Hanrahan this would not be possible, he then called for LCCR to be given space in the Engine building in Cecil Street.

It would be a very poor reflection on the council to have a digital hub in place, and not allow this to happen, he said.

Cllr John Loftus, Independent, added: The service it provides to the city is amazing. Its very important. Its all volunteer led, but it supports every festival, every event and every organisation in the city.

Cllr Elenora Hogan, Fine Gael, formally seconded Cllr Collinss motion, saying: I particularly enjoy listening to this station.

And Sinn Fein member Malachy McCreesh added: There are lots of spaces in the city. We should certainly be able to facilitate a group like this which is doing such fine work here.

Cllr Collins, in his motion, formally called for council to make space available in Nicholas Street.

In a written response, Mr Hanrahan wrote: Limerick City and County Council own five buildings and two sites in Nicholas Street.

One of the properties is occupied while a commitment is in place on two other buildings which are due to be occupied as a combined unit prior to year-endd.

The remaining two properties require further pre-letting works following significant stabilisation work carried out.

Therefore, these two buildings are not currently available for letting in the short term, he added.
A Texas bar, the backyard of a Bay City Rollers tribute concert and a Monster Truck Show are all somewhat unlikely settings for the Cecilian Musical Society to find themselves in.

The long running society, approaching its centenary in 2019, is more traditionally associated with musicals and indeed will look to Mel Brooks The Producers for its annual show in November.

Ahead of that, the popular society has taken on a different venture in the shape of An Evening of One Act Plays at the Belltable on June 8 and 9.

The pieces, Lone Star by James McLure, Give a Little Love by Alan Stockdill and Shakespeares a Dick by Mark Aloysius Kenneally, are all directed by Cecilian alumni Martin McNeilis, Sheenagh Murphy and Nigel Dugdale.

Chairman Jason Ronan says it is something a bit different for the society.

It is really exciting and gives our members with more experience a chance to pass on knowledge to others and help to improve the society, he said.

It is a new venture as we move into our centenary in 2019, it is something else to add to our calendar and we are hoping to have this as an annual event.

See www.limetreetheatre.ie.
Jun 4, 2018, 4 AM

Washington Postal Scene by Bill McAllister

The latest news from President Donald Trumps war on Amazons discounted mail contract with the United States Postal Service is bad news for Postmaster General Megan J. Brennan.

And she should know first hand.

According to the Washington Post, Trump has directly confronted the postmaster general over the discounted postage rates the Postal Service has granted the Seattle-based company and other large package mailers, telling Brennan she should double their postage bills.

According to the May 18 article in the Washington Post, three unnamed people have reported that Trump had multiple conservations with Brennan last year and this year over the Amazon rates that he has attacked repeatedly in tweets.

The Washington Post article illustrated how strongly the president feels about the postage discounts.

It also shows how he has rejected the efforts of Brennan and others to assure him that the Amazon contracts are in the best interest of the Postal Service, which is suffering billion dollar loses of first-class mail.

The article made clear that Trump has not been swayed.

It said his April 12 executive order for a study of the troubled agencys finances was the culmination of his insistence in changing the Postal Services secretive discount mail policies.

For more than three years, Trump has fumed publicly and privately about the giant commerce and services company and its founder Jeffrey P. Bezos, who is also the owner of The Washington Post, the article said.

The Postal Service and Amazon declined to comment about the Washington Post article.

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Business writer Jason Del Rey, who has covered Amazon for the Recode website, concluded after the Washington Post article that There still might not be anything that can slow Amazon down. But it now looks as though Trump is trying harder than we previously knew.

The article noted once again that some White House officials believe the newspapers critical articles about Trump may have inspired his anger toward Bezos and Amazon.

The paper also disclosed that Brennan and Trump have met at the White House several times, beginning in 2017 and most recently four months ago to discuss the dispute. None of the meetings were announced, nor was there any indication of movement by either the president or Brennan.

The postmaster general believes the Postal Service is obligated to carry packages for Amazon at discounted rates approved by the Postal Regulatory Commission, her aides have made clear.

Trump has insisted he is right that the rates give Amazon an unfair advantage over other merchants and must be raised.

I am right about Amazon costing the United States Post Office massive amounts of money for being their Delivery Boy, Trump declared in an April 3 tweet.

Amazon should pay these costs (plus) and not have them bourne by the American Taxpayer. Many billions of dollars. P.O. leaders dont have a clue (or do they?)!

Some mail industry executives are troubled by the schism between the president and the Postal Service.

Sometimes the right things happen for perhaps the wrong reasons, said Stephen Kearney, executive director of the Alliance of Nonprofit Mailers and a former Postal Service executive.

Our postal system is badly in need of a comprehensive evaluation, Kearney said, citing the task force the president has named to study the agency and its financial problems.

Everyone who wants a successful postal system for years to come should root for comprehensive solutions.

Michael Plunkett, president of the Association for Postal Commerce, said the presidents comments have put Brennan in a very difficult spot.

Although the Postal Service is an independent federal agency, it is part of the executive branch, which the president heads, Plunkett noted.

Gene del Polito, who for 32 years headed the Association for Postal Commerce, composed of major mailers, has become something of an authority on the way postal rates are established.

Without naming Trump, del Polito said he plans to tell a Lexington Institute conference in Washington, D.C., on June 15 that the way postal rates are established must be changed.

If the Postal Service is to have even a chance of surviving, its methods of determining and assigning attributable and institutional costs must [be] reformed to remove distortions that have resulted from increasingly anachronistic costing and pricing methods, he will say during the conference.

Simply put, if market-dominant mail volumes and revenues continue to lessen, unless the law is radically changed, the U.S. Postal Service will no longer survive, he plans to say.
President Alassane Ouattara of Cote dIvoire said he is free to stand for a third term in the 2020 presidential election under the countrys new constitution.

Ouattara, 76, made the statement in an interview with French magazine Jeune Afrique.

The new constitution authorizes me to serve two terms starting in 2020, Ouatara said, adding that he will only make a definitive decision in 2020 based on the situation in his country. Stability and peace come before everything else, including my principles, he said.

The Ivorian previous constitution, drafted under military rule following a 1999 coup, was at the heart of a decade of turmoil that included two civil wars.

The new constitution scrapped a provision in the previous one requiring both of presidential candidates parents be natural-born Ivorian citizens. This has been seen as a controversial change, because the old provision was used to exclude many northern Ivorians from the presidency, many of whom have family relations that straddle the borders with neighboring Burkina Faso and Mali.

The revised constitution also created a vice president picked by the president, and set up a senate where a third of members would be nominated by the head of state.

Furthermore, while the previous Constitution prohibited candidates from running for President if they were above the age of 75, the new Constitution does not have an upper age limit for the presidency, stating only that a candidate must be at least 35 years old.

Before the vote, President Alassane Ouattara had said the new constitution would help end years of instability in the country, which has emerged as one of Africas rising economic stars since 2011.

As a reminder, presidential term limits have been a common feature of African constitutionsbut constitutional amendments have almost exclusively extended presidential term limits. Since the 1990s, at least 30 presidents in Africa have tried to extend their regimes by tweaking constitutional term limits.
The Ugandan parliament last weekend passed legislation banning the importation of cars older than 15 years. The policy will help combat environmental pollution and reduce road accidents, blamed on older cars, the government said.

The Traffic and Road Safety Act 2018 amendment bill according to the Works and Transport Minister Monica Azuba is meant to amend the 1998 act to change motor vehicle registration fees among other key objectives.

Under the new act, one can only import cars manufactured in 2003 or after that and environmental levy will not be paid on cars manufactured from 2010 on.

Also, a 50 percent fee will be charged on vehicles which are more than eight year old or more from the date of manufacture whereas vehicles that are five years or older but are designed to carry goods will pay 20 percent of the price quoted by the seller as an environmental fee.

The Works ministry has also increased registration fees for a number of vehicles entering the country. Sedans, saloons and estate cars apart from dual purpose goods & passenger vehicles will be required to pay shs 1.5 million as registration fees whereas this amount will be the same for passenger vehicles including omnibuses with a seating capacity not exceeding 28 passengers.

Estate and station wagon vehicles with engine capacities of 3500 cc and above are expected to part with shs1.7 million for their registration in the new bill that is yet to be passed into act.

The East African Community Heads of State recently resolved to reduce the importation of second-hand cars in a bid to develop the regional automotive industry.
The Senegalese parliament has approved a law authorizing the President of the Republic to ratify the intergovernmental cooperation agreement for the Grand Tortue/Ahmeyim gas field, which straddles Senegal maritime border with Mauritania.

The agreement between the two West African nations was approved in Dakar by MPs amid a fierce debate.

The gas field is estimated to hold 450 billion cubic meters of gas.

Senegal, announcing its discovery in January 2016, described it as the biggest offshore gas deposit in West Africa.

The National Assembly of Senegal, despite issues raised by the opposition, validated by an overwhelming majority vote the draft law, authorizing the President of Senegal to ratify the cooperation agreement signed with Mauritania in February.

The law was adopted in a stormy atmosphere, under fierce opposition from MPs of the minority, which once again denounced the servile behavior of a mechanical parliamentary majority obeying the orders of the Executive.

According to Ousmane Sonko, leader of the party, Patriote du Senegal pour le travail, lethique et la fraternite (Pastef-Les Patriotes), the agreement between Dakar and Nouakchott is a real powder keg.

The government needs to consider the environmental impact of the project as it represents a treat to a fishing zone, he said. He advised the government to take the population as a criterion for determining the shares.

Thousands of Senegalese are employed in fishing. According to the UN Food and Agriculture Organization, marine artisanal fishing is a major contributor to gross domestic product of the West African nation. Most people in the coastal regions depend on fish and marine food for their protein consumption.

Mamadou Lamine Diallo, an elected representative of the opposition has also argued that the gas reserves are in Senegal and not in Mauritania. Wells in Mauritanian Territory are dry.

The inter-government cooperation agreement (ICA) between the two countries provides for development of the Tortue/Ahmeyim gas field through cross-border unitization, with a 50-50 initial split of resources and revenue and a mechanism for future equity redeterminations based on actual production and other technical data.

The World Bank last year lent Senegal $29m to help strengthen its institutional capabilities to negotiate with energy companies and regulate the nascent industry.
Not long ago, genetic tests that are widely available today were the domain of dystopian science fiction. Now, they're a nice gift to buy your genealogy-minded aunt for her birthday.

Companies such as 23andMe, Ancestry.com and National Geographic market these at-home DNA testing kits, offering to unlock your genetic secrets for the price of a group dinner at a nice restaurant and about half a teaspoon of spit.

And although there was a time when these tests were marketed primarily as health services  ways to test for diseases and better understand your body  that aspect of their branding has partly receded, in part thanks to action from U.S. regulators. Nowadays, most of the big genetic testing companies pitch themselves primarily as "ancestry" services, promising both to connect long-lost relatives and to tell users what parts of the world their ancestors came from.

"The ancestry service is a collection of features that give you a comprehensive look into your history, from the very ancient past, 60,000 years ago with Neanderthals, up to the recent past," said Robin Smith, who heads 23andMe's ancestry program.

Customers send spit samples to these companies. Then, usually about two months later, they log in to their accounts to find personalized web pages with information like their percentage of South Asian ancestry, or Neanderthal ancestry, or details about their maternal and paternal lines. [The Best DNA Testing Kits of 2018]

But how do these services actually work to determine someone's ancestry?

Smith told Live Science that 23andMe uses a number of algorithms to arrive at these results.

Once the DNA in a spit sample has been digitized, it looks like a long string of C's, G's, T's and A's. Those are the labels given to the four nucleobases of DNA,the letters with which genes are written.

This string of letters would be incomprehensible to you and, on their own, just as incomprehensible to the biologists and engineers who study them. There's no string of letters that means "Swiss" or "Nigerian," for example. But the algorithms can pull meaning out of the strings of letters, Smith said.

These companies keep the details of their algorithms somewhat secret. But it's not that their computers speak some secret language. Instead, according to geneticist Mark Stoneking, group leader of the Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology in Germany, they're really good at spotting patterns.

"These are techniques that scientists have known about for a very long time," Stoneking told Live Science.

He used a version of these methods in his pioneering work tracing the common ancestor of all living humans, a woman referred to as "Mitochondrial Eve" who lived about 200,000 years ago. And researchers still use these methods to track the movements and intermixing of human populations from the deep past to recent history.

If a genetic anthropologist has a DNA sample and a very large library of other samples to compare it against, that anthropologist can quickly figure out which groups in the library that DNA is most closely related to, Stoneking said.

"It's a robust method," he added.

The nitty-gritty

Researchers can track paternal ancestry by looking at the Y chromosome, which fathers pass to their male children. Maternal ancestry, similarly, can be found in mitochondrial DNA, which mothers pass to all of their children. The richest and most detailed ancestry information, however, comes from comparing everything else  the 22 non-sex chromosomes  against the massive libraries.

"The way that the algorithm works, it takes an entire genome and chunks it up," Smith said. "It takes little pieces, and for each piece, it compares it against the reference data set. It compares it against British; it compares it against West African; it goes through the entire list, and it spits out a probability for [where that piece of DNA came from]."

So, if your 23andMe test says you're 29 percent British, it's because 29 percent of the pieces of your DNA were most likely to have come from a group that 23andMe's reference library has labeled "British."

The names for those ancestry groups, Stoneking said, come from a mix of self-reports (many people can describe their immediate background pretty well) and independent research. So, if an algorithm finds that 8,000 people are from a close-knit ancestry group, and the researchers know that all of those people trace their heritage to Thailand, they might label that group "Thai."

The problem, as Stoneking described and Smith acknowledged, is that these methods are only as good as the libraries researchers have to compare DNA samples to.

The details of 23andMe's libraries  like those of all of its major competitors  aren't public, but Smith said the company can provide much more detailed information on European populations (among their most-sampled groups) than, for example, Native American populations (among the least-sampled groups). That's why an ancestry page can parse Irish from Anglo-Saxon, or Ashkenazi Jewish from Polish, but might combine Inuit and Navajo into a single category.

Therefore, while the underlying tools are valid, there are limits to the quality of broad ancestry data, Stoneking said.

However, the more individualized sorts of information these companies offer  such as finding long-lost relatives  are more certain, Stoneking said. A company doesn't need a big library to know whether DNA samples come from family members; they just need the algorithms that have been perfected for decades now.

Originally published on Live Science.
On June 6, if all goes according to plan, three people will rocket into space from a cosmodrome in Kazakhstan that has a fascinating history.

The Expedition 56/57 crew includes European Space Agency astronaut Alexander Gerst, NASA astronaut Serena Aunon-Chancellor and Russian cosmonaut Sergey Prokopyev.

But Kazakhstan isn't known for its space program. So why does the country have a large space facility known as the Baikonur Cosmodrome? And why are American and European space explorers launching from that site? [Interstellar Space Travel: 7 Futuristic Spacecraft to Explore the Cosmos]

It turns out, there's an intriguing backstory.

For most of its existence, the Kazakh cosmodrome was a secret site whose location was unknown in the West. It was built at the height of the Cold War in the 1950s, when Russia was part of the Soviet Union and the Space Age was just starting. The Soviets built a secret space facility that they called Baikonur, to make the West think the site was near a small mining town that shared that name. In reality, however, Baikonur was built near another town, called Tyuratam in what was then the ; the Soviets wanted to mask its true location for security reasons, according to Space.com, a Live Science sister site.

In fact, the first person in space, cosmonaut Yuri Gagarin, launched from the Baikonur Cosmodrome on April 12, 1961. For decades, the Soviets launched all their crews, space stations and even a Russian space shuttle (called Buran) from Baikonur.

Post-Soviet era

But with the fall of the Soviet Union in 1991, everything changed.

Kazakhstan was an independent country. It wasn't clear if and when the Russians could launch their cosmonauts again (They had one other launch pad to the north, but it couldn't be used for most of their missions because of the orbital dynamics from that location.) Worse, Russian cosmonaut Sergei Krikalev was still stuck on the Mir space station; he remained in space for several extra months while the two countries negotiated over the future of Baikonur.

Ultimately, the solution was a lease agreement. Today, the Russians lease the Baikonur Cosmodrome from Kazakhstan for roughly $7 billion Russian rubles ($115 million) a year. Baikonur is a special enclave of Russian territory within Kazakhstan, meaning that foreign visitors are permitted with a Russian visa, Space.com reported.

By 1991, Baikonur's true location was known to the world. And Americans feared what could happen to that area of the world if Russia's nascent economy collapsed, the New York Times reported. To support Russia while benefiting from its space station, NASA agreed to a shuttle-Mir program, which paid Russia to host American astronauts on the Mir space station, Space.com reported.

The first American to fly into space on a Russian spacecraft, a Soyuz rocket, was Norman Thagard, in 1995. (The Soyuz is manufactured in Russia but launches from Kazakhstan after being brought there by rail.)

This partnership helped Russia and the United States practice training and launching astronauts together ahead of the launch of the International Space Station, which had its first construction flight in 1998. The number of Americans riding Soyuz rockets greatly increased beginning in 2011, with the retirement of NASA's space shuttle program, and NASA still relies on Russian rockets to get its crews to the International Space Station and will do so until the agency's next-generation commercial crew vehicles are ready.(Now, most space crews leave from Baikonur, with the exception of the Chinese, who have their own separate launch facilities.)

But that will change in the coming years. The SpaceX commercial crew program will likely see its first test flights in 2018 or 2019, allowing American astronauts to once again launch from U.S. soil. And Baikonur may also fade from Russian importance after the lease expires in 2050, according to Space.com. Another cosmodrome, called Vostochny, is already under construction in Russia, and the country eventually aims to launch crewed missions from that site, although the exact timing hasn't been disclosed.

Originally published on Live Science.
Is a dead fish art, or an explosion waiting to happen? In this case, it was both.

Something was rotten in a London art gallery last week  an installation of sequin-embroidered decomposing fish sealed in clear plastic bags.

But before the exhibit even opened, the malodorous artwork unexpectedly combusted and set fire to the gallery.

The installation  a piece called "Majestic Splendor" by Lee Bul  was part of an exhibition of the Korean artist's work, scheduled to open at the Hayward Gallery on May 30. Then, hours before the show's first preview, the gassy art blew up, causing a fire that damaged part of the gallery, artnet News reported. [Top 10 Greatest Explosions Ever]

Even though the exhibit was not yet open to the public, gallery officials had already decided to remove "Majestic Splendor" from the show for safety reasons. They had learned earlier that a chemical added to the fishes' bags to dampen their smell could become flammable after combining with gases released by the decomposing flesh, and art handlers were taking down the art as a precaution when it suddenly combusted and sparked a fire, a gallery spokesperson told frieze magazine.

"Majestic Splendor" previously raised eyebrows  and wrinkled noses  when it was presented at The Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) in New York City in January 1997. Dozens of small, transparent bags were fixed to a wall; each contained a rotting fish decorated with stitched-on sequins and beads, representing Bul's scathing commentary on the fleeting nature of beauty for highly ornamented women, according to the 1997 MoMA exhibition catalog.

But after a custom-designed refrigeration unit for the MoMA installation failed, the smell was so awful that museum officials nixed the display and removed it, and subsequent showings included an odor-reducing chemical known as potassium permanganate, the Guardian reported.

The Hayward Gallery in London suffered minor damage inside, after "Majestic Splendor" combusted during its removal. (Image credit: Morley Von Sternberg)

Scents and sensibility

As fish decay, they emit amines  compounds of carbon, hydrogen and nitrogen  which produce odors that are intensely powerful and distinctively "fishy," Preston MacDougall, a professor with the Department of Chemistry at Middle Tennessee State University, told Live Science in an email.

But these compounds aren't just smelly  they're also potentially explosive. Certain molecular bonds connecting hydrogen and carbon can release a lot of energy when vaporized  in gasoline, high-energy bonds in hydrocarbon molecules give the fuel its kick (and make it highly flammable). Similar energy reserves lurk in the molecular bonds of hydrogen and carbon compounds produced by decomposing fish, creating the possibility of an explosion under the right conditions, MacDougall explained.

For the new show and for previous installations after the MoMA debacle, potassium permanganate  also known as KMnO4  was added to "Majestic Splendor" to reduce the smell of the rotting fish. In fact, KMnO4 is a time-honored choice for masking strong odors, Raychelle Burks, an assistant professor of chemistry at St. Edward's University in Austin, Texas, told Live Science in an email.

"This chemical is a good oxidizing agent, reacting with a range of stinky, volatile organic compounds (VOCs) to produce far less stinky or no-stink compounds," Burks said.

But when combined with combustible material, KMnO4 is known to trigger violent explosions under certain circumstances, she added. It's possible that the compounds produced by the putrefying fish interacted with KMnO4 to spark combustion, but it's also likely that the explosion was caused by pressure buildup from trapped gases that had nowhere to go, similar to the effect that causes beached and bloated dead whales to explode, Burks told Live Science.

After the gallery incident, firefighters quickly put out the blaze, and a security guard was treated for smoke inhalation; damage to the Hayward Gallery from the fire was "superficial" and contained in one small section of the exhibit space, according to artnet News. The exhibit, titled "Crashing," opens today (June 1) and will run through Aug. 19  minus the malodorous and volatile fish display.

Original article on Live Science.
Today is a good day for physics.

Two new results released today (June 4) have found the Higgs boson popping up along with the heaviest particle ever discovered. And the results could help us better understand one of the most fundamental problems in physics  why matter has mass.

The findings were released at the Large Hadron Collider Physics 2018 conference in Bologna, Italy. The discovery was independently accomplished by two experiments (A Toroidal LHC Apparatus, or ATLAS, and Compact Muon Solenoid, or CMS) using data recorded at the Large Hadron Collider (LHC), located at the CERN laboratory in Switzerland. These results are available to the public in two papers, one just submitted for publication, and one just published.

Hunting for mass

The hunt for the Higgs and the origins of mass have a fascinating history. In 1964, several groups of scientists, including British physicist Peter Higgs and Belgian physicist Francois Englert, predicted that the mass of fundamental subatomic particles arose through interactions with an energy field now called the Higgs field. The energy field permeates the universe. Particles that interact more with the field are more massive, while others interact little with the field, and some not at all. A consequence of this prediction is that a subatomic particle called the Higgs boson should exist. [6 Implications of Finding the Higgs Boson]

After nearly 50 years of searching, researchers at the LHC found the Higgs boson in 2012. For their successful prediction, Higgs and Englert shared the 2013 Nobel Prize in physics.

The heaviest known fundamental subatomic particle is the top quark, discovered in 1995 at Fermilab, located just west of Chicago. There are six known quarks. Two are stable and found at the center of protons and neutrons. The other four are unstable, and are created only in large particle accelerators. A single top quark has a mass comparable to an atom of tungsten.

Elusive measurement

In todays announcement, scientists described a class of collisions in which a top quark matter/antimatter pair was created simultaneously with a Higgs boson. These collisions allow scientists to directly measure the interaction strength between Higgs bosons and top quarks. Because the interaction of a particle with the Higgs field is what gives a particle its mass, and because the top quark is the most massive fundamental subatomic particle, the Higgs boson interacts most strongly with the top quark. Accordingly, interactions of this sort are an ideal laboratory in which to do detailed studies of the origins of mass.

This measurement was particularly challenging. The discovery of the Higgs boson in 2012 involved just a handful of collisions. Collisions in which both Higgs bosons and top quarks are simultaneously produced happen only in 1 percent of collisions in which a Higgs boson is produced. When one includes the great variety of ways in which top quarks can decay, this analysis required dozens of independent analyses, involving hundreds of researchers. The analyses were then combined into a single measurement. This was a very difficult accomplishment.

Before this measurement, it was not possible to directly measure the interaction strength of a top quark and Higgs bosons. Higgs bosons have a mass of 125 GeV (billion electron volts) and the top quark has a mass of 172 GeV. So, a top quark/antiquark pair has a mass of 344 GeV, which is greater than the mass of the Higgs boson. It is therefore impossible for a Higgs boson to decay into a top quark/antiquark pair. Instead, a top quark/antiquark pair are created and one of those two particles emits a Higgs boson. Each top quark decays into three particles, and the Higgs boson decays into two. Thus, after the particles' decay, there are eight different decay products found in the detector, which must be correctly assigned. Its a very complex set of data. [Strange Quarks and Muons, Oh My! Nature's Tiniest Particles Dissected]

It's also a very rare type of interaction. Scientists sifted through around a quadrillion (10 raised to the 15 power) collisions between pairs of protons to identify a mere handful of collisions with the requisite characteristics.

Residual mysteries

While the discovery of the Higgs boson and subsequent measurements leads researchers to believe that the theory first written down in 1964 by Higgs and Englert and others is correct, there remain some significant residual mysteries. Among them: Why does the Higgs boson have the mass that it does? And why is there a Higgs field at all? First and foremost is the fact that the Higgs theory is not motivated by a deeper theoretical framework. It is simply added on. In its simplest form, the Standard Model (which is the leading theory of subatomic interactions) predicts that all fundamental subatomic particles are massless. This is in direct contradiction to measurements. The Higgs theory is added, kind of like a theoretical Band-Aid, to the Standard Model. Because the Higgs theory can explain the mass of these particles, the Higgs theory has now been subsumed within the Standard Model.

But it's still a Band-Aid, and that's an unsatisfying state of affairs. Perhaps by studying interactions between Higgs bosons and the particles with which they interact most strongly, we'll uncover some behavior that points to a deeper and more explanatory underlying theory.

In addition, the numerical value for the mass of the Higgs boson is a bit of a mystery. The Higgs field gives mass to fundamental subatomic particles, including the Higgs boson itself. However, the story is more complex than that. Because of quantum mechanical effects, the Higgs boson can temporarily transmute itself into other subatomic particles, including the top quark. While the Higgs boson is in this transmuted state, these temporary particles can interact with the Higgs field and thereby indirectly change the mass of the Higgs boson. When these effects are taken into consideration, the predicted and measured mass of the Higgs boson is in wild disagreement. This is a pressing mystery for modern physics and, hopefully, better measurements of the interactions of Higgs bosons will shed light on this conundrum.

Although today's announcement involves only a small number of collisions in which top quarks and Higgs bosons are created, in the future it will be possible to study this process with much greater precision. The LHC is operating superbly, but by the end of 2018, it will have delivered only 3 percent of the data it is expected to deliver. At the end of 2018, the LHC will shut down for two years for upgrades and refurbishments. In 2021, the collider will resume operations with a vengeance, operating through 2030. Over that period, scientists expect to record 30 times more data than will have been collected by the end of this year.

It's hard to know what we will find. The LHC and associated detectors are extraordinary pieces of technology and it is actually likely that they will deliver even more data than predicted. With that much data, it is quite possible that scientists will uncover some new phenomenon that has not been discovered, but which will require that we rewrite the textbooks. That's not a guarantee, but one thing is certain: Today's announcement lays out a clear path to better understanding the origins of mass.

Originally published on Live Science.

Editor's Note: Don Lincoln is a physics researcher at Fermilab. He is the author of "The Large Hadron Collider: The Extraordinary Story of the Higgs Boson and Other Stuff That Will Blow Your Mind" (Johns Hopkins University Press, 2014), and he produces a series of science education videos. Follow him on Facebook. The opinions expressed in this commentary are his.
A boat carrying illegal migrants toward Europe has sunk this weekend off the coast of Tunisia drowning at least 48 people, while dozens more could be missing.

According to Tunisian authorities, 68 people were rescued after the boat sank in the Mediterranean Sea near Kerkennah island. Survivors say that more than 180 people were jam-packed in the smuggling boat  double its capacity  when it started taking on water and sank.

In recent months, Tunisia and Libyan have increasingly become a point of departure for Europe-bound migrants fleeing poverty and conflicts in Africa and the Middle East.

On Sunday, Spains maritime rescue service said it had rescued 240 people trying to cross the Mediterranean from North Africa over the weekend, and one person had apparently drowned. The rescued migrants were in 11 small boats attempting the perilous crossing from Africa to Spain.

The UN says at least 660 migrants have died crossing the Mediterranean so far this year. According to the International Organisation for Migration (IOM), 32,080 migrants and refugees entered Europe by sea during the past six months of 2018, with about 42 per cent arriving in Italy and 34 per cent in Greece, with the remainder (24 pc) arriving in Spain.

This compares with 70,870 arrivals across the region through the same period last year and about 230,230 at this time in 2016. For IOM Rome, the 13,430 migrants, who are registered as having arrived by sea to Italy this year, are 78 pc less than that reported last year in the same period.

In Spanish waters, IOM Madrids Ana Dodevska reported Monday that a total of 3,028 migrants have been rescued on the Western Mediterranean route through 30 days in May  compared with 835 for the entire month of May last year. That brings to 7,655 the total number of men, women and children who have been rescued trying to enter Spain by sea this year.
Motiva Enterprises, owned by Saudi Arabia's national oil company, is no longer considering a massive expansion at its oil refinery in Port Arthur, looking instead to buy other refineries or build a new complex.

But Motiva, headquartered in Houston, said it is considering building a large petrochemical project at the Port Arthur campus or elsewhere along the U.S. Gulf Coast. That decision won't come until next year, said Motiva spokeswoman Angela Goodwin.

"Final investment decisions on these projects are not expected to be made until 2019 and are dependent on strong economics, competitive incentives and regulatory support," she added.

Saudi Aramco last year became the sole owner the Motiva refinery, the largest in the United States, after buying out its partner Royal Dutch Shell.

Reuters reported Monday that Hurricane Harvey deterred Motiva from building out its oil refining capacity in Port Arthur to make gasoline, diesel and other fuels. The refinery was knocked offline last year by Harvey and operated at a reduced capacity for several weeks afterward.

Harvey left a quarter of the nation's oil refining capacity temporarily out of commission, sending Texas' gasoline prices up by 20 percent. The hurricane also shuttered almost half of the nation's production of many major chemicals, such as ethylene, which is the primary building block of most plastics.

The Port Arthur refinery churns through more than 600,000 barrels of oil a day. A 2012 expansion made the refinery the nation's largest.

Last year, Saudi Aramco and Royal Dutch Shell ended their joint venture ownership of Motiva with Aramco buying out Shell's stake and splitting up some assets.

RELATED: Saudi Arabia's Motiva plans for billions in Texas growth

At the time, Motiva said Saudi Arabia planned to invest billion of dollars to expand the Port Arthur Refinery and its oil refining capacity, but that was still three months before Harvey would ravage Houston, Port Arthur and most of the Texas Gulf Coast.

Now, Motiva said it plans to expand its oil U.S. refining capacity elsewhere to increase it to between 1 million and 1.5 million barrels daily.

"Motiva continues to explore growth opportunities to increase refining capacity, branch into chemicals, and expand our commercial operations, marketing and branded presence over the next five years," Goodwin added. "These opportunities include locations where we currently operate as well as new ones."
The President Is Missing

By Bill Clinton and James Patterson

Little, Brown and Knopf. 528 pp. $30

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Former president Bill Clinton and thriller writer James Patterson have teamed up to write a novel together, which for pure marketing genius would be like Ruth Bader Ginsburg and Katy Perry releasing a duet. Terms of the Clinton-Patterson deal haven't been revealed, but it's no accident that in their acknowledgments, the first person the authors thank is Washington super-agent Robert Barnett ((BEGIN ITAL)cha-ching!(END ITAL)). Poor Hillary comes in third, with thanks for her "constant encouragement and reminders to keep it real," which is what a girl who just wanted to be friends wrote in my high school yearbook.

This isn't the first work of fiction by a U.S. president: Jimmy Carter published an earnest novel about the Revolutionary War called "The Hornet's Nest" in 2003, and Donald Trump is a master of autoerotic fantasy. But "The President Is Missing" is, nonetheless, an extraordinary event. As the publishers gush, it's the first novel "informed by insider details that only a president can know."

The CIA can relax. Surely, no black felt-tip pens went dry redacting classified material from this manuscript. "The President Is Missing" reveals as many secrets about the U.S. government as "The Pink Panther" reveals about the French government. And yet it provides plenty of insight on the former president's ego.

The novel opens with the commander in chief, President Duncan, preparing for a House Select Committee. His staff has strongly advised him against testifying. "My opponents really hate my guts," Duncan thinks, but "here I am": just one honest man "with rugged good looks and a sharp sense of humor." Facing a panel of sniveling political opportunists intent on impeaching him, Duncan knows he sounds "like a lawyer" caught in "a semantic legal debate,"(BEGIN ITAL)but darn it, he's trying to save the United States!(END ITAL) Although Congress insists he explain exactly what he's been up to, he can't reveal the details of his secret negotiations with a terrorist set on destroying the country.

As a fabulous revision of Clinton's own life and impeachment scandal, this is dazzling. (One only wishes Rep. Henry Hyde could have lived long enough to attend the book party.) The transfiguration of William Jefferson Clinton into Jonathan Lincoln Duncan should be studied in psych departments for years. Both men lost their fathers early and rose from hardscrabble circumstances to become governors. Both men met their brilliant wives in law school, and both couples have one daughter.

But then we come to the curious differences: Rather than shrewdly avoiding military service, President Duncan is a celebrated war hero. Rather than being pleasured in the Oval Office by an intern, Duncan was tortured in Iraq by the Republican Guard. And rather than being the subject of innumerable rumors about extramarital affairs, Duncan was wholly devoted to his late wife and now lives in apparent celibacy.

Even incidental details provide weird echoes of the Clinton era: Duncan's closest adviser is a woman publicly branded by a crude reference to oral sex.

But onward! After all, this is, at least partially, a James Patterson book, and soon we're crashing through his famous two-page chapters. (Showtime has acquired the rights for a TV adaptation.) The whole 500-page novel takes place in just a few days as a terrorist named Suliman Cindoruk plots to activate a computer virus devised by a beautiful Abkhazian separatist with a hard, agile body and a "voracious appetite for exploration, in the world of cyberwarfare and in the bedroom." Her virus has infected every server, computer and electronic device in America.

In a matter of hours, the country's financial, legal and medical records will be erased; the transportation and electrical grids will crash. Hungry and Twitterless, without access to porn, fake news or Joyce Carol Oates' cat photos, America will be plunged into the Dark Ages.

Only one handsome man can stop this, but it's not easy for the president of the United States to slip out of the White House and foil international terrorists, particularly with those congressmen hot on his tail, intent on impeachment. Fortunately, Duncan gets some makeup help from an actress who is "one of the twenty most beautiful women on the planet." A little beard stubble, some quick work with an eyebrow pencil and - (BEGIN ITAL)voila(END ITAL): The leader of the free world is ready to go underground and defend Western civilization.

Unfortunately, the title, "The President Is Missing," depends upon what the meaning of the word "is" is. After all, Duncan narrates most of this story himself, so we always know his whereabouts. And as we zoom through these chapters, it's easy to tell which author is holding the reins. Sometimes, the pages spark to DEFCON 1 with spectacular shootouts, car crashes, Viper helicopters and a pregnant assassin code-named Bach who "is known only by her gender and the classical-music composer she favors." I'm guessing that's the handiwork of Patterson.

But for much of "The President Is Missing," Patterson seems to have deferred to the First Writer. That's a problem. When we pick up a thriller this silly, we want underwear models shooting Hellfire missiles from hang gliders; Clinton gives us Cabinet members questioning each other over Skype. President Duncan spends an awful lot of time consulting with world leaders, reminding us that "a safe and stable United States means a safe and stable Israel." He lectures at us about the proper function of government and the responsibilities of NATO. Several segments read like little admonitions for Trump: "Surrounding yourself with sycophants and bootlickers is the shortest route to failure," Duncan says. But unless someone reads those passages on Fox News, the current president is unlikely to encounter that wise advice, and the rest of us already know it.

Rather than those insider details we were promised "that only a president can know," the novel is full of tepid moralizing. "What happened to factual, down-the-middle reporting?" Duncan asks in a critique of click-driven journalism. "There is no trust anymore," Clinton's avatar laments, breaking the irony meter.

The larger problem, though, is how cramped the novel's scope remains. There's no thrum of national panic, no sense of the wide world outside this very literal narrative. And so much of the plot is stuck in a room with nerds trying to crack a computer code. That struggle feels about as exciting as watching your parents trying to remember their Facebook password: "Did you spell it with an (BEGIN ITAL)O(END ITAL)? Did you try a capital letter?"

It's enough to make a reader nostalgic for the Dark Ages.

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Video: Former president Bill Clinton and thriller writer James Patterson have teamed up to write "The President Is Missing." Ron Charles reviews the novel, which is about a dangerous computer virus threatening the U.S.(Ron Charles/The Washington Post)

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After 21 years, News 4 San Antonio's Leslie Bohl will bid the morning anchor desk adieu.

Colleagues Jeannette Calle and Michael Garofalo joined her in a Facebook Live video Monday morning as the local news veteran announced her last day at the station would be Wednesday.

Bohl, who later said her contract had not been renewed, called the departure "tough," but said she appreciated the support she's received from her coworkers and News 4 viewers over the years.

"I am going to miss y'all, I'm not going to miss the alarm going off," she joked.

RELATED: Guess who? Current and former San Antonio TV anchors as high school grads

Bohl said she's still figuring out her "next step," but welcomed San Antonians to follow her on social media and to "come up and say 'hi'" if they see her around town.

She took the time to personally thank many of the viewers who made News 4 a part of their morning routines and she also responded to a few questions in the comments portion of the video.

"My contract was not renewed so I am working on my next step," she told one Facebook user. "I don't know what that is yet but I do know I intend to make it fabulous!!!"

The anchor's exit comes on the heels of the departure of news reporter Ashlei King, who accepted a position as a morning anchor for Fox 16 News in Little Rock, Ark.

Sinclair Broadcasting Group, News 4's parent company, was not immediately available to comment on who will replace Bohl.
The Laredo West Border Patrol Station rescued an undocumented immigrant who was lost in a ranch near Laredo on Wednesday.

He claimed to be lost and without food or water for two days, and resorted to calling 911 for assistance. He was found in need of medical attention and required hospitalization.
Minister of Foreign Affairs of Belarus V.Makei meets the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Mongolia

04-06-2018

On June 4, 2018 the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Belarus, Vladimir Makei, met with the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Mongolia, Damdin Tsogtbaatar, who is paying an official visit to our country.

During the meeting, the sides discussed a wide range of issues of cooperation between Belarus and Mongolia, including the promotion of Belarusian-Mongolian ties in the political, trade and economic spheres, as well as the prospects for developing contacts between the Foreign Ministries of the two countries.

The parties exchanged views on cooperation within the framework of international organizations and on the possible expansion of the diplomatic presence of Mongolia in Belarus.

The sides signed interstate agreements between the Republic of Belarus and Mongolia on extradition; mutual legal assistance in civil and economic matters; and mutual legal assistance in criminal matters.

   

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Border Patrol agents arrested three undocumented immigrants and one Mexican Mafia gang member after they responded to a request for assistance from the Laredo Police Department.

As agents arrived, they discovered three immigrants and one U.S. citizen. A records check revealed that the subject was a member of the Mexican Mafia and had a previous human smuggling charge.
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Laredo high school students walk the stage during their 2018 graduation
SACRAMENTO, Calif. - It was supposed to be a defining battle for the Democratic Party's future, California's Sen. Dianne Feinstein against her party's fired-up activist left. Amid predictions of a Democratic civil war, one of the state's largest labor unions endorsed her opponent and urged voters to reject "establishment politics."

Yet days before the June 5 top-two primary, Feinstein is cruising toward what even her field of opponents acknowledge will be a giant win. Her best-known opponent, Democratic State Sen. Kevin de Leon, who charged into the race last year on a message of generational change, has found himself challenged by a little-known Republican for the second spot in the November runoff, as lesser-known liberals fracture the anti-Feinstein vote.

Feinstein has bent the race her way by portraying herself as a reliable liberal in the Senate minority - and by moving further left and co-opting issues key to the state's Democrats. And as she prepares to turn 85, she has allied herself with the party's young activists.

In the campaign's final stretch, Feinstein has run as an opponent of the death penalty and a defender of the state's marijuana industry, new stances that have cut off lines of attack by de Leon, while drawing no perceptible backlash for their timing.

"I don't want to not grow. I don't want to not learn," Feinstein told reporters last week at a roundtable on the Trump administration's proposal to block federal funding of Planned Parenthood. "The world changes. We change. I think that's what should make me an attractive senator, particularly to young people."

The senator's frustrated opponents say the real fight will take place in November.

"If I do get into the runoff, it changes the complexity of the campaign," de Leon said in an interview at an office near the state capitol. "When I engage with voters, up and down this state, everyone - all social and economic classes - believe it's time for a change."

But nothing in the race so far has borne out his optimism. Indeed, the campaign has proven anew the difficulty of dislodging a well-regarded incumbent in a far-flung state where it takes years and millions of dollars to become known to voters. The very thing de Leon implicitly criticizes - a Senate tenure that has stretched from late 1992 - has helped cement Feinstein's substantial advantage. A beneficiary of the first Year of the Woman in 1992, Feinstein is poised to gain from a second wave of women's activism this year.

The party's left, invigorated since the 2016 presidential campaign, had hoped for something more than a long-shot runoff. In town halls in northern and southern California last year, Feinstein was heckled as insufficiently liberal by opponents who made thinly veiled arguments that she had grown old and out of touch.

De Leon has been careful not to directly discuss Feinstein's age, but he has drawn attention to her long tenure and "50 years" in politics.

Feinstein has quieted questions about her faculties with long editorial board interviews and short but active campaign stops.

"I think I'm in pretty fair shape," Feinstein said Thursday. "I'm just going to keep going."

De Leon, who had hoped to cast himself as the true liberal and Feinstein as an opportunist, has struggled to break through. In media interviews, de Leon has questioned Feinstein's commitment to the state's burgeoning Latino population by saying she "made a career of attacking immigrants" before becoming a reliable vote for immigration reform.

In an interview, de Leon explained that attack line: Feinstein had been late in opposing Proposition 187, the 1994 ballot measure that cut off undocumented immigrants from public services.

"It took her until two weeks before the election to oppose 187," de Leon said. "I was fighting it in the streets, getting spit on, getting epithets hurled at me."

Yet most voters in the state favored Proposition 187, and in her current term, Feinstein has sided with her party's left on every immigration issue before the Senate. And other issues Feinstein has championed - including her long campaign against assault weapons and her opposition to CIA abuses - have undeniably defined her as a liberal. Some Feinstein heresies, such as her vote to authorize the war in Iraq, have faded into the background.

Indeed, even Feinstein's recent leftward shifts seem to have been accepted.

"Dianne's name ID is high, but people don't pay close attention to her positions," said Garry South, a Democratic strategist. "The average voter doesn't know what she said about the death penalty or immigration in 2000. If your main information about her is that she was mayor of San Francisco, you don't know that she was seen as a conservative mayor - you assume she's liberal."

De Leon has fallen short in multiple ways: He failed in his effort to win the party's endorsement, and he had raised just $1.3 million for his primary campaign as of the most recent fundraising report.

Feinstein, who had put $5 million of her own money into the campaign, had raised nearly $10 million on top of that.

The cash has given Feinstein plenty of room to renew acquaintances with an electorate that has already sent her to Washington five times. In 2006, one of Feinstein's reelection spots showed her watching one of her first TV ads alongside her granddaughter Eileen, and remarking on how much life had changed since. Feinstein's 2018 campaign more pointedly has cast her as a loyal ally of the biggest - and youngest - movements in Democratic politics.

In one Spanish language ad, Feinstein is seen sitting across the table from President Trump and challenging him at a White House meeting on the fate of immigrants who arrived in the United States as children. In an English language spot, Feinstein appears onstage at a "March for Our Lives" rally on gun control, with a narrator promising that "Dianne Feinstein and a new generation" could finally break through and deliver on gun control measures.

De Leon, meanwhile, has hardly appeared on the air. Endorsements from the California Nurses Association and billionaire Democratic donor Tom Steyer did not come with much financial cover; the Nurses-funded PAC, A Progressive California, spent less than $1 million on pro-de Leon ads that ran on Los Angeles television stations.

There has been no paid advertising highlighting the attacks liberals wanted to make on Feinstein, from a 2017 quote in which she suggested "patience" in opposing Trump to her refusal to co-sponsor the Senate's main universal health-care bill.

Steyer, who had briefly considered his own run for the Senate, has focused instead on funding campaigns to flip Republican-held House seats in districts that backed Hillary Clinton for president. On Saturday, as de Leon campaigned around Los Angeles, Steyer attended a get-out-the-vote rally for an Orange County Democrat facing a Republican-backed recall. There, Steyer said he "hopes" de Leon makes the runoff, "but I don't know what the numbers are."

Feinstein's liberal opponents insist there will be time and money to make the case against her during a five-month runoff between the senator and de Leon. But pre-election polls have cast doubt about whether de Leon will make the ballot, with a political unknown, Republican James Bradley, close behind him.

Divisions among Democrats have also hurt de Leon. His effort to push a universal health care plan through the state Senate - a measure with no funding mechanism that opponents said would balloon the state's budget - irked some members of his party. Opponents in the campaign include Alison Hartson, a liberal activist who has portrayed de Leon as an "establishment" Democrat.

"He was getting ready to run for lieutenant governor before he ran for Senate," Hartson said in an interview. "When he was doing that, 75 percent of his donations were coming from corporations."

De Leon has dismissed Hartson and another challenger as spoilers; in an interview, he alternately referred to Hartson as "Alison Hartley" and "Alison Hartman." Everything can change, he argued, if he gets to face Feinstein in November, although some of his allies are lowering expectations.

"I am hoping de Leon makes it or one of the other Dems does, and we don't have a Republican squeak through because the progressives split the vote," said Rep. Ro Khanna, D-Calif., one of a handful of congressmen who's backed de Leon. "I do think more progressive energy will flow to de Leon in the top two, but the primary focus will be taking back the House in California."

On Thursday, as de Leon rushed to a vote in the state Capitol, he paused to point to a wall of portraits, showing everyone who'd preceded him as state Senate president.

"White guy, white guy, white guy, white guy, white guy, white guy, and then, me," he said.

But he has some distance to go to convince voters that he should supplant Feinstein, who has emphasized identity politics of her own. At the Planned Parenthood event, Feinstein pointedly called for more women to run for office, and posed for photo after photo with activists and candidates.

"Hearing what she's done for women has been really inspiring," said Karina Talamantes, 29, a candidate for Sacramento County's board of education. "Women make up just 20 percent of elected officials, and having women support women is really important to me."
Both proponents of gay rights and defenders of Christians who refuse to provide certain services to gay couples will, no doubt, read much more into the decision handed down today than is warranted. The Post reports:

"The Supreme Court on Monday ruled for a Colorado baker who refused to create a wedding cake for a gay couple.

"In an opinion by Justice Anthony Kennedy that leaves many questions unanswered, the court held that the Colorado Civil Rights Commission had not adequately taken into account the religious beliefs of baker Jack Phillips. In fact, Kennedy said, the commission had been hostile to Baker's faith, denying him the neutral consideration he deserved. While the justices split in their reasoning, only Justices Ruth Bader Ginsburg and Sonia Sotomayor dissented."

Kennedy managed to find the most case-specific grounds for holding that the baker was entitled to refuse to create a cake for the gay couple. He began by cautioning that "religious and philosophical objections are protected, [but] it is a general rule that such objections do not allow business owners and other actors in the economy and in society to deny protected persons equal access to goods and services under a neutral and generally applicable public accommodations law." What the Colorado Civil Rights Commission did was express hostility to Phillips's religious views. Kennedy found:

"The neutral and respectful consideration to which Phillips was entitled was compromised here, however. The Civil Rights Commission's treatment of his case has some elements of a clear and impermissible hostility toward the sincere religious beliefs that motivated his objection. That hostility surfaced at the commission's formal, public hearings, as shown by the record."

After reviewing a series of comments made by the commissioners, Kennedy found one remark exceptionally objectionable:

"The commissioner stated: 'I would also like to reiterate what we said in the hearing or the last meeting. Freedom of religion and religion has been used to justify all kinds of discrimination throughout history, whether it be slavery, whether it be the holocaust, whether it be-I mean, we-we can list hundreds of situations where freedom of religion has been used to justify discrimination. And to me it is one of the most despicable pieces of rhetoric that people can use to-to use their religion to hurt others.' . . .. The commissioner even went so far as to compare Phillips' invocation of his sincerely held religious beliefs to defenses of slavery and the Holocaust. This sentiment is inappropriate for a Commission charged with the solemn responsibility of fair and neutral enforcement of Colorado's anti-discrimination law - a law that protects discrimination on the basis of religion as well as sexual orientation. . . . In short, the Commission's consideration of Phillips' religious objection did not accord with its treatment of these other objections. Before the Colorado Court of Appeals, Phillips protested that this disparity in treatment reflected hostility on the part of the Commission toward his beliefs."

In other words, the commission acted like religious bigots, treating Phillips's conscience views different than conscience objections of others. As a result, "the Commission's hostility was inconsistent with the First Amendment's guarantee that our laws be applied in a manner that is neutral toward religion. Phillips was entitled to a neutral decisionmaker who would give full and fair consideration to his religious objection as he sought to assert it in all of the circumstances in which this case was presented, considered, and decided."

Kennedy underscored how limited was his ruling. "In this case the adjudication concerned a context that may well be different going forward in the respects noted above. However later cases raising these or similar concerns are resolved in the future, for these reasons the rulings of the Commission and of the state court that enforced the Commission's order must be invalidated. The outcome of cases like this in other circumstances must await further elaboration in the courts, all in the context of recognizing that these disputes must be resolved with tolerance, without undue disrespect to sincere religious beliefs, and without subjecting gay persons to indignities when they seek goods and services in an open market."

In this respect, the opinion was a classic Kennedy opinion. Presented with a balancing of interest, he answered, "It depends." The irony here is that by focusing on the expressed intent to discriminate on the basis of religion, Kennedy may give plaintiffs in the Muslim ban case a leg up. There, the plaintiffs challenge the ban based on Trump's numerous expressions of religious animus. That may not be determinative in that case (which may turn on entirely different constitutional provisions), but it should serve as a flashing red light to the administration.

Kennedy's opinion was joined by six other justices, including Elena Kagan and Stephen Breyer, generally considered moderately liberal justices. Those two wrote a separate opinion, emphasizing that the case turned on the remarks of the petitioners. Justice Neil Gorsuch joined in two other concurrences (one stressing the First Amendment freedom of expression issue), and two - Justices Ruth Bader Ginsburg and Sonia Sotomayor - dissented, essentially saying the commissioners' remarks didn't matter. Confused? A lot of lower courts will be as well.

In the simplest terms, there is no "clean" win for either side. There is no majority that would have found for the baker absent the discriminatory comments by the commission; in fact, Kennedy strongly hints he might have gone the other way had the commissioners maintained their neutrality. By the same token, there were only two justices who would side against someone discriminating against gay customers no matter the specifics of the case. Kennedy's ruling provides little guidance for lower courts who will need to, as he says, resolve these cases with "tolerance, without undue disrespect to sincere religious beliefs, and without subjecting gay persons to indignities when they seek goods and services in an open market."
The Japanese government hopes the scheduled U.S.-North Korea summit meeting on June 12 will lead to progress on a comprehensive solution to issues related to the North's nuclear weapons, ballistic missiles and the abduction of Japanese citizens, but is wary of U.S. President Donald Trump's expectation that Japan will provide aid to Pyongyang.

Prime Minister Shinzo Abe is scheduled to meet with Trump on Thursday, and Abe will again convey Japan's position that economic assistance is contingent on progress being made on the abduction issue. The prime minister emphasized his intention to maintain pressure on North Korea at a meeting of the Liberal Democratic Party's Shiga prefectural chapter held in Otsu on Saturday.

"Japan cannot accept a nuclear-armed North Korea. We will increase the pressure and not allow any loopholes," he said.

Through his meeting with Trump, Abe said he would "do my utmost to ensure a historical summit takes place [between the United States and North Korea] that leads to progress on nuclear weapons, missiles and most importantly, the abduction issue."

The Japanese government is worried that a stumble by Trump in the talks could ease the pressure on North Korea. In his meeting with Trump, Abe wants to reconfirm their policy of maintaining continuous pressure until North Korea takes concrete steps toward "complete, verifiable and irreversible" denuclearization, a source said.

Yet differences between Japan and the United States may arise on certain issues, such as economic aid to North Korea.

It will require large amounts of money to denuclearize North Korea, including inspections, transporting nuclear materials, destroying nuclear facilities, and financial aid as a reward.

Trump has said that both South Korea and Japan should prepare to provide aid, which indicates this has been conveyed to these nations' governments as well.

If the International Atomic Energy Agency is able to carry out inspections, the Japanese government is prepared to provide support for the initial cost. However, its position that economic assistance will be difficult to provide without progress on the abduction issue has not changed.

The 2002 Japan-North Korea Pyongyang Declaration stated that Japan would provide economic assistance after relations between the countries are normalized. Specialists estimate this would be at least 1 trillion.

"If the abduction issue remains unsolved, our people will never accept giving North Korea large amounts of economic aid," a senior Foreign Ministry official said Saturday.

To reach a final resolution on this pending issue between Japan and North Korea, Abe would likely need to meet with Kim Jong Un, chairman of the Workers' Party of Korea.

If progress toward denuclearization can be made in the U.S.-North Korea summit, the Japanese government will begin exploring a meeting between Abe and Kim, a source said.
Ambassador of Belarus S.Rachkov meets Minister of Trade and Industry of Egypt

04-06-2018

On June 3, 2018 the Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of Belarus to the Arab Republic of Egypt, Sergei Rachkov, met with the Minister of Trade and Industry of Egypt, Tarek Kabil.

The sides discussed current issues of bilateral trade and economic agenda, as well as implementation of joint projects in the area of industry, scientific research, higher education.

The preparation for the 5th session of the Belarusian-Egyptian Joint Trade Commission, scheduled to run in Autumn 2018, as well as prospects of creation of the Belarusian-Egyptian Joint Business council were considered.

The parties also discussed the preparation of the Free Trade Agreement between the Eurasian Economic Union and the Arab Republic of Egypt.

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San Francisco Police Chief Bill Scott was passed over Monday for the same job in Los Angeles and will remain in his position, where hes worked to oversee sweeping reforms.

Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti announced he will promote the second-in-command in that city, Michel Moore, a 36-year department veteran. Had he chosen Scott, San Franciscos new mayor  to be elected Tuesday  would have taken office needing to fill one of the citys biggest jobs.

Scott publicly acknowledged his candidacy for the Los Angeles job for the first time on Monday, saying that he has maintained focus on the mission of the San Francisco Police Department during the process.

This offer provided me an opportunity to reflect on how much our department has accomplished and the challenges we face here in San Francisco, Scott said in a statement. I remain committed to the work ahead to maintain public safety, reduce crime and strengthen the relationships between our officers and the people of the city and county of San Francisco.

Scott was one of three finalists for the job down south to lead a force of 10,000 officers, or about five times the size of San Franciscos. Scott had worked for 27 years for the Los Angeles Police Department, rising to the rank of deputy chief in the departments South Bureau after becoming commander there in 2012.

Handpicked by former San Francisco Mayor Ed Lee in January 2017, Scott has been implementing a slate of policy reforms recommended by the U.S. Department of Justice following several controversial shootings by officers and a scandal that saw a group of officers exchange bigoted text messages.

Scott also will continue to oversee the deployment of Tasers, expected at the end of the year after years of debate, as well as tackling an epidemic of auto break-ins in the city and dealing with rising concerns about homelessness and tent encampments.

Chief Scott has been a great partner in our collective effort to address the most pressing public safety issues facing our city, and I look forward to continue working productively with him on our shared priorities, San Francisco Mayor Mark Farrell said Monday.

In making his announcement, Garcetti praised Scott, calling him one of the finest officers weve had at the Los Angeles Police Department.

In Bill Scott, I found that San Francisco has a visionary chief, someone who is the very embodiment of integrity, a change agent who is helping to both evolve and revolutionize policing in San Francisco and in the United States at this moment, Garcetti said.

Scotts candidacy in Los Angeles has brought uncertainty to San Francisco, where many city politicians and a number of police critics have praised his nonconfrontational style and effectiveness in working to change the troubled department.

The chief has at times clashed with the union representing rank-and-file officers, including over Tasers. The union is pushing a ballot measure that would give officers more latitude in when they can shock people with the weapons.

Los Angeles Police Chief Charlie Beck announced in January that he would retire after eight years, prompting a wide search for a replacement. Moore will be sworn in when Beck steps down on June 27.

Evan Sernoffsky is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: esernoffsky@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @EvanSernoffsky
The United Nations has never been shy about attacking the United States.

In recent years, U.N. officials accused the Obama administration of failing to address police brutality and sexual assault in the military. After a white nationalist rally in Charlottesville, Virginia, last year, the U.N. team tasked with monitoring the implementation of the global convention against discrimination called on high-level U.S. politicians and public officials to unequivocally reject racial hate speech. Also last year, the world body called President Donald Trump's attacks on the media "dangerous."

Now, a top human rights investigator is criticizing the United States for failing the poor.

LOCAL IMPACT: UN expert 'completely shocked' by San Francisco homelessness

Philip Alston, U.N. special rapporteur on extreme poverty and human rights, has spent the past several months visiting impoverished communities across the United States. In one visit to Alabama, he met a family struggling to maintain their home on an income of $958 a month.

On the day of his visit, he said, sewage was visible inches from the family's house - a reflection of their county's failing infrastructure - and mildew and mold were growing inside. Alston said he had never seen sewage problems like it in the developed world.

"There is a human right for people to live decently," he said at the time, according to AL.com, an Alabama news outlet.

ON TO G7: A refresher on Trump's tariffs, what they are and how they would work

Alston, a New York University law professor, also paid visits to slum areas in downtown Los Angeles and Puerto Rico.

Now, ahead of a presentation to the U.N. later this month, he is criticizing the Trump administration for gutting the United States' safety net by slashing welfare benefits and access to health insurance.

"If food stamps and access to Medicaid are removed, and housing subsidies cut, then the effect on people living on the margins will be drastic," he told the Guardian, saying the loss of those protections would lead to "severe deprivation."

Alston also lambasted the administration over its recent tax cut, saying that legislation will offer "financial windfalls" to the rich and large corporations, leading to even more inequality.

The government should think harder about how to help those in need rather than "punishing and imprisoning the poor," he said.

"The policies pursued over the past year seem deliberately designed to remove basic protections from the poorest, punish those who are not in employment and make even basic health care into a privilege to be earned, rather than a right of citizenship," Alston said.

IN THE HEADLINES: Controversial Stanford historian resigns post after leaked emails

About 41 million Americans live in poverty, according to government data, about 12.7 percent of the population. One in three of those are children. The United States has one of the highest youth poverty rates in the developed world.

Critics of Alston point out that those statistics are from 2016, before Trump took office. On Twitter, Alston explained his reasoning this way:

"...The poverty figures for 2017 won't be published until Sept 2018. Poverty is a structural problem, but I strongly believe, backed up by extensive evidence, that a 1.5 trillion tax cut for the rich and the hollowing out of welfare benefits, will make things worse, not great."

The White House did not immediately respond to a request for comment from Reuters. A U.S. official in Geneva disputed Alston's claims, saying that "the Trump Administration has made it a priority to provide economic opportunity for all Americans."
Philip Levine dropped another million dollars into his campaign for governor last month, bringing the former Miami Beach mayor's investment in himself to nearly $8 million.

Levine's campaign on Monday announced his fundraising totals for May, explaining that he raised $1.3 million and then matched the total. Even without his matching contributions, that would make May the best fundraising month for Levine since he officially joined the race in November.

"With primary ballots being mailed in 50 days, Philip Levine is bringing together supporters and donors from all parts of Florida who are ready to break the cycle of Republican control in Tallahassee," Christian Ulvert, a Levine political adviser, said in a statement.

It's unclear how much money went into Levine's official campaign account, and how much went to All About Florida, his state-registered political committee. Through the start of May, Levine, who made much of his money through companies that provide cruise line advertising and services, had loaned himself $5 million and deposited $2.8 million into his political committee.

Levine had spent about $11.5 million, much of it on television commercials, which have helped push him to the top of the polls in a race that nevertheless remains wide open.
With a tax base of just $67 million, Petersburg ISD ranks among the states poorer school districts. Enrollment has grown in recent years to 272, and the district has increased its fund balance from $1.6 million to $2 million during the past 30 months.

Earlier this year school trustees gave teachers an average $2,000 raise while restructuring pay scales. Petersburg ISD boosted pay for starting teachers to $37,850 which is more than Lubbock Cooper and Frenship and competitive with larger districts in the region.

Now with development of wind resources inside the districts boundaries, Petersburg ISD is setting the foundation to ask voters in November to approve about $27 million in bonds to replace buildings built 50 to 90 years ago.

And 80 percent of the cost of construction will be paid with new revenue generated by the wind farm, while just 20 percent will come from current property owners.

Its like building a $100,000 home and spending only $20,000, Petersburg ISD Superintendent Dr. Drew Howard explained Thursday during an informational meeting in the PISD cafeteria. We really need to take advantage of this opportunity which wont come around again in our lifetime.

Petersburg ISD held two informational sessions last week to discuss facility needs and the need for a bond election. Two more sessions are planned this week  at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday, June 5, and Thursday, June 7, in the Petersburg ISD Cafeteria. More meetings will be held later this summer to seek input and provide more specifics on project plans.

This is our chance to build brand new facilities which should last for the next 60 to 90 years, Howard said Thursday. The school has to be here for the community to thrive, he pointed out. This will take us from a good situation to a great situation.

After receiving final written approval May 25 from the Texas Public Utilities Commission, Xcel Energy is expected to begin construction this month on its wind farm. Over the next 13 months, crews are scheduled to erect 239 turbines designed to generate 2 megawatts each for a total output of 478 mw.

The wind turbines are expected to increase the districts tax base almost 10-fold  from $67 million to more than $650 million.

A tax abatement agreement limits tax revenues from the project during the initial 10 years available for district M&O (maintenance and operations). After that, most of the taxes Petersburg ISD receives from the wind farm will likely go to the state through Chapter 41 Recapture (Robin Hood plan), unless Petersburg ISD voters approve the bond issue. In that case, the additional tax revenues will toward bond payments.

Petersburg ISDs current property tax rate is $1.17 per $100 valuation  all designated for M&O. Since the district has no indebtedness, its I&S (interest and sinking) rate is zero.

If voters approve the proposed bond issue, Howard said the local tax rate would likely increase to $1.56 -- $1.06 for M&O and $0.50 to I&S. After 10 years, the M&O rate will likely decline as the districts taxable property increases when abatements expire.

While Petersburg ISDs M&O tax rate is expected to decline from $1.17 to $1.06, the effective tax will be about the same due to the increased tax base.

The average Petersburg homeowner, with a $50,000 house, would see taxes go up 53 cents a day or less than $200 per year. For someone owning a $100,000 home, the cost would rise $1.06 per day or about $390 per year.

Homeowners would have filed their Over 65 Homestead Exemption with the Appraisal District will not see an increase in their Petersburg ISD taxes unless there are significant improvements made to their property.

The revenues set aside for M&O is subject to recapture, but I&S is not, Howard explains. Those funds can only be used on facilities and capital outlays. If voters approve the bond issue, then well be able to use the revenues from the wind farm instead of sending that new income to the state.

He described Petersburg ISDs current facilities as old, inefficient and costly. The red brick building was constructed in 1929, the high school in 1953, cafeteria in 1957, elementary school in 1959, Field house in 1967, and the auditorium remodeled in 1967.

The district asked architects to look at facility needs with the idea of possibly remodeling current structures. They couldnt recommend that option, Howard said, because of the high cost of making facilities ADA-compliant while also dealing with asbestos abatement, and deteriorated plumbing and infrastructure.

Instead, BGR Architects and Lee Lewis Construction, Inc., listed advantages of new facilities:

--Decreased utility cost

--Decrease maintenance cost

--Less inventory

--Warranties and lower service fees

--Safety and security upgrades

--Technology updates

--Solid infrastructure

--Ready for the next 60-90 years

Its much easier to work on a 2018 air conditioner then patch up one from 1967, Howard points out. And we will be able to build something with a smaller footprint that will be more efficient.

The new school will be designed for up to 350 students, with provisions for future expansion.

As envisioned now, the construction would be divided into three phases over several years.

Phase I targets academic facilities:

--New K-12 classrooms

--New Ag Shop facilities

--Two new gymnasiums (in addition to the current gym)

--New auditorium

--New playground

--New administration offices

Phase II targets current extra-curricular facilities:

--New real track

--Remodel/relocate ag farm

--Refurbish football bleachers

--New press box

--Refurbish football field

--Keep current gym

Phase III involves future needs

--Baseball/softball fields

--CTE program expansion

New facilities can only enhance Petersburgs growth and progress, Howard pointed out. Instead of a question of Why move to Petersburg? it will be Why not move to Petersburg? Our ability to take advantage of new technology alone will be enough to change that narrative.

With adequate space available, the new facilities will be adjacent to the existing school, Howard said. The new K-12 facilities could be available by the 2020-21 school year, with Phase II possibly available by 2021-22.
A man with a gas mask, ammunition and "lots of weapons" sparked an hours-long SWAT standoff in west Houston that began late Saturday and lasted well into Sunday morning, according to police.

The suspect, a convicted felon who allegedly cursed at police and shouted about chemtrails, was taken into custody and is expected to face a number of charges, authorities said.

Police first showed up just before midnight, responding to reports of shots fired in the 2100 block of Fountainview.

But after checking around, they didn't see any possible shooters or evidence of gunfire, so they left. A short while later, authorities got another call to the same area - and this time they had more specific information.

After officers narrowed down their search to apartment 14, they started talking to the man inside, who cursed and yelled at them for over an hour, according to Capt. Larry Baimbridge.

Metro Video

Then, police heard a gunshot and tried to breach the door, unsure if the man had shot himself. Once they heard him rack another round, though, officers backed off and called for SWAT.

After getting a warrant, the SWAT team tossed gas into the home, but it had no effect. They tried breaching the door and found it barricaded. Eventually, they got in and the suspect shouted out that he was ready to surrender.

"He had lots of weapons," Baimbridge said. Police also recovered "lots" of ammunition and a gas mask.

"He was definitely prepared for a lengthy stand-off," Baimbridge added. It's not clear why he holed up at home with weaponry, but police said he ranted about chemtrails and fluoride in the water.

Since the suspect is a convicted felon, he'll likely face a charge of felony in possession of a weapon and deadly conduct. He could face other charges as well.

"I would hope that with these charges," Baimbridge said, "he would be looking at a very, very lengthy sentence so we won't have to deal with this again."
AUSTIN  Texas has removed the most Confederate symbols and statues in the country since 2015, according to a new Southern Poverty Law Center study. But the trend does not extend to the state Capitol, where lawmakers have been reluctant to take down monuments and plaques.

Texas cities removed 31 symbols, which include statues and renaming of schools and streets, according to the report. Austin led the way, with the removal of 10 symbols, the majority of them on the UT campus. Houston renamed seven schools and one street.

Cities in Texas and across the country have removed hundreds of symbols following the mass shooting at a black church in Charleston in 2015, which prompted lawmakers in South Carolina to remove the Confederate flag from the statehouse.

GRAY MATTERS: We know what Confederate symbols mean. Why keep them?

"As a consequence of the national reflection that began in Charleston, the myths and revisionist history surrounding the Confederacy may be losing their grip in the South," the SPLC argues in its report. "Yet, for the most part, the symbols remain."

SEEKING ACTION: Abbott to ask for review of Confederate plaque in Capitol

Houston ISD spent $1.2 million to change the names of eight schools that once honored figures of the Confederacy. Reagan High became Heights High; Davis High was changed to Northside High; Lee High took the name of longtime educator Margaret Long Wisdom; Johnston Middle was changed to Meyerland Performing and Visual Arts Middle School; Jackson Middle became the Yolanda Black Navarro Middle School of Excellence; Dowling Middle was renamed after Audrey Lawson; and Lanier Middle changed its first name to honor former Houston Mayor Bob Lanier instead of Confederate poet Sidney Lanier.

Dowling Street, named after Houston businessman Dick Dowling who served as a lieutenant in the Confederacy, was renamed Emancipation Avenue by the City of Houston in January 2017.

Two controversial monuments remain in city parks.

The Spirit of the Confederacy statue has stood in Downtown's Sam Houston Park for 110 years. A monument commemorating Dick Dowling was erected in Market Square Park in 1905 before moving to its current location in Herman Park.

Both statues have been targets for graffiti and petitions calling for their removal. Andrew Schneck, 25, was arrested in August after he tried to detonate a bomb at Dick Dowling's statue. A park ranger stopped Schneck as he was placing explosives near the monument's base.

Mayor Sylvester Turner asked city staff last August to study Houston's public art collection and make recommendations after calls to remove the monuments.

Alan Bernstein, Turner's communications director, said a panel of city staff met to discuss the issue several times but have not yet presented the mayor with final recommendations.

Despite removing dozens of symbols, Texas still has the second-highest number of Confederate memorials in the country. The State Capital alone has about a dozen Confederate icons, according to estimates by the State Preservation Board. Rep. Eric Johnson, D-Dallas, has been pushing to remove a plaque near his office that claims slavery was not the cause of the Civil War.

More than nine months after Johnson called for the plaques removal, Gov. Greg Abbotts staff is still studying the issue. Attorney General Ken Paxton recently asked 13 individuals  from Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick, Preservation Board Executive Director Rod Welsh to Capitol Curator Ali James  to submit information by June 5 "if they have a special interest or expertise in the subject matter," according to the Dallas Morning News.

Alejandra Matos covers politics, education and immigration policy. Follow her on Twitter. Subscribe to the Texas Take politics newsletter.
A 600-mile bicycle ride to honor fallen first responders that began last month in Louisiana concluded here amid triple-digit temperatures. But before reaching the Alamo, the final destination, two stops were made to pay homage to two of San Antonios own.

The Texas Brotherhood Ride began on May 27 in Westwego a small city outside of New Orleans. This year, the group consisted of 27 riders that included firefighters, police officers, and emergency personnel, along with 41 team members who supported them.

The ride has been hot and hilly, but we remember who we are riding for so we push through those days, said Robert Hyatt, a Houston firefighter and board member.

On their way to the Alamo, the nonprofit group made seven stops in different counties and cities between Louisiana and Texas in honor of 11 emergency first responders who died in the line of duty in 2017.

Among those honored were San Antonio firefighter Scott Deem, who was killed May 18, 2017, while battling a fire at Ingram Square Shopping Center and Officer Miguel Moreno of the San Antonio Police Department, who was killed June 29 while on patrol near San Antonio College.

After 1 p.m., the riders made their first stop in San Antonio at Fire Station 35 where Deem was a stationed. Later, they paid a visit to SAPDs Central patrol substation to honor Moreno.

The group met with the families of Deem and Moreno to pay their respects and gave each family a plaque from the Texas Brotherhood.

Officer Carlos Ortiz, an SAPD public information officer, said the Texas Brotherhood reached out to him on ending their journey in San Antonio to honor officer Moreno and Deem.

It feels good, but bittersweet at the same time, Ortiz said. The support feels tremendous, but what it signifies is the loss of our fallen officers, and thats always hard to relive  that officers memory  with the family and his partner. But it was an honor and joy to have the Texas Brotherhood in our city.

Originating in Florida in 2008, the Brotherhood Ride group is a nonprofit organization that provides financial support to the families of fallen officers. The Texas chapter started in 2014 in Houston.

Crystal Wells, a firefighter with the Houston Fire Department, was a first-year rider and the only female on this years trek.

Its beautiful to see individuals that are passing by honking or waving, Wells said. Also, the communities that welcome us with lunch, dinner and even a floor to sleep on.
In the survey, counties said the advantages of vote centers include allowing people to vote anywhere and a need for fewer poll workers and sites, which could save money. But one of the biggest disadvantages cited is a potential backlash from voters over the change from a tradition of neighborhood voting to a new system.
The Dignowity Hill Neighborhood Association has given crucial support to a proposal to build apartments next to the Hays Street Bridge  a development that is vehemently opposed by many nearby residents.

The associations board and its architectural review committee last week sent developer Mitch Meyer a letter of support for the project, association President Chris Barrows said. The approval comes six weeks after Barrows purged all six members of the architectural review committee and replaced them with handpicked selections.

A few weeks before that, City Manager Sheryl Sculley took the rare step of approving the proposed apartment complex in defiance of the recommendation of the citys Historic and Design Review Commission  with the condition that Meyer reach an agreement on design changes with the neighborhood associations architectural review committee.

Barrows has said the committee purge had nothing to do with the proposed apartments. After he became president earlier this year, he decided to refresh and revamp all the neighborhood associations committees, starting with architectural review, he said. The committee now has temporary members, and permanent ones are expected to be chosen this month, he said.

The HDRCs design review committee will now make a recommendation to the citys Office of Historic Preservation on whether to approve the project, said James McKnight, an attorney with local firm Brown & Ortiz representing Meyer. Sculley has final authority on whether to approve it, city spokeswoman Thea Setterbo said.

We feel very confident after getting the neighborhoods support, McKnight said.

The five-story complex, to be built by a partnership between Meyer and Alamo Beer owner Eugene Simor, has become a lightning rod for local concerns over gentrification, the protection of historic monuments and the citys treatment of developers.

Sculleys decision to approve the project required Meyer to address several design stipulations, ranging from reducing light pollution to breaking up the complexs facade into smaller parts that match the size of nearby buildings. But during their discussions, Meyer and the neighborhood association agreed that he wouldnt have to follow them all, he said.

They were suggestions, and we took it and made our decision, Meyer said. Sculley gave us guidance, and we acted on it.

For example, Barrows said they agreed that Meyer wouldnt have to follow Sculleys stipulation to explore the feasibility of reducing the projects height and set it back farther from Cherry and Lamar streets after Meyer said it would make the project unfeasible.

I made it clear to the ARC committee that if he agrees with (proposed design changes) or he doesnt, we need to accept that this is his project, and were not in a position to design the project, Barrows said.

Monica Savino, who was chair of the architectural review committee before being purged in March, said she was surprised to hear about the neighborhood associations letter of support.

They did not do it in any kind of open or public way, she said. There was a general membership meeting last Monday; and although the project was mentioned, it was not mentioned in the context of the design review.

On Friday, Texas Supreme Court justices decided they would take up a related issue stemming from a lawsuit connected to the historic Hays Street Bridge, the city announced in a news release.

The court will address various legal questions concerning governmental immunity, but its action will not affect the citys sale of the land adjacent to the bridge, the release said.

Meyer said he isnt sure when construction will begin on the project.

I wish I had an answer, he said. I like to plan my life.

This report has been updated to reflect who has final approval of the project.

Richard Webner is a San Antonio Express-News staff writer. Read more of his stories here. | rwebner@express-news.net | @RWebner
1 Saudi arrests: Saudi Arabias prosecutor said Sunday that 17 people have been detained on suspicion of trying to undermine security and stability, a case activists say has targeted prominent womens rights campaigners just weeks before the country lifts its ban on women driving. Activists say that among those targeted are longtime advocates of womens rights who took part in the first protest in 1990 against the kingdoms ban on women driving. Rights groups say the arrests are an attempt by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman to silence dissent as women prepare to drive for the first time on June 24. While the crown prince has been credited with taking steps to modernize the country, hes also cracked down on critics and activists agitating for more.

2 Afghanistan schools: Nearly half of Afghanistans children are not attending school because of war, poverty and other factors, according to a report released Sunday. The study by the Education Ministry and the U.N. childrens agency said 44 percent of all school-age children are not attending school. It marks the first time since the U.S.-led invasion in 2001 that the rate of attendance has declined, following years of steady gains in education for boys as well as girls, who were banned from attending school under the Taliban. When children are not in school, they are at an increased danger of abuse, exploitation and recruitment, said Adele Khodr, UNICEFs Afghanistan representative.
A disqualified Granard motorist who attempted to drive to a cattle mart to settle a bill and who then failed to stop for gardai, has been put off the road for six years.

Hal Gaynor, (57), Lisryan, Granard, Co Longford, pleaded guilty to driving without insurance following an incident at Coolamber, Edgeworthstown, Co Longford on December 16 2017.

He also pleaded guilty to dangerous driving at Aghafin and Lisanure, both in Edgeworthstown on the same date under Section 53 of the Road Traffic Act 1961 and to drive driving.

Garda Damien Flanagan said he observed a vehicle driven by the accused from Granard to Edgeworthstown.

Garda Flanagan said efforts to stop the vehicle were in vain with it being observed crossing a continuous white line on a number of occasions.

When the vehicle was eventually stopped, Mr Gaynor was arrested and brought to a local garda station where an alcohol reading of 290 mg of alcohol per 100 millilitres of urine was detected in his system.

It was also revealed that Mr Gaynor had been handed down a four year driving ban in May 2015 for failure to provide a breath specimen.

Garda Flanagan added Mr Gaynor had been co-operative throughout the entire process, something his solicitor Fiona Baxter was keen to convey to the court.

She said her client was a 57-year-old farmer who lived on the family farm with his 93-year-old mother.

She added that Mr Gaynor had only ventured out on the evening in question in order to pay a bill at Mohill Mart.

Ms Baxter said Mr Gaynor had foolishly stopped off to have a few drinks and things spiralled out of control from there.

She explained her client was not seeking to excuse his actions but confided the incident and ensuing legal proceedings being taken against Mr Gaynor had inflicted a considerable amount of stress on him.

Judge Seamus Hughes described Mr Gaynors driving as appalling before issuing him with a six year disqualification and a fine of 250.

A similar and concurrent six year ban was also imposed for the no insurance charge as well as one count of dangerous driving at Balloo, Granard.

All other summonses were struck out.
Local Link Longford Westmeath has announced a new evening service on Route 865 Granard to Longford via Ballinalee.

The announcement comes after the National Transport Authority (NTA) gave the green light to pilot an evening and night time service in rural areas across 19 counties.

The pilot project gets underway this month and continues until the end of 2018.

Also read: New Pamela Scott store opens in Longford on Friday

The new Granard to Longford timetable will commence on Tuesday, June 5 and include 3 daily return services Monday to Thursday and six daily return services Friday and Saturday with connection to rail services in Longford Train Station, said a spokesperson.

Children under five years and holders of the free travel pass travel for free with weekly return tickets and single tickets available for Child, Student and Adult.

Also read: Edgeworthstown's Loren Katie Logan crowned the 2018 Longford Rose

Meanwhile, the vehicle used on this service is a low floored bus that is fully accessible.

It is operated by Donnellys Pioneer Bus Service on behalf of Local Link.

Local Link provides door-to-door and scheduled bus services in towns, villages and rural areas.

The mission statement of the Rural Transport Programme is to provide a quality nationwide community based public transport system in rural Ireland which responds to local needs.

Seventeen Transport Co-ordination Units (brand name Local Link), manage the delivery of rural transport services nationally on behalf of the National Transport Authority.
Music, Movies & Entertainment, School & Education, Local News

By Legislator Anker's Office Published: June 04 2018

David Minelli taught in the Shoreham-Wading River School District for 27 years.

Shoreham, NY - June 4, 2018 - On Wednesday, May 23, 2018, Suffolk County Legislator Sarah Anker honored David Minelli, the On Wednesday, May 23, 2018, Suffolk County Legislator Sarah Anker honored David Minelli, the Shoreham Wading River band teacher for 27 years, with a proclamation to celebrate his extraordinary service to his students and the district. Legislator Anker was joined by Shoreham-Wading River High School administration, faculty, current students, and alumni in celebrating David Minellis last concert as the band teacher and to wish him well in his retirement.

Teachers like Mr. Minelli inspire our children and give them the life-long gift of expression through music, said Legislator Anker. I congratulate Mr. Minelli on his last concert and wish him all the best in his retirement.
Local News, Crime

By Long Island News & PR Published: June 04 2018

Multi-Agency Investigation Results in Seizure of More Than 6 Million Files of Alleged Child Pornography & Child Erotica.

Suffolk DA Sini announced the indictment of David Johnson of Amityville, 58, on charges of possessing child pornography.

Hauppauge, NY - June 4, 2018 - Suffolk County District Attorney Timothy D. Sini was joined by FBI Long Island Resident Agency Supervisory Special Agent Michael Lewis, Suffolk County Police Commissioner Geraldine Hart and Amityville Village Police Chief Glenn Slack today to announce the unsealing of a 200-count indictment against a man following an investigation that resulted in the seizure of the largest cache of child pornography in Suffolk County history.

The District Attorneys Office and our partners in law enforcement have no tolerance for anyone who commits sex crimes against children, District Attorney Sini said. Make no mistake about it: The possession and viewing of child pornography is a sex crime against children.

David Johnson, 58, of Amityville , was arraigned on the indictment today in Suffolk County Court in Riverhead. He is charged with 200 counts of Possessing a Sexual Performance by a Child, which are E felonies. Suffolk County Supreme Court Justice Barbara Kahn set bail at $75,000 cash or $150,000 bond.

On April 25, the Amityville Village Police Department received an MP3 player belonging to Johnson and performed an analysis of the device, which determined that the memory card in the device contained child pornography.

Amityville Police contacted detectives from the Suffolk County Police Departments Computer Crimes Unit assigned to the FBI Long Island Crimes Against Children Task Force for further investigation.

This was excellent police work by the Amityville Village Police Department, recognizing the severity of the situation and what they were dealing with at the outset, taking steps to conduct a preliminary analysis to ascertain exactly what they were dealing with, and then collaborating with the Suffolk County Police Departments Computer Crimes Unit and the FBI, District Attorney Sini said.

Multiple electronic devices seized from David Johnson. Photo Credit: SCPD

The detectives arrested Johnson on May 14 and charged him with one count of Possessing a Sexual Performance by a Child.

Of course the detectives and agents did not stop there; they continued to investigate this case thoroughly, District Attorney Sini said. One disturbing fact that was motivating their hard work is that this individual lived in close proximity to an elementary school in Amityville Village.

Pursuant to a subsequent search warrant obtained by the Suffolk County District Attorneys Office, the detectives searched 23 additional electronics from Johnsons residence, including laptops, hard drives, memory cards and USB storage devices.

A forensic examination of the electronic devices recovered revealed that Johnson possessed approximately 6,661,242 images and videos of pornography and erotica that included children as young as infants. The analysis of those devices is ongoing.

This individual not only collected child pornography, but had the disturbing practice of organizing this child pornography by age, race, and by particular characteristics, like whether or not the child victims were wearing glasses, District Attorney Sini said.

These images included rape, District Attorney Sini said. This is very important to emphasize: The crime of possessing child pornography directly fuels the rape of children.

If convicted, Johnson faces a maximum indeterminate sentence of 10 to 20 years in prison. He would also be required to register as a sex offender.

No child should ever suffer the pain, humiliation and damage at the hands of child pornographers, and those who view their vile images. This case is a great example of how the FBI New York and our law enforcement partnerships work, and how essential they are when protecting children from these criminals. We will continue to work tirelessly every day to stop these predators from abusing and debasing the most vulnerable and innocent part of our society, said William F. Sweeney, Assistant Director-in-Charge of the FBI in New York.

This case is a prime example of the success that results from effective partnerships between all law enforcement agencies and as a result, we are ensuring that a dangerous predator like Mr. Johnson will no longer be a threat to our children, Police Commissioner Hart said. Protecting our residents, most notably our children, is the highest priority of this police department. We are committed to using every tool in our arsenal to combat these heinous crimes.

Thanks to the hard work of Amityville Village Police Sgt. Jeffrey Sears collaborating with the FBI Crimes Against Children Task Force, Suffolk County Police Department and Suffolk County District Attorneys Office, this dangerous predator was taken into custody. The Amityville Village Police Department is committed to working with our law enforcement partners to keep our community safe, said Amityville Village Police Chief Slack.

Johnson is due back in court on June 18.

This case is being prosecuted by Assistant District Attorney Christina Pinnola, of the Child Abuse and Domestic Violence Bureau.
Local News, Community, Charity & Cause, Seasonal & Current Events

By Long Island News & PR Published: June 04 2018

In Long Island alone there are 5,487 residents living with Kidney Failure and 3,497 Long Islanders that depend on dialysis to stay alive.

Melville, NY - June 4, 2018 - On Thursday April 26, Supervisor Chad A. Lupinacci gave opening remarks and participated in the ribbon cutting ceremony at the third annual Kidney Nation NetWalk at the Greenway Plaza Office Park.

The generosity and community involvement of Long Island residents was on full display. Supervisor Lupinacci was inspired by the fundraiser and its participants, especially because of his personal connection to the cause: In the NYS Assembly, I followed in the footsteps of my predecessor, the late Assemblyman Jim Conte, said Supervisor Lupinacci.



Supervisor Chad A. Lupinacci (center) cutting ribbon. Photo Credit: Town of Huntington



Supervisor Lupinacci was proud to note that Jim Conte helped to draft the legislation for Laurens Law, and also mentioned his own work co-sponsoring legislation requiring school districts to include organ donation in health class curricula and helping to pass budgets that increased funding for organ donation awareness.

Supervisor Lupinacci extended his thanks to the American Kidney Fund for organizing the event and the many Long Island residents that came out to support the cause.
For picture posts from 2010 and earlier, see the Earlier Picture Posts Page
Music, Movies & Entertainment, Local News, Arts & Culture

By Tom Needham Published: June 04 2018

Jason Barker, the director of Marx Reloaded, is Tom Needhams exclusive guest this Thursday on WUSBs The Sounds of Film.

Stony Brook, NY - June 4, 2018 - Writer/Director Jason Barker will be Tom Needhams special guest this Thursday at 6 PM on Writer/Director Jason Barker will be Tom Needhams special guest this Thursday at 6 PM on WUSBs The Sounds of Film. They will be discussing Jasons documentary, Marx Reloaded, a film which examines how Karl Marxs ideas relate to the recent worldwide recession.

Marx Reloaded is a documentary which satirizes The Matrix Reloded. The film asks the question if Marxs ideas offer possible solutions to growing economic and environmental challenges around the world? The film features extensive interviews with the worlds leading philosophers who are often associated with Marxism and Communism including John Gray, Michael Hardt, Antonio Negri, Nina Power, Peter Sloterdijk, Alberto Toscano and Slavoj Zizek. Marx Reloaded is now available on Icarus Films DVDs. Also included on the DVD, is the short film, Marx for Beginners, an animated film that highlights Marxs most influential ideas.

Jason Barker is a British theorist and associate professor of philosophy at Kyung Hee University in South Korea. He is the author of the novel Marx Returns. He recently wrote the New York Times article, Happy Birthday, Karl Marx. You Were Right!

About the Sounds of Film
The Pressure Monitoring Market report explores and analyses the essential factors of market depending on present industry situations, market needs, business strategies and the growth condition. This report isolates the Pressure Monitoring Market capacity, production, market share, price, revenue, cost, growth rate etc. The report provides Point to Point information of the market on a Global scale supported by the previous and present size market forecast situation within the form of graphs, charts, figures and tables.

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The Research begins with the Overview of Global Pressure Monitoring Market Analysing Industrial Chain, Sourcing Strategy and Downstream Buyers. The Research also provide Information about Manufacturers, Market Competition, Cost, Market Effect Factors with Market Forecast (2018-2025). This enables the buyer of the report to gain a telescopic view of the competitive landscape and plan the strategies accordingly.

The report also includes the profiles of key pressure monitoring manufacturing companies along with their SWOT analysis and market strategies. In addition, the report focuses on leading industry players with information such as company profiles, products and services offered, financial information of last 3 years, key development in past five years. Some of the key players influencing the market are Smiths Group plc., Koninklijke Philips N.V., Medtronic, General Electric Company, SunTech Medical, Inc., Rudolf Riester GmbH, Uscom, Welch Allyn, Nonin Medical Inc., ATC Medical.

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North America holds the largest market for the pressure monitoring due to rise in the number of chronic diseases, rise in the geriatric population, increase in the number of acute diseases. In addition, the rate of purchasing the non-invasive monitoring devices for personal use is increasing. The Asia Pacific is the fastest growing market for the pressure monitoring devices as the incidences of hypertension, blood pressure, cardiac disease are increasing due to the changing life style. The geriatric population has also attributed to the rise in the pressure monitoring devices.

The Global Pressure Monitoring Market Analysis to 2025 is a specialized and in-depth study of the medical device industry with a focus on the global market trend. The report aims to provide an overview of global pressure monitoring market with detailed market segmentation by product, application, end user and geography. The global Pressure Monitoring market is expected to witness high growth during the forecast period. The report provides key statistics on the market status of the leading market players and offers key trends and opportunities in the market.

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The pressure monitoring market is expected to grow significantly due to the key reasons such as increase in the new product launches, and technological advancements for the blood pressure, pulmonary pressures monitoring. Furthermore, increase in the prevalence of chronic diseases, increase in the geriatric population are driving the growth of market. The opportunities have widen for the players to launch the cost effective products that eventually contribute to the growth of pressure monitoring market in coming future.

The pressure monitoring devices are used for the monitoring the blood pressure, pulmonary pressure, intracranial pressure, intraocular pressure and more of the patients. The blood pressure monitoring device automatically measures blood pressure and records the information continuously. Automatic monitoring of blood pressure is frequently used in surgery or in an intensive care unit where frequent monitoring is required.

The segmentation of the pressure monitoring market segment is segmented as product, application and end user. The product segment includes blood pressure monitoring devices, pulmonary pressure monitors, intraocular pressure monitors, intracranial pressure monitors, other pressure monitoring devices, and accessories. The application segment is classified as respiratory disorders, cardiac disorders, neurological disorders, and other therapeutic applications. Likewise, the end user segment is segmented as hospitals & clinics, home care, ambulatory surgical centers, diagnostic laboratories.

The report provides a detailed overview of the industry including both qualitative and quantitative information. It provides overview and forecast of the global pressure monitoring market based on product, application and end user. It also provides market size and forecast till 2025 for overall pressure monitoring market with respect to five major regions, namely; North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific (APAC), Middle East and Africa (MEA) and South & Central America. The market by each region is later sub-segmented by respective countries and segments. The report covers analysis and forecast of 13 counties globally along with current trend and opportunities prevailing in the region. The report analyzes factors affecting market from both demand and supply side and further evaluates market dynamics effecting the market during the forecast period i.e., drivers, restraints, opportunities, and future trend. The report also provides exhaustive PEST analysis for all five regions namely; North America, Europe, APAC, MEA and South & Central America. 10 North America Pressure Monitoring Market Revenue and Forecasts to 2025  Country Analysis

10.1 North America Pressure Monitoring Market Overview

10.2 North America Pressure Monitoring Market Revenue Forecasts and Analysis (US$ Mn)

10.3 North America Pressure Monitoring Market Revenue and Forecasts Analysis  By Product (US$ Mn)

10.3.1 North America Blood Pressure Monitoring Devices Market Revenue and Forecasts Analysis  By Type

10.3.2 North America Pulmonary Pressure Monitors Market Revenue and Forecasts Analysis  By Type

10.4 North America Pressure Monitoring Market Revenue and Forecasts Analysis  By Application (US$ Mn)

10.5 North America Pressure Monitoring Market Revenue and Forecasts Analysis  By End User (US$ Mn)

10.6 North America Pressure Monitoring Market Revenue Forecasts and Analysis  By Country

10.7 US Market Overview

10.7.1 US Pressure Monitoring Market Revenue Forecasts and Analysis  By Product (US$ Mn)

10.7.1.1 US Blood Pressure Monitoring Devices Market Revenue and Forecasts Analysis  By Type

10.7.1.2 US Pulmonary Pressure Monitors Market Revenue and Forecasts Analysis  By Type

10.7.2 US Pressure Monitoring Market Revenue Forecasts and Analysis  By Application (US$ Mn)

10.7.3 US Pressure Monitoring Market Revenue Forecasts and Analysis  By End User (US$ Mn)

10.8 Canada Market Overview

10.8.1 Canada Pressure Monitoring Market Revenue Forecasts and Analysis  By Product (US$ Mn)

10.8.1.1 Canada Blood Pressure Monitoring Devices Market Revenue and Forecasts Analysis  By Type

10.8.1.2 Canada Pulmonary Pressure Monitors Market Revenue and Forecasts Analysis  By Type

10.8.2 Canada Pressure Monitoring Market Revenue Forecasts and Analysis  By Application (US$ Mn)

10.8.3 Canada Pressure Monitoring Market Revenue Forecasts and Analysis  By End User (US$ Mn)

10.9 Mexico Market Overview

10.9.1 Mexico Pressure Monitoring Market Revenue Forecasts and Analysis  By Product (US$ Mn)

10.9.1.1 Mexico Blood Pressure Monitoring Devices Market Revenue and Forecasts Analysis  By Type

10.9.1.2 Mexico Pulmonary Pressure Monitors Market Revenue and Forecasts Analysis  By Type

10.9.2 Mexico Pressure Monitoring Market Revenue Forecasts and Analysis  By Application (US$ Mn)

10.9.3 Mexico Pressure Monitoring Market Revenue Forecasts and Analysis  By End User (US$ Mn)

11 Europe Pressure Monitoring Market Revenue and Forecasts to 2025  Country Analysis

11.1 Europe Pressure Monitoring Market Overview

11.2 Europe Pressure Monitoring Market Revenue Forecasts and Analysis (US$ Mn)

11.3 Europe Pressure Monitoring Market Revenue and Forecasts Analysis  By Product (US$ Mn)

11.3.1 Europe Blood Pressure Monitoring Devices Market Revenue and Forecasts Analysis  By Type

11.3.2 Europe Pulmonary Pressure Monitors Market Revenue and Forecasts Analysis  By Type

11.4 Europe Pressure Monitoring Market Revenue and Forecasts Analysis  By Application (US$ Mn)

11.5 Europe Pressure Monitoring Market Revenue and Forecasts Analysis  By End User (US$ Mn)

11.6 Europe Pressure Monitoring Market Revenue Forecasts and Analysis  By Country

11.7 UK Market Overview

11.7.1 UK Pressure Monitoring Market Revenue Forecasts and Analysis  By Product (US$ Mn)

11.7.1.1 UK Blood Pressure Monitoring Devices Market Revenue and Forecasts Analysis  By Type

11.7.1.2 UK Pulmonary Pressure Monitors Market Revenue and Forecasts Analysis  By Type

11.7.2 UK Pressure Monitoring Market Revenue Forecasts and Analysis  By Application (US$ Mn)

11.7.3 UK Pressure Monitoring Market Revenue Forecasts and Analysis  By End User (US$ Mn)

11.8 Germany Market Overview

11.8.1 Germany Pressure Monitoring Market Revenue Forecasts and Analysis  By Product (US$ Mn)

11.8.1.1 Germany Blood Pressure Monitoring Devices Market Revenue and Forecasts Analysis  By Type

11.8.1.2 Germany Pulmonary Pressure Monitors Market Revenue and Forecasts Analysis  By Type

11.8.2 Germany Pressure Monitoring Market Revenue Forecasts and Analysis  By Application (US$ Mn)

11.8.3 Germany Pressure Monitoring Market Revenue Forecasts and Analysis  By End User (US$ Mn)

11.9 France Market Overview

11.9.1 France Pressure Monitoring Market Revenue Forecasts and Analysis  By Product (US$ Mn)

11.9.1.1 France Blood Pressure Monitoring Devices Market Revenue and Forecasts Analysis  By Type

11.9.1.2 France Pulmonary Pressure Monitors Market Revenue and Forecasts Analysis  By Type

11.9.2 France Pressure Monitoring Market Revenue Forecasts and Analysis  By Application (US$ Mn)

11.9.3 France Pressure Monitoring Market Revenue Forecasts and Analysis  By End User (US$ Mn)

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by Melynda Fuller , June 4, 2018

To celebrate its half a century of publication, New York has been releasing features focused on stories that made New York, well, New York. In the process, the magazine is also reminding readers why its a staple among city dwellers.

These stories have run the gamut from the hyper-local  a peek into the origins of the Park Slope Food Coop, to the universal  the story of King Tut arriving at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in the late 1970s and creating the museum blockbuster show in the process.

Last weeks feature explored the advent of programmatic advertising and the creation of Right Media in a story called How to Succeed in Advertising (and Transform the Internet While Youre At It).

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The piece, while offering a rich history of the players involved in the early formation of companies, like Right Media and Double Click, also contextualizes their rise and fall. (In the case of Right Media, which was shuttered by Yahoo in 2015, as well as the larger impact on todays culture.)

As the storys intro states: We have programmatic advertising to thank for the internets wealth  and privacy problems. And we have Right Media to thank for programmatic ads.

The modern ramifications of the seemingly quaint origin stories found in the piece  Jonah and Noah Goodhart founding a newsletter called Colonize after Jonah realized there was a market for customers thirsty for internet deals; the first banner ads on Wireds website called HotWired.com; the emergence of new, exciting ad networks slowly disrupting industries  resonate today.

This year alone has seen the introduction of the GDPR in the E.U. and the Cambridge Analytica scandal, both of which have revolved around the mining and protection of individuals privacy.

Further, the publishing industry continues to hemorrhage as it attempts to find ways to sustain revenue streams as Facebook, Googleowner of DoubleClick and Amazon  continue to gobble up advertising dollars. Incidentally, following the introduction of the GDPR, Google is going stronger than ever.

The storys slow burn reveal of the details of the early days of programmatic advertising is compelling. The details arent immediately connected to whats gone right and very wrong by 2018, making those connections all the more interesting.
by Laurie Sullivan @lauriesullivan, June 3, 2018

Reports out on Sunday suggest that Microsoft has acquired web-based hosting and code repository service GitHub.

Bloomberg reports that the deal could be announced as early as Monday. Apple, Amazon, Google and many other tech companies use GitHub, which has become increasingly popular among developers to host their code, documentation and projects.

Reports suggest the two companies have been talking about a partnership for the past few years, but the discussions have progressed to an acquisition.

GitHub hosts 27 million software developers working on 80 million repositories of code, according to the company's website.

Microsoft, which was formerly opposed to using open-source software development, is one of the biggest contributors to GitHub as CEO Satya Nadella continues to move the company away from a dependence on the Windows operating system and more toward in-house development on the Linux operating system.

An acquisition like this could also influence any future development in the area of artificial intelligence such as voice-assisted devices and search engine Bing.

The Business Insider first reported talks between the two companies on Friday.




Just when the world seemed to be forgetting Cambridge Analytica, Facebook might have another major privacy scandal on its hands.

On Sunday, The New York Times reported that the company may have skirted Federal Trade Commission privacy laws by providing phone makers with access to massive amounts of user data.

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For years, Facebook has given more than 60 companies -- including Apple, Microsoft and Samsung -- access to what The Times calls private APIs. These APIs apparently helped hardware makers build Facebook apps and integrate Facebook features into their mobile operating systems.

Facebook defended the use of what it calls device-integrated APIs on Monday.

When they were first introduced 10 years ago, offering APIs to makers of mobile operating systems and devices was common industry practice, according to Ime Archibong, vice president, product partnerships at Facebook.

Given that these APIs enabled other companies to recreate the Facebook experience, we controlled them tightly from the get-go, Archibong asserts in a new blog post.

Among other controls, Archibong insists that Facebook made partners sign agreements that prevented user information from being exploited.

Of course, such agreements didnt prevent the information of an estimated 87 million members -- most of whom live in the Unites States -- from being improperly shared with Cambridge Analytica.

The Cambridge Analytica controversy, which first came to light in March, led to immense scrutiny for Facebook, numerous changes to its privacy practices, and its CEO Mark Zuckerberg appearing before lawmakers on Capitol Hill.

These latest revelations are already generating similar scrutiny.

Sure looks like [Facebook CEO Mark] Zuckerberg lied to Congress about whether users have complete control over who sees our data on Facebook, Rep. David Cicilline (D-RI), the ranking member of the House Judiciary Subcommittee on Regulatory Reform, Commercial, and Antitrust Law, tweeted on Sunday. This needs to be investigated and the people responsible need to be held accountable.

Adding to Facebooks defense, Archibong said that device-integrated APIs could not integrate users Facebook features with their devices without their permission. Our partnership and engineering teams approved the Facebook experiences these companies built, he added.

Contrary to reporting in The Times, Archibong also insists the information of users Facebook friends was only accessible on devices when users made a decision to share their information with such friends.

In his rebuttal, Archibong makes no mention of the FTCs 2011 consent degree, which The Times story suggests might have been violated.
by Steve McClellan @mp_mcclellan, June 4, 2018

Durham, NC-based McKinney is making a CEO switch effective in October. Joe Maglio, who has served as CEO of the agencys New York office for the past year is being promoted to agency-wide CEO, succeeding Brad Brinegar, who has served as chairman and CEO since 2002.

Brinegar will remain chairman at the agency until at least 2020. Commenting on the succession, Brinegar said, I look forward to supporting Joes leadership growing McKinneys reputation as a modern creative agency.

McKinney was acquired by Cheil Worldwide, the South Korean agency group, in 2012.

Prior to joining McKinney New York (the office was established in 2013) last year Maglio was managing director at Havas New York, which he joined in 2012. He was promoted to managing director in 2016.

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Earlier Maglio was group account director at Publicis and before that marketing director at Ogilvy. He has managed a range of large clients including TD Ameritrade, Citigroup and Reckitt Benckiser.

It was last year that Brinegar began the process of succession planning. After working with his New York CEO for a while he decided Maglio was the right executive for the job making him the fifth CEO of McKinney, which will turn 50 next year.

As a result of the announced succession plan, John Newall, who has been president of the agency since 2012, has left McKinney to pursue other opportunities.

Maglio will remain in the New York area but will continue to travel between the Durham and New York offices frequently. Business is led from both offices and client teams are representative of both offices.

Meanwhile McKinney has managed its way to impressive growth recently as the broader industry has endured a rough patch. Agency revenues are up 50% from the end of 2016 and continue to grow with the addition of recent new clients Clear Choice Dental, S&P Global, and an expanded role with ESPN and the addition of Blacture.
Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau did not have a good time during his trip in India. The visit was slammed by the media back home and Trudeau, true to his self-deprecating nature, decided to unravel the mystery behind the unusually jinxed trip. At a recent press gallery event, Trudeau went ahead and described his Indian visit as the 'trip to end all trips'.

 BCCL

"We didn't go to India...I don't remember the India trip," Trudeau said taking a dig at the press for exaggerating the events which unfolded during the visit. He later described the memory of the trip as one experienced due to the pain caused by "the ripping off of a band-aid".

It must be noted, that the trip was not all about Bollywood parties and that the Canadian Prime Minister did attend a crucial bit of business during the visit. "Here I am. Meeting with the CEO of Infosys. A company that for the record announced new investments in Canada, during the course of this trip," he said. "But you guys (journalists) didn't report on it because I was wearing a shirt and tie. Boring!" he told the press.

 BCCL

He also took a sly dig at Shah Rukh Khan for underdressing during their meeting, something that the press in Canada covered extensively while focussing on his golden sherwani.

"One of us is seriously under-dressed. How embarrassing for him," he joked about his meeting.

One of the major striking flashpoints during the trip was his wife's photograph with a convicted Khalistani terrorist, Jaspal Atwal, which became a huge issue in India. Trudeau, while talking about the trip, commented on the whole scandal by presenting a cropped picture of just his wife from that dinner.

 BCCL

"(The) Media couldn't stop talking about it. Doesn't she look gorgeous," the PM joked as he pointed to his wife's photograph with Atwal's image cropped out.

"That was India, ladies, and gentlemen," Trudeau said at the end. "The trip to end all trips."
'To know a man's true character, notice the watch he is wearing.'  Anonymous.

That one quote perhaps best describes the importance and utility of investing in a stylish watch. After all, apart from the utilitarian purpose that it fulfills, the right wrist watch can also help accentuate your attire with just the right dosage of style and elegance. A watch isn't just useful for improving your sense of punctuality, it can also act as a great accessory that can be relied upon time and again. And so on that note, we at MensXP have listed below the best watches for men, which you must absolutely own to feel the power of luxury,

The Best Watches For Men In India That Redefine Luxury

1. Rolex Yacht Master

 Chrono24

When you're adorning a Rolex on your wrist, you know that you've made it in life, and that everyone else will acknowledge that as well! This particular watch symbolises the ties between Rolex and the world of sailing, ones that stretch back to the 1950s. The balanced weight and the comfortable feel of a Rolex watch is simply unmatched, something you will experience once this masterpiece adorns your wrist. The combination of gold and steel is a timeless classic, and is sure to make an impactful style statement as well.

MRP: Rs. 6,92,375

Buy here

2.Tissot Chronograph

 Amazon

Tissot is a timeless brand that, while being expensive, spells luxury and style like no other. It is acknowledged the world over for its superior design, and this chronograph from the Swiss brand reinforces that impression. The black dial offers a smart contrast against its stainless steel silver band. It is water resistant up to a depth of 100 meters, which means that it's rugged as well as sleek and stylish. To sum up, owning a magnificent Tissot watch is surely no less than owning a priceless treasure that will make others view you with great envy!

MRP: Rs. 27,800

Buy here

3. Emporio Armani Analog Men's Watch

 Amazon

Another big name in the world of luxury watches, Emporio Armani really doesn't need any introduction. With a striking blue dial with a stainless steel silver band, this offering from Emporio Armani is just another example of the brand's versatility and innovation. It also has the added advantage of going equally well with your formal clothes and your casual outfits, so you can pair it up with whatever you're wearing without a second thought. Their creations melt down to one hyphenated word: Luxury-watchified!

MRP: Rs. 21,494

Buy here

4. Bulova Men's 45mm Special Edition Lunar Pilot Chronograph Watch

 Amazon

Bulova timepieces are of unquestionable excellence and if you get your hands on one of their limited editions, then you will definitely feel like you're a class apart. The manufacturers of stunning luxury watches that beautifully blend the classic with the contemporary, Bulova have really outdone themselves with this one. It's a six-hand calendar chronograph with a stainless steel screw-back case in silver-tone finish with a black dial. It's powered by Bulova's proprietary, high-performance UHF quartz movement, so you know you're getting a quality timepiece. This beauty really stands for sophistication like you've never experienced before, and can safely be classified as being one of the best watches for men.

MRP: Rs. 34, 514

Buy here

5. Guess Men's Chronograph

 Amazon

Sports and luxury go hand-in-hand in the world of watches, and you can experience that union first-hand by buying a Guess watch. This stunning chronograph is just the right mix of sporty and elegant. The blue-tone dial and stainless steel strap are offset by the rose gold detailing, which is what makes this watch intensely desirable. It definitely carries on the brand's tradition of producing luxury watches with a premium feel at affordable prices.

MRP: Rs. 10,195

Buy here

6. Tag Heuer Aquaracer Calibre 5 Men's Watch

 Amazon

Don't let the name mislead you - although the popular Aquaracer collection has been especially designed and meticulously tested for professional divers and underwater workers, this watch is eminently suited for daily use as well. This chronograph has a sporty and refined design, and its blue dial stands out against the fine-brushed and polished stainless steel case which completes the elegant look of the watch.

MRP: Rs. 1,65,000

Buy here

7. Michael Kors Brecken Chronograph Watch

 Amazon

Known for its high quality and modern designs, Michael Kors is an award-winning, premium brand that has never delivered a less-than-perfect product. The Brecken chronograph just goes to show that they don't intend to change that any time soon. With a round black dial and gold band, this is an accessory that definitely shows that you're a man who wants to be taken seriously. The brand specialises in products for the stylish gentleman, and this elegant offering proves that a Michael Kors watch is well-suited for any mood or occasion.

MRP: Rs. 19,595

Buy here

8. Breitling Avenger II GMT

 Chrono24

Stand out from the crowd with this sporty yet stylish offering from Swiss luxury watchmaker Breitling. With its steel case and leather strap, it is extremely practical and extra sturdy. The black and silver colour tones are sophisticated and cool, while the aviation-inspired stencil-type numerals lend a technical and original touch of style. Water resistant and equipped with lateral reinforcements, this watch is the ideal mix of performance, functionality and precision in one robust package.

MRP: Rs, 2,32,443

Buy here

9. Casio G-Shock GA-110-1BDR (G317) Analog-Digital Men's Watch

 Amazon

You've probably seen these beauties on the wrist of your favourite celebrities, which is a testament to their trendy look. If you're looking for the perfect accessory to tie the ultimate casual ensemble together, look no further than this all-black G-Shock watch brought to you by Casio. The black dial houses a digital and analog display, while the black resin case and band only adds to its sturdy nature. G-Shock watches are the wristwear of choice for military personnel, law enforcement officers, surfers and outdoor enthusiasts all over the world, and it's easy to see why that is the case when you wear one of these on your wrist.

MRP: Rs. 6,925

Buy here

10. Rado Hyperchrome Chronograph

 Chrono24

When you think of the best watches for men, it's hard not to think of the beautiful watches produced by Swiss watchmakers Rado. The Rado Hyperchrome chronograph is designed to look just as good with your business suits as it does with your casual outfits. At the same time, it can even keep up when you're dressed up in your athletic gear, which means it can deliver all the functions you expect from a watch no matter what style you intend to sport. The watch's case is crafted from a single sleek piece of injected ceramic as opposed to the stainless steel core that was required for previous ceramic designs, resulting in a masterpiece that offers extreme comfort, along with enhanced durability and exquisite beauty.

MRP: Rs. 2,78,277

Buy here

11. Longines Conquest VHP

 Amazon

In case you were wondering, the VHP stands for Very High Precision, which is exactly what this watch delivers. Housed in a stainless steel case and a contrasting blue dial, this watch flaunts the latest technology in the field of quartz, delivering high technicality and sporty features in an extremely elegant package. The official timekeeper for the first Modern Olympic Games, Longines continues to delight those interested in athletic watches by combining contemporary technology with classic elegance.

MRP: Rs. 1,44,012

Buy here

12. Ulysse Nardin Marine Diver

 Chrono24

As the name suggests, the Ulysse Nardin Marine Diver is an extremely rugged timepiece, built to resist water up to depths of 300m. At the same time, it is also a statement piece with its steel case and bracelet with black dial. The power reserve indicator on the dial definitely catches the eye, while the luminescent numerals are yet another handy feature that qualifies this watch as an undoubted success.

MRP: Rs. 4,46,061

Buy here

13. Patek Philippe Nautilus 5726A

 Chrono24

Taking a detour from all the round dials that have featured on this list, we present the rounded octagonal shaped bezel of the Nautilus series by Swiss manufacturer Patek Philippe. The ingenious porthole construction of its case, combined with the horizontally embossed dial, ensure that the Nautilus series epitomise the elegant sports watch. This particular offering also displays the day, date and month along with phases of the moon on its gradated black dial. WIth a hand-stitched black strap, it's easy to see the class of this Nautilus watch shine through.

MRP: Rs. 33, 96,611

Buy here

14. Omega Seamaster Planet Ocean

 Amazon

Representing Omega's glorious maritime heritage is this Omega Seamaster, with its black ceramic dial and silver stainless steel bracelet and case. This model also has a scratch-resistant sapphire crystal and features a date window at the 6 o'clock position. On the dial is a small seconds sub-dial, as well as 60-minute and 12-hour counters. A unidirectional rotating divers' bezel with its Liquidmetal diving scale is another eye-catching feature, while an alveol screw-in caseback with a patented extendable fold-over clasp make it an extremely desirable catch. In short, it won't be wrong to label this as being one of the best watches for men.

MRP: Rs. 3,56,000

Buy here

15. Jaeger Le-Coultre Polaris Automatic

 Chrono24

Housed in stainless steel with an arresting blue dial, this watch from Jaeger Le-Coultre is an elegant offering that is designed to make you fall in love at first sight. With its subtle curved complementing the sharp lines of the metal, the design is spectacular. If you spend your day on the move, this sleek yet sturdy watch with luminescent numerals is an ideal choice for you as it goes effortlessly with any outfit.

MRP: Rs. 5,45,095

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Most men are not fond of wearing any jewellery or accessory and only a watch is acceptable to them. It's an expression of your own personality as you're literally wearing your style on your sleeve (or should we say wrist?). Moreover, it's a subtle yet strong style statement in a convenient way that definitely lets you take charge of your life and well, time!
Google has finally made it clear that the company plans to discontinue a project that has been helping the United States military in digital warfare. The military uses artificial intelligence to analyse drone footage to identify targets and individuals. The contract was a part of Project Maven and it spared an internal unrest at Google resulting in numerous employees quitting their jobs.

 Boeing

Google has been providing the U.S. military with technology and the know-how to scan drone footage automatically. The Military Industrial Complex is a massive industry that attracts soaring profits; however, several Google employees were appalled at Google's decision to provide this technology. The employees were concerned that the search engine giant may help in developing tech that would eventually enable the military to lead automated attacks.

The Pentagon deal sparked 4,000 Google employees to write a signed letter to upper management asking to cancel the contract and demanded that Google's AI Technology should not be used in digital warfare. At least a dozen staff resigned over the debacle and, Diane Greene, head of Google's cloud business, apparently informed the staff that the company would not renew the contract after it lapses.

 YouTube

"We've always said this was an 18-month contract that we did, so it ends in March of 2019. And there will be no follow-on to Maven," Greene told cloud division staff on Friday.

However, do not get your hopes up as Artificial Intelligence is the new asset in digital warfare which will not be abandoned as a tool by the Pentagon. In fact, Project Maven is poised to grow even more  with or without Google. Other big tech companies have already started to pursue a contract with the Pentagon with regard to AI and intelligence warfare.

Source: Bloomberg
Uganda's parliament has passed a law that lets the government tax the use of social media platforms like WhatsApp, Twitter, Facebook and more. President Yoweri Museveni had pushed for the changes, arguing that social media encouraged gossip.

The law permits collection of 200 shillings (five cents) a day on users of so-called over-the-top services which publish content bypassing traditional distributors. The new law did not spell out how the tax would be applied and collected. The law will go into effect as of July 1st.

 Pexels

About 17 million people, or 40 per cent of Uganda's total population, currently there is no plan available that outlines how this new law will be implemented or how the use of social media will be regulated. Today's approval also imposes a 1% tax on all transactions made through mobile. Critics warn that the latest taxes would hurt low-income earners and residents of the rural regions who use mobile money systems instead of mainstream banks.

We're looking for money to maintain the security of the country and extend electricity so that you people can enjoy more social media, more often, more frequently, President Museveni had said earlier in the year justifying the move to tax social media access.

 Reuters

Such an event is being witnessed in history for the first time and many critics believe that the government is using the justification of curbing down on gossip and improving tax collection to tackle freedom of expression. In the last one decade, social media has played a significant role in spreading information faster than ever, many governments around the world have already blocked access to a lot of these platforms fearing revolutions.

China is widely known for having strict control over its internet, while many countries in the Gulf region have barred features like WhatsApp Calls / FaceTime because the data cannot be monitored. These concerns are further backed by the events of 2016 when access to social media was shut down in Uganda during the Presidential Election.

 President Yoweri Museveni / Reuters

Uganda isn't the only country looking to limit its population's usage of social media, though. Papua New Guinea recently announced that the country would block access to Facebook for a month to analyze how the population is using the service.
China was the exception, with domestic billet prices improving because of lower supply.Southeast Asias billet imports were again affected by soft demand, and few offers were reported.The latest offers from East Asia were at prices as low as $547 per tonne cfr Philippines, while CIS suppliers were asking for $560 per tonne cfr.No Chinese export offers were reported because Chinas domestic prices started improving early in the week. Previously, cheaper Chinese materials had pushed Southeast Asias prices down slightly during the week to May 28 Billet from Central Asia was heard sold to the Philippines at around $550-555 per tonne cfr.Filipino buyers still refrained from purchasing due to the rainy season in the country, while those in Indonesia were staying away from the market mainly due to the reduced activity caused by the Islamic holy month of Ramadan, which will end in mid-June.Chinas domestic prices are continuing to rebound a little today, which may create some stability in [Southeast Asias import] prices soon, a Vietnam-based trader said on Thursday.Chinas domestic billet segment began to recover from Tuesday onward [LINK], after the previous weeks downtrend. The countrys rebar market also moved up steadily during the week amid decreasing stockpiles.Prices were 3,670 yuan ($573) per tonne on Friday, down by 50 yuan per tonne from a week earlier.Low inventory levels might push the billet price up, sources said. Total inventory for the semi-finished product in Tangshan was 280,000 tonnes on Friday, down by 70,000 tonnes from a week before, according to a billet trader in the city.Chinese mills were not planning to take export orders for billet due to the higher prices in the domestic market.CIS billet export prices kept sliding during the week due to sluggish trading and downward pressure from weaker Turkish scrap import prices.Few deals were concluded because of the wide bid-offer spread.CIS offers were mostly within the range of $510-515 per tonne fob Black Sea on Friday, down from $512-520 per tonne fob on Tuesday.But buyers said the workable price was nearer $495-505 per tonne fob.A 10,000-tonne cargo from Russias Rostov Electric Steel Mill (REMZ) was said to be sold to a trader at around $498 per tonne fob Black Sea. But REMZ prices are not included in Metal Bulletins assessment because the mill does not supply material regularly and its prices are lower than market levels. After the latest assessment was filed on Wednesday , sources said that a 15,000-tonne cargo from Novolipetsk Steel (NLMK) was sold to Egypt at $502 per tonne fob Black Sea.There were also rumors of bookings to Turkey at $500 per tonne fob, although sources could not confirm the information.In Turkey, billet import prices continued to soften over the week ended Thursday , tracking the downturn in the countrys scrap import prices.CIS suppliers lowered their billet offers to Turkey to $530-535 per tonne cfr, whereas Turkish buyers indicated their interest at $515-520 per tonne cfr.No significant deals have been reported in recent weeks.Meanwhile, Turkeys export prices for billet also weakened in line with the poorer scrap values.Some Turkish mills have started to focus on exporting billet, while the rebar export market was slow, a Turkish source said.Some export bookings for Turkish billet were made to Egypt at $520-525 per tonne fob, the source added.In the United Arab Emirates, uncertainty over the possibility of the US reintroducing trade sanctions on Iran kept billet import prices unchanged during the week ended May 29.Iranian billet offers to the UAE stood at $520-530 per tonne cfr, but bids were only at $495-500 per tonne cfr.As for rebar in the UAE, domestic prices for the long product rose amid optimism among producers about demand. Iranian export prices for billet softened in the week ended Thursday due to the threat of US sanctions.The few offers heard from Iranian mills were around $510-515 per tonne fob. But no transactions were heard within participants estimate of workable prices of $500-505 per tonne fob. Egypts billet import prices also declined during the week to Thursday, due to limited demand and thin trading activity during Ramadan.Deals were heard at $522-535 per tonne cfr, while offers for CIS-origin billet to Egypt were heard at $535 per tonne cfr.Domestic rebar prices in Egypt were flat in the quiet market.Jessica Zong in Shanghai, Vlada Novokreshchenova in Dnepr, Serife Durmus in Bursa, Felipe Peroni in Sao Paulo and Cem Turken in Mugla contributed to this report.
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NEW YORK - After more than 45 years in fashion, Diane von Furstenberg has been looking for a graceful exit. She is 71, and she has designed a lot of frocks. But the one that matters most is the classic wrap dress, a few yards of slinky jersey that manage to flatter not all but most figures. It's not cheap, but it isn't terribly expensive. It has a knack for being appropriate in a multitude of situations. And it comes with its own empowering narrative: that women can have dominion over their own reality with a single sexy, authoritative dress.

That's a heck of a lot more than most fashion brands have done for women.

The dress landed her on the cover of Newsweek in 1976. It made von Furstenberg - who married and divorced a European prince and dazzled this city's disco society - even richer and more famous. It gave her independence.

But now, von Furstenberg is ready to be done with fashion. "I don't want to do another color palette," she says. "I've had three acts. The first was the American Dream, the young girl coming to New York, the wrap dress, blah, blah, blah. The second: I started over. Now, I've been thinking, now is the time for the third act. How do I turn this into a legacy, so the legacy will last after me?"

The cultural powerhouse known as DVF has a new goal. "I became an icon," von Furstenberg says. "Now I want to be an oracle."

Getting out is hard. It's not just a matter of deciding what will become of a business that she founded in 1972 and resurrected from the dustbins in the late 1990s. She has considered selling it. She may yet take on an investor. Her granddaughter, Talita von Furstenberg, will definitely go to work for the company.

The hard part is emotional, existential. It's extricating DVF the woman from DVF the brand.

"To let go is the easiest," she says. Pause. No, delete that. "I'm not letting go. I'm transitioning into something else."

Ultimately, she would like to focus even more on philanthropy. The Diller-von Furstenberg Family Foundation, which she set up in 1999 with her media billionaire husband, Barry Diller, has helped underwrite this city's High Line park, the District of Columbia College Access Program and the Academy Museum of Motion Pictures in Los Angeles. She also sponsors the DVF Awards, which support female entrepreneurs and leaders from around the world. On Monday, the Council of Fashion Designers of America, which she has chaired since 2006, will honor her with the Swarovski award for positive change at its annual gala at the Brooklyn Museum. Parkland student and gun control activist Delaney Tarr will present it to her.

"Diane is so much deeper and more global than people might assume based on the world of fashion," says activist Gloria Steinem, a guest at this year's DVF Awards. "She's someone I'd like to precede in the world and say, 'Pay attention to this woman!' "

Von Furstenberg wants to declare older women valuable. Enviable. The culture has long glorified and romanticized the so-called council of wise men. She would like to be one of the culture's wise women - a confidently mature woman who uses her experience and resources to guide younger leaders.

She's not interested in making peace with her age or defying it. Frankly, she's confident she looks pretty good. Von Furstenberg wants to get at something deeper: Age as power.

This is hard. Even for her.

"Aging is a big deal. I pretend that I think aging is wonderful. And it is. (Yet) I wake up in the morning and say, 'I've changed.' I've lived so fully. I should be 140."

Von Furstenberg has long considered her mortality. Even as a young mother, she worried about a premature death. "When you get to my age, it's serious," she says. "When you get to be 70, then it hits. You're closer to the end."

"I want to be able to enjoy (life)," she says. "The third act is about fulfillment."

---

In 2016, von Furstenberg announced she had found an heir - Scottish designer Jonathan Saunders, whom she hired as chief creative officer. Saunders had an impeccable fashion pedigree - a degree from a prestigious London design school, several years experience developing prints at Alexander McQueen, and a line of his own - far more so than von Furstenberg, who had always operated on gut instinct and an intoxicating sense of female bravado.

She put him in charge of everything - from ready-to-wear to advertising. She seemed to have stepped back. For his debut presentation, an informal tableau vivant, she made a point of not arriving until the final minutes. For his spring 2018 runway show, she stood in the audience with the guests, commenting on ensembles that she particularly favored, many of which she was seeing for the first time.

But then Saunders resigned in December 2017. The brand, she recalls him telling her, "is so much about you."

"I think he did some very good work," von Furstenberg says. "He's wonderful with prints and color." But he was uncomfortable, she says, being a man overseeing a brand built on the philosophy of women being in charge.

Saunders says that "the brand was evolving and it felt right, in my eyes, for Diane to lead the brand at that moment."

So in January, von Furstenberg turned to designer Nathan Jenden - or more specifically, returned to him.

Jenden, now 47, originally came to work for her in 2001, not long out of fashion school, when she tapped him to reinvigorate the brand. Her once white-hot label had cooled considerably after she'd sold off the beauty arm in the mid-1980s, moved to Paris and left others to run day-to-day operations. She had returned to find a new generation enamored of vintage wrap dresses but not much of a company to be proud of. She dabbled in mass market sportswear, collaborated with Avon and hawked her wares on QVC, becoming its star saleswoman.

Jenden impressed her with a trial-run project called "rebel princess." More importantly to their burgeoning friendship, she says, "he noticed I had books, and I was impressed that he noticed I had books." In their 10 years together, she says, he helped the business grow from $2 million in annual revenue to $250 million. And after each runway show, when von Furstenberg would take her curtain call, moving down the catwalk in a slow, confident stroll, Jenden would follow just a few paces behind. Applauding her. Everyone should have a Jenden.

He left in 2011 to work on his own line, which von Furstenberg helped finance, and later worked for Bebe, the mall brand that is akin to post-adolescent sex stitched up in polyester and spandex.

"He had to leave to appreciate me," von Furstenberg says with a smile. She's the godmother of his daughter, and they often confer in French, the Belgian-born von Furstenberg's first language. While she deliberately stayed in the background during Saunders's tenure, she is once again the star, or at least the co-star.

She'd have preferred to turn the creative reins over to a woman. But this is OK. "I have a woman CEO," she says.

Jenden's first big splash for the brand came the night of the Met gala early last month. The theme for the evening - an annual fundraiser for the museum's Costume Institute - was Catholicism, and guests turned up in everything from bedazzled pope hats to modified cassocks. For his boss, Jenden made a celestial blue dress with a matching kimono, hand-painted with clouds. It was more of an ode to spirituality and magical thinking; von Furstenberg does not "do religion." Her granddaughter Antonia Steinberg would wear a Scarlett O'Hara-style dress in cardinal red. But for granddaughter Talita von Furstenberg, the brand's ambassador, Jenden had created the grandest dress of them all.

With less than four hours before the start of the red carpet promenade, 19-year-old Talita was standing in the middle of the atelier with damp hair, surrounded by three seamstresses and two iPhone-wielding assistants, and grappling with the realization that she would not be able to go to the bathroom for the duration of the dinner. Her gown was 350 yards of pale-blue meringue studded with 48,000 Swarovski crystals, attached to a wisp of a bodice that wrapped around her teeny-tiny waist like the brand's signature frock.

Jenden was fussing with the hem and reeling off instructions to one of the seamstresses in Chinese, which he admitted was more about showing off his language skills than bridging a communication gap. A member of his team gently reminded him to tend to his own grooming before walking the red carpet.

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"I can't do makeup," Jenden said. "I have to finish with Talita. She's my muse; she's the future. I will go with circles under my eyes. It shows I've been working."

Von Furstenberg eyed the fragile bodice skeptically, raising questions about its ability to carry that voluminous skirt.

"It's a lot of weight. It's a lot of weight that hangs on this tiny little thing," she said. "It's. A. Lot. Of. Weight." Jenden swiftly engineered an infrastructure of additional support.

That night, both von Furstenberg and Talita were beautifully photographed and showcased in multiple online galleries commemorating the event. It was hard, however, to find a picture of Jenden.

---

Many women find it impossible to accept a compliment. They deflect or respond with self-deprecating humor. If you tell von Furstenberg that she looks terrific, she will accept the compliment with a nod. There's pride in her sleek figure, the chiseled jawline, those toned legs, that tousle of hair which she tends to run her hands through as she talks. She is a perfect advertisement for her brand.

"Now everyone talks about authenticity and honesty. It's easy for me. I've never lied - not about (my business) going up and down. I've always shared it," she says. "In the beginning people said, 'Who is this princess from Europe who makes inexpensive dresses? Who is this woman?' My plan was always to be a bit provocative to get attention and be very, very honest."

She's the daughter of a concentration-camp survivor, the mother of two, and a feminist who started calling herself Ms. instead of princess once she saw Steinem's groundbreaking magazine.

"I'm of a generation where two things were certain: that you have your period and you get groped," she says. "I had three bosses, and each tried to seduce me. One grossly. One OK. And one ended up being a mentor." She wonders aloud whether the #MeToo movement has caused some women to make exaggerated claims. But she agrees there are a lot of wrongs to right.

Her headquarters in the Meatpacking District is a scrapbook of her life, a place where the '70s still simmer. Warhol'd images of her decorate the walls. A pink neon sign reads "in charge." On the top floor, von Furstenberg keeps an apartment.

The company has shrunk significantly since its heyday. The goal now is to transform a legacy label into a nimble, 21st-century brand focused on e-commerce. For the first time, von Furstenberg wrote a business plan. At her desk, she proudly holds up a piece of cardboard that accordions out to reveal handwritten bullet points: "We have an iconic dress. ... We have a vocabulary of 10,000 iconic prints." What's particularly valuable, she says, "is the emotional connection women have with the brand."

---

At the ninth annual DVF awards in April, Misty Copeland wept on stage - chest-heaving sobs. The history-making ballerina was overwhelmed by the accomplishments of her fellow honorees: advocating for refugee children, providing creative industry jobs to keep young Salvadoran men out of gangs. And Justice Sonia Sotomayor was sitting right there in front of her, about to receive a lifetime achievement award.

Von Furstenberg "is really showing people what fashion can do, and what she can effect, and the importance of being a strong woman," Copeland said earlier.

When the designer launched the awards, she hesitated to put her name on them. She didn't think her name carried enough gravitas or prestige. She wasn't giving away millions of dollars. But putting $50,000 in prize money in the hands of someone like Jaha Dukureh, whose NGO fights female genital mutilation, is transformative - for both the recipient and the donor.

"It brings us to a platform we wouldn't ordinarily be on. A lot of people just don't understand how big of an issue this is in Africa, Asia, the Middle East; 500,000 girls in the U.S. are at risk," Dukureh says. "The impact (von Furstenberg) is making is not an afterthought."

That night, von Furstenberg was wearing a black mesh dress embroidered with pink flowers and a pair of vertiginous black heels. It was a room filled with women wearing DVF. A room that fashion helped make possible. When she stepped to the lectern, she had to lean forward to reach the microphone because it was positioned too low - a gaffe she tut-tutted repeatedly through the night, for in her eyes it was no small thing. It was distracting and annoying; the stage manager should have known better.

Von Furstenberg isn't rude. She's persistent and unapologetic. She is a wise woman, and this is her third act. And she wants to make sure it's just right.
MIDDLETOWN Middlesex Community College (MxCC) and Charter Oak State College recently signed a Community College Tuition Match Scholarship Agreement, according to a press release. The agreement states that Charter Oak State College will provide the last two years of a bachelors degree to graduates from MxCC associate degree programs at the Connecticut Community Colleges tuition and fee rates in effect for that year. The agreement will begin in the fall 2018 semester.

This is an exciting opportunity that gives students who graduate from Middlesex Community College an affordable choice to earn a bachelors degree in areas such as criminal justice, health information management, health care administration, and business administration, said Steven Minkler, MxCC interim campus CEO and academic dean. Students will easily transition from an associate degree to a bachelors degree program at Charter Oak State College while paying the community college tuition and fee rate in effect for that year. The online delivery format at Charter Oak State College is also a perfect fit for students in the new, online Middlesex Accelerated Program (MAP). This agreement makes it possible for a full-time MAP student to earn both degrees in three yearsat tremendous savings to them and their families.

Shirley M. Adams, provost at Charter Oak State College, said,We have had an articulation agreement with MxCC for years allowing their students easy transfer to Charter Oak State College. This agreement expands that option, making it more affordable. It provides students with an incentive to do well at and to complete their associate degree at MxCC and then to pursue their bachelors degree without leaving home.

Interested MxCC students should contact Charter Oak State College admissions at admissions@charteroak.edu.

To apply for the tuition scholarship, students need to attain a 2.3 or higher grade point average (GPA), complete the associate degree, and matriculate at Charter Oak State College within six months of completing an associate degree.

The tuition scholarship is good for five years. In order to maintain the scholarship, the student must be enrolled in a minimum of six Charter Oak State College credits in the fall and spring semesters. This would allow the student to graduate in five years, if attending part-time. Students can take more courses at the reduced rate and thus graduate earlier, take courses in the summer, or take additional courses, as applicable, at MxCC as long as they adhere to the requirements stated above.

Eligible students should apply for Federal Pell Grants to help cover the costs of their college expenses; students will be responsible for books, technology fee, and any other course-related expenses. Students will have to meet Charter Oak State Colleges degree requirements for the bachelors degree.

For more information about the Community College Incentive Program, contact Lauren Katusha, associate director of admissions, at 860-343-5722 or by email at lkatusha@mxcc.edu.

Claras Journey told with music, movement

MIDDLETOWN  Claras Journey: Why Our Piano Goes to the Woods, will be held June 21, 7 p.m in the Hubbard Room, Russell Library, 123 Broad Street, Middletown.

Every summer, the piano at Russell Library, named after Clara Schumann, has a summer adventure in the woods. Hear the music and story with Mara Bennett, Noyes dancer, and Carolyn Halsted, a Middletown composer and pianist who will play a selection of musical pieces used for Noyes Rhythm, including one of her own compositions. Pianist Carolyn Halsted is a composer and pianist who teaches at Wesleyan University. Along with other pianists, she has worked with the Noyes Rhythm Summer Retreat for several years.

Created by Florence Fleming Noyes in the early 1900s, Noyes Rhythm is a movement system that brings ease and strength to the body. Many people of all ages, both dancers and non-dancers, have come to Noyes School of Rhythm to relieve stiffness, tiredness, and loss of inspiration. Drop-in; no registration.

Libarys author series concludes June 12

Portland Librarys Local Authors Series concludes on Tuesday, June 12 a 7 p.m., with author Katherine Spada Basto. Basto, a resident of Portland for almost 20 years was a teacher in Hartford before becoming a full time writer. 'Days to the Gallows: A Novel of the Hartford Witch Panic' , Ms. Basto's first novel has won numerous awards including Best Young Adult Book from IPNE(Independent Publishers of New England) and Runner Up in the New England Book Festival for Historical Fiction.

Spada Basto is presently working on her second novel that takes place in Ancient Rome. It will be published in the fall of 2018. The author will have books available to be personally signed and purchased.

Literacy Volunteers offer training

Literacy Volunteers of Central Connecticut is seeking volunteers. Become a tutor with LVCC and help our adult students achieve their work, family, and community goals.

All prospective tutors must be age 18 and over with a minimum of a high school diploma (or equivalent) and good writing skills. Observations, support, and training will be provided.

There will be training for people interested in working with adult students who need help speaking English, reading and writing. This English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) tutor training* will be held on all of the following dates July 9, 12, 16, 19 (10 a.m.-12:30 p.m.) at the New Britain Public Library. All dates must be attended.

Those with a background as an educator may qualify to waive this tutor training.

Preregistration is required. Call (860) 229-7323 or email lvccprogassist@gmail.com, for more information. Feel free to visit us on the web at http://literacycentral.org/.

Literacy Volunteers of Central CT provides small group and one-on-one literacy tutoring to over 350 low literate adults through student centered learning and mentoring, from volunteer tutors who receive high quality training and ongoing support.

Artisans offering classes

ESSEX Connecticut River Artisans has scheduled classes for the month of June.

Chain Maille with Barb Richard, June 9, 16, 11 a.m.-2 p.m. each session. Class fee $45, Kit $30 for Copper or $45 Silver Filled.

Painting on Tiles, Glass & Pottery, June 21. Paints, 1 wine glass, 1 tile, written instructions and pattern are provided. Student should supply one med/lg old towel to use as a rag, one  angle paint brush, apron and any refreshments.

Stained Glass Basics with Peter Simoncini, Saturdays in June, 1-3 p.m. Learn the basics of Stained Glass while creating a simple Leaded piece $260 plus materials. Class is limited to three students.

For information, contact Linda C. Cave at 860-345-3080.
Two years before Ivory Coast President Alassane Ouattara is due to step down after completing two terms in office, he's suggesting he may seek re-election in 2020.

While presidents from Burundi to the Democratic Republic of Congo are clinging to power beyond two terms, Ouattara has earned international praise for restoring stability and high economic growth rates in the West African nation he's led for seven years. Now, he seems unsure whether to honor his pledges to leave when his current term ends.

Ouattara, 76, told the weekly magazine Jeune Afrique in an interview published Sunday that he's still deciding whether to run again, saying a constitution adopted in 2016 allows him to extend his time in office. While Ivory Coast has a limit of two presidential terms, Ouattara's Rally of the Republicans party says the new charter has reset the clock. Its ruling coalition partner, the Democratic Party of Ivory Coast, hasn't yet responded to the comments.

"It's a pretty clear signal -- I think he wants to do a third term but he's aware that his candidature will be rejected by the public and could be a potential source of violence,'' said Rodrigue Kone, a sociologist at the University of Bouake. "Everybody knows it's not a good idea, but the biggest problem is that there isn't a real alternative.''

The interview has gone viral on social media in Ivory Coast and comes after Ouattara first appeared to reconsider earlier pledges to stick to two terms by saying "we'll see what happens'' when asked in November whether he would step down. In previous years, he was firm in saying he'd quit by 2020.

Massere Toure, the head of communication for the presidency, didn't answer calls seeking comment.

Some analysts say Ouattara is deliberately stoking confusion about his plans in order to reaffirm his authority. Officials within the ruling coalition started jockeying for power after the 2016 constitutional reforms, which created the position of vice president and abolished the upper age limit for presidential candidates.

"He's taken control again by leaving everybody guessing," said Arthur Banga, an analyst at the University of Cocody in the commercial capital, Abidjan.

After a first term that saw record economic growth, averaging 9 percent from 2012 to 2016, his second term was roiled by a series of army mutinies and a general strike by civil servants over pension payments. Even so, the economy of the world's largest cocoa producer expanded 7.8 percent last year and is forecast to increase 7.3 percent this year.

His administration's focus on large infrastructure projects has sustained one of Africa's fastest-growing economies since 2012 and helped the country regain its position as a regional hub in French-speaking West Africa.

Ouattara swept to victory in a 2010 vote, defeating then President Laurent Gbagbo, whose tenure was marred by a failed coup that split the country into a rebel-held north and a government-run south and fueled outbreaks of violence across the country.

The opposition has fallen apart since Gbagbo was deported to The Hague to stand trial at the International Criminal Court for human-rights abuses committed during a six-month standoff after the elections in which he refused to acknowledge defeat.

The two parties in the ruling coalition derive their support from two of the nation's main ethnic groups, the Dioula who are viewed as northerners and the Baoule from the southeast.

Efforts to transform the alliance into a single party have been undermined by the internal rivalry over Ouattara's succession. Democratic Party of Ivory Coast leader Henri Konan Bedie, 84, insists his party must nominate the coalition candidate for the next elections in return for his support for Ouattara in 2010 and 2015 elections.

At the same time, growing inequality and the strong grip of Ouattara's northern supporters on the administration have eroded his popularity. Evictions of thousands of people from makeshift settlements in Abidjan and a drive to chase street vendors and beggars from intersections have stoked criticism that the government is ignoring the poor.

Corruption cases have further undermined the government's reputation. Last month, 18 officials were arrested for setting up an import system for cars that avoided paying custom duties. There's been little progress in improving transparency in the cocoa sector, which represents the nation's biggest export earnings.

"There's a strong desire for change - people are really tired with the old generation of politicians," Banga said. "Another election victory for Ouattara isn't guaranteed, given issues like corruption and the unequal distribution of wealth."
Pentagon Official Says He Resigned Because US Cybersecurity Is No Match for China

Nicolas Chaillan cited the Pentagon's reluctance to make cybersecurity and AI a priority as a reason he quit.
The Department of Defense Inspector General's office confirmed Monday that an investigation has begun into the allegations that derailed President Donald Trump's nomination of Rear Adm. Ronny Jackson to become VA Secretary.

Allegations of drinking on the job and other misconduct by Jackson, Trump's personal physician and head of the White House medical unit, have also held up Jackson's promotion to two-star rank.

A one-line statement from the Defense Department confirmed that "The DoD Office of Inspector General has initiated an investigation into allegations related to Rear Admiral (Lower Half) Ronny L. Jackson."

The allegations against Jackson were first raised by Sen. Jon Tester, D-Montana, ranking member of the Senate Veterans Affairs Committee, who said the concerns about Jackson came from current and former co-workers.

Jackson later withdrew his name from consideration to replace Dr. David Shulkin as head of the Department of Veterans Affairs. He then returned to the White House medical unit.

Trump said at the time that Tester, who is up for re-election in November, would have a "big price to pay" for scuttling the nomination.

The nomination of Jackson came as a surprise. And Trump acted unexpectedly again last month by naming Robert Wilkie, the acting VA Secretary, to take a permanent post as head of the government's second largest organization, after the Defense Department.

Wilkie had been serving as the Pentagon's under secretary for Personnel and Readiness when he was moved over to the VA.

Last week, the VA said that Wilkie was stepping down as acting secretary to get around a section of the U.S. Code barring an acting secretary from taking the permanent post.

VA Chief of Staff Peter O'Rourke is temporarily stepping in as acting secretary pending Wilkie's Senate confirmation hearing. A date for that hearing has yet to be set.

-- Richard Sisk can be reached at Richard.Sisk@Military.com.
A former U.S. Air Force wing commander fired from his post in December has been charged with sexual assault, maltreatment and cruelty, among other offenses.

Col. John Howard, the former 375th Air Mobility Wing commander at Scott Air Force Base, Illinois, faces two specifications of cruelty and maltreatment, two specifications of sexual assault, one specification of conduct unbecoming an officer and one specification of fraternization in violation of the Uniform Code of Military Justice, 18th Air Force spokesman Capt. Ryan DeCamp told Military.com on Monday. Air Force Times was first to report the charges.

"The charges are accusations and Colonel Howard is presumed innocent until proven guilty," DeCamp said in an email. "To protect the rights of Colonel Howard and the integrity of ongoing legal proceedings, no other information about the case will be released at this time."

Related content:

DeCamp said an Article 32 hearing date is still being coordinated between the parties. An Article 32 hearing, similar to a preliminary hearing in civilian courts, determines whether or not charges will be brought to trial.

According to his charge sheet, reviewed by Military.com, the alleged offenses pertain to encounters Howard is accused of having with a senior airman, whose name has been redacted from the document. It is unclear if all the alleged offenses involve the same senior airman or multiple alleged victims.

Between July and September 2016 at Royal Air Force Mildenhall, United Kingdom, Howard allegedly committed cruelty and maltreatment by "rubbing his groin" against the senior airman's torso; saying ,"every time I see you, there it is," alluding to his becoming erect; and saying his penis is "too big" to hide, or words to that effect, the document said.

Howard also said, "you're making me hard," and that he had to be careful because his erection could be visible through his pants, or words to that effect, it said.

Less than a year later while stationed in Bangor, Maine, Howard is alleged to have sexually assaulted a senior airman by penetrating her with his tongue. Howard also allegedly penetrated her mouth with his penis, without her consent.

Howard also allegedly committed conduct unbecoming an officer and a gentleman between March 2016 and November 2017 by wrongfully and dishonorably engaging in unprofessional conduct with the senior airman, as well as fraternizing with enlisted persons, the charges said.

Howard was relieved of command in December in the midst of an Air Force Office of Special Investigations probe for what officials at the time said were sexual misconduct allegations.

Prior to becoming the 375th commander in July, Howard was the vice commander of the 100th Air Refueling Wing at Royal Air Force Mildenhall, England, for roughly two years.

-- Oriana Pawlyk can be reached at oriana.pawlyk@military.com. Follow her on Twitter at @oriana0214.
KABUL, Afghanistan -- Outfits that look the same as the U.S. Army-style combat uniform worn by a gunman in an attack last week on Afghanistan's Interior Ministry can easily be found for sale in the capital.

At the Kabul market known as "Bush Bazaar," shops sell military goods of suspect origins -- everything from what U.S. troops wear on their backs to what they put in their bellies, and more. The mall, which brings together hundreds of vendors, is named for the former U.S. president who ordered the 2001 invasion, which brought in thousands of troops and the supplies to support them.

Most of a convincing counterfeit Army uniform can be had there for about $60 or less. Some of the uniforms and accessories seem genuine or are very good knockoffs.

Not long ago it was common for attackers to don friendly military disguises, but Wednesday's attack marked the first such assault in more than a year, said Gen. John Nicholson, commander of U.S. and allied forces in the country.

After a run of such attacks in 2012, including a deadly September assault on Helmand province's Camp Bastion that left two Marines dead and eight fighter jets damaged or destroyed, Kabul police began cracking down on the unauthorized sale of military and police uniforms.

As far as the police were concerned last week, those efforts had been effective.

"Selling uniforms is not allowed," police spokesman Hashmat Stanekzai told Stars and Stripes. "If someone is caught with selling those items, he gets jailed and the shop is shuttered."

They might be sold in secret, he said, but not openly, as it's "strictly banned."

Yet shopkeepers displayed plenty of military-style clothing for sale, and on a recent visit boasted that some items were the same as those worn by the country's commandos, the elite troops who work closely with American special operations forces and often conduct night raids against insurgents and terrorist groups.

Some Afghan forces and other coalition troops wear uniforms based on or difficult to distinguish from current or past U.S. uniforms.

When asked, some merchants claimed they sold uniforms only to military or security personnel, though they showed no reservations about offering military clothing to civilians before the question was raised.

Many styles to choose from

Even if not worn to military standards, garb that passably disguises the enemy as friendly forces could cause confusion in an attack or create a few moments of hesitation, allowing a suicide bomber to get closer to military bases or patrols and inflict heavier damage.

During Wednesday's assault, the tactic proved largely unsuccessful. The gunmen wore outdated U.S. digital camouflage uniforms, known as the Universal Camouflage Pattern, which raised the gate guards' suspicions and led them to confront the attackers, Nicholson told Pentagon reporters last week.

That pattern of uniform was harder to find at the bazaar and cost about one-third more than what appeared to be brand-new military outfits resembling those currently worn by the Army and recently adopted by the Air Force.

Priced at about $30 and found in several shops, not all those in the newer print known as Operational Camouflage Pattern seemed authentic. But without a close inspection, it was sometimes hard to tell.

It took about 30 minutes of shopping to find a used set of the older style uniforms, hidden in the stocks of a shop run by an 18-year-old and an 11-year-old. Nothing more than the right amount of cash -- $35, haggled down from $42 -- was required for the purchase. Twenty dollars more bought a pair of tan combat boots that were likely not military issue, but they were a close approximation.

Some shops offered Afghan military patches and officer rank insignia, but U.S. Army combat patches like those worn by Wednesday's attackers seemed impossible to find. But patches of any type could easily be custom-made nearby, locals said.

A few stores carried camouflage hook-and-loop tapes embossed with "U.S. Army" or names such as Moran and Wessling, which would complete the look.

Tactical vests were displayed on mannequin torsos, and several hangers held even older-style uniforms from the early 2000s or those resembling U.S. Marine uniforms, as well as military backpacks, T-shirts emblazoned with the word "Army" and the occasional flight suit.

Ill-gotten gains?

In addition to stores selling gear, grocers sold Meals, Ready to Eat -- even pork varieties forbidden under Islam -- and cases of nearly every type of drink found in military dining facility coolers, including Rip It. Shopkeepers said they got them in Bagram, home of the largest U.S. base in Afghanistan.

Many of the goods may have been pilfered from military supply shipments. Resolute Support officials could not immediately say how much of its shipments are stolen or lost each year, though six years ago the rate was 1 percent, or nearly 800 truckloads. American soldiers have also been caught ordering extra supplies to sell them at off-base markets in the past.

As for military clothing, troops are taught to dispose of it in special bins on bases like Bagram Air Field, or to destroy uniform items to keep them from falling into enemy hands.

It's not clear which of the anti-government groups in the country carried out the Interior Ministry attack. The Islamic State claimed responsibility and later released a photo of its 10 purported attackers, but U.S. officials said Monday that the Afghan-led investigation still indicates it was the work of the Taliban's sophisticated Haqqani network.

The Taliban, however, have not claimed responsibility, and spokesman Zabiullah Mujahid declined to discuss it Saturday. He said he could not reveal much of the group's current tactics but claimed it had plenty of military uniforms -- some "very easily" obtained in markets, but many more taken after militants had overrun government buildings and raided stores of weapons, ammunition, vehicles and other supplies.

"That's what makes us very rich when it comes to military uniforms," Mujahid said. "We don't use them much, so we have plenty."

Stanekzai, the Kabul police spokesman, blamed Afghanistan's neighbors for sponsoring the militants, a common refrain among Afghan officials. Pakistan has long been accused of supporting the Taliban and officials increasingly allege Russian and Iranian backing.

"When the insurgents can get weapons, training and full support in neighboring countries, they can also get military uniforms made there," he said.

Stars and Stripes reporter J.P. Lawrence and Zubair Babakarkhail contributed to this report.
1. AIR FORCE TO DOUBLE COMBAT AIR ADVISERS

From Military.com's Oriana Pawlyk:

The U.S. Air Force plans to double the number of Combat Aviation Advisors it sends to train partners on special operations missions at a time when the Defense Department's footprint in austere environments has come under scrutiny.

Under guidance in the National Defense Strategy, Air Force Special Operations Command is preparing to grow each of its teams, developing a planned total of 352 total force integration advisors over the next few years, officials said. The CAA mission, under Special Operations Command, has about half that now.

The goal is to sustain five year-round advisory sites around the world by fiscal 2023. The expansion comes at a time when the U.S. military is operating in smaller teams in remote regions of the world such as Africa and Southeast Asia.

2. BASES MAY SHELTER IMMIGRANT CHILDREN

From Military.com's Richard Sisk:

The Defense Department is on the verge of naming military bases to house the overflow of children taken into custody at the Mexican border as civilian shelters reach capacity.

The DoD has yet to receive formal requests from the Department of Health and Human Services.

Pentagon Spokeswoman Dana White said last month that the DoD was awaiting a site survey by HHS to designate additional shelters, to include military bases. According to HHS, there are currently about 100 civilian shelters for Unaccompanied Alien Children in 14 states.

In a similar surge at the border in 2014, a total of more than 7,000 children were housed temporarily at the Army's Fort Sill in Oklahoma, Lackland Air Force Base in Texas, and Naval Base Ventura in California.

The most recent site survey by HHS included officials going to four bases in Texas and Arkansas. The bases were Dyess Air Force Base in Abilene, Texas; Goodfellow Air Force Base in San Angelo, Texas; the Army's Fort Bliss in El Paso, Texas; and Little Rock Air Force Base in Arkansas, ABC reported.

3. 'THIRD ARM' FOR SOLDIERS?

From Military.com's Matthew Cox:

Army Research Lab engineers released a video recently showing a soldier running, diving and handling weapons attached to a prototype mechanical arm designed to help reduce the felt weight of carbines and machine guns.

The "third arm" is essentially a multi-joint, stabilizing appendage that attaches to the weapon and the soldier's waist belt to take the weight off the service member's arms and distribute it more evenly on the body, Dan Baechle, ARL mechanical engineer, said in a recent Army press release.

During a recent test, a soldier wore the four-pound third arm while aggressively moving with an M4-style weapon at the Military Operations in Urban Terrain site at Aberdeen Proving Ground, Maryland.

The device also works well with light and medium machine guns, Baechle said. ARL conducted a pilot study in 2017 that showed the device can improve marksmanship in addition to reducing arm fatigue.

4. PENTAGON REP FOR KOREA TALKS IS NAVY VET

From Richard Sisk:

A top aide to Defense Secretary Jim Mattis has been representing the Pentagon's interests in North Korea talks and will be part of the team going to Singapore for the planned summit between President Donald Trump and North Korea leader Kim Jong Un on June 12.

Randall G. Schriver, assistant secretary of Defense for Asian and Pacific Security Affairs, has been at the truce village in Panmunjom in the Demilitarized Zone this week for talks with a North Korean delegation, on the groundwork for the summit and its implications for the more than 28,000 U.S. troops now based in South Korea.

Schriver, a former Navy intelligence officer and State Department official, also "will continue to be our representative" in Singapore, Dana White, the department's chief spokesperson, said at a Pentagon news briefing Thursday.

Schriver formerly was deputy assistant Secretary of State for East Asian and Pacific Affairs, with responsibility for China, Taiwan, Mongolia, Hong Kong, Australia, New Zealand, and the Pacific Islands.

5. COULD THE MARINES GET LIGHT ATTACK AIRCRAFT?

From Oriana Pawlyk:

The Senate Armed Services Committee has set aside millions for light attack aircraft, but this time not solely for the U.S. Air Force.

In its version of the fiscal 2019 budget markup, the committee announced last week it wants to give $100 million to the Marine Corps to procure light attack aircraft such as the AT-6 Wolverine to boost lower-cost aviation support. The version passed the committee with a vote of 25-2. It heads for a full Senate vote in coming weeks.

Lawmakers and a few Pentagon officials have made the case for light attack -- especially in the context of the Air Force's ongoing experiment with light attack platforms -- saying the smaller planes could come in handy to offset the cost to taxpayers to put a few fifth-generation fighters in the air, sometimes in support of missions for which the advanced jets are far overqualified.

-- Hope Hodge Seck can be reached at hope.seck@military.com. Follow her on Twitter at @HopeSeck.
Army Retention Bonuses Now Up to $52K

The U.S. Army's new Selective Retention Bonus Program includes first-ever bonuses up to $52,000 for those who reenlist for critical Security Forces Assistance Brigade positions. SRB 'kickers' that incentivize Soldiers who reenlist early went into effect at the end of May. Kickers will now only be available to those eligible to reenlist on a long-term basis between 10 and 15 months from their contractual ETS date. A $3,000 kicker will be for a five-year reenlistment, and there is a $6,000 kicker for a six-year enlistment. Also, some Soldiers stationed at Fort Bliss will also be eligible for an SRB bonus to remain at the Texas installation.

For more Army news, visit the Military.com Army section. For more on military pay, including pay charts and bonuses, visit the Military.com Pay section.
DeCA Employees Can Now Use the Commissary

About 6,000 commissary employees will soon gain commissary shopping privileges thanks to a new rule from the Defense Department. The change is expected in the next few months. Read more about the latest commissary changes visit Military.com.
New Presidential Order: Give More Federal Jobs to Spouses

President Trump has issued an executive order to open up more opportunities for military spouses to get employment with the Federal Government. The order requires Federal agencies to promote the use of noncompetitive hiring authority that currently exists for military spouses. For full details on this order and what it means for you, see this Spousebuzz article.
Key

Other/historical names associated with this locality:

Select Mineral List Type Standard Detailed Gallery Strunz Dana Chemical Elements

Entries shown in red are rocks recorded for this region.

Note: data is currently VERY limited. Please bear with us while we work towards adding this information!

R. S. W. Braithwaite, R. G. Pritchard, W. H. Paar & R. A. D. Pattrick (2005): A new mineral, zincolibethenite, CuZnPO4OH, a stoichiometric species of specific site occupancy. Mineralogical Magazine, 69, 145-153; Am Min 90:1950

Reference: R. S. W. Braithwaite, R. G. Pritchard, W. H. Paar & R. A. D. Pattrick (2005): A new mineral, zincolibethenite, CuZnPO4OH, a stoichiometric species of specific site occupancy. Mineralogical Magazine, 69, 145-153; Am Min 90:1950

Mineralogical Record (1980): 11: 347-348.; Kamona, A.F., Leveque, J., Friedrich, G., and Haack, U. (1999): Mineralium Deposita 34, 273-283.; Santoro, L.; Putzolu, F.; Mondillo, N.; Boni, M.; Herrington, R. (2020) Influence of Genetic Processes on Geochemistry of Fe-oxy-hydroxides in Supergene Zn Non-Sulfide Deposits. Minerals 10, 602.

Reference: Mineralogical Record (1980): 11: 347-348.; Kamona, A.F., Leveque, J., Friedrich, G., and Haack, U. (1999): Mineralium Deposita 34, 273-283.; Santoro, L.; Putzolu, F.; Mondillo, N.; Boni, M.; Herrington, R. (2020) Influence of Genetic Processes on Geochemistry of Fe-oxy-hydroxides in Supergene Zn Non-Sulfide Deposits. Minerals 10, 602.

Palache, C., Berman, H., & Frondel, C. (1951), The System of Mineralogy of James Dwight Dana and Edward Salisbury Dana, Yale University 1837-1892, Volume II: 917.

Reference: Palache, C., Berman, H., & Frondel, C. (1951), The System of Mineralogy of James Dwight Dana and Edward Salisbury Dana, Yale University 1837-1892, Volume II: 917.

Palache, C., Berman, H., & Frondel, C. (1951), The System of Mineralogy of James Dwight Dana and Edward Salisbury Dana, Yale University 1837-1892, Volume II: 736, 870; Mineralogical Record: 11: 347.

Reference: Palache, C., Berman, H., & Frondel, C. (1951), The System of Mineralogy of James Dwight Dana and Edward Salisbury Dana, Yale University 1837-1892, Volume II: 736, 870; Mineralogical Record: 11: 347.

Nature (1907) 76, 215; Palache, C., Berman, H., & Frondel, C. (1951), The System of Mineralogy of James Dwight Dana and Edward Salisbury Dana, Yale University 1837-1892, Volume II: 734, 736, 870.

Reference: Nature (1907) 76, 215; Palache, C., Berman, H., & Frondel, C. (1951), The System of Mineralogy of James Dwight Dana and Edward Salisbury Dana, Yale University 1837-1892, Volume II: 734, 736, 870.

[MinRec 11:339]; Kamona, A.F., Leveque, J., Friedrich, G., and Haack, U. (1999): Mineralium Deposita 34, 273-283.; Santoro, L.; Putzolu, F.; Mondillo, N.; Boni, M.; Herrington, R. (2020) Influence of Genetic Processes on Geochemistry of Fe-oxy-hydroxides in Supergene Zn Non-Sulfide Deposits. Minerals 10, 602.

Reference: [MinRec 11:339]; Kamona, A.F., Leveque, J., Friedrich, G., and Haack, U. (1999): Mineralium Deposita 34, 273-283.; Santoro, L.; Putzolu, F.; Mondillo, N.; Boni, M.; Herrington, R. (2020) Influence of Genetic Processes on Geochemistry of Fe-oxy-hydroxides in Supergene Zn Non-Sulfide Deposits. Minerals 10, 602.

Braithwaite R.S.W., Spencerite from Kabwe, Zambia, and the infrared spectroscopy of Kabwe zinc phosphates, MinMag, March 1988, vol.82, pp.126-9.

Reference: Braithwaite R.S.W., Spencerite from Kabwe, Zambia, and the infrared spectroscopy of Kabwe zinc phosphates, MinMag, March 1988, vol.82, pp.126-9.

Palache, C., Berman, H., & Frondel, C. (1951), The System of Mineralogy of James Dwight Dana and Edward Salisbury Dana, Yale University 1837-1892, Volume II: 736, 870; Mineralogical Record: 11: 179, 339.; Kamona, A.F., Leveque, J., Friedrich, G., and Haack, U. (1999): Mineralium Deposita 34, 273-283.; Santoro, L.; Putzolu, F.; Mondillo, N.; Boni, M.; Herrington, R. (2020) Influence of Genetic Processes on Geochemistry of Fe-oxy-hydroxides in Supergene Zn Non-Sulfide Deposits. Minerals 10, 602.

Reference: Palache, C., Berman, H., & Frondel, C. (1951), The System of Mineralogy of James Dwight Dana and Edward Salisbury Dana, Yale University 1837-1892, Volume II: 736, 870; Mineralogical Record: 11: 179, 339.; Kamona, A.F., Leveque, J., Friedrich, G., and Haack, U. (1999): Mineralium Deposita 34, 273-283.; Santoro, L.; Putzolu, F.; Mondillo, N.; Boni, M.; Herrington, R. (2020) Influence of Genetic Processes on Geochemistry of Fe-oxy-hydroxides in Supergene Zn Non-Sulfide Deposits. Minerals 10, 602.

(Cu,Zn) 2 (CO 3 )(OH) 2

Formula: (Cu,Zn) 2 (CO 3 )(OH) 2

Kamona, A. F. & Friedrich, G. H. (2007): Geology, mineralogy and stable isotope geochemistry of the Kabwe carbonate-hosted Pb-Zn deposit, Central Zambia. Ore Geology Reviews 30, 217-243.; Kamona, A.F., Leveque, J., Friedrich, G., and Haack, U. (1999): Mineralium Deposita 34, 273-283.

Reference: Kamona, A. F. & Friedrich, G. H. (2007): Geology, mineralogy and stable isotope geochemistry of the Kabwe carbonate-hosted Pb-Zn deposit, Central Zambia. Ore Geology Reviews 30, 217-243.; Kamona, A.F., Leveque, J., Friedrich, G., and Haack, U. (1999): Mineralium Deposita 34, 273-283.

Kamona, A. F. & Friedrich, G. H. (2007): Geology, mineralogy and stable isotope geochemistry of the Kabwe carbonate-hosted Pb-Zn deposit, Central Zambia. Ore Geology Reviews 30, 217-243.

Reference: Kamona, A. F. & Friedrich, G. H. (2007): Geology, mineralogy and stable isotope geochemistry of the Kabwe carbonate-hosted Pb-Zn deposit, Central Zambia. Ore Geology Reviews 30, 217-243.

Palache, C., Berman, H., & Frondel, C. (1951), The System of Mineralogy of James Dwight Dana and Edward Salisbury Dana, Yale University 1837-1892, Volume II: 734, 870; Mineralogical Record: 11: 339.; Santoro, L.; Putzolu, F.; Mondillo, N.; Boni, M.; Herrington, R. (2020) Influence of Genetic Processes on Geochemistry of Fe-oxy-hydroxides in Supergene Zn Non-Sulfide Deposits. Minerals 10, 602.

Reference: Palache, C., Berman, H., & Frondel, C. (1951), The System of Mineralogy of James Dwight Dana and Edward Salisbury Dana, Yale University 1837-1892, Volume II: 734, 870; Mineralogical Record: 11: 339.; Santoro, L.; Putzolu, F.; Mondillo, N.; Boni, M.; Herrington, R. (2020) Influence of Genetic Processes on Geochemistry of Fe-oxy-hydroxides in Supergene Zn Non-Sulfide Deposits. Minerals 10, 602.

[MinRec 11:339]; Kamona, A.F., Leveque, J., Friedrich, G., and Haack, U. (1999): Mineralium Deposita 34, 273-283.; Santoro, L.; Putzolu, F.; Mondillo, N.; Boni, M.; Herrington, R. (2020) Influence of Genetic Processes on Geochemistry of Fe-oxy-hydroxides in Supergene Zn Non-Sulfide Deposits. Minerals 10, 602.

Reference: [MinRec 11:339]; Kamona, A.F., Leveque, J., Friedrich, G., and Haack, U. (1999): Mineralium Deposita 34, 273-283.; Santoro, L.; Putzolu, F.; Mondillo, N.; Boni, M.; Herrington, R. (2020) Influence of Genetic Processes on Geochemistry of Fe-oxy-hydroxides in Supergene Zn Non-Sulfide Deposits. Minerals 10, 602.

Nature (1907) 77, 143; Palache, C., Berman, H., & Frondel, C. (1951), The System of Mineralogy of James Dwight Dana and Edward Salisbury Dana, Yale University 1837-1892, Volume II: 734; Mineralogical Record: 11: 339.

Reference: Nature (1907) 77, 143; Palache, C., Berman, H., & Frondel, C. (1951), The System of Mineralogy of James Dwight Dana and Edward Salisbury Dana, Yale University 1837-1892, Volume II: 734; Mineralogical Record: 11: 339.

Palache, C., Berman, H., & Frondel, C. (1951), The System of Mineralogy of James Dwight Dana and Edward Salisbury Dana, Yale University 1837-1892, Volume II: 814; Mineralogical Record: 11: 339.

Reference: Palache, C., Berman, H., & Frondel, C. (1951), The System of Mineralogy of James Dwight Dana and Edward Salisbury Dana, Yale University 1837-1892, Volume II: 814; Mineralogical Record: 11: 339.

(Cu,Zn) 2 (CO 3 )(OH) 2

Formula: (Cu,Zn) 2 (CO 3 )(OH) 2

Cu 2 (CO 3 )(OH) 2

Formula: Cu 2 (CO 3 )(OH) 2

Palache, C., Berman, H., & Frondel, C. (1951), The System of Mineralogy of James Dwight Dana and Edward Salisbury Dana, Yale University 1837-1892, Volume II: 734, 870.

Reference: Palache, C., Berman, H., & Frondel, C. (1951), The System of Mineralogy of James Dwight Dana and Edward Salisbury Dana, Yale University 1837-1892, Volume II: 734, 870.

Kampunzu, A.B., Cailteux, J.L.H., Kamona, A.F., Intiomale, M.M., and Melcher, F. (2009): Ore Geology Reviews 35, 263-297.; Santoro, L.; Putzolu, F.; Mondillo, N.; Boni, M.; Herrington, R. (2020) Influence of Genetic Processes on Geochemistry of Fe-oxy-hydroxides in Supergene Zn Non-Sulfide Deposits. Minerals 10, 602.

Reference: Kampunzu, A.B., Cailteux, J.L.H., Kamona, A.F., Intiomale, M.M., and Melcher, F. (2009): Ore Geology Reviews 35, 263-297.; Santoro, L.; Putzolu, F.; Mondillo, N.; Boni, M.; Herrington, R. (2020) Influence of Genetic Processes on Geochemistry of Fe-oxy-hydroxides in Supergene Zn Non-Sulfide Deposits. Minerals 10, 602.

Zn 5 (CO 3 ) 2 (OH) 6

Formula: Zn 5 (CO 3 ) 2 (OH) 6

Pb 3 (CO 3 ) 2 (OH) 2

Formula: Pb 3 (CO 3 ) 2 (OH) 2

Palache, C., Berman, H., & Frondel, C. (1951), The System of Mineralogy of James Dwight Dana and Edward Salisbury Dana, Yale University 1837-1892, Volume II: 736, 870.

Reference: Palache, C., Berman, H., & Frondel, C. (1951), The System of Mineralogy of James Dwight Dana and Edward Salisbury Dana, Yale University 1837-1892, Volume II: 736, 870.

Palache, C., Berman, H., & Frondel, C. (1951), The System of Mineralogy of James Dwight Dana and Edward Salisbury Dana, Yale University 1837-1892, Volume II: 734, 736, 870; Mineralogical Record: 11: 339.; Santoro, L.; Putzolu, F.; Mondillo, N.; Boni, M.; Herrington, R. (2020) Influence of Genetic Processes on Geochemistry of Fe-oxy-hydroxides in Supergene Zn Non-Sulfide Deposits. Minerals 10, 602.

Reference: Palache, C., Berman, H., & Frondel, C. (1951), The System of Mineralogy of James Dwight Dana and Edward Salisbury Dana, Yale University 1837-1892, Volume II: 734, 736, 870; Mineralogical Record: 11: 339.; Santoro, L.; Putzolu, F.; Mondillo, N.; Boni, M.; Herrington, R. (2020) Influence of Genetic Processes on Geochemistry of Fe-oxy-hydroxides in Supergene Zn Non-Sulfide Deposits. Minerals 10, 602.

Kamona, A. F. & Friedrich, G. H. (2007): Geology, mineralogy and stable isotope geochemistry of the Kabwe carbonate-hosted Pb-Zn deposit, Central Zambia. Ore Geology Reviews 30, 217-243.; Kamona, A.F., Leveque, J., Friedrich, G., and Haack, U. (1999): Mineralium Deposita 34, 273-283.; Santoro, L.; Putzolu, F.; Mondillo, N.; Boni, M.; Herrington, R. (2020) Influence of Genetic Processes on Geochemistry of Fe-oxy-hydroxides in Supergene Zn Non-Sulfide Deposits. Minerals 10, 602.

Reference: Kamona, A. F. & Friedrich, G. H. (2007): Geology, mineralogy and stable isotope geochemistry of the Kabwe carbonate-hosted Pb-Zn deposit, Central Zambia. Ore Geology Reviews 30, 217-243.; Kamona, A.F., Leveque, J., Friedrich, G., and Haack, U. (1999): Mineralium Deposita 34, 273-283.; Santoro, L.; Putzolu, F.; Mondillo, N.; Boni, M.; Herrington, R. (2020) Influence of Genetic Processes on Geochemistry of Fe-oxy-hydroxides in Supergene Zn Non-Sulfide Deposits. Minerals 10, 602.

Kamona, A.F., Leveque, J., Friedrich, G., and Haack, U. (1999): Mineralium Deposita 34, 273-283.; Santoro, L.; Putzolu, F.; Mondillo, N.; Boni, M.; Herrington, R. (2020) Influence of Genetic Processes on Geochemistry of Fe-oxy-hydroxides in Supergene Zn Non-Sulfide Deposits. Minerals 10, 602.

Reference: Kamona, A.F., Leveque, J., Friedrich, G., and Haack, U. (1999): Mineralium Deposita 34, 273-283.; Santoro, L.; Putzolu, F.; Mondillo, N.; Boni, M.; Herrington, R. (2020) Influence of Genetic Processes on Geochemistry of Fe-oxy-hydroxides in Supergene Zn Non-Sulfide Deposits. Minerals 10, 602.

[MinRec 11:339]; Kamona, A.F., Leveque, J., Friedrich, G., and Haack, U. (1999): Mineralium Deposita 34, 273-283.; Santoro, L.; Putzolu, F.; Mondillo, N.; Boni, M.; Herrington, R. (2020) Influence of Genetic Processes on Geochemistry of Fe-oxy-hydroxides in Supergene Zn Non-Sulfide Deposits. Minerals 10, 602.

Reference: [MinRec 11:339]; Kamona, A.F., Leveque, J., Friedrich, G., and Haack, U. (1999): Mineralium Deposita 34, 273-283.; Santoro, L.; Putzolu, F.; Mondillo, N.; Boni, M.; Herrington, R. (2020) Influence of Genetic Processes on Geochemistry of Fe-oxy-hydroxides in Supergene Zn Non-Sulfide Deposits. Minerals 10, 602.

Santoro, L.; Putzolu, F.; Mondillo, N.; Boni, M.; Herrington, R. (2020) Influence of Genetic Processes on Geochemistry of Fe-oxy-hydroxides in Supergene Zn Non-Sulfide Deposits. Minerals 10, 602.

Reference: Santoro, L.; Putzolu, F.; Mondillo, N.; Boni, M.; Herrington, R. (2020) Influence of Genetic Processes on Geochemistry of Fe-oxy-hydroxides in Supergene Zn Non-Sulfide Deposits. Minerals 10, 602.

Kamona, A. F. & Friedrich, G. H. (2007): Geology, mineralogy and stable isotope geochemistry of the Kabwe carbonate-hosted Pb-Zn deposit, Central Zambia. Ore Geology Reviews 30, 217-243.; Santoro, L.; Putzolu, F.; Mondillo, N.; Boni, M.; Herrington, R. (2020) Influence of Genetic Processes on Geochemistry of Fe-oxy-hydroxides in Supergene Zn Non-Sulfide Deposits. Minerals 10, 602.

Reference: Kamona, A. F. & Friedrich, G. H. (2007): Geology, mineralogy and stable isotope geochemistry of the Kabwe carbonate-hosted Pb-Zn deposit, Central Zambia. Ore Geology Reviews 30, 217-243.; Santoro, L.; Putzolu, F.; Mondillo, N.; Boni, M.; Herrington, R. (2020) Influence of Genetic Processes on Geochemistry of Fe-oxy-hydroxides in Supergene Zn Non-Sulfide Deposits. Minerals 10, 602.

Palache, C., Berman, H., & Frondel, C. (1951), The System of Mineralogy of James Dwight Dana and Edward Salisbury Dana, Yale University 1837-1892, Volume II: 814, 870; Mineralogical Record: 11: 339.; Santoro, L.; Putzolu, F.; Mondillo, N.; Boni, M.; Herrington, R. (2020) Influence of Genetic Processes on Geochemistry of Fe-oxy-hydroxides in Supergene Zn Non-Sulfide Deposits. Minerals 10, 602.

Reference: Palache, C., Berman, H., & Frondel, C. (1951), The System of Mineralogy of James Dwight Dana and Edward Salisbury Dana, Yale University 1837-1892, Volume II: 814, 870; Mineralogical Record: 11: 339.; Santoro, L.; Putzolu, F.; Mondillo, N.; Boni, M.; Herrington, R. (2020) Influence of Genetic Processes on Geochemistry of Fe-oxy-hydroxides in Supergene Zn Non-Sulfide Deposits. Minerals 10, 602.

Kamona, A. F. & Friedrich, G. H. (2007): Geology, mineralogy and stable isotope geochemistry of the Kabwe carbonate-hosted Pb-Zn deposit, Central Zambia. Ore Geology Reviews 30, 217-243.

Reference: Kamona, A. F. & Friedrich, G. H. (2007): Geology, mineralogy and stable isotope geochemistry of the Kabwe carbonate-hosted Pb-Zn deposit, Central Zambia. Ore Geology Reviews 30, 217-243.

PbFe 3 (PO 4 )(SO 4 )(OH) 6

Formula: PbFe 3 (PO 4 )(SO 4 )(OH) 6

Kamona, A.F., Leveque, J., Friedrich, G., and Haack, U. (1999): Mineralium Deposita 34, 273-283.; Santoro, L.; Putzolu, F.; Mondillo, N.; Boni, M.; Herrington, R. (2020) Influence of Genetic Processes on Geochemistry of Fe-oxy-hydroxides in Supergene Zn Non-Sulfide Deposits. Minerals 10, 602.

Reference: Kamona, A.F., Leveque, J., Friedrich, G., and Haack, U. (1999): Mineralium Deposita 34, 273-283.; Santoro, L.; Putzolu, F.; Mondillo, N.; Boni, M.; Herrington, R. (2020) Influence of Genetic Processes on Geochemistry of Fe-oxy-hydroxides in Supergene Zn Non-Sulfide Deposits. Minerals 10, 602.

Kamona, A. F. & Friedrich, G. H. (2007): Geology, mineralogy and stable isotope geochemistry of the Kabwe carbonate-hosted Pb-Zn deposit, Central Zambia. Ore Geology Reviews 30, 217-243.

Reference: Kamona, A. F. & Friedrich, G. H. (2007): Geology, mineralogy and stable isotope geochemistry of the Kabwe carbonate-hosted Pb-Zn deposit, Central Zambia. Ore Geology Reviews 30, 217-243.

Palache, C., Berman, H., & Frondel, C. (1951), The System of Mineralogy of James Dwight Dana and Edward Salisbury Dana, Yale University 1837-1892, Volume II: 205, 870; Mineralogical Record: 11: 339.; Kamona, A.F., Leveque, J., Friedrich, G., and Haack, U. (1999): Mineralium Deposita 34, 273-283.; Santoro, L.; Putzolu, F.; Mondillo, N.; Boni, M.; Herrington, R. (2020) Influence of Genetic Processes on Geochemistry of Fe-oxy-hydroxides in Supergene Zn Non-Sulfide Deposits. Minerals 10, 602.

Reference: Palache, C., Berman, H., & Frondel, C. (1951), The System of Mineralogy of James Dwight Dana and Edward Salisbury Dana, Yale University 1837-1892, Volume II: 205, 870; Mineralogical Record: 11: 339.; Kamona, A.F., Leveque, J., Friedrich, G., and Haack, U. (1999): Mineralium Deposita 34, 273-283.; Santoro, L.; Putzolu, F.; Mondillo, N.; Boni, M.; Herrington, R. (2020) Influence of Genetic Processes on Geochemistry of Fe-oxy-hydroxides in Supergene Zn Non-Sulfide Deposits. Minerals 10, 602.

Kamona, A. F. & Friedrich, G. H. (2007): Geology, mineralogy and stable isotope geochemistry of the Kabwe carbonate-hosted Pb-Zn deposit, Central Zambia. Ore Geology Reviews 30, 217-243.; Kamona, A.F., Leveque, J., Friedrich, G., and Haack, U. (1999): Mineralium Deposita 34, 273-283.; Santoro, L.; Putzolu, F.; Mondillo, N.; Boni, M.; Herrington, R. (2020) Influence of Genetic Processes on Geochemistry of Fe-oxy-hydroxides in Supergene Zn Non-Sulfide Deposits. Minerals 10, 602.

Reference: Kamona, A. F. & Friedrich, G. H. (2007): Geology, mineralogy and stable isotope geochemistry of the Kabwe carbonate-hosted Pb-Zn deposit, Central Zambia. Ore Geology Reviews 30, 217-243.; Kamona, A.F., Leveque, J., Friedrich, G., and Haack, U. (1999): Mineralium Deposita 34, 273-283.; Santoro, L.; Putzolu, F.; Mondillo, N.; Boni, M.; Herrington, R. (2020) Influence of Genetic Processes on Geochemistry of Fe-oxy-hydroxides in Supergene Zn Non-Sulfide Deposits. Minerals 10, 602.

PbFe 3 (AsO 4 )(SO 4 )(OH) 6

Formula: PbFe 3 (AsO 4 )(SO 4 )(OH) 6

Cu 3 (CO 3 ) 2 (OH) 2

Formula: Cu 3 (CO 3 ) 2 (OH) 2

(Zn,Cu) 5 (CO 3 ) 2 (OH) 6

Formula: (Zn,Cu) 5 (CO 3 ) 2 (OH) 6

[MinRec 11:339]; Santoro, L.; Putzolu, F.; Mondillo, N.; Boni, M.; Herrington, R. (2020) Influence of Genetic Processes on Geochemistry of Fe-oxy-hydroxides in Supergene Zn Non-Sulfide Deposits. Minerals 10, 602.

Reference: [MinRec 11:339]; Santoro, L.; Putzolu, F.; Mondillo, N.; Boni, M.; Herrington, R. (2020) Influence of Genetic Processes on Geochemistry of Fe-oxy-hydroxides in Supergene Zn Non-Sulfide Deposits. Minerals 10, 602.

Cu 2 (CO 3 )(OH) 2

Cu 2 (CO 3 )(OH) 2

Cu 3 (CO 3 ) 2 (OH) 2

Cu 3 (CO 3 ) 2 (OH) 2

PbFe 3 (PO 4 )(SO 4 )(OH) 6

PbFe 3 (AsO 4 )(SO 4 )(OH) 6

(Cu,Zn) 2 (CO 3 )(OH) 2

(Cu,Zn) 2 (CO 3 )(OH) 2

Cu 2 (CO 3 )(OH) 2

Zn 5 (CO 3 ) 2 (OH) 6

Pb 3 (CO 3 ) 2 (OH) 2

Cu 3 (CO 3 ) 2 (OH) 2

(Zn,Cu) 5 (CO 3 ) 2 (OH) 6

(Cu,Zn) 2 (CO 3 )(OH) 2

PbFe 3 (PO 4 )(SO 4 )(OH) 6

PbFe 3 (AsO 4 )(SO 4 )(OH) 6

Zn 5 (CO 3 ) 2 (OH) 6

(Zn,Cu) 5 (CO 3 ) 2 (OH) 6

(Cu,Zn) 2 (CO 3 )(OH) 2

Cu 2 (CO 3 )(OH) 2

Pb 3 (CO 3 ) 2 (OH) 2

Cu 3 (CO 3 ) 2 (OH) 2

PbFe 3 (PO 4 )(SO 4 )(OH) 6

Pb 3 (CO 3 ) 2 (OH) 2

PbFe 3 (AsO 4 )(SO 4 )(OH) 6

PbFe 3 (AsO 4 )(SO 4 )(OH) 6

(Cu,Zn) 2 (CO 3 )(OH) 2

Zn 5 (CO 3 ) 2 (OH) 6

(Zn,Cu) 5 (CO 3 ) 2 (OH) 6

(Cu,Zn) 2 (CO 3 )(OH) 2

(Cu,Zn) 2 (CO 3 )(OH) 2

(Zn,Cu) 5 (CO 3 ) 2 (OH) 6

Cu 3 (CO 3 ) 2 (OH) 2

(Cu,Zn) 2 (CO 3 )(OH) 2

Cu 2 (CO 3 )(OH) 2

PbFe 3 (PO 4 )(SO 4 )(OH) 6

PbFe 3 (AsO 4 )(SO 4 )(OH) 6

PbFe 3 (PO 4 )(SO 4 )(OH) 6

PbFe 3 (AsO 4 )(SO 4 )(OH) 6

PbFe 3 (PO 4 )(SO 4 )(OH) 6

PbFe 3 (PO 4 )(SO 4 )(OH) 6

(Cu,Zn) 2 (CO 3 )(OH) 2

Zn 5 (CO 3 ) 2 (OH) 6

Pb 3 (CO 3 ) 2 (OH) 2

PbFe 3 (AsO 4 )(SO 4 )(OH) 6

(Zn,Cu) 5 (CO 3 ) 2 (OH) 6

Cu 3 (CO 3 ) 2 (OH) 2

(Cu,Zn) 2 (CO 3 )(OH) 2

Cu 2 (CO 3 )(OH) 2

(Cu,Zn) 2 (CO 3 )(OH) 2

Zn 5 (CO 3 ) 2 (OH) 6

Pb 3 (CO 3 ) 2 (OH) 2

(Zn,Cu) 5 (CO 3 ) 2 (OH) 6

Cu 3 (CO 3 ) 2 (OH) 2

(Cu,Zn) 2 (CO 3 )(OH) 2

Cu 2 (CO 3 )(OH) 2

PbFe 3 (PO 4 )(SO 4 )(OH) 6

(Cu,Zn) 2 (CO 3 )(OH) 2

Zn 5 (CO 3 ) 2 (OH) 6

Pb 3 (CO 3 ) 2 (OH) 2

PbFe 3 (AsO 4 )(SO 4 )(OH) 6

(Zn,Cu) 5 (CO 3 ) 2 (OH) 6

Cu 3 (CO 3 ) 2 (OH) 2

(Cu,Zn) 2 (CO 3 )(OH) 2

Cu 2 (CO 3 )(OH) 2

Sort by Year (asc) Year (desc) Author (A-Z) Author (Z-A)

Spencer, L. (1908) On hopeite and other zinc phosphates and associated minerals from the Broken Hill mines, North-Western Rhodesia. Mineralogical Magazine, 15: 1-38

Palache, C., Berman, H., Frondel, C. (1951) The System of Mineralogy of James Dwight Dana and Edward Salisbury Dana, Yale University 1837-1892, Volume II: 870, 917.

Notebaart, C.W., Korowki, S.P. (1980) Famous mineral localities: The Broken Hill mine (Zambia). Mineralogical Record: 11(6): 339-348.

Mining Annual Review (1985) 430 and 432.

Kamona, A.F., Leveque, J., Friedrich, G., Haack, U. (1999) Lead isotopes of the carbonate-hosted Kabwe, Tsumeb, and Kipushi Pb-Zn-Cu sulphide deposits in relation to Pan African orogenesis in the Damaran-Lufilian Fold Belt of Central Africa. Mineralium Deposita: 34: 273-283.

Kamona, A.F., Friedrich, G.H. (2007) Geology, mineralogy and stable isotope geochemistry of the Kabwe carbonate-hosted Pb-Zn deposit, Central Zambia. Ore Geology Reviews: 30: 217-243.

Kampunzu, A.B., Cailteux, J.L.H., Kamona, A.F., Intiomale, M.M., Melcher, F. (2009) Sediment-hosted ZnPbCu deposits in the Central African Copperbelt. Ore Geology Reviews: 35: 263-297.

Mondillo, N., Herrington, R., Boyce, A., Wilkinson, C., Santoro, L., Rumsey, M. (2018) Critical elements in non-sulfide Zn deposits: a reanalysis of the Kabwe Zn-Pb ores (central Zambia). Mineralogical Magazine: 82(1): 89-114.

Southwood, M., Cairncross, B., Rumsey, M. (2019) Minerals of Kabwe mine ("Broken Hill mine"), Central Province, Zambia. Rocks & Minerals: 94(2): 114-148.
Key

Select Mineral List Type Standard Detailed Gallery Strunz Dana Chemical Elements

References

Sort by Year (asc) Year (desc) Author (A-Z) Author (Z-A)

Hitchcock, E. (1841) Final Report on the Geology of Massachusetts: Vol. 1, containing: I Economic Geology, II Scenographical Geology. Cook, L.P. (1974) Metamorphosed Carbonate Rocks of the Nashoba Formation, Eastern Massachusetts. Cambridge, Massachusetts: Harvard University PhD Dissertation, 454 pages.

External Links

Localities in this Region

The town of Acton was incorporated in 1735.Quarrying was done in Acton throughout the 1800s but did not become a major industry until the 1880s. The Harris quarry, one of several in North Acton, was noted for its "slickened sides" granite. This was formed by faults in the ledge that rubbed together, heating and forming a polished look. The final product had a look similar to a light green and beige marble. Earlier times saw small-scale quarrying being done by the farmers to cut fence posts and foundation stones. Many examples of this can be found scattered through the woods, one such example is located near a trail at the Arboretum. Some of these small quarries form the upland vernal pools that the Conservation Commission sought to protect with the bylaw changes at the April 1996 Town Meeting.Until the beginning of the 21st century, Nara Park in North Acton was the location of a large gravel pit.
Henry Taylor | MLive.com

BY JOHN D. GONZALEZ | gonzo@mlive.com

and AMY SHERMAN | asherma2@mlive.com

ADRIAN, MI -- Well, this is it, amigos.

The final leg of our search for Michigan's Best Mexican Restaurant wraps up this week as we visit 14 more contenders in Adrian, Clarklake, Jackson, Ypsilanti, Ann Arbor and the Metro Detroit area.

Who will come out on top?

We honestly don't know. Even though we have had some pretty fantastic visits, we still have travel to Detroit, which is known for its authentic Mexican dishes.

It will be interesting to see how some of our early favorites stack up to Detroit's Best.

Thanks again to the owners, managers and crew members who have shared their stories and incredible food over the last couple of weeks. So far we have visited 27 restaurants.

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Neil Blake | nblake1@mlive.com

If you're new to Michigan's Best, let us give you a quick update:

On May 3, 2018 we announced our next Michigan's Best search - the search for Michigan's Best Mexican Restaurant .

Readers nominated their favorites.

The Michigan's Best team of Amy Sherman and John Gonzalez created regional polls of the nominees.

Readers voted. The winner in each of the 11 polls was guaranteed a visit. We added more finalists to the list based on passionate pleas, our own research and travel schedule.

Overall, we will go to about 40 restaurants.

The visits began May 17.

The visits will continue through June 8.

After all the visits are complete we will reveal a Top 10 list, plus other favorites. Look for those lists the week of June 11.

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Casey Sykes | MLive.com

More on Michigan's Best Mexican Restaurant

Photos from 9 more awesome stops on our search for Michigan's Best Mexican Restaurant

Photos from the first 18 stops searching for Michigan's Best Mexican Restaurant

Help us find Michigan's Best Mexican Restaurant

See the 311 nominations so far for Michigan's Best Mexican restaurant

Some of the most passionate pleas for Michigan's Best Mexican restaurant

See the poll winners for Michigan's Best Mexican restaurant

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John Gonzalez | gonzo@mlive.com

Now, let's run down the 14 finalists we are visiting this week:

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It's national Margarita Day. Come see us for your margarita today. Thursday lunch specials Small deluxe nachos... Posted by The Grasshopper-El Chapulin on Thursday, February 22, 2018

Monday, June 4, 2018

Stop No. 1 (28th overall)

11:00 a.m. -- The Grasshopper/El Chapulin, Adrian

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The Grasshopper/El Chapulin

118 S Winter St, Adrian, MI 49221

517-265-6670

Facebook

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ENCHILADAS JALISCO- Three chicken #enchiladas topped with red sauce. Served with Mexican rice, refried beans, and pico de gallo - 10.59 #clarklakemi #jacksonmi Posted by Lucero's Bar & Grill on Sunday, April 8, 2018

Monday, June 4, 2018

Stop No. 2 (29th overall)

1:30 p.m. -- Lucero's Mexican Bar & Grill, Clarklake

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Today is #margaritamonday at @lucerosgrill we have $3.49 Margaritas all day, and our Margarita flights for $8.99 we are open from 11 am - 10 pm #clarklakemi #brooklynmi #lucerosbarandgrill Posted by Lucero's Bar & Grill on Monday, April 23, 2018

Lucero's Mexican Bar & Grill

6258 Jefferson Rd, Brooklyn, MI 49230

517-529-7270

lucerosgrill.com

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John Gonzalez | MLive.com

Monday, June 4, 2018

Stop No. 3 (30th overall)

5:00 p.m. -- Chilango's Cantina Grill, Jackson (Poll winner)

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John Gonzalez | MLive.com

Chilango's Cantina Grill

501 Longfellow Ave, Jackson, MI 49202

517-795-1465

chilangosmi.com

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Tuesday, June 5, 2018

Stop No. 4 (31st overall)

11:00 a.m. -- MAIZ Mexican Grill, Ypsilanti (Poll winner)

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Every Monday, get our Grande House Margarita for just $5! Posted by MAIZ Mexican Cantina on Monday, January 22, 2018

MAIZ Mexican Grill

36 E Cross St, Ypsilanti, MI 48198

734-340-6010

maizmexican.com

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MLive.com

Tuesday, June 5, 2018

Stop No. 5 (32nd overall)

1:00 p.m. -- Chela's Restaurant and Taqueria, Ann Arbor

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Melanie Maxwell | MLive.com

Chela's Restaurant and Taqueria

2217, 307 S 5th Ave, Ann Arbor, MI 48104

734-780-7078

chelas.co

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Our Chicken Fajita Burrito... Just when you thought you've tasted it all. Posted by Amaya's Fresh Mexican Grill on Thursday, May 31, 2018

Wednesday, June 6, 2018

Stop No. 6 (33rd overall)

11:00 a.m. -- Amaya's Fresh Mexican Grill, Monroe (Poll winner)

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Amaya's Fresh Mexican Grill

29 S Monroe St, Monroe, MI 48161

734-682-3486

amayasmexicangrill.com

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MLive file photo

Wednesday, June 6, 2018

Stop No. 7 (34th overall)

2:00 p.m. -- Taqueria El Rey, Detroit

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Taqueria El Rey

4730 W Vernor Hwy, Detroit, MI 48209

313-357-3094

taqueria-elrey.com

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Wednesday, June 6, 2018

Stop No. 8 (35th overall)

6:00 p.m. -- El Barzon, Detroit

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El Barzon

3710 Junction St, Detroit, MI 48210

313-894-2070

elbarzonrestaurant.com

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photo by Nicholas Djjustnick Grunas Posted by Xochimilco Restaurant Detroit on Thursday, October 3, 2013

Wednesday, June 6, 2018

Stop No. 9 (36th overall)

9:00 p.m. -- Xochimilco Restaurant, Detroit

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Xochimilco Restaurant

3409 Bagley Ave, Detroit, MI 48216

313-843-0179

Facebook

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Thursday, June 7, 2018

Stop No. 10 (37th overall)

8:30 a.m. -- Taqueria Nuestra Familia, Detroit

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Taqueria Nuestra Familia

7620 Vernor Hwy, Detroit, MI 48209

313-842-5668

nuestrafamiliadetroit.com

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Camarones en Salsa de Langosta  : renaudical Posted by El Asador Steakhouse on Saturday, May 26, 2018

Thursday, June 7, 2018

Stop No. 11 (38th overall)

12:30 p.m. -- El Asador Steakhouse, Detroit

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It was time for a profile change! Posted by El Asador Steakhouse on Monday, August 15, 2016

El Asador Steakhouse

1312 Springwells St, Detroit, MI 48209

313-297-2360

Facebook

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Thursday, June 7, 2018

Stop No. 12 (39th overall)

3:30 p.m. -- Mariscos El Salpicon, Detroit

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Mariscos El Salpicon

8600 Vernor Hwy, Detroit, MI 48209

313-914-2214

elsalpicondetroit.com

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Thursday, June 7, 2018

Stop No. 13 (40th overall)

7:00 p.m. -- Mi Pueblo, Detroit

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Mi Pueblo

7278 Dix St, Detroit, MI 48209

313-841-3315

Facebook

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Friday, June 8, 2018

Stop No. 14 (41st overall)

11:00 a.m. -- Trini's Mexican Carryout, New Baltimore

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Trini's Mexican Carryout

35710 Green St, New Baltimore, MI 48047

586-273-7109

Facebook

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MLive.com file photo

Monday, June 4

11:00 a.m. -- The Grasshopper/El Chapulin, Adrian

1:30 p.m. -- Lucero's Mexican Bar & Grill, Clarklake

5:00 p.m. -- Chilango's Cantina Grill, Jackson

Tuesday, June 5

11:00 a.m. -- MAIZ Mexican Grill, Ypsilanti

1:00 p.m. -- Chela's Restaurant and Taqueria, Ann Arbor

Wednesday, June 6, 2018

11:00 a.m. -- Amaya's Fresh Mexican Grill, Monroe

2:00 p.m. -- Taqueria El Rey, Detroit

6:00 p.m. -- El Barzon, Detroit

9:00 p.m. -- Xochimilco Restaurant, Detroit

Thursday, June 7, 2018

8:30 a.m. -- Taqueria Nuestra Familia, Detroit

12:30 p.m. -- El Asador Steakhouse, Detroit

3:30 p.m. -- Mariscos El Salpicon, Detroit

7:00 p.m. -- Mi Pueblo, Detroit

Friday, June 8

11:00 a.m. -- Trini's Mexican Carryout, New Baltimore

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Follow along on all of our Michigan's Best adventures on social media!

Amy Sherman on Twitter @amyonthetrail, as well as Facebook and Instagram.

John Gonzalez on Twitter @michigangonzo, as well as Facebook and Instagram

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More Michigan's Best

Michigan's Best sub sandwich: The ten finalists ranked

Our Michigan's Best Guide to nearly 300 restaurants

44 must visit Michigan bakeries

Michigan's Best Fried Chicken: Our top ten revealed

The ultimate guide to Michigan's Best chicken wings

These are the 10 best Italian restaurants in Michigan

Detroit's Best burger: our top 10 revealed

Michigan's Best bakery: our top 10 revealed, plus special awards

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AirAsia Group Chief Executive Officer Tony Fernandes had in 2015 authorised the then AirAsia India CEO Mrithyunjay Chandilya to hire Singapore based HNR Trading PTE to help the Indian carrier lobby with Indian authorities for policy amendments.

Moneycontrol has a copy of the letter Fernandes sent to Chandilya on March 31, 2015.

HNR Trading's director Rajendra Dubey was questioned by the CBI late last week for allegedly attempting to influence the 5/20 rule that governs Indian skies.

The intention was to either amend or remove the rule, which stipulated that an airline from India can only start international services once it has a fleet of 20 aircraft and has been in operations for five years.

AirAsia India was set up in 2014, as a joint venture between AirAsia Bhd and Tata Sons, the holding company of the Tata Group. Each of the companies holds 49 per cent stake in the JV.

The CBI has also summoned Fernandes to appear on June 6 for questioning.

The agency had last week registered a case against Fernandes and others over alleged violation of norms for getting international flying license. The CBI's FIR also mentions AirAsia India Director R Venkataraman, aviation consultant Deepak Talwar and Rajendra Dubey.

The letter

Fernandes letter to Chandiliya starts off with the AirAsia Group CEO mentioning the AirAsia India board meeting on March 21, 2015 in Hyderabad.

He says:

"Agenda point number four of Business and Operations Update of the company's recently completed Eleventh Meeting of the Board of Directors of AirAsia India on March 21, 2015 at Hotel Novotel at Hyderabad airport, and its particular discussion on regulatory update as part of and our further correspondence post this meeting..."

"...you are authorised to appoint and sign up Regulatory Agents in HNR Trading Pte... to act as an agent to assist AirAsia India's regulatory and corporate affairs liaising."

Fernandes further adds:

"As the CEO of AirAsia India Pvt Ltd, you have been delegated authorities and continued to be authorised by our Board of Directors in each of our Board meetings to do all such act, deed and things, including the terms and conditions of agreements such as this as well as authorised to execute the agreements such as the one needed for this appointment."

Moneycontrol has seen a copy containing the minutes of the Board Meeting that Fernandes mentions in the letter.

When asked about the board meet, an AirAsia India spokesperson said:

"In the March 21, 2015 Board Meeting of AirAsia India which was held in Hyderabad airport to unveil the livery of aviation icon JRD Tata on its aircrafts (and was attended by Mr. Ratan N. Tata as a special invitee), Mittu Chandiliya (the ex-CEO of AirAsia India) briefed the Board on business and operations of the company, which included revised norms and implication of route dispersal guidelines and 5/20 rule. At this meeting the Board noted that shareholder representatives should meet concerned policymakers to apprise them about the implications of the domestic flying credit (DFC) based eligibility criteria on the new entrants."

But the company claimed that the March 31 mail from Fernandes to Chandilya is fabricated.

"The subsequent email of March 31, 2015 is a fabricated email, which is evidenced by the fact that in April 2017, Mr. Tony Fernandes filed a criminal complaint in this regard," the airline said in a statement to Moneycontrol.

ED investigation

Chandilya was last year questioned by the Enforcement Directorate after ousted Tata Group Chairman Cyrus Mistry alleged that around Rs 22 crore of transactions involving AirAsia India were fraudulent.

While Chandilya was questioned in March 2017, pressure was already building up on him.

In a November 2016 e-mail to Fernandes, Chandilya - who had stepped down from AirAsia India in February that year - raised concerns that "company sees me as a scapegoat" post allegations by Mistry. Replying to his former colleague, Fernandes says, "keep calm... keep your cool as we are."

Moneycontrol mailed Fernandes asking him about the above-mentioned letter. But he didn't respond.
UK-based insurance broker Aon may have exited India a year ago but it has, in a manner that could sit right in the middle of a regulatory grey area, found a way to have its international clients serviced in the country.

In a confidential email, Aon Global Senior Managing Director Bruce Wineman told senior employees that the company had brought on Bengaluru-based Anviti as a "service partner" for clients who want to have their risks serviced in India.

Backed by Narayana Murthy's Catamaran Ventures, Anviti Insurance Brokers launched composite insurance broking services in India in January 2018.

An insurance broker acts as an intermediary between an insurance company and a client. It helps the client get the most appropriate product for their needs at the right price.

In the email, Aon's MD makes it clear that the company "has not entered a formal correspondent broker arrangement" with Anviti but the communication outlines various ways in which the company's clients could deal with Anviti, should they choose to do so, as well as the role Aon will play in such an engagement.

Moneycontrol has seen a copy of the email.

As per insurance regulations in India, a registered reinsurance or composite broker can utilise the services of a foreign broker for placement of reinsurance with insurers or reinsurers outside India. However, this service is only for reinsurance business placement.

As per the note that Aon sent to its clients, it has said that Aon staff (from abroad) can also visit the client or any insurer in India with an Anviti personnel. Further, they can also assist Anviti's clients in India including client presentations and submissions to underwriters. However, they have clarified in the note that documents will be issued by Anviti, even if prepared with Aon's support.

Moneycontrol sent a detailed questionnaire to Aon and Anviti seeking clarification on the nature of their relationship. Aon refused to comment while Anviti did not respond.

In 2017, insurance broking major Aon split from Global Insurance Brokers with which it had a joint venture called Aon Global where it held 26 percent stake. This decision was announced in 2015 and Aon had cited 'regulatory changes' as the reason for this decision.

Around the same time, in February 2016, Aon had announced that it has entered into an agreement with Catamaran to establish a new broking joint venture in India. However, the deal could not materialise due to some objections raised by the insurance regulator.

According to the Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority of India (IRDAI) broking regulations, any insurance broker operating in the market is required to have a certificate of registration from the regulator. Also, every Insurance broker granted Certificate of Registration is be governed by Indian owned and controlled requirements of the Insurance Laws (Amendment) Act 2015.

In the note, Aon said that it cannot receive a share of the commission that Anviti receives for direct insurance placements. But it can receive fees for specific services rendered to Anviti as per the terms of business.

"Aon is committed to India a strategic market for the Asia business. We believe India has tremendous near and long-term economic potential and we remain committed to support the growth of the market...," Aon wrote.

Anviti specialises in segments like health and benefits, property and business interruption, liability, marine, energy and infrastructure, crisis management, reinsurance as well as servicing international clients.

Several global insurance companies have taken a wait-and-watch approach to entering the Indian market after the Insurance Act was amended in 2015.

The Act not only gave substantially higher rights to the Indian shareholders, it prevents pre-determined pricing for valuation of companies. Only fair market pricing can be used.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi has asked all central ministries and departments as well as states and Union Territories to increase digital transactions after state-run BHIM (Bharat Interface for Money) mobile app slowed down in comparison to its competitors, reports Economic Times.

In a bid to boost use of BHIM app, Modi has asked to set targets for digital transactions through the app and aim to achieve them by August 15.

The decision comes after share of BHIM app fell among payment platforms based on the United Payment Interface (UPI) to 6.3 percent transactions in April from 9.5 percent in 2017-18, according to data on the website of the National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI).

Although the app has seen an increase in transactions since its launch by the PM on December 30, 2016, it has been losing out to other popular UPI platforms such as Google Tez, PhonePe and Paytm.

In April, there were 12.6 million transactions worth Rs 4,973 crore on BHIM app, while in the previous financial year, it recorded 87.91 million transactions worth Rs 30,018 crore.

To curb the fall of BHIM app's share, the government had on April 14 launched attractive cashback schemes for customers and merchants using the platform. These included Rs 51 cashback on successfully completing first financial transaction and up to Rs 750 cashback in a month through other transactions. A merchant can earn up to Rs 1,000 cashback every month through various transactions. Referrals also yield a cashback.

Apart from these, a meeting was held on May 23 during which the PM asked cabinet secretary PK Sinha to hold a meeting with the Department of Financial Services to resolve the issue of bank transaction charges on BHIM-UPI usage.

Such charges on small transactions through BHIM app have already been waived by the government.

In the meeting, the PM especially asked the ministries of railways and food and public distribution, which handle large volumes of payments, to make efforts to boost usage of BHIM app.

Increase in digital transactions through platforms such as BHIM app could figure in the PMs Independence Day address on August 15, said people aware of the matter.
The International Monetary Fund (IMF) projected a GDP growth of 1.9 percent for India in 2020. With this subdued forecast, India is likely to record its worst growth performance since the 1991 liberalisation. But IMF has placed India as the fastest-growing emerging economies of the world. (Image: Moneycontrol)

A deputy director of International Monetary Funds Monetary and Capital Markets Department has suggested central banks across the world to offer better fiat currencies to fend off any potential competition from cryptocurrencies.

Outlining how central banks can forestall the competitive pressure crypto assets may exert on fiat currencies, Dong He says, First, they should continue to strive to make fiat currencies better and more stable units of account.

He also quoted IMF Managing Director Christine Lagarde who in a speech last year said, The best response by central banks is to continue running effective monetary policy, while being open to fresh ideas and new demands, as economies evolve.

Lagarde in a blog piece in March had suggested the use of technologies by central banks to fight fire with fire.

His suggestion is important in case there is a wider adoption of the cryptocurrencies. In such a scenario, the central banks would lose their control over a large part of the monetary economy.

"Second, government authorities should regulate the use of crypto assets to prevent regulatory arbitrage and any unfair competitive advantage crypto assets may derive from lighter regulation," He wrote.

"That means rigorously applying measures to prevent money laundering and the financing of terrorism, strengthening consumer protection, and effectively taxing crypto transactions."

He also suggested that central banks could release their own virtual assets. "For example, they could make central bank money user-friendly in the digital world by issuing digital tokens of their own to supplement physical cash and bank reserves. Such central bank digital currency could be exchanged, peer to peer in a decentralized manner, much as crypto assets are," he added.

The option suggested by He is being brainstormed by many banks. RBI in April said that a group would study the desirability and the feasibility to introduce a central bank digital currency. The report is supposed to be submitted by end-June 2018.
Union minister Hardeep Singh Puri underlined the need to support people working in the construction sector though training and skill upgradation. The minister of state for housing and urban affairs said a strong transport system is crucial to building smart cities.

He was addressing a multi-stakeholder meet to strategise a roadmap for environmentally-sustainable urban development. The meet was organised as part of the ongoing thematic sessions in the run-up to World Environment Day on June 5.

"To truly build smart cities, we need to strengthen the city transport that can support the mass traffic. Further, urban local bodies need to be empowered, and we need a dedicated and trained municipal cadre for the same," he said.

According to an official statement, Puri said India will succeed in achieving its Sustainable Development Goals.

TERI director general Ajay Mathur said: "With urban growth impacting the environment significantly, there is a need to create a stable policy framework for development of infrastructure and integrated spatial planning at all levels: national, state and city."

"With support from the government, we continue to create impact in emerging urban areas such as Amravati, the new capital city of Andhra Pradesh. We hope to bring together other stakeholders in our bid to create more liveable cities," he said.

UN Environment Programme Executive Director Erik Solheim said 50 per cent of humans live in cities and hence there is a need to build strong urban infrastructure.

"For smart, sustainable cities, it is essential to have a greener architecture, robust city transport, and good waste management policies," he said.

The statement said cities are expected to house as much as two-thirds of the global population by 2050, making urbanisation one of the 21st century's most transformative trends.

Forty per cent of the Indian population is expected to live in urban settings by 2030, the statement said, adding that India's population is expected to grow to 1.7 billion by 2050.

With these numbers, it is imperative to devise smart urban solutions that can help achieve the New Urban Agenda and Sustainable Development Goals, it added.
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The turnaround man. That's what Mahesh Kumar Jain is known as in the banking industry.

MK Jain was appointed deputy governor of the Reserve Bank of India for three years on Monday, filling a position that was lying vacant for close to 10 months since the retirement of his predecessor SS Mundra in July last year.

The media-shy and reticent banker got the turnaround-man moniker during his stint as managing director and chief executive officer at Indian Bank. It certainly seemed that Jain carried his form with him when he moved to IDBI Bank as MD and CEO, but that was before the central bank decided to dial him up.

Making a mark

Jain headed Indian Bank from November 2, 2015 to March 18, 2017. Before that, he had been an executive director for a couple of years who also carried out the responsibilities of MD and CEO between June and November, 2015, after which he took over in a full-time capacity.

Under Jain's direction, the state-owned lender worked on trimming its liabilities, reducing its reliance on high-cost bulk deposits and pushing up the share of low-cost current and savings accounts (CASA). In only three years, CASA's share in total deposits jumped to 37.65 percent from 28.01 percent earlier.

During his stint, Jain managed to turn around the state-owned bank and create a strong institutional setup to implement HR reforms and digitisation. His success at Indian Bank catapulted the highly regarded but little-known executive into the limelight, turning him into a sought-after CEO among public sector banks.

Jain's efforts culminated in Indian Bank becoming one of the best-performing public sector banks in the country. Although the bank saw its net profit plunge by around 60 percent to Rs 84.49 crore in the March quarter of FY16, its bottom line improved considerably to Rs 319 crore by the corresponding quarter a year later.

Banking career

MK Jain learnt the ropes at Punjab National Bank (PNB). A postgraduate in commerce, he joined the bank in the mid-1980s and specialised in credit, covering the markets in Haryana, Chandigarh and Himachal Pradesh.

In December 1999, he was part of a four-member team that developed a risk management architecture for PNB in association with the Boston Consulting Group. In addition to this, he completed his MBA, did a course on financial risk management and trained as a chartered financial analyst to hone his credit analysing skills.

His next move to Syndicate Bank as assistant general manager (credit) required him to move base to the southern part of the country. He worked in the bank's risk management department between 2005 and 2011, but got a plum position in January 2012 when he was appointed the zonal head for Mumbai.

In a year and a half, Jain was successful in achieving 20-25 percent year-on-year growth across key areas, including retail and corporate credit, operating profit and a proportionate decrease in cost of deposits.

The certifications and degrees that Jain holds are M.Com, MBA, CAIIB, CFA and FRM.

Unfinished task at IDBI

After turning around Indian Bank, Jain was hoping to follow it up with a similar success story at IDBI Bank.

The senior public sector banker, aged 56, moved to IDBI Bank in April last year, at a time when close to a quarter of the banks loans were non-performing. IDBI Bank was at the time the lender with the most non-performing assets (NPAs) on its books.

Even as the bank's gross NPAs, as a percentage of total loans, rose to 27.95 percent in March quarter this year, primarily due to the unexpected February 12 circular by RBI on recognition of NPAs, the share of bad loans in total advances had been on the decline, falling to 24.72 percent at the end of December last year from 24.98 percent at the end of September.

As MD and CEO of IDBI Bank, Jain was instrumental in beefing up the bank's capital, reducing its exposure to corporate loan accounts to 55 percent from 60 percent at the end of March last year, and increasing its provisions for bad loans in order to cushion the lender's potential losses.

The bank's provision coverage ratio (capital set aside for bad loans) shot up to 63.40 percent as at the end of March, from 54.96 percent a year ago.

Common equity tier-1 capital rose to 7.42 percent at the end of the March quarter from 5.64 percent at the end of the corresponding quarter a year ago. This will help the bank improve its capital strength to meet RBI's requirements, and also to come out of the prompt corrective action (PCA) framework imposed on it by the central bank last year, thereby restricting its expansion plans.

Alas, Jain did not get enough time to make IDBI Bank's planned strategy into a successful turnaround story.

Industry roles

Apart from high-profile executive roles, Jain has also donned many hats in the industry.

From being a member on the risk management committee of Indian Banks' Association (IBA) to being the Secretary for internal audit system in public sector banks; from being a part of the government-constituted Committees such as the one on Public Interest Litigation on NPAs to be submitted to the Supreme Court and redesigning the annual performance appraisal for bank employees, he has a lot to work upon.
The government is planning to cut its stake in central public sector enterprises (CPSEs) to 49 percent in three years, The Economic Times reports.

The proposal excludes state-run companies in sectors such as defence and oil.

Such a move will benefit state-run companies as their autonomy will increase. The government, too, could benefit as divesting could raise the stake of their remaining holding.

"The plan is to reduce government's stake in most CPSEs to at least 49% over the next three years besides ensuring that the boards of these firms are more professionally managed,"a senior government official told the paper.

"We must exit all companies except the ones that have some strategic importance," the source added.

NTPC Ltd, Steel Authority of India Ltd, and Power Grid Corporation are some of the companies where the government will likely reduce its stake, the report said.

NITI Aayog is identifying the companies for divestment.

The government owns 51 percent or more in over 250 CPSEs, the report said.

In areas such as defence and oil, the government will most likely retain a majority stake in companies such as Bharat Petroleum and Hindustan Petroleum.

"In some companies such as BPCL and HPCL, the government has to maintain at least 51% holding as a Supreme Court verdict in 2003 had restrained the government from privatising them," a source told The Economic Times.
A man arrives at the Hindustan Unilever Limited (HUL) headquarters in Mumbai May 14, 2013. Global companies betting on India's potential as a consumer market are looking beyond the worst patch in a decade for Asia's third-largest economy and investing billions of dollars in the country. In the biggest recent deal, Unilever is spending up to $5.4 billion to lift its stake in its Indian subsidiary, Hindustan Unilever, the country's largest consumer goods maker. Picture taken May 14, 2013. REUTERS/Danish Siddiqui (INDIA - Tags: BUSINESS) - RTXZOF7

Hindustan Unilever Ltd (HUL) is planning to launch traditional breakfast options such as khichdi and upma, The Economic Times reports.

The move is a departure from their previous strategy to introduce consumers to a global menu.

The new products will be launched under the company's ayurveda brand Ayush. The products will be made of jowar, bajra and other millets.

The products will give competition to the ready-to-cook breakfast products of MTR, Kellogg's, PepsiCo and Marico.

The brand will also provide stiff competition to Baba Ramdev's Patanjali, which plans to launch Indian breakfast products later this year, the report added. Patanjali already sells ready-to-eat oats and cornflakes.

"Lever Ayush Foods marks our entry into the health and naturals food segment. With our brand vision of traditional ingredients being made contemporary, we will be able to democratise the benefits of ayurveda-inspired recipes to the Indian consumer and do our part in making India healthy," Geetu Verma, executive director - foods at HUL, told The Economic Times.

The company will address consumers' health concerns, which stem from the use of preservatives in packaged foods, the report added.

In India, consumers have been shifting from breakfast cereals to traditional breakfast choices.

The size of the breakfast market in India is about Rs 3,000 crore, the reports said.
ICICI Bank

The board of ICICI Bank has begun looking for a new chairman as the term of the incumbent, MK Sharma, expires at the end of this month and he may not want a second term, said a report by The Economic Times.

Quoting anonymous sources, it added that veteran banker and former Bank of Baroda chairman and managing director, MD Mallya, is the frontrunner to succeed 70-year-old Sharma.

Mallya was recently appointed to the ICICI Bank board as an independent director on May 29.

The ICICI Bank board was of the opinion that the bank needs a qualified former banker for the position in this time of crisis. Nothing is final yet, but looks like Mallya is the favourite, the report quoted.

Over the last two months, the allegations of nepotism and conflict of interest in granting loans to Videocon Group against ICICI Bank CEO Chanda Kochhar have been rife. But the board and the chairman on multiple occasions have clarified their stand to back Kochhar.

Since the issue first came to light in March-end, at least three positions of directors including Mallya's and government nominee on the board have seen reappointments.

Sharma was appointed as non-executive chairman of the bank on July 1, 2015, for a period of three years.

The ET report points out that while a few board members want current chairman MK Sharma to continue for some time, he has expressed his unwillingness. However, if the board is unable to find a successor soon, Sharma may have to continue as chairman, the report said.
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If you are stuck in stocks that have lost over half their value so far in 2018, then it may be hard to exit as liquidity shrinks.

Stocks like Vakrangee and Manpasand Beverages saw their market value erode by more than half in 2018 as concerns over the resignation of auditors just ahead of the quarterly results weighed on sentiment. The recent stock to be hit by the resignation of auditors was Atlanta.

Vakrangee, which was trading above Rs 400 per share in January, lost over 90 percent by June when it hit a fresh 52-week low of Rs 31. Manpasand Beverages, which was trading above Rs 440 per share in January, more than halved in the last 5 months. It closed at Rs 203.05 on June 1. Shares of Atlanta have plunged over 60 percent since the beginning of this year.

There is one thing common in all three stocks. The decline in all three stocks is related to the resignation of auditors. On April 27, Price Waterhouse & Co resigned as auditor of Vakrangee while Deloitte Haskins & Sells choose not to continue as auditors of Manpasand Beverages on May 26.

On May 29, Price Waterhouse Chartered Accountants, statutory auditors of Atlanta, resigned with immediate effect. Their exit led to a massive 31 percent fall in its shares.

Shareholders of Manapasand Beverages lost as much as 53 percent after the news hit D-Street. Vakrangee has plunged 67 percent in a matter of 25 trading sessions.

Stuck in these stocks, here what you can do now?

Auditors can resign for a whole host of reasons. If the company is fundamentally strong and the resignation is not related to any ethical misconduct, then the impact on shares will remain only for the short-term.

However, if the auditors resigned because of non-availability of some material information pertaining to the company, then its best to exit the stock, but it is not a ground to initiate legal action.

While per se there is no legal recourse available to investors just because an auditor has resigned, it raises apprehensions on the quality and transparency of the financial information reported by the company, Kalpana Unadkat, Partner, Khaitan & Co, said.

However, she was quick to add that if there are indeed corporate governance breaches or an attempt to defraud the shareholders, investors can institute class action claims and seek compensation from the company and its directors. The management and the company will also be subject to further penal consequences in case of such breaches.

For an investor, one thing is clear that everything is not fine. At present, except for the reasons communicated by the company to stock exchanges, there is no other information publicly available.

Auditors seldom make their reasons known to the public on account of various factors such as liability. Unless there are changes in listing guidelines, shareholders will have to wait until the regulator investigates and comes out with its factual position, experts suggest.

There cannot be smoke without fire and one cannot clap with one hand are two sayings which aptly fit the present situation. Most times this is the last resort with auditors. Investors have no option but to wait for clarification from the company (to the stock exchange or otherwise) and observe/track subsequent actions which may clear the doubts casted by such events, Milan Mody, Partner, NA Shah Associates, said.

Mody added that the window under insider trading regulations may have to be closed till the casual vacancy is filled up (this has happened in the case of Atlanta) as the appointment of the new auditor would have to be ratified by shareholders.

As per the revised SEBI (Listing Obligations and Disclosure Requirements) guidelines which came into effect from April 1, 2018, in case of resignation by an auditor before their tenure ends, stock exchanges need to be informed about the reason for resignation within 24 hours. The incoming auditor would also have to seek a no objection certificate (NOC) from the outgoing auditor.

Are there any red flags that investors should pay attention to?

It may be difficult to pick-up early signs of any wrongdoing by the company but investors should keep an eye on these factors as highlighted by experts:

Study audit notes carefully

Unadkat of Khaitan & Co feels one starting point would be to read carefully the notes to accounts made by the auditors in the financial statements. Also, the resignation of key officers (such as CFO or independent directors, audit committee members) in a short span of time may be a good reason for investors to probe further. The other obvious ones would be to watch out for any regulatory notices by SEBI or tax authorities, she explained.

Follow the rationale why the auditor resigned

Resignation of an auditor is a very serious concern for the company as well as the investor. The latter must see whether the resignation is due to a breach of corporate governance. For instance, a person or partner of a firm will not be eligible for conducting an audit if such persons or partner at the date of appointment or reappointment holds an appointment as auditor of more than 20 companies, Ritesh Ashar, Chief Strategy Officer at KIFS Trade Capital, said.

He stated that private companies are also included in the maximum limit of 20 companies. If the resignation is not due to the breach of corporate governance, he feels the investors should not be worried about the resignation. But if it is related to a breach, then investors should go into the details of the matter.

Quality of the auditing firm

Nikhil Kamath, Co-founder, Zerodha, said quality of the auditing firm is something people should pay heed to. An auditor who resigns at the last minute, especially without reason, should definitely be penalised.

Frequent change in auditors

Sudden resignation is mainly on account of differences with regards to an audit issue between the auditor and the companys management. It could also be on account of non-sharing of significant information by the management with auditors.

Some of the early warning signals which investors can look at are adverse comments in previous audit reports, frequent changes in auditors, large related party transactions, default in payment of loan instalments, non-payment of undisputed statutory dues, cash flow contains, continued losses, overleverage, financial statements not prepared on time and action by other regulators and tax departments are few of the early warning signs which one can look for, Mody stated.

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.
Nepal plans to have separate security unit for borders with India, China

No proposal on reducing govt stake in CPSEs to 49%: Report

Government likely to cut stake in state-run companies to 49%

Iran calls on world to stand up to Trump, save nuclear deal

Benami attachments worth crores may fall flat as no authority for 1.5 years

Falling share of BHIM prompts PM to ask all ministries, states to increase transactions on app

Home loan rates, EMIs to go up as banks raise MCLR

Home loan rates, EMIs to go up as banks raise MCLR

Japan looks to launch driverless car system in Tokyo by 2020

China says in principle door is open to talks with US on trade

Governors can help in ensuring people benefit from central schemes: PM Modi

Have absolute right to pardon myself: Donald Trump

Government likely to announce Rs 7,000 crore bailout package to sugar mills as cane arrears mount

June 04, 2018 / 10:07 PM IST That's all for today, readers. Thanks for staying on with our coverage of the day's action. Your enthusiasm encourages us to better our coverage every day. Do come back tomorrow for more news, views and insights.











June 04, 2018 / 09:38 PM IST Fed should go slow on unwinding balance sheet: RBI Governor Urjit Patel The US Fed should reduce the pace of unwinding of its balance sheet to limit the impact of shortage of dollar in emerging markets, RBI Governor Urjit Patel said. In an article written in the Financial Times, he said that the Fed should carefully adjust the pace keeping in view the evolving macroeconomic conditions. "Global spillovers did not manifest themselves until October of last year. But they have been playing out vividly since the Fed started shrinking its balance sheet. This is because the Fed has not adjusted to, or even explicitly recognised, the previously unexpected rise in US government debt issuance. It must now do so," he said. The good news, he said, is that there is an option available to the Fed that does not require it to change the overall policy direction. (PTI)











June 04, 2018 / 09:18 PM IST Aircel-Maxis PMLA case: P Chidambaram expected to appear before ED tomorrow Former finance minister P Chidambaram is expected to depose before the Enforcement Directorate on Tuesday in connection with the Aircel-Maxis money laundering case. Official sources said the agency has issued fresh summons to the senior Congress leader to appear before the investigating officer of the case. Once he appears, the agency is expected to record his statement under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA). Chidambaram's role has come under the scanner in the Rs 3,500 crore Aircel-Maxis deal in which the ED has already questioned his son, Karti. The former finance minister, also the ex-home minister, had last week approached the court of Special Judge OP Saini seeking relief from arrest by the ED in this case. (PTI)











June 04, 2018 / 08:43 PM IST Government likely to announce Rs 7,000 crore bailout package to sugar mills as cane arrears mount Concerned over mounting cane arrears of more than Rs 22,000 crore, the government is likely to announce a bailout package of over Rs 7,000 crore to ensure cash-starved mills clear dues to farmers at the earliest, sources said. A decision in this regard is expected to be taken in the meeting of the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA) scheduled tomorrow, the sources added. Last month, the government had announced a Rs 1,500 crore production-linked subsidy for sugarcane farmers to help millers pay cane payments. Sugar mills are unable to make payments to cane growers as their financial health has worsened due to a sharp fall in sugar prices after a record production of 31.6 million tonne (MT) so far in the 2017-18 season (October-September). (PTI)











June 04, 2018 / 08:13 PM IST Have absolute right to pardon myself: Donald Trump US President Donald Trump said today that he has "absolute right to pardon" himself as he slammed the opposition Democratic party for witch-hunt against him alleging that the appointment of a special counsel is unconstitutional. Former FBI Director Robert Mueller is the Special Counsel appointed by the Department of Justice to investigate into the allegation of Russian interference in the 2016 presidential elections in Trump's favour. "The appointment of the Special Counsel is totally UNCONSTITUTIONAL! Despite that, we play the game because I, unlike the Democrats, have done nothing wrong!" Trump tweeted.











June 04, 2018 / 07:43 PM IST











June 04, 2018 / 07:43 PM IST Food processing sector to create 4 lakh more jobs in FY'19: Harsimrat Kaur Badal More than 3.85 lakh jobs have been created in the food processing sector in the last four years and 4 lakh more will be generated by the end of current fiscal as 15 new mega food parks become operational, Union Minister Harsimrat Kaur Badal said on Monday. Besides, 3.4 lakh direct and indirect jobs will be created with operations of 122 projects approved under the Pradhan Mantri Kisan SAMPADA Yojana, she said, adding that more avenues will open up as both domestic and global firms commit investment in a big way in the sunrise sector. Badal said the sector will get a fillip as the government will soon set up a non-banking finance company with private sector to fund food processing projects, she added.











June 04, 2018 / 07:27 PM IST Pakistan Army says no space for war with India Pakistan Army on Monday said that there was no space for any war with India as both are nuclear powers, but warned that its desire for peace should not be mistaken for weakness. Addressing a press conference, Major Gen Asif Ghafoor, the Director General of Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) - the media wing of the army, accused India of carrying out 1,077 ceasefire violations since the start of 2018 to date. (PTI)











June 04, 2018 / 07:07 PM IST Rupee turns soft ahead of RBI policy meet, down 5 paise The rupee on Monday slipped from its near one-month high to end lower by 5 paise at Rs 67.11 against the US dollar due to some demand for the American currency from importers and banks. Overall, forex market sentiment turned little nervous and witnessed lethargic trade as currency traders preferred to stay on the side-lines ahead of the RBI's bi-monthly policy outcome. The Indian currency hovered near a fresh one-month high in early trade, breaching the significant 66-level briefly against the US currency before retreating sharply. It swung between a high of Rs 66.84 and a low of Rs 67.17 during the day.











June 04, 2018 / 06:54 PM IST CM Yogi Adityanath meets Shah, first meeting post Uttar Pradesh bypoll losses Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Monday met BJP president Amit Shah, their first meeting after defeats suffered by the party in the recent bypolls in the state, according to a PTI report. There was no official comment on what transpired in the meeting, but they are believed to have discussed the evolving political situation in the state where opposition parties have joined hands to challenge the BJP.










Last year, Sunil Kumar from Delhi had a bad credit history and was unable to get a home loan from banks he applied to. He decided to apply for another PAN card consulting his friend with the objective of creating a dual identity for himself. He did this fraudulent and illegal exercise intentionally to erase bad credit history and apply for home loan. There are lakhs of people across India like Sunil Kumar doing this fraudulent exercise and cases are registered against them.

Anubhav Jain, Co-Founder and Head of Risk, Qbera.com said, Often people intentionally apply for more than one PAN card for the purpose of reducing their tax burden by splitting up their income and assets. Others do it to enter into financial transactions based on fraudulent documents as they have mala fide intentions. People do this in the hope that a new PAN card will give them a clean chit on their past bad repayment behaviour with respect to loans or credit card debt.

Unintentionally, many end up with multiple PAN cards because they are unaware that doing so is illegal. Anubhav Jain shared a couple of instances, When someone loses their card, they apply for a fresh one instead of requesting a duplicate. Often, women change their maiden names after marriage, here they apply for a new PAN card whereas they should be requesting for an update in information on their original card itself.

Shalini Jain, Tax Partner, EY India added, Other examples could be NRIs coming to India for work and apply for a PAN. When they revisit India again after say few years, unintentionally, they may end up applying of PAN again.

The PAN application process typically requires one to enter some of the basic details like name, mobile number, date of birth, address, father's name, etc. Unfortunately, any of this information can be manipulated quite easily to create a new identity and thus apply for multiple PAN cards. However, with the mandatory linking of ones Aadhaar and PAN card numbers, identifying such cases has become much easier for the government, thereby discouraging such illegal activity, said Anubhav Jain.

Shalini Jain pointed out, As per Section 139A of Income Tax Act, 1961 a person can hold only one PAN. As per Section 272B, the Assessing Officer may levy a penalty of a sum of Rs 10,000 to a person who fails to comply with the provision of Section 139A which would include holding multiple PAN cards.

Prior to levying the penalty, the Assessing Officer will provide a hearing to the individual. Shalini Jain said, If the individual can explain to the Assessing Officer that multiple PAN was acquired unintentionally, it is possible the penalty of Rs 10,000 is not levied on the individual.

Surrendering and cancelling additional PAN cards has been made quite simple today. It is possible using both online and offline process.

One needs to visit the NSDL website and submit the PAN Change Request application form. Anubhav Jain explained, You need to mention the single PAN card that you intend to keep using and cancel all the rest. The additional PAN numbers that you choose to surrender have to be mentioned in item no.11 along with the corresponding PAN card copies.

If you arent very comfortable with the online route, you can also surrender your additional PAN cards offline by filling up form 49A available on NSDL website to download and print. Fill up this form with the necessary details of the PAN cards to be cancelled and submit it at your nearest UTI or NSDL TIN facilitation centre.

Do remember to take an acknowledgement of the same. You will need to follow this up with a letter to the Assessing Officer in your jurisdiction. Anubhav Jain said, This letter must contain the details of the PAN card to be retained and those of the ones that need to be cancelled, along with duplicate copies as well as the acknowledgement from UTI or NSDL TIN.

Merely following the online or offline process for PAN card cancellation does not ensure that the PAN will be cancelled. Shalini Jain clarified, The individual may have to visit his/ her jurisdictional Assessing Officer to convince that the additional PAN was inadvertently acquired.
The long wait for the Kundli Manesar Palwal (KMP) Expressway and Dwarka Expressway may finally get over. While KMP will be ready in two months, work on the Dwarka Expressway is expected to be over in the next 18 months, Haryana government officials said.

The KMP will be completed in the next two months, said Captain Abhimanyu Singh, Haryana finance minister.

Terming the Dwarka Expressway issue a 'tricky' one at a Naredco conference held in Gurugram recently, Singh said, We gave a commitment that even if additional enhanced compensation is required to be given to all owners of land on the side of Delhi, we are ready to bear part of the additional burden. At the last meeting, the issue that came up was that because the owners are not the actual owners on record but power-of-attorney holders, who will you give this money to?"

Gurugram Metropolitam Development Authority (GMDA) CEO V Umashankar said National Highway Authority of India (NHAI) will start construction of the remaining patches of Dwarka Expressway this week onwards. The survey is done. After some patches of land are acquired, the expressway is expected to take another 18 months, he said.

On the issue of Metro connectivity, Umashankar said, Metro connectivity is still a bit of an issue. Hopefully we will ensure that it gets done. We are currently in the stage of detailed project report.

As for the regional rapid transit system (RRTS), he said, This week, RRTS alignment leading out of Gurugram has more or less been done. We can start moving with RRTS this year itself.

EDC and IDC

The government has spent more on Gurugram than it has collected from external development charges, and that problem has occurred on account of land acquisition. Close to Rs 16,000 crore has been paid out on land acquisition alone in the last six years, the officials said.

The government and the public have invested more money on infrastructure in the city than the developers. We have also compromised on interests of other parts of Haryana and focussed on development of Gurugram, said the minister.

In 2017-18, the collection of stamp duty increased from Rs 3,000 crore to Rs 4,000 crore. In this additional Rs 1,000 crore, the share of Gurugram stands at Rs 300 crore whereas the rest of Haryana contributed Rs 700 crore, he said.

While making a presentation before the council of ministers last year, V Umashankar had said the problem of EDC needs to be resolved, else GMDA will be a non-starter. If it is take charge of infrastructure development, then the funding element of it has to come through EDC. One proposal that I had floated was that of enhancement of EDC for land acquisition, but the government took the stance that the sector is not doing well and should therefore not be burdened, he said.

Optical fibre network across the city

Yet another problem authorities are trying to resolve is that of connectivity. This means both physical and digital connectivity. We have evolved our own model of fiberizing the city. Optical fiber network across the city is being laid out. This will be used to carry a set of smart city services. Work by two agencies is likely to start within a month. The pilot phase gets completed in a month and the full phase in one year. By next year, we would be able to see a fiberized Gurugram. This will include Manesar too, he added.
It has been quite some time that Samsung has launched a new version of the Galaxy Note. The last mobile in Note series was the Galaxy Note 9. However, reports now suggest that the latest smartphone in the Note series could be launched soon which will be equipped with an under-display fingerprint sensor and a 3D camera.

Some reports even claim that the device could sport a triple camera setup.

However, the company has denied giving any details about the triple-lens system on their official channel. Nonetheless, Kim Dong-Won of KB Securities was of the view that the South Korean giant's Galaxy S10 could feature the triple camera set up.

He added that the phone will have a 3D sensor, most probably in the front camera for facial recognition. Further, Samsung wont be the first company to bring mobile with three lenses (Huawei P20 beat Samsung in that race), it claimed that it will provide a better user experience and will introduce new technology.

According to reports, Samsung has already finished the design of the Galaxy S10 and Galaxy S10+. The new Galaxy S10 is tipped to feature a 5.8-inch screen, while the Galaxy S10 Plus is expected to offer a larger 6.3-inch display.

Moreover, both models will inherit the nearly bezel-less design and Infinity Displays from their respective predecessors.

Moneycontrol could not independently verify the report.

The Galaxy S10 is expected to launch in January 2019.
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Nomura has maintained buy rating on Tata Motors with a price target of Rs 495 per share.

The company's JLR US retail sales was better than expected at 17 percent in May 2018. Land Rover drives volume of the company, while Jaguar continued to remain weak, said Nomura.

The research firm expect 9 percent growth in overall JLR volumes in 2018-19.

The company has registered a strong growth of 58 percent in auto sales for May 2018, driven by solid performance of commercial and passenger vehicles business.

The Tata Group firm sold 54,295 units during the month against 34,461 units sold in same month last year.

Commercial vehicles sales during the month increased a whopping 56 percent YoY to 36,806 units.

At 10:36 hrs Tata Motors was quoting at Rs 291.25, up Rs 4.05, or 1.41 percent on the BSE.

Posted by Rakesh Patil
India could take two years to choose the winner of its order for 110 fighter jets, a Bloomberg report says, citing a senior Boeing executive.

The deal will be the world's largest order for combat aircraft and most likely be worth at least USD 15 billion.

"Boeing is well placed in the race to supply the Indian Air Force with 110 fighter jets," Gene Cunningham, Boeing vice-president of global defence sales, told Bloomberg.

US-based Lockheed Martin Corp, Swedish manufacturer Saab AB and British aerospace company BAE Systems Plc are other companies in the running.

Lockheed Martin has already announced a manufacturing partnership with Tata for F-16 fighter jets, while Saab has teamed up with Adani to manufacture Gripen millitary jets.

The tender stipulates that 85 percent of the order should be built locally.

In April, Boeing had said it would join hands with Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd. and Mahindra Defence Systems to manufacture the F/A-18 Super Hornet in India.

Boeing is also a finalist in the bid to supply the Indian Navy with 57 fighter jets.
People in Cairo, the sprawling capital of Egypt, have to work most among the 77 cities surveyed by UBS to afford an Apple iPhone X. The citizens of the North African city have to work for 1,066 hours to buy an iPhone X.

People in Mumbai and New Delhi have to work 917 hours and 804 hours, respectively to purchase the coveted smartphone. Both Indian cities are positioned just after Cairo in the list of most working hours needed to buy iPhone X.

In terms of days, taking 8 working hours per day, a person in Cairo has to work 133 days or four-and-a-half months. In Mumbai, the same comes to 114 days or about four months. In New Delhi, in working days terms, an iPhone would cost 100 days salary of an individual, according to the UBS data.

The numbers reflect that labour is cheaper in these cities than their European and American counterparts. It also signifies the purchasing power of the citizens of these cities.

The least a person has to toil to purchase an iPhone X is Zurich. People in the Swiss city has to work just 38 hours or nearly five days. Similarly, for Geneva, the number is 47.5 hours, for New York, it is 54 hours and for London, it is 91 hours.

Delhi and Mumbai

For a Big Mac, a Mumbaikar has to toil for 88 minutes. Similarly, a Delhiite has to work for 90 minutes.

Earning a haircut for a male in Delhi requires toiling for 143 minutes. A similar haircut would require 228 minutes of work in Mumbai.

For females, a haircut gets costlier. A woman in Mumbai has to spend 425 minutes at work to afford a haircut, that means, almost a full day. Similarly, a woman in New Delhi has to work for 263 minutes at work, i.e. more than four hours.
Union Minister Harsh Vardhan today said if states work together, the country will achieve all its environment-related targets within a year. Speaking at the state environment ministers' conference here, he said that an emotional attachment with the environment is imperative for its preservation.

"We mean business. If all the state environment ministers work together, the country will be at the top of achievements on various environmental parameters," the Environment Minister said.

The 'State of Environment Report India 2015' was released by the Vardhan at the conference.

Lauding the achievements of the Modi government towards achievements in the field of environment, he said the international community believes India will achieve all its targets before the stipulated time frame.

He also claimed that the ministry was delegating powers to states to enable them to work more efficiently for environment preservation and fight pollution.

Executive Director, United Nations Environment Programme(UNEP), Erik Solheim was also present at the event.

He said India was his choice to host this year's 'World Environment Day' due to a variety of reasons, including its vast population and fast economic growth.

Citing rapid urbanisation in India, Solheim said environment needs to be made a "citizens issue".

Minister of State for Environment, Forest and Climate Change Mahesh Sharma called for action against plastic pollution.

He pointed out that if steps are not taken to check it, future generations will bear its consequences.

"The cooperation of states is necessary for starting a campaign against plastic pollution," Sharma said.

Vardhan also released a plastic cover free magazine of the National Geographic.

Bihar Deputy Chief Minister Sushil Modi also addressed a session and highlighted issues related to states.

He demanded delegation of powers to states to combat pollution and preserve the environment.
A fortnight ago, the first news about the acute water shortage in Shimla, the capital city of Himachal Pradesh, surfaced that left travellers planning a trip to the hill-station high and dry.

While the officials blame the rising temperature and drying up of natural water channels as the main reasons behind this water crisis, the civic authorities have taken some steps to provide relief to local Shimla residents.

With a population of around 200,000, Shimla requires approximately 42 MLD (Million Litres per Day) of water.

Authorities have put in place a rationing system under which the hill city has been divided into three zones and each zone receives water alternatively - after two days.

Officials blame reduced snowfall and rainfall in higher reaches last winter season for the shortage in water supply.

The higher education department has ordered government schools to remain shut for a week in view of water shortage. There would be no monsoon break in schools this year, it said.

Public schools have been ordered shut for 10 days.

Army and police personnel too have been working with SMC to find ways to improve water supply in the state capital.

Further, the Municipal Corporation has managed to plug some leakages and pilferages increasing the daily water supply in Shimla by 10 MLD. According to civic authorities, around 38 MLD water is now being supplied in the city.

On the political front, Chief Minister  Jai Ram Thakur - blamed the previous Congress government in the state for their failure to execute any water supply scheme in Himachal Pradesh.

The Himachal Pradesh Congress Committee has demanded the dissolution of the BJP-controlled municipal corporation.

In a memorandum to Governor Acharya Devvrat, I N Mehta, chairman of legal and human rights department of HPCC, said SMC failed to ensure uninterrupted water supply and it should be dismissed by invoking Section 404 of Municipal Corporation Act.

Local authorities now hope that the pre-monsoon showers by the third week of June should improve the situation.

(With inputs from PTI)
Religious places located out of COVID-19 containment zones will be allowed to remain open as per the timings decided by authorities, and devotees will be allowed inside in a staggered manner, the guidelines stated. (Source: Moneycontrol)

Idols of two of the most influential rulers from Chola Dynasty returned to Tamil Nadu on May 31, 2018. The said 1000-year-old bronze idols had gone missing from Brihadeeswarar Temple (popularly known as the 'Big Temple') at Thanjavur, Tamil Nadu more than 50 years ago. Both the idols were retrieved from a private museum in Ahmedabad. And they will soon be reinstalled at the Big Temple of Brihadeeswarar in the following three days. The idols are believed to be worth over Rs 150 crore.

As per a report from The Times of India, Inspector General of police, AG Pon Manickavel led a team of policemen to retrieve the idols from Calico museum in Ahmedabad. He further commented that more efforts will be made to retrieve the other remaining stolen idols from the state. Regarding the recovery of the stolen idols, he said that "We registered a case just three months ago and retrieved it within 90 days. We would be installing these idols at his house (that is the Big Temple)". He further emphasized that both the idols of Rajaraja Chola and his queen Lokamadevi will be kept in the Brihadeeswarar temple within three days.

Asked whether any arrest has been made over the stolen idols, he replied that no one has been booked so far. However, he added that "We will be arresting the culprits. About 20 idols are missing from the temple. A similar idol has been replaced inside the temple".

According to the inscriptions, Raja Raja Chola had donated 66 idols to the 'Big Temple', which included the idols Kolgai Devar and Shetra Balar, made of gold, and four silver idols of Vasudevar. Talking more about the robbery, a police officer said that Most of the ancient icons were stolen and the HR and CE officials suppressed the crime so far without bringing it to the notice of the police. Our investigation revealed that the ancient idols were replaced with non-antique idols.
Accusing the Modi government of "protecting its crony friends", the Congress today asked why it is not ordering a probe into the banking frauds in the country, including the ICICI bank case. Congress leader Pawan Khera asked whether the government would order an investigation into the ICICI "scam" in which its CEO is allegedly embroiled and direct every chief of a private bank to declare their relationship with loanees.

"Instead of oversight, audit, regulations and protection of interests of account holder depositors, stakeholders and shareholders, Modi Government is busy protecting its crony friends," he alleged at a press conference here.

The Congress leader said the entire fraud is identical to scams perpetrated by Nirav Modi, Mehul Choksi and Jatin Mehta "who have fleeced and fled the country under the protection of the Modi Government".

"Will the protagonists of this scam too be permitted to escape the country?

"The government cannot just shrug its shoulders and say that we are not responsible, we are not looking at ICICI. This cannot be done," he said, alleging increase in cases of bank frauds during the NDA rule.

Khera asked why the government did not order a thorough probe when the news reports and whistleblower's letters to the prime minister emerged as early in March this year.

"What explains the complete silence and the declared 'non-interference' of the Modi Government in this saga of ICICI Bank frauds?," he asked.

"Will acting Finance Minister Piyush Goyal, who himself has been guilty of conflict of interest and impropriety, answer when will the government order investigation asking every CEO of private banks to declare their any relationship with any loanee? "

The Congress leader alleged that the lack of oversight and regulatory mechanisms have led to 'bank loot scams' worth Rs 61,036 crore and have eroded the trust of common man in banks.

He said a Rs 2,849 crore exposure of ICICI Bank, India's largest private sector bank, and the "behind the scenes murky deals" questions the role of its CEO and it is one such saga of 'Banking Fraud'.

After much delay, he said the market regulator SEBI has given a show cause notice to ICICI Bank's CEO and said that it didn't adhere to its code of conduct, which required the disclosure of any conflict of interest in the case.

He said as per media reports top Finance Ministry officials reflect that Modi Government will not interfere in this 'banking fraud'.

Khera also alleged that bad loans of private banks have risen by a whopping 317 pc under Modi government, which stood at Rs 26,112 crore in 2014-15 and rose to Rs 1,09,076 crore in 2017-18. "Who is responsible for them?" he asked.
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The Congress today alleged that the BJP takes refuge in Pakistan by seeking to polarise and divert public attention whenever it loses an election. The opposition party's attack came after BJP leader Sambit Patra tweeted a purported video of Mumbai attack mastermind Hafiz Saaed delivering a speech against Prime Minister Modi and wrote, It's not just the yet formed 'Mahagathbandhan' that desperately wants to stop India from having Modi as its PM in 2019".

Patra later said, Of course this is not a comparison! Modi Ji's attack on Black Money and corruption is getting the opposition in India on one page while his attack on terrorism & Surgical Strike is pushing Hafiz Saeed to desperation! This proves that the Modi government is moving the right way!

Another BJP leader reportedly compared the opposition to "Osama supporters".

In response to the BJP leaders' remarks, the Congress said whenever the BJP loses, it takes refuge in Pakistan in its bid to polarise and divert public attention.

"The BJP knows it cannot win on development, that is why they try and divert by bringing in the name of Hafiz Saeed. They do not think at all," Congress leader Pawan Khera said.

The BJP lost the crucial Kairana parliamentary bypoll in Uttar Pradesh last week to a united opposition.

"The BJP speaks in multiple languages, their ideological forefather which is the RSS is the hydra-headed monster which speaks, behaves, acts in various languages contradicting each other," Khera said.

He said such remarks reflect the BJP leaders' mindset and asserted that the people of the country had understood this and would no longer get befooled by such words.

He alleged that the prime minister was not focussed on governance in the country and was abroad most of the time.

Khera claimed that Kashmir has been burning under the NDA rule with normal life shattered in the northern state.

"We do not see a coherent consistent policy on Kashmir as far as Modi Government is concerned," he said.

Taking a dig at the prime minister over his foreign trips, Khera said, "Every 11 days in the last four years at an average you were abroad, sometimes with agenda -- without results, sometimes without agenda -- definitely without results."

To a question on Nitish Kumar, Khera said both the Bihar chief minister and the prime minister should understand that people of the country would no longer be befooled.
Former chief minister of the erstwhile state of Jammu and Kashmir Mehbooba Mufti

Addressing a rally in Srinagar, Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti said that if the age-old rivalry of North and South Korea can come to an end, then even India and Pakistan can end the fight. North and South Korea put aside their differences and put an end to the conflict after 70 years of rivalry.

While addressing the rally, Mufti quoted former prime minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee and said, "We can change our friends but not neighbours". She further continued, "Like (my colleague) Mehboob Beigh sahib here said, North Korea and South Korea have become friends after 70 years for the sake of people. But here shelling is still going on our borders. People on that side are dying and people on this side are also dying. Our agenda is only this that till these two countries dont come close situation wont improve".

Mufti emphasised the current relationship between India and Pakistan stating, "That is why we want talks here and with them". Later, she also said that the current bloodshed on the border is "unfortunate despite talks". She said, "This is unfortunate that despite DGMO talks, there has been ceasefire violation on the border in which we lost our two jawans and many other civilians are injured. This should not happen. People on both sides are dying."

On May 29, Pakistan DGMO had called his Indian counterpart lieutenant general Anil Chauhan over hotline to undertake "serious measures" to improve the cross-border situation. Moreover, the Indian director general of military operations had agreed to the proposal. However, two BSF soldiers were killed after Pakistan Ranger opened fire along the International Border in Jammu early on Sunday. It eventually triggered heavy firing between the two countries.
Akhilesh Yadav

Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav today asked if Prime Minister Narendra Modi's recent visit to Indonesia and Malaysia during the month of Ramzan an attempt towards "international appeasement" of the minority community.

During an interview with PTI, he claimed that the people of not only Uttar Pradesh, but of the entire country was upset with the BJP as other than making promises it "did nothing else".

Citing a proverb, Yadav said, "With empty stomach, people have now understood that the BJP does not mean business."

Asking the BJP to restrain its leaders from making "absurd" comments, he said, "The BJP should learn to face defeats or else they will be not be able to digest the outcome of the 2019 Lok Sabha elections in which the opposition will stage a comeback."

Slamming the BJP for accusing his party of practising minority appeasement, the Samajwadi Party chief said, "Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath says he does not celebrate Eid as he is a Hindu. The BJP charges us with practising Muslim appeasement. Modi has just visited Indonesia and Malaysia during the month of Ramzan. Is it an attempt towards 'international appeasement' of the Muslims?"

Adityanath had reportedly said that he is a Hindu and does not celebrate Eid, drawing sharp criticisim from opposition.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi was for the first time on an official visit to Indonesia - the world's most populous Muslim-majority nation - last month. He has visited Singapore twice and Malaysia once in 2015.

Modi had also visited Indonesia's grand Istiqlal Mosque, the largest in southeast Asia, with President Joko Widodo.

Indonesia is not only the world's most populous Muslim country, followed by India, but the third largest democracy. Hindus comprise two per cent of Indonesia's population and form close to a 90 per cent majority on the island of Bali.
Nasim Zehra, a Pakistani journalist and writer who hosts a prime-time current affairs talk show on Channel 24, launched a book last week titled From Kargil to the Coup: Events that shook Pakistan. According to the book, former Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and many other senior officials were unaware of the military operation to occupy strategic heights in the Kargil sector of the Line of Control (LoC) in 1999.

There has been a long-standing debate about how much Sharif knew about the operation that was launched by then army chief Pervez Musharraf. Musharraf eventually had ousted Sharif in a coup a few months after India fought off the Pakistani intrusion. The book adds to this debate and states that Sharif was informed about the operation at a much later stage after he questioned Musharraf about the events near the LoC.

This military operation was formally approved in the military directorate on January 16, 1999. According to Zehra, the Pakistani troops had already infiltrated almost seven kilometres into Indian territory from seven directions. This was five weeks before the Lahore Declaration 1999 was signed between India and Pakistan on February 21, 1999.

Zehra interviewed many prominent personalities in Pakistan for her book, including senior serving and retired military officers, diplomats, government officials and politicians. She also interviewed some Indian diplomats and politicians along with some US diplomats and officials. The book claims to give a blow-by-blow account of Operation Koh Paima (Operation KP), the code name for the offensive in Kargil. The book also delves a little bit into history and talks about General Zia-ul-Haqs approach towards Kargil.

The book offers a fresh perspective towards the conflict to Pakistani readers who were exposed to sanitised information till now. This should be an interesting read and we will keep our eyes and ears open to see how the people and politicians react to this version of the Kargil conflict.
The JD(U) core committee met here today ahead of a meeting of the National Democratic Alliance scheduled later this week, after which a senior party leader said Chief Minister Nitish Kumar is the face of the NDA in Bihar. Kumar, also the JD(U) national president, held the core committee meeting at his residence.

JD(U) national general secretaries K C Tyagi and Pavan Varma, who arrived from New Delhi, poll strategist Prashant Kishor and a few other state leaders took part in the meeting.

The meeting assumes significance as the BJP-led NDA, which the JD(U) joined in August last year, is scheduled to hold a meeting in Bihar on June 7. During the NDA meeting, to be attended by Kumar, the coalition partners are likely to discuss their strategy in the state for the next Lok Sabha polls.

Emerging out of the chief minister's residence after the meeting, Varma told reporters that Kumar "is the face of the NDA in Bihar, that is why he is the chief minister. JD(U) is the largest constituent of the coalition".

Varma's remark assumes significance amidst speculation in political circles here that the JD(U), which has only two Lok Sabha members, might press for a seat-sharing arrangement commensurate with its strength in the Bihar assembly where it has about 70 MLAs against nearly 50 of the BJP.

Besides the JD(U) and the BJP, the NDA in Bihar comprises Ram Vilas Paswan's Lok Janshakti Party and Upendra Kushwaha's Rashtriya Lok Samata Party.

The BJP had bagged 22 out of the 40 Lok Sabha seats in the state in 2014, when the JD(U) had fought separately.

However, in the wake of the poor show by the BJP in a number of bypolls recently, its allies have started voicing the need for better coordination within the NDA instead of a "big brotherly attitude" displayed by the senior coalition partner.

Asked about Kumar's renewed demand for special status to Bihar, Varma said "the party had never given up the demand. To fight for this legitimate right of the state is the JD(U)'s commitment".

He, however, declined to divulge the details of the consultations held with Kumar.
Facebook partnered with around 60 device makers including major tech firms such as Microsoft, Apple, Samsung and Amazon to share user data with them. Through the partnership, the social media giant gave the companies access to information of users as well as their friends, according to a New York Times report.

Facebook recently faced heavy backlash across the world for sharing personal data of up to 87 million users.

The report exposed the Mark Zuckerberg-led company's attitude towards customer data and claimed that the deal could have been over 10 years old.

Moneycontrol could not independently verify the report, which came as a shocker following the scandal involving the erstwhile British political consulting firm Cambridge Analytica.

Under the data-sharing partnership, Facebook expanded its reach to customers by offering features such as messaging, its 'like' feature and address books, the report said.

However, the agreement between Facebook and the tech firms raise concerns over privacy the protection and compliance consent decree with the US Federal Trade Commission. Facebook allegedly allowed device companies access to data of friends of users, even after announcing that it would not do so.

Ime Achibong, Vice-President at Facebook was quoted as saying: "These partnerships work very differently from the way in which app developers use our platform."

However, Serge Egelman, a researcher at the University of California said, "You might think that Facebook or the device manufacturer is trustworthy. But the problem is that as more and more data is collected on the device, and if it can be accessed by apps on the device -- it creates serious privacy and security risks."

In April, Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerburg had apologised and said that he made a "huge mistake" as personal data of up to 87 million users may have been shared improperly with Cambridge Analytica.
The Army is funding three major projects as the Centre has not provided money for the same. This has resulted in the Army cutting down its supplies from state-owned ordnance factories, according to a report in The Economic Times.

To what extent is the Army bringing down its supplies?

Ninety four percent of products of ordnance factories are supplied to the Army. We have decided to bring this down to 50 percent. So, from Rs 11,000 crore given to the ordnance factories it was brought down to around Rs 8,000 crore, said an Army official, adding that the deficiency in ammunition and spares is because the ordnance factories have not been able to completely meet the requirements.

He added that the move would save about Rs 3,500 crore every year. We will add another Rs 4,000 crore, bringing the total amount to Rs 7,000-8,000 crore a year. For three years, we should have close to Rs 24,000 crore, which will be used for the emergency procurement and the order for 10 (I), said the official.

Why is Army spending from its budget to buy ammunition?

According to Army officials, they have no other option but to reduce the supplies from ordnance factories. Of the three projects, only one has begun. The official explained that payment for the emergency procurement for this project has been distributed over the years due to shortage of funds.

Another official explained that about Rs 5,000 crore has been spent on emergency procurement and another Rs 6,739.83 crore needs to be paid. This project with the 10(I) order now costs about Rs 21,739.83 crore. He, however, added that the two schemes are not for five but three years. For remaining payment of the two projects, the Army is contemplating on how to fund it as the Centre has asked it to spend from its own budget.

The official said in March, the Army had made an initial cut in supplies from ordnance factories. In March, the ordnance factories allocation for supplying items such as clothing, spares and certain ammunition was brought down to about Rs 11,000 crore, said the official.

What type of armoury is Army investing in?

After the 2016 Uri terrorist attack, the Army found that 46 types of critical ammunition, including for the artillery, tanks such as Armour Piercing Fin-Stabilised Discarding Sabot, anti-material, and 10 types of spares for vehicles and equipment were below 10 (I). The 10 (I) is ammunition and spares needed for 10 days of intense war.

The Centre has also identified eight types of ammunition for manufacture by Indian private firms for Rs 1,700 crore per year for the next 10 years. This ammunition includes 30mm used by the infantry, 120mm extended range, 23mm and 40mm grenades.

The Army is also procuring Pinaka rockets over 10 years, which is worth Rs 1,000 crore a year. With these steps we should have 90% per of ammunition for 10 (I) by June 2019. Even at this juncture we are relatively fine, because all types of ammunition will not be used during war. But the government has to provide budgetary support. So far it has not, and the Army has been forced to use its own budget at the cost of modernisation and maintenance, said an official.
During his recently-concluded tri-nation tour of Indonesia, Malaysia and Singapore, Prime Minister Narendra Modi gave an interview at the Nanyang Technological University (NTU) in Singapore, wherein he replied to the queries in Hindi.

He was interviewed by NTU President Subra Suresh who also took questions from members of the audience. However, the PM's responses were being translated simultaneously in English.

After PM Modi answered a series of questions regarding the challenges faced by Asia, the English translator started reading out a lengthy response which included facts that were not mentioned by the PM in his response.

This led to speculation that the questions posed to Modi, and his responses, were not spontaneous, but a part of a pre-planned script. On June 04, Rahul Gandhi pointed this out on Twitter and took a dig at the Prime Minister accusing him of giving scripted interviews on public platforms.

In his tweet, Gandhi said: The first Indian PM who takes "spontaneous" questions that the translator has pre-scripted answers to! Good that he doesn't take real questions. Would have been a real embarrassment to us all if he did.

He tagged a video of the question wherein Modis answer was much shorter than the translator's.

Further, while tagging a news report on NTU, Congress leader Shashi Tharoor also tweeted: "Oh dear. When the translator says what the PM was supposed to say, but didn't."

This is not the first time PM Modi has been criticised for his public interviews. In April, he was interviewed by lyricist Prasoon Joshi before a live audience where it was alleged that Joshi asked pre-scripted questions.
Bayer CropScience | The company's FY20 operating profit grew 50.94 percent to Rs 725.70 crore. In FY21 so far, the stock price has risen 55 percent to Rs 5347.10 as on November 24, 2020. Institutional stake for March, June, and September quarters. FIIs holding: 2.17%, 2.34%, and 2.79%, respectively. MF holding: 9.81%, 9.96%, and 10.05% respectively.

German chemical and pharma major Bayer AG today said it will complete the multi-billion dollar acquisition of US-based biotech major Monsanto on June 7, following all regulatory approvals. In India, both entities have presence in production and sale of vegetable seeds, cotton seeds as well as in production and sale of non-selective herbicides.

Bayer had announced its intention to acquire Monsanto in May 2016 and signed an agreement with the US company for USD 128 per share in September 2016. Currently that corresponds to a total cost of about USD 63 billion taking into account Monsanto's debt outstanding as of February 28, 2018.

Bayer has agreed to the divestiture of businesses which generated 2.2 billion euros in sales in 2017 for an aggregate base purchase price of 7.6 billion euros.

"Bayer will become the sole shareholder of Monsanto on June 7," said Werner Baumann, Chairman of the board of management of Bayer AG in a statement.

According to the conditional approval from the United States Department of Justice, the integration of Monsanto into Bayer can take place as soon as the divestments to BASF have been completed. This is expected to be in approximately two months, he said.

"We have diligently prepared for the upcoming integration over the past two years. Our extensive experience in integrating other large companies has proven that we can and will be successful," Baumann said.

Bayer will remain the company name. Monsanto will no longer be a company name. The acquired products will retain their brand names and become part of the Bayer portfolio.

In order to acquire Monsanto, Bayer said it secured initial bridge financing of USD 57 billion. As announced in September 2016, this is being refinanced by a combination of equity and debt transactions, some of which have already been completed. The final equity measure will be a rights issue, which was announced yesterday.

"The acquisition of Monsanto is a strategic milestone in strengthening our portfolio of leading businesses in health and nutrition. We will double the size of our agriculture business and create a leading innovation engine in agriculture...," Baumann added.

Stating that the acquisition is anticipated to generate significant value, Bayer said it expects a positive contribution to core earnings per share starting in 2019.

From 2021 onward, that contribution is expected to be in double-digit percentage. Moreover, adjusted for divestments, Bayer expects synergies to deliver annual contributions of USD 1.2 billion to EBITDA before special items as of 2022, it added.
China is likely to surpass the US in research and development spending by the end of this year, a top American science body has said, underlining that Beijing has increased its spending in the sector at an average of 18 percent per year between 2000 and 2015.

China spends 5 percent of its total R&D funds on basic research and 85 percent on development, while the US spends 17 percent on basic research and 64 percent on development, the National Science Board said in its latest Science and Engineering Indicators.

Noting that R&D spending is a driver of innovation, the report said in 2015, the US spent most on R&D, accounting for 26 percent (USD 496 billion) of the estimated 1.9 trillion global total. China was a decisive second at 21 percent at USD409 billion.

"If current trends continue, the National Science Board expects China to pass the US in R&D expenditures by the end of 2018," the report said, according to which China has rapidly increased R&D spending over time  an average of 18 per year between 2000 and 2015, compared to 4 in the US

The global output from high-technology manufacturing totalled at USD 1.6 trillion in 2016. The US at 31 percent and China at 24 percent were the largest providers of the global share.

China's output has risen sharply over time and now exceeds that of the EU. "As of November 2017, China claims 202 of the fastest 500 supercomputers in the world. The US has 143 of the world's fastest supercomputers, the nation's lowest share over the past 25 years," it said.

According to National Science Board, a country's investment in S&E education leads to a skilled, STEM capable workforce. Globally, bachelor's degrees in S&E fields totaled more than 7.5 million in 2014.

Almost half of these degrees were conferred in two Asian countries: India at 25 percent and China at 22 percent. The EU and US followed with 12 percent and 10 percent of the global share respectively.

"Between 2000 and 2014, the number of S&E bachelor's degrees awarded in China rose more than 360 percent to 1.7 million. The US had more moderate growth (54 percent) over the same period," the report said.

China, the report said, increased its production of peer-reviewed S&E articles by 8 percent annually between 2006 to 2016, compared to only one percent in the US.

In 2016, China surpassed the US in publications of S&E research papers, it said. In 2014, publications with US authors were almost twice as likely to be among the world's top 1 percent most-cited publications than would be expected based on the volume of US publications.
US President Donald Trump has no intention to pardon himself from any charges stemming from the probe into Russian meddling, his top personal attorney said cautioning that such a move by the president would result in his immediate impeachment.

Rudy Giuliani, who joined Trump's legal team just last month, took shots at special counsel Robert Mueller.

"He's not, but he probably does. He has no intention of pardoning himself," Giuliani told ABC News in another Sunday interview as he made rounds of Sunday talk shows.

"That's another really interesting constitutional question: Can the president pardon himself? It would be an open question. I think it would probably get answered by, 'gosh that's what the Constitution says.' And if you want to change it, change it. But, yeah," Giuliani said in response to a question.

The former FBI Director, Mueller, is currently carrying investigations into the alleged interference of Russia in the 2016 presidential elections.

Responding to questions, Giuliani said that the political ramifications of Trump pardoning himself would be tough.

"Pardoning other people is one thing, pardoning yourself is another. Other presidents have pardoned people in circumstances like this both in their administration and sometimes the next president, even of a different party will come along and pardon," he said.

Giuliani refuted reports that by pardoning individuals like Indian American Dinesh D'Souza, Trump is sending a signal to those caught up in the Russia investigation.
US President Donald Trump is seeking to transform the world trading system which is "unfair" and has virtually no reciprocity, his top economic advisor said, amid America's trade tensions with China and key allies.

"This president, from day one, wants to reform the world trading system. It is not working. And there is so much unfair trading and illegal trading practices, Larry Kudlow, Director of the National Economic Council under President Donald Trump told Fox News.

The current world trade system, he argued, has "virtually" no reciprocity.

"Tariff rates are not equal. Non-tariff barriers are not equal. The World Trade Organisation, which sets these rules, has been totally ineffectual. It has, in some cases, damaged the American economy, damaged American workers in manufacturing and other businesses, Kudlow said.

As a result, he argued, Trump has stepped up to the plate here. "And as somebody who is a free trader, I've got to say, if you don't have a level playing field, you can't operate free trade, he said.

Kudlow's remarks came amidst increasing trade tension between the US and China, and several of the top American key allies and friends including the European Union, Canada and Mexico.

Kudlow said the ongoing North America Free Trade Agreement or NAFTA talks have not broken down.

"We're still having those conversations. We're still having the steel talks with Canada. Take a look at the communique the White House put out, or the statement, he said.

Good faith negotiations are welcome, and we hope to continue there. I don't think things are broken down. I don't want to be cavalier about anything. These are very serious matters that could affect the economy. There's worries about that every place. So no, I don't want to deny that, the presidential advisor said.

At the same time, he said that in the world trade game, rule breaking is all over the place.

That's why I think that the president is right. We have got to make reforms and we have to stand up for US interests as we go along. This is always...you know, don't blame Trump, blame China, blame Europe, blame NAFTA, blame those who don't want reciprocal trading, tariff rates and protectionism and Trump is responding to several decades of trade abuses here, really, he said.

Referring to the latest economic figures, Kudlow said the country is on the front end of what will turn out to be the best prosperity boom in several decades.

The economy is clicking on all cylinders. As you noted, jobs and unemployment. Business investment is growing everywhere. Money is being repatriated. Trillions of dollars are coming back home to the US. This is all probably three per cent growth, he said.

We're right on the cusp of the 3 per cent growth. All our critics said we couldn't have. The Atlanta Fed and other private forecasters are now looking for 4 percent growth in the second quarter. I hope we get there. I would take another 3 percent growth. The tax cuts and the rollback of regulations has created not only new incentives to grow, Chris, but also tremendous confidence, consumer surveys, business surveys, small business surveys, Kudlow said.
The university is accepting applications for the project till September 15, 2020, and the grant will be awarded to those who qualify by January 2021

An average employee in Mumbai works 3,315 hours a year  the highest in the world, according to a study by Swiss investment bank UBS.

As a part of its Price and Earning 2018 Report, UBS gauged 77 cities around the world on the basis of various criteria, which included average working hours.

The report concluded that employees work for the longest hours in Mumbai followed by Hanoi, Mexico City and New Delhi. On the other end of the continuum were counties such as Lagos, Rome and Copenhagen where employees worked for the least number of hours.

To add to the woes, employees working in Mumbai took the fewest number of days for vacation  an average of 10 days in a year. On the other hand, Riyadh topped the list where employees take the maximum number of vacation days  37 days a year.

Interestingly, the report also suggests that an employee in Mumbai will have to work for a good 900 hours to afford an iPhone X  the second highest in the list after Cairo.

Findings of another study by OECD (Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development) have suggested that Turkey has the maximum share of employees that work for 60 hours or more in a week. While the top of the index has been majorly occupied by Asian countries, including Japan where deaths due to work stress have been reported; Sweden has the least share of employees who work more than 60 hours a week.

And, it is the Nordic nations again which feature in the index of the countries with best work-life balance. The primary aspect to work-life balance is an optimum number of hours spent at work, and the Netherlands with only 0.5 percent employees spending more than 50 hours or more per week, has topped the chart.

Meanwhile, Turkey topped the charts for the countries with the worst work-life balance, followed by Mexico and Israel.
Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau today slammed the tariffs imposed by the Trump administration on steel and aluminum as "insulting and unacceptable" and said he would retaliate by placing similar penalties on US goods.

Beginning this month, US President Donald Trump has imposed a 25 per cent tariff on import of steel from Canada and another 15 per cent on aluminum using the "national security interest" provisions of the existing American laws.

"We're putting the same kinds of tariffs exactly on steel and aluminum coming from the United States into Canada to be directly reciprocal. But we're also putting a number of tariffs on consumer goods, finished products for which Canadians have easy alternatives," Trudeau told NBC News in an interview during a Sunday talk show.

"One of the things that I have to admit I'm having a lot of trouble getting around is the idea that this entire thing is coming about because the president and the administration have decided that Canada and Canadian steel and aluminum is a national security threat to the United States," he said.

"The idea that we are somehow a national security threat to the United States is quite frankly insulting and unacceptable," Trudeau said.
Shubham-Goel

Imagine a 22-year old Indian-American who studied economics and cinema at the University of California and took up a job in the IT sector after graduation. He should be a happy and satisfied young man looking to grow as a professional and earn money and fame, right? Not for Shubham Goel.

Shubhams parents pursued their dreams and settled in the US as IT professionals. His father, Vipul Goel, who hails from Lucknow, has his own software company.

Shubham decided to be the change that he wants to see in the world by running for Governor of California. He is out on the streets with his megaphone, talking to people and crowds, telling them why he will be the right candidate to succeed current Governor, Democrat Jerry Brown. Jerry has served two four-year terms. Shubham is also using virtual technology to interact with people.

According to him, I was born and raised in California. New-age tech can fix issues. I believe I am the first politician to campaign in virtual reality. There are many innovators out there, but they are not as involved in politics as they should be. Shubham is a non-partisan candidate  he is not affiliated with any political party and believes that independent voices like him are needed for growth and development of the region.

On being asked about his plans for administration, Shubham replied, I will implement virtual reality in the public education system and this will bring down costs. I also want to raise representation and awareness for the Indian community in decision-making. I am running for governor to encourage the young to hope and have a conviction to make a change rather than money and fame. He is also visiting schools in different cities and delivering lectures.
North Korean leader Kim Jong Un talks during a meeting with South Korean President Moon Jae-in at the Peace House. (Reuters)

Seoul is monitoring developments in the North's military, it said today after reports Pyongyang replaced three of its top military officials ahead of a summit with the United States.

President Donald Trump is due to meet with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un on June 12 in Singapore with Pyongyang's nuclear arsenal high on the agenda and reports said that the reshuffle could be aimed at taming the military.

Late last month the North's state media revealed that Kim Su Gil had been appointed as director of the military's powerful General Political Bureau (GPB), replacing Kim Jong Gak.

According to Yonhap news agency, which cited intelligence sources, the chief of the general staff Ri Myong Su has also been replaced by his deputy, Ri Yong Gil.

And defence minister Pak Yong Sik has been succeeded by No Kwang Chol, previously first vice minister, it added.

The wholesale reshuffle would be unusual if confirmed, Seoul's unification ministry said.

"We will monitor related developments," ministry spokesman Baik Tae-hyun told reporters.

Pyongyang's military, known as the Korean People's Army, is immensely influential in the North and a centre of power in its own right, symbolised by the way Kim is habitually flanked by generals on one side and civilians on the other when attending major ceremonial events.

According to researchers at NK Leadership Watch, the change at the top of the GPB "represents a continuation of tightening Party control over the KPA".

The political bureau could be in a position to resist policy decisions by the leadership or try to profit from future South Korean economic aid, it said.

But new GPB director Kim Su Gil was a "highly trusted" lieutenant of leader Kim Jong Un, it added, who appointed him to the Pyongyang party committee -- once a powerbase for his uncle Jang Song Thaek -- after having the older man executed for treason in 2013.

Reports said the wider changes could be aimed at preventing objections in the North's senior military ranks to any sudden changes in the country's nuclear policy.

No Kwang Chol, the new defence minister, was known as a "moderate", Yonhap cited the intelligence source as saying.

"The North appears to have brought in new figures... as the previous officials lacked flexibility in thinking," the source said.
MAHOMET (AP)  Cold Warrior Leon Eisenhauer worked with coded messages in the 1950s, sometimes in NATO trucks not far from the East German border.

When he was transferred into the engineering corps, an officer told him not to shoulder his rifle.

But in those trucks, I had a carbine with me, Eisenhauer said.

Eisenhauer, 84, had been raised on a farm in southern Illinois, and came to the area as a pre-med student at the University of Illinois on a scholarship. Hed done very well in school.

But at the end of the second year, I was on the deans list  and I dont mean for academic accomplishments, he said.

Then, after enlisting in the Army for three years, he was back to scoring high in infantry and advanced infantry and was tops in leadership training.

Then he qualified for a special skill: learning radio skills, Morse code and the code used to prevent the Communists from knowing what the U.S. and other NATO nations were planning.

After landing in Germany at Bremerhaven on the transport ship USNS Geiger, he had a two-day train trip to Zweibrucken and then to his permanent station in Hanau, near Frankfurt am Main. He spent most of his three years in Germany.

A first assignment was hauling Bailey Bridges on a dump truck for a group of combat engineers.

The bridges were pre-fabricated, developed by the British during World War II and also used by U.S. engineering units.

Military engineers could assemble them with no special tools.

The bridges Eisenhauer delivered would be built, tested, then dismantled. He drove the dump trucks all over western Europe.

Then Eisenhauer found his real place in the Army: radio operator training, where he spent his time wearing headphones and listening to coded messages as they came across, then sending them.

It was intense, he said of the training.

The actual job: even more so.

Messages were sent in groups of five letters, and newbies learned at first by listening to tapes.

The real-world experience was harder.

The static and weather conditions made it really hard to pick out the code at first, he said.

Other more-experienced staffers made it difficult for him at first, but also challenged him to improve.

When the unit went mobile on NATO missions, the soldiers were wary of Big Red, their nickname for East Germany.

Theyd be the first, small line of defense.

Wed be slaughtered if they crossed over that border, he was told.

The Eisenhauers married on his leave, and they lived with a German family, an interesting experience in getting along.

After his three years in the service, Eisenhauer went back to the Urbana campus to get an advanced degree, and also taught at Urbana Middle School.

He earned a Ph.D. in life sciences, with the goal of joining the faculty.

Eisenhauer also taught microbiology in the nursing school affiliated with the former Burnham Hospital.

But mainly, he has served the Urbana campus.

Eisenhauer spent many years managing the Illini Union Bookstore before becoming associate director of the Illini Union.
A writer of dark fiction describes his latest book as a fun thrill ride for children.

Vince Churchill of Springfield and formerly of Jacksonville recently released his first childrens book, Run!

Run! is based on one of my childhood memories when I was living on Kosciusko Street in Jacksonville, he said. I was 7 or 8 and playing with Hot Wheels cars at a friends house. When it was time time to go home, it was dark out. My imagination then took over.

From his front door to my house, I just took off running and imagined seeing monsters that I felt like might get me if I didnt run home. I ran so fast that I literally couldnt feel the sidewalk beneath my feet. And I ran out of a shoe during the sprint. Thats the book  a little boy named Jake just trying to get home for dinner.

Run! is a 30-page book with illustrations by Ken Leinaar of Bay City, Michigan.

Churchill said his late mother, Hattie, encouraged him for many years to write a childrens book.

I never took the idea of writing a kids book seriously, Churchill said. I wanted to concentrate on writing material geared toward adult readers.

He said the catalysts for writing Run! were his mothers death in 2016 and having a grandchild.

Once I got serious about writing a childrens book, I became excited about having something to share with my now 4-year-old granddaughter, Churchill said.

He said he is pleased with the book.

The whole creative process with this book was wonderful, Churchill said. It was the most fun Ive ever had writing a book. Making the text rhyme was so much fun.

He worked with Faith Printing in Jacksonville to produce Run!

The Lyles [at Faith Printing] were extremely helpful in putting the book together, Churchill said.

Since 2002, Churchill also has written seven novels, including the soon-to-be-released Seven, a tale of good versus evil.

Run! is available at Our Town Books and from all major online book retailers.

Churchill will give a reading of Run! and have a book signing at 10 a.m. Wednesday at Jacksonville Public Library.

Greg Olson can be reached at 217-245-6121, ext. 1224, or on Twitter @JCNews_Greg.
When I heard Gov. Bruce Rauner propose bringing back the death penalty, I couldnt help but wonder, How many people is he willing to kill to get re-elected?

Im sorry, but this isnt policy making, its political showmanship.

He hacked off conservatives by signing a measure providing taxpayer dollars to fund elective abortions. And now he wants to woo them back by trying to reinstate the death penalty.

Longtime readers of this column will remember I didnt have many good things to say about Pat Quinn when he was governor. But one thing Quinn did right was sign a measure abolishing capital punishment.

In the abstract, I believe the death penalty can be morally justified. For example, I have no moral qualms about the victorious World War II allies hanging the Nazi leadership following their trial at Nuremberg.

But here is the deal: Illinois state government does little well.

Heck, our governor and lawmakers went two years without passing a state budget. And even today our state dances on the brink of fiscal ruin because of the deeply flawed people Illinoisans have elected during the last three decades.

But now we are going to entrust that same group of people to come up with an equitable way of killing our fellow citizens? I dont think so.

Our state court system is so bad that even when entrusted with the ultimate power to take someones life, it regularly got it wrong. When Illinois most recently had the death penalty, at least 13 factually innocent men ended up on death row.

Rauner entered office with a 44-point plan to reform Illinois. And he has not accomplished a single one of those goals.

Lawmakers have rendered him a political eunuch.

He ran for office assuring voters he had no social agenda.

But gosh, Bruce, abortion and capital punishment are the ultimate social issues.

Despite the past failings of Illinois death penalty system, Rauner assures us this time will be different. He says he only wants to execute mass murders and cop killers and only if it is certain they did it.

Well, gee, Governor, dont you think jurors were pretty certain when they sentenced those 13 innocent people to die? Oh, wait, now you want to make sure they are really, really certain.

Give me a break.

This isnt serious legislation. This is a desperate ploy by a politician fearing defeat in November.

Well, heres my prediction, governor.

Like just about everything youve proposed, this notion of restoring capital punishment in Illinois will go nowhere.

Scott Reeder is a veteran statehouse journalist. He works as a freelance reporter in the Springfield area and produces the podcast Suspect Convictions.
President Donald Trump View Photos

President Trump delivered the Weekly Address and was the KVML Newsmaker of the Day. Here are his words:

Senate Democrats call it the resistance. Theyre resisting the will of the American voter, and it is not good.

From day one, Senate Democrats have shamelessly obstructed, stalled, and filibustered the confirmations of hundreds of talented men and women who are eager to come to Washington, DC to make a difference. They want to serve our country.

My nominees face a longer average confirmation wait than any in the history of our country. Today, more than 300 of our nominees are still awaiting a vote. Last June, I nominated Isabel Patelunas to serve as Assistant Secretary of the Treasury for Intelligence and Analysis. Now, almost a year later, this tremendously qualified professional, with nearly three decades of intelligence experience, is still awaiting confirmation. Shes given up so much. Shes left areas. Shes moved from homes. And shes still not confirmed. Its a disgrace.

Democrats in Congress are also blocking urgently needed improvements to our border security. They dont want border security for two reasons: Number one, they dont care about it. Number two, theyre afraid its going to make me and the Republicans look good, and they dont want that. That comes before our country.

Theyve blocked every effort to close deadly loopholes to keep out vicious criminals and to stop the flow of illegal immigrants and drugs. They are a disaster at the border. These actions are endangering our citizens, threatening our communities, and undermining our national security.

It is time for Senate Democrats to stop resisting the will of the American people. So, very simply, stop resisting the will of the American people, and to start working across the aisle to deliver for all citizens.

We love our country. We want keep our country great. Thank you very much.

The Newsmaker of the Day is heard every weekday morning at 6:45, 7:45 and 8:45 on AM 1450 and FM 102.7 KVML.
If you're looking for the ultimate Texas home where you can hunt and breed deer on your property, you'll want to head north to Seymour.

The Circle J&B Ranch, a massive 3,266 acre property 133 miles northwest of Fort Worth, is on the market for $12.5 million. It comes with three homes and an on-site deer breeding operation. For those who live for the outdoors, the ranch affords the owner the opportunity to hunt without leaving home.

TEXAS LUXURY: For nearly $13 million, you can own the Texas mansion of your dreams

According to the Ranch's listing, the property comes with a "world class Texas Animal Health Commission certified white-tailed deer breeding operation" that sits on 62 acres. The program has been in existence for 17 years, with the property owners and management having the option of keeping the deer on the ranch or selling them on the market. Icon Global Group, the real estate company representing the property claims the breeding sales have generated over $1 million during the past two years. Currently, there are 337 white-tailed deer in the breeding program.

The main residence on the property is an 8,000 square-foot home. It comes with seven bedrooms and eight bathrooms. It has a 600-square suite with a fireplace, an executive office, game room, wine cellar and a fireproof gun room.

A three bedroom, two bath lake house also comes with the ranch, which is described as "very comfortable and in good condition." The property also has a second three bedroom, two bath home that serves as a guest or foreman's home.

DREAM HOME: Woodlands mansion with famous closet now listed at $7 million

Approximately 1,666 acres of the property is considered free range for hunting, with the wildlife managed under the Texas Parks and Wildlife Management Lands White-Tailed Deer Program.

The spring-fed Millers Creek runs through the ranch and there is a 12 -acre lake estimated to be 30 feet deep. The lake is filled with crappie and catfish. A second lake estimated to be over three acres and 36 feet deep is stocked with Florida bass and hybrid striper.

Deer and fish aren't the only game on the property that will keep hunters happy. Icon Global Group says about 4,000 quail are released on the property annually, with 82 quail feeders and ample water stations around to keep the birds healthy.

A PEEK INSIDE: Take a tour inside the Texas Governor's Mansion

The Fort Worth Star-Telegram reports the ranch was owned by Janice and Bob Carter, executives with the Dallas-based energy investment firm Panda Power Funds.

Outside of hunting, the Circle J&B Ranch features farm equipment, hunting vehicles, covered dog kennels and cattle pens.

While $12.5 million seems like a steep price for a Texas ranch, it's hard to argue that an outdoor enthusiast wouldn't be in heaven if he or she lived here.

If you're interested in purchasing the property, visit Icon Global Group's website or call them at 214-855-4000.

Get instant Houston breaking news alerts sent directly to your phone by texting CHRON to 77453.

Will Axford covers the news of Texas for Chron.com and HoustonChronicle.com. Follow him on Twitter.
Les lunettes de marque ne sont pas ce qui manque dans les commerces. Il y en a de toutes les sortes dont les lunettes de []
The Los Angeles Times is reporting a man with rifles and possible explosives was arrested by Santa Monica police Sunday who said he was in town for the L.A. Pride festival.

The Times says area police responded to a call of a suspected prowler when they confronted a man that ended up having multiple weapons, "a lot" of ammunition and an ingredient used in making pipe bombs, tannerite, in his car.

RELATED: Mass shooting at Orlando gay nightclub being called worst in U.S. history

According to the story the car had Indiana plates. Law enforcement officials said there is no connection to the mass shooting in Orlando that killed 50 early Sunday morning, which they could find.

Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti said in a news conference Sunday afternoon at the pride event that the arrest seems to be "completely unrelated" to the mass shooting in Orlando.

He noted the strong resolve of the LGBT community and the unity of L.A. Pride and that people there were from all faiths and all races.

"We all wanted to be here this morning," he said. "But we did not want to be here under these circumstances. But we are here. We will not go back in the closet." he said to the cheers of those gathered.

He also thanked the police for their quick reaction in arresting the man and the person who called in the tip to police.
The U.S. Supreme Court threw out a discrimination finding against a Colorado baker who wouldnt make a cake to celebrate a same-sex wedding, in a narrow ruling that doesnt resolve broad constitutional questions about the dueling rights of gay people and business owners.

Voting 7-2, the court said the Colorado Civil Rights Commission finding in the bakers case was tainted by animus toward religion. Writing for the majority, Justice Anthony Kennedy pointed to one commissioners comments that religion had been used to justify slavery and the Holocaust and that invoking religion to hurt others is despicable.

The commissions hostility was inconsistent with the First Amendments guarantee that our laws be applied in a manner that is neutral toward religion, Kennedy wrote.

RELATED: Two hundred faith leaders, opposing bathroom bill, urge equal treatment for gay, transgender Texans

Kennedy, however, made clear that the court wasnt deciding whether other business owners have a right not to take part in gay weddings, saying those issues must await further elaboration in the courts.

Justices Ruth Bader Ginsburg and Sonia Sotomayor dissented. Two other members of the courts liberal wing, Stephen Breyer and Elena Kagan, joined the majority while writing separately to say they read courts opinion as a limited one.

The Civil Rights Commission had required bakery owner Jack Phillips to either make cakes for gay weddings or stop making custom wedding cakes at all.

The dispute began in 2012, before gay marriage was legal in Colorado, when David Mullins and Charlie Craig visited Phillips suburban Denver bakery, Masterpiece Cakeshop. The two men wanted a cake for a reception they planned to hold in Colorado after they married in Massachusetts.

Phillips told the couple he didnt make cakes for same-sex weddings, prompting them to file a civil rights complaint. State officials joined the case against Phillips, and a Colorado appeals court ruled against the bakery.

Kennedy said both sides in the case raised legitimate concerns.

Our society has come to the recognition that gay persons and gay couples cannot be treated as social outcasts or as inferior in dignity and worth, he wrote. For that reason the laws and the Constitution can, and in some instances must, protect them in the exercise of their civil rights.

He added: At the same time, the religious and philosophical objections to gay marriage are protected views and in some instances protected forms of expression.

Attorney General Jeff Sessions said in a statement that the high court rightly concluded that the Colorado Civil Rights Commission failed to show tolerance and respect for Mr. Phillips religious beliefs.

The Trump administration had urged a limited ruling for Phillips that would protect bakers, musicians, photographers and other wedding vendors whose work involves expression.

Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton, who led a 20-state coalition that last year filed an amicus brief in support of Phillips, called the ruling a landmark victory for our first liberties of religious freedom and freedom of speech.

The Supreme Courts ruling affirms that the First Amendment contains robust protections for people who choose to operate their business consistent with their faith, he added.

The court will have another chance to resolve the broader questions soon. The justices have been deferring action on a similar appeal pressed by a florist in Washington state and could act on that appeal as early as next Monday. The court could accept the appeal for consideration during the nine-month term that starts in October.

The core holding focused on comments made by two of the Colorado commissions seven members during its consideration of the case in 2014. Then-Commissioner Diann Rice said religion has been used to justify all kinds of discrimination throughout history, whether it be slavery, whether it be the Holocaust.

She added, To me, it is one of the most despicable pieces of rhetoric that people can use, to use their religion to hurt others.

Kennedy said those comments disparaged religion and cast doubt on the fairness an impartiality of the commissions adjudication of Phillips case.

In her dissenting opinion, Ginsburg said she saw no reason why the comments of one or two commissioners should be taken to overcome Phillips refusal to sell a wedding cake to Craig and Mullins.

Gay-rights advocates offered mixed reactions. The American Civil Liberties Union, which represented Craig and Mullins, applauded the parts of the decision that reaffirmed the general ability to states to enforce anti-discrimination laws.

The court reversed the Masterpiece Cakeshop decision based on concerns unique to the case but reaffirmed its long-standing rule that states can prevent the harms of discrimination in the marketplace, including against LGBT people, said Louise Melling, the ACLUs deputy legal director.

But Rachel Tiven, chief executive of Lambda Legal, said the court has offered dangerous encouragement to those who would deny civil rights to LGBT people and people living with HIV.

Phillips lawyer, Kristen Waggoner of the advocacy group Alliance Defending Freedom, said Colorado was openly antagonistic toward Jacks religious beliefs about marriage.

The court was right to condemn that, she said. Tolerance and respect for good-faith differences of opinion are essential in a society like ours.
Vous etes confrontes a une infestation par la puce, la punaise de lit ? Voici plusieurs actions qui sont a mettre en uvre pour faire []
The Whitewater Music Amphitheater in New Braunfels was among several U.S. concert venues forced to find other ways to sell tickets after a data breach hit concert ticketing service Ticketfly this weekend, leaking users personal information.

Whitewaters website and Ticketfly were down Thursday and part of the day Friday ahead of the Illectric River music festival on Saturday, the New Braunfels venue wrote on its Facebook page.
Authorities on Monday identified the man fatally shot last week in North Richmond as a city resident.

Taison Calderon Lopez, 22, was shot and killed about 6:30 a.m. Friday while sitting in his car on the 500 block of Grove Avenue, according to the Contra Costa County coroners office.

Deputies found Calderon Lopez with gunshot wounds. He was transported to a local hospital and was later airlifted to a trauma center, where he was pronounced dead.

No arrests have been made, said Jimmy Lee, a Sheriffs Office spokesman.

Sarah Ravani is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: sravani@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @SarRavani
A Modesto man accused of plotting a Christmas Day terrorist attack at Pier 39 in San Francisco was sentenced Monday to 15 years in prison as part of a plea deal in federal court.

Everitt Aaron Jameson, 26, pleaded guilty to attempting to aid a terrorist organization, his attorney Charles Lee said.

Hes at peace with his decision at this point, Lee said. He hopes to get out and spend time with his family. Whats driving him right now is his thoughts of his family.

Jameson, a former tow truck driver, has two young children and could have served 40 years in prison if he had gone to trial.

The Marines discharged him after he suffered an allergic reaction to a bee sting, and his personal life began to spiral out of control, Lee said.

He converted to Islam and began to endorse radical messages on the internet. His wife once attacked him with a knife, resulting in her arrest and Jameson losing custody of his children. The series of events sent Jameson down a dark path that ultimately led him to plot a terror attack, Lee said.

Its understandable, at the time, that he was very distraught and emotional and very susceptible to certain suggestions, he said. Hes in a different place now that theres some distance from those events.

The former high school wrestler was charged in December with attempting to provide material support to a foreign terrorist organization.

Following his arrest, Jameson admitted to the FBI that he supported the Islamic State, according to an affidavit written by agent Christopher McKinney. He discussed aspects of the plan to carry out an attack, noting that he would be happy if an attack was carried out, McKinney wrote.

Jameson has espoused radical jihadi beliefs, including authoring social media posts that are supportive of terrorism, communicating with people he believes share his jihadi views and offering to provide services to such people, including in the form of his presumably employer-provided tow truck in service of the cause, the affidavit said.

An unidentified informant alerted the FBI on Sept. 19, 2017, that Jameson had suspicious posts on his Facebook account, according to the complaint.

Jameson apparently liked and loved pro-Islamic and pro-terrorism posts on Facebook. Undercover agents first contacted him Dec. 11 about plans for a possible terrorist attack  an idea that Jameson was enthusiastic about, according to the complaint.

Five days later, a second undercover FBI agent, posing as a subordinate of Islamic State leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, met with Jameson in a vehicle to discuss the attack, investigators said.

Jameson specifically named Pier 39 in San Francisco as a target location because he had been there before and knew that it was a heavily crowded area and that according to Jameson, no reconnaissance or site survey would be necessary, McKinney wrote.

Two days before his arrest, an FBI employee accidentally called Jameson from a Washington, D.C., phone number. The employee immediately hung up when Jameson answered in Arabic, McKinney noted.

FBI agents contacted Jameson a second time later that day to set up a meeting and he reportedly said, I also dont think I can do this after all. Ive reconsidered.

When the undercover agent replied, We can only do Allahs will, James reportedly replied, Inshallah (God willing) one day I can. But I cant.

Lee said that Jameson never took any concrete steps toward carrying out the attack and didnt buy any guns or materials to build explosives.

Two rifles, a pistol, ammunition and fireworks were seized from Jamesons home after his arrest, but Lee said the firearms were legally purchased and registered to his stepfather, who kept them locked in a cabinet that was inaccessible to Jameson.

At the end of the day, he told the undercover (informant) that he thought it over and he couldnt go through with it, Lee said. But at the same time, Mr. Jameson is taking accountability for what he did agree to at one point.

Sarah Ravani is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: sravani@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @SarRavani
Strong storms have developed across southeast Texas Sunday evening, causing power outages and flight delays.

Storms with gusty winds and heavy rain pushed first through counties northeast of Houston, according to the National Weather Service in Galveston - all courtesy of a weak cold front that moved in earlier Sunday from the north.

By 9:45 p.m., Centerpoint reported about 47,000 power outages, mostly in areas north of Houston, including Kingwood and Spring.

And at Bush Intercontinental Airport, storms were delaying several flights by 30 to 45 minutes just before 10 p.m.

Most of the storm action was expected in Liberty, Montgomery, Polk, Walker and San Jacinto counties, but the system pushed westward into Harris County and Houston.

Forecasters say the storm system may contain small hail, but strong winds - gusting up to 60 mph - and frequent lighting are the primary threats.

The storms will move on through overnight, but we'll get another shot on Monday; the region has a 30 percent chance of more showers and storms. But the National Weather Service predicts partly sunny skies with a high of 94 and winds calming to 5 miles per hour in the afternoon.
Dear Mr. Premack: I worked with our certified elder law attorney to get all of the assets into my name after my husband died. We had done advance planning with our attorney to avoid probate on our house, and all of our accounts had right of survivorship. We even had our car set up with survivorship rights. Now Im updating my planning to try avoiding probate when I eventually die. Since I am single now, what legal documents do you recommend so my estate avoids probate for my three children?  M.R.

When anyone dies owning assets, there must be a legal process to determine who becomes the new owner of those assets. Traditionally, there will be a will which identifies the property heirs and names an executor to take charge of the legal process. Depending on the nature of the assets, the will is submitted to the probate court to 1) determine if it is a valid will, 2) give others the opportunity to object, and 3) empower the executor to move forward in fulfilling the wills instructions.

When you ask about avoiding probate the first technique is to be sure you have a valid, up-to-date will which takes advantage of Texas streamlined independent probate statute. In this way you do not avoid probate, but you keep probate fast, efficient, and less costly. If you dont have a will, or your will fails to use the streamlined independent probate process, then probate administration of your estate will indeed be slow and expensive.

Many people want to avoid probate entirely. There are two fundamental ways to do so: 1) dont own anything when you die, and 2) make contractual non-testamentary arrangements to pass your assets outside of probate. The first method is actually the theory behind using a living trust, where you assign ownership of your assets to your trust. When you die, the trust is considered to be the owner of the assets, which can be distributed without probate.

The second method (non-testamentary arrangements) is what you used to avoid probate upon your husbands death. This includes using right of survivorship on bank accounts, transfer on death on brokerage accounts, and beneficiary designations on life insurance and IRAs. Non-testamentary arrangements quickly and conveniently assign ownership of your assets, but you must be careful that you do not contradict your will and overall estate plan. Your bank/broker will not monitor this for you; it is your responsibility to avoid contradictions.

For instance, you want all of your assets to pass in equal shares to your three children. Your will says so. But you decided to add your eldest daughter to your checking account so she can write checks. If the bank adds right of survivorship to that account, it belongs solely to that eldest daughter when you die. In contradiction of your overall estate plan, that account is not divided equally to all three children. It would be much better to ask the bank to add a pay on death designation to the account and list all three children as after-death beneficiaries.

There is also a brand new legal procedure in Texas to avoid probate of an automobile. Senate Bill 869 (which became law on September 1, 2017) has just been implemented by the Texas Dept of Motor Vehicles. They have a new form (VTR-121) on which you can designate a single person to become owner of your car upon your death. After you file the form, you still have the right to change your mind and the right to sell the vehicle. If you make no changes, then when you die the beneficiary has 180 days to submit Form 130-U and pay a small title application fee to transfer title without probate.

Paul Premack is a Certified Elder Law Attorney with offices in San Antonio and Seattle, handling Wills and Trusts, Probate, and Business Entity issues. View past legal columns or submit free questions on legal issues via www.TexasEstateandProbate.com or www.Premack.com.
WASHINGTON - The Pentagon's investigative watchdog has initiated a probe into U.S. Navy Rear Admiral Ronny L. Jackson, the White House military physician who withdrew from consideration as President Donald Trump's nominee to lead the Department of Veterans Affairs amid allegations of improper conduct.

The Department of Defense Office of Inspector General, which investigates possible wrongdoing at by the Pentagon and its staff, confirmed in a statement Monday that it recently initiated a probe into Jackson. A spokesman declined to go into detail about the scope or character of the probe.

The investigation marks the latest fallout from President Trump's attempt to elevate his physician to the Cabinet, a bold move that ended in Jackson's nomination falling apart and the military physician's highflying career under scrutiny by Pentagon investigators.

Not long after Trump nominated Jackson to the Cabinet post, the ranking Democrat on the Senate Veterans' Affairs Committee, Sen. Jon Tester of Montana, released a two-page summary of allegations that had surfaced against the White House physician. Those included accusations that he improperly prescribed drugs, created a hostile work environment and drank while on duty.

The White House said it conducted a thorough review of Jackson's record and found three minor incidents but no evidence that the physician was responsible for some of the more extreme allegations in Tester's document, including one accusing him of wrecking a government vehicle after drinking.

Jackson, who served as White House physician under three administrations, strongly denied any wrongdoing. The president came to the doctor's defense, accusing Tester of a smear campaign that devastated Jackson's family. Trump called on the Montana senator to resign.

The Department of Defense Inspector General has the authority to conduct administrative and criminal investigations. A spokesman for the office declined to say whether Jackson was the subject of an administrative or criminal probe.

A spokesman for the White House declined to comment on the investigation.

In early May, White House press secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders said Jackson was no longer serving as the president's physician but remained on the White House medical staff. The U.S. Navy confirmed on Monday that Jackson remained detailed to the staff.

Since the collapse of Jackson's nomination, Trump has chosen a top Pentagon official, Undersecretary of Defense for Personnel and Readiness Robert Wilkie, to become his next veterans affairs secretary.

Wilkie has served as acting secretary since Trump ousted Veterans Affairs Secretary David Shulkin in late March amid a broader shake-up across the administration.
Even as Sirhan Sirhan was being captured, seconds after the shooting of Sen. Robert F. Kennedy in Los Angeles, he behaved oddly. A group of men had tackled him, held him down and tried to wrest the gun out of his hands. But "in the middle of a hurricane of sound and feeling," wrote one of those men, author George Plimpton, Sirhan "seemed peaceful." Plimpton was struck by Sirhan's "dark brown and enormously peaceful eyes." A Los Angeles police officer who had rushed in recalled, "He had a blank, glassed-over look on his face - like he wasn't in complete control of his mind."

At the same time, the short, slim Sirhan - 5 feet 5 inches, about 120 pounds - exerted superhuman strength as one man held his wrist to a steam table in the Ambassador Hotel pantry, firing off five or six more shots even as he was held around the neck, body and legs by other men, witnesses said. It took a half-dozen men to wrench the .22-caliber pistol out of Sirhan's grip.

At the police station, Sirhan was preternaturally calm, officers later said. "I was impressed by Sirhan's composure and relaxation," Sgt. William Jordan wrote in a report later that morning. "He appeared less upset to me than individuals arrested for a traffic violation."

Sirhan's behavior, combined with his consistent claim that he remembers everything about June 5, 1968, except the moment of the shooting, led some people to suspect that Sirhan was under hypnosis when he fired at Kennedy. His defense team explored that angle before his trial, finding that he was easily hypnotized and could be induced to do things without knowing why, such as climb the bars of his cell. The lawyers chose to use a diminished mental capacity defense instead.

But the hypnosis angle gained momentum in recent years after Sirhan was examined for more than 60 hours by a Harvard Medical School professor with vast expertise in forensic psychiatry and hypnosis. In a lengthy affidavit filed with Sirhan's last appeal in 2011, Daniel Brown concluded that "Mr. Sirhan did not act under his own volition and knowledge at the time of the assassination and is not responsible for actions coerced and/or carried out by others." He was, Brown said, a true "Manchurian Candidate," hypno-programmed into carrying out a violent political act without knowing it.

"I have written four textbooks on hypnosis," Brown wrote, "and have hypnotized over 6,000 individuals over a 40-year professional career. Mr. Sirhan is one of the most hypnotizable individuals I have ever met, and the magnitude of his amnesia for actions under hypnosis is extreme." Brown said he has spent another 60 hours with Sirhan in the years since his 2011 affidavit, further confirming his conclusions.

Brown researched not only Sirhan's background but also the details of the case, and wove together the CIA's notorious "MKUltra" mind-control experiments of the 1950s and 1960s; the Mafia; the famed "girl in the polka-dot dress" seen with Sirhan before the shooting; and an unknown "Radio Man" who secretly directed Sirhan to write the incriminating "RFK must die!" statements in a notebook found in his bedroom.

To some, including Sirhan's current lawyers, Brown's theory explains why a mild-mannered Palestinian immigrant with no criminal history suddenly showed up at a hotel and shot one of the United States' leading political lights. To others, it's reflective of the United States' thirst for conspiracies, for a belief in a larger, more complex narrative to explain a cataclysmic tragedy, when a simple plotline will suffice.

Lawyers for Sirhan are currently using the theory that he was a hypnotized distraction for the actual killer of Kennedy in a pending appeal to the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights. Although it would have no binding power over the case, a positive finding could be used to push California authorities to reopen the case. Sirhan attorney William Pepper said he's convinced that someone used "both drugs and hypnosis to make him a totally compliant distraction at the time Bobby Kennedy was within range of the second shooter, who was able to get down behind him." Kennedy's fatal wound was fired at point-blank range from behind, while witnesses said Sirhan was in front of him.

But to the U.S. court system, that claim simply didn't fly. In rejecting Sirhan's final federal appeal in 2013, U.S. Magistrate Judge Andrew Wistrich wrote that Sirhan's "theory that he was subject to mind control may be intriguing" but that the experts' views "fall far short of demonstrating that [Sirhan] actually was subjected to mind control." Wistrich added that "Brown's retrospective opinion based upon tests assessing [Sirhan's] mental condition forty years after the fact are of negligible weight."

Prosecutors noted that many psychological experts believe that a person cannot be hypnotized to do something against their will. But others disagree, and some believe that Sirhan may have been programmed to think he was shooting at a target range, rather than at a human target.

Alan Scheflin, an expert on mind and behavior control and a former law and philosophy professor at Georgetown University, said that "the word hypnosis, like mind control and brainwashing, has a public stigma." People are skeptical of what can appear like a magician's trick, he said.

But Scheflin examined the CIA's mind experiments in detail in his book "The Mind Manipulators" and found that the agency did have a project designed to create hypnotized subjects "for purposes of assassination." And, Scheflin said, "the CIA experiments showed that was possible. Hypnotized people were ordered to do things they otherwise would not do, such as rip up a Bible or fire a gun at somebody they otherwise wouldn't. In every instance, they got the results."

Sirhan had a fascination with hypnosis before the assassination but said he could not remember anyone hypnotizing him to perform devious acts. In recordings of his conversations with defense lawyers and psychiatrists in 1968, released by authors Robert Blair Kaiser and William Klaber, he expresses bafflement that he shot Kennedy but realizes he was captured at the scene with a gun. He also doesn't recall writing in notebooks, repeatedly, that "RFK Must Die!," though he acknowledges it appears to be his handwriting.

"That's what I don't understand," Sirhan told one psychiatrist. "If I had wanted to kill a man, why would I have shot him right there where they could have choked the . . . out of me." He also noted that he was a Christian and that "my own conscience doesn't agree with what I did. It's against my upbringing. . . . 'Thou shalt not kill.' Life is the thing, you know. Where would you be if you didn't have life? And here I go and splatter this guy's brains. It's just not me."

Mel Ayton, author of "The Forgotten Terrorist," about Sirhan, said, "The evidence presented during the 1969 trial revealed how Sirhan was fully aware of everything around him on the night he killed Robert Kennedy and that no credible evidence has ever been discovered that would indicate Sirhan's actions were the product of a hypnotized mind." He said Sirhan's previous knowledge of hypnosis enabled him to construct a story that featured convenient memory loss about the shooting and his notebooks.

"Ignoring Sirhan's numerous lies that he told his lawyers and writer Robert Blair Kaiser," Ayton said, "conspiracists prefer instead to take Sirhan at his word."

Brown remains adamant that Sirhan was a victim of a larger scheme, put in place as a distraction while a second gunman fired the fatal shots to Kennedy. And in his four-hour interviews with Sirhan between 2008 and 2010, Brown said Sirhan would suddenly switch into "a military-like alter personality state," which he called "range mode," for recalling times when he was shooting at a firing range.

But who would have programmed Sirhan Sirhan in such a way that he would be present at the Ambassador Hotel when Kennedy was giving his victory speech after the California primary, and who would have supplied a second gunman to perform the killing? Brown developed a theory inspired by the real-life shenanigans of the CIA.

Beginning in 1949, as the Cold War was heating up, the CIA under Allen Dulles launched a project called "Bluebird," later called "Artichoke" and then "Project MKUltra," a series of experiments on unwitting people to see if their minds could be manipulated by drugs, torture or hypnosis. Colleges, hospitals, prisons and pharmaceutical companies participated in the project, records revealed in the 1970s showed, with the CIA hoping to be able to manipulate foreign leaders and other important figures, or program others to commit acts of espionage. In Canada, some subjects were kidnapped off the street, and in the United States, some people died of drug overdoses, the CIA later admitted. LSD was administered to some subjects, and professors at Stanford and UCLA participated in MKUltra, records show.

In 1966, Sirhan Sirhan was 22 years old and living in Pasadena, Calif., with his mother and brothers. He was not particularly political or ambitious, his family has said. He was traumatized by the death of his sister from leukemia, Brown said in an interview, and turned to hypnosis as a way to explore life after death. He worked at the Santa Anita horse track as a stable boy, walking but not riding horses, hoping to become a jockey. Sirhan also dabbled in shortwave radio and had a set in his room at home.

Brown found that Sirhan was recruited by the operator of a private ranch for thoroughbreds to ride horses there, even though Sirhan had little experience riding. Before long, Sirhan had suffered a couple of falls that required hospitalization. His family reported that after those incidents, Sirhan seemed to have changed.

But after interviewing Sirhan, Brown believes that Sirhan was drugged and taken to a secret location for mind-control experiments such as those performed under the CIA's auspices. Sirhan and his family both reported that he was gone for two weeks after one of the falls, though Brown said hospital records showed he was released after one day. Sirhan told Brown he was held in a room with bars on the windows and recalled being disoriented and floating in and out of consciousness, sleeping frequently.

"Mr. Sirhan doesn't describe typical post-concussive symptoms," Brown wrote in 2011, "but rather symptoms consistent with drug intoxication. . . . Sirhan's spotty memory gives the impression of someone who was drugged, treated for superficial wounds at the emergency room, and then possibly taken to a special, experimental unit where his and other patients' responses to drug and hypnotic programming were observed."

Brown said that the ranch operator had ties to the mafia and that the mafia in turn had links to the CIA from their work together attempting to kill Cuba's Fidel Castro. Then, in Pasadena, Sirhan met "Radio Man," a man who shared Sirhan's interest in shortwave radios. Brown believes Radio Man used "waking coercive persuasion" and "possibly hypnosis" to control Sirhan. Brown wrote that the "statements about killing RFK written in Mr. Sirhan's spiral notebooks," which Sirhan did not remember writing, "were written by Mr. Sirhan in a hypnotic state and while communicating with a third party over his shortwave radio, and thus were coercively and involuntarily induced."

Over the next two years, Sirhan began visiting a firing range not far from the ranch, sometimes with guidance from Radio Man on how to shoot targets, Brown said. He spent hours at the range on the day of the killing.

On the night of the assassination, Sirhan has described going to the Ambassador to attend a different political victory party, drinking too much and returning to his car. Not feeling well enough to drive, he reportedly returned to the hotel looking for coffee, and an attractive woman in a polka-dot dress led him to a coffee urn near the pantry of the hotel, and then into the pantry. Sirhan has said he remembers gazing at the attractive woman, who was noticed by many other witnesses in the pantry, and the next thing he remembers is being pummeled by the men who captured him.

In an excerpt from their new book, "The Assassination of Robert F. Kennedy," authors Tim Tate and Brad Johnson say they believe they identified the woman in the polka-dot dress as Elayn Neal and that her husband claimed to have worked for the CIA in mind-control experiments. Neal died in 2012, the husband years earlier. Author Shane O'Sullivan reported the same details in the reissue of his book, "Who Killed Bobby?," though he noted Neal did not marry the alleged CIA man until 1973.

If someone was controlling Sirhan, how did they get him to the Ambassador at the right place and time? Brown said he believes Radio Man could have signaled Sirhan to return to the hotel with the gun, as the CIA mind-control project was experimenting with such commands.

In the pantry, Sirhan told Brown, he was trying to think of a way of seducing the attractive woman in the polka-dot dress. "I think she had her hand on me," Sirhan said. "Then I was at the target range. A flashback to the shooting range. . . . It was like I was at the range again. I think I shot one or two shots. Then I snapped out of it and thought, 'I'm not at the range, then what is going on?' Then they started grabbing me . . . later when I saw the female judge I knew that Bobby Kennedy was shot and I was the shooter, but it doesn't come into my memory."

Sirhan admitted at trial in 1969 that he killed Kennedy, though he said then he didn't remember it. His defense team didn't learn until midway through the trial that Kennedy's fatal shots had been from behind. He was convicted of first-degree murder and is serving a life sentence. For years, Sirhan was skeptical of the hypnosis claim, and he did not respond to The Washington Post's questions about it. In 1994, he told journalist Dan Moldea, "It's probably too diabolical to suggest that I was controlled by someone else - but I don't know. I only know that I don't remember anything about the shooting."

Brown wrote that Sirhan entering "range mode" in the pantry "suggests that his action of firing the gun was neither under his voluntary control nor done with conscious knowledge, and is likely a product of automatic post-hypnotic behavior and coercive control."

California attorneys general argued that "Brown's conclusions are clearly speculative and necessarily depend on the veracity of [Sirhan's] story," and that "Brown completely ignored the vast amount of evidence presented at trial, which contradicted [Sirhan's] self-serving 'recall' of the events and proved that he intentionally killed Senator Kennedy."

Wistrich, the judge, agreed. "Whether or not the theory that a person can be hypnotized to commit murder," Wistrich wrote, "and then to lose his memory of committing that murder is scientifically credible . . . [Sirhan] has not provided any reliable evidence that this actually occurred."
The anticipation at the Laredo Energy Arena rose minute by minute as 16 finalists held envelopes waiting to see who would be the lucky winner of a brand new 2018 Ford Fiesta donated by Sames Motor Company for their Drive for Education Program.

Throughout the school year, Sames and LISD challenged students to go to school every day. Those kids with perfect attendance were eligible to participate in a drawing for the car. Sixteen students, four from each LISD high school, participated in the drawing Thursday morning.

With the lucky golden ticket in hand, Hector J. Garcia Early College High School student Karla Carbajo was the lucky winner of the 2018 Ford Fiesta.

As Carbajo stood onstage with the yellow paper announcing her as the winner, she was shocked and filled with joy.

Related: S.A. TV news anchors and their high school graduation photos

"I want to thank my parents for encouraging me to wake up in the mornings," she said.

Evelyn Sames, of Sames Auto Group, congratulated Carbajo on her perfect attendance and wished her the best.

"Sames has always been at the forefront of education," Sames said. "We really believe that the students in our community are the future of this community. We focus on giving back specifically on education.

"She's going to be a junior so she's halfway through high school. And I know she said it was much needed. Just to have a vehicle is going to be a really big deal for her. And she's thrilled. Her parents are excited and we are excited with them."

Carbajo will be a junior at Early College High School next school year. She wants to study in Houston to become a pediatrician.

Her morning routine usually consists of waking up early enough to get ready and be at school on time. She says that it can be difficult at times because "waking up early every single day can get tiring."

Lucero Colmenero, Carbajo's mother, said she is extremely proud of her daughter's accomplishments.

"She is a well-behaved young girl," Colmenero said. "She never misses school, has really good conduct and has very good grades. The only thing that we, as parents, have to worry about is getting her to school every morning. She loves to study and wants to be a doctor in the future."

Carbajo's father, Fernando Carbajo, said he is happy that his daughter received this car and is excited to teach her how to drive.

"The car, more than anything, will be for her when she leaves to university. It was totally unexpected to receive this car. This is her car," he said.

The Laredo Federal Credit Union will be sponsoring the tax, title and license for the vehicle.

Every school year, students who have not missed a day of school in a nine week period can qualify for a chance to win a car. The giveaway helps LISD promote perfect attendance among students.

"I always encourage students to keep going to school," Sames said. "We don't do it for the purpose of the vehicle. We do it to get kids in school. For them to stay in school and be in school. It is so important for their education."

Carbajo said she is excited that she will be driving as soon as she can use the car.

"I want to encourage students next year to have perfect attendance because obviously there is a chance to win a car," she said.

Maria Salas may be reached at 728-2580 or msalas@lmtonline.com
HOUSTON  The U.S. Supreme Court on Monday refused an appeal from a San Antonio man on Texas death row for the gang rape and fatal stabbing of a 15-year-old girl in 1996.

The high court decision upholds a 2-1 ruling last year from the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, which rejected arguments from lawyers for condemned prisoner Carlos Trevino that his trial attorneys were deficient for not showing jurors his mothers drinking while she was pregnant with him left Trevino with fetal alcohol disorder. Attorneys argued the disorder could have contributed to his violent behavior and persuaded jurors to sentence him to life in prison rather than death.

The Supreme Court majority had no comment on its decision. Justice Sonia Sotomayor dissented and was joined by Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg.

In 2012, the high court returned Trevinos case to lower courts for review of the ineffective legal help claim, which eventually led to the 5th Circuit ruling a year ago.

The 5th Circuit ruling was a flagrant error and the Supreme Court decision Monday was indefensible, Sotomayor said in her 13-page dissent.

She pointed to arguments from Trevinos appeals lawyers who submitted new expert testimony that said while jurors at Trevinos 1997 trial in San Antonio were aware his mother had alcohol problems, they were unaware of the extent of the damage to him. A mitigation expert said Trevino weighed only 4 pounds at birth, wasnt potty-trained until he was 6 and wore diapers at night until he was 8. He dropped out of school in the ninth grade and could read only at a third-grade level, according to court filings.

She drank 18 to 24 beers per day during pregnancy, resulting in Trevinos developmental delay, Sotomayor wrote, adding that the high courts failure to intervene sanctions the taking of a life by the state.

Trevinos trial lawyers presented only one witness during his punishment hearing, an aunt who testified briefly about his rough childhood and his mothers alcoholism.

A favorable ruling from the Supreme Court could have resulted in a new punishment hearing for Trevino, 43.

He does not yet have an execution date.

Trevino was 21, belonged to the Pisteleros street gang and had been released from prison a month earlier after an auto theft conviction when Harlandale High School student Linda Salinas was raped and fatally stabbed at Espada Park. Three others were convicted in her slaying, but only Trevino received a death sentence.
A San Antonio police officer was arrested early Monday after he choked his wife at a home in West Bexar County, according to the Bexar County Sheriff's Office.

Officer Michael Sepanski, 25, is accused of using his forearm to block his wife's airway around midnight in the 2100 block of Atlas Bend and then fleeing the home.
SAN ANTONIO  City archaeologists recently completed a three-year investigation into a newly discovered, probable mission just north of downtown, and it may be a predecessor of the Alamo.

The site, founded in 1718, was discovered by the Office of Historic Preservation in February 2013 and is believed to be the first location of Mission San Antonio de Valero, which is now known commonly as the Alamo in its final location. The site is located near the Christopher Columbus Italian Society, at 201 Piazza Italia, just north of downtown near Interstates 10 and 35.

RELATED: Relocating San Antonio: 9 structures that have been moved from their original site

The fact that weve found anything is truly miraculous, Kay Hindes, a city archaeologist, said in an interview with mySA.com, adding that most people don't know about the three previous locations for the Alamo.

Hindes said researchers have not been able to definitively prove that the newly discovered site is indeed a mission predating the Alamo, but have found lots of evidence to support the theory.

MORE: This photo of the Alamo is the oldest known image of Texas

Hindes said her team found a number of artifacts, including pottery shards, hand-made nails, trade beads, chipped stone, gun flints, colonial glass and a grinding stone that provide historical context about the mission.

Click through the slideshow to see artifacts discovered at the mission.

The full report regarding the overall discovery can be read here.

RELATED: The 22 oldest bridges in Bexar County

Researchers believe the newly discovered site was the first location of Mission San Antonio de Valero and was likely used primarily for religious reasons for a short duration in 1718. Hindes believes the mission then moved to La Villita from 1719 until 1724.

However, researchers believe a hurricane hit in 1724, damaging the mission and forcing the move to the current location in Alamo Plaza.

The Alamo, though, is different from the previous two iterations, Hindes said, because it became secularized and ultimately militarized. The structure was completely rebuilt when it was moved and has been preserved to what people commonly know as the Alamo now.

Unfortunately, Hindes said it remains to be seen whether researches will be able to dig up more details on the first site since it has sustained significant damage and impact from construction and digging through the past three centuries.

RELATED: 20 offbeat historical markers in S.A.

Hindes said shell likely continue archival research to find more answers about the site.

twhite@mysa.com

Twitter: @tylerlwhite
Linah Chebii Kilimo, a former the chairperson of Anti-Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) Board, is one of the leading crusaders against the cut in the country.

The former assistant minister speaks on why women support FGM, how she knelt in public barazas to forge peace between warring communities and why the Moran needs a helping hand.

Have you undergone the cut?

No. I remember a certain teacher I had in Class Four. He would tell us stories of uncircumcised, educated women who lived in a big city called Nairobi.

He would tell us of the big cars they drove. They carried their luggage in their big cars. I wanted to be like that. So, I ran away from home when the time came for the rite of passage.

Then what happened?

My uncles came looking for me and talked to my parents to let me be. I just wanted to get educated and knew that circumcision would have killed my dream as I would have been married off soon after.

So, when I hear that a girl has run to escape this practice, my eyes tear up. I remember. I understand.

As a girl, did you ever dream of being a politician?

No. I wanted to become a doctor, but didnt make the cut, so I ended up studying mathematics and working for Kenya Commercial Bank for 10 years. My move into politics came when I saw the pain that my community was going through.

No one seemed to care deep enough to look for a lasting solution to the conflict between the Pokot and the Marakwet people. Unnecessary deaths continued. There was no tarmac road. Not a single one in the entire constituency.

Elections came, elections went. Things remained the same.

You were the first elected female leader from a pastoralist community, how did you pull that off?

By being myself. I never tried to prove that I could compete with men. I just explained to members of my community what a woman given the chance to represent them in Parliament could do.

I used examples they could relate to, expounding on the role of a girl child in Marakwet and how much is expected of her from a tender age. How hardworking she must be if the family unit is to thrive and translated that to a bigger picture.

How did you forge peace between the Pokot and Marakwet when you became MP?

I went and spoke in their barazas in a language they could understand. I knelt as I spoke to them so that they could understand that mine was not a command but a plea.

I spoke to them of the aged woman who now had to live with the pain of losing a son in old age when she could no longer conceive. I spoke of the reality of the intermarriage between our communities, to show them that we really are just two sides of the same coin.

I revived certain markets that had been closed and made them open to both communities; I got food aid from the government and ensured that it was shared among both communities.

I told them that the pain of Marakwet woman watching her children sleep hungry was just as deep as that of a Pokot woman in the same shoes.

As the former chairperson of the Anti-FGM Commission, what is the greatest challenge you encountered?

Lack of adequate staff. We didnt have enough people on the ground to get the job done in the magnitude I would have desired. I think that has and is changing now.

What pains you most about FGM?

The health implications of it. The pain that a woman has to live with for the rest of her life because of ignorance, wrong beliefs, fear of rejection and the likes.

She is lied to that she is a hero for enduring the pain, the unnecessary torture.

What is it like training a community on the pains of FGM?

There are pros and cons. Being one of their own, I can and do prove to them from my lifes script that it is possible to be uncircumcised and succeed in life. The downside of it is penetrating the entire community with this gospel.

For a practice that has been there for a long time, it is not a cup of tea to tell them to change their practice overnight. But it is worth it.

You introduced a Bill in Parliament against this practice. Is criminalisation of FGM the best way to handle a cultural practice?

Yes. It offers a shield, a measure of security to protect the girl child.

Who are the greatest supporters of FGM, men or women?

Women. Every woman wants to see their daughter settle down. In most communities, this is interpreted as getting married and having children.

Unless otherwise taught, the young men in the community prefer to marry circumcised girls because they believe that they are the ones who are well taught on how to make a home. The women dont want their girls ostracised because of refusing to follow the practice.

So, in their hearts, they are acting in the best interest of their children. That is why women are opposed to anti-FGM campaigners.

The girl child in FGM prone areas gets a lot of attention, is anyone paying attention to the moran?

The moran believes that he will inherit what belongs to his father. I believe that it is time for the boy child to also wake up and look around. There are numerous opportunities beyond the walls of his fathers house.

Do you think that the moran needs a helping hand?

Yes. I do admit that there is a mentorship gap for the boy child in pastoral communities, someone to show him the big world that exists away from home, someone to shake him out of his comfort zone.

What is your advice to men whose wives are in positions of power?

My husband would be best placed to answer that (smiles). I have a very supportive husband. Being in politics involves a lot of sacrifices.

There are many times when I had to do parenting by phone. I simply called home to check on my children, but I could count on my husband to be there with them. For that, I am grateful.

Do you think that it is such sacrifices that have made many women nominated to county assemblies and Parliament lose their marriages?

I really dont have the answer to that question.

What are your fondest memories of President Mwai Kibaki?

He was like the father I never had. Instead of looking at me as a naive young woman who knew nothing about politics, he saw my passion and mentored me into leadership.
SAN ANTONIO  Rock musician Phil Collins returned to San Antonio Tuesday with the first of two truckloads of his Alamo artifacts, including a musket ball pouch believed to have belonged to Davy Crockett.

Collins, a founder of the band Genesis, has agreed to donate his private collection of 204 items for display at the Alamo. Tuesday he brought five crates, which were unloaded from a cargo truck.
Benjamin Gsell, 26, was born in Vienna, Austria, and sells second-hand clothes, otherwise known as Mitumba, in Gikomba, Nairobi.

He developed an interest in entrepreneurship at an early age and upon graduation, he landed a job in Dubai.

I started out selling computer accessories while still in school, and explored other opportunities upon graduation. My goal back then was to find business opportunities in Africa or the Middle East, he says.

But after five years, he decided to go back into entrepreneurship. He, however, put his plans on hold for a little while so he could travel. One of his destinations was Kenya.

While visiting Nairobi for the first time in March 2017 and driving through the city, I was stunned by the proliferation of second-hand clothes along the streets, says Benjamin.

After conducting his research into the trade, Benjamin relocated to Kenya in September last year and the following month, opened his first shop.

He spoke to Hustle about his business:

What made you go from working in Dubai to selling mitumba in Kenya?

I was fascinated by Africa, and Kenya in particular. After working for almost seven years in the corporate world, I had the chance to interact with a lot of start-ups, either mentoring them or investing in them. So after some time, I decided to apply the knowledge and experience Id gained to start my own business. I have three shops in Nairobis Gikomba market, with most of my containers offloaded in Donholm. I sell my products to wholesalers looking to buy up to 100 bales  though, depending on the size of the bales, I can sell up to 10 bales at wholesale prices. I sell a bale at Sh4,000 to Sh19,000, depending on whats inside, as well as sell some items on retail to boost profits.

How much did you start with?

My capital was around Sh5.5 million, which I raised from savings and my American business partner, whom I met while in Dubai.

Why did you decide to operate from Kenya?

In my opinion, Kenya has the most investor-friendly framework and the biggest market for the mitumba business in East Africa. I also think theres political stability and the language barrier is not an issue here as English is spoken everywhere.

Where do you get your inventory from, and how do you bring it into the country?

Currently, Im sourcing and sorting my clothes from the UK. The stock comes via ship to Mombasa and then via SGR to Nairobi. When I started out, Id initially import clothes from several sorting plants, but then I discovered that to ensure we have consistent quality, we had to sort the clothes ourselves. Were in the construction phase of opening our own factory in Romania, but for now were only sourcing for high-quality clothes from the UK.

What barriers did you face in understanding the Kenyan market?

There were a few challenges in the beginning, including finding reliable and trustworthy partners. Another barrier was market entry  how would we get people to trust and buy our products? Mitumba traders are well known so most customers stick to what they know. However, we overcame this obstacle by providing excellent quality and pricing, as well as making deliveries within Nairobi. We still experience some problems, such as delays at the port and SGR, as well as the collection of payment because of low money circulation, but this was worse earlier on.

Didnt the discussions around banning of second-hand clothes in Kenya discourage you from setting up your business?

I was aware of discussions around banning mitumba, but the Government has been talking about doing this for years and never implemented it. Its also clear that many households in Kenya make a living from the sale of second-hand clothes. As long as the Government isnt providing any alternatives to bridge and provide jobs for the almost two million people who are directly or indirectly making money out of mitumba, I dont see any concerns in the near future.

Who are your biggest competitors?

There are some very well established people in the industry who have very strong distribution channels and many years of experience. These are my biggest competitors. However, I have a big advantage because I source and pack my clothes in-house, and there are only a handful companies in the market positioned like I am.

How is business is doing so far?

The business is going well so far  obviously with a few hitches, particularly during the election period. However, Im still very bullish as theres a lack of good quality products in the market. Were also looking to optimise the supply chain and open wholesale shops or identify key wholesalers to partner with in places like Kisumu, Nakuru, Eldoret and Migori. We also want to expand into other East African countries, such as Tanzania and Uganda, as well into key markets in West Africa, like Ghana, Benin, Togo and Nigeria, in 2019.
No, the administration didnt lose nearly 1,500 children after separating them from their immigrant parents. But, yes, the administration is separating children from their immigrant parents, a barbaric practice that has no place in this country.

First, the missing children. These are minors who crossed the border by and large unaccompanied, who turned themselves in to border agents, or were apprehended and then released to sponsors for care outside of detention facilities. They werent separated from their parents because they didnt travel with them. And they arent necessarily missing.

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services followed up by phone on the 7,635 children it had placed with sponsors between October and the end of December last year, and found that 6,075 could be accounted for. According to a report by the Washington Post, 28 had run away, five had left the United States, 52 went to live with nonsponsors, and 1,475 were unaccounted for. HHS disclosed these numbers in a congressional hearing recently.

Yes, this is a large number and regrettable (because, among other concerns, it cant be ascertained if the children were trafficked). But it it could be that they cant be found because they or their sponsors dont want to be  to avoid deportation, for them and their sponsors if they, too, are undocumented. Faith in our asylum process is not running high at the moment.

And yet none of this means that the administrations new enforcement policies on immigrants caught crossing the border without documents isnt a tragedy unfolding before the nations eyes. And it doesnt mean that the administration isnt playing fast and loose with facts in defending this new policy.

The Trump administration recently announced it would criminally prosecute all illegal crossers, a so-called zero tolerance policy. This means that even immigrants traveling with children (and, reportedly, even those seeking asylum) will be arrested. And because their children cant be arrested with them and cant be detained in identical fashion, they will be separated from their parents, with indications that this separation persists even after parents are released.

In a weekend tweet, President Donald Trump wrote that this separation is required by laws that Democrats refuse to change. Wrong. There is no such law. The separation occurs because of the administrations own new policy of arresting illegal crossers, a sharp departure from general practice previously. This had been treated as a civil violation. Moreover, administration officials have been blunt about separating children from parents as a matter of deterrence. This is cruelty on purpose and with malice aforethought.

And theres this: On the theory that asylum-seekers are scamming the system, even those seeking that kind of legal refuge are reportedly being arrested.

This is wrong on a number of fronts.

In all cases, asylum-should be accorded a process to pursue their claims  a matter of protections built into the law. They shouldnt be arrested. And under no circumstances should children who already have undergone arduous travels be further traumatized by being forcibly removed from their parents, who then have no idea what has become of them.

This zero tolerance policy has resulted in a 21 percent increase in the number of migrant children held in custody without their parents, the Washington Post also reports. And this means available space is quickly being consumed.

But aside from the logistics of this new policy  an already overburdened system buried under an avalanche of arrests, prosecutions and deportations  there is the blatant cruelty from which all Americans should recoil. That cruelty is represented in children being forcibly removed from parents coming here  mostly from Central America  to protect their children from the well-reported violence in their own countries.

Got it? To deter these immigrants, the administration is reportedly denying some adults due process under our asylum laws, punishing both them and their children by separating them, and then claiming that nonexistent law, not its own policy, is requiring this.

Even if this works in deterring migration, the ends wont ever justify these cruel means.

The administration hasnt lost nearly 1,500 children, but it is telling the world that this country is in danger of losing its soul.
What does a hundred grand buy you these days? Let's see ... a stripped-down Tesla Model X. A Faberge egg on eBay. A year of military-trained, 24/7 private security. A year and a half of tuition, room, and board at Harvard. Or perhaps a house.

News that home prices nationally are steadily rising well past the paychecks of everyday Americans has become a familiar drumbeat in the heads of many would-be buyers. Yes, homes are expensive and only getting more so. But that doesn't mean there aren't bargains to be foundif you know where to look.

The thrifty data team at realtor.com loves a challengeso we set out to find the metropolitan areas that boast the largest number of single-family homes listed for under $100,000 on realtor.com as of March 1. (We're talking about total volume, not highest percentage.) These unicorns exist, and in greater numbers than you might think. Your wallets can thank us now.

But what kind of abodes do you get for less than the price of a (gently used) Patek Philippe Nautilus wristwatch? In pricey cities along the coasts, buyers would consider themselves #blessed to find a closet-size condo for a few hundred thousand dollars. But in others they can pick up a three-bedroom, two-bathroom house with a yard out back in a suburban school district for below our $100,000 threshold. They might have to roll up their sleeves to get a deal on a fixer-upper, or perhaps take a chance in an area that's in an early stage of revival.

Look at it this way: With all of the money they're saving on the purchase price, buyers might be able to afford some sweet, Instagram-worthy renovations.

Bargain buyers might want to head first to the lower-priced Rust Belt or Midwest, where median home prices are already lower than the rest of the country. But places such as Chicago and New York City also have quite a few affordable findsfor buyers willing to venture past the city limits into the smaller, far-flung regions that comprise the metropolitan areas.

"Bargains definitely exist. But buyers should go in with their eyes open," cautions Chief Economist Danielle Hale of realtor.com. "In some of those areas, $100,000 can buy a pretty decent home that maybe needs a little bit of updating. In others, it might be a home that needs an awful lot of work and might be in not-yet-up-and-coming neighborhoods."

So, where are these mythical havens of affordability where buyers can close on a house for under six figures?

Homes under $100K Claire Widman

Median home list price*: $179,950

Number of homes listed for $100,000 or less: 2,656

This home in the borough of Brentwood in the Pittsburgh metro area lists for $88,900. realtor.com

Pittsburgh is the poster child for the Rust Belt comeback. After a long slump, the Steel City has emerged as a magnet for young techies and creatives, as top-tier companies such as Google, Intel, and Facebook have established offices there.

So maybe it's a bit of a surprise that many first-time buyers can still snag a two-story, three-bedroom Colonial with a yard in the $100,000 range.

The nice thing about Pittsburgh is that there are big shifts in price, from neighborhood to neighborhood," says real estate agent Bobby West, of Coldwell Banker Pittsburgh. That means plenty of opportunities for buyers on all kinds of budgets. "There are dumps in the $80,000 range, move-in ready places at $120,000, plenty of options in between.

Formerly working-class neighborhoods such as Millvale, Hazelwood, Southside Slopes, and Brighton Heights, accessible by public transportation, have been transformed into millennial dream towns. (Check out this newly renovated four-bedroom, one-bathroom house in Hazelwood for $82,000.) They're filled with old-school Pittsburgher neighborhood bars as well as hip restaurants and cocktail dens.

Median home list price: $245,050

Number of homes listed for $100,000 or less: 2,478

A $50,000 multi-family home in Detroit realtor.com

When Tyson Gersh set up The Michigan Urban Farming Initiative on a vacant lot in Detroits North End in 2011, many of the neighborhoods former commercial storefronts and Queen Annestyle homes were dilapidated or straight-up demolished. Back then, most of the homes were sold through auctions starting at $500.

That was before the Motown revival kicked in for real. Gersh nearly got priced out of the neighborhood that he had helped redevelop before working out a deal for a historic two-family home just last month. Hes preparing for a full rehab that he expects will cost a pretty penny. But he feels certain it'll be worth it.

Buyers can still take a pick of bargain-priced homes here. Caveat emptor: After decades of neglect, many of the homes in desirable areas listed below six figures need complete renos. And due to the backlog, finding good contractors to do the work in a timely manner is no easy feat these days.

"You can find lots of homes right now under $100,000," says Gersh, even if many are "blighted homes that are uninhabitable at the moment."

But fixing them up could be a good investment, he adds: "On my street, there are three homes that have been rehabbed in the last year, all of which were [later sold for around] $300,000."

Median home list price: $299,550

Number of homes listed for $100,000 or less: 2,397

Sub-$100K home in Matteson, IL, about an hour from Chicago realtor.com

Buyers looking for a somewhat decent $100,000 home in a good school district likely won't be living within Chicago's city limits. The metro area sprawls from Kenosha, WI, past Gary, INand buyers in the lower price range will probably need to factor in long commutes to the city.

Youre definitely not getting Lincoln Park, Lakeview, Uptown, or Gold Coast; no River Park, no Bucktown, no Ukrainian Village, says real estate broker Evelyn Fred, of Baird & Warner, naming the nicer and trendier Chicago neighborhoods.

Fred recently sold a first-time buyer a four-bedroom, one-bathroom house with a huge yard, deck, and outdoor kitchen in Matteson, IL, for $85,000. The home was about a 45-minute drive or hourlong train ride from the museums, restaurants, and offices of Chicago proper.

Median home list price: $207,550

Number of homes listed for $100,000 or less: 2,227

A home in Tower Grove South in St. Louis realtor.com

St. Louis is one of those Midwestern cities where buyers don't have to trade quality or location for a good price. Young buyers have been sucking up the $100,000-and-under, two-bedroom, brick bungalows in the Bevo neighborhood like frosty brews on a summer day. The area is buzzing these days, with a vibrant restaurant row and a wildly popular German pub that just opened inside a historic windmill.

St. Louis is still superaffordable, says Realtor Jeannie Kennedy, of Garcia Realty St. Louis. You can get a nice, clean, partly rehabbed house with an updated kitchen in Bevo for around $95,000.

Similar home deals can be found in a few county suburbs (with better school districts) and other coveted, yet affordable St. Louis neighborhoods (e.g., Dutchtown, Carondelet, and even Tower Grove South). Tower Grove was once hailed as the Best Place to Live by local alt-weekly Riverfront Times for its diverse housing, restaurants, and bars.

While single-family homes can be found in Tower Grove South for under six figures, they'll typically need some workthough not too much, says Kennedy. For example, this brick, two-bedroom, one-bedroom fixer-upper for $55,000.

When people are first buying a home, they arent looking for the Taj Mahal, Kennedy exlains.

Median home list price: $175,050

Number of homes listed for $100,000 or less: 1,779

Home in Garfield Heights suburb of Cleveland realtor.com

Because Cleveland boasts so many affordable homes, the city has been attracting hordes of out-of-state investors seeking properties that cost way less than a down payment in New York City or California.

Price points vary widely, says James Wise, a real estate broker with Holton-Wise Property Group, who specializes in investment properties and flippers.

Wise believes some of the best deals are found in working-class suburbs that tend to have more renters than owner-occupiers, including Garfield Heights, South Euclid, and Euclid (soon to house an Amazon fulfillment center). There, out-of-town buyers have been bagging turnkey bungalows in the $80,000 range as well as brick homes in the $60,000s. After some light reno work, the properties can garner rents around $1,000 a month.

There's this three-bedroom, two-bathroom foreclosure for just $54,900. It comes with hardwood floors, central air, and a partly finished basement.

On the other side of the spectrum, many young professionals are still gravitating to trendier neighborhoods such as Ohio City, Gordon Square, and Tremont, where most renovated, single-family abodes cost upward of $300,000, Wise says.

Median home list price: $219,950

Number of homes listed for $100,000 or less: 1,169

$52,000 bungalow in Birmingham, AL realtor.com

Birmingham's real estate market is in the midst of a boom, but buyers can score bargainsif they're willing to move just outside the city limits.

Buyers can still find homes for a song in some of the historic neighborhoods, but they're likely to require gut rehabs to bring them back to their early 20th-century glory. However, there are bargains to be found, including this two-bedroom, one-bathroom bungalow for $52,000.

Those willing to go farther afield to less desirable suburbs or rural parts of St. Clair County can find move in-ready abodes with land for less than the price of a condo in Magic Citys hottest hoods.

Median home list price: $523,740

Number of homes listed for $100,000 or less: 1,155

The city so nice, they made it impossible to find a sub-$100K house. krblokhin/iStock

Ready to get your New York City house for less than $100,000? Fuhgeddaboudit. You cant even get a 400-square-foot condo in the forgotten borough of Staten Island for that price. So, why is NYC on this list?

The New York metro area is so darn big, encompassing parts of upper New York state, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and Connecticut, that it's not a surprise that some of these smaller, more remote towns would have cheaper homes for sale. (The U.S. Census defines metro areas as including a large population hub that supports a broader region.)

In the woods of Pennsylvania's Pike County, buyers who want to live near the Poconos ski resorts can take advantage of low taxes and good schools with a three-bedroom cabin for less than $100,000. Several buses pick up locals for multihour commutes to New York City. However, city workers are more likely to use the area for a getaway than a primary residence.

Were in a big market for second homes, says Tom Moroney, a real estate agent with Century 21 Country Lake Homes.

Closer to the city, it's harder to find a livable $100,000 single-family home. While northern New Jersey has seen a delayed surge of foreclosures from the recession, many of these properties have been seriously neglected, requiring costly renovations that will soar well beyond the five-figure mark.

Median home list price: $195,050

Number of homes listed for $100,000 or less: 1,135

A cabin in Memphis listing for $57,900. realtor.com

Most of the homes selling for five figures in Memphis are investment properties, which folks buy to rent out. And the competition for them is fierce, as out-of-town, would-be landlords battle it out for the opportunity to lease those properties to Memphis residents burned by the housing crash and subsequent foreclosure crisis.

Under $100,000 is going to be 90-plus% investment properties, says Dan Butler, co-founder of CrestCore Realty Memphis. These aren't properties geared toward first-time buyers seeking out nice neighborhoods where they would want to live and raise their families.

Investors who can drop $80,000 to $100,000 will find three-bedroom, two-bathroom homes with two-car garages in large, suburban subdivisions. But these homes may need an additional $30,000 to $40,000 for kitchen and bathroom upgrades, a paint job, and other renovations. Once they're fixed up, they're likely to be rented by double-income families willing to fork over $1,200 a month.

However, most of the young, first-time buyers looking to stake their claim on a piece of land are more interested in hard-to-find homes in East Memphis $150,000 starting range. They're just a short drive from the action of midtown Memphis.

"Supply is low and demand is high," Butler says.

Median home list price: $249,950

Number of homes listed for $100,000 or less: 1,087

Across the river in Palmyra, NJ, this house lists for $60k. realtor.com

The brick Colonials on Philadelphias cobblestone streets are a steal compared with nearby metros such as New York City and Washington, DC. That doesnt mean they come cheap, though. The average starting price for a nice, single-family home in downtown Philly is about $350,000.

Those willing to go about 6 miles southwest or north of Center City can still (occasionally) find deals in up-and-coming neighborhoods such as Kensington (which has this three-bedroom, one-bedroom, newly renovated home for $99,9000) and Port Richmond. Homes with three bedrooms, 1.5 bathrooms, and small yards, similar to the entry-level homes in prime Philly, are particularly attractive to those on a budget.

The market has plenty of first-time home buyers educated enough to know that owning a house in that price would be cheaper than renting, says Jeanne Whipple, a real estate agent with Coldwell Banker Preferred Philadelphia.

Median home list price: $330,888

Number of homes listed for $100,000 or less: 1,087

A 2,200 square foot bungalow in the Venetian Hills neighborhood of Atlanta

Those who want to be in the center of everything should expect to pay substantially more than $100,000 for a home in Atlanta. The starting point for a single-family abode in Atlantas Intown market, the 4-mile radius surrounding downtown, is well out of the reach of most first-time, cash-strapped buyers.

To be in a nice property, youre in the half-millions, says Ryan Sconyers, a real estate agent with Graham Seeby Group Keller Williams. However, buyers who aren't seeking a big house and backyard can still pick up a nice condo in a desirable neighborhood for around $125,000, Sconyers says.

There are still some single-family deals to be had in the south and southwest corridors of the city, in neighborhoods such as Venetian Hills and Polar Rock. Those lower-price markets have recently been dominated by flippers and investors looking to pick up dilapidated homes for $50,000 to fix up and sell for a huge profits, or rent out.

"There are old, established neighborhoods that haven't bounced back out of the recession," Sconyers says.

* Median metro home list prices are as of April 1.

The post Bargain Buys: The 10 U.S. Cities With the Most Homes Under $100K appeared first on Real Estate News & Insights | realtor.com.
Dressed in camouflage, a black beret and with his epaulettes all over his attire, the then commander of the Zimbabwe Defence Forces (ZDF) Constantino Chiwenga was stern, stiff and looked stressed on a warm afternoon last November.

He waved the countrys Constitution, and warned that the military was about to step in to protect the supreme law of the land, which he argued, was being desecrated by the Generation 40 (G40) that had captured former president, Robert Mugabe.

Step in, the military did and they smoked out the G40 functionaries.

In a flash, his fame spread like a bushfire  fanned by a frenetic frenzy that followed the demise of Mugabe, a character who was loathed and loved globally almost in equal measure.

Because of the role he played in Mugabes overthrow  after 37 years of iron-fisted rule, many feared him.

But as the sands of time flow through the hour glass, that fear has vaporised after Chiwenga swapped his military fatigues for civilian attire to take up the countrys deputy presidency.

As the retired army general basks in the sun of presidency, he has also mellowed and often hits the dance floor at Zanu PF functions with a face beaming with delight.

At a rally held in Chegutu last Thursday, the former general cracked jokes and mocked his counterpart, Vice President Kembo Mohadi, for being too tall (he is shorter).

His body language said it all: It spoke of a man on cloud nine, or someone who is just about to get there.

He dances at rallies, cracks jokes  a stunning transformation that seems strange but is not difficult to trace.

After all he is only human and during the liberation struggle he was a political commissar of the Zanu military wing, Zanla.

Not many people are, however, impressed with how he is blending into civilian life.

Former Zanu PF politburo member Jonathan Moyo has taken to tweeter to mock the former general, saying he was trying too hard.

A whole commander of a supposedly professional Zimbabwe Defence Forces, only six months ago, now reduced to this circus, said Moyo in reference to Chiwengas behaviour at rallies.

Unlike previous vice presidents, Chiwenga has proved that he is not ceremonial but powerful and effective.

Only recently, he fired nurses for insisting on an industrial action despite an agreement they had reached with their employer.

And his word stood even amid deafening protests from a cross-section of Zimbabweans who were understandably worried about the implication of the dismissals on the countrys crumbling public health delivery sector on which the majority poor are dependent.

Chiwenga was also instrumental in instituting changes to the police force following the forced retirement of former Zimbabwe Republic Police commissioner-general, Augustine Chihuri.

In government, he administers the ministry of Defence and War Veterans Affairs. He is also head of the social services cluster.

But could he be the one to come after Mnangagwa?

While many people believe he is destined for the top, his allies describe that question as trite, saying he could have become the chosen one if he really wanted to after orchestrating Mugabes ouster.

Perrance Shiri, the former chief air marshal of the Air Force of Zimbabwe and Chiwengas former classmate at St Marys school in Wedza recently said the former commander of the ZDF was reluctant to join politics.

.Chiwenga is the person who orchestrated Operation Restore Legacy. He is a principled man who does things in honesty. If it was someone else, he could have taken over power, declaring that he was in charge (of State and Government). There was nothing that could have stopped him since he was in charge of the army. Chiwenga is a person who is politically mature and with the people and country at heart.

Due to political orientation, he understood that hove huru dzinofamba nemurongwa (leadership renewal follows laid down procedures). As a result, the party chose  Mnangagwa to lead the party, while VP Chiwenga wanted to return to the barracks. However,  Mnangagwa appointed him vice president and second secretary of the ruling Zanu PF party, Shiri was quoted saying in the State media recently.

But in WikiLeaks cables released in 2008, his subordinates, Herbert Chingono and Fidelis Satuku told the then United States ambassador Charles Ray that Chiwenga was a political general who would trade his military fatigues for Zanu PF regalia, and that he has done with perfection.

Chiwenga is a political general who works hard, but who has very little practical military experience or expertise. A political commissar before 1980, he has only attended one mid-level training course, which he did not complete. If given a choice between a military and a political issue, he routinely defaults to the political.

His goal is to be in politics when his tenure ends as defence chief, and he will be very disappointed if he fails to achieve that goal. He has been given to making political statements, Ray said in leaked cables after he had met the two generals.

While Shiris account and that of Ray are worlds apart, the former US ambassador could be saying; I told you so.

While Mugabe used to say politics leads the gun, his ouster in November last year proved otherwise.

Although the man from Wedza appears to have shifted gear and is indeed seating smugly at the side of his ally, Mnangagwa, somehow convinced that Zanu PF will win the forthcoming elections, he must be keeping his gun somewhere in case things go wrong, his critics say.

After all at a rally in Chegutu his counterpart, Mohadi, revealed the true colours of the so-called new dispensation, it is a junta, rule by the military.

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Have you ever thought about how Christianity came into Nigeria? History claims the religion was brought into the country in the sixteenth century by missionaries from Portuguese but it was not really practiced because there were no churches until the first one was establish in Abeokuta, Ogun state.

The first church built in Nigeria, The Cathedral Church of ST. Peter, was established by Andrew Desalu Wilhelm and it was later perfected by a British man, Reverend Henry Townsend.

On arriving in Nigeria, Reverend Townsend had come to Abeokuta through Badagry. It was said that he was received by an Egba warrior named Chief Sodeke. Sodeke who was unable to speak English, had gotten Andrew Desalu who was a freed slave as an interpreter to help him communicate with the British Reverend.

Desalu who was a teacher, catechist and evangelist was educated by the British when he was a slave. He was an Egba man captured with other slaves by colonial masters but he was later freed and he settled in Sierra Leone before moving back to Ogun state.

History of how the first church in Nigeria was built Photo source: Pulse.ng/KTravula.com

READ ALSO: hurches in Nigeria - Top 5 most beautiful

After his return to Abeokuta, he started to rally freed slaves and he built a shelter he named Wasinmi (Come and rest) for them. He began to preach the gospel of Christianity.

When Townsend returned to England for church ordination, Desalu stayed back to continue to preach the gospel and he built a shed that became the first foundation of The Cathedral Church of ST. Peter, Ake.

Photo source:KTravula.com

From 1842 to 1846, Desalu preached around Abeokuta rallying freed slaves to give them a place to stay and tell them about Christ. He became a spiritual father to many people but the shed could not be dedicated and members could not be baptised due to the absence of a priest.

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Monument of Henry Townsend and 18th century bible Photo source: Pulse.ng/Proudly Yoruba

In 1846, Townsend returned to Abeokuta with a group of missionary pioneers who helped him complete the church on September 6, 1898, 52 years after the foundation was built. The first Mass was celebrated in the church on June 29, 1880.

Although, a bigger auditorium has been built, the original structure is still intact and a statue of Reverend Townsend was also erected as a tourist site.

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Inside the church Photo source: KTravula.com

Andrew Desalu Wilhelm, the freed slave who established the foundation of the first church in Nigeria, was born in 1820 and he died in 1866.

TOP-5 African pastor miracles | Legit.ng TV

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- Minna prison has been attacked by criminals on Sunday, June 3 and many prisoners have escaped

- Two people have lost their lives in the process while 7 escaped prisoners have been rearrested

- However, numbers of escaped prisoners have not been ascertained

The Nigerian Prison Service has on Monday, June 4, confirmed a jailbreak at the Minna prison. The incident was said to have occurred on the night of Sunday, June 3.

This was disclosed in a statement by DSP Rabiu M Shuaibu, PRO of the Nigerian Prison Service, Niger command.

Shuaibu also disclosed that one of the prison's official was killed in an incident which was perpetuated by armed criminals who attacked the prison and gain access after exchange of fire with prison armed men.

READ ALSO: Full list of all arrested Offa bank robbers, numbers of people killed by each criminal

"On Sunday, 3rd June, 2018 at about 8pm, there was a jailbreak at Minna Medium Security Prison located at Tunga area of Minna Metropolis.

"The unfortunate incident was perpetuated by armed criminals who attacked the prison and gain access after exchange of fire with prison armed men.

"This led to death of a prison officer and an Okada rider who conveyes a prison officer on night duty.

"So far, through combined effort of all security agencies in the state, 7 prisoners who attempted to escape have been recaptured and returned to the prison.

"The prison authority in Minna is profiling the number of fleeing inmates to ascertain the escaped prisoners.

"However, normalcy has returned and security agencies are working together to ensure that fleeing inmates are recaptured.

"The general public is hereby assured of its safety; and advised to go on with its normal business.

"At this juncture, we will like to urge all law abiding citizens to support the security agencies in maintaining law and order as security is a collective responsibility. We also advise that citizens should endeavor to report to security agencies any suspicious person or group of persons," the statement read.

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Meanwhile, Legit.ng had reported that the Enugu state controller of Nigeria prisons service (NPS), Mr Isaiah Amariri, announced the re-arrest of 6 inmates who escaped from Nsukka prisons on the night of Tuesday, August 9.

Legit.ng visits Evans the kidnapper's house, how should he be punished? on Legit.ng TV:

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After weeks of intense leaks and rumours, Samsung has finally albeit quietly lifted the gaze on its latest mid-range offering, the Samsung Galaxy M51 smartphone.

Enough have been said on the success of the Samsung Galaxy A-series lineup and now the company is looking to add some sauce and spice to further make the competition for spaces very much stiff.

As a brand new entry in Samsungs popular Galaxy M series, the Galaxy M51 exists as a higher-placed alternative to the Galaxy M31s , which was launched earlier in July. However, belaying expectations, the Galaxy M51 has only been launched in Germany for now, with news about the global launch still anyones guess.

The Galaxy M51 smartphone brings with it several notable improvements appearing to be very much in line with what the leaks had suggested over the past few days, with the biggest selling point of the device being the 7000mAh battery pack, which also supports up to 25W fast charging. A switch to Snapdragon processor has also been muted.

Heres a complete laydown on everything new with the Samsung Galaxy M51 smartphone.

Samsung Galaxy M51 Specifications and Features

The Samsung Galaxy M51 is anything to go by any Samsung phone with the device sporting a 6.7-inch Super AMOLED display with a centered hole-punch and full HD+ resolution.

Although Samsungs official listing doesnt make it clear which processor the phone is using, reports point to the device been powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon 730 SoC, as previously speculations.

The phone offers a single 6GB of RAM and 128GB of UFS 2.1 storage variant with support for MicroSD card expansion. The smartphone runs on Samsungs custom OneUI, based on Android 10 operating system.

In the camera department, the Galaxy M51 features the same setup as the Galaxy M31s, packing a rear camera 64MP primary sensor, coupled with an f/1.8 lens. Sat next to it is a 12MP ultra-wide-angle lens that brings with itself the promise of 123-degree field-of-view, a 5MP depth sensor, and a 5MP macro camera. For selfies, there is a 32MP lens which remains unchanged from the Galaxy M31s.

However, the insane 7,000 mAh battery is what gives the Galaxy M51 its headline. The 6000 mAh battery fitted on previous Galaxy M series phones was the largest in its segment. Also, Samsung has includey a 25W fast charger inside the box, the same one that comes with the Galaxy M31s and some of Samsungs recently launched flagships.

Other usual connectivity and security features include a side-mounted fingerprint scanner, a USB Type C port, a single bottom-firing speaker, a 3.5mm audio jack, and Bluetooth 5.

Samsung Galaxy M51 Price and Availability

Samsung Galaxy M51 has only been launched in Germany at a starting price of 360 ($429) and can be pre-ordered via Samsungs German website at the moment. Pre-orders will start shipping out starting September 11.

Samsung hasnt yet made any announcements regarding when it will bring the device to other markets such, but your guess is as good as ours, we hope to see it launch in the country. The device is available in White and Black colour options.

A major competitor to the recently launched OnePlus Nord smartphone? Thats a different post for another day.

Samsung Galaxy M51 Key Specifications

Display: 6.7-inch (16.95cm) Super AMOLED & Full HD+

SoC: Octa-core processor

RAM & Storage: 6GB RAM + 128GB storage

Battery & Charging: 7,000 mAh battery

Fingerprint sensor: Side-mounted

Rear Camera: 64MP, f/1.8 + 12MP ultra-wide, f/2.2 + 5MP depth sensor + 5MP macro sensor

Front Camera: 32MP
By William Astore, a retired Air Force lieutenant colonel, who taught history for 15 years at the Air Force Academy, the Naval Postgraduate School, and in Pennsylvania at a technical college. Hes never forgotten his visit to the Trinity site in Alamogordo, New Mexico, where the first atomic device was tested in 1945, nor his time in Cheyenne Mountain Complex, hunkering down under 2,000 feet of granite, waiting for a nuclear war that never happened. His personal blog is Bracing Views. Originally published at TomDispatch

Did you know the U.S. Air Force is working on a new stealth bomber? Dont blame yourself if you didnt, since the project is so secret that most members of Congress arent privy to the details. (Talk about stealthy!) Known as the B-21 Raider, after General Doolittles Raiders of World War II fame, its designed to carry thermonuclear weapons as well as conventional missiles and bombs. In conceptual drawings, it looks much like its predecessor, the B-2 Spirit stealth bomber, all wing and no fuselage, a shape that should help it to penetrate and survive the most hostile air defense systems on Earth for the purposes of a global strike. (Think: nuclear Armageddon.)

As the Air Force acquires those future B-21s, the B-2s will be retired along with the older B-1B bomber, although the venerable B-52 (of the Cold War era), much modified, will remain in service for the foreseeable future. At $550 million per plane (before the inevitable cost overruns even kick in), the Air Force plans to buy as many as 200 B-21s. Thats more than $100 billion in procurement costs alone, a boon for Northrop Grumman, the planes primary contractor.

If history is any judge, however, a boon for Northrop Grumman is likely to prove a bust for the American taxpayer. As a start, the United States has no real need for a new, stealthy, super-expensive, nuclear-capable, deep-penetrating strategic bomber for use against peer rivals China and Russia. But before tackling that issue, a little history is in order.

Deja Vu All Over Again

A long time ago (1977, to be exact), in a country far, far away, President Jimmy Carter did a brave thing: he cancelled a major Pentagon weapons system just before it was due to start production. That was the B-1 bomber, a plane with sophisticated  that is, expensive  avionics designed to allow it to penetrate Soviet airspace in the event of a nuclear war and survive. Carter cancelled it for the most sensible of reasons: it wasnt needed.

The Air Force had already developed air-launched cruise missiles that allowed bombers like the B-52 to strike enemy targets with precision from hundreds of miles away. It was also, like all modern weapons systems, outrageously expensive. Why spend vast sums on a new bomber, Carter reasoned, when the plane added little to the nations nuclear deterrent? In addition, that cancellation was meant to send a message to the military-industrial complex  that he would neither be beholden to nor intimidated by defense hawks who touted each and every new weapons system, no matter how expensive or redundant, as essential.

I was then a teenager with a yen for American warplanes. Id even made a model of the B-1, complete with variable geometry wings that could be extended forward for low-speed flight and swept backward for high-speed, supersonic flight. In my minds eye, I can still see it, almost all white like the prototype that Rockwell International, its primary contractor, actually built. In a symbolic act of protest against Carters action, I took my model, taped a couple of firecrackers to it, and dropped it from the top floor of our house, blowing it up in a most satisfying way. So much for the B-1, I thought.

I was too young to know better. When Ronald Reagan became president in 1981, as part of a massive defense buildup (that Carter, ironically enough, had actually begun), he revived the B-1. The Air Force soon committed itself to buying 100 of them at a then-astronomical $280 million each. The B-1B Lancer (as it became known) has served in the Air Force for the last three decades, never (thankfully) fulfilling the purpose for which it was built: a nuclear attack. Plagued by accidents, high operating costs, and maintenance issues, the B-1 has been a disappointment to an Air Force now eager to replace it with an entirely new bomber, more or less guaranteed to have a similar history.

However much I loved the prospective plane as a teenager, I felt quite differently once I was myself in the Air Force. As a young lieutenant in 1986, I even wrote a paper for a contest within the service in which I argued that the concept of a manned, penetrating, strategic nuclear bomber was deeply flawed. In essence, I took the Carter position, suggesting that the other legs of Americas nuclear triad (ballistic missiles launched from silos and similar missiles on nuclear submarines) were more than enough to deter and defeat enemies (no less destroy the world), and that new precision technologies like cruise missiles rendered risky manned bombing missions deep into enemy airspace not just obsolete but antediluvian.

Not surprisingly, my paper didnt win and the B-1B did. But it was an absurd addition, even by Air Force standards, given that the U.S. had an overwhelming arsenal of missiles at its command, together with a fleet of B-52s that, though lacking in speed and stealth, was aging rather well. In fact, B-52s are still flying today, which isnt that surprising when you consider the development of highly accurate missiles that allow such a plane to standoff from targets and so limit its exposure to enemy air defenses.

Meanwhile, the Air Force, never a service to say no to expensive, high-tech weapons systems, no matter how redundant, was hard at work on a stealthy bomber that would achieve its vision of global reach, global power, and global strike. What emerged was the B-2 Spirit, a stealth bomber so expensive ($2.1 billion a pop) that only 21 were ever built. It was also pricier than the B-1 to operate and less reliable thanks to its fragile stealth coatings, which required lengthy, high-cost maintenance. In other words, both planes proved expensive disappointments that, fortunately, were never tested on the primary mission for which they were built: incinerating millions of people in a nuclear war.

Enter the B-21, whose very name is supposed to indicate its cutting-edge nature, as the first bomber of a new century. Its already being readied to reprise the grim, predictable histories of its predecessors.

Will the Bomber Go the Way of the Dodo?

Old ideas and hallowed traditions die hard, especially when theyre so lucrative for the military-industrial-congressional complex. Just look at the staying power of the disastrously overpriced F-35 stealth fighter, projected to cost $1.45 trillion over the life of the program. Put bluntly, todays future-driven Air Force still wants to be capable of taking the fight to the enemy in a manned bomber, just as in the past. It still wants its air crews to put bombs on target. At a time when remotely piloted drones like the Predators and Reapers are rendering redundant so many human fighter pilots sitting in real cockpits, the Air Force has no intention of allowing its strategic bombing force to go the way of the dodo. Its leaders will always fight for manned strategic bombers because it fits their image of themselves: dodging enemy fighters, missiles, and flak, and taking the fight to the enemys doorstep.

In fact, not only does the Air Force want the B-21 as its fifth generation bomber, it also wants a new fighter jet to escort it on deep penetrating missions into China, Russia, or other countries. Think here of the legendary P-51 Mustangs, which accompanied U.S. strategic bombers deep into Nazi Germany during World War II. In other words, the Air Forces vision of future aerial war bears an eerie resemblance to the action scenes in the classic 1949 war movie Twelve OClock High, except instead of the B-17s and P-51s of World War II, fifth generation bombers will join with sixth-generation fighters to claw their way through enemy airspace.

Of course, Pentagon officials have an array of talking points to support their case for the B-21. These include: maintaining parity, if not supremacy, vis-a-vis China or Russia or some future, ill-defined enemy and the need of our heroic troops for the latest and best in weaponry. They emphasize that canceling a major weapons system like the B-21 is tantamount to unilateral disarmament, that it would betray weakness to rivals and foes, and that manned bombers provide maximum flexibility since, unlike missiles, they can be recalled or redirected after being launched.

In truth, however, Twelve OClock High scenarios look increasingly ridiculous and outmoded in the twenty-first century. But dont tell that to the U.S. Air Force. When its strategists visualize bombers, all they see is potential, promise, and even fulfillment. But history shows us something else: the potential for widespread and indiscriminant destruction and massive casualties. If anything, since World War II, Americas arsenal of bombers has emboldened the U.S. to strike in places and in ways clearly counterproductive to just about any definition of national security, even as untold numbers of innocents have perished from the ordnance fired or dropped from those planes. The Vietnam War  during which the U.S. dropped seven million tons of bombs  is a perfect example of this.

Heres the nightmarish reality of actually bringing such weapons systems online: when the U.S. military develops a capability, it seeks to use it, even in cases where its wildly inappropriate. (Again, think of the massive B-52 bombings in Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia in a counterinsurgency campaign classically meant to win hearts and minds.) Fielding a new strategic bomber for global strike, including potential thermonuclear attacks, will not so much enhance national security as potentially embolden future presidents to strike whenever and wherever they want in a fashion devastating to human life. The B-21 isnt a force-multiplier. Its an Armageddon-enabler.

Flying High in our B-21s

Having marketed himself as a savvy military critic, is there any possibility that Donald Trump will have the smarts of Jimmy Carter when it comes to the B-21 program? Will he save America at least $100 billion (and probably far more) while eliminating yet another redundant weapons system within the Department of Defense? Fat chance. Even if he wanted to, The Donald doesnt stand a chance against the Pentagon these days.

Flush with billions and billions of new taxpayer dollars, including funds for those F-35s and for new nukes from a bipartisan coalition in an otherwise riven Congress, Americas military services will fight for any and all major weapons systems, the B-21 included. So, too, will Congress, especially if Northrop Grumman follows the production strategy first employed by Rockwell International with the B-1: spreading the planes subcontractors and parts suppliers to as many states and Congressional districts as possible. This would, of course, ensure that cuts to the B-21 program would impact jobs and so drive votes in Congress in its favor. After all, what congressional representative would be willing to vote against high-paying jobs in his or her own state or district in the name of American security?

So heres my advice to young model-builders everywhere: dont blow up your B-21s anytime soon. Rest assured that the real thing is coming. If the Air Force wants to ensure that it has a new bomber, in the name of blasting Americas enemies to oblivion, so be it. It worked (partially and at tremendous cost) in 1943 in the flak- and fighter-filled skies of Nazi Germany, so why shouldnt it work in 2043 over the skies of who-knows-where-istan?

Why does your Air Force think this way? Not just because it loves big bombers, but also because its biggest rivals arent in Russia or China or some rogue state like Iran. Theyre right here in the homeland. Im talking, of course, about the other military services. Yes, interservice rivalries remain alive and well at the Pentagon. If the U.S. Navy can continue to build breathtakingly expensive nuclear-powered aircraft carriers (like the much-troubled USS Gerald R. Ford) and submarines, and if the Army can have all its tanks, helicopters, and associated toys, then, dammit, the Air Force can have what truly makes it special and unique: a new stealthy strategic bomber escorted by an even newer long-range stealthy fighter.

And dont just blame the Air Force for such retrograde thinking. Its leaders know whats easiest to sell Congress: big, splashy projects that entail decades of funding and create tens of thousands of jobs. As congressional representatives line up to push for their pieces of the action, military contractors are only too happy to oblige. As the lead contractor for the B-21, Northrop Grumman of Falls Church, Virginia, has the most to gain, but other winners will include United Technologies of East Hartford, Connecticut; BAE Systems of Nashua, New Hampshire; Spirit Aerosystems of Wichita, Kansas; Orbital ATK of Clearfield, Utah, and Dayton, Ohio; Rockwell Collins of Cedar Rapids, Iowa; GKN Aerospace of St Louis, Missouri; and Janicki Industries of Sedro-Woolley, Washington. And these are just the major suppliers for that aircraft; dozens of other parts suppliers will be needed, and theyll be carefully allocated to as many Congressional districts as possible. Final assembly of the plane will likely take place in Palmdale, California, integrating components supplied from sea to shining sea. Who says Americas coastal enclaves cant join with the heartland to get things done?

Even if President Trump wanted to cancel the B-21  and given his recent speech to graduates of the Naval Academy, the odds are that there isnt a weapons system anywhere he doesnt want to bring to fruition  chances are that in todays climate of militarism he would face enormous push-back. As a colleague whos still on active duty in the Air Force puts it, What makes today worse than the Carter days is our flag-humping, military-slobbering culture. We cant even have a discussion of what the countrys needs are for fear of offending or disrespecting the troops. Today, Carter would be painted as disloyal to those troops he was consigning to an early death because every procurement decision centers on a grave or existential threat to national security with immediate and deadly consequences.

And so the Air Force and its flyboy generals will win the fight for the B-21 and take the American taxpayer along for the ride  unless, that is, we somehow have the courage to pry the control sticks from the cold, dead hands of hidebound military tradition and lobbying firepower. Until we do, its off we go (yet again), into the wild blue yonder, flying high in our B-21s.
A few years back, the punditocracy was in a tizzy because it had come to their attention that the US had become dependent on China for rare earths, which are critical to the production of high-performance magnets, low carbon products, diesel additives, lasers and many other goods. We pointed out then that rare earths were far from an isolated case. China has become the biggest supplier of ascorbic acid, which is widely used in food production to improve quality and stability.

A recent book, China RX: Exposing the Risks of Americas Dependence on China for Medicine by Rosemary Gibson and Janardan Prasad Singh, appears not to have gotten the attention it warrants. I learned about it thanks to reader Patrick F, who recommended a C-SPAN panel on the book with author Gibson plus other experts, such as former Clinton Administration official Patrick Malloy. If you go to C-SPAN, you can read a transcript auto-generated from the closed captioning. You can also listen Gibson describe some of the key points from her book in the interview below.

The big message of Gibons and Singhs book is that the US relies on China for the production of active ingredients in drugs and in many cases, of the medications themselves, to the degree that we would have a public health crisis if supplies were interrupted. As Gibson said on C-SPAN:

Many people that we spoke to, both former government officials and some in industry said that if China shut the door on exports, within months, pharmacy shelves in the United States to be empty, and hospitals would cease to function.

And dont assume generics king India would step into the breach. India gets many of the active ingredients for its pharmaceuticals from China. Gibson forecasts that China will overtake India in generics manufacture within a decade.

As Gibson explains, the US no longer makes its own penicillin, in part because China dumped penicillin in 2004, driving the last US plant out of business.

The medications where the US relies on China include heparin, a blood thinner that among other things is used for IV drips. No heparin, no IV treatments. Due to the difficulty in tracing the source of drug company ingredients, the authors could make only case by case investigations, but they China production to be critical for treatments for Alzheimers HIV, depression, schizophrenia, cancer, epilepsy, and high blood pressure.

Dependency is not the only risk. US drug companies shifted production to China not just to save cost but to escape regulation. The FDA has only limited access to Chinese factories, with the Chinese having well over 700, yet the FDA able to inspect only 15 a year on average. As Gibson said on C-SPAN:

The FDA is trying to get inspection on site in China. The Chinese have severely restricted the number of inspections that they will allow and the whole program has become completely ineffective.

And the Chinese are often less than cooperative. Gibson describes even then how the agency has been directed to a Potemkin facility, as in the goods were made somewhere elseand the FDA was not able to figure out where. Similarly, reports presented by the health authorities to the FDA is understood to be as reliable as Chinese economic data.

This picture is particularly troubling given Chinas poor record on production quality and sanitation. And worse, the US cant even afford to bar imports of all substandard products. Gibson again:

In 2015, the FDA inspected a plant in China. It did that because it was getting a lot of customer complaints, presumably industry complaints, about the active ingredients that they were getting from this plant. There was bacterial contamination, some of the products. They did not have full therapeutic value. If thats an antibiotic or chemotherapy, that could be devastating. So the FDA went in and they found what they called systemic data manipulation. This is a plant that had passed muster by the FDA, the Chinese FDA and other inspections over many years. So the FDA banned 29 different products from coming into the United States. But because the United States is so dependent, the FDA had to exempt 14 of those products from its own ban. Some of those included antibiotics or ingredients for antibiotics and ingredients for chemotherapies, because the FDA was concerned about drug shortages in the United States. That is how dependent we are as a country.

Its telling with the trade battle of wills with China a daily news item for months, that this critical piece of the picture is absent from the debate. One has to assume that its because Big Pharma doesnt mind.
A contract for the acquisition of two additional Type 054A Frigates for Pakistan Navy was signed with M/s China Shipbuilding Trading Company Ltd (CSTC), at Ministry of Defence Production, Rawalpindi. Pakistan's deputy Chief of Naval Staff (Operations), Rear Admiral Faisal Rasul Lodhi was present on the occasion.

A contract for the acquisition of two additional Type 054A Frigates for Pakistan Navy was signed with M/s China Shipbuilding Trading Company Ltd (CSTC), at Ministry of Defence Production, Rawalpindi. Pakistan's deputy Chief of Naval Staff (Operations), Rear Admiral Faisal Rasul Lodhi was present on the occasion.

Two Type 054A Frigates of the East Sea Fleet in a Naval Exercise

With the conclusion of this contract, Pakistan Navy will have a total of 4 x Type 054A ships in its Fleet by 2021. The induction of these Ships will substantially enhance Pakistan navys war fighting capabilities while effectively contributing towards Maritime Security Operations in the region.

The contract value of the four Type 054As for the Pakistan Navy is unknown, but Pakistan paid about US $ 200 million (per ship) for the older, smaller F-22Ps. The Chinese Navy is acquiring Type 054A at a unit price of US $ 218 million.

For China, the increasing endowment of Chinese military equipment by Pakistan will continue to deepen the political-military relationship between the two countries, and will further consolidate the Chinese position in this crucial part for its maritime silk route.

Video: Signing of the contract



About Type 054A Frigates

With information from our colleagues at Eastpendulum.com

Designed by the CSIC's 701 Institute, the Type 054A frigate primary mission is "fleet anti-submarine warfare" as mentioned in the specifications of the Chinese Navy HQ. The 3,600-ton (standard) vessel is therefore equipped with a number of weapon systems for this function, such as Type 183 acoustic warfare system, Type 562 anti-torpedo system, Type 307 hull mounted sonar and Type 206 towed array (updated to Type 311 later), Yu-7 torpedo launcher, WHH-003A anti-submarine rocket, and Yu-8 anti-submarine missiles.

The vessel is also equipped with eight YJ-83J anti-ship missiles, one H/PJ-26 76mm main gun, two H/PJ-12 CIWS (updated to H/PJ-11 from the 17th vessel of series), as well as a 32x VLS cells capable of launching both the HQ-16 surface to air missile and the Yu-8 ASROC.

Since the commissioning of the 1st vessel in January 2008, 10 years ago, a total of 26 Type 054A frigates have already joined the Chinese fleet and they are actively conducting patrol missions from the Bohai Bay to the Gulf of Aden, passing through the western Pacific Ocean, the South China Sea and the Indian Ocean. Today 4 hulls are still under construction or fitting out at the Hudong shipyard in Shanghai and Huangpu shipyard in Guangzhou. A successor, the Type 054B featuring electric propulsion, will soon enter production.

Regarding the equipment for the Pakistan Navy variant, it is almost certain that all the systems used by the Chinese Navy will be replaced by exportable, modified versions. Thus, the HQ-16 or HQ-16C could leave their place to the LN-80, the H/PJ-11 to the Type 730B, the Yu-8 to the ET80 ... etc, not to mention the combat systems and sensors.

Despite this, the four new Type 054As are expected to be the most potent surface combatants of Pakistan's surface fleets, and could work alongside future S20 submarines of Chinese origin for various missions as well.
Decades of aerial photos reveal how an ancient desert city got its water Ars Technica

Sherlock star Cumberbatch takes on 4 muggers near Baker Street RT News. Chuck L: Life imitates art. Good on Cumberbatch.

Thomas Bernhard, Karl Kraus, and Other Vienna-Hating Viennese The Paris Review

European Human Rights Court Exposes Further Complicity in CIA Torture Truthout

Why Native remains are treated like collectors items High Country News (GlennF)

Corbyn vows to return Elgin Marbles to Greece if he becomes prime minister Independent

Woman Admits To Shooting, Killing Husband For Beating Family Cat CBS DFW

Breast cancer: Test means fewer women will need chemotherapy BBC

Trade Tantrum

G7 ministers criticise US tariffs and warn of trade war BBC (The Rev Kev))

China?

APPLES RESTRICTIONS ARENT HELPING TECH ADDICTION Wired

Facebook Fracas

Facebook Gave Device Makers Deep Access to Data on Users and Friends NYT

Share a Coke with (some) troops Military Times (The Rev Kev)

Why the Air Force Thinks It Can Turn Gamers Into Its Next Top Guns American Conservative

North Korea

REVEALED: How America is trying to find discreet way to pick up Kim Jong Uns hotel tab during historic summit Daily Mail (The Rev Kev). Originally reported by WaPo but much more fun reading this version.

George Soros says EU should compensate Italy over migration Guardian (The Rev Kev). Yves: And what about compensating Greece??? Soros oddly took no interest in that.

Brexit

Big Brother IS Watching You Watch

What consumer DNA data can and cant tell you about your risk for certain diseases Science News (The Rev Kev)

Kill Me Now

Bill Clinton and James Patterson co-author a political beach read CBS News

Gunz

Trump Transition

Class Warfare

India

Why India is ignoring US sanctions and sticking with Iran Asia Times (The Rev Kev). Pepe Escobar

Syraqistan

Guillotine Watch

Antidote du jour:

See yesterdays Links and Antidote du Jour here.
This blog focuses on how a more restricted access to US final demand could affect EU economies and sectors, by measuring their share of value-added absorbed in the US. The exposure of the EU as a whole in value-added terms is lower compared to that suggested by gross exports to GDP and, overall, gross exports misconstrue the picture of spill-overs through trade linkages. For individual countries, the degree to which gross exports overestimate or underestimate exposure is relatively small, with the important exception of Ireland. However, gross exports significantly overestimate the exposure of EU manufacturing to US final demand.

By Francesco Chiacchio, a Research Assistant at Bruegel in the innovation and competition area, with a focus on trade and productivity as well, and Konstantinos Efstathiou, an Affiliate Fellow at Bruegel in the Macroeconomics and Governance area. Originally published at Bruegel

How much do EU Member States and industries depend on being able to reach the US consumers with their goods and services?

A simple way of addressing this question is to look at each countrys and sectors bilateral exports to the US as a share of its GDP, shown in Figure 1.

However, this approach disregards the complexity of global trade emanating from cross-border production sharing and trade in intermediates.

An alternative approach that is more intuitive and increasingly popular is to focus on value-added trade flows, i.e. the value of output sold abroad, minus the value of intermediates used in its production. In this particular case we use an approach that differentiates value-added according to its source and final destination in terms of absorption (consumption of final goods); it accounts for all the possible ways, direct and indirect, that value created in the EU ends up in US consumption of final goods, irrespective of how it finds its way there (forward linkages). The latter is relevant when the prospect of the US imposing multilateral tariffs (and not only bilateral vis-a-vis the EU) is likely.

To implement it, we use world input-output tables (WIOT) from the World Input-Output Database (Timmer et al., 2015). WIOT combine national supply and use tables with bilateral trade data. They deconstruct output produced into intermediate supply and final consumption of goods and services across the world. The latest available WIOT (2014) cover 43 countries in total, including all EU28 countries (as well as a model for the rest of the world), and 56 detailed sectors (see Technical appendix).

Among EU countries, Ireland is still the most exposed but roughly 7.8% of aggregate domestic value-added (i.e. GDP) ends up in final goods and services purchased in the US (Figure 2). While arguably this is a lot, Irelands exposure measured in value-added terms is about half of that derived from gross bilateral exports (amounting to approximately 13.5% of GDP). The value-added figures also show relatively large exposures to US demand for Germany, the Netherlands and Belgium, to the tune of 3.5% of the GDP. On the other hand, Spain, Greece, Cyprus, and Malta are the least vulnerable to US final consumption. Large countries such as France and Italy sit in the middle of these extremes at around 2%.

The exposure of the EU as a whole to US demand in value-added terms is lower compared to that suggested by gross exports to GDP. For individual countries other than Ireland, gross flows overestimate exposure to US consumption most for Lithuania (+1.3 pp.) and Belgium (+1.2 pp.). The contrary is true especially for Luxembourg (-1.7 pp.), Slovenia (-0.8 pp.), and Cyprus (-0.7 pp.).

Turning to industries, the differences between value-added and gross export measures are substantially magnified. This is primarily driven by the structure of supply chains across industries (but also countries, e.g. outsourcing). Consider value-added exports first (Table 1): EU manufacturers of pharmaceutical products are the most exposed, with 10% of their value-added absorbed by US final demand, followed by manufacturers of chemicals and motor vehicles (9.6% and 9.4%, respectively). On the other hand, although the composition of the ten most exposed sectors is virtually unchanged, the magnitude of exposure measured by gross exports (Table 2) is much higher (it doubles on average). This is the effect of intermediate trade and global value chains, which is predominant in manufacturing.

To illustrate, the share of gross exports to the US in sectoral value-added (GDP) for the manufacturing of motor vehicles amounts to 23%; for pharmaceuticals manufacturing it stands at 18%; and for the manufacturing of chemical products it is 19%. Moreover, interpreting gross exports as exposure would point to about a third of the value-added of EU manufacturing of coke and petroleum products being ultimately dependent on US final demand; actually, only about 6% of the value-added of that EU sector is US-bound.[1]

To conclude, gross exports as measures of exposure through trade linkages misconstrue the picture of spill-overs. The Irish economy depends largely on US demand but only to the tune of 8% of its value-added, not 13%. The distortion is more serious for the different sectors: e.g. rather than a quarter, only about a tenth of motor vehicle manufacturings value-added ends up in US final consumption. These levels of exposure are still significant, but the difference compared to their more readily available gross export counterparts is far from negligible.

Certainly, one cannot use these value-added figures to say what the general equilibrium effect of multilateral tariffs imposed by the US would be. But one can form a more accurate picture of how the shock of the US market becoming less accessible to foreign trade would reverberate into the global production network, and what would be the gravity of that shock for specific economies and sectors.

______________

[1] Note that EU value-added not only depends on US final consumption, but also on US demand for intermediates, as a bridge to reach third countries. However, depending on how substitutable are those intermediates, there is the possibility of trade diversion, if the US market becomes less accessible.

Please note this blog is accompanied by an online technical appendix.

See original post for references.
NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg commended Montenegro for its contributions to Euro-Atlantic security during a joint press conference with Montenegros President Milo Djukanovic - marking one year since Montenegros accession to NATO - on Monday 4 June.

Montenegros accession has helped promote stability in the Western Balkans because security promotes prosperity; and it has contributed to Euro-Atlantic security, Mr. Stoltenberg said. Thank you for committing to increase the number of troops in our training mission in Afghanistan. I also welcome that you are increasing defence spending, with a clear plan to invest 2% of GDP in defence by 2024; so Montenegro is proving to be a very solid and very reliable member of the Alliance, the NATO Secretary General added.

Mr. Stoltenberg also said that tomorrow (5 June 2018) will see the launch of a NATO Air Policing Mission over Montenegro. Just as Montenegro is stepping up for NATO, NATO is stepping up for Montenegro. NATO is a defensive Alliance. We protect all Allies against any threat. So tomorrow, NATO will begin air policing patrols over Montenegro, with jets from Italy and Greece. This peacetime mission will ensure the safety of your skies, whether from civilian or military aircraft in distress, or any other threat. NATO provides this support to Allies without their own air forces  a strong sign of NATO solidarity, he said.
(As delivered)

President Djukanovic, dear Milo,

Welcome to NATO Headquarters. Its really a great honour and pleasure to meet you again and you are the first Head of State from a NATO Allies country which I receive here at the NATO Headquarters in the new building.

Congratulations on your election as president.

And as we all know tomorrow we will mark one year since Montenegro joined NATO.

A sovereign country in a strong Alliance.

With a seat at our table, and an equal voice in shaping our decisions. This is an important day for Montenegro and an important day for the whole Alliance.

Montenegros accession has helped promote stability in the Western Balkans because security promotes prosperity. And it has contributed to Euro-Atlantic security.

Thank you for committing to increase the number of troops in our training mission in Afghanistan.

I also welcome that you are increasing defence spending, with a clear plan to invest 2% of GDP in defence by 2024. So Montenegro is proving to be a very solid and very reliable member of the Alliance.

And just as Montenegro is stepping up for NATO, NATO is stepping up for Montenegro. NATO is a defensive Alliance.

We protect all Allies against any threat.

So tomorrow, NATO will begin air policing patrols over Montenegro, with jets from Italy and Greece. This peacetime mission will ensure the safety of your skies. Whether from civilian or military aircraft in distress, or any other threat.

NATO provides this support to Allies without their own air forces  a strong sign of NATO solidarity.

We just had an excellent meeting where we discussed our preparations for the NATO Summit in July here in Brussels.

NATO will continue to adapt to a challenging world, to enhance the security of all our citizens. And we will continue to boost the readiness of our forces, to ensure we have the right forces in the right place at the right time.

We will also continue to project stability in our neighbourhood and step up in the fight against terrorism. One of our best tools in the fight against terrorism is to train local forces.

And that is exactly what NATO is doing  from the Western Balkans to Afghanistan.

And as a member of the Global Coalition to Defeat ISIS.

At the Summit in July we will launch a new training mission in Iraq. To ensure that the Iraqi forces can defend their own country and prevent ISIS from ever coming back.

We also discussed Russia. We agreed that our dual-track policy of deterrence and dialogue is the right one.

I chaired a meeting of the NATO-Russia Council just last week and our dialogue with Russia is even more important when tensions are high.

So once again President Djukanovic, it's a great honour and pleasure to receive you here at the NATO HQ and I look forward to seeing you once again at our Summit in July. Welcome.

Oana Lungescu [NATO Spokesperson]: To the lady over there, from Montenegrin TV. Thanks.

Question [Montenegro TV]: So, how Montenegro has shown as a or behaved as a member state a year after membership in NATO?

Jens Stoltenberg [NATO Secretary General]: What we have seen is that during the year that Montenegro has been a member of NATO, Montenegro has proven that Montenegro is a net contributor of security to our Transatlantic Alliance. And Montenegro is contributing to our shared security in many different ways. Montenegro contributes to stability in the Western Balkans - the accession of Montenegro into NATO promotes stability in the Western Balkans because security promotes prosperity and this has contributed to the security of the whole Euro-Atlantic region.

Then we have also the very concrete contributions Montenegro is making both to our mission in Kosovo, KFOR, but also the fact that Montenegro is now stepping up their contributions to our mission in Afghanistan, which is about fighting terrorism, preventing Afghanistan from once again becoming a safe haven for international terrorism. Then Montenegro has participated in different NATO exercises, showing that the forces of Montenegro can work together with the forces of other NATO Allies, contributing to our collective defence.

And then I would also highlight the fact that Montenegro has started to invest more in defence, in modern capabilities, in strengthening the armed forces of Montenegro and has a clear plan for how to reach the goal of spending 2% GDP on defence by 2024. So, Montenegro contributes in many different ways and Montenegro is a highly valued Ally and I also welcome the strong commitment of President ukanovic to NATO and the leadership he is showing in leading Montenegro as a member of the Alliance.

Oana Lungescu [NATO Spokesperson]: Lady over there, from Pob TV?

Question [Daily Newspaper Pobjeda]: I have questions for Mr Stoltenberg and Montenegrin President. Do you think, a year after Montenegro entered NATO, that we in Southern Eastern Europe live in a safer region? Do you think that we are safer?

Jens Stoltenberg [NATO Secretary General]: I think that the fact that Montenegro has become a member has made Montenegro safer in a more demanding security environment. The reality is that we see around Europe more challenges, more unpredictability, we see all the turmoil and the violence to the south, in North Africa, Middle East, but not least in Iraq and Syria. But we also see a more assertive Russia being willing to use military force against a neighbour, as we have seen in Ukraine. But in this more demanding security environment, NATO has become stronger, NATO has responded to the unpredictability and to the uncertainty we see surrounding us. And NATO has become bigger with a new member, Montenegro. And all of that has helped to strengthen NATO, helped to strengthen Montenegro, because we are stronger together than alone, based on the idea that the core idea of NATO is that if one Ally is attacked, it is regarded as an attack against all of us.

So, the accession of Montenegro to NATO has made Montenegro safer and also NATO stronger.

Milo ukanovic [Montenegro President]: [Interpreted] - Well, my response, my answer would be similar to what Mr Stoltenberg said. So, there is no doubt that the membership of Montenegro in NATO and the progress of every Western Balkans country towards the membership in NATO is a contribution to stability and better prospects of the region.

I believe that the price that we are paying today in the Western Balkans, and that is related to the insufficiently high quality of life, this is the price that we are paying for the roots and causes that we have been aware of for a long time and that is the wish to live according to the rules that are not European rules. What we are doing now in the Balkans I see as an attempt to take the Balkans back to its natural Euro-Atlantic haven. We do recognise the resistance of course, but I would say that they are generated from two reasons: first is the fact that there is still strong resistance towards this U-turn of the Balkans towards the West and Europe, the forces that actually advocate the traditional way of thinking that would like to keep the situation of chaos and lack of perspective, they show resistance that are getting stronger the closer we are to our goals. Those are the last resistance signs of resistance. They find it difficult to accept that we will, in the future, live according to the European standards. I'm not talking about the membership in NATO or European Union here, but about the Europisation.

And the other problem is what is happening in the European and the global scene. Today, we can see that Europe has more problems than it had ten years ago and that the relations in the global scenes are more tensed than we who live today could remember. I mean we can't remember that they were more tensed any time in the past. So, the fact is that we have problems, but they can't drive us away from our main path and that is that the Balkans should go along the path of Euro and Euro-Atlantic integration because, when it comes to our region, it is the condition of our stability and democratic development.

Question: To Mr Stoltenberg, did you talk about state of democracy in Montenegro, especially freedom of the media? Do you think that calling leading media in Montenegro fascists and equalising them with mafia gangs helps creating safe or hostile environment for media freedom? Another question, you mentioned Russia. Mr ukanovic and Mr Putin expressed publically that they want to improve relations. You also mentioned dual track approach. Does that go together with the dual track approach and do you think it's good or bad for NATO that Montenegro has better relations with NATO? With Russia, sorry? And to Mr ukanovic to Mr ukanovic, do you think that easing sanctions or abolishing sanctions at all against Russia is the way to go to improve the relations with Russia? Thank you.

Jens Stoltenberg [NATO Secretary General]: First on the relations with Russia, both President ukanovic and I highlighted the importance of what we call the dual track approach to Russia, which is about that we have to be strong, we have to united, we have to be firm and we have to react when Russia is violating international rules, for instance violating the sovereignty, the territorial integrity of a neighbour, like Ukraine, or when Russia is responsible for cyber-attacks, or attempts to meddle in our domestic democratic processes, as we have seen in several NATO Allied countries. Then we have to be strong, we have to be clear and we have to be united in our response, and thats also the reason why all NATO Allies have supported the economic sanctions.

Having said that, Russia is our neighbour, Russia is there to stay and we are not aiming at isolating Russia. We will continue to strive for a better relationship with Russia and especially when the tensions are high, as they are now, it is important to have a dialogue with Russia to at least avoid miscalculations, incidents and accidents, and if they happen make sure that they dont spiral out of control. So, even if we dont or also when the relations are difficult, it is of particular importance to have a dialogue with Russia. And thats exactly the same as such as I heard from Montenegro, that they are striving for a better relationship with Russia, that they are not aiming at isolating Russia and thats also the same message as NATO as an Alliance is sending out; dialogue, striving for a better relationship, but at the same time being clear that we protect each other and that we dont accept the behaviour of Russia when they violate international rules or use military force against their neighbours.

When it comes to the freedom of press, first of all, the freedom of the media is an important part of any democracy and a rule of law, democracy and individual liberty are core values for NATO and one of the issues we focused very much on during the accession period was of course the importance of these values also for Montenegro and I think that for all NATO Allies these are extremely important. But at the same time I think we have to accept that, as part of an open and vibrant democracy, there are different views and sometimes also strong opinions which we can disagree with, but thats part of a democratic debate, to also have disagreements and different views.

Milo ukanovic [Montenegro President]: [Interpreted] - I saw that part of the people who have different political opinions and some of analysts, commentators and independent and professional media tried to interpret my assessment as turning of Montenegro away from NATO and turning towards Russia. There's nothing of that in my statement. It is a kind of speculation about the politics of my country and my own. So, our position towards Russia is absolutely clear and Mr Stoltenberg helped me to clarify this and to understand very precisely by everyone to be understood by everyone very precisely.

Support to NATO is not expressed only by words, but supporting all the time the values of the system that we are a part of. So, there is no dilemma in our country whether we should comply with the foreign and security policy. I mean if we have come so far in our process of negotiation with the European Union, it goes without saying that we will share the foreign and security policy of European Union. And if we are member to NATO, we of course share our political opinions with NATO. And actions in the territory of Ukraine or some other activities of Russia that we saw, for example in Montenegro in 2016 during our elections, we will condemn those things.

Thats why we had to unfortunately accept the sanctions towards Russia because we want to divert them from the activities that they do and lead Russia back to the zone where we will be able to cooperate as we did earlier. We think that it is the question of determination and persistence to keep and preserve the system that you belong to. We belong to the European system of values and we think that such activities as Russia's activities that I described are attempts to destroy the system of values and there is no doubt that we will defend the system of values that we belong to. And my invitation is aimed at leaving the area where we are punishing each other. It is just the voice of responsibility to accept the reality.

Russia is our neighbour, we are not identical, we are different. There are no two countries in the world that are identical. There are no two neighbours that are identical. We have to learn to live with the differences that will not jeopardise us but help us to cooperate and to harmonise as much as possible, and I believe in such a process. It is the evolution process and thats why I said that it is not our decision to remain in the situation of constant punishing and sanctioning. No, our wish is to go back to the time from just a couple of years ago where we had very constructive cooperation within the NATO-Russia Council. We believe in such an approach and that is why there is no hidden meaning or intention in my statement related to our relations with Russia.

Montenegro is firmly and decisively committed to work on the further affirmation of the system of values of NATO and to confirm those values in the region that we live in. But with the responsibility of a NATO member, we have to think about the global issues and we have to propose certain initiatives and the solutions that may lead to sorting out the situation outside of our region as well, on the global scene as well. Because, you know, I just recently mentioned how dangerous the reflections of the bad situation and instability from our region can be.

Oana Lungescu [NATO Spokesperson]: This concludes this press point.
NATO has played an important role in the domain of civil emergency response for twenty years. On 3 June 1998, the Euro-Atlantic Disaster Response Coordination Centre (EADRCC) was established. The EADRCC is NATOs principal civil emergency response mechanism.

The EADRCC stands ready as a 24/7 clearing-house mechanism for the coordination of requests and offers of international assistance amongst NATO Allies and partners.

The coordination activities involve close cooperation with NATO Military Authorities and consultation with International Organisations such as the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (UN-OCHA), the European Commissions Emergency Response Coordination Centre (ERCC) and the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA).

The Centres mandate was initially limited to natural and man-made disasters and to the geographical area of fifty countries, including NATO Allies and the signatories of the Partnership for Peace. Over time, the mandate has been widened to cover also requests for assistance in the event of a major chemical, biological, radiological, nuclear (CBRN) incident and gradually extended to cover the territories of NATO partners from the Mediterranean Dialogue and the Istanbul Cooperation Initiative, as well as of other partners across the globe. Currently, the Centres mandate covers the geographical area of 70 countries.

Over the last 20 years, the Centre has been responding to more than 70 requests for assistance from nations affected by natural and man-made disasters. In 2005, the EADRCC played an important coordinating role in NATOs humanitarian relief to the United States after hurricane Katrina and to Pakistan after the devastating earthquake. In 2017 and 2018 EADRCC coordinated international assistance following requests received from countries affected by floods, forest fires, technological disasters as well as medical supply crisis.

The Centre personnel consists of members of the NATO International Staff and Voluntary National Contributions (VNCs) seconded by Allies and partner countries. Over the last two decades, 24 nations contributed with more than 40 VNCs.

In addition to its day-to-day activities and immediate responses to sudden-onset disasters, the EADRCC conducts large consequence management exercises with NATO countries and partners. Over the last two decades, 48 nations participated in seventeen EADRCC exercises. The 18th EADRCC consequence management field exercise will be hosted by Serbia in October 2018.
(Natural News) For the widening majority of Americans who no longer have faith in the Obama-politicized Justice Department, President Donald Trump is doing what he can to restore faith in our governing institutions before it collapses completely.

Last week, the president used his authority to pardon conservative activist Dinesh DSouza, while considering pardons or commutations of sentence for lifestyle and home merchandising entrepreneur Martha Stewart and former Democratic Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich.

Trump began with his pardon of DSouza on Thursday. DSouza is a best-selling author whose documentaries called out Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama as some of the most corrupt political leaders in American history. And for that he was targeted  by Obamas FBI, which was then led by none other than James Comey.

As reported by NewsTarget, DSouza said in January that his FBI file, which was obtained by the House Intelligence Committee, shows that Comeys bureau flagged him as a critic of Obama and proceeded to allocate $100,000 to investigate a $20,000 case.

The Pravda media quoted Preet Bharara, a hack Obama federal prosecutor working at the time to build a case against DSouza, as saying that prosecutors were in the right, DSouza in the wrong and that he had admitted as much in federal court. But as DSouzas file shows, it was a witch hunt all the way  and he let Bharara know in an epic smack-down tweet:

KARMA IS A BITCH DEPT: @PreetBharara wanted to destroy a fellow Indian American to advance his career. Then he got fired & I got pardoned.

KARMA IS A BITCH DEPT: @PreetBharara wanted to destroy a fellow Indian American to advance his career. Then he got fired & I got pardoned  Dinesh D'Souza (@DineshDSouza) May 31, 2018

He also thanked POTUS Trump for his pardon and for reaching out to him via social media.

As for Stewart, NBC News noted regarding the founder of a lifestyle and home merchandising company:

Stewart  was convicted in 2004 on charges related to insider stock trading. Stewart sold stock based on a nonpublic tip she received and avoided a loss on her shares of ImClone Systems, according to the Securities and Exchange Commission. She was found guilty at trial on several felony charges, including conspiracy and making false statements to federal investigators, and was sentenced to five months in prison. She was released in 2005.

Theres a common thread here

Stewarts conviction also involved Comey, as American Thinker notes. At the time, many were extremely critical of Comeys decision to prosecute her over what amounted to a barrage of charges filed so that something would stick. (Related: Why isnt serial lawbreaker Rosie ODonnell being perp walked to a jail cell?)

The Cato Institutes Gene Healy lambasted Comeys prosecution of Stewart as being temperamental and political. He wrote in a 2004 column:

James Comey, the federal prosecutor behind the Stewart case, says he went after Stewart not because of who she is but because of what she did. But thats hard to believe given the audacious legal theory Comey used to pursue her.

He noted that Comey never charged Stewart with insider trading:

He claimed that Stewarts public protestations of innocence were designed to prop up the stock price of her own company, Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia, and thus constituted securities fraud.

She was also charged with the process crime of lying to federal investigators (sound familiar)  which Comey never pursued.

Blagojevich was indicted and convicted for trying to sell Obamas U.S. Senate seat which he held until he was elected president in 2008. Blagojevich was also a contestant on Trumps The Apprentice (he was fired). But POTUS says he never believed that Blagojevich was that guilty, which is why hes considering commuting his sentence.

The point is, in two of these three cases, Comey and overzealous federal prosecutors were involved, and as a result, miscarriages of justice resulted. Trump now seeks to right those wrongs at the same time that hes supporting efforts to clean up the DoJ and the FBI. Heres hoping hes successful.

Read more about Obama-era corruption at Corruption.news.

J.D. Heyes is editor of The National Sentinel and a senior writer for Natural News and News Target.

Sources include:

CATO.org

NewsTarget.com

AmericanThinker.com
Scientists have discovered dunes on Pluto, and say they are likely to have been formed of methane ice grains released into its rarefied atmosphere.

Writing in Science, an international team of geographers, physicists and planetary scientists have analysed detailed images of the dwarf planet's surface, captured in July 2015 by NASA's New Horizons spacecraft.

Those images showed that on the boundary of the Sputnik Planitia ice plain, and pushed up against a major mountain range, there is a series of dunes spread across an area less than 75km across.

Following spatial analysis of the dunes and nearby wind streaks on the planet's surface, as well as spectral and numerical modelling, scientists believe that sublimation (which converts solid nitrogen directly into a gas) results in sand-sized grains of methane being released into the environment.

These are then transported by Pluto's moderate winds (which can reach between 30 and 40 kmh), with the border of the ice plain and mountain range providing the perfect location for such regular surface formations to appear.

The scientists also believe the undisturbed morphology of the dunes and their relationship with the underlying glacial ice suggests the features are likely to have been formed within the last 500,000 years, and possibly much more recently.

The research was led by scientists from the University of Plymouth (UK), University of Cologne (Germany) and Brigham Young University (USA).

Dr Matt Telfer, Lecturer in Physical Geography at the University of Plymouth is the paper's lead author. He said: "We knew that every solar system body with an atmosphere and a solid rocky surface has dunes on it, but we didn't know what we'd find on Pluto. It turns out that even though there is so little atmosphere, and the surface temperature is around -230?C, we still get dunes forming. The New Horizons data has given us a new level of detail, but we had to work hard to explain how it was possible to get the supply of sediment, a non-cohesive surface and wind you need for dunes. It is another piece of the jigsaw in making sense of this diverse and remote body, and gives us a more fundamental understanding of the geological processes which are influencing it."

Dr Eric Parteli, Lecturer in Computational Geosciences at the University of Cologne, said: "On Earth, you need a certain strength of wind to release sand particles into the air, but winds that are 20% weaker are then sufficient to maintain transport. The considerably lower gravity of Pluto, and the extremely low atmospheric pressure, means the winds needed to maintain sediment transport can be a hundred times lower. The temperature gradients in the granular ice layer, caused by solar radiation, also play an important role in the onset of the saltation process. Put together, we have found that these combined processes can form dunes under normal, everyday wind conditions on Pluto."

Dr Jani Radebaugh, Associate Professor in the Department of Geological Sciences at Brigham Young University, added: "When we first saw the New Horizons images, we thought instantly that these were dunes but it was really surprising because we know there is not much of an atmosphere. However despite being 30 times further away from the sun as the Earth, it turns out Pluto still has Earth-like characteristics. We have been focusing on what's close to us, but there's a wealth of information in the distant reaches of the solar system too."

The researchers now plan to continue their investigations into the history of Pluto's dunes through computer simulations, which will enable them to expand knowledge of the role wind has played in Pluto's wider geology.
Note: Juan Bucio's funeral services will be streamed here beginning at 12 p.m.

Hundreds of firefighters and other mourners gathered for the funeral of a Chicago Fire Department diver who died while searching for a boater who fell overboard into the Chicago River.

Bucios brother Isaac a firefighter himself, expressed how his brother will live on through his two sons and thanked everyone for supporting his family in this time of great loss.

No words to explain what you guys have done for my brother, he said.

Mayor Rahm Emanuel also made an appearance Monday to commemorate the hero.

Today we honor a brave life, Mayor Emanuel said.

Gov. Bruce Rauner was among those who attended Sunday's visitation for 46-year-old diver Juan Bucio at St. Rita of Cascia Chapel. The southwest Chicago church is the site of Bucio's funeral on Monday.

Bucio was a 15-year member of the Chicago Fire Department and the father of 7- and 9-year-old sons.

Officials say Bucio became separated from his partner and died during the search on the evening of Memorial Day. An investigation into what happened is ongoing.

Friends of Alberto Lopez found his body in the river on Friday, four days after his fall overboard prompted the search.



The funeral mass honoring Bucio was held at St. Ritas of Cascia Church in the citys Wrightwood neighborhood. A private burial service will be held later in the day at Mount Auburn Cemetery in Stickney.

Rauner ordered all flags in the state to fly at half-staff in honor of Bucio.

"We will never forget his sacrifice, and we will always be grateful for his service," Rauner said in a statement.

A public visitation was held for Bucio on Sunday afternoon, as friends and family gathered to mourn his loss.
Willimantic police have arrested two men in connection with a shooting in August 2017.

Kysean Price, 20, and Tavon Burch, 20, are both accused in a shooting on Pleasant Street in Willimantic on Aug. 7, 2018 that left another man injured.

Burch was arrested in December and charged with conspiracy to commit first-degree robbery. He is currently being held at Corrigan Radgowski Correctional Center.

Price fled Connecticut, according to police. He was later found in the New Jersey correctional system and has been incarcerated since Sept. 18, 2017. In November 2017 he was convicted on assault charges unrelated to the Willimantic incident.

In June Price was extradited back to Connecticut. He faces charges of first-degree assault, unlawful discharge of a firearm, possession of marijuana, and first-degree robbery. He was held on a $250,000 bond and is due in court on June 5.

Police said the shooting took place around 9:45 p.m. at 503 Pleasant Street. The victim was taken to the hospital, where he is listed in stable condition.

According to police, this is an isolated incident and there is no danger to the general public. More information was not immediately released.

The investigation is ongoing. Anyone with information is asked to call Detective Eric Dean at 860-465-3135.
William K. Black

June 2, 2018 Bloomington, MN

(Third in a series of articles on Italy, Austerity, and the euro)

The New York Times editorial board published a May 29, 2018 editorial about Italys ongoing political and financial issues that praised austerity in Italy. The board cheered the anti-democratic appointment of Carlo Cottarelli, a solidly pro-Europe and pro-austerity economist and former official of the International Monetary Fund, to form a nonelected government. In particular, the board expressed its horror that Italy (which continues to have unemployment levels one expects to find in a severe recession) would have adopted grandiose spending plans (fiscal stimulus) if the Italian establishment had not sought to block the results of the recent Italian election.

Paul Krugman has written extensively in the NYT about why austerity is a horrific response to a Great Recession. On February 24, 2013, he wrote specifically about the disaster that austerity caused in Italy. The context was yet another effort by neoliberal forces to ignore the wishes of Italian voters in order to continue to inflict austerity on Italians. The specific context was the austerians efforts to convince Italians to support Prime Minister Mario Montis austerity policies. Monti, unsurprisingly, was a former senior Goldman Sachs adviser. Krugman was outraged.

For Mr. Monti was, in effect, the proconsul installed by Germany to enforce fiscal austerity on an already ailing economy; willingness to pursue austerity without limit is what defines respectability in European policy circles. This would be fine if austerity policies actually worked  but they dont. And far from seeming either mature or realistic, the advocates of austerity are sounding increasingly petulant and delusional. Consider how things were supposed to be working at this point. When Europe began its infatuation with austerity, top officials dismissed concerns that slashing spending and raising taxes in depressed economies might deepen their depressions. On the contrary, they insisted, such policies would actually boost economies by inspiring confidence. But the confidence fairy was a no-show. Nations imposing harsh austerity suffered deep economic downturns; the harsher the austerity, the deeper the downturn. Indeed, this relationship has been so strong that the International Monetary Fund, in a striking mea culpa, admitted that it had underestimated the damage austerity would inflict. Meanwhile, austerity hasnt even achieved the minimal goal of reducing debt burdens. Instead, countries pursuing harsh austerity have seen the ratio of debt to G.D.P. rise, because the shrinkage in their economies has outpaced any reduction in the rate of borrowing. And because austerity policies havent been offset by expansionary policies elsewhere, the European economy as a whole  which never had much of a recovery from the slump of 2008-9  is back in recession, with unemployment marching ever higher.

Krugman, no fan of Italys Five Star Movement or the anti-immigrant League, made the critical analytical point. Krugman perceptively warned that austeritys catastrophic harm was causing Europeans to flock to populist parties.

Italy, a nation that for all its dysfunction has in fact dutifully imposed substantial austerity  and seen its economy shrink rapidly as a result. [R]espectable Europeans wont admit that the policies they have imposed on debtors are a disastrous failure. If that doesnt change, the Italian election will be just a foretaste of the dangerous radicalization to come.

The day before the board published its ode to Italian austerity, the NYT published Peter S. Goodmans wonderful long-form article (BRITAINS BIG SQUEEZE: In Britain, Austerity Is Changing Everything). Goodmans piece adds great detail to Krugmans warnings and analysis.

I do not expect the New York Times editorial board to have identical views on economic policies like austerity to the papers journalists (Goodman) or opinion writers (Paul Krugman). The board precedes their editorials with this explanation:

The editorial board represents the opinions of the board, its editor and the publisher. It is separate from the newsroom and the Op-Ed section.

It is fine for writers from the same paper to disagree on their economic policy recommendations. What is unacceptable is for the writers to ignore their colleagues policy arguments. If the editorial board thinks Krugmans criticism of the economic illiteracy of austerity is wrong they owe it to their readers to explain why and start a substantive debate. I would prefer it if the editorial board read its own newspaper and explained the basis for its views, particularly when the papers experts hold the opposite view and have explained at length their reasoning.

I would also prefer it if the board read its own editorials. On April 14, 2013, shortly after Krugmans column explaining the economic and political harms austerity was causing to Italians, the board published Europes Bitter Medicine  decrying austerity in Italy. The board did not cite Krugmans recent column, but it adopted both of his key points. First, austerity was economically illiterate and harmful.

For more than two years, European leaders have pushed a cocktail of fiscal austerity and structural reforms on troubled countries like Portugal, Spain and Italy, promising that it will be the tonic to cure their economic and financial ailments. All the evidence shows that this bitter medicine is killing the patient.

(Austerity is to economic medicine as bleeding a patient is to medicine.)

Second, the board warned that austeritys grave injury was the primary reason for the Five Star Movements growing popularity in Italy.

[F]rustrated Italians cast such a large vote for an anti-establishment movement that the country still does not have a new government more than a month after its national elections. The biggest political beneficiaries have been groups like the Five Star Movement in Italy, which has refused to support any political party in forming a government and has called for a referendum on the countrys use of the euro. The real danger for Europe is that such movements will increase and voters and leaders in struggling countries will see less and less value in sticking with the euro.

(The euro  not Italy leaving the euro  is the real danger for Europe. The editorial board is reflexively wrong when it comes to economics.)

I would not object to the editorial board changing its mind on austerity because it now believes it to be desirable  as long as it explains what has caused the change in views and openly debates the issue. I do not believe, however, that such a change occurred. I believe that the board contradicts itself because it has never understood the economics of austerity and the euro. It is instinctively neoliberal on the subject of austerity.
U.S. Housing and Urban Development Secretary Ben Carson came to Connecticut Monday to learn firsthand about the problems caused by the states crumbling concrete crisis. Its an issue first exposed by the NBC Connecticut Troubleshooters three years ago.

Carson spent a half hour in a home ravaged by crumbling concrete. The damage was so bad that he could see daylight through the basement walls, garage doors that no longer close, and parts of the home getting wedged, bowed, and bent by bulging concrete.

The only thing we did is buy a house, thats it. And we werent expecting all this, said Vince Perracchio, who owns the home that Carson visited.

Perracchio happily invited Carson into his home of 27 years so the secretary could see the damage caused by the crumbling concrete. Perracchio says it cost more than $200,000 to fix.

The state has stepped up to help pay for repairs by pledging up to $200 million in financial aid next 10 years. But fearing it wont be enough, state officials like Lt. Gov. Nancy Wyman are asking the federal government for help.

Were begging now, Im begging now, she told Carson.

The crumbling concrete is a problem that experts say is unique to Connecticut. Its caused by a naturally occurring mineral from one quarry in Willington. That mineral was part of the concrete used to pour the foundations of hundreds, if not thousands, of homes in the state. When exposed to air and water, the mineral can cause the concrete to crack and crumble.

Blumenthal and Murphy have each proposed $100 million in federal funding for repairs and Murphy extended the invitation to Carson during a Senate Appropriations Committee meeting last month to see the damage and hear firsthand from homeowners.

The repairs can cost upward of $200,000 per home.

The Connecticut legislature passed legislation to add a $12 per year surcharge on every Connecticut homeowners insurance policy to help raise $10 million to $12 million per year to help pay for hundreds of people struggling with the concrete problem.

This money is on top of $100 million in state bonding for the problem.

Carson said he was surprised that insurance policies, for the most part, have not covered this kind of damage.

I'm just flabbergasted that the insurance companies could get away with this", Carson said.

U.S. Senator Richard Blumenthal explained to Carson that after some homeowners sued their insurers for denying coverage in the late 1990s, insurance companies changed policies to only cover the sudden collapse of a basement, not cracking or crumbling.

Blumenthal, among the members of the Connecticut congressional delegation that invited Carson to see the crumbling basement, told Carson, The insurers knew about this problem before the homeowners did.

Wow, that is really rotten, Carson replied.

The Insurance Association of Connecticut disputes that interpretation, saying in a statement It is unfortunate that Senators Murphy and Blumenthal have misled Secretary Carson as to what homeowners insurance is and what it is not. Homeowners insurance never covered defective product, and never covered crumbling foundations.

In terms of Carsons agency helping out people with crumbling basements, the jury is out. Carson said that while everyone thinks HUD has buckets of money, anything it spends must go through layers of congressional approvals first.
What to Know Officials have identified the bodies of three women found in a Springfield home last week.

They are 47-year-old Ernestine Ryans and 34-year-old America Lyden, both of Springfield; and 27-year-old Layla Escalante, of Ludlow.

They were found at the home of Stewart Weldon, who is charged with kidnapping but has not been charged in connection with the bodies.

Family members are in disbelief after learning their loved ones were found dead at the home of a Springfield, Massachusetts, man charged last week of kidnapping another woman found in his car during a traffic stop.

Hampden District Attorney Anthony Gulluni identified the bodies found at the home of 40-year-old Stewart Weldon as Ernestine Ryans, 47, and America Lyden, 34, both of Springfield; and Kayla Escalante, 27, of Ludlow.

The victims' families "are distraught and heartbroken," Gulluni said.

Gulluni said the medical examiner has yet to determine the cause of the deaths but called them "suspicious."



He did not say how long the bodies had been at the home, but he said two of the women had been the subjects of missing-person reports that police had investigated thoroughly.



Lyden was reported missing on Dec. 1, 2017, but hadn't been seen by her family since about June 2017.

America was loved by her family very much, very deeply, unconditionally," said her cousin Angela Rodriguez.

Family members say Ryans had been missing since March. She was reported missing on March 18, 2018 - 10 days after her family last saw her.

She didnt deserve for her life to end in the manner in which it did," said her brother Anthony Ryans. "And thats the hardest part for us that she died alone and we couldnt be there to help.

Its unclear when Escalante vanished. Police in Ludlow say she was alive as late as mid-December when she filed a police report after getting into a verbal altercation with a relative.

Escalante's family members declined to comment about the case.

"I just really hope that our district attorney does a fine job in cracking the case and helping all of us heal, Rodriguez said.

Investigators remained at the home, which belongs to Weldon's mother, on Monday. No one has been charged in connection with the discovery of the bodies.

"The investigation will be ongoing for many days to come, and the investigation overall will continue for some period of time," he said.

Weldon was arrested May 27 after a brief car chase with police that was sparked by a traffic stop for a broken taillight. A woman in his car said she had been held captive, beaten and sexually assaulted. He was held on $1 million bail after pleading not guilty to kidnapping and other charges.

According to a police report, the woman thanked officers for saving her life, saying she didn't think she was ever going to get away.

Weldon was arraigned Monday on kidnapping and assault to rape charges pertaining to a second alleged victim and ordered held on an additional $1 million cash bail.

Prosecutors said a second woman came forward after last week's arraignment and said Weldon had kidnapped her in Feburary. No further details were released during Monday's arraignment.

Weldon did not speak at Monday's arraignment but stood expressionless and nodded slightly when a not guilty plea was entered on his behalf.

Weldon's public defender waived a reading of the complaint, and the new case was impounded at the request of the prosecution and defense, citing the ongoing investigation.

"Mr. Weldon has entered his plea of not guilty and looks forward to addressing these charges in the future in court as well as addressing bail at a later date," public defender Matthew Fleischner said.

Weldon is scheduled back in court on both cases on June 29.

These most recent arrests were not Weldon's first run-ins with the law.

He was convicted of burglary and theft charges in New Jersey in 2007, court documents show. In Massachusetts, he previously was charged with assault and battery, breaking and entering and robbery and spent time in jail.

Weldon was arrested three times in Springfield last year, according to police and court records, including once in October when he was accused of assaulting a woman on the street. He struggled during the arrest, according to the police report, and bit an officer on the leg. He pleaded not guilty and was released on $1,000 cash bail.
A cat that was housed at an animal shelter in Dayville in May was rabid and health officials are urging anyone who was in contact with the cat to call the health department.

Lilac, a young, short-hair gray tiger cat, was at the Northeastern Connecticut Council of Governments Animal Services Program shelter at 125 Putnam Pike in Dayville and tested positive for rabies on May 30, according to the Northeast District Department of Health.

They are advising anyone who might have come in contact with this cat from May 14 to 29 and has not yet been contacted by NDDH or NECCOG, to call NDDH at (860) 774-7350 ext. 24 for an assessment of exposure.

Lilac was housed in the middle cage at the main shelter.

The Northeast District Department of Health and the Northeastern Connecticut Council of Governments (or NECCOG) are contacting staff, volunteers and recorded visitors to NECCOG Animal Services, but they are issuing an advisory out of an abundance of caution to alert other visitors who might have been exposed to rabies.

NECCOG Animal Services Director Kristian Hernandez said that when the shelter first picked up the cat, she was taken to the vet with a leg injury. At that time the cat was friendly and the vet determined there was an infection in the cat's joint. Later, when someone was clearing the animal's cage, she jumped out and attacked a dog, bit an employee and scratched another.

After the incident, the cat had to be tested for rabies.

Hernandez said it's impossible to pre-emptively test for rabies because the animal must be euthanized to be tested.

After the cat tested positive, three employees and three volunteers were vaccinated and/or tested for rabies.

Hernandez said the public is not allowed to touch animals before their adoption period begins, and that animals are kept away from the general public for two to three weeks before being made available for adoption.

Northeast District Department of Health

People can get rabies from being bitten by an infected animal, but an animal with rabies can also transmit the virus through its saliva, which can come in contact with a persons mucous membranes or can get in open wounds on the skin.

Rabies can be fatal once clinical signs appear, but the Northeast District Department of Health said it can be prevented through timely medical treatment, including administration of one dose of immune globulin and four doses of vaccine over two weeks.
An American Airlines flight was diverted to El Paso Sunday night due to severe weather, officials say.

American Airlines flight 1897 departed from San Antonio International Airport at 6:57 p.m. Saturday en route to Phoenix, but landed in El Paso after the aircraft sustained damage due to weather about two hours into the flight, according to the airlines.

The aircraft, an Airbus A319, landed at 8:03 p.m. MST with 130 passengers and five crew members, the airlines said. No injuries have been reported.

The nose and windshield of the airplane sustained hail damage.



This was the front of our plane. The nose is caved in and the window is shattered from "hale" pic.twitter.com/CJQHddxsdG  Mas (@MasonHart) June 4, 2018

Read the full statement from American Airlines:

"American Airlines flight 1897, from San Antonio to Phoenix, diverted to El Paso due to damage sustained by weather in flight. The aircraft, an Airbus A319 with 130 passengers and a crew of five, landed safely at 8:03 p.m. MT. The aircraft is currently being evaluated by our maintenance team. We never want to disrupt our customers' travel plans, and we are sorry for the trouble this caused."

Another plane was assigned to the flight to continue the trip to Phoenix.
We first told you legendary billionaire investor Warren Buffett was buying another legend  Dallas Ebby Halliday Companies in May, now it's official. The acquisition was announced Monday.

Buffetts HomeServices of America, which is an affiliate of his Berkshire Hathaway holding company, acquired all three of Ebbys real estate brands: Ebby Halliday, Dave Perry-Miller and Williams Trew Real Estate.

With the acquisition of the Ebby Halliday portfolio, HomeServices has nearly 42,500 real estate professionals operating in nearly 900 offices across 30 states, including Dallas-based Allie Beth Allman & Associates, which was acquired in 2015.



The Ebby Halliday companies will all continue to operate under their current brand names and Mary Frances Burleson will continue as the president and CEO of Ebby Halliday, according to a news release. Financial terms of the transaction were not discolsed.

Even though Ebby Halliday died almost three years ago, her reputation in real estate continues to stand strong in North Texas. There is now a new woman leading the company. NBC 5's Brian Curtis sits down with Mary Frances Burleson to talk about the DFW housing market and the legacy Ebby left behind.

Ebby Halliday is one of the largest players in the DFW real estate market. The company had sales volume of more than $8 billion in 2017. It ranks 12th in the nation in sales volume.

The Ebby Halliday name is synonymous with real estate in North Texas. The company was founded in 1945 by Ebby Halliday herself. The onetime salesperson in a downtown Dallas department store went from selling hats to houses. The rest was history.

Halliday built her business from a one-woman office to a real estate powerhouse. Halliday died in 2015 at the age of 104.

Also announced Monday is the formation of the Ebby Halliday Foundation. Building on a lifetime of service by the foundations namesake and the simple saying she lived by, "Do something for someone every day," the nonprofit organization will continue Ebbys legacy of service to North Texas.
A Justin man's search for an old war buddy has ended. Jim Garvin set out to find out what happened to a man he served with in Vietnam, after a recent reunion of fellow soldiers. That search  for "Louisiana" -- has a bittersweet ending.

Garvin's search began with just a nickname and a photo.

"Initially, I thought this search for 'Louisiana' was for me," Garvin said. "I wanted some closure."

Garvin had one photo of the man, with whom he served in the Army between 1970 and 1971. At that reunion, in Florida, he and others he served with began to wonder about the man, and what had happened to him.

Garvin and the others recorded a video, which was viewed close to four million times. A Facebook post about the search was shared 167,000 times.

"We've had a wonderful outpouring from across the nation," Garvin said.

With so much help, over the weekend Garvin was finally able to identify his friend. It turns out that "Louisiana" was actually from California. His name: Harold Thomas, of San Jose. Relatives said Thomas was a roofer who loved his mom, and his motorcycle.

"One of the older men in the group that he rode motorcycles with thought 'Louisiana' spoke with a southern accent, Garvin recalls. "And he just laid that moniker on him and it stuck."

When he began his search, Garvin was driven by the desire to shake the hand of the man who fellow soldiers remembered so fondly. To welcome him home.

"I regret that I waited so long to begin the search," he said.

In speaking with the man's sisters -- Garvin also learned that Harold Thomas suffered a heart attack, and died, in 2015. Despite that -- he realized that so many people cared about his search.

"They do have pride in our Vietnam veterans and there's a pride in our country," he said. "That's a positive message to me, and the men I served with."

Garvin said several members of Thomas's family have expressed their appreciation for his search. He said they plan to attend the next reunion of soldiers from the unit, which is planned for North Texas next spring.

Garvin said his search for "Louisiana" may just be the beginning. There are at least 40 other fellow soldiers he now hopes to find.

"It really is a pretty incredible story," he said.
Fort Worth-made pickles and whiskey may have found new customers more than 6,300 miles away in Nagaoka, Japan.

The presidents of Best Maid Pickles and TX Whiskey were part of a recent delegation to Nagaoka in celebration of a 30-year sister city relationship with Fort Worth.

Fort Worth Sister Cities International board member Carlo Capua was on the trip, too. Capua told NBC 5 the delegation hosted tastings with business leaders and supermarkets to introduce Fort Worth-made products to the Japanese market.

For Capua, the highlight of the trip was a special performance from a children's choir during the anniversary dinner celebration. The children performed Deep in the Heart of Texas for their Fort Worth guests.

"It was off the charts cute," said Capua.

Adults enjoy these international experiences, but its 10 times as enriching for students, said Capua. The fastest way to achieve peace is to bring our young generations together so they build bridges, not walls.

Do you have something good to share? Email your Tell Me Something Good Story with a photo or video to iSee@nbcdfw.com.
A brush fire in Laguna Beach and Aliso Viejo had been reduced to 150 acres with all evacuation orders lifted for Laguna Beach on Sunday evening.

The wind-driven Aliso Fire was 40 percent contained and at 150 acres as of approximately 6:30 p.m. Sunday, according to the Orange County Fire Authority.

Mandatory evacuation orders were lifted for Aliso Viejo around 9 p.m. Saturday, but around 300 homes and 600 residents remained evacuated as of around 10:20 a.m. Sunday, including residents in the Top of the World neighborhood of Laguna Beach, the Laguna Beach Police Department said.

Residents on the west or ocean side of Alta Laguna Boulevard were allowed to return to their homes as of 8 a.m., said Laguna Beach Emergency Operations Coordinator Jordan Villwock.

PHOTOS: Spring Wildfire Scorches Brush in Southern Orange County

"Although it doesn't seem like it's an active firefight right now, it actually is because there is the potential for growth," Orange County All Hazard Incident Team Capt. Thanh Nguyen said on Sunday morning, adding that afternoon winds could cause the fire to grow once again and that the scorching heat could pose a challenge to firefighters in full uniform.

Fortunately, that wasn't the case, as firefighters made progress and allowed residents to return home before sunset.

At one point, the fire forced mandatory evacuations of 2,145 homes and quickly grew to more than 250 acres on Saturday afternoon. The fire was first reported shortly after 1 p.m. and quickly grew from an original half-acre.

It burned in the Aliso Woods Canyon behind Soka University, the Orange County Fire Authority said. The blaze encompassed parts of both Laguna Beach and Aliso Viejo and forced evacuations in both communities.

The rapid growth of the fire was best illustrated when it more than doubled from 70 acres at approximately 4 p.m. to 150 acres at approximately 5 p.m. with zero percent containment, per the Laguna Beach Police Department.

At 5:30 p.m. on Saturday, the fire had burned 200 acres, and the Orange County Fire Authority updated that the fire had grown to more than 250 acres at approximately 6:30 p.m.

Residents in the Top of the World neighborhood all the way to Alta Laguna Park in Laguna Beach were evacuated as more than 400 firefighters battled flames.

Two firefighters were slightly injured in the firefight, Nguyen said, with one being taken to the hospital as a precautionary measure and the other being pulled from the fire line.
Police officers were called to a center in Brownsville, Texas, on Sunday when a Democratic senator tried to visit children who had been separated from their parents under the Trump administrations new policy toward families trying to enter the United States.

Sen. Jeff Merkley of Oregon says in a Facebook video that Casa Padre, a shelter run for the federal government by the non-profit Southwest Key Programs, was housing possibly hundreds of refugee children who had been removed from their parents. He arrived at what he said was a former Walmart after he was refused an official visit by the federal Office of Refuge Resettlement.

I think its unacceptable that a member of Congress is not being admitted to see whats happening to children whose families are applying for asylum, he says in the Facebook video.

U.S. Attorney General Jeff Sessions announced a zero tolerance policy last month intended to dissuade undocumented Central American families from trying to enter the U.S. Everyone crossing the border illegally is to be prosecuted and children will be separated from mothers or fathers who are jailed. Before most parents were allowed to remain with their children in family shelters while they awaited the disposition of asylum or deportation cases.

As of result of the new policy, officials are running out of space to shelter children who have been taken from their parents at the U.S. border, according to NBC News. As of Sunday, nearly 300 of the 550 children in custody at border stations had spent more than 72 hours there, the time limit set by the federal government for stays in temporary facilities. The stations often lack adequate bedding or separate places for children to sleep.

Administration officials said last month that the ramped up enforcement would apply only to people arrested while trying to enter the U.S. illegally. Families who seek asylum at a designated port of entry would not be separated, according to NBC News.

But on Friday, NBC News reported that some parents seeking asylum had been separated from their children by Immigration and Customs Enforcement officials, according to Pueblo Sin Fronteras, which leads migrants to the U.S. in caravans.

In the Facebook video, Merkley, who was accompanied by reporters, asks two unidentified staff members whether he can enter the building and then requests to speak to a supervisor. While he is waiting for the supervisor to come outside, police officers arrive.

When the supervisor emerges, he says he is not allowed to issue a statement and eventually asks Merkley to leave. The police officers speak briefly with the senator.

Im at an immigration detention center where children who have been separated from their families are being held. Trying to get inside to get answers. Follow live >>> https://t.co/CXDjYAFIcB #FamiliesBelongTogether #KeepFamiliesTogether  Senator Jeff Merkley (@SenJeffMerkley) June 4, 2018

Southwest Key Programs said in a statement that it regretted having to turn Merkley away, but that the U.S. Office of Refugee Resettlement prohibits any visits it has not approved. Southwest Key said it had contacted Merkley's staff about a possible visit.

With (Office of Refugee Resettlement) approval, Southwest Key shelters have welcomed elected and other public officials at our facilites in the past, and will continue to do so, because we are proud of the caring environment we provide these children."



It said that Casa Padre was not a detention facility, but a shelter for minors who had crossed the border unaccompanied by adults and that it was licensed by the Texas Department of Family and Protective Services.

The Administration for Children and Families, of which the Office of Refugee Resettlement is a part, said that no one who arrived unannounced at one of its shelters, even those claiming to be U.S. senators, would be permitted access to the children in its care.

Thankfully for the safety, security and dignity of the children being cared for there, they were denied access, it said in a statement.

The shelter that Merkley and five others tried to enter is for children who arrived in the United States unaccompanied by an adult, it said.

Senator Merkley should respect the (unaccompanied alien childrens) program and engage in the appropriate processes, as many of his colleagues have done before him, to visit (Office of Refugee Resettlement) facilities, it said. We would welcome him to engage in that process so that he may visit the facility to make headway on this important issue, rather than just headlines.

The Office of Refugee Resettlement is legally required to accept all unaccompanied children who have been apprehended and detained by other agencies. It provides for the childrens care until a sponsor is found, usually a relative, with whom they stay while their immigration cases are heard. About 85 percent of sponsors are parents or close relatives.

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services operates more 100 shelters in approximately 17 states. Children spend on average 51 days in a shelter.

The deputy White House press secretary, Hogan Gidley, accused Merkley of smearing hardworking, dedicated law enforcement officials.

No one is taking a public safety lecture from Sen. Merkley, whose own policies endanger children, empower human smugglers and drug cartels, and allow violent criminal aliens to flood into American communities, Gidley said.

Merkley responded that the White House was smearing him because it could not defend an indefensible policy of snatching children from their parents.

By doing so with taxpayer dollars, they are making all Americans complicit in this unconsciousnable action, he said. Americans have every right to full transparency about the cruelty being inflicted in our names.
What to Know 24 horses were killed in a barn fire at Mount Hope Training Center over the weekend

Trainer Don Billings trained 21 of the horses; he says he lost his "best friends" in the blaze, which is still under investigation

The horses, including Mystical Nectar and Tyler the Terror, raced all over, from Yonkers to the Poconos to Saratoga

Two dozen race horses were killed when a fire burned through a barn at a horse training center in upstate New York early Saturday morning, officials say.

Investigators are looking into what started the fire at Mount Hope Training Center in Middletown. The owner says 24 standard-bred racing horses were trapped and couldn't make it out alive.

Don Billings trained 21 of the horses, which raced everywhere from Yonkers to the Poconos to Saratoga. He said he got a call just before 3 a.m. from a worker screaming, "'The barn, the barn, the barn!'"

"I throw my shoes on, I run to the farm, and when I turned the bend, I could see the sky was orange," he said.



When Billings raced to the barn, he found his second home -- his livelihood -- burned to the ground.

Billings said he lost "21 of my closest friends" in the fire.

"They were part of my life," said Billings. "I just wish people would understand that, yes, they're animals, but you get attached to them."

Billings said he'll get back in the saddle as soon as he can. The horses were not insured, but despite the setback he plans to start over and keep training.

"I'm not stopping. I'm not gonna give up because if I do I'm gonna go nuts," he said.
Story Highlights Migrant acceptance higher among those who know migrants

Relationship holds in 134 out of 139 countries

The following findings are based on Gallup's paper, "Migrant Acceptance Index: A Global Examination of the Relationship Between Interpersonal Contact and Attitudes Toward Migrants," recently published in the international journal Border Crossing.

WASHINGTON, D.C. -- Simply knowing a migrant might go a long way to help counter stereotypes against them and ease migrants' integration in their adopted countries, new Gallup research suggests.

In 134 out of the 139 countries* Gallup recently surveyed, people scored higher on Gallup's Migrant Acceptance Index if they personally knew at least one migrant. Worldwide, the index score among people who know a migrant is 6.78 (out of a possible 9.0), while among those who don't personally know a migrant, it is 4.80.

Gallup created the Migrant Acceptance Index to gauge people's acceptance of migrants. The index is based on three questions Gallup asked in 138 countries in 2016 and in the U.S. and Canada in 2017. The questions ask whether people think migrants living in their country, becoming their neighbors and marrying into their families are good things or bad things. The higher the score, the more accepting the population is of migrants.

Scores on Gallup's first global deployment of this index ranged widely across the total 140 countries where these questions were asked in 2016 and 2017, from a high of 8.26 in Iceland to a low of 1.47 in Macedonia.

Least- and Most-Accepting Countries for Migrants Least accepting of migrants Most accepting of migrants Macedonia 1.47 Iceland 8.26 Montenegro 1.63 New Zealand 8.25 Hungary 1.69 Rwanda 8.16 Serbia 1.80 Canada 8.14 Slovakia 1.83 Sierra Leone 8.05 Israel 1.87 Mali 8.03 Latvia 2.04 Australia 7.98 Czech Republic 2.26 Sweden 7.92 Estonia 2.37 United States 7.86 Croatia 2.39 Nigeria 7.76 Note: Based on 138 countries surveyed in 2016; U.S. and Canada surveyed in 2017; top possible score is 9.0 Gallup World Poll

But regardless of whether countries were the least accepting or most accepting of migrants, scores in almost all countries were higher if there was interpersonal contact -- which was established by asking people if they personally know a migrant. Just five countries -- Afghanistan, Benin, Congo (Brazzaville), Malawi and the United Arab Emirates -- did not show evidence of the contact effect.

##SPEEDBUMP##

This effect emerged on six continents, across myriad language groups, and within samples made up of men and women, young and old, rich and poor, and educated and uneducated alike. Although these data do not allow us to determine the causal direction of the observed effects, it is likely that the effect works in both directions, as other researchers have demonstrated, but with the stronger effect moving from contact to attitudes.

Implications

An influential social psychological theory sheds some light on how migrants are perceived by those who choose to -- or choose not to -- interact with them. Allport's (1954) interpersonal contact theory states that direct interpersonal contact with members of minority and other social groups is one of the most effective ways to reduce stereotyping, prejudice and intergroup conflict. By inference, direct interpersonal contact with migrants ought to reduce stereotyping and prejudice against them and ease their transition and integration into the social fabric of their adopted countries.

With immigration taking such a high-profile position around the world, understanding which countries are predisposed to accept or reject migrants can help shed light on where immigration issues are likely to arise. More important, however, is the possibility that simple interpersonal contact with migrants can help moderate potential prejudice and discrimination across national boundaries, cultures and languages.

Anita Pugliese and Rajesh Srinivasan contributed to this analysis.

Read the full journal article.

*The question about knowing a migrant was not asked in Croatia.
A student accused of stabbing another high school student in a stairwell during the last week of classes is now in custody.

The 14-year-old student was taken in by police though he has not yet been offically charged, Upper Darby Chief of Police Michael Chitwood told NBC10.

The teen is accused of stabbing a 15-year-old Upper Darby High School freshman several times in the stairwell Monday. The victim suffered stab wounds to the back of the neck and head.

"He leaves the hallway, goes into the stairwell," Chitwood said. "As he goes into the stairwell, apparently he's assaulted and attacked by another student."

Investigators say the suspect and victim were arguing over a girl. The suspect will be charged with aggravated assault, simple assault and terroristic threats, officials said. He has no prior criminal record.

The victim was transported to the Lankenau Medical Center and went into surgery. He is listed as stable.



"School security is always something on my mind but they always have security guards all around," Hunter Danbury, a freshman at Upper Darby High School, told NBC10. "So I don't know how this student got the knife in."



The Upper Darby School District worked with local police on their criminal investigation, according to superintendent Dan Nerelli.

I am sorry to have to deliver such difficult news today and know that you will all join me in keeping our injured student in your thoughts and prayers, Nerelli said in an email to parents.

Chitwood told NBC10 surveillance video captured the aftermath and what led to the stabbing but not the actual incident.
Eight people were arrested after several brawls broke out at the Hamilton Mall Saturday.

Police were on patrol at the Hamilton Mall in Hamilton Township, New Jersey, for a report of an advertised fight on social media between teens. Several smaller fights occurred at the mall earlier in the day that led to the arrest of a teen girl who was charged with disorderly conduct.

Saturday shortly before 8 p.m., police received reports of large groups of teens gathering in several areas of the mall with one of the groups in the food court area.

"It was chaos," John Snyder, a witness, said. "I've never in my life seen something like that."

As police tried to escort several teens out of the mall for disorderly conduct, several chairs and other debris were thrown, officials said. Several fights also broke out.

"You didn't really see someone pick up the chair, you just saw the chairs flying through the air," Snyder said.

Snyder, who was with his 4-year-old son and 5-year-old daughter at the time, told NBC10 the police were outnumbered.

"There was pepper spray used to control the situation because I don't know what else they would have done," Snyder said.

A Hamilton Township police supervisor suffered a minor injury during the fight. He was treated at AtlantiCare Hospital and released.

Amir Vaughn, 18, of Mays Landing and Theron Parrish-Jordan, 18, of Mays Landing, were arrested and charged with disorderly conduct. Five other juvenile males were also arrested and charged with disorderly conduct and resisting arrest.

Hamilton Mall does not limit the number of teens allowed inside at once or require parental supervision. It has zero tolerance policies for fighting, threats, obscenities or causing a disturbance.

Police say additional charges are pending further investigation. If you have any information on the brawl, please call Det. Perna at 609-625-2700 x 542.
The Atlantic hurricane season was devastating for the United States in 2017. Damage from hurricanes Harvey, Irma and Maria cost the United States $267 billion.

But scientists are now working to find out: Is there a link between those superstorms and our warming oceans? Could this be the new normal?

Im concerned when hurricanes are used as the poster child for global warming, said Dr. Chris Landsea, who is the science and operations officer at the National Hurricane Center in Miami.

Its very difficult to say how hurricanes are now versus 100 years ago. Were still challenged today in knowing how strong a hurricane is, even in 2018, said Landsea.

Landsea understands the climate is changing and the oceans are warming, but doesnt see a direct link to the frequency or intensity of storms.

Theres periods where its busy and quiet and busy and quiet, but no trend, said Landsea, Theres no statistical change over a 130-year period. Since 1970, the number of hurricanes globally is flat. I havent seen anything that suggests that the hurricane intensity is going to change dramatically. It looks like a pretty tiny change to how strong hurricanes will be. Its not zero, but its in the noise level. Its very small.

But many, including the United Nations Intergovernmental panel on climate change dont agree.

At the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, some of the most advanced research on the effects of global warming on extreme weather is being done at their department of earth, atmospheric and planetary sciences.

Youll find that in any scientific discipline, theres controversy. Its actually what drives the profession forward, said Dr. Kerry Emanual, an MIT professor, and is one of the worlds leading scientists studying hurricanes. He argues the influence of climate change is much more pronounced.

Frequency, we see nothing at all. And the best most honest answer is  we dont know, said Emanual. The intensity is a little bit different. Models are more unanimous about that. 30 years ago, a 210 mph hurricane would not have even been possible. Today its possible. It might be rare, but you have one where you didnt have one before. The category fours and fives seem to be increasing.

Its a troubling trend, but one that seems to be bolstered by recent research. Rapid intensification usually found in major hurricanes has likely increased in the Atlantic Ocean since 1970 and may be more common due to global warming.

One study shows a 70 mph increase in 24 hours happens only once a century. But by 2100, that same intensification could happen once every five to ten years.

This cap on wind speed is projected to keep going up so it will become possible to have more intense storms, said Emanuel. Some people have talked about coming up with category 6. We may need to do that.

Storms over the past five years have been continually breaking records around the glove, like Hyann in the Philippines and Patricia in Mexico.

Hurricane Irma, which battered South Florida, set a global record for the longest sustained category five winds.

Were all pretty confident that were going to see higher incidents of the rare high category events and were already arguably beginning to see that, said Emanuel.

But Dr. Landsea doesnt share that confidence.

It shows stronger hurricanes but how much of that is real and how much of that is technology? Thats a difficult question to answer, said Landsea.

Other recent studies show a trend for hurricanes to move slower, which along with the ability for warmer air to hold more moisture, it can lead to considerably more rain and flooding, similar to Harvey in Houston.

And when it comes to seawater, we can expect to see a higher risk from storm surges.

We have high confidence in an increased risk from storm surges if only because sea level is going up, thats for sure, said Emanuel.

And with many wanting to live or enjoy amenities on the coast, that increases the chances for heavy damage.

Theres a lot more stuff that can be destroyed if a hurricane comes ashore and the potential for a lot of people to get hurt or killed if they dont evacuate in time, said Landsea.

Scientists also fear what they call the Gray Swan, a now theoretically possible storm that is stronger than anything ever recorded  one that could decimate a coastal area.

Tampa is something were worried about because it has a large population. Its very low-lying and they havent had a really big storm since the 1920s. Were all worried about Tampa.
Virginians will cast their primary ballots in mid-June, and voters should remember a few things as they head to the polls.

Polling stations will be open June 12. There is no early voting in Virginia, and absentee ballots must be requested by Tuesday before 5 p.m. They can be requested from the Virginia Department of Elections citizen portal.

A list of polling places can be found here.

Voters can choose Democratic and Republican candidates for a variety of offices, including for the House of Representatives and the U.S. Senate. There also will be a variety of local races.

To find out who is on the local ballots, the elections department has created an online lookup tool.

Dont forget that Virginia voters must bring a photo ID such as a valid drivers license or identification card to the polls.
After a local mother learned how to provide therapy for her autistic son, her love and attention didnt stop there. Now children all over the region benefit from her selflessness.

Kendra McDonald has worked with children with developmental delays at the Aurora Behavior Clinic in Leesburg, Virginia, for a decade. She was introduced to applied behavior analysis therapy when her son Cannon was diagnosed with autism at 8 years old.

So when they said 40 hours a week at about $100 an hour, thats a lot of money, so I signed up for one of the hours and said, Show me what youre doing, and I did the same thing, McDonald said.

She became caretaker and therapist for Cannon and loved the work so much, she decided to make it her fulltime job. She went to school and got certified while taking care of her family and Cannon.

In 10 years, shes helped hundreds of kids.

Some children learn quickly, McDonald said, while others take years, but McDonald never gives up on a child.

Two-year-old Wyatt has autism and is learning to become more verbal.

Hes actually showing us some of the things he wants, whereas before he couldnt communicate as much, said his mother, Catherine Jones. And its only been a month since hes been coming here, and already Im seeing the changes in him.

McDonald also helps train other moms how to care for their autistic children.

Theyre teaching me different techniques every day, Jones said. We were very lucky that Kendra spoke with us and was very helpful to getting our son Wyatt services as quickly as possible.

McDonald said her experience as a mom with an autistic son makes her a better therapist.

Im so blessed with my son and how far hes come, and the time that we get to spend together is so precious I want other families to have that with their kids even if they have developmental delays or autism, she said.

McDonald has developed her own curriculum she uses with more than 35 students at the Aurora Behavior Clinic.

This summer, that curriculum will be the basis for a social skills camp to teach children with developmental delays how to interact with one another.
North Korean leader Kim Jong Un is known for pushing the envelope with threats and bluster as he seeks to leverage his nuclear weapons program into security and economic benefits for his country. But lately he's gained notoriety for his envelopes alone.

President Donald Trump on Friday declared that his on-and-off summit with Kim was on again. The announcement came after Trump hosted a senior North Korean envoy at the White House and he delivered a personal letter from Kim that was inside a white envelope nearly as large as a folded newspaper.

Trump has not yet revealed what was written in the letter, but he sure seemed happy to get it. A photo showed a grinning Trump holding up the envelope alongside Kim Yong Chol, the most senior North Korean to visit the White House in 18 years, as they posed in the Oval Office in front of a portrait of Thomas Jefferson.

The photo made rounds on social media, where theories abound about why Kim would have sent Trump what seemed like a comically oversized letter.

Did Kim, a third-generation heredity leader, think Trump would share his love for lavish gestures and things grandiose? After spending months trading insults and war threats with him, has Kim learned that the way to influence Trump is to appeal to his ego  something South Korean President Moon Jae-in seemed to try in April when he openly vouched for Trump as a candidate for the Nobel Peace Prize?

No one outside North Korea likely knows the real reason for the letter's size. It could just be that's how Kim likes it.

Moon, who lobbied hard for nuclear negotiations between Trump and Kim, received a letter of similar size from Kim during February's Winter Olympics in which he expressed a desire for an inter-Korean summit.

Kim's to letter to Moon was personally delivered by Kim's sister, who attended the Olympics as a special envoy, and was covered by a blue folder emblazoned with a golden seal.

Analysts say the gesture of sending the letter itself is part of the meticulous steps North Korea is taking to present Kim as a legitimate international statesman who is reasonable and capable of negotiating solutions and making deals.

Following a provocative 2017 in which his engineers tested a purported thermonuclear warhead and long-range missiles that could target American cities, Kim has engaged in a flurry of diplomatic activity in recent months in what's seen as an attempt to break out of isolation and obtain relief from sanctions decimating his country's economy.

While trying to communicate its willingness to embrace Western diplomatic norms, Pyongyang has put in painstaking efforts to maintain reciprocity with Washington and Seoul, said Yang Moo-jin, a professor at the University of North Korean Studies in Seoul.

Kim Yong Chol's trip to Washington was clearly a response to U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo's travelling to Pyongyang, North Korea's capital, twice in recent weeks for pre-summit negotiations with Kim. Likewise, Kim's letter to Trump would have been a reciprocal response to Trump's own letter to Kim on May 24 that temporarily shelved the highly anticipated meeting, Yang said.

In his letter printed on White House stationery, Trump, in an uncharacteristically warm and congenial tone, said he was canceling the summit because of North Korea's harsh comments about U.S. officials. But he also told Kim "please do not hesitate to call me or write."

North Korea then issued an unusually conciliatory response to Trump's letter, with senior diplomat Kim Kye Gwan saying in a statement that Pyongyang had "highly appreciated" Trump's willingness to hold a summit, calling it a "bold decision, which any other U.S. presidents dared not." Hours later, Trump said the summit was potentially back on.

Kim's letter to Trump on Friday will probably borrow much of the language from the statement of his vice foreign minister, said Koh Yu-hwan, a North Korea expert at Seoul's Dongguk University.

"Kim would begin by praising Trump's leadership and his 'bold decision' to build up the summit," said Koh, who is also a policy adviser to the South Korean president. "He will then talk about denuclearization, ending hostility and normalizing relations between the countries."

Because of the directness and weight of formality they provide, Kim might see personal letters as an important way to communicate with leaders of countries the North never had close ties with, Koh said.

This sets Kim apart from his father and grandfather, who were never bold proponents of letter diplomacy and mostly limited the exchange of letters and telegrams with traditional ally Beijing and, to a lesser extent, Moscow.

It remains unclear whether North Korean Vice Marshal Jo Myong Rok was carrying a letter from the late Kim Jong Il, the second North Korean leader, when he visited former President Bill Clinton at the White House in 2000.
New England Patriots Rob Gronkowski was among those who attended this year's Buzz Off For Kids With Cancer at Gillette Stadium in Foxboro, Massachusetts.

Gronkowski joined others at One Mission's event Sunday to raise money for children fighting cancer while also boosting their confidence.

The Patriots player got in on the fun, allowing kids to give him a buzz.

I was just hoping they didnt get me bleeding in the back or something with the buzzer, Gronk said. Just so awesome to see all these kids, what theyre going through. To see the smile on their face, to see their friends, to see their family just having a blast out here."

Gronkowski posted before and after photos to Twitter following the event, joking that his "fresh new summer cut" will make him "so much faster."

Ill be so much faster now! Thanks @buzzforkids for the fresh new summer cut! Great day with the kids #7xbuzzee #buzzforkids pic.twitter.com/mUXTunzXWs  Rob Gronkowski (@RobGronkowski) June 3, 2018

Kelly Santoro was also proud to show off her new cut.

We just kind of wanted kids to be able to realize that just because they dont have any hair doesnt mean its anything wrong with them, Santoro said.

People waited in line close to an hour to get a buzz cut, but that didnt bother Parker Webber, who had a special reason for participating this year.

My mom had breast cancer a year ago. It inspired me to grow my hair and cut it, Webber said.

Webber's mom, Melissa, said, Ive taught my kids to be brave and be strong no matter what theyre faced with. He wants to do this today for kids so Im proud of him. Hes raised over $3,400 dollars.

The annual event helps families deal with the extra costs that come with having a child with cancer in the hospital. It's something founder Ashley Haseotes understands well.

My first born had cancer when he was a baby and Im lucky that he survived and this is my way of giving back to the community and being able to help people that I know what theyre going through, Haseotes said.

The organization has raised more than $700,000 in donations so far. Come July, they expect to raise $1-million.

For more information on the event, click here.
North Carolina's Court of Appeals has rejected a Massachusetts woman's plans to complete work on her 24-bedroom rental home on the Outer Banks.

A three-judge panel unanimously ruled against Elizabeth LeTendre of Needham Heights, reversing a trial court decision. Her attorney tells The Daily Advance of Elizabeth City he plans to appeal to the North Carolina Supreme Court.

LeTendre says the $4.6 million house north of Corolla is a single-family home, which neighbors have contested. The house is at least 95 percent complete.

The Appeals Court opinion says LeTendre gambled the trial court decision would stand and lost. It acknowledges "the consequences of delaying construction may have also been harsh and plaintiff had to make a difficult choice, but the choice was hers to make."
A 67-year-old woman died in a scuba diving incident at a beach in Hull, Massachusetts on Sunday, the Plymouth County District Attorney announced.

Emergency personnel responded to Nantasket Beach around 1:03 p.m. Sunday after receiving two 911 calls for a swimmer in distress.

The woman, who has been identified as Nancy Siegel, of Dedham, was pulled from the ocean by responding authorities.

Life-saving measures were performed at the beach before Siegel was transported to South Shore Hospital where she was pronounced dead just after 2 p.m.

Siegel, a certified scuba diver, was with a group of scuba divers on Sunday.

Paul Daley, a property manager at the Atlantic Hill Condominiums, says this is the time of year when divers take advantage of everything the ocean has to offer, but in his 20 years living nearby, he says nothing like this has ever happened on Nantasket Beach.

A medical examiner will determine Siegel's exact cause of death. It's not immediately clear why she became distressed, and the circumstances around her death remain unclear.

The Massachusetts State Police dive team has spent hours Sunday near the rocky coastline attempting to recover Siegel's dive equipment, which was removed in the water by rescuers during the incident. Once recovered, the equipment will be examined, which is standard protocol in an event like this.

The incident remains under investigation.
One of the Lawrence, Massachusetts, boys who was raped by Wayne Chapman in 1977 spoke publicly for the first time after a judge denied his lawyer's petition seeking to stop Chapman's release from prison.

Lawyer Wendy Murphy presented Steve at the Monday news conference, and he spoke about how his happy-go-lucky life was forever changed after Chapman raped him as an 11-year-old.

"That day, I was introduced to fear, pain, anger, resentment, guilt, shame," he said. "I was given a life sentence that day, and I think the offender should be given the same."

A judge has denied Murphy's petition seeking to stop the release of Chapman, a convicted serial child rapist who has been in state custody for more than 40 years.

Murphy said she is asking for an emergency injunction against Chapman's release and has asked the Supreme Judicial Court to review the case.



Chapman, 70, was sent to prison in 1977 for raping two boys in Lawrence. He has spent years trying to be released, but until now, he was always found to be too dangerous.

Earlier this year, two experts testified that Chapman was no longer sexually dangerous, meaning the Department of Corrections has to set him free.

Steve says the past two weeks have been especially difficult, as he's been haunted by the news of Chapman's pending release from prison.

"I don't want him out. I don't want him on the street," Steve said. "If I can at least keep him off the street, at least he'll go to his grave knowing I did something. He ruined my life, I owe him that."



Murphy, who is representing some of Chapman's victims, filed a petition last month in Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court, saying her clients had not been given the mandatory minimum 14-day notification.

"The petitioners, victims of Chapman's horrible crimes, are understandably upset and frightened by the possibility of Chapman's release," Associate Justice Scott L. Kafker wrote in his ruling. But he said the issue of 14-day notice is no longer an issue because 14 days have now passed and Chapman has not yet been released.

Kafker also rejected Murphy's objection to the appointment process of the two forensic psychologists who evaluted Chapman, and the fact that there was no judicial review of their opinions that he is no longer sexually dangerous.

Chapman's attorney, Eric Tennen, told NBC10 Boston Monday that they have still not secured housing for Chapman upon his release. They are currently looking at a treatment center or nursing home that can help with his medical needs.

Fifty-four pages of Chapman's mental health evaluations were released Friday following a judge's order that the reports be reviewed before he is released.

One of the experts, forensic psychologist Katrin Rouse Weir, wrote that while Chapman "continues to report a vulnerability to experiencing sexualized interest in prepubescent male children," he is unlikely to do so again because of his physical limitations.

"He lacks the physical ability to independently transport himself to circumstances where he could isolate male children and physically overcome their resistance to sexually assault them," she said. "He also lacks the energy and capacity to engage in a complex set of physical actions in order to sexually assault 10-to-12-year-old boys. This does not mean that there is no risk to potential for sexual re-offense, however, in my opinion it is unlikely."

The other expert, forensic psychologist Gregg A. Belle, also said Chapman's age and deteriorating physical condition  he suffers from Parkinson's disease  make him unlikely to re-offend.

Belle said he agrees with concerns raised by others that Chapman "absolutely cannot be in an environment with access to children and that he is likely exaggerating the extent of some of his physical and cognitive limitations."

Still, he said, "the combination of Mr. Chapman's age and his deteriorating physical condition resulting in him no longer being able to manage independently has reached a threshold in which I can no longer opine that Mr. Chapman is likely to reoffend sexually if not confined to a secure facility. Therefore, it is my opinion that he is no longer a sexually dangerous person."

Gov. Charlie Baker has called the recommendation to release Chapman "enormously problematic," and said he plans to file legislation to prevent those who have been civilly committed from being released without going before a jury or judge.

In a statement Monday night, Gov. Baker said, "The administration does not support the release of Mr. Chapman and plans to file legislation to increase penalties and improve court proceedings for sexually dangerous persons."



Court documents show that Chapman had roughly 50 victims over a 10-year span, and he is believed to have molested many of them in wooded areas by luring them there to help him find a phony dog.

Chapman also remains the main suspect in the 1976 disappearance of Andy Puglisi, a 10-year-old boy who was never seen again after heading to a Lawrence pool.
A 24-year-old swimmer went missing Sunday evening in Springfield, Massachusetts.

Police responded to a woman's 911 call just before 5:45 p.m. to the Indian Leap area of the Chicopee River for a report of a missing man.

The woman reported her husband was swimming when he got tired and was swept into the middle of the river by a fast current where he was last seen before going under.

The Springfield Police Department spent hours searching Sunday, but what began as a rescue has become a recovery mission for the man's body.

The search was suspended for the night late Sunday, and authorities say they will resume the search Monday morning.



Four divers were on scene Sunday, along with Springfield police and Massachusetts State Police.

The man has not been identified.
A parachutist injured in an accident over the weekend in western Massachusetts has died.

The woman was parachuting in Orange, Massachusetts on Saturday when she veered off course and collided with a barn on South Main Street, suffering serious injuries, according to the Northwestern District Attorney's Office.

She was taken to Athol Memorial Hospital and later transported to UMass Memorial Medical Center in Worcester.

She died Monday at the hospital.

The victim was identified Wednesday as 27-year-old Alexis Zayas of Long Island, New York.

The matter remains under investigation by Orange Police and the district attorney's office.
There's little need to tell anyone in IT that the Internet of Things (IoT) is a big deal and that it's growing insanely fast; BI Intelligence estimates that there will be some 23.3 billion IoT devices by 2019. As IoT support becomes more of an enterprise concern, there are four key issues about enterprise IoT (EIoT) deployments to consider:

The sheer number of enterprise IoT endpoint devices  There will be 1 billion by 2019. The frequency of data generated IoT devices  IDC estimates that by 2025, an average connected person anywhere in the world will interact with connected devices nearly 4,800 times per day or one interaction every 18 seconds. The incredible volume of IoT data  Of the 163 zettabytes (that's 1021bytes) of data that will be created in 2025, IDC estimates that 60% will be from IoT endpoints and half of that (roughly 49 zettabytes) will be stored in enterprise data centers. The challenges of maintaining security for your device constellation  IDC estimates that by 2025, 45% of the stored enterprise data will be sensitive enough to require being secured but will not be.

Now, if you're an early adopter, you may have already built your own IoT infrastructure and your endpoint-device deployment may well be underway. You'll have discovered that the do-it-yourself approach is non-trivial in the enterprise IoT world. On the other hand, if you're about to enter the IoT world and you'd rather not build a homegrown solution, then what are your platform choices? To make your research easier, we have complied a collection of six of the leading enterprise IoT platforms that can not only do the job but do so at enterprise scale.

Mark Gibbs Generalized internet of things architecture

Building blocks of enterprise IoT

But before we get to the offerings, let's look at the building blocks of enterprise IoT. First, consider the type or types of endpoint devices you'll be using. There are now literally thousands of off-the-shelf products that can be used for prototyping, tracking vehicles and products, monitoring environmental conditions, controlling equipment, or reporting on the status of all sorts of things. You name it, there's probably a device waiting for you to use and, as the majority of platforms are device agnostic, there's not much to constrain your choice of EIoT platform. That said, a few platforms were designed to only support specific devices and in some cases that support is only for a single type of device (for example, see the Amazon AWS IoT Button).

Alternatively, you might have to "roll your own" and build IoT functionality into your existing processes and products. When it comes to endpoint hardware there are literally hundreds of single-board computers now available (such as Arduino, Raspberry Pi and SolidRun's HummingBoard-Gate) or you could choose any other device with more smarts than an electric toothbrush. For communications, you can use an industry standard protocol such as MQTT, HTTP/HTTPS, AMQP, XMPP, DDS, and CoAP (see the sidebar "Communications Protocols and Technologies"), and you'll have no trouble finding a compatible EIoT platform. Alternatively, if your endpoint devices use protocols or media that aren't supported, you can use IoT gateways to convert from whatever protocol and media the devices use to enable communication with an EIoT platform.

Fog computing and IoT

Next comes an optional layer of intermediate services, often called fog computing, that sits between the endpoint devices and the cloud (this is a major marketing battle zone so you'll find a lot of alternative names used for this layer). In the fog-computing layer, functions such as data aggregation, filtering and processing can be used to optimize communications bandwidth. For example, only sending critical data or summaries to improve communications performance to reduce data costs or reducing what would be a cloud-processing load such as machine learning or performing statistical analyses.

Examples of fog computing products include Cisco's Fog Data Services and Microsoft's Azure IoT Edge, although the latter focuses on moving the filtering and processing functions onto the device itself which really makes it an additional endpoint-device layer rather than what is generally considered to be fog computing. Whether you need fog computing will depend on the endpoint device choices you make and the communications limitations in the deployment environment.

It's worth pointing out that in IoT situations that require real-time or near-real-time interactions  for example, closing a valve when a liquid level is reached  you either have to have devices smart enough to respond and control the event with little or no delay or rely on fog computing to handle the sensor data and issue a control signal to an actuator.

Typically, the latency from endpoint devices to fog-computing services will be in the range of milliseconds to seconds. Compare that delay to a latency in the range of seconds to minutes connecting devices or fog computing services to an EIoT platform and you can see that fog computing has an important role in real-world environments.

IoT gateways

Another service you'll find in fog computing systems is IoT gateways. One of the most common uses of IoT gateways is to bridge from endpoint devices that, for example, connect over Wi-Fi to another medium such as an Ethernet network or cellular service. Gateways can also translate between protocols. For example, they might convert HTTP requests or a custom protocol from endpoint devices to MQTT messages.

Hosted IoT platforms

Finally, we reach the enterprise IoT platform core in the cloud. This will be a hosted Platform as a Service (PaaS) providing a publish-subscribe (pub-sub) or request-response (RR) message-brokering system. Which messaging pattern you'll use will depend on the available protocols given your devices and their constraints and performance. (For a serious discussion on the two communication patterns, see the paper, A Communication Model to Integrate the Request-Response and the Publish-Subscribe Paradigms into Ubiquitous Systems.)

IoT digital twins

A feature many EIoT platforms offer is virtual endpoint devices. A variety of names are used for these virtual devices; for example, AWS IoT Core calls them "device shadows" while Microsoft calls them "twins." Virtual endpoint devices are documents or database records that allow other devices to interact with the last known or predicted future state of the actual device even when it isn't connected. So, for example, if an endpoint device is setting the temperature of a water bath to 200 degrees but the device has to disconnect for some reason and might not reconnect until after the water bath has reached the target temperature, the virtual version can be set to show the target temperature and target time that it will be reached. Other devices that have to interact with the water bath can now read the device future target state without the measuring device being online.

Enterprise IoT security

There's one more critically important aspect of IoT architectures that applies to all layers: security. Given the problems and liability issues that unsecured IoT products have caused such as the massive 2016 Distributed Denial of Service (DDoS) attack on the DNS service management company, Dyn, Inc., robust security is absolutely required and all of the EIoT solutions we cover here have serious security baked in.

So, which enterprise IoT platform will meet your needs best? The bottom line is that successful enterprise IoT solutions require careful engineering starting with the endpoint devices, through the fog computing layer to the cloud and finally, to the EIoT platform. Then, when the data are captured by the EIoT platform, how they're handled, processed, and stored once they get there will determine the data's manageability and actionability and, therefore, the cost and value of your EIoT system.

Amazon AWS IoT

AWS AWS IoT Core dashboard

At the heart of Amazon's IoT offerings is the AWS IoT Core, built around a publish/subscribe message-broker service that supports HTTP 1.1, WebSockets and MQTT version 3.1.1 with X.509 mutual authentication, encryption and granular privileges. The broker is front-ended by the Device Gateway, which manages active device connections and handles protocol semantics. Amazon claims the gateway can scale automatically to support over one billion devices. Alongside these features is the Registry, which assigns a unique identity for each device and tracks device metadata such as attributes and qualities, and, optionally, virtual devices (device shadows).

AWS IoT is hardware agnostic so the AWS IoT SDKs provide tools to support pretty much any endpoint devices you might want to use. There are SDKs for Android, Arduino Yun, embedded C and C++, iOS, Java, JavaScript and Python, and they include open-source libraries, developer guides, sample code and porting guides.

The final feature that completes the AWS IoT Core is the Rules Engine that parses inbound messages, transforms them as required and, based on rules you define, routes them to a service or device. The services include all of the Amazon AWS service endpoints including AWS Lambda (cloud code hosting), Amazon Kinesis (real-time big-data handling and analysis), Amazon S3 (massive-scale object storage), Amazon Machine Learning, Amazon DynamoDB (a NoSQL database service), Amazon CloudWatch (AWS cloud monitoring), Amazon Elasticsearch Service with built-in Kibana visualization and Amazon Simple Notification Service. With this collection of tools and services you can build IoT systems at global scale.

AWS IoT 1-Click

Amazon Web Services also offers a unique IoT platfo
During the late 20th century, industrial technology providers focused on delivering complete, turnkey solutions by themselves. The thought was that to effectively address highly specialized and complex environments, a vertically integrated approach would produce a better outcome.

Today, that mindset has drastically shifted.

The accelerated pace of technology innovation has driven end customers to question this single-vendor model. Now, customers are increasingly embracing the open model involving multiple partners developing solutions based on open standards and the latest technology. Such solutions are typically better future-proofed, more cost effective and agile.

Welcome to the 21st century, where opportunities are enabled by collaboration, co-development, co-marketing and co-innovation. Welcome to the co-economy, and its co-everything approach.

In the co-economy, single vendor, end-to-end, custom solutions are being replaced by market-leading offerings from multiple horizontal, vertical and regional specialists. These solutions are based on open standards and tested for interoperability. At the same time, vertical integration has given way to broad ecosystems of collaborating partnersvendors, customers, startups, integrators and services providerswho work together to co-develop and integrate these best-of-breed solutions.

This new model is finally arriving in a business environment that demands speed, improved customer service, greater agility, better responsiveness, lower costs and compelling customer experiences. Clearly, no company can meet these rapidly changing needs by itself.

Broaden your circle

The co-economy is changing how we think about the roles of our technology vendors, integrators, customers and partners. Depending on the mix of tasks at a given time, a company can play any or all of these roles. In addition, the co-economy is reshaping internal processes, reaching across organizational barriers and driving collaboration among previously isolated business units. For example, information technology (IT) and operational technology (OT) are coming together around the Internet of Things (IoT), which requires the network and security expertise of IT, and the domain expertise of OT.

No matter your role in the technology ecosystem, its time to broaden your circle of cooperation, finding new ways to work with new kinds of partners. After all, new co-development models are customer-centric, and customers IT departments arent the only ones looking to co-innovate  their lines of business (LOBs) also want to work with you on solutions that deliver specific business outcomes. Thus, vendors need to form ecosystems of partnerships that focus on customers business challenges rather than their own technical offerings.

This shifting landscape is reshaping entire industries. For example, the transportation, manufacturing and technology sectors have long-resided in separate universes. Today, companies as diverse as Mercedes, Google and Uber are racing to develop innovations like the self-driving car. These formerly separate industries are chasing the same pools of talent to work on different sides of the same innovation effort.

Work together, win together

Think of the co-economy as a mindset, a process and a value proposition by which organizations partner with other organizations, combining their skills, talents and resources for anything from a one-off project to an ongoing initiative.

A good example of a co-economy in action involves an IoT disaster management solution in Glasgow, Scotland, delivered by an ecosystem of partners and stakeholders. For this project, Cisco (disclosure: I am employed by Cisco) brought its horizontal expertise in IT infrastructure, collaboration and security, along with deep IT industry knowledge. Bronze Labs, (also a horizontal provider) offered IoT software, and Leonardo (a vertical expert) provided high-tech aerospace and defense expertise. The three companies worked with geographic players such as Scottish Water and the Glasgow City Council to ensure the project fit local needs. The result is a hyperlocal IoT solution that collects and visualizes data from fire engines, ambulances and volunteer networks to predict and help coordinate first responders during disaster situations  a solution that none of these partners could deliver alone.

Keep in mind that the overriding purpose of any co-economy initiative is to anticipate and satisfy the customers current and future needs. Therefore, the customer is quite often a key collaborator. In other words, when you start with the customer and co-create with them throughout the development lifecycle, youll find new ways to develop products and services, and new ways to create value. And, when a customers customers become yours too, the co-economy offers many new ways to prosper.

Here are just a few examples of how the co-economy delivers immediate measureable business value:

Faster time to market through parallel innovation and development

Better, more and faster innovation by engaging multiple collaborative teams

Improved quality with multiple hands checking the work

Reduced costs through sharing financial burdens

Expanded customer satisfaction and service by delivering what the customer wants faster

Reduced risk with more partners sharing and mitigating the risks

You can add greater creativity, completely new business processes and more options tomorrow that werent even imagined today  the sky is the limit.

By embracing the co-economy, your organizations processes and culture around co-development will change. Youll dismantle silos and develop a strong ecosystem of partners that complement your companys strengths. Most importantly, as you work together to solve customers business challenges, youll become the new winners in the 21st century co-economy.
Series reflects on the Common's military and natural history

Photo  Lee Sainsbury // Oxygen Photography

The extraordinary history of Greenham Common and its unique natural environment will be shared in a series of fascinating, free talks at Greenham Common Control Tower during the summer months. They will give people the opportunity to visit the Grade II listed building ahead of its opening as a visitor heritage attraction in September.



The talks will reflect the military history of Greenham Common, its national and international significance and the Commons ecology, nature and wildlife.

Tim Prince of the Royal International Air Tattoo will describe the days when the Air Tattoo was held on the Common in Can We Borrow Your Airfield? on Wednesday (June 6).

Jonathan Sayers will talk about the history of the Commons airfield on June 26, while the restoration of the Common from military base back to its natural environment will be described by Alex Cruickshank and Ed Cooper in A Special Place For Wildlife - The Story of the Restoration of Greenham and Cookham Commons on July 18.

Greenham Common as a place for protest will be reflected in Why we stayed and what we achieved: Greenham Common Womens Peace Camp 1981 - 1993 by Juley Howard and Lynette Edwell on August 1. The myths surrounding civilian evacuation in wartime will be dispelled by Dr Martin Parsons in Ill Take That One on August 8, and Colonel Mike Relphs talk on August 29 is called The Kennet Valley at War. All talks start at 7.30pm. Please book your free tickets in advance.



Funding received from the Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF), made possible by money raised by National Lottery players, has enabled the programme of talks and will also be used to train volunteers and to plan and launch new exhibits and interpretations of Greenham Commons history at the Control Tower. A series of ticketed live interpretation events marking the official opening of Greenham Common Control Tower will take place from September 8 to 16. Booking at cornexchangenew.com/events.



There will be a fundraising quiz night at Greenham Common Control Tower on Saturday, June 30 at 7.30pm. Tickets are 1.50. You can find out more and book tickets here.

Listings and booking information



All events take place at Greenham Common Control Tower



Can We Borrow Your Airfield? - June 6, 7.30pm - Book here.

A History of Greenham Common Airfield - June 26, 7.30pm - Book here.

A Special Place for Wildlife - The Story of the Restoration of Greenham and Cookham Commons - July 18 - Book hereBook here.

.

Why we stayed and what we achieved: Greenham Common Womens Peace Camp 1981 - 1993 - August 1 -

Ill Take That One. Dispelling The Myths of Civilian Evacuation in Wartime Britain - August 8 - Book here.Book here.

The Kennet Valley at War - August 29 -
The New Milford Trust for Historic Preservation is offering a number of grants to New Milford property owners who plan to paint the exterior of their buildings.

Grants of up to $400 may be available to homes or buildings that qualify.
African-American men with advanced prostate cancer might be more responsive than white men to an anti-androgen drug and steroids, according to a study led by Duke Cancer Institute researchers.

While median survival was similar for both black and white participants in the study, the findings suggests that racial determinants may factor into the degree of response in patients. This difference could help drive strategies to improve outcomes in those who respond better to the drugs.

"African-Americans have a 2.5 times greater chance of dying from prostate cancer compared to whites," said Daniel George, M.D., director of Duke's Prostate & Urologic Cancer program, who presented the findings at the 2018 annual meeting of the American Society of Clinical Oncology in Chicago.

"Our study provides prospective evidence that there might be inherited genes that could affect treatment response and track with African ancestry in prostate cancer patients," George said. "We need to look closely at the underlining genetic differences that associate with treatment response and build on that to improve survival for these patients."

George and colleagues enrolled 50 black men and 50 white men in a prospective, multi-center study. All participants had metastatic, recurrent prostate cancer and were treated with the anti-hormone therapy abiraterone and the steroid prednisone.

Responses to therapy, measured by a decline in prostate-specific antigen, or PSA, differed by race. For the African-American men, PSA levels declined at higher rates than they did for white patients and remained stable for a median 16.6 months, compared to 11.5 months for the white participants.

The changes in disease progression were less striking; both groups had a median time to radiographic progression of 16.8 months. Still, the authors said the study suggests a potential strategy for new therapies and hormonal treatment regimens that could narrow the prostate cancer survival disparity between blacks and whites.

"This is the first prospective multicenter study by race of an anti-androgen hormonal therapy in advanced prostate cancer," George said. "Further prospective studies in African-American patients are possible and needed to understand the impact of racial determinants on outcome of new hormonal regimens in earlier disease settings."
In just a few short months, hospitals across the country will start their annual push to make sure their workers get vaccinated against influenza, to protect themselves and others. Memories of the last flu season  one of the worst in years  still linger.

A new study shows a rapid rise in the percentage of hospitals that require the vaccine  except among those that focus on treating the nation's military veterans.

In two surveys taken four years apart, the percentage of Veterans Affairs hospitals that have a flu vaccine mandate rose only slightly, from 1 percent in 2013 to 4 percent in 2017, the study shows.

But at the same time, the percentage of non-VA hospitals requiring flu shots rose from 44 percent to nearly 70 percent.

The study, by a team from the University of Michigan and VA Ann Arbor Healthcare System, is published in JAMA Network Open, a new open-access journal from the publishers of the Journal of the American Medical Association.

"In just four years, the non-VA hospitals have really stepped up on requiring the vaccine, rather than just encouraging it," says Todd Greene, Ph.D., M.P.H., the U-M and VA researcher who led the study. "Studies have shown that vaccination mandates, coupled with an option of declining vaccination in favor of wearing a mask, are most effective in reaching high percentages of vaccination."

Short of a mandate, all VA hospitals have a general goal of increasing flu vaccination among their health care workers, and a national VA directive last fall set an expectation that employees would get vaccinated or wear a mask when caring for patients during flu season.

While the flu vaccine does not offer total protection against getting the flu, it can also reduce the severity of symptoms among those who do get infected. Each year, the flu leads to tens of thousands of deaths, hundreds of thousands of hospitalizations, and millions of outpatient visits and lost work and school days.

Flu prevention: a mixed record

Among all hospitals without a mandate, efforts to prevent the flu virus from spreading among patients and workers were mixed, the study shows. Only 41 percent of non-mandate hospitals required unvaccinated workers to wear a mask during patient interactions in flu season, and only 21 percent had penalties for non-compliance with the hospital's policy. In all, two-thirds of non-mandate hospitals did have a formal policy outlining how workers could officially decline to get vaccinated.

All hospitals with vaccination mandates, on the other hand, had formal declination policies in 2017. The vast majority of hospitals with mandates allowed medical contraindications and/or religious reasons as allowable reasons to decline vaccination. Just under 13 percent allowed workers to give any reason for declining. Nearly 83 percent of hospitals with mandates required unvaccinated healthcare workers to wear masks during patient interactions. And for those who neither got vaccinated nor signed a declination form, nearly three-quarters of hospitals with a mandate had penalties in place for non-compliance.

The researchers also looked at differences by hospital-level characteristics. For instance, nonprofit hospitals were much more likely to mandate flu vaccination. One-third of the non-VA hospitals were teaching hospitals, meaning that they train new doctors through residency programs, but they were no more likely than non-teaching hospitals to require flu vaccination by 2017. Nearly 80 percent of the VA hospitals were teaching institutions.

About the study

The new study is based on the latest two waves of a hospital infection prevention survey that Greene and his colleagues in the U-M/VA Patient Safety Enhancement Program have conducted since 2005.

In 2015, they published data from the 2013 survey, which sent a questionnaire to the infection prevention specialists at all U.S. general hospitals that had 50 beds or more and an intensive care unit, and to all VA hospitals.

In 2017, they repeated the survey, but changed the methodology slightly, to randomly sample 900 general medical/surgical hospitals of any size that have an intensive care unit. They again surveyed all VA hospitals.

While the percentage of hospitals that responded to the survey dropped from 69 percent in 2013 to 59 percent in 2017, the researchers say their results are still nationally representative. The 2013 findings are based on 386 non-VA and 77 VA hospitals; the 2017 data are from 526 non-VA and 73 VA hospitals.

Greene notes that 2013 was the first year when non-VA hospitals faced the prospect of public reporting of their worker vaccination rates, if they were taking part in a national pay-for-reporting quality program run by the federal agency that oversees Medicare.

Under the Hospital Inpatient Quality Reporting Program, such hospitals were required to tell the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention what percentage of their healthcare workers were vaccinated against the flu. The results were posted online starting in October 2014, and showed that 90 percent of workers at participating hospitals were vaccinated.

Even if a hospital doesn't have a mandate in place, studies have shown that having a written policy in place and making efforts to encourage vaccination can help raise vaccination rates.

The researchers note that some VA hospitals have made special efforts to increase vaccination, bringing vaccine to workers on inpatient floors or even offering extra time off for workers who get vaccinated.
Ask any Delhite about the best stress-buster activity and it's highly unlikely that their list will not include a drive or ride depending upon the number of wheels in a vehicle that catches their fancy. But there are very limited options available for the people of Delhi in a range of 200-250kms or 4 to 5 hours. We had the Nissan Terrano for a weekend and it didn't take us long to conclude that it is a great driver's car in city traffic and to know its capabilities we were keen to take it out on a highway and what could be better for a weekend road-trip to Jaipur. Heres our travelogue from Delhi to Jaipur on the Nissan Terrano compact SUV.

Nissan Terrano at NH8. (Image: Ayushmann Chawla/News18.com)

The Route

To find the perfect roads for a weekend getaway around Delhi, we decided to hit the National Highway 8, one of Indias busiest highways connecting the political capital of India, Delhi with the financial capital of India, Mumbai. Short on time, we had to cut-short our destination to Jaipur, which is approximately 250 kms from Delhi, a perfect distance for comfortable weekend ride/drive from the capital region.

Delhi-Jaipur NH8. (Image: Google Maps)

Why do we call it comfortable is due to the very basic reason that this highway is made of neatly laid tarmac, with no potholes whatsoever. Its 6-lanes till Jaipur and has ample stoppage points for resting, eating and refueling. Also, there are very few toll taxes enroute, saving you a lot of money, as compared to the other highways.

The road passes through Gurgaon, followed by Manesar, Kotputli, Shahpura and finally Jaipur. The highway mostly consists of straight stretches, ideal for a SUV, as agility is not a major concern here. Another thing is the traffic, which is in check throughout the highway, barring the Delhi traffic, which can be a bit problematic, depending upon the time you are leaving for the drive.

The Car

Nissan Terrano at NH8. (Image: Ayushmann Chawla/News18.com)

Road-trips are incomplete without a competent machine, which is an essential part of any successful trip, be it a four-wheeler or a two-wheeler. As mentioned earlier, our objective was to take along a SUV for a relaxed road-trip. And what better than the Nissans Terrano as companion for the weekend drive.

The compact SUV from the house of iconic Japanese car manufacturer was first launched in 2013 to take on the likes of the Ford EcoSport and Renault Duster. Later, in 2017 Nissan updated the Terrano with new features, 22 to be exact per the company and it was launched for an ex-showroom price of Rs 9.99 Lakhs.

Before we share our drive experience on the SUV, heres a couple of tech specs to set the proceedings right-

Engine Type - 1.6L K4M petrol engine

Displacement - 1598 cc

Transmission  5-Speed Manual

Peak Power  102 bhp

Peak Torque - 145 Nm

Peak Torque RPM - 3750 rpm

Ground Clearance - 205 mm

Kerb Weight - 1160 kg

Fuel Capacity - 50 L

So, a 102 bhp output meant we had enough power on the tap to push the heavy SUV on the highway like a breeze. The high gear ratios and ample torque meant that a relaxed, smooth drive was waiting for us all-throughout the trip. And the Nissan Terrano did live up to its reputation.

Nissan Terrano. (Image: Ayushmann Chawla/News18.com)

The biggest advantage with the Nissan Terrano is that you get ample legroom and boot space which helps to travel in comfort. The airy cabin with its large windows ensures that you get a good picture of the scenery passing by. The air-con does a good job and despite the fresh design there is still no place to store litre-sized water bottles. But, then with a car with such a beautifully balanced chassis and suspension these small things are negligible. Overall, the car is well balanced and you'll love cruising in it. With a mileage of 11+kmp on highways and a fuel tank capacity of 50-litres, it was easier for us to reach Jaipur without getting our tank refilled.

The major disappointment for us was the infotainment system on the Terrano which looks like from the 90's. At first glance, it looks like a cassette player. The biggest miss for us was the dull looking steering wheel. Even entry-level hatchbacks offer steering mounted controls, but surprisingly Nissan did not wish to include it on the Terrano.

Places to Visit

Nissan Terrano. (Image: Ayushmann Chawla/News18.com)

Jaipur is full of exotic places and makes for a great weekend drive. The only thing you have to keep in mind is the soaring temperature that can go as high as 45 degrees in summers. Heres a list of best places to visit when in the capital city of Rajasthan-

-Amer Fort

-Jaigarh Fort (Do check the worlds largest cannon)

-Nahargarh Fort (The place where Rang De Basanti was shot). Also the 12km hairpin road is one of the best in India

-Jal Mahal

-Hawa Mahal

-City Palace

-Jantar Mantar

-Chokhi Dhani (For amazing food and cultural fest)

-Birla Temple

-Albert Hall.

Expenses

Another benefit of visiting Jaipur is the fact that its not that expensive for fooding and lodging. Also, a distance of 250 km means you an easily sustain that fuel bill. Heres a list of probable expenses, similar to those we bore-

-Fuel Expense  Rs 4500

-Food  Rs 1500 (For 7 meals in 2 days @ Rs 200/meal)

-Lodging  Rs 7000 (For a hotel with decent parking @ Rs 3500/night)

-Miscellaneous Expenses  Rs 1500 (including Toll, repairs)

It is advisable to carry someone who can drive, or travel in a group to split the hotel bill. A traveling partner will also help in completing a smooth road-trip and making the journey memorable.

Nissan Terrano. (Image: Ayushmann Chawla/ News18.com)

What Not to Do?

Everything said and done, it is always good to plan in advance and reduce any sort of contingency. Heres a list of precautions and tips to help make a memorable trip-

-Book your hotel in advance

-Book a hotel with good and safe parking

-Pay with Credit Card to save the cash for emergency

-Do not travel in peak summer with all the gear on. Opt for months between October  March for traveling

-Travel light with only bare essentials

-Do not eat a lot of food at least 2 hours before the journey starts

-Hydrate yourself

-Use Navigation for the correct route

-Avoid rush-hour traffic by leaving early in the morning.

Also Watch: Ford EcoSport S EcoBoost Petrol First Drive Review | Cars18
Leverkusen: German chemical and pharma major Bayer AG today said it will complete the multi-billion dollar acquisition of US-based biotech major Monsanto on June 7, following all regulatory approvals.

In India, both entities have presence in production and sale of vegetable seeds, cotton seeds as well as in production and sale of non-selective herbicides.

Bayer had announced its intention to acquire Monsanto in May 2016 and signed an agreement with the US company for USD 128 per share in September 2016. Currently that corresponds to a total cost of about USD 63 billion taking into account Monsanto's debt outstanding as of February 28, 2018.

Bayer has agreed to the divestiture of businesses which generated 2.2 billion euros in sales in 2017 for an aggregate base purchase price of 7.6 billion euros.

"Bayer will become the sole shareholder of Monsanto on June 7," said Werner Baumann, Chairman of the board of management of Bayer AG in a statement.

According to the conditional approval from the United States Department of Justice, the integration of Monsanto into Bayer can take place as soon as the divestments to BASF have been completed. This is expected to be in approximately two months, he said.

"We have diligently prepared for the upcoming integration over the past two years. Our extensive experience in integrating other large companies has proven that we can and will be successful," Baumann said.

Bayer will remain the company name. Monsanto will no longer be a company name. The acquired products will retain their brand names and become part of the Bayer portfolio.

In order to acquire Monsanto, Bayer said it secured initial bridge financing of USD 57 billion. As announced in September 2016, this is being refinanced by a combination of equity and debt transactions, some of which have already been completed. The final equity measure will be a rights issue, which was announced yesterday.

"The acquisition of Monsanto is a strategic milestone in strengthening our portfolio of leading businesses in health and nutrition. We will double the size of our agriculture business and create a leading innovation engine in agriculture...," Baumann added.

Stating that the acquisition is anticipated to generate significant value, Bayer said it expects a positive contribution to core earnings per share starting in 2019.

From 2021 onward, that contribution is expected to be in double-digit percentage. Moreover, adjusted for divestments, Bayer expects synergies to deliver annual contributions of USD 1.2 billion to EBITDA before special items as of 2022, it added.
New Delhi: It was a rare sight on Monday when Left ideologists and Right wingers shared the same stage and for once, similar opinion, while deliberating over ill-effects of global giant Walmart taking over Filpkart. Usually up in arms against each other, the two ideological oppositions had finally found a common ground to raise their voice against.

Noted economist and left propagator Prabhat Patnaik and former BJP MP Shyam Bihari Mishra were seen sharing the same dais at Womens Press Club in New Delhi. The two were part of a six member panel speaking on the detrimental effects of the Walmart-Flipkart deal.

Misra, also the president of Bhartiya Udyog Vyapar Mandal, a conglomerate of traders said, Government should consult traders and first frame policy for domestic e-commerce. The Walmart-Flipkart deal should be shelved. It is also not in line with the Centres Make in India thrust. We have written several letters to the Prime Ministers office but all in vain.

Last month, Walmart had announced the acquisition of 77 percent stake in Flipkart (which is registered in Singapore) for about USD 16 billion (Rs 1.05 lakh crore) - marking the largest e-commerce deal so far in the country. In India, 100 percent foreign direct investment (FDI) is allowed in e-commerce for marketplaces.

Challenging the assertion that consumers in India will gain with the availability of cheap imported goods that Walmart will bring to the table, Jawahar Lal Nehru (JNU) University professor Patnaik said, This (the deal) will take India back to the pre-colonial era. Consumers are not a distinct identity from local producers who will be displaced by cheaper imports. With the control of the Indian market by two multi-national retail giants, we will see two distinct processes of de-industrialisation; one of local traders and the other of local producers.

Traders have been traditionally believed to be loyal voters of the ruling BJP. However, with the government firstly introducing GST and now green-flagging the million dollar deal, a dent in popularity could be on the cards.

We have been ideological supporters of the BJP since a long time. However, the government should not take us for granted. The worst affected due to this deal will be the small brick-and-mortar retail stores that account for 90 percent of the Indian retail sector. This will be an irreversible change and local producers as well as consumers will be severely hit, said Mohan Gurnani, president of Chamber of Associations of Maharashtra Industry and Trade.

Over 100 trader organisations also opposed the USD 16-billion Walmart-Flipkart deal.

The associations, including Centre of Indian Trade Unions (CITU) and All India Kisan Sabha (AIKS), released an open statement highlighting the deal's "multifaceted dangers" to the economy, and called for its nullification.

The bodies also argued that allowing the deal to go through would create an American duopoly (Walmart and Amazon) in the Indian retail sector.

The meet came a day after veteran BJP leader Murli Manohar Joshi expressed concerns over the central government ignoring issues raised by an RSS-affiliated organisation against the Flipkart-Walmart deal.

The octogenarian leader who has been marginalised in the party ranks along with LK Advani, was speaking at a discussion hosted by Swadeshi Jagran Manch on the issues arising out of the deal.

The Sangh-affiliate has taken strong opposition to the tie-up between the American retail chain and India's biggest e-commerce platform. The deal has produced a coming together of sorts for those who earlier found it difficult to have common opinions.
Srinagar: At least 16 people, including four policemen, were injured in a grenade attack in a busy market area in Jammu and Kashmir's Shopian district, police said.

Militants hurled a grenade on security forces in Shopian town, resulting in injuries to at least 12 civilians and four cops, a police official said.

He said the area has been cordoned off and searches started to nab the attackers.

Militants have carried out a series of grenade attacks on security forces and politicians since last week.
NEET 2018: The Central Board of Secondary Education CBSE announced the NEET Result 2018, NEET 2018 Result, CBSE NEET Result 2018, 2018 CBSE NEET Result today (June 4) at 12:20 pm. The Central Board of Secondary Education CBSE released the national level medical entrance result 2018, NEET Result 2018, 2018 NEET Result, CBSE NEET Result 2018 on its official website cbseneet.nic.in.

The Central Board of Secondary Education conducted the national level medical entrance exam or NEET 2018 examination on May 6. All the students appeared for the examination are asked to keep a sharp eye on the official website cbseneet.nic.in for NEET Result 2018, 2018 NEET Result, CBSE NEET Result 2018.

The CBSE will prepare the merit list as per the directives of Directorate General Of Health Services (DGHS), Medical Council of India (MCI) and Dental Council of India (DCI).

Students are to be informed that soon after the NEET 2018 Results are out, CBSE will host the NEET result 2018 on the website and thereafter candidates may download the Result Sheets.

On May 25, the Central Board of Secondary Education CBSE has issued the answer key for NEET 2018 on May 25 and the candidates were given chance to raise objections on the answer key/ OMR sheet/ test booklet code till May 27.

Over 13 lakh candidates appeared for the medical entrance exam that was conducted on May 6. According to students, the Physics paper was lengthier than last year with an increase in the application based and calculative questions.

According to experts, the cut-off is likely to drop considering the difficulty level of the NEET paper. The qualifying percentage for the unreserved category was 50 percent and the qualifying score as per qualification percentile (out of 720) was 131.

For OBC/ SC/ ST category, it was 107 and the qualifying percentage was 40 percent (107 percentile). Similarly, for physically challenged, it was 118. The All India merit list of the qualified candidates will be prepared on the basis of the marks obtained in the exam. CBSE will provide the rank.
Beijing: China on Monday hailed as "positive" Prime Minister Narendra Modi's remarks on Sino-India relations at a security summit in Singapore on Friday.

"We have noted the positive remark made by Modi about China-India relations. We highly appreciate it," Ministry's spokesperson Hua Chunying said.

In his keynote address at the Shangri-La Dialogue on Friday, Modi said India and China had shown wisdom and maturity in handling their complex relations and "Asia and the world will have a better future if the countries work together with trust and confidence, keeping in mind each other's interests".

The Chinese Foreign Ministry said it highly appreciated "positive remarks" by the Indian leader.

Hua recalled the informal meet between Modi and Chinese President Xi Jinping at Wuhan in Beijing and said they were in agreement on several issues.

"In April this year, Xi held an informal meeting with Modi. They had in-depth exchange of views in international landscape and bilateral relations and reached consensus on many issues."

"The two sides agreed to adopt a mature and wise way to handle differences. China is willing to work with the Indian side to maintain the positive momentum of the development of the bilateral relations, to promote mutually beneficial cooperation, properly handle differences and maintain peace and tranquillity along the border areas," Hua said.

"This takes India-China relations forward."

Modi and Xi will meet again on sidelines of the Shanghai Summit at Qingdao on June 9-10.
Lucknow: A police constable with Kanpur police was suspended for making derogatory comments against the Muslim community on social media.

Senior superintendent of police, Kanpur, Akhilesh Kumar took the step against constable Arvind Singh Parihar after an in house inquiry indicted him.

The suspended cop was posted at Babupurwa police station in Kanpur. The action was taken after an inquiry was conducted in the case by Circle Officer, Babuourwa, Ajit Kumar Rajak, who confirmed the constables hateful comment against Muslims.

The entire incident took place when the suspended cop Arvind Singh Parihar posted a hateful response to the news item about the family of Ankit Saxena hosting iftaar.

Ankit Saxena was allegedly stabbed to death by his girlfriends relatives in Delhi, still the Iftar was hosted by Ankits family in an effort to boost communal harmony.

The matter was highlighted when one Shahid Ansari took the screen shots of the hateful comments made by the constable.

Objecting to the post, Parihar made a string of objectionable replies to Ansari on Sunday morning. Ansari then posted screen shots of the constables tweets and tagged the chief minister, the director general of police and the CMs office, which finally led to the suspension of the constable.

Ankit Saxena, 23, a budding photographer, was murdered in front of his family in February by the relatives of a woman he was courting since they were opposed to the inter-faith affair.

Almost five months after Ankits death, his father Yashpal had organised an Iftar on Sunday to spread the message of communal harmony, in which Ankits neighbour, friends, former bureaucrat and activist Harsh Mander along with Dr Kafeel Khan from Gorakhpur participated.
Nagpur: He fought for his rights but could never quite get his due.

Dadaji Ramaji Khobragade, the inventor of HMT-Sona and ten other popular rice varieties died on Sunday at the Search hospital in Gadchiroli. The Dalit farmer, who won global acclaim for his innovations, had suffered a crippling paralytic attack a month ago.

He is survived by his son, daughter-in-law, and grandchildren.

The 80-year-old had been unwell for the past six months. He was frail and his listening capabilities were hampered.

For his work and farm innovations, Dadaji earned a lot of goodwill and support from many quarters including institutions and individuals. This was something that kept pushing him to work, even in his old age.

Dadaji was active until last year when he would make at least one visit to his farm every day. The veteran stopped working when his body would no longer back up his mind and his ideas.

During his childhood, he reared the village cattle and could never go to school. As an adult, he invented 11 popular rice varieties that occupy vast stretches of paddy land in central India.

HMT-Sona gives an average yield of 4045 quintals per hectare and has short grains, high rice recovery and good aroma. The variety is now marketed in Andhra Pradesh, Gujarat, Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh and Maharashtra. Chinnour, Nanded-92, Nanded-Hira, Vijay-Nanded, Dipak-Ratna and the latest DRK-I and II, were some of his other finds with an average yield of about 20 quintals per acre in rain-fed conditions.

For many years, the octogenarian lived in a dingy hut in Chandrapurs Nanded village. A few years ago, with the money from his awards and help from a few people, Dadaji built a house that also became his seed godown. Awards, medals and citations would hang by the walls in a room.

He first shot to fame when he accused the state-run Punjabrao Krishi Vidyapeeth (PKV) for taking credit for the brand that he had originally bred on his farm and given to the university scientists. This was in early 2000s.

While Dadaji claimed the PKV had appropriated his variety, the PKV held that sourced it from him and significantly improved the variety with their scientific inputs. The issue remains unresolved till date. PKV never officially gave Dadaji his credit in its varietal release proposal.

The National Innovation Foundation (NIF) recognised his work in 2003-04 and the Maharashtra government gave him the Krishi Bhushan and Krishi Ratna awards for his innovations. One of his varieties called Chinnour is akin to the Basmati of the north. He named his latest variety after himself: DRK.

In 2010, Dadajis name figured in the Forbes list of top seven Indian rural entrepreneurs, after it was picked up by the IIM-Ahmadabad professor and founder of the Honey Bee Network Anil Gupta. Dadaji could not make any sense of what it meant. I am happy, but I dont know what it means to me and to my fellow farmers, he said.

When I first met Dadaji in August 2005, he recounted to me a number of heists that took place on his farm every day. Someone stole pumpkins one day; the other day, it would be a wooden cot that he kept for himself. In summers, people stole wild berries and even rice.

He wasnt bothered about those thefts as much as he was about the fact that the PKV never quite officially acknowledged the HMT-Sona as his discovery. Even the name was given by Dadaji when he went to the market in Mul town, back in early 1990, and a trader asked him to suggest a name for the rice variety.

Id wear an HMT-Sona watch on my wrist, Dadaji recounted in my first interview. I looked at it and told the trader let it be named HMT-Sona. It took the consumers by a storm for its fragrance and taste.

In 1983, Dadaji noticed three yellow-coloured strains of paddy corns in his farm. They were different," he told me. The innovator preserved them and sowed them again on his farm the following year. The rice it yielded was soft and tasty with better oil contents. He repeated the process over seven years with the selection method. A decade later, it became a hit with the local farmers.

Dadaji had bred this particular variety from the Patel-3 variety that he would plant on his fields. He had an eye for the best grain and a heart for farming. As his son Mitrajeet would once tell us: Dadaji spoke to his paddy strains as if they were his kids, softly and lovingly.

He was uneducated, but he was deeply inspired by Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar. Dadaji was a Mahar by caste and an Ambedkarite by political belief. I stopped skinning the cattle on the call of Dr Ambedkar, he once told me. I never got to see Babasaheb, but my generation came out of our past shadows because of him.

During one of our interactions at his home, Dadaji told me how he was landless once. This present land is my daughter-in-laws land. One-and-a-half acres, it came to her as property from her side. That land had dual purposes  it was his familys sustenance and his lab.

No one told ever me how to breed the varieties; I kept doing it out of my love for the best grains.

Like a true parent breeder, he could separate the real from the fake. This is not my rice, he once told me of a variety I had taken to him. A Nagpur grocer sold it as HMT-Sona. Dadaji said it wasnt.

He gave me a few kgs of the original, the rice he had found on his farm and bettered it. It tasted much better and was qualitatively different from the one I had bought from a shop in my home city.

Dadaji once tried experimenting with paddy and turmeric as an inter-cropping system on his farm. He succeeded with the yields but held commodity prices were a key factor. Farmers will remain poor unless they get remunerative prices and capital to start allied activities, he told me.

In 2006, Dadaji took on the Vilasrao Deshmukh-government for having gifted him with a fake gold medal. Dadaji discovered that a 14-carat gold medal that he got from the government as part of the Krishi-Bhushan award package was actually made of sub-standard silver whose value was no more than Rs 500. I am shocked, an agitated Dadaji said then. Why insult us like this?

Dadaji was presented a 50 gram 14-carat gold medal, cash prize of Rs 25,000 and a citation from the Maharashtra Governor for his achievement. I used all my cash awards to buy some land for research work. When he wanted to sell the gold medal to buy a motor-pump, he was told the medal was actually a dud.

Dadaji returned his award in anger, prompting other medallists to return their awards and the state government to launch an inquiry and apologise to the farmers by reinstating their awards with original gold medals. Dadaji favoured the intellectual property rights to be bestowed upon farmers like him.

Seed savers like him were crucial to food security and seed diversity, he once told me at his home. Farmers must not merely complain of the problems, he held. They should also try to be a solution.

(The author is a Nagpur-based journalist and a volunteer for the Peoples Archive of Rural India. Views are personal)
New Delhi: A civil services aspirant allegedly committed suicide after being denied entry into the examination hall. The incident happened on Sunday.

The candidate, identified as Varun, was a native of Karnataka. He was reportedly denied entry into the exam centre in Paharganj. He left behind a suicide note that said rules of the examination were well intended, but should be relaxed for a greater good. After being denied entry, he came back to his room in Rajendra Nagar and killed himself.

The UPSC conducted the Civil Services Preliminary Exam 2018 on June 3 across the country. According to UPSC rules, entry to the examination hall is closed 10 minutes before the commencement of the exam. The exam is held in two sessions, morning and afternoon. The timings are 9:30 am and 2:30 pm, meaning no candidate is allowed after 9:20 am and 2:20 pm. While issuing the admit cards last month, the commission had said that no candidate will be allowed into the hall after the entry is closed.
New Delhi: The HRD Minister Prakash Javadekar while addressing students at the Gunn Gaurav Samman Samaroh, organised by the Central Board of Secondary Education, said that "education is not about rote learning".

During the event, which was held under the aegis of the Ministry of Human Resource Development, Javadekar spoke on "What is Education?"

The Union Minister emphasised on the fact that education is the ability to understand and analyse. Education is not about rote learning. It is about having the ability to comprehend, communicate and analyse a situation. We have to realise the importance of these qualities," he said.

He further underlined the need of incorporating creative and physical education in schools. "Marks as high as 499/500 are scored by those who maintain consistency, focus, and discipline to reach their goals," he added.

Referring to the protests by Delhi University students, he said, Sometimes educated people also dont live up to their ideals. Last year, Delhi University students gathered outside the Vishwavidyala metro station. They were checked by a banana seller for their behaviour, for which the students attacked him because he had said,

'education does not encourage such a behaviour'."

At the event, which is the third consecutive of its kind, Javadekar felicitated 67 students of class XII, who topped in different categories from Delhi-NCR. These students, who came from various government, private and open schools, have scored more than 82% marks and above in class XII 2018 exam results.

There were five toppers from Delhi-NCR (including private schools), five students from Kendriya Vidyalaya, six from JNVs, 5 SC/ST category chidren, six students from Children with Special Needs Categories, 16 students from lower income group, seven students from Delhi Government Schools and 12 students from NIOS.

These students were identified on the basis of their performance and income criteria as recommended by the internal committee of CBSE.

Rina Ray, Special Secretary (Department of School Education & Literacy), Anita Karwal, Chairperson of CBSE, and other senior officials of the MHRD, KVs, JNV and CBSE were present during the event.
Lucknow: Two people were killed and several injured in a blast at an illegal firecracker godown in Kakori area on Monday morning.

According to preliminary information, the high-intensity blast occurred in the house of one Sanjay Lodhi, who had rented it out to Nasir Pathake Wale. Nasir, a wholesale dealer of firecrackers, was allegedly stocking them for Diwali.

Eyewitnesses identified the two deceased as Nasir and the owner of a factory adjacent to the blast site, adding that Nasirs wife was missing.

As the news spread, IG Range Sujit Pandey and ADG Zone Rajiv Krishna arrived to take stock of the situation. Police and rescue teams, along with forensic officials, are trying to ascertain the reason behind the blast.

Officials of the Uttar Pradesh Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) and UP Special Task Force (STF) are also expected to reach the spot.

Authorities said the death toll could rise once the debris is cleared.
Nasik: Five people were killed in two separate rain-related incidents as pre-monsoon showers accompanied by thunderstorm and lightning hit the Nashik division over the weekend.

The Nashik division in Maharashtra comprises five districts - Dhule, Jalgaon, Nandurbar, Ahmednagar and Nashik.

A 32-year-old woman and her three minor daughters were killed when a tree fell on them at Varkhedi village in the neighbouring Dhule district on Sunday, a police official said.

The deceased were identified as Anita Daduram Pavra and her daughters Vashila (3), Pinky (2) andRoshani (1), he said.

In another incident, a 27-year-old man died when lightning struck him at Ambewadi in Igatpuri taluka of Nashik district last evening.

The deceased, Dashrath Dhondu Dhavale, a native of Nashik district, worked with the Mumbai fire brigade department, an official at the Igatpuri police station said.

Heavy pre-monsoon rains lashed the Sinnar, Wavi, Yeola and Satana tehsils of Nashik district on Saturday and Sunday, causing damage to several houses and damaging crops and onion storage sheds, the police said.

In the last 24 hours, Nashik's Igatpuri taluka received 76 mm rain, Baglan-25 mm, Chandwad-24 mm, Trimbakeshwar-15 mm, Nandgaon-10 mm, and Malegaon, Sinnar and Nashik got five mm each, according to figures provided by the district collector's office.
New Delhi: The Union health ministry has denied 82 existing medical colleges renewal permission for the academic session of 2018-19. The ministry, through an announcement on May 31, stopped 12 government and 70 private medical colleges from taking in new students for the upcoming batch, blocking anywhere between 10,000 to 12,000 MBBS seats.

The government also denied permission for the establishment of 68 new medical colleges, 31 government and 37 private, axing another potential 9000 MBBS seats.

Nine medical colleges, four government and five private, were stopped from expanding their seats by at least 50 seats each.

Another announcement on Thursday barred 31 medical colleges from either starting new super speciality courses  such as those in cardiology, nephrology, plastic surgery, etc.  or expanding seats in existing courses.

The list included well known government colleges such as Lucknow's King George Medical College University, stopped from expanding or starting MCh (Plastic & Reconstructive Surgery) and MCh (Neurosurgery), Christian Medical College Vellore, disallowed courses in MCh (Reproductive Medicine& Surgery), DM (Nephrology), DM (Pediatrics Neurology), Institute of Liver & Billiary Sciences, New Delhi, disallowed DM (Hepatology), MCh (HPB Surgery) and DM (Pediatrics Hepatology), etc.

The decisions came after assessment by the Medical Council of India, the apex government body in charge of medical education and ethics. The loss of seats is bound to hit the lakhs of aspiring medical students, already fighting for seats that are not nearly enough in number to accommodate all of them.

In the 2018 Union Budget, health minister JP Nadda had announced efforts to upgrade and add to the health infrastructure, including 15 super speciality facilities at 15 government colleges and 58 new medical colleges attached with district hospitals.
Jammu/New Delhi: India and Pakistan border forces once again agreed to maintain peace along the International Border in Jammu and Kashmir even as intermittent exchange of firing were reported in the afternoon on Monday.

Two BSF personnel were killed on Sunday when Pakistan Rangers resorted to unprovoked firing. A policeman and a civilian were also injured in the firing.

This comes a week after the DGMOs of the two countries mutually agreed to implement the ceasefire pact of 2003 in "letter and spirit".

On Monday, the assurance came at a sector commander level flag meeting between Border Security Force (BSF) and Pakistan Rangers at Border Outpost Octroi (on the Pakistan side) across RS Pura sector of Jammu district, which lasted for about two hours. It was decided to hold next such meeting on June 21.

"The prime focus of the meeting was to maintain peace and tranquility on the border. The meeting is likely to bring firing-free environment, particularly for border area villagers on both sides. Commanders on both sides agreed to keep talks on every level to develop confidence between two border guarding forces," a BSF statement said.

"The meeting went off in a conducive atmosphere," it added.

The BSF delegation, comprising half a dozen officers was led by its Deputy Inspector General, Jammu Sector, PS Dhiman while Brigadier Amjad Hussain, Sector Commander, Sialkot, led the Pakistan delegation which comprised of 10 officers.

This was the third sector commander level meeting of the year, coming amid heavy shelling and firing on the International Border.

The last sector commander level meeting was held on the International Border in Suchetgarh area of Jammu on February 23.

The meeting, called at the request of the Pakistani side, came after Pakistan Rangers targeted four border outposts of the BSF in Akhnoor sector on Monday morning. The Pakistanis had subsequently sought a flag meeting.
Lucknow: The iconic Mughal Sarai railway station was officially renamed as the Deen Dayal Upadhyay Junction on Monday, a year after the Centre approved the UP governments proposal regarding the same.

The Uttar Pradesh government informed the Governor in an official communication about the change made according to the Centre's nod in 2017.

The proposal was given by the BJP government in Uttar Pradesh in 2017, in a bid to revive the legacy of Upadhyay, who was found dead in 1968 at this junction itself.

Upadhyay's body was found under mysterious circumstances on a platform of Mughalsarai in 1968.

The move led to a major upheaval in Parliament after several MPs, including Samajwadi Party's Naresh Agarwal, protested against the Centre's decision to give the nod to renaming the junction after Upadhyay.

The opposition tore into the BJP government both at the Centre and in Uttar Pradesh saying the party could very well change the map of the country.

The Mughal Sarai Junction was set up by the British in the 1800s as a key station linking New Delhi to Kolkata.

The junction, the fourth busiest railway station in the country, is located on the main Howrah-Delhi Grand Chord line.

The Yogi Adityanath government had in June 2017 approved the proposal of renaming the station and forwarded it to the Ministry of Railways for final approval.
Baghpat: For the first time in the Indian sub-continent, burial pits have been found with chariots that date back to the Pre-Iron Age(Bronze). This new finding is set to create space for further investigation on dating of the Mahabharata period and further inquiry into the origins of the horse in the Harappa age, as per the experts involved in the three-month trial dig Uttar Pradesh's Sanauli.

The excavations that the team of archaeologists conducted was unveiled on Monday showing burial pits with chariots in the Pre-Iron Age (Bronze).

The burial pits have been found in the past excavations at Rakhigarhi, Kalibangan, and at Lothal, but the chariot has figured for the first time.

The excavation started in March 2018 at Sanauli and was conducted by a 10-member team with SK Manjul, of Institute of Archaeology, established in 1985, heading it. The co-director was Arvin Manjul.

Speaking on the development, Manjul said, We have the place in the ancient global history. To name a few of our contemporary cultures, chariot appears in Mesopotamia, Georgia, Greek civilisations, and with this finding we can say that among our contemporary cultures in the Pre-Iron Age we too had chariots.

He added, This is giving our history and our past a new dimension  we have to rethink our past and approach it with a fresh perspective  with the elements found in the burial pits it shows we were a warrior clan in the Pre Iron Age.

Who rode the chariot in the Bronze Age?

If there was a chariot in the Bronze Age, would it not need a beast to run it? Was it a bull or a horse? Manjul said, This is debatable, it could be a bull or a horse but having said that the preliminary understanding points at the horse. The chariot is a lookalike of the ones found in its contemporary cultures like Mesopotamia, it is a solid wheel with no spokes.

The chariot is with solid wheel and pole; in one of the pits the excavators have also found crown or helmet worn by the rider of the chariot.

Chariots figure prominently in the Rigveda, which gives evidence of their presence in India in the 2nd millennium BCE. Among Rigvedic deities, notably Ushas (the dawn) rides in a chariot, as well as Agni in his function as a messenger between gods and men).

Manjul added that in the past there has been evidence of horse in the Chalcolithic period. This discovery is an added thrust to inquire further into ancient Indian history.

If we go by the world history, there is evidence of wheeled vehicles only from the mid-4th millennium BCE in Mesopotamia, the Northern Caucasus (Maykop culture Bronze Age) and Central Europe. The question concerning which culture originally invented the wheeled vehicle remains unresolved.

The objective of the research

In 2005, excavations around 116 graves belonging to Indus Valley Civilisation were found. These graves, dated 22001800 BC were a fairly recent addition to the list of Indus Valley Civilisation sites in India.

The archaeological experts wanted to take the research and investigation in that region further and conducted excavations just 120 meters away from the earlier site, as a trail dig, and found chariot in the excavation. They dug eight burials and each tells a different story of the life and style prevalent in Pre Iron Age period. These decomposed wooden coffins were decorated with copper but with time have turned green due to patina.

The challenges were many  we had to dig in a way that the structure standing tall does not get damaged in further deeper digging. This is the first time we used the X-Ray, CT scan to find the nails embedded in the wooden coffins, added Manjul.

There are eight burial pits  which have skeletons, beads, pottery, chariot, sword, torch. These are wooden decomposed coffins with copper decorations that made the spotting of the coffin easier. There are eight anthromorphic figures having horned and peepal leafed crown decorated on cover of coffin. The designs are aesthetic and say a lot about the society in Pre-Iron Age.

This throws light on the lifestyle and cultures of the people who lived in the Pre Iron Age  there are mirrors with copper, the elaborate burials, all this shows the society was technologically advanced, aesthetic and had the sense of art and craft. They were warrior clans, and had a sophisticated lifestyle, added Manjul. The evidence found here is important to conduct further investigation in finding horse skeletons.

In one of the burials, one can find the dog being buried; in Hindu mythology, dog is the vehicle of Yama. There are symbolic burials with just objects buried without a body, maybe in reverence of the deceased not found and twin burials showing two skeletons in one grave.

Counterview

The horse driven chariots are known in the Vedic period, said historian DN Jha. However, iron makes appearance in the post Vedic or not earlier than the late Vedic period. This find cannot be dated to the pre-Vedic/Harappa phase, said Jha.

Several scholars have written on the dating of the Mahabharata, but Jha said that he is not aware of who has used the evidence of chariots for dating the text of Mahabharat.

Some archaeologists like B B Lal have argued for the 8th century BC, on the basis of the silt deposited at Hastinapur, which was flooded following the Great War. But this hardly inspires confidence. In fact the text is so full of interpolations that it cannot belong to one point of time, said Jha

According to V S Sukthankar, whose work on the chronology of the text is authoritative, Mahabharatas composition spreads over several centuries. The general consensus is that the text was composed over a period of about a millennium - roughly between 400BC to 400AD. However, there are some scholars who argue for a shorter period. In any case the Mahabharata in its present form cannot be the work of single author and that is one of the reasons which make its dating difficult, Jha added.
New Delhi: The worlds biggest combat aircraft order is likely to be pushed by another two years, according to a Bloomberg report.

According to a Bloomberg report, a senior Boeing Co executive said India will take another two years to pick the winner of the order.

Boeing is one of the frontrunners in the race to supply the Indian Air Force with 110 fighter jets. The company is also a finalist in a separate competition to supply the Indian navy with 57 fighter jets, according to a senior Boeing executive.

According to Indias Commerce and Defence Ministry rules, 85 percent of the order needs to be built locally. Reports state that the deal is likely to cost at least USD 15 billion.

Boeing said in April that it would partner with state-run Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd and Mahindra Defence Systems Ltd to manufacture the F/A-18 Super Hornet in India at a new facility, which can also be used for other requirements. Other companies in the running include Lockheed Martin Corp, Saab AB and BAE Systems Plc.

Well throw our hat into the ring, Alan Garwood, BAEs director for group business development, said in an interview on Sunday. Weve seen the requirement and weve said well put some sort of tender in.

The British defence and aerospace company makes the twin-engine Eurofighter Typhoon jet.

Garwood said BAE had been making aircraft in India for 70 years, a key advantage given Prime Minister Narendra Modis requirement that the new jets be made in India.

Getting new aircraft is crucial for Modi as India faces increased risks from neighbouring Pakistan and China at a time when the Russian MiG fighters  Indias mainstay  are being phased out. The defence industry is a key part of Modis Make in India policy, which aims to promote domestic manufacturing.

After scrapping an order with Dassault Aviation for 126 Rafale jets worth $11 billion in 2015, a process that took nearly a decade, India bought 36 jets separately to speed up the process. Under the new tender, the winner will have to deliver the first jet within three years of securing the contract.

New Delhi had previously said that it was looking to replace its current fleet of combat aircraft with a single-engine jet, but subsequently announced that it would also consider twin-engine aircraft such as Boeings twin-engine F/A-18 Super Hornet.

Boeings Cunningham told Bloomberg that the change in direction meant that the timing of the Indian Air Force process was now about 12 months later than the Indian Navy.

Certainly today, the Indian Navy timeline will conclude sooner than the Indian Air Force, Cunningham said. They would appear to us to be sequential, but Im not assuming that theyre related.
Thiruvananthapuram: Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan on Monday told an all-party meeting here that the government would foot the entire medical bills of all those being treated for the malady at Kozhikode and Malappuram.

He said that the work done by the state's health professionals in containing the disease's spread after its outbreak was really encouraging and showed their commitment and dedication. This quick containment has not happened in countries where this virus attack had hit in the past, he added.

"What we have found out is that its due to the effective intervention and the work of these health professionals that the spread of Nipah virus has been contained. Now there need be no fear or panic. The state government will bear all the expenses of these patients who underwent treatment for Nipah," said Vijayan.

The Kerala government also decided to distribute special food kits also as Kozhikode turned out to be the worst affected with 13 deaths, while three deaths were reported in Malappuram.

Vijayan also came down heavily on the mischief played by some elements on social media, terming it was most unwarranted and unpardonable.

As of date, of the 18 positive cases, 16 have died and the remaining two are recovering well at the Kozhikode hospital while the around 2,000 people, who have reported to have come in contact with the affected, are being monitored.

Earlier in the day, on the opening day of the assembly session. opposition legislator P. Abdullah from Kozhikode walked into the floor of the assembly wearing a mask and gloves, which invited immediate criticism from Vijayan and Health Minister K.K. Shailaja, who both termed his show an insult to the efforts of the state government.

But intervening in the issue, Leader of Opposition Ramesh Chennithala said that this was done as Abdullah just wanted to express his solidarity with the people of Kozhikode and it was not an insult.

Meanwhile, the Veterinary Association has said that they will approach the Central government with a request that they are interested to do an epidemiological study on the outbreak of Nipah in Kozhikode and should receive support.

"This study is a time-consuming one besides involving a substantial sum of money to conduct the study, as each area has to be mapped and detailed studies have to be done. We are willing to do it and for that we need the support," said the association's Mohan Kumar.
New Delhi: Keeping up with BJP and RSS leaders often equating modern day technologies to objects and ideas of Indian mythology, an RSS spokesperson has now observed the mythical sage Narada, who was known for travelling from one place to another and being aware of all developments, was the "first journalist of the entire universe".

According to PTI, Narendra Jain, the RSS's regional publicity in-charge said, "Narada was the first journalist of the entire universe. No two ways about it. It's a matter of faith. A debate on the issue will be futile."

Earlier on Wednesday, Uttar Pradesh Deputy CM Dinesh Sharma landed himself in trouble by saying that journalism started in the Mahabharata era and equated Narada with the present-day Google.

Sharma, who has a Ph.D. in Psychology, started his political career as a member of the Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad, the student wing of the Rashtriya Swayamsewak Sangh.

Jain, on the other hand, added, "Naradaji worked for world peace. Both devtas and danavs respected him. He endeavoured to unite all into one family."

"Naradaji was a master communicator. He knew the crux of journalism. The Maharishi followed the basics tenets of journalism ages ago. He was omnipresent as journalists are required to be," another RSS leader said.

According to Jain, the RSS celebrates Narada's birth anniversary across the country in May as per the traditional Hindu calendar. The Hindu organization also awards "deserving journalists" on the occasion.

Sharma, who was a professor in the Lucknow University before he took charge as UP deputy chief minister, had said that Narada was the epitome of information. He could reach anywhere and transfer a message from one place to another by saying Narayana' thrice.

The BJP minister was speaking at an event organized in Mathura to mark the Hindi Journalism Day".
In case you missed it

An uneasy calm prevailed over Shillong on the fourth day since violent clashes broke out in the capital city of Meghalaya on Thursday. While the curfew has been relaxed, a palpable tension still remained on Sunday. The violence erupted after an altercation between some women and a driver of a Shillong Public Transport Service (SPTS) bus at Them Meteor, which led to the assault of three persons. Chief Minister Conrad Sangma said that the incident was pre-planned with a vicious intent while also mentioning the use of money and alcohol to lure the youth to carry out a disturbance in parts of Shillong. The clash has marked the return of tensions between the tribal and non-tribal populations in the areas and renewed the debate of rehabilitating the Punjabi Dalit community living in the picturesque town.

Madhya Pradesh Congress on Sunday launched a major attack against the ruling BJP government, accusing it of electoral misconduct by including the names of 60 lakh "fake voters" in the electoral roll. The opposition party urged the Election Commission (EC) to remove these names from the lists of 230 Assembly constituencies.

A VIP Embraer aircraft carrying Minister for External Affairs Sushma Swaraj to South Africa lost contact over Mauritius space for nearly 14 minutes on Saturday, according to the Airports Authority of India.

Nearly a week after the Director General of Military Operations (DGMOs) of India and Pakistan agreed to implement the ceasefire pact of 2003 in "letter and spirit", Pakistani Rangers resorted to unprovoked and indiscriminate firing along the IB on Sunday morning killing two BSF personnel. A policeman and a woman civilian were also reportedly injured in the cross-border firing.

In a case of bungling, the government transport office in Mathura issued driving licences to two dead persons, even as the ARTO claimed to have served a show cause notice to the clerk concerned.

Former media executive Indrani Mukerjea, a key accused in the murder of her daughter Sheena Bora, was admitted to the JJ Hospital on Friday night after she complained of chest pain.

Bollywood actor and filmmaker on Saturday confessed to placing bets on Indian Premier League (IPL) matches last year while being interrogated by Mumbai Police officers for five hours. Khan made the confession while recording his statement at Thane Police's Anti-Extortion Cell (AEC) in connection with the alleged IPL betting racket.

After a report highlighted instances of sexual exploitation at a home for girls in Muzaffarpur, the district administration has taken action and an FIR has been registered under POCSO. The government has shifted all the girls staying at the home to Madhubani and Patna. The district child protection unit has taken the building under its control on the direction of the Social Welfare Directorate, Patna.

The pass percentage in Delhi government schools has gone up to better that of the private schools. The AAP government believes its because of some of the sweeping changes introduced since it came to power in 2015. Atishi Marlena, former adviser to the Delhi education minister, in an interview, talks about why education is a priority and how the states Rs 14,000 crore budget for education is being utilised.

Agree or Disagree?

In the last six months, the AAP leadership has gone on a U-turn drive, apologising to one and all, and trying to make-up with rivals, including Union Finance Minister Arun Jaitley. The latest is the reported offer made by the AAP leadership to the Congress to enter into some kind of an alliance in Delhi to take on the BJP in the 2019 Lok Sabha elections. Having unseated Congress chief minister Sheila Dikshit from power in 2013, its truly ironic that Kejriwal is now reaching out to the same corrupt Congress leader for an alliance, that too in less than five years.

The recent Thoothukudi police violence should not be seen in isolation as incidents that happened on May 22 and 23. Neither should the story be too firmly rooted in Thoothukudi as a location, or with Sterlite as the villain of the masterpiece. The Thoothukudi Syndrome is playing out at various locations across Tamil Nadu, where state and central governments have been pushing corporate agendas with no regard for law or public sentiment, and using police muscle, inducements and false assurances to contain dissent.

On reel

As a part of the #ClimateChangeArt series by CNN-News18, here is a profile of photographer Arka Dutta, who wants to spread awareness on environmental issues like global warming, water scarcity, floods and other natural disasters that people are facing due to climate change. Dutta is an award-winning photojournalist, whose work has been selected in London Photo Festival, and has featured in National Geographic, New York Times and Washington Post. His series on Mousuni floods, as well as his photographs of Jharia, Dhanbad, show alarming consequences of global warming and man's encroachment in natural space.
New Delhi: Pakistans DG ISPR Major General Asif Ghafoor said that despite the agreement of peace along the border, India had continued to violate the terms. Addressing a press conference, Ghafoor said Pakistan responded after India targeted innocents.

We understand that they need time to implement it but then media in India made it look like the violation happened from Pakistan. When the firing hits our post, we dont respond. But when it hits our civilians, we are compelled to respond, Ghafoor said.

On May 29, the DGMOs of India and Pakistan agreed to "fully implement" the ceasefire pact of 2003 in "letter and spirit" forthwith to stop border skirmishes in J&K.

The two military commanders reviewed the prevailing situation along the LoC and the IB in J&K during a conversation over the special hotline.

The hotline contact was initiated by the Pakistani Director General of Military Operations (DGMO).

Ghafoor also said that Pakistans want for peace should not be construed as their weakness.

He added that India needed to understand and realize where they want to go. We are two nuclear powers, there is no space for war, he added. We might not respond to the first bullet with due respect to the ceasefire agreement. But if there is a second bullet that is fired, we will retaliate, the chief of the militarys media wing further said.

The Major General further said that he hoped that India and the media treated the situation in a way that it did not give rise to more ceasefire violations.

Nearly a week after the DGMOs of India and Pakistan agreed to implement the ceasefire pact of 2003 in "letter and spirit", two BSF personnel were killed on Sunday morning. A policeman and a woman civilian were also reportedly injured in the cross-border firing.

The firing from across the International Border (IB) in the Pragwal area of Akhnoor sector started in the wee hours, resulting in critical injuries to two BSF personnel manning a forward post, a senior officer of the border guarding force told PTI
New Delhi: Congress president Rahul Gandhi on Monday accused Prime Minister Narendra Modi of giving scripted interviews on public platforms.

Referring to Modis interview at Singapores Nanyang Technological University (NTU) last Friday, Gandhi wrote on Twitter: The first Indian PM who takes "spontaneous" questions that the translator has pre-scripted answers to!

The first Indian PM who takes "spontaneous" questions that the translator has pre-scripted answers to! Good that he doesn't take real questions. Would have been a real embarrassment to us all if he did. pic.twitter.com/8Iyfgiaseh Rahul Gandhi (@RahulGandhi) June 4, 2018

The controversy erupted when after the Prime Minister responded to a question on addressing challenges faced by Asia, his English translator read out a lengthy passage from a piece of paper that included facts and figures not part of Modi's answer. This fuelled speculation that the queries posed to the Prime Minister, and his responses to them, were not impromptu but pre-planned.

Taking a jibe at Modi, Gandhi said: Good that he doesn't take real questions. Would have been a real embarrassment to us all if he did.

Congress MP Shashi Tharoor too had pointed out the apparent gaffe on Sunday. Oh dear. When the translator says what the PM was supposed to say, but didn't, Tharoor had tweeted.

This is not the first time Modi has faced flak for his public interactions. He was also criticised during his London trip in April where lyricist Prasoon Joshi interviewed him before a live audience. Joshis questions had included How does Modi manage to work such long hours and I detect a piety in you, were you always like that or you achieved this slowly and gradually.
Hyderabad: Actor-politician Kamal Haasan on Monday met Karnataka Chief Minister Kumaraswamy to discuss the Cauvery water distribution issue and found himself at the receiving end of much criticism for not bringing up the matter of Rajinikanths film not being released in the state.

Distributors have refused to release Rajinikanth-starrer Kaala in Karnataka theatres in order to condemn his comments over the Cauvery water sharing issue. Rajinkanth had said that Karnataka should release Tamil Nadus share of water to the state, drawing criticism from many in Karnataka, including Kumaraswamy.

Kamal Haasan met Kumaraswamy and tweeted, Your warm hospitality and openness in discussing the Cauvery issue & various other issues concerning our two states is fully reciprocated sir. I assure you I will do my best in being a trustworthy bridge between Karnataka & Tamil Nadu. Thank you for a heartwarming meeting.

Speaking to News18, actor Prakash Raj hit back at Haasan and said, He has his own reasons to not raise the issue but he should also realise that when his film Vishwaroopam was banned, he wanted the entire world to stand by him. But I feel it is my responsibility and we cannot let this happen to any film.

Raj further added, Whoever is in power, be it the Congress, BJP or JD(S), it is their responsibility to ensure safety and freedom of expression. You cant sit back and allow the fringe who are not even elected members to do as they please. Are they representing the people? If I dont like a film, or want to lodge my protest, I will not watch it. But you cant stop those who want to watch.

Everyone has a right to protest. But there is always a way to do that. A few fringe elements want a ban on the film. But banning a film is illegal and its not an answer. What message are we trying to instill with this? Tamilians will hate the Kannadiga and vice-versa. Be it in Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Bihar or Gujarat, we cannot allow the fringe to take law into their hands. We as citizens have to put a stop to it.

Acting on the Supreme Court's direction, the Centre finally constituted the Cauvery Water Management Authority (CMA) to address the long-standing dispute over sharing of river water among Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Kerala and Puducherry and issued a gazette notification.
Chandigarh: The water situation in Shimla continues to be grim even as the police have booked over 200 people for holding protests demanding water supply.

An FIR has been lodged against 140 people from Kasumpti, Vikas Nagar and Panthaghati areas of the city where demonstrations were held on Sunday against the local authorities.

The protesters had blocked the National Highway chocking traffic movement and raised slogans against the municipal corporation and the state government.

Similarly, a case has also been registered against 60 workers of the Youth Congress who had protested outside the residence of Chief Minister Jairam Thakur on Friday evening.

CM Thakur held a review meeting on Sunday evening with officials after returning from Delhi. He was briefed that the municipal corporation received 37.63 million litres per day (MLD) on Sunday as against 28 MLD on Saturday while 1.85 lakh litres of water has been distributed via tankers till date.

The CM has asked the officials to distribute water according to the fixed schedule and also keep an eye on leakage of water. He informed that 11 groundwater hand pumps would be installed in the adjacent areas of the city.

Shimla Municipal Corporation Mayor Kusum Sadret too returned from her official China trip on Sunday. Speaking to News 18, Sadret tendered her apology to the locals and said that her visit was fixed in March and she had no idea that the water situation would worsen this much.

The opposition had been gunning for her head claiming that the mayor was busy enjoying in China. The Congress has demanded that the BJP-ruled municipal corporation be dissolved for failing to carry out its duties. The Congress also plans to move the High Court against the cases registered against its workers.
Researchers identify immune profiles that place people at risk of dengue

For many viruses, contracting the pathogen can have a silver lining: The subsequent antibodies confer immunity against future infection.



Not so for dengue, a remarkably common and occasionally fatal mosquito-borne disease that affects between 50 million and 390 million people per year. Because it is often asymptomatic, tracking outbreaks is challenging. Now, researchers have developed new statistical methods to evaluate individuals' infection history and risk, as well as to better understand the dynamics and spread of this disease.

Immunity to dengue acts to protect some people, place others at risk, prevent some infections, and promote others, said University of Florida biology professor Derek Cummings of UFs Emerging Pathogens Institute. Cummings is a co-author of the study and the principal investigator of the National Institutes of Health grant that funded the research. These effects change over time, making it difficult to determine whether an individual or population is protected or at risk at any particular point in time.

The study is published in the journal Nature.

The researchers measured antibody levels in a population subgroup to assess exposure to dengue and consequent risk for severe disease.

Dengue's versatility is wrought by its four serotypes, which are genetically distinct from each other. About 500,000 people annually develop the hemorrhagic form, which is fatal in 2.5 percent of cases. Different serotypes come into play as people are re-infected by a serotype of dengue they haven't seen in the past, which spurs an immune interference that paradoxically leads to individuals experiencing more symptoms and a higher likelihood of the hemorrhagic form upon second exposure.

The transmissibility of any given serotype is not linked to its propensity to cause symptomatic and/or severe disease. Worldwide, all four serotypes circulate with no notable difference in the number of infections caused by each.

"When individuals who have been infected once are infected for a second time by another form of the dengue virus, their antibody levels increase, but not enough to protect them," said lead author Henrik Salje, a statistician and epidemiologist in the Mathematical Modeling of Infectious Diseases Unit at the Institut Pasteur. In fact, higher antibody levels are associated with more severe disease. Because initial infection often includes few or no symptoms, tracking exposure and planning for prevention requires an understanding of serotype distribution and the risk level of those who have already been exposed once. After infection, individuals develop a stable and measurable level of antibodies, and that level marks them as inside or outside the window of risk.

Serotype distribution reports from hospital- or community-based surveillance are not necessarily representative of dengues distribution or the present risk for a population. Thus, the researchers used cohort-based surveillance to overcome the limitations of active surveillance, which typically relies upon individuals exhibiting symptoms and receiving attention at a hospital or clinic.

The researchers were interested in how individual-level risk and infection corresponds to that on the population level.

Between 1998 and 2003, researchers at Walter Reed Army Institute of Research and University at Buffalo measured antibody levels in a cohort of 3,451 children from a rural region of northern Thailand to evaluate thresholds of immunity.

Characterization of individual risks offers the promise that we can monitor populations in the same way and determine when a population might be collectively at risk of experiencing high rates of dengue disease," Cummings said.

Individuals in the cohort were given a blood test every 90 days for five years. During this time, they may have encountered the dengue virus via mosquito bite. The researchers monitored them for symptoms of dengue. They found 1,1,49 infections that were undetectable by active surveillance. The study estimates that 65 percent of dengue infections are asymptomatic, while 35 percent are symptomatic. Moreover, 34 percent of undetected primary infections and 39 percent of asymptomatic infections were due to the DENV4 serotype, but all four serotypes are equally common.

After the conclusion of data collection and the robust data analysis described in the present study, the team was able to benchmark antibody levels with the corresponding risk.

With this carefully observed cohort, we were able to tease out the impact of immunity over multiple time scales, Cummings said.
Chandigarh: A 25-year-old rape survivor was attacked by two motorcycle-borne assailants who threw an acid-like combustible material on her while she was on her way to the juvenile court here.

The shocking incident took place in broad daylight on Monday near Punjab University Gate Number 3.

The woman was rushed to a government hospital in Sector 16, Chandigarh, while the two men fled the spot.

Inspector Sarita Roy said, A 25-year-old rape survivor, resident of Sector 23, was on her way to the juvenile court when she was attacked by two youths on a motorbike. She was attacked near Gate Number 3 of Punjab University. She was immediately rushed to the hospital. She has not suffered any injuries. Her clothes have been sent for forensic examination. It is not yet clear whether it was an acid attack or not.

The police officer added, Last year she was allegedly raped by a boy from Jammu and had filed a case against him. Perhaps the acid attack has some connection with the previous rape case.

According to sources, she met the accused on Facebook who then lured her to a hotel in Sector 45, Burail in Chandigarh.

(With inputs from Manoj Rathi)
Children born to mothers with greater emotional control and problem-solving abilities are less likely to develop behavioural problems, finds a new study.

The research showed that mothers with high emotional control are less likely to be verbally harsh with their children.

Mothers with higher emotional and cognitive control were less likely to report poor child conduct, such as fighting with other children or throwing tantrums when they don't get what they want.

"When you lose control of your life, that impacts how you parent. That chaos both directly and indirectly influences your child's behaviour," said lead author Ali Crandall, from Brigham Young University in Utah, US.

The study, published in the journal Family Relations, included data from 152 mothers, aged between 21 to 49 years, who had children between 3 to 7 years of age.

The mother's emotional control was measured through a 10-item questionnaire asking how often subjects "have angry outbursts" or "overreact to small problems".

Executive functioning or cognitive control -- what helps people manage chaos and achieve daily goals, and includes planning, problem solving and directing attention to what is most important-- was measured through a series of tasks.

The results showed that mothers with greater cognitive control are less likely to have controlling parenting attitudes.

"There are some clear 'signals' that our supply of self-control is being run down -- when we are feeling distracted, irritable and tired," said co-author Kirby Deater-Deckard from the University of Massachusetts-Amherst.

"Parents can practice recognising these signals in themselves when they are occurring and respond by taking a 'time out' if at all possible -- just as we might do with our children when we notice these signals in them," Deckard added.

Crandall explained that getting enough sleep, exercising and healthy eating habits impact the executive functioning.
Filmmaker and actor Farhan Akhtar on Monday condemned the violence that has erupted in Shillong over a road skirmish a few days back and had refused to subside.

"Saddened to hear about violence in Shillong. Sincerely hope that whatever the issue is, it is resolved peacefully. Also hoping that my friends there and their families are safe and unhurt," Farhan, 44, tweeted.

Saddened to hear about violence in #Shillong. Sincerely hope that whatever the issue is, it is resolved peacefully. Also hoping that my friends there & their families are safe and unhurt. Farhan Akhtar (@FarOutAkhtar) June 4, 2018

Violence had erupted in the Meghalaya capital on May 31, after an altercation between a driver of the Khasi community employed with the Shillong Public Transport Service and some Punjabi women in Theme lew Mawlong, a Punjabi settlement there with around 350 households.

The violence has continued over the next few days even after the parties involved in the skirmish reached a compromise.

Minister of State for Home Affairs Kiren Rijiju has denied rumours of an attack on any Gurdwara or any Sikh institution.

Curfew was imposed in the violence-hit city, which was later relaxed for seven hours on Sunday.
Ranveer Singh's grandmother has passed away. The Padmaavat star was scheduled to address a press conference at Mumbai's Taj Lands End on Monday at noon, but due to the unfortunate occurence, the event has been cancelled.

The actor's grandmother was not keeping well for a long time, reports Times Now. Earlier in January, Ranveer's rumoured girlfriend, actress Deepika Padukone had gone to visit his grandmother at the hospital.

Ranveer was extremely close to his grandmother. Talking about her in an interview with Grazia magazine, he had said, As important to me as oxygen and water. I am very affectionate with everybody  my fans, my family. I was raised that way. My grandmother mollycoddled me. There was lots of hugging and kissing in my house."
Swara Bhaskar, whose refusal to mince words has often landed her in many troubles in the past on social media, has once again found herself in the midst of a Twitter frenzy after several users slammed the actress for her masturbation scene in her recently released film Veere Di Wedding, claiming that they went to watch the movie with their grandmothers and "got embarrassed".

However, a number of users have strangely posted the exact same tweet. "Hey @ReallySwara just watched #VeereDiWedding with my grandmother. We got embarrassed when that masturabation scene came on screen. as we came out of the theater my grandmother said I'm hindustan and I am ashamed of #VeereDiWedding," the tweets read. (sic)

A section of the Internet also came out in support of Swara. One user tweeted, "Why are so many sanskari people watching #VeereDiWedding with their grandmothers?"

Why are so many sanskari people watching #VeereDiWedding with their grandmothers? Rahul Pandita (@rahulpandita) June 2, 2018

Hitting back at trolls, Swara wrote: "Looks like a certain IT cell sponsored the tickets - or definitely the tweets."

Looks like a certain IT cell sponsored the tickets- or definitely the tweets !!!!  https://t.co/KIUqMoOLRG Swara Bhasker (@ReallySwara) June 2, 2018

Responding to another user, Swara added: "I wish paid trolls would at the very least re-arrange the sentences and run a spell check before their paid tweet attacks #PaidTrollsKiPolKhulGayi."

@Joydas you bring so much joy to my Twitter timeline.. I wish paid trolls would at the very least re-arrange the sentences and run a spell check before their paid tweet attacks #PaidTrollsKiPolKhulGayi #SakshiSlays https://t.co/pxHyjKthXH Swara Bhasker (@ReallySwara) June 2, 2018

Veere Di Wedding revolves around four childhood friends  Kalindi (Kareena Kapoor Khan), Avni (Sonam Kapoor), Sakshi (Swara Bhaskar) and Meera (Shikha Talsania) who meet in Delhi to attend the wedding of Kalindi and her boyfriend Rishab Malhotra (Sumeet Vyas).

In the film, Swara plays the role of Sakshi, a free-spirited and impetuous woman who is going through a failed marriage.
Patna/New Delhi: Exactly a year left to the 2019 Lok Sabha elections, NDA partners in Bihar, JD(U) and BJP have already started pitching for more than 40 seats in the seat sharing formula here.

The development follows the embarrassing loss for the ruling alliance in Jokihat by-elections where it lost to Lalu Prasad Yadavs RJD.

The ruling Janata Dal (United) insists that Chief Minister Nitish Kumar is the leader of the JD(U)-BJP alliance and it has been the "senior partner" in the state thus indicating that it should get a major share of the seats.

BJP was quick to react, who said that while it agrees that Kumar is the face of NDA in Bihar, the Lok Sabha elections will be fought under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, thus staking similar claims to the seats.

The question at the core of the debate is whether the poor showing of JD(U) in the 2014 Lok Sabha elections  when it was out of NDA  or whether its much improved showing in the 2015 assembly elections would be a yardstick to decide the number of seats to be given to the JD(U) in the upcoming Lok Sabha elections.

While the JD(U) played it all alone in the 2014 Lok Sabha elections and won just two seats, it registered an impressive presence in the assembly elections held a year later as a partner of the RJD and the Congress in the mahagathbandhan  which it quit last year to join hands with the BJP.

In the 2009 Lok Sabha polls, when the two fought together, the JD(U) had won 22 out of 25 seats it had contested while the BJP won 12 out of 15.

"Nitish Kumar has always been the leader of the NDA in Bihar while JD(U) has always been the senior coalition partner, the proverbial big brother. There is nothing new in that," JD(U) spokesman Ajay Alok told reporters here echoing the line taken by party leaders KC Tyagi and Pawan Varma after a high-level party meeting on Sunday.

Alok was responding to queries over reports in a section of the media that it was resolved at a meeting of the party's core committee yesterday that JD(U) will play the role of big brother in Bihar just like the BJP does in Delhi.

Varma had said Nitish Kumar is the face of the NDA in Bihar. That is why he is the Chief Minister.

To a query whether the JD(U), which had only two members in the Lok Sabha, was likely to press for a seat-sharing arrangement commensurate with its relatively higher strength in the state assembly, Alok said, In the past, there have been occasions when the JD(U) has fought on 25 out of the 40 Lok Sabha seats in Bihar and the BJP has contested 15.

He, however, added under different circumstances, it would require all NDA constituents to sit together and thrash out a seat-sharing arrangement that is acceptable to all.

After Kumar snapped ties with the BJP in 2013, smaller parties like Ram Vilas Paswan's Lok Janshakti Party and the Rashtriya Lok Samata Party, headed by Kumar's associate-turned-critic Upendra Kushwaha joined the NDA which went on to win a total of 31 seats in the state in 2014 lok Sabha elections out of which BJP bagged 22.

While Kushwaha has demanded that seat-sharing be decided at the earliest, Paswan is also understood to have taken up the matter with BJP president Amit Shah when he called on him in Delhi last week.

Meanwhile, BJP leaders sought to play down JD(U)'s stance.

Narendra Modi is the face of the NDA in the country while Nitish Kumar is its leader in Bihar. Where is a contradiction in that," Deputy Chief Minister Sushil Kumar Modi told reporters in Delhi.

Seat-sharing is not a big issue when our hearts have united (dil mil gaye). When the time comes, all of us will sit together and decide, the BJP leader, who was in the national capital to attend a meeting of state environment ministers, said.

Union Minister Giriraj Singh, who has been known to be a bitter critic of Kumar, also struck a conciliatory note, saying he is the chief minister of the state and Narendra Modi is the Prime Minister of the country. Why are some people trying to make a controversy out of that.

However, the party's state vice-president Mithilesh Tiwari said it is beyond doubt that the Lok Sabha polls will be fought under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

Replying to a query, he said, If the JD(U) is trying to put pressure, through the media, for a favourable seat-sharing arrangement, then it should not do so.

Union Minister Ram Kripal Yadav, a former close aide of RJD supremo Lalu Prasad who had joined the BJP in 2014, also said, I cannot comment on seat-sharing but Lok Sabha polls will be fought under the leadership of Narendra Modi.

The NDA in Bihar is scheduled to hold a meeting here, the first since the chief minister rejoined the coalition, on Thursday.

(With inputs from PTI)
Bhopal: A day after the Congress accused the BJP of including the names of 60 lakh "fake voters" in the electoral roll in Madhya Pradesh, the partys state chief Kamal Nath said that the Congress could have won the last Assembly election in the state had there been no fraudulent votes.

We believe that 12 per cent of the voters are false. Last time the difference between BJP & Congress was 6-7 per cent. Had there been no false voters, the results would have been different, Nath told News18 on Monday.

Nath had led a delegation of Congress leaders on Sunday to the Election Commission to demand a probe into the fake voter lists and urged the poll body to remove these names from the lists of 230 Assembly constituencies.

He said that some of these 60 lakh 'voters' have the same name and photograph and are enrolled in different booths while some even have same names and same booths. The Congress had even released a list of these names.

The veteran leader said that the party had cross-checked the fake voter lists in 101 constituencies. The entire exercise was based on technology. Around 60 lakh voters are bogus. This cannot be a mistake. This is deliberate, he said.

Definitely the BJP is behind it, he claimed.

Nath claimed that the BJP would have also demanded a correction in the voter list if the partys intention was not mala fide. They (BJP) have misused the state machinery all these years to manipulate the voter list. The very foundation of democracy is a correct voters list, said the 71-year-old politician.

Nath said they have exposed the BJP on all fronts. All sections of society are against the BJP government, whether it is farmers, unemployed youth, traders or women. They are all in distress, he added.

On a possible alliance with the BSP and SP in the upcoming election, Nath said that politics of today is very fragmented. In 2014, BJP won the election by getting only 31 per cent of the votes in the country. Nearly 69 per cent voters were against the BJP.

So we are having discussing with other parties so that this fragmentation of votes does not take place, he said. Last week, Nath said that the party was open to forging an alliance with like-minded parties for the upcoming assembly election in the state at the end of this year.

Asked for his take on former President Pranab Mukherjee visiting the RSS headquarters, the Chhindwara MP said he can think of both plusses and minuses.

The plus is that he would be able to bluntly tell the RSS what they are all about. He would be able to communicate to them that what they stand for is not what this nation stands for, he said, adding that some people though strongly feel that such he should not have accepted the invitation at all.
Bengaluru: For Karnataka Chief Minister HD Kumaraswamy managing alliance partner Congress looks easier than handling his elder brother H D Revanna.

Revanna, who is senior to Kumaraswamy even in politics, is known as the favourite child of his father and former Prime Minister H D Deve Gowda.

Gowda convinced Congress president Rahul Gandhi to part with both public works department (PWD) and power portfolios much against the wishes of state Congress leaders, including crisis manager D K Shivakumar.

Kumaraswamy himself was not happy with this arm-twisting by his father, claim the CMs close aides.

PWD and power are the favourite portfolios of Revanna. He had held the same ministries during the previous Congress-JD(S) coalition in Karnataka between 2004 and 2006 and again under the JD(S)-BJP coalition led by Kumaraswamy between 2006 and 2007.

This time too he forced his father to get him both the portfolios. Deve Gowda deftly managed to get the job done for his favourite son who is a five-time MLA from Holenarasipura in Hassan district. Deve Gowda had won six times from the same seat between 1962 and 1989.

Congress, the main partner in the alliance, is upset over Rahul Gandhi ceding both PWD and power to the JD(S). Shivakumar who had held power portfolio in the Siddaramaiah government has made his displeasure public.

Speaking to News18, he said, Revanna is a big leader. I am not. I wont comment on him. The party has given me the job of a watchman. I am happy with it.

His close associates claim that Shivakumar who had held the Congress flock together before the trust vote is now asking for a meaty portfolio, either Bengaluru Development or Water Resources.

He has also agreed to head the state Congress only if he is allowed to be a member of the state Cabinet.

Revanna eyeing two heavy and lucrative portfolios has angered even his own fellow JD(S) MLAs from Hassan district.

According to reports, Revanna has told his father and brother not to make any other JD(S) MLA from Hassan a minister in the government.

Senior JD(S) MLA from neighbouring KR Nagara in Mysore, Sa Ra Mahesh has told the media that Revanna should not get both PWD and power portfolios.

According to local JDS leaders, Revanna's wife Bhavani Revanna had tried to get him defeated in the recent elections and he is making such statements at the behest of Kumaraswamy.

Revanna's son Prajwal Revanna is angry with his uncle Kumaraswamy for denying him an Assembly ticket in the recent elections and both Prajwal and his mother were not at home when Kumaraswamy visited their house at Holenarasipura recently.

An old associate of Gowda said, Not all is well in the family. Deve Gowda is trying hard to hold them together. The women and grandchildren can ruin the perfect arrangement Gowda clinched with the Congress.

Revanna is worried that his younger brother may promote his cinestar son Nikhil Kumar over his son Prajwal. Sensing trouble grandfather Gowda has offered his own Hassan Lok Sabha seat to Prajwal in 2019 to defuse family tensions.

If Kumaraswamy offers both PWD and power to Revanna, it may lead to a lot of tensions between the Congress and the JD(S) and also in the Gowda household.

But he is not in a position to go against the father who still controls the party.

The Karnataka cabinet will be expanded on Wednesday. According to power-sharing arrangements, the JD(S) has got 12 portfolios and the Congress 22.
Mumbai: The Maharashtra Congress on Monday said it will lodge a complain with the Election Commission (EC) alleging misuse of power and violations of the election code of conduct by Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, five days after Shiv Sena President Uddhav Thackeray termed the Palghar Lok Sabha bypolls "a farce".

Congress spokesperson Sachin Sawant and other leaders will meet Chief Election Commissioner O.P. Rawat in New Delhi on Tuesday morning with their plea.

They plan to apprise him of how Fadnavis had repeatedly violated the election model code of conduct and misused government machinery in the May 28 by-elections that were held in Palghar besides Bhandara-Gondiya (both in Maharashtra).

"Was the entire election machinery working under the pressures of the Chief Minister, this is the suspicion that has arisen out of the situation during the election process," Sawant said.

He pointed out that during the elections, the Congress complained to the Returning Officers several times regarding this but no action was taken against them by the EC.

The Congress delegation plans to submit a memorandum to the CEC on these issues which have raised serious doubts in the minds of the people, he added.

On May 31, Thackeray had charged that large-scale manipulations were carried out in the Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) with the knowledge of the EC officials.

Accusing the EC of becoming a "corrupt body" and a puppet in the hands of the ruling party, the Sena chief directly questioned whether the CEC had any "control over the election machinery".

In the two Lok Sabha bypolls in the state, the Bharatiya Janata Party retained the Palghar seat trouncing the main Sena rival, but it lost the Bhandara-Gondiya seat to the Nationalist Congress Party.
Mumbai: NCP chief Sharad Pawar on Monday said that the present situation in the country mirrors that of 1977, when Indira Gandhi was voted out of power by a coalition of parties, and offered to play the role of a unifier for all opposition parties to come together to take on the BJP in next year's Lok Sabha polls.

"The anti-BJP parties who believe in democracy and having a common minimum programme (CMP) should keep in mind the wishes of the people and come together. I would be happy to be part of the process to unite all like-minded parties," said the 77-year-old leader.

Most of the "bypoll results went against the ruling party (BJP). This is not a small thing," he said after meeting the newly-elected Lok Sabha member from Bhandara-Gondiya Madhukar Kukade, who belongs to his party.

"There have been some occasions earlier where bypoll defeats have culminated into the defeat of the government of the time," the veteran former union minister told reporters.

The NCP chief, who was earlier in the Congress, recalled that in 1977 too, the opposition unity had resulted in the defeat of the then Congress government led by Indira Gandhi and said a similar situation was prevailing now.

He said non-NDA national and regional parties that have a strong base in their respective regions should arrive at an understanding to come together.

In this context, Pawar said parties which have strong presence in states, like the Left in Kerala, the JD(S) (Karnataka), the Congress (Karnataka, Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, Punjab, Rajasthan and Maharashtra), the TDP (Andhra Pradesh), the TRS (Telangana), the TMC (West Bengal) and the NCP in Maharashtra need to build a consensus.

Dealing a blow to the BJP, opposition parties last week emerged victorious in 11 out of the 14 Lok Sabha and Assembly bypolls, while limiting the saffron party and its allies to just three.

In Maharashtra's Palghar Lok Sabha by-election, which was won by the BJP, the anti-BJP votes were more than the ballots polled by it, Pawar claimed.

To a question on Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis's remarks about winning the bypolls "at any cost and using any means", Pawar said the CM's instructions were implemented.

"I have seen many elections, but never seen so much misuse of power. The district administration (referring to Bhandara-Gondiya bypoll in Maharashtra) orders that banks be kept open on Saturday and Sunday so that beneficiaries can get money in their accounts on the eve of voting," he said.

Abhimanyu Kale, the district collector of Gondiya, was shunted out a day after the Lok Sabha by-election there was marred by large-scale complaints of malfunctioning of the Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs).

Kale was the returning officer for the Bhandara-Gondiya Lok Sabha constituency where complaints of malfunctioning of EVMs were received from more than 40 polling stations.

"The Election Commission said the district collector concerned will not be no poll duty for eight to 10 years," Pawar said, adding "The state and central governments should not keep such government officials in service and take strict action against such officials."

On the farmers' strike, he said all sections of society should support cultivators who have been forced to protest because of the "government's apathy".

"It is not a political agitation. I appeal to the agitating farmers to avoid throwing milk on roads. They should not destroy the crops they have grown, instead distribute it to the poor people," Pawar said.

(With PTI inputs)
Mumbai: In one of the sharpest attacks after the recently held Lok Sabha bypoll in Palghar, Shiv Sena MP Sanjay Raut on Sunday described BJP as its biggest "political enemy".

The country "does not" want the duo of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and BJP president Amit Shah, but could "accept" the Congress or JD(S) leader H D Deve Gowda, he said.

"The Shiv Sena is the biggest political enemy (rajkiya shatroo) of the BJP. The Sena's radical Hinduism would prove problematic for the BJP," he said in an opinion piece written under his `rokh-thokh' (straight forward) column published in party mouthpiece 'Saamana'.

Raut is the editor of the Marathi daily.

Taking potshots at the saffron party, Raut said the BJP paid tribute to its late MP Chintaman Wanaga by defeating his son, the Sena candidate, in Palghar.

The bypoll was necessitated by the death of Chintaman Wanaga.

Since the Sena is the main political opponent of the BJP, the latter's plan is to weaken the Uddhav Thackeray-led party while staying in power with it, he alleged.

"Hence, the BJP's plan is to stay with the Sena in power and try to weaken it by using power and money. The BJP used its resources to ensure Shiv Sena's defeat in the Palghar Lok Sabha bypoll (held last month)," Raut said.

The Sena leader claimed "trickery" of EVMs led to the BJP's victory in Palghar and said it was nothing short of a "scandal".

"On the day of voting (May 28), complaints of EVMs malfunctioning were reported from at least 100 locations. The Election Commission rejected the Shiv Sena's request for extending voting hours, but a similar demand of BJP candidate Rajendra Gavit (who won the seat) was accepted," he alleged.

He claimed that every polling station, where extension for voting was given, reported an "average 100 extra votes to the BJP nominee and cumulatively BJP's votes increased by some thousands. But some 60,000 voters could not vote".

"After the voting, the district collector declared 46 per cent turnout, but the figure went up to 56 per cent the next day (when final figure was announced). It means 82,000 votes increased overnight", he said.

Raut charged that the BJP has appointed people with RSS links to key constitutional posts and controlled the election procedure. He also referred to the setback suffered by the BJP in the just held Lok Sabha and Assembly bypolls in some states.

"The BJP managed to win the Palghar Lok Sabha bypoll but it lost many other Lok Sabha and Assembly bypolls. This shows winds of change are blowing in several parts of the country," he said.

"The bypoll results indicate beginning of the BJP's downfall," said the Rajya Sabha MP.

He charged that "the country is in such a state of mind that it can accept the Congress or Deve Gowda, but does not want the Modi- Shah duo".
Lucknow: Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav on Monday asked if Prime Minister Narendra Modi's recent visit to Indonesia and Malaysia during the month of Ramzan an attempt towards "international appeasement" of the minority community.

During an interview with a news agency, he claimed that the people of not only Uttar Pradesh, but of the entire country were upset with the BJP as other than making promises it "did nothing else".

Citing a proverb, Yadav said, "With an empty stomach, people have now understood that the BJP does not mean business."

Asking the BJP to restrain its leaders from making "absurd" comments, he said, "The BJP should learn to face defeats or else they will not be able to digest the outcome of the 2019 Lok Sabha elections in which the opposition will stage a comeback."

Slamming the BJP for accusing his party of practising minority appeasement, the Samajwadi Party chief said, "Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath says he does not celebrate Eid as he is a Hindu. The BJP charges us with practising Muslim appeasement. Modi has just visited Indonesia and Malaysia during the month of Ramzan. Is it an attempt towards 'international appeasement' of the Muslims?"

Adityanath had reportedly said that he is a Hindu and does not celebrate Eid, drawing sharp criticism from the opposition.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi was for the first time on an official visit to Indonesia - the world's most populous Muslim-majority nation - last month. He has visited Singapore twice and Malaysia once in 2015.

Modi had also visited Indonesia's grand Istiqlal Mosque, the largest in southeast Asia, with President Joko Widodo.

Indonesia is not only the world's most populous Muslim country, followed by India but the third largest democracy. Hindus comprise two per cent of Indonesia's population and form close to a 90 per cent majority on the island of Bali.
Apple has approved an updated version of the Telegram messaging service, a day after Telegram complained that it had been prevented from getting software improvements into the hands of iPhone owners worldwide. Telegram Chief Executive Pavel Durov announced the turnabout on Twitter, thanking Apple and CEO Tim Cook for getting the latest Telegram version "to millions of users, despite the recent setbacks." On Thursday, Durov had said Apple had refused to allow updates in its App Store since April. Apple has thus far resisted a Russian order that month to remove the application from the store entirely, and the update delay sparked concern that Apple was moving to appease authorities there.

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Without an update, not all Telegram features worked on the latest iPhone software, and Telegram also said it was running afoul of new European data privacy laws. If the ban had become permanent, Telegram would have grown unsafe over time as security flaws were discovered but unable to be patched through the normal update process. Neither Apple nor Telegram explained the reason for the prior lack of approval or for the reversal. On Friday, Apple did not respond to requests for comment.

Apple's control over the applications in its store enables it to inspect and approve or disapprove of every new version, including updates that fix minor technical issues. If it does not approve an updated version of the software, it cannot be distributed through the App Store. "Russia banned Telegram on its territory in April because we refused to provide decryption keys for all our users' communications to Russia's security agencies," Durov said Thursday. Russia's Federal Security Service (FSB) said it needed to guard against security threats.

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After Russia's decision to block the popular messaging service, protest rallies in Moscow against what demonstrators called internet censorship drew thousands. Telegram is challenging the block in Russian courts. Governments have stepped up pressure on technology companies to more actively police content in more forms, including applications. In China, Apple recently banned Virtual Private Network applications and removed the New York Times from its digital marketplace.

Apple has said publicly that it would notify developers when applications were removed at a government's request, that it would limit takedowns to specific countries when possible, and that beginning in the second half of this year it would note in periodic transparency reports the number of requests for application removals. None of that would necessarily cover restrictions on updates.

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After facing employees' anger over Google's involvement in an Artificial Intelligence (AI)-powered US Defence Department project, the tech giant has decided not to renew the current contract after it expires next year, the media reported. During a weekly meeting with employees on Friday, Google Cloud chief Diane Greene said that the company was backing away from its AI work with the military, The New York Times reported on Friday citing a person familiar with the discussion.

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Called 'Maven', the programme applies AI and Machine Learning to the job of classifying objects in surveillance footage. The decision not to renew the contract comes after about 4,000 Google employees signed a petition demanding "a clear policy stating that neither Google nor its contractors will ever build warfare technology."

While a handful of employees resigned in protest, some were openly advocating the company to cancel the Maven contract, the report said.

Also Read: Google Brings AI-Based 'Lens' Feature to Xperia Handsets

Google earlier responded to the employees petition saying that the technology was intended to save lives and save people from having to do highly tedious work. In April, Greene hosted a Town Hall meeting at which she assured employees of new ethical standards for the company, Fortune.com reported. Greene promised employees that Google would not sign up for any further work on 'Maven' or similar projects without having new ethical principles in place, the Fortune report said citing a Defense One article.

Karbonn Titanium Frames S7 Review: A Decent Budget Deal
Apple's annual Worldwide Developers Conference, or WWDC, takes place June 4-8, 2018, at the McEnery Convention Center in San Jose, California. A few hours ahead of the famous event, the only thing known for sure is that Apple will outline the main updates coming to its various operating systems (macOS, iOS, watchOS, tvOS). It's not yet known whether the firm will unveil any new hardware.

Also Read: Samsung Galaxy J4 Launched in India at a Starting Price of Rs 9,990

Various new features and functions for macOS 10.14, iOS 12, watchOS 5 and tvOS 12 will be announced at WWDC, so that developers can tailor their upcoming creations to future versions of Apple's operating systems. The new features are unlikely to roll out to users before fall, which is when Apple usually releases its major updates. Reports suggest a new Digital Health tool for iOS 12 could be showcased, while new features that use AR may also be in the spotlight.

Also Read: Smartphone Market to Stay Cool This Year: Forecast

Developers and students attending the event will have access to more than 1,000 Apple engineers, giving them the latest details about the various APIs available to them, whether for SiriKit, HomeKit or HealthKit, etc. Apple could also spill the beans on its new, more powerful MacBook and iPad devices. The firm could, for example, use WWDC to announce the imminent release of new computers featuring the latest generation of Intel Core i7 (Coffee Lake) processors. Rumors even suggest that Apple could present a new MacBook Air with a Retina display, 10 years after launching the line, which has barely been updated in almost three years.

As for iPad, Apple could unveil new devices with the firm's latest A11 processor, already used in the firm's latest iPhone handsets. The new tablet could also get Face ID facial recognition technology, which debuted on the iPhone X in 2017. While it's unlikely we'll see a new iPhone at WWDC, the event could be the ideal place for Apple to reveal its eagerly awaited wireless charging system, called AirPower.

The conference will be streamed live on the WWDC website and mobile app. WWDC runs June 4-8, 2018, in San Jose, USA. Website: developer.apple.com/wwdc

Karbonn Titanium Frames S7 Review: A Decent Budget Deal
Sydney: The head of airplane sales at Airbus dismissed concerns about a sharp drop in orders for the A330neo jet and predicted European wide-body demand would start to recover this year as rival Boeing extended a series of wins in the lucrative segment.

"The world is still full of opportunities in terms of wide-bodies. We have a lost a couple of campaigns in the West and there are other campaigns around the world. I am not personally in a panicking mode about the A330neo," Chief Commercial Officer Eric Schulz told Reuters on Monday.

Speaking on the sidelines of an airlines meeting in Sydney, Schulz declined to give a numerical sales target for 2018 wide-body orders but said, "We will see, I think we will be ok. I can see from the dynamics in the market and what we have in the pipeline and what we have already negotiated."

The A330neo is a derivative of Airbus's most-sold wide-body jet, the A330 series, whose fortunes are widely monitored by investors as one of its two main sources of profits and cash.

Airbus has lost a series of U.S contests for sales of the 250-300-seat A330neo, followed by a decision set to be approved this week by the owners of India's Vistara to order six Boeing 787s instead of A330neos, two industry sources said. The same airline may expand a leased fleet of A320neos.

Airbus and Boeing declined to comment and Vistara did not respond to a request to comment on the order, reported earlier by Bloomberg News.

Demand for wide-body jets has weakened recently because of oversupply, but Boeing has extended a traditional lead in that part of the market thanks to a spate of orders for its 787 and a rebound in 777 demand, assisted by a recovery in freight demand.

Airbus typically sells 4 in 10 big jets but reaped just 16 percent of wide-body orders between January and April. Adjusted for cancellations, net orders slumped into negative territory.

Analysts say a U.S. decision to revoke export licences for jets sold to Iran, after pulling out of an international nuclear sanctions deal, could deepen Airbus's wide-body woes since IranAir's order for 100 jets had included 28 A330neos.

Schulz said Airbus would not immediately reflect the collapse of the Iran deal in its order book as it uses a grace period for U.S. licences to "study the political situation".

Still, industry watchers say the European firm has 16 unfilled production slots for A330s in 2019, raising the prospect of further output cuts if it does not win new sales.

Airbus hopes China could be a promising market.

Schulz said one factor weighing on A330neo sales was the relatively young age of many of the previous A330 models in service, meaning some operators were not yet ready to upgrade.

"I believe that especially for people who are operating the A330, the A330neo is a nice and easy transition towards an aircraft that generates very good efficiency," he said.

The International Air Transport Association (IATA) said on Monday higher fuel prices were supporting new aircraft demand and that the average size of aircraft was rising. Schulz said on the sidelines of IATA's annual meeting that wide-body jet demand would soon recover to reflect the underlying fundamentals.

"The market is not that fast but I can sense talking to the airlines that within the next 18 months to 2 years we will have much more dynamism in the market," he said.
Washington: Former President Bill Clinton says the #MeToo movement is overdue. Just don't ask him about Monica Lewinsky.

In an interview with NBC's "Today Show" released Monday, Clinton bristled at questions over whether he should have resigned 20 years ago over his sexual relationship with the White House intern and whether the #MeToo movement has changed his perspective.

At the same time, the former Democratic president claimed credit for empowering women in his orbit and disputed that he might owe Lewinsky a private apology, insisting his public televised apology was adequate.

Lewinsky wrote in March that their relationship "was not sexual assault" but "constituted a gross abuse of power."

"I dealt with it 20 years ago, plus," said Clinton. "And the American people, two-thirds of them stayed with me. And I've tried to do a good job since then, and with my life and with my work. That's all I have to say." Clinton is promoting his new fictional thriller, "The President Is Missing," with best-selling author James Patterson.

In clips released from the interview, Clinton was at times both vague and combative in his answers, repeatedly blaming his critics and even the NBC interviewer for "omitting facts" by trying to lump him in with other men who have abused their positions of power to leverage sexual relationships.

Clinton said he was right not to resign. And while he said he supports the #MeToo movement, "I still have questions about some of the decisions which have been made." Clinton said he doesn't think President Donald Trump has gotten a free pass, but that Trump's alleged exploits haven't "gotten anything like the coverage you would expect." Trump has been accused by more than a dozen women of sexual misconduct and was caught on tape bragging about grabbing women's crotches.

On any parallels between the two presidents, Clinton said: "A lot of the facts have been conveniently omitted to make the story work, I think partly because (Trump's supporters) are frustrated that they got all these serious allegations against the current occupant in the Oval Office. And his donors don't seem to care." On not resigning, Clinton said: "I think I did the right thing. I defended the Constitution."

Patterson joined Clinton for the NBC interview, and seemed equally surprised that Clinton would be asked about the Lewinsky scandal on his book tour. At one point, Patterson noted that other presidents, John F. Kennedy and Lyndon B. Johnson, also were suspected of having extramarital affairs and that it was in the past.

"It's 20 years ago. Come on. Let's talk about JFK. Let's talk about, you know, LBJ. Stop it already," Patterson said.

In March, Lewinsky wrote in "Vanity Fair" of Clinton: "He was my boss. He was the most powerful man on the planet. He was 27 years my senior, with enough life experience to know better. He was, at the time, at the pinnacle of his career, while I was in my first job out of college. (Note to the trolls, both Democratic and Republican: none of the above excuses me for my responsibility for what happened. I meet Regret every day.
Vienna: Russian President Vladimir Putin blamed political ructions in the United States for difficulties in arranging a summit with President Donald Trump, in remarks broadcast on Monday.

Trump said in March the two leaders would meet soon. But since then already fragile ties between Washington and Moscow have been strained further by the conflict in Syria and the poisoning of a former Russian spy in Britain.

Putin said last month the proposed summit was beset by problems and was not working out for now.

Asked by Austrian broadcaster ORF why it was taking so long to arrange, he said: "You have to ask our colleagues in the USA. In my view, it is the consequence of the fierce domestic political contest in the United States."

Putin, who gave ORF an interview ahead of a visit to Austria on Tuesday, did not elaborate.

Trump is under pressure from special counsel Robert Mueller's investigation into whether Russia meddled in the 2016 U.S. election and whether there was collusion with Trump's campaign - something both he and Moscow deny.

"In one of our last discussions, Donald said he is concerned about the danger of a new arms race. I agree with him entirely," Putin said in a short extract released ahead of the full interview, to be broadcast on Monday evening.

Apart from mentioning the U.S. withdrawal in 2002 from the Anti-Ballistic Missile Treaty, Putin did not elaborate.

Trump made a similarly vague reference to the issue in April when he said "Stop the arms race?" in a tweet that also mentioned providing "help" for the Russian economy.
Washington: President Donald Trump's lawyer, Rudy Giuliani, said Sunday that the President should not testify before special counsel Robert Mueller because "our recollection keeps changing."

Giuliani made the comment when asked about fellow Trump lawyer Jay Sekulow's contradictory remarks on whether the President weighed in on a statement put out about his son Donald Trump Jr.'s controversial 2016 meeting with Russians at Trump Tower.

Sekulow co-authored with then-Trump attorney John Dowd a confidential January letter to special counsel Robert Mueller that acknowledged for the first time that Trump "dictated" the 2016 statement, contradicting several public statements by Sekulow and White House press secretary Sarah Sanders.

"I think Jay was wrong," Giuliani said on ABC's "This Week." "I mean, this is -- this is the reason you don't let the President testify. If, you know, every, our recollection keeps changing, or we're not even asked a question, and somebody makes an assumption, in my case, I made an assumption and then I, then, then we corrected, and I got it right out as soon as, as soon as, as soon as it happened. I think that's what happened here."

Giuliani added that he is still leaning against recommending that Trump do an interview with Mueller, but "we want to keep an open mind" if the special counsel can keep it brief and to a narrow set of topics. He also said the legal team would go to court if Mueller were to subpoena the President.

"We'll say, 'Hey, you got everything you need, you got 1.4 million documents, you have 28 witnesses,'" he said on ABC. "President -- the President's given every explanation and, and, and corrected some that were misimpressions. You've got everything you need, what -- what do you need us for?
Kabul: A suicide bomber on Monday killed at least eight people near Muslim clerics leaving a giant tent in the Afghan capital of Kabul where they had gathered to denounce terrorism and call for peace, security officials said.

No group immediately claimed responsibility for the attack, which underlines a worsening security situation ahead of parliamentary and district council elections set for Oct. 20.

A series of bombings in Kabul has killed dozens of people in recent months and shown no sign of easing during the Muslim holy month of Ramadan.

On Wednesday, gunmen armed with assault rifles and grenade launchers stormed the heavily fortified headquarters of the interior ministry, battling security forces for more than two hours.

In April, two explosions in Kabul killed at least 26 people, including nine journalists who had arrived to report on an initial blast and were targeted by a suicide bomber.

A week earlier, 60 people were killed and more than 100 wounded when a suicide bomber blew himself up outside a voter registration centre in the city.

Militant group Islamic State has claimed many attacks in Kabul but security officials say several are much more likely to be the work of the Haqqani network, a group affiliated with the Taliban, who are seeking to re-impose strict Islamic rule after their 2001 ouster by U.S.-backed forces.

Provincial cities have also been hit as the Taliban, seeking to reimpose hardline Islamic rule, have stepped up fighting across the country since they announced the beginning of their annual spring offensive in April.
Washington: President Donald Trump's wife, Melania Trump, will skip this week's G7 summit in Quebec and does not plan to attend the planned June 12 summit in Singapore with North Korea, the White House said on Sunday.

Melania Trump attended the G7 meeting in Italy last year. The US first lady, 48, has not been seen in public since May 10 when she and the president welcomed home three Americans who had been held prisoner in North Korea.

She underwent a surgical procedure on May 14 to treat a benign kidney condition and was released from the hospital on May 19.

"She will not attend the G7 and there are no plans for her to travel to Singapore at this time," her spokeswoman, Stephanie Grisham, said in an email on Sunday.

The White House said late on Sunday that the president and first lady would host a reception on Monday evening for the families of service members killed in the line of duty. The reception is not open to the press, the White House added.

Last Wednesday, Melania Trump tweeted in response to news stories about her absence from public view.

"I see the media is working overtime speculating where I am & what I'm doing. Rest assured, I'm here at the @WhiteHouse w my family, feeling great, & working hard on behalf of children & the American people!" she wrote on Twitter.

A reporter for CNBC tweeted that he saw the first lady in the White House last Tuesday with her aides.
Former Uttar Pradesh CM Mayawati, in a surprising move on Saturday (June 2), announced that she is vacating a 'portion' of the government bungalow in Lucknow that she had earlier said is a memorial of BSP founder Kanshi Ram. (Image: News18)
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CHESTER  Can the founding of the United States of America be traced back to the Connecticut River ferries?

The British officers could ride for free, and not only did the ferry operators hate it, the colonists hated it, too, said Wick Griswold, whose new book, Connecticut River Ferries, delves into the history of the cross-river service and the quirky characters who operated the barges.

And when Rochambeau had to transport his army across the Connecticut, the ferry operators quickly mobilized  transporting his 5,000 troops and horses and gear from East Hartford to Hartford in just three days, an amazing achievement.

Griswold said if you spend time with modern ferries and ferry operators, its not long before you make a connection with the ferries of legend.

In Greek mythology, Charon is the ferryman of Hades who carries souls of the newly deceased across the rivers that divide the world of the living from the world of the dead. He appears in Dantes Inferno as the ferryman unwilling to transport Dante across the river Acheron, the first of the three infernal rivers of Hell.

Griswold is quick to note the connections between the ferries of mythology and those that crossed the Connecticut River. Like the irascible Charon, ferry captains were impatient with travelers who couldnt come up with the fare. (In ancient Greece, the dead were buried with a coin in their mouths to pay the ferryman.)

Rich in history

Then theres the story of Jonas Lincoln, the Revolutionary War veteran whose battle-scarred mind leaves him to wander aimlessly about New England. After being refused passage on the Hartford-East Hartford ferry, he walks around the Connecticut, perhaps as far north as Canada, to wade across the river. He eventually meets up with the crusty ferryman on the other side.

Here I am, in spite of you, you old skinflint, the old soldier says.

A similar story played out in Norse legend, Griswold said. There was a ferryman called Harbard who also made Thor  by then an old warrior  walk around a river.

Griswold teaches history at the University of Hartford. He co-wrote the book with Stephen Jones, professor emeritus of the Maritime Studies Program of the University of Connecticut at Avery Point. Both have written several books on New Englands maritime legacy.

The Chester-Hadlyme ferry, although it dates back to 1769, isnt the oldest in the state. That honor belongs to the Rocky Hill-Glastonbury ferry, which began service in 1655. Its the oldest continuously operating ferry in the U.S.

Today those two ferries are the last that still cross the Connecticut River in the state. In the 19th century there were more than 100 ferries crossing the river, but most quickly went out of business after several bridges went up.

Changing business model

More Information Connecticut River Ferries By Wick Griswold and Stephen Jones History Press, $21.99 See More Collapse

Before the steam era, ferries were kept in the same families for over 100 years, Griswold said. Because, in addition to the boat, you needed a place on the riverbank, and this was where many built an inn.

So for decades, operating a ferry was a profitable enterprise.

And they were the purveyors of information, too  they were often the first to get the news from Boston and New York.

Still, some of these ferries faltered as families squabbled over ownership. And over time, fees were increasingly dictated by the government. When the steam era arrived in the late 1800s, they became too expensive to operate. Soon local governments took over the ferries, then the state.

The state still threatens to shut them down, Griswold said. They lose about a half-million dollars a year. But every time this happens, people turn up in Hartford with the pitchforks at the state Capitol.

He wryly notes that schools and highways produce even less income than the pittance collected on the ferries.

Not all of the stories in the book are from the bygone era when boats were propelled by long poles and arm-power. In 2014, the state, hoping to squeeze every last dime from the ferries, turned the boats  according to critics  into floating billboards, festooned with Get Carter! signs.

Carter is Carter Mario, who heads a large team of personal injury attorneys. He quickly realized that the signs werent having the desired effect and had them replaced with a large educational poster depicting the history of the ferry service. This was much more in keeping with aesthetics and proper New England decorum preferred by the ferry fanatics.

It costs $5 to take your car on the ferry ($6 on weekends), $2 if youre on foot or with your bicycle. The Chester-Hadlyme ferry can hold nine cars, and it still offers the easiest crossing in that part of the state. The stunning Gillette Castle is on the Hadlyme side and there are several quaint towns to explore nearly. The tug-and-barge Rocky Hill-Glastonbury ferry can only hold three cars.

jburgeson@ctpost.com
NEWTOWN - A short documentary film about two priests who share the grief of burying mass-murdered schoolchildren was sure to resonate here, where one of them is still feeling the effects post-traumatic stress.

But how would the film translate outside Newtown, in a world that has left behind the 2012 massacre of 26 students and educators at Sandy Hook School?

Director Kim Snyder has her answer.

Her 20-minute film, Notes from Dunblane, has just won Best Documentary Short at the Tribeca Film Festival in Manhattan.

This transcendent film adds a revelatory dimension to a subject that is at the epicenter of public consciousness today, the Tribeca jury wrote. We found the wholly original approach of this film allowed us to feel again about subject matter that had shattered our collective souls and left us numb.

Snyder said she didnt need a first-place finish at one of the premier cinema competitions in the country to validate the story.

She said she knew she was witnessing a powerful connection when Monsignor Basil OSullivan of Scotland reached out reached out to Monsignor Robert Weiss, the pastor of Newtowns St. Rose of Lima Church.

OSullivan was the priest who consoled the families of 16 children, aged 5 and 6, who were murdered by a gunman at a primary school in Dunblane, Scotland, in 1996. Weiss was the priest who buried eight first-graders from Sandy Hook School in five days.

Snyder, the director of a larger documentary about the Sandy Hook massacre, knew that the special relationship between the two priests was its own story. She traveled to Scotland to shoot part of the film and was in Newtown to film OSullivans trip to St. Rose of Lima to be with Weiss on the first anniversary of the Sandy Hook massacre.

The result was a touching drama about the transforming power of personal presence in lifes most isolating moments.

An emotional paralysis was lifted as we watched this film that allowed us to engage once again with the brutal reality that is America today, the Tribeca judges wrote.

rryser@newstimes.com 203-731-3342
If you dont think the term spy is overworked in this age where a president of the United States is attacking federal law enforcement, consider what should be a quiet state house race in eastern Connecticut.

State Rep. Melissa Ziobron, a libertarian Republican from East Haddam, is campaigning for the state Senate seat that is being vacated by Sen. Art Linares, who is seeking the GOP nomination for state treasurer in the August 14 primary.

So Ziobron recruited Irene Haines, an insurance agent and a founder of both the East Haddam News and the Colchester Civic Orchestra whose political experience has included bipartisan work for local schools and a race for first selectman. Haines has discovered that emails can boomerang back at you.

Last week she sent out emails that reached Democrats who are partisan enough to share it. The subject line says Melissa is looking for a spy. It starts out asking after the health of the recipient. It eventually inquires whether the recipient had planned to attend an open meeting of local Democrats.

But to the spy mission should you choose to accept, Haines wrote. Theres a meeting this weekend that Dems are putting on about knocking on doors. Any chance you were already going??

Contacted a couple days later, Haines pleaded partial innocence and copped some guilt. Im new to this, she said over the phone. I dont know anything about the whole politics game. I contacted someone I thought was a friend. Thats all it is. It was definitely wasnt much more than Mission Impossible. She said shes looking forward to serving in the House of Representatives. Weve got a mess and we have to fix it.

Ziobron said shes been busy knocking on doors in the largely suburban and rural district to focus on what her opponents might be doing. It has nothing to do with me, she said over the phone. I would assume its a public meeting. I kind of laughed when I saw mission impossible, she said, presumably referring to a similar-but-separate email with that subject line.

She conceded that Haines might have been a little naive and that maybe some people are not your friends.

kdixon@ctpost.com Twitter: @KenDixonCT
HAMDEN  Mayor Curt B. Leng announced Friday he signed the budget put forward by the Legislative Council May 17, enacting it into law.

Under the $231.52 million spending plan, the tax rate will rise to 47.96 mills. Each mill equals $1 in tax per $1,000 of assessed property value.

Leng said he was uncomfortable with the increase in the tax rate, reductions to the police budget  two currently unfilled positions will remain vacant in the year to come, Leng said  and setting aside just $500,000 for contingencies, which he said was the lowest amount in many years.

But he said he decided to sign the budget as a sign of governmental unity.

(L)ocal government has to be the level of government that our residents can count on to get things done. We cant allow ourselves to fall into the traps of bickering and inaction that has plagued the federal and even state governments in recent times, said Leng. Hamden residents must feel confident that their town is there for them and that their services will be strong and effective.

To this end, I will be signing the Council approved FY19 budget today, with the mixed emotions of reluctance, but also a renewed hope that we can learn to master the art of compromise and produce future results which are in the very best interest of our taxpayers, he said.

Leng said the town government would work to bolster public safety, find alternative sources of emergency funds, and seek to end the year in the black.

My administration will work hard throughout the upcoming year to end the FY19 budget with a surplus. These efforts will hopefully allow us to minimize any tax increases in the upcoming FY20 budget, hold the line on taxes, or hopefully even reduce our mill rate slightly to provide relief for our residents, said Leng. Working together with the Legislative Council and our residents, I know that we can make this happen while making our town finance and services stronger and more efficient for the future.

Council President Michael McGarry previously said the budget was a compromise effort, more closely and contentiously considered than any of its predecessors during his time on the council.

It supports the Board of Education and fully funds the towns pension obligations  tough, but appropriate, decisions, he said.

People were not comfortable with their votes, said McGarry. It was a difficult vote to take, knowing the pain itll cause people in their personal finances, but necessary.

Council member Lauren Garrett put out a statement Friday, thanking the mayor for signing the budget, which she also described as a compromise  in this case, between the councils priorities and the mayors original proposal, with the wants and needs of town residents factored in.

Garrett said she was concerned about the debt burden on the community, which grew as part of a restructuring plan instituted as part of the budget, as well as the total cost of the financial plan and resulting tax rate.

A study by the Office of Policy and Management indicated Hamden had the fourth-most bonded debt per capita in Connecticut, Garrett noted.

But she was pleased the council determined the appropriate costs and revenues for every line account in the budget and funded them at those levels, provided resources for an efficiency study, funded education appropriately, and fully pays the towns pension obligation.

Plenty of work remains before us to stabilize the growing operating costs for our town. We need to obtain additional funding from Hartford, said Garrett. We need to generate additional means of funding our town, that does not further burden our residents. The Hamden Legislative Council is committed to working on all of these items, and more, over the next year, and not waiting until next budget season brings these issues to the forefront again.

Marjorie Bonadies, minority leader on the council, voiced her displeasure with the budget in a statement Friday. She said Democrats were loathe to make any cuts and added to the budget beyond what was requested, including $1.25 million for the Board of Education.

There were many people who came to speak at the public input sessions begging the council not to raise taxes. Property values are dropping precipitously around town, said Bonadies. There is a sense that the council doesn't care about people who are paying $20,000 or more in taxes because they must have big houses and can therefore afford these unplanned expenses. I heartily disagree. These houses become albatrosses and are impossible to sell and maintain, and make the town undesirable for future families to invest in.

Bonadies also drew issue with the decision by Democrats to caucus in the second-to-last session of budget deliberations, which she said effectively shut out Republican input.

We are only two Republicans, but we spent many hours going through this budget over the month of April only to be treated insignificantly by our colleagues on the other side of the aisle. To say this was a contentious negotiation is putting it lightly. Only the arrogance of knowing they will never be voted out by the electorate allows this type of behavior to flourish, said Bonadies. I am disgusted by the way we were treated and my caucus voted no on this budget.

Bonadies said she believes years of underfunding the towns pension obligation and diminishing state funding has put the community in a financial hole, which will mean difficult budgets and likely tax increases in the years to come.

william.lambert@hearstmediact.com
MILFORD  Longtime state Rep. Kim Rose, known as a staunch defender of neighborhoods, and a key player in keeping highway tolls off the legislative agenda, has been unanimously endorsed by Democrats to run for another term.

Rose, who represents the 118th District, which includes the areas of Devon, Laurel Beach, Rivercliff, Meadowside, Fort Trumbull, Downtown and West River Street, was first elected to the post in 2010.

Milford party boss Rich Smith said Rose is a fighter for her constituents, and makes sure Milford has a strong voice in Hartford.

Former Milford state Rep. Pete Smith, who seconded Roses nomination and now works at the Capitol in a different capacity, said he sees her in action all the time.

She doesnt stop. Kim is Milfords independent voice in Hartford, she understands government needs to do more with less. Kim is committed to driving efficiencies into state government, he said.

Most recently, when the issue of bringing back tolls to Connecticut was raised in Hartford, Rose helped set up a forum for the public in Milford and when it became clear state residents were against tolls, became key in keeping a bill to study tolls from moving forward.

I brought my constituents voice to Hartford and helped stop the toll proposal from moving forward. The people of the 118th said loud and clear, No tolls, Rose said. Connecticut needs a plan to invest in our aging infrastructure and fund our transportation system, we cant grow business without an improved transportation system but just adding tolls is not the answer.

Rose, who is known for her independent voice and ability to work with all political parties on Milfords behalf, voted against Gov. Dannel Malloys historic tax-raising budget and has supported bipartisan budgets aimed to move Connecticut forward without raising taxes.

Rose also was a leader in the fight to pass legislation for a moratorium on affordable housing and then successfully leading the fight to override Malloys veto.

It has been my honor to serve my friends and neighbors in Milfords 118th District, Rose said. I have worked hard to be available to everyone, I represent every registered voter in my district whether they are Democrats, Republicans, Independent or unaffiliated, we are all the voices of Milford.

Rose said many challenges will be faced in the next legislative session, with the state budget being the biggest concern.
NORTH HAVEN  Donna Massella never planned to work with food.

But now, shes working to bring fresh bagels and sandwiches to North Haven residents as she oversees the newly-opened Bagelicious II.

Never  never thought of food, ever. No, no, not at all. I mean, I come from an Italian family  we love to eat, Massella said Friday. Its interesting; its fun.

Massella, a West Haven native and North Haven resident, said she and her husband, John, were searching for a new opportunity after 30 years in the furniture business, driven by changing consumer habits in the Internet age.

They settled on Bagelicious, purchasing the Cheshire location from Andrew Moskowitz, whose family founded the company, in June 2016.

Massella said she and her husband were used to running their own business and enjoy dealing with people, but moving into food was something new for them.

She now runs Bagelicious II, which opened in North Haven on Mothers Day to complement the existing location in Cheshire. The couple was looking to expand into a location with a drive-thru, and its close to home, Massella said.

Massella said she wasnt sure what to expect when they opened the new place. But the community has come out to support them.

More News New York Bakery to stay open with Uncle Leo's purchase

(The response) has been overwhelming. Its been wonderful. The community has totally welcomed us, said Massella. People have raved about our bagels and our product and our staff  very pleased (with) whats going on.

Theres a lot of work to the job, Massella said, but the staff is dedicated, and she believes they have a good product.

Massella said a baker comes in each night to make fresh bagels, crafting them from their own recipe, and people can get a sandwich  meat, no meat, lox, made-to-order through their drive-thru. There are gluten-free bagels; they make all their cream cheese in-house.

People like a nice, fresh bagel, said Massella.

Massella hopes the spot in North Haven continues to be well-patronized. In the future, she and her husband might look into a third location, she said.

In the interim, they will continue on with the business they have come to run.

We sometimes, we say, we cant believe we did this, said Massella. And its good. Bagelicious has (a) very long lineage  its been around a lot of years, so the name is well-known, and I think we continue to carry on that name.

More information about Bagelicious can be found on the companys Facebook page, at www.facebook.com/BageliciousBagelsCT.

william.lambert@hearstmediact.com
WASHINGTON  Two Norfolk residents suffered minor injuries Sunday while riding on a motorcycle after a bear ran in front of them, according to an accident report.

The motorcycle was traveling east on Route 202 around 1:35 p.m. when a bear ran in from of them, police said. The 62-year-old male driver and the 54-year-old female passenger were take to Danbury Hospital for minor injuries. The motorcycle was towed from the scene, police said.
HAMDEN  The Board of Education recently voted to retake control of the Wintergreen Interdistrict Magnet School building beginning in the 2019 academic year, potentially requiring the program to find a new home as members consider options for redistricting.

Chairman Chris Daur said the board was required to give Area Cooperative Educational Services (ACES), the regional educational service center which operates the institution, at least a years notice to return the building to its purview, which prompted the May 23 action.

The school opened in 1998, according to Evelyn Rossetti-Ryan, chief of marketing and outreach with ACES. ACES performed major renovations on the building in exchange for a 20-year, no-cost lease which expires in September 2019, Daur said.

Daur said the board is exploring options for repurposing or redistricting town schools as enrollment in the district declines. Having the Wintergreen building in hand allows the most flexibility, he said.

We are looking at our options and this gives us the most (choices), said Daur.

According to figures included with the boards approved budget, enrollment in town schools has declined from 6,322 students in the 2003-04 school year to 5,350 in 2017-18, and the trend is projected to continue.

As of May 25, 309 students from Hamden go to Wintergreen, according to Rossetti-Ryan. 600 students in total attend the institution, including 122 from New Haven.

Daur said the institution is also out of the boards fiscal control, facing financial pressure as state aid decreases, and is neither significantly addressing racial imbalance in the district nor producing better test scores than town schools.

Rossetti-Ryan said while budget cuts cause challenges, the school had been able to maintain programming in the face of them.

The board set aside $1.68 million to fund tuition for 320 Hamden students attending the magnet school in the 2017-18 school year, according to its approved budget, with cost of tuition set to increase to $1.73 million in 2018-19.

ACES projected the 2018-19 budget for Wintergreen at $8.07 million, a $148,988 decrease over the prior year. Per-student tuition at the institution would stand at $11,872.

The state per-student allocation had fallen by 7.5 percent, according to the ACES projected budget.

The future of the building, as well as the magnet school program it current houses, has not yet been determined, Daur said.

ACES has expressed interest in purchasing the building, and it could also serve as a more cost-effective alternative to either the West Woods or Shepherd Glen schools, he said.

Thomas Danehy, executive director of ACES, said the organization remains committed to the Wintergreen program.

ACES remains committed to Wintergreen and the 600 students and their families that it serves as well as its staff and community. We are in the process of looking for an alternate space for ACES Wintergreen Interdistrict Magnet School, said Danehy. We will keep the Wintergreen community informed of our progress.

Rossetti-Ryan said she could not really speak to whether the organization was interested in purchasing the building, given the recent nature of the Hamden Board of Educations decision. All options would be on the table, she said.

Rossetti-Ryan reiterated ACES belief in the Wintergreen program.

Weve been committed to it from the start, and we remain committed to it, said Rossetti-Ryan.

Daur said the board is expecting to come to a redistricting plan in October or November. Having such a plan would allow changes to be instituted by the 2019-20 school year, he said.

The Legislative Council approved a $60 million capital project to build a new school at West Woods and renovate Shepherd Glen approximately two years ago, $20 million of which would have been paid by the town, Daur said.

The town then came back to the Board of Education in mid-2017, noting its finances, limited bonding ability, and declining enrollment, which led to the boards consideration of redistricting, Daur said.

It has since met with representatives of Milone & MacBroom, a Cheshire-based consulting firm, and District Management Group as it mulls over the matter.

There are currently seven scenarios for redistricting, he said. Daur did not immediately respond to a request for documentation of those options Thursday.

As the process moves forward, he said the board would work to involve the public in its consideration and keep residents informed.

william.lambert@hearstmediact.com
NEW HAVEN  Although members of the General Assembly speak often about the states youngest residents, Sen. Gary Winfield, D-New Haven said, it is too rare that student accomplishments are officially recognized by the states governing body.

On Monday morning, Winfield and Rep. Robyn Porter, D-New Haven, did just that, presenting Wilbur Cross High School valedictorian Maya Geradi with an official citation from the rest of New Havens delegation.

Four school officials gave brief remarks about Geradi, all united around a common theme: her accomplishments eclipsed those of any expectations they had for a high school student in science.

Richard Therrien, supervisor of science curriculum for New Haven schools, said Geradi has received no less than an A in a science class since 2010 and has received an award or been a national finalist in a science fair 19 times.

Its pretty awe-inspiring to realize students are much smarter and more accomplished than you will ever be, Therrien joked.

Despite her numerous trophies and awards, Geradi said she is grateful for the support she received from her parents and teachers.

Im honored that they support my passion for science, she said.

Her guidance counselor, Brian Flanagan, said he allowed Geradi to expedite her science courses by doubling up as a freshman.

It was against my better judgement, he said, but Geradi rose to the task, completing six AP courses and two college courses last year and three independent studies and two college courses this year.

Chemistry teacher Bernard Hulin said his first exposure to Geradi was overhearing her declaring to her mother she hoped there would be science fair opportunities at Wilbur Cross.

He said her science fair projects displayed a graduate level understanding of organic chemistry.

Physics teacher Joseph Zebrowski said Geradi has taken on projects beyond the scope of what is taught in AP Physics. Her latest, he said, is programming a robotic arm that would shoot a projectile into a basket.

Geradi said her interest in science began when observing the intricacies of a project to convert milk into yogurt. The various strains of bacteria and enzymes and variables fascinated her, she said.

New Haven Public School Director of Instruction Gil Traverso said Geradi has prepared herself for the world as a young woman of color in science.

No one can ever say New Haven doesnt produce the finest, he said.

Porter described Geradi as the hope that she looks for. She also pointed to Geradis beaming parents, Usha and Sudarsan Geradi, and said that as a mother she knows how proud they are.

When Geradi graduates this month, she might give her valedictory address to a historically large crowd. Last month, Gov. Dannel Malloy selected the high school as the site of his announcement that Connecticut had a record-high graduation rate in 2017, highlighting the schools 17-point improvement in its graduation rate in four years.

During that time, the General Assembly also broadened several graduation requirements and stepped back from more stringent standards introduced to procure federal money in 2010.

Geradi, born and raised in New Haven, will continue her studies in the Elm City at Yale, where she hopes to double major in environmental engineering and economics.

She said a keynote address from a Stanford professor she witnessed at a conference inspired her to pursue making science accessible to learners from all backgrounds .

I started under the kitchen table, she said. Part of how I got into science was because of outreach from Yale, which made me realize I can do science from home.

brian.zahn@hearstmediact.com
There are five orphaned babies whose mother was killed and found dead on the grass of an Indian Cove Association yard.

There is a reward for the shocking incident but there probably wont be a large outcry or demand for justice from the public at large.

The five babies are the kits of a mother fox who apparently got caught in a leg hold trap that severed her foot.

In the wildlife world, the death of a mother animal in the nursing stage is devastating.

In a world where survival goes to the fittest, nature does not provide backup for its abandoned youth as humans will.

That is one of the reasons why Connecticut Wildlife Rehabilitators Association is offering a $1,000 reward for information in the death of the mother fox  and we urge someone to step forward and collect it.

The red fox is widespread and abundant in Connecticut, and the gray fox lives here too, according to ct.gov, and the average fox weighs 10-11 pounds.

Recent scientific research points to foxes providing a host of benefits, including helping to reduce the risk of contracting Lyme disease. They also primarily hunts small rodents, debunking myths they drag off small children, according to CWRA President Laura Simon.

Simon wants legislators to take things a step further and ban the use of leg hold traps all together.

Eight states  Arizona, California, Colorado, Florida, New Jersey, Massachusetts, Rhode Island and Washington  have already banned or severely restricted the use of such traps. Connecticut does prohibit use of snares and traps with serrations or teeth.

Here in Connecticut, more than 6,500 wild animals are legally trapped annually using leg hold traps, according to statistics from the state Department of Energy and Environmental Protection.

However, even DEEP reports the body-crushing and leg-hold traps, numbers do not include non-target animals, such as owls, hawks, dogs and cats, which unknowingly get caught in these traps.

Simon believes DEEP should immediately ban use of these traps and we think this is a common-sense request that is in the best interests of all Nutmeggers.

Animals feel pain  just like human beings  and there must be a more humane way to trap animals considered intrusive that are simply scrounging around to eat, feed their young and survive.

Connecticut lawmakers sided against the abuse of animals when they passed Desmonds Law in 2016 to give abused animals a voice in court to help ensure their abusers face justice.

At the time, advocates say the law didnt go far enough because it centered the focus around household pets and abuse of animals is far more ranging.

We agree. Wildlife benefits us greatly in many ways that we dont see.

Five babies have lost their mother and it should not matter that they are kits. But what should matter is the way they lost their mother.

Connecticut must up its game and put a ban on use of leg hold and body-crushing traps for wildlife.
BRANFORD  The Able Hand measured 38 feet and 6 inches long. It was built like a Steinway, with the graceful lines of a bird in flight and the majesty of a Rembrandt. Crafted in 1928, it was a wedding gift to Charles and Ann Morrow Lindbergh from her parents. The couple spent their 1929 honeymoon on the cruiser.

When William Payson, of Westport, bought the boat in 1969, the Able Hand was in a state of abject disrepair. He brought it to Branfords Dutch Wharf Boatyard & Marina to be restored.

Two years and 22,000 man hours later, a group played lively big-band music for about 1,000 people assembled at the marina as the Able Hand, a sparkling union of brass, varnished wood, and white hull, as the New York Times put it, was launched and rechristened onto the Branford River.

That 1971 restoration really put us on the map, said Dutch Wharfs irrepressible owner, Paul Jacques, on a recent morning in one of the cluster of buildings in the boatyard behind Harbor Package Store on Maple Street.

And thats the beauty of a wooden boat, the 60-year-old Orange resident added. Its made of pieces  the keel, the stem, the stern. If one of those becomes worn or aged, it can simply be replaced. This is why a wooden boat lasts after years of neglect and repair. Its beauty only increases with age.

Jacques father Jack started Dutch Wharf in 1957 as a small boat-repair facility on the Branford River. Hed grown up on Ellsworth Avenue in New Haven. When he was 8, his best friends father took them out sailing and after that he knew what he wanted to do for the rest of his life, Jacques said.

At 15, Jack Jacques quit high school and joined the Merchant Marines. He was at sea for 11 years. After his fathers death, Jacques learned his ship was sunk by a German submarine on the Atlantic. Jack and five other guys ended up on a life boat for a week. Only three of them made it.

In the year Jacques was born, Jack opened the yard. He named it Dutch Wharf because this site is where Dutch traders in the 17th century unloaded their cargo of exotic wood from around the world and established one of the earliest lumber yards in the U.S., Jacques said.

He loved the history and he loved classic wooden boats, both working on them and sailing them.

So did Bruce Burdge, Jacks first full-time employee, who worked at the yard for 53 years. Jacques keeps his photo under a piece of glass on his desk. He was a Hall of Famer, said the long-time Yankees fan, whos blessed, it seems, with an encyclopedic memory of virtually every employee, customer and boat thats ever graced the yard.

Take Tom Nerkowski, a Pearl Harbor survivor and another Hall of Famer, whose black-and-white is also under the glass. He and my dad were friends in the Sea Scouts in 1933 when they were 13, Jacques said. When Nerkowski had to close his Fair Haven boatyard, he started a 28-year career at Dutch Wharf at his old friends invitation, retiring when he was 86.

Then theres current foreman Sam Smith, whom Jacques described as having the demeanor of a canoe paddler, while inside hes going at Mach 2. Smith was running his own yard in Hawaii when he saw an ad in Wooden Boat Magazine. Next thing you know, Sam is showing up here for work, he said.

I knew Dutch Wharf by their international reputation, said Smith, whos originally from New England. They do what I love to do, which is work on classic boats, so it was an easy decision.

For Bill Clapp, the draw was similar. The Navy veteran and longtime Short Beach resident worked at the phone company before retiring at 54 and starting at Dutch Wharf not long after.

Hes a master of all trades, a great mentor, a great sailor, Smith said. When Clapp lost his wife a year-and-a-half ago, he retired and sailed solo to Vero Beach, Fla., and back on the 26-foot wooden Vertue. He was 80.

He sees the wooden boat as a living thing, Jacques said, the gravel of the boatyard crunching under his shoes in the sea-salt air. They speak to him of history, of mastery, of craftsmanship. Theyre the reason why, at 80, he was still here.

Among the boats with a hold on Clapp was the hypnotic Ayesha, a 46-foot yawl, a photo of which, regal on tumultuous waters, occupies a wall in Jacques office. Built in 1932 from blueprints of Philip L. Rhodes, among the most distinguished yacht designers of the past century, it has a deck made from rows of long, narrow planks, then steamed and bent like the limb of an archers bow, as writer Molly Hensley-Clancy describes it.

According to Jacques, an owner had kept Ayesha at the yard from 1967 to 1979, when securities lawyer Endicott Davison bought it. I remember how happy my father was, he called me at college to tell me the news, Jacques said. Davison contracted Dutch Wharf for a 20,000 man-hour restoration that took three years. The current owner, Joseph Robillard, said Jacques, keeps Ayesha in showroom condition.

The serial history of ownership is telling. Like a lot of wooden boats, Ayesha is timeless, Jacques said. "The owners are just her stewards. Theyre entrusted with her care and theyre in turn gifted with the joy she affords.

Which explains the premium on artistry practiced by master craftsmen like Dana Johnson. I love the start to finish about refinishing, taking a piece of wood thats in pretty bad shape, and turning it into something gorgeous, he said, before describing how his cousin, Keith Johnson, demonstrates his acumen in painting and refinishing by using a coin to ensure a crisp rounded edge for a nonskid paint job.

Little wonder, perhaps, that customers flock from all over to the unassuming Branford boatyard. The 50-foot Murray Peterson schooner owned by the father and son from Germany, for example. Weve been working on it and theyve been working on it, Jacques said. Eventually theyre going to sail it over to Germany,

Theres also Sylvia Lachter, of Long Island, who was having her Mystic 30 sailboat outfitted with a new beta engine. I think its just wonderful to find a place with an Old World feel and Old World craftsmanship, she said.

Being here, she added, as a seabird swooped across the boatyard and landed on the gleaming masthead of a sloop, its just a privilege.

The Dutch Wharf Boatyard and Marina is at 70 Maple St. in Branford; dutchwharf.com, 203-488-9000.

Lisa Reisman may be reached at lisareisman27@gmail.com.
Weather Alert

...FROST ADVISORY REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM 3 AM TO 9 AM CDT THURSDAY... * WHAT...Temperatures as low as 33 degrees will result in frost formation. * WHERE...Stanton, Cuming, Boone, Madison, Wayne, Platte, Colfax, Antelope and Pierce Counties. * WHEN...From 3 AM to 9 AM CDT Thursday. * IMPACTS...Frost could kill sensitive outdoor vegetation if left uncovered. PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS... Take steps now to protect tender plants from the cold. &&
SEYMOUR  Students in Seymour High Schools metal shop raced to a third-place finish in a recent statewide electric car race at Lime Rock Park.

The Electrathon event held in May featured 17 high schools and colleges across the state, and a team from Canada, competing with 35 electric race cars they built at school.

The 60-minute race was run by Central Connecticut State University, and the main objective was for each driver to see how many laps could be completed in that hour. SHS has been participating in the Electrathon for the past five years.

According to teacher Michael Stock, SHS students built and entered three cars into this years race: one built new this year and the other two previously built but modified.

Students began building the newest car, dubbed Car 432, last fall, and finished the week before the race. One team worked on the new car, while another worked to convert one of the older models from a three-wheeled race car to a four-wheeler.

On race day, students said they were looking forward to testing Car 432s mettle. Unfortunately, that car didnt place, but one of the older models, Car 430, did, clinching an impressive third place for SHS.

It was great to see one of our older cars do well, keeping up with the other cars and even surpassing our own newer designs, said student Gavin Maguire. Winning something with a car that took a year to build makes the effort worth it.

Fellow student Michael Kuba has been on the SHS race team for two years and was thrilled to be behind the wheel of the car that placed third.

It was a great experience to see a car turn from nothing into something, he said. It was my first time being a driver and I will miss being in the club after I graduate this year. I would like to thank all of our sponsors, especially Flash Signs who made our cars looks great, and hopefully the team has success in the next few years.

Stock said students gain invaluable experience from the program.

The students in this program have learned a variety of skills ranging from engineering principles, fabrication techniques, teamwork, communication skills with outside companies and what it means to work under a time crunch, Stock said. Most importantly, they learn how to work in a team. Creating these cars is very hands-on, and functions as real life experience for all involved.

Student Ethan Teodosio said the newest car showed great potential for the future.

Going forward, were excited to test its limits and see how much it can do going forward, he said. This year we had the privilege of being able to work alongside Housatonic Community College who were able to help machine our new uprights, and getting those new parts made building the car much easier and it performed better because of it.

Student Max Bartlett added that the team learned valuable troubleshooting techniques on race day and is excited to get back on track with cars in next years race.

Stock said the 25 students in SHS metal shop and Alternative Energy 3 classes all participated on race day, whether they were driving, timing laps or just helping out around the track.

jean.sos@snet.net
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With a little help from disgraced hedge-funder turned fitness entrepreneur Pete Decker (Scott Cohen, lately of The Americans) and his own employee Karl Allard (Allan Havey, as always a perfectly laid-back foil for Paul Giamattis measured bombast), Chuck uncovers the fraud, sends the boyfriend packing, gets all of Iras money back and persuades Taiga to sign a post-nup and run.

Thats when Charles Sr. steps in. In a rant that comes across like a profane, adulterous, extremely sexist version of Hannibal Buresss Get yourself together, man hipster self-help monologue from The Eric Andre Show, Rhoades pere instructs Taiga on the finer points of maintaining a marriage. (Sample quote: Do not bring the clap home to your husband. Its uncivil.) Charles correctly deduces that what Ira wants isnt a second divorce, but a continuing marriage, in which hell put up with his younger wifes occasional deceptions in exchange for stability and  I dunno, whatever passes for love among the one percent.

(A brief aside: What a deep bench of actors this show has. Jeffrey DeMunn is as funny as Charles  the man is a walking Viagra side effect  as the returning Ben Shenkman is quietly pitiable as Ira. Stephen Kunken, meanwhile, grows more hilariously repulsive by the week as Ari Spyros, the self-proclaimed Greek Freak; You cannot call yourself that, pleads Mike Wags Wagner, the actor David Costabile investing his voice with what sounds like genuine pain. And when Wendy, the only employee other than Wags whom Axe genuinely respects, gets an unexpectedly gigantic sum of money for all her troubles in his service, Maggie Siffs face and hands convey the joy of an adult discovering shes been Freaky Fridayd into a kid on Christmas morning. For crying out loud, Corbin Bernsen pops up this week as Bobbys old boss, whom Axe ritualistically humiliates for the error of firing him years ago, and its like the ninth coolest thing going on here.)

Meanwhile, Chucks mission to topple the Attorney General proceeds apace, though it doesnt seem that way at first. When Allard and Kate Sacker report that the crooked cable-company chief in bed with the Jeffcoat brothers uses undocumented immigrant labor, Rhoades worries hes too close to the AG to investigate further without tipping his hand. Meanwhile, his only other witness is an admitted liar and no basis for a successful case. Only when Ira tells Chuck that discovering his wifes infidelity didnt break him like he feared  Sometimes, he says, the worst thing happening isnt so bad  does the light bulb go off.

Rhoades and Sacker approach New York State Attorney General Alvin Epstein (the Broadway great and prestige-TV utility player Brian Stokes Mitchell) with a proposition. Theyll deliberately let Jock Jeffcoat get wind of the investigation, which, being a man who recognizes no legal or moral authority, no justice but his own, he will move to stop  setting himself up for charges of obstruction rather than corruption. Its catnip for the ambitious New York politico (imagine such a thing!), who heeds Sackers maxim, borrowed from the flamboyant pro wrestler Ric Flair: To be the man, you gotta beat the man.

In a way, Bobby Axelrod is a portrait of a person who beat the man, became the man, but is still constantly on the lookout for new people to beat. In addition to driving Taylor to mutiny  and perhaps to compensate for giving even an inch on the bonus issue  he picks a vicious, unnecessary fight with his loyal lawyer Orrin Bach (Glenn Fleshler, always an intriguingly off-kilter screen presence) over what amounts to a drop in his financial ocean.
 President Trumps lawyers, in a confidential letter to the special counsel, Robert Mueller, above, made a brash assertion of executive power in a bid to avoid a subpoena. [The New York Times]

 Egypt gave Italy surveillance footage that could help close a politically charged investigation into the 2016 murder of an Italian graduate student in Cairo. [The New York Times]

 Dozens of migrants drowned off the coasts of Tunisia and Turkey over the weekend, while hundreds were rescued off Spain, officials said. [The New York Times]

 The Belgian authorities charged a Tunisian man over his role in the deadly 2016 Brussels bombings. [The New York Times]

 Ireland is taking on the Catholic Church again: After voters repealed a ban on abortion, lawmakers are expected to end a practice that gives preference in most of the countrys elementary schools to children who have been baptized. [The New York Times]

 The strange cast of characters emerging in the faked assassination of a prominent Putin critic in Ukraine has made the case even murkier. [The New York Times]
Times Insider delivers behind-the-scenes insights into how news, features and opinion come together at The New York Times.

The New York Times is a big place, full of people who have interests aside from journalism and are happy to share them. Its one of the joys of working here.

There is a strong contingent of classical musicians in the building, many of whom play in outside groups for the sheer pleasure of it. It seemed convenient to band together on the premises during off hours.

I knew, from an orchestra we happened to be in together, that Laura Chang, deputy editor for The Upshot, played the violin. The grapevine sent us other musicians: William Davis, an assistant editor for News Platforms (another violinist); Aaron Krolik, a developer for Interactive News (a violist); and Margalit Fox, a senior Obituaries writer (a cellist).
Black and Hispanic students make up nearly 70 percent of the citys public school students, but they received just 10 percent of offers for seats at specialized schools this fall. Both white and Asian students, on the other hand, are overrepresented. About 27 percent of the offers went to white students, who make up 15 percent of the school system; 52 percent went to Asian students, who make up 16 percent.

We have to make sure the very best high schools are open to every New Yorker, every kind of New Yorker, Mr. de Blasio said. They need to look like New York City.

Mr. de Blasios plan has two parts. The first, which the city can do on its own, would set aside 20 percent of seats at each of the eight specialized schools for poor students who just miss the cutoff score on the test. Those students would be pulled from high-poverty schools, which tend to have a higher concentration of black or Hispanic students. They would be eligible to earn their seat by completing the citys summer Discovery program.

The city has estimated modest gains from these changes, which will begin going into effect for the September 2019 admissions cycle. Officials expect the percentage of black and Latino students at those schools to rise to about 16 percent of seats from 9 percent.

The more substantial proposal calls for eliminating the test entirely and instead basing admissions on a combination of a students class rank and scores on state standardized tests, taking the top 7 percent of students from each of the citys middle schools. The Education Department said that about 7 percent of specialized seats would be set aside for students from nonpublic schools, like private schools or Catholic schools. High performers from those schools would be chosen by lottery.
The United States Coast Guard said on Sunday that it had suspended its search for the remaining two people missing in the crash of a small plane off Long Island that was carrying the prominent builder, Ben Krupinski, his wife, Bonnie, their grandson and the pilot.

Mr. Krupinski, whose clients included Billy Joel and Martha Stewart, was once described in an article in The New York Times as a contractor to the stars, a quote that his firm, Ben Krupinski Builder, emblazoned on its website.

The police identified the grandson as William Maerov, 22, of East Hampton, and the pilot as Jon Dollard, 47, of Hampton Bays. The bodies of two of the passengers were recovered on Saturday.

The East Hampton Police Department said on Saturday that the airplane, a Piper PA31 Navajo, had been expected to land at the East Hampton Airport. Soon after the plane crashed at about 2:50 p.m., the police department said, a debris field was located approximately 1.5 miles south of Indian Wells Beach in Amagansett.
Its very hard to feel good about any part of American politics today, I realize. When it isnt a circus starring Roseanne Barr or Dinesh DSouza, its a nightmare, with President Trump separating immigrant families, obstructing justice and damaging American interests abroad. I never expected to live through so dark of a period in Washington.

Outside of Washington, however, the picture really is different. In many cities and states, people arent only trying to minimize Trumps damage. Theyre actively using politics to improve lives.

Last week brought two big pieces of news that were obscured by the Trumpian circus. And both are parts of larger trends  ways that the political system is responding to public opinion and addressing the stagnation in American living standards over the past generation.

First, Chicago announced that it would make pre-kindergarten universal. By 2021, the citys 4-year-olds will be able to go to school full time. The pre-K classes will have a student-to-staff ratio of 10:1, as experts recommend.
Algeria boasts the biggest military budget in Africa but its military doctrine and over dependence on Russian weapons combined with a lack of international experience cast a shadow over efficiency. The frequent airplane crashes and accidents in the Algerian air force fleet are but a tree that hides a forest of mismanagement and a lack of strategy.

Two months only after a tragic air crush of a Russian-built Ilyushin killing 257 soldiers including 26 polisario members, a C-130 Hercules military transport aircraft overshoot the runway in Biskras airport leaving 8 injured. The casualties could have been higher had the plane not been running with empty seats.

Algerian television channels showed the plane cut in half without giving further details. The accident however comes in a series of tragic events caused by military plane crashes. Last March, 12 soldiers died in a helicopter crash.

These accidents indicate that the Algerian military is undergoing a crisis of doctrine. Back in the 1970s, following Algerias independence its military rulers adopted a strategy inspired by their guerrilla warfare against France combined with the Soviet military doctrine emphasizing the importance of land forces, notably tanks and the artillery.

Little attention was paid to air force, which is the backbone of modern armies due to its decisiveness in terms of undermining the center of gravity of opponents before engaging in land warfare.

Analysts see that Algerian air force is much underdeveloped with low-skill pilots lacking battlefield experience compared to its regional rival Morocco, a western ally.

Although it runs on a smaller budget, Morocco opts for quality rather than quantity focusing on state of the art F16 jets while sending pilots to test the planes in real life battle fields.

The participation of Morocco in the Saudi-led alliance in Yemen gave its pilots a chance to test these US fighters in a real war. The kingdom has lost a pilot and an airplane.

In case of a renewed conflict over the Sahara between Morocco and the Algeria-backed Polisario separatists, a war between Rabat and Algiers will be inevitable. Although it will most likely be a limited war, the country with air force primacy will have the upper hand.

Modern warfare is more reliant on fighter jets and drones than ever. As Algeria continues to squander its oil and gas mantra on acquisitions, it gives little attention to training, technology and interoperability, all factors that significantly tip the balance in favor of Morocco.
The subways signaling system is so old that, when parts fail  as they do with increasing frequency  its hard to find replacements because vendors dont make them anymore. Subway cars are of a more recent vintage, but the oldest among them break down often. And then there are the decrepit stations, which are unpleasant at best; for people in wheelchairs or with baby strollers, theyre hostile terrains of leaky passageways and steep stairs, with few operational elevators to be found. In the rare instance when the M.T.A. has built new lines, like the one along Second Avenue that opened in 2017 after decades of delays, the agency managed to spend vastly more per mile of track than other transit systems around the world have spent.

Enter Andy Byford, a thoughtful and serious transportation specialist whom the M.T.A. hired from Toronto to oversee New Yorks subway and bus system. Mr. Byfords plan, called Fast Forward, outlines rapid-fire upgrades. Within five years, the M.T.A. would install a modern switching system on five high-traffic subway lines, upgrade 150 stations, make 50 stations wheelchair-accessible, buy 650 new subway cars and redesign bus routes in all five boroughs. Most of the rest of the system would be upgraded over the following half decade.

This is an impressive to-do list, but the most important part of Mr. Byfords plan entails overhauling how the transit system buys equipment, hires contractors, negotiates with unions and manages big projects. The M.T.A. wont accomplish a fraction of whats in Fast Forward if it uses the same approach officials have applied in building the first phase of the Second Avenue line or East Side Access, the much delayed and over-budget project that will  some day  bring the Long Island Rail Road to Grand Central Terminal.

Mr. Byford and other M.T.A. officials are not saying how much this plan will cost, but experts say it could top $40 billion. While that is a lot of money, New York can afford it  the state budget for the 2019 fiscal year is $170 billion, and Mayor Bill de Blasio has proposed a $89 billion city budget. (The M.T.A. is funded by fares, tolls, taxes and grants from the state and local governments.) Besides, there is little choice but to invest in the transit system, without which the region would grind to a halt.

A few ideas for how elected officials can come up with the money: The Legislature could pass the comprehensive congestion pricing plan proposed by Mr. Cuomos Fix NYC panel of experts earlier this year  doing so would raise $1.5 billion a year, according to Charles Komanoff, a transportation analyst and advocate. Where new or much improved subway lines would increase property values and taxes significantly, a portion of the additional revenue could be used to help pay off bonds that financed the project. Former Mayor Michael Bloomberg worked with the M.T.A. in utilizing that approach to help pay for the extension of the 7 line to the Far West Side of Manhattan, completed in 2015. Cities, including New York, also have used sales and payroll taxes, taxi surcharges and car registration fees to pay for transit investments. In 2016, for example, voters in Los Angeles and Seattle approved ballot proposals to raise sales and other taxes to pump $120 billion and $54 billion, respectively, into their transit systems.
That absurd figure, and that condescension, are what make the study by independent researchers from Harvard and other institutions, published Tuesday in The New England Journal of Medicine, so needed. After surveying random households across the island and comparing mortality rates they encountered to those before Maria, they came up with an estimated 4,645 additional deaths through the end of the year  a third of them people who died for lack of medical care.

Puerto Rico has now commissioned its own study. But the very fact that the official toll was so obviously wrong reflects the disdain that has permeated the response to Maria. A death toll is a critical measure of the scale of a catastrophe, shaping both the public and official response. There is no telling how many lives could have been saved had the federal government been aware of the carnage rather than patting itself on the back. As Mayor Cruz, a sharp critic of the Trump administrations response, said in an interview in March, Hurricane Maria opened Puerto Rican eyes to our inequity  and our inequality.

The island, a commonwealth of the United States whose people are American citizens, remains in need of help. Parts of the island are still without electricity, thousands of residents lack shelter, and much remains in ruins. As many as 135,000 Puerto Ricans have left for the states. As reporters for The Times wrote in a major report in early May, after Maria and a preceding hurricane called Irma, Puerto Rico all but slipped from the modern era.

When confronted with the Harvard study, the White House spokeswoman, Sarah Huckabee Sanders, responded with more self-congratulation, claiming that the government had responded to Maria with the largest Federal Emergency Management Agency effort ever. Yet what Puerto Rico really needs to recover is the sort of generous, urgent and long-term assistance that would come with a recognition by the states that a great calamity has befallen their fellow Americans, that these people dying from a lack of the most basic services are their countrymen, their responsibility.
In one way, Donald Trumps presidency has been a raging success: He stole a political party.

Among most of the people who we used to call Republicans, among the people who like Trump or at least loathe the things that Trump loathes, Trump is not a disappointment but a deity.

As the former House speaker, John Boehner, said Thursday at a political event in Michigan: There is no Republican Party. Theres a Trump party. The Republican Party is kind of taking a nap somewhere.

No sir, the Republican Party as you knew it  and I knew it  is in a Trump-induced coma. As Trump dragged down your party, Republican voters cheered, and your so-called leaders have cowered.

Congressmen have shielded and protected him, excused and accepted him. The party as a whole  or at least the vast majority of it  has turned its back on much of what it once held dear, and heretofore adhered to: a common sense of morality, ethics and norms or propriety.
Okwui Enwezor, the Nigerian curator and critic whose exhibitions laid the groundwork for a new global view of contemporary art, stepped down Monday from his position as artistic director of the Haus der Kunst in Munich.

The museum stated that he was resigning for health reasons, but did not elaborate. Mr. Enwezor, 54, had served as director of the Haus der Kunst since 2011.

Bernhard Spies, the museums recently appointed chief executive, and Ulrich Wilmes, its chief curator, will lead the Haus der Kunst until a new artistic director is named.

Mr. Enwezor emerged as perhaps the most influential curator of the last quarter-century through large-scale exhibitions that assessed art at a global scale. He first made his mark in Germany in 2002 as curator of Documenta, the once-every-five-year mega-exhibition in Kassel. As the first non-European to direct that show, Mr. Enwezor presented a panorama of world art that displaced Europe from its traditional central position, and interwove African, Asian and Latin American art into a cosmopolitan tapestry.
 Being a medic is not only a job for a man, Razan al-Najjar, 20, said in an interview at a Gaza protest camp last month. Its for women, too.

But an hour before dusk on Friday, the 10th week of the Palestinian protest campaign along the fence dividing the Gaza Strip from Israel, Ms. Najjar ran forward in her white paramedics uniform for the last time.

Israeli soldiers fired two or three bullets from across the fence, according to a witness, hitting Ms. Najjar in the upper body. The Israeli military said her death would be examined.

Business

 Microsoft is buying GitHub, a software developer used by 28 million programmers. Satya Nadella, Microsofts chief executive, said the $7.5 billion deal would accelerate a transition to cloud computing and help add artificial intelligence to its applications.

 Software, software, software: Apple has kicked off its annual five-day Worldwide Developers Conference, or WWDC, showcasing new software features and operating system updates. Heres our live coverage.

 Pharmaceutical companies get away with marking up drugs used to improve womens sex lives because the condition is treated as taboo.
But Microsoft might still find it hard to buy a big, top-performing technology company. Take Salesforce, the cloud-software company that Microsoft reportedly targeted as an acquisition in spring 2015. At that time, Salesforces market value was around 12 percent of Microsofts. Salesforces stock has soared since then. As a result, Salesforces market capitalization as a percentage of Microsofts is about the same today as it was in 2015.

But it would be a mistake to conclude that Microsoft has not advanced in the market for acquisitions. Its soaring stock has made sure the company has remained a player in the deals game. The jump in its price-to-earnings ratio makes it more likely that a large deal would bolster earnings per share (after factoring in the extra shares issued to do the deal.) With its operations notching up strong organic growth, Microsoft probably does not need to do a big deal anytime soon. But if one were to crop up, shareholders may not balk.

- Peter Eavis

How Microsoft reinvented itself

In the past four years, Microsofts stock has risen by 150 percent, and the company now looks set to have its fastest revenue growth in a decade. What happened?

Satya Nadella happened, for one. (He succeeded Steve Ballmer as C.E.O. of Microsoft in 2014.) And the cloud, for another.

Mr. Ballmer tried to target the flashier end of the consumer hardware market, with things like Windows Phone and the Zune music player. It didnt work. In contrast, Mr. Nadella has focused on enterprise applications  and in particular, found huge success in cloud computing.

And the growth of its cloud operations has been huge. From Steve Lohr of the NYT, from this past April:

Since Satya Nadella became chief executive in 2014, the cloud portion of Microsofts revenue has soared from 3 percent to more than 21 percent this year, according to estimates by Credit Suisse. Microsoft finished 2017 with 13 percent of the cloud infrastructure services market, according to Synergy Research Group, a gain of three percentage points during the year.

The company lags only Amazon Web Services as a cloud provider.

Preparing for the future

Mr. Nadella is also gearing up for the next big thing to be put into the cloud: artificial intelligence.

Because such software is computationally demanding, it makes sense to pay for someone else to run programs on huge servers rather than buying ones own hardware. But its also complex, which means that there is going to be a huge market for user-friendly software that can be taken up by regular developers and not just people with A.I. Ph.D.s.
One of the things I want to do in my next chapter is to figure out if there is a role I can play in giving back, he continued. Im not exactly sure what that means yet.

Asked directly if he was considering running for president, he said: I intend to think about a range of options, and that could include public service. But Im a long way from making any decisions about the future.

Mr. Schultz said he and the board had expected to announce his departure last month, but that plan was upended after an episode at a Philadelphia store in mid-April in which two black men were arrested after waiting inside one of the companys stores without making a purchase. Last week, Starbucks closed all of its company-owned stores around the country for four hours for racial bias training, a program that Mr. Schultz had spearheaded.



[Read: Starbuckss Tall Order: Tackle Systemic Racism in 4 Hours.]

The possibility that Mr. Schultz, who has spent three decades leading Starbucks, could run for president has become far more realistic with the election of Mr. Trump, a real estate developer and reality-television star before his political career.

Mr. Trumps successful candidacy has set off a wave of speculation about business leaders eyeing a shot at the White House. Robert Iger, Disneys chief executive, publicly said he had been considering running for president until he struck a deal to buy 21st Century Fox. Jamie Dimon, chief executive of JPMorgan Chase, is also thought of as a possible candidate, and Mark Cuban, the billionaire owner of the Dallas Mavericks N.B.A. team, has said he planned to consider running as Republican, but would need to convince his wife first.
January 2008

Shaking Up Management

Anemic sales at Starbucks had led to the companys stock losing half its value in a single year, so Mr. Schultz fired James L. Donald, the chief executive, and installed himself in the top seat. He pledged to bring laserlike focus to reining in the chains unwieldy collection of locations and products and reviving the companys original appeal. Within a month, Mr. Schultz said that Starbucks would discontinue breakfast sandwiches, whose scent, he said, interferes with the coffee aroma in our stores. He also slashed head count, cut a swath through top management and closed underperforming American stores.

November 2009

The Instant Coffee Test

Starbucks introduced Via Ready Brew, an instant coffee option, which was more affordable than many of the chains more complicated concoctions. Many saw the product as an attempt to attract consumers battered by the recession. The chief executive had pushed for a nationwide Via debut in January 2009. But cooler heads prevailed, and skeptical consumers were introduced gradually to the product, with a test run in Seattle and Chicago followed by a nationwide rollout. In 2010, Via pulled in more than $200 million in revenue.

July 2011

Expanding Globally

As Mr. Schultz closed hundreds of American stores, he pushed for aggressive overseas expansion into India, Brazil and elsewhere. Under his watch, Starbuckss corporate structure was reworked to include three divisions focusing on Asia, the Americas and a broad region that included Europe, the Middle East and Africa. Last year, Mr. Schultz said that China would eventually be a larger market for the company than the United States.

June 2012

Muffins, Tea, Juice

The company began looking beyond Frappuccinos, buying the parent company of bakery brand La Boulange. In November, Starbucks agreed to purchase Teavana, a purveyor of high-end teas. By late 2013, the company had spent $750 million on the two companies as well as on the juice brand Evolution Fresh. We have a lot going on, Mr. Schultz said.

September 2013

No Guns, Please

Months after a gunman killed 26 people, most of them young children, at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Conn., Starbucks asked customers not to take firearms into and around cafes. Mr. Schultz acknowledged the emotionally charged nature of the gun rights issue but said that he was trying to consider customers who have been jarred and fairly uncomfortable to see guns in our stores. In an open letter, he wrote that gun rights activists were using the stores as a political stage for events that disingenuously portray Starbucks as a champion of open carry, which in turn provoked protests from gun control supporters. Under Mr. Schultz, the company has also circulated a petition about a 2013 government shutdown and applauded a 2015 Supreme Court ruling about gay marriage.
The German automaker Volkswagen is promising that it will no longer support the use of animals in testing the effects of diesel exhaust, as the company tries to move past an emissions-cheating scandal in which it was found to have helped finance experiments on monkeys.

The pledge was made in a letter to the German branch of the animal rights group People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals. It is part of a push by Volkswagen, Europes biggest car manufacturer, to cope with the toll of a scheme that has resulted in tens of billions of dollars in settlements and fines, the dismissal of successive chief executives and the arrest and imprisonment of top company officials.

The cheating, which involved Volkswagens illegally rigging the software on millions of vehicles to make it seem as if they complied with pollution standards, has also caused a major shift in the publics perception of diesel. The fuel had been promoted as an environmentally friendly alternative to gasoline, but governments in Europe and elsewhere are increasingly restricting its use.

Volkswagens reputation was further tarnished by the revelation that it and other German automakers had financed research on the health effects of diesel exhaust that involved spewing it at 10 macaque monkeys in airtight chambers. The disclosure touched off an uproar, piling pressure on Volkswagen and the other companies.
But recent studies show that replication efforts failed. They reduced neither rates of drug use nor crime.

Probation, writes Fiona Doherty, a clinical professor at Yale Law School, is a hidden body of law that needs scrutiny because judges and probation officers have wide latitude to define a defendants good behavior.

The Eldred case, which challenges that power, is, ironically, a continuation of the origins story for probation. In 1841, John Augustus, a teetotaling Boston bootmaker, described as the father of modern probation, posted bond for a common drunkard. By his death, he had supervised nearly 2,000 people, many arrested for intoxication, their records expunged in exchange for avowed sobriety.

Ms. Eldreds lawyers rely on a 1962 United States Supreme Court case, Robinson v. California, which struck down a statute making it a crime for a person to be addicted to the use of narcotics  noting that while selling or possessing illegal drugs was against the law, the state could not punish people solely for the status of their illness.

But during the Eldred argument, the justices in Massachusetts noted that many offenders commit crimes to sustain their addictions. Shouldnt judges order an addicted defendant to remain substance-free to prevent criminal behavior?

Indeed, prosecutors wrote, if the justices found that Ms. Eldred did not have free will with regard to her drug use, this compulsion may serve as an excuse to the drug-related larceny itself.

Kelly Mitchell of the University of Minnesota Law Schools Robina Institute for Criminal Law and Criminal Justice, suggested a middle-ground solution. A judge could order the offender to be evaluated for substance use disorder and to follow treatment recommendations, she said. A violation, she said, would be for failing to get the evaluation and to attend treatment, rather than failing to remain drug-free.

For Julie Eldred, the requirement to stay drug-free was a disincentive for recovery. Knowing that a relapse leads to a probation violation made it harder for me to talk about my struggles, for fear of being locked up, she said.
The United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) commended Morocco for the migration policy it adopted under the leadership of King Mohammed VI.

The experience of Morocco features prominentlyand provides insights for many countries to learn from, said the UNCTAD in a flagship report on development in Africa, underscoring the benefits of migration in the continent and debunking myths surrounding the phenomenon.

Addressing the challenge of migration requires an innovative approach that allows for assessing causes, impact and identifying solutions, particularly by building synergies between development and migration policies. We must work together to develop an African agenda on the topic that would articulate a common vision of ways and means of dealing with the question of migration within our continent and in international forums, the report quoted King Mohammed VI of Morocco as saying.

Echoing the Moroccan Monarch, the report dispelled a set of myths surrounding migration and maintained that labor mobility within Africa is beneficial for both receiving and emitting countries.

The report showed data proving that international migration in Africa is primarily intra-continental. As of 2017, there were 41 million people counted as international migrants from, to or within Africa. This includes 19 million that resided in Africa, 17 million that were resident outside Africa and 5.5 million that were immigrants from the rest of the world to Africa.

A widespread myth is that migration causes unemployment in receiving countries. The report dispels such a fallacy saying that the socio-economic indicators in destination countries actually did not worsen. Intra-African migration is rather a catalyst for economic growth.

King Mohammed VI, in his quality as African Union leader on the issue of migration, submitted last January the African Agenda on Migration, a non-binding document permeated by a co-development approach and containing ideas, proposals and thoughts shared by official institutions, civil society organizations and researchers from Africa to address migration challenges.

The agenda highlights the need to harness the economic and social benefits of migration in the continent and advocates an approach based on national policies, sub-regional coordination, a continental vision and international partnership.

This Agenda should seek to make migration a lever for co-development, a pillar of South-South Cooperation and an instrument of solidarity.

Recently, AUs Peace and Security Council adopted one of the Agendas key recommendations, i.e. the setting up of an African Migration Observatory with the tasks to understand, anticipate and act.

Besides advocacy for a solidarity-oriented migration policy, Morocco gave the example at home by launching a large-scale operation to regularize the situation of thousands of migrants notably from Sub-Saharan Africa. The operation has benefited so far over 24,000 people.
A rare, brain-damaging virus that experts consider a possible epidemic threat has broken out in the state of Kerala, India, for the first time, infecting at least 18 people and killing 17 of them, according to the World Health Organization.

The Nipah virus naturally resides in fruit bats across South and Southeast Asia, and can spread to humans through contact with the animals bodily fluids. There is no vaccine and no cure.

The virus is listed by the W.H.O. as a high priority for research. Current treatment measures are insufficient, according to Dr. Stuart Nichol, the head of the viral special pathogens branch at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Theres a market failure for protecting people from this, said Dr. Steve Luby, an epidemiologist at Stanford University. Its not like treating baldness or breast cancer, where wealthy people will pay for your product. Theres no big customer here, no incentive, until it escalates.
Since September, Ms. Vincenti has photographed the rooms left behind by her countrymen looking for a better life. It is estimated that 1.5 million Venezuelans have already left, but that number is expected to grow. Were accustomed to seeing images of streams of desperate migrants at the borders, Ms. Vincenti said, but she wanted to turn the camera the other way.

What happens to that space, to a country that is getting silent? she said.

Ms. Vincenti started the project with her friend Valeria Pedicini, a journalist in Venezuela, when she returned home to Caracas after studying photography in New York. She called her to catch up and ask about their friends.

She said, Everyone is gone, Ms. Vincenti recalled. You feel like a fighter in your own country because everyone has left. He left or She left is the most common phrase lately Ive heard of people from Venezuela.

Ms. Vincenti was once one of them. On a recent visit to her parents home in Caracas, Ms. Vincenti found her childhood room largely intact: the to-do list on her mirror, concert tickets, a cigarette from her smoking days, and more.
ALBANY  It was 2010 and Andrew M. Cuomo, about to be elected to his first term as governor of New York, was ready to free the state from what he said was the thrall of organized labor.

Weve seen the same play run for 10 years, Mr. Cuomo said at the time. A governor initially acts tough on organized labor, he said, but ultimately succumbs  the governors knees weaken; the governor falls to one knee, collapses, makes a deal.

He vowed that things would be different.

But eight years later, Mr. Cuomo, a Democrat, seems to have reverted to the old play. As he seeks a third term in November, the governor has sought  in his State of the State address, at news conferences and at union rallies  to affirm his place as one of labors staunchest allies.

He has fought for union-backed initiatives such as a $15 minimum wage and paid family leave. He has softened his support of standardized-test-based teacher evaluations, and taken a less confrontational stance on charter schools, both targets of the teachers unions fury. He has also appeased other public unions by negotiating wage increases and endorsing increased retirement benefits.
The Dignity Amendment would guarantee that L.G.B.T.Q. Americans are treated like all other Americans. It would send the message that we are part of the fabric of this nation. It would guarantee that our rights as taxpayers and as participants in the civic life of the country cannot be abridged because of our private lives.

It would make it clear, once and for all, that the We in We the people includes everybody.

What would it not do? It would not turn you gay. It would not demand that bathrooms be coed. It would not elide the differences between men and women. It would not eliminate child support. It would not force states to pay for abortion.

If some of these fears sound familiar (if ridiculous), its because theyre among the canards that conservatives have inflicted upon us regarding the still-unratified Equal Rights Amendment over the past 40-plus years. And yet, in spite of this barrage of misinformation, the E.R.A.  once given up for dead after it stalled three states short of ratification in 1977  has continued to make progress. Last year, Nevada ratified it. Last month, Illinois did the same. That leaves one more state to go  although the most recent time limit on the amendment expired in 1982. If the E.R.A. were to pass one more state, a legal showdown would ensue. (And not without good reason: The E.R.A. was unique in having a time limit imposed. The 27th Amendment, in fact, was passed after Michigan ratified it in 1992, over 200 years after James Madison proposed it.)

Those of us in L.G.B.T.Q. advocacy have watched with interest as the E.R.A., presumed dead, has been revivified by a changing culture. The #MeToo movement is part of it. The president is surely another. Critics can say that prevention of discrimination on the basis of sex is already settled law, addressed by, among other statutes, the 14th Amendment. But plenty of women look at Harvey Weinstein, and Donald Trump, and wonder, fairly enough, how we can be considered equals in this country when men like this hold sway over our lives.

L.G.B.T.Q. people would be helped by the passage of the Equal Rights Amendment, to be sure, just as we would be helped by the passage of the Equality Act, a proposed addendum to the 1964 Civil Rights Act that provides explicit protections against discrimination on the basis of gender identity or sexual orientation.

But neither of these provides the kind of explicit and incontrovertible affirmation that the Dignity Amendment would enshrine. Some things demand the most dramatic and historic actions. I suggest that setting the humanity of L.G.B.T.Q. Americans into stone requires nothing less.
This much, however, is clear: Business owners and others have no obligation under the Constitution, nor can one be imposed by statute, to confine their religion to the private domain. On the contrary, they have the constitutional right to proclaim and act on their religious beliefs in the public domain, including in the domain of commerce. If you are a Christian (or Jewish, or Muslim, or Hindu) business owner, you may run your business according to your religious principles, subject to legal regulations that are neutral (that is, not rooted in antipathy to your religious beliefs or those of your fellow citizens) and general in their applicability (that is, they apply to everyone equally).

But much remains unresolved. Did the constitutional problem with the commissions actions derive solely from its members motives? Would the fining of Mr. Phillips have been acceptable based purely on a judgment that his refusal to cater same-sex celebrations constituted discrimination based on sexual orientation, and not on the basis of antipathy to Mr. Phillipss beliefs?

In a concurring opinion, Justice Kagan, joined by Justice Breyer, seems to suppose so. If shes right, the message to state officials could be taken to be: Look, guys, of course, you can punish the Christian baker. But just remember not to state your own moral or religious reasons or reveal your antipathy to the target business owners moral or religious reasons on the record.

Justice Neil Gorsuch, in a concurrence joined by Justice Samuel Alito, challenged the Kagan reading of the ruling, noting that the commission had demonstrated its unconstitutional lack of neutrality not merely by the improvident words of some of its members, but even more decisively by ruling in other cases in favor of bakers who refused to bake cakes for religious people who requested them as statements of opposition to homosexual conduct or same-sex partnerships. If Mr. Phillips was guilty of discrimination based on sexual orientation then surely these bakers were no less guilty of discrimination based on religion  another type of discrimination expressly forbidden by the Colorado law.

Finally, there is the issue of free speech  or, rather, the constitutional prohibition of compelled speech. Did the Colorado commission run afoul of the Constitution by attempting to compel Jack Phillips in his role as a custom cake designer to, in effect, engage in artistic expression he did not wish to engage in, and in that way to at least implicitly endorse something he morally opposes?

Because the justices were easily able to award the victory to Mr. Phillips on free exercise of religion grounds, the court didnt fully grapple with this important issue. Several of the justices noted it, but it remains unresolved.

It doesnt take a crystal ball to see that it wont stay that way for long.
Can President Trump be compelled to testify in response to a criminal subpoena and, even more consequentially, can a sitting president be criminally indicted? In a confidential letter for the special counsel, Robert Mueller, Mr. Trumps lawyers lay out an aggressive defense against the special counsels pursuit of the presidents testimony. Their answer to first of those questions is a categorical no.

The letter is more monarchal than respectful of the separation of powers and our democracys constitutional checks and balances. Its claims that the president can order the termination of an investigation by the Justice Department or F.B.I. at any time and for any reason is unprecedented and far exceeds even Harry Trumans brazen and rejected attempt to take over the steel mills to blunt labor unrest in the 1950s.

In fact, the letters absence of meaningful constitutional inquiry beyond baldfaced claims that Article II establishes a unitary executive gives the impression that these questions have gone unexamined.

But many Americans have wrestled with these questions. In the late 1980s, I headed the Office of Legal Counsel, an elite division within the Department of Justice. In 1988, with a White House entangled by Iran-contra, the O.L.C. was asked whether a president could be ordered to comply with a criminal subpoena seeking his testimony. We also responded in the negative  but it was not a simple, categorical no. The presidential subpoena is a valid legal tool, as Chief Justice Warren Burger made clear in United States v. Nixon, but a president may find case-specific reasons to resist it.
President Trump began the week, as is his wont, by having a Twitter fit about the continuing Russia investigation.

As has been stated by numerous legal scholars, I have the absolute right to PARDON myself, but why would I do that when I have done nothing wrong? Mr. Trump groused. In the meantime, the never ending Witch Hunt, led by 13 very Angry and Conflicted Democrats (& others) continues into the mid-terms!

The monarchical grandeur of Mr. Trumps assertion that he has the power to pardon himself raised eyebrows and prompted sputtering among his critics, but it shouldnt really have shocked anyone. It has long been clear that Mr. Trump confuses the role and powers of the president with those of a king. His legal team, regrettably, seems to be actively fueling this confusion, as revealed in the recently leaked memos that it sent to the special counsel, Robert Mueller, the theme of which more or less boils down to the Nixonian musing: When the president does it, that means that it is not illegal.

Arguably more noteworthy, and more troubling, is the presidents emerging effort to pre-emptively place the blame for what promises to be a tough election cycle for congressional Republicans on what he now regularly denounces as the partisan, rigged, unconstitutional machinations of Mr. Mueller and his investigative team. Message to the nation: Dont blame me if my party takes a beating in November. The Witch Hunters are busy manipulating the system.
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First, could President Trump really refuse a subpoena to testify in Robert Muellers Russia investigation, as Trumps lawyers have asserted in a letter obtained by The Times? The legal experts Steve Vladeck and Benjamin Wittes are skeptical. In a Lawfare piece on the subject last month, they wrote:

The bottom line, in our view, is that Mueller would probably prevail if and when a battle over a grand-jury subpoena makes its way into court. But it is not a sure thing, and the president has plausible arguments available to him that a court would have to work through before enforcing a subpoena for his testimony.

That same letter from Trumps lawyers offers yet another admission that the president and his aides have been brashly lying for months  this time about whether Trump dictated a statement from his son Donald Trump Jr. regarding a meeting with Russians. Caroline Orr helpfully points to a CNN video with some of the earlier lies.

In The Times, Harry Litman  a former deputy assistant attorney general  explains the central claim of the letter from Trumps lawyers: that he is above the law.
[Read a transcript of Part 1 of the series.]

As soon as I heard Davetta Parkers voice, I knew I had to meet her. Her grandson Lavar Montray Douglas, known as Nook, was among seven young people from one high school in Baltimore who were killed in the spasm of violence that shook the city after the death of Freddie Gray, a 25-year-old black man who died of a severe spinal cord injury while in police custody.

I cold-called her. She was sitting at her desk in a Baltimore public library. She said, I think God sent you to me. She said that she had so many questions about the death of her grandson, who had been shot by a police officer, and that she needed someone to help investigate, because the police never did. She said that she had written letters to news channels and newspapers, but that no one had written back. And there I was on the phone.
Welcome to the Smarter Living newsletter. The editor, Tim Herrera, emails readers with tips and advice for living a better, more fulfilling life. Sign up here to get it in your inbox.

One of the simplest, yet most stressful, decisions I deal with on a regular basis is one Im sure you have worried over, too: Whats for dinner?

There have been nights when Ive stared at my phone, endlessly scrolling through Seamless in search of the perfect meal, and next thing I know Ive wasted half an hour and Im still hungry and foodless.

Sound familiar? Enter F.O.B.O.: Fear of Better Options. And its a thing.

Researchers call this phenomenon maximization. Its the relentless researching of all possible options for fear that youll miss out on the best one, leading to indecision, regret and even lower levels of happiness.
The abortion battle would return fully to the states if there is no longer a constitutional right to choose. Photo: Bettmann Archive/Getty Images

The retirement of Justice Anthony Kennedy, one of five members of the Supreme Court who reaffirmed basic abortion rights in the Whole Womens Health v. Hellerstedt case in 2016, should send a chill through anyone who believes in and/or relies on constitutionally guaranteed reproductive rights. Donald Trump, whose alliance with conservative evangelical voters depends significantly on his promise to seek the reversal of Roe v. Wade and a clock turned back to 1973 when states determined abortion policy, is certain to appoint a Kennedy successor who will move the Court in that direction. And a regular drumbeat of state laws banning abortions at ever-earlier stages of pregnancy has provided a glimpse of what Republican-controlled state governments have in mind should they be liberated by the judiciary to take control of womens bodies once again. Most recently Louisiana enacted legislation banning abortions after 15 weeks of pregnancy, and Iowa adopted a ban on abortions after a fetal heartbeat is detected (usually six weeks after conception). These new state measures are patently at odds with Roe, which prohibits state abortion restrictions prior to fetal viability  the point at which a fetus can survive outside the womb, normally placed at 24 to 26 weeks after conception.

Such laws are aimed at setting up a challenge to Roe if the Supreme Court lurches to the right  which is now an imminent possibility  and keeping the right-to-life ground troops energized and optimistic, envisioning the long-awaited day when most abortions are prohibited.

Under the new Court that could be about to emerge, some of these restrictive laws could be converted from dead letters to lively developments on a new battleground over abortion policy centered in state legislatures rather than the courts.

So lets game this out: Are pro-life activists on solid ground in their calculation that a major legal shift on abortion rights could be at hand? And, if Roe were overturned, what would that actually look like?

Roe Probably Wont Be Overturned Immediately

The conventional wisdom is that SCOTUS isnt going to completely reverse the decisions establishing a constitutional right to an abortion, particularly by the sort of narrow 54 margin that might become available in the near future. That would require quite a challenge to the doctrine of stare decisis, or the binding nature of constitutional precedents, which becomes more important as such precedents are allowed to stand. It is often said that precedent (and the need for consensus when it is upset) is particularly important to Chief Justice John Roberts. But on the other hand, this is a tendency, not a rule, as Amelia Thomson-DeVeaux has observed:

Chief Justice John Roberts also prizes unity and consensus, but on his court, the share of precedent-changing cases decided by a slim one-vote majority is higher than it has been under any other chief justice.

Aside from the long-established Roe precedent (reaffirmed emphatically in the landmark 1992 decision Planned Parenthood v. Casey), another problem with a sudden and complete reversal is that the constitutional right to choose was just revalidated in the aforementioned Whole Womens Health v. Hellerstedt decision, which involved intrusive abortion-clinic regulations in Texas.

But difficult as it might be to overturn Roe overnight, it is equally difficult to imagine the precedent perpetually surviving the kind of conservative majority likely to be created if Donald Trump appoints another Federalist Societyvetted jurist to replace Kennedy. Totally aside from its impact on abortion law, a reversal of Roe would be a signature moment for a whole generation of conservative legal thinkers hoping that earlier progressive legal precedents dating back to the New Deal can be reconsidered and ultimately discarded. One of them said this about Trumps chief adviser on judicial appointments:

No one has been more dedicated to the enterprise of building a Supreme Court that will overturn Roe v. Wade than the Federalist Societys Leonard Leo.

Still, predicting the timing of any Roe reversal is tricky. A Court ready to abandon reproductive rights must still find the right case in the right circumstances, and that could take years. Clearly, though, a major reason conservative states are passing all the restrictive laws we are seeing this year is to increase the odds of a promising challenge to Roe arriving at SCOTUS as soon as is possible.

A Likelier Scenario: New State-Level Abortion Restrictions

Should a new five-justice majority in favor of backtracking on abortion rights decide against a leap right back to the pre-Roe constitutional law of 1973, several options are available. The easiest (if sneakiest) would be to leave Roe and Casey alone and simply reverse the very recent Hellerstedt decision.

That decision shut down state efforts to enact TRAP (Targeted Regulation of Abortion Providers) laws designed to force clinics and physicians offering abortion services out of business via very burdensome regulations and extraneous requirements. A green light to TRAP laws  presumably by ruling that they did not impose an undue burden on the right to choose (the standard set out in Planned Parenthood v. Casey) could significantly erode actual access to abortion, especially in conservative states where there arent a lot of providers anyway, without a direct reversal of decisions establishing a constitutional right to abortion.

Deferring to the views of conservative red-state legislators about what sorts of protections women need from abortion providers would also create a firm foundation for all sorts of paternalistic second-guessing of reproductive decisions.

Abortion Restrictions Could Be Allowed Earlier in Pregnancy

Alternatively, a conservative Court could remove Roes viability standard for the moment when governments interest in fetal life can override a womans right to an abortion (again, usually deemed to occur at 24 to 26 weeks of pregnancy). Abortion opponents would very much like to adopt a different standard that focuses on intrauterine fetal development rather than viability. And so an amazing 21 states (all of them with Republican-controlled legislatures) have adopted bans on abortions occurring at about 20 weeks after conception, based on the medically spurious claim that the fetus can feel pain at that point. A 20-week ban has also been proposed repeatedly in Congress, and has repeatedly been blocked by the Senate.

Since only an estimated 1.3 percent of abortions occur after 20 weeks, the anti-abortion strategy here is to dislodge the viability standard, making ever-earlier points in pregnancy possible junctures for abortion restrictions based on the alleged interests of the unborn (e.g., Iowas new six-weeks-after-conception time frame, based on when a fetal heartbeat is sometimes discernible). SCOTUS could choose to open that door without a full-on reversal of Roe and Casey.

Exceptions for When the Mothers Life Is at Risk Could Go

At the same time, a conservative Court would very likely attack the principle of current constitutional law that even allowable abortion restrictions must include exceptions for situations where the life and health of the woman involved are threatened by a pregnancy carried to term. Since the determination of health requirements naturally depends on the judgment of medical personnel rather than, say, conservative state legislators, the health exception has always been treated by anti-abortion advocates as a loophole that enables abortion-on-demand right up to the moment of birth. It is very unlikely to survive review by a more conservative Court.

Abortion May Be Outlawed Everywhere  But Only If the Court Gets Much More Conservative

Many, perhaps most, right-to-life activists would prefer a SCOTUS decision that flipped Roe on its head and established the fetus as a person under the 14th Amendment, thereby making it impossible for states to allow abortions. Indeed, a constitutional amendment establishing fetal rights has been a regular feature of Republican Party platforms over the years.

But with the possible exceptions of Clarence Thomas (who is invested in the natural law approach to the Constitution that the personhood movement supports) and Neil Gorsuch (who has written about the significance of legally established personhood in the context of euthanasia), theres no reason to believe the Courts conservatives would move in that revolutionary direction as a matter of judicial fiat. So without three more justices who share that mind-set  a prospect that is not likely to materialize anytime soon  this scenario isnt really in the cards.

In a Post-Roe Landscape, Constant Abortion Battles Would Be the New Normal

In any of the scenarios where the Supreme Court expands state regulatory powers over abortion, it will become a much bigger, and perhaps dominant political issue in most of the states, at least initially. Anti-abortion advocates will begin to implement state laws that are no longer symbolic, and devise new laws to fill absolutely every newly exposed gap in the constitutional wall of protection for the right to choose. It wont all be a one-way street, of course: the prominence of reproductive rights in the constellation of progressive political causes will rise enormously, perhaps leading in some blue states to types of public support for abortion as a basic womens health service that dont exist today. And both sides will maneuver to preempt state laws through congressional statutes, which in turn will make abortion policy an even bigger deal in presidential and congressional contests than it already is. Meanwhile, assuming SCOTUS adopts an incremental approach to eroding reproductive rights, attention will be focused on future Court decisions affecting abortion more than ever.

The one thing thats clear is that the era of women being able to count on legal, if not convenient or affordable, abortions in every part of the country will be over in a post-Roe environment, and with it the argument that abortion policy is an annoying social issue that should be put aside so that politicians and policy-makers can focus on real issues like the economy. With one SCOTUS appointment and one decision, that could all change, and we could enter a period of abortion-policy activism unlike anything America has seen in decades.
The truth is, he said at his apartment, when you grow up queer, you get tough. And perceptive. And you learn how to field it. When someone comes at you that you dont know, interested in that area of your life, its not always a good thing. I certainly knew that when I was a kid.

Mr. Pace was born in Chickasha, Okla., and grew up in suburban Texas. He came out to his younger sister, Sally, while still in high school. She cried, he said. She said, I dont know what that means. But she was supportive. So were his parents. Mr. Pace headed to drama school.

Unlike Broadway, Hollywood can be less accepting. There are still relatively few out gay actors, along with leading-man parts for them, at least in major studio fare. As his career began to take off, was Mr. Pace encouraged not to be too open?

He paused for a while. No, he said, then reconsidered. Look  yeah. I remember when I signed with a new agent, we worked together for a year. He took me to some coffee shop in the middle of the afternoon and I knew he wanted to talk about something. He said, I heard youre gay, is that true? I said, Is that a problem? And of course he said, No, fine, just felt like I needed to know. But within about a year, he was no longer working with me.

Mr. Pace has the full support of his current team, he added, with whom he has been working happily for years.
Its like me and Juanita and Kathleen have been screaming for years for someone to pay attention to us on the liberal side, and its like no one would hear us, Ms. Jones told The New York Times in November.

That same month, Senator Kirsten Gillibrand, a Democrat of New York, said that Mr. Clinton should have resigned after the Lewinsky affair.

Yes, I think that is the appropriate response, she said after being asked whether he should have stepped down.

But Mr. Clinton bristled during the NBC News interview when asked whether he felt he had done enough to address the scandal.

Nobody believes that I got out of that for free, he said. I left the White House with $16 million in debt.

In a piece in the March issue of Vanity Fair, Ms. Lewinsky wrote that the #MeToo movement had helped clarify her thinking about the affair, which she had previously characterized as fully consensual.

I now see how problematic it was that the two of us even got to a place where there was a question of consent, she wrote. Instead, the road that led there was littered with inappropriate abuse of authority, station and privilege.
A rookie police officer in Georgia was swiftly fired over the weekend after body camera video showed him striking a man with his patrol car during a pursuit.

An internal investigation by the Athens-Clarke County Police Department determined that the officer, Taylor Saulters, used excessive force when he struck the man, Timmy Patmon, with his vehicle on Friday. Chief Scott Freeman fired Officer Saulters on Saturday after initially placing him on administrative leave, said Eppi Rodriguez, a police spokesman.

The Georgia State Patrol is investigating the crash and the Georgia Bureau of Investigation is conducting a criminal investigation, Mr. Rodriguez added. Mr. Patmon suffered scrapes and bruises and was taken to a hospital for evaluation, a police statement said.

We work every day to build a rapport and relationships with the community so that when situations like this occur they know we will act in good faith, Mr. Rodriguez said. Well continue to be transparent and answer questions.
 Note: this article is more than a year old.

Wisdom comes from the unlikeliest places. And on Saturday, Ben Bowling, the valedictorian of Bell County High School in Pineville, Ky., made an inspirational appeal that left his graduating classmates and their parents dumbstruck.

Image Ben Bowling, the valedictorian of Bell County High School. Credit... via Facebook

This is the part of my speech where I share some inspirational quotes I found on Google, he told the packed auditorium. Dont just get involved. Fight for your seat at the table. Better yet, fight for a seat at the head of the table  Donald J. Trump.

The crowd burst into applause. President Trump is quite popular in Pineville and the surrounding area, which is the heart of coal country and overwhelmingly supported the president in the 2016 election after he promised to bring coal jobs back to America.
Since the shooting on Valentines Day, when 14 students and three staff members were killed, a group of surviving students and parents of the victims have led a vocal gun-control movement that has spread the country.

With the November midterm elections in mind, survivors of the shooting said Monday that they would take their gun-control and voter-registration message on a two-month bus tour of the country this summer, seeking to raise awareness of the preponderance of school shootings, the easy availability of weapons, and the financial ties of many politicians to the National Rifle Association.

We are trying to get the most people to vote, said Emma Gonzalez, who graduated from the school on Sunday and is one of the movements most prominent leaders. She and others, holding placards with the legend Road to Change, said they planned to visit about 75 communities around the nation, as well as every congressional district in Florida.

The activists biggest effort so far was the March for Our Lives, a series of demonstrations on March 24 around the country and overseas. More recently, Stoneman Douglas students protested the Publix supermarket chains support of a Republican candidate for governor, Adam Putnam, a strong proponent of the N.R.A. On May 25, faced with students staging a die-in by lying on the floor of a Publix supermarket in Coral Springs, the chain said it would immediately suspend all contributions to political campaigns.

After spending much of the last three months under a media glare, the Stoneman Douglas seniors tried to keep Sundays graduation ceremony to themselves, with reporters barred from attending.
Hello! Tomorrow is one of the years busiest primary nights, and heres a special afternoon edition of First Draft to get you up to speed.

Eight states have primaries on Tuesday. In Montana, Senator Jon Tester, a Democrat in a deeply red state, is up for re-election. Democrats in New Jersey are eyeing several suburban districts in their quest to take control of the House of Representatives.

But its California thats drawing the most attention, and rightfully so. The state has the fifth-largest economy in the world, and the choices its voters make have ramifications far beyond its state line.

Well have live results from all eight states on Tuesday night at NYTimes.com. And until then, weve rounded up seven key stories to help you understand the California primaries:

First up, the state has an unusual primary system. Instead of each party selecting a nominee and those nominees facing off in November, under Californias system, it is simply the top two vote-getters this week who will face off this fall. Its unusual, yes, and its wreaking a little bit of havoc on the states election process.
A survey conducted in early May for The New York Times by the online polling firm SurveyMonkey found that 78 percent of Republicans approved of Mr. Trumps tariffs on steel and aluminum. A majority of independents and Democrats disapproved of the tariffs.

Mr. Trumps tariff impositions and threats have drawn condemnation from top Republicans in Congress, but little legislative pushback. After Mr. Trump said last week that he would follow through on steel and aluminum tariffs against Mexico, Canada and the European Union, Speaker Paul D. Ryan of Wisconsin said he disagreed with the decision.

There are better ways to help American workers and consumers, Mr. Ryan said. I intend to keep working with the president on those better options.

Senator Mitch McConnell of Kentucky, the majority leader, said on Friday in Louisville that I dont think anything good will come out of a trade war, and I hope we pull back from the brink here. But he said Republicans in Congress could do little to stop Mr. Trumps actions.

Under the trade law, the president has pretty much all the ability to do these things, so theres not much we can do to impact it, Mr. McConnell said. Its really an executive branch activity, and hes got the authority to do what hes chosen to do. Its just that I think many of us feel that it shouldnt be done.

Republican leaders could try to counter Mr. Trump by working with Democrats to curb Mr. Trumps trade powers. Senator Mike Lee of Utah has proposed such a bill, which Senator Patrick J. Toomey of Pennsylvania recently endorsed.

But Republican leaders appear to have little appetite for sweeping legislation. Instead, they seem content to advance more targeted measures, such as blocking the administration from softening its punishment of the Chinese telecommunications firm ZTE.
The Trump administration blocked Jane Doe from getting constitutionally protected care for a month and subjected her to illegal obstruction, coercion and shaming as she waited, David Cole, the A.C.L.U.s legal director, said at the time. After the courts cleared the way for her to get her abortion, it was the A.C.L.U.s job as her lawyers to see that she wasnt delayed any further  not to give the government another chance to stand in her way.

The appeals court, the United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit, ruled in favor of the teenager, who was in government custody in Texas, on Oct. 24. According to the Justice Departments brief, lawyers for the A.C.L.U. initially indicated that the abortion would take place on Oct. 26. On that understanding, the departments brief said, it had planned to file an emergency application for a stay in the Supreme Court on Oct. 25.

Under Texas law, women must attend a counseling session at least 24 hours before having an abortion with the doctor who will perform the procedure. The teenager had attended such a session on Oct. 19, but the doctor she consulted was initially thought to be unavailable to perform the procedure.

Had a new doctor been required, the teenager would presumably have received counseling on Oct. 25 and obtained the abortion on Oct. 26. It turned out that the original doctor was available after all, and the teenager received the abortion early in the morning on Oct. 25.

In its brief, the Justice Department asked the Supreme Court to vacate the appeals courts ruling, which the court did. It also asked the justices to consider punishing the A.C.L.U.s lawyers.
WASHINGTON  The Supreme Court on Monday ruled in favor of a Colorado baker who had refused to create a wedding cake for a gay couple. The courts decision was narrow, and it left open the larger question of whether a business can discriminate against gay men and lesbians based on rights protected by the First Amendment.

The court passed on an opportunity to either bolster the right to same-sex marriage or explain how far the government can go in regulating businesses run on religious principles. Instead, Justice Anthony M. Kennedys majority opinion turned on the argument that the Colorado Civil Rights Commission, which originally ruled against the baker, had been shown to be hostile to religion because of the remarks of one of its members.

At the same time, Justice Kennedy strongly reaffirmed protections for gay rights.

The outcome of cases like this in other circumstances must await further elaboration in the courts, he wrote, all in the context of recognizing that these disputes must be resolved with tolerance, without undue disrespect to sincere religious beliefs, and without subjecting gay persons to indignities when they seek goods and services in an open market.

Justice Kennedy often casts the deciding vote in closely divided cases on major social issues. When the court agreed to hear the Colorado case last June, it seemed to present him with a stark choice between two of his core commitments. On the one hand, Justice Kennedy has written every major Supreme Court decision protecting gay men and lesbians. On the other, he is the courts most ardent defender of free speech.
WASHINGTON  For nearly a year, the denials from President Trumps lawyers and spokeswoman were unequivocal. No, the president did not dictate a misleading statement released in his sons name.

He certainly didnt dictate, said the White House press secretary, Sarah Huckabee Sanders.

The president was not involved in the drafting of that statement, his lawyer Jay Sekulow told NBC News.

That was written by Donald Trump Jr., and Im sure in consultation with his lawyer, Mr. Sekulow told CNN.

The president didnt sign off on anything, he told ABC.

But in a confidential, hand-delivered memo to the special counsel, Mr. Trumps lawyers acknowledged that, yes, Mr. Trump had dictated the statement, which attempted to deflect questions about a meeting with a Kremlin-tied lawyer at Trump Tower. Prosecutors are asking whether the statement was part of an effort by the president to obstruct a federal investigation.
Have you seen this First Lady? Photo: Bloomberg/Bloomberg via Getty Images

While there are certainly bigger issues in the world right now (Samantha Bee calling Ivanka Trump a dirty word, the DrakePusha-T beef, etc.) the disappearance of Melania Trump has captured the publics overactive imagination. Is she recovering from a kidney procedure or a kidney procedure? Is she taking refuge with the Obamas? Is she just enjoying some time off because she was never that into being First Lady to begin with?

Heres what we know: The first lady has not appeared in public since May 10, when she and President Trump welcomed Americans citizens imprisoned in North Korea back to the U.S. Four days later, the White House announced that she successfully underwent an embolization procedure for a benign kidney condition. At the end of the month, as questions arose about why she still hadnt reemerged, Melania Trumps spokesperson, Stephanie Grisham, insisted that shes been at the White House working hard and participating in several meetings. People remained unconvinced, especially after she sent out a tweet that sounded suspiciously like her husband wrote it:

I see the media is working overtime speculating where I am & what I'm doing. Rest assured, I'm here at the @WhiteHouse w my family, feeling great, & working hard on behalf of children & the American people!  Melania Trump (@FLOTUS) May 30, 2018

But on Monday members of the public will get a chance to check on the First Lady themselves  if they happen to be attending an event honoring Gold Star families at the White House. On Sunday Grisham said Melania will join her husband in hosting the Gold Star Families Memorial Day Reception. The event, which is scheduled for 5:30 p.m., will be closed to the press. As CNN notes, last year the White House only released a statement following the reception with a snippet of the First Ladys remarks, so we probably shouldnt expect to see any photos from the event.

Melanias semi-public appearance is unlikely to squash speculation that theres something amiss with the First Lady. This weekend she skipped a family trip to Camp David (which even Tiffany attended). The White House also announced that she will not be accompanying the president to the G7 Summit in Quebec later this week (which she attended last year), or his meeting with Kim Jong-un in Singapore on June 12. If the president needs a hand to hold, who will be there to swat it away?
A Massachusetts man charged last week with kidnapping a woman found in his car was arraigned Monday on new charges of holding another woman captive, as the authorities identified three women whose bodies were found on the property of the Springfield house where he lived.

The man, Stewart Weldon, 40, has not been charged in connection with the discovery of the bodies. The authorities are treating the deaths as suspicious but have not declared a homicide investigation, pending final reports from the medical examiner on the cause and manner of death, the Hampden County district attorney, Anthony D. Gulluni, said at a news conference on Monday.

The women were identified by the district attorneys office as Ernestine Ryans, 47, of Springfield; America Lyden, 34, of Springfield; and Kayla Escalante, 27, of Ludlow.

Mr. Gulluni said that the womens families were distraught and heartbroken and that two of the women had in the distant past been reported missing. He did not give further details or say whether they had ties to Mr. Weldon.
WASHINGTON  A sweeping Pentagon review of elite United States commando missions is likely to result in a sharp cut  by as much as half over the next three years  in Special Operations forces in Africa, military officials said.

Ordered by Defense Secretary Jim Mattis in recent weeks, the assessment of Special Operations units worldwide follows an ambush in Niger that killed four American soldiers last fall. The review is an outgrowth of a Defense Department strategy that focuses on combating rising threats from Russia and China.

More than 7,300 Special Operations troops are working around the world, many of them conducting shadow wars against terrorists in Yemen, Libya, Somalia and other hot spots. The Special Operations Command in Tampa, Fla., has also assumed important new missions in recent years, like taking the lead on combating weapons of mass destruction.

Pentagon officials said Mr. Mattis and Gen. Joseph F. Dunford Jr., the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, are worried that the commandos are spread too thin. The two leaders have ordered the militarys Special Operations and Africa commands to present a range of options by mid-June to balance rising security challenges  which also include North Korea and Iran  with vital counterterrorism operations.
ANTIGUA, Guatemala  Rescue workers searched for survivors amid a desolate landscape of ash and mud on Monday, a day after a volcano erupted near the capital of Guatemala, killing at least 65 people.

The number of missing after the Fuego volcanos eruption was still unclear, according to officials with Guatemalas natural disaster commission, known as Conred.

Volunteer firefighters waded though layers of ash that reached knee-deep in places, only to find the charred remains of those who had been unable to flee the torrent of burning rock and ash that poured down the slopes of the volcano, whose name means fire.

We saw bodies totally, totally buried, like you saw in Pompeii, said Dr. Otto Mazariegos, president of the Association of Municipal and Departmental Firefighters.
KABUL, Afghanistan  A suicide bomber targeted a gathering of Afghan religious scholars who were meeting on Monday to condemn such attacks, and the authorities said at least 12 people were killed.

The attacker detonated a device near a large tent in the Afghan capital where thousands of clerics had met to call for an end to the violence, said Hashmatullah Stanikzai, a spokesman for the Kabul police.

Officials said that at least 17 people were wounded in the attack.

As many as 3,000 clerics had gathered for the council. Only an hour before the attack, they had declared suicide bombing un-Islamic and said there was no religious justification for such violence.

Using humans, the noblest of all creatures, as a tool of war is a disrespect to humanity, the clerics said in a proclamation read moments before the bombing.
Even with all the rising measures of mayhem in Afghanistans long war  civilian casualties, suicide bombings and refugees, to name a few  the number of children out of school had been falling. Until now.

A study released Monday by Unicef shows that Afghanistans out-of-school population has risen to 3.7 million, or 44 percent of the school-age population, compared with 3.5 million, or 40 percent of the school-age population, a few years ago.

It was the first time the number of out-of-school children in Afghanistan had risen since the ouster of the Taliban government by the American-led invasion in 2001. Under the Taliban, many schools were closed and girls were barred from attending.

The resumption of the provision of basic education in Afghanistan and the inclusion of girls have been regarded as a relative success story in the country.
HONG KONG  President Rodrigo Duterte of the Philippines, a populist with a reputation for making crude jokes about women, came under fire on Monday by critics who accused him of abusing his authority after he publicly kissed a woman on the lips at an event in Seoul, South Korea.

Addressing a group of overseas Filipino workers on Sunday in Seoul, Mr. Duterte called two women on stage with him, and asked one for a kiss in exchange for a book he planned to present them.

Are you single? Mr. Duterte asked the woman  identified by the state-run Philippine News Agency as Bea Kim  as seen in a video that has since been shared widely online. Youre not separated from him? he asked in reference to Ms. Kims husband, adding, But can you tell him that this is just a joke?

Ms. Kim appeared to be a flattered, excited fan of the president and to consent before Mr. Duterte kissed her on the lips to cheers from a crowd of about 3,000 people.
HONG KONG  Tens of thousands of pro-democracy activists turned out in Hong Kong Monday to commemorate the 29th anniversary of the Tiananmen Square crackdown in Beijing, observing an event that goes largely unmentioned in mainland China.

This years vigil focused on freeing dissidents imprisoned or under home arrest in addition to pushing for greater democracy in mainland China.

The protesters marking the Tiananmen anniversary in Hong Kong have seen their numbers dwindle in the years since the Occupy Central pro-democracy movement gripped Hong Kong in 2014. Organizers said as many as 180,000 people showed up to that years June 4 vigil  the police estimated the number to be roughly half that  but last year they estimated 110,000 people attended.

Heavy rains on Monday also limited this years turnout at the event, held annually in the semiautonomous territory.
HONG KONG  Hundreds of turtles, dolphins and whales become stranded every year on Thailands beaches after plastic impedes their mobility or clogs their insides. Some are lifeless on arrival, biologists say, and their deaths barely register with the public.

But the survival of a pilot whale that washed ashore in southern Thailand last week, in critical condition and with a belly full of black plastic bags, became a cause celebre for ordinary people. And its death a few days later was a vivid reminder of a staggering global problem: plastics in the oceans and seas.

Many in the region and around the world are extremely concerned about such incidents, Suresh Valiyaveettil, a chemist at the National University of Singapore who studies how polymers interact with living systems, said in an email. Considering the amount of plastic in the ocean, unfortunately, such incidents are going to be more common in the near future.

After the whales death on Friday, a necropsy showed that it had washed ashore in the southern province of Songkhla with nearly 18 pounds of plastic in its stomach. Veterinarians had tried to save its life all week, to no avail.
MELBOURNE, Australia  The partner of Australias former deputy prime minister has said that she was pressured by members of the conservative National Party to have an abortion after she became pregnant during their extramarital affair.

The assertion was made during a prime-time television interview Sunday, and represented a new twist in a scandal that has embarrassed Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbulls coalition government.

They came to me and they said, Youre pregnant and you have to get an abortion, Vikki Campion told Channel 7s Sunday Night in her first joint interview with Barnaby Joyce, who was forced to step down from his role as deputy prime minister after the local news media revealed their affair. And they said, If you dont, theyre gonna come after you, she continued.

Earlier in the interview, Ms. Campion said she came close to terminating her pregnancy. She gave birth to their son, Sebastian, in April.
PARIS  Frances top financial prosecutor opened a preliminary investigation on Monday into whether President Emmanuel Macrons chief of staff had breached conflict-of-interest rules in previous positions, the first accusation of corruption against the presidents inner circle since he took office a year ago.

The chief of staff, Alexis Kohler, 45, has been described by the newspaper Le Monde as a member of the trio that rules France, alongside Mr. Macron and his special adviser, Ismael Emelien. The inquiry follows a complaint filed by the anticorruption group Anticor, which accused Mr. Kohler of influence peddling and of breaking conflict-of-interest rules.

The prosecutors office said it had opened an inquiry after news reports detailed the conditions and circumstances under which Mr. Kohler dealt with cases involving an Italian-Swiss shipping and cruise firm, the Mediterranean Shipping Company, while he was at the agency that handles state holdings and at the Economy Ministry. He went on to join the Mediterranean Shipping Company, or M.S.C., as financial director in 2016.

The complaint stemmed from findings of the investigative website Mediapart, which revealed last month that Mr. Kohler was related to the owners of M.S.C.: His mother is a cousin of Rafaela Aponte, who co-founded the company with her husband, Gianluigi, in 1970.
Let them eat cake? Photo: Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images

Way ahead of schedule, the Supreme Court today issued its highly anticipated ruling in Masterpiece Cakeshop v. Colorado Civil Rights Commission, colloquially and reductively known as the gay-wedding-cake case. More accurately, the dispute is a complex clash of competing constitutional values, some as old and cherished as the republic: freedom of religion and expression squared off against the dignity of a minority group (i.e., gays and lesbians), who in recent years not only won the constitutional right to marry, but the statutory right to be served equally under long-standing public-accommodations laws, which many states have extended to protect them in the public square.

I say the Supreme Court acted ahead of schedule because virtually no one was expecting the justices, let alone the unofficially designated chief decider in the case, Justice Anthony Kennedy, to make up their minds in this matter without waiting until the very last day of the term in late June, as they often do in hotly contested cases. When the high court heard Masterpiece back in December, there was little doubt that this would be one of those nail-bitingly close rulings, with Kennedy wavering and his colleagues prodding him to stop agonizing and make up his mind already and break a 44 tie.

And make up his mind he did, but not in the way you might expect. Somehow, a grand total of seven justices  including the more liberal Justice Stephen Breyer and Justice Elena Kagan  agreed that Jack Phillips, the religious baker at the center of Masterpiece, should win the case. And that the gay couple that was turned away from Phillipss bakery, Charlie Craig and David Mullins, should lose. And yet this simplistic, win-lose dynamic  which simplistic minds are already grossly abusing for partisan ends  obscures what Kennedy and his co-signers really did here: rule very narrowly in a case that couldve created a major free-speech or religious exception to long-settled anti-discrimination principles that have been with us since the civil-rights era.

The Supreme Court did none of that. And neither did it even rule on a point of law that Phillips really wanted the justices to adopt: that his cake artistry is protected by the First Amendments free-speech clause. The free speech aspect of this case is difficult, for few persons who have seen a beautiful wedding cake might have thought of its creation as an exercise of protected speech, Kennedy muses rather aimlessly, as his opinion doesnt even try to engage that difficulty. The court really wrestled during oral arguments with which wedding-related products and services count as speech and which ones dont  Is cake protected expression but a brides makeup and hairstyling arent? And what about photography, lighting, and the like?  but here, rather than entertaining an impossible, line-drawing exercise implicating thousands of counterfactuals, Kennedy took the path of least resistance and punted on the complexities of the dispute.

Instead, relegating everything to some future controversy involving facts similar to these, his majority went on to hold that the Colorado civil-rights commission that sanctioned Phillips for refusing to sell a wedding cake to Craig and Mullins acted unconstitutionally because it wasnt religiously neutral  that is, the agency exhibited an apparent bias toward the bakers religious objection to doing business with a gay couple. The Commissions hostility was inconsistent with the First Amendments guarantee that our laws be applied in a manner that is neutral toward religion, Kennedy wrote. Phillips was entitled to a neutral decisionmaker who would give full and fair consideration to his religious objection as he sought to assert it in all of the circumstances in which this case was presented, considered, and decided.

In other words, Kennedy, more than anything, wanted to send a message to lower-court judges and quasi-judicial arbiters deciding these thorny matters at the intersection of equal rights for all and exemptions to generally applicable laws: Be considerate to all sides and claims, or else your decrees will be deemed unconstitutional. The official expressions of hostility to religion in some of the commissioners comments  comments that were not disavowed at the Commission or by the State at any point in the proceedings that led to affirmance of the order  were inconsistent with what the Free Exercise Clause requires, Kennedy wrote. (During a public meeting, one commissioner had noted that its one of the most despicable pieces of rhetoric to rely on religion to hurt others. Kennedy seemed seriously offended by this during oral arguments.)

But Kennedy went no farther. If anything, in more than one spot, he paid homage to his gay-rights heritage  hes the author of the big four landmark cases enshrining protections for LGBT people  by referring loftily to the worth and respect gay people are owed. More salient still, the Supreme Court made sure to reaffirm historic precedents going back decades in which the justices summarily rejected religious defenses to laws that otherwise bind all shop owners with businesses open to the public. Sure, some may have religious and philosophical objections, Kennedy wrote, but it is equally true that as a general rule  such objections do not allow business owners and other actors in the economy and in society to deny protected persons equal access to goods and services under a neutral and generally applicable public accommodations law.

Thats a big deal, if only because it seems to foreclose the possibility that the First Amendments speech and religion clauses provide a blanket shield to discriminate, which in turn wouldve meant open season for all sorts of businesses that arent keen on celebrating Pride month. Justice Elena Kagan, writing separately, confirms this reading  which may explain why she was willing to join it despite the deceptive optics of a ruling against a same-sex couple: As this Court has long held, and reaffirms today, she writes in a footnote addressed to Justice Neil Gorsuch, a vendor cannot escape a public accommodations law because his religion disapproves selling a product to a group of customers, whether defined by sexual orientation, race, sex, or other protected trait. She suggests that Phillips, under Colorado law, may yet lose again, so long as the administrative body that relitigates the case doesnt act with improper religious bias.

Gorsuch, who, like Kagan, also joined Kennedys majority in full, wrote a lengthy opinion to bang on the drum of religious neutrality among government actors  and to remind Colorado that it cant pick and choose about which bakers may skirt legal requirements in serving customers and which bakers may not. His opinion reads largely as a response to Kagan and Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, who wrote the dissent, and all but pushes for a swift resolution that spares the baker further legal troubles. Mr. Phillips has conclusively proven a First Amendment violation and, after almost six years facing unlawful civil charges, he is entitled to judgment, Gorsuch wrote.

(In his own lengthy concurrence, Justice Clarence Thomas, joined by Gorsuch, wouldve gone ahead and decided the free-speech question Phillips had pressed. Citing his own prior views in gay-rights cases, he warned that Obergefell v. Hodges, the Kennedy-led decision that legalized same-sex marriage, shouldnt be wielded as a weapon to stamp out every vestige of dissent and vilify Americans who are unwilling to assent to the new orthodoxy.)

Only Ginsburg and Justice Sonia Sotomayor, the Supreme Courts staunchest liberal voices, dissented from everyone else. But their disagreement was only partial: They in fact agree that Colorado has every right to extend protections to gay people seeking equal treatment in public accommodations, and that religion alone isnt a strong enough interest to override that policy choice. Gay persons may be spared from indignities when they seek goods and services in an open market, Ginsburg writes, quoting word for word from Kennedys opinion.

Where she and Sotomayor part ways with the rest, however, is in the conclusion that isolated comments by two stray commissioners somehow rendered the ruling against Phillips null and void. After all, the Colorado civil rights commission wasnt the only decision-maker in the case; rather, the dispute moved through layers of proceedings at the state level that also included an intake division, an administrative law judge, and an appeals court  none of which displayed any apparent religious animosity in their own consideration of Phillipss claims. Whatever one may think of the statements in historical context, I see no reason why the comments of one or two Commissioners should be taken to overcome Phillips refusal to sell a wedding cake to Craig and Mullins, Ginsburg writes.

All told, Masterpiece Cakeshop is nowhere near the watershed ruling that many were hoping for or fearing. Ted Cruz and other opportunists may wildly misrepresent the decision and use it to score cheap political points, but the reality is far subtler and significant: Theres no such thing as an exemption, on either religious or free-speech grounds, to civil rights laws that purveyors of goods, as the Supreme Court puts it, are bound to follow. In upholding that age-old principle, at least for now, Kennedy managed to safeguard his own gay-rights legacy while giving some consideration to his well-known respect for matters of faith. In a very real sense, he managed to have his cake and eat it, too.
BERLIN  Richard Grenell is the United States top diplomat in Berlin, but Germans were questioning his diplomatic skills on Monday, after he said that he wanted to empower conservative leaders in Europe who dared to challenge what he called the failed policies of the left.

A Foreign Ministry spokesman said on Monday that the ministry had requested a clarification of remarks by Mr. Grenell, the new American ambassador to Germany, which were condemned on both sides of the Atlantic as lacking the neutrality expected of a diplomat. His statements came at a time when Berlin and Washington are at odds over President Trumps moves to withdraw the United States from the Iran nuclear deal and the Paris climate accord  both of which Berlin supports  and to raise tariffs on steel and imports from Europe.

In a wide-ranging interview with Breitbart London that was released over the weekend, Mr. Grenell, who assumed his post just last month, said, There are a lot of conservatives throughout Europe who have contacted me to say they are feeling there is a resurgence going on.

I absolutely want to empower other conservatives throughout Europe, he said. I think there is a groundswell of conservative policies that are taking hold because of the failed policies of the left.
LJUBLJANA, Slovenia  By finishing first in national elections in Slovenia on Sunday, the hard-liner Janez Jansa has ridden a right-wing populist wave into power in yet another European country. Among those he can thank is Viktor Orban, the Hungarian prime minister, who campaigned at his side and darkly warned that the election was about the survival of the Slovenian nation.

Mr. Orban has become a right-wing hero with his blunt attacks against liberal democracy. Yet if his support was important, so, too, was the help of Mr. Orbans friends.

In the past two years, Hungarian businessmen close to Mr. Orban have quietly invested in, or started, a handful of right-wing media outlets in Slovenia and in Macedonia. One, Skandal24, a sensationalist gossip magazine, took aim at some of Mr. Jansas opponents with salacious, thinly sourced articles. Another, the television channel Nova24TV, ran alarmist reports about migrants  and also got an exclusive interview with Mr. Orban in May.

Jansa is exactly the kind of leader Slovenia needs, Mr. Orban told Nova24TV.

As they gather strength across Europe, populist parties are proving adept at manipulating the media to push their messages and attack mainstream parties. In Italy, the anti-establishment Five Star Movement is now part of a new coalition government, despite being accused of using a misinformation campaign to discredit opponents. In Austria, the far-right Freedom Party has long used its television channel, FPO TV, to spread its message and build its base.
AMMAN, Jordan  Escalating economic pressures on Jordan threatened to turn into a political crisis on Monday, as the prime minister resigned amid nationwide protests against proposed tax and price increases in a country that has suffered through years of declining living standards.

Prime Minister Hani Mulki stepped down after two years in office, but there was no sign that his departure would mollify the protesters or change unpopular austerity policies proposed by the government and backed by the International Monetary Fund.

The replacement of a prime minister is a tactic frequently used by King Abdullah II, Jordans ruler, in an attempt to placate the populace when discontent threatens the stability of the kingdom. But behind the recent protests is a collision of international factors that are far less easy to manage.

Western lenders are demanding painful measures to balance the budget and liberalize the economy even though Jordans standard of living has been declining for years. And at the end of 2017, the petroleum-rich Persian Gulf monarchies cut off $1 billion a year in aid that had covered many of Jordans big expenses for the previous five years.
BEIRUT, Lebanon  Saudi Arabia issued drivers licenses to 10 women on Monday, a historic move that came 20 days before the government had planned to lift its longstanding ban on women driving.

The surprise announcement followed the detention of a number of Saudis who had campaigned for womens right to drive. Some are still being held and have been accused of grave crimes that the government has said sought to undermine the security and stability of the kingdom.

The lifting of the driving ban was championed by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, a son of the Saudi king. Prince Mohammed has ordered a number of changes that seek to diversify the kingdoms oil-dependent economy and improve life for Saudis.

Many Saudis have applauded what they say are efforts to make life in their ultraconservative kingdom more like life elsewhere. But Prince Mohammeds critics say the changes have come with a heavy dose of authoritarianism that has further restricted Saudis already limited margins for expression.
Trump or be trumped. Photo: Tom Williams/CQ-Roll Call,Inc.

On Friday, President Trump formally endorsed a plan to keep struggling coal power plants open  by forcing energy-grid operators to purchase power from them at uncompetitive rates  for the sake of national security.

This proposal is bonkers for a variety of reasons. The notion that it is in Americas national-security interest to prop up the coal industry is patently absurd. Our nations power grid has plenty of alternative sources of reliable energy  and keeping coal plants in business exacerbates climate change, which is itself a major national-security threat (if you believe those tree huggers at the Pentagon, anyway). Further, the costs of subsidizing inefficient, dirty energy will fall partially on consumers in the form of higher electricity bills. Which is to say: The administration has found a way to combine the (supposed) short-term economic costs of environmental protection with the long-term ecological risks of laissez-faire.

But the craziest aspect of the Energy Departments proposal isnt that it puts the profits of coal magnates above the survival of the planet. That much, we have learned to expect. The wild thing about Trumps plan is that it rests on an interpretation of executive authority that is incredibly dangerous to the conservative movement.

Generally speaking, the president is not supposed to be able to unilaterally direct subsidies at his favorite industries; thats Congresss job. But Trumps attempt to pay back his coal-magnate donors would never survive on Capitol Hill  it is that rare energy policy that is opposed by wind power, solar energy, and oil companies, alike.

Thus, the administration has decided to simply deliver the handouts itself  by invoking the Defense Production Act, a Cold Warera law that empowers the president to effectively nationalize private industry to ensure the U.S. has resources that could be needed amid a war or after a disaster.

As Bloomberg notes, this authority was most famously exercised by Harry Truman, who used it to cap wages and impose price controls on the steel industry during the Korean War.

If our current president can wield this power to prop up coal plants, its hard to see why a future one couldnt use it to shut them down: Surely, allowing climate change to proceed at its current pace poses a dire threat to Americas national resources. How well could the U.S. respond to a foreign invasion once its major coastal cities are swallowed by the sea?

Senate Republicans have refused to abolish the legislative filibuster out of an (accurate) belief that it is in the conservative movements long-term interests to maintain barriers to major legislation. Budget reconciliation rules make it possible for Senate majorities to (temporarily) cut taxes with 51 votes, while 60 is still required to enact new regulations or permanent expansions of the welfare state. Whats more, the upper chambers political geography makes it all but impossible for Democrats to assemble 60 progressive Senate votes.

But Democrats are extremely competitive at the presidential level, having won the popular vote in six of the last seven elections. And with his expansive interpretations of executive authority, Trump is setting precedents that could allow the next progressive president to accomplish a tremendous amount without clearing any of Congresss veto points.

To be sure, the construction of the imperial presidency has been a bipartisan enterprise, and Barack Obama contributed his own innovations. And yet, Trump has set about expanding the powers of his office with a shameless audacity that his predecessor couldnt match  but that his successor just might.

For example, Barack Obama was troubled by the excesses of Americas criminal-justice system, and the fact that it imposes heavy sentences on so many nonviolent drug offenders. But his capacity to ameliorate this reality through the exercise of his pardon power was constrained by the Justice Departments established procedures (in addition, of course, to political concerns): The federal government has an Office of the Pardon Attorney, which is tasked with assessing the merit of each individual pardon application by carefully consulting a long list of official criteria for clemency.

But none of this is legally binding. The presidents power to pardon people for federal offenses is absolute. He can technically issue a pardon as rapidly as one might post a tweet; and in fact, Trump has done just that. The presidents pardons of Dinesh DSouza, Joe Arpaio, Kristian Saucier, Scooter Libby, and Jack Johnson were all reportedly doled out unilaterally, without the Justice Departments guidance or approval.

When Barack Obama was president, this approach to issuing pardons was unprecedented. When the next progressive takes office, it will not be. And if that president is sufficiently committed to the cause of combating mass incarceration, she will be able to cite Trumps example as she rapidly empties the federal prisons of (at least) nonviolent drug offenders.

Similarly, one could imagine the Warren-Sanders administration finding a progressive use for the expansive trade powers that Trump has claimed. Creatively abusing another Cold Warera law, Trump has assumed the right to unilaterally impose tariffs on any nation he chooses  so long as he offers a specious national-security justification for doing so. After the next Democratic president uses the Defense Production Act to rapidly reduce Americas carbon emissions, it could threaten massive tariffs on any (developed) foreign nation that refuses to aggressively pursue its own emission-reductions targets  thereby turning Americas coveted consumer market into force for climate justice.

But a Democratic president could make less extravagant (and politically risky) progress by applying the spirit of Trumps audacious power grabs to legal areas he hasnt explored. For example, theres strong case that  under existing law  the Executive branch already has the authority to override pharmaceutical patents, so as to provide low-cost drugs to the beneficiaries of government programs. As a team of medical and legal scholars from Yale and Harvard University explained in a 2016 op-ed for the Washington Post:

The government can use its power of eminent domain, allowing it to acquire the land for a reasonable price  The government should employ an analogous power  government patent use  to negotiate lower prices, or buy low-cost, generic versions of drugs for use in government programs. This is possible because existing law gives the federal government limited immunity to challenges from patent holders: Patent holders cannot stop the government from making or buying products that infringe on their patents, and can sue only for reasonable compensation.

Federal agencies have previously relied on this mechanism to purchase items produced by companies other than the patent holders, ranging from lead-free bullets to electronic passport readers.

This is just one small example of how a sufficiently bold left-wing president could go about exploiting existing law to unilaterally enact progressive change. Turning Americas post offices into public banks is another.

It is exceedingly difficult to pass laws in the United States; but for that very reason, it is also hard to repeal them. One consequence of that latter fact: When White House lawyers want to find imprecisely worded grants of authority to the Executive branch, they have no shortage of places to look.

To be sure, a presidents capacity to exercise such unilateral powers is contingent on judicial approval, and Mitch McConnell is doing everything in his power to ensure that an imperial, progressive president will have a hard time winning the judiciarys rubber stamp. And of course, the presidencys ever-expanding authorities  and Congresss ever-diminishing willingness to check the power of its own partys president  are alarming developments for American democracy.

But so are steadily rising global temperatures and sea levels.

So, if conservatives recoil at the thought of a future Democratic president claiming extraordinary powers to combat climate change, they should implore the current Republican one to stop inventing new, extraordinary justifications for exacerbating it.
Bang bang. Photo: Nicholas Kamm/AFP/Getty Images

In one of his now almost-daily statements purporting to defend President Trump while in fact making him appear extremely guilty, Rudy Giuliani told S.V. Date that the presidents categorical immunity from criminal prosecution would include murdering his political opponents. In no case can he be subpoenaed or indicted. I dont know how you can indict while hes in office. No matter what it is. Even if he shot former FBI director James Comey? If he shot James Comey, hed be impeached the next day, Giuliani said. Impeach him, and then you can do whatever you want to do to him.

It might sound reassuring to hear from Trumps lawyer that he believes the president is not immune from the law because he can be impeached. But it is less reassuring than it might sound.

The first problem with Giulianis impeachment remedy is that, if Trump shot James Comey, he would deny having done so. (Murderers often lie about what theyve done, and Trump is not known for his compulsive honesty.) The question of how Comey was shot would be a mystery that federal law enforcement would wish to solve. But Trump also maintains that he has the absolute right to halt any federal law-enforcement investigation. He also claims to have the right to initiate legal investigations into anybody, for any reason, which would allow him to pressure any witnesses, or to induce them to destroy evidence. Whats more, he indisputably possesses the right to pardon any witnesses or accessories to the crime.

Even if he couldnt succeed in quashing the investigation, Trump could at least attempt to obstruct it. Unless he happened to carry out the shooting on live television, the Trump-shooting-Comey hypothetical would, in reality, devolve into a fight over investigative detail. The FBI would be trying to track down the killer, Trump would be fervently denying it, and using his powers to impede the investigation. Fox News would be airing theories that Comey was actually killed by the Clintons, or perhaps fell on the bullet. The less absurd conservatives would be complaining about whether it was fair to prosecute various Trump associates for secondary crimes, like lying to the FBI.

The second problem is that, even if the FBI managed to defeat Trumps attempts at obstruction and present overwhelming evidence of guilt, impeachment (or impeachment and removal, anyway) would be far from certain. Trumps prophetic claim in January, 2016, that he could stand in Fifth Avenue and shoot somebody and not lose any voters is relevant here, and not only because it entertains the exact scenario Giuliani describes. Trump has proven deeply popular with the Republican base. He in fact commands more support from self-identified Republicans than any Republican president in the history of polling.

Trump lost his marginal voters very early, putting his reelection in deep jeopardy. But his partisan core has stuck with Trump through a numbing procession of face-plants, petty grifting, violations of norms, or outright illegality. Not long ago, we learned that, having raged at Jeff Bezos and vowed to punish his business interests in retaliation for the Washington Posts reporting, he ordered the post office to raise rates on Amazon. Under ordinary circumstances, a president carrying out policy retribution against the owner of a newspaper whose reporting he dislikes would be a first-tier scandal and an impeachable offense. The Republican Congress has not so much as held a hearing. This episode simply vanished into the ether like a hundred other Trump scandals.

Removing Trump from office would require not only a House majority, but also two-thirds of the Senate. Trump figured out very early on that Republican voters could be made to believe anything. If Trump shot Comey, his political base would decide that he didnt really shoot him, or that Comey deserved it, or possibly both.
Four years of Modi govt: An Amul like movement for tribals on the cards

4 years of Modi govt: Education of girls key to India's growth

Feature

oi-Staff

By Oneindia Staff Writer

The empowerment of women is an important pre-condition for the development of humanity. It is a matter of pride that women are increasingly playing a bigger role in the development of the nation, right from cities and villages up to Parliament.

No doubt, the Modi led BJP is leading the way, not only in making women-centric policies a focal point of governance but also in ensuring better representation in positions of power.

Let us take a look at the key initiatives by the ministry of women and child development

Modi has always been a vocal proponent of women empowerment. In a refreshing break from the earlier unimaginative governance paradigm of handing out nine LPG cylinders or twelve, Modi has now ensured more than three crore women are living smoke free lives due to the Ujjwala Yojana.

More than six crore toilets have been built to make sanitation safer and more accessible, directly impacting the health and dignity of women. This is not a culture of temporary handouts that keeps people dependent on the government but is a culture of true and irreversible empowerment.

The government is also providing cash incentive of 6,000 to pregnant/lactating mothers. More than 50 lakh women are expected to benefit every year from this.

The government is committed to ensuring the safety of girls. Laws have been framed for crimes against girl children. The death penalty has been introduced for those who rape children under 12 years, and the minimum punishment for the rape of a girl under 16 years has increased from 10 years to 20 years.

Beti Padhao Beti Bachao yojna

The prime minister of India launched an initiative in Haryana known as Beti Padhao Beti Bachao yojna to stop girl feticide and to promote education in girls. The scheme showed positive results as many places that had low sex ratio bettered with time. India has a sex ratio of 933 women per one thousand men. The second scheme was to sanction INR 6000 for nourishment of pregnant women.

Other Schemes:

The government increased the maternity leave from 12 weeks to 26 weeks to allow women to take proper rest.

Under Pradhan Mantri Surakshit Matritva Yojna, the government conducted 33 lakh health checkups for women to ensure their safety.

The government deposited 11,000 crore rupees in 1 crore accounts to ensure better future of daughters.

One Stop Centre Scheme

One Stop Centres (OSC) support women affected by violence, in private and public spaces, within the family, community and in the workplace.

Women facing physical, sexual, emotional, psychological and economic abuse, irrespective of age, class, caste, education status, marital status, race and culture will be supported by these centres.

Women Helpline Scheme

The Women Helpline Scheme seeks to provide 24 hours immediate and emergency response to women affected by violence.

This scheme was launched by the by the Union Ministry of Women and Child Development on 1 April 2015.

Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana

The scheme seeks to provide free LPG connections to women from below poverty line (BPL) households and builds on the objective of achieving universal coverage of cooking gas in the country.

Under the scheme, a financial support of 1600 rupees will be provided for each LPG connection to the BPL households.

Incidentally, this is for the first time the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas has involved in implementing a welfare scheme benefitting crores of women belonging to the poorest households.

Mahila E-Haat

The Ministry of Women and Child Development launched Mahila E-Haat, a bilingual portal on 7 March, 2016.

It is an initiative for meeting aspirations and needs of women.

This is a unique direct online marketing platform. It leverages technology for supporting women entrepreneurs, SHGs and NGOs.

This helps women in showcasing the products and services which are made, manufactured and undertaken by them.

Nirbhaya Fund

Government of India has set up a dedicated and non-lapsable fund called Nirbhaya Fund in 2013, for the implementation of initiatives aimed at enhancing the safety and security for women in the country.

Ministry of Women and Child Development is the nodal authority for appraisal of the schemes/ proposals received under Nirbhaya Fund.

Under the Nirbhaya Fund an amount of Rs. 3600 has been allocated, out of which 5731.95 Crore has been appraised so far.

Under the 'Safe City Project', the Ministry of Women and Child Development has recently appraised projects worth Rs. 2,919.55 Cr. under the Nirbhaya Fund for eight major cities, namely Delhi, Mumbai, Ahmedabad, Kolkata, Bengaluru, Hyderabad, Lucknow and Chennai. The plans have been prepared in coordination with Municipal

Corporations and Police Commissionerates of these cities. The objective of the project is to make the cities safer for women.

New Taxi Policy

New Taxi Policy Guidelines brought out with better safety measures for women - mandatory GPS panic devices in all taxis, disabling of child-locking system, prominent display of driver's identification with photo and registration number of the vehicle, sharing of seat to be subject to willingness of female passengers etc.

Haj Pilgrimage

Keeping in mind the objective of womens' empowerment, for the first time since independence, the restriction on women above 45 years of age to perform Haj pilgrimage unaccompanied by their male relatives has been removed. This year, more than 1300 women are going on Haj pilgrimage without Mehram.

Passport rules for single mothers:

Passport rules have been amended in favour of single mothers. Now either mother or father's name can be provided in application form and do not have to provide certificate of marriage/divorce during application.

CHILDREN

Complete overhaul of Anganwadi system

Objective: Anganwadi is the basic unit of extending supplementary nutrition and early education services to all children and pregnant/lactating mother. These Anganwadiscover every habitation in the country and the entire set up is being overhauled to ensure that

the designated services reach all beneficiaries.

IT enabled system to ensure real time monitoring

The delivery of services through Anganwadi is being put on to an IT platform which enables real time monitoring. 95,000+ Anganwadis have been equipped with smartphones with special software backbone.

This will be expanded to cover all 14 lakh Anganwadis.

Supplementary Nutrition (under the ICDS) Rules, 2017:

In pursuance of the provisions contained in the National Food Security Act (NFSA), 2013, WCD Ministry has notified the Supplementary Nutrition (under Integrated Child Development Services Scheme) Rules, 2017 on 20th February 2017 to regulate the entitlement specified under provisions of said Act for every pregnant women and lactating mother till 6 months after child birth, and every child in the age group of 6 months to 6 years (including those suffering from malnutrition) for 300 days in a year, as per the nutritional standards specified in Schedule II of the said Act.

Revision of cost norms for Supplementary Nutrition: The Government has also revised the cost norms for supplementary nutrition with annual indexation under the Anganwadi Services.

Protection of Children Against Sexual Offences

In 2017, the WCD Ministry took up the issue for dichotomy between IPC Section 375 (rape) and the Protection of Children Against Sexual Offences Act (POCSO), 2012.

A decision by the Hon'ble Supreme Court this year has criminalized sex between a man and his underage wife - a big success for the Ministry.

The Ministry is working to prosecute panchayat members for promoting or permitting solemnization of child marriages.

To address the issue of easy availability of child sexual abuse material/imagery, an Inter-Ministerial Committee constituted by Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY), with membership of MWCD has issued an advisory to all Internet Service

Providers within the country to prevent the distribution and transmission of child sexual abuse material.

A Public Grievance Cell is also active in the WCD Ministry, which gives women and children citizens a way to send their grievances directly to the government. It has already processed ~18,000 complaints in the one year since its inception.

Juvenile Justice (Care & Protection of Children) Model Rules, 2016.

The Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Model Rules, 2016 (JJ Model Rules, 2016) have been notified and published in the Gazette of India, thereby repealing the Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Rules, 2007 on 21.09.2016. The JJ Model Rules, 2016 are based on the philosophy that children need to be reformed and

reintegrated into society. The Rules are appreciative of developmental needs of children and therefore the best interest of the child is the primary consideration. Child friendly procedures are incorporated across the board.

IT enabled system to ensure real time monitoring

The delivery of services through Anganwadi is being put on to an IT platform which enables real time monitoring. 95,000+ Anganwadis have been equipped with smartphones with special software backbone.

This will be expanded to cover all 14 lakh Anganwadis.

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Story first published: Monday, June 4, 2018, 7:00 [IST]
Bedridden, physically challenged Kerala man makes umbrellas to protect others from rain, sun

Feature

oi-Oneindia Staff

By Oneindia Staff

Thiruvananthapuram, June 4: A few years ago, a terrible accident has left Thaha, a resident of Thiruvananthapuram in Kerala, paralysed for life. But the massive blow did not push the ever-smiling Kerala man to resign to his fate.

In fact, he picked up the broken pieces of his life and rebuilt it in an amazing way. Today, he is an inspiration to many like him and others. Since the last five years, Thaha is making umbrellas and other products and earn his livelihood lying in his bed.

Thanks to social media and word of mouth, there is a sizeable demand for his handmade products which is helping Thaha to earn a decent income. The money earned from selling his products, which also include soap powder, jewellery, paper bags and LED bulbs, the middle-aged Kerala man is also monetarily taking care of other disadvantaged people.

"I became paralysed after an accident and had no means to live. I learnt to make this (umbrella) from a priest in church. I use social media for marketing my products," Thaha told ANI.

Thaha, physically challenged man based in Trivandrum's Kazhakootam, earns his livelihood by making umbrellas, says, 'I became paralysed after an accident & had no means to live. I learnt to make this from a priest in church. I use social media for marketing my products' #Kerala pic.twitter.com/D1ABLBhucU  ANI (@ANI) June 3, 2018

With the apt support from his two well-wishers, Unni and Manoj Pillai, the Kerala man is selling his products through platforms like Facebook and WhatsApp.

"I know god is with me, there is nothing to be ashamed of. There is no point in sitting idle because of a disease. We must fight it out and not indulge in self-pity and do what we can best," Thaha told ANI.

Nonetheless it is not an easy journey for him as bed sores are a big concern for Thaha. To venture out, Thaha drives an automatic car customised for him with hand-held accelerator and break, reported ANI.

"I drive to many nearby towns and districts. The car has been customised to suit my needs; the accelerator and break are hand-held for my convenience," he smiled.

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Story first published: Monday, June 4, 2018, 6:44 [IST]
3 things BJP must do to repeat 2014 feat

India

oi-Vikas

By Vikas Sv

The notion that combined unity of regional parties can take on the mighty BJP is gaining momentum and the poor show by the saffron party in the recent by-elections has only strengthened it. In the recent past, the BJP has won just two Lok Sabha by-polls while losing out on seven. Although by-elections are by no means reflection of the mood of voters across the nation, what they have done is to embolden the opposition.

The opposition now seems to have noticed chinks in the BJP's armour. The belief that once unassailable BJP can be defeated if right alliances are formed at the right time is slowly firming up.

Congress' alliance with JD (S) in Karnataka was able to keep the BJP out of power. The Mahagathbandhan of Congress, RJD and JD (U) was able to stop the BJP juggernaut in Bihar initially, its a different matter that Nitish Kumar later quit the grand alliance and sided with BJP. Samajwadi Party (SP) and the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) joined hands and defeated the BJP in the by-elections for Phulpur and Gorakhpur Lok Sabha seats. Last week, RLD snatched the Kairana Lok Sabha seat away from the BJP with the backing of regional parties.

What the BJP now needs is an image makeover so that it can counter the perception that the opposition is trying to build around the saffron party can be shaken-off. Talks doing round are that BJP may still emerge as the single largest party in 2019, but it may not be able to win as many seats as it did in 2014 (i.e. 280 plus).

Among other things, the BJP ought to focus on the following three areas if it wants to repeat the 2014 feat:

Reaching out to Dalits and minorities:

BJP image has taken a beating due to recent incidents of Dalits being thrashed, cow vigilantism and loose remarks by some BJP leaders. The violent protests by Dalit groups against the apparent reluctance and delay by the government in filing a review petition in the Supreme Court against its March 20 order that called for changes in the SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, 1989, has also added to BJP woes.

Some BJP leaders did try to change this by visit Dalit homes and dining with them, but that clearly seemed to have backfired. During one such visit, reports emerged that food was ordered from outside, another leader said that there were mosquitoes in Dalit homes. Even BJP MP Savitri Bai Phule, a Dalit, said that leaders visit Dalit homes was a show-off.

When it comes to minorities, the BJP must rein in leaders like Sangeet Som, Vinay Katiyar and other such leaders known for making anti-minority remarks. Unnao MP Sakshi Maharaj, who seems to have gone quiet these days, has also made headlines by blaming Muslims for India's population growth. Moreover, the opposition is also leaving no stone unturned to project that the BJP is polarising the society and the environment under Modi government is not safe for minorities.

The BJP must remember that Dalits and minorities, who traditionally do not vote for the BJP, played a key role in 2014's thumping win. So it is time that BJP comes up with a solid plan to reach out to these groups and make amends.

Consolidating Uttar Pradesh:

Uttar Pradesh sends 80 MPs to the Lok Sabha and is the most electorally crucial state. The BJP bagged 71 out of 80 Lok Sabha seats from Uttar Pradesh in 2014 and even PM Modi had repeatedly said that UP was responsible for his party securing a majority in 2014. Surveys and political pundits are now hinting that the saffron party may not be able to repeat the same feat in 2019. Kairana and Noorpur by-polls saw RLD and Congress joining SP and BSP ranks to defeat BJP. Kairana defeat is the third Lok Sabha by-poll loss under chief minister Yogi Adityanath. The only by-election BJP has won post-2017 is in Sikandara, before the Opposition firmed up an alliance.

Kairana and Noorpur losses came barely a few months after the BJP was defeated by a united opposition in the Gorakhpur and Phulpur Lok Sabha bypolls in March. Gorakhpur, in fact, was a particularly embarrassing defeat given it is chief minister Yogi Adityanath's own turf. Yogi, who had to resign as MP from Gorakhpur seat when he was appointed UP CM, had been winning from the seat for 5 consecutive terms.

The reasons BJP gave for the recent losses were that voter turnout was low and that "by polls and different from general elections", but deep within they know that they have to come up with a strategy to take on the joint opposition which is working towards consolidating Dalit, Jat and Muslim votes.

BJP can still be confident that if it gets its strategy and caste calculations right, it can halt the rival coalition. To begin with, the party's main focus will be on ensuring its core voters come out to vote for it in 2019. In addition to this, BJP must find a way to build a narrative that it is not anti-Dalit or anti-minority, which, given the recent events, may not be easy.

Lastly, a lot depends on how Yogi governs Uttar Pradesh from now on as his way of handling the affairs has come under severe criticism. It is time that Yogi shuns the image of being an ambassador of Hindutva and emerges as an administrator who can do something good for the state. The challenge here is that very less time is left before the general elections and it remains to be seen what directions Modi-Shah may give Yogi so that he can instil confidence among people that he indeed was the right choice for CM.

Even if the BJP works on all these, winning 70 plus seats again in UP this time seems highly improbable, so the goal must now be to win at least around 60. Even for this to happen a lot of things must fall into place. BJP would also be hoping that the Opposition alliance will fall through during seat-sharing talks and due to inherent differences among the cadres.

Shun 'North Indian party' image:

In many of the non-Hindi speaking states, the BJP is seen as a 'North Indian party', especially in the south. Karnataka is perhaps the only southern state where the BJP has a significant presence. Tamil Nadu politicians have openly accused the BJP of imposing Hindi on them, which of course is a decades-old debate. For the BJP to emerge as truly pan Indian party, it must do away with pushing North Indian brand of Hinduism. For example, BJP made so much noise over beef eating, but did they even realise that beef eating is not 'taboo', as projected by the saffron party, in many Indian states. 'Hindus never eat beef' is a North Indian concept, and in northeastern state and for that matter even in Kerala and parts of Tamil Nadu, beef eating is not considered a sin.

During the campaign for Karnataka elections, Siddramaiah did try to create a North-South divide by branding the BJP as a north Indian party. Modi, however, hit back saying, "A perception has been created that BJP is a north-India party, a party of Hindi-speaking people. Gujarat isn't Hindi-speaking, nor is Maharashtra, Goa Assam or the Northeast. The people of Karnataka have given a jolt to the people who have spread a negative perception about the BJP."

It will take a long time for the BJP to come out of this image, so what they can do ahead of 2019 is to tie up firm alliances with southern regional parties before the so-called 'anti-BJP' front poaches them.

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Story first published: Monday, June 4, 2018, 6:00 [IST]
Arun Jaitley delighted to be back home after surgery

India

oi-Chennabasaveshwar

By Chennabasaveshwar

Union Finance Minister Arun Jaitley is back home after undergoing a successful kidney transplant at AIIMS on Monday. Jaitley shared the news on Twitter.

He tweeted, "Delighted to be back at Home. My gratitude to the Doctors, Nursing officers and the paramedics who looked after me for over the past three weeks. I wish to thank all well-wishers, colleagues, and friends who were very concerned and continued to wish me for my recovery."

Delighted to be back at Home. My gratitude to the Doctors, Nursing officers and the paramedics who looked after me for over the past three weeks. I wish to thank all well-wishers, colleagues and friends who were very concerned and continued to wish me for my recovery.  Arun Jaitley (@arunjaitley) June 4, 2018

Jaitley, 65, who has been mostly working from home since early April, was admitted to the hospital on May 14. The transplant was initially scheduled in the first half of April but could not be conducted as the kidney from another living, unrelated donor did not match, an official said.

Ill-health had led to the minister cancelling his official trips to London and Washington last month.

Jaitley had confirmed his illness in a tweet on April 6. "I am being treated for kidney-related problems and certain infections that I have contracted," he had tweeted.

In September 2014, Jaitley underwent a bariatric surgery to treat a long-standing diabetic condition and weight gain. The surgery was first performed at Max Hospital, but he had to be later shifted to AIIMS because of complications.

(With PTI inputs)
Cabinet expansion in Uttar Pradesh government likely very soon

India

oi-Vinod

By Vinod

New Delhi: Uttar Pradesh chief minister Yogi Adityanath has met Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) national president Amit Shah in New Delhi on Monday. Both the leaders discussed the debacle in Kairana Lok Sabha constituency and Noorpur Assembly constituency in view of Lok Sabha elections in 2019. The BJP has the biggest stake in the state where it had won maximum seats in 2014 polls. But besides this issue, both the leader also discussed possible cabinet expansion in the state that might happen in the second week of June.

Sources said that the party is likely to induct some more people from Dalit community and people from most backward communities (MBCs). They want to win them over before 2019 elections as the BJP too has to device some strategy to face the anti-BJPism, said sources. This is an attempt to counter such issues which have been harming the BJP in the recent times. They want to do it very soon. The party also has to make a strategy to counter the alliance of the BSP, SP and the Congress which has been the reason of defeat of the party in the three Lok Sabha elections and one Assembly by-election in the state. Sources also said that the BJP is in touch with the Rashtriya Lok Dal a predominantly Jat party to woo them before Lok Sabha elections.

Sources said that both the leaders have discussed how to go about the possible expansion of Uttar Pradesh cabinet that was long due. Political analysts feel that Jats could be a decisive factor in the western Uttar Pradesh. The BJP might give representations to such communities in the resufflw which despite having good numerical strength remain represented inappropriately.

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Story first published: Monday, June 4, 2018, 17:57 [IST]
UPSC to resume the interview process for Civil Services 2020 from August 2

Delhi: Denied entry into exam hall, 28-year-old UPSC aspirant commits suicide

India

oi-Deepika

By Deepika

In a shocking incident, a 28-year-old UPSC aspirant has committed suicide in Delhi after reportedly being denied entry to examination hall.

The aspirant allegedly committed suicide on Sunday, 3 June in Rajendra Nagar after he was denied entry at the examination hall as he had arrived late.

The police have reportedly found a suicide note and the investigation is underway.

The suicide note read: "The rules are fine but there should be some leniency."

As per the report by News 18, the student was living in a rented room in Rajendra Nagar, Delhi, where he was preparing for the examination. The examinee had to go to the centre at Paharganj on Sunday to take the examination but after getting late for the test, he was turned away from there. This frustrated student then decided to take this extreme step, police said.

The Union Public Service Commission on Sunday conducted the Civil Service Prelims examination. Around three lakh candidates appeared for this coveted examination, which is conducted to select officers for Indian Administrative Service (IAS), Indian Foreign Service (IFS) and Indian Police Service (IPS) among others.

This Civil service examination is conducted annually in three stages- preliminary, main and personal interview. The main examination is scheduled to be held on Monday, October 1, 2018.

UPSC conducts the Civil Services examination to select candidates to fill various administrative positions in All-India services and central civil services including- IAS, IPS, IFS, IRS, and IRTS.
Did Kharge compare Modi govt to a dog with his barking and mauni analogy?

India

oi-Oneindia Staff

By Oneindia Staff

New Delhi, June 4: Political civility is long dead as we hear our netas (politicians) cutting across party lines mouthing the most unpalatable words to grab headlines.

The latest to join the brigade of foul-mouthed political leaders is none other than (otherwise decent and civilised) senior Congress leader Mallikarjun Kharge. While attacking the ruling Narendra Modi government at the Centre for ignoring the repeated demands of farmers-- who are on a 10-day-long agitation in various parts of the country--Kharge ended up comparing the present regime at the centre to a "barking government".

"Compare the farm loan waiver under the National Democratic Alliance government led by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the United Progressive Alliance government led by the Congress. We never indulged in publicity. We used to work and stay quiet. Maybe that's why they used to call us mauni (mum) and goongi (dumb) government. The present government is a barking government, but doesn't do anything," Kharge was quoted as saying by ANI.

Compare the farm loan waiver under NDA & UPA govt. We never indulged in publicity. We used to work & stay quite. Maybe that's why they used to call us 'mauni' & 'goongi' govt. Present government is a barking govt, but doesn't do anything: Mallikarjun Kharge, Congress pic.twitter.com/rP6bcd6OVO  ANI (@ANI) June 3, 2018

On Friday last week, farmers in several states of the country started their 10-day-long strike which saw the protesters throwing their agricultural produce including milk on roads. The main demands of the agitating farmers are complete loan waiver, minimum support price for their produce and an assurance of permanent minimum income from the government, to name a few.

However, several top BJP leaders, including Union ministers, have criticised the farmers' protest as "unnecessary" and "politically motivated". Union minister of agriculture and farmers welfare Radha Mohan Singh stoked a controversy by calling the protests of the farmers "an exercise to get media attention".

Singh was slammed by the Opposition for his "insensitive remarks". Haryana chief minister Manohar Lal Khattar dubbed the farmers' protest as "unnecessary". "They don't have any issues. They are just focusing on unnecessary things. They are not selling produce and this will bring losses to them," the CM had said.

Due to the ongoing farmers' protest, several parts of the country are witnessing steep hike in prices of farm and dairy produce. There is also a shortage of food items in several cities as the farmers have stopped their supply to the market.

The farmers' agitation in seven states--Punjab, Haryana, Rajasthan, Maharashtra, Jammu and Kashmir, Kerala and Madhya Pradesh--has been spearheaded by the Rashtriya Kisan Mahasangh (RKM)--a conglomeration of 130 farmers' organisations across the country.

Last month, Congress leader Sanjay Nirupam triggered a controversy with his "loyal dog" jab at Karnataka governor Vajubhai Vala. As a damage control measure, the Congress distanced itself from the comments made by Nirupam. The BJP is yet to react to Kharge's latest "barking government" statement.

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Story first published: Monday, June 4, 2018, 8:08 [IST]
India to make all out efforts to get back Kohinoor despite UK's reluctance

Disclose steps being taken to bring back Kohinoor, CIC tells PMO

India

oi-Staff

By Oneindia Staff Writer

The Central Information Commission (CIC) has asked the Prime Minister's Office and the External Affairs Ministry to disclose the efforts made to bring back priceless Indian antiquities such as the Kohinoor diamond, golden throne of Maharaja Ranjit Singh, jade wine cup of Shah Jahan and Tipu Sultan's sword.

The antiquities which are part of folklore of Indian opulence and finesse are adorning museums world over after being taken by colonial masters and invaders.

When an RTI applicant approached the External Affairs Ministry and the Prime Minister's Office, his query was transferred to the Archaeological Survey of India which said it is not its domain to make efforts to bring them back.

BKSR Ayyangar, the applicant, demanded records pertaining to the efforts made by the government to bring back Kohinoor diamond, Sultanganj Buddha, Nassak diamond, the sword and ring of Tipu Sultan, the golden throne of Maharaja Ranjit Singh, royal jade wine cup of Shah Jahan, Amaravathi railings and Buddhapade, Saraswathi marble idol - Vagdevi and mechanical tiger of Tipu.

The Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) said it can take up the issue of retrieval of only those antiquities, which have been illegally exported out of the country in violation of the Antiquities and Art Treasure Act, 1972 which became operational in 1976.

It said so far 25 antiquities have been retrieved from various other countries during 2014 to 2017.

When asked by Information Commissioner Sridhar Acharyulu why the RTI request was not transferred to the PMO or the Ministry of Culture, Archana Asthana of the ASI said, "These applications were filed at first with them only. I didn't understand why they sent to us."

"Deep sentiments are associated with these heritage objects as some of them are religiously considered sacred such as marble Vagdevi of Bhoj Raj, Buddha's statue from Sultanganj, Nassak diamond called 'eye' of Shiva, and objects with high historic value like Kohinoor, Tipu's sword, ring and mechanical tiger etc," he said.

They legitimately belonged to India and people of past, present and future generations are interested in repossessing them, he said in the order.

Acharyulu said the government cannot ignore these sentiments which are reflected by representations, public interest litigations and RTI requests.

Citing a number of petitions in the Supreme Court and statements made by various governments since independence, Acharyulu said that with all kinds of reports and multiple statements, the citizens are confused as to what exactly is the stand of the Union government on securing back priceless cultural heritage of India.

"It is surprising that CPIOs of PMO and Ministry of Culture did not apply their mind, ignored the lack of authority in ASI and in a routine manner transferred RTI application without even verifying whether they have any information in their records," he said.

Acharyulu said when the Culture Minister assured the Supreme Court that they would continue efforts, it was for them to inform measures or progress if any.

"Knowing that the ASI had no legal power to recover pre-independence artefacts from British how could PMO and Ministry of Culture conclude that RTI application "is more closely connected with functions of the ASI," he asked.

The efforts, if any, will involve external affairs or international transactions or diplomacy at higher level of the prime minister or minister for external affairs or high commissioners of India and other nations concerned to get back historic possessions that were taken out of India, Acharyulu said.

He said when the parliament cannot be denied this information the citizens too cannot be denied as per proviso under Section 8(1) of RTI Act.

"The PMO and Ministry of Culture have every duty to inform the appellant and transferring RTI requests to ASI would amount to breach of that duty," he said.

Acharyulu also sought an explanation from the PMO as to why RTI request of the applicant was transferred to the ASI, when the Act of 1972 clearly explain that subject matter of the request was not under their control.

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Story first published: Monday, June 4, 2018, 7:10 [IST]
Fresh batch of Jaish men being trained to release prisoners from Kashmir jails

India

oi-Vicky Nanjappa

A fresh batch of terrorists are being trained at the Jaish-e-Mohammad's facility in Bhawalpur Pakistan. The entire exercise is being overseen by the Jaish chief, Maulana Masood Azhar, an Intelligence Bureau report states.

The Jaish wants to take full advantage of the unilateral ceasefire announced by India in Kashmir due to Ramzan. This can be seen from the fact that a number of attacks have been reported in Kashmir over the past couple of days.

The Jaish says that it was behind the attacks on the CRPF soldiers that took place last week. The report states that the Jaish cadres have been instructed to continue attacking security personnel in Jammu and Kashmir.

Recently, Azhar had assured his men that he would free all terrorists lodged in the jails of Kashmir. He called for a spate of attacks on security personnel too. The current batch that is training in Bhawalpur would focus on releasing prisoners from the jails in the Valley.

Azhar said that the Jaish members who are in jail should not consider themselves as orphans. We are there for them and soon we will send our men and release them from jail, he also said.

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Story first published: Monday, June 4, 2018, 14:23 [IST]
Haryana: 100 Dalits convert to Buddhism after 113 days of protest

India

oi-Chennabasaveshwar

By Chennabasaveshwar

Around 100 Dalits from Haryana's Jind district converted to Buddhism after 113 days of protest did not deliver justice to the community. The community members said the state government didn't fulfil their demands of an ordinance in SC/ST Protection Act and CBI investigation into Jhansa gang-rape case, among others.

Dinesh Khapad, Dalit leader, said, "Haryana CM had agreed to fulfill our demands on March 7. We gave an ultimatum on May 20 that we'll convert if CM doesn't fulfill our demands in a week. So we started march towards Delhi on 27 May and converted to Buddhism at Ladakh Bhavan there on June 2. "

Jhansa gang-rape case was likened to Nirbhaya case since the victim suffered similar brutalities. The 15-year-old Dalit teenager was gang-raped and her body was brutalized by her assailants, who inserted a foreign object into her private parts that caused massive internal injuries. Her half-naked body was found from the bank of a water channel in Haryana's Jind district on January 13.

According to reports, Haryana ministers say that people are free to change religion without citing the real reasons behind their decision. Earlier, members of the Jaat community too expressed anguish against the ML Khattar-led BJP government in the state. Jaat leaders have said they won't allow BJP to hold any rally in the state ahead of the elections in the state.
Paging Annalise Keating. Photo: Alex Wong/Getty Images

For those who spent the weekend enjoying themselves rather than fretting about the future of American democracy, we just learned that the constitutional crisis looming over the Russia investigation is already underway. The New York Times obtained a 20-page letter Trumps attorneys sent Special Counsel Robert Muellers team in January, arguing that he could not have obstructed justice because he has total, unfettered authority over the Justice Department. Trump could terminate the inquiry or even exercise his power to pardon if so desired, they claim.

On Sunday Rudy Giuliani  who replaced John Dowd, one the attorneys who penned the letter  went on TV to elaborate on this expansive view of executive power. As usual, Giuliani gave a freewheeling performance that generally made his client sound guilty. He tried to distance himself from the arguments laid out in the letter, telling This Week that his predecessor put forth the broadest possible point, but we dont have to go there because there are less constitutionally questionable ways of proving Trumps actions were justified.

When pushed, however, Giuliani said he generally agrees that the president has stunningly broad powers  even if using them would be political suicide. He said that while he believes the courts would conclude the president has the right to pardon himself, its unthinkable as it would lead to immediate impeachment.

When George Stephanopoulos asked if the president could shut down an FBI investigation into whether hed accepted a bribe or committed murder, Giuliani replied:

I would not go that far. I would not go that far, George. I mean, John  youd have to ask John exactly what hes relying on for that. I wouldnt go that far. I think under circumstances where theres no  at best theres ambiguity as to whether there was intent.

But in his conversation with NBCs Meet the Press, Giuliani was more confident that the president is constrained only by Congresss impeachment power, not his own Justice Department. He said that while he only agrees with about 80 percent of the argument laid out by Trumps former legal team, he thinks a sitting president cant be indicted or subpoenaed. Thats the part of it I agree with the most, he said. Cant be indicted, cant be questioned because it interferes with the presidency.

By the end of the day, Giuliani had come up with a far more concise, and vivid, explanation of the presidents powers. In no case can he be subpoenaed or indicted, Giuliani told HuffPost Sunday night. I dont know how you can indict while hes in office. No matter what it is.

Echoing Trumps claim during the campaign that he could shoot someone in the middle of Fifth Avenue and not lose any voters, Giuliani explained that if theres a criminal in the Oval Office, the law cant touch him until the Legislative branch acts.

If he shot James Comey, hed be impeached the next day, Giuliani said. Impeach him, and then you can do whatever you want to do to him.

Scholars are actually divided on whether the president can be indicted, but there is general agreement that the easiest way to deal with a felonious president is to impeach him first, and then indict. As George Washington University law professor Jonathan Turley notes, for decades pondering this question has been a parlor game among constitutional-law professors, along with presidential emoluments, self-pardons, and presidential obstruction. Now the Trump administration,has the dubious distinction of moving all of these questions from the realms of the hypothetical to the actual.

Though Giuliani was speaking theoretically, its still stunning to hear the presidents lawyer musing about him murdering a specific political enemy and getting away with it  or at least, it should be.

Its easy to dismiss Giulianis media ramblings, especially because half the time they seem to hurt the presidents case. But occasionally some truth slips out, like when he admitted to CNN last week that the strategy behind the Spygate push is to shift public opinion against Mueller, because eventually the decision here is going to be impeach or not impeach.

In one day, Giuliani went from arguing that the president probably has the right to impede an investigation and pardon himself, to saying that he cant even be indicted for murder. Though he repeatedly claimed that the president has no interest in doing any of this, he put forth the idea that the president is above the law in every imaginable scenario  and once were debating the legality of our kinglike president committing murder, a little obstruction of justice doesnt seem like a big deal.

Giuliani assures us that we dont have to worry about there being no legal check on Trumps power (according to his interpretation), because if the president commits criminal acts theres a political solution: impeachment. But its already unclear what Trump would have to do for the Republican-controlled legislature to turn on him, and Giuliani is trying to wear away the political will to hold the president accountable for anything but the most heinous crimes.
India gets cheapest LNG as Russia's Gazprom begins supplies

India

pti-PTI

Dahej (Gujarat), Jun 4: India received its cheapest LNG under a long-term deal as Russia began shipping natural gas at a delivered price of close to USD 7 per million British thermal unit.

At current oil prices, the Russian rate is USD 1.5 per mmBtu less than the price at which Qatar, Indias oldest supplier, delivered liquefied natural gas (LNG). Russian supplies are also cheaper by USD 1-1.5 per mmBtu than the LNG sourced from Australia and the US.

Oil Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, who flew in here to witnessed arrival of first LNG ship under a 20-year import deal with Gazprom, termed the event as Golden Day in the Indias energy pursuit.

State-owned gas utility GAIL India Ltd had in January taken advantage of Russian companys inability to deliver LNG from the previously agreed Schtokman project in the Barents Sea, to renegotiate price agreed in 2012. GAIL also deferred taking deliveries of full 2.5 million tonnes a year LNG.

The contract period was extended by three years to accommodate the supplies not taken in initial years as well as get an additional 2 million tonnes over-and-above the 50 million tonnes it had agreed to take in 2012 over the 20 year contract period.

LNG carrier 'LNG Kano ', bringing cargo from Russian supplier Gazprom, docked at Petronet LNG Ltd's import facility here this morning. Gazprom supplied the 3.4 trillion British thermal unit (TBtu) of cargo from Nigeria.

"First we renegotiated price of LNG from Qatar, then reworked Australian supplies and now gas from Russia under renegotiated terms has started to flow, Pradhan said after receiving the LNG cargo. India will import LNG worth an estimated USD 25 billion over the contract period from Russia, he said. "Gazprom price (after being reworked) is very competitive."

While he did not give details, sources with direct knowledge of the development said the reworked price at current oil rate comes to close to USD 7 per mmBtu, which is cheaper than the delivered price of LNG under the 25-year deal with RasGas of Qatar. Also it is cheaper than Gorgon LNG from Australia and Henry-hub linked US LNG, supplies of which started only a few weeks back.

India, Pradhan said, is pushing towards a gas-based economy by raising the share of environment friendly fuel in the energy basket to 15 per cent from current 6.2 per cent.

There exists huge scope for gas usage in Indian economy -- from generating power to producing quality steel, he said, adding that increasing gas share would also help the country meet its COP21 commitment to cutting carbon emission. India is dependent on imports to meet 45 per cent of its gas needs.

Beginning of supplies from Russia comes within weeks of India importing its first ever LNG cargo from US under a long-term import deal. Pradhan said the starting of LNG imports from Russia has added a new dimension to the Indo-Russian bilateral relations, particularly in the oil & gas sector.  Russia has emerged as a long-term source for India's hydrocarbon imports, he said.

Stating that the government is committed to transforming India into a gas-based economy, he said investments are being made for augmenting natural gas infrastructure, including pipelines, LNG import terminals and City Gas Distribution networks.

 In the last few years, Indian companies have made investment of more than USD 10 billion in acquiring varying stakes in strategic Russian projects including Sakhalin-1, Vankorneft and Taas-Yuryakh.

On the other hand, Russian company led consortium has committed an investment of USD 13 billion in Esaar Oil in 2016. Russia is currently, worlds largest crude oil & second largest gas producer in the world. India is world's third largest energy consumer and fourth largest importer of LNG. 

GAIL has renegotiated with Russian supplier Gazprom the terms of the 20-year deal to import 2.5 million tonnes a year of LNG. Both price and volume ramp up have been renegotiated. GAIL Chairman and Managing Director B C Tripathi said the contracted volume has been lowered from 2.5 million tonnes to 0.5 MT in the first year 2018-19; 0.75 MT in 2019-20; 1.5 MT in the third year 2020-21.

The company has committed to importing the full 2.5 MT a year by the fourth year and make up for the initial volume reduction over the remaining length of the contract. Also, the price indexation has been changed from the Japan Customs-cleared Crude to Brent, and the oil-linked slope of the contract formula lowered, and therefore the final price.

Sources said the renegotiated contract provides for diverting a part of the volume, originally contracted on a delivered ex-ship basis, to other markets. Under the re-worked deal with Gazprom, the duration of the contract has been extended by three years and the Indian company has agreed to buy an additional six million tonnes of LNG volumes.

The pricing of the super-cooled fuel has been changed from 9 month linkage to Japanese Customs cleared crude to three months average of Brent, sources said.  The deferral will allow GAIL more time to find customers for the imported gas.

GAIL had signed the original deal on August 29, 2012 with Gazprom Marketing and Trading Singapore Pte Ltd (GMTS), Singapore.

The deal was renegotiated in January this year. Gazprom will supply LNG from Yamal LNG project in the Arctic peninsula. India has been making the most of its position as one of the worlds biggest energy consumers to strike better bargains for its companies.

Last year, India got US energy major Exxon Mobil Corp to lower price of 1.5 MT a year of LNG from Gorgon project in Australia, saving Rs 4,000 crore in import bill.

PTI
Is Shiv Sena BJPs biggest political enemy? Fight between friend-turned-foe unlikely to end soon

India

oi-Oneindia Staff

By Oneindia Staff

Mumbai, June 4: The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the Shiv Sena share a lot in common, especially their core ideology of practicing "Hindu nationalism" to woo the majority in the country. Thus a strong "friendship" between the two parties is only natural.

Of late, the equation between the two parties, known to champion the cause of the Hindus, has turned 'sour', as the Shiv Sena has felt cheated by the "big brother" BJP. While the Shiv Sena has its presence in Maharashtra only and is witnessing a steady decline in its fortune post the demise of its founder and supremo Bal Thackeray in 2012, the BJP is the most powerful political party in the country now with its government in 21 states and at the Centre.

The BJP and the Shiv Sena run a coalition government in Maharashtra where the latter has been almost relegated to the background with no say in important government decisions. This has irked the Shiv Sena a lot, but it can't do much because of its strength in the state legislative Assembly which is 63 MLAs compared to 122 MLAs of the BJP.

As a mark of protest, the Shiv Sena for a while has been regularly criticising the BJP (both nationally and locally in Maharashtra) over myriad issues. Interestingly, even after its open protest on numerous occasions, the Shiv Sena has still not left the coalition government in Maharashtra.

The latest political salvo from the Shiv Sena against the BJP is that the former is the latter's biggest "political enemy". The comment has come just a few days after the Shiv Sena lost the by-poll against the BJP in the Palghar Lok Sabha constituency.

In fact, this is for the first time when the Shiv Sena had fielded a candidate against the BJP. The decision to contest the election against its "partner" was an attempt by the Shiv Sena to directly confront the BJP. The Shiv Sena was hoping to win the poll to regain its lost glory in the coalition government. Unfortunately, it did not happen and the BJP once again succeeded in taming its alliance partner.

On Sunday, Shiv Sena MP Sanjay Raut described his party as the BJP's biggest "political enemy". The country "does not" want the duo of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and BJP president Amit Shah, but could "accept" the Congress or JD(S) leader HD Deve Gowda, he said.

"The Shiv Sena is the biggest political enemy (rajkiya shatroo) of the BJP. The Shiv Sena's radical Hinduism would prove problematic for the BJP," he said in an opinion piece written under his "rokh-thokh" (straight forward) column published in party mouthpiece, Saamana. Raut is the editor of the Marathi daily.

Taking potshots at the BJP, Raut said the BJP paid tributes to its late MP Chintaman Wanaga by defeating his son, the Shiv Sena candidate, in Palghar. The bypoll was necessitated by the death of Chintaman Wanaga.

Since the Shiv Sena is the main political opponent of the BJP, the latter's plan is to weaken the Uddhav Thackeray-led party while staying in power with it, he alleged.

"Hence, the BJP's plan is to stay with the Shiv Sena in power and try to weaken it by using power and money. The BJP used its resources to ensure Shiv Sena's defeat in the Palghar Lok Sabha bypoll (held last month)," Raut said.

The Shiv Sena leader claimed "trickery" of Eelctronic Voting Machines (EVMs) led to the BJP's victory in Palghar and said it was nothing short of a "scandal".

"On the day of voting (May 28), complaints of the EVMs malfunctioning were reported from at least 100 locations. The Election Commission rejected the Shiv Sena's request for extending voting hours, but a similar demand of BJP candidate Rajendra Gavit (who won the seat) was accepted," he alleged.

He claimed that every polling station, where extension for voting was given, reported an "average 100 extra votes to the BJP nominee and cumulatively BJP's votes increased by some thousands. But some 60,000 voters could not vote".

"After the voting, the district collector declared 46 per cent turnout, but the figure went up to 56 per cent the next day (when final figure was announced). It means 82,000 votes increased overnight", he said.

Raut claimed that the BJP has appointed people with the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh links to key constitutional posts and controlled the election procedure. He also referred to the setback suffered by the BJP in the just held Lok Sabha and Assembly by-polls in some states.

"The BJP managed to win the Palghar Lok Sabha by-poll but it lost many other Lok Sabha and Assembly by-polls. This shows winds of change are blowing in several parts of the country," he said.

"The by-poll results indicate beginning of the BJP's downfall," said the Rajya Sabha MP. He charged that "the country is in such a state of mind that it can accept the Congress or Deve Gowda, but does not want the Modi- Shah duo".

However, just a day after its victory in the Palghar by-poll, Maharashtra chief minister Devendra Fadnavis last week underscored the importance of mutual efforts to sustain the straining BJP-Shiv Sena alliance in the state.

"We are not against the BJP-Shiv Sena alliance and neither do we believe that our alliance will break, but effort has to be from both ways. We are ready for talks with the Shiv Sena," Fadnavis said.

Looking at the sharp attacks against the BJP, it does not look the Shiv Sena has accepted its "defeat" at the hands of its friend-turned-foe. The battle of ego between the Shiv Sena and the BJP is likely to turn uglier in the coming days in the wake of the 2019 Lok Sabha polls.

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Story first published: Monday, June 4, 2018, 11:44 [IST]
Govt needs to give sense of security to people cutting across religions in J&K: Omar

J&K: School teacher arrested on rape charges

India

oi-Staff

By Oneindia Staff Writer

The police have arrested a government school teacher for allegedly raping a woman on the pretext of marriage and then blackmailing her by using her indecent videos and pictures, an official said.

The incident came to fore when the victim approached the police to lodge a complaint against the accused, he said.

"Waseem Hussain Butt, a resident of Doda, allegedly developed intimate relations with the girl, who was studying Female Multipurpose Health Worker (FMPHW) training course, and later circulated her videos and photos on the social media," the official said.

He said a case under sections 66 and 67 of the IT Act and various sections of the Ranbir Penal Code was registered against the accused in Kishtwar police station.

The accused circulated her videos and photos on the social media after the victim got engaged to someone else, the official said.

"During investigation, it was revealed that the accused had also developed intimacy with a number of other girls to blackmail, terrorize and sexually abuse them," he said.

The girl also tried to end her life but was saved by her parents and subsequently brought to the police station for lodging a complaint against the accused, he added.

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Story first published: Monday, June 4, 2018, 7:58 [IST]
Ready to quit cinema if it becomes hurdle to political career: Kamal Haasan

Kamal Haasan meets Kumaraswamy, says ready to bridge divide on Cauvery row

India

oi-Deepika

By Deepika

Actor and Makkal Needhi Maiam president Kamal Haasan met Chief Minister H.D. Kumaraswamy on Monday and discussed the issue of sharing of Cauvery water.

"I see hope in the conversation I have had with HD Kumaraswamy," Haasan said after the hour-long meeting.

"We have not discussed anything about the Rajnikanth starrer 'Kaala'. That is related to the Film Chamber," Kumaraswamy said.

"I am ready to be the bridge between the two States. We need water for kuruvai crop. Kumaraswamy has responded positively," he added.

Kamal has been vocal in calling for dialogue between the states and was present at the swearing-in ceremony of Kumaraswamy in Bengaluru on May 23.

Earlier a row erupted after actor-turned-politician Rajinikanth demanded Karnataka to release Cauvery river water for Tamil Nadu, Karnataka Chief Minister HD Kumaraswamy had invited the superstar to the state to see the conditions of reservoirs, where water is not sufficient.

"If there is water in Karnataka, it is possible for us to give them water. I request Rajinikanth, please come and see the situation in our dams, what has happened to our farmers. After seeing that, if you (Rajinikanth) still want water, let's discuss," Kumaraswamy said.

Reportedly, Rajinikanth had asked the new government in Karnataka to release to Tamil Nadu its share of Cauvery river water as mandated by the Supreme Court verdict.

Distributors and exhibitors in Karnataka have unanimously decided not to release Rajinikanth-starrer Kaala in the State in protest against his stand on the Cauvery issue.
Bengaluru to face power cuts today: Full list of areas likely to be affected

Karnataka HC directs Bengaluru Metro union to put strike on hold

India

oi-Chennabasaveshwar

By Chennabasaveshwar

Karnataka High Court on Monday directed employee union of Bengaluru Metro to put the strike on hold for the next 10 days. The high court intervened asked the state government to negotiate with the union.

The state government has already notified Metro as an Essential Service under the Karnataka ESMA Act 2013 and the Centre is also set to bring it under the Central ESMA shortly. The union has challenged the legality of invoking ESMA. In a similar hearing in the past, the court had asked them to hold many rounds of discussions to resolve the issue.

The court was hearing a petition on the application filled by BMRCL to vacate the stay on the government's July 7, 2017 notification of extending the provisions of Karnataka Essential Services Maintenance Act to BMRCL services.

The court in October 2017 stayed the government notification based on a petition filed by BMRCL Employees' Union, and earlier this year had directed the union and management to hold conciliatory meetings to sort out the differences.

The BMRCL Employees' Union had called for strike on Monday.

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Story first published: Monday, June 4, 2018, 17:03 [IST]
Explained: What you should know about the first phase of Malabar Exercise 2020

Malabar Exercise to be held off Guam coast in US from June 7 to June 16

India

oi-Vinod

By Vinod

New Delhi: Indian Naval Ships Sahyadri, Shakti and Kamorta will be participating in the 22nd edition of Malabar Exercise off Guam, the US from June 7 to June 16, 2018.

These Naval Ships are scheduled to reach Guam on June 7 for the Harbour Phase of the exercise. This is for the first time the Malabar Exercise is being conducted in the US territory. With the growing defence cooperation with the US, it has recently named its Hawaii-based Pacific Command as the US Indo-Pacific Command.

The Malabar exercise was last held in July 2017 off Chennai and Visakhapatnam. Malabar 2018 will have the participation of navies from India, the US and Japan. Eastern Fleet under the command of Rear Admiral Dinesh K Tripathi, NM, Flag Officer Commanding, Eastern Fleet, is currently on an overseas deployment to South East Asia and the Western Pacific.

Over the past 26 years, this maritime exercise has grown in scope and complexity and aims to address the variety of shared threats and challenges to maritime security in the Indo-Pacific. Further, the exercise contributes towards increasing the level of mutual understanding, inter-operability and sharing of the best practices between the three navies.

The scope of the Malabar 2018 includes professional interactions during the Harbour Phase in Guam from June 7 to June 10 and the Sea Phase from June 11 to June16 that includes a diverse range of activities at sea including Aircraft Carrier operations, Air Defence, Anti-Submarine Warfare (ASW), Surface Warfare, Visit Board Search and Seizure (VBSS), Joint Maneuvers and Tactical procedures.

Indian Navy will be represented by the two indigenously designed and built ships, the multi-purpose stealth frigate INS Sahyadri and Anti-Submarine Warfare corvette, INS Kamorta, Fleet Tanker INS Shakti and Long Range Maritime Patrol Aircraft P8I. The US Navy forces will include the Nimitz-class aircraft carrier, USS Ronald Reagan with its air wing; two Ticonderoga class cruisers, USS Antietam and USS Chancellorsville; two Arleigh Burke class destroyers, USS Benfold and USS Mustin; a Los Angeles-class attack submarine and one Long Range Maritime Patrol Aircraft P8A.

The JMSDF would be represented by a Hyuga class helicopter carrier JS Ise with integral helicopters; Takanami class destroyer JS Suzunami; Akizuki class destroyer JS Fuyuzuki. Japanese Maritime Patrol Aircraft, P1 and a submarine.

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Story first published: Monday, June 4, 2018, 19:43 [IST]
Rainfall in August, September likely to be on higher side of normal, predicts IMD

Subdued rainfall activity likely in north, central, west India during next 4 days: IMD

Thundershowers likely in central, eastern Maharashtra on Sept 4 and 5: IMD

Monsoon updates: IMD issues warning of heavy rain, thunderstorms in several states

India

oi-Vikas

By Vikas

The India Meteorological Department (IMD) on Monday issued a warning of heavy rain and thunderstorm in several parts of the country.

"Thunderstorm accompanied with gusty winds and lightning very likely at isolated places over Gangetic West Bengal, Odisha, Jharkhand, Bihar, UP, Uttarakhand, MP, Chhattisgarh,Vidarbha, Konkan and Goa, central Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu, Telangana, interior Karnataka and coastal Andhra Pradesh," ANI quoted an IMD weather warning as stating.

"Heavy rain very likely at isolated places over Andaman & Nicobar Islands, Assam, Meghalaya, Nagaland, Manipur, Mizoram, Tripura, Telangana, Rayalaseema, coastal Andhra Pradesh and Kerala," it added.

The satellite image released by the IMD which shows position of clouds over several parts of India, Arabian Sea, Bay of Bengal and Indian Ocean.

Hot weather conditions will prevail over north and central India and warm conditions are very likely in a few areas of Madhya Pradesh, the Met Department had earlier said.

Click here for All India weather summary and forecast bulletin

According to the IMD's prediction on distribution of rainfall this monsoon, the central India will get 'normal' rainfall but the southern Peninsula - Karnataka, Telangana, Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Kerala and Puducherry - may get 'below normal' rainfall.

The north-east India is expected to get least rainfall (below normal) during the period.

The monthly rainfall over the country as whole is likely to be 101% of its Long Period Average (LPA) during July, and 94% of the LPA during August - both with a model error of plus or minus 9%.

IMD's satellite image which shows prevailing weather conditions over sub-continent, Indian ocean region uptill Australia.

Anything between 90%-96% of the LPA is considered "below normal" while rainfall in the range of 96%-104% of the LPA is considered "normal."

Also, rainfall is considered "deficient" if it ranges below 90% of the LPA, and "above normal" if it falls between 104%-110% cent of the LPA. Above 110% of the LPA is considered "excess" rainfall.
Mumbai: Case filed against Bollywood actor Armaan Kohli for physically assaulting girlfriend

India

oi-Madhuri

A case has been registered on Monday against Bollywood actor Armaan Kohli at Santacruz police station for physically assaulting his girlfriend, a fashion stylist. It is learnt that Armaan Kohli allegedly beat up his girlfriend, Neeru Randhawa on Sunday night.

The two have been in a live-in relationship since 2015. The duo fought over financial issues on Sunday, and that Armaan had pushed her down a flight of stairs. The victim in her statement said that he hit her, grabbed her hair and hit her head against the floor.

The victim has been hospitalised in Kokilaben Dhirubhai Ambani hospital. A case has been registered under sections 323, 326, 504 & 506.

Armaan met Neeru through a common friend in Dubai in 2015, and asked her to work with him as a stylist. They soon started dating. Before that, he was in a relationship with Tanishaa Mukerji - they met and fell in love during 'Bigg Boss' in 2013. However, the relationship ended on a sour note a year later. Neeru worked as a fashion stylist for Armaan during 'Prem Ratan Dhan Payo'.
Former Defence Minister George Fernandes, who visited Siachen 18 times, passes away in Delhi

George Fernandes: The firebrand leader who had packed Coca Cola off from India

George Fernandes to be cremated, ashes will be buried: Jaya Jaitley

George Fernandes never missed an opportunity to express gratitude to the jawan

Nation needs rebel leaders like George Fernandes all the time: Advani

India

oi-Staff

By Oneindia Staff Writer

BJP veteran L K Advani said "rebel leaders" such as George Fernandes are needed all the time because no country can progress without them.

He made the remarks at the launch of a website on George Fernandes on his 88th birthday.

Advani, who paid a visit to the ailing leader at his Delhi residence, said he was a remarkable person.

"I have had the occasion of being with him in Parliament for so many years. He is a remarkable person. Rebel leaders are needed all the time. Nothing moves without them."

"If there were no rebels, the country wouldn't have gained Independence. Rebel leaders like George should keep coming up so that the country can progress and develop," Advani said after inaugurating the website -- georgefernandes.org.

This website is an attempt to highlight his glorious contribution to Indian politics, especially the first part of his career and put the second part in right perspective.

It's also an effort at celebrating what George stood for, said his wife Leila Kabir Fernandes.

Socialist leader Sharad Yadav, who was also present at the occasion, remembered Fernandes as a person whose life was full of struggle.

The website sheds light on various facets of George Fernandes, his life and all his associates across India and the world.

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Story first published: Monday, June 4, 2018, 7:19 [IST]
Two Congress leaders link KPCC president DK Shivakumar to scam in viral video: What's in the leaked clip?

New ministers will take oath on Wednesday: Parameshwara

India

oi-Chennabasaveshwar

By Chennabasaveshwar

Karnataka Deputy CM G Parameshwara on Monday ruled out discontent among Congress leaders regarding the distribution of portfolios. Speaking after the meeting at KPCC office in Bengaluru, Parameshwara said Party president Rahul Gandhi will take a final call on the issue on his return to India.

"We are likely to meet him either today evening or tomorrow morning. Newly appointed ministers will take oath on Wednesday," he said.

According to reports, some Congress leaders are in Delhi to lobby for the ministerial berth.

Congress and JDS alliance announced portfolios in a joint press conference held on Friday. Names of the ministers were not declared. Chief Minister HD Kumaraswamy, Deputy CM G Parameshwara, Congress State in charge KC Venugopal and other senior leaders were present. Out of 34, the Congress got 22 portfolios.

SR Patil's resignation as Working President of KPCC:

Parameshwara said, "I came to know about his resignation. But, I don't the reason behind the resignation. I will try to convince him".

SR Patil has tendered his resignation over the party's "unsatisfactory performance" in the recent assembly elections in North Karnataka.

The party high command is yet to respond to Patil's resignation. The development comes in the wake of suggestions floated by Congress leaders that those who served as ministers for two terms in the previous governments be deputed for party work.
Mark Zuckerberg. Photo: Marlene Awaad/Bloomberg via Getty Images

What if I told you that Facebook had a data-sharing agreement that allowed third parties access to pull data about you and your friends and friends of your friends? Im sure youd respond with something like, Well, yes, as weve learned from the Cambridge Analytica dustup, developers did at one point have access to a lot of sensitive personal data. But then you might say, in Facebooks defense, But Facebook removed the ability to extract data on a users friends from their API years ago! Which is true  with some very big exceptions. Device manufacturers like Apple and Samsung and BlackBerry retained access to methods of data extraction  methods not available to regular developers  even after Facebook shut down the method that allowed Cambridge Analytica to happen.

The New York Times reports that more than 60 device-makers had privileged access to Facebooks data, and that Facebook allowed the device companies access to the data of users friends without their explicit consent, even after declaring that it would no longer share such information with outsiders. Some device makers could retrieve personal information even from users friends who believed they had barred any sharing. When Facebook shut down the ability to access data on a users friends in 2015, Facebook exempted these manufacturers from the restriction.

Facebook also did not mention the exemption when the Cambridge Analytica scandal broke earlier this year, and the Times was still able to extrapolate data on 294,258 users from the connections of a single account with the help of a BlackBerry app. Apple, Samsung, BlackBerry, and Microsoft told the Times that their phones do not mine or harvest user data.

Facebook told the Times that the arrangements do not violate a 2011 consent decree on protecting user data because the company viewed its hardware partners as service providers, akin to a cloud computing service paid to store Facebook data or a company contracted to process credit card transactions, and thus do not need user permission to share info. In other words, Facebook is arguing that Apple, Samsung, and other telephone manufacturers are extensions of Facebook. If that sounds like bullshit thats because it is. The issue had been flagged as early as 2012 as a privacy issue.

The specifics of this case are probably less interesting than what they represent. Over and over again, we will find out that Facebook had lax policing over access to user data, and it will try to wriggle out of its responsibility with semantic arguments (like classifying competitors as extensions of itself). This is far from the last time that well hear about Facebooks privacy guards being made of Swiss cheese.
No cause for panic, new media rules will benefit all: Javadekar

No more home work: Bill in Parliament soon

India

oi-Vikas

By Vikas

A bill in Parliament which will do away with home work will be introduced in Parliament soon. This was assured by Union Minister for Human Resources Development, Prakash Javadekar.

Once the bill is introduced, there will be no more home work for children studying in Class 1 and 2.

Madras High Court on Wednesday asked the Centre to instruct state governments to reduce weight of school children's bags and do away with homework for classes 1 and 2. In its interim order, the court said that use of National Council for Educational Research and Training (NCERT) books be made mandatory.

The Court has also asked CBSE to set up flying squads to inspect schools violating the new directive.

Justice N Kirubakaran, on May 30, while referring to the government orders (GOs) issued by governments of Telangana and Maharashtra, also directed the Centre to direct the state governments and governments of Union Territories to formulate a "Children School Bag Policy" reducing the weight of the satchels in line with the guidelines issued by either state.

The Union minister said the Centre will bring a no homework bill in the Monsoon Session of Parliament in compliance with the Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education Act, 2009, and hoped it will be passed.

"I believe there has to be a 'learn with fun'. Children should not be put under any pressure. We will do whatever is required to lessen the pressure on children in compliance with the court order," Mr. Javadekar said.

Noting that children are neither weightlifters nor school bags loaded containers, the high court had asked the state government to ensure that the weight of the satchels should not be more than 10 per cent of the weight of the child.

The state governments were asked to ensure that weight of the satchels shall not be more than 10 per cent of the weight of the child. It observed that children are neither weightlifters nor school bags loaded containers.

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Story first published: Monday, June 4, 2018, 7:53 [IST]
No talks to heaping insults, Modi govts apathy towards protesting farmers plight is out in open

India

oi-Oneindia Staff

By Oneindia Staff

New Delhi, June 4: On Monday, the 10-day-long nationwide farmers' protest entered its fourth day. But it seems the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) instead of supporting the genuine demands of the farmers--thousands of whom have committed suicide in the last few years-- is busy making insensitive and provocative remarks against the protesters.

Some of the remarks made by BJP's top leaders --like the protest is an "unnecessary" exercise to farmers' trying to "attract media attention" by their revolt--showcase how much the ruling regime is detached from the ground realities.

Union minister of agriculture and farmers welfare Radha Mohan Singh on Saturday stoked controversy by calling the farmers' protest "an exercise to get media attention". His comment has been dubbed as "insensitive" and opposition parties have demanded his removal.

Singh said the farmers opted for "unusual deeds" to draw media attention as they belong to organisations with only a few thousand members. The farmers too protested against Singh's remark. On Monday, protesters spilled milk on roads against the Union minister's insensitive comment in Nagpur, Maharashtra. What is heartening is that the protesting farmers in Nagpur also distributed milk to locals who came up with vessels requesting for it.

Shakeel Ahmed of the Congress condemned Singh's comment as "insensitive" and tweeted: "When our farmers are committing suicide, this statement is really cruel." Last year, the government told the Supreme Court that over 12,000 suicides of farmers were reported every year since 2013.

Singh's Madhya Pradesh counterpart Balakrishna Patidar was quoted as saying: "No farmers are participating in the strike. Farmers are happy with the schemes of the chief minister."

The farmers have launched the agitation to press their demands, including loan waiver and right price for crops. They dumped vegetables, milk and other farm produce on roads and blocked supplies to cities in several states in the last few days.

Haryana chief minister Manohar Lal Khattar dubbed the farmers' protest as "unnecessary" on Saturday. "They don't have any issues. They are just focusing on unnecessary things. They are not selling produce and this will bring losses to them," the CM had said.

Due to the ongoing farmers' protest, several parts of the country are witnessing steep hike in prices of farm and dairy produce. There is also a shortage of food items in several cities as the farmers have stopped their supply to the market.

In spite of the continuing strike, Prime Minister Narendra Modi is yet to make a statement or overture to the protesters to reassure them that the government is with the farmers.

The farmers' agitation in seven states--Punjab, Haryana, Rajasthan, Maharashtra, Jammu and Kashmir, Kerala and Madhya Pradesh--has been spearheaded by the Rashtriya Kisan Mahasangh (RKM)--a conglomeration of 130 farmers' organisations across the country.

The RKM has stated that the protest will be peaceful and the protesters won't block roads, but farmers will stage dharnas on at least 30 highways in the country. The farmers' agitation continued on Monday and likely to proceed in the coming days as the ruling Modi government at the Centre seems to be in no mood to talk to the protesters and come to a settlement.

The whole protest has taken a political colour now, as the ruling BJP and the Congress accused each other of being responsible for the farm crisis in the country. In Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh last week, Union home minister Rajnath Singh alleged that the farmers' agitation was an agitation of the Congress.

"The BJP government in the state is working for the welfare of farmers and it has taken several big decisions in their interest," he added. Denying the allegations, newly appointed Madhya Pradesh Congress chief Kamal Nath said it's surprising that those who ordered firing at the farmers are now trying to shift the blame for violence on our party.

Last year, a farmers' protest in Mandsaur, Madhya Pradesh turned violent which led to the killing of seven farmers by the police. The farmers were protesting to demand better prices for their crops and loan waiver. The 10-day-long ongoing farmers' agitation has been hosted to mark the first anniversary of killing of farmers in Mandsaur on June 6 last year. Congress president Rahul Gandhi is expected to address a rally in Mandsaur on the day.

Since the last year, the Modi government is facing the ire of farmers because of what they called the "anti-farmer policies" of the current regime at the Centre. A few months ago, around 4,000 farmers walked 180 kms from Nashik to Mumbai to meet CM Devendra Fadnavis. They presented a list of demands to the CM. The CM has agreed to meet their demands.

It is hard to believe that it is the same Modi government which tried its best to woo farmers in the last annual Budget in February this year. But now when farmers are protesting, either Modi's cabinet colleagues are insulting them or the PM himself is maintaining his "stoic silence".

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Story first published: Monday, June 4, 2018, 14:06 [IST]
Over 80 J&K youth have joined terrorist groups this year say security agencies

India

oi-Vicky Nanjappa

Security forces have warned of a rise in recruitment of local youths into terrorist groups in Jammu and Kashmir. The security agency officials said the highly-volatile Shopian and Pulwama districts in South Kashmir continued to contribute more youths to terrorist groups which included outfits like ISIS-Kashmir and Ansar Ghazwat-ul-Hind, a group which claims support of the Al-Qaeda.

As many as 20 more youth have joined terror groups in the month of May which included Rouf from Ganderbal, a fourth-semester student pursuing a diploma course in government polytechnic, the officials said.

A Unani doctor, Shams-Ul-Haq Mengnoo, who is the brother of an IPS officer, Inam Ul-Haq-Mengnoo, has also been reported missing from Shopian and it is said that he may have joined terror groups, they said, adding that the figure at the end of April this year was 45.

The officials said another 16 were missing mainly from the twin districts and a probe was on to ascertain whether they have joined any terror group.

The officials said infiltration was also picking up and some of the terrorists had managed to sneak in from Poonch and Rajouri district of Jammu region as well as from the LoC in the Kashmir Valley. This created a more alarming situation for the security forces which were readying themselves for the two-month long Amarnath Yatra beginning this month-end.

Year 2018, according to the officials, may end up as the worst year in terms of number of youths joining various terror groups as the figures indicated that 81 youths had joined until May this year. In 2017, a total of 126 youths had picked up guns. It was the highest number since 2010, according to a recent data presented in the state assembly and Parliament.

There has been a steady rise in the number of youth taking up arms in the Valley since 2014 onwards as compared to 2010-2013 when figures stood at 54, 23, 21 and 6 in the respective years. In 2014, the number shot up to 53 and in 2015, it reached 66 before touching the highest mark of 88 in 2016, the data showed.

This year's recruitment of youth joining terrorism includes Junaid Ashraf Sehrai, 26, an MBA degree holder from Kashmir University, and son of Mohammed Ashraf Sehrai, who took over as chairman of Tehrek-e-Hurriyat from Syed Ali Shah Geelani. Teherik-e-Hurriyat is a pro-Pakistan amalgam of separatists groups.

The list also includes a 26-year-old PhD scholar Mannan Bashir Wani hailing from Kupwara, officials said. Wani was studying in the Aligarh Muslim University (AMU).

According to a report prepared by the Jammu and Kashmir CID, which has been shared with the Union Home Ministry, the past three years have witnessed a consistent rise in the number of active local terrorists even in the face of successful anti-terror operations undertaken by the security forces.

"It therefore become imperative for the state to deconstruct why, while militants are being killed, militancy continues to rise," the report had said.

The report said the situation is such that terrorist encounters "have turned into a spectacle in the recent years with attacks on encounter sites by protesters followed by glamourised funerals."

"The entire phenomenon has had a tendency to create an emotionally charged environment which is ideal for recruiting fresh cadres," it said.

The report, while drawing a correlation between the terrorists killed in encounters and the new recruitment, said, "It has been found that encounters of local militants are part of a vicious circle that acts as a catalyst to push further recruitment."

"Large glorified funerals of militants have also been witnessing presence of active militants who give gun salutes to their killed associate. The presence of militants in these funerals not only eulogises the deaths of militants but at the same time brings the active militants into open interaction with civilians," the report said, warning that such an interaction was one of the important steps in facilitating recruitment.
Ex-ISI chief Lt General Hameed next in line for post of Pakistan Army chief

Discussed with Pak leadership importance of holding Taliban accountable to their commitments: Sherman

Will come back to haunt you: Jaishankar in veiled reference to Pakistan

Pakistan provokes: India says will revoke ceasefire agreement

India

oi-Staff

By Oneindia Staff Writer

Despite agreeing to implement the ceasefire agreement of 2003 in letter and spirit, Pakistan continued to indulge in cross border firing and terrorism. While taking exception to this, Union Minister Hansraj Ahir said that the government would be constrained to revoke the Ramzan ceasefire it had announced last month if Pakistan continued to indulge in cross-border firing and terrorism.

Ahir, the Union minister of state for home, said, "We had decided to suspend operations in view of Ramzan. However, there is no respite in cross-border terrorism and ceasefire violations on the part of Pakistan."

"We will be constrained to revoke the ceasefire agreement," the minister said at a press conference at the Government Guest House in Yavatmal on Saturday.

He added that the provisions of the truce allow India to retaliate if Pakistan initiates unprovoked firing.

Ahir said India continues to believe in the "no-first-strike" policy.

The government had on May 16 directed security forces in Jammu and Kashmir to follow what it called " non-initiation of combat operations" during the holy month of Ramzan.

The security forces, however, reserve the right to retaliate if attacked or if essential to protect the lives of innocent people, the ministry had said.

On the Narendra Modi government completing four years in office, Ahir said it had started a number of good schemes.

"A record $60.08 billion was received in foreign investments in 2016-17. This was possible due to the economic growth achieved under the NDA government," he said.

He claimed the Modi government had curbed the Naxal menace successfully and the rebels were now operating in a restricted area.

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Story first published: Monday, June 4, 2018, 6:55 [IST]
House panel would have estimated quantum of black money had there been more time: Veerappa Moily

Pranab Mukherjee at RSS event: Decision is not desirable for country, says Moily

India

oi-Deepika

By Deepika

Senior Congress leader M. Veerappa Moily on Monday said the attendance of former president Pranab Mukherjee in the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh's (RSS) event will create an "undesirable difference" in the country.

"The very gesture of attending (RSS event) will make a difference which is not desirable for the country: Moily said on former president Pranab Mukherjee accepting invite to attend RSS event.

Moily's statement comes amid a raging debate over Mukherjee accepting the invite from the RSS to attend the event.

Senior Congress leaders, including former Union Minister CK Jaffer Sharief, have urged former President Pranab Mukherjee to reconsider his decision to visit RSS headquarters in Nagpur on June 7.

While the Congress officially said it did not like to comment on the matter, former finance minister P Chidambaram said there was no point in debating the issue as he has already accepted the invitation. But he advised Mukherjee, "I would say, Sir, now that you have accepted the invitation, please go there and tell them what is wrong with their ideology."

However, in a scathing letter, Kerala Opposition leader Ramesh Chennithala said his readiness to be the chief guest at the valedictory function of Sangh Shiksha Varg - a training camp for RSS volunteers in Nagpur on June 7 - came as a "rude shock" as it was organised by a "communal outfit" that has been "trying to divide the country on religious lines and to run the incumbent government by remote control.

However, Mukherjee in a veiled response, said that all queries will be answered once he speaks in Nagpur, where the event is scheduled to be held.

"Whatever I have to say, I will say in Nagpur. I have received several letters and phone calls but I haven't responded to anyone yet," Mukherjee was quoted as saying by Bengali daily Anandabazar Patrika.

Meanwhile, the RSS hailed the former President's greatness for accepting their invitation to address their workers in Nagpur.

"This isn't surprising for those who know and understand the Sangh, because RSS has always invited prominent people of the society in its programmes. This time, we invited Dr Pranab Mukherjee and it's his greatness that he has accepted our invitation," read a statement from the RSS.

Mukherjee, who has been a Congress veteran, will be the chief guest at the valedictory function of Sangh Shiksha Varg - a training camp for the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh volunteers - at the RSS headquarters in Nagpur, scheduled on June 7.
Rajnath to discuss suspension of ops, cross border firing during J-K tour

India

pti-PTI

New Delhi, Jun 4: Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh will begin his two-day visit to Jammu and Kashmir on June 7 during which he will review the suspension of operations in Ramzan and also meet those affected by cross-border shelling, officials here said. This is the second high-level visit to the state after the announcement of unilateral ceasefire by the Centre from May 16.

Earlier, Prime Minister Narendra Modi had visited all the three regions of the state -- Ladakh, Srinagar and Jammu. During his stay in Kashmir, the home minister will travel to the frontier district of Kupwara where he will review some projects being undertaken as part of the Border Area Development Programme, officials said.

Later, he will review the suspension of anti-militancy operations during the holy month of Ramzan with top police, paramilitary and central security agency officials, they said. The need for such an exercise was to understand the impact of the suspension of operations on the life of citizens, the officials said.

Singh is also expected to discuss with the state government and security officials the possibility of extending the suspension of operations beyond Eid and during the period of the Amarnath Yatra, which will begin on June 28. The recent incidents of stone pelting, attacks on security forces in the Kashmir Valley and infiltration attempts along the border will also figure in the meetings Singh will have with the top brass of the security forces, an official said.

The home minister's visit comes amidst an offer for talks with the Hurriyat Conference. The separatist amalgam, however, has made it clear that it was ready for a dialogue only if there was clarity on the initiative and Jammu and Kashmir is declared "disputed", and a few other conditions are met.

On the second day of the tour, the home minister will visit Jammu and will take stock of the situation along the international border where over a dozen security personnel have been killed in firing by Pakistani forces. Several thousand people living along the border were also evacuated and taken to safer places due to the continuous firing from across the border, another official said. The central government has already decided to construct more than 28,400 bunkers in Jammu and Kashmir for the safety of residents living along the Indo-Pak border who often face shelling from the Pakistani side.

PTI
Prakash Raj campaigns in Bengaluru, says 'I'm fighting for the people, not against any party or lead

'It's a solid slap on my face', says Prakash Raj after electoral drubbing

Row over 'Kaala': Films shouldn't become soft targets, onus is on government, says Prakash Raj

India

oi-Vikas

By Vikas

Amid row over the release Rajinikanth's upcoming movie 'Kaala' in Karnataka, actor Prakash Raj on Monday said that films should not become soft targets and put the onus on the government to rein in 'fringe elements'.

The Karnataka Film Chamber of Commerce (KFCC) is upset with Rajinikanth's reported statement that whichever government comes to power in Karnataka should implement the Supreme Court order on Cauvery water sharing. The chamber recently decided not to allow screening of his movie Kaala, due for release on June 7, in the state.

"A film or any work of art shouldn't be a soft target for people. When you keep a problem alive, naturally fringe elements will try to take law into their hands, govt needs tell them that law and order is our responsibility, you can protest but can't stop a film from releasing," Raj told news agency ANI.

"Karnataka Film Chamber has said that they have not asked for a ban but the distributors and exhibitors seeing the pressure have voluntarily decided to not create tension by not releasing 'Kaala'.The onus is now on the state and central government," he added.

The ban on Rajinikanth's starring 'Kaala' in Karnataka has prompted a national film body to request the South Indian Film Chamber of Commerce on Sunday to expedite its release in the state.

The film star has often faced the wrath of pro-Kannada organisations for his comments on the Cauvery issue. Film Federation of India president Sakshi Mehra told PTI that it has requested SIFCC to hold talks with KFCC to get the movie released, in the interest of the film industry.

['Kaala' banned in Karnataka: Kumaraswamy says,'Kannadigas have rejected actor's film']

SIFCC secretary L Suresh said they had sent a letter to KFCC to solve the problem by convening a meeting with the Kannada outfits.

"I have spoken to KFCC president Sa Ra Govindu and also written a letter to him. The KFCC would probably call for a meeting with the outfits tomorrow or the day after," he said.

'Kaala' is scheduled for a worldwide release on June 7.

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Story first published: Monday, June 4, 2018, 10:53 [IST]
Shillong falls prey to fake news: The Sikh-Khasi tussle explained

India

oi-Vicky Nanjappa

A dispute between a bus conductor and a female resident of the Them Lew Mawlong locality in Shillong escalated into a full fledged clash. The residents of the locality also known as Punjabi Lane clashed with the drivers of the state transport buses.

Curfew has been imposed in the area to bring the situation under control. While it was lifted briefly, it had to be imposed as the unrest broke out again at various locations around the Punjabi Lane.

The unfortunate incident was due to fake news and rumours. A fake news spread on WhatsApp that group of Punjabi people from the colony had decapitated two Khasi boys. A huge mob assembled around the colony and clashed with the security personnel.

This even led to tribal vs non-tribal tensions as local leaders continued to exploit the situation. Call for the immediate eviction of illegal settlers was made which only led to worsening of the situation.

MoS Home Affairs Kiren Rijiju stepped in and advised the people not to fall prey to the rumour mongering. He even clarified that no Gurudwara or other institutions belonging to the Sikh minority had been damaged.

The Khasi-Sikh battle:

None would have through that a minor skirmish between a Punjabi woman and a Khasi bus driver would take such a mammoth turn. Thanks to fake news and rumours, the tension escalated with the Khasi tribal population gathering in large numbers and pelting stones demanding the ouster of people who they called 'outsiders.'

A document by the Khasi royalty states that the the Syiem of Mylliem and Durbar", the ancestors of the Dalit Sikh community were already settled in Shillong. They are said to be brought by the British army to work as manual scavengers as tribals living midst fields would not do this work.

The document that was issued in 2008 further states that the Syiem and Darbar Hima Mylliem never issued any land document to the Harijan community. However they were recognised and respected and the plot of land allotted to them was by the predecessors Syiem of Jima Mylliem. Only the Gurudwara, Valmini Mandir and Guru Nanak LP school were given valid documents.

The problems for the Dalits is immense. Almost none of them have been given Schedule Caste Certificates. They are also under immense threat of being evicted as the call for the same has grown over the years.

Many recall that attempts to evict the community from Punjabi Line has been on since the 1980s. The practise of cleaning toilets manually had stopped and attempts were made since to evict them. The Khasi say that those residing in Punjabi Lines are doing so illegally. They also accuse them of being involved in criminal activities.

Some of the residents of the Punjabi Lane suspect that there could be a larger conspiracy behind this. There have been attempts to move them out of this area, but such attempts have been futile. The Punjabis say that they do not want to move away from the city as they have lived here for long. They suspect that the attempts to move them away from this area is to make space for a mall. The residents suspect that this is being done to accommodate the tourists who throng the city.

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Story first published: Monday, June 4, 2018, 15:04 [IST]
Shillong violence: Meghalaya CM assures safety of Sikh families

India

oi-Chennabasaveshwar

By Chennabasaveshwar

The four-member delegation sent by Punjab CM Captain Amarinder Singh met Meghalaya CM Conrad Sangma at state Secretariat in Shillong on Monday. Meghalaya CM assured safety and security to every Sikh family in Shillong.

Earlier, Amarinder Singh tweeted, "Seriously concerned about reports of threat to safety of Sikhs in Shillong. Have asked Cabinet colleague Sukhjinder Randhawa to rush there tomorrow with MPs Gurjit Aujla & @RavneetBittu, MLA Vaid. Asked Meghalaya CM @SangmaConrad to facilitate the team's visit to troubled areas."

Seriously concerned about reports of threat to safety of Sikhs in Shillong. Have asked Cabinet colleague Sukhjinder Randhawa to rush there tomorrow with MPs Gurjit Aujla & @RavneetBittu, MLA Vaid. Asked Meghalaya CM @SangmaConrad to facilitate the teams visit to troubled areas.  Capt.Amarinder Singh (@capt_amarinder) June 3, 2018

The team was asked to make a ground assessment of the situation in the troubled areas of Shillong and extend all possible help to the Sikh community there.

The clashes had begun after a bus handyman was beaten up allegedly by a group of residents of Them Metor area on Thursday afternoon. Trouble escalated when rumours spread on social media that the bus handyman had succumbed to injuries, prompting a group of bus drivers to converge at Them Metor. The police had to fire teargas shells to disperse them, officials said.

The Army conducted flag marches in its disturbed areas and rescued around 500 people following violence and arson. During the violence, a mob torched a shop, a house and damaged at least five vehicles here, besides injuring a senior police officer.

Chief minister Conrad K Sangma chaired a high-level meeting on June 1st and had appealed for calm and urged the people to help bring back normalcy in Shillong.

(With PTI inputs)
US scribe working on Sterlite issue goes back home, to be blacklisted

Sterlite protest: Aruna Jagadeesan to meet injured in Thoothukudi police firing

India

oi-Deepika

By Deepika

Retired High Court Judge Aruna Jagadeesan, who has been appointed by the Tamil Nadu government to probe the violence and consequent police firing during the anti-sterlite protest in Thoothukudi, said that she will meet the injured in the hospital.

Speaking to reporters, Aruna Jagadeesan saith "I'm going to hospital to meet the injured. Their statements will be taken and those who can't come to Court to record their statements, we'll make arrangements for Court people to go to them to record their statements."

"The people from media who have the unedited video of whatever happened there (Thoothukudi) have a week's time to submit it to the officials, she added.

Earlier in the day, the Supreme Court refused to grant an urgent hearing into a plea, filed by the families of those killed in the police firing during the protest.

Without specifying a date for the next hearing, the apex court said it would be heard after the vacations.

The state government constituted Commission of Inquiry under retired Madras High Court judge Aruna Jagadeesan also requested the public to give it information about the violence and firing, either in person or through letters before June 22.

An official release from the government said that the inquiry will cover the 'law and order incidents following the siege of district collectorate by thousands of protestors who violated prohibitory orders'. However, the release does not mention a deadline for the commission to submit its report.

On May 29, the Tamil Nadu government had cancelled the land allotment for expansion of Vedanta group's copper plant here and also ordered the state Pollution control board to seal and permanently close the existing unit.

Fifteen people were killed in police firing on May 22 and 23 after protests for closure of the plant over pollution concerns turned violent in Tuticorin.

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Story first published: Monday, June 4, 2018, 17:53 [IST]
A couple drinks wine on the beach in Old San Juan, Puerto Rico, in November 2017. Photo: Ricardo Arduengo/AFP/Getty Images

La pina esta agria. You might hear someone mutter this phrase today in Puerto Rico. It literally means, the pineapple is sour. The figurative translation: Times are tough.

Yet despite recent struggles  devastating hurricanes, controversial death tolls, population drain, economic crisis, Zika  there is much sweetness in Puerto Rico, especially in its capital city of San Juan. Tourists who visit the island these days are likely to see only surface traces (downed power lines, inoperative traffic lights, boarded-up windows) of Irma and Maria. Founded in 1521, the oldest city under U.S. jurisdiction continues to provide a fascinating, fun, and passport-free getaway for Statesiders.

Related Stories Introducing the Urbanist

Recovery has been both slow and quick. Though San Juan is up-and-running, pockets of the island are still without power. While some businesses have had to call it quits, new hotels, restaurants, and shops have opened since the storms, demonstrating an unabashed sense of hope. The art and design scene continues to flourish, with no choice but to create. World-class musicians like Luis Fonsi and Bad Bunny remain relevant as the music world continues to look to the island for the next hot trend, while salsa is still the sexiest dance done round the world. A wave of social consciousness pervades the island like never before, as evidenced when thousands took to the capitals streets in a May 1 general strike. And thanks to grassroots efforts, the islands agriculture is returning, inspiring local chefs to turn inward, instead of relying on imports. The swift regeneration of the islands greenery reflects the stamina and resilience of the populace.

Outside interests and money are also moving in, their motives and impact yet to be seen. It is the local nonprofits that are inspiring the islands comeback, taking matters into their own hands to rebuild and return, better than before. Within the realm of recovery and improvement, however, there are those things about San Juan that will never change: its history, its diversity, its distinct cosmo-trop style, its charming brand of hospitality, and those lovely, sunny, breezy beaches.

In our final installment of the Urbanist, New York Medias pop-up travel blog, we are diving deep into San Juan, from the Old City to the bustling financial district of Hato Rey; from the beach-fringed resorts of Condado to the gritty, artsy drags of Santurce. Shopping, music, food, drink, day trips, volunteerism, and more are shared via the pro tips of 36 islanders.

Just bear this in mind: A little patience goes a long way in Puerto Rico right now. The internet might be spotty. There may be a brief power outage. When that happens, do what the locals do: Grab a bottle of rum and head for the beach. Tourism is an essential part of the islands recovery. According to the tourism board, 80 percent of the hotels and restaurants have reopened and 14 cruise vessels (four more than last year) are serving the ports. Yes, Puerto Rico needs your business. But soon after touching down and settling into the easy energy of San Juan, youll realize that you needed Puerto Rico, too.

Your Everything Guide to San Juan

Where the Locals Would Stay in San Juan If They Werent Local

Life After Maria: How Travelers Can Help Puerto Rico Recover

A High-Low Art Lovers Guide to San Juan

Eco Goods and Guayaberas: Shopping Like a Local in San Juan

Muevete!: How to Break a Sweat in San Juan

Where San Juans Top Chefs Eat Every Meal

Pina Coladas and Carbonated Negronis: A San Juan Drinking Primer

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Rainforests and Rum Castles: The Best Day Trips from San Juan

What to Read, Watch, and Follow Before Visiting San Juan
Tamil Nadu CM Palaniswami defends action against anti-socials in Sterlite violence

India

pti-PTI

Chennai, Jun 4: Stoutly defending the action against those who indulged in violence during the anti-Sterlite stir, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister K Palaniswami told the state assembly that no government should encourge anti-social elements.

Citing violent incidents on May 22 and 23 such as hurling of petrol bombs and beating up people with wooden logs and damaging public property, he asked "are they general public? there were, hence, some miscreants and anti-socials." He was replying to Leader of Opposition M K Stalin of DMK who wanted the government to withdraw cases against the Tuticorin protesters.

The protest demanding closure of Sterlite's copper plant in Tuticorin turned violent and 13 people were killed in police firing. The chief minister said several parties were holding protests and the ruling AIADMK too had launched agitations when it was in the opposition and asked "did we take wooden logs or petrol bombs then?" He rejected the opposition's claim that the government was portraying people who protested against Sterlite as anti-socials. "I would like to clarify that we are calling only such elements (who indulged in violence) as anti-socials and not the general public," the chief minister said.

People who protested righteously to for their rights were given due permission and appropriate security as well, he said. Palaniswami said no government should encourage those who indulge in violence, anti-socials and miscreants as it would lead to a big problem later. Stalin said the protesters were "not anti-socials, poisonous elements or terrorists."

Claiming that 'tension', continued in Tuticorin in view of police personnel carrying out house to house checks, he asked the government to take steps to stop it. Congress Legislature Party leader K R Ramasamy echoed DMK's stand and wanted the cases to be withdrawn. Palaniswami said police arrested only those who indulged in violence based on evidence such as photograph and not the general public. The government also will not allow detention of public, he added.

Intervening, Stalin said there were also images of police men in plainclothes taking aim to shoot at the protesters and he hoped that such things too would have come to the notice of the Chief Minister. Referring to the one-person Commission of Inquiry led by retired judge Aruna Jagadeesan constituted to go into the Tuticorin incidents, the chief minister said information related to the violence can be submitted to it. He reiterated that based on the findings and recommendations of the commission, appropriate action will be taken against those who committed wrongs. Taking on DMK's stand that the closure was not permanent as only a Government Order was issued, he emphasised that it was legally valid citing legal provisions and related technicalities.

"The plant cannot be opened. It is permanently closed and sealed." All the permissions like boiler license and power connection were cancelled, he said. When Stalin sought a House resolution affirming the closure of Sterlite plant since there were chances of the company approaching the court on the issue, Law Minister C Ve Shanmugam cited matters that had gone to court in the past despite such a course.

Despite an assembly resolution of 2011 recommending commutation of the death sentence awarded to Rajiv Gandhi assassination case convicts, the issue went to the court, he said. Similarly, despite the inclusion of Tamil Nadu's 69 per cent reservation under the 9th Schedule of the Constitution which bars judicial review, the matter went to court. He said matters like legislation or a resolution could be taken up by courts for review.

Deputy Chief Minister O Panneerselvam said if the Sterlite matter went to court it will be legally demonstrated that the closure was in tune with the state's powers. Stalin reiterated his party's demand for enhancement of compensation to the victims of violence which includes a solatium of Rs one crore for the kin of those who died in police firing.

PTI
To extend ban on SIMI, centre seeks Delhi governments opinion

India

oi-Vicky Nanjappa

The Union Government is awaiting a report from the Delhi government on whether the ban on the Students Islamic Movement of India should be extended or not. The AAP government would have to give its opinion on whether the five year ban should be extended or not.

The letter to the Delhi government states, "If its (SIMI) membership continues, then ipso facto a case of unlawful activity under the Act is made out. If this organisation an-d/or its members commit offences in furtherance of their aims and objectives, then the charge sheet would have to contain reference to such violations of the Act."

The government had declared SIMI as an unlawful association and banned it till January 31 2019 under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act of 1967. The Centre had also constituted a tribunal to adjudicate if there was enough cause to declare SIMI an unlawful association under the provisions of the Act.

On July 30 2014, the tribunal had confirmed the ban and extended the same till 2019. The Union Government in its communication to the Delhi chief secretary said that since the ban was coming to an end, it was for the government to find out if SIMI continued to indulge in unlawful activity. Once the report is submitted by the Delhi government the Ministry for Home Affairs would decide on whether a fresh ban should be imposed or not.

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Story first published: Monday, June 4, 2018, 10:01 [IST]
Was PM Modi's Malaysia, Indonesia tour aimed at 'International Appeasement' of minority: Akhilesh

India

pti-PTI

Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav on Monday asked if Prime Minister Narendra Modi's recent visit to Indonesia and Malaysia during the month of Ramzan an attempt towards "international appeasement" of the minority community.

During an interview with a news agency, he claimed that the people of not only Uttar Pradesh, but of the entire country were upset with the BJP as other than making promises it "did nothing else".

Citing a proverb, Yadav said, "With an empty stomach, people have now understood that the BJP does not mean business."

Asking the BJP to restrain its leaders from making "absurd" comments, he said, "The BJP should learn to face defeats or else they will not be able to digest the outcome of the 2019 Lok Sabha elections in which the opposition will stage a comeback."

Slamming the BJP for accusing his party of practising minority appeasement, the Samajwadi Party chief said, "Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath says he does not celebrate Eid as he is a Hindu. The BJP charges us with practising Muslim appeasement. Modi has just visited Indonesia and Malaysia during the month of Ramzan. Is it an attempt towards 'international appeasement' of the Muslims?"

Adityanath had reportedly said that he is a Hindu and does not celebrate Eid, drawing sharp criticism from the opposition.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi was for the first time on an official visit to Indonesia - the world's most populous Muslim-majority nation - last month. He has visited Singapore twice and Malaysia once in 2015.

Modi had also visited Indonesia's grand Istiqlal Mosque, the largest in southeast Asia, with President Joko Widodo.

Indonesia is not only the world's most populous Muslim country, followed by India but the third largest democracy. Hindus comprise two per cent of Indonesia's population and form close to a 90 per cent majority on the island of Bali.

PTI
With 80 terrorists waiting to infiltrate, why Pak wont let the guns fall silent at the border

India

oi-Vicky Nanjappa

Two BSF jawans were martyred and 12 civilians injured after Pakistan violated the ceasefire and pounded 10 posts and 35 villages in Jammu. The irony of this incident was that it took place barely a few days after the Director General of Military Operations of both India and Pakistan had agreed to implement the Ceasefire Agreement of 2003 in letter and spirit.

An Intelligence Bureau official tells OneIndia that at around 2.15 am on Sunday, Pakistan Rangers of the 21 Chenab Rangers opened sniper fire on the BSF's Jaman Bela post of 33 Battalion in Pargwal sector. This led to the mortar firing, the officer also said.

The question is what led to this unprovoked firing from Pakistan just a few days after the ceasefire agreement? Officials say that the DGMO of Pakistan did commit to the ceasefire, but there has been immense pressure on the army to aid in infiltration of terrorists.

There is an Intelligence Bureau report which states that there are nearly 80 terrorists of both the Lashkar-e-Tayiba and Jaish-e-Mohammad waiting to infiltrate. This is a crucial time and they want the infiltrations to be increased ahead of the Amarnath Yatra due to begin on June 28. The Yatra had been attacked last year and a bus from Gujarat had come under fire.

The IB report also states that the 80 odd terrorists have been positioned in 8 launch pads. They have been instructed to infiltrate as buddy pairs from various locations along the Line of Control. The terrorists have had trouble infiltrating as there has been a high alert due to the upcoming Amarnath Yatra.

In such an event, the infiltrations become even more harder if the borders fall silent. A silent border means that the jawans guarding it have all their focus only on curbing infiltrations. This is precisely the reason why Pakistan decided to violate the ceasefire agreement. This would mean that the jawans would be extra cautious and the focus would largely be on retaliating to the firing by the Army.

An IB official did not rule out the possibility of Sunday's incident being a possible attempt to provide cover fire. The terrorists numbering 80 have been positioned at the launch pads for the past month and Pakistan wants to ensure that they infiltrate at the earliest.

Pact not durable:

Security officials would argue that the ceasefire pact is not a durable one. It does not include preventing cross border terrorism. Infiltration of terrorists from the Lashkar-e-Tayiba and Jaish-e-Mohammad have been of utmost concern. Several Intelligence Bureau reports in the possession of OneIndia speak about active training camps along the border from where several terrorists would be launched on to Indian soil.

Back in 2003, India had said that in order to establish a full ceasefire on a durable basis, there must be an end to infiltration from across the Line of Control. To take this process further, India also proposed a ceasefire along the Actual Ground Position Line (AGPL) in Siachen.

India had expressed concern and said that it was unfortunate that Pakistan had rejected India's stand that the ceasefire will be durable only if terrorists' infiltration into Jammu and Kashmir from across the border ends. Islamabad must realise the importance of the sensitive issue.

A total of 909 incidents of ceasefire violations by Pakistan Army were reported till today in the current year as against 860 incidents during 2017, defence sources in New Delhi said.

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Story first published: Monday, June 4, 2018, 16:49 [IST]
Woman duped of Rs 7 lakh after she was tricked into sharing OTP multiple times

India

oi-Vikas

By Vikas

A Mumbai woman got a call from a person claiming to be a banker and asked for her card details. The caller told her that her debit card had been blocked for some "technical reasons". The woman naively believed the caller and shared her card details including the CVV number with him.

What unfolded later should serve as a wake up call to many who do not pay attention to the advertisements that urge people to be exteremely cautious about sharing their card details.

The woman, Tasneem Mujjakkar Modak, was cheated of Rs 6,98,973 after she shared her one-time passwords 28 times over one week, reported TOI.

The woman lodged a complaint at Nerul police station on May 29 where an FIR has been registeredr. The police said the transactions were carried out in Mumbai, Noida, Gurugram, Kolkata and Bengaluru, the report said.

Even if a person has access to card details, the user must know the OTP to complete the transaction. When any online transaction is done, the bank sends OTP to account holder's registred mobile number.

Modak's biggest mistake was to share the OTPs with the caller. A genuine call from a bank would never ask for OTP or the CVV number. The CVV number is printed on the back the debit card.

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Story first published: Monday, June 4, 2018, 14:34 [IST]
Over 100 Afghan nationals on their way home from India via Tehran

PM Modi at G20 extraordinary summit: Need to ensure Afghan territory not used for terrorism

14 killed in blast at a gathering of Muslim scholars in Kabul

International

oi-Vikas

By Vikas

At least 14 people were killed and 17 others injured in a blast in Afghanistan's capital Kabul on Monday, reported TOLO news. Among the dead are seven religious scholars and four security personnel. The blast took place at a gathering of Ulemas in Kabul.

Ulemas or the Muslim scholars had gathered at Polytechnic University in Kabul when the blast took place. The meeting was being held under the traditional tent of the Loya Jirga, also known as the council of elders, said reports.

As per an Al-Jazeera report, the Ulemas had gathered to issue a 'fatwa' against suicide bombings and the ongoing war in the country. Fatwa is a religious decree issued by learned scholars in accordance with the Islamic Law.

Reports quoted Ghafor Aziz, a police district chief, as saying that the blast was caused by a suicide bomber who detonated his explosives near the entrance of a compound in the west of the capital where the Afghan Ulema Council was meeting.

No group has claimed the responsibility of the attack so far.

On May 13, at least six people were killed and close to 20 injured in a suicide attack in the city of Jalalabad, Afghanistan. Terrorists had stormed a government building and detonated bombs. There were two explosions near the city's directorate of finance, Nangarhar provincial governor's spokesman Attaullah Khogyani told AFP, adding that "a number of attackers" had entered the building.
Anti-immigrant party emerges largest in Slovenia polls but may struggle to find allies

International

oi-Shubham

By Shubham

Yet another European country made its anti-immigrant stance clear on Sunday, June 3, when the Slovenian Democratic Party (SDS) of right-wing leader Janez Jansa emerged as the single largest party in the country's elections.

However, with 25 seats out of 90 in the National Assembly, the SDS now has the challenge of finding coalition partners to form an effective government. Forty-six seats are required to form the majority.

Lista Marjana Sarca of actor-turned-politician Marjan Sarec finished as the second biggest party with 13 seats while Social Democrats of Dejan Zidan got 12 seats. Modern Centre Party of the outgoing prime minister Miro Cerar got 10 seats.

Cerar stepped down in March after the country's Supreme Court gave a ruling annulling a September 2017 referendum vote supporting a railway project worth a billion euro ($1.17bn).

After the polls closed, 59-year-old Jansa, who served as Slovenia's prime minister twice in the past, said he was committed to form the government "for the good of all our citizens" and to see a "safe Slovenia".

Other parties, however, did not prefer an alliance with Jansa. Many of them said before the election that they were not in favour of joining an SDS-led coalition because of its harsh anti-immigrant stance, Al-Jazeera reported.

Sarec told POP TV after the polling that he was "very happy" with the preliminary results for it could give him an opportunity to form government with other parties to keep Jansa at bay, the Al-Jazeera report added.

Sarec said during the election campaign that Jansa's anti-immigration rhetoric "crossed all the red lines", the report added.

Slovenia served as an important transit point during the European refugee crisis as a million of them passed through it in 2015.

According to experts, the anti-immigrant rhetoric was being used to distract focus from real economic issues, the report further added.

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Story first published: Monday, June 4, 2018, 12:20 [IST]
PM Modi at G20 extraordinary summit: Need to ensure Afghan territory not used for terrorism

China welcomes PM Modis positive remarks in Singapore

International

pti-PTI

China on Monday welcomed Prime Minister Narendra Modi's "positive remarks" on India-China relations at the Shangri-La Dialogue and expressed willingness to work with India to follow the consensus between the leadership of the two countries to maintain the momentum in the bilateral ties.

Prime Minister Modi in his keynote address at the Shangri-La Dialogue in Singapore, Asia's premier defence and strategic affairs conference, last week had said that Asia and the world will have a better future when India and China work together with trust and confidence while being sensitive to each other's interests.

The prime minister said both India and China have displayed "maturity and wisdom" in managing issues and ensuring a peaceful border, adding cooperation between the world's two populous countries was expanding.

Welcoming Modi's remarks at a media briefing, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson, Hua Chunying said, "We have noted the positive remarks made by Prime Minister Modi on China-India relations. We highly appreciate such kind of positive remarks."

Recalling the informal summit between Modi and Chinese President Xi Jinping at Wuhan in April this year, Hua said, "They had in-depth exchange of views on the international landscape and bilateral relations and reached many consensus."

"The two sides agreed to adopt a mature and wise way to properly handle differences," she said.

"China is willing to work with the Indian side to follow the guidance of this consensus to maintain the positive momentum of the development of bilateral relations, to promote mutually beneficial cooperation, properly handle differences, maintain peace tranquillity along the border areas and thus move forward the China-India relations," she said.

Modi and President Xi had met in April in an unprecedented two-day 'heart-to-heart' summit in the central Chinese city of Wuhan to "solidify" the India-China relationship after the Dokalam standoff last year.

Troops of India and China were locked in the 73-day standoff in Dokalam after the Indian side stopped the construction of a road by the Chinese army in the disputed area.

PTI
Israel PM sought espionage over Mossad, military heads? Controversy breaks out

International

oi-Shubham

By Shubham

In April, Israel's hawkish Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had proudly claimed that his country had brought out secret documents from Iran showing Tehran's stealthily developing nuclear weapons violating the 2015 nuclear deal. He even displayed massive documents in a slideshow to show Iran's other face to the world.

Now, reports have come out that Netanyahu had asked Israel's internal security service Shin Bet to spy on the director Mossad, Israel's intelligence agency, and also the country's military. Israel's officials have denied the reports, reported IntelNews.

The denials came in the wake of allegations that will be made public on June 7, Thursday, when the latest episode of investigative news programme 'Uvda' (Hebrew for fact) will be telecast on Israel's Channel 12 television channel, the report added.

The allegations have been that Netanyahu sought that the personal phones of senior Israeli officials, including those of Mossad and military heads, be wiretapped.

According to IntelNews, the investigative news programme said on May 31 that the "unprecedented" request has its origin in a "major secret programme" which was launched by the government of Israel in 2012. The programme needed a major transformation in Israel's intelligence budget, staffing as well as resources, it said.

"Although numerous individuals from nearly every facet of the Israeli intelligence community had been briefed on the project, the Israeli prime minister was concerned about leaks to the media. He therefore kept his cabinet in the dark about the program, and did not consult with the Knesset, or even the members of the Knesset's Subcommittee on Intelligence and Secret Services, which is required by law to be kept fully informed about Israeli intelligence operations," the IntelNews report added.

According to the report, Uvda also alleged in 2013 that the Israeli prime minister had in 2013 called an extraordinary meeting involving senior officials and it saw the presence of the then chief of Shin Bet, attorney general and others. Netanyahu approached Shin Bet's chief Yora Cohen and urged him to "monitor the partners of the secret project", the IntelNews cited the Uvda as reporting.

He allegedly clarified that the directors of the military and Mossad should have their phones under surveillance to see unauthorised leaks to the media. The names of the then chief of Israel Defence Forces Benjamin Gantz and Mossad, Tamir Pardo - both of whom were comparatively new in their posts -- also came up in the meeting, the report added.

But Netanyahu's request ultimately fell on deaf ears after Cohen took his proposal to senior officials of the defence ministry, Uvda reported, as per IntelNews. "They were shocked ad rejected it," Uvda said.

On Sunday, June 3, Cohen denied the entire episode and said the "reports in the media" about the PM's move as "untrue", the IntelNews report said, also adding that the office of the prime minister too called it "utterly baseless".

In a statement, the prime minister's office said Uvda's charges distorted "systematic efforts" that are made periodically to protect sensitive information regarding Israel's security, the IntelNews report said.

Also on Sunday, PM Netanyahu slammed the remarks made by Pardo on the same programme that Mossad is "basically a crime syndicate with a license".

Netanyahu felt the comment was damaging for Mossad's reputation and saluted Mossad as a "superb organisation" that did the "sacred work" in the fight against terror and other threats against the Israeli state, a Ynetnews report said.

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Story first published: Monday, June 4, 2018, 15:22 [IST]
Will come back to haunt you: Jaishankar in veiled reference to Pakistan

Pakistan: Clash between a Pastun group, militants leaves two dead

International

pti-PTI

Peshawar, Jun 3: A clash between Pashtun activists and local militants killed two people and wounded 25 others in a restive Pakistani tribal region near the Afghan border, officials said. The incident occurred in the Rustam Bazar of Wana, the main town of South Waziristan where the military has in the past conducted a string of punishing offensives to hunt down Taliban and Al-Qaeda-linked militants.

Supporters of the Pashtun Protection Movement (PTM), which is led by young activist Manzoor Pashteen, wanted to hold a rally to protest against growing corruption in the tribal regions.

"The clash erupted after supporters of Manzoor Pashteen were stopped from holding a protest rally by local militants belonging to Maulvi Nazir group " a senior local administration official told AFP on condition of anonymity.

The Pashtun activists torched two offices of the militants, which led to an exchange of fire, killing two people and wounding 25 others, the offical said.

Authorities were not immediately able to ascertain the identities of those killed and injured. Maulvi Nazir Wazir was a pro-government militant commander who carried out attacks on US troops deployed in Afghanistan. He was killed in a drone strike in 2013.

PTI
The National Council for Higher Education (NCHE) has finally granted a charter certificate to Fort Portal-based Mountains of the Moon University (MMU) after 12 years of university service.

While officially handing over the certificate to MMU officials, NCHE executive director Prof John Opuda-Asibo said the university fulfilled all the conditions of obtaining a charter.

When you look at our checklist, everything was just tick for Mountains of the Moon University. The university has been cooperative throughout this journey, Opuda-Asibo said at NCHE offices on Thursday.

NCHE executive director Prof John Opuda-Asibo hands over the charter certificate to members of the MMU board of governors

He told the university officials that: This is the grant of the highest authority for you to exercise the responsibility of running a university. This is a sovereign right given by the head of state in any part of the world but retains the power . You have to guard your privilege jealously. Opuda-Asibo urged the university to ensure sustainability of the charter saying getting a charter is like attaining a PhD which one must at all time show that they deserved it.

NCHE expects MMU every after two years, to forward audit reports, benchmark and ensure that the university runs in perpetuity. NCHE director for quality assurance Dr Pamela Tihibikirra said an institution is granted a charter if it fulfills conditions such as having essential physical infrastructure, administrative and technical services, administrative block, lecture rooms, seminar halls, special purpose rooms, library, laboratories, staff houses, among others as per the councils check list for capacity indicators.

This is in addition to qualified academic and administrative staff, bylaws and regulations approved by the governing council of the institution, programmes, curricula, student assessment procedures, examination regulations for initial and future programmes approved that are ratified by NCHE. Tihibikirra said MMU be willing to be inspected and visited whenever the council feels it is necessary after it has obtained a charter.

MMU vice chancellor Prof John M Kasenene pledged to fulfill the conditions of the charter saying this is another step towards improving academic services at all higher education levels.

Without a charter, it became demotivating to the university and our antagonists made it a regular downgrading tool for the highly ranked MMU. So, the university and management had to apply for a charter status as a strategy to among others attract more students especially at post-graduate level, Kasenene said.

He added that being chartered also aimed at forming a firm foundation for government to take over the university as directed by President Museveni on January 8, 2018. He explained that government will this financial year start with remunerating salaries of the university staff before extending to improvement of infrastructure in the next phase and eventually a complete takeover after one year.

According to Kasenene, it took the university one year to accomplish the whole process of charter preparation, application, defense, inspection, vetting and approval by NCHE and eventual submission to government.

The president assented to the MMU acquisition of a charter and endorsed it on December 20, 2018 and later gazetted on March 29, 2018. MMUs charter status brings the total number of private chartered universities to nine.

Others are; Ndejje, Bugema, Nkumba, Bishop Stuart, Kampala University, Uganda Martyrs University, Uganda Christian University and Kampala International University. This leaves more 32 private universities established between 2001 and 2016 still operating with provisional licenses.

Section 97 (3) of the Universities and Other Tertiary Institutions Act (UOTIA) states that a provisional license shall be valid for at least three years from the date of publication in the gazette, within which the NCHE shall be monitoring the university to establish its viability for accreditation.

This means that a provisional license being temporary in nature should not run indefinitely and NCHE can exercise its discretion under section 99 (2) of the same Act and section 5 (g) to instruct any private university to take necessary action.

NCHE head of university affairs Dr Pius Achanga said efforts are being made to engage universities with provisional licenses in August this year.

We have put in a budget proposal to hold like a workshop for the affected universities to let them understand the implications of the law and benefits of having a charter. We want to have a formal discussion with them so that they do things the right way, Achanga said.

nangonzi@observer.ug
Syrian dictator Bashar al-Assad to meet Kim Jong-un in North Korea

International

oi-Shubham

By Shubham

North Korea's state-run Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) on Sunday, June 3 reported that Syrian President Bashar al-Assad has planned to pay a visit to North Korean Supreme Leader Kim Jong-un. It will potentially be a visit by the first head of state to meet the North Korean leader in his own country.

The Syrian leader reportedly revealed his plan about the visit on May 30 as he received the credentials of North Korea's new ambassador to Syria, Mun Jong-nam. The time and purpose of Assad's visit was not clear.

Syria is one of the few countries that has maintained cordial relations with North Korea, a hermit nation, over a considerable time. The two countries had set up their official ties in 1966 and there have been instances when North Korea has stood by the Syrian regime - be it during the 1973 Arab-Israeli war or during the civil war in which Assad has been accused of using chemical weapons against his own people. The United Nations accused North Korea of backing Assad's chemical weapons programme which was slammed by the West and also saw a retaliatory military strike by the US, UK and France in mid-April.

Kim Jong-un has shown a diplomatic opening since the beginning of 2018, engaging with countries like China and South Korea, ahead of his big meeting with US President Donald Trump in Singapore on June 12 - a summit came back on track after getting derailed.

Assad, a vocal critic of the US and West, welcomed the development in the Korean Peninsula and praised Kim over showing "outstanding political calibre" and "wise leadership", the KCNA report said.

The western media views the Syrian leader's engagement with North Korea as a sign of his rising confidence.

The civil war in Syria has gone on for eight years now and with the backing of Russia and Iran, Assad has been successfully in thwarting the West's attempts to derail him all these years and continue to push back the rebels, even if that meant killing his own citizens.

Assad's forces have successfully wrested control of territories once under possession of the rebels and despite the April offensive by the West, has not any sign of bowing down.

Now, his keenness to meet the leader of another country confronted by the West shows his confidence in engaging with other dictators.
Collapse of Kabul will go down as one of the greatest defeats in American history: Donald Trump

Thousands of terrorists might have been airlifted out of Kabul: Trump slams Biden

Never in history has withdrawal from war been handled so badly: Trump

Trump could shoot former FBI director and still get away, Giulianis remark stirs fresh controversy

International

oi-Shubham

By Shubham

Former New York mayor and a member of US President Donald Trump made an explosive remark while speaking to HuffPost in an interview on Sunday, June 3, saying the latter could get away even if he shot a former FBI director in the Oval Office to end the Russia investigation.

Giuliani, 74, said the president's constitutional powers are so broad that he could never be subpoenaed or indicted.

"I don't know how you can indict while he's in office. No matter what it is," Giuliani, who has courted controversies earlier as well, told HuffPost.

He said Trump would be impeached rather than prosecuted if he went on to shoot Former FBI director James Comey to end the ongoing Russia probe instead of sacking him, which he did in May 2017. The two individuals have seen a bitter tussle in the recent times.

Giuliani's remarks were not much different from the argument that Trump's other lawyers Jay Sekulow and former attorney John Dowd, who was replaced by Giuliani in April, presented in January to special counsel Robert Mueller probing the Russia link. In that letter which the New York Times published on Saturday, June 2, the duo claimed that the US president had constitutionally sanctioned powers to "terminate the inquiry, or even exercise his power to pardon if he so desired". Giuliani's remarks came just a day after the NYT revealed the January letter.

Giuliani's remarks came in for ridicule and criticism, nevertheless. White House ethics lawyer under former president Barack Obama Norm Eisen said Giuliani's claims showed their mistaken view about presidential powers, the HuffPost said.

Eisen and other constitutional experts said that the American Constitution doesn't give absolute protection to any president from criminal procedure. No person in the US is above law, they said.

But Trump and his associated have other beliefs to harbour.

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Story first published: Monday, June 4, 2018, 17:00 [IST]
Retired Supreme court judge John Wilson Tsekooko, a man particularly remembered for twice ruling against President Yoweri Museveni in 2001 and 2006 presidential election petitions, has told Baker Batte Lule he is saddened by corruption in the judiciary, and the general state of affairs in Uganda. Read on...

Retired Supreme court judge John Wilson Tsekooko

How is life after retirement?

Retirement means a lot of things. It depends on the situation of an individual. I have heard cases of retirees who planned for retirement by stealing. But I take it in the context of my case that you want to know how I am faring in life after I retired from my job as a judge in the judiciary.

I am leading a normal life. I must say I am surviving. Of course, the general view is that life after retirement depends on how one had planned for retirement. In our culture, plans for good life are interrupted by dependants, particularly if you live in Uganda. All the same I am surviving and fairly busy.

Some senior judicial officers retire here in Uganda and then end up taking on jobs elsewhere. Does that mean we retire them when they are still productive?

It depends on the country where they are applying because sometimes those jobs are advertised and they dont have age limits. If I didnt have a problem with my back, I would have been doing some jobs outside the country.

There are countries that have retirement age specified in the constitution but others are open like Canada, South Africa. In other Commonwealth countries, a person works up to a certain age but retains all the privileges that accrue to a judge. I think there were efforts that were made in Uganda to have certain privileges remain.

What would be the ideal age for retirement?

I think 75 years could be fine, considering the impact of age like backache and lack of concentration.

Some judges have become almost a liability, basing on their questionable rulings and the only thing that can kick them out is age...

According to the constitution, judges are supposed to behave properly; you have to act according to the dictates of the law. If you become undisciplined, then you cant enjoy the benefits of having belonged to a free society. So, the law should stipulate the terms of a judge. Proper conduct for a judge is very important.

Nakifuma MP Kafeero Ssekitooleko proposed extending the retirement age of judges

If I was still a member of parliament, I would probably support it, perhaps with modifications. Generally, I would support it in respect of the judicial officers who exhibited proper judicial conduct while working.

This would ensure that during the period of employment, the officer behaves as required of a proper judicial officer as provided by the constitution, the law and established practice. I believe this is the case in some common law countries. Indeed, in some countries, retiring judicial officers go with full pay and other benefits.

As a former member of the Supreme court who made notable rulings, are you satisfied with the current panel?

Many of those on the bench have not worked with me before; maybe they appeared before me as advocates. So, I cant judge them.

But rumours have it that some judges who are appointed these days have to do things according to the wishes of the appointing authority and this has been seen through decisions, especially those that affect the interest of the appointing authority.

Does that mean that you also dont trust the justice system in Uganda?

Twenty years ago, Ugandas judicial system was the best in common law Africa. I could realise that when I was a student and a state attorney in or around 1970 before I went into exile in Kenya.

In the beginning of the 1990s, I was appointed judge. I worked in the High court for years but from the time I started serving in the court, I had never heard anyone complain about my judgements. Apart from some lawyers and registrars who tried to bribe me but I refused; to them it was a disservice. I could never delay any case even when I was in private practice.

Your reflections on the presidential election petition of 2016 between Amama Mbabazi and Yoweri Museveni...

For reasonable people, you have to reason when you are giving a judgement. You have to understand the facts and then come up with a reasonable judgement. But if you find a fellow who just uses whims other than reason to arrive at a judgement; who imagines that he/she must please the powers that be to arrive at a judgment, then that is not a judgement.

Recently, the Constitutional court in Kenya annulled a presidential election and the drama that followed left a bitter taste. Would you annul an election if satisfied it was below the constitutional standards?

In a presidential petition, there is the law that sets out the standards that judges must follow.

For Uganda, Article, 104(5)c of our Constitution allows the Supreme court of Uganda to annul the election of a president. I participated in the hearing of Presidential Election Petition No. 01 of 2001 and Presidential Electoral Petition No.1 of 2006. My views are in my two judgements. Indeed, I was not alone in wanting to annul.

There are claims that decisions in 2001 and 2006 to uphold those elections were influenced by President Museveni. Can you confirm this?

I heard of whispers in that direction but some of us were known to be too independent to be influenced, not even by threats.

When one is appointed a judge, he/she takes oath and is supposed to live by that oath to uphold the truth. It is those judges who just want to get money and benefits who can make decisions according to the whims of the time or fear, but for me when I was judge, I would make decisions regardless of the consequences.

Reports have found the judiciary to be one of the most corrupt institutions.

I feel very bitter when I hear cases of judicial officers getting involved in soliciting bribes to give judgements in favour of those who give the biggest bribes. I heard of rumours that there are even judges who accept bribes from both sides and in the end that judge gives the judgment to the registrar to read.

I was a state attorney in the DPPs department from December 1968 to December 1974 when I resigned and went in private practice. During that period, I appeared on behalf of the state in all our courts.

From December 1974 and December 1999, except 1977 up to early May 1979 when I was in exile, I appeared in all our courts representing litigants. Since January, 23 1990, I was a judge until I retired a few years ago. I also had an opportunity to supervise certain levels of judicial officers.

On a few occasions before I became a lawyer, while I was a school boy, I read about or heard about our judiciary performance. Criticism of the judiciary has always been there. The quantity and quality of judicial criticism vary depending on the interest or the political or social background of the critic.

In the recent electoral petitions, we saw two MPs facing similar grounds -- one winning and the other losing. Isnt that rather confusing

As Tsekooko, I wouldnt be confused because I know there is confusion among some judicial officers. Normally there are stated facts and the law sets out what should be the requirement for a candidate to contest for elections. If there is a difference in certificates that are presented for nomination, unless there is a very convincing reason, I cannot uphold that election.

Would you support a situation where judges are openly vetted like in Kenya?

Partly yes. However, I would like the public to be properly educated by unbiased persons about this approach. I do not support the sentimental exercise.

What do you make of the recent amendment of the constitution that removed presidential age limits and the drama around it?

I have my personal reservations about it. However, there is a pending decision by the Constitutional court. As a retired judicial officer who should have respect for courts, I reserve my views which I can express after the court delivers its judgment.

Without going into the merits and demerits of the case, what is your comment about the way the hearing of the case was handled?

The normal practice is that when youre a panel, the presiding judge is the one who should ask a few questions, then adjourn and go to the chambers and they discuss quietly and agree on what to do.

However, everyone on the panel can ask questions for clarification but each of you talking openly in the court is not a good practice. But lets wait for the judgment then we can criticise or praise whether this was a good practice or not.

Are you are satisfied with the way the judiciary is working?

Recently, His Lordship the Chief Justice made statements relating to the working of the judiciary. His basic views were published by the press. I must point out that nearly 20 years ago, the judiciary made proposals about improvements. A bill was drafted. That desired law has been a draft bill for many years. One wonders why the government decided not to present the draft bill to parliament for debate.

Maybe government does not want the judiciary to be reasonably independent. That is what the draft bill recommends, among others. Of course there are relevant provisions of the Constitution, the Judicature Act and other laws which show how the judiciary should work. These laws are very clear. But on many occasions, they are not followed.

Are you satisfied with the direction the country is taking?

I must say the Uganda I live in now leaves a lot to be desired; our democracy is suffering by the way things are done.

Other people have not been as generous as you to describe what we have in Uganda as democracy...

Uganda is supposed to be a democracy; that is why you have a number of political parties represented in parliament and their views are expressed. Definitely there are deficiencies here and there.

The other day I heard someone on radio saying the chiefs of the earlier years were doing a better job than our leaders today. I agree with him completely. Those chiefs were supervising the villages effectively, people then had food and their hygiene was better.

As a senior citizen, what advice would you give to our leaders?

Our leaders should be honest and clear on what route they want the country to follow. Exaggeration of achievements should not be encouraged; human rights must be respected and upheld by everybody. Promotion of ethnicity must go away. Telling lies must stop.

bakerbatte@observer.ug
The Jewish community in Uganda, locally known as Abayudaya say they are unbothered by the Israeli government decision not to recognise them.

Last week, Haaretz, an Israeli newspaper carried a story indicating that Israel had ruled not to recognise the Ugandan Jewish community. The paper showed that Israeli's Interior ministry had denied the first and only request of a Ugandan Jew, Kibitz Yosef, to immigrate to Israel under the Law of Return and asked him to leave the county by June 14, 2018.

Abayudaya conducting prayer. Photo: www.richardsobol.com

The same report quoted a government representative, saying the decision represents Israel's stance on the Ugandan Jewish community, not just the applicant in question.



Joab Jonadab Keki, the chair of the council of elders of the Jewish Community in Uganda, says they are not bothered by the decision of the Israeli government not to recognise them because the only recognition they want is from God and not by any state on earth.

"For me, if I am recognised by God, I feel like that would be the best - not for me to be recognised by the state of Israel or any state. For me, I believe that God knows what I am. So if I get a call from God that youre not recognised then that would be hard for me," he said.



Asked what he thinks could have prompted the Israeli government to reject them, Keki pointed to their conversion by Conservative rabbis.



"The jews of Uganda are denied in Israel because their conversion was not made by the Orthodox rabbis, it was made by Conservative rabbis. Aand in Israel, the recognised section is Orthodox and that might be the reason why the Abayudaya Jews of Uganda are not recognised." he said.

He also explained that they don't claim any blood lineage to Israel as it is believed by some people.



"We dont claim of blood lineage, were just converts. So our conversion might have been illegal. That is what I know, but maybe they have other reasons." he added.

However Rabbi Gershom Sizomu wrote on his Facebook page that "We have for the past 99 years been living as Jews in both form and practice and we are not about to change that.

"The Jewish Agency has a partial mandate to determine who qualifies for Aliya [migration to Israel]. The interior ministry will have to justify their disagreement with the JA (Jewish Agency) recognition of the Abayudaya community. The question should be who is a Jew and not who is Jewish enough which the Interior ministry seems to be answering."



The Jewish Agency for Israel recognized the community in 2016 seemingly opening a path for its members to immigrate to Israel. However the decision to give visas and citizenship lies with the Interior ministry.

The Abayudaya community, which is comprised of approximately 2000 members, is led by rabbi Gershom Wambedde, the Bungokho South member of parliament. The group members congregate every Saturday at Nabugoye hill in Namanyonyi sub-county in Mbale district.



The Abayudaaya community split from Christianity led by former colonial chief Semei Kakungulu in the 20th century and started identifying themselves as Jews. According to Hareetz, a rabbinical court sent to Uganda by the Conservative movement in 2002 formally converted most of the 1,500-strong community.
Petrol prices today were slashed by 15 paise in all metro cities - Delhi, Kolkata, Mumbai, and Chennai. This is the sixth straight cut in fuel prices in just a week. Today's petrol price in Delhi is Rs 77.96, in Kolkata Rs 80.60, in Mumbai Rs 85.77, and in Chennai Rs 80.94. Diesel price has also seen a marginal cut of 14 paise to Rs 68.97 in the national capital. Yesterday, petrol price was down by 9 paise. However, diesel price was kept unchanged.

In last six days, petrol price in Delhi has come down by 47 paise from its record high of Rs 78.43 on May 29. Before reducing the prices, oil marketing companies had hiked the fuel cost for 16 consecutive days - from May 13 to May 29, petrol price was raised by Rs 3.8 and diesel by Rs 3.38 per litre.

Sudden hike in petrol and diesel prices was a result of uptick recorded in international crude oil. Indian fuel prices are directly linked to international crude oil that had gone up due to multiple global factors- fear of new US sanction on Iran and short supply. But, here in India the pressure began to mount on the government for not being able to come up with some formula to contain the prices.

The opposition parties are calling for tax - excise and VAT - cut and inclusion of petroleum products under the GST. The Centre does not want to do that for fear of slipping on fiscal deficit target. The Central government levies Rs 19.48 excise duty on a litre of petrol and one rupee cut will result in Rs 13,000 crore loss for the exchequer annually. Last week, Economic Affairs Secretary Subhash Chandra Garg said that the reduction of the excise duty levied on transportation fuel will have corresponding effect on fiscal numbers.

Another option that the government has is to bring the fuel under the GST. But, only few states have taken stand on this options as they fear revenue loss. Their fear could be justified as the maximum tax slab under the new taxation system is Rs 28, whereas the current tax on fuel is somewhere close to 50 per cent. But, even bringing petrol under GST may not reduce the fuel price.

Recently, Bihar Deputy Chief Minister Sushil Kumar Modi said that 'it is a big misconception (among the people) that price of petroleum products will be reduced significantly if they are brought under GST ambit'. He said that under the GST regime, there is a practice across the world which empowers states to impose tax over and above the highest GST tax rate. Even if fuels are brought under new taxation system, the states can still impose taxes to compensate their loss, he suggested.

According to reports, the government is mulling to introduce a windfall tax on oil producers like ONGC as part of a permanent solution. It may ask ONGC to give subsidy to fuel retailers so that they can sell petrol and diesel at below market rates. Union Minister Prakash Javadekar on Saturday said that the central government was working to find a long-term solution to curb the spiralling fuel prices. He also urged the states to come together to help the consumers as they also levy VAT - a request that seems unlikely.
We are interested in buying wood chips to the United Kingdom. But the problem is the shipping cost.
I don't remember any of these difficulties being painted on the side of a bus two years ago.

Government schemes to try to reconcile the impossible conundrum of the UK leaving the single market whilst at the same time maintaining a seamless, tariff-free border between Northern Ireland the Irish Republic, have been coming at us thick and fast in recent weeks.All of them are unworkable, none of them have proved to be acceptable to the EU, whilst many of them have the air of a Heath Robinson contraption, drawn up on the back of a Portcullis House napkin without once consulting with the people charged with making the arrangement work.And so the latest, so-called solution has bit the dust, with The Times reporting that Brexit Secretary, David Davis has conceded that surveillance technology cannot be used to police the Northern Ireland border in a major climbdown that leaves Brexiteers favoured customs plan in disarray.The paper says that pressure from the Police Service of Northern Ireland and concerns over civil liberties mean that a key part of the Brexit secretarys blueprint to deal with the border has had to go back to the drawing board, with a crucial EU summit less than four weeks away:So it is back to the drawing board, with the only other plan being both unworkable and unacceptable to the DUP and most other sane people. This one was possibly designed by Wallace and Gromit and involved Northern Ireland operating a double hatted regime of being subject to EU and British regulations at the same time so it can trade freely with both, and have a ten-mile special economic zone or buffer for local traders.The sooner the UK Government wakes up and realises that the only real solution is to stay within the single market (and the EU) the better.
All members of the board, along with the film distributors, came to a unanimous decision, claiming that Veere Di Wedding has objectionable sexual content and indecent language.

There's no stopping for Veere Di Wedding as it "witnessed an upward trend" on the second day of its release and it's Sunday business is also likely to be in "double digits", reports Bollywood trade analyst Taran Adarsh. "What do you expect from a state that s run by Sharia Laws?", said Swara.

Urwa wrote while tagging Swara in the post, "Need I say more?" "I swear, I have been to London, New York, Istanbul, Paris, every city fails in front of Lahore".

Italy's Political Deadlock Ends With Swearing-In of New Government

The new government has promised tax cuts and new welfare spending, which may not be acceptable to European Union spending rules. Conte himself acknowledged that the populists are a whole new breed that is leaving some wondering what they will be like.

Leeds United sack Heckingbottom as manager

The club's managing director Angus Kinnear admitted he wanted to bring in a "head coach with more experience". Barnsley dropped out of the Championship on the final day of the 2017-18 season.

England beat Pakistan by innings and 55 runs in 2nd Test

In Stokes' absence, Sam Billings has been added to England's squad for the early part of the ODI series against Australia. Anderson used favourable bowling conditions effectively with his twin strikes before lunch as Pakistan wobbled at 48-3.

In a video clip circulating on social media, the 30-year-old Indian actor was seen voicing out her opinions about the ban on her film in Pakistan, stating: "And why should we hold Pakistan, a failing state as a measure of self-worth?" Interestingly, in her interview with the Pakistani channel, she categorically praised Pakistan's day-to-day vocabulary.

"Members of the board have unanimously made a decision to not allow the film for public exhibition in the cinemas as per Censorship of Film Code 1980", CBFC Chairman Danyal Gilani said to Dawn Images.
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
In the week ending 01 June, 2018, Hedge funds may be gaining favour with institutional investors, like endowments and foundations, a poll by NEPC of asset allocators showed. Over 80% of investors expect the increase in volatility to last a year or more and thus have longer term impacts. According to the respondents, hedge funds were the alternative investment best positioned to take advantage of these more volatile markets.

The University of Montana Foundation has invested more than $30m in offshore hedge funds and private equity firms.

In performance, merger arbitrage strategy recovered in May along with the tightening of deal spreads; Field Street Capital has extended losses for May to 50% from wagers on Italian debt; Brevan Howard Asset flagship hedge fund, the Brevan Howard Master Fund gained 4.45% through May 25; and Vulpes Life Sciences Class A returned 80% for investors, with just two stocks.

The four biggest hedge fund launches of 2018 have attracted more than $17bn in new assets, according to figures compiled by the FT; Blackstone Group LP has an enticing pitch for the ultra-wealthy: Invest in hedge funds and avoid paying taxes forever; Anthony Scaramucci is close to landing a $30 million investment from the Korean Teacher's Credit Union; a rebound in returns drove up the earnings of hedge fund manager......................

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Witnesses say Israeli soldiers shot dead 21-year-old Palestinian medic Razan al-Najjar as she ran toward the border fence to provide medical aid to a wounded protester. Since nonviolent protests began at the end of March, Israeli soldiers have killed at least 119 people, including 14 children. More than 13,000 have been wounded. "It was clear to everybody that she was a paramedic, that that was murder. I mean, that was a crime committed before cameras," said Dr. Medhat Abbas, director of Al-Shifa Hospital, the largest medical facility in the Gaza Strip.

We also speak with Najjar's cousin, Dalia al-Najjar, who says the response of the international community to the Gaza crisis has been "really disappointing," and notes the U.S. vetoed a draft U.N. resolution urging the protection of Palestinians on Friday, the same day Najjar was killed. "It's a shameful side that the United States decided to take."

This is a rush transcript. Copy may not be in its final form.

AMY GOODMAN: We begin today in Gaza, where thousands attended a funeral Saturday for 21-year-old Palestinian volunteer medic Razan al-Najjar. Witnesses say she was shot dead Friday by Israeli soldiers as she ran toward the border fence to provide medical aid to a wounded protester.

This is a description of the attack from James Heenan, head of the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights in the Occupied Palestinian Territory: quote, "Reports indicate that Razan was assisting injured demonstrators and wearing her first responder clothing, clearly distinguishing her as a healthcare worker even from a distance. Reports suggest that she was shot about 100 meters from the fence. Under international human rights law, which applies in this context along with international humanitarian law, lethal force may only be used as a last resort and when there is an imminent threat of death or serious injury. It is very difficult to see how Razan posed such a threat to heavily-armed, well-protected Israeli forces in defensive positions on the other side of the fence," Heenan said.

Najjar was taken to a hospital, where she died from her injuries. Her mother held her daughter's blood-stained medical vest as she spoke with reporters and demanded justice.

SABREEN AL-NAJJAR: [translated] The whole world saw what happened to my daughter, and I call for international protection. Where is this international protection? Where are the human rights? How was my daughter a threat? What was her weapon? This is her weapon, this medical equipment. This is my daughter's weapon. This is what she was resisting with. On what basis did the soldier kill her? She has been targeted since the first day of protest. So many times she has survived death. She would come through and tell me what she went through. May God account every person who is silent about this.

AMY GOODMAN: In total, the Israeli military has killed at least 119 Palestinians, wounded more than 13,000 more, as part of the brutal crackdown against the Palestinians' ongoing nonviolent Great March of Return protest demanding an end to the Israeli occupation. The Israeli military says its troops worked, quote, "in accordance with standard operating procedures," unquote, but said Saturday it would investigate her death.

A volunteer ambulance worker told the Associated Press he and Najjar were planning to announce their engagement at the end of Ramadan.

Meanwhile, Friday, the United States vetoed a U.N. Security Council resolution that would have condemned Israel's, quote, "excessive, disproportionate and indiscriminate force," unquote, against Palestinians. The U.S. ambassador to the U.N., Nikki Haley, said the resolution was "one-sided."

On Sunday, Israeli air forces fired at Hamas sites in Gaza, after they said militants fired rockets at Israel. Also Sunday, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu tweeted he had reduced the tax funds shared with Palestinians in order to compensate Israelis living near the Gaza Strip who say their property was damaged by fires caused by kites rigged with incendiary devices or attached to burning rags.

Well, in a minute, we'll go to Gaza. But first we want to turn to Razan al-Najjar in her own words. This is an excerpt from her interview with The New York Times, when she said Gaza needed more female medics like herself.

RAZAN AL-NAJJAR: [translated] Being a medic is not only a job for a man. It's for women, too. Sometimes the injured are women. Who will treat them? Yes, a man can. But we have a big role here. We have one goal: to save lives and evacuate people. And to send a message to the world: Without weapons, we can do anything. ...

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Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross abruptly dropped out of a TCG sponsored Heritage Foundation event

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On May 23 Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross skipped out of a Heritage Foundation event sponsored by Taiwan Civil Government. Ross was to talk about trade between the People's Republic of China and the United States along with other topics. Ross dropped out just minutes before the morning event leaving the moderator to speculate there must have been a schedule conflict. More likely, Ross was tipped off the leadership of Taiwan Civil Government had been arrested for political fraud by the exiled Republic of China.

The arrests of Roger and Julian Lin and others in Taiwan last month did cause the cancellation of a TCG sponsored Roll Call Live event the same day featuring two Congressmen. Roll Call Live CEO Meg Hargeaves refuses to name the two Representatives although it is likely one was a Democrat and the other a Republican.

The Heritage Foundation did go ahead with its event despite the sudden absence of Secretary Ross. Republican Senator Ben Sasse of Nebraska and Democrat Joe Manchin of West Virginia both took turns on a stage backdropped with the TCG sponsor's logo.

The reach of Roger Lin, founder of TCG, now held without bail, incommunicado and in solitary confinement, all the way to the Trump White House to snag a Cabinet member for an event is remarkable. The high-level access suggests that Lin had developed a sophisticated lobbying operation. Although Lin and his wife Julian are accused of swindling supporters with bogus claims about the status and future of Taiwan the group had been spending considerable sums of money to depose the ruling ROC government.

Taiwan's status, often described as a strategic ambiguity, has been unresolved for seven decades since the end of World War II when the United States installed the Republic of China as a caretaker regime. In a federal lawsuit Roger Lin v. United States over access to passports, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia called the people of Taiwan stateless and living in "political purgatory."

ROC prosecutors are attempting to portray the TCG as a kooky group with crackpot theories and false claims of US support. However, the money spent by Lin in Washington on litigation and lobbying has bought a level of respectability and recognition enjoyed by few Taiwanese advocacy groups. The alleged bogus claims of the group are actually tight legal arguments about America's responsibility for Taiwan's lack of international recognition. The seemingly over-the-top activities of the group with its own flag, paramilitary group, identification cards and vanity license plates, parades, rallies and training events more resemble a government in-waiting than an elaborate hoax.

Roger Lin and his TCG group have long been dogged with rumors of a connection to the Central Intelligence Agency, rumors Lin would not deny or confirm. The pro-American slant of the group adds to the speculations. If Taiwan Civil Government has any more Cabinet level sponsored events in the pipeline perhaps Lin could get the Director of the CIA as a back-up in case Secretary Ross cancels again.
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PHL BusResume54 982911 | CBPO Christopher Cornielle admits a. | Flickr1024 -- 723 - 402k - jpg

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My wife Joyce and I came home last week from a three-week trip to Manila in the Philippines, and to Hong Kong and Beijing in China.

Even though Philippines President Rodrigo Dutarte has an ongoing program of murdering drug dealers on the streets, and China has a penchant for locking up critics of the regime -- even Nobel Laureates -- and beating up and arresting journalists, there was only one place on that jaunt where I personally felt like I was entering a police state at the immigration checkpoint: the USA.

At the Manila airport, the woman checking our passports was polite and friendly... and unarmed. She examined our passports matching the photos to our faces, stamped them, asked how long we were staying and returned them to us, wishing us a good stay.

In Hong Kong the process was typically swift and efficient, even when the officer, also unarmed, asked about Joyce's work visa, which had an eight-day expiration (she was performing a harpsichord concert for a fee at the government radio station RTHK).

At the Beijing International Airport, where we were entering a full-blown police state, there were fingerprints and photos taken by an immigration officer who was professional, but friendly enough... and unarmed.

But when we got home and back to US immigration after landing at Newark , the scene was altogether different. Every immigration agent had a sidearm as well as a taser on her or his belt. Signs everywhere said phone, cellphone and computer use while in the interminable lines was barred, and hostile-sounding loudmouthed immigration officers were quick to scold anyone who violated that rule by trying to call some relative or friend waiting in the greeting area or to snap a pic of someone with them in line.

If nothing else there is an enormous amount of waste going on in at US border crossings. The INS, a division of Homeland Security, doesn't need a person trained in policing and weapons tactics to check someone's travel documents. All they need is what most countries have at their entry points: a bunch of polite people skilled at scrutinizing travel documents, and then a few people doing guard duty who maybe should be armed, at least with non-lethal weapons (the notion of officers firing their revolvers in a crowded immigration hall is, let's agree, pretty horrifying!).

Guns really don't belong in an airport immigration area at all (in fact, tellingly, when you see them being worn by passport control personnel, it's usually in a police state). I mean, really, think about it. If there is one place that you shouldn't have to worry about someone pulling out a weapon, gun or knife or anything scarier than a nail-clipper, it would be an immigration hall full of people who have already gone through at least one airport security check"...

(Article changed on June 3, 2018 at 23:49)
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My guest today is Ted Dintersmith, venture capitalist, education philanthropist and author of What School Could Be: Insights and Inspiration from Teachers Across America.



Cover art for 'What School Could Be'

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Joan Brunwasser: Welcome to OpEdNews, Ted. I had the pleasure of hearing you speak at a recent *lecture. You could also be described as a revolutionary, at least where education is concerned. What turned you into an activist?

Ted Dintersmith: It was the confluence (an SAT word!) of two perspectives. First, machine intelligence is advancing at an accelerating pace. Within a decade or so, there won't be any routine jobs left in the economy. And it poses enormous complications to responsible, informed citizenship. Second, in most of our schools, a student will make the Honor Roll by excelling at memorizing content, replicating low-level procedures, and following instructions -- the exact sweet spot of machine intelligence. In a very real way, our education system is preparing our children to fail in a world of innovation. And it doesn't have to be this way. Once I concluded that we can, and absolutely need to, reimagine school to empower our kids to thrive in their futures, I was compelled to dedicate my life and much of my money to this cause.

This shift happened gradually, then suddenly. Many of these issues had perplexed me during my career in venture capital. We were backing start-ups that were going to restructure entire industries and, in the process, eliminate lots of jobs. And I saw far too many academic superstars flounder when faced with the ambiguity and real risk of failure in the innovation economy. But it really crystallized for me about a decade ago when my kids were in middle school. I got a note from the school about a brown bag lunch for parents on a brand new initiative to teach students important life skills.

That got my attention, and led to my beginning to reflect on what school is all about. Why a new program to prepare kids for life? Isn't that the core mission of school?? As I dove into this fundamental issue, I reached the conclusion that, for the most part in the U.S. today, the purpose of school is to prepare kids for standardized tests and college applications -- not for life. Worse, when you really examine what goes on with our kids in school, it actually impairs their life prospects in the world of innovation -- by diminishing their curiosity, audacity, and creativity. Absent profound change, millions of kids -- rich, poor, and in between -- are at risk. So much so that the health of our democracy is on the line. That strikes me as a cause worth fighting for.

JB: Agreed. You feel so strongly about this that you dedicated an entire academic year to looking more closely at schools across the country and then analyzing what you observed. Tell us about that, please.

TD: During the entire 2015-2016 school year, I traveled pretty much non-stop, going to all fifty states, visiting 200 schools, and convening 1,000 meetings. To say it was an intense immersion is a bit of an understatement. But so many non-educators weigh in on education without doing much homework -- and I didn't want to make that mistake. For most of the trip, I had no thought of writing a book about the experience. But by the end, I had seen so many remarkable classroom innovations, and met so many inspiring teachers, that I just had to convey what I observed. The result is What School Could Be: Insights and Inspiration from Teachers Across America. Demand has been so high that the initial print run sold out in just a few weeks and we're now in the second printing. It's an uplifting look at what's going right in our schools, and what conditions foster the innovations leading to these compelling learning experiences. We now have a great discussion guide to accompany the book, and are getting lots of interest from schools and districts to use the book as a summer reading resource.

JB: That's exciting! How did you decide where to go, who to speak with and what to look for? And did that change as the year progressed?

TD: The honest truth is that I didn't give myself much lead time before deciding to do this trip. In late July, 2015, I was on the phone with Greg Tehven, who runs a venture incubator in Fargo, North Dakota. He had some questions for me about venture capital, than asked me what I'm spending time on. As I was describing my interest in education, he stopped me mid-sentence and said, "Hey, can you be here in six days and give a talk at TEDx Fargo? Someone just canceled and I think people here would be interested in what you have to say." So, I canceled a trip to New York, pulled together my talk, and flew to Fargo. On the way, I thought, "Gee, it will be fun to go someplace and talk about education," which led me to decide to go to all fifty states -- which I announced in that TEDx Talk .

After committing to going to all fifty states, I then had to figure out how the heck I'd do it. I talked about the trip to Greg Whiteley, who directed Most Likely to Succeed. He had also directed the documentary on Mitt Romney-- Mitt -- and knew Romney's advance campaign planning team. So I talked to them and they were up for pitching in. The advantage for me was that every day of the nine months was cram-jammed with meetings from breakfast to late evening, with the most interesting set of people and schools.

It really made this immersive trip remarkably productive, and gave me a chance to see and meet so many involved with education. I met with governors, state legislators, commissioners of education, school boards, parents, students, and teachers -- in all sorts of settings. It was so, so interesting. And of all the people I met, I was blown away by our teachers. So many brought such passion and dedication to their profession. And many a time I'd meet with teachers in tears over the anguish they feel in navigating damaging policies.

As the trip evolved, we got more and more adventurous in trying to set up unusual meetings. We pushed the envelope and covered places most people never visit -- tribal villages, lots of rural communities, native American reservations, urban, suburban. The full landscape of American education, including places most people don't even think of as school.

So in writing What School Could Be, I had so many great experiences to draw on. The challenge was distilling them down to a manageable number and presenting them in a compelling way.



Ted Dintersmith

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JB: Clearly, you're an impulsive guy. All this from one invitation! How did you know what you would find in the various places? Especially since you didn't have a long time to investigate ahead of your trip. I guess what I'm asking is, how does one seek innovation? How did you know who were the right people to talk to, to connect with? It's the nitty gritty here that makes all the difference: the innovative teacher, or school, or project, or just same old, same old. Can you flesh this out a bit, please?

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sikhs

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The other day I saw a distinguished looking gentleman in a turban which was covering his long flowing dark hair. I realized that the man was a member of the Sikh religion. All that I knew about this ethnic group was that they were usually from India, that they were often erroneously identified as Muslims and, most of all, that they were known to be ethical and tolerant of others people's beliefs. After some research, I found that Sikhism, unlike some of our more primitive Judaeo-Christian sects, was originally based on the concept of a "divine unity" and a sense of human equality, that is social justice and a quest for the welfare and prosperity of all men and women. Ironically, Sikhs, so often confused with Muslims, were actually severely oppressed in the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries by "Mughal" Muslims in an attempt to convert the Sikhs to Islam.

Sikhism is a "monotheistic" religion with the concept of a "shapeless, timeless, formless" God, similar to the Buddha's or Spinoza's concept of a unified, pantheistic spirit. As the primary Sikh philosopher/prophet, Guru Nanak explained, the "Spirit of God" pervades everything and ties everything together into "one unity." Thus the ultimate goal of the individual is to study and understand and thereby unite with this spirit thus transcending the problems of the bodily existence. While Sikhism is a distinct religion and Sikhs are defined by their allegiance to their Gurus and to various idiosyncrasies such as not cutting their hair and to baptismal purification, they do not claim to have a monopoly on "truths," believing that members of other religions, practicing ethical behavior and meditation can achieve this "truth" of "oneness of spirit." Ironically, this concept of uniting with the spirit of God was also advanced in the second and third centuries by many gnostic Christians who believed that through study and meditation, and finally through understanding, that the Human Jesus became a part of God, in fact, finally making God "perfect." Utterly intolerant and threatened by these ideas, it took the early Church Fathers hundreds of years to finally eradicate these concepts from their religion and to destroy as much gnostic literature as possible.

"Thus Spake Zarathustra"

While most of us know very little about Zarathustra, founder of Zoroastrianism, we may have heard the phrase "Thus spake Zarathustra" attached to this brilliant and magnificent Persian law giver and social reformer. We are not certain, but he may have lived as far back as 1700 bce. That is well before Heraclitus and Pythagoras, the ingenious Greek philosophers who introduced the concepts of unified spirit and probably the concept of "the soul" to Western civilization. Apparently, however, their formidable ideas were rooted in the teachings of Zarathustra. His "Gatas," extolling Ahura Mazda ("Goodness" or "The Wise Spirit") as opposed to Angra Mainyu ("The Hostile Spirit") and Asha (truth) vs. Druj (untruth), along with his battle against social injustice and for a monotheistic God clearly seem to represent the forerunner of the Abrahamic religions which leads me to the overriding theme of this article.

Zarathustra and many other non Islamic philosophers and prophets are either mentioned in the Quran or by tradition were revered as prophets and sages in the early stages of Islam. Their associated religions were tolerated (though perhaps penalized with special taxes for not converting to Islam) during the ascendancy and most successful periods of Islamic rule. In fact, one could argue that the gradual erosion and usurpation of Muslim rule by radicals has led to or contributed drastically to the precipitous decline of most Muslim peoples into what its essentially a "third world" ethnic group, with the occasional opportunity to reveal their underlying brilliance when otherwise exposed to a free society.

Thus, the religious and social intolerance, as well as the reversion of so much of Muslim society to the primitive pre Muhammad and even pre Zoroastrian blatant intolerance of free thought has thus far brought a once proud and brilliant society to its knees. Remember that as the Holy Roman Empire was so busily trying to destroy virtually all of human knowledge (the same type of prevailing evil that that ended the lives of Zarathustra, Socrates, and so many others and would later condemn Sikh Gurus to death), the Moors were busy trying to save that knowledge by supporting the greatest scholars of the era, no matter what their religion.

The pertinent question is, given the stark intolerance of anyone else's social and religious values and even their basic human needs, their censorship of scientific facts and total disdain for the actual context of even the simplest issue so replete among the members of the "Freedom Carcass" and the Trump administration, how is this any different than what led to the demise of the once proud "Islamic Empire?" And, is it also just a coincidence that the Roman Empire, once famous for its religious tolerance and reverence for knowledge, began its gradual decline as it became more and more intolerant of native social and religious customs? Is it just a coincidence that what followed was perhaps the longest period of utter ignorance and intolerance thus far in the history of mankind???

Are we now headed for the same path to oblivion?

I believe that a very strong case can be made that while religious and radical political extremists of various persuasions, if peaceful, can in many ways, continue to be a vital and beneficial part of society, they cannot be permitted to foist their views on an entire civilization- views often out of context with reality, common decency, including the blatant denial of the actual life and death problems that so many Americans face every day. Intolerance and authoritarian concepts have toppled civilization after civilization. Let us not permit the "Freedom Carcass" to lead us into their inevitable "Zombie Apocalypse" and the ultimate destruction of what has thus far been the most successful but hopefully unfinished experiment in the fight against intolerance. Can we really afford to leave this country's fate in the hands of a group of primitive superstitious twits who actually pray every day for the "end times" and the deaths of all those souls with whom they disagree?

Al Finkelstein, 5/27/18
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"Beverly Peachface danced the hoochie coo in Walla Walla."

This was the first line of Ricky Dick's first novel. It was published in 1971. There were over three hundred thousand copies sold. It was not a very good novel.

The theory that critics of the book put forth was that because a photograph of a young concert goer at a Grateful Dead Concert reading it amidst all of the marijuana smoke and ecstatic dancing was published in Life Magazine, it became popular with the young, hippie crowd. Which probably was somewhat instrumental in its success. However, the true boost it received was when an ex-girlfriend of Frank Zappa took a photo of him sitting in a Porta Potty reading it before a concert in Queens, New York.

There's a passage in the sixth chapter, "Angel dropped the 45, rolled his tongue across his three remaining loose teeth, took his foot off of Donna's filthy macrame purse and said, "Baby, I don't care anymore, I ain't gonna kill ya. I'm going back to Montana. Gonna take up farming like my Pa. Anyway, there's more dental floss up there than you got brains. I'll write your name in the snow sometime and it won't be with my finger..."From "Murder at The Ricky Dick Steakhouse" By Franklin Cincinnatus

MY buddy, Richard, came by this morning. We talked about the state of things in the country. He started sweating. I was turning red and my left arm was hurting-- I had already taken my blood pressure medicine but the dose was obviously too small. Richard looked as if he needed to run and hide in Hitler's bunker -- since he wasn't using it anymore. Fortunately we chose to talk about dental floss instead...
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From No More Fake News

Big media attacks "fake news." Independent reporters rightly point the finger at big media as the predominant purveyor of fake news.

Here I want to comment on one of the most devious forms of MSM fake news: the limited hangout.

When necessary, news outlets will do a PARTIAL EXPOSURE of a hidden crime. The assumption is, once the story is published and broadcast, everyone will shake their heads and say, "That's terrible," and move on. The whole thing will be forgotten in a matter of days, as if the whole truth has been revealed.

Limited hangout.

From media's point of view, a limited hangout means: "We won't do any further digging. We'll shut down further investigation." Vital questions won't be asked:

Why did the criminals do what they did? Why are they still at large? Who is refusing to press charges and make arrests? What deeper crimes are still secret?

The mainstream press could set their hounds loose and build a story into a huge wave. Over time, they could bring hidden players out into the open and expose them and wring confessions out of them. They could get some of these players to roll over and point to higher-level criminals. The story could achieve tsunami status, at which point the government would have to make arrests and lay on trials in open courtrooms.

But that doesn't happen. Limited hangout rules the day.

I'm going to present a story about a crime now. It's big. Very big. It was covered, to a degree, by the mainstream press. The coverage seemed to be significant. But it was a limited hangout.

As you read on, imagine what might have happened if the press had decided to go in with guns blazing and investigate all the way, over a period of months, releasing new revelations as they discovered them. Imagine the repercussions. Imagine the public outcry. Instead of a limited hangout, we would have seen...well, I'll leave it to you to fill in the blanks.

In 1975, the US signed on to an international treaty banning the production, use, and stockpiling of biological weapons. Ditto for chemical weapons, in 1993. Another treaty.

Here's a quote from the Washington Post (9/4/13, "When the US looked the other way on chemical weapons"): "...The administrations of Ronald Reagan and George H.W. Bush authorized the sale to Iraq of numerous items...including poisonous chemicals and deadly biological viruses, such as anthrax and bubonic plague..."

Between 1985 and 1989, a US 501C3 firm, American Type Culture Collection, sent Iraq up to 70 shipments of various biowar agents, including 21 strains of anthrax.

Between 1984 and 1989, the CDC (Centers for Disease Control!) sent Iraq at least 80 different biowar agents, including botulinum toxoid, dengue virus, and West Nile antigen and antibody.

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Any Canadian who still thinks that our Regime Change efforts against Syria are bringing democracy, freedom, or anything beneficial to Syrians or anyone else is certainly not trying to find the truth.

All Canadians who understand the truth about this Western-imposed catastrophe must do more to stop it. Our passivity is shameful.

Canadian politicians will not help us. In Canada, the Permanent state rules. Corporate predatory globalism with its Investor State Dispute Mechanisms and its hidden, anti-social, job-destroying agendas is the real Regime. Terrorist-supporting politicians are mere fronts, consent is fabricated by News Fabricator Monopolies which are part of the permanent government. Journalists have lost all credibility in matters of importance. Democracy died. The word itself has been weaponized to fabricate consent for criminal wars and toxic corporate monopoly agendas. Monopolies include Big Oil, Big Pharma, Big Media, Big Food/agribusiness, Military Industrial Complex, International Finance etc. We are basically a treatied sub-state, a vassal state.

Policies come first, and then propaganda is fixed around them. It happened during previous wars, and it is happening now.

The regime change war against Syria and the propaganda wrapped around our government's criminality is a case in point. The War on Terror is simply a false front to disguise imperial conquest and our longstanding support for proxy terrorists -- the same ones that our government and its agencies publicly proclaim to be fighting.

Testimonies from Syrians in liberated areas consistently contradict controlled media and government lies about the war.

As decent citizens, all we can do is support the truth, amplify the truth, and denounce our governments' imperial policies, all of which are wrapped in lies.

Supporting one or another of the main political parties and engaging in identity politics will guarantee more of the same. Anti-war/anti-Imperial protests, on the other hand, will legitimately address all "identity" issues under one banner.

Protests should be grass roots and free from all corporate and "NGO" tentacles. Otherwise they are invariably co-opted by their funders.

Ascendancy of The Lie. US-NATO War on Syria Presented as a "Humanitarian Undertaking"

As Prof Chossudovsky notes in "Rockefeller, Ford Foundations Behind World Social Forum (WSF). The Corporate Funding of Social Activism" for example,

"" a Montreal WSF 2016 event on Syria refers to a country 'in ruins as a result of a multifaceted war between the dictatorship of Bashar al Assad and a host of opposition organizations,' echoing almost verbatim the narrative of the mainstream media. The central role of US-NATO in destroying Syria as a sovereign country is not mentioned."

A World Social Forum that promotes criminal war propaganda and supreme international crimes is clearly an agency for the imperialists, and not for anything progressive or socially-oriented. It is an icon of the co-optation of the "Left" and "Progressives".

Our governments and their agencies are responsible for these wars. It is up to us, as decent citizens, to denounce them.

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HuffPost columnist Neil J. Young wrote an article titled "The Religious Right's True Colors" where he eviscerates Franklin Graham. He starts as follows.

Franklin Graham is on a crusade across California. But unlike his father, Billy, who launched his career as the world's most famous evangelist in Los Angeles and held numerous revivals across the state through the decades, Franklin has not come to California to win souls to Christ. Instead, he's looking for voters he can deliver to the Republican Party.

Young did not mince his words.

Manipulating religion in service of the Republican Party, and especially Trump, now appears to be exactly Franklin Graham's project. In regular appearances on Fox News and now on his tour across California, Graham has fanned the flames of white evangelical resentment and outrage. Such a dark and alarmist vision might seem to contradict the hopeful joy evangelicals claim their faith provides, but it aligns perfectly with the cynical and conspiratorial worldview Trump has brought to the center of American politics. As such, white evangelicals' support for Trump doesn't expose their hypocrisy, as plenty have contended, so much as it plainly reveals their heart. In other ways, Graham's California campaign mirrors the isolationist retreat that Trump has carried out with his foreign policy. Rather than reaching out to other conservative Christians, like Mormons and Catholics, as the early architects of the Religious Right often did, Graham's efforts focus solely on evangelicals. That's an unusual political strategy given how important coalitions are to electoral successes in the United States, but it's a tactic that plays directly into the growing separatist sentiment among many white evangelicals.

Some winnable congressional races in California are at a tipping point. The presence of an organized Evangelical Right presence could make a difference in places like Orange County.

There is a pathology to the behavior of the Evangelical Right. Recently I interviewed Dr. Hollis Phelps , Assistant Professor of Interdisciplinary Studies at Mercer University in Macon Georgia. His analysis was spot on and is one that Democrats and Progressives must heed to beat this indoctrination.
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Rising anger against the seemingly omnipotent power of corporations to dictate nearly every aspect of society has yielded predictable pushback from corporations and their minions (i.e. human, not small yellow creatures) in government. Laws against mass protests and stronger regulatory protections and increasing corporate SLAPP lawsuits to silence critics are just a few examples.

Not as predictable has been pushback against efforts to reassert control over corporations to protect people, communities and the environment by those across the political spectrum, including many "progressives." This pushback has most clearly targeted the movement to abolish all corporate constitutional rights through a constitutional amendment led by Move to Amend.

What's going on? Why do so many individuals who acknowledge major harms by entrenched corporate power advocate only relatively minor solutions.

Among the voices who recognize serious corporate harms but oppose ending all corporate constitional rights is UCLA Law Professor Adam Winkler. His new book, We the Corporations: How American Businesses Won Their Civil Rights, reflects this divergence.

Winkler's historical account of how corporations came to acquire constitutional rights of people is helpful, especially if it reaches new audiences. It's not, however, a new narrative.

Groups like the Program on Corporations, Law & Democracy, Women's International League for Peace & Freedom, Community Environmental Legal Defense Fund and Move to Amend -- as well as authors like Thom Hartmann in his book Unequal Protection: How Corporations Became 'People' and How You Can Fight Back, revealed years earlier how corporations were strictly defined by We the People through elected representatives by separately granted and revoked corporate charters and later general incorporation acts. Sovereign people were in charge of their subordinate legal creations with corporations only possessing privileges. Constitutional rights, including the Bill of Rights, were originally intended solely for human beings -- albeit, at first, only to white, male, property owners.

Increased opposition to ending all corporate constitutional rights has focused on several major concerns -- presented below with a response.

Fears the corporate press and property would be legally defenseless against random government censor and seizure

What gives the press its freedom to speak, however, is the 1st Amendment freedom of the press, not any corporate constitutional right as articulated in several Supreme Court decisions. Similarly, random government seizure of corporate property would violate the 14th Amendment due process rights of the human shareholders of corporate property.

Corporations need legal "rights" / protections to function

Corporate constitutional rights are different than corporate statutory "rights," yet are used interchangeably by activists and organizers, even attorneys. Corporations do possess legal protections or "rights," created by statute passed by legislatures. State and federal statutes provide corporations important provisions, such as the power to sue and be sued. Constitutional rights are not required for the existence of such provisions.

Reversing Citizens United and/or ending the influence of the wealthy and corporations in elections should be our only focus

Our nation's lack of authentic self-governance predates Citizens United and even the Court decision equated political money as equivalent to free speech. Money spent in elections shielded by First Amendment "free speech" rights is simply one way corporate entities have overruled public policies. Corporations have been granted and subsequently abused other constitutional rights and provisions to hijack democratic self-determination. Even other parts of the First Amendment (i.e. the right not to speak and religious rights) have prevented communities from knowing what poisons are in their food and resulted in the Hobby Lobby decision denying contraceptive coverage to employees. Merely ending First Amendment political free speech rights would allow corporations to return to misusing and abusing other granted constitutional rights -- and likely to concoct new ones.

Abolishing all corporate constitutional rights in this political environment is not realistic

No meaningful change is realistic in the current political environment. That's why Move to Amend is building a movement to change the political landscape. The real question is this: given the rising awareness of the destructive and oppressive influence of corporate rule and the increased mobilization of women, young people, people color victimized by police killings and so many others, is creating a large and diverse enough grassroots democracy movement to force fundamental change for justice and democracy at all possible without including abolishing corporate constitutional rights?

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From To The Point Analyses

The United States is at war with itself. It is actually a function of the nation's heritage -- the past contesting specific aspects of a modern present. This results in traditions in flux. Some examples of this are the racism, the pseudo-frontier mentality, and the religious fundamentalism that persist into the present moment. These are traditions that characterized the first half of the nation's history, and while some of these may have retreated into latency over the past 50 years, they are back with us now. As a result, Americans are in the midst of an ongoing culture war that, in many ways, is as old as the nation itself.

(2) In the South, this deeply embedded culture of racism was briefly interrupted when, following the Civil War, a short period of "Reconstruction" (1865 to 1877) took place. During this time a U.S. military occupation of the conquered Confederacy suppressed most racist laws. The main reason for this was political and not social. Under the North's occupation regime Blacks were recognized as citizens and could vote. Doing so, they of course supported the party of Abraham Lincoln. This helped the abolitionist Republicans maintain control of Congress. Reconstruction lasted only as long as did the dominance of the abolitionist faction. That ended in 1877.

In that year the U.S. army was withdrawn from the southern states. Almost immediately there was a region-wide reversion to a racially dictated way of life wherein the oppression of slavery was replaced with a variety of "Jim Crow" laws legitimizing segregation and all manner of discrimination against Black Americans.

(3) This state of affairs lasted close to another 100 years, until the 1960s, when a massive movement of civil disobedience known as the Civil Rights Movement, finally led to the outlawing of racist practices in both the South and the North within the public sphere -- for instance, hotels, bars, public schools, shopping centers, hotels and the like. It also discouraged the public display of racist attitudes. I emphasize the public sphere because, at the time of the passage of national civil rights legislation, little was done to change racist perceptions and behavior within the private sphere. For instance, no effort was made to mandate the teaching of tolerance in the public schools so as to better erode private racist perceptions. The private sphere was left to itself.

(4) Thus, until 1965, with only a hiatus of 12 years following the Civil War (the effects of which were felt mostly in the South), U.S. law validated racial discrimination and segregation as a guide to acceptable citizen's views and behavior. Against this 200-plus years of cultural shaping we can put the last 50-plus years of limited counter-shaping of the public sphere. Given the protracted period that an overt culture of racism was allowed to work on the American mind, it can be argued that 50 years (approximately two generations) of public sector law is not enough time for the message that racial prejudice is wrong to be fully assimilated in the private lives of citizens.

(5) As a result there has developed an unstable cultural scenario wherein white Americans are begrudgingly accepting of racial mixing in public spaces, as well as the workplace. Privately, however, many are less tolerant and continue to resist such levels of intimacy as racially mixed friendship circles, neighborhoods, or intermarriage.

This continuing divide becomes even more complicated in the U.S. South. A quarter of the U.S. white population identifies themselves as southerners, and of those an active subgroup have never reconciled to the notion of colorblind civil rights. This subgroup has never given up a sentimental loyalty to Confederate Civil War heroes and symbols (the Confederate flag, for instance). These have become signs of resistance to federal hegemony and emblems of identity which, in some cases, are stronger than those representing the U.S. as a nation.

Part II -- Other Aspects of the Cultural Civil War

Racism is a major theme in the nation's ongoing cultural civil war, but it is not the only one. Another is the fight over gun laws, which presently are inadequate to provide for public safety.

The myth of the rugged, and armed, individual is actually a product of the television and movie distortion of the history of the "old West." It wasn't really a place of heroes who valued "freedom." Until it was "tamed" by law and regulation, It was a place of murder and mayhem. Predictably, today's effort to replicate the frontier myth of rugged individualism through promoting an armed and largely unregulated citizenry has resulted, not in freedom, but in a resurgence of murder and mayhem.

Religion: Finally, we should note the survival of 19th century-style of Christian fundamentalism. While this certainly does not include all U.S. Christians, it is the case that millions of Americans still adhere to the "faith of their fathers" in a fashion that encourages social inequality and undermines the secular nature of the state. It is also a faith riddled with racial and gender bigotry, self-righteous egocentrism, and shameful hypocrisy.

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This article originally appeared at TomDispatch.com.

Remember Donald Trump's magical plan to turn $200 billion in federal money... hey, presto!... into $1.5 trillion in investment in America's aging, underfunded infrastructure (to which the American Society of Civil Engineers gave a grade of D+ in 2017)? Why should you, especially since that plan is now officially dead in the water in Congress and Americans know it? A recent Monmouth University poll suggests that 55% of Americans think the president is not giving this country's crumbling infrastructure appropriate attention, while only 26% think he is.

There is, however, a seldom-noted exception to this growing American reality. You already know that the delays, the general nightmare of civilian air travel from chaotic, overcrowded airports is part of that reality in what still passes for the most powerful and wealthy nation on the planet. Military air power, however, is another matter. In fact, while Congress is essentially riven and paralyzed when it comes to investing in civilian infrastructure in a country that has yet to build a single high-speed rail line, a bipartisan majority is always ready to fund the building of just about any kind of "infrastructure" for the U.S. military. There's hardly a weapons system or anything else the Pentagon wants that doesn't pass muster. Only recently, for instance, Congress approved a sky-high budget for the Pentagon, which responded by asking for even more in 2019 -- and it's essentially guaranteed to get it in a country whose president brags regularly about "rebuilding" its armed forces, about a "great reawakening of... American might." More new warships! More new planes! More new missiles! More new nukes! That's infrastructure that still makes the grade in twenty-first-century America.

Today, retired lieutenant colonel and TomDispatchregular William Astore focuses on just one small (but wildly expensive) aspect of that build-up, a redundant new nuclear bomber, the B-21, and why (against all logic in a country that needs so many other kinds of investment) it's a can't-miss for some future Congress. Tom

The Air Force's Strange Love for the New B-21 Bomber

The Military-Industrial Complex Strikes (Out) Again

By William J. Astore

Did you know the U.S. Air Force is working on a new stealth bomber? Don't blame yourself if you didn't, since the project is so secret that most members of Congress aren't privy to the details. (Talk about stealthy!) Known as the B-21 Raider, after General Doolittle's Raiders of World War II fame, it's designed to carry thermonuclear weapons as well as conventional missiles and bombs. In conceptual drawings, it looks much like its predecessor, the B-2 Spirit stealth bomber, all wing and no fuselage, a shape that should help it to penetrate and survive the most hostile air defense systems on Earth for the purposes of a "global strike." (Think: nuclear Armageddon.)

As the Air Force acquires those future B-21s, the B-2s will be retired along with the older B-1B bomber, although the venerable B-52 (of the Cold War era), much modified, will remain in service for the foreseeable future. At $550 million per plane (before the inevitable cost overruns even kick in), the Air Force plans to buy as many as 200 B-21s. That's more than $100 billion in procurement costs alone, a boon for Northrop Grumman, the plane's primary contractor.

If history is any judge, however, a boon for Northrop Grumman is likely to prove a bust for the American taxpayer. As a start, the United States has no real need for a new, stealthy, super-expensive, nuclear-capable, deep-penetrating strategic bomber for use against "peer" rivals China and Russia. But before tackling that issue, a little history is in order.

De'j Vu All Over Again

A long time ago (1977, to be exact), in a country far, far away, President Jimmy Carter did a brave thing: he cancelled a major Pentagon weapons system just before it was due to start production. That was the B-1 bomber, a plane with sophisticated -- that is, expensive -- avionics designed to allow it to penetrate Soviet airspace in the event of a nuclear war and survive. Carter cancelled it for the most sensible of reasons: it wasn't needed.

The Air Force had already developed air-launched cruise missiles that allowed bombers like the B-52 to strike enemy targets with precision from hundreds of miles away. It was also, like all modern weapons systems, outrageously expensive. Why spend vast sums on a new bomber, Carter reasoned, when the plane added little to the nation's nuclear deterrent? In addition, that cancellation was meant to send a message to the military-industrial complex -- that he would neither be beholden to nor intimidated by defense hawks who touted each and every new weapons system, no matter how expensive or redundant, as "essential."

I was then a teenager with a yen for American warplanes. I'd even made a model of the B-1, complete with "variable geometry" wings that could be extended forward for low-speed flight and swept backward for high-speed, supersonic flight. In my mind's eye, I can still see it, almost all white like the prototype that Rockwell International, its primary contractor, actually built. In a symbolic act of protest against Carter's action, I took my model, taped a couple of firecrackers to it, and dropped it from the top floor of our house, blowing it up in a most satisfying way. So much for the B-1, I thought.

I was too young to know better. When Ronald Reagan became president in 1981, as part of a massive defense buildup (that Carter, ironically enough, had actually begun), he revived the B-1. The Air Force soon committed itself to buying 100 of them at a then-astronomical $280 million each. The B-1B Lancer (as it became known) has served in the Air Force for the last three decades, never (thankfully) fulfilling the purpose for which it was built: a nuclear attack. Plagued by accidents, high operating costs, and maintenance issues, the B-1 has been a disappointment to an Air Force now eager to replace it with an entirely new bomber, more or less guaranteed to have a similar history.

However much I loved the prospective plane as a teenager, I felt quite differently once I was myself in the Air Force. As a young lieutenant in 1986, I even wrote a paper for a contest within the service in which I argued that the concept of a manned, "penetrating," strategic nuclear bomber was deeply flawed. In essence, I took the Carter position, suggesting that the other "legs" of America's nuclear triad (ballistic missiles launched from silos and similar missiles on nuclear submarines) were more than enough to deter and defeat enemies (no less destroy the world), and that new "precision" technologies like cruise missiles rendered risky manned bombing missions deep into enemy airspace not just obsolete but antediluvian.

Not surprisingly, my paper didn't win and the B-1B did. But it was an absurd addition, even by Air Force standards, given that the U.S. had an overwhelming arsenal of missiles at its command, together with a fleet of B-52s that, though lacking in speed and stealth, was aging rather well. In fact, B-52s are still flying today, which isn't that surprising when you consider the development of highly accurate missiles that allow such a plane to "standoff" from targets and so limit its exposure to enemy air defenses.

Meanwhile, the Air Force, never a service to say no to expensive, high-tech weapons systems, no matter how redundant, was hard at work on a stealthy bomber that would achieve its vision of "global reach, global power, and global strike." What emerged was the B-2 Spirit, a stealth bomber so expensive ($2.1 billion a pop) that only 21 were ever built. It was also pricier than the B-1 to operate and less reliable thanks to its fragile "stealth" coatings, which required lengthy, high-cost maintenance. In other words, both planes proved expensive disappointments that, fortunately, were never tested on the primary mission for which they were built: incinerating millions of people in a nuclear war.
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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Wednesday 30 May, 2018

Join renowned whistleblowers, activists, celebrities, political figures and journalists including Kim Dotcom, Lee Camp, Caitlin Johnstone, Lee Stranahan, Niko House, John Kiriakou, H.A. Goodman, Peter Lavelle and a host of others for a new series of online vigil events in support of Julian Assange and WikiLeaks, launching this Saturday, 2 June 2018. The vigils will continue on the first weekend of every month until Julian Assange is safe and free.

Across an extended broadcast schedule, the vigils will reinforce a strong message from Julian Assange's many friends and supporters speaking out in unison to call for an end to his isolation from visitors, phone calls or internet access; his release from arbitrary detention in Ecuador's embassy in London; and for the withdrawal of the US threat to extradite Julian for his WikiLeaks publishing work.

The online vigils will be broadcast live to YouTube and Facebook. Viewers can watch and participate in the launch event here: .youtube.com/watch?v=rx_mgpSBgxw

Start times will vary according to geographic location: Los Angeles: 17:00, New York: 20:00, London: 01:00 (Sun), Berlin: 02:00 (Sun), Sydney: 10:00 (Sun), Auckland: 12:00 (Sun).

Event organiser, Internet Party President, journalist and activist Suzie Dawson said "The risks to Julian Assange's health, wellbeing and human rights have never been more severe than they are right now. It is urgent that we take action on his behalf. We believe that in a world of divide and conquer, unity is the ultimate act of resistance. That is why household names from all political stripes are joining forces to advocate for one of the most significant political figures of this generation."

SPREAD THE WORD:

Event hashtag: #Unity4J

Official website: unity4j.com

Official Twitter: @Unity4J

WikiLeaks Legal Defence Fund: tice4assange.com/donate.html

WikiLeaks support website: wikileaks.org

Courage Foundation: ragefound.org/

Live-tweets and/or additional content: @Unity4J @Suzi3D @ElizabethLeaVos

@CassandraRules @KimDotcom @InternetPartyNZ @greekemmy @couragefound

@BellaMagnani @primal_species @CrowdVBank

Other credible accounts for Julian Assange updates: tter.com/Suzi3D/lists/

assange-updates

For background on the recent escalation of grave threats to Julian Assange's life and liberty, we recommend reading the following articles:

Courage Foundation: Assange's protection from US extradition "in jeopardy" https://

click here

Did Rep. Adam Schiff Just Admit the US Has a Secret Indictment of Julian Assange?

click here

Conspiracy emerges to push Julian Assange into British and US hands http://

www.wsws.org/en/articles/2018/05/16/assa-m16.html

The UK's Hidden Role in Assange's Detention

click here

Treatment of Assange is unjust, says former Ecuador minister https://

click here

Ecuador's Ex-President Rafael Correa Denounces Treatment of Julian Assange as

"Torture" click here

Opinion: Ecuador's Solitary Confinement Of Assange Is Torture https://

disobedientmedia.com/2018/04/opinion-ecuadors-solitary-confinement-of-assange-istorture/

MEDIA ENQUIRIES: Media enquiries and interview requests should be made to Suzie Dawson, via DM on Twitter: @Suzi3D, or Elizabeth Vos on Twitter via @Elizabethleavos, or by emailing info@unity4j.com


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From youtube.com: Trump reveals details about meeting with top North Korean official After meeting with a top North Korean official at the White House, President Trump announced the summit he had canceled with the country's leader was back

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Kim Jong Un's right hand, General Kim Yong Chol, visited the U.S. for talks with Secretary of State Mike Pompeo. The General arrived in New York and made Pompeo travel up from Washington. The dinner and get-together on Wednesday were followed by extensive talks on Thursday in preparation for the Singapore summit ... certain once again, as anything can be with the mercurial Mr. Trump.

The dinner photos released show the parties with an affable Pompeo and a dour Kim in a room painted yellow. Should color matter? How important is it? Very, it turns out, according to the leading color theorist of the 20th century.

Faber Birren (1900-1988) spent his life studying color, and advocating its proper use for effect and well-being. He thought of it as akin to religion in its power to heal and change our feelings. According to him, humans are born with certain responses to color, just as they are with a fear of snakes.

Birren's fascination with color began early. After two years at the University of Chicago, he dropped out in 1921 to focus on his absorbing interest. Soon he began writing articles on color, and in 1928 published his first book "Color in Vision". He was to write seventeen of them and numerous articles. His experimentation and exploration yielded financial rewards when he began offering his services as a consultant.

At a Chicago wholesale meat business he noticed the white walls of the coolers gave the meat a gray look. Testing meat under different lighting, he determined a blue-green backdrop made the cuts appear more red. Sales shot up and his business career was launched.

He went on eventually to advise Walt Disney in the making of Bambi, Fantasia and Pinocchio. In industry, he developed a code for safety: yellow for falling hazards, red for fire protection and so on. His work is evident in many other spheres.

Hospital operating rooms are now blue-green; office walls darker than the machines reduce irritability in the staff and improve attentiveness. Somewhat surprisingly, color surroundings even affect one's blood pressure.



So what of the dour General Kim? Well Wedgwood Blue was the color of Birren's dining room, a peach pink stimulates appetite, salmon promotes a sense of well-being, light green reduces fatigue. And yellow is excellent for signalling danger ... perhaps not the best choice for the dinner. Is there an opportunity here to be seized for the summit?



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From Reader Supported News

"We spent the day wrestling with the repercussions of one bad word, when we all should have spent the day incensed that as a nation we are wrenching children from their parents and treating people legally seeking asylum as criminals. If we are OK with that then really, who are we?" -- Samantha Bee acceptance speech, May 31, 2018

Samantha Bee is a smart, talented, funny, incisive, edgy, 48-year-old Canadian/American mother of three. She is also the star of the TBS show "Full Frontal with Samantha Bee," now in its third year. In 2017, Time magazine named her one of the 100 most influential people in the world. On May 31, 2018, the Television Academy's annual awards for "outstanding programs that have leveraged the dynamic power of television to inspire social change" included Samantha Bee's "Full Frontal." The awards ceremony was closed to the media because, in the taped broadcast of "Full Frontal" the night before, in the context of castigating the Trump administration immigration practices, Samantha Bee had called Ivanka Trump a "feckless [taboo word for vagina]," setting off a cultural foofaraw over vulgarity, but without concern for children taken from their parents by government force.

"Full Frontal" was honored especially for its intensely supportive coverage of the #MeTo and Time's Up movements, another policy area where the Trump administration has failed and where Ivanka Trump, as a woman, has apparently been feckless. (On April 5, 2017, Samantha Bee tweeted a show promo promising: "The Greatest Feminists in Feminism Herstory Hall of Lady Fame: Ivanka Trump.")

In the May 30 episode of "Full Frontal," at the end of a seven-minute immigration segment, Bee referred to a posed, sentimental photograph from Ivanka Trump's Instagram page, showing Ivanka holding her son, their faces almost nose to nose, a deliberately charming image. (The page includes considerable commentary, some of it expressing heartless disregard for the children separated from their parents.) Bee juxtaposed this mother-toddler tease with a statement of Trump administration immigration policy and called on the uniquely positioned "special advisor to the president to step up and defend the values implied in her photo:

"After decades of ignoring the issue, Americans are finally paying attention. Well, most of us. Ivanka Trump, who works at the White House, chose to post the second most oblivious tweet we've seen this week. Y'know, Ivanka, that's a beautiful photo of you and your child, but let me just say, one mother to another: do something about your dad's immigration policies, you feckless c***. He listens to you. Put on something tight and low-cut and tell him to f***ing stop it. Tell him it was an Obama thing and see how it goes."

Predictably, the next morning the White House reacted explosively to the taboo word for vagina and ignored the human suffering caused by its immigration practices. At 8:30 a.m. press secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders said the "language used by Samantha Bee last night is vile and vicious." Then she blurred the issue by claiming: "Her disgusting comments and show are not fit for broadcast," logically equating a critique of government inhumanity with calling someone a feckless taboo word for vagina.

That's a morally indefensible opinion that went largely unnoticed in the hooha over the taboo word for vagina. Sanders also issued an implied call for Time Warner and TBS to fire Samantha Bee, perhaps tortiously interfering with their contractual relationship. It's also very like an unconstitutional call for government censorship. And Sanders did not gracefully let it go at that, but went on to try to make the taboo word for vagina a partisan issue: "The collective silence by the left and its media allies is appalling."

Trump's been using the taboo word for vagina at least since 2004. And Ted Nugent, who called Hillary Clinton a "toxic [taboo word for vagina]" in 1994 (without apology since), was a welcome guest at the Trump White House in 2017. And then there's the Trump classic, "Grab 'em by the pussy," but enough already. Well, just two more allegations: Trump called both Acting Attorney General Sally Yates and financial reporter Jennifer Lin by the taboo word for vagina.

The same afternoon at 2:16 p.m., Samantha Bee tweeted her apology:

"I would like to sincerely apologize to Ivanka Trump and to my viewers for using an expletive on my show to describe her last night. It was inappropriate and inexcusable. I crossed a line, and I deeply regret it."

Well, that seems fair enough, doesn't it? Bee apologized to Trump for calling her a taboo word for vagina, even though that's anatomically correct. But what about "feckless"? Shouldn't she apologize for that, too, since Ivanka Trump, whatever else one may think of her, is hardly feckless as she globe-trots, merchandises out of the White House, and collects Chinese patents at a remarkable rate? Ivanka Trump has apparently not yet responded to Bee's apology. When Trump's initial mother and child photo post appeared on Instagram and she received a hail of negative reaction, she did respond obliquely to that with quasi-religious quotes from Marcus Aurelius:

"If thou workest at what is before thee, following right reason seriously, vigorously, calmly, without allowing anything to distract thee... If thou holdest to this, expecting nothing, fearing nothing, but satisfied with thy present activity according to nature... thou wilt live happy. And there is no man who will be able to prevent this."

That was May 29, when Ivanka Trump also said more directly: "Focus on what is before you, on what you can control and ignore the trolls! Have a great week." The next night "Full Frontal" aired.

At the Television Academy Honors event, having publicly apologized earlier in the day, Samantha Bee described what had happened as she saw it:

"Stories about 1,500 missing unaccompanied migrant children flooded the news cycle over the weekend. So last night we aired a segment on the atrocious treatment of migrant children by this administration and past administrations. Sometimes even the ones who look best in swim trunks do bad jobs with things. Our piece attracted controversy of the worst kind...

"I can tell you, as long as we have breath in our bodies and 21 minutes of airtime once a week, repeats on Saturdays, that we as a show will never stop shouting [about] the inhumanities of this world from the rooftops and striving to make it a better place. But in a comedy way."

The next day, the president doubled down on his press secretary's implied threats, calling for Samantha Bee's firing. TBS has indicated support for Bee, saying she did the right thing in apologizing and also accepting some responsibility for allowing the taboo word for vagina on the air. Fox and fellow festerers continue to call for Bee's scalp. Her program has lost some advertisers, Autotrader (with dishonest, inaccurate comment) and State Farm (with a wishy-washy comment). Neither company took issue with US treatment of immigrants that amounts to a crime against humanity.

The New Yorker has published an entertaining piece explaining that, for centuries, the taboo word for vagina was actually in happy, common usage (in Hamlet's reference to "country matters," for example). Only in the past century or so has the word become taboo and "dirty." The piece also quotes two tweets from contemporary actresses supporting Samantha Bee (edited here for clean living), much to the distress of right-wing virtuecrats.

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From Truthdig



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Note: Chris Hedges gave this talk Friday at the Left Forum in New York City.

W.E.B. Du Bois, more than any intellectual this nation produced in the first half of the 20th century, explained America to itself. He did this not only through what he called the "color line," but by exposing the intertwining of empire, capitalism and white supremacy. He deftly fused academic disciplines. He possessed unwavering integrity, a deep commitment to the truth, and the courage to speak it. That he was brilliant and a radical was bad enough. That he was brilliant, radical and black terrified the ruling elites. He was swiftly blacklisted, denied the professorships and public platforms that went to those who were more obsequious and compliant. Du Bois had very few intellectual rivals -- John Dewey perhaps being one, but Dewey failed, like nearly all white intellectuals, to grasp the innate violence and savagery of the American character and how it was given its natural expression in empire.

Regeneration and purification through violence is the credo of the American empire. D.H. Lawrence, like Du Bois, saw it, and said, "The essential American soul is hard, isolate, stoic, and a killer." The pillars of American capitalism are genocide and slavery. America was not blessed by God. It was blessed, if that is the right word, by producing the most efficient killing machines and trained killers on the planet. It unleashed industrial violence on its enemies abroad and empowered armed white vigilante groups and gun thugs -- the slave patrols, the Ku Klux Klan, the White Leagues (the armed wing of the Democratic Party), the Baldwin Felts and Pinkertons -- to perpetrate a domestic reign of terror against blacks, Native Americans, Mexicans, Chinese, abolitionists, Catholics, radicals, workers and labor organizers. The ideological descendants of these killers have mutated into white hate groups and militarized law enforcement that terrorize immigrants and undocumented workers, Muslims and people of color trapped in our internal colonies. This bloody visage is the true face of America.

"Once in a while through all of us there flashes some clairvoyance, some clear idea, of what America really is," Du Bois wrote. "We who are dark can see America in a way that white Americans cannot."

Du Bois warned that in times of widespread unrest, this indiscriminate violence, familiar to poor people of color and those we subjugate abroad today in the Middle East, becomes the primary mechanism for internal social control. As the empire disintegrates under unfettered corporate capitalism, futile and costly military adventurism, political stagnation and despotism, we will learn the truth Du Bois elucidated.

Du Bois, early in his career and already recognized as one of the foremost sociologists in the country, attacked Booker T. Washington's odious accommodation with the white segregationists in the South and industrial elites in the North. He derided Washington's advocacy of vocational training for blacks at the expense of intellectual pursuits. The white capitalist Molochs, who funded and promoted Washington and his collaborationist scheme to train blacks to take their spots on the lowest rung of industrial society, turned on Du Bois with a vengeance. The underclass, then and now, was to be taught what to think, not how to think. They would be endowed with just enough numerical literacy to serve as serfs in the capitalist system. The capitalists were determined to maintain what Du Bois called "enforced ignorance," an enforced ignorance now being visited on a dispossessed working class with the degrading of public education, funding of vocational charter schools, and withering away of the humanities.

"Either America will destroy ignorance or ignorance will destroy the United States," he warned, an eerie forecast of the age of Trump.

He would always remain a double outsider. And this status as an outsider, coupled with his prodigious intellectual gifts and uncompromising honesty, allowed him to expose the hypocrisy of the country's most revered institutions and beliefs.

"The history of the world is the history, not of individuals, but of groups, not of nations, but of races," he wrote, "and he who ignores or seeks to override the race idea in human history ignores and overrides the central thought of all history."

Du Bois was amazingly prolific. He authored 16 seminal texts of sociology, history, politics and race relations including "The Philadelphia Negro," his revolutionary study that established the field of urban sociology; "Souls of Black Folk" that laid the foundations for modern African-American literature and history; and his 1935 classic, "Reconstruction," that portrayed American democracy through the eyes of disenfranchised Southern blacks. He was the editor from 1910 to 1934 of Crisis, one of the country's leading intellectual and civil rights journal. Cornel West calls him the "American Gibbon," after the British historian Edward Gibbon, who chronicled the fall of the Roman Empire and used it as a warning to all empires.

But I want to begin today by looking at one of his often overlooked essays, "The Souls of White Folk," from his book "Darkwater: Voices From Within the Veil." He wrote this essay in 1920. White Europeans and Americans were struggling to cope with the suicidal slaughter and barbarity of World War I. Yet, as Du Bois pointed out, none of this savagery was a surprise to blacks in the United States or the victims of colonialism -- 10 to 12 million blacks died under the brutal colonial rule of the Belgian King Leopold in the Congo.

It was Belgium, not the Congo, however, that was held up as the victim of horrible atrocities due to German occupation after the war. "Behold little Belgium and her pitiable plight, but has the world forgotten Congo?" Du Bois asked. Racism, he saw, was not only endemic to capitalism and imperialism but deformed historical narratives, the stories that got told and those that did not. In the United States, the year before the essay was published, 66 black men and women, mostly in the rural South, were lynched. Another 250 died in urban riots, usually instigated by white vigilante mobs, in the North and in the Arkansas Delta. They could have told you, if they were asked, what America was.

"As we saw the dead dimly through the rifts of battle smoke and heard faintly the cursings and accusations of blood brothers, we darker men said: This is not Europe gone mad; this is not aberration nor insanity; this is Europe; this seeming Terrible is the real soul of white culture," Du Bois wrote in the essay.

Du Bois attended the Versailles Conference that imposed punitive reparations on Germany, crippling its economy and setting the stage for fascism. But to Du Bois the decision by the victorious European powers to blithely carve up Africa, Indochina and the Middle East in open disregard for those who lived there was far more criminal. Self-determination, he saw, was only for white Europeans and Euro-Americans. He would help convene a Pan-African Congress to protest the renewed subjugation of people of color. The war, Du Bois argued, had nothing to do with democracy and freedom. It was a struggle between imperial powers for the ability to plunder the "dark world's wealth and toil," which is also, of course, what our wars in the Middle East are about.

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Smart Meters: Do You Have to Get One?

https://smarterbusiness.co.uk/

The UK government has commissioned energy companies to install smart meters for their customers by 2019. But what happens if a customer doesnt actually want one?What is a smart meter?Smart meters provide businesses and household with a digital way to measure gas and electricity readings, which are sent directly to energy suppliers.The benefits of having a smart meterWhether or not its compulsory to have a smart meter installed, there are several benefits associated with this digital technology.Because a smart meter takes accurate readings, this means to your energy bills will be more accurate too.You wont need to take manual energy readings.Having accurate energy consumption data on hand allows you to take control of your energy use and improve your energy efficiency and strategic energy management.With the meters display feature, youll have access to real-time updates, aware of how much energy youre using and when youre using it.Did you know? The Carbon Trust estimates that the average business wastes 20% of the energy it buys.The installation of smart meters in homes and businesses leads to a smarter market in general, arming consumers with the knowledge to switch suppliers and find the energy contract most suited to their individual needs. In addition, energy suppliers will have more accurate data about the energy ecosystem as a whole, allowing them to meet energy supply and demands better.Benefits aside, many businesses and households are asking: is it compulsory to have a smart meter installed?Why wouldnt you want a smart meter installed?Those asking whether its compulsory to have a smart meter installed may have some reservations about smart meter rolloutSmart meters can be hacked - your smart meter is required to meet strict Government security standards, but, as with any technology, its important to remain vigilant.It will cost more money - although you may see a slight increase in your energy bills to compensate for the rollout of this new technology, there are no upfront costs for smart meter installation.Installing the meter will cause downtime - energy suppliers will generally install meters during working hours, but some are willing to be flexible. The downtime associated with smart meter installation is normally around 20 minutes.Switching suppliers - once you have a smart meter installed by an energy company, you can still switch suppliers at a later stage if youd like to. The smart meters rolled out are interoperable, which means that all suppliers will be able to support them.Operate from rented premises - simply get in touch with your landlord to ask about having a smart meter installed.Do I have to get one?New Government requirements have commissioned energy companies to install smart meters in business premises and domestic homes by 2019 - but this is only if the household or business want a smart meter. The government requires that energy suppliers offer smart meters to all small businesses and homes, but smart meters are not a legal requirement, therefore its not compulsory to have a smart meter installed.However, having a smart meter at your premises is likely to become the norm in years to come.How to get a smart meter installed in 3 simple steps1.Ask your energy supplier or your energy broker about whats on offer.2.Once you or your broker have decided on the appropriate solution, you can arrange suitable time and date with your energy supplier to have the smart meter installed.3.Start taking control of your energy bills!Smart meters are a replacement for your existing gas and electricity meters. Just like a traditional meter, they measure how much energy youre using. The difference is that they remotely send the data they collect to your energy supplier, cutting out the need for manual meter readings. They can send the data to your supplier in a variety of different ways - some have a SIM card and send it by mobile networks, while others use WiFi or other mobile internet connections.Shea Karssing is a writer for Smarter Business, one of the UKs leading independent consultancies, helping businesses secure the most comprehensive savings solutions from utilities contract management and procurement to business loans and facilities maintenance.John De Mierre HouseBridge RoadHaywards HeathWest SussexRH16 1UA01444 220060info@smarterbusiness.co.uk
Laboratory Information Management System Market Worth 1,133.5 Million USD By 2023

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Meticulous Research, leading global market research company published a research report titled Laboratory Information Management System Market by Type (Multipurpose, Purpose built), Component (Services, Software), Delivery (On Premise, Web, Cloud), End User (Pharma, Biotech, MDx, Biobank, CRO, F&B, Oil, Gas, Petroleum, Chemical, Environment)  Global Forecast to 2023.Download Free Sample PDF @According to this latest publication from Meticulous Research, the global laboratory information management system market will grow at a CAGR of 7.3% from 2018 to 2023 to reach USD 1,133.5 million by 2023, driven by various factors such as growing automation in laboratories, technological advancements in LIMS systems, growing need for regulatory compliance, and increasing R&D spending, and increasing awareness through conferences, seminars & workshops. Emerging economies such as Latin America, Asia-Pacific, and Middle East & Africa further provides significant potential for growth. Moreover, rapid adoption of cloud-based LIMS solutions provides immense growth opportunities for various stakeholders in the laboratory information management system market.The laboratory information management system market is mainly categorized by type (multi-purpose LIMS, and purpose-built LIMS), mode of delivery (on-premise solutions, cloud-based solutions, and web-based solutions), component (services and software), end user (life sciences industry, food & beverage and agriculture industries, petrochemical and oil & gas industries, chemical testing laboratories, environmental testing laboratories, and others), and by geography.Browse in-depth Report onOn the basis of type, multi-purpose LIMS segment is expected to continue to dominate the market during the forecast period, mainly due to various technological advancements in LIMS, growing replacement of old legacy LIMS with COTS LIMS, and growing application of LIMS in biobanking, academic research institutes, and CROs.On the basis of mode of delivery, on-premise solutions held the largest share in the laboratory information management system market in 2017. This is mainly because these solutions are more customizable than other deployment models; laboratories have total ownership and authority; and this model is perceived to be more secure.On the basis of component, services is the largest component of laboratory information management system market in terms of value, mainly due to huge demand for cloud services and increasing lab automation which subsequently propels the demand for LIMS services such as implementation, validation, integration, maintenance, and training and support.Based on end user, life sciences industry commanded the largest share in the laboratory information management system market in 2017, mainly due to growing regulatory pressure to maintain data integrity, validity, and security. Moreover, increasing need to improve lab productivity and cost efficiency and trend towards automation is driving life sciences industries to invest in lab informatics.The major players in the global laboratory information management system market are Abbott Informatics (a subsidiary of Abbott Laboratories), Astrix Technology Group, Autoscribe Informatics, Blaze Systems Corporation, Computing Solutions, Incorporated (CSI) (LabSoft), Csols, Inc., Dassault Systemes SE, EuSoft Srl., Genohm SA, Genologics, Inc., (Illumina Company), Dohmen Company (HORIZON), Infosys Limited, LabLynx, Inc., LabVantage Solutions, Inc., LabWare, Inc., LabWorks LLC, Novatek International, Promium, LLC, Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc., and Waters Corporation, among others.Key questions answered in the report-Which are the high growth market segments in terms of product, mode of delivery, component, end user, and regions/countries?What is the historical market for laboratory information management system market across the globe?What are the market forecasts and estimates from the period 2018-2023?What are the major drivers, restraints, opportunities, and challenges in the laboratory information management system market?Who are the major players in the laboratory information management system market and what share of the market do they hold?How is the competitive landscape?What are the recent developments in the laboratory information management system market?What are the different strategies adopted by the major players in the laboratory information management system market?What are the geographical trends and high growth regions/countries?Who are the local emerging players in the laboratory information management system market and how do they compete with the global players?Download Free Sample PDF @About Meticulous ResearchMeticulous Research is founded in 2010 and incorporated as Meticulous Market Research Pvt. Ltd. in 2013 as a private limited company under the Companies Act, 1956. Since its incorporation, the company has become the leading provider of premium market intelligence in North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, Latin America, and Middle East & Africa.Contact us :Viren ShrivastavaAVP- Global Sales and MarketingMeticulous ResearchEmail: viren@meticulousresearch.comDirect Lines: +1-646-781-8004 (North America)+44-203-868-8738 (Europe)+91 744-7780008 (Asia-Pacific)Office No-402, 4th Floor, Pushpak Business Hub, Wakad, Pune-411057
Gulf Craft Strengthens Their Team for Growth

Gregory Yeakle, Gulf Craft's newly appointed CEO

www.gulfcraftinc.com

Gulf Craft has appointed Gregory Yeakle to be their new Chief Executive Officer. One of the worlds largest luxury ship builders, Gulf Craft is based in the United Arab Emirates. The group has grown into a leading global business over the course of the past 37 years. He succeeds Erwin Bamps who held the position for the past 4 years and has now moved on to a new role as advisor to the board for international matters.Gregory Yeakle joins Gulf Craft as CEO with a solid record of leadership having generated strong growth in companies such as Informix, Alexander Proudfoot Company and Invensys. He has worked globally in C-level positions successfully for over two decades in both business development and operations around the world. More recently he was Global Head of the Oil and Gas division of Accudyne Industries, where he was equally Managing Director of Milton Roy and Dosatron amongst others.Before joining Gulf Craft, Gregory Yeakle was the head of Operations for Cornerstone Management Consulting where he and his team worked with the Gulf Craft group. According to the groups Chairman, Mohammed Al Shaali, This experience has helped to ensure a smooth leadership transition. Mr. Yeakle states that, These are challenging yet exciting times for the industry. Innovation and technology are combining to provide amazing new products and services possible for Gulf Craft. As a lifelong boating enthusiast, I am delighted to have the opportunity lead Gulf Craft into the next phase of its global expansion.The internationally renowned yacht and boat builder has seen phenomenal growth with new models launched annually. The company is continuously exploring opportunities to venture into new markets and is planning to expand even further in the coming years. With the build of the companys first mega yacht well under way, the next chapter in the Gulf Craft story is sure to keep followers engaged. ENDS About Gulf CraftGulf Craft has served the aspirations of passionate boating enthusiasts for more than three decades. The award-winning manufacturer is one of the worlds leading superyacht shipyards, a merit it has achieved through continuous investment in research and development.Founded in the Emirates in 1982, Gulf Craft continues to redefine the on-water living experience with its wide variety of premium craft, ranging from 27 feet to 175 feet in length. Deploying advanced technology, powerful engineering, timeless design, and world-class craftsmanship, Gulf Craft builds each innovation to create memorable cruising experiences for its discerning clientele, transforming travel by sea into a journey worth indulging in.With an expanding portfolio that includes the enchanting Majesty Yachts, the long-range Nomad Yachts, Silvercraft fishing boats and family cruisers, and Oryx sport yachts and cruisers, Gulf Craft has built an enduring legacy.Take a virtual tour of our innovations atAdvertising & Marketing ConsultantsPO Box 50324, Dubai, UAETel: +97144572125Contact: Glenda GEmail: glenda@amcuae.com
Tips on Getting the Most Out of Your Interpreter

Interpreter Service

Proper etiquette can remove the awkwardness arising from interacting with a business partner or an audience who is unfamiliar with the English language. This is especially true for consecutive interpreting, where the interpreter will be in the room with you. In simultaneous interpreting where translations are received via headphones, you may not be able to view the interpreter. Still, these ideas can help you get your message across more effectively and drive productive conversations.Should the interpreter face you or your client?In an ideal scenario, the interpreter should assume a position where he/she can see you and also face your client/audience when he/she speaks. That being said, it is common for the interpreter to sit opposite his/her client (you) while you converse naturally with the other party. This unobtrusive position is the traditional protocol during diplomatic meetings between heads of state from two different countries.Placing the interpreter between you and your client is best avoided; your focus must be on your client. You will want to make eye contact with him/her instead of looking toward the interpreter.The focus is to translate the vocabulary, not the body languageInterpreters job is to engage with your message, not your non-verbal cues. They will make eye contact with your audience or even your client, but beyond that, stick to delivering your message. If you start addressing your interpreter, he/she may not initiate eye-contact with you as a passive signal to remind you to continue addressing your client.It helps to brief the interpreter in advanceMost businesses prefer to keep their language easily comprehensible to eliminate mistakes or misunderstandings in translation. But if your dialogue will include many high-level terms or specialized industry jargon, providing the interpreter with a draft copy of the speech/discussion points will help him/her convey your message better.An alternative is to go with the flow and allow any issue that crops up during your conversation to fix itself. For instance, your interpreter can keep translating your sophisticated phrases, and your client can  through your interpreter  request you to clarify something that is not clearly evident. The interpreter may also start taking notes when complications set in.Pare down long chunks of textLine-by-line interpretations consume a lot of time; as a practical measure, consider skimming your content. Time efficiency apart, excessive verbiage can be overwhelming for your client  and after an hour of back and forth  you may start feeling weary. If you are not discussing legality and expect to converse more casually with your client, a condensed version works best.What do you think of our tips? Have the experience to share? Start a conversation now!EliteTranslations Asia provides communication services such as written TRANSLATION, transcription and interpretation in several major Asian languages. Based in Singapore, the company comprises representative offices, language partners and translators in major Asia Pacific cities. It is our goal to help you develop an established presence in the Asian community while retaining the image and voice that keeps your business distinctive. In creating material for new clients who speak other languages or in translating internal business communication materials for a newly diversified workforce, a clear and concise translation will help your business opportunities grow.8 Jurong Town Hall Road, #25-02,The JTC Summit, Singapore 609434
The Institution of Engineers, Singapore inaugurates Dr. Yeoh Lean Weng as 27th President

25 May 2018FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASEMedia ReleaseThe Institution of Engineers, Singapore inaugurates Dr. Yeoh Lean Weng as 27th PresidentIES to drive engineering excellence beyond built environment and recognise wide-ranging skillsets to meet Singapores evolving needsThe Institution of Engineers, Singapore (IES) will inaugurate Dr. Yeoh Lean Weng of the National Research Foundation (NRF) as its new President at its 52nd Annual General Meeting tomorrow. He will succeed Er. Edwin Khew and serve for a term of two years.In consultation with the IES Council, Dr. Yeoh has outlined three priority areas to sharpen IES value to Singapore, the engineering community and its members. The first area focuses on achieving engineering excellence beyond the built environment sector to encompass advanced manufacturing, transportation and sustainability, in alignment with national industry transformation strategies. The second area aims at creating a more inclusive engineering community by providing professional recognition for technicians and master craftsmen. The third area centres on rebranding IES to attract younger engineers to join as members.I am honoured to be elected as the 27th President of IES. In an economic landscape increasingly shaped by disruptions, IES will challenge status quo to help engineers harness new technologies to transform our industries and quality of life. Our aim is to create a dynamic engineering ecosystem with deeply-skilled engineering professionals who collaborate across disciplines, said Dr. Yeoh.Dr. Yeoh has been at the forefront of Singapores Research and Development (R&D) advancement for the past 30 years. As the Director of Urban Solutions and Sustainability at NRF, he leads the planning of Singapores R&D strategy; manages national R&D programmes in urban solutions; and fosters innovations to address the nations long-term energy, water and environmental challenges. He also sits on the board of various institutes of research in energy, solar energy and environment technology.An electrical engineer by training, Dr. Yeoh has contributed actively to IES since 2007 in various roles. He has been Deputy Chairman of the IES Chartered Engineer Board (Systems Engineering) since 2015; founding Chairman of the IES Certified Systems Engineering Professional and Vice President of IES from 2008 to 2011.Er. Khew will become IES Immediate Past President, after making pivotal contributions in growing IES membership to more than 5,700; promoting engineering as the profession of choice; and establishing IES as the preferred partner for engineering matters. His key achievements include growing the IES Chartered Engineer programme into new sectors; and launching two books featuring outstanding engineering contributions to Singapores first 50 years.We are at a time when Singapore needs to re-imagine and re-strategise engineering to realise the goals of its Industry Transformation Maps, Smart Nation and other national initiatives. With Dr. Yeohs rich experience in developing national R&D strategies, commitment to the engineering profession and leadership experience, I am confident that he will help IES rise to new challenges and break new grounds, said Er. Khew.- END Notes to MediaChinese GlossaryTerms in English Terms in ChineseThe Institution of Engineers, Singapore (IES) Dr. Yeoh Lean Weng, President, IES , , Er. Edwin Khew Teck Fook, (Outgoing) President, IES , (), Annex  Biography of Dr. Yeoh Lean WengAbout The Institution of Engineers, Singapore (IES)The Institution of Engineers, Singapore (IES) was formally established in July 1966 as the national society of engineers in Singapore. IES is the premier engineering institution in Singapore and is called upon by the Government to provide feedback on professional engineering matters.IES is well represented among the faculty members of the major engineering institutions of higher learning in Singapore. Through close collaboration with the local universities and polytechnics, IES organises courses, seminars and talks for engineers and IES members to advance the continuous development of engineers.The Institution maintains close links with professional organisations of engineers regionally and throughout the world. These include organisations in Australia, China, Japan, United Kingdom and the United States. The Institution also represents Singapore in the ASEAN Federation of Engineering Organizations (AFEO) and the Federation of Engineering Institutions of Asia and the Pacific (FEIAP) in promoting goodwill and fellowship among all engineers in ASEAN and the Asia-Pacific region.Through its Engineering Accreditation Board (EAB), IES obtained full signatory status in the Washington Accord (WA) in June 2006. The entry grants IES the authority to represent Singapore, the first country within the ASEAN region which has obtained full signatory status in the WA, to vet education systems under the WA mutual recognition framework.- End -MEDIA CONTACTDesmond Teo Kathlyn LokePublications Manager AssociateThe Institution of Engineers, Singapore The Right Spin Public RelationsDID : (65) 6461 1229 DID : (65) 6325 5927Email : desmond@iesnet.org.sgEmail : kathlyn@therightspin.com.sgEsther LimJunior AssociateThe Right Spin Public RelationsDID : (65) 6325 5935Email : esther@therightspin.com.sgAnnexDr. Yeoh Lean Weng () PRESIDENT, THE INSTITUTION OF ENGINEERS, SINGAPORE (IES)Dr. Yeoh Lean Weng is the President of IES (Term 2018-2020). He is also the Deputy Chairman of the IES Chartered Engineer Board (Systems Engineering), founding Chairman of the IES Certified Systems Engineering Professional and Vice President of IES from 2008 to 2011.Dr. Yeoh is the Director of Urban Solutions and Sustainability, National Research Foundation. He is responsible for developing Singapores R&D strategy and managing national R&D programmes in urban solutions covering energy, water and land & liveability sectors to meet national needs. He is responsible for developing and strengthening Singapores R&D capabilities and fostering innovation to meet Singapores long-term energy, water and environmental challenges.Dr. Yeoh is an Executive Committee Member of the Asia Pacific Council on Systems Engineering and President of the International Council on Systems Engineering (INCOSE) Singapore Chapter from 2009 to 2011. He is the first to be a Fellow of INCOSE in Singapore.Dr. Yeoh is an adjunct professor at the National University of Singapore (NUS) and has co-authored numerous professional publications. He is also a member of the Solar Energy Research Institute of Singapore Supervisory Board, Nanyang Technological University (NTU) Eco-campus Management Board, Energy Research Institute @ NTU Management Board, Environment Technology Research Programme Technology Board, TUM CREATE Consultative Committee and Management Board, Energy Studies Institute.Dr. Yeoh is a recipient of the Singapore Public Administration Medal in 2001 (Bronze) and 2008 (Silver). He was conferred the Defence Technology Prize in 1992, 2004 and 2007, the last being an individual award for C4I development, large-scale systems engineering and technology leadership.Dr. Yeoh received Bachelor (with Honours) and Master of Science degrees from the National University of Singapore (NUS) in 1983 and 1987 respectively. He further obtained two Masters (with distinction) in 1990 and a PhD degree in Electrical Engineering in 1997 from the Naval Postgraduate School (NPS). He attended the Program for Management Development at Harvard University in 2003.About The Institution of Engineers, Singapore (IES)The Institution of Engineers, Singapore (IES) was formally established in July 1966 as the national society of engineers in Singapore. IES is the premier engineering institution in Singapore and is called upon by the Government to provide feedback on professional engineering matters.IES is well represented among the faculty members of the major engineering institutions of higher learning in Singapore. Through close collaboration with the local universities and polytechnics, IES organises courses, seminars and talks for engineers and IES members to advance the continuous development of engineers.The Institution maintains close links with professional organisations of engineers regionally and throughout the world. These include organisations in Australia, China, Japan, United Kingdom and the United States. The Institution also represents Singapore in the ASEAN Federation of Engineering Organizations (AFEO) and the Federation of Engineering Institutions of Asia and the Pacific (FEIAP) in promoting goodwill and fellowship among all engineers in ASEAN and the Asia-Pacific region.Through its Engineering Accreditation Board (EAB), IES obtained full signatory status in the Washington Accord (WA) in June 2006. The entry grants IES the authority to represent Singapore, the first country within the ASEAN region which has obtained full signatory status in the WA, to vet education systems under the WA mutual recognition framework.The Institution of Engineers, SingaporeAddress: 70 Bukit Tinggi Road, Signapore 289758Tel: (65) 6469 5000 Fax: (65) 6467 1108
Global Luxury Cars Market Analysis 2018 Forecasts To 2023 : Bugatti, Ferrari, Lamborghini, Porsche, Mercedes-Benz

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Global Luxury Cars MarketDescription:-Wiseguyreports.Com Adds Global Luxury Cars Market 2018: Global Analysis, Industry Size, Share, Trends, Application Analysis and Growth Opportunities Forecast to 2023 To Its Research DatabaseThe global Luxury Cars market will reach xxx Million USD in 2017 and CAGR xx% 2011-2017. The report begins from overview of Industry Chain structure, and describes industry environment, then analyses market size and forecast of Luxury Cars by product, region and application, in addition, this report introduces market competition situation among the vendors and company profile, besides, market price analysis and value chain features are covered in this report.Product Type Coverage (Market Size & Forecast, Major Company of Product Type etc.):Super Sport CarSUVSedanCoupeConvertibleCompany Coverage (Sales Revenue, Price, Gross Margin, Main Products etc.):Rolls-RoycePaganiBugattiSpykerAston MartinLamborghiniMaseratiFerrariPorscheBentleyBMWMercedes-BenzMaybachLykan HypersportShelby SupercarsMcLarenKoenigseggRequest a sample copy @Application Coverage (Market Size & Forecast, Different Demand Market by Region, Main Consumer Profile etc.):18-24 years old25-34 years old35-44 years old45-54 years old55-64 years old65 and olderRegion Coverage (Regional Output, Demand & Forecast by Countries etc.):North AmericaEuropeAsia-PacificSouth AmericaMiddle East & AfricaTable of Content1 Industry Overview1.1 Luxury Cars Industry1.1.1 Overview1.1.2 Development of Luxury Cars1.2 Market Segment1.2.1 Upstream1.2.2 Downstream1.3 Cost Analysis2 Industry Environment2.1 Policy2.2 Economics2.3 Sociology2.4 Technology3 Luxury Cars Market by Type3.1 By Type3.1.1 Super Sport Car3.1.2 SUV3.1.3 Sedan3.1.4 Coupe3.1.5 Convertible3.2 Market Size3.3 Market Forecast4 Major Companies List4.1 Rolls-Royce (Company Profile, Sales Data etc.)4.2 Pagani (Company Profile, Sales Data etc.)4.3 Bugatti (Company Profile, Sales Data etc.)4.4 Spyker (Company Profile, Sales Data etc.)4.5 Aston Martin (Company Profile, Sales Data etc.)4.6 Lamborghini (Company Profile, Sales Data etc.)4.7 Maserati (Company Profile, Sales Data etc.)4.8 Ferrari (Company Profile, Sales Data etc.)4.9 Porsche (Company Profile, Sales Data etc.)4.10 Bentley (Company Profile, Sales Data etc.)4.11 BMW (Company Profile, Sales Data etc.)4.12 Mercedes-Benz (Company Profile, Sales Data etc.)4.13 Maybach (Company Profile, Sales Data etc.)4.14 Lykan Hypersport (Company Profile, Sales Data etc.)4.15 Shelby Supercars (Company Profile, Sales Data etc.)4.16 McLaren (Company Profile, Sales Data etc.)4.17 Koenigsegg (Company Profile, Sales Data etc.)5 Market Competition5.1 Company Competition5.2 Regional Market by Company6 Market Demand6.1 Demand Situation6.1.1 Demand in 18-24 years old6.1.2 Demand in 25-34 years old6.1.3 Demand in 35-44 years old6.1.4 Demand in 45-54 years old6.1.5 Demand in 55-64 years old6.1.6 Demand in 65 and older6.2 Regional Demand Comparison6.3 Demand Forecast7 Region Operation7.1 Regional Output7.2 Regional Market7.3 by Region7.3.1 North America7.3.1.1 Overview7.3.1.2 by Country (U.S., Canada, Mexico)7.3.2 Europe7.3.2.1 Overview7.3.2.2 by Country (Germany, U.K., France, Italy, Russia, Spain etc.)7.3.3 Asia-Pacific7.3.3.1 Overview7.3.3.2 by Country (China, India, Japan, Southeast Asia etc.)7.3.4 South America7.3.4.1 Overview7.3.4.2 by Country (Brazil, Argentina etc.)7.3.5 Middle East & Africa7.3.5.1 Overview7.3.5.2 by Country (Saudi Arabia, South Africa etc.)7.4 Regional Forecast8 Marketing & Price8.1 Price and Margin8.1.1 Price Trends8.1.2 Factors of Price Change8.1.3 Manufacturers Gross Margin Analysis8.2 Value Chain8.3 Marketing Channel9 Research Conclusion Table Upstream Segment of Luxury CarsBrowse full Report @About Us:Wise Guy Reports Is Part Of The Wise Guy Consultants Pvt. Ltd. And Offers Premium Progressive Statistical Surveying, Market Research Reports, Analysis & Forecast Data For Industries And Governments Around The Globe. Wise Guy Reports Features An Exhaustive List Of Market Research Reports From Hundreds Of Publishers Worldwide. We Boast A Database Spanning Virtually Every Market Category And An Even More Comprehensive Collection Of Market Research Reports Under These Categories And Sub-Categories.Contact Us:Wise Guy Research Consultants Pvt Ltdsales@wiseguyreports.comPh: +1-646-845-9349 (US)Ph: +44 208 133 9349 (UK)Maharashtra, Pune  411028
Smart Pills Market Size Study by Application (Capsule Endoscopy, Drug Delivery, and Patient Monitoring) - Business Overview and Forecasts to 2025

Smart Pills

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Smart Pills Market report offers a detailed Outlook and future prospects of the Smart Pills Industry with analysis of major players that helps Industry experts, analysts and business decision makers to decide their business strategies and achieve proposed business aims.Global Smart Pills Market industry valued approximately USD 809 million in 2016 is anticipated to grow with a healthy growth rate of more than 16.10% over the forecast period 2017-2025. The rising demands of focus on patients ease, minimally invasive procedures, and technological advancements like miniaturization of IC include the key aspects that would control the growth of the industry.Get Free Sample Copy of Report atThe objective of the study is to define market sizes of different segments & countries in previous years and to forecast the values to the next eight years. The report is designed to incorporate both qualitative and quantitative aspects of the industry with respect to each of the regions and countries involved in the study. Furthermore, the report also caters the detailed information about the crucial aspects such as drivers & restraining factors which will define the future growth of the market. Additionally, it will also incorporate the opportunities available in micro markets for stakeholders to invest, detailed analysis of competitive landscape and product offerings of key players.Some of the key manufacturers involved in the market are Medtronic, Proteus Digital Health, Olympus Corp., MediSafe, Given Imaging Inc., Medimetrics S.A. de C.V., Bio-Images Research Ltd., and CapsoVision. New product launches focus on continuous technology innovations, acquisitions, and effective mergers are some of the strategies adopted by the key manufacturers. The companies are also trying to dominate the market by offering upgraded versions of currently being used devices.The detailed segments and sub-segment of the market are explained below:Application:Capsule EndoscopyDrug DeliveryPatient MonitoringTarget Area:EsophagusStomachSmall IntestineLarge IntestineBrowse Complete Report atTable of ContentChapter 1. Research MethodologyChapter 2. Global Smart Pills Market Definition & ScopeChapter 3. Executive SummaryChapter 4. Global Smart Pills Industry DynamicsChapter 5. Global Smart Pills Market by ApplicationChapter 6. Global Smart Pills Market by Target AreaChapter 7. Global Smart Pills Market, Regional AnalysisChapter 8. Competitive IntelligencePlace Order This Report atNote: If you have any special requirements, please let us know and we will offer you the report as you want.Contact Info:Name: Research For MarketsEmail: alan.naidu@researchformarkets.comPhone: +44 8000-4182-37Research For Markets indulge in detailed and diligent research on different markets, trends and emerging opportunities in the successive direction to cater to your business needs. We have established the pillars of our flourishing institute on the grounds of Credibility and Reliability. RFM delve into the markets across Asia Pacific, North America, South America, Europe, Middle East And Africa.Level 21, Dashwood House69 Old Broad StreetLondon EC2M 1QS, United Kingdom
Global Ion Exchange Resins Market 2018 Size (Value & Volume) by Manufacturers, Type, Application and Region

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Qyresearchreports include new market research report "Global Ion Exchange Resins Market Research Report 2018" to its huge collection of research reports.This report studies the global Ion Exchange Resins market status and forecast, categorizes the global Ion Exchange Resins market size (value & volume) by manufacturers, type, application, and region. This report focuses on the top manufacturers in North America, Europe, Japan, China and other regions (India, Southeast Asia, Central & South America, and Middle East & Africa).The dynamics of the global Ion Exchange Resins market is altering at a fast pace. Focusing on these changes, this research study presents an in-depth assessment of the performance of this market during the period from 2018 to 2025. In this research report, experts have determined the attractiveness of this market with the help of various significant analytical tools, such as investment return analysis and market feasibility assessment. The future status of the worldwide market for Ion Exchange Resins has also been predicted by them on the basis of results attained from these evaluations.Fill the form to get free sample report on this market @These assessments also help in the expansion of the worldwide market for Ion Exchange Resins and provide a clear picture of the impacts of various crucial strategies implemented by leading market participants for the expansion of their businesses over the past few years.The major manufacturers covered in this reportDow ChemicalLanxessMitsubishi ChemicalPuroliteResinTechSamyangFINEX OyIon Exchange (India) LimitedSuqing GroupGeographically, this report studies the top producers and consumers, focuses on product capacity, production, value, consumption, market share and growth opportunity in these key regions, coveringNorth AmericaEuropeChinaJapanSoutheast AsiaIndiaOther Regions (India, Southeast Asia, Central & South America and Middle East & Africa)The research report further examines the competitive landscape of the global market for Ion Exchange Resins by studying the company profiles of the major market participants thoroughly. It also categorizes the market into various segments on the basis of a number of major market factors. The industry chain and the government policies and regulations that influence the demand for Ion Exchange Resins have also been studied at length in this report.In conclusion, the report examines the worldwide market for Ion Exchange Resins on the basis of the availability of products. The volume of production, products pricing, and the revenue generated in the overall market are the key factors, based on which analysts determine the performance of this market. The sales dynamics and the production chain have also been assessed in this research report.The main objective of this report is to provide a clear picture of the global market for Ion Exchange Resins to participants and help them in preparing apt strategies to attain a competitive edge over their rivals.Complete table of content is available at:Table of Contents1 Ion Exchange Resins Market Overview1.1 Product Overview and Scope of Ion Exchange Resins1.2 Ion Exchange Resins Segment by Type (Product Category)1.3 Global Ion Exchange Resins Segment by Application1.4 Global Ion Exchange Resins Market by Region (2013-2025)1.5 Global Market Size (Value) of Ion Exchange Resins (2013-2025)1.5.1 Global Ion Exchange Resins Revenue Status and Outlook (2013-2025)1.5.2 Global Ion Exchange Resins Capacity, Production Status and Outlook (2013-2025)2 Global Ion Exchange Resins Market Competition by Manufacturers2.1 Global Ion Exchange Resins Capacity, Production and Share by Manufacturers (2013-2018)2.2 Global Ion Exchange Resins Revenue and Share by Manufacturers (2013-2018)2.3 Global Ion Exchange Resins Average Price by Manufacturers (2013-2018)2.4 Manufacturers Ion Exchange Resins Manufacturing Base Distribution, Sales Area and Product Type2.5 Ion Exchange Resins Market Competitive Situation and TrendsList of Tables and FiguresFigure Picture of Ion Exchange ResinsFigure Global Ion Exchange Resins Production (K MT) and CAGR (%) Comparison by Types (Product Category) (2013-2025)Figure Global Ion Exchange Resins Production Market Share by Types (Product Category) in 2017Figure North America Ion Exchange Resins Revenue (Million USD) and Growth Rate (2013-2025)Figure Europe Ion Exchange Resins Revenue (Million USD) and Growth Rate (2013-2025)Figure China Ion Exchange Resins Revenue (Million USD) and Growth Rate (2013-2025)Figure Japan Ion Exchange Resins Revenue (Million USD) and Growth Rate (2013-2025)Figure Southeast Asia Ion Exchange Resins 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: +1-518-621-2074Web:
Poly BAT Market Analysis 2018 (By Segment, Key Players and Applications) and Forecasts To 2023

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Market Synopsis of Poly (Butylene Adipate-Co-Terephthalate)Poly (Butylene Adipate-Co-Terephthalate) (PBAT) is a plastic produced from 1, 4 butanediols, dimethyl terephthalate and adipic acid. It is transparent, biodegradable, and compostable in nature and can be used in extrusion and injection molding processes. Globally, PBAT has a range of applications as composite bags, bin bags, mulch films, cling films, stabilizers, and others with the end use in industry such as packaging, agriculture & fishery, consumer goods, coatings, and others.GET SAMPLE REPORT @The global PBAT market is being driven by various factors such as increasing application in packaging industry coupled with rising government policies toward green procurement. A significant increase in the plastic packaging production and sales, specifically in emerging economies of Europe, the Asia Pacific and Latin America such as France, Germany, the U.K, Italy, China, India, Thailand, South Korea, Brazil, Mexico, and Argentina are set to propel the market growth over the forecast period. Better economic situation and consumer preference toward environment-friendly products have resulted in the increasing demand for PBAT. In addition to this, the major initiatives taken by the government and non-government organizations across the globe towards reducing pollution is set to uplift the demand over the next seven years. As per the MRFR analysis, the global PBAT market is estimated to reach USD 636.96 million by 2023 at a CAGR of 14.89% over the forecast period due to aforementioned factors that fuel the overall market.Regional AnalysisThe scope of the global PBAT market study includes the value market size and a detailed analysis of vendor products and strategies. The report covers North America, Latin America, Asia Pacific, Europe and the Middle East & Africa. Europe is the largest market followed by North America and the Asia Pacific. The European region offers a huge growth potential to PBAT market and is slated to register the highest CAGR of 15.01% to reach USD 285.4 million by 2023 owing to the growing consumer demand for products with a reduced environmental impact in the region. Asia Pacific region is estimated to witness a CAGR of 14.9% during the forecast period due to the improved agriculture sector and increasing industrial investment in the developing economies in the region. Turkeys PBAT consumption market was USD 0.92 million in 2016 and is accounted for largest market share in the Middle East & Africa. The region is expected to witness a CAGR of 14.08% due to rising use of PBAT in various applications such as composite bags, mulch films, and bin bags.SegmentationGlobal PBAT market is segmented based on application, end-user, and region. Based on the application, PBAT market is segmented into composite bags, bin bags, mulch films, cling films, stabilizers, and others. In terms of the end user, the global PBAT market is divided into packaging, agriculture & fishery, consumer goods, coatings, and others. Based on the regions, the market is segmented into North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, Latin America and the Middle East & Africa.Key PlayersSome of the key players in the global PBAT market are Lotte Fine Chemical Co., Ltd., BASF SE, SK Chemicals, Novamont S.p.A., Eastman Chemical Company, WILLEAP, Jinhui Zhaolong High Technology, Jiangsu Torise biomaterials co., ltd, and Far Eastern New Century Corporation.Geographic AnalysisThe report covers brief analysis of geographical region such as: North Americao USo Canada Europeo Germanyo U.Ko Russiao Italyo Franceo Rest of Europe Asia Pacifico Chinao Japano Indiao South Koreao Rest of Asia Pacific Latin Americao Brazilo Mexicoo Rest of Latin America The Middle East & Africao Turkeyo Israelo Rest of Middle East & AfricaKey FindingsGlobal PBAT market is projected to reach USD 636.96 million by 2023 at a CAGR of 14.89% during the review period 2017-2023. Based on value and volume, Europe accounted for the largest regional market share of around 44.5%. Based on end user, packaging segment accounted for the largest share of 62.0% in 2016, with a market value of USD 150.43 million and is projected to grow at the highest CAGR of 15.03% due to the excellent fit of properties of PBAT in the packaging market.Intended Audience Poly (Butylene Adipate-Co-Terephthalate) (PBAT) manufacturers Traders and distributors of Poly (Butylene Adipate-Co-Terephthalate) (PBAT) Production process industries Potential investors Raw material suppliersDC Description PBAT Poly (Butylene Adipate-Co-Terephthalate) Polybutarate Biodegradable plastics Biodegradable mulch film Biodegradable plastic bag Green plastic Environment friendly plastics Low VOC plastics Biodegradable film Green film PBAT mulch filmTable of Content: Key Points1 Report Prologue2 Market Definition3 Research Methodology4 Market DynamicsContinuedACCESS REPORT @Get in touch:LinkedIn:Twitter:Facebook: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 needs.WISE GUY RESEARCH CONSULTANTS PVT LTDOffice No. 528, Amanora ChambersPune - 411028Maharashtra, India
Petfood Packaging Market in Europe Will Reach At CAGR Of 7.15% Between 2017-2021

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"The Latest Research Report Petfood Packaging Market in Europe 2017-2021 provides information on pricing, market analysis, shares, forecast, and company profiles for key industry participants. - MarketResearchReports.biz"Petfood packaging ensures high barrier packaging for protecting the petfood from moisture and oxidization. It is useful in resisting greasing and odor in petfood. The different types of raw materials that are used in the petfood packaging market include plastic (both flexible and rigid), folding carton, and metal. Pouches, metal cans, and multiwall bags are expected to witness a steady growth rate during the forecast period, pouches being the most popular.Technavios analysts forecast the petfood packaging market in Europe to grow at a CAGR of 7.15% during the period 2017-2021.Covered in this reportThe report covers the present scenario and the growth prospects of the petfood packaging market in Europe for 2017-2021. The report presents a detailed picture of the market by way of study, synthesis, and summation of data from multiple sources.The market is divided into the following segments based on geography:Eastern EuropeWestern EuropeGet Sample Copy of this report @Technavio's report, Petfood Packaging Market in Europe 2017-2021, has been prepared based on an in-depth market analysis with inputs from industry experts. The report covers the market landscape and its growth prospects over the coming years. The report also includes a discussion of the key vendors operating in this market.Key vendorsAmcorBemisMondiSonocoOther prominent vendorsArdaghCCLCoverisDS SmithPrintpackMarket driverRise in demand for convenient and pouch packagingFor a full, detailed list, view our reportMarket challengeIncreased raw material pricesFor a full, detailed list, view our reportMarket trendPremium petfood packagingFor 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?You can request one free hour of our analysts time when you purchase this market report. Details are provided within the report.Send An Enquiry Request @Table of ContentsPART 01: EXECUTIVE SUMMARYPART 02: SCOPE OF THE REPORTPART 03: RESEARCH METHODOLOGYPART 04: INTRODUCTIONMarket outlinePART 05: MARKET LANDSCAPEMarket overviewMarket size and forecastFive forces analysisPART 06: MARKET SEGMENTATION BY MATERIAL TYPEPetfood packaging market in Europe by material typeComparison by productPlastic market size and forecastFolding cartons market size and forecastMetal market size and forecastMarket opportunity by productPART 07: REGIONAL LANDSCAPEGeographical segmentationWestern Europe market size and forecastEastern Europe market size and forecastKey leading countriesMarket opportunityPART 08: DECISION FRAMEWORKPART 09: DRIVERS AND CHALLENGESMarket driversMarket challengesPART 10: MARKET TRENDSPremium petfood packagingRising demand for resealable bagsSustainable petfood packagingRise in demand for pouch packagingPART 11: VENDOR LANDSCAPECompetitive scenarioAmcorBemisMondiSonocoOther prominent vendorsAbout usMarketResearchReports.biz is the most comprehensive collection of market research reports. MarketResearchReports.Biz services are specially designed to save time and money for our clients. We are a one stop solution for all your research needs, our main offerings are syndicated research reports, custom research, subscription access and consulting services. We serve all sizes and types of companies spanning across various industries.ContactMr. NachiketState Tower90 Sate Street, Suite 700Albany, NY 12207Tel: +1-518-621-2074Website:E: sales@marketresearchreports.biz
Yeastar Adds Auto Provisioning Support for More Snom VoIP Phones

Snom and Yeastar enhance interoperability

www.yeastar.com),

https://www.snom.com),

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www.snom.com

XIAMEN, CHINA / BERLIN, GERMANY  4 June 2018 - Yeastar (a leading manufacturer of VoIP PBX systems and VoIP Gateways, and Snom Technology GmbH (a leading German manufacturer of SIP-based telephones, today jointly announced the enhanced interoperability partnership, integrating the best of breed PBX and IP phone technologies.Yeastar auto provisioning support of Snom devices dates back to its first-generation MyPBX. Investing resources and energies, Yeastar and Snom spared no efforts to guarantee interoperability. Now, the full range of Snom IP phones, including the latest Snom D785 advanced desk phone and C520 WiMi conference phone with DECT microphones, have successfully passed all interoperability tests with the Yeastar S-Series VoIP PBX and can be automatically provisioned easily and quickly.Were excited to further expand our long-term partnership with Snom, said Alan Shen, CEO of Yeastar, As more and more companies and telcos choose Snom IP phones, this auto provisioning support in Yeastar S-Series PBX is both essential and welcome to our joint customers. Yeastar and Snom are also working on bringing Snom auto provisioning support to the latest Yeastar Cloud PBX offer. Snoms Head of Interop and Integration, Mark Wiegleb, is also very excited about the closer partnership with Yeastar: The Yeastar S-Series PBX is cutting edge business telephony technology and works in perfect tandem with the Snom range of IP desk phones and IP conferencing devices. With the Snom product portfolio continuing to expand as part of our aim to become the worlds number one IP phone manufacturer, its great to have interop partners such as Yeastar.You can see Snom and Yeastars products and meet the teams in person at this years CeBIT in Hanover, Germany between 11-15 June 2018 on Stand C84(Snom), and Stand D134(Yeastar), Hall 13.About YeastarYeastar specializes in the design and development of innovative telecommunications equipment, including VoIP PBX systems and VoIP gateways for the SMB. Founded in 2006, Yeastar has established itself as a global leader in the telecommunications industry with a global partner network and over 100,000 customers worldwide. Yeastar products have been consistently recognized in the industry for their high performance and innovation. For more information about Yeastar or to become a Yeastar partner, please visitAbout SnomA leading global premium brand for innovative professional and enterprise VoIP phones, Snom is headquartered in Berlin, Germany. Founded in 1997, Snom is a pioneer in the VoIP industry, launching the worlds first IP phone in 2001. Today, Snoms product portfolio meets the full spectrum of business communications requirements of call centers, conference rooms and executive management through to safety-conscious industrial environments.A subsidiary of VTech Holdings Limited since 2016, Snom has offices in Italy, the UK, France and Taiwan and enjoys an excellent global reputation in the Voice-over-IP market. Snoms products are renowned for their technical innovation, aesthetic design, user-friendliness and outstanding audio quality. The current product portfolio is universally compatible with all leading PBX platforms and Snom products have won numerous awards around the world from independent experts.Engineered in Germany, Snoms IP solutions also make an excellent choice for vertical markets, such as healthcare and education, when searching for specialized solutions in business communications, IoT and smart technologies.Visitto find out more about Snom Technology GmbHunited communications GmbHPeter LinkRotherstr. 1910245 BerlinTel.: +49 30 78 90 76  0snom@united.deSnom Technology GmbHHeike CantzlerHead of MarketingWittestrae 30G13509 Berlinmarketing@snom.com
Global Smart Mining Market Analysis and Growth Trends during 2017-2025

MRRSE

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https://www.mrrse.com/smart-mining-industry

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In order to study the various trends and patterns prevailing in the overall market for smart mining, Market Research Reports Search Engine (MRRSE) has included a new report titled Global Smart Mining Market to its wide online database. This research assessment offers a clear insight about the influential factors that are expected to transform the global market in the near future. Readers can access the regional as well as segment-wise analysis for acquiring precise information about the global market structure.Click to get Sample PDF:Global Smart Mining Market: Segmental AnalysisThis research study categorizes the worldwide market for smart mining into service, software solution, region, automated equipment, hardware component. Based on service, the report divides the smart mining market into consulting services, support and maintenance, Automated Equipment training services, and system integration and implementation services. In terms of region, the study categorizes the smart mining market into Japan, South and Central America, North America, MEA, and Asia Pacific. On the basis of software solution, the report segregated the international smart mining market into asset management solutions, logistics software, remote management solutions, safety and security systems, analytics solutions, and connectivity solutions. Based on hardware component, the study segmented the market into intelligent systems, sensors, RFID tags, and other hardware component. On account of automated equipment, the report divided the market into drillers & breakers, excavators, robotic truck, load haul dump and others. The report also highlight the analysis of the market on the basis of each regional segments and provide opportunity for the new entrants in the five regions. Furthermore, the report also provide market attractiveness index, enabling the client to obtain information on competitive landscape of the smart mining market around the world as well as key findings.View Complete TOC with Tables and Figures at:Global Smart Mining Market: Key Player InsightsThis portion of the report highlights the key companies functioning in the global market for smart mining. The report analysis the global smart mining market on the basis of various parameters which include financial overview, product portfolios, SWOT analysis, and recent growth in the market. The final section of the report also highlights the key opportunity in the smart mining market along with the trends and important business strategies of prominent players, enabling the reader to get the scope of the present nature and future status of the smart mining market across the globe. The report also features companies operating in the global smart mining market such as Alcatel-Lucent, IntelliSense.io, Rockwell Automation, Inc., Sandvik AB, Hitachi Construction Machinery Co., Ltd., Trimble Navigation Limited, Cisco Systems, Inc., Komatsu Ltd., SAP SE, HEXAGON, STONE THREE MINING PTY LTD, Caterpillar Inc., SYMBOTICWARE INC., Atlas Copco, Alastri, and ABB Ltd.About MRRSEMarket Research Reports Search Engine (MRRSE) is an industry-leading database of market intelligence reports. MRRSE is driven by a stellar team of research experts and advisors trained to offer objective advice. Our sophisticated search algorithm returns results based on the report title, geographical region, publisher, or other keywords.MRRSE partners exclusively with leading global publishers to provide clients single-point access to top-of-the-line market research. MRRSEs repository is updated every day to keep its clients ahead of the next new trend in market research, be it competitive intelligence, product or service trends or strategic consulting.ContactState Tower90, State Street Suite 700Albany, NY  12207 (United States)Telephone: +1-518-730-0559Email: sales@mrrse.comWebsite:
Non-Small Cell Lung cancer - Market Demand, Growth, Opportunity and Forecast 2018 - 2023

Global Non-Small Cell Lung cancer Industry

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Global Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer IndustryNew Study on 2018-2023 Non-Small Cell Lung cancer Market Global Key Player, Demand, Growth, Opportunities and Analysis Forecast added to Wise Guy Reports DatabaseNon-small cell lung cancer market is anticipated to grow at a CAGR of 8.6% by 2023. Lung cancer starts when cells of the lung become abnormal and begin to grow out of control. As more cancer cells develop, they form into a tumor and spread to other areas of the body. The non-small cell lung cancer is a type of lung cancer. Several factors that cause lung cancer include pollution, smoking, passive smoking and other factors. Hereditary causes of cancer is another factor that drives the global non-small cell lung cancer diagnostics and therapeutics market.Try Sample Report @Rising pollution due to the amount of carbon particles inhaled by humans cause several problems including lung cancer. Several factors that drive the market include robust healthcare expenditure within developed countries, increasing pollution, government initiatives for lung cancer, and rising cases of smoking. There are several signs and symptoms of lung cancer such as coughing up blood, weight loss, chest pain, shortness of breath and others. According to the National Cancer Institute, an estimated number of deaths due to lung cancer was around 155,000 in 2017.The non-small cell lung cancer diagnosis and therapeutics market has been segmented based on by type, by treatment, by diagnosis, by stages and by end user. On the basis of type, the market has been bifurcated into squamous cell carcinoma, large cell carcinoma, adenocarcinoma and others. According to therapy, the market is segmented into chemotherapy, targeted therapy, radiation therapy, surgery, cryosurgery and others. Based on diagnosis, the market has been bifurcated into CT-scan, X-rays, laboratory test, bronchoscopy, sputum cytology, thoracoscopy and others. On the basis of end user, the market has been bifurcated into multispecialty hospitals and cancer research centers.Geographically, the worldwide non-small cell lung cancer diagnosis and therapeutics market is divided into North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, and Rest of the World. Asia Pacific market is considered to be the fastest growing market globally. The rise in the number of cancer patients in the APAC region is considered to rise eventually enabling the lung cancer diagnosis and therapeutics market to grow. North America and Europe are considered to be the dominating markets due to various factors such as high healthcare expenditure, development in technology, support from government, rise in key players and various other factors.The key players in the non-small cell lung cancer diagnosis and therapeutics market include Astrazeneca PLC, Eli lilly and company Sanofi-Aventis, Arqule Inc, Daiichi Sankyo co. Ltd, Celgene, Merck, Pfizer, Ventana, Roche, Genentech, Glaxosmith, Boehringer, Novartis, Bayer, Bristol-Myers Squibb, Eisai, AbbVie, Pharmacyclics.MARKET SEGMENTATION:Global non-small cell lung cancer diagnosis and therapeutics market is segmented on the basis of, type, by therapies, by, diagnosis, by end user and regional outlook.Global Non-Small Cell Lung cancer diagnosis and therapeutics Market Research and Analysis, By TypeGlobal Non-Small Cell Lung cancer diagnosis and therapeutics Market Research and Analysis, By TherapiesGlobal Non-Small Cell Lung cancer diagnosis and therapeutics Market Research and Analysis, By DiagnosisGlobal Non-Small Cell Lung cancer diagnosis and therapeutics Market Research and Analysis, By End UserGlobal Non-Small Cell Lung cancer diagnosis and therapeutics Market Research and Analysis, By RegionTHE REPORTS COVERS:Comprehensive research methodology of Global Non-Small Cell Lung cancer diagnosis and therapeuticsThis report also includes detailed and extensive market overview with key analyst insights.Exhaustive analysis of macro and micro factors influencing the market guided by key recommendations.Analysis of regional regulations and other government policies impacting the Global Non-Small Cell Lung cancer diagnosis and therapeuticsInsights about market determinants which are stimulating the Global Non-Small Cell Lung cancer diagnosis and therapeuticsDetailed and extensive market segments with regional distribution of forecasted revenues.Extensive profiles and recent developments of market players.For Detailed Reading Please visit WiseGuy Reports @Some points from table of content:1. REPORT SUMMARY1.1. RESEARCH METHODS AND TOOLS1.2. MARKET BREAKDOWN1.2.1. BY SEGMENTS1.2.2. BY GEOGRAPHY1.2.3. BY STAKEHOLDERS2. MARKET OVERVIEW AND INSIGHTS2.1. DEFINITION2.2. ANALYST INSIGHTS & CURRENT MARKET TRENDS2.2.1. KEY FINDINGS2.2.2. RECOMMENDATION2.2.3. CONCLUSION2.3. REGULATIONS2.3.1. UNITED STATES2.3.2. EUROPEAN UNION2.3.3. CHINA2.3.4. INDIA2.3.5. REST OF THE WORLD2.4. PATENT ANALYSIS3. MARKET DETERMINANT3.1. MOTIVATORS3.1.1. RISING UTILIZATION OF COMBINE THERAPIES3.1.2. GOVERNMENT INITIATIVES FOR IMPROVING THE AWARENESS AMONG INDIVIDUALS3.1.3. RISING LEVELS POLLUTION DUE TO URBANIZATION INCREASES CASES OF LUNG CANCER3.1.4. HIGH PREVALANCE OF LUNG CANCER AND LUNG RELATED ISSUES DUE SMOKING3.1.5. INVESTMENTS IN CANCER DRUG DISCOVERY AND BIOMARKER IDENTIFICATION3.2. RESTRAINTS3.2.1. HIGH COST ASSOCIATED WITH LUNG CANCER THERAPIES3.2.2. UNMET NEED & DIAGNOSIS IN UNDER DEVELOPED NATION3.2.3. ADVERSE EFFECTS OF DRUGS DURING TREATMENT3.3. OPPORTUNITIES3.3.1. R&D IN THE THERAPIES AND DRUGS3.3.2. STRATEGIC ALLIANCE FOR LATE-STAGE PIPELINE4. MARKET SEGMENTATION4.1. GLOBAL NON-SMALL CELL LUNG CANCER DIAGNOSIS AND THERAPEUTICS MARKET, BY TYPE4.1.1. ADENOCARCINOMAS4.1.2. SQUAMOUS CELL CARCINOMA4.1.3. LARGE CELL CARCINOMAS4.1.4. OTHERS4.2. GLOBAL NON-SMALL CELL LUNG CANCER DIAGNOSIS AND THERAPEUTICS MARKET, BY THERAPY4.2.1. CHEMOTHERAPY4.2.2. TARGETED THERAPY4.2.3. RADIATION THERAPY4.2.4. SURGERY4.2.5. CRYOSURGERY4.2.6. OTHERS4.3. GLOBAL NON-SMALL CELL LUNG CANCER DIAGNOSIS AND THERAPEUTICS MARKET, BY DIAGNOSIS4.3.1. CT SCAN4.3.2. X-RAYS4.3.3. SPUTUM CYTOLOGY4.3.4. BRONCHOSCOPY4.3.5. LABORATORY TESTS4.3.6. THORACOSCOPY4.3.7. OTHERS4.4. GLOBAL NON-SMALL CELL LUNG CANCER DIAGNOSIS AND THERAPEUTICS MARKET, BY END USER4.4.1. MULTISPECIALITY HOSPITALS4.4.2. CANCER RESEARCH CENTERS5. COMPETITIVE LANDSCAPE5.1. STRATEGY ANALYSIS5.2. KEY COMPANY ANALYSIS6. REGIONAL ANALYSIS6.1. NORTH AMERICA6.1.1. UNITED STATES6.1.2. CANADA6.2. EUROPE6.2.1. UNITED KINGDOM6.2.2. FRANCE6.2.3. GERMANY6.2.4. ITALY6.2.5. SPAIN6.2.6. REST OF EUROPE6.3. ASIA PACIFIC6.3.1. INDIA6.3.2. CHINA6.3.3. JAPAN6.4. REST OF THE WORLD7. COMPANY PROFILES7.1. ABBVIE7.2. ARQULE INC.7.3. ASTRAZENECA PLC7.4. BAYER7.5. BOEHRINGER7.6. BRISTOL-MYERS SQUIBB7.7. CELGENEContinued.Exclusive discount up to 25 % (Offer valid till 31st July, 2018)Check Discount on this report @About 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:
Pet Insurance Market 2018: Global Industry Top Key Players (Petplan UK (Allianz), Nationwide, Trupanion, Petplan North America(Allianz) and Hartville Group)

Research for Markets

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The report provides a comprehensive analysis of the Pet Insurance industry market by types, applications, players and regions. This report also displays the 2013-2023 production, Consumption, revenue, Gross margin, Cost, Gross, market share, CAGR, and Market influencing factors of the Pet Insurance industry in USA, EU, China, India, Japan and other regionsLooking for More Information on This Market Get Free Sample Report @Market Analysis by Players: This report includes following top vendors in terms of company basic information, product category, sales (volume), revenue (Million USD), price and gross margin (%).Petplan UK (Allianz)NationwideTrupanionPetplan NorthAmerica(Allianz)Hartville GroupPethealthPetfirstEmbraceRoyal & Sun Alliance (RSA)Direct Line GroupAgriaPetsecurePetSureAnicom Holdingipet InsuranceJapan Animal ClubMarket Analysis by Regions: Each geographical region is analyzed as Sales, Market Share (%) by Types & Applications, Production, Consumption, Imports & Exports Analysis, and Consumption Forecast.USAEuropeJapanChinaIndiaSoutheast AsiaSouth AmericaSouth AfricaOthersMarket Analysis by Types: Each type is studied as Sales, Market Share (%), Revenue (Million USD), Price, Gross Margin and more similar information.Lifetime CoverNon-lifetime CoverAccident-onlyOtherMarket Analysis by Applications: Each application is studied as Sales and Market Share (%), Revenue (Million USD), Price, Gross Margin and more similar information.DogCatOtherThe report is available on discount for a limited time only @Table of Content1 Pet Insurance Market Overview1.1 Product Overview of Pet Insurance1.2 Classification of Pet Insurance1.3 Applications of Pet Insurance1.4 Global Pet Insurance Market Regional Analysis2 Global Pet Insurance Competitions by Players2.1 Global Pet Insurance Sales (Unit) and Market Share (%) by Players2.2 Global Pet Insurance Revenue (Million USD) and Share by Players (2017-2018)2.3 Global Pet Insurance Price (USD/Unit) by Players (2017-2018)2.4 Global Pet Insurance Gross Margin by Players (2017-2018)3 Global Pet Insurance Competitions by Types3.1 Global Pet Insurance Sales (Unit) and Market Share (%) by Types3.2 Global Pet Insurance Revenue (Million USD) and Share by Type (2013-2018)3.3 Global Pet Insurance Price (USD/Unit) by Type (2013-2018)3.4 Global Pet Insurance Gross Margin by Type (2013-2018)4 Global Pet Insurance Competitions by Applications4.1 Global Pet Insurance Sales (Unit) and Market Share (%) by Applications4.2 Global Pet Insurance Revenue (Million USD) and Share by Applications (2013-2018)4.3 Global Pet Insurance Price (USD/Unit) by Applications (2013-2018)4.4 Global Pet Insurance Gross Margin by Applications (2013-2018)5 Global Pet Insurance Production Market Analysis by Regions5.1 Global Pet Insurance Production (Unit) and Market Share (%) by Regions5.2 Global Pet Insurance Production Value (Million USD) and Share by Region (2013-2018)5.3 Global Pet Insurance Price (USD/Unit) by Region (2013-2018)5.4 Global Pet Insurance Gross Margin by Region (2013-2018)6 Global Pet Insurance Sales Market Analyses by Region6.1 USA Pet Insurance Market Consumption Present Situation Analysis6.2 Europe Pet Insurance Market Consumption Present Situation Analysis6.3 China Pet Insurance Market Consumption Present Situation Analysis6.4 Japan Pet Insurance Market Consumption Present Situation Analysis7 Imports and Exports Market Analysis7.1 USA Pet Insurance Imports and Exports Analysis (2013-2018)7.2 Europe Pet Insurance Imports and Exports Analysis (2013-2018)7.3 China Pet Insurance Imports and Exports Analysis (2013-2018)7.4 Japan Pet Insurance Imports and Exports Analysis (2013-2018)8 Global Pet Insurance Players Profiles and Sales DataLooking for more insights from this report @About Research for Markets:Research for Markets indulges in detailed and diligent research on different markets, trends and emerging opportunities in the successive direction to cater to your business needs. We have established the pillars of our flourishing institute on the grounds of Credibility and Reliability. RFM delve into the markets across Asia Pacific, North America, South America, Europe, Middle East and Africa.Our purpose is to serve you, the most customized in-depth Market access data. Our plethora of titles made us one of the most searched market research library across the globe. We work with the most esteemed Publishers around the globe who caters vast industries. We are quick and fragile, when it comes to your various queries, and we ensure our team caters your needs to the best of our abilities, we promise to stay by your side for both pre and post sales servicing, as we believe in long everlasting symbiotic relationship.Contact:Mr. A NaiduResearch for MarketsTel: +44 8000-4182-37 (UK)Email: alan.naidu@researchformarkets.com
Facial Treatment 2018 Global Market Key Players : Solta Medical Inc., Cynosure Inc., Strata Skin Sciences Inc.

Global Facial Treatment Market Analysis, Global Facial Treatment Market Growth, Global Facial Treatment Market Trend

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Global Facial Treatment MarketDescription:-Wiseguyreports.Com Adds Global Facial Treatment Market 2018: Global Analysis, Industry Size, Share, Trends, Application Analysis and Growth Opportunities Forecast to 2023 To Its Research DatabaseThe global Facial Treatment market will reach xxx Million USD in 2017 and CAGR xx% 2011-2017. The report begins from overview of Industry Chain structure, and describes industry environment, then analyses market size and forecast of Facial Treatment by product, region and application, in addition, this report introduces market competition situation among the vendors and company profile, besides, market price analysis and value chain features are covered in this report.Product Type Coverage (Market Size & Forecast, Major Company of Product Type etc.):Ultrasound DevicesLaser-based DevicesRF DevicesIPL DevicesLED DevicesCompany Coverage (Sales Revenue, Price, Gross Margin, Main Products etc.):Solta Medical Inc.Lumenis Ltd.Cynosure Inc.Cutera Inc.Strata Skin Sciences Inc.Syneron Medical Ltd.Lutronic CorporationSciton Inc.Alma Lasers Ltd.Lynton Lasers Ltd.Venus Concept Canada CorporationFotona d.d.Request a sample copy @Application Coverage (Market Size & Forecast, Different Demand Market by Region, Main Consumer Profile etc.):Dermatology ClinicsBeauty SalonOthersRegion Coverage (Regional Output, Demand & Forecast by Countries etc.):North AmericaEuropeAsia-PacificSouth AmericaMiddle East & AfricaTable of Content1 Industry Overview1.1 Facial Treatment Industry1.1.1 Overview1.1.2 Development of Facial Treatment1.2 Market Segment1.2.1 Upstream1.2.2 Downstream1.3 Cost Analysis2 Industry Environment2.1 Policy2.2 Economics2.3 Sociology2.4 Technology3 Facial Treatment Market by Type3.1 By Type3.1.1 Ultrasound Devices3.1.2 Laser-based Devices3.1.3 RF Devices3.1.4 IPL Devices3.1.5 LED Devices3.2 Market Size3.3 Market Forecast4 Major Companies List4.1 Solta Medical Inc. (Company Profile, Sales Data etc.)4.2 Lumenis Ltd. (Company Profile, Sales Data etc.)4.3 Cynosure Inc. (Company Profile, Sales Data etc.)4.4 Cutera Inc. (Company Profile, Sales Data etc.)4.5 Strata Skin Sciences Inc. (Company Profile, Sales Data etc.)4.6 Syneron Medical Ltd. (Company Profile, Sales Data etc.)4.7 Lutronic Corporation (Company Profile, Sales Data etc.)4.8 Sciton Inc. (Company Profile, Sales Data etc.)4.9 Alma Lasers Ltd. (Company Profile, Sales Data etc.)4.10 Lynton Lasers Ltd. (Company Profile, Sales Data etc.)4.11 Venus Concept Canada Corporation (Company Profile, Sales Data etc.)4.12 Fotona d.d. (Company Profile, Sales Data etc.)5 Market Competition5.1 Company Competition5.2 Regional Market by Company6 Market Demand6.1 Demand Situation6.1.1 Demand in Dermatology Clinics6.1.2 Demand in Beauty Salon6.1.3 Demand in Others6.2 Regional Demand Comparison6.3 Demand Forecast7 Region Operation7.1 Regional Output7.2 Regional Market7.3 by Region7.3.1 North America7.3.1.1 Overview7.3.1.2 by Country (U.S., Canada, Mexico)7.3.2 Europe7.3.2.1 Overview7.3.2.2 by Country (Germany, U.K., France, Italy, Russia, Spain etc.)7.3.3 Asia-Pacific7.3.3.1 Overview7.3.3.2 by Country (China, India, Japan, Southeast Asia etc.)7.3.4 South America7.3.4.1 Overview7.3.4.2 by Country (Brazil, Argentina etc.)7.3.5 Middle East & Africa7.3.5.1 Overview7.3.5.2 by Country (Saudi Arabia, South Africa etc.)7.4 Regional Forecast8 Marketing & Price8.1 Price and Margin8.1.1 Price Trends8.1.2 Factors of Price Change8.1.3 Manufacturers Gross Margin Analysis8.2 Value Chain8.3 Marketing Channel9 Research Conclusion Table Upstream Segment of Facial TreatmentBrowse full Report @About Us:Wise Guy Reports Is Part Of The Wise Guy Consultants Pvt. Ltd. And Offers Premium Progressive Statistical Surveying, Market Research Reports, Analysis & Forecast Data For Industries And Governments Around The Globe. Wise Guy Reports Features An Exhaustive List Of Market Research Reports From Hundreds Of Publishers Worldwide. We Boast A Database Spanning Virtually Every Market Category And An Even More Comprehensive Collection Of Market Research Reports Under These Categories And Sub-Categories.Contact Us:Wise Guy Research Consultants Pvt Ltdsales@wiseguyreports.comPh: +1-646-845-9349 (US)Ph: +44 208 133 9349 (UK)Maharashtra, Pune  411028
Mobile Effort Launches Redesigned App Message in Time for Android

https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.mobileffort.msgintime

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How often do people forget to deliver greetings on a friends birthday or a parents anniversary? It has been kept in mind before, but lost during the special day It happens to everyone. Message In Time will provide reliable assistance and saves customers from such problems. The application is designed to send SMS at the expected time in the future. It takes a minute to schedule a message and customers communicate about major things will never be missed.Redesigned app has combined stable functionality and clear, user-friendly and stylish UI. The integrated wizard helps to get a workflow to every customer.The main features: Scheduled SMS is automatically sent on pointed time. Background work. The Application doesnt need to be held in a task list. The program handles everything automatically without any battery draining. Recipients selection. Just input a phone number or a name and application is supported a list of recipients from Contacts. Status indication. States of planned messages are represented by icons that clearly demonstrate state per each message. Wizard. The product is designed with care of customers so the wizard for creating the first scheduled message is integrated into the app. Free. The updated app is free for use and without any annoying advertisement.To get updated free version designed for S Android 5.1 and higher, please, visit Google PlayAt the same time, an old version of Message In Time is available to be installed from company websiteMobile Effort is very excited to receive a feedback about the product. Please, dont hesitate to write issues to me-support@mobileffort.com with a subject Message In Time.About Mobile EffortMobile Effort is a software development company specialized in mobile platforms. The company provides high quality and affordable software development services for mobile devices and web projects.The team of professionals has extensive experience in developing mobile applications for iOS, Android, Windows platforms and Cross-platform apps. The company offers a complete cycle of development  from software idea through designing UX to coding, implementation, rigorous testing, publication and support.Mobile EffortE-mail: me-sales@mobileffort.comPhone: +38 (097) 03 09 097Site:Address: 32 Pushkinska str., office 40461057 Kharkiv, Ukraine
Global Copper Sulphate Market: Share, Growth, Price Trends And Forecast 2018-2023

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The global copper sulphate market has been witnessing a positive growth over the past few years. This can be attributed to the rising use of copper sulphate in the chemical and agricultural industries in the production of fungicides, purification of glass, etc.Copper sulphate, also known as cupric sulphate or CuSO4, is an inorganic compound which combines copper with sulphur. It occurs in different amounts of hydration due to which it is also called bluestone, roman vitriol, vitriol of copper and blue vitriol. The toxicity level of copper sulphate depends on the copper content in the compound. It can be used for several applications and for the production of various products ranging from paints to fungicides. A new research report by IMARC Group, titled Copper Sulphate Market: Global Industry Trends, Share, Size, Growth, Opportunity and Forecast 2018-2023, estimates that the market reached a volume of 362,000 Tons in 2017. The report further anticipates the market to reach a volume of 453,000 Tons by 2023, at a projected CAGR of nearly 4% over the forecast period.Request a free sample copy of the report:Global Copper Sulphate Market Drivers/Constraints:One of the major factors which is driving the growth of the market is the increasing use of copper sulphate in the chemical industry for the purification of glass as well as in the form of a catalyst and as a source of copper.Copper sulphate is a preferred electrolyte for the purpose of various applications such as electro-plating, refining and development of batteries. This is further contributing towards the augmented demand for copper sulphate across the globe.There has been an increase in the usage of copper sulphate in agricultural manufacturing. It is utilised in the several forms which include herbicide, insecticide and fungicide. This is another factor which is positively influencing the growth of the market.Owing to the presence of dioxin in copper sulphate, it becomes toxic if exposed for a longer period of time. This is one of the primary obstacles which is hindering the growth of the global copper sulphate market.End-Use Insights:On the basis of end-use, farming and animal husbandry account for the majority of the total market share, representing the leading end-use segment.Regional Insights:On a geographical front, Asia currently dominates the global copper sulphate market, holding the majority of the share. This is due to a continuous rise in the demand for copper sulphate across developing nations such as India and China. Asia is followed by North America, Europe, Latin America, and Middle East and Africa.To view the report summary and Table of Contents, click on:Import-Export Insights:The report has also analysed the market on the basis of imports and exports. The United States represents the largest importer, whereas, the Russian Federation is the biggest exporter of copper sulphate worldwide.Competitive Landscape:The market is highly fragmented with the presence of numerous small and large manufacturers who compete in terms of prices and quality. Some of the leading players operating in the market are:Lustros IncNEKK Europe LtdXintai Copper Industrial Co. Ltd.Yunnan Copper Company Ltd.SimpLCuprichemOld Bridge Chemicals Inc.UMMCBrowse related reports:Silicones Market Research Report @Naphtha Market Research Report @About UsIMARC Group is a leading market research company that offers management strategy and market research worldwide. We partner with clients in all sectors and regions to identify their highest-value opportunities, address their most critical challenges, and transform their businesses.IMARCs information products include major market, scientific, economic and technological developments for business leaders in pharmaceutical, industrial, and high technology organizations. Market forecasts and industry analysis for biotechnology, advanced materials, pharmaceuticals, food and beverage, travel and tourism, nanotechnology and novel processing methods are at the top of the companys expertise.Contact usIMARC Group309 2nd St, Brooklyn, NY 11215, USAWebsite:Email: sales@imarcgroup.comUSA: +1-631-791-1145Follow us on twitter: @imarcglobal
Softgel Manufacturing Equipment Market Technology, Type and Application Analysis and Forecasts, 2018- 2023

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A softgel is an oral dosage form for medicine similar to capsules. They consist of a gelatin based shell surrounding a liquid fill. Softgel shells are a combination of gelatin, water, opacifier and a plasticiser such as glycerin or sorbitol.Sample Copy of This Report:Scope of the Report:This report focuses on the Softgel Manufacturing Equipment in global market, especially in North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, South America, Middle East and Africa. This report categorizes the market based on manufacturers, regions, types and applications.Market Segment by Manufacturers, this report coversChangsungSKYTechnopharPharmagelGIC EngineeringSankyoKamataBochangTooltronicsLong March TianminMarket 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)Middle East and Africa (Saudi Arabia, UAE, Egypt, Nigeria and South Africa)Market Segment by Type, coversSoft Capsule Encapsulation MachinesSoft Capsule Drying SystemsOther Auxiliary DevicesMarket Segment by Applications, can be divided intoPharmaceuticalHealth SupplementsOthersFull report with Table of Content:There are 15 Chapters to deeply display the global Softgel Manufacturing Equipment market.Chapter 1, to describe Softgel Manufacturing Equipment Introduction, product scope, market overview, market opportunities, market risk, market driving force;Chapter 2, to analyze the top manufacturers of Softgel Manufacturing Equipment, with sales, revenue, and price of Softgel Manufacturing Equipment, 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 Softgel Manufacturing Equipment, 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, Softgel Manufacturing Equipment market forecast, by regions, type and application, with sales and revenue, from 2018 to 2023;Chapter 13, 14 and 15, to describe Softgel Manufacturing Equipment sales channel, distributors, traders, dealers, Research Findings and Conclusion, appendix and data sourceRequest Discount:Market Reports Center is an e-commerce platform obliging the needs of knowledge workers, experts, professionals who are subject to market research information for their work, or to make strategic business decisions. We are dedicated to create a comprehensive offering of market research which is accurate, credible and affordable.Market Reports Center currently has more than 500000 plus titles and 50+ Publishers on our platform and growing consistently. We cover more than 35 industry verticals being: Automotive, Electronics, Manufacturing, Pharmaceuticals, Healthcare, Chemicals, Construction, Agriculture, Food, Beverages, Banking & Finance, Media and Government, Public Sector Studies.AddressHouse 421,Hudson Street,New York,NY 10014,USA
Chemotherapy Induced Nausea and Vomiting CINV Drugs Market Excellent Growth Scope Witnessed in the World

Chemotherapy Induced Nausea and Vomiting CINV Drugs Market to 2023

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A new research study from HTF MI with title Global Chemotherapy Induced Nausea and Vomiting ?CINV? Drugs Market Size, Status and Forecast 2025 provides an in-depth assessment of the Chemotherapy Induced Nausea and Vomiting ?CINV? Drugs including key market trends, upcoming technologies, industry drivers, challenges, regulatory policies, key players company profiles and strategies. The research study provides forecasts for Chemotherapy Induced Nausea and Vomiting ?CINV? Drugs investments till 2022.Access Sample Copy @:If you are involved in the Chemotherapy Induced Nausea and Vomiting ?CINV? Drugs industry or intend to be, then this study will provide you comprehensive outlook. Its vital you keep your market knowledge up to date segmented by Acute CINV & Delayed CINV, Aloxi, Zofran Generic, Kytril Generic, Emend, Akynzeo, SUSTOL & Rolapitant and major players. If you have a different set of players/manufacturers according to geography or needs regional or country segmented reports we can provide customization according to your requirement.Buy this research report @The Study is segmented by following Product Type: Aloxi, Zofran Generic, Kytril Generic, Emend, Akynzeo, SUSTOL & RolapitantMajor applications/end-users industry are as follows: Acute CINV & Delayed CINVGeographically, this report is segmented into several key Regions such as United States, EU, Japan, China, India & Southeast Asia, with production, consumption, revenue (million USD), and market share and growth rate of Global Chemotherapy Induced Nausea and Vomiting ?CINV? Drugs in these regions, from 2012 to 2022 (forecast)Early buyers will receive 10% customization on reports. Read Detailed Index of full Research Study at @Major companies covered in the report: GlaxoSmithKline, Helsinn, Heron Therapeutics, Merck & TesaroThis study also contains company profiling, product picture and specifications, sales, market share and contact information of various international, regional, and local vendors of Global Chemotherapy Induced Nausea and Vomiting ?CINV? Drugs Market. The market competition is constantly growing higher with the rise in technological innovation and M&A activities in the industry. Moreover, many local and regional vendors are offering specific application products for varied end-users. The new vendor entrants in the market are finding it hard to compete with the international vendors based on quality, reliability, and innovations in technology.Some of the key questions answered in this report:- Detailed Overview of Global Chemotherapy Induced Nausea and Vomiting ?CINV? Drugs market helps deliver clients and businesses making strategies.- Influential factors that are thriving demand and constraints in the market.- What is the market concentration? Is it fragmented or highly concentrated?- What trends, challenges and barriers will impact the development and sizing of Chemotherapy Induced Nausea and Vomiting ?CINV? Drugs market?- SWOT Analysis of each key players mentioned along with its company profile with the help of Porters five forces tool mechanism to compliment the same.- What growth momentum or acceleration market carries during the forecast period?- Which region is going to tap highest market share in future?- What Application/end-user category or Product Type may see incremental growth prospects?- What would be the market share of key countries like United States, France, UK, Germany, Italy, Canada, Australia, Japan, China or Brazil etc.?- What focused approach and constraints are holding the market tight?Make inquiry before purchase @Check for discount @There are 15 Chapters to display the Global Chemotherapy Induced Nausea and Vomiting ?CINV? Drugs market.Chapter 1, About Executive Summary to describe Definition, Specifications and Classification of Chemotherapy Induced Nausea and Vomiting ?CINV? Drugs market, Applications [Acute CINV & Delayed CINV], Market Segment by Regions;Chapter 2, to analyze objective of the study.Chapter 3, to display Research methodology and techniques.Chapter 4 and 5 , to show the Overall Market Analysis, segmentation analysis, characteristics;Chapter 6 and 7, to show the Market size, share and forecast; Five forces analysis (bargaining Power of buyers/suppliers), Threats to new entrants and market condition;Chapter 8 and 9, to show analysis by regional segmentation[United States, EU, Japan, China, India & Southeast Asia ], comparison, leading countries and opportunities; Regional Marketing Type Analysis, Supply Chain AnalysisChapter 10, focus on identifying the key industry influencers, overview of decision framework accumulated through Industry experts and strategic decision makers;Chapter 11 and 12, Market Trend Analysis, Drivers, Challenges by consumer behavior, Marketing Channels and demand & supply.Chapter 13 and 14, describe about the vendor landscape (classification and Market Positioning)Chapter 15, deals with Global Chemotherapy Induced Nausea and Vomiting ?CINV? Drugs Market sales channel, distributors, traders, dealers, Research Findings and Conclusion, appendix and data source.Thanks for reading this article; you can also get individual chapter wise section or region wise report version like North America, Europe or Asia.HTF Market Report is a wholly owned brand of HTF market Intelligence Consulting Private Limited. HTF Market Report global research and market intelligence consulting organization is uniquely positioned to not only identify growth opportunities but to also empower and inspire you to create visionary growth strategies for futures, enabled by our extraordinary depth and breadth of thought leadership, research, tools, events and experience that assist you for making goals into a reality. Our understanding of the interplay between industry convergence, Mega Trends, technologies and market trends provides our clients with new business models and expansion opportunities. We are focused on identifying the Accurate Forecast in every industry we cover so our clients can reap the benefits of being early market entrants and can accomplish their Goals & Objectives.HTF Market Intelligence Consulting Private LimitedUnit No. 429, Parsonage Road, Edison, NJ USA - 08837sales@htfmarketreport.comPh: +1 (206) 317 1218
Expanding for Pool of Consumers Providing an Impetus to the Image Recognition Market (2020)

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Image recognition is a technique for acquiring, processing, scrutinize, and sympathizing images. It gathers high-dimensional data from the real world in order to generate numerical or symbolic information. Image recognition uses disentangling of representational information from image data using replica created with the help of geometry, physics, statistics, and learning theory.Image recognition (biometric-based recognition) technique has emerged as the most promising alternative of card based recognition for identifying individuals in recent past. Image recognition is used for verification (one to one matching) and identification (one to many matching) of individuals.Image recognition technologies include identification based on physiological distinctiveness of the people such as facial patterns recognition, fingerprints recognition, hand geometry recognition, hand veins pattern recognition, finger geometry recognition, palm recognition, iris recognition, retina recognition, and voice recognition. Image recognition also identify the behavioral uniqueness of the individuals such as gait, signature and keystroke dynamicsRequest Sample Report @The recognition based on passwords and PINs are trailing in popularity mainly due to the fact that they are hard to remember and cannot be stolen, duplicated by the intruders. Moreover the risk associated with misplacing of cards, tokens, keys and the like is also lend a hand in wide acceptance of image recognition as an alternative of traditional access control systems.On the basis of technology the global image recognition market can be broadly categories in five different market variants namely, optical character recognition (Ocr), pattern and gradient matching, object recognition, barcode/Qr code recognition and facial recognition.On the basis of the different component use in the image recognition equipment the overall market can be broadly categorized in three segments namely, hardware, software, and services.Based on the end user application the image recognition market can be further categories in eight different classes namely, government and defense, banking, financial services and insurance, healthcare and life sciences, manufacturing or industrial, consumer goods and retail, information technology and telecommunications, transport and logistics and others.The growing use of face recognition technology in smart phones, tablets and personal computer owing to the advancement in size and accuracy is propelling the market for face recognition technology. Moreover increasing governmental budget towards homeland security and defense is further driving the market in developing countries such as India, China, and Russia. Increasing use of facial recognition access system over card based access system in industries and residence is providing new market opportunities for the facial recognition technology.Request to View TOC @North America is the largest market for facial recognition in the world. It is then followed by Europe and Asia Pacific. The U.S. is the largest market for facial recognition in the North America. Chinese and Japanese are the major user of image recognition technology in Asia Pacific. Asia Pacific is one of the rapid growing markets of image recognition where the market is growing in double digit. High threat prospective from terrorist attack couples with trend towards e-governance is contributing to the high growth rate in this region.Some of the major companies operating in global image recognition market include, Catchoom, Honeywell, LTU Technologies, Panasonic Corporation, Toshiba, Hitachi Ltd, Itraff Technology, NEC Corporation, Qualcomm Technologies, and Wikitude GmbhABOUT 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:
Visible Light Communication Market to Hit at CAGR of 77.86% by 2021 Dominance of competing technologies

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VLC is a wireless technology that uses light emanated from LED bulbs in order to provide a network for high-speed communication parallel to Wi-Fi. Thus, it is also referred to as Li-Fi. Visible light spectrum is 10,000 times larger than radio frequency spectrum, and it is considered as an answer to the bandwidth limitations of radio frequency. It uses visible light between 400 THz and 800 THz, with achievable data rates reaching 100 Mbps. It may be used as an individual solution, along with cellular network communication or radio-frequency. This technology is a faster and cheaper optical version of Wi-Fi.Technavios analysts forecast the global visible light communication market to grow at a CAGR of 77.86% during the period 2017-2021.Request for sample copy of this report:Covered in this reportThe report covers the present scenario and the growth prospects of the global visible light communication market for 2017-2021. To calculate the market size, the report presents a detailed picture of the market by way of study, synthesis, and summation of data from multiple sources.The market is divided into the following segments based on geography:AmericasAPACEMEATechnavio's report, Global Visible Light Communication 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 vendorsfSONA NetworksGELightPointe CommunicationsLVX SystemNakagawa LaboratoriesOledcommOutstanding TechnologyKoninklijke PhilipspureLiFiRequest for complete report TOC:Other prominent vendorsAvago TechnologiesAxrtekByteLightCasioIBSENtelecomLightbeeLuciomPanasonicPlaintree SystemsRenesas ElectronicsSupreme ArchitectureMarket driverUnlicensed use, high data density, and high data rates.For a full, detailed list, view our reportMarket challengeDominance of competing technologies.For a full, detailed list, view our reportMarket trendCommercialization of the technology for two-way communication.For 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?What are the market opportunities and threats faced by the key vendors?What are the strengths and weaknesses of the key vendors?MRRbiz supports your business intelligence needs with over 700,000 market research reports, company profiles, data books, and regional market data sheets in its repository. Our document database is updated by the hour, which means that you always have access to fresh data spanning over 300 industries and their sub-segments.State Tower 90 State Street, Suite 700 Albany, NY 12207 United StatesState Tower90 State Street, Suite 700Albany, NY 12207United StatesToll Free: 866-997-4948(USA-Canada)Tel: +1-518-621-2074E: sales@marketresearchreports.biz
Wearable Computing Devices Market to be at Forefront by 2020

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Wearable computing devices are computer-based devices which are worn by a user. It includes clothes, glasses, watches and shoes. These wearable computing devices are used to take and view pictures and video. They are also capable to read text messages and emails and responds to voice commands. These devices also play a pivotal role in heart rate monitoring and logic calculation.The global wearable computing devices market is categorized based on various consumer and non-consumer applications. The consumer application segment is further sub-segmented into activity trackers, smart glasses, wearable cameras, smart clothing, smart watches and gaming devices. The non-consumer application segment is divided healthcare, industrial and defense.Request Sample Report @In terms of geographic, North America and Europe dominates the global wearable computing devices market due to increased awareness among people towards these devices. Raised awareness among people towards wearable computing technology has increased the adoption rate of these devices in the region. The U.S. represents the largest market for wearable computing devices followed by Canada in North America. In Europe, France, Germany, Spain and the U.K. holds major share of wearable computing devices market. However, Asia is expected to show high growth rates in the next five years in global wearable computing devices market. China and India are expected to be the fastest growing wearable computing devices markets in Asia.In recent time, advanced features of these devices is key driver for the global wearable computing devices market. Advanced features, such as light weight and data monitoring applications attract end users to adopt wearable computing devices. In addition, technological advancements in material sciences and information technology have also fueled the growth of global wearable computing devices market. However, high cost of wearable devices and privacy concerns are some of the major restraints for the global wearable computing devices market. In addition, less battery back-up of these devices also obstructs the growth of global wearable computing devices market.Request to View TOC @Some of the major companies operating in the global wearable computing devices market are Contour, GoPro, NanoSonic, Weartech, Textronics, Himax Technology, Invensense Inc., CSR plc., Zephyr Technology Corporation, Smart Life Technology Co., Ltd., Silicon Micro Display, AiQ Smart Clothing Inc., Apple Inc., Ascension Technology Corporation, Carl Zeiss Inc., Casio Computer Company Ltd., GE Healthcare, Medtronic Inc., Siemens Healthcare and Samsung Electronics.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:
Water Walking Ball Consumption 2013 Global Market Key Players  AquaZorbs, AEM Leisure, Holleyweb, Zorb Limited , China Zorb Limited, uzhou Fwu-Long, Amusement Equipment, Zhengzhou Inflatable - Analysis and Forecast to 2023

Water Walking Ball Consumption , Water Walking Ball Consumption Market, Water Walking Ball Consumption Market Growth, Presses Rele

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Description :Water Walking Ball Consumption-Global Market Status and Trend Report 2013-2023 offers a comprehensive analysis on Water Walking Ball Consumption industry, standing on the readers perspective, delivering detailed market data and penetrating insights. No matter the client is industry insider, potential entrant or investor, the report will provides useful data and information. Key questions answered by this report include:Worldwide and Regional Market Size of Water Walking Ball Consumption 2013-2017, and development forecast 2018-2023Main manufacturers/suppliers of Water Walking Ball Consumption worldwide, with company and product introduction, position in the Water Walking Ball Consumption marketMarket status and development trend of Water Walking Ball Consumption by types and applicationsCost and profit status of Water Walking Ball Consumption, and marketing statusMarket growth drivers and challengesRequest For sample Report @The report segments the global Water Walking Ball Consumption market as:Global Water Walking Ball Consumption Market: Regional Segment Analysis (Regional Production Volume, Consumption Volume, Revenue and Growth Rate 2013-2023):North AmericaEuropeChinaJapanRest APACLatin AmericaGlobal Water Walking Ball Consumption Market: Type Segment Analysis (Consumption Volume, Average Price, Revenue, Market Share and Trend 2013-2023):PVCTpuOthersGlobal Water Walking Ball Consumption Market: Application Segment Analysis (Consumption Volume and Market Share 2013-2023; Downstream Customers and Market Analysis)Swimming PoolWater ParkLakes and beachesGlobal Water Walking Ball Consumption Market: Manufacturers Segment Analysis (Company and Product introduction, Water Walking Ball Consumption Sales Volume, Revenue, Price and Gross Margin):AquaZorbsAEM LeisureHolleywebZorb LimitedChina Zorb LimitedSuzhou Fwu-Long Amusement EquipmentZhengzhou InflatableTunKi Playground ToysROCKSPORT OUTDOORSComplete Report Details @Table Of Content :Chapter 1 Overview of Water Walking Ball Consumption1.1 Definition of Water Walking Ball Consumption in This Report1.2 Commercial Types of Water Walking Ball Consumption1.2.1 PVC1.2.2 Tpu1.2.3 Others1.3 Downstream Application of Water Walking Ball Consumption1.3.1 Swimming Pool1.3.2 Water Park1.3.3 Lakes and beaches1.4 Development History of Water Walking Ball Consumption1.5 Market Status and Trend of Water Walking Ball Consumption 2013-20231.5.1 Global Water Walking Ball Consumption Market Status and Trend 2013-20231.5.2 Regional Water Walking Ball Consumption Market Status and Trend 2013-2023Chapter 2 Global Market Status and Forecast by Regions2.1 Market Development of Water Walking Ball Consumption 2013-20172.2 Production Market of Water Walking Ball Consumption by Regions2.2.1 Production Volume of Water Walking Ball Consumption by Regions2.2.2 Production Value of Water Walking Ball Consumption by Regions2.3 Demand Market of Water Walking Ball Consumption by Regions2.4 Production and Demand Status of Water Walking Ball Consumption by Regions2.4.1 Production and Demand Status of Water Walking Ball Consumption by Regions 2013-20172.4.2 Import and Export Status of Water Walking Ball Consumption by Regions 2013-2017Chapter 3 Global Market Status and Forecast by Types3.1 Production Volume of Water Walking Ball Consumption by Types3.2 Production Value of Water Walking Ball Consumption by Types3.3 Market Forecast of Water Walking Ball Consumption by TypesChapter 4 Global Market Status and Forecast by Downstream Industry4.1 Demand Volume of Water Walking Ball Consumption by Downstream Industry4.2 Market Forecast of Water Walking Ball Consumption by Downstream IndustryChapter 5 Market Driving Factor Analysis of Water Walking Ball Consumption5.1 Global Economy Situation and Trend Overview5.2 Water Walking Ball Consumption Downstream Industry Situation and Trend OverviewChapter 6 Water Walking Ball Consumption Market Competition Status by Major Manufacturers6.1 Production Volume of Water Walking Ball Consumption by Major Manufacturers6.2 Production Value of Water Walking Ball Consumption by Major Manufacturers6.3 Basic Information of Water Walking Ball Consumption by Major Manufacturers6.3.1 Headquarters Location and Established Time of Water Walking Ball Consumption Major Manufacturer6.3.2 Employees and Revenue Level of Water Walking Ball Consumption Major Manufacturer6.4 Market Competition News and Trend6.4.1 Merger, Consolidation or Acquisition News6.4.2 Investment or Disinvestment News6.4.3 New Product Development and LaunchChapter 7 Water Walking Ball Consumption Major Manufacturers Introduction and Market Data7.1 AquaZorbs7.1.1 Company profile7.1.2 Representative Water Walking Ball Consumption Product7.1.3 Water Walking Ball Consumption Sales, Revenue, Price and Gross Margin of AquaZorbs7.2 AEM Leisure7.2.1 Company profile7.2.2 Representative Water Walking Ball Consumption Product7.2.3 Water Walking Ball Consumption Sales, Revenue, Price and Gross Margin of AEM Leisure7.3 Holleyweb7.3.1 Company profile7.3.2 Representative Water Walking Ball Consumption Product7.3.3 Water Walking Ball Consumption Sales, Revenue, Price and Gross Margin of Holleyweb7.4 Zorb Limited7.4.1 Company profile7.4.2 Representative Water Walking Ball Consumption Product7.4.3 Water Walking Ball Consumption Sales, Revenue, Price and Gross Margin of Zorb Limited7.5 China Zorb Limited7.5.1 Company profile7.5.2 Representative Water Walking Ball Consumption Product7.5.3 Water Walking Ball Consumption Sales, Revenue, Price and Gross Margin of China Zorb LimitedContinued.CONTACT US:NORAH TRENTPartner Relations & Marketing Managersales@wiseguyreports.comPh: +1-646-845-9349 (US)Ph: +44 208 133 9349 (UK)Wise Guy Reports is part of the Wise Guy Research Consultants Pvt. Ltd. and offers premium progressive statistical surveying, market research reports, analysis & forecast data for industries and governments around the globe.Office No.528,Amanora Chambers,Magarpatta Road,Hadapsar,Pune-411028.
Peptide Based Cancer Therapeutics Market Grow to Just Over US$ 11,160 Mn by 2022-end: According to Fact.MR

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Recently, a novel report developed using proven research methodologies at the headquarters of Fact. MR has identified various prominent factors and trends prompting market growth of peptide based cancer therapeutics market. The study is titled as Peptide Based Cancer Therapeutics Market Forecast, Trend Analysis & Competition Tracking: Global Review 2017 to 2022, which deeply analyses the global market trends, with historical data from 2016 and 2017, and projections of compound annual growth rates (CAGRs) during the mentioned forecast of 2017-2022. For the benefit of the readers, the report concludes with a special focus on the detailed profiles of the major vendors in the global peptide based cancer therapeutics market.Request for Sample Report-Peptide is a compound that is created by artificial or natural biological chaining of amino acid monomers. In recent years, peptides have emerged as an effective therapeutic agent in treatment of various diseases, including cancer. At present, there are a number of peptide based cancer therapeutics available in the market. Incessant medical research on peptides has led to development of several peptide based cancer therapeutics that are showing greater results as compared to conventional cancer therapeutics. Fact.MRs latest report projects that the global peptide based cancer therapeutics market will surpass a valuation of US$ 11,160 Mn by 2022-end, expanding at an impressive CAGR of 9.2% during the forecast period (2017-2022).Forecast Highlights Of Global Market For Peptide Based Cancer Therapeutics1. Among regions, North America is expected to remain the most attractive market for peptide based cancer therapeutics during the forecast period. This is largely due to the existence of several prominent peptide based cancer therapeutic drug makers and an advanced healthcare infrastructure in the region. Over the next couple of years, the regions market is projected to witness a healthy growth. Meanwhile, the market in Asia-Pacific excluding Japan (APEJ) is anticipated to register the fastest CAGR over 2022.2. Based on drugs, demand for bortezomib is expected to remain relative higher as compared to other peptide based cancer therapeutic drugs. Revenues from global sales of bortezomib drugs currently commands for nearly 40% market share. Towards the end of 2022, more than US$ 4,700 Mn worth bortezomib drugs are estimated to be sold worldwide.3. Hospital pharmacies are the largest distribution channel for peptide based cancer therapeutic drugs followed by retail pharmacies. Currently, hospital pharmacies account for close to 50% share of the global market in terms of revenue. The trend is likely to continue in 2017 and beyond.Browse Full Report with TOC-North America To Lead The Global Peptide Based Cancer Therapeutics MarketIn terms of revenues, North America is expected to dominate the global peptide based cancer therapeutics market in 2017 and beyond. The regions potency in healthcare and a strong presence of various peptide based cancer therapeutic drug manufacturers is supporting the growth of the market in North America. During the forecast period, the market in the region is expected to surge at a robust CAGR.On the basis of drugs, the bortezomib segment is expected to remain highly attractive throughout the assessment period. The segment currently accounts for around 40% revenue share of the global market. Between 2017 and 2022, the segment is expected to reflect a double-digit CAGR to reach a valuation is excess of US$ 4,725 Mn. It expected to grow at US$ 358.4 Mn annually over the course of the forecast period.Competition TrackingFact.MRs report has also profiled key companies that are operating in the global peptide based cancer Therapeutic market, which include AstraZeneca PLC, Allergan plc, Pfizer Inc., Takeda Pharmaceutical Company Limited, Johnson & Johnson, Abbott, AbbVie Inc., and Valeant Pharmaceuticals International, Inc.Request Methodology of the Report-About Fact.MRFact.MR is a fast-growing market research firm that offers the most comprehensive suite of syndicated and customized Healthcare 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.comWeb:Follow us in Linkedin:
Ingenious Technologies Announces Change in CEO

Dr. Siamak Haschemi, CEO Ingenious Technologies AG

www.ingenioustechnologies.com

Dr. Siamak Haschemi is appointed CEO; Christian Kleinsorge is appointed Chairman of the Supervisory BoardIngenious Technologies AG has announced changes to the executive board. Dr. Siamak Haschemi has been appointed CEO. He succeeds the two former board members. Christian Kleinsorge is now Chairman of the Supervisory Board and Eugen Becker continues serving the company as CIO.Siamak Haschemi served as Managing Director of Qyotta GmbH, which was acquired by Ingenious in August 2016, and as CTO of Ingenious since May 2017. In that role, Siamak Haschemi initiated the modernisation of the technology stack, particularly in areas of real-time processing, event-based systems, and cloud-native development.After thorough succession planning, Siamak is the clear choice to lead Ingenious into the future as CEO, said Christian Kleinsorge. He plays a key role in moving the team to work in a modern, agile way.Chris has left a great legacy in Ingenious, said Siamak Haschemi. He ensured financial stability of Ingenious and laid out a strong foundation for us to understand our clients needs and processes better.Now is a great time to kick off our platform strategy. I am bringing in more automation across the company, so that we can unlock our capabilities for more customer-facing innovation, explained Siamak Haschemi. This vision will trickle down to our product and service offering as well, so that our clients can reduce resources spent on manual processes, and concentrate on driving a data-driven strategy.Ingenious Technologies AG () is a leading independent marketing technology provider. With the cloud-based Ingenious Enterprise platform, companies across all industries can aggregate, structure, enrich and analyse all data collected. Thanks to real-time processing and a high level of automation, reliable data sets are available for clients to make agile marketing decisions. Through its in-house R&D team and Client team, which manages and ensures success of clients worldwide, Ingenious Technologies secures its success through constant innovation and proximity to the market.Ingenious Technologies AGFranzosische Strae 4810117 BerlinGermanySwee Huang Hustedt-Teoswee@i19s.com+49 30 577 02 6035
Elisco's Creative Cafe Wins Six Telly Awards

Eliscos Creative Cafe, a Lawrenceville-based ad agency that specializes in branding new products and services, has won six Telly Awards. The Telly Awards honor excellence in video and television production across all screens. The awards include: Three Silver Telly Awards for Ohio Valley Hospital physician videos Bronze Telly Award for aerial cinematography Bronze Telly Award for Trib Total Media Bronze Telly Award for Douds FurnitureThe Telly is the premier award honoring the finest video production and TV commercials. Established in 1979, the Telly Awards receives over 12,000 entries from the United States and five continents.At Elisco, we have a passion for original thinking, service, and food, so we decided to combine what we love into a unique venue: a cafe-like setting where we serve fresh ideas daily and lunch periodically. The cafe's house specialty is branding new products, services, and companies for Healthcare, Financial, and Food & Beverage organizations. For more information, visit elisco.com.Elisco's Creative Cafe3707 Butler StreetPittsburgh, PA 15201
AppFutura publishes the list of Top React Native App Developers for 2018

https://www.appfutura.com/app-developers

AppFutura is a popular platform for mobile app development companies that publishes weekly tops and articles on app development and technology. Today, the company unveils the list of top React Native app developers for 2018 featuring some of the leading developers in the sector. Check out the following companies which have been selected based on their experience and client feedback.Top React Native App Developers for 2018:AppInventivReady4sBrainMobiKonstant InfosolutionsSynergoApplifyIntuzDevTechnosysSibersConsagousCheck out the report published on AppFuturas blog: Top React Native Development Companies 2018 and see what other companies are worth mentioning as well.With AppFutura you can hire the best mobile app development firm for your project thanks to its Escrow system and the many different listings featuring top developers. The platform includes various categories that can help you narrow your search like iPhone, Android, cross platform; or country directories to help you outsource your project in a quick and easy way.App developers are welcome to join the AppFutura community and become listed in the directory of top mobile app developers.AppFutura is a lead-generation platform that works in two different ways. First of all, as a worldwide listing, providing high exposure to app development companies that results in clicks to their websites and direct contacts. At the same time, it works as a project dashboard where businesses can post their app development needs, receive development proposals from companies around the world and eventually hire their favorite through a safe Escrow system. For those in need of more thorough support, the AppFutura team will help you select the best candidate for your needs and will also assist you during the whole development process.AppFuturaC/Sant Francesc, Cerdanyola del Valles08290SpainAna GraciaPhone: +34 93 594 90 41Skype: ana@appfutura.com
Construction Aggregate Market 2018 Global Key Players: LafargeHolcim Group, Wharehine, Aggregate Industries, Okanagan Aggregates Rock Road Companies,.

Construction Aggregate Market

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Construction Aggregate Market:WiseGuyReports.com adds Construction Aggregate Market 2018 Global Analysis, Growth, Trends and Opportunities Research Report Forecasting to 2025reports to its database.Executive SummaryThis report studies the global Construction Aggregate market status and forecast, categorizes the global Construction Aggregate market size (value & volume) by manufacturers, type, application, and region. This report focuses on the top manufacturers in North America, Europe, Japan, China and other regions (India, Southeast Asia, Central & South America, and Middle East & Africa).The major manufacturers covered in this reportLafargeHolcim GroupWharehineAggregate IndustriesOkanagan AggregatesRock Road CompaniesKuari Pati Sdn BhdHanlon Concrete...Geographically, this report studies the top producers and consumers, focuses on product capacity, production, value, consumption, market share and growth opportunity in these key regions, coveringNorth AmericaEuropeChinaJapanOther Regions (India, Southeast Asia, Central & South America and Middle East & Africa)On the basis of product, this report displays the production, revenue, price, market share and growth rate of each type, primarily split intoGraniteSandGravelLimestoneCrushed RockOtherOn 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, includingHighway ConstructionRailway ConstructionOtherRequest Sample Report @The study objectives of this report are:To analyze and study the global Construction Aggregate capacity, production, value, consumption, status (2013-2017) and forecast (2018-2025);Focuses on the key Construction Aggregate manufacturers, to study the capacity, production, value, market share and development plans in future.Focuses on the global key manufacturers, to define, describe and analyze the market competition landscape, SWOT analysis.To define, describe and forecast the market by type, application and region.To analyze the global and key regions market potential and advantage, opportunity and challenge, restraints and risks.To identify significant trends and factors driving or inhibiting the market growth.To analyze the opportunities in the market for stakeholders by identifying the high growth segments.To strategically analyze each submarket with respect to individual growth trend and their contribution to the marketTo analyze competitive developments such as expansions, agreements, new product launches, and acquisitions in the marketTo strategically profile the key players and comprehensively analyze their growth strategies.In this study, the years considered to estimate the market size of Construction Aggregate are as follows:History Year: 2013-2017Base Year: 2017Estimated Year: 2018Forecast Year 2018 to 2025For the data information by region, company, type and application, 2017 is considered as the base year. Whenever data information was unavailable for the base year, the prior year has been considered.Key StakeholdersConstruction Aggregate ManufacturersConstruction Aggregate Distributors/Traders/WholesalersConstruction Aggregate Subcomponent ManufacturersIndustry AssociationDownstream VendorsAvailable CustomizationsWith the given market data, QYResearch offers customizations according to the company's specific needs. The following customization options are available for the report:Regional and country-level analysis of the Construction Aggregate market, by end-use.Detailed analysis and profiles of additional market players.Table of ContentsGlobal Construction Aggregate Market Research Report 20181 Construction Aggregate Market Overview2 Global Construction Aggregate Market Competition by Manufacturers3 Global Construction Aggregate Capacity, Production, Revenue (Value) by Region (2013-2018)4 Global Construction Aggregate Supply (Production), Consumption, Export, Import by Region (2013-2018)5 Global Construction Aggregate Production, Revenue (Value), Price Trend by Type6 Global Construction Aggregate Market Analysis by Application7 Global Construction Aggregate Manufacturers Profiles/Analysis8 Construction Aggregate Manufacturing Cost Analysis9 Industrial Chain, Sourcing Strategy and Downstream Buyers10 Marketing Strategy Analysis, Distributors/Traders11 Market Effect Factors Analysis12 Global Construction Aggregate Market Forecast (2018-2025)13 Research Findings and Conclusion14 AppendixContinuousFor further information on this report, visit Contact Us:Norah Trentsales@wiseguyreports.comPh: +1-646-845-9349 (US); +44 208 133 9349 (UK)About Us:Wise Guy Reports Is Part Of The Wise Guy Consultants Pvt. Ltd. And Offers Premium Progressive Statistical Surveying, Market Research Reports, Analysis & Forecast Data For Industries And Governments Around The Globe. Wise Guy Reports Features An Exhaustive List Of Market Research Reports From Hundreds Of Publishers Worldwide. We Boast A Database Spanning Virtually Every Market Category And An Even More Comprehensive Collection Of Market Research Reports Under These Categories And Sub-Categories.Addres:WISEGUY RESEARCH CONSULTANTS PVT LTDOffice No. 528, Amanora ChambersPune - 411028Maharashtra, IndiaPhone :+91 841 198 5042
Calciphylaxis Market Top Key players-Amgen Inc., Smith & Nephew plc, Medtronics and 3M through 2018-2023

Calciphylaxis Market

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https://www.marketresearchfuture.com/reports/calciphylaxis-market-3567

Market ScenarioCalciphylaxis, also known as calcific uremic arteriolopathy (CUA), is a syndrome associated with end-stage renal disease. The syndrome causes necrotic skin ulcers, which often leads to a fatal outcome. In 2008, Rogers and Coates stated that CUA is a rare but important cause of morbidity and mortality in patients with chronic kidney disease. The prevalence of CUA is increasing in patients with renal failure, and the condition is also being recognized in non-uremic patients. Calciphylaxis affects up to 4% of dialysis patients, which starts with a calcification of small peripheral vessels that quickly becomes enlarged.The market for calciphylaxis is growing at a swift pace. Increasing prevalence of end stage renal disease has spurred the growth of the market. According to the Regents of the University of California, over 650,000 patients every year in the United States and an estimated 2 million patients worldwide are affected by end stage renal disease (ESRD). Moreover, rising number of dialysis patients has spurred the growth of this market. According to the U.S. Renal Data System Annual Data Report, more than 660,000 Americans were under treatment for end stage renal disease out of which 468,000 were dialysis patients in 2016.View Reports Sample @However, lack of treatment availability and high cost of the existing treatment may hamper the market growth during the forecast period.The global calciphylaxis market is expected to grow at a CAGR of 10.70% during the forecast period 2017-2023.Intended Audience Pharmaceutical Companies Medical Devices Companies Research and Development (R&D) Companies Market Research and Consulting Service Providers Potential InvestorsSegmentationThe global calciphylaxis market is segmented on the basis of diagnosis, treatment, and end user.On the basis of the diagnosis, the calciphylaxis market is further segmented into deep skin biopsies, blood tests, imaging, and others. Deep skin biopsies is further segmented into shave biopsy, punch biopsy, and excisional biopsy. The blood tests is further segmented into serum parathormone levels, blood glucose levels, BUN (blood urea nitrogen), calcium levels, and others. Imaging is further segmented into magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), CT scan, ultrasound, and others.On the basis of the applications, the market is segmented into intensive wound care, medication, therapy, clot-dissolving, and others. Intensive wound care unit is further segmented into debridement, wet dressings, and others. Medication is further segmented into cinacalcet, sodium thiosulfate, steroids, and bisphosphonates.On the basis of end user, it is segmented into hospitals, clinics, medical research centers, academic institutes, and others.Key Findings Global calciphylaxis market is expected to reach around USD 3,722.6 million by 2023 Deep skin biopsies accounted for the largest market share in 2016 and which is projected grow at a CAGR of 10.35% during the forecast period from 2017-2023 Americas hold the largest share of the calciphylaxis market and is expected to reach USD 1,257.0 million by 2023 Asia Pacific is the fastest growing region across the globe and is expected to grow at a rate of CAGR 11.18% during the forecast periodRegional AnalysisThe Americas dominate the global calciphylaxis market owing to the presence of strong economic condition, huge development in the healthcare domain, and focus of research institutions on updating technology for new and advanced diagnosis and treatment methods. Moreover, advanced hospitals infrastructures, and availability of skilled healthcare professional are further adding fuel to the growth of the market.Europe holds the second position in the market on the basis of increasing emphasis on rapid diagnosis and treatment of diseases, changing lifestyle, increasing prevalence of diseases among geriatric population. Asia Pacific is the fastest growing market owing to more number of developing nations present in this region, for instance, countries like India and China. These countries are encouraging the growth of the healthcare domain. Furthermore, increasing patient population from cancer in developing countries will directly increase the demand for various diagnosis & treatment methods, which, in turn, is likely to boost the growth of the market.The Middle East & Africa is expected to hold the least market share due to less availability of medical facilities, and less development in the healthcare domain. However, countries such as Qatar and Kuwait are focusing more on the healthcare domain and developing medical facilities, which is projected to boost the market of this region.Request Full Report @Key PlayersSome of the key players in this market are Amgen Inc., Smith & Nephew plc, Medtronics, 3M, BSN Medical, ConvaTec Inc, Sanifit, and others.Market Research Future (MRFR), enable customers to unravel the complexity of various industries through Cooked Research Report (CRR), Half-Cooked Research Reports (HCRR), Raw Research Reports (3R), Continuous-Feed Research (CFR), and Market Research & Consulting Services.Market Research FutureOffice No. 528, Amanora ChambersMagarpatta Road, Hadapsar,Pune - 411028Maharashtra, India
Panic Exit Devices Market Trends 2018  2025: ASSA ABLOY, DORMA Group, Lockwood, Yale, Iseo, SARGENT, Imperial, Kaba, Allegion

Panic Exit Devices Market

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Panic Exit Devices market top players including are ASSA ABLOY, DORMA Group, Lockwood, Yale, Iseo, SARGENT, Imperial, Kaba, Allegion, Corbin Russwin, Cal-Royal, Dorex, D line, Axim Architectural Hardware (Parkside Group Ltd), KCC Architectural.Download Sample Brochure of Panic Exit Devices Market spread across 118 pages, profiling 15 companies and supported with Tables & Figures is now available atThe latest report, Panic Exit Devices market enables stakeholders to gain insights into their potential consumers to construct more effective marketing strategies for the forecast period, 2018 to 2025. Most importantly, the document empowers business owners to seek information about potential consumers and where they can find them. Apart from this, the literature sheds light on how major vendors operating in the Panic Exit Devices market are making the best use of their marketing campaigns. With an exclusive coverage of the top vendors, the study enables business owners to know more about the local market and locate potential consumers.Besides, with real-time data available, the research identifies vital information about buyers  such as their age, gender, spending power and end-use. This data can also be used to explore additional information about loyal consumers. The recent report on Panic Exit Devices market lets you understand what the recent market looks like. It helps product owners get a quick view of the potential buyers who is right around the business so that they can meet and better appeal their requirements. In addition, the study gets accurate statistics that can be used to start or expand the business, including the desired geography.Purchase Panic Exit Devices Market Research Report@On the basis of product, this report displays the production, revenue, price, market share and growth rate of each type, primarily split into Systemic Toxicity Dermal Toxicity Carcinogenicity Ocular Toxicity OthersOn 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, including Cosmetics & Household Products Pharmaceutical Diagnostics Chemical FoodGet Discount on this Panic Exit Devices Market Report Click @The report not only empowers companies and individuals to understand the key characteristics of the target market but also the communication preferences. The audience can get the estimated size according to the number of sales in a specific region. By offering access to insights about the profit margin the study aims at improving the communication between the companies and potential customers. Armed with all required information on the recent development in the competitive landscape such as a joint venture, collaboration, acquisition and merger and product launch the study enables business owners to build a strong profile of their best buyers.The Research Provides Answers to the Following Key Questions: What is the size of occupied by the prominent leaders for the forecast period, 2018 to 2025? What will be the share and the growth rate of the Panic Exit Devices Market during the forecast period? Which companies are dominating the competitive landscape across different region and what strategies have they applied to gain a competitive edge? What are the major factors responsible for the growth of the Panic Exit Devices market across the different regions? What are the challenges faced by the companies operating in the Panic Exit Devices Market? What are the future prospects for the Panic Exit Devices Market industry in the coming years? Which trends are likely to contribute to the development rate of the Panic Exit Devices industry during the forecast period, 2018 to 2025? What are the future prospects of the Panic Exit Devices industry for the forecast period, 2018 to 2025?About us :Planning to invest in market intelligence products or offerings on the web? Then marketexpertz has just the thing for you - reports from over 500 prominent publishers and updates on our collection daily to empower companies and individuals catch-up with the vital insights on industries operating across different geography, trends, share, size and growth rate. There's more to what we offer to our customers. With marketexpertz you have the choice to tap into the specialized services without any additional charges.Contact us :40 Wall St. 28th floor New York City,NY 10005 United Statessales@marketexpertz.com+1-800-819-3052
Rapid Growth of Automotive HVAC Market | Key Companies  Denso, Hanon Systems, Valeo, MAHLE Behr, Delphi, Sanden, Calsonic Kansei | Global Future Scope to 2023

Automotive HVAC Market

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2015-2023 World Automotive HVAC Market Research Report by Product Type, End-User / Application and Regions / Countries report provides the newest industry data and industry future trends, allowing you to identify the products and end users driving Revenue growth and profitability. The industry report lists the leading competitors and provides the insights strategic industry Analysis of the key factors influencing the market.Global Automotive HVAC Market Overview:The report spread across 134 pages is an overview of the 2015-2023 World Automotive HVAC Market Research Report by Product Type, End-User / Application and Regions / Countries. The Global Automotive HVAC Market is projected to grow at a healthy growth rate from 2018 to 2025 according to new research. The study focuses on market trends, leading players, supply chain trends, technological innovations, key developments, and future strategies.Available Exclusive Sample Copy of this Report @The Global Automotive HVAC Market is expected to grow at an impressive CAGR from 2018 to 2023. The Automotive HVAC Market growth is driven by Automatic Climate Control Feature, increasing demand for Thermal Systems, Rising Safety Concerns and adoption of Eco-Friendly Refrigerants. On the other hand, the use of Polluting Refrigerants is expected to hinder the adoption of this system. Use of Environment-Saving Refrigerants and adoption of Geothermal Pumps are anticipated to foster the growth of the Automotive HVAC Market.Global Automotive HVAC Market is segmented on the basis of Technology, Vehicle Type and Region. On the basis of Technology, it is categorized into Manual and Automatic; Automatic HVAC system dominated the market in 2015. Vehicle type, it is categorized into Passenger Cars and Commercial Vehicles, including Light Commercial Vehicles (LCVs) and Heavy Commercial Vehicles (HCVs).Regionally, Asia-Pacific is the largest market for HVAC due to the growing Population, Climatic Conditions, Increasing Urbanization and Demographic Changes in the region. Also, the exponential expansion of the construction sector in countries like India and China is contributing significantly to the growth of the Automotive HVAC Market in the region.Purchase this report online with 134 Pages, List of Tables & Figures and in-depth Table of Contents on 2015-2023 World Automotive HVAC Market Research Report by Product Type, End-User / Application and Regions / Countries @A complete analysis of the competitive landscape of the Global Automotive HVAC Market is provided in the report. This section includes company profiles of market key players. The profiles include contact information, gross, capacity, product details of each firm, price, and cost. This report investigates new project feasibility with a purpose of enlightening new entrants about the possibilities in this market. In this report, thorough SWOT analysis & investment analysis is provided which forecasts imminent opportunities for the Automotive HVAC Market players.Major Key Players:1 Denso2 Hanon Systems3 Valeo4 MAHLE Behr5 Delphi6 Sanden7 Calsonic Kansei8 SONGZ Automobile and More..Market Segment by Type:1 Manual HVAC2 Automatic HVACMarket segment by Regions/Countries, this report covers:1 North America (U.S., Canada, Mexico)2 Europe (Germany, U.K., France, Italy, Russia, Spain etc)3 South America (Brazil, Argentina etc)4 Middle East & Africa (Saudi Arabia, South Africa etc).Grab Your Report at an Impressive Discount @This study answers to the below key questions:1 What will the market size be in 2023 and what will the growth rate be?2 What are the key market trends?3 What is driving this market?4 What are the challenges to market growth?5 Who are the key vendors in this market space?6 What are the market opportunities and threats faced by the key vendors?7 What are the strengths and weaknesses of the key vendors?In the end, this report covers data and information on capacity and production overview, production, market share analysis, sales overview, supply, sales, and shortage, import, export and consumption as well as cost, price, revenue and gross margin of Automotive HVAC Market.Major Points in Table of Contents:Global Automotive HVAC Market Report 20181 Market Definition2 Global Market by Vendors3 Global Market by Type4 Global Market by End-Use / Application5 Global Market by Regions6 North America Market7 Europe Market8 Asia-Pacific Market9 South America Market10 Middle East & Africa Market11 Market Forecast12 Key ManufacturersAbout usBusinessindustryReports.com is digital database of comprehensive market reports for global industries. As a market research company, we take pride in equipping our clients with insights and data that holds the power to truly make a difference to their business. Our mission is singular and well-defined  we want to help our clients envisage their business environment so that they are able to make informed, strategic and therefore successful decisions for themselves.Media ContactBusiness Industry ReportsPune  Indiasales@businessindustryreports.com+19376349940
Light Detection and Ranging (LIDAR) Market By Top Key Players (Leica Geosystems, Trimble, Riegl, Topcon, IGI, Sure Star), Application, Challenges and Forecasts 2018  2023

Light Detection and Ranging (LIDAR) Market

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2015-2023 World Light Detection and Ranging (LIDAR) Market Research Report by Product Type, End-User / Application and Regions / Countries report provides the newest industry data and industry future trends, allowing you to identify the products and end users driving Revenue growth and profitability. The industry report lists the leading competitors and provides the insights strategic industrya Analysis of the key factors influencing the market.Global Light Detection and Ranging (LIDAR) Market Overview:The report spread across 125 pages is an overview of the 2015-2023 World Light Detection and Ranging (LIDAR) Market Research Report by Product Type, End-User / Application and Regions / Countries. The Global Light Detection and Ranging (LIDAR) Market is projected to grow at a healthy growth rate from 2018 to 2025 according to new research.Available Exclusive Sample Copy of this Report @The Global Light Detection and Ranging (LIDAR) Market is growing continuously and expected to grow healthy CAGR by Forecast year 2023. Encouragement from the governments and institutes for the adoption of LiDAR while conducting geological surveys is the major factor driving the growth of this market. Introduction of technologically enhanced LiDAR also fuels the market.The ground-based installation is expected to hold the largest share of the Light Detection and Ranging (LIDAR) Market by 2023. The ground-based LiDAR systems cost less and have less stringent approval criteria for mapping or survey, which leads to the larger size of these systems in the Light Detection and Ranging (LIDAR) Market.Light Detection and Ranging (LIDAR) Market in APAC is expected to grow at the highest CAGR between 2018 and 2023. LiDAR systems are in high demand in APAC owing to the mandate of using LiDAR in the airborne mapping applications.Purchase this report online with 125 Pages, List of Tables & Figures and in-depth Table of Contents on 2015-2023 World Light Detection and Ranging (LIDAR) Market Research Report by Product Type, End-User / Application and Regions / Countries @A complete analysis of the competitive landscape of the Global Light Detection and Ranging (LIDAR) Market is provided in the report. This section includes company profiles of market key players. The profiles include contact information, gross, capacity, product details of each firm, price, and cost. This report investigates new project feasibility with a purpose of enlightening new entrants about the possibilities in this market. In this report, thorough SWOT analysis & investment analysis is provided which forecasts imminent opportunities for the Light Detection and Ranging (LIDAR) Market players.Major Key Players:1 Leica Geosystems2 Trimble3 Teledyne Optech4 Riegl5 Topcon6 Velodyne LiDAR7 3D Laser Mapping8 IGI9 Sure Star and More..Market Segment by Type:1 Airborne LIDAR2 Terrestrial LIDAR and OthersMarket segment by Regions/Countries, this report covers:1 North America (U.S., Canada, Mexico)2 Europe (Germany, U.K., France, Italy, Russia, Spain etc)3 South America (Brazil, Argentina etc)4 Middle East & Africa (Saudi Arabia, South Africa etc)Grab Your Report at an Impressive Discount @This study answers to the below key questions:1 What will the market size be in 2023 and what will the growth rate be?2 What are the key market trends?3 What is driving this market?4 What are the challenges to market growth?5 Who are the key vendors in this market space?6 What are the market opportunities and threats faced by the key vendors?7 What are the strengths and weaknesses of the key vendors?In the end, this report covers data and information on capacity and production overview, production, market share analysis, sales overview, supply, sales, and shortage, import, export and consumption as well as cost, price, revenue and gross margin of Light Detection and Ranging (LIDAR) Market.Major Points in Table of Contents:Global Light Detection and Ranging (LIDAR) Market Report 20181 Market Definition2 Global Market by Vendors3 Global Market by Type4 Global Market by End-Use / Application5 Global Market by Regions6 North America Market7 Europe Market8 Asia-Pacific Market9 South America Market10 Middle East & Africa Market11 Market Forecast12 Key ManufacturersAbout usBusinessindustryReports.com is digital database of comprehensive market reports for global industries. As a market research company, we take pride in equipping our clients with insights and data that holds the power to truly make a difference to their business. Our mission is singular and well-defined  we want to help our clients envisage their business environment so that they are able to make informed, strategic and therefore successful decisions for themselves.Media ContactBusiness Industry ReportsPune  Indiasales@businessindustryreports.com+19376349940
Automotive LiDAR Market Size, Trends and Cost Structure Analysis 2018 - 2025 (Continental AG, Benewake, Garmin, GeoDigital, Infineon, Innoviz, LeddarTech)

Automotive LiDAR Market

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Global Automotive LiDAR Market Research Report 2018 report provides the newest industry data and industry future trends, allowing you to identify the products and end users driving Revenue growth and profitability. The industry report lists the leading competitors and provides the insights strategic industry Analysis of the key factors influencing the market.Global Automotive LiDAR Market Overview:The report spread across 113 pages is an overview of the Global Automotive LiDAR Market Research Report 2018. The Global Automotive LiDAR Market is projected to grow at a healthy growth rate from 2018 to 2025 according to new research. The study focuses on market trends, leading players, supply chain trends, technological innovations, key developments, and future strategies.Available Exclusive Sample Copy of this Report @This report studies the Global Automotive LiDAR Market over the forecast period of 2018 to 2025. The Automotive LiDAR Market division is expected to register high growth rate due to its technological superiority over other available sensors in the automotive industry, such as RADAR and cameras. Factors such as the rising popularity of autonomous vehicles, government regulations for vehicle safety, and an increase in the adoption of ADAS technology by OEMs are driving the market for LiDAR.The Semi-Autonomous vehicle segment is estimated to hold the largest market share of the LiDAR for Automotive Market due to factors such as an increase in the demand for driving safety features, the development of cost effective LiDAR solutions and increasing government regulations.The 3D segment market is estimated to be the fastest growing market of the LiDAR for automotive market, by image type due to the technological advantages over 2D LiDAR and an expected increased use of autonomous vehicle technology in the automotive industry. The accuracy and performance of 3D LiDAR in autonomous vehicles are far superior to conventional solutions such as RADAR and camera.Purchase this report online with 113 Pages, List of Tables & Figures and in-depth Table of Contents on Global Automotive LiDAR Market Research Report 2018 @A complete analysis of the competitive landscape of the Global Automotive LiDAR Market is provided in the report. This section includes company profiles of market key players. The profiles include contact information, gross, capacity, product details of each firm, price, and cost. This report investigates new project feasibility with a purpose of enlightening new entrants about the possibilities in this market. In this report, thorough SWOT analysis & investment analysis is provided which forecasts imminent opportunities for the Automotive LiDAR Market players.Major Key Players:1 Continental AG2 Benewake3 Garmin Ltd4 GeoDigital International5 Infineon Technologies6 Innoviz Technologies and More..On the basis of product, this report displays the production, revenue, price, market share and growth rate of each type, primarily split into -1 Mechanical Automotive LiDAR2 Solid State Automotive LiDARGeographically, this report studies the top producers and consumers, focuses on product capacity, production, value, consumption, market share and growth opportunity in these key regions, covering: North America, Europe, China, Japan, South Korea, India and Other Regions.Grab Your Report at an Impressive Discount @This study answers to the below key questions:1 What will the market size be in 2025 and what will the growth rate be?2 What are the key market trends?3 What is driving this market?4 What are the challenges to market growth?5 Who are the key vendors in this market space?6 What are the market opportunities and threats faced by the key vendors?7 What are the strengths and weaknesses of the key vendors?In the end, this report covers data and information on capacity and production overview, production, market share analysis, sales overview, supply, sales, and shortage, import, export and consumption as well as cost, price, revenue and gross margin of Automotive LiDAR Market.Major Points in Table of Contents:Global Automotive LiDAR Market Report 20181 Automotive LiDAR Market Overview2 Global Automotive LiDAR Market Competition by Manufacturers3 Global Automotive LiDAR Capacity, Production, Revenue (Value) by Region (2013-2018)4 Global Automotive LiDAR Supply (Production), Consumption, Export, Import by Region (2013-2018)5 Global Automotive LiDAR Production, Revenue (Value), Price Trend by Type6 Global Automotive LiDAR Market Analysis by Application7 Global Automotive LiDAR Manufacturers Profiles/Analysis8 Automotive LiDAR Manufacturing Cost Analysis9 Industrial Chain, Sourcing Strategy and Downstream Buyers10 Marketing Strategy Analysis, Distributors/Traders11 Market Effect Factors Analysis12 Global Automotive LiDAR Market Forecast (2018-2025)13 Research Findings and Conclusion14 AppendixAbout usBusinessindustryReports.com is digital database of comprehensive market reports for global industries. As a market research company, we take pride in equipping our clients with insights and data that holds the power to truly make a difference to their business. Our mission is singular and well-defined  we want to help our clients envisage their business environment so that they are able to make informed, strategic and therefore successful decisions for themselves.Media ContactBusiness Industry ReportsPune  Indiasales@businessindustryreports.com+19376349940
Rapid Growth of Continuous Testing Market | Global Key Companies - EPAM Systems, Atos, Cigniti, CA, Capgemini, Micro Focus, Syntel, Cognizant, Parasoft | Forecasts till 2025

Continuous Testing Market

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Global Continuous Testing Market Size, Status and Forecast 2025 report provides the newest industry data and industry future trends, allowing you to identify the products and end users driving Revenue growth and profitability. The industry report lists the leading competitors and provides the insights strategic industry Analysis of the key factors influencing the market.Global Continuous Testing Market Overview:The report spread across 103 pages is an overview of the Global Continuous Testing Market Size, Status and Forecast 2025. The Global Continuous Testing Market is projected to grow at a healthy growth rate from 2018 to 2025 according to new research. The study focuses on market trends, leading players, supply chain trends, technological innovations, key developments, and future strategies.Available Exclusive Sample Copy of this Report @Rapidly changing competitive scenarios has encouraged enterprises to adopt continuous testing to facilitate continuous delivery by continual improvement through feedback from business stakeholders, and by proper validation of processes and transactions. The BFSI companies deal with critical credit management, collection management, and fraud detection management in its day to day financial operations. The BFSI industry has been a major contributor, in terms of the revenue generated, in the Continuous Testing Market.The Global Continuous Testing Market is segmented on the basis of Service, Interface, Deployment Type, Organization Size, Industry and Region.Geographically, North America is estimated to account for the largest market size and dominate the Continuous Testing Market from 2018 to 2025. This region has a high concentration of BFSI, retail and consumer goods, healthcare, and transportation and logistics companies, which largely contribute to the market. However, the APAC region is expected to provide opportunities for continuous testing service providers.Purchase this report online with 103 Pages, List of Tables & Figures and in-depth Table of Contents on Global Continuous Testing Market Size, Status and Forecast 2025 @A complete analysis of the competitive landscape of the Global Continuous Testing Market is provided in the report. This section includes company profiles of market key players. The profiles include contact information, gross, capacity, product details of each firm, price, and cost. This report investigates new project feasibility with a purpose of enlightening new entrants about the possibilities in this market. In this report, thorough SWOT analysis & investment analysis is provided which forecasts imminent opportunities for the Continuous Testing Market players.Major Key Players:1 EPAM Systems (US)2 Atos (France)3 Cigniti (India)4 CA Technologies (US)5 Capgemini (France)6 Spirent Communications (UK)7 Micro Focus (UK)8 Syntel (US)9 Cognizant (US) and MoreMarket segment by Type, the product can be split into -1 Professional Services2 Managed ServicesMarket segment by Regions/Countries, this report covers: United States, EU, Japan, China, India and Southeast Asia.Grab Your Report at an Impressive Discount @What Information does this report contain?1 A detailed analysis of regulatory trends, drivers, industry pitfalls, challenges and growth opportunities for participants2 Which are the leading market products, applications & regions and how will they perform by 2025?3 What are the technologies & innovation trends, how will they evolve by 2025?4 Which companies lead the industry, how are they positioned in the market in terms of sustainability, competency, production capacity and strategic outlook?In the end, this report covers data and information on capacity and production overview, production, market share analysis, sales overview, supply, sales, and shortage, import, export and consumption as well as cost, price, revenue and gross margin of Continuous Testing Market.Major Points in Table of Contents:Global Continuous Testing Market Report 20181 Industry Overview of Continuous Testing2 Global Continuous Testing Competition Analysis by Players3 Company (Top Players) Profiles4 Global Continuous Testing Market Size by Type and Application (2013-2018)5 United States Continuous Testing Development Status and Outlook6 EU Continuous Testing Development Status and Outlook7 Japan Continuous Testing Development Status and Outlook8 China Continuous Testing Development Status and Outlook9 India Continuous Testing Status and Outlook10 Southeast Asia Continuous Testing Development Status and Outlook11 Market Forecast by Regions, Type and Application (2018-2025)12 Continuous Testing Market Dynamics13 Market Effect Factors Analysis14 Research Finding / Conclusion15 AppendixAbout usBusinessindustryReports.com is digital database of comprehensive market reports for global industries. As a market research company, we take pride in equipping our clients with insights and data that holds the power to truly make a difference to their business. Our mission is singular and well-defined  we want to help our clients envisage their business environment so that they are able to make informed, strategic and therefore successful decisions for themselves.Media ContactBusiness Industry ReportsPune  Indiasales@businessindustryreports.com+19376349940
Service Virtualization Market Trending Technologies, Remarkable Developments and Key Players (CA, IBM, Micro Focus, Parasoft, Maveric, Prolifics) | Global Forecast to 2025

Service Virtualization Market

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Global Service Virtualization Market Size, Status and Forecast 2025 report provides the newest industry data and industry future trends, allowing you to identify the products and end users driving Revenue growth and profitability. The industry report lists the leading competitors and provides the insights strategic industry Analysis of the key factors influencing the market.Global Service Virtualization Market Overview:The report spread across 99 pages is an overview of the Global Service Virtualization Market Size, Status and Forecast 2025. The Global Service Virtualization Market is projected to grow at a healthy growth rate from 2018 to 2025 according to new research. The study focuses on market trends, leading players, supply chain trends, technological innovations, key developments, and future strategies.Available Exclusive Sample Copy of this Report @The Global Service Virtualization Market is expected to grow at an impressive CAGR from 2018 to 2025. Enhanced quality of test conditions, leveraging of data integration, accelerated time to market, and increased ROI are the factors driving the growth of the service virtualization market. Moreover, the rise in the adoption of service virtualization by enterprises over cloud has led to the increased adoption of service virtualizations solutions and services.The Global Service Virtualization Market is segmented on the basis of Services, Component, Deployment Type, Vertical and Region. The services segment includes professional services and managed services. Vendors define the scope and design of the service virtualization framework, and design test cases as per the business requirements. Partnering with leading QA service vendors for service virtualization enables the product development teams to focus on development, and thus aids in the implementation of continuous integration.Service Virtualization Tools deployed On-Premises run on a host within the organizations infrastructure. Test Data may be Managed and Stored on the Cloud. On-Premises Service Virtualization Tools enable test cases to run within the companys infrastructure, especially to Monitor Private / Internal APIs, test APIs on a Local Host, or access APIs that require fixed client IP staging. There is always a fear of losing crucial company data if the company has its data hosted on the cloud. Due to these reasons, the on-premises segment is expected to maintain a healthy demand in the Service Virtualization Market.Purchase this report online with 99 Pages, List of Tables & Figures and in-depth Table of Contents on Global Service Virtualization Market Size, Status and Forecast 2025 @Major Key Players:1 CA Technologies2 IBM Corporation3 Micro Focus4 Smartbear Software5 Parasoft6 Sogeti (Capgemini)7 Maveric Systems8 ProlificsMarket segment by Type, the product can be split into -1 Software2 ServicesMarket segment by Regions/Countries, this report covers: United States, EU, Japan, China, India and Southeast Asia.Grab Your Report at an Impressive Discount @This study answers to the below key questions:1 What will the market size be in 2025 and what will the growth rate be?2 What are the key market trends?3 What is driving this market?4 What are the challenges to market growth?5 Who are the key vendors in this market space?6 What are the market opportunities and threats faced by the key vendors?7 What are the strengths and weaknesses of the key vendors?In the end, this report covers data and information on capacity and production overview, production, market share analysis, sales overview, supply, sales, and shortage, import, export and consumption as well as cost, price, revenue and gross margin of Service Virtualization Market.Major Points in Table of Contents:Global Service Virtualization Market Report 20181 Industry Overview of Service Virtualization2 Global Service Virtualization Competition Analysis by Players3 Company (Top Players) Profiles4 Global Service Virtualization Market Size by Type and Application (2013-2018)5 United States Service Virtualization Development Status and Outlook6 EU Service Virtualization Development Status and Outlook7 Japan Service Virtualization Development Status and Outlook8 China Service Virtualization Development Status and Outlook9 India Service Virtualization Status and Outlook10 Southeast Asia Service Virtualization Development Status and Outlook11 Market Forecast by Regions, Type and Application (2018-2025)12 Service Virtualization Market Dynamics13 Market Effect Factors Analysis14 Research Finding / Conclusion15 AppendixAbout usBusinessindustryReports.com is digital database of comprehensive market reports for global industries. As a market research company, we take pride in equipping our clients with insights and data that holds the power to truly make a difference to their business. Our mission is singular and well-defined  we want to help our clients envisage their business environment so that they are able to make informed, strategic and therefore successful decisions for themselves.Media ContactBusiness Industry ReportsPune  Indiasales@businessindustryreports.com+19376349940
Smart Electric Drive Market: Industry Insights, Cost Structure Analysis and Key Companys (Siemens, Hitachi, Robert Bosch, HYUNDAI MOBIS, AISIN SEIKI, Magna, Schaeffler, MAHLE, GKN) | Global Forecast to 2025

Smart Electric Drive Market

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Global Smart Electric Drive Market Research Report 2018 report provides the newest industry data and industry future trends, allowing you to identify the products and end users driving Revenue growth and profitability. The industry report lists the leading competitors and provides the insights strategic industry Analysis of the key factors influencing the market.Global Smart Electric Drive Market Overview:The report spread across 126 pages is an overview of the Global Smart Electric Drive Market Research Report 2018. The Global Smart Electric Drive Market is projected to grow at a healthy growth rate from 2018 to 2025 according to new research. The study focuses on market trends, leading players, supply chain trends, technological innovations, key developments, and future strategies. The thorough analysis in this report enables investors, CEOs, traders and suppliers to understand the market in a better way and based on that knowledge make well-informed decisions.Available Exclusive Sample Copy of this Report @The Global Smart Electric Drive Market is expected to grow at an impressive Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) from 2018 to 2025. Factors such as rising focus on stringent CO2 emissions norms, vehicle weight reduction, government initiatives, and increase in sales of green vehicles are projected to fuel the demand for smart electric drive technologies.With the rising concerns about the factors like zero emission, vehicle weight reduction, and the need for space for other applications, the demand for e-wheel drive is likely to increase in the near future. E-Wheel drive is directly mounted on the wheel rim, which houses the brakes, motor, inverter, and power electronics fitted inside the rim. The major benefit of e-wheel drive is the increase in space availability in the vehicle as many components are moved to wheel. It increases the space up to 50%, which gives the design flexibility. Since e-wheel drive is installed in the wheel, it delivers direct transmission to the road, which makes driving speedy and safe. Thus, owing to these benefits of the e-wheel drive, its market is expected to have exponential growth in the near future.Purchase this report online with 126 Pages, List of Tables & Figures and in-depth Table of Contents on Global Smart Electric Drive Market Research Report 2018 @A complete analysis of the competitive landscape of the Global Smart Electric Drive Market is provided in the report. This section includes company profiles of market key players. The profiles include contact information, gross, capacity, product details of each firm, price, and cost. This report investigates new project feasibility with a purpose of enlightening new entrants about the possibilities in this market. In this report, thorough SWOT analysis & investment analysis is provided which forecasts imminent opportunities for the Smart Electric Drive Market players.Major Key Players:1 Siemens (Germany)2 Hitachi (Japan)3 Robert Bosch (Germany)4 Continental (Germany)5 ZF Friedrichshafen (Germany)6 HYUNDAI MOBIS (South Korea)7 AISIN SEIKI (Japan)8 Magna (Canada)9 Schaeffler (Germany) and More..On the basis of product, this report displays the production, revenue, price, market share and growth rate of each type, primarily split into -1 FWD2 RWD3 AWDGeographically, this report is segmented into several key Regions, with production, consumption, revenue (million USD), market share and growth rate of Smart Electric Drive in these regions, from 2013 to 2025 (forecast), covering: North America, Europe, China, Japan, Southeast Asia and India.Grab Your Report at an Impressive Discount @What Information does this report contain?1 A detailed analysis of regulatory trends, drivers, industry pitfalls, challenges and growth opportunities for participants2 Which are the leading market products, applications & regions and how will they perform by 2025?3 What are the technologies & innovation trends, how will they evolve by 2025?4 Which companies lead the industry, how are they positioned in the market in terms of sustainability, competency, production capacity and strategic outlook?In the end, this report covers data and information on capacity and production overview, production, market share analysis, sales overview, supply, sales, and shortage, import, export and consumption as well as cost, price, revenue and gross margin of Smart Electric Drive Market.Major Points in Table of Contents:Global Smart Electric Drive Market Report 20181 Smart Electric Drive Market Overview2 Global Smart Electric Drive Market Competition by Manufacturers3 Global Smart Electric Drive Capacity, Production, Revenue (Value) by Region (2013-2018)4 Global Smart Electric Drive Supply (Production), Consumption, Export, Import by Region (2013-2018)5 Global Smart Electric Drive Production, Revenue (Value), Price Trend by Type6 Global Smart Electric Drive Market Analysis by Application7 Global Smart Electric Drive Manufacturers Profiles/Analysis8 Smart Electric Drive Manufacturing Cost Analysis9 Industrial Chain, Sourcing Strategy and Downstream Buyers10 Marketing Strategy Analysis, Distributors/Traders11 Market Effect Factors Analysis12 Global Smart Electric Drive Market Forecast (2018-2025)13 Research Findings and Conclusion14 AppendixAbout usBusinessindustryReports.com is digital database of comprehensive market reports for global industries. As a market research company, we take pride in equipping our clients with insights and data that holds the power to truly make a difference to their business. Our mission is singular and well-defined  we want to help our clients envisage their business environment so that they are able to make informed, strategic and therefore successful decisions for themselves.Media ContactBusiness Industry ReportsPune  Indiasales@businessindustryreports.com+19376349940
Anti-Retroviral Drugs Market | Increasing Trends in HIV, Hepatitis, Herpes, Influenza, Others

Anti-Retroviral Drugs

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Global Anti-Retroviral Drugs Market reports provide CAGR Value 2017-2025 and in-depth analysis of Top Players, Geography, End users, Applications, Competitor analysis, Sales, Revenue, Price, Gross Margin, Market Share, Import-Export, Trends and Forecast.First Anti-Retroviral Drugs Market Report, provides a basic overview of the industry including definitions, classifications, applications and industry chain structure. The Anti-Retroviral Drugs market analysis is provided for the international markets including development trends, competitive landscape analysis, and key regions development status.The Global Anti-Retroviral Drugs market analyzes and researches the Anti-Retroviral Drugs development status and forecast in United States, EU, Japan, China, India and Southeast Asia.The Global Anti-Retroviral Drugs Market focuses on global major leading industry players providing information such as company profiles, product picture and specification, capacity, production, price, cost, revenue and contact information. Upstream raw materials and equipment and downstream demand analysis is also carried out.Key Players covered in this report are Cardionet, GE Healthcare, Abbott, AstraZeneca, Bristol-Myers-Squibb, Gilead, Cardiac Science Corp., Cardiocom, Biotelemetry, GlaxoSmithKline, Roche etc.Report analyzed by applications like Hepatitis, HIV/AIDS, Herpes, Influenza, Others. Then report is analyzed on the basis of product Protease Inhibitors, Non-Nucleoside Reverse Transcriptase Inhibitors, Integrase Inhibitors, Nucleoside Analogs and Nucleoside Reverse Transcriptase Inhibitors.Download Exclusive Sample of This Premium Report atThe Anti-Retroviral Drugs industry development trends and marketing channels are analyzed. Finally, the feasibility of new investment projects are assessed and overall research conclusions offered.With the tables and figures, the report provides key statistics on the state of the industry and is a valuable source of guidance and direction for companies and individuals interested in the market.Development policies and plans are discussed as well as manufacturing processes and cost structures are also analyzed. This report also states import/export consumption, supply and demand Figures, cost, price, revenue and gross margins.The Anti-Retroviral Drugs Market report provides key statistics on the market status of the Anti-Retroviral Drugs manufacturers and is a valuable source of guidance and direction for companies and individuals interested in the industry.Major Points Covered in Table of Contents:1 Anti-Retroviral Drugs Market Overview2 Global Anti-Retroviral Drugs Market Competition by Manufacturers3 Global Anti-Retroviral Drugs Capacity, Production, Revenue (Value) by Region (2012-2017)4 Global Anti-Retroviral Drugs Supply (Production), Consumption, Export, Import by Region (2012-2017)5 Global Anti-Retroviral Drugs Production, Revenue (Value), Price Trend by Type6 Global Anti-Retroviral Drugs Market Analysis by Application7 Global Anti-Retroviral Drugs Manufacturers Profiles/Analysis8 Anti-Retroviral Drugs Manufacturing Cost Analysis9 Industrial Chain, Sourcing Strategy and Downstream Buyers10 Marketing Strategy Analysis, Distributors/Traders11 Market Effect Factors Analysis12 Global Anti-Retroviral Drugs Market Forecast (2017-2022)13 Research Findings and Conclusion14 AppendixBusinessIndustryReports.com is digital database of comprehensive market reports for global industries. As a market research company, we take pride in equipping our clients with insights and data that holds the power to truly make a difference to their business. Our mission is singular and well-defined - we want to help our clients envisage their business environment so that they are able to make informed, strategic and therefore successful decisions for themselves.Email: info@businessindustryreports.comPhone: +1 937 6349940
Spine Surgery Devices Market | Top Players, Trends, Applications, Import-Export & Forecast

Spine Surgery

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The Global Spine Surgery Devices Market report gives CAGR value from 2017 to 2025 and how it is expected to reach from 2018 to 2023 with remarkable CAGR. The report provides information by Top Players, Geography, End users, Applications, Competitor analysis, Sales, Revenue, Price, Gross Margin, Market Share, Import-Export, Trends and Forecast.Initially, the report provides a basic overview of the industry including definitions, classifications, applications and industry chain structure. The Spine Surgery Devices market analysis is provided for the international markets including development trends, competitive landscape analysis, and key regions development status.Complete Report on Spine Surgery Devices market spread across 143 pages and Top 25 companies. Get SAMPLE at2017 Global Spine Surgery Devices Market Report is a professional and in-depth research report on the world's major regional market conditions of the Spine Surgery Devices industry, focusing on the main regions and the main countries (United States, Europe, Japan and China).Global Spine Surgery Devices market competition by top manufacturers, with production, price, revenue (value) and market share for each manufacturer.The Top players are DePuy Synthes, Medtronic, NuVasive, Stryker, Zimmer, Aesculap Implant Systems, Alphatec Spine, Amedica, OI Medical, Biomet, Bonesupport, Cook Medical, Crosstrees Medical, Fine, Exactech, Globus Medical, Integra Lifesciences, Joimax, K2M, LDR, NuTech Medical, Orthofix International, Orthovita, Paradigm Spine, RTI Surgical.On the basis of product, report split into Spinal Implants and Instrumentation, Spinal Biomaterials.On the basis of the end users/applications, this report focuses on the status and outlook for major applications/end users, consumption (sales), market share and growth rate for each application, including Hospitals and Research Institutions.The report introduces Spine Surgery Devices basic information including definition, classification, application, industry chain structure, industry overview, policy analysis, and news analysis. Insightful predictions for the Spine Surgery Devices market for the coming few years have also been included in the report.Development policies and plans are discussed as well as manufacturing processes and cost structures are also analyzed. This report also states import/export consumption, supply and demand Figures, cost, price, revenue and gross margins.The report focuses on global major leading Spine Surgery Devices Market players providing information such as company profiles, product picture and specification, capacity, production, price, cost, revenue and contact information. Upstream raw materials and equipment and downstream demand analysis is also carried out.The Spine Surgery Devices industry development trends and marketing channels are analyzed. Finally the feasibility of new investment projects are assessed and overall research conclusions offered.Table of Contents1 Spine Surgery Devices Market Overview2 Global Spine Surgery Devices Market Competition by Manufacturers3 Global Spine Surgery Devices Capacity, Production, Revenue (Value) by Region (2012-2017)4 Global Spine Surgery Devices Supply (Production), Consumption, Export, Import by Region (2012-2017)5 Global Spine Surgery Devices Production, Revenue (Value), Price Trend by Type6 Global Spine Surgery Devices Market Analysis by Application7 Global Spine Surgery Devices Manufacturers Profiles/Analysis8 Spine Surgery Devices Manufacturing Cost Analysis9 Industrial Chain, Sourcing Strategy and Downstream Buyers10 Marketing Strategy Analysis, Distributors/Traders11 Market Effect Factors Analysis12 Global Spine Surgery Devices Market Forecast (2017-2022)13 Research Findings and Conclusion14 AppendixPurchase This Report Online atBusinessIndustryReports.com is digital database of comprehensive market reports for global industries. As a market research company, we take pride in equipping our clients with insights and data that holds the power to truly make a difference to their business. Our mission is singular and well-defined - we want to help our clients envisage their business environment so that they are able to make informed, strategic and therefore successful decisions for themselves.Email: info@businessindustryreports.comPhone: +1 937 6349940
Europe Electrophysiology Market Industry, Market Segment, Overall Market Analysis, Market Values, Market Growth And Trends and Demand Forecast to 2025

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Europe Electrophysiology Industry 2018 Market Research Report focuses on price, sales, revenue and growth rate of each type, as well as the types and each type price of key manufacturers, through interviewing key manufacturers. Second on basis of segments by manufacturers, this report focuses on the sales, price of each type, average price of Credit Insurance, revenue and market share, for key manufacturers.Europe Electrophysiology Market is expected to reach USD 6,618.5 million by 2025 from USD 1,670.7 million in 2017, at a CAGR of 18.9% in the forecast period 2018 to 2025. The new market report contains data for historic years 2016, the base year of calculation is 2017 and the forecast period is 2018 to 2025.Request for Free Sample Report @Europe Electrophysiology Market, By Type (EP Monitoring Devices, EP Treatment Devices), By Product Type(EP Ablation Catheters, EP Diagnostic Catheters, EP Laboratory Devices, Access Devices), By Indication(Atrial Fibrillation, Atrial Flutter, Ventricular Fibrillation, Ventricular Tachycardia, Atrial Tachycardia, Wolff-Parkinson-White (WPW) Syndrome And Atrioventricular Nodal Reentry Tachycardia), By Country (Germany, France, United Kingdom, Italy, Spain, Russia, Turkey, Belgium, Netherlands, Switzeland, Rest Of Europe)  Industry Trends and Forecast to 2024Market Definition: Europe Electrophysiology MarketElectrophysiology is the study of behavior of fluids, precise control, manipulation fluids which are geometrically constrained.Complete report on Europe Electrophysiology Market Research Report 2017-2024 spread across 350 Pages, profiling Top companies and supports with tables and figuresKey Questions Answered in Europe Electrophysiology Market Report:-Our Report offers:- What will the market growth rate, Overview and Analysis by Type of Europe Electrophysiology Market in 2024? What are the key factors driving, Analysis by Applications and Countries G Europe Electrophysiology Market? What are Dynamics, This Overview Includes Analysis of Scope, and price analysis of top Vendors Profiles of Europe Electrophysiology Market? Who are Opportunities, Risk and Driving Force of Europe Electrophysiology Market? Who are the opportunities and threats faced by the vendors in Europe Electrophysiology Market? Business Overview by Type, Applications, Gross Margin and Market Share What are the Europe Electrophysiology Market opportunities, market risk and market overview of the Market?Request for Detaild TOC:Top Key Players: AtriCure, Inc. Biosense Webster, Inc Biotronik SE & Co. KG Boston Scientific Corporation CardioFocus, Inc. Endosense SA Medtronic CryoCath LP Mogul Enterprises, Inc Osypka AG Pioneer Medical Devices AG St. Jude Medical, Inc. TZ Medical, Inc. Koninklijke Philips N.V. GE Healthcare Boston Scientific Siemens AG many others.Avail 10% Instant Discount on Purchase of this report Mail us on: sopan.gedam@databridgemarketresearch.comEurope Electrophysiology Market Major Factors:Electrophysiology basically deals about the electrical properties of the cells and tissues inside human body. Electrophysiological devices are present in wide range having various properties. In very short period of time, electrophysiology has made an important place in healthcare industry especially in case of the cardiovascular diseases. According to WHO, about 50% deaths in European region are caused because of cardiovascular diseases. However 80% of premature heart diseases and stroke are preventable.Also Food and Drug administration (FDAs) regulatory activities impact patients and clinicians from new technologies and drugs which are available for allowing the conduction of clinical studies of investigational products, from monitoring event reports to overseeing the conduction of product calls. The technological superiority and precision is the main factor driving the market for electrophysiology in the period of 2017 to 2024. Electrophysiology provides better information about electrical system of heart as compared to other tests. For example, angiography helps knowing number of possible blockages in heart. Electrophysiology helps doctors in accurately diagnosing the cause of heart rhythm problem, find the source of cause and thus test medications for treating it.For more insightful information visit @Customize report of "Europe Electrophysiology Market" as per customers requirement also available.Market Segmentations:Europe Electrophysiology Market is segmented on the basis of Type Product Type Indication GeographyMarket Segmentations in Details:On the basis of Type the market is segmented into EP monitoring devices and EP treatment devices.On the basis of the Product Type the electrophysiology market is segmented into EP ablation catheters, EP diagnostic catheters, EP laboratory devices and access devices.On the basis of Indication the electrophysiology market is segmented into atrial fibrillation, atrial flutter, ventricular fibrillation, ventricular tachycardia, atrial tachycardia, Wolff-Parkinson-white (WPW) syndrome and atrioventricular nodal reentry tachycardia.On the basis of geography Germany France U.K. Spain Italy Russia Netherlands Turkey Belgium Switzerland Rest of EuropeEurope Electrophysiology Market Competitive Analysis:The Europe electrophysiology market is highly operated by various companies in local regions. The major players in this market have used various strategies such as new product launches, expansions, agreements, joint ventures, partnerships, acquisitions, and others to increase their footprints in this market. Some of the examples for these strategies are that, on 15th December, 2016, St. Jude medical announced FDA clearance of EnSite precision cardiac mapping system and Advisor FL Circular Mapping Catheter. The report also provides market share by company of electrophysiology market in Europe, Germany, France and U.K.Speak to Author of the Report@Other ReportGlobal Microfluidics Market  Industry Trends and Forecast to 2025Global Microfluidics Market, By Components (Microfluidic Chips, Micropumps, Microneedles, Others), By (Polymer, Glass, Silicon, Other), By Sector (Industrial, Healthcare), By End User (Hospitals, Industrial R&D, Research Laboratories and Academia), By Geography (North America, South America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, Middle East and Africa)- Industry Trends and Forecast to 2025Report Access:About Data Bridge Market ResearchData 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:Data Bridge Market ResearchTel: +1-888-387-2818Email: sopan.gedam@databridgemarketresearch.com
Global Mesothelioma Treatment Market - Market Estimation, Dynamics, Regional Share, Trends, Competitor Analysis 2013-2017 and Forecast 2018-2024

Global Mesothelioma Treatment Market

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Global Mesothelioma Treatment Market: By Drug Class (Alkylating Agents, Antimetabolites, Plant Alkaloids, Antitumor Antibiotics, and Others), By Application (Pleural Mesothelioma and Peritoneal Mesothelioma), By Route of Administration (Oral and Parenteral), By Distribution Channel (Hospital Pharmacies, Retail Pharmacies, and Online Pharmacies), and Geography - Market Estimation, Dynamics, Regional Share, Trends, Competitor Analysis 2013-2017 and Forecast 2018-2024Global mesothelioma treatment market was valued at US$ XX Mn in 2017 and expected to grow at XX% Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) from 2018 to 2024Market Outline: Mesothelioma Treatment MarketMesothelioma is a rare and aggressive form of cancer that occurs in the thin layer tissue that covers the majority of the internal organs. Mesothelioma most often affects the tissue that surrounds the lungs (pleura), which is called pleural mesothelioma. Other, rarer types of mesothelioma affect tissue in the abdomen (peritoneal mesothelioma), around the heart and around the testicles. Pleural mesothelioma is the most common type of mesothelioma. Mesothelioma primarily caused by the inhalation of asbestos fibers, can be diagnosed in older individuals who worked with asbestos products in an industrial setting as there is no cure currently exists, mesothelioma patients can usually improve their prognosis through some form of treatment available.Free sample of this report is available upon request @Market Dynamics: Mesothelioma Treatment MarketOut of all types of mesothelioma, malignant pleural mesothelioma segment is anticipated to grow at significant rate and accounts for 70% of all mesothelioma cases followed by malignant peritoneal mesothelioma which accounts 15-20% of all mesothelioma cases. Many companies are focusing on the collaborations in order to study the combinations of various drugs. The combination therapies are improving the survival rates which is encouraging the R&D activities. According to the Cancer Research UK, 1 in every 140 men and 1 in every 710 women are diagnosed with malignant mesothelioma. The increasing cases of malignant mesothelioma are adding fuel to the mesothelioma treatment market growth.Market Scope: Mesothelioma Treatment MarketMesothelioma treatment market is segmented based on the product type, technology, disease indication, and distribution channelBased on the drug class the market is segmented into the following: Alkylating agents Antimetabolites Plant alkaloids Antitumor Antibiotics OthersBased on the application, the market is segmented into the following: Pleural Mesothelioma Peritoneal MesotheliomaBased on the route of administration, the market is segmented into the following: Oral ParenteralBased on the distribution channel, the market is segmented into the following: Hospital Pharmacies Retail Pharmacies Online PharmaciesFree TOC of this report is available upon request @Regional Analysis: Mesothelioma Treatment MarketGeographically, global mesothelioma treatment market is segmented into North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, Latin America, and Middle East and Africa. Asia-Pacific dominates the mesothelioma treatment market due to the growing prevalence of mesothelioma in the region. The increasing geriatric population is also driving the growth of the mesothelioma treatment market. The poor reimbursement policies may hamper the growth of the global mesothelioma treatment market.Ask Analyst for Full Information about this report @Competition Assessment: Mesothelioma Treatment MarketSome of the players in the global mesothelioma treatment market include: Teva Pharmaceuticals (Israel) Boehringer Ingelheim GmbH (Germany) Mylan N.V. (U.S) Fresenius Kabi AG (Germany) Sun Pharmaceuticals Industries Ltd. (India) Concordia International Corp. (U.K) Kyowa Hakko Kirin Co Ltd. (Japan) MolMed SpA (Italy) Ono Pharmaceutical Co. Ltd. (Japan) Nichi-Iko Pharmaceutical Co. (Japan)Notable Market Developments: Mesothelioma Treatment Market In February 2016, AstraZeneca reported top-line result of tremelimumab monotherapy trial in mesothelioma.Get 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.Contact to Precision Business Insights,Kemp House,152  160 City Road,London EC1V 2NXEmail: sales@precisionbusinessinsights.comToll Free (US):+1-866-598-1553Website @
North Williams and Russell Street in 1962. (File photo)

Tourists who seek out (or stumble upon) North Williams Avenue typically love what they find: bike lanes and yoga studios, trendy restaurants and gleaming new buildings.

Some longtime residents, however, view the scene differently. They see North Williams as one of the city's foremost examples of gentrification, an affront to those who liked Portland the way it was in its more affordable, more working-class days.

And that opinion has an even stronger hold on this strip than on other rapidly redeveloping local streets -- in part because, through much of the 20th century, Williams was central to the African-American community in the surrounding Albina district. Discriminatory real-estate practices kept minorities out of many Portland neighborhoods for decades.

Albina has had various, intersecting incarnations over the years. It was a bustling industrial area, with a large bread factory looming over Williams Avenue. Jazz clubs dominated for decades, a draw for legendary musicians like Thelonius Monk and B.B. King. And now it's a mixed, but increasingly upscale, residential neighborhood, packed with high-rise condos and pricey ramen shops.

How has the street changed over the decades? We offer a photographic tour below.

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George Henry Williams (Library of Congress)

The Albina neighborhood used to be its own city.

In 1891, residents voted for East Portland and Albina to join Portland, stretching the Rose City to the east side of the Willamette River. Albina had incorporated only four years earlier, but at the time of the consolidation it was Oregon's fastest-growing burgh.

Albina's founders, points out Jewell Lansing in "Portland: People, Politics, and Power, 1851-2001," were Edwin Russell (an English aristocrat), George Henry Williams (a former U.S. senator and U.S. attorney general who would serve as Portland's mayor from 1902 to 1905) and William Page (whose daughter's first name was Albina).

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August Storz Grocery at 2211 N. Williams Ave. in 1910. (The Oregonian)

Early residents of Albina were predominantly Irish, Scandinavian, German and Russian immigrants, many of whom worked at the Portland and Vancouver Railway yards.

"Until the 1940s," the journalist Carl Gohs wrote in 1968, "it was a distinct and proud middle- and lower-class Caucasian district."

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The Albina Engine & Machine Works in the 1930s. (The Oregonian)

Albina in the early 20th century was known for being home to garbage dumps. Is it a coincidence that one of the area's local bands of ruffians was called the Sewer Gang?

A 1921 letter to the editor in The Oregonian suggested that the city's various young troublemakers had decent citizens worried, pointing out that clashes between the Slabtown, Goose Hollow and Sewer gangs "made life difficult for innocent bystanders."

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The Oregonian

The Immaculate Heart of Mary Parish at 2926 N. Williams Ave. was constructed in 1890 when Albina was still its own city. The wooden building, the church states, "is a fine example of Victorian Gothic Revival architecture reminiscent of English and French Gothic cathedrals."

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A detail of the icons near the altar at Immaculate Heart Church. (The Oregonian)

The Immaculate Heart parish has changed with the surrounding community over the years, the church writes. "The original parish was founded by mostly those of German and Irish descent," a historical note posted outside the building states. "During the 1940s and 1950s the parish welcomed the many African-Americans, many of whom came to Portland to work in the shipyards as part of the World War II effort. Today the parish is truly a multicultural parish and serves a community with members from Europe, Asia, Africa as well as African-American, Asian-American and South & European American."

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Oregonian file photo

By the 1920s, North Williams Avenue had become one of Albina's major commercial thoroughfares and was home to many thriving factories.

One of those thriving business concerns was a large bakery at Fremont and Williams. When the first loaves came out of the ovens in 1929, they were presented to Portland Mayor George Baker. The Oregonian reported that the new "Wonder" bread "is baked by an entirely new process which is much slower than has been in use before ... and retains the food values and flavors."

The Wonder Bread complex operated for decades.

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Oregonian file photo

In Wonder Bread advertisements in the 1950s, nutritionist Dr. Marietta Eichelberger heralded the work being done at bakeries such as the one on North Williams in Portland. "The efficiency and cleanliness are evident everywhere," she said in the ads. "The greatest care taken in the baking of Wonder Bread convinced me that it's the best bread made today."

Portland's Wonder Bread Bakery shuttered in 2000. The building was demolished a few years later.

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Oregonian file photo

After World War II and the 1948 Vanport flood, with African-Americans kept out of many parts of Portland through discriminatory real-estate practices known as "redlining," Albina became the center of the city's black community, with North Williams Avenue known as "the Black Broadway."

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Oregonian file photo

The old Eliot School building, on Knott Street just a couple hundred feet east of North Williams Avenue, was turned into a community center in 1951, "with a full schedule of gymnasium and recreational activities." It would be replaced by the Matt Dishman Community Center.

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Matt Dishman Community Center (The Oregonian)

The Knott Street Boxing Club started in the basement of the community center in 1951, states a historical marker on North Williams Avenue. It adds: "The Knott Street boxing program brought the national spotlight to the city during the 1950s through the 1970s with one of the most successful amateur boxing programs in the country."

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Oregonian file photo

Across the street from the Dishman Community Center is the boarded-up main building for Portland General Electric's east-side distribution station, built in 1906.

At the time PGE acquired the building, The Oregonian reported that the company was swiftly moving to erect "handsome buildings" to meet growing residential and industrial demand in the city.

"From this point," the newspaper wrote, "all of the power on the East Side, except for St. Johns, will be distributed. This includes not only the power for lights, but also for the operation of the cars of the Portland Railway on the East Side."

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Oregonian file photo

The March for Jobs and Freedom drew more than 200,000 Americans to Washington, D.C., in August 1963. Martin Luther King Jr. gave his iconic "I Have a Dream" speech at the rally.

The Northwest sent dozens of people to the march, and when they returned, hundreds turned out at Albina's Dawson Park to welcome them.

"The busload of marchers, which arrived in Portland about 6 a.m. Sunday, reached the park at 1:40 p.m.," The Oregonian wrote on Sept. 2, 1963. "Its cargo of marchers, including 15 from the Seattle area, disembarked and sang en route to a platform erected on the N. Vancouver Avenue side of the park."

"We are in a revolution," Seattle marcher Eddie Givens said at the park. "We are in a war. It is a peaceful war against bigotry, and we will win."

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Oregonian file photo

The two-acre Dawson Park on North Williams Avenue remains a popular meeting place for the city's African-American community even as the surrounding neighborhood has dramatically changed.

"We used to have more places," food-truck chef Loren Green told The Oregonian in 2016. "I used to be able to walk down this street. Dawson Park is all we have now."

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Oregonian file photo

Construction of the East Bank I-5 freeway in the 1960s reshuffled parts of the Albina neighborhood. This photo shows the freeway passing under Vancouver Avenue and other east-side streets.

Despite the freeway and controversial urban-renewal projects during this period, North Williams remained a key commercial street.

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Photo by Allen de Lay (historicphotoarchive.net)

On his first trek into the Albina district for a 1968 story for Northwest magazine, the journalist Carl Gohs noticed "a sign in large letters painted on the window of the state employment office [on Williams] -- 'We're Helping Ourselves.' I was unaware of it at the moment, but more and more as I would walk and talk and look and listen throughout Albina, that sign would come to represent almost a district philosophy."

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Oregonian file photo

"In the 1950s and '60s, landlords and banks barred African Americans from renting or owning outside the inner-city, but they made something of the discrimination," The Oregonian's Casey Parks wrote in 2016. "Black-owned bars and restaurants lined Williams." It became known simply as "the avenue."

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Police riot squad near Northeast Grand and Fremont in 1967. (The Oregonian)

Riots swept through African-American neighborhoods across the U.S. in the late 1960s, and Albina was not immune.

One of the reasons, the Oregon Historical Quarterly wrote: "The manifest power of residential segregation, urban-renewal bulldozers, and police harassment and brutality prompted many black urbanites in Albina, and nationwide, to think of themselves as living in a colony subject to external rule."

The physical damage from the unrest proved long-lasting and further degraded the Albina neighborhood, which was already suffering from a dearth of both private investment and civic attention.

"Nearly 12.5 percent of fires caused by faulty electric wiring for the entire city took place within [the central Albina district] and 17 percent of the calls resulting from faulty heating system were reported there," The Oregonian reported in 1967.

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Side-by-side houses served as "before and after" examples of rehabilitation efforts. (The Oregonian)

In the 1960s, the Albina Neighborhood Improvement Project sought to rehabilitate residences around North Williams Avenue.

Not everyone thought the effort was worthwhile.

"I think they should push down every house that's standing and begin all over again," The Oregonian quoted a "war -on-poverty fighter" as saying in 1967.

At the time, home prices in the area ranged from $4,000 to $12,000, "but the $12,000 homes are few."

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Paul Knauls in 1979. (Oregonian file photo)

"Geneva's lounge at 4228 N. Williams Ave. occupied an important place in Portland's black community long before it became famous as an after-practice hangout for professional basketball players and as the scene of a traffic-choking crowd of happy fans the afternoon the Blazers won the NBA championship two years ago," The Oregonian wrote in 1979.

Blazers players weren't the only celebs to go to the nightclub. Boxing champions Archie Moore and Muhammad Ali, as well as various actors coming through town, reportedly visited Geneva's.

"You can even go to Washington, D.C., and mention Geneva's, and people will have been there," Geneva's owner Paul Knauls said.

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Local 1970s columnist Mike Dolan wrote that Geneva's, named after Paul Knauls' wife, was "a classy restaurant and lounge that turns a profit in an area of town where some businessmen have had trouble getting bank financing and keeping their businesses going."

Knauls had previously managed and then co-owned The Cotton Club, which The Oregonian called "one of Portland's most famous nightclubs." That popular establishment, which attracted top national performers in its heyday, closed in 1970. Said Knauls of its demise: "When the revolution came, whites didn't want to be where the blacks were and blacks didn't want to be where the whites were, so everybody left."

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Oregonian file photo

In 1986, Geneva's was ravaged by a fire, destroying most of the interior of the two-story building. Geneva Knauls called the fire "devastating."

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Oregonian file photo

The Eliot Energy House, "Northeast Portland's model for urban energy conservation," opened in 1983. The project, at 3116 N. Williams Ave., was the brainchild of the non-profit group Responsible Urban Neighborhood.

The group offered tours of the house "for those interested in seeing what conservation features can be used in other Portland homes," The Oregonian wrote. "These include an enclosed front porch to prevent winter heat loss, a 'cold cupboard' in the kitchen's north wall to reduce refrigeration by electricity, and ducts from the attic greenhouse for warming both water and downstairs rooms."

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Oregonian file photo

The Albina district was upended by the construction of I-5 and Memorial Coliseum, as well as a plan to expand Emanuel Hospital that resulted in homes and businesses being demolished, "pushing out approximately 300 residents." The "Stop the Destruction" sign at the corner of North Williams Avenue and Northeast Knott Street is part of The Historic Black Williams Project, created by local artists Cleo Davis and Kayin Talton Davis to celebrate the rich history of Portland's African-American community in Northeast Portland.

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Oregonian file photo

The Historic Black Williams Project seeks to keep North Williams Avenue's African-American history alive through public-art installations on the street.

"Many of the landmarks are no longer around and our friends' families no longer live in the area," the project's artists, Cleo Davis and Kayin Talton Davis, say on the project's website. "We grew up with stories about the Maxeys and the old crew on Gantenbein, going to Hank's Dairy on Williams and Fremont, and attending Morning Star Missionary Baptist Church on Ivy and Rodney."

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Oregonian file photo

Charles Maxey was a prominent business owner, civil-rights activist and mentor in the Albina community. Trained as a teacher but rejected by Portland Public Schools in the 1940s, he opened Maxey's Barber Shop and later operated various other businesses during his long, successful career. He died in 2001 at age 84.

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Oregonian file photo

A sidewalk tile at the corner of North Williams Avenue and Northeast Sacramento Street, part of The Historic Black Williams Project, honors the late Portland physician Dr. DeNorval Unthank.

Unthank moved to Portland in 1929 at age 30 and "would become one of the city's most visible civil rights activists," The Oregon Encyclopedia points out.

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Billy Webb Elks Lodge at North Williams and NE Tillamook. (The Oregonian)

The Billy Webb Elks Lodge at Tillamook and Williams, The Oregonian wrote in 1973, was "known commonly as 'the Negro Elks,' but you don't have to be black to join." Said A.W. Denton, the lodge's leader at the time: "We don't discriminate on race. We discriminate on character." Other Oregon Elks lodges couldn't say the same -- they lost their state tax exemption during the Me Decade because of their whites-only membership rules. "Man has come a long way," Denton said of those lodges. "We have cracked the atom bomb, exploded the heavens. We have littered the moon. But we've never got far enough to explore the hearts of men."

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Oregonian file photo

The Billy Webb Elks Lodge building -- the lodge branch is named after an early 20th-century local musician -- opened in 1926. It was the city's "Colored YWCA" before becoming a neighborhood meeting place. A $1 million renovation in 2008 revived the building, and it continues to serve the lodge and other purposes. The Oregon Encyclopedia points out that it's "a reminder of the city's largely segregated history and a key historical landmark for the African American community."

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Oregonian file photo

A fire raged through The Morning Star Missionary Baptist Church in 2007.

The building, constructed in the 1890s, had to be torn down.

Church leaders, The Oregonian wrote, soon had to ask themselves: "With only 200 members, limited resources and changing neighborhood demographics, what is the case for rebuilding?"

The Morning Star church, after 60 years in Albina, moved to the Cully neighborhood.

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Oregonian file photo

For a few years after Portland's Wonder Bread Bakery closed in 2000, a small Hostess outlet store remained on the large, otherwise vacant property bounded by North Williams, Vancouver, Cook and Fremont.

Portland city leaders sought to redevelop the 70,000-square-foot site, with a project manager at the Portland Development Commission insisting a new industrial operation "could bring hundreds of jobs to the area."

"Although residents and city officials might have a lot of ideas for redeveloping the site," The Oregonian wrote in 2000, "Wonder Bread has shown no sign of selling. The company uses it for loading and parking its trucks that serve the Portland area."

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Oregonian file photo

In 2012, Hostess announced its liquidation, meaning the Wonder Bread outlet store's days were numbered. A New Seasons grocery store and an apartment building now take up the former Wonder Bread bakery site.

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Oregonian file photo

When plans for a large apartment building on the old Wonder Bread site were announced in 2012, neighborhood leaders worried it might exacerbate the area's growing parking problems.

"We are not keen to see a 200-unit, six-story apartment building," Eliot Neighborhood Association chairman Mike Warwick said. "[But] given that it will be built, Eliot wants the developer and his tenants to succeed."

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Oregonian file photo

When siblings Yohannes and Mimi Dibabu "first began cooking Ethiopian food on North Williams Avenue [12 years ago], the blocks around their restaurant were empty," The Oregonian wrote in 2014. "Dalo's Kitchen was an island."

But that was then. The emptiness was filled in over the years with new construction, and the development boom finally came for the building that housed Dalo's, forcing the restaurant to move to the Alberta district. The nondescript, single-story structure at Williams and Skidmore where Dalo's built its loyal customer base has been replaced by a large apartment building.

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Oregonian file photo

After years of being "an island" on North Williams Avenue, the restaurant run by Yohannes and Mimi Dibabu found itself in the 2010s surrounded by new construction.

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Oregonian file photo

A boarded-up house on North Fargo Street near the intersection of North Williams Avenue stands in the shadow of new residential construction in 2015.

Matt Hern, author of "What a City is For: Remaking the Politics of Displacement," calls Albina "one of the clearest and starkest examples of displacement that I have ever encountered."

"Over and over again on my visits to Portland," he writes in "What a City is For," "I hear people from within and outside Albina talk about the neighborhood in the past tense, celebrating and eulogizing and regretting its history."

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The Peloton Apartments, at 4141 N. Williams Ave., when it was under construction. (The Oregonian)

Referring to those who lament gentrification in neighborhoods like Albina and think of it as a kind of civic death, "What a City is For" author Matt Hern writes:

"I understand what they are saying for sure, and I've said and thought it myself about gentrified neighborhoods in all kinds of cities, and while there's truth there, I don't think it's quite right. The sentiment is too all-or-nothing, too essentialist, and it doesn't capture the complexity of places fairly."

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Oregonian file photo

In the 1980s and '90s, as Portland's population surged, North Williams Avenue was neglected by developers. That changed after the Great Recession of 2007-09, with new construction along the street moving at a rapid pace over the past decade.

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The Rinehart Building in 1981 (Oregonian file photo)

The two-story blond-brick Rinehart Building, built in 1910 and listed on the National Register of Historic Places, is one of the last remaining historic structures in the Albina neighborhood.

For years the building was home to the Cleo-Lillian Social Club, where B.B. King and other legendary musicians played. "The club doubled as a space for community activism, and [owners Cleo and Lillian Hampton] used it to raise money for African-American social causes," The Oregonian wrote in 2014.

The club closed in 2001.

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Oregonian file photo

The Rinehart Building, at the corner of Monroe and Williams, housed a confectionery maker, a butcher's shop and many other enterprises over the years. But it stood empty for a decade after the Cleo-Lillian Social Club closed. Developers Tim and Brandon Brown bought the building in 2011 and renovated it.

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Oregonian file photo

North Williams Avenue has seen a lot of new development -- and the influx of trendy shops and restaurants -- in recent years. And construction cranes remain a common sight.

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A patio, with bike parking, is tucked behind Hopworks on N. Williams. (The Oregonian)

North Williams Avenue was a bustling street dominated by black-owned businesses in the middle of the last century. After a long period of decline and neglect, the street -- and the neighborhood's demographics -- has been transformed.

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Holst Architecture rendering of One North

The reimagining of North Williams reached full flower with the recent development of One North at Fremont and Williams.

The striking property heralds the district as upscale, innovative and tech-savvy.

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Oregonian file photo

The One North complex includes two office buildings and a public courtyard. It marked the first significant office development on Williams during its current building boom, highlighting the street as a place not just to eat, shop and bike but also to work.

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Oregonian file photo

A building at North Williams and Northeast Shaver features a striking mural by Portland artist Tom Cramer.

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Oregonian file photo

A woman checks out the Historic Black Williams Project's "Stop the Destruction" sign located at the corner of North Williams Avenue and Northeast Knott Street.

The signs, posted along North Williams, showcase how much the street has changed in recent decades.

-- Douglas Perry
Michigan State Police troopers from the Tri-City Post want the public to be aware of a new phone solicitation scheme currently targeting Saginaw and Bay county residents.

Callers say they are fundraising for the State of Michigan Police and ask for money. Several elderly residents have reported these types of calls. The callers are using a 989 area code with a local prefix, however a follow up call revealed at least one of callers is likely from the State of Virginia.
The Supreme Court offered a ruling on Masterpiece Cakeshop v. Colorado Civil Rights Commission on Monday, handing down a judgment that, while not directly undermining gay rights as a whole, is certainly not a victory for the cause. The case stems from a 2012 incident in which fiances Charlie Craig and David Mullins approached Jack Phillips at Masterpiece Cakeshop in Lakewood, Colo. The couple was going to get married in Massachusetts and then return to Colorado for a celebration, and they sought to commission a cake from Phillips. Phillips denied their request on the grounds that same-sex marriage, which was illegal in Colorado at the time, was also against his religious beliefs. The couple filed a case against Phillips under Colorados anti-discrimination public accommodations law. The Colorado Civil Rights Commission ruled in their favor, but SCOTUS has officially reversed that ruling in a 7-2 decision, deeming it a violation of the First Amendment.

Writing for the case, Justice Anthony Kennedy said that, though anti-discrimination laws should be upheld, they must be applied in a manner that is neutral toward religion. The court ruled that the Colorado Civil Rights Commission fail[ed] to act in a manner neutral to religion. Justice Kennedy was particularly alarmed by comments during proceedings wherein a commissioner stated that religion had been used as a despicable defense of human rights violations like slavery and the Holocaust. This sentiment is inappropriate for a Commission charged with the solemn responsibility of fair and neutral enforcement of Colorados antidiscrimination law, Kennedy wrote, a law that protects discrimination on the basis of religion as well as sexual orientation.

Kennedy tried to clearly state that this case would not set a precedent for discrimination against gay people, but rather advocate for tolerance of religion in this specific instance. The outcome of cases like this in other circumstances must await further elaboration in the courts, all in the context of recognizing that these disputes must be resolved with tolerance, without undue respect to sincere religious beliefs, and without subjecting gay persons to indignities when they seek goods and services in an open market.

This ruling reverses the Colorado Civil Rights Commissions findings, which had instructed Phillips to change his company policies and provide pro-tolerance staff training. Justices Ruth Bader Ginsberg and Sonia Sotomayor were the Supreme Courts sole dissenters.
Petoskey volleyball adds another win over Gaylord in three
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iStock/Thinkstock(MCALLEN, Texas) -- Local police were called on Sen. Jeff Merkley, an Oregon Democrat, on Sunday as he tried to enter a shelter for undocumented children during a trip to the Texas border  a trip the lawmaker said he took to learn how the Trump administration is implementing its policy of separating children from their parents.



During his visit to McAllen, Texas, Merkley walked up to a former Walmart store that had been converted into a facility run by a nonprofit called Southwest Key, which contracts with the Health and Human Services Office of Refugee Resettlement to take care of undocumented children once they arrive in the United States. They are kept there until their next stop, typically to family members inside the United States or in their home country, or foster care.



Merkleys office had notified reporters in advance that he was going to visit the border to try to get access to facilities where children were being housed. ABC was among several news organizations that sent a camera to cover his trip.



Merkley tried several times to get the facilitys supervisor to come out and talk to him, saying that he and the reporters who were with him deserved to see the inside of the shelter to see how the U.S. government was treating children in its care.



They do not want members of Congress to see what's going on inside. They do not want the public to see what's going on inside, he said as he waited, speaking to several reporters as well as his staffer who was streaming the visit live on Facebook.



He said his staff had called the Southwest Key Casa Padre facility late last week to arrange a tour, but when he arrived it appeared no one was expecting him.



They should be able to offer a tour, not have it be some sanitized, Potemkin village where they arrange everything to look very nice when you arrive, Merkley said.



Merkley was not arrested, but he, his staffer and a small retinue of journalists were asked to leave the premises. The shelters supervisor would not talk to Merkley other than to refer him to the Health and Human Services public affairs office in Washington, D.C.



Merkley had organized his last-minute trip as a way to bring awareness to the Department of Homeland Securitys new enforcement policy of referring 100% of illegal immigration cases for prosecution, including immigrants who crossed the border seeking asylum. DHS is also now not reuniting parents with their children once the parents have completed their preliminary court proceedings, citing legal precedent that prevents the government from holding children for more than 20 days.



If you dont want your child separated, then dont bring them across the border illegally, Attorney General Jeff Sessions said in announcing the new enforcement policy.



In a statement, a DHS press secretary said the department was simply following the laws passed by Congress and that the safety of children is paramount for the agency.



I encourage Senator Merkley to work with the administration to fix the underlying loopholes that act as a pull factor for illegal immigration and place these children at risk from smugglers and human traffickers, the spokesman said.



While DHS was not involved in Merkley's stop at the children's shelter, it did organize a visit earlier that day to a nearby processing center for children and adults, which they said they facilitated on short notice "despite the obvious and serious privacy concerns."



The American Civil Liberties Union, which filed a class action case in March challenging the policy, has said it is aware of at least 700 cases of parents being separated from children as of May. The official policy was announced earlier that month but aid groups like the Florence Project said they saw an uptick in family separation cases last summer.



While there have been plenty of anecdotal cases reflecting the policy, its implementation is harder to track in a systematic way. Before he visited the childrens shelter, Merkley stopped by the nearby processing center. He was allowed inside but the journalists accompanying him were not.



When he emerged, he said he had only been allowed to talk to one father-and-son pair who had been already been reunited and were awaiting release, whereupon they would stay with family in New Jersey until the fathers court case. He added that the father had an ankle bracelet which officials would use to monitor him until his return.



He said the officials told him families were typically only being separated for a short amount of time, although anecdotes from detained parents tell a different story. Jocelyn, a mother fleeing an abusive husband in Brazil, told ABCs Tom Llamas that she had been jailed in El Paso, Texas during her court proceedings while her 14-year-old son was sent to a facility in Chicago. Now living in a shelter, Jocelyn has not seen her son for eight months.



I don't feel like I'm getting the real story yet of all that's going on with this new policy and its impact on families seeking asylum, Merkley said after he emerged from the processing facility.



Merkley also visited a humanitarian respite center, being run by the Catholic Church in the area, where undocumented people can go once they are released from U.S. custody. He spoke through a translator with a man who would not show his face but who was at the respite center with his two children and his daughter. Merkley told the man that he was there to learn more about why some families were being separated as the adults awaited adjudication.



That's what worries me; we don't want to be separated, the man told him.

Copyright  2018, ABC Radio. All rights reserved.
The Berkeley-Charleston-Dorchester Council of Governments is holding a series of workshops to talk about the Lowcountry Rapid Transit project. COG is planning to develop the system, like Cleveland's bus rapid transit system, to accommodate the Charleston area's growing population. The line will connect Summerville and the Charleston peninsula. File/Center for Neighborhood Technology/Wikimedia
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David Slade is a senior Post and Courier reporter. His work has been honored nationally by Society of Professional Journalists, American Society of Newspaper Editors, Scripps foundation and others. Reach him at 843-937-5552 or dslade@postandcourier.com
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Joseph Cranney is an investigative reporter in Columbia, with a focus on government corruption and injustices in the criminal legal system. He can be reached securely by Proton mail at jcranney@prontonmail.com or on Signal at 215-285-9083.
COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP)  U.S. Rep. Tom Rice on Monday announced support for Gov. Henry McMaster's bid for a first full term in office, bringing what the Republican's campaign hopes is a boost in the closing days of this year's primary election campaign.

In announcing his endorsement of McMaster's bid for a first full term in office, U.S. Rep. Tom Rice lauded the creation of tens of thousands of jobs in South Carolina during McMaster's time in office, including more than 2,000 in the 7th District, which he represents.

"If you want economic prosperity and jobs, this is nirvana," Rice said during a conference call with reporters. "This is the place you want to be."

The two planned to spend some time campaigning together in the district Saturday, visiting Myrtle Beach and Florence as part of a bus tour McMaster said he's kicking off Wednesday, in the run up to the June 12 primary voting. McMaster told reporters that he and Rice agree on "so many of the very important issues," like economic development and opposition to drilling off South Carolina's coast.

Rice was first elected in 2012 to represent South Carolina's 7th District, a rapidly growing area that includes Myrtle Beach. It's also home to several counties with the state's highest unemployment figures, a situation Rice said he was confident McMaster could continue to turn around with more time in office.

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Along with Rice, McMaster also has support from U.S. Sen. Lindsey Graham. Longtime Graham strategist Scott Farmer joined McMaster's campaign as a consultant earlier this year. McMaster  in office since Nikki Haley stepped down last year to become U.N. Ambassador  also has the backing of President Donald Trump, who traveled to the state last fall to participate in a fundraiser for him.

According to a Five-Thirty-Eight analysis of Rice's congressional votes, the three-term Republican votes in line with Trump's position more than 96 percent of the time.

McMaster faces four primary challengers. Last week, U.S. Rep. Ralph Norman announced his support for one of them, former state public health chief Catherine Templeton.

On the other side of the race, South Carolina's lone congressional Democrat, U.S. Rep. Jim Clyburn, is backing state Rep. James Smith.
Adhesives and Sealants Market report categorizes global market by product type, application, and geography - Industry Trends, Outlook, Regulatory Bodies & Regulations and Key Market Players

Adhesives and Sealants Market

PR-Inside.com: 2018-06-04 12:23:42

Press Information

Coherent Market Insights

Coherent Market Insights





1001 4th Ave,





#3200





Seattle, WA 98154





Tel: +1-206-701-6702





Email: sales@coherentmarketinsights.com



Mr.Shah

CEO

Tel: +1-206-701-6702

email

https://www.coherentmarketinsights.com/ongoing-insight/adhesives-and-sealants-market-253





# 707 Words

Coherent Market Insights1001 4th Ave,#3200Seattle, WA 98154Tel: +1-206-701-6702Email: sales@coherentmarketinsights.comCEOTel: +1-206-701-6702

Asia Pacific is expected to be one the major revenue contributor due to its emerging economy and supportive government policies in the region. For instance, Make in India initiative by Government of India aims to raise the countrys passenger vehicle manufacturing to 9.4 million by 2026. Moreover, due to rampant economic growth in Asia Pacific and rapid urbanization, especially in India and China, the demand for adhesive and sealants is expected to witness tremendous growth over the forecast period from various end-use industries that are witnessing burgeoning growth. Demand for modern buildings and commercial complex with glass exteriors and interiors is increasing and in turn is expected to drive growth of the global adhesive and sealants market during the forecast period.Adhesives and Sealants Market Challenges  Environmental ImpactCarbon dioxide (CO2) and Volatile Organic Compound emission are major environmental issues. Adhesive and sealants such as silver epoxy-based Electronic Conductive Adhesive (ECA) release CO2. Moreover, due to stringent government regulation on release of VOC emission to the atmosphere, end-use industries are actively opting for alternative to organic solvents and dispersing media. For instance, SIKA AG introduced new-generation adhesive SikaBond AT-75 for wood floor bonding, meeting highest EHS regulation. This is expected to be one of the key challenges for adhesive and sealants market during the forecast period. Bio-based based products such as soybean-derived polyols, vegetable-based polyamides, epoxies, and polyisoprenes are increasingly replacing the synthetic materials and additionally reduce the carbon footprints. Water based formulation contribute to a major share in adhesive whereas silicone-based sealant capture major share in sealants market. Adhesives and sealants market is highly dependent on the raw materials such as synthetic fibers, resins, and crude oil. The prices of these raw materials are highly volatile and hamper the growth of the adhesives and sealants market.Ask for detailed Sample of the Research Report @ https://www.coherentmarketinsights.com/insight/request-sample/253 *The Sample consists of Table of Content, Research framework of the actual report & research methodology adopted for it.Adhesives and Sealants Market  Regulatory Scenario:United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), September, 2008, published Control Technique Guideline (CTG) for industrial adhesives with requirement on Volatile Organic Compound (VOC) content of adhesive application method at facility to have VOC emission of 15 lb/day or more.United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), September 20, 2011, enforced regulation on use of adhesive and sealants which contains chloroform, ethylene dichloride, methylene chloride, perchloroethylene or trichloroethylene.United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), January 01, 1993, banned on use of Adhesives, Sealants, Adhesive Bonding Primers, Adhesive Primers, Sealant Primers, or any other Primer which have a VOC content in excess of 250 g/L less water and less Exempt Compounds.The Council of The European Communities on May 16, 1983, amending directive 77/728/EEC on the approximation of the laws, regulations and administrative provisions of the Member States relating to the classification, packaging and labelling of adhesives, paints, varnishes, printing inks and similar products (83/265/EEC).Check the trending report of Global Adhesives and Sealants Market: https://www.coherentmarketinsights.com/ongoing-insight/adhesives-and-sealants-market-253 Some of the key companies dominating the market are 3M, The Dow Chemicals Company, Henkel AG & Co. KGaA, Avery Dennison, Royal Adhesives & Sealants LLC, Ashland Inc., Akzo Nobel NV, Arkema SA, BASF SE, Bemis Company Incorporated, Berry Plastics Corporation, RPM International, DuPont, and Evans Adhesive Corporation Limited, among others. Manufacturers are working closely with OEMs and R&D centers of the major automotive players to bridge the demand gap and offer tailor-made productsAdhesives and Sealants Market TaxonomyOn the basis of product type, the global adhesives market is classified into:Solvent based,Water based,Hot melt,Reactive,OthersOn the basis of product type, the global sealants market is classified into:Acrylic sealant,Polyurethane sealant,Silicon sealant,Butyl sealant,OthersOn the basis of application, the global adhesives and sealant market is classified into:Packaging,Buildings and construction,Wood works,Footwear,Medical,OthersOn the basis of geography, the global adhesives and sealant market is classified into:North America,U.S.,CanadaEurope:U.K.,Germany,Italy,France,Spain,Russia,Rest of EuropeAsia Pacific:China,India,Japan,ASEAN,Australia,South Korea,Rest of Asia PacificLatin America:Brazil,Mexico,Argentina,Rest of Latin AmericaMiddle East:GCC Countries,Israel,Rest of Middle EastAfrica:Northern Africa,Central Africa,South Africa
PR-Inside.com: 2018-06-04 14:48:03

Bulgaria Joins European Biobanking Research Infrastructure as Full Member

BBMRI-ERIC

Luc Deltombe

Communications Manager

Email: luc.deltombe@bbmri-eric.eu

Phone: +43 316 349 917 21

www.bbmri-eric.eu

Bulgaria has joined the Biobanking and BioMolecular resources Research Infrastructure  European Research Infrastructure Consortium (BBMRI-ERIC) at its Assembly of Members, which took place in Bologna on the 23rd May 2018.

This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20180604005

Bulgaria Joins European Biobanking Research Infrastructure as Full Member (Photo: Business Wire)

Bulgaria will be represented by the Medical University  Sofia and becomes the 21st Member. MUS is the coordinating institution of the National University Complex for Biomedical and Applied Research infrastructure, which has been part of the National Roadmap for RIs since 2014. The Ministry of Education and Science is the financial coordinator of all RIs included in the Roadmap. In the coming months, both the Bulgarian Ministry of Education and Science and MUS will work with BBMRI-ERIC to set up the BBMRI National Node.

Bulgarian Minister of Education and Science Mr Krasimir Valchev said, I would like first to thank BBMRI-ERIC for the warm welcome of the Bulgarian biobanking and biomedical community to their European family. I am proud that we have excellent research teams who collaborate world-wide and I am convinced we should further strengthen our policies and instruments in support of our bright minds and the research and innovation development in the country. Among our European priorities are acceleration of knowledge transfer and increased access to research results, including via fostering European open science initiatives and ensuring long-term sustainability and openness of pan-European research infrastructures. Bulgaria is committed to continuing its efforts to contribute to the European research area main pillars and common goals.

BBMRI-ERICs Director General Erik Steinfelder said, It is with great pleasure I welcome Bulgaria to BBMRI-ERIC. Bulgarian biobanks are now connected to the world like never before. At the same time, Bulgarian researchers and biobankers will have access to knowledge, IT tools, and tailor-made guidance by BBMRI-ERIC that will support the further development.

This is also a milestone for European research in general, Steinfelder commented. While other countries are decreasing investment in research, Bulgaria is showing the way, boosting the development of its biomedical sector.

Steinfelder concluded saying: BBMRI-ERIC believes in providing services to Make New Treatments Possible, however, biomedical research does not take place in a vacuum: it requires a multidisciplinary approach. Thats why we are increasing our collaboration with other ERICs to ensure that, in the future, research infrastructures in biomedical research. That is also why we welcome the Council conclusions on accelerating knowledge circulation within the EU: we are going in the same direction.

BBMRI-ERIC brings together more than 500 biobanks from its Members and one international organisation. The BBMRI-ERIC Directory, the largest sample catalogue in the world, allows users to search more than 100 million samples online. BBMRIs mission is to facilitate access to biological resources and biomedical facilities and is a central player to when it comes to Make New Treatments Possible.

BBMRI is an international organisation established under EU legislation. Its headquarters are in Graz, Austria, and it has a liaison office in Brussels.

BBMRI-ERIC provides support and services to local biobanks via its National Nodes (one per country). The National Nodes are fully involved in the day-to-day management of BBMRI-ERIC and provide feedback from the national level. BBMRI-ERIC services cover three main areas: ethical, legal and societal issues (ELSI), quality management, and IT solutions that allow users to search collections online and request access:

Editors Note:

BBMRI-ERIC Members: Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Czech Republic, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Italy, Malta, Latvia, the Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Sweden, United Kingdom

BBMRI-ERIC Observers: Cyprus, Switzerland, Turkey, IARC/WHO

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20180604005
Cell Cryopreservation Market

PR-Inside.com: 2018-06-04 09:33:45

Press Information

Coherent Market Insights

Coherent Market Insights



1001 4th Ave, #3200



Seattle, WA 98154



Mr. Shah

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+1 02067016702

email

https://www.coherentmarketinsights.com/ongoing-insight/cell-cryopreservation-market-1698





# 738 Words

Coherent Market Insights1001 4th Ave, #3200Seattle, WA 98154CEO+1 02067016702

Cryopreservation is a technique used to preserve various cells, tissue, organelles, and other biological products by cooling them at very low temperatures. Cryopreservation uses very low temperatures to preserve structurally intact living cells and tissues for a prolonged time period. Stem cells and various valuable tissues used in research studies and many other medical application are preserved by cryopreservation, as they cannot be stored by simple cooling for a long time. The cryopreservation procedure involves mixing of cryoprotective agents (CPAs) with cells or tissues before cooling, then the cells or tissues are cooled at very low temperature and stored. Cryopreservation has a wide application in preservation of stem cells, oocytes, embryos sperm, semen, testicular tissue, and hepatocytes.Access Table of Content (TOC) Of the Report: https://www.coherentmarketinsights.com/ongoing-insight/toc/1698 Cell Cryopreservation Market DriversLaunches of novel cryopreservation systems are expected to be major driver for growth of global cell cryopreservation market. For instance, in 2015, AMS Biotechnology Limited launched its new Stem-Cellbanker, a GMP grade cell cryopreservation media. Stem-Cellbanker is a freezing solution, used for preservation of stem cell, iPS cell and other cells. In 2014, Asymptote Ltd, a Cambridge-based cryopreservation specialists launched its unique range of liquid nitrogen free controlled rate freezers especially designed for the needs of regenerative medicine at the annual meeting of the International Society for Cellular Therapy (ISCT) held in Paris. In 2013, Taiyo Nippon Sanso Corporation launched its latest CryoLibrary (CAPS-i3000), a fully-automated cryopreservation system for cryopreservation of Induced Pluripotent Stem Cell (iPS). Moreover, this field has gained significant traction from funding agencies such as venture capitals and startups, which have successfully raised funding for development of novel cell cryopreservation systems. For instance, in January 2018, VitriCell SA, a biotech company providing innovative cryopreservation solutions closed a series A round funding of US$ 1.2 million from various investors. VitriCell SA will use this fund to launch the first products based on aseptic vitrification, a new cell cryopreservation method. Furthermore, the approval of cryopreserved cells by regulatory bodies is also expected to increase demand for cell cryopreservation system. For instance, in 2017, U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved ReNeuron Group Plc. cryopreserved formulation of Human Retinal Progenitor Cell (hRPC).Cell Cryopreservation Market Regional AnalysisNorth America is expected to hold a dominant position in global cell cryopreservation market, owing to presence of key players in the region and frequent launches of latest cryopreservation media. For instance, in 2014, irvine scientific a U.S.-based innovator and manufacturer of cell culture media expanded its cell cryopreservation media product portfolio with the launch of PRIME-XV FreezIS DMSO-Free, a Dimethyl Sulfoxide (DMSO) and animal-derived components free cryopreservation solution for Human Mesenchymal Stem/Stromal Cells (MSCs). Furthermore, the Europe is expected to witness a significant growth in global cell cryopreservation market over the forecast period, owing to strategic collaborations and acquisition by the key players in the region. For instance, in 2017, U.K.-based GE healthcare acquired Asymptote Ltd., with this strategic acquisition GE healthcare has expanded its product portfolio with the Asymptote Ltds cell cryopreservation system.Cell Cryopreservation Market RestraintLaunch of alternative cell cryopreservation methods is expected to be the major factor hindering growth of global cell cryopreservation market in near future. For instance, in 2017, Osiris Therapeutics, Inc. launched new Prestige Lyotechnology, a novel method for preservation of living cells and tissues. Launches of such alternative of cell cryopreservation can hinder the growth of market.Ask for detailed Sample of the Research Report: https://www.coherentmarketinsights.com/insight/request-sample/1698 Cell Cryopreservation Market Key PlayersKey players operating in cell cryopreservation market include Merck KGaA, GE Healthcare, Thermo Fisher Scientific, Inc., AMS Biotechnology Limited, Nippon Genetics, VitriCell SA, Miltenyi Biotec, Mediatech, Inc., BioLifeSolutions, Inc., HiMedia Laboratories, and PromoCell GmbH. Key players operating in the market are involved in strategic mergers and collaboration to expand their product portfolio and increase its product presence in key geography. For instance, in 2013, Nippon Zenyaku Kogyo Co., Ltd and Takara Bio Inc. entered into a distribution agreement. As per the agreement Takara Bio Inc. will market Zenoaq's Cellbanker series of cell cryopreservation media exclusively in Japan and non-exclusively in Europe and North America.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.coherenttimes.org
PR-Inside.com: 2018-06-04 15:14:02

Orchestration and Automation Leader Provides Enriched Incident Response; Supports GDPR Compliance

D3 Security to Attend Infosecurity Europe 2018

LaunchTech Communications

Allison Arvanitis, 910-690-9482

allison@golaunchtech.com

D3 Security, a developer of award-winning security orchestration, automation and response (SOAR) solutions for the Fortune 500, today announced their attendance at Infosecurity Europe. The conference, to be held in Olympia, London from June 5-7, will draw more than 20,000 information security professionals. D3 Security provides the market with solutions to strengthen security operations, establish consistent workflows, and enhance communication to and from the SOC. The company will be demoing theirincident response orchestration and automation platform at booth #N61.

The complexity of todays security incidents require that organizations have tools to seamlessly coordinate the people, technology, and processes that make up their security infrastructure. To be successful, D3 Security believes an organizations Security Operations Center (SOC) must be able to automate across all stages of incident response, provide parallel reporting analysis, and show proof of due diligence and due care. These requirements are even more critical now that GDPR has taken full effect.

One of the main issues surrounding GDPR is the threat of fines if a company has not done what it can, within reason, to mitigate, log and report a data breach, said Stan Engelbrecht, Director of Cyber Security Practice at D3 Security. While this problem may seem EU-centric, it affects all companies doing business with the EU, even those simply processing EU citizen data. Part of the reporting and logging includes a proper audit trail of an investigation. Without a SOAR platform, this becomes nearly impossible. D3 fills this gap within companies GDPR compliance programs.

The D3 platform features turnkey industry configurations, built-in compliance procedures, and a flexible business process engine so that organizations can consistently meet industry requirements and reporting standards. The companys SOAR solutions put control back in the hands of the SOC by allowing analysts complete governance over how the data is being gathered, used and deleted. This ensures that the information is used at the right time and by the right person. Identifying a threat, assigning tasks, gathering intelligence, and taking action used to take hours, but with D3 analysts can automate it all, by enriching workflows with contextual intelligence while still keeping the human analyst in the loop with full visibility.

To schedule a time to meet with D3 Security during Infosecurity Europe, please click here.

About D3 Security

D3 Securitys Incident Response Orchestration Platform is the foundation for the worlds most advanced security operations. The automated incident response and case management solution enables full-lifecycle incident management, relieving the pressure on analysts and SOCs, while helping organizations to rapidly remediate incidents and generate a comprehensive log of incidents and actions taken. Industry-specific configurations are available, as are fully configurable workflows and playbooks based on the NIST, SANS and CERT standards.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20180604005
Global Newborn Screening Market report offers Market Size, Dynamics, Regional Market Share, Top Key Players, Latest trends, Growth factors, Industry Stats, Historic Market, Business Intelligence, Business Research Reports, Competitive Intelligence 2013 to 2017 and Forecast 2018 to 2024

Global Newborn Screening Market

PR-Inside.com: 2018-06-04 12:14:25

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Kemp House,152  160 City Road,London EC1V 2NXMarketing Lead+1-866-598-1553

Global newborn screening market was valued at US$ XX Mn in 2017 and expected to grow at XX% Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) from 2018 to 2024Market Outline: Newborn Screening MarketNewborn screening is the practice where every newborn baby is tested for certain potentially fatal disorders. As newborns are more liable to infections, newborn screening helps in early diagnosis and proper treatment which can make the difference between lifelong impairment and healthy development. Newborn screening consists of a blood test, hearing screening, and screening for critical congenital heart defects. The screening is done within few days of birth. These screening programs are generally run by state or national governing bodies. In this program, various initiatives have been taken by the Japans Society of Obstetrics and Gynecology (JSOG), UK (PEACH), and U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Secretarys Advisory Committee on Heritable Disorders in Newborns and Children (SACHDNC). WHO recommended the newborn screening program in order to safeguard the health of children all over the world.Free sample of this report is available upon request @Market Dynamics: Newborn Screening MarketThe newborn screening market is driven rising neonatal population and the increase in incidence of neonatal diseases. Growing awareness regarding neonatal diseases owing to government and non-government bodies campaigns that in turn drive the market growth positively. Funding from government is also frosting the market growth. However, the unavailability of advanced instruments, delays in hospitalization, and high cost of automation technology may restrain the global newborn screening market growth.Market Scope: Newborn Screening MarketNewborn screening market is segmented based on the technology, product type, test type, and distribution channel.Based on the technology, the market is segmented into the following: Electrophoresis Immunoassays & Enzymatic Assays DNA-based Assays Hearing Screen Technology Pulse oximetry Screening Technology Tandem Mass Spectrometry (TMS)Based on the product type, the market is segmented into the following: Newborn Hearing Screening Instruments Newborn Disorder Screening Instruments Hearing Screening Accessories Hearing Screening Devices Pulse Oximeters Reagents and Assay KitsBased on the test type, the market is segmented into the following: Dry Blood Spot Test Hearing Screen Test Critical Congenital Heart Diseases (CCHD) TESTBased on the distribution channel, the market is segmented into the following: Hospitals Ambulatory Surgical Centers Nursing HomesFree TOC of this report is available upon request @Market Summary: Newborn Screening MarketNewborn screening not only saves lives but can also improve the health of the children. The World Health Organization has stated that over 270,000 babies globally die of congenital disorders. In 2010, the WHO has taken a step in order to resolve the neonatal deaths by developing strong surveillance systems. It is reported that more than 2.8 million babies die within the first month due to improper care and screening of the babies. In order to prevent these deaths WHO, Healthy Newborn Network, etc., has taken efforts to bring awareness by educating the parents about the neonatal disorders and the process of safeguarding the health of children.Regional Analysis: Newborn Screening MarketGeographically, global newborn screening market is segmented into North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, Latin America, and Middle East and Africa. North America Newborn Screening Market is growing due to increase in the prevalence of congenital disorders. According to the latest data of CDC about 12,500 newborns each year are diagnosed with one of the core conditions detected through newborn screening, which means almost 1 out of every 300 newborns screened is eventually diagnosed. About 4 million infants are screened annually in the United States. The health departments of the states in U.S. are publishing free data and created websites that help parents to known these conditions. The Newborn Screening Saves Lives Act (P.L. 110-204) Reauthorization Act (P.L 113-240) was signed on December 18, 2014, renewed and upgrade the federal initiatives for newborn screening. Asia Pacific is expected to witnessing a significant growth opportunities over the forecast period. Improving healthcare plans and infrastructure are expected to play a major role in driving demand in Asia-Pacific market.Ask Analyst for Full Information about this report @Competition Assessment: Newborn Screening MarketSome of the players in the global newborn screening market include: Bio-Rad Laboratories, Inc. Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc. GE Healthcare PerkinElmer Inc. ZenTech S.A. Sema4 Trivitron Healthcare MP Biomedicals LLC Agilent Technologies Medtronic Natus Medical Incorporated WATERS FUJIFILM Holdings Corporation, ZenTech S.A Trivitron Healthcare Ab Sciex LLC (subsidiary of Danaher Corporation)Notable Market Developments: Newborn Screening Market In February 2018, Sema4, a health information company providing advanced genomic testing, announced the launch of Sema4 Natalis, a supplemental newborn screening test designed to detect 193 childhood-onset diseases or disorders so parents can gain insight into their babys health.Get 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: 2018-06-04 10:04:02

NewPress release

Brussels, 4 June 2018

Regulated information

Stefan Slavnicu appointed Chief Technology Officer at Orange Belgium

Orange Belgium's Board of Directors have validated the nomination of Stefan Slavnicu as new Chief Technology Officer, starting September, 2018.

Stefan Slavnicu, 42 years old, has 18 years of experience in network technologies and holds various university degrees in Electronics and Telecommunications. He is currently Chief Technology Officer at Orange Romania where he developed the technical strategy and policies to promote and support company products and services of all segments to ensure proper coverage, network quality and profitability. Stefan Slavnicu started his career with Orange Romania in 2000 as a Network Engineer. He climbed up and became CTO of Orange Romania 4 years ago and joined the board of Directors of Orange Services 1,5 years ago. Known for his organizational skills and expertise in multiple technologies, Stefan has a broad expertise in all areas of network activities and lead Orange Romania to claim and maintain the 4G leadership in Romania with the highest population of 4G coverage in the country (94% at the end of 2017).

Michael Trabbia, CEO of Orange Belgium, declared: "I am very pleased to welcome Stefan to manage and further develop our network. His extensive telecom technology experience and knowledge will be of great value for Orange Belgium, in particular regarding our IoT business and the road towards 5G. I hereby want to thank Gabriel Flichy for the tremendous work he has done. His dedication for the last 5 years together with the teams of the Technology Department has been instrumental in the fact that the network of Orange Belgium is today recognised as a leading 4G network in the country."

Regarding his nomination, Stefan Slavnicu declared: "Thanks to the excellence of Orange's 4G network and the recent launch of our Mobile IoT network, Orange Belgium has got what it takes to offer attractive and innovative products and services to its residential and business customers. Our attention will focus particularly on bringing the best network experience to our customers through the newest technologies and on developing our collaboration with network partners and operational efficiency."

Stefan Slavnicu replaces Gabriel Flichy who was managing Orange Belgium's Technology department since November 2012. Gabriel will join Orange France to take care of the on-going FTTH deployment in France.

About Orange Belgium

Orange Belgium is one of the leading telecommunication operators on the Belgian market, with over 3 million customers, and in Luxembourg through its subsidiary Orange Communications Luxembourg.

As a convergent actor, we provide mobile telecommunication services, internet and TV to private clients, as well as innovative mobile and fixed line services to businesses. Our high-performance mobile network supports 2G, 3G, 4G and 4G+ technology and is the subject of ongoing investments.

Orange Belgium is a subsidiary of the Orange Group, one of the leading European and African operators for mobile telephony and internet access, as well as one of the world leaders for telecommunication services to enterprises.

Orange Belgium is listed on the Brussels Stock Exchange (OBEL).

More information on: corporate.orange.be, www.orange.be or follow us on Twitter : @pressOrangeBe.

Press contact

Annelore Marynissen - annelore.marynissen@orange.com - +32 (0) 479 01 60 58

Jean-Pascal Bouillon - jean-pascal.bouillon@orange.com - +32 (0) 473 94 87 31

press@orange.be

Contact investors

Siddy Jobe - ir@orange.be - +32(0)2 745 80 92





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: Orange Belgium via Globenewswire


The report delivers an in-depth understanding of the disease, historical & forecasted epidemiology and market size drug wise for Parkinsons disease with a forecast till 2024.

Pharmascroll Research and Consulting Private Ltd

PR-Inside.com: 2018-06-04 21:31:04

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Pharmascroll Research and Consulting Private Ltd

Hi Tech City, Hyderabad, India



Bhawna Gupta

Head, Marketing and Communications

+919776868067

email

https://pharmascroll.com/parkinson-disease-insights-market-forecasts-2024/





# 580 Words

Hi Tech City, Hyderabad, IndiaHead, Marketing and Communications+919776868067

Parkinsons: Disease Insights and Market Forecasts to 2024 report delivers an in-depth understanding of the disease, historical & forecasted epidemiology of Parkinsons disease in the US, EU5 (Germany, France, Italy, Spain, UK), and Japan and the historical & forecasted market size, for Parkinsons, drug wise in $ sales and patient numbers at global level and in the US, EU5 (Germany, France, Italy, Spain, UK), Australia and Canada till 2024.Geographies covered:USGermanyFranceItalySpainUKJapanAustraliaCanadaDrugs coveredDuopaNeuproNouriastRytaryMirapex ERGocovriNuplazidOpicaponeXadagoApokynAPL-130277InbrijaND0612EPI-589PRX002Disease Indication Overview:This section of the report gives the overview of Parkinsons disease indication in detail. The section highlights the basic definition, causes and symptoms of disease and details the types of Parkinsons disease. Further details on the profile of Parkinsons patients, Symptoms experienced by the patients, and disease progression in patients are outlined in the report. The report further highlights the multiple methods through which the patient can be diagnosed for Parkinsons disease.Epidemiology Forecasts to 2024:This section of the report provides the overview of Parkinsons diagnosed prevalent and treated patients in the US, EU5 and Japan market year wise starting from 2015 till 2024. The epidemiology numbers in the report have been derived based on numerous studies, survey reports and views of key opinion leaders.Drugs Overview and Attribute Analysis:This part of the report highlights the importance of factors influencing the physician prescription decisions in Parkinsons disease including efficacy factors, Tolerability factors, Monitoring requirements and pricing factors.The report further details the drugs prescribed or expected to be prescribed in Parkinsons disease by the physicians in terms of details about the formulation, molecule, mode of administration and mechanism of action of the drugs, their patent and trial details and the expected impact of drug in the Parkinsons market.The report further conducts a detailed drug attribute analysis of the drugs currently prescribed or expected to be prescribed in the disease on the parameters of Efficacy, Safety and Tolerability, Convenience of Monitoring and Dosing and Drugs coverage of the target patient pool.Drugs and Market Forecast to 2024:The report in its last section provides sales and patient numbers forecast for the overall Parkinsons market and drug wise forecasts from 2015 till 2024 at Global level and in the US, EU5, Australia and Canada markets. The forecasts are developed based on the detailed drug attribute analysis, conducted by Pharmascroll, as shared in the previous section. It is important to note that the Forecasts conducted by Pharmascroll are not based on simple projections, and are developed meticulously based on a complex forecasting model, owned by Pharmascroll, using multiple assumptions related to launch dates of the products in the market, price of the products, adherence and compliance rates of the products, dosages of the products etc. The forecast models are at the country level and can be developed at the regional level as well.Why Purchase the Report: Robust Market and Drug forecast available at country level Forecast in terms of both $ sales and Patient Numbers Current and Forecasted Drug treated and Diagnosed Prevalent Patient pool Detailed Drug Attribute analysis on multiple Clinical Parameters Multiple Countries coverage Current Marketed and Pipeline Drugs coverage Detailed Disease Insights coverageTo read more about the report please visit https://pharmascroll.com/parkinson-disease-insights-market-forecasts-2024/ To enquire about the report or to make a purchase for the report please write to enquiry@ pharmascroll.com
PR-Inside.com: 2018-06-04 10:27:05

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ACN Newswire+65 6304 8926

SINGAPORE, May 31, 2018 - (ACN Newswire) - Singapore Exchange-listed Singapore eDevelopment Limited ("SeD") announced today that its U.S. biomedical subsidiary, Global BioLife, Inc. ("Global BioLife"), has developed a low glycemic index, naturally modified sugar - Laetose - which has the potential to affect the world's sugar market.Global BioLife has established a joint venture, Sweet Sense, Inc. ("Sweet Sense"), with Quality Ingredients, LLC. ("Quality Ingredients"), to refine the invention and to create a scalable manufacturing process. The Sweet Sense team believes that their efforts have produced a viable one-to-one alternative to sugar. This patent-pending breakthrough invention gives the world access to an alternative to sugar with nearly a 50% lower glycemic index ("GI") and lower calorie count when compared with regular sugar which also assists in mitigating inflammatory responses by improving the process of glucose absorption throughout the body.Excessive sugar consumption can cause modern diseases such as cardiovascular disease, Type-2 diabetes, metabolic syndrome and obesity. While sugar is not toxic, the human body perceives it as such and, in turn, initiates pro-inflammatory responses. Laetose could help mitigate such reactions by triggering the proper metabolism of sugar in the body.Developed by Mr. Daryl L. Thompson ("Mr. Thompson"), Global BioLife's Director of Scientific Initiatives, in collaboration with Quality Ingredients, Laetose is proving to be a safe and affordable alternative to sugar. Quality Ingredients utilised their state-of-the-art, SQF Level 3 facility and expertise to develop the unique manufacturing process for Laetose according to the patent-pending formula developed by Mr. Thompson.A recent study of Laetose, tested according to the international standard ISO 26642:2010 at an Australian university, showed the GI score of Laetose as 53, as compared to a score of 100 in glucose. Foods with a GI value less than 55 are considered to be low GI. Foods with a glycemic load ("GL") less than 10 are low GL. The glycemic load of Laetose is 2.The market for a safe and affordable alternative to sugar is growing due to increasing awareness of health risks associated with the excessive consumption of refined sugar.(1) Laetose's market focus is an alternative to sugar, usable in everything from baking to cooking, and as a table top sweetener. The ultimate goal is to successfully license Laetose to a major company with the ability to infuse Laetose into multiple global products."In this day and age, we should be exploring ways to make smarter foods. Our Laetose modified sugar has been designed specifically for this purpose," said Global BioLife's Director of Scientific Initiatives, Mr. Thompson, a pioneering natural products scientist cited, amongst others, for his achievements in organic and carbohydrate chemistry."Due to the perceived toxicity of prolonged use of artificial sweeteners and the inability to use them as a direct replacement for sugar in baking and many beverages, we believe our product will have a direct advantage. We believe that the world is looking for a way to maintain sweetness while avoiding the negative effects of sugar and we intend to provide the solution," Mr. Thompson added.Mr. Chan Heng Fai, Executive Chairman of SeD, said: "Cardiovascular disease, Type-2 diabetes, metabolic syndrome and obesity have become a global epidemic. SeD has invested in Global BioLife as a think tank designed to research and develop smarter consumer products to reverse or mitigate this growing trend." (1) https://prn.to/2kDmW8Z About Singapore eDevelopment LimitedIncorporated on 9 September 2009 and listed on the Singapore Exchange in July 2010, Singapore eDevelopment Limited is involved in (i) property development and investments primarily in the United States and Western Australia; (ii) information technology-related businesses; (iii) development, research, testing, manufacturing, licensing and distribution of biomedical products; and (iv) investment activities.For more information, please visit: www.SeD.com.sg or email contact@ sed.com.sg About Global BioLife, Inc.Global BioLife, Inc. ("GBLI") is a 70%-held direct subsidiary of Global BioMedical, Inc., which is a 91% owned subsidiary of Singapore BioMedical Pte. Ltd., which in turn is a direct subsidiary of Singapore eDevelopment Limited, a company listed on the Singapore Exchange. The remaining shareholding of Global BioLife, Inc. is held by GRDG Sciences, LLC. ("GRDGS") and Australian Exchange-listed Holista CollTech Limited ("Holista") in proportions of 20% and 10% respectively.With an aging population and a growing focus in healthcare issues, biomedical science has become increasingly vital. GBLI strives to leverage its scientific know-how and intellectual property rights to provide solutions that have been plaguing the biomedical field for decades. By tapping into the scientific expertise of GRDGS and Holista, GBLI pledges to undertake a concerted effort in the R&D, drug discovery and development for the prevention, inhibition and treatment of neurological, oncology and immuno-related diseases. GBLI is also collaborating with its partners to develop second generation mosquito defence technologies, which are DEET alternatives, to protect against mosquito transmitted diseases such as Zika and Dengue. For more information, please visit: http://www.globalbiolife.com About GRDG Sciences, LLC.GRDG Sciences, LLC. is an advanced freelance research team formed in Florida by natural products discovery drug research scientist, Mr. Daryl L. Thompson. For more information, please visit: http://www.globalrdg.com About Quality Candy Company, LLC.Quality Candy Company, LLC. is a leading manufacturer and distributor of high quality hard candy and soft sugar candy. Quality Candy Company LLC.'s manufacturing facility has been in continuous operation since 1986. Quality Candy Company LLC. has always been a privately held family business. For more information, please visit: http://www.qcandy.com This Media Release has been prepared by the Company and its contents have been reviewed by the Company's Sponsor, Hong Leong Finance Limited (the "Sponsor"), for compliance with the relevant rules of the Singapore Exchange Securities Trading Limited (the "SGX-ST"). The Sponsor has not independently verified the contents of this Media Release.This Media Release has not been examined or approved by SGX-ST. The Sponsor and the SGX-ST assume no responsibility for the contents of this Media Release, including the correctness of any of the statements or opinions made or reports contained in this Media Release.The contact person for the Sponsor is Mr. Tang Yeng Yuen, Vice President, Head of Corporate Finance, Hong Leong Finance Limited, at 16 Raffles Quay, #02-05 Hong Leong Building, Singapore 048581, telephone: +65 6415-9886.Topic: Press release summarySectors: BioTech, HealthCareFrom the Asia Corporate News NetworkCopyright  2018 ACN Newswire. All rights reserved. A division of Asia Corporate News Network.
PR-Inside.com: 2018-06-04 11:06:01

Blockbonds together with I&M Bank Rwanda Ltd proudly announces full product rollout of SPENN.



SPENN is a mobile banking app powered by I&M Bank Rwanda Ltd, covering both personal and business accounts.

All services through SPENN are cost-free.

By downloading the cost-free SPENN mobile banking app, anyone can access a SPENN bank account. Every user can perform cost-free money transfers, cost-free payments in stores, and cost-free cash-out and deposit at any I&M Bank Rwanda Ltd branch throughout Rwanda.

SPENN also offers a cost-free business solution, which is a free point-of-sale solution to anyone selling goods and services, by upgrading to a SPENN+ user.

Anyone who holds a smartphone can instantly register with SPENN. The registration only requires phone number, name and NIDA (National Identification Agency) number.

Mr Jens Glaso, CEO of Blockbonds and SPENN, is proud of being the first actor in digitalizing the national currency of Rwanda.

We believe Rwanda will be an example on how an effective and structured decision-making process drastically can benefit a nations economy, and at the same time help people to take the first step out of the cash society, Mr Glaso said.

I&M Bank Rwanda Ltd is a proud pioneer in supporting and bringing Rwanda closer towards a cashless economy. We truly believe that SPENN will transform the way Rwanda currently transact, and increase efficiency and prosperity for the Rwandan population, CEO of I&M Bank Rwanda Ltd, Mr Robin Bairstow said.

With a population of 12 million people, having fast and affordable internet access, Rwanda is a mature market, with anticipation of a high rate of adoption for the product SPENN.





About Blockbonds AS

Blockbonds is a Norwegian fintech company with a clear mission to contribute to global financial inclusion for vulnerable and marginalized populations, through its product called SPENN.

The team consists of over 100 people who are working in the field on a daily basis, and through advocacy and awareness raising, aim to help the 2 billion people who have limited or no access to financial services.

Blockbonds vision is to create a world where everyone can manage their savings, payments and investments in an honest, transparent and secure way.

Blockbonds has chosen to focus initially on the African and Asian markets of operations  primarily in markets where the unbanked population is vastly represented, with viable technical infrastructure to support the product and where trust for mobile payments are, to varying degrees, socially accepted and welcomed.

Blockbonds has created a pan-global model, with which everyone in the world can access financial services equal to those in more developed markets, completely free, by utilizing the security and transparency of blockchain technology.

Contact:

Jens Glaso, CEO & Founder

jens@blockbonds.io // +47 40 40 47 50

www.blockbonds.io

www.spenn.com

About I&M Bank Rwanda Ltd

Established in 1963, I&M Bank Rwanda Ltd (formerly - BCR) is a leading Financial Services Provider with a regional presence in Africa. In Rwanda, the company's product offering includes Retail Banking, Business Banking, Corporate and Institutional Banking. The Bank has a proven track record in pioneering innovative financial services and supporting the Republic of Rwandas strategy for Financial Inclusion.

Contact:

https://www.facebook.com/imbankrwanda/

https://twitter.com/imbankrw

https://instagram.com/imbankrw

Tel: +250 788 162 006 , +250 252 595 200

Fax: +250 252 573 395

Call Center Tel: 3227.

Attachment
A student of Government Girls Secondary School (GGSS) Kawo, Kaduna State, died on Monday while 39 others were hospitalised following an outbreak of diarrhoea in the school.

The incident occurred Sunday after the students reportedly complained of stomach pain and started vomiting, PREMIUM TIMES learnt.

The student died Sunday night after being taken to a private hospital for treatment.

A member of the State Disease Control Agency, Kaduna North branch, Suleiman Ibrahim, whose team visited the school on Monday confirmed this information to PREMIUM TIMES. He said the students suffered from gastroenteritis. The ailment is an intestinal infection marked by diarrhoea, cramps, nausea, vomiting and fever.

According to Mr Ibrahim, 39 students were rushed to Kawo hospital for treatment.

After we received the information of an outbreak of students vomiting in the school, our team rushed down to see. 39 students were rushed to hospital in Kawo for treatment because they suffered from gastroenteritis, which we call vomiting and diarrhoea, he said.

A student died but we are yet to confirm if she actually died from same diarrhoea or vomiting, he added.

Mr Ibrahim also said his team has educated and sensitised the other students on ways to take care of themselves.

He also said the outbreak could be as a result of the poor source of water which the students use.

We have to take samples of the water for a lab test to ascertain the actual cause of the diarrhoea, he said

A parent, whose daughter was affected, Ibrahima Yakubu, also confirmed the incident to PREMIUM TIMES adding that his daughter has been taken to the hospital.

I saw about four ambulances belonging to Red Cross transporting the girls out of the school, including my daughter, he said.

Meanwhile, the school authorities declined to comment referring the reporter to the ministry of education.
Tony Nwulu, a member of the 8th House of Representatives, who represents Oshodi/Isolo II federal constituency of Lagos State, is the sponsor of the #NotTooYoungToRun bill.

In this interview with PREMIUM TIMES, he speaks about the bill, now enacted into law, the untapped youth potentials and challenges. He also speaks on his gubernatorial bid in Imo State.

Excerpts.

PT: The bill was signed by the president recently. How did you come about this historic bill?

Nwulu: Well, this journey started over two years ago. A group of young people brought themselves together and they approached me and we discussed about this and that was the journey of the bill.

I saw a group of enthusiastic Nigerians, young Nigerians, very vibrant and very hungry to get involved in leadership. You know, quite thirsty to get involved in leadership and I was able to identify the hunger in them and I saw it to be a genuine cause and that was how I got involved really to ensure that I give them a voice in the National Assembly.

PT: What was your major challenge in the entire process?

Nwulu: My major challenge, like any other bill, it wasnt easy convincing my colleagues. But I must also let you know that at a point they got convinced. A lot of them keyed in and then the leadership of both chambers threw their support and will on this bill.

They saw the merit of the bill and they decided to truly truly reward and identify with the younger generation. So I highly commend the leadership of the both chambers, also to my colleagues because it couldnt have been possible without their support right from the first, second and third readings. You know, the bill could have easily been thrown off if it lacked that, but I think there was an increasing confidence in Nigerian youth, that helped.

And then the young people also organised themselves properly. You know they were able to be up and running in every way. Some of them went back and started engaging their Reps from their respective constituencies. So it was a mass approach.

Young people came out fully ready, and for once, I was able to underscore the fact that a lot could be achieved when young people come together to pursue a purpose. This bill has actually exemplified that because they came together and they were able to walk through and achieve this.

PT: Lagos, where you represent, is one of the few states whose state legislature did not support the bill. How do you feel about this?

Nwulu: Its quite unfortunate that Lagos States house of assembly choose to be noted or to be inducted into the hall of shame of the Not Too Young to Run bill. Its quite unfortunate because if you look at Lagos, truly you would understand the dynamism of being a youth and you have a whole lot of them.

So I wouldnt really know, up till now, I am totally perplexed. Why would a state like Lagos not believe in her youth? I dont know why but I leave that to the state assembly for posterity to judge them. It is very unfortunate. Same with Kano and one other state, that didnt pass about three states altogether that decided not to vote on it.

PT: One of the basics of the Not Too Young To Run bill (now Act) was to reduce the ages from the status quo, but in the signed bill, some of these were not reduced. What really happened?

Nwulu: Yes I know that question has come up severally, even Mr President talked about it during the signing and Im sure its something we are still going to go back to the drawing board and see how to bring it in.

You know for some reasons, I cannot hold forth for the Senate. I dont know why they decided not to drop theirs to what we proposed. Our initial proposition is that the Senate should drop to 30, President should drop to 30, so for some reasons they decided to drop the president to be their own 35, you know, and then governors should drop to 30 too. I dont know why they did that but I am 100 percent sure that at some point, the youth will always ask for more. Theyve already started asking for more.

PT: You said youre going back to the drawing board, now that the president has already signed it as it is, 35 years, dont you think it would take the process back to square one?

Nwulu: No it wouldnt, you can only do an amendment on the Act. There can only be an amendment on the Act. Its a fresh new act of the National assembly, so this one subsists for now.

Any other amendment would be like the usual amendments you make to some certain clauses. It is not like we are going to pass the entire bill anymore. So its going to be to specifics; okay we want to change this particular line item. Its not going to be like starting all over again to engage.

PT: So how long will that take?

Nwulu: We have to start first before we begin to estimate the level of time.

PT: A few days back, it was on the news that you declared your intention to run for governorship position of Imo State. What prompted you to do that?

Nwulu: What prompted me is my passion to lead and to serve, thats the truth. When you have a group of young Imo-lites, gathering themselves in groups, in their thousands, organising a rally asking me to return back home and run for governorship for them and that is what you have seen me  it is as good as answering the call from the young people of my state to come. When they did that, I can tell you, you can verify on your own, I dont know any of the organisers. Ive never met any of their organisers before.

I was at Harvard when that rally was held in Nigeria, you know, but I was most touched that young people could organise themselves and ask for me to genuinely come and lead the state.

PT: You represent Lagos state in the House of Representatives, dont you think that would affect you in your governorship race?

Nwulu: How?

PT: It would be like you are not based in the state for many.

Nwulu: Constitutionally, I qualify to run, thats the most important thing, whether being based there or not. At the end of the day, youre still going to talk to the electorate. If you tell the electorate what they want to hear, they would vote for you.

PT: Do you think you have a high chance of clinching the ticket of the Peoples Democratic Party?

Nwulu: In my state, yes I do have. Thats just the truth. The chances are very very high considering the fact that I have age on my side and I have that vibrancy of youth and the state is in dire needs. Just like the incumbent governor has said, he is not intending to hand over the state to anyone above 50.

PT: Governor Rochas Okorocha recently anointed his son-in-law, do you think you would be able to slug it out with him?

Nwulu: He hasnt committed any offence by endorsing anybody. The question is, have the people of Imo State endorsed the person too? The people will only decide with their PVC when the time comes.

The people will decide who they wish to be their leader. Thats the truth so its not about who endorses who or who you dont endorse. What matters is who the people would actually stand for and vote. (Governor) Rochas has only one vote.

PT: As you mentioned earlier, you said you have age by your side. One of your major challengers in the PDP primaries would be the former deputy speaker, Emeka Ihedioha. Dont you think he also has age by his side?

Nwulu: Well Emeka is very qualified to run for the position he is also vying for; so at the end of the day, let the people choose who they want. Whether its age, whether its experience, whichever one that counts, most importantly is that the final decision rests on the the shoulders of the electorate and the party delegates to decide on who to pitch tents with. But eventually everybody will go there and sell their market.

PT: How is your relationship with the governor of Imo State?

Nwulu: My relationship with him? I dont have any relationship with him.

PT: You dont have any relationship whatsoever?

Nwulu: No, no, we dont have any relationship together, not in any way. Weve not spoken on the phone, nothing. We dont have any relationship.
The Ministry of Interior said on Monday afternoon that 30 of the inmates who escaped from the Minna Medium Security Prison on Sunday night have been re-arrested.

Earlier on Monday, PREMIUM TIMES reported how the police said 219 inmates escaped with 19 re-arrested. The police commissioner in Niger, Dibal Yakadi, said efforts were underway to apprehend the other 200 escapees.

Hours later, the interior ministry, in a statement by its spokesperson, Jibrin Ndace, said 30 inmates had been re-arrested.

According to Mr Ndaces statement, the Minister of Interior, Abdulrahman Dambazau, disclosed this after an on the spot assessment of the prison.

The minister, who revealed that the federal government is building 3000 capacity prison in each geopolitical zone and recruiting 6000 personnel, admitted that there were security lapses at Minna Prison.

There are security gaps to be addressed in the prisons such as manpower, decongestion.

Also speaking, Niger State Governor, Abubakar Sani-Bello, called for more commitment to duties. He added that Niger State Government would work with federal government on prison reforms.

I will like to appeal to public servants generally to take their jobs seriously. Niger State Government will collaborate with the federal government to improve infrastructure of prisons across the state.

In his comment, the Comptroller General of Prison, Jaafaru Ahmed, said an investigative panel has been set up to ascertain the immediate and remote causes of the jailbreak.

Messrs Sani-Bello, Dambazau and Ahmed were accompanied by heads of security agencies in the state.

Other members of the delegation include members of Niger State Executive Council, top government officials from Ministry of Interior and senior officers from Nigerian Prison Service Headquarters.

PREMIUM TIMES reported how on Sunday, at about 8 p.m., there was a jailbreak at Minna Medium Security Prison located at Tunga area of Minna Metropolis. The prison was reportedly attacked by armed persons who gained access after exchange of fire with prison officials. One prison official was killed in the incident.
The leadership of a faction of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), known as nPDP, has announced withdrawal from dialogue with the APC-led federal government.

In a statement on Monday, the nPDP chairman, Abubakar Baraje, announced the decision after making public the plight of members of his faction.

He accused the Nigerian presidency of double-standard and lack of good faith in the dialogue it entered with the aggrieved members of the ruling party under the nPDP.

He cited the police invitation of Senate President Bukola Saraki for questioning in a case of armed robbery and murder among indicators of the governments alleged half-heartedness.

The nPDP were members of the Peoples Democratic Party who joined the APC in the build up to the 2015 elections.

Read the full statement below:

PRESS STATEMENT FROM FORMER nPDP

The public may recall that there have been ongoing talks between members of the former Npdp, the APC and the Presidency in recent days.

Nigerians may further recall that a team from the former nPDP led by Speaker of the House of Representatives, His Excellency Rt. Hon. Yakubu Dogara and four others, were to meet with the Vice President, His Excellency Prof Yemi Osinbajo today.

However, while we are truly and earnestly committed to achieving reconciliation, harmony, truce and cohesion in the APC as we approach the 2019 general elections, it is appears that the Presidency is not interested in the talks and that they may have been negotiating in bad faith.

We were alarmed that immediately after our meeting with the Vice President last week, the presidency misrepresented what transpired at the meeting by trying to blackmail some of the principal actors involved in the discussions in a national daily.

Similarly, the leadership of the party (APC) went ahead to ratify all the Congresses from ward, local governments, states and zonal where many of our members have complaints, effectively presenting us with a fait accompli.

The persecution of our members using state security apparatus have continued unabated.

We recognize the powers of the Police to conduct criminal investigations but by rushing to the public with the issue even when they have unfettered access to the leadership of the National Assembly suggests an attempt to undermine, caricature and humiliate the institution of the legislature.

It appears that there is a fouled and toxic atmosphere and environment of intimidation and threat to life in which we now find ourselves which may no longer be conducive for members of the former nPDP to continue with the talks. Given the unfolding events in the last 24 hours, where the President of the Senate, His Excellency, Dr. Abubakar Bukola Saraki and His Excellency, Alhaji Abdulfatah Ahmed, the Executive Governor of Kwara State , both of whom attended the meeting with the Vice President on Monday 28 May, 2018 ,have suddenly been accused of sponsoring armed robbery by the Police under the directives of the Presidency.

Similarly, on Saturday, June 2nd, 2018, the Department of State of Services (DSS) also suddenly withdrew more than half of all the security details attached to the presiding officers of the National Assembly under questionable circumstances.

The nPDP leadership has decided to brief our members on the unfortunate development and get a fresh mandate if good faith returns to the discussions.

Thank you.

Signed

Alhaji Abubakar Kawu Baraje, CON
Paradigm Initiative and Enough is Enough (EiE) Nigeria have condemned in strong terms the suspension of Baba Wanigi, a school teacher with the Agaie Local Government in Niger State, in reaction to Mr Wanigis alleged criticism of government officials including President Muhammad Buhari. The two civil society organisations made this known in a jointly signed press statement released today.

According to Tope Ogundipe, Paradigm Initiative Director of Programs, The Local Education Authority of the Agaie Local Government Council, Niger state, Nigeria issued a suspension letter to one of its employees, Baba Mohammed Wanigi, a teacher in service of the Niger State government. According to the letter, the suspension was based on the teachers active participation in politics and hate speech especially on the social media. This is all because Mr Wanigi exercised his freedom of speech in criticising government and government officials on social media.

It is obvious that this act by the LEA is not only morally reprehensible but patently unconstitutional. The Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria in Section 39 provides that every person shall be entitled to freedom of expression, including freedom to hold opinions and to receive and impart ideas and information without interference. This is a most basic right for citizens in a democracy, Mr Ogundipe said.

Every Nigerian is a key stakeholder in matters concerning Nigeria and no group or body may constitute itself as an authority to preclude its members from Active participation in politics. It makes no sense whatsoever, neither does it matter that a meeting was held with the 169 Head Teachers of Agaie Local Government Education Authority to decide against active participation in politics. The Local Government Education Authority does not have the authority to overrule the constitution or limit constitutionally-guaranteed rights.

According to Adeboro Odunlami, a digital rights advocate with Paradigm Initiative, The general definition of Hate Speech is any statement or speech that attacks a group or category of people and incites violence or prejudicial attack against them. A controversial statement is not hate speech. A dissenting opinion is not hate speech. An uncomfortable perspective is not hate speech. An unpopular stance is not hate speech. It is therefore wrong for the government to take disciplinary action against a person for no reason other than the expression of his opinion about the state of affairs and conduct of the administration.

Also speaking on the matter, Adeolu Adekola, Program Manager of EiE Nigeria said, As Nigeria moves towards the 2019 elections, we are concerned about politicians using this excuse and guise of hate speech to repress citizens and the opposition. Several attempts to control free speech especially on social media has been resisted and will continue to be challenged.

We recall the Frivolous Petition bill (Prohibition, etc) Bill 2015 sponsored by Senator Bala Ibn NaAllah had a clause that sought to regulate the use of social media and short message service (SMS) in the country. This was resisted and in May 2016, the bill was withdrawn and thrown out. Also, section 24 of the Cybercrime Act, 2015 has loopholes that are being exploited to repress freedom of expression over the Nigerian cyberspace and civil liberties, Adeolu said. EiE Nigeria, Paradigm Initiative and Media Rights Agenda (MRA) are in court to challenge section 24 of the act.

The groups called on the local government to retract the suspension letter and decision and reinstate the victim unconditionally back into service.

We also demand that an apology should be made to him for the gross infringement of his fundamental right to freedom of expression, they said.
The Port Harcourt Electricity Distribution Company (PHED) says fire from a dump site, near Park One, Port Harcourt gutted its Injection Sub-station that supplies electricity to Diobu area of Port Harcourt.

John Onyi, PHEDs Manager for Corporate Communications made this known to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Monday in Port Harcourt.

Mr Onyi said that the fire also destroyed its security post, telecommunication mast and other facilities.

He urged the affected residents in Diobu to bear with the company, adding that power would be restored to the affected area after the impact had been assessed.

Roseline Konya, Rivers Commissioner for Environment, said that investigation had been launched to ascertain the cause of the fire.

The commissioner assured that anyone or group found culpable would be arrested and prosecuted.

Mrs Konya said that the state government could not have ordered the used tyre dump site to be set ablaze, saying that this was why the government ordered that the fire be put out to contain its spread.

The smoke is still on; but the fire has been put out by firemen. The burning of tyres is all part of what is contributing to the soot in the state, she said.

Miracle Harry, an official of the Vigilante Group of Nigeria, claimed that the dumpsite might have been set on fire by those who specialised in extracting for sale copper wires and aluminium metal from tyres .

On Dec 31, this set of people set fire on a small used tyre dump site at Njemanze Street in Port Harcourt. The fire spread and burnt a petrol tanker truck to ashes. We arrested the people and handed them over to the police, he said.
A former Nigerian president, Olusegun Obasanjo, on Sunday said he picked the late Mustapha Akanbi as chairman of the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission because of his honesty.

Mr Akanbi, the pioneer chairman of the anti-graft agency, died on Sunday. Aged 85, Mr Akanbi was also a former president of the Court of Appeal. He was appointed ICPC chairman by Mr Obasanjo in 2000.

In a condolence message addressed to the Akanbi family on Sunday, Mr Obasanjo recalled how he appointed the late jurist as pioneer chairman of ICPC because of his integrity.

He wrote: I recall going through a most rigorous search for a new leadership that will take the ICPC to the enviable height I desired for the Commission. Of about ten people I sought for advice from, seven pointed at Justice Mustapha Akanbi.

His background and disposition were formidably humble, unassuming, and oozing with patent honesty and integrity. I lost no time in settling for him, even though it wasnt an easy task to be able to convince or persuade him to accept the task. I had to use all power of persuasion at my disposal to move him to yield.

With Justice Akanbi in charge of ICPC, I did not have to worry about how well. He was, of course, a hand-on manager. It is needless to say that for the first time in the history of Nigeria, the combined and complementary efforts of ICPC under him and EFCC under Nuhu Ribadu made Nigerians and non-Nigerians to know that corruption can be put in check and put to flight.

The two commissions raised the hope of Nigerians that this country can get to where and be what God has created it to be if the leadership is right and the will with commitment is there.

The former president said he received news of Mr Akanbis death in far away Dubai with shock, adding that mortals can, however, never question the designs of the Almighty Allah.

In a country like ours which is abundantly endowed with stars and frontiersmen, Mr Obasanjo wrote, Justice Akanbi was one genuine patriot who radiated dominantly within our national space and beyond.

He was a distinguished Nigerian, an icon, a paragon of rightness and rectitude, whose life is devoted entirely to the service of his nation. He was a role model and a nationalist.

He will be recorded by history as a Nigerian who embodies all the high points of our national achievements, and one of the very rare breed of citizens who have combined total dedication, commitment and excellence in all national endeavours they have engaged in.

All of these explain his conferment with the medal of the Commander of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (CFR) and appointment, in the year 2000 by me as a democratically-elected President of Nigeria, to head the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), a body vested with the statutory responsibility of combating the malaise of corruption within the Nigerian nation.

The former president described the late lawyer as a self-made man who built for himself a most inspiring, even intimidating profile as a formidable jurist, a thorough-bred scholar and an exemplary pacesetting administrator.

His heroic contributions to national development and unity will remain evergreen in the annals of our history, he added.

I pray that the Almighty God will in His infinite mercy grant all of us that are associated with him and the immediate family the fortitude to bear this irreparable loss. May He (Almighty Allah) forgive his sins and grant his soul eternal repose, Mr Obasanjo wrote.
A judge, Mojisola Dada of an Ikeja Special Offences Court, on Monday remanded Fred Ajudua, a one-time Lagos socialite and businessman for allegedly defrauding a Germany-based company of one million dollars 25 years ago.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Mr Ajudua was remanded in prison following his not guilty plea to a 12-count amended charge of conspiracy to obtain money by false pretences, obtaining money by false pretences, issuing forged document and forgery.

The charges were filed against him by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

Mr Ajudua was previously charged before Justice Josephine Oyefeso of an Ikeja High Court before the case was re-filed by the EFCC at the Special Offences Court.

Ziad Abu Zalaf, the German victim of the alleged scam, had arrived the country on Monday morning in a bid to testify against Mr Ajudua.

According to Seidu Atteh, the lead prosecuting counsel for the EFCC, the defendant committed the offences between April and

May 1993.

Mr Ajudua conspired with one Joseph Ochunor who is still at large to obtain money by false pretences from Ziad Abu Zalaf of Technical International Ltd., a division of Mystic Company Ltd., a German-based company, he told the court.

The EFCC counsel also said with intent to defraud, Messrs Ajudua and Ochunor obtained $268,000 on April 2, 1993 from Zalaf and on May 12, 1993, the men fraudulently obtained the sum of $225,000 from Mr Zalaf.

In addition, the accused had on June 21, 1993, fraudulently obtained $550,000 dollars from Mr Zalaf.

Mr Atteh said Messrs Ajudua and Ochunor, in a bid to give credence to the alleged scam, forged a Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) receipt and Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) and presented it to the foreigner as genuine.

In order to facilitate the scam, on April 7, 1993, the duo knowingly and fraudulently uttered and forged CBN official receipt No. 128.

On May 12, 1993, they issued and forged a receipt with No. 138 purportedly issued by the CBN.

On May 12, 1993, the men forged a Contract Completion Certificate purported to have been issued by the NNPC, Falomo, Lagos to Mystic Limited of 1, Church Street, Douglas, Isle of Man.

The forged certificate was to show that the NNPC had completed contract number NNPC/EED/8024/79, the EFCC prosecutor alleged.

The offences contravened Sections 419, 467(2)(a), 468 and 516 of the Criminal Code Law of Lagos 2003.

Following Mr Ajuduas plea, his defence counsel, Norrison Quakers, in an application dated June 1 had applied for the bail of the defendant.

The defendant has been granted bail in a sister case before Justice Oyefeso and he has not had any cause not to appear before her except for once when he had fly abroad due to a medical emergency.

We apply that the same bail condition be accepted and the trial starts today, Mr Quakers said.

Mr Atteh, in his submission, however opposed the defences bail application and demanded that Mr Ajuduas bail be revoked.

The EFCC prosecutor noted that the case had to be adjourned until the next day because preparations were underway for a German interpreter to interpret the testimony of the witness.

The defendant has not been adhering to the bail conditions granted to him by Justice Oyefeso.

We have an application for the revoke of his bail for his failure to appear in court on March 23.

We did an investigation to see if he was actually abroad or in the country and from the resulting the investigation, we demand that his bail be revoked.

The witness is here, he is not fluent in the English Language, he flew in from Germany this morning.

We, however, would have to request that this case be adjourned until tomorrow because we have made arrangements with the German Embassy to provide an interpreter, Mr Atteh said.

Acceding to the EFCCs request, Mr Dada said:The case is adjourned until June 5 for trial.

The defendant is hereby remanded in prison custody pending the consideration of the bail application.

Earlier during proceedings, Mr Dada had dismissed an application dated May 9 filed by the defence to quash the charge on the grounds that the court lacked jurisdiction to hear the case.

The application in unmeritorious and it is hereby dismissed, I so hold.
The Secretary-General of the Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs, Ishaq Oloyede, on Monday condemned the suggestion by the Christian Association of Nigeria that there might be religious war in the country if the abducted Leah Sharibu was not rescued from Boko Haram captivity.

Mr Oloyede said this at the first annual Ramadan lecture of The Point newspaper held at the headquarters of Lagos Television (LTV), Ikeja, Lagos.

Miss Sharibu was among the 112 schoolgirls abducted by Boko Haram from Girls Technical College, Dapchi, Yobe State, on February 19.

While her colleagues were released, she remained in custody of the terrorist group, reportedly because she declined to denounce Christianity.

Mr Oloyede, who spoke as the guest speaker at the event, noted that the threat of war by the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) over the Leah Sharibu issue was uncalled for.

The registrar of the Joint Admission and Matriculations Board (JAMB), who said he spoke as a student of Islamic affairs at the occasion, noted that CAN escalated the issue by its reference to war.

Mr Oloyede, a professor, said he was as astonished as the Sultan of Sokoto that the religious group could threaten war over a matter christians and muslims are concerned about.

He noted that Boko Haram wants war and has never hidden its desire to throw the nation into crisis.

The call by CAN, he said, is akin to playing into the hands of the terrorist group.

Whose interests was the call serving?, he said, wondering whether it was fair to endanger the girls life.

Mr Oloyede, who described the girl, Leah Sharibu, as a precious, principled lady, said her immediate family would not support such dangerous call.

Her abduction is painful, he said, adding that the NSCIA has been making frantic efforts to resolve the conundrum and reunite the lady with her family.

He called on all people of conscience to rise above pettiness and find solution to the crises bedevilling the nation.

The programme was still ongoing at the time of this report.
There was drama at the national secretariat of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) as factional state chairpersons and their supporters on Monday jostled for recognition at the inauguration ceremony.

The party had set the day for swearing in of state chairmen elected during the congresses which were characterised by violence and disagreement in most states, as factions held parallel congresses.

The National Publicity Secretary of the party, Bolaji Abdullahi, last week said the party was working on the reports of the various appeal panels on the conduct of the state congresses.

Speaking during the inauguration, the National Chairman, John Odigie-Oyegun, charged the state chairmen to return the party to its lost glory by projecting to Nigerians the successes of the APC-led federal government.

The chairman however, did not inaugurate the state chairmen of Lagos, Oyo and Delta pending when issues in those states are resolved.

You have the onerous task maturing APC. You have to work hard to return the party to its lost glory. Also make sure you work hard for the reelection of our President.

We are aware of conflicts, disaffection and bad blood in the party. Put all these aside and work for the victory of our party at the 2019 general elections.

Go and tell the people of the great achievements recorded by the APC Government. Your Government is on the right course. A firm foundation has been laid for the development of Nigeria in spite of lean resources, the APC has achieved much in three years.

Get acquainted with the achievements put together in a document which I will make available to you. Tell Nigerians the achievements of your government. In infrastructure; a lot of roads have been constructed, agriculture; much rice is produced, transport, rail is there and power we now have 7000 megawatts.

Noting the need for reconciliation in states like Rivers, Taraba, Oyo, Delta, Lagos and others, he said he will set up a committee headed by the Deputy National Chairman (North) Lawali Shuaibu to study the situations in such states for possible actions.

Oyegun inaugurates APC state chairpersons

There is serious need for quick reconciliation especially in Rivers, Taraba, Oyo, Delta, Lagos and others. Let the chairmen here wait and should not inaugurate their executives like the others until the issues with the congresses in such states are resolved.

There will be concessions and harmonisations after the exercise within this week, he said.
The Minister of Women Affairs, Aisha Alhassan, has expressed hope that the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) will rule Nigeria forever.

She said this while addressing journalists shortly after the inauguration of a factional chairman of the APC in Taraba State, on Monday in Abuja. The APC in the state, like others has been ruptured by crisis.

The minister, who also indicated her intention to contest for the governorship slot in Taraba, which she lost in 2015 said the APC would not only win the presidency but more states in 2019.

The minister popularly known as Mama Taraba also said the partys coming national convention would be peaceful.

Crisis is normal in a big party like APC, once we can do our national convention, then we face the opposition PDP and I assure you that APC will win more states like Taraba in 2019.

I will make sure that in my zone, I follow up and by Gods grace Gombe and Taraba (states) will be taken over in 2019. And dont even talk about Nigeria because its already APC and it will continue to be APC forever.

Mama Taraba said she won the election in 2015 but wasnt destined to be governor.

I won the 2015 election, everyone knows that, even the Peoples Democratic Party. I will re-contest the election again in 2019 if God keeps me alive and well.

It is God that gives power to whoever he desires, I won the election 2015, but God did not give me power. I will keep trusting in him and the grassroots people of Taraba and God willing, I will win the election, she said.

Speaking on the APC factions in Taraba State, she said: I have a right to choose who becomes the chairman of the party in the state. There is no faction in Taraba. We are very much together, there was no love lost in the state, we were never divided. It was all about political interests.

The vocal politician caused a stir a few months ago when she said she would support the presidential bid of a former vice president Atiku Abubakar in 2019 even if her principal, President Muhammadu Buhari decided to run. Mr Abubakar has since left the ruling party for allegedly being sidelined by the APC leadership.

She referred to Mr. Abubakar as her political godfather. She ruffled some nerves when she said President Buhari had not indicated that he would re-contest. Mr Buhari has since done this.

The minister was later summoned by the National Working Committee, NWC, of the APC in a bid to clarify her controversial statement.

Mama Taraba announces plan to re-contest governorship election Mama Taraba announces plan to re-contest governorship election

In a follow-up interaction with reporters a few days later, she said she was not scared of losing her job over her statements adding that President Buhari would not be swayed by her traducers seeking sanctions against her.

The Kaduna State governor, Nasir El-Rufai, and his Ogun State counterpart, Ibikunle Amosun, tackled her days later saying that she (minister) had never believed in the Buhari ideology.

Mama Taraba on January 14 denied speculations that she is planning to dump the APC.

The minister also pledged allegiance to President Muhammadu Buhari, saying I am and I will continue to remain in APC.
The politician who hired the services of the policeman who fired shots on Friday at the All Progressives Congress (APC) campaign rally in Ado Ekiti, Tayo Adebiyi, has denied the allegation that he plotted to assassinate the partys governorship candidate, Kayode Fayemi.

Mr Adebiyi, a House of Representatives aspirant on the platform of the APC, is still in the custody of the police in Ekiti State.

The state chairman of the party, Jide Awe, on Saturday described Mr Adebiyi as an unknown party man in Ekiti, and accused him of hiring the policeman to kill Mr Fayemi and other chieftains of the party to destabilise APC.

The Director General of Tayo Adebiyi Campaign Organisation, David Ayeni, told journalists on Sunday in Ado Ekiti that his principal brought the policeman in view of the rampancy of kidnapping along Efon-Iwaraja-Erinmo in recent times.

The accidental discharge that occurred during the APC Friday rally was as a result of a struggle that ensued between the mobile policeman and some unknown thugs that invaded the venue of the rally. The incident happened while he was trying to maintain law and order at the

venue, Mr Ayeni said.

There is no iota of truth in the news flying around the social media that the mobile police was hired for the purpose of assassination of the APC candidate, whom Adebiyi has been up and down promoting through political campaigns and advertisements since year 2014.

He said the shooting at the rally was regrettable, but insisted it was a clear case of accidental discharge as stated by the state police command.

Mr Ayeni appreciated the Nigeria Police for their effectiveness, by promptly bringing the situation under control, saying this reduced the number of casualties.

A former federal lawmaker, Opeyemi Bamidele, and at least two others were injured in the shooting.

Mr Ayeni added that Mr Adebiyi had been one of the highest financiers of the Ekiti APC since 2014, expressing regret on why he was being denied on account of the mistake by his security guard.

According to Mr Ayeni, the policeman who committed the offence was duly requested for and was not on illegal duty in Ado Ekiti, contrary to the claims by police.

My principal, Prince Adebiyi, is a peace loving chieftain of the All Progressives Congress who has been contributing immensely to the party advancement since 2014, he said.

He presented a campaign vehicle for the party during Fayemis re-election in year 2014. He had since provided a vehicle for his campaign even before he won the ticket of the party this year.

It therefore becomes illogical and unreasonable for any Nigerian to think and hold the opinion that Adebiyi , who is a prospective candidate of APC to run as a member of House of Representatives in 2019 and a strong associate of Dr. Fayemi will conspire to bring down the party.
A former member of the House of Representatives and survivor of the shooting in Ekiti State on Friday, Opeyemi Bamidele, has been moved to Lagos for further medical treatment after undergoing surgery.

His movement to Lagos, it was learnt, was due to the dearth of appropriate medical equipment to handle his current condition.

The politician suffered gunshot injuries in his abdomen and legs during a campaign rally of the All Progressives Congress in Ado Ekiti, the state capital, on Friday to welcome a governorship aspirant, Kayode Fayemi. Five other persons were also reportedly injured by bullets from the rifle of a mobile policeman. The police, however, said only two others were injured.

The surgery and treatment had been provided at the Ekiti State University Teaching Hospital, Ado Ekiti.

Mr Bamideles spokesman, Ahmed Salami, in a statement on Sunday, said his principal had been flown to Lagos in a chopper with registration number 5N-BSW belonging to Flying Doctors Nigeria, which arrived at the Christs School, Ado Ekiti at about 3 p.m.

Mr Salami said that Mr Bamideles health had stabilised but he needed a post-surgery treatment to ensure a quick recovery.

We want to assure our teeming supporters to discountenance the misinformation by rumour peddlers that his health had relapsed, he said.

He was in a stable condition and people were already having unfettered access to him at EKSUTH before he left for Lagos.

Dr. Fayemi , Dr. Wole Oluleye , Barrister Victor Kolade and several other bigwigs in APC circle including ordinary members of his party were allowed access to him on the sick bed confirming the appreciable level of his stability before being allowed to be taken out of the state.

Let me put on records that his being taken to Lagos was caused by gross dearth of equipment and personnel at EKSUTH .

As much as we salute the proficiency and commitments of the doctors in the hospital, let me also add that many of the consultants and equipment used in performing the surgery were hired from other hospitals.

To forestall a situation whereby we have to rely on bringing equipment that were readily available in other hospitals down to Ekiti to treat him, we decided to shift him to such hospital to fast-track his recuperation.
For the New World Order, a world government is just the beginning. Once in place they can engage their plan to exterminate 80% of the world's population, while enabling the "elites" to live forever with the aid of advanced technology. For the first time, crusading filmmaker ALEX JONES reveals their secret plan for humanity's extermination: Operation ENDGAME.

Jones chronicles the history of the global elite's bloody rise to power and reveals how they have funded dictators and financed the bloodiest warscreating order out of chaos to pave the way for the first true world empire.

Watch as Jones and his team track the elusive Bilderberg Group to Ottawa and Istanbul to document their secret summits, allowing you to witness global kingpins setting the world's agenda and instigating World War III.





to Ottawa and Istanbul to document their secret summits, allowing you to witness global kingpins setting the world's agenda and instigating World War III. Learn about the formation of the North America transportation control grid, which will end U.S. sovereignty forever.





Discover how the practitioners of the pseudo-science eugenics have taken control of governments worldwide as a means to carry out depopulation.





View the progress of the coming collapse of the United States and the formation of the North American Union.

Never before has a documentary assembled all the pieces of the globalists' dark agenda. Endgame's compelling look at past atrocities committed by those attempting to steer the future delivers information that the controlling media has meticulously censored for over 60 years. It fully reveals the elite's program to dominate the earth and carry out the wicked plan in all of human history.

Endgame is not conspiracy theory, it is documented fact in the elite's own words.




DENVER, June 4, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- 361 Capital, a leading boutique asset manager, today announced that Joseph "Jay" Paonessa, CPA, has joined the firm as chief financial officer. Paonessa is responsible for overseeing all financial and accounting aspects of the firm, in addition to assisting in strategic initiatives. He replaces Mark Nassi, controller, who left to pursue other interests.

Before joining 361 Capital, Paonessa worked for more than nine years at Mantucket Capital Management Corporation, as an employee and then as a consultant for one of its portfolio companies. As vice president of finance for Mantucket Capital, a family office and private equity firm, he led financial due diligence efforts on several acquisitions, provided post-acquisition services to portfolio companies and led systems implementations. Additionally, Paonessa was responsible for budgeting, financial modeling and reporting. He began his career as an auditor at Deloitte & Touche, LLP and held finance and accounting roles at Sun Microsystems, Inc. and ZettaCore, Inc.

Tom Florence, president and chief executive officer of 361 Capital, said, "We have expanded and elevated our finance role by hiring a chief financial officer. Jay brings more than 25 years of accounting and data analysis experience to 361 Capital. It's an important time of growth for us, and we're delighted that someone of Jay's caliber has joined our management team to help lead our future initiatives."

Paonessa is a Certified Public Accountant (CPA) in Colorado and holds a bachelor of science degree in accounting and a master of accountancy from the University of Florida.

About 361 Capital

361 Capital is a leading boutique asset manager. Founded in 2001, the firm offers a suite of actively managed alternative and behavioral-based equity strategies that seek to deliver meaningful alpha, manage risk and offer diversification potential to investor portfolios.

361 Capital is majority employee-owned with strategic investments from Lovell Minnick Partners, a private equity firm and Lighthouse Investment Partners.

For more information, call 866-361-1720 or visit www.361capital.com.

Sarah Lazarus Margaret Kirch Cohen CL-Media Relations, LLC CL-Media Relations, LLC +1 617 335 7823 +1 847 507 2229 [email protected] [email protected]

SOURCE 361 Capital

Related Links

http://www.361capital.com


NEW YORK, June 4, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Abel Noser Holdings, LLC, a leading provider of multi-asset trade analytics and trade compliance reporting, today announced it has closed on its previously publicized acquisition of Zeno Consulting Group, LLC (formerly Plexus Group), a premier provider of trade analytics and bespoke consulting services to asset owners. With this acquisition, Abel Noser strengthens its position as a market share leader and innovator in the trade analytics and regulatory surveillance industry.

"We are excited to have the Zeno team join in our efforts to provide the most comprehensive suite of products available for asset owners," commented Ted Morgan, CEO of Abel Noser Holdings. "Zeno brings with it decades of analytical experience in managing and controlling equity, fixed income and FX trading costs."

The acquisition expands Abel Noser's geographical reach by adding Zeno's offices in Metro DC and Los Angeles. "We're delighted with the opportunity to combine our collective decades-long experience in providing clients with superior data and analytics," said Steven Glass, Zeno's CEO and now head of Zeno AN Solutions, the newly formed trade analytics group comprised of both firms' asset owner clientele. "This is a classic case of 'the whole is greater than the sum of its parts.' Our fused efforts and resources will yield greater value for our clients than the output of each individual unit," said Mr. Glass, who will report to Peter Weiler, President of Abel Noser Solutions, which is the company's trade analytics subsidiary. All Zeno employees are joining the combined companies.

Zeno is also adding complementary analysis and experience to Abel Noser's knowledge leadership in regulatory oversight and best execution review critical to MiFID II compliance for the asset owner community. The joined companies will create the largest trade data universe of its kind with unparalleled peer group comparisons while leveraging an industry leading software platform with enhanced functionality, performance and report customization.

"Our consolidated efforts will offer asset owner clients of both firms a complete trade analysis and regulatory solution," said Peter Weiler. "We are very pleased to join with Zeno who, like Abel Noser, has focused over many years on providing customer-centric analytic services while reducing the cost of trading for the owners of investment assets."

About Abel Noser Holdings, LLC

Abel Noser has long been respected as a leader in the campaign to lower the costs associated with trading. Abel Noser Solutions, the company's analytics subsidiary, is the industry-leading provider of transaction cost analysis with hundreds of global clients subscribing to its multi-asset TCA and compliance products through a network of resellers, distribution partners and strategic alliances. Abel Noser LLC, the company's registered broker-dealer and a member of FINRA and SIPC, provides a wide range of trading, transition management, and analytics services to institutional asset owners, investment managers and brokers. Learn more at www.abelnoser.com.

Media Contact:

Jerry Boak

Abel Noser Holdings

[email protected]

(646) 432-4000

SOURCE Abel Noser

Related Links

http://abelnoser.com


In late 2017, Aesculap Implant Systems leadership met with the United States Defense Health Agency and provided critical decision makers from the agency with updated long-term evidence supporting the broader adoption of Lumbar Total Disc Replacement for single-level Degenerative Disc Disease. Evidence presented to the Agency included level 1a meta-analytic data demonstrating the superiority of Lumbar TDR to fusion in this patient population and five-year adjacent segment disease data from the activL Artificial Disc Investigational Device Exemption (IDE) study.

On May 8, 2018 the Agency published a policy stating that they found Lumbar TDR to be proven and medically necessary following their due diligence.

"I greatly respect the Agency's willingness to listen to and truly hear the evidence available for Lumbar TDR and the activL Artificial Disc," said Kim Norton, who heads the Reimbursement and Payer Relations strategy at Aesculap. "It is refreshing to experience their collaboration and appreciation for this procedure, which has been proven to provide better outcomes than fusion in a select patient population," continued Norton.

Along with TRICARE, numerous commercial insurance plans have recently adopted positive coverage policies for Lumbar TDR over the last year. "Over 30 million more Americans now have access to this procedure due to the overwhelming evidence and our efforts," said Norton.

"I have been able to offer my active duty military patients motion-preserving surgeries as an alternative to spinal fusion to treat degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine," said orthopaedic surgeon Anton Jorgensen, who treats military service members. "I am pleased that the same motion-preserving treatments will now be available for our retired military patients and dependents. The long-term value of motion preservation is supported by prospective studies and should be an option for select patients," concluded Dr. Jorgensen.

"I am pleased to learn that I can now offer this life changing procedure to a segment of the population most qualified for it," said orthopaedic surgeon William Reed, MD. Reed, who operates out of Blue Valley Hospital in Kansas City, KS, frequently sees patients with TRICARE. "In general, this population wants to get better and my experience so far has been that lumbar disc replacement with next generation technologies like the activL Artificial Disc makes a great deal of sense for them."

The TRICARE policy is retroactive to November 2017.

About Aesculap Implant Systems, LLC

Aesculap Implant Systems, LLC, a B. Braun company, is part of a 175-year-old global organization focused on meeting the needs of the changing healthcare environment. Through close collaboration with its customers, Aesculap Implant Systems develops advanced spine and orthopaedic implant technologies to treat complex disorders of the spine, hip and knee. Aesculap Implant Systems strives to deliver products and services that improve the quality of patients' lives. For more information, call 800-234-9179 or visit aesculapimplantsystems.com.

SOURCE Aesculap Implant Systems, LLC

Related Links

http://aesculapimplantsystems.com


CAMBRIDGE, Mass., June 4, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- The Akamai Foundation today announced that it will award five high school math students with scholarships for their placement in the recent U.S.A. Mathematical Olympiad (USAMO), the final invitational exam in the Mathematical Association of America (MAA) American Mathematics Competitions (AMC). An awards ceremony for the 47th USAMO winners will be held on June 4th in Washington, D.C.

The Akamai Foundation is a private corporate foundation dedicated to encouraging the next generation of technology innovators by promoting the pursuit of excellence in mathematics in grades K-12. The Foundation will present Akamai Scholarships to the top five winners of this year's competition, the most prestigious math competition for high school students. These top five scorers are among the most talented young mathematicians.

Michael Ren took first place and will be awarded an Akamai Scholarship in the amount of $20,000.

Thomas Guo tied for second place and will be awarded an Akamai Scholarship in the amount of $6,250.

Vincent Huang tied for second place and will be awarded an Akamai Scholarship in the amount of $6,250.

Joshua Lee tied for second place and will be awarded an Akamai Scholarship in the amount of $6,250.

Mihir Singhal tied for second place and will be awarded an Akamai Scholarship in the amount of $6,250.

Three hundred thousand students participated in the MAA American Mathematics Competitions, organized by the Mathematical Association of America, culminating in the 47th Annual United States of America Mathematical Olympiad. The USAMO provides a means of identifying and encouraging the most creative mathematics students in North America with a six-question, nine-hour essay/proof examination conducted over two days.

The ceremony also honored the members of the U.S. team that competed in the 7th Annual European Girls' Mathematical Olympiad in Italy this April. The team, which is organized and trained by the MAA American Mathematics Competitions, took second place in the international competition against teams from 52 countries.

"Excellence in mathematics and innovation has always been, and continues to be, at the heart of our mission," said Dr. Tom Leighton, CEO and co-founder of Akamai, and a director of the Foundation. "We congratulate these winners, as well as all of the participants in this year's competition. I am proud that the Akamai Foundation is able to recognize their success and support their pursuit of achieving excellence in mathematics."

"The Akamai Foundation's support is invaluable to the MAA American Mathematics Competitions," said Michael Pearson, executive director of the MAA. "With their support and example, the MAA is able to inspire not only the top math students but to engage thousands of students who will become leaders across diverse fields that use mathematics to build a better future."

About the MAA

The Mathematical Association of America is the world's largest community of mathematicians, students, and enthusiasts. We accelerate the understanding of our world through mathematics because mathematics drives society and shapes our lives. The MAA organizes the MAA American Mathematics Competitions to strengthen the mathematical capabilities of the next generation of problem solvers.

About the Akamai Foundation

The Akamai Foundation is a private corporate foundation dedicated to excellence in mathematics, with the aim of promoting math's importance and encouraging America's next generation of technology innovators.

Contacts: Chris Nicholson Media Relations 617-444-2987 [email protected] --or-- Noelle Faris

The Akamai Foundation

617-444-4676

[email protected]

SOURCE Akamai Foundation
CLEVELAND, June 4, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- In connection with its previously announced debt refinancing transaction, Aleris International, Inc. (the "Company"), the direct wholly owned subsidiary of Aleris Corporation ("Aleris"), today announced that it intends to offer in a private offering $400 million aggregate principal amount of senior secured junior priority notes due 2023 (the "Notes"), subject to market and other conditions. The Company intends to use the proceeds from this offering, together with the proceeds of a proposed new senior secured first lien term loan (the "New First Lien Term Loan Facility") and cash on hand, to (i) redeem all of its currently outstanding 7.875% Senior Notes due 2020 and 9.500% Senior Secured Notes due 2021 (collectively, the "Existing Senior Notes"), (ii) repay a portion of its outstanding borrowings under its existing asset-based revolving credit facility (the "ABL Facility") and (iii) pay related fees and expenses.

Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/597464/ALERIS_LOGO.jpg

The closing of the proposed offering of Notes is expected to occur substantially concurrently with, and is conditioned upon, the Company's entry into the New First Lien Term Loan Facility and a proposed amendment to the ABL Facility. The consummation of the debt refinancing transaction is subject to a number of factors, and we cannot assure you that we will consummate the debt refinancing transaction, including the proposed offering of Notes, on the terms described, on favorable terms or at all.

The Notes will be guaranteed by Aleris and certain of the Company's subsidiaries. The Notes and the guarantees will be secured by (i) a second-priority lien on substantially all of the Company's and the guarantors' assets (other than the ABL Collateral (as defined below)) including, without limitation, all owned and material U.S. real property, equipment, intellectual property and stock of the Company and the guarantors (other than Aleris) and other subsidiaries (including 100% of the outstanding non-voting stock (if any) and 65% of the outstanding voting stock of certain "first tier" foreign subsidiaries and certain "first tier" foreign subsidiary holding companies), which assets will secure the New First Lien Term Loan Facility on a first priority basis and (ii) a third-priority lien on all of the Company's and the guarantors' (other than Aleris) inventory, accounts receivable, deposit accounts and related assets (subject to certain exceptions), which assets secure the ABL Facility on a first priority basis and will secure the New First Lien Term Loan Facility on a second priority basis (the "ABL Collateral"), in each case excluding certain assets and subject to permitted liens.

The Notes will be offered in a private offering exempt from the registration requirements of the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "Securities Act"). The Notes will be offered only to persons reasonably believed to be qualified institutional buyers pursuant to Rule 144A and to certain persons outside the United States pursuant to Regulation S, each under the Securities Act.

The Notes have not been and will not be registered under the Securities Act and may not be offered or sold in the United States absent registration or an applicable exemption from, or in a transaction not subject to, the registration requirements of the Securities Act and other applicable securities laws.

This press release is for informational purposes only and is not an offer to sell nor the solicitation of an offer to purchase securities and shall not constitute an offer, solicitation or sale in any state or jurisdiction in which, or to any person to whom such an offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful. Any offer of the Notes will be made only by means of a private offering memorandum.

This press release does not constitute a notice of redemption under the Existing Senior Notes indentures, or an offer to tender for, or purchase, any of the Existing Senior Notes or any other security.

About Aleris

Aleris is a privately held, global leader in aluminum rolled products production. Headquartered in Cleveland, Ohio, Aleris operates 13 production facilities in North America, Europe and Asia.

Forward-Looking Statements

Certain statements contained in this press release are "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the federal securities laws. Statements about our beliefs and expectations and statements containing the words "may," "could," "would," "should," "will," "believe," "expect," "anticipate," "plan," "estimate," "target," "project," "look forward to," "intend" and similar expressions intended to connote future events and circumstances constitute forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements include statements regarding the expected consummation of the debt refinancing transaction, including the proposed offering of Notes, and plans, projections and estimates regarding the use of proceeds from the proposed offering of Notes and borrowings under the New First Lien Term Loan Facility. In addition, forward-looking statements include statements about, among other things, future costs and prices of commodities, production volumes, industry trends, anticipated cost savings, anticipated benefits from new products, facilities, acquisitions or divestitures, projected results of operations, achievement of production efficiencies, capacity expansions, future prices and demand for our products and estimated cash flows and sufficiency of cash flows to fund operations, capital expenditures and debt service obligations, as well as statements regarding trade cases, tariffs and other future governmental actions. Forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks and uncertainties, which could cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in or implied by any forward-looking statement. Important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from the forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, the following: (1) our ability to successfully implement our business strategy; (2) the success of past and future acquisitions or divestitures; (3) the cyclical nature of the aluminum industry, material adverse changes in the aluminum industry or our end-uses, such as global and regional supply and demand conditions for aluminum and aluminum products, and changes in our customers' industries; (4) increases in the cost, or limited availability, of raw materials and energy; (5) our ability to enter into effective metal, energy and other commodity derivatives or arrangements with customers to manage effectively our exposure to commodity price fluctuations and changes in the pricing of metals, especially London Metal Exchange-based aluminum prices; (6) our ability to generate sufficient cash flows to fund our operations and capital expenditure requirements and to meet our debt obligations; (7) competitor pricing activity, competition of aluminum with alternative materials and the general impact of competition in the industry end-uses we serve; (8) our ability to retain the services of certain members of our management; (9) the loss of order volumes from any of our largest customers; (10) our ability to retain customers, a substantial number of whom do not have long-term contractual arrangements with us; (11) risks of investing in and conducting operations on a global basis, including political, social, economic, currency and regulatory factors; (12) variability in general economic or political conditions on a global or regional basis; (13) current environmental liabilities and the cost of compliance with and liabilities under health and safety laws; (14) labor relations (i.e., disruptions, strikes or work stoppages) and labor costs; (15) our internal controls over financial reporting and our disclosure controls and procedures may not prevent all possible errors that could occur; (16) our levels of indebtedness and debt service obligations, including changes in our credit ratings, material increases in our cost of borrowing or the failure of financial institutions to fulfill their commitments to us under committed facilities; (17) our ability to access credit or capital markets; (18) the possibility that we may incur additional indebtedness in the future; (19) limitations on operating our business and incurring additional indebtedness as a result of covenant restrictions under our indebtedness, and our ability to pay amounts due under our outstanding indebtedness; and (20) other factors discussed in our filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including the sections entitled "Risk Factors" contained therein. Investors, potential investors and other readers are urged to consider these factors carefully in evaluating the forward-looking statements and are cautioned not to place undue reliance on such forward-looking statements. We undertake no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether in response to new information, futures events or otherwise, except as otherwise required by law.

SOURCE Aleris

Related Links

http://www.aleris.com


ROHNERT PARK, Calif., June 4, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- College is a time for many students to start figuring themselves out and forging new habits that they might carry with them for the rest of their lives. Planning properly and how to deal with constantly changing plans is a habit that can serve many people well. Ameritech Financial, a document preparation service company, encourages those attending college to think about what habits they might develop and how they will affect them later, and shape themselves for the better, including handling their student loans.

Boris Fedorenko/Bigstock.com

Frequent planning can help an individual stay on top of issues, like completing homework on time and knowing what classes will be needed to complete a degree in the desired amount of time. That can easily translate over into completing projects on the job and how to handle other time-sensitive events. Alongside frequent planning should be the understanding that change will happen, and to just roll with it. In college, this can relate to having to rearrange schedules to balance needed classes and other activities, and in the workforce, it can mean changing quickly from one task to another. "For many Americans, college can be a first taste of self-autonomy where almost everything is up to them. A lot of lifelong trends can be started at college, and it's important to make as many of them as possible good ones," said Tom Knickerbocker, executive vice president of Ameritech Financial.

Proper habit development is important, and for many, college can be where it starts. Or it can be a chance to change a few bad high school habits. Those positive habits can carry over into being able to better manage student loans and knowing when to find ways to get assistance when needed. Ameritech Financial assists federal student loan borrowers applying for federal income-driven repayment plans which can potentially lower payments. "As a business, we want to help as many as we can. Student loan borrowers might be able to better keep on top of their lives if they have smaller payments. Managing something doesn't have to mean struggling with it," said Knickerbocker.

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.

Each Ameritech Financial telephone representative 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.

Ameritech Financial Newsroom

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 Images

student-habits.jpg

Student Habits

Boris Fedorenko/Bigstock.com

image2.png

Related Links

Ameritech Financial

Related Video

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WRza8MbLvuM

SOURCE Ameritech Financial
The Rapid DNA Act of 2017 calls for DNA testing of arrestees in police booking stations, with the goal of identifying arrestees wanted in connection with rapes, murders, and other crimes while they are still in police custody (instead of being released within hours, without performing DNA identification, as is currently the case). By identifying suspects quickly, Rapid DNA testing of arrestees has the potential to identify repeat criminals, dramatically reducing the rate of violent crimes. The Rapid DNA Act of 2017 requires NDIS approval of Rapid DNA Systems to be used in police booking stations, and ANDE is the first and only system to receive this approval.

"This approval represents a major milestone for public safety, and I thank the FBI and the major laboratories that worked so diligently to make this a reality," said George Heinrichs, CEO of ANDE Corporation. "Most rapists and murderers are serial criminals, and Rapid DNA at the police station will link them to their earlier unsolved crimes while still in custody. We look forward to working closely with state and local Law Enforcement and the FBI to implement the ANDE system in police booking stations across the country."

The value of ANDE Rapid DNA Identification Systems in police booking stations is that law enforcement will be able to link arrestees to any violent crimes before they are released and to exonerate the innocent. The importance of booking station implementation is highlighted by several critical facts:

One in five women (18.3 percent) in the United States have been raped at some time in their lives. 37.4% of female victims were first raped between ages 18-24, according to the Center for Disease Control.

have been raped at some time in their lives. 37.4% of female victims were first raped between ages 18-24, according to the Center for Disease Control. A study of over 400,000 prisoners in 30 states found that 71.3 percent of violent offenders and 82.1 percent of property offenders were rearrested for a new crime, according to the Bureau of Justice Statistics Special Report.

14 percent of all unsolved homicides and 18 percent of unsolved rapes contained evidence that was not submitted by law enforcement agencies to crime labs for analysis, according to the U.S. Department of Justice.

To learn more about ANDE and its Rapid DNA Identification System, please visit ANDE.com.

About the NDIS Approval

ANDE accelerates the DNA processing from taking months or even years to less than two hours. A comprehensive developmental validation study evaluated the ANDE Rapid DNA Identification System's overall processfrom inserting cheek swabs to ANDE DNA ID generation; testing included the instrument, A-Chip consumable, FlexPlex chemistry, and automated data interpretation by the on-board Expert System Software. The forensic science community expects this validation process to be undertaken for any new scientific technology introduced in the criminal justice system. More than 2,000 samples were tested by leading forensic laboratories, and the ANDE system successfully produced accurate, reliable, reproducible, and robust results without manual processing. As of January 1, 2017, the FBI implemented new standards expanding the CODIS Core Loci to a total of 20. ANDE's NDIS approval meets these new standards.

Forensic laboratories participating in the developmental validation of the ANDE System included:





Florida Department of Law Enforcement - http://www.fdle.state.fl.us



Louisiana State Police - http://www.lsp.org/



Defense Forensic Science Center - http://www.cid.army.mil/dfsc-usacil.html



National Institute for Criminalistics and Criminology, Belgium - https://nicc.fgov.be/



National Institute of Standards and Technology (US Commerce Department) - https://www.nist.gov/

NDIS approval of the ANDE system is a major milestone in the United States as well as in the many countries that look to the FBI as a global leader in forensic DNA analysis. Rapid DNA policies have been developed by NDIS and SWGDAM (Scientific Working Group on DNA Analysis Methods), and developmental validation studies were designed to ensure that the ANDE Rapid DNA Identification System generates results equivalent to those from a forensic laboratory.

About the FBI's Rapid DNA Index System (RDIS)

The FBI's Rapid DNA Initiative is focused on the integration of Rapid DNA into the booking station process. Following the passage of the Rapid DNA Act of 2017, the FBI has announced that quality standards and procedures for using NDIS-approved Rapid DNA systems in the police booking station are being developed. For more information, please visit https://www.fbi.gov/services/laboratory/biometric-analysis/codis/rapid-dna

About the ANDE Rapid DNA Identification System

The ANDE system performs Rapid DNA Identificationthe fully-automated generation and interpretation of DNA IDsin less than two hours, outside the lab, by non-technical users. The system consists of a ruggedized instrument, an expert system that performs data interpretation, and a single-use, all-in-one consumable chip that accepts an oral swab or forensic sample.

About ANDE Corporation

ANDE is the global leader in Rapid DNA. With a mission to use Rapid DNA to create a safer world, ANDE's pioneering work is already having major impacts in the wide range of applications in the U.S. and internationally. ANDE believes that moving DNA analysis from sophisticated laboratories to the police station, battlefield, borders, and disaster sites will dramatically transform public safety and strengthen national security. ANDE was founded in 2000 and has offices in Waltham, Massachusetts, Longmont, Colorado, and Washington, D.C.

ANDE, ANDE DNA ID, ANDE RAPID DNA, and FlexPlex are trademarks of ANDE Corporation.

SOURCE ANDE Corporation

Related Links

https://www.ande.com


"We have had very high interest," says Dr. Edgar Radjabli, Managing Partner of Apis Capital Management, "Due to this being a unique opportunity for investors to access a professionally managed strategy that is not correlated to the traditional crypto markets, the simplified and investor friendly token model. So far, Apis Token has raised $1.7MM, which has already been allocated to the strategy.

The offering model of the Apis Token is different form a traditional ICO, as it allows investors to subscribe throughout the month, with the funds collected deployed at month's end and the tokens simultaneously issued to investors.

The Apis Token is also instantly tradeable on the Stellar Decentralized Exchange. However, since they are issued under Regulation S at this time, Dr. Radjabli states that "non-accredited US investors should not purchase the tokens, and holders should not make sales to US persons" and he reminded that Accredited US investors can contact Apis Capital Management directly to discuss their investment options, including investing directly into the ACM Market Neutral Volatility Strategy Fund as a limited partners.

Most importantly the tokens will be redeemable on a regular basis for the proportional share of the Investment Balance held by Apis Token Ltd, the entity issuing the tokens, which is a Limited Partner in the ACM Market Neutral Volatility Strategy fund.

The Stellar platform, on which the Apis Token is built, is the ideal foundation for asset-backed tokens that represent real world assets or investments. It's especially accessible to those that are new to cryptocurrency, and setting up a new Stellar wallet to accept Apis Tokens takes less than 5 minutes. After that, investors simply register with Apis Capital Management, submit their KYC/AML documentation, and fund their investment to receive Apis Tokens.

Further information is available at: www.apiscapitalfunds.com/apis-token/

CONTACT: Edgar Radjabli, [email protected], 305-900-7126

SOURCE Apis Capital Management

Related Links

http://www.apiscapitalfunds.com


MAITLAND, Fla., June 4, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- April Y. Walker, a respected Central Florida litigator, has become the newest member of Upchurch Watson White & Max Mediation Group's panel of neutrals.

Ms. Walker is making the transition to full-time neutral after serving as a partner in Carlton Fields' Orlando office.

Ms. Walker has statewide ties as a native of Miami and a graduate of the University of Florida Levin College of Law in Gainesville. Additionally, she began her litigation career at Carlton, Fields, Ward, Emmanuel, Smith & Cutler (now Carlton Fields Jorden Burt) in Tampa in 1997. She left the practice to clerk for U.S. District Judge Stephan P. Mickle in the Northern District of Florida but returned to the firm's Orlando office in 2008. She was an associate litigation attorney until she was elected a shareholder in 2015.

"We are delighted to welcome April Walker to our ranks," said John Upchurch, president and CEO of Upchurch Watson White & Max. "Her deep experience in banking and commercial litigation is a perfect complement to our expertise in these fields, and her patience and even temperament will serve her well as a neutral problem solver."

Her evolving desire to become first an attorney and now a full-time mediator has deep roots, going back to her days at Carrollton School of the Sacred Heart for girls in Coconut Grove. As committed as she was to her legal career, Ms. Walker has found her passion is bringing an end to conflict. Her practice will now focus on dispute resolution exclusively.

"I am thrilled to join the esteemed and highly regarded neutrals at Upchurch Watson White & Max," she said. "As a litigator, I engaged mediators from UWWM to help me get my tough cases resolved. Now, I hope to be a mediator of choice when my colleagues in the profession need an experienced neutral to help them resolve their clients' litigation disputes."

A resident of Apopka, Ms. Walker has served on the board of directors of the Orlando Repertory Theatre since 2012 and has been its governance and nomination committee chair since 2014. Ms. Walker is also the chair of the board of directors of the "Negro Spiritual" Scholarship Foundation Inc. and has been a member of the board since 2015. She will continue her volunteer service with these organizations while serving the legal community as a member of The Florida Bar Federal Court Practice Committee (since 2013) and co-vice chair of its Federal Rules Subcommittee.

For more information or to schedule a mediation with Ms. Walker, please contact her case manager Cathy McCleary at [email protected] or (407) 661-1123.

About Upchurch Watson White & Max

A nationally leading mediation specialty firm, Upchurch Watson White & Max is known for facilitating reasonable agreements to resolve complex issues. From eight offices in Florida and Alabama, Supreme Court-certified attorney mediators with wide-ranging specialties serve as court-appointed and privately employed mediators, arbitrators and third-party neutral case managers, implementing innovative methods of alternative dispute resolution across the country. On the web: uww.adr.com.

Media Contact:

Catherine Klasne

(386) 253-1560

[email protected]

SOURCE Upchurch Watson White & Max

Related Links

http://uww.adr.com


The new 1 Mt/y ethane cracker is being built alongside Total's Port Arthur Refinery and the existing Total/BASF steam cracker and is expected to start up in 2020. About 1,500 jobs will be created during the peak engineering and construction activity, and, once fully operational, the cracker will require about 60 full-time jobs.

"This is an important milestone for our new company," said Diane Chamberlain, Bay-Pol President. "The power of partnership demonstrated here today firmly positions Bay-Pol to deliver innovative products and applications to new and existing customers, while reinforcing our position in an increasingly competitive polyethylene market."

The groundbreaking ceremony saw senior executives of the joint venture in attendance, including Bernard Pinatel, President, Refining & Chemicals, Total, Mark Garrett, CEO, Borealis, Todd Karran, CEO, NOVA Chemicals, alongside Diane Chamberlain and the Bay-Pol leadership team.

Speaking at the event, the three partners commented:

"We are excited to see the construction of our first project in the joint venture with Borealis and NOVA. This project is in perfect alignment with Total's strategy to expand in petrochemicals by leveraging our integrated platforms like Port Arthur and taking advantage of the abundance of ethane in the U.S. With our partners, we are ready to provide for the growing demand for superior products to the marketplace," said Bernard Pinatel , President, Refining & Chemicals, Total.

said , President, Refining & Chemicals, Total. "We are excited to see this project come to fruition and officially break ground. The new ethane steam cracker is a key growth initiative for Borealis. Our partnership with Total and NOVA Chemicals will position us as a leader in the U.S. and allow us to deploy sophisticated technology with our partners," said Borealis Chief Executive Mark Garrett .

said Borealis Chief Executive . "The ethane steam cracker is the first phase of our joint venture with Total and Borealis, which will help us gain additional access to the U.S. Gulf Coast. This project will allow us to better serve our customers throughout the Americas by delivering a broader slate of products that help make everyday life healthier, easier and safer," said Todd Karran , CEO, NOVA Chemicals .

About Bayport Polymers LLC ("Bay-Pol")

Bay-Pol is a joint venture 50% owned by Total and 50% owned by Novealis Holdings LLC, a joint venture between Borealis and NOVA Chemicals. The JV is the translation of the growth ambitions of each of the partners. It combines Total's existing Bayport, Texas, polyethylene 400 kt/y facility with the Borealis proprietary Borstar technology and NOVA Chemicals' deep customer and technical expertise in polyethylene to deliver a broad range of products to help meet the growing global demand for plastic products. It also includes the under-construction 1Mt/y ethane steam cracker in Port Arthur, Texas, and a new 625 kt/y Borstar polyethylene unit at the Bayport site subject to Final Investment Decision.

About Total

Total is a global integrated energy producer and provider, a leading international oil and gas company, a major player in low-carbon energies. Our 98,000 employees are committed to better energy that is safer, cleaner, more efficient, more innovative and accessible to as many people as possible. As a responsible corporate citizen, we focus on ensuring that our operations in more than 130 countries worldwide consistently deliver economic, social and environmental benefits. www.total.com

About NOVA Chemicals

NOVA Chemicals develops and manufactures chemicals and plastic resins that make everyday life safer, healthier and easier. Our employees work to ensure health, safety, security and environmental stewardship through our commitment to sustainability and Responsible Care. NOVA Chemicals, headquartered in Calgary, Alberta, Canada, is wholly-owned, ultimately by Mubadala Investment Company of the Emirate of Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. www.novachem.com

About Borealis

Borealis is a leading provider of innovative solutions in the fields of polyolefins, base chemicals and fertilizers. With its head office in Vienna, Austria, the company currently has around 6,600 employees and operates in over 120 countries. Borealis generated EUR 7.5 billion in sales revenue and a net profit of EUR 1,095 million in 2017. Mubadala, through its holding company, owns 64% of the company, with the remaining 36% belonging to Austria-based OMV, an integrated, international oil and gas company. Borealis provides services and products to customers around the world in collaboration with Borouge, a joint venture with the Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (ADNOC). www.borealisgroup.com

NOVA Chemicals' logo is a registered trademark of NOVA Brands Ltd.; authorized use. Responsible Care is a registered trademark of the Chemistry Industry Association of Canada. Borstar is a registered trademark of the Borealis Group.

Cautionary note

This press release, from which no legal consequences may be drawn, is for information purposes only. The entities in which TOTAL S.A. directly or indirectly owns investments are separate legal entities. TOTAL S.A. has no liability for their acts or omissions. In this document, the terms "Total" and "Total Group" are sometimes used for convenience where general references are made to TOTAL S.A. and/or its subsidiaries. Likewise, the words "we", "us" and "our" may also be used to refer to subsidiaries in general or to those who work for them.

This press release may contain forward-looking information and statements that are based on a number of economic data and assumptions made in a given economic, competitive and regulatory environment. They may prove to be inaccurate in the future and are subject to a number of risk factors. Neither TOTAL S.A., Borealis AG and NOVA Chemicals Corporation nor any of their respective subsidiaries assumes any obligation to update publicly any forward-looking information or statement, objectives or trends contained in this document whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

For further information please contact:

Total

Media Relations: Tricia Fuller, Communications Manager, Total American Services

[email protected]

Investor Relations: Robert Hammond, Investor Relations Manager, Total American Services

[email protected]

NOVA Chemicals

Media Relations: Jennifer Nanz, Corporate Communications Leader [email protected]

Investors Relations: Patty Masry, Financial Reporting & Investor Relations Manager

[email protected]

Borealis

Media Relations: Patrick Laureys, Senior External Communications Manager

[email protected]

SOURCE Total

Related Links

http://www.total.com


NEW YORK, June 4, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Blis, the global pioneer in advanced location data technology, today announced the launch of new report with WBR Insights and Future Stores. Created to better understand how retailers are engaging in digital-to-physical strategies, Driving In Store Traffic and Purchases Through Digital Channels looks at the digital-to-physical strategies of more than 100 retail professionals and highlights the role of location in the retail playbook. Results from the study indicate retailers using a location strategy report a greater lift in retail footfall and location-based digital initiatives have helped retailers convert customers with customized content at the right time.

As part of digital strategies for guiding visitors to physical stores, location-data assets are leveraged by the majority of retailers in one of four ways: re-targeting strategies, marketing automation, proximity tools like geofencing and beacon technology and in-market consumer targeting. Nearly half of retailers reported using location-based insights for real-time contextual targeting.

"Because of location-based data, we have been able to re-allocate marketing dollars to locations based on traffic. Now, we can pinpoint exactly when a member is near one of our locations and deliver timely content/offers," said Blis client Greg Lawville, AAA's Director of Marketing Strategy & Advertising through agency 160over90.

Additional insights from the report include:

Most retailers leverage location data and integration for location-based advertising (71%); emails and notification (63%); video, images, and photography (52%)' and 'right-time engagement (52%), the latter of which also includes the use of behavioral and other customer data to engage local audiences when they're most receptive.

79% of retailers partner with third-party data providers to collect geolocation data (56%), conduct first- and third-party data integration (53%), and support geographical data visualization (45%).

Most retailers provide location-based resources for customers, including local product or inventory search (60%), interactive maps (65%), localized social media accounts (60%), and localized online customer service (51%).

[Its] critical to have customer data from partners at the right time to be able to make the best use of the digital tools and location-based systems we have implemented, said Kelley Coleman, Director Ecommerce Operations at Columbia Sportswear Company. With well-established partnerships with third-party data providers, we get reliable data at the right time. It gives us an upper hand in targeting customers with the right offers.

The data shows the future is ripe for marketers to optimize on location-based strategies, with 70% of retailers reporting a positive outlook on their location strategy performance. Additionally, the report indicates that retailers are working to document their digital to in-store purchase strategies with more than one-third of retailers having an existing documented plan and a quarter creating one within the next year. With regard to team size, nearly half of retailers have more than 10 people dedicated to in-store localization efforts.

Added Gil Larsen, VP Americas, Blis: "Impactful brand marketing is no longer just about reaching the right person at the right time; the content of the message also needs to be tailored for the right place. Location information allows retailers to go beyond generalized understandings of consumer behavior and develop quality, right-time and place personalized experiences."

To gather this information around retailer strategy, WBR Insights and Future Stores surveyed senior managers, directors, VPs, SVPs, and C-Suite retail leaders in operational, omnichannel, marketing, IT, CX, and analytics roles primarily at U.S. and Canadian companies reporting at least $250 million in annual revenue. Respondents represented specialty retailers, apparel, supermarkets, department stores, hardware, electronics, appliances, and home furnishing retailers.

Visit blis.com for more information on location-based tactics or to download the Driving In Store Traffic and Purchases Through Digital Channels whitepaper to learn about how retailers are leveraging location data and how it can further benefit them in this uncertain time.

About Blis

Blis is the global pioneer in location data. Our proprietary technology and platform helps agencies and brands use location data to better understand consumer behavior, allowing for effective targeted advertising to drive business outcomes. We believe that where you go defines who you are, and advertisers must capitalize on these insights for meaningful marketing experiences across devices. Our technology filters and scales location data, giving advertisers access to the most accurate location events, location data, and unique devices. The data is then applied across the apps that matter most to their consumers for targeting based on rich insights. Clients are supported by our location experts or can work in an agnostic service model of their choice. Since creating the world's first location data technology platform in 2004, Blis has grown to be a global company with 17 offices across 5 continents. Blis' clients include all major holding companies as well as leading brands in top verticals including Samsung, McDonald's, HSBC, Mercedes Benz and Peugeot.

About WBR Insights

WBR Insights is the custom research division of WBR (Worldwide Business Research), the world leader in B2B focused conferences. From research-based whitepapers to benchmarking reports, infographics and webinars, our mission is to help global institutions across a variety of industries to inform and educate their key stakeholders while achieving their strategic goals.

For more information, please visit https://digital.wbresearch.com.

Contact information

Jamie Crespi

VP Marketing, Blis

[email protected]

George Morin

PR Director, WBR

[email protected]

SOURCE Blis

Related Links

http://www.blis.com


"We take great pride in developing ever-changing seasonal menu items that embrace a unique mix of ingredients and fresh flavors available at their peak," stated Tim Hartmann, Vice President of Marketing at Boston Market. "With sunnier days and warmer temperatures on the way, we're confident that our guests will find something to love with the new summer recipes and convenient $1.99 whole rotisserie chicken deal."

The new summer menu offerings at Boston Market include:

Bourbon Bacon Rotisserie Chicken : Signature Boston Market rotisserie chicken available as Half Chicken, Quarter White or Three-Piece Dark is topped with a sweet bourbon sauce and crisp bacon pieces. Prices may vary.

: Signature Boston Market rotisserie chicken available as Half Chicken, Quarter White or Three-Piece Dark is topped with a sweet bourbon sauce and crisp bacon pieces. Prices may vary. Creamy Parmesan Corn : Sweet and tender summer corn is mixed with garlic and a three-cheese blend for a modern and creamy twist on a classic warm weather side dish.

: Sweet and tender summer corn is mixed with garlic and a three-cheese blend for a modern and creamy twist on a classic warm weather side dish. Roasted Garlic Mixed Greens: Fresh roasted garlic and mixed greens are lightly tossed with caramelized sweet onions, a honey garlic glaze and finished with a sprinkle of salt and pepper.

Guests can also enjoy summer get-togethers and celebrations this summer with Boston Market catering. With multiple catering packages to choose from, the rotisserie cooking experts at Boston Market can serve groups of five to 5,000 with orders prepared for delivery within three hours or pick-up within two hours. Limitations apply.

For additional information on the new seasonal offerings at Boston Market, brand news or to find your nearest location, please visit BostonMarket.com. Follow us @BostonMarket.

About Boston Market

At Boston Market, dinner is always ready. Headquartered in Golden, Colorado, Boston Market Corporation has given time back to busy families and individuals for more than 30 years with quality, home style meals at a convenient value in more than 450 U.S. locations. Known as the experts in rotisserie cooking, the company prepares fresh chicken, turkey and USDA choice Prime Rib in signature rotisserie ovens and features an extensive selection of home style sides and made-from-scratch cornbread. As one of the country's largest providers of catering services, Boston Market offers convenient, same-day orders and delivery for corporate and personal events of all sizes. In January 2017, Boston Market officially launched its "Quality Guarantee," which acts as a continued commitment to all guests that Boston Market will serve all-natural and fresh, never frozen, gluten-free, whole chicken with no added hormones, steroids, antibiotics or MSG. For more information, visit the company's website at www.bostonmarket.com. For the latest news and deals, follow @bostonmarket on Twitter or join us on Facebook.

Media Contact

Seth Grugle, ICR

646-277-1200

[email protected]

SOURCE Boston Market

Related Links

https://www.bostonmarket.com


PETALUMA, Calif., June 4, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Every company experiences a lull in business that can be hard to get through. Companies with brick-and-mortar stores might notice a lull each summer as potential customers spend their time adventuring instead of shopping. Lulls can happen any time of the year, though, and business leaders may doubt the future of their company until it picks up again. Brandon Frere, CEO of Frere Enterprises and other ventures, recommends that business leaders fill those lulls with projects that can organize or prepare the company for the future.

"When business slows down, I like focusing on new projects to amp up instead of getting discouraged by lower revenue," said Frere. "Starting new projects or revisiting projects that had been put on hold can be a great way to get through the lull."

Business lulls may be bad for sales, but it can be good for production. Business leaders may use this time to get projects going that would not otherwise fit into the schedule. Even small things like touching up the website or social media sites can have a positive impact on the company. If certain departments within the company have less to do than others, they may choose to collaborate on projects, either new or renewed. Or if old workflows or processes are still in play, those might be cleaned up or redesigned for efficiency or expected future growth.

Slow times in a company's schedule may also be a good time to try new things, such as engage in unusual marketing opportunities or initiatives. Company leaders may try collaborating with other businesses to cross-advertise to extend reach and try to gain more customers. Or they might simply take the time to network with other businesses for future opportunities.

"Most important during slow times is staying productive," said Brandon Frere. "Making sure your employees are still filling their time with productive tasks and not busy work will only benefit your company. You can even take this time to ask your employees for suggestions on how to improve the company and give each idea the attention it deserves while you can."

About Frere Enterprises

Brandon Frere is an entrepreneur and businessman who lives in Sonoma County, California. He has designed and created multiple companies to meet the ever-demanding needs of businesses and consumers alike. His company website, www.FrereEnterprises.com, is used as a means to communicate many of the lessons, fundamentals, and information he has learned throughout his extensive business and personal endeavors, most recently in advocating on behalf of student loan borrowers nationwide.

As experienced during his own student loan repayment, Mr. Frere found out how difficult it can be to work with federally contracted student loan servicers and the repayment programs designed to help borrowers. Through those efforts, he gained an insider's look into the repayment process and the motivations behind the inflating student loan debt bubble. His knowledge of the confusing landscape of student loan repayment became a vital theme in his future endeavors, and he now uses those experiences to help guide others through the daunting process of applying for available federal repayment and loan forgiveness programs.

FrereEnterprises.com

Related Images

business-lulls-can-be-boring-and.jpg

Business Lulls can be Boring and Unproductive if Not Handled Well

Credit: Maridav/Bigstock

image2.png

Related Links

Frere Enterprises home page

SOURCE Frere Enterprises

Related Links

http://frereenterprises.com


NASHVILLE, Tenn., June 4, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Captain D's, the nation's leading fast casual seafood restaurant, announced today the opening of its newest corporate-owned location in Overland, Missouri. Located at 9387 Page Ave., the new restaurant is the brand's first location in Overland and 16th overall in the state, and has created approximately 60 new jobs in the community.

Captain D's has continued to identify Missouri as a key development market as it expands its presence throughout the Midwest region. In addition to the new Overland restaurant, the brand opened a corporate-owned location in Cape Girardeau earlier this year, which debuted a new restaurant prototype featuring a footprint nearly 1,000 sq. feet smaller than its traditional locations. This accelerated corporate development has also fueled Captain D's franchise growth in Missouri, with an additional new location slated to open in Wentzville this July.

"As we continue to grow Captain D's footprint throughout the Midwest, we believe it's important to invest our company capital into driving the brand's presence in key markets, and the opening of our second corporate location in Missouri in less than six months is a reflection of that," said Brad Reed, chief development officer of Captain D's. "Captain D's has emerged as the leader of our niche within the fast casual segment, and we are thrilled that years of compounding success have given us the momentum we need to continue expanding in regions like the Midwest where there is unlimited potential."

The opening of the new Overland Captain D's further signifies the outstanding success the brand has achieved over the past several years, experiencing a surge in franchise and corporate development. Throughout the past year, the company has opened more than 15 new locations and inked numerous development agreements to open new restaurants in key markets, including Michigan, Indiana, Utah, New Jersey and Georgia.

Coupled with its ongoing menu innovation, Captain D's credits its new restaurant beach design with contributing to the brand's ongoing strong performance. To date, nearly 75 percent of all restaurants have been reimaged to the brand's new vibrant, coastal design. With these efforts, Captain D's has remained true to what it does best  serving high-quality seafood with warm hospitality at an affordable price in a welcoming atmosphere.

With 536 restaurants in 22 states, Captain D's is the fast-casual seafood leader and number one seafood franchise in America ranked by average unit volume. The company is currently seeking single- and multi-unit operators to join in the brand's rapid expansion. For more information about franchise opportunities, visit http://www.captaindsfranchising.com or call 800-550-4877.

ABOUT CAPTAIN D'S

Headquartered in Nashville, Tenn., Captain D's has 536 restaurants in 22 states. Captain D's is the nation's leading fast casual seafood restaurant and was named the #1 seafood chain in the QSR 50, ranked by AUV. Founded in 1969, Captain D's has been offering its customers high-quality seafood at reasonable prices in a welcoming atmosphere for more than 48 years. Captain D's serves a wide variety of seafood that includes freshly prepared entrees and the company's signature hand-battered fish, which is cooked to order. The restaurants also offer premium-quality, grilled items such as shrimp, and surf and turf, as well as hushpuppies, desserts and freshly brewed, Southern-style sweet tea, a Captain D's favorite. For more information, please visit www.captainds.com.

Contact:

Caitlin Willard

Fish Consulting

954-893-9150

[email protected]

SOURCE Captain D's

Related Links

http://www.captainds.com


IRVING, Texas, June 4, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Caris Life Sciences, a leading innovator in molecular science focused on fulfilling the promise of precision medicine, today announced the oral presentation of a study demonstrating the value of the large-scale cancer genomic database underlying the company's proprietary Caris Molecular Intelligence tumor profiling service to better understand the relationship of DNA repair gene mutations and their functional importance. The study was presented at the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) Annual Meeting on June 3, 2018, in Chicago.

"We know that mutations in DNA repair genes are common and important drivers of the microsatellite instability (MSI) phenotype and malignancy, and that bi-allelic mismatch repair (MMR) gene mutations are common in colorectal and endometrial cancers," said Michael Hall, M.D., M.S., associate professor, Department of Clinical Genetics, Fox Chase Cancer Center and investigator of the study. "However, we have little information regarding the frequency of bi-allelic MMR gene mutations in other cancers. Access to Caris' large tumor sample database enabled us to explore this question across many tumor types and demonstrated that the relationship between increased numbers of MMR gene mutations and total mutational burden (TMB) and MSI phenotypes are observed in other tumor types despite their less common occurrence. We hope this new information will spur additional work to better define the relationship and result in new therapeutic strategies to treat these challenging tumors."

David Spetzler, M.S., Ph.D., M.B.A., President and Chief Scientific Officer of Caris Life Sciences added, "This important study highlights the value of our Caris Molecular Intelligence tumor profiling service and its large tumor sample database. While the study showed that MMR mutations are relatively uncommon and occurred in less than two percent of the more than 24,000 tissue samples, the important finding was that the large number of samples enabled the researchers to identify these previously-undetermined relationships that could have an impact on treatment plans and patient outcomes. Oncologists are now better positioned to further evaluate these relationships with the ultimate objective of improving treatment management for these patients."

The study evaluated the relationship with the number of somatic mutations (SMs) in four mismatch repair (MMR) genes and the MSI phenotype, which is often associated with better prognosis in many cancers. A total of 24,233 tumor samples were queried for one mutation (mono-allelic) or two mutations (bi-allelic). From this large database, 470 tumors, or approximately two percent, had one or more mutations in MMR genes. Of these, 80, or less than 0.5 percent, had two MMR gene mutations. The study showed that tumors with bi-allelic MMR gene mutations were more common in younger patients (median age 57.5 years for bi-allelic vs. 63 years for mono-allelic (p = 0.003), which the authors suggested may be due to germline mutations that preceded somatic mutations.

In addition, bi-allelic MMR gene mutations were associated with high tumor mutational burden (TMB) and also with more mutations in non-MMR DNA repair genes, including those for nucleotide excision repair and homologous recombination genes such as BRCA1/2. Interestingly, high microsatellite instability (MSI) was only associated with a mono-allelic mutation in a specific MMR gene, MLH1. By tumor type, mono-allelic MMR gene mutations were common in endometrial, colorectal (CRC) and lung cancers. Nearly all biallelic MMR mutations, 98 percent, were found in Lynch Syndrome spectrum tumors, which are hereditary non-polyposis colorectal cancers and the most common hereditary CRC. The investigators concluded that the observed association of the number of MMR gene mutations and high TMB, MSI and non-MMR DNA repair gene mutations suggests cascade effects of DNA repair deficiency and reveals possible treatment targets.

Oral Presentation details

Sunday, June 3, 2018  9:24 a.m. CDT, Room S404

Oral Abstract Session: Cancer Prevention, Hereditary Genetics, and Epidemiology,

Abstract Number: 1505

"Pathogenic somatic mutation (SM) of mismatch repair (MMR) genes and their association with microsatellite instability (MSI), tumor mutational load (TML), and SM in other DNA repair pathways in 24,223 tumor genomic profiles"

Presented by Joseph Nicholas Bodor, M.D., Ph.D., Fox Chase Cancer Center

About Caris Life Sciences

Caris Life Sciences is a leading innovator in molecular science focused on fulfilling the promise of precision medicine through quality and innovation, and the world's leading immunotherapy diagnostic expert. Caris Molecular Intelligence, the company's Comprehensive Genomic Profiling Plus (CGP+) molecular testing service, assesses DNA, RNA and proteins, including microsatellite instability (MSI), tumor mutational burden (TMB) and PD-L1, to reveal a molecular blueprint to guide more precise and personalized treatment decisions. Caris' profiling services are routinely covered by third-party payors, including CMS for Medicare patients. The ADAPT Biotargeting System, the company's revolutionary and unbiased profiling platform, is currently being utilized for drug target identification, therapeutic discovery and development, fixed tissue-based companion diagnostics, blood-based cancer screening and biomarker identification. Headquartered in Irving, Texas, Caris Life Sciences offers services throughout the U.S., Europe, Asia and other international markets. To learn more, please visit www.CarisLifeSciences.com.

Media Inquiries:

The Ruth Group

Kirsten Thomas / Joanna Zimmerman

[email protected] / [email protected]

Tel: +1-508-280-6592 / +1-646-536-7006

SOURCE Caris Life Sciences

Related Links

http://www.carislifesciences.com


SINGAPORE, June 4, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- BLMP - Blockchain Licensing Marketplace, is a blockchain company that is changing the nature of licensing arrangements for branded content. World famous startup guru, Casey Lau, is one of the founders of BLMP. Having previously founded a successful online company selling branded merchandise during the dotcom era, Lau's particular background is perfectly aligned with BLMP's most important goals surrounding licensing digital content.

BLMP is making the market for branded in-game and in-app items more efficient. This means reinventing the licensing process for branded virtual goods. BLMP's enterprise software platform, Air, solves many problems in the licensing industry through the innovative use of blockchain technology. Air provides transparency, traceability, and security for payment transactions resulting in making life easier for licensors when dealing with revenue splits. By utilizing smart contracts to create unique items and to transfer item ownership, Air enforces the rules of licensing branded digital content automatically.

The Hong Kong-based founder has worked in licensing, digital goods and related technologies in a wide array of different capacities, while also organizing events that bring together startup experts from around the globe. Lau is a technology leader known for his work in creating StartupsHK, a member driven community that spearheaded Hong Kong's startup ecosystem, as well as co-hosting the annual RISE Conference, one of the biggest technology conferences in Asia. Along with his past experience in licensing during the early 2000's, Lau's skills are geared to drive innovation in this industry.

Blockchain Licensing Marketplace

BLMP has identified modern licensing as a major barrier to the exchange of virtual goods, which would otherwise be among the most profitable modern commodities. Virtual goods are created when digital publishers submit requests to brands to use that brand within their digital worlds. When brands approve the request, the item is created digitally and is made available within the proposed digital platform. They also become available for sale to the users of those digital platform, whether it is video games, social networks, or other digital environments. For virtual goods to be created, brands and publishers must be able to engage in licensing agreements with one another. But because it is so difficult for them to create such agreements with confidence, many publishers & brands fail to do so, limiting the potential size of the branded virtual goods market.

BLMP streamlines the process of forming licensing agreements for virtual goods. BLMP's platform, Air, leverages blockchain technology that creates immutable chains of data, to empower publishers and brands to form self-enforcing smart contract licenses. Air automatically enacts the provisions that have been mutually agreed upon by both brand & publisher and instantly tracks and distributes the proceeds from sales of branded virtual goods. The very nature of blockchain ensures that branded content is never used without the brand's permission. By utilizing Air, BLMP guarantees that all parties can enter into licensing agreements confidently.

Casey Lau

Smart contracts, tokenization, and other key features of the platform all rely on blockchain technology, which creates an immutable record of user activities and virtual goods features. Lau's experience in the licensing industry and as a technology thought leader give him the understanding to make BLMP's vision a reality. Lau has a detailed knowledge of the broader landscape of digital technologies, especially as he is the founder of RISE, one of the largest tech startup conferences in all of Asia. Not only will this help him identify other technologies that the platform can use, but also it gives him a sense of the challenges that new businesses face when finding innovative applications for cutting-edge technologies. He can help foresee any issues that BLMP may encounter and help guide the company through them, keeping it on the path to success.

SOURCE Blockchain Licensing Marketplace
CALGARY, June 4, 2018 /PRNewswire/ - Target Capital Inc. d.b.a. CBi2 Capital ("CBi2" or the "Company") (TSXV: TCI) (CSE: TCI) is pleased to announce that it has entered into a series of definitive investment agreements with JAEB Designs Inc. ("JAEB"), the maker of the PenSimple cannabis grinder. Subject to certain financial and operational performance thresholds, CBi2 will invest US$500,000 into JAEB through a series of three separate financings over the next 12-18 months and, assuming no additional capital is raised by JAEB during this time, will result in CBi2 holding a 16.60% equity position in JAEB. In addition, upon investing a total of US$340,000 into JAEB, CBi2 will hold a seat on JAEB's board of directors.

JAEB is a Boulder-based engineering company that designs and manufactures cannabis accessories. JAEB is focused on creating strategic products as well as international patents and trademarks for smoking and vaporizing devices and accessories, dosing and measuring devices for flower and concentrates, value-adding processing equipment, and speciality coatings and application technologies. JAEB is a graduate of CanopyBoulder's cannabis accelerator program.

JAEB's debut product, PenSimple, is a one-handed cannabis grinder that allows for easier use and clean-up while also maximizing the amount of flower retained after grinding. JAEB has sold over 13,000 PenSimple units since its launch 18 months ago, generating over US$900,000 in revenue, and continues to work on designing an improved second-generation version of the product, as well as developing modular PenSimple accessories.

Building on the success of PenSimple, JAEB has identified further opportunities to create products strategically designed to improve upon the way users currently consume cannabis and enhance their overall experience. JAEB has three additional products nearing commercial sales and another 25+ products in various stages of development. Proceeds from CBi2 strategic investment will be used by JAEB to continue to advance products through its development pipeline to commercial sales, broaden its distribution network as well as increase its marketing and sales budget for the PenSimple product.

CBi2 Capital has also delayed its Annual General Meeting ("AGM"). Details of the rescheduled AGM will be published shortly and notice thereof will be given to Shareholders.

About CBi2 Capital

Target Capital Inc., to be renamed CBi2 Capital Corp. is a Calgary, Alberta based company engaged in making strategic investments in private companies, including small startup operations and land development corporations. CBi2's common shares are listed on the TSX Venture Exchange and the Canadian Securities Exchange under the trading symbol "TCI". Target is executing on a cannabis-focused investment strategy, where it intends to develop and manage a diversified portfolio of predominantly early stage cannabis investment opportunities. Target will explore and invest in a number of strategic investment opportunities in the medical and recreational cannabis industry and in businesses offering ancillary supportive products and services. Upon receipt of shareholder approval, Target will change its name to "CBi2 Capital Corp.".

Forward-Looking and Cautionary Statements

This news release may include forward-looking statements including opinions, assumptions, estimates, and, more particularly, statements concerning: CBi2's investment strategy and the ability to exercise thereon; and JAEB Designs business strategy and the ability to exercise thereon.

When used in this news release, the words "will," "anticipate," "believe," "estimate," "expect," "intent," "may," "project," "should," and similar expressions are intended to be among the statements that identify forward-looking statements.

The forward-looking statements are founded on the basis of expectations and assumptions made by CBi2 which include, but are not limited to, the availability of suitable investment opportunities in the cannabis industry; the estimated growth in the cannabis market; shifts in public opinion regarding cannabis; market trends in the cannabis industry, the securities markets and the general economy; and the expected adult-use cannabis legalization in Canada.

Although CBi2 believes that the expectations and assumptions on which the forward-looking statements are based are reasonable, undue reliance should not be placed on the forward-looking statements because CBi2 can give no assurance that they will prove to be correct. Since forward-looking statements address future events and conditions, by their very nature they involve inherent risks and uncertainties. Actual results could differ materially from those currently anticipated due to a number of factors and risks. These include, but are not limited to, risks associated with the cannabis industry in general; actions and initiatives of federal and provincial governments and changes to government policies and the execution and impact of these actions, initiatives and policies, including the fact that adult-use cannabis is currently illegal under federal and provincial law; the size of the medical-use and adult-use cannabis market; competition from other industry participants; and other factors more fully described from time to time in the reports and filings made by CBi2 with securities regulatory authorities.

The forward-looking information contained in this news release is made as of the date hereof and CBi2 undertakes no obligation to update publicly or revise any forward-looking information, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, unless required by applicable securities laws. The forward looking information contained in this news release is expressly qualified by this cautionary statement.

Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this news release.

SOURCE CBi2 Capital
The CenturyLink Campaign to Fight Hunger, which will be held June 4-15, is managed completely through online donations. Donors can visit www.centurylink.com/fooddrive to choose from over 140 food banks serving the communities where the company operates. By donating through this drive, donors will help food banks earn match dollars from the CenturyLink Clarke M. Williams Foundation, furthering the impact of their gift in the fight against hunger. Matching dollars will be allocated to participating food banks based on the amount of donations directed to each organization. Donations must be submitted through this website to be eligible for matching dollars. The donation website will close at 10 p.m. Central Time on June 15.

This year's expanded campaign also includes two international agencies that serve more than 80 countries worldwide.

"Hunger is a need felt in every community, and we are excited to partner with these food banks to raise money and awareness to help fight hunger in the communities where we operate," said Sondra Smith, CenturyLink director of corporate social responsibility. "We are hopeful that our employees, customers and community members will join us in supporting these agencies to help feed individuals and families in need."

Donated dollars have more impact

On average, a typical food bank can provide up to 10 meals for every dollar donated. With the ability to buy in bulk, most community food banks can do more with donated dollars than individuals who buy grocery items themselves. Therefore, CenturyLink encourages its employees, customers and community members to make their donations online at www.centurylink.com/fooddrive.

Over the past nine years, CenturyLink food drives, combined with matching dollars from the CenturyLink Clarke M. Williams Foundation, have contributed the equivalent of more than 56 million pounds of food to local food banks throughout the company's U.S. service areas.

Key Facts:

The CenturyLink Campaign to Fight Hunger runs June 4-15 .

. The CenturyLink Clarke M. Williams Foundation will match total donations up to $1 million .

. More than 140 food banks in the U.S. and abroad are participating in this year's campaign.

Donations can be made online at: www.centurylink.com/fooddrive.

About CenturyLink

CenturyLink (NYSE: CTL) is the second largest U.S. communications provider to global enterprise customers. With customers in more than 60 countries and an intense focus on the customer experience, CenturyLink strives to be the world's best networking company by solving customers' increased demand for reliable and secure connections. The company also serves as its customers' trusted partner, helping them manage increased network and IT complexity and providing managed network and cyber security solutions that help protect their business.

SOURCE CenturyLink, Inc.

Related Links

http://www.centurylink.com


BONITA SPRINGS, Fla., June 4, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Strong leadership and a commitment to partnership will take you far in the franchising business. Tim Evankovich, founder and CEO of Bonita Springs-based Oasis Senior Advisors, was recently inducted into The Cleaning Authority Hall of Fame for his stewardship of the company's remarkable growth during his time as president.

CEO Tim Evankovich

Evankovich and former business partner Steve Robinson took The Cleaning Authority, a franchisor based in the Baltimore-Washington area, from a single location in 1989 to a thriving enterprise with more than 185 outposts across North America by 2014, when Evankovich sold his stake. The lessons Evankovich learned with The Cleaning Authority are now fueling the rapid success of Oasis, which has opened 67 franchises in its first four years of existence.

"What I'm most proud of is helping franchisees become successful," Evankovich said. "The stronger you support your franchise owners, the stronger the system you have, and the more success you're going to have within your franchise organization."

By the end of his time at The Cleaning Authority, the average yearly gross revenue per franchise was $1 million. The company expanded at the rate of one new franchise a week between 2002 and 2003. Those numbers showed Evankovich that he could empower Oasis franchise owners to become successful as well, and the experience helped him build Oasis on the foundation of personal service that helps clients along every step of their journey to senior housing.

"The vision has to be right at the top to get everybody on the same page and moving in the same direction," Evankovich said.

The value of collaboration became clear as Evankovich and Robinson shepherded the business once known as Mighty Maids through a quarter-century of ups and downs that ultimately led to triumph. Evankovich and Robinson were inducted together into the Hall of Fame during The Cleaning Authority's recent annual convention in Minneapolis.

"Partnerships are very tough and challenging, but Steve and I figured out a way to work together for 25 strong years and still remain the closest of friends," Evankovich said.

For more information about Oasis Senior Advisors, franchise opportunities, or to connect with an advisor, visit oasissenioradvisors.com.

About Oasis Senior Advisors

Founded in 2014 by Tim Evankovich, Oasis Senior Advisors guides families and seniors, at no cost to them, through the process of selecting a senior living community that best fits their needs. The company, based in Bonita Springs, Florida, currently operates 67 franchise locations in 26 states. Their personalized and caring approach to aid seniors and their families during a transitional time in their lives has helped many achieve satisfaction, comfort and peace of mind. Through client satisfaction and its strong partnerships with many of the top-rated senior living communities in the country, Oasis Senior Advisors is positioned for continued growth. Franchise opportunities are available throughout the country. Visit oasissenioradvisors.com or call 888-455-5838 to learn more.

ORGANIZATION

Tammi Dodson

Oasis Senior Advisors

239-449-9348

[email protected]

MEDIA

Josh Milton

CONRIC PR & Marketing

239-690-9840

[email protected]

SOURCE Oasis Senior Advisors

Related Links

http://www.oasissenioradvisors.com


-- Achieves Internationally Recognized Standards for Information Security --

SHANGHAI, June 4, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- China Rapid Finance Limited ("China Rapid Finance" or the "Company") (NYSE: XRF), operator of one of China's largest consumer lending marketplaces, today announced that it achieved ISO/IEC 27001:2013 Certification ("ISO 27001"), the international standard that describes best practices for an information security management system (ISMS). Certification to ISO 27001 demonstrates that the company has adopted internationally-recognized standards to ensure borrowers and investors on its marketplace benefit from the highest level of data protection.

ISO 27001 is the most widely accepted international standard for information security controls. The standard provides a model for establishing, implementing, operating, monitoring, reviewing, maintaining and improving an ISMS and helps organizations establish a systematic and proactive approach to managing information security risks. The certification was awarded to China Rapid Finance by BSI Group, a standards authority and accredited certification body, upon completion of a stringent compliance audit of the Company's ISMS.

Since its entry into marketplace lending in 2010, the Company has made information security and protection of customers' personal information and transaction data a top priority. Notably, the company adopted an electronic signature and document storage solution to ensure that borrowing agreements are tamper-proof. CRF had already earned national grade-3 accreditation for information system security, the highest certification for non-bank institutions in China. Achieving ISO 27001 certification further demonstrates the company's commitment and ability to ensure the highest level of information security.

Joseph Wang, Chief Strategy Officer of the Company, commented: "We treat data with great care. Information security is an integral part of all our business processes. Receiving the ISO 27001 certification demonstrates that our information security practices are in full compliance with the highest international standards. This is further evidence of China Rapid Finance's leadership position in the online lending industry."

Guotai Shi, Chief Information Officer of China Rapid Finance, added, "The ISO 27001 standard provides a strong guarantee that we have established a stringent information security management system to safeguard sensitive internal data, customer information and transaction data on our platform. We will continuously maintain and develop our system to ensure our lending marketplace is safe, stable and reliable."

About China Rapid Finance

China Rapid Finance operates a leading online consumer finance marketplace in China, facilitating millions of loans annually. The Company deploys machine learning and proprietary decision technology to facilitate affordable digital credit for one of the world's largest untapped consumer credit markets: China's 500 million emerging mobile-active consumers. China Rapid Finance operates a pure play marketplace, and does not take credit risk. The Company utilizes its proprietary, mobile-first technology to efficiently select creditworthy consumers for its platform. China Rapid Finance facilitates smaller, shorter-term initial loans to these qualified consumers and then enables larger, longer-term loans for repeat borrowers who demonstrate positive credit behavior. This differentiated strategy positions the platform to attract and retain high quality consumers who generate significant customer lifetime value. China Rapid Finance was founded by Dr. Zane Wang, who has decades of consumer credit experience in the U.S. and China, and is governed by a global board of directors. For more information, please visit http://ChinaRapidFinance.InvestorRoom.com.

Investor Relations Contacts:

In China:

China Rapid Finance

Joseph Wang

Tel: +86 (21) 6032-5999

Email: [email protected]



Or

The Blueshirt Group

Gary T. Dvorchak, CFA

Tel: +86 (138) 1079-1480

Email: [email protected]



In US:

The Blueshirt Group

Ralph Fong

Tel: +1 (415) 489-2195

Email: [email protected]

SOURCE China Rapid Finance

Related Links

http://ChinaRapidFinance.InvestorRoom.com


BETHLEHEM, Pa., June 4, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- ECCMA [US-DE.BER:3031657], the international not-for-profit master data quality solutions association headquartered in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, announces today a new low-cost process for cleansing trading partner master data that leverages the new ISO/CD 8000-116 Authoritative Legal Entity Identifier (ALEI).

ECCMA

A successful supplier onboarding process results in the creation of the all-important Supplier ID, a mandatory field for purchase orders, invoices and, most important, payment authorizations. Behind every Supplier ID is the supplier master data created during the onboarding process, but it is not always stored as a single, easily viewed record. More frequently, supplier master data is distributed across many systems and maintained by more than one department. This lack of visibility or coherent view is often the reason why maintenance of supplier master data is sporadic and inconsistent. Of course, added to the fact that the master data is distributed across multiple systems and departments, the supplier master data itself is dynamic, and it changes as suppliers open and close offices, change banks and change their relationships with other companies. Keeping track of all these changes is a real challenge: The ALEI is designed to make this easier internally, but probably more important, to make it easier to improve how third-party data can be used in the process of onboarding and validating supplier master data.

Commenting on the new ECCMA process for cleaning supplier and customer master data, Peter Benson, the executive director of ECCMA and the project leader for the new ISO standard, said: "Sometimes a solution to a fundamental problem is laying in plain sight. An ALEI is created by simply adding a jurisdiction prefix in front of nationally assigned identifiers. ALEIs are ideal for identifying supply chain trading partners. They are globally unique, authoritative, permanent identifiers assigned by law, and they are free! With the ALEI, the process of cleansing supplier and customer master data can be streamlined, saving time and money but, more importantly, delivering a dramatically better-quality result."

The solution is as elegant as it is simple: There are fewer than 700 government agencies worldwide where legal entities are registered. What is common across all agencies is that they maintain a public record containing the date of formation and the legal name of the company to which they assign a file or record number. All that was required was to assign prefixes to these agencies to create an ISO 8000-115 quality identifier. ISO/CD 8000-116 describes how these jurisdiction prefixes are created to deliver a globally unique and permanent "authoritative" legal entity identifier or ALEI.

Commenting on the ALEI, Justin Magruder, the president of Noetic Partners, a charter member of ECCMA and a designated expert to the ISO standards development committee, said: "As the banks and the finance industry work together to implement the legal entity identifier (LEI) they overlooked an obvious and low-cost solution for the authoritative identification of companies and individuals - the Authoritative Legal Entity Identifier (ALEI). The LEI is a proxy identifier, an identifier assigned by an organization that is not the authority that created the object. Like many other proxy legal entity identifiers such as tax identifiers, DUNS numbers, NATO CAGE code or even the GS1 company prefix, the LEI is a 'value-added' proxy legal entity identifier. Proxy identifiers typically include other data relevant to a specific purpose, hence the 'value-added,' but they can never replace the authoritative legal entity identifier issued by the government agency that in fact created the 'legal' entity itself. Let us not forget the very definition of the word 'legal' implies compliance with laws, and laws are the prerogative of national governments. It is probably safe to assume that national governments are not yet ready to hand their jurisdiction over the creation and recognition of legal entities to a bank-sponsored legal entity registry."

One of the key benefits of the ALEI is that it is in the public domain, there are no license fees or restrictions on how the ALEI can be used, and no fees required to obtain an ALEI as, by definition, if a company is a legal entity, it has an ALEI.

ECCMA recently demonstrated the power of the ALEI in a test of its new process for cleaning a supplier master. The process consisted of researching the ALEI for all suppliers using data extracted from the supplier master file. The results of the test were as follows:



Number % Active suppliers extracted from supplier master file (from 81 countries) 24,250

Supplier master data allowed the ALEI to be independently verified 17,111 71% Contact with the supplier will be required to verify the ALEI 7,134 29%

A verified ALEI provides the jurisdiction of the authority under which the legal entity is recognized and the date of formation as well as the legal name.

The 71 percent hit rate is impressive. The fact that 29 percent of the supplier records contained insufficient data to confirm the legal status of the supplier should be a concern but resolution simply requires an email or telephone call to ask the supplier for confirmation of their jurisdiction and legal name to allow ALEI verification. Records where it was not possible to verify ALEIs were identified as potential risks.

ECCMA has made available the website eALEI.org, where companies can search for their ALEI and add it to a convenient searchable database to make it more accessible to their trading partners.

What was probably the most interesting result of the test was that of the 17,111 supplier master data records that allowed the ALEI to be independently verified, there were 7,060 (41 percent) supplier records that were discovered to have an existing ALEI in the file. Those entries are, strictly speaking, duplicate legal entity records. There may be a good reason for these "duplicates" to exist in the supplier master data file, most commonly, different operational addresses or trade names, but they clearly need to be linked to the master legal entity record. The ALEI allowed this to be done easily. The immediate result of the test was the ability to consolidate spend and supplier data.

ECCMA charges its members between $1 and $10 per verified ALEI (price varies by country). ECCMA can also provide value-added supply chain data as illustrated in the diagram. All data researched by ECCMA complies with ISO 8000-120, the international standard for quality data with provenance.

Media Contact

Peter R. Benson

Executive Director, ECCMA

Email: [email protected]

Related Links

eALEI Directory

Create an ALEI

SOURCE ECCMA
VIENNA, Va., June 4, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- ClearForce LLC today announces a new round of strategic investment from Centricus Partners LP, a global investment platform based in London and backed by a select group of sophisticated, global and long-term investors. Centricus co-founders Nizar Al-Bassam and Dalinc Ariburnu, led the structuring and fundraising for SoftBank's Vision Fund, a $100 billion global technology investment fund. Centricus works in partnership with its management teams and its global network to generate superior absolute returns. The new funding will be used by ClearForce to accelerate customer acquisition and business development in both public and private sectors.

"Employee risk management is rapidly moving from legacy point-in-time assessment to real-time continuous evaluation," said Nizar Al-Bassam, "ClearForce is leading this transformation and we look forward to supporting its growth in the United States, as well as expansion across Europe and other key global markets."

ClearForce's workforce assurance solution is built on a foundation of employee consent and transparency, placing privacy at the forefront of enhancing organizational security. ClearForce combines continual event-based alerts of employee misconduct and high-risk behavior outside the workplace with a legally complaint adjudication platform. All the alerting and policies are configured and customized for each specific job role within an organization.

"Establishing this basis for a strategic and long-term partnership with Centricus is an important milestone for our business and we look forward to contributing value within this global network of industry leaders," states General James L. Jones, USMC (Ret.), a member of the ClearForce Board of Directors.

For more information, contact Tom Miller, CEO at 888-870-5773 or [email protected].

About ClearForce LLC

ClearForce LLC, headquartered in Vienna, Virginia, delivers innovation to the employee risk management market through patent-pending technology. www.clearforce.com

SOURCE ClearForce LLC

Related Links

http://www.clearforce.com


Gorilla designs, manufactures, and sells branded lug nuts, wheel locks, and accessories to retailers across North America, adding a complementary portfolio of aftermarket accessories to Wheel Pros' expanding selection of products. Wheel Pros currently serves more than 10,000 retailers with a global network of 33 distribution centers spanning North America and Australia. The Company has a portfolio of 12 proprietary brands with more than 300 custom wheel styles, including some of the most recognized designs in the industry.

"We are excited to welcome Gorilla to the Wheel Pros family," said Jody Groce and Randy White, Co-Founders and Co-CEOs of Wheel Pros. "Gorilla has spent more than 40 years building its brand into the leader in aftermarket lug nuts and wheel locks with an unparalleled focus on quality. We look forward to offering enhanced services to Gorilla's existing customers, as well as introducing new customers to Gorilla's high-quality products through our global network of distribution centers."

"Wheel Pros is a clear market leader in automotive aftermarket wheels, and the acquisition of Gorilla is highly complementary to Wheel Pros' existing products," said Jose E. Feliciano, Co-Founder and Managing Partner, and Colin Leonard, Partner of Clearlake. "With this acquisition, Wheel Pros adds another iconic brand to its broad portfolio. This acquisition illustrates how Clearlake partners with world class management teams to deploy its O.P.S. approach and execute on an accretive acquisition strategy."

William Blair served as financial advisor to Wheel Pros.

ABOUT CLEARLAKE

Clearlake Capital Group, L.P. is a leading private investment firm founded in 2006. With a sector-focused approach, the firm seeks to partner with world-class management teams by providing patient, long-term capital to dynamic businesses that can benefit from Clearlake's operational improvement approach, O.P.S. The firm's core target sectors are industrials and energy; software and technology-enabled services; and consumer. Clearlake has managed approximately $7 billion of institutional capital since inception and its senior investment principals have led or co-led over 100 investments. More information is available at www.clearlake.com.

ABOUT WHEEL PROS

Headquartered in Denver, Colorado, Wheel Pros is a leading designer, marketer, and distributor of branded aftermarket wheels. The Company also distributes performance tires and accessories. Founded in 1995 with two distribution centers, the Company today carries proprietary, leading brands that are recognized across all major vehicle segments and are sold through a footprint of 30 national and three international distribution centers. For more information, visit the Company's website at www.wheelpros.com.

Media Contact:

OWEN BLICKSILVER PUBLIC RELATIONS, INC.

Kristin Celauro

732-433-5200

[email protected]

or

Jennifer Hurson

845-507-0571

[email protected]

SOURCE Clearlake Capital Group
"Over a remarkable career, Richard has been instrumental in bringing many transformational medicines to patients," said Dr. Williams. "He has both the vision to foresee what great science can do and the perseverance to help shepherd candidates through the difficult process of development. Having known and worked with Richard for a number of years, I am delighted to have him as a new thought partner at Codiak, to help the company develop our science, our business and our culture."

Prior to joining Codiak, Mr. Brudnick was Executive Vice President of Business Development and Alliance Management at Bioverativ, Inc., a company he helped found in 2016. Prior to Bioverativ's acquisition by Sanofi in March 2018, Mr. Brudnick led business development efforts to build a significant pipeline in rare blood disorders including an acquisition, a multi-product collaboration and additional scientific collaborations and licenses. Mr. Brudnick joined Bioverativ at its spin-off from Biogen where, over the course of nearly 15 years, he initiated, led and completed transactions that now include much of the company's marketed products and late-stage pipeline, including Tecfidera, Spinraza and its biosimilars joint venture with Samsung. Mr. Brudnick also was CEO of a regional pharmaceutical distribution business, which he sold to a strategic buyer, co-founded two companies, and was a strategy consultant at Bain & Company.

"Codiak has the potential to transform the treatment of many difficult diseases based upon the truly unique properties of exosomes, deep and growing insight into their therapeutic benefits and uses, and leading-edge capabilities in their manufacture," said Mr. Brudnick. "I am looking forward to working closely with the management team to determine how to best leverage the versatility of exosomes to do the most good for patients, helping to build our internal capabilities and develop partnerships to create value."

Mr. Brudnick earned his undergraduate degree in Management Science from Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) and his M.S. in management from the Sloan School of Management at MIT.

About Exosomes

Exosomes are nanometer-sized membrane sacs, or vesicles, that are released and received by nearly all cells. Exosomes are an ancient system of intercellular communication, through which they deliver various molecules (DNA, RNA, proteins, lipids) from cell to cell. Upon delivery, exosomal cargo can change biological functions in recipient cells according to the instructions encoded by the payload. Exosomes traffic to specific cellular targets, thereby offering the potential to deliver diverse therapies to specific cells and modulate cellular function to achieve therapeutic benefit.

Codiak BioSciences is taking advantage of the natural propensity of exosomes to deliver macromolecule payloads either on or in the exosome to cells to treat a variety of human diseases.

About Codiak BioSciences

Codiak BioSciences is the leader in the emerging field of exosome therapeutics. Founded in 2015 and headquartered in Cambridge, Mass., Codiak has built a proprietary technology platform for exosome engineering and manufacturing that allows for precise therapeutic targeting -- opening the door to the development of therapies to treat a diverse array of diseases that are currently difficult or impossible to treat using existing methodologies.

Contact:

Lindy Devereux

646-515-5730

[email protected]

SOURCE Codiak BioSciences Inc.

Related Links

http://www.codiakbio.com


MINNEAPOLIS, June 4, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Personalized book publisher I See Me! helps sustain forests by giving back to Three Rivers Park District's "Forests Forever" programa tree planting effort designed to reestablish native habitats. With the code TREE, customers will receive a 10 percent discount on their purchase at www.iseemee.com, and a percent of the proceeds in June will be donated to the Three Rivers Park District Foundation to benefit Forests Forever.

Color in the Treehouse with Me Personalized Coloring Book

"Our mission is to bring smiles of joy and delight, and this partnership helps us to do that by giving our customers the joy of spending quality family time coloring together while at the same time helping to sustain the forest," says Maia Haag, I See Me's co-founder and president.

This partnership coincides with the launch of Color in the Treehouse with Me, a uniquely shareable, personalized coloring book that invites parent and child to spend quality time together. Featuring the child's and adult's first names, the book contains simplified pages for younger children and more intricate designs for an older child or adult. This fun family activity is perfect for creative young minds and includes a poster to make frameable art!

Families looking for a fun summer activity gift that gives back to environmental causes can order this product at www.iseeme.com, where it will ship directly to the recipient. Over nearly twenty years, I See Me! has become the leader in personalized books and gifts for children with a mission to bring smiles of joy and delight by making each person feel special. For more information about gift ordering, visit www.iseeme.com or call 1-877-744-3210.

CONTACT: Samantha Bosch

I See Me! Personalized Books

612-554-0853

[email protected]

SOURCE I See Me!

Related Links

http://www.iseeme.com


PLANO, Texas, June 4, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Critical Start announced today that CRN  , a brand of The Channel Company, has named Critical Start to its 2018 Solution Provider 500 list. The Solution Provider 500 is CRN's annual ranking of the largest technology integrators, solution providers and IT consultants in North America by revenue.

The Solution Provider 500 is CRN's predominant channel partner award list, serving as the industry standard for recognition of the most successful solution provider companies in the channel since 1995. The complete list will be published on CRN.com, making it readily available to vendors seeking out top solution providers to partner with.

CRN has also released its 2018 Solution Provider 500: Newcomers list, recognizing 26 companies making their debut in the Solution Provider 500 ranking this year.

"Our main guiding principle is to do what is right for our customers and that starts by recognizing the right cybersecurity solution is different for each organization and their specific business needs," said Rob Davis, CEO, Critical Start. "After debuting on the Solution Provider 500 list last year and one of the few pure-play cybersecurity providers, we were excited to move up the list as it reflects the growth and strength of our business that is accelerating due to demand for our zero-trust managed security services."

"CRN's Solution Provider 500 list spotlights the North American IT channel partner organizations that have earned the highest revenue over the past year, providing a valuable resource to vendors looking for top solution providers to partner with," said Bob Skelley, CEO of The Channel Company. "The companies on this year's list represent an incredible, combined revenue of $320 billion, a sum that attests to their success in staying ahead of rapidly changing market demands. We extend our sincerest congratulations to each of these top-performing solution providers and look forward to their future pursuits and successes."

The complete 2018 Solution Provider 500 list will be available online at www.crn.com/sp500 and a sample from the list will be featured in the June issue of CRN Magazine.

Follow The Channel Company: Twitter, LinkedIn and Facebook

Tweet This:

@TheChannelCo names @CriticalStart to @CRN 2018 SP500 list #CRNSP500 www.crn.com/sp500

About Critical Start

Critical Start is the fastest-growing cybersecurity integrator in North America. Our mission is simple: protect your brand and reduce business risk. We help organizations of all sizes determine their security readiness condition using our proven framework, the Defendable Network. Critical Start delivers managed security services, incident response, professional services, and product fulfillment. Visit www.criticalstart.com for more information.

About the Channel Company

The Channel Company enables breakthrough IT channel performance with our dominant media, engaging events, expert consulting and education, and innovative marketing services and platforms. As the channel catalyst, we connect and empower technology suppliers, solution providers and end users. Backed by more than 30 years of unequaled channel experience, we draw from our deep knowledge to envision innovative new solutions for ever-evolving challenges in the technology marketplace. www.thechannelco.com

SOURCE Critical Start

Related Links

http://www.criticalstart.com


The SMU Steel Summit, which takes place August 27-29 in Atlanta, is the premier steel conference in North America while the SMU Newsletter is an industry leader, providing independent and timely steel industry pricing, analysis and news for the North American market.

John Packard, President and CEO, Steel Market Update, said: 'I am delighted that SMU has found a new home with CRU and I look forward to working with the CRU team, both in Pittsburgh and in London, to develop the SMU and CRU business in North America.'

Robert Perlman, Chairman of CRU, said: 'We are delighted to be joining forces with John and his team. Our businesses have a shared commitment to independent and insightful coverage of the steel market. CRU's global position will be greatly strengthened by SMU's coverage of North America. The SMU brand will go from strength to strength under the CRU umbrella.'

Based in London and founded in 1969, CRU is the leading provider of analysis, prices, consulting and events in the metals, mining and fertilizer markets. CRU also has offices in Pittsburgh, New York, Santiago, Beijing, Shanghai, Singapore, Tokyo, Mumbai, Sao Paulo and Sydney.

Founded in 2008, Steel Market Update provides and analyses real-time pricing, market trends, and relevant information related to the North American flat rolled steel market through its newsletter, website and events.

For further information, please contact: Nick Morgan, CEO, CRU Group, on +44-20-7903-2071

Read the full story: https://www.crugroup.com/about-cru/news/2018/cru-group-acquires-steel-market-update/

Read more about CRU: http://bit.ly/About_CRU

About CRU

CRU offers unrivalled business intelligence on the global metals, mining and fertilizer industries through market analysis, price assessments, consultancy and events.

Since our foundation by Robert Perlman in 1969, we have consistently invested in primary research and robust methodologies, and developed expert teams in key locations worldwide, including in hard-to-reach markets such as China.

CRU employs over 260 experts and has more than 10 offices around the world, in Europe, the Americas, China, Asia and Australia  our office in Beijing opened in 2004.

When facing critical business decisions, you can rely on our first-hand knowledge to give you a complete view of a commodity market. And you can engage with our experts directly, for the full picture and a personalised response.

CRU  big enough to deliver a high quality service, small enough to care about all of our customers.



SOURCE CRU
SAN DIEGO, June 4, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Cubic Corporation (NYSE:CUB) today announced the appointment of Jeffrey Blakeman as vice president, manufacturing and procurement. Blakeman will replace current Vice President of Manufacturing and Procurement Dave Lapczynski, assuming the role as of July 2. Lapczynski will transition to an executive advisory role and continue to provide support until his retirement. Reporting to Chief Financial Officer Anshooman Aga, Blakeman will be based at Cubic's main manufacturing and procurement operations in Tullahoma, Tennessee.

"Dave is a valuable member of our Cubic executive team and has been instrumental in driving our One Cubic initiative with the consolidation of our manufacturing and procurement function. Our company thanks him for his commitment and I wish him the best in his retirement," said Anshooman Aga, executive vice president and chief financial officer, Cubic Corporation.

"Jeff's exceptional background in engineering, supply chain management, procurement and manufacturing makes him a strong asset to our leadership team as we continue to develop and implement innovative process improvements and efficiencies. We are very pleased to welcome Jeff to the Cubic team," added Aga.

Prior to joining Cubic, Blakeman was the vice president of operations for Bombardier Transportation, Americas where he led the operational, cultural and process transformation for the eight sites across the United States, Mexico and Canada. Additionally, Blakeman served as executive director of operations for GE Energy Connections and executive of manufacturing for GE Aviation.

Blakeman is a seasoned manufacturing and operations leader with expertise spanning across the aerospace and defense, transportation, oil, energy and chemicals industries. He has held various roles focused on organizational and operational transformation. Blakeman holds a bachelor of science in chemical engineering from Ohio University and is a certified Lean Six Sigma Black Belt.

About Cubic Corporation

Cubic is a market-leading, technology provider of integrated solutions that increase situational understanding for transportation, 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 Systems is a leading provider of live, virtual, constructive and game-based training solutions 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


BOERNE, Texas, June 4, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Electrolab gives customers flexibility to tailor digital level sensors specific to site needs. With several new product introductions in 2018, Electrolab customers can customize the following:

Sensor type and material

Sensor length and resolution

Number of temperature sensors

Number of levels

High level shut-in option (with optional integrated test fixture)

Type of housing

Power supply: 12V or 24V

RU Flex 2100 Digital Level Sensor with Explosion Proof Housing

Electrolab sensors can be ordered in stainless steel, fiberglass, and flexible models with lengths from 2-48 feet. Customers can choose from one to eight temperature sensors, one to two level options, and measurement resolutions of ", " and 1/8". Sensors ordered with 1/8" resolution (+/- 3/16" accuracy) are compliant with API 18.2 Custody Transfer Requirements.

The optional High Level Shut-In adds a third float and separate circuit to the sensor that communicate high and high-high alarm conditions to a control device and prevent overfill of a production tank. An optional integrated test fixture allows production personnel to manually test operation of the high-high alarm feature with the tank hatch closed, eliminating exposure to harmful fumes.

Options for housings include Explosion Proof, L (standard), T, C or no housing. The Explosion Proof housing is available in 12V and 24V power versions and allow any Electrolab Model 2100 Digital Level Sensor to meet electrical code and site safety requirements without installing additional equipment. The L, T, and C housings are intrinsically safe when used with an approved barrier device, while the no housing option can facilitate integration of the sensor with third-party wireless communication providers.

"Our customers asked for and now have the flexibility to customize digital level sensors to meet their specific site and safety requirements. . . With these new options, customers can select a durable, rugged sensor with the options they desire. Electrolab is committed to meeting the needs of our customers." - Todd Mathias, President, Electrolab, Inc.

Electrolab is a privately owned company with headquarters in Boerne, Texas. For over 42 years, Electrolab has provided comprehensive engineering, product design and manufacturing capabilities. Electrolab specializes in the design and manufacture of sensors, controls, and measurement systems for numerous industries. Electrolab, Inc. is located at 159 Enterprise Parkway, Boerne, Texas 78006. Contact Electrolab at [email protected], 888-301-2400 or www.electrolabcontrols.com.

SOURCE Electrolab

Related Links

http://www.electrolabcontrols.com


ANNAPOLIS, Md., June 4, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- DATUM, a leading provider of data governance and stewardship software, today announced they have again been positioned by Gartner, Inc. as a Representative Vendor in the Market Guide for Information Stewardship Applications for its Information Value Management platform.

Companies focused on achieving data value through metadata management, data governance and information stewardship choose the DATUM solution for its ease of use and industry leading time to value.

The Market Guide identifies solutions that best suit the needs of business users acting in the role of information steward. DATUM meets 8 out of 9 information stewardship application capabilities listed by Gartner in the Market Guide.

According to the Gartner Market Guide "The key point is that no organization governs information simply because it can; there has to be a business context, and the increasing realization of this context explains the rise of information stewardship applications." 1

The report states that "A key differentiator between modern information stewardship applications and the IT-centric tools they evolved from is the provision of a user interface targeted at the business user role of information steward." Furthermore, the report notes that, "The recent complexity that is emerging  associated with such things as increased interest in data lakes, and now IoT analytics  is extending the need for operational policy enforcement in analytical use cases." 2

"We are excited to be recognized as a Representative Vendor for this growing market," said DATUM CEO Will Crump. "We have always been firm believers that information stewardship and data governance should be addressed from a business use case lens. Our unique approach to data governance incorporates not only metadata management, but also discovery, data governance and stewardship management in a comprehensive offering driven by this belief. It is rewarding to see the market respond."

According to Gartner, "it is fast becoming clear that, as stewardship gets established, programs focused on data and analytics governance and stewardship are in fact initiatives focused on business process integrity and outcome improvement. They are much less about data for data's sake or data at a point in time". 3

DATUM's Information Value Management platform helps companies not only discover and understand the data available to them, but it also connects that data to the most important business value drivers  operations, analytics and compliance  so you can clearly measure the impact data has on your corporate initiatives. With Information Value Management you get:

A platform that is purpose-built to discover, understand, connect and measure data value for your organization.

Access to a business-first methodology that is focused on governing the business rules, processes and metrics that are most critical to the business.

A content-rich Accelerator library, with essential resources designed explicitly to accelerate execution.

The ability to connect metrics and KPIs to the data that drives value and trust.

Read more about our approach to information stewardship and how it's a crucial aspect of data governance at http://www.datumstrategy.com/data-governance-software-platform.

About the Gartner Market Guide

"A Market Guide defines a market and explains what clients can expect it to do in the short term. With the focus on early, more chaotic markets, a Market Guide does not rate or position vendors within the market, but rather more commonly outlines attributes of representative vendors that are providing offerings in the market to give further insight into the market itself." 4

1, 2, 3 Market Guide for Information Stewardship Applications by Guido De Simoni, Andrew White, Ankush Jain, Alan Dayley May 22, 2018.

4 Gartner Methodologies, Gartner Market Guide, https://www.gartner.com/technology/research/methodologies/research_markets.jsp

About DATUM

Recognized as a Leader in The Forrester Wave: Data Governance, Stewardship and Discovery Providers, Q2 2017, and as a Leader in the Gartner Magic Quadrant for Metadata Management Solutions, DATUM drives decision integrity, empowering organizations to discover the right data and make the right decisions faster. By focusing on what data matters and why, DATUM's proven data governance and stewardship platform, Information Value Management, delivers business value insights. Today, Fortune 500's trust DATUM as the data governance system of record to improve operational efficiency, deliver greater analytical insights and simplify compliance and regulatory reporting. www.datumstrategy.com.

Media Contacts:

Marie Crump

[email protected]

SOURCE DATUM

Related Links

http://www.datumstrategy.com


WASHINGTON, June 4, 2018 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The American Waterways Operators (AWO) has approved Decatur Marine Audit & Survey as a third-party organization authorized to conduct audits of AWO member operations as part of its Responsible Carrier Program (RCP). The RCP, a safety management system for tugboat, towboat and barge companies, requires AWO member companies to undergo periodic management and vessel audits conducted by an independent third party.

Towing vessel operators serving the inland waterways, coasts and harbors are looking closely at their fleets to determine how they will meet the new U.S. Coast Guard Subchapter M regulations establishing vessel safety and inspection requirements. Under Subchapter M, vessel owners and operators can choose whether to opt for annual Coast Guard inspections or adopt a Towing Safety Management System (TSMS). AWO's RCP has been accepted by the Coast Guard as an existing safety management system that meets Subchapter M requirements.

"Decatur Marine, along with our parent and affiliate companies, has already performed more than 31,000 audits and inspections. AWO members need top-level auditing, surveying, and compliance services from reputable third-party providers. At a time when towing vessel owners and operators are facing key TSMS and Subchapter M deadlines, our AWO partnership provides further recognition that Decatur Marine is positioned to move into a leadership role in the tug and towboat safety management industry," said Christian Mollitor, Managing Director of Decatur Marine.

"We are pleased to add Decatur Marine to the pool of well-qualified, well-trained third-party auditors who can conduct RCP/TSMS audits," said AWO President & CEO Tom Allegretti. "The facilitation of member compliance with Subchapter M, and the elevation of safety and environmental stewardship standards across the tugboat, towboat and barge industry, are among AWO's highest priorities. The approval of Decatur Marine to conduct third-party RCP audits will help ensure achievement of these goals."

As a U.S. Coast Guard-approved Third-Party Organization (TPO), Decatur Marine provides Subchapter M TSMS audit and survey services for tugboat and towboat owners and operators across the United States, maintaining an extensive network of experienced nautical inspectors from Seattle to Puerto Rico and from Alaska to the Panama Canal.

For 74 years, AWO has served as the national advocate for the tugboat, towboat, and barge industry and is a recognized leader in maritime safety and environmental stewardship. Aligning AWO's industry expertise and robust safety management system with the safety culture and experience of Decatur Marine will support AWO's membership in meeting the technical, operational, and regulatory challenges associated with the Subchapter M requirements.

About AWO

The American Waterways Operators is the national trade association representing the tugboat, towboat and barge industry, which operates on the rivers, the Great Lakes, and along the coasts and in the harbors of the United States. Barge transportation serves the nation as the safest, most environmentally friendly and most economical mode of freight transportation. For more information about AWO, please visit www.americanwaterways.com.

About Decatur Marine

Decatur Marine Audit & Survey proudly provides TSMS audits and Subchapter M survey TPO services for tug and towboat owners and operators in ports across the United States. Decatur maintains a strong presence in the Americas, from the East Coast to the West Coast, along the entire Gulf Coast and throughout the U.S. Inland Waterway System. Depth of experience, access to cutting-edge resources, and superior people skills are core strengths of every Decatur Marine auditor and surveyor. www.DecaturMarine.com

SOURCE American Waterways Operators

Related Links

http://www.americanwaterways.com


DETROIT, June 4, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- The University of Detroit Mercy School of Law will be offering a new online certificate program developed specifically to address the increasing demand on individuals and organizations to safeguard their intellectual property (IP) assets, such as inventions, marks, technological innovations, and artistic works.

The University of Detroit Mercy School of Law logo Professionals needing advanced knowledge on how intellectual property law can affect their professions can now receive advanced training online.

Launching in October 2018 as a part-time, 100% online program, Detroit Mercy Law's Certificate in Law - Intellectual Property will provide critical training for a range of professionals, including inventors, scientists, developers, engineers, designers, artists, writers, investors, and entrepreneurs, as well as those who manage intellectual property or cybersecurity, or work in the legal field.

From 2004-2016, there has been a significant increase in intellectual property filings, with U.S. patent applications up 41%, trademark applications up nearly 43%, and copyright applications remaining steady. During this same time period, worldwide patent applications rose nearly 50% and trademark applications rose by 54%. As a result, organizations have expanded their intellectual property staff to include lawyers, non-lawyers, and technology experts, who manage and monitor ideas, inventions, brands, and more. The Certificate in Law  Intellectual Property aims to provide critical professional training in a flexible online format specifically developed by legal and IP experts for working professionals.

Program director and professor Wissam Aoun says he has witnessed a growing desire of professionals to learn about this important area of the law without having to attend law school and obtain a J.D. degree. "We created and designed this program in response to the growth in the intellectual property field in the past 15 years. The Certificate in Law will teach participants about intellectual property and cybersecurity laws, the legal protection of ideas and works, and monitoring and managing their intellectual property after legal protection has been obtained."

The first seven-week course, Introduction to Intellectual Property, begins on October 1, with additional courses in the program starting in January (Patent Law), March (Trademark and Marketing Law), and May 2019 (Cybersecurity Law). All courses are taught by prestigious and highly accomplished Detroit Mercy Law faculty and cover established and emerging patent, trademark, copyright, and cybersecurity laws essential to today's job markets.

"The Certificate in Law will continue the school's tradition of preparing students for real-world situations by learning the law through innovative types of study," says Law School Dean, Phyllis Crocker.

To complete the online certificate, participants take one seven-week course at a time, requiring two to five hours of total commitment per course, per week. Pre-recorded video lectures are available for viewing at the participants' convenience, and there are also opportunities for real-time interactions with classmates and instructors.

The certificate can be completed part-time in a year (or longer if preferred). Special discounts are available for groups, federal or state employees, and active military. To learn more about the online program, visit http://lawschool.udmercy.edu/certificate.

About University of Detroit Mercy School of Law

University of Detroit Mercy School of Law in Detroit, Michigan was founded in 1912. The School is approved by the American Bar Association and is a member of the Association of American Law Schools. The Certificate in Law  Intellectual Property is currently pending ABA acquiescence.

The School's curriculum integrates theory, doctrine and practice through its nationally-recognized Clinical Program, Legal Writing Program, and Law Firm Program. The School places social justice and engagement in global affairs at the core of its educational mission.

For more information about Detroit Mercy Law, visit http://www.law.udmercy.edu/.

MEDIA CONTACT:

Meghan Petiprin

Detroit Mercy Law Communications Specialist

(313) 596-9819

[email protected]

SOURCE The University of Detroit Mercy School of Law

Related Links

http://www.law.udmercy.edu


NORTH CANTON, Ohio, June 4, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Diebold Nixdorf, a world leader in driving connected commerce, is teaming up with Mastercard to trial two services that provide cash to those who need it: Mastercard Cash Pick-Up and Cardless ATM powered by Mastercard. These solutions directly align with Diebold Nixdorf's goals of enhancing a consumer's ATM experience, regardless of whether they have a bank account, while connecting the physical and digital worlds of cash transactions through mobile integration. A demonstration will be available at the Mastercard showcase at Money20/20 Europe, June 4-6 in Amsterdam.

Mastercard Cash Pick-Up allows banks to deliver cash more quickly, securely and easily to any authenticated consumer  banked or unbanked  through enabled ATMs, without the use of a card. This opens the ATM channel to even the under-banked consumers and allows financial institutions and ATM deployers to increase their revenue through new transaction volumes.

Cardless ATM powered by Mastercard allows accountholders to withdraw cash from the nearest ATM using the convenience of their mobile banking app. Once consumers are at the ATM, they can quickly move through the authentication process to receive their cash. Since the majority of the transaction is handled through the banking app and the cloud, sensitive information is never exposed. Ultimately, Cardless ATM makes transactions more secure, convenient and transparent for consumers.

"As a technology company, we are always considering what the future can bring, and today we have a great opportunity with Diebold Nixdorf to define the next wave of digital products to the ATM channel," said Daniel Goodman, senior vice president, ATM Product Management at Mastercard. "By bringing together the Mastercard network and Diebold Nixdorf's large global scale, we can help move the ATM industry towards a globally scalable standard for driving digital innovation in the ATM channel."

Mobile technology continues to have a significant impact on the global ATM industry. By bringing the convenience of digital transactions to accessing and depositing cash, consumers can easily get cash or send cash to others when they need it most, and banks can solidify their consumer relationships.

"This partnership with Mastercard is another way we are continuing to securely bridge the digital and physical worlds of cash by innovating the ATM experience for consumers through our Vynamic suite of software solutions," said Alan Kerr, senior vice president, software, at Diebold Nixdorf. "Many of our customers are looking to retain consumers and drive incremental transactions to their self-service channels, and this partnership with Mastercard delivers on both of these fronts."

Learn more by visiting the Mastercard blog: It's App, Tap and Go at ATMs thanks to Mastercard and Diebold Nixdorf.

About Mastercard

Mastercard (NYSE: MA), www.mastercard.com, is a technology company in the global payments industry. Our global payments processing network connects consumers, financial institutions, merchants, governments and businesses in more than 210 countries and territories. Mastercard products and solutions make everyday commerce activities  such as shopping, traveling, running a business and managing finances  easier, more secure and more efficient for everyone.

About Diebold Nixdorf

Diebold Nixdorf, Incorporated (NYSE: DBD) is a world leader in enabling connected commerce for millions of consumers each day across the financial and retail industries. Its software-defined solutions bridge the physical and digital worlds of cash and consumer transactions conveniently, securely and efficiently. As an innovation partner for nearly all of the world's top 100 financial institutions and a majority of the top 25 global retailers, Diebold Nixdorf delivers unparalleled services and technology that are essential to evolve in an 'always on' and changing consumer landscape. The company has a presence in more than 130 countries with approximately 23,000 employees worldwide. Visit www.DieboldNixdorf.com for more information.

SOURCE Diebold Nixdorf

Related Links

http://www.dieboldnixdorf.com


MILFORD, Ohio, June 4, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- DNV GL Healthcare, the nation's fastest-growing healthcare provider accrediting body, has certified Hillcrest Medical Center in Tulsa, Oklahoma for palliative care services. It's the first provider DNV GL Healthcare has certified since it introduced a certification for palliative care providers earlier this year. The hospital is affiliated with Hillcrest HealthCare System, which operates seven acute care hospitals across northeast Oklahoma as well as the Tulsa Spine & Specialty Hospital.

"Certification is a really good way for a specialty practice to meet the gold standard of care," said Jennifer Clark, M.D., a Hillcrest HealthCare System palliative care physician and an advisor to the executive team. "If there's a hospital claiming to offer a specific service, it should be held to high standards, and their providers should practice at the top of their licenses." Hillcrest has about 700 patients receiving palliative care, primarily those with cancer, liver disease, congestive heart failure and other serious medical conditions that are life-threatening but not terminal.

Palliative care is one of the greatest healthcare needs among the U.S. population, particularly as people age and chronic illnesses take their toll. Palliative care is usually considered an option for patients who are not terminally ill, but are in poor health from a specific serious medical condition and are not expected to improve. The components of such a program include pain management, closely coordinated care for the patient, discussions about future care planning and psychosocial and spiritual support for both their patient and their family members.

There are more than 1,100 palliative care programs operating in more than 1,300 hospitals and other provider settings nationwide, according to data from the National Palliative Care Registry. About 400 new hospital-based programs are introduced every year. Certification brings peace of mind to patients and their loved ones, as well as additional payments from the Medicare program.

"We're extremely excited to have certified Hillcrest Medical Center for palliative care services," said Patrick Horine, President of DNV GL Healthcare. "We expect many more certifications to follow in the coming months and years."

As the nation's second-largest healthcare accreditation body, Anders Lindgren, DNV GL Business Assurance North American Regional Manager, cites its "kinder and gentler" approach and its year-round partnership strategy as some of the keys to successfully accrediting hospitals and boosting quality improvement at a rate of 20% growth year over year. The majority of hospitals choose accreditation in order to be certified by the U.S. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) to receive federal funds and reimbursements from Medicare and Medicaid programs.

Hundreds of hospitals across the United States have switched to DNV GL Healthcare over the past decade. The organization accredits nearly 500 hospitals in 49 states.

About DNV GL Healthcare

DNV GL is one of the world's leading certification bodies. We help businesses manage risk and assure the performance of their organizations, products, people, facilities and supply chains through certification, verification, assessment, and training services. We combine technical, digital and industry expertise to empower companies' decisions and actions.

Within healthcare we help our customers achieve excellence by improving quality and patient safety through hospital accreditation, managing infection risk, management system certification and training.

With origins stretching back to 1864 and operations in more than 100 countries, our experts are dedicated to helping customers make the world safer, smarter and greener.

Media Contact:

Joy Scott

President

Scott Public Relations

[email protected]

(818) 610-0270

SOURCE DNV GL Healthcare
ENGLEWOOD CLIFFS, N.J., June 4, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Over the past 30 years, the role of U.S. fathers has evolved as dads have increased the amount of time they spend with their children by nearly a third.1 While we've come a long way, there's more work to do, especially when it comes to providing fathers with the time and support they need to take time off work after the birth of a child. In fact, while nearly two thirds of dads state they have quit or would consider changing jobs to be more involved in the early weeks and months of caring for a newborn or adopted child,2 only 15% of U.S. men have access to paid paternity leave benefits, and of those new dads, most don't take their full time off.

Dear Future Dads | Advice for Future Dads

Experience the interactive Multichannel News Release here: https://www.multivu.com/players/English/8341551-dove-men-care-paternity-leave-fathers-day/

That's why this Father's Day, Dove Men+Care is launching a global campaign to champion paternity leave for dads. The brand is aiming to challenge stereotypes around men as caregivers and spark a cultural movement around paid paternity leave by:

Driving awareness around the issue through a council of advisors, partners and experts, coupled with new proprietary fatherhood research

Providing new dads with resources like the Dove Men+Care digital hub, which includes information and guidance for men considering taking paternity leave, the benefits of taking leave, advice from real dads who have taken leave, and how to approach and advocate for paternity leave at work

Encouraging our own employees to challenge stereotypes by taking their full paternity leave time off

Helping improve policies through corporate collaboration and partnerships

This initiative is important to Dove Men+Care because when men have access to, and utilize, paid time off to care for their families, they report many benefits. 87% feel more satisfied overall with their lives, and additional studies show that paternity leave also improves outcomes for children, and helps increase gender equity at home and at the workplace.

"Since we launched in 2010, Dove Men+Care has communicated that modern masculinity is defined by the way men care," said Nick Soukas, VP of Skin Cleansing & Baby Care for Unilever. "By supporting this important initiative, our goal is to increase utilization rates of paid paternity leave for those men who have access to it and encourage other companies to come together and offer men paid paternity leave so they can take the time to care for their families."

To further explore this critical issue impacting men, women, and their families, Dove Men+Care and Promundo-US partnered to carry out a pioneering study about what keeps fathers from taking paternity leave and being the fully involved caregivers they want to be. Our research found that fathers want to do their share of the caregiving; but limited societal expectations hold them back. 71% of dads agree there is little workplace support for fathers and one in five men stated they were afraid of losing their job if they took the full amount of paternity leave offered.

"The vast majority of dads today want to be completely involved in their children's lives from day one," said Josh Levs, author and leading paternity leave expert. "Yet the lack of paid paternity leave in the U.S., societal stigmas around taking leave, and fears of repercussions at work still prevent most working fathers from having time to stay home for caregiving. Dove Men+Care is hoping to change the conversation around this issue and showcase how paternity leave is critical for all: children, women, men, and families."

Crowdfunding Online Paid Family Leave Requests

As a result of the hardships many families face when taking unpaid time off work for the birth of a child, men and women are turning to new ways to support themselves during this important life moment  including online crowdfunding  and Dove Men+Care wants to help. To shine a light on the burden most families who don't have paid leave face, we've made one-time surprise contributions to 27 active crowdfunding paid family leave requests of real dads and their families across the country.

#DearFutureDads  Advice for Future Dads

To celebrate fatherhood and showcase the importance of taking the time to care, Dove Men+Care is also launching a new film called 'Dear Future Dads.' The film features a diverse group of dads sharing advice and personal anecdotes for current, expectant and new dads on why taking the time to care for their children is so important. Some of the moments captured in 'Dear Future Dads' include:

Bryce A.  a dad who shares that he wouldn't trade the time he took for paternity leave for anything in the world because the bond he developed in the first three months brought his family closer.

 a dad who shares that he wouldn't trade the time he took for paternity leave for anything in the world because the bond he developed in the first three months brought his family closer. Terrance C.  a first-time dad who was only afforded one week of paid paternity leave when his daughter was born but knew the importance of taking this time to bond with her as he didn't have a close relationship with his own dad.

 a first-time dad who was only afforded one week of paid paternity leave when his daughter was born but knew the importance of taking this time to bond with her as he didn't have a close relationship with his own dad. Marion V.  a dad who took a hiatus from his job as a college professor to focus on caring for his family when he and his partner welcomed two little girls into their lives.

The 'New Dad Care Package' Program

Dove Men+Care continues to demonstrate its commitment to dads from the very start of the fatherhood journey through the 'New Dad Care Package' hospital program, currently in its fourth year. The program equips dads with our skin, hair and deodorant products, as well as Baby Dove Tip to Toe wash, to ensure they have access to the basic personal care tools they need to take care of themselves and their new families during the busy and exciting time. To date, we've distributed 40,000 care packages to new dads through our extensive network of hospital partners, and plan to reach 20,000 new dads over the next year.

The Online Resource Hub

Visit DoveMenCare.com/PaternityLeave to learn more about the resources available to new dads. Join the #DearFutureDads conversation and share the importance of taking the time to care by tagging @DoveMenCare on Facebook, Instagram or Twitter.

About Dove Men+Care U.S.

Dove Men+Care is the first range of products from Dove developed specially for men. Manufactured by Unilever, the line includes the #1 dermatologist recommended bars and body washes in the U.S. Launched in 2010, the Dove Men+Care portfolio includes bars, body washes, face care, anti-perspirant/deodorants, and hair care. Dove Men+Care is available nationwide in food, drug, and mass outlet stores.

About Unilever United States, Inc.

Unilever is one of the world's leading suppliers of Beauty & Personal Care, Home Care, and Foods & Refreshment products with sales in over 190 countries and reaching 2.5 billion consumers a day. In the United States, the portfolio includes brand icons such as Axe, Ben & Jerry's, Breyers, Caress, Country Crock, Degree, Dollar Shave Club, Dove, Good Humor, Hellmann's, I Can't Believe It's Not Butter!, Klondike, Knorr, Lever 2000, Lipton, Love Beauty and Planet, Magnum, Nexxus, Noxzema, Pond's, Popsicle, Promise, Pure Leaf, Q-tips, Schmidt's Naturals, Seventh Generation, Simple, Sir Kensington's, St. Ives, Suave, Sundial Brands, Talenti Gelato & Sorbetto, TAZO, TIGI, TONI&GUY, TRESemme and Vaseline. All of the preceding brand names are trademarks or registered trademarks of the Unilever Group of Companies.

Unilever employs approximately 8,000 people in the United States  generating more than $9 billion in sales in 2017.

Unilever's Sustainable Living Plan underpins the company's strategy and commits to:

Helping more than a billion people take action to improve their health and well-being by 2020.

Halving the environmental impact of our products by 2030.

Enhancing the livelihoods of millions of people by 2020.

The USLP creates value by driving growth and trust, eliminating costs and reducing risks. Globally, the company's sustainable living brands are growing 50% faster than the rest of the business and delivered more than 60% of the company's growth in 2016.

For more information on Unilever U.S., its brands and the USLP visit: www.unileverusa.com

Contact:

Samantha Albright / Edelman

917.344.4656

[email protected]

1 Promundo, 2016 State of America's Fathers https://men-care.org/soaf/

2 "A Dad's Care: The Early Moments" Promundo-US & Dove Men+Care Study: May 2018

SOURCE Dove Men+Care
Deal Marks Largest Exit in Riverside's History

WACO, Texas, June 4, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Dwyer Franchising, LLC ("Dwyer Group"), one of the world's largest parent companies of home service brands, today announced it has been acquired by Harvest Partners, LP ("Harvest Partners" or "Harvest"), a New York-based private equity firm. The deal marks the fourth and largest private equity transaction of Dwyer Group in the franchise organization's history. Terms of the deal were not disclosed.

Dwyer Group, based in Waco, Texas, serves as the holding company for 20 service brands with a franchise network including more than 3,200 franchisees operating in the United States and eight other countries. The combined businesses offer residential and commercial customers with a community of professional services and account for approximately $1.7 billion in annual system-wide revenues.

Harvest Partners is an established middle-market private equity firm with a 35+ year history of investing in companies and partnering with high-quality management teams to support those businesses as they continue to grow to the next level.

"We are thrilled to partner with the Dwyer Group management team. They have built an excellent company and we look forward to providing additional financial and strategic resources to help them further build on their market leader status in the service franchise category," said Steve Eisenstein, Partner at Harvest Partners.

Harvest's purchase transfers majority ownership of Dwyer Group from The Riverside Company, a global investment firm that invested in Dwyer Group two separate times  taking the company private in 2003 and reacquiring the company in 2014.

"Dwyer Group is such a special company that we enjoyed two successful partnerships with them," said Riverside Partner Meranee Phing. "It's been deeply rewarding to work with a wonderful and talented team that shared our goals and values as we realized our vision for the company."

With each private equity transaction, Dwyer Group has expanded exponentially through add-on acquisitions of complementary franchise service brands and the organic growth of its existing service brands. In recent years, the company has expanded its franchisee-support structure significantly by adding 35% more corporate associates and new facilities at headquarters in the U.S. and Europe. During this time, Dwyer Group tripled in enterprise value and launched the overarching Neighborly brand to unify and market a growing roster of service brands that provide a seamless one-stop shop for consumers' home service needs.

"The incredible support of Riverside, the skill and resources of our team, and the successful completion of 11 add-on acquisitions to Dwyer Group during this second investment have dramatically shaped the trajectory of our growth. We intend to build on our dominant position as a leader in home services helping people repair, maintain and enhance their homes and properties," said Mike Bidwell, President and CEO of Dwyer Group. "We are in the strongest fiscal position with the largest global reach in our company's history. And Harvest brings capital, experience and enthusiasm to support our ambitions for continued growth."

About Harvest Partners:

Founded in 1981, Harvest Partners is a leading New York-based private equity investment firm pursuing management buyouts and recapitalizations of middle market companies in North America. Harvest focuses on acquiring profitable companies in the business services and consumer, healthcare services, industrial services, and manufacturing and distribution sectors. This strategy leverages Harvest Partners' more than 35 years of experience in financing organic and acquisition-oriented growth companies. For more information, please visit their website at www.harvestpartners.com.

About The Riverside Company:

The Riverside Company is a global private equity firm focused on making control and non-control investments in growing businesses valued at up to $400 million. Since its founding in 1988, Riverside has invested in more than 530 transactions. The firm's international portfolio includes more than 80 companies.

About Dwyer Group:

Founded in 1981 and based in Waco, Texas, Dwyer Group is a holding company of 20 service brands and supports franchise organizations under the umbrella brand Neighborly in the United States and Neighbourly in Canada. Neighborly is a community of experts who repair, maintain and enhance properties united under one platform to better meet the needs of today's consumer. Collectively, these concepts offer customers a broad base of residential and commercial services. More information about Neighborly/Neighbourly, and its franchise concepts, is available at www.getneighborly.com and www.getneighbourly.ca, respectively. Learn more about Dwyer Group at www.dwyergroup.com.

SOURCE Dwyer Group, Inc.

Related Links

http://www.dwyergroup.com


DALLAS, June 4, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Eclipse has announced the formation of its Medical and Scientific Advisory Board (M&SAB) for 2018. This prestigious group is made up of four highly respected physicians and key opinion leaders in addition to our new President of Regenerative Medicine. Together this board will provide expertise in both clinical and scientific research that will help further establish Eclipse as the leader in a rapidly expanding regenerative market.

"The field of regenerative medicine is the foundation and future of medicine and Eclipse has emerged as one of the leaders. We are very honored to announce the Eclipse Advisory Board members." stated Tom O'Brien, CEO of Eclipse.

The 2018 Eclipse M&SAB includes:

Dr. Sanjay Batra obtained his PhD in physiology from the University of Ottawa, Canada and completed post-doctoral training in Japan and Switzerland. He is a Fellow of the American College of Cardiology. Prior to joining Eclipse as the President of Regenerative Medicine, Dr. Batra accepted an associate professor faculty position at the Institute for Regenerative Medicine at Wake Forest School of Medicine.

Dr. Wilma Bergfeld, MD, is Emeritus Director, and past Director and Co-Director of Dermatopathology in the Department of Dermatology, Cleveland Clinic. Dr. Bergfeld is a former chair and currently consultant to the FDA Dermatology and Ophthalmology Advisory Committee (1972-current) and a consultant to the Device advisory committee. In 1992 she served as President of The American Academy of Dermatology. She is also a past President of the Women's Dermatological Society.

Dr. Steve Dayan, MD is a Facial Plastic Surgeon who is board certified by both the American Board of Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery and the American Board of OtolaryngologyHead and Neck Surgery. Dr. Dayan is a member of ASAPS, AAFPRS, ASDS and serves on the editorial board of Archives of Facial Plastic Surgery, Aesthetic Surgery Journal ASJ (the official journal for ASAPS), Facial Plastic Surgery and Cosmetic Dermatology.

Dr. Neil Sadick, MD holds four board certifications: Dermatology, Internal Medicine, Cosmetic Surgery, and Hair Restoration. He is also a Fellow of the American College of Phlebology. Dr. Sadick's prestigious list of titles range from Clinical Professor Dermatology at Weill Cornell Medical College to Immediate Past President of the American Academy of Cosmetic Surgery (AACS). He is the author or co-author of over 500 articles in peer-reviewed scientific journals.

Dr. Gordon Sasaki, MD is a board-certified member of the American Society of Plastic Surgeons, American Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgery. Dr. Sasaki has published over 60 peer-reviewed papers in established journals, 54 chapters in recognized textbooks, and authored two plastic surgical books and five booklets. As a nationally-recognized innovator, educator and clinician in plastic surgery, Dr. Sasaki is on the Editorial Board as an Associate Editor of the Journal of Cosmetic and Laser Surgery.

Tom O'Brien remarked, "After a record sales year in 2017, which we are now on pace to break in 2018, our goal is to drill deeper on the science and create more understanding about the mechanisms behind the successful outcomes we are seeing with our products in clinics around the world. This medical and scientific advisory board is comprised of the brightest minds and leaders in our industry. Our hope is to partner with this group to help patients achieve their desired outcomes and create success amongst our physician customers."

About Eclipse MedCorp, LLC

Eclipse was established in January 1993 as a specialty surgical supply company. It quickly became one of the pioneers in the aesthetic market launching several energy-based devices into the United States. Over 20 years later, Eclipse has become one of the largest and most successful privately held medical device companies in its space with a global presence as one of the leaders in Platelet-rich Plasma, Microneedling and Shockwave technology. Our brands, Eclipse PRP, Eclipse Micropen and Eclipse eVIVE are recognized as best-in-class by medical professionals worldwide. Our mission is to provide simple and profitable technologies to physicians that deliver results that exceed patient expectations. Visit our website to learn more about our company and products http://eclipsemed.com/about.

Media Contact

Julie Summerville

Director of Product Development

Eclipse MedCorp, LLC

[email protected]

(800) 759-6876

SOURCE Eclipse

Related Links

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SAN FRANCISCO, June 4, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Hotwire, a leading online travel site, today announced its biggest sale of the year, addressing the travel woes of millions this Fourth of July, which for the first time in six years inconveniently falls on a Wednesday. The Hotwire Effect XL Sale gives travelers the ultimate freedom to book participating 4 or 5-star hotels the weekend before, during, or the weekend after the Fourth of July holiday for a set price of just $49 per night -- an average savings of $157 each night.

"At Hotwire, we know how much everyone looks forward to celebrating America's independence with family and friends on the Fourth of July - me included! Since the 4th falls mid-week this year, it's harder for people to find the time to get away with family and friends, so we are super excited to give everyone the freedom to travel around the Fourth of July with our biggest sale of the year: The Hotwire Effect XL," commented Hotwire President Neha Parikh. "With this sale, travelers will be able to experience luxury hotels in America's hottest destinations for just $49 per night and they will have the freedom to travel the weekend before, during or the weekend after the Fourth of July!"

The Hotwire Effect XL Sale gives travelers the opportunity to choose travel dates between June 28 to July 8, making an extra long weekend possible or even a short "staycation" if taking more time off of work isn't an option. During this time, travelers can book 4 and 5-star hotel properties in eight of America's most-traveled Fourth of July destinations according to Hotwire 2017 booking data. The Hotwire Effect XL Sale cities where travelers can find $49 per night values are:

Austin (vs. average $179 /night)

(vs. average /night) Chicago (vs. average $169 /night)

(vs. average /night) Los Angeles (vs. average $179 /night)

(vs. average /night) Miami (vs. average $139 /night)

(vs. average /night) New York (vs. average $167 /night)

(vs. average /night) Orlando (vs. average $140 /night)

(vs. average /night) San Francisco (vs. average $189 /night)

(vs. average /night) Washington D.C. (vs. average $133 /night)

"Offering luxury 4 and 5-star hotels for just $49 is truly an incredible deal which won't last long, so travelers need to act fast to feel the Hotwire Effect," continued Parikh, who noted that the booking window begins on June 26 and remains while supplies last. The fixed $49 per night fare applies to the first two nights of travel in the June 28-July 8 timeframe.

The sale epitomizes Hotwire's simple, yet powerful value proposition: by hiding the name of the hotel until after booking, Hotwire allows customers to find 4-star hotels at 2-star prices. In this same spirit, earlier this month the brand launched its latest advertising campaign, "The Hotwire Effect." The campaign is aimed at reinforcing the brand's distinct ability to unlock the kind of deep value travelers will discover this Fourth of July holiday. The series of three spots features Hotwire's signature jingle and fun travel scenarios where high hotel prices are slashed while a giant finger masks the hotel name. The three 15-second commercial spots appear on NBC, ABC, Comedy Central, ESPN, CBS and HGTV, and can also be viewed online at www.youtube.com/user/HotwireTravel.

For more information on The Hotwire Effect XL Sale, or to book a 4-star hotel at 2-star prices, visit www.hotwire.com/xlsale.

About Hotwire

Hotwire is a leading discount travel site. Launched in 2000, Hotwire, Inc. was one of the first online travel sites to work with suppliers directly to book unsold inventory. By simply hiding the brand name, Hotwire can offer customers deep savings on hotel rooms, rental cars, flights and vacation packages. Hotwire is an operating company within Expedia Group. For more information, visit http://www.hotwire.com.

 2018 Hotwire, Inc. All rights reserved. Hotwire and the Hotwire logo are trademarks of Hotwire, Inc. CST# 2053390-40.

Media Contacts

Vannyda Thach

Citizen Relations for Hotwire

[email protected]

(949) 809-6730

Geena Marcella

Hotwire

[email protected]

(206) 481-1054

SOURCE Hotwire

Related Links

http://www.hotwire.com


SAN RAMON, Calif., June 4, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Desk jobs can be deceivingly bad for health. While staying off the feet can give the illusion of relaxation, sitting all day can tax the body in other ways. What experts call the sitting disease can lead to a shorter life. Office workers may also experience aches and pains and eye strain from their working conditions. Financial Education Benefits Center (FEBC), a membership benefits company offering health and financial wellness benefits, encourages office workers to be proactive about their health.

Credit: Wavebreak Media Ltd/Bigstock

"Desk jobs can be great for those who can't handle a labor-intensive job, but they come with their own dangers," said Jennifer Martinez, manager at FEBC. "Small things add up and you might find one day that your joints hurt or your back or neck aches. It's best to take action before that happens."

Office workers often lead very sedentary lives, and it's not uncommon for such workers to sit all day at work and go home just to sit in front of the television or a computer screen. This sitting disease can even cancel out the good effects of regular exercise. However, office workers can do a few things to try to stay healthy, such as taking regular breaks, setting up their desk ergonomically to reduce joint aches or requesting a standing desk. Additionally, an after-lunch walk can help break up the day and prevent the afternoon slump.

Prolonged screen usage can pose other problems. Eye strain can cause headaches, drowsiness and difficulty focusing. Computer glasses that counter blue light can help with that, but office workers should also take screen breaks by looking at something far away every 20 minutes or so. Screen time can be limited by getting up and walking over to co-workers when questions or issues come up rather than using a chat program.

FEBC also offers a variety of benefits that can help office workers in their pursuit for health and wellness. From access to certified medical professionals to fitness and vision discounts, members may find the support they need to establish healthy habits in a typically sedentary environment.

"When your job requires you to sit in front of a computer all day, it can be hard to do anything else," said Martinez. "But doing small things throughout the day can really help. We hope that our benefits can supplement those small things and help our members establish good habits for an overall healthy lifestyle."

About Financial Education Benefits Center

Financial Education Benefits Center is located in San Ramon, California. The membership company has already helped thousands save money and obtain the necessary education required to live a financially healthy life.

Financial Education Benefits Center has partnered with several name brand third-party companies to expand the financial and educational products and services available to its members and to provide a variety of wellness services as well.

Financial Education Benefits Center Newsroom

Contact

To learn more about Financial Education Benefits Center, please contact:

Financial Education Benefits Center

2010 Crow Canyon Place Ste. 100

San Ramon, CA 94583

1-800-953-1388

[email protected]

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Small Habits to Increase Office Worker Health

Credit: Wavebreak Media Ltd/Bigstock

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SOURCE Financial Education Benefits Center
Overall, UCI will grant nearly 9,800 undergraduate and graduate degrees this academic year. And in a testament to the school's commitment to access and affordability, 50 percent of bachelor's degrees (4,305) will be awarded to first-generation college students  the second year in a row that half are first-gen. This high percentage of traditionally underserved students is one reason why UCI has twice earned the top spot in a New York Times ranking of universities that do the most in helping students achieve the American dream.

"This graduating class continues to highlight how well UCI serves the people of our state by offering a world-class education to our best and brightest students, regardless of their financial circumstances, and acting as a powerful engine of upward economic mobility," said Chancellor Howard Gillman.

The graduation data also validates UCI's status as a Hispanic-serving institution, a federal designation awarded to universities where at least 25 percent of undergraduates identify as Latino and at least half of all students get financial aid. UCI remains a popular choice for California's Latino high school graduates, receiving more fall 2018 applications from them than any other UC campus.

This year, UCI will grant bachelor's degrees to over 2,000 Latino students (2,014), almost double the number awarded five years ago (1,034) and more than triple the total 10 years ago (637).

Graduates will also benefit from the high value of a UCI education. According to Forbes' 2018 ranking of America's best-value colleges, the campus is No. 4 for delivering "the best bang for the tuition buck based on tuition costs, school quality, postgrad earnings, student debt and graduation success"  and is No. 2 for having the most success with upward mobility.

A schedule of graduation ceremonies, including cultural celebrations, is available on the UCI commencement website. Diplomas will be awarded at 11 ceremonies over four days, with the following breakdown:

Bachelor's degrees: 8,616, with social sciences accounting for more than 25 percent

Master's degrees: 687, with the highest numbers in education (168) and engineering (167)

Law degrees: 115 (commencement was May 12 )

) Doctoral degrees: 335 (including 95 M .D.s honored June 2 )

.D.s honored ) Community college transfer students receiving bachelor's degrees: 2,536

Federal Pell Grant recipients receiving bachelor's degrees: 3,284

Here are the stories of three outstanding graduates:

Four years ago, Skyler Phamle came to the United States from Vietnam speaking almost no English. This month, she'll graduate from UCI with a bachelor's degree in psychology & social behavior. As a girl in Saigon , Phamle heard her parents speak occasionally of her mother's siblings. They had perished one by one on perilous boat journeys to America after the city fell to the North Vietnamese. "Most of my aunts' and uncles' bodies were lost in the ocean," says Phamle, now 25. Her parents saved money for years to bring her and her older brother to the U.S. Now she wants to repay their hard work and help other impoverished international students navigate university life. This fall, she'll begin earning an M.S. in counseling (with a student development in higher education option) at California State University, Long Beach . A Santa Ana College mentor convinced Phamle that she could attend a four-year college. UCI provided scholarships and other support. "I want to thank UCI," she says. "Over there [in Vietnam ], if you don't have money, you can't do things. Here, if you have the skills and you have the knowledge, even if you're broke, you can make it."

came to from speaking almost no English. This month, she'll graduate from UCI with a bachelor's degree in psychology & social behavior. As a girl in , Phamle heard her parents speak occasionally of her mother's siblings. They had perished one by one on perilous boat journeys to America after the city fell to the North Vietnamese. "Most of my aunts' and uncles' bodies were lost in the ocean," says Phamle, now 25. Her parents saved money for years to bring her and her older brother to the U.S. Now she wants to repay their hard work and help other impoverished international students navigate university life. This fall, she'll begin earning an M.S. in counseling (with a student development in higher education option) at . A mentor convinced Phamle that she could attend a four-year college. UCI provided scholarships and other support. "I want to thank UCI," she says. "Over there [in ], if you don't have money, you can't do things. Here, if you have the skills and you have the knowledge, even if you're broke, you can make it." It all started with a middle school tour of UCI. When it came time to apply for college, Yessenia Lemus remembered the beautiful setting and vibrant students she had seen that day. Although she'd be the first in her family to go to college, and Irvine was very different both geographically and culturally from her Compton neighborhood, Lemus knew she'd excel. The campus environment inspired her to expand her intellectual boundaries and pursue a double major in business administration and sociology. Lemus also worked as an intern at Kingston Technology. After graduation, she'll spend a year gaining additional real-world experience through work and travel before applying to MBA programs. But no matter where in the world she goes, Lemus says, "UCI was the birthplace of my adult development and lifelong friendships, so it will always have a special place in my mind and heart."

remembered the beautiful setting and vibrant students she had seen that day. Although she'd be the first in her family to go to college, and was very different both geographically and culturally from her neighborhood, Lemus knew she'd excel. The campus environment inspired her to expand her intellectual boundaries and pursue a double major in business administration and sociology. Lemus also worked as an intern at Kingston Technology. After graduation, she'll spend a year gaining additional real-world experience through work and travel before applying to MBA programs. But no matter where in the world she goes, Lemus says, "UCI was the birthplace of my adult development and lifelong friendships, so it will always have a special place in my mind and heart." An unfavorable encounter with organic chemistry forced Philip Terry Chen to rethink his career aspirations. Instead of studying to be a physician who would treat individual patients, the Hacienda Heights resident decided to major in public health policy and treat entire communities. After earning his bachelor's degree at UCI in 2014, the first-generation college grad headed to Oakland for a stint with AmeriCorps, during which he developed an after-school academic program in gardening and cooking for at-risk youth. Chen also taught the students how to make sculptures from cardboard, a skill he still uses to craft "Star Wars" Stormtrooper helmets, light sabers and other movie props. In 2016, he returned to UCI for a Master of Public Health. After graduation, Chen hopes to find work protecting blue-collar employees from dangerous chemicals and other job hazards.

About the University of California, Irvine: Founded in 1965, UCI is the youngest member of the prestigious Association of American Universities. The campus has produced three Nobel laureates and is known for its academic achievement, premier research, innovation and anteater mascot. Led by Chancellor Howard Gillman, UCI has more than 30,000 students and offers 192 degree programs. It's located in one of the world's safest and most economically vibrant communities and is Orange County's second-largest employer, contributing $5 billion annually to the local economy. For more on UCI, visit www.uci.edu.

Contact: Pat Harriman

949-824-9055

[email protected]

SOURCE University of California, Irvine

Related Links

http://www.ucihealth.com


AUSTIN, Texas, June 4, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Today, officials at FirstCare Health Plans announced another successful year supporting the Austin and Lubbock United Way Organizationsraising over twenty-five thousand dollars, combined, in employee and corporate matching contributions for the charities in 2017.

Top: FirstCare President and CEO Darnell Dent (right) and United Way for Greater Austin Development Officer Terry Floor at FirstCares corporate headquarters Bottom: (Pictured left to right) Lubbock Area United Way President/CEO Glenn Chocran, FirstCare Key Account Executive Jessica Jolly, FirstCare Human Resources Manager Stephanie Young, and Lubbock Area United Way VP of Annual Campaigns Lynn Owens

"FirstCare employees take great pride in being a part of the communities we serve," said FirstCare President/CEO Darnell Dent. "One of our core beliefs, as a company, is that all Texans and our communities should be healthyand the United Way helps us support that belief by providing resources to Texans in need. And, as we saw with a number of large-scale events in Texas over the past year, when we can extend our support to the United Way, we're standing behind our belief structure and corporate mission."

This year, FirstCare's offices in Lubbock and the corporate headquarters in Austin teamed up to raise these fundssurpassing internal goals while continuing to contribute to an organization helping their communities, as well as the rest of Texas.

"I'm proud of our employees' efforts for this cause," said Dent. "This bond and sense of community sets FirstCare apart from other health plans in Texas. We are here, we are a part of the community and we're already looking forward to how we can continue contributing throughout the remainder of 2018 and beyond."

About FirstCare Health Plans

Our mission is to provide access to high quality, affordable health care through strong partnerships in the communities we serve. Since 1985, we've been serving the health care needs of members across North, West, and Central Texas. Today, our service area includes 143 counties, with local offices in Abilene, Amarillo, Lubbock, and corporate offices in Austin, Texas. We offer a wide range of HMO, PPO, HSA, and ASO products through a variety of programs, including small and large employer plans; state, federal and teacher plans; government programs; and the Health Insurance Marketplace. With the support of our owners, Covenant Health in Lubbock and Hendrick Health System in Abilene, we serve over 165,000 members. For more information, please visit FirstCare.com.

SOURCE FirstCare Health Plans

Related Links

http://www.firstcare.com


She has represented clients involved a varied range of technologies including medical methods and devices (spinal fusion and atrial fibrillation devices), computer software (antivirus and encryption), computer hardware (laptops, handheld devices and computer mice) and consumer products. She also has substantial experience in trade secret disputes and has litigated copyright, trademark, Internet, and false advertising matters in courts across the nation.

Bandyopadhyay has effectively tried and managed complex, technology-related matters through all phases of litigation, successfully obtaining patent-invalidity verdicts and jury verdicts in the millions while also recovering millions of dollars in damages awards and settlements for clients.

"Esha's extensive background in multiple technologies, combined with her winning litigation record, further strengthens our position as the market leader in IP litigation," said Kurt Glitzenstein, Fish's Litigation Practice Group Leader. "We are pleased and honored that she chose to join the Fish team."

Bandyopadhyay most recently was a partner at Winston & Strawn. She was formerly a partner at Kirkland & Ellis.

Bandyopadhyay's patent case successes in federal district courts and the International Trade Commission have landed her in the Northern California "Super Lawyers" publication every year since 2007. She was also recently named to the Silicon Valley Business Journal's 2018 Women of Influence list and a Woman of Achievement by Legal Momentum, a national nonprofit seeking justice for women and girls by advancing equity in education, the workplace and courts.

She is highly active in Bay Area professional organizations advancing and connecting women and minorities in both technology and law, including the Silicon Valley IP Lawyers Association, Women's IP Lawyers Association, National Asian Pacific American Bar Association, South Asian Bar Association and ChIPs. Recently, she was appointed to the Board of Directors of Legal Momentum.

Bandyopadhyay also devotes her time to various area nonprofits, serving on the Board of Directors of World Arts West  an organization promoting world dance and music  and on the St. Francis Foundation's Host Committee, which provides philanthropic support to Saint Francis Memorial Hospital. She is the Social Media Chair for the Golden Gate Mothers Group, an organization for Bay Area moms, run by Bay Area moms.

At just 18 years old, Bandyopadhyay received her B.A. in economics from University of California, San Diego in 1996  becoming the youngest graduate in the university's history. She went on to receive her J.D. from University of California, Berkeley School of Law in 2000.

Fish & Richardson is a global intellectual property firm offering patent prosecution, counseling, and litigation; trademark and copyright prosecution, counseling, and litigation; and commercial litigation services. Established in 1878, and now with more than 400 attorneys and technology specialists in the U.S. and Europe, our success is rooted in our creative and inclusive culture, which values the diversity of people, experiences, and perspectives. Fish is the No. 1 ranked U.S. patent litigation firm, handling nearly three times as many cases as our nearest competitor; a powerhouse patent and trademark prosecution firm; a top-tier trademark and copyright litigation firm; and the most-active firm at the Patent Trial and Appeal Board. Fish continues to win cases worth billions in controversy  often by making new law  for the world's most innovative and influential technology leaders. For more information, visit fr.com or follow us at @FishRichardson.









Contact: Teresa Warren or Kelly Largey

TW2 Marketing

Fish & Richardson

619-301-1814

800-818-5070

[email protected]

[email protected]

SOURCE Fish & Richardson

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AUSTIN, Texas, June 4, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Global cybersecurity leader Forcepoint today announced Kevin Isaac has been appointed as Chief Revenue Officer (CRO), expanding on the company's commitment to drive a human-centric security approach across the globe. Based in Reading, UK, he will report to CEO Matthew Moynahan as a member of the company's executive leadership team.

"As the threat landscape grows in sophistication, the human-centric approach to cybersecurity presents a more effective way of protecting user identities and preventing data exfiltration," said Moynahan. "Kevin has the vital experience, strategic mindset and passion to support our customers and partners in their efforts to accelerate the digital enterprise, achieve mission success and secure critical infrastructure."

A 30-year technology industry veteran, Isaac joined Forcepoint in August 2017 as vice president of sales for EMEA. In this role, he achieved outstanding business growth in the region and established a strong and dynamic EMEA sales leadership team. As CRO, Isaac will build on his previous success to lead Forcepoint's global sales and channel organization, supporting customers and partners in deployment of human-centric security systems that will protect employees, critical business data and intellectual property in any environment. Prior to Forcepoint, Isaac spent more than 15 years in international leadership roles at Symantec, where he was instrumental in repositioning the company as a transformational security player.

"Since joining the company in August, I've spoken with hundreds of customers and partners and it has been exciting to see the human-centric cybersecurity approach resonate so strongly across both enterprises and government agencies," said Isaac. "I look forward to accelerating Forcepoint's business momentum with our best-in-class global sales and channel team delivering the Human Point System portfolio."

About Forcepoint

Forcepoint is the global human-centric cybersecurity company transforming the digital enterprise by continuously adapting security response to the dynamic risk posed by individual users and machines. The Forcepoint Human Point system delivers Risk-Adaptive Protection to continuously ensure trusted use of data and systems. Based in Austin, Texas, Forcepoint protects the human point for thousands of enterprise and government customers in more than 150 countries. www.forcepoint.com

Join Forcepoint on Social Media

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/forcepoint

Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/forcepointsec

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

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/forcepoint

Media Contact

Rachael Lyon

[email protected]

512-664-1724

SOURCE Forcepoint

Related Links

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LAS VEGAS, June 4, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Gaming Arts, LLC ("Gaming Arts" or "the Company") announced a distribution agreement with Bet Rite Inc. ("Bet Rite"), a Canadian gaming supplier and distributor registered in every Canadian province, to offer the Company's transformational bingo and keno games and technology solutions to the Canadian lottery corporations.

Mike Dreitzer, Gaming Arts President said, "The Bet Rite team has established strong and trusted relationships with Canada's gaming operators. We look forward to leveraging those partnerships to penetrate the Canada market with our entertaining suite of end-to-end bingo and keno solutions, including our new SuperBingo suite of electronic gaming machines."

Bet Rite President Billy MacLellan said, "We look forward to adding Gaming Arts' innovative keno and bingo solutions to our portfolio and to working with Mike Dreitzer and the team. Gaming Arts has many products in their extensive offering that will help operators in Canada even further delight players and drive revenues that will benefit Canada's health, education, and community programs."

Gaming Arts and Bet Rite will unveil their partnership at the Canadian Gaming Summit June 18-20 in Niagara Falls, Ontario. A host of Gaming Arts' cutting-edge solutions will be on display in Bet Rite's Booth No. 200.

Among the Gaming Arts products that will be available in Canada through Bet Rite:

SuperBingo Slots  Groundbreaking Video Content & Sleek Design

SuperBingo Slots deliver powerful and entertaining game mechanics and player-favorite features, including: frequently hitting bonuses and wins, multipliers, free games with retriggers, four-level progressives, multi-game options, bonus balls, wheel bonuses, and flexible configuration for individual and floor-wide progressives. Each game in the library is highly differentiated in terms of game theme, content, and game mechanics, giving players unique experiences to heighten anticipation and excitement.

Featured on the Phocus upright and slant cabinets and crowned by the new Top Phocus slot toppers, SuperBingo Slots are distinguished by a unique spherical design to draw players from across the gaming floor. Gaming Arts' games and cabinets are so unique they have been granted numerous patents by the United States Patent and Trademark Office.

SuperPROMO Mobile Games Add Floor-wide Excitement, Offer Second-Chance-to-Win

SuperPROMO, designed for gaming floors, is a suite of four highly customizable mobile games which can be awarded to targeted players for promotional opportunities such as weekly drawings, hot-seat drawings, table-game promotions, or to incentivize player's club sign-ups and payroll check cashing. Gaming Arts' SuperPROMO games are delivered to players by casino personnel on a mobile tablet and promoted across a casino's digital enterprise to deliver an exciting and interactive social experience for the entire casino floor. With no disruption in game play, these engaging games offer players an additional chance to win through touch-activated wheel spins, match-and-win, pick-and-win, and scratch-and-win options.

SuperGames Offer Life-changing Jackpots to Increase Play

Gaming Arts' SuperGames suite is based on a simple concept: offer your players "life-changing jackpots" to increase attendance, player spend, and operational profitability. Gaming Arts funds the jackpots, reducing the overall liability for bingo operators; there is no risk and countless rewards through an endless selection of custom games with prizes from $5,000 to $1,000,000.

Bingo Millions Deliver Linked Bingo Progressive and $1 Million Top Award

Gaming Arts offers the world's first and only $1 million linked bingo progressive and $1 million bingo games, all at no risk to the operator. With Bingo Millions, Gaming Arts pays the top progressive award to help drive play and excitement across any bingo environment.

EZ Kiosk  World's First and Only Freestanding and Fully Automated Keno Kiosk

Gaming Arts' EZ Kiosk is the only freestanding, self-service kiosk that enables players to purchase and redeem keno or bingo tickets for up to 16 different games. This unique experience offers quick-pick betting, side-bet games, customizable bet amounts, and extensive game options.

Optima System Game-Management System Offers Powerful Mobile, Self-Service, and Reporting

Gaming Arts offers the world's most popular and robust keno game management system. This sophisticated, and easy-to-deploy system uses the latest technologies for managing any kind of "numbers-game" such as keno, bingo, and lottery across multiple locations. The system also offers progressive jackpots that can be shared by multiple wide-area servers and terminals.

About Gaming Arts

Gaming Arts, LLC, a privately owned and operated business headquartered in Las Vegas, Nevada, is the world leader in bingo and keno games and technology and is now entering the electronic gaming machine market with some of the world's most innovative slot games. Gaming Arts holds gaming licenses in approximately 80 jurisdictions, and its games and systems are installed in hundreds of casinos and bingo halls across the United States, the Pacific Rim, and South Africa. To learn more, visit www.gamingarts.com or call 702.818.8943.

About Bet Rite Inc.

Bet Rite Inc., Canada's gaming supplier, is solely focused on bringing world-class gaming products and services to the Canadian casino market. Founded in 2009, Bet Rite management has over 40 years of Canadian gaming experience. Bet Rite is a registered gaming vendor in every province across Canada. For more information, visit www.betrite.ca or call 506.870.8290.

Media Contacts

Gaming Arts:

Mike Dreitzer, President

702.818.8943 or [email protected]

Bet Rite:

Billy MacLellan, President

506.870.8290 or [email protected]

SOURCE Gaming Arts, LLC

Related Links

http://www.gamingarts.com


PUNE, India, June 4, 2018 /PRNewswire/ --

According to a new market research report "Gas Insulated Transformer Market by Type (Instrument Transformer, Others), Voltage (Medium Voltage, High Voltage, Extra High Voltage), Installation (Outdoor, Indoor), End-User (Utility, Industrial, Commercial), and Region - Global Forecast to 2023", published by MarketsandMarkets, the market is expected to grow from USD 2.75 Billion in 2018 to USD 3.45 Billion by 2023, at a CAGR of 4.61% between 2018 and 2023. The market is set to witness growth due to factors such as no risk of oil leakage and space constraints in densely populated urban areas. Also, government initiatives toward improving electrification rate and rising transmission & distribution investments are further expected to drive the Gas Insulated Transformer Market.

(Logo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/660509/MarketsandMarkets_Logo.jpg )



Browse 69 Tables and 43 Figures spread through 138 Pages and in-depth TOC on "Gas Insulated Transformer Market"

https://www.marketsandmarkets.com/Market-Reports/gas-insulated-transformer-market-175735946.html

Early buyers will receive 10% customization on this report

Utility segment to hold largest share of Gas Insulated Transformer Market during forecast period

The utility segment is expected to hold the largest share of the Gas Insulated Transformer Market during the forecast period. Power utilities are major suppliers of electricity to factories, commercial establishments, and homes. The projected growth of the market for this segment market during the forecast period is attributed to the growing demand for reliable power supply and rise in urbanization that has led to increasing investments in the power infrastructure. This is expected to lead to the development of transmission and distribution infrastructure, which, in turn, will increase the demand for gas insulated substations and installation of gas insulated transformers.

Ask for PDF Brochure @ https://www.marketsandmarkets.com/pdfdownload.asp?id=175735946

Gas Insulated Transformer Market for indoor installation to grow at higher CAGR during forecast period

The market for the indoor installation is expected to grow at the higher CAGR during the forecast period. Gas insulated transformers are non-flammable, non-explosive, and have compact design which makes them ideal preference for installations in underground and indoor substations in urban areas. The increase in renewable power generation, combined with the demand for reliable power sources, and the rise in urbanization support the growth of the market for indoor installation of gas insulated transformers.

Instrument transformers to hold largest share of Gas Insulated Transformer Market during forecast period.

The instrument transformers are expected to dominate the Gas Insulated Transformer Market with the largest size and the highest CAGR during the forecast period. Instrument transformers are electrical machines that use the electromagnetic properties of alternating currents and ferromagnetic materials to produce voltage and current at different levels from those received as input. They are mainly used for measuring, protecting, and controlling circuits in substations and switchyards. The growth of the market for instrument transformers is attributed to the refurbishment of aging power infrastructure and huge investments in smart grids and energy systems.

Asia Pacific: Key market for Gas Insulated Transformer Market during the forecast period.

In this report, the Gas Insulated Transformer Market has been analyzed with respect to four regions Asia Pacific, North America, Europe, and Rest of the World. Rest of the World includes regions such as South America, and the Middle East and Africa. Asia Pacific is expected to account for the largest share of the global Gas Insulated Transformer Market by 2018, and this trend is projected to continue till 2023. Almost all the countries in the region are augmenting their power generation capacities. India, China, and Indonesia are investing heavily in renewable electricity generation projects, thereby driving the growth of the Gas Insulated Transformer Market in Asia Pacific.

To provide in-depth analysis of the competitive landscape, the report includes the profiles of some of the key players in the Gas Insulated Transformer Market, which include ABB (Switzerland), GE (US), Mitsubishi Electric (Japan), Siemens (Germany), Toshiba (Japan), and Arteche (Spain).

Know more about the Gas Insulated Transformer Market:

https://www.marketsandmarkets.com/Market-Reports/gas-insulated-transformer-market-175735946.html

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, "Knowledge Store" 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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MarketsandMarkets INC.

630 Dundee Road

Suite 430

Northbrook, IL 60062

USA: +1-888-600-6441

Email: [email protected]



Visit Our Blog: http://www.marketsandmarketsblog.com/market-reports/energy-and-power

Connect with us on LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/company/marketsandmarkets

SOURCE MarketsandMarkets
LANDOVER, Md., June 4, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Giant Food today announced a $2 million donation to the 1,564 public and private schools in Maryland, Virginia, Washington, D.C. and Delaware that participated in its 2017-2018 A+ School Rewards program. Through the program, purchases made by Giant customers provide funding to area schools. This year, 14 schools received more than $10,000 each. Since the launch of A+ School Rewards in 1989, Giant Food has donated more than $96 million to local schools.

"For nearly 30 years, the A+ School Rewards program has been something the Giant Food team looks forward to every year," said Gordon Reid, President of Giant Food. "We are proud to partner with our local communities and schools to support the needs of students through this consistently successful program."

At the beginning of the program each fall, Giant Food customers can register and designate up to two local schools to benefit from their grocery purchases. A+ School Rewards points accrue with each grocery purchase made using a Giant Food Card which are then credited to the designated schools.

The program is open to all and customers do not need to have a child enrolled in a local school to participate, allowing for customers to support schools of friends and family members. Schools are able to allocate their A+ School Rewards earning funds however they choose. In previous years, schools have used their funds for scholarships, technology, various programs, field trips, playgrounds, and additional educational needs that further support students' educational experience.

Mater Dei School in Bethesda, Maryland received $27,917.16 as a result of this year's program.

"We'd like to thank Giant and the A+ Rewards Program for their generous gift to Mater Dei School," said William G. McMurtrie, Headmaster at Mater Dei School. "The gift will make a tremendous impact on improving the technology that our students use every day, whether it is Smart Boards, desktop computers or mobile laptops."

The top 10 schools receiving the largest awards from the 2017-2018 A+ School Rewards program are:

School

Amount Mater Dei School Inc.

$27,917.16 Bodkin Elementary School

$15,974.57 McLean High School

$15,568.22 Folger McKinsey Elementary School

$14,926.84 Winston Churchill Senior High School

$12,847.84 Herbert Hoover Middle School

$12,287.67 Cantonsville Middle School

$12,254.34 Huntingtown High School

$11,982.39 Severna Park Senior High School

$11,919.24 Langley High School

$10,779.38

To learn more about A+ School Rewards and for a complete list of participating schools, please visit www.GiantFood.com/aplus.

About Giant Food

Giant Food of Landover, Md. is committed to helping its customers save time, save money and eat well. Headquartered in Landover, Md., Giant operates 166 supermarkets in Virginia, Maryland, Delaware, and the District of Columbia, and employs approximately 20,000 associates. Included within the 166 stores are 156 full-service pharmacies. For more information on Giant, visit www.giantfood.com.

SOURCE Giant Food

Related Links

http://www.giantfood.com


CAMBRIDGE, Mass., June 4, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- GNS Healthcare (GNS), a leading precision medicine company, together with the Alliance for Clinical Trials in Oncology (Alliance), announced today the presentation of a poster supporting results that the location of the primary tumor within the colon plays a central role as an independent driver of overall survival in patients with metastatic colorectal cancer. The study, "Causal modeling of CALGB 80405 (Alliance) identifies network drivers of metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC)", is being presented at the ASCO 2018 Annual Meeting in Chicago.

The results stem from a partnership between GNS and Alliance, announced in 2015, to apply a powerful form of AI called causal machine learning to the CALGB 80405 (Alliance) phase III clinical trial in order to better identify patient subpopulations that may respond to combination treatments for mCRC. The first phase of results using predictive models was presented at the ASCO 2017 Annual Meeting.

This second phase of the collaboration focused on leveraging the REFS causal machine learning platform to build models of response to two different treatments (cetuximab or bevacizumab) using data from more than 2,000 patients. The causal models, using only clinical variables, revealed that primary tumor side is an independent driver of survival outcomes and is not confounded by any other clinical variable. The analysis also showed that AST, hemoglobin concentrations and metastatic sites are independent drivers of survival outcomes and can serve as potential biomarkers. If available, these measures taken at baseline will allow for better patient stratification for risk of progression at the beginning of treatment.

"The work being presented today showcases the power of causal AI to discover disease and drug mechanisms directly from rich multi-modal patient clinical trial data," said Dr. Iya Khalil, Co-Founder and Chief Commercial Officer of GNS Healthcare. "In today's world of data and analytics, there's a lot of noise, and it's crucial to use the right technology to not only improve patient care but to understand the underlying causes."

The third phase of the GNS-Alliance collaboration is ongoing and includes causal modeling of the molecular data from the CALGB 80405 (Alliance) study, including gene expression, somatic mutation, microsatellite instability, and blood-based biomarker data, with the goal of understanding the molecular pathways linking primary site to outcomes and of identifying biomarkers predicting benefit from either cetuximab or bevacizumab.

"It's an exciting time in cancer research. We're are now in a position where we can leverage rich data with cutting edge technology to discover new biology and ultimately answer questions of disease progression and treatment efficacy for patients, with the ultimate goal of curing colorectal cancer," said Dr. Alan Venook, Study Chair for the CALGB 80405 (Alliance) study, Madden Family Distinguished Professor of Medical Oncology and Translational Research at the University of California-San Francisco, and Shorenstein Associate Director for Program Development at the Helen Diller Family Comprehensive Cancer Center.

Colorectal cancer is the third most common cancer diagnosed in the United States, and it is estimated that more than 140,000 new cases will be diagnosed in 2018. Metastatic, or stage IV colon cancers, have a 5-year relative survival rate of about 11%.

About the Alliance for Clinical Trials in Oncology

The Alliance for Clinical Trials in Oncology develops and conducts clinical trials with promising new cancer therapies, and utilizes the best science to develop optimal treatment and prevention strategies for cancer, and researches methods to alleviate side effects of cancer and cancer treatments. The Alliance has been awarded a grant by the National Cancer Institute (NCI) as a member of the NCI National Clinical Trials Network (NCTN) in addition to a grant to serve as a research base for the NCI Community Oncology Research Program (NCORP). Collectively, the Alliance comprises nearly 10,000 cancer specialists at hospitals, medical centers, and community clinics across the United States and Canada. To learn more about the Alliance, visit www.AllianceforClinicalTrialsinOncology.org.

About GNS Healthcare

GNS Healthcare solves healthcare's matching problem for leading health plans, biopharma companies, and health systems. We transform massive and diverse data streams to precisely match therapeutics, procedures, and care management interventions to individuals improving health outcomes and saving billions of dollars. Our causal machine and simulation platform, REFS, accelerates the discovery of what works for whom and why.

www.gnshealthcare.com

Media Contact:

Patty Kellicker

VP, Marketing

[email protected]

SOURCE GNS Healthcare

Related Links

http://www.gnshealthcare.com


Company invites individual and institutional investors as well as advisors to attend interactive real-time virtual VirtualInvestorConferences.com

PORTLAND, Ore., June 4, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Golden Leaf Holdings Ltd. ("Golden Leaf" or the "Company") (CSE: GLH) (OTCQB: GLDFF), a leading cannabis oil solutions company and dispensary operator built around recognized brands, today announced that William Simpson, Chief Executive Officer, will present live at VirtualInvestorConferences.com on June 7, 2018 at 12:30pm ET.

DATE: Thursday, June 7, 2018

TIME: 12:30 PM ET

LINK: https://tinyurl.com/0618prepr

This will be a live, interactive online event where investors are invited to ask the company questions in real-time - both in the presentation hall as well as the association's "virtual trade booth." If attendees are not able to join the event live on the day of the conference, an on-demand archive will be available for 90 days.

It is recommended that investors pre-register and run the online system check to save time and receive event updates.

The Cannabis Virtual Investor Conference on June 7, 2018 is made possible by a partnership between KCSA Strategic Communications and VirtualInvestorConferences.com.

Recent Company Highlights

In May 2018 , signed letter of intent to acquire Nevada and California cannabis cultivation facilities

, signed letter of intent to acquire and cannabis cultivation facilities In May 2018 , opened new Chalice Farms dispensary in Happy Valley, Oregon

, opened new Chalice Farms dispensary in In April 2018 , signed letter of intent to acquire California cannabis operation

, signed letter of intent to acquire cannabis operation In March 2018 , signed letter of intent with BlackShire Capital to launch Chalice Farms franchise model

, signed letter of intent with BlackShire Capital to launch Chalice Farms franchise model In March 2018 , Golden launched Fruit Chews edibles in Oregon

To be added to the Golden Leaf email distribution list, please email [email protected] with 'GLH' in the subject line.

About Golden Leaf Holdings

Golden Leaf Holdings Ltd., a Canadian company with operations in multiple jurisdictions including Oregon, Nevada and Canada, is one of the largest cannabis oil and solution providers in North America, and a leading cannabis products company built around recognized brands. Golden Leaf cultivates, extracts, manufactures and distributes its products through its branded Chalice Farm retail dispensaries, as well as through third party dispensaries. Golden Leaf leverages a strong management team with cannabis and food industry experience to complement its expertise in extracting, refining and selling cannabis oil. Visit goldenleafholdings.com to learn more.

About VirtualInvestorConferences.com

Since 2010, VirtualInvestorConferences.com, created by BetterInvesting (NAIC) and PRNewswire, has been the only monthly virtual investor conference series that provides an interactive forum for presenting companies to meet directly with investors using a graphically-enhanced online platform.

Designed to replicate the look and feel of location-based investor conferences, Virtual Investor Conferences unites PR Newswire's leading-edge online conferencing and investor communications capabilities with BetterInvesting's extensive retail investor audience network.

Disclaimer: This press release contains "forward-looking information" within the meaning of applicable securities legislation. Forward-looking information includes, but is not limited to, statements with respect to the Company's future business operations, the establishment of, and the future scope and scale of, the Chalice Farms retail system, the level of funding needed to establish the Chalice Farms franchise model, that the Chalice Farms franchise model will be successful and generate positive cash flows, the opinions or beliefs of management and future business goals. Generally, forward looking information can be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as "plans", "expects" or "does not expect", "is expected", "budget", "scheduled", "estimates", "forecasts", "intends", "anticipates" or "does not anticipate", or "believes", or variations of such words and phrases or state that certain actions, events or results "may", "could", "would", "might" or "will be taken", "occur" or "be achieved". Forward-looking information is subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause the actual results, level of activity, performance or achievements of the Company to be materially different from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking information, including but not limited to general business, economic and competitive uncertainties, regulatory risks including risks related to the expected timing of the Company's participation in the adult use market, market risks, risks inherent in manufacturing operations, difficulties of establishing a successful franchise model and other risks of the cannabis industry. Although the Company has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in forward-looking information, there may be other factors that cause results not to be as anticipated, estimated or intended. There can be no assurance that such information will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward looking information. Forward-looking information is provided herein for the purpose of presenting information about management's current expectations relating to the future and readers are cautioned that such information may not be appropriate for other purpose. The Company does not undertake to update any forward-looking information, except in accordance with applicable securities laws. This press release does not constitute an offer of securities for sale in the United States, and such securities may not be offered or sold in the United States absent registration or an exemption from registration or an exemption from registration.

SOURCE Golden Leaf Holdings

Related Links

http://goldenleafholdings.com


SAN FRANCISCO, June 4, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Spark + AI Summit  H2O.ai, the open source leader in AI, will be discussing the latest innovations in H2O Sparkling Water, the company's API for Apache Spark, during a talk entitled, "Productionizing H2O Models with Apache Spark" at this year's Spark + AI Summit on Tuesday, June 5, 2018. The talk will be led by Jakub Hava, Software Engineer at H2O.ai and Michal Malohlava, Chief Architect of Platforms at H2O.ai.

Sparkling Water combines the best of Apache Spark  elegant APIs, RDDs and multi-tenant context  with the power of H2O's visual intelligence capabilities, speed, columnar-compression and fully-featured machine learning algorithms. The algorithms benefit from H2O MOJOs (Model Object Optimized), a powerful concept shared across the entire H2O platform to store and exchange models, and is designed for effective model deployment with a focus on scoring speed, traceability, exchangeability and backward compatibility. This solution also allows for greater flexibility when it comes to finding the best algorithm and empowers enterprise customers to use H2O algorithms in conjunction with, or instead of, MLlib algorithms on Apache Spark.

In addition to the session led by Hava and Malohlava, Luca Falsina and Brammert Ottens from leading travel booking organization, Booking.com will host a session on Tuesday entitled, "Scaling Machine Learning at Booking.com with H2O Sparkling Water and FeatureStore." The session will cover some of the practical applications of H2O Sparkling Water. Details of both sessions can be found below.

"Productionizing H2O Models with Apache Spark"

Who: Jakub Hava , Software Engineer at H2O.ai and Michal Malohlava, Chief Architect of Platforms at H2O.ai

, Software Engineer at H2O.ai and Michal Malohlava, Chief Architect of Platforms at H2O.ai When: Tuesday, June 5, 2018 at 2:00 - 2:30pm PT

at Where: Spark + AI Summit 2018, Moscone West Convention Center, 800 Howard Street, San Francisco, CA , 94103

Spark + AI Summit 2018, Moscone West Convention Center, 800 Howard Street, , 94103 Topic: Spark pipelines represent a powerful concept to support productionizing machine learning workflows. Their API allows to combine data processing with machine learning algorithms and opens opportunities for integration with various machine learning libraries. However, to benefit from the power of pipelines, users need to have freedom to choose and experiment with any machine learning algorithm or library. In this session, Hava and Malohava will explain the architecture of Sparkling Water, with focus on integration into the Spark pipelines and MOJOs. They will also demonstrate creation of pipelines integrating H2O machine learning models and their deployments using Scala or Python, and show how to utilize pre-trained model MOJOs with Spark pipelines.

"Scaling Machine Learning at Booking.com with H2O Sparkling Water and FeatureStore"

Who: Luca Falsina, Senior Software Developer at Booking.com and Brammert Ottens, Data Scientist at Booking.com

Luca Falsina, Senior Software Developer at Booking.com and Brammert Ottens, Data Scientist at Booking.com When: Tuesday, June 5, 2018 at 5:00 - 5:30pm PT

at Where: Spark + AI Summit 2018, Moscone West Convention Center, 800 Howard Street, San Francisco, CA , 94103

Spark + AI Summit 2018, Moscone West Convention Center, 800 Howard Street, , 94103 Topic: Booking.com has a community of over 150 data scientists working on personalizing the experience of customers, improving visibility of partners on the platform and preventing fraud. Because of the company's growth and size, tasks like finding consistent data sources, building robust features and productionizing models can be challenging and time-consuming for ML practitioners. In this talk, Falsina and Ottens will share their organization's journey from hand-crafted models to leveraging tools that discover and build reusable online and offline features, and deploy models in production quickly. They will share specifically how Spark and H2O Sparkling Water play a key role for building scalable models with large training datasets while allowing fast-predictions on the Booking.com website.

Attend H2O World NYC In Person or Watch the Live Stream

H2O.ai is fostering a grassroots movement of systems engineers, data scientists, data developers and predictive analysts to move machine learning forward. On Thursday, June 7th, the company will be hosting the first of its 2018 H2O World conferences in New York City. The conference will now be held at the New York Hilton Midtown after demand from attendees far exceeded the capacity of the original venue.

Keynote speeches from Sri Ambati, as well as Ash Gupta from Encore Capital Group, Sumit Gupta from IBM, Jim McHugh from NVIDIA and Agus Sudjianto from Wells Fargo will be live streamed from the event at 9:00am ET.

If you would like to attend, you can register here. The first 10 people to use the code "BreakingRecords" will get a complimentary pass.

The video stream can be viewed here, starting on Thursday, June 7 at 9:00am ET

Connect with H2O.ai

Download Driverless AI for a free 21-day trial: https://www.h2o.ai/try-driverless-ai/

https://www.h2o.ai/try-driverless-ai/ Visit us to learn more: www.h2o.ai

www.h2o.ai Follow us on Twitter: www.twitter.com/H2Oai

www.twitter.com/H2Oai Connect with us on LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/company/2820918/

About H2O.ai

H2O.ai is the open source leader in AI. Its mission is to democratize AI for all. H2O.ai is transforming the use of AI with software with its category-creating visionary open source machine learning platform, H2O. More than 12,600 companies use open-source H2O in mission-critical use cases for Finance, Insurance, Healthcare, Retail, Telco, Sales, and Marketing. H2O.ai recently launched Driverless AI that uses AI to do AI in order to provide an easier, faster and effective means of implementing data science. In February 2018, Gartner named H2O.ai, as a Leader in the 2018 Magic Quadrant for Data Science and Machine Learning Platforms. H2O.ai partners with leading technology companies such as NVIDIA, IBM, AWS, Azure and Google and is proud of its growing customer base which includes Capital One, Progressive Insurance, Comcast, Walgreens and PayPal. For more information and to learn more about how H2O.ai is transforming business processes with intelligence, visit www.h2o.ai.

Media Contact:

Erika Kamholz

[email protected]

949-282-8560



SOURCE H2O.ai

Related Links

http://www.h2o.ai


PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti, June 4, 2018 /PRNewswire/ --

The President of Haiti, Jovenel Moise, today launched the first full-feature incubator in the Caribbean, dubbed Alpha Haiti. By providing aspiring entrepreneurs with the needed infrastructure, training and mentorship, the new incubator will help build startups and support the creation of jobs and wealth in a country and region that urgently need them.

The state-of-the-art and comprehensive features Alpha Haiti will provide - from business plan stage to execution - is a groundbreaking offering in the region. This will be unparalleled among existing incubator models, as current offerings include coworking space and limited support services not reflective of advanced incubators in the world's leading economies. Alpha Haiti will also be set apart by its multilingual offerings - with core languages of French, English, Spanish, and Creole creating an environment that allows companies to easily penetrate regional and global markets.

"We're not waiting around and hoping that economic development will come to Haiti and to our region, instead we are creating the context that will make it happen," said President Moise. "The next generation of entrepreneurs, big thinkers, and job creators will be given the support they need and deserve."

Alpha Haiti will benefit from collaboration with several of the region's leading corporations and entrepreneurs, as well as global institutions. These partnerships will be crucial in supporting the incubator's training services, startup development support, in providing market access for young companies, and access to seed funding.

Sectors of focus will include financial technology, renewable energy, agriculture, and administrative and facilities management.

Alpha Haiti is expected to benefit over 50,000 people by 2020.

SOURCE Office of the President of Haiti
HILLSDALE, Mich., June 4, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Hillsdale College congratulates Hillsdale alumnae Kirsten Anderson ('12) on receiving a 2018-2019 Fulbright U.S. Student Program award to continue her philosophy studies in Germany. She is the sixth Hillsdale College graduate to earn this award since 2010.

"It is gratifying to see Kirsten earn the recognition of the Fulbright committee for her efforts. She was an outstanding student during her time at Hillsdale College," said Joe Garnjobst, chairman and professor of classics. "The work both she will be doing in Germany is the natural extension of the work that she has done both at Hillsdale and at Notre Dame on the intersection of philosophy and theology in Platonic philosophy and Gregory of Nyssa."

Anderson graduated from Hillsdale College in 2012 with a bachelor's degree in Greek after studying ancient and classical Greek language and literature. She is currently a doctoral student at the University of Notre Dame, where she studies philosophy and theology. Through her Fulbright award, Anderson will conduct research at the University of Bonn in preparation for her doctoral dissertation on ancient Greek philosopher Gregory of Nyssa.

Anderson joins the ranks of more than 1,900 American scholars participating in the Fulbright program during the 2018-2019 academic year. Funded through the U.S. Department of State, the program operates in more than 160 countries around the world, offering students with outstanding records of academic achievement, service and leadership in their fields the opportunity to study, teach and engage with the global community. For more information on the Fulbright program, visit eca.state.gov/Fulbright.

About Hillsdale College

Hillsdale College is an independent liberal arts college located in southern Michigan. Founded in 1844, the College has built a national reputation through its classical liberal arts core curriculum and its principled refusal to accept federal or state taxpayer subsidies, even indirectly in the form of student grants or loans. It also conducts an outreach effort promoting civil and religious liberty, including a free monthly speech digest, Imprimis, with a circulation of more than 3.7 million. For more information visit hillsdale.edu.

SOURCE Hillsdale College

Related Links

http://www.hillsdale.edu


FELTON, California, June 4, 2018 /PRNewswire/ --

The global Identity And Access Management Market is expected to worth USD 24.55 billion by 2022. Growing demand for cloud architecture and improved network capabilities are anticipated to propel the demand across enterprises. These solutions are widely adopted by large and medium scale industries as well as by government agencies.

Companies functioning across cloud platforms offer comprehensive on-demand development tools such as cloud infrastructure and cl oud database layer, which empower enterprise IT groups to develop, test, and deliver customer demanded business applications without investing in conventional system infrastructure.

Over the past recent years, cloud computing, mobile technology social networking, BYOD policies, and other IT and consumer trends have transformed the threat environment. To survive and thrive in this increasingly interconnected and virtual ecosystem, organizations must recognize identity and access management as essential to the secure transfer of information that lies at the heart of commerce. IAM involves trade-offs in terms of cost, risk, convenience, and other user freedoms.

Insufficient identity assurance for cloud application & services and lack of trust in cloud service providers is anticipated to hamper the growth of the market. Major gap between the cloud service providers and service consumer owing to lack of awareness regarding cloud computing solutions is expected to cause vulnerability concerns. However, the rise in global spending of large-scale organizations and government on integrating the management of identities with security identity services and solutions is anticipated to lessen the impact over the forecast period. As identity and access management continues to progress over the forecast period, enterprises are expected to look for larger and more innovative solutions, which are adaptable to trends such as mobile and cloud computing.

Browse 152 page research report with TOC on "Global Identity And Access Management (IAM) Market" at: https://www.millioninsights.com/industry-reports/identity-access-management-iam-market

IAM services and solutions are growing into a risk-based program, with their abilities focused on entitlement management and enforcement of logical access control. Enterprises have started attaining benefits from their prices, but face major challenges to manage time-incentive practices such as manual provisioning and approval.

The market can be categorized by deployment into on-premise, hybrid and cloud IAM. On-premise identity and access management market accounted for a majority share in 2014 and is anticipated to lose substantial share over the forecast period. On-premise infrastructure uses conventional in-house data centers that entirely controls software updates and security patches. However, security breaches owing to unauthorized physical access cannot be spotted by this technology. Alternatively, cloud hosting companies safeguard customers and alert them instantly which would positively favor demand for hybrid and cloud solutions. Applications sectors in the IAM market include oil &gas, telecom & IT, public sector, utilities, BFSI, energy healthcare, and manufacturing. BFSI sector companies have to adopt cyber security solutions to monitor, detect, report, and counter the cyber threats for keeping the privacy of information and to increase productivity.

Several stringent government regulations and regulatory reforms are causing organizations and enterprises to address their internal control infrastructure. For instance, according to Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (HIPAA), it is mandatory for healthcare organizations to safeguard the portability of healthcare coverage and the confidentiality of patient records. It involves organizations to train staffs to efficiently follow secrecy measures, designate an individual in the organization in-charge of HIPAA compliance and implementation, and undertake significant measures for regulating the disclosure of patient information such as secure electronic access to patient records.

Geographically the global market for identity and access management is segmented into North America, Asia-Pacific, Middle East and Asia, Europe and Latin America. Europe and North America are expected to contribute substantially to the global market share owing to the favorable regulatory scenario. The U.S. government has issued over 400 regulatory policies associated to cyber security, which is expected to fuel the market for IAM across the region.

Asia-Pacific identity and access management market are expected to grow at a higher rate owing to the large deployment of IAM services & solutions and an increasing number of cyber threats on cloud architecture. The Middle East & Africa is also expected to gain traction with substantial growth over the forecast period.

The key market players dominating the global market for identity and access management includes IBM, HP, EMC Corporation, HID Global Corporation, Dell Software, ForgeRock Inc., Net IQ, Oracle, Centrify, OneLogin, CA Technologies, Amazon Web Services.

Enhancing security of critical data, ease of mobility, smooth authentication &authorization, and scalability are a few of the key strategies adopted by industry leaders in order to connect with the cloud-based environment. Industry participants are investing in R&D to develop new technologies for improving the network-based security. Strategic acquisitions and partnerships are being adopted for business expansion.

Browse reports of similar category available with Million Insights:

IAM Deployment Outlook (Revenue, USD Million, 2012 - 2022)

 Cloud

 Hybrid

 On-Premise

IAM End-Use Outlook (Revenue, USD Million, 2012 - 2022)

 BFSI

 Energy, Oil & Gas

 Telecom & IT

 Education

 Healthcare

 Public Sector & Utilities

 Manufacturing

 Others

IAM Regional Outlook (Revenue, USD Million, 2012 - 2022)

 North America

 Europe

 Asia Pacific

 Latin America

 MEA

About Million Insights:

Million Insights, is a distributor of market research reports, published by premium publishers only. We have a comprehensive market place, that will enable you to compare data points, before you make a purchase. Enabling informed buying, is our motto and we strive hard to ensure that our clients get to browse through multiple samples, prior to an investment. Service flexibility & the fastest response time are two pillars, on which our business model is founded. Our market research report store, includes in-depth reports, from across various industry verticals, such as healthcare, technology, chemicals, food & beverages, consumer goods, material science & automotive.

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SOURCE Million Insights
LINKOPING, Sweden, June 4, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- IFS, the global enterprise applications company, has released a research study of 200 executives to determine how industrial companies are progressing towards servitizationthe expansion of manufacturing and product-focused companies into value-added service after the sale.

Servitization is of critical interest to industrial companies right now because growth of new product sales may be slowing, which means expanding into services is an appealing way to increase top line revenues. New technologies, including the internet of things (IoT), is enabling new service business models such as streamlined field service triggered by condition monitoring on products and equipment.

Analysts have been focusing on the desirability of servitization. McKinsey has found that the average margin for aftermarket services was 25 percentsubstantialy more than the 10 percent realized on new equipment sales. According to a recent analysis by Frost & Sullivan, the North American market for calibration and repair services alone is set to reach almost $4 billion by 2022.

This study from IFS captures a snapshot of where industrial companies are currently on their servitization journeywhether they are selling products only, selling aftermarket parts, offering reactive field service, selling annual service contracts or offering asset-as-a-service or product-as-a-servicecharging not for the product but for usage or productivity.

The study reveals that:

Servitization maturity is tied to profitability of the service organization. Manufacturers involved in planned maintenance or service contracts were most likely to report service as a profit center with 62 percent reporting profitable service operations.

38 percent of respondents sold only products, with no aftermarket or other service revenues.

19 percent sold products and some aftermarket service parts.

15 percent sold products and aftermarket field service through break-fix repair.

16 percent sold planned maintenance contracts with service level agreements (SLAs).

Only 4 percent of respondents reported full servitizationselling products on a subscription rather than a discrete item through power-by-the-hour, fee-for-usage or revenue sharing agreements. Companies operating in this fully-servitized business model include:

22 percent of medical device manufacturers

5 percent of metal fabrication businesses

5 percent of companies in the oil and gas industry

The study also explores how well enterprise software used by respondents prepares them for the digital transformation servitization requires, including whether they have integrated IoT data into their business systems to facilitate service.

"The fully servitized model, where a manufacturer may deliver a piece of equipment as a service, charging based on usage or through revenue sharing with their customer, requires a high degree of technological sophistication," IFS Senior Evangelist, North America, Tom DeVroy said. "But even companies selling annual maintenance contracts or break-fix repair can benefit from integrating IoT data streams with their field service management software to improve responsiveness, automate the dispatch of technicians based on conditions of the product or just to gain an understanding of how their customer is using their products so they can sell to them more effectively."

Download the study: Industrial Servitization and Field Service Technology

Learn more about how IFS supports service organizations here: www.ifsworld.com/corp/industries/service/

CONTACT:

Laura Zadravetz,

Director of Marketing Communications,

IFS in North America.

Phone: +1(262)-717-6591,

[email protected]

Chuck Rathmann,

Senior Marketing Communications Analyst,

IFS in North America.

Phone: +1(262)317-7419,

[email protected]

This information was brought to you by Cision http://news.cision.com

The following files are available for download:

http://mb.cision.com/Public/855/2537660/9634985085a41170_org.png servitization status graph

SOURCE IFS
CONSHOHOCKEN, Pa., June 4, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- IKEA announced today that it is collaborating with Feeding America, the nation's largest domestic hunger-relief organization, to sponsor an in-store program, 'Feeding the Future,' which runs June 130, to support local Feeding America member food banks.

Through the 'Feeding the Future' program, IKEA U.S. will donate $1 to local Feeding America food banks for every healthy kids meal purchased in any IKEA U.S. restaurant.* Additionally, IKEA customers can give a $1 donation* to their local Feeding America network food bank at all IKEA store registers at cash lanes, customer restaurants, IKEA Bistros and Swedish Food markets. The five healthy kids meals in the 'Feeding the Future' program include:

Organic penne pasta with organic marinara sauce

Grilled chicken with baby carrots, strawberries and string cheese

Vegetable Ball with steamed vegetables

Chicken Ball with steamed vegetables

Swedish meatballs mashed potatoes and steamed vegetables

"Every day, millions of Americans, including children, are struggling with hunger. IKEA U.S. is dedicated to supporting our local communities and customers by supporting our local food banks. Collaborating with the Feeding America network, along with our commitment to healthy eating, benefits many in need," commented Samantha Giusti, IKEA US Community Affairs Manager.

"As the school year is coming to an end, most families and kids are planning their summer activities. Unfortunately, many others are planning where their meals will come from when the National School Lunch program closes for summer. That's why Feeding America is grateful for the ongoing support of our partners at IKEA U.S. and their commitment to helping children and families in need," said Nancy Curby, Senior Vice President, Corporate Partnerships at Feeding America. "We are excited to continue our partnership with the 'Feeding the Future' campaign this summer and know that it will make a big impact on the people we serve across the country."

This year marks the fifth year of the 'Feeding the Future' program. To date, the program has helped to secure over 10 million meals** to people who struggle with hunger. According to Feeding America, 41million Americans live in food-insecure households, including nearly 13 million children. Last year alone, the Feeding America network distributed more than 4.2 billion meals to people in need. IKEA US is proud to partner with Feeding America to help end hunger.

*IKEA guarantees a maximum donation of $50,000 to Feeding America and member food banks from June 1 to June 30, 2018 for participating kids meal purchases. No cap to customer donations. 90% of all funds will be distributed to local member food banks based on zip code of store location. Funds will support children and families facing hunger.

**Currently, $1 helps provide at least 10 meals secured by Feeding America on behalf of local member food banks. Historical meal cost calculation varies by year.

About IKEA

Since its 1943 founding in Sweden, IKEA has offered home furnishings of good design and function at low prices. The IKEA Group operates 363 IKEA stores in 29 countries, including 48 in the U.S. IKEA incorporates sustainability into day-to-day business and supports initiatives that benefit children and the environment. For more information see IKEA-USA.com, @IKEAUSANews, @IKEAUSA or IKEAUSA on Facebook, YouTube, Instagram and Pinterest.

About Feeding America

Feeding America is the largest hunger-relief organization in the United States. Through a network of 200 food banks and 60,000 food pantries and meal programs, we provide meals to more than 46 million people each year. Feeding America also supports programs that prevent food waste and improve food security among the people we serve; educates the public about the problem of hunger; and advocates for legislation that protects people from going hungry. Individuals, charities, businesses and government all have a role in ending hunger. Donate. Volunteer. Advocate. Educate. Together we can solve hunger. Visit www.feedingamerica.org. Find us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/FeedingAmerica or follow us on Twitter at www.twitter.com/FeedingAmerica.

SOURCE IKEA

Related Links

https://www.ikea.com/us/en


PITTSBURGH, June 4, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- An inventor from New York, N.Y., has developed CARMELA'S CADDY, a device designed especially for use in hospitals, nursing homes, etc., to hold common bedside necessities, such as remote controls and mobile phones, as well as a water bottle, lotion, comb, etc. A prototype is available. This is a patented design.

"I was inspired to develop my invention due to my beloved mother's many hospitals visits and stays. I wanted to help provide convenience to patients confined to hospital beds," said the inventor. CARMELA'S CADDY promotes organization and comfort for patients. It prevents a television remote control from becoming tangled in wires or dropped on the floor. In addition, it prevents the accidental pushing of the nursing call button. This handy device allows many common bedside items to be readily available and easily accessible. It will be appreciated by any hospital, nursing home or other institution that caters to patients.

The original design was submitted to the Manhattan office of InventHelp. It is currently available for licensing or sale to manufacturers or marketers. For more information, write Dept. 17-MTN-3041, InventHelp, 217 Ninth Street, Pittsburgh, PA 15222, or call (412) 288-1300 ext. 1368. Learn more about InventHelp's Invention Submission Services at http://www.InventHelp.com.

SOURCE InventHelp

Related Links

http://www.inventhelp.com


JERUSALEM, June 4, 2018 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The American Jewish Committee (AJC) Global Forum will convene June 10-13 in Jerusalem, Israel. The four-day conference is the signature annual event of AJC, the premier Jewish global advocacy organization.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu will deliver the keynote address at the opening plenary session. Israeli President Reuven Rivlin will host AJC's Board of Governors at his official residence during the Global Forum.

Austrian Chancellor Sebastian Kurz, Bulgarian Prime Minister Boyko Borissov, whose country holds the current EU presidency, and Colombian President Juan Manuel Santos (via video) will be speaking at other plenary sessions.

AJC, the first American Jewish organization to open an office in Jerusalem, in 1962, has been actively engaged with Israel since the country's rebirth in 1948. Key to AJC's advocacy for Israel is the organization's year-round diplomatic activity. AJC delegations regularly visit capitals around the world to meet with top government officials and Jewish community leaders. In all, AJC engages with approximately 115 countries each year.

AJC has also been a longstanding pioneer in interreligious relations, most recently in advancing Muslim-Jewish relations. In that spirit, the leader of the world's largest Muslim organization, Yahya Cholil Staquf, General Secretary of the Nahdlatul Ulama (NU) Supreme Council in Indonesia, will address the AJC Global Forum, kicking-off his first visit to Israel.

More than 2,100 participants, including hundreds of young Jews, from across the United States and many other countries are expected to attend. It will be the first time in AJC's 112-year history that the conference convenes outside the United States. It also will be the largest ever for an American Jewish advocacy organization in Jerusalem.

"We enthusiastically are coming to Israel, to the capital city of Jerusalem, to celebrate the 70th anniversary of Israel's rebirth, and to demonstrate by our presence our deep solidarity with, and enduring support, for Israel," said AJC CEO David Harris. "The 2,100-plus attendance is way beyond our most optimistic projection, underscoring the strong ties between Israel and the AJC global community."

Holding the AJC Global Forum in Israel's capital affords opportunities to hear from Israeli leaders across the political spectrum, including MK Tzipi Livni, co-leader of the Zionist Union and head of the Hatnua party; MK Avi Gabbay, head of the Zionist Union; and Naftali Bennett, Israel's Minister of Education and Minister of Diaspora Affairs, and chairman of the Jewish Home party.

Jewish religious pluralism, a priority concern for AJC, is a major theme throughout the AJC Global Forum. AJC President John Shapiro; Robert Lapin, member of AJC's Executive Council and chair of the Contemporary Jewish Life Commission; Dov Zakheim, chair of AJC's Jewish Religious Equality Coalition (J-REC); and Steven Bayme, AJC Director of Contemporary Jewish Life, will speak at a special Knesset hearing. On the final morning of the AJC Global Forum, all participants will gather at Davidson's Plaza, south of the Western Wall, in a show of solidarity for religious pluralism. Speakers will include MK Aliza Lavie, Daniel Shapiro, U.S. Ambassador to Israel (2011-2017); Chair of the AJC Board of Governors Harriet Schleifer; and Kim Pimley, member of AJC's Executive Council.

For the ninth annual AJC Global Forum "Great Debate," Efrat Mayor Oded Revivi and Labor MK Stav Shaffir will face-off over the pressing question of whether resolving the Israeli-Palestinian conflict should be pursued by a one-state or a two-state solution.

What's next for the Israeli-Palestinian peace process, 25 years after the Oslo Accords, will be explored by Nickolay Mladenov, United Nations Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process; Fernando Gentilini, EU Special Representative for the Middle East Peace Process; Dennis Ross, Counselor, The Washington Institute; and Tal Becker, Legal Adviser, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Israel.

Relations between American Jews and Israelis are of paramount concern to AJC. Israeli perceptions of the Diaspora will be explored in a conversation moderated by Rabbi Dov Lipman, former Yesh Atid MK, with former Labor Knesset Member Einat Wilf; Micah Goodman, CEO, Beit Midrash Yisraeli  Ein Prat; and Uri Misgav, Haaretz Commentator and Writer.

Israeli perspectives of the U.S.-Israel relationship will be discussed by Ambassador Ron Prosor, Abba Eban Chair of International Diplomacy at the Interdisciplinary Center Herzliya (IDC), and Israel's Ambassador to the UN (2011  2015); Salai Meridor, Israeli Ambassador to the U.S. (2006-09); Eran Lerman, former Deputy for Foreign Policy and International Affairs at the National Security Council in the Israeli Prime Minister's Office and former director of AJC Jerusalem; and Zionist Union MK Ayelet Nahmias-Verdin. Jerusalem Post Editor-In-Chief Yaakov Katz will moderate the discussion.

An assessment of global media coverage of Israel will be discussed by several foreign correspondents based in Israel, including Henrique Cymerman, who writes for media outlets in the U.S., Latin America, Europe, and Israel; Josef Federman, Associated Press Bureau Chief for Israel and the Palestinian Territories, who also chairs the Foreign Press Association; Sarah Lemel, Bureau Chief of the German Press Agency (DPA); and Majdi Halabi, correspondent for the London-based Saudi Arabian Elaph. AJC Jerusalem Director Avital Leibovich, who previously served as head of the Interactive Media Branch of the IDF Spokesperson's Unit, will be the moderator.

The Iranian threat and future of the nuclear deal will be discussed by Emily Landau, Senior Research Fellow and Head of the Arms Control and Regional Security program at the Institute for National Security Studies (INSS); Meir Javedanfar, Lecturer, Author, and Commentator on Iranian Politics at the IDC; Matthew Levitt, Fromer-Wexler Fellow, The Washington Institute for Near East Policy; and Daniel Shapiro, Distinguished Visiting Fellow at the INSS.

One of Israel's leading demographers and two Knesset members will engage in a discussion about Israel's evolution as the nation-state of the Jewish people. The panelists are Sergio Della Pergola, Professor Emeritus, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem; Zionist Union MK Ksenia Svetlova, who serves on the Knesset's Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee and its Aliyah and Absorption Committee; and Likud MK Yehuda Glick, founder and head of the Temple Mount Heritage Foundation.

Tackling the question of whether anti-Zionism is the new anti-Semitism will be Simone Rodan-Benzaquen, Director of AJC Europe; Dore Gold, President of the Jerusalem Center for Public Affairs; Gerald Steinberg, President of NGO Monitor; and Duzen Tekkal, German-Yazidi Journalist and Chairwoman of Hawar.help.

Two of AJC's prestigious Moral Courage Awards will be presented during the AJC Global Forum, one to Sandra Samuel, an Indian nanny who saved the life of two-year-old Moshe Holtzberg during the November 2008 Mumbai terrorist attacks. The other award will be presented to the Galilee Medical Center for its leadership in treating Syrians seriously injured in their country's civil war.

At each plenary session, a world leader who took heroic diplomatic action on behalf of Israel will be memorialized. They include:

U.S. President Harry S. Truman , who immediately recognized Israel in 1948, will be remembered by Kurt Graham , Director of the Truman Presidential Library and Museum in Independence, Missouri .

, who immediately recognized in 1948, will be remembered by , Director of the Truman Presidential Library and Museum in . Dr. Jorge Garcia-Granados , who was Guatemala's Ambassador to the UN in 1947, cast the first vote in favor of the UN Partition Plan, and encouraged other Latin American countries to also support it, will be remembered by his granddaughter, Carla Garcia-Granados .

, who was Ambassador to the UN in 1947, cast the first vote in favor of the UN Partition Plan, and encouraged other Latin American countries to also support it, will be remembered by his granddaughter, . Oswaldo Aranha , who was Brazil's Ambassador to the UN and President of the UN General Assembly, presided over the resolution approving the partition plan, setting the stage for Israel's rebirth. He will be honored by his grandson, Pedro Correa do Lago.

, who was Ambassador to the UN and President of the UN General Assembly, presided over the resolution approving the partition plan, setting the stage for rebirth. He will be honored by his grandson, Pedro Correa do Lago. Costantinos Mitsotakis , who, as Greece's prime minster took the initiative to significantly upgrade diplomatic relations with Israel in 1990, will be memorialized by his son, Kyriakos Mitsotakis , who heads Greece's New Democracy party.

Throughout the AJC Global Forum, nine individuals, representative of Israel's history, achievements, and diverse population, will share, in TED-talk style, their personal stories.

In addition, a special highlight for AJC Global Forum attendees is the opportunity to engage directly with ambassadors in private. This year, in Jerusalem, there will be 25 parallel advocacy-in-action lunches with ambassadors based in Israel.

And, during the conference, there will be 18 simultaneous excursions to visit and meet with experts at key strategic, counter-terrorism, innovation, absorption, interreligious, Israeli Arab, and ultra-Orthodox sites.

SOURCE American Jewish Committee

Related Links

http://www.ajc.org


Jago Jacopo Cardillo, an Italian artist, and his venture are set to remain engraved in contemporary art history. Infant prodigy, selected when he was only 24 for the Italian Pavilion of the Venice Biennale of Art's 54th edition, Jago is ready to create his next masterpiece with his admirers' support.

(Logo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/700522/eppela.jpg )



(Photo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/700523/Contemporary_Michelangelo.jpg )



From the 1st of June, his project will be featured at Eppela, the first Italian rewards-based crowdfunding platform born in Tuscany, in a bid to raise  100,000 to make sure The Veiled Son, the sculpture, carved with its accomplishers' names, can be given to an Italian public museum.

When the target is reached, the remaining amount will be donated to an independent international organisation aiming to improve children's lives.

The inspiration for this project is the dramatic evocation of Giuseppe Sanmartino's Veiled Christ, carved in 1753 and placed at the centre of the Sansevero Chapel's nave in Naples, to tell a story that is modern and different, but equally tragic and 'collective'.

Sadly enough, this is a very important topic these days. The Veiled Christ speaks about the drama concerning millions of children: a daily sacrifice represented by a child's body holding in itself a dual feeling, suspended between an infinite pain and an authentic hope in the power of art, able to evoke a sense of brotherhood and communication among human beings.

The suggested donation for those willing to see their own name, or the name of someone they love, carved in the artwork is  10. In this way everyone will own Jago's work: not anymore, as it used to be, addressed to a private or to a buyer, but given to a museum so that everybody can freely admire it.

The higher the pledge, the more interesting will be the reward for the backers-makers of Jago's first collective work. It will be possible to get the preparatory sketch on photographic paper, so to directly enter the artist's studio. Contributions can be made here: https://www.eppela.com/jago/en

SOURCE eppela.com
KANSAS CITY, Mo., June 4, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Kansas City Life Insurance Company and Grange Mutual Casualty Company are pleased to announce the signing of a definitive agreement today under which Kansas City Life will acquire all of the issued and outstanding stock of Grange Life Insurance Company from Grange Mutual. The transaction is subject to review by the Ohio Department of Insurance.

"Life insurance is our lifeblood and we have a strategic vision in place," said R. Philip Bixby, President, CEO and Chairman of the Board of Kansas City Life. "This acquisition allows us to continue to grow to scale and to do what we do best  provide Security Assured to our policyholders."

John Ammendola, President and CEO of Grange Mutual stated, "We are very pleased to announce the sale of Grange Life Insurance Company to Kansas City Life. We are excited about the opportunities this decision creates for our customers and our agents."

Kansas City Life announced that Walter E. Bixby, Executive Vice President and Vice Chairman of the Board of Kansas City Life, will lead the integration efforts, overseeing an integration team consisting of leaders from both organizations. The Company also announced that Theresa Mason will continue to serve as President of Grange Life after the acquisition is completed.

The transaction is anticipated to close at the end of the third quarter. Following the acquisition, Grange Life personnel will continue to service existing policyholders and will assist in distributing Grange Life and Kansas City Life products. Grange Life will continue to operate in Columbus, Ohio, after closing with a goal of providing a near seamless transition for the customers and agents. The base purchase price for the transaction is anticipated to be approximately $77.2 million.

Kansas City Life Insurance Company (OTCQX: KCLI) was established in 1895 and is based in Kansas City, Mo. The Company's primary business is providing financial protection through life insurance and annuity products. The Company operates in 49 states and the District of Columbia. For more information, please visit www.kclife.com.

Grange Insurance is an insurance provider founded in 1935 and based in Columbus, Ohio. Through its network of independent agents, Grange offers auto, home, life and business insurance protection. The company and its affiliates serve policyholders in Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Michigan, Minnesota, Ohio, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia and Wisconsin.

SOURCE Kansas City Life Insurance Company

Related Links

http://www.kclife.com


TOKYO, June 4, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Kyowa Hakko Kirin Co., Ltd., (Kyowa Kirin) announces that additional analyses from the pivotal MAVORIC trial are being presented at the Annual Meeting of the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO), June 1-5, Chicago. MAVORIC was the open-label randomized multi-center phase 3 trial evaluated mogamulizumab versus vorinostat for the treatment of adult patients with relapsed or refractory mycosis fungoides (MF) or Sezary syndrome (SS) after at least one prior systemic therapy. MF and SS are the most common subtypes of cutaneous T-cell lymphoma (CTCL).

Presentation title at the 2018 ASCO Annual Congress:

Quality of life in cutaneous T-cell lymphoma subjects treated with anti-CCR4 monoclonal antibody mogamulizumab versus vorinostat: results from the Phase 3 MAVORIC trial

[Abstract #7577; Poster #214; Monday, June 4, 8:00-11:30AM CDT]

Progression free survival (PFS) was the primary endpoint; the results that demonstrated mogamulizumab had a clinically relevant and statistically significant increase in progression free survival over vorinostat have already been presented. Infusion reaction and rash were the most common adverse events associated with mogamulizumab. QOL measurements were secondary endpoints and included Skindex-29 (SDX-29), Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy-General (FACT-G) and EuroQol-5D. SDX-29 and FACT-G were reported in ASCO.

"Quality of life may be severely impacted in patients living with CTCL, and the MAVORIC study included evaluation of the effect of both treatments on a range of QOL instruments," said Jeffrey S. Humphrey, M.D., President of Kyowa Kirin Development. "We are encouraged by the QOL data and look forward to working with investigators and patient advocates to further understand how mogamulizumab might help patients with MF and SS."

The Kyowa Hakko Kirin Group companies strive to contribute to the health and well-being of people around the world by creating new value through the pursuit of advances in life sciences and technologies.

About Mogamulizumab

Mogamulizumab is a humanized monoclonal antibody (mAb) directed against CC chemokine receptor 4 (CCR4), which is frequently expressed on leukemic cells of certain hematologic malignancies including CTCL. Mogamulizumab was produced using Kyowa Hakko Kirin's proprietary POTELLIGENT platform, which is associated with enhanced antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity. Mogamulizumab is an investigational product currently under review at FDA and EMA.

About Mycosis Fungoides (MF) and Sezary Syndrome (SS)

MF and SS are the two most common subtypes of CTCL, a rare type of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, which is characterized by localization of malignant T lymphocytes to the skin, and depending on the stage, the disease may involve skin, blood, lymph nodes, and viscera.

About MAVORIC

MAVORIC is a Phase 3 open-label, multi-center, randomized study of mogamulizumab versus vorinostat in patients with MF and SS who have failed at least one prior systemic treatment. The study was conducted in the U.S., Europe, Japan and Australia, and randomized 372 patients to receive either mogamulizumab or vorinostat.

SOURCE Kyowa Hakko Kirin Co., Ltd.
BOSTON, June 4, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- LifeNet Health will feature its growing portfolio of unique, high-quality biospecimens for research at the BIO International Convention June 4-7 in Boston (Booth #2414). Through its LifeSciences Division, the regenerative medicine company is focused on providing transplant-quality organs and tissues, innovative drug discovery platforms and isolated primary cells.

LifeNet Health also will present its predictive and translational oncology drug-screening platform, HuBiogel, during a BIOsponsored innovative technology session at 4:15 p.m. Tuesday, June 5, in the exhibition hall. The presentation, by Chief Scientist Raj Singh, PhD, also will be broadcast on live webcast.

"HuBiogel's novel technology provides fully-human tumor assay products and services that allow accurate preclinical and translational research," said Jingsong Chen, MD, Chief Technology Officer at LifeNet Health. "Unlike 2D cell-based models, microtumor models can replicate multicellular growth, angiogenesis, hypoxia and invasion processes ex vivo."

BIO attendees can visit the LifeNet Health exhibit or meet in person at the partnering session with the LifeSciences team to learn more about high-quality primary cells, HuBiogel oncology services, HuGentra human extracellular matrix, and the organization's organ and tissue recovery programs for research. Some of the featured human cell types include hepatocytes, pancreatic islets, dermal fibroblasts, epidermal keratinocytes, and renal epithelial cells in addition to many others.

"LifeNet Health is uniquely prepared to be a catalyst for pioneering advances in drug discovery by meeting the need for organs, tissues and cells in research," said Rony Thomas, LifeNet Health President and CEO. "Our technologies ensure that the resources we provide can support breakthrough translational research, helping accelerate new therapies from the lab to the patient."

The LifeSciences Division is focused on innovative, technology-driven preclinical research programs. The result of this effort is a human tissue- and cell-based in vitro biology platform, supported by vertically integrated recovery and preparation processes. This program serves the growing need for human biospecimens, 3D tissue models, primary cells and hepatocytes for scientific research, drug discovery and safety testing.

About LifeNet Health

LifeNet Health helps save lives, restore health, and give hope to thousands each year. It is the world's most trusted provider of transplant solutions  from organ procurement to bio-implants and cellular therapies  and a leader in regenerative medicine, while always honoring the donors and healthcare professionals who enable healing. For more information about LifeNet Health, go to www.lifenethealth.org.

SOURCE LifeNet Health

Related Links

http://www.LifeNetHealth.org


DUBLIN, June 4, 2018 /PRNewswire/ --

The "Live Cell Imaging Market Outlook 2018-2022" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering.

Live Cell Imaging is defined as the study of living cells using high content screening or analysis systems and imaging systems such as microscopes, cell analyzers, etc. These technologies are used in number of investigations in order to provide critical insights into the fundamental nature of tissue and cellular function.



The new report Live Cell Imaging Market Outlook 2022, includes a comprehensive analysis of the current and future outlooks of the Live Cell Imaging industry. The live cell imaging market is expected to reach US$ 7 Billion by 2022.



The report presents an in-depth analysis of several techniques used in imaging of live cells; as well as the segmentation of market by products, applications, technology and geography. Based on product types, the market has been segmented into equipments, consumables and softwares. Equipment market accounted for the largest share in 2017. According to technologies used in live cell imaging, the market has been divided into FRET, FISH, and other major techniques.



Similarly, geographical regions include North America, Europe, Asia Pacific and Rest of the World. North America is the largest market for live cell imaging due to high number of cell biology researches conducted in the region. Live cell imaging is widely entering into a number of fields such as cell biology, developmental biology, drug discovery, stem cell biology, neurobiology and electrophysiology. It is emerging as a powerful tool for providing critical insights into cell function, including dynamic processes in living cells with nano-scale resolution in real time. Recent advances in microscopy techniques such as fluorescence light microscopy, including super resolution, photo activation, etc. and confocal microscopy are moving live cell imaging for a number of applications.



The last section of the report discusses about the prominent players in global live cell imaging market. A brief business overview and financial information about each of these players has been provided along with their product portfolios. The recent development and strength weakness analysis of every player has also been presented in the report. Overall, the research contains exhaustive information that will help clients in formulating market strategies and assessing opportunity areas in the global live cell imaging market.

Key Topics Covered:



1. Analyst View



2. Research Methodology



3. Live Cell Imaging - An Introduction



4. Global Live Cell Imaging Market Overview



5. Market Dynamics

5.1 Drivers

5.1.1 Rising Incidences of Chronic Diseases

5.1.2 Surging Demand for High-Content Screening Techniques

5.1.3 Increasing Funding Support by Public and Private Sector

5.1.4 Availability of Long-term Live Cell Imaging Platform

5.1.5 Live Cell Imaging Instruments Accelerating Drug Discovery

5.2 Challenges

5.2.1 Maintaining Live Cells on Microscope Stage

5.2.2 Mimicking the In Vivo Microenvironment

5.2.3 Lack of Awareness

5.3 Opportunities

5.3.1 Adoption of High Content Screening Systems for Primary Screening

5.3.2 Application of In Vivo Live Cell Imaging Techniques



6. Global Live Cell Imaging Market By Product

6.1 Equipment

6.2 Consumables

6.3 Software



7. Global Live Cell Imaging Market by Application

7.1 Cell Biology

7.2 Developmental Biology

7.3 Stem Cell Biology

7.4 Drug Discovery

7.5 Other Applications



8. Global Live Cell Imaging Market By Technology

8.1 Fluorescent Resonance Energy Transfer (FRET)

8.2 High Content Analysis (HCA)

8.3 Fluorescence In Situ Hybridization (FISH)

8.4 Other Technologies



9. Global Live Cell Imaging Market By Geography

9.1 North America

9.2 Europe

9.3 Asia Pacific

9.4 Rest of the World



10. Trends & Developments

10.1 Fluorescent Probes Enriching Live Cell Imaging

10.2 Introduction of LiveCyte Kinetic Cytometer for Label-free, Quantitative Phase Imaging

10.3 Live Cell Imaging Revealing Intracellular Interactions

10.4 Introduction of Single Plane Illumination Microscopy Advancing Live Cell Imaging



11. Mergers & Other Collaborations



12. Company Profiles

12.1 Carl Zeiss GmbH

12.2 Becton Dickenson & Co.

12.3 Olympus Corporation

12.4 ThermoFisher Scientific Inc.

12.5 Merck KGaA

12.6 PerkinElmer, Inc.

12.7 Nikon Instruments Inc.

12.8 GE Healthcare

12.9 Lonza

12.10 Danaher Corporation



For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/research/nvjdfm/live_cell_imaging?w=5



Media Contact:

Research and Markets

Laura Wood, Senior Manager

[email protected]



For E.S.T Office Hours Call +1-917-300-0470

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For GMT Office Hours Call +353-1-416-8900



U.S. Fax: 646-607-1907

Fax (outside U.S.): +353-1-481-1716

SOURCE Research and Markets

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CORAL GABLES, Fla., June 4, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- MasTec, Inc. (NYSE: MTZ) today announced that it has signed a master services agreement with the Puerto Rico Electric Power Authority ("PREPA") to complete the restoration of the critical electrical transmission and distribution system components damaged as a result of Hurricane Maria as well as to support the initial phase of reconstruction and modernization of the electrical power system in Puerto Rico. The master services agreement award has an estimated value of $500 million. Services under this contract are expected to be completed over the upcoming 12 months, once MasTec completes the process of remobilizing crew and equipment resources to Puerto Rico.

This award was the result of a competitive RFP bid process to complete the restoration of critical electrical system components and to support the initial reconstruction phase of its electrical utility system following the impact of Hurricane Maria. This process involved the submission of bids from qualified infrastructure construction companies and an analysis by PREPA of each bidder's experience, asset base, financial capacity, understanding of the project and overall cost to perform the work needed.

Under the terms of the contract, MasTec is to perform hurricane restoration and reconstruction services at various locations in PREPA's service area. As the restoration process comes to an end, MasTec will continue to work with the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, PREPA and various other federal and Commonwealth agencies in the transition to upgrading and modernizing the Puerto Rico power grid.

Jose Mas, MasTec's Chief Executive Officer, commented, "We have been proudly performing services in Puerto Rico for over 50 years, including storm restoration efforts completed early this year by our power line and telecom teams. We look forward to expanding our relationship with PREPA and contributing to vital multi-year reconstruction and modernization efforts to significantly improve electric utility infrastructure, reliability and quality of service for the Commonwealth."

MasTec, Inc. is a leading infrastructure construction company operating mainly throughout North America across a range of industries. The Company's primary activities include the engineering, building, installation, maintenance and upgrade of communications, energy and utility infrastructure, such as: wireless, wireline/fiber, and customer fulfillment activities; petroleum and natural gas pipeline infrastructure; electrical utility transmission and distribution; power generation; heavy civil, and industrial infrastructure. MasTec's customers are primarily in these industries. The Company's corporate website is located at www.mastec.com. The Company's website should be considered as a recognized channel of distribution, and the Company may periodically post important, or supplemental, information regarding contracts, awards or other related news on the Presentations/Webcasts page in the Investors section therein.

This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act. These statements are based on management's current expectations and are subject to a number of risks, uncertainties, and assumptions, including market conditions, technological developments, regulatory changes or other governmental policy uncertainty that affects us or our customers' industries; the effect on demand for our services of changes in the amount of capital expenditures by our customers due to, among other things, economic conditions, commodity price fluctuations, the availability and cost of financing, and customer consolidation in the industries we serve; activity in the oil and gas, utility and power generation industries and the impact on our customers' expenditure levels caused by fluctuations in prices of oil, natural gas, electricity and other energy sources; our ability to manage projects effectively and in accordance with our estimates, as well as our ability to accurately estimate the costs associated with our fixed price and other contracts, including any material changes in estimates for completion of projects; the timing and extent of fluctuations in operational, geographic and weather factors affecting our customers, projects and the industries in which we operate; the highly competitive nature of our industry; the ability of our customers, including our largest customers, to terminate or reduce the amount of work, or in some cases, the prices paid for services, on short or no notice under our contracts, and/or customer disputes related to our performance of services; our dependence on a limited number of customers and our ability to replace non-recurring projects with new projects; risks related to completed or potential acquisitions, including our ability to identify suitable acquisition or strategic investment opportunities, to integrate acquired businesses within expected timeframes and to achieve the revenue, cost savings and earnings levels from such acquisitions at or above the levels projected, including the risk of potential asset impairment charges and write-downs of goodwill; disputes with, or failures of, our subcontractors to deliver agreed-upon supplies or services in a timely fashion, and the risk of being required to pay our subcontractors even if our customers do not pay us; risks related to our strategic arrangements, including our equity investees; any material changes in estimates for legal costs or case settlements or adverse determinations on any claim, lawsuit or proceeding; the effect of state and federal regulatory initiatives, including costs of compliance with existing and future safety and environmental requirements; risks associated with potential environmental issues and other hazards from our operations; the effect of federal, local, state, foreign or tax legislation and other regulations affecting the industries we serve and related projects and expenditures, including the effect of corporate income tax reform; the adequacy of our insurance, legal and other reserves and allowances for doubtful accounts; the outcome of our plans for future operations, growth and services, including business development efforts, backlog, acquisitions and dispositions; our ability to maintain a workforce based upon current and anticipated workloads; our ability to attract and retain qualified personnel, key management and skilled employees, including from acquired businesses, and our ability to enforce any noncompetition agreements; any exposure resulting from system or information technology interruptions or data security breaches; fluctuations in fuel, maintenance, materials, labor and other costs; risks related to our operations that employ a unionized workforce, including labor availability, productivity and relations, as well as risks associated with multiemployer union pension plans, including underfunding and withdrawal liabilities; risks associated with operating in or expanding into additional international markets, including risks from fluctuations in foreign currencies, foreign labor, general business conditions and risks from failure to comply with laws applicable to our foreign activities and/or governmental policy uncertainty; restrictions imposed by our credit facility, senior notes, and any future loans or securities; our ability to obtain performance and surety bonds; a small number of our existing shareholders have the ability to influence major corporate decisions; risks associated with volatility of our stock price or any dilution or stock price volatility that shareholders may experience in connection with shares we may issue as consideration for earn-out obligations or as purchase consideration in connection with past or future acquisitions, or as a result of other stock issuances; as well as other risks detailed in our filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Actual results may differ significantly from results expressed or implied in these statements. We do not undertake any obligation to update forward-looking statements.

SOURCE MasTec, Inc.

Related Links

http://www.mastec.com


WILSONVILLE, Ore., June 4, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Mentor, a Siemens business, today introduced Capital Systems Networks  an advanced software tool engineered to speed and simplify the creation of in-vehicle Controller Area Network (CAN) communications networks based on the SAE J1939 standard. The solution provides proven, powerful technology to help engineers rapidly develop, optimize and validate J1939 networks.

Commonly deployed in heavy-duty commercial vehicles such as trucks, buses and off-road vehicles, SAE J1939 is a data networking standard used for in-vehicle communications and diagnostics. Commercial vehicles may incorporate as many as six separate CAN networks, requiring new designs and rework for each new vehicle model.

As the number of processors, sensors, and electronic actuators deployed in commercial vehicles rises with each model-year, so too does the complexity of designing the data networks used to connect them. Despite this rising complexity, a lack of robust network design tools often forces engineers to rely on rudimentary, maintenance-intensive technologies such as spreadsheets incorporating in-house macros.

Designed to address these challenges, the Capital Systems Networks product enables holistic network development. As part of the extensive Capital tool suite, the new Mentor tool integrates network and electrical design within a single environment, streamlining development of functional and physical designs for J1939 networks. By supporting a generative design process within a coherent electric and electronic (E/E) architecture, Capital Systems Networks helps dramatically speed network design, validation and optimization.

The Capital Systems Networks tool includes a robust library and unified dictionary of SAE J1939 signals, functions and features. This allows designs, ECUs, and even entire networks to be reused and tailored for specific vehicle models and variants.

"Capital Systems Networks is a sophisticated tool that addresses the massive complexity associated with today's automotive network designs," said Martin O'Brien, vice president and general manager of Mentor's Integrated Electrical Systems Division. "Designed for optimal scalability and re-usability, Capital Systems Networks' model-based solution enables a generative design approach offering the potential for 90 percent design efficiency improvement for J1939-based CAN networks, while at the same time handling several thousands of signals."

"Capital supports advanced platform architecture exploration, allowing us to generate rapid iterations and evaluate different implementation options directly within the design environment," said Rosa Talarico, CVPD ES system integration, networking & methodologies manager for CNHi. "This functionality, together with Capital's data reusability and scalability across multiple abstractions, allows us to dramatically reduce design cycles and speed time to market."

About Capital

Developed for transportation applications, Mentor's Capital Electrical Design Software suite spans an extended flow from concept and electrical architecture definition to wire harness design, manufacture and vehicle maintenance. Combining powerful design automation and modern enterprise integration capabilities, the software creates digital continuity within the electrical domain to compress development cycle time and deliver significant cost reductions. Capital tools can be implemented individually or deployed together in a unified flow that seamlessly matures data within a consistent environment. Robust integration with adjacent domains (such as MCAD and PLM) is fully supported, as is cross-organizational collaboration.

Availability

Capital Systems Networks is available now. For more information please visit http://go.mentor.com/4ZK6f.

Contact for journalists

James Price

Phone: (503) 685-71778; Email: [email protected]

Mentor Graphics Corporation, a Siemens business, is a world leader in electronic hardware and software design solutions, providing products, consulting services, and award-winning support for the world's most successful electronic, semiconductor, and systems companies. Corporate headquarters are located at 8005 S.W. Boeckman Road, Wilsonville, Oregon 97070-7777. Web site: http://www.mentor.com.

Mentor Graphics, Mentor, and Capital are registered trademarks of Mentor Graphics Corporation. All other company or product names are the registered trademarks or trademarks of their respective owner.

SOURCE Mentor, a Siemens business

Related Links

http://www.mentor.com


GREENVILLE, S.C., June 4, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Michelin today announced the winners of the 18th global Michelin Challenge Design competition, "Michelin Concours d'Elegance 2050  Future Classic."

Works by individuals and teams of designers from Algeria, Argentina, Brazil, China, France, India, Russia, South Korea and the United States were among the winners and finalists selected by a distinguished jury of the world's top automotive designers and industry experts.

The Michelin Concours theme challenged participants to design a vehicle for the year 2025 that will become a classic and defines, or represents, this transitional era in automotive design and technology to win the Michelin Concours d'Elegance in the year 2050. Images of the winning entries are available at www.michelinchallengedesign.com.

Representatives from the first-, second- and third-place winners were invited guests at "Movin'On by Michelin", the premier global sustainable mobility event held in Montreal. The winners and their designs were joined by winners from the 17th global competition and recognized during a private reception at Movin'On. Winners participated in a private portfolio review with members of the jury and leading designers and participated in a workshop on sustainable mobility.

"The Michelin Challenge Design competition celebrates innovation in vehicle design. The quality of this year's entries was outstanding," said Ben Ebel, lead user experience designer, Michelin North America and chairman of Michelin Challenge Design. "We congratulate the winners on designing innovative, thought-provoking, futuristic entries that are worthy of winning the Michelin Concours d'Elegance in 2050."

The three winning designs, six finalists and four honorable mentions were chosen by the jury from more than 1,000 entrants representing 67 countries. In the past 18 years, Michelin Challenge Design has received more than 13,000 entries from 130 countries.

Winners of the 18th Michelin Challenge Design, "Concours d'Elegance 2050  Future Classic":

First place: Georgii Varodi of St. Petersburg , Russia , for design entry "DS Bertoni"

, , for design entry "DS Bertoni" Second place: Harsh Panchal of Vadodra, India , for design entry "Mystique"

, for design entry "Mystique" Third place: Boussid Mohammed Ramdane of Oran, Algeria , for design entry "Bugatti Type 2050 SC Atlantic"

Finalists of the 18th Michelin Challenge Design (in alphabetical order):

Oto Arantes of Sao Paulo , Brazil , for design entry "QuarantONE"

, , for design entry "QuarantONE" Guillermo Nicolas Gaudioso of Eldorado , Misiones, Argentina ; Facundo Castellano Davila of Cordoba , Argentina ; and Lucas Basile of La Plata, Buenos Aires , Argentina ; for design entry "EAL Concept"

of , Misiones, ; of , ; and of La Plata, , ; for design entry "EAL Concept" Dong Hun Han of Seoul , South Korea , for design entry "Ferrari Gothica Rossa 2025 Electric Hypercar Concept"

of , , for design entry "Ferrari Gothica Rossa 2025 Electric Hypercar Concept" Tao Ni, Hua Chen, Yong Ni , Rui Xiong , and Yuan Tian (Ether Design Lab) of China , for design entry "Noah"

, , and Yuan Tian (Ether Design Lab) of , for design entry "Noah" Maria Rydno of St. Petersburg , Russia , for design entry "Chanel"

, , for design entry "Chanel" Emilie Sicot , Guillaume Mazerolle , and Alexis Nguyen of Paris , France , for design entry "Aston Martin E-GO"

Honorable Mentions of the 18th Michelin Challenge Design (in alphabetical order):

Esteban Daniel Diaz Gonzalez and Lucas Colombo of Cordoba , Argentina , for design entry "Bi25"

and of , , for design entry "Bi25" Deven Khatri of Detroit, Michigan , United States , for design entry "The AMAZ Concept"

of , , for design entry "The AMAZ Concept" Mihul Prakash of Kanpur, India , for design entry "Genesis ENTRADA"

, for design entry "Genesis ENTRADA" Sergei Safin of St. Petersburg , Russia , for design entry "Legendary Drones"

The panel of esteemed jurors consisted of: Stewart Reed, chair, Transportation Design Department, Art Center College of Design, consultant and jury chairman, Michelin Challenge Design; Robert Bauer, design studio manager, Nissan Design America; Chris Chapman: chief designer, Hyundai Design North America; Dave Marek, Acura global creative director, Honda R&D Americas, Inc.; Craig Metros, design director, North American Truck, S.U.V & Commercial, Ford Motor Company; Damien Michelin, honorary juror, Michelin North America; Frank Saucedo, director, Advanced Design Studio, General Motors; Freeman Thomas, former global advanced design director, Ford Motor Company and Jason Wilbur, owner, Brave Labs, Inc.

Juror comments :

"Michelin Challenge Design is the most important global design competition for emerging young talent. The beautiful thing is that we really engage the global design community. That was once again reflected in the works chosen by our jurors," said Stewart Reed, Art Center College of Design in California and Michelin Challenge Design jury chairman.

"I'm always intrigued to see all of the different ideas that come from around the world," said Craig Metros, Ford Motor Company.

"This Michelin Challenge Design theme really brought a unique aspect to the word 'elegance'. It's elegance in engineering. It's elegance in technology. It's elegance in future thinking," said Chris Chapman, Hyundai Design North America.

"The premise of a car being built in 2025 becoming a classic is extremely hard. You have to project in 2025 first something that would be that far out and then in 2050 becomes a classic. This challenge is unique," said Frank Saucedo, General Motors.

"Michelin Challenge Design is a fantastic opportunity for young designers around the world to participate and show off their design and innovation skills. The quality of work was impressive," said Robert Bauer, Nissan Design America.

"The solutions were unique and I think what we arrived to in the final were equally different, yet had the same kind of feeling for a Concours car," said Dave Marek, Honda R&D Americas, Inc.

"I'm looking for that element of innovation. Concours is really less about the rational and more about the irrational beauty of innovation and art," said Freeman Thomas, former global advanced design director, Ford Motor Company.

"It's great to see younger people be passionate about what they do. We should do everything we can to encourage them and help them demonstrate their talents," said Damien Michelin, honorary juror for Michelin North America.

About Michelin North America

Dedicated to the improvement of sustainable mobility, Michelin designs, manufactures and sells tires for every type of vehicle, including airplanes, automobiles, bicycles, earthmovers, farm equipment, heavy-duty trucks and motorcycles. The Company has earned a long-standing reputation for building innovative premium tires. In addition to tires, the Company also publishes travel guides, hotel and restaurant guides, maps and road atlases. Headquartered in Greenville, S.C., Michelin North America (www.michelinman.com) employs about 22,700 and operates 19 major manufacturing plants. Forbes magazine has ranked Michelin No. 1 on its annual survey of "Best Large Employers in America" for 2018. Learn more about purpose-driven careers with a purpose-driven company at jobs.michelinman.com.

For more information and images, visit www.michelinchallengedesign.com

SOURCE Michelin

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WASHINGTON, June 4, 2018 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The National Association of Investment Companies (NAIC) congratulates Clearlake Capital Group and the investment group led by Dyal Capital Partners on the group's recent acquisition of a minority stake in Clearlake Capital. This transaction exemplifies a clear recognition of the enormous success Clearlake Capital has achieved to date, and its potential for increased growth and outstanding investment returns.

Clearlake Capital Group is a leading private investment firm founded in 2006 that has managed approximately $7 billion of institutional capital since inception. The transaction marks the second investment in an NAIC member firm by Dyal Capital Partners. In 2015, a Dyal-led group completed an investment in Austin-based Vista Equity Partners. "These transactions illustrate the increasing realization of the growth and potential for increased success of diverse managers," says Robert L. Greene, President & CEO of the NAIC. "We anticipate similar transactions ahead as these firms continue to beat benchmarks and generate alpha."

In the Clearlake Capital transaction, the passive, non-voting minority stake will provide permanent capital to significantly increase the firm's investments in its own funds and to support the development of initiatives that capitalize on the firm's sector-focused approach coupled with its unique integration of private equity, special situations, and credit capabilities.

About the NAIC: Based in Washington, DC, the National Association of Investment Companies (www.naicpe.com) was founded in 1971. Comprised of more than 50 member firms representing over $90 billion in assets under management, it is now the largest network of diverse-owned private equity firms and hedge funds in the United States.

MEDIA CONTACT:

Alan Hughes

917-993-3842

[email protected]

SOURCE National Association of Investment Companies

Related Links

http://www.naicpe.com


LOUISVILLE, Ky., June 4, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Nationwide Advisory Solutions adds nine new funds to Monument Advisor, the industry's first[i] and only Flat-Fee[ii] Investment-Only Variable Annuity (IOVA). A leading distributor of tax-advantaged investing solutions for Registered Investment Advisors (RIAs), fee-based advisors and the clients they serve, the company continues to offer the industry's largest lineup of investment options,[iii] including the most alternatives such as real assets, trading assets, and liquid alternatives[iv] utilizing strategies like those favored by hedge funds and elite institutional investors.

"When selecting new funds to add to our lineup, the advisor is always top-of-mind. Our goal is to help advisors control what they cantaking a holistic approach to planning, keeping costs low, and investing for greater tax-efficiency," said Craig Hawley, Head of Nationwide Advisory Solutions. "With greater transparency, Flat-Fee pricing and the industry's largest lineup of underlying funds, Monument Advisor is an Investment-Only VA that is tailor-made to help meet the tax-advantaged investing needs of RIAs, fee-based advisors and the clients they serve."

To round out their suite of offerings from top manager American Funds, Nationwide Advisory Solutions now offers six new investment options, bringing the total to eighteen. The new additions from American Funds include, Capital Income Builder, Global Growth and Income Fund, Global Growth Fund, U.S. Government/AAA-Rated Securities Fund, International Growth and Income Fund, and Global Small Cap. Many RIAs and fee-based advisors prefer to build American Fund-only models, and by rounding out the suite with these additions, it greatly enhances their abilities to manage American Fund-centric portfolios. Nationwide Advisory Solutions also has relationships with many Third Party Investment Advisors that utilize the American Funds modeling.

Nationwide Advisory Solutions has also added Nationwide's NVIT Nationwide Fund. The fund changed subadvisers in November 2017 to AQR Capital Management. The fund strategy utilizes a defensive large cap equity style. AQR is known for their alternative investment strategies and has a solid reputation within the Asset Management industry, including recognition in 2016 as "Smart Beta Manager of the Year" in the Financial News' Excellence in Asset Management Awards and in the Institutional Investor European Awards.

In addition, Nationwide Advisory Solutions now offers RIAs and fee-based advisors two funds from MFS investment Management, MFS Value and MFS Growth. MFS has nearly a century of active management experience, and Barron's has named MFS among the "Best Mutual Fund Families," based on its active risk management approach and investment results, for eight consecutive years from 2008 through 2016.

About Nationwide Advisory Solutions

Nationwide Advisory Solutions, formerly known as Jefferson National, is a recognized innovator with a mission to help RIAs and fee-based advisors build their practice by helping their clients to potentially accumulate more wealth and reach their financial goals. The company does this by developing and delivering value-added investment products, services and technologies that fit the fiduciary standardwrapped in an industry-leading customer experience. To learn more, please visit www.nationwideadvisory.com

About Nationwide

Nationwide, a Fortune 100 company based in Columbus, Ohio, is one of the largest and strongest diversified insurance and financial services organizations in the U.S. and is rated A+ by both A.M. Best and Standard & Poor's. The company provides a full range of insurance and financial services, including auto, commercial, homeowners, farm and life insurance; public and private sector retirement plans, annuities and mutual funds; banking and mortgages; excess & surplus, specialty and surety; pet, motorcycle and boat insurance. For more information, visit www.nationwide.com.

Nationwide, Nationwide is on your side, the Nationwide N and Eagle are service marks of Nationwide Mutual Insurance Company.  2018

[i] Mogel, Gary S. (2005, June 6), Flat-fee variable annuity makes its debut. Investment News. Retrieved from http://www.investmentnews.com/article/20050606/SUB/506060708

[ii] Jefferson National's Monument Advisor has a $20 monthly flat insurance fee. Additional low-cost fund platform fees ranging from .10% - .35% will be assessed for investors wishing to purchase shares of low-cost funds. See the prospectus for details. Certain low-cost funds may only be available to you if you retain certain investment advisors.

[iii] Morningstar Data as of 12/31/16.

[iv] Morningstar Data as of 12/31/16.

An investor should carefully consider the investment objectives, risks, charges and expenses of the investment before investing or sending money. For a prospectus and underlying fund prospectuses containing this and additional information, please contact your financial professional. Read it carefully before investing. The summary of product features is not intended to be all-inclusive. Restrictions may apply. The contracts have exclusions and limitations, and may not be available in all states or at all times.

Variable annuities are investments subject to market fluctuation and risk, including possible loss of principal. Your units, when you make a withdrawal or surrender, may be worth more or less than your original investment.

Variable annuities are long-term investments to help you meet retirement and other long-range goals. Withdrawals of tax-deferred accumulations are subject to ordinary income tax. Withdrawals made prior to age 59 may incur a 10% IRS tax penalty. Jefferson National does not offer tax advice. Annuities are not deposits or obligations of, or guaranteed by any bank, nor are they FDIC insured.

Monument Advisor is issued in all states, except NY, by Jefferson National Life Insurance Company (Louisville, KY). In New York, Monument Advisor is issued by Jefferson National Life Insurance Company of New York (New York, NY). The general distributor is Jefferson National Securities Corporation, FINRA member. Policy Series JNL-2300-1, JNL2300-2, JNL-2300-3, JNL-2300-1-NY, JNL-2300-2-NY. All companies are affiliates of Nationwide Life Insurance Company.

Jefferson National Life Insurance Company | Jefferson National Life Insurance Company of New York



VAM-3001AO

JNL201805-C020

SOURCE Nationwide Advisory Solutions

Related Links

http://www.nationwideadvisory.com


Recent data shows that global clothing production has more than doubled over the past 15 years, but people now keep clothes for just half the amount of time they used to.1 What's more, more than 20% of garments are discarded because they have lost their shape, color or integrity. Downy set out to create a plant-based fabric conditioner with a touch of coconut oil to help people extend the life of their clothes, which is better for wallets and the environment.

"We want to help everyone care for the clothes they love, and that means keeping them looking newer, longer," said Nate Lawton, Director of P&G North America Fabric Care. "We created Downy Nature Blends to help people incorporate more plant-based products into their daily lives, without compromising on great care for their clothes."

The new Downy Nature Blends line is made using 100 percent renewable wind power electricity at a zero-manufacturing waste to landfill facility. Like all Downy Fabric Conditioners, the bottles are made from 25 percent post-consumer recycled content and are 100 percent recyclable. This resonates with those looking to care for their clothes while caring for the environment, like Olympic Gold Medalist Jamie Anderson.

"Coming from a big family, we always found ways to make the most of hand-me-downs. My family learned quickly that one way to take the best care of clothing so we could keep handing it down is by using a fabric conditioner like Downy," said Anderson, the first female snowboarder to win more than one Olympic gold medal. "I love the light, fresh scent of Downy Nature Blends, and that it uses plant-based ingredients to help me care for my clothes."

Downy Nature Blends is certified through the USDA BioPreferred program, with 70 percent of the formula made from biobased ingredients. The test that determines biobased content was created by experts who are members of ASTM International, a standards development organization. Its affiliate, the Safety Equipment Institute, manages the USDA contract to provide certification by independent laboratories as well as the product labeling aspect of the program.

"The USDA BioPreferred program empowers everyone  from everyday consumers to business customers  to make renewable product purchases, while also helping manufacturers meet the growing demand for those products," said Pat Gleason, president of SEI and vice president of certification services for ASTM International.

Downy Nature Blends can be found online and at retailers nationwide.

About Procter & Gamble

P&G serves consumers around the world with one of the strongest portfolios of trusted, quality, leadership brands, including Always, Ambi Pur, Ariel, Bounty, Charmin, Crest, Dawn, Downy, Fairy, Febreze, Gain, Gillette, Head & Shoulders, Lenor, Olay, Oral-B, Pampers, Pantene, SK-II, Tide, Vicks, and Whisper. The P&G community includes operations in approximately 70 countries worldwide. Please visit http://www.pg.com for the latest news and information about P&G and its brands.

About USDA BioPreferred and Certified Biobased Product label

The BioPreferred Program is a USDA-led initiative that assists the development and expansion of markets for biobased products. BioPreferred is transforming the marketplace for biobased products through two initiatives: mandatory purchasing requirements for Federal Agencies and Federal contractors and voluntary product certification and labeling.

Biobased products span a diverse range of applications, such as lubricants, cleaning products, chemicals and bioplastics. The USDA Certified Biobased Product label communicates a product's biobased content. Usually expressed as a percentage, biobased content is the ratio of non-fossil organic carbon (new carbon) to total organic carbon in a product. New carbon is derived from recently-created materials. The total organic carbon in a product consists of new carbon and old organic carbon that originates from fossil carbon materials, such as petroleum, coal, or natural gas. Approximately 2,500 products have earned the USDA Certified Biobased Product label as of May 2016. To learn more about the USDA Certified Biobased Product label please visit www.biopreferred.gov, and follow on Twitter at http://twitter.com/BioPreferred.

About Downy

Downy Fabric Conditioner smooths and strengthens fibers to protect clothes from the damage of the wash, helping them maintain their shape. By smoothing fibers, Downy reduces the friction between them that causes them to break and leads to pills and fuzz. And when fibers break, colors appear duller, so using Downy also helps keep your clothes from fading. This is how Downy works to keep clothes looking newer, longer compared to using detergent alone.

1 https://www.economist.com/news/business-and-finance/21720200-global-clothing-production-doubled-between-2000-and-2014-looking-good-can-be

SOURCE Procter & Gamble
This year, eight of the 18 journalists who will be added to the memorial are women. The Committee to Protect Journalists reports that 46 journalists were killed on the job in 2017, and eight of them  or 17 percent  were women. That marks an unusual increase over previous years, when women represented 7 percent, on average, of the journalists who died reporting the news. Click here to view a complete list of the journalists being added to the memorial this year.

"Some of these women were killed covering news in war zones," said Cathy Trost, executive director of the Freedom Forum Institute. "Others were brutally murdered for reporting stories that challenged the powerful. All the journalists recognized on this memorial this year faced unprecedented dangers as they worked to report the news, often in countries where press freedom is imperiled or nonexistent."

Also today, the Newseum has blacked out its Today Front Pages exhibit as part of its annual #WithoutNews campaign. The social media campaign encourages the public to consider what the world would be like without journalists to report the news, and raises awareness of threats to journalists around the world.

With the addition of 18 journalists this year, the Journalists Memorial bears the names of 2,323 reporters, photographers, broadcasters and news executives from around the world, dating back to 1837.

About the Newseum

The mission of the Newseum, located in Washington, D.C., is to increase public understanding of the importance of a free press and the First Amendment. Visitors experience the story of news, the role of a free press in major events in history, and how the core freedoms of the First Amendment  religion, speech, press, assembly and petition  apply to their lives. Considered one of the most interactive museums in the world, the Newseum has seven levels with 15 galleries and 15 theaters. The Newseum also reaches millions of students through its robust offering of on-site classes and workshops. The Newseum is a 501(c)(3) public charity funded by generous individuals, corporations and foundations, including its principal funder, the Freedom Forum. For more information, visit newseum.org and follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

SOURCE Newseum

Related Links

http://www.newseum.org


"Every new condominium project is in essence a startup. Nukondo is to new condominium buildings what eMerge Americas is to tech startups," says Jorge Brugo its founder. Far from being a new project directory, Nukondo's multi-platform is a tool that streamlines the interactions between condominium developers and their master brokers with buyers and their agents. The goals are clear: speeding up sales, lowering marketing costs and de-risking all stakeholders.

"We're very excited to launch the app, during eMerge Americas," said Maria Juliana Romero, co-founder of the firm. "There are strong connections between the tech and real estate markets, and our business model leverages on these ties."

As a developer himself, Mr. Brugo headed the first smart residential building in Miami in the early 2000's, featuring a touchscreen from where to automate the home devices and enabling the interaction with various building amenities and services. It took a visionary to bet a few million dollars in unexplored territory. The building outsold its competitors, achieving 35% price premiums, and sold twice as fast. What's started as an innovation has become a new standard.

Mr. Brugo and his team are raising the bar once again, but now for the benefit of the entire niche of the industry.

"Miami has always had a thriving real estate market and it is also rapidly becoming an established tech and innovation hub. Nukondo combines these two forces at the right time, I am confident that they have a bright future ahead," says Melissa Medina Executive Vice President of eMerge Americas.

About Nukondo

Nukondo delivers digital products that create an efficient marketplace for new condominiums in world-class buildings around the globe. It provides a platform for real estate developers and their master brokers, to keep information about their projects updated and accurate in one place. It standardizes and distributes this information globally so buyers and their agents can gain access to these projects providing the tools decide which condominium is most suitable for their needs. We believe that through transparent information people are empowered to make better decisions.For further information, please visit www.nukondo.com, the App Store, or email [email protected] to learn more about Nukondo corporate services.

SOURCE Nukondo

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OBOR Education Holdings Limited first launched its beta version on 1 st April 2018, the beta application garnered more than 1 million downloads within 2 weeks of its launch. Registered users hit more than 100,000, including close to 9,000 paid users. Total revenue within the same period was reported to be more than US$1 million.

The official version includes more intuitive features such as bookmarks, resource downloading, and social media sharing. The official version has also been enriched with more educational resources from 20 countries that are along the Belt and Road regions. The countries featured ranges from European powerhouse, Germany, France and Spain to emerging markets such as Hungry, Poland and Czech Republic. These resources include native business terminology, hiring practices, in-depth analysis of sunrise industries, unspoken local business practices and more.

Since the official launch, reviews have been positive. Mr. Li Jun Jie a garment business owner who travels once a week to Zaragoza, Spain for business meeting, gave a thumbs up to the new official version. "The download feature is useful as I will be able to listen to the resources during my flight," said Mr. Li during an interview. Another user Mr. Wang Jian Fu, a Business Development Manager in an event company was delighted to have found OBOR Edu App. He added "My line of work involved meeting potential clients from Europe. This app gives me quick information on European economic history and statistics, European business terminology and unspoken local business practices which aid me in my line of work."

Since its launch in April 2018, OBOR Edu, a highly acclaimed educational App continues to impact the market with its array of impressive resources and intuitive features. Experts are predicting that OBOR Edu's valuation will rise sharply within the next few weeks of the launch.

SOURCE OBOR Education Holdings Limited
PROVIDENCE, R.I., June 4, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Providence-based Ocean State Healthcare acquired Newport County Medical Treatment Office, a single site Urgent Care Center. It is the sole extended hour medical clinic in the area and combined with the network of providers and resources of Ocean State will provide the access to the highest quality care.

Headquartered in Providence, RI, Ocean State Healthcare treats over 200,000 patients annually through an affiliated network of 70 clinical providers across 23 locations. The company combines traditional primary care clinics with urgent care clinics and wrap-around ancillary services. For additional information, please visit www.oceanstateurgentcare.com.

"Ocean State Healthcare has built a differentiated level of access and care for patients and communities in RI," said Peter Grabaskas, CEO of Ocean State Healthcare. "We are excited to expand this care through our quality providers."

Dr. Rob Crausman, co-founder of Ocean State Healthcare, said, "We are very happy to expand our Integrated platform of primary care and urgent care to Aquidneck Island where we can offer year-round expanded healthcare access to residents and visitors alike."

Ocean State Healthcare is backed by New Harbor Capitol a Private Equity Firm based out of Chicago focusing on Healthcare and Education.

SOURCE Ocean State Healthcare

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PETALUMA, Calif., June 4, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- To get a job done right, someone will need the proper tools. The necessary instruments vary for businesses, but without proper tools, a project's end result or business' overall performance can be subpar. Brandon Frere, successful entrepreneur and CEO of several companies, suggests taking stock of what apparatuses are most important to a business and making sure to be well-stocked on them.

What tools are needed change from business to business, but some are more standard than others. Employees are one of the most common tools, but not always the most thought of in that light. They are still people, but without the proper amount of and properly trained employees, a business would not run optimally. "Sometimes in small businesses, owners might be tempted to try and use as few employees as possible and have the fewer employees cover more tasks. It's good to not flood a business with too many employees who would sit around and not directly benefit the company, but too few employees can be detrimental, as well. Balance in that kind of situation is crucial, as with most things involving running a business," says Frere.

Being properly staffed can mean different things to various companies. Sometimes an employee being trained to handle multiple tasks is perfectly fine, but there are limited hours in a day, and sometimes more employees would be more useful. "Having the proper amount of employees to get a business appropriately taken care of is important. Listen to current employees too on what they have to say regarding whether they need more people or not because they'll know from direct experience. It can be tricky to find just the right balance, but your business will be all the better for it," says Frere.

About Frere Enterprises

Brandon Frere is an entrepreneur and businessman who lives in Sonoma County, California. He has designed and created multiple companies to meet the ever-demanding needs of businesses and consumers alike. His company website, www.FrereEnterprises.com, is used as a means to communicate many of the lessons, fundamentals and information he has learned throughout his extensive business and personal endeavors, most recently in advocating on behalf of student loan borrowers nationwide.

As experienced during his own student loan repayment, Mr. Frere found out how difficult it can be to work with federally contracted student loan servicers and the repayment programs designed to help borrowers. Through those efforts, he gained an insider's look into the repayment process and the motivations behind the inflating student loan debt bubble. His knowledge of the confusing landscape of student loan repayment became a vital theme in his future endeavors, and he now uses those experiences to help guide others through the daunting process of applying for available federal repayment and loan forgiveness programs.

FrereEnterprises.com

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SOURCE Frere Enterprises

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ORLANDO, Florida, June 4, 2018 /PRNewswire/ --

Steve Hernandez joins Parkopedia from SP+ to head the newly created Parking, North America division;

joins Parkopedia from SP+ to head the newly created Parking, division; Parkopedia is the provider of parking services to leading automotive brands, including Audi, BMW, Ford, Garmin, GM, Jaguar, Land Rover, Peugeot, Toyota, Volkswagen, Volvo and many others;

Founded in 2007, Parkopedia now provides detailed information on 60 million parking spaces in over 8000 cities globally, including real-time parking space availability information in over 2000 cities.

Parkopedia, the world's leading parking services provider, announced today the appointment of Steve Hernandez as Vice President of Parking, North America, a new position within the company.

In this new role, based out of Atlanta, GA, Steve will be expanding Parkopedia's North American partnerships with parking operators and municipalities. Steve is a 16-year industry veteran specializing in parking management and technology. Prior to joining Parkopedia, he served as a Vice President at SP+ where he was responsible for the growth and development of SP+ Municipal Services.

Commenting on the announcement, Parkopedia's COO Hans Puvogel said, "We are delighted to have Steve join Parkopedia to take our business with parking operators and municipalities in North America to the next level".

The announcement was made at the 2018 International Parking Institute (IPI) Conference & Expo in Orlando, Florida.

Notes to Editors:

Parkopedia is the world's leading parking service provider used by millions of drivers and organizations such as Apple, Audi, BMW, Coyote, Ford, Garmin, GM, Jaguar, Land Rover, Peugeot, Sygic, TomTom, Toyota, Volkswagen, Volvo and many others.

Parkopedia provides detailed static information on 60 million parking spaces in over 8000 cities, including real-time parking space availability information in over 2000 cities.

The service allows drivers to find the closest parking to their destination, tells them how much it will cost and whether the space is available. Parkopedia also allows drivers to pay for parking online, through a mobile app and in-car.

Further Enquiries:

Christina Onesirosan Martinez MBA MCIM

Marketing Director

Parkopedia

T: +44(0)7980058760

E: [email protected]

W: http://www.parkopedia.com

SOURCE Parkopedia
The CapsoCam Plus System is a sophisticated, user-friendly capsule endoscopy solution that provides a full 360 image of the small bowel mucosa  the most comprehensive capsule endoscopy visualization available on the market. The CapsoCam's cutting-edge 360 panoramic lateral view camera is designed to improve diagnostic confidence by overcoming the field of view limitations associated with end-facing cameras.

"Our commitment at PENTAX Medical is to provide our customers with solutions that help improve clinical outcomes and enhance the patient experience while more efficiently managing healthcare costs. The CapsoCam Plus capsule endoscopy system addresses all three," said David Woods, President and CEO of PENTAX Medical, Americas, "We are excited about this collaboration and our ability to place this important innovation in the hands of the GI endoscopist."

"With CapsoVision's innovative capsule technology and PENTAX Medical's vast sales resources, this is a tremendous opportunity to substantially grow our CapsoCam Plus and CapsoCloud business," said Doug Atkinson, Vice President of U.S. and International Sales at CapsoVision. "Once PENTAX Medical customers see the advantages of CapsoCam Plus and CapsoCloud over other capsule endoscope systems clinically, operationally and financially, they will want to offer it to their patients with small bowel GI disorders."

"One of the biggest advantages of CapsoCam Plus is the streamlined workflow," said Dr. Ian Storch, Gastroenterologist at Gastroenterology Consultants of Long Island in New Hyde Park, NY. "I can use the capsules on any day and not worry whether my recorders are in use."

After the exam is conducted, the capsule is collected, and the data is uploaded to the CapsoCloud Download Center and viewed by the physician using the CapsoView 3.4 diagnostic interface. CapsoCloud allows physicians to extract data from the CapsoCam Plus capsule without the need to process capsule after patient ingestion. The service is HIPAA-compliant, secure and gives physicians quick, easy access to patient exam data.

The CapsoCam Plus video capsule system is intended for the visualization of the small bowel mucosa in adults. It may be used as a tool in the detection of abnormalities of the small bowel.

About PENTAX Medical

PENTAX Medical is a division of Hoya Group. Its mission is to improve the standard of patient care and enhance patients' and providers' experience by providing the best endoscopic products and services with a focus on QUALITY, CLINICALLY RELEVANT INNOVATION, and SIMPLICITY. Through leading-edge R&D and manufacturing, PENTAX Medical provides endoscopy solutions to the global medical community. Headquartered in Japan, PENTAX Medical has a worldwide focus and presence with R&D, regional sales, service, and in-country facilities around the globe. PENTAX Medical employees represent the diverse countries where we do business, allowing us to provide innovative solutions tailored to meet local needs. For more information, visit PENTAXMedical.com/US.



About CapsoVision

CapsoVision, Inc. is a global medical innovator located in Silicon Valley. A privately-held company with out-of-the-box thinking and top-notch talent, CapsoVision's mission is to empower physicians and patients with innovative technologies that improve diagnostic confidence and clinical outcomes. CapsoVision currently offers the CapsoCam Plus capsule endoscopy system in over 70 countries. Visit CapsoVision.com for more information.

www.pentaxmedical.com

SOURCE PENTAX Medical
EAST HARTFORD, Conn., June 4, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Pratt & Whitney, a division of United Technologies Corp. (NYSE: UTX), and Philippine Airlines celebrated delivery of the airline's first Airbus A321neo aircraft last week. The aircraft, powered by Pratt & Whitney Geared Turbofan (GTF) engines, is scheduled to start passenger service in early June.

"We're excited to welcome the GTF-powered A321neo to our fleet," said Jaime Bautista, president and chief operating officer at Philippine Airlines. "We expect this engine to help us significantly reduce fuel burn and emissions while giving our passengers a much quieter flight experience on our brand new A321neos."

Pratt & Whitney powers a significant portion of Philippine Airlines' operating fleet with 24 V2500 powered A321ceos. The airline has an additional 20 GTF-powered A321neo aircraft on order.

"We are pleased to extend our decades-long relationship with Philippines Airlines. The GTF-powered A321neo will support Philippine Airlines in continuing to provide great service to its passengers for many years to come," said Rick Deurloo, senior vice president of sales, marketing and customer support at Pratt & Whitney. "We thank Philippine Airlines for their confidence and commitment to Pratt & Whitney."

Since entering into service in early 2016, the GTF engine has demonstrated its promised ability to reduce fuel burn by 16 percent, to reduce nitrogen oxide emissions by 50 percent to the regulatory standard, and to lower the noise footprint by 75 percent.

The V2500 engine is offered through IAE International Aero Engines AG, a multinational aero engine consortium whose shareholders comprise Pratt & Whitney, a division of United Technologies Corporation; Pratt & Whitney Aero Engines International GmbH; Japanese Aero Engines Corporation; and MTU Aero Engines GmbH.

About Pratt & Whitney

Pratt & Whitney is a world leader in the design, manufacture and service of aircraft engines and auxiliary power units. United Technologies Corp., based in Farmington, Connecticut, provides high-technology systems and services to the building and aerospace industries. To learn more about UTC, visit its website at www.utc.com, or follow the company on Twitter: @UTC.

This press release contains forward-looking statements concerning future business opportunities. Actual results may differ materially from those projected as a result of certain risks and uncertainties, including but not limited to changes in levels of demand in the aerospace industry, in levels of air travel, and in the number of aircraft to be built; challenges in the design, development, production support, performance and realization of the anticipated benefits of advanced technologies; as well as other risks and uncertainties, including but not limited to those detailed from time to time in United Technologies Corp.'s Securities and Exchange Commission filings.

Pratt & Whitney

+1 (860) 565-9600

[email protected]

SOURCE Pratt & Whitney

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WASHINGTON, June 4, 2018 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- 6-7-2018 @ 9:30 a.m., a press conference will be held in the Zenger Rm at NPC, located at 529 14th St. NW, 13th Fl, Washington, DC 20045. Speakers Wendy Perry, a parent-child advocate leading the fight against the psychological abuse of children, Dr. Craig Childress, a clinical psychologist and leading expert in "parental alienation" pathology, and Rod McCall, author of For the Love of Eryk: Surviving Divorce, Parental Alienation and Life After, (Rod writes about his own son who was killed in a murder-suicide by the child's mother because of this pathology). Also, Ginger Gentile, director and producer of the documentary film Erasing Family, which exposes the global epidemic pathology of "parental alienation," exacerbated by the failure of professional psychology. On June 6, 2018 @ 2:00pm, the speakers will hand-deliver a Petition to the American Psychological Association: Protecting Children from Psychological Child Abuse, signed by over 19,000 parents.

Children are not weapons and should never be used as weapons in the spousal conflict surrounding divorce. Yet the lack of knowledge in forensic psychology regarding basic domains of professional psychology and the absence of appropriate guidance from forensic psychology to the family courts is allowing and rewarding the weaponization of children in high conflict divorce. This pathology is commonly called "parental alienation" in the field of forensic psychology and high conflict divorce, when the personality pathology of one parent is triggered by the rejection surrounding the divorce, leading this parent to psychologically control and manipulate the child into taking sides in the spousal conflict surrounding the divorce, ultimately leading the child into rejecting the other parent following the divorce.

Children are being psychologically abused by the allied narcissistic-borderline personality parent who is forcing the child to reject the other parent following divorce. In response to the pathology, forensic psychology lacks the professional-level knowledge in defined domains of pathology needed to solve high conflict attachment-related family pathology following divorce. Most forensic psychologists have minimal to no training in the domains of knowledge needed to solve this pathology; the attachment system, personality disorder pathology, family systems therapy, and complex trauma.

Instead, court-involved forensic psychology makes up new forms of pathology that don't exist in clinical psychology, conducts extensive and exceedingly expensive child custody evaluations that lack validity in the conclusions and recommendations reached, and conduct an entirely made-up, undefined, and ineffective therapy ("reunification therapy") that can last for years and that does not alter the pathology, with the pathology instead becoming increasingly worse over time.

The domain of court-involved professional practice is forensic psychology and is separate from clinical psychology, which is the domain of professional psychology responsible for solving everything else, all of the different types of child and family pathologies that are not court-involved. Clinical psychology, long banished by forensic psychology from court-involved professional practice, is returning to solve court-involved high conflict family pathology surrounding divorce and child custody.

The Petition to the APA is the voice of parents seeking the support of the American Psychological Association to obtain the necessary professional knowledge regarding the attachment system, parental personality pathology, family systems pathology, and complex trauma which is needed to solve the attachment-related family pathology of "parental alienation" following divorce. The Petition to the APA seeks three actions from the APA, 1) an immediate press release supporting Standard 2.01a of the APA ethics code requiring professional competence, 2) a change to the APA's position statement on "parental alienation" pathology, acknowledging the pathology exists and designating these children and families a "special population" requiring specialized knowledge to diagnose and treat, and 3) to convene a conference of experts to examine the role of professional psychology in the family courts and child custody decision-making.

Dr. Childress, a clinical psychologist, and Children4Tomorrow, a non-profit in Houston, have come together to establish a pilot program for the Houston family courts that represents the return of clinical psychology to court-involved high-conflict divorce. This program for the family courts brings the necessary professional knowledge in attachment pathology, parental personality pathology, family systems therapy, and complex trauma to the solution by creating a knowledgeable treatment team of family therapists and amicus attorneys as a clinical psychology resource for the court.

The AB-PA pilot program for the family courts in Houston represents the return of clinical psychology to court-involved high conflict divorce that saves and protects the family and restores a normal-range and healthy childhood for the child. The AB-PA program for the family courts is a structured replicable model for court-involved clinical psychology that will solve high conflict family pathology surrounding divorce.

SOURCE Alliance to Solve Parental Alienation
CHICAGO, June 4, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- New ways of approaching behavioral analytics and how healthcare organizations use such tools are necessary because auditing every access is now a possibility, thanks to artificial intelligence. Robert Lord, president and co-founder of Protenus, the world's leading healthcare compliance analytics platform, will present with David Holtzman, the vice president of compliance strategies for CynergisTek, on the use of User and Entity Behavior Analytics (UEBA) to identify anomalous and potentially risky behaviors within healthcare information systems.

Lord and Holtzman's joint presentation, entitled "Cutting Through the Fog of Monitoring and Auditing User Activity," will discuss OCR and FTC enforcement actions that influenced current best practices, common use cases for privacy monitoring and auditing that involve Electronic Health Records (EHRs), and the pros and cons of deploying UEBA technologies to gain full visibility into EHR activity.

"UEBA is a broad category of technologies that give health systems greater visibility into how their employees and affiliates are using the EHR and associated information systems," stated Lord. "When healthcare organizations gain a better understanding of how their patient data is being accessed and used, appropriate steps can be taken to better protect this data from unfortunate misuse. The reality, however, is the UEBA exists on a spectrum, and there are many considerations that are unique to healthcare when discussing the types of platforms you might want to use to monitor user behavior."

Health systems currently use tools that reactively respond to suspected patient privacy violations, run routine reports and facilitate manual audits. These tools lack the analytics necessary to audit every access to patient data or proactively identify breaches to patient privacy, especially when at least 41 percent of all health data breaches are attributable to healthcare organization insiders.

"Advances in technology, especially with UEBA, provide the ability to analyze large datasets in real time, something that isn't feasible with manual audits or older technology," stated Holzman. "It's important for healthcare to utilize best practices and understand the latest technologies in order to decide the best way for their organization to proactively audit every access to their patient data."

The American Health Lawyers Association (AHLA) brings together the nation's leading health lawyers through education, information and dialogue. AHLA is the nation's largest, nonpartisan, 501(c)(3) educational organization devoted to legal issues in healthcare.

To register or learn more about the presentation, please visit the AHLA conference website.

Presentation details:

Tuesday, June 26, 2018

3:15 p.m. CDT

Wednesday, June 27, 2018

10:45 a.m. CDT

Hyatt Regency Chicago Hotel, Chicago, Illinois

About Protenus

The Protenus healthcare compliance analytics platform uses artificial intelligence to audit every access to patient records for the nation's leading health systems. Providing healthcare leaders full insight into how health data is being used and alerting privacy, security and compliance teams to inappropriate activity, Protenus helps our partner hospitals make decisions about how to better protect their data, their patients and their institutions. Learn more at Protenus.com and follow us on Twitter @Protenus.

About CynergisTek

CynergisTek is a top-ranked cybersecurity and information management consulting firm dedicated to serving the healthcare industry. CynergisTek offers specialized services and solutions to help organizations achieve privacy, security, compliance and document output management goals. Since 2004, the company has served as a partner to hundreds of healthcare organizations and is dedicated to supporting and educating the industry by contributing to relevant industry associations. The company has been named in numerous research reports as one of the top firms that provider organizations turn to for privacy and security, and won the 2017 Best in KLAS award for Cyber Security Advisory Services.

Contact

Kira Caban

Director, Public Relations

[email protected]

410-913-0274

Jana Langhorne

Sr. Director of Marketing

[email protected]

SOURCE Protenus
ARLINGTON, Va., June 4, 2018 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Today, the Retail Industry Leaders Association (RILA), the trade association for America's largest and most innovative retail brands, announced its first-ever (R)Tech Global Retail Challenge in partnership with the Bensadoun School of Retail Management at McGill University. The case competition will ask students around the world to develop creative ideas for reshaping retail in the circular economy. The Challenge has attracted two great sponsors: VF Corporation and Canadian Tire Corporation. The competition will culminate with a world-class final event in Montreal hosted by McGill University in November.

RILA launched the (R)Tech Center for Innovation in 2017. Since its launch, the Center has focused on helping retailers navigate the industry's transformation through authoritative research, connecting retailers to innovative technologies and ventures, and assisting the industry in creating cultures of innovation. Specifically, the (R)Tech Center for Innovation empowers retail innovation chiefs and exposes other executives to the technologies and innovations driving change in retail.

"Since its inception, RILA and the Center have been focused on helping retailers solve grand retail challenges and drive their businesses into the future," said Adam Siegel, senior vice president of innovation for RILA. "We are thrilled to partner with McGill University and universities across the globe. We are confident this competition will open students to the opportunities within retail and foster meaningful solutions that can help shape the future of our industry and its contribution to the circular economy."

"Through our new Bensadoun School of Retail Management, we have the opportunity to partner with organizations such as RILA to tackle the pressing issues surrounding retail and Grand Challenges facing our societies," said Dean Isabelle Bajeux, Desautels Faculty of Management at McGill University. "The (R)Tech Global Retail Challenge exposes students to one of these Grand Challenges: sustainability and the circular economy. Teams will be equipped to find innovative solutions that could lead to new entrepreneurial ventures. This competition will showcase the future of retail from the next generation of industry leaders."

RILA and McGill have invited over 90 universities from around the world to join the Challenge. Each participating university will develop 1-2 student teams under the guidance of a relevant faculty advisor. These teams will be charged with finding solutions to accelerate young consumers' participation in scalable circular economies for retail and consumer products.

The challenge will start in early fall with the teams applying design thinking over the course of 6 weeks. These sessions will be animated by Karen Hold, a Design Thinking expert. The teams will then gather at McGill University for a finals weekend on November 15-17, 2018. Finalists will be judged by executives from sponsor companies, together with retail and circular economy experts. The finals will be held in conjunction with the official launch of the Bensadoun School of Retail Management on November 16th.

The Challenge is the centerpiece of RILA's groundbreaking collaboration with Intel and universities from all corners of North America to help create a robust retail-tech talent pipeline.

"We are excited to participate in the first-ever (R)Tech Global Retail Challenge, to be held in our home country. As a proud Canadian retailer with over 95 years of retail excellence, Canadian Tire has continued to evolve in a rapidly changing retail landscape to become one of the country's most recognized retail brands," said Robyn Collver, Chief Sustainability Officer, Canadian Tire Corporation. "We are looking forward to continuing to drive retail innovation by welcoming the future of retail talent to Montreal later this year."

About the Retail Industry Leaders Association

RILA is the trade association of the world's largest and most innovative retail companies. RILA members include more than 200 retailers, product manufacturers, and service suppliers, which together account for more than $1.5 trillion in annual sales, millions of American jobs, and more than 100,000 stores, manufacturing facilities, and distribution centers domestically and abroad.

About McGill University and the Bensadoun School of Retail Management:

Situated in Montreal, the Best Student City according to the 2017 QS rankings, McGill University is one of Canada's best-known institutions of higher learning and one of the leading universities in the world. With students coming to McGill from some 150 countries, its student body is the most internationally diverse of any research-intensive university in the country.

Coming at a time of monumental change in the retail industry, a major gift from the Bensadoun Family Foundation has led to the creation of the Bensadoun School of Retail Management. The School aims to be the world premier academic institution dedicated to the future of retail - building on the global reputation of the Faculty of Management and leveraging McGill's deep multi-disciplinary expertise in domains like artificial intelligence, big data, neuroscience and agroindustry, An important focus of the work of the school will be on enabling sustainable consumption and healthier societies.

SOURCE Retail Industry Leaders Association

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NEW YORK, June 4, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- FRESCO is pleased to announce that FRESCO will have a major presence at Forbes "Basel ArtTech + Blockchain Connect" conference, to be held on June 13 in Basel, Switzerland.

Organized by Forbes and New Academy of Art, "Basel ArtTech + Blockchain Connect" conference will include two panel discussions on the topics of "Art & Blockchain" and "Authentication & Tech" at Art Basel 2018.

FRESCO Network Inc.

Roy Huang, the co-founder of FRESCO, will attend this conference and talk about how FRESCO will expand the art population and introduce a new art engagement model through blockchain technology.

Roy Huang is the co-founder of FRESCO, the world's first blockchain art asset network. With extensive experience and resources in finance, technology and art collecting, Roy explores the front edge of the art-tech industry. Coming from a collector family, Roy has formed an appreciation for art since the very beginning. And he clearly sees how blockchain can help improve the provenance, promotion and liquidation of artwork at a global scale, so he decided to create FRESCO with a team of passionate art and blockchain people.

A guest lecturer at Cheung Kong Graduate School of Business and guest speaker at University of Toronto, New Art Academy and BlockInvest, Roy Huang has been actively advocating for the integration of the art market and technology. He is a patron of major art museums in the U.S., including MoMA and the Met, and a member of The Cultivist, an exclusive club for globally renowned art collectors. His private art collection, HRY Collection, focuses on post-war and contemporary art with works from Pablo Picasso, Andy Warhol, Jack Whitten, Takashi Murakami and more.

His most recent acquisition is Virgil Abloh's JCDecaux, one of the very first works from the star artist.

Roy is one of the youngest speakers ever at Art Basel and Forbes Live, and he aims higher. From the early start of his art collection and patronage career, he intends to bridge the communication between China and other cultures.

Among the few Chinese deeply involved and actively speaking on international art stages, Roy hopes to deliver his message to a broader audience beyond the exclusive art world.

Inventing the first ICD in blockchain industry, Roy discovers and attracts an art community of over 100,000 people from Vietnam, Nigeria, Russia, Ukraine, Indonesia and other currently art scene-underrepresented countries in the past months. From FRESCO's weekly art campaigns, he received thousands of comments, calling for more opportunities to access art.

Realizing the significance of a growing community, he is determined to reinforce FRESCO's global impact, bring art for all and engage all in art through aesthetic education and advanced technology.

Organizers of "Basel ArtTech + Blockchain Connect" conference:

Forbes:

Under the global education of Forbes, Forbes Live hosts various dynamic and interactive events that bring the stories, discoveries and debates from the world's most influential leaders, policy-makers, entrepreneurs and artists  uniting these global forces to harness their collective knowledge, address today's critical issues and discover innovative solutions. Speakers at Forbes Live include Bill Gates, Evan Spiegel, Warren Buffett, Sir Richard Branson, Chris Capossela and those who revolutionize healthcare, ease the global refugee crisis or invent breakthrough technology.

New Art Academy:

New Art Academy's mission is to make education about art and innovative technology available and accessible to professionals around the world. New Art Academy hosts panel discussions, lectures and conferences on the topics ranging from art and blockchain to artificial intelligence globally. New Art Academy partners with Forbes Global Education, Strategic Legal Counsel, CKGSB, eBay and various other industry leaders in the world.

Art Basel:

Art Basel builds world-leading shows in Basel, Hong Kong and Miami, connecting collectors, galleries and artists and supporting the role galleries play in nurturing the careers of artists. Art Basel draws a strong turnout of both established and new collectors from over 100 countries. Art Basel in Basel attracted an attendance of 95,000 as a pivotal meeting point for the international art world in 2017. The same year, the show brought together 291 premier galleries from 35 countries, presenting extraordinary contemporary and modern works by over 4,000 artists.

The Art Basel publications "The Art Market" and "The Art Market Principles and Best Practices" are a commitment to increasing the transparency and accountability of the art market. The Art Market, an annual global art market analysis presented with UBS, covers all aspects of the international market and highlights the most important developments in the art world.

About FRESCO

The top sponsor of Forbes "Basel ArtTech + Blockchain Connect" conference, FRESCO is the world's first blockchain art digital asset network, aiming to expand art population and introduce new engagement model through blockchain technology. FRESCO creates a decentralized art ecosystem, serving artists, investors, dealers, galleries, museums and auction houses.

Through blockchain technology and Elastos' operating system, FRESCO enables liquidation, promotion and provenance of artworks at a global scale. Based on a collaborative emphasis on integrating art with technology, FRESCO and DSL Collection reach a global strategic partnership, creating a publicly accessible and experiential platform for artworks.

Launching art tests, museum visits, art conversations and art awards, FRESCO is building the largest art community in the world.

FRESCO mainly consists of FRES artwork trust value (FRES Trust) and FRES artwork blockchain digital copyright (FRES Edition).

FRES Trust is a blockchain-based art value measurement system. FRES Edition is the limited digital assets copyright issued by artwork holders on FRESCO platform.

FRESCO is launching the world's first ICD (Initial Coin Distribution), distributing 300 million FRESCO tokens to the global community free of charge. Through this process, FRESCO will enable nearly 150,000 people to learn and understand the art world. This is something even the world's leading art institutions can't achieve.

Through FRES Trust and FRES Edition, FRESCO manages to expand the art investment population to the whole world and therefore pushes the art market to an unprecedented level.

Media Contact:

FRESCO Team

Email: [email protected]

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SOURCE FRESCO Network Inc.
BOSTON, June 4, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Rue La La, an innovative e-commerce destination known for connecting world-class brands with next-generation shoppers, announced that it has entered into an agreement to acquire Gilt, a leading member-based digital shopping business, from Hudson's Bay Company (HBC). The combined company joins two complementary lifestyle brands into a multi-brand growth platform. Both brands will continue to operate independently, retaining their unique identities and serving distinct customer segments. In conjunction with this announcement, Rue La La intends to hire more than 150 associates to run the Gilt business in New York, Boston and Kentucky, as well as other sites across the country. The transaction is expected to close in July 2018.

Rue La La and Gilt, operating under the newly formed Rue Gilt Groupe, will leverage an advanced technology platform that combines leading capabilities in mobile and personalization. With 60% of sales happening on mobile devices, the brands will capitalize on Rue La La's mobile-first approach, offering a seamless customer experience. An excellent vehicle for brands to reach a highly attractive customer base, the Rue Gilt Groupe portfolio will serve over 20 million members with a focus on young, affluent, fashion and brand-conscious consumers. Merchandising scale and efficiencies will benefit both members and brand partners.

"Having achieved record revenues and profits in 2017, Rue La La is poised to further strengthen its leadership position in fashion off-price e-commerce. Through the acquisition of Gilt and our evolution into a multi-brand platform, we are equipped for an acceleration in growth, innovation and profitability," said Mark McWeeny, CEO of Rue La La. "Together with Gilt, Rue La La looks forward to increasing our presence and offering the attainable luxury and best-in-class experience that today's customers demand."

Michael Rubin, executive chairman at Rue La La adds, "This transaction places the Rue Gilt Groupe in the premier tier of e-commerce growth companies. Our two distinct brands have large, highly engaged customer bases, cutting edge technology and mobile leadership. With enhanced scale and efficiency, we expect our growth trajectory to quickly enable us to surpass $1 billion in total sales."

About Rue La La

Rue La La strives to be the most engaging off-price, online style destination connecting world-class brands with the next generation shopper. Each day, Rue La La members discover the most desired men's, women's, and children's apparel and accessories; beauty, home decor and accents; and exclusive destinations and experiences. Rue La La's engaging approach to retail has brought excitement to online shopping, creating a captivating e-commerce destination that strategically supports its brand partners and inspires its members daily. Rue La La was ranked #8 on Internet Retailer's 2016 Mobile 500 list. For more information, please visit www.ruelala.com.

SOURCE Rue La La
ORLANDO, Fla., June 4, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- SAP SE (NYSE: SAP) today announced that it has more than doubled the number of digital innovation solutions and significantly expanded design-led engagement services with the launch of the SAP Leonardo Partner Medallion Initiative. The new initiative enlists an initial 13 SAP partners to develop and deliver new industry innovation solutions to help customers across the globe innovate faster and with less risk. The announcement was made at the SAP Global Partner Summit, being held June 4, 2018.

SAP Leonardo technologies empower enterprises with intelligent technologies for every business process, to create better outcomes.

The SAP Leonardo Partner Medallion initiative expands the number of solutions and teams available to organizations seeking to innovate with SAP-certified technology from a global network of trusted providers. It is designed for system integrators and technology providers, and includes both global and regional organizations to serve SAP customers worldwide. Initial partners include ABeam Consulting, Accenture, Capgemini, Deloitte, EY, HCL, Hitachi Consulting, KPIT, Mindtree's SAP practice Bluefin, NTT, PWC, TCS and Wipro.

"The number of organizations seeking transformation is immense," said Mala Anand, president of SAP Leonardo and Data & Insights at SAP. "The SAP Leonardo Partner Medallion initiative brings the strength of SAP's trusted ecosystem to deliver digital innovation to help our customers solve strategic business problems. Together with our partners, we are enabling industry innovation and offering customers easy, progressive paths to achieve specific use cases with quick time to value."

Under the initiative, SAP provides support and certification for new industry innovation accelerators collections of tools and materials for specific industries and business functions that can be tailored for each customer in a fixed-time, fixed-scope enablement process. Partners already have introduced 35 industry innovation accelerators, with an additional 43 planned. New solutions from partners address innovation scenarios including connected shelves and inventories for retailers, derailment prevention for railway operators, and cold chain logistics for pharmaceutical, food and beverage, and medical device industries. Additional solutions address business process innovation serving multiple industries, including supply chain and logistics, digital customer engagement, sales forecasting and cognitive controlling.

For more information, visit the SAP News Center. Follow SAP Leonardo Internet of Things capabilities on Twitter at @SAPLeonardo and follow SAP at @sapnews.

About SAPPHIRE NOW, June 5-7, 2018, Orlando, Florida, USA

SAPPHIRE NOW offers customers, partners and prospects even more opportunities to engage with peers, participants and thought leaders around the globe. The event connects attendees on-site with global off-site participants through state-of-the-art broadcast studios and online with the latest social media and community functionality. Whether on-site or online, attendees can gain insight into how SAP delivers on its strategy and helps organizations around the world Run Simple. Follow the event on Twitter at @SAPPHIRENOW.

About SAP

As market leader in enterprise application software, SAP (NYSE: SAP) helps companies of all sizes and industries run better. From back office to boardroom, warehouse to storefront, desktop to mobile device  SAP empowers people and organizations to work together more efficiently and use business insight more effectively to stay ahead of the competition. SAP applications and services enable approximately 388,000 business and public-sector customers to operate profitably, adapt continuously, and grow sustainably. For more information, visit www.sap.com.

Any statements contained in this document that are not historical facts are forward-looking statements as defined in the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Words such as "anticipate," "believe," "estimate," "expect," "forecast," "intend," "may," "plan," "project," "predict," "should" and "will" and similar expressions as they relate to SAP are intended to identify such forward-looking statements. SAP undertakes no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements. All forward-looking statements are subject to various risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from expectations. The factors that could affect SAP's future financial results are discussed more fully in SAP's filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC"), including SAP's most recent Annual Report on Form 20-F filed with the SEC. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which speak only as of their dates.

 2018 SAP SE. All rights reserved.

SAP and other SAP products and services mentioned herein as well as their respective logos are trademarks or registered trademarks of SAP SE in Germany and other countries. Please see http://www.sap.com/corporate-en/legal/copyright/index.epx#trademark for additional trademark information and notices.

For customers interested in learning more about SAP products:

Global Customer Center: +49 180 534-34-24

United States Only: 1 (800) 872-1SAP (1-800-872-1727)

For more information, press only:

Jim Dever, SAP, +1 (610) 661-2161, [email protected], EDT

Jason Loesche, SAP, +1 (484) 437-0015, [email protected], EDT

Kathrin Eiermann, SAP, +49 6227 767029, [email protected], CET

SAP News Center press room; [email protected]

Kyle Tildsley, PAN Communications, +1 (617) 502-4300, [email protected], EDT

SOURCE SAP SE

Related Links

http://www.sap.com


To set the stage for the next phase, the Company announces today that it appoints retail industry veteran, Jamie Karson, as Chief Operating Officer. Karson is the former Chairman and CEO of Steve Madden, a company which has enjoyed explosive growth. During Mr. Karson's long term tenure as CEO, the company's market cap reached $1 billion and consistently delivered yearly sales and profit growth.

Shoptiques also added a new product to its roster, a comprehensive Point of Sales Solution "SPOS" featuring boutique-centric inventory management, employee management, clientele and customer management, and reporting. With the new product, Shoptiques becomes a true one-stop shop solution for boutiques with an integrated omnichannel offering. Shoptiques offers boutiques access to its 1mm+ shoppers on Shoptiques.com, email marketing services, website-hosting services and now a Point of Sale solution.

"Shoptiques hosts our online website, handles logistics and ensures we're utilizing all of the new technologies," says Elliot Dejmal, an owner of Dor L Dor boutique, which recently reached $1mm in sales on Shoptiques. "With such synergistic relationships, you can potentially create a never-ending wheel of innovation that continues to drive business your way."

Founder and CEO, Olga Vidisheva commented, "We're very excited about the next chapter in the Shoptiques growth story. To be successful, you need to have an amazing team and best-in-class product. Jamie Karson joining us as COO helps us scale the business much faster and with the addition of SPOS, we are proud to be offering small boutiques best-in-class tools to be successful and compete with large giants like Amazon and Macy's."

Jamie Karson, Shoptiques COO, added, "Shoptiques currently features over 6,500 boutiques on Shoptiques.com marketplace. Over and over again, boutiques were asking the team to help beyond online - with their in-store operations. So over the past two years, Shoptiques developed a proprietary POS solution that helps small boutiques run their business in-store and online. The system includes retail-specific inventory management, employee management, customer management and clientele solution, and comprehensive boutique specific reporting and data analytics. With this new product, Shoptiques is well-positioned to give Shopify run for its money."

About Shoptiques: Shoptiques lets you shop the world's best boutiques online. Before Shoptiques, if you lived in Kansas but wanted to shop a small boutique in NY, or even Paris, you had to buy a plane ticket. So to make life a little easier, Shoptiques brought them online, creating a destination that connects savvy shoppers with hundreds of hand-picked boutiques across the globe. In addition to access of a marketplace and thousands of consumers, Shoptiques offers boutiques a range of tools including email marketing, inventory management, photography, web hosting, and POS solution. Shoptiques.com is funded by Andreessen Horowitz, Greylock, Benchmark, William Morris Endeavor Talent Agency among others.

About the Founder: Olga Vidisheva is the founder and CEO of Shoptiques. Prior to starting

Shoptiques, Olga attended Harvard Business School, worked at CHANEL, Goldman, Sachs & Co. in Technology, Media and Telecom Investment Banking in NY, and modeled for numerous fashion brands. Olga was the first single non-technical founder accepted into Y Combinator, from which she launched Shoptiques in spring of 2012.

Media Contact:

Stacey Bender

[email protected]

973-744-0707

SOURCE Shoptiques
To date, four holes have been executed from the 1070 level of the Yauricocha Mine in the Contacto Oriental Area. These holes have intercepted polymetallic sulphide mineralization containing high-grade zinc and copper zones over significant widths. These results demonstrate the potential for high grade mineralization within the reported area, and more importantly indicate the continued existence of extensive mineralization at depth. These results come as part of an ongoing brownfield drilling program testing priority targets at the Yauricocha Mine, which is located 150 kilometers east-southeast of Lima in the Yauricocha Mining District (Cordillera Occidental), Peru.

Igor Gonzales, President and CEO of Sierra Metals stated: "Today's results represents further the further potential at the Yauricocha Mine with the identification of high-grade polymetallic mineralization at the Contacto Oriental zone. It also suggests the possibility of even further mineralization at depth, specifically from the Zinc sulphide orebodies which contain significant widths." He continued, "The Central Mine area contains several high-grade mineralized areas opening the possibility for further discoveries of additional orebodies along the Yauricocha fault. The Company made a strong commitment to brownfield exploration as part of its growth plan, and results such as the ones released today continue to demonstrate that this investment is paying off with the potential to further grow our mineral resources, and add high value tonnage".

Alonso Lujan, Vice President, Exploration of Sierra Metals commented: "The location of the new discovery is outside of the Yauricocha Fault contact zone, which is important as it confirms the exploration upside of zones previously unexplored. Prior exploration efforts at Yauricocha were mainly focused on the Yauricocha contact zone." He continued, "the results reported today from the Contacto Oriental zone demonstrate the existence of high-grade, sulphide mineralized sectors containing mainly copper and zinc as show in table 1 below. Generally hydrothermal breccias are large structures and the discovery of a new style of mineralization represents a new opportunity to further increase resources."

All reported intercepts are core length as further drilling is required to determine true thicknesses.

A map of the Yauricocha Mine 1070 level (Central Mine) is shown in Figure 1. Figure 2 shows the location of the area explored. Figures 3, 4 and 5 show the cross sections of the drill holes (Please note in figure 5 the width of the Copper sulphide orebody is more than 25 meters).

Table 1  Selected Drill Hole Assay Results on Contacto Oriental Zone

Hole No From To Width (m) Ag (g/t) Pb (%) Cu (%) Zn (%) Style E-COR17-18-01 4.00 24.60 20.60 0.14 0.02 0.01 1.47 Breccia

65.10 97.50 32.40 2.31 0.51 0.37 11.75 Poly

97.50 146.60 49.10 1.06 0.07 1.84 0.30 Copper E-COR17-18-02 9.00 19.00 10.00 0.19 0.05 0.03 1.98 Breccia

90.00 95.10 5.10 0.33 0.07 0.09 1.14 Breccia

95.10 96.00 8.85 0.24 0.17 0.03 4.06 Breccia E-COR17-18-03 4.90 33.10 28.20 0.15 0.02 0.02 2.08 Breccia

72.00 77.30 5.30 0.97 0.03 0.87 0.07 Copper

115.60 124.90 9.30 0.39 0.03 0.14 7.68 Breccia E-COR17-18-04 4.95 24.10 19.15 0.16 0.02 0.01 1.99 Breccia

37.00 57.80 17.95 0.10 0.01 0.01 0.54 Breccia

92.20 149.40 57.20 1.86 0.54 0.28 9.53 Poly/Breccia

Quality Control

All samples were dried, crushed and pulverized by the Chumpe Lab at site, pulp samples were shipped by ALS Peru S.A. Lab Chemex) to their laboratory in Lima, Peru.

The quality assurance-quality control (QA-QC) program employed by Sierra Metals has been described in detail in the NI-43-101 report for Yauricocha dated December 9, 2016, prepared by SRK Consulting in Denver, which is available for review on Sedar. Standards and blanks are inserted into the sample stream and duplicate samples are sent to the ALS Peru S.A. lab (Chemex) in Lima as per internal quality control procedures.

Qualified Persons

The technical content of this news release has been reviewed and approved by Gordon Babcock P.Eng., Chief Operating Officer and a Qualified Person under National Instrument 43-101 Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects.

Americo Zuzunaga, MAusIMM CP (Mining Engineer) and Vice President of Corporate Planning is a Qualified Person and chartered professional qualifying as a Competent Person under the Joint Ore Reserves Committee (JORC) Australasian Code for Reporting of Exploration Results, Mineral Resources and Ore Reserves.

Augusto Chung, FAusIMM CP (Metallurgist) and Consultant to Sierra Metals is a Qualified Person and chartered professional qualifying as a Competent Person on metallurgical processes.

About Sierra Metals

Sierra Metals Inc. is Canadian based growing polymetallic mining company with production from its Yauricocha Mine in Peru, and its Bolivar and Cusi Mines in Mexico. The Company is focused on increasing production volume and growing mineral resources. Sierra Metals has recently had several new key discoveries and still has many more exciting brownfield exploration opportunities at all three Mines in Peru and Mexico that are within close proximity to the existing mines. Additionally, the Company also has large land packages at all three mines with several prospective regional targets providing longer term exploration upside and mineral resource growth potential.

The Company's Common Shares trade on the Bolsa de Valores de Lima and on the Toronto Stock Exchange under the symbol "SMT" and on the NYSE American Exchange under the symbol "SMTS".

Continue to Follow, Like and Watch our progress:

Web: www.sierrametals.com | Twitter: sierrametals | Facebook: SierraMetalsInc | LinkedIn: Sierra Metals Inc

Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains "forward-looking information" and "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of Canadian and U.S. securities laws related to the Company (collectively, "forward-looking information"). Forward-looking information includes, but is not limited to, statements with respect to the Company's operations, including the anticipated developments in the Company's operations in future periods, the Company's planned exploration activities, the adequacy of the Company's financial resources, and other events or conditions that may occur in the future. Statements concerning mineral reserve and resource estimates may also be considered to constitute forward-looking statements to the extent that they involve estimates of the mineralization that will be encountered if and when the properties are developed or further developed. These statements relate to analyses and other information that are based on forecasts of future results, estimates of amounts not yet determinable and assumptions of management. Any statements that express or involve discussions with respect to predictions, expectations, beliefs, plans, projections, objectives, assumptions or future events or performance (often, but not always, using words or phrases such as "expects", "anticipates", "plans", "projects", "estimates", "assumes", "intends", "strategy", "goals", "objectives", "potential" or variations thereof, or stating that certain actions, events or results "may", "could", "would", "might" or "will" be taken, occur or be achieved, or the negative of any of these terms and similar expressions) are not statements of historical fact and may be forward-looking information.

Forward-looking information is subject to a variety of risks and uncertainties, which could cause actual events or results to differ from those reflected in the forward-looking information, including, without limitation, risks inherent in the mining industry including environmental hazards, industrial accidents, unusual or unexpected geological formations, floods, labour disruptions, explosions, cave-ins, weather conditions and criminal activity; commodity price fluctuations; higher operating and/or capital costs; lack of available infrastructure; the possibility that future exploration, development or mining results will not be consistent with the Company's expectations; risks associated with the estimation of mineral resources and the geology, grade and continuity of mineral deposits and the inability to replace reserves; fluctuations in the price of commodities used in the Company's operations; risks related to foreign operations; changes in laws or policies, foreign taxation, delays or the inability to obtain necessary governmental permits; risks relating to outstanding borrowings; issues regarding title to the Company's properties; risks related to environmental regulation; litigation risks; risks related to uninsured hazards; the impact of competition; volatility in the price of the Company's securities; global financial risks; inability to attract or retain qualified employees; potential conflicts of interest; risks related to a controlling group of shareholders; dependence on third parties; differences in U.S. and Canadian reporting of mineral reserves and resources; potential dilutive transactions; foreign currency risks; risks related to business cycles; liquidity risks; reliance on internal control systems; credit risks, including risks related to the Company's compliance with covenants with respect to its BCP Facility; uncertainty of production and cost estimates for the Yauricocha Mine, the Bolivar Mine and the Cusi Mine; and other risks identified in the Company's filings with Canadian securities regulators and the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC"), which filings are available at www.sedar.com and www.sec.gov, respectively.

This list is not exhaustive of the factors that may affect any of the Company's forward-looking information. Forward-looking information includes statements about the future and are inherently uncertain, and the Company's actual achievements or other future events or conditions may differ materially from those reflected in the forward-looking information due to a variety of risks, uncertainties and other factors. The Company's statements containing forward-looking information are based on the beliefs, expectations, and opinions of management on the date the statements are made, and the Company does not assume any obligation to update forward-looking information if circumstances or management's beliefs, expectations or opinions should change, other than as required by applicable law. For the reasons set forth above, one should not place undue reliance on forward-looking information.

Note Regarding Reserve and Resource Estimates

All reserve and resource estimates reported by the Company are calculated in accordance with the Canadian National Instrument 43-101 - Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects and the Canadian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy Classification system. These standards differ significantly from the requirements of the SEC. The differences between these standards are discussed in our SEC filings. Mineral resources which are not mineral reserves do not have demonstrated economic viability.

SOURCE Sierra Metals Inc.

Related Links

www.sierrametals.com


FT. LAUDERDALE, Fla., June 4, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Sixt Rent-a-Car, the global mobility provider with more than 2,000 locations in over 100 countries, is renowned around the world for affordable luxuryoffering premium vehicles, world-class service, and competitive pricing. Operating in the United States since 2011, the company recently revealed it has already grown to the #4 car rental brand in America, with 2017 revenue at $366 million.

Sixt has now officially opened its newly-expanded location at Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport. This opening marks Sixt USA's 5th grand opening this year alone.

"At Sixt, we win by playing 'small ball', doing all of the little things right. With every new location, we start small, work hard, and earn our way into the market. We started in Phoenix with just two counters, today we're expanding to five, and are projecting we will double that yet again in the next few years. We're increasing the size of our premium fleet as well...all to keep up with ever-increasing demand for Sixt in Phoenix," said Daniel Florence, COO of Sixt North America. "We're thrilled to have this opportunity, and grateful to the citizens in and travellers to PHX for giving us a try. This newly-expanded location will make a great experience even better."

In 2018 alone, Sixt has opened a new location at the San Antonio International Airport, moved into an upgraded facility at the Tampa International Airport, and opened a new location at the Fort Myers International Airport. Last year, Sixt unveiled a newly-expanded offering at its flagship space in the Miami International Airport and at its Seattle-Tacoma International Airport location, launched a new location at the San Diego International Airport, and moved into its new North American corporate headquarters in Ft. Lauderdale, FL. The company has grown to over 750 employees, and serves more than 53 rental locations located in California, Florida, Georgia, Indiana, Washington, Texas, Connecticut, New Jersey, Minnesota, Pennsylvania, Nevada, Arizona, and Massachusetts.

To learn more, read Auto Rental News' "Is America Ready for Sixt?" and Forbes' "The Biggest Car Rental Firm You've Never Heard Of".

About Sixt:

Sixt SE has its registered headquarters in Pullach near Munich and is a leading international provider of high-quality mobility services for business and corporate customers as well as private travelers. With representations in over 100 countries worldwide Sixt is continually expanding its presence. The Company's strengths the high proportion of premium cars in the vehicle fleet, its employees' consistent service orientation and a good price-performance ratio. Taken together these strengths have given Company an excellent market position. Sixt was founded in 1912 and maintains alliances with renowned brands in the hotel industry, well-known airlines and numerous prominent service providers in the tourism sector. The Sixt Group generates revenues of EUR 2.6 billion (2017). http://about.sixt.com/

SOURCE Sixt Rent-a-Car

Related Links

https://www.sixt.com


"The demand for the Sleep Inn brand's simply stylish design prototype continues to increase among developers who recognize that its timeless aesthetic is more than just a savvy designit's a savvy investment," said Brian Quinn, head of development, new construction brands, Choice Hotels. "We offer the lowest new construction build costs in the midscale market, without sacrificing quality, and the resources to help owners thrive."

The property is being developed by Hart Family Hotels, which owns and operates several Choice brand properties across Iowa, including in Ames, Fort Dodge and West Des Moines.

"The Sleep Inn hotels we operate are high-performing, which is why we plan to develop several more throughout the Midwest, Denver, and Utah," said Troy Hart, president of Hart Family Hotels. "Guests love the nature-inspired look and feel, and modern, timeless experience."

The Sleep Inn & Suites Ankeny-Des Moines hotel, located at 2406 SE Tones Drive, is close to the Prairie Meadows Casino and Racetrack, Adventureland Amusement Park, Iowa State Fairgrounds and the Wells Fargo Arena. Nearby corporations include Monsanto, John Deere, B&G Foods, and the headquarters for Casey's General Stores Inc.

For more information on Sleep Inn hotel development opportunities, please visit choicehotelsdevelopment.com/sleepinn/.

Sleep Inn Dream Better Here

Every Sleep Inn hotel offers a simply stylish stay that's designed to help guests Dream Better Here. You'll find fresh, nature-inspired design elements that are modern but timeless, that create a relaxed and serene environment. An all-new construction brand, every Sleep Inn hotel is built with a specific vision in mind -- to be a sanctuary for travelers as well as an efficient property to build, operate, and maintain. Franchised by global lodging leader Choice Hotels, Sleep Inn properties boast strong product consistency and an established presence in the midscale hotel segment with over 500 Sleep Inn properties open and under development across North America. All Sleep Inn hotels include free Wi-Fi, a complimentary Morning Medley breakfast buffet with plenty of hot and cold options, swimming pool and/or fitness center. For more information, visit www.choicehotels.com/Sleep-Inn.

About Choice Hotels

Choice Hotels International, Inc. (NYSE: CHH) is one of the world's largest hotel companies. With over 6,800 hotels franchised in more than 40 countries and territories, Choice Hotels International represents more than 550,000 rooms around the globe and as of March 31, 2018, there are more than 900 hotels in our development pipeline. Our company's Ascend Hotel Collection, Cambria Hotels, Comfort, Sleep Inn, Quality, Clarion, MainStay Suites, Suburban Extended Stay Hotel, WoodSpring Suites, Econo Lodge, Rodeway Inn, and Vacation Rentals by Choice Hotels brands provide a spectrum of lodging choices to meet guests' needs. With more than 36 million members, our Choice Privileges rewards program enhances every trip a guest takes, with benefits ranging from every day rewards to exceptional experiences, starting right when they join. All hotels and vacation rentals are independently owned and operated. Visit us at www.choicehotels.com for more information.

About Hart Family Hotels

Hart Family Hotels, provides Hotel Real Estate Investing Opportunities for every investor. You can invest in Hotel Real Estate for as little as $50,000. Many of our current investors came to us, because they were disappointed in the stock market, and/or they wanted to diversify their investments. Hart Family Hotel's currently has $33 million in assets under management. In the last 36 months, we have opened 264 new rooms. In the next 36 months, we will open 540 new rooms, and add another $47 million to our assets under management. We are a family based hospitality company, headquartered in Omaha Nebraska. We are expanding and growing our company by an extreme focus of Excellence in taking care of people. We target our hotel projects to a Rate Gap, that is common in many markets between Upper Midscale Hotels, and Economy price points. For more information about investing, employment, or questions please email [email protected].

Forward-Looking Statement

This communication includes "forward-looking statements" about future events, including anticipated hotel openings. Such statements are subject to numerous risks and uncertainties, including construction delays, availability and cost of financing and the other "Risk Factors" described in our Annual Report on Form 10-K, any of which could cause actual results to be materially different from our expectations.

Addendum

This is not an offering. No offer or sale of a franchise will be made except by a Franchise Disclosure Document first filed and registered with applicable state authorities. A copy of the Franchise Disclosure Document can be obtained through contacting Choice Hotels International at 1 Choice Hotels Circle, Suite 400, Rockville, MD 20850, [email protected].

 2018 Choice Hotels International, Inc. All rights reserved.

SOURCE Choice Hotels International, Inc.

Related Links

http://www.choicehotels.com


SAN FRANCISCO, June 4, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Sonoma Patient Group, a cannabis dispensary in Santa Rosa, California, has settled a Proposition 65 claim brought by the Sonoma County District Attorney alleging that the dispensary failed to provide sufficient warnings for marijuana smoke.

Proposition 65 is a California right-to-know law that requires businesses to provide clear and reasonable warnings prior to exposing individuals to any one of the 900+ chemicals on the Proposition 65 list. "Marijuana smoke" is identified on the list as a carcinogen. Since 2014, hundreds of California cannabis dispensaries have been targeted in enforcement actions by private persons, since Proposition 65 can be enforced either by public enforcers or by private persons in the public interest.

The Sonoma Patient Group enforcement action is the only Prop 65 marijuana smoke case brought by a public enforcer. The settlement allows the dispensary to provide warnings on exit packaging instead of the extensive signage required by previous private enforcer settlements.

According to Ann Grimaldi of Grimaldi Law Offices, which represented Sonoma Patient Group in the action, these two elements together mean that this settlement could become a new model for Prop 65 marijuana smoke warnings for dispensaries throughout California.

Sonoma Patient Group is the longest operating, permitted cannabis dispensary in Sonoma County. It has operated in Santa Rosa since 2007. SPG has been a leader in the industry, setting an example for over a decade of how to work in close collaboration with government and public safety officials to best serve the community.

Consistent with its leadership role in the Sonoma County cannabis community, Sonoma Patient Group has pledged to provide an educational seminar for other cannabis businesses in Sonoma County on Proposition 65's requirements in the near future.

San Francisco-based Grimaldi Law Offices provides compliance advice and litigation defense services for businesses facing diverse chemical and product regulatory challenges. The firm's practice areas include Proposition 65, California's Safer Consumer Products Regulations, California's Rigid Plastic Packaging Container Act, and the federal Toxic Substances Control Act.

For more information, visit grimaldilawoffices.com.

Contact:

Ann Grimaldi

[email protected]

415-463-5186

SOURCE Grimaldi Law Offices

Related Links

https://grimaldilawoffices.com


TOKYO and LONDON, June 4, 2018 /PRNewswire/ --

Sosei Group Corporation ("Sosei" or the "Company"; TSE Mothers Index: 4565), the world leader in GPCR medicine design and development, today announces that Mr. Andrew Oakley, Executive Vice President and CFO, has resigned from the Company. The Board has commenced a search to identify a new CFO and will make an announcement in due course.

Mr. Chris Cargill, currently Senior Vice President of Corporate Strategy, and Head of Investor Relations and Corporate Communications at Sosei[1], has been appointed as CFO on an interim basis while the Company considers both internal and external candidates for the role. During the Company's search, Mr. Cargill will also maintain his current responsibilities with Sosei.

"We would like to thank Andrew for his financial leadership over the past 18 months," said Peter Bains, President and CEO of Sosei. "While at Sosei he focused his efforts on ensuring the Company is in solid financial standing and well-positioned for its next phase of growth. We respect Andrew's decision, and we wish him all the best for the future."

Mr. Cargill joined Sosei in September 2017 as Head of Investor Relations and Corporate Communications, and was recently elevated to the role of SVP Corporate Strategy. Prior to this, Mr. Cargill spent nearly a decade in Investment Banking at J.P. Morgan and held various positions of increasing responsibility, most recently as Vice President in the U.K. Corporate Finance Group, focused on the Healthcare sector. He began his career in the Corporate Finance division of KPMG. Mr. Cargill will report to Peter Bains, President and CEO.

Peter Bains, CEO of Sosei, said: "In a short space of time, Chris has rapidly established himself as a key member of the Sosei leadership team and is extremely well positioned to take on the CFO responsibilities. He brings an extensive range of healthcare experience, financial acumen and market perspective. I look forward to working with Chris in his new capacity, and to continue our focus on advancing Sosei's exciting pipeline of proprietary and partnered novel drug candidates."

[1] Heptares Therapeutics Limited is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Sosei Group Corporation

About Sosei

Sosei is an international biopharmaceutical company focused on the design and development of new medicines originating from its proprietary GPCR-targeted StaR technology and structure-based drug design platform capabilities. The Company is advancing a broad and deep pipeline of partnered and wholly owned product candidates in multiple therapeutic areas, including CNS, cancer, metabolic diseases and other rare/specialty indications. The Company's leading clinical programs include a proprietary Phase 2 candidate for dementia with Lewy bodies (DLB) in Japan, together with partnered candidates aimed at the symptomatic treatment of Alzheimer's disease (with Allergan) and immuno-oncology approaches to treat cancer (with AstraZeneca). Sosei's additional partners and collaborators include Novartis, Pfizer, Daiichi-Sankyo, PeptiDream, Kymab and MorphoSys. The Company is headquartered in Japan with R&D facilities in the UK.

Sosei is listed on the Mothers Index of the Tokyo Stock Exchange (ticker: 4565). For more information, please visit http://www.sosei.com/en/.

SOURCE Sosei Corporation
DALLAS, June 4, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Southwest Airlines Co. (NYSE: LUV) announced today the release of the 2017 Southwest Airlines One Report. This comprehensive report uses an integrated approach to detail Southwest's financial performance, citizenship efforts, and key milestones that occurred in 2017.

"The One Report is our opportunity to celebrate Southwest's dedication to the triple bottom line of Performance, People, and Planet," said Gary C. Kelly, Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer. "Southwest takes great pride in how we care for our Employees, Customers, Shareholders, and Communities. The One Report helps us bring to life our Purpose of connecting People to what's important in their lives through friendly, reliable, and low-cost air travel, and we are excited to share it."

Highlights from the 2017 Southwest Airlines One Report include:

Performance:

Ranked #1 in Customer Satisfaction by the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) 1

Celebrated 45 consecutive years of profitability

Returned approximately $1.9 billion to Shareholders through share repurchases and dividends

People:

Gave more than $37 million total corporate monetary, in-kind, and ticket donations

total corporate monetary, in-kind, and ticket donations Served more than 130 million Customers, an all-time annual record

Employees earned $543 million in profitsharing for 2017

Planet:

Refurbished and resold more than 200,000 pounds of electronic equipment

Diverted 3,737 tons of waste from landfills through recycling and energy recovery efforts

Saved 8.5 million gallons of fuel in 2017 by refining our fuel planning calculations and flight planning procedures

To view the full 2017 Southwest Airlines One Report, including a video message from Gary Kelly, please visit Southwestonereport.com.

Southwest's dedication to corporate social responsibility and global citizenship was further demonstrated when Southwest was named one of the 100 Best Corporate Citizens by Corporate Responsibility Magazine for 2018. This list is derived from publicly available data from the Russell 1000 companies and further celebrates Southwest's dedication to citizenship efforts throughout 2017.

1Source: Air Travel Consumer Reports. Rankings are based on complaints filed with the DOT per 100,000 passengers enplaned.

2A revenue ton mile is one ton of revenue traffic (passenger and cargo) transported one mile.

ABOUT SOUTHWEST AIRLINES CO.

In its 47th year of service, Dallas-based Southwest Airlines Co. (NYSE: LUV) continues to differentiate itself from other air carriers with exemplary Customer Service delivered by more than 57,000 Employees to a Customer base topping 120 million passengers annually, in recent years. Southwest became the nation's largest domestic air carrier in 2003 and maintains that ranking based on the U.S. Department of Transportation's most recent reporting of domestic originating passengers boarded. During peak travel seasons, Southwest operates more than 4,000 weekday departures among a network of 100 destinations in the United States and 10 additional countries. Southwest has announced its intention to sell tickets in 2018 for service to Hawaii, subject to requisite governmental approvals.

Southwest coined Transfarency to describe its purposed philosophy of treating Customers honestly and fairly, and low fares actually staying low. Southwest is the only major U.S. airline to offer bags fly free to everyone (first and second checked pieces of luggage, size and weight limits apply, some carriers offer free checked bags on select routes or in qualified circumstances), and there are no change fees, though fare differences might apply.

As launch customer of the Boeing 737 MAX 8 in North America, the Company operates the largest fleet in the world of Boeing aircraft, all of which are equipped with satellite-based WiFi. Customers who connect to the WiFi network may use their personal devices to view on-demand movies and television shows, as well as nearly 20 channels of free, live TV.

With a bold new look first unveiled in 2014, Southwest is progressing through a multi-year refresh of its fleet to showcase the carrier's Heart: a new logo, aircraft livery, interior design featuring new seats, Employee-designed uniforms, and an updated airport experience, all of which showcase a dedication of Southwest Employees to connect Customers with what's important in their lives.

From its first flights on June 18, 1971, Southwest Airlines launched an era of unprecedented affordability in air travel described by the U.S. Department of Transportation as "The Southwest Effect," a lowering of fares and increase in passenger traffic wherever the carrier serves. With 45 consecutive years of profitability, Southwest is one of the most honored airlines in the world, known for a triple bottom line approach that contributes to the carrier's performance and productivity, the importance of its People and the communities they serve, and an overall commitment to efficiency and the planet. The 2017 Southwest Airlines One Report can be found at southwestonereport.com.

Book Southwest Airlines' low fares online at Southwest Airlines or by phone at 800-I-FLY-SWA.

SOURCE Southwest Airlines Co.

Related Links

http://www.southwest.com


ALEXANDRIA, Va., June 4, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Systems Planning and Analysis, Inc., (SPA) has named Joseph Wysocki as Vice President, Space and Cyber Programs (Rocky Mountains and Western Sector). Mr. Wysocki will be responsible for growing SPA's space and cyber client base across the Department of Defense, the Intelligence Community, and among US international partners.

A retired United States Air Force Colonel, Mr. Wysocki brings broad experience in space and nuclear weapons operations. During his 25-year USAF career, he led various organizations performing space surveillance, command and control, space launch, and satellite operations. He also brings significant experience in business operations and professional services support from his prior position as Vice President and Sector Director for Scitor Corporation where he was responsible for corporate support to military services, the Office of Secretary of Defense and various other DoD agencies. During this time he had profit and loss performance responsibility across a wide range of space and aviation sector contracts. While at Scitor, he was also the Director of Market Development and led Scitor's expansion into new cybersecurity and nuclear power market sectors.

More recently, Mr. Wysocki is the founder and CEO of Artyfex Solutions, Inc., a business consulting firm serving government and private clients in aerospace, cybersecurity, energy and health care sectors. He has helped companies implement new market entry strategies, form strategic alliances and improve proposal development processes.

"Col Wysocki's insight in the space and cyber communities, from both the military and industry perspectives, will provide tremendous benefits to SPA as we continue to grow our services support to those sectors," said Dr. William Vantine, SPA's President and CEO. "We are excited to have someone with Joe Wysocki's experience and success join our management team."

Systems Planning and Analysis, Inc., provides timely and objective analysis and integrated technical, operational, programmatic, policy, and business solutions in support of important national objectives. SPA's distinguished reputation for over 45 years is based on high caliber work supporting national security and national defense customers. Headquartered in Alexandria, Virginia, we have offices and personnel around the country and have recently opened an office in Canberra, Australia. We provide services directly to Australia and Canada and indirectly to the UK through U.S. agreements. Our employees have expertise in an array of domains, including: Air, Surface, and Undersea Warfare and Operations, Nuclear Deterrence, Safety, and Security, Radar and Sensor Systems, Ballistic Missile Systems, Integrated Air and Missile Defense, Department of Defense Acquisition Processes, Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance Systems, Unmanned Systems, Space Systems, Improvised Threats and Analytic Software Development. To learn more about SPA, please visit www.spa.com and connect with us on Facebook, LinkedIn and Twitter.

SOURCE Systems Planning and Analysis, Inc.

Related Links

http://www.spa.com


CHICAGO, June 4, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- SPINS, the industry-leading source in health & wellness retail intelligence, providing retailers and brands actionable insights, activation tools, and product transparency to improve the lives of consumers, announces its new Chief People Officer, Rosemary Haefner. Haefner will be responsible for the strategic direction of all aspects of people management, including talent acquisition, employee engagement, performance management, and learning and development.

Haefner brings a wealth of expertise to the role, particularly in building world-class global teams and company cultures that support rapid growth. Throughout her career, Haefner has been instrumental in reimagining people and culture initiatives, leadership practices, total rewards design, and leveraging human capital technology and analytics.

"With Rosemary's proven history of remarkable achievement and talent for fostering wellness in company culture, I know she brings both the deep understanding and the powerful vision SPINS needs to build on our unique foundation," said SPINS' CEO, Tony Olson. "As our company learns, grows, and scales to expand our impact on health & wellness in retail and beyond, Rosemary will help us do that  bringing focus and clarity to individual roles and deepening collaboration across SPINS at large."

Haefner comes to SPINS most recently from CareerBuilder, where, in her role as chief human resources officer, she regularly addressed industry forums on a variety of employment-related topics and provided commentary to leading media outlets such as The New York Times and The Wall Street Journal. During her tenure, Haefner created a human resources platform that helped the company scale from a U.S.-based media company to a global software organization.

"The theme that runs through my background is guiding organizations through change, and I look forward to bringing what I've learned about creating successful growth environments to SPINS," Haefner said. "SPINS' future is very bright, and the opportunity to strengthen people operations and company culture will help us scale in the healthiest and most successful ways for years to come."

About SPINS

SPINS is a passionate advocate of brands and retailers that promote healthy living. As the leading provider of retail consumer insights, analytics reporting, and consulting services for the Natural and Specialty Products Industries, its business offerings are helping retailers in this high-growth area to connect people with the brands they need and love.

SOURCE SPINS

Related Links

http://www.spins.com


NEW YORK, June 4, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Cadwalader, Wickersham & Taft LLP today announced that Stephen Fraidin will join the Firm's New York office as a partner.

"Steve Fraidin is on everyone's short list of the most trusted counselors and most innovative corporate lawyers in the world. We are thrilled to have him on our team. Often described as one of the leading visionaries in the M&A legal field, he is credited with creating many of the structures that have become market standards," said Cadwalader Managing Partner Pat Quinn. "Steve brings great energy to our team and we look forward to rolling up our sleeves together in the service of our clients. He will significantly enhance our ability to provide market-leading experience and tailored solutions. Steve joins Cadwalader at a time when we are on track for one the best years in our history, following a year of nearly 20% growth in profitability. Steve bolsters our distinguished M&A talent, including Chris Cox, who recently rejoined the firm, and Richard Brand, who has worked closely with Steve in the past."

"I can't think of a better way to return to private practice. I know the team at Cadwalader well and, as a client, have been impressed with the firm's exceptional work. I can't wait to jump in and look forward to contributing to the continued growth and expansion of the practice," Fraidin said.

Most recently Vice Chairman of Pershing Square Capital Management, L.P., Fraidin was previously a senior M&A partner at Kirkland & Ellis and a long-time partner at Fried, Frank, Harris, Shriver & Jacobson LLP. He has been top-rated by all the major legal directories, was named to the Financial Times' top ten most innovative lawyers in North America and is a multiple winner of The American Lawyer's "Dealmaker of the Year" award.

More About Stephen Fraidin

Fraidin is credited with advising on some of the highest-profile transactions in recent years, including representing:

3G Capital in its $28 billion acquisition, together with Berkshire Hathaway, of H.J. Heinz Company;

in its acquisition, together with Berkshire Hathaway, of H.J. Heinz Company; Burger King Worldwide Inc. in its $11.4 billion acquisition of Tim Hortons Inc.;

in its acquisition of Tim Hortons Inc.; Pershing Square in its partnership with Valeant Pharmaceuticals International, Inc. to make an approximately $54 billion takeover bid for Allergan, Inc.; and

in its partnership with Valeant Pharmaceuticals International, Inc. to make an approximately takeover bid for Allergan, Inc.; and London Stock Exchange Group plc in its $2.7 billion acquisition of Frank Russell Company.

He is a Visiting Lecturer at Yale Law School, from which he graduated, and a member of the Board of the Yale Center of Corporate Law. Fraidin serves on the advisory boards of Harvard Law School's Program on Corporate Governance, New York University's Institute for Corporate Governance & Finance and the Institute of Law and Economics at the University of Pennsylvania Law School.

About Cadwalader, Wickersham & Taft LLP

Cadwalader, Wickersham & Taft LLP, established in 1792, serves a diverse client base, including many of the world's leading financial institutions, corporations and private funds in more than 50 countries. With offices in New York, London, Charlotte, Washington, and Brussels, Cadwalader offers legal expertise in antitrust, banking, corporate finance, corporate governance, energy, environmental, executive compensation, financial restructuring, health care, intellectual property, litigation, mergers and acquisitions, private equity, private wealth, real estate, regulation, securitization, structured finance, tax and white-collar defense. For more information, visit www.cadwalader.com.

Contacts:

Ron Brandsdorfer +1 212 504 6712

[email protected]



Kimberly Brooks +1 212 504 5652

[email protected]

SOURCE Cadwalader, Wickersham & Taft LLP

Related Links

https://www.cadwalader.com


Mr. Kappes is a Partner and Chief Operating Officer of Torch Hill Investment Partners, a private equity firm in Washington, D.C. He previously served as Deputy Director of the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) from January 2006 until May 2010. During his almost 30 years of service with the CIA, Mr. Kappes served in a variety of leadership positions, including serving as Deputy Director of Operations, Associate Deputy Director of Operations and Associate Deputy Director for Counterintelligence.

"Stephen's remarkable career and leadership in the intelligence community and finance industry make him an important addition to the Sprint board," said Sprint Executive Chairman Marcelo Claure. "His experience in both the public and private sectors enables him to provide guidance on national security issues impacting the telecom industry and advise on financial matters as well. I am thrilled to welcome him to the board and look forward to working with him."

Mr. Kappes has served as a director of two wholly owned subsidiaries of Sprint since July 2013, including serving on the Government Security Committee. He is also a member of the board of directors of the Atlantic Council, QTec Analytics Ltd, Idemia National Security Solutions and One American Bank of South Dakota.

Prior to joining the CIA, Mr. Kappes served five years in the United States Marine Corps and ended his career as a Captain. He received a Bachelor of Science in Pre-Medicine from Ohio University and a Master of Science in Pathology from The Ohio State University. Mr. Kappes is a native of Ohio and currently resides in Fairfax, Va. with his wife.

About Sprint:

Sprint (NYSE: S) is a communications services company that creates more and better ways to connect its customers to the things they care about most. Sprint served 54.6 million connections as of March 31, 2018 and is widely recognized for developing, engineering and deploying innovative technologies, including the first wireless 4G service from a national carrier in the United States; leading no-contract brands including Virgin Mobile USA, Boost Mobile, and Assurance Wireless; instant national and international push-to-talk capabilities; and a global Tier 1 Internet backbone. Today, Sprint's legacy of innovation and service continues with an increased investment to dramatically improve coverage, reliability, and speed across its nationwide network and commitment to launching the first 5G mobile network in the U.S. You can learn more and visit Sprint at www.sprint.com or www.facebook.com/sprint and www.twitter.com/sprint.

SOURCE Sprint

Related Links

http://www.sprint.com


BROWN DEER, Wis., June 4, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Traffic & Parking Control Company, Inc. (TAPCO), manufacturer, distributor and service provider of traffic and parking control products, announced today the introduction of two new products that will be on display in booth 241 at the ITS America Annual Meeting in Detroit, Michigan, June 4 through June 7.

The new products include:

Dimmable Rectangular Rapid Flashing Beacon Light Bars with Universal Mounting Bracket Solar Top-of-Pole Self-Contained Control Cabinet

Top-of-pole self-contained control cabinet with 44Ah of battery power to support XAV2-LED push buttons, a TAPCO industry exclusive. To simplify ordering and installation, the cabinet also includes a universal mounting bracket that accommodates all sizes of commonly used metal or wood posts. Featuring an integrated 20 watt solar panel, the powder-coated aluminum cabinet is designed for quick installation and a clean appearance.

Dimmable Rectangular Rapid Flashing Beacon (RRFB) light bars that comply with the Federal Highway Administration's Interim Approval 21 recommendation. These new light bars include integrated, simple-to-deploy pedestrian indicators on both sides of the bar to adapt to every use case, as well as a new, universal mounting bracket that provides road-side adjustability and accommodates all sizes of commonly used metal or wood posts to simplify ordering and installation.

These innovations establish TAPCO as the only traffic control manufacturer that designs a top-of-pole, self-contained cabinet that supports XAV2-LED push button activation with dimmable RRFB light bars.

"Our Pedestrian Crosswalk Systems have become an integral solution for agencies and road operators who demand innovation in both product design and installation ease," said Jon Zick, Director of Engineering and Marketing at TAPCO. "The introduction of these products solidifies TAPCO as the North American leader in Pedestrian Crosswalk Systems."

To see these innovations in person at booth 241, visit https://itsdetroit2018.org to register for the ITS America Annual Meeting.

About TAPCO:

As an industry-leading innovator, TAPCO manufactures and distributes a wide portfolio of traffic and parking safety solutions designed to increase safe travels for all. Since 1956, we have set the standard for delivering reliable, cutting-edge traffic safety enhancements. From our world-renowned line of LED-enhanced BlinkerSign solutions to our pedestrian crossing products, safety is at the heart of all TAPCO innovations. www.tapconet.com

Contact: Steve Paulus

Phone: (262) 649-4459

Fax: (800) 444-0331

[email protected]

5100 West Brown Deer Road

Brown Deer, WI 53223

(800) 236-0112

www.tapconet.com

SOURCE Traffic & Parking Control Company, Inc. (TAPCO)

Related Links

https://www.tapconet.com


BROWN DEER, Wis., June 4, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Traffic & Parking Control Company, Inc. (TAPCO), the manufacturer of the TAPCO Wrong-Way Alert System, will host a live system demonstration at the ITS America Annual Meeting in Detroit, Michigan, from Tuesday, June 5, through Thursday, June 7.

The demonstration will provide a unique opportunity for traffic professionals and interested parties to see firsthand how this proven solution reduces wrong-way driving events by as much as 38 percent.1

TAPCO Wrong-Way Alert System installed in San Antonio, Texas TAPCO Wrong-Way Alert System

In the demonstration, participants will ride inside a vehicle and experience the driver's perspective in a simulated wrong-way driving event, observing LED-enhanced warning alerts and other functions performed by the system. Participants will then see the traffic manager's perspective of a TAPCO Wrong-Way Alert System as notifications arrive to a user's screen via email, voice or text message, alerting the recipient of a wrong-way incident.

"The ITS America Annual Meeting offers a unique opportunity for us to showcase our end-to-end solution for traffic professionals battling wrong-way driving on a daily basis," said Lindsay Lau, Director of Sales at TAPCO. "More than 200 systems have been deployed across 17 states nationwide, and seeing firsthand how the system detects vehicles, alerts drivers and notifies the proper officials of an active wrong-way incident will be valuable for agencies searching for an innovative solution to deter wrong-way drivers."

TAPCO Wrong-Way Alert Systems are custom engineered for each ramp configuration and surrounding environmental factors. System options include:

A selection of detection sensors to ensure system activation

A variety of attention-grabbing LED-enhanced alerts

BlinkLink powered by TAPCO software to collect real-time data, capture wrong-way event images and send vehicle information to select recipients through email, text and voice notifications

Integration with local traffic management centers to proactively warn right-way drivers via overhead message boards

Demonstrations will run every 30 minutes beginning at 10 AM on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday. To register for available slots, visit https://planetm.connect.space/itsdetroit2018

1 Texas Transportation Institute: Assessment of the Effectiveness of Wrong-Way Driver Countermeasures and Mitigation Methods

About TAPCO:

As an industry-leading innovator, TAPCO manufactures and distributes a wide portfolio of traffic and parking safety solutions designed to increase safe travels for all. Since 1956, we have set the standard for delivering reliable, cutting-edge traffic safety enhancements. From our world-renowned line of LED-enhanced BlinkerSign solutions to our pedestrian crossing products, safety is at the heart of all TAPCO innovations.

Contact: Steve Paulus

Phone: (262) 649-4459

Fax: (800) 444-0331

[email protected]

5100 West Brown Deer Road

Brown Deer, WI 53223

(800) 236-0112

www.tapconet.com

SOURCE TAPCO

Related Links

https://planetm.connect.space/itsdetroit2018


CHICAGO, June 4, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Taylor Group, a leading provider of human resources, employee benefits, and business insurance solutions, today announced the business' rebrand to Launchways. The comprehensive rebrand emphasizes Launchways' focus on providing strategic people solutions for growing businesses and includes a new logo, positioning, and website. The new www.launchways.com highlights the company's three areas of business:

Human Resources: build scalable HR processes that unlock the full potential of your workforce.

Employee Benefits: innovative benefits packages that thrill employees and make every dollar count.

Business Insurance: comprehensive, cost-effective business insurance policies.

Launchways addresses the growing pains expanding businesses face by providing business leaders with the resources and guidance they need to successfully scale. Through strategic solutions for HR, employee benefits, and business insurance, Launchways helps customers build people processes to support long-term growth.

Launchways' new branding further enables the company to stand out in the rapidly transforming HR and employee benefits industries. Launchways CEO, James Taylor, noted, "In the nine years we've been in business, I've consulted with hundreds of companies and helped them with the challenges that occur when an organization grows. During this time, I've found that the most successful companies are the ones that are not afraid to embrace change, take risks, and stay ahead of the curve. This is the mentality we adopted when rebranding. Our new brand better highlights the work we do: helping businesses grow." 

Launchways' bold new visual identity characterizes the brand as lively, authentic, and modern. Launchways' commitment to helping businesses strategically approach their people operations is embodied in the new tagline "Power your people."

"Our new brand will allow us to remain relevant to the challenges our customers are facing, and relevant to the needs of modern growing businesses. We will continue to help our customers adapt to changing business needs and leverage innovative methods to streamline their businesses," added Launchways President, Gary Schafer.

Please visit www.launchways.com to explore the new website and learn more about Launchways' solutions for HR, benefits, and business insurance.

About Launchways

Launchways provides business leaders with the resources and guidance they need to build scalable people processes to support long-term growth. Founded in 2009, Launchways has helped thousands of companies better approach the people side of their business through strategic solutions for human resources, employee benefits, and business insurance. For more information, please visit www.launchways.com.

SOURCE Launchways

Related Links

http://www.launchways.com


WHITE PLAINS, N.Y., June 4, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- The PURE Group of Insurance Companies (the PURE Group), which includes Privilege Underwriters Reciprocal Exchange (PURE), the policyholder-owned property and casualty insurer designed for high net worth individuals and families, has been named one of Inc. magazine's Best Workplaces for 2018, the publication's third annual ranking in the fast-growing private company sector.

The award is the result of a wide-ranging and comprehensive measurement of private American companies who have created exceptional workplaces through vibrant cultures, deep employee engagement and superior benefits. Out of thousands of applicants, Inc. singled out just under 300 winning companies.

Built in partnership with employee engagement and work culture experts Quantum Workplace of Omaha, NE, Inc.'s Best Workplaces list focuses on how innovative companies can raise the bar in hiring and retaining the best talent. They assessed applicants on the basis of benefits offered and employees' responses to a unique, 30-question survey fielded by each of the applying companies. Responses were evaluated by the research team at Quantum Workplace. For results to qualify, each company had to achieve a statistically significant response rate based on employee count. Survey scores account for employer size to level the playing field between small and large businesses. All companies had to have a minimum of 10 employees and be U.S.-based, privately held and independent.



"A great member experience starts with a great employee experience," said Katherine Richardson, Chief Human Resources Officer for the PURE Group of Insurance Companies. "We are proud to build a culture that supports and gives back to those who come to work every day in service of our membership and are humbled by this recognition."

While researching the entries, Inc. and Quantum saw that exceptional company cultures promote individual and team performance, and when employees feel valued by their organization, they are far more likely to be engaged. This proved to be one of the largest drivers of employee engagement. Inc. magazine established that it is more than good pay and good perksit's also about having a clear purpose, a sense of humor and strong leadership that makes them all work together.

"By including an employee survey into this year's Best Workplaces selection process, we've really raised the bar. Companies that don't score at the very top of their peer group don't make the cut. So, our hats are off to the winners. They all excelled at engaging their workers, making them feel appreciated, and aligning them behind a mission. And remember, that's not just our opinion: The employees told us that themselves," says James Ledbetter, Inc. editor-in-chief.

To learn more about PURE Insurance, please visit pureinsurance.com and follow PURE on Twitter, LinkedIn and Facebook.

About PURE

Privilege Underwriters Reciprocal Exchange (PURE) is a member-owned reciprocal insurer dedicated to creating an exceptional experience for responsible high net worth individuals and families. PURE provides customizable coverage for high-value homes, automobiles, jewelry, art, personal liability, watercraft, flood, fraud and cyber fraud to more than 75,000 responsible, high net worth families throughout the U.S. Inspired by some of the finest policyholder-owned companies, PURE emphasizes alignment of interests and transparency. PURE's low cost of capital, careful member selection and proactive risk management all contribute to highly competitive rates. In return for a fee, PURE Risk Management, LLC acts as Attorney-in-Fact for PURE. PURE membership is subject to an executed Subscriber's Agreement & Power of Attorney. For more information or to find a local broker, visit pureinsurance.com. You can follow PURE on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn and Instagram.

About Inc. Media

Founded in 1979 and acquired in 2005 by Mansueto Ventures, Inc. is the only major brand dedicated exclusively to owners and managers of growing private companies, with the aim to deliver real solutions for today's innovative company builders. Winner of Advertising Age's "The A-List" in January 2015, and the National Magazine Award for General Excellence in both 2014 and 2012. Total monthly audience reach for the brand has grown significantly from 2,000,000 in 2010 to over 20,000,000 today. For more information, visit http://www.inc.com/.

About Quantum Workplace

Quantum Workplace is an HR technology company that serves organizations through employee engagement surveys, action-planning tools, exit surveys, peer-to-peer recognition, performance evaluations, goal tracking, and leadership assessment. For more information, visit www.quantumworkplace.com.

SOURCE The PURE Group of Insurance Companies

Related Links

http://pureinsurance.com


THEKEY was granted a National "Technology Innovation Award of 2018 Chinese Government's Information Product" for its MVP/Testnet product and its application in medical insurance payments - Virtual Social Security Card Application Based on Blockchain Technology and IDV, in order to build a Medical Insurance and Medical Big Data Platform. And besides THEKEY, the award was also granted to some of the other outstanding and world renowned enterprises in each industry. For instance, Xinhua News Agency and Kingsoft have won the "Technology Innovation Award of 2018 Chinese Government's Information Product" in the newswire agency and software development fields respectively. Additionally, THEKEY MVP is the only award-winning project with blockchain technology in this selection.

Through Blockchain Based Dynamic Multi-dimension Identification (BDMI) technology, "undeniable" and "unalterable" online IDV results were generated for the first time in the world. In addition, BDMI embraces 6 elements simultaneously to realize EA5 (e-authentication-5) level IDV services. THEKEY adopted a 5-pillar private key management system, through which the initial results appear to provide a great starting point for a feasible solution for private key management, deviceless IDV and deviceless payment. Also for the first time, THEKEY was able to integrate IDV and digital wallets to form a real identity wallet (RIW), which can lay a solid foundation for the healthy development of cryptocurrencies and the digital economy.

Prior to this expo, Catherine received an exclusive interview by CGTN (China's new international media organization launched by the national broadcaster CCTV) and she mentioned that she was very satisfied with the substantial progress THEKEY MVP/Testnet has already achieved, and for the next stage, THEKEY will focus on improving the performance, efficiency and reliability of BDMI technology. In addition, THEKEY understands the vital need to have equipment which is trusted and secure to underpin any of the work BDMI technology will be based on, and thus it will look to develop exclusive hardware devices in the future.

View the video: https://youtu.be/ug14W5VQEyc

About THEKEY

THEKEY is a decentralized ecosystem of an identity verification tool using national big-data and blockchain. THEKEY project team is now developing an identification verification (IDV) tool with blockchain based dynamic multi-dimension identification (BDMI) by using Personally Identifiable Information (PII) which is exclusively authorized by government authorities. THEKEY token (TKY), is the only method to settle smart contracts signed between the participants in THEKEY Ecosystem. Now TKY is tradable on the exchange platforms, such as Bit-Z, KuCoin, LBANK.

For more information, please visit:

Website: www.thekey.vip

Twitter: https://twitter.com/thekeyvip

Telegram: https://t.me/THEKEYOFFICIAL

SOURCE THEKEY

Related Links

http://www.thekey.vip


SAN DIEGO, June 4, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- ASMS 2018  Thermo Fisher Scientific, the world leader in serving science, will recognize the winners of the 2018 Thermo Scientific Tandem Mass Tag (TMT) Research Award at the opening of a breakfast workshop held on June 6, 2018, in conjunction with the 66th American Society of Mass Spectrometry (ASMS) Conference in San Diego.

Now in its fourth year, the research competition selects scientists from a pool of international applicants based on innovation and the potential impact of their work in proteomics using TMT. The proprietary TMT reagents are exclusively licensed to Thermo Fisher Scientific by Proteome Sciences, PLC.

Winners receive awards of TMT and other mass spectrometry-related reagents, valued at $10,000, $7,500 and $5,000, at a ceremony that takes place during the annual conference. The scientists will use these awards to quantify, normalize and streamline global protein expression studies using mass spectrometry.

A panel of judges from Thermo Fisher and Proteome Sciences, PLC, reviewed the applications and selected the following four recipients based on the scientific merit of their proposals:

David-Paul Minde , University of Cambridge , Cambridge, England (Gold Level recipient)

, , (Gold Level recipient) Sandipan Ray , University College London and the Francis Crick Institute, London, England (Silver Level recipient)

, University College London and the Francis Crick Institute, (Silver Level recipient) Sarah Peck , Indiana University of Medicine, Indianapolis, Indiana (co-Bronze Level recipient)

, of Medicine, (co-Bronze Level recipient) Edward Emmott , Northeastern University , Boston, Massachusetts (co-Bronze Level recipient)

"We are excited to offer the TMT Research Grant Award for the fourth consecutive year," said Monica O'Hara-Noonan, market development manager, protein and cell analysis, Thermo Fisher. "This year we modified the program to seek applications from graduate and postdoctoral students, and we look forward to seeing what these emerging scientists achieve with our reagents. We received a wide range of diverse submissions which provided us with a thrilling glimpse into the future of multiplex proteomics."

In addition, six of our past recipients will be sharing their most recent work at our inaugural ProteomicsNow Mass Spectrometry Virtual Event on October 17, 2018.

For more information, visit http://www.thermofisher.com/tmtgrant, or visit the Thermo Fisher Booth #708 at the San Diego Convention Center or Thermo Fisher's suite at Sapphire Ballroom ABEF at the Hilton San Diego Bayfront.

About Thermo Fisher Scientific

Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc. is the world leader in serving science, with revenues of more than $20 billion and approximately 70,000 employees globally. Our mission is to enable our customers to make the world healthier, cleaner and safer. We help our customers accelerate life sciences research, solve complex analytical challenges, improve patient diagnostics, deliver medicines to market and increase laboratory productivity. Through our premier brands  Thermo Scientific, Applied Biosystems, Invitrogen, Fisher Scientific and Unity Lab Services  we offer an unmatched combination of innovative technologies, purchasing convenience and comprehensive services. For more information, please visit www.thermofisher.com.

Media Contact Information:



Laura Bright

Thermo Fisher Scientific

+1 562-335-8318

[email protected]



or



Ronan Muir

BioStrata

+44 (0) 1223 253787

[email protected]

SOURCE Thermo Fisher Scientific

Related Links

http://www.thermofisher.com


Legal and Tax & Accounting businesses will be aligned into three customer segments

TORONTO, June 4, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Thomson Reuters (NYSE/TSX: TRI) today announced the appointment of co-Chief Operating Officers, effective July 1.

"Our Legal and Tax & Accounting businesses are the bedrock for growth, and today's changes will help move decision making closer to the customer and allow us to serve them better with the full suite of our offerings," said Jim Smith, president and CEO of Thomson Reuters. "At the same time, we are working to become a faster and more agile organization, and develop the next generation of leadership and talent."

Brian Peccarelli (President, Tax & Accounting) has been named co-Chief Operating Officer with responsibility for Customer Markets. He will be responsible for all customer-facing operations including driving sales. Brian will work to organize the businesses and allocate resources around three customer segments:

Legal Professionals  Led directly by Brian Peccarelli

 Led directly by Corporates  Led by Piotr Marczewski

 Led by Tax Professionals  Led by Charlotte Rushton

Brian has managed the company's fastest growing business for more than seven years and brings a proven track record of successfully leading organizations that deliver sustained, profitable growth.

Both Charlotte and Piotr are seasoned leaders who have held several senior positions across multiple business units and regions over a combined three decades with the company.

Neil Masterson (Executive Vice President and Chief Transformation Officer) has been named co-Chief Operating Officer with responsibility for Operations & Enablement. Neil will manage commercial and technology operations including: helping to build sales capabilities, expanding the digital customer experience and delivering simplified, scalable approaches to product and content development.

Neil has successfully managed the company's Transformation efforts since 2013 and brings a proven track record of driving efficiencies, increasing productivity and reducing costs.

As previously disclosed, the company plans to de-layer the business and reduce its cost base to reflect a smaller organization when it closes the sale of a 55% interest in its Financial & Risk business to private equity funds managed by Blackstone (expected in the second half of 2018).

With these organizational changes, Susan Taylor Martin, President of the Legal business, has decided to leave the organization at the end of June. Susan first joined the company in 1993 and has held a number of senior management roles, including Managing Director of Thomson Reuters Legal in the UK and Ireland, President of Reuters Media and Global Head of Corporate Strategy. She plans to return to the UK to pursue other opportunities.

"I am deeply grateful for Susan's contributions over her 25 year career with the business. Susan has been instrumental in growing our Legal business, developing new solutions that help our customers work smarter and faster. She has been a driving force behind efforts to improve the diversity of our workforce and the inclusivity of our culture. She leaves with an outstanding record in leadership and my very best wishes as she returns with her family to the UK," said Mr. Smith.

Gonzalo Lissarrague, President of the Global Growth Organization, who first joined the company in 1991, will also be leaving the organization as a result of these changes.

"Gonzalo has been a tremendous advocate for our global growth aspirations over the years, and has shown huge energy and commitment to the business. His enthusiasm and understanding for markets across the globe have helped us focus over the years and understand the importance of our enterprise approach in new markets. We wish him well in his future business endeavors," said Mr. Smith.

Finally, the company will re-size its corporate center to fit the new organization. As a result, Chief Communications Officer Gus Carlson and Chief Strategy Officer Brian Scanlon have also elected to leave the company.

"I am thankful for Gus' steady and measured counsel over the years as he tactfully managed the public profile of the company through periods of intense change. He leaves behind a strong global brand, a best-in-class communications function and record-high employee engagement across the organization.

"Brian's contributions will be sorely missed. As the chief architect of our growth strategy, Brian identified and helped put the business on an ambitious but attainable path to accelerated growth following our turnaround," concluded Mr. Smith.

Reuters News will continue to be led by President and Editor-in-Chief Steve Adler.

The company today also reaffirmed its 2018 financial outlook communicated in May.

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.

SPECIAL NOTE REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

Certain statements in this news release are forward-looking, including the company's expectations regarding the impact of the business unit realignment and the timing for closing of the proposed Financial & Risk transaction. These forward-looking statements are based on certain assumptions and reflect our company's current expectations. As a result, forward-looking statements are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results or events to differ materially from current expectations. There is no assurance that a transaction involving all or part of the Financial & Risk business will be completed or that other events described in any forward-looking statement will materialize. You are cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking statements which reflect expectations only as of the date of this news release. Except as may be required by applicable law, Thomson Reuters disclaims any obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements.

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]

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CHICAGO, June 4, 2018 /PRNewswire/ --

Not intended for UK-based media

Two-year follow-up data on meaningful durable responses, overall survival (OS) and progression-free survival (PFS) to be presented in patients with metastatic Merkel cell carcinoma (mMCC), a rare and aggressive type of skin cancer

Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany, which operates its biopharmaceutical business as EMD Serono in the US and Canada, and Pfizer Inc. (NYSE: PFE) today announced that updated efficacy and safety data from the pivotal JAVELIN Merkel 200 trial of BAVENCIO (avelumab) in patients with metastatic Merkel cell carcinoma (mMCC), will be presented as an oral abstract session at the 54th American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) Annual Meeting on Monday, June 4 from 10:12-10:24 a.m. CDT in Chicago, IL. At this two year follow-up update of the pivotal study, BAVENCIO continues to demonstrate clinically meaningful durable responses and stable rates of progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS) from previous analyses in patients who responded to this treatment. Clinical activity was observed across all patient subgroups, irrespective of PD-L1 expression in tumor tissue or Merkel cell polyomavirus status. The safety profile for BAVENCIO in this trial has not changed with longer follow-up and remains consistent with that observed in the overall JAVELIN clinical development program.

"These efficacy and safety results build upon the data that supported our FDA approval," said Luciano Rossetti, M.D., Executive Vice President, Global Head of Research & Development at the Biopharma business of Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany. "Alongside our other data at ASCO, this two-year analysis is a significant advance in our understanding of the utility of BAVENCIO in MCC patients."

In JAVELIN Merkel 200 - an open-label, single-arm Phase II study - patients with histologically confirmed mMCC whose disease had progressed on or after chemotherapy administrated for distant metastatic disease received BAVENCIO 10 mg/kg intravenously every two weeks until disease progression or unacceptable toxicity. Eighty-eight patients were followed for a median of 29.2 months (range 24.8-38.1 months). The confirmed overall response rate (ORR) of 33% (95% confidence interval [CI] 23.3-43.8; complete response in 11.4%) remained unchanged from previous analyses reported at both one year and 18 months. Responses remained ongoing in 19 of 29 patients who responded to treatment, including 12 patients whose duration of response exceeded two years. Durable responses led to stable rates of PFS (29% at 12 months, 29% at 18 months and 26% at 24 months). Median OS was 12.6 months (95% CI 7.5-17.1) and the two-year OS rate was 36% (50% at 12 months and 39% at 18 months). With a minimum follow-up of two years, no new safety signals were identified for BAVENCIO and was consistent with prior reports. Sixty-seven patients (76.1%) had a treatment-related adverse event (TRAE), 10 patients (11.4%) had a Grade 3 or less TRAE and 20 patients (22.7%) had an immune-related adverse event. No treatment-related deaths occurred.

"These results represent a key milestone for patients with mMCC, as chemotherapy has historically been the only treatment option for this devastating disease," said Chris Boshoff, M.D., Ph.D., Senior Vice President and Head of Immuno-Oncology, Early Development and Translational Oncology, Pfizer Global Product Development. "These data, alongside the additional real-world data which are also being presented at ASCO, strengthen our confidence in BAVENCIO as a treatment option for this rare and aggressive skin cancer."

In addition to these updated JAVELIN Merkel 200 data, results from a global expanded access program for BAVENCIO as a second-line treatment for patients with mMCC will be presented. These data will be presented during a poster session on Monday, June 4 from

1:15-4:45 p.m. CDT.

The alliance's JAVELIN clinical development program involves at least 30 clinical programs, including seven Phase III trials, and nearly 8,300 patients across more than 15 tumor types.

BAVENCIO (avelumab) was first approved in the US in 2017 by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for the treatment of adults and pediatric patients 12 years and older with metastatic Merkel cell carcinoma (mMCC). In addition to the FDA accelerated approval in mMCC, avelumab is also approved in the US under accelerated approval for the treatment of patients with locally advanced or metastatic urothelial carcinoma (UC) who have disease progression during or following platinum-containing chemotherapy, or who have disease progression within 12 months of neoadjuvant or adjuvant treatment with platinum-containing chemotherapy. These indications are approved under accelerated approval based on tumor response rate and duration of response. Continued approval for these indications may be contingent upon verification and description of clinical benefit in confirmatory trials.

About JAVELIN Merkel 200

JAVELIN Merkel 200 is an international, multicenter, open-label, single-arm Phase II study of BAVENCIO conducted in 88 patients with metastatic MCC. Patients in this study were generally elderly (median age was 72.5 years, range 33-88 years) and pre-treated, with at least one line of chemotherapy (one [59.1%], two [29.5%] or three or more [11.4%] previous treatments). Patients received BAVENCIO 10 mg/kg intravenously once every two weeks. The protocol-defined analysis set for efficacy and safety consisted of all patients who received at least one dose of study treatment. The cut-off date for the planned primary analysis was six months after start of study treatment of the last patient. The primary endpoint of the study was confirmed best overall response according to RECIST v1.1 and assessed by an independent review committee. Secondary endpoints were duration of response, PFS, OS, response status by RECIST at six and 12 months, safety and tolerability, pharmacokinetics, and immunogenicity of BAVENCIO.

About Avelumab

Avelumab is a human anti-programmed death ligand-1 (PD-L1) antibody. Avelumab has been shown in preclinical models to engage both the adaptive and innate immune functions. By blocking the interaction of PD-L1 with PD-1 receptors, avelumab has been shown to release the suppression of the T cell-mediated antitumor immune response in preclinical models.[2]-[4] Avelumab has also been shown to induce NK cell-mediated direct tumor cell lysis via antibody-dependent cell-mediated cytotoxicity (ADCC) in vitro.[4]-[6] In November 2014, Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany, and Pfizer announced a strategic alliance to co-develop and co-commercialize avelumab.

Approved Indications in the US

The FDA granted accelerated approval for avelumab (BAVENCIO) for the treatment of (i) adults and pediatric patients 12 years and older with metastatic Merkel cell carcinoma (mMCC) and (ii) patients with locally advanced or metastatic urothelial carcinoma (mUC) who have disease progression during or following platinum-containing chemotherapy, or have disease progression within 12 months of neoadjuvant or adjuvant treatment with platinum-containing chemotherapy. These indications are approved under accelerated approval based on tumor response rate and duration of response. Continued approval for these indications may be contingent upon verification and description of clinical benefit in confirmatory trials.

Important Safety Information from the US FDA Approval Label

BAVENCIO can cause immune-mediated pneumonitis, including fatal cases. Monitor patients for signs and symptoms of pneumonitis, and evaluate suspected cases with radiographic imaging. Administer corticosteroids for Grade 2 or greater pneumonitis. Withhold BAVENCIO for moderate (Grade 2) and permanently discontinue for severe (Grade 3), life-threatening (Grade 4), or recurrent moderate (Grade 2) pneumonitis. Pneumonitis occurred in 1.2% (21/1738) of patients, including one (0.1%) patient with Grade 5, one (0.1%) with Grade 4, and five (0.3%) with Grade 3.

BAVENCIO can cause immune-mediated hepatitis, including fatal cases. Monitor patients for abnormal liver tests prior to and periodically during treatment. Administer corticosteroids for Grade 2 or greater hepatitis. Withhold BAVENCIO for moderate (Grade 2) immune-mediated hepatitis until resolution and permanently discontinue for severe (Grade 3) or life-threatening (Grade 4) immune-mediated hepatitis. Immune-mediated hepatitis was reported in 0.9% (16/1738) of patients, including two (0.1%) patients with Grade 5, and 11 (0.6%) with Grade 3.

BAVENCIO can cause immune-mediated colitis. Monitor patients for signs and symptoms of colitis. Administer corticosteroids for Grade 2 or greater colitis. Withhold BAVENCIO until resolution for moderate or severe (Grade 2 or 3) colitis, and permanently discontinue for life-threatening (Grade 4) or recurrent (Grade 3) colitis upon reinitiation of BAVENCIO. Immune-mediated colitis occurred in 1.5% (26/1738) of patients, including seven (0.4%) with Grade 3.

BAVENCIO can cause immune-mediated endocrinopathies, including adrenal insufficiency, thyroid disorders, and type 1 diabetes mellitus.

Monitor patients for signs and symptoms of adrenal insufficiency during and after treatment, and administer corticosteroids as appropriate. Withhold BAVENCIO for severe (Grade 3) or life-threatening (Grade 4) adrenal insufficiency. Adrenal insufficiency was reported in 0.5% (8/1738) of patients, including one (0.1%) with Grade 3.

Thyroid disorders can occur at any time during treatment. Monitor patients for changes in thyroid function at the start of treatment, periodically during treatment, and as indicated based on clinical evaluation. Manage hypothyroidism with hormone replacement therapy and hyperthyroidism with medical management. Withhold BAVENCIO for severe (Grade 3) or life-threatening (Grade 4) thyroid disorders. Thyroid disorders, including hypothyroidism, hyperthyroidism, and thyroiditis, were reported in 6% (98/1738) of patients, including three (0.2%) with Grade 3.

Type 1 diabetes mellitus including diabetic ketoacidosis: Monitor patients for hyperglycemia or other signs and symptoms of diabetes. Withhold BAVENCIO and administer antihyperglycemics or insulin in patients with severe or life-threatening (Grade  3) hyperglycemia, and resume treatment when metabolic control is achieved. Type 1 diabetes mellitus without an alternative etiology occurred in 0.1% (2/1738) of patients, including two cases of Grade 3 hyperglycemia.

BAVENCIO can cause immune-mediated nephritis and renal dysfunction. Monitor patients for elevated serum creatinine prior to and periodically during treatment. Administer corticosteroids for Grade 2 or greater nephritis. Withhold BAVENCIO for moderate (Grade 2) or severe (Grade 3) nephritis until resolution to Grade 1 or lower. Permanently discontinue BAVENCIO for life-threatening (Grade 4) nephritis. Immune-mediated nephritis occurred in 0.1% (1/1738) of patients.

BAVENCIO can result in other severe and fatal immune-mediated adverse reactions involving any organ system during treatment or after treatment discontinuation. For suspected immune-mediated adverse reactions, evaluate to confirm or rule out an immune-mediated adverse reaction and to exclude other causes. Depending on the severity of the adverse reaction, withhold or permanently discontinue BAVENCIO, administer high-dose corticosteroids, and initiate hormone replacement therapy, if appropriate. Resume BAVENCIO when the immune-mediated adverse reaction remains at Grade 1 or lower following a corticosteroid taper. Permanently discontinue BAVENCIO for any severe (Grade 3) immune-mediated adverse reaction that recurs and for any life-threatening (Grade 4) immune-mediated adverse reaction. The following clinically significant immune-mediated adverse reactions occurred in less than 1% of 1,738 patients treated with BAVENCIO: myocarditis with fatal cases, myositis, psoriasis, arthritis, exfoliative dermatitis, erythema multiforme, pemphigoid, hypopituitarism, uveitis, Guillain-Barre syndrome, and systemic inflammatory response.

BAVENCIO can cause severe (Grade 3) or life-threatening (Grade 4) infusion-related reactions. Patients should be premedicated with an antihistamine and acetaminophen prior to the first 4 infusions and for subsequent doses based upon clinical judgment and presence/severity of prior infusion reactions. Monitor patients for signs and symptoms of infusion-related reactions, including pyrexia, chills, flushing, hypotension, dyspnea, wheezing, back pain, abdominal pain, and urticaria. Interrupt or slow the rate of infusion for mild (Grade 1) or moderate (Grade 2) infusion-related reactions. Permanently discontinue BAVENCIO for severe (Grade 3) or life-threatening (Grade 4) infusion-related reactions. Infusion-related reactions occurred in 25% (439/1738) of patients, including three (0.2%) patients with Grade 4 and nine (0.5%) with Grade 3.

BAVENCIO can cause fetal harm when administered to a pregnant woman. Advise patients of the potential risk to a fetus including the risk of fetal death. Advise females of childbearing potential to use effective contraception during treatment with BAVENCIO and for at least 1 month after the last dose of BAVENCIO. It is not known whether BAVENCIO is excreted in human milk. Advise a lactating woman not to breastfeed during treatment and for at least 1 month after the last dose of BAVENCIO due to the potential for serious adverse reactions in breastfed infants.

The most common adverse reactions (all grades,  20%) in patients with metastatic Merkel cell carcinoma (MCC) were fatigue (50%), musculoskeletal pain (32%), diarrhea (23%), nausea (22%), infusion-related reaction (22%), rash (22%), decreased appetite (20%), and peripheral edema (20%).

Selected treatment-emergent laboratory abnormalities (all grades,  20%) in patients with metastatic MCC were lymphopenia (49%), anemia (35%), increased aspartate aminotransferase (34%), thrombocytopenia (27%), and increased alanine aminotransferase (20%).

The most common adverse reactions (all grades,  20%) in patients with locally advanced or metastatic urothelial carcinoma (UC) were fatigue (41%), infusion-related reaction (30%), musculoskeletal pain (25%), nausea (24%), decreased appetite/hypophagia (21%), and urinary tract infection (21%).

Selected laboratory abnormalities (Grades 3-4,  3%) in patients with locally advanced or metastatic UC were hyponatremia (16%), increased gamma-glutamyltransferase (12%), lymphopenia (11%), hyperglycemia (9%), increased alkaline phosphatase (7%), anemia (6%), increased lipase (6%), hyperkalemia (3%), and increased aspartate aminotransferase (3%).

Please see full US Prescribing Information and Medication Guide available at http://www.BAVENCIO.com.

Alliance between Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany, and Pfizer Inc., New York, US

Immuno-oncology is a top priority for Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany, and Pfizer. The global strategic alliance between Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany, and Pfizer enables the companies to benefit from each other's strengths and capabilities and further explore the therapeutic potential of avelumab, an anti-PD-L1 antibody initially discovered and developed by Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany. The immuno-oncology alliance is jointly developing and commercializing avelumab and advancing Pfizer's PD-1 antibody. The alliance is focused on developing high-priority international clinical programs to investigate avelumab, as a monotherapy, as well as combination regimens, and is striving to find new ways to treat cancer.

All Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany, Press Releases are distributed by e-mail at the same time they become available on the Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany, Website. Please go to http://www.emdgroup.com/subscribe to register online, change your selection or discontinue this service.

About Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany

Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany, is a leading science and technology company in healthcare, life science and performance materials. Almost 53,000 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 2017, Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany, generated sales of  15.3 billion in 66 countries.

Founded in 1668, Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany, is the world's oldest pharmaceutical and chemical company. The founding family remains the majority owner of the publicly listed corporate group. Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany holds the global rights to the "Merck" name and brand except in the United States and Canada, where the company operates as EMD Serono, MilliporeSigma and EMD Performance Materials.

About EMD Serono, Inc.

EMD Serono is the biopharmaceutical business of Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany - a leading science and technology company - in the US and Canada focused exclusively on specialty care. For more than 40 years, the business has integrated cutting-edge science, innovative products and industry-leading patient support and access programs. EMD Serono has deep expertise in neurology, fertility and endocrinology, as well as a robust pipeline of potential therapies in oncology, immuno-oncology and immunology as R&D focus areas. Today, the business has 1,200 employees around the country with commercial, clinical and research operations based in the company's home state of Massachusetts.

http://www.emdserono.com

Pfizer Inc.: Working together for a healthier world

At Pfizer, we apply science and our global resources to bring therapies to people that extend and significantly improve their lives. We strive to set the standard for quality, safety and value in the discovery, development and manufacture of health care products. Our global portfolio includes medicines and vaccines as well as many of the world's best-known consumer health care products. Every day, Pfizer colleagues work across developed and emerging markets to advance wellness, prevention, treatments and cures that challenge the most feared diseases of our time. Consistent with our responsibility as one of the world's premier innovative biopharmaceutical companies, we collaborate with health care providers, governments and local communities to support and expand access to reliable, affordable health care around the world. For more than 150 years, we have worked to make a difference for all who rely on us. We routinely post information that may be important to investors on our website at http://www.pfizer.com. In addition, to learn more, please visit us at http://www.pfizer.com and follow us on Twitter at @Pfizer and @Pfizer_News, LinkedIn YouTube and like us on Facebook at Facebook.com/Pfizer.

Pfizer Disclosure Notice

The information contained in this release is as of June 4, 2018. Pfizer assumes no obligation to update forward-looking statements contained in this release as the result of new information or future events or developments.

This release contains forward-looking information about avelumab, the alliance between Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany, and Pfizer involving anti-PD-L1 and anti-PD-1 therapies, and clinical development plans, including their potential benefits, that involves substantial risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such statements. Risks and uncertainties include, among other things, uncertainties regarding the commercial success of avelumab; the uncertainties inherent in research and development, including the ability to meet anticipated clinical study commencement and completion dates and regulatory submission dates, as well as the possibility of unfavorable study results, including unfavorable new clinical data and additional analyses of existing clinical data; risks associated with interim data; the risk that clinical trial data are subject to differing interpretations, and, even when we view data as sufficient to support the safety and/or effectiveness of a product candidate, regulatory authorities may not share our views and may require additional data or may deny approval altogether; whether regulatory authorities will be satisfied with the design of and results from our clinical studies; whether and when any drug applications may be filed in any jurisdictions for potential indications for avelumab, combination therapies or other product candidates; whether and when regulatory authorities in any jurisdictions where applications are pending or may be submitted for avelumab, combination therapies or other product candidates may approve any such applications, which will depend on the assessment by such regulatory authorities of the benefit-risk profile suggested by the totality of the efficacy and safety information submitted; decisions by regulatory authorities regarding labeling and other matters that could affect the availability or commercial potential of avelumab, combination therapies or other product candidates; and competitive developments.

A further description of risks and uncertainties can be found in Pfizer's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2016, and in its subsequent reports on Form 10-Q, including in the sections thereof captioned "Risk Factors" and "Forward-Looking Information and Factors That May Affect Future Results", as well as in its subsequent reports on Form 8-K, all of which are filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission and available at http://www.sec.gov and http://www.pfizer.com.

References

Nghiem P. Two-year efficacy and safety update from JAVELIN Merkel 200 part A: a phase 2 study of avelumab in metastatic Merkel cell carcinoma progressed on chemotherapy. Abstract 9507. To be presented at ASCO 2018, June 1-4, 2018 . Chicago, IL. Dolan DE, Gupta S. PD-1 pathway inhibitors: changing the landscape of cancer immunotherapy. Cancer Control 2014;21(3):231-7. Dahan R, Sega E, Engelhardt J, et al. FcRs modulate the anti-tumor activity of antibodies targeting the PD-1/PD-L1 axis. Cancer Cell 2015;28(3):285-95. Boyerinas B, Jochems C, Fantini M, et al. Antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity activity of a novel anti-PD-L1 antibody avelumab (MSB0010718C) on human tumor cells. Cancer Immunol Res 2015;3(10):1148-57. Kohrt HE, Houot R, Marabelle A, et al. Combination strategies to enhance antitumor ADCC. Immunotherapy 2012;4(5):511-27. Hamilton G, Rath B. Avelumab: combining immune checkpoint inhibition and antibody-dependent cytotoxicity. Expert Opin Biol Ther 2017;17(4):515-23.

Contacts

Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany

Media

Friederike Segeberg

+49-6151-72-6328

Investor Relations

+49-6151-72-3321

Pfizer

Media (US)

Jessica Smith

+1-212-733-6213

Investor Relations

Ryan Crowe

+1-212-733-8160

(Logo: http://mma.prnewswire.com/media/611455/Merck_KGaA_Pfizer_Logo.jpg )

SOURCE Merck KGaA
MOSCOW, June 4, 2018 /PRNewswire/ --

VEB has opened its representative office in Abu Dhabi, the United Arab Emirates. The new representative office has obtained all necessary permits, a commercial license and a registration certificate, and now is ready to operate.

"Vnesheconombank has been actively cooperating with the United Arab Emirates and the Middle East, and the Islamic world as a whole. We are working to engage investors, raise finance, enhance trade and foster greater economic ties, and also to promote high-technology exports from Russia. Now that we have the representative office in Abu Dhabi, the Bank has expanded its geographical reach to bring the cooperation with the region to a new level. The Abu Dhabi representative office will promote VEB Group interests and enable cooperation with local players," said Igor Shuvalov, Vnesheconombank's Chairman.

Working together with the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) is strategically important for VEB. The Bank's OIC export loan and guarantee portfolio stands at USD2.8bn.

"No other Russian bank has such extensive cooperation in the region. And we are set to move forward and actively engage in financing joint projects," added Mr. Shuvalov.

The VEB representative office in Abu Dhabi will promote cooperation between the UAE and Russia in exports and investment. Boosting trade and expanding economic ties was among the topics discussed by Russian President Vladimir Putin and Mohammed bin Zayed bin Sultan Al-Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE's Armed Forces, during their meeting on 1 June 2018.

SOURCE Vnesheconombank
DES MOINES, Iowa, June 4, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Yesway, the fast-growing and innovative convenience store chain today announced the launch of Yesway Water, the company's initial category offering from its new, and soon to be greatly expanded, private label line. Available now in all Yesway stores, Yesway Water comes in spring, purified, and enhanced types in unique package designs in the following sizes  a 20-ounce bottle, a 700 ml enhanced water sport cap bottle, a 1 liter bottle, and a 24-pack of .5 liter bottles.

And, not only is Yesway Water a beverage that customers can feel good about drinking, it is also one that they can feel great about purchasing. In support of its steadfast commitment to the U.S. military and first responders, as well as the recent launch of its charitable giving program, Yesway Gives Back, Yesway will be donating five cents ($.05) from the sale of every specially marked bottle of new Yesway-branded water, up to $25,000, to Operation Homefront, a national nonprofit organization whose mission is to build strong, stable, and secure military families so that they can thrive in the communities they have worked so hard to protect.

"The launch of Yesway Water, the first of what will be many high quality Yesway private label products to be rolled out throughout this year, delivers on our promise to provide better, fresh and truly convenient food, beverage, and product options to our customers," said Thomas Nicholas Trkla, Chairman and Chief Executive of Yesway. "Yesway-branded spring, purified, and enhanced water are all national brand, quality products at a compelling value that we created to meet the needs of our increasingly health conscience customers. We have been developing our private label product line for the past year and are very excited to launch it officially with the introduction of Yesway Water. We are equally proud to support Operation Homefront, a terrific organization which provides much needed support for military families."

For more information about Yesway and to find a Yesway store near you, visit www.Yesway.com/locations. Follow Yesway on Facebook and Twitter at @YeswayStores.

Editor note: To arrange interviews with Yesway executives, please contact Erin Vadala of Warner Communications at [email protected] or 978-468-3076. High-resolution images and graphics are available on request.

About Yesway  BW Gas & Convenience, d/b/a Yesway, is headquartered in Des Moines, Iowa. Yesway recently debuted at #7 on the Convenience Store News "2018 Top 20 Growth Chains" list and was named a "2017 Chain to Watch" by Convenience Store Decisions. Yesway's swiftly expanding portfolio currently consists of 101 stores located in Iowa, Kansas, Missouri, Oklahoma, and Texas. Yesway plans to acquire, improve, and rebrand 500 convenience stores in selected regions of the United States over the next several years. For more information on Yesway, please visit the company's website at www.yesway.com

Contact: Erin Vadala, Warner Communications; (978) 468-3076; [email protected]

SOURCE Yesway

Related Links

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Jerusalem, June 4 : The Israeli air force launched an air strike on Gaza, amid a new round of escalation between Israel and Gaza militants, and tension with Iran.

A military spokesperson confirmed in a statement that fighter jets struck 15 sites in Gaza, saying the attack on Sunday night was a response to the firing of rockets towards Israel earlier, Xinhua news agency reported.

In the Israeli attack, the air force hit a rocket and weapons manufacturing and storage facility in the central Gaza Strip and other sites in the region of Khan Yunis in the southern Gaza Strip, the spokesperson said.

In addition, an urban warfare training facility was bombed in the neighbourhood of Shuja'iyya, and infrastructure belonging to the Hamas naval forces was struck too.

Since Saturday night, rocket fire exchange from Gaza and Israeli air strikes were resumed after a few days of calm, threatening to break a de facto cease-fire that halted mutual fire last week.

Also on Sunday, Israel struggled to put out fire caused by kites with incendiary devices launched by Palestinians in the besieged enclave.

A military spokesperson said in a statement on Sunday that exercises were planned in advance as part of the military's routine training plans to maintain the preparedness and fitness of the forces.

The exercise will last through Wednesday.

"As part of the exercise, a large movement of ground troops, vehicles, air force aircraft and helicopters will be felt," the statement read.

The other exercise, which already began on Sunday morning, is being carried out by the air force, and will continue until Thursday.

The exercise involves all Israel's air force bases, according to the statement.

"As part of the exercise, a large movement of aircraft over the country's skies will be felt, explosions will be heard, and sirens will be activated for training purposes in air force bases and their vicinity," the spokesperson said.

The exercises come amid peak tensions along the security fence separating the Gaza Strip and Israel, where Israel has carried out dozens of airstrikes on Hamas and Islamic Jihad targets in Gaza, while the Gaza militants fired dozens of projectiles at southern Israel.

At least 122 Palestinians have been killed by Israeli fire since March 30, the first day of the ongoing Palestinian "Great March of Return" rally against Israel's crippling blockade since 2007 and the US embassy move to the disputed holy city of Jerusalem.

The escalation came after Israeli forces shot and killed at least 122 Palestinians since the demonstrations started a months ago, most of them killed during protests in the vicinity of the fence to protest the blockade imposed by Israel and the inauguration of the new US embassy in Jerusalem.
Mexico City, June 4 : Mexican authorities have captured and deported a US paedophile who was in a hiding from the law for two years, the National Immigration Institute (INM) said.

The suspect, identified only by his first name, Radwan, had an outstanding arrest warrant that had been issued by a judge in the southern US state of Texas.

"We had information that the foreigner had an arrest warrant for the crime of aggravated sexual assault against a minor," the INM said in a statement on Sunday, Xinhua news agency reported.

Radwan was arrested while trying to board a flight to Spain at Mexico City's international airport.

Cooperation between the INM and US agencies, such as the Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA), the Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and the US Marshals Service (USMS), led to the arrest.

As Radwan's immigration status in Mexico was "irregular," he was deported and handed over to US officials.
Washington, June 4 : US President Donald Trump probably has the power to pardon himself in the Russia collusion affair but does not intend to do so, his lawyer Rudy Giuliani has said.

A special counsel is investigating Russia's role in the 2016 election, and whether Trump obstructed justice.

The question of self-pardon arose after the New York Times published a letter to the counsel from Trump's lawyers, BBC reported on Sunday.

In it they say he has absolute power as US legal chief to end investigations, or "even exercise his power to pardon".

Such absolute powers, they argue, mean that he could not have obstructed justice in any case.

He appeared on ABC's This Week programme and was asked whether Mr Trump had the power to pardon himself.

Giuliani, the head of Trump's legal team, said he "probably does", but added: "He has no intention of pardoning himself."

He went on: "I think the political ramifications of that would be tough. Pardoning other people is one thing. Pardoning yourself is another."

Speaking on CNN on Sunday, House Republican Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy said that no president should pardon himself.

It all stems from the investigation by special counsel Robert Mueller into alleged collusion between the Trump team and Russian officials in the election campaign that brought the president to power.

Trump has always maintained there was no collusion and that the investigation is a "witch hunt".

Part of Mueller's investigation is looking at whether Mr Trump sought to criminally obstruct it, in particular with the sacking of ex-National Security Adviser Michael Flynn and former FBI director James Comey, and with his reaction to Attorney General Jeff Sessions' recusal from the investigation.
San Francisco, June 4 : From attacking media to criticising nanotechnology researchers, SpaceX Founder and Tesla CEO Elon Musk has made Twitter his new battleground, mostly replying to users rather than sharing original posts.

According to a Quartz report, Musk has steadily moved away from original posts and retweets to engaging with other Twitter users.

"In May, almost 80 per cent of Musk's Twitter interactions consisted of replies rather than original posts or retweets," said the report on Sunday.

Over the last two months, Musk's tweeting has quadrupled, surging to nearly 400 in May.

"Prior to this month, his average tweets per month was 88 going back to September 2015 (median 84). Something is clearly different, and it's not just the sheer number of tweets," the report noted.

The time Musk devotes to online disagreements "has expanded dramatically".

Amid all his firing tweets, Musk has been highly critical of media, and has even floated an idea of creating a media credibility rating website called "PravDuh!"

"The holier-than-thou hypocrisy of big media companies who lay claim to the truth, but publish only enough to sugarcoat the lie, is why the public no longer respects them," Musk tweeted recently.

Reacting to a user, Musk said last week that he would love to roll out Tesla cars in India but the tough government regulations have forced him to apply the brakes on his India plans till date.

"Would love to be in India. Some challenging government regulations, unfortunately," Musk tweeted in a response to a Twitter user who wrote "No Tesla in India" to him.

"Deepak Ahuja, our CFO, is from India. Tesla will be there as soon as he believes we should," added Musk, who has been talking about bringing Tesla cars to India for some time.

Although he has garnered more followers -- from 21.6 million to 21.9 million -- in May, the public's appetite for his new combativeness may be waning, said the report.

"While the average popularity of each tweet should naturally decline as the number of posts rises (and more are buried as replies), the drop has been precipitous, starting a few months before Musk's latest outbursts. Despite far more followers, his tweets are attracting fewer fans," the report added.
Naypyidaw, June 4 : The Myanmar government is considering the closure of the remaining internally displaced persons (IDP) camps in the country under a strategic plan, authorities said on Monday.

There has been more than 140 IDP camps in Myanmar, with a total population of more than 160,000 located across four states, reports Xinhua news agency.

Three IDP camps in Rakhine state, set up in 2012, have been closed and three others will be shut down soon.

The camps in three other states will be closed as efforts are being made to ensure the IDP's access to education and healthcare, free movement under law and and their participation in the nation's economic development.

The Myanmar government has worked to close the IDP camps since May 2016, with a Central Committee for Implementation of Peace, Stability and Development supervising the process.
Mumbai, June 4 : Megastar Amitabh Bachchan is in awe of the process and idea of storytelling followed by the current crop of filmmakers in Bollywood.

He says never before has there been the kind of acceptance to the variety of films which are being made presently.

"The makings and the idea of story telling are so impressive these days that never before has there been an acceptance to the variety of films being made today.

"They are small and large budgeted, fantasy and real and they all have a value at the box-office," Big B wrote in his blog.

The 75-year-old cine icon said the time for the Hindi film industry "right now" is good.

"The times for the Industry are well. The audience has developed a tremendous taste for the good and the blatant bad and they express it in volumes.

"Competition is strong, makings are tedious and the creative ideas are the very best. A moment of pride in our little world -- a world that has always been the horse to be whipped but we are a strong world and we shall continue to survive and fight," he added.

Amitabh is currently busy with Ayan Mukerji's "Brahmastra", a trilogy with actors Ranbir Kapoor and Alia Bhatt. He is also prepping for filmmaker Sujoy Ghosh's next which will be shot in Scotland.

"The preparations for the coming days loom large. In a couple, starts the large and expansive 'Brahmastra' and within days starts Sujoy Ghosh's in Scotland and the Ayan Mukerji's back again in Bulgaria," he wrote.

The "Piku" star says that he would be sporting prosthetic make-up, which he calls "torture" for the look and trial of another two films.

"Tomorrow is a torture. Prosthetic make-up for two film looks and trials. That sticky beard that extra beard that head locks and the lot. I thought I had had a lifetime of it but no, there is always more to come," he added.
Seoul, June 4 : North Korea's top three military officials have been replaced ahead of a historic summit between its leader Kim Jong-un and US President Donald Trump, the media reported on Monday.

Defence chief Pak Yong-sik haS been replaced by No Kwang-chol, while Ri Myong-su, chief of the Korean People's Army (KPA) general staff, has been replaced by his deputy, Ri Yong-gil, Yonhap News Agency quoted an intelligence official as saying.

Army general Kim Su-gil's replacement of Kim Jong-gak as director of the KPA's general political bureau was previously reported by the North Korean state media.

The news was confirmed on Monday by South Korea's Unification Ministry.

Preparations are still underway for the June 12 Kim-Trump summit in Singapore, the first time a sitting US President will meet the leader of North Korea, CNN reported.
Beijing, June 4 : China on Monday hailed as "positive" Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi's remarks on Sino-India relations at a security summit in Singapore last week.

"We have noted the positive remark made by Modi about China-India relations. We highly appreciate it," Ministry's spokesperson Hua Chunying said.

In his keynote address at the Shangri-La Dialogue on Saturday, Modi said India and China had shown wisdom and maturity in handling their complex relations and "Asia and the world will have a better future if the countries work together with trust and confidence, keeping in mind each other's interests".

The Chinese Foreign Ministry said it highly appreciated "positive remarks" by the Indian leader.

Hua recalled the informal meet between Modi and Chinese President Xi Jinping at Wuhan in Beijing and said they were in agreement on several issues.

"In April this year, Xi held an informal meeting with Modi. They had in-depth exchange of views in international landscape and bilateral relations and reached consensus on many issues."

"The two sides agreed to adopt a mature and wise way to handle differences. China is willing to work with the Indian side to maintain the positive momentum of the development of the bilateral relations, to promote mutually beneficial cooperation, properly handle differences and maintain peace and tranquillity along the border areas," Hua said.

"This takes India-China relations forward."

Modi and Xi will meet again on sidelines of the Shanghai Summit at Qingdao on June 9-10.
New Delhi : Title: History Repeating - Why Populists Rise and Governments Fall; Author: Sam Wilkin; Publisher: Profile Books/Hachette India; Pages: 288; Price: Rs 599 Take a prosperous country facing a recent economic crisis where there is suddenly an improbable candidate for top office - a businessman claiming to be so rich as to be incorruptible and pledging to revive industry. He easily wins with support from rural areas, but in power, alienates the middle class, faces enquiries but sacks officials probing him, lashes out at criticism, and promotes his business interests.

If you think this only describes Donald Trump, you are not correct. These attributes also fitted Thailand's Thaksin Shinawatra - at the start of the 21st century.

The Brexit vote or Trump's victory are so taken as crowning examples of populism that the electoral, or otherwise, success of several political leaders, who promised to change the status quo to restore old glories/build a new order, get forgotten. Also the virulent criticism of this polarising path to power usually leads to its fundamental causes, beyond the specific reasons, to be ignored.

As this book shows, the instability or other unsettled conditions that give rise to populism occur regularly in history. Taking the twentieth century, the time when the common people's views began markedly influencing politics, then its practitioners and/or beneficiaries range from Vladimir Lenin to Juan Peron to Ayatollah Khomeini, besides Shinwatra, Greece's first populists and some more.

Risk analyst Sam Wilkin contends here that their success - in getting into power at least - of these otherwise disparate political leaders is rooted in a phenomenon, he calls "mobilisation politics", which can see greater public participation than conventional electoral democracy can ever aspire too - or counter.

Giving the example of Brexit, whose result came about through the participation of nearly three million citizens who had not voted in the previous general election - or any election for that matter, he notes the force that can compel millions of otherwise uninterested people to get out of their comfort zone to take an active political role does need investigation.

And despite what they feel, it is not the leaders that matter here, he shows, underlining how he seeks to explain "how such moments of turmoil come about, by telling the stories of leaders who wanted rebellions, mass uprisings, or votes against the establishment, and got them - occasionally to their own surprise".

Its also not the people, for as Wilkin, beginning with an uncompromisingly uncomplimentary view of the political proclivities of the general public at large, observes that someone with dreams of leading the people to topple the exclusivist establishment, depose a corrupt and unjust regime or a better future, will find that fellow citizens are "sheep".

"'Let's remake this great nation!' you will cry. 'Baa,' they will bleat contentedly, distracted by salty snacks and Instagram," he writes.

So then, how does this mobilisation politics work? It happens when, says Wilkin, when the conditions are right and the politicians are "no less the victims or beneficiaries of broader conditions", while how much the people chant "egomanius incarecrus!" or "referendi reverso!", such magic doesn't fix politics.

Ruling out the two usually cited reasons - economic or psychological distress - he uses the cases of Shinwatra's Thailand, Czarist Russia, Shah Raza Pahlevi's Iran, Peron's Argentina (which we learn was the only case of a modern prosperous country that descended to straitened circumstances) to show how stable seeming nations crack up when the circumstances so align.

Meanwhile, his final example - of the US of the 1930s where Louisiana Governor Huey Long, or the "Kingfish", exemplified a unique brand of populist politics that President Franklin Delano Roosevelt later appropriated, shows how this tendency can affect mainstream politics.

Wilkin ends with a handy guide to determining your own country's survival prospects in face of the populist onslaught.

Packed with hillarious accounts of seminal historical events (eg the drunkenness at the Winter Palace in St Petersburg during Lenin's Revolution, the life of Thai royal pet 'Foo Foo', and the poetry readings that were behind the Iranian Revolution), some redoubtable women - Lenin's mother, Eva Peron and Carrie Nation, and men - Ali Shariati, and solid insight into political instability and political participation sprinkled liberally across the case studies, the book is not only for politics aficionados, but anyone who wants to understand how and why our present world became this way.

(Vikas Datta can be contacted at vikas.d@ians.in)
Lucknow, June 4 : Two persons were killed and over half-a-dozen injured when an illegal firecracker stockpile exploded on the outskirts of the Uttar Pradesh capital on Monday, police said.

The explosion took place in a house in Saitha village of Kakori. Rescue operations are underway as a few persons are feared trapped inside the two-storeyed house.

Several houses in the vicinity were also damaged due to the explosion.

Owner of the house Sajay Lodhi told the police that he had rented the house to Naseer and his son Mushir. He said he was unaware that they were involved in illegal manufacturing of firecrackers.

According to the police, the bodies were blown into pieces, as a result their identity could not be ascertained. Villagers told police officers that Naseer and his wife were present in the house at the time of explosion.
Beijing, June 4 : Chinese citizens around the world on Monday remembered the lone man, armed with nothing more than two shopping bags, who stepped in front of a row of tanks moving down the streets of Beijing in 1989.

Better known as "Tank Man", he is one of the most enduring images of China's violent military crackdown on democracy protesters in Tiananmen Square, the Guardian reported.

On the 29th anniversary of the Tiananmen crackdown, protesters are reenacting the face-off under hashtags including #Tankman2018 #Tankmen2018, a campaign started by Chinese artist and cartoonist, Badiucao.

According to Badiucao, Tank Man represents "something lost in China's young generation now - the idealism, passion, sense of responsibility, and confidence that an individual can make a change".

Badiucao gave instructions for protesters to take a photo of themselves wearing the "classic outfit" of Tank Man: white shirts, black pants, and black shoes, while holding two white bags.

Zhou Fengsuo, a Chinese activist who was a student leader during the 1989 protests, posted photos of himself in Washington, the Guardian reported.

Others, from Canada to New Zealand, posted images of themselves in solidarity with Tank Man.

In 1989, Chinese students, workers and other protesters held demonstrations and hunger strikes calling for democratic reforms.

On June 4, the movement came to a halt when more than 200,000 soldiers were deployed to end the protest, killing hundreds of civilians.

On June 5, 1989, a man in a loose white shirt on a street near Tiananmen Square, walked out by a crosswalk in front of a column of tanks.

As the first tank tried to move around him, he blocked its path. The tank stopped and he climbed onto it, pounding on the hatchet and appeared to speak to a soldier inside.

When he climbed back down, he continued to block its way until two men ran over and pulled him out of the street. The moment was broadcast across the world and he became known as "Tank Man".
Panaji, June 4 : As the rains approach the Western coast, Goa's beaches see a beeline of senior citizens heading for their annual swim in the salty water of the Arabian sea, a ritual which they say keeps illness and vagaries at bay.

Some decades back, the month of May and the early few days of June, would witness a virtual migration of ageing men and women towards the coastline from across the length and breadth of the state.

Now, with easy access to medication and the busy demands of contemporary living, the sea-going hordes of senior citizens may have lessened, but there are many who follow the practice of the annual bath in the sea, very often a two- or three-day ritual.

"I have been going to the beach for my salt water bath for the past 20 years. Earlier, I used to accompany my mother-in-law because she required help due to the strong currents of the sea. Then, after she passed away, it became a compulsion for me too; I go the beach every year. They say it's good for the limbs, blood circulation, arthritis," says Patricia D'Souza, a resident of Nagoa in North Goa.

The swelling number of tourists on Goa's beaches -- more than six million last year -- she says, has dampened the enthusiasm of the locals vis-a-vis continuance of the ritual. But the benefits are too good to be missed out on, she claims.

"Only once (did I miss the ritual), because I was not in Goa that year during March-April; but then later, as the year passed by, I did have pain in my knees and I used to get blood clots on my body. Therefore, now I prefer to have salt water bath as it's a very good remedy for many ailments which many people of my age and older will always agree to," D'Souza says.

Livi D'Cunha,81, who resides in the popular beach village of Ashwem in North Goa, says that she has been visiting the beach annually in the months of May and June since she was a teenager.

"It has helped in keeping my blood circulation well, and I feel re-energised every year after bathing in the sea. I probably missed once or twice, but it has not had any massive impact in a negative way. I might have been low on my energy level that year, but otherwise it has not had any negative effects," she says, adding that the ritual started because she used to accompany her parents.

However, in recent times, pollution of the seas has taken a toll on her enthusiasm and that she often does have second thoughts about the ritualistic bath.

"Yes, the water is polluted, so I have second thoughts depending on which beach I should go to for bathing," she says.

Old timers in Goa claim that the increased salt content in the water in summers multiplies the health benefits of taking a sea water bath, especially if one takes regular dips for several hours at a stretch, before eventually bathing in regular soft water.

Groups of locals would head for the beach riding the back of a pick-up along with family, making the ritual an occasion for a family picnic, which sometimes would last for two or three days, where the family would camp at the beach, with their bed spreads, food and plenty of water.

"We would all carry our toys along with a cup, which every member of our family had to carry. Our granny used to tell us to fill the sea water in the cup and pour it on our backs; we would do it when she was watching us but when she wasn't, we would throw it on each other. She would then give us something to eat and take us home by five, with tanned, tired and happy faces," says Deonizia Da Cunha, 73, from Batim, a village in North Goa.
Manali, June 4 : Tackling trash in the cold, rugged and rocky mountains of the Pir Panjal range of the Himalayas -- the origin of one of north India's major rivers, the Beas, and its tributaries -- is becoming an uphill task.

Mounts of plastic packets of eatables like potato chips, pet bottles and beer cans are threatening the highly fragile ecology of the Rohtang Pass -- a two-hour drive up from this tourist town -- as local authorities dump ecological concerns.

The entire area of the pass, a spot most people prefer to visit at an altitude of 13,050 feet and some 52 km from here, is almost bereft of human habitation.

It remains cut off from the rest of the country more than five months every year owing to heavy snowfall.

"It is really shocking to see these pet bottles and plastic wrappers of eatables lying along these rivulets, remarked Raunaq Bajwa, a tourist from New Delhi.

"Why is the local administration not imposing a blanket ban on carrying these non-biodegradable items to such highly sensitive zones," he asked while speaking to IANS, pointing to waste dumped haphazardly along the banks of the glacial-fed Beas river near Marhi, en route to Rohtang Pass from Manali.

His friend Dilawar Khan wanted to know why the government is not keeping the Himalayas free from litter.

"It seems Rohtang hills are fast becoming the world's highest garbage dump as one can see discarded clothes, food packets and heaps of beer cans and plastic bottles dumped here and there," he added.

The picturesque Rohtang Pass is a major attraction for both domestic and foreign tourists.

According to the state's Tourism Department, tourist spots in and around Manali have an influx of around 1.1 million visitors annually. Tourism is the key source of income for the locals.

"Cleaning up the hills once in a year is not the solution. The local administration has to find a permanent way of waste management," Lal Chand Thakur, a shopkeeper selling eatables at Marhi, said.

He said with the National Green Tribunal (NGT) restricting the entry of tourist vehicles to the Rohtang Pass, the influx of the tourists has massively reduced.

Only 1,200 taxis or private vehicle permits -- 800 petrol and the remaining diesel vehicles -- are issued online daily for the trip to Rohtang Pass.

On similar lines, octogenarian Thakur said, the NGT should also impose tougher penalties on litterbugs beyond Gulaba, which is on the way to the Rohtang Pass and is 26 km from Manali.

Another shopkeeper, Ghanshyam Negi, said the installation of portable toilets at Marhi is not a solution unless there are sewage treatment plants along with waste treatment facilities, which currently do not exist in the area.

The local administration has installed waste disposal and drop off points between Marhi and Rohtang Pass but visitors ignore them.

The NGT, in one of its orders, observed that providing public amenities and ensuring absolute cleanliness at Rohtang Pass and even en route is essential in the interest of environment.

"To provide a clean and decent environment every authority concerned must ensure absolute cleanliness and the tourists have to cultivate the habit of neither littering nor spoiling the beauty and environment of the glacier by throwing plastic and other waste," it said.

NGT Chairperson Justice Swatanter Kumar told IANS last year, ahead of his retirement, that scientific studies clearly indicated that glaciers in the Rohtang Pass catchment were receding at a rate of one metre per year.

"Everyone going for a picnic carries coke, popcorn and beer bottles with them -- and then dumps these haphazardly there (at Rohtang Pass). There is plastic trash and human waste. Mule dung is polluting water and soil. This is the case before us," he had said.

A journal of the Asiatic Society says Lieutenants A. Broome and A. Cunningham trekked to the Rohtang Pass on July 7, 1839, to trace the sources of the Punjab's rivers.

Environmentalists say the state should also launch a similar campaign in the Rohtang Pass like the Riverfront Cleaning Campaign that was launched on May 18.

The campaign, supported by the Ministry of Environment and Forests and Climate Change and involving school students and a Territorial Army battalion, will cover three districts -- Mandi, Kullu and Bilaspur, from where the Beas river flows.

It will conclude on World Environment Day that falls on June 5.

India is this year host to the UN Environment-led global event, World Environment Day, and the 2018 theme is "Beat the Plastic Pollution".

(Vishal Gulati can be contacted at vishal.g@ians.in)
Chennai, June 4 : The Parliamentary Standing Committee on Finance will be awarded the Sansad Ratna Award 2018 for its outstanding performance, a top official said on Monday.

"We have decided to honour Departmentally Related Standing Committees with Sansad Ratna Award based on the criteria like the reports presented, numbers of sittings and number of subjects selected and others," K. Srinivasan, Founder, Prime Point Foundation, told IANS.

The Foundation has been awarding top performing MPs since 2010.

"In the Indian Parliamentary system, the Standing Committees plays an important role in studying the subjects and guiding the government. Since, we wanted to create awareness about Standing Committees, we have introduced the Award under this category," Srinivasan added.

The selection of award winners was done by a Jury Committee consisting of eminent parliamentarians.

"M. Veerappa Moily, Chairman of the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Finance will receive the award at a function to be held in Indian Institute of Technology-Madras on Saturday," Srinivasan said.

Former West Bengal Governor M. K. Narayanan and former Chief Election Commissioner of India T. S. Krishnamurthy will present the awards.

According to Srinivasan, during the 16th Lok Sabha till date, the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Finance had selected 67 subjects, held 84 sittings and presented 60 reports as per the data culled from the Lok Sabha website.

There are 24 Departmentally Related Standing Committees in Parliament. Sixteen are known as Lok Sabha Committees and eight as Rajya Sabha Committees.

"We could get data only for 16 Lok Sabha Committees. We could not get data for the Rajya Sabha Committees," Srinivasan said.

In addition, seven MPs (six from Lok Sabha and one from Rajya Sabha) will also be honoured with the Sansad Ratna Award for their individual performances.

He said the names of the seven MPs will be announced on Friday.

These awards were instituted by Prime Point Foundation in 2010 based on the suggestion given by late President A.P.J. Abdul Kalam to celebrate achievers.

This is the only award on behalf of the civil society to honour achievers in Parliament, Srinivasan added.
New Delhi, June 4 : Congress President Rahul Gandhi on Monday accused Prime Minister Narendra Modi of giving pre-scripted interviews, claiming his response to real questions would have been an "embarrassment for all".

In a tweet, the Congress President said: "The first Indian Prime Minister who takes 'spontaneous' questions that the translator has pre-scripted answers to."

"Good that he doesn't take real questions... Would have been a real embarrassment for us all if he did," he added, attaching a video where the translator is heard purportedly reading out a scripted answer during Modi's interaction at Nanyang Technological University in Singapore during his recent visit to the Southeast Asian city state.
Patna, June 4 : A case was lodged against Union Agriculture Minister Radha Mohan Singh in Bihar's Muzaffarpur district on Monday for "insulting farmers", a lawyer said.

Social activist Tamanna Hashmi filed the case in the Chief Judicial Magistrate's court. It will be heard next week.

Commenting on the ongoing nationwide agitation by thousands of farmers demanding loan waiver and higher price for their produce among other things, the minister had said some farmers are doing it for media attention.

"There are crores of farmers in the country but only a few farmers have been staging protest. It has no relevance at all," he had said.

The 10-day protests that started on June 1 coincide with the farmers' agitation in Mandsaur of Madhya Pradesh last year when seven farmers had died in a police firing on June 6.

Farmers in the agrarian states of Punjab, Haryana, Maharashtra and Rajasthan on Friday joined the protest call given by various farmer organisations.

Radha Mohan Singh's comments that farmers were committing suicide just for media coverage have been widely criticised.
Tipli (Tehri Garhwal), June 4 : Ramveer Rauthela, a farmer in this small hamlet in Uttarakhand's Garhwal region, points towards a house with a rusting lock on its front door and sighs: "Earlier, they would often visit home; later, they returned during the harvest; now they even skip festivals."

Villages across this region have many such deserted houses overlooking vacant step farms as agriculture struggles to exist and families migrate to the plains searching for a better life.

However, what makes Tipli distinct are its efforts to bring those families back. Their hope: A micro weather station and a school that gives farmers lessons on climate chnage. This has managed to successfully revive step farming over the past few years and bring people back to their farms.

Rauthela, 58, who left for Delhi some years back, is among those who have re-migrated.

"People migrated because agriculture did not have much to offer and the changing weather and irregular rains make it more difficult. People had no clue about how to cope... and this is where this farming school and weather station have helped," Rauthela told this visiting IANS correspondent.

His family is among 45 farming in the 55-family village. They undertake step farming on around 15 hectares of land and few new polyhouses. Tipli also has a pair of bullocks and plough that can be hired by the farmers at Rs 600 a day.

"Almost vacant three years back, our fields are now cultivated," said Makhani Devi, head of the Tipli panchayat. "We grow tomatoes, capsicum, cucumber, beans and pulses and we recently harvested wheat."

According to the villagers, once the weather station and school came up, more help followed, as it caught the attention of farmers.

Currently, scientists and experts from Krishi Vigyan Kendra (KVK), the Agriculture Science Centre of the College of Forestry at Ranichauri in Tehri Garhwal district, visit the village every alternate Friday and guide the locals with emerging trends as gauged by the weather station.

"It's unique for a village to have its own micro weather station... It has increased their interest and perhaps this is the reason they are returning to their farms. It gives information about hail, rain, etc., so that farmers can plan their activities accordingly," Sumit Chaudhary, Assistant Professor of Agronomy at the College of Forestry, told IANS, after conducting a detailed meeting with the farmers at the school.

Agricultural scientist Dr Tejpal Singh Bisht from the College believes there is an urgent need to replicate this model of a school and micro weather station in other villages as it has "re-defined" the idea of agriculture and horticulture in the hilly hamlets.

"Climate change and its effects altering the crop rotation is a reality... farmers are often clueless, don't get a proper harvest and often quit. The weather station here has changed the idea of cultivation. Just a little help through consultation and they are already moving towards high-end cash crops," Bisht said.

Explaining to the villagers about pests, how to deal with them and the crop they should sow next, Bisht asserted that the KVK is planning to convert Tipli into a seed producing village.

"We want to make an example out of the village so that it is replicated... government aims at doubling the income of farmers over next few years; how would that be possible if there are no farmers here," Bisht said.

Apart from the micro weather station and school, which was build by Church's Auxiliary for Social Action (CASA), a social organisation, on the request of the Indian government, Tipli village also has a 0.5 KW power station, which currently lights up about 50 hamlets -- some inhabited by only one or two families -- around Tipli, and a sand water filter.

"Several villages like Sunarkot, Utkhanda, Than, to name a few, are virtually vacant as most of the families have migrated... through this weather station and school, we did an experiment and it was successful; step farming has revived," Isha Bannerjee, executive program associate-communications at CASA told IANS.

According to social activist Aranya Ranjan from the Uttarakhand Jan Jagriti Sansthan, while re-migration is not impossible for Garhwal, more efforts are needed to revive and bolster the farming sector.

"The village now needs a disease forecasting unit for stronger crops. CASA and KVK are mulling on that and we are sure that this would happen. But what's more important is to replicate it at other villages as well," Ranjan said.

(Kushagra Dixit can be reached at kushagra.d@ians.in)
New Delhi, June 4 : Urging the states to work together for the country to achieve its environment targets within a year, the Union Environment Minister Harsh Vardhan on Monday said that only 60 per cent of 25,000 tonnes of "plastic pollution" generated daily gets recycled.

Presiding over a ministerial conference here to mark World Environment Day, which is being hosted by India this year with the theme to combat "plastic pollution", the ninister said the country now means business.

"Some 25,000 tonnes of plastic pollution is generated in the country every year of which only 60 per cent is processed while rest 40 per cent is pure litter... We mean business and will tackle this menace with all strength," Harsh Vardhan said at the conference.

The 'State of Environment Report India 2015' was released by the minister at the conference.

Lauding Prime Minister Narendra Modi's achievements in the field of environment, he said that the international community believes that India will achieve its pre-2020 or COP21 targets before time.

He said that the ministry was delegating powers to states so they can efficiently work towards environment preservation and fight pollution.

"The developing world complains how it has exploited environment and thus ask for technology and finance, I feel this is important but environment won't be defended unless the society is motivated," he added.

Minister of State for Environment Mahesh Sharma said that while Rs 350 crore was spent last year, this year Rs 650 crore was send to states under the environment protection programme.

Erik Solheim Executive Director of the UN Environment Programme (UNEP), who was also also present at the event, said that it was very important to protect India from pollution as it has an amazing ecosystem He said India was his choice to host this year's 'World Environment Day' due to a variety of reasons, including its vast population and fast economic growth.
New Delhi, June 4 : French brand Promod, which promotes accessible fashion clothing in natural styles, is set to tap the online retail in India this week. Its online store will offer the full range of items that the brand currently offers in its stores in India and at the same prices.

The brand will expand its presence in Tier II and III cities across key markets. Promod's online shopping portal will allow the customer to order international styles on a click of a button and collect it in stores or vice-versa. Customers in India will be able to pick up their orders at the store of their choice or opt for home delivery. The E-reservation service will start later this year.

Promod has more than 30 years of experience in women's ready-to-wear retailing.

"We initiated our digital sales in India through Myntra and the response has been very encouraging in the first year. We are now looking at offering around 2000+ styles in the coming year and looking at doubling our turnover," Nadine Caux, Managing Director at Promod, said in a statement.

"This shows a great opportunity for us to launch our own portal and we are confident that consumer satisfaction through this omni channel route will attract more loyalty towards the brand."
Islamabad, June 4 : A Chinese engineer was found dead inside his country's embassy here on Monday, media reports said.

Gayaan Chan was working as an engineer at the Chinese embassy, police were cited as saying by the Express Tribune.

According to the report, the engineer was 28 or 29 years old and had come to Pakistan in May. He was residing inside the embassy's premises and worked for a Chinese company.

In February, a Chinese national was shot dead in a suspected targeted attack in Karachi's Defence locality. Chen Zhu, 45, was in his car when he was attacked.
New Delhi, June 4 : A three-year-old Iraqi boy suffering from complete heart blockage got a new lease of life after doctors at the Fortis Escorts Heart Institute here performed a procedure to implant a pacemaker through the veins.

The pacemaker implantation in such cases are difficult because children are at a growing stage, Fortis said in a statement on Monday.

In this case, the boy, Ameer Mausa, had already undergone an open heart surgery in Mumbai when he was just one-and-a-half-year-old.

"Ameer had earlier undergone open heart surgery to correct a congenital anomaly. Subsequent to this, the patient developed complete heart block which means that pulse rate was slow and as a result the child suffered from multiple episodes of fainting," said Radha Krishnan, Director Paediatric Cardiology, Fortis Escorts Heart Institute.

"Although, other hospitals suggested to opt for an open heart surgery for the placement of the pacemaker, we took up the challenge of routing the pacemaker through the veins as second open heart surgery in a three year old kid would lead to further complications in the long run," Krishnan said.

When brought to Fortis, the doctors briefed the parents about the complications involved with another open heart surgery.

He was then taken up for single chamber (VVIR) pacemaker implantation via the veins under the clavicle. A team of doctors led by Krishnan and Aparna Jaswal of Fortis performed the procedure.

"He was implanted with a tiny trans catheter pacemaker without surgery and the entire procedure lasted for less than 45 minutes," said Jaswal.

"As a follow up he was given a remote monitoring device wherein he can send in his transmissions from his home to us whenever they want. He has been advised to come for review every six months," Jaswal said.

Treatment of complete heart block usually requires placement of a permanent pacemaker. In cases of young children with congenital complete heart block who are asymptomatic, this may be postponed for several years.

However, inevitably almost all patients with complete heart block require a pacemaker to protect the function of the heart and prevent the development of symptoms.

Complete heart block can be found in a number of different situations in paediatric patients.

Some patients who undergo open heart surgery may develop complete heart block as a result of the surgery.

Complete heart block may also be the result of transmission of antibodies in the womb from the mother to the foetus, Fortis said.
Harare, June 4 : The Zimbabwe government said on Monday it has taken adequate executive measures to ensure free, fair and credible elections set for July 30.

The government statement came in response to the claims by US senator Chris Coons that President Emmerson Mnangagwa's administration "was making empty promises and deliberately delaying implementing key electoral reforms to disadvantage the opposition", Xinhua news agency reported.

"First, government has guaranteed a peaceful poll, which is why the President has been unambiguous in his call for peace as well as taking the unexampled decision to meet opposition parties as the Nomination Court confirmed who is genuine and who is not," the Herald newspaper quoted Mnangagwa's spokesperson George Charamba as saying.

Charamba said the new Zimbabwe government had taken steps to guarantee a credible poll which included inviting international observers and adequately resourcing the electoral body to smoothly run the elections.

He said the government would not interfere with the operations of the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC).

"Maybe what is unclear to the Senator (Coons) is that ZEC is a constitutional creature whose independence is provided for in the law. Whether, when and how it releases the voters' roll and in what format is for it to determine without undue influence from any player national or international, inside government or outside government," Charamba said.
Kolkata, June 4 : Protesting against the arrest of CPI-ML Red Star leader Alik Chakraborty, Left activists and members of the anti-power grid movement committee in West Bengal's Bhangar conducted a rally in the city on Monday afternoon.

Accusing the West Bengal Police of registering fake cases against Chakraborty, the agitators of 'Bhangar Andolan Sanghati Committee', a local resistance group against the government proposed power grid project in the South 24 Parganas district, walked from north Kolkata's Moulali to Esplanade and demanded immediate release of their leader from police custody.

A section of left leaders and activists including CPI-ML Red Star Leader Sarmistha Chowdhury, Party of Democratic Socialism General Secretary Samir Putatunda and city intellectuals also took part in the rally.

Chowdhury, who has been spearheading the movement against a proposed power grid sub-station Bhangar for the last one year, was arrested on Thursday from outside a private hospital in Odisha's Bhubaneswar in joint operation by Odisha and West Bengal Police.

The state police have booked Chakraborty under the provisions of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act among other charges and took him its custody on Saturday after bringing him from Odisha in transit remand.
Chandigarh, June 4 : The Haryana Police on Monday launched an investigation into the brutal murder of a six-year-old girl, who was also sexually assaulted, in a village in the state's Yamunanagar district.

A post-mortem examination of the victim on Monday confirmed sexual assault, police sources said.

The body of the victim was found on Sunday from a pit near the farmhouse of a Congress leader in Balegarh village of Yamunanagar, around 100 km from here.

The victim went missing on Saturday afternoon.

Police said that the throat of the minor girl was slit.

A case of murder and sexual assault has been registered against unidentified persons by police.

The victim's father, who hails from Jharkhand, is working as a farm labourer at the farmhouse of the Congress leader. The family has been living in the area for nearly six years.
New Delhi, June 4 : All India Students' Association (AISA) on Monday lodged a complaint with the Delhi University officials against Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP) members for "misusing" the varsity logo to promote private universities among admission-seekers.

The leftist student group alleged that the ABVP, which holds posts of Secretary and Joint Secretary in the Delhi University Students' Union (DUSU), have been seen distributing the union's brochure along with advertisements of private universities like Amity, Manav Rachna, Apeejay, Global Business College and "many more".

In its complaint written to Vice Chancellor and the Dean, Students Welfare, the AISA alleged that the brochure distributed carried the messages in the names of these varsity officials and also from the two ABVP union members -- Mahamedhaa Nagar and Uma Shankar "This is a big scam where money has been taken from the private universities for promoting them via Delhi University information bulletins. The office of DUSU is being used money laundering by the ABVP," the group, affiliated with the Communist Party of India- Marxist-Leninist, said in a statement.

"We are highly dismayed by the fact that all ... violations are being done in full knowledge of the university but sadly, it has maintained a silence on the issue," AISA said in its complaint letter.

It also said that a complaint has been filed with the local police against the "illegal use of DU logo".

DSW Rajesh Tandon however told IANS that the matter has been forwarded to the "persons concerned" and a reply is awaited from them.
New Delhi, June 4 : Members of a Parliamentary Committee on Monday grilled top executives of public sector banks on the issue of non-performing assets as well as the huge fraud involving diamantaire Nirav Modi and Punjab National Bank and demanded that the banks come out with a road map to tackle the problem of bad loans stalking the financial sector.

At a meeting of the panel here, the members also posed questions to the banking sector representatives about bank recapitalisation and RBI restrictions in this regard.

SBI Chairman Rajnish Kumar and Punjab National Bank Chairman Sunil Mehta besides representatives of Indian Banks' Association were among those who attended the meeting. Former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh was among the panel members.

Sources said they were asked about the challenges they faced and changes required to prevent frauds.

Some Committee members said there cannot be one category and there should be classification in terms of willful defaulters and non-willful defaulters.

The members said that NPAs can arise due to "government inactiveness" and other factors and there was a need to make such distinction. The banks were asked to come out with a road map with redefining of NPAs.

Sources said the PNB chief was asked about the multi-crore fraud involving Nirav Modi.

He is learnt to have told the members that it was related "to a branch" and was not a failure of the entire bank.

An opposition member is learnt to have responded by saying that beyond a particular amount, the bank boards get involved and the process of sanctioning loans goes into the fast sanction system. He said the issue was not mere working of the banks but their governance.

The sources said bank officials told the members that scams were being dealt with separately and did not represent a systems failure.

The officials also said that there has not been a lack of confidence among people in relation to the public sector banks.

The meeting was held almost a week before the Reserve Bank of India Governor Urjit Patel is scheduled to appear before the Committee on issues related to the banking sector including NPAs and stressed assets.

Sources said the issue of merger of banks also came up at the meeting with some members suggesting the need to be extra careful as it involved "different cultures" besides "chemistry".

They said the proposal of merger of different banks was not the same as merger of associates of State Bank of India.

A member is also learnt to have raised issues concerning autonomy of IBA. He is learnt to have compared the situation with "autonomy" of oil marketing companies, saying they had raised price of petroleum products at a time chosen by the government.

He asked if the banking industry was consulted on major decisions taken by the government and if people were aware of the situation. He is leant to have said independent directors are supposed to be there to protect minority shareholders and they were sometimes relatives of the promoters.

A member also asked about the controversy over conflict of interest in the Rs 3,250 crore loan given by the ICICI Bank to the Videocon Group in 2012. The controlling shareholder of Videocon Group co-founded a separate company with the spouse of ICICI's CEO Chanda Kochhar. A significant portion of the loan has since become non-performing.

Sources said banking industry representatives would send detailed answers to questions raised at the meeting. They expressed hope that NPA situation will improve next year.

According to sources, during his appearance before the panel, Patel is likely to be asked about the bank frauds, including the Nirav Modi case, and better regulation of banks.

Patel said earlier this year that the RBI's regulatory powers over PSBs were weaker than those over the private sector banks.
Kolkata, June 4 : West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Monday expressed joy over Union Minister Arun Jaitley's homecoming after his kidney transplant and wished him a speedy recovery.

"@arunjaitleyji. Glad that you have returned home today after the surgery. Wish you a speedy and complete recovery," she said in a tweet.

Jaitley returned home on Monday after being discharged from Delhi's All India Institute of Medical Sciences where he underwent a successful kidney transplant surgery last month.

"Delighted to be back at home. My gratitude to the doctors, nursing officers and the paramedics who looked after me for over the past three weeks. I wish to thank all well-wishers, colleagues and friends who were very concerned and continued to wish me for my recovery," he said in a tweet.
New Delhi, June 4 : The Congress on Monday slammed the BJP for raking up Pakistan in a bid to polarise people and divert their attention whenever it is losing elections.

It also hit out at the Narendra Modi government of not having a coherent, consistent and uniform policy to solve the Kashmir issue, saying it always tried to give a communal colour to the issue.

Reacting to BJP leader Sambit Patra, who tweeted a video of 26/11 mastermind Hafiz Saaed threatening Modi and wrote that it was the "not just the yet formed 'Mahagathbandhan' that desperately wants to stop India from having Modi as its PM in 2019...there are others as well..desperately trying for the same....", Congress spokesman Pawan Khera said: "The BJP knows it cannot win on development, that is why they try and divert by bringing in the name of Hafiz Saeed."

He said these remarks reflected the BJP leader's mindset, while adding that people of the country had understood this and would not get befooled by these things.

Hitting out at the government's handling of Kashmir, Khera said: "There is no uniform policy and there is a lack of clear policy. We do not see a consistent policy on Kashmir. You say something new every two-three months. They have created the same situation in Kashmir as it was around 1990.

"Where the polling percentage is just 7 per cent, you can imagine what this government has done there. During UPA's time, polling used to be 71 per cent.

"For the first time in the country, the polling was cancelled for a Lok Sabha constituency. This is the first time in Anantnag. What could be a bigger example of government's failure?" he asked.
Johannesburg, June 4 : A little over a month after Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chinese President Xi Jinping held an informal summit in China, Indian External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj and her Chinese counterpart Wang Yi met on the sidelines of the BRICS Foreign Ministers meeting here on Monday and discussed ways to maintain momentum in bilateral ties.

Describing the meeting as "continuing multifaceted engagement between two large economies", Indian External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Raveesh Kumar tweeted: "Both leaders discussed ways to maintain the momentum in bilateral and multilateral cooperation."

Modi and Xi held what Sushma Swaraj described as an unprecedented meeting on April 27-28 at the invitation of the Chinese leader in China's Wuhan, where they pledged to keep the India-China border quiet and personally guide their respective armies to avert Doklam-like military stand-off in future.

India and China went to war in 1962 over their border and still carry the baggage of 3,500 km long disputed boundary.

The two Asian giants almost came to blows in 2017 when their armies faced off each other in Doklam on the India-Bhutan-China international trijunction over building of a border road by the Chinese.

In her annual press conference in New Delhi last month, Sushma Swaraj said she and Wang had decided that they would not confine their leaders to listed agenda.

"There were three reasons for this - strong bilateral ties, global issues and mutual trust," she said.

"President Xi told our Prime Minister to call him directly over phone for any issue."

In her press conference, Sushma Swaraj also said that status quo is being maintained at Doklam.

Earlier on Monday, Sushma Swaraj and Wang took part in the BRICS (Brazil, Russia, India, China South Africa) Foreign Ministers meeting in which the Indian leader called for joint action by the grouping against money laundering and terrorist-financing.
New Delhi, June 4 : The Central government should divest 100 per cent stake in the national passenger carrier Air India, said aviation consulting firm CAPA India on Monday "... the government should divest 100 per cent even if it means giving up future upside, because if retaining a stake is blocking the entire sale, it is saddling the government with billions of dollars of red ink," CAPA India said in a report.

"Far better to cut losses now and maximise proceeds today, especially as there is no certainty as to where the airline business cycle will be tomorrow. And a stronger, restructured Air India can deliver significant indirect benefits to the Indian economy by stimulating tourism, trade and job creation, that far outweigh any notional future upside on the sale of 24 per cent equity in the airline in the future."

According to the aviation consulting firm, continuing under government ownership will lead either to an "indefinite drain on the exchequer or to the closure of the airline at a great cost to employees, taxpayers, and to the economy".

"CAPA therefore supports the divestment process and urges the Government of India to put aside this setback and push ahead with the target of concluding the transaction before the end of FY2019, after taking on board investor feedback to structure a more realistic offer," said the report, which came just a few days after the Central government said that it did not receive any bids for the cash-strapped airline.

Last Thursday, the Civil Aviation Ministry said that "no response" was received till 5 p.m. on May 31 which was the extended submission deadline for the 'Expression of Interest' (EOI) bids under AI's divestment process and "Further course of action will be decided appropriately."

The government on May 1 had released a detailed document on clarifications sought by interested bidders regarding the divestment process, including plans to retain 24 per cent stake in the divested entity, provision of ESOPs (employee stock ownership plan) and on the total debt and liabilities which are expected to remain with AI.

On March 28, the government had issued a Preliminary Information Memorandum inviting 'EOIs' for the airline's strategic divestment, along with its shares in AIXL and AISATS (Air India SATS Airport Services) from private entities including the airline's employees.
Pretoria, June 4 : With India seeking joint action by the BRICS member states against terrorist financing and money laundering, the grouping on Monday called upon all countries to prevent financing of terrorist networks and terrorist actions from their territories.

"The ministers deplored the continued terrorist attacks, including in some BRICS countries," said a joint statement issued following a BRICS (Brazil, Russia, India, China, South Africa) Foreign Ministers meeting here which was also attended by Indian External Affairs minister Sushma Swaraj.

"They condemned terrorism in all its forms and manifestations wherever committed and by whomsoever," it stated.

The BRICS Foreign Ministers also called for concerted efforts to counter terrorism under the UN auspices "on a firm international legal basis, and expressed their conviction that a comprehensive approach was necessary to ensure effective fight against terrorism".

"They recalled the responsibility of all states to prevent financing of terrorist networks and terrorist actions from their territories," the statement said in what can be seen as a veiled reference to Pakistan.

The ministers also called for an expedited adoption of the India-initiated Comprehensive Convention on International Terrorism in the UN General Assembly.

Earlier on Monday, in her address at the BRICS Foreign Ministers meeting, Sushma Swaraj called for joint action by the grouping against money laundering and financing of terrorists.

She said that Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi has given a call for a BRICS Counter-Terrorism Strategy with joint action against money-laundering, terrorist financing, cyber-space security and de-radicalization being priorities.

"Our leaders have also called for making UN Counter Terrorism framework efficient and effective," she said.

"We reiterate our commitment to implement our Leaders' mandate on counter terrorism under South Africa's BRICS Chairship."

According to the joint statement, the ministers expressed their concern over the deteriorating situation in Afghanistan, particularly the increase in the number and intensity of terrorist-related attacks on the Afghan National Security Forces, the government and civilians.

"The ministers called on the international community to assist the government and the people of Afghanistan with stabilising the security situation in the country as well as for the return of dialogue with the objective of working towards the realisation of peace in the country and an inclusive political process," the statement said.

The ministers also expressed their concern over the ongoing conflict and heightened tensions in the Middle East region, especially with regard to the Israeli-Palestinian situation.

"The ministers reiterate the need for renewed diplomatic efforts to achieving a just, lasting and comprehensive settlement of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict in order to achieve peace and stability in the Middle East on the basis of relevant United Nations resolutions, the Madrid Principles, the Arab Peace Initiative and previous agreements between the parties through negotiations with a view to create an independent, viable, territorially contiguous Palestinian State living side by side in peace and security with Israel," the statement said.

"The ministers reiterated that the status of Jerusalem is one of the final status issues to be defined in the context of negotiations between Israel and Palestine."

They also reaffirmed their commitment for a political resolution of the conflict in Syria, "through an inclusive 'Syrian-led, Syrian-owned' political process which safeguards the state sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity of Syria, in pursuance of United Nations Security Council Resolution 2254 (2015) and taking into account the result of the Congress of the Syrian National Dialogue in Sochi".

On UN Security Council reforms, the ministers underscored the importance of sustained efforts aimed at making the UN more effective and efficient in implementing the mandates conferred upon it.

"In this regard, they committed to intensifying dialogue amongst the BRICS countries on the administration and budget of the United Nations, with a view to strengthening the organisation and preserving its member state-driven character," the statement said.

Brazil and India, apart from Germany and Japan, are part of the G4 that is seeking permanent membership in the UNSC.

"The ministers expressed their support for continued cooperation of BRICS members in areas of mutual interest including through regular exchanges amongst their multilateral missions," the statement said.
New Delhi, June 4 : With three Kashmiris pleading guilty in 2010 terror funding case, a special court on Monday convicted them and sentenced them to a period of imprisonment they had already undergone.

District and Sessions Judge Poonam Bamba convicted Mohammad Sadiq Ganai, Ghulam Jeelani Liloo and Farooq Ahmed Dagga under the various provisions of Unlawful Activities Prevention Act.

All three were in judicial custody since being arrested on January 22, 2011.

Another accused Ghulam Mohammed Bhat, one of the closest aides of hardline Hurriyat leader Syed Ali Geelani, is in judicial custody in the case.

Hizbul Mujahideen chief Syed Salahuddin's son Syed Shahid, 42, a Jammu and Kashmir government employee, was arrested here on October 24 after he was called for questioning at the National Investigation Agency (NIA) headquarters.

The agency alleged that Shahid was collecting funds from Aijaz Bhat, a Srinagar resident now based in Saudi Arabia and a Hizbul Mujahideen militant, on the direction of his father Salahuddin, who is based in Pakistan-administered Kashmir.

The 2011 terror funding case pertains to terror money sent through hawala channels by militants based in Pakistan and Saudi Arabia to Jammu and Kashmir.

The NIA had filed three charge sheets against seven accused in the case in 2011.

Two of the accused, Mohammad Maqbool Pandit and Aijaz Bhat, are on the run and have been declared proclaimed offenders. Both are active Hizbul Mujahideen militants and currently based in Pakistan.

Bhat, according to NIA records, received arms training with the Hizbul Mujahideen in Pakistan-administered Kashmir in early 1990s.

He never returned to Srinagar and began working for the militant group in Pakistan. He is said to have stayed in Sialkot before shifting to Saudi Arabia for generating funds for the group's activities in Jammu and Kashmir.

According to NIA, he had procured over Rs 4.5 crore from Pakistan through hawala channels within three years after 2008 for funding militant activities in the Kashmir Valley.

Ghulam Mohammed Bhat, Ganai, Liloo and Dagga were arrested on January 22, 2011 and Rs 21.20 lakh were recovered from them.

After their arrest, Aijaz Bhat used to send money to Shahid. The Hizbul founder's son, according to an NIA official, received at least four instalments of money in 2011, 2012, 2013 and 2014.

Shahid is the third son of Salahuddin, who also heads the United Jehad Council, the amalgam of Kashmir militant groups based in Muzaffarabad in Pakistan-administered Kashmir.
Berlin, June 5 : German Chancellor Angela Merkel and visiting Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu have agreed on preventing Iran from developing nuclear weapons but disagreed on the means to that end.

Speaking at a joint press conference with Netanyahu, Merkel on Monday said before the UN-sponsored deal, Iran had been close to developing such weapons and that the deal would guarantee "more transparency", Xinhua reported.

Netanyahu was in Europe to persuade allies to support his call for changing the Iran nuclear deal and pushing Iran out of Syria.

Merkel pleaded for maintaining the nuclear deal with Iran despite the withdrawal of the US, in order to prevent arming the Islamic republic with nuclear weapons.

However, Netanyahu said the deal would give Iran permission to develop "unlimited" amounts of enriched uranium in the future in return for not enriching uranium now, which he described as unacceptable.

Netanyahu called on the world to impose economic sanctions on Iran, accusing Iran of receiving money to wage war, as a result of the nuclear deal and foreign investments flowing into Iran.

"We are united in the goal that Iran should never be allowed to receive nuclear weapons," said Merkel at the press conference, who added that differences existed only in the way to reach this goal.

Merkel said the two countries didn't see eye-to-eye on the topic but insisted that there was consensus about ending Iran's involvement in the Syrian civil war.

Moreover, Merkel reiterated that Israel and Palestine can continue to rely on a two-state solution.

"At the moment, I think there is a very complicated situation where there are no talks," Merkel said, referring to the recent conflicts and the dispute over the recognition of Jerusalem as the capital of Israel by the US.

When answering a journalist's question about when Israel would cease occupying Palestinian territories in the Gaza Strip, Netanyahu said Israel was willing to negotiate a peace settlement but added that the Gaza Strip was ruled by Hamas and others who "called for Israel's destruction".
A four bedroom 1960s house in Koongamia, a north-east suburb of Perth, has been sold at $300,000 by mortgagees.

It was sold by Alison White from Swan Real Estate.

It previously sold at $350,000 in 2013 and at $330,000 in 2007.

Situated on a 691 square metre block, the 51 Jinda Road house comes with three minor bedrooms, separate living room, and modernised kitchen.

Extra features include high ceilings, wooden floorboards, and sizeable laundry.

There is also a raised decked patio to the rear, overlooking a spacious backyard.

Located in close proximity to Clayton View Primary School and public transport, it is only a short drive to the hub of Midland, St John of God Hospital, local shops and Midland Gate shopping complex.
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Once again, the morning after BookExpo ended for booksellers, the Jacob Javits Convention Center welcomed consumers to BookCon, a weekend literary extravaganza that one attendee called a Disneyland for booklovers.

A total of about 20,000 people attended the event that ran on Saturday and Sunday, meeting authors, buying books and sidelines, picking up literary swag and other freebies, and even, for about 1,200 of them, hearing former U.S. President Bill Clinton talk about the presidency in fact and in fiction.

While the demographics of the show, as always, skewed towards women between 18-30, there were more females both younger than 18 and older than 30 this year, and more men. ReedPOP president Lance Fensterman, noting that the gender ratio was 80:20 in previous years, estimated that this year, the ratio seemed to be more like 70:30. The crowd was noticeably heavier on Saturday than on Sunday, and most of the people PW queried hailed from the Mid-Atlantic region, although there were some from New England as well as the South.

One mother, Madeleine Collazo, there with her 20-year-old daughter, Brianna, said that its become a tradition for the two to come to BookCon from the Bronx. The two prefer, she said, to come on Saturday because its more rowdy, while Sunday draws more families. Also, she said, We get a lot more books and ARCs on Saturday than on Sunday because the publishers run out of popular items long before the end of the first day. Its good to come here and see how Briannas reading tastes change every year, and to see the expression of her happiness when she meets the author, Collazo said.

Saturdays first arrivals at Javits were Hayley Oliviera and Cassidy Guinada, both 19-years-old from Long Island, who camped outside Javits at 3:30 a.m. for their second BookCon experience. We wanted to get into everything we wanted, Guinada explained. She was especially interested in the Shadowhunters Army booth which contained books and swag inspired by YA author Cassandra Clares Shadowhunter Chronicles series of urban fantasy novels. The pair, as well as most of the other attendees PW interviewed -- both male and female -- mentioned Clare as the author they were most excited to see at BookCon. Clares fans filled the Main Stage area on Saturday, listening raptly as she dished on her life, her friends, the writing process, and her travels, as well as the characters shes created in four overlapping series. She promised that in the next novel in the Dark Artifices series, Queen of Air and Darkness (Dec.), there will be a lot of change for the characters, who will take readers to new places, and that the novel will be structured differently from her previous writings.

While one attendee, Roger Maloney, from New York City, said he was excited to see Congressman John Lewis on Saturday, he was even more excited to see YA author Tomi Adeyemi, whose debut novel, Children of Blood and Bone, was published earlier this spring. I like to check out new authors, he said, I think Adeyemi is going to be the next J.K. Rowling. Her book has the same feel as Harry Potter. He wasnt the only attendee to think that: many people PW spoke to mentioned their excitement to see Adeyemi, who appeared with other YA authors on several panels that drew crowds of fans. She signed books in the autographing area Saturday and Sunday.

The highlight of the show for many, of course, was Clintons joint appearance in the Main Stage area with James Patterson, his collaborator on the thriller, The President is Missing, which was officially launched at this sold-out event. During the hour, moderated by Washington, D.C. superlawyer Robert Barnett, Clinton described the writing process with Patterson as his being an apprentice to the bestselling and prolific author, though he provided authenticity to the details in the novel. Clinton, who admitted to being a big fan of thrillers, especially of Patterson's 2017 novel, The Black Book, said that he hoped that the duo succeeded in using a fictional vehicle to convey the factual about what its really like to be president of the U.S. and how a responsible White House would respond to a crisis.

Comparing the conclusion of The President Is Missing to that of the Black Panther movie, Clinton noted that the good guys are not perfect and the bad guys are not all bad. By the end of the book, people wont want [a female assassin] to be hurt.

Barnett drew laughs when he asked the two if the title was wishful thinking. While Donald Trumps name was never mentioned by any of the speakers, many of the comments made by both Clinton and Patterson could be taken as swipes at the current administration and its policies.

Discussing his experiences as President, and how there is always pressure on the President to act tough against foreign powers, Clinton pointed out that the President can issue orders such as bombing other countries -- that result in the deaths of innocent people and thus must resist acting impulsively and rashly. When you give someone the power of the presidency, he said, Unintended death is part of the job description. Once you give that order, you cant bring those people back to life.

Patterson said, Not to be political here, but people have to be careful whom they elect to be President. Its such a hugely important job. I think weve forgotten how important it really is."
The company says the 33 Netflix originals released this year have averaged over 9 million viewers per film, with the 33 Netflix films released so far this year being watched more than 300 million times by more than 80 million account holders worldwide.It wont be inexpensive: Netflix has budgeted $8 billion for total programming costs this year. But Netflix execs have noted that the large quantity of original films is needed to serve the company's diverse global subscriber base.A full 55% of Netflixs 125 million customers live outside the United States, and with the domestic market reaching saturation, most of its growth will come from its global markets. Digital TV Research said that North America and Western Europe will together supply 62% of Netflixs total subscriber base by 2023, down from 76% in 2017. Asia Pacific in particular is set for fast growth by taking 14% of the 2023 total. These 28 million subs would represent quadruple the 2017 figure.Its art and science, said Ian Bricke, who oversees Netflixs independent film licensing and production, speaking to Reuters. Our global audience is more and more diverse. We are constantly learning and trying to get smarter.To cater to an international audience, at least 17 of this years Netflix films will be in languages other than English, including French, Arabic, Hungarian, Japanese and Russian. Eight or more will be in Spanish.The 86-film target would exceed the scheduled output of the top four traditional studios combined, and the stakes are high: That kind of investment will translate into a negative free cash flow of up to $4 billion this year, the company said. Even so, it keeps exceeding subscriber gains expectations.Digital TV Research has forecast that the SVOD leader will likely end 2018 with 139 million streaming subscribers, adding 28 million in the year, on track for 201 million by 2023, up by 82% from the end of 2017. The firms report also calculatesalso calculates that the subs surge would see streaming subscription revenues for Netflix climb by 155% from $11.3 billion in 2017 to $28.8 billion in 2023. All in all, this has kept investors happy. Shares this year are up a whopping 70%.
All ten series will be available to watch as box sets on BBC iPlayer, including every special from the past 13 years of the Doctors adventures, including mini-episode The Night Of The Doctor. Whovians can go back to 2005 to enjoy every moment, from Christopher Ecclestons Ninth Doctor first meeting Rose, right up to Peter Capaldis Twelfth Doctors final moments in last Christmass Twice Upon A Time.The series has been one of the BBCs biggest successes since returning in 2005, and in addition to Eccleston and Capaldi, David Tennant - who found huge success with Broadchurch in both the US and UK - and Matt Smith both had star-making turns as the Tenth and Eleventh Doctor respectively, and big-name guest stars include Carey Mulligan, Simon Pegg, Derek Jacobi, Kylie Minogue, Andrew Garfield, Felicity Jones and Bill Nighy.Dan McGolpin, controller of programming for the BBC, said: Were reinventing the BBC for a new generation, and BBC iPlayer is key to that. Bringing back these series of Doctor Who is just part of our offer this summer, giving viewers the chance to uncover or rediscover the Doctors previous adventures.
Who is responsible for the costs of building seawalls and other climate change adaptation infrastructure in cities such as Oakland and San Francisco? Is it the taxpayers in those municipalities? The major emitters of greenhouse gases, such as carbon dioxide and methane? Or the companies that have made the emissions possible but have not actually released them?

City officials in California are asking a federal judge to hold only the latter  major oil and gas companies  responsible. By doing so, they risk unleashing a torrent of lawsuits against all manner of companies in the process.

The Bay Area expects to experience increased flooding in the coming decades as global warming causes sea levels to rise. In response, it intends to build infrastructure that will prevent its low-level populated areas from being inundated in the future. This infrastructure is not cheap, though, and city officials in Oakland and San Francisco want those entities that it holds primarily responsible for global warming (BP, Chevron, ConocoPhillips, Exxon Mobil, and Royal Dutch Shell) to pick up the bill under the federal common law tort of nuisance.

Unfortunately for these cities, in 2011 the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that the Environmental Protection Agency, as authorized by Congress  not the courts  has the task of regulating greenhouse emissions. To get around this roadblock, the cities have opted to sue large producers of fossil fuels, such as oil and gas companies, rather than emitters of greenhouse gases, such as electric utilities or drivers.

In the process, their lawyers have advanced a novel legal theory. It goes like this: By extracting fossil fuels from their underground reservoirs and making them available to be burned, oil and gas companies set the conditions for the greenhouse gas emissions that have contributed to climate change; they are therefore liable to the cities for the costs of building seawalls, because they made the fossil fuels combustion and ultimate conversion to greenhouse gases possible. This argumentative strategy  focusing on the creation of the conditions necessary for fossil fuels to be combusted  is a way for the cities lawsuit to conform to legal precedent. It also threatens to ensnare far more than the worlds largest oil and gas producers who are the defendants in the current lawsuit.

Of course, fossil fuels must be extracted before they can be combusted. But that is hardly the only prerequisite. Oil is most commonly refined into distinct fuel (and non-fuel) products prior to being consumed. The refined fuels are transported to the convenience stores that operate the pumps that move them into the vehicles in which they are combusted. In the case of natural gas, the fuel is distributed to facilities and buildings for use in heat and power systems.

In every case, the fuel is only combusted because numerous other logistics prerequisites have been satisfied in addition to extraction from underground reservoirs. Pipelines were built to transport the fuel to market. Distribution infrastructure was built to transport the fuel to consumers. Combustion equipment such as vehicle engines, gas turbines, boilers, and furnaces were built to convert the fuel into energy. In the case of electricity, transmission and distribution lines were built to distribute the energy to consumers. In the case of refined fuels, road networks and airports were built and maintained so that vehicles could convert the energy into distance traveled. In other words, modern economies depend on energy systems, without which fossil fuels would not get converted into greenhouse gas emissions.

Does this mean that the cities lawyers intend to sue all of these other components of the fossil fuel life cycle for climate change damages? It is unlikely. Oakland and San Francisco are well aware of their reliance on fossil fuels, so much so that their original legal complaint specifically states that the cities do not seek to restrain Defendants from engaging in their business operations (emphasis in original). Moreover, the cities own involvement in the processes of building and maintaining the transportation networks that are required for many fossil fuels to be combusted would quickly make such a maneuver an act of self-harm.

The real concern is with the precedent that this lawsuit would create if successful. The ability to target the entities that create the prerequisites for a nuisance such as greenhouse gas emissions, rather than the nuisance itself, would create a vast number of potential targets, including manufacturers of products such as gas turbines, furnaces, hot water tanks, road construction equipment, automobiles, and airplanes, to name a few. Furthermore, given that greenhouse gases are emitted by a variety of activities other than fossil fuel extraction, including agriculture, forestry, and ranching, many other sectors in modern economies could find themselves affected.

The federal judge who is hearing this lawsuit recognized these threats and asked the cities lawyers to explain why they do not believe that all entities responsible for greenhouse gas emissions are liable for the costs of Oakland and San Franciscos seawalls. Their response was that the lawsuit is only focused on the largest fossil fuel producers. But this ignores the fact that, under federal common law, negligence liability is a question of harm caused  not the size of the entity allegedly contributing to the nuisance. The cities lawsuit is novel because it would potentially hold everyone who creates the prerequisites for greenhouse gas emissions liable.

There is no denying that coastal municipalities will incur substantial climate change adaptation costs in the future, especially as humans continue to abandon rural inland communities for coastal cities. Politicians have the unenviable task of determining how to allocate these costs across modern economies that continue to be major sources of greenhouse gas emissions. However, the approach adopted by Oakland and San Francisco  attempting to use the blunt hammer of the courts to fill a perceived vacuum in federal policy  threatens far more than just those companies they prefer to target. More is at stake here than the funding of future seawalls.

Tristan R. Brown is Assistant Professor of Energy Resource Economics at State University of New York in Syracuse, NY.
As the rising costs of tuition and fees outpace increases in financial aid and student debt skyrockets, there has never been a more critical time to bring innovation to our higher education system. We are here to share the one thing student loan lenders dont want you to know: There is an entire years worth of top-flight college education courses leading to real college credits, available for free, online right now. If youre a governor, state education leader or a parent looking at paying the high cost of college, this message is addressed to you.

Over the past decade, the cost of college tuition has increased by a crushing 71 percent, putting higher education out of reach for many high school seniors, adult learners and others. In 2017, nearly half of all students who dropped out of college say they did so because of cost. Politicians nationwide are scrambling to find ways to do something about this crisis, which has led to more than $1.3 trillion in student loans. A college degree is still the surest path to a good job for many people. But higher education  at about 9.9% of state spending  is already the third largest budget item for state and local taxes, after K12 and Medicaid. And increasingly, the students tuition cost  with an average $38,600 four-year price tag for in-state residents at public universities  is out of reach.

Fortunately, there is a new, simple, and exceptionally inexpensive program that governors and states can adopt right now to lower the cost of tuition by up to 25 percent and create an immediate on ramp to college for students.

Modern States Education Alliance, a philanthropic organization dedicated to making college more affordable and more accessible, has pioneered Freshman Year for Free, through its website ModernStates.org. It provides more than 30 top quality online college courses to anyone for free, and can lead to a full year of real academic credit at more than 2,900 traditional colleges and universities, from Purdue to the University of Wisconsin to Morehouse.

The courses are taught by top university professors, and include free online textbooks as well, with one course for every subject tested by the College Boards well established College Level Examination Program (CLEP). The CLEP exams have been around for more than 50 years, and are particularly useful because they can be taken by people of any age, any day of the year, at 1,800 different assessment centers worldwide.

Students can now go to ModernStates.org as easily as they visit Netflix. They then simply download a course, pass a CLEP exam and become eligible for credit when they enter any of the thousands of traditional four-year universities that accept a passing score on the CLEP exam for credit. Modern States spent more than three years developing the website and courses in partnership with professors from Columbia University, Purdue, Johns Hopkins, SUNY (State University of New York schools) and other leading universities. It is also itself paying the College Boards $85 per course exam fee for the first 10,000 test takers.

Thats where the opportunity for governors comes in. For $85 per CLEP exam, far less than the cost of tuition for college credits, governors across the country can enable students to take a CLEP test for free and earn college credit. The fee for the exam is small compared to the $1,782 cost of a typical course at a public university, and can provide a path to higher education for thousands of students who face the choice between not going to college or taking on massive debt.

For perspective, helping 100,000 state residents pass 100,000 course exams would only cost a state $8.5 million  a fraction of a states education budget  and probably save the state far more in taxpayer subsidized alternatives or safety net programs. States could also encourage its use in high schools by including passage of Advanced Placement or CLEP exams in their high school accountability systems and providing financial incentives to school districts when students earn college credit through these and other college credit options.

Modern States has gained more than 60,000 registered users since it launched in August 2017, and its student passing rate on CLEP exams has well exceeded the 70 percent national average. High schoolers, working parents, military personnel, and Dreamers, to name a few, are all benefitting from this innovation.

Covering the expense of an $85 test fee is an inexpensive way for state policymakers to do something about the high cost of college. This is a rare opportunity for states to make a real difference and earn a real return on investment. This month, more than two million students across the nation will find out where, and if, they were accepted to attend college. But, today, more than half of first year college students are concerned they wont be able to afford college without substantial aid or loans. Lets not let another year go by before we provide them an easy way to save 25 percent on their higher education.

Jeb Bush is the Chairman of the Foundation for Excellence in Education and 43rd governor of Florida. Steve Klinsky is the Founder and CEO of Modern States. They are, respectively, the past and current chairs of Harvards Program for Education Policy and Governance.
WASHINGTON -- Reality TV star Kim Kardashian visited the White House Wednesday to urge President Donald Trump to commute the sentence of a 63-year-old great-grandmother serving a federal sentence of life without parole for a first-time, nonviolent drug offense.

Instead, Trump announced Thursday that he would pardon Dinesh D'Souza, a conservative author who pleaded guilty to violating federal campaign finance laws in 2012. D'Souza paid a fine and served eight months in a community center. A full presidential pardon would wipe clean his criminal record.

It would be nice to see Trump show as much sympathy for a convict who screwed up her life as he did for a conservative who screwed up his campaign donations.

In 1996, Alice Marie Johnson was convicted on eight criminal counts, including conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute cocaine, attempted possession of cocaine and money laundering charges. She has already served 21 years in prison.

In pleading Johnson's case, Kardashian shrewdly seized upon draconian federal sentencing practices that can put low- or mid-level nonviolent offenders away for decades, even life -- thanks to a system so rife with abuse that some Senate Democrats and Republicans are determined to change the law.

These officials don't argue that offenders like Johnson should not go to prison; instead they maintain that the federal sentences should more closely reflect the crime.

Violent drug kingpins, not their underlings, should be sentenced to life, they argue. Hence, the ACLU and the conservative Charles Koch Foundation both have advocated for Johnson's early release.

They have not found a ready ally in Trump, who at the 2016 Republican National Convention criticized President Barack Obama for ending "decades of progress made in bringing down crime" with a directive to federal prosecutors not to go for the maximum sentence available under the federal mandatory minimum system.

Attorney General Jeff Sessions has been perhaps the most stalwart opponent of reform efforts in Congress.

Trump World, however, rarely presents itself without a counter force. On this issue, son-in-law and senior adviser Jared Kushner has been a persuasive and effective advocate for criminal justice reform.

This is an issue that is personal for Kushner as his father was sentenced to two years in prison after pleading guilty to charges of tax evasion, witness tampering and illegal campaign contributions.

Another driver just might be Special Counsel Robert Mueller, said Pat Nolan of the American Conservative Union Foundation's Center for Criminal Justice Reform.

Mueller's Russia probe shows a federal system in which lawmen "decide who they're going to prosecute and then hunt for a crime," said Nolan, who was the Republican leader of the California Assembly before he served 29 months behind bars on a federal racketeering charge. "This has really opened his eyes."

Kushner and Nolan would love to see Washington enact federal sentencing reform, but with the administration opposed, they've focused on legislation that can be enacted. Kushner has corralled his painful family experience behind a prison reform bill that passed the House by a 360-59 vote. Support was unusually bipartisan with 226 Republicans and 134 Democrats voting yes.

The First Step Act, sponsored by Reps. Doug Collins, R-Ga., and Hakeem Jeffries, D-N.Y., would increase the good time credit, insure inmates are placed within 500 driving miles of their families and provide incentives for inmates to complete rehabilitation programs.

Trump has pledged to sign the bill.

So what could go wrong?

The U.S. Senate.

Sen. Dick Durbin, D-Ill., has come out against the measure's risk assessment mechanism, which among other problems, would "give far too much discretion" to the Trump administration's Bureau of Prisons.

Jeffries rejects that claim. "Ultimately, it should be our mission to improve the lives of the people we are here to represent," he wrote in reply. Jeffries called on Durbin and company to "reconsider their position, cast aside partisan ambition and join the House's fight to fix our broken criminal justice system."

But it is not only Democrats who oppose First Step. Sen. Chuck Grassley, R-Iowa, has blocked the House bill because it excludes sentencing reform.

Sen. John Cornyn, R-Texas, co-sponsor of the Senate version of First Step, has warned that mandatory minimum sentencing reductions could doom needed prison reform. And like Kushner and Nolan, Cornyn supports sentencing reform.

It would be great if Kardashian's appeal for Johnson's release changed the president's heart by putting a face on a system that throws small-fish nonviolent offenders in prison until they die.

But if it doesn't, the Senate should go for a win that eases the way for federal inmates upon their release. First Step should save taxpayers money, but more important it should increase offenders' chances for a life in step with the law.

And really, how can sentencing reform advocates demand a bill that fixes runaway federal sentences when they failed to send a bill to President Barack Obama, who favored the idea, in 2016?

COPYRIGHT 2018 CREATORS.COM
Republicans would ordinarily dread an intra-party challenge to one of their most endangered incumbents in an already difficult election year. But in Californias 48th District, it's an oddly welcome scenario  one that could even help them maintain control of the U.S House of Representatives.

The coastal Orange County district, represented by 15-term Rep. Dana Rohrabacher, is one of seven Republican strongholds in California that Hillary Clinton carried in 2016, a group of seats seemingly primed for Democrats who see the Golden State as their gateway to taking over the lower chamber in this year's midterms. Rohrabacher's 30-year tenure, penchant for controversy, and a warmness to Russia that earned him the label "Putin's favorite congressman" made him among the most tantalizing targets -- so much so that seven Democrats signed up to challenge him. Not only that, but five Republicans also have thrown their hats into the ring.

In any other state, such an abundance of candidates might be a good problem to have. But for Democrats in California, it's turning out to be simply a problem.

The state's June 5 primary operates on the so-called jungle system, which means the top two finishers regardless of party affiliation advance to the general election. And in districts like CA-48, Democrats are growing increasingly concerned that their candidates could cut into one another's vote share, enabling two Republicans to advance to the November ballot. Therefore, Rohrabacher's challenge from within his own party could be a saving grace for the GOP.

"If you can take one vulnerable seat off the table or two or three in Orange County, you've virtually assured yourself of a Republican majority," asserts Scott Baugh, a former Orange County GOP chairman running against Rohrabacher in Tuesday's primary.

If Democrats' path to the majority runs through California, then Orange County is considered Ground Zero. In 2016, Clinton became the first Democrat in 80 years to win the once reliably Republican county. And even though voters split their tickets in a handful of the county's congressional districts, Democrats saw fertile ground in the shifting political climate. Their hopes were further boosted when two longtime Republican congressmen from the area  Darrell Issa in the 49th (which also encompasses parts of San Diego County) and Ed Royce in the 39th (which also includes parts of Los Angeles County)  announced they would retire rather than seek re-election. Rohrabacher decided to stick it out, even though doing so would only enlarge the target on the back.

But now, the three districts that once presented promising opportunities for Democratic takeover could shut the party candidates out altogether. Ironically, Republican retirements and the crowded primaries seem to have put the GOP in a stronger position.

In 2016, Issa won re-election by less than one percentage point against Democrat Doug Applegate, a Marine veteran, in a district Clinton carried by nearly eight points. Applegate is running again, but so are three other party members: Sara Jacobs, a former Clinton adviser and granddaughter of billionaire philanthropist and Qualcomm co-founder Irwin Jacobs; environmental attorney Mike Levin; and businessman Paul Kerr. The contest between the Democrats has turned divisive and expensive. Rather than picking a single strong candidate to back, national Democrats have focused their resources on taking town the Republican challengers, which include state Assemblyman Rocky Chavez and state Board of Equalization Chairwoman Diane Harkey.

Royce's retirement in CA-39, a district that voted for Clinton by nearly nine points, also opened the floodgates to a large field of candidates. The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee backed Navy veteran and millionaire philanthropist Gil Cisneros, but the endorsement didn't deter other Democrats from staying in. The battle between Cisneros and health insurance executive Andy Thorburn became so heated and nasty that the chairman of the California Democratic Party, Eric Bauman, had to intervene and broker a truce. Physician Mai Khanh Tran also stayed in the Democratic race, despite the party urging her to step aside.

While Democrats feel more confident about getting someone on the November ballot in the 39th, there are concerns. Among the many Republicans also running for the seat: Orange County Supervisor Shawn Nelson, former minority state Senate leader Bob Huff, and former state Assemblywoman Young Kim.

"The 'top two' problem is very acute," said one California Democratic operative, anticipating that the party could get shut out in two of the three Orange County races. "We have tried to tackle this problem every way we could and left everything out on the field."

Rohrabacher's district is where the crowded Democratic field is proving to be the most problematic, thus making it the toughest get of the three. For starters, the party is divided over whom to support. The DCCC is backing businessman Harley Rouda while the state party is supporting stem-cell researcher Hans Keirstead. Earlier in the campaign, the national party was on the same page in encouraging Keirstead to run. But after allegations of physical misconduct surfaced against him, the DCCC moved to officially endorse Rouda. The allegations were found to be unsubstantiated and Keirstead was cleared.

"It makes it tough because it means we're not working in that district hand-in-hand in the way we are everywhere else," says state party chairman Bauman.

The move encouraged some other Democrats to drop out, but not in enough time to have their names removed from the ballot. Meanwhile, another candidate, former FBI agent Omar Siddiqui, is refusing to step aside.

The conditions have created an opening for Baugh and the Republicans. Baugh is a former mentee of Rohrabacher's and is seen as having the best chance among the other GOP challengers of keeping Democrats off the general election ballot. But it's not as though the two are in cahoots. Rohrabacher has been running ads and mailers attacking Baugh, and Baugh has criticized the incumbent as being ineffective and having served too long in Congress. "He's preoccupied with Russia, Baugh told RCP in an interview. "The community has issues it wants dealt with, local issues ... and Dana is somewhat of a self-appointed secretary of state."

While national Republicans are backing the congressman, they are more preoccupied at this point with keeping Democrats off the fall ballot in this district and others in the Orange County area. Democrats have been spending heavily in the 48th, with a portion targeting Baugh. The House Majority PAC spent $650,000 on ads painting him as a criminal.

The allegation is rooted in Baugh's relationship with Rohrabacher. Over two decades ago, the lawmaker recruited Baugh to run for a seat in the state assembly. After that race, Baugh and Rohrabachers wife, Rhonda Carmony, who was the congressman's campaign manager, were charged with felonies and a slew of misdemeanors related to Carmony's efforts to get a Democratic ally to run to split the vote on the opposing side and allow a path forward for the Republican. The charges against Baugh, related to campaign finance violations, were dropped, but Rohrabacher's wife pled guilty to election fraud.

Baugh says his internal tracking poll shows him edging out Democrat Rouda, even though Rouda leads the fundraising race with $1.9 million. In a sign of Democratic energy, both Rouda and Keirstead outraised Rohrabacher and Baugh. Even Siddiqui, whom Democrats were encouraging to leave the race, raised nearly $1 million, compared to Baugh's $600,000, according to the Center for Responsive Politics.

Democrats at the national and state level insist theyve done all they can to get Democrats through the jungle primary system. DCCC is proud to have invested in and opened up new territory for California Democrats ahead of next weeks primary, said Meredith Kelly, the groups communications director.

And they argue that they will be more competitive than before against GOP incumbents in districts that Clinton won, including Reps. Mimi Walters in the 45th, David Valadao in the 21st, Steve Knight in the 25th, and Jeff Denham in the 10th, as well as three others in traditional Republican territory.

"It's personalities," Bauman said about Democratic candidates in California refusing to drop out. "And there's an unusual energy and an essence in the air that people want to fight back."

Bauman said he met with the various candidates running in these congressional districts to urge them to see the bigger picture, stressing that if Democrats dont make the November ballot, they can't fight back against the Trump administration and help the party win the majority. He encouraged them to think beyond their own candidacies and beyond California.

"Unfortunately, this is not like the days of yesterday when political leaders sat in back rooms and said you can't run. It's not right and we don't do that anymore," Bauman says. "You have so many people who are so passionate. ... I was not going to say to anybody, It's not your time to run."

Clarification: An earlier version of this article stated that Baugh arranged for a Democratic ally to run in a state assembly race to split the vote on the opposing side and allow a path forward for the Republican. In fact, Rhonda Carmony recruited the decoy candidate.
Ever since gas prices hit a four-year high this past Memorial Day, Democrats have been trying to place the blame on President Trump. The Democratic National Committee is reminding folks that Trump used to say the president has tremendous power over gas prices. Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer is talking about how Trump should leverage his close relationship with the Saudis and Russians to open their spigots. This past Sunday, Schumer urged the EPA to shelve its plans for weakening Obama-era automobile fuel efficiency standards, so motorists wont have to burn a hole in their wallets filling up gas-guzzlers.

Memo to Democrats: run on gas prices, and youre running on empty.

The strategy may make sense on paper, as many voters may care more about getting pinched at the pump than scandal dramas and foreign policy kabuki. But time and time again, when politicians try to make political hay out of gas prices, they fail.

In 2004, when the price of gas exceeded $2 per gallon for the first time in history, Democratic presidential nominee John Kerry accused President George W. Bush of failing to fight for the American worker, the American family at the fuel pump. Bush won. In 2012, the year of the highest annual average gas price in history, Republicans routinely slammed President Obama; in fact, that was when Trump made his claim about how presidential power can control gas prices. Obama won. By 2016, gas prices dropped, and Obama tried to take credit in hopes of boosting Hillary Clintons presidential bid, giving himself a cheeky Thanks, Obama! upon a gallon of gas returning to $2. Trump won.

Why dont voters care that much about gas prices? One voter in 2004 summed it up succinctly to the Associated Press: Its a small issue. Theres a whole bigger picture to look at. To the extent people vote their pocketbook, they are going to vote their whole pocketbook, whereas gas prices are only one household budget item.

Beyond the issues limited potency, Democrats also have to be worried about sending mixed messages about their environmental principles. If low gas prices were really a top Democratic priority, then there wouldnt be a party push to put a price on carbon emissions, which would jack up the cost of fossil fuels. And some Democrats (though to be fair, not Schumer) are open to a gas tax increase so Congress can shore up the Highway Trust Fund.

Conservatives have been quick to call Schumer a hypocrite. David Harsanyi of The Federalist recently wrote, If higher energy costs hurt Americans -- and thank you, senator, for conceding this point -- why have liberals favored increasing gas taxes, inhibiting exploration for fossil fuels  and capping imports?

Theres an answer to that question. Yes, most Democrats want fossil fuels to be expensive in order to cut down their use and curb global warming. But they also want to drive down the price of renewable energy and keep overall energy costs affordable for the average household. So when Democrats narrowly complain about high gas prices, they arent fully telling their own story, which leaves them vulnerable to charges of hypocrisy.

Democrats are also forgetting the lesson that Obama taught them in the 2008 primary: straight talk on high gas prices beats cheap pandering.

The cost of a gallon had continued to rise during Bushs second term, and both Clinton, then Obamas Democratic nemesis, and presumptive Republican nominee Sen. John McCain were proposing a gas tax holiday to give Americans short-term relief.

In the run-up to the North Carolina and Indiana primaries, when Clinton staked hopes of a late comeback, Obama dared to dismiss the gas tax holiday idea as political snake oil. He ran a table-turning ad, showing remarkable candor on the stump: We could suspend the gas tax for six months, but thats not going to bring down gas prices long-term. Its going to save about $25, $30. Or half a tank of gas. Thats typical of how Washington works.  Lets find some short-term, quick fix that we can say we did something, even though were not really doing anything.

MSNBCs Joe Scarborough said of Obamas stance right before the primaries, If thats your best outreach to working-class voters, stay home tomorrow because its going to get ugly in North Carolina and Indiana. It didnt; Obama won the former and lost the latter by less than a point, which was enough to effectively lock up the nomination.

Gas prices fluctuate. Who knows where they will be on Election Day. It doesnt make sense to base a partys electoral strategy on something they cant control. (Ask Mitt Romney about the wisdom of relying on monthly employment numbers.) But to the extent Democrats want to talk about energy costs, they should take the opportunity to make the case for a clean energy strategy that frees consumers from being subject to the whims of the foreign cartels, while also saving us from the dangers of climate change. Such a message may not offer as much populist punch as scapegoating the president for gas prices. But it would help Democrats remind voters that their party is grounded on principles that run deeper than raw antipathy of Donald Trump.
Good morning, its Monday, June 4, 2018. Ninety-five years ago today, a steeplechase rider at Belmont Park, aboard a horse named Sweet Kiss, prevailed in a stirring stretch run to defeat the favorite, a colt named Gimme. It wasnt sweet for the jockey, however: He had a fatal heart attack in the saddle, and died after crossing the finish line.

Heart disease, pronounced track physician John A.H. Voorhees.

Its a sad story, and an extraordinary one. Over the years, however, it has morphed into something different. On too many websites too count, the death of the jockey has been rendered into myth, one showing that fake news is not a recent phenomenon.

Ill explain in a moment. First, Id first point you to RealClearPolitics front page, which presents our poll averages, videos, breaking news stories, and aggregated opinion columns spanning the political spectrum. We also offer original material from our own reporters and contributors, including the following:

* * *

Crowded Primaries Could Dash Dems California Dreams. Caitlin Huey-Burns reports on several Republican-held House districts that initially looked ripe for flipping, but could stay in GOP hands given the states jungle primary system.

Mueller, Starr and the Witch Hunt Narrative. In a column, I spotlight similarities between Republicans defense of Donald Trump and Democrats defense of Bill Clinton two decades ago.

Trump Lifts the Economic Underdogs. Steve Cortes hails the latest labor report as another example of good news for the presidents policies.

Why the Iraqi Election Was Successful. Douglas Ollivant and Bartle Bull make their case in RealClearLife.

Duke Erodes Liberal Education. Peter Berkowitz examines the controversy surrounding the impending ouster of a public policy/political science professor.

How Governors Can Give All Students Freshman Year for Free. In RealClearPolicy, Jeb Bush & Steve Klinsky explain how states can use online tools to help defray tuition costs.

Provocateurs on Campus Distract From Real Free Speech Problems. Also in RCPolicy, Frederick M. Hess & Sofia Gallo urge conservative students not to invite controversial speakers to campus whose primary function is to rattle progressives.

Climate Change Lawsuit Sets Dangerous Precedent. In RealClearEnergy, Tristan R. Brown argues that a suit brought by coastal cities in California against major oil and gas companies could open the door to more frivolous legal action across the industry.

Why Science Seems to Support Acupuncture, Though It Doesnt. Ross Pomeroy explains in RealClearScience.

* * *

If you type Belmont Stakes and 1923 into your search bar on Google, what you should get is the name Zev. He was the great racehorse who won the Belmont that year, and the Kentucky Derby, and who then handily defeated Epsom Derby winner Papyrus in an October match race at Belmont Park watched by 50,000 people and carried live on radio. It ensured that Zev would be named Horse of the Year.

Instead what you will get is a Wikipedia page for Frank Hayes, a jockey who supposedly died somewhere in the middle of a steeplechase race and still managed to win. Another entry, from the Guinness Book of World Records, makes the same absurd claim: Despite his sudden death, Hayes somehow remained in the saddle long enough for the 20-1 long shot to jump the final fence and cross the finish line in first place, making him the only jockey to ride to victory after his own death. Others echo this claim, screen after screen -- with some of the clueless posters claiming that Hayes and Sweet Kiss won the Belmont Stakes, the third leg of the Triple Crown.

If you Google Frank Hayes and Belmont youll get hundreds of hits, all of them saying that the jockey was dead before his horse crossed the finish line. This, of course, is utter nonsense. For one thing, a steeplechase has water hazards and jumps; even the dimwits uploading this stuff should know that no horse would even attempt these hazards with a dead jockey on its back, much less win a race.

Hayes death at the track really did occur, though, and there are contemporaneous newspaper accounts of it. One of them, in the New York Times, states clearly -- in the headline -- that Hayes collapsed after passing the finish line. It speculates that his heart attack was brought on by the pressure of making weight combined with the excitement of winning his first race.

The Auburn (N.Y.) Citizen cited both those factors as well, and noted that the rider -- Francis Hayes, it called him, not the less formal Frank -- was swaying side to side as he crossed the finish line valiantly, but weakly tugging at the bridle.

The paper reported that Hayes appeared to have been stricken before the last jump. The lad was game, it added with great understatement. Sweet Kiss, cantered 100 yards past the finish line but, feeling something amiss, stopped still on the track. The jockey crumpled in the saddle, the Citizen reported, slipped over his mounts sides, fell face downward, and lay still.

The point of my note this morning is not to lament that a horse who has been gone for nine decades had more sense than modern Americans who like to publish things they hear on the Internet without bothering to do any of their own research. Its that newspapers are dying in this country, and Im wondering how well check even routine facts -- let alone govern ourselves intelligently -- when they are gone.

Carl M. Cannon

Washington Bureau chief, RealClearPolitics

@CarlCannon (Twitter)

ccannon@realclearpolitics.com
WASHINGTON -- L'etat, c'est Trump.

For months we've heard President Trump's TV lawyers, as he calls them, bandy about the argument that he -- or any president, for that matter -- couldn't have obstructed justice because justice is what he says it is.

In other words, that because, they claim, a president possesses absolute power to cut short a criminal investigation, he cannot by definition be guilty of obstructing it. Or, in the famous Nixonian formulation, as Richard M. Nixon told David Frost, "Well, when the president does it, that means that it is not illegal."

But as much as the president's legal team foreshadowed this contention, it was nonetheless breathtaking to see it spelled out, in uncaveated black and white, in a letter from Trump's legal team to special counsel Robert S. Mueller III.

"A President can also order the termination of an investigation by the Justice Department or FBI at any time and for any reason," the lawyers, John Dowd and Jay Sekulow, wrote in the January letter, obtained by the New York Times. "Such an action obviously has an impact on the investigation, but that is simply an effect of the President's lawful exercise of his constitutional power and cannot constitute obstruction of justice."

At any time and for any reason. The precise context involved the president's discussion with then-FBI Director James B. Comey in which, according to Comey's testimony, Trump cleared the Oval Office of other witnesses before discussing his just-fired national security adviser, Michael Flynn. According to Comey, Trump expressed his "hope you can see your way clear to letting this go, to letting Flynn go."

The letter disputes Comey's version of events but says it wouldn't matter if Trump had made those statements. And then, in a magnificently gaslighting move, the letter claims that Trump is actually the hero of any obstruction story, because he fired Flynn: "Far, far, from obstructing justice, the only individual in the entire Flynn story that ensured swift justice was the President."

Of course the president oversees the executive branch, including the Justice Department. Of course he gets to set broad contours of policy. But there is a long and wise tradition of presidential reticence to interfere in individual criminal matters -- no less in a criminal matter that affects himself. And the notion that the president could peremptorily call off any prosecution for any reason whatsoever -- no matter how corrupt -- would be laughable if it weren't so scary.

As Daniel Hemel and Eric Posner write in the California Law Review, "No one thinks that  the president should be able to commit a crime and then call off the investigation of it. What if he murdered his valet?"

That is a fanciful hypothetical, but the more reality-based one also underscores the extreme nature of the Trump lawyers' claim. "It is obvious enough that it would be wrong for the president to order spurious investigations of his political opponents in order to harass them," Hemel and Posner write. "But it would seem to follow that the president should not call off investigations of his political aides and allies (and of himself) in order to protect them (and himself) from legal jeopardy. If he could, then he or his aides could engage in criminal activity in order to harass their political opponents -- as the Watergate burglary, a spy operation against the Democratic National Committee, illustrates -- without fear of legal liability."

Indeed, during Watergate, the articles of impeachment against Nixon included the charge that he obstructed justice by "interfering or endeavouring to interfere with the conduct of investigations by the Department of Justice of the United States, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the office of Watergate Special Prosecution Force, and Congressional Committees."

At any time and for any reason. The context was Comey, but the implications are chilling: that Trump asserts the right to terminate the Russia probe altogether. Or the investigation into his lawyer Michael Cohen.

This is a scary vision of the power entrusted to any president, but especially this one.

(c) 2018, Washington Post Writers Group
Shortly after 7 AM, on Sunday May 13, a woman on a motorcycle, Puji Kuswait, with two young girls also riding on the vehicle, approached Santa Maria Catholic Church, a prominent building in Surabaya, in eastern Java. A church volunteer tried to prevent the trio from entering the church compound, at which point Kuswait detonated a suicide bomb belt. The explosion killed her, the church volunteer and her two daughters, aged 9 and 12. The latter were also reportedly wearing bomb belts (Jakarta Post, May 15).

Shortly afterwards, the womans husband, Dita Oepriyanto, drove a car filled with explosives into the citys Surabaya Center Pentecostal Church. Almost simultaneously, the familys two teenage sons conducted a third attempt against another church in the city. Later that day, three others from a separate familya husband, his wife and their teenage sonwho were preparing a follow-up bombing, were killed when their homemade bombs exploded prematurely in an apartment in a low-income area on the citys outskirts (Tempo, May 14). The combined attacks, which actively involved (excluding young children) seven adults and teenagers, killed 13 people in total.

The following day, shortly before 9 AM, five members of another family riding two motorbikes approached the police headquarters in Surabaya. When they were stopped at the gate, they detonated their explosives. Four of the attackers were killed, but one of their daughters survived. No-one else was killed, although several police officers were injured (Tempo, May 14). A day later, on May 16, five jihadists in an SUV vehicle attempted to drive into a police station in Pekanbaru, in Riau province in Sumatra, effectively on the opposite side of the country. When police blocked them from entering the facility, they exited the vehicle and attacked the officers with swords (Jakarta Post, May 16). One police officer was killed before four of the attackers were shot deadthe fifth attacker fled, but was later arrested, along with a co-conspirator.

The wave of attacks, which killed a total of 14 people (excluding the attackers), are the most fatal jihadist incidents in the country since 20 people were killed in an attack in Bali in 2005a follow-on attack on the larger and better known 2002 Bali bombings, which killed more than 200. The operations, which as discussed below, were almost certainly inspired by Islamic State (IS) and are significantly larger in scale and fatalities than the previous largest IS attack in the country. This was the January 2016 attack in Jakarta, in which four attackers killed three Indonesians and one Algerian-Canadian in the center of the capital.

The latest events also directly follow a brief uprising by around 150 jihadist prisoners, all largely pro-IS, who were being held in a police compound in Depok, outside Jakarta, between May 8-9. The inmates killed five guards before specialist counter-terrorism forces restored order a day later (Tempo, May 10). The police meanwhile shot dead two suspected jihadists on 10 May in Western Java who were reportedly traveling to the scene of the prison rising to help the rioters.

In the days after the Surabaya and Pekanbaru attacks, the security forces launched widespread raids against suspected militants, including shooting dead a suspected Jamaah Ansharut Daulah (JAD) fundraiser near Surabaya on May 15, and killing a further suspect in Tanjung Balai in North Sumatra the following day (Tempo, May 15, Jakarta Post, May 17). The head of the National Police, Tito Karnavian, later said that 74 suspected terrorists had been arrested in days following the Surabaya suicide attacks (Kompas, May 22).

The government has also sought to accelerate its attempts to toughen the countrys comparatively weak counter-terrorism laws, which make it difficult to prosecute returning fighters for abuses committed abroad. In particular, President Jokowi after the initial attack issued an ultimatum to the House of Representatives to complete their debates on proposed revisions to anti-terrorism laws by June, or else he would pass the law using his executive powers (Tempo, May 22). Parliament subsequently passed the law on May 25 (Jakarta Post, May 25). He also said that the country needs to use more soft power to fight terrorism, including through challenging radical ideologies spread through schools, colleges and universities (Tempo, May 22).

Domestic and International Links

The initial church attacks were quickly claimed online by IS, via its Amaq news agency. However, the group provided no evidence of its involvement in the attack, and such claims over the past year have become increasingly unreliable, as indicated by the groups false claims for an attack on a Manila casino by an gambling addict in June 2017, and for the 2017 Las Vegas shooting, whose perpetrator appears to have had no links to jihadism.

However, although IS claim has little value, the police have credibly said that Dita Oepriyanto, the father who led the initial church attacks, was a JAD member (Surya, May 20). The group, a loose network of IS supporters in Indonesia, were responsible for the 2016 Jakarta attack, and some of its members have had direct links to IS leaders in Iraq and Syria.

Oepriyanto is reported to have been a friend of the individual whose bombs detonated prematurely on the evening of the attacks. Unusually, however, given that the attacks involved significant preparation and the involvement of more than a dozen conspirators, they do not appear to have produced a statement or video that could be circulated after their deaths. By contrast, there were clearer links between the 2016 Jakarta attack and IS leaders, with Bahrum Naumthe most senior Indonesian in IS in Syriausing WhatsApp to communicate with the plotters, as well as PayPal to make payments to enable the operation (Straits Times, January 17, 2017).

It therefore seems highly likely that the Surabaya attackers were to some extent inspired by IS. However, there is at present nothing to suggest a closer link between the Surabaya plotters and IS leadership, or indeed to directly connect them with Aman Abdurrahman, JADs imprisoned founder and leader. For instance, the Surabaya attackers explosives all used TATP (acetone peroxide), which is widely favored by jihadist groups as it be can be created with easily available ingredients and equipment (Jakarta Post, May 14). Instructions for creating TATP are also widely available online, including on pro-jihadist websites, and therefore the attackers use of it does not necessarily indicate a direct link to more experienced militants or to IS leaders abroad.

Indeed, the fact the second familys bombs exploded at home while being prepared arguably suggests they did not benefit from any specialist assistance. That said, it seems highly likely that the two Surabaya family groups coordinated their attacks jointly, with one intentionally planned for the day following the first wave of attacks, with the presumed intention of causing a greater psychological shock through conducting attacks on consecutive days. This level of planning and sophistication arguably shows some engagement with jihadist thinking, even if direct communication cannot be proven.

Similarly, the attackers decision to target Christians and the security forces is comparable to similar targeting choices by more structured and centralized IS branches, for instance in Egypts Sinai. However, again, this is less indicative of a solid link between the Surabaya attackers and IS central leadership. More likely, it merely reflects that the attackers were familiar with IS attacks in other parts of the world. They may also have thought that such attacks would appeal to Islamist hardliners in Indonesia, who periodically indulge in strong anti-Christian rhetoric and see the security forces as suppressing Islamists in order to uphold Indonesias non-sectarian founding state ideology of Pancasila (which they typically regard as un-Islamic).

Although the attackers direct links to senior IS members is unclear, there is increasing evidence that the families were part of radical networks that had deliberately isolated themselves from society. For instance, the families were reported to have withdrawn their children from mainstream schools and to have indoctrinated them with online radical material (Jakarta Post, May 15). This further suggests that the group had largely self-radicalized, albeit within broader radical circles, and had planned and conducted their own attacks with likely only minimal assistance from IS leaders elsewhere.

Meanwhile, there is no evidence that the Pekanbaru attackers, who launched a sword attack on a police station in Sumatra, were directly linked to those in Surabaya. Indeed, a week earlier, this group had launched their seemingly independent own journey toward jihad, travelling from Sumatra to the police compound in Depok, scene of the brief jihadist prison uprising (Tribun Pekanbaru, May 16). Their trip reflects that the incident had gained considerable publicity for IS as jihadists inside the prison sent exclusive footage to IS followers outside. IS central media team then released this footage via its media channels, claiming the incident for the East Asia Division of IS.

However, by the time the Pekanbaru attackers arrived at Depok, the security forces had restored order at the prison. Consequently, the thwarted militants returned to Pekanbaru, where they attacked the police station. It therefore seems likely that this operation was intended partly as an act of sympathy with the imprisoned jihadists and partly to take revenge on the security services for putting down the riot. The attack also likely aimed to contribute to the IS cause, both in Indonesia and globally, while the perpetrators also undoubtedly hoped to gain spiritual benefits from their attack.

Limited Returns Over Time

One repeated and striking aspect of jihadist attacks in Indonesia during the last two years is the sheer inefficiency of the attackers, on both a tactical and strategic level. The first significant IS attack in Jakarta, involved one suicide bomber and three others armed with explosives and guns. Assaulting a busy central shopping area during a weekday daytime, the suicide bomber detonated himself in a cafe and the other attackers then fired on those fleeing the premises, as well as throwing explosives (Jakarta Post, January 14, 2016). The surviving militant then attacked a police post, killing one Indonesian on duty. This assault killed only four people; a grisly but unimpressive 1:1 ratio of attackers to victims.

Further poorly-executed attacks followed in the coming months. In August 2016, a man inspired by IS attempted to set off a bomb during a mass in a church in the city of Medan. The explosives failed to detonate and the attacker instead unsuccessfully assaulted the priest with an axe (Jakarta Post, August 28, 2016). The assailant and four accomplices were later given long prison sentences. In November 2016, a militant threw a Molotov cocktail into a church, killing a toddlerhe attempted to flee the scene but was detained by local residents (Jakarta Post, November 17, 2016). He was later identified as having been previously convicted of a 2011 plot to attack police, a science and technology center and churches (Media Indonesia, November 14, 2016).

Further attacks in 2017 have shown minimal technological advances. One of the most notable attempted strikes was a double-suicide bombing near a Jakarta bus terminal in May 2017 that targeted police and a Sufi procession marking the start of Ramadan. Despite taking place in a crowded and largely unsecured area, the two attackers succeeded only in killing three police officers, and wounding several civilians. In another attack, in June 2017, two jihadists attacked a police post in North Sumatra, killing a policeman before both being shot dead (Tempo, June 25, 2017).

Outlook

The latest attacks therefore do not suggest a growing direct link between IS Middle East-based leadership and jihadists in Indonesia. However, they do likely affirm that the developments relating to IS continue to galvanize local jihadists. This includes IS targeting of Christians and the security forces in Iraq, Egypt, Libya and elsewhere inspiring radicals elsewhere to conduct similar attacksjust as IS had hoped would take place.

In addition, however, whereas IS physical control of territory in the Middle East had inspired jihadists in Indonesia, this self-proclaimed caliphate also acted as magnet for Indonesian jihadists in 2015-6, drawing them away from Indonesia and toward Iraq and Syria. With the IS caliphate now collapsed, these individuals are no longer drawn to the Middle East and may therefore be more likely to act locally. This could also explain the involvement of entire families in the recent attacks. A previous trend had been for Indonesian familiesoften tied together not only by kinship, but by a shared hardline ideologyto relocate together to the IS caliphate. With the physical caliphate no longer available, such families may now be re-directing their energies against local targets.

That said, another result of the dislocation of IS central leadership in Iraq and Syria is that local jihadists may be even less able to contact experienced militants prior to attacks. This could explain the largely ineffective nature of many recent jihadist operations in Indonesia, where the attackers have often suffered almost as many fatalities as their targets. Although there remains the potential for more experienced militantsreturning for instance from the Middle East or from jihadist conflicts in the Philippinesto boost local jihadists capabilities, this amateurishness may yet remain a persistent feature of Indonesian attacks.

Meanwhile, however, another aspect of these attacks is the severe government crackdown that they trigger, including detentions and the extra-judicial killings of suspected militants. While this may inflame jihadist and radical feeling, and swell the population of radicals in prison, it will also have the effect of disrupting many networks and plots. On balance, while the recent surge in attacks in Indonesia is significant and illustrates how jihadist groups in the country are evolving, it does not necessarily indicate that a substantially larger or bloodier jihadist campaign in the country is imminent.
Athens, GA (30605)

Today

A mix of clouds and sun during the morning will give way to cloudy skies this afternoon. High near 85F. Winds light and variable..

Tonight

Considerable clouds this evening. Some decrease in clouds late. Low 63F. Winds light and variable.
A home cannot exist on pale neutrals alone. Or, at least it shouldn't.

When you're stepping up your interior design, consider using some color, either in art, upholstered furniture, wall coverings or accessories. It will add an interesting element and it will mean you don't get tired of all of those white and gray sofas too quickly.

Here are some ideas to get you started, and examples of how some of Houston's best interior designers make it work:

NEVER REALLY GONE: Blue and white are back

Your favorite: If you're not sure what color you want to use, consider: What is your favorite color? What do you wear most (other than black)? What do you look best in? That's the color you want. If your favorite green dress makes you feel like a million bucks or your navy blue suit is your power outfit, that's what you want in your home, too.

White walls: Nothing freshens up a home or adds a crisp, clean look like white painted walls. It's a great backdrop for art and allows you to go any direction with color in furniture or accent pieces. Just be sure to get your paint's undertones right; be on the lookout for pink/red, green or yellow tones. When in doubt, ask a paint store professional for help.

BEFORE AND AFTER: Simple changes can bring big results

Rule of Three: Following this will never fail you in interior design. When grouping things, three items will always look good together and create a "collection." When it comes to color, use an accent three times. For example, in a rug, a decorative pillow and a piece of art or flowers.

Color wheel: I'm not kidding when I say that the color wheel was first created in 1666 by brainiac Sir Isaac Newton. His wheel had 12 colors in three categories -- the red, green and blue primary colors. More modern and sophisticated color wheels incorporate dozens of shades. Basically, colors that are across from one another on the wheel will be complementary in a room. HGTV offers a tutorial on how it works.

Quantity vs. quality: When adding bold colors, consider doing it in small doses. For example, turquoise paint might be a bit too much for your living room, but it could be perfect in a small powder bathroom or even a small laundry room. Also, remember the rule of three. Let's say you want orange barstools. Look for a piece of art with orange in it and use orange dish towels. That's enough to satisfy Sir Isaac Newton and the Rule of Three. And it's probably enough orange for any kitchen.

ROYAL COLOR: Is this Meghan Markle's favorite color  and will it dominate home decor?

Blue is having a moment: The combination of blue and white is a classic color scheme in interior design. It never goes out of style. That said, it's trending in a big way right now. It looks especially nice on cabinets in kitchens, bars and butler's pantries. Pair it with brushed nickel or warm brass hardware and some veiny gray-white quartz or marble counters. It works great in wallpaper, upholstery and bedding. And who doesn't love blue?
Chinese workers pack cold-rolled steel coil at a steel company in Zhangjiagang in China's coastal province of Jiangsu, April 27, 2018.

China's steelmakers may be trying to push back their timetable for cutting excess production capacity, three months after the government promised to speed it up.

The shifting of target dates and production totals appears to be an attempt to preserve China's overwhelming share of the global steel market while easing international pressure on its producers to make cuts.

China's huge surplus of steel capacity has been a constant problem for foreign competitors and a hot issue behind the U.S. decision to slap a 25-percent tariff on imports. A recent statement from China's producers may only add fuel to the fire.

In a speech published on May 18, the president of the China Iron and Steel Association (CISA), Yu Yong, said the country would lower its annual production capacity to less than 1 billion metric tons by 2025, according to Reuters.

China's industry had already reduced capacity by as much as 120 million tons since 2016, when the government ordered 100 million to 150 million tons in cuts by 2020, Yu said.

Despite the apparent compliance, Yu's speech raised a host of questions, since the industry's current capacity has already been estimated at less than 1 billion tons.

In a separate report on May 16, Reuters estimated China's crude steel capacity as about 950 million tons, exceeding its 2017 production of 831.7 million tons.

Last year, China accounted for 49.2 percent of global output, according to the World Steel Association. China made nearly eight times more steel than second-ranked Japan.

Under pressure, the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT) said on Feb. 7 that China would complete the 150 million tons of reductions this year, two years ahead of the 2020 schedule.

The CISA's target date of 2025 appeared to be at odds with the accelerated timetable, leaving it unclear whether China is speeding up cuts or slowing them down.

Confusion over the starting point for reductions and capacity totals have complicated the conclusions.

Estimates based on National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) data suggest that the country's production capacity is already at or near the 1-billion ton mark.

In a posting at the Peterson Institute for International Economics last June, research analyst Zhiyao Lu noted that the NBS statistical yearbook for 2016 listed crude steel capacity as 1.1269 billion tons.

The claimed cuts of 115 million to 120 million tons would bring the total close to 1 billion, leaving little or no downsizing to be done by the CISA's target date of 2025.

But the CISA cast further doubt on the pace and direction of industry shutdowns by citing a higher capacity estimate of 1.2 billion tons in 2016 as the starting point for reductions, essentially adding over 70 million tons of slack.

In April 2016, a senior MIIT official said that China's crude steel capacity stood at 1.13 billion tons, Reuters reported at the time.

In an email message, Lu said the government has frequently lumped together iron and steel data when reporting the reductions, an inconsistency that she noted in her posting last June.

If the CISA is mixing iron capacity figures in with some of its crude steel totals, it may be hard to determine whether the industry is meeting any of the steel targets.

"I think China's capacity cut numbers tend to create some confusion, so it is difficult to assess China's capacity reduction progress," Lu said.

Cranes prepare to load steel pipes for export at a port in Lianyungang in coastal China's Jiangsu province, May 31, 2018. Credit: China Daily via Reuters Questions from the start

The success of the government's downsizing initiative has been subject to questions from the start.

In 2016, the government claimed that steelmakers had exceeded the annual shutdown target of 45 million tons by idling 65 million tons of production capacity. Steel prices rose with concerns of tightening supplies.

But a study sponsored by Greenpeace East Asia last year found that 54 million tons of the idled production reopened to take advantage of the rising prices.

In 2017, officials claimed that the annual reduction target of 50 million tons was achieved by last August. But whether the numbers included double-counting from 2016 was hard to tell.

This year, the downsizing target has been set at 30 million tons, but the total includes both iron and steel capacity, the official Xinhua news agency said on May 21, citing a government work report.

Meanwhile, China's crude steel production has continued to climb, rising 1.2 percent in 2016 and 5.7 percent last year, according to NBS data. The results make the case that capacity cutting, so far, has been largely irrelevant.

Over the first four months, output is up 5 percent this year from the year-earlier period with record production in April.

The industry posted gains despite government-ordered shutdowns to curb smog in the industrialized northern region during the winter heating season that ended on March 15.

On April 27, the CISA's secretary general, Liu Zhenjiang, issued a warning against overproduction, Xinhua reported.

"Many steel plants profited from price rises last year, and they want to make more money this year. But they ignored that China's economic growth has transitioned from a rapid pace to a stage of high quality development," said Lu.

"Steel plants should rein in output rises and speed up destocking," he said.

The South China Morning Post reported that the CISA blamed the production surge on output by non-member mills, which rose 17.2 percent in the first quarter from a year earlier.

In his speech published by China Metallurgical News, Yu appeared to acknowledge the ineffectiveness of the capacity cutting targets.

"In the future, China's overall steel demand will fluctuate downwards and overcapacity is likely to persist for a relatively sustained period of time," he said.

"Overcapacity has not been solved fundamentally," the CISA said, according to the SCMP.

China argues that the problems of overcapacity and overproduction are largely its own since it exports only a small percentage of the steel that it makes.

But as domestic demand drops, more steel has been pushed onto foreign markets, which have been buffeted by the secondary price effects of domestic oversupply.

Steel exports rose in April despite a 25-percent U.S. tariff that took effect March 23, Reuters reported. Exports of steel products jumped 14.7 percent from a month before, it said, citing China's customs data.

US industry complaints

Based on U.S. Census Bureau data for the first quarter, China ranked eleventh as a source of steel imports behind countries including Canada, South Korea, Mexico, Russia and Japan. Imports of some 57,000 tons of Chinese steel rose 4.5 percent in volume and 6.3 percent by value from the year-earlier period.

Last year, U.S. imports from China of 740,000 tons accounted for only 2 percent of total imports, according to Census statistics.

But there have also been signs that China's surplus has been diverted to other countries and finding its way to the United States after processing.

On May 21, the Commerce Department backed U.S. industry complaints about diversions of Chinese hot-rolled steel, imposing anti-dumping duties of nearly 200 percent on corrosion-resistant and cold-rolled steel from Vietnam.

After Commerce slapped anti-dumping duties on Chinese steel products in 2015, cold-rolled steel shipments from Vietnam soared from U.S. $9 million (57.3 million yuan) a year to U.S. $215 million (1.3 billion yuan), Reuters said, citing the decision.

In the first quarter, U.S. finished steel exports from Vietnam fell 27.9 percent from a year earlier, but imports in March jumped 147.3 from February, the American Iron and Steel Institute said.
Authorities in China on Monday stepped up a nationwide security operation targeting critics of the ruling Chinese Communist Party on the anniversary of a 1989 massacre that ended weeks of student-led protests on Beijing's Tiananmen Square.



Zhang Xianling, a founder member of the Tiananmen Mothers victims group who lost her 19-year-old son during the crackdown, said she is currently under closer surveillance than in previous years, after the group wrote to Chinese President Xi Jinping calling the bloodshed a "crime against humanity."



"There have been a lot of police following us closely," Zhang, who went to pay her respects at her son's grave this week, said. "There were also a lot of police at Wan'an Cemetery; several dozen of them, all in plain clothes."



In the 29 years since the massacre, the Tiananmen Mothers victims' group has called repeatedly for a public inquiry into the massacre. They also want compensation, and a detailed account of who died, how and where, but the government has never responded.



Jiang Jiawen, a rights activist from northeastern China currently living in Beijing, said police are also out in force along all major public transportation routes leading to Tiananmen Square.



"In Beijing, particularly to the east of Tiananmen Square, they are checking ID cards wherever you go, on such a sensitive day," Jiang said. "Plainclothes state security police are checking the ID of anyone they think looks like a dissident or a petitioner."



"They are doing this on the buses, too, and there are police and security guards checking people's ID on the subway," he said.



Jiang said he and fellow rights activist Tian Ye had been detained for making posts to social media about the 29th anniversary of the crackdown, when the People's Liberation Army (PLA) used armored vehicles and machine guns to put an end to weeks of student-led popular protests calling for an end to official corruption, and political reform.



"We were taken away by a high-ranking officer from the Fangshan police station, as well as four officials from our hometowns' representative offices in Beijing," Jiang said. "We are now staying in a guesthouse run by the representative office."



"They always put me under surveillance at this sensitive time, because it's June 4, and we were writing about it online," he said. "Most of the key figures [who are trying to commemorate the crackdown] across China have now been placed under surveillance or house arrest now."



Sources said petitioners Zhu Xiaoping, He Bin and Xu Caihong were also detained by police on Tiananmen Square on Monday.



Tens of thousands of people attend an annual candlelight vigil at Hong Kong's Victoria Park, June 4, 2018. Credit: AP Photo Hong Kong vigil



In Hong Kong, thousands of people attended a candlelight vigil to remember the victims of the massacre in Victoria Park.



Lee Cheuk-yan, secretary of the Hong Kong Alliance in Support of the Patriotic Democratic Movement in China, which organizes the annual event, the only one to take place on Chinese soil, said activists in the city are still able to take advantage of a separate legal jurisdiction to carry out such activities.



"Everyone who comes to a June 4 candlelight vigil brings great depth of feeling with them," Lee said. "They also bring with them the hope that the [the Chinese government will] reappraise June 4, 1989."



The government styled the student-led democracy protests, sparked in April 1989 by the death of much-loved liberal premier Hu Yaobang, a "counterrevolutionary rebellion."



Public memorials and discussions of the events of June 1989 are banned, with activists who seek to commemorate the bloodshed often detained and veteran dissidents placed under police surveillance or detention during each anniversary.



Former 1989 student leader Wang Dan, who now lives in the U.S., welcomed the vigil.



"Every year, we see the candlelight vigil in Hong Kong's Victoria Park ... and we have seen this moral support persist for the past 29 years," Wang told RFA. "That is something the people of Hong Kong should be proud of."



"Hong Kong people have continued to mourn the victims of June 4, 1989, and in doing so have won the respect of the whole world," he said. "I hope that the event will continue in spite of growing oppression by the Chinese Communist Party."



Activists held



Across the internal border in the southwestern region of Guangxi, rights lawyer Chen Jiahong is incommunicado after he was detained on Saturday as he planned to get together for a meal with friends.



Fellow rights activist Xu Peiling said Chen was accused of shouting slogans related to the anniversary at a meal in a hotel.



"They took Chen away while they were taking a statement from me, we don't know where," Xu said. "We asked them but they wouldn't tell us."



"The police also asked me if I'd heard anyone shouting slogans in the hotel, meaning Chen, but I said I hadn't," she said. "It's pretty obvious that today is a very sensitive date."



And authorities in the eastern province of Anhui detained Shen Liangqing, a former state prosecutor-turned-rights activist, on Monday.



Calls to Shen's cell phone rang unanswered on Monday.



Reappraisal urged



In Washington, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo called on Beijing to make public the details of the massacre, including an exact list of victims and an account of their deaths.



"We join others in the international community in urging the Chinese government to make a full public accounting of those killed, detained or missing; to release those who have been jailed for striving to keep the memory of Tiananmen Square alive; and to end the continued harassment of demonstration participants and their families," Pompeo said in a June 3 statement published on the State Department's official website.



"The United States views the protection of human rights as a fundamental duty of all countries, and we urge the Chinese government to respect the universal rights and fundamental freedoms of all citizens," the statement said.



Last week, U.S.-based cartoonist Badiucao calling on people outside to imitate the "Tank Man" hero of the 1989 protests on June 4 by standing on a chair in a public place, carrying grocery bags in a manner reminiscent of the famous news photo.



Earlier this year, the family of late Chinese premier Zhao Ziyang called for his posthumous rehabilitation. Zhao was purged for his sympathetic stance towards the 1989 Tiananmen pro-democracy movement, and his opposition to the use of force against the students.



Reported by Yang Fan, Gao Feng and Qiao Long for RFA's Mandarin Service, and by Dai Weisen for the Cantonese Service. Translated and edited by Luisetta Mudie.
Zhang Shijun is a former People's Liberation Army (PLA) soldier who was sent into Beijing in 1989 at the start of martial law after several weeks of student-led protests on Tiananmen Square. Diplomatic archives recently declassified by the U.K. government said the troops of the PLA's 27th army were ordered to "spare no-one" as they used dum-dum bullets, automatic weapons, and armored vehicles to carry out mass killings in Beijing. Zhang, a former propaganda secretary for the PLA's 54th army, personally witnessed horrific scenes on the city's streets. He left the army soon after, and has been detained for speaking out about the incident. He spoke to RFA's Mandarin Service on the 29th anniversary of the June 4, 1989 massacre:



RFA: How did the Chinese government come to deploy 300,000 active service troops to enforce martial law in Beijing in the summer of 1989?



Zhang Shijun: Back in 1989, when the students started pouring out of university campuses and onto the streets, heading for Tiananmen Square, there was plenty of information about what was happening in army newspapers, on television, and so on. More of the troops across the country were sympathetic to the students, and even hoped that they would work even harder to bring about a faster pace of change in China. But that situation was to change very quickly indeed.



RFA: What happened to change things in the army?



Zhang Shijun: The highest-ranking officers within the army groups were suddenly replaced. The signal that was sent out was very clear. These group-level commanders are the way in which real control is exerted over the rank and file. So something changed in the atmosphere at that time. The military started to engage in political study sessions and mobilizations. Back then, the change of atmosphere in 486 Regiment of the 162nd division of the 54th army, where I served, was obvious by the time it entered Beijing to uphold martial law.



RFA: From May 20, 1989 onwards, the troops entering Beijing were obstructed by the civilian population. Can you explain what happened?



Zhang Shijun: We received orders before 8.00 a.m. on May 20, 1989 that we were to proceed into the capital to implement martial law. But when we left the gates of the barracks that afternoon, we were stopped by residents of Anyang city [in neighboring Hebei province], probably a few thousand of them. There were men and women, there, young and old. They were blocking the gate of the army compound, and preventing us from leaving. They didn't want the army to go into Beijing and suppress the students, nor to carry out its mission to implement martial law.



RFA: But eventually, they managed to break the blockade and proceed to Beijing?



Zhang Shijun: We entered Beijing city limits by the early hours of the next morning, before dawn. We made a temporary halt to the south of Beijing Nanyuan Airport, in Fengtai district, at the border between Daxing county and Beijing municipality. At about 2.00 p.m. on June 3, we received our orders. We had already been issued with steel helmets. We were to proceed towards Tiananmen Square, where we were to arrive in the middle of the night, that's to say, in the early hours of June 4.



RFA: But the blockades remained on all major routes into the city, didn't they?



Zhang Shijun: The army planned to approach Tiananmen Square from the south, proceeding up Nanyuan Road. But when we got to Majiabao [in Fengtai district], our route was blocked by the local population. The troops were forced to abandon their vehicles and retreat. We tried several times to storm the blockades, but we failed to do so.



RFA: So why did they then decide to use military force?



Zhang Shijun: That evening, we were on a strip of wasteland by the riverside, when a military helicopter flew past and airdropped a large supply of ammunition. The troops loaded up with the ammunition, and we started our advance into Beijing. It's hard to say what our exact route was ... but we basically followed any route we could. We dodged down alleyways and through people's courtyards, along major streets, and down smaller backstreets, any way we could to keep advancing.



RFA: What time did you arrive at Tiananmen Square?



Zhang Shijun: At about 10.00 p.m. on June 3. I could hear gunfire coming from an area to the northwest of us. During our advance, we had also been under fire from the tops of tall buildings; somebody suddenly fired on the army. It was very strange that the bullets all struck the ground close to where I was standing, but they didn't injure any of us. But there were consequences to that attack: our unit instinctively fired back at the top of that tall building.



RFA: How do you feel, looking back on the bloodshed?



Zhang Shijun: Twenty-nine years ago, I was a soldier of the 162nd division of the 54th army ordered to enter Beijing to impose martial law. I still have flashbacks of that night that play out before my eyes. I would like to think that the blood of those young people wasn't shed in vain. All these years, we have hoped that our country would develop in a more liberal, democratic direction, towards constitutional government, but we have been disappointed.



Reported by Qiao Long for RFA's Mandarin Service. Translated and edited by Luisetta Mudie.
Rohingya refugees carry their children and belongings after crossing the Naf River from Myanmar into Bangladesh in Whaikhyang, Cox's Bazar district, southeastern Bangladesh, Oct. 9, 2017.

A new United Nations envoy for Myanmar will visit violence-wracked Rakhine state in mid-June and meet with officials to discuss the Rohingya Muslim refugee crisis, a Myanmar government official said Monday.

Christine Schraner Burgener, Switzerlands former ambassador to Germany, was selected for the post in April following a visit to Myanmar by diplomats from the U.N. Security Council.

Myint Thu, permanent secretary of Myanmars Ministry of Foreign Affairs, said that details about the places to which Burgener will travel in Rakhine state and the amount of time for her trip are still being sorted out by Myanmars permanent envoys in New York and Geneva.

When asked about comments that visits by international organizations such as U.N. agencies amount to interference to Myanmars domestic affairs, Myint Thu said that the governments current policy is to work with the U.N.

There might be some comments about it from the international community and the media, but we will receive the new United Nations envoy anyway and work with her, he told RFAs Myanmar Service.

We received and worked together with members of the U.N. Security Council last month as well, he said. This is proof of transparency that we are working with and coordinating with the U.N. I believe that it would be better for them to work with us instead of blaming us.

The U.N., rights groups, and other members of the international community have come down hard on Myanmar for previously refusing to allow visits by a U.N.-appointed mission to probe the violence that occurred in Rakhine during a military crackdown targeting the Rohingya following deadly attacks by a Muslim militant group last August.

The campaign left thousands dead and drove nearly 700,000 Rohingya into Bangladesh, where they now live in desolate refugee camps.

After the mission was appointed, the government of State Counselor Aung San Suu Kyi said it was unnecessary since officials and the military had conducted their own probes.

But last week, her office said it had reached agreements with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the U.N. refugee agency (UNHCR) to help with the repatriation of Rohingya refugees from Bangladesh.

Myint Thu said the appointment of the new U.N. envoy is a mechanism that allows Myanmar to work with U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres.

We understand that the U.N. has appointed a special envoy for Myanmar to have smoother and more convenient relations between Myanmar and U.N. headquarters, he said. We will work with her.

Unverified refugees approved

Hau Do Suan, Myanmars permanent representative to the U.N., told RFA on Saturday that the government had initialed a memorandum of understanding with the two U.N. agencies because their help is needed in providing social services, education, and health care to Rohingya refugees who return.

He noted that Bangladesh, which has already signed a memorandum of understanding with the U.N. refugee agency, wanted them involved in the process to ensure the safety of the Rohingya, whom Myanmar considers illegal immigrants from Bangladesh and subjects to systematic discrimination.

We are working with the U.N. agencies not because of international pressure, but because we want to resolve the problem, Hau Do Suan said. We are also working on it  so we dont hurt our sovereignty and national interest.

An agreement that Myanmar signed with Bangladesh last November allows Rohingya refugees to voluntarily return to Rakhine if Myanmar officials can verify that they previously lived in the region.

The Myanmar government said that in January it sent Bangladesh a list of 444 Hindus and 778 Muslims approved for repatriation, though they have yet to return.

Because they have been approved, they can return home any time to Myanmar , Myint Thu said, adding that 18 of the Hindus hold national identification cards.

Although we are ready to receive the refugees back, the other side hasnt sent them back yet, so we are still waiting, he said.

But on June 1, Bangladeshi officials said Myanmars government had shared the list of the 1,222 refugees who would be allowed to return to Rakhine even though officials in Naypyidaw were not requiring that they first be verified as eligible for repatriation.

Bangladesh said that those on the list were not among those included on another list of refugees verified for return to Myanmar.

Myanmar always talks about verification during discussions on repatriation  but it is mysterious that they want to take these specific people back without verification, Mohammad Abul Kalam, the commissioner for refugee relief and repatriation, told RFA-affiliated online news service BenarNews at the time.

On Monday, he said that Bangladesh must carry out the reparations according to its agreement with Myanmar, which says that those approved for return must be verified.

We are respectful of the deals with our neighbor, Myanmar, he told BenarNews in Bangladeshs capital Dhaka. But the question is whether we will send those 444 Hindus and 778 Muslims without verification.

This is a policy issue that needs to be taken by the governments higher-ups, he said. As far as I know, the government has not made any decision to repatriate the 1,222 people without verification.

The issue can be discussed by members of a joint working group on repatriation led by the foreign secretaries of Bangladesh and Myanmar, Kalam said.

Myanmar border police secure a police outpost near a refugee processing camp for Rohingya Muslims near the border with Bangladesh in Maungdaw township, western Myanmar's Rakhine state, April 24, 2018. Credit: AFP Refugees escape

Meanwhile, national lawmaker Tun Aung Kyaw from Maungdaw township  one of three townships affected by the violence in Rakhine state  said on Monday that 10 of the dozens of refugees who returned illegally on their own to Myanmar in May have run away from the Hla Pho Khaung transit camp in Maungdaw.

We dont know where they now are, he said. I am in Naypyidaw for parliamentary sessions, and people from my constituency said seven young and middle-aged men from Maungdaw township and three men from Buthidaung township had escaped from the camp.

Some people said about six or seven people among the 10 are members of a terrorist organization, he said referring to the Arakan Rohingya Salvation Army, which carried out the deadly attacks on police outposts in Rakhine last August and smaller scale attacks in October 2016.

They might be hiding in nearby villages or going to Bangladesh again, he said. Since they returned to Rakhine illegally, local people have become worried about having problems again. The Myanmar government released them on humanitarian grounds, and they took advantage of it.

Initially, authorities had arrested the Rohingya who re-entered Myanmar illegally and given some of them prison sentences, though they later received a pardon from President Win Myint and were released.

From there, they were sent to the Nga Khu Ya reception camp to be verified as eligible for repatriation and then transferred to the transit camp.

HRW dismisses new Myanmar panel

Also on Monday, Human Rights Watch (HRW) denounced as a sham a three-member independent inquiry panel that the Myanmar government will set up to probe human rights violations that occurred during the brutal military crackdown in Rakhine.

The commission will consist of one international member and have international legal and technical experts provide support.

Myanmars newly proposed independent commission of inquiry is not merely inadequate, but an attempt to delay and deflect real justice, said Param-Preet Singh, associate director of HRWs International Justice Program, in a statement. The U.N. Security Council should urgently refer the situation in Myanmar to the International Criminal Court.

Victims of atrocities have little hope for justice without it, she said.

[W]eve been down this road before with the Aung San Suu Kyi-led government in the drivers seat, she said, noting that a Myanmar national commission in 2017 had rejected U.N. findings of very likely crimes against humanity against the Rohingya in 2016.

Singh also noted that a Myanmar army investigation into a 2016 crackdown found only two minor abuses, while a second investigation led by the same army general found no deaths of innocent people during the late 2017 military operation.

It was only after two Reuters journalists uncovered a massacre of 10 Rohingya men in Inn Din village in northern Rakhine that the military held any soldiers responsible for killings, with seven soldiers later sentenced to jail, she said

The two journalists are being detained while they are on trial in Myanmar for possessing state secrets after police officers gave them documents related to the crackdown in Rakhine. They were formally charged on Jan. 10 and face up to 14 years in prison if found guilty.

Reported by Khin Khin Ei, Thin Aung Khine, and Thinn Thiri for RFAs Myanmar Service. Translated by Khet Mar. Written in English by Roseanne Gerin.
An appeals court in Vietnams capital Hanoi today upheld jail terms handed down by a lower court on April 5 to four members of the online advocacy group Brotherhood for Democracy, according to a note posted on Monday on the Facebook page of their defense lawyer.



Pham Van Troi, an engineer, had been sentenced to seven years in prison followed by a year under house arrest. Nguyen Trung Ton, a pastor, had been given a 12-year term and three years of house arrest. Nguyen Bac Truyen, an entrepreneur, had received an 11-year term and three years of house arrest, and Truong Minh Duc, a labor activist, had been sentenced to 12 years imprisonment and three years of house arrest.



All four had campaigned for human rights and democracy in Vietnam, and were convicted of conducting activities aimed at overthrowing the state under Article 79 of Vietnams Penal Code.



Two others sentenced on April 5human rights lawyer and Brotherhood founder Nguyen Van Dai and his assistant, Le Thu Ha, who had also been handed long prison termshad refused to appeal their sentences, citing distrust of Vietnams courts.



In a June 4 statement, rights group Amnesty International slammed todays ruling by the appeals court, calling it a deeply unjust decision that consigns four men, who have done nothing more than peacefully defend human rights, to years behind bars.



Vietnam must immediately cease its ongoing crackdown on dissent and stop throwing human rights defenders in jail, Minar Pimple, Amnestys Senior Director of Global Operations, said, adding, These prisoners, along with others who are unfairly held behind bars, must be released."



Also responding to todays court decision, Human Rights Watch Deputy Asia Director Phil Robertson said, These four activists have campaigned tirelessly to demand Vietnam respect human rights and adopt democratic principles, and now they are unjustly heading back to prison to serve long sentences for daring to write and peacefully advocate for change.



Vietnam must end its systematic repression against human rights defenders who simply seek to reform the government in the country where they live, Robertson said.



Communist Vietnam, where all media are state-controlled, does not tolerate dissent, and rights groups identify Article 79 as among a set of vague provisions that authorities have used to detain dozens of writers and bloggers.



Reported by RFAs Vietnamese Service. Translated by Viet Ha. Written in English by Richard Finney.
Near-final results in Slovenias parliamentary elections put a right-wing, anti-immigration opposition party led by a former prime minister far ahead of the field of competitors.

The State Election Commission said on June 4 that with 90 percent of the ballots counted, Janez Jansa's Slovenian Democratic Party (SDS) had about 25 percent of the vote, giving it 25 seats in the 90-member parliament.

Comedic actor and politician Marjan Sarecs center-left independent list trailed in second place with 12.7 percent and 13 seats.

Three parties -- the Social Democrats, the Modern Center Party of outgoing Prime Minister Miro Cerar, and the Left -- had around 9 percent each.



If the results stand, it would mean no party will secure a majority in the 90-seat parliament and the likely next step is negotiations to form a coalition government. However, other parties have suggested they would not form an alliance with the SDS.

The only party that has indicated it will work with the SDS, the center-right Nova Slovenija, won seven seats, still leaving a potential coalition short of the 46 needed for a majority.

In a televised statement after the vote, the 59-year-old Jansa said his party's "door for talks and coalitions is open" to all other parties.

Jansa previously held the office of prime minister during 2004-08 and 2012-13. He is an ally of Hungary's anti-immigration Prime Minister Viktor Orban.

"Thanks to its [immigration] policy, Hungary is a safe country, while Belgium, due to its wrong policy, isn't," Jansa tweeted recently.

Based on reporting by AP and AFP


BAKU -- Azerbaijan's high court has rejected an appeal by RFE/RL's Azerbaijani Service against the blockage of its website, Azadliq.org, backing a move that has been condemned by rights groups and Western governments.

The Supreme Court ruled on June 4 that the Communications and High Technologies Ministry's decision to cut off access to the site was correct and therefore should not be changed.*

Azadliq.org has been blocked in Azerbaijan since March 2017 at the instruction of the Prosecutor-General's Office, which has claimed that the website posed a "threat" to the Caspian Sea country's national security.

Following a lawsuit filed by the Ministry of Transport, Communications, and High Technology, a court ruled in May 2017 that the ministry's request for the blockage must be followed. An appeals court upheld the blockage in December.

RFE/RL President Thomas Kent said in May 2017 that blockage of the site was "part of a deliberate campaign" aimed at silencing its reporting in the tightly controlled country, whose long-ruling president tolerates little dissent.

The June 4 ruling also affected opposition newspaper Azadliq and Meydan TV, as well as two other Internet TV programs.

The Communications Ministry has accused Azadliq.org and the other outlets of "posting content deemed to promote violence, hatred, or extremism, violating privacy, or constituting slander," but did not produce any examples to back up its accusations.

The only remaining legal recourse for the media outlets now is to take their case to the European Court of Human Rights.

The decision to block the media outlets has been condemned by the European Union. The move was "not in keeping with the need for free, diverse, and independent media in modern and democratic societies," Maja Kocijancic, the spokeswoman for European Union foreign-policy chief Federica Mogherini, said in May 2017.

Robert Herman, vice president for international programs at U.S.-based democracy monitor Freedom House, said in May 2017 that "[by] banning independent media websites, the Azerbaijani government has disproved President Ilham Aliyev's most frequently used argument that Azerbaijan enjoys freedom on the Internet."

Azadliq.org was targeted by Azerbaijani authorities after RFE/RL published investigative reports about financial dealings involving members of Aliyev's family and his inner circle.

The reports were the result of cooperation between RFE/RL and the Sarajevo-based Organized Crime and Corruption Reporting Project.

Aliyev, 56, has ruled the oil-producing former Soviet republic with an iron hand since shortly before the death of his father, Heydar Aliyev, died in 2003 after a decade in power.

He has repeatedly rejected criticism from rights groups and Western governments that accuse him of jailing his opponents on trumped-up accusations and abusing power to stifle dissent.

*CORRECTION: This story has been amended to clarify that that Supreme Court heard the case and to correct the dates of statements by RFE/RL President Thomas Kent and others, as well as to clarify that it was the Transport, Communications, and High Technology Ministry that filed a lawsuit in court to request the blockage.
Afghan security officials say a suicide bomb explosion hit a gathering of the country's top religious body in Kabul, killing at least seven people and wounding nine.

Shortly before the June 4 attack, the Afghan Ulema Council issued a religious order, or fatwa, against suicide bombings and urged peace talks to end the Afghan conflict.

It was not immediately clear how many of the clerics were among those killed. The Islamic State extremist group later claimed responsibility for the blast, which it said had killed 70 people, without providing evidence.

Ghafor Aziz, a police district chief, said the blast was caused by a suicide bomber who detonated his explosives near the entrance of a compound in the west of the capital where the Afghan Ulema Council was meeting.

The attacker struck after around 2,000 Muslim clerics, scholars, and figures of authority in religion and law from across Afghanistan who had gathered for the meeting issued a fatwa declaring suicide attacks forbidden, or "haram," under the principles of Islam.

It also appealed to both Afghan government forces and the Taliban and other militants to agree on a cease-fire and called for peace negotiations between the sides.

Reading out a statement from the gathering, council member Ghofranullah Murad said that "the ongoing war in Afghanistan is illegal and has no root in Shari'a law."

"It is illegal according to Islamic laws and it does nothing but shed the blood of Muslims," the statement said.

"We the religious Ulema call on the Taliban to respond positively to the peace offer of the Afghan government in order to prevent further bloodshed in the country," it added.

Militant attacks have killed dozens of people in Kabul in recent months, showing no sign of easing during the Islamic fasting month of Ramadan.

On May 30, an attack on the Interior Ministry in the city killed one policeman, officials said. A suicide bomber and all seven gunmen involved also died in the assault, which was claimed by the Islamic State (IS) extremist group.

Meanwhile, the Taliban has stepped up its attacks against Afghan security forces as well as government officials across the country since the announcement of its spring offensive in April.

The Western-backed government in Kabul has been struggling to fend off the Taliban and other militant groups since the withdrawal of most NATO troops in 2014.

The top U.S. military commander in Afghanistan said on May 31 that the Taliban has held meetings with Afghan officials to discuss a cease-fire.

General John Nicholson said the talks also involved foreign governments and international organizations.

However, the Taliban has rejected the comments as a "false claim."

In February, Afghan President Ashraf Ghani offered to allow the Taliban to establish itself as a political party and said he would work to remove sanctions on the militant group, among other incentives, if it joined the government in peace negotiations.

In return, the militants would have to recognize the Kabul government and respect the rule of law.

With reporting by Reuters and AP
When Zaza Saralidze met on June 4 with Prime Minister Giorgi Kvirikshvili, the leader of the current wave of protests looked and sounded like a political figurehead ready to push Georgia in a new direction. Just don't tell him that.

Saralidze has vaulted to the forefront of a wave of discontent among ordinary Georgians who are fed up with what they see as a justice system corrupted by the elites for the elites.

In Saralidze's case, it was the killing of his son and what he and thousands of others see as the subsequent whitewashing of the event that has turned the streets of the capital into a sea of protesters.

"Politics means nothing to me. I'm an ordinary man, like you. I'm not fighting for any political party," Saralidze said at the outset of the protests. "All I'm demanding is truth and justice."

While many have complained that Georgia's justice system is failing all but a few of the country's 3.7 million inhabitants, it hit home for Saralidze in December 2017.

That's when a group of 11th graders started bullying some ninth graders at a downtown public school in Tbilisi. Push came to shove and before long, a street brawl turned deadly when the younger schoolkids called older friends and relatives to help them.

By the time the two sides were separated, Davit Saralidze and another 16-year-old, Levan Dadunashvili, lay in pools of blood with multiple stab wounds.

The killings immediately sparked outrage in the tony Vere neighborhood of Tbilisi where the fight took place.

Fears grew that the lawless conditions of the post-Soviet 1990s were gaining traction as politicians served themselves and their sponsors instead of the community at large. The killings also raised concerns that Georgian society as a whole was eroding.

Saralidze, a blue-collar worker whose wife is a migrant worker in Western Europe, revolted when the Tbilisi City Court handed down a prison sentence of nine years for attempted murder in his son's case.

Saralidze, who is not backed by any political party, has insisted that people other than the two suspects who were put on trial were responsible for his son's death and escaped punishment because their relatives worked in the prosecutor's office.

He also questions how a suspect can be charged with only attempted murder when the victim died because of the attack.

"Just because I am an ordinary man and not a member of the elite, they have doomed me to injustice! So I am asking you, ordinary people like me, to please come stand by my side. Justice should be restored!" Saralidze said in a Facebook post as he urged Georgians to rally with him against the government, which he has urged to resign.

Chief prosecutor Irakli Shotadze stepped down on May 31 over the case.

Dadunashvili's family has been more accepting of the 10-year sentence an unidentified teen was handed for murder in the death of their son.

Protests led by Saralidze come amid waning trust in government institutions and rising dissatisfaction with the economic and social conditions of the South Caucasus nation, which is hoping to forge greater political and economic ties with the European Union and other Western structures.

Subway operators in Tbilisi struck on June 4 over wages, while miners have been demanding a halt in coal-mining operations, saying the government must improve safety and labor conditions in the industry after a slew of deaths.

Demonstrations in sympathy with Saralidze have also occurred elsewhere in the country, including the town of Gori, where inscriptions were scrawled on central streets and underground crossings saying, "The killer is in the street" and "Where is justice?"
The UN nuclear watchdog has reiterated its call for Iran to provide "timely and proactive cooperation" on inspections that are part of the 2015 nuclear deal with world powers.

International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Director-General Yukiya Amano made the call in Vienna on June 4 as the agency's board of governors kicked off a four-day meeting amid uncertainty over the fate of the nuclear agreement following the U.S. decision to abandon it.

"Timely and proactive cooperation by Iran in providing such access would facilitate implementation of the Additional Protocol and enhance confidence," Amano said, referring to the so-called complementary access inspections under the IAEA's Additional Protocol, which Iran is implementing under the nuclear accord.

In its first report since the U.S. withdrawal, the IAEA said on May 24 that Tehran continued to keep its nuclear program within the main restrictions imposed by the accord.

But it also rebuked Iran for dragging its feet over "complementary access" inspections, and said that "timely and proactive cooperation by Iran in providing such access would...enhance confidence."

The 2015 pact between Iran and six world powers lifted sanctions against Iran in exchange for curbs on Tehran's nuclear activities, and placed them under close IAEA monitoring to prevent the country from developing nuclear weapons.

Tehran insists its nuclear program is entirely peaceful.

In announcing the U.S. withdrawal from the accord, President Donald Trump on May 8 argued the deal was too weak to stop the country from getting atomic weapons, and that it doesn't check Iran's regional ambitions and missile program.

The remaining five signatories -- Britain, France, Russia, China, and Germany -- have said they remain committed to the deal. Iran for now is also honoring the agreement.

With reporting by AP and dpa
The tough U.S. line on Iran and speculation that Washington is pursuing regime change in Tehran have prompted a shah-era foreign minister to warn from Swiss exile against "turning [Iran] into a mess," citing the example of neighboring Iraq.

Eighty-nine-year-old Ardeshir Zahedi, a former Iranian ambassador to the United States, was following up on a paid advertisement* in The New York Times last week in which he challenged U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo's recent list of a dozen "simple requirements" of the Iranian regime as "bewildering and saddening."

Pompeo's list came on the heels of the U.S. abrogation of the Iranian nuclear deal, and included moves ranging from coming clean on its previous covert nuclear activities, to ceasing missile development, withdrawing forces from Syria, and ending its support for "terrorist" groups like Hizballah or Hamas or the Taliban in Afghanistan, as well as Huthi rebels in Yemen.

"I don't want another Iraq to be created," Zahedi told RFE/RL's Radio Farda, suggesting that Iraq -- where U.S. forces led an international coalition that deposed Saddam Hussein -- had turned "into a mess."

Pompeo had vowed in his speech to destroy Iran's economy and "crush" its operatives and proxies around the world, with some interpreting the message as return to the goal of regime change -- although Pompeo and other U.S. officials have said Washington is merely trying to change Tehran's behavior.

"As the head of foreign policy and of a great power, and previously as the director of the CIA, he should be better informed about Iran, its people, and its history," Zahedi's ad in The New York Times said.

U.S. President Donald Trump entered office pledging to scrap the 2015 nuclear deal between Iran and six world powers, which traded a curb on atomic activities for international sanctions relief. He has called it a bad deal and cited Tehran's alleged support for terrorist groups, meddling in regional conflicts, ballistic and other missile efforts, and rights violations.

"Bullying rarely succeeds and has never succeeded against the nation of Iran," Zahedi wrote, adding that Iran "has never stooped and bowed to foreigners and has always remained united in the face of adversity."

Is 'Regime Change' Back?

The so-called Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) signed by the United States and Iran, plus China, France, Germany, the European Union, and Russia, was seen as a major step toward allowing Tehran back into the international diplomatic and trade arena.

Polls in Iran are largely unreliable, but Tehran has long asserted that the issue of a peaceful nuclear program has popular support and therefore unites Iranians of various political persuasions.

But the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) and Western governments warn that Iranian officials have lied in the past about nuclear activities -- including Tehran's conduct of a covert, military atomic program in the past.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is currently on a European tour in which he is trying to persuade German, French, and British leaders to follow Trump's abandonment of the nuclear deal.

Pompeo, in his remarks last month, warned, "I'd remind the leadership in Iran what President Trump said: If they restart their nuclear program, it will mean bigger problems -- bigger problems than they'd ever had before."

Zahedi said Pompeo, or indeed the United States, "does not have the right to threaten to crush my country," and added, "If from outside someone wants to return and [push for regime change] --and the money doesn't come from Arab countries, Israel, and the CIA -- if that individual has a plan, he should announce it to the people."

'My Blood, My Everything'

Zahedi's ad has variously received praise and condemnation.

Some have called the former diplomat a "patriot" defending Iran's national interest, while others blasted him as a "traitor" whose judgment has been clouded by his old age.

"I have nothing to do with the [Iranian] establishment," Zahedi told RFE/RL in response to whether his public stance was lending support to the clerical establishment that emerged in Iran after a religiously fueled revolution ousted the U.S.-backed shah in 1979.

"My blood, my life, my everything is Iran," he said. He said he considered Iran's 82 million or so people to be "my sisters and brothers" and said he couldn't sit idly by "while they're being subjected to injustice."

Another former Iranian president, Abol Hassan Bani Sadr, who fled Iran in 1981 after his dismissal, claimed recently in an interview with The Washington Post that "new sanctions and the threat of war will only help the Iranian regime to solidify itself."

Pompeo pledged that U.S. efforts would be aimed at "advocat[ing] tirelessly for the Iranian people," adding: "The regime must improve how it treats its citizens. It must protect the human rights of every Iranian. It must cease wasting Iran's wealth abroad."

Pompeo, who previously headed the CIA, cited recent protests in Iran as evidence that "the Iranian people are deeply frustrated with their own government's failures."

Iraq remains mired in deep political divisions and security woes 15 years after the U.S.-led coalition unseated Saddam Hussein, and is currently emerging from a three-year war to defeat Islamic State (IS) militants.

*CORRECTION: This article has been corrected to note that former Ambassador Ardeshir Zahedi's statements in The New York Times appeared within a paid advertisement.

Baktash Khamsehpour of RFE/RL's Radio Farda interviewed Ardeshir Zahedi
Kyrgyz authorities have punished more than 20 police officers over the brutal killing of a 20-year-old woman by a man who abducted her as part of a long-standing but illegal local practice known as "bride kidnapping."

A provincial police chief and his two deputies as well as a district police chief have been fired and several other police officials demoted, while several others got official warnings, the Interior Ministry said on its website on June 4.

Burulai Turdaaly Kyzy was stabbed to death at a police precinct where she and her abductor had been taken after being detained on May 27 in her native northern province of Chuy, police and family of the victim say.

Officials said that Turdaaly Kyzy and her abductor had been allowed by investigators to be alone in a room together at the precinct, for unknown reasons.

The 29-year-old suspected attacker, whose name has not been released, was hospitalized after stabbing himself, officials said.

The victim had recently graduated from a medical college and was engaged to marry another man with their wedding planned for August, the family told RFE/RL.

Kyrgyz President Sooronbai Jeenbekov strongly condemned the police handling of the case and called for "harsh punishment for all those liable" in Turdaaly Kyzy's death, Kyrgyz media reported on June 4.

Bride kidnapping, which occurs in Kyrgyzstan and some parts of Kazakhstan, has been illegal for years in Kyrgyzstan but prosecutions have been rare.

In 2012, Kyrgyz lawmakers strengthened the punishment, raising the maximum prison term from three to 10 years.

Following the killing of Turdaaly Kyzy, United Nations agencies in Kyrgyzstan urged the Central Asian country to take "all appropriate measures" to stop illegal practices such as bride kidnapping as well as child marriage and forced marriage.

With reporting by 24.kg
German Chancellor Angela Merkel has said she agreed with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu that Iran's activities in the Middle East represent a concern for the security of Israel.

"We agree that the question of Iran's regional influence is worrying, especially for Israel's security," Merkel said at a joint news conference with Netanyahu after their meeting in Berlin on June 4.

Netanyahu is touring Germany, France, and Britain in a bid to rally support for amending the 2015 nuclear deal between Iran and world powers and for pushing Iranian forces out of neighboring Syria.

He called on Germany to adopt a tougher position on Iran.

"Iran calls for our destruction but it's also seeking nuclear weapons to carry out its genocidal designs," Netanyahu said, apparently referring to a June 3 tweet from Iran's supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, which said Israel was a "malignant cancerous tumor" that must be "removed and eradicated."

Netanyahu is also set to meet with French and British leaders during his four-day tour.

Netanyahu told a cabinet meeting on June 3 that he will also insist on a basic principle: Israel retains and will continue to retain freedom of action against the establishment of an Iranian military presence anywhere in Syria."

Also on June 4, the International Atomic Energy Agencys (IAEA) board of governors kicked off a four-day meeting in Vienna amid uncertainty over the fate of the Iran nuclear deal following the United States' decision to withdraw from it.

At the start of the meeting, IAEA Director-General Yukiya Amano called on Iran to ensure "timely and proactive cooperation" with inspections mandated under the 2015 deal.

Amano also said the IAEA had had access to all sites in Iran that it needed to visit and that "Iran was implementing its nuclear-related commitments."

President Donald Trump on May 8 announced that the United States would abandon the agreement and reimpose sanctions lifted as part of it, claiming that Tehran had violated the spirit of the accord by financing militant violence in the Middle East and by continuing to test ballistic missiles.

Israel supported Trumps move, arguing that the lifting of sanctions under the nuclear agreement in exchange for curbs on Tehran's nuclear activities allowed Iran to expand its presence in the Middle East, both through its own forces and though proxy groups such as Lebanon's Hizballah militia.

It also hopes that the U.S. decision can lead all sides into addressing what it says are the deal's shortcomings, including the so-called sunset clauses that set expiration dates for some restrictions on Iran's nuclear program.

The other signatories to the accord -- Britain, France, Russia, China, and Germany -- said they remain committed to the deal. Iran for now also is honoring the agreement.

Iran's supreme leader warned on June 4 that his country would fiercely respond if attacked by enemies, saying that the country's ballistic-missile program was essential for defensive purposes.

"Tehran will attack 10 times more if attacked by enemies.... The enemies don't want an independent Iran in the region.... We will continue our support to oppressed nations...our enemies have staged economic and psychological warfare against us and new American sanctions are part of it," Ayatollah Ali Khamenei said in a live speech on state TV.

In Syria, Iranian military advisers and allied militia have been providing critical support for President Bashar al-Assad throughout his seven-year civil war against Sunni rebels.

Israel fears that as the conflict winds down, Tehran will turn its focus to Israel, its archrival.

With reporting by AP and dpa
A prominent opposition activist and public figure in Russia's Altai Krai region, Aidar Kudirmekov, has fled the country in fear for his safety.

Kudirmekov told RFE/RL on June 3 that he had obtained asylum in a European Union country, but he did not name it due to security concerns.

Kudirmekov said he decided to leave Russia after local authorities began investigating him on suspicion of financial fraud charges in May and started the process of forcibly placing him in a psychiatric facility.

He told RFE/RL those actions were politically motivated retaliation for public statements in which he accused local authorities of corruption, embezzlement, and an incompetent response to heavy flooding in the Altai Krai earlier this year.

In April, a local court stripped Kudirmekov of his mandate on the Kyrlyk village council, citing inaccurate information on his 2016 income declaration.

Kudirmekov said at the time that the court decision was also politically motivated.
Pakistan's military has rejected accusations that the country is harboring militants who launch attacks in neighboring Afghanistan.

In a wide-ranging press conference on June 4, chief military spokesman Asif Ghafoor said Pakistan had been battling against militancy and noted that the country had paid a heavy price in its campaign against extremism.

"More than 70,000 Pakistanis and 16,000 soldiers have been killed and wounded in this war," Ghafoor said at the army's headquarters in the garrison city of Rawalpindi.

The comments come one day after activists from the Pashtun Protection Movement (PTM) clashed with Taliban-linked militants in the country's northwest, near the Afghan border.

At least two people were killed and some 25 wounded in the clash in the Rustam Bazar of Wana, the main town of South Waziristan, local officials say.

PTM echoed accusations -- repeatedly voiced by Kabul and Washington -- that the Pakistani military continues to allow extremists a safe haven from which to launch attacks in Afghanistan, while only targeting insurgents who turn their guns on Pakistan.

In the press conference, Ghafoor hit back at PTM, accusing the group of being manipulated by "enemies of Pakistan."

PTM activists have been calling for the return of disappeared Pashtuns allegedly detained during military operations in the region.

The group also condemns what it describes as undue harassment of Pashtuns at checkpoints and demand authorities remove security posts.

Based on reporting by AFP and RFE/RL's Radio Mashaal
The situation remains tense in a Pakistani tribal region where at least two people died and 25 were wounded in clashes between local militants and Pashtun rights activists, officials and eyewitnesses say.

Sohail Ahmed Khan, an administration official in South Waziristan near the Afghan border, said a curfew was imposed to control the fast-deteriorating situation following the incident that broke out in the evening of June 3 in Wana, the region's main town.

Some reports said up to six people died and nearly 40 were wounded in the violence, which erupted after supporters of the Pashtun Tahafuz Movement (PTM), or Pashtun Protection Movement, were stopped from holding a gathering to welcome one of their leaders by a local militant group.

Manzoor Pashteen, the founder of the PTM, called for protests in response to the violence.

PTM members said they suspected the members of the militant group of having ties to a Taliban faction that has covert support from Pakistan's military.

The army, which denies fostering proxy groups, has in the past conducted offensives in South Waziristan to hunt down both Taliban and Al-Qaeda-linked militants.

Since the beginning of the year, the PTM has held rallies across many towns and cities across Pakistan to call for an end to what they say are human rights violations by authorities in the country's tribal regions, including extrajudicial killings.

PTM activists also accuse the military of allowing extremists a safe haven from which to launch attacks in Afghanistan, while targeting insurgents that turn their guns on Pakistan.

On May 31, Pakistani President Mamnoon Hussain signed legislation that merges the country's tribal regions along the Afghan border with Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Province, therefore granting some 5 million people in the regions the same rights as other Pakistanis.

The legislation rids the northwestern tribal areas of what were seen as discriminatory laws under which those regions have been governed since the colonial rule of Britain, which ended in 1947.
Russia has overcome all hardship caused by Western sanctions and the West would benefit from lifting them, President Vladimir Putin said during a visit to Austria -- the first to an EU country after his reelection earlier this year.

The European Union, the United States, and other Western countries imposed sanctions against Russia over its 2014 annexation of Ukraine's Crimean Peninsula and its support for separatists in eastern Ukraine who are fighting government forces.

Putin was asked at a news conference after talks in Vienna with Austrian President Alexander Van der Bellen about the effect of EU sanctions imposed on Russia.

He said the measures were "harmful for everyone -- those who initiated them and those who are targeted by them," aadding that it was in the interest of "everyone" to lift them.

The sanctions, as well as a drop in oil prices, have contributed to a two-year economic recession in Russia.

Russia's relations with the EU remain strained by its aggression in Ukraine, its role in the Syrian conflict, the poisoning of a former Russian spy and his daughter in England, and other issues.

Putin also held talks with Chancellor Sebastian Kurz, who said after the meeting that Austria -- which takes over the EU's rotating presidency next month -- will back the bloc's position on sanctions.

"We will actively participate in the European Union's position, support the EU's decisions and, needless to say, sanctions," Kurz told journalists.

Kurz has advocated a step-by-step lifting of the sanctions if there is progress on defusing the Ukraine conflict.

The same position was reiterated by Van der Bellen, who said Austria will act in unison with the European Union in dealing with Russia.

Ahead of his trip, Putin signaled a willingness to repair ties with the European Union.

In an interview aired on the eve of his visit, Putin told Austrian public broadcaster ORF in Moscow that he wanted a "united and prosperous" EU.

"The more problems there are in the EU, the bigger our risks and uncertainties," Putin also said, calling the 28-member bloc Russia's most important commercial and economic partner.

"We need to build cooperation with the EU," he added. "We do not aim to divide the EU."

Putin denied that Russia was sowing discord by nurturing close ties with European populist movements like the far-right Freedom Party (FPOe), which is part of the Austrian government and has advocated lifting the sanctions against Moscow.

Kurz's coalition was one of the few EU governments not to withdraw diplomats from Russia in response to a nerve-toxin attack in March on former Russian double agent Sergei Skripal and his daughter, Yulia.

Britain accused Russia of being behind the attempted assassination of the Skripals, which Moscow denies.

Kurz's government has justified its refusal to join the international response to the poisoning by saying Austria was a "builder of bridges between East and West" and wanted to "keep channels open" to Moscow.

Putin told ORF that Moscow and Vienna had maintained "very good and close relations," adding that Austria has traditionally been Russia's "trusted partner in Europe."

Austria, the first Western country to import Soviet gas 50 years ago, is one of Europe's main entry points for Russian gas to Western Europe.

Putin, 65, was reelected to a fourth term as Russian president in March, in a vote opponents said was marred by fraud and international observers said lacked competition and did not present Russians with a genuine choice.

With reporting by dpa, the BBC, Bloomberg, and TASS
One man's odyssey through the world of books
Russian President Vladimir Putin has signed into law a bill that provides for countermeasures against the United States and other countries that imposed sanctions against Russia.

The law was signed on June 4 and posted on an official government legislative-information website the same day.

The legislation gives the government the authority to ban trade in most goods and services with countries that "implement unfriendly moves toward Russia."

Under the bill, the decision about what products or services were affected by the restrictions would be made by the government following a decision by Putin to impose restrictions against a country.

The legislation is seen as an effort by Moscow to respond to the asset freezes and financial restrictions on Russian officials, tycoons, and companies associated with Putin imposed by the U.S. government in April.

Those sanctions, the latest in a series of measures taken by the United States, the European Union, and other countries since Russia seized Crimea and began backing armed separatists in eastern Ukraine in 2014, were meant to punish Moscow for alleged interference in the 2016 U.S. presidential election and other "malign activity around the globe."
TBILISI -- The father of one of the two Georgian teenagers whose deaths have triggered massive protests in Tbilisi says his meeting with the prime minister has not altered his determination to fight against the country's corrupt ruling elite.

"I have absolutely the same position -- the system should be destroyed," Zaza Saralidze said after talks with Prime Minister Giorgi Kvirikashvili.

The meeting between Kvirikashvili and Saralidze came after four days of protests in central Tbilisi by demonstrators who say justice has not been done following the stabbing deaths of two teenagers in a brawl in December.

Saralidze, who has emerged as one of the leaders of the protests, told reporters after the meeting that the protest actions will continue if no progress is made in the investigation of the deaths by June 10.

The Tbilisi City Court handed down prison sentences of 10 years and nine years for the two men convicted in the case -- one of murder and the other of attempted murder.

But protesters, including Zaza Saralidze, whose son was one of the victims, say they believe people other than the two defendants were responsible for the deaths and escaped punishment because their relatives worked in the Prosecutor-General's Office.

Meanwhile, a subway workers' strike has slowed transport in the Georgian capital, where protesters demanding the government's resignation were gearing up for a fifth day of demonstrations.

All subway stations in Tbilisi were closed on June 4, and city authorities urged residents to use buses instead.

Tbilisi Mayor Kakha Kaladze apologized to citizens for the transportation problems and said there were no plans to meet the striking workers' demand for higher wages.

The demonstrations have tapped a vein of concern about what some Georgians say is corruption and an atmosphere of impunity in the South Caucasus country's ruling elite.

Late on June 3, Saralidze told demonstrators: "I have promised my murdered child that every killer will be punished. The system must be destroyed!"



Before meeting with Saralidze, Kvirikashvili issued a statement saying that he was ready to meet with the parents of the dead teenagers, "but without the participation of politically engaged individuals."

Saralidze initially said Kvilikashvili should meet with a group of people, not just himself.

On June 2, Saralidze called on "all Georgian political parties to join forces and to dismantle this system together."

Saralidze's son, Davit, and another 16-year-old boy, Levan Dadunashvili, were killed in a fight between students from different schools in December

Protesters originally called on chief prosecutor Irakli Shotadze to step down, but after Shotadze resigned, demonstrators increased their demands for the entire government to resign.

Demonstrations in sympathy with Saralidze have occurred elsewhere in the country, including the town of Gori, where inscriptions were scrawled on central streets and underground crossings, saying, "The killer is in the street" and "Where is justice?

With reporting by Amos Chapple in Tbilisi, Reuters, and Civil.ge
KYIV -- Ukrainian Prime Minister Volodymyr Hroysman has promised to step down if an anticorruption court is not established in the country.

Hroysman told reporters on June 4 that he will discuss the issue with lawmakers to secure approval of the bill on creation of an anticorruption court in its second reading on June 7.

"As Ukraine's prime minister I have made a decision: If such a just and independent [anticorruption] court is not formed, I will step down from the post of the prime minister of Ukraine, I will resign," Hroysman said. He made similar remarks on Twitter.

Parliament speaker Andriy Parubiy, who was also present at the briefing, said that that he was "confident that the vote will take place."

The bill to create an anticorruption court was approved in its first reading on March 1, and President Petro Poroshenko said it should win final approval before spring ends.

The legislation has been demanded by protest groups and international institutions that provide Ukraine with financial support.

In March, European Union foreign-policy chief Federica Mogherini told Poroshenko in Kyiv that establishing an independent anticorruption court would "help the business environment and the investment climate."

However, some reformists in Ukraine and backers in Europe have said the bill in its current form does not meet standards set by the Council of Europe's Venice Commission, a group of independent experts in constitutional law, and the requirements of the International Monetary Fund (IMF). Critics have charged that it would not ensure the selection of independent anticorruption judges.

The IMF has called the establishment of an anticorruption court a "benchmark" of Ukraine's progress toward Western legal standards, and has said it would help ease the release of its loans in the future.

Western officials say Ukraine will be far better equipped to resist interference from Russia -- which seized the Crimea region in 2014 and backs separatist militants who hold parts of two eastern provinces -- if it takes serious steps to combat corruption.
A lawyer for a Russian journalist being held on suspicion of treason in Ukraine says the mans residence was searched and "ransacked" by Ukrainian police.

Attorney Andriy Domansky spoke to the AFP news agency on June 3, after Russian media reported that RIA Novosti-Ukraine Director Kirill Vyshinskys home was raided by police.

Police were still in the apartment, Domansky said at the time of his comments to AFP.

Vyshinsky's wife told RIA Novosti, a Russian state-run news agency, that "everything has been taken...The apartment has been turned upside down."

The location of the apartment was not immediately disclosed. Vyshinsky lived in Kyiv but is now in detention in the southern Ukrainian city of Kherson.

Vyshinky has Ukrainian and Russian citizenship, but said after his arrest that he considers himself solely a Russian citizen. He could be sentenced to 15 years in prison if tried and convicted of treason.

Kyiv police early on June 4 did not confirm they had raided the apartment, saying only that they were investigating the situation.

The Ukrainian Security Service (SBU) on May 15 carried out a large-scale operation against RIA Novosti-Ukraine's staff members -- both at their offices and in several of their apartments -- and detained Vyshinsky outside his home.

The SBU said in a statement afterward that "a network of media structures, which Moscow used for carrying out a hybrid war" against Ukraine, had been uncovered.

The action drew a swift and angry response from Russia, with President Vladimir Putin's spokesman saying Vyshinky's detention was "disgraceful and scandalous" if it was related to his work.

On June 3, the Russian Foreign Ministry released a statement saying, We demand that Vyshinsky be immediately released and all the accusations against him be removed.

In Vienna, the OSCE representative on freedom of the media expressed serious concern over the raid and called on Ukrainian authorities to refrain from imposing unnecessary limitations on the work of foreign journalists.

"The fight against propaganda must not fall short of international standards and should not represent disproportionate interference in media activities," Harlem Desir said in a statement.

Ties between Moscow and Kyiv have been severely damaged by Russia's seizure of Crimea in 2014 and its support for separatists in a war that has killed more than 10,300 people in eastern Ukraine.

With reporting by AFP and Interfax
A MAN has appeared in court in connection with a burglary in Dinnington.

Daniel Ford (29), of Zamer Crescent, Rotherham, appeared at Sheffield Magistrates Court last Thursday (31) charged with burglary, theft and possession of a taser.

He appeared in connection with a burglary on Eastern Avenue, Dinnington, which happened between Tuesday night (29) and Wednesday morning (30).

Ford entered no plea to the charges and the case was committed to Sheffield Crown Court where he is due to appear on June 21.

He was remanded into custody.


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Permitting women to drive has been a focus for human rights activists in the country. Crown Prince Mohammad bin Salman gave the order, which reverses a decades-old prohibition in the conservative kingdom. The first 10 women took a brief driving test before receiving a license, as theyd already held licenses to drive in other countries, such as the U.K. and Lebanon. The general directorate of traffic today started replacing international driving licenses recognized in the kingdom with Saudi licenses, the Saudi Press Agency announced Monday.

Procedures to replace and obtain licenses for everyone are expected to be announced soon. Saudi women will be allowed to start driving in the kingdom on June 24, according to the countrys General Department of Traffic. U.S. State Department spokeswoman Heather Nauert has previously said the U.S. is happy with the decision to lift the ban, calling it a great step in the right direction for that country. Under the leadership of King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, the kingdom has pushed forward an agenda that aims to remove many of the traditional restrictions on womens participation in society. A video of the historic moment when first female driving license was issued in Saudi Arabia became quickly viral. Five Saudi universities have launched driving schools for women.
The National Disaster Management Agency (Conred) said a river of lava hit the village of El Rodeo, destroying houses and burning people inside. This eruption is the biggest since 1974. A national emergency response had been launched. Unfortunately El Rodeo was buried and we havent been able to reach the La Libertad village because of the lava and maybe there are people that died there too, the rescuers communicated. More than 3,100 people have been evacuated from their homes after the volcanic eruption spewed a river of red, hot lava and belched thick clouds of smoke nearly six miles into the air. The volcano, located near the colonial city of Antigua, is one of Central Americas most active.

Several villages were affected. Ash reached even the capital of Guatemala City, some 25 miles away, forcing the closure of its international airport La Aurora. A total of about 1.7 million people have been affected by the eruption, the Guatemalan government says. Mexican President Enrique Pena Nieto expressed condolences and offered assistance. All our solidarity and support to the President Jimmy Morales and the Guatemalan people for the loss of human life after the eruption of the volcano of Fire.
cow smuggling

A policeman was injured in an exchange of fire with cow smugglers in Bharatpur district of Rajasthan, police said today.Police rescued 21 animals from the possession of the accused identified as Hasham and Shaukat who were smuggling them in a truck last night. When a police party tried to stop them near Kaman area, they opened fire at the police. A policeman received minor injury in the exchange of fire, SP, Bharatpur, Anil Tank said.

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Both the accused were held by the police and placed under arrest. Hasham is a hard core criminal, having cases of murder and cow smuggling among others against him, he said.
Narendra Modi

US Defence Secretary James Mattis has praised Prime Minister Narendra Modi for speaking about massive debts, saying he made a really good point about the dangers of accepting loans that are "too good to be true". Mattis met the prime minister on the sidelines of the International Institute for Strategic Studies' 17th Asia Security Summit -- also known as the Shangri-La Dialogue -- in Singapore on Saturday. Prime Minister Modi delivered the key-note address at the annual conference.

James Mattis and Narinder modi

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"He (Modi) made a really good point there about the dangers of accepting loans that are too good to be true, and being forced into another agenda," Mattis told reporters on his way back home from Shangri-La Dialogue in Singapore yesterday."I remember India (Modi), that speech. It was like listening to one of those old-timey people. I thought he was really great, and you know just hammering home. I really liked his point about massive debt," Mattis said.

Massive debt -- and I was thinking that night after I went back to my room, you could lose your sovereignty and your freedom from debt more than a soldier with a bayoneted rifle, you know? You can lose it economically instead, the US Defence Secretary said.Modi had criticised governments that put other nations under "impossible burdens of debt". Both were likely references to China for its behaviour in the disputed South China Sea and its Belt and Road Initiative infrastructure projects which involves giving loans to other countries.

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China has given massive loans to countries like Sri Lanka and Pakistan which, according to reports, have become a burden on them."They must empower nations, not place them under impossible debt burden. They must promote trade, not strategic competition. On these principles, we are prepared to work with everyone," Modi said amidst the growing global concern over the so-called Chinese model of "debt diplomacy." Responding to a question, if Mattis would be invited to China after his strong remarks against them at Singapore, he said, he is still going there.

"I'm still certainly going to China. They're entitled to their view. I saw them at lunch yesterday, which would have been after I spoke, and we enjoyed our Coca-Cola together, and we talked. Nothing adversarial at all," he said. Meanwhile in Washington, Pentagon spokesperson Captain Jeff Davis said yesterday that India and the US have pledged to continue their strong bilateral strategic partnership and affirmed their commitment to maintaining peace, stability and prosperity in the region.




Guwahati : Seven people including a woman have died and several others are in serious condition after consuming spurious liquor in Assams Golaghat distictin past 48 hours.





According to the reports, the incident happened at Borpathar area in the Upper Assam district.





The victims are daily wage labourers fell critically ill after consumed hooch and they were admitted at Sarupathar government hospital.





A victim Sarumai Tanti, who presently treated at the government hospital said that, she had consumed liquor on Friday last and fell critically ill.





I brought the liquor from a nearby shop and consumed it in my house. After consuming the liquor started complaining of stomach pain and vomiting, Sarumai Tanti said.





In past 48 hours, seven persons including a woman have died after consuming the hooch purchased from a shop owned by Pintu Paul and Narayan Koch.





Meanwhile, Borpathar police had arrested the person due for their involved in the manufacturing and selling of the spurious liquor.





Bhula Bora, Officer-in-Charge of Borpathar police station said that, police had already arrested the persons who selling the illicit liquor.





During search operation we had recovered several bottles of illicit liquor from the shop. We will take appropriate action against them as per law, the police officer said.





The deceased persons were identified as Chanu Das, Kanta Horijan, Dharani Devi, Dipak Dev, Prakash Koiri, Prabhu Kumar and Badhua Rajput.




Suzuki Motor Corporation has reached a historic mark in terms of automobile manufacturing in India. The company has announced accumulated automobile production of 20 million cars in India. Suzuki first achieved the 20 million cars mark milestone in Japan, now followed by India. However, India did it faster. To be precise in, 34 years and 5 months since production got underway in December 1983.

Japan reached the 20 ml mark in 45 years and 9 months in Japan. For Maruti Suzuki, of the 20 million units manufactured, Alto 800/100cc was the most produced model at 3.17 million units. This is followed by the Maruti 800 at 2.91 million. WagonR completes the rostrum at 2.13 million. Omni at 1.94 million placed 4th on the list, followed by Swift, which is now being sold in its 3rd gen. 1.94 mn units have already been manufactured. A red Swift produced at Gujarat Plant was the 20 millionth model.

Suzuki began automobile production in India in December 1983 with Maruti 800 by Maruti Udyog. In the 35 years since, India and its economy has grown manifold, and the company has regularly increased production units and models to met the needs of a growing economy in India.

The company undertakes manufacturing at Gurgaon and Manesar Maruti Suzuki plants, and Suzuki Motor Gujarat plant, Suzukis 100 percent subsidiary to produce automobiles in India. Currently 16 models are in production. For FY17-18, the company reported 1.78 million units manufactured in India. Of these, a whopping 1.65 million units were sold in India, and 130,000 units shipped for export duties to Europe, Japan, Asia, Africa, and Latin America.

Maruti Suzuki reached the 1st million mark in March 1994. It took the company 10 yrs and 4 months to do so. In the next 11 years (Apr 2005), the company reached the 5 million mark, having manufactured 4 mn cars in the said time. 10 million units were made by March 2011 with the second 5 million target being met in 7 years.

The next 5 mn to get to the 15 million mark came in 4 years and 2 months (May 2015). The 5 million cars manufactured to get to the 20 million mark today were manufactured in a blistering 3 years and 1 month.
Following an earlier announcement about the new 2018 Mini Countryman being launched in the country, local assembly has commenced at the BMW plant in Chennai. The new Countryman, which comprises 50% local content is affordably priced from INR 34.90 lakhs for the Mini Countryman Cooper S Petrol, INR 37.40 lakhs for the Cooper SD Diesel and at INR 41.40 lakhs for the Cooler S JCW Inspired Petrol. Deliveries are set to commence from later this month.

Offered in three variants  Cooper S, Cooper SD and Cooper S JCW Inspired, with petrol and diesel engine options, onboard features include redesigned headlamps, U shaped front grille, large airdam, circular fog lamps and new LED tail lamps. The 2018 MINI Countryman launch in India was announced earlier in May.

It also gets 17 or 18 alloy wheels depending on variants. Interior features include a new 8.8 touchscreen infotainment system, rain sensing wipers, automatic climate control, cruise control, headsup display, wireless charging, rear view camera and an automatic tailgate.

2018 Mini Countryman will get its power via a 2.0 liter, 4 cylinder petrol engine offering 189 hp power and 280 Nm torque and a 2.0 liter, 4 cylinder diesel engine capable of 188 hp power and 400 Nm torque. Both engines get mated to an 8 speed automatic transmission. 4 wheel driver or ALL4 versions are on offer in international markets but the India spec model gets FWD only.

Dr. Jochen Stallkamp, Managing Director  BMW Group Plant Chennai oversaw the all-new MINI Countryman roll-out at the plant. The launch is part of the BMW Groups well defined product offensive for the Indian market in 2018. Over recent years, BMW Group has categorically increased local content in vehicles manufactured at the Chennai plant.

Through Q1 2018, Mini reported growth at 15 percent at 136 cars sold. The new car is assembled in Chennai. In strengthening the Mini brand, the company recently launched the Cooper range.
Tata Motors has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the State Government of Maharashtra to deploy 1000 Electric Vehicles (EV) across its passenger and commercial vehicle range across the state. An association involving Tata Group company, Tata Power Ltd, and Tata Motors will look into setting up EV charging stations in the State. The MoU boosts Maharashtra Electric Vehicle Policy 2018 aimed for quicker adoption of EVs. Guenter Butschek, CEO & MD, Tata Motors signed the MoU in the CMs presence. 5 Tata Tigor EV provided by the company to EESL as part of its tender were flagged off at Gateway of India, Mumbai. However, with time needed in building more charging points for 10,000 electric cars, and more depending on tenders; and varied state government offices being slow in taking deliveries, the EESL EV car adoption process is delayed at government level.

Guenter Butschek, CEO & MD, Tata Motors said, Tata Motors is committed to the Governments vision of e-mobility in India. We are excited to join forces with the Government of Maharashtra towards this endeavor. We are uniquely positioned to leverage the strength of our group companies to create an EV ecosystem. With our ready portfolio of EV offerings across our passenger and commercial vehicles, we are geared up to meet future requirements beyond the current tender commitments. He added, As part of our tender with EESL, we have already completed the production of 250 cars and initiated the execution of phase 2 orders. Todays delivery of 5 Tigor EV by EESL to the Maharashtra Government has effectively paved way for connecting our aspirations in the e-mobility space with the Governments vision. With Tigor EV, we have begun our journey in boosting e-mobility and will offer a full range of electric vehicles to the Indian customers. We continue to work in a collaborative manner to facilitate faster adoption of electric vehicles and to build a sustainable future for India.

Praveer Sinha, CEO & Managing Director, Tata Power, said, We are committed to making Maharashtra EV ready and to the Governments ambition of providing green technology solutions. We are happy to partner with Tata Motors to deliver on the Government and Groups vision of reducing Indias carbon footprint and enabling the customers with a sustainable future. . With these installations, Tata Power continues to pursue sustainable practices by using technology to provide Maharashtra customers access to energy-efficient options with ease.

With India moving towards an electric vehicle goal, Tata Motors gears up to capture the space with focused and tangible measures. The latest comes with the appointment of Shailesh Chandra to lead the companys Electric Mobility Business & Corporate Strategy as President, and member of the Executive Committee. Tata Motors new business vertical will be focused on e-mobility solutions. He has led project teams to deliver the all important EESL project. Tata Motors is closely working on the Governments vision for electric vehicles by 2030 in a collaborative manner to facilitate faster adoption of electric vehicles here.

Tata Motors is optimistic about the future of Electric vehicles and would play a leading role in the electric mobility evolution in the country. We will also leverage on the capabilities of other Tata Group companies to develop the full ecosystem and fast track the adoption of e-mobility, said Mr. Guenter Butschek, Chief Executive Officer & Managing Director, Tata Motors.

Shailesh Chandra, President- Electric Mobility Business & Corporate Strategy said, It is an exciting responsibility and I keenly look forward to drive Tata Motors vision of proactively developing the e-Mobility ecosystem in the country and leveraging this new opportunity for the company.
Ghana diamond output down 48.7 pct to 86,924 ct in 2017

05 june 2018 News

Ghanas diamond output dropped 48.7 percent to 86,924 carats from 143,000 carats, a year earlier, according to data from the Ghana Chamber of Mines seen by Reuters.

The country's diamond production had been on a downward trajectory as the 143,005 carats recorded in 2016 was a 25.8 percent drop compared with 185,376 carats realised in 2015.

Ghana Chamber of Mines said last year that a move by Accra to curb small-scale mining, which was causing damage to the environment, would cause a low diamond and gold output.

The government of President Nana Akufo-Addo, who took office in January 2017, provisionally banned artisanal mining in a renewed effort to clamp down on those who do it illegally.

The countrys diamonds were mainly extracted by small-scale mines.

Meanwhile, Reuters said Ghanas gold output leaped 10.2 percent to 2.805 million ounces in 2017.

Total gold revenues reached $3.52 billion in 2017, up from $3.25 billion the year before.

Ghana was Africas second largest gold producer after South Africa.



Mathew Nyaungwa, Editor in Chief of the African Bureau, Rough&Polished
New research at this year's Euroanaesthesia congress in Copenhagen, Denmark, suggests that nail treatments such as acrylic nails or nail polishes do not, as previously thought, affect readings from digital pulse oximetry (DPO) devices used to monitor patients' blood oxygen saturation (SpO 2 ) levels in hospital.

DPO is universally used to measure blood oxygen levels in patients, however there are concerns that the readings they produce can be affected by treatments such as nail polish or acrylic nails. The DPO device fits around the fingertip including the nail, and the side facing the nail is emitting light which is detected by a sensor on the far side of the fingertip. Since changes in SpO 2 levels affect the levels and types of medical intervention, as well as impacting patient monitoring in critical care and anaesthesia, determining whether nail treatments affect DPO readings is crucial.

This study by Dr James Purcell and colleagues at University College Cork, and South Infirmary Victoria University Hospital, Cork, Ireland. aimed to survey attitudes and approaches to the issue among healthcare professionals, and experimentally assess the effect of nail treatments on SpO 2 measurements under different physiological conditions. The nail treatments the team studied were acrylic nails and differing colours of nail polish/varnish.

The team issued a questionnaire-based survey to clinical staff at four university hospitals to assess their knowledge and opinions on how nail treatments impact clinical decisions pertaining to DPO. They also conducted an experiment on 12 volunteers to analyse the effects of nail polish of different colours and acrylic nails from popular brands on SpO 2 under varying physiological conditions (healthy, venous congestion, and venous constriction). Congestion was modelled by applying a blood pressure cuff to restrict blood flow, while constriction was modelled by immersing the subject's hand in cold water at 10? for 10 minutes.

There were 86 responses to the survey questionnaire (55 doctors, 21 nurses) with 45% of respondents saying that nail treatments affected the way they conducted their clinical practice. More than 30% of those surveyed had intervened to remove nail treatments to prevent them affecting DPO readings.

The experimental part of the study found that none of the nail treatments examined caused more than a 1% variation in SpO 2 readings under any of the physiological conditions tested compared to untreated nails. Furthermore, none of the treatments resulted in an SpO 2 of <95%, at which intervention with oxygen therapy is recommended.

The authors found that: "Knowledge of, and approach to potential complications of nail treatments on DPO varies amongst healthcare staff, with poor knowledge or understanding of effects." They suggest that hospitals should establish policies that do not require the removal of any of the nail treatments examined in this study prior to the use of DPO equipment.

They conclude that: "Experimental data indicate the nail treatments specified do not contribute significantly to a difference in blood oxygen readings, therefore have no clinical impact on patient care."
A 21-gene test performed on tumors could enable most patients with the most common type of early breast cancer to safely forgo chemotherapy, according to a landmark study published in the New England Journal of Medicine.

Loyola Medicine oncologist Kathy Albain, MD, is among the main co-authors of the study and a member of the clinical trial's steering committee. First author is Joseph Sparano, MD, of Montefiore Medical Center in Bronx, NY. The study was published in conjunction with its Sunday, June 3 presentation at the plenary session of the American Society of Clinical Oncology 2018 meeting in Chicago.

"With results of this groundbreaking study, we now can safely avoid chemotherapy in about 70 percent of patients who are diagnosed with the most common form of breast cancer," Dr. Albain said. "For countless women and their doctors, the days of uncertainty are over."

Dr. Albain, the Huizenga Family Endowed Chair in Oncology Research at Loyola University Chicago Stritch School of Medicine, has conducted research with the 21-gene test and also used it in her practice for years.

The test examines 21 genes from a patient's breast cancer biopsy sample to determine how active they are. The tumor is assigned a "recurrence score" from 0 to 100; the higher the score, the greater the chance the cancer will recur in distant organs and decrease survival. If patients with higher scores receive chemotherapy, this risk of recurrence will be significantly reduced, enabling more patients to be cured.

Previously, the challenge doctors and patients have faced is what to do if a patient has a mid-range score. It was uncertain whether the benefit of chemotherapy was great enough to justify the added risks and toxicity. Previous studies demonstrated that patients with low scores (10 or lower) did not need chemotherapy, while women with high scores (above 25) did require and benefit from chemotherapy.The new study examined the majority of women who fall in the intermediate range of 11 to 25.

The study enrolled 10,273 women who had the most common type of breast cancer (hormone-receptor positive, HER-2 negative) that had not spread to lymph nodes. Researchers examined outcomes of the 69 percent of patients who had intermediate scores on the 21-gene test.

Patients were randomly assigned to receive chemotherapy followed by hormonal therapy or hormone therapy alone. Researchers examined the chemotherapy and non-chemotherapy groups for several outcomes, including being cancer free, having cancer recur locally or to distant sites in the body and overall survival.

For the entire study population with gene test scores between 11 and 25-and especially among women aged 50 to 75-there was no significant difference between the chemotherapy and no chemotherapy groups. Among women younger than 50, outcomes were similar when gene test scores were 15 or lower. Among younger women with scores 16 to 25, outcomes were slightly better in the chemotherapy group.

"The study should have a huge impact on doctors and patients," Dr. Albain said. "Its findings will greatly expand the number of patients who can forgo chemotherapy without compromising their outcomes. We are de-escalating toxic therapy."
Predictions of how climate change may affect extreme weather systems, such as typhoons, are usually conducted using general circulation models (GCMs), which represent physical processes in the atmosphere or oceans.

However, GCMs can be affected by uncertainties including imperfections in the model, such as the model's inability to fully describe the processes giving rise to the extreme weather, and uncertainties in the effects of future carbon emissions. To offset this, several different predictions should be made when modeling future climates, using an approach known as ensemble modeling. However, generating the wide range of data needed to begin an ensemble simulation can be complex and computationally demanding.

Now, Associate Professor Kenji Taniguchi of Japan's Kanazawa University has developed a new simple method for generating the large amount of data required to initiate ensemble modeling. In his recent article, published in Journal of Geophysical Research: Atmospheres, Taniguchi provides details of how the method works, and demonstrates its effectiveness for ensemble simulation of a typhoon event and an ensemble global warming simulation.

"The new method has several advantages over previously used approaches," Taniguchi says. "It has high computational stability, it can begin at any time and date, and it doesn't require any particular atmospheric structure; so, it can be used for simulating any type of weather event."

The method was demonstrated to provide suitable initial conditions for the typhoon and global warming simulations.

He notes the new method can provide the variety of conditions needed to explore the broad possibilities of meteorological phenomena. It could also allow assessment of changes in the probability of extreme events based on a wide spread of wind speed, pressure, and rainfall data.

The new method, after some further refinement and development, could contribute to improving the practical use of future global warming experiments in estimation of the probability of risk factors for extreme events and related impact assessments.

"Only one GCM output was used in this study, and there were various other assumptions about the structure of the data," Taniguchi says. "In future work, simulations with multiple GCM outputs should be included to consider the uncertainties inherent in different GCMs and we should think about tailoring the data distribution to each individual case."

Although developed originally for global warming studies, the possible applications of Taniguchi's new method are wide. It has potential for use in a broad range of problems requiring ensemble simulation, such as import assessment of variations in land cover change and sea surface temperature etc.
Strange and beautiful fishes from the ocean's deep and lesser-known twilight zone reefs are hitching a ride to the surface thanks to the newly invented SubCAS (or Submersible Chamber for Ascending Specimens). This ingenious pressurized chamber, engineered by the scientists-turned-inventors at the California Academy of Sciences and the Monterey Bay Aquarium, stretches two feet long and is used by scientific divers to collect and safely surface charismatic reef residents for further study and public display. The device was described today in Frontiers in Marine Science.

"The ability to physically dive to twilight zone depths using closed-circuit rebreathers means we can closely explore these environments without relying on large submarines or remotely operated vehicles, so we needed a similarly agile way to collect important fishes and bring them back alive," says lead author Bart Shepherd, Senior Director of the Academy's Steinhart Aquarium and Hope for Reefs co-leader. "Before the SubCAS, hand-collecting and surfacing live fishes involved the invasive process of needling a hole in their gas-filled swim bladders to prevent over-expansion. The chamber now allows us to eliminate this step and surface precious species in a non-invasive way for closely monitored care, research, and public display."

Into the twilight zone

Shepherd is part of a deep-diving research team that explores the twilight zone, a mysterious coral habitat stretching across a narrow band of ocean 200 -- 500 feet beneath the surface. At this depth, sunlight is scarce between the light-filled shallows and the deep dark sea. As part of its Hope for Reefs initiative, the Academy team is exploring this unknown frontier with the help of high-tech equipment like closed-circuit rebreathers, which require extensive training and allow scientists to extend their research time underwater. Most fishes in the twilight zone have never before been seen by humans -- many are also new to science. The long journey to bring new species to the surface is a delicate, carefully orchestrated process for both divers and their aquatic finds.

"A rapid ascent can rupture a fish's swim bladder," says co-author Dr. Luiz Rocha, the Academy's Curator of Fishes and Hope for Reefs co-leader. "Using an adjustable pressure control valve, we ensure that the pressure inside the chamber is similar to the depth where the fishes were collected. Over the course of two to three days, we bring them to the surrounding surface pressure in a highly controlled manner."

Co-author Matt Wandell, an aquatic biologist at the Monterey Bay Aquarium who designed and built the chamber during his former work at the Academy, knows that twilight zone dives present physiological challenges for divers as well as animals.

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"In designing the SubCAS, we knew ease of operation was critical so as not to distract divers from keeping pace with critical decompression stops or monitoring their life support equipment," says Wandell. "Every second counts."

Journey in the SubCAS

The SubCAS consists of a custom-designed inner collecting jar that fits snugly within a larger chamber housing. The collection jar has a hinged door and is perforated throughout to allow water to flow over ascending finned passengers. Transparent plastic allows divers to monitor fishes for signs of stress and to keep an eye on the chamber's submersible depth gauge and thermometer.

At a depth of approximately 180 feet during the ascent, operators of the SubCAS insert the collection jar into the chamber housing and blow an air bubble into the lid. They then seal the unit for the remainder of the dive. "The air bubble is critical," says Wandell, "as it expands during ascent and helps maintain the pressure inside the chamber."

At a depth of 100 feet, the divers hand off the SubCAS to a support dive team composed of skilled aquatic biologists like Wandell, who shuttle the fishes to shoreside facilities for controlled decompression. Later, they'll carefully pack and ship the undescribed species to the Academy in San Francisco for veterinary monitoring and eventual public display.

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This remarkable journey -- from 500 feet beneath the ocean's surface to a cruising altitude of 35,000 feet and back down to sea level -- has been highly successful. The SubCAS survival rate is nearly 100%, barring unexpected circumstances like predation among fishes that occurred during decompression. Through statistical analysis, the team determined that survival mostly depended on the type of fish species that were collected inside the chamber. Collection depth, fish body size, and the length of decompression did not play a significant role.

Living ambassadors

"The SubCAS is an important innovation," says co-author Dr. Hudson Pinheiro. "It allows for detailed study of new-to-science species while they're thriving outside of their natural habitat. We can gain important insights about fish biology and behavior that we couldn't obtain otherwise, helping us better understand what it takes to survive in a region as mysterious as the twilight zone."

Once fishes are acclimated and cleared to join the aquarium's 38,000 live residents, many move on to swim in the Academy's Twilight Zone: Deep Reefs Revealed, a first-of-its-kind exhibit that showcases the mysterious underwater realm so few get to witness. Visitors can also see the portable decompression chamber up close to learn more about how it was built.

"In a time of global crisis for coral reefs, discovering strange and beautiful fishes from unexplored reef habitats is critical to our understanding of how to protect them," says Shepherd. "These species are ambassadors of important environments that are rarely included in marine protected areas or sanctuaries. Our goal is to remind the public of the ocean's vast and unexplored wonders and to inspire its conservation for future generations."
Probing the distant Universe a team of scientists, led by University of Edinburgh astronomer Zhi-Yu Zhang, used the Atacama Large Millimeter/submillimeter Array (ALMA) to investigate the proportion of massive stars in four distant gas-rich starburst galaxies [1]. These galaxies are seen when the Universe was much younger than it is now so the infant galaxies are unlikely to have undergone many previous episodes of star formation, which might otherwise have confused the results.

Zhang and his team developed a new technique -- analogous to radiocarbon dating (also known as carbon-14 dating) -- to measure the abundances of different types of carbon monoxide in four very distant, dust-shrouded starburst galaxies [2]. They observed the ratio of two types of carbon monoxide containing different isotopes [3].

"Carbon and oxygen isotopes have different origins," explains Zhang. "18O is produced more in massive stars, and 13C is produced more in low- to intermediate-mass stars." Thanks to the new technique the team was able to peer through the dust in these galaxies and assess for the first time the masses of their stars.

The mass of a star is the most important factor determining how it will evolve. Massive stars shine brilliantly and have short lives and less massive ones, such as the Sun, shine more modestly for billions of years. Knowing the proportions of stars of different masses that are formed in galaxies therefore underpins astronomers' understanding of the formation and evolution of galaxies throughout the history of the Universe. Consequently, it gives us crucial insights about the chemical elements available to form new stars and planets and, ultimately, the number of seed black holes that may coalesce to form the supermassive black holes that we see in the centres of many galaxies.

Co-author Donatella Romano from the INAF-Astrophysics and Space Science Observatory in Bologna explains what the team found: "The ratio of 18O to 13C was about 10 times higher in these starburst galaxies in the early Universe than it is in galaxies such as the Milky Way, meaning that there is a much higher proportion of massive stars within these starburst galaxies."

The ALMA finding is corroborated by another discovery in the local Universe. A team led by Fabian Schneider of the University of Oxford, UK, made spectroscopic measurements with ESO's Very Large Telescope of 800 stars in the gigantic star-forming region 30 Doradus in the Large Magellanic Cloud in order to investigate the overall distribution of stellar ages and initial masses [4].

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Schneider explained, "We found around 30% more stars with masses more than 30 times that of the Sun than expected, and about 70% more than expected above 60 solar masses. Our results challenge the previously predicted 150 solar mass limit for the maximum birth mass of stars and even suggest that stars could have birth masses up to 300 solar masses!"

Rob Ivison, co-author of the new ALMA paper, concludes: "Our findings lead us to question our understanding of cosmic history. Astronomers building models of the Universe must now go back to the drawing board, with yet more sophistication required."

Notes

[1] Starburst galaxies are galaxies that are undergoing an episode of very intense star formation. The rate at which they form new stars can be 100 times or more the rate in our own galaxy, the Milky Way. Massive stars in these galaxies produce ionising radiation, stellar outflows, and supernova explosions, which significantly influence the dynamical and chemical evolution of the medium around them. Studying the mass distribution of stars in these galaxies can tell us more about their own evolution, and also the evolution of the Universe more generally.

[2] The radiocarbon dating method is used for determining the age of an object containing organic material. By measuring the amount of 14C, which is a radioactive isotope whose abundance continuously decreases, one can calculate when the animal or plant died. The isotopes used in the ALMA study, 13C and 18O, are stable and their abundances continuously increase during the lifetime of a galaxy, being synthesised by thermal nuclear fusion reactions inside stars.

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[3] These different forms of the molecule are called isotopologues and they differ in the number of neutrons they can have. The carbon monoxide molecules used in this study are an example of such molecular species, because a stable carbon isotope can have either 12 or 13 nucleons in its nucleus, and a stable oxygen isotope can have either 16, 17, or 18 nucleons.

[4] Schneider et al. made spectroscopic observations of individual stars in 30 Doradus, a star-forming region in the nearby Large Magellanic Cloud, using the Fibre Large Array Multi Element Spectrograph (FLAMES on the Very Large Telescope (VLT. This study was one of the first to be carried out that has been detailed enough to show that the Universe is able to produce star-forming regions with different mass distributions from that in the Milky Way.

More information

The ALMA results are published in a paper entitled "Stellar populations dominated by massive stars in dusty starburst galaxies across cosmic time" that will appear in Nature on 4 June 2018. The VLT results are published in a paper entitled "An excess of massive stars in the local 30 Doradus starburst," which has been published in Science on 5 January 2018.

The ALMA team is composed of: Z. Zhang (Institute for Astronomy, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK; European Southern Observatory, Garching bei Munchen, Germany), D. Romano (INAF, Astrophysics and Space Science Observatory, Bologna, Italy), R. J. Ivison (European Southern Observatory, Garching bei Munchen, Germany; Institute for Astronomy, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK), P .P. Papadopoulos (Department of Physics, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Thessaloniki, Greece; Research Center for Astronomy, Academy of Athens, Athens, Greece;) and F. Matteucci (Trieste University; INAF, Osservatorio Astronomico di Trieste; INFN, Sezione di Trieste, Trieste, Italy)

The VLT team is composed of: F. R. N. Schneider ( Department of Physics, University of Oxford, UK), H. Sana (Institute of Astrophysics, KU Leuven, Belgium), C. J. Evans ( UK Astronomy Technology Centre, Royal Observatory Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK), J. M. Bestenlehner (Max-Planck-Institut fur Astronomie, Heidelberg, Germany; Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of Sheffield, UK), N. Castro (Department of Astronomy, University of Michigan, USA), L. Fossati (Austrian Academy of Sciences, Space Research Institute, Graz, Austria), G. Grafener (Argelander-Institut fur Astronomie der Universitat Bonn, Germany), N. Langer (Argelander-Institut fur Astronomie der Universitat Bonn, Germany), O. H. Ramirez-Agudelo (UK Astronomy Technology Centre, Royal Observatory Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK), C. Sabin-Sanjulian (Departamento de Fisica y Astronomia, Universidad de La Serena, Chile), S. Simon-Diaz (Instituto de Astrofisica de Canarias, Tenerife, Spain; Departamento de Astrofisica, Universidad de La Laguna, Tenerife, Spain), F. Tramper (European Space Astronomy Centre, Madrid, Spain), P. A. Crowther (Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of Sheffield, UK), A. de Koter (Astronomical Institute Anton Pannekoek, Amsterdam University, Netherlands; Institute of Astrophysics, KU Leuven, Belgium), S. E. de Mink (Astronomical Institute Anton Pannekoek, Amsterdam University, Netherlands), P. L. Dufton (Astrophysics Research Centre, School of Mathematics and Physics, Queen's University Belfast, Northern Ireland, UK), M. Garcia (Centro de Astrobiologia, CSIC-INTA, Madrid, Spain), M. Gieles (Department of Physics, Faculty of Engineering and Physical Sciences, University of Surrey, UK), V. Henault-Brunet (National Research Council, Herzberg Astronomy and Astrophysics, Canada; Department of Astrophysics/Institute for Mathematics, Astrophysics and Particle Physics, Radboud University, Netherlands), A. Herrero (Departamento de Fisica y Astronomia, Universidad de La Serena, Chile), R. G. Izzard (Department of Physics, Faculty of Engineering and Physical Sciences, University of Surrey, UK; Institute of Astronomy, The Observatories, Cambridge, UK), V. Kalari (Departamento de Astronomia, Universidad de Chile, Santiago, Chile), D. J. Lennon (European Space Astronomy Centre, Madrid, Spain), J. Maiz Apellaniz (Centro de Astrobiologia, CSIC-INTA, European Space Astronomy Centre campus, Villanueva de la Canada, Spain), N. Markova (Institute of Astronomy with National Astronomical Observatory, Bulgarian Academy of Sciences, Smolyan, Bulgaria), F. Najarro (Centro de Astrobiologia, CSIC-INTA, Madrid, Spain), Ph. Podsiadlowski (Department of Physics, University of Oxford, UK; Argelander-Institut fur Astronomie der Universitat Bonn, Germany), J. Puls (Ludwig-Maximilians-Universitat Munchen, Germany), W. D. Taylor (UK Astronomy Technology Centre, Royal Observatory Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK), J. Th. van Loon (Lennard-Jones Laboratories, Keele University, Staffordshire, UK), J. S. Vink (Armagh Observatory, Northern Ireland, UK) and C. Norman (Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, USA; Space Telescope Science Institute, Baltimore, USA)

ESO is the foremost intergovernmental astronomy organisation in Europe and the world's most productive ground-based astronomical observatory by far. It has 15 Member States: Austria, Belgium, the Czech Republic, Denmark, France, Finland, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland and the United Kingdom, along with the host state of Chile and with Australia as a strategic partner. ESO carries out an ambitious programme focused on the design, construction and operation of powerful ground-based observing facilities enabling astronomers to make important scientific discoveries. ESO also plays a leading role in promoting and organising cooperation in astronomical research. ESO operates three unique world-class observing sites in Chile: La Silla, Paranal and Chajnantor. At Paranal, ESO operates the Very Large Telescope and its world-leading Very Large Telescope Interferometer as well as two survey telescopes, VISTA working in the infrared and the visible-light VLT Survey Telescope. ESO is also a major partner in two facilities on Chajnantor, APEX and ALMA, the largest astronomical project in existence. And on Cerro Armazones, close to Paranal, ESO is building the 39-metre Extremely Large Telescope, the ELT, which will become "the world's biggest eye on the sky."

Links

* Zhang et al. research paper -- pdf" title="pdf">http://www.eso.org/public/archives/releases/sciencepapers/eso1817/eso1817a.pdf" title="http://www.eso.org/public/archives/releases/sciencepapers/eso1817/eso1817a.pdf">http://www.eso.org/public/archives/releases/sciencepapers/eso1817/eso1817a.pdf">http://www.eso.org/public/archives/releases/sciencepapers/eso1817/eso1817a.pdf">http://www.eso.org/public/archives/releases/sciencepapers/eso1817/eso1817a.pdf

* Schneider et al. research paper -- pdf" title="pdf">http://www.eso.org/public/archives/releases/sciencepapers/eso1817/eso1817b.pdf" title="http://www.eso.org/public/archives/releases/sciencepapers/eso1817/eso1817b.pdf">http://www.eso.org/public/archives/releases/sciencepapers/eso1817/eso1817b.pdf">http://www.eso.org/public/archives/releases/sciencepapers/eso1817/eso1817b.pdf">http://www.eso.org/public/archives/releases/sciencepapers/eso1817/eso1817b.pdf

* Photos of ALMA -- http://www.eso.org/public/images/archive/search/?adv=&subject_name=Atacama%20Large%20Millimeter/submillimeter%20Array

* Photos of the VLT -- http://www.eso.org/public/images/archive/search/?adv=&subject_name=Very%20Large%20Telescope

Contacts

Zhi-Yu Zhang University of Edinburgh and ESO Garching bei Munchen, Germany Tel: +49-89-3200-6910 Email: zzhang@eso.org

Fabian Schneider Department of Physics -- University of Oxford Oxford, United Kingdom Tel: +44-1865-283697 Email: fabian.schneider@physics.ox.ac.uk

Rob Ivison ESO Garching bei Munchen, Germany Tel: +49-89-3200-6669 Email: rob.ivison@eso.org

Mariya Lyubenova ESO Outreach Astronomer Garching bei Munchen, Germany Tel: +49 89 3200 6188 Email: mlyubeno@eso.org
By comparing different types of remote atomic clocks, physicists at the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) have performed the most accurate test ever of a key principle underlying Albert Einstein's famous theory of general relativity, which describes how gravity relates to space and time.

The NIST result, made possible by continual improvements in the world's most accurate atomic clocks, yields a record-low, exceedingly small value for a quantity that Einstein predicted to be zero.

As described in a Nature Physics paper posted online June 4, NIST researchers used the solar system as a laboratory for testing Einstein's thought experiment involving Earth as a freefalling elevator. Einstein theorized that all objects located in such an elevator would accelerate at the same rate, as if they were in a uniform gravitational field -- or no gravity at all. Moreover, he predicted, these objects' properties relative to each other would remain constant during the elevator's free-fall.

In their experiment, the NIST team regarded Earth as an elevator falling through the Sun's gravitational field. They compared recorded data on the "ticks" of two types of atomic clocks located around the world to show they remained in sync over 14 years, even as the gravitational pull on the elevator varied during the Earth's slightly off-kilter orbit around the sun. Researchers compared data from 1999 to 2014 for a total of 12 clocks -- four hydrogen masers (microwave lasers) in the NIST time scale with eight of the most accurate cesium fountain atomic clocks operated by metrology laboratories in the United States, the United Kingdom, France, Germany and Italy.

The experiment was designed to test a prediction of general relativity, the principle of local position invariance (LPI), which holds that in a falling elevator, measures of nongravitational effects are independent of time and place. One such measurement compares the frequencies of electromagnetic radiation from atomic clocks at different locations. The researchers constrained the violation of LPI to a value of 0.00000022 plus or minus 0.00000025 -- the most miniscule number yet, consistent with general relativity's predicted result of zero, and corresponding to no violation. This means the ratio of hydrogen to cesium frequencies remained the same as the clocks moved together in the falling elevator.

This result has five times less uncertainty than NIST's best previous measurement of the LPI violation, translating to five times greater sensitivity. That earlier 2007 result, from a 7-year comparison of cesium and hydrogen atomic clocks, was 20 times more sensitive than the previous tests.

The latest measurement advance is due to improvements in several areas, namely more accurate cesium fountain atomic clocks, better time transfer processes (which enable devices at different locations to compare their time signals), and the latest data for computing the position and velocity of Earth in space, NIST's Bijunath Patla said.

"But the main reason we did this work was to highlight how atomic clocks are used to test fundamental physics; in particular, the foundations of general relativity," Patla said. "This is the claim made most often when clockmakers strive for better stability and accuracy. We tie together tests of general relativity with atomic clocks, note the limitations of the current generation of clocks, and present a future outlook for how next-generation clocks will become very relevant."

Further limits on LPI are unlikely to be obtained using hydrogen and cesium clocks, the researchers say, but experimental next-generation clocks based on optical frequencies, which are much higher than the frequencies of hydrogen and cesium clocks, could offer much more sensitive results. NIST already operates a variety of these clocks based on atoms such as ytterbium and strontium.

Because so many scientific theories and calculations are intertwined, NIST researchers used their new value for the LPI violation to calculate variations in several fundamental "constants" of nature, physical quantities thought to be universal and widely used in physics. Their results for the light quark mass were the best ever, while results for the fine structure constant agreed with previously reported values for any pair of atoms.

The work was funded in part by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration.
A Rutgers-led team of physicists has demonstrated a way to conduct electricity between transistors without energy loss, opening the door to low-power electronics and, potentially, quantum computing that would be far faster than today's computers.

Their findings, which involved using a special mix of materials with magnetic and insulator properties, are published online in Nature Physics.

"This material, although it's much diluted in terms of magnetic properties, can still behave like a magnet and conducts electricity at low temperature without energy loss," said Weida Wu, senior author of the study and associate professor in the Department of Physics and Astronomy at Rutgers University-New Brunswick. "At least in principle, if you can make it work at a higher temperature, you can use it for electronic interconnections within silicon chips used in computers and other devices."

Study co-authors in China combined chromium and vanadium as magnetic elements with an insulator consisting of bismuth, antimony and tellurium. When electrons in this special material are aligned in one direction -- like a compass needle pointing north -- an electric current can only flow along its edges in one direction, leading to zero energy loss. That means electricity could be conducted between transistors within silicon chips used in computers and other electronics with maximum efficiency.

Current silicon chips use primarily metal for electrical interconnections in transistors, but that leads to substantial energy loss, Wu said.

The scientists demonstrated the uniform alignment of spinning electrons in the special magnetic insulator -- called the quantum anomalous Hall insulator. It conducts electricity without energy loss when the temperature is close to absolute zero: minus 459.67 degrees Fahrenheit. Next steps would include demonstrating the phenomenon at a much higher and more practical temperature for electronics, along with building a platform for quantum computing.
Bumper car-like interactions at the edges of our solar system -- and not a mysterious ninth planet -- may explain the dynamics of strange bodies called "detached objects," according to a new study.

CU Boulder Assistant Professor Ann-Marie Madigan and a team of researchers have offered up a new theory for the existence of planetary oddities like Sedna. This minor planet orbits Earth's sun at a distance of 8 billion miles but appears separated from the rest of the solar system.

One theory for its unusual dynamics is that an as-of-yet-unseen ninth planet beyond Neptune may have disturbed the orbits of Sedna and other detached objects. But Madigan and her colleagues calculated that the orbits of Sedna and its ilk may result from these bodies jostling against each other and space debris in the outer solar system.

"There are so many of these bodies out there. What does their collective gravity do?" said Madigan of the Department of Astrophysical and Planetary Sciences (APS) and JILA. "We can solve a lot of these problems by just taking into account that question."

The researchers will present their findings on June 4 at a press briefing at the 232nd meeting of the American Astronomical Society, which runs from June 3-7 in Denver.

Detached objects like Sedna get their name because they complete humongous, circular orbits that bring them nowhere close to big planets like Jupiter or Neptune. How they got to the outer solar system on their own is an ongoing mystery.

Using computer simulations, Madigan's team came up with one possible answer. Jacob Fleisig, an undergraduate studying astrophysics at CU Boulder, calculated that these icy objects orbit the sun like the hands of a clock. The orbits of smaller objects, such as asteroids, however, move faster than the larger ones, such as Sedna.

"You see a pileup of the orbits of smaller objects to one side of the sun," said Fleisig, who is the lead author of the new research. "These orbits crash into the bigger body, and what happens is those interactions will change its orbit from an oval shape to a more circular shape."

In other words, Sedna's orbit goes from normal to detached entirely because of those small-scale interactions. The team's observations also fall in line with research from 2012, which observed that the bigger a detached object gets, the farther away its orbit becomes from the sun. Alexander Zderic, a graduate student in APS at CU Boulder, also co-authored the new research.

The findings may also provide clues around another phenomenon: the extinction of the dinosaurs. As space debris interacts in the outer solar system, the orbits of these objects tighten and widen in a repeating cycle. This cycle could wind up shooting comets toward the inner solar system -- including in the direction of Earth -- on a predictable timescale.

"While we're not able to say that this pattern killed the dinosaurs," Fleisig said, "it's tantalizing."
A federal district court entered a judgment on May 18, 2018 against Gustavo A. Guzman, a former options trading instructor, for misappropriating investor funds and making material misrepresentations to investors located in five states - North Carolina, South Carolina, Illinois, Washington, and California.

The SEC's complaint, filed on May 24, 2017 in federal court in the Western District of North Carolina, alleged that between at least April 2010 and at least August 2015, Guzman raised more than $2.1 million from investors for a purported equity options fund and a real estate fund that he managed. The complaint further alleged that Guzman misappropriated approximately a third of the investors' money, using it to pay himself and his personal expenses, and to make Ponzi payments to some of the investors. Guzman also allegedly sent investors false account statements and tax documents with exaggerated returns to conceal that he lost the remainder of the investors' funds through unsuccessful options trading.

The court entered a default judgment against Guzman for violating Sections 17(a) of the Securities Act of 1933, Section 10(b) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and Rule 10b-5 thereunder, and Sections 206(1), (2), and (4) of the Investment Advisers Act of 1940 and Rule 206(4)-8 thereunder. The judgment orders Guzman to pay disgorgement of $253,820, prejudgment interest of $25,169, and a civil penalty of $160,000. The order also permanently enjoins Guzman from violating the above-referenced provisions and from participating in the issuance, purchase, offer, or sale of any security, other than for his own account.

For further information, see Litigation Release No. 23842 (May 24, 2017).
BARTs fledgling effort to crack down on widespread fare evasion has run into a stark problem: People unwilling to pay a few bucks to ride the rails are rarely willing to cough up $75 when handed a citation.

In March and April, the first two months of ticketing riders who couldnt show theyd paid their fares, a team of transit agency inspectors issued roughly 1,300 citations  but only about 100 of the alleged cheats paid up, officials said.

To critics, the low rate of return is evidence that the $800,000-a-year crackdown on fare scofflaws is a waste of money that would be better spent raising barriers in stations or installing fare gates to make it tough on fare evaders to vault over or squeeze through.

To BARTs police union, its proof that sending civilian inspectors to issue citations is ineffective without the accompaniment of sworn police officers with the power to arrest.

BART officials, meanwhile, say its too early to make any judgments and insist that the goal of the team of six roving fare inspectors assigned to catch fare cheats is not to make money through citations but to reduce the number of violators.

We are not in business of writing tickets, said Jim Allison, a BART spokesman. We want people to buy tickets  to ride.

Jessica Christian / The Chronicle

Citations begin at $75 for adults and $55 for juveniles up to age 18 and increase after a second offense, and why so few people pay up is unclear. One possibility is that some of those cited are giving false names or addresses.

When fare evaders are caught, theyre asked for identification. Most are able to produce some form of identification, said Lance Haight, BARTs deputy police chief. Those who cant are asked to provide their name and current address, which are then checked on the spot via police radio against a database.

Ultimately, fare cheats are given a copy of their citation, including directions on how to pay. They can choose community service, instead, or appeal. Violators have 30 days to act, and BART reminds them of that in letters, some of which are returned because of incorrect postal addresses.

The names of those who dont take care of their citations can be turned over to the state Franchise Tax Board, which can dock any state income returns or state lottery winnings, Haight said.

But thats the extent of BARTs collection effort. The transit agency does not turn over non-payers to a private collection agency  yet.

Were not saying we wouldnt consider it, Haight said. It could be a remedy we would seek in the future.

Jessica Christian / The Chronicle

The proof-of-payment system is part of a strategy the BART board approved in 2017 after learning that fare cheats are costing the agency as much as $25 million a year. It means that about 5 percent of riders arent paying.

Other facets of the strategy include a campaign reminding riders to pay or be fined. BART has also started hardening stations against cheats by building taller barriers around paid areas, reconfiguring elevator entrances to prevent them from being used to avoid fare gates, and controlling some swing gates that act as emergency exits or disabled access so theyre tougher for scofflaws to sneak through.

Fare gates are also being designed to make them difficult to breach without paying. And the transit system plans to install additional cameras to monitor gates, count cheaters and help determine the systems most vulnerable areas.

The improvements will come gradually. Meanwhile, the bulk of the war on fare evasion involves enforcement. BART police have always been able to cite fare evaders, but only if they caught them in the act.

The proof-of-payment system, featuring random fare inspections, was the answer. It wasnt a novel idea. Such systems are in place at 34 transit operators around the nation, according to the American Public Transportation Association. They require passengers to carry valid transit tickets, passes, smart cards or transfers, and be prepared to show them.

At BART, the six fare inspectors wear blue, black and white checkered vests, reminiscent of British police, with a large patch on the back identifying them in bold letters. They typically work together, traveling from station to station, spending more time at those with the biggest problems. They also ride trains where they inspect fares.

Jessica Christian/The Chronicle

Please be ready to show your transit tickets or Clipper cards, inspector Carlos Escobar called out as four of the team gathered on the Civic Center Station platform Thursday morning at the bottom of an escalator. Two other inspectors headed for a nearby elevator.

More Information BART's fare evasion problem Starting in 2017, BART took steps to crack down on fare evasion, estimated to cost the transit system $25 million a year, but the agency isn't done. BART plans to add to its efforts in the fiscal year that begins July 1. What's under way Signs that can't be missed have been installed at all station entrances warning that fare evasion is illegal and subject to citation. Civic Center and Downtown Berkeley stations have replaced 3-foot walls around their paid areas with 5-foot barriers. Elevators at South Hayward and Berkeley stations have been enclosed inside paid areas. Swing gates were controlled and installed with alarms at the 16th Street Mission, 24th Street Mission, Embarcadero, Civic Center and Downtown Berkeley stations. BART police stepped up enforcement at station entrances, and six fare enforcement officers began conducting random inspections for proof of payment. What's coming next Entrance railings or walls will be raised to 5 feet at Embarcadero, Richmond, Daly City and Balboa Park stations. Elevators will be enclosed in paid areas at El Cerrito del Norte Station, and a fare gate will be created for the Montgomery Station elevator. Alarms and controls will be installed on swing gates at Montgomery, Powell, Balboa Park, Glen Park and Daly City stations. Two more fare enforcement officers may be added (pending budget approval), bringing the total to eight, and community service officers will be empowered to conduct fare inspections. BART police will put more emphasis on fare enforcement and riding trains. Source: BART See More Collapse

Using handheld scanners, the inspectors whod staked out the escalator checked the tickets and Clipper cards of each person. The machines beep or buzz and flash a message to inspectors, indicating whether a passenger has legally entered through the fare gate.

Passengers without valid fares are pulled aside, asked for identification and given citations. The first two citations are civil citations, similar to parking tickets. But three or more offenses can result in criminal citations, with fines up to $250.

During the hour and 15-minute enforcement effort Thursday at the Civic Center Station platform, 17 citations were issued, slightly lower than usual, Haight said, probably because the focus has been on that station, which also has new, harder-to-climb 5-foot walls around its concourse.

Among those cited was Pastia Johnson, 23, of San Francisco, who was on the way to her job in the hospitality industry.

I dont have either one, she told the inspectors asking for tickets or Clipper cards. One took her aside and wrote her a citation.

As she jumped aboard a train, Johnson said she wasnt offended by the fare inspection process, or the ticket she was now holding in her hand.

Theyre doing their jobs, and I didnt pay, she said.

But will she pay the ticket? The train doors closed before she could answer.

Most people approached by fare inspectors, even those given citations, are cooperative, said Sgt. Jaswant Sekhon, whos in charge of the fare inspection team. But some spot the team and head the other way, and others try to push past the inspectors, usually unsuccessfully.

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.

Inspectors are not allowed to chase or apprehend fare evaders, but theyll try to block their path of escape or tell them to stop. They can radio for help from a sworn police officer, but the suspected cheat usually disappears into the crowd or onto a train quickly.

Sometimes they just walk away, said Karen Seiler, an inspector. Theres not much we can do about it.

The union representing BARTs police officers said the program would work better if the fare checkers were accompanied by a sworn officer able to stop those who would flee inspections or cite those who give false identification.

I think its a start, said Keith Garcia, union president, but it needs to be improved upon. I dont see the current model being efficient. There needs to be a sworn police officer in uniform.

Three other Bay Area transit agencies  Muni, Caltrain and the Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority  use proof-of-payment systems.

Muni relies primarily on civilian fare-enforcement officers, though they sometimes work with San Francisco police officers in crackdowns on specific lines. About 38 percent of the 48,000 citations issued in 2017 were paid.

On Caltrain, conductors, who are not sworn officers, conduct intermittent fare checks, writing 300 to 500 citations a month. Caltrain did not make the percentage of paid citations available.

Santa Clara VTA issued 1,357 citations in 2017, all by sworn law-enforcement officers on its light-rail lines. The citations are handled by Santa Clara County Superior Court, so VTA receives no information on how many are paid  and no revenue when they are.

In Los Angeles, 20 to 30 percent of fare evasion citations, primarily issued by non-sworn officers, are paid, said spokesman Dave Sotero.

As for BART, its directors are divided on the efficacy of the proof-of-payment program. The program is due for a six-month review this fall.

Director Joel Keller of Brentwood said he backs the idea of fare enforcement, if only to keep the number of fare evasions from growing. Nick Josefowitz, a San Francisco director, also said he believes its necessary.

BART obviously suffers when people are fare-evading and not paying their fair share, he said, but it is also insulting to people who work hard and commute on BART every day, to see people just walking in and out without paying. Its not a cheap system, and everyone should pay.

For Debora Allen of Clayton, the low citation-payment rate reinforces her skepticism about the program. From the beginning, she said, she thought the money would be better spent on building walls and barriers to keep cheaters out.

If were giving out tickets and no one is paying and theres not much consequence, she said, its not going to have much impact.

Michael Cabanatuan is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: mcabanatuan@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @ctuan
Upcoming political events in the Bay Area.

TUESDAY

Results watch party: Indivisible SF hosts an election results watch party. 6-10 p.m., 2323 Mission St., San Francisco. More information is here.

GOP election party: San Francisco Republican Party hosts an election results watch party. $20. 6:30-11 p.m., Blue Fish Sushi and Lounge, 1814 Clement St., San Francisco. More information is here.

Angela Alioto party: San Francisco mayoral candidate Angela Alioto holds an election night party. 8:30 p.m., Taverna Aventine, 582 Washington St., San Francisco. More information is here.

London Breed party: San Francisco mayoral candidate London Breed holds an election night party. 8:30-11 p.m., Delancey Street, 600 Embarcadero, San Francisco. More information is here.

Jane Kim party: San Francisco mayoral candidate Jane Kim holds an election night party. 8:30 p.m.-midnight, Folsom Street Foundry, 1425 Folsom St., San Francisco. More information is here.

Mark Leno party: San Francisco mayoral candidate Mark Leno holds an election night party. 8-10 p.m., Harvey Milk Plaza, Market and Castro streets, San Francisco. More information is here.

THURSDAY

Medea Benjamin on Iran: Code Pink and Global Exchange co-founder on Inside Iran: The Real History and Politics of the Islamic Republic of Iran. Benefit for KPFA-FM. $12 in advance, $15 at the door. 7:30 p.m., Hillside Club, 2286 Cedar St., Berkeley. More information is here.

SATURDAY

World Naked Bike Ride: Event focus es on the need to promote renewable energy and move away from big oil. 11 a.m.-5 p.m., starts at Ferry Building Plaza in San Francisco. More information is here.

SUNDAY

Whats next for Iran?: Paul George, executive director of the Peninsula Peace and Justice Center in Palo Alto, gives a talk on Trump Nukes the Iran Accord: What Happens Next? 7-9 p.m., Unitarian Universalists of San Mateo, 300 E. Santa Inez Ave., San Mateo. More information is here.

JUNE 13

Doomsday Clock: Rachel Bronson, president of the Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists, asks, Can we turn back the Doomsday Clock? The groups clock, an indication of how close it believes the world is to nuclear war, is now set at two minutes to midnight. Tickets are $10 and less. Noon-1 p.m. at the Commonwealth Club, 110 Embarcadero, San Francisco. More information is here.

JUNE 14

George Marshall and China: A look at the year after World War II when Gen. George Marshall was in China, trying to help the country build a democracy. Speaker will be Daniel Kurtz-Phelan, executive editor of Foreign Affairs. $7-$20. 6:30-8 p.m., World Affairs Council, 320 Sutter St., Suite 200. More information is here.

JUNE 18

Womens political leadership: A forum on Power and Parity: Womens Political Leadership. Speakers include state Controller Betty Yee, state Democratic Party Womens Caucus chair Christine Pelosi and Debbie Mesloh, president of San Francisco Commission on the Status of Women. 6:30-8 p.m., Cambria Gallery, 1045 Bryant St., San Francisco. More information is here.

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.

JUNE 19

Youth leaders: Young Bay Area activists describe their strategies to try to change policies and attract support in a Commonwealth Club event. Tickets $0-$10. 6:30-7:30 p.m., 110 Embarcadero, San Francisco. More information is here.

JUNE 20

World Refugee Day: The nonprofit 1951 Coffee hosts an event with art, activities and refreshments provided by people who have come to the U.S. through the refugee resettlement program. 6-9 p.m., 2410 Channing Way, Berkeley. More information is here.

JUNE 22-24

Pink Triangle: Volunteers needed to put together the Pink Triangle on Twin Peaks for Pride Weekend. Outline is installed from 1:30-5:30 p.m. Friday. Installation ceremonies begin at 7 a.m. Saturday, with installation itself starting at 10 a.m. Take-down from 4:30-8 p.m. Sunday. More information is here.

JUNE 23

Supervisor candidate forum: Candidates in San Francisco District 10  Theo Ellington, Tony Kelly and Shamann Walton  appear in a forum. 10-11:30 a.m., 1275 Minnesota St., San Francisco. More information is here.

To list an event, email tbyrne@sfchronicle.com
Jennifer Romm shielded her eyes from the morning sunlight and stared off into the San Francisco Bay in search of her daughter. A helium balloon with the word Congratulations swayed in the breeze beside her.

Her daughter, Olivia Kayye, was one of the youngest competitors in a sea of 2,000 people braving the icy water Sunday morning from Alcatraz Island to the shoreline of Marina Green in the 38th annual Escape From Alcatraz Triathlon in San Francisco.

As the first competitors started trickling out of the water and raced the half-mile block toward the bicycles waiting for them, Romm continued scanning the shoreline.

Its a huge moment, Romm said of her 18-year-old daughter. Shes graduating next week. She actually had to get a special excuse from her teachers to rearrange her tests so that she could do this race. This is a milestone for her.

Suddenly, without warning, Romms eyes grew wide as she squealed and pointed at the water, I think thats my daughter, she said. Yes, thats Olivia.

Romm jumped down from the stone ledge at Marina Green and, carrying a pink sign with Olivias name in black letters, took off running toward the bicycles.

Cody Glenn / Special to The Chronicle

As soon as they undid the caution tape from the boat, someone pushed me forward to the edge and I just jumped in immediately, Kayye said after the race. I just got to get it over with. Theres no time to be scared.

Her daughter waited patiently, Romm said, until her 18th birthday in April to be able to sign up for the race. Together, they traveled from Chapel Hill, N.C., so that Kayye, who started swimming at the age of 5, could fulfill one of her dreams. A dream shes had since her dad, a four-time competitor in the race, told her its the best triathlon in the world, Kayye said.

Im really excited for her. I didnt even recognize her, Romm said, catching her breath after getting a glimpse of her daughter running to grab her bicycle. She was one of the first people out.

Still left for Kayye to complete was an 18-mile bike ride through the Presidio and an 8-mile run along the shoreline of the Golden Gate Promenade to Baker Beach and up the dreaded 400-step sand ladder before returning to the finish line at Marina Green. The sand ladder wasnt as bad as she thought it would be, she said, thanks to the ropes along the sides of it.

Nearly two hours after Kayye dived into the water, Ben Kanute, 25, of Phoenix finished first for the second year in a row in 2 hours and 49 seconds.

The whole race is just a grind, Kanute said, who planned to board a flight just hours later to the United Kingdom for another race. I love that about this race.

Cody Glenn / Special to The Chronicle

The strong current in the water, the hilly bike ride and the run through the sandy beach all made the race that much more challenging, Kanute added.

Sarah Haskins, 37, of St. Louis was the first woman to complete the race, in 2 hours, 15 minutes and 46 seconds.

Not long after Kanute crossed the finish line, Kevin Collington, 33, of Boulder, Colo., skidded to a stop and finished sixth among the men.

Collington was scheduled to race the Ironman Triathlon in his hometown next weekend and normally, he said, he wouldnt schedule two big races so close to each other. But this year, he couldnt miss the Escape From Alcatraz for one very special reason: It was his 64-year-old mothers first time racing.

This is the hardest race shes done in her life, Collington said, dripping with sweat. My dad is here somewhere. He cant hold the camera steady so I have to go find him. Otherwise the photo will be blurry.

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.

Collingtons mother and Kayye werent the only first-timers in the race. Leslie Lewis, 47, traveled from Austin, Texas, to brave the San Francisco terrain for the first time.

In the past five years, Lewis  a mother of four  received her college degree, signed up for her first triathlon, learned to play the bass guitar and joined a rock band, said her aunt, Joanne Wilson.

Its incredible, Wilson said. Shes just doing things I never dreamed that she would do. Im so proud of her. I cant believe shes doing this.

Like Wilson and so many other family members cheering for their athletes, Kayyes father, mother and sister were waiting patiently at the finish line. As Kayye crossed the line, she said, she searched for one thing only, her medal.

And then I got a bottle of water, and I chugged the entire thing and then I was like, Wow, I really need to pee, Kayye said, who will start at Pepperdine University in the fall and will be part of the swim team.

Back at her hotel, Kayye said she plans to spend the remainder of her trip getting acquainted with a few of the Bay Areas more recognizable food brands before returning to Chapel Hill.

The thing I was looking forward to the most (during the race) is eating some Ghirardelli chocolate drinks or a milkshake, she said. Maybe some In-N-Out too.

Sarah Ravani is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: sravani@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @SarRavani
The classroom was full of students, all of them blind or visually impaired. Their canes were propped in the corner, their guide dogs asleep under a table. It was time, so Patricia Jefferson began reciting from a list of 21 questions.

Do you know where the fire alarms are in your home? Do you know where the gas shut-off valve is? Do you have an orange vest? Extra dog food? What about Braille labels?

The dozen adults at the Earle Baum Center in Santa Rosa were given emergency backpacks, and they sifted through them, gingerly touching the contents: AM/FM radios, foil blankets, water purifiers, freeze-dried food.

The students were planning for a worst-case scenario, in a class this spring funded by a $40,500 donation from the Redwood Credit Union, based in Santa Rosa. Many had barely managed to flee Octobers Wine Country fires. If a friend or family member hadnt been home that October night  well, they dont like to think about it.

A lot of our clients really thought they might die, said Kati Aho, the Earle Baum Centers executive director. We are all super aware. In a way, we are capitalizing on how horrific the fires were. There is a reason to be prepared.

Jefferson, a vision rehabilitation instructor, is teaching some of the most vulnerable people in Sonoma County, the center of last years firestorm. The Tubbs Fire was the most destructive blaze in state history, destroying nearly 7,000 structures. It killed 24 people  the flames trapping many elderly and disabled people in their homes.

Such a disaster could strike again. If it does, Jefferson wants her students to know what to do.

Jessica Christian/The Chronicle

More than 3 percent of Californians are blind or visually impaired, and there arent many resources for them. But, so far, the center has given out 50 emergency kits to clients in Sonoma, Napa, Mendocino and Lake counties. The community has been engaged.

An extra cane could be a good idea, said Maycie Vorreiter, 20, of Santa Rosa, in the classroom. What if youre trying to get out and someone steps on it and breaks it?

A pencil-tip one, that could be good to add to the pack, Jefferson said. You know, canes are like shoes. You gotta have one for the trails, one for dressing up, and one for sidewalks. Now you need a disaster one.

This is like Christmas, said Bob Cuneo, 71, of Santa Rosa. He held a pack of playing cards in his hand, feeling their edges. They werent labeled in Braille.

Hey, that can be your homework, Jefferson said. Get home and label them all in Braille.

Its the kind of thing many people dont often think about. How do you play cards if you cant read them? How do you evacuate from a wildfire when you cant see or drive a car?

Though Cuneo lives in Santa Rosa, the area hardest hit by the Tubbs Fire, he didnt have to evacuate. It still shook his confidence, the sense that he was safe in the suburbs.

It made me much more aware of it, he said. I was going, What the hell would I do? Im partially dependent on others. Here in America, most of us think it wont happen. Lo and behold, it does. Now I am learning.

For others, the evacuation was hellish. Denise Vancil, a Braille and independent living skills instructor, was home with her husband, Ben, and their two children. Both parents are legally blind.

Jessica Christian / The Chronicle

There was a racket outside. It sounded like a party, which made sense, because a neighbor was moving that day. Then came the bangs: pop-pop-pop. The power went off and on. Vancil didnt know what was happening.

The news came in pieces: a text from Vancils mother, a news report on TV, the neighbors packing up. She told her children  Sophia, 9, and Devin, 12  to pack their backpacks. They grabbed some clothes and the familys electronic Braille reader, a sort of Kindle for the blind.

But neither Vancil nor her husband could drive. They couldnt call an Uber or Lyft in the middle of a wildfire. The neighbors didnt have space in their car for four more people plus a guide dog and belongings. They felt stuck.

That was the scary part, not knowing how we were going to leave, Vancil said. I was panicking, but you dont want your children to know that. It was surreal.

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.

Jessica Christian / The Chronicle

Eventually, a family member came to pick them up. They escaped, but it felt too close. Now Vancil keeps an evacuation backpack by her front door. Her family has a plan. When disaster arrives again, they will have a ride.

Jeff Harrington, the director of accessibility technology for the Earle Baum Center, recalled a similar crisis. The smell of smoke came first, he said, like a huge bonfire. He cant see, so noises guided him. He grabbed kibble for his guide dog, Lucas. His wife packed the car. His daughter Megan, 12, helped corral the cat.

My wife was the eyes of the operation, said Harrington. The sounds of the sirens and explosions, the heavy smoke, those changes scared me. You have to be able to make relationships with your neighbors, family and friends. They can help you when you cant help yourself.

His house survived. So did Vancils. They were lucky, with family to care for them and places to go.

Neither has seen the destruction wrought by Octobers fires. They never will, and that makes the trauma more difficult to process. They can feel that the landscape around them has changed, but they cant witness it.

Disasters are overwhelming for everyone. For the disabled, they are that and more.

But the new training, and the backpacks, give comfort. If a wildfire sparks or an earthquake hits, the centers clients will have an extra cane and food for 72 hours. Theyll gain some control.

This is so hard for people, said Aho, the center director. Sight loss is something that people hide really well. People are afraid. Theres a sense of shame around being blind. Now, they have resources and know how to escape if they need to. It gives them something to hold on to.

In the classroom, Jefferson finished her lesson. The clients roused their guide dogs and slipped on the backpacks. Their canes clacked against the floor as they walked out and into a world that was a little less unsure.

Lizzie Johnson is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: ljohnson@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @LizzieJohnsonnn
If you want an idea of how pervasive the hard drug use and drug dealing are in San Franciscos Mid-Market area, just look at a sample of the recent reports coming out of Tenderloin Police Station.

May 30: Tonight, 10 more drug dealers booked into county jail as a result of an undercover operation. Of the 10, 4 were out on their own recognizance from jail, nine have priors and nine were charged with dealing near schools with students present.

May 29: Civic Center BART Station. Sunday morning Tenderloin officers arrested suspect with 315 bindles (116 grams) of heroin, cocaine, methamphetamine packaged for sale. Memorial Day Surveillance of dealers at Hyde and Ellis Streets has led to the seizure of almost 40 grams of heroin, cocaine and methamphetamine.

May 18: Tenderloin officers have again arrested a man for 41 bindles of packaged heroin, meth and cocaine. The suspect was released from jail on his own recognizance for same offense, same block, 3 weeks ago.

May 17: A 25-year-old suspect arrested for dealing narcotics while on felony probation.

And so it goes.

We are arresting them as fast we can, and the district attorney is charging more than 90 percent of the cases, said Tenderloin Capt. Carl Fabbri.

Once arrested, however, the dealers are typically being released by judges on their own recognizance as their cases work their way through the court system.

And they are coming back to us and we are arresting them again  and they are sending them back again, Fabbri said. He added that most of those arrested are from Oakland.

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.

San Francisco Chronicle columnists Phillip Matier and Andrew Ross appear Sundays, Mondays and Wednesdays. Matier can be seen on the KPIX TV morning and evening news. He can also be heard on KCBS radio Monday through Friday at 7:50 a.m. and 5:50 p.m. Got a tip? Call (415) 777-8815, or email matierandross@ sfchronicle.com. Twitter: @matierandross
California legislators are quietly discussing a new disaster relief fund that, in the aftermath of last falls devastating wildfires, could take some of the financial pressure off utility companies such as Pacific Gas and Electric Co.

The discussions come as the state awaits the results of official investigations into the causes of last years fires, which swept through both Northern and Southern California during intense windstorms. In both regions, power lines falling down or coming into contact with trees are widely considered as possible ignition points for the fires.

No legislation to create the relief fund has been formally introduced, and several variations of the concept appear to be under discussion, people familiar with the proposals say.

For example, one idea floated in the Capitol would focus the fund on helping pay for property damage caused by fires linked to utility poles and power lines provided the utility was not found negligent in its upkeep of the electrical system, said the people, who spoke on condition of anonymity due to the sensitivity of the discussions. Another option would create a broader fund to help property owners recover from many kinds of disasters.

One person said he had seen a draft proposal that would establish the fund with $1 billion from the states general fund. He added, however, that other financing options had been discussed, such as having utility companies pay into the pool each year. Bloomberg, which first reported the discussions on Friday, cited the states greenhouse gas cap-and-trade program as another possible source of money.

Insurance claims from last falls fires now top $12.5 billion, including nearly $10 billion in Northern California alone. And that financial burden could fall on the utilities. Under a legal doctrine known as inverse condemnation, California utility companies can be held financially liable for wildfire damage caused by their equipment, even if they followed all of the states safety regulations.

As a result, the utilities have been pushing hard in Sacramento for legislation that would exempt them from inverse condemnation, or at least let them pass those costs on to their customers. The idea of creating a disaster relief fund would help take some of the financial pressure off the companies.

Representatives of both PG&E and San Diego Gas & Electric Co. said they were aware of the relief-fund discussions but could not yet comment on the idea, since no specific legislation had been introduced.

Were not going to speculate, because theres nothing to review right now, said PG&E spokeswoman Lynsey Paulo.

Southern California Edison  which has been accused in court of starting the Thomas Fire that scorched Ventura and Santa Barbara counties in December  said the fund idea was worth exploring.

So concerned is PG&E about liability from Octobers Wine Country fires that the utility suspended its dividend in December. And on Monday, the company asked the California Public Utilities Commission to let it delay starting its next general rate case, the complex multiyear procedure by which the commission sets rates for each utility.

The 2017 Northern California wildfires have created tremendous uncertainty regarding the companys potential liabilities under the states inverse condemnation policy, wrote Robert Kenney, PG&Es vice president of regulatory affairs, in a letter to the commission. This uncertainty could impact the companys access to the financing needed to support the capital investment plans in the 2020 general rate case. The outcome of the legislative session could have a significant impact in either resolving or continuing the uncertainty affecting access to capital.

Air Quality Tracker Check levels down to the neighborhood Ratings for the Bay Area and California, updated every 10 minutes

Late last month, the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection, or Cal Fire, reported the results of its investigations into four of the less destructive Northern California fires last fall, in Butte and Nevada counties.

All four, according to Cal Fire, started with branches or entire trees hitting PG&E power lines. Cal Fire also said that in three of the four cases, PG&E may not have followed state regulations for trimming trees near power lines. The department referred its results to the district attorneys of both counties.

Sources said one idea under discussion would make money from the proposed disaster fund available to the utilities to cover some liability costs under inverse condemnation, so long as the property damage was not caused by company negligence. A bill that passed the state Senate last month  SB819  would prevent utility companies from passing liability costs on to their customers if negligence was involved.

One of the bills authors, state Sen. Jerry Hill, D-San Mateo, said a disaster relief fund, if created, must not give the companies a way to evade responsibility for poor performance or violating regulations.

There should not be a bailout if theyre negligent, he said.

David R. Baker is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: dbaker@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @DavidBakerSF
Oakland promised to set aside $3.4 million in cannabis tax revenue to offer no-interest loans to startup marijuana businesses that qualified for the citys equity program.

The good news is that the city has finally set aside that money.

The bad news is that it wont be available for several months, and the startup businesses relying on that help  many are hanging on by a thread  may not be around by then.

What we have here is another example of how Oaklands execution of its hyped-up equity program is failing the people it was designed to help.

Which is too bad, because the intentions behind the program were good: to right the wrongs of the war on drugs, which unfairly cracked down on black and brown people.

To qualify for Oaklands equity program, applicants had to be city residents earning less than 80 percent of the city average. And they had to either live in a specified high-crime zone for at least 10 of the past 20 years or have been convicted of a cannabis crime in Oakland after Nov. 5, 1996.

The city collected the $3.4 million in cannabis tax revenue by March, according to Greg Minor, an assistant city administrator. But the city must hire a consultant to develop a plan for how to disburse the loans.

On April 20, Minor said, the city solicited bids for that job. No, Im not blowing smoke. This really happened on 4/20, the day people celebrate cannabis culture.

We need to bring that consultant on board and collectively design the most effective way to allocate a limited amount of funds to potentially a large pool of equity applicants, Minor said. We have to find the most effective and equitable way of dividing a limited amount of funds.

Hold your celebration, because that will take much longer than a smoke break. Hopefully, not as long as it took the City Council to hammer out pot regulations.

Minor told me he thinks it will be three to five months before the city starts issuing loans.

The city should have lined up the consultant well before the equity fund reached the $3.4 million mark. Small pot businesses are struggling to get off the ground. Will they be able to hang on, or will they get smoked out by the well-funded ventures circling Oakland with the munchies?

Its no secret that equity businesses needed more than a place at the front of the line.

For most equity businesses, available real estate for them to operate and capital are the two biggest challenges they confront, said Robert Selna, an Oakland land-use attorney who represents marijuana businesses, including equity applicants. And theyre both very significant challenges.

The city dealt with the first challenge by reserving half of cannabis permits for equity applicants.

General applicants who were able to provide 1,000 square feet of free business space to an equity applicant also received preference when applying for permits.

Several equity applicants are relying on financial assistance from Oakland. Some, like Charles Byrd, whose family-run company Ive written about, planned to use the business loan, in part, just to pay state application fees.

What good is a free local permit if you arent able to pay for one from the state?

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.

Darlene Flynn, the director of Oaklands Department of Race and Equity, which is charged with examining racial inequity in Oakland, acknowledged that the citys efforts to help equity applicants havent been perfect.

We wouldve put cash in the front end if we wouldve had cash, Flynn said.

Still, Flynn remains optimistic about the equity programs future.

Weve already got people way farther down the pipeline then they wouldve otherwise been without this program, she said.

True, but some of those peoples businesses might wilt while waiting to be bailed out of the pipeline.

San Francisco Chronicle columnist Otis R. Taylor Jr. appears Mondays and Thursdays. Email: otaylor@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @otisrtaylorjr
For more than a year, Democrats have talked gleefully about the prospect of flipping seven or more GOP-held House seats in California. But now theyre struggling just to get candidates on the November ballot.

California is the land of the top-two primary, and this year its effect is being felt with a vengeance.

In three Orange County congressional districts, theres a real chance Republicans could finish one-two in Tuesdays primary, shutting Democrats out of the November election for what they are convinced are winnable seats.

None of this would be an issue if we didnt have this ridiculous top-two system, said Katie Merrill, a Democratic consultant in Berkeley who is working with Fight Back California to flip those GOP seats. Now were fighting to get a major party candidate into a wide-open election in a competitive district.

It wasnt so long ago when everything seemed so simple for the Democrats.

Chronicle Voter Guide 2018 Chronicle Voter Guide 2018 See our guide to the ballot measures and races that state and local voters will be deciding, including Chronicle endorsements: www.sfchronicle.com/voter-guide See More Collapse

In seven of Californias 14 Republican-held congressional districts, Hillary Clinton beat Donald Trump in the 2016 presidential election. Two veteran GOP officeholders, Reps. Ed Royce of Fullerton (Orange County) and Darrell Issa of Vista (San Diego County), announced that they would retire rather than face bruising re-election battles. Dozens of enthusiastic  and in many cases, wealthy  Democratic candidates jumped in, anxious to show Californias continuing resistance to Trump, his policies and his supporters.

Democratic leaders became so giddy that they even targeted three more Republican districts, each so deeply red that the GOP incumbents have seldom had to talk to Democrats, much less run against them.

But both the political scene and the tone have changed dramatically in recent weeks, with Democrats now looking to lower the sky-high expectations as they struggle to avoid a primary election debacle that could kill the partys hopes of winning the 23 seats nationwide it needs to take back control of the House in November.

Thats welcome news for Republicans, who have been all out to defend their California seats.

National Democrats have made California and especially Southern California the focus of their efforts, but now have spent $7 million to try and avert a disaster, said Jesse Hunt, a spokesman for the National Republican Congressional Committee. They are not in a position of strength.

Dealing with the top-two primary, where the leading vote-getters, regardless of party, move to the fall campaign, is a new experience for the national party, said Drew Godinich of the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee.

If Democrats dont get out to vote, there wont be Democrats on some ballots, he said.

And while voters in those districts might not like Trump, that doesnt mean they have a newly discovered love for Democratic politicians. The GOP still holds a registration edge in most of those districts, and plenty of Democrats there lean conservative rather than progressive.

That GOP tilt is even more dangerous in a primary, when Republicans typically vote in greater proportions than in November elections, which bring out more Democrats.

These are districts where Democrats have never competed; theyre unknown territory for us, Godinich said. Not only were these districts not in play in 2016, no one was even talking about them.

The main struggle now is in and around the longtime GOP bastion of Orange County, where Democrats are doing everything they can to keep Republicans from sweeping Tuesdays primaries.

Were really focused on three districts where were concerned about being locked out, said Merrill, the Democratic consultant. Were doing a lot of stuff to knock some Republicans out and boost some Democrats up.

While the hardball politics may be effective, it isnt always pretty.

One ad by the Democratic committee slams GOP Assemblyman Rocky Chavez of Oceanside (San Diego County), who is running to replace Issa in the 49th District, which straddles the line between San Diego and Orange counties.

The TV spot charges that while Chavez promised he would oppose wasteful spending, he voted for the biggest budget in state history and even voted to raise your gas and energy costs.

What it doesnt say, though, is that the budget the Democrats are maligning was written by Democratic Gov. Jerry Brown and passed by the Democratic-controlled Legislature. The gas and energy cost increases came when Chavez was one of the few Republicans to back Browns effort to extend the states landmark cap-and-trade law to combat climate change.

Republicans Diane Harkey, a member of the state Board of Equalization, and Kristin Gaspar, a San Diego County supervisor, are also running for the seat, but Democrats took on Chavez probably because they didnt like the idea of running against a retired Marine colonel in a district with thousands of retired and active-duty Marines.

Then theres the 48th District in the heart of Orange County, which Democrats  and Republicans  are convinced is the most likely district to put two Republicans in the general election.

While GOP Rep. Dana Rohrabacher of Costa Mesa has represented the district since 1988, the areas changing demographics, along with plenty of unhappiness with the idea of Trump as president, gave Clinton a narrow win there in 2016.

The House race attracted a pair of Democratic novices, Harley Rouda, an attorney working for his familys real estate business, and Hans Keirstead, a medical researcher who runs a biomedical firm. They each raised more than $1.6 million and have spent the money attacking Rohrabacher and each other. Omar Siddiqui, an attorney and engineer with nearly $1 million to spend, also joined the contest, spreading the potential Democratic vote even thinner.

But Rohrabachers well-known eccentricities, combined with his reputation as Russian President Vladimir Putins favorite congressman, began to wear thin with Republicans in the district. Scott Baugh, a former GOP assemblyman who had said he would never run against Rohrabacher, changed his mind and jumped into the race.

With two well-known Republicans running in a district where the GOP has a 40 percent to 30 percent registration advantage, alarm bells began to go off for the Democrats. Just last week, the Democrats House Majority PAC put up a TV ad pointing out a nearly $50,000 fine Baugh paid in 1999 for violations of the states Political Reform Act.

Republicans arent responsible for all the Democrats problems this year. Their own candidates get part of the blame.

In the 39th District, where Royce is retiring, two leading Democrats, Gil Cisneros and Andy Thorburn have raised more than $7 million between them, with Mai-Khanh Tran adding another $1.4 million. Sam Jammal is another well-financed Democrat, making what party leaders see as a worrisome surfeit of candidates.

With that sort of money already being tossed around, none of the candidates is willing to step aside. The internecine attacks became so virulent and personal that Eric Bauman, the state Democratic chairman, was forced to call Cisneros and Thorburn and get them to agree to worry more about beating the Republicans and less about battering each other.

Sara Jacobs campaign

Its a similar situation in the 49th District, where four top-tier and well-funded Democrats  Paul Kerr, Sara Jacobs, Mike Levin and Doug Applegate, who just missed beating Issa two years ago  are matched up against the three GOP officeholders in a race thats viewed as a toss-up.

In these and other districts, Democrats remain convinced that they can oust the GOP incumbents  if they can get past the primary.

The key to winning in November is Democratic turnout in the primary, and there are groups working throughout the state to make sure Democrats turn out, Merrill said.

But the months of nasty back-and-forth have come at a cost, said Thad Kousser, a UC San Diego political science professor who wakes at home each day to an ever-growing stack of partisan mailers.

The damage to democracy is already being done, he said. None of what were hearing is about ideas, but about whos most likely to win.

John Wildermuth is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: jwildermuth@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @jfwildermuth
San Francisco's sky-high rent is triggering another big out-of-state move.

The National Park Service is making plans to relocate its Pacific West Regional Office to Vancouver, Wash., to save nearly $4 million annually in rent and lower employee salaries.

Park Service spokesperson Andrew Munoz said in a statement the agency made an official request to Congress to relocate from a leased commercial space in the Financial District to a vacant building it owns at Fort Vancouver National Historic Site.

About 150 people work in the office at 333 Bush St., where rent costs $2 million a year. The office overseeing 60 parks in eight states has been at this location since 2011 and the current 10-year lease expires in 2021.

ALSO: National Park Service drops plan for $40 fee hike  $5 instead

Employees in San Francisco were told on May 29 to expect a move, though a specific date hasn't been provided.

"This is under consideration as part of the development of the reprogramming package to Congress," Munoz said.

It's unknown how many of the 150 employees will relocate; the park service estimates the reduced salaries and benefits costs will save about $1.8 million a year.

"We have struggled with recruitment in San Francisco for years due to the high cost of living," said Stan Austin, the region's director, in a staff memo obtained by KQED.

SFGATE reached out to the National Park Service for this story and will provide more details on the move when we here back.
Sonoma County detectives pored over surveillance video and cell phone records to identify two suspects in the violent sexual assault of a woman who was attacked after getting into what she thought was a ride-hailing car.

Fredi Analberto Lopez-Flores, 33, of Novato and Christian Alejandro May Quintero, 24, of Sonoma were arrested this weekend in connection with the April 14 incident.

Investigators spent 2,000 hours and served 20 search warrants to identify and arrest the suspects, who allegedly targeted a 24-year-old woman after she left a San Francisco bar and attempted to use a ride-hailing service to get home.

Instead, the woman got into an unknown vehicle and the driver took her to Sonoma, where she was beaten, choked and sexually assaulted by two men, according to the Sonoma County Sheriffs Office.

Investigators dont believe the suspects were associated with a ride-hailing service.

Detectives reviewed hours of surveillance video from businesses and bridge cameras, identifying when the victim crossed the Golden Gate Bridge from her cell phone data.

From the videos, investigators identified a distinct black Dodge Magnum car with a blue neon license plate light and issued a flyer with a picture of a suspect and the car description to local law enforcement agencies.

A Novato police officer recognized the suspect and the car from a recent, unrelated arrest and identified Lopez-Flores.

That lead provided authorities with the information necessary to obtain a search warrant for the suspects phone records, which indicated Lopez-Flores was in San Francisco and in the immediate area of the bar when the woman reportedly entered the car.

He was arrested on Friday on a $2 million warrant.

Quintero was arrested Saturday after detectives served a search warrant on his home, where physical evidence of the crime was located, investigators said.

The suspects found the woman standing on the corner of Stanyan Street and Fulton Street in San Francisco, waiting for a ride on the morning of April 14 when Lopez-Flores drove up next to her, said Sgt. Spencer Crum, a sheriffs spokesman. She had actually taken a ride share from Brunos Bar in the Mission District to this location accidentally and was waiting for a second ride share to get her home.

According to investigators, Quintero violently beat and attacked the victim all the way to Sonoma and then in a Safeway parking lot once there.

At the parking lot, Lopez-Flores walked to a gas station and bought a condom and then returned to the car, where he sexually assaulted the woman, officials said.

The woman was able to escape shortly before 5 a.m., and was assisted by a Safeway employee. She sustained visible injuries to her face and neck, Crum said in a description of the investigation.

Lopez-Flores has been charged with eight felony counts related to the incident and is being held in the Sonoma County jail on $2 million bond.

Quintero has been charged with nine felony counts and is being held without bail.

Jill Tucker is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: jtucker@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @jilltucker
California Highway Patrol /

A 32-year-old woman died early Monday after driving the wrong direction on Interstate 680 and crashing into the center divider in Walnut Creek, authorities said.

Officers responded just after 1:30 a.m. to the area of Livorna Road after receiving reports of a 2003 Mitsubishi Galant traveling northbound on the southbound lanes of the interstate, according to the California Highway Patrol. By the time officers found the driver, she had already crashed into the concrete divider, CHP said.
Regina Bateson had just finished an Easter egg hunt with her children on April 1 when her phone started buzzing. Take a look at Facebook, messages from her friends and colleagues urged.

Bateson, a Democrat running for Congress in the California primary Tuesday, quickly opened up the social network. There, she saw what appeared to be a news article that painted her as underhandedly trying to torpedo the campaign of a rival Democratic candidate. When Bateson clicked through the article, she was directed to a Facebook page run by Sierra Nevada Revolution, a local progressive group she had clashed with in the past.

The article was not a news story, she found, but a political ad paid for by Sierra Nevada Revolution. And while Facebook rolled out new rules on April 6 mandating that campaign ads be clearly labeled and say who had purchased them, Sierra Nevada Revolutions ad about Bateson continued to be targeted to local voters throughout that month without any of those disclosures.

It was a perfectly targeted negative campaign ad, but the average person had no idea who had really written it or what their motivations were, said Bateson, 35, who is running in the Fourth Congressional District, a mountainous stretch of land between Sequoia National Forest and Lake Tahoe. She said she was frustrated by Facebooks inability to label the so-called article as a political ad.

Batesons experience underscores Facebooks difficulties as it tries to prevent manipulation of its ad system in elections, especially as the midterms loom in November. While the Menlo Park company has introduced several measures to improve the transparency of political ads, some groups and individuals appear to be finding ways to flout the new restrictions  and Facebook has not been able to catch them.

That raises questions about whether there are other gaps. Apart from improving transparency of political ads, Facebook has announced that it will not run a campaign ad in the United States unless it verifies the advertiser through a Social Security number, that it will keep a public archive of all political ads so they are easily searchable and that it has added a paid for label atop campaign ads so users can get more information.

Paul Smith, the administrator of Sierra Nevada Revolutions Facebook page, said that despite Facebooks efforts, he was able to place other political ads  some about Bateson and some about other issues  without labeling them. He didnt say how many.

There is another potential loophole in Facebooks rules. It appears that one person can go through the verification process and then give the account to someone else. Smith, for instance, said that while Facebook had authenticated him as a political advertiser, he later handed over control of Sierra Nevada Revolutions account to others. That meant others could have used his Facebook verification to post political ads without the social networks knowing it was not him.

They dont know we are five people running it, or however many, Smith said in a phone interview. Its also not consistent. Occasionally, we slip a political ad by Facebook because its not flagged.

Rob Leathern, Facebooks director of product management, said he was grateful that the New York Times had brought the actions of Sierra Nevada Revolution to the companys attention. We are looking into it because its against our policies to share passwords or give someone else access to a persons Facebook account, he said, adding, We use signals such as two-factor authentication to detect and prevent this type of abuse, but steps like these wont stop every attempt to game the system.

The Fourth District race has received national attention because four Democrats are running to oust Rep. Tom McClintock, a five-term Republican. Batesons main rival is Jessica Morse, who previously worked for the State Department and other agencies. Both are campaigning for office for the first time. McClintock has said he believes that his seat is safe.

To run, Bateson, who grew up in Roseville, took a leave of absence last year from her job as a political-science professor at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. She moved from Boston back to her hometown, which is just outside Sacramento, with her husband, Vivek Krishnamurthy, who is a lawyer, and their three children. Bateson is running on a platform that includes protection of the Affordable Care Act.

Sierra Nevada Revolution, which is facing a complaint to the Federal Election Commission over its failure to register as a political organization, clashed with Bateson starting in March when the group endorsed Morse. It attacked Bateson for having challenged Morses credentials this year.

The group often posted its criticism of Bateson on Facebook. Smith said he was in control of the account when it posted its first ad blasting her, adding that he spent more than $3,000 of his own money on that ad and others.

That first ad, which Facebook did not designate as a political ad, was titled, Lose by any means necessary. It accused Bateson of running a scorched-earth campaign and helping the Republican candidate by turning on her fellow Democrats.

Another Sierra Nevada Revolution ad, which ran on Facebook on May 26 and mentioned Bateson and other topics, did not say who had paid for it, as required. Facebook said that it had made a mistake and that the ad was removed before being republished later with the correct label.

In total, Sierra Nevada Revolution ran 29 Facebook ads in May aimed at swaying peoples votes in Californias primary, according to Facebooks ad archive.

Bateson said that her own campaign was not verified as a political advertiser by Facebook and had filled out the paperwork only in recent weeks. Her campaign was working with an outside digital advertising firm to run ads on Facebook.

But she worried that it would be too little, too late  especially since others have already made a mark through political Facebook ads that were not properly labeled.

Here we are with people already voting by mail in the primaries, and we see serious problems with their system, Bateson said of the social network. We see that someone from here with local knowledge of our election can use Facebook to really influence people.

Sheera Frenkel is a New York Times writer.
After nearly 40 years and an overhaul of the coffee industry as the world knows it, Howard Schultz is stepping down from his post at Starbucks.

Starbucks announced the decision Monday, with Schultz scheduled to bow out from his position on June 26.

Schultz, who transitioned from CEO to executive chairman in April 2017, helped grow Starbucks into the global household name it is today. Schultz's tenure saw Starbucks grow from 11 stores around Seattle to more than 28,000 stores in 77 countries.

The Seattle-based coffee chain also announced that they would be appointing Myron E. Ullman, the former chairman of JCPenney, as its new chair of the board, and Mellody Hobson as vice chair of the board effective upon Schultz's retirement.

According to the New York Times, Schultz outlined his plan to retire to the Starbucks board a year ago  stoking speculation that he plans to make a presidential run for the 2020 elections. Schultz has been vocal about his distaste for President Donald Trump, stating last year that Trump is "a president that is creating episodic chaos every day."

"I want to be truthful with you without creating more speculative headlines," he told The New York Times. "For some time now, I have been deeply concerned about our country  the growing division at home and our standing in the world.

"One of the things I want to do in my next chapter is to figure out if there is a role I can play in giving back."

RELATED: Read Howard Schultz' retirement letter to employees

Schultz declined to say much more on the matter, noting only that he intended to "think about a range of options, and that could include public service," but that he didn't need to run for public office to accomplish that.

Among that range of options, Starbucks says Schultz will have the honorary title of chairman emeritus as of June 26. It says he is writing a book about Starbucks' social impact efforts.

His time with the company dates back to 1981, when he walked into the first Starbucks store in downtown Seattle. The next year, he and his wife moved from New York to assume the role of director of operations and marketing, where he famously changed the chain to be more in line with the coffee bars he encountered in Italy.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.
With Tesla in trouble, some investors think its time to shake up the board of directors.

Shareholders will vote Tuesday on whether to dump three directors and replace Elon Musk as board chairman.

Few, if any, expect the votes to pass. In past years, shareholders have overwhelmingly supported the company against activists. And Musk owns 21.9 percent of Tesla voting shares.

But some advocates  concerned about a lack of independent voices on the board  expect the number of dump votes will be big enough to make waves and force Musk and Tesla to pay more attention to investor concerns.

I dont know if anyone will be voted out of office, said Kern McPherson, senior director of North American research at corporate governance advisory group Glass Lewis. But I think theres a very good chance that Tesla will have to respond to elevated vote against levels.

Glass Lewis is advising shareholders to vote no for three Tesla board members up for re-election: 21st Century Fox CEO James Murdoch; venture capitalist Antonio Gracias; and Musks younger brother, Kimbal.

The firm also backs a nonbinding resolution to appoint an independent board chairman to replace Musk, with Musk keeping his job as chief executive.

Tesla declined to comment or make board members available. Extensive company comments can be found in the proxy statement covering the issue.

The campaign to reform the board was spearheaded by CtW Investment Group, a specialist in managing union-sponsored pension funds. In a written argument to shareholders, CtW said Teslas strategic and operational challenges and deteriorating financial performance warrant a major change on the board of directors, and the board has been unduly deferential toward Musk.

The companys financial position has deteriorated along every dimension, CtW said. Indeed, the company has posted only two profitable quarters in its 14-year history, and lately losses have deepened.

Model 3 production problems are the prime cause of Teslas financial distress. Musk himself regards the all-electric sedan, which first went on sale in July 2017, as crucial to the companys success or failure.

Musk had forecast an annual production level of about 400,000 Model 3s by now, but Tesla is struggling to achieve a quarter of that. Capital spending was set to support 400,000 cars, but revenues have fallen far short of projections, so the companys cash-burn rate is rising with no earnings available for replenishment.

Musk promises profits in the years second half, and he rejects the notion that Tesla will need to raise new equity or debt in 2018. Tesla has said in government filings that the board is focused on the companys long-term performance.

The concerns raised by CtW and shareholder advisers boil down to two main issues: whether the boards independent directors are truly independent, and whether Murdoch and Musk are so busy with other matters that they cant devote sufficient time and energy to Tesla at a crucial stage in the companys history.

It is important that the board of directors take steps to ensure that management remains focused on resolving the manufacturing challenges, and that the CEO and other executives do not get distracted by outside business interests or Twitter fights, said shareholder adviser Institutional Shareholder Services in a report to clients.

Institutional Shareholder Services opposes re-election of Murdoch and Gracias, but supports Kimbal Musk. The firm recommends a yes vote on removing Elon Musk as chairman. That proposal was put forth by shareholder activist Jing Zhao, who told the Los Angeles Times, I believe a big company cannot depend totally and so heavily on one person.

Musk is a longtime tweeter; his Twitter account serves as Teslas main marketing channel. His tweet volume has increased dramatically  quadrupling over the last month, according to an analysis by the Quartz website  and his tweets have become more vituperative as he battles with critics over allegations about worker safety at his factory, the safety of his Autopilot software and other issues.

Add to that his launch or proposal of new businesses offering everything from flamethrowers to journalism ratings, and CtW accused the board of failing to contain Musks peripatetic focus. (Merriam-Webster defines peripatetic as someone who journeys hither and thither.)

Musks existing roles include chairman and chief executive at Tesla; chairman and chief executive of rocket-maker SpaceX; chief executive of Neuralink, a developer of brain-computer interfaces; and founder of Boring Co., a tunnel transportation company (which also sells the flamethrowers to raise money).

Supporters point out that the Musk mystique is a primary driver of investor enthusiasm and a big reason Teslas market value is nearly $50 billion.

The Tesla board issued a joint statement defending Musks dual role, saying in part: The board believes that the companys success to date would not have been possible if the board was led by another director lacking Elon Musks day-to-day exposure to the companys business.

Fox CEO Murdoch also is accused of spreading himself too thin, to Teslas detriment. ISS said it considers three boards the most anyone can sit on and sufficiently contribute to the company. Murdoch sits on four: Tesla, Fox, News Corp. and Sky.

A CEO cannot reasonably be expected to balance the responsibilities of serving on more than three public boards while also fulfilling full-time executive duties, ISS told clients.

Russ Mitchell is a Los Angeles Times writer.
Microsoft has agreed to acquire GitHub, the San Francisco code repository company popular with many software developers, and could announce the deal as soon as Monday, according to people familiar with the matter.

GitHub preferred selling the company to going public and chose Microsoft partially because it was impressed by Chief Executive Officer Satya Nadella, said one of the people, who asked not to be identified discussing private information. Terms of the agreement werent known Sunday. GitHub was last valued at $2 billion in 2015.

The acquisition provides a way forward for GitHub, which has been trying for nine months to find a new CEO and has yet to make a profit from its popular service that allows coders to share and collaborate on their work. It also helps Microsoft, which is increasingly relying on open-source software, to add programming tools and tie up with a company that has become a key part of the way Microsoft writes its own software.

Frank Shaw, a spokesman for Microsoft, declined to comment. GitHub didnt return an email requesting a comment.

GitHub is an essential tool for coders. Many corporations, including Microsoft and Google, use GitHub to store their corporate code and to collaborate. Its also a social network of sorts for developers, who post projects there both to share with peers and to display their software prowess to potential partners and employers. While GitHubs losses have been significant  it lost $66 million over three quarters in 2016  it had revenue of $98 million in nine months of that year.

In August, GitHub announced that it was looking for a CEO to replace Chris Wanstrath, one of the companys co-founders. In the interim, GitHubs Chief Business Officer Julio Avalos joined the companys board of directors and took over much of the day-to-day leadership of the company.

Microsoft has talked to GitHub on and off for a few years. Recently they began talks about a partnership but progressed to discussing an acquisition, according to another person familiar with the situation.

GitHub hosts 27 million software developers working on 80 million repositories of code. Microsoft, once opposed to that kind of open-source software development, is now one if the biggest contributors to GitHub. As Nadella increasingly moves the company away from complete dependence on the Windows operating system to more in-house development on Linux, the company needs new ways to connect with the broader developer community.

Business Insider first reported talks between the companies on Friday.

Dina Bass and Eric Newcomer are Bloomberg writers. Email: dbass2@bloomberg.net, enewcomer@bloomberg.net
The software-development world was rocked on Monday when Microsoft said its acquiring San Franciscos GitHub, a popular online service for sharing and collaborating on code. While some programmers think the news is terrific, others say its terrifying.

Their fear comes from a very real historical clash between open-source coders, who freely post and share their work, and Microsoft, which became one of the worlds largest companies by selling proprietary software and fiercely protecting its technology. In 2001, a Windows executive called open source an intellectual-property destroyer, and hinted that it went against the American Way of doing business. Former CEO Steve Ballmer called it a cancer.

The Microsoft of today, which is focused on cloud computing and has forged new partnerships under CEO Satya Nadella, is far different from the open-source-hostile one of years past. But not all software developers have noticed the shift, and not everyone trusts the company that was once a central antagonist to the types of developers who congregate on GitHub.

Microsoft has a very long history of abusing its position vis-a-vis open source and other companies, wrote coder Jacques Mattheij in a blog post after the agreement was reported. He also said he deleted his GitHub account. Im sure youll be able to tell Im a cranky old guy by looking up the dates to some of these references, but new boss, same as the old boss applies as far as Im concerned. Yes, the new boss is a nicer guy but its the same corporate entity.

Microsoft is buying GitHub for $7.5 billion in stock. In a measure that should reassure some worried GitHub users, the company will remain independent, and plans to support development in various programming languages with a range of tools  and will enable that code to be run on various operating systems, from Microsoft or its rivals. And many developers who want GitHub to succeed have acknowledged that the 10-year-old company needed a lifeline. Before the deal was announced, the company had been searching for a new CEO for nine months and had yet to turn a profit.

Still, others have taken to Twitter to express their unease, posting threats to switch from GitHub to rival products as well as jokes and memes protesting the platforms new corporate master.

It totally makes sense that people would be skeptical, said Chris Wanstrath, GitHub co-founder and outgoing CEO, in an interview. I, a couple of years ago, would never have imagined this deal happening. Microsofts actions in the past few years have shown their commitment to open-source developers, he said.

Other coders were similarly pleased. Guillermo Rauch, a GitHub user and cloud-software startup executive, tweeted that the deal is one of the best things to happen to Open Source.

GitHubs users accepting Microsoft is a very critical element, Microsofts Nadella said in an interview on Bloomberg TV. Well have to earn the trust, he said. Our actions from the recent past should reassure every developer of what Microsofts intent is.

Back in the early 2000s, as open-source software gained popularity, Microsoft was its biggest opponent. The company tried to pry away customers who ran their corporate networks on open-source operating system Linux with tactics ranging from price cuts to fear-mongering over the notion that the software could be vulnerable to patent-infringement suits.

In Ballmers later years as CEO, the company began to soften its stance. Ballmer dispatched a key lieutenant to a Linux conference in 2004 to take questions  clad in a flak jacket  and later struck a deal with Oracle that involved making that companys version of Linux available through Microsofts cloud software.

But it was Nadella who sped up open-source compatibility and product development at Microsoft. The companys Azure cloud lets customers host a variety of Linux workloads, and a large percentage of Azure customers do exactly that. Microsoft has open-sourced some of its Visual Studio developer tools code through GitHub, and has done the same for some of its cloud services. In April, Microsoft introduced a product for securing systems for connected devices  known as the internet of things  that runs a homegrown version of Linux rather than Windows.

Now we are all-in on open source, Nadella said on Monday.

Plenty of developers arent quite ready to trust the software giant. GitHub rival GitLab of San Francisco is trying to capitalize on this uncertainty, tweeting about how many developers are moving their code repositories to its network.

I think its a no-brainer that if you start today you should start on GitLab, said GitLab CEO Sid Sijbrandij. Not because GitHub is owned by Microsoft but because its a fundamentally different and better product. Still, he said competing with Microsoft will be tough.

As for Microsoft, its asking concerned coders to give it a chance.

We ask that developers judge us by our actions  both our recent actions over the last several years of working with developers, working in open source, and by our actions going forward, said Nat Friedman, the Microsoft executive who will become CEO of GitHub. We think the principles weve set up of openness, of developer-first and of independence, are the right principles for GitHub to continue to grow and to continue to deserve the trust that developers place in it today.

Dina Bass and Eric Newcomer are Bloomberg writers. Email: dbass2@bloomberg.net, enewcomer@bloomberg.net
Its been a long three years since Jon Stewart signed off as host of The Daily Show. And hes well aware.

Closing out the last night of the second annual Comedy Central Presents Clusterfest in San Francisco on Sunday, June 3, the comedian and political satirist took jabs at himself for his appearance since leaving TV (You know the saying black dont crack? Jews age like avocados.). But he primarily delivered what his longtime fans came hoping to see: a thoughtful commentary on todays politics.

Since he turned over the reins to his show to new host Trevor Noah, who headlined the first night of the three-day comedy and music festival, Stewart has largely stayed out of the spotlight, quietly working on opening an animal sanctuary with his wife, Tracey. But a week ahead of a co-headlining tour with Dave Chappelle, Stewart debuted a new set at Clusterfests outdoor stage facing San Franciscos City Hall in his biggest West Coast performance in more than a decade.

He didnt disappoint. Stewart reeled into political topics  particularly President Trump  in an 80-minute set (it wrapped 25 minutes after advertised, a stark contrast to Saturdays headliner Amy Schumer, who ended nearly 30 minutes before the festivals 11 p.m. curfew). He defended Full Frontal host Samantha Bee, who had been a Daily Show correspondent for over a decade, for delivering a profanity-laden joke on her show that included calling Trumps daughter Ivanka a c.

You will not find a kinder, smarter, more lovely person than Sam Bee, he said. If she called someone a c,  it takes a lot to get (Bees) ire.

Stewart backed up Bee by recounting an incident in 2015 where Trump had, several times over the course of a couple of weeks, tweeted that Stewart was overrated and a fraud because he used the stage name Stewart over his family name, Leibowitz. The story, which hes recounted before, ends with Trump calling Stewart a pussy, which Stewart points out is, in essence, what Bee called Ivanka Trump on her show.

I expect my apology in the morning, Donald Trump, he said, pointing out the irony in the presidents demand for an apology from Bee. You can deliver it on the Twitter machine.

But Stewart waxed more seriously about the state of America as well, evoking the poignancy of some Daily Show-era musings. He recalled his own ignorance of sexism years earlier and how he came to terms with it, and challenged the audience to address their own.

More Information Catch up on what you missed at Clusterfest 2018: www.sfchronicle.com/entertainment See More Collapse

(Did my friends) endorse someone tacitly racist? he wondered about some of his Trump-supporting friends and family. Probably. But what do you do? Hows that iPhone? Who made that chicken sandwich? Even woke people have to sleep sometimes.

But despite hitting on other serious themes with depth  gun control, the Middle East, religion, the difficulties of raising children  Stewart didnt want to leave the city on a down note.

With everything going on, theres the tendency to feel the dark times dont get better, he added. But its a pendulum. If it continues in this pattern, our next president is Janelle Monae. It gets better.

Alyssa Pereira is an SFGate staff writer. Email her at apereira@sfchronicle.com or find her on Twitter at @alyspereira.
BIRMINGHAM, Ala.  It took generations to erect all the nations Confederate monuments, and a new report shows theyre being removed at a pace of about three each month.

The study  released Monday by the Southern Poverty Law Center  shows that 110 Confederate monuments have been removed nationwide since 2015, when a shooting at a black church in South Carolina energized a movement against such memorials.

The number  which includes schools and roads that have been renamed in California, a repurposed Confederate holiday in Georgia, plus rebel flags and monuments that have been taken down in Alabama, Louisiana and elsewhere  represents a relative handful compared with the more than 1,700 memorials that remain to hail the Southern lost cause.

But the change is notable considering that removing such memorials wasnt widely discussed until the killing of nine black people at Emanuel AME Church in Charleston, S.C., said Heidi Beirich of the Southern Poverty Law Center, a liberal activist organization based in Montgomery that monitors extremism. White supremacist Dylann Roof has been sentenced to death for the 2015 attack.

After the Charleston shooting, photos surfaced of Roof posing with the Confederate battle flag, helping to change the national dialogue.

I think people are finally willing to confront the history and come to terms with it, said Beirich.

Many of the Confederate monuments that are now controversial were erected in the early 1900s by groups composed of women and veterans. Some honor generals or soldiers; others bear inscriptions that critics say wrongly gloss over slavery as a reason for the war or portray the Confederate cause as noble.

The Old South monuments are supported by groups including the Sons of Confederate Veterans, which is erecting new memorials even as others are removed.

Theyre taking them down, and were putting them up, said Thomas Strain Jr., commander in chief of the organization.

Jay Reeves is an Associated Press writer.
WASHINGTON  Whistle-blower or traitor, leaker or public hero?

National Security Agency contractor Edward Snowden blew the lid off U.S. government surveillance methods five years ago, but intelligence chiefs complain that revelations from the trove of classified documents he disclosed are still trickling out.

That includes recent reporting on a mass surveillance program run by close U.S. ally Japan and on how the NSA targeted bitcoin users to gather intelligence to support counterterrorism and to combat narcotics and money laundering. The Intercept, an investigative publication with access to Snowden documents, published stories on both subjects.

The top U.S. counterintelligence official said journalists have released only about 1 percent of the material taken by the 34-year-old American, now living in exile in Russia, so we dont see this issue ending anytime soon.

This past year, we had more international, Snowden-related documents and breaches than ever, Bill Evanina, who directs the National Counterintelligence and Security Center, said at a recent conference. Since 2013, when Snowden left, there have been thousands of articles around the world with really sensitive stuff thats been leaked.

On June 5, 2013, the Guardian in Britain published the first story based on Snowdens disclosures. It revealed that a secret court order was allowing the U.S. government to get Verizon to share the phone records of millions of Americans. Later stories, including those in the Washington Post, disclosed other snooping and how U.S. and British spy agencies had accessed information from cables carrying the worlds telephone and internet traffic.

Snowdens defenders maintain that the U.S. government has for years exaggerated the damage his disclosures caused. Glenn Greenwald, an Intercept co-founder and former journalist at the Guardian, said there are thousands upon thousands of documents that journalists have chosen not to publish because they would harm peoples reputation or privacy rights or because it would expose legitimate surveillance programs.

Its been almost five years since newspapers around the world began reporting on the Snowden archive and the NSA has offered all kinds of shrill and reckless rhetoric about the damage it has caused, but never any evidence of a single case of a life being endangered let alone harmed, Greenwald said.

U.S. intelligence officials say they are still counting the cost of the disclosures that went beyond actual intelligence collected to how it was collected. Evanina said intelligence agencies are finishing their seventh classified assessment of the damage.

Joel Melstad, a spokesman for the counterintelligence center, said Snowden-disclosed documents have put U.S. personnel or facilities at risk around the world, damaged intelligence collection efforts, exposed tools used to amass intelligence, destabilized U.S. partnerships abroad and exposed U.S. intelligence operations, capabilities and priorities.

Moscow has resisted U.S. pressure to extradite Snowden, who faces U.S. charges that could land him in prison for up to 30 years.

Deb Riechmann is an Associated Press writer.
1 Drownings: A man and his 5-year-old daughter drowned in the San Joaquin River near Mendota, authorities said. The Fresno County Sheriffs Office said a dive team was dispatched Saturday after the 30-year-old father and the girl disappeared in the river. The man may have been trying to save his daughter after she fell in, said sheriffs Lt. Frances Devins. They were not immediately identified.

2 Fire threat: Some mandatory evacuation orders have been lifted near a Southern California brushfire. The Orange County Fire Authority said the blaze that began Saturday in Aliso Woods Canyon grew to about 150 acres. Residents were allowed to return to more than 2,000 homes in Aliso Viejo, but residents of some Laguna Beach neighborhoods remained under evacuation orders Sunday. Two minor firefighter injuries were reported.
About a dozen people are trapped by lava from the Kilauea volcano, and "there's no way for them to get out," according to Hawaiian officials.

Island News KITV reported Monday that the entire Kapoho community has been cut off completely by the lava flows, which have incinerated homes, farms and highways.
REDDING  U.S. investigators concluded in a report Monday that the superintendent of a popular federal park in Northern California improperly solicited funds for a nonprofit organization.

The U.S. Department of Interior Inspector Generals Office also found that Jim Milestone violated park regulations and policies while in charge of Whiskeytown National Recreation Area near Redding.

Milestone has been Whiskeytowns superintendent for 17 years. The large reservoir popular with boaters and anglers is 160 miles north of Sacramento.

Investigators found that Milestone improperly ordered subordinates to work on projects with the nonprofit group Friends of Whiskeytown, which supports the park. They also said he wore his uniform and improperly solicited donations from businesses to benefit the same group.

Milestone did not respond to emails sent to his government address and through Facebook.

National Park Service spokesman Andrew Munoz said Milestone has been assigned to a non-supervisory role outside the park while administrators mull possible discipline.

The Interior Department started the investigation last year after receiving a complaint that Milestone was fundraising for the nonprofit organization while on duty and in uniform.

The department said it is illegal for government officials to raise funds in that fashion, even for an organization such as the Friends of Whiskeytown that supports park activities and projects through private donations.

During the investigation, Milestone was also found to have ignored regulations and policies requiring him to consult with American Indian tribes over concerns that a planned hiking path would desecrate land sacred to tribes.

Investigators also concluded Milestone displayed unprofessional conduct with sexual innuendos and demeaning comments about employees looks.

Finally, investigators said Milestone used a government vehicle for personal errands.
 Many hundreds of federal prisoners surely thrilled by Hughes, but thousands surely disappointed by Koons | Main | Noticing a shrinking (but still functioning) death penalty in Georgia 

June 4, 2018

Calling Professor Pfaff: Attorney General Sessions announces 311 new Assistant United States Attorney positions

Though there are many elements and nuances to the teachings of Professor John Pfaff, I think of him first and foremost for the notion that, when concerned about modern mass incarceration, we all ought to pay a lot more attention to the role and work of prosecutors and ought to focus a lot more on how we handle violent crime and criminals. Thus, I could not help but think of the fine Professor upon seeing this official press release today from the Department of Justice.

Here is the press release's full title: "On the 500th Day of the Trump Administration, Attorney General Sessions Announces 311 New Assistant United States Attorney Positions: Largest Increase in AUSAs in Decades Allocates Prosecutors to Focus on Violent Crime, Civil Enforcement, and Immigration Crimes." Here is its full text:

Today, on the 500th day of the Trump Administration, Attorney General Jeff Sessions announced that the Department of Justice is taking a dramatic step to increase resources to combat violent crime, enforce our immigration laws, and help roll back the devastating opioid crisis. In the largest increase in decades, the Department of Justice is allocating 311 new Assistant United States Attorneys to assist in priority areas. Those allocations are as follows: 190 violent crime prosecutors, 86 civil enforcement prosecutors, and 35 additional immigration prosecutors. Many of the civil enforcement AUSAs will support the newly created Prescription Interdiction & Litigation Task Force which targets the opioid crisis at every level of the distribution system.



"Under President Trump's strong leadership, the Department of Justice is going on offense against violent crime, illegal immigration, and the opioid crisis  and today we are sending in reinforcements," said Attorney General Jeff Sessions. "We have a saying in my office that a new federal prosecutor is 'the coin of the realm.' When we can eliminate wasteful spending, one of my first questions to my staff is if we can deploy more prosecutors to where they are needed. I have personally worked to re-purpose existing funds to support this critical mission, and as a former federal prosecutor myself, my expectations could not be higher. These exceptional and talented prosecutors are key leaders in our crime fighting partnership. This addition of new Assistant U.S. Attorney positions represents the largest increase in decades."

The statements that this is the largest increase in federal prosecutors in decades leads me to wonder, based largely on Professor Pfaff's work, if this personnel development may be more consequential to defining the future size and composition of the federal prison population than any statutory sentencing reform and prison reform bills being considered in Congress.

June 4, 2018 at 05:41 PM | Permalink

Comments

Your failed profession is prosecuting 1 in 10 common law crimes, fewer federal crimes, and a microscopic fraction of modern crime on the internet. Your profession truly stinks. These appointments are a sad and ridiculous spit into the ocean.



I am not going to repeat the real solution to ending all crimes. None of the rent seeking biased lawyers here want to hear it.

Posted by: David Behar | Jun 4, 2018 6:36:57 PM

Let me introduce a historical note. The proximate cause of the Civil War was the fugitive slave act and the insult that the Northerns felt having slaves rounded up on their territory by federal officers. At some point in time immigration has the possibility of being such a flash point when the desire of some liberal states to protect immigrants under the auspices of sanctuary cities runs into the federal governments desire to arrest those some immigrants and deport them. For the most part this hasn't been a big issue because the biggest influx of immigrants have tended to come in conservative states. But NM is highly likely to switch from red to blue and with Trump in the White House CA seems posed to make more noise as well. So times could get very interesting along the southern border.

Posted by: Just passing by | Jun 4, 2018 6:46:21 PM

Well, an interesting note on Texas, which shares the longest border with Mexico in the US. The three new ASUAs are in the Northern and Eastern Districts, which have no border jurisdiction. And while that doesn't necessarily correlate to anything, it is fairly well-known and accepted that the Southern and Western Districts, especially the latter, which encompasses most of the border, are heavily burdened with criminal cases.

Knowing the disingenuousness of Sessions and his retrograde thoughts on crime, these are probably mostly civil AUSAs (to handle more forfeiture!).

Posted by: Fat Bastard | Jun 4, 2018 7:21:03 PM

Will there be a corresponding increase in AFPD positions?

Posted by: Career AFPD | Jun 5, 2018 9:05:36 AM

I wonder if these are hires to fill vacancies. It was not that long ago that there were resignations and firings.

Posted by: John Neff | Jun 5, 2018 10:25:07 AM

Post a comment
The edict No. 81/2018/ND-CP rules that companies and educational institutions are not allowed to launch sale promotion under the form of free-of-charge samples, providing free services as well as provide discount to consumers or sell commodities with vouchers.







By CHE HAN  Translated by ANH QUAN
With the increase, the carrier will provide a total of 4.5 million seats, up 13.4 per cent more than normal and 6 per cent compared to last year, and operate more than 470 flights per day on peak days.



The domestic routes to benefit from this program are Hanoi/HCM City- Da Lat/Nha Trang/Phu Quoc

The carrier encourages passengers to purchase tickets early, make the earlier planning of the journey and to do online check-in to avoid long queues and waits, and shorten the processing time when the airport is overcrowded because of high travel.





By BICH QUYEN  Translated by Kim Khanh
After 2,000 hours of investigation in nine counties, the Sonoma County Sheriff's Office has arrested two North Bay men on suspicion of sexually assaulting a San Francisco woman in a vehicle in April.



The suspects, identified as Fredi Analberto Lopez-Flores, 33, of Novato, and Christian Alejandro May Quintero, 24, of Sonoma, allegedly encountered the woman as she waited for a ride-hailing company driver to pick her up at Stanyan and Fulton streets in San Francisco on April 14.



The woman initially had taken a ride from Bruno's, a bar in the city, by another ride provider but had accidentally entered Stanyan and Fulton streets as her destination, sheriff's spokesman Sgt. Spencer Crum said.



"She became nervous when it appeared the car was heading in the wrong direction and she got out of the car and called another ride provider," Crum said.



Lopez-Flores pulled up next to the woman, then Quintero got out of the Dodge and forced her into the back seat. As Lopez-Flores drove to Sonoma, Quintero allegedly beat and attacked the woman in the car. Neither man worked for a ride-hailing company, Crum said.



Quintero allegedly continued the sexual assault and attack that included choking when they arrived at a shopping center in Sonoma across from a Safeway store. Lopez-Flores walked to a gas station, bought a condom and sexually assaulted the woman in the back seat, according to Crum.



The woman eventually escaped around 5 a.m. with the help of a Safeway employee.



Sheriff's detectives reviewed hours of surveillance video from businesses and bridge cameras in the Bay Area. Included in the video was a male seen entering a gas station across the street from the Sonoma crime scene and purchasing a condom, Crum said.



Detectives wrote and served search warrants, including a warrant for the woman's cellphone that provided the approximate time the woman crossed the Golden Gate Bridge, Crum said.



Video from a Golden Gate Bridge camera showed a black Dodge Magnum with a blue neon license plate light. The Dodge with the blue neon light also was seen on cameras at businesses in Sonoma, Crum said.



Detectives sent out a flier with a picture of the Dodge with the blue light to law enforcement agencies, and a Novato police officer recognized the vehicle from an unrelated arrest that entailed towing Lopez-Flores' car, Crum said.



Detectives wrote a search warrant for data from Lopez-Flores' cellphone company, and records indicated Lopez-Flores was in the area of San Francisco where the woman was forced into the vehicle on the morning of April 14 and at the time she arrived in Sonoma, Crum said.



Detectives got a $2 million warrant for Lopez-Flores' arrest, and he was arrested Friday in San Rafael where he worked, Crum said. Investigators determined that Lopez-Flores was with Quintero, who lives a block away from assault scene in Sonoma, on the morning of the assault.



Physical evidence of the assault was found during a search of Quintero's home, and he was arrested Saturday at the Sonoma car wash where he worked, Crum said.



Both men were booked into Sonoma County Jail on suspicion of numerous sex and assault offenses. Quintero also was booked for attempted murder by choking, Crum said.



They are scheduled to be arraigned in Sonoma County Superior Court on Tuesday afternoon.





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SAN FRANCISCO (BCN)



A 28-year-old man walked into a hospital after being shot in San Francisco's Mission District on Friday night, police said.



The shooting was reported at 8:42 p.m. Friday. The victim said he was walking on the street in the area of Folsom and 21st streets when someone shot him, according to police.



The injuries from the shooting are not considered life-threatening.



No arrest has been made in the case and no suspect information was immediately available from police.





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ALAMEDA (BCN)



A man who died while kite-surfing at a beach in Alameda on Friday afternoon has been identified by the Alameda County coroner's bureau as 73-year-old Dr. Andres Caicedo of Walnut Creek.



Firefighters went to Crown Memorial State Beach at Eighth Street and Otis Drive at 4:26 p.m. Friday after receiving a call that an unresponsive kite-surfer was being brought ashore by another kite-surfer, Fire Capt. Jim Colborn said.



The unresponsive kite surfer, later identified as Caicedo, was taken to Alameda Hospital, where he was pronounced dead, according to Colburn.



Alameda police are investigating Caicedo's death.



According to a website that provides information about physicians, Caicedo was a general surgery specialist in Concord. The site said he graduated from medical school in 1969 and had more than 49 years of experience.



The website said Caicedo was affiliated with many hospitals, including John Muir Medical Center's campuses in Walnut Creek and Concord.





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SANTA CRUZ (BCN)



Firefighters extinguished a blaze that began in the kitchen of a Santa Cruz residence Saturday evening, fire officials said today.



Crews responded to a report of a structure fire at 112 Ross St. around 5:30 p.m., finding an attic fire with smoke pouring from the roof, according to fire officials.



Firefighters from the Santa Cruz Fire Department and the Scott's Valley Fire District battled the blaze, bringing it under control in 20 minutes, fire officials said.



The residents weren't home at the time of the fire, and there were no injuries to either firefighters or civilians, according to fire officials.



Damage to the home is estimated at around $200,000. After an investigation with the homeowner and witnesses, the cause of the fire turned out to be an electrical source in the kitchen ceiling, fire officials said.





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SAN FRANCISCO (BCN)



San Francisco police are investigating a homicide in the city's Mission District on Saturday afternoon.



Officers received a report of a possible homicide around 1 p.m. Saturday in the 200 block of 14th Street.



A 47-year-old woman has been arrested in the case, according to police. Her name was not immediately available.



The person killed has not been identified by the medical examiner's office. Police did not release any other information about the homicide, including how the victim died.





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PIEDMONT (BCN)



Piedmont police will honor letter carrier Nestor Quilates on Monday for helping police arrest suspects after a home burglary.



Quilates was delivering mail for the U.S. Postal Service on May 15 when he saw two men coming out of a house on Grand Avenue carrying a suitcase and a duffel bag.



He knew the homeowner, who was in the hospital, and "sensed something was wrong," the postal service said in a news release.



Quilates took down the license plate number of the vehicle and called police. Police arrived and determined the house had been burglarized.



Neighbors provided security video showing the suspects leaving the house and police then arrested the suspects and returned the items to the home.



Quilates will be honored at a ceremony during the Piedmont City Council meeting on Monday at 7:30 p.m. at 120 Vista Way.





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DUBLIN (BCN)



A man who died in a collision on Interstate Highway 580 in Dublin early Saturday morning was identified by the Alameda County coroner's bureau today as 36-year-old Andrew Warhurst of Castro Valley.



Warhurst was a passenger in a black Chevrolet Aveo driven by 21-year-old Pleasanton resident Shelby Sarin, who lost control of the car while traveling west near the Santa Rita Road exit at about 12:15 a.m. Saturday, California Highway Patrol spokesman Officer Tyler Hahn said.



Hahn said the Aveo had been in the far right lane but veered all the way to the left and struck a concrete wall on the south shoulder of the freeway before coming to rest in the fast lane.



Sarin and Warhurst then got out of the car and stood in the traffic lanes while their car was disabled, according to Hahn.



While they were standing on the freeway, Warhurst was hit by a westbound Honda CR-V driven by a 34-year-old San Ramon man, Hahn said.



The collision severely injured Warhurst and emergency personnel later pronounced him dead at the scene.



Sarin was arrested on suspicion of driving while under the influence of alcohol. The Honda driver was not arrested, according to Hahn.



Authorities said Sarin suffered minor injuries and was treated at Eden Medical Center in Castro Valley.





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A Modesto man accused of planning a Christmas Day attack on Pier 39 in San Francisco last year pleaded guilty in federal court in Fresno today to a charge of attempting to provide material support to a foreign terrorist organization.



Everitt Jameson, 26, a former tow truck driver, believed the organization was the Islamic State group, according to a statement of facts included with his plea agreement.



Jameson entered the plea before U.S. District Judge Lawrence O'Neill and will be sentenced by O'Neill on Sept. 4. The prosecution and defense agreed on a sentence of 15 years in prison.



Jameson began developing the never-completed plan through emails and text messages with a confidential FBI source and an FBI agent posing as Islamic State supporters, according to the statement of facts agreed to by both sides.



The investigation began when the FBI noticed last fall that Jameson was posting "Like" and "Love" notices on Facebook that were pro-terrorist.



The confidential source, posing as a woman sympathetic to the Islamic State group, began contacting him in October. Jameson told the source he had converted to Islam two years earlier and was trained as a sharpshooter in the Marines.



Later, an undercover agent posing as a "brother" in the cause took over and discussed the plan in a meeting in the agent's car on Dec. 16 and in additional messages over the next two days.



During those conversations, according to the statement of facts, Jameson suggested Pier 39 as the target location and said Christmas Day was the "perfect day" for the attack, according to the statement of facts. He said he knew how to build a pipe bomb.



The investigation took a different turn on Dec. 18 when an unidentified FBI agent accidentally called Jameson's cellphone from a telephone number with an area code from Washington, D.C.



The employee hung up when Jameson answered in Arabic, but Jameson called back and heard a recording with the employee's name.



Later that evening, Jameson told the undercover agent by phone, "I don't think I can do this after all. I've reconsidered."



Jameson was arrested on Dec. 22 and charged in a criminal complaint filed that day. The complaint was later replaced with a two-count grand jury indictment.



As part of the plea agreement, prosecutors will drop the second count of the indictment, which charged Jameson with distributing information about destructive devices.





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An unknown suspect attempted to kidnap a 27-year-old woman Saturday afternoon at Pinto Lake County Park, Santa Cruz County sheriff's deputies reported.



The woman was attending a family party at the lake at 4 p.m. when the man grabbed her and pulled her away from her car at 757 Green Valley Road.



The victim struggled to get away and screamed for help, according to deputies, and was able to break away and flee the area.



The suspect ran to a vehicle parked nearby and the victim's family called 911, police said. The man is described as a Hispanic man in his late 30s to early 40s, about 6 feet tall with a thin build and a medium to dark complexion.



He was last seen wearing a black short-sleeved shirt with red and white lettering and black shorts, deputies said.



The car he jumped into is a mid-90s light blue two-door Honda Accord with sun damage on the paint, according to deputies.







Officers arrested a man they said had more than 200 grams of heroin and two handguns in the parking lot of Home Depot in Emeryville Saturday night.



Mohamed Ahmed was arrested and jailed at 7:29 p.m. on suspicion of gun-related crimes and drug possession for sale, according to police.



The case began when an officer tried to make a traffic stop on Ahmed, who was riding a motor scooter in the Home Depot parking lot at 3838 Hollis St., police said.



The suspect tried to run away, but officers were able to take him into custody, according to police. The officers searched Ahmed and allegedly found one loaded and one unloaded handgun, heroin, digital scales, cell phones and packaging materials, police said.







A BART spokeswoman this morning identified the man suspected of a stabbing at the El Cerrito del Norte station that sent a man to the hospital Saturday night.



Carl J. Johnson was arrested on suspicion of assault with a deadly weapon, issued a prohibition order and booked at the Martinez detention facility Saturday night, BART spokeswoman Cheryl Stalter said.



"The case has been turned over to detectives and is under investigation," Stalter said in an email. "It is not yet clear what started the incident or if the two knew each other."



The stabbing took place at 10:21 p.m. Saturday and the man who was stabbed was taken to John Muir Trauma Center, according to BART officials.



The station was closed until the end of service and parallel bus service was provided, Stalter said.



The station opened for service this morning on the normal Sunday schedule.



With regard to the prohibition order mentioned by Stalter, BART police began issuing prohibition orders in 2013. These orders can be issued against anyone who commits certain offenses on BART, and ban the person for 30 days to a year.



The offenses include violence against passengers or employees, or repeated infractions such as urinating in public or defacing property.







Sonoma County voters will decide on a sheriff for the first time since 1990 in Tuesday's election.



Two of the three candidates for County Sheriff-Coroner are familiar to county residents - retired Santa Rosa police lieutenant and current City Councilman Ernesto Olivares and sheriff's Capt. Mark Essick.



The third candidate is John Mutz, former station captain at Los Angeles Police Department.



The top two candidates in the June 5 primary election will be in a runoff contest in November if no one wins more than 50 percent in the primary voting.



Essick is stressing his 24 years as a sheriff's office employee starting at the county jail and holding 10 different posts with increasing responsibility. Sheriff Rob Giordano has endorsed Essick.



He says his founding of the sheriff's Crisis Intervention Training Program has improved officers' understanding of intervention in mental health crises and can be applied to solving the county's current homelessness crisis.



His opponent John Mutz responds by calling Essick's election "business as usual" that isn't working. Reports of alleged beatings of county jail inmates, the fatal shooting of 13-year-old Andy Lopez by a sheriff's deputy in October 2013 and other officer-involved shootings have resonated with voters who are calling for the election of someone outside the sheriff's department.



Mutz says he will shift the sheriff's department to a "community-centered culture" of dignity, respect, transparency and engagement as "core ethics."



Olivares says his 40 years experience in law enforcement and public service - 30 of them in the Santa Rosa Police Department - has taught him that trust between law enforcement and citizens makes for the safest communities.



He is calling for promoting community and neighborhood policing and improving training and education for sheriff's employees.







Firefighters extinguished a blaze that began in the kitchen of a Santa Cruz residence Saturday evening, fire officials said on Sunday.



Crews responded to a report of a structure fire at 112 Ross St. around 5:30 p.m., finding an attic fire with smoke pouring from the roof, according to fire officials.



Firefighters from the Santa Cruz Fire Department and the Scott's Valley Fire District battled the blaze, bringing it under control in 20 minutes, fire officials said.



The residents weren't home at the time of the fire, and there were no injuries to either firefighters or civilians, according to fire officials.



Damage to the home is estimated at around $200,000. After an investigation with the homeowner and witnesses, the cause of the fire turned out to be an electrical source in the kitchen ceiling, fire officials said.







Piedmont police will honor letter carrier Nestor Quilates today for helping police arrest suspects after a home burglary.



Quilates was delivering mail for the U.S. Postal Service on May 15 when he saw two men coming out of a house on Grand Avenue carrying a suitcase and a duffel bag.



He knew the homeowner, who was in the hospital, and "sensed something was wrong," the postal service said in a news release.



Quilates took down the license plate number of the vehicle and called police. Police arrived and determined the house had been burglarized.



Neighbors provided security video showing the suspects leaving the house and police then arrested the suspects and returned the items to the home.



Quilates will be honored at a ceremony during the Piedmont City Council meeting today at 7:30 p.m. at 120 Vista Way.





Copyright  2018 by Bay City News, Inc. Republication, Rebroadcast or any other Reuse without the express written consent of Bay City News, Inc. is prohibited.
Nature usually finds itself just outside our backyard  until it literally ends up inside our fences.

Thats what happened to one woman who kept seeing a gray fox outside her Newark home; so she decided to post a thread on Nextdoor to ask if others had spotted them around the city, too.

Commenters started pouring in photos and videos along with tidbits of their own chance encounters, including one post with photos of a gray fox seen on a neighbors rooftop.

People have been spotting the young pups down by creeks or under decks, Bill Leikam, co-founder and president of the Urban Wildlife Research Project in Palo Alto. Theyll be around in the area all the way through mid-November.

Jared Underwood, manager at Don Edwards San Francisco Bay National Wildlife Refuge, says March and April are the mating seasons for gray foxes, which might contribute to their visibility.

Gray foxes are tiny creatures that resemble terriers. An adult fox can weigh anywhere from 7.9 to 15 pounds, though in some cases they can weigh up to 20.

They have peppery coats with reddish-brown hues around their neck, tail and feet. Another distinctive feature is the smoky-black stripe seen on their tails.

Leikam is known as The Fox Guy around the Bay Area, thanks in part to a 10-year stint studying gray foxes, and says people turn to him for all their gray fox questions. The most common one: What should you do if you see a gray fox outside your home? The short answer is nothing.

They might be under a deck and stay there for a month but then move on, Leikam says. Theyre generally pretty timid but they get used to people quickly, so dont feed them, just enjoy them for being around.

Of course, not all situations are so simple. Once, he had a person contact him when a family of gray foxes started defecating all over her lawn, which caused an obvious foul odor.

I think the family was under the deck that she liked to go out and read on, so I suggested that she find a time when all the pups were out from under the deck and to board it up so that they cant go back in," he says. "When that happens, theyll just leave.

Leikam assures that gray foxes arent aggressive creatures (another question he usually gets), but there are some precautionary steps you might consider, especially if you have pets.

Foxes could take cats, but thats about the biggest size theyd go for, chickens too, Underwood said. ... Smaller prey is what they specialize in.

Gray foxes are native to California and one of the last predators left in the Bay Area, Underwood said. If you spot a gray fox outside your home and its causing a problem, Underwood says you should contact the Fish and Wildlife agency.

Click on the slideshow above to see gray foxes around the Bay Area.

Follow Susana Guerrero on Twitter and email her at sguerrero@sfchronicle.com
Oscar-winning actress Diane Keaton has purchased an 1880s building turned residence in downtown Tucson, AZ, for $1.5 million.

"Tucson is underappreciated," Keaton told Jimmy Kimmel this week, during a stop on his talk show.

Keaton, a veteran house flipper, had been eyeing downtown Tucson for a while, according to the Arizona Daily Star. She was contacted last summer by the writer Kathe Lison and her husband, Chris Cokinos, who had spent four years turning a vacant adobe building in Tucson's Barrio Viejo into a stylish, four-bedroom home.

Keaton saw the desert property, fell in love, and made the purchase in April.

It wasn't easy for Lison to part with the home she had created from the empty space. But ultimately, Keaton was able to make a $1.5 million offer the sellers simply couldn't refuse.

The rustic home is full of Southwestern charm, throughout its four bedrooms, 3.5 bathrooms and 4,500 square feet. The remodel was careful to maintain as much as possible of the building's original character, while carving out cozy, modern spaces in the cavernous building.

Exterior realtor.com

Entry realtor.com

Family room realtor.com

Kitchen realtor.com

Master bedroom realtor.com

Yard realtor.com

The property's prodigious price tag is a boon to real estate in the area, and may signal the beginning of a resurgence in the Barrio. In keeping with her penchant for flipping, Keaton told Kimmel she plans to sell the home eventually.

And the added bonus of a celebrity pedigree could drive the price even higher when Keaton places it back on the market. Local real estate agents are watching carefully, and activists fear that price spikes could irrevocably change the area and drive out low-income families in favor of affluent outside investors, according to the Daily Star.

"[Keaton]s renowned for her style and her sense of architecture, Lison told the Daily Star. The house is my child. I couldnt have parted with it to just anyone. ... It sort of feels like handing off the baton a bit. Shes going to be able to take that house and do even more amazing things with it.

Everyone with a stake in downtown Tucson will be watching this little building in the Barrio for signs of what's to come. For now, it's in the hands of a Hollywood legend with vision and a head for real estate. We can't wait to see how the plot unfolds.

The post Diane Keaton Snags Stylish Conversion for $1.5M in Tucson's Barrio Viejo appeared first on Real Estate News & Insights | realtor.com.
KABUL  A suicide bomber targeted a gathering of Afghan religious scholars who were meeting Monday to condemn such attacks, killing at least 12 people, authorities said.

The attacker detonated a device near a large tent in the Afghan capital where clerics had met to call for an end to the violence, said Hashmatullah Stanikzai, a spokesman for the Kabul police. Officials said that at least 17 people were wounded in the attack.

As many as 3,000 clerics had gathered for the council. Only an hour before the attack, they had declared suicide bombing un-Islamic and said the Taliban have no religious justification for such violence.

Using humans, the noblest of all creatures, as a tool of war is a disrespect to humanity, the clerics said in a proclamation read moments before the bombing.

No group has claimed responsibility for the attack.

The Taliban movement, which grew out of Islamic seminaries in the 1990s, uses the presence of foreign forces in Afghanistan as justification for what they call a holy war.

We were on our way out of the compound when we heard a loud blast, said Maulavi Inayatullah Baleegh, a prominent cleric who attended the meeting. All of us dispersed and ran to seek shelter.

Hundreds of religious scholars who have sided with the government or have openly denounced the Taliban since the group was ousted from power in 2001 have met a grim end. Such targeted violence has led many clerics  even those appalled by the bloodshed waged in the name of Islam  to keep quiet.

The targeting of scholars continued elsewhere in the country. In the southern province of Kandahar, the former seat of Taliban power where a large number of scholars have been assassinated, Abdul Haq Akhundzada was shot to death Monday as he walked home after noon prayers, officials said. The respected leader of a local mosque for 20 years, Akhundzada was a prominent cleric supporting the governments press for peace.

The gathering of religious scholars Monday is part of a broader Afghan government effort to shrink the space for the Taliban and urge the group to meet for peace talks. The insurgents, however, have proved resilient in the face of military operations that began in 2001.

Mujib Mashal and Jawad Sukhanyar are New York Times writers.
JERUSALEM  Israel announced plans to deduct from tax funds it collects for the Palestinians to compensate Israelis living near the Gaza Strip who have fallen victim to a wave of arson attacks. The Israeli military, meanwhile, said troops killed a Palestinian attempting to cross into Israel from Gaza on Monday.

Israel has been battling fires caused by kites rigged with incendiary devices or attached to burning rags launched by Palestinians in Gaza that have damaged forests and torched agricultural fields. The fires have disrupted daily life in communities near the Gaza Strip.
1 Britain fire: Residents of Londons Grenfell Tower high-rise were wrongly told to stay in their apartments as fire raged through the building, aided by flammable external cladding and a host of fire-safety failings, according to expert finding released Monday. Fire-safety engineer Barbara Lane said the fire departments stay put policy had effectively failed barely a half-hour after the fire started on June 14, 2017. But, she said, residents werent told to evacuate for more than an hour after that. Lanes report was published by an inquiry investigating causes of the fire, which killed 72 people. The blaze started in a fourth-floor apartment and raced within minutes up the 25-story building.

2 Italy politics: The League party on Monday denounced billionaire philanthropist George Soros for having publicly questioned whether the right-wing, anti-immigrant party received financing from Russia. Soros comments, delivered Sunday at an economic forum in northern Italy, focused attention on the pro-Moscow agenda of Italys new euroskeptic League and 5-Star Movement government. Soros said he was very worried that Russia was exercising negative influence in Europe, and said Italians had a right to ask if Moscow was financially supporting the League. League leader Matteo Salvini shot back saying the party had never received a lira, euro or ruble from Russia, though he said Russian President Vladimir Putin was one of the best statesman.
AMMAN, Jordan  Jordans King Abdullah II on Monday accepted the resignation of his embattled prime minister and reportedly tapped a leading reformer as a successor, hoping to quell the largest antigovernment protests in recent years that are also seen as a potential challenge to his 2-decade-old rule.

Jordan is a staunch military and political ally of the West in a turbulent region, and any threat to the kingdoms stability is viewed with concern, particularly by neighboring Israel and by the U.S.

Prime Minister Hani Mulkis resignation came after several days of mass protests across Jordan against a planned tax increase, the latest in a series of economic reforms sought by the International Monetary Fund to get the rising public debt under control. The government also has raised prices for bread, electricity and fuel.

Many Jordanians feel they are being squeezed financially by a government they perceive as corrupt and aloof and say they are not getting services for the taxes they are asked to pay.

Its not clear if the departure of the business-friendly Mulki will be enough to defuse growing public anger.

Government-linked media said Education Minister Omar Razzaz, a Harvard-educated reformer, has been chosen as Mulkis successor, though the choice was not officially confirmed by Monday evening. Mulki is to serve as caretaker until his replacement has been named, the state news agency Petra said.

Jordans king is the ultimate decision-maker on policy, but he also positions himself as a unifying force above the political fray. He has frequently reshuffled or disbanded governments as a way of quieting criticism.

Protest organizer Ali Abous said a one-day strike set for Wednesday would still take place, despite the Cabinet changes.

We want to change the path, not the individuals, said Abous, who heads an umbrella group for 15 unions and professional associations with half a million members.

Hatem Jarrar, a lawyer, said the resignation of Mulki is a victory for the Jordanian people who demanded to topple the government, adding that protesters would keep pressing demands for rescinding the tax bill.

The recent protests were largely spontaneous, drawing many young people and members of the middle class, rather than being organized by traditional opposition groups such as the Muslim Brotherhood.

Omar Akour is an Associated Press writer.
HONG KONG  U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo has urged China to disclose the details of people killed, detained or missing during the Chinese militarys crackdown on pro-democracy protesters centered on Beijings Tiananmen Square 29 years ago.

Pompeo marked Mondays anniversary of the suppression of demonstrations on June 4, 1989, saying: We remember the tragic loss of innocent lives.

Hundreds, if not thousands, of unarmed protesters and onlookers were killed late on June 3 and the early hours of June 4, 1989, after Chinas Communist leaders ordered the military to retake Tiananmen Square from the student-led demonstrators.

The topic remains taboo in mainland China, and any form of commemoration, whether public or private, is banned. In Hong Kong, however, tens of thousands of people gather every year in Victoria Park on the evening of June 4 to remember the victims in the only large-scale public commemoration held on Chinese soil.

Concerns have grown in Hong Kong that Beijing is eroding the semiautonomous southern Chinese citys civil liberties despite promises to maintain them following its 1997 handover from Britain.

In his statement, Pompeo called on Chinese authorities to release those who have been jailed for their efforts to keep alive the memory of the crackdown and to stop harassing the protests participants and their families.

He cited the Chinese dissident Liu Xiaobo, who wrote in his 2010 Nobel Peace Prize speech, delivered in absentia: The ghosts of June 4 have not yet been laid to rest. Liu last year became the second Nobel Peace Prize winner to die in police custody.

We join others in the international community in urging the Chinese government to make a full public accounting of those killed, detained or missing, Pompeos statement said.

The Chinese foreign ministry said it was strongly opposed to Pompeos statement, calling it an interference in Chinas internal affairs.

We urge the U.S. to abandon its prejudices, correct its mistakes, stop making irresponsible remarks and interfering in Chinas internal affairs, said ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying.

While mainland Chinese are only dimly aware of what happened at Tiananmen Square nearly three decades ago, the subject is openly discussed in Taiwan, a self-governing island democracy.

For several decades, the Chinese mainland has never stepped out of the shadows of this historical tragedy, Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen wrote in a Facebook post.
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Page Content Xochitl Chavez, 27, didnt speak any English when she moved from Mexico with her two children in 2000 to join her husband in the U.S. Still, she was able to find a job at a McDonalds in Georgia, and she spent the next eight years getting by on the few words she could pick up each day. That changed when her manager recommended her for the McDonalds English Under the Arches program, which helps employees improve their language skills so they can take on greater responsibilities. The classes were convenient, with online sessions as well as face-to-face lessons. Not only were they free, but Chavez was paid for her time spent learning. Over the next 18 months, her English improvedand so did her work prospects.

Chavez was promoted from crew member to shift manager and then assistant manager.

Now shes the store manager at a McDonalds in Dalton, Ga., where she encourages her crew of mostly Spanish-speakers to take the classes and build a better future. You can do it, she tells them. You make more money, and you make your dream. She knows firsthand: Its hard when you go someplace and you dont know what to say. With worker shortages across many U.S. industriesand expected to only get worsemore leaders are looking to develop the talent they have. As Baby Boomers retire, there simply havent been enough young people born in the U.S. to replace them. Thats why individuals from other countries will play a primary role in the growth of the workforce, according to a 2017 Pew Research Center report. Without new immigrants, the total U.S. working-age population would drop by almost 8 million, or more than 4 percent, by 2035, from 173.2 million in 2015, Pew researchers project. Despite the ongoing debate over U.S. immigration policies, the U.S. population is already incredibly diverse. More than 40 million people living here were born elsewhere. About half of all immigrants ages 5 and older have limited English proficiency, according to the Pew report.



Untapped Potential McDonalds tested its English classes in a series of pilots in 2007 and launched them nationally in 2015 as part of its Archways to Opportunity program, which includes other educational assistance. In total, about 6,100 workers have completed the classes at more than 40 sites nationwide. While offering language instruction serves a critical business need to prepare workers for customer-facing roles, we also see a great impact on peoples personal lives and their ability to speak the language, says Lisa Schumacher, director of education strategies at McDonalds Corp., headquartered in Oak Brook, Ill., just west of Chicago. Helping them get to a place where they can more comfortably speak English is important to us. McDonalds contracts with local community colleges to offer courses, which use a curriculum that has been tailored to crew members needs. Employees with limited English skills are enrolled in conversation classes, Shift Basics or Shift Conversations, while those who are more fluent sign up for Shift Writing. Managers and management trainees can take a class to help them deliver performance evaluations in English. Courses range from eight to 22 weeks and are voluntary, as are all of the programs highlighted in this article. Improved retention rates suggest that the program is working. In the high-turnover fast-food industry, 88 percent of participants are still working at McDonalds one year after completing classes, and 75 percent remain with the company after two or three years.

The fact that they are paid for their time in the class I think is critical to our success, Schumacher says. Balancing in-person learning with virtual lessons is also key, she says. When participants take a class alongside people they know and trust, it takes away a level of fear and anxiety about going into a new environment and learning something they may not feel comfortable learning, Schumacher says.

At graduation ceremonies, she has watched the adult students hugging and thanking their instructors. I think the relationships they create with their fellow students and their instructor are critical, she says. Although online modules may be easier to implement, Schumacher doesnt think theyre a good idea for entry-level workers. Learning another language is hard. There arent necessarily any easy solutions, she says. To determine what works best for your company, you must first understand the challenges your employees face. When setting up an in-person class, for example, dont expect employees who rely on public transportation to travel an hour to get there.





Celebrate Learning Contextualized English instruction has also proved helpful in the retail industry, where an estimated 1.5 million employees have limited English proficiency. After 16 weeks in a pilot program funded by the Walmart Foundation, 37 percent of the total 1,000 participating employees were promoted at Kroger in Houston, Publix in Miami and Whole Foods in New York. And 82 percent held the same position for five years before their promotion, says Jennie Murray, director of integration programs at the National Immigration Forum, a nonprofit immigrant advocacy group based in Washington, D.C. Thats a really good indicator that this is a pipeline for internal promotions and middle-skill jobs that employers are not currently tapping into, Murray says.

The participants managers, who were surveyed before and after the classes, reported an 87 percent improvement in customer service and an 89 percent rise in store productivity. The forum partnered with Miami Dade College and the Community College Consortium for Immigrant Education on the initiative, Skills and Opportunity for the New American Workforce. The employees werent paid for their instruction time, but classes were scheduled just before or after employees work shifts in various locations. The employers level of involvement appeared to be a more significant factor in the employees success than whether the classes were held at the worksite, Murray says. When company leaders promote the English classes internally, welcome students at the start and celebrate their achievement with them at the end, it can make a world of difference, she says. A digital literacy component was added to help workers master their stores technology, and a mobile app supplemented their language learning. The pilot is part of the National Immigration Forums larger New American Workforce initiative, which offers English and citizenship classes and legal services to those working at 300 participating organizations in eight cities. To build on that success, more than 20 corporations, led by Walmart and Chobani, are preparing to roll out later this year the Corporate Roundtable for the New American Workforce to sponsor research and develop best practices for integrating immigrants into the workforce. Theyre coming together for a long-term effort, but its time-sensitive because were in worker shortages that were implicated 10 to 20 years back, Murray says.



Find the Right Partners Sometimes good ideas are born out of necessity. Two years ago, Yohanys Castro was the HR director at a Los Angeles area hotel that was being upgraded to become a Hyatt Regency with Forbes four-star status. She knew she would have to lay off workers if she couldnt help them improve their poor customer service skills, which were linked to their limited English comprehension. Some housekeepers would avoid guests because they feared they wouldnt understand a request. They would put their head down and pretend to be busy when a guest walked by. Thats not what we wanted, she says. We wanted people, even with their limits, who would interact. She empathized because she grew up watching the struggles of her own parents, who were Cuban immigrants. As a child, she translated for them. I was their liaison between their world and the world we live in today, she recalls. As I became older, it was sad to see my parents as vulnerable people and not as my heroes, my protectors. Castro sought help from the Los Angeles Workforce Development Board, which provided a $100,000 grant to the Los Angeles Hospitality Training Academy, a nonprofit arm of the Unite Here Local 11 labor union, to provide onsite English classes and other needed training for hotel staff.

After just two weeks of instruction, Castro noticed a big difference in the housekeepers. They would see me in the hallway and would use what they were learning to talk to me, she says. They would sit in their lunch hour and practice for the next class. She understands the immigrants struggle, how hard they work, leaving little time for themselves. The classes were one way we could take care of them for taking care of us. It was just a dream I had that became a reality, says Castro, who now is vice president of HR for Hilton Los Angeles/Universal City. She is planning to offer English classes there as well. The biggest reward youre going to receive in your career is to give the gift of education to your employees, she says.

Climbing the Ladder When Mario Bandera interviewed at a Los Angeles-area hotel five years ago, the 25-year-old Cuban native had been in the U.S. only a few months. He spoke no English but desperately needed work. If you give me the opportunity, I will take my job seriously, he told the hiring manager in Spanish. You will never have anything bad to say about me. He got a job cleaning guest rooms. Two years later, he jumped at the chance to take onsite English classes to help housekeeping staff improve customer service as the hotel transitioned to become the Hyatt Regency Los Angeles International.

It was really, really amazing, Bandera says. I could study and work at the same time. For me, it was perfect. This was a good opportunity in my life. In 2016, Bandera was promoted to housekeeping supervisor, and he has high ambitions for the future. My goal is to be a manager or something bigger, he says.



Build Relationships If English classes arent feasible, there are other ways you can help surmount the language barrier. For day-to-day communication, managers often rely on other employees to translate for those who speak little or no English. Or supervisors get by with hand gestures and Google translations. Some executives hire managers who are bilingual, while other companies provide foreign language training for their supervisors in locations where the majority of employees dont speak English. Several Phoenix-area employers pair new workers who speak limited English with a co-worker who can help orient them, says Niki Ramirez, SHRM-CP, founder of HRAnswers.org. Language is what connects us and makes us visible to one another. It produces a conduit to build relationships, says Ramirez, who is fluent in English and Spanish.

Whether finding a document in their native language or finding a bilingual co-worker to support them, it really goes a long way to creating a civil and humane workplace, she says. It tells the workers, Hey, I see you, and your contribution is important to us. Ramirez translates company handbooks into Spanish for clients and sees how appreciative employees are when they receive a document they can understand. Another easy way to build human connection: Let your employees choose the music in their breakroom so they dont hear English-language tunes all the time. International potlucks are popular at United Electric Controls, a manufacturing company in Watertown, Mass., where workers hail from 29 different countries, ranging from Venezuela to Vietnam, Somalia to Singapore, says Terri Pollman, the companys HR director. Onsite English classes helped workers gain confidence to apply for apprenticeships, she says.

Can Employers Require Workers to Speak English?

Steer clear of implementing English-only policies, which are permissible only in limited circumstances where there is a legitimate business need, such as for ensuring operational safety, says attorney Jaklyn Wrigley, an attorney with Fisher & Phillips LLP in Gulfport, Miss.



These policies are heavily scrutinized at practically every level, Wrigley says.

For example, the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission presumes such approaches violate Title VIIs prohibition against national origin discrimination, and many states, including California, have passed legislation barring English-only workplaces. In addition, a National Labor Relations Board judge recently found that the policies violate the National Labor Relations Act because they could restrict employees from discussing the terms and conditions of their employment.


Actress Ileana D'Cruz on Sunday returned to Fiji to keep her promise of visiting the island nation again to experience its natural, cultural and adventurous bounty.



The actress, who has worked in the southern and Hindi film industry, had first visited the country in the Oceania region last year. But it was just earlier this year that she was named the official brand ambassador for Tourism Fiji in India.



"Coming back to Fiji feels like coming home again. I'm really excited about my trip this time. There's a lot of new places and new experience that I will be trying out," Ileana told IANS here.



India is an important potential tourism market for Fiji, which roped in the actress for a year-long association to showcase the destination through her travel and diverse experiences.



While here, she will be exploring different regions including Nadi, Coral Coast, the Mamanuca Islands, Pacific Harbour and Savusavu. Visiting a pearl farm, kayaking, hiking to a waterfall, snorkelling, quad biking and surfing are some of the activities on her itinerary.



She is here to shoot a campaign for the tourism board and is accompanied by beau Andrew Kneebone, an Australian photographer. They were welcomed with the traditional hello, Bula.



It is the beaches, weather and the hospitality in Fiji which attract the "Barfi" and "Raid" actress.



In her previous Instagram posts, Ileana has mentioned more than once that she is happiest by the sea.



While on her way to Fiji, Ileana posted an Instagram story, saying she was "super excited" to be back.

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STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- Even before Jeremey Seacott got his new arm, he knew he could do and be anything he put his mind to.

"Believe in what you can do," the 9-year-old third-grader says with a smile. "Never don't believe."

Jeremey is the first Staten Islander to receive a free prosthetic from Assembyl 3D Printing of Stapleton. Watch the video below for more of his heartwarming story.

MEET THE SEACOTT FAMILY

He was born in Nyang, China. Jeremey's parents, James and Janet Seacott of New Dorp, adopted him when he was 14 months old.

"We always we knew we wanted to adopt, Janet says. "And with our two girls (Jenna, now 21 years old, and Julia, 17), we knew we wanted a boy. So, that's how we got to looking."

What they found was a baby boy who was born without a right forearm.

"We didn't care -- we knew he would be family no matter what," Janet.

Jeremey's missing limb (yes, we're purposely avoiding the label "birth defect" because it doesn't define this kid) was possibly the result of Amniotic Band Syndrome, a rare disease that can affect the arm and leg growth of the fetus. The Seacotts have never been able to find out for sure.

As he started to grow, Jeremey faced his challenge like a champ.

"We asked Jeremey a few years back if he would like to get a prosthetic and he was just like 'Nah, I'm fine the way I am,'" Janet says. "Then our neighbor brought it up [recently] and we decided to ask him again. This time he was totally into it."

After realizing Jeremey's need for extra support while doing everyday tasks like holding a cup and riding a bike, they decided getting a prosthetic from a 3D printer was the best alternative.

This is where Assembyl 3D Printing came in.

The borough-based company, under the direction of CEO Michael Perina, used its high-tech equipment to provide Seacott with a limb-replacement.

'YOU WANT IT, YOU GOT IT'

After a bit of trial and error, the Seacotts were connected with Perina. He met with Jeremey to get measurements and immediately, Jeremey's bubbly and outgoing personality shined through.

"He wanted one regular arm and one like a 'Transformer,'" says Perina, a Grasmere resident with a 5-year-old son of his own.

"I told him 'If you want it, you got it.' I was gonna make it happen."

Apart from the skin-tone prosthetic, Perina surprised Jeremey with an Optimus Prime-inspired arm to swap in when he feels like embracing his robotic side.

Perina and his Assembyl 3D team made sure this "Transformer" arm looked as true to the toy and action film character as possible, incorporating the blue and red color scheme.

The team even added the "Transformer" logo onto the mold.

HOW IT'S MADE

Perina says making both models took less than a month to complete. The Assembyl team worked out of its corner office inside TechBox CoWorking at 75 Clinton St. in Stapleton to make this project come to life.

The process began with Perina putting Jeremey's measurements into a perimetric program, where a design is configured and the information is exported into a 3D model.

"This program generates the 3D model into machine instructions," Perina says, pointing at his computer. "It slices [the design] into layers so the printer will know how to print it layer by layer."

Once the printing process was complete, the mold was thermoformed (aka heating the plastic sheet to a pliable forming temperature), making it easier to bend, flex and fit into place.

Perina's pro tip: Wooden rolling pins produce great models. That's how the shape of the mold was created.

After the base was shaped, the design aspect came into play. Of course, no project can be made possible without a team: Perina recruited visual artists Sam Pollio and Deanna Veasey to be the secret weapons behind Jeremey's prosthetic arm.

The fingers have dental rubber bands that hold them straight and a braided fishing line that pulls them down, allowing Jeremy to open and close the hand at his control. He completes this action by bending his elbow.

LIFE WITH THE EXTRA HELP

After a month of working on the arm molds, Perina presented them to the Seacotts and showed Jeremey how to control the fingers and pick up things.

"I felt a little frustrated because things kept falling when I was trying to pick them up, but now, I think I have the hang of it," Jeremey says.

"It's a learning curve; the more he wears it, the easier it will be," says James.

After a week of living with his new arm, Jeremey says he is finally getting used to wearing it and plans to show off his new look to his friends and teachers.

"So far, I've only broken one plastic cup, so I think I'm doing well," he says with a laugh.

Turns out the basics made the biggest impact.

"He was so happy to do things like shake a hand, scratching his head, clapping -- things we take for granted with two hands," Janet says. "He's very well adjusted without it. He does almost anything -- but it's pretty cool to see him do those little things. It makes us very happy."

GIFT THAT KEEPS GIVING

Assembyl 3D Printing encourages other children and adults looking for prosthetic arms to reach out. The process will be done free of charge.

Call Perina at 646-598-7085 or visit Assembyl3D.com for more information.

"I would love if others in the same situation know that they can easily just call and get one for free."
STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- The St. George Theatre was packed Sunday night with 1,100 musical theatre students, their families, friends, directors, administration and fans for the eighth annual Minty Awards.

The Minty Organization, which oversees the Mintys, honors excellence in Staten Island's Catholic high school musicals -- and applauds the work of students in their respective theatre programs throughout the year.

The schools and students competed in 13 categories including the evening's coveted award, The St. Genesius Award for Outstanding Musical, according to Mintys creator Michael Pinto, who reprised his role as co-host of the show with Jessica Caracciolo.

Deputy Borough President Ed Burke and former Assemblyman Lou Tobacco presented The St. Genesius Award for Best Musical to Notre Dame Academy's Xanadu.

Among the many presenters were previous Minty Award winners Dan Ceasar, Nicholas Gerrity, Kirsten Kaiser, Francesca Saccomagno, Analise Scarpaci, and the Nicotra Group's Kristine Garlisi.

Notre Dame Academy's St. Genesius Award garners $5,000 to the school's Performing Arts program and the remaining schools will each receive $1,000.

The evening included a special tribute performance from the St. John Villa Academy Drama Club, "We're All in This Together," from Disney's High School Musical, which featured many alumnae and current students.

The 2018 Minty Award Winners are:

The St. Genesius Award for Outstanding Musical

Xanadu, Notre Dame Academy

Outstanding Leading Actress

Kayla McBratney as "Kira/Clio" in Xanadu

Outstanding Leading Actor

Kenny Harvey as "The Pirate King" in The Pirates of Penzance

Outstanding Supporting Actress

Julia LoCascio as "Mother Abbess" in The Sound of Music

Outstanding Supporting Actor

Jesse Martinelli as "Danny Maguire" in Xanadu

Outstanding Featured Actress

Gianna Nepola as "The Sergeant" in The Pirates of Penzance

Outstanding Featured Actor

Andrew Valentino as "Underling" in The Drowsy Chaperone

Outstanding Featured Dancer

Ashley Abbruzzese, Xanadu

Outstanding Chorus

The Sound of Music, St. Joseph Hill Academy

Outstanding Production Number

"Toledo Surprise" The Drowsy Chaperone - Moore Catholic High School

Outstanding Choreography

Xanadu, Notre Dame Academy

Outstanding Artistic Design

Damn Yankees, St. Peter's Boys High School

THE 2018 THEATRE PLAYERS OF THE YEAR

Jillian Bodiford, St. John Villa Academy

Joseph Bonaventura, St. Joseph by-the-Sea High School

Rosalia Cioffi, St. Joseph Hill Academy

Lauren Farley, St. Peter's Boys High School

Kenny Harvey, Msgr. Farrell High School

Jillian Jackman, Moore Catholic High School

Gianna Nepola, Notre Dame Academy

Co-sponsors of the 2018 Minty Awards: Ben-Jo General Trucking, J. Cioffi Trucking, Senator Andrew J. Lanza, Jimmy Max and Wagner College.

A full list of this year's winners is available at www.mintys.org.

The Mission of The Minty Organization for the Performing Arts:

"We hope to start a tradition which honors the sacrifice and dedication of Catholic High School students in dramatic arts programs. The Minty Awards aims to promote these programs, performers, and all who support them. We believe that these students and their schools provide excellent examples of self-discipline, teamwork, and faith, and we should celebrate their efforts and achievements."
STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- A Staten Island man is grieving the loss of his beloved dog who died while being transported by Delta airlines, according to the owner's attorney.

Alejandro, an 8-year-old Pomeranian, was found dead in his cage in a cargo facility at the Detroit airport during a transfer stop for a flight, according to attorney Evan Oshan.

The dog was being flown from Phoenix, Ariz., en route to Newark Liberty International Airport to meet his owner, Michael Dellegrazie of Staten Island, according to the attorney.

"It's pretty overwhelming, he's still in mourning, it's a hard time for him," Oshan said of the owner during a brief phone interview with the Advance.

"We lost a family member, that's exactly what happened, and someone has to be responsible for it," Dellegrazie said in a taped interview on KBJR6.com.

Dellegrazie told the media that he found blood stains on his dog's blanket after he flew to Detroit in an unsuccessful attempt to claim the body.

"Pets are an important member of the family and we are focused on the well-being of all animals we transport," said a statement from the airline.

"Delta is conducting a thorough review of the situation to ensure this does not happen again and have been working directly with Alejandro's family to support them however we can."

Until a cause of death is determined through an necropsy, there is no way of knowing whether the dog's death had anything to do with how he was transported by Delta, according to a source with the airline who requested anonymity.

"As part of that review, Delta offered to have Alejandro evaluated by a veterinarian while in our possession to find out more about why this may have occurred. We are disappointed that we were not allowed to have a necropsy performed immediately following this unfortunate situation. The family now has Alejandro and we continue to offer our support."

Oshan told NJ.com that Alejandro was healthy and checked out by a veterinarian before Dellegrazie's girlfriend placed the dog on a flight in Phoenix. Dellegrazie had planned to pick the dog up at Newark.

Oshan told NJ.com that the airline has offered to have a necropsy done, but his clients declined because they wanted an independent examination.
STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- He once spent a stretch in prison for drugs.

But this time, David Anderson is returning upstate for gun possession, stemming from an episode in which authorities said he shot and wounded his girlfriend's 21-year-old son last year during a dispute in Elm Park.

Anderson, 44, shot the victim once in the stomach outside 217 Granite Ave. shortly after 11 a.m. on May 10, 2017, said authorities.

The man was taken to Richmond University Medical Center in West Brighton with non-life-threatening injuries, a Fire Department spokesman said.

Police did not initially say what sparked the confrontation.

A witness said he saw the victim lying on the ground screaming, "Somebody shot me, somebody shot me."

Sources said the shooter fled in a black Mustang toward Walker Avenue, the Advance reported.

Anderson, a Manhattan resident, was arrested early the next morning just before 1 a.m.

He was later indicted on multiple counts of felony assault, criminal weapon possession and criminal firearm possession.

In April, the hulking defendant pleaded guilty in state Supreme Court, St. George, to third-degree criminal weapon possession to satisfy all charges against him.

In exchange for his plea, Anderson was sentenced on Thursday as a second felony offender to 30 months to five years in prison.

The defendant was previously convicted in Manhattan in 2003 of felony drug sale and sentenced to seven to 14 years in prison, according to statements made in court.

Attorneys Gregory C. Clarke and Gregory Coleman represented Anderson.

Clarke has declined comment on the case.

Assistant District Attorneys Arda Ozdinc and Mark Palladino prosecuted the case.
This illustration shows the Interstellar Mapping and Acceleration Probe observing signals from the interaction of the solar wind with the winds of other stars. (Photo courtesy of NASA)
STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- Police arrested a 28-year-old woman after an alleged razor attack in Tompkinsville Sunday morning.

Kimberly Cappiello, of South Beach, allegedly slashed another woman during a dispute on the 200 block of Bay Street around 11:45 a.m., a spokeswoman for the NYPD said.

The 29-year-old victim suffered multiple lacerations in the attack, the NYPD spokeswoman said.

Cappiello initially resisted when officers attempted to take her into custody, according to the spokeswoman.

They eventually got her under control, and police charged her with assault, obstruction of government administration, and criminal possession of a weapon.
STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- The MMA fighter accused of severely beating a Tottenville business owner two years ago in an incident captured on videotape will take his case to the mat.

Peter Rodriguez declined an offer on Monday to plead guilty to second-degree assault, the top charge against him, in exchange for a five-year prison sentence.

Justice Alexander Jeong said he intends to start the trial on July 31 in state Supreme Court, St. George.

Prosecutors Lisa Davis and Matthew Gamberg had initially offered a seven-year prison sentence, the maximum allowed by law, if Rodriguez pleaded guilty during Monday's conference.

Defense lawyer Manuel Ortega balked, contending prosecutors had really made "no offer" since the defendant would be pleading to the top count and receiving the highest sentence.

After conferencing with the attorneys, Jeong told Rodriguez he'd sentence him to five years behind bars if he accepted the plea before the day's scheduled pretrial suppression hearing.

If he declined, went to trial and was convicted, Jeong said he'd likely sentence Rodriguez to the maximum seven years.

Business owner beat up by MMA fighter 3 Gallery: Business owner beat up by MMA fighter

The stocky defendant, who was garbed in tan institutional scrubs, turned down the offer.

Rodriguez had been free on $35,000 bond since last year, but was recently incarcerated because the person who posted the surety for him needed the money.

The defendant could be released again if someone else posts the bond.

According to various media reports, Rodriguez, who's also known as Peter Storm, is a Bronx-based mixed martial arts fighter and promoter affiliated with the Underground Combat League.

He is 40 or 41.

Prosecutors allege Rodriguez assaulted Eric Gittlitz on Oct. 17, 2016, during a confrontation outside the victim's business, American Air Mechanical, on Amboy Road.

Rodriguez punched Gittlitz at least three times before tackling him and striking him at least 11 more times while he was defenseless on the ground, said a criminal complaint.

The victim, police said, suffered a broken jaw, broken orbital socket, multiple facial fractures and bruising to his head, face, legs and back.

Gittlitz has some resulting nerve damage, it was said at Monday's conference.

Rodriguez will apparently claim self-defense.

The incident was captured on surveillance video.

The footage shows Gittlitz, dressed in a black shirt and shorts, arguing with Larry Demonte, a former business partner, in a yellow shirt from across the street.

Demonte then walks over to talk to Gittlitz before two other men, including Rodriguez, dressed in black pants, black shirt and hat, are seen crossing the street.

Words are exchanged, and Rodriguez allegedly punches Gittlitz before dragging him around the company van and into a corner. He then repeatedly pummels Gittlitz as he lies unconscious from the constant blows.

Later in the video, Gittlitz, who said his head hit the concrete about 20 times, is seen struggling to get to his feet.

Gittlitz, a New Jersey resident, suffered a broken jaw, which was wired shut for two months, and multiple facial fractures. He spent about a week in the hospital recovering from his injuries.

Rodriguez was arrested in January 2017 and indicted last August on charges of second- and third-degree assault. The latter charge is a misdemeanor.

Demonte was also arrested then and charged with assault in the third degree, falsely reporting an incident and harassment, a criminal complaint said.

Prosecutors alleged Demonte lied when he told investigators Gittlitz started the fight.

"Eric hit a potential buyer. He was aggressive, and it led to a fight," the complaint quotes him as telling cops.

Demonte later pleaded plead guilty to third-degree falsely reporting an incident, a misdemeanor, and was sentenced in Criminal Court on Jan. 12 to three years' probation, said prosecutors.

A five-year order of protection was issued in Gittlitz's favor, prosecutors said.

During Monday's hearing, Jeong denied a defense motion to suppress Gittlitz's photo-array identification of Rodriguez as the assailant.

The judge said the array, shown to the alleged victim six days after the incident, was not unduly suggestive.

Ortega, the defense lawyer, declined comment outside court.
STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- Michael Sirotta's first few piano lessons did not go well.

As a 7-year-old, he didn't like practicing, so the lessons stopped.

However, Michael's family did have a piano at home on which his mother would play songs for him that he repeatedly requested, and he remembers having an early fascination with musical notation even though he couldn't read it.

He believed there was something magical about those printed notes being brought to life. That magic led Michael to a career in music -- he began formal training at age 21 -- that has earned him much recognition.

When and where did you start obtaining a serious music education?

I obtained a bachelor of music at Temple University in 1971 and, in 1973, a master of music at Temple, where I matriculated in a music major, with a curriculum of theory and composition. I was self-taught enough to pass the entrance exam to the university.

When did you actually begin to play music?

I was 15 when my mother, who was impressed with xylophone virtuosi she saw on TV, brought me a small practice xylophone and arranged a few lessons for me. I played that instrument at a summer arts camp and with a small ensemble at school. But, without real technique training this, too, fell by the wayside.

What finally convinced you to enter the university with a music major?

My dad was a doctor and wanted me to follow in his footsteps, thus my college career started as a biology major in 1961. However, I was drifting more and more toward music and quit school to work as a lab technician, for three years, at the Dupont Corp., while taking some night courses at Temple. One was on the composer Richard Wagner, about whom I was very fond and had a robust knowledge. That course led me to my decision to go full-time for music studies.

Tell us about how you became a professional and how your career grew.

I took up playing percussion instruments at Temple in my second semester. The instructor was Charles Owen, the principal percussionist with the Philadelphia Orchestra. He took me on because I could read rhythms and he was just beginning to teach there and didn't have a large enrollment. Owen was able to get his students various local gigs. In my junior year, he hooked me up with an ensemble that did school assembly programs, through which I met Joel Thome, director of the Philadelphia Composers' Forum. I soon became its principal percussionist. We'd play new works by University of Pennsylvania "moderns" and mainstream European avant-guard composers who were enamored of exotic percussion timbres, so there were plenty of challenging parts for me. Joel then helped me get a position with the Jerusalem Symphony Orchestra [in Israel], which I held from 1976 to 1978. Joel was doing things in NYC and would bring me to the city before and after my Israel years. For a while, he was music director for the Erick Hawkins Dance Theater and I was their percussionist. My NYC forays led me to meet "downtown" theater musician/composers and dance theater dancers. In 1980, I moved to Brooklyn and cultivated those contacts, which resulted in my being music director/composer for the Solaris Dance Theater and, ultimately, for Ellen Stewart's Great Jones Repertory Company at La Mama. It was at La Mama that I met Broadway composer and author Elizabeth Swados and I often performed in her musical plays and even music directed some of them.

Where and what have you performed on Staten Island?

I was director/music director for Kids on Stage, a program for the Parks Dept. from 1985 to 2009 and provided music, original or otherwise, for 85 kids' productions. I performed with the Staten Island Symphony, Richmond County and Staten Island Philharmonic orchestras and as music director for Illuminart Productions. I am choir director for Temple Emanu-El's congregational choir and provided musical services to TRY. I have had my own compositions performed by the Staten Island Philharmonic and Staten Island Chamber Players. In 2014, I prepared the music, coordinated the production and conducted Holocaust survivor Harry Bailor's opera/oratorio, "Masada," with Beth Johanning's "Voyces" ensemble, at the JCC. In February, I organized a memorial concert for composer Carl Michaelson, husband of the late Elizabeth Egbert and father of Ingrid Michaelson. For my Kids on Stage program, I wrote "Alice in Wonderland, a Musical Adventure in One Act," a children's operetta.

With what organizations, agencies and/or charities do you belong? What awards or recognitions have you received?

I have membership in the Mud Lane Society, the Van Duzer Civic Assoc., the Staten Island Democratic Assoc. (SIDA) and am a philanthropic supporter of the Integration Charter Schools at the Teleport. I received the Council of the Arts and Humanities of Staten Island (COAHSI) award for outstanding achievement for my work with the Kids on Stage program. I've been honored by Temple Israel and Temple Emanu-el and received honoring citations from the Senior Olympics and the Building Bridges Coalition of Staten Island. *

GET TO KNOW MICHAEL

Where he was born and where he lived before landing here: In Philadelphia in 1944. Michael has lived in Philadelphia; Paulsboro, New Jersey; Glassboro, New Jersey; Israel; and Brooklyn. He moved to Staten Island in 1981.

His family: He met his wife, Janet, now a retired flutist, as a student at Temple University. They were married in 1971. They have a son, Elie, and two granddaughters.

The instruments he plays: "I am a percussionist and percussionists play a great number of different instruments, e.g. xylophones, marimbas, vibraphones, glockenspiels, chimes, drums, cymbals, timpani, triangles, Latin, Middle Eastern and African hand drums and many others that are struck, shaken or scraped. But, I also play keyboards and have done so when music directing theatrical productions. And a third endeavor is producing computer-rendered music tracks in a home studio."

What he does for fun: "We like to visit museums and galleries, especially Asian art exhibits. Of course, attending operas and other musical performances. We have become regular attendees at Bard College Summerscape Festival held each August and make going upstate our summer getaway and, of course, visiting with the grandkids in Massachusetts and when they come our way."
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Sometimes when things break, its a mystery. But even when we cant figure out what went wrong, we understand that something did fail. A critical component or an essential process wore out, or overloaded or somehow reached the limits of its design.

If a dishwasher has a drainage problem its probably a blocked outlet. If a printer just stops printing, either the ink ran out, or the small time bomb the manufacturer placed deep inside the machine finally counted down to zero and exploded, forcing you to buy another crappy, unreliable unit.

The Barnaby Joyce/Vikki Campion affair is a political circus, but that's not why politics is broken. Credit:Seven

But how did our politics break? Was it a simple failure or a complex mystery?

Looking for answers, its tempting to fetishise the grotesque and voyeuristic pleasures of hate-watching Barnaby Joyces implosion, or obsessively checking your preferred news app for the latest developments in the slow motion Trumpocalypse that may yet just kill us all. But its possible to ponder the question a long way away from the centres of power.
Qantas boss Alan Joyce says Australians should expect to pay higher airfares off the back of increasing oil prices, but has assured customers he is taking other steps to absorb some of the cost increases.

The International Air Travel Association said on Monday it expected the average cost of Brent Crude to be $US70 a barrel for 2018 - 27 per cent higher than in 2017 ($US55 a barrel) and 16 per cent higher than it had previously forecast - which would weigh on airlines' profitability worldwide.

Alan Joyce (centre), with Jetstar boss Gareth Evans and Qantas International CEO Alison Webster on Monday. Credit:Christopher Pearce/Fairfax Media

Everybody has to digest fuel costs and theres different ways of doing that," Mr Joyce said on the sidelines of IATA's world transport summit in Sydney.

Were seeing in the domestic market, our competition is in the same boat that we are, [and] very much underperforming Qantas in a lot of ways, so the incentive there for everybody is to make sure that you can digest fuel [increase]."
Omotenashi can also work against transparency and good governance. Directed towards an internal customer -in other words, one's boss - an excessive emphasis on omotenashi may lead to organisational collusion.

Sceptics make a persuasive case. While the spirit of omotenashi contributes to high service quality, it requires higher labour intensity per output, fueling low productivity both in the service sector and in white-collar work overall. According to the Japan Productivity Center, the per-hour productivity of Japanese workers is only about two-thirds that of their American counterparts. Japan ranked 20th of 35 OECD countries in 2017 and has been stuck at the lowest level in the G-7 ever since the statistics became available in 1970.

Long hailed as the epitome of Japanese quality, the concept is for the first time coming in for a beating. More and more Japanese are wondering whether human-scale omotenashi makes sense in an age when Alexa, Siri and Japan's own robotics are seeking to provide a frictionless experience through technology. I'd argue that the term belongs in our vocabulary and, in fact, offers a key to growth and prosperity.

Like "gemutlich" (a German adjective describing fireside coziness), the Japanese word "omotenashi" is hard to define but easy to picture. It's a cashier greeting you nicely rather than chatting with colleagues and tossing your purchase across the counter - an all-encompassing focus on service and caring professionalism.

The raft of Japanese corporate scandals shows how hard executives find it to put principles before what are seen as the firm's interests, and to fight back against corporate malfeasance.

And finally, the concept of omotenashi seems awfully inward-looking at a time when Japanese companies need to grow more comfortable operating globally. If omotenashi grew out of a homogenous, high-context environment such as Japan where citizens can easily relate to one another, can it really work as well outside the country?

In fact, deployed wisely, omotenashi can help Japanese companies set themselves apart. For one thing, the concept can help rationalize how Japanese firms deploy their workers. Nowadays, many jobs can be divided into two buckets -- mundane tasks that can be automated and people-to-people tasks that require communication. The latter are designed for rich omotenashi. For example, at a commercial bank, AI-enabled technology could screen mortgage applications, while highly trained employees could perform complicated financial planning for customers who want their needs understood in detail and by another human being.

A focus on omotenashi could also increase diversity and help mitigate Japan's labor shortages. Despite a shrinking population, the productive labor force in Japan is expected to remain flat over the next five years, according to recent research by Mitsubishi UFJ Research and Consulting. This is due to an inflow of women and elderly workers compensating for the decrease of men between the ages of 15 and 64. Instead of assigning those women and senior citizens to back-office operations or support roles as was traditionally the case, companies could enhance their omotenashi by moving them to front-line tasks such as sales and customer service.

Most importantly, the concept of omotenashi can be expanded abroad if it's updated and made more flexible. Not everyone reads Japanese hospitality the same way; a European expat who's worked in the country for many years might find the almost comically exaggerated hospitality of a country inn to be fussy, while a first-time Chinese visitor might find it charming.
Starbucks Corp Executive Chairman Howard Schultz is stepping down, effective June 26, the world's biggest coffee chain said on Monday, fueling speculation that the outspoken, liberal-leaning executive will make a US presidential bid.

Starbucks CEO Howard Schultz may be eyeing a run at the White House. Credit:Bloomberg

Schultz, 64, has been with Starbucks for nearly four decades and built it into one of the world's most powerful global brands. Under his leadership, the Seattle-based coffeeshop chain went from 11 cafes to more than 28,000 in 77 countries.

In recent years, he has repeatedly denied that he would make a move into politics, but he appeared to be more open to the idea of running for public office in an interview with CNN last week.

Asked specifically about a US presidential run Schultz, said in a New York Times article on Monday: "I intend to think about a range of options, and that could include public service. But I'm a long way from making any decisions about the future."
Qantas fleet of A330 aircraft has been stretched to cover services over the past few days after two of the twin-aisle plane types suffered engine and flight control faults.

And in a sign of the pressure on crewing, a Qantas 747-400 jumbo bound for the Chilean capital of Santiago from Sydney with a full load of passengers narrowly avoided being cancelled on Sunday when a replacement for a sick pilot was found in the nick of time.

Qantas flight QF23 bound for Bangkok was forced to return to Sydney Airport on Friday. Credit:Seven News

Scheduling is desperately seeking a first officer or suitably qualified [right-hand seat] captain to crew the QF27, a Qantas manager of base operations wrote in an urgent request to pilots fewer than three hours before the jumbo was due to depart Sydney.

All standby crew have been used and SMS messages sent plus management pilots contacted. Theres no one. The flight is likely to be cancelled.
Woody Allen says he should be the face of the #MeToo movement in terms of what to do right.

Allen spoke during an interview with Argentine journalist Jorge Lanata that was broadcast Sunday night.

Allen says he's a "big advocate" of #MeToo and that he should be the poster boy for the movement because he has worked with hundreds of actresses over 50 years, and they've never "suggested any impropriety at all."

"Big ones, famous ones, ones starting out... I've always had a wonderful record with them," he said.
Being an ex-president and the house-husband of a former Secretary of State learns you a few things, it seems  most importantly, which TV dramas you can trust.

During an interview to promote The President Is Missing, his debut novel with author James Patterson, former US president Bill Clinton turned his judgement to the small screen's political offerings.

"Madam Secretary is by far the most realistic political show on television," Clinton told the Associated Press.

It's a strong endorsement for the hit series starring Tea Leoni, whose scrupulous character Elizabeth McCord was, as the show's executive producer once revealed, inspired by Hillary Clinton during the Benghazi hearings.
The chance of limiting human-induced global warming to less than 2 degrees is rapidly disappearing as carbon emissions again ramp up in China while reductions in the US and elsewhere stall, scientists say.

Data from the CSIRO's Global Carbon Project indicates greenhouse gas emissions in China accelerated to 1.5 per cent growth last year. China is now responsible for about a third of the world's carbon emissions.

China's emissions are again on the rise, making global climate targets even harder to meet. Credit:Reuters

"That was quite significant growth for China because we had seen almost three years of little or no increase," the project's director, Pep Canadell, told Fairfax Media.

Early indications are that 2018 could see an even larger rise, with China's carbon emissions in the first quarter jumping 4 per cent alone, according to a Greenpeace analysis.
The Berejiklian government must reconsider its bill to protect wild horses in the Kosciuszko National Park because of their "significant negative environmental impact", according to scientists who compiled a 2016 management plan for the animals.

In a letter to Premier Gladys Berejiklian and Deputy Premier John Barilaro, five of the eight-member Independent Technical Reference Group that had called for a cut in feral horse numbers said "rigorous scientific and technical advice" should apply to their future management.

Members of the NSW advisory panel on wild horses say the government has taken the wrong course. Credit:Karleen Minney

"We are extremely concerned that the proposed bill, in its current form, will make it impossible

to conserve the unique environmental values of Kosciuszko National Park," the letter said.

The group noted the bill before the NSW Parliament aimed at protecting the heritage value of the brumbies would potentially damage those values in the state's biggest park by over-riding the National Parks and Wildlife Act 1974.
A 37-year-old man has been charged after a Canberra cyclist was killed at the weekend.

Emergency services were called to Tarago Road, about 34 kilometres from Canberra, about 10am on Sunday to reports a cyclist was hit by a Mercedes Sprinter van. A medical helicopter also responded.

The 55-year-old female cyclist - from Canberra - died at the scene.

The man, who was driving the van, was not injured. He was taken to Queanbeyan Hospital for mandatory testing.

He was later taken to Queanbeyan Police Station where he was charged with dangerous driving occasioning death and negligent driving occasioning death.
Captain Cook statue, Hyde Park, Sydney. Credit:SMH

If Australia can spend $100 million on a museum on the other side of the world to commemorate John Monash, what is Captain James Cook worth, given that this country will want to do something serious in 2020 to mark the 250th anniversary of his landing in Australia? The recent federal budget set aside just $50 million for the event, but Captain Cook is undoubtedly a more significant figure in world history than any World War I general, however able. Cook was the navigator who surveyed and mapped large parts of the world for the first time, including Australias east coast and New Zealands North and South islands. The world became closer together because of his achievements. Australia in its modern form exists because of Cook.

The question, though, is immediately awkward. Cook was not a conqueror but more a scientist; even so he is deeply controversial, being part of, and a cause of, European colonisation, the consequences of which, good and ill, continue to this day. Aboriginal Australians see nothing at all to celebrate in Captain Cook.

The Heritage Council report, made public last week, on what to do about contentious monuments offers some good advice here. The report covers many types of threat to memorials of all kinds, but for Cook only one is really relevant: vandalism. Modern Australia can celebrate pre-European Indigenous heritage without difficulty, and it can celebrate most (but not all) significant events since about 1840, but the settlement or invasion era between 1770 and 1840 is too sensitive.

Statues of Cook and other colonial-era notables are prone to vandalism with an agenda behind it: the reassertion of an Indigenous consciousness into Australian history. That reassertion is legitimate; the vandalism is not. Nonetheless, we accept that many monuments to Cook set up in the 19th century express a triumphalism which is now out of place, and which causes deep animosity. The worst outcome would be for the Cook commemoration to degenerate into another angry, shouted dialogue of the deaf in the tedious culture wars.

What then, is to be done in two years time? We cannot sideline Cook or pretend he did not happen, or that what he did was wrong. If the centenary of Monashs most famous victory is worth a $100 million museum, Cook should be worth twice that. And he should be commemorated in an institution, not some statue  provided that the institution that results does not seek to whitewash or disguise the dire consequences (unforeseen and unintended) of his explorations.

Commemorating war is easy  which is one reason why Australia lavishes millions on Monash and makes a fuss of Anzac Day while quietly wishing Australia Day would go away. Commemorating Cook in a way which does justice both to his achievement and its consequences for Indigenous Australians will be hard. Australians should expect it to be confronting. But this country which exists as it is because of his voyages, should of all places do it properly. Are we as a nation capable of that? Can we face what his discoveries led to without resort to whitewash? Or will we quail again before the politically correct cliches and bury the complexities of our history, as Australians tend to, in our own feeble politenesses and shame?

At some point this country will become reconciled to its colonial history. We might as well start now.
The man whose brother was hired to shoot dead Sydney businessman Michael McGurk hadn't alerted police to the murder plot out of "stupid loyalty" to his older sibling, a court has heard.

Lawyers for Bassam Safetli, 50, told the Downing Centre District Court he hadn't believed his brother Hassaim Safetli was capable of the killing and hoped the plot would "fizzle out".

Bassam Safetli, brother of Hassaim Safetli, pleaded guilty to concealing a serious crime. Credit:Ben Rushton

McGurk, 45, was gunned down as he got out of his Mercedes in the driveway of his Cremorne home on the evening of September 3 in 2009.

Bassam Safetli pleaded guilty to concealing the murder and the conspiracy behind it for not telling authorities he had been aware of the plan until police approached him a year later.
"The NSW Ministry of Health is advertising the role of Director, Media, NSW Health," writes Allan Gibson of Cherrybrook. "Would this be a spin doctor?"

We thought wed solved the seven-slice quiche dilemma (C8), but suggestions, not all of them half-baked, keep coming. While Jenny Stephenson of Wollongong simply suggests the method of one for you one for me one for you one for me one for you one for me, Michael Afaras says: Just place .1428571428 of the pie on each plate. Problem solved.

Keeping it culinary, Cheryle Brown of Earlwood found some Useful advice that came with my new frypan: 'By following these instructions you will prevent the emission of fumes, which can be dangerous for the birds. Nevertheless, it's recommended to keep the birds out of the kitchen'."

Peter Noone of Meadowbank "had a chuckle watching ABC TV news on Sunday night. There was a segment on an organisation that deals with computer scams. A scam site had a supposed number for the Department of Human Services which was dialled and when answered straightaway the comment was, 'That can't be a government department, they answered too quickly'."

Initially we thought he was kidding, but David Cox of Annandale says: "My daughter is doing honours at university and has to complete a course called the Academic Honesty Education Module. Or AHEM for short."
A man who was fined for abusing Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull at a Brisbane pub has been charged with attempted murder.

Nicholas John Gordon, 26, was charged after the alleged attack on a woman in her 30s at a Carina Heights home just after midnight on Sunday.

Nicholas John Gordon, 26, has been charged with attempted murder. Credit:Facebook

Police alleged they were called to a house on Chataway Street after a disturbance and found a woman in her 30s with "significant" injuries to her face and cuts to her hands.

Mr Gordon was arrested at a Chataway Street address nearby.
A 32-year-old Woodridge man has been charged with one count of murder over the death of a five-month-old baby boy in Brisbane's bayside last year.

Detectives arrested the man on Monday morning after an extensive investigation into the death, which occurred at a property in Cleveland.

A five-month-old baby boy was reported unresponsive at a Cleveland address in March 2017. Credit:File

Police said a triple-zero call was made about 8.50am on March 28, 2017, reporting a baby boy was unresponsive.

Police and emergency services responded, but the boy was declared dead at the scene.
The federal government's review into the Australian Public Service has put the call out for submissions, with review chair David Thodey encouraging all Australians to have a say.

"Whether you are part of the APS, are in business, a community organisation, or someone who uses government services, you will have an opinion on how the public service should serve the public - and we want to hear it," Mr Thodey said.

The review was announced by Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull last month, and is set to report back in the first half of 2019.

Its broad terms of reference cover innovation and productivity as well as improving the general public's experiences in dealing with the public service.

"The world has changed a great deal over recent decades, and it will continue to change at a rapid pace," Mr Thodey said.
When I wrote on this topic four years ago, the Australian Government Security Vetting Agency said about 350,000 people held active clearances. Its workload was about 33,000 assessments a year  triple that from 15 years earlier. Last year, 46,500 applications were assessed. The total number of active clearances in circulation had climbed above 440,000. What on earth is going on? The impression given is that, in order to protect its "treasure" (national security information), the government keeps building higher, wider castle walls and expanding them across its entire fiefdom, when it could simply hide its treasure better. The reason the vetting agency exists is that, back in 2010, the Gillard government was so concerned by the security checks' rising costs that it centralised the process to eliminate waste. Money was poured in. The agency has unquestionably improved the efficiency of vetting practices. But the main problem  lengthy delays  has worsened. Applicants wait, on average, 18 months for a positive-vetting clearance (which is needed to access information classified above top secret). Negative-vetting level 2 (needed for top-secret information) takes over five months, and negative-vetting level 1 (for secret documents) takes about 3 months. Remember: two decades ago, government agencies were panicked about having to wait three months.

A crisis is now erupting. The Inspector-General of Intelligence and Security, Margaret Stone, complained recently to the Senate that she struggles to hire staff because recruits simply won't wait 1 years to start a job. Government agencies are so frustrated that many ask their recruitment agencies to offer interviews only to candidates who already hold a clearance; an unlawful practice that the Informant documented throughout last year. Who can blame them? With the ongoing staffing cap forcing agencies to rely on temporary employees, it's hardly reasonable to wait many months before they can begin their work. Last year's independent intelligence review warned that the vetting delays are "exacerbating the intelligence community's existing workforce challenges". Its recommendation, unsurprisingly, was to give ASIO more money and staff so as to speed up the background checks. In other words, its proposed solution is to fix the supply of clearances. Somehow, getting clearances for everyone is seen as a better solution than thoughtful information security. Yet surely that's not the problem. It's easy to blame the vetting agency  perhaps it does need more resources  but it's today's ridiculously inflated demand for clearances that is causing and prolonging the backlog.

I've been told of least two offices in Canberra so poorly designed that everyone who enters must hold a negative-vetting clearance (level 1 for one office, level 2 for the other)  not because all staff need to access secret or top-secret information but because they must pass through a secure area to get to their desk. Somehow, getting clearances for everyone is seen as a better solution than thoughtful information security. Overprotective classification has the same effect. When a workplace, over years, wrongly classifies its documents  a practice Barrett said was widespread  new recruits must apply for higher-level clearances than they really need, just so they can access basic information relevant to their job. The costs to everyone start to mount. What would happen if the government decided to tighten security rather than expand it? To demand that public servants spare classification for information that genuinely warranted it, and to vet a minority of staff, rather than everyone? It'd certainly save a lot of money. And the work of government would go on. Last year, the Independent National Security Legislation Monitor, James Renwick, told Parliament he didn't have the positive-vetting clearance needed for his job; he was still waiting with all the others in the queue (he did, however, have negative-vetting level 2). When asked whether lacking the right clearance was impeding his work, he laughed it off, explaining that "agencies have had no difficulty providing me with anything I have asked for". If the watchdog of our national security laws can get by, I'm sure most public servants can, too.

There is a quick fix for at least part of this mess. Three years ago, Barbara Belcher's report on red tape recommended scrapping the default practice of new staff getting a baseline clearance, which involves checking their identity, qualifications, criminal history and background (going back five years). Replacing these clearances with a simpler form of screening would, Belcher said, "reduce the regulatory burden on staff and improve security outcomes". Nothing has happened, though there are murmurings the government may finally move on this. On the other hand, the intelligence review ignored the suggestion entirely. As always with issues related to national security, few politicians or senior officials are willing to be known as the one who asked: "Maybe we should do a little less?" It seems we can never spend too much on counterterrorism or counter-espionage, regardless of whether the costs justify the benefits  a point that academics Mark Stewart and John Mueller have demonstrated convincingly. The great folly in all this, of course, is that officials with the highest level of vetting were responsible for the West's biggest known intelligence leaks. Edward Snowden and Bradley (now Chelsea) Manning are the best known, but let's not forget Canberra's own contributions. There was Jean-Phillipe Wispelaere, a steroid-abusing officer at the Defence Intelligence Organisation who stole almost 1400 mostly US classified documents, flew to Bangkok and tried to sell them to a foreign power. And Simon Lappas, a depressed analyst at the same organisation, who fell in love with a prostitute and gave her documents to sell to the Russians. The Russians (at least, it was reportedly them) didn't buy. The bureaucracy and the intelligence community's bizarre response? Just keep vetting more and more staff. How letting everyone inside the tent reduces the "insider threat" is beyond me.
The National Farmers' Federation will sideline Gina Rinehart from future negotiations with the government over National Agriculture Day, as it moves to distance itself from the mining billionaire.

Fairfax Media revealed on Monday that former deputy prime minister Barnaby Joyce lobbied Malcolm Turnbull on behalf of his friend Mrs Rinehart to give public support for the day, six-months before he received a surprise $40,000 cheque from Mrs Rinehart at the day's gala dinner.

The day was originally Mrs Rinehart's brainchild, but National Farmers' Federation president Fiona Simson says the lobby group will now "go independently" to the government to ask for more public funding to pay for this year's celebration.

Nigel Scullion, Gina Rinehart, Barnaby Joyce at the National Agriculture Day celebration last year.

Ms Simson said Hancock Prospecting and the National Farmers' Federation disagreed on the amount of emphasis Mrs Rinehart's $16 billion company wanted to put on the day's gala dinner compared to educational packs and awareness campaigns
Where, then, should we look for enlightenment? No one should patronise homely fare, films you watch while dozing because the kids want to, as low-maintenance baby-sitting. The twilight bark in One Hundred and One Dalmatians (1956) is a model of comity and community both, as an all-dog alert for 15 lost puppies proceeds from Hampstead Heath up a drainpipe, through an artist's studio, into a pet shop, on top of a limousine, then away to a farm. Members of the team work with and for one of their own, helping and guiding. We might gauge public opinion with a twilight bark rather than a Newspoll.

If a woofer cacophony appears too frivolous, then the other end of the spectrum might be Twelve Angry Men (1957), a case-study in rancorous consensus-building where 12 jurors wrestle with the truth. Their arguments are empirical, evidence-based, yet all the ensuing quarrels have to do with the quality of our judgments, the security of our bearings and the depth of our consciences.

In between, we might profitably pause at Cat Ballou (1965), ignoring the silly title song and a lame Jane Fonda to concentrate on Lee Marvin's rejuvenation as a gunslinger. That is admirable therapy for anyone in disgrace with fortune and men's eyes. Drunken shakes are banished, accumulated filth is soaped away, a natty black outfit is donned, and the killing may begin. Emperor Marcus Aurelius might have had Marvin's character in mind when he insisted that any one of us could always re-kindle the ashes. Those among the powers that be who are fretting about their careers would be more easily comforted by Cat Ballou than by an unobserved allegory about the unending tedium of IDCs (Groundhog Day, 1993). Everyday lives may be more likely to end with a whimper rather than a bang, but  with luck - not a whimper as dismally boring as that.

To round off a quartet of consolation, I recommend the final scene in Casablanca (1942), when Rick and Reynaud wander off together at the start of a beautiful friendship. Theirs is a friendship grounded in exile, forged in gambling, nurtured by alcohol, redeemed by murder, but real. As Emmanuel Macron remarked of his marriage, so might Rick say of Reynaud: "we are a couple, nonetheless". For Casablanca addicts (and who is not), friendship may well underpin comity, community, consensus-building, even rejuvenation.
National Party leaders have been forced to defend the integrity of their own MPs after Barnaby Joyce labelled some of them "scum of the earth people" for trying to pressure his partner Vikki Campion into having an abortion.

Veterans' Affairs Minister Darren Chester slammed Mr Joyce for tarring the Nationals' entire 22-member party room during his paid tell-all interview on Channel Seven, and vowed to fight for a ban on MPs accepting money for interviews.

"I've already had some informal discussions with my colleagues and that will continue in the coming weeks," he told Fairfax Media.

Barnaby Joyce has criticised unnamed colleagues who he said suggested his partner have an abortion. Credit:Alex Ellinghausen

The couple accepted $150,000 for the Sunday Night interview, which they will entrust to newborn Sebastian. During the segment, they cast aspersions on Mr Joyce's National Party colleagues by claiming unnamed MPs had demanded Ms Campion abort her baby or there would be consequences.
Every so often, reverberations from Russia, whatever its regime, make life for Canberrans more interesting.

Two Soviet officials escort Evdokia Petrov towards a plane at Mascot Airport. Credit:William Carty

The most notable instance was in 1954: the sensational defection of Vladimir and Evdokia Petrov. On a smaller scale, however, other incidents can be cited, ranging from the fake news story about Manning Clark's alleged flaunting of an Order of Lenin medallion to the recent hour-long media conference given by the Russian Federation's feisty ambassador.

The first time that Russian mystique lit up the bush capital came soon after the Federal Parliament moved up from Melbourne. The date was Friday, November 23, 1934. The occasion was the laying of two foundation stones at the site of a building on Kings Avenue, which was intended to be Australia's National Library.

Only part of this would-be edifice was ever completed. After a long hiatus, the library as we now know it opened on its present site in 1968, after which the incomplete building on Kings Avenue was demolished and replaced by the Edmund Barton building.
By now, most of us are used to the idea of rapid, even accelerating, technological change, particularly where information technologies are concerned. Indeed, as consumers, we helped the process along considerably. We love the convenience of mobile phones, and the lure of social-media platforms such as Facebook, even if, as we access these services, we find that bits and pieces of our digital selves become strewn all over the internet.

More and more tasks are being automated. Computers (under human supervision) already fly planes and sail ships. They are rapidly learning how to drive cars. Automated factories make many of our consumer goods. If you enter (or return to) Australia with an eligible e-passport, a computer will scan your face, compare it with your passport photo and, if the two match up, let you in. The "internet of things" beckons; there seems to be an "app" for everything. We are invited to make our homes smarter and our lives more convenient by using programs that interface with our home-based systems and appliances to switch the lights on and off, defrost the fridge and vacuum the carpet.

Clever though they are, these programs represent more-or-less familiar applications of computer-based processing power. With artificial intelligence, though, computers are poised to conquer skills that we like to think of as uniquely human: the ability to extract patterns and solve problems by analysing data, to plan and undertake tasks, to learn from our own experience and that of others, and to deploy complex forms of reasoning.

The quest for AI has engaged computer scientists for decades. Until very recently, though, AI's initial promise had failed to materialise. The recent revival of the field came as a result of breakthrough advances in machine intelligence and, specifically, machine learning. It was found that, by using neural networks (interlinked processing points) to implement mathematically specified procedures or algorithms, machines could, through many iterations, progressively improve on their performance  in other words, they could learn. Machine intelligence in general and machine learning in particular are now the fastest-growing components of AI.
The son of the ACT's first federal politician has implored the Australian Electoral Commission to name the territory's new electorate after his late father instead of war historian Charles Bean.

In a hearing in front of the AEC's augmented redistribution committee, David Nott said that he only knew his father Lewis Nott for the first 20 years of his life, "but what years they've been".

Charles Bean and the proposed Bean electorate. Credit:Fairfax Media

Dr Nott said that his father should be recognised for the work he did in campaigning for the ACT to be represented at a federal level.

"What he's done for Canberra, is ceaseless work," Dr Nott said. "He pushed [for the ACT to have a seat in the federal parliament] very heavily through the whole time he lived in Canberra."
The royal commission into financial services has exposed not just gaping holes in the regulatory fence but an astonishing lack of will and capacity, on the part of regulators and government alike, to even recognise the legitimacy of public interest, let alone to act on its behalf.

At the political and ideological level, the practices and rorts being exposed almost on a daily basis go to the heart of issues raised by American historian Nancy MacLean in her explosive and controversial 2017 book, Democracy in Chains: The Deep History of the Radical Right's Stealth Plan for America. The book focuses on Nobel prize-winning economist James McGill Buchanan and his work on public choice theory, which has spurred the rise of the libertarian agenda in the United States in line with Buchanan's aim to "save capitalism from democracy".

His theories, which have been taken up by the radical right and, most notably, the billionaire Koch brothers, Charles and David, have been instrumental in dismantling and sabotaging industry regulation is the US.

Australia, as seen from revelations so far in the ongoing royal commission, is by no means immune from the contagion MacLean describes. University of Western Australia legal academic Andrew Schmulow wrote earlier this year: "Australia's financial system is increasingly governed by a lawless financial sector, presided over by regulators that are at best misguided, and at worst captured."
Deputy Premier John Barilaro's brumby bill will be debated soon in the NSW Parliament. The bill requires the National Parks and Wildlife Service to protect large herds of feral horses, or brumbies, within Kosciuszko National Park.

In tabling his bill, Barilaro argued the legislation would give long overdue recognition of brumby culture, while avoiding the cruel slaughter of thousands of horses in culls proposed in the Draft Wild Horse Management Plan for Kosciuszko National Park.

A wild brumby in the Kiandra high country, in the NSW Snowy Mountains. Credit:Karleen Minney

But many things in Barilaro's speech are questionable. For example, he overstated the supposed cruelty of culling horses and the cultural importance of keeping horses in Kosciuszko National Park.

Barilaro told Parliament that "culling is cruel and barbaric", citing statistics from Guy Fawkes National Park. But an independent report found that cull was well run and carried out in a humane way. The horses in Guy Fawkes National Park were short of food after fires and some had starved to death. Rapid culling was humane compared with prolonged suffering from starvation.
Children are being held in police watchhouses for up to 11 days, shocking new figures reveal.

Hundreds of young people have been detained in Queensland police watchhouses over weekends, while children as young as 11 have spent up to five days in a watchhouse in recent months.

Children as young as 10 have spent two days in Queensland police watch-houses. Credit:Tony Moore

It comes after attempts to shift 17-year-olds out of Queensland's adult prisons into youth detention centres was delayed in February, with not enough available space at the state's two youth detention centres.

Both were bursting at the seams this week.
One nation after another at a weekend conference lined up to denounce China for breaking international law and to reassert "the rules-based order", but a curious pattern quickly emerged.

The further a country from the front line of China's relentless expansion into the South China Sea, the tougher it talked.

Illustration: Dionne Gain Credit:Dionne Gain

The countries who are actually losing their claimed territories to China's military forces were much more diplomatic. So diplomatic, in fact, that they tiptoed carefully around the subject and had little or nothing to say.

One of the striking new responses to China's unchecked gains in the region is the rising protest from Europe. The annual Shangri-la security dialogue in Singapore heard stern words from the defence ministers of Britain, France and Germany on the weekend. All three declared that they will uphold "the rule of law" in the South China Sea.

France and Britain said that they were stepping up naval movements through the zone: "No less than five French ships sailed in this area in 2017," said French Minister for the Armed Forces Florence Parly. "European ships are mobilising more widely."
Seoul: North Korea's top three military officials have been removed from their posts, a senior US official said, a move analysts say could support efforts by the North's young leader to jump-start economic development and engage with the world.

Kim Jong-un is preparing for a high-stakes summit with US President Donald Trump in Singapore on June 12, the first meeting between a North Korean leader and a sitting US president.

North Korea's leader is seen by some analysts as moving to install a younger, more trusted cohort. Credit:Bloomberg

The US official, who spoke on condition of anonymity, was commenting on a report by South Korea's Yonhap news agency that all three of the North's top military officials were believed to have been replaced.

Kim's motivation remains unclear but analysts said the shake-up allows him and the ruling party to tighten control over the Korean People's Army (KPA) at a critical time of international engagement and domestic development.
El Rodeo, Guatemala: Rescuers on Monday pulled at least 10 people alive from ash drifts and mud flows that poured down the slopes of Guatemala's erupting Volcano of Fire, but officials said 62 people were dead although not all were identified.

The head of the country's disaster agency, Sergio Cabanas, said rescuers using helicopters had pulled 10 people from areas swept over by a towering cloud of thick ash, mud or lava.

Residents of El Rodeo, about 12 kilometres downslope from the crater, said they were caught unaware by fast-moving pyroclastic flows when the volcano west of Guatemala City exploded Sunday, sending towering clouds of ash kilometres into the air.

Searing flows of ash mixed with water and debris down its flanks, blocking roads and burning homes.
Farage is still a member of the European parliament, but next March he will have done himself out of a job. And this has put him in a bit of a bind, because he now has to find something to do. Brexit supporters rally for the UK's exit from the EU. The surprise vote was one of the highlights for nationalists in 2016. Credit:AP I dont know, honestly I havent worked it out, he said at a press conference for Londons Foreign Press Association earlier this year (it coincided with a press stunt in which he threw fish into the Thames, for Brexit-related reasons too complex to go into here). There are lots of things I believe in but I dont believe in them enough to want to do politics as a career. Its been a hobby and its been great fun.

If I get the Brexit I voted for Ill be very happy to walk out of the European parliament in March. Farage has left himself a get-out clause to return to politics. Opposing the EU has been more or less his main job since the late 1980s, when the then-City trader got so annoyed by the UKs shortlived membership of the European Exchange Rate Mechanism that he began what he calls a one-man crusade to get the UK out of Europe ("one-man" apart from the many Eurosceptic Conservative politicians who were crucial to David Cameron eventually calling the Brexit referendum). Brexit: UK Independence Party (UKIP) leader Nigel Farage tells a rally why he believes Britain should leave the EU. Credit:AP Farage says the May government is simply going through the motions of Brexit, because they dont really believe in it, and there are a lot of us who are very disappointed Brexiteers, we dont see the country taking advantage. If we dont get the Brexit we fought for I will have to get back into the frontline of British politics, he says. I havent worked out exactly how.

This may mean starting a new political party -Ive done it once before, he says. Ive left UKIP behind me, its no particular secret Ive become increasingly frustrated with the party (it went) from being an altruistic group of people to a method for people to climb the political career ladder. In 2014 as leader I was a total dictator, there was no mechanism to stop me, I did what I liked and it worked pretty well. But he told the party he wanted to turn it into something more like Italys Five Star Party, and they told him no thanks.

I felt that was a massive mistake. After severe financial problems, cratering polls and a worse string of leadership turnovers, UKIP is a mess. Farage has been seen visiting the Ecuadorian embassy where Julian Assange is based. Credit:AP And Farage is concerned about how close it came to electing anti-Islam activist Anne Marie Waters as leader. I draw the line at wanting to have a religious war against Islam, he says. Isolating extremists and attempting to get moderate Muslims onside is the way to go its not about hating people its about protecting our culture.

Farage has been less than complimentary about immigrants, as well as immigration, in the past. Perhaps his lowest point was standing in front of a Brexit referendum poster showing Syrian refugees in Europe which bore striking similarity to a scene from a Nazi propaganda film. At one talk Farage gave in Wiltshire in 1996, precisely nobody turned up. But he now says hes in the vanguard of a big trend across the Western world. A taxi driver waves a Union Jack flag at Nigel Farage, a day after Britain voted to break out of the EU. Credit:New York Times People are increasingly saying they want the nation state to be the basic building block that they believe in, he says. Part of this is about controlling borders.

The revolution of 2016 isnt over, its actually barely begun, he says. Farage has claimed the Brexit result was the inspiration behind Donald Trumps win. But he is coy about his level of influence in, and interaction with the White House. I dont discuss private conversations with the President, he says: a hint that he has them. He denies a conspiracy theory popular among Trumps opponents, that he was smuggling Wikileaks data to the Trump campaign. He only visited Julian Assange to try for an interview, he says. And he says the investigation into Trump is going to find nothing in terms of Russian collusion I dont believe any of it.
It wont be the first time that a president has tried to shield himself from the full reach of the law. And yet in the past, checks and balances  both formal and informal  reinforced the long-standing view that no citizen, regardless of status, was exempt from justice. But in the Trump era, those safeguards seem far less sure.

Should Mueller move forward to subpoena the President, or should Trump try to fire Mueller, that theory of an above-the-law president will be put to the test.

Thats the question at the heart of Americas slow-moving constitutional crisis. Over the weekend, The New York Times published two letters that Donald Trumps lawyers sent to Robert Mueller, the special counsel investigating Russian interference in the 2016 election. In it, the lawyers made a shocking claim: the president is incapable of obstructing justice, because as the nations chief law enforcement officer, he is the final arbiter of justice.

The Magna Carta laid out the principle that no one was above the law  not even a king. It did so by creating checks on the monarchys unlimited powers: a group of barons could seize the kings properties if he failed to meet his obligations. In the US, those ideas were formalised in the oversight roles of the three branches of government.

But not all presidents have readily accepted these limits. The most important showdown between a president and the rule of law involved Richard Nixon. Having overseen, ordered and committed any number of crimes during his campaign and presidency, by the start of his fifth year in office, Nixon was caught up in a number of congressional investigations.

Nixon firmly believed that as president, he had a level of executive authority that the courts could not challenge. In 1971, when The New York Times and Washington Post were preparing to publish the Pentagon Papers, a top-secret study of the Vietnam War, Nixon went to court to bar the newspapers from publishing the report. The court ruled, 6-3, that the government could not prevent the publication.

That same assertion of executive authority came into play when the special counsel investigating Watergate subpoenaed Nixons secret Oval Office recordings. The Supreme Court again rejected the presidents claim of unlimited power  this time unanimously  arguing that Nixons assertion of an absolute, unqualified presidential privilege of immunity from judicial process under all circumstances clearly went further than the Founders belief in a restrained presidency.

Nixon ultimately resigned when it became clear that he would be impeached and convicted. But he never agreed with the courts restrictions on the presidencys power. In a famous interview in 1977, David Frost asked Nixon whether his illegal acts were justified. Nixon countered with a full-throated defence of executive power: When the president does it that means that it is not illegal.
Michigan: Delta Air Lines is investigating the death of an eight-year-old pet dog during a stopover at Detroit Metropolitan Airport, en route from Phoenix to Newark, New Jersey.

The Pomeranian, called Alejandro, was found dead on Wednesday morning in its carrier in a cargo facility at the airport, south-west of Detroit in Romulus.

"When he landed here in Michigan, he was alive at 6.30am, and then at 8.20, he wasn't moving and it just doesn't make any sense to me," owner Michael Dellagrazie told WDIV-TV.

"We lost a family member. That's exactly what happened, and somebody has to be responsible for it. He was in their care and they didn't take care of him."
Auryn trenches 61 meters of 0.7g/t gold and 9.5 g/t silver of oxide mineralization at Huilacollo

Posted by Publisher Internet

Auryn Resources Inc. (TSX: AUG, NYSE American: AUG) (?Auryn? or the ?Company  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hKoS2L6g9RA&t=19s&index=3&list=PLBpDlKjdv3yo WEe8WGEU2dq8ikvb5EJ4l ) is pleased to announce encouraging results from its initial three trenches at the Tacora target within the Huilacollo oxide gold project in southern Peru (Figure 1). Broad zones of oxide gold and silver mineralization were encountered within hydrothermal breccia bodies that form part of a 1.5 km long structural corridor that defines the Tacora target (Figure 2).

The Tacora target is located approximately 3 km to the southwest of Andamarca hill, the area of historic drilling and known mineralization. The three trenches define 170 meters of mineralized strike length within exposed breccia bodies which remains open both to the northeast and southwest. In addition, the width of the mineralization remains open due to deep colluvium cover that was encountered during the trenching program.

Auryn has completed a talus fine survey over the 1.5 kilometer long structural corridor to define the gold and silver mineralization footprint within the target zone, results are outstanding. A follow up trenching program has been designed to expand the mineralized system. Michael Henrichsen, COO & Chief Geologist of Auryn, stated ?The broad zones of oxide gold and silver mineralization encountered in hydrothermal breccias at surface confirm our thesis that the Tacora target has the potential to become a significant body of mineralization. We look forward to obtaining the results from our talus fine survey to define the entire footprint of the mineralized system and to expanding our trenching program as we move toward understanding full potential of the Huilacollo oxide gold system.?

The trench results are presented below in Table 1 and are highlighted by 61 meters of 0.7g/t gold and 9.5 g/t silver including 25 meters of 0.99 g/t gold and 13.34 g/t silver.

Michael Henrichsen, P.Geo, COO of Auryn, is the Qualified Person who assumes responsibility for the technical disclosures in this press release.

ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF AURYN RESOURCES INC.

About Auryn

Auryn Resources is a technically driven junior mining exploration company focused on delivering shareholder value through project acquisition and development. The Company?s management team is highly experienced with an impressive track record of success and has assembled an extensive technical team as well as a premier gold exploration portfolio. Auryn is focused on scalable high-grade gold deposits in established mining jurisdictions, which include the Committee Bay and Gibson MacQuoid gold projects located in Nunavut, the Homestake Ridge gold project in British Columbia and a portfolio of gold projects in southern Peru, through Corisur Peru SAC.

Forward Looking Information and additional cautionary language

This release includes certain statements that may be deemed ?forward-looking statements?. Forwardlooking information is information that includes implied future performance and/or forecast information? including information relating to or associated with the acquisition and title to mineral concessions. These statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause actual results, performance or achievements of the Company to be materially different (either positively

or negatively) from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Readers should refer to the risks discussed in the Company?s Annual Information Form and MD&A for the year ended December 31, 2017 and subsequent continuous disclosure filings with the Canadian Securities Administrators available at www.sedar.com and the Company?s registration statement on Form 40-F filed with the United States Securities and Exchange

Commission and available at www.sec.gov.

Auryn holds its interests in Peru through Corisur Peru SAC, which controls (among other) certain licenses (including the Huilacollo and Banos del Indio projects) that are located within a special legal zone which runs 50km back from the Peruvian border. As a non-Peruvian company, Auryn?s right to?ultimately acquire title over the shares issued by Corisur Peru SAC and to own and/or exploit these licenses requires approval from the Peruvian government. While Auryn is in the process of submitting its applications with respect to the approval and does not currently foresee any legal reason why it would be denied the approval, some risk of denial or delay should be assumed to exist. Tacora Trench Samples  Analytical samples were taken from each 1 meter interval of trench floor

resulting in approximately 2kg of rock chips material per sample. Collected samples were sent to ALS Lab in Lima, Peru for preparation and analysis. All samples are assayed using 30g nominal weight fire assay with atomic absorption finish (Au-AA25) and multi-element aqua regia digest ICP-AES/ICP-MS method (ME-MS41). QA/QC programs for 2018 trench samples using internal standard and blank samples, field and lab duplicates indicate good overall accuracy and precision.

Intercepts are calculated using a minimum of a 0.2 g/t Au cut off at beginning and end of the intercept and allowing for no more than five consecutive samples (five meters) of less than 0.2 g/t Au. Minimum allowed length of the resulting composite intercept is five metres.

Disclaimer

The Toronto Stock Exchange nor the Investment Industry Regulatory Organization of Canada accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.
Firesteel Resources Boosts Operating Team Strength with the Appointment of Seasoned, International Gold Mining CFO

Posted by Publisher Internet

FIRESTEEL RESOURCES INC. (TSX-V: FTR)?(?Firesteel? or the ?Company?  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=svqa541JNhA&t=3s) today announced that it has appointed Gregory Duras as Chief Financial Officer for Firesteel.

Gregory has over 20 years of experience working in the resource sector and over 10 years of experience working as Chief Financial Officer for various publicly traded companies including Avion Gold Corp. which had mining operations in Mali and Burkina Faso.

Gregory has an abundance of international mining experience, having served as Vice President of Finance and Administration at S.C. Rosia Montana Gold Corporation, a mineral exploration and mining development company based in Romania, and more recently working in the resource sector based in Seville, Spain.

Gregory has a Bachelor of Administration from Lakehead University and is a Certified Professional Accountant (?CPA?).?

Michael Hepworth, President and CEO of Firesteel said; ?Given the international nature of our operations and the fact that we are set to begin production in the 4th quarter of 2018, we have been intent on building a competent management team with appropriate, international business and hands on gold mining experience. Gregory is thus a welcome addition to the team, having been responsible for the CFO function in several international gold mining operations.?

?Firesteel wishes to thank Grant Smith for his contributions to Firesteel?s success while he was CFO. We wish him every success in his future endeavors.?

About the Company

Firesteel is an exploration-stage junior mining company engaged in the acquisition and exploration of prospective precious and base metal properties in Canada and stable jurisdictions around the world. Firesteel is currently working to evolve from an exploration company to becoming a junior producer.

On April 7, 2017, Firesteel first announced the signing of heads of agreement with Nordic Mines AB to form a joint venture to operate and eventually acquire 100% of Nordic Mines Marknad, a wholly owned subsidiary of Nordic Mines AB. Nordic Mines Marknad owns 100% of Nordic Mines OY, the operator of the fully permitted and past producing Laiva Mine near Raahe in Finland.

Firesteel recently completed an updated Resource Estimate prepared in accordance with NI 43-101 guidelines and CIM standards (Firesteel Press release dated August 21, 2017).?? The results of that study include:

The mineral resources presented here were estimated using a block model with a block size of 9 m by 9 m by 9 m sub-blocked to a minimum of 3 m by 3 m by 3 m using ID3 methods for grade estimation.? All mineral resources are reported using a pit constrained gold cut-off of 0.40 g/t Au.??

?Mineral resources which are not mineral reserves do not have demonstrated economic viability.? The estimate of mineral resources may be materially affected by environmental permitting, legal, title, socio-political, marketing, metals prices or other relevant issues.

Nordic Mines OY

[list]

250 tonne per hour autogenous Outotec mill

Cyanide leaching circuit

First dore cast in 2011

Conventional open pit mine

Excellent local infrastructure

2 additional early stage gold properties in Finland.

[/list]

Disclosure: Companies typically rely on comprehensive feasibility reports on mineral reserve estimates to reduce the risks and uncertainties associated with a production decision.? The Company has not completed a feasibility study on, nor has the Company completed a mineral reserve estimate at the Laiva Mine and as such the financial and technical viability is deemed to have higher risk than if this work had been completed.? Based on historical engineering and geological reports, historical production data and current engineering work completed or in process by Firesteel, the Company intends to move forward with the development of this asset.

The Company further cautions that it is not basing any production decision on a feasibility study of mineral reserves demonstrating economic and technical viability, and therefore there is a much greater risk of failure associated with its production decision. In addition, readers are cautioned that inferred mineral resources are considered too speculative geologically to have economic considerations applied to them that would enable them to be categorized as mineral reserves.

Firesteel currently has one highly prospective property in British Colombia.

The Star property is currently operated under a Joint Venture agreement between Firesteel (49%) and Prosper Gold. (TSX-V: PGX) (51%).

About Pandion Mine Finance, LP

Pandion is an affiliate of PFL Raahe Holdings LP and is a mining-focused investment firm backed by MKS PAMP Group and Ospraie Management, LLC that provides flexible financing solutions to developing mining companies.

Qualified Person

The scientific and technical information in this news release has been reviewed and approved by Paul Sarjeant, P.Geo., a Qualified Person under National Instrument 43-101 and a director of the Company.

For a detailed overview of Firesteel Resources Inc. please visit:

www.FiresteelResources.com

For further information, please contact:

Michael Hepworth

President and Chief Executive Officer

(416) 419 5192

mhepworth@firesteelresources.com

www.firesteelresources.com

In Europe:

Swiss Resource Capital AG

Jochen Staiger

info@resource-capital.ch

www.resource-capital.ch

For up to the minute news, industry analysis and feedback follow us on Facebook, LinkedIn and Twitter.

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

Advisory Regarding Forward Looking Statements

This news release contains forward-looking statements. Users of forward-looking statements are cautioned that actual results may vary from forward-looking statements contained herein. Forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to: expectations, opinions, forecasts, projections and other similar statements concerning anticipated future events, conditions or results that are not historical facts. In certain cases, forward-looking statements can be identified by the use of words 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 statements that certain actions, events or results ?may?, ?could?, ?would?, ?might? or ?will be taken?, ?occur? or ?be achieved?. While the Company has based these forward-looking statements on its expectations about future events as at the date those statements were prepared, the statements are not a guarantee of the Company?s future performance.? Although the Company believes that the expectations reflected in such forward-looking statements are reasonable, it cannot give any assurance that such expectations will prove to be correct.?

The Company?s forward-looking statements are expressly qualified in their entirety by this cautionary statement and are made as of the date of this new release.? Unless otherwise required by applicable securities laws, the Company does not intend nor does it undertake any obligation to update or review any forward-looking statements to reflect subsequent information, events, results or circumstances or otherwise.
First Cobalt Receives CFIUS Approval for US Cobalt Acquisition

Posted by Publisher Internet

First Cobalt Corp. (TSX-V: FCC; ASX: FCC; OTCQX: FTSSF) (?First Cobalt?) and US Cobalt Inc. (TSX-V: USCO, OTCQB: USCFF) (?US Cobalt?  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LY4qXCoWstE&t=4s) are pleased to announce that the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States (?CFIUS?) has completed its review of the previously announced proposed acquisition of US Cobalt by First Cobalt and has concluded that there are no unresolved national security concerns with respect to the transaction.

Under the plan of arrangement transaction announced March 14, 2018, First Cobalt will acquire all of the issued and outstanding shares of US Cobalt. US Cobalt owns the Iron Creek Cobalt Project, located in the Idaho Cobalt Belt and has a 1.3M ton historical resource estimate (non-compliant with NI 43-101) grading 0.59% cobalt.

It is anticipated that the transaction will be completed before the opening of markets on June 4, 2018.

About US Cobalt

US Cobalt is focused on the acquisition and development of high grade battery metal deposits in North America. The Iron Creek Cobalt Project, located in the prolific Idaho Cobalt Belt, is the focus of a 40-hole, 35,000 foot (10,700 metre) drill campaign to confirm a 1.3M ton grading 0.59% cobalt historical estimate (non-compliant with NI 43-101) and a Resource Estimate prepared in accordance with NI 43-101 is expected on the project in 2018.

About First Cobalt

First Cobalt aims to create the largest pure-play cobalt exploration and development company in the world. The Company controls more than 10,000 hectares of prospective land covering over 50 historic mines as well as mineral processing facilities in the Cobalt Camp in Ontario, Canada. The First Cobalt Refinery is the only permitted facility in North America capable of producing cobalt battery materials. First Cobalt seeks to build shareholder value through new discovery, mineral processing and growth opportunities, with a focus on North America.

Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

This news release may contain forward-looking statements and forward-looking information (together, ?forward-looking statements?) within the meaning of applicable securities laws and the United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. All statements, other than statements of historical facts, are forward-looking statements. Generally, forward-looking statements can be identified by the use of terminology such as ?plans?, ?expects?, ?estimates?, ?intends?, ?anticipates?, ?believes? or variations of such words, or statements that certain actions, events or results ?will?, ?may?, ?could?, ?would?, ?might?, ?occur? or ?be achieved?. Forward-looking statements involve risks, uncertainties and other factors that could cause actual results, performance and opportunities to differ materially from those implied by such forward-looking statements. In particular, forward-looking information included in this news release includes, without limitation, statements regarding the completion of the transaction. Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from these forward-looking statements are set forth in the management discussion and analysis and other disclosures of risk factors for each of First Cobalt and US Cobalt, filed on SEDAR at www.sedar.com. Although First Cobalt and US Cobalt believe that the information and assumptions used in preparing the forward-looking statements are reasonable, undue reliance should not be placed on these statements, which only apply as of the date of this news release, and no assurance can be given that such events will occur in the disclosed times frames or at all. Except where required by applicable law, First Cobalt and US Cobalt disclaim any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

Historic Estimates

US Cobalt considers the cobalt and copper tonnage and grade estimates above as historical estimates. The historical estimates do not use categories that conform to current CIM Definition Standards on Mineral Resources and Mineral Reserves as outlined in National Instrument 43-101, Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects (?NI 43-101?) and have not been redefined to conform to current CIM Definition Standards. They were prepared in the 1980s prior to the adoption and implementation of NI 43-101. A qualified person has not done sufficient work to classify the historical estimates as current mineral resources and US Cobalt is not treating the historical estimates as current mineral resources. More work, including, but not limited to, drilling, will be required to conform the estimates to current CIM Definition Standards. Investors are cautioned that the historical estimates do not mean or imply that economic deposits exist on the Iron Creek property. US Cobalt has not undertaken any independent investigation of the historical estimates nor has it independently analyzed the results of the previous exploration work in order to verify the accuracy of the information. US Cobalt believes that the historical estimates are relevant to continuing exploration on the Iron Creek property.
Nuvias Appointed UK and DACH Distributor for Forcepoint

London, UK: 4/6/18: Nuvias, the fast-growing value-added distributor, has signed a UK and DACH (Germany, Switzerland and Austria) distribution agreement with Forcepoint, a leader in global cyber security. Forcepoint takes a human-centric approach to cybersecurity and aims to transform the digital enterprise by continuously adapting security response to the dynamic risk posed by individual users and machines. The company is looking to Nuvias to help expand its reach and grow sales across both enterprise and SME markets in the UK and DACH.

Nuvias will distribute the full range of Forcepoint offerings, such as the recently launched Dynamic Data Protection solution which extends customer capabilities through Forcepoint\-\-s Human Point System. Dynamic Data Protection brings together human-centric behaviour analytics and next generation DLP innovations and is the first Risk-Adaptive Protection solution in Forcepoint\-\-s portfolio of market-leading cybersecurity products. These also include Cloud Access Security Broker (CASB), Web/Email Security, Data Guard and Network Security (NGFW).

Ian Kilpatrick, EVP Cyber Security for Nuvias, commented: \Forcepoint\-\-s approach of human-centric security and risk-adaptive protection is at the forefront of developments in the security industry and will be a high growth opportunity for resellers. We are excited by the prospect for increased sales throughout the Forcepoint portfolio, particularly in areas such as cloud security, web security, and data management around GDPR.\

Neal Lillywhite, Vice President of EMEA Channel at Forcepoint, said: \With over 20 years\-\- experience in the UK and DACH, Nuvias has a long-established and knowledgeable security channel, and is skilled at creating value for both vendors and channel partners to enable growth. With a large and varied reseller partner base, they will help us extend our reach and we are looking forward to a very successful partnership.\

Nuvias offers the channel in-depth experience of cyber security through its Cyber Security Practice, which provides a comprehensive range of best of breed security solutions addressing all aspects of security risk in today\-\-s rapidly evolving networks. The Cyber Security Practice is based on the former Wick Hill, the long-established, award-winning security value added distributor, which was acquired by Nuvias in 2015.
This article was originally published at The Conversation. The publication contributed the article to Space.com' Expert Voices: Op-Ed & Insights.

There are only a handful of astronauts, but every year thousands of high school and college students get to visit space vicariously, by launching their own satellites. Students design, build and test each one, and then work with space industry professionals to get them loaded on rockets and launched into orbit. But this opportunity  available to students and educators for more than 30 years  may not continue much longer, as the Federal Communications Commission considers hiking communications licensing fees beyond the reach of most students and schools.

In a move that threatens U.S. education in science, technology, engineering and math, and could have repercussions throughout the country's aerospace industry, the FCC is proposing regulations that may license some educational satellite programs as commercial enterprises. That could force schools to pay a US$135,350 annual fee  plus a $30,000 application fee for the first year  to get the federal license required for a U.S. organization to operate satellite communications.

It would be a dramatic increase in costs. The most common type of small satellite used in education is the U.S.-developed CubeSat. Each is about 10 inches on a side and weighs 2 or 3 pounds. A working CubeSat that can take pictures of the Earth can be developed for only $5,000 in parts. They're assembled by volunteer students and launched by NASA at no charge to the school or college. Currently, most missions pay under $100 to the FCC for an experimental license, as well as several hundred dollars to the International Telecommunications Union, which coordinates satellite positions and frequencies.

A St. Thomas More Cathedral School student with the schools STMSat-1 Earth-imaging CubeSat. Will other students get this same opportunity? (Image credit: NASA/St. Thomas More Cathedral School)

U.S. CubeSat programs have been a model for space education programs around the world. In our work in North Dakota, we've seen the power of satellites to excite and engage students. And we're not alone. Hundreds of CubeSats have given students hands-on experience, even reaching elementary schools, to get younger students interested in, and connected to, engineering and space science. In my view, the FCC should protect all this by making clear what fees apply to school and university missions, and ensuring the cost is much lower than $135,350.

Leading in innovation

In recent months, the FCC has correctly noted that the "United States continues to be the leader in the number of small satellites launched," and praised small satellite programs' "promise as a driver of innovation."

Researchers at NASAs Ames Research Center made small satellites out of mobile telephone parts that they packed into a CubeSat frame to show that consumer electronics can function in low Earth orbit. Will cost prevent similar innovation in the future? NASA (Image credit: NASA)

Indeed, whether they are starting a business or conducting cutting-edge research, giving students and teachers the "freedom to fail" in small satellite projects lets them learn and take risks that yield big technological leaps. One student spacecraft design at Stanford, for example, challenged the physical principles that underlie optical imaging. CubeSats also allow institutions  and even countries  with smaller budgets to discover whats possible in, and from, space.

Those advances have helped establish the United States' lead in satellite technology in a "commercial space race" that has dramatically lowered the cost of commercial spacecraft and "revolutionized" how satellites are used. Today, satellites serve an enormously wide range of purposes, including tracking ships at sea, helping deliver medicine, bringing aid to hikers and securing borders  in addition, of course, to helping millions of people figure out exactly where they are at any given moment.

Problematic regulation

Representatives of aerospace companies, universities, the military, NASA and other government agencies are preparing to attend Augusts AIAA/USU Conference on Small Satellites, better known as "SmallSat," focusing on university satellite missions. As that event approaches, a group of prominent researchers has written a letter to the FCC arguing that the annual fee, in particular, "will effectively prevent universities" from being able to launch satellites under these new rules. Unfortunately, the FCC is only accepting comments on that fee as part of a future wider review of regulatory costs.

There are two potential alternatives to paying the fee, but neither is definitely applicable to all educational CubeSat missions. For instance, the FCC's experimental license allows "scientific and research missions for the purposes of experimentation, product development, and market trials." That doesn't seem to cover missions whose primary objective is student learning.

Some other missions might qualify as amateur satellites, but those licenses largely bar operators from running a satellite on behalf of an employer. It's not clear that people who work for a school or university would be exempt.

In fact, the FCC's proposal specifically includes language about educational and university research missions that causes many in the small satellite community concern that at least some  and possibly most  of them will have to pay to fly. That's particularly true for educational projects that receive commercial sponsorships or have some commercial potential, even if their primary focus is education.

In my view, charging these fees will reduce educational opportunities for students by demanding schools and universities pay money they don't have. It will also reduce the number of graduates entering the workforce with these skills and slow the flow of new ideas and research generated by these programs. Instead, the FCC should make clear that educational missions  even ones that accept corporate support  are exempt from the new fees, either under the existing experimental model or under a new one.

Jeremy Straub, Assistant Professor of Computer Science, North Dakota State University

This article was originally published on The Conversation. Read the original article. Follow all of the Expert Voices issues and debates  and become part of the discussion  on Facebook, Twitter and Google +. The views expressed are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of the publisher. This version of the article was originally published on Space.com.
An artist's illustration of one of NASA's Mars Cube One (MarCO) cubesats. The twin MarCOs are the first cubesats to complete a trajectory correction maneuver, firing their thrusters to guide themselves toward Mars.

Two tiny NASA explorers have notched another spaceflight first.

The twin Mars Cube One (MarCO) spacecraft, each of which is about the size of a briefcase, became the first-ever interplanetary cubesats on May 5, when they launched toward the Red Planet along with NASA's InSight lander.

Over the past week, both MarCO-A and MarCO-B have been firing their onboard thrusters to refine their course toward Mars, NASA officials said. No cubesat had ever performed such a trajectory-correction maneuver before. Earlier in May, one of the twin MarCo cubesats snapped its first space photo, which showed the Earth as seen from a distance of 620,000 miles (1 million kilometers). [Launch Photos: See NASA's InSight Soar Toward Mars]

Both spacecraft have also aced some important communications tests since liftoff, said John Baker, program manager for planetary smallsats at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) in Pasadena, California. JPL leads the $18.5 million MarCO mission, which is designed to lay the foundation for future exploration missions by small, inexpensive probes.

"Our broadest goal was to demonstrate how low-cost cubesat technology can be used in deep space for the first time," Baker said in a statement. "With both MarCOs on their way to Mars, we've already traveled farther than any cubesat before them."

The MarCo cubeats are nicknamed "Wall-E" and "Eva" after the adorable (but fictional) robots from Disney's animated film "Wall-E." Their name is inspired by the titular robot, which uses a fire extinguisher to fly through space in the film. The MarCo probes use the compressed gas R236FA, which is commonly used in fire extinguishers, for propulsion.

MarCO-A's trajectory-correction maneuver went smoothly, but MarCO-B's was smaller than expected because of a leaky thruster valve, mission team members said. Both cubesats will need to perform additional engine burns to get to Mars, and MarCO-B's future maneuvers will need to compensate for the unplanned nudges imparted by the leak.

"We're cautiously optimistic that MarCO-B can follow MarCO-A," MarCO project manager Joel Krajewski, also of JPL, said in the same statement. "But we wanted to take more time to understand the underlying issues before attempting the next course-correction maneuver."

If all goes according to plan, the twin cubesats will fly by Mars on Nov. 26, the day that InSight touches down on the Red Planet. MarCO-A and -B will try to relay data from InSight's entry, descent and landing (EDL) sequence back to Earth, but success in that regard isn't critical  NASA's Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter probe will do this job as well.

The MarCO mission will end shortly thereafter. InSight, on the other hand, will spend nearly two Earth years monitoring "marsquakes" and characterizing the heat flow beneath its metallic feet, gathering data that should help scientists better understand how rocky planets such as Mars and Earth form and evolve.

Follow Mike Wall on Twitter @michaeldwall and Google+. Follow us @Spacedotcom, Facebook or Google+. Originally published on Space.com.




Adrian Holmes (Arrow) and Jacky Lai (Beyond) have joined the cast of Netflix's upcoming vampire drama starring Ian Somerhalder (The Vampire Diaries) per The Hollywood Reporter.





Holmes will play Michael Fayne, the lynchpin in a horrifying virus with brutal consequences. Faynes charisma, quick thinking and strategic sense lead him to assume a critical role as a leader of the growing "vampire" faction in a struggle that threatens to tear society apart.Lai, meanwhile, will take on the role of Kaylee Vo, a struggling young online journalist  a would-be Assange who will do or say almost anything to advance her career. A fierce, funny, hustling fringe player, she breaks the biggest story imaginable and soon finds herself a key part of that story with a growing list of deadly enemies.
By Magreth Nunuhe



Windhoek  Why isnt Morocco fulfilling its obligation to the United Nations (UN) Security Council for the self-determination of Western Sahara? Why are economic sanctions not being imposed on Morocco? Can we accept an African country being a coloniser of another? What is being done to put pressure on France and Spain, which are blocking the independence of Western Sahara? What are the pressure tactics Namibia can use to talk to the African Union (AU) for the independence of Western Sahara?



These were some of the pressing questions posted to President Brahim Ghali of the Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic (SADR) during a public lecture on the current political development in the SADR in Windhoek on Monday.



Namibians, who came to listen to the public lecture, made it known in no uncertain terms that they were in full solidarity of the Sahrawis struggle for independence from Morocco as they sang liberation songs and chanted, Down Morocco, down!



Namibians are calling for the AU and the UN to end the colonisation of Western Sahara; they asserted that the UN resolutions are taking too long and it is time economic sanctions are imposed on Morocco; they also criticised the decision to admit Morocco into the AU without fulfilling its promise to grant independence to the SADR, as a gross mistake.



As the last two colonies left on the African continent to fight for their independence, the SADR and Namibia walked parallel roads in their quest for self-determination.



But Namibia obtained its independence in 1990 from former apartheid South Africa, while Western Sahara continues to fight for its right to self-determination from Morocco, even though the SADR was proclaimed on February 27, 1976.



President Ghali said those who were against the independence of Namibia are having the same objectives and strategies to hinder or delay the independence of the SADR.



Why is the UN not implementing what has been agreed upon? The UN and the AU are the guarantors that can impose sanctions on Morocco for not fulfilling its promise, said Ghali.



He stressed that those who have been blocking the decision on the SADR to be granted independence have also pushed Morocco and Mauritania to invade Western Sahara.



The problem is that some big powers in the UN Security Council are blocking the independence of Western Sahara because of foreign interests - just the same way that South Africa blocked Namibian independence, he insisted.



The SADR president said that Western Sahara was one of the richest countries in Africa with an endowment of rich mineral deposits like diamonds, gold, iron, oil, fish and countries like France do not want to see a rich country like that becoming free.



He said last April, the UN Security Council sent a German envoy, Horst Kohler, to see to it that the two parties sit at the negotiating table, but Morocco played tactics.



But we have a lot of solidarity, thanks to the leadership of Swapo; we recognise the Swapo Youth League, he said, emphasising the need to work together with countries that are in solidarity with them.



This is a fight between justice and injustice. We are fighting to regain our rights. We rely on your contribution  every single effort will be useful on how we succeed to put pressure on Morocco, said Ghali.



He argued that Morocco did not come into the AU to build but to dismantle, given the fact that that country continues to undermine the AU-UN cooperation.



Namibias Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of International Relations and Cooperation, Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah shared Ghalis sentiments, saying, We must remain vigilant and mobilise support and solidarity for the SADR.



Western Sahara has never been part of Morocco.



We cannot sleep while our sisters and brothers are under occupation. One day, we will celebrate your self-determination, she said.



Ghali, who was in Namibia on a three-day state visit from May 27 to 29, also held bilateral talks with President Hage Geingob, where the latter expressed similar sentiments in full solidarity of the SADR.



In a statement, Geingob said that Namibias position on the right to self-determination and independence of the people of Western Sahara has been clear and consistent.



Our support for your right to self-determination and independence is a question of principle and not negotiable, he said.



Geingob pointed out that Morocco, as a member of the AU, is expected to fully comply with the principles, values and obligations enshrined in the Constitutive Act of the AU and relevant UN resolutions.



The UN referendum for the Western Sahara should be implemented unconditionally and without further delays or prevarications by Morocco. We call on the UN Security Council to live up to its obligation to compel Morocco to cooperate fully with the UN Secretary Generals personal envoy, Horst Kohler to implement with urgency the UN plan for Western Sahara, he stressed.



Geingob has committed to work with the SADR towards strengthening relations and achieving a shared destiny.



If Morocco cannot heed our call because we are old, let it listen to the young people, he said.

Fast facts about the Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic (SADR):



The SADR is located in northwest Africa and is bordered by Morocco to the north, Algeria to northeast and Mauritania to the east and south east.



The SADR was proclaimed on 27 February 1976.



The SADR has been on the UNs agenda since 1963, when the territory known then as the Spanish Sahara was placed on the UN list of Non-Self-Governing Territories.



The liberation movement Frente POLISARIO was formed in 1973 to use armed struggle to achieve independence from colonial domination. It is still the dominant political force also recognised by the UN.



In 1974, Spain finally declared to organise a referendum for self-determination of the Western Sahara



Morocco violently interrupted the decolonisation of Western Sahara, invaded and occupied by force the territory in 1975, mainly driven by the expansionist ideology of the so-called Greater Morocco.



The AU has maintained over the years the inalienable right of the Sahrawi people to self-determination.



In 2015, the AU Assembly called on the UN General Assembly to determine a date for the holding of the self-determination referendum for the people of Western Sahara.



Moroccos admission to the AU in January 2017 was received with the expectation that it would contribute to finding a speedy solution to the decolonization conflict in Western Sahara, but Morocco has persisted in its illegal military occupation of parts of the territory.



The 30th Ordinary Session of the AU Assembly on January 29, 2018, adopted the relaunching of the negotiation process between SADR and Morocco, but the latter has persisted in defiance and is opposed to any involvement of the AU in the peace process.



The UN Security Council has recently adopted resolution 2414 (2018) to extend the mandate of the United Nations Mission for the Referendum in Western Sahara for a period of six months. (SPS)



062/SPS



https://southerntimesafrica.com/site/news/namibians-rally-behind-western-sahara
New York, June 3, 2018 (SPS) - The Polisario Front called Saturday the Security Council, United Nations Secretary General Antonio Guterres and his personal envoy Horst Kohler to organize direct negotiations between the parties of the Sahrawi conflict, Morocco and Western Sahara, as soon as possible and in accordance with the last resolution 2414, reiterating its full willingness to start direct talks, without prerequisites, with Rabat that would enable the Sahrawi people to exercise their right to self-determination.



In a letter sent by the representation of the Polisario Front to the United Nations, to head of the Security Council, whose rotating presidency is ensured by ambassador and permanent representative of Russia Vassily Nebenzia, the Polisario Front reiterated its full willingness to start direct talks, without prerequisites, with Morocco that would enable the Sahrawi people to exercise their inalienable right to self-determination, in accordance with the resolution 2414 of the Security Council, adopted on 27 April 2018.



The Polisario Front considered, in its letter sent to the Security Council, that the resolution 2412 was a strong signal and a glimmer of hope for the Sahrawi people to see the Security Council fully assuming its responsibilities in the decolonization process of Western Sahara, Africas last colony.



In this regard, the Polisario Front said that the renewal of the mandate of the United Nations Mission for the Referendum in Western Sahara (MINURSO) by six months, whose main mission is to ensure the organization of a referendum on self-determination in cooperation with the African Union, is in itself a positive point.



The Polisario Front, which reiterated its full and ongoing commitment to the resolutions taken by the Security Council relating to Western Sahara, including the resolution 2414 approved by the Security Council on 27 April 2018, renewed its willingness to fully cooperate with the efforts of the UN Secretary General and his personal envoy. (SPS)



062/SPS/APS
Dolce Norwalk has been sold to a New York investor and rebranded as LaKota Oaks, under the management of LaKota Hotels & Resorts created by Sam Haigh and Andy and Danny Dolce to turn around underperforming hotels.

Andy Dolce is the founder of Dolce Hotels and Resorts, which was acquired in 2015 for $57 million by Parsippany, N.J.-based Wyndham Hotel Group, with Danny Dolce formerly vice president of global sales and head of acquisitions.

Haigh is CEO of LaKota and has lived in Norwalk 30 years, earlier in his career holding the roles of president for both Benchmark Hospitality and Doral Hotels and Resorts, and before that running the resort known today as Doral Arrowwood in Rye Brook, N.Y., as general manager.

A one-time seminary situated on 66 acres in West Norwalk, the 120-room conference center was used subsequently as dedicated training centers for GTE and then Prudential, prior to the formation of Dolce Hotels and Resorts in 2003. The facility has more than 30 meeting rooms today as well as an indoor pool and tennis courts, with a workforce numbering about 100 people including part-time employees.

I had known about the property being a Norwalk resident since 1978, and running a property that you could say competed with it, Haigh told Hearst Connecticut Media Tuesday morning. Its 66 acres and its a beautiful property. The architecture is very impressive  the interiors and the whole feel of the place is terrific.

Deal terms were not announced immediately for Dolce Norwalk, with the city of Norwalk last appraising the conference center at $18.8 million.

The buyer is a Dix Hills, N.Y., entity called Queens Plaza West LLC run by Hafeez Choudhary, who Haigh said was brought into the deal by a broker to undertake the property purchase. Entering June, Queens Plaza West took out a $19 million mortgage on Dolce Norwalk from GreenLake of South Pasadena, Fla., according to a filing with the city of Norwalk.

Former owner Broadreach Capital Partners spent $24.9 million in 2007 to acquire Dolce Norwalk, according to city records. A UBS Real Estate loan financing that transaction had been under foreclosure servicing by Wells Fargo and the LNR Partners subsidiary of Starwood Property Trust, which has a Greenwich office. According to Trepp, the instrument had a balance of $22.3 million due as of May.

After two straight years of declining revenue, Dolce Norwalk receipts rose 11 percent in 2017 to just over $10 million, according to Trepp.
STAMFORD  Pedestrians strolling downtown on Monday stopped in their tracks. Passengers in cars on Bedford Street stuck cell phones out the window. All were hoping to get a picture of downtowns latest attraction: a 26-foot tall, 30,000-pound Marilyn Monroe statue in Latham Park.

Installed with the help of a crane, Forever Marilyn, depicting Monroe in her most famous pose from The Seven Year Itch is the largest piece in this summers Art in Public Places series presented by Stamford Downtown Special Services District. This summers series Timeless - The Works of Seward Johnson features 35 realistic, life-sized sculptures throughout the city, plus the giant Marilyn statue in the park, which will serve as her home for the rest of the summer.

Now in its 25th year, the summer art series has brought sculptures of shapes, dinosaurs and horses over the past several years. But many residents are saying this exhibit  the fifth featuring works from Seward Johnson  is the best yet.

This is definitely one of the better ones, said James Bruce, a Stamford resident for the past decade, of this summers series. Im more interested in this. This is the most intriguing.

The sculptures first caught Bruces eye on his drive to work a few weeks ago  he noticed them gathered in the vacant lot by Stamford Town Center, where they were awaiting installation. Since then, hes admired the realism of the pieces, including Keeping in Touch, a statue in front of the Ferguson Library depicting a man reading the paper with his dog.

The summer art series is one of the good things about Stamford, he said. Its something to look forward to.

The statue - particularly the installation of Marilyn - has served as a point of interest of residents and tourists alike. On Tuesday, artists from Seward Johnson Atelier will be giving her some final touches. On Wednesday, from 5:30 p.m. to 8 p.m., Stamford Downtown will host its opening night celebration at The Palace Theatre with cocktails, hors douevres and tours of the sculptures and on Thursday at 6:30 p.m., the Avon Theatre, which sponsored the statue installation, will be holding a viewing of Forever Marilyn followed by a screening of The Seven Year Itch.

People are stopping in the street, people are wheeling carriages over, said Sandy Goldstein, president of Stamford Downtown Special Services. We have people saying Whats going on? Whats going on is we have the privilege of hosting this Marilyn Monroe sculpture. (Seward Johnsons) works are timeless...Its an extraordinary work of art. The realism of this is astounding.

Goldstein said Stamford is the fifth city to host the Marilyn statue. The sculpture has previously been on display in Hamilton, New Jersey, Chicago, Palm Springs, Cal. and Bendigo, Australia.

Throughout Monday morning into the afternoon, Forever Marilyn was put together in pieces, starting with her legs on the bottom. The sculpture came to Stamford from Johnsons studio in Hamilton, New Jersey, in five pieces on an open air, flatbed truck, according to Paula Stoeke, a curator for the Seward Johnson Atelier.

The way she has to be assembled is almost like layers of a cake, Stoeke said.

Stamford residents Janice and Bill Bemonte saw Forever Marilyn in Chicago around 2012 and came to Latham Park to watch her installation.

We were quite amazed, so I came down to see how they were going to get her together, Janice Bemonte said. Its going to draw a lot of people downtown. That was one of the attractions that drew people to Chicago.

The Bemontes agreed Johnsons sculptures are one of their favorite of the summer art series, though the realism of the statues was alarming at first  Bill admitted he thought one sculpture on Summer Street was an actual person waiting to cross the street.

It looks surreal, Janice Bemonte said.

This tops all the things weve had, her husband added.

erin.kayata@stamfordadvocate.com; (203) 964-2265; @erin_kayata
The J.M. Wright Technical High School held its Third Annual Car and Motorcycle Show and Fundraiser Sunday, which brought out old cars and new for a good cause.

The five-hour show with ticket prices and car registration fees going to support Wright Tech students and teachers  was a hit among the dozens of area residents who made the trip to Scalzi Park. Cars there included a yellow 1950 Mercury convertible, a 1968 Chevrolet and a 2000 Plymouth Prowler.
When it came to climbing, Jason Wells and Tim Klein were in a league of their own. The duo, friends and climbing partners since their early 20s, would often scale Yosemite National Park's famous El Capitan twice in the same weekend - a climb that takes even skilled climbers several days to complete.

So when they set out to climb the 3,000-foot granite rock formation in California on Saturday, Wells, 46, and Klein, 42, were well within their comfort zone. "They were not pushing the envelope," a fellow climber and close friend of Wells's, Brady Robinson, said in an interview with The Washington Post. "They weren't going as fast as they could."

In fact, the pair let a friend come along for Saturday's climb, despite the fact that a third person would likely slow down their ascent. It was just another morning on El Cap, as climbers call it.

Attached to the same rope, Wells and Klein scaled the Freeblast Route of the Salathe Wall. Their friend, identified by Robinson as Kevin Prince, made his ascent while clipped to a separate rope and anchor. Then, Robinson said, "something weird happened."

For unknown reasons, Wells and Klein fell, the National Park Service said. Tethered together, the duo dropped about 1,000 feet to their deaths.

A crowd of spectators had been gathered in a field below El Cap, known as The Meadow, to watch a different team of climbers attempt a possible record, Robinson said. So there were likely several people "poised with binoculars, just watching" around the time that Wells and Klein fell, he said. The Yosemite National Park Rangers received several 911 calls at about 8:15 alerting to the fallen climbers.

Since Prince was not attached to the same system, he survived. He was in an alcove of rock when Klein and Wells fell, and couldn't see what happened in the moment.

The cause of the fall is still under investigation, but the deaths have shocked the elite climbing community, who considered Klein and Wells masters of the sport.

The incident baffled Robinson, who is the executive director of the Access Fund, an organization that works to protect climbing access in the U.S. The section of the Freeblast Route where the climbing duo fell was a relatively easy part of the ascent, Robinson said. But it's known for its chunks of rocks that can occasionally become loose. Additionally, the technique the pair was employing, a type of speed-climbing called "simul-climbing" is an advanced one that becomes "inherently riskier" when a third person is added, Robinson said.

Their deaths underscored the dangers that even skilled climbers face while scaling the rocks of Yosemite, where more than 100 climbing accidents take place every year, according to data from the National Park Service. According to Climbing magazine, the pair's fall marked the 25th accident this year that resulted in a death on El Capitan, a popular destination for elite climbers.

VIDEO: Rock slide on El Capitan

Just a couple weeks earlier, on May 21, a man slipped and fell to his death during a thunderstorm while climbing the park's Half Dome. The man and a companion were climbing a trail where rangers had recently installed cables to help hikers get to the top of the rock face.

Robinson said he could not remember a fatal incident in recent years that involved climbers at the caliber of Wells and Klein.

"There might be some people in the climbing community who are seeing we need to be a little bit more mindful of the risks we're taking with speed climbing," Robinson said.

"I know that people in Yosemite are taking it really hard," he said. One climber, Alex Honnold, who recently broke the speed record for an ascent of El Capitan's Nose route, told Robinson that he and his team "were going to take a moment to reevaluate their safety margins," Robinson recounted.

The two men had been climbing together since their college years, when they lived in San Diego, Klein's friend Wayne Willoughby told Climbing magazine.

"This would have been Tim's 107th [in a day] El Cap ascent," Willoughby said.

The pair just scaled the Nose of El Capitan two weeks ago, in a typical whirlwind climbing weekend, Willoughby said. Wells would frequently fly to California from his home in Boulder, Colorado, on a Friday, and alongside Klein would climb one route of El Capitan at about 4 a.m. on Saturday. The next day the duo would wake up and climb another route before Wells had to fly back to Boulder, Robinson said.

"It was a routine," Robinson said, calling it "something that I don't know anyone else does."

Wells and Klein were not necessarily famous outside of their inner circle of elite climbers. They were not professional or sponsored. "They didn't do it for fame, they weren't climbing to break records," Robinson said.

"They were able to do these sorts of climbs just as a matter of course on a regular basis, just because they loved it," he said. "They were not thrill seekers or trying to defy death. They were just world class athletes who just had an ability that's unfathomable to even just the majority of the people in the climbing community, let alone to the general public."

Wells worked as an investment manager at Granite View Asset Management. He was married in June 2016, and has a daughter from a previous marriage, according to Climbing magazine.

Klein, a father of two, was a longtime and beloved teacher at Antelope Valley Union High School District, where he just last week won teacher of the year for the second time.

"We are all heartbroken and mourn the loss of Tim Klein, our colleague and friend," Betsy Sanchez, the Antelope Valley Union High School District's director of communications, said in a statement to the Los Angeles NBC affiliate on Sunday. "He was an extraordinary human being, and all those who knew him have been touched in many ways."

At Palmdale High School, he helped direct a program that taught students to become Emergency Medical Technicians. As part of a fundraiser for a student that was injured in a drive-by shooting, Klein scaled an indoor climbing wall in Santa Clara for 9 hours, 26 minutes and 15 seconds, reaching a total of 29,065 feet. He broke a Guinness World Record for the fastest time to climb the height of Mount Everest on an indoor climbing gym.

"Ultimately his goal was to elevate her," Klein's wife, JJ Tamura Klein, told CBSLA. Last week, Klein attended the graduation for the student.

Tamura Klein posted news of her husband's death on Facebook.

"I know this is incredibly shocking and sad to so many of you who knew them, and it is still very surreal to the boys and I and our entire family and circle of friends," Tamura Klein wrote. "He has left a void that no man can fill."

Speaking to KTLA, she described Klein and Wells like "brothers."

"When you climb together you really do develop that trust and that love for each other," Tamura Klein said. But safety was always paramount to the climbers during their weekends scaling the rocks together.

"I thought the last place that he would die would be in Yosemite," she said.

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Video: Best friends and elite climbers, Jason Wells and Tim Klein, died after falling from El Capitan in Yosemite National Park on June 2.(Amber Ferguson/The Washington Post)

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A WAVE of bank mergers across Europe are expected to follow from news that Italys biggest bank is in talks to combine with Frances Societe Generale.

SocGen, which has more than 4000 UK staff, most of them in the City of London, has been considering a tie-up with UniCredit for some time. Political turmoil and economic weakness in Italy have delayed a formal move, but reports suggest it is now strongly on the cards.

Bank analysts say both lenders need a deal. Last night SocGen denied any board discussion regarding a potential merger with UniCredit.

Bank sources, repeating an earlier report in the Financial Times, say that UniCredits French chief executive Jean Pierre Mustier has been chasing the merger plan for many weeks.

SocGen bosses are keen on the idea, but have yet to make a formal approach.

It is not clear what a deal would mean for London staff, but the main point of the merger would be to boost the combined groups operations in Europe.

The banks are similar in size, with UniCredit worth about 33 billion (29 billion) and SocGen 32 billion.

Mustier is a former SocGen executive, said to have been annoyed at never landing the top job as chief executive. He earlier pondered a bid for Commerzbank.
A mazon packaging supplier DS Smith click-and-collected a Spanish cardboard box company for 1.5 billion on Monday.

The FTSE 100 firm is adding Madrid-listed Europac to its shopping basket for 16.80 a share to take advantage of Spain and Portugals fast-growing online shopping market.

Europac is the latest swoop in the region for DS Smith after the takeover of Spanish firms Andopack in 2014 and Lantero in 2015, and Portugals Gopaca in 2016.

Iberia is seeing strong growth as the region recovers. We have a huge presence in Spanish e-commerce. We badly need capacity in Western Europe because we are growing very fast, DS Smith chief executive Miles Roberts said.

Packaging sales in the region were up 5% last year, against 3% for the rest of Europe, while e-commerce in the Iberian peninsula shot up 25%. Europac employs 2300 people across 23 sites in Spain, Portugal and France, and has annual sales of 750 million.

The deal is backed by nearly 60% of Europac investors, including the founding Isidro family, which owns 42%.

DS Smith, which has 28,500 employees, has ballooned into a 6 billion global giant thanks to the rise of online shopping giants such as Amazon, which uses its cardboard wrappers and boxes for deliveries.

The company is raising 1 billion of new equity to fund the deal through Goldman Sachs, JPMorgan and Citi.
A round a million drivers a week heading out of London cant but notice the huge digital advertising board looming above the M4.

Located on the capitals Golden Mile, it sits squarely beside one of Europes busiest roads and its a dream for advertisers looking to sell their wares to the legions of motorists often crawling past.

The company behind the site, known as 1053 Great West Road, is Wildstone Capital, whose founders Damian Cox and Patrick Fisher are plotting a billboard-buying spree from their natty offices tucked away behind Kensingtons Olympia.

Theres big business in billboards, with nearly 10,000 sites in the Greater London area alone and more than 1 billion in revenues last year, around 60% of which came from digital advertising.

Cox, Wildstones 43-year-old chief executive, has been in this game for nearly 20 years and is the classic restless serial entrepreneur.

He fell into the industry in 1999 working for BlowUp Media, part of German conglomerate Stroer.

But it didnt take long for him to realise there was more money to be made in running things himself, and left to set up his own outfit, EK Straas.

Cox sold that after a year to advertising giant Clear Channel and spotting a gap in the market for super-premium outdoor sites, he set up another company, called Ocean Outdoor, in 2004.

Wildstone Capital Founded: 2010 Staff: 55 Turnover: 15.7 million (year to October), 1.8 million pre-tax profit. Business idol: Patrick Fisher: Teslas Elon Musk. Damian Cox: Nike founder Phil Knight. Best moments: Fisher: getting the Landmark investment. It was a step-change in the business getting that warchest. Cox: The opportunity to expand into Europe. Worst moments: Fisher: The early days. Having left the security of paid employment, I moved back home, worked hard and slowly got into debt. Cox: Having my mother bring a cake into the office and making everybody sing.

It was at Ocean that he hired Patrick Fisher, whod shown his own entrepreneurial bent from an early age, flogging eggs from his dads farm in the Midlands before deciding on property as the way to make money.

My dad was more of an entrepreneur than a farmer. He just followed whatever opportunity he thought was the right one at the time, and said as long as more work out than dont, youre doing okay, says Fisher.

At Ocean, Cox was impressed enough to ask him to work for him at yet another new venture in the billboards world. Fisher demanded an equal share in the new business, and Cox agreed.

The firm started out as a consultancy, helping local authorities make the most of their potential advertising space to generate millions of pounds in extra revenue, as well as assisting private landlords, taking sites through the planning process and handling negotiations with the likes of Clear Channel and JCDecaux, which buy the spaces for campaigns.

It has a specialist building division to deliver the snazzy new billboards as well. Representatives from most of the highest-profile sites in the country, such as Piccadilly Circus, have been through its doors.

But in 2015 it changed tack to buy up billboard sites itself to bolster returns, and after a recent deal with US fund Landmark Dividend  giving it a 1 billion warchest to spend in the UK and across Europe  it expects turnover to treble this year.

The previously rundown 1053 GWR site is a classic example of the strategy. According to Fisher, it was akin to buying a filthy Travelodge on the side of a busy road which is now achieving a very significant annual return.

Cox says: Nobody else was doing it; its a niche market that needed a lot of nurturing.

Buying billboard sites is like residential property  if you buy in the right areas, theyll retain their value, Fisher adds. Wildstone owns around 60 sites and plans to expand its reach aggressively. But it hasnt all been plain sailing.

The proliferation of huge digital advertising boards over the past decade has brought with it concerns that the displays could distract drivers. Birmingham City Councils planning committee recently condemned its plans for giant billboards on the M6 through the city.

Fisher claims the expansion in digital sites hasnt been undermined by higher accident statistics. In no circumstances have we had any issues with [traffic accident] data, he says.

The two founders each hold 25% of the business, having sold 31% in 2011 to raise funds. The remaining 19% is held by management. Its critical that these guys get a stake in the business, not just the founders but the people who put in the hard graft, says Cox.
H ere the Evening Standard business team highlights all the major tech news today.

Top story sees new revelations claim Facebook had data-sharing agreements with at least 60 device markers.

Apple, Amazon, Samsung, and Microsoft were all among the companies to have a data-sharing partnership with Facebook over the last 10 years, according to The New York Times.

Facebook has rejected the claims by the New York Times that it had allowed Apple and other major device makers deep access to users personal data, saying any such links were tightly controlled and largely subject to users consent.

Facebook denies that information belonging to friends of users was shared without permission.

Facebook has been under scrutiny from regulators and shareholders after it failed to protect the data of some 87 million users that was shared with now-defunct political data firm Cambridge Analytica.

Elsewhere eBay could end up with a stake of up to 5% in Adyen as part of a deal the two companies agreed in January that will see the Dutch fintech company become eBays primary payment processor.

Adyen this month plans to sell a 15% stake in an initial public offering in Amsterdam, which is expected to value the company at $7 billion to $11 billion.

Adyen is due to publish its prospectus tomorrow, with a listing to follow mid-month.

Meanwhile in the start-up world, Mews, the cloud-based property management company, has announced the close of its 6 million funding round.

The round was led by Notion, with participation from HenQ and Thayer Ventures.

The funds will also be used to open new offices around the world.
S o, its Cabinet 1, Prime Minister 0. Thats the score so far in the big clash on immigration, as Theresa May looks forced to back down over her opposition to visas for foreign NHS doctors.

The Evening Standard was the first to reveal that Mrs May had overruled Amber Rudds attempts to scrap the cap ; and we were the first to predict that Sajid Javid would overrule the Prime Minister and insist that her bonkers decision (as the NHS called it) was reversed.

The new Home Secretary has used the authority that comes when youre new to the job, you know that a weak Prime Minister was forced to appoint you, and you have your ministerial colleagues like the Health Secretary on your side.

But this is just the first of three fights between Mrs May and her Cabinet.

The second clash will be over the inclusion of overseas students in the Governments immigration figures. Its a nonsensical policy that David Cameron wanted to abandon but his own Home Secretary wouldnt let him.

Her opposition, on the grounds that too many students overstayed their visas, have turned out to be based on Home Office statistics that were completely wrong.

Mr Javid makes no secret of the fact that hes long considered that this is another bonkers decision by Mrs May that hed like to abandon.

Crucially, the House of Lords has passed an amendment that would remove students from the numbers and Tory whips know they wont be able to win the vote when it comes to the Commons. So the U-turn is coming.

Once again, the Cabinet agree with the new Home Secretary, not the Prime Minister, and think the U-turn would be better if it came from them rather than have it forced on them by Parliament.

The third clash is the biggest one, over the target to cut net migration below 100,000 a year.

This has been in place since the Tories were in opposition and is nowhere close to being met. It drives bizarre Government behaviour, like the monthly quota on Tier 2 visas which denies us the skilled, high-paid immigration everyone says theyre happy to see.

The failure to meet this self-imposed, arbitrary policy fuels the sense that we have lost control of immigration and contributed to the Brexit vote.

Ruth Davidson last week said openly what most of the Cabinet privately feel: I see neither the sense nor the need to stick to an immigration figure devised nearly a decade ago, which has never been met and doesnt fit the requirements of the country.

Theres one problem. The Prime Minister doesnt agree. She didnt devise the target, never met it as Home Secretary, could easily have dropped it, yet she has dug in to defend it. But she is now alone among senior Conservatives.

So the only question is whether the migration target is ditched before she is replaced as Tory leader or afterwards. We say the sooner the better.

Lets make it a hat-trick for common sense on immigration: Cabinet 3, Prime Minister 0.

Grenfell: the inquiry

The inquiry into the Grenfell fire begins its second phase today, chaired by Sir Martin Moore-Bick, with Richard Millett QC as leading counsel.

The first phase, about the victims, was conducted with great sensitivity. Now the inquiry addresses the circumstances leading up to the fire.

Mr Milletts address today begins a challenging phase of the inquiry, dealing with issues such as the conduct of the fire services, combustible cladding and the role of the council.

It deserves a respectful hearing in dealing with the complexities of the tragedy.

We trust this phase will be conducted with integrity, and have every reason to believe it will.

Royal Academy at 250

The Royal Academys Summer Exhibition has long been a high point in Londons calendar.

Good news then that alongside this years competition comes a new show celebrating 250 years of the Academy, with works ranging from Constable and Turner to Zaha Hadid and David Hockney.
On Saturday evening Jennifer Aniston and Courteney Cox proved that they're not just Friends, they're best friends.

Although the pair stopped working together on the hit TV show in 2004, the actresses have remained close, but very rarely make public appearances together.

So, you can imagine our shock and elation when Jennifer and Courteney both attended Chanel's dinner in Los Angeles on Saturday as each other's dates.

The women posed on the red carpet together, supportively holding hands at the star-studded affair, which also had Barbara Streisand, Cindy Crawford and Priyanka Chopra in attendance to support Natural Resources Defence Council, ahead of World Ocean's Day on 8 June.

Getty Images

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The stylish duo proved, once again, that they have the same sartorial prowess as their iconic characters, Rachel and Monica. Both Jennifer and Courteney arrived in head-to-toe Chanel, their monochrome ensembles perfectly coordinating, each also boasting an androgynous edge.

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49-year-old Jennifer opted for a sleek tailored black suit, adorned with statement buttons. She accessorised the tonal look with an eye-catching diamante bag that featured the French fashion labels iconic logo.

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Meanwhile, 53-year-old Courteney also chose to don a pair of flattering high-waisted black trousers, which boasted a luxe satin finish that flawlessly matched her white shirt and skinny silk scarf.
C arey Mulligan has revealed how she decorated her dressing room for her latest play with specially-created artworks to help relieve her stage fright.

As the sole star of Girls & Boys  a one-woman play about male violence which transfers from the Royal Court to New York next week  Mulligan, 33, started getting panic attacks during rehearsals for the London run earlier this year and said she feared being on my own on stage.

Her friend, Brixton-based artist Charlie Mackesy, created a series of encouraging drawings for her dressing room.

Mulligan, star of Collateral, Drive and The Great Gatsby, has previously used poetry to help her get in the mindset for stage roles. She told the Standard: I had a really hard time coming into the show in London. About four weeks into rehearsal, right before previews, I just started having sort of panic attacks and things because I just got very bad anxiety around, I suppose, being on my own on stage.

And he [Mackesy] was amazing. He does these beautiful drawings of angels and things and so he just sat down one day and did all these sketches, incredible pictures of a person on stage whos meant to be me then behind theres an angel leaning down pushing me on the shoulder, sort of pushing me forward.

After strong reactions in London  some audience members walked out and fainted during the play  Mulligan, whose character describes the breakdown of her marriage, said she is looking forward to seeing how people respond in New York. She thinks it will strike a chord there, especially in light of the #MeToo movement and the debate around US gun violence.

She finds the tragic play challenging and said the first time she read it, on her mobile phone, its shocking content made her drop the phone.

Arts picks of the week: 4th - 8th June 1 /5 Arts picks of the week: 4th - 8th June Arts picks of the week: 4th - 8th June Orlando Bloom makes a return to the stage as a hitman in Tracy Letts black comedy Killer Joe. Trafalgar Studios, SW1. Until August 18. atgtickets.com Marc Brenner Arts picks of the week: 4th - 8th June Andris Nelsons conducts Wagners romantic opera, starring Klaus Florian Vogt and Christine Goerke. Royal Opera House, WC2. June 7. roh.org.uk Arts picks of the week: 4th - 8th June Dancers challenge notions of femininity at new subversive Splayed Festival. The Place, WC1. June 6-9. theplace.org.uk Arts picks of the week: 4th - 8th June Laura Linney stars in a dramatisation of Elizabeth Strouts novel, My Name is Lucy Barton. Bridge Theatre, SE1. Until June 24. bridgetheatre.co.uk Arts picks of the week: 4th - 8th June An exhibition of the Howard Hodgkins final works. Gagosian Gallery, W1. Until July 28. gagosian.com

Mulligan, who has two children with her husband, musician Marcus Mumford, is unsure what some of the plays British jokes will mean to US audiences...are they going to know what an easyJet flight is?

Girls & Boys, being staged off Broadway at the Minetta Lane Theatre, is her fourth time on stage in New York.
G reece - land of ancient Gods, dramatic scenery and crystal clear waters - is suffering at the hands of their booming tourism industry.

An estimated 32 million visitors are expected to descend upon Greek soil this year  the most in recorded history.

While the tourism numbers are extraordinary for a country that has battled bankruptcy and euro ejection in the past few years, its taking its toll on the environment.

Environmentalist Nikos Chrysogelos told the Guardian: We cant keep having more and more tourists.

We cant have small islands, with small communities, hosting one million tourists over a few months. Theres a danger of the infrastructure not being prepared, of it all becoming a huge boomerang if we only focus on numbers and dont look at developing a more sustainable model of tourism.

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Over the past three years, tourist numbers to Greece have increased by six million with arrivals from China alone doubling since 2017.

Zakynthos, Greece (Unsplash)

Last year, Santorini saw two million visitors arrive  130 times its 15,000 local population  and the mayor was forced to limit the amount of cruise ship passengers disembarking to 8,000 per day.

Santorinis mayor, Nikos Zorzos said: Its a radical rise and we are forever playing catch-up.

We have built numerous desalination plants and are in the process of erecting the biggest one in Greece, but in five years time I worry even that wont be enough.

This rapid growth means strained infrastructure and overcrowding in popular destinations  which can lead to environmental damage.

So whats the solution? The Greek National Tourism Organisation (GNTO) says to go out of season  or on the shoulder season  to help protect Greeces environment.
T onights the night the country has been waiting for  the return of the unexpectedly beloved reality show Love Island.

For those who havent made the foray into the six-nights-per-week series, Love Island places a bunch of young, attractive Brits in a Mallorcan mansion for a few weeks and they couple up. The public slowly votes the couples out until there is one pair left standing  who have the chance to win 50,000.

Yet, while the BAFTA-winning show draws in a record number of viewers (last years finale brought in the biggest audience in ITV2s history), its also having an influence on our travel habits.

New research from eDreams.co.uk has revealed theres been a 23 per cent increase in Brits travelling to Mallorca this year compared to last year.

The Spanish island is now the second most popular holiday destination for Brits thanks to the dating show, second only to Malaga.

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Love Island has caused Mallorca to jump up six spots from last year as Brits flock to the island to recreate their own reality TV magic.

Love Island Contestants 2018: First Look - In pictures 1 /20 Love Island Contestants 2018: First Look - In pictures Love Island 2018 The girls ITV Love Island 2018 Hayley Hughes ITV Love Island 2018 Laura Anderson ITV Love Island 2018 Kendall Rae-Knight ITV Love Island 2018 Niall Aslam ITV Love Island 2018 Caroline Flack, Kendall, Hayley, Samira, Laura and Dani. ITV Love Island 2018 The girls wait to couple up ITV Love Island 2018 Kendall Rae-Knight ITV Love Island 2018 Wes Nelson ITV Love Island 2018 Dani Dyer ITV Love Island 2018 Eyal Booker ITV Love Island 2018 Dr Alex George ITV Love Island 2018 Hayley Hughes ITV Love Island 2018 Samira Mighty ITV Love Island 2018 Caroline Flack, Kendall, Hayley, Samira, Laura and Dani. ITV Love Island 2018 Samira Mighty ITV Love Island 2018 Dani Dyer ITV Love Island 2018 Adam Collard ITV Love Island 2018 Jack Fincham. ITV Love Island 2018 Laura, Dani, Samira, Hayley and Kendall. ITV
A baby is fighting for life in hospital and a woman is injured after being stabbed at a home in west London.

The one-year-old boy and the woman, in her 30s, were found suffering knife wounds at the residential address in Feltham on Monday.

A manhunt has been launched after the pair were rushed to hospital by the Air Ambulance Service following the attack in Swinfield Close.

Police descended on an address just after 7pm and the surrounding area was placed on lockdown.

Residents reported seeing up to 50 officers swarming the area following the incident, while an air ambulance landed in Oriel Academys school playing field.

One person told Get West London: "We have been told by police to stay in and lock doors. The estate is taped off, and an armed response is present."

Roads were cordoned off as police began scouring the area and hunting for the attacker on Monday night.

Scotland Yard said officers are now looking for a man who is known to live at the address and the three are believed to have been known to each other.

Officers said the boy remains in a critical condition, while the woman's injures are not life threatening.

No arrests have been made.

Police remained at the address on Monday night as investigators sealed off the crime scene.
C omedian Michael McIntyre was robbed by a gang of hammer-wielding moped thieves while waiting to pick up his children from school in London.

The windows of the 42-year-old's black Range Rover were smashed and he was forced to hand over a watch, believed to be worth 15,000, witnesses said.

Mr McIntyre had been waiting in his vehicle to collect his sons in Golders Green, in the north of the capital, when he was attacked by two men on Monday.

Witnesses said the comedian tried to comfort his shaken sons in the aftermath of the attack.

The smashed windscreen of Michael McIntyre's Range Rover (KETTS NEWS) / Ketts News

One witness, who did not want to be named, told the Mail: The guy at the front of the moped started to hit the drivers window about ten to 15 times and it eventually just cracked.

He opens the door and gets Michael McIntyre out of the car. Michael fell but he was still trying to put up a fight.

"I just remember one of the bikers trying to get something. I don't know what the guy was trying to get - a watch, a wallet, maybe?"

Michael McIntyre 'robbed by moped thieves in hammer attack while comedian collects children from school'

His wife Kitty McIntyre said the comedian was doing "fine" as she left their house in north-west London with one of the couple's children in a silver Range Rover on Tuesday morning.

Asked how the funnyman was doing, she replied "fine", before driving away.

Police at the scene in Golders Green after Michael McIntyre was targeted by hammer-wielding moped thugs (DAILY MIRROR) / Daily Mirror

McIntyre's agent told the Sun: "Michael was involved in an incident involving armed robbers.

"He is absolutely fine and helping police with their inquiries."

The Met Police said they were called to North End Road just before 2pm.

The force said in a statement: "The victim was stationary in his car when two males on a moped smashed the car windows with a hammer before stealing property.

"No injuries were reported."

Investigators said no arrests have been made and enquiries are ongoing. Witnesses have been asked to contact police.
P olice are hunting a fraudster accused of conning a woman out of hundreds of thousands of pounds after promising to stop her suffering a "black magic curse".

Muhammed Ashraf is believed to be part of a duo that tricked the woman into handing over 400,000 of her money in exchange for services promising to help people suffering from dangerous black magic.

The 57-year-old woman, from west London, said Ashraf, 37, and another unidentified man made up a duo that said they would be able to offer support for people who believed they had been the victim of a curse.

But the two men demanded increasing payments from her before disappearing.

Police searching for man who defrauded 92-year-old out of over 10,000

The woman told police she first received a leaflet through her letterbox advertising services to counter 'dangerous black magic' in June 2013.

She spoke to one suspect and agreed to meet him in Southall, where she paid him 350 in what she believed would be a one-off payment.

The suspect met with the victim a week later and, explaining that her problems were complicated, demanded 90,000 more to help her. The victim questioned this, but agreed to pay 60,000 cash.

For the following 18 months the two met once a fortnight when the victim was asked to hand over more money and, when the unidentified suspect could not attend, Ashraf would collect the money.

Ashraf, of no fixed abode, later told the victim that his accomplice had died and made her delete any trace of him off her phone. He then claimed he needed to go back to India to do further work.

At this point, on November 25 2015, the victim became suspicious and reported what had happened to the police.

The last time Ashraf was seen by the victim was three weeks later when she saw him driving a blue Hyundai with the registration number AD14 NAZ in Southall.

Police have now released an image of him and would like to speak with him in connection with the allegations.

DC Ben Lawrence-Smith, from Hounslow CID, said: "Although this offence happened a number of years ago, we still appeal to the public for their help in locating Ashraf.

"Ashraf is an Asian male who at the time of his involvement in defrauding the victim had a beard and moustache. He is known to sometimes use the surname Ali, and may be residing in the Midlands."
A Russian tycoon s wife who lives on Londons Billionaires Row is facing jail for stealing a 250 statue from a Chelsea auction house.

Margarita Sofianova, 55, slipped the bronze figurine of a half-dressed woman into her handbag while wandering around the Lots Road Auction Galleries last February.

With the stolen statue, a reproduction of a 19th-century work, sticking out of her handbag, she was caught on CCTV calmly walking out to her hired Range Rover parked outside to drop off the loot. She then returned to continue browsing through lots on sale, Isleworth crown court heard.

Sofianova, the wife of Russian-born tycoon Vasileios Omarov, was identified as the thief by auctioneer Nick Carter, who had known her for a decade as a regular customer.

She had been banned in the past after a dispute with the Lots Road management.

Despite being caught on CCTV, Sofianova insisted in court that she had not been at the auction house that day and was a victim of mistaken identity. But the Range Rover was traced by police back to her 7 million home off the exclusive Bishops Avenue in East Finchley.

She denied theft but was found guilty on Friday and could be jailed when she is sentenced later this month.

The court heard Sofianova had been caught shoplifting four times in the past, including stealing goods from Harrods, taking a 2,000 Prada dress during a 9,000 spending spree and pocketing a scarf from the Hermes store in Knightsbridge.

She also narrowly avoided jail in 2012 when a four-week prison sentence, for hiding her wealth on a legal aid application, was changed on appeal to a 25,000 fine.

Prosecutor Bartholomew OToole said the statue, worth about 250, has not been recovered. He said although it was clear Sofianova was not a wicked person, the evidence against her was overwhelming.

After she was convicted by the jury, Judge Jonathan Ferris agreed to release her on bail if she surrendered her passport and her husband put up a 25,000 surety.

But Mr Omarov failed to bring the passport to court, claiming he spent three hours unsuccessfully trying to get a taxi to take him to north London to collect it.
A teenager has been arrested five days after a terrifying video emerged of a cyclist attacking a car with a huge knife in south London.

The 17-year-old was detained in a residential street in Croydon on Monday afternoon following an extensive investigation.

He was arrested on suspicion of attempted grievous bodily harm with intent, affray, criminal damage, and possession of an offensive weapon.

He was taken to a south London police station where he remained in custody on Monday night.

A Met Police spokesman said: The driver of the car had been approached by a man in possession of a large knife who had smashed his window.

In an attempt to escape, the victim, a 19-year-old man, collided with another vehicle. He then exited his vehicle on foot and was followed by the suspect. There were no injuries.
A n eighteen-year-old has been found guilty of plotting an attack on the British Museum with the UK's first ever all-female terror cell.

Safaa Boular, 18, was also found guilty at the Old Bailey today of an earlier attempt to travel to Syria for terrorism.

The guilty verdicts make Boular Britain's youngest convicted female Islamic State terrorist.

Safaa Boular plotted a terror attack on the British Museum / REUTERS

While in custody for attempting to travel to IS territory, she passed on the baton to her older sister Rizlaine Boular, the Old Bailey heard, and persuaded her to try to carry out the attack.

Boular secretly discussed the murderous scheme with her sister and mother Mina Dich, 44, using coded language which had an Alice in Wonderland tea party theme.

While in custody for trying to go to Syria, Safaa persuaded her sister Rizlaine Boular to try to carry out the attack / REUTERS

Instead of cucumber sandwiches and cakes, her sister Rizlaine, 22, bought a large knife to bring carnage to Westminster in April last year.

Boular discussed her plot with her sister and mother Mina Dich using Alice in Wonderland as code / REUTERS

Rizlaine Boular, of Clerkenwell, central London, has admitted planning a knife attack on London and Dich has pleaded guilty to assisting her.

Following an Old Bailey trial, Boular was found guilty of preparing acts of terrorism abroad and in the UK after two days of deliberations.

Judge Mark Dennis QC put off sentencing for around six weeks for a report to be compiled.

Her fellow plotters admitted their roles before the trial and they will be sentenced at a later date.

The teen was found guilty of plotting an attack on the British Museum / Pixabay/hurk

The women were snared in a "proactive" investigation involving surveillance by counter-terrorism police and MI5 agents posing online as IS operatives.

Counter-terrorism chief Dean Haydon, of Scotland Yard, said the case demonstrated a worrying rise in youngsters being arrested for terrorism.

The court heard how Boular was just 16 when she was wooed online by Coventry-born IS fighter Naweed Hussain, 32.

The couple got married in an online ceremony and talked of donning his-and-hers suicide belts to achieve martyrdom together.

Police uncovered Boular's plans to join him following an airport stop in August 2016 and confiscated her passport.

While on bail, Boular turned her attention to an attack on the British Museum, encouraged by Hussain in "lovey-dovey" messages, the court heard.

Hussain was lured into revealing his murderous intentions to British secret service agents posing as IS supporters online before he was killed in a drone strike.

When an agent pretending to be his commander informed Boular of his death on April 4 last year, she was wracked by grief and resolved to join him.

She revealed to the undercover officer that Hussain had talked about attacking the British Museum with a "tokarev" Russian-made pistol and "pineapples" - code for grenades.

On being remanded in custody over her attempt to travel to Syria, Boular persuaded fellow IS supporter Rizlaine to take up the baton.

Rizlaine then set about reconnaissance around the Palace of Westminster, and bought knives and a rucksack from Sainsbury's.

She was accompanied by Dich, unaware that they were under surveillance by counter-terrorism police.

Rizlaine shared her plans with her friend Khawla Barghouthi, 21, and even practised a knife attack at her home in Willesden, north west London.

She was shot when armed police moved in to arrest the gang but went on to make a full recovery.

Boular, who lived at home in the "dysfunctional" family, claimed she had been groomed by Hussain, who she met online through a female IS recruiter in the wake of the Paris terror attacks.

She wanted to get married and live peacefully in Raqqa, where women were not called "umbrella" or "post box" for wearing Islamic dress, she said.

Three times, she said Hussain urged her to attack the UK - over Christmas 2016, Valentine's Day and around her birthday in March last year - but she rebuffed him.
C ambridge University has called for support from schools and parents to attract more black students.

The plea comes after data reportedly showed some of its colleges admitted no British black students - or as low as one a year - over a five-year period.

A Freedom of Information Request by the Financial Times is said to have revealed that six of the prestigious institution's 29 undergraduate colleges had admitted fewer than 10 British black or mixed white and black students between 2012 and 2016.

The university told the paper that it had admitted a record number of comprehensive school students who identified as black in 2017 after a rise of nearly two-thirds in applications on the previous year.

Cambridge said it is undertaking a "significant bit of outreach", but added: "Ultimately the university isn't going to be able to bring about this change on its own.

"We need the support of schools and parents too."

The figures were supplied to the paper as ranges in order to adhere to data protection rules.

According to the figures, St Edmund's College did not make any offers to its 31 to 35 black applicants over the period, while Hughes Hall received 74 applications and made between five and seven offers.

Corpus Christi and Magdalene received 40 applications each over the period and both colleges made between three and nine offers.

The third most popular college, Downing, made between eight and 12 offers after receiving 95 applications over the period, although it made no offers in 2014 and 2015, the paper said.

The university said: "More needs to be done to prepare high-achieving black students for applications to Cambridge and Oxford, which is why we have significantly increased the funding we contribute to programmes like Target Oxbridge."

Oxford recently said it needs to do more to improve its student diversity, after revealing the proportion of students identifying as black and minority ethnic was 18 per cent in 2017.

This was up from 14 per cent in 2013.
P eople caught in terror attacks and disasters should be screened for psychological distress, the director of Londons major trauma system said today.

Professor Karim Brohi said the importance of offering treatment for mental health issues suffered by victims, emergency responders and bystanders was a key lesson from the Grenfell Tower fire and last years four attacks.

Debriefs following the Westminster Bridge, London Bridge and Finsbury Park incidents found the NHSs life-saving system worked very well. Of almost 100 casualties admitted to hospital, only two died. But the need to provide support, often months after an incident, was one of the big issues to emerge from the reviews, he said.

Professor Brohi, a trauma surgeon at the Royal London hospital, told the Standard: The magnitude of the psychological impact became apparent. We know some things now we either didnt know before or we didnt really appreciate. There are a lot of calls for people to have psychological support immediately. That makes people worse, being forced to relive events very quickly when they have not had a chance to assimilate them.

London Bridge attack memorial service at Southwark Cathedral 1 /6 London Bridge attack memorial service at Southwark Cathedral Sadiq Khan (left) talks to Dean of Southwark Andrew Nunn at Southwark Cathedral Sadiq Khan speaks at Southwark Cathedral during the first anniversary of the London Bridge Jeremy Corbyn and Shadow Home Secretary Diane Abbott walk through Borough Market Theresa May arrives at Southwark Cathedral to attend the first anniversary of the London Bridge terror attack on June 3, 2018 Sajid Javid arrives at Southwark Cathedral Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, arrives at Southwark Cathedral near Borough Market Chris J Ratcliffe/Getty Images

People need to be screened two or three months after the event has happened to see if theyre OK or exhibiting symptoms that may benefit from psychological support.

About 1,000 London Ambulance Service staff had post-traumatic assessment, including those who dealt with 999 calls by trapped Grenfell residents. A mental health service for people caught up in the terror attacks, including the Parsons Green Tube bomb, has received 450 referrals. Eight died at the scene at London Bridge but all 36 patients admitted to trauma centres survived.

Professor Brohi, who established the capitals major trauma network in response to the 7/7 bombings in 2005, added: The processes we put in across London worked very well. Within each event there were things that could be improved or further developed. But the important thing was that the basic structure worked, and people survived when they got to hospital.

Borough Market & London Bridge terror attack tributes - In pictures 1 /19 Borough Market & London Bridge terror attack tributes - In pictures Flowers and post it notes on the wall by London Bridge Jeremy Selwyn Floral tributes and messages to those killed and injured after the London Bridge terror attack left at London Bridge Nigel Howard A message of "love not hate" posted among the tributes Jeremy Selwyn Thousands of people wrote messages to the victims Jeremy Selwyn Red roses laid out on London Bridge after the terror attack Jeremy Selwyn More flowers at Monument in remembrance of victims Jeremy Selwyn Floral tributes and messages to those killed and injured after the London Bridge terror attack left at London Bridge Nigel Howard A woman sticks a post-it note to the wall of messages Nigel Howard People from all over the world left messages of strength and support after the attack Jeremy Selwyn Onlookers take photos of the floral tributes Nigel Howard It comes as the market gears up to reopen Nigel Howard The Borough Market community left this message of strength Nigel Howard A woman takes a photo of the messages left at the scene Nigel Howard One person Rob wrote: They did not dent our democracy Nigel Howard The sea of flowers by London Bridge Jeremy Selwyn Flowers and post it notes on the wall by London Bridge Jeremy Selwyn Flowers and post it notes on the wall by London Bridge Jeremy Selwyn Floral tributes and messages to those killed and injured after the London Bridge terror attack left at London Bridge Nigel Howard A giant blue screen closes an entrance to Borough Market Jeremy Selwyn

Journalist Geoff Ho, who was treated at the Royal London after being stabbed in the neck as he confronted the London Bridge attackers, said: I knew there was a plan  the way they were so organised and calm and barking orders to each other. There was no faffing. There was no panic. It was very calm and reassuring.

Dr Idit Albert, a psychologist in the mental health service set up last October for terror attack victims, said: People are resilient but traumatic events can have a lasting impact. We want to let people know that its OK to not be okay and that there are plenty of NHS services available.

A minutes silence was held yesterday to mark the anniversary of the London Bridge attack. Victims families also lit candles in memory of those who died during a Southwark Cathedral service attended by the prime minister.
T he woman set to become Labours newest MP in the Lewisham East by-election said today she will continue to argue for keeping Britain in the single market.

Janet Daby said she will seek conversations with Jeremy Corbyn about Brexit and makes clear she will make up her own mind when it comes to the big Commons votes on Britains future relations with the EU.

In an exclusive first interview, the mother-of-two and community campaigner said she would take note of Labours whipping arrangements on the big Brexit votes but went on pointedly: I think that I would need to consider what is in the best interests for Lewisham residents, my own convictions, and... I will want to do anything to protect local jobs, growth, the economy and trade.

Ms Daby spoke out as campaigning heated up for the June 14 by-election, making clear she is not going to the House of Commons just to be a rubber stamp for Corbyns policies.

Janet Daby canvassing in Catford with Vicky Foxcroft, MP for Lewisham & Deptford / Lucy Young

The staunch Remainer told the Standard today that local residents want Britain to stay in the single market and customs union. Her views put her somewhat at odds with Mr Corbyn, who has been criticised by some in his own party for dragging Labour into backing a hard Brexit led by Theresa May.

The Labour leader has said he wants to stay in a form of customs union with Europe, but has ruled out remaining in the single market.

In Lewisham East two thirds of people voted to Remain and obviously the Labour Party and myself all campaigned to remain in the EU ... getting out posters, petitions, doing rallies and so on, said Ms Daby, a mother of two who lives in Catford.

In one ward 80 per cent voted Remain. So my view very much is I would like to remain in the customs union and single market. I think thats what local residents, constituents, want. Leaflets sent out by Ms Daby  a social worker specialising in fostering management  state that she wants to stay in the customs union and single market.

Asked what she would say to her leader if elected to the safe seat and she arrives at Westminster, she responded: There will be, if I am the MP, there will need to be some conversations.

And if forced to choose between party loyalty and her own strong views about Brexit in upcoming Commons votes on the issue, she said her Remain-backing constituencys needs come first. Two weeks ago, Ms Daby sent shockwaves rippling through Mr Corbyns office. After one of the most frenetic selection battles seen since the Eighties she was named as Labours candidate to replace former MP Heidi Alexander, who is going to work for London Mayor Sadiq Khan.

The result came as a shock to Corbyn allies, such as powerful aide Karie Murphy who appeared to be trying to engineer a coronation for National Executive Committee member Claudia Webbe, who was backed by the Unite union. In the event Ms Webbe mustered just 35 votes. Also beaten was Momentum-backed rival Sakina Sheikh, who won 135 votes. Ms Daby, a local councillor supported by prominent moderates, and with a campaign run by centrists Labour First, triumphed with 288 votes.

The result was trumpeted as a historic defeat for Corbyn and Momentum by centrists. But Ms Daby herself insists she is a little bit more to the Left, voted for Corbyn in both leadership contests, and would do so again. She would not entertain labels like Corbynista, though, instead saying: I have friends in both parts of the Labour Party.

Sometimes being a black woman you can sometimes feel stigmatised by people, where people want to say this is what youre like, this is who you are. That doesnt sit right with me.

Janet Daby with London Mayor Sadiq Khan

Ms Daby wont disclose her age, laughing that shes in her mid-forties. We later ask a Labour press officer for her age, and get the response: She wont tell me!

But we do learn she is the daughter of two Windrush-generation immigrants who came to the UK in the Fifties and Sixties. Her late father is Guyanese Indian and her mother Jamaican. She first lived in Deptford, and attended Blackheath Bluecoat School in Greenwich.

It was her mothers strength during a vile attack on the family home that became a defining moment in her childhood  and, perhaps, was her political awakening. For three nights in a row, racist thugs pelted the windows of their council flat with eggs. I remember my mother cleaning the windows and just reassuring us, her children, telling us not to be afraid.

I remember thinking Why is this happening? and Why is this happening to us? It was just blatant racism. That always stayed with me, that and the strength of my mother, how she looked after us and kept us emotionally secure and safe. I remember thinking, This is not right  this should not be happening to us, and I think that is when I first thought, I need to find a voice to speak out  for myself and also for other people who are affected by this type of behaviour.

Although Ms Daby voted Labour from an early age, she only became politically active 11 years ago. She was elected to Lewisham council in 2010. Nobody turned up for her first weekly advice surgeries, so she went out to ask local people what they needed.

I was hearing about parents whose electricity was being cut off, or going without meals just to make sure their children could eat. I started to think about what I could do to make a difference. She founded a food project, operating like a food bank but hooked up with local services and faith leaders to offer the dignity of allowing people to choose their food.

"It was just blatant racism. That always stayed with me, that and the strength of my mother looking after us"

Other victories followed, like getting Transport for London to promise to extend the 225 bus route and saving the nursery her daughter attends. She also raised awareness of female genital mutilation and improved support for families hurt by knife crime. Ms Daby has also mentored people from within ethnic minority communities who want to get involved in politics  including a young socialist called Sakina Sheikh, her challenger at the selection.

One of her key backers was Ian McKenzie, the Labour branch chairman and a veteran backroom figure of the Blair government. Her face tightened when asked about his suspension over old tweets that included a jibe that shadow foreign secretary Emily Thornberry was too old for ISIS. They wont make a sex slave out of her.

His suspension, she said, was the right decision pending an investigation. Pressed on her personal reaction, she added: I didnt like the language in the tweets.
I ran is using dual-nationality citizens as political pawns, EU politicians said as they demanded the release of jailed London mother Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe.

A resolution passed by the European Parliament calls for EU foreign policy chief Federica Mogherini to raise Ms Zaghari-Ratcliffes case with Iranian officials as soon as possible.

Dutch MEP Marietje Schaake told a session in Strasbourg that attempts to salvage the Iran nuclear deal after it was dropped by the US should not mean human rights cases are cast aside.

Dual nationals are used by Irans rulers as political pawns. They suffer in prisons without access to lawyers, doctors and EU diplomats, she said.

We call for their release. And we appeal to the high representative, vice president Mogherini, and member state leaders [that they] should not allow talks on the nuclear agreement to overshadow our responsibility to address the great human rights violations in the Islamic Republic of Iran.

Boris Johnson: 'I apologise to Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe and her family'

Ms Zaghari-Ratcliffe, a mother-of-one from Hampstead, has been in jail since April 2016 after being charged with attempting to topple the Iranian regime, which she denies.

The charity worker, 39, also faces new charges of spreading propaganda. She has not seen her husband Richard, who is campaigning for her release, for more than two years.

Three other EU-Iranian dual nationals are also being held by the Iranian authorities.
F ormer CIA director John Brennan has launched an extraordinary attack on President Donald Trump, describing him as a snake oil salesman who lies routinely to the American people without compunction.

Writing in an editorial today for the Washington Post, Mr Brennan said he decided to speak out because Mr Trump has shown mean-spirited, malicious and highly abnormal behaviour.

Mr Brennan, who served as Americas top spymaster for the Obama administration, claimed: Mr Trumps lifelong preoccupation with aggrandising himself seemed to intensify in office, and he quickly leveraged his White House address and his Twitter handle to burnish his brand and misrepresent reality.

His strategy is to undercut real, potential and perceived opponents; his focus is to win at all costs, irrespective of truth, ethics, decency and  many would argue  the law.

He said Mr Trump reminded him of demagogues who routinely relied on lies, deceit and suppression of political opposition to cast themselves as populist heroes and to mask self-serving priorities.

Facing criticism: Donald Trump / PA Wire/PA Images

Mr Trump attacked Mr Brennan last month, calling him the genesis of Special Counsel Robert Muellers probe into alleged Russian meddling during the 2016 presidential election and saying he disgraced himself. The feud reignited today after the presidents outspoken lawyer, former New York mayor Rudy Giuliani, insisted that Mr Trump was effectively above the law and could not be indicted while he is in the White House.

Hypothetically, he claimed, Mr Trump could have shot former FBI director James Comey to end the Russia investigation and still not have been prosecuted. The president has been accused of firing Mr Comey as part of an attempt to shut down his inquiry.

Mr Giuliani argued that Mr Trump would have to be impeached rather than criminally indicted while in office. If he shot James Comey, hed be impeached the next day, Mr Giuliani told the Huffington Post. Impeach him, and then you can do whatever you want to do to him.

Legal analyst Michael Zeldin, a former assistant to special counsel Mueller, said Mr Giuliani was wrong and Mr Trump would be charged if he committed murder while president.

Meanwhile, Melania Trumps spokeswoman said today that the First Lady would not be accompanying Mr Trump on his two upcoming foreign trips.
H ome Secretary Sajid Javid said today that Islamist terrorists were falsely invoking the religion of his parents and grandparents.

Mr Javid, who is Britains first Muslim-heritage Home Secretary, said those who commit terror attacks and self-identify as Muslims are twisting their faith.

In a highly personal speech in which he outlined his new anti-terror strategy, Contest, he praised British Muslims leading the fight against extremists by throwing them out of their mosques and countering their poison online.

His new counter-terrorism Contest strategy could see MI5 intelligence on individuals of concern shared more widely across government, local authorities and police.

It could lead to swifter alerts to police when large quantities of chemicals are bought online by those known to authorities. There will also be an increase in maximum sentences for some offences. The strategy will outline a new approach to managing the rising threat from extreme Right-wing violence.

Mr Javid said that after the attack on French satirical newspaper Charlie Hebdo in Paris in 2015, he had a heart-breaking conversation with his 11-year-old daughter trying to explain what had happened.

I had to explain that these murderers called themselves Muslims. That they were invoking the religion of my parents, and my grandparents, and countless generations of Javids before them.

Of course, I know they are not true Muslims, but theres no avoiding the face that these people self-identify as Muslims.

Mr Javids family came to the UK from Pakistan in the Sixties. He does not practise Islam personally but acknowledges his familys heritage.

I want to say to all those who stand up against all forms of extremism that this Government stands with you. I stand with you, he said.
B rexit must not lead to six mile queues at Dover, a minister warned today amid deep rifts at the heart of Government over Britains future trade links with the EU.

Foreign Office minister Alistair Burt stressed most Tory MPs want the UKs departure from the EU to be based on practicalities supported by businesses and other organisations.

Mr Burt spoke out just hours after a report that civil servants have been drawing up scenarios for a Doomsday Brexit that would leave the country short of medicine, fuel and food if it crashes out of the EU with no deal.

The Sunday Times said models for mild, severe and Armageddon reactions to no-deal exits were created, with a source saying that even the severe scenario saw the Port of Dover collapse on day one.

Ministers sought to downplay the report as inaccurate.

However, Theresa May is facing a showdown with MPs, including her own Cabinet which is bitterly split, over Britains future trade relationship with the EU, with a vote expected to be held shortly on whether the UK remains in a customs union.

Mr Burt voiced the views of several other ministers, and parliamentary private secretaries, who have so far avoided rocking the boat over Brexit.

We will be judged not on how we voted in the referendum but on whether there will be six mile queues at Dover, and whether the thing will work, he told BBC Radio 4s Westminster Hour.

Most of my colleagues want to see something where the practicalities are such that it will be endorsed by third parties, and people will say this is a practical way to resolve the issues that have been created by the peoples decision to leave.

Few junior ministers who oppose a hard Brexit are yet to speak out publicly against it. However, Justice minister Phillip Lee warned earlier this year that there was a serious question as to whether Brexit could legitimately go ahead if predictions that the country would be worse off under all scenarios were accurate.

The Prime Minister was today hosting business leaders in Downing Street as the Government seeks to bridge its internal divisions over Brexit ahead of an EU summit in Brussels at the end of the month.

As the Government struggles to find a post-Brexit solution to the border between Northern Ireland and the Republic, Democratic Unionist Party leader Arlene Foster has threatened to pull out of the deal propping up Mrs Mays Government if the province ends up being treated differently from the rest of the UK.

One idea floated would see Northern Ireland covered by a joint regime of UK and EU customs regulations, allowing it to trade freely with both, plus a 10-mile wide special economic zone on the border.

Cabinet ministers were last month tasked with analysing two main options, a customs partnership proposal that would see Britain continue to collect tariffs on behalf of the EU and the technology-based maximum facilitation  or max fac.

Brussels has already rejected both schemes, with chief Brexit negotiator Michel Barnier saying neither was operational or acceptable.

A temporary solution that would keep the UK in its entirety aligned to EU customs rules until 2023 is also not feasible, a senior EU official warned.

If they come to the point with a proposal that is negotiable, and that would not be limited in time, we have a good basis to limit the worst damage of Brexit, the official said. But we are not at that point.
Jamie Oliver has come under fire amid rumours his campaign to tackle childhood obesity could see a ban on Marks and Spencer's popular Percy Pig sweets.

Many people have described the rumoured move as the final straw in his continued efforts to reduce unhealthy eating in kids.

The TV chefs campaign entitled Ad Enough which was launched in April and proposed the ban of companies using cartoon characters to promote sugary foods.

His campaign was launched to coincide with the governments drive to tackle childhood obesity.

A leaked government report seen by the Sun last week stated that the government had plans to prevent licenced characters, cartoon characters and celebrities" being used to promote sugary food.

Jamie Oliver has called for a ban on adverts featuring cartoon characters / PA

The proposal has sparked wide spread outrage with many people blaming Jamie Oliver for the potential banning of the Percy Pig range and the store's popular Colin the Caterpillar cake.

But, M&S has insisted there are no plans in place to ban the sweet treats.

Katie Crabtree wrote: first two for one pizzas now Percy Pigs, watch me knock Jamie Oliver out I swear down.

Another person said: If Jamie Oliver gets rid of Percy Pigs hes had it.

One person claimed they felt personally victimised by the stricter food policies.

Andy Pearson said: I know I have previously ranted about this but if he bans Percy Pigs this is the final straw. My lads grew up on these they are hardly obese @jamieoliver keep your opinions to yourself.

The report stated that Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt will carry out further work on the plans.

When the Standard contacted Marks and Spencer they said they were not commenting on the matter and that they had no plans to ban the sweets at this time.

Prime Minister Theresa May published a childhood obesity plan in 2016 but campaigners said it was not enough to tackle the problem.

A Department of Health spokesperson told the Sun: Weve always said that our 2016 plan was the start of the conversation, not the final word on obesity.

We are in the process of working up an updated plan, and will be in a position to say more shortly.
A mazing images show the moment SpaceX blasted a Falcon 9 rocket into space.

Breathtaking footage showed the rocket catapulted into the sky surrounded by plumes of smoke followed by a stream of fire.

The rocket was carrying the SES-12 satellite when it went into orbit on Monday at 12.45am local time from Space Launch Complex 40 (SLC-40) at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, Florida.

The satellite was deployed approximately 45 minutes after the mesmerising lift-off.

Amazing images show the rocket soar above the Cocoa Beach Pier, Florida / AP

Falcon 9s first stage of the SES-12 mission was previously completed in September 2017, Space X did not try and recover Falcon 9s first stage after that launch.

The satellite is the largest that SES has produced. The space craft was built by Airbus Defence and Space.

The communications satellite is the biggest ever produced by SES / AP

The SES-12 satellite is designed to allow telephone companies, mobile network operators and internet service providers to deliver more reliable cellular back haul and faster broadband service.

SpaceX's Falcon 9 rocket blasts off into space 1 /16 SpaceX's Falcon 9 rocket blasts off into space Lift-off! Falcon 9 blasts into space The Falcon 9 rocket blasted off in a fiery cloud of smoke AFP/Getty Images The rocket launches from California's Vanderberg Air Force base AP NASA ploughed $430m into the double launch SpaceX The Grace-FO launch was also backed by German researchers SpaceX SpaceX hailed the mission a success SpaceX Incredible images shared by SpaceX show the moment the Falcon 9 rocket blasted off SpaceX The NASA/German Research Centre for Geosciences GRACE Follow-On spacecraft launch onboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket, Tuesday, May 22, 2018, from Space Launch Complex 4E at Vandenberg Air Force Base in California. Getty Images The satellites were jetted into orbit aboard the Falcon 9 rocket Getty Images Long exposure photograph shows the journey the Falcon 9 rocket takes Getty Images SpaceX's Falcon 9 rocket lifts off from Space Launch Complex 4E at Vandenberg Air Force Base in California AFP/Getty Images The launch which took place today had previously been delayed for two days Getty Images The mission will measure changes in how mass is redistributed within and among Earth's atmosphere, oceans, land and ice sheets, as well as within Earth itself Getty Images The satellites will monitor the Earth's water cycle Getty Images The satellites will note changes in ice sheets and glaciers, providing a unique view of the Earth's climate AFP/Getty Images According to NASA, the mission is planned to fly for a minimum of five years AP
S audi Arabia has issued the first driving licences to 10 women as it prepares to lift the world's only ban on women driving.

The Middle Eastern nation is set to allow women to drive on its roads for the first time ever on June 24.

The government issued a statement saying the 10 women were issued the licences at the General Department of Traffic in the capital Riyadh on Monday.

The women took a brief driving test before receiving their licences as they had already held driving licences from other countries, including the UK, Lebanon and Canada.

A Saudi woman buckles her seatbelt before her driving test in Riyadh / AP

The surprise move comes as four Saudi women's rights activists who had campaigned for the right to drive remain under arrest, facing possible trial.

They are all high profile campaigners against the countrys male guardianship system which means that a male relative has control over a womans life.

Princess Hayfa bint Abdullah al-Saud was featured on the cover of Vogue Arabia wearing leather gloves and high heels in the car's driving seat.

Saudi Female Bike Rider: Maryam Ahmed Al-Moalem - In pictures 1 /13 Saudi Female Bike Rider: Maryam Ahmed Al-Moalem - In pictures Maryam Ahmed Al-Moalem, a Saudi female bike rider, is given basics of operating a bike by Rebal Mohammed trainer, during her lessons in advanced motorbike training at Harley Davidson training centre in Manama, Bahrain Reuters Maryam Ahmed Al-Moalem, a Saudi female bike rider, prepares for her lessons in advanced motorbike training at Harley Davidson training centre in Manama, Bahrain Reuters Maryam Ahmed Al-Moalem, a Saudi female bike rider, puts on her gloves during her lessons in advanced motorbike training at Harley Davidson training centre in Manama, Bahrain Reuters Maryam Ahmed Al-Moalem, a Saudi female bike rider, rides a bike during her lessons in advanced motorbike training at Harley Davidson training centre in Manama, Bahrai Reuters Maryam Ahmed Al-Moalem, a Saudi female bike rider, talks to Reuters during her lessons in advanced motorbike training at Harley Davidson training centre in Manama, Bahrain Reuters Maryam Ahmed Al-Moalem, a Saudi female bike rider, is given basics of operating a bike by Rebal Mohammed trainer, during her lessons in advanced motorbike training at Harley Davidson training centre in Manama, Bahrain Reuters Maryam Ahmed Al-Moalem, a Saudi female bike rider, takes her lessons in advanced motorbike training at Harley Davidson training centre in Manama, Bahrain Reuters Maryam Ahmed Al-Moalem, a Saudi female bike rider, takes her lessons in advanced motorbike training at Harley Davidson training centre in Manama, Bahrain Reuters Maryam Ahmed Al-Moalem, a Saudi female bike rider, is given basics of operating a bike by Rebal Mohammed trainer, during her lessons in advanced motorbike training at Harley Davidson training centre in Manama, Bahrain Reuters Maryam Ahmed Al-Moalem, a Saudi female bike rider (C), poses for a group photo with Bahrain and Saudi riders during her lessons in advanced motorbike training at Harley Davidson training centre in Manama, Bahrain Reuters Maryam Ahmed Al-Moalem, a Saudi female bike rider, prepares for her lessons in advanced motorbike training at Harley Davidson training centre in Manama, Bahrain Reuters Maryam Ahmed Al-Moalem, a Saudi female bike rider, prepares for her lessons in advanced motorbike training at Harley Davidson training centre in Manama, Bahrain Reuters Maryam Ahmed Al-Moalem, a Saudi female bike rider, poses with Jeddah Chapter Saudi Arabia biker vest, during her lessons in advanced motorbike training at Harley Davidson training centre in Manama, Bahrain Reuters

A line on the cover read: "A celebration of the trailblazing women of Saudi Arabia."

Meanwhile, one Saudi Arabian woman has begun training for her motorcycle driving licence in neighbouring Bahrain.

Maryam Ahmed Al-Moalem was pictured in bike leathers during lessons at the Harley Davidson training centre in Manama.

She is hoping to be among the first women to drive motorcycles in her country, according to Reuters.
Countries come to aid

Israel says it has delivered food, blankets and medicine to Guatemala.

The country's Foreign Ministry said it extended the assistance through its embassy in Guatemala and that a further assessment will be held with local authorities later.

Israel and Guatemala have grown increasingly close in recent years. Last month, Guatemala followed the US by moving its embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem, becoming the second country to do so.

This comes after the G13 - an international group consisting of leaders of the heads of government from Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the UK, the US and Russia, plus Brazil, China, India, Mexico and South Africa - offered its support to those affected.
M elania Trump will not accompany her husband to the G7 summit or his historic meeting with Kim Jong-un in Singapore, it has been confirmed.

The US First Lady has not been seen in public for almost a month, sparking widespread speculation over her disappearance.

She has not attended an official event since before she was admitted to hospital for a kidney operation on May 14.

Her decision not to go to Quebec for the G7 is a departure from last year, when she made an international summit debut at the meeting in Italy before following it up at the G20 in Germany.

She last appeared in public on May 10 when she and the president welcomed home three Americans who had been released from captivity in North Korea / Reuters

Leaders are often accompanied at the summits by their spouses, who typically get together at events of their own over the weekend.

Following the G7, Donald Trump will again fly alone to Singapore for his meeting with North Koreas leader. It is not clear whether Kims wife, Ri Sol-ju, will be attending.

Stephanie Grisham, the first ladys spokeswoman, said: "She will not attend the G7 and there are no plans for her to travel to Singapore at this time.

It comes after she stayed behind on Friday when President Trump, his daughters, eldest son and son-in-law went to the Camp David retreat for the weekend.

She last appeared in public on May 10 when she and the president welcomed home three Americans who had been released from captivity in North Korea.

Ms Grisham said that the first lady has been meeting with staff and working on projects.

Melania Trump - In pictures 1 /30 Melania Trump - In pictures Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump, flanked by wife Melania Timothy A. Clary/AFP/Getty Images President-elect Donald Trump, left, kisses his wife Melania during an election night rally Evan Vucci/AP Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump and his wife Melania Trump vote at PS 59 in New York, New York on 08 November 8, 2016 Carlo Allegri/Reuters Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump (C) walks off stage as (L-R) Eric Trump, Lara Yunaska, Vanessa Trump, Melania Trump, businessman Jared Kushner, Ivanka Trump, Vanessa Trump look on after the third U.S. presidential debate at the Thomas & Mack Center on 19 October 2016 in Las Vegas, Nevada Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images Melania (L) and Ivanka (C) Trump sit next to Republican vice presidential nominee Governor Mike Pence (R) ahead of the start of the first debate between Republican U.S. presidential nominee Donald Trump and Democratic U.S. presidential nominee Hillary Clinton at Hofstra University in Hempstead, New York ON 26 September 2016. Joe Raedle/Pool/Reuters Melania Trump sits down with CNN television host Anderson Cooper during an exclusive interview in New York to be aired on 17 October 2016 CNN Melania Trump defends husband Donald Trump in the interview with CNN CNN Melania Trump, Ivanka Trump, and Republican vice presidential nominee Mike Pence are seen in the audience of the first presidential debate at Hofstra University in Hempstead, New York on 26 September 2016 Mandel NganAFP/Getty Images Model Melania Trump wife of Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump walks on stage to deliver a speech at the Main Line Sports Center in Berwyn, USA on 03 November 2016 Patrick Semansky/AP Melania Trump, wife of Presumptive Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump, delivers a speech on the first day of the Republican National Convention on 18 July 2016 at the Quicken Loans Arena in Cleveland, Ohio Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images Melania Trump, wife of Donald Trump takes the stage after her introduction at the Republican National Convention in Cleveland, Ohio, America. Jim Young/Reuters Melania Trump kisses her husband and Presumptive Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump, after delivering a speech on the first day of the Republican National Convention on 18 July 2016 at the Quicken Loans Arena in Cleveland, Ohio Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump and his wife Melania greet reporters in the spin room following a debate sponsored by Fox News at the Fox Theatre on 03 March 2016 in Detroit, Michigan Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images Melania Trump, wife of Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump, stands on stage following the Republican presidential debate at St. Anselm College 06 February 2016 in Manchester, New Hampshire Joe Raedle/Getty Images Donald Trump, Barron Trump and Melania Trump attends Trump Invitational Grand Prix Mar-a-Lago Club at The Mar-a-Largo Club on 04 January 2015 in Palm Beach, Florida Getty Images Melania Trump attends The New York Ball: The 20th Anniversary Benefit For The European School Of Economics at Trump Tower on 19 November 2014 in New York Jamie McCarthy/Getty Imagess Donald Trump (L) and Melania Trump attend Central Park Horse Show presented by Rolex and produced by Chronicle of the Horse where Land Rover was the official vehicle on 18 September 2014 in New York City Eugene Gologursky/Getty Images Donald Trump and Melania Trump attend the "Schiaparelli And Prada: Impossible Conversations" Costume Institute Gala at the Metropolitan Museum of Art on 07 May 2012 in New York City Larry Busacca/Getty Images Donald Trump and wife Melania Trump arrive at the Vanity Fair Oscar party hosted by Graydon Carter held at Sunset Tower on 27 February 2011 in West Hollywood, California Craig Barritt/Getty Images Melania Trump attends the "Alexander McQueen: Savage Beauty" Costume Institute Gala at The Metropolitan Museum of Art on 02 May 2011 in New York City Larry Busacca/Getty Images Melania Trump attends "Sex And The City 2" Premiere presented by Mercedes-Benz And Maybach at Radio City Music Hall on 24 May 2010 in New York City Andrew H. Walker/Getty Images Donald Trump and Melania Trump attend the Michael Kors Spring 2011 fashion show during Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week at The Theater at Lincoln Center on 15 September 2010 in New York City Michael Loccisano/Getty Images Donald Trump, billionaire developer and producer of NBC's "The Apprentice," with his wife, Melania, and their son, Barron, pose for a photo after he was given a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in Los Angeles in 2007 Damian Dovarganes/AP elevision personality Donald Trump's wife Melania Trump arrives at the 13th Annual Elton John Aids Foundation Academy Awards Viewing Party at the Pacific Design Center on 27 February 2005 in Los Angeles, California Getty Images Real estate mogul Donald Trump's fiancee Melinia Knauss walks out of the Episcopal Church of Bethesda by the Sea, after her wedding rehearsal on Friday 21 January 2005 in West Palm Beach, Florida Alan Diaz/AP Melania Trump Donald Trump and Melania Knauss wedding, The Episcopal Church of Bethesda by-the-Sea, Palm Beach, Florida, on 22 Jan 2005 Jeffrey Langlois/PB Daily News/Palm Beach Daily News/Rex Playmate Victoria Silvstedt, Donald Trump and Melania Knauss at the Playboy 50th Anniversary celebration 04 December 2003 in New York Peter Kramer/Getty Images Donald Trump and Melanie Knauss arrive for VH1's Divas Live concert at the Beacon Theater in New York City on 13 April 13 1999 Diane Freed/Getty Images Melanie Knauss arrives for an event in New York City in the 1990's Diane Freed/Getty Images This picture provided by courtesy of Nena Bedek and taken in 1977 in Radenci, northeastern Slovenia, shows Slovenian-American former model and Donald Trump's wife Melania Trump (born Melanija Knavs)(2nd right) as a child, together with Nena Bedek (right), attending a fashion review of Jutranjka, the textile company where her mother used to work AFP/Getty Images

Mrs Trump was scheduled to join the president on night Monday at a reception for families who have lost loved ones in military service. It is closed to the press.

Last week Mrs Trump took to Twitter in an attempt to quell speculation about her disappearance from the public eye.

She said: "I see the media is working overtime speculating where I am & what I'm doing.
N ew York City has announced plans for gender-neutral people to declare themselves as gender X on their birth certificates.

The new policy which was proposed by Mayor Bill de Blasio and City Council Speaker Corey Johnson is expected to be introduced by Mr Johnson on Thursday with public hearings taking place later this month.

If the policy passes New York City would join California, Oregon and Washington in providing people with the option to declare themselves as gender X on their official documents.

Current policy allows parents who dont want to declare the sex of their baby to state the gender of the child as unknown on their birth certificate.

New York mayor Bill de Blaiso introduced the proposal / Getty Images

The new policy would allow adults who dont identify as either sex to choose the X category on their birth documents.

Democrat Mr de Blaiso told NBC New York: This proposal will allow transgender and gender non-conforming New Yorkers to live with the dignity and respect they deserve, and make our City fairer."

The proposal is expected to be considered at a meeting of the Board of Health on Thursday with a hearing and a vote in September if the board gives it the go ahead.

In 2014, Mr Johnson, who is also a democrat, introduced legislation to remove a requirement for a person looking to change his or her gender on their birth certificate to have undergone gender reassignment surgery.

Currently if a person wishes to change their gender, they are required to provide an affidavit or affirmation completed by a medical professional stating that the applicants identity would be better reflected by changing their gender.
A Vegemite smoothie has been released in Australia, sparking a mixed reaction from fans of the savoury paste.

Healthy drinks chain Boost Juice created the drink using the famous Australian spread as a one-off month long promotion.

The Vegemite Boost contains the spread, chocolate, vanilla yoghurt and banana.

Vegemite is a yeast-based spread popular with Australians that is often compared to Marmite.

Boost Juice managing director Claire Lauber told the Sunshine Coast Daily: Vegemite is a quintessential Australia favourite that many of our customers grew up with.

When we first thought of the idea for a Vegemite flavoured smoothie, we knew it was pretty out there.

Ms Lauber said that when it is combined with the other ingredients, it makes a delicious drink.

However some people have been left less than optimistic about how the drink will taste.

While others were looking forward to the prospect of being able to try the drink.

The Vegemite smoothie was launched in Australia today and is part of the firm's limited edition drinks range.

Other drinks in the range include Cookies and Creme and Rocky Road.
A woman in Dallas admitted to fatally shooting her husband after he beat their cat.

Mary Harrison, 47, shot her husband Dexter Harrison, 49, on Saturday morning.

She told police that they had been arguing after she found he had been abusing the animal.

Mr Harrison was pronounced dead shortly after arrival at Presbyterian Hospital in Dallas, Texas.

His wife was arrested and is currently being held on a $100,000 (74,899) bail.

According to Dallas Fort Worth CBS Local, neighbours said that the couple and their two sons had moved into the apartment a few months ago.

They said that the family's cat had recently gone missing and the wife was seen distributing signs around the neighbourhood.

According to residents, the cat eventually returned.

In a statement, Dallas Police Department said: "Dallas Police responded to a shooting call at 13217 Fall Manor Drive.

"Upon arrival, they were met by the suspect, Mary Harrison, a 47-year-old white female, who reported that she had shot her husband, Dexter Harrison, a 49-year-old black male, during an argument, as he was beating the family cat.

"The victim was transported to Presbyterian Hospital in Dallas, where he was pronounced deceased. The suspect was transported to Dallas Police headquarters and was interviewed by detectives with the Homicide Unit.

"Harrison was provided with a Miranda warning and voluntarily waived those rights by agreeing to speak with detectives.
P eter Andre has vowed to give children Junior and Princess a stable home life as Katie Price goes through her divorce from Kieran Hayler.

The Mysterious Girl singer who had Princess and Junior during his marriage to Price from 2005 to 2009, told how he was hopeful about helping his children during the transition.

The 45-year-old, now married to Emily MacDonagh, took the two youngsters on holiday to Cyprus in a bid to support them.

Speaking to OK! Magazine, he said: Im always there to support my children.

They have and will go through tricky times in their lives but Emily and I are very conscious of giving them a stable home life at all times.

Andre went on to praise Hayler for the way he has brought up the youngsters.

Split: Price and Hayler have called time on their relationship (Ian West/PA Archive/PA Images) / PA

He said: I think its really important for children to see unity with parents.

I think thats how it should be and hes always been great with the kids, which is what you want when youre not looking after them 24/7.

New Wife: Andre married MacDonagh in 2015 / John Phillips/Getty Images

I appreciate everything hes done and obviously its good that we get on well.

He was always very respectful to me and would always run things past me with regards to the children, which Im thankful for.
T he drama continues tonight on Love Island as Niall Aslam and Dr Alex George head out on their first dates with Georgia Steel and Rosie Williams.

Alex and Rosie bond over their high profile jobs, Rosie being a lawyer, but Alex remains reserved and tries to take things slowly  especially as Adam Collard appears to have his eye on the Welsh newcomer, too.

But Niall and Georgia immediately hit it off and even share a cheeky kiss, leading to drama in the villa after Wes Nelson lets slip just how well the first date went.

Hayley Hughes hits the roof at the romance, fuming that you cant trust anyone in the villa and the arrivals prompt her to have a chat with Eyal Booker about their coupling.

Elsewhere, the contestants head into the second challenge and, this time, its all about the girls as they dress as superheroes in the ultimate test of girl power.

The games continue as, back at the villa, an intense game of truth or dare takes hold  but what secrets will be uncovered?

And one confession from pen salesman Jack leaves Dani feeling more upset than before over their relationship,
S trictly Come Dancing bosses have reportedly imposed a ban on reality stars doing the show to stop them from cashing in on the brand.

According to The Sun, show producers have grown increasingly fed up of reality stars using the successful shows name for personal publicity and have decided to prohibit them from signing up.

An insider told the publication: Certain reality celebrities have been peddling these stories about being in talks for the show when they have never been approached.

Bosses are now fed up of hearing the same people bandying around their own names just to shift a few copies of some weight-loss DVD.

TOWIE: Reality star Mark Wright appeared on the show in 2014 / Dominic Lipinski/PA Archive/PA Images

In light of this, theyve put in place their own reality star ban to stop them from cashing in on the show.

BBC declined to comment when contacted by Standard Online.

Strictly Come Dancing 2017 - In pictures 1 /14 Strictly Come Dancing 2017 - In pictures Mollie King and her dance partner AJ Pritchard Guy Levy/PA Chizzy Akudolu and her dance partner Pasha Kovalev Guy Levy/PA Aston Merrygold and his dance partner Janette Manrara Guy Levy/PA Gemma Atkinson and her dance partner Aljaz Skorjanec Guy Levy/PA Debbie McGee and her dance partner Giovanni Pernice Guy Levy/PA Joe McFadden and his dance partner Katya Jones Guy Levy/PA Alexandra Burke and her dance partner Gorka Marquez Guy Levy/PA Charlotte Hawkins and her dance partner Brendan Cole Guy Levy/PA Rev Richard Coles and his dance partner Dianne Buswell Guy Levy/PA Davood Ghadami and his dance partner Nadiya Bychkova Guy Levy/PA Susan Calman and her dance partner Kevin Clifton Guy Levy/PA Simon Rimmer and his dance partner Karen Clifton Guy Levy/PA Brian Conley and his dance partner Amy Dowden Guy Levy/PA Jonnie Peacock and his dance partner Oti Mabuse Guy Levy/PA

In recent years, The Only Way Is Essex star Mark Wright enjoyed success on the show with Karen Clifton and has since gone on to land himself a presenting role in the US while Alison Hammond, now a This Morning presenter, was originally from Big Brother.

New trio: Three fresh faces have joined the Strictly Come Dancing family / BBC

Johannes Radebe, Luba Mushtuk and Graziano Di Prima will appear on the show when it returns in the autumn, replacing Brendan Cole and Chloe Hewitt as well as taking the total dancers up by one to 18.

Italian Di Prima and South African star Radebe, 31, will dance alongside AJ Pritchard, Aljaz Skorjanec, Anton Du Beke, Pasha Kovalev, Kevin Clifton, Neil Jones, Gorka Marquez and Giovanni Pernice while Mushtuk will join the girls troupe.

Last years trio of new ladies  Nadiya Bychkova, Dianne Buswell and Amy Dowden  will all return as well as Janette Manrara, Karen Clifton, Katya Jones and Oti Mabuse.
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Deputy PM Ana Birchall, attending the 17th IISS Shangri-La Dialogue security summit in Singapore, affirmed Romania's stance as a relevant player in regional and global security, with emphasize on the wider Black Sea region, the Foreign Ministry said in a release.

The Romanian official's participation in the Shangri-La Dialogue held over May 31 - June 3 reflected Romania's profile as a relevant actor in the European geopolitical space, an active EU and NATO member, bringing definite added value to preparations for Romania's term at the EU Presidency in the first half of 2019.

"Strengthening regional and global cooperation is the only way to transform the wider Black Sea region from a region of confrontation into a bridge between peoples and cultures. Romania considers that formulas of sectoral co-operation between riparian countries can contribute to building confidence in the wider Black Sea region, and we therefore advocate a close cooperation between relevant actors in the region, civil society organizations and public authorities. Romania's long-term constructive approach in the wider Black Sea region will definitely serve as a platform for debate and cooperation, a subject that will be on the agenda of priorities as Romania takes over the Presidency of the EU Council in the first half of 2019," the Romanian Deputy Prime Minister underlined during debates, the release mentions.Birchall also conveyed the conference a message on behalf of Romanian PM Viorica Dancila, underlining that "Romania and Singapore will have an important opportunity to work together towards bringing Europe and Asia even closer, both during the Romanian Presidency of the Council of the European Union, and during Singapore's term as co-ordinator of the ASEAN-EU relations over 2018 - 2021."On the sidelines of the forum, the Romanian Deputy PM discussed with US Defense Secretary James Mattis, reiterating that the strategic partnership with the US is the fundamental pillar of Romania's foreign policy, and thanking the US for supporting Romania's candidacy for OECD membership.Birchall also discussed with Japanese Minister of Defense Itsunori Onodera, to whom she conveyed Prime Minister Dancila's appreciation for Japan's supporting Romania's OECD bid, as well as with British Defense Secretary Gavin Williamson, highlighting on the occasion the good cooperation within the bilateral strategic partnership.The Romanian official also met with Qatari Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defense Khalid Al Attiyah, Cambodia's Deputy Prime Minister Tea Banh, and with Thailand's Deputy Prime Minister Prawit Wongsuwan."During the talks, Ana Birchall highlighted Romania's interest in developing bilateral economic cooperation and thanked her partners of dialogue for supporting our country's candidacy for a non-permanent seat on the UN Security Council for the 2020-2021 term," the release said.In the same context, Birchall had bilateral meetings with senior Singapore officials: Deputy Prime Minister and Coordinating Minister for National Security Teo Chee Hean, Foreign Affairs Minister Vivian Balakrishnan, and Deputy Secretary and Defence Cyber Chief for Singapore's Ministry of Defence David Koh.The meetings highlighted the need to strengthen the political and diplomatic dialogue between Romania and Singapore, with focus on developing the significant potential for cooperation in economy and in areas such as cyber-security, R&D, education and IT & C. The sides also affirmed interest in co-operation on identifying joint projects in the context of Romania's taking over the Presidency of the EU Council in the first half of 2019 and the Republic of Singapore's acting as coordinator of the EU - ASEAN relations between 2018 - 2021.The Air Services Intergovernmental Agreement between the Government of Romania and the Government of Singapore was signed on May 31, 2018 in the presence of the two countries' Deputy Prime Ministers. On behalf of Romania, the document was signed by the Secretary of State for bilateral global affairs Monica Gheorghita, while the Permanent Secretary of Singapore's Ministry of Transport Loh Ngai Seng signed on behalf of Singapore.
Prince Charles of Wales was delighted with the performance offered by drama students in Sibiu and decided to stay in the city with the actors and organisers of the International Drama Festival, of which he is a patron, not just 20 minutes, as he had initially planned, but almost two hours to acknowledge the work of the festival and the involvement of this event in changing the city, said actor Constantin Chiriac, the director of the festival who guided Charles through the old parts of the city on Monday, after the visit.

"The visit of His Highness, Prince Charles, in Sibiu means first and foremost an extraordinary recognition of the work that the festival has been doing for 25 years, its involvement in changing this community, its international dimension. Also, the care for what the educational field means, the field of volunteering, contact with universities in the UK and especially the celebration of what the British Council means - 80 years of existence ... Today we have managed to offer him the 25th anniversary thanks to his patronage and the patronage of the President of Romania. He had initially planned on a 20-minute visit, but our students put on a special show for him; he was delighted and instead of 20 minutes he stayed in Sibiu, at least with us - I do not know how long he was without us - an hour and 45 minutes ... (...) He was delighted to see that on the Celebrity Alley there are two great UK artists (...) He will support us in all that means next steps and I am sure he will have enough reasons to return during the festival in a future edition for other projects we develop," said Chiriac.

The Prince of Wales took part in the rehearsal of "We Art Free" show by Marian Ralea featuring student actors, mounted in the courtyard of the History Museum, a building from the 1400s that was for four centuries the headquarters of the Sibiu City Hall. This stage show will premiere in October at the CAVAS Studio in Sibiu.

"The show is largely non-verbal, being built on body language, about the universal theme of love. The only spoken texts were Shakespeare's sonnets, and part of the show presented will be staged at the International Drama Festival in Sibiu, on June 11 and 14, at 17:00hrs, in Cetatii Park," said Cristina Ghinea, spokesperson for the Radu Stanca National Theatre of Sibiu.

This year, Charles is the patron of the 25th edition of the International Drama Festival in Sibiu, but will not attend the event that begins on Friday.

Organisers quote Charles as saying he will not be able to attend the wonderful meeting of talent, but he wants to congratulate Sibiu and the International Drama Festival there on its 25th anniversary.

During his visit to the History Museum, which is part of the Brukenthal National Museum, Charles received small gifts from the museum's director and the drama festival director.

Director of the Brukenthal National Museum Sabin Luca told AGERPRES that he offered Prince Charles two books, one about Sophia, the wife of Baron Brukenthal, and another about the latest decade in the history of the oldest museum in Romania, as well as an insignia with the figure of the late baron Brukenthal, a one-time governor of Transylvania.

After 20 minutes at the rehearsal of the show at the Altemberger House, the current headquarters of the History Museum and a former headquarters of the Sibiu City Hall, Prince Charles, accompanied by Chiriac, strolled down the historic centre of Sibiu.

Prince Charles is likely to return to Sibiu in 2019, when the city will be the first in Romania to be called a European Gastronomic Region, as an invitation has already been sent out by President of the Sibiu County Council Daniela Cimpean.
Romania's Justice Minister Tudorel Toader said on Monday that he sent a letter to the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) demanding to know whether recent controversial statements by head of the OECD anti-corruption watchdog Drago Kos on a ruling by the Constitutional Court of Romania (CCR) regarding the head of Romania's National Anti-Corruption Directorate (DNA) were made on behalf of the organisation.

"I've sent a letter to OECD asking it to clarify whether the statements attributed to Mr Kos were made on his behalf or on behalf of OECD!," Toader wrote in a Facebook post.

Toader said on Saturday, also on Facebook, that he would address OECD to find out if Drago Kos's statements on the CCR ruling in the case of DNA chief were made on behalf of the organisation.

"Are they threats from OECD or internal manipulation? On Monday morning, I will address OECD to demand it to formally communicate whether Mr Drago Kos's statements were made in his own name or on behalf of OECD, as the title of a story carried by Ziare.com alludes (...) An article published on June 1 states that, on behalf of OECD, Mr Drago Kos made a series of statements of great gravity on the Romanian Constitutional Court. At the same time, the same publication quotes the same sources, also on behalf of the OECD, as claiming that your justice Minister will soon learn in a tough way that he is seriously mistaken," according to the post.

Toader believes that the required clarification is absolutely necessary. "Given the severity of these allegations and similar experiences, when some organisations, such as [the Group of States against Corruption] GRECO, have been reportedly quoted as taking positions that have not been confirmed, I consider it absolutely necessary to get the required clarification for correct public information," according to Toader.
Prince Charles took an interest on Monday, during his visit to the ADEPT Foundation of Saschiz, regarding the stage of rural development projects and those related to the conservation of biodiversity, which this non-governmental organisation, that benefited from British support is carrying out, according to Food & Farming Communities Manager Ben Mehedin.

"Today we welcomed Prince Charles to the headquarters of the ADEPT Foundation, where we have talked about our future projects and plans. We thanked him for his support. I have thanked him for telling, more than 10 years ago, founder of the International Slow Food Movement Carlo Petrini about us, but I never got to thank him for that and I told him that we must continue our rural development project and biodiversity conservation. I told him about our project of conserving biodiversity with a cow farm and some hayfields in the Sighisoara area. It was a warm, friendly ambiance, in which everyone felt comfortable and had something to say. He is very careful with everyone. He spent 20 minutes before leaving to tour another project. He knows the area very well and he mentioned Dr John Akeroyd, Key advisor [of the ADEPT Foundation], a biologist who works for us, whom he walked and talked with about the floral wealth of Transylvania," Ben Mehedin told AGERPRES.

The ADEPT Foundation of Saschiz was awarded the European Cultural Tourism Network (ECTN) Award 2017, Destination of Sustainable Cultural Tourism, for the project called "Transylvania Mountain Bike Trail to revitalise the Tarnava Mare cultural landscape, Romania," an award which was bestowed during the 10th international conference for cultural tourism on theme "Cultural Values, Diversity and Heritage: Pillars of Sustainable Tourism for Development."

Mehedin showed that, with the material support of the Camelia Botnar Foundation of the UK, the ADEPT Transylvania Foundation specialized in the conservation of biodiversity and small farmers communities, he also coordinated the project called the Revival of the old crafts - Saschiz Pottery Workshop.

Two years after the opening of the Saschiz Pottery Workshop, where the pottery craft was revived in a technique specific to this area, called sgraffito, which was abandoned in the mid-1700s, the blue ceramics of Saschiz began to be very successful among tourists, especially for the amazing story that accompanies it.

Another project of the ADEPT Foundation of Saschiz is promoting Bazna (breed of domestic pig native to Romania) bacon and pork lard at international level, including at the Salone del Gusto in Turin, a large international organized by the Slow Food Movement, as part of an ESSEDRA project for the sustainable development of rural areas.
Prince Charles of Wales is visiting several tourist attractions in the central Romanian county of Sibiu, with the local History Museum being one of them, where he participates in the rehearsal of a show with students from the local Faculty of Dramatic Arts coordinated by actor Marian Ralea.

"His Highness will participate in the rehearsal of a show that will be presented somewhere in autumn, featuring students from the Sibiu Faculty of Dramatic Arts, a non-verbal show. The only moments when words are spoken are a recital of sonnets by Shakespeare," Raluca Bragarea, press officer with he British Embassy in Bucharest, said on Monday.

According to her, Prince Charles wanted to visit new places.

"He has always wanted to visit new places, with Sibiu being one of them this year. The International Drama Festival is held under the co-patronage of His Highness and the President of Romania. He is a supporter of many Romanian values, the cultural, material heritage of Romania and Romanian traditions," added Bragarea.

Prince Charles will be the patron of the 25th edition of the Sibiu International Drama Festival, but he will not attend the festival.

Organisers quote Charles as saying he will not be able to attend the wonderful meeting of talent, but he wants to congratulate Sibiu and the International Drama Festival there on its 25th anniversary.
Senate President Calin Popescu-Tariceanu Sunday evening told private TV broadcaster Antena 3 that the European Commission hasn't made any comment related to the collaboration protocols between the services and justice, adding that at the level of the EC there is "a certain level of discomfort" because a great deal of fuss has been made about the Co-operation and Verification Mechanism (CVM) and now "a huge rot emerges."

"I actually had an important meeting two weeks ago with an ALDE Europe delegation (...). When they heard about these things, the fact that secret protocols were managing the relations between the intelligence services and the Prosecutor's Office and the High Court, they were appalled. (...) I don't know if you have noticed that nothing is coming from the European Commission, there is no comment. I will tell what I believe. I respect my friends, my acquaintances, a series of relations I have built in time, the President of the Commission is a person I have collaborated with during my mandate as prime minister, when he was also the Prime Minister of Luxembourg and afterwards. However, at the level of the Commission I believe there is a certain level of discomfort, because for 10 years, actually 11, a great deal of fuss has been made about this CVM which was regularly assessing Romania's progress (...). After 11 years a huge rot emerges. What should the Commission do now? I believe the situation is not at all comfortable for the Commission," Tariceanu told Antena 3.

He further maintained that those from the European Commission already have "information that reveal serious deeds."On the other hand, Tariceanu that parties have greatly "shaded" the position with respect to this situation.
National gas transmission company Transgaz announces having kicked off on Monday the construction of the BRUA pipeline, a project of national interest, namely Phase I, according to a press release by the Ministry of Economy.

Transgaz is building the infrastructure on Romania's territory, from the Bulgaria-Romania-Hungary-Austria corridor, Phase 1 (BRUA - Phase I) - project backed by the European Commission, important at a national and regional level, due to the fact that it diversifies gas sources.

The BRUA Phase 1 project includes the construction of the Podisor-Recas natural gas transmission pipeline, 479-kilometer long, with a diameter of 32 "(Dn 800) and a design pressure of 63 bar.The estimated total value for Phase I is of 478.6 million euro.Within the BRUA Phase 1, Transgaz has already been working, since April 14, on the three compression stations, from Podisor, Jupa and Bibesti, where 40 percent of eligible expenses are covered by the European Union, through a grant worth 179.3 million Euro.Economy Minister Danut Andrusca declared himself satisfied of the way Transgaz has managed until now the works for the BRUA project and underlined the importance of keeping to the timetable of the works.Transgaz CEO Ion Sterian stated, in his turn, that the national gas transporter has the necessary resources and capacity to finalize the BRUA project, in compliance with the financial commitments and the time frame."We are rigorously monitoring both the works (...) at the pipeline and at the compression stations. We are in permanent contact with contractors in order to ensure that all works are on schedule and that they fulfill the necessary quality and safety standards. The BRUA segment on Romania's territory will allow us to cash in important sums of money from transport and transit tariffs," Ion Sterian, Transgaz CEO, stated.Upon finishing the BRUA Phase 1 project, the two-way flow of natural gases will be ensured towards : Bulgaria - through the Giurgiu - Ruse interconnection, 1.5 billion Smc / year (171,000 Smc/h), 30 bar at the border and Hungary - through the Horia - Csanadpalota interconnectivity, of 1.75 billion Smc / year (200,000 Smc/h), at 40 bar at the border.The BRUA Phase 1 project represents a priority at a national and regional level. It is included on the list of projects of the Central East South Europe Gas Connectivity (CESEC), because it brings a significant contribution to increasing safety in natural gases supply and the degree of regional interconnectivity.
Those who are unfriendly toward Russia keep on spreading the myth that Moscow is isolated on the world stage. The reality is quite different, but the idea of Russia as an outcast who has been expelled from the international community is something they badly want to be true. The fact that Russia is not a member of the G7 is usually used as an example to prove this point. The groups 2018 summit is to take place in Charlevoix, Quebec, June 8-9. The attendees are supposed to be a united group of key global players who are coordinating their efforts to lead the world in the right direction. And now, what has happened just before this annual event?

May 31 will go down in history as the day the US declared war on its key allies, hitting the European Union, Canada, and Mexico with aluminum and steel tariffs. This was a punch to the gut that unleashed the much-dreaded trade war. Levis jeans, Kentucky bourbon, Harley-Davidson motorbikes, orange juice, T-shirts, and Iowa beef are doomed to bear the brunt of retaliatory strikes. The Boeing Corp. may be among the losers.

The EU will hit back on June 20 after lodging complaints with the WTO.

On June 1, President Trump hinted he could ax the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA). He would prefer separate trade deals with Mexico and Canada. Stock prices slumped as a result. It looks like NAFTA is in for the same fate as the Trans-Pacific Partnership agreement, and German Economy Minister Peter Altmaier believes that the EU, Mexico, and Canada may join together in their efforts to counter the US. Japan is likely to join the EU, asking the WTO to go to bat for it. On June 1, its finance minister. Taro Aso. used harsh language to describe US trade policy after attending the gathering of the G7 finance chiefs. According to French Finance Minister Bruno Le Maire, the June 8-9 event is going to be a meeting held in a G6 plus one format.

So far, the US has not acted within the framework of the WTO, citing national security interests to justify the unilateral measures it is taking. Its legal standing is on shaky ground. No doubt the EU will refer the case to that organization. The outcome is unknown. The European complaints are well-founded, but Washington enjoys strong influence there, and some countries may be willing to join the pro-US faction. The result? The WTO may end up divided, lose its clout, or even cease to exist, giving way to other groups, such as BRICS, for instance, where the US is not a member.

The US and many European nations are divided over the sanctions against Russia. The pressure being applied to coerce the allies into accepting or rejecting certain deals is provoking resistance. The American financiers who are trying to subjugate Europe through behind-the-scenes schemes are facing vigorous opposition. European gold is gradually draining out of the US Federal Reserve Systems vaults.

The amassed problems that are clouding Transatlantic solidarity have made German Chancellor Angela Merkel come to the conclusion that Americas global influence is being diminished and Europe should take its destiny into its own hands and stop relying on US military protection. Europe is in the process of creating its own independent means of deterrence and PESCO is the first step. New defense alliances without the US are on the agenda.

Add to that the opposition of the UK, Germany, and France to the US unilateral withdrawal from the Iran nuclear deal. There are expectations that America will face a united European front at the EU summit scheduled for June 28-29 in Bulgaria. Some European states, such as Germany and Austria, have expressed indignation over the flagrant US pressure to make them say no to the Nord Stream 2 pipeline that would bring cheap Russian gas to the continent. The EU-Western Balkans meeting held last month was a foretaste of the open defiance the US policy will receive at top-level international forums.

Now back to isolation. Whatever the formal agenda  gender equality, ocean pollution, or other issues  the divisions between America and the other members will be in the spotlight. Despite all of Canadian PM Justin Trudeaus efforts to make the event look like a success, the US president, an outlier on everything the other summit attendees agree on, is doomed to be the odd man out. The G7 runs on a consensus basis. No atmosphere of cooperation on any issue can be fostered amid such deep rifts.

The new Italian prime minister, Giuseppe Conte, who leads a populist government that is hostile to the EU and NATO and wants the sanctions against Russia lifted with no strings attached, will hardly be the right man to contribute to what is known as Western unity.

Its hard to say if they will agree to make any declaration, but its easy to predict that fault lines, even invisible ones, will open up within the G7, although there is also the strong possibility of an open breakup. After the summit is over, the need for such meetings in the future will inevitably be questioned. Its always hard to make predictions, but it can be safely said that no such thing as Western unity exists anymore. Unlike Moscow, Washington is isolated, and no matter how hard some political circles have tried, the Russian bogeyman has failed to work as a unifying factor that can hold the G7 together in the face of the radical changes that are shaping the emerging multipolar world.
Things are moving quickly in Italy. The minute you try and write about whats happening it becomes dated with the next headline. So, for this piece I want to take a step back and look at the bigger picture.

Because, once you look at it this way youll never look at the European Union the same way ever again.

The EU is beyond desperate. They know they cannot let Italy leave the euro. The moves to stop Five Star Movement (M5S) and The League from forming a government were as ham-fisted and doomed to failure as the Brexit negotiations are.

And the reason for this is that you cannot rule without the consent of the people. EU leadership is working hard to demoralize Britons to the seeming inevitability of Brexit betrayal. George Soros is now actively paying for a campaign to hold a second referendum.

They likely wont like that result, should it occur, than they did the first one.

In Italy, they will run a similar playbook that they ran to demoralize Greece in their 2015 debt talks now that the two populist parties have been allowed to form a government.

But, one only need look over to the Iberian peninsula to see what strong-arming an EU-approved cartel government leads to over time. First, secession movements and violent suppression and then a political overthrow.

Spanish Premier Mariano Rajoys political career is now over. And the reason is because of his brutal crackdown on Catalonian independence last year, while leading a Vichy cartel-style government. Rajoy didnt have any kind of popular mandate to rule. He simply put down the Catalonian independence movement with unbridled violence.

And that incident along with the EUs silent consent put Spain on the path its on today, full-on rejection of Brussels/Berlin demands for public sector austerity mixed with full debt repayment.

But, Spain doesnt want to be ruled by Brussels anymore than Catalonia wants to be ruled by Madrid, especially if Madrid is led by someone whose first loyalties are to Brussels.

Next Stop, Italeave

With M5S and The League forcing President Mattarella to accept reality, League leader Matteo Salvini proves he knows how to play populist politics to the hilt.

These two Euroskeptic parties cannot be divided at the first sign of push-back from the elites who everyday more Italians come to distrust. The League has doubled its support in less than five months. It now commands a block of voters as big as M5S does. And that gives them an even stronger mandate to stand up to the corruption in Rome.

Now that Mattarella has folded the next phase of Brussels attack on Italy has begun.

European President Jean-Claude Juncker started the lazy, Club Med narrative before new Prime Minister Guiseppi Conte was sworn in. Its an important bit of gaslighting to assist Germany in holding the line on the ruinous austerity imposed on Italy since 2011, which has done nothing to assist the country and only hollowed it out even further while it bears the brunt of German Chancellor Angela Merkels ruinous immigration policy.

Juncker said:

But I can no longer accept that everything that is wrong in southern Italy is explained by the fact the EU, the European Commission wont do enough, he said in a question and answer session in Brussels. Italians have to take care of the poor regions of Italy. That means more work, less corruption, seriousness. We will help them as we always did. But dont play this game of loading with responsibility the EU. A country is a country, a nation is a nation. Countries first, Europe second.

These words coming from the same man that famously said, There can be no democratic opposition to the European treaties. Country first? I think Juncker may have had one too many before stepping in front of that microphone.

No. What happens next is that Brussels will begin the stonewalling over debt restructuring and fiscal rules. It will try to sound like it is negotiating when really nothing of the sort will occur.

There will be the inevitable debt shaming as well as full cultural disparagement. The new government has to be immune to these tactics if they are to survive and instead implement its agenda and let Brussels stew.

Italy will, eventually, be forced to do what it needs to do, prime the market with a domestic, new currency, per the coalitions plan for a Mini-BOT and make it perfectly clear to Italian voters that the only way to regain control over Italy is to threaten to burn down the entire euro-zone by leaving it.

There will be legal challenges. Inflammatory statements from people like Juncker, German politicians of all stripes, EU Commission President Donald Tusk and the rest. The IMF will pour salt on wounds and the European press will paint the Italians as feckless layabouts biting the hand that has kept them fed lo these last seven years.

There will be mini-panics and real ones. None of that matters. When you owe the bank trillions its not your problem.

Its the banks.

The Hard Sell

For Salvini and Di Maio, leader of M5S, their job is to reflect these tactics and amplify them. The only reason the EU has kept Italy alive is not for Italys sake but for its own. Italy could have left in 2011 or the debt been written down, but no the integrity of the EU came first and Brussels orchestrated an overthrow of Berlusconis government to kick the can down the road to today.

They need to remind everyone what happened to Greece, which three years later still needs more debt restructuring because in an over-priced euro Greece will never be competitive on the world market.

Extend and pretend. Spray and pray.

Salvini, who will be Italys new Interior Minister, is the right guy to call the Brussels leadership the evil autocrats they are. He is now properly placed to reverse EU immigration rules and poke them in the eye.

Repeatedly.

The response will be more autocracy from Brussels. Expect more market panics as Italian debt goes bidless when the ECB stops buying for a few days, like last week. These are scare tactics along with threats of lawsuits and the like.

But, that simply makes his job and that of Conte that much easier to sell an independent, sovereign Italy to voters. And, moreover, never forget who is the primary loser if Italian debt fails?

Not Italy. They can be free of it for lira on the euro.

The big loser is the ECB and the EU as they will have to deal with the losses of having bought all of this garbage thinking they could use it as future leverage to shame Italians with.

From the other side President Trump is squeezing Merkel, Juncker et.al. on tariffs. And while that may yield the positive result of pushing the EU towards Russia and China while weakening NATO, it also strengthens the hand the Visegrad countries have, since they arent in the Euro-zone.

Poland, Hungary and the rest will all benefit from Trumps steel and aluminum tariffs as investment will pour in there and further weaken Merkels legal challenges over things like Hungarys border wall and anti-NGO laws and Polands changes to its judiciary.

Juncker talks a good game about country first but only when it furthers EU ambitions.

Even if Juncker et.al. are able to break the Italians again and keep them tethered to the euro, it will be a Pyrrhic victory. Because there is no way Germany can continue to support the entire EU without a significant revaluation and restructuring of the entire project.

And by the time they are done abusing everyone to win the day, no one will want to be governed by them anymore. Theyll save the EU by forcing everyone to drown in it. On the other hand, Salvini and the Italians will make Brussels an offer it shouldnt refuse:

Let us go, accept responsibility for all of Europe equally or we blow it all up.
On May 29th, a group of Serbs displaced from the Kosovo village of Petrich by Albanian violence attempted to visit the remains of the demolished village church and the village cemetery to mark Holy Trinity holiday (according to the Julian calendar). However, as is usual in most of NATO-occupied Kosovo, they were met by a violent Albanian mob who blocked the road leading to the church and hurled stones at them, injuring three, one seriously. In addition, another Serb participating in a holiday ritual was arrested inside the church yard by Kosovo Albanian police on dubious charges, only to be released a few hours later.

Marko Djurich, Director of the Serbian Government Office for Kosovo and Metohija, condemned this latest act of violence, referring to it as anti-civilizational, charging that displaced Kosovo Serbs have been systematically prevented from marking Christian holidays in their villages for years and that Albanian extremists want to completely eradicate and suppress every memory related to the Serb existence in that part of Serbias breakaway province.

Dalibor Jevtich, one of the Serbs still living in Kosovo who has tried to work with the majority Albanian authorities, but who recently resigned as Kosovo Minister for Communities and Return, reacted similarly:

This is not just preventing the displaced from visiting the church and to preach their faith, this is a blockade of everything we are trying to do in terms of the return and survival of Serbs in Kosovo, said Jevtich Just a day before, a clinic in the Serbian village of Suvi Do was stoned as well, with several windows being broken. Director of the Kosovska Mitrovica medical center, Dr. Milan Ivanovich, said that this was not the first time that the clinic had been attacked. The surgery in the village of Suvi Do was stoned twice in 24 hours and before that scores of times, he said, adding that the purpose of the stoning was to demonstrate that Albanians do not want to co-exist with Serbs, and that Kosovo government institutions have shown no will to prevent similar attacks or find the perpetrators.

Earlier in May, the 14th century Serbian Orthodox Dechani Monastery, the endowment of Serbian King Stefan Urosh III (1322-1331), was imperiled by an illegal road being built by the so-called Kosovo government. According to a communique of the Diocese of Rashka and Prizren of the Serbian Orthodox Church, the government initiated illegal construction works on the transit road within the Special protected zone around the Monastery, which is severely prohibited by the Law on Special protected zones which was adopted by Kosovo Parliament. However, as the Monastery is on the UNESCO List of World Heritage in Danger, enough dust was raised to force the government to back down and suspend the roadworks. Still, that seems like nothing more than a temporary reprieve, as majority Muslim Albanian pressure on the remaining Orthodox Christian population and its holy sites shows no prospects of abating. Fr. Sava Janjich, Abbot of the Dechani Monastery, has concluded as much, posting a photo of the monasterys walls topped by barbed wire on his Twitter page, which says more than many words. Indeed, practically all Christian holy sites in NATO and EU supervised Kosovo still need protection from attack, after almost 20 years of presence and billions spent by these two Western military and political blocs.

In fact, since tens of thousands of NATO troops arrived in Serbias southern Kosovo province in June 1999, following NATOs illegal bombing of Serbia and Montenegro (at that time known as the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia), on the basis of UN Security Council Resolution 1244, the lot of the local Christians  and all non-Albanians for that matter  has grown progressively worse. More than 250.000 of them have been expelled and almost none allowed to return, and over 150 churches, monasteries and holy sites, many of them irreplaceable medieval treasures, have been severely damaged or destroyed. More than 1,000 Serbs have been murdered in this period, but the crimes have gone unpunished.

This, of course, did not deter the U.S. and other liberal democracy flag-waivers from recognizing so-called Kosovos unilateral declaration of independence of February 2008, and from pressuring other countries, including Serbia itself, to follow suit. It is no wonder that the culture of impunity has taken such firm hold among Kosovo Albanian politicians and, especially, the Islamists among them. According to a 2016 Deutsche Welle report, 50,000 Kosovo Albanians (out of a population of about 1 million) are now members of conservative Islamic groups, with the former relatively liberal form of Islam that had been practiced there for centuries increasingly being replaced by strict forms of the Saudi Wahhabism, and Kosovo Albanian society increasingly shifting to a religious-ethnic society. In addition, Kosovo has become the largest per capita supplier of ISIS fighters in Europe. All on NATOs and the EUs watch. Democracy at its finest on display.

However, all is not lost: this horrible reality could, apparently, quite easily end, if Serbia were to heed the advice of the U.S. Ambassador to Serbia, one Kyle Scott. This was Scotts reaction to the stoning of the displaced Serbs mentioned at the beginning of this article:

Yesterdays incident in Petric further emphasizes the need for working on an agreement on a comprehensive normalization of relations between Kosovo and Serbia, which must ensure the Serbian population the freedom to participate in the political, social and religious life of Kosovo without fear for their own security, Scott wrote in his Twitter account after the brutal attack on Christian churchgoers.

There it is. No condemnation, no call for mobilization, international action or arrest, and certainly no call for any sort of humanitarian bombing, the pathetic, false excuse used by Bill Clinton to attack a sovereign country for 78 days in order to snatch away 15% of its territory and its holiest Christian sites. Instead, according to the U.S. ambassador, Kosovos former (?) terrorist leadership and associated Islamist thugs should to be rewarded yet again, through a comprehensive normalization of relations between Kosovo and Serbia, which is State Department newspeak for Serbia acquiescing to so-called Kosovos formal independence through diplomatic recognition and consent for Kosovos being granted a seat in the UN.

In other words, following the American ambassadors logic (sic!), the anti-Serbian and anti-Christian violence in Kosovo is perfectly understandable and expected, and the only cure is to reward the perpetrators  with formal recognition of statehood. That would, naturally, be followed by the formation of a real army, something that Western governments, (naturally) led by the U.S., have been quietly aiding and abetting for years, thus violating UN SC Resolution 1244, which, among other things, provides for demilitarizing the Kosovo Liberation Army (KLA) and other armed Kosovo Albanian groups. If armed former terrorists and present future Islamists dont bring peace to the Balkans  nothing will! Since the Syrian recipe has worked so well, lets apply it to the Balkans. Or is it that the Balkan recipe was (un)successfully applied in Syria Either way, the master chef sits in Washington.

Memo to Mike Pompeo, the very devout Christian now in charge of the U.S. Department of State, with several questions: 1. Is it your State Departments policy to continue to reward violent Islamist violence against Christian peoples and holy sites? 2. Is this a new interpretation of Christianity, unknown to the rest of fallen humanity? 3. How is your Kosovo and general Balkans policy different from that of the Clintons, who spearheaded the destabilization and Islamization of the region during the 1990s?
A parliamentary committee will be formed in a bid to reach consensus over the appointment of the interim Balochistan chief minister as the sixth meeting between former Chief Minister Abdul Quddus Bizenjo and Pashtunkhwa Milli Awami Party leader Abdul Rahim Ziaratwal failed to break the thaw.

Both the leaders have decided to nominate two people each for the committee.

The meeting was also attended by former chief ministers, Dr Abdul Malik Baloch and Nawab Sanaullah Zehri.

Balochistan assembly completed its five-year term on May 31.

Sources privy to the matter informed that as many as seven people were consulted by the members for the slot in the last meeting.

Alauddin Marri, Minister for Environment Prince Ahmed Ali, former senator Kamran Murtaza and Hussain Baksh were recommended by Bizenjo for the slot.

While the opposition suggested former ambassador Qazi Ashraf, former speaker Aslam Bhotani and senior lawyer Ali Ahmed Kurd.

Caretaker CM: PML-N, PTI finalise representatives for parliamentary committee meeting

Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz and Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf on Sunday finalised names of their representatives for the parliamentary committee mandated to consult over caretaker Punjab Chief Minister.

Rana Sanaullah, Malik Ahmed Khan and Khuwaja Imran Nazir are nominated by the PML-N's party high-command.

Meanwhile, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf after a high-level huddle nominated a three-member committee under Mian Mehmood ur Rasheed, including Sibtain Khan and Shoaib Siddiqui.

Sources have said that PTI has decided to argue their case for Hasan Askari and Ayaz Amir for the slot in the parliamentary committee meeting.

Earlier, former chief minister Shehbaz Sharif and Opposition leader Rasheed failed to reach a consensus over the name of caretaker chief minister despite holding a number of meetings.

Punjab government and opposition had agreed to appoint Nasir Mahmood Khosa as the province's caretaker chief minister but later PTI withdrew his nomination after receiving "severe reaction" from party workers.

In the second phase of the negotiations, the PML-N president nominated Pakistan Navy former chief Admiral Muhamamd Zakaullah, former DG Intelligence Bureau (IB) Aftab Sultan, Justice (r) Sahir Ali and former IG Punjab Tariq Saleem Dogar for the post, while Rasheed presented the names of Orya Maqbool Jan, Yaqub Izhar, and Hassan Askari.

As both the sides failed to reach a consensus, the matter has been referred to the parliamentary committee.

Meanwhile, the KP lawmakers have given the mandate to the Election Commission of Pakistan to choose caretaker chief minister after failing to reach a consensus over the nominee in the parliamentary committee.
Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Mian Saqib Nisar on Monday said there was no possibility of a delay in the upcoming elections unless the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) became helpless.

Justice Nisar made the comment during the hearing of a case regarding electoral amendments, which was filed by the Workers Party.

All matters pertaining to elections must be completed on an urgent basis, the chief justice noted.

Director-general of Election Commission Pakistan (ECP) noted that the code of conduct was formed with consensus from all political parties.

The petitioner's lawyer maintained that the apex court had already announced a verdict on electoral reforms in 2012.

DG ECP informed the court that a new code of conduct for General Elections 2018 was formed after Election Act 2017 was passed.

The court then summoned a response from ECP on the code of conduct, to be submitted by the latter today.

CJP Nisar noted that the new code of conduct will be compared to its previous issue.

The hearing was then adjourned till Wednesday, with directives issued by the apex court for the formation of a larger bench.
Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Mian Saqib Nisar on Monday directed the Islamabad High Court (IHC) to come to a conclusion on the appeals registered by Additional District and Sessions Judge (ADSJ) Raja Khurram Ali Khan and his wife Maheen Zafar after they were handed a year-long prison sentence and Rs 50,000 fine each for inflicting torture on their child maid Tayyaba.

Nisar has set a weeks deadline for the matter of settling the appeals.

The husband-wife duo was found guilty of locking 10-year-old Tayyaba in a storeroom, burning her hand as punishment for a missing broom, beating her with a ladle, and threatening her of dire consequences under Section 328-A of the Pakistan Penal Code (PPC).

The evidence  tendered by the parties clearly shows that the accused persons neglected or wilfully harmed and abandoned Tayyaba, which resulted in harm to her or had the potential of causing harm, hence committing the offence as charged and the prosecution has proved the same beyond any shadow of doubt, the judge had ruled while acquitting them of other charges.
Director General of Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) Maj Gen Asif Ghafoor said on Monday that there was no space for war between Pakistan and India, two nuclear powers of the sub-continent.

Addressing a press conference in Rawalpindi, Maj Gen Ghafoor recalled that ceasefire violations by Indian troops at the Line of Control have been higher than usual in the year 2017-18. There were 1881 violations recorded in 2017 alone, which left 52 dead and 254 injured, he said.

"Indian army targeted innocent citizens, we responded and targeted [their] forces," he said.

The DG ISPR said that Pakistan had not responded to Indian firing, which followed an agreement by the two countries' militaries last week to adhere to the 2003 ceasefire agreement, but was "compelled" to respond only when civilians were targeted.

He complimented the Pakistani media on showing responsibility on the matter and not inciting provocation, adding that Pakistan wants to respect the truce agreement.

"The Indians have to realise and understand where they want to go [in the future]," he said. "We are two nuclear powers, and there is no space for war."

Pakistan's desire for peace should not be construed as a weakness, the chief of the military's media wing stressed.

Briefing journalists about the situation on the western front, the DG ISPR said seven Pakistani officers were martyred in 71 incidents of firing from across the Afghan border in May.

Maj Gen Ghafoor said that the country's relations with the United States are strained, but the Pakistani stance was that the army with the help of the public has fought terrorism and done what no other armed force in the world could manage.

"We have learned that national interest comes first, we will not compromise on that."

He said that there was no stable presence of the Haqqani Network but that their residual strength remains. "Prior to Zarb-i-Azb [military operation] it was a question of capacity, not resolve," he said.

The military desires respectable repatriation of Afghan refugees from Pakistan, after which the army can target all remaining terrorist networks, he said.
Kuwait's ban on fruits and vegetables imported from India would be beneficial for Pakistan, a top official associated with the country's trade and industry body said on Sunday.

Waheed Ahmed, the vice president at the Federation of Pakistan Chambers of Commerce & Industry (FPCCI), explained that exports of fruits and vegetables from Pakistan to Kuwait would consequently double in volume now that the latter had banned the imports of the same from India owing to the outbreak of the Nipah virus.

Noting that the Nipah virus had, at present, affected two states in India, Ahmed reiterated the Kuwaiti Food Safety Review's warning that the Nipah virus posed a risk to both humans and animals.

Kuwait had earlier announced that it was implementing a ban on the imports of fruits and vegetables from India, according to a statement by its trade ministry.

A committee at the Public Authority for Food and Nutrition  the Kuwaiti food safety and regulatory authority  cited Nipah virus outbreak in India's Kerala as the reason behind the latest decision taken by the Ministry of Commerce and Industry.

Infections were spreading in India's Kerala and other states in its south due to the Nipah virus outbreak, the Kuwaiti ministry said, adding that it posed a risk to both humans and animals.

Dr Mustafa Redha, the undersecretary of health, "affirmed that the ministry will take urgent precautionary health measures to prevent the outbreak of Nipah virus in the country after cases of infection were confirmed in the State of Kerala in South India", website indiansinkuwait reported.

It said that an advisory had been issued to implement relevant precautionary measures at health facilities in Kuwait.

Last week, the United Arab Emirates (UAE) had also imposed a ban on fruits and vegetables from Kerala, the Indian state, due to the same Nipah virus outbreak.

The rare brain-damaging Nipah virus has killed 13 people in the southern Indian state of Kerala, the UAE noted on Tuesday.

The UAE's Ministry of Climate Change and Environment (MoCCaE) also notified other local authorities, including the Abu Dhabi Food Control Authority (ADFCA) and the municipalities of its emirates, to prevent the entry of any fresh produce from Kerala, it had said in a statement.

The ministry suspects that fruit bats are the source of the virus. It said it was banning fresh produce, including mangoes, dates, and bananas  the bats preferred fruits.

Indian health officials have been unable to trace the origin of the outbreak and have commenced a fresh round of tests on fruit bats from Perambra, the suspected epicentre of the infection.

Kerala sent 116 suspected cases for testing in recent weeks, 15 have been confirmed with the deadly disease and 13 of these people have died, with two patients still undergoing treatment.

No confirmed cases of the virus have been found outside the state.

There is no vaccine for the virus, which is spread through body fluids and can cause encephalitis, or inflammation of the brain, the World Health Organization (WHO) says.
Qatar has warned that "any third party" call on the US and Israel to go to war with Iran is "dangerous," stressing that Doha would never be part of such a confrontation.

Qatari Deputy Prime Minister and Defense Minister Khalid bin Mohammad al-Attiyah told an international security conference in Singapore on Sunday that his country has "a lot of differences" with Iran, but it does not mean "we go and fuel a war."

"Is it wise to call the United States and to call Israel to go and fight Iran? ... Whether any third party is trying to push the region or some country in the region to start a war in Iran, this will be very dangerous," he said, apparently referring to Saudi Arabia.

Attiyah also urged dialogue with Iran to resolve issues, saying, "Iran is next door. We should call Iran, put all the files on the table and start to discuss to bring peace rather than war."

Asked about the possibility of Qatar's air bases being used in possible airstrikes on Iran, he noted that Doha was not a "fan of war" and rather supported engagement.

Qatar is home to a US military base with 11,000 American troops.

Elsewhere in his remarks, the Qatari defense minister called for the 2015 Iran nuclear agreement to be preserved after the US withdrawal from the deal.

"Everyone should keep holding on to this (accord) and advance with this. In my own judgment, I think the United States is wiser than to enter in a war with Iran," he said.

Last June, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Bahrain, and the UAE imposed a land, naval and air blockade on import-dependent Qatar, accusing Doha of supporting terrorism, and having cozy relations with Iran.

The Saudi-led bloc presented Qatar with a list of demands, among them downgrading ties with Iran, and gave it an ultimatum to comply with them or face consequences.

Doha, however, refused to meet the demands and stressed that it would not abandon its independent foreign policy.

Iran has taken a neutral stance in the dispute but has sent food supplies to Qatar on humanitarian grounds amid the Saudi-led siege of the country. It has also allowed Qatars national carrier to use Iran's airspace.
Click the image above to watch the video

In today's weather forecast we are expecting periods of rain with northeasterlies easing in the evening.

It's a two-clothing layer day today with a high of 18 and an overnight low of 12 degrees. Humidity is 99 per cent.

High tide is at 10.40am and low tide is at 4.50pm. There's a sea swell of 1.4m, with a sea temperature of 17 degrees. Sunset tonight is at 5pm.

If you're going fishing the next best fish bite time is between 3.30 and 5.30pm.

In NZ history on this day in 1943 there was a rail tragedy at Hyde. The CromwellDunedin express, travelling at speed, derailed while rounding a curve near Hyde in Central Otago.

Twenty-one of the 113 passengers on board were killed and 47 injured in what was then New Zealands worst rail accident.

In world history on this day in 1911 gold was discovered in Alaskas Indian Creek. In 1919 the U.S. Senate passed the Womens Suffrage bill.

In 1940 yhe British completed the evacuation of 300,000 troops at Dunkirk. In 1953 North Korea accepted the United Nations proposals in all major respects.

Today is the birthday of American author Robert Fulghum. Born in 1937, he once wrote "And it is still true, no matter how old you are, when you go out into the world it is best to hold hands and stick together".

To get involved in some of the many activities happening around the Bay, please check out our What's on page.

Have a great day!
A severe weather warning issued for the Bay of Plenty has now been lifted, but the MetService is forecasting more rain for the region this afternoon.

A severe weather watch is in place for many areas around New Zealand, including the Coromandel and Bay of Plenty.

Fronts associated with a low over the Tasman Sea are forecast to move slowly southwards over the North Island today and overnight Monday, then to the east of the North Island Tuesday afternoon, bringing strong and cold southwesterlies over the country from late Tuesday to Wednesday, says the weather organisation.

The latest Severe Weather Watch has been issued. Details: https://t.co/bcFLKY4OUU . The low to the northeast of NZ still bringing a risk of heavy rain to parts of #NZ & another weather system approaching from the south bringing risk of heavy snow and wind from Tuesday evening.^CF pic.twitter.com/Hne6A0Sjed  MetService (@MetService) June 3, 2018

The fronts and low are forecast to bring further heavy rain and isolated thunderstorms to northern and eastern parts of the North Island during today and Tuesday.

The watch is for the possibility of rainfall amounts reaching warning criteria in Northland, northern Auckland, Great Barrier Island, Coromandel Peninsula, Bay of Plenty, northern Gisborne and eastern Marlborough through to Tuesday morning.

The Watch is also for the possibility of south-southwest winds reaching severe gale strength about coastal Clutha and Dunedin from Tuesday evening to early Wednesday morning.

Overnight, the Western Bay of Plenty was pummelled with heavy rain causing widespread flooding throughout the region.

Marie and Brent Mckay were forced to abandon their vehicle in Papamoa, after it became stuck in rising flood waters.

Walking around Papamoa this morning, Marie snapped a few shots of the flood in the daylight.

There are lots of people out and about taking photos. I'm glad the stormwater reserves and road are doing what they were designed for, says Marie, taking the excess water and not flooding our brand new homes. They haven't finished the stormwater system yet but the waterways saved our homes.








Cicero Police Officer Eric Flansburg shows a Narcan kit that he carries with him in this file photo from 2015. He used Narcan on March 30, 2015 to save a 19-year-old Cicero man who overdosed on heroin. Officer Flansburg is now organizing a fundraiser for the Cicero Police Benevolent Association to give back to the community.

CICERO, N.Y. -- Officers in the Cicero police union are planning a party next weekend to bring first responders throughout Central New York and community members together.

"Our interactions are always high-stress," Cicero Police Officer Eric Flansburg said.

Anytime a resident or someone at a business calls for help, it's typically because there is a problem, he said. Police also find many youth are afraid to approach them, Flansburg said.

"We're no different than anyone else," he said. "We are friendly. We have a job to do. We're there to take care of people and help them."

Flansburg said he is organizing the Second Annual Emergency Services Family & Friends Clambake, a fundraiser for the Cicero Police Benevolent Association, to bring first responders and their families, businesses and community members together.

The fundraiser is scheduled from 1 to 5 p.m. next Sunday, June 10 at The Spinning Wheel Restaurant, 7384 Thompson Road in North Syracuse.

Money raised from the event will support the Cicero police union's efforts to give back to the community.

Every year around the holidays, officers hold a "Shop with a Cop" event to help children whose families could use a little extra help. The PBA donates money toward the shopping trips.

The Cicero Police Benevolent Association also hosts "Cop on Top," a program that helps with Special Olympics.

The PBA, a nonprofit with tax-exempt status, also has helped others in the community in times of need, Flansburg said.

Proceeds from Sunday's fundraiser will help the PBA "continue to grow, give back to the community and participate in other events," he said.

Pre-sale tickets to Sunday's fundraiser cost $45 for anyone 10 years and older, or $55 at the door. Children 5-9 pay $10, and anyone younger than 5 is free. Helicopter rides also will be available for $25.

The event will include food and drinks, as well as a dunk tank, face painting and a bounce house. Dirtroad Ruckus, a country and modern rock group, will perform live music. There also will be a disc jockey, 50/50 raffles and door prizes.

Last year's event attracted more than 200 people, including first responders, citizens and business people throughout Central New York.

Flansburg said he hopes even more people attend this year.

"I want this event to grow every year because that means more members of the community and businesses want to bridge that same gap that I do," Flansburg said. "I want everyone to come together to bring our community that much closer together."

For more information or to purchase pre-sale tickets, call (315) 415-2141.
Douglas Parkhurst

SYRACUSE, N.Y. -- For 44 years Douglas Parkhurst hid in plain sight in Oswego County as the family of 4-year-old Carolee Ashby desperately searched for answers on who struck and killed the child on Halloween night in 1968.

Parkhurst confessed to the hit and run in 2013, but he was never charged -- the statute of limitations had run out . He never apologized, according to the girl's family.

There was no closure or justice for Carolee's family or the community, said retired Fulton Police Detective Russ Johnson, who got a tip that reopened the case in 2012.

But that changed on Friday, according to Johnson and Carolee's family.

Parkhurst, 68, was hit and killed by a vehicle Friday night in Maine. The driver, Carol Sharrow, drove across a Little League field and struck Parkhurst who was near the main gate of the field.

Sharrow then sped from the scene, according to the Sanford Maine Police Department.

"This is the final chapter in a 50-year tragedy," Johnson said.

Carolee Ashby's sister, Darlene Ashby McCann, said she feels like she finally has closure.

"I feel like it's over now," said McCann, of Oswego County. "He's paid the ultimate price."

McCann had turned 15 on Oct. 31, 1968. She went to buy candles for her cake with her little sister and cousin. The group was walking home at about 6:30 p.m. to get Carolee dressed to go trick-or-treating.

McCann was holding Carolee's hand when the 4-year-old was struck by a vehicle at the intersection of Division and South Second Streets in Fulton.

The collision threw Carolee 133 feet. The driver never stopped.

The Ashby family pleaded for answers for more than four decades.

Carolee's father and brother died before Parkhurst confessed in 2013 and her mother, Marlene Ashby, died last year. McCann said her parents died without ever having closure.

"I know my mother suffered and my father suffered," she said. "Our lives changed forever that day."

McCann said she feels relieved with the news of Parkhurst's death.

"I hate to think that I'm relieved that someone has passed away, but that's what I feel," she said. "Relief."

McCann called the circumstances of Parkhurst's death ironic and riddled with coincidences.

The obvious is that Parkhurst died the way her sister died: struck by a hit-and-run driver, she said. Beyond that, McCann noted that the driver of the car is named Carol, which is close to her late-sister's name. Also, Parkhurst was 68 and the crash that took her sister's life was in 1968.

McCann, however, said there was one huge difference between the hit-and-run crash that took Carolee's life and the hit-and-run crash that took Parkhurst's life.

"His family will have it a lot easier because they don't have to sit and wonder what happened," McCann said

Sharrow, 51, of Sanford, Maine, was arrested shortly after the crash Friday and charged with manslaughter, according to Sanford Maine police.

It took 44 years for the Ashby family to learn what happened to Carolee.

Johnson opened the cold case investigation when he was working as a Fulton police investigator in 2000. He wanted to help the still-suffering family resolve their questions about Carolee's death.

In 2012, after his retirement, Johnson came across a Facebook page about Fulton and on a whim he posted a description of the case to seek information.

Two days later, a woman from Florida answered. Acting on the tip, Fulton Police Sgt. Stephen Lunn and Investigator Michael Batstone began reviewing hundreds of pages of reports. They discovered that Parkhurst had been interviewed in 1968.

The statute of limitations had long since expired and there could be no charges brought against Parkhurst. Police repeatedly said their goal was only to close the case and bring closure to the Ashby family.

Fifteen days after police made contact with him, Parkhurst walked into Interview Room 3 of the Fulton Police Department. He told Lunn and Batstone he hadn't been completely honest and now, knowing he couldn't be prosecuted, would tell them what really happened.

He scrawled a four-page confession that said he believed he was the driver of a car that hit Carolee. He and his brother had been drinking when they left their brother's house and drove into Fulton; his brother was passed out in the back seat.

"I heard a thud. It sounded like I hit a dog," Parkhurst wrote. "I don't know where I hit that thing."

"I did not see what I hit. I did not stop."

"I know in my heart and I am 99.9 percent sure I hit that little girl with my 1962 tan Buick Special," he wrote. "I am oh so sorry. I can't change anything but I hope this apology will be accepted and I beg for forgiveness."

Parkhurst said he didn't know why the police hadn't questioned him again in 1968.

"I wished they did. I would have told them the truth."

Parkhurst was living in the town of Oswego when police came to his house in 2013, but shortly after confessing that he killed Carolee he moved to Maine.

Carol Sharrow, 52.

The Sanford Police Department and Maine State Police are continuing to investigate the crash that killed Parkhurst. The driver, Sharrow, is being held at the York County Jail in Maine.

Johnson said the case of Carolee's death has stuck with him for a long time. He called the circumstances to Parkhurst death shocking and mind boggling.

"It's an incredibly strange twist of fate that the guy who killed Carolee Ashby 50 years ago and hid in plain sight for 44 years suffered the same fate," Johnson said.
Winners of the fourth annual Syracuse High School Theatre Awards were revealed Sunday at the Landmark Theatre in Syracuse.

The event, sponsored by the Syracuse Area Honda Dealers, was attended by hundreds of aspiring actors from 23 Central New York schools.

The awards program is a Tony Awards-inspired production featuring high school performers - the casts, crews, and orchestra members - from our local schools and community.

The event was established by Advance Media New York (Syracuse.com, The Post-Standard, NYUP) to celebrate and recognize students' achievements in the arts.

And the winners are:

Outstanding Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role - Kayla Bush as Amneris in "Aida" Rome Free Academy

Outstanding Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role - Emmanuel Esparza as Willard Hewitt in "Footloose" Oneida High School

Outstanding Performance by an Actress - Megan Schwartz as Billie Bendix in "Nice Work If You Can Get It" Cazenovia High School

Outstanding Performance by an Actor - Nolan Callahan as Sweeney Todd in "Sweeney Todd" Oswego High School

Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble - "Sweeney Todd" Oswego High School

Outstanding Performance by a Student Orchestra- "Cinderella" Fayetteville-Manlius High School

Outstanding Production Number - "Let's Hear it for the Boy" "Footloose, "Oneida High School

Outstanding Stage Crew - "Young Frankenstein" Jordan Elbridge High School

Outstanding Direction- Garrett Heater "Sweeney Todd" Oswego High School

Outstanding Music Direction - Shawn Hebert "Cinderella" Fayetteville-Manlius High School

Excellence in Choreography Execution- "Nice Work If You Can Get It" Cazenovia High School

Outstanding Special Achievement Award- Fayetteville Manlius High School

Rising Star Award Actor - Jack McAuliff as Lumiere in "Beauty and the Beast" Marcellus High School

Rising Star Award Actress - Allie Vargo as Hodel in "Fiddler in the Roof" Faith Heritage High School

Outstanding Overall Production of a Musical- Small School- "Catch Me If You Can" Moravia High School

Outstanding Overall Production of a Musical- Medium School- "Footloose" Oneida High School

Outstanding Overall Production of a Musical - Large School- "Cinderella" Fayetteville-Manlius HS
SYRACUSE, N.Y. -- Dr. Danielle Laraque-Arena is defending her leadership of SUNY Upstate Medical University in the wake of recent controversies that have rocked the campus.

Her senior vice president and chief of staff resigned two weeks ago after less than 15 months on the job following revelations he lied about his past.

The state academic medical center has come under criticism for making a secret deal to pay its former hospital CEO $660,500 to do consulting work and refusing to say what work, if any, he did.

An interim CEO hired to run the hospital quit in March after 14 months on the job.

"Yes, we have some growing pains," said Laraque-Arena, who took over as president two years ago. "But good leadership will carry us far. I believe I am that leadership with my eyes open and the ability to say there are some challenges and we've had some bumps in the road."

Tom Dennison, a health care expert and Syracuse University professor, said the recent events at Upstate don't "paint a picture of stability."

"This is too important an asset in our community to allow this kind of disruption," he said.

Upstate is Syracuse's biggest health care system and largest employer with more than 9,400 people on its payroll. It trains doctors, nurses and other medical professionals, many of whom stay in the region.

Ben Moore, a former CEO of Upstate University Hospital, said the recent problems could hurt Upstate's ability to recruit faculty and staff, and have "profound effects on the institution."

"You can't let things like that continue otherwise it will get worse," Moore said.

Laraque-Arena, 63, a nationally renowned pediatrician and researcher from New York City, became president of Upstate in 2016.

She replaced Dr. Gregory Eastwood, who served as interim president after Dr. David R. Smith resigned as Upstate's president in 2013 amid accusations he padded his pay.

A SUNY audit showed Smith authorized the use of $1.4 million from a medical school fund to set up deferred compensation plans for himself and other top Upstate officials including Steven C. Brady, a former senior vice president.

Brady, who left Upstate a week after Smith resigned, pleaded guilty last month to falsifying business records, a felony, when he set up the compensation plans in 2010.

Laraque-Arena, who was paid $608,000 last year, says she came to Upstate with an agenda to change an institution that had not seen much change in 30 years.

She said part of that change involves focusing more on population health, an approach that aims to improve the health of the entire community, not just sick people admitted to the hospital.

Improving population health will be one of the goals of an 8-story health and wellness center Upstate is preparing to build on East Adams Street across from University Hospital. It will offer primary and behavioral health care to the poor along with social services provided by community agencies.

Laraque-Arena has also shaken up management. She replaced the deans of Upstate's medical school, nursing school and college of health professions. She's changed management of the hospital twice. She's also reorganizing Upstate's upper management structure.

Laraque-Arena said the changes are necessary to respond to the rapidly changing health care industry.

"Change is hard no matter how much you prepare folks," she said.

Dr. Dennis Nave, former president of the Onondaga County Medical Society and an Upstate medical school graduate, thinks Laraque-Arena is on the right track.

"I think the new president is earnestly trying to make changes," he said. "I think we have to give her a chance."

The recent resignation of Sergio A. Garcia, a senior vice president and chief of staff, appears to be Laraque-Arena's biggest road bump. He quit his $340,000-a-year-job after an Albany Times Union report revealed he told outlandish, self-aggrandizing lies about his past in a video-recorded speech at Upstate.

Bill Hammond, health policy director of the Empire Center, an Albany think tank, said the incident raises questions about Upstate's vetting process.

"Was SUNY Upstate sufficiently careful in bringing him on?" he said.

Upstate is investigating how Garcia was hired. Preliminary findings of that investigation are expected to be presented at an Upstate faculty meeting Thursday.

Laraque-Arena said Garcia was thoroughly vetted and that process did not turn up any problems in his background. She said she had no suspicions about him before the Times Union story came out.

"With what we know now, I can tell you the hiring of this person was a mistake," she said.

The story showed he fabricated many details about his past, including narrowly escaping a suicide bombing in Afghanistan.

"A poor hire in a senior position can have long-term negative effects on the organization and the individuals who have to work through that uncertainty," Dennison said. "When I see turnover at that level, it's troublesome."

Upstate's recent problems have renewed calls for the creation of a local board of trustees to keep an eye on the institution, an idea that's been considered in the past.

Moore, who is CEO of River Hospital in Alexandria Bay, believes Upstate should have a local board.

"It's important to have a board with representation directly from the community you serve. A board in Albany can't do that for you," he said. "When you are working for a board that holds you accountable, your performance is front and center."

Shortly after Smith's resignation in 2013, SUNY considered creating local boards to help oversee Upstate University Hospital and the two other SUNY hospitals in Brooklyn and Stony Brook.

Oversight of the hospitals currently rests with the presidents of each of the academic medical centers. The presidents report to SUNY's chancellor and the SUNY Board of Trustees in Albany. Upstate has local advisory committees.

Upstate officials at the time supported the proposal. But SUNY dropped the idea after officials of the Brooklyn and Stony Brook hospitals opposed it.

Hammond said Upstate's "underlying governance needs some work."

"Whether it's closer oversight by the SUNY central board or the establishment of a new board, somebody needs to be getting on top of this," Hammond said.

Laraque-Arena said she welcomes input from the community, but did not have an opinion on whether Upstate should have a local board of trustees.

"I believe in leadership that is inclusive, transparent and that is driven by good information," she said.

Contact James T. Mulder anytime: Email | Twitter | 315-470-2245
SYRACUSE, N.Y. - Twenty-two organizations in Central New York will receive a combined $13.7 million for poverty-fighting efforts as part of the region's $500 million Upstate Revitalization Initiative, Onondaga County Executive Joanie Mahoney announced today.

The grants partially fulfill a $50 million commitment to help the poor that was a key element of the half-billion-dollar economic development award won by Central New York in late 2015.

Mahoney announced grants ranging from $100,000 for Oswego County Opportunities to $2.6 million for On Point for College. The vast majority of the money will go to existing programs to help them take on additional clients.

"This is going to be game-changing,'' Mahoney said. "We're not just putting fires out. We're looking at us as a region, and we're looking at systemic problems, and we're trying to address as many of the components of a very complicated issue of poverty as we can.''

There are grants to train child care professionals; a grant to provide transportation for workers without cars; grants to help high school kids graduate or prepare for college; grants to train workers in retail, nursing homes, or counseling services.

Although there are a few new programs in the group, most of the money is going to programs with a track record to help them expand, Mahoney said.

The grant recipients were chosen by a 24-member regional panel called the Alliance for Economic Inclusion, whose members were chosen by Mahoney and other public officials. Of 92 organizations that applied in response to a request for proposals, 22 won grants.

Of the $50 million in state anti-poverty money, $20 million had already been set aside to provide college scholarships for Syracuse students through Say Yes to Education. In addition to the grants announced today, about $16 million remains to be utilized.

There will be another RFP for grant proposals, possibly by later this year, said Ann Rooney, a deputy county executive who has served as an administrator for the AEI panel.

Syracuse Deputy Mayor Sharon Owens, a member of the AEI panel, said fighting poverty demands a "multidimensional and innovative'' approach.

"What we are doing today is taking a great step toward that,'' she said.

Contact reporter Tim Knauss | email | Twitter | 315-470-3023

CNY anti-poverty grants by Tim Knauss on Scribd
DEWITT, NY - Town of DeWitt officials are considering adopting a new zoning "mixed-use" overlay for three separate districts within the town.

The proposed zoning change would allow developers or property owners to apply to build mixed-use projects, which would call for retail on the first floor in all cases and apartments or condos on the upper floors.

A public hearing on the proposal is set for 7:35 p.m. today at DeWitt Town Hall, 5400 Butternut Drive. The town could take action on the zoning proposal tonight.

The zoning would incorporate three different districts - one with a two-story height maximum; another with a four-story maximum and a third would permit buildings up to six stories high, said Samuel Gordon, the town's director of planning and zoning.

ShoppingTown, for example, would be mixed-use with up to six stories allowed. That would mean retail on the first-floor, and apartments or condos could take up the upper five floors.

The mixed-use zoning is designed for commercial areas including the Erie Bouelvard/East Genesee Street corridor, the Thompson Road/James Street corridor and the area around New Court Avenue.

Map below details which areas are targeted for the mixed-use districts.

A number of residents are opposed to the overlay, saying high-density apartments will tax the school system, lead to increased traffic and be eyesores. They also say renters don't have the same investment in their properties as homeowners do.

Homeowners have "skin-in-the-game,'' said resident Peter Baskin. "You don't have that with renters. You get rundown housing and trash. There is no pride of ownership or connection to the community in a six-story apartment building with hundreds of families."

Developers would have to apply to the town for the mixed-use zoning overlay when they propose a particular project, and it would have to be reviewed by DeWitt planners and town officials, Gordon said.

The idea is to spur development on some of the properties in the town which are languishing, such as ShoppingTown, Gordon said.

The trend both nationally and locally is toward more of these mixed-use projects, and several have opened in Onondaga County, such as Madison Row in Manlius.

"The target market for these is typically millenials, younger professionals or retired people who don't want to maintain a home,'' Gordon said.

Typically, these mixed-use developments include market-rate apartments.

DeWitt also plans to include walkable centers in these districts to make them more pedestrian friendly.

Local developers like the idea, and there is interest among them in developing in these districts, Gordon said. Several developers like the idea for ShoppingTown as well, and Moonbeam had proposed this in 2015 before the zoning permitted it, he said.

Some residents have expressed concern over the ability of the schools to handle high-density apartments or condos. Gordon said while some families may have children who move into the apartments or condos, because the target market is millenials and older couples it's not likely to burden the schools, he said.

Baskin said he'll tell the town at the hearing that he doubts seniors and millennials will want to live in the brownfields sites of Oberdorfer and the Jamesville cement silos, or next to the Jamesville Quarry and the New Court railroad tracks.

Map details 3 proposed zoning districts to allow apartments, retail by The Post-Standard on Scribd
A federal judge has agreed to delay opening arguments until June 18 in the corruption trial of a former state official and business executives from Syracuse-based Cor Development and a Buffalo company.

U.S. District Court Judge Valerie Caproni pushed back the start date one week at the request of the U.S. attorney's office. Federal prosecutors said they were deluged with new documents totaling 24,000 pages that were supplied belatedly in response to a subpoena by LP Ciminelli, a Buffalo development company directly involved in the trial.

The trial had been scheduled to start June 11 in Manattan. Jury selection will proceed June 11 as planned, but opening arguments and testimony will be delayed for a week, Caproni ordered.

Four defendants will be on trial. Alain Kaloyeros, former head of SUNY Polytechnic Institute, faces charges of bid rigging in connection with the selection of Cor and LP Ciminelli for lucrative state development work. Cor executives Steven Aiello and Joseph Gerardi are accused of colluding with Kaloyeros and lying to federal authorities. Louis Ciminelli, CEO of LP Ciminelli, also is accused of colluding with Kaloyeros.

Contact reporter Tim Knauss | email | Twitter | 315-470-3023
U.S. Air Force National Guard Airman 1st Class Anita M. Hernandez graduated from basic military training at Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland, San Antonio, Texas. Hernandez is the daughter of Nancy Furbeck, of East Syracuse and Albert Hernandez, of Syracuse. She is a graduate of Onondaga Community College and is a 2008 graduate of Henninger High School.

U.S. Air Force Airman Timothy J. Gibbons graduated from basic military training at Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland, San Antonio, Texas. Gibbons is the son of Timothy J. Gibbons, of Central Square, and Paige M. Howell, of Tully. He is a 2016 graduate of Tully Junior/Senior High School.

U.S. Air Force National Guard Airman 1st Class Keely E. Monroe graduated from basic military training at Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland, San Antonio, Texas. Monroe is the daughter of Raymond and Kathryn Monroe, of Syracuse. She is a 2017 graduate of Liverpool High School.

U.S. Air Force Airman Cody D. Shoemaker graduated from basic military training at Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland, San Antonio, Texas. Shoemaker is the son of Curtis and Susan Shoemaker, of Moravia. He is a 2016 graduate of Moravia High School.

U.S. Air Force Airman 1st Class Malia A. Wallace graduated from basic military training at Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland, San Antonio, Texas. Wallace earned an associate degree from Broward College, Davie, Fla., and is a 2015 graduate of Liverpool High School.

U.S. Air Force Airman 1st Class Dana K. Bowers graduated from basic military training at Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland, San Antonio, Texas. Bowers earned distinction as an honor graduate. She is the daughter of Diana C. and David Bowers, of Hamilton. Bowers earned a bachelor's degree from State University of New York at Plattsburgh, and is a 2012 graduate of Hamilton Central School.

U.S. Air Force Airman Shemar D. Gallishaw graduated from basic military training at Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland, San Antonio, Texas. Gallishaw is the son of Patrice M. Barnes, of Arlington, Texas, and Damiel J. Gallishaw, of Liverpool. He is a 2017 graduate of James Bowie High School.

New York Army National Guard Lt. Col. Marshal Hunt, an Iraq War veteran, took command of the Kingston-based 104th Military Police Battalion. He enlisted in the United States Army as an infantryman and he served as an infantryman and infantry fire team leader in the 1st squadron 5th cavalry of the 1st cavalry division at Fort Hood as an enlisted soldier. Hunt was commissioned as an officer and assigned to the military police corps and commanded an MP platoon at Fort Drum. He deployed to Tal Afar, Iraq and served with his platoon as part of the 3rd armored cavalry regiment and the 1st brigade, 1st armored division. He also served with the 94th MP battalion in Yongsan, South Korea and then commanded the 55th military police Company at Camp Casey, Korea. On returning to the United States Hunt joined the New York Army National Guard and was assigned to the 27th infantry brigade combat team as the provost marshal. He deployed to Kuwait with the 27th Brigade in 2012 as the operations officer for the 27th brigade special troops battalion when the battalion served as the Kuwait security force battalion. Hunt has also served as brigade plans officer and logistics officer. He is a full-time National Guard officer who also serves as a training officer at New York National Guard headquarters. Hunt is a graduate of the Army's Command and General Staff College and holds a bachelor's degree in history from Canisius College. He resides in Manlius with his wife, Cassie and two children Regan and Griffin.

Charles "Chuck" Hutson, a veteran of the war in Afghanistan, was promoted to Colonel in the New York Air National Guard. Hutson serves as the deputy director of the United States Property and Fiscal Office for the New York National Guard, and serves as the director of property and fiscal operations for the office. He is a former army officer who was commissioned through Army ROTC at Clarkson University. Hutson served in the Army's 501st Military Intelligence Brigade in Korea and the 10th Mountain Division at Fort Drum, before joining the New York Army National Guard and serving in the 427th Support Battalion. He transferred to the New York Air National Guard's 174th Attack Wing and has served at the headquarters of the International Security Assistance Force in Afghanistan. He holds the Bronze Star Medal. Hutson is a graduate of the Air War College and the Joint Combined Warfighting School. He resides in Manlius with his wife, New York Air National Guard Col. Kate Hutson who is the commander of the 174th Maintenance Group. The couple have two children, Charlie and Madeline-Grace.

Pfc. Kathleen Demong, of Syracuse, begins her military career into the Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 102nd Military Police Battalion.

Maj. Gen. Anthony P. German, the adjunct general, announced the promotions of members of the New York Army National Guard: Promoted are:

Corey Babcock, of Syracuse, with the 1427th Transportation Company, to the rank of Private 1st Class; Jill Davidson, of Bridgeport, with the 10th Mountain Division (Mobile Command Post Operations Detachment), to the rank of Specialist; Marshall Hunt, of Manlius, with the Joint Force Headquarters, to the rank of Lt. Col.; and Tristin McNeill, of Syracuse, with the Company D, 2-108th Infantry, to the rank of Private 1st Class.

Maj. Gen. Anthony P. German, the adjunct general, announced the reenlistments of members of the New York Army National Guard: Reenlisted are:

Private 1st Class Shawn Boni, of Oswego, with the 1427th Transportation Company; Sgt. 1st Class James Brennan, of Union Springs, with the Company C, Recruiting and Retention; Sgt. Mitchell Cooper, of Camillus, with the Company D, 2-108th Infantry; Spc. Sean Coyne, of Liverpool, with the 27th Infantry Brigade Combat Team; Staff Sgt. Jason Ebling, of Baldwinsville, with the 27th Infantry Brigade Combat Team; and Sgt. Eric Kreisler, of Baldwinsville, with the Headquarters and Headquarters Battery, 1-258th Field Artillery.
WASHINGTON (AP) -- An attorney for President Donald Trump stressed Sunday that the president's legal team would contest any effort to force the president to testify in front of a grand jury during the special counsel's Russia probe but downplayed the idea that Trump could pardon himself.

Rudy Giuliani, in a series of television interviews, emphasized one of the main arguments in a newly unveiled letter sent by Trump's lawyers to special counsel Robert Mueller back in January: that a president can't be given a grand jury subpoena as part of the investigation into foreign meddling in the 2016 election.

But he distanced himself from one of their bolder arguments in the letter, which was first reported Saturday by The New York Times, that a president could not have committed obstruction of justice because he has authority to "if he wished, terminate the inquiry, or even exercise his power to pardon."

"Pardoning himself would be unthinkable and probably lead to immediate impeachment," Giuliani told NBC's "Meet the Press." ''And he has no need to do it, he's done nothing wrong."

The former New York City mayor, who was not on the legal team when the letter was written, added that Trump "probably does" have the power to pardon himself, an assertion challenged by legal scholars, but says the president's legal team hasn't discussed that option, which many observers believe could plunge the nation into a constitutional crisis.

"I think the political ramifications would be tough," Giuliani told ABC's "This Week." ''Pardoning other people is one thing, pardoning yourself is tough."

Trump has issued two unrelated pardons in recent days and discussed others, a move that has been interpreted as a possible signal to allies ensnared in the Russia probe.

The letter is dated Jan. 29 and addressed to Mueller from John Dowd, a Trump lawyer who has since resigned from the legal team. Mueller has requested an interview with the president to determine whether he had criminal intent to obstruct the investigation into his associates' possible links to Russia's election interference.

Giuliani said Sunday that a decision about an interview would not be made until after Trump's summit with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un on June 12 in Singapore, and he cast doubt that it would occur at all.

"I mean, we're leaning toward not," Giuliani told ABC. "But look, if they can convince us that it will be brief, it would be to the point, there were five or six points they have to clarify, and with that, we can get this -- this long nightmare for the -- for the American public over."

Trump's legal team has long pushed the special counsel to narrow the scope of its interview. Giuliani also suggested that Trump's lawyers had been incorrect when they denied that the president was involved with the letter that offered an explanation for Donald Trump Jr.'s 2016 Trump Tower meeting with Russians who offered damaging information on Democrat Hillary Clinton.

"This is the reason you don't let the president testify," Giuliani told ABC. "Our recollection keeps changing, or we're not even asked a question and somebody makes an assumption."

If Trump does not consent to an interview, Mueller will have to decide whether to go forward with a historic grand jury subpoena. His team raised the possibility in March of subpoenaing the president, but it is not clear if it is still under active consideration.

A court battle is likely if Trump's team argues that the president can't be forced to answer questions or be charged with obstruction of justice. President Bill Clinton was charged with obstruction in 1998 by the House of Representatives as part of his impeachment trial. And one of the articles of impeachment prepared against President Richard Nixon in 1974 was for obstruction.

Giuliani suggested Sunday that, despite the president's broad powers, a theoretical charge of obstruction may be possible in some cases. Topics of Mueller's obstruction investigation include the firings of FBI director James Comey and former national security adviser Michael Flynn, as well as Trump's reaction to Attorney General Jeff Sessions' recusal from the Russia investigation.

In addition to the legal battles, Trump's team and allies have waged a public relations campaign against Mueller and the Justice Department to discredit the investigation and soften the impact of the special counsel's potential findings. Giuliani said last week that the special counsel probe may be an "entirely illegitimate investigation" and need to be curtailed because, in his estimation, it was based on inappropriately obtained information from an informant and Comey's memos.

In reality, the FBI began a counterintelligence investigation in July 2016 to determine if Trump campaign associates were coordinating with Russia to tip the election. The investigation was opened after the hacking of Democratic emails that intelligence officials later formally attributed to Russia.

Trump's team has asked for a briefing about the informant, but Giuliani said Sunday that the president would not order the Justice Department to comply because it would negatively affect public opinion. But he continued to cast doubt on the special counsel's eventual findings, suggesting that Trump has already offered explanations for the matters being investigated and that the special counsel was biased against the president.

"For every one of these things he did, we can write out five reasons why he did it," Giuliani said. "If four of them are completely innocent and one of them is your assumption that it's a guilty motive, which (Trump) would deny, you can't possibly prosecute him."

The special counsel's office did not respond to a request for comment.

Trump, who was spending a rainy Washington weekend at Camp David, also unleashed a new attack on the Justice Department, which he has repeatedly painted as corrupt and biased against him.

"As only one of two people left who could become President, why wouldn't the FBI or Department of "Justice" have told me that they were secretly investigating Paul Manafort (on charges that were 10 years old and had been previously dropped) during my campaign? Should have told me!" Trump tweeted.

Manafort, who was Trump's campaign chairman, faces charges of acting as an unregistered foreign agent and money-laundering conspiracy and also two false-statement charges related to information he shared with the Justice Department about his Ukrainian political work. Trump has argued that the claims predate Manafort's involvement with his Republican campaign. The FBI has not said it told the campaign about the investigation, though the bureau did provide a routine briefing for the campaign about foreign counterintelligence threats.

--By Jonathan Lemire, Associated Press. Associated Press writers Chad Day and Eric Tucker contributed to this report.
NISKAYUNA -- The mother of a missing Arizona woman found alive this weekend by police in Niskayuna praised the local department Sunday for their efforts to identify her.

Niskayuna police found Amanda Hanover, 38, on Rosendale Road on Saturday after residents called to report a woman in the area who appeared suspicious.

Responding officers found her, but she had no ID and told them she didn't remember her name. All she had was two train tickets and a Post-It note with three phone numbers.

Investigators used that information and finally tracked down the woman's mother, Patricia Schachtner in Arizona later Saturday.

"When I saw a picture of her, I didn't recognize her at all and I started sobbing," Schachtner told The Daily Gazette by phone on Sunday, "because I was just so worried about her."

Family members are now focused on getting Hanover the help she needs. She is thankfully now getting that help locally, her mother said.

"All I can say to you is I have nothing but fantastic things to say about the people in New York, the officers," Schachtner said. "Officer Beth McGuire was unbelievable. In this day and age, the way people feel about police, that says a lot."

McGuire, a Niskayuna police sergeant, spearheaded the effort Saturday to identify Hanover, Deputy Police Chief Michael Stevens said. Detective Paul Hobson assisted.

By the time they had finished Saturday, the two had unlocked a mystery that had Hanover's family worried for months.

The investigators also uncovered a trail that spanned two countries, at least 4,400 miles and even involved Friday night's fire at the former Rensselaer City Hall.

Exactly what led her to Niskayuna remains a mystery, Stevens said, but she has an uncle in the Utica area and his number was one of the numbers on her Post-It note.

From Arizona to Canada to Niskayuna

Hanover's trail to Niskayuna began in March, when she left her home in Gilbert, Arizona, outside Phoenix, and was last seen by family in California. She left behind her two children, ages 4 and 11. Both are now with family, Schachtner said.

The next clue came from Calgary in late April. Her car was found abandoned there and, with the possibility that Hanover was still in the area, a local Calgary television station picked up her story.

Have you seen Amanda Hanover? Missing Arizona womans car found abandoned in University of Calgary parking lot https://t.co/TO5To14zvI #yyc @UCalgary @CalgaryPolice pic.twitter.com/vcv82OKqUc  CTV Calgary (@CTVCalgary) May 16, 2018

Evidence in her car suggested Hanover hoped to settle there, her mother said. But what happened after that remains unknown.

Family members occasionally heard from Hanover by phone, Schachtner said. They heard from her again Friday with the message that she was taking a train to Albany-Rensselaer.

Schachtner's brother lives outside Utica and told her he would be at the station to pick her up. But Friday night's fire at the old Rensselaer City Hall snarled traffic and delayed his arrival.

By the time he got there, she had vanished again.

Then came Saturday and the calls about the woman on Rosendale. Callers told police she was attempting to enter vehicles and possibly sought assistance as she felt she was in danger.

When officers arrived and found her, she told them she didn't know her name, Stevens said.

"They didn't believe her to be evasive," Stevens said. "They believed that she didn't know her name and she looked disheveled, like she had been outside for a couple days, at least overnight."

So investigators set about trying to find the woman's name.

They checked her train tickets. An unknown man's name was on them. Police believe he could have simply been a good Samaritan who helped Hanover, though they don't know his exact connection.

Police then turned to the Post-It. The first number turned out to be the Hudson Police Department in Columbia County. Police there reported they had had no contacts with a similar woman and it is unknown why their number was on the note, Stevens said.

Investigators couldn't get through to the second number. The third number turned out to be Hanover's uncle and investigators had their answer.

With Hanover found, Schachtner was hesitant about describing her daughter's health history, but said it includes an ongoing struggle with post-traumatic stress disorder.

'Amanda is a warrior'

Hanover worked as a certified public accountant and has served as a community organizer, focusing on school funding issues in Arizona, her mother said.

"I'm very proud of her. Very, very proud of her," Schachtner said of her daughter's work. "Amanda is a warrior. She's just a really good person. She's a really great person. She'd do anything for anybody."

Schachtner said she is now planning to travel to the Capital Region to be with her daughter.

The Niskayuna police investigation is ongoing, Stevens said, if only to try to answer the questions of how Hanover got there. Investigators hope to interview her when she is ready.

As for the story itself, and how investigators pieced it together, Stevens indicated he is amazed. He said he relayed that to McGuire and Hobson Saturday.

"I told them yesterday, I said you two should both go home very happy with yourselves and the day of work you put in," Stevens said, "because you really touched a lot of lives today on something so simple and just going the extra mile."

--By Steven Cook, The Daily Gazette, Schenectady, N.Y.
Former President Bill Clinton said in an interview that aired Monday that he would not handle the Monica Lewinsky scandal any differently today, even in light of the #MeToo movement, and that he never privately apologized to the former White House intern with whom he had a sexual relationship.

"If the facts were the same today, I wouldn't," Clinton told NBC New's "Today" correspondent Craig Melvin when asked if he would have approached the accusations against him any differently today.

"I don't think it would be an issue," Clinton said. "Because people would be using the facts instead of the imagined facts. ... [A] lot of the facts have been conveniently omitted to make the story work."

But you didnt apologize to her [Lewinsky]? -@craigmelvin



I have not talked to her. Bill Clinton



Do you feel that you owe her an apology? Melvin



No. I have never talked to her, but I did say publicly on more than one occasion that I was sorry. -Clinton pic.twitter.com/dVAb0OycIa  TODAY (@TODAYshow) June 4, 2018

In an interview that turned testy, Clinton said that he had apologized "to everybody in the world" for the 20-year-old episode but acknowledged he had not spoken directly to Lewinsky about the affair.

"I've never talked to her," Clinton said. "But I did say, publicly, on more than one occasion, that I was sorry. That's very different. The apology was public."

Clinton also noted that there had been negative consequences for him related to the episode, which led to his impeachment by the House but acquittal by the Senate.

In this image taken from video, Monica Lewinsky (wearing beret) smiles at President Bill Clinton as he greets well-wishers at a White House lawn party in Washington Nov. 6, 1996.

"Nobody believes that I got out of that for free," he said. "I left the White House $16 million in debt. "

Clinton sat for the interview to promote his new novel with author James Patterson titled "The President is Missing."
Danville, Va. -- Police in Virginia issued an Amber Alert for a 7-month-old girl who was abducted by her father from a gas station in Virginia on Sunday.



The girl, Emma Grace Kennedy, has blond hair and blue eyes and weighs about 18 pounds. She was last seen wearing a light blue onesie.



Her father, 51-year-old Carl Ray Kennedy, is a registered sex offender in North Carolina, according to The New York Post. He was recently released from jail after posting $250,000 bond. He is facing drug distribution charges.



Carl Kennedy allegedly assaulted Emma's mother with a knife at a Kwik Stop in Danville, Virginia on Sunday and took the girl. Danville is located along Virginia's border with North Carolina.



Police believe Emma is in extreme danger, according to WDBJ in Virginia.



Carl Kennedy was last seen driving a gold four-door Suzuki, the station said. He was wearing a brown shirt, gray shorts and white sneakers.



Kennedy also has several tattoos, including a skull with a bandana over its mouth on his right forearm, a skull tattoo on his left forearm, an eye tattoo on the back of his right hand, a pit bull with "American Bulldog" written under it on his upper right arm and a wizard on his upper left arm.



Police said he has access to other vehicles as well, according to WDBJ.

Kennedy has gray hair and green eyes, according to NBC Washington. He is 5 feet 8 inches tall and weighs 170 pounds.

The Danville Police Department is working on the case with North Carolina authorities, state police in Virginia and the FBI, WDBJ said.

Contact Kevin Tampone anytime: Email | Twitter | Google + | 315-454-2112
A shot of chilly air will descend on Upstate New York for the first half of this week.

A pair of low pressure systems will work together to bring below normal temperatures into the region. The first of these lows will move off the New England coast on Monday, while the second will dive southeast across the region on Tuesday.

Cool air is already moving into Upstate New York behind the first low.

Rain showers from this low will linger across the North Country, Capital Region, and eastern portions of the Adirondacks Monday morning. Some additional showers will develop during the late morning and afternoon hours across the rest of Upstate New York.

High temperatures will range through the 60s with some 50s for highs in the Adirondacks.

More scattered showers are expected on Tuesday, especially early in the morning and again during the afternoon. Chilly air will move in on northwest winds.

Look for high temperatures to struggle to 60 degrees across Western New York, the Finger Lakes, and Central New York. Highs in the 50s are likely in the Adirondacks, with most other places in the low 60s.

Wednesday will not be any better, with some 50s for highs in the Catskills and Adirondacks with temperatures near 60 degrees elsewhere. Only the Capital Region will mange to reach the mid 60s.

Again, some afternoon showers will likely pop up, especially over higher elevations.

Despite the chilly air mass, there should be enough cloud cover and wind during the overnight periods to keep temperatures in the 40s with no risk for frost.

The weather should clear up and warm up some for Thursday and Friday. One or two isolated showers may be possible, but most areas will remain dry.

High temperatures should return to the low 70s with 60s holding on in the Adirondacks.

Here are the details day-by-day:

Monday, June 4

Morning rain will exit eastern regions, but scattered showers will be possible area-wide this afternoon.

High temperatures will reach the mid 60s everywhere except the Adirondacks where 50s are likely.

Winds will gust between 30-40 mph across the North County and Adirondacks, as well as in Western New York and the Finger Lakes.

Tuesday, June 5



Early morning showers are likely along and south of I-90. Scattered afternoon showers will also develop region-wide.

Temperatures will be near 60 degrees for most areas with 50s in the Adirondacks and low and mid 60s across the Southern Tier, into the Catskills and up through the Capital Region.

Wind gusts could exceed 30 mph over higher elevations, especially during the morning hours.

Wednesday, June 6

Clouds will continue to be thick with some on and off showers, especially during the afternoon.

Temperatures for most areas will be around 60 degrees with a few 50s in the higher elevations and mid 60s in the Capital Region.

Winds will be lighter with top gusts generally under 20 mph.

Thursday, June 7

Sunshine will mix with some clouds. There will only be a very small chance for an isolated, brief shower.

Temperatures will return to the low and mid 70s for most areas along and south of I-90. The Catskills will remain in the mid and upper 60s, as will the North Country and Adirondacks.

Friday, June 8

A good deal of sunshine is expected. Again, there could be a widely scattered afternoon shower for one or two places.

Temperatures will be in the low and mid 70s for everyone except the High Peaks region of the Adirondacks, where mid and upper 60s are likely.

More from NYUP Weather
AICPA Urges IRS To Augment Virtual Currency Guidance

by Mike Godfrey, Tax-News.com, Washington

04 June 2018

The American Institute of CPAs (AICPA) has urged the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) to supplement its guidance on the tax treatment of virtual currency transactions with answers to a set of frequently asked questions.

Notice 2014-21, issued by the IRS in April 2014, provides that virtual currency is treated as property for US federal tax purposes. As such, general tax principles that apply to property transactions apply to transactions using virtual currency.

However, virtual currencies have become much more widespread since the notice was issued, and the guidance has been the subject of regular criticism for its lack of clarity.

"We recommend the IRS release immediate guidance regarding the tax treatment of virtual currency transactions, similar to that of Notice 2014-21 so that authoritative guidance exists," wrote Annette Nellen, chair of the AICPA Tax Executive Committee, in a letter to the IRS. "Specifically, we request additional guidance that will address items from the original Notice 2014-21, and new issues that are relevant to the 2017 tax year, such as chain splits, that have arisen subsequent to the release of the original notice."

"The rapid emergence of virtual currency has generated several new questions on how the tax rules apply to various transactions involving virtual currency and activities and assets related to it," Nellen stated. "Moreover, the development in the number of types of virtual currencies and the value of these currencies make these questions both timely and relevant to a growing number of taxpayers and tax practitioners."

The letter's 27 FAQs address the following 12 areas:

Expenses of obtaining virtual currency;

Acceptable valuation and documentation;

Computation of gains and losses;

Need for a de minimis election;

Valuation for charitable contribution purposes;

Virtual currency events;

Virtual currency held and used by a dealer;

Traders and dealers of virtual currency;

Treatment under Internal Revenue Code (IRC) section 1031 (Exchange of real property held for productive use or investment);

Treatment under IRC section 453 (Installment sales);

Holding virtual currency in a retirement account; and

Foreign reporting requirements for virtual currency.

"Virtual currency transactions, in which taxpayers increasingly engage, add a new layer of complexity to the analysis of a client's reporting requirements," Nellen wrote. "The issuance of clear guidance in this area will provide confidence and clarity to preparers and taxpayers on application of the tax law to virtual currency transactions."
Canada, Israeli Sign FTA

by Mike Godfrey, Tax-News.com, Washington

04 June 2018

Canada and Israel have signed a modernized free trade agreement (FTA).

The original FTA came into effect on January 1, 1997. When it entered into force, it was a goods-only agreement. Talks to modernize the agreement began in 2014 and the new agreement was signed on May 28.

The modernized FTA includes further tariff reductions and eliminations for agriculture and agri-food products, which will provide improved access for Canadian exporters to the Israeli market.

The new agreement contains chapters on labor, the environment, trade and gender, and SMEs, as well as provisions on corporate social responsibility. There are also new provisions to make the dispute-settlement mechanism more effective, effective, and transparent.

Francois-Philippe Champagne, Canada's Minister of International Trade, said: "A strengthened economic partnership with Israel will help create better market access opportunities for Canadian businesses and eliminate tariffs in many sectors. New progressive elements on gender, on small- and medium-sized enterprises, and on corporate social responsibility, as well as labor and environmental protections, will help ensure that the benefits that flow from trade are more widely shared."

Eli Cohen, Minister of the Economy and Industry of Israel, said: "In 1997, Israel became the third country to sign a free trade agreement with Canada. Since then, the trade between Canada and Israel has increased significantly. Today we are witnessing a historic step in the trade relations between the two countries with the signing of the upgraded agreement. The upgraded free agreement between Canada and Israel will open new opportunities for Israeli exports to this significant market."

Since 1997, two-way merchandise has more than tripled, reaching CAD1.7bn (USD1.3bn) in 2017. Canada's agriculture and agri-food exports to Israel, including lentils, chickpeas, and canola seeds, totalled CAD56.8m in 2017.
Cayman Islands' Government Promises No New Taxes

by Mike Godfrey, Tax-News.com, Washington

04 June 2018

Cayman Finance Minister Roy McTaggart told a recent Chamber of Commerce economic forum that no "coercive revenue measures" will be introduced during the government's term in office, which ends in 2021.

He said the undertaking was intended to give the private sector "comfort, certainty, and confidence  to make investments with the knowledge that government will not throw any curve balls their way."

McTaggart also said the government is committed to reducing taxes in areas that will promote economic growth, and to reducing the cost of doing business and the cost of living for residents.
Italy Launches Digital Tax Consultation

by Ulrika Lomas, Tax-News.com, Brussels

04 June 2018

Italy's Ministry of Finance is seeking stakeholders' feedback on whether to support the EU's digital tax plans, and in particular its proposal for an "interim tax" on otherwise untaxed turnover earned by certain digital economy firms.

On March 21, 2018, the European Commission released two proposals that are intended to make tax rules "fairer" for digital firms. Its preferred long-term solution is said to be a reform of corporate tax rules so that profits are registered and taxed where businesses have significant interaction with users through digital channels, through new digital permanent establishment rules. However, in the interim, it has controversially proposed allowing member states to tax turnover generated in their territory, even if a company does not have a physical presence there, where they would otherwise likely go untaxed.

The interim tax - proposed to feature a rate of three percent on turnover - would be imposed on revenues created from selling online advertising space; created from digital intermediary activities; and those created from the sale of data generated from user-provided information.

Italy's consultation will end on June 22, 2018, and is open to taxpayers, associations, companies, academics, and think tanks. The Ministry has asked that any comments be specific about the proposals released and to specific documents released by the Commission.
Peru Ratified OECD's Multilateral Tax Convention

by Ulrika Lomas, Tax-News.com, Brussels

04 June 2018

Peru has completed the necessary steps to become a party to the OECD Multilateral Convention on Mutual Assistance in Tax Matters and also the OECD Convention on Combating Bribery of Foreign Public Officials in International Business Transactions.

On May 28, 2018, Peru's Minister of Economy and Finance, David Tuesta, deposited Peru's instrument of accession for the Multilateral Convention on Mutual Administrative Assistance in Tax Matters during a ceremony at the OECD's headquarters in Paris.

With 119 countries and jurisdictions participating in the Convention, it is the world's leading instrument for boosting transparency and combating cross-border tax evasion, the OECD said. The Convention will enter into force for Peru on September 1, 2018.

The OECD describes the Convention as the key instrument for swift implementation of the Standard for Automatic Exchange of Financial Account Information in Tax Matters. The Standard - developed by the OECD and G20 countries  will enable more than 100 jurisdictions to automatically exchange offshore financial account information from September 2018 onwards.

It also enables the automatic exchange of country-by-country reports on the activities of multinational enterprises, provided for under the OECD/G20 Base Erosion and Profit Shifting (BEPS) Project.
Switzerland To Amend Anti-Money Laundering Law

by Ulrika Lomas, Tax-News.com, Brussels

04 June 2018

The Swiss Government is consulting on proposed amendments to the Anti-Money Laundering Act.

The proposed amendments are intended to take into account the most important recommendations from the Financial Action Task Force's (FATF's) 2016 Mutual Evaluation Report on Switzerland. In response to the FATF's report, in June 2017 the Federal Council instructed the Federal Department of Finance to prepare a consultation draft to deal with the recommendations while also reinforcing the integrity of the Swiss financial centre.

The Government has now proposed the following:

The introduction of due diligence obligations for certain services which concern the establishment, management, or administration of companies and trusts. Activities for operating companies in Switzerland will be excluded due to their low risk;

The introduction of an explicit obligation on financial intermediaries to verify information on beneficial owners and to regularly check that client data is up to date, with the frequency and scope of reviews to be based on the degree of risk posed by the contracting party; and

Associations which are at risk of being misused for the financing of terrorism or money laundering  namely, those associations which are mainly involved in collecting or distributing assets abroad for charitable purpose  must be entered in the commercial register.

The consultation draft also contains provisions for improving the effectiveness of the suspicious activity reporting system for money laundering and the financing of terrorism. The threshold for cash payments in precious metals and gem trading is to be reduced, and an authorization for the purchase of old precious metals is to be made compulsory.

The consultation will close on September 21.
Bottom line: It's more bad news for Facebook as the social network is again accused of privacy violations. But the company has disputed parts of the New York Times report, and says the situation is very different from the Cambridge Analytica scandal.

Facebook might have thought that it could ease up now that the Cambridge Analytica privacy scandal was dying down slightly, but a New York Times report has again put the company's policies under a spotlight. It reveals how Facebook reached agreements with 60 device makers including Samsung, Apple, and Blackberry that allowed them access to large amounts of user data without their consent, which could have violated a 2011 FTC consent degree. It also claims that the firms could access the data of users friends.

Facebook has issued a response to the article with a post titled Why we disagree with the New York Times. It says the deals were put in place to help device makers offer Facebook on their operating systems in a time before apps and app stores.

 we built a set of device-integrated APIs that allowed companies to recreate Facebook-like experiences for their individual devices or operating systems, writes Ime Archibong, Facebook VP of Product Partnerships. All these partnerships were built on a common interest  the desire for people to be able to use Facebook whatever their device or operating system.

The post goes on to say that the partners signed agreements that prevented peoples information from being used for any other purpose than to recreated Facebook-like experiences, which had to be approved by Facebooks engineering teams. Contrary to claims by the New York Times, friends information, like photos, was only accessible on devices when people made a decision to share their information with those friends. We are not aware of any abuse by these companies, added Archibong.

But not everyone agrees with Facebooks downplaying of the situation. Former employee Sandy Parakilas, who led third-party advertising and privacy compliance, told the Times that device partnership was flagged as a privacy issue in 2012.

It is shocking that this practice may still continue six years later, and it appears to contradict Facebooks testimony to Congress that all friend permissions were disabled, he said.

The Times claims some of the user data device makers could access included relationship status, religion, political leaning, and events. It added that most of the partnerships are still in place, though Facebook began winding them down in Aprilthe month after the Cambridge Analytica story broke.

Responding to the story, Rhode Island Congressman (D) David Cicilline tweeted: Sure looks like Zuckerberg lied to Congress about whether users have complete control over who sees our data on Facebook. This needs to be investigated and the people responsible need to be held accountable.

Sure looks like Zuckerberg lied to Congress about whether users have complete control over who sees our data on Facebook. This needs to be investigated and the people responsible need to be held accountable. https://t.co/rshBsxy32G  David Cicilline (@davidcicilline) 4 June 2018
Why it matters: We aren't quite living in the Space Age that '60s animated sitcom The Jetsons predicted although given technology's current trajectory, we aren't too far from that reality. Early investments like this could help Nvidia build a solid foundation for an autonomous future.

Nvidia ahead of the annual Computex trade show in Taipei, Taiwan, this week announced the availability of Nvidia Isaac, an advanced robotics platform meant to bring artificial intelligence to industries like construction, agriculture, manufacturing and logistics.

Powering Nvidias Isaac platform is Jetson Xavier, described as the worlds first computer designed specifically for robotics. Its powered by a multitude of cutting-edge technology including a Volta Tensor Core GPU, an eight-core ARM64 CPU, dual NVDLA deep learning accelerators, a vision processor, an image processor and a video processor.

With more than nine billion transistors delivering over 30 TOPS (trillion operations per second), Jetson Xavier can concurrently process dozens of algorithms in real time for things like sensor processing, odometry, vision and perception, localization and mapping and path planning.

Nvidia says this level of performance is essential for a robot to gather input from sensors, locate itself, analyze its environment, recognize and predict motion of nearby objects, determine what actions to perform and articulate itself safely.

Were only just getting our feet wet with AI according to Nvidia founder and CEO Jensen Huang who said someday, there will be billions of intelligent machines in manufacturing, warehouse logistics, home delivery and much more that well bump shoulders with on a daily basis.

Nvidia is also providing a toolbox for the simulation, verification, training and deployment of Jetson Xavier that consists of the Isaac SDK, the Isaac IMX (Intelligent Machine Acceleration applications) and the Isaac Simulation environment.

Nvidias Jetson Xavier developer kit is priced at $1,299 and will be available from distributors worldwide beginning in August, were told.
The accusation is in connection with the Pandora Papers revelations about the corrupt acts of President Sebastian Pinera. | Read More
Matt Comyn has ticked off another major item on his "to do" list of the legacy controversies he inherited, albeit at a cost of $702.5 million, or nearly twice that which Commonwealth Bank had budgeted and provided for.

With the settlement of the Austrac money-laundering proceedings, "all" thats left of the big issues the new CBA chief executive was confronted with when he succeeded Ian Narev earlier this year is the fallout from the banking royal commission.

CBA head Matt Comyn will preside over a complete re-making of the banks senior executive team. Credit:Peter Braig

Actually, it isnt quite as straightforward as simply ticking items off a checklist and getting on with the business of banking.

Theres the upfront costs of settling issues like the civil action Austrac mounted against CBA or the $25 million CBA agreed to pay to settle the Australian Securities and Investments Commissions allegations that its traders attempted to engage in unconscionable conduct in manipulating the bank bill swap rate, and then theres the ongoing costs and disruption.
For several years, investigative journalist Adele Ferguson has led the way in exposing a plethora of jaw-dropping scandals in the financial sector. Working with a number of business journalist colleagues from the Herald and the Age, Adele has uncovered disturbing allegations from whistleblowers across the financial sector, sparking a string of parliamentary inquiries. Now, a royal commission is uncovering even more jaw-dropping allegations of corporate greed and malfeasance.

Adele Ferguson. Credit:Fairfax Media

In two events - one each in Melbourne and Sydney - subscribers can join us for an evening of Adele Ferguson in conversation. Adele will reflect on her investigative work into the banking sector that included the CommInsure and, most recently, Dollarmites scandal. Moreover, she will share her thoughts on the current work of the royal commission, and its effects on consumer banking practices. Where will it all end?

In Melbourne Adele will sit down with business editor Mathew Dunckley, and in Sydney, Adele will speak with Herald editor Lisa Davies.

Sunscribers will have the chance to hear candid, first-hand insights from one of Australias best investigative journalists and have their questions answered.
The restaurant space at 15 Johnson Street in Fitzroy is known in the neighbourhood as a cursed location. It's an odd building, tucked behind the 7-Eleven on the corner of Johnston and Nicholson, and nothing has survived long there: not the Thai restaurant, not the Sri Lankan place, not the Latin American cafe  the list goes on.

But Burhan Kurucu, the newest occupant, has high hopes that his Turkish food  and his specialty dish in particular  will attract enough fans to overcome the building's bad juju.

Tantuni is chopped beef or chicken cooked in a wide pan with tomato, red onion, parsley, sumac, paprika and oregano. Credit:Simon Schluter

Kurucu and his family arrived in Australia from Turkey nine months ago to handle a family tragedy. Kurucu's brother, who had lived in Australia for 14 years and worked as an academic at Monash University, died from pancreatic cancer last year, leaving behind a wife and four-year-old child. "We all live together now," Kurucu says. "But the move has been hard, because of my brother." His grief is still palpable.

In Turkey, Kurucu had a 21-year career in the Turkish military. He spent much of that time cooking in army restaurants, and a restaurant seemed like the obvious business choice when he arrived in Melbourne. He also noticed that one of Turkey's popular dishes  tantuni  was not widely available here, despite Australians' love for all manner of meat-on-pita. At Anatolia Tantuni, which opened in late April, Kurucu is presenting the dish as an alternative to the mighty kebab.
Fruit tree owner Derek McKenzie and Burnley Fruit Squad volunteer Bec Meldrum. Credit:Paul Jeffers

When Bec Meldrum moved into her Richmond apartment, she felt disconnected.

She was surrounded by people yet completely separate. It's an ironic sense many feel throughout Melbourne's densely populated suburbs.

For Ms Meldrum, it was a call to action.

The 28-year-old community health worker joined the Burnley Fruit Squad, a volunteer group that plans to harvest surplus fruit from residents and donate it to those in need.
That's it from us this morning. Just on 11 degrees in the city now ahead of a top of 16.

We've got a winner for our NGV Friday Nights competition. We'll announce the lucky person at 7am tomorrow.

Major delays on the Craigieburn line. There's a multi-car collision on the Princes Freeway at Laverton. Another smash blocking Darling Road in Malvern East. Also a crash involving a truck on the West Gate Freeway at Power Street in Southbank.

We'll be back from 6am tomorrow. Be kind.
Radio on Repertory Lane. Directed by Jarrad West. Theatre 3, 3 Repertory Lane (off Ellery Crescent), Acton. Final dress rehearsal: June 6 (tickets $10 at the door). Season: June 7 to 16, Thursday to Saturday at 8pm, 2pm matinees on June 9 and 16. Tickets $45/$38. canberrarep.org.au or 62571950.

Canberra Repertory Society often likes to try something a little bit different in its winter season. In the past, they've had shows like Old Time Music Hall and Jazz Garters; this year, they're putting on Radio on Repertory Lane.

Drector Jarrad West says, "It's simple: an hour and a half of people being funny on stage and not having to dress it up with moving lights and a 36-piece orchestra.

From left, Michael Cooper, Ben Russell and Tim Lim in Radio on Repertory Lane. Credit:Helen Drum

As the title might suggest, the show is intended to evoke the flavour of old-time radio plays, with the cast all dressed in evening wear taking on various roles in a mixed program of shows performed with a sense of fun.
A 54-year-old woman has died as a result of injuries sustained in a crash involving a police car.

ACT Policing said the police vehicle had been responding to a priority one incident, which it said was a potentially life threatening situation, when the crash happened at the intersection of Baldwin Drive and Maribyrnong Avenue, Kaleen, about 8pm on May 4.

"The officer involved provided first aid to the woman until the ACT Ambulance Service arrived. She was treated at the scene and then conveyed to hospital. The police officer also sustained minor injuries which required further treatment," police said in a statement.

ACT Policing said that as a matter of procedure, the officer involved had had his AFP driving permit suspended until an investigation was complete.

Chief Police Officer for the ACT Justine Saunders said on Monday the woman had died as a result of her injuries.
But Arthritis ACT has strengthened its opposition to the closure of The Canberra Hospital pool, saying there are few other southside options.

The ACT Government has announced the pool will close when the University of Canberra Rehabilitation Hospital opens later this month.

CEO Rebecca Davey said many elderly clients use the pool five days a week, keeping them mobile and reducing the amount of pain relief they need to take.

"This is not just a case of we dont like change, it is actually a case of people simply wont be able to get to the other side of town," Ms Davey said.

"I have spoken to the Health Ministers office, but Im told there is no appetite to operate two hydrotherapy pools, and if people cant get to sessions themselves, they should just use the flexibus system.

"The problem is our pool sessions are out of business hours, because this is when the pool is available for us to utilise.

"The flexibus does not operate out of hours. I also have clients who physically could not get on the bus due to their pain conditions, and yet these are the people who need the hydrotherapy the most."
It started with a student pitching a tent by the lake. Then, in April, the money ran out.

The ANU Postgraduate and Research Students' Association has sounded the alarm on housing options for postgraduate students, after eating through its entire annual budget for emergency accommodation in less than four months due to surging demand.

ANU student, Zyl Hovenga-Wauchope, has struggled to find a place to live every year he has lived in Canberra Credit:Elesa Kurtz

This year, the association was awarded $5000 from the university to put up students in crisis in temporary accommodation, at a cost of about $30 a night per student.

Association president Alyssa Shaw said this was the first year they had run out of money, but they would continue to provide the service, pooling funds from other areas in their budget while they negotiated with the university for extra support.
A couple have been rescued by neighbours after a fire tore through their home in Brisbanes south early on Monday morning.

A man, 74 and woman, 73, were sleeping in their Runcorn home when the fire broke out just before 5am.

Two people were home when a fire broke out at the Runcorn home early Monday morning. Credit:Bianca Stone/Twitter

Neighbours heard the smoke detectors and rushed to the aid of the couple.

Neighbour Jamie Bedington said the flames were huge.
Should Australia slash the amount of waste it dumps in landfill, and instead burn as much as possible of it to generate electricity? Or should the emphasis be on slashing the amount of waste we generate by as much as possible, full stop? Well, both are crucial  and they are complementary, not competing.

Victoria is poised to explore the benefits of burning rubbish to generate electricity. More broadly, Australia has an opportunity to combine these two economically, environmentally and socially sensible aims in a rational and profitable response to two pressures, one immediate, the other long-standing.

One of the most important moves to cut waste is reducing packaging of food and household products. Credit:Joe Armao

Chinas untelegraphed decision late last year to immediately end its role as the worlds biggest importer of recyclables is an existential threat to the Australian market; suddenly the demand for our recyclable waste has collapsed, leaving us with all-but-worthless material that had been valued at hundreds of millions, if not billions, of dollars.

At the overarching level, international efforts to limit the effects of human-induced global warming and climate change are driving the historic shift to low-carbon economies.
Why so many ranking systems? And why might Melbourne Unis performance be inconsistent across them? The answer to both these questions is that university rankings tend to be undertaken by commercial organisations, each of which use different methodologies and thus get different results, all of which are based on weird assumptions and are mostly useless for the average prospective student. For some reason, they get taken seriously by virtue of the fact they exist.

Melbourne Uni is also ranked 39 in the world by the Academic Ranking of World Universities, and is 32nd in the World University Rankings, 30th in the University Ranking by Academic Performance list, 41st (and second in Australia) in the QS World University Rankings, and (like all Australian universities) is outside the top 100 most innovative universities in the world, as determined by Reuters. It also is 30th in the world according to UniRanks, which ranks institutions by their existing rankings.

The University of Melbourne has recently been named the top university in Australia and 57th in the world by the Centre for World University Rankings (CWUR).

When I was entering university for the first time, there was a lot of preoccupation among my peers about the rankings of different institutions. But the rankings do not directly measure the quality of teaching, nor your likelihood of getting a job at the end. Take the CWUR for example. It scores universities predominantly on research output  how many research papers staff produce, what proportion of that research is published in prestigious journals, how often and where that research is cited, and how many researchers have won awards (here were talking major awards like the Nobel Prize).

These things dont have much to do with student life, merely how influential the research being done in offices and labs around campus is. And there are a number of ways to produce influential research. One way is to do very good research. Another is to rely on the self-sustaining momentum of being employed by a high-ranking university: your institution has money for you to travel to disseminate your research, which leads to the research getting more widely cited, which increases your ability to get future funding. It also helps to have big names (like Nobel Prize winners) on your research groups grant applications.

A small part of the CWURs methodology is to factor in the achievements of university alumni. This sounds useful for prospective students, in theory, until you look at the detail. The CWUR specifically looks at the number of alumni who have won awards on a similar level to the Nobel prize since graduating, and how many of them are CEOs in the worlds top 2000 companies.

This is not relevant information for anyone. And, again, the CWUR is a more effective measure of how prestigious a university is already. Alumni of a prestigious institution hire other alumni from the same institution for plush jobs, and the cycle continues.

Older universities are privileged above younger ones because theyve already been able to build a reputation, US universities are privileged above universities in other countries because there are more top-2000 CEO jobs going there, universities that emphasise research over teaching are privileged because they have greater outputs, and so on.
Police have charged two people over string of stealing incidents across Perth, including a brazen theft at a Fremantle supermarket in May.

A call for information went out at the end of last month, with WA Police releasing video footage allegedly showing a man and woman working together to steal a handbag from an 81-year-old womans trolley while she was shopping at Coles Fremantle on May 18.

WA Police put out this call for information at the end of May, with CCTV footage allegedly showing the couple's co-ordinated theft of an 81-year-old woman's handbag while she shopped at Coles Fremantle. Credit:WA Police

A 30-year-old man and 23-year-old woman have since been charged with stealing over the incident, in addition to other theft charges already levelled against the pair.

The man has been charged with 14 offences relating to stealing and fraud incidents in Warwick, Mirrabooka, Yokine and Perth between April and May, and appeared in Perth Magistrates Court on Saturday. He is due to reappear on Tuesday.
He observes that as soon as New England locals heard their member, Barnaby Joyce, was taking money for his tell-little interview with Channel Seven's Sunday Night, the corflutes came down. It had all been "I Back Barnaby" until news of the $150,000 made its way around the big regional seat. That, for them, was unforgivable.

"It's a matter of who's got the balls to do it," says one, imagining who might stand against Joyce in a preselection. I'm guessing he actually means spine unless there is an unspoken rule in the Nationals.

Now, it's time for the locals to rise up. The question is, who on earth could take his place and how quickly can they get Joyce to go? As one New Englander asked last night, could he go in time for Super Saturday?

On Sunday night, in some of the private Facebook groups in the area, the mood was sour. If they'd known about the baby in time for the last byelection, there was absolutely no way they would have preselected Joyce. New England voted Yes for gay marriage but no way would it have backed a bloke who cheated on Natalie and her four gorgeous daughters.

So it is time for Joyce to find another job; and that's exactly what locals are hoping. Perhaps he could return to his first job, accounting, in a new role at Hancock Prospecting, where he has existing relationships .

That Joyce and his media-advisor-turned-mother-of-his -first son Vikki Campion decided to take money to tell their side of the story only highlights their entitled self-regard. That they tried to babywash the lucre by explaining it was going in to a trust for Sebastian, now six weeks old, shows a misjudgment of the electorate of New England and of the nation.

Speaking of answers, there was one corker, when Joyce and Campion were discussing the story where he suggested he might not be the father of Seb. That was the only moment where a flash of Vikki Campion's grit emerged from the waves of "deeply hurt". They might have discussed the idea of Joyce talking to the press about the baby but not about calling his paternity a "grey area". "I didn't say use the words 'grey area'," said Ms Campion.

Alex Cullen, gun interviewer, asked most of the wrong questions last night. Here are some he missed.

Barnaby, how could you have spent the last 20 years telling the rest of us how to live our lives while happily cheating on your wife of 20 years? Why weren't you straight with Nationals preselectors in the run-up to the byelection you brought on yourself because you didn't know you were a dual national? Doesn't it embarrass you to be praised for knowing how to change a nappy since Sebastian is actually the fifth child you've had? And that's before we even get on to the question of what you did on the taxpayer dime. Barnaby, did you rip off the Australian public?

Alex, all of those are much more interesting questions than what Natalie said to her philandering husband's philanderee. I could have answered that myself on national television and not one of the words would have been new to me or to the Sunday night audience.

To be honest, I had a few moments of sympathy. The picture of Natalie at last year's Midwinter Ball in Canberra, the stiff upper lip of the spurned corporate spouse. And I also had sympathy for Campion. The poor woman is on national television six weeks after the birth of her baby. She says she's cried more than she's ever cried before. And that's on top of how it must feel being the partner of someone who has lost his reason for being, rural Australia's best retail politician. It cannot be easy to be living with a man who was once the centre of his universe and who is now fallen. His mood can hardly be perfect preparation for newborn fatherhood. Plus, whatever lustre his power bestowed him has now faded. He's just another forlorn backbencher with no serious hope of a return to a position of responsibility. No hope. Voters could only fear that what he did to his family life he might do to our country.
Just six months ago, Barnaby Joyce was a Coalition asset par excellence - its trump card in regional Australia. Now, presumably, Malcolm Turnbull cannot wait to get him off the books.

Discussion in government circles has turned to whether the former deputy prime minister will re-contest his seat at an election possible within months. Nobody knows. It was among countless important questions not asked on Sunday Night.

Only last December, Joyce stormed home in the New England byelection claiming his seat legally for the first time after relinquishing his New Zealand ties.

Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull and New England candidate Barnaby Joyce celebrate at Barnaby Joyce's election night party at the Southgate Inn in Tamworth during the New England by-election on Saturday 2 December 2017. Credit:Alex Ellinghausen

Despite Turnbull's misplaced skiting, the unnecessary cost, and the unwelcome distraction of that byelection, the voters backed him in with nearly 65 per cent of the primary vote.
Most APS employees will have incomes over their working lives above the median, and hence should be encouraged to save at least 15 per cent, not 12 per cent. A second point rarely acknowledged is the reforms that were made to public service super since the 1980s that ensured the public sector continues to model prevailing best practice. These reforms were in response to changes in the workforce and society more generally, and to broader economic and public sector reforms. In many ways, the Commonwealth Superannuation Scheme was a model of good practice at the time it was introduced. It offered secure and adequate pensions for (mostly male) breadwinners on the basis they would work in the public service for life. It was affordable, according to the actuaries at the time, despite being unfunded and promising significant and secure benefits. By contrast, super was rare outside the public sector, provided lump sums only where it did exist, and these were not necessarily linked to retirement and not readily convertible into secure lifetime incomes. Loading The world was changing, however, including for the public service, and super needed to adapt to a more mobile workforce, less reliant on those pursuing lifetime public service careers and involving many more women. Vesting and preservation rules had to be changed, and a more portable system introduced. Moreover, changing life expectancy was increasing the CSS's future costs. This led eventually to the CSS closing in 1990 and the opening of new scheme, the Public Sector Superannuation scheme.

The PSS was, in 1990, again a model of good superannuation practice: it still delivered secure and adequate retirement pensions for those staying in the APS to retirement (though less generous than CSS pensions), while also ensuring that all public servants were effectively accumulating savings for retirement however long they remained in the public service. Again, while not fully funded, actuarial advice determined that the promised benefits were affordable, equivalent to employer contributions of about 15 per cent on average. Private-sector practice remained very weak, though reforms to vesting and preservation regulation removed some of the worst practices, ensuring employees could retain the contributions employers made and that these were more likely to be directed to retirement (or at least age 55) rather than consumed earlier. But lump sums were still not converted into lifetime pensions, despite government measures in 1983 to remove tax incentives and to facilitate the sale of indexed annuities. Broader public sector reforms in the 1980s also led to more transparent identification of the value (and cost) of superannuation in public service remuneration (in terms of equivalent employer contributions). This ensured that total remuneration could be readily identified and included in agencies' running costs rather than having super financed separately, facilitating an "even playing field" for consideration of competition through contracting out and promoting more efficient use of public resources. As mentioned, changes in life expectancy in old age were becoming increasingly apparent in the 1980s, requiring recalculation by actuaries of the equivalent employer contribution of the unfunded public sector schemes. These revealed in particular that the CSS cost was considerably higher than previously estimated. Moreover, the unfunded liabilities that had previously been assumed could be met by future government revenues were rapidly increasing. By the early 2000s, it was decided that these challenges would best be met by closing the unfunded PSS and opening the fully funded PSSap, and by establishing the Future Fund, financed by privatisations and budget surpluses to meet liabilities from the unfunded public sector schemes. The PSSap employer contribution was set at the level estimated to apply to the PSS on average: 15.4 per cent. This, of course, avoided any suggestion of a reduction in public servants' remuneration (assessments around that time suggested public service pay, for most, was broadly in line with the market). It also preserved savings sufficient, according to PSS arrangements, for secure and adequate retirement incomes, particularly if employees made extra contributions.

The PSSap, which opened in 2005, had the added value for the government of leaving more financial risks with employees. It also ensured full portability without the former problem of artificial formulas to calculate the value of "accumulated entitlements" for those leaving the APS before the promised retirement pension would have kicked in (leading to the infamous "54/11" practice, where some CSS members calculated that the formula's lump sum before age 55 exceeded the pension promised if they stayed beyond age 55). The PSSap scheme remains superior to most of those available in the private sector, which, at 9.5 per cent, won't deliver adequate retirement incomes for most employees. In my view, however, the PSSap went too far by removing the provision of lifetime indexed pensions in retirement; these could have been made available for purchase from the accumulated savings under the scheme. Instead, the PSSap follows private practice in this respect, which is yet to offer the sort of fully secure indexed lifetime pensions that were always at the heart of public sector super (and of social security, here and overseas). The Commonwealth Superannuation Corporation does now offer some retirement income products, and the government is slowly moving to press all funds to offer so-called "comprehensive income products in retirement" with a system of defaults or guided products for retirees in different circumstances. In summary, while the APS super schemes did require considerable reform over the last 30 years, particularly with regard to financing, they have throughout represented far better models of good superannuation practice than the private sector schemes prevailing at the time. Over the whole period, there has been much ill-informed criticism of the schemes when the more serious public issue has been the adequacy and security of super for those outside the public sector. That remains the case. Rather than reduce the 15.4 per cent employer contribution for APS employees, the government should improve its broader retirement-income policy. The proviso is that public-sector total remuneration should be based more strictly on relevant market comparisons. Andrew Podger is an honorary professor of public policy at the ANU, and a former departmental secretary. andrew.podger@anu.edu.au
Former prime minister Kevin Rudd insists he would have allowed more time to ensure the failed home insulation program was safe if he had been warned of its deadly risks.

Speaking via video link to the Supreme Court, Mr Rudd was asked how his decisions might have differed if the public service or his ministers had previously raised safety concerns about the home insulation program.

The first consideration I would have had would have been get the safety matters resolved, he said.

Asked if he was informed before the program was launched that it carried risks to workers or households, Mr Rudd said: no, I was not.

When asked to confirm he was prime minister from December 2007 to June 2010, and between June and September 2013, Mr Rudd said: "That's correct, I have the scar tissue to prove it".
Of course, the review panel's members will do their very best to bring an independence of mind to the matters before them but they've been hobbled by having their secretariat selected by senior public servants and integrated into a critical part of the bureaucracy they will want to investigate. That something like this can be dreamed up reflects poorly on the strength of governance nous within the system, a matter the panel might like specifically to consider. What of the terms of reference? Once through the verbal sludge that these days seems unavoidable in such documents  driving this and that, being agile and innovative, the employer of choice, fit for purpose, etc  the most obvious point is that the review is confined to departments and agencies covered by the Public Service Act, that is, about 60 per cent of Commonwealth civilian administration in staffing terms. Thus, it will not be possible for it to consider properly relations between public service agencies and other federal organisations. This should be a fundamental issue in any serious examination of the broader public service system; it was a major item for the Coombs commission. How the review will be able adequately to consider the administrative framework for the public service by looking only at a little over half of Commonwealth civilian employment is anyone's guess. Loading To further befuddle the picture, the terms of reference for the review are remarkably vague. They require it to "examine the capability, culture and operating model of the APS" so it can best meet certain ends like "driving innovation and productivity in the economy", providing "high-quality policy advice", improving "citizens' experience of government" and so on. They then goes on to say "the review will consider the suitability of the APS's architecture and governing legislation" and how it "monitors performance and how it ensures the transparent and effective use of taxpayers' money in delivering outcomes". And that's about it. The contrast with Coombs' terms of reference, which were wide-ranging but specific in terms of the range of matters to be considered, could hardly be greater.

The review team, for example, has not been specifically directed to deal with: the role of ministers and their relations with departments and agencies (a major concern if ever there was one); accountability; devolution and the role of central management; workplace relations and personnel policies; machinery of government principles; the serious current risks of nepotism and corruption in public service employment via the use of consultants, contractors and labour hire; and so on. For a review with only one member with recent direct experience of Commonwealth administration, the terms of reference's vagueness leave much to chance. Finally, the review team's composition is unbalanced. It contains four with overwhelmingly private sector experience (David Thodey, Maile Carnegie, Belinda Hutchinson and Alison Watkins), one of whom is from a major bank while two have substantial experience in banks and the finance sector. One is a university vice-chancellor with a background in public administration (Professor Glyn Davis) and the other (Gordon de Brouwer) is a former federal department secretary. Put it another way. If, after the Hayne royal commission, the banks and associated financial institutions were inclined to conduct a review of their "architecture" and "operating model", would they be wise to select a six-person review panel containing four public servants? Perhaps not. They might prefer to detach Carnegie, Hutchinson and Watkins from the public service review to help clean the filth from the banking stables, as they have the necessary background and experience for that unpleasant task. That would then leave three vacant spots that could be used to rebalance the public service review panel. First, how about a former minister with a demonstrated interest and involvement in public administration? That would help to concentrate the review's attention on what is the critical connection in government: that between ministers and their public service advisers.

Second, for all the hype about the need for the public service to get closer to citizens and to improve "citizens' experience of government", as Malcolm Turnbull has it, there's no one on the review panel to press these interests. So how about someone from a body representing those depending on government services  say, a welfare group, a taxpayer association or, better still, an organisation representing the interests of Aboriginal people, for whom government services struggle to hit the mark? Third, despite Turnbull's rhetoric about "providing enriching work" for public servants, "nurturing talent" and being the "employer of choice", he's not given staff a representative on the review. So, how about someone from the ACTU, who would at least give his show something in common with the Coombs commission? With such adjustments, the review panel would have a person from the private sector (Thodey), an expert in public administration (Davis), a former departmental secretary, a former minister, and citizens' and staff representatives, so bringing greater balance, expertise and diversity to the task at hand. To conclude, let's go back to the question of timing and imagine a number of what veteran Canberra Times correspondent Jack Waterford would call "scenarios". Scenario 1: A general election is held before the Thodey review has reported  and Labor wins. Suggested action: Call the Thodey review off, set up a replacement with better terms of reference, covering all of Commonwealth civilian employment and with a proper independence that would allow, among other things, it to hire its own staff. Such a review could draw upon the work already done, retain Thodey, Davis and de Brouwer, but substitute for Carnegie, Hutchinson and Watkins as suggested above.
A related trend is the increasing polarisation of partisan political debate between conservatives and progressives, which is infecting political discourse worldwide. In Australia, the public service has been co-opted into these ideological wars on the side of the progressives. Since John Howard's "night of long knives" in 1996 and Kevin Rudd's ostentatious confirmation of all incumbent secretaries in 2007, the rallying point for this contest has been around political appointments to the senior ranks of the APS. The progressives and the Labor Party have claimed the moral high ground, criticising the Coalition's politicisation of the public service and supporting continuing post-election tenure for all secretaries. The Coalition, on the other hand, has insisted on its right to remove incumbent secretaries, particularly those whose loyalty might appear suspect, and to replace them with more congenial appointees.

The overall effect on the APS leadership's impartiality should not be exaggerated. For the most part, Coalition prime ministers have drawn new secretaries from within the senior ranks of the APS without affecting the service's general impartiality and its claim to be "apolitical". But there have been notable exceptions, notably the appointment of John Lloyd, from the Institute of Public Affairs, to the statutory position of public service commissioner. Many of the Coalition's conservatives clearly see the APS as a source of progressive opposition to their values, alongside other publicly funded institutions such as universities and the ABC. This perception is reinforced by the Labor-aligned Community and Public Sector Union, which assumes the role of main public defender of the APS, and by other left-wing organisations, such as The Australia Institute, which are vigorous champions of the APS. In response, right-wing culture warriors feel duty-bound to fight back, by supporting the purging of APS senior ranks from time to time and by trying to impose an ideological counterbalance.

To sustain its character as an "apolitical" public service into the future, the APS needs to be seen as truly impartial between the two sides of politics. The more it becomes a pawn in the increasingly strident battle between right and left, the harder that balancing act becomes. It may be time to reconsider the appointment process of secretaries, safeguarding the right of prime ministers to choose people they can work with but reinforcing the assumption that professionally capable secretaries must be able to work for governments of any political complexion.

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A final trend that threatens the values of an independent public service is more tenuous but may prove more powerful. It involves a subtle but profound change in our wider intellectual context. Today's public servants have spent most of their professional lives assuming that the type of constitutional system in which they operate  liberal, democratic and under the rule of law  is the global paradigm of good government. Many countries may fall short of this model, but it is the form of government, as set out, for example, in the United Nations Declaration of Human Rights, to which all nations supposedly aspire and towards which they are all supposedly progressing. For Australians, and members of other similar countries, this has been a very comfortable assumption, reassuring them that their constitutional values are universally valued and envied. Though at the other side of the world from most developed democracies, Australia (along with New Zealand) has seen itself as a regional mentor and a beacon for others to follow.
A NSW crossbencher and key ally to the government in the upper house has urged the Premier to ensure his signature bill is passed unamended as a show of "good faith".

Christian Democrat MP Paul Green, who has championed his Modern Slavery Bill as "historic", said he would wield the party's balance-of-power position as a bargaining chip.

The bill proposes to create an independent anti-slavery commissioner.

Mr Green, who will face re-election in March, is concerned the government will use amendments to significantly change the bill, which he described as the "highest priority" of his term.

"I don't mind using the value of our vote for this bill," Mr Green said.
A family member marched a man into Fremantle Police Station, along with the cash he allegedly stole, so he could turn himself in for a robbery on a service station.

Police said a man entered a service station off North Lake Road, South Lake, about 6pm Saturday and approached the counter, allegedlt telling the cashier he had a weapon. He fled with cash and cigarettes.

The next day, about 2pm, the man showed up at the police station with a family member and handed himself in, along with a quantity of cash allegedly stolen the previous day.

Police would not be drawn further on whether or not the family member was the man's mother.

The 30-year-old Bibra Lake man was charged with one count of robbery and was due to appear at Perth Magistrates Court on Monday.
London: Prominent Labor MP Michael Danby has launched an attack on British Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn and his frontbench colleague Diane Abbott after attending a memorial service for the victims of the London Bridge terror attack, in which two Australians were killed.

The Australians, nurse Kirsty Boden and au pair Sara Zelenak, were among eight victims who were killed when Khuram Butt, Rachid Redouane and Youssef Zaghba mowed down pedestrians on London Bridge and went on a stabbing rampage through the city's popular Borough Market.

Michael Danby attended a memorial service at London's Southwark Cathedral for the victims of the London Bridge terror attack. Credit:Andrew Meares

Eight police officers unleashed a volley of 46 rounds and shot dead the trio in 20 seconds, 12 minutes after their attack began at 9.58pm on Saturday June 3, 2017.

On Sunday afternoon, a private service was held at Southwark Cathedral, which sits between London Bridge and Borough Market, to mark the first year since the attack. Southwark Council said the service was for bereaved families and victims, members of the local community, the emergency services, and all those who supported the emergency response and recovery during and following the attacks.
Berlin: German Chancellor Angela Merkel is coming under pressure to address allegations that she knew as early as last year about mismanagement in the government office for refugees that came to light recently.

German Chancellor Angela Merkel talks with Mevlude Genc, right, mother, grandmother and aunt of victims of a firebombing that killed five Turks in Solingen, Germany, 25 years ago. Credit:AP

The newspaper Bild am Sonntag reported on Sunday, local time, that it obtained documents showing Merkel was briefed on the issue at the beginning of 2017 by the former head of the Federal Office for Migration and Refugees.

Last week, the interior minister froze asylum decisions in a branch of the refugee department amid allegations it improperly granted hundreds of asylum requests.

The general secretary of the Social Democrats, Merkel's coalition partner, said on Sunday that she must explain when she became aware of the problems.
Rome: Pope Francis on Sunday visited a once-tranquil seaside community outside Rome that has become a power centre of mafia violence and political corruption and urged residents to break away from the "moorings of fear".

For decades popes have held the traditional Corpus Christi feast Mass and subsequent procession in the centre of Rome, walking between two magnificent basilicas.

Pope Francis celebrates Mass in Ostia during which he urged residents to stop protecting mobsters out of fear and side with the law. Credit:AP

This year Francis chose to move the event to two working-class parishes in Ostia, about 30 kilometres from the centre of Rome with a population of about 230,000 people, to show solidarity with anguished and frightened residents.

In his homily during a Mass from the steps of the first church, he used the word "omerta", which refers to the code of silence organised crime groups impose on their members and the fear they use as a tool to keep others from talking to police.
New York: It was an idea born of noble intentions: to help more centrist politicians get elected and reduce, in the words of one Newsweek columnist, the number of jackasses in office.

But an electoral experiment in Americas most populous and progressive state is now threatening to lock Democrats out of several potentially winnable congressional races and, in a nightmare scenario for the party, deny them a majority in the US House of Representatives in November.

California  the home state of Richard Nixon and Ronald Reagan  was once a reliably Republican state, but is now a Democratic stronghold, thanks largely to the growing number of immigrants, especially Hispanics. Donald Trump received just 32 per cent of the vote in California in 2016, the lowest of any major party candidate since 1924.

The loathing most Californians feel towards their president has fuelled Democratic hopes they could flip up to seven seats in California in November, more than in any other state.
Snowden's defenders maintain that the US government has for years exaggerated the damage his disclosures caused. Greenwald, an American, former journalist at The Guardian now with The Intercept and based in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, said there were "thousands upon thousands of documents" that journalists have chosen not to publish because they would harm peoples' reputation or privacy rights or because it would expose "legitimate surveillance programs". "It's been almost five years since newspapers around the world began reporting on the Snowden archive and the NSA has offered all kinds of shrill and reckless rhetoric about the 'damage' it has caused, but never any evidence of a single case of a life being endangered let alone harmed," Greenwald said. US intelligence officials say they are still counting the cost of his disclosures that went beyond actual intelligence collected to how it was collected. Evanina said intelligence agencies are finishing their seventh classified assessment of the damage. Joel Melstad, a spokesman for the counter-intelligence centre, said five US intelligence agencies contributed to the latest damage assessment, which itself is highly classified. Melstad said damage has been observed or verified in five categories of information the American government keeps classified to protect national security. According to Melstad, Snowden-disclosed documents have put American personnel or facilities at risk around the world, damaged intelligence collection efforts, exposed tools used to amass intelligence, destabilised partnerships abroad and exposed intelligence operations, capabilities and priorities.

"With each additional disclosure, the damage is compounded - providing more detail to what our adversaries have already learned," Melstad said. Steven Aftergood, a declassification expert at the Federation of American Scientists, said he thinks intelligence agencies are continuing to do Snowden damage assessments because the disclosures' relevance to foreign targets might take time to recognise and understand. He said the way that intelligence targets adapt based on information revealed and the impact on how the US collects intelligence could continue for years. But he said that any damage that Snowden caused to intelligence partners abroad would have been felt immediately after the disclosures began in 2013. Moscow has resisted US pressure to extradite Snowden, who faces charges that could land him in prison for up to 30 years. From exile, Snowden often does online public speaking and has been active in developing tools that reporters can use, especially in authoritarian countries, to detect whether they are under surveillance. Snowden supporters say that the government is exaggerating when it claims he took more than 1 million documents and that far fewer have actually been disclosed. "I think the number of NSA documents that have been published is in the hundreds and not the thousands," said Snowden's lawyer, Ben Wizner. He said the government has never produced any public evidence that the released materials have cause "genuine harm" to US national security.
Washington: President Donald Trump says he has "absolute right to PARDON myself" but says has "done nothing wrong" in the Russia probe.

In a tweet on Monday, Mr Trump weighed in on the question of whether he could pardon himself should the special counsel find he interfered in the investigation into Russia meddling in the 2016 election.

Mr Trump's lawyer, Rudy Giuliani, in television interviews on Sunday, suggested Mr Trump might have that authority to pardon himself but would be unwise to use it.

Mr Giuliani told NBC's Meet the Press: "Pardoning himself would be unthinkable and probably lead to immediate impeachment."
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.
Accuride Corporation Completes Acquisition of mefro Wheels GmbH

EVANSVILLE, Ind. & SOLINGEN, Germany-- Accuride Corporation (Accuride or the Company)  a supplier of components to the North American and European commercial vehicle industries  today announced that it has completed its acquisition of mefro wheels GmbH (Mefro Wheels), pursuant to the acquisition agreement it announced on June 19, 2017. Terms of the transaction were not disclosed. Headquartered in Solingen, Germany, Mefro Wheels supplies steel wheels to the European and Asian automotive, commercial vehicle and construction and agricultural equipment industries and operates eight manufacturing facilities in Europe and Asia. The closing transaction follows completion of the European merger-clearance process.

Acquiring Mefro Wheels transforms Accuride into a worldwide industry leader, strongly positioned to supply wheel end system solutions to the global automotive and commercial vehicle industries, Accuride President and CEO Rick Dauch said. Combining our two businesses is a game-changing move that extends Accurides geographic reach and resources, and significantly builds our capacity to serve global OEM customers. In addition to doubling our core wheel business, we gain immediate positions in the European automotive market and the global off-highway equipment segment, creating multiple paths to generate additional organic growth.

With the addition of Mefro Wheels, Accuride doubles its core wheels business to become a $1.2 billion global commercial vehicle wheel and wheel-end component supplier employing approximately 5,000 people and operating 16 manufacturing and assembly facilities across eight countries in North America, Europe and Asia. The business transitions to become part of Accurides Wheels Europe and Asia business unit under the leadership of its President, Scott Hazlett.

Accuride will implement its proven Fix & Grow integration strategy of targeted capital investments and standardized Lean Manufacturing and Quality processes to shift its newly acquired facilities operational performance to world-class levels akin to those in the companys award-winning North American plants. Accuride also will pursue profitable organic growth globally in the new market segments it serves.

Business Rebranding

Mefro Wheels will rebrand as Accuride, beginning immediately and continuing over the next 12 months. This will extend the once largely North American brand further into the European and Asian commercial vehicle industry. The rebranding also introduces the Accuride corporate brand into the European and Asian passenger car industry and global off-highway segment, including the agricultural, construction and industrial equipment markets. Market-specific product-branding strategies are now in development.

Platform for Global Growth

The addition of Mefro Wheels marks Accurides second major acquisition under the ownership of leading New York-based private equity firm Crestview Partners, which acquired Accuride in November 2016 as a growth platform in the global commercial vehicle components sector. Accuride took the first step in that growth plan in May 2017 by acquiring global commercial vehicle wheel and wheel-end supplier KIC, based in Vancouver, Washington.

About Mefro Wheels

Acquired by Accuride Corporation in June 2018, Mefro Wheels is a Solingen, Germany-based manufacturer and supplier of steel wheels for the global commercial vehicle, off-road and automotive industries. The privately-owned companys on-highway business supplies steel wheels for commercial vehicles  including trucks, buses, truck trailers, and light commercial vehicles  as well as for passenger cars and utility trailers. Its off-road business primarily supplies wheels for agricultural and construction equipment. Founded in 1991, Mefro Wheels employs about 3,000 people and operates three manufacturing plants in Germany, two in Russia and one each in France, Turkey and China. With its acquisition by Accuride, Mefro Wheels becomes part of the Accuride Wheels Europe and Asia business unit.

About Accuride Corporation

With world headquarters in Evansville, Ind., USA, Accuride Corporation is a supplier of wheel end systems to the global commercial vehicle industry. The companys products include commercial vehicle wheels and wheel-end components and assemblies; and steel wheels for the European automotive and global agricultural and construction equipment markets. The companys products are marketed under its brand names, which include Accuride, Accuride Wheel End Solutions, Gunite, KIC, Kronprinz and Sudrad. Accuride is a portfolio company of Crestview Partners. For more information: www.AccurideCorp.com.
Allison Transmission Continues to Develop Innovative and Adaptive Propulsion Solutions for Defense Vehicle Fleets

INDIANAPOLIS--June 5, 2018; Allison fully automatic transmissions have reliably moved troops and cargo in both tracked and wheeled defense vehicles for more than 65 years. Known for superior performance and exceptional reliability, Allison automatics continue to evolve to meet the stringent demands of military fleets worldwide.

Allison representatives will be at Eurosatory 2018, the international defense and security exhibition in Paris, June 11-15, to discuss the companys current and upcoming innovative and adaptive propulsion solutions for military applications.

"Todays global defense forces face a variety of new missions in addition to traditional armed conflict, said Dana Pittard, vice president for defense programs at Allison Transmission. These ever-evolving responsibilities demand vehicle transmissions that have demonstrated they are reliable and ready for action.

Overall, Allison transmissions provide higher torque ranges and higher gross vehicle weight capacity. Combined with advanced electronic controls, this optimizes the performance of higher-horsepower engines, delivering better overall vehicle performance and control, regardless of grade or terrain. Additional performance enhancements include improved fuel economy, built-in power take-off (PTO) provisions that provide power to vehicle-mounted mission equipment, and superior braking and steering of tracked vehicles for precise mission execution.

Allison works with OEMs around the world to design, develop, manufacture and support transmissions that deliver in the toughest conditions. For fleets that are developing new wheeled or tracked vehicles, Allison can tailor a transmission specifically for that application.

Allison engineers also have a track record of retrofitting existing models. A recent example is the ongoing testing of a Bradley Fighting Vehicle now outfitted with the 3040 MX, a variant of the X300, found in the British Warrior, British Terrier and Swedish CV90 vehicles.

Additionally, in an effort to anticipate and meet market demand, Allison is currently developing cross-drive architectures for medium tracked vehicles ranging from 23 to 36 metric tons, and for heavy tracked vehicles ranging from 50 to 63 metric tons.

Allison transmissions use a torque converter that absorbs shock loads and spikes, reducing wear and tear on everything from the vehicles crew to the engine to the wheels or tracks. With Continuous Power Technology, smooth engine acceleration at launch and during shifts protects the entire drivetrain. In addition, because an Allison transmission uses a torque converter for launch, there are no mechanical clutches to wear out.

"From the command perspective, reliability is crucial, said Pittard. More uptime means crews have more time to spend on training, and this translates to increased mission readiness. Plus, when the vehicles are called into action, commanders can remain confident that the exceptional reliability of their Allison transmission will assist them in completing their mission.

About Allison Transmission

Allison Transmission is the world's largest manufacturer of fully automatic transmissions for medium- and heavy-duty commercial vehicles, and is a leader in electric hybrid-propulsion systems for city buses. Allison transmissions are used in a variety of applications including refuse, construction, fire, distribution, bus, motorhomes, defense and energy. Founded in 1915, the company is headquartered in Indianapolis, Indiana, USA and employs approximately 2,700 people worldwide. With a market presence in more than 80 countries, Allison has regional headquarters in the Netherlands, China and Brazil with manufacturing facilities in the U.S., Hungary and India. Allison also has approximately 1,400 independent distributor and dealer locations worldwide. For more information, visit allisontransmission.com.
President Rodrigo Duterte.

President Rodrigo Duterte of the Philippines, a man notorious for his repeated human rights violations  including the use of state-sanctioned death squads  has come under fire after publicly kissing a woman on the mouth during an event in South Korea.

Duterte, who has bragged about having mistresses and made rape jokes publicly, called on two women to join him onstage to be presented with a book during a live event for Filipino workers in Seoul. The New York Times reports that he asked one of the women for a kiss in exchange for the book. Duterte then asked the woman, who has been identified as Bea Kim, Are you single?, to which she replied that she was married.

Youre not separated from him? Duterte asked about Kims husband, before adding, But can you tell him that this is just a joke? Then, he proceeded to kiss her on the lips in front of the crowd of approximately 3,000 people. The kiss was captured in plain sight on video that has been widely shared.

Kim later told the Philippine News Agency, There wasnt malice in it. For me, for him, it didnt mean anything. However, Dutertes kiss has drawn extensive criticism. Per the Times:

It was a despicable display of sexism and grave abuse of authority, a Philippine senator, Risa Hontiveros, said in a statement. Even if the act was consensual, it was the president, possessed of awesome, even intimidating power, who initiated it, Ms. Hontiveros said. It was not a meeting of two consenting individuals on equal terms.

Others have also slammed Duterte on social media:

This is what macho populism looks like: Duterte brings a woman on stage. Asks if he can kiss her. She shakes her head no. He keeps pushing. Kisses her. And the crowd cheers. https://t.co/LTCbxTXlKC  Emily Rauhala (@emilyrauhala) June 3, 2018

Re: Duterte kissing that woman on stage in front of a cheering crowd. If you are saying "she wanted it," you are missing the point.  Emily Rauhala (@emilyrauhala) June 4, 2018

Statement on President Duterte's kiss with a Filipina in S. Korea #BabaeAko pic.twitter.com/5TkNaboXja  #37 Gabriela Women's Party (@GabrielaWomenPL) June 4, 2018

Give me one job wherein an employee won't get fired if they acted like Duterte. We hold everyone else in this country to a higher standard than we do with the PRESIDENT. Wala talagang hiya.  Nathania (@PilosopoTanya) June 4, 2018

To be a woman under Dutertes gaze is to be a piece of meat, an object of desire, a sexual conquest, never a citizen with equal standing in political life. https://t.co/w6YjFFvYD2  Nicole Curato (@NicoleCurato) June 3, 2018
Esraa Albuti. Photo: Untitled/AP/REX/Shutterstock

Saudi Arabia issued the first drivers licenses to a group of ten women on Monday. The move comes three weeks before the kingdom is set to lift its longstanding ban on women driving, and just weeks after several activists, including some vocal opponents of the driving ban, were arrested.

After completing driving tests and eye exams, the ten women  who already had drivers licenses from countries like the U.S., U.K., and Lebanon  went to the General Department of Traffic in the Saudi capital of Riyadh to collect their licenses. Women across the country are expected to be able to receive their licenses on June 24.

The announcement came as a surprise to many, not just because authorities issued the licenses early, but because, in the weeks leading up to it, there has been a crackdown on activists. Saudi Arabia Public Prosecution said in a statement on Sunday that 17 people had been arrested in recent weeks on suspicion of the security and stability of the Kingdom, its social peace and national unity. These are said to include Loujain al-Hathloul, Aziza al-Yousef and Eman al-Nafjan, three of the countrys most well-known womens rights activists, who have long fought to get rid of the driving ban.

While Saudi law does not explicitly ban women from driving, the Kingdom does not issue drivers licenses to women, and women who attempt to drive are often detained, and held until a male guardian can come collect them and sign a pledge that the woman will never drive again.

While this appears to be a step forward for Saudi women, theres still much, much further to go.

The driving issue is very important, but the guardianship law is THE current issue we women face in Saudi Arabia, and were suffering because of it. Twenty-one-year-old Faten told the Cut in September. This law needs to be ended and forever buried. I honestly wish they banned the guardianship law first, then ended the driving ban. But hey, nobody expected the driving ban to lift in this country, so lets hope the guardianship law does too!
Woody Allen. Photo: Vera Anderson/WireImage

Since Harvey Weinsteins sexual harassment and assault allegations emerged, old and new accusations against powerful men in Hollywood have been in the spotlight  including the long-standing allegation that Woody Allen abused his adoptive daughter Dylan Farrow more than two decades ago. But now, in a new interview on an Argentinian news program, Allen says he believes that he should actually be the poster boy for the #MeToo movement.

In a Sunday interview with Periodismo Para Todos, per Quartz, Allen spoke of how upsetting it was when his daughters allegations of abuse resurfaced. This is something that has been thoroughly looked at 25 years ago by all the authorities and everybody came to the conclusion that it was untrue, he said. And that was the end and Ive gone on with my life. For it to come back now, its a terrible thing to accuse a person of. Im a man with a family and my own children.

Allen went on to address the #MeToo movement, saying hes a big advocate of it and that he thinks its a good thing to expose people who harass innocent women and men. He continued:

What bothers me is that I get linked with them. People who have been accused by 20 women, 50 women, 100 women of abuse and abuse and abuse  and I, who was only accused by one woman in a child custody case which was looked at and proven to be untrue, I get lumped in with these people.

The writer and director of Manhattan (a movie in which a high-school girl dates an older man, played by Allen) went on to say that he should be the poster boy for the #MeToo movement.

Because I have worked in movies for 50 years, he explained. Ive worked with hundreds of actresses and not a single one  big ones, famous ones, ones starting out  have ever ever suggested any kind of impropriety at all. Ive always had a wonderful record with them. He also said that he had thought pairing a teenager with an older man in Manhattan was a funny idea.
S.W.A.K. is a series of stories devoted to the transformations that come with a swipe of lipstick. Photo: Photo Illustration by Stevie Remsberg/Photos Courtesy of the Retailer

There are certain lipstick shades known by sight or name or number alone. 999. Schiap. 400. A very, very matte blue-based red that shows up out on the town more often than the most ambitious Instagram influencer. Although hundreds of lip shades cross our desk every day, the Cut is often drawn toward the cult and classic.

To compile this list, the Cut spoke to celebrity makeup artists like Beau Nelson and Lupita Nyongos makeup artist Nick Barose, scanned MakeupAlley message boards to find the best-reviewed lip shades by consumers, and asked brand representatives about their best sellers. Here are the top 50 lip shades of all time, including colors like the first red ever worn at a Christian Dior fashion show.

999 by Christian Dior

DIOR Rouge Dior Lipstick $38 Rumored to be the lip color worn at the first-ever Christian Dior runway show (then known as 9), this is Diors best-selling, classic red. Its often referred to by its other name: Iconic. $38 at Nordstrom Buy

Ruby Woo by M.A.C

M.A.C Lipstick Matte $19 This shade is beloved for its ability to look good on virtually everyone. Celebrity makeup artist Beau Nelson explains its appeal: Its a vivid, matte, matte, matte red. (Yes, he said matte three times for emphasis.) It takes a little effort to get on, but the velvety-red look is worth it. Its also known for being virtually indestructible, lasting from morning to night with meals in between. $19 at Macy's Buy

Black Honey Almost Lipstick by Clinique

CLINIQUE Almost Lipstick $20 A freebie in makeup gift sets in the 80s, Cliniques Black Honey Almost became a cult favorite in the 90s as a lipgloss/lipstick that, in oft-repeated beauty parlance, looks good on almost everyone. Its now the best-reviewed lipstick on MakeupAlley, with over 1,000 reviews. People buy it in bulk, including our fashion editor-at-large. $20 at Sephora Buy

Spice by M.A.C

Schiap by NARS

Pirate by Chanel

Lady Danger by M.A.C

No. 19 Fuchsia Rouge Pur Couture by YSL

Angel by M.A.C

Funny Face by NARS

NARS Lipstick $28 Named after the Audrey Hepburn film, this is a fuchsia that looks either more purple or pink depending upon your skin tone. $28 at Saks Fifth Avenue Buy

Russian Red by M.A.C

M.A.C Little Lipstick $10 One of the three best-selling reds by M.A.C (the others being Ruby Woo and Lady Danger), this is a cherry red that leans the slightest bit toward orange. $10 at Ulta Beauty Buy

Fire and Ice and Cherries in the Snow by Revlon

Revlon Super Lustrous Lipstick $3 Nelson explains the cult appeal of these two shades: Cherries in the Snow is a pink-based red that has literally been around for decades and is a timeless classic. Fire and Ice was maybe the first Hollywood-red lipstick (and matching nail color). The ads asked readers questions and warned that you were only bold enough to wear the shade if you answered at least eight of them with Yes. $3 at Ulta Beauty Buy

Myth by M.A.C

Bruised Plum by Tom Ford

Jungle Red by NARS

No. 1 by YSL

#400 by Armani

Brown by Bobbi Brown

Bobbi Brown Lip Color $29 Bobbi Brown started her makeup line with ten lipstick shades and this was one of the originals  a color that helped make brown lips a trend in the 1990s. $29 at Nordstrom Buy

Uncensored by Fenty Beauty

Nude Kate by Charlotte Tilbury

Elson by Pat McGrath

Trafalgar by Christian Dior

DIOR Rouge Dior Lipstick $37 In every beauty range, theres a classic red thats a best seller, and a second best seller thats a more quirky red. This red has a jolt of orange through it  no less pigmented than the 999, but just as vibrant. $37 at Macy's Buy

Heroine by M.A.C

M.A.C Lipstick Matte $19 Originally launched as part of M.A.Cs Reel Sexy collection, it quickly became a fan favorite (multiple internet message boards devoted threads to documenting their love affair of the lipstick). M.A.C heard their cries and brought this violet shade into its permanent collection this year. $19 at Ulta Beauty Buy

No. 52 Rouge Pur Couture by YSL

Honolulu Honey by NARS

NARS Lipstick $28 One of the most famous nude shades of all time. Makeup creator Francois Nars once said it was his single, most-used beauty product of all time because its a perfect, warm nude with just the right amount of yellow and pink. $28 at Nordstrom Buy

01 Always Red by Sephora

Amande Sucree by Lancome

Lancome LAbsolu Rouge Hydrating Shaping Lipcolor $32 Barose explains why this bronze should be a classic: I love that it gives a sheer bronze glaze for the mouth. Its perfect for darker skin because its not a nude but a bit more interesting and glam. $32 at Saks Fifth Avenue Buy

Exaltee by Chanel

Airy Fairy by Rimmel

Rimmel London Lip Stick $5 Photo: VERIFY IMAGE USAGE RIGHTS PRIOR TO USE This shade is praised on MakeupAlley for being one of the most foolproof My Lips But Better shades of all time with over 500 five-star reviews. $5 at Rimmel Buy

Grege 1947 by Christian Dior

Viva Glam by M.A.C

M.A.C Viva Glam Lipstick $19 Nelson explains the historical significance behind this color: The first makeup product ever to be promoted by a drag queen. RuPaul Charles made history by declaring I am the M.A.C girl in the advertising for this life-saving lip shade. Every single penny of this lipstick and its successors goes to AIDS research. $19 at MAC Buy

Casablanca by Tom Ford

Tom Ford Lip Color $55 Although hes best known for his more vibrant color choices, this is Tom Fords most commercially successful lipstick shade. $55 at Nordstrom Buy

Lasting Kiss by Lancome

Addict Lip Glow Color Reviver Balm by Dior

Violet Femme by Tom Ford

Tom Ford Lip Color $55 Barose explains why this shade is a favorite: Its a bright color thats unique with purple undertones; its bright but deep, so its easy to wear. $55 at Nordstrom Buy

No. 311 by Cle de Peau Beaute

Fairest Nude by LOreal Paris

Kate Moss 01 by Rimmel London

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Jan Wagner shares her journey of taking in her grandson when he was 2, because his mother was addicted to opioids and unable to take care of him, in Washington on May 15, 2018. (Charlotte Cuthbertson/The Epoch Times)

An Easy Decision, But a Tough Road for a Grandparent Caregiver

WASHINGTONJan Wagner never got to experience the empty nest syndrome that so many parents go through as their children fly the coop.

She had her own children early in life and, at 50, she was already looking forward to grandchildren.

By 57, she had her wish six times over, with an unexpected surprise: She had also become the legal guardian for her 2-year-old grandson, Holden.

More than a decade ago, before the full opioid crisis swept the nation, Holdens mother became addicted to prescription painkillers provided by a pain clinic, in what Wagner calls legal addiction.

My youngest daughter was married and had a little girl, and when that little girl was about 2, [my daughters] addiction to painkillers became quite obvious, Wagner said.

So she left when her first child was 2. And she left the child [with the father]. And five years later came back, expecting again, she said.

Wagner was worried. Her daughter, Mandy, had been couch-surfing with friends for years and was unemployed most of the time.

When she told us she was expecting again, we were afraid that memories of her past child that she had given up would come back, that maybe she would go into some depression, she would have trouble parenting, trouble bonding. And her relationship with my grandsons father wasnt very stable, she said.

Wagner encouraged Mandy to move home to Ludington, Michigan, for more stabilitywhich she did, on and off.

My grandson was born and she would come and go. She would take him with her during different relationships, sometimes she would leave him with us for a few days, Wagner said.

But the addiction was growing, Wagner said.

She had pretty much gone beyond just using medicine for pain and using it more or less because she needed it.

When Holden was 18 months old, Wagner suggested to Mandy that she leave Holden with them, and when she established herself, she could come back and get him.

It was six months and she had only come home maybe once or twice, Wagner said. But, she said, there were always the phone calls: Im going to get him. Im going to get him.

Wagner had talked to child protective services about getting assistance for her daughter and for her and her husband.

Wagner said she was told, You really dont want to get us in your lives. You may lose track of your grandchild if we have to put him in foster care, or the first thing well do is call his mother and tell her to come and get him. And if she stays here in town, we can keep track of her because its a small community, but if she goes back to the city then itll be pretty hard to keep track.

And so we obtained legal guardianship for him, which would prevent her from just showing up one day and then we wouldnt know where he was, Wagner said.

Wagner joined the approximately 2.6 million grandparents who are the primary caregivers for children in America.

Grandparents as Caregivers

Thirty percent (127,8oo) of children in foster care are being raised by grandparents or other relatives, a 6-percent increase since 2008, according to a report by Generations United in September 2017.

[And] for each child in foster care with a relative, there are 20 children outside of the system with a relative, the report said.

Those numbers are even more dramatic in states hit hardest by the opioid crisis, such as Ohio, which has seen a 62 percent increase in the number of children placed with relatives in foster care since 2010.

Dr. William Bell, president and CEO of Casey Family Programs, relates the opioid crisis to his experience in New York City during the middle of the crack epidemic.

We even created a term called skip generational parenting, he said at an opioid conference on May 15. It was one of the first big efforts around grandparents stepping in and raising grandchildren.

Casey Family Programs has a mission to reduce the need for foster care. Bell said at least 35 percent of the children entering foster care in fiscal 2015 was due to parental substance abuse.

What were trying to do right now is a much more humane approach to dealing with families who are struggling with a disease, Bell said at a Feb. 8 hearing.

Getting Help

For Wagner, the challenges were only just beginning.

We soon realized that [Holden] had suffered some trauma effects from his early childhood, she said. And he required some special services that my husband and I were having a very difficult time providing on our own.

Ironically, by taking Holden in rather than letting him go into the foster care system, most support services were unavailable to Wagner, as she was not a licensed foster caregiver.

For kinship families like ours, theres a lot of stress and confusion, she said. It becomes overwhelming and daunting, and oftentimes we become very lost.

Past trauma cant be loved enough to make it go [away]. It takes patience, it takes workhard workit takes professional intervention, and it takes a lot of training, Wagner said.

She said Holden had a lot of attachment issues because he had not bonded with his mother; he had developmental delays; and he was non-verbal at 2.

Fortunately, her elder daughter was working in early childhood development and helped Wagner find speech therapy for Holden, as well as motor skill development.

Wagner had to quit work so that she and her husband could focus on parenting Holden.

It was a tough time because all our lives, we had worked. Wed supported ourselves, wed supported our children, and suddenly we had to apply for welfare and food stamps and Medicaid because this child needed more, she said.

The Wagners formally adopted Holden four years later.

Family First Act

I have fought long and hard with the fact that if a child is not placed in formal foster care and the family is not licensed, then these services are not available, Wagner said.

However, a new piece of legislation, passed in February, is providing hope to many kinship caregivers and parents who are embroiled in addiction.

The Family First Prevention Act is designed to keep children out of foster care and with family. It intends to bring help directly into the family homeincluding substance abuse treatment, parenting skills, and mental health services. If a parent needs to attend an inpatient addiction treatment facility, the bill can provide for any children to live in with the parent.

Its the first big step in over 12 years that I have been working with relative families, Wagner said.

If those services are coming to the home, where you live, where you act, where you interact, where youre all togetherI think it will make a huge difference. Because the first thing you do is ask the family to go outside the home, and then its harder.

Providing Support

With all that she has learned, navigating her way through system after system, Wagner now does a lot of online support work with grand-families that are raising grandchildren.

The only way that we are able to get out information to each other is through this sharing network, she said.

She said Generations United has pulled together a lot of helpful information, especially because each state has its own method of handling relative caregivers.

Some of the stories that I hear and some of the experiences that some of these families have had are just devastating, Wagner said. Theyve lost their childrentheyve died through overdoses, through murders, through lifestyles. I cant imagine.

She said over the years she has managed to accept her daughter for where she is.

And I talk to a lot of families about just that. Stop fighting it. Stop beating yourself up. I took a lot of time thinking it was my fault, she said. Because if I decided it was my fault, and if I took that responsibility, that meant I could fix it.

And there was nothing I wanted to do more than to fix it. I wanted to fix her.

The Future

Addiction is a family disease and the effect that it has on the entire family is devastating, said Wagner.

I grieved the loss of my youngest daughter. She was still alive, but I grieved her because she was not with us. She was not with her children. Holidays, special occasionsshes not there.

Wagner said that since Christmas, she has had lunch three times with Mandy, who has just asked her when their next lunch date will be.

And thats good. Because I can text her now. I can say how are you?

As for Holden, he is an active, happy, healthy 12-year-old, she said. He pushes our buttons, he holds our hearts, and oftentimes he holds us as his very, very willing hostage.
Syrian President Bashar al-Assad reported to be meeting with Syrian army soldiers in eastern Ghouta, Syria, March 18, 2018. (SANA/Handout via Reuters)

Assad-Kim Meeting Puts Spotlight on Syria Nuclear Program

News Analysis

Syrian President Bashar Assad is planning to meet North Korean leader Kim Jong Un in Pyongyang, as North Korea takes its initial steps to improve relations with the United States.

Assad allegedly stated, I am going to visit the DPRK and meet HE Kim Jong Un. Assad received credentials from North Korean Ambassador to Syria Mun Jong Nam on May 30, according to KCNA Watch, which republishes stories from North Korean state media.

The timing of the meeting is significant. Assad received his credentials just two days before Kim Yong Chol, a North Korean envoy and close confidant of Kim Jong Un, met with Trump chief of staff John Kelly at the White House on June 1.

It also comes just ahead of the planned June 12 summit in Singapore, where Kim is expected to meet with Trump.

In the backdrop are Kims announcements, under pressure from Trump, that he will abandon North Koreas nuclear weapons programs and will reunite with South Korea.

Also in the backdrop are weapons deals Assad has with North Korea, and the Trump administrations military strikes on Syrian military facilities on April 13, after Assad used chemical weapons on civilians in Damascus.

North Korea has in the past provided Syria with missile technicians and with materials for its ballistic missile and chemical weapons programs.

While the timing and chain of events suggest Assad has his own interests in influencing items on the negotiating table, it does not appear on the surface that Assad will attempt to dissuade Kim Jong Un from negotiating with Trump.

So far, Assads surface messaging aligns with similar messages sent from Russia to North Korea.

According to the KCNA Watch article, Assad said he welcomes the remarkable events in the Korean Peninsula brought about recently by the outstanding political caliber and wise leadership of HE Kim Jong Un.

I am sure that he will achieve the final victory and realize the reunification of Korea without fail, Assad said.

Given Russias support of Syria, its unlikely that Assads stance will deviate from that of Russia, which similarly sent a delegation to North Korea on June 1 to meet with Kim.

According to North Korean state news outlet Rodong Sinmum, the delegation included Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, Vice Foreign Minister Igor Morgulov, Russian Ambassador to North Korea Oleg Stepanov, and several other key officials. Lavrov said Russia fully supports North Koreas stance on the upcoming summit with the United States and on its plans for denuclearization, and wishes for good successes.

Kim also said, according to the report, that North Koreas plans for denuclearization still remain unchanged and consistent and fixed.

Another important factor in the meetings is that North Korea briefly renewed its hostile statements against the United States after Kim met with Chinese Communist Party (CCP) leader Xi Jinping. Trump quickly responded with a May 24 open letter in which he called off the planned summit, stating, The world, and North Korea in particular, has lost a great opportunity for lasting peace and great prosperity and wealth.

Sadly, I was forced to cancel the Summit Meeting in Singapore with Kim Jong Un. pic.twitter.com/rLwXxBxFKx  Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) May 24, 2018

In response to Trumps letter, Kim quickly folded and also put reunification with South Korea on the table.

The interests of Syria with North Korea are closely related to the interests of Russia and the CCP. Now that it appears Kim will not back off from his plans for reunification, denuclearization, and negotiation with the United States, its likely that the negotiations of Syria, Russia, and the CCP have switched toward maintaining whichever ties and forms of influence they can.

Under heavy sanctions from the United States and United Nations, North Korea previously relied on the CCP to keep it afloat, and it relied on its nuclear weapons program to stay relevant on the world stage. This reliance gave the countries that supported these programsmainly Russia and Chinadeep influence over the North Korean regime.

North Korea maintained additional relevance by trading weapons technologies, including those for missiles and chemical weapons, with Syria and Iran. And with North Korea negotiating to build favorable relations with the United States, its unlikely to risk trade programs that would endanger these negotiationsa factor that Assad is likely aware of as he plans his meeting.
Australian Airline Qantas Succumbs to Beijings Request to Refer to Taiwan as China

SYDNEYAustralias Qantas Airways said it plans to change its website to refer to Taiwan as part of China, not an independent nation, but that it needed extra time to comply with the request from the Chinese regime.

In April, Chinas aviation regulator gave three dozen airlines a May 25 deadline to remove references on their websites or in other material that suggest Taiwan, Hong Kong, and Macau are part of countries independent from China, a move described by the United States White House as Orwellian nonsense.

Taiwan is a self-ruled island with its own constitution, democratically elected government, and military. The Chinese regime, meanwhile, views the island nation as one of its provinces, that will one day be reunited with the mainland, with military force if necessary. In recent weeks, China has also ramped up its aggressive rhetoric and staged military drills in the Taiwan Strait.

Hong Kong and Macau are former European colonies that have been returned to Chinese sovereignty in 1997 and 1999, respectively, but are run largely autonomously.

After the Chinese regime sent their request, Qantas and several other airlines had requested an extension on the deadline, to decide how they would respond.

At the International Air Transport Association (IATA) annual meeting held in Sydney on June 4, Qantas Chief Executive Officer Alan Joyce said his company planned to comply with the request, although the company needed extra time.

Our intention is to meet the requirements. It is just taking time to get there, Joyce told journalists on the sidelines of the meeting.

The CEO of Qantas international unit, Alison Webster, said the decision was not influenced by Qantas partnership with China Eastern Airlines Corp., the countrys second largest carrier by passenger numbers.

I dont think the relationship makes any difference to how we review our response, Webster said.

Air Canada, Lufthansa, and British Airways are among the other carriers that have made changes on their websites after Chinas request. The Chinese regime said on May 25 that 18 carriers had changed their websites.

American Airlines has not made changes on its website, saying it was following the direction of the U.S. government.

We received the notice but then the United States has replied and were following the direction of the U.S. government, CEO Doug Parker said in Sydney. Right now its between our government and their government.

In recent months, several multinational companies have been pressured by the Chinese regime to conform with its territorial claims. Last month, American clothing company Gap apologized to China for selling T-shirts that showed a map of China that did not include Taiwan, though the T-shirts were not on sale in China.

In February, Japanese retailer Muji had to remove maps in its furniture catalog that did not show the Senkaku Islands and several islands in the South China Sea that Beijing has claimed. The Senkaku Islands are controlled by Japan, but China claims it was part of the Chinese empire since ancient times.

By Byron Kaye and Victoria Bryan. Epoch Times staff member Frank Fang contributed to this report.
Communism Is Satanic by Nature

Communism has caused the deaths of more than 100 million people over the last century through famine, political killings, and genocide. It has created societies where power is held by a small group that enslaves entire nations and where killing fields, gulags, and reeducation-through-labor camps become part of everyday life.

But the economic failures, mass killings, and slave nations created by communism are not the biggest crimes of the system.

The biggest crime of communism is its destruction of the human soul.

A key goal of communism is to demoralize societiesto destroy the culture, religion, and basic values of any society it touches.

This goal is laid out clearly in The Communist Manifesto, in which Karl Marx and Friedrich Engels wrote in 1848 that communism abolishes all religion, and all morality.

The most terrifying thing for someone is the destruction of faith, belief, and morality. In the Bible, the Book of Matthew states, Fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear him which is able to destroy both soul and body in Hell.

Weve seen repeatedly that the goal of communism is to destroy the soul of humankind.

When a famine swept Russia in 1921 after former Soviet leader Vladimir Lenin ordered seeds to be taken from the farmers, between 5 and 10 million people starved. According to The Black Book of Communism, Lenins response was that the famine was good for the communist movement, since famine would also destroy faith not only in the tsar, but in God, too.

While communism wears various masks, including attempts to convince people that its intentions are benign, the influence of its roots can always be seen. And while communism pretends to be atheist, many of its founders, including Marx, were not. They held satanic beliefs.

The Romanian preacher Richard Wurmbrand, who was imprisoned under communism, documented much of this history in his book Marx and Satan.

One example is Mikhail Bakunin, one of Marxs partners in the First International, who wrote, The Evil One is the satanic revolt against divine authority, revolt in which we see the fecund germ of all human emancipations, the revolution. Socialists recognize each other by the words In the name of the one to whom a great wrong has been done.'

He also stated, In this revolution we will have to awaken the Devil in the people, to stir up the basest passions. Our mission is to destroy, not to edify.

Marxs satanism is evident in his early writings. He wrote in the poem Invocation of One in Despair that he would build [his] throne high overhead, and continued, Cold, tremendous shall its summit be./For its bulwarksuperstitious dread,/For its Marshallblackest agony./Who looks on it with a healthy eye,/Shall turn back, struck deathly pale and dumb;/Clutched by blind and chill Mortality/May his happiness prepare its tomb.

In Marxs poem The Fiddler, he writes, The hellish vapors rise and fill the brain/Till I go mad and my heart is utterly changed, and, See this swordthe Prince of Darkness sold it to me.

Biographer Robert Payne wrote in his 1968 book Marx that Marx had the Devils view of the world, and the Devils malignity. Sometimes he seemed to know that he was accomplishing works of evil.

We can also show through the core tenents of communism that by its nature, it is satanic. This goes back to dialectical materialism, which Joseph Stalin described in 1938 as the world outlook of the Marxist-Leninist party.

Satanism works by inverting values within the Christian system. Dialectical materialism works by inverting the values of all traditional beliefs in all upright religious systems. It works on three principles to identify, contradict, and eliminate the middle. The inversion of whichever traditional value it is targeting becomes the issue pressed by communism, and it uses these inversions of traditions and morals to drive society into struggle, and to use this struggle to destroy the values that exist within that society.

Pope Pius XI wrote in 1937 that under this system, communism attempts to sharpen the antagonisms which arise between the various classes of society. Using this, he said, the communists create class struggle to create violent hate that can drive forward its issues under the false banner of progress.

Communism is not just a political system or an economic system. Its forms exist within many movements designed to destroy our values, our traditions, and our beliefs. It is a specter, as Marx described it, that aims to destroy humankind.

Views expressed in this article are the opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of The Epoch Times.
A Khmer Rouge soldier waves his pistol and orders store owners to abandon their shops in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, on April 17, 1975 as the capital fell to the communist forces. (AP Photo/Christoph Froehder)

Communism Killed 100 Million People in the 20th Century: Dont Flip Off a Memorial for Its Victims

The horrors of communism has filled up endless books. At least 100 million people died under self-described communist regimes. Mao Zedong, Joseph Stalin, Pol Pot, and Kim Il Sung are among the chief killers.

Right nowthats right, todaythe Chinese Communist Party is reportedly killing prisoners of conscience, mainly Falun Gong practitioners, for their organs.

If one went to the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum in New York City and flipped off one of its memorials, one would resoundinglyand correctlybe called a Nazi, a fascist, or just a jerk.

But evidently, flipping off the Victims of Communism Memorial in Washington D.C. gets you praise on Twitter. This week, that very thing happened: some people were photographed flipping the middle bird at the memorialto cheers on social media.

Others denounced it on Twitter, and rightly so.

But hat a world we live in when victims of the most destructive ideology in human historyaround the worldare mocked. Nobel Peace Prize-winning author Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn, who penned the masterpiece Gulag Archipelago put it best: For us in Russia, communism is a dead dog, while, for many people in the West, it is still a living lion.

Solzhenitsyn himself spent years in and out of Gulags, and has since spent his life helping raise awareness of its brutality. The numbers are fuzzy, but are in the millions, regarding how many people are estimated to have been killed in Gulags.

Women in Gulag camps were not spared. Many were tortured and raped.

This isnt about liberal or conservative politics. Under communist systems, freedom of speech, religion, and self-expression are criminalized. Under these systems, people were thrown into Soviet Gulags, Chinese laogai, or were simply buried alivelike in Cambodias Killing Fields, where entire families were marched to a secluded area and were ordered to dig their own graves. They werent shot, but were stabbed, poisoned, or beaten to death. Bullets werent to be wasted, on the orders from Pol Pot himself.

Whether youre on the left or right, under communist systems, anyone can be an enemy. Just ask the generations of North Korean prisoners who were jailed for decades for minor crimes, being labeled as an enemy of the Great Leader. To this day, they still suffer in labor camps.

When you flip off a victims of communism memorial, youre flipping off Tibetan monks, Falun Gong practitioners, and human rights activists who are currently being tortured, starved, and beaten by Chinese Communist Party officials. Youre flipping off the North Korean children prisoners who were bornand will probably diein the brutal camp 22 labor camp.

If you think that Adolf Hitler killed the most people in human history, youd be wrong. Mao and Stalin far outpaced the Nazi dictator, killing tens of millions more. Mao is estimated to have killed as many as 70 million; Stalin about 40 million; Pol Pot of Cambodiain just four years in the late 1970sleft 1.7 million to 3 million dead, in a country of only 8 million people. When communism reached East Africa, particularly in Ethiopia during the 15-year-rule of heartless dictator Mengitsu, 1.5 million died.

This isnt a joke.

Starting from this year, The Epoch Times has been producing a series of articles called The Dead End of Communism, in an attempt to highlight and raise awareness about its crimes.

A secret genocide is being carried out by the Chinese Communist Party as you read this article. When its fully revealed to the world, dont be on the wrong side of history.

Views expressed in this article are the opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of The Epoch Times.
DOJ Uncovered Misuse of Counterintelligence Data by FBI in 2016

In the midst of the 2016 presidential elections, oversight personnel with the Department of Justice made a troubling discovery: The FBI had provided the communications of American citizens to private contractors.

The discovery, which is detailed in a declassified top-secret report by the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court (FISC), details multiple violations by the FBI of policies intended to safeguard communications of Americans.

The firm, whose name is redacted in the report, is described as being largely staffed by private contractors.

According to the FISC, the apparent purpose for the FBI to provide access to the sensitive Section 702-acquired data was to receive analytical assistance.

Nonetheless, the [redacted] contractors had access to raw FISA [Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act] information that went well beyond what was necessary to respond to the FBIs requests, the FISC report reads.

In doing so, the FISC determined in its report, which was declassified and published in April 2017, that the FBI had broken so-called minimization procedures intended to prevent the sensitive data from being misused or falling into the wrong hands.

Law enforcement normally requires a warrant to monitor or search the communications of an American citizen under Section 702 of FISA, which primarily targets foreigners outside the United States but captures communications of Americans as well.

Minimization and targeting procedures detail the conditions under which communications involving American citizens can be accessed and are intended to protect against the data being accessed improperly.

The FBI has access to the data collected under Section 702 by the National Security Agency.

The National Security Agency (NSA) in Fort Meade, Maryland, in this file photo. (PAUL J. RICHARDS/AFP/Getty Images)

The DOJ oversight personnel found that the FBI had violated the procedures in multiple instances. In a separate case, it provided 702-collected data to a private entity. Those working for the private entity were not supervised or under the direct control of the FBI.

The violations, discovered on March 9, 2016, prompted a rare rebuke, and the FBI discontinued the access private contractors had to the raw FISA information by April 18, 2016.

The Court is  concerned about the FBIs apparent disregard of minimization rules and whether the FBI may be engaging in similar disclosures of raw Section 702 information that have not been reported, the FISC report reads.

Trump Campaign

The FBI used counterintelligence tools to spy on the Trump campaign in 2016, and possibly as early as 2015.

In a May 16 article, The New York Times cited unnamed FBI agents as saying the agency used national security letters to spy on the Trump campaign.

National security letters allow the FBI to demand that internet service providers, banks, and telephone companies provide records on specific individuals.

To this day, most details of the FBIs counterintelligence investigation of the Trump campaign over alleged connections to Russia remain unclear, including when the investigation was started and what cause the agency used for justification to open the investigation.

Text messages between Peter Strzok, the lead agent on the FBIs counterintelligence investigation, and Lisa Page, an FBI lawyer, have shed some light on these questions.

Around 10,000 messages sent between Strzok and Page had been obtained by the DOJ inspector general, and many have since been released publicly in redacted form.

In an April 30, 2016, message, either Strzok or Page (sender and recipients are not distinguished in text messages as published) writes, And now weve switched from the Patriot Act to a wire carrying current. [redacted].

The Patriot Act amended FISA, providing the legal authorization for the surveillance authorized by FISC. In the wake of the March 9 FISC criticism of the FBI, the agency appears to have changed the way its surveillance was authorized. According to Marc Ruskin, a 27-year veteran of the FBI, the Patriot Act and wire carrying current that Strzok and Page talked about likely referred to the legal justification used for surveillance.

Since they can no longer use the Patriot Act for legal intercepts, theyre instead tapping into this other form of intercepts, Ruskin said.

The timing of the texts, on April 30, 2016, also lines up with the timing of the issuance of the FISC decision, which forced the FBI to stop the use of FISA-data in certain ways by April 18 that year because of the previous misuse.

It is unclear whether this Page and Strzok text is referring to the surveillance of the Trump campaign, which cannot be verified given the lack of knowledge about when the investigation was started.

Strzok, however, was the lead agent on the case, and most of the texts related by the agents pertained to the Trump investigation.

Trump Dossier

The limitations placed on the FBIs use of Section 702-acquired data by April 18 also sheds light on the timing of the so-called Trump dossier.

The dossier was produced by Fusion GPS at the direction of the Clinton campaign and the Democratic National Committee, both of which were responsible for the financing behind the report.

The Trump dossier was used extensively by the FBI in its application to the FISC for a FISA warrant on Trump campaign volunteer Carter Page.

Under the so-called two-hop rule, the FISA warrant could have been used to spy on anyone with two layers of separation from Page himself. This means that both of the people Page was in contact with himself at the campaign could have had their communications surveilled, which is the first hop, as well as anyone who was in contact with those campaign officials, the second hop.

A declassified House intelligence committee memo released in February revealed that the FISC court had not been informed by the FBI and DOJ in the application for the FISA warrant on Page that information contained in the application had been paid for by the Clinton campaign and the DNC.

Neither the initial application in October 2016, nor any of the renewals, disclose or reference the role of the DNC, Clinton campaign, or any party/campaign in funding Steeles efforts, even though the political origins of the Steele dossier were then known to senior DOJ and FBI officials, the memo reads.

This means that after the FISC investigated the FBIs misuse of FISA obtained data, the FBI used the Trump dossier as a justification to obtain a FISA warrant, which gave it official approval.

The FBIs investigation is currently continued by special counsel Robert Mueller, after then FBI Director James Comey was fired by President Donald Trump on the recommendation of Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein and Attorney General Jeff Sessions.

A joint intelligence investigation headed by then-Director of National Intelligence James Clapper found in January 2016 no evidence of collusion between the Trump campaign and Russia.

Correction: A previous version of this article incorrectly stated the year in which the FBI discontinued the private contractors access to raw FISA data. This took place in 2016. The Epoch Times regrets the error.
The seal of the F.B.I. hangs in the Flag Room at the bureau's headquaters March 9, 2007 in Washington, DC. (Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)

Key Russian Contact in the Collusion Narrative Tied to Western Intelligence Instead

News Analysis

The man portrayed as the key shadowy broker between the Russian government and the campaign of then-candidate Donald Trump turns out to have been closely tied to people high up in European politics and intelligence circles, while his Russian contacts turned out to be shallow at best.

It was Maltese academic Joseph Mifsud who, around April 26, 2016, told volunteer adviser to the Trump campaign George Papadopoulos that the Russians had dirt on rival presidential candidate Hillary Clinton and thousands of her emails.

Papadopoulos tried to downplay his talks with Mifsud when interviewed by the FBI, thus perjuring himself, according to his guilty plea.

The plea describes Mifsud as having substantial connections to Russian government officials. Hes even been called a Russian spy in the media, but a deep dive into his background paints a different picture.

After getting degrees in education and philosophy, Mifsud started his career in 1997 at the University of Malta, where he was appointed the head of the Department of Education.

He traveled a lot, meeting foreign dignitaries, and eventually made contact with Vincenzo Scotti, former minister of interior and minister of foreign affairs in Italy. Scotti and his director of Italian domestic intelligence were previously ordered by a court to each pay some $3.8 millionmoney they defrauded from the official funds of the intelligence agency to fund the agencys black operations.

According to Manuel Delia, a veteran official under two prime ministers of Malta, Mifsud and Scotti helped start Link Campus University in Rome in 1999. Scotti became its director. Link Campus is the key to understanding Mifsuds future endeavors.

A Curious Institution

Links campus is a renaissance manor less than a mile from Vatican City. It offers degrees in performing arts, fashion design, economics, and digital communication. But it also provides courses in cybersecurity engineering and international studies.

Until 2016, Link offered masters degrees in intelligence and security as well as behavioral analysis and applied sciences in intelligence and homeland security. These two courses later disappeared from Links website.

The CIA and FBI have sent their officers to lecture at Link. In 2004, the CIA and Link organized a conference in Rome attended by intelligence and police officials of nearly 30 countries, including then-CIA deputy director for intelligence Jami Miscik, The Washington Post reported. Former CIA analyst Stephen Marrin was a guest lecturer at Link.

Good intelligence studies program in Italy at Link Campus Uni, Marrin said in a 2015 tweet. Focus on intelligence analysis and national security.

The U.S. Embassy in Rome sent FBI Special Agent Preston Ackerman to give a presentation at Link in September 2016, according to UK political analyst Chris Blackburn, who backed up the claim with a screen shot of a Sept. 9, 2016, Facebook post about a presentation which appears to show Ackerman as its author.

That embassy is where the FBI stationed Michael Gaeta, the FBI point man for contact with former MI6 British intelligence agent Christopher Steele, who was paid, through intermediaries, by the Democratic National Committee and the campaign of Hillary Clinton to put together a dossier in 2016 on alleged Trump-Russia relations. The dossier was characterized in 2017 by then-FBI Director James Comey as salacious and unverified.

The dossier is the cornerstone of the Trump-Russia collusion theory that, after two years of investigation, remains unsubstantiated.

Link is also loosely tied to cybersecurity firm CrowdStrike, the sole source of evidence that Russian hackers stole the Democratic National Committee emails that Wikileaks released starting July 22, 2016. Andrew Bagley, former FBI adviser and, since 2015, privacy counsel to CrowdStrike, was a visiting researcher at Link in 2010, according to his 2015 resume.

The University of Malta gradually grew uncomfortable with Link, which was issuing degrees with the universitys logo, but with little to no quality control or communication with the university, Delia wrote.

Finally, the university kicked out both Link and Mifsud, after he ignored repeated inquiries on why he opened bank accounts in the universitys name that appear to have been used to receive sponsorships and funds in aid of academic projects for the University and spent without the normal scrutiny of the University, sources told Delia.

Who is Mifsud?

Its not clear what official role Mifsud actually had at Link. Hes been named as a lecturer and photographed as a panel speaker at Link. In a 2013 mini bio, he was called its director of international relations.

Mifsud is a person who collaborates with us, said a person at Link Campus when The Guardian called the school last year.

EMUNI

In 2008, Mifsud was appointed director of the newly formed Euro-Mediterranean University (EMUNI), an institution in Slovenia set up mainly with money from the European Commission, Slovenian government, and the Kuwait Government.

EMUNI was supposed to promote academic cooperation in the Euro-Mediterranean region. Its not clear why was Mifsud picked as its head. His connection, again, appear to be through Link, which ran a masters and a post-grad course at EMUNI.

Mifsud traveled the region, through Egypt, Tunisia, Spain, the United Arab Emirates, Turkey, and also Russia. During his 2011 Moscow trip, he discussed sending a group of young Russian diplomats to study at EMUNI.

But in 2012, Mifsud resigned, or was made to resign, from EMUNI. An audit showed that Mifsud incurred over $30,000 of wrongly claimed expenses, Times of Malta reported. EMUNI later distanced itself from Mifsuds further activities.

LAD and Pittella

Sometime in 2012, he became the honorary director of the London Academy of Diplomacy (LAD). In this capacity, he continued to mingle in academic circles, now openly focusing on up-and-coming diplomats.

The LAD boasted it had trained diplomats of dozens of countries, including Iraq, Afghanistan, and Libya. Its regular contributor was Gianni Pittella, then-first deputy president of the European Parliament.

Mifsud had known Pittella since at least 2011, and the two maintained a close relationship as Pittella became the leader of the Progressive Alliance of Socialists and Democrats, the second-largest power block in the European Parliament. Pittella also gave a talk together with Mifsud at a Link forum on terrorism in 2015.

Joseph [Mifsud] is a dear friend of mine, Pittella said, according to Italian online paper LOccidentale.

Pittella resigned earlier this year after winning a seat in the Italian Senate. He showed up at the 2016 Democratic National Convention in Philadelphia.

I have taken the unprecedented step of endorsing and campaigning for Hillary Clinton because the risk of Donald Trump is too high, he told Time magazine. I believe it is in the interest of the European Union and Italy to have Hillary Clinton in office. A Trump victory could be a disaster for the relationship between the U.S.A. and Italy.

Another associate of Mifsud was Claire Smith, career UK diplomat and former member of the UK Joint Intelligence Committee, a supervisory body overseeing all UK intelligence agencies. She served at the UK Security Vetting and Appeals Panel, which handles appeals of people denied security clearance by the UK government. And she also gave a training to high-ranking Italian military officials in Rome in 2012. The training was organized by Link and the LAD. Smith was photographed there standing next to Mifsud.

Mifsud and Claire Smith train Italian military and law enforcement officials at LINK Campus in Rome. LAD had MOD and Foreign Office contacts. They also ran dipomatic training for Commonwealth countries. pic.twitter.com/U20uW4hF8z  Chris Blackburn (@CJBdingo25) March 22, 2018

Mifsuds contacts in Russia seemed lacking, though.

Valdais Timofeev

When Stephan Roh, a Swiss-German lawyer, wanted to expand his business in Russia, he hired Mifsud in 2015 to introduce him to some high-level officials. But Mifsud couldnt deliver. The only thing he managed was to get Roh on a panel discussion in 2016 organized by the Valdai Discussion Club and connect him with Valdais program director, Ivan Timofeev, a PR man of sorts in the academic world for the Russian Foreign Affairs Ministry.

Valdai is a mingling place for international elites, set up by the Russian government. Its been criticized as being a propaganda stunt. Many foreign dignitaries have attendedsuch as former French Prime Minister Dominique de Villepin and former Austrian Chancellor Wolfgang Schusseland Russian media are usually able to get some positive comments out of them, thus propping up the Kremlins credibility. Mifsud wasnt any differentsince 2014 he attended several events and wrote three articles for Valdai, all with a positive tone towards Russia.

Mifsud had his own intent with Roh. He wanted to convince Roh to invest in Link, which, according to Delias sources, always struggled financially and needed to be bailed out time and again by the Italian government through some scheme organized by Scotti.

After Mifsud extolled Link to Roh and gave him a tour of its picturesque campus, Roh agreed to buy a 5 percent stake in Link in 2015, Roh and his associate, Thierry Pastor, told Lee Smith.

LCILP

Rohs account matches Papadopouloss plea.

Papadopoulos started to dabble in the election in 2015 by joining the campaign of then-candidate Ben Carson. In February 2016, just as he was leaving Carsons campaign to join Trumps, Papadopoulos landed a job that would significantly boost his resumedirector of the Centre For International Energy and Natural Resources, Law and Security at the London Centre of International Law Practice (LCILP). Its not clear how he got the job. Mifsud was listed as the centers board adviser and, since July 2016, its director of international strategic development.

Mifsud met Papadopoulos in Rome around March 14, 2016, and took interest in his joining the Trump team, according to Papadopouloss plea.

The two stayed in contact and Mifsud later told La Repubblica that he offered to provide contacts in the Arabian Gulf, in Latin America, in Russia, and in the European Council.

Papadopoulos knew Trump wanted to improve relations with Russia, just as Obama and Clinton did before him, and he wanted to boost his profile with the campaign by setting up a meeting with some high-level Russian officials.

Polonskaya

But again, Mifsud failed. First, he introduced Papadopoulos to Olga Polonskaya, who was a Russian student at Link, according to Russian journalist Alexander Kalinin, who dug into her background. Papadopoulos met with her and Mifsud in London on March 24, 2016, and was given the impression that she was a relative of Russian President Vladimir Putin.

But theres no indication she was related to Putin. She used to work for a liquor wholesaler in St. Petersburg, Kalinin found.

Mifsud then introduced Papadopoulos to Timofeev, who was willing to organize a meeting through official channelsthe North America Desk at the Russian Foreign Ministry.

Papadopoulos bombarded the campaign with emails, but in the end, the higher-ups told him that he should go talk to the Russians himself. The meeting never took place.

After Mifsuds name was outed in the media, he disappeared. Roh said hes alive and had been moved to a place far away in Italy.

In November and December, it broke him down. He was under so much pressure and cut off from the world. He had no internet or access to communications, Roh said.

It was Scotti, the head at Link, who told Mifsud to lay low, Roh and Pastor said.

Was it then the Russians who instructed Mifsud to bait Papadopoulos with stories about Clintons dirt? He said no. Actually, even after he said the FBI interviewed him, he denied mentioning Clinton dirt at all. If he lied to the FBI, he could face perjury charges just as Papadopoulos. But so far, the FBI has shown little interest in him. When Roh was interviewed by the bureaus agents, he said, they didnt even ask about Mifsud.

Update: The article has been updated with additional information about Link Campus, Euro-Mediterranean University, and Joseph Mifsud.

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Nazism, Fascism, and Socialism Are All Rooted in Communism

The concept of a far left that is opposed to a far right is false. The systems placed on the two ends of that spectrum, including socialism, fascism, and Nazism, are all rooted in communism. And all of them share beliefs in core communist concepts, including state collectivism, planned economies, and class struggle.

All of them were merely different interpretations of Marxism, and played heavily in global politics just after World War I, at a time when the ideas of Karl Marx failed to materialize and communists had gone back to the drawing board.

Before we get into the history of these divergent systems, however, we first need to understand the rift between socialism and communism.

Socialism was described in Marxs theory of the five stages of civilization. After he helped frame the concept of capitalism as a society in which people are able to trade freely, he proposed that after capitalism would come the stage of socialism, followed by communism.

Socialism was the stage that Vladimir Lenin described as the state-capitalist monopoly, in which a dictatorship has seized control of all means of production.

The idea was that a communist regime would use the absolute power of the socialist dictatorship of the proletariat to destroy all values, all religion, all institutions, and all traditionswhich would theoretically lead to the communist utopia.

In other words, socialism is the political system, and communism is the ideological goal. This is why followers of communism argue that true communism has never been achieved. The system has thus far failed to utterly destroy human morals and beliefs, although it has taken the lives of more than 100 million people over the last 100 years.

Before the Russian Revolution of 1917, socialism and communism were synonyms, Bryan Caplan, associate professor of economics at George Mason University, states in the chapter on communism in The Concise Encyclopedia of Economics.

Both referred to economic systems in which the government owns the means of production, Caplan states. The two terms diverged in meaning largely as a result of the political theory and practice of Vladimir Lenin.

Of course, the failings of Marxs predictions is also what gave rise to the many interpretations of communism that emerged following World War I. These included Leninism, fascism, and Nazism.

As the world boiled in the turmoil that led to World War I between 1914 and 1918, many communists looked to the words of Marx, who in the 1848 Communist Manifesto said, Workers of the world, unite.

Yet, the workers of the world did not uniteat least not how Marx envisioned. Instead of rallying behind communism, they largely rallied behind their respective kings and countries.

In addition, the livelihood of workers became better under capitalism, as opposed to Marxs predictions that it would become worse. Then, when the communist revolution did happen, it did not happen in the late-stage capitalist societies which at the time were Britain and Germany, but instead in Russia.

And instead of the Bolshevik Revolution being the proletariat against the bourgeoisie, as Marx predicted, it was the military and intelligentsia against the feudal Russian tsarist system.

The series of events largely disproved Marxs predictions, and it sent communists of the time back to the drawing board, as was noted by bestselling author Dinesh DSouza in his book The Big Lie: Exposing the Nazi Roots of the American Left.

After Lenin, the next communist revisionist to take the world stage was Benito Mussolini, who took from World War I the lesson that nationalism was more uniting than the idea of a workers revolution. He thus revised Marxism into his new system of fascism, using the collectivist principle of fasci, which refers to a bundle of sticks reinforcing the handle of an ax.

Mussolini explained his concept in his 1928 autobiography, in which he states, The citizen in the Fascist State is no longer a selfish individual who has the anti-social right of rebelling against any law of the Collectivity.

According to Russia Under the Bolshevik Regime by Richard Pipes, No prominent European socialist before World War I resembled Lenin more closely than Benito Mussolini. Like Lenin, he headed the antirevisionist wing of the countrys Socialist Party; like him, he believed that the worker was not by nature a revolutionary and had to be prodded to radical action by an intellectual elite.

Then soon after, Adolph Hitler emerged with his re-branded socialist system under the banner of national socialism.

Taking advantage of the fact that the German people had been divided by new national borders established by the armistice, Hitler used identity politics to rally his followers.

The policies of the Nazi Party followed the communist model, DSouza notes, and the 25-point program included universal free health care and education, nationalization of large corporations and trusts, government control of banking and credit, the splitting of large landholdings into smaller units, and similar policies.

In addition, DSouza states, Mussolini and Hitler both identified socialism as the core of the fascist and Nazi Weltanschauung [way of life]. Mussolini was the leading figure of Italian revolutionary socialism and never relinquished his allegiance to it. Hitlers party defined itself as championing national socialism.'

Like all other communist ideologues, Hitler was also viciously opposed to the traditional capitalist system. Just as Lenin blamed wealthy farmers, and Mao Zedong blamed landlords, Hitler transferred blame to a single group of peoplethe Jews.

As DSouza states, Nazi anti-Semitism grew out of Hitlers hatred for capitalism. Hitler draws a crucial distinction between productive capitalism, which he can abide, and finance capitalism, which he associates with the Jews.

The conflict that later took place between the various systems during World War II was not a battle of opposite ideologies, but instead a fight over which interpretation of communism would prevail.

According to The Road to Serfdom by F.A. Hayek, The conflict between the fascist or national-socialist and the older socialist parties must indeed very largely be regarded as the kind of conflict which is bound to arise between rival socialist factions.

We can thank historical revisionism and plenty of mental gymnastics for the current narrative that socialism is somehow separate from Nazism and fascism and, even more so, the belief that these concepts are somehow divorced from their communist origins.

DSouza attributes this narrative shift to what Sigmund Freud called transference, based on his idea that people who commit terrible acts often transfer blame onto others, accusing others, including their victims, of being what they, themselves, are.

Views expressed in this article are the opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of The Epoch Times.
New Evidence Emerges on Trumps Actions Regarding Ex-adviser Michael Flynn

President Donald Trump was led to believe his newly appointed national security adviser, Lt. Gen. Michael Flynn, was not under investigation when he fired him last year, according to legal memos sent by Trumps lawyers to special counsel Robert Mueller.

The issue is significant because then-FBI Director James Comey later accused Trump of pushing him to close an investigation of Flynn by saying to him: I hope you can see your way clear to letting this go, to letting Flynn go. He is a good guy. I hope you can let this go.

The White House stated Comeys account was not a truthful or accurate portrayal of the conversation.

But however the conversation went, the memos make clear Trump was given very different information about Flynns situation than Comey.

The confidential memos were leaked to The New York Times, which published them on June 2. The memos provide some details that had not previously been released.

Trump accepted Flynns resignation on Feb. 13, 2017, after then-Acting Attorney General Sally Yates informed White House counsel Don McGahn that Flynn misled Vice President Mike Pence about the content of his calls with Russian Ambassador to the United States Sergey Kislyak.

In late 2016 and early 2017, as part of Flynns transition work, he was asked to talk to foreign diplomats to lay some groundwork for future relations, including three calls with Kislyak.

U.S. intelligence agencies intercepted the calls, officially as part of routine spying on Kislyak, and at least some parts were leaked to the media. One such revelation was that on Dec. 29, 2016, Kislyak and Flynn had discussed sanctions imposed on some Russian individuals and entities by then-President Barack Obama.

In response to the leak, Flynn was questioned by some administration officials and, apparently, didnt portray the conversations accurately. That led to Pence going on record as saying that Flynn didnt discuss the sanctions.

Court documents later revealed that Flynn asked Kislyak not to escalate the situation further after the sanctions were imposed.

On Jan. 24, 2017, only four days after Trumps inauguration, two FBI agents, one of whom was special agent Joe Pientka, visited Flynn at the White House and asked to speak with him.

Agents saw no change in [Flynns] demeanor or tone that would say he was being untruthful, according to notes taken by the Senate judiciary committee, which questioned Comey about the Flynn interview in March last year. Comey then denied making the statement.

On Jan. 26, 2017, Yates came to McGahn saying that Flynn may have made false representations to others in the administration regarding the content of the calls; that Flynns potentially false statements could make him susceptible to foreign influence or blackmail because the Russians would know he had lied; and that Flynns statements to the FBI were similar to those she understood he had made to [then-White House press secretary Sean] Spicer and the vice president, according to McGahns memo dated Feb. 15, 2017, quoted in the leaked legal memos.

McGahn briefed Trump and some other officials the same day, but they didnt have enough information about what was actually going on at the Department of Justice regarding Flynn. They decided to first get more information before acting on the information.

Part of this concern was a recognition by McGahn that it was unclear from the meeting with Yates whether an action could be taken without jeopardizing an ongoing investigation, McGahn wrote.

McGahn asked for another meeting with Yates, and they met the next day.

During the meeting, McGahn sought clarification regarding Yatess prior statements regarding Flynns contact with Ambassador Kislyak, McGahn wrote. Among the issues discussed was whether dismissal of Flynn by the president would compromise any ongoing investigations. Yates was unwilling to confirm or deny that there was an ongoing investigation but did indicate that the DOJ would not object to the White House taking action against Flynn.

McGahn further stated that Yates also indicated that the DOJ would not object to the White House disclosing how the DOJ obtained the information relayed to the White House regarding Flynns calls with Ambassador Kislyak.

On Feb. 8, 2017, as McGahn, then-Chief of Staff Reince Priebus, and others grilled Flynn about the calls, Flynn said he either was not sure whether he discussed sanctions, or did not remember doing so, McGahn wrote.

Flynn also said that FBI agents met with him to inform him that their investigation was over.

Flynn was asked about the calls again on Feb. 10, and he said that the FBI told him they were closing it out.

Later that day, McGahn and Priebus concluded that Flynn needed to go and recommended so to Trump. The following Monday, Trump accepted Flynns resignation.

Comey testified that the next day, Trump asked to speak with him alone. Comey was keenly aware of Flynns situation.

General Flynn at that point in time was in legal jeopardy. There was an open FBI criminal investigation of his statements in connection with the Russian contacts, and the contacts themselves, and so that was my assessment at the time, Comey testified before the Senate intelligence committee on June 8, 2017.

But based on what Trump knew at the time, Flynns case was already over. The DOJ wouldnt say if Flynn was investigated or not, but, according to Flynn, the FBI closed the case. He was even allowed to keep his security clearance.

For all intents, purposes, and appearances, the FBI had accepted Flynns account; concluded that he was confused but truthful; decided not to investigate him further; and let him retain his clearance, one of the legal memos states.

It was then that Trump allegedly asked Comey to let it go, which Trump denies.

In any case, Comey said he didnt let it go. It was Trump who did. Neither the president nor anybody from the White House ever brought up the issue again with Comey, the memo states.

On Nov. 30, 2017, Flynn pleaded guilty to one count of lying to the FBI.

Muellers team has requested to delay Flynns sentencing several times. In February, the judge in the case demanded that the prosecutors produce all exculpatory evidence.

Epoch Times reporter Ivan Pentchoukov contributed to this report.

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North Koreas Top 3 Military Officials Replaced Amid Rumors of Dissension in Kim Regime, Say US Officials

SEOUL/WASHINGTONNorth Koreas top three military officials have been removed from their posts, a senior U.S. official said, a move analysts said on Monday could support efforts by the Norths young leader to jump-start economic development and engage with the world.

Kim Jong Un is preparing for a high-stakes summit with U.S. President Donald Trump in Singapore on June 12, the first such meeting between a North Korean leader and a sitting U.S. president.

The U.S. official, who spoke on Sunday on condition of anonymity, was commenting on a report by South Koreas Yonhap news agency that all three of the Norths top military officials were believed to have been replaced.

Kims motivation remains unclear but analysts said the shake-up allows him and the ruling party to tighten control over the Korean Peoples Army (KPA) at a critical time of international engagement and domestic development.

If Kim Jong Un is set on making peace with the U.S. and South Korea and dealing away at least part of the nuclear programme, he will have to put the KPAs influence in a box and keep it there, said Ken Gause, director of the International Affairs Group at CNA, a non-profit research and analysis organisation.

This reshuffle has brought to the fore the officers who can do just that. They are loyal to Kim Jong Un and no one else.

Trump revived the Singapore summit on Friday after cancelling it a week earlier. The cancellation was prompted by a drastic change in rhetoric by Kim and senior North Korean officials in early May.

Some Dissent

The United States is seeking a negotiated end to North Koreas nuclear weapons programme and U.S. officials believe there was some dissension in the military about Kims approaches to South Korea and the United States.

Trump wants North Korea to denuclearize, or get rid of its nuclear arsenal, in return for relief from economic sanctions. The older generation of North Koreas leaders who were supported by the Chinese regime is believed to regard nuclear weapons as crucial to its survival, while Kim has said he plans to focus on economic development.

The U.S. official did not identify the three ousted military officials.

Citing an unidentified intelligence official, Yonhap said No Kwang Chol, first vice minister of the Ministry of Peoples Armed Forces, had replaced Pak Yong Sik as defence chief, while Ri Myong Su was replaced by his deputy, Ri Yong Gil.

North Korean state media previously confirmed that Army General Kim Su Gil had replaced Kim Jong Gak as director of the KPAs General Political Bureau.

The White House, State Department, CIA and Office of the Director of National Intelligence did not respond immediately to requests for official comment.

South Koreas unification and defence ministries declined to confirm the report, while an official at the Unification Ministry said the government was watching the Norths leadership very closely.

South Korean foreign minister Kang Kyung-hwa had a 15-minute phone call with U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo on Monday to discuss the upcoming summit between Kim and Trump, the foreign ministry in Seoul said.

Economic Factors, Party Control

Given the militarys secondary role in the Norths nuclear and missile programmes, the moves are likely more about installing a younger, even more trusted cohort of officials who Kim Jong Un can rely on as he confronts a variety of domestic and international issues, said Michael Madden, a North Korea expert at Johns Hopkins Universitys 38 North website.

The nuclear weapons are a side issue, he said.

The moves are likely linked in part to Kim Jong Uns drive to have the military take a bigger role in critical infrastructure projects. That could explain why the newly appointed director of the KPAs General Political Bureau, Army General Kim Su Gil, accompanied Kim Jong Un on a field guidance trip to a beach tourist zone with other officials, Madden said.

Kim Jong Un is also likely expecting to receive more international economic aid and investment soon as part of the ongoing talks and he wants to prevent corruption that plagued some past projects, Madden said.

All of the newly promoted officials are younger than their predecessors, including 63-year-old Ri Yong Gil, who is 21 years younger than Ri Myong Su.

This points to two things: the consolidation of Kim Jong Uns power as the sole leader of North Korea and strengthened cooperation between the Norths party and military as the country works towards further economic development, said Yang Moo-jin, professor at the University of North Korean Studies in Seoul.

Theyre all young but capable people, Yang said.

Trump welcomed North Koreas former intelligence chief, Kim Yong Chol, to the White House on Friday, exchanging smiles and handshakes.

Yonhap reported that Kim Yong Chol had transited Beijing on Monday on his way back to Pyongyang from the United States.

All three of the new military officials have at least some experience interacting with foreign delegations, a factor that is critical as Kim seeks to line up meetings with leaders from the United States, China, Russia, and Syria.

They are shaping these guys up because there is going to be a lot of foreign interaction, Madden said. They know to sit there and not get too drunk at the parties  they know how to behave themselves.

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People hold candles during a vigil in Hong Kong on June 4, 2018, to mark the 29th anniversary of the 1989 Tiananmen crackdown in Beijing. (Anthony Wallace/AFP)

On Tiananmens Anniversary, New Push to Hold Chinese Regime Accountable for 1989 Massacre

On the anniversary of the Chinese regimes crackdown on student protests at Tiananmen Square, the United States has urged Beijing to make a full public accounting of the event that took place 29 years ago. Chinese activists overseas marked the anniversary with protests and a new think tank dedicated to exposing the regimes misdeeds and advocating for democracy.

The bloody crackdown on pro-democracy Chinese student protesters at Tiananmen Square on June 4, 1989, remains one of the most censored political taboos in China today, as the Chinese regime has consistently downplayed the Peoples Liberation Armys bloody cleansing of Beijing streets and Tiananmen Square that night.

The number of casualties has never been fully disclosed, though estimates by human rights groups and witnesses range from several hundred to several thousand.

Just as in previous years, the Chinese regime dramatically beefed up security around Tiananmen Square in Beijing, with a massive number of checkpoints, police, and even stun gun-wielding robots deployed to prevent any dissident activity. Beijings domestic suppression, however, could not stop the world from commemorating the significance of this historic day and to push for changes.

On Monday, the massacres 29th anniversary, U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo released a statement calling for the Chinese regime to be accountable.

On the 29th anniversary of the violent suppression of peaceful demonstrations in and around Tiananmen Square on June 4, 1989, we remember the tragic loss of innocent lives. Pompeos statement said.

We join others in the international community in urging the Chinese government to make a full public accounting of those killed, detained or missing, he said. [Beijing should act to] release those who have been jailed for striving to keep the memory of Tiananmen Square alive, and to end the continued harassment of demonstration participants and their families.

Chinese dissidents in the United States and across the world also organized various events commemorating the 1989 crackdown. The largest, held in Hong Kong on Monday night, reportedly attracted more than 110,000 people.

Elsewhere in the world, much smaller protests were held in many major cities, such as one that took place in front of the Chinese Embassy in Washington on June 2, at which dozens of Chinese activists were in attendance.

Wang Dan, a well-known leader of the Chinese democracy movement who was a student leader during the 1989 Tiananmen Square student protests, launches a new think tank named Dialogue China, in Washington D.C. on June 4, 2018. (Paul Huang/The Epoch Times)

Wang Dan, the famed Tiananmen Square student leader who now resides in the United States, also picked the anniversary on Monday as the date to officially launch a new pro-democracy think tank in Washington named Dialogue China.

The think tank will be a platform to advocate changes in China toward democracy, through engaging with and influencing overseas Chinese students, especially those in America, according to its website.

Everything that happened in China does not mean democracy would not have hope. On the contrary, the great uncertainty generated by China may perhaps provide us some opportunities we have never imagined, said Wang. We need to be prepared for this opening.

Wang would not disclose specific details about the funding of his think tank, but said that many small Chinese business owners and donors provided support.

Speaking at Dialogue Chinas launch event on Monday morning, Carl Gershman, president of the U.S.-funded National Endowment for Democracy, said that the Chinese Communist Party needs a rewrite of history in order for its regime to survive, of which the coverup of the 1989 Tiananmen Square massacre is a prime example.

Hu Ping, another well-known Chinese dissident, said that the lack of democracy in China will eventually bring about catastrophic consequences for the United States and the world, as the Chinese Communist Party continues to increase its power while acting aggressively overseas.

In Taiwan, the democratic island nation that is increasingly threatened by Beijings aggression, President Tsai Ing-wen also commemorated the anniversary and said in a Facebook post that she hopes both sides of the Taiwan Strait can enjoy the universal values of freedom and democracy.

Tsais post was intentionally written in simplified Chinese (Taiwan still uses traditional characters), presumably to make it easier for netizens in mainland China to read, though Facebook is blocked in mainland China and remains inaccessible for those without censorship circumvention tools.
Stellar Jobs Report Caps Month of Blockbuster Growth

The United States economy added 223,000 new jobs in May, according to a Bureau of Labor statistics report punctuated with several record-shattering statistics, the latest in a month filled with indicators of blockbuster economic growth.

The number of job openings reached an all-time high, as did the number of small companies raising wages. Consumer confidence reached an 18-year high, while consumer spending grew to the best level in five months.

Industrial production recorded its third straight month of gains, while more than three out of four manufacturers reported hiring more workers and investing more in plants and equipment.

With these and a number of other indicators, its no surprise that the Federal Reserve revised its GDP growth estimate to 4.8 percent, up from 3.9 percent at the beginning of the month. The growth rate over the past four quarters averaged 2.9 percent, better than any of the eight years of the previous administration.

The world is taking notice, too. The United States is now the most competitive economy in the world, according to annual rankings by the World Competitiveness Center.

Jobs, Jobs, Jobs

Unemployment figures for May again shattered multiple records as hundreds of thousands of Americans found jobs in the growing market.

Unemployment dropped to 3.8 percent, the lowest level since 1969, while the economy added 223,000 jobs, beating expectations by more than 17 percent, according to Goldman Sachs.

Black unemployment fell to 5.9 percent from an already record-low 6.6 percent in April. Female unemployment inched down to 3.6 percent, the lowest since 1953. And Asian unemployment fell to 2.1 percent, also a record, though the Bureau of Labor Statistics has only been tracking these figures since 2003.

Hispanic unemployment inched up to 4.9 percent, still hovering around historic lows.

Unemployment figures can be deceiving, as they do not include those who havent sought a job over the previous four weeks. But even when counting the unemployed whove looked for a job over the past 12 months and also those whod like a full-time job but have to settle for part-time jobs, the numbers stand at 7.6 percent, the best numbers since 2001.

While economists have warned for decades that the aging American population leaves ever fewer people to carry the economy, that was not the case in May. More people over 55 joined the labor force last month, while it was mainly people under 45 who left.

As a result, some two-thirds of the drop in the unemployment rate in May was because workers found jobs, while about one-third of the drop was from people leaving the labor force, the left-leaning Economic Policy Institute noted.

There are almost 95 million people considered not in the workforcethose over the age of 16 who dont work and are currently not looking for work, mostly because they are students, homemakers, ill, or retired. Among them, there were about 5.5 million who wanted a job in 2017.

That number has been declining in recent yearsa hint that more people who had given up on finding a job are now trying again and succeeding.

Trump Economy

President Donald Trump ran for office with a promise of reviving the economy, and the results look to boost his agenda as the midterm elections approach.

The economy has been beating expectations for over a year.

In March, employers offered 6.55 million jobs, the most ever recorded, according to the Labor Department. That amounts to one job for almost every person considered unemployed.

More than two in three Americans also believe its now a good time to find a quality job, the highest level since Gallup started to ask the question in its polls 17 years ago. This poll never received a more than 50 percent positive response before Trump assumed office.

Since Trump took office, the median household income increased almost 3.2 percent, reaching a record $61,483 in April, according to estimates by Sentier Research based on monthly Census Bureau survey data.

According to a recent YouGov poll, almost two-thirds of Americans view the economy positively and more than two-thirds believe that Trumps policies, which include cuts to regulations and taxes, and his planned investment in infrastructure, are at least partly responsible.

These indicators, coupled with tax revenue figures from the Congressional Budget Office, prove Trumps economic theory that rapid growth can solve a host of economic and social problems, according to Stephen Moore, a distinguished visiting fellow for Project for Economic Growth at The Heritage Foundation.

Moore points out that the federal government recorded the largest surplus in history in April, despite worries that Trumps tax cuts would reduce tax revenue. Tax revenues totaled $515 billion on April, 13 percent higher than the same month last year. Meanwhile, the federal government took in $218 billion more than it spent that month, the biggest surplus in history.

If the higher growth rate that Trump has already accomplished remains in place, then the impact will be well over $3 trillion of more revenue and thus lower debt levels over the decade, Moore writes. Putting people to work is the best way to balance the budget. Period.

Petr Svab contributed to this report.

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President Donald Trump in the East Room of the White House in Washington, D.C., on May 18, 2018. (Samira Bouaou/The Epoch Times)

Trump: I Have the Absolute Right to Pardon Myself, but Why Would I?

President Donald Trump has presented a legal puzzle to special counsel Robert Mueller: The Constitution says the president can pardon anybodythus, he can pardon himself.

Trump wrote in a June 4 tweet: As has been stated by numerous legal scholars, I have the absolute right to PARDON myself, but why would I do that when I have done nothing wrong? In the meantime, the never ending Witch Hunt, led by 13 very Angry and Conflicted Democrats (& others) continues into the mid-terms!

As has been stated by numerous legal scholars, I have the absolute right to PARDON myself, but why would I do that when I have done nothing wrong? In the meantime, the never ending Witch Hunt, led by 13 very Angry and Conflicted Democrats (& others) continues into the mid-terms!  Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) June 4, 2018

Trumps lawyer, Rudy Giuliani, made it clear the president has no intention to actually pardon himself, but that the revelation of the power to do so strengthens the argument of Trumps legal team that he didnt obstruct justice.

Mueller was appointed to look into whether the Russian government interfered in the 2016 presidential election and whether the Trump campaign colluded with any such effort. After a year of investigations, Mueller hasnt produced proof of any such collusion and appears to have shifted toward a search for evidence that Trump impeded the investigation.

The pardon issue was brought up by The New York Times after two confidential memos sent by Trumps lawyers to Mueller were leaked to the paper, which published them on June 2.

The memos, sent on June 23, 2017, and Jan. 29, 2018, both mention the clemency power.

It remains our position that the Presidents actions here, by virtue of his position as the chief law enforcement officer, could neither constitutionally nor legally constitute obstruction because that would amount to him obstructing himself, and that he could, if he wished, terminate the inquiry, or even exercise his power to pardon if he so desired, the January memo stated.

Its not clear what the full context of the statement was, because it refers, among other things, to a Jan. 8 conversation between Trumps lawyers and the Mueller team. The New York Times speculated it may mean that Trump could pardon himself.

ABCs George Stephanopoulos then raised the idea with Giuliani during an interview on June 3.

Hes not [going to pardon himself], but he probably does [have the power], Giuliani said. He has no intention of pardoning himself, but he probably does.

He called it an interesting constitutional question.

It would probably get answered by, Gosh, thats what the Constitution says, and if you want to change it, change it, but yes.

Article II of the Constitution states that the president shall have power to grant reprieves and pardons for offenses against the United States, except in cases of impeachment.

Its has been interpreted to apply to federal offenses, not to the breaking of state laws.

No president has attempted to pardon himself, but some lawyers have opined on the topic.

During the impeachment inquiry on President Bill Clinton in 1998, Rep. Bob Goodlatte (R-Va.) mentioned that theres a prevailing opinion that a President of the United States can exercise the power of pardon on himself.

Clintons counsel, Charles Ruff, was even explicitly asked to give an assurance that Clinton will not pardon himself or that he will not accept a pardon from any presidential successor. Ruff agreed.

During the Nixon years, in 1974, Mary Lawton, acting assistant attorney general in the Office of Legal Counsel, opined that the president couldnt pardon himself [u]nder the fundamental rule that no one may be a judge in his own case, citing the disqualification rule. But the rule specifically refers to judges. Lawton didnt explain why such a rule would supersede the Constitution.

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President Donald Trump signs S. 204, the Right to Try Act in the South Court Auditorium of the White House in Washington on May 29, 2018. (Samira Bouaou/The Epoch Times)

Trump Questions Why FBI Left Him in Dark About Manafort Probe

President Donald Trump on June 1 questioned the FBIs motives for carrying on a secret investigation into his campaign manager in 2016 without informing him.

As only one of two people left who could become President, why wouldnt the FBI or Department of Justice have told me that they were secretly investigating Paul Manafort (on charges that were 10 years old and had been previously dropped) during my campaign? Should have told me! Trump wrote on Twitter.

As only one of two people left who could become President, why wouldnt the FBI or Department of Justice have told me that they were secretly investigating Paul Manafort (on charges that were 10 years old and had been previously dropped) during my campaign? Should have told me!  Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) June 3, 2018

In a follow-up message, Trump said that Manafort was only with the campaign for a short time. The president also pointed to Manaforts past credentials, which include working for President Ronald Reagan and Sen. Bob Dole, likely to show that Manafort was hired for his experience.

We should have been told that Comey and the boys were doing a number on him, and he wouldnt have been hired! Trump wrote.

.Paul Manafort came into the campaign very late and was with us for a short period of time (he represented Ronald Reagan, Bob Dole & many others over the years), but we should have been told that Comey and the boys were doing a number on him, and he wouldnt have been hired!  Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) June 3, 2018

Manafort joined Trumps campaign in March 2016 and served briefly as the campaign manager from June to August that year. He stepped down amid reports of his work in Ukraine.

Trump appears to be suggesting that the FBIs motives for not disclosing the investigation were political. The president may also be concerned that the FBI kept the probe secret because Manafort was one of several Trump-campaign team members to be wiretapped before and after the 2016 election.

Manafort was spied on from sometime in 2016 to early 2017, including times when he spoke to Trump, according to leaks to the media from anonymous sources. The information collected while Manafort was spied on was forwarded to special counsel Robert Mueller.

The FBI eventually conducted a raid on Manaforts home and later charged him with a range of alleged crimes going back more than a decade. Manafort pleaded not guilty and is fighting the charges in court.

Trump received at least two security briefings while he was a presidential candidate. Sundays messages indicate that the FBIs investigation into his team was kept out of the briefings, despite their sensitive nature during a crucial time in the 2016 campaign.

The Obama administration secretly surveilled at least seven of Trumps associates. The rationale for the spying is now being questioned, based on revelations that campaign volunteer Carter Page was wiretapped by the FBI, which used a warrant based on an unverified dossier funded by Hillary Clintons campaign. Similarly, Lt. Gen. Michael Flynn was surveilled six months before the conversation with the Russian ambassador that led to his indictment on charges of lying to the FBI.

Mueller charged Manafort in two separate lawsuits with conspiring to launder money, lying to investigators, committing tax and bank fraud, and failing to register as a foreign agent. None of the charges are related to collusion between the Trump campaign and Russia, which Mueller was originally appointed to investigate.

The judge in Manaforts case rebuked Muellers team during a hearing in early May, saying that the prosecutors are more interested in taking down Trump than securing a conviction against Manafort.

You dont really care about Mr. Manafort, District Judge T.S. Ellis III told the prosecutors. You really care about what information Mr. Manafort can give you to lead you to Mr. Trump and an impeachment, or whatever.

Ellis demanded to view a classified scope memo sent to Mueller by Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein, which outlines what the special counsel is authorized to probe. The judge demanded to see the memo because the charges brought against Manafort are well outside the scope of the Russia probe.

Correction: The article was updated to reflect that the raid on the home of Paul Manafort was not predawn as was incorrectly reported in media.

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This undated picture released from North Korea's official Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) on May 5, 2017 shows North Korean leader Kim Jong-Un (C) inspecting the defense detachment on Jangjae Islet and the Hero Defense Detachment on Mu Islet located in the southernmost part of the waters off the southwest front. (AFP/Getty Images)

Trumps Tough Stance on North Korea Has Put Peace Within Reach

News Analysis

President Donald Trumps tough stance on North Korea has put a lasting peace with North Korea within reach.

For years, the North Korean regime defied the United States and the sanctions imposed on it.

After coming to office in January last year, Trump launched an unprecedented pressure campaign on the North Korean regime, which has resulted in the upcoming summit between Trump and Kim Jong Un in Singapore on June 12.

North Korean state media, which is known for its excessive anti-American rhetoric, has now gone as far as talking about the need of reunification between North and South Korea as a lasting solution to peace.

The two countries have also been discussing a potential formal end to their war.

This was considered inconceivable just a few months ago.

Just last November, the North successfully launched an intercontinental ballistic missile into outer space, and its efforts to create a miniaturized nuclear warhead were well advanced. Defense Secretary Jim Mattis said at the time that North Koreas missiles could reach anywhere in the world.

However, now North Korea seems willing to abandon the nuclear weapons program, which it has seen for decades as key to its survival.

So what changed?

Trump has used a combination of diplomatic means, strong economic sanctions, and a credible military threat.

The extent of the Trump administrations efforts to pressure Kim became apparent in late April, when it was revealed that CIA Director Mike Pompeo, now secretary of state, had met with Kim in secret in North Korea.

It is unclear whether Trump himself has talked to Kim already. When asked by a reporter last week, Trump answered: I dont want to say that.

One of the key philosophies of Trump as a businessman has been to have leverage in negotiations.

By deploying additional military assets to the region, as well as increasing military spending, Trump has created a major military threatleverageon the North.

The United States also broke with the Obama administrations policy of strategic patience and actively imposed new sanctions on the North to force it to the negotiating table.

This leverage has proven effective in Trumps dealing with North Korea. After meeting with North Korean Vice Chairman Kim Yong Chol at the White House on June 1, Trump said the United States has hundreds of more sanctions ready to go.

We had hundreds of new sanctions ready to go  but I said Im not going to put them on until such time as the talks break down, Trump said.

But perhaps more significant has been the support from China that Trump was able to secure.

For decades, the Chinese regime has been a key lifeline for the North Korean regime, providing it with the economic support it needed to survive.

Calls from previous U.S. presidents on China to change their ways went unanswered.

Trump, however, was able to secure the support from Chinese regime leader Xi Jinping in taking action on the North.

This first became apparent in September last year when Chinas Central Bank instructed Chinese banks to stop providing financial services to North Korea. China also implemented the U.N. Security Council resolution on North Korea, which limited trade and oil exports to China.

Relations between Kim and Xi, however, were significantly different from those fostered by former Chinese Communist Party leader Jiang Zemin.

For years, close ties with North Korea were cultivated by Jiangs officials. Even though Jiang officially stepped down in 2003, he continued to control key events in China.

Key events in North Korea, such as missile launches, have often coincided with major developments in China, leading China experts to believe the North has been used by China at times to deflect attention from its own situation.

Xis changing stance on North Korea is also an indication of Xis strengthening control over Chinas Communist Party.

It remains to be seen, of course, what the outcome of the summit on June 12 will be. However, Trumps style of negotiating, in which he is always sure to have leverage and certain securities in place, most likely means that negotiations between North Korea and the United States are already in an advanced stage.
(WB) A group of 127 House Democrats led by Reps. Julia Brownley (D-Calif.) is calling on the White House to keep intact an Obama-era rule barring medical providers from denying health care to transgender patients, including gender reassignment surgery.

The letter, dated May 23 and sent to Office of Management & Budget Director Mick Mulvaney, points to reports a rule change is pending before the White House and calls on Mulvaney to reject a proposed rule that undermines these important protections.

We urge you to abandon any proposal that would erode the Health Care Rights Laws important protection, undermine Congress sole lawmaking authority and allow health care providers to discriminate against their patients, the letter says.

Other lawmakers who spearheaded the letter are Rep. Jerrold Nadler (D-N.Y.), Diana DeGette (D-Colo.) and Barbara Lee (D-Calif.).

The Obama-era rule is based on Section 1557 of the Affordable Care Act, which prohibits discrimination on the basis of sex in health care. The Obama administration interpreted that language to apply to transgender people seeking health care, including transition-related care such as gender reassignment surgery.

Although the Trump administration hasnt explicitly stated it plans to repeal the rule, that seems to be the intent based on media reports and filings by the Justice Department in litigation against the rule. Another possibility is the Trump administration would seek to impose a religious exemption.

The letter to the White House warns Mulvaney that even a religious exemption would have deleterious consequences.

Adding any type of religious exemption, or enforcing the Health Care Rights Law in a way that allows for a religious exemption, is antithetical to the purpose and language of the Health Care Rights Law and would undermine Congress lawmaking authority, the letter says.

Earlier this month, Secretary of Health & Human Services Alex Azar told the Blade during an appearance at the White House press briefing he had no knowledge of potential repeal of this rule. An HHS spokesperson said later the secretary was briefed on the matter.

The Obama-era rule is currently moot in any event. Last year, U.S. District Judge Reed OConnor issued an injunction barring the U.S. government from enforcing the rule as a result of litigation filed by Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton.

Despite this court order  and even if the Trump administration were to reverse the underlying rule  transgender people could still sue medical providers in court based on the underlying law in the Affordable Care Act that prohibits discrimination in health care on the basis of sex. A growing number of courts are interpreting laws against sex discrimination to apply to LGBT people regardless of the views of the Trump administration.

The White House Office of Management & Budget didnt respond to the Blades request to comment Wednesday on the letter.

 Chris Johnson, Washington Blade courtesy of the National LGBTQ Media Association.
A radioactive warning sign hangs on fencing around the Anfield's Shootaring Canyon Uranium Mill on Oct. 27, 2017 outside Ticaboo, Utah. Anfield with is in partnership with the Russian firm Uranium One, and bought the mill from Uranium One in 2015. (George Frey/Getty Images)

US Has Only 1 Operating Uranium Mill Left

America now relies on other nations for 93 percent of its uranium, posing a national security risk

Americas nuclear power plants and defensive capabilities are currently operating primarily on imported uranium, including from Russia.

Foreign nations now provide 93 percent of all uranium purchased by nuclear power reactors in the United States, according to a recent report by the U.S. Energy Information Administration.

The United States has only one operating uranium mill left, Utahs White Mesa Mill. Uranium milling involves extracting uranium ore, after which it is crushed into a fine powder and treated with chemicals to separate the uranium. After the ore is milled, it is turned into a type of uranium concentrate called yellowcake.

The production of yellowcake is taking place at seven facilities in the United States.

However, domestic production of uranium concentrate fell by another 16 percent last year, which is the lowest annual production since 2004.

U.S.-based uranium producers say they are unable to compete with foreign producers who are state sponsored.

In 2017, U.S. uranium production fell to near historic lows, due in large part to uranium and nuclear fuel imported from state-subsidized foreign entities; 2018 domestic production is likely to be even lower, wrote American uranium producers Ur-Energy Inc. and Energy Fuels Inc., in a letter to the U.S. Department of Commerce earlier this year.

The companies are requesting that foreign uranium imports be considered a national security risk.

Uranium is used to operate nuclear power plants as well as the production of nuclear weapons and other purposes by the Defense Department.

American nuclear power plant operators have supplies that on average would last only one year. The reliance on imported uranium provides foreign countries, such as Russia, with unique leverage over the United States that would be detrimental in the case of an armed conflict.

The Defense Department is required only to use uranium sourced in the United States, but American companies say this might no longer be possible at some point.

Unless steps are taken now to foster a healthy domestic uranium mining industry, the defense stockpiles currently held by the DOE will be depleted, and it is unlikely that domestic producers will have sufficient capabilities to meet our defense needs in the future, the letter reads.

Russia, Kazakhstan, and Uzbekistan account together for a combined 32 percent of all uranium imported into the United States.

The petition filed by the American energy companies seeks to set a quota to limit imports of uranium to the United States by reserving 25 percent of the nuclear market for U.S. production. It also proposes to require U.S. federal utilities and agencies to buy U.S. uranium produced in America.

Without a viable nuclear fuel cycle, the commercial and nuclear capabilities of the U.S. will be diminished, and the nation is likely to become 100 percent dependent on foreign parties, the statement reads.

Russias Quest for Uranium Dominance

In 2006, Russia approved a plan to spend $10 billion to grow its annual uranium production by 600 percent.

The effort was led by Russian state-owned atomic energy agency Rosatom and Russias natural resources ministry.

The U.S. government has been aware for at least a decade of Russias intentions to use dominance in the nuclear energy sector for its political purposes. A leaked State Department cable in 2009 showed that the United States was aware of Russias plans to use nuclear energy to put pressure on Eastern Europe.

The Russian plan also involved the use of bribery, kickbacks, extortion, and money laundering to grow Russias nuclear energy influence in the United States.

In January this year, the Department of Justice (DOJ) indicted the former co-president of a Maryland-based transportation company for his alleged role in the bribery of a Russian official connected to Russias State Atomic Energy Corporation.

Uranium One

In 2010, the Obama administration approved a controversial deal that allowed Rosatom, through its wholly owned subsidiary ARMZ, to take a controlling stake in uranium mining company Uranium One.

The deal was controversial because, at the time, Uranium One controlled 20 percent of all mining capacity in the United States.

The deal required the approval by the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States (CFIUS), given its national security implications. This included the State Department, which was headed by Hillary Clinton at the time.

However, Hillary Clinton and her husband, Bill, had close connections themselves to Uranium One through their Clinton Foundation.

In 2005, Bill Clinton accompanied Frank Giustra, founder of UrAsia Energy Ltd., on a trip to Kazakhstan to meet President Nursultan Nazarbayev. Shortly after the visit, Nazarbayev signed a major mining agreement with Giustras company. Following the deal, Giustra donated more than $30 million to the Clinton Foundation, as well as $100 million to a new initiative called the Clinton Giustra Sustainable Growth Initiative.

In 2007, Giustras company was acquired by Uranium One to continue as a combined company under the name Uranium One Inc., headquartered in Canada.

As Russia tried to get the United States to approve its majority stake in Uranium One, it hired American lobbying firm APCO Worldwide because the firm was in a position to influence Hillary Clinton, former FBI informant William Cambell told Congress on Feb. 7, according to The Hill. The influence was exerted, in part, through donations to the Clinton Global Initiative.

Uranium One Chairman Ian Telfer also donated millions to the Clinton Foundation from 2009 to 2012, through a Canadian entity he controlled, the Fernwood Foundation.

After the deal was approved in 2010, Rosatom acquired the remaining Uranium One stakes to gain 100 percent control over the company in 2013, after which it took the company private.

The Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) in 2011 wrote in a response to a letter by four members of Congress raising the concern that Rosatom could only export U.S. uranium with a license, which it did not have at the time.

However, instead of providing Rosatom with a license directly, the NRC added Uranium One to an existing export license in 2012, thus allowing American-produced uranium to leave the country.

Uranium was exported to Canada through the third party, a logistical firm called RSB Logistics Services Inc., after which some of the uranium made its way to Europe. It is unclear where the uranium went after it reached Europe.
Two women comfort each other during commemorations of the first anniversary of the attack on London Bridge, London that was carried out on June 3, 2017. (Reuters/Simon Dawson)

UK Hardening Counter Terrorism Apparatus, a Year After London Bridge Attack

LONDONIntelligence on potential extremists will be passed to teachers, social workers, and council staff as part of a hardening of counterterrorism legislation in the UK.

The announcement comes one year after an attack by homegrown Islamic extremists who mowed down pedestrians on London Bridge and stabbed Saturday-night diners, killing eight in total on June 3, 2017.

One of the attackers had been previously filmed in a public documentary praying to an ISIS flag, but had been dropped from an MI5 watchlist. It was the third attack in nine weeks, with perpetrators of all three attacks being homegrown extremists previously known to security services, prompting a strategic review.

That new strategy was unveiled by Interior Minister Sajid Javid on June 5. It includes beefed-up sentences, including a maximum of 15 years for watching jihadist propaganda, new powers of detention, and 2,000 more counterterrorism agents.

Professor Anthony Glees, director of the Center for Security and Intelligence Studies at the University of Buckingham, said the most eye-catching measure is a plan to declassify information on potential extremists to share with local teachers, council workers, and police.

The principle of sharing is not new. Whats new is extending it onto a wider group, Glees said.

He added, I think that this is unprecedented if it goes ahead, because it is the passing of secret information, derived largely from human sources, to people who havent necessarily been cleared to use it.

I think the civil rights groups will be anxious about this once theyve digested it.

MI5 has a list of over 20,000 potential terrorist extremists.

Under the pilot scheme, MI5 would pass key biographical data on selected individuals to neighborhood police, councils, and the charity commission in a few test areas.

Another key measure is a push to work more closely with businesses such as car rental companies, phone companies, and online retail outlets to prevent a safe space for extremists.

Over the past five years, our law enforcement and intelligence agencies have foiled as many as 25 Islamist-linked plots.  UK Home Secretary, Sajid Javid

Will Geddes is a counterterrorism expert and managing direct of security consultants International Corporate Protection. Online shops like Amazon do have a very important contribution to make, he said.

Geddes points to an investigation that found that all of the component parts of the (failed) Parsons Green bomb in London could be purchased on Amazon.

You know where it says, Other customers have also bought? That just fills in all the blanks that you hadnt thought of, he said.

Geddes said the government cannot currently compel them, but is trying to persuade companies to do more to go beyond self-policing and actively flag potential terrorist activity.

Geddes said Javid is right to highlight that the planning cycle of terrorists is completely different from in the past. These days, they can do it simply by grabbing a knife and a car, mow down some pedestrians, jump out, and start stabbing people before being taken out. That is so much harder for the authorities to intercept, he said.

Geddes said that in parallel to the governments broadbrush strategic adjustments, security services have been adjusting their tactics and approach since the attacks in 2017.

The biggest threat remains from Islamist terrorism, according to Javid.

Over the past five years, our law enforcement and intelligence agencies have foiled as many as 25 Islamist-linked plots, he said. Our security and intelligence agencies are, right now, handling over 500 live operations, they have 3,000 subjects of interest.

And there are a further 20,000 people who have previously been investigated, so they may still pose a threat.

The interior minister threw his weight behind the controversial Prevent Program that, from 2015, compelled teachers, doctors, and other frontline service personnel to refer those identified as at risk of extremism.

Geddes agrees that Prevent needs propping up. A good proportion, if not the vast majority, of plots are foiled from intelligence provided by the general public, he said.

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Vigil Commemorates 10th-Grade Teenager Who Shot Himself at McKinney North

Hundreds of people arrived at a vigil held at McKinney North on June 3, to commemorate the 10th-grader who is believed to have committed suicide.

The event was held by students of the high school to begin the healing process for this tragic incident.

A student at the vigil said that we needed to focus more on the good in the world, whether it was on social media, the internet, or the news. Instead of focusing on the negativity, we should focus on the positive and start sharing it with others, CBS 11 reported.

On June 1, a 10th-grade boy shot himself at McKinney North High School, in Texas.

A teacher and a student walked into an empty classroom and found the 10th-grader, whose identity is still unknown, with what was believed to be a self-inflicted gunshot wound, said the McKinney Police.

No other students are believed to be injured or involved in the shooting.

The entire school was on lockdown after it was notified about the incidentthe police came at approximately 9 a.m.

The students who didnt drive to school were moved to McKinney Boyd High School where their parents picked them up. The students who did drive to school could leave after they were checked out.

The school will have additional security guards and grief counselors starting on June 4.

It is unknown how the student got the gun, the investigation is ongoing.

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The challenges they face can change with sometimes startling speed.

But whether the enemy is a long-established disease such as influenza, cancer or tuberculosis or are still emerging and evolving maladies, cadres of health professionals across the state  researchers, doctors and nurses alike  stand ready to carry on the fight.

Throughout Connecticuts long history, countless men and women have been involved in often-pioneering efforts to develop new treatments and/or medicines or to improve health care for people nearing death.

Some of the achievements  the development of the first neonatal intensive care unit, for instance  are stunning.

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Not surprisingly, many of the advances  both societal and medical  occurred at the Yale School of Medicine, which opened its doors in 1813.

In 1857, the school awarded a degree to its first African-American graduate, Cortlandt Van Rensselaer Creed.

But it wasn't until 1916 that women  in the persons of Louise Farnam, Helen May Scoville and Lillian Lydia Nye  were admitted to the school.

The school takes understandable pride in listing areas where it led the way: Yales historical contributions to medicine include the first X-ray performed in the United States, the first successful use of penicillin in America, the first use of cancer chemotherapy, and the introduction of fetal heart monitoring, natural childbirth and newborn rooming-in, its website says.

Yale doctors designed the first artificial heart pump and the first insulin infusion pump for diabetes, and it was here that the means of transmission of the polio virus was established, paving the way for the Salk vaccine. Lyme disease was identified by two Yale physicians in 1975.

Still more history was made at Yale in October 1960, when Dr. Louis Gluck opened the first neonatal intensive care unit for premature or under-strength newborn babies in the United States.

Gluck turned the standard practice  isolating newborns  on its head, by grouping them together in a large, open-space unit where their needs more easily could be met.

As late as the 1930s, many births took place at home with often tragic outcomes. By the 1940s, however, that pattern had changed and more and more births were taking place in hospitals.

But the risks for premature babies still were significant, largely because so-called preemies did not have fully developed lungs.

Doctors, especially in France, had begun advocating for changes in the way premature babies were treated.

In a July 2016, article, Elizabeth Payne traced advances in the treatment of premature infants.

Early incubators were developed in the latter part of the 19th century. But still many in the medical profession  and especially hospitals concerned about their cost  were slow to embrace incubators.

In an effort to prove their worth and encourage the wider use of incubators, French doctor Martin Courney took the highly unusual  and dramatic  step of displaying babies in incubators at Coney Island in 1903, Payne reports.

Similar demonstrations were featured at the 1939 Worlds Fair in Queens, N.Y.

Baby science

In was only in the post-war years when suddenly nearly everything seemed possible, that American hospitals began to more widely accept incubators.

But, Payne writes, even as hospitals created Special Care Baby Units, there still was concern about the risk of infection for premature newborns.

Here Gluck took the lead.

Working with a team at Yale, Gluck found regularly washing newborns  and requiring visitors to the special-care units to wash their hands  dramatically reduced the risk of infection.

Gluck then took a pioneering step by abolishing the existing model of isolating premature babies.

Instead, he grouped isolettes and incubators all in one room, Payne writes.

Doing so enabled caregivers to easily access and tend to the babies.

Those changes were tremendously impactful, said Dr. Mark R. Mercurio, chief of neonatal-perinatal medicine at Yale School of Medicine.

There was a phenomenal reduction in mortality rates, Mercurio said.

Continuing advances in the technology of respirators gave doctors another weapon to combat respiratory distress syndrome, Mercurio said.

Because they are not carried to term, premature babies cannot develop the alveoli, the tiny sacs that inflate when they breathe.

Surfactant, a chemical that stimulates the growth of the alveoli, is produced in the placenta in the late stages of pregnancy.

Fortunately, scientists have developed artificial surfactant, which now is administered to premature babies, Mercurio said.

Another of Glucks ideas has had a significant impact on the treatment of premature babies.

Throughout the 1940s and into the 1950s, premature babies were separated from their mothers, Mercurio said.

That was not a positive development for either the baby or the mother, he said.

Gluck pushed to keep them together.

In the ensuing years, the practice has further improved, to the benefit of both mother and the child, Mercurio said.

In January, Yale New Haven Childrens Hospital opened a new family-centered neonatal ICU that included couplet rooms, Mercurio noted. The unit can accommodate 68 babies, and was designed with room to make starting to breast feed easier, among other features.

Mothers and their babies remain together in the room as the baby receives care, Yale spokesman Mark DAntonio explained.

This unique model of care strengths the maternal-infant bond by fostering skin-to-skin contact supporting breastfeeding and further inducing healing, DAntonio said.

***

Other Connecticut residents also have left their mark on the development of medicine and health care.

Sherwin B. Nuland, for instance, served humanity in two roles, as a surgeon and as dean of the Yale School of Medicine.

Later in life he fused the two roles and began writing on medical issues for the general public.

Nuland achieved significant celebrity when, in 1994, he published How We Die, a sober, no-holds-barred explanation of death and dying that sold an astonishing 500,000 copies worldwide and won a National Book Award.

In an obituary published upon Nulands death in 2014, the New York Times wrote that he had sought to demythologize death , making it more familiar and therefore less frightening, so that the dying might approach decisions regarding their care with greater knowledge and more reasonable expectations.

The Times did not shrink from also describing the book as a criticism of a medical profession that saw death as an enemy to be engaged, frequently beyond the point of futility, adding Nuland had pointed a finger at himself for sometimes being guilty of the very thing he criticized.

Florence S. Wald also engaged with death as an advocate for bringing a measure of peace to the dying.

The Bronx-born Wald trained as a nurse, and after serving in the Army Signal Corps in World War II she returned to Yale, where she eventually became dean of the school nursing.

In 1963, according to her obituary in the Times, Wald attended a lecture given by Dame Cecily Saunders, an English woman who was preparing to open the first hospice facility in the world.

Wald immediately was taken with the idea of a facility where families could be actively involved in providing comfort and care for a dying person.

Wald eventually resigned from her post at Yale, went to South London where she trained with Saunders , and then returned to work toward creating a hospice facility in the U.S.

In 1970, a 44-patient facility opened in Branford.

As of 2014, there were more than 4,000 such facilities in the U.S., according to the Centers for Disease Control.

Further, a Hartford-born dentist, Horace Wells, was instrumental to finding a way to ameliorate the pain that marked so much of medicine into the 19th century.

Unfortunately, it did little to give him the peace he personally sought.

In the 1840s, Wells did extensive testing of various chemicals, including nitrous oxide and chloroform, as a way to reduce the pain in surgery.

His tests eventually overwhelmed him, however, causing him to become unbalanced, leading to his death by suicide. Wells is credited as the father of ether.

***

Connecticut styles itself the land of steady habits, but over the years it has often been a battlefield on issues involving contraception and birth control.

Hilda Crosby was an early soldier in those battles.

She grew up in Hartford, graduated from Wellesley College and earned a medical degree from Cornell University.

She then moved to China where she lived and worked for five years providing medical care for the Chinese until she was driven out by the expanding Japanese occupation in 1935.

Having seen the necessity for family planning in war-torn China, upon her return returned to Connecticut, Crosby was recruited to become director of a maternal health center by Katharine Houghton Hepburn, mother of actress Katharine Hepburn.

In 1936, Crosby married a fellow physician, Erland Myles Standish, and began raising a family even as she continued her work at the clinic until it was forced to close in 1940.

Crosby remained active in the continuing medical history of Connecticut until her death in 2005 at the age of 103.
China Hydroelectric Corporation is a developer, owner and operator of small hydroelectric power projects in China. The projects are located in Zhejiang, Fujian, Yunnan and Sichuan. As of December 31, 2012, wholly owns 22 operating hydroelectric power projects and have controlling interests in three operating hydroelectric power projects. In March 2012, the Company sold 100% of the Yuanping hydroelectric power project. In April 2013, the Company sold the Yuheng hydroelectric power project, a 30 megawatt (MW) project located in Fujian province. In July 2014, the Company announced that it has completed the merger with CPT Wyndham Sub Ltd., a wholly-owned subsidiary of CPT Wyndham Holdings Ltd.

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(WB) A law that rescinds marriage rights for same-sex couples in Bermuda took effect on Friday.

The Bermuda Parliament late last year approved the Domestic Partnership Act, which allows same-sex couples to enter into domestic partnerships as opposed to get married. Governor John Rankin in February signed the bill despite strong opposition from local activists and their supporters around the world.

Gays and lesbians had been able to marry in the British island territory since Charles-Etta Simmons, a judge on the Bermuda Supreme Court, ruled in favor of the issue in May 2017. Bermuda is the first jurisdiction in the world outside the U.S. to rescind marriage rights for gays and lesbians.

Linda Mienzer, a long-time LGBTI rights advocate in Bermuda, on Friday told the Washington Blade that she and her wife married before the law took effect. Mienzer also noted a lawsuit challenging the Domestic Partnership Act has been filed.

This is a sad day, said Mienzer. Im glad my wife and I decided to marry before this law came into effect because it has eliminated future marriages within the LGBTQ community in this country. That is a sad reality and it is my hope the courts will right this injustice.

Mienzer is among the LGBTI activists who have rebuked calls to boycott Bermudas tourism industry over the law.

 Michel K. Lavers, Washington Blade courtesy of the National LGBTQ Media Association.
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Guyana Goldfields Inc. provides exploration and production of gold. It engages in the acquisition, exploration, development, production, and operation of gold mineral properties. The company also owns and operates gold drilling rights. The company was formerly known as Chiboug Copper Company Limited and changed its name to Guyana Goldfields Inc. in January 1995. Guyana Goldfields Inc. was incorporated in 1994 and is headquartered in Toronto, Canada. As of August 25, 2020, Guyana Goldfields Inc. operates as a subsidiary of Zijin Mining Group Company Limited.

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Biden tries to tame inflation by having LA port open 24/7

WASHINGTON (AP)  President Joe Biden tried to reassure Americans on Wednesday that he can tame high inflation, announcing a deal to expand operations at the Port of Los Angeles as prices keep climbing and container ships wait to dock in a traffic jam threatening the U.S.

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(AP) Hundreds of thousands of people gathered in Brazil's largest city Sunday for its 22nd gay pride parade, which is considered one of the world's biggest.

Waving LGBT rainbow flags in a Carnival-like atmosphere, marchers paraded down Sao Paulo's skyscraper-lined Avenida Paulista to music blasting from 18 sound trucks.

Revelers of all ages, many wearing bright wigs, heavy makeup and multicolored costumes, filled more than 10 city blocks.

This year's parade focused on Brazil's national elections scheduled for October. The theme was "Power for the LGBT - Our Vote, Our Voice," said Claudia Regina, president of the gay rights group that organized the event.

Regina said on the event's official Facebook page that the objective "is to alert the gay community to the importance of choosing its candidates carefully."

"We have achieved many rights and there are still many more to be conquered," she said. "We cannot lose what we have achieved to political ignorance. Together we can promote a more tolerant and respectful world with less LGBT phobia."

On top of one sound truck a drag queen known as Tchaka chanted: "This year we should punch Congress in the face." The crowd responded by calling for the ouster of Brazil's widely unpopular president, Michel Temer.

For participant Camilla Wotton the march was especially important because of its focus on the elections.

"I think we don't have an LGBT voice in politics, so this year is very important, if not the most important one we have ever had," she said.

Another marcher, Vinicius Guimaraes, said the event is a call for respect for the LGBT community,

"We want respect as other people have," he said, adding that the march was not "just for gays, but for everyone."
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.




Grisly murder suspected after bones found in marsh

SONGKHLA: Police are looking for the ex-husband of a businesswoman who disappeared on May 23 and is believed to have been murdered, after charred bones were found in a marsh in Hat Yai.

crimemurderpolicetransport

By Bangkok Post

Monday 4 June 2018, 09:23AM

In a marsh near Hat Yai, Police recovered charred bones which they believe forensic examination will prove are the remains of missing Pinyada Paenchan. Photo: Screengrab via Channel 3

The bones and other items were found in a marshy area of Tha Nang Hom village last Friday (June 1).

A resident made the discovery about 10 metres off Thanon Liap Khong Rabainam Ror 5 Rd at Tha Nang Hom village in Hat Yai, police said.

The officers found ashes, pieces of broken pavement, burnt motorcycle tyres and a diamond-studded ring. Pieces of a charred human skull and other bones were found scattered over the area.

Officers also found a false tooth and two motorcycle tyres nearby.

The evidence has been sent to the forensic institute at Songklanagarind Hospital for analysis this week, said Col Suebsakul Maneenuan, investigation chief at Khohong Police Station.

Relatives who were taken to the scene last Friday said they believed the remains were those of Pinyada Paenchan.

If tests confirm the bones belong to Ms Pinyada, a warrant will be sought for the arrest of her ex-husband, Col Suebsakul said.

He said police investigators had obtained sufficient evidence, but declined to elaborate.

A team led by Col Sakda Charoenkul, the Songkhla investigation chief, almost found the man on Friday but he managed to flee, possibly after learning from TV reports that police had found the bones, Thai media reported. Police tracking mobile phone activity found that the suspect had recently been in the Trang and Krabi provinces.

Ms Pinyada, 48, was last seen on May 23, and relatives filed a missing person complaint with the Muang district station in Songkhla on May 26. Relatives told police that Ms Pinyada ran a direct-sales business and sold life insurance and was wealthy.

She had disappeared from her house on the night of May 23 along with her black Mercedes-Benz.

Bloodstains were found in the house in Muang district, they said.

Ms Pinyada and her husband were divorced. He had returned to live in her house but the couple no longer lived as husband and wife.

Maj Gen Preecha Piemwaree, chief of the Songkhla police, said it appeared to have been a gruesome murder. Deputy national police chief, Wirachai Songmetta will reportedly travel to the province this week due to the cases high profile.

Forensic police began searching for evidence on Saturday (June 2) at Ms Pinyadas house. A source on the investigation team said the woman and her ex-husband had quarrelled over money before she vanished.

Read original story here.
Khao Lak gears up to take tourism to the next level

PHUKET: The introduction of an airport in Phang Nga would be a game-changer for driving tourism and economic growth in the province north of Phuket as plans for four infrastructure megaprojects are laid out in the provincial development plan.

tourismeconomicsconstructiontransport

By The Phuket News

Monday 4 June 2018, 01:52PM

The news comes via the latest Khao Lak Market Report June 2018 released today by hotel consultancy C9 Hotelworks.

Among the current trends for Phang Nga, and specifically the tourist haven of Khao Lak, is that as of February 2018 market-wide occupancy registered 77% as average rates hit B4,100 as the Khao Lak hotels tend to focus on occupancy to grow RevPAR versus rate yields, noted the report.

Western European visitors typically are the main market feeder for Khao Lak, accounting for 65% of total international guests, while there is increasing demand in the MICE segment which comprises weddings from Europe, India, and Australia together with incentives from Singapore and Hong Kong, the report added.

Looking toward future development to drive tourism in the area is that Phang Ngas development plans through 2021 include a four-lane motorway from Ranong, light rail from Tha Noon to Phuket, and cruise ship port expansion at Thap Lamu.

The approved investment budget for key provincial infrastructure projects is targeted at B24 billion, the report revealed.

There are five projects and one hotel extension in the pipeline, totalling 1,347 keys. International chain hotels are rising with three branded properties in the planning stage, it added.

Bill Barnett, Managing Director of C9 Hotelworks, explained, Given the distance to Phuket Airport, wholesale travel agents have been powerful in driving demand to the Khao Lak tourism market. They have been able to market the destination by providing one-stop services for guests by arranging their accommodation, transportation, and activities under single packages.

Traditionally, wholesale travel agents especially those from the European and Australian markets are key providers. However, the number of free independent travellers (FITs) booking directly to hotels and online travel agents (OTAs) has significantly grown in the past few years, he added.

Therefore, this trend is becoming key to hotels seeing a slow migration from traditional wholesalers to OTAs and in effect, this is impacting seasonal trends with higher occupancy in low months, Mr Barnett said.

Without a doubt the biggest game changer looking forward is the plan for a B60 billion airport in Khok Kloi, Phang Nga. If it materialises, the travel time to the Khao Lak tourism area will be reduced to approximately one hour and will in effect create a far broader mainstream tourism market.

Among the demand indicators the report notes, Due to increasing airlift at the gateway Phuket International Airport in both the short- and long-haul source markets, 2017 was a record-breaking year for total visitor arrivals at 4,699,018 with a five-year CAGR surge of 24%.

To read the full report, click here.
Phuket taxi driver flees scene after going off-road, hitting power pole

PHUKET: Police are looking for the driver of a white Fortuner registered as a Phuket taxi that ended up buried in undergrowth in a field in Thalang this morning (June 4) after the vehicle wiped out a roadside sign and came to rest after hitting a power pole.

tourismtransportaccidentspolice

By Eakkapop Thongtub

Monday 4 June 2018, 12:48PM

Officers from the Thalang Police along with rescue workers from the Kusoldharm Foundation were called to the scene, on the Don Jom Tao Rd (Route 4030) in Tambon Thepkrasattri, Thalang, at 6:30am.

When officers arrived they found the white Fortuner buried in undergrowth after hitting a power pole after ploughing its way through shrubs from the roadside.

The front of the car had sustained heavy damage from hitting the power pole, but no people were in the vehicle, and no bystanders at the scene presented themselves as the driver.

The car was heading from Cherng Talay to the Thalang intersection when it appears the driver lost control on the curve, perhaps from falling asleep at the wheel, said Capt Eakkasak Kwanwan of the Thalang Police.

We will investigate this further and track down the driver. Meanwhile, the vehicle will be removed from the scene and taken to Thalang Police Station, Capt Eakkasak added.

UPDATE: Capt Eakkasak Kwanwan of the Thalang Police told The Phuket News on Tuesday (June 5), The owner of the Fortuner called me yesterday, but he has yet to present himself at the police station in person.

"When he does, he will be charged with reckless driving causing damage to public property. In the meantime, his white Fortuner has been impounded at Thalang Police Station, he added.

Asked whether the driver, who remains unnamed by police, will be charged for fleeing the scene of the accident, hence making him or herself unavailable for alcohol and drug testing immediately after the accident, all Capt Eakkasak would say is, I have not decided on that yet.

Of note, Section 78 of the Road Traffic Act stipulates, Any person who drives a conveyance or rides or controls an animal and thereby causes damage to other person or property of other person, notwithstanding that it is the fault of the driver or rider or controller of animal or not, must stop conveyance or animal and render assistance as appropriate, as well as present himself or herself before the nearby competent official and inform about the accident without delay, and must also give his or her name, surname, and address and conveyance registration number to the person who suffers damage.

In the case where the driver or rider or controller of animal escapes and avoids presenting himself or herself before the competent official at the scene of the accident, he or she shall be presumed to be guilty of the offence.

Further, Section 160 of the Road Traffic Act commands, Any person who fails to comply with Section 78 shall be liable to an imprisonment for a term not exceeding three months or to a fine from two thousand Baht to ten thousand Baht, or to both.

If the failure to comply with section 78 causes serious injury or death to other person, the offender shall be liable to an imprisonment for a term not exceeding six months, and to a fine from five thousand Baht to twenty thousand Baht, or to both.

To read the Road Traffic Act as posted by the Office of the Council of the State, click here.
Sex stings breach womens rights, say advocates

BANGKOK: Crackdowns on human trafficking are welcomed but stings on sex workers should be made illegal because they violate human rights, sex work advocates say.

crimecorruptionpolicesex

By Bangkok Post

Monday 4 June 2018, 09:06AM

Bangkok-based Empower Foundation has been promoting freedom of choice for sex workers since the 1980s. Photo: Empower via Bangkok Post

In such operations, police usually pose as prospective clients in efforts to stamp out human trafficking rings.

The sex workers are also arrested and subject to excessive detention and questioning, activists from Empower Foundation said.

Speaking at a workshop on anti-human trafficking policy, the foundations representatives insisted sex sting operations should be considered entrapment as they make use of dishonest evidence.

Thanta Laovilawanyakul, one of the organisations representatives, said that despite the enforcement of the 2008 law on prevention and suppression of prostitution, more than 300 sex workers are arrested yearly.

There are an estimated 300,000 sex workers working in Thailand, and not all are victims of human trafficking.

She said it is time for the government to stop entrapping women and instead introduce a policy that would prevent the exploitation of sex workers.

The budget for anti-human trafficking campaigns has risen to B3 billion from B9 million, but sting operations remain firmly in place [over the past 10 years]. It isnt a legitimate approach to deal with the issue as much as it is a violation of sex workers rights, Ms Thanta told the workshop ahead of Anti-Human Trafficking Day tomorrow (June 5).

Mai Janta, another representative from the foundation, said migrant teens see prostitution as a job to support their families.

Some of them end up being branded as victims of human trafficking and sent to rehabilitation programs for up to eight months.

In many cases those who get arrested are the breadwinners. Many of these women provide full cooperation to authorities yet they are declared persona non grata, she said.

This is what they asked me to tell you, she added.

Lt Col Kritthat Uamson, deputy director of the Department of Special Investigations anti-human trafficking division, said authorities have to comply with the laws regarding prostitution or they would be considered negligent in their duty.

He said registering sex workers may be an option, citing cases of women who had voluntarily entered the profession.

Angkhana Neelapaijit, a National Human Rights Commission member, praised government efforts to address human trafficking but urged it to do more to address the rights of sex workers.

Read original story here.
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Use Phuket beaches with caution, say lifeguards

PHUKET: Lifeguards stationed at beaches along the west coast are warning members of the public to be cautious if visiting any of the beaches following a weather warning issued by Thai Meteorological Department earlier this morning.

tourismweather

By Tanyaluk Sakoot

Monday 4 June 2018, 03:55PM

Somprasong Saengchat of the Phuket Lifeguard Service (PLS), who serves as the chief lifeguard at Patong Beach, told The Phuket News this afternoon, "Tourists can still enjoy the water but only in areas where the yellow and red flags are flying.

"However, areas where the red flags are flying should be avoided at all costs.

People are still able swim at Patong Beach as we have 26 lifeguards and volunteers looking after beach safety, he said.

The weather is not too worrying right now. The waves are still fine, there are no rip currents. If the rip currents begin to occur I will set up red flags to warn tourists, Mr Somprasong added.

Daren Jenner, Warrant Marine Safety Officer - Phuket Specialist for the International Surf Lifesaving Association (ISLA) warned that swimming between the flags is imperative at Kamala, Laem Singh, Surin, Bang Tao, Layan, Leypang, NaiThon, Nai Yang and Mai Khao beaches.

Short period swells are producing one to 1.5 metre surf, he said.

There are dangerous shorebreaks and rip currents. Flash rip currents are possible at any time, he added.

Watch for sudden squalls which can produce high winds and sudden increase in wave height. Beware of lightning with these squalls. If thunder roars, go indoors, wait 30 minutes with no thunder before going back outside.

All the above beaches remain without qualified lifeguards. ISLA recommends expert surfers only at the above beaches, Mr Jenner cautioned.

ISLA recommends NO SWIMMING for the general public, he added.

Regarding lifeguard coverage at the beaches, Bangkok-based consultancy LP Laikhum Co Ltd was contracted to cover under a government concession to provide lifeguards at Surin, Bang Tao and Mai Khao beaches.

However, coverage is fairly thin, with six lifeguards stationed at Surin, 11 at Bang Tao and just five to cover the 11-kilometre-long Mai Khao Beach  easily Phukets longest stretch of sand.

Further, serious doubts have been raised as to the skills the lifeguards have and LP Laikhum Managing Director Dr Nutpol Sirisawang has already voiced his concern that his lifeguards do not properly equipped to carry out rescues. (See story here.)

Also, at last report Rawai and Karon beaches have lifeguards hired by local municipalities, but there were no lifeguards on patrol at Kamala, Layan or Leypang beaches, and only volunteers at Nai Thon and Nai Yang beaches.

The Thailand Meteorological Department (TMD) earlier today issued a severe weather alert for multiple provinces across Southern Thailand.

Southern provinces to be affected include Phuket, Krabi, Phang Nga, Ranong, Surat Thani (including Koh Samui), Prachuap Khiri Khan, Chumphon, Nakhon Sri Thammarat, Phatthalung and Songkhla.

According Thai Meteorological Department, the tropical depression over the middle South China Sea was centered about 250 kilometeres east of Da Nang, Vietnam and Hainan Island, China.

The monsoon trough lies across the lower North, the upper Central and the Northeast to the tropical depression over the middle South China Sea. The southwest monsoon prevails over the Andaman Sea, the South and the Gulf of Thailand is strange cause more rain and isolated heavy in the North, the Northeast, the Central, the East and the South.

It will bring more heavy rains to the Gulf of Thailand and the Andaman region during June 5-8.

People should beware of severe weather and possible flash floods. All transport should proceed with caution, the warning says.

Wave heights are expected to be between two-to-three meters high and even four metres and higher within storm systems.

All ship captains are advised to monitor the weather forecast closely and proceed with caution, while smaller vessels are advised to stay ashore.

See more here.
Skateboards and scooters come from far and wide for chance to skate
MONTREALThe Quebec government is prepared to support financially smaller aluminum producers hurt by U.S. tariffs just as it did with the softwood lumber sector, the provinces economic development minister said Monday.

If there is a risk of reducing their production or a risk of not being able to export as much, we will be there to support them in making sure that they maintain the jobs that they have in that sector, Dominique Anglade told an aluminum summit.

This is the approach we took with softwood lumber, well be taking the same approach yet again this time with Quebec firms in aluminum.

The minister didnt announce details of that support, but said a meeting will take place next Monday with the various players.

Quebec has offered up to about $300 million in loans and loan guarantees to softwood lumber producers. It has received about 20 requests for financial support, but no money has yet been distributed, a government official said.

The aluminum industry has been in discussions with the Quebec and federal governments for several weeks about helping small companies that lack the cash flow or profit margins to pay 10 per cent tariffs, said Jean Simard, president of the Aluminum Association of Canada.

U.S. President Donald Trump had exempted Canada, Mexico and the European Union when he imposed 25 per cent import duties on steel and 10 per cent on aluminum in early March. Those exemptions ended Friday, prompting retaliation from the Canadian government.

This is uncharted territory, Simard told reporters at the summit, which he described as a first for the industry.

We will need days and weeks to find out how we have to tailor the programs to make sure that at the end of the day we dont lose any members of the industry.

The tariffs arent expected to have an immediate impact on jobs, but the goal is to avoid losing companies that transform aluminum to other products that are economically important for the industry.

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International Trade Minister Francois-Philippe Champagne told the summit that the U.S. tariffs are deeply disappointing and will do nothing to address the real problem of overcapacity coming from China.

The aluminum industry and politicians from Canada and Quebec are meeting for two days to discuss challenges facing the sector, including U.S. tariffs against Canada and other global suppliers.

The event started Sunday with a discussion about free and fair trade by former Quebec premier Jean Charest and the heads of several aluminum producers. The sessions Monday will focus on government policy dealing with global overcapacity along with the support of free and fair trade.

Clearly what happened last week was a direct attack on our economy in a way that is totally unreasonable especially in that its not addressing the main issue, Anglade said.

We all know that we have an issue of overcapacity with China.

She said the province and Canada have no choice but to fight the U.S. administrations decision.

Canada has laid out retaliatory tariffs set to be applied July 1. They will match the steel and aluminum tariffs and add duties to a wide range of consumer goods.

Aluminum supports about 30,000 jobs in Quebec, which is a major supplier of the metal. Of the $8 billion worth of aluminum exported from the province, $7 billion goes to the United States.

Trump has created chaos with his aggressive approach to trade but may have created an opportunity to build a multilateral trading system that deals with the reality of Chinas state-owned enterprises, said Chad Bown, senior fellow of the Peterson Institute for International Economics.

I think he has caught the attention of a lot of people around the world, including China, and China may be willing to engage on issues that they hadnt previously been willing to come to the bargaining table before, he said.

Tariffs on Chinese steel and aluminum, for example, have not resolved the problem of global overcapacity, so a potential path forward can come from putting the onus on China and the World Trade Organization to negotiate, he said.

But that means not dictating rules to China or forcing them to adopt western-style market structures, but seek a way to accommodate their system, Bown said.

Read more about:
On Friday afternoon, an email went out to more than 4,000 Google employees who had signed a petition to cancel a company contract with the Pentagon. It was celebratory.

Today was big, began the email, which was viewed by Bloomberg News. That morning, Google cloud chief Diane Greene said the company wouldnt renew a contract with Project Maven, a Defense Department program that uses artificial intelligence to analyze drone footage. She also said Google will not pursue similar DoD contracts, according to the email, which was authored by one of the protesting employees.

The decision capped a furious debate inside Google over whether the Alphabet Inc. unit should use its AI to help the military. Now, the company faces a new conundrum: How to define what government contracts are similar to Maven.

A set of AI principles, due this week from Google Chief Executive Officer Sundar Pichai, may help draw the line. But the Maven brouhaha has damaged the companys already-slim chances of winning other Pentagon work. A senior defense official described the internal ambivalence within Google as baggage that made the company less attractive as a partner, industry publication Defense One reported back in April.

Greenes division is in the running for two larger contracts to modernize the Defense Department with cloud services. Theres JEDI (Joint Enterprise Defense Infrastructure) cloud storage contract totaling as much as $10 billion (USD). And DEOS, (Defense Enterprise Office Solutions) a 10-year deal for email and web document tools worth $8 billion.

Even before the employee protests, Google was a long shot for the deals, because it has less experience than rivals like Microsoft Corp., IBM and Oracle Corp. with legacy enterprise systems that large government agencies prefer. It would be harder to imagine someone like the DoD, who has so much sensitive workload and data, to completely go the Google way, said James Bach, a federal-contracts and technology-services analyst at Bloomberg Intelligence. Amazon.com Inc.s cloud business is a major contender, too.

Heather Babb, a Defense Department spokeswoman, referred questions about JEDI to Google. A Google spokeswoman declined to comment or confirm whether the company is bidding for either Defense cloud contract. At the Friday meeting, Greene did not discuss JEDI or other cloud deals, according to people with knowledge of the meeting.

Federal spending on information technology will hit $100 billion by 2023, according to Bloomberg Intelligence, and the Pentagon has already increased its cloud work.

Googles decision to retreat from Maven came after unusually sustained protests from staff. Back in September, Google was awarded a portion of the project. It was a small deal, where Google was a subcontractor, yet cloud executives saw it as leverage for winning more lucrative defense contracts, according to people familiar with the matter.

As news of the deal spread at Google, however, thousands of employees raised objections. Some staff, including AI chief Jeff Dean, said they supported giving some services to the defense industry, like Gmail, but voiced reservations about using AI for autonomous weapons. Other Googlers had broader objections. Over 4,000 employees signed onto a petition to Pichai demanding Google remove itself from the business of war.

The DEOS contract is more in the realm of Deans Gmail example, while JEDI may be a stretch. In the Pentagons Statement of Objectives for JEDI, released in April, the move to the cloud is cast as a way to give warfighters the ability to make decisions at mission-speed.

Googles Project Maven contract, due to expire in March 2019, was worth $9 million, according to Gizmodo. But internal emails reported by The New York Times revealed that Google cloud executives expected the deal to top $250 million.

In a March interview with Bloomberg News, Greene noted that the Maven deal was for non-offensive purposes. Yet several people at Google, including some AI engineers dismissed this argument. They asked not to be identified discussing private matters.

Much of the debate over Project Maven revolved around the ethics of using AI for military purposes. If Greene and other executives argue internally for pursuing JEDI and DEOS, they may steer away from mention of AI and focus on more-traditional cloud offerings like renting data storage and Internet-based email. Still, Greenes staff frequently pitch how its advanced machine learning software is baked into its cloud services, including Gmail.

A lot of those cloud services are tied to the AI that theyre using, said Peter Asaro, an associate professor at The New School who organized a letter from academics supporting the Google employee petition against using AI for Maven. It gets tricky.

On Friday, multiple Google staff also said they were opposed to further contracts with the Pentagon because they see it supporting similar military work. The employees who opposed Project Maven are eagerly awaiting Googles AI principles later this week.

We demonstrated that employees have a voice, the Friday email read. [W]e need to remember this when we examine the AI principles and their governance mechanisms: we worked to make this happen, and we must ensure that we are not cut out of the process.

Read more about:
The window for a quick NAFTA deal has probably closed  barring a last-minute surprise, the process is set to stretch into 2019 and a new batch of lawmakers.

Recent high-level talks between the U.S., Canada and Mexico came up short in a bid to reach a deal that could pass Congress this year. Then came Thursdays tariff announcement and war of words between the countries, particularly President Donald Trump and Prime Minister Justin Trudeau.

While NAFTA negotiations will continue, the urgency looks to be gone. The recent phase of high-level, intense negotiations has now ended and talks will slow, two people familiar with negotiations said, speaking on condition of anonymity. And the legal window to pass a deal in this Congress, as the U.S. wanted, is rapidly closing, if not already closed. Larry Kudlow, director of Trumps National Economic Council, said Friday that NAFTA is a story that is going to play out for a while.

That suggests any NAFTA deal would be handled by the next U.S. Congress and new Mexican president, pushing the process into 2019 without a sudden, rapid change of plans.

Any NAFTA deal this year will not be ratified by this U.S. Congress. The procedural and political calendars are now closed, said Dan Ujczo, a Columbus-based trade lawyer with Dickinson-Wright. Reaching an agreement this year is also unlikely, he said. There is a realization that President Trumps NAFTA is more likely to be passed by a new Congress with more Democrats and Trump Republicans than the current Congress.

U.S. House Speaker Paul Ryan had said, citing timelines set out in U.S. trade law, that Congress needed notice of intent to sign a deal by May 17. He then said there might be a couple weeks of wiggle room, placing the deadline around now.

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau says in response to punitive U.S. tariffs on Canadian steel and aluminum, Canada has no choice but to retaliate. The government says it is slapping tariffs on up to $16.6 billion in U.S. imports. (The Canadian Press)

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Ryans spokesperson, AshLee Strong, deferred to his public comments at a May 17 press conference, when he said theres not an indefinite amount of flexibility in Congresss timeline, which means time is really of the essence.

The office of U.S. Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer didnt immediately respond to a request for comment Friday on NAFTAs timeline.

Kudlow, speaking to reporters Friday, said NAFTA conversations are wide open and that Trump wants reciprocity. Trump complained about Canadian agricultural policy in a tweet on Friday. It will be solved, Kudlow said.

Mexican elections are scheduled for July 1, with leftist Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador, known as AMLO, leading his nearest rival by more than 20 percentage points, according to Bloombergs poll tracker. His potential election  and that of a new Mexican Senate and U.S. Congress  could change the dynamic of talks and the type of deal that could have a chance of becoming law. No matter who wins, Mexico will have a new president on Dec. 1, since Enrique Pena Nieto isnt eligible for re-election.

Read more about:
After five deals in six months, Bank of Nova Scotia is taking a breather.

Weve got a lot of work to do in terms of execution and integrations now, so I think well be fairly quiet on the acquisition front from here on in, chief executive officer Brian Porter told BNN Bloomberg on Friday in a TV interview.

On Thursday, Scotiabank agreed to buy MD Financial Management from the Canadian Medical Association for 2.59 billion, the latest in a series of announced acquisitions that include Canadian money manager Jarislowsky Fraser Ltd. and Banco Bilbao Vizcaya Argentaria SAs 68 per cent stake in a Chilean lender.

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The purchase of Ottawa-based MD Financial will add a wealth-management business with $49 billion in assets and 110,000 clients, including affluent doctors, the Toronto-based bank  Canadas third-largest  said Thursday in a statement. Also on Thursday, Scotiabank sold 19.7 million shares to raise about $1.5 billion to help pay for the deal, an offering Porter said was very well received.

Shares of Scotiabank were down 1.5 per cent to $77.07 at 2:37 p.m. trading in Toronto on Friday, leading the 0.5-per-cent decline of Canadas eight-company S&P/TSX Commercial Banks index.

The price appears expensive, in our view, said Scott Chan, an analyst with Canaccord Genuity Corp. Chan said the ratio of $2.59 billion to assets is higher than recent deals weve seen in the wealth-management space.

The deal builds on a strategy Porter highlighted at an investor event in February, 11 days before announcing a $950-million deal to buy Montreal-based Jarislowsky Fraser. That purchase, completed last month, and the deal for MD Financial will expand Scotia Wealth Managements assets to more than $230 billion.

These are trophy assets, Porter said. These dont come on the market very often at all, so we feel very fortunate to have acquired both businesses, albeit in a short period of time.

MD Financial, established in 1969, has provided specialized financial products and wealth management services to about 45,000 physicians and 65,000 family members and employees. The firm has about 350 advisers in 50 offices across Canada and about 1,150 employees in support roles.

It will operate as a stand-alone brand within the banks wealth-management unit, and its CEO, Brian Peters, will continue heading the business, Scotiabank said. The deal is expected to be completed by the end of October.

Read more about:
With more Torontonians living in apartments and condos than detached houses (44 versus 40 per cent, according to Statistics Canada)  and Montreal and Vancouver following suit  many Canadians are looking for multipurpose pieces of furniture to meet their needs in a more limited living space.

One of the most important piece of home furnishings is the bed, and for those in tight quarters, the solution might be a sofa bed.

A sofa bed may seem simple and conjure up images of a frumpy and uncomfortable piece of furniture in your grandparents basement, but it can be surprisingly complicated.

Interior decorator Nikki Fisher-Gigault of NFG Designs shares her top tips on buying a stylish and functional sofa bed:

Style counsel: Gone are poufy couches with rolled arms, floral patterns and pleated skirts. Instead, there are stylish futons and sofa beds that reflect a more contemporary style, Fisher-Gigault said. Theres no longer need to settle for a frumpy piece of furniture.

The industry has come a long way in terms of the actual style of the sofa bed, she said. There are more clean lines, squared arms and really clean, modern and simple looks to cater to every style in your living place.

If space is an issue, look for a sofa bed that has room to stow the cushions away when in use, as well as built-in drawers for storage.

Test it out: Once youve found a look you like, its time to test it out.

Most couch seat cushions are made from foam, Fisher-Gigault says, and you want things to be a bit firmer than ideal as they will soften over time.

Try opening and closing the sofa bed to test out the mechanics and frame construction as well  you want something that moves smoothly and thats not too complicated.

Mattress quality is also critical if you ever want your guests to visit again. The coil spring mattress used to rule the day, but memory foam is likely your best bet in the modern sofa bed world.

Memory foam is trendier and will store away easier than traditional coil mattresses  plus, they will hold their longevity as well, Fisher-Gigault adds.

Measure, measure, measure: It may seem obvious, but make sure your living space will fit the sofa bed  and that includes building elevators, stairs, hallways and door frames for the move-in.

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Dont cheap out: Just because its possible to buy a super cheap sofa bed, it doesnt mean you should. Fisher-Gigault recommends going for a mid-range model, or something in the $1,200 to $2,200 arena.

I would avoid the really inexpensive models, especially for people who live in smaller spaces like condos, she says, noting a quality sofa bed can last decades.

This is a piece of furniture thats really versatile and youre going to use it a lot. Invest in this piece, because if youre flipping it from the sofa to the bed often enough, you want to get the longevity out of both features.
The best thing about being a victim of a data breach is nothing. I should know. Within the last two years Ive been notified of eight instances where my private data may have been hacked at an organization I patronize.

My most recent security breach notification came last week when fraudsters usurped data from around 90,000 banking customers of BMO and CIBC-owned Simplii Financial.

Like many Canadians, Ive also endured breaches at Equifax Canada, Uber, Bell Canada, PC Points, Air Miles, and Facebook.

I wish my hack attacks were limited to financial institutions, loyalty programs, and telecommunications companies, but last month one of my gig economy employers  the CBC  was robbed of a piece of computer equipment containing the employment records of likely myself and 20,000 other possible future identity theft victims.

If guarding my chequing account wasnt bad enough, now my Social Insurance Number, health records, and credit history are at risk too. After cancelling my credit card twice due to fraudulent charges and reporting strange activity on my credit report thrice, I want to go offline and hide under a rock.

According to Symantecs 2017 Internet Security Threat Report, almost 40 per cent of data lost in consumer security breaches in 2016 was personal financial information, which could include banking records, and credit or debit card details.

While new regulations starting Nov. 1 will require Canadian organizations to report consumer data breaches in a timely manner, the onus is ultimately on you to check credit reports and account activities to ensure you dont fall victim to fraud.

My former life as a developer in the security industry doesnt protect me from the hackers taking my personal information from the businesses I patronize. As personal finance and technology continue to merge, its wise to use the tools we all have to best protect our personal data.

Here are five steps you can take today:

1. Change your passwords, make them strong.

A strong password is a pain to remember and create  thats why too many of us use weak passwords like flower or numerical sequences to protect our accounts. A strong password has at least six characters combining numbers and symbols (@, #, $, %, etc.) with uppercase and lowercase letters.

Get a new ATM card if your login is also your card number. Never store your banking passwords in your browser cache  clear cookies to keep your passwords secure.

Change passwords every 90 days to keep hackers from snooping your online accounts, and make sure you dont reuse passwords between different accounts.

2. Enable two-factor (2FA) authentication.

A more secure way of verifying your identity is to require two codes before logging in. With two-factor authentication youll first need to enter your password and then a secret code  often a text message sent to your phone  to access your account.

With 2FA even if your password is compromised, the hacker is blocked without the second factor.

Many bigger online services like Gmail and Facebook offer 2FA, but Canadian banks seem to be behind with consumer security.

3. Monitor your accounts and credit reports.

Check your bank account balances and credit card statements for unauthorized charges and report them immediately.

Request your credit report from credit reporting agencies TransUnion and Equifax (which also experienced a security breach in 2017) and set up a fraud alert.

Contact local police and the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre (CAFC) to report identity fraud.

If possible, compare your paper statements to your online transactions to be sure they match  sophisticated hackers may have the ability to alter digital balances to prevent detection.

4. Stay on top of security updates.

Dont wait to install new malware and security updates on your devices.

Taking an online break to patch an operating system, app, or software vulnerability could save you from a breach.

5. Never enter personal data on public Wi-Fi.

Entering your banking information on an unsecured website or via a public Wi-Fi hub increases your risk to hackers seeking to steal your personal data.

Be aware of what your financial institution is doing to protect you and request stronger security measures like 2FA to better secure your finances and identity.

Its 2018, our banks must do better.
Joyce Huffman, an 89-year-old widow in Hamilton, Ont., found her home phone was cut off without notice by Cogeco Communications.

My daughter and others who check on me daily were frantic after finding the line suddenly disconnected, she said.

It was an identity mix-up. Another Joyce Huffman, living 200 kilometres away in Trenton, Ont., had died, and her sister had called to inform Cogeco of the death.

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Gabriel Beausejour, a spokesperson for the Montreal-based telecom company, blamed the disconnection on an error by a customer service agent.

Were really sorry for what happened and we will use it as a learning opportunity with our agents. Sometimes mistakes happen, he said.

When you lose an essential service  let alone three at once  you can usually reach your telecom provider and get a house call, if needed, in a hurry.

But Cogecos ability to respond to complaints has dropped sharply since late April, when it started installing a new computer system.

I was surprised to get busy signals when I tried calling the company on June 1. When I did get through, I listened to messages about an abnormally high volume of calls and substantial wait times for technical support.

The complex operation of replacing our customer management systems is the root cause of this temporary and involuntary situation in our call centres, said Beausejour.

While this upgrade represents a major transformation, which carries its share of challenges and upheavals, we take all these special situations very seriously.

Rest assured that our teams are working tirelessly and sparing no effort in resolving them as quickly as possible.

Huffman spent nine days trying to reach Cogeco to reconnect everything. Her home phone was back in service when she contacted me on May 22, but she had to accept a new phone number and lose the one shed used for 32 years.

Her TV and Internet services, also cut off in error, were only partially restored after a technician brought the wrong parts to her home.

With media interest  the Hamilton Spectator also wrote about Huffmans predicament  the Cogeco team worked quickly to restore all services by May 24.

Joyce got a credit for loss of service and out-of-pocket expenses she incurred, said her friend Ronald Oak, who emailed me when her internet was down.

Cogeco also offered to try to get her original phone number back. But by that time, she had called so many of her necessary contacts with the new number that she decided not to change the number a second time.

In southwestern Ontario (outside the city of Toronto), where Cogeco operates, many older customers go south for the winter and restore their TV service when they arrive home in spring. This timing aggravated the service problems.

I am a very frustrated consumer, said Kathleen Hagan. We took a seasonal disconnect from March to May, something we have done for the past three years.

Upon our return on May 4, Cogeco could not reconnect us due to a major glitch in the system. We had no phone, Wi-Fi or TV for two weeks. The Wi-Fi is on now, but we have no Canadian TV channels.

The wait times to talk to anyone range from 40 minutes to over an hour.

Hagans TV channels were restored once I forwarded her email to Beausejour. She also received one months credit for the services she didnt receive.

Many frustrated Cogeco customers turn to Twitter to complain, often showing screen shots of their wait times.

There, I found a few tweets by former Toronto Star columnist Linwood Barclay, now an author of internationally bestselling mystery novels.

O @cogeco O @cogeco/ Youre such an endless tale of woe/ Our cables dead, the Nets not well/ It might be time to switch to Bell, he told almost 13,000 followers on May 25.

On May 27, he was still unhappy. So, two hours on hold, three days without cable or net, several tweets, even a couple of DMs (direct messages) that suggested they might care, today @cogeco asks, what was your problem again? 

Barclay talks about being a loyal Cogeco customer for at least three decades.

Yet, when my cable and net both go down, I am told that it will be days before someone will do the service call, even after I explain that I work from home and am dead in the water without cable and Internet, he told the company.

No one I have spoken to online or on the phone has cared in the slightest and when I broached moving to Bell, I was immediately offered a transfer to customer service so that I could cancel, as if one less customer was not the slightest concern to Cogeco.

It turned out that a wire on the pole outside his house had snapped or was cut. This was a five-minute repair that didnt even require anyone to be at home.

He thinks Cogeco should hire more people to handle a high volume of calls or else reduce its rates. When essential home services are cut off, its imperative that there be an immediate fix.

Its not clear how long the problems will last. Cogeco is looking at new options, such as using Web forms or outsourcing, to handle inquiries. Phone messages will be updated more frequently with more detailed information.

We also invite our customers to consult the FAQs available on our website and discuss with our team of social media agents through private messaging on Facebook and Twitter, Beausejour said.

Ellen Rosemans On Your Side column runs in Smart Money. You can reach her at eroseman@thestar.ca.
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The competition among homebuyers is increasing in the Toronto region even though year-over-year prices fell 6.6 per cent on average to $805,320 last month, from $862,149 in May 2017.

The number of resale home transactions declined 22.2 per cent in the same period.

Still, there are indications that the competition to buy a home is on the rise, supporting higher prices in the second half of the year and into early 2019, said Jason Mercer, director of market analysis for the Toronto Real Estate Board (TREB).

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Average selling prices were at or above average listing prices for all major home types in May, he said in a press release.

New listings of homes were down 26.2 per cent year over year in May, said TREB. There were 19,022 new listings of resale homes in May compared to 25,764 in May 2017.

Seasonally adjusted figures show the average selling price was actually up 1.1 per cent in May compared to April.

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Detached and semi-detached houses continued to see the steepest decline in sales compared to condos and townhouses.

The average detached house price fell 8.2 per cent in the Toronto region to $1.05 million, with the biggest drop in the communities surrounding Toronto, where there was a 9 per cent price drop compared to the same month last year. In the city of Toronto, detached house prices fell only 5.6 per cent.

The condo market continued to register an increase in prices, with the average unit costing $562,892, 5.7 per cent more than May last year. The city of Toronto saw the biggest condo price increase of 6.5 per cent, to an average cost of $602,804.

York Region is still suffering disproportionate price declines compared to the rest of the GTA. While the benchmark Home Price Index was down 5.4 per cent overall, the same indicator showed a 15.6 per cent drop in York. Detached house prices were down 17.5 per cent on the index.

Twenty-five per cent of respondents to an online Ipsos poll last month put housing affordability among their top two concerns in the upcoming provincial election. The poll that included 500 city of Toronto residents and 700 from 905-area communities also found that 35 per cent of respondents said their vote would take into account parties stances on housing.

Seventy-seven per cent of respondents supported reducing the provincial land transfer tax and 68 per cent wanted to see the tax repealed.

TREB and the Ontario Real Estate Association are lobbying provincial candidates against allowing municipalities outside the city of Toronto to levy their own land transfer taxes. Toronto got the power to issue its tax in 2008, essentially doubling the provincial levy for homebuyers moving in the city.

This year to date, the home price index shows the average price of a detached home has fallen 13.8 per cent in the Toronto region, while the average condo price is up 7 per cent.

The average GTA home price in 2017 was $822,622, including houses and condos.

TREB is also pushing for the province to increase the supply of housing in the Toronto area, particularly the type known as the missing middle  stacked townhouses and midrise apartments that can accommodate families and are more affordable than detached houses.
CALGARYThe trade feud between Canada and the United States shouldnt impede the Trans Mountain pipeline extension, despite the inclusion of pipeline products on the tariff lists of both countries.

Kinder Morgan, the pipelines original developer, signed a deal last year with EVRAZ North America to produce 75 per cent of the piping needed for Trans Mountain  roughly 800 kilometres worth  in Canada. Both companies are based in the United States, but Kinder Morgan said in a statement last year that an EVRAZ facility in Regina will be responsible for producing the Trans Mountain piping.

The remaining 25 per cent of the piping will not be sourced from the United States, Kinder Morgan told StarMetro, although it isnt clear whether this is the case for other materials required to build the pipeline.

Trans Mountain is looking at the measures and will consider any potential implications, a Kinder Morgan spokesperson wrote to StarMetro in response to Canadas countermeasures.

Canadian steel experts and industry associations decried the tariffs, but didnt believe the Canadian response to the U.S. tariffs  which includes line pipe of a kind used for oil or gas pipelines  would hamper the project.

Peter Warrian, a senior research fellow at the Munk School for Global Affairs, also didnt anticipate that major components of the pipeline  such as the piping itself  would be affected.

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I wouldnt think there would be too much (of a problem), Warrian said. He noted that production facilities in Alberta and Ontario exist to provide specialized components required for the pipeline, too, but wasnt sure if the pipeline would also require components from the United States.

U.S. President Donald Trump imposed a 25 per cent tariff on all steel imports and a 10 per cent tariff on aluminum imports from Canada on May 30, citing national security concerns. The following day, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau responded with a list of American steel products subject to a 25 per cent surcharge, along with a 10 per cent surcharge on other consumer goods.

While the bulk of Trans Mountains piping is coming from Canada, steel producers here arent pleased that the tariffs are in effect. Traditionally, about a third of Canadian steel is destined for the energy industry, which includes pipeline construction. However, the potential hit to American steel imports still isnt comforting to Canadian steel producers.

There is absolutely no one in Canadian steel who thinks to themself: This presents an opportunity, said Joseph Galimberti, president of the Canadian Steel Producers Association. He said the supply chain for both the Canadian and American steel industries benefits without trade barriers.

We would prefer to operate in an environment with no tariffs at all, he said.

There has long been an argument out of the oilpatch that we need to support these projects, that we need to support Canadian industry, Galimberti added.

Brennan Doherty is a work and wealth reporter for StarMetro Calgary.

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CALGARYNine days before Filipinos celebrate Philippines Independence Day, the Alberta government set aside June as Philippine Heritage Month to celebrate the communitys culture and heritage.

But Filipino community leaders in Alberta continue to press both the provincial and federal governments to better recognize the credentials of Filipino workers who immigrate to Canada.

Alberta has the second-largest Filipino population in Canada. According to Statistics Canada, roughly 175,000 Filipinos reside in the province, with about 75,000 in the Calgary Census Metropolitan Area. Despite the communitys size, it has often felt voiceless in Alberta.

For the longest time, our community felt unrecognized, unseen, unheard  and yet were everywhere, said Vangie Caoile, who chairs the Philippine Festival Council of Calgary. The council organized a three-day leadership conference with roughly 150 Filipino leaders from across Alberta to brainstorm common concerns and solutions.

Filipinos work in all manner of industries, including food service, hospitality, engineering, medicine and even the oilpatch, Caoile said. Many come from the Philippines or elsewhere in the world with advanced degrees that often arent recognized by Canadian professional associations.

One of the ongoing, longtime issues is the recognition of international credentials, said Marichu Antonio, one of the councils co-founders. We find that regulatory bodies for professions are very restrictive.

Ultimately, Antonio said, the question of recognizing international credentials is a federal issue. However, she said, she hopes the provincial government will be able to push local professional associations to be more accepting of Filipino workers with international credentials.

The council is submitting a consolidated report of recommendations to the province within two weeks, she said, and hopes to have an audience with Premier Rachel Notley within several months.

We will have a meeting with the leaders to have one voice and emphasize the things that we need, Antonio said.

The Philippines government is also in talks with Ottawa about the issue, she added. These recommendations are all coming out of discussions at last weekends leadership event.

Were not just bringing in issues and problems; were also bringing in ideas on how to solve those, Antonio said.

One idea  which she called the Newcomer Professional Internship Program  would provide a paid retraining opportunity for new immigrants to enter Canadian professions.

Another idea, proposed by Marija Pavkovic, co-founder and CEO of Calgarys MaKami College, is to provide a $50,000 scholarship fund for Filipino students in Alberta in honour of Philippine Heritage Month. The college bills itself as the largest massage therapy school in Alberta.

Through education, we believe that people can benefit and increase their chances of financial security and a way to support their families, Pavkovic said. We want to be a part of that.

Government officials appeared to be paying attention to the leadership events discussions. Policy advisers from both the federal and provincial levels, including Immigration Minister Ahmed Hussens office, attended the three-day conference, according to Antonio.

Deputy Premier Sarah Hoffman, along with the Philippine consul general, Gilberto Asuque, announced the establishment of Philippine Heritage Month to ecstatic applause on Sunday.

We know that Filipinos have been contributing to the fabric of Alberta for many generations, Hoffman said following the ceremony. We want to honour those contributions to our province.

Caoile said the Filipino community feels those contributions are finally being acknowledged.

This is a testament that, finally, we made a difference, she said. We made a difference in this province, and (our) contributions and our successes are getting recognized.

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EDMONTONFor Sue Huff, her own breast cancer diagnosis five years ago was easier to go through than her family members anorexia six years ago.

With cancer, everyone had a role to play. People around her knew what to do and what to say.

An eating disorder, however, is isolating.

They were afraid of saying the wrong thing, so a lot of people just said nothing, Huff said. There were a lot of people moving away, drifting away and thats a really painful thing to go through.

Trying to navigate the health-care system during a crisis can be daunting, and thats why two Alberta charitable groups, with the support of Alberta Health Services (AHS), created a video and a list of resources that are easy to find in one place.

Its horrible right now, and we recognize its horrible, but better days are ahead, Huff said.

Huff wrote the script for the video, created by Blue Sky Animation Inc. in Edmonton. It will be the first shown on AHS screens dealing with eating disorders.

Bruce Conway, spokesperson for Alberta Health Services Calgary Zone, said AHS is supportive of the groups efforts.

Alberta Health Services has the video running every hour on all Health Unlimited Television (HUTV) locations throughout Alberta, Conway said. This includes 75 screens in clinic waiting rooms, labs, community health clinics, ED waiting rooms, Mazankowski Heart Centre and other facilities across the province.

Huff founded the Eating Disorder Support Network of Alberta to help other caregivers, family members and patients trying to find help. Shes the groups executive director.

Weve been hearing over and over again from families that it is hard to know where to go, and were hoping this resource will point out the path, she said.

Most family doctors arent trained in eating disorders, Huff said, so if a physician doesnt recognize warning signs or understand the seriousness, the illness can be misdiagnosed.

Another problem common to all mental illness is stigma.

People do feel discomfort, embarrassment and shame when theyre confronted with a mental illness, and they dont respond in the way they do with physical illness, Huff said.

If you break your arm, you dont feel a lot of shame about that. You go see your doctor, you get a cast, you get it fixed. But with mental illness, people tend to delay seeking treatment because of that fear and shame. That gives the illness time to get entrenched and get worse.

While Statistics Canada data shows anorexia affects up to one per cent of women in their lifetime, while bulimia affects one to three per cent, Huff said only those who are formally diagnosed are captured in statistics. She suspects the number is much higher.

Only 10 per cent of people with an eating disorder will seek out treatment, Huff said. Others who do go to a doctor can be misdiagnosed as having depression or anxiety, and men are especially under-reported, she added.

Eating disorders are surrounded by myths that theyre a fad or are something to grow out of, Huff said.

Just like cancer wont go away on its own, an eating disorder wont go away on its own, she said.

In Calgary, Cendrine Tremblay created the Silver Linings Foundation after going through a similar situation trying to navigate the health-care system seven years ago and finding that information was not available in one place.

Youre in a panic. Youre in a crisis. Youre googling at two in the morning trying to find solutions, Tremblay said.

Tremblay said Alberta Health Services recognized the gap and helped with the project.

Mental illness touches the whole family, she said. Often with eating disorders, the family identifies the illness, while the person struggling can be in denial, she said.

Its so not about food, its about underlying emotional issues, Tremblay said.

Caregivers need to look after themselves in the long journey of recovery, she said, adding, If theyre burned out, they cant help.

Ultimately, Tremblay said, Silver Linings hopes to set up a residential treatment centre in southern Alberta that will help patients who have been discharged from hospital but need longer-term care before going home.

Huff said that people with eating disorders have spoken to her about the challenges of being on social media, where images dont reflect reality, she said.

There are a lot of very destructive messages around social media  a lot of fat-shaming, a lot of weight bias, a lot of what we call thinspiration, where its really glorifying excessive weight loss, Huff said.

Those messages can be so damaging that many in recovery need to step away from social media, she said.

For more information on where to access resources in Alberta, visit https://www.eatingdisorders.info.

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EDMONTONThree hours before Yussuf Mahamed was due to board a plane and be deported to Kenya, the phone at the Ogaden Somali Community of Alberta Residents office rang Monday afternoon with news of a last-minute reprieve.

It was Canadian Immigration and Border Services officials calling to let Mahamed and his family know that the father of four had been granted a stay and another year in Canada.

I feel very excited. I am very so happy. I am thankful for all (those in) Canada who supported me, Mahameds wife, Halima Ali, told StarMetro.

She said she was very thankful for the community members who had been working since Friday, launching a petition and calling local politicians, to make sure her husband stayed in the country.

Mahamed, who has lived in Edmonton since 2013, was facing deportation because he says he entered the country with forged documents from Kenya, despite the fact that he is originally from Somalia.

Mahamed, 41, had previously told StarMetro his life was in danger if he was sent to Kenya. He fled the war in Somalia in 1994 and ended up in a Kenyan refugee camp, where he lived for almost 20 years.

He says obtaining illegal documents was the only way to travel around the camp, and it was those documents he used when he immigrated to Canada in 2013.

When he was ordered deported, the Edmonton Somali community sprang into action, creating online petitions and calling local politicians to halt Mahameds deportation.

Since arriving in Canada, he married Ali, who is a Canadian citizen. Together, they have four children, and Mahamed is the sole breadwinner.

Mahamed applied for permanent residency through his wife, but last week the government put its foot down on his stay and ordered his deportation for June 4.

Mahamed met Ali in the refugee camp. She came to Canada in 2006 and received her citizenship in 2014.

During that time, Mahamed obtained a fake Kenyan passport under the name Farah Aballahi and moved to Canada in 2013.

In Canada, he appealed for refugee status, which was denied, despite making several appeals. In 2015, his removal order came into force, which meant he had 30 days to leave the country. Around that time, he applied for permanent residency through his wife.

Mahamed said he was told the process would take two years, but three years later, he has heard nothing back.

His lawyer, Nalini Reddy, said that because he did not leave the country after the 30 days, his removal order turned into a deportation order, although it was delayed for a number of reasons.

Reddy says on April 26, officials with the Canada Border Services Agency ordered him to be deported on June 4. Reddy made an appeal on Friday, but it was unsuccessful.

Mahamed says his concern was being sent to a country where he doesnt belong.

Im from Somalia, Mahamed said.

If they are going to return me to any place, they should return me to Somalia and let me die in that place rather than dying in Kenya.

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HALIFAXMaritimers have set a new record, with the annual IWK Telethon bringing in more than $6.5 million for the hospital.

It was announced on Sunday in a news release that the generosity of the Maritime region has set a new record for the IWK Telethon for Children, with donors pledging $6,580,266.71.

In its 34th year, the show aired on CTV on Sunday evening after broadcasting live from the IWK Health Centre in Halifax, as well as from locations in Sydney, N.S., Saint John, N.B., and Charlottetown this past weekend.

The telethon is the IWKs largest annual fundraiser and supports the most urgent priority needs of the hospital, the release said. This year, donors contributed to the purchase of important pieces of equipment, including a new perfusion cart for the IWKs cardiac operating room.

Perfusion supplies help replace the function of the heart and lungs during a cardiac procedure, the release said. This new perfusion cart will allow those supplies to be stored inside the operating room for easy access.

Read more: This childrens hospital was running low on handmade finger puppets. Now, its inundated with creations from all over the world

About 100 children from across Atlantic Canada have heart surgery at the IWK each year.

We are fortunate to live in a community that puts children first. Maritimers believe that our children deserve nothing less than the best and they proved that with their amazing support of the IWK this weekend, Jennifer Gillivan, president and CEO of the IWK Foundation, said in the release.

Donations can be made to the IWK Foundation by calling 1-800-595-2266 or visiting iwkfoundation.org.

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HALIFAXThree men from Germany spent the night in a cell after a plane made an unscheduled landing in the Maritimes.

The RCMP said its officers were called to Halifax Stanfield International Airport at 6 p.m. on Sunday. The flight travelling from Frankfurt, Germany to Cuba was diverted to Halifax, police say, because three drunk men were causing a disturbance on board.

Halifax RCMP Cpl. Dal Hutchinson said the unruly behaviour included a lot of profanity and uttering threats toward both passengers and staff.

It was determined by the captain to land the plane in Halifax, he said.

Hutchinson said police were called to the airport within 30 minutes of the landing. Three men were arrested without incident.

The men  aged 53, 47 and 26  are all from Germany. They spent the night in jail before a scheduled court appearance in Halifax on Monday. The men are facing charges for unruly or dangerous behaviour under the Aeronautic Act for Probation.

According to the Halifax Airport Authority, the flight that landed in Halifax was a Boeing 767 plane from Germany-based Condor. Airlines

The flight was en route to Varadero in Cuba.

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HALIFAXThe Crown says it will be opposed to any release before trial of a convicted sex offender who is charged with aggravated sexual assault in connection with a June 1 incident that Halifax Police are calling a random act.

Crown attorney Carla Ball said Monday that if Sem Paul Obed, 47, is found guilty, the Crown will be exploring further measures to ensure public safety.

Under the Criminal Code of Canada, if they meet certain conditions, people who are convicted three or more times of violent crimes or sex crimes may be designated a dangerous offender. This puts the onus on the offender, instead of the Crown, to prove they are not a danger to society. The designation can open up the possibility of sentences with no defined end date. In practice, it usually means a life sentence, although parole may still be possible.

In Obeds case, We clearly are going to be opposed to this persons release, Ball said outside of a Halifax provincial courtroom.

The allegations are extremely serious. They are extensive and we will be opposing (Obeds release) on both the secondary ground, which is the concern for public safety, and the tertiary ground, which is we want to make sure that the public has confidence in the administration of justice.

Obed appeared in court on Monday in connection with an alleged break-in and sexual assault against a woman at her home on Friday.

Halifax Regional Police said the incident took place in the 6000 block of Cunard St. at about 11:50 a.m. Friday.

According to a police release, the suspect sexually assaulted the woman, then fled the residence on foot.

The victim called the authorities after the suspect fled, police say.

At about 4:30 p.m. Friday, police arrested Obed at a residence in the 0-100 block of McFatridge Rd. in the Fairview area of Halifax, without incident.

On Saturday, investigators with the Sexual Assault Investigative Team charged Obed with one count each of aggravated sexual assault, choking to overcome resistance, uttering threats, breaking and entering, and two counts of breaching court orders involving abstaining from alcohol.

Halifax Regional Police spokeswoman Const. Carol McIsaac said police believe the suspect and alleged victim did not know one another.

It would be scary for her and very upsetting to the (area) residents, I would think.

Obed was the subject of a Halifax Regional Police high-risk offender notice to those living in the Halifax area in August 2014, when he was released from a federal penitentiary and relocated to the Halifax area after serving a two-year sentence for assault causing bodily harm and breach of probation.

These convictions came in 2012 when, as reported by CBC, Obed pleaded guilty to charges relating to serious physical assaults against two different women in his home province of Newfoundland.

Obed had been professionally assessed as a very high risk to reoffend in a sexual and violent manner, police said at the time.

McIsaac said the investigators looked at Obed as a suspect after interviewing the victim.

We do have a unit that monitors high-risk offenders that are in our community, she said. We did identify him quickly and he was taken into custody.

Regardless of the circumstances of this particular case, a Halifax sexual-assault advocate said alleged incidents like these demonstrate two things: The need to provide better treatment to offenders to lower their chances of reoffending, and also that sexual assaults are never the victims fault.

Jackie Stevens, of Avalon Sexual Assault Centre, said in an interview Monday, I think it speaks to the need for ongoing treatment and support (for offenders) ... It certainly notes that we tend to put the onus on the prevention of sexual assault on victims. And these kind of situations demonstrate that it is solely the onus on the perpetrator and on the legal system to ensure public safety and prevention of sexual assault.

Stevens said she is not familiar enough with high risk and dangerous offender designations to comment.

Obed will remain behind bars until his next appearance on June 20.

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Politicians. They break our hearts.

I cant think of a politician Ive admired who hasnt broken mine.

That is why the often cited final scene in one of my favourite political movies, Primary Colors, rings so emotionally true.

The 1998 film by Mike Nichols, chronicled the presidential primary campaign of a flawed U.S. Southern governor modeled on Bill Clinton and deliciously played by John Travolta, through campaign shenanigans, marital infidelities, and brilliant speeches. At his inauguration party, surrounded by wellwishers and balloons, the newly elected president is hailed by a bouffant haired supporter. Now dont break our hearts, she says smiling.

Hah. We know how that ended up in real life, with more sexual misbehavior, an independent counsel investigation, an unsuccessful impeachment proceeding and a memorable stain on a presidents record forever.

In these tense and speculative final days leading to what we now know will be an historic Ontario provincial election, I keep thinking of that line and how non partisan it is.

No doubt many hearts heaved with sadness on the weekend when about to be former Liberal Premier Kathleen Wynne threw in the towel and flatly told her audience she knew she wasnt going to win this Thursdays election.

A five year term as Ontarios first female premier is, by all accounts, including that of her own strategists, all the prime time that is going to be allotted to Wynne, one of the most humane and deft leaders this province has had.

Shes going down with the ship, partly for some specific political reasons of her own making, but really in the end one big reason: the Liberals have been in power for 15 years. Throw the bums out --however extreme in this case-- is a hardboiled sentiment that apparently never goes out of style.

The fact that while gracefully acknowledging her upcoming defeat, Wynne also begged voters to elect enough Liberals to keep the Ontario Progressive Conservatives and NDP, running neck and neck, honest (or to be exact, in a minority position) is frankly, disingenuous. Even a doomed leader should run like hell until the very end, earning every vote, not plead special circumstances for her beleaguered troops.

Conservative hearts cant be full and happy at this point either: their risky choice of Doug Ford, who at every turn seems about as retro as you can get, bloviating his way through yet another vague speech about prosperity, my friends and not even respecting voters enough to give them a fully-costed platform, has ostensibly blown what looked two months ago like an unassailable lead at the polls.

Ford and the Ontario PC party may yet pull off a majority win, but it wont be a triumphant Ford nation victory. By the way, if this man aspires to represent all the people, why is his Twitter handle @fordnation? This self-aggrandizing non-inclusive name harks back to his chaotic days as consigliere for his brother, the late Toronto Mayor Rob Ford, in which they bullied opponents, lied about their achievements, and proposed some remarkably stupid things.

At one point in his turbulent stop the gravy train municipal career, Doug Ford suggested that parks have corporate sponsorship, conceding when asked that even Hooters could get in on the action and end up with a park named in the restaurant chains honour. That kind of stuck with me, my friends, as some place I really didnt want to go.

And what about NDP hearts? They are tremulous, filled with hope after Andrea Horwath, their leader of nine years, has shown grit and growth in her third campaign as leader, and taken her party to astounding heights, polling higher than the Conservatives, and conceivably in place to become Ontarios second female premier and only the second NDP one in its history.

Horwath, a former community activist and municipal councillor in Hamilton, takes her time to answer questions in detail and seems confident and knowledgeable as she heads to what could be an improbable victory.

She has been, depending on your perspective, either stubborn or principled in her refusal to grant there would ever be a circumstance in which she would legislate an end to a strike, including the historically long running York University one.

I wish she had the political courage to say that governing is about pressure and compromise and getting things done both in spite of ideology and because of it. You cant be a slave to rigidity. Still, she says that strike wouldnt have happened at all if shed been premier.

Horwath has one seductive quality apart from being as progressive as Kathleen Wynne and as populist as Doug Ford can ever claim to be. Its her sheer possibility, the sense that she represents the future and not the past. Thats a heady political advantage, especially as millennials realize the only way they can change society is to head to the voting booth.

Politicians break hearts. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, globally acclaimed as a modern leader with a climate change agenda, now owns a pipeline. He still thinks he can legitimately address climate change. He may be right.

Hearts mend. Trudeau also, this past weekend, along with his superbly adept Minister of Foreign Affairs Chrystia Freeland owned the American political talk shows as he more than ably defended Canadas position in light of Trumps selfish steel tariffs. The PM came across as resolute and persuasive. Its hard to imagine how Canadas interests could have been represented any better.

Its time for the people of Ontario to have their say. No sense asking any of these leaders not to break our hearts. Its in their job definition.

Judith Timson is a Toronto-based writer and a freelance contributing columnist for the Star. Follow her on Twitter: @judithtimson

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OTTAWANot only were Canadian officials scrambling to limit problems for travellers, they were simply trying to grasp what was going on when the Trump administration issued an executive order last year banning people from seven predominantly Muslim countries from entering the United States.

Newly released internal notes from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security reveal Canadian government officials fired off a list of 16 detailed questions with the aim of figuring out the orders impact on everything from refugee claims to biometric tracking.

The records were recently released to The Canadian Press in response to a February 2017 request under the U.S. Freedom of Information Act, asking for materials used to brief then-homeland secretary John Kelly in advance of phone calls with Canadian Public Safety Minister Ralph Goodale.

Some 400,000 people and more than $2 billion worth of goods and services cross the Canada-U.S. border every day.

The order  officially the Executive Order on Protecting the Nation from Foreign Terrorist Entry into the United States  applied to people from Iran, Iraq, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Syria and Yemen. As soon as it was signed on Jan. 27, 2017, confusion erupted about who was allowed into the U.S., as did persistent headaches for some travellers from Canada.

The Nexus trusted-traveller cards of about 200 Canadian permanent residents were suddenly cancelled. There were several reports of minorities being turned away at the U.S. border. And a surge of would-be refugees coming north through remote border points continues to this day.

Read more:

Iranian immigration applicants frustrated by security clearance delays

Opinion | Vicky Mochama: The Safe Third Country Agreement doesnt work. Just ask the thousands of people walking across the Canada-U.S. border

U.S. Supreme Court appears to lean in favour of Trumps travel ban

A week after the executive order, Goodale told the House of Commons the Liberal government was trying to ensure Canadian dual-nationals could still use their Nexus cards at the border.

The newly released notes, prepared in February 2017, said card holders should not be impacted by the executive order, though Homeland Security was open to hearing about specific examples of people having trouble.

The U.S. records say Canadian officials wanted to know how the order would apply to citizens of a restricted country who were also landed immigrants in Canada.

They appeared to wonder whether a biometric system for keeping track of people entering or leaving the U.S. would apply to Canadian citizens. How can we work together to discuss alternatives that build on the existing collaboration we have at our shared land border? Canadian officials asked.

Among the other questions from Ottawa:

Do measures in the executive order related to U.S. privacy policies affect the treatment of data held about Canadians?

Are there more details about planned standards to prevent terrorist or criminal infiltration by foreign nationals?

What impact, if any, does the order have on the asylum determination system?

Under the Safe Third Country Agreement between Canada and the U.S., an asylum-seeker must claim refugee status in whichever of the two countries they arrive first.

As a result, Canadian officials asked whether a refugee claimant from one of the seven listed countries, turned away by Canada due to the binational agreement, would be permitted to re-enter the U.S.

Goodale spoke by phone with Kelly about the executive order on Jan. 30 and 31, 2017.

Whenever there is a significant policy change affecting cross-border travel, there are questions about the implications for Canadians, said Scott Bardsley, a spokesperson for Goodale.

We are grateful to the United States for their assistance to help us understand the effects of executive orders. Canadians now have a better understanding of these changes.

Beatrice Fenelon, a spokesperson for Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada, said her department was very satisfied with the response from Homeland Security.

A revised but largely similar version of the U.S. executive order was introduced about six weeks after the first one ran into judicial roadblocks.

In anticipation of its release, Goodale asked to speak with Kelly on Feb. 27, 2017.

Homeland Security notes drafted for Kelly, who has since become Donald Trumps chief of staff, advised that Goodale might express concerns regarding the increasing numbers of asylum seekers entering Canada between land ports of entry from the United States.

Media reporting linked the northward flow to the initial executive order, sparking calls in Canada to suspend or scrap the Safe Third Country Agreement, the notes mentioned. However, they added that the trend actually predated the order, and a majority of the asylum seekers had a valid visa that would have allowed them to remain in the United States.

The U.S. notes suggested Canada look within its own borders for the cause.

Recent public statements by senior Canadian officials, and immediate access to Canadian benefits including health care, education, social services, and employment authorization may also be construed as encouraging to potential asylum seekers, as might higher approval rates for asylum seekers generally and specifically from countries of scrutiny such as Somalia, Iraq, Afghanistan, Chad and Eritrea.

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Meridian Farms, Century Downs and the Alberta Standardbred Horse Association welcomed the Olds and District Hospice Society to their 'Let The Sun Shine' day on Sunday, June 3.

'Let The Sun Shine' is a charitable initiative to help charity and non-profit groups with some much needed funding.

At the 2018 ASHA Yearling Sale, Meridian Farms will donate the entire proceeds of the sale of one of its yearlings, Two Tone Terror, to five charities in Alberta. Throughout the year, these groups are invited for a day at the races and a chance to bring awareness to their cause.

Through the tremendous generosity of Meridian Farms, this program has already donated more than $50,000 to non-profit/charity groups in local communities.

The Olds and District Hospice Society attended Century Downs on Sunday and joined in the sixth race winner's circle presentation. The volunteers at the society are dedicated to providing quality, compassionate care in a home like setting for those facing death by offering physical, psychological, emotional, spiritual and educational support to individuals, their families and community at the end of life and during bereavement.

Members of the Olds District Hospice Society in the winner's circle with sixth race winner ACBC, owned by Rick and Janet White, and trained by Jody Earle. (Coady Photo)

The Olds and District Hospice Society would like to thank Bill Andrew of Meridian Farms, ASHA and Century Downs Racetrack and Casino for their dedication and generosity to the community through the Let The Sun Shine program. They would also like to thank the Hudon, Haining and Redwood families, and Brian Gray for taking time out of their busy mornings to let the group experience the amazing horses and people on the backstretch.

The 2018 ASHA Yearling Sale will take place on September 9 at the Olds Regional Exhibition Mega Dome, where Meridian Farms will sell at auction the bay filly Two Tone Terror, who is sired by Mystician out of the American Ideal mare Too Ideal.

Previous Let The Sun Shine race winners were:

April 15  Didsbury Volunteer Fire Department

Winning horse: Mr Prominister, owned by Donald and Brenda McNeil, trained by Dan Sifert

May 20  Autism Speaks Canada

Winning horse: Hot Tip, owned by trainer Richard Remillard and Valerie Emerson

(With files from ASHA)
MONTREALThe first woman to climb to the top of Canadas highest mountain in a solo trek says her biggest fear came when she fell into a dangerously deep crevice.

That made me very afraid because no one would have known where I was, Monique Richard told The Canadian Press on Monday.

She began her ascent of the 5,959-metre Mount Logan in Yukons Kluane National Park around mid-May.

The life-threatening incident occurred at about the halfway point of her expedition, which ended last week.

The Montreal mountaineer said she had taken off her skis for safety reasons, took several steps and fell into the crevice.

Richard, who was speaking while stopped by the side of a Yukon highway, said the fissure was at least 50 metres deep and that she fell more than a metre inside.

Read more:

Argentine climber thanks rescuers who plucked her from Yukons Mount Logan

I felt the void under my feet, she said. But I was able to grab hold on the walls of the crevice, take my skis, put them across the crevice and use them to pull myself up with my arms.

It felt like an eternity, but it probably lasted about 10 minutes.

Richard, 43, also had to deal with harsh weather, equipment woes and delays during her expedition.

Mount Logan is known as being a very isolated mountain with incredible storms, she said.

I spent one week in my tent waiting for the weather to improve because there was a big snowstorm  and my tent even started to rip.

At one point, Richard was lost in a whiteout and thought about abandoning the climb because she was worried about the bitterly cold and windy weather.

I had a lot of difficulty sleeping because the wind made an enormous amount of noise, she said. I was afraid of losing my fingers and my toes because it was minus 40 with the wind ... But I survived and I came back with all my parts.

She said she was even more determined this year after trying unsuccessfully last year to reach the mountains summit with a climbing partner who encountered difficulties.

This time, I was very motivated, (and) very well prepared  mentally and physically.

Parks Canada says there is no record in its data stretching back to the late 1800s of any woman having reached the summit in a solo climb.

Last year, an Argentine climber was forced to abort her own solo climb of Mount Logans east ridge when earthquakes triggered significant avalanches.

Richard said when she came down she was very exhausted and that her GPS and telephone had run out of battery power.

Im very tired right now because it was very intense, but Im happy that I accomplished my goal, she added.

Her spokesman, Francois Masse, said late Monday that severe weather conditions as well as technological issues forced Richard to be airlifted by helicopter 48 hours after reaching the summit.

Richard is an experienced climber who has tested her limits on some of the worlds highest mountains and has taken part in some 30 ascents since 2010.

With the help of guides and partners, she has conquered the worlds highest mountains on seven continents, including Mount Everest in 2012.

She said she plans to spend the rest of the week vacationing in the Yukon before returning to Quebec on Saturday.

Richard has taken a month off her Canada Post job walking the mail route in the hilly Montreal enclave of Westmount.

She hopes to write a book about her experience to inspire other people to go through other tests in life.

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The widow and children of former Toronto mayor Rob Ford are suing his brother Doug Ford, alleging he has deprived them of millions of dollars, including shares in the family business and a life insurance policy left behind to support his family.

In a $16.5-million lawsuit filed Friday in Superior Court, Renata Ford also alleges that former brother-in-law Doug Ford is a negligent business manager whose decisions have led to a steady decrease in the value of the Ford company, Deco Labels. Despite setting his sights on a political career, Doug has continued to receive extravagant compensation, even though Deco is losing money, Renata claims in her court filings.

Doug Ford has knowingly and deliberately put (Renata and her two children) in a highly stressful and unfair financial position during their period of grief after Rob Fords death, and continued to do so for more than two years after Rob Fords death, the statement of claim alleges.

The lawsuit was filed by lawyers from Aird & Berlis LLP in Superior Court against Doug, his brother Randy (who is a top executive at Deco), and the Deco company itself. The allegations have not been proven in court.

After the Star sent a list of questions to Doug Ford, a spokesperson responded with two statements, one from Doug and one from Diane Ford, his mother.

These claims relating to Deco are completely false and we will strongly refute them in court, said Doug Fords statement.

I have also stood by my brother and his family through so many of their challenging times, and will always be there for (Rob and Renatas children). Renatas lawyers have been clear to us throughout this campaign, that either we hand over money, or they would go public with these false claims, and that is exactly what they have done, with three days to go until the election.

Diane Ford sent the following statement through Dougs spokesperson.

It is heartbreaking that Renata has chosen to bring forward these false and baseless allegations against our family, right in the middle of the provincial election campaign. As a family, our one goal is to ensure Robs children are cared for and their financial futures are secure. Renata has serious struggles with addiction, and our hope is that she will accept help for the sake of herself and my grandchildren, Diane said in her statement.

Randy Ford did not respond to a request for comment.

Rob Ford was mayor of Toronto from 2010-2014. He died of cancer March 22, 2016. Although highly popular with segments of the Toronto electorate, Ford was also wracked by substance abuse issues and was once videotaped smoking crack cocaine with people involved in the gun and drug trades.

Through it all, his wife, Renata, stood by his side. They have two children, a boy and a girl.

The lawsuit details numerous allegations against both Doug and Randy, who are the trustees for their late brothers estate. Doug and Randy are also trustees of the estate of the late Doug Sr., father of Rob, Doug, Randy and Kathy. Kathy is not mentioned in the lawsuit.

The root of Renatas issues lies with the assets of the family company, Deco Labels. Deco Labels was started in the 1960s by Doug Sr. Doug Sr. also, at one point, was a Progressive Conservative MPP and Doug Jr. is running to become premier of Ontario under the Progressive Conservative banner. Doug Sr. died in 2006.

Renata alleges that, when Rob died, she was left with Robs shares in Deco. Renata said soon after, brother Doug approached her and suggested they settle the estate without involving lawyers.

Lets get rid of the lawyers and settle this on our own, Renata quotes Doug in her statement of claim. They will only steal your money. Youre going to lose everything in your savings.

Read the statement of claim in the Ford lawsuit View document on Scribd

Renata states in her court filing that she did not follow Dougs suggestions, nor did she agree to his suggestion that she sell her late husbands shares to Doug. She says she tried many times to get an accounting of Robs estate, but she remains in the dark.

Renata states that she recently learned that Doug sold Randy Robs shares in Deco for a nominal cost of $1. She said she was then provided (the suit does not say who provided it) with a third party valuation of the shares and was told they had a fair market value of zero.

The Deco company makes labels and does business out of an Etobicoke factory, and also in Chicago. Renata states that when their father ran it, the company was extremely successful, with a market value of $10 million and an investment portfolio between $15 million and $20 million.

She alleges that the company has steadily lost value under Doug and Randy, who have been the top officers and directors of Deco since their father died.

They have so negligently and improperly mismanaged (the business affairs of Deco) as to destroy their value, she alleges.

According to the statement of claim, financial statements of Deco show Deco Toronto has experienced total losses of about $5 million between 2010 and 2017. Prior to Doug and Randy taking over it was profitable, she said.

During this time, Doug and Randy arranged for and received very significant compensation from the Deco Companies. That compensation included extravagant salary, bonus, travel and automobile allowances and other benefits, which was paid regardless of the financial performance of those businesses. No details were provided in the claim.

She also alleges that Doug and Randy never took reasonable steps to implement a business plan, and that he improperly hired friends and family to work at Deco, though they were not qualified. Although she provides no details, Renata also alleges in her suit that Doug and Randy have negligently mistreated and unreasonably dismissed employees who suggested ways to make Deco profitable again.

Neither Doug Ford nor Randy Ford have the education and business ability to justify their employment as senior officers of Deco, she alleges, adding that they carried out numerous ill-advised acquisitions of businesses and assets in New Jersey, Chicago and Ohio.

The lawsuit refers to Doug Fords political ambitions.

After deciding to devote himself primarily to politics and other interests, Doug Ford nevertheless maintained his position as an officer and director of the Deco Companies, and arranged to continue to receive very extravagant compensation, notwithstanding that the businesses were losing money.

The statement of claim estimates that through Doug and Randys use of their late fathers estate funds to prop up the Deco business, Rob Fords estate has been deprived of about $5 million.

She also alleges that Doug has failed to administer and improperly administered Robs estate, and deprived Renata and the children of the proceeds of a $220,000 insurance policy that the two brothers improperly retained and withheld. She said they did the same thing with Robs bank accounts, GICs, RRSPs and other investments.

Renata also alleges that Doug charged unreasonable and unjustified expenses and fees against the Estate of Rob Ford.

Kevin Donovan can be reached at 416-312-3503 or kdonovan@thestar.ca

Read more:

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OTTAWA  Canadian steel producers are pressing Prime Minister Justin Trudeau to move more quickly to impose retaliatory tariffs on U.S. steel and aluminum, warning that companies in Canada are already losing business because of Washington's trade moves.

The producers met with Trudeau Monday afternoon and emerged saying they had made the case for Canada to act faster.

I think wed like to have the tariff put in place as quickly as we can, said Joseph Galimberti, president of the Canadian Steel Producers Association.

Galimberti noted that there are tariffs on Canadian exports of steel and aluminum to the U.S. but nothing yet on American exports entering Canada, even as producers in this country begin to feel the bite of Washingtons trade measures.

Were seeing customers in steel right now who are changing orders, putting orders on hold, he said. Companies are experiencing damages and interruptions today. Supply chains are going to change going forward.

The Trump administration last week announced that it was imposing 25 per cent steel tariffs and 10 per cent aluminum tariffs on Canada, Mexico and the European Union.

Read more:

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Quebec government says its prepared to financially support aluminum producers

Hamilton steelmakers brace for impact of U.S. tariffs

The Liberal government hit back on Thursday, announcing that it would impose retaliatory tariffs on U.S. steel and aluminum, as well as on a host of other consumer products  but not until July 1. The government justified the delay, saying it wanted to consult first on the potential impacts of its tariff decision.

Galimberti said Canada had responded in a meaningful way but added, wed like to see it imposed quickly. He said the federal government could immediately slap reciprocal tariffs on U.S. steel and aluminum while taking time to consult on the other products.

He said the 25 per cent tariff on Canadian steel destined to the largest export market is a dire situation. However, Galimberti said that Canadian companies arent yet asking for federal aid because they are still assessing the impact of the tariffs on the steel industry, which he said employs 23,000 workers and supports 100,000 indirect jobs.

I think they appreciate our circumstance and I think that they understand clearly we are going to see a reaction quite quickly from the economy, he said.

Conservative Leader Andrew Scheer pressed Trudeau on the issue during Question Period, asking why the government had delayed its retaliatory action.

The effect to jobs and the Canadian economy is happening in real time. The American tariffs went into effect immediately and Canadian shipments of steel are already being turned back from the border, he said.

Why is the Prime Minister waiting three weeks? Scheer asked.

But Trudeau justified the delay, saying the government had to consult first on the potential impact of its own actions. We would not want our decisions to hurt workers in Canada, he said.

Galimberti said that he and company CEOs will be meeting in the coming days with Finance Minister Bill Morneau, Navdeep Bains, the minister of innovation, science and economic development, and others, including opposition MPs.

In Montreal on Monday, International Trade Minister Francois-Philippe Champagne took part in a gathering of aluminum industry representatives from G7 countries.

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Sidewalk Labss plans for a high-tech test neighbourhood on Torontos waterfront could be in question as early as midsummer if ongoing talks dont produce a development agreement with Waterfront Toronto, that agencys chairwoman said last week.

Helen Burstyn made the surprising comments to the Star on Thursday after emerging from a four-hour closed-door briefing to her board by staff of the tri-governmental agency now negotiating with Sidewalk Labs, a sister company of Google, on a development agreement.

Were making good progress, and hope to have a deal signed by midsummer to pave the way to further negotiations on a more involved master innovation development plan expected to be completed by the end of 2018 and taken to all stakeholders for final agreement, she said.

But if by midsummer we dont arrive at a planned development agreement with Sidewalk Labs, that leaves us open to look at other options and partners, Burstyn said, adding Sidewalk is our preferred partner, not our assured partner.

Read More:

Details on Sidewalk Labs waterfront tech district remain fuzzy

Sidewalk Labs proposal stirs fears, raises hopes

A high-tech neighbourhood could turn Toronto into a world renowned innovation hub

Asked to clarify what happens if no deal is reached, Burstyn said: Then we may both go pursue other options. Her board needs terms agreeable to the federal, provincial and Toronto governments, she said, while Sidewalk needs the blessing of Mountainview  the California home of Alphabet Inc., which owns Manhattan-based urban innovation firm as well as Google.

On Friday, after the Star asked Waterfront Toronto staff and Sidewalk Labs for comment, Burstyn phoned to clarify her comments, saying: Its certainly not true that were looking for other partners. We are really delighted with Sidewalk Labs.

The tender process that last fall identified the firm as the best development partner for the 12-acre Quayside site near Lake Shore Blvd. E. and Parliament St. was a rigorous one and they came up with the best ideas, said Burstyn who became chair in January 2017.

Its a slog getting through a legal agreement, it has to be very carefully thought through and all the implications. Were working very hard on that now, its going well. The briefing I had yesterday confirms its going well and I really seeing us being able to come up with an agreement ... Sidewalk Labs is the only one on our dance card.

Asked about the possibility Sidewalk could be sidelined within a couple of months, the firms external affairs director Lauren Skelly said only: We are feeling great about how things are going.

Waterfront Torontos development partner selection, announced last fall at a splashy event at Corus Quay with Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and Eric Schmidt, then Alphabets executive chairman, made international headlines.

Trudeau predicted Sidewalk Labs would develop technologies that will help us build smarter, greener, more inclusive cities which we hope to see scaled across Torontos eastern waterfront and eventually in other parts of Canada and around the world.

Schmidt described the choice of Toronto as the result of years of discussions with Google founders Larry Page and Sergey Brin, and a visit with Trudeau where the Prime Minister pitched his vision of Canada as a Silicon Valley, plus everything else Canada is.

Dan Doctoroff, Sidewalk Labss chief executive, said his company would spend up to $50 million over a year working with Waterfront Toronto on plans for a heavily connected neighbourhood using sensors and other technologies to solve the biggest problems facing cities today.

Preliminary plans include self-driving cars and buses replacing privately owned vehicles, new wood technologies in multi-use buildings to make housing cheaper, and weather mitigation tools such as awnings and heated paths to get people outside more in the winter.

Will Fleissig, Waterfront Torontos chief executive, told the Star last fall that Sidewalk Labs proposal was the best of several excellent pitches for the district from international companies.

Since then the proposal dubbed Sidewalk Toronto has included a flurry of activities. On Saturday, June 16, people are invited to the opening of an experimental workspace at 307 Lake Shore Blvd. E. for Open Sidewalk, a monthly event exploring community co-creation ideas for Quayside.

Questions linger, however, over the ownership, use and protection of data gathered in Quayside as well as any plans the partners have for the 800-acre Port Lands, most of which is owned by the city.

One issue settled, however, is agreement between the three governments on a $1.25-billion Don River flood protection project vital to development of the eastern waterfront. Waterfront Toronto confirmed Thursday that the contribution agreement ... has been executed.

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Toronto is the fourth most populous city in North America, an emerging global hot spot for tech talent and tourism, admired internationally for its diversity and commitment to social justice.

To Queens Park, though, it is a creature of the province not so different from Ontarios other 443 municipalities when it comes to the provinces grip on local finances, priorities and power.

Opinion polls suggest the city will be dealing with a new provincial government on Friday, after 15 years of Liberal rule. Whether its led by Progressive Conservative Doug Ford or New Democrat Andrea Horwath, the shock waves of change will be felt at city hall.

New transit lines, social housing repairs, development and intensification, road safety rules, safe injection sites, the climate change fight, anti-gridlock efforts, taxation powers  almost all flow from Queens Park to Nathan Phillips Square and then into Torontonians daily lives.

Municipalities are creatures of the province, so they really take their lead from the provincial legislature in terms of frameworks and guidance, said Matti Siemiatycki, a University of Toronto associate professor of geography and planning.

 The premier on his or her own has much wider powers than a Toronto mayor in our weak mayor system because of the (provincial) party system, he said. Party discipline imposed on MPPs guarantees a premier with a majority gets his or her way.

If the premier has a very different perspective and wants to make very different policies, those are going to filter down very quickly to how the municipalities operate.

The City of Toronto Act confers some extra powers upon the city, particularly in terms of taxation. But the province can amend that legislation or in other cases just neglect to take certain steps, or use its broad funding powers, to force Toronto into line.

Ontario's three main party leaders squared off May 7 in the first debate before Junes provincial election. Andrea Horwath, Kathleen Wynne and Doug Ford were asked after the debate how they plan to combat criticisms they face. (The Canadian Press)

Observers in government interviewed by the Star note the alignment of Liberal Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, Liberal Premier Kathleen Wynne and Mayor John Tory, a centrist former PC leader, has yielded billions of dollars flowing down for transit and social housing repairs.

Tory and Wynne in particular have had a good working relationship, with the exception of a few public fights, including Wynnes rejection of a road toll plan that the mayor said left him feeling like a little boy going up to Queens Park in short pants.

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Tory, who is seeking re-election in October, and Horwath have met and praised each other despite different political outlooks. The Hamilton MPP does not have Toronto roots but her platform is considered city-friendly, although conservatives warn higher corporate taxes could drive away businesses and reduce the citys tax base.

The biggest wild card in a mayor-premier matchup is Ford, who lost to Tory in the 2014 mayoral election and last September called him all talk and no action and broken promises.

Tory fired back at the time, after Ford announced a now-abandoned mayoral rematch, accusing him and his brother, the late mayor Rob Ford, of bringing chaos to city hall and leaving its international reputation in tatters.

Their public words have since grown more cordial. The Star has learned Tory visited Ford in Etobicoke in May to talk about his platform, which promises billions of dollars in new spending on projects including Toronto transit lines. However, Ford has identified no funding source beyond efficiencies.

Siemiatycki said its hard to predict Torys relationship, should he be re-elected mayor, with any newcomer in the premiers chair.

There are strange dynamics that play out over time as different politicians make promises for infrastructure and then try to figure out how to actually fund and deliver them, he said.

Some potential pressure points between the city and new provincial government:

Transit projects: In March, the province made the unexpected announcement that it would match $4.89 billion in federal transit funding with $4.04 billion of its own. City council wants that provincial money spent on the downtown relief line subway, the Eglinton East LRT and a Waterfront LRT network, but a new government could withdraw the funding or make it conditional on it going toward its preferred projects. The PCs are the only major party that hasnt committed to fund the Waterfront LRT.

SmartTrack and GO service: Mayor Torys SmartTrack plan, which would add GO service within Toronto to supplement the TTC, is predicated on the province, which controls GO transit, lowering its fares to TTC levels. The cheaper GO fares are expected to cost Queens Park $90 million over three years, and if a new government pulls the plug on that plan, it would unravel SmartTrack and leave a big hole the citys transportation plans.

Social housing: Ottawa has pledged major funds to help the city repair crumbling Toronto Community Housing buildings and has, sources say, prodded Queens Park to do likewise. So far provincial cash is only for energy-efficient retrofits but it is helping keep units habitable. The next premier will be receiving a request for one-third repair funding but could do something else entirely.

Refugee resettlement: An influx of refugee claimants has packed Torontos homeless shelters, The federal government on Friday pledged $11 million to help Ontario municipalities cope, but Toronto expects refugee-related costs to top $70 million this year. The provincial government helped Toronto by opening the dorms of two community colleges as temporary shelters and paying for Red Cross workers to staff them. Toronto will be looking for more help soon.

Safe injection sites: Faced with a rising death toll from the opioid crisis, including more than 250 Torontonians last year, the Ontario government is funding sites, including several in Toronto, for people to safely consume street drugs. Tory and city council are in strong support but Ford said during the campaign he is dead against the sites, believing rehabilitation should be the focus.

With files from Ben Spurr and Jennifer Pagliaro

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A ransom was paid for an Etobicoke man abducted last Friday but who remains missing, Toronto police say.

Jammar Allison, 25, was initially reported as a missing person case, police said. However, police later said that they had reason to believe he was kidnapped.

A ransom demand had been issued and paid, prior to police getting involved, Const. Jenifferjit Sidhu said.

No contact has been made since, either with the kidnappers or Allison himself, Sidhu said.

Allison was last seen Friday at 10 p.m. near Highway 427 and Rexdale Blvd.

According to investigators, Allison was escorted into a dark Caravan with tinted windows in the Rexdale neighbourhood. He has been described as six-foot, thin build and was last seen wearing pink shorts and a black T-shirt.
Just over a month before accused serial killer Bruce McArthur was arrested, Toronto police secretly entered the 66-year-old landscapers Thorncliffe Park apartment and obtained files from his computer, the Star has learned.

According to a police source with knowledge of the investigation, the clandestine operation to clone McArthurs hard drive came shortly after police were granted a general warrant by a provincial court judge on Dec. 4, 2017 that targeted the alleged killers 19th-floor corner apartment at 95 Thorncliffe Park Dr.

A sealing order for that warrant is among nearly 100 court applications filed by police in their years-long investigation into the disappearances of men from Torontos Gay Village, a search that ultimately led them to McArthur.

New details about the ongoing investigation into McArthur have been released to the public following a recent decision by a judge to unseal some information contained in documents police filed in court during the probe.

The ruling comes after an application by the Star and other media to unseal information to obtain (ITO) documents  which are filed when investigators are asking for the courts authorization to perform certain tasks, such as obtain a search warrant or track an individual.

The newly released information shows Toronto police filed at least 88 applications for judicial authorizations for search warrants. Their investigation, which began in 2012, ultimately led them to McArthur in the fall of 2017.

The documents reveal police targeted vehicles, telecommunications providers, airlines and Google, searched various addresses, and more. Early in the investigation, they used an undercover officer and a confidential informant.

McArthur is first named in the documents in a production order to Bell Canada on Sept. 8, 2017. Police have previously said McArthur was identified as a person of interest in the disappearance of Andrew Kinsman in September, 2017.

Two months later, police obtained a tracking warrant for an unknown subject. In asking the court for the details of the warrant to be sealed from the public, police said the investigation into the disappearance of Kinsman and the other four males from the (Gay) Village has generated media and community interest.

The disclosure of the facts involved in this inquiry up to this point would jeopardize the conduct of this investigation ... through the public disclosure of the investigation into Bruce McArthur, wrote Det.-Const. Joel Manherz.

The documents then show that police obtained the general warrant for McArthurs address on Dec. 4, 2017. A general warrant gives police the right to use any device, investigative technique or procedure, to search and seize a persons property, among other things.

The reasons police provided when seeking the warrants or production orders have not been made public.

The court documents also provide insight into past efforts police made to probe the disappearances of men McArthur is now accused of killing.

Starting in Dec. 2012, Toronto police began investigating Peterborough man James Alex Brunton, after receiving a tip that potentially linked him to the disappearance of Skandaraj Navaratnam  the first of McArthurs alleged victims to go missing from Torontos Gay Village.

The tip suggested that Navaratnams death was linked to an online cannibalism ring, and the investigation led them to Brunton, the documents show. Police obtained warrants to search Bruntons Peterborough home, to track a vehicle registered to his address, and got permission to intercept communications within the home. They also show a confidential informant and an undercover officer were involved in the investigation.

But six months in, Brunton was cleared in Navaratnams death, though he was arrested in May 2013 and later convicted on child pornography charges.

Toronto police have laid an eighth murder charge on April 16 against Bruce McArthur, in the death of a man who moved to Canada from Sri Lanka in 2010. Kirushnakumar Kanagaratnam had never been reported missing. (The Canadian Press)

Toronto police Det.-Sgt. Hank Idsinga, the lead homicide detective on the McArthur case, has previously acknowledged that police investigated the possibility that Navaratnams death was connected to a cannibalism ring, but that theory was later disproven.

Earlier this year, the Star and other media outlets brought forward an application to obtain the ITOs, the majority of which were sealed by the courts and not public documents. On Friday, Ontario Court Justice Cathy Mocha released some basic information about the orders, including the dates, locations and types of orders made.

The presumption is that the public should have access, Mocha said, referring to the so-called open court principle, which deems that the workings of the court should be public, barring special circumstances including legitimate concerns about an accused persons fair trial rights.

McArthurs lawyers fought the medias application, saying the release of even basic information about police ITOs in connection to McArthur and the missing men could be detrimental to their client. Among the concerns raised by lawyer James Miglin was that releasing information about the ITOs could allow the media to reconstruct the investigation, including when the police focus shifted to McArthur.

Mocha found there was no real or substantial risk to McArthurs fair trial rights, noting that his lawyers concerns were for the most part conjecture.

The released information shows the many of the ITOs connected to the case are production orders, which direct a person or an organization to provide documents and records to police.

Among the organizations from which police, over the course of the years-long investigation, requested documents or information are: Canadian Tire, Porter Airlines, Rogers, Air Canada, Yahoo! Canada, Google, Pink Triangle Press, Bell Canada, the Ministry of Transportation and banks.

The locations investigators searched include Toronto police properties. Days after McArthurs Jan. 18 arrest, police obtained search warrants for the intelligence building of the Toronto police, Forensic Identification Services on Jane St., 51 division police station on Parliament St. and 33 division on Upjohn Rd.

It is not unusual for police to conduct a search warrant on their own premises if evidence they have already collected needs to gathered quickly, Idsinga told the Star on Monday.

Read more:

Alleged serial killer Bruce McArthur makes brief court appearance

Extraordinary homicide cases push Toronto police budget into deficit

1,800 exhibits and 18,000 photos: Toronto police complete intensive search of Bruce McArthurs apartment

Last month, police forensic investigators completed a four-month search of McArthurs two-bedroom apartment in Thorncliffe Park. The intensive search resulted in the seizure of 1,800 exhibits and the taking of more than 18,000 photographs. The search began a day after police raided McArthurs 19th-floor apartment at 95 Thorncliffe Park Dr. on Jan. 18 and arrested the 66-year-old self-employed landscaper.

At that time, McArthur was charged with first-degree murder in the deaths of two men who went missing in 2017, Andrew Kinsman, 49, and Selim Esen, 44. As the police investigation progressed over the following months, McArthur was charged with the murders of six more men: Majeed Kayhan, 59, Soroush Mahmudi, 50, Dean Lisowick, 47, Skandaraj (Skanda) Navaratnam, 40, Abdulbasir Faizi, 42, and Kirushnakumar Kanagaratnam, 37.

Kayhan, Navaratnam, and Faizi were previously the subjects of a special police probe, dubbed Project Houston, looking into the disappearances of the three men from Torontos Gay Village between 2010 and 2012. That investigation ended in 2014.

As previously reported by the Star and other media, McArthur was later questioned by police in 2016 regarding an allegation that he was physically abusive to someone, but was let go. Homicide detectives who are now probing McArthur did not know about the 2016 questioning until after McArthurs arrest in January, according to sources familiar with the incident.

In March, Idsinga confirmed he initiated a complaint into concerning behaviour of officers who potentially did not do what they were supposed to have done, but has not provided any detail. That internal investigation is ongoing, and the search of police properties immediately after McArthurs arrest  revealed in the newly released documents  is not connected to that probe.

Correction - June 5, 2018: This article was edited from a previous version that misstated accused serial killer Bruce McArthurs apartment address in one reference.
The red flags fluttering from cars, vans, taxis and a flatbed truck looping around the Thorncliffe Park neighbourhood Sunday read: Say NO to irresponsible sex ed.

Parents at the steering wheels, some with their children piled in back seats, were rallying to put the brakes on the Liberals sexual education curriculum just days before Thursdays provincial election.

Maybe well drive by Kathleen Wynnes election office and give her a honk, said Khalid Mahmood, one of the organizers of the Thorncliffe Parents Association protest, before climbing into his car to join about 50 vehicles in the caravan.

Thorncliffe Park is in the Liberal leaders Don Valley West riding.

The parents group, with supporters from across the GTA, gathered at Thorncliffe Park Public School to condemn the curriculum installed by the Liberals in 2015. Teaching material at specific grade levels includes topics such as online bullying, gender identity, consent and sexting. Some religious leaders and groups have insisted parents should be the ones to teach their children about sex at an age-appropriate time.

Maritza Sialer is a mother of two whose children attend Catholic schools in Durham Region. Sialer said she believes most parents are not against sex ed being taught in schools in a responsible way but disputes Wynnes contention that parents were consulted in a deep and transparent manner before the curriculum was overhauled.

It was a lie, Sialer said of Wynnes position. She recalled that initial parental surveys about updating teaching materials from the 1990s asked only vague and general questions.

Progressive Conservative Leader Doug Ford has recently reignited the sex ed discussion. He said he will address parents concerns about the content if he is elected.

Bramptons Jotvinder Sodhi attended Sundays protest. Sodhi was involved in his two childrens school council for 13 years. He said Wynnes concession that she cannot win the election is a hopeful sign for families who oppose the sex ed teachings.

Its sad but its a victory for the parental rights, Sodhi said, adding he hopes all stakeholders can contribute to the sex ed policy after the election.

We dont want anyone to be left out  but it doesnt have to be a dictated (education) policy  She acted as a dictator.

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Two months before public opinion polls showed an NDP surge in the Ontario election, Cheri DiNovo was already predicting big things for her former party.

On March 10, after Doug Ford won the rushed leadership contest to replace Patrick Brown at the helm of the Progressive Conservative party, the former NDP MPP tweeted: Wow! Looks like an #ondp gov!

For DiNovo, who left politics to become minister of Trinity-St. Pauls Centre for Faith, Justice and the Arts, the combination of Fords divisiveness and widespread frustration with Kathleen Wynnes government created an unprecedented opening for the NDP, particularly in urban centres. Today, her forecast doesnt seem so far fetched, with polls showing the NDP and PCs in a statistical dead heat heading into the campaigns home stretch.

Read more:

Ontarios party leaders prepare for the final week

NDP scores high marks in report on poverty-related health issues

Ontario voters should back NDP to stop Doug Ford

Whether or not her old party wins enough seats to form government, DiNovo  who represented the riding of Parkdale-High Park for more than a decade  predicts the NDP will sweep all of downtown Toronto, even in what she calls bastions of Liberal power.

Pollsters and other election watchers are less certain, but they agree the prospect of an orange wave downtown is possible, even in ridings that have been in Liberal hands for a generation or longer.

It doesnt look like there are any safe Liberal seats any more, said Barry Kay, an associate professor of political science at Wilfrid Laurier University.

Kay, a veteran elections analyst, developed a projection system that aggregates polling data and combines it with other information to project how many seats each party is likely to win. Kays latest projection, released May 30, suggests the NDP have a firm grip on five of the eight ridings downtown: Parkdale-High Park, where DiNovos former executive assistant Bhutila Karpoche is running; Davenport, where the NDP lost by six percentage points in 2014; Spadina-Fort York, an amalgamated riding that includes part of the former NDP stronghold of Trinity-Spadina; Toronto-Danforth, where veteran NDP MPP Peter Tabuns is favoured to win a fifth term; and Beaches-East York, which the NDP lost by fewer than 500 votes in 2014.

The Liberals are considered only marginal favourites in the three other downtown ridings  Toronto-St. Pauls, Toronto Centre and the newly created University-Rosedale  where they have historically been almost unbeatable. Both Toronto-St. Pauls and Toronto Centre have been held by the Liberals continuously since the ridings were created in 1999, and the Liberals won the ridings with overwhelming majorities in the last provincial election.

But the Liberal incumbents in those ridings  Eric Hoskins and Glen Murray, respectively  have both resigned, giving up the usual advantage afforded those seeking re-election.

I just think the Liberals are in trouble everywhere, Kay said, adding that he wouldnt be surprised if those three ridings move in the NDPs direction in his next projection, slated to be released Monday or Tuesday. Things are going south for the Liberals.

Ironically, strategic voting, which usually hurts the NDP, appears to be working in their favour this time around, Kay said, driven in part by a strong anti-Ford sentiment in urban ridings. People who may have voted Liberal in the past are increasingly concerned about a Ford majority or a Ford government, Kay said, so theyre moving to the NDP.

Although the Progessive Conservatives finished ahead of the NDP in Toronto Centre and Toronto-St. Pauls in the last election, they are unlikely to be competitive in this election because of Ford, said Earl Washburn, a senior analyst at EKOS Politics, a polling company. His kind of populism doesnt translate very well to downtown Toronto.

Washburn referenced the 2014 mayoral election, in which Ford garnered very little support in the parts of the city that make up the Toronto Centre and Toronto-St. Pauls ridings. In fact, he fared worse than former NDP MP Olivia Chow, who finished third in the race overall.

The ridings include a lot of progressive voters who tend to vote Liberal, Washburn said. In this election the chances of them voting NDP are quite a bit higher.

The fact Toronto Centre no longer includes wealthy Rosedale is another factor in the NDPs favour, Washburn said. At the same time, Rosedales overall influence could be dulled by its inclusion in the new riding of University-Rosedale, which is made up largely of what Washburn calls prime NDP territory.

Former Liberal MPP George Smitherman, who represented Toronto Centre at Queens Park from 1999 to 2010, said he has noticed the NDPs obvious momentum in this election. They have signs of real life in places where they dont always have it, he said.

But thats not particularly surprising to the 54-year-old, who last month announced he is running for city council. His old riding may be a Liberal stronghold, but it has always included a large number of progressively inclined voters. Smitherman, who won Toronto Centre by a 27-point margin in 2007, said he often tried to be almost NDP-light to earn broad-based support. So its not a surprise to me that the stop-Doug-Ford issue trumps a lot of the other important distinctions between the Liberals and NDP.

At the same time, Smitherman  who has canvassed in his old riding for the current Liberal candidate  said he has still felt a strong sense of Liberal loyalty when knocking on doors. People have told me, This is still a Liberal riding. 

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Toronto police have arrested and charged a man in the death of Rhoderie Estrada, a mother of three who was killed in her East York home last month.

Homicide Det. Sgt. Mike Carbone said in a press conference on Sunday that police responded to a call on May 26 at approximately 2:15 a.m. and found a female suffering from obvious signs of trauma in her home on Torrens Ave., west of Pape Ave. The woman succumbed to her injuries at the scene.

Carbone identified the deceased as Rhoderie Estrada, 41, saying an autopsy was performed on May 27 and at this time they will not be releasing the cause of death. He said they are alleging that between the time of 10:30 p.m. on May 25 and 2:15 a.m. on May 26, an unknown person entered a side window in the home and caused the death of Estrada.

Yostin Murillo, 22, of no fixed address, has been arrested and charged with first-degree murder. Murillo will appear in court on June 4.

Carbone said there was no relationship between the suspect and victim. He said they believe they know the motive, but will not be releasing it at this time.

Carol Alvaran has known Estrada, who she calls Dherie, since 1995 when they met through a mutual friend. She said they remained close ever since.

Dherie was such a good friend. She and I were like family, Alvaran said. She treated me as her younger sister when I left my home and went to live with her for quite some time  She always made sure there was food for me, and always wanted to make sure I was OK. She even encouraged me to go to nursing school then, which I am now.

Alvaran now resides in Florida, but she flew to Toronto for Estradas funeral.

She was a very positive person anyone would want to be around. A rare kind of person, she said. She would do anything for anyone  We will all miss her dearly.

Read more: Woman, 41, killed inside East York home

Estrada had worked as a clinician at St. Josephs Health Centre since 2001.

It is with heavy hearts that we acknowledge the passing of one of our staff members, Rhoderie Estrada, this past weekend, the hospital said in a statement. Rhoderie has been a part of our team since 2001 and was a well-respected clinician and leader to her colleagues, as well as a friend. She will be greatly missed by everyone who knew her at St. Joes.

Estrada was the citys 33rd homicide victim this year.

Police are appealing to anyone who may have had contact with Murillo or who knows any information to contact the homicide squad at 416-808-7400 or anonymously call Crime Stoppers at 416-222-TIPS (8477).

June 3  This article has been updated from a previous version which referenced a Facebook video. At the time of publishing the video was public, but it has since been made private.
The Florida chapter of the United States Harness Writers Association has reported that former top horseman, Charles Thomas 'Tom' Sells, passed away peacefully from a long illness on Friday, June 1 in West Alexander, Pennsylvania. He was 72.

Formally of Margate, Florida, Sells was born in 1945 at Urbana, Ohio and entered the equine arena while in high school, first as a Thoroughbred exercise rider, and then as a groom for legendary Standardbred horseman Dick Buxton on weekends and summers at the Urbana Fairgrounds during his two remaining school years.

Sells stayed with Buxton as a groom and graduated to third and then second trainer for three years traveling with the Buxton Stable, having the opportunity to handle especially trotters for Max Hempt, Gene Riegle and Hanover Shoe Farms. He recorded his initial driving win at age 20 at Scioto Downs with the Curly Smart trainee Flicking Star (1964 filly Stars Pride-Flicka Frost-Victory Song) that was bred and owned by Don Millars Bonnie Keek Farm.

This may have begun Sells affiliation with classy trotters as Flicka produced Hambletonian winners Timothy T and Christopher T plus Hambo Oaks winner Cora T.

Sells went to Chicago initially with two of his own trainees and four trotters and one pacer from Buxton, and then moved to the Meadows at age 30 where he began working with owners Steve Brown (Dunrovan Farm, Lexington, Kentucky) and a former Riegle client David Creighton of Hamilton, Ohio, while becoming well known as an effective catch-driver.

When asked about the best horses he developed and trained and also catch-drove, Sells cited the pacer Lacrosse Hanover that he and Creighton acquired at Harrisburg as a yearling as well as the fast-class trotters Go Get Lost (owned by Wayne Lynch and trained by Art Wirching) and the good trotter Hellava Hush.

Lacrosse Hanover (by Gamecock) raced at ages three to five for Sells earning over $118,000 with 26 victories in 83 starts. Sells was an effective catch-driver of Go Get Lost (from a half-sister to Super Bowl) -- he also campaigned that veteran in several European countries and Hellava Hush, both $1 million-plus (USD) winners. Go Get Lost defeated Mack Lobell in the 1988 leg of the Statue of Liberty and was second to Mack Lobell in the Breeders Crown. Sells also won the 2007 American-National for three-year-old colts with Prayer I Am.

Go Get Lost (U.S.) h, 1984, 1:54.3, $1,197,467, at three, was third in the Yonkers Trot. At age four, he won the Su Mac Lad, was second in Breeders Crown, Nat Ray Trot, Maple Leaf Trotting Classic, and third in International Trot. At five, he won the Horsemens Series/Glorys Comet Series, Su Mac Lad, was second in Grosser Preis von Bayern and third in Oslo Grand Prix. At six, he was second in the Horsemens Series/Glorys Comet Series.

Hellava Hush (U.S.) g, 2000, 1:51, $1,140,974, 80 29-18-12, at two was third in the Walnut Hall Cup. At three, he was second in the Transylvania Trot. At five, he was the winner of Nat Ray Trot, second in Trotting Classic Final, and third in the American-National Open Trot and Arthur J. Cutler Memorial. At six, he was second in the Arthur J. Cutler Memorial. He was sold at the 2001 Kentucky Standardbred Sale for $20,000.

Sells' career statistics are impressive, totaling 2,635 driving wins for purse earnings of $15.4 million and 184 training wins good for $972,700 purse earnings.

His career UDRS is .264 (over 1977-2015) with a peak year of .377 in 1977. Sells posted 115 driving wins in 1991 with a .291 UDRS and 111 wins in 2012 with a .313 UDRS. As a trainer, Sells posted a career .290 UTRS with a .367 peak in 1994.

The later part of his career was spent as one of the top drivers at Pompano Park, where many seasons he was in the top 10 standings.

Trainer/driver Tom Sells (center) presented with his Florida Hall of Fame induction trophy in 2016 by Florida USHWA members Thomas Hicks and Victoria Howard. (Skip Smith Photo)

He was inducted into the Florida Harness Racing Hall of Fame in 2015 by the Florida chapter of the United States Harness Writers Association. He was also a member of the Florida Standardbred Breeders and Owners Association and the United States Trotting Association.

He was the loving husband of Cheryl K. Andy Sells; father of Michael Sells, Brian Sells, Shelly (Sells) Deters, Carrie Sells and the late Todd Sells; and grandfather of Thomas, Savannah, Michael Jr., Michael Deters Jr., Dylan McIntosh, Wyatt and Levi.

Sells wish to be cremated with a private service.

Please join Standardbred Canada in offering condolences to the family and friends of Tom Sells.

(With files from Florida chapter of USHWA)
The tall, lanky man, wearing white from head to toe  save for indigo sneakers  is caught on surveillance cameras at River St. in Regent Park.

Appearing from the right side of the screen, he takes 11 steps. He marches up to a man whos facing the opposite direction with a cigarette in one hand, a walking cane in the other. Its after midnight on May 23.

The man in white raises a gun to the back of the other mans head. He lowers it just as quickly. Police say he appeared to pull the trigger, but the gun did not fire. Eight minutes later on the same street, the gunman can be seen with another armed man. Together, they chase down a 42-year-old man. Hes shot, but he survives.

Its another eruption of gunfire in a year that, as of May 28, had seen 162 shootings in Toronto, according to the latest police data.

If the pace is maintained, it will be the fourth straight year in which Toronto has seen the number of shooting victims increase. In 2015 there were 429 victims; there were 581 in 2016, 594 in 2017 and, so far, there have been 215 this year. The numbers surpass even 2005, Torontos notorious year of the gun, when 52 people were killed by guns and there were 359 shooting victims.

A rise in shootings in one week doesnt make a trend line, but there is a tendency for one set of shootings to lead to another set of shootings. Basically, revenge shootings, or shootings that have to do with territory, said Irvin Waller, a professor of criminology at the University of Ottawa.

This gunman in Regent Park raised his weapon and tried to shoot, but the gun did not go off, police said. He quickly left the scene in the May 23 incident.





There is a general uptick in shootings and homicides associated with street gangs in urban areas, he said.

Last month, there were six shooting homicides in Toronto. The youngest victim was 17. They were all male. No arrests have been made.

Three of the victims  Venojan Suthesan, 21; Matthew Staikos, 37; Israel Edwards, 18  were gunned down just last week.

On Friday, Mayor John Tory countered criticisms about police staffing numbers, saying more surveillance cameras could be installed in crime hot spots to help with investigative efforts.

But Waller said Canadian cities have not prioritized violence prevention, which is proven in some cities to have reduced crime by half.

I think the really sad thing about what is happening generally in urban areas is that the city council have been very slow to come to grips with whats going on and do the things that are known to work, he said.

According to a 2016 brief by the Canadian Municipal Network on Crime Prevention, outreach services for vulnerable youth in high-crime neighbourhoods reduced offence rates by 63 per cent and crime by 16 per cent.

Councillor Mike Layton (Ward 19, Trinity-Spadina) said he believes intervention programs would be more effective in curbing crime. He cites inequality and poverty among the root causes of crime.

Rather than look at that, for generations, weve said lets focus on the band-aid solution. That has ended up with a rather significant portion of the citys budget going to policing, Layton said.

But we havent looked at investing, with the same rigour, into the programs to address part of the cause.

Read more:

Tory calls Toronto shootings shocking amid wave of gun deaths

Four men face 97 charges after police chase during gun violence investigation

Opinion | To counter domestic homicide, tighten gun control

At various media engagements throughout the week, Tory reiterated that the city is redoubling its efforts to deploy police where theyre needed.

We are hiring more police officers as we speak. We are redeploying police officers so theyll spend less time directing traffic and manning speed radar guns  so that police officers will have more time to be in the community and dealing with issues related to keeping the city safe, he said at a Friday press conference.

Internal processes created to allow easier movement of front-line officers between divisions have made the police response more nimble.

That is working its way into the way were structured, said police spokesperson Mark Pugash.

We have an ability that we didnt have before to augment the resources, and I can tell you that homicide investigators are getting support from all over the service.

So far, police have no evidence that bystanders have been killed in any of the recent fatal shootings, said Pugash.

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The Ontario Provincial Police has charged a man from Little Britain in connection to the murder of a 35-year-old woman, who was killed during a house fire in Kawartha Lakes last week.

OPP and the Kawartha Lakes fire department were called to a house fire on Aino Beach Rd. in Little Britain just after 5 a.m. on Tuesday. The victim was found dead in the residence.

After an autopsy was performed on Wednesday, the victim was identified as Heeley Rae Balanga. OPP said Balanga was a resident of the home.

Investigators are in the process of putting together a timeline of the victims last days. The investigation is being conducted by the OPP and the Ontario Fire Marshal.

Ross Ronald Dion, 44, has been charged with first-degree murder, and arson  disregard for human life.

Police are asking for anyone who may have known the victim or who may have observed any suspicious vehicles or other activity in the area of Aino Beach Rd. and Rainbow Bridge Rd. between 9 p.m. Mon., May 28 and 7 a.m. on Tues., May 29 to contact the Ontario Provincial Police tip line at 1-844-677-5050.
The number of landlords trying to evict tenants through applications to the local Landlord and Tenant Board office jumped by 95 per cent from 2010 to 2016.

Over the same six-year period, the Ontario-wide increase of landlords making an L2 application  the next step if tenants contest the form used to evict them  was 58 per cent.

A new rental housing report called Out of Control  released Friday by the Social Planning and Research Council of Hamilton, the Hamilton Roundtable for Poverty Reduction and the Hamilton Community Legal Clinic  argues Ontario should put in place additional protections to keep rent increases reasonable and create a healthy market.

The report, which comes less than a week before the provincial election, compares the rental landscapes in Hamilton and Quebec City  two cities of comparable size and growth but with different tenant protection policies, said Sara Mayo, the reports author.

We called this report Out of Control because thats how the rental market feels for tenants, said the SPRC social planner.

In 2017, the annual average rent increase in Hamilton was close to 5 per cent, compared to less than 1.5 per cent in Quebec City.

This is completely unsustainable and out of control, Mayo said. This is a crisis that is being ignored.

Samuel Mason, a staff lawyer at the Hamilton Community Legal Clinic, said its important to note the connection between the increase in applications by landlords to evict tenants and the increase in tenant applications about maintenance.

The report shows a 72 per cent increase in tenant maintenance applications at the boards Southern office, which includes Hamilton, Niagara, Guelph, Brantford, Halton and Simcoe, from 2010-2016. The province-wide increase was 37 per cent over that time.

When the vacancy rate is so low, landlords want to evict tenants because they know they can get tenants with higher incomes or with more assets to come and move in, Mason said. Tenants feel stuck because theyre not able to leave if the landlords not doing the required maintenance because they wont find equal accommodation elsewhere.

While there have been some improvements to the Residential Tenancies Act, including expanding rent control to units built after 1991, Mayo said additional steps need to be taken.

She argued theres often a link made between better protection for tenants and a decreased supply of new rental units, but thats not what data from Quebec shows.

Since 2011, more than 12,000 private rental market units were added in Quebec City compared to fewer than 700 in Hamilton over the same period.

Starting last month, tenants at Stoney Creek Towers near Eastgate Square have been participating in a rent strike over proposed increases and a lack of repairs.

Emily Power, a member of the Hamilton Tenants Solidarity Network, said the suggestions in the report could make a wonderful difference for local tenants but Stoney Creek residents are taking matters into their own hands.

Heres a local example of tenants that are not waiting for laws to change and for politicians to have a change of heart, she said. Theyre fighting themselves.
On Kathleen Wynnes campaign bus there is an old Liberal couch. It was there during the last campaign when she won a historic majority government and became the first woman to be elected premier of Ontario. It was in Justin Trudeaus bus in 2015 when he won the top job in Ottawa. Soft, green and worn, it looks like the corduroy pants that were popular when Wynne first burst onto the political scene in the 1990s, a community organizer and mother of three from North Toronto fighting against then premier Mike Harriss cuts to education, protesting against the megacity.

As part of Citizens for Local Democracy, she railed against the governments plans to cut school boards and was one of a few ushered away by security after showing up at a Queens Park cabinet room, looking to confront the education minister. (Unruffled, she later denounced the megacity to a legislative committee.) She chaired meetings where thousands of people showed up, worried about amalgamation, but she was calm, on top of the agenda.

She has a real presence. I think people realize she hears their opinions, said John Sewell, a former mayor who founded the anti-megacity group, which opposed the provinces amalgamation of former Toronto municipalities. She doesnt want to dispute with them; shes got the ability to find common ground, which is very extraordinary. As a politician, she hardly ever attacks other people in a personal kind of a way.

Two decades ago, she was one of the people who marshalled anger towards change, but now, it appears the anger has ricocheted towards her. With the election days away, the Liberal party, in power since 2003, are polling in third, and her own riding of Don Valley West, where she has been MPP for almost 15 years, is going to be a fight. On Saturday, Wynne conceded that her party cannot win provincewide.

I dont know who voters will choose but I am pretty sure that it wont be me. After Thursday, I will no longer be Ontarios premier, she said in an emotional speech urging voters to vote Liberal to avoid a majority NDP or PC government.

Speaking last week, Wynne said she never hesitated to place herself in the public eye. She said she was kind of a rabble rouser as a child in Richmond Hill  the eldest of four sisters, she was bothered to the core by the inequality she found, especially between men and women.

Read more:

Kathleen Wynne says you may not like her but she can protect against the danger her rivals would pose

Opinion | Martin Regg Cohn: Kathleen Wynnes final gamble aims to save Liberals from the abyss

Opinion | Bob Hepburn: The day Kathleen Wynne lost the 2018 election

I just expected to be treated the same as everybody else, and then not to be really got under my skin, she said.

It was her training as a mediator that helped her turn anger into something constructive, which was helpful during the Harris years, when she helped lead the movement against the cuts. That was amazing hands-on training for dealing with the anger that comes with politics.

But how does it feel to be on the other side of it?

The Harris government was tearing things down. What Im doing is building up, she said as the final week of the campaign approached. I feel that whatever the antipathy is, whatever the anger is, it doesnt have to do with the building that weve been doing.

She believes the anger comes from the changing world, the uncertainty, and that her government has tried to find solutions. She knows the anger is personal too, and has made it a point of her campaign: Im sorry more people dont like me, but not sorry for what Ive done.

Some people have said that sounds disingenuous or arrogant, but I honestly am sorry that whatever has happened in our relationship between me and the people in the province, that there isnt more affection, she said, listing the things she is not sorry for  university tuition for low-income families, prescription medication for those under 25, the minimum wage increase, because they are helping people.

But not everybody is on board with that self-assessment of her time in office. The Ontario director of the Canadian Taxpayers Federation has criticized Ontarios rising debt and this bloated governments wasteful spending. The Progressive Conservatives have also criticized the Liberals for wasting hard-earned tax dollars on schemes that only benefit Liberal insiders and political elites.

In an unprecedented gambit for a sitting premier, Liberal leader Kathleen Wynne on Saturday pleaded with voters to elect as many Grits as possible to prevent a Progressive Conservative or NDP majority government.

New Democrat Leader Andrea Horwath has blamed the Liberals for strikes at post-secondary institutions, including York University, where contract faculty and teaching assistants have been out for months. Horwath has said that Wynnes government squeezed funding, leading to more part-time and casual work, and the current strike. (The Liberals tried to introduce back-to-work legislation before the election, but the NDP blocked it.)

And then, theres hydro. The other parties have been hammering Wynne for the governments sale of a majority stake in Hydro One, the provinces transmission utility. Both the Tories and NDP claim the move has contributed to higher rates, even though those are controlled by an independent regulator and there is no direct correlation between the privatization and prices.

When asked if she has any specific policy regrets, Wynne said that issues around electricity have not been articulated well. She maintains electricity rates went up because of infrastructure investments, but she wishes her government had acted faster to stem the rising costs. (Those rebates have themselves been controversial for using borrowed money). Selling shares in Hydro One  a separate issue, she emphasizes  was not explained very well. The government didnt sell the whole thing, she noted (they sold 53 per cent of the utility) and the part they did sell was so they could build infrastructure. She wouldnt change anything, but she would go about each differently, she said.

Wynne had been sitting at a picnic table deep in the CNE on a sunny Wednesday evening, explaining all of this, when a former staffer of a Windsor MPP came walking through the park with her infant twins and recognized her. It appeared to be a nice break from talking about not being liked, even if the mother warned the babies might cry. Wynne leaned in to the stroller to say hello to the babies in bucket hats. Nobody cried.

Soon, the bus had to leave for the next stop. Wynne cheerfully offered a tour of the back of the bus, behind the pop cans and packs of gum in cup holders, the staffers on computers, the man yelling, Rolling slowly!

Wynnes spouse, Jane Rounthwaite, sat at a table in the back, near a flat screen, and drily chimed in: Thats the TV that doesnt work. There were a handful of greeting cards on the wall, a hamster in a tea cup just popping up to say howdy-do. A new card added every day, words of encouragement from current and former staffers. Wynne said she will keep them after the campaign is finished.

Kathleen is beloved by her staff, said Liberal campaign co-chair Deb Matthews, sitting next to Wynne on the old couch. There is a lot of warmth here, even though outside the bus its a different story.

Why people dont like her, I dont get it, said her old ally Sewell, who agreed with a recent column by John Barber: Shes much better than we deserve.

Maybe that party has been in power too long. I think probably shes wearing all of the problems of (former premier) Dalton McGuinty, but I have the utmost respect for her, he said. I mean how do you deal with the situation where everybody says, Nobody likes you, were not voting for you? Well she is calm and she is rational. I think shes a real star.

In March, Wynnes government announced an election-year budget packed with promises for expanded health care and child care that came with a $6.7-billion deficit. Not long after, the provinces financial accountability office warned the deficit would actually be $11.7 billion this year, not $6.7 billion. The Liberals dispute the assessment.

The financial accountability officer warned about shifting the burden from current taxpayers to young Ontarians and noted that such deficit and debt levels would leave the province vulnerable in a recession.

Wynne said her strategy is to make it clear that the Liberals have a practical plan to help the most people. She says the NDP are too ideological, and she fears a return to Harris-era austerity under a Doug Ford-led PC government. She said he is not giving the costs of his platform because he doesnt want to tell people exactly what they need to hear.

Back when she was social activist Kathleen Wynne, the Star asked her what she thought when then federal finance minister Paul Martin wiped out a $42-billion federal deficit. Wynne said that Martin needed to think about whether hed leave a numerical legacy or a human one.

We get caught up in all this talk about tax cuts and the deficit, but thats not the real stuff of politics, she said in 1999. Thats not what affects peoples lives. Are my children going to be able to work? Will I be 65 years old with my kids still living at home?

Wynne turned 65 in late May, and the social activist has now become the pragmatic politician. Last year, her government tabled a budget with a spending plan that was balanced for the first time since the 2008 recession. But in this election, Wynne is campaigning on a platform of care over cuts, which comes with billion-dollar deficits every year until 2024. On the campaign trail, the Liberals have said they would legislate to direct budget surpluses to pay down Ontarios debt, which has doubled in the past 10 years and is currently $325 billion, a number critics say is unsustainable.

So what will her legacy be? Numerical or human?

I hope its both, the social-activist-turned-premier said. Im in an election campaign to continue building a strong economy, but my idea of a strong economy is an inclusive economy. Having young people able to go to college and university  thats part of the economy.

With files from Kristin Rushowy, Robert Benzie and Star archives

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Its the final week of the election and, according to Kathleen Wynne, the final days of a Liberal government that dates back to 2003.

Wynnes stunning concession Saturday that she will no longer be the premier after Thursdays provincial election has set the stage for a lively finish to the campaign.

The Liberal leader will be in and around the Greater Toronto and Hamilton Area in feverish scramble to save Grit seats and stop either a Progressive Conservative or New Democratic majority victory.

The Stars Queens Park bureau chief Robert Benzie will be covering Wynne on Monday. Joining him is his 13-year-old son, Reed Benzie, who gave a childs eye view of the winning Liberal campaign in 2014 and will see what a difference four years can make.

Progressive Conservative Leader Doug Ford, convinced he has a majority in reach, will only stump in Scarborough on Monday. The Stars Rob Ferguson is covering the Ford campaigns final days.

NDP Leader Andrea Horwath returns to her partys southwestern Ontario stronghold, beginning her day in London, then heading to Sarnia, Leamington, Chatham, and St. Thomas to try to knock out some Tory incumbents. The Stars Kristin Rushowy is covering Horwaths blitz.

On Monday afternoon, watch for the Stars Martin Regg Cohns insights on the campaign.

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Doug Ford is standing by his hand-picked candidate in Scarborough-Guildwood, a Toronto police officer who is now under investigation over a threatening email he insists is fake.

Rival parties are demanding the Progressive Conservative leader drop Roshan Nallaratnam as a candidate in Thursdays election.

The email warns a Tamil community member of consequences for questioning why Nallaratnam didnt go to all-candidates debates in the riding now held by Liberal cabinet minister Mitzie Hunter.

He told me that it was fabricated. I believe him. Hes a young police officer, Ford said Monday afternoon in drizzle outside an Italian bakery in Woodbridge.

Roshans a great candidate and were sticking with him.

Nallaratnam put out his own statement noting every such complaint is reviewed.

I did not send the email in question. The email is a fabrication from an account that does not belong to me. I have not been contacted by Toronto Police Services regarding this matter.

The email in question reads: F----- dont do nasty campaign against me. I will teach the lesson after the election.

Toronto police director of corporate communications Mark Pugash confirmed to the Star on Monday that a professional standards investigation has been started into the allegation against Nallaratnam.

In Sarnia, where her party is hoping to unseat the Conservative incumbent, NDP Leader Andrea Horwath said the allegation a police officer sent the email is disturbing and is yet another example of a candidate of Mr. Fords whose behaviour...is questionable during the election campaign.

Allegations of intimidation and retribution by a member of our police services and a candidate for high office need to be taken with the utmost seriousness, said Liberal campaign co-chair Deb Matthews.

It is incumbent on Ford to demonstrate his standards.

The accusation was first highlighted in a statement from the New Democrats, who are running neck-and-neck with the Conservatives in public opinion polls. It took Ford by surprise earlier in the day at an event in Scarborough Centre with Nallaratnam and other candidates, including former leadership contender Christine Elliott.

I havent seen that...elections get heated, he told reporters, before shifting his response later in the day, when he said, This is about the NDP...getting desperate.

Ford has previously taken aim at radical NDP candidates, including one who is opposed to wearing poppies on Remembrance Day.

He also defended his own comments in a tape released by the Liberals, in which he said in Dryden during an April 9 pre-election stop: Guns dont kill people, crazy people with guns kill people. Safe gun owners, how many times have you ever heard a responsible gun owner killing someone?

Ford said, Im a strong believer in tough gun control.

The accusations come as Ford has been portraying his party and showcasing a handful of candidates as ready to govern.

with files from Ilya Banares

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LONDONBritish civil servants have warned of shortages of food, fuel and medicines within weeks if the U.K. leaves the European Union without a trade deal, a newspaper reported Sunday.

The Sunday Times said government officials have modelled three potential scenarios for a no deal Brexit: mild, severe and Armageddon.

It said under the severe scenario, the English Channel ferry port of Dover would collapse on Day 1 and supermarkets and hospitals would soon run short of supplies.

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Britain wants to strike a deal on future trade relations with the EU before it officially leaves the bloc on March 29, 2019, but officials are also drawing up plans for negotiations ending without an agreement.

The U.K.s Department for Exiting the European Union rejected the downbeat scenario, saying it was drawing up no-deal plans but was confident none of this would come to pass.

Britain and the EU are aiming to strike an overall Brexit agreement by October, so parliaments in other EU nations have time to ratify it before Britain leaves the bloc.

But British Prime Minister Theresa Mays Conservative government is split between ministers who favour a clean-break hard Brexit, that would leave Britain freer to strike new trade deals around the world, and those who want to keep the country closely aligned to the EU, Britains biggest trading partner.

EU leaders are frustrated with what they see as a lack of firm proposals from the U.K. over how to resolve major issues around customs arrangements and the status of the border between Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland. That will be the U.K.s only land border with the EU after Britain leaves the bloc.

Irish Deputy Prime Minister Simon Coveney said Saturday that the U.K. must produce written proposals for the border within two weeks, ahead of a June 28-29 EU summit.

British Home Secretary Sajid Javid said Sunday that the British government would have a good set of proposals to submit to the bloc at its June meeting.

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AMMAN, JORDANJordans King Abdullah II on Monday accepted the resignation of his embattled prime minister and reportedly tapped a leading reformer as a successor, hoping to quell the largest anti-government protests in recent years that are also seen as a potential challenge to his two-decade-old rule.

Jordan is a staunch military and political ally of the West in a turbulent region, and any threat to the kingdoms stability is viewed with concern, particularly by neighbouring Israel and by the United States.

Prime Minister Hani Mulkis resignation came after several days of mass protests across Jordan against a planned tax increase, the latest in a series of economic reforms sought by the International Monetary Fund to get the rising public debt under control. The government has also raised prices for bread, electricity and fuel.

Many Jordanians feel they are being squeezed financially by a government they perceive as corrupt and aloof, and say they are not getting services for the taxes they are asked to pay.

Its not clear if the departure of the business-friendly Mulki will be enough to defuse growing public anger.

Government-linked media said Education Minister Omar Razzaz, a Harvard-educated reformer, has been tapped as Mulkis successor, though the choice was not officially confirmed by Monday evening.

Mulki is to serve as caretaker until his replacement has been named, the state news agency Petra said.

Jordans king is the ultimate decision-maker on policy, but also positions himself as a unifying force above the political fray. He has frequently reshuffled or disbanded governments as a way of quieting criticism.

Protest organizer Ali Abous said a one-day strike set for Wednesday would still take place, despite the Cabinet changes.

We want to change the path, not the individuals, said Abous, who heads an umbrella group for 15 unions and professional associations with half a million members.

Hatem Jarrar, a lawyer, said the resignation of Mulki is a victory for the Jordanian people who demanded to topple the government, adding that protesters would keep pressing demands for rescinding the tax bill.

The recent protests were largely spontaneous, drawing many young people and members of the middle class, rather than being organized by traditional opposition groups such as the Muslim Brotherhood.

In a show of non-violence, protesters raised their hands in the air as they were being pushed away from the prime ministers office by helmeted riot police.

Protest organizers have urged the king to cancel the tax plan, saying it disproportionately targets the poor and the middle class. The king has indicated hes willing to make concessions, saying earlier this week that Jordans citizens cannot be expected to bear the entire burden of economic reform.

Jordans government is under pressure from the International Monetary Fund to carry out economic reforms and austerity measures to rein in growing public debt.

The kingdom has experienced an economic downturn in part because of prolonged conflict in neighbouring Syria and Iraq, and a large influx of refugees several years ago. The official unemployment rate has risen above 18 per cent, and its believed to be double that among young Jordanians.

Abdullah became king in 1999, taking over from his late father, Hussein, and has weathered a series of political crises. During the 2011 Arab Spring uprisings, he promised political reforms, but instead tightened his rule after the outbreak of violent conflicts in the region, including in Syria.

Israel has maintained discreet security ties with Jordan.

Yoav Gallant, a member of Israels security Cabinet and retired general, told foreign journalists in a news conference Monday that its in Israels interest that stability will go back to Jordan as soon as possible.
MANILA, PHILIPPINESPhilippine President Rodrigo Dutertes mouth has landed him in hot water again, this time for kissing a married woman on the lips in front of thousands of his cheering supporters.

Duterte, known for his verbal outbursts and other antics, is being slammed by critics for the kiss, which took place Sunday during a town hall-style meeting with overseas Filipino workers in South Korea. One senator called the act a despicable display of sexism and grave abuse of authority.

Duterte sought a kiss from the woman after he called her on stage to give her a copy of a book at the event in Seoul. When Duterte asked if she can explain to her husband that the antic was just a joke, and she said yes, the president leaned in and kissed her as thousands erupted in cheers.

The scene was beamed live by the state-run TV network to the Philippines.

While the woman has defended the kiss and said she was thrilled by her encounter, others said the president went too far.

President Duterte acted like a feudal king who thinks that being the president is an entitlement to do anything that he pleases, said Sen. Risa Hontiveros, who asked the public not to pass judgment on the woman. Even if the act was consensual, it was the president, possessed of awesome, even intimidating, power, who initiated it.

The left-wing Gabriela womens party condemned Dutertes act, which it said underscored his machismo and misogyny. The macho spectacle, it said, alarmingly makes sexual advances against women look right.

Aside from growing alarm over his bloody crackdown against illegal drugs which has left thousands of mostly poor drug suspects dead, Duterte has come under fire from womens groups for sexist remarks, including one where he told troops to shoot female insurgents in the genitals during a public outburst against communist guerrillas.

Read more:

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He has also publicly kissed women in the past, including at rallies during his campaign for the presidency.

The latest incident came near the end of a two-hour rambling speech, when Duterte offered the crowd a book about alleged corruption and abuse in the Catholic church. He pointed at two women.

Theres payment for this, a kiss. You in white, are you ready to engage in kissing? Come here, the 73-year-old Duterte said as summoned the women to the stage.

One of the women gave the president a peck on the cheek. The other woman reached for the presidents hand and put it on her forehead in a traditional gesture of respect for an elderly. But the president asked her to come closer for a kiss, pointing to his lips.

Amid the roar of the crowd, Duterte asked the woman was married and if her husband was around. He inquired if she could explain to her husband that what they were about to do was just a joke.

She said her husband wasnt around and replied yes to the presidents other question.

Make him jealous, the president said.

Duterte then leaned in and kissed the visibly overwhelmed woman, who screamed in joy and covered her face. He then hugged her.

Dont take that seriously, Duterte later told the crowd. Its just to give people fun.

The woman, who is married to a South Korean and has two daughters, later said in a TV interview that she was thrilled by her face-to-face encounter with the president. She said there was no malice in the presidential kiss, which was meant to dazzle the crowd.

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WASHINGTONThe Supreme Court on Monday dismissed a lower courts decision that allowed an undocumented immigrant teenager to obtain an abortion over the protests of the Trump administration.

The action, which came in an unsigned opinion without noted dissents, throws out a precedent that might allow other teenagers in the same circumstance to obtain an abortion.

But the court did not agree with a request by the presidents lawyers that American Civil Liberties Union lawyers who represented the girl be disciplined for their actions in the case.

Justice Department lawyers said they thought they had a deal with the girls lawyers last year that would have given them time to appeal a ruling of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit that allowed the abortion. Instead, the girl was able to have an abortion before the government lawyers filed, making their request moot and opening the administration to criticism from anti-abortion groups that the Justice Department moved too slowly.

The ACLU said the administrations complaint to the Supreme Court was both extraordinary and baseless, and longtime practitioners before the high court could not remember a similar request that civil rights lawyers be disciplined.

That Solicitor General Noel Francisco went to the court with the complaint says much about the political salience of the abortion issue and the changed nature of the administrations position.

The court said it takes seriously allegations that lawyers tried to keep justices from hearing the case, but also that lawyers have ethical obligations to serve their clients. In the end, it said, it did not need to determine who was at fault to decide to throw out the lower courts decision.

While the Obama administration supported abortion rights, U.S. President Donald Trump has appointed anti-abortion officials to top positions in the departments of Justice and Health and Human Services, as well as other federal departments and agencies.

The Trump administration has enacted a policy of preventing access to abortion services  even though the government is not asked to pay for the procedure  for pregnant teens held in government-funded centres after crossing the border illegally.

Unsealed court documents show that the head of the Office of Refugee Resettlement denied access to abortion services for a 17-year-old who said she had been raped and threatened to harm herself if she could not end her pregnancy.

The offices director, E. Scott Lloyd, denied the teens request over the recommendation of a senior staff member who said the office should assist the teen in getting an abortion, according to the filing.

In explaining his decision, Lloyd said in a December memo that the government office cannot be a place of refuge while we are at the same time a place of violence. He added, We have to choose, and we ought to choose [to] protect life rather than to destroy it.

The ACLU is representing a class of undocumented teenagers challenging the policy.

In the case before the Supreme Court, a Central American teenager identified as Jane Doe was being held in a government-funded shelter last fall, and her lawyers say she had been seeking an abortion since learning shortly after she crossed the border that she was pregnant.

She persuaded a Texas judge that she was mature enough to make the decision to end the pregnancy without the notification of her parents, whom she said she feared, according to her lawyers.

But the administration said it would not facilitate abortions for undocumented minors in federal custody.

A federal district judge ordered the abortion to proceed, but a three-judge panel of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit stopped the process. The panel said it was preferable that the government find a sponsor for the girl, which would take the government out of helping her receive an abortion.

The full circuit court reversed that decision in a 6-3 ruling on Oct. 24, followed a few hours later by a new order from the district judge. That started the race that night. For the solicitor generals office, it was to get the issue before the Supreme Court. For lawyers for the girl, it was to get her the abortion. She was 15 weeks pregnant at the time.

Texas law requires medical counselling at least 24 hours in advance of an abortion by the same physician who performs the procedure. It was unclear whether the doctor who provided the teenager counselling on Oct. 19 would be available to perform the abortion.

Francisco said the government relied on the word of the girls lawyers that she would not be able to obtain the abortion without waiting another 24 hours, and so the government delayed its request to the Supreme Court to slow down the process and review the appeals court ruling.

But the original doctor made himself available, and he performed the abortion before the government could file its petition.

Francisco said the government was misled.

Members of the Bar of this Court, particularly in the context of emergency proceedings, often rely on  and should be safe in relying on  the duty of counsel to update statements that have become materially false, let alone as a result of counsels own conduct, the governments brief states.

The ACLU retained longtime Supreme Court practitioner Carter Phillips to tell the court that the solicitor generals request finds no support in the facts or the law.

To suggest that the ACLUs lawyers had a duty to facilitate the government in trying to overturn the court ruling their client had won would turn counsels ethical obligations on their head, Phillips wrote.

The government could have immediately taken the appeals court ruling to the Supreme Court as soon as it was issued, Phillips wrote.

They inexplicably failed to do so, Phillips said, and cannot now blame respondents counsel for the consequences of their own inaction.
It has been announced that Sharpe Sam p,3,1:53.2s ($124,857) passed away on Monday (June 4) at the age of 25.

Sharpe Sam was an Ohio Sires Stakes winner at ages two and three.

After his racing career, he was adopted by Michelle Higgins.

He was not only a great racehorse, but he was also a champion in the New Jersey Standardbred horse shows as well as a lifelong companion.

He was a truly amazing soul.

Please join Standardbred Canada in offering condolences to the connections of Sharpe Sam.

(Meredith Higgins)
WASHINGTONU.S. President Donald Trump asserted his presidential power and escalated his efforts to discredit the special counsel Russia probe Monday, declaring he has the absolute right to pardon himself and attacking the investigation as totally UNCONSTITUTIONAL!

Trumps comments on Twitter came a day after attorney Rudy Giuliani played down the possibility that the president could pardon himself, suggesting he might have that authority but would be unwise to use it.

Pardoning himself would be unthinkable and probably lead to immediate impeachment, Giuliani, a member of Trumps legal team, told NBCs Meet the Press on Sunday. And he has no need to do it, hes done nothing wrong.

On Twitter Monday, Trump said: As has been stated by numerous legal scholars, I have the absolute right to PARDON myself, but why would I do that when I have done nothing wrong? He then again decried special counsel Robert Muellers probe as a never ending Witch Hunt.

Trump later added that the appointment of the Special Counsel is totally UNCONSTITUTIONAL! Despite that, we play the game because I, unlike the Democrats, have done nothing wrong!

Trumps legal team is making clear that it will combat any effort to force the president to testify in front of a grand jury. Giuliani on Sunday underscored one of the main arguments in a newly unveiled letter sent by Trumps lawyers to Mueller back in January: A president cant be given a grand jury subpoena as part of the investigation into foreign meddling in the 2016 election.

But Giuliani, in a series of television interviews, broke with one of their bolder arguments in the letter that a president could not have committed obstruction of justice because he has ultimate authority over any federal investigation.

Yet the former New York City mayor, who was not on the legal team when the letter was written, added that Trump probably does have the power to pardon himself, an assertion challenged by legal scholars. He says the presidents legal team hasnt discussed that option, which many observers believe could plunge the nation into a constitutional crisis.

I think the political ramifications would be tough, Giuliani told ABCs This Week. Pardoning other people is one thing, pardoning yourself is tough.

White House spokesperson Sarah Huckabee Sanders responded to questions about the Presidents assessment of his own powers, telling reporters, Certainly no one is above the law.

Thankfully the President hasnt done anything wrong and therefore wouldnt need (a pardon), Sanders said.

She also defended Trumps assertion that the special counsel investigation into Russian election meddling is unconstitutional  even though it is overseen by his administrations Justice Department.

Sanders refused to explain a contradiction between her public statements and a memo from the Presidents outside counsel obtained by The New York Times. Sanders says Trump certainly didnt dictate a statement from his eldest son about a campaign-period meeting with a Russian lawyer.

Trumps lawyers said he did.

Trump has issued two unrelated pardons in recent days and discussed others, a move that has been interpreted as a possible signal to allies ensnared in the Russia probe.

The letter is dated Jan. 29 and addressed to Mueller from John Dowd, a Trump lawyer who has since resigned from the legal team. Mueller has requested an interview with the president to determine whether he had criminal intent to obstruct the investigation into his associates possible links to Russias election interference.

Giuliani said Sunday that a decision about an interview would not be made until after Trumps summit with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un on June 12 in Singapore, and he cast doubt that it would occur at all.

I mean, were leaning toward not, Giuliani told ABC. But look, if they can convince us that it will be brief, it would be to the point, there were five or six points they have to clarify, and with that, we can get this  this long nightmare for the  for the American public over.

Read more:

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In addition to the legal battles, Trumps team and allies have waged a public-relations campaign against Mueller and the Justice Department to discredit the investigation and soften the impact of the special counsels potential findings. Giuliani said last week that the special counsel probe may be an entirely illegitimate investigation and need to be curtailed because, in his estimation, it was based on inappropriately obtained information from an informant and Comeys memos.

In reality, the FBI began a counter-intelligence investigation in July 2016 to determine if Trump campaign associates were co-ordinating with Russia to tip the election. The investigation was opened after the hacking of Democratic emails that intelligence officials later formally attributed to Russia.

Trumps team has requested a briefing about the informant, but Giuliani said Sunday that the president would not order the Justice Department to comply because it would negatively affect public opinion. But he continued to cast doubt on the special counsels eventual findings, suggesting that Trump has already offered explanations for the matters being investigated and that the special counsel was biased against the president.

For every one of these things he did, we can write out five reasons why he did it, Giuliani said. If four of them are completely innocent and one of them is your assumption that its a guilty motive, which (Trump) would deny, you cant possibly prosecute him.

Trumps legal team has long pushed the special counsel to narrow the scope of its interview. Giuliani also suggested that Trumps lawyers had been incorrect when they denied that the president was involved with the letter that offered an explanation for Donald Trump Jr.s 2016 Trump Tower meeting with Russians who offered damaging information on Democrat Hillary Clinton.

This is the reason you dont let the president testify, Giuliani told ABC. Our recollection keeps changing, or were not even asked a question and somebody makes an assumption.

If Trump does not consent to an interview, Mueller will have to decide whether to go forward with a historic grand jury subpoena. His team raised the possibility in March of subpoenaing the president, but it is not clear if it is still under active consideration.

A court battle is likely if Trumps team argues that the president cant be forced to answer questions or be charged with obstruction of justice. President Bill Clinton was charged with obstruction in 1998 by the House of Representatives as part of his impeachment trial. And one of the articles of impeachment prepared against President Richard Nixon in 1974 was for obstruction.

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LONDONA London teenager was convicted Monday of plotting an attack on the British Museum after failing in her ambition of becoming a jihadi bride in Syria.

A jury at the Central Criminal Court found 18-year-old Safaa Boular guilty of preparing acts of terrorism. Her mother and sister admitted helping her, making the case Britains first involving an all-female cell of Daesh-inspired plotters.

Prosecutors said Boular plotted a grenade and gun attack in messages exchanged with an older Daesh (also known as ISIS or ISIL) fighter in Syria. She hoped to marry him, but he was killed in 2017.

After Boular was arrested in April 2017 for trying to travel to Syria, she worked to enlist her older sister Rizlaine to carry out an attack. In phone calls with her sister and mother from prison, she used code words that referred to an attack as an Alice In Wonderland-themed tea party.

Rizlaine Boular, 22, said she knew a few recipes for some amazing cakes for a proper like English tea party kind of thing.

Prosecutors said Rizlaine Boular bought knives and a knapsack and carried out reconnaissance of London landmarks with the sisters mother, Mina Dich.

She and her mother pleaded guilty to terrorism offences. All three will be sentenced later.

This involved a family with murderous intent, the first all-female terrorist plot in the UK connected to (Daesh),Metropolitan Police counterterrorism chief Dean Haydon said.

As a family unit, they are pretty dysfunctional, Haydon added.

The British Museum houses important artifacts and art works acquired during the heyday of the British Empire, including the Rosetta Stone and sculptures from the Parthenon in Athens.

Read more:

Alleged Daesh supporter changes plea to guilty in Prince George plot

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WASHINGTONThe Supreme Court ruled Monday for a Colorado baker who wouldnt make a wedding cake for a same-sex couple in a limited decision that leaves for another day the larger issue of whether a business can invoke religious objections to refuse service to gay and lesbian people.

The justices decision turned on what the court described as anti-religious bias on the Colorado Civil Rights Commission when it ruled against baker Jack Phillips. The justices voted 7-2 that the commission violated Phillips rights under the First Amendment.

The case had been eagerly anticipated as, variously, a potentially strong statement about the rights of LGBTQ people or the courts first ruling carving out exceptions to an anti-discrimination law. In the end, the decision was modest enough to attract the votes of liberal and conservative justices on a subject that had the potential for sharp division.

Justice Anthony Kennedy said in his majority opinion that the larger issue must await further elaboration in the courts. Appeals in similar cases are pending, including one at the Supreme Court from a florist who didnt want to provide flowers for a same-sex wedding.

The disputes, Kennedy wrote, must be resolved with tolerance, without undue disrespect to sincere religious beliefs, and without subjecting gay persons to indignities when they seek goods and services in an open market.

The same-sex couple at the heart of the case, Charlie Craig and Dave Mullins, complained to the Colorado commission in 2012 after they visited Phillips Masterpiece Cakeshop in suburban Denver and the baker quickly told them he would not create a cake for their wedding celebration. They were married in Massachusetts because same sex marriage was not yet legal in Colorado.

Colorado law prohibits discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation, and the commission concluded that Phillips refusal violated the law, despite Phillips argument that he is opposed to same-sex marriage on religious grounds. Colorado state courts upheld the determination.

But when the justices heard arguments in December, Kennedy was plainly bothered by comments by a commission member that the justice said disparaged religion. The commissioner seemed neither tolerant nor respectful of Mr. Phillips religious beliefs, Kennedy said in December.

That same sentiment coursed through his opinion Monday. The commissions hostility was inconsistent with the First Amendments guarantee that our laws be applied in a manner that is neutral toward religion, he wrote.

Read more:

Court rules against Oregon bakers who refused to make same-sex wedding cake

Liberal justices Stephen Breyer and Elena Kagan joined the conservative justices in the outcome. Kagan wrote separately to emphasize the limited ruling.

Justices Ruth Bader Ginsburg and Sonia Sotomayor dissented. There is much in the courts opinion with which I agree, Ginsburg wrote of Kennedys repeated references to protecting the rights of gay people. I strongly disagree, however, with the courts conclusion that Craig and Mullins should lose this case.

The Trump administration intervened in the case on Phillips behalf, and Attorney General Jeff Sessions praised the decision. The First Amendment prohibits governments from discriminating against citizens on the basis of religious beliefs. The Supreme Court rightly concluded that the Colorado Civil Rights Commission failed to show tolerance and respect for Mr. Phillips religious beliefs, Sessions said.

A Colorado cake baker and the same-sex couple for whom he declined to make a wedding cake were all at the Supreme Court to witness arguments in the case on Dec. 7, 2017. (The Associated Press)

President Donald Trump was unusually vague about the decision, simply tweeting, Big Supreme Court ruling for Baker just out!  more than 11 hours later.

Kristen Waggoner, the Alliance Defending Freedom senior counsel who argued Phillips case, said the court was right to condemn the commissions open antagonism toward Phillips religious beliefs about marriage.

Waggoner said Phillips is willing to sell ready-made products to anyone who enters his store. But, he simply declines to express messages or celebrate events that violate his deeply held beliefs, she said.

Phillips was at his shop Monday morning, where he was busy answering the phone and getting congratulations from his supporters in person, including his pastor. One woman brought him balloons and others hugged him.

The American Civil Liberties Union, which represented the couple in its legal fight, said it was pleased the court did not endorse a broad religion-based exemption from anti-discrimination laws.

We read this decision as a reaffirmation of the courts long-standing commitment to civil rights protections and the reality that the states have the power to protect everyone in America from discrimination, including lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people, said James Esseks, director of the ACLU LGBT & HIV Project.

Waggoner and Esseks disagreed about the rulings effect on Phillips wedding cake business. Waggoner said her client can resume his refusal to make cakes for same-sex marriages without fear of a new legal fight. But Esseks said that if another same-sex couple were to ask Phillips for a wedding cake, I see no reason in this opinion that Masterpiece Cakeshop is free to turn them away.

Craig, one of the plaintiffs, said Monday night he will continue to fight against discrimination. He told supporters during a rally at the Colorado Capitol that he and his partner brought the case because no one should have to face the shame, embarrassment and humiliation of being told we dont serve your kind here.

Several other legal disputes are pending over wedding services, similar to the Phillips case. In addition to florists, video producers and graphic artists are among business owners who say they oppose same-sex marriage on religious grounds and dont want to participate in same-sex weddings.

Barronelle Stutzman, a florist in Richland, Washington, has appealed a state Supreme Court ruling that found she violated state law for refusing to provide the wedding flowers for two men who were about to be married.

The justices could decide what to do with that appeal by the end of June.
If you were born in the last 30 years, chances are you spend hours every day on your smartphone and rarely look up. In 2016, 76 per cent of Canadians owned a smartphone, and that number is increasing rapidly every year.

We have lived most of our lives in a world where smartphones are commonplace and were only just starting to understand the impact of these devices on youth mental health.

As members of Boys and Girls Clubs of Canadas National Youth Council, we are responsible for representing youth in our communities and have seen first-hand the debilitating effect devices can have on teens lives.

In a recent article, psychologist Jean Twenge wrote that it is not an exaggeration to describe Igen as being on the brink of the worst mental-health crisis in decades. Much of this deterioration can be traced to their phones.

We need to work together to protect ourselves, and future generations, from the effect of technology on mental health. This is why we called on all Canadians to join us on June 1 for BGCCs new initiative Unplug to Connect and spend one hour away from their devices, engaging with family, friends, and peers face-to-face.

At Boys and Girls Clubs, youth spend time away from their phones every day, and we know thats part of the reason our clubs foster supportive, lasting relationships that help young people live happier, healthier lives.

The research agrees: young people who have regular, meaningful interactions with others are more likely to say theyre in better health than those who spend a significant amount of time on social media.

Take a vote

When young people are part of a welcoming, co-operative community, they have a reason to put away their phones and interact with those around them.

Its easy to understand why social media can take a toll on self-esteem, when posts are carefully curated to show only the best aspects of someones life. While its easy to acknowledge that social media is not a reflection of reality, it can be hard to separate what you see on social media from real life.

Canadians are spending almost five hours a day on their phones, and the problem isnt just what theyre looking at, its also what theyre looking away from.

When youre on your phone constantly, you can forget what it means to have a genuine interaction with somebody. You can lose the ability to live in the moment and, even if youre surrounded by friends, its possible to feel completely isolated.

Its not realistic to ask people to throw away their smartphones. However, we can advocate for moderation. Less time on digital media, and more time socializing face-to-face  an activity that is linked to greater happiness.

You can find more information at unplugtoconnect.ca, or by following @BGCCAN on social media.
What do the Trump tariffs on Canadian aluminum and steel, announced last week, have to do with the transition to a low-carbon economy? When it comes to my steel fabrication company in Cambridge, Ont., quite a bit actually.

The threat of the Trump tariffs has been hanging over my company since January. There have been price escalations by our suppliers and cancelled orders by our customers, as everyone prepared for the worst.

It has been an economic shock on the scale of the 2008 recession. Yet finding innovative ways to remain competitive is in the DNA of this industry. And the cost-saving innovations that VeriForm introduced to reduce carbon emissions and to adapt to the low-carbon economy, beginning in 2006, are a big part of why we will weather the current Trump storm.

Its also what puts me firmly in favour of environmental regulations, including Ontarios cap-and-trade system, which has been putting a price on carbon since January 2017. These initiatives push businesses to become competitive in the fast-evolving low-carbon economy, and to develop a low-carbon advantage that can make them more resilient to shocks.

VeriForm has the numbers to prove it.

In 2006, we invested $46,000 to upgrade equipment and improve the energy efficiency of our plant. At the time, there wasnt a price on carbon pushing us to make these improvements, but there were incentive programs to help make it easier. They were enough to convince us to cough up the money.

The outcome was astonishing. In the first year our energy costs dropped by 58 per cent. The equipment improvements paid themselves off in six months. Over the following 11 years, we instituted another 100 small and large efficiency upgrades to cut our utility costs even further. Our green team of employees also identified simple, low-tech solutions to save energy, like limit switches and timers on boilers and compressors, zoning lighting throughout the plant, and occupancy sensors.

These investments have added up to more than $2 million in cost savings, helping to keep the business afloat during the recession and positioning us to grow our workforce by 25 per cent.

For those tracking the environmental impact, the upgrades also reduced VeriForms carbon emissions by a whopping 77 per cent: from 262 tonnes down to just 60 tonnes per year. If every polluter in Canada achieved this level of reduction, we would meet our 2030 targets under the Paris Agreement twice over. VeriForm managed to achieve this in just 12 years, with the majority of our financial returns materializing in the first three to four years.

Thats led me to believe that we need to reframe the problem. Its not that cutting carbon emissions will cost businesses. Instead, carbon emissions need to be recognized for costing Canadian businesses billions of dollars in lost profits.

VeriForms analysis determined that every tonne of carbon emissions actually costs the company $900 per year. Thats a startling figure, considering that Ontario charged just $18 per tonne through its 2017 cap-and-trade auctions. Now theres an incentive to go carbon neutral.

Small and medium-sized businesses are the backbone of Ontarios economy. Smart environmental regulations, including a price on carbon, strengthen that backbone by pushing businesses to reduce their emissions, unlock clean innovations, and cut the costs that carbon pollution imposes on them.

This way of thinking is gaining momentum in boardrooms and shop floors across the country, spurred on in Ontario by the cap-and-trade program and other initiatives.

Its that kind of innovation that keeps our industries resilient to the economic shocks that frequently come along. This time its Trumps antics, next time it will be something else.

To politicians who propose to dismantle government initiatives that help prepare Ontarios businesses for the low-carbon economy, I say it would be folly to stamp them out. It only exposes Ontario businesses to greater risk.

And in many ways, I owe my companys survival right now to a definitively low-carbon advantage.

Paul Rak is the owner of VeriForm, a metal fabrication business in Cambridge, Ontario.

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Theres a paradox at the heart of this weeks Ontario election.

The political centre of this traditionally centrist province has evaporated, at least for now. With the collapse of the Liberals hope for victory, the only parties with a realistic chance of forming government are campaigning from the populist right and the social democratic left. Theres no middle option.

Yet theres scant evidence that, as a society, Ontario is much more polarized than before. Weve seen outbreaks of extremist opinion, but no mass movements to the far right or the hard left.

Ontarians still hew to centrist values when it comes to the big issues  the role of government, health care, immigration and so on. Whichever government is elected on Thursday will ignore that at its peril. It should not confuse an electoral victory with a mandate for radical change.

Of course, its worrisome enough that the province may soon be run by a Progressive Conservative government led by a premier Doug Ford. His track record, his rhetoric and his partys program (such as it is) poses a threat to the progressive social legacy built up over decades in Ontario under governments of all political colourations.

We believe voters should make sure that doesnt happen and, as we wrote on Saturday, in most ridings that means backing Andrea Horwaths New Democrats.

The danger of a Ford government is real. If the PCs gain power, and especially if they win a majority, Ford can do real damage.

But if Ford does win (and thats far from certain) it wont be because hes riding to power on an angry wave of populist resentment crying out for a profound restructuring of government and the social order.

Ontarians are clearly fed up with the Liberals after 15 years and want a change at Queens Park. But they arent questioning the fundamental values that Ontarians (and indeed Canadians as a whole) have shared for decades, including a robust role for government in assuring the economic and social well-being of all citizens. What were seeing in Ontario is essentially an electoral phenomenon, rather than a big social change.

Under our voting system the PCs could form a majority government with as little as 37 or 38 per cent of the vote. They might even get a majority while winning fewer votes than the NDP, say the experts.

Thats because our system is designed to produce majority governments even when no party gets most of the votes. Thats its strength, and its weakness as well. It emphasizes stability over a fair representation of public opinion.

As a result, Ontarians may well end up with a majority Ford government after 60 per cent of them have cast votes for parties that support progressive values  Liberal, NDP or Green.

It would be much more worrisome if we were witnessing a deeper shift in public priorities and values. That would be true if the rise of Ford-style populism was accompanied, for example, by a drift away from faith in public health care and public education, or by a significant rise in xenophobia and anti-immigrant sentiment.

Thats the hallmark of U.S.-style populism under Donald Trump, and its easy to draw parallels between Ford and the American president. Both are rich guys offering simplistic solutions and lashing out at so-called elites.

But xenophobia a la Trump hasnt been a significant part of the Ford campaign, and for very good reasons. As pollster Michael Adams of Environics has pointed out, 40 per cent of the country is made up of immigrants and first-generation Canadians  and the number is even higher in Ontario and especially the Toronto area, where they are a majority. It would be political idiocy for a major party leader to demonize immigrants here.

Still, there is real resentment among those left behind by economic and technological change. Both the PCs and NDP are, in their own ways, capitalizing on that anger. But it doesnt run as deep as in some parts of the U.S., where rustbelt communities have been left to rot for generations with little government help. Ontarios social safety net is much more robust and has been strengthened under the Liberals, both provincial and federal.

The result of all this is that we havent joined the U.S. in a slide toward bitter, angry populism of the Trump variety. As Adams documented last year in his book Could It Happen Here? Canada in the Age of Trump and Brexit, Canadians (very much including Ontarians) have moved significantly away from Americans politically over the past decade or so. Weve actually become more wedded to values of equality, openness and social justice, just as the U.S. turned its back on those same values.

The bottom line? No one should confuse the apparent collapse of Ontarios political centre (or simply of the Liberal party in a single electoral cycle) with a fundamental shift in the provinces social and political values. This is still a province that puts a high premium on social solidarity, civil political discourse, and a robust role for government. Its bred in the bone.

If Fords PCs do manage to win and interpret their electoral majority as a mandate to turn their back on Ontarios bedrock progressive tradition, they will quickly discover that theyve made a fundamental mistake.

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Its easy for young people to be cynical about politics.

On top of the toxic partisanship and inability to see beyond the next election cycle that contributes to public disdain for politicians, young people often dont see themselves reflected among those who get elected, or see the issues most relevant to them put front and centre.

But this weeks Ontario election is very much about the future of the province  their future.

The main issues go well beyond health care and taxes, the perennial ones that drive older, more established voters. This time, affordable housing and daycare, cheaper university tuition, free dental care and prescription drug coverage and a higher minimum wage  all issues that directly affect a younger voting demographic  are in play.

The two leading parties  Andrea Horwaths New Democrats and Doug Fords Progressive Conservatives  have put forward very different policies to guide Ontario.

The NDPs platform, which includes promises to act on all the key issues affecting young voters, looks to the future and seeks to create a province where prosperity is more equitably shared. Fords campaign has spent more time looking in the rear-view mirror, conjuring up images of an Ontario long past.

This should be just the sort of stark choice that drives young voters to polling stations on Thursday. But will it?

If history is any indicator, far too many will let this opportunity pass them by.

Overall, voter turnout in Ontario is among the lowest in Canada. Its been declining since the 1990s and hovered around the 50 per cent mark in the last two provincial elections.

Among voters in the 18-24 age bracket its believed to be closer to 30 per cent, Ontarios chief electoral officer has said.

Ontarios youth, of course, are not alone in voting in fewer numbers than their parents and grandparents.

In the 2015 federal election voter turnout was 68 per cent overall. And though the youngest voters (18-24) cast ballots in far greater numbers than during the 2011 election, they still lagged at 57 per cent, while the 65-74 age group posted a 79-per-cent turnout.

Young people dont vote, its often said, because they dont think their vote will make a difference. But there are plenty of examples that show it can make a big difference.

Ontario's three main party leaders squared off May 7 in the first debate before Junes provincial election. Andrea Horwath, Kathleen Wynne and Doug Ford were asked after the debate how they plan to combat criticisms they face. (The Canadian Press)

It was young voters, engaged by Justin Trudeaus social media-savvy campaign and promise to legalize cannabis,who sealed his Liberal majority in 2015. South of the border, a youthquake helped deliver Barack Obama to the White House in 2008.

At the same time, the cost of youth not voting can be steep. Theres no better example than Brexit, the narrow decision for the U.K. to leave the European Union.

Young people overwhelmingly wanted to stay, and while they did vote in greater numbers than usual they didnt turn out in equal numbers to older voters who opted to leave.

An analysis by the polling firm Campaign Research suggests the Ontario election has caught the attention of millennials.

When asked, 43 per cent indicated they were extremely likely to vote with a further 34 per cent saying very likely.

Most people know they should vote so they routinely overestimate their likelihood of doing so. Still, we hope this is a sign that young voters are paying attention and will turn up at the polls in greater numbers than ever before.

Governments elected with the support of a wide population base, one that includes young people, are likely to be more responsive to them all once in power. In short: voting matters.

For the past four weeks, the party leaders and candidates have had their say. On June 7, its your turn. Please take it.

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The deadline to legalize marijuana may have been pushed back, but establishing an amnesty for pot convictions remains urgent.

Marijuana legalization has had a winding road. After 14 months of debate and discussion, Bill C-45 goes before the Senate on Thursday for a final vote; if all goes well, it goes back to the House Commons before receiving royal assent.

The flaws in the marijuana legalization process are deeply troubling. When Bill Blair, the former Toronto Police chief and Liberal MP, was put in charge of the file, there was much chin-scratching. Hed headed up a police service that disproportionately arrested Black people for marijuana possession, and there appeared to be a contradiction in asking him to lead the process of making pot legal.

A Toronto Star analysis of a decades worth of data from 2003-2013 found that Toronto police arrested 11,299 people whose skin colour was noted  and who had no prior convictions  for possessing up to 30 grams of marijuana. These individuals were not on parole or probation when arrested. Black people comprised 25.2 percent of arrests when they only made up 8.4 percent of the citys population according to the 2006 census. This disproportionality falls firmly within the era when Blair was head of Toronto police.

The jailer, it seemed, was put in charge of correcting the injustice.

That correction has not come about. If anything, the contradictions that the Bill Blair appointment surfaced have only deepened.

Because he is not the only former cop with an apparent conflict of interest. A former RCMP head, another ex-Toronto police chief, a former police chief from Abbotsford, B.C., a former head of the Vancouver drug squad  theyre but a few of the many ex-police now involved in marijuana-based businesses.

While police are set to profit from legalization, a key part is still missing from the existing legislation: amnesty for people with convictions related to pot. The Liberal government is quick to acknowledge the existing harms of marijuana as an illegal drug. At a conference in Montreal last month, Bill Blair said, I have to tell you from experience, I know a ton of people  and Im sure many of you people have had this experience in this room  as a result of a youthful indiscretion or some choices they made when they were younger, they have this criminal record.

And yet, they have not added in amnesty as a key part of their legalization plan.

In fact, theyve said that amnesty is something they might consider, but only after legalization has been completed. A group called the Campaign for Cannabis Amnesty has put together an amendment to the existing legislation that will grant amnesty for simple possession. Lawyer Annamaria Enenajor, who is with the group, told NOW Magazine, Its really disheartening to see how people who have had their lives torn apart (are) completely left out of the conversation.

Many of those people are Black and Indigenous. Estimates put the number of affected people between half a million to one million. Yet their government remains unconcerned about their prospects while enriching the police officers who arrested them.

Marijuana legalization is set to become the law, but for far too many people the injustice remains.
To the surprise of no one except herself, Bloc Quebecois Leader Martine Ouellet has lost her bid to remain at the helm of the federal sovereigntist party. On the weekend, two-thirds of the remaining BQ members showed her the door.

The verdict could not have been clearer. Still, it took Ouellet almost 24 hours to acknowledge that she had finally run out of options.

A Martian landing on Earth in the middle of her parting news conference on Monday might have thought she was launching a purge of her party, rather than bowing out after decisively losing the confidence of its members.

Ouellet prefaced her resignation with a 30-minute lecture, more than half of which was spent taking shots at those who had called on her to resign. The list included everyone from former leader Gilles Duceppe and the party president who initially recruited her to the majority of MPs who left her caucus in protest over her leadership.

She said there were much worse sovereigntist leaders than she was. She did not name names. She asserted that the main reason Quebec was not yet a country was because a sick sovereignty movement was squandering its energies on internal machinations.

In fairness to Ouellet, she did succeed where a succession of federalist leaders had failed  managing to lower the support for her party to such historical lows that it would have been wiped off the map if an election had been held this spring.

Caught in a storm in no small part of her own making, she responded by insisting on staying at the helm even after it became clear that she would bring the ship down with her.

It would be tempting to bury the BQ along with its latest leader. After all, it is not as if the federal sovereigntist party had been in great shape to begin with. And unless it brings back in the fold the dissident MPs who plan to create a rival party, the Bloc is surely doomed.

But provided it restores the unity of its caucus, the party still has a few cards left to play in next years federal election.

By any measure, the Bloc is better off without Ouellet as leader. It will not be hard to find a replacement who is not as abrasive or as devoid of listening skills.

Her permanent replacement will presumably not be selected until after the Quebec election on Oct. 1. If Jean-Francois Lisees Parti Quebecois finishes third, as the polls currently suggest, its defeat could free up more talent for the Bloc.

A PQ defeat could also render moot the relatively pointless internal debate that has raged within the federal party about how much of its work should focus on the promotion of sovereignty.

While the Bloc has been feuding, the pipeline war has heated up. There is a significant anti-pipeline constituency in Quebec and it has been mobilizing against Justin Trudeaus decision to take the lead on the completion of the Trans Mountain expansion project

In next years election, the Bloc will be competing with the New Democrats for that anti-pipeline vote. Jagmeet Singh has miles to go before he has a profile on par with that of Thomas Mulcair or Jack Layton in Quebec, and his party has dismal numbers in the province to show for that. If the BQ gets its leadership sorted out, it could poach some of the 2015 NDP vote.

In a year-end Leger poll, done before the leadership crisis, the sovereigntist party was ahead of the Singh-led NDP by six points in Quebec. In that poll, the BQ was also tied with the Conservatives.

Since then, Conservative Leader Andrew Scheer has launched a charm offensive in Quebec, but its impact stands to be severely limited by the partys increasingly vocal pro-pipeline stance.

In the House of Commons last week, the Conservative opposition reacted to the federal governments purchase of the Trans Mountain pipeline by calling on the Liberals to get behind the resurrection of the Energy East project.

The PQ and the Bloc always had the highest hopes for the pipeline Trans Canada initially wanted to build to link the oilfields to the Atlantic Coast. Outside of the pro-pipeline camp, few were as sorry to see the project abandoned as those two parties. Sovereigntist strategists, among others, believe a federal attempt to force a pipeline through Quebec could be just what the doctor ordered for a flagging secessionist movement.

If Scheer is determined to go into next years campaign with a platform that promises to double down on pipeline politics, he will be offering a grateful BQ the breath of life.

Chantal Hebert is a national affairs writer. Her column appears Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday.

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If kids cant wait to get to the playground, parents cant wait to leave. For the young, the playground is a place of fun and excitement; for adults its a place where anything can go wrong. At a time when something as simple as letting kids to walk to school has become unthinkable, no one should be surprised playgrounds are so hotly contested. Sometimes quite literally.

The issue heated last week when the city boarded up a metal slide at Corktown Common and put up a sign. Caution, it warned. Playground equipment may be HOT. No kidding, especially in direct sunshine when the temperature hits the 30s. The mayor wasnt impressed. He wondered why there werent trees to shade the slide. In fact, there are trees nearby, but theyre not big enough to cast much shadow.

No surprise then that the nanny state has made the playground a battleground where a war rages between those who believe kids must be protected from themselves and others who say play is how kids learn. The latter dont deny playgrounds can be dangerous but, they argue, the risks are worth taking.

Obviously, burning hot metallic slides play into the hands of the Nervous Nellies. And indeed, one cant help wonder why some other material wasnt used. But do we really need to be told that playground equipment gets hot? So does sand, asphalt and stone. And its not just summer, or playgrounds. In winter the problem is slippery trip hazards.

No one should be surprised that we have turned playgrounds into spaces of sterility and boredom. Far from being death traps, the contemporary version comes with everything but safety belts and helmets. What does it say about the city that its infinitely more dangerous getting to and from a playground than using one?

As Scott Fraser and Marco Di Buono explain, however, a new model playground will soon appear in Toronto. President and Operations Manager respectively of Canadian Tire Jumpstart Charities, they are preparing for the opening this fall of a 15,000-square-foot playground at Earl Bales Park. The motivation behind the $1.2-million facility, Fraser says, is to give kids autonomy to play.

There is a critical need for inclusive playgrounds where all kids of all abilities can play autonomously and independently, he continues. It needs a place to interact but also quiet zones where kids on the spectrum can isolate themselves for a little bit.

To eliminate barriers, the ground will be surfaced in recycled tires, which Canadian Tire has in abundance, not the usual sand or wood chips, which are tough to negotiate in a wheelchair. And before you ask, slides will face north to avoid over-heating.

Play is critical to the development of kids, Di Buono notes. Weve been working for a number of years with Rick Hansen Foundation and Canadian Paralympic Committee to gain an understanding of kids play and kids sport.

Of course, not every playground looks like a playground. When Trillium Park opened on the waterfront a year ago, there wasnt a slide, swing or see-saw in sight. But kids loved it from the start. They played on rocks instead of equipment. Arranged cleverly to allow climbing, hiding and jumping, the boulders sat on sand, grass or other boulders. Naturally, the park is a kid-magnet. It provides a backdrop to endless play, solitary and in groups. Changes in grade provide yet another source of fun. What more could a kid want?

Trillium Park reminds us that the main ingredient of play is imagination; everything else is peripheral. The advent of the junk playground in Copenhagen during the Second World War made that abundantly clear. Assembled from old tires, discarded furniture, wooden planks, bricks, netting and the like, these post-apocalyptic fun zones seem incredibly dangerous by todays standards. The closest youd come in Toronto would be an illegal dump site. Back then, kids set fires and happily gathered around. Here, police would be called and some under-age delinquent dragged off to headquarters in handcuffs.

It goes without saying, kids loved them. If play is about experiencing danger, controlling fear and testing limits, junk playgrounds are the best. But ask any parent, fun is much too serious to be left to kids.
When it comes to the North American Free Trade Agreement, Justin Trudeau faces a stark choice.

The prime minister can either capitulate to the demands of U.S. President Donald Trump. Or he can begin to prepare Canada for a world without NAFTA.

There is no middle way.

If this wasnt obvious before, it should be now. Washingtons decision to slap ruinous tariffs on Canadian steel and aluminum shows that Trump is serious about radically restructuring the free trade deal between Canada, the U.S. and Mexico.

He says the deal as written gives too many benefits to Canada and Mexico. He wants outsize benefits for the U.S. instead.

And hes willing to do whatever it takes to get them.

In March, he threatened to impose tariffs on Canadian and Mexican steel and aluminum exports to the U.S. unless those two countries ceded significant ground in the NAFTA talks. Last week, he delivered on the threat.

Ostensibly, the tariffs  which have also been applied to metals from the European Union and Japan  are designed to protect U.S. national security. But as U.S. Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross conceded Thursday, as far as Canada is concerned, Ottawas refusal to give sufficient ground on NAFTA was the reason.

Trudeaus response to date has been measured. Ottawa has threatened to impose retaliatory tariffs on steel and aluminum imports from the U.S. as well as on a wide variety of consumer products ranging from toilet paper to ballpoint pens.

But those tariffs wont come into play until July.

The prime minister used language that, for him, was unusually blunt, even suggesting at one point that the U.S. administration lacked common sense  a grave insult in Canadian political circles.

Trudeau also told an anecdote detailing how he had rebuffed blandishments from U.S. Vice-President Mike Pence that Canada concede to Trumps demand for an automatic reappraisal of NAFTA every five years.

Presumably, this was to make the point that Trudeau is no patsy. Let us hope so. Trumps NAFTA demands in areas like government procurement and dispute resolution would leave Canada denuded.

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau says in response to punitive U.S. tariffs on Canadian steel and aluminum, Canada has no choice but to retaliate. The government says it is slapping tariffs on up to $16.6 billion in U.S. imports. (The Canadian Press)

But toughish talk is not enough. Trudeau and Foreign Affairs Minister Chrystia Freeland must stop deluding themselves into believing that what they call a win-win-win outcome for the NAFTA talks is achievable. It is not.

Trump has made it clear he will exploit every available pressure point to ensure the U.S. wins its maximal demands. He is now threatening punitive tariffs on Canadian autos and auto parts.

Nor is Trump an anomaly. A Pew Research Center poll shows that only 36 per cent of Republican voters think free trade has been of net benefit to the U.S.

To blame Trump alone for Americas return to protectionism is to miss the point. Economic nationalism is popular in the U.S. these days. That is not likely to change even if Democrats win control of Congress in Novembers midterm elections.

A year ago in the Commons, Freeland gave an impassioned cri de coeur for the postwar, rules-based global order. But that order, with its emphasis on the free movement of capital and goods existed only because America benefitted from it. America also benefitted from having Canada as a useful sidekick.

Today, Americans are divided over the usefulness of global internationalism. And they are less interested in bestowing special sidekick status on Canada  through NAFTA or anything else. That is reality.

We will continue to live beside the Americans and trade with them. But we can no longer depend on them for our economic prosperity.

In practice, this means many things. In some areas, it may mean a return to the protectionism that used to exist before NAFTA and that Canada continues to practice in dairy and poultry farming.

In others, it may mean the deconstruction of integrated supply chains and a deliberate effort to bring high-skilled manufacturing jobs to Canada.

In yet others, it may mean finding markets other than the U.S.

But it does not mean NAFTA. NAFTA as we know it is finished. The price to keep it alive  the price of appeasing Trumps America  is just too high.

Thomas Walkom is a Toronto-based columnist covering politics. Follow him on Twitter: is a Toronto-based columnist covering politics. Follow him on Twitter: @tomwalkom

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VANCOUVERMembers of Vancouvers Non-Partisan Association were presented with a choice between two candidates promising shorter development permit times, gentle density and more community centres  and another who promised to rid city hall of the pirates who have squandered taxpayer money.

Instead, the right-of-centre civic partys members opted for a 47-year-old entrepreneur who has founded two successful companies, but had never run for office, on Sunday night.

Political outsider Ken Sim won with 977 votes, roughly 50 per cent of the total 1,960 votes cast. Sims task now is to lead the party to power in Octobers election after 10 years in opposition to Vision Vancouver.

It was very humbling, Sim said after his upset victory was revealed. I wasnt expecting that.

John Coupar, a two-term NPA park board commissioner, came second with 602 votes or 30 per cent of ballots. In third place, with 379 votes, was Glen Chernen, a self-styled City Hall watchdog who has taken the city, BC Assessment and the mayor to court in several unsuccessful legal challenges.

Chernen had a head start on signing up members long before Sim and Coupar announced their candidacies, but in the end did not manage to net enough support to win.

Though Sim didnt announce his candidacy until April 16  after Coupar and Chernen  he said he was able to leverage his connections across the city to get enough support for his resounding win.

Ive lived in Vancouver almost my entire life and have built a really good network of friends, he said, people who have known me for 20-30 years, and so when we put the call out we had a lot of support across the city.

Sim, who co-founded the companies Nurse Next Door and Rosemary Rocksalt, said he wants to focus on helping businesses succeed in Vancouver.

We are losing our best and brightest every single day because theyre seeking out better opportunities, he told NPA members shortly before voting closed. Theyre saying, we cant afford to live here, we cant make it here, whats the point.

Some of them are leaving and some of them are closing down because its just too hard to do business in Vancouver.

Sim also promised to focus on improving development permit times and the citys transportation challenges. He said his team will be releasing a full platform soon.

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Results of NPA mayoral nomination vote could change course of Vancouvers election

Glen Chernen wants to be mayor, but both critics and supporters are confused about what he stands for

Chernen said he still wants to be involved in the NPA and help Sim, possibly by running as a council candidate.

The campaign has seen many party faithful and candidates call for lower property taxes and for the city to be run more like a business.

Centre-left Vision Vancouver, the NPAs political rival, has been in power for the past decade. But its seen its support slip as voters looked for action on Vancouvers perennial and worsening housing problems.

But the NPA faced its own hurdles as it looks to challenge Vision in the upcoming October civic elections.

The party has been roiled by infighting in the past few months, and rejected its own city councillor, Hector Bremner, from running for mayor because of conflict of interest allegations brought by supporters of Chernen.

Kelden Formosa, a Bremner supporter, said he came to the nomination vote to spoil his ballot; he wrote in Bremners name. Bremner has attracted younger voters who want to see more multi-family housing allowed throughout the city.

For me the biggest issue is housing and there has to be stuff done on the demand side and we need stuff done on the supply side, Formosa said. He worried the right would be split, with Bremner, the NPAs candidate, and former Conservative MP Wai Young all running.

It would be such a shame if Visions candidate or (Green coun.) Adriane Carr ends up winning because the right cant pull themselves together.

For Nancy and Phil Little, the choice was obvious: they voted for John Coupar, a two-term park board commissioner and president of Novex Courier.

The retired couple said they were concerned about rising property taxes and the NDPs recent introduction of an additional surtax on homes worth over $3 million. That tax doesnt affect the home theyve lived in since 1963 yet, but theyre concerned it will in the future.

We just feel like so much of the local money is spent on the Eastside, if you look at all of their facilities, Nancy Little said, and yet the west side seems to be paying the big taxes with the property taxes.

Cameron and Sarah McNeill voted for Ken Sim, an entrepreneur who co-founded the businesses Nurse Next Door and Rosemary Rocksalt.

Hes someone Ive known for about 20 years whos run some phenomenal businesses, said Sarah McNeill. Hes really good at seeing the big picture and not forgetting the small stuff.

Moe Bahtha wanted to see city hall totally overhauled, and he was supporting Glen Chernen, a city hall watchdog who has taken the city and Mayor Gregor Robertson to court several times over conflict of interest complaints and suspicions about city land deals.

Glen Chernens a guy whos very business-minded and he can change things for the city of Vancouver and for the NPA, give them a total new outlook, he said. Right now you have the same old people who are there.

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ALTON  Investigators from the Office of the Illinois State Fire Marshal have been summoned to investigate another fire at a vacant Alton house early Monday.

Alton firefighters responded to a call for a house fire at approximately 4:30 a.m. Monday at 3227 Edsall St., in the Milton area of town. When firefighters arrived, the house was fully engulfed in flames.

The vacant house was beyond saving, so once again firefighters set up defensive positions to protect any exposures or spread of fire. The house was so engulfed in flames that the roof collapsed into the basement before the second fire truck could arrive on scene.

East Alton firefighters were called for mutual aid, but their response was canceled just as they arrived on scene because the fire was completely contained within the basement walls and no assistance was needed.

An Alton Fire Department cause and origin team is looking into the cause of the fire, and the Illinois State Fire Marshals Office will be assisting in the investigation.

The early-morning fire was just the latest in a string of suspicious fires throughout the city in recent months, the most recent being just last Wednesday when flames consumed a house in the 1000 block of Willard Avenue in Alton. No injuries were reported.

After the fire, Alton Fire Chief Bernie Sebold said the city is offering a reward for information regarding the fires.

We are offering the ($1,000) reward, if anybody provides information to the Alton Police Department or Illinois State Fire Marshal that leads to arrest and conviction in the arsons over the past few months, said Sebold.

Arson is a very serious crime and can be devastating to neighbors, he said, besides a safety hazard for firefighters and the public.

The chief asks anyone with information on any of the suspicious fires in Alton in the past nine months to call the Alton Police Department at (618) 465-5948 or the Fire Marshals hotline at 1-800-252-2947.
Future OptionsConsulting Ltd is an online recruitment services which now seeks to recruit onbehalf of its valued Client. The client is one of the leading multinationals companiesin the gas and electricity sector with a global presence, operating in 30countries and with nearly 18 million customers. The Companys fully ownedsubsidiary in Uganda is focused on the operation, maintenance and management ofhydro-power stations. The Company requires competent individuals for variouspositions for a hydro power plant in Achwa, near Gulu in Northern Uganda.
The Graduate Traineeprogram seeks to identify with young, enthusiastic and energetic graduates whowill be taken through 24 months of rotational training in all areas of theToyota Uganda business based in Kampala. It does not only provide acomprehensive induction, structured leadership development and mentoring, butalso equips you with the competence and confidence to take on higher levels ofprofessional responsibility.
The adage that failures can teach many lessons seems quite...
Veteran actor Richard Gere says he is "the happiest man in the universe" after marrying his girlfriend Alejandra Silva.

The 68-year-old star, who tied the knot with the Spanish activist in an Indian style wedding in May, shared photographs of their D-day with HELLO!

Gere said he found a great life partner in Silva, 35. "I'm the happiest man in the universe. How could I not be? I'm married to a beautiful woman who is smart, sensitive, committed to helping people, who's fun, patient, who knows how to forgive, who's a great cook - and who makes the best salads in the world!

"Alejandra meditates, she's a vegetarian, a great mother, has the touch of an angel... and she's also Spanish: the land of kings and queens, of Cervantes and Bunuel... You can't get any better than that," he told the magazine.

Silva said Gere wooed her by sending flowers until she agreed to date him and that, now married, he regularly writes her songs.

The couple met in Positano in four years when the actor stayed over at her family-owned hotel. "A friend introduced us, we looked at each other and felt a very strong connection. We couldn't stop looking at each other all night, and since then we haven't been apart," Silva said.. "I feel like I'm in a true fairytale. Without a doubt, I feel like the luckiest woman in the world," she added.

Silva described Gere as the "most humble, sensitive, affectionate, attentive, funny, generous man" she has ever met. "What can I say? I'm so in love. How would you feel if each morning you were asked: 'What would make you happy today?' Not a day goes by that he doesn't mention how important I am to him. I feel very lucky," she said.

The couple exchanged vows on Gere's ranch outside New York City. Silva converted to Buddhism and moved to New York.

Tents were imported from Jaipur and the venue was decorated with flowers and Tibetan flags before they made their entrance in a tuk-tuk.
At least 16 people, including four policemen, were injured in a grenade attack in a busy market area in Jammu and Kashmir's Shopian district, police said.

Militants hurled a grenade on security forces in Shopian town, resulting in injuries to at least 12 civilians and four cops, a police official said.

He said the area has been cordoned off and searches started to nab the attackers.

Militants have carried out a series of grenade attacks on security forces and politicians since last week.
Companhia Energetica de Minas Gerais, through its subsidiaries, engages in the generation, transmission, distribution, and sale of electricity in Brazil. The company generates electricity through renewable energy sources, such as water, wind, sun, and biomass; or non-renewable sources, including fossil and nuclear fuels. As of December 31, 2016, it operated hydroelectric plants, thermoelectric plants, and solar plants with a total installed capacity of approximately 8,000 megawatts in 10 states of Brazil. It is also involved in the telecommunications and energy solutions consulting businesses; exploitation of natural gas; sale and trading of electricity; and acquisition, transport, and distribution of gas and its subproducts and derivatives, as well as provision of technology systems and systems for operational management of public service concessions, including companies operating in electricity, gas, water and sewerage, and other utility companies. The company was founded in 1952 and is headquartered in Belo Horizonte, Brazil.

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But the ultimate answer may rest with the Defense Departments updated Missile Defense Review, which has yet to surface with a report even though its release was scheduled for February.

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Moran, Wyo.

At around 10 p.m. Thursday at the Diamond Cross Ranch here, Chris Rock stepped up on a small platform, looked out over a few hundred people huddled around a wildly flickering bonfire, and leaned in to his convocation.

"I touched a moose!" he exclaimed, "and the moose said to me, 'Hey, there's a lot of ...'"  well, let's just say people who don't ordinarily gather on a ranch in Wyoming. He nodded toward the fire. "Tomorrow night that will be a cross," he deadpanned.

Hip-hop, he said, is "the first art form created by free black men" (though jazz would probably quibble with that characterization). He continued, "No black man has taken more advantage of his freedom than Kanye West."

On and off for the past several months, West has been working on new music in Wyoming. He has promised several albums from this work: Pusha-T's "Daytona," which was released last week; new projects from Nas and Teyana Taylor; and two albums from West, one with Kid Cudi and one solo.

His own album, titled "Ye," West's eighth, was unveiled here Thursday, almost immediately after its completion. The setup was sparse and dramatic: a wide-open field, huge stacks of speakers arranged in a circle around the bonfire and cameras filming every moment for a livestream. Off in the distance, several horses displayed no apparent interest in the proceedings.

A vast majority of the audience was flown in for the occasion: West's wife, Kim Kardashian West; representatives of West's label, Def Jam; radio DJs and programmers; journalists; a handful of other artists (Pusha-T, Lil Yachty, Fabolous); and a smattering of celebrities (Rock, Jonah Hill, Luka Sabbat, Scott Disick). British hip-hop radio stalwart Tim Westwood was running around interviewing people. 2 Chainz walked his French bulldog, Trappy, around on a leash. Conservative pundit Candace Owens, a West favorite, made the rounds.

Owens' presence was notable as a reminder of the unusual context in which "Ye" arrives. Since April, West has been on a quixotic path  letting go of his managers (though one of them, Scooter Braun, was in Wyoming), flaunting his Make America Great Again cap, praising President Donald Trump; going on "TMZ" and revealing he had liposuction and contending slavery was a choice; and more.

And over the past few days, he's become embroiled in a feud with Drake via a proxy, Pusha-T, with Drake pushing back against allegations he's worked with ghostwriters by alleging that he has done the same for West.

It has been, in short, a rowdy, disruptive and in some ways damaging stretch, and at least some of the purpose of "Ye" is a course correction to what he describes, on the new song "No Mistakes," as "a shaky-ass year." In several places on this album, he touches on his mental health. On "Yikes," he mentions bipolar disorder. "That's my superpower," he raps. "Ain't no disability." (The album's cover, available on streaming services Friday morning, features the words "I hate being Bi-Polar its awesome.") But more important, he maps out a path for forgiveness, private and maybe public, especially on "Wouldn't Leave," which is about profoundly disappointing your partner.

After the listening session ended, many of the guests piled into buses and ended up at the Million Dollar Cowboy Bar, a supersized, taxidermy-filled honky-tonk in downtown Jackson, 45 minutes to the southwest. It was both surreal and also unremarkable, this intermingling of crowds; and on this night, in this room, America looked like it might be something great after all.
Albany

S. was at a bus stop when she realized she didn't want to live anymore.

She felt heavy. Tired. She wanted to throw herself in front of the bus.

The 24-year-old refugee, who escaped an unwanted marriage and physical abuse in Pakistan, had been fired from her job as an overnight cashier at the Albany Medical Center Dunkin' Donuts when trauma symptoms made her shake and faint, landing her repeatedly in the emergency room. Her county social services case manager closed her case because she was unemployed, costing her food stamps and rental assistance. She attempted suicide three times by overdosing on pills and spent a week in the Capital District Psychiatric Center.

"I was so sad, so tired," she said. "There was nothing I could do."

Each year, 400 people fleeing violence and conflict are resettled in the Capital Region. Nongovernmental organizations like the Capital Region Refugee Roundtable, New York for Syrian Refugees and RISSE, Refugee and Immigrant Support Services of Emmaus, provide financial, social, medical and educational services. However, the region has been struggling to provide adequate mental health care. Some refugees suffer from mental illnesses stemming from trauma experienced not only in their home countries, but also throughout the resettlement process. Cultural and linguistic barriers have long inhibited communication  and treatment. But the new attention to refugees in the field of mental health care  which has historically been tailored for white people  means treatment methods are not fully developed, compounding the obstacles to providing sufficient mental health care for newcomers. This bind is a microcosm of the void seen nationally and globally.

An emotional journey

Twenty-one years ago, when Kenneth Miller was clinical director of the Bosnian Mental Health Program in Chicago, he was usually accurate when he diagnosed refugees from the former Yugoslavia with post-traumatic stress disorder.

"Our clients had escaped ethnic cleansing, they'd been in concentration camps, watched their homes go up in flames and their loved ones go down in violence, hunger and disease," the clinical psychologist wrote in his book, "War Torn: Stories of Courage, Love, and Resilience." "They arrived in Chicago as refugees from hell, and it was natural to assume that their trauma symptoms were the result of everything they'd just survived."

But a woman named Alma, who had escaped the Bosnian War with her husband and 6-year-old son, proved him wrong.

For nine months, the clinic staff treated Alma, who had PTSD symptoms, for war trauma. Miller received a call saying she was in a hospital emergency room after attempting suicide.

"We found out she was being sexually assaulted by her husband in front of their child every day," Miller said. "We got that so wrong. Her symptoms fit the story like all the Bosnian refugees. She had trauma and depression and lived through hell, and yet what was most affecting her was the here and now."

Alma taught Miller a critical lesson.

"War is not the only source of trauma in refugees," he said. "We have to assess current traumatic stress."

Lisa Baranik made a similar discovery examining the barriers to employment that refugees face  and their impact on mental health. Baranik, a University at Albany School of Management professor, controlled for trauma refugees experience before immigrating.

"Even though refugees have faced incredibly difficult circumstances, have overcome and are coming to places like the U.S. and Europe, the thing that's causing the most stress for them is discrimination," she said.

Ilham Almahamid, founder of New York for Syrian Refugees, echoed that the here and now has been impacting the families she works with  their standard of living has plunged in their new country, they feel socially isolated, and some teenagers have faced discrimination in high school.

"But I think they understand that they have to be patient," Almahamid said, who herself is a Syrian immigrant and a research scientist for the state Department of Health Center for Environmental Health. "They're very motivated, they want to do well and excel."

A dearth in services

Almahamid and fellow volunteers are thorough in caring for 40 local Syrian families  270 people of all ages  whether it's for English lessons, furniture and clothing donations, a ride to a doctor's appointment or simply friendly company. But when Almahamid got requests from 15 refugee families for mental health care, she hit a wall.

"It's the area we struggle most with," she said.

Almahamid wrote a Facebook post asking for volunteers with mental health care backgrounds. She only received two responses, not enough to meet the need.

On top of that, many refugees don't feel comfortable having therapy sessions with a language interpreter in the room, so you end up with "many families who are not able to get mental health care," she said.

Even before language comes into play, the challenge for therapists is achieving cultural competency  and some say this is true of all minorities, not just refugees.

"In graduate school, we looked at counseling theories and methods, but they're built on counseling white people," said Christa Grant, director of the Damietta Cross-Cultural Center at Siena College, whose background is psychology. "It's not necessarily taking into account the cultural perspectives of different ethnic or racial groups."

Some therapists want to help, but recognize they lack the expertise.

Ricky Caliendo, a private practitioner in Albany, has received requests to work with refugees, mainly Syrians, but he has had to turn them down.

"My number one job is to not do harm in providing services," he said, which includes "knowing the threshold of not being able to provide the service that's needed."

The obstacles for Caliendo are familiar  language and cultural competency. Even with a translator, he said, his care would be limited.

"The number one thing that contributes to an effective therapeutic service is the client-therapist rapport," he said. "To have a translator, I imagine that would cut out a big chunk of what could go in that rapport."

Still, Caliendo helps in any way he can, calling his contacts to see where he can refer the refugees, but they often don't have the language and cultural resources.

"Every time it has led to a dead end," he said.

Better than nothing

The more Mary Bilik heard about the horrors of the Syrian civil war, the more she felt compelled to help. After responding to Almahamid's Facebook post, the art therapist and Albany private practitioner was connected to O., a woman who had escaped Aleppo and arrived in the U.S. alone in 2017. Almahamid introduced Bilik to O. as a "support person" with a background in psychology. Over the course of a year, they met weekly. Bilik spoke no Arabic, and O. spoke no English.

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"The language barrier is indeed the most difficult. We got through it, sometimes comically on my part just using hand signals," Bilik said. "I was making a human connection and offering this sense of safety and support around some things that were difficult for her."

The trauma came out in unexpected ways: the bombs falling all around O. in Aleppo, the death of her parents, the family she left behind, the culture shock and social isolation upon her arrival. But by being a consistent support figure in O.'s life, Bilik said, she was able to guide O. through the healing process.

"It all comes back to the human connection. Letting her know that she is welcome, that she is heard even if she's talking in Arabic," Bilik said. "As the year ended, I really felt like I had seen so much growth and so much more empowerment and confidence."

While Bilik volunteered her time without an interpreter, public entities have been providing refugees with more standard mental health care.

Both the Albany County Department of Mental Health and Whitney Young Health Center, for example, use a language line with around 200 languages to serve refugees and immigrants. Many refugees prefer having an interpreter over the phone because it further ensures confidentiality.

"Our staff has received specific training on working with treating refugees," said Maia Betts, director of behavioral health at Whitney Young. "There's a lot to do with verbal and nonverbal communication  expression of empathy, active listening, engaging with the patient."

Miller has been using interpreters for his work with refugees and said he couldn't have done it without them.

"If you can communicate directly, that's always preferable of course, but it's an imperfect world," Miller said. "We train interpreters on their role, and therapists to work with interpreters, and then you become a team. It's not that different from any other healing team."

The Capital Region has started improving mental health providers' cultural competency with training sessions on working with refugees led by experts in the field. More trainings would help fill the void in mental health care, Caliendo and Grant said.

Where traditional therapy is ineffective, alternative, all-encompassing methods come into play.

"Now what you see in most clinics is not only psychotherapy, but social workers linking people to language classes and livelihood programs, community centers to allow people to not be so lonely and isolated," Miller said. "It was becoming really clear that just doing clinical work and sending them home to isolation and poverty wasn't that helpful."

Betts said Whitney Young sometimes receives referrals whose need for case management is confused with behavioral health. They link these refugees with a behavioral health care coordinator to provide case management and a health home care coordinator to examine the refugees' overall mental health and primary care.

Almahamid has also been trying to help with the mental health issues among the Syrian refugees  hosting coffee hours for the women and men to socialize without their kids, holding cooking and sewing classes to empower women to be more self-sufficient, and easing financial and life stress through volunteer work.

With the help of RISSE, S. has reopened her case with the Albany County Department of Social Services, alleviating at least some of her stress.

She's on anti-depressants and has had weekly, half-hour therapy sessions at Whitney Young Health Center through an interpreter where her therapist gives her activities like playing with Silly Putty or channeling her sight, scent, touch and hearing senses to cope with stress.

"I'm still very sad four or five days every week," S. said as her face clouded over.

But now she dreams of a brighter future. Her face lights up when she talks about her hopes to continue her education, learning computer skills to work in an office. And her therapy has been helpful.

"I like my doctor a lot," she said. "I'm happier now."

Two women in this story requested they be identified by their first initials.

mmikati@timesunion.com  518-454-5092  @MassarahMikati
Washington

An attorney for President Donald Trump stressed Sunday that the president's legal team would contest any effort to force the president to testify in front of a grand jury during the special counsel's Russia probe but downplayed the idea that Trump could pardon himself.

Rudy Giuliani, in a series of television interviews, emphasized one of the main arguments in a newly unveiled letter sent by Trump's lawyers to special counsel Robert Mueller back in January: that a president can't be given a grand jury subpoena as part of the investigation into foreign meddling in the 2016 election.

But he distanced himself from one of their bolder arguments in the letter, which was first reported Saturday by The New York Times, that a president could not have committed obstruction of justice because he has authority to "if he wished, terminate the inquiry, or even exercise his power to pardon."

"Pardoning himself would be unthinkable and probably lead to immediate impeachment," Giuliani told NBC's "Meet the Press." "And he has no need to do it, he's done nothing wrong."

The former New York City mayor, who was not on the legal team when the letter was written, added that Trump "probably does" have the power to pardon himself, an assertion challenged by legal scholars, but says the president's legal team hasn't discussed that option, which many observers believe could plunge the nation into a constitutional crisis.

"I think the political ramifications would be tough," Giuliani told ABC's "This Week." "Pardoning other people is one thing, pardoning yourself is tough."

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Trump has issued two unrelated pardons in recent days and discussed others, a move that has been interpreted as a possible signal to allies ensnared in the Russia probe.

The letter is dated Jan. 29 and addressed to Mueller from John Dowd, a Trump lawyer who has since resigned from the legal team. Mueller has requested an interview with the president to determine whether he had criminal intent to obstruct the investigation into his associates' possible links to Russia's election interference.

Giuliani said Sunday that a decision about an interview would not be made until after Trump's summit with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un on June 12 in Singapore, and he cast doubt that it would occur at all.

"I mean, we're leaning toward not," Giuliani told ABC. "But look, if they can convince us that it will be brief, it would be to the point, there were five or six points they have to clarify, and with that, we can get this  this long nightmare for the  for the American public over."
Jurors can't do a lot of things.

They can't be biased, can't make up their minds while their case is ongoing, can't talk about the case with their families, can't watch or read news reports about it and can't go to the scene of the crime.

And, they can't take notes while deliberating.

The last one stands even though jurors, almost never lawyers themselves, are tasked with navigating the confusing language of law to make decisions that could send someone to prison for 25 years to life.

In the Albany County Judicial Center last week, the jury deciding the trial of David Bridges, a 22-year-old Troy man charged with the killing of 1-year-old baby Luka Patrick, the child of his new girlfriend, was apparently undecided between second-degree murder and first-degree manslaughter.

So the panel sent a note to acting Supreme Court Justice Roger McDonough that it wanted to hear the elements of both charges  and more.

"We would like to request that certain members of the jury be allowed to take notes," the jury asked McDonough, explaining that four members of the jury wanted to take the notes.

"Please read more slowly," the note added. "Thank you, the jury."

Before calling the jury in, McDonough told attorneys on both sides his preference was not to allow the jury to take notes. The lawyers, Assistant District Attorney Shannon Sarfoh and defense attorney Francisco Calderon, agreed with the judge.

When the jury returned, the judge promised to read the elements of the charges again  slowly  for the jury. He said if the jury wanted to hear the charges again after that, he would entertain the request.

"I'm not going to permit you to take notes," McDonough told the jury. "This is actually a bone of contention with many jurors. They'd like to have either a printed copy or take notes, but the law in the state of New York doesn't permit it. There is a variety of reasons ... not worth getting into now."

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The judge then explained the definitions of the two charges  and those definitions could confuse anybody who was not a legal eagle.

To find Bridges guilty of the second-murder charge, the judge explained, the jury would need to conclude that Bridges, while being at least 18 and under circumstances evincing a depraved indifference to human life, recklessly engaged in conduct which created a grave risk of serious physical injury of death to a person less than 11 and then caused that person's death.

The definition does not end there, but we will spare you the additional language because McDonough, at some point, realized that the jury's note to him requested the elements of the charges  not the definition. Realizing his error, he then read the elements of the charges requested.

The jury, following an additional note request (this time for the aforementioned definition of second-degree murder definition), rendered a verdict of first-degree manslaughter, which is when someone intends to cause a serious physical injury and it results in death.

Unlike the jury, Law Beat gets to take notes.
A Malta man was sentenced to four to 12 years in prison for stealing tools and checks as well as lawn and construction equipment from various buildings in the Saratoga County area.

Tyler R. Paradis, 27, pleaded guilty in April to two counts of felony burglary and one count of felony criminal possession of stolen property after he and another accomplice broke into various buildings in Stillwater, Halfmoon, Malta and Mechanicville and stole various items over a period of several months, the district attorney's office said.
THIS Friday (June 1) the Turks and Caicos Hotel and Tourism Association (TCHTA) opened its first ever development centre.





The Providenciales based association offers courses and certification programmes in various subjects for tourism and non-tourism practitioners across the board.





This is the first of its kind in the Turks and Caicos Islands and will mark a new and exciting milestone for the hospitality industry, a press release from the TCHTA said.





Stacy Cox, chief executive officer of the TCHTA, said: "We are excited! This programme is the result of our organisations continuous efforts to elevate the skill level of Turks and Caicos residents.





"Our mission for our new centre is to innovate while providing an effective solution that can prepare individuals to meet the current and emerging needs of a growing economy.





Courses will be offered at the TCHTAs brand new headquarters, unit #52 at the Salt Mills Plaza in Grace Bay.





Classes are running from June 1 and aim to transform lives by motivating change and allowing people and organisations to achieve personal and professional goals.





"As our country grows, so does the demand for skilled labourers, Cox continued.





"It is our goal to improve the education and the technical competencies of the local workforce.





Powered by Peak Professional, the development centre will offer formal academic advancement and avenues for career development.





Through partnerships with internationally recognised training centres, the programme will place people on a path that will better equip them to professionally deliver the needs of the Turks and Caicos Islands and ultimately increase the productivity of the workforce.





The association has partnered with world-renowned hospitality school, American Hotel and Lodging Educational Institute (AHLEI) to bring several hospitality certification courses to recipients.





Other courses will include food safety certification, customer service, Microsoft Office, business writing, cultural diversity, leadership development, conflict management, conversational French, conversational Spanish, technical and vocational programmes, photography and sommelier courses.





"According to the recent skills audit made public by the Government, in three years there will be around 3,000 plus jobs in the Turks and Caicos Islands and as such we are positioning ourselves by extension our community to prepare for those opportunities.





She said: "It is our hope that this development centre will be the nucleus of excellence for all hospitality employees, whether theyre looking to begin their careers or improve their current skillsets.





For more information or to register for available courses or certification programmes, interested people and organisations can call the TCHTA office on 941-5787 or send an email to [email protected]




NISKAYUNA  An Arizona woman missing for more than two months was found on Rosendale Road Saturday afternoon, ending a saga that stretched from Vancouver to Vermont.

And if a Niskayuna sergeant hadn't listened to her gut that something wasn't right, the woman might still be missing.

On Saturday, police were called to Rosendale Road for a report of a suspicious woman. The woman was wearing blue jeans that were wet up to the knees, a tank top and a flannel shirt that was several sizes too big for her, Deputy Chief Michael Stevens said.

"It appeared she had been outside overnight, if not longer than that," he said.

The woman told police she couldn't remember her name or where she was from. Two Amtrak tickets and a Post-it note with phone numbers were her only possessions.

The fact that a disheveled woman was wandering around with no ID, no money and no memory didn't sit right with Sgt. Bethany McGuire, Stevens said Sunday.

McGuire took the extra step and called for a medical evaluation; she also brought in Detective Paul Hobson, Stevens said. The two chased down the phone numbers.

One was for the Hudson Police Department; Hudson police said they did not know why the woman had the number. A second number was a dead end. The third went to a man near Herkimer who told police the woman might be his niece, who hadn't been seen since March.

The man told police that he was supposed to pick her up Friday night at the Rensselaer train station. But that night a fire broke out at the former city hall, tying up traffic in the area for hours. By the time he got to the train station, his niece was gone  and so was the family's best chance at reconnecting with a missing loved one. Or so it seemed.

McGuire and Hobson ran the woman's name through a national database of missing people and contacted the woman's mother twice to make sure they had the right person. "We're extremely proud of our officers, that they took the extra step and saw it through," Stevens said.

The first time they sent a picture to the woman's mother, she replied that she didn't think it was her daughter. But McGuire and Hobson finally identified the woman through her tattoos.

Now police are trying to figure out how the woman, Amanda Hanover, traveled more than 4,400 miles and crossed an international border at least twice.

Hanover, 38, is an accountant from Gilbert, Arizona. She has a 4-year-old daughter and an 11-year-old son. She is a hiker and painter with a distinctive streak of red hair on the crown of her head. She and her husband had filed for divorce prior to her disappearance. According to her social media accounts, she was involved with an effort to boost funding for Arizona schools that eventually led to a teachers' strike.

Her mother, Patricia Schachtner, told a Calgary television station that Hanover suffers from PTSD after being attacked in 2017. In March, Hanover and her parents talked about her belief that there were people following her; her parents planned to sign her up for a 72-hour medical observation.

On March 15 she left her home to visit a relative in California. That was the last her family in Arizona heard from her for more than a month.

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On April 24 a traffic ticket was sent to her husband's home from Vancouver, Canada. Then in May, Calgary police called. Hanover's car had been impounded after it was left at the University of Edmonton and ticketed repeatedly. Calgary police could not be reached for comment Sunday.

During her travels, Hanover would periodically get in touch with family members through occasional text messages or voicemails. In May her phone went dead. She would leave messages for family members from strangers' numbers.

At one point around May 22, she showed up near Ottawa, on foot with two coats. A couple in that area helped her get in touch with police after thinking something was wrong. Her family next heard from her later in May, when she arrived in Burlington, Vermont. At some point, Hanover again got in touch with her mother, who arranged for her to come to Albany so her uncle could pick her up.

Stevens said that police have not been able to interview Hanover in depth, and that Homeland Security has no record of Hanover re-entering the United States.

On Sunday, Schachtner declined to discuss the details of her daughter's disappearance, citing the need for privacy.

"I want her to be able to tell her story," she said. But she did praise the officers who found Hanover.

"I thank the officers for their outstanding service to the community and my family," she said.

Schachtner said that while Hanover's disappearance had been a terrible ordeal, the outpouring of support showed what kind of person she is.

"She has so many friends," she said. "I look back and see how many lives she touched and how many people love her. It's been horrible, but it's also been an affirming thing."
CAPE MAY, N.J.  A Cape May man is missing, and might be somewhere in the Adirondacks, Cape May Police Department announced Sunday on its Facebook page.

Joshua N. Morris, 28, was last seen in the southern New Jersey community on Saturday night around midnight, police said. His last known location, based on pings to his cell phone, was 5 a.m. Sunday morning in Diamond Point on Lake George, the Cape May County Herald reported.
Lough Derg RNLI was called out over the bank holiday weekend to assist two people whose cruiser had run aground at Tullabeg.

The service was called out on Sunday, June 3, at 12.15pm and the crew was already in the area on an excercise. Conditions were calm with a force two and a westerly wind. Visibility was excellent.

The lifeboat was on scene in minutes as the crew were already on exercise in the area.

After arriving on scene one lifeboat crew member boarded the cruiser to check on the condition of the two crew and to make sure the vessel was intact and not taking on water.

Once it was established that the two people were fine and there was no structural damage to the cruiser, the lifeboat crew then towed it out to deep water to allow the craft to continue on its way.

The lifeboat waited a short time to ensure the cruiser was able to proceed safety before they returned to station.

Commenting on the call-out, Lough Derg RNLI Helm Owen Cavanagh said: "With the good weather continuing there are a lot more people on the water. We would always advise to plan any water based activity well in advance and if out on a boat to make proper preparations for the trip, including taking the correct equipment and keeping a close eye on the surroundings."
A Rockwell College student, who hopes to study Economics in Dublin after his Leaving Cert, has won a major award in the Young Economist of the Year competition.

Rockwell College student Ben McDonald, who is originally from Loughrea, was awarded the Irish Silver Medal in the Young Economist of the Year competition for his project which examined behaviour patterns of Chinese consumers as a result of the One Child Policy.

Speaking after his win, the Rockwell student said he was shocked to have his name called out due to the high volume of entries adding he "really could not believe it."

This is the second year in a row that Rockwell students have garnered success following Cahal Murphy's gold medal in the competition in 2017. Ben was presented with his award at a specially held function at Croke Park on May 2nd.

Ben's entry focused on the behaviour patterns of Chinese consumers as a result of the One Child Policy. During his presentation Ben explained how this policy has led to there being more males than females in China and how men must save for a dowry to entice young women to marry them.

The judges when commenting on Ben's work said that he scored highly due to his originality and commended him for his thorough research. His Economics teacher, Pat Egan, paid tribute to Ben and spoke of his hard work and attention to detail with so many demands on his time particularly with his Leaving Cert coming up in June.

Ben is originally from Loughrea in Galway and is a nephew of Fr Sean Broderick, former Principal and President of Rockwell College. He is a five day boarder in Rockwell College and hopes to study Law and Economics in UCD this coming September.
June 04, 2018

In business and our personal life, we focus a lot of attention on comfort. We take actions that promise a high level of it, and avoid choices that indicate some discomfort might be involved. The potential for risk tends to run against our instincts.







Why Do We Avoid Risk?

In fact, risk avoidance may be built into our very DNA. At one time, our ancestors depended on their risk avoidance systems to ensure they could dodge predators and not become prey.

Today, these instincts tell us which side of the road to walk when its late at night, or whether to trust someone on a first date. In most cases, our risk avoidance alarm bells function fairly well.

They tell us when to avoid certain situations and when to take a chance. Unfortunately, some of us have over-stimulated systems. Weve become fearful of risk entirely, rather than the possible negative outcomes of risks that happen to go bad.

In your personal life, risk aversion may not pose a lot of negative ramifications. At worst, it makes you boring.

But in the business arena, an unwillingness to embrace risk could actually place you in harms way. The failure to take on any risk means youre most likely to remain in place and embrace comfort, while others in your industry or organization are modernizing, innovating, and moving forward.

You might not notice this happening right away, but eventually youll realize everyones passing you up.

Four Tips for Embracing Risk in IT

Its one thing to be cautious. Its another to be risk averse. In the IT field in particular, risk aversion almost inevitably will lead to obsolescence.

Given so much steady innovation happening on a grand scale, you cant afford to sit back and rely on what you already know. Theres a downright need for taking calculated chances.

If youre open to the notion of shouldering more risk in your IT department, here are some suggestions to get you into the right frame of mind.

1. Understand the Basic Principles of Risk Management

In order to become a successful risk taker, you have to understand the basic principles of risk management. They are:

 Dont pay or bet more than what you can expect as a return, and

 Dont pay or bet more than you can afford to lose.

If a move appears risky, but it meets both of the above criteria, then it could be worth taking a chance. If it fails to pass one or both of these filters, then youre better off not pursuing it.

2. Regularly Entertain New Ideas

Caution isnt a bad thing, but excessive caution can result in a reluctance to even consider new architectures, refusal to assess new or non-incumbent vendors, and insist on delivering over-engineered solutions, explains Dave Greenfield, secure networking evangelist at Cato Networks. Dont let a cautious attitude prevent you from regularly entertaining new ideas.

When an opportunity comes your way, take the necessary time to weigh it with a clear mind. You might end up deciding its too risky, but thats better than immediately writing off what could be a promising option. Just the exercise of thinking it through may teach you a few valuable things.

3. Consider the Polar Extremes

Whether its within your IT department or in your personal life, one of the best ways to examine risky decision-making is to study the polar extremes. Start by imagining the very best outcome that could possibly come from taking this new course.

Then imagine the very worst potential outcome. Go into as much detail as you can.

Tackling this exercise can accomplish a couple of things. First, it gives you some parameters. If the very worst possible outcome isnt that bad, it becomes much easier to decide the risk may be justified.

On the other hand, you may realize that the very best outcome wouldnt be all that great. That could push you away from the risk.

Second, this exercise gives you the tools to average out the potential outcome. The most likely result is that you wont experience either the worst-case or the best-case outcome. Instead, youll end up somewhere in the middle.

4. Have People Who Question You

In the 1500s, the Roman Catholic Church created a new position within the organization: an attorney whose job was to argue against the sainthood of any candidate that was proposed for canonization.

The lawyers sole purpose was to find any faults and adopt a skeptical view of the individuals character, past, and worthiness. He (of course it was always a he in those days) was known as the advocatus diabolic, or devils advocate.

Smart leaders should take a cue from this practice and seek out contrarians for different purposes, business leader Sam Balaji suggests. That person or team can surface blind spots, offer alternative perspectives, challenge assumptions, counteract organizational myopia, and build resilience into the strategy.

When youre in a position of leadership, most people arent automatically going to question you. Theyd rather support your inclinations than rock the boat.

If you want your employees to think critically and offer a variety of options, its on you to foster a culture where people are comfortable being open. This may take years, but you have to start somewhere.

Putting It All Together

This article is not urging anyone to make foolish decisions with no regard for the potential outcome. Instead, its telling you to be open to the idea of taking risks  when they make sense.

If you can do this, youll find a lot more opportunities for growth just waiting to be seized.
June 04, 2018

The perfect time for making an investment plan is the moment your first salary hits your bank. Education, banking products, business, real estate, collectibles, stock exchange, currencies, Forex, cryptocurrencies - which to choose?







If there is a happy medium, it would be: diversification. A properly diversified investment portfolio significantly reduces the risk of failure and a single flawed decision would not jeopardize the long-term goal.

Amateur investors should not look for one investor model. Differences in age, earnings, knowledge, education, preferences and risk aversion mean that investments need to be approached on an individual basis.

At the beginning of a professional career an amateur investor, who sees many years of work ahead, may be more attracted to higher risk investments. Forex and cryptocurrencies are just a couple of examples that have been financial hot topics in recent years.

Attractive 1:200 leverage

Forex is the world's largest over-the-counter (OTC) currency exchange market with a daily trading volume of more than $5 trillion. A considerable amount, since the vast majority of traders are individual investors. But be careful! Official statistics of the Polish Financial Supervision Authority say that amateurs of this type of investment are not yet learning from their mistakes and those of their predecessors. "In the long term, about 80% of clients trading on the Forex market still suffer losses," KNF reported on its results from 2016-2017.

Not all brokers warn their clients of such unfavourable proportions. However, there are exceptions on the market, one example is the service available at Conotoxia.com, provided by Conotoxia Ltd., one of the companies within the Conotoxia Holding Group. On the main page dedicated to Forex trading, users are warned about the high risk of transactions. However, there continue to be many who are trying their hand at it. Here, clients can expand and diversify their portfolios at quite an affordable price, several thousand zloty. Conotoxia Ltd. offers currencies, stocks and raw materials. However, unlike stock exchanges, clients do not buy real shares or commodities, but their CFDs (contract for difference), i.e. contracts for price differences.

Forex owes its popularity, among other things, to the fact that brokers guarantee leverage, for example, 1:200. And at such a ratio, potential profits for investors may increase. What about losses? The offer available at Conotoxia.com guarantees negative balance protection, which means no one loses more than they have invested and Conotoxia Ltd., operating under ECNs, does not earn on the losses of its customers.

Mystery and price fluctuations

It has only taken a few years and a strong position in the media for cryptocurrencies to become popular. There are now almost 10 times more cryptocurrencies than traditional ones. It is also of common opinion that they provide more anonymity than so-called normal currencies.

Financial regulators in different countries differ greatly in their approach towards cryptocurrencies. Some are waging war on them, others are seeing a future. However, it is undeniable that it is possible to invest in cryptocurrencies by mining them or by simply by buying them.

Bitcoin (BTC) quotations, the most popular of more than a thousand cryptocurrencies, confirm that this is a high-risk investment. Even though, there is no official data about how many people have been frustrated and disappointed by this cryptocurrency. However, in just a few months BTC fluctuated by several thousand dollars, indicating just how much room there is for possible gains and losses.

It can be difficult to control the huge fluctuations of Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies as emotions, trends, media exposure, advertising bans and the tightening of national regulations are much more influential in this market. Fundamental factors, which are key for everyday currencies, seem to be less important. Therefore, at least in the near future, investing in cryptocurrencies will remain a risky game only for the brave. More about cryptocurrencies here: https://conotoxia.com/cryptocurrencies

What do the sharks say?

Fortunately, there is no shortage of much safer investment instruments. These are for example, blue chips, shares of fairly stable large companies, which are included in top indices, WIG20 in Poland and Dow 30 in the USA.

There are many more products similar to the above. However, amateur investors can benefit from the guidance of experienced people who have achieved great success by investing primarily in  themselves. "You are the best investment you can make. Invest as much as you can in yourself," said Warren Buffett, one of the three richest people in the world. Benjamin Franklin, who made his career as a publisher, politician and scientist, put it even more explicitly: "Investing in knowledge pays the best interest".
[June 03, 2018] Ningbo expo to further reinforce China-CEE ties

NINGBO, China, June 3, 2018 /CNW/ -- Ningbo, a coastal city in East China's Zhejiang province which has the busiest port in the world by cargo tonnage, is set to host the 4th China-CEEC Investment and Trade Expo (China-CEEC Expo) from June 8 to 11. It is hoped the expo will further strengthen cooperation and trade ties between China and Central and Eastern European (CEE) countries. The trade ties between China and CEE countries have been stronger since the establishment of "16+1 cooperation" mechanism in 2012, which was launched with the aim of increasing economic activity and trade between China and the potentially lucrative CEE market. "As stipulated in the Budapest Guidelines for Cooperation between China and Central and Eastern European Countries in November of 2017, Ningbo was chosen to be the host city of the expo for the fourth time," said Liu Changchun, vice mayor of Ningbo at a news conference in Beijing on June 1. Moreover, the Guidelines proposed the establishment of a demonstration zone under the "16+1 ooperation" mechanism in Ningbo as well.



Ningbo was once a significant port on the ancient Maritime Silk Road and has been an important hub for China's foreign trade down the ages. In recent times, it has once again become a port of high significance. In 2017, the value of foreign trade between Ningbo and the other countries exceeded $10 million for the third consecutive year and the foreign investment in the city surpassed $50 billion. The Ningbo-Zhoushan Port became the world's first to have a year's cargo throughput of 1 billion metric tons last year. Ningbo has been attaching great importance to the exchanges and cooperation with CEE countries, a crucial region in China's Belt and Road Initiative. In 2017, the value of foreign trade between the city and 16 CEE countries reached $2.92 billion, accounting for 4.3 percent of the nation's total. The number of investment projects between the two regions to date is 125.

Ningbo and CEE countries have also advanced cooperation in other sectors, including education, culture, tourism and logistics. As explained by Liu, the expo will offer 16 activities in forms of conferences, forums, exhibitions and cultural exchanges. With an exhibition area of 84,000 square meters, the expo will set up 310 booths for 257 companies of CEE countries. A ministerial conference on economy and trade will also be held at the expo. Ministers from China and CEE countries will hold in-depth discussions on trade, investment, finance, e-commerce and small and medium-sized companies. "China is opening wider to the world and we hope the ministerial conference will link the two regions further and encourage mutual cooperation," said Yu Yuantang, deputy director general of the Department of European Affairs at the Ministry of Commerce. Along with the 4th China-CEEC Expo, the 20th China Zhejiang Investment & Trade Symposium and the 17th China International Consumer Goods Fair will take place in Ningbo. View original content with multimedia:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/ningbo-expo-to-further-reinforce-china-cee-ties-300658818.html SOURCE Information Office of Ningbo Municipal Peoples Government

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By Delana Isles

CITIZENS of the British Virgin Islands took to the streets on May 24 to protest the United Kingdoms public ownership registry decision, at the same time leaders of British overseas territories (BOTs) were engaging prime minister Theresa May.





The day before, May 23, the Sanctions and Anti-Money Laundering Bill had received the Royal Assent and became an Act, sparking the UK dialogue with BOTs and the protest.





Earlier in May, the UK House of Commons and House of Lords had supported an amendment to the bill demanding that only overseas territories located in the Caribbean operate public registers of beneficial ownership before it becomes a global standard.





According to news reports out of the sister territory, almost 5,000 residents took the streets in downtown Tortola to protest the decision that has a very real possibility of derailing and potentially crippling the territorys economy which is still recovering from the devastation experienced in the 2017 hurricane season.





BVI premier, Dr Orlando Smith has since said that his government is reviewing its constitution and will be considering necessary changes to reinforce the self-determination of the British Virgin Islands as an overseas territory.





At the same time Islanders were demonstrating, TCI Premier Sharlene Cartwright Robinson and premiers and leaders from the BVI, Anguilla, Bermuda, Cayman Islands and Gibraltar were engaged in a discussion via conference call with UK prime minister Theresa May and Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon.





According to a statement issued by Cartwright Robinson following that conversation, each leader was invited by the prime minister to offer comments.





The premier said she shared that the decision is a difficult one to accept, while highlighting the fact that the TCI was still recovering from two devastating storms and the recent upsurge in Haitian sloop landings, both of which are bringing with them great financial strain and stress to a people that are facing a new hurricane season.





Cartwright Robinson also expressed the sense of betrayal being felt by the entire territory after having at great expense, complied with all the international standards and ensured its compliance with the exchanged of notes establishing beneficial ownership even after the devastating storms.





She also stated that the TCI stands in solidarity with fellow overseas territories and that the approach taken by the UK parliament to Crown dependencies wreaks of unfairness.





She reiterated that she, along with her colleagues, would happily comply with public registers if it were a global standard but with this decision, there is sure to be a flight of business to the those countries that do not have this standard.





She also restated that the decision was a constitutional overreach, offensive and was sure to cause a further strain in the relationship with between the UK and the TCI.





At the end of the call, all of the OT leaders pledged to continue dialogue with the UK on this critical issue.





BVI claims public registry decision could cripple its economy





BEING forced to operate public registers of beneficial ownership could essentially kill the British Virgin Islands financial services sector, which accounts for 70 cents of every dollar in their economy.





Due to this, the territory has firmly stated it will only comply when the public registry standard becomes a global one.





Officials in the Cayman Islands, which like the BVI has a thriving financial sector, have expressed that while the decision will hurt their economy, it will not be as severely damaging to them as it will to the BVI.





The BVI has a financial sector primarily based on company formations.





During last Thursdays protest organisers circulated a petition calling on the UK to stay the decision so that a fairer agreement in line with the territorys 2007 constitution could be reached.





Following the march the petition was delivered to acting Governor David Archer.





Reports are that Governor Gus Jaspert had left the territory for the UK before the march.





The people of the BVI are also planning to put on pause the annual celebrations of the Queens birthday, due to be held on June 9.





The organisers of the boycott are encouraging residents to do anything else but join in the celebrations and most importantly - and what is at the heart of the outcry - to continue their hurricane recovery and preparations for the 2018 hurricane season which started on June 1.





BVI news agencies reported that many people, including non-Virgin Islanders and those from the territorys financial services sector, joined the historic march, chanting "No, no, no, this decision must go and "BVI Strong, this decision is wrong.





Protesters marched with placards, some of which read: I want to rule my destiny, When this standard becomes Global itll be our normal, End colonial rule, Racist UK, Public register equals economic death, This is not about money, its about our lives, BOLLUK, No imperial legislation, Colonialism long gone, Hurricane UK is upon us, and They left us to the birds, Now were flying they want to clip our wings.





Dr Smith joined in the protest, along with opposition leader Hon Andrew A Fahie and Virgin Islands icon Patsy C Lake, who had famously marched against the selling of Wickhams Cay in 1968 when she was just 23.





In a message to his territory, the premier stated: "We have marched here from the Sunday Morning Well to the Office of the Governor on this day, May 24. We have done so peacefully, in one accord, and hand-in-hand.





"This is a day that will forever be remembered in the history books of the Virgin Islands.





"Your presence here this afternoon means that we all share a deep love for our country and for its advancement.





"You are here because you want the Virgin Islands to continue on its path to prosperity where we, all of us here, are the owners of our own decision-making.





"More importantly, by showing up this afternoon, and signing the petition, it signals to the world that we are deeply disturbed by the decision in the United Kingdom, to purport to impose publicly accessible registers of company ownership on the Virgin Islands.





He stated that the British Virgin Islands is today one of the best regulated jurisdictions globally in financial services area, while listing all of the measures they like the rest of the overseas territories have put in place to become compliant with the changing world of financial regulations.





"So this decision by the United Kingdom to try to force us to have public registries is not right.





"In fact, what it is effectively saying is that 70 cents of every dollar spent in the BVI which comes from financial services, would be no more.





"That is why I say this decision is deeply disturbing because it threatens our way of life - our God-given right to live, to eat, to drink, to sleep, to drive, to own, to smile and to afford.





He then went on to elucidate several points.





Namely: "The UKs constitutional overreach into the internal affairs of the Virgin Islands, is not right. We have a right to make our own decisions.





"As a people, like the rest of the world, including the United Kingdom, we have the right to enjoy a quality standard of living. Our livelihood should not be hauled away from us, and by force.





"Our view on public registers of beneficial ownership has not changed. My Government remains focused on the fight against financial crime and ensuring that law enforcement authorities have access to verified beneficial ownership information.





"Let me say here that public registers are not required by any global standard. Public registers are not required by any global standard.





He said the territory will continue to defend its right not to have a public register until such time that it becomes a global standard.





"We do not believe in secrecy, he added, "we believe that every person has a right to privacy.





"According to the rule of law and the BVIs constitution, the fundamental rights of privacy given to all persons, including citizens and corporate entities, must be protected and upheld.





"My government is committed to pursuing all available legal channels to ensure that publicly available beneficial ownership registers are introduced in the BVI only if and when they become a global standard, which would establish a level playing field for all.





"We will also do all in our power to ensure that the financial services sector remains an integral part of the BVIs economic future.





"We will be reviewing the constitution and will consider any necessary changes to reinforce the self-determination of the British Virgin Islands as an overseas territory.




[June 04, 2018] Partnership with Orbweb Connect Expected to Significantly Accelerate Hikvision's Development of Advanced IOT Solutions

PALO ALTO, Calif., June 4, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Around 20.4 billion Internet of Things (IoT) devices are expected to be installed worldwide by 2020 according to the international research and advisory firm Gartner. Moreover, total spending on consumer and business IoT devices by that time should reach nearly US$3 trillion. Strongly bullish on the expansive growth potential for IoT devices in the years ahead, Orbweb, Inc. announced on June 1 a new strategic partnership with Hikvision Digital Technology, the world's leading provider of innovative video surveillance products and solutions. Under this partnership, Orbweb will provide Hikvision with highly stable network connectivity, security encryption solutions, and access to machine-to-machine (M2M) network services via Orbweb's global data centers. In light of the accelerated convergence this year of artificial intelligence (AI) and the IoT, Orbweb anticipates that machine-learning algorithms will soon be available to help Hikvision improve its image/pattern-recognition technologies to a level of precision approximating the human eye. Furthermore, Orbweb has committed to helping Hikvision reduce its time to market for new smart products, adding momentum to Hikvision's advanced IoT product development efforts. Willis Liu, Hikvision Product Director at Hikvision Intelligent Storage Department, emphasized: "Our number-one priority in choosing an IoT infrastructure vendor was its ability to comply with the strictest security-encryption standards. Secondly, we emphasized the importance of enhancing both our connectivity quality and the experience of our users. With its support o more than 100 different chipset platforms and IoT devices and its 29 cloud data centers worldwide, Orbweb fits well with the future of Hikvision in terms of our global sales expansion and responsive innovation needs."



Kent Chuang, Marketing Director at Hikvision Intelligent Storage Department, remarked that, "The ultimate decision to integrate Orbweb Connect connectivity technology was made based on its highly secure, high-performance, highly stable connectivity and its use of AES-128 endpoint data encryption." Orbweb CEO Tatsuki Tomita, whose company has invested heavily in AI and machine-learning R&D in recent years, noted, "We are honored to partner with Hikvision and to witness together the comprehensive and fundamental enhancement of the IoT service infrastructure. Orbweb's investments in R&D related to machine-learning algorithms will in the future assist our clients to significantly improve endpoint & edge device recognition algorithms for images/ objects, allowing for the creation of powerful IoT applications that are based on computer-vision algorithms and machine learning."

4 Unique Advantages of Orbweb Connect: High Penetration : Orbweb Connect delivers penetration rates of 90% or more;

: Orbweb Connect delivers penetration rates of 90% or more; High Transmission : We guarantee bandwidth usage rates of 85% or better;

: We guarantee bandwidth usage rates of 85% or better; Mesh Network : Network applications support many-to-many devices' connectivity;

: Network applications support many-to-many devices' connectivity; Secure Connections : All endpoints are AES 128-bit encrypted, with encryption keys changed at every connection. About Hikvision Hikvision is the world's leading provider of innovative video surveillance products and solutions. Featuring the industry's strongest R&D workforce, Hikvision advances core technologies of audio and video encoding, video image processing, and related data storage, as well as forward-looking technologies such as cloud computing, big data, and deep learning. In addition to the video surveillance industry, Hikvision extends its reach to smart home tech, industrial automation, and automotive electronics industries to achieve its long-term vision. Always creating value for its customers, Hikvision operates 37 regional subsidiaries all over the world to achieve a truly global presence. For more information, place visit us at www.hikvision.com. About Orbweb Orbweb, Inc. is a provider of vision based IoT software platform based in Palo Alto, California, with branch offices located in Shenzhen, Taipei; and Linkoping (Sweden). We are passionate about connecting things and making them accessible on the internet. We believe that we can build more intelligent, smarter and efficient society by connecting objects in an interoperable way. Orbweb partners with major PC/notebook, IoT devices manufacturers, video surveillance solution providers, telecom operators, and smart-home technology brands worldwide. For more information, place visit us at www.orbweb.com. SOURCE Orbweb

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[June 04, 2018] U.S. DoD Contracts MEO Services via Blanket Purchase Agreement with SES Government Solutions

SES (News - Alert) Government Solutions (SES GS), a wholly owned subsidiary of SES, has signed a single-award Blanket Purchase Agreement (BPA) with the U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) for Medium Earth Orbit (MEO) low-latency High Throughput Satellite (HTS) services. The total amount of all orders placed against the BPA cannot exceed USD 516.7 million over a five-year period of performance from 1 May 2018 through 30 April 2023. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20180603005167/en/ U.S. DoD Contracts MEO Services via Blanket Purchase Agreement with SES Government Solutions (Photo: Business Wire) With this agreement, U.S. DoD customers will have the opportunity to access SES's industry-leading O3b MEO services worldwide. The BPA scope of work includes managed services (HTS capacity and broadband services, gateway services, and monitoring and control services), satellite terminals, field service representative (FSR) support, training and terrestrial backhaul. "SES GS is excited to receive this award and looks forward to expediting service delivery to our DoD customers," said Pete Hoene, SES GS President and CEO. "This vehicle will enhance resiliency while enabling global access to fiber-like communications worldwide." SES GS currently provides over five Gbps of MEO HTS capabilty to 18 different U.S. Government sites worldwide. U.S. Government customers have access to 16 O3b MEO satellites. In 2021, these end users will have access to O3b mPOWER, the next-generation satellite-based communications system that sets new industry benchmarks for capacity, flexibility and coverage.



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About SES Government Solutions SES Government Solutions, a subsidiary of global satellite operator SES, is exclusively focused on meeting the satellite communications needs of the U.S. Government. Leveraging more than four decades of experience in the government Satcom market, SES Government Solutions offers robust and secure end-to-end satellite communications solutions. Further information can be found at www.ses-gs.com About SES SES is the world-leading satellite operator and the first to deliver a differentiated and scalable GEO-MEO offering worldwide, with more than 50 satellites in Geostationary Earth Orbit (GEO) and 16 in Medium Earth Orbit (MEO). SES focuses on value-added, end-to-end solutions in two key business units: SES Video and SES Networks. The company provides satellite communications services to broadcasters, content and internet service providers, mobile and fixed network operators, governments and institutions. SES's portfolio includes ASTRA, O3b and MX1, a leading media service provider that offers a full suite of innovative digital video and media services. SES is listed on the Euronext Paris and Luxembourg Stock Exchange (ticker: SESG). Further information available at www.ses.com View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20180603005167/en/

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[June 04, 2018] Onapsis Selected as 2018 SC Awards Europe Excellence Finalist for Best Enterprise Security Solution

BOSTON, June 04, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Onapsis, the global experts in ERP and business-critical application cybersecurity and compliance, today announced that the company has been shortlisted as a 2018 SC Awards Europe finalist in the category of Best Enterprise Security Solution. Winners will be announced Tuesday, June 5th at the London Marriott Grosvenor Square in London, UK.

The expert judges are drawn from the senior ranks of the information security profession and were selected for their experience and impartiality. The judges work for major European and global brands, including investment and retails banks, retail groups, airlines, insurance groups and food groups as well as prestigious government departments. Receiving the shortlist nomination for Best Enterprise Security Solution by one of the most prestigious awards programs in the world, and to be counted among some of the biggest names in cybersecurity, is a great honor for the company. This award further demonstrates that organizations globally are relying on the Onapsis Security Platform to build and mature their ERP security programs and protect their critical data and processes against the rise in ERP-related threats, sad Juan Pablo Perez-Etchegoyen, CTO, Onapsis Inc.



About Onapsis

Onapsis cybersecurity solutions automate the monitoring and protection of your SAP and Oracle ERP and business-critical applications, keeping them compliant and safe from insider and outsider threats. As the proven market leader, global enterprises trust Onapsis to protect the essential information and processes that run their businesses. Headquartered in Boston, MA, Onapsis serves over 200 customers including many of the Global 2000. Onapsis's solutions are also the de-facto standard for leading consulting and audit firms such as Deloitte, IBM, Infosys and PwC.

Onapsis solutions include the Onapsis Security Platform, which is the most widely-used SAP-certified cybersecurity solution on the market. Unlike generic security products, Onapsis's context-aware solutions deliver both preventative vulnerability and compliance controls, as well as real-time detection and incident response capabilities to reduce risks affecting critical business processes and data. Through open interfaces, the platform can be integrated with leading SIEM, GRC and network security products, seamlessly incorporating enterprise applications into existing vulnerability, risk and incident response management programs. These solutions are powered by the Onapsis Research Labs, who continuously provide leading intelligence on security threats affecting SAP and Oracle enterprise applications. Experts at the Onapsis Research Labs were the first to lecture on SAP cyberattacks and have uncovered and helped fix hundreds of security vulnerabilities to-date affecting SAP Business Suite, SAP HANA, SAP Cloud and SAP Mobile applications, as well as Oracle JD Edwards and Oracle E-Business Suite platforms. This patented technology is well known, industry wide, and has gained Onapsis recognition on the Deloitte Technology Fast-500, as a Red Herring North America Top 100 company and a SINET 16 Innovator. For more information, please visit www.onapsis.com, or connect with us on Twitter, Google+, or LinkedIn. Onapsis and Onapsis Research Labs are registered trademarks of Onapsis, Inc. All other company or product names may be the registered trademarks of their respective owners. Contact:

Leslie Kesselring

Kesselring Communications for Onapsis

leslie@kesscomm.com

(503) 358-1012



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[June 04, 2018] Geoswift Launches GeoRemit at Money 20/20 Europe to Streamline P2P Money Transfers into China

AMSTERDAM, June 4, 2018 /CNW/ -- Geoswift, a leading provider of cross-border payments between China and the rest of the world, launches GeoRemit, a P2P money transfer service at Money 20/20 Europe today. GeoRemit will help consumers swiftly and securely transfer money to 90% of Chinese bank accounts, both debit and credit, in RMB, by utilising Geoswift's network of banks in China. In most countries, remitting money domestically is a relatively straightforward process. However, the challenge lies in remitting securely and swiftly between China and rest of the world. China's complex regulatory framework and stringent laws governing the movement of money, make it extremely challenging for consumers looking to transact into China. In GeoRemit, our comprehensive anti-money laundering (AML) monitoring for transactions and fraud control measures provide added layer of security for online transactions. This helps in creating a safe and transparent payment stream. For payments made into China, GeoRemit ensures that all transactions on its platform comply with the requirements from the People's Bank of China (PBoC). Raymond Qu, Founder and CEO of Geoswift said, "GeoRemit is designed to speed up, streamline and simplify the money transfer remittance process within an ever-changing landscape where transaction values are getting smaller and transaction volumes are increasing. We realise how important it is for users to stay connected and transact with people in other parts of the world. We have built our technological infrastructure to bridge the paymen gap separating foreigners, and Chinese living overseas from their mainland. Along with a seamless single API integration to GeoRemit, we have implemented rigorous compliance procedures in place to ensure that transactions are screened, legitimate, and securely delivered to the recipient. As a facilitator of cross-border payments, we take it upon ourselves to ensure that users continue to benefit from accessible, affordable and secure remittance services, and simultaneously protect the integrity of financial markets that we operate within."



Geoswift is exhibiting at Money 20/20 Europe, in Rai from June 4-6. Visit booth E101 to find out more about Geoswift's service offerings. About Geoswift

Geoswift is an innovative payment technology company connecting China and the rest of the world. The company comprises the world's leading payment technology experts that have a deep understanding of the industry, technology, and global and China monetary policy. Geoswift provides clients with customised one-stop cross-border payment solutions to and from China. Geoswift is relied upon by the world's leading e-commerce companies, most prestigious universities and the largest brands in the travel industry to grow their businesses. Geoswift is an acquirer of UnionPay International in North America, and a long-term partner of many other leading financial institutions. It also operates numbers of currency exchange stores throughout China. Geoswift is headquartered in Hong Kong with operating offices in Shanghai, Singapore, London, Vancouver, Seattle and San Francisco for strategic and regulatory functions. For more information, please visit www.geoswift.com or send in your queries to info@geoswift.com. PRESS CONTACT:

Cognito Asia

Prisita Menon / Sharan Nanwani

geoswift.asia@cognitomedia.com

Phone: +65 6221 7310 Cognito UK

Robert Ratcliffe

Robert.Ratcliffe@cognitomedia.com View original content:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/geoswift-launches-georemit-at-money-2020-europe-to-streamline-p2p-money-transfers-into-china-300658127.html SOURCE Geoswift

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[June 04, 2018] Transactive Systems Gains FCA E-Money Licence

Transactive Systems, the international instant payments provider has been authorised by the Financial Conduct Authority as an Electronic Money Institution to issue e-money and provide payment services in the UK and across the EU. Transactive has an existing and separate e-money license with the central bank of the Republic of Lithuania, the Bank of Lithuania. The authorisation demonstrates that Transactive Systems' e-money operations have safeguards in-line with other regulated financial institutions including the complete segregation of client funds, where customer balances are kept in separate bank accounts. Transactive Systems' sponsor for the Faster Payment Service is clearing bank, ClearBank. Noyan Nihat, Chief Executive of Transactive Systems, said: "Businesses have been crying out for faster, simpler and better value payment options. The old banks' monopoly on payment services has been broken, and we are delighted to have worked with the UK's first new clearing bank in 250 years, ClearBank to make this possible in the UK." Transactive Systems provides international instant payments. Businesses using Transactive Systems can send and receive payments across the EU in econds and at a fraction of the cost of traditional banking services.



Transactive Systems offers UK Faster Payments, SEPA Credit and Debit Transfer Payments, SEPA Instant, Virtual Bank Accounts and Direct Debits. Transactive Systems is designed for businesses serving payroll, operating in the gig economy, online lending, affiliate marketing and other financial technology businesses requiring fast, simple and straightforward payments. Transactive Systems provides an open API, meaning that payments functionality can be easily added to a third-party service. Notes to editors

The UK Faster Payments Service facilitates electronic sterling payments in the UK between participating scheme members. The SEPA Credit, Debit and SEPA Instant Transfer scheme facilitates electronic payments in Euros between SEPA countries. The SEPA countries are the EU countries and their territories (including UK Crown Dependencies), Iceland, Lichtenstein, Norway and Switzerland. A Direct Debit is an automated payment method used for the payment of regular and occasional bills. Information on the FCA and electronic money licensing is available at: https://www.fca.org.uk/firms/electronic-money-payment-institutions Information on the Central Bank of the Republic of Lithuania licencing is available at: https://www.lb.lt/en/frd/view_license?id=439 Transactive Systems Ltd Transactive Systems provides simple, fast and affordable instant payment services and virtual bank accounts across the UK and EU. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20180604005113/en/

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[June 04, 2018] AIMAZING Journey: Honor and VisitBritain Launch Worldwide Photo Competition

LONDON, June 4, 2018 /CNW/ -- Honor, a leading smartphone e-brand, today launched a worldwide photo competition #AIMAZING Journey with VisitBritain, encouraging a young generation of adventure seekers to share pictures of their favorite travel destinations. The partnership between Honor and VisitBritain is the latest announcement since the global launch of the Honor 10 in London on 15 May, 2018, when Honor launched its #AIMAZING Journey, from June to August, inviting every Honor user to share their life experiences online. The journey begins in Britain today, when Honor fans will be encouraged to share their favorite travel experiences on the Honor Global Facebook page and the HiHonor competition website with their Honor phones. Britain is the first stop of the competition before it embarks on a round-the-world trip, calling at a new destination every fortnight, including United Arab Emirates, Russia, France, Germany and Finland. At the same time, VisitBritain's latest global campaign, 'I Travel For...' also explores people's passions for travel, and showcases the best places to visit in Britain. The two campaigns complement one another in this joint competition which calls on people to share their best travel experiences using their smartphone. As the leading e-brand for digital natives, Honor values its young and trendsetting fans. To this end, Honor is committed to creating experiences with them and for them, and with this competition Honor is offering participants a chance to receive a voucher towards their next holiday getaway. "Honor fans are an inspiration to our brand worldwide. That's why we work hard to co-create lifestyle experiences for them," said George Zhao, President of Honor. "With this competition, we hope to offer a once in a lifetime holiday experience to a younger generation of smartphone users and learn about their favorite destinations, how they travel and what they love to do when they get there. We chose Britain to launch the Honor 10 and for the first stage of this competition, because it is one of the world's top tourist destinations. There is nowhere else you can experience so much in one place." VisitBritain Chief Executive Sally Balcombe said: "We want the UK to be the destination of choice for visitors from China and this competition is a perfect opportunity for free-spirited and spontaneous adventure seekers to show the world their favorite moments in Britain using their smartphone." The launch of the Honor 10, Honor's flagship smartphone for 2018, revealed two major ground-breaking and industry leading smartphone technologies to consumers. The first was the advanced AI 2.0 technology, applied chiefly to the smartphone's dual-lens camera. Second, was the Honor 10 CMF[1] design, a 3D glass back with a stunning nano-scale optical coating composed of 15 layers of shimmering color. Honor 10 has recorded a sales volume at over 1 million, after only one month of its initial launch in China and one week after the global launch in London. With a unique Internet-powered business model, unrivaled product, and unbeatable value, Honor has taken its successful business model from China to the global market. As George Zhao announced at a launch event in London last December, Honor aims to become a top-five smartphone brand by 2020.







[1] Color, Manufacturing, Finish (CMF) in industrial design

About Honor Honor is a leading smartphone e-brand under the Huawei Group. In line with its slogan, "For the Brave", the brand was created to meet the needs of digital natives through internet-optimized products that offer superior user experiences, inspire action, foster creativity and empower the young to achieve their dreams. In doing this, Honor has set itself apart by showcasing its own bravery to do things differently and to take the steps needed to usher in the latest technologies and innovations for its customers. For more information, please visit Honor online at www.hihonor.com or follow us on:

https://www.facebook.com/honorglobal/

https://twitter.com/Honorglobal

https://www.instagram.com/honorglobal/

https://www.youtube.com/honorglobal View original content with multimedia:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/aimazing-journey-honor-and-visitbritain-launch-worldwide-photo-competition-300658923.html SOURCE Honor

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[June 04, 2018] Nozomi Networks Continues Aggressive Expansion to Meet Demand for Critical Infrastructure Security

SAN FRANCISCO, June 04, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Nozomi Networks Inc., the leader in operational visibility and real-time cybersecurity for industrial control systems (ICS) today announced new product enhancements, a broadened partner network, and aggressive global field expansion initiatives. New product enhancements in Nozomi Networks latest release include high-availability features (HA) to meet the rigorous needs of large-scale global deployments. Expansion of the companys global partner network better enables IT/OT integration in customer deployments; and new global expansion provide CIOs and CISOs around the world with the security expertise they need to better manage and reduce their OT risks.

Addressing the rising threat of cyberattacks against critical national infrastructure and industrial networks has quickly become a top priority worldwide. In January, The World Economic Forum identified cyberattacks against industrial systems and critical infrastructure among the highest risks to international stability. A Marsh survey found three-quarters of energy executives worry about cyber attacks interrupting their business operations and are preparing to increase their investments in cyber risk management. And recently both the US and UK governments issued warnings around state-sponsored Russian attacks targeting critical network infrastructure. If a utility network or petrochemical operation is compromised, human safety and financial harm hang in the balance, said Nozomi Networks Co-founder and Chief Product Officer Andrea Carcano. Protecting critical infrastructure and industrial operations from real cyber threats is now a C-suite priority and is the mission upon which Nozomi was founded. CISOs are eager to find effective ways to see and secure their operational networks and Nozomi Networks is stepping up to help them. Nozomi Networks companywide expansion initiatives include: Enhanced Product Functionality - New High Availability Features for Demanding Environments

New enhancements to the latest version of SCADAguardian and its Central Management Console (CMC) strengthen its position as the leading ICS cybersecurity solution. With its 4th generation of proven AI-powered technology, Nozomi Networks offers high availability (HA) configurations to support large organizations that need fully redundant implementations or disastr recovery. This latest release is already in production in live customer environments including securing the energy distribution supply to a city of over 8 million people. Large scale monitoring with a high availability deployment ensures operational resiliency, supported by the industrys best industrial network visibility and threat identification. In addition to HA, other new capabilities in V18 include:





Improved IT/OT visibility via advances in vulnerability assessment and network topology filtering views

Added resiliency for large scale deployments including systems performance improvements and system hardening

Additions to hybrid threat detection including more than 100 new threat checks. Global Partner Expansion

Focused on rapidly filling a market gap in effective IT/OT cybersecurity integrations, Nozomi Networks recently added several new partners including, Gravwell and BlackRidge to its global partner network. Providing key OT security integrations with the tools that CIOs, CISO and SOCs already trust, gives customers the strongest possible IT/OT cyber resiliency and operational visibility. The company now has nearly 50 strategic technology, SI and VAR partners actively offering Nozomi Networks solutions around the world.

Global Field Expansion  Led by New Vice President of Worldwide Sales, Obbe Knoop

Nozomi Networks has named industry veteran Obbe Knoop Vice President of Worldwide Sales. Well-respected across the industry for his deep experience in both IT and OT security sales, Knoop is leading the companys aggressive field expansion efforts. He joins Nozomi Networks after an 8-year tenure with IBM and Big Fix where he most recently served as an executive in the Security Services and Solutions business unit. Nozomi Networks is significantly expanding its global presence to include sales and technical resources in its new offices in Australia, Canada, UAE, Germany and The United Kingdom link to a page on site with details on office locations). Nozomi Networks has expanded headcount by more than 50% in its existing San Francisco, U.S. and Mendrisio, Switzerland offices. Supporting Quotes



Bill Joll, Head of World Wide Sales, BlackRidge Technology

IIoT and utility customers are looking for ways to improve their operational and cyber resiliency in the face of growing threats against their critical operations. Teaming with Nozomi Networks allows us to complement our advanced cyber defense solution with 4th generation technology that delivers proven industrial network visibility and threat identification." Corey Thuen, CEO and Founder, Gravwell

Nozomi Networks provides top tier data and their responsiveness and dedication toward innovation in this space are what make them an ideal partner. Together, we're enabling capabilities that OT and IT have never had before, and that's very exciting. More Information on Nozomi Networks Global Expansion Initiatives Blog: Nozomi Networks Scales Globally to Deliver Advanced ICS Cybersecurity

SCADAguardian Datasheet

Central Management Console Datasheet

White paper: Advancing ICS Visibility and Cybersecurity with the Nozomi Networks Solution About Nozomi Networks

Nozomi Networks is the leader of industrial cybersecurity, delivering the best solution for real-time visibility to manage cyber risk and improve resilience for industrial operations. With one solution, customers gain advanced cybersecurity, improved operational reliability and easy IT/OT integration. Innovating the use of artificial intelligence, the company helps the largest industrial facilities around the world See and Secure their critical industrial control networks. Today Nozomi Networks supports over a quarter of a million devices in sectors such as critical infrastructure, energy, manufacturing, mining, transportation and utilities, making it possible to tackle escalating cyber risks to operational networks (OT). www.nozominetworks.com Press Contacts:

Jil Backstrom

jil.backstrom@nozominetworks.com - 303.913.1650

Follow the Nozomi Networks Blog

Follow @nozominetworks on Twitter

Visit and follow the Nozomi Networks Corporate Page on LinkedIn

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[June 04, 2018] Ashford University Awards Academic Scholarships to Parent of Elementary Student and Elementary School Teacher

SAN DIEGO, June 4, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- As part of Ashford University's continuing partnership with the No Excuses University network of schools, Ashford recently awarded two individuals with scholarships to attend Ashford University. Silvia Serratos, a parent of a student at Twinhill Elementary in Riverside, California, was awarded an undergraduate scholarship and Kristin Karrow, a teacher at Liberty Elementary in Riverside, California, was awarded a graduate scholarship to Ashford University's College of Education. To be considered for the scholarship, parents and teachers involved with No Excuses University schools submitted essays detailing what it means to them to be part of a school in the No Excuses University network. This is the third consecutive year Ashford University is granting these scholarships, which cover full program tuition and a waiver for technology fees. "This is my chance to further my education and show my children that it is never too late," said Serratos. "I want to break barriers as a first-generation Hispanic woman by earning a college degree." "Earning a master's degree will allow me to become an expert in instructional design so I can create personalized content for all students," said Karrow. "It will enhance the knowledge I need to collaborate with other school and district leaders and to provide high-quality experiences for our students." The No Excuses University network of schools are official No Excuses University campuses that are committe to preparing students for college by promoting a comprehensive college readiness model. The organization was founded on the idea that every child deserves the opportunity to be educated in a way that prepares them for college. Schools accepted into the No Excuses University network are held accountable for continued focus on promoting college readiness for all.



"Ashford University is proud to award scholarships to such deserving members within the No Excuses University network of schools," said Dr. Tony Farrell, executive dean of the Ashford University College of Education. "The recipients received tremendous support from their schools, which just shows the profound impact that higher education can have on an individual and those around them." To learn more about No Excuses University, please visit https://noexcusesu.com/.

About Ashford University

Where heritage meets innovation  that's Ashford University. At Ashford, students discover relevant degree programs, innovative technology, and cherished tradition. Ashford offers associates, bachelor's, and master's degree programs online, allowing students to balance life by providing the flexibility to do school work anywhere, anytime. For more information, please visit www.ashford.edu, www.facebook.com/ashforduniversity, or www.twitter.com/AshfordU. About No Excuses University

No Excuses University (NEU) is a network of over 250 K-12 schools across the nation founded on the belief that every student deserves an opportunity to be educated in a way that prepares them for college. NEU achieves this mission through the strategic implementation of their Six Exceptional Systems for school improvement: A Culture of Universal Achievement, Collaboration, Standards Alignment, Assessment, Data Management, and Interventions. For more info: http://noexcusesu.com/ Contact: Kathleen Park

858.513.9240 x11636  kathleen.park@ashford.edu View original content with multimedia:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/ashford-university-awards-academic-scholarships-to-parent-of-elementary-student-and-elementary-school-teacher-300658456.html SOURCE Ashford University

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[June 04, 2018] Magnetic Sensors Market Size Worth $3.22 Billion by 2025 | CAGR: 6.8%: Grand View Research, Inc.

SAN FRANCISCO, June 4, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- The global magnetic sensors market size is expected to reach USD 3.22 billion by 2025, according to a new report by Grand View Research, Inc., progressing at a CAGR of 6.8% during the forecast period. Increasing awareness regarding automobile safety coupled with an overall decline in pricing of sensors is bolstering the demand for magnetic sensors. Moreover, technological advancements in consumer electronics in line with proliferation of IoT technology are expected to impact the growth of the magnetic field sensor market favorably. (Logo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/661327/Grand_View_Research_Logo.jpg )

Such sensors are extensively used in smartphones and consumer wearable devices such as smartwatches and health monitoring devices. An emerging trend in the industry is the incorporation of giant magnetoresistance (GMR) film on magnetic field sensors. This process enables the sensing components to detect and read data from microelectromechanical systems (MEMS), such as hard drives, MRAMs, and temporary memory processing units. Sensing devices are being increasingly used in the automotive sector to improve vehicles' fuel efficiency, convenience, and safety. Favorable government regulations encouraging the use of electric vehicles (EVs), particularly in Europe, are stimulating the demand for several sensing devices, including magnetic sensors. Magnetic sensing devices are integrated into EVs' power systems to monitor auxiliary motor inverters. Some sensing technologies, such as the Hall Effect technology, have been in the market for over two decades and their application base is increasing despite their early maturity. Although Hall Effect is a highly mature technology, continuous improvements and advancements still make it a competitive sensor technology applicable to a wide range of industry verticals. Browse full research report with TOC on "Magnetic Sensor Market Size, Share, & Trends Analysis Report By Technology (Hall Effect, AMR, GMR, TMR), By Application (Automotive, Consumer Electronics, Industrial), By Region, And Segment Forecasts, 2018 - 2025" at: https://www.grandviewresearch.com/industry-analysis/magnetic-sensors-maret



Further Key Findings From the Report Suggest: Magnetic sensing components are increasingly finding applications in power distribution units (PDUs) due to increasing demand for data centers

In the renewable energy domain, such sensors are being used in wind and solar power plants to provide switching, position and angular sensing, and current sensing

Market incumbents are focusing on using high-quality materials to ensure superior performance, create awareness about performance and sophisticated features, and identify new markets in order to extend their customer base and remain competitive in the market

The market is poised to witness significant growth owing to favorable government regulations encouraging the use of Anti-lock Braking System (ABS) and growing consumer preference for navigation tools, such as GPS, in automobiles

Multinational sensor manufacturers and vendors are focusing on mergers and acquisitions as a part of their strategy to gain a competitive advantage to overcome the challenges of lack of product differentiation and market maturity Browse related reports by Grand View Research:

3D Sensors Market - Continuous developments through extensive R&D are expected to fuel innovation in the 3D sensors market.



Continuous developments through extensive R&D are expected to fuel innovation in the 3D sensors market. Automotive Sensor Market - The gobal automotive sensor market size was estimated at USD 18.68 billion in 2014.



The gobal automotive sensor market size was estimated at in 2014. Biometric Sensor Market - The global Biometric Sensor Market size was valued at USD 810.9 million in 2015.



The global Biometric Sensor Market size was valued at in 2015. Consumer Electronic Sensors Market - The global consumer electronic sensors market size is expected to exceed USD 34 billion by 2022. Grand View Research has segmented the global magnetic sensor market report on the basis of technology, application, and region: Magnetic Sensor Technology Outlook (Volume, Million Units; Revenue, USD Million, 2014 - 2025) Hall Effect Anisotropic Magnetoresistance (AMR) Giant Magnetoresistance (GMR) Tunnel Magnetoresistance (TMR) Others

Magnetic Sensor Application Outlook (Volume, Million Units; Revenue, USD Million, 2014 - 2025) Automotive Consumer Electronics Industrial Others

Magnetic Sensor Regional Outlook (Volume, Million Units; Revenue, USD Million, 2014 - 2025) North America U.S. Canada Europe Germany U.K. Asia Pacific China Japan India Latin America Brazil Mexico Middle East & Africa

Explore the BI enabled intuitive market research database, The Grand Library, by Grand View Research, Inc. About Grand View Research Grand View Research, Inc. is a U.S. based market research and consulting company, registered in the State of California and headquartered in San Francisco. The company provides syndicated research reports, customized research reports, and consulting services. To help clients make informed business decisions, we offer market intelligence studies ensuring relevant and fact-based research across a range of industries, from technology to chemicals, materials and healthcare. Contact:

Sherry James

Corporate Sales Specialist, USA

Grand View Research, Inc

Phone: +1-415-349-0058

Toll Free: 1-888-202-9519

Email: sales@grandviewresearch.com Web: https://www.grandviewresearch.com

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[June 04, 2018] Iron Mountain Publishes Fifth Annual Corporate Responsibility Report

BOSTON, June 4, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Iron Mountain Incorporated (NYSE: IRM), the global leader in storage and information management services, today announced the publication of the 2017 edition of its Corporate Responsibility Report. The report, now in its fifth annual edition, offers a comprehensive overview on the company's progress towards its global commitments for key Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) program goals. The full report is available for download on Iron Mountain's Corporate Social Responsibility portal. Iron Mountain's 2017 corporate responsibility report provides an update on six key areas of focus: safety, environmental impact, data privacy, ethics and anti-corruption, customer impact and inclusion and diversity. Each of these received substantial focus, resulting in the following key achievements: Recognition for Green Power efforts  The Environmental Protection Agency's Green Power Partnership ranked Iron Mountain as a top 20 corporate purchaser of wind and solar energy in the US, and awarded the company its 2017 Green Power Leadership award.

 The Environmental Protection Agency's Green Power Partnership ranked Iron Mountain as a top 20 corporate purchaser of wind and solar energy in the US, and awarded the company its 2017 Green Power Leadership award. Increased use of renewable/sustainable power sources  In 2017, 40 percent of the company's total electricity use in the US came from renewable energy, and 100 percent of the electricity for its Data Center business came from wind and/or solar power sources.

In 2017, 40 percent of the company's total electricity use in the US came from renewable energy, and 100 percent of the electricity for its Data Center business came from wind and/or solar power sources. Progress in reducing climate pollution  Iron Mountain reduced absolute greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions globally by 6.6 percent despite the continued growth of its business.

Iron Mountain reduced absolute greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions globally by 6.6 percent despite the continued growth of its business. Increased gender equity and minority representation in leadership roles - In 2017, Iron Mountain achieved 25 percent representation of women in Director and above roles in North America , and 11 percent minority representation in Director and above roles in the US. "A commitment to transparency, responsibility and empathy is personal for our employees, from the top down," said Ty Ondatje, senior vice president of Corporate Responsibility and chief diversity officer for Iron Mountain."It brings out the best in all of Iron Mountain, which both benefits and fosters a deeper engagement with our customers, our employees and our communities. Our growing commitment to environmental and social responsibility lets our stakeholders see what we aspire to accomplish, and is an invitation become part of our journey."



Additionally, the report describes Iron Mountain's commitments to align its ESG goals with global platforms like the United Nations' Sustainable Development Goals. This will allow Iron Mountain to pursue its long-term ESG goals more aggressively by creating a culture of greater accountability. By the end of 2018, the company plans to announce absolute reductions in greenhouse gas emissions  setting science-based goals that align with the international Paris Climate Accord. "As the guardian of customers' most important assets, trust is a key attribute of our company and the lodestar of our environmental, social and governance efforts around the world," said William Meaney, president and chief executive officer of Iron Mountain. "The trust our customers place in us drives our commitments to operating safely, ethically and responsibly around the world, improving our social and environmental impact and maximizing our efforts to protect the valuable data and assets of our company, our customers and our employees. At the five-year mark, I am proud of what we have accomplished as a company and, in preparing this report, I am humbled and energized by the challenges and opportunities that lie ahead."

Iron Mountain's Corporate Sustainability Report follows the Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) Reporting Guidelines, a widely used standard that provides a framework for reporting and tracking progress. To read the report, visit Iron Mountain's corporate responsibility portal at http://www.ironmountain.com/About-Us/Corporate-Social-Responsibility.aspx. About Iron Mountain

Iron Mountain Incorporated (NYSE: IRM), founded in 1951, is the global leader for storage and information management services. Trusted by more than 225,000 organizations around the world, and with a real estate network of more than 85 million square feet across more than 1,400 facilities in over 50 countries, Iron Mountain stores and protects billions of valued assets, including critical business information, highly sensitive data, and cultural and historical artifacts. Providing solutions that include information management, digital transformation, secure storage, secure destruction, as well as data centers, cloud services and art storage and logistics, Iron Mountain helps customers lower cost and risk, comply with regulations, recover from disaster, and enable a more digital way of working. Visit www.ironmountain.com for more information. Media Contacts:

Christian T. Potts

Iron Mountain

(617) 535-8721

Christian.Potts@ironmountain.com View original content:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/iron-mountain-publishes-fifth-annual-corporate-responsibility-report-300658844.html SOURCE Iron Mountain Incorporated

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A NEW Salt Cay resort, beach access, child safeguarding and tackling illegal migration were all hot topics at the latest meeting of the Cabinet.





Acting Governor Anya Williams chaired this years 12th meeting on Friday, May 25, at the NJS Francis Building in Grand Turk.





All ministers were present except Deputy Premier Hon Sean Astwood.





At this meeting Cabinet:

-Approved, subject to amendments being made, the revised Fiscal Strategy Policy Statement (FSPS) 2018-2022 for forwarding to the UK government for approval.





-Reviewed an information paper from the Public Works Department updating Cabinet on planned works programmes for government buildings, hurricane shelters and schools.





-Reviewed the revised the draft Capital Programme and Budget for the three year period 2018-2020.

Cabinet called for the draft programme and budget to be further amended and recirculated to Cabinet before forwarding to the UK government for approval.





-Approved a MSME concession order for the company Sugar Apple Villa for the purpose of establishing a short term rental property in Leeward, Providenciales.





-Considered a proposal for the development of a Six Senses Resort on the Island of Salt Cay and requested further information.





-Received an information paper from the Hon Ralph Higgs, Minister of Tourism, Environment, Heritage and Culture, updating Cabinet on the work of the Conservation Fund Working Group to review the findings of a consultancy study on the sustainable financing of environmental conservation in TCI.





-Hon Higgs informed Cabinet that a paper would be submitted to the next meeting of Cabinet on the issue of access to beaches in TCI.





-Premier Sharlene Cartwright Robinson informed Cabinet of her attendance at the meeting of the Caribbean Board of Governors in Grenada in the week beginning May 28 at which there would be discussion on progressing various major projects in TCI.





-The premier briefed Cabinet on a teleconference that she had participated in on May 24 with other overseas territory leaders, the UK prime minister Theresa May and Lord Ahmad, the UK Minister for the Overseas Territories, on the introduction of public registers in 2020 following the recent amendment to the UK Sanctions and Anti Money Laundering Act.





-The premier advised Cabinet of the receipt of a draft report from the consultants on the Review of the Financial Services Sector commissioned by the Ministry of Finance.





-Hon Higgs briefed Cabinet on ongoing dialogue with the Sea Shepherd maritime environmental protection organisation.





-Attorney General Rhondalee Brathwaite Knowles informed Cabinet that she would be attending the Caribbean Financial Action Task Force (CFATF) meeting in Trinidad in the week beginning May 28 and gave an outline of the work that was planned with the CFATF over the coming months, including a visit to TCI during the second and third weeks of September, to ensure TCIs compliance with international standards on money laundering and financial crime.





-The premier briefed Cabinet on the visit by a specialist UK Border Force team to TCI to assess and make recommendations on TCI requirements to tackle illegal migration.





-The acting governor briefed Cabinet on her meeting with the UKs National Crime Agency in which they had raised concerns about child safeguarding in the TCI.





-The premier informed Cabinet that the Bahamas authorities had approached her to reinforce their offer of assistance to help tackle the problem of illegal sloops from Haiti.





-The acting governor reminded Cabinet of the fourth Hurricane Preparedness meeting in Grand Turk on May 30 and underlined the need for all ministries and organisations to ensure that they have preparedness measures in place ahead of the forthcoming hurricane season.





-The premier informed Cabinet of a visit to the TCI by the credit rating agency Standard and Poors (S&P) in the week beginning May 28.




[June 04, 2018] Gartner Positions Infosys as a Leader in Magic Quadrant for Oracle Application Services

BENGALURU, India, June 4, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Infosys (NYSE: INFY), a global leader in consulting, technology and next-generation services today announced that Gartner, Inc. has positioned Infosys as a Leader in its Magic Quadrant for Oracle Application Services, Worldwide (Europe, Middle East and Africa, North America and Asia Pacific). (Logo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/633365/Infosys_Logo.jpg )

The Gartner Magic Quadrant assessed 19 leading Oracle application service providers with the full cycle of Oracle application services, from project-based implementation to multi-year application management services (AMS). Gartner's Magic Quadrant also evaluated these service providers for their ability to deliver to clients a comprehensive set of implementation and management services across Oracle's portfolio of products. As an Oracle Cloud Elite partner, Infosys is also helping its clients reimagine their business through next-generation digital solutions, making them agile and connecting them with their value chain. The focus on innovation, industrialization and automation is driving newer levels of efficiencies across verticals. Ravi Kumar, President and Deputy Chief Operating Officer, Infosys, said, "We believe, being recognized as a Leader in Gartner's Magic Quadrant for Oracle Application Services strengthens our capability as a leading digital transformation partner for our clients, helping them succeed in a digital economy. We have been closely associated with Oracle as their development and testing partner, and this recognition from Gartner is testimony to our efforts i becoming an industry leader."



Richard Walsh, Director Financial Systems, MFS Investment Management, said, "Infosys did a great job implementing our Oracle Profitability and Cost Management Project in Oracle Cloud. This helped us improve performance, trace allocations and enable frequent and efficient profitability cycles. We congratulate Infosys in leading Gartner's Magic Quadrant for Oracle Application Services and recommend Infosys as an implementation partner." Source: Gartner, Magic Quadrant for Oracle Application Services, Worldwide, Alan H Stanley et al, 28 February 2018

About Gartner's Magic Quadrant Gartner does not endorse any vendor, product, or service depicted in its research publications, and does not advise technology users to select only those vendors with the highest ratings or other designation. Gartner research publications consist of the opinions of Gartner's research organization and should not be construed as statements of fact. Gartner disclaims all warranties, expressed or implied, with respect to this research, including any warranties of merchantability or fitness for a particular purpose. About Infosys Infosys is a global leader in next-generation digital services and consulting. We enable clients in 45 countries to navigate their digital transformation. With over three decades of experience in managing the systems and workings of global enterprises, we expertly steer our clients through their digital journey. We do it by enabling the enterprise with an AI-powered core that helps prioritize the execution of change. We also empower the business with agile digital at scale to deliver unprecedented levels of performance and customer delight. Our always-on learning agenda drives their continuous improvement through building and transferring digital skills, expertise, and ideas from our innovation ecosystem. Visit http://www.infosys.com to see how Infosys (NYSE: INFY) can help your enterprise navigate your next. 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 http://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.

SOURCE Infosys

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[June 04, 2018] Zest Labs CEO Peter Mehring to Speak on Panel at GS1 Digital Convergence Forum

Zest Labs, an AgTech company, today announced that CEO Peter Mehring will participate in a panel discussion titled, "Brand Building Through Earned Trust," at the GS1 Digital Convergence Forum, on June 7 in Phoenix, Arizona. Mehring will be speaking on the panel along with Myron Burke (senior director, emerging technologies, Walmart Inc.) and Azeem Malik (blockchain business development, IBM (News - Alert) ). The panel will be moderated by Robert Tercek, digital futurist and digital media pioneer. Zest Labs is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Ecoark Holdings, Inc. (OTCQX: ZEST), to be renamed Zest Technologies, Inc. The "digital future of food" is becoming reality and the industry has been working on end-to-end supply chain visibility for years. However, with the rapid evolution of technology, we have the automation and ubiquity needed to achieve aspirational business objectives in areas of transparency, sustainability, and profitability. Join this panel for a discussion on the art of the possible.







Who: Peter Mehring, CEO, Zest Labs Myron Burke, senior director, emerging technologies, Walmart Inc. Azeem Malik, blockchain business development, IBM Robert Tercek, digital futurist and digital media pioneer (Moderator) What: "Brand Building Through Earned Trust" When: Thursday, June 7, 2018 at 9:25am MT Where: JW Marriott Phoenix Desert Ridge 5350 E Marriott Drive Phoenix, AZ

The Digital Convergence (News - Alert) Forum is offered through GS1 US, a member of GS1 global, and is a not-for-profit information standards organization that facilitates industry collaboration to improve supply chain visibility and efficiency through the use of GS1 Standards. About Zest Labs

Zest Labs is an AgTech company modernizing the post-harvest fresh food supply chain to improve food safety and reduce food waste by 50% or more. Our flagship solution, Zest Fresh, provides autonomous, field-to-shelf visibility for proactive decision making to improve delivered freshness and reduce shrink. Integrated blockchain technology provides true transparency for food safety, product freshness and traceability. Zest Fresh improves product margins and increases customer satisfaction and brand loyalty while promoting sustainability. To learn more about Zest Labs, please click here. To watch a video about Zest Fresh, please click here. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20180604005008/en/

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[June 04, 2018] Duos Technologies Opens "Engineering and Operations Center of Excellence"

New facility is another milestone in Companys long-term growth plans JACKSONVILLE, Fla., June 04, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Duos Technologies Group, Inc. (Duos or the Company) (OTCQB:DUOT), a provider of intelligent security analytical technology solutions, has opened its new engineering and operations center. The facility will house the Companys rapidly growing engineering and operations teams and will be used predominantly for testing Duos proprietary intelligent technologies and sub-systems. The facility will contain both offices and an assembly area for the pre-staging of projects designed for clients prior to field deployment. Gianni Arcaini, the Companys Chief Executive Officer, stated: The construction of our engineering and operations center was not only accomplished in a very efficient timeframe, but it also denotes a very important benchmark for Duos going forward. This expansion was planned and funded as part of the capital raise completed last year and has been necessary in meeting the significant current and anticipated growth in revenue and scaling of our resource pool. The opening of the new Engineering and Operations Center of Excellence is one of several strategic steps Duos has planned for this fiscal year. The Company has been awarded several new large-scale projects, which were anticipated as the foundation for long-term growth. This facility, located a few minutes from Duos headquarers, supports that growth plan and completes another milestone in the execution plan outlined by the Companys executive management. Recently, the Company issued revenue guidance of $9.3 million for fiscal year 2018, which is an increase compared to earlier projections.



About Duos Technologies Group, Inc.

Duos Technologies Group, Inc. (OTCQB:DUOT), based in Jacksonville, Florida, through its wholly owned subsidiary, Duos Technologies, Inc., provides advanced intelligent security and analytical technology solutions with a strong portfolio of intellectual property. The Companys core competencies include intelligent technologies that combine machine learning, artificial intelligence and advanced video analytics that are delivered through its proprietary integrated enterprise command and control centraco platform. The Company provides its broad range of technology solutions with an emphasis on mission critical security, inspection and operations within the rail transportation, retail, petrochemical, government, and banking sectors. Duos Technologies also offers professional and consulting services for large data centers. For more information, visit www.duostech.com. Forward Looking Statements

This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking terminology such as believes, expects, may, will, should, anticipates, plans, or similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements. Such statements are subject to certain risks and uncertainties, which could cause Duos Technologies Group, Inc.s actual results to differ materially from those anticipated by the forward-looking statements. These risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to, those described in Item 1A in Duos Annual Report on Form 10-K, which is expressly incorporated herein by reference, and other factors as may periodically be described in Duos filings with the SEC. Contacts: Duos Technologies Corporate

Tracie Hutchins

Duos Technology Group, Inc.

904-652-1601

tlh@duostech.com Investor Relations

Matt Glover or Tom Colton

Liolios

949-574-3860

DUOT@liolios.com

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[June 04, 2018]

Carahsoft Hosts Eighth Annual Citizen Engagement Seminar in Washington D.C., June 14, 2018

RESTON, Va., June 04, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) --



WHAT:

Carahsoft Technology Corp., The Trusted Government IT Solutions Provider, is proud to host the eighth annual Citizen Engagement Seminar. This one-day event will discuss how agencies are tackling citizen engagement initiatives including digital communications, data visualization and analysis, citizen self-service, social media and more.

During keynotes, panel discussions and an interactive networking hall, visitors will gain insights into how other agencies are developing best practices for:

Harnessing technology to improve citizen-based services

Implementing plans on how government engages with citizens and how to enable citizens to take action

Increasing reach with personalized, digital communications

Executing best practices for handling open government

Leveraging existing data/analytics to improve communication and services

Using social media for increased and regular communication

WHO:

Industry thought leaders and public sector experts will join together to discuss best practices for improving agency-to-citizen engagement and customer service. Jacob Parcell, Acting Director of the Innovation Portfolio at the Technology Transformation Service at the General Services Administration*, will deliver the opening keynote address.

Morning and afternoon panels will focus on key engagement strategies, including innovating government through citizen empowerment, citizen-centric digital communications and data-driven decision making to improve citizens experience. Each panel will be followed by networking sessions, including lunchtime technology spotlights that provide an overview of the IT solutions that are revolutionizing citizen engagement. Government panelists include:







*Speaker pending agency approval

This years event is sponsored by the following industry partners:

Adobe

CJIS

Granicus

Hootsuite

LinkedIn Learning

Nuance

ReadSpeaker

Tableau

TimelinePI

User1st

WHEN:

8 a.m.  3:30 p.m.

Thursday, June 14, 2018

WHERE:

Washington Marriott at Metro Center

775 12th Street NW,

Washington, DC 20005

REGISTER:

The agenda and further details about the event are available on the Citizen Engagement Seminar website. Access the website to register for the event. The event is complimentary for all government attendees. Contact Lindsay Brown at 703-673-3533 or ces@carahsoft.com for more information.

About Carahsoft



Carahsoft Technology Corp. is The Trusted Government IT Solutions Provider. As a top-performing GSA Schedule and SEWP contract holder, Carahsoft serves as the master government aggregator for many of its best-of-breed technology vendors, supporting an extensive ecosystem of manufacturers, value-added resellers, system integrators, and consulting partners committed to helping government agencies select and implement the best solution at the best possible value.

The company's dedicated Solutions Divisions proactively market, sell and deliver VMware, Palo Alto Networks, Symantec, Veritas, Dell, Adobe, F5 Networks, Google Cloud, ServiceNow, Open Source, Micro Focus Government Solutions, SAP, Salesforce, and Innovative and Intelligence products and services, among others. Carahsoft is consistently recognized by its partners as a top revenue producer, and is listed annually among the industry's fastest growing and largest firms by CRN, Inc., Forbes, Washington Technology, The Washington Post, Washington Business Journal, and SmartCEO. Visit us at www.carahsoft.com or follow us on Twitter and Facebook.

Contact

Mary Lange

703-431-8485

pr@carahsoft.com




[June 04, 2018] Comm-Works Named to CRN's 2018 Solution Provider 500 List

MINNEAPOLIS, June 04, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Comm-Works, a leader in global branch technology deployment and managed services announced today that CRN  , a brand of The Channel Company, has named Comm-Works to its 2018 Solution Provider 500 list. The Solution Provider 500 is CRNs annual ranking of the largest technology integrators, solution providers and IT consultants in North America by revenue.

The Solution Provider 500 is CRNs official channel partner award list, serving as the industry standard for recognition of the most successful solution provider companies in the channel since 1995. The complete list will be published on CRN.com, making it readily available to vendors seeking out top solution providers. CRN has also released its 2018 Solution Provider 500: Newcomers list, recognizing 26 companies making their debut in the Solution Provider 500 ranking this year. On behalf of Comm-Works, we are humbled for the honor of being included on this list once again, Said Doug Plooster, Vice President of Cloud and Managed Services. As we continue to expand our services across the US and beyond, we are thrilled to earn these expanding recognitions repeatedly. Our team has worked diligently to ensure our customers continue to see the quality they have come to expect. CRNs Solution Provider 500 list spotlights the North American IT channel partner organizations that have earned the highest revenue over the past year, providing a valuable resource to vendors looking for top solution providers to partner with, said Bob Skelley, CEO of The Channel Company. The companies on this ears list represent an incredible, combined revenue of $320 billion, a sum that attests to their success in staying ahead of rapidly changing market demands. We extend our sincerest congratulations to each of these top-performing solution providers and look forward to their future pursuits and successes.



The complete 2018 Solution Provider 500 list will be available online at www.crn.com/sp500, and a sample from the list will be featured in the June issue of CRN Magazine. Follow Comm-Works: Twitter, LinkedIn, and Facebook

Follow The Channel Company: Twitter, LinkedIn, and Facebook Tweet This: @TheChannelCo names @CommWorksIT to @CRN 2018 SP500 list #CRNSP500 www.crn.com/sp500 About Comm-Works

Comm-Works is a premier global technology deployment & managed IT services provider, offering repeatable, consistent, high-quality, and timely technology solutions. Comm-Works comprehensive Lifecycle Management is known for its superior project management services, which coordinates all aspects of an IT deployment. With 20,000+ technicians in over 120 countries, Comm-Works has worldwide capabilities that exceed those of its competitors. Comm-Works 24/7/365 customer support and on-site capabilities in four hours or less give its customers confidence that their systems will be operational. Learn more at www.comm-works.com or follow us on Twitter @CommWorksIT. About the Channel Company

The Channel Company enables breakthrough IT channel performance with our dominant media, engaging events, expert consulting and education, and innovative marketing services and platforms. As the channel catalyst, we connect and empower technology suppliers, solution providers, and end users. Backed by more than 30 years of unequaled channel experience, we draw from our deep knowledge to envision innovative new solutions for ever-evolving challenges in the technology marketplace. www.thechannelco.com Contact:



Jacob Pomplun

Comm-Works

(763) 852-3171

JPomplun@comm-works.com Kim Sparks

The Channel Company

(508) 416-1193

ksparks@thechannelco.com

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[June 04, 2018] Chicago Digital Agency Now Serving Chicago, Illinois

CHICAGO, June 4, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Chicago is one of the largest cities in the United States, with over 2.7 million residing in Chicago. There are thousands of businesses in the city that rely on internet presence for a mass majority of sales. This is one reason why ChicagoSEO.company decided to start serving the city of Chicago. The marketing agency is determined to bring real marketing solutions to the local businesses that need online marketing help. With over 2.7 million residing in Chicago, there is a lot of work to be done. The Chicago marketing firm will help businesses with their online marketing help, specifically helping businesses with search engine optimization. Over a course of 10 years, the marketing firm has seen what it takes to rank websites to the top of the search engines. Google, along with the other search engines have slowly changed algorithms making it more and more difficult to achieve high page one rankings. There are hundreds of agencies that do not stay up to date with such algorithms. The problem is that they are implementing marketing strategies that were good back in 2010, but not in the year 2018. With thousands of businesses needing top ranked keywords for the success of their online sales, the company has decided to officially serve the Chicago market. Currently, the SEO services that he company has provided have not only served Chicago but many states and cities in the United States. Over the course of 10 years, the findings have been that the large cities are really where the most SEO services are needed, as the competition levels are the highest, and the demand for products are the highest. A quick search online proves the fact that there are SEO firms scattered throughout Chicago, all needing more and more employees.



The real solution to seeing a real increase in business sales is to hire a professional SEO agency that has decades of marketing experience. The unfortunate truth is that most firms have a low experience level and the client never knows the real level of expertise of the company. Over time SEO has become a quick way to make money online as many young entrepreneurs are turning to it to make quick money. However, the need for professional work still resides for many businesses. This new Chicago based marketing firm http://www.chicagoseo.company is determined to help the local businesses dominate the search engine rankings. With over 4,700 page one Google rankings, they are confident that they can become one of the main go-to SEO agencies in Chicago.

There has been and always will be a huge need for this service, especially among the largest of businesses. There are firms scattered throughout the United States that require year-long contracts. There is no such need for a contract of any kind. The owner of the Chicago company, Taylor Johnson, stated that "We have had clients stay with us 7 years on a month to month basis. If a client is happy they won't stop the service." Not only do most agencies require year-long contracts, they also offer no transparency options, so the client really never sees what is being done. There are too many shady tactics in this market, and this new Chicago firm is determined to bring in real professionals that take the job seriously. Businesses are encouraged to call 312-428-6976 with any marketing related questions. View original content with multimedia:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/chicago-digital-agency-now-serving-chicago-illinois-300659069.html SOURCE ChicagoSEO.Company

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[June 04, 2018] Waterloo joins world's research leaders to advance blockchain and cryptocurrency

WATERLOO, ON, June 4, 2018 /CNW/ - The University of Waterloo will join top universities across the globe on an initiative designed to advance research and innovation in blockchain, cryptography and digital payment systems. As the only Canadian participant in Ripple's University Blockchain Research Initiative, Waterloo will help contribute to the world's research capacity in cryptocurrency and blockchain. The program will support the Ripple Chair, named to Anwar Hasan a professor of computer engineering who is an expert in cryptography, graduate studies scholarships designed to attract new talent, and a new research fund. In all, Waterloo's contribution to the initiative will be supported through a multi-million contribution from Ripple, a San Francisco-based technology compny that specializes in digital payments and blockchain.



"We know from recent world events and the experience of many of our partners that blockchain technologies will increasingly disrupt the way the world does business," said Pearl Sullivan, dean of the Faculty of Engineering at Waterloo. "By increasing our ability to attract talent to Waterloo and work in conjunction with some of the world's leading institutions, we will make a significant contribution to Canada and the world's ability to address the challenges and opportunities that blockchain and cryptography technologies present." Blockchains are digital ledgers that record transactions - they are secure, easy to track and you can't change them.

Each University in the initiative will determine its own research topics and areas of focus. In addition to financial resources, Ripple has also committed to collaborating with university partners by providing strategic guidance and technical resources as needed. "Academia has traditionally been a critical driver of technical innovation," said Eric van Miltenburg, SVP of Global Operations at Ripple. "This project is an acknowledgment of the vital importance of the unique role universities will play in advancing our understanding and application of cryptography and blockchain technology. "It also speaks to the reality that university graduates will fuel a continually evolving and maturing financial marketplace and workforce." SOURCE University of Waterloo

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[June 04, 2018] Sensorion's Chair of Scientific Advisory Board, Prof. Christine Petit, Awarded 2018 Kavli Prize in Neuroscience

Christine Petit, A. James Hudspeth, and Robert Fettiplace recognized for their pioneering work on the molecular and neural mechanisms of hearing.

MONTPELLIER, France, June 04, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Sensorion (FR0012596468  ALSEN), a biotech company specializing in the treatment of inner ear diseases today announced that Prof. Christine Petit, Chair of Sensorions Scientific Advisory Board, together with A. James Hudspeth, Rockefeller University, and Robert Fettiplace, University of Wisconsin, are awarded the 2018 Kavli Prize in Neuroscience for their pioneering work on the molecular and neural mechanisms of hearing. The Kavli Prize in Neuroscience recognizes seminal advances in the knowledge and understanding of the brain and nervous system, including molecular neuroscience, cellular neuroscience, systems neuroscience, neurogenetics, developmental neuroscience, cognitive neuroscience, computational neuroscience and related facets of the brain and nervous system. Prof. Petits cutting-edge research explores the genetics of hereditary deafness, furthering the fundamental understanding of hair cell biology. Her work helps to shed light on the mechanisms by which the cilia in the inner ear transform sound into electrical signals that can be deciphered by the brain. Professor Petit presently serves concurrently as Professor at College de France, Chair of Genetics and Cellular Physiology, Professor at the Pasteur institute and Head of the Laboratory of Genetics and Physiology of Hearing of the Pasteur Institute, and Sorbonne University. In May 2018, Prof. Petit was appointed Chair of Sensorions Scientific Advisory Board. About the Kavli Prize

First awarded in 2008, the Kavli Prize recognizes scientists for pioneering advances in our understanding of existence at its biggest, smallest, and most complex scales. Presented every two years in the fields of astrophysics, nanoscience and neuroscience, each of three prizes consists of USD $1 million and a gold medal. Laureates are nominated by committees whose members are recommended by The Chinese Academy of Sciences, The French Academy of Sciences, The Max Planck Society (Germany), The National Academy of Sciences (US), The Royal Society (UK) and the Norwegian Academy of Science and Letters. Winners receive gold medals in Oslo, Norway, in a ceremony presided over by His Majesty King Harald. The 2018 Kavli Prizes will be awarded on Tuesday, September 4 in Oslo, Norway. For mor information: http://kavliprize.org/about



About Sensorion

Sensorion is a biotech company pioneering novel treatments of inner ear diseases such as severe vertigo, tinnitus or hearing loss. Two products are currently in the clinical development stage: seliforant, in phase 2 in acute unilateral vestibulopathy (vestibular neuritis), and SENS-401, which has completed a phase 1 trial. The company was founded by Inserm (the French Institute of Health and Medical Research) and is utilizing its pharmaceutical R&D experience and comprehensive technology platform to develop first-in-class easy-to-administer, notably orally active drugs for treating and preventing hearing loss and the symptoms of bouts of vertigo and tinnitus. Based in Montpellier, Southern France, Sensorion has received financial support from Bpifrance, through the InnoBio fund, Inserm Transfert Initiative and institutional investors like Novalis Lifesciences.

www.sensorion-pharma.com Contacts Sensorion

Nawal Ouzren

CEO

contact@sensorion-pharma.com

Tel : +33(0) 467 207 730 Investor Relations

LifeSci Advisors LLC

Chris Maggos, Managing Director, Europe

chris@lifesciadvisors.com

Tel. : +41 79 367 6254 Label : SENSORION

ISIN : FR0012596468

Mnemonic : ALSEN Press - Alize RP

Caroline Carmagnol & Wendy Rigal

sensorion@alizerp.com

Tel: +33 (0)1 44 54 36 66 US Media  LifeSci Public Relations

Mike Tattory

mtattory@lifescipublicrelations.com

Tel: (646) 751-4362 Disclaimer

This press release contains certain forward-looking statements concerning Sensorion and its business. Such forward-looking statements are based on assumptions that Sensorion considers to be reasonable. However, there can be no assurance that such forward-looking statements will be verified, which statements are subject to numerous risks, including the risks set forth in the Document de reference registration document filed with the Autorite des marches financiers (AMF- French Financial Market Authority) on July 28, 2016 under nR.16- 069 and to the development of economic conditions, financial markets and the markets in which Sensorion operates. The forward-looking statements contained in this press release are also subject to risks not yet known to Sensorion or not currently considered material by Sensorion. The occurrence of all or part of such risks could cause actual results, financial conditions, performance or achievements of Sensorion to be materially different from such forward-looking statements. This press release and the information that it contains do not constitute an offer to sell or subscribe for, or a solicitation of an offer to purchase or subscribe for, Sensorion shares in any country. The communication of this press release in certain countries may constitute a violation of local laws and regulations. Any recipient of this press release must inform oneself of any such local restrictions and comply therewith.

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[June 04, 2018] LG Electronics Unveils Versatile New Transparent Color LED Film Display

LAS VEGAS, June 4, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- LG Electronics USA Business Solutions is unveiling a new LED display with unparalleled installation capabilities  the LG Transparent Color LED film display. Making its introduction for the first time in the United States this week at InfoComm 2018, the revolutionary display has the ability to turn any window or glass surface into a customizable digital canvas. Building on the success of LG's highly-acclaimed gray-scale Transparent LED film display introduced at InfoComm 2017, the new Transparent Color LED film (LAT240DT1) display offers eye-catching digital content and information in color while interacting seamlessly with its surrounding environment. The versatile color LED film offers more than 1,000 nits of brightness, with each 668x480 mm panel containing 560 LED pixels that support a wide range of color while maintaining a high transparency ratio that displays compelling content in vivid colors while still showcasing what's behind the glass. "The LG Transparent Color LED film display exemplifies how LG continues to move the digital signage industry forward by offering unparalleled impact and versatility," said Clark Brown, Vice President, Digital Signage, LG Electronics USA Business Solutions. "Next-generation display solutions like this blend seamlessly into surrounding environments for a limitless range of installation possibilities." At just 1.5mm thin, the LG Transparent Color LED film delivers a wide range of colors on the 24 mm pixel pitch display. It is easy to install (requiringminimal construction) on any existing glass surface using its self-adhesive transparent film. While maintaining high transparency, the LED film can display pictures, animation and videos with various color combinations, making it ideal for indoor and window-facing areas with large glass surfaces such as retail storefront windows.



Other applications include mass transit rail platforms and safety barriers, where LG Transparent Color LED film can display digital content and information, and lobbies and large public areas where it can convert ordinary glass into stunning, eye-catching digital signage displays. Even tall glass elevator shafts can be transformed into stunning pillars of graphics and light. The flexible display also works on a wide range of curved glass and window surfaces with curved format support up to 1,100R concave and in parallel to the bezel, can be cut to size, truly converting any area of ordinary glass into a dazzling, state-of-the-art digital display. Visitors to LG's booth at InfoComm 2018 in Las Vegas (June 6-8, Las Vegas Convention Center, Central Hall, Booth #2546) will be able to experience LG's full lineup of digital displays in addition to the new LG Transparent Color LED Film display. For more information, please visit www.lgsolutions.com.

About LG Electronics USA Business Solutions

The LG Electronics USA Business Solutions division serves commercial display customers in the U.S. lodging and hospitality, digital signage, systems integration, healthcare, education, government and industrial markets. Based in Lincolnshire, Ill., with its dedicated engineering and customer support team, LG Electronics USA Business Solutions delivers business-to-business technology solutions tailored to the particular needs of business environments. LG Electronics USA Inc., based in Englewood Cliffs, N.J., is the North American subsidiary of LG Electronics Inc., a $55 billion global force in consumer electronics, mobile communications, home appliances and air solutions. LG is a 2018 ENERGY STAR Partner of the Year-Sustained Excellence. For more information, please visit www.LGSolutions.com. View original content with multimedia:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/lg-electronics-unveils-versatile-new-transparent-color-led-film-display-300659177.html SOURCE LG Electronics USA

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[June 04, 2018] Fulton Bank's Fletcher Honored with Council's Award for Community Investment

Tracy F. Fletcher II, Vice President of Commercial Community Development Lending at Fulton Bank, N.A., in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, has been presented with the 2018 Council's Award from FHLBank Pittsburgh for excellence in community investment. Fletcher received the award at one of FHLBank's regional member events. John Bendel, FHLBank Senior Director of Community Investment, spoke at the event about Fletcher's community achievements before presenting him with the award. Fletcher has worked in the financial services field for more than 20 years and has been extremely successful at creating effective partnerships in support of housing and community development activities throughout the markets Fulton Bank serves. He is consistently willing to work with local nonprofit and for-profit organizations to identify and pursue housing and community development opportunities. Fletcher has also maintained a thorough knowledge of affordable housing and community development programs available from a variety of local, state and federal sources. He has effectively leveraged Fulton Bank's financial participation in a number of community development projects, including more than a dozen projects utilizing FHLBank's Afordable Housing Program over the past four years alone.



Named in recognition of FHLBank Pittsburgh's Affordable Housing Advisory Council, FHLBank's annual Council's Award provides special recognition to an outstanding financial services professional who has demonstrated superior professional commitment and community spirit. The award highlights accomplishments and services in meeting FHLBank's affordable housing and community investment mission. About Fulton Bank

Fulton Bank, N.A. is one of six subsidiary banks of Fulton Financial Corporation, a $20 billion financial holding company headquartered in Lancaster, Pennsylvania. Fulton Bank operates more than 100 financial centers throughout Pennsylvania, Delaware and Virginia, and as a member of the Fulton family of banks, is part of a network of more than 230 financial centers located in the mid-Atlantic region. Learn more at fultonbank.com. About FHLBank Pittsburgh As an intermediary between global capital markets and local lenders, FHLBank Pittsburgh provides readily available liquidity, as well as affordable housing and community development opportunities, to member financial institutions of all sizes in Delaware, Pennsylvania and West Virginia. The Bank is one of 11 banks in the Federal Home Loan Bank System, which was established by Congress in 1932 and serves as a reliable source of funds for housing, jobs and economic growth in all economic cycles. To learn more, visit www.fhlb-pgh.com. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20180604006029/en/

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By Delana Isles

AS OF May 25, all tourism and hotel related businesses around the world that do business with European Union residents were expected to put data privacy regulations in place.





The new measure is called the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) and is a regulation introduced to strengthen the protection of personal data of individuals.





While the regulation applies to organisations anywhere in the world that capture and control the personal data of European Union (EU) residents, it is a tool that benefits anyone who does business with these organisations.





The Caribbean islands, many of which like the Turks and Caicos Islands rely heavily on tourism, are also expected to comply with the new regulation.





As such, the Caribbean Hotel and Tourism Association (CHTA) has advised Caribbean hoteliers to ensure they are in compliance with the EU General Data Protection Regulation.





During a recent webinar hosted last week by the CHTA, the organisations president Brian Kent explained that the GDPR imposes a strict set of requirements on how and why companies collect and use personal data.





The president emphasised that sound data privacy protection practices are essential for every business regardless of GDPR.





"Companies now have to provide the right to individuals to know what data a company has about you.





Kent said the regulation does not restrict companies from using data, but ensures that personal information is protected and that individuals have rights related to their personal information.





Kent also noted that hoteliers may not be able to continue using their marketing databases if they are not GDPR compliant.





Failure to comply with the new regulation can result in financial penalties ranging from 10 million, or two percent of annual revenue, up to 20 million, or four percent of annual revenue, and the possibility of limitations on the right to process the credit card data of EU residents.





The hospitality industry is particularly vulnerable to data breaches, said Frank Comito, Director General and CEO of CHTA during the webinar.





From reservations and payment processing to rewards programmes and guest services, hotels and other businesses have multiple touch points with customers during which customer data is exchanged, he explained.





"We are taking the education of our members seriously regarding the new regulations on protecting personal data.





"We are also actively encouraging them to become knowledgeable about the tools, systems and practices they can employ to protect data and be good stewards of personal information, Comito said.





The regulation affects any hotel and other tourism related businesses located within the Caribbean or any business that markets services to EU residents.





EU residents that make their hotel booking from a location within the EU are covered under GDPR, however the regulation does not cover the interactions of EU residents which are made when they are outside of the EU.





Consequently, GDPR compliance is required by every Caribbean hotel that takes bookings from EU residents that made their bookings in their native countries.





Because of the volume of personal and credit card data processed every day, the hotel and

tourism industry has been recognised as one of the most vulnerable sectors and accounts for the second largest share of data breaches.





The new regulation is expected to be a hot topic at the upcoming Caribbean Hospitality Industry Exchange Forum (CHIEF), being held at the Hyatt Regency Miami from June 22 to 24.




[June 04, 2018] iOS 12 Introduces New Features to Reduce Interruptions and Manage Screen Time

Apple (News - Alert)  today announced new tools built into iOS 12 to help customers understand and take control of the time they spend interacting with their iOS devices. These new features, available later this month as part of the iOS 12 public beta, include Activity Reports, App Limits and new Do Not Disturb and Notifications controls designed to help customers reduce interruptions and manage screen time for themselves and their families. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20180604006208/en/ Detailed Activity Reports show the total time spent in each app, usage across categories of apps, how many notifications are received and how often a person picks up their iOS device. (Graphic: Business Wire) "In iOS 12, we're offering our users detailed information and tools to help them better understand and control the time they spend with apps and websites, how often they pick up their iPhone (News - Alert) or iPad during the day and how they receive notifications," said Craig Federighi, Apple's senior vice president of Software Engineering. "We first introduced parental controls for iPhone in 2008, and our team has worked thoughtfully over the years to add features to help parents manage their children's content. With Screen Time, these new tools are empowering users who want help managing their device time, and balancing the many things that are important to them." Do Not Disturb iOS 12 brings enhancements to Do Not Disturb, making this powerful time management tool even better by helping people stay in the moment during times like studying as well as during a class, meeting or dinner. There is also a new Do Not Disturb during Bedtime mode to help people get a better night's sleep by dimming the display and hiding all notifications on the lock screen until prompted in the morning. Do Not Disturb has new options from Control Center where it can be set to automatically end based on a specified time or location. Notifications To help reduce interruptions, iOS 12 gives customers more options for controlling how notifications are delivered. nstantly manage notifications to be turned off completely or delivered directly to Notification Center. Siri can also intelligently make suggestions for notifications settings, such as to quietly deliver or turn alerts off, based on which alerts are acted upon. iOS 12 also introduces Grouped Notifications, making it easier to view and manage multiple notifications at once.



Screen Time Empowering customers with insight into how they are spending time with apps and websites, Screen Time creates detailed daily and weekly Activity Reports that show the total time a person spends in each app they use, their usage across categories of apps, how many notifications they receive and how often they pick up their iPhone or iPad.

By understanding how they're interacting with their iOS devices, people can take control of how much time they spend in a particular app, website or category of apps. The App Limits feature allows people to set a specific amount of time to be in an app, and a notification will display when a time limit is about to expire. Screen Time is great for everyone to better understand and manage their device usage, but can be especially helpful for kids and families. Parents can access their child's Activity Report right from their own iOS devices to understand where their child spends their time and can manage and set App Limits for them. Screen Time also gives parents the ability to schedule a block of time to limit when their child's iOS device can't be used, such as at bedtime. During Downtime, notifications from apps won't be displayed, and a badge will appear on apps to indicate they are not allowed to be used. Parents can choose specific apps like Phone (News - Alert) or Books that will always be available, even during downtime or after a limit is spent. Screen Time is account-based and works across all of a child's iOS devices, so settings, reports and allowances are based on their total usage. Screen Time works with Family Sharing and is quick and easy to set up. Parents can configure Screen Time settings remotely for their child within the same Family Sharing group or locally on a child's device. Availability Screen Time and the new Notifications and Do Not Disturb features will be available with iOS 12 this fall. The developer preview of iOS 12 is available to Apple Developer Program members at developer.apple.com starting today, and a public beta program will be available to iOS users later this month at beta.apple.com. iOS 12 will be available this fall as a free software update for iPhone 5s and later, all iPad Air and iPad Pro models, iPad 6th generation, iPad 5th generation, iPad mini 2 and later and iPod touch 6th generation. For more information, visit apple.com/ios/ios-12-preview/. Apple revolutionized personal technology with the introduction of the Macintosh in 1984. Today, Apple leads the world in innovation with iPhone, iPad, Mac, Apple Watch and Apple TV. Apple's four software platforms - iOS, macOS, watchOS and tvOS - provide seamless experiences across all Apple devices and empower people with breakthrough services including the App Store, Apple Music, Apple Pay and iCloud. Apple's more than 100,000 employees are dedicated to making the best products on earth, and to leaving the world better than we found it. NOTE TO EDITORS: For additional information, visit Apple Newsroom (www.apple.com/newsroom), or call Apple's Media Helpline at (408) 974-2042.  2018 Apple Inc. All rights reserved. Apple, the Apple logo, Siri, iPhone, iPad, iPad Air, iPad Pro, iPad mini and iPod touch are trademarks of Apple Inc. Other company and product names may be trademarks of their respective owners. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20180604006208/en/

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[June 04, 2018]

NASA to Host Live Discussion on New Mars Science Results

WASHINGTON, June 4, 2018 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The media and public are invited to ask questions during a live discussion at 2 p.m. EDT Thursday, June 7, on new science results from NASA's Mars Curiosity rover. The results are embargoed by the journal Science until then.

The event will air live on NASA Television and the agency's website.

Michelle Thaller, assistant director of science for communications, in NASA's Planetary Science Division will host the chat. Participants include:

Paul Mahaffy, director of the Solar System Exploration Division at NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Maryland

Jen Eigenbrode, research scientist at Goddard

Chris Webster, senior research fellow, Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Pasadena, California

Ashwin Vasavada, Mars Science Laboratory project scientist, JPL







The public can send questions on social media by using #askNASA. The event can also be watched on Facebook Live, Twitch TV, Ustream, YouTube and Twitter/Periscope.

For information about NASA's Curiosity rover, visit:

https://www.nasa.gov/msl

View original content with multimedia:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/nasa-to-host-live-discussion-on-new-mars-science-results-300659300.html

SOURCE NASA
[June 04, 2018]

T2 Systems Unveils Luke Cosmo On-Street Pay Station

INDIANAPOLIS, June 4, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- T2 Systems, the largest parking technology provider in the country, today introduced Luke Cosmo, a slender multi-space pay station designed specifically for on-street parking in cities of all sizes. Luke Cosmo is the newest addition to T2's industry-leading Luke collection of multi-space pay stations.

Luke Cosmoshort for 'cosmopolitan'features the shallowest parking cabinet available in the market today, contributing to a friendly street environment and optimal pedestrian traffic flow.

"We're very proud and excited to unveil Luke Cosmo. It's built using our same best-in-class Luke technology, but is designed specifically with cities and communities in mind," said Adam Blake, CEO of T2.

Key features of Luke Cosmo include:

Solar power with 4G LTE connectivity

Flexible payment options with coin and card acceptance

Top-to-bottom, intuitive transaction flow

Secure point-to-point encryption (P2PE) EMV credit card eader







T2 unveiled Luke Cosmo publicly today at the IPI Conference & Expo in Orlando, FL. Orders are now being accepted.

Learn more about T2's reliable and innovative parking and transportation solutions at T2's website.

About T2

T2 is the largest parking technology provider in North America, with more than 24 years in the parking management industry and currently serving thousands of parking professionals. T2 integrates the best people, processes and technology for powerful, high performance and secure parking solutions. Its open technology and processes are used to manage more than 200 million parking transactions for over 2 billion dollars annually across all 50 states and ten provinces in Canada. For more information about T2, visit www.t2systems.com.

Media Contact for T2

Terri Taylor

VP, Marketing & Corporate Communications

terri.taylor@t2systems.com

317.524.7421

View original content with multimedia:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/t2-systems-unveils-luke-cosmo-on-street-pay-station-300659308.html

SOURCE T2 Systems
[June 04, 2018] Travel Insurance Alert: Guatemala Volcano Erupts, Airport Closes

WARWICK, R.I., June 4, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Guatemala's Fuego volcano erupted on Sunday, prompting area evacuations. The threat of volcanic ash also forced aviation officials to close the capital's La Aurora International Airport, leaving many travelers stranded. The active volcano is located about 25 miles away from the capital. InsureMyTrip urges policyholders to contact their travel insurance company directly for assistance. Already Insured Travelers For those who purchased a policy prior to the volcano erupting, here is how travel insurance may cover a trip cancellation: Volcano halts a flight or cruise: when common carriers such as airlines and cruise lines cease service for a certain number of hours due to a volcano.

Volcano damage at traveler's destination: when a hotel, resort, or vacation rental is devastated and made uninhabitable by a volcano. Travelers Seeking Insurance While it is too late to purchase traditional travel insurance to cover losses related to Fuego travelers may still be eligible for a travel insurance plan with Cancel For Any Reason benefits.



An optional benefit of travel insurance coverage which offers the opportunity to cancel travel plans for reasons other than those listed as "covered reasons" on a policy. There are specific eligibility requirements: Depending on the policy, it is only available within 10-21 days of your initial trip payment.

You must insure 100 percent of your pre-paid, non-refundable trip cost.

You must cancel your trip with the travel supplier at least 48 hours before departure date, depending on the plan. These plans typically cover between 50-75 percent of your trip cost and vary by plan. Note: Travelers can still purchase comprehensive travel insurance for coverage unrelated to the volcano, including medical coverage, emergency travel services, and baggage protection. Trip cancellation and trip interruption coverage is also available for unforeseen circumstances unrelated to the volcano. Travelers interested in learning more about insurance plans for travel can visit www.InsureMyTrip.com or call 1-800-551-4635 to speak with a licensed travel insurance agent. Travel Insurance Expert:

Meghan Walch

401-773-9210

news@insuremytrip.com RELATED: Hawaii Volcano Eruption and Insurance Policies About InsureMyTrip It's simple. InsureMyTrip finds you the right travel insurance plan, every time. InsureMyTrip is the authority on travel insurance. We are committed to empowering travelers to make the best possible insurance decisions by leveraging our technology, data intelligence, and expertise. InsureMyTrip is rated A+ by the Better Business Bureau. View original content with multimedia:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/travel-insurance-alert-guatemala-volcano-erupts-airport-closes-300659380.html SOURCE InsureMyTrip

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[June 04, 2018] Rue La La to Acquire Gilt

BOSTON, June 4, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Rue La La, an innovative e-commerce destination known for connecting world-class brands with next-generation shoppers, announced that it has entered into an agreement to acquire Gilt, a leading member-based digital shopping business, from Hudson's Bay Company (HBC). The combined company joins two complementary lifestyle brands into a multi-brand growth platform. Both brands will continue to operate independently, retaining their unique identities and serving distinct customer segments. In conjunction with this announcement, Rue La La intends to hire more than 150 associates to run the Gilt business in New York, Boston and Kentucky, as well as other sites across the country. The transaction is expected to close in July 2018. Rue La La and Gilt, operating under the newly formed Rue Gilt Groupe, will leverage an advanced technology platform that combines leading capabilities in mobile and personalization. With 60% of sales happening on mobile devices, the brands will capitalize on Rue La La's mobile-first approach, offering a seamless customer experience. An excellent vehicle for brands to reach a highly attractive customer base, the Rue Gilt Groupe portfolio will serve over 20 millionmembers with a focus on young, affluent, fashion and brand-conscious consumers. Merchandising scale and efficiencies will benefit both members and brand partners.



"Having achieved record revenues and profits in 2017, Rue La La is poised to further strengthen its leadership position in fashion off-price e-commerce. Through the acquisition of Gilt and our evolution into a multi-brand platform, we are equipped for an acceleration in growth, innovation and profitability," said Mark McWeeny, CEO of Rue La La. "Together with Gilt, Rue La La looks forward to increasing our presence and offering the attainable luxury and best-in-class experience that today's customers demand." Michael Rubin, executive chairman at Rue La La adds, "This transaction places the Rue Gilt Groupe in the premier tier of e-commerce growth companies. Our two distinct brands have large, highly engaged customer bases, cutting edge technology and mobile leadership. With enhanced scale and efficiency, we expect our growth trajectory to quickly enable us to surpass $1 billion in total sales."

About Rue La La

Rue La La strives to be the most engaging off-price, online style destination connecting world-class brands with the next generation shopper. Each day, Rue La La members discover the most desired men's, women's, and children's apparel and accessories; beauty, home decor and accents; and exclusive destinations and experiences. Rue La La's engaging approach to retail has brought excitement to online shopping, creating a captivating e-commerce destination that strategically supports its brand partners and inspires its members daily. Rue La La was ranked #8 on Internet Retailer's 2016 Mobile 500 list. For more information, please visit www.ruelala.com. View original content with multimedia:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/rue-la-la-to-acquire-gilt-300659396.html SOURCE Rue La La

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[June 04, 2018] KAIST, University of Tokyo and POSTECH top the annual Reuters ranking of Asia Pacific's Most Innovative Universities for 2018

HONG KONG, June 4, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- KAIST, University of Tokyo and POSTECH top the Reuters 2018 ranking of Asia Pacific's Most Innovative Universities. The Asia Pacific ranking aims to identify and rank the educational institutions in the region doing the most to advance science, invent new technologies, and power new markets and industries. Compiled in partnership with Clarivate Analytics, a global data company providing trusted insights and analytics, the ranking is based on empirical data including patent filings from Derwent Innovation and research paper citations from the Web of Science. The most innovative university in the region, for the third consecutive year, is South Korea's KAIST. Formerly known as the Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology, it is the nation's oldest research-oriented science and engineering university, with campuses in Daejeon, Seoul and Busan. Recent KAIST research highlights include the development of a highly durable platinum-based fuel cell catalyst that removes particulate matter from the air while it is in operation, an innovation that could lead to more efficient electric vehicles that reduce pollution when driven. KAIST once again earned its first-place rank among the APAC's most innovative universities by producing a high volume of influential inventions. Its researchers submit more patents than any other university on the list, and those patents are frequently cited by outside researchers in their own patents and papers. Japan's University of Tokyo takes the runner-up spot, moving up one rank from 2017. Korea's POSTECH takes third, also moving up one, and Seoul National University comes in fourth after dropping two. Tsinghua University (#5) is the highest-ranked university in China, up one from last year. Osaka University (#6), Kyoto University (#7), Sungkyunkwan University (#8), Tohoku University (#9) and the National University of Singapore (#10) round out the top 10. Only three new institutions appear on the list this year, all of them based in China: The China University of Mining & Technology (#56), Shandong University (#67), and Xiamen University (#74). The region exhibits a remarkable consistency, unlike Europe and North America: In contrast, Reuters' 2018 ranking of Europe's Most Innovative Universities featured 15 new entries. For more on the Reuters Top 75: Asia Pacific's Most Innovative Universities ranking, including a detailed methodology and profiles of the universities, visit here. Reuters Top 75: Asia's Most Innovative Universities for 2018







1 Korea Advanced Institute of Science & Technology South Korea 2 University of Tokyo Japan 3 Pohang University of Science & Technology (POSTECH) South Korea 4 Seoul National University South Korea 5 Tsinghua University China 6 Osaka University Japan 7 Kyoto University Japan 8 Sungkyunkwan University South Korea 9 Tohoku University Japan 10 National University of Singapore Singapore 11 Hanyang University South Korea 12 Peking University China 13 Yonsei University South Korea 14 Kyushu University Japan 15 Korea University South Korea 16 Tokyo Institute of Technology Japan 17 Fudan University China 18 Keio University Japan 19 Shanghai Jiao Tong University China 20 Gwangju Institute of Science & Technology South Korea 21 Zhejiang University China 22 Chinese University of Hong Kong China 23 Hokkaido University Japan 24 Kyung Hee University South Korea 25 Monash University Australia 26 Nanyang Technological University Singapore 27 Ajou University South Korea 28 Huazhong University of Science & Technology China 29 Hiroshima University Japan 30 Kumamoto University Japan 31 Nagoya University Japan 32 Beijing University of Chemical Technology China 33 East China University of Science & Technology China 34 Tokyo Medical & Dental University Japan 35 Tianjin University China 36 University of Sydney Australia 37 Ewha Womans University South Korea 38 Hong Kong University of Science & Technology China 39 University of Auckland New Zealand 40 Shinshu University Japan 41 South China University of Technology China 42 University of Queensland Australia 43 Kanazawa University Japan 44 China University of Petroleum China 45 University of Melbourne Australia 46 Southeast University - China China 47 University of Hong Kong China 48 University of Tsukuba Japan 49 Catholic University of Korea South Korea 50 Nanjing University China 51 University of New South Wales Sydney Australia 52 Chiba University Japan 53 Xi'an Jiaotong University China 54 Chonbuk National University South Korea 55 Chonnam National University South Korea 56 China University of Mining & Technology China 57 Pusan National University South Korea 58 Dalian University of Technology China 59 Okayama University Japan 60 Kyungpook National University South Korea 61 Harbin Institute of Technology China 62 Nankai University China 63 Chung Ang University South Korea 64 Inha University South Korea 65 Sun Yat Sen University China 66 Sichuan University China 67 Shandong University China 68 University of Electronic Science & Technology of China China 69 University of Ulsan South Korea 70 Waseda University Japan 71 Indian Institutes of Technology System (IIT) India 72 Kobe University Japan 73 Konkuk University South Korea 74 Xiamen University China 75 Tongji University China

Reuters

Reuters, the news and media division of Thomson Reuters, is the world's 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 Reuters.com and via Reuters TV. Follow news about Reuters at @ReutersPR. Clarivate Analytics

Clarivate Analytics is the global leader in providing trusted insights and analytics to accelerate the pace of innovation. Building on a heritage going back more than 150 years, we have built some of the most established global brands across the innovation lifecycle, including Web of Science, Cortellis, Derwent, CompuMark, MarkMonitor and Techstreet. These trusted brands are focused on scientific and academic research, patent analytics and regulatory standards, pharmaceutical and biotech intelligence, trademark protection, domain brand protection and intellectual property (IP) management. Today, Clarivate Analytics is a new and independent company operating in more than 100 countries including the Greater China region, Japan, South Korea, Southeast Asia, Australia and New Zealand in Asia Pacific. For more information, visit clarivate.com. Contacts Mansi Walia

Marketing & PR Manager, Asia

Reuters

mansi.walia@thomsonreuters.com

+852 54340857 Pamela Lim

Senior External Communications Manager, Asia Pacific

Clarivate Analytics

pamela.lim@clarivate.com

+65 3158 0607 View original content with multimedia:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/kaist-university-of-tokyo-and-postech-top-the-annual-reuters-ranking-of-asia-pacifics-most-innovative-universities-for-2018-300659287.html SOURCE Reuters

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[June 04, 2018] Banco Popular Makes Regulatory Filing to Acquire Wells Fargo's Auto Finance Business in Puerto Rico

On February 14, 2018, we announced that Banco Popular de Puerto Rico ("BPPR"), our Puerto Rico banking subsidiary, agreed to acquire certain assets and liabilities related to Wells Fargo's (News - Alert) auto finance business in Puerto Rico. On May 31, 2018 we filed a notice with the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System in order for Popular Auto, LLC, BPPR's direct, wholly-owned subsidiary, to be permitted to consummate the transaction. Although there can be no guarantee that regulatory approval will be received, we now anticipate that the transaction will close during the third quarter o 2018.



Popular, Inc. is the leading financial institution by both assets and deposits in Puerto Rico and ranks among the top 50 U.S. bank holding companies by assets. Founded in 1893, Banco Popular de Puerto Rico, Popular's principal subsidiary, provides retail, mortgage and commercial banking services in Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands. Popular also offers in Puerto Rico auto and equipment leasing and financing, investment banking, broker-dealer and insurance services through specialized subsidiaries. In the mainland United States, Popular provides retail, mortgage and commercial banking services through its New York-chartered banking subsidiary, Popular Bank, which has branches located in New York, New Jersey and Florida.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20180604006443/en/

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[June 04, 2018] Health Partners Plans Featured in Pennsylvania Department of Human Services' Medicaid Innovation Tour

As the first managed care organization in Pennsylvania to not only provide medically tailored meals to its members with chronic conditions but to also improve access to health care for those experiencing homelessness, Health Partners Plans (HPP) is continuing its commitment to address social determinants of health by providing job readiness training to local men in transitional housing. Today, the Pennsylvania Department of Human Services (DHS) is visiting HPP as part of its Medicaid Innovation Tour while HPP hosts participants of Ready, Willing & Able (RWA) for a day of workshops designed to strengthen their professional skills to prepare them for re-entering the job market. RWA is a Philadelphia-based nonprofit organization helping homeless men secure full-time employment and independent housing. HPP's training teaches RWA clients critical skills and helps them gain self-confidence in their job search through workshops focused on resume building, assertive communication and interviewing skills. HPP will also present a session on the changing role of today's fathers that will cover communicating effectively and supporting children financially and emotionally as the men work to regain their independence. HPP's community education team began working with RWA clients earlier this year to help break the cycle of unemployment while providing them with resources to manage life's challenges. "We know homelessness and job insecurity contribute to poor health. As a leading managed care organization, it's our responsibility to address these social determinants in novel ways to improve health outcomes," said President and CEO William S. George. "Providing this training is a natural extension of the work we do to overcome these obstacles and improve the oveall quality of life for this very vulnerable population."



HPP is an established leader in the charge to find innovative solutions to help eliminate barriers to care. Recently, Mr. George was one of just five leaders in the nation invited to Congress to discuss HPP's success in providing medically tailored meals to its most chronically ill members through a partnership with the Metropolitan Area Neighborhood Nutrition Alliance (MANNA). HPP pioneered the food as medicine program in Pennsylvania, which resulted in improved health outcomes and reduced medical costs. Additionally, earlier this year HPP forged a first-of-its-kind partnership with Broad Street Ministry and Philadelphia FIGHT Community Health Centers to improve access to health care services for those experiencing homelessness. DHS is placing greater emphasis on addressing social determinants of health. DHS Secretary Teresa D. Miller is touring the state's managed care organizations, highlighting those that look beyond the health care setting to find innovative ways of improving health outcomes and reducing medical costs.

"Focusing on these issues allows individuals to thrive in other aspects of their lives," said Secretary Teresa Miller. "It is time we change the focus from providing a service to Pennsylvanians, and instead look to empower individuals with better health." About Health Partners Plans Health Partners Plans, an innovative not-for-profit managed care organization, is the only Medicaid plan in Pennsylvania and is among just 11 Medicaid plans nationwide with an accreditation status of Excellent as of September 26, 2017. This is the highest status bestowed by the National Committee for Quality Assurance. Health Partners Plans serves more than 283,000 members in Southeastern Pennsylvania and the Lehigh/Capital region. It provides a broad range of health coverage options through Health Partners Medicare, Health Partners (Medicaid) and KidzPartners (Children's Health Insurance Program) plans. Founded more than 30 years ago, Health Partners Plans is one of the few hospital-owned health plans in the country. Learn more about how Health Partners Plans is doing it right at HealthPartnersPlans.com, twitter.com/HPPlans and facebook.com/healthpartnersplans. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20180604006463/en/

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[June 04, 2018] Klas Telecom Releases VoyagerSW26G Rugged GbE Switch Based on New Cisco ESS 3300

Klas Telecom (News - Alert) announced today the release of a new hardware module added to the Voyager deployable communications product suite, the VoyagerSW26G. VoyagerSW26G is a rugged 26-port switch based on Cisco's (News - Alert) new Embedded Services Switch (ESS) 3300 with added features that make it ideal for tactical users in the public safety, government and military markets. VoyagerSW26G is specifically designed for markets where low size, weight and power (SWaP) are required and is packaged in a chassis that meets military standard for ruggedization. VoyagerSW26G provides two 10 Gb uplink SFP+ ports and twenty-four 1 GbE ports, eight of which are PoE enabled. With VoyagerSW26G, users in the field are empowered with the speed and performance of enterprise networking. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20180604006465/en/ VoyagerSW26G (Photo: Business Wire) "The VoyagerSW26G provides next generation IE switch features such as PTP, MACsec and L2/L3 support," said Klas Teleom Chief Technology Officer Frank Murray. "Our customers can utilize the VoyagerSW26G as an access switch for use with other Voyager products, like the Voyager Tactical Data Center (TDC), to unlock the full potential of our systems. Our collaboration with Cisco has been seamless from an engineering perspective and we greatly value the support the Cisco team has provided in realizing Cisco ESS 3300 as VoyagerSW26G."



Klas Telecom, with the launch of the Voyager product line in 2012, has been working on bringing Cisco IOS to the edge of the network for the last six years in both the government and transportation markets. The Cisco ESS 3300 represents an excellent embeddable addition to the Voyager system of systems and the ten-fold speed increase it provides is critical to the delivery of enterprise-grade performance in harsh conditions. For more information about the Voyager product suite or the VoyagerSW26G, visit the Klas Telecom Voyager website page at www.klastelecom.com/voyager.

About Klas Telecom Klas Telecom is an engineering and design company with over 25 years of experience developing innovative communications solutions for the network edge. Klas Telecom delivers connectivity to remote and austere environments where low size, weight, power and ruggedization are required. The company specializes in integrating enterprise networking capabilities from global IT leaders with in-house hardware and software platforms designed to meet market demands and the most stringent environmental requirements. Klas Telecom leverages the latest technology to stay on the forefront of the deployable communications industry. Klas Telecom operates in the public safety, transportation and U.S. and international government and defense markets. The company employs staff across four offices located in Washington, DC; Herndon, VA; Tampa, FL; and Dublin, Ireland. www.klastelecom.com. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20180604006465/en/

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By Delana Isles

FORMER SIPT lawyer and Queens Counsel Ralph Thorne was part of the stunning win that held the Caribbean captive last Thursday, May 24, over in Barbados.





Thorne effortlessly sailed to victory under the Barbados Labour Partys (BLP) simple yet effective slogan Ready to Serve led by newly sworn in prime minister Mia Mottley.





The Caribbean island has been in a state of crippling debt for several years under the now former government of Freundel Stuart of the Democratic Labour Party.





According to the Caribbean Development Bank, Barbados, which has a fiscal deficit way above the internationally accepted benchmark, bears the heaviest debt burden of Caribbean countries when compared to its level of production of goods and services.





Before Mottleys win, the once thriving country was tethering on the edge of bankruptcy.





This fact was driven home quite effectively during the campaign, and resulted in the populations total rejection of the Stuart government after eight years in power.





Every single one of the BLPs candidates won in the countrys 30 constituencies. Among those candidates was Thorne.





Thorne had represented the TCIs former premier Michael Misick from 2015 to 2017 in the Special Investigation and Prosecution Team (SIPT) trial.





During his tenure on Misicks legal team, Thorne, the SIPT judge and the lead prosecutor butted heads on several occasions, some of which related to the Barbadians absence from the trial due to his other interests in Barbados.





Thorne then decided to resign from the trial in 2017 to go back home to fully lend his expertise to Mottleys opposition in their efforts to unseat Stuart and his ministers.





Following several months of campaigning, his first, he won in the district of Christ Church South.





Reports out of Barbados indicate that Thornes constituents consider him a leader of high integrity and intelligence.





He will now join other elected BLP candidates in that countrys parliament.





Grateful and humble

This week, the Weekly News reached out to the lawyer and new parliamentarian for his thoughts on his newest victory.





He first acknowledged his service in the Turks and Caicos Islands: "I spent 18 months involved in Mike Misicks defence. I gave of my best and I fought hard and fairly.





"I really miss TCI and the case. I sincerely wish the defendants well. They have shown immeasurable fortitude and forbearance in suspending their normal activities and personal lives over the extended time of this litigation.





"This would have broken lesser men and women but I am happy that they endure in strength.

Thorne said he had to move on, but with no less goodwill towards the others.





"We all anticipated that the case would have concluded at the end of 2016, he added.





"I tried to balance my personal, professional and political obligations at home with the possibility of any further involvement in the case, but it was no longer fair to my wife to look after a 10-year-old son and a six-year-old daughter in my extended absences.





"My victory in the election has been a tribute to my deep involvement in the community and that involves new professional and personal sacrifices, but I come home every evening and that is important.





"I am not a member of the Cabinet and that allows me to continue my legal practice.





"I am currently representing the government of Guyana in two constitutional cases, one of which is before the Caribbean Court of Justice.





He said his next major challenge is to serve the people of his constituency in parliament and is "looking forward to that expedition with greatest enthusiasm.





"I am entering a parliament that is without an opposition for the first time in its history, but while the debates may lack the characteristic contentiousness, I expect that we may pass laws that reflect deeper intellectual creativity after much constructive debate.





"I am looking forward to this new experience in my life and I look forward to this new paradigm.





"All in all, I treasure my experience in TCI and I am deeply appreciative of the hospitality of the people.





"A portion of my heart will always be there. I remain grateful and humble for the experience.





Barbados opposition

Meanwhile, the 52-year-old prime minister has announced that in the absence of an official opposition, following her Barbados Labour Partys 30-nil victory at the polls last week, the constitution will be amended to allow for two opposition senators.





She has said that the Democratic Labour Party (DLP) will be invited to choose two people to sit in the Upper House after the first sitting of the House of Assembly.





Mottley is Barbados eighth prime minister and the first woman to hold the post.





Other first-time representatives entering the House will be Kirk Humphrey, who defeated prime minister Stuart; Neil Holder who defeated Finance Minister Christopher Sincker; Ian Gooding-Edhill, Adrian Forde, Ryan Straughn, Wilfred Abrahams, Indar Weir, John King, Charles Griffith, Colin Jordan and Peter Phillips.





They will be joined by Dr William Duguid and Joseph Atherley who served in previous parliaments.





The 2018 election featured a record 135 candidates from nine political parties, and a record 37 women candidates.





The Barbados Electoral and Boundaries Commission reported that 255,833 people were registered to vote in an election where Commonwealth citizens were allowed to vote for the first time.




The 6.1-inch Galaxy S10 may be the middle child of the S10 lineup, but don't sleep on this powerful smartphone or its beautiful display.

Make way, Galaxy S10. The Samsung Galaxy S20 series is here, which bring advanced cameras, 120Hz displays and improved performance to the company's flagship phone.

That brings up an interesting question: should prospective buyers entertain one of the newer models, or snag a Galaxy S10 on the cheap, while many retailers have heavily discounted their stock?

That all depends on how badly you want the S20's upgrades. The S20 models packs 5G connectivity and Snapdragon 865 power; a triple-lens rear camera with a 48-megapixel, 3x optical zoom lens; a 120Hz display; and a larger, 4,000-mAh battery, among other upgrades. es.

You could save nearly a quarter of what the S20 costs and still get one of last year's finest phones in the Galaxy S10, with its dazzling OLED display and great (if not class-leading) cameras that come alive when shooting low light. Even with the S20 looming large, the S10 is still every bit the jack-of-all-trades premium Android handset it was when it launched  not to mention one of the best smartphones money can buy.

If you're on the fence, be sure to check our Galaxy S20 versus Galaxy S10 comparison to see all the differences. And see how Samsung's flagship stacks up against Apple's in our Galaxy S10 vs iPhone 11 Pro face-off.

Samsung Galaxy S10 review: Price and availability

You can buy a Galaxy S10 from all major retailers. The big four U.S. carriers  AT&T, Verizon, Sprint and T-Mobile  carry the S10, as do U.S. Cellular and Xfinity Mobile. You can also order an unlocked Galaxy S10 online.

Following the Galaxy S20's launch, Samsung began offering the 128GB Galaxy S10 for $749 and the 512GB model for $899. Those models cost $899 and $1,149, respectively, before the S20 entered the picture. Check out our roundup of best Galaxy S10 deals for more opportunities to save.

Samsung Galaxy S10 review: Specs

Price $899 Display (Resolution) 6.1-inch Dynamic AMOLED (3040 x 1440) Rear Camera(s) 16-MP ultrawide (/2.2), 12-MP dual-pixel wide (/1.5, /2.4), 12-MP telephoto (/2.4) Front Camera 10-MP dual-pixel (f/1.9) CPU Qualcomm Snapdragon 855 RAM 8GB Storage 128GB, 512GB microSD Yes, up to 512GB Battery 3,400 mAh Colors Prism Black, Prism White, Prism Blue, Prism Green (except U.S.), Flamingo Pink (except U.K.) Size 5.9 x 2.77 x 0.3 inches Weight 5.5 ounces

Samsung Galaxy S10 review: Display

Almost every other smartphone maker has eliminated bezels by adding a notch that swoops down from the top of the device to disguise the front-facing camera. Samsung avoided that trend altogether with all three Galaxy S10 models, instead developing the unique Infinity-O display, which embeds the front-facing camera lens directly in the screen.

The midsized S10 sports a hole-punch-size cutout for its single selfie lens, which is far less distracting than the S10 Plus' oval-shaped cutout.

I read lengthy New York Times articles, raced my trusty Mitsubishi Lancer in Asphalt 9 and took multiple selfies with the S10, and the hole punch never took away from the experience. When snapping photos of myself, I realized that the obvious cutout ensured I always looked directly at the lens. For those of you who never seem to nail eye contact with the camera lens, the S10's cutout is a great feature, making this task ridiculously easy.

You can also hide the hole punch with Samsung's cleverly designed wallpapers. That won't help when you're streaming videos or browsing the web, but the disguise looks pretty damn good when you show it off to friends. The slightly curved glass practically cascades from the phone's frame. That curved glass also makes it a little too easy to accidentally press something simply because you were holding the device; this was also a problem in past generations of Galaxy phones. If you want to hide the cutout altogether, thats an option, but that effect is so ugly that you may as well buy another Android device with a notch and call it a day.

The S10 broke DisplayMate's records for display brightness, color accuracy and image contrast, and the list goes on, so the S10 earned an A+ for a virtually perfect display. We found the same in our testing. The S10's AMOLED display covers 208.2 percent of the sRGB color gamut and notched a 0.38 Delta-E rating for color accuracy (numbers closer to 0 are better). The S10 hit a peak brightness of 611 nits when we shone a flashlight on its sensor, making the phone's panel almost as bright as that on the S10 Plus (625 nits). The Pixel 3 is ultra dim by comparison, hitting just 362 nits.

Samsung Galaxy S10 review: Design

Aside from the hole-punch display, the Galaxy S10 is the same as every other smartphone on the market. That's not a bad thing, but if you're waiting for innovative smartphone design before spending close to $1,000 (or far more) for a new device, you'll have to hold out for the foldable phones arriving this year.

The 6.1-inch S10 has the exact same dimensions as Apple's 6.1-inch, $749 iPhone 11 but is more than a full ounce lighter. The S10 isn't a one-handed device for those of us with petite paws; the 5.8-inch S10e is both smaller and cheaper, so go for that device if size is the deciding factor for you in phone selection.

The S10 comes in the same colors as the larger $999 Galaxy S10 Plus, which offers a few simple options (like white and black) and some bolder ones (blue, Flamingo Pink). I tested the Prism Black model, which is a terribly boring glassy black slab. I suggest going with Prism White, or one of the more interesting hues, which will help you stand out. The black model collects so many fingerprints that you'll look like a really uncool forensics investigator.

Like all Galaxy S models, the S10 is rated IP68 water-resistant, meaning it can survive in up to 5 feet (1.5 meters) of water for a half-hour. That's respectable in the flagship phone realm, and thus earns the Galaxy S10 a spot on our list of the best waterproof phones.

Samsung Galaxy S10 review: Cameras

The S10 and S10 Plus have one key difference, aside from the larger phone's bigger display: The Plus sports an additional 8-megapixel, depth-sensing, front-facing camera for better selfies. Both devices have a selfie-portrait effect, which enables other effects, including wind-swept and black-and-white backgrounds.

But the S10 achieves those effects using software instead of an additional depth-sensing lens, and it shows when comparing the two side by side.

As you can see in the black-and-white Live Focus image above, the S10's camera software gets a little messy around my curls. Meanwhile, the S10 Plus seamlessly softens the background around them, creating a more natural effect.

Otherwise, the S10 and S10 Plus have the same rear triple-lens camera array, with telephoto, standard and wide-angle shooters for capturing a variety of viewpoints. I compared the S10 with a Pixel 3 by capturing a Brooklyn storefront. Both images capture the detail in the brick and the gleam of the coffee shop's sign, but the S10 is more color-accurate; the neon "No Sleep Till" sign glowed more yellow than blue-white in real life.





I also compared the S10's telephoto lens and optical zoom with the iPhone XS cameras by playing tourist with a photo of the Statue of Liberty as seen from the Brooklyn Heights Promenade. It's an almost impossible shot, because Lady Liberty is extremely far away and the midday sun is not helpful. The iPhone's optical zoom fared better, as the S10's image is darker, with more artifacts in the photo.





The S10's cameras are good, though if you want more dramatic photos, the Pixel 3 and newer Pixel 4 remain better options, while the latest iPhones capture more-natural shots.

Samsung Galaxy S10 review: Security

Samsung can't compete with Apple on biometric authentication, and we're not sure the Galaxy maker is even trying. This is one area where Samsung needs to work harder to ensure that unlocking your phone and authenticating payments are locked down with the most secure biometric scans that money can buy.

In our testing, the S10's facial recognition is easily fooled by a photograph of a person's face. That's just plain embarrassing. The photo trick doesn't work if you turn off Fast Facial Recognition in the S10's settings, but the facial-authentication method is still less secure than it should be. That's because Samsung doesn't use hardware to create a 3D map of your face the way Apple does with its Face ID.

The S10's in-display reader is more secure, due to an ultrasonic sensor that maps the 3D curves of your fingerprint. You have to press a little longer on the sensor than you would think, but the phone unlocks quickly enough, and I appreciate that it's not a two-step process, like on the iPhone XS. (On that phone, you have to wait for the camera to scan your face and then swipe up.)

There have been some complaints about the Galaxy S10's ultrasonic fingerprint sensor not working properly when a screen protector is applied to the phone. In fact, one woman claims that anyone could unlock her Galaxy S10 after she purchased a screen protector off of eBay. Fortunately, Samsung issued an update designed to fix this problem shortly after release.

Samsung Galaxy S10 review: Performance

The Galaxy S10 Plus and smaller S10 have the same exact specs, and it shows in their performance power. With Qualcomm's 7-nanometer Snapdragon 855 processor and 8GB of RAM, the S10 easily matches the larger S10 Plus' speed.

The two devices scored evenly on Geekbench 4, a synthetic test of overall system performance. The S10 notched a multicore score of 10,813, sneaking just ahead of the larger phone's performance (10,732). Both phones lag behind the iPhone XS' A12 Bionic processor, which blows away the competition with a 11,420 score.

But both S10s handily crush their Android rivals, including the Pixel 3 (7,316) and OnePlus 6T (8,972).



MORE: Best phones: Here are the 10 best available

And the S10, like the S10 Plus, pulled ahead of both the iPhone and competing Android flagships in the 3DMark Slingshot Extreme graphics-performance benchmark. The S10 notched a score of 5,606 on the OpenGL ES 3.1 test, just behind the larger S10's score (5,648) and easily ahead of the results from the OnePlus 6T (5,183), Pixel 3 (4,396) and iPhone XS (4,339).

I unlocked one premium race car after another in my favorite graphics-intensive game, Asphalt 9, easily killing 45 minutes burning rubber around the globe. The S10 never lagged or felt warm to the touch.

Samsung Galaxy S10 review: Battery life

The Galaxy S10's 3,400-mAh battery isn't as large as the massive, 4,100-mAh pack inside the S10 Plus. And as expected, the smaller device doesn't last as long on a charge, though you can still go a long time without topping off your battery.

The S10 eked out 10 hours and 19 minutes on the Tom's Guide Battery Test, which consists of continuous web surfing over 4G LTE. The S10 Plus landed near the top of our list of longest-lasting smartphones, reaching 12 hours and 35 seconds on that test.

MORE: Smartphones with the longest battery life

The Galaxy S9 Plus, released in 2018, also lasts longer on a charge than the S10, but that older phone has a slightly larger, 3,500-mAh battery. The S10e and its smaller, 3,100-mAh unit died after 9 hours and 42 minutes. The S10 outlasted both the iPhone XS (9:41) and the Pixel 3 XL (9:30). In the iPhone 11 Pro vs. Samsung's S10 face-off, the Pro lasted four minutes longer (10:23) than the S10.

All three Galaxy S10 models have a new Wireless PowerShare feature that we wish every smartphone on the market offered. The tool, which you toggle on in the shortcuts menu by swiping down, lets you charge up any Qi-compatible device.

I used this to charge up Samsung's Galaxy Watch Active, and the process works quickly and seamlessly.

Samsung Galaxy S10 review: Software

The OneUI software on the Galaxy S10 is streamlined as promised and fairly to easy to use. The settings menu, for example, presents a lot fewer options than previous Galaxy phones.

By default, theres a Recent Apps, Home Button and Back button along the bottom of the display. But you can switch to full-screen gestures. You'll swipe up from the bottom left to see recent apps, up from the bottom to go home and up from the right to go back.

The Galaxy S10 also now offers some of the more compelling software features of the Galaxy Note 10. These include Live Focus video for applying bokeh effects to your footage and Samsung DeX for PC, which allows you to see notifications and send and receive messages on your laptop without having to fire up your phone.

Samsung Galaxy S10 review: Verdict

Even more than a year since its release, the Galaxy S10 offers superfast performance and a beautiful display, with a less distracting camera cutout than on the larger, pricier S10 Plus. I also love that the S10 offers my favorite feature, Wireless PowerShare. That means you don't have to splurge on the priciest Galaxy to reverse-charge all of your devices.

Apple and Google's latest flagships sport better cameras, depending on whether you prefer more dramatic or more natural shots. And if you want longer battery life, the S10 Plus is a better bet, provided you can handle a larger, 6.4-inch screen. We do prefer the S10 to the value-priced OnePlus 6T, based on our face-off.

Sure, the Galaxy S20's redesigned triple-camera stack and 5G connectivity could put the Galaxy S10's photography and data speeds to shame. But at the end of the day, if all you're looking for is a well-rounded, well-crafted Android flagship that can do it all  including work with a pair of good old-fashioned wired headphones  for a price you can sleep easy at night spending, the Galaxy S10 remains an unbeatable proposition.
Ever wanted to ask one of the big hardware or software giants something directly? How did you design that? Where did that feature come from? Whats in store next? Now is your chance! Don't miss out on today!

Toms Guide is proud to announce a Q&A and Alienware 15 Laptop Giveaway with our friends at Alienware.





Joe Olmsted, the Director of Product Development for Alienware and Dell Gaming, will be joining us in the next Toms Guide Q&A. He'll be answering your in-depth questions about the Alienware line up, including the newest Alienware 15 and 17 gaming laptops.



The Q&A starts Thursday, June 7 at 12pm EST. Please submit all questions to this Q&A thread. All questions will be moderated and supervised by the Toms Hardware Guide Community Manager, Catherine Strachan, and a full team of Tom's Guide Senior Moderators.

Meet Joe Olmsted, Director of Product Development for Alienware and Dell Gaming

Joe Olmsted serves as the Director of Product Development for Alienware products and Dell Inspiron Gaming Desktops. He leads a team of people who define all products that carry the Alienware brand and the Inspirion Gaming Desktops brand.



Joe joined Alienware in 2003 while the company was still a small business operating in Miami, Florida. He first left his mark on the brand by bringing a series of living room focused PCs to the market under the DHS moniker. Innovating for over a decade as a Product Manager and Director, Joe has been defining and developing nearly every factor of product from Alienware; including peripherals, desktops and notebooks.



Prior to joining Alienware and Dell, Joe has held various product marketing positions at Intel, NEC Corp, and was a co-founder in an online music startup. Joe now resides in Austin, Texas with his wife and daughter.

Dont Forget the Alienware 15 Giveaway

We're also proud to announce an upcoming giveaway done in partnership with Alienware. Up for grabs is a fully loaded Alienware 15 R4. This laptop has been our favorite consumer laptop for quite a few years now. Dont miss out on your chance to win! The sweepstakes opens today, June 4th, and will close at 11:59 pm EST on June 14th. Please see the contest entry page for a full list of rules and ways to enter.

System Configuration

Alienware 15 R4 Processor: 8th Generation Intel Core i7-8750H (6-Core, 9MB Cache, up to 4.1GHz w/ Turbo Boost) Operating System: Windows 10 Home 64bit English Video Card: NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1070 OC with 8GB GDDR5 Display & Color: 15.6 inch FHD (1920 x 1080) 120Hz TN Display 5ms response time, NVIDIA G-SYNC Enabled- Black Chassis Color Choice: Black Memory: 16GB, 2x8GB, DDR4, 2666MHz Hard Drive: 256GB PCIe M.2 SSD + 1TB 7200RPM HDD Power Supply: 240W Power Adapter Wireless: Killer 1550 802.11ac 2x2 WiFi and Bluetooth 5.0

Ask Me Anything Rules

No tech support questions, as these require in-depth personal follow-up and diagnostics.

All Rules of Conduct apply.

Keep questions direct and to the point.

Avoid opinion bias, as in, "Why are all your products awesome/horrible?"

Be respectful of our guests--no insults, no leading questions.

Do not post duplicate questions or repost your question multiple times.

Not all questions may be answered. Questions may not be answered in the order in which they are received or posted.

To reiterate: No opinion bias, insults, leading questions, or breaking the Rules of Conduct.

Breaking these rules may result in a one-day ban.

Only registered users will be able to ask questions, so if you havent yet, be sure to register now for your chance to participate!

The official representatives will reply periodically over the time the AMA is active using a recognized and verified account.



Please join us on this date to throw your questions into the mix and ask Dell what you've always wanted to ask!



What: Ask Me Anything with an Alienware 15 R4 Laptop Giveaway

When: Thursday, June 7th 2018 12PM EST

Where: The Toms Guide Laptop General Discussion Forum

Who: Joe Olmsted, Director of Product Development for Alienware & Dell Gaming
Toshiba Corporation finally completed the sale of its memory business, Toshiba Memory Corporation, to a consortium led by Bain Capital Private Equity, LP. SK Hynix, Apple Inc., Dell Technologies, Seagate Technology, and Kingston Technology are also part of the deal.

Toshiba Corporation put its memory business on the market last year following a series of critical missteps that left it in financial woes. In 2015, the company was embroiled in a $1.2 billion accounting scandal that left it in hot water with the Tokyo Stock Exchange. Shortly thereafter, Toshiba Corporations U.S.-based Westinghouse Electric nuclear plant subsidiary faced several billion dollars of cost overruns that left its parent company with no choice but to sell part of its business to pay the bills.

Past Hurdles

Toshiba agreed to sell its memory business to the Bain-led consortium last year, but Western Digital stepped in to hold back the sale for fear it would be pushed out of the NAND business that it invested in with the purchase of SanDisk in 2016. Toshiba and Western Digital-owned SanDisk share stakes in three joint manufacturing joint-venture companies, and equity stakes in Flash Partners, Ltd., Flash Alliance, Ltd., and Flash Forward LLC. In December, Toshiba cut a deal that satisfied Western Digitals concerns, and the company dropped its legal action to block the sale.

With Western Digital out of the way, the Bain-led consortium moved forward with the sale. The group created a special interest company called K.K. Pangea, which purchased all shares of the Toshiba Memory Corporation from Toshiba Corporation for an agreed 2 trillion, 300 million yen (approximately $18 billion) based on the estimated dept, working capital, and accumulated capital expenditure numbers. In March, Toshiba received an initial dividend of 118 billion yen ($1.077 billion). The two parties will adjust the final figure once a true account is completed.

Toshiba Isnt Out Of The Ring Yet

Toshiba didnt relinquish complete control of its memory business, though. Following the sale of Toshiba Memory Corporation, Toshiba Corporation repurchased 40.8% of the company from Pangea for 350.5 billion yen ($3.194 billion). Toshiba Corporations repurchase gives it approximately 40% of the voting rights, which gives it substantial power within the new company structure.
FCAs investor meeting has taken place, and the official word is that Chrysler will carry on as a North-American.-only brand and Fiat will become a Euro-only EV brand. To take things even further, a company spokesperson has also said that Dodge wont be killed off either. Thats a pretty bold move from FCA considering how unpopular Chrysler and Fiat have become here. What happens with these brands next, however, will determine whether or not theyll continue to stick around long term.

What Will FCA do with Chrysler?

As a North-American only brand, you can bet they will probably start turning out SUVs, so you can probably expect the next five years to include a lot of rebadged Dodge models

To be completely honest, the only reason that FCA isnt killing the Chrysler brand is because of its name  its half of the Fiat Chrysler name. At this time, however, the brand has done so horribly that it sells just two vehicles, the Pacifica and the 300. The 300 doesnt exactly have a cult following by any means and the Pacifica doesnt fare to well in a world thats in love with SUVs. Chrysler swears it has three models, but we count the Pacifica Hybrid as part of the Pacifica lineup. It stands to reason that FCA isnt sure what its going to do with Chrysler at this point as there was next to nothing said about what will be coming from the brand in the future.

As a North-American only brand, you can bet they will probably start turning out SUVs, so you can probably expect the next five years to include a lot of rebadged Dodge models. To be more specific, FCA will probably rebrand the Durango and the Journey. With the 300 long overdue for a revamp, the next-gen charger will probably be rebadged as the next-gen Chrysler 300 as well. This is all speculation for now, but with no word from Chrysler, next to no income from the cars it sells, and only two models in dealers it will have to move quickly.

Fiats Going Electric, But It could Still Fail

A new city car baring the Fiat name will hit the market sometime in the next four years while a total of four FCA-made will be shared among Fiat, Dodge, and Chrysler.

Fiat hasnt done well here in the States and, while its more at home in Europe, its probably not doing well there either. Its in store for a big shakeup, and the brand will slowly transition into becoming an EV only brand. Its probably going to get a big chunk of the $10.5 billion that FCA plans to invest in electric cars by 2022 as well as a big chunk of the 30 new electric or hybrid vehicles as well. A new city car baring the Fiat name will hit the market sometime in the next four years while a total of four FCA-made will be shared among Fiat, Dodge, and Chrysler.

The chances are that Fiat will simply take the same design that its always used for its current models, do the usual minimal changes, then slap battery packs and electric motors in them. Its not going to happen overnight, but as its time for each model to get a full revamp  if thats what you would call Fiats generational shifts, anyway  they will drop the fuel suckers and go all electric. FCA says the move to go all electric with Fiat and invest so much money in EVs is necessary to meet strict emissions standards but is there really more to it?

Trouble Could be on the Horizon

Both brands make up the name of FCA, yet the group is being held together by Jeep, Ram, Maserati, and Alfa Romeo.

This sounds like a well put together plan on the outside, but when you look at the current condition of Chrysler alone and the sudden desire to turn Fiat into a Euro-only EV brand, the whole situation reeks of fear and desperation. Both brands make up the name of FCA, yet the group is being held together by Jeep, Ram, Maserati, and Alfa Romeo. If Chrysler cant drastically revamp its lineup  and by that I mean bring in some new cars that arent just rebadged models from every other brand  its probably not going to last to see its own centennial celebration. Being part of the FCA name will only last so long.

As far as Fiat goes, the whole move to transition in EV only could be a good move but only if FCA can develop Fiat-branded cars that people want and offer up enough decent range. There also has to be plenty of public charging stations and infrastructure in place, or Fiat is going to die just as quickly as Chrysler.

Final Thoughts

Chrysler just needs to die whether its a part of the FCA brand or not, and its honestly too bad that Sergio Marchionne isnt smart enough to make that call now.

I have to be honest, Chryslers struggles come down to the brand having to lie in the bed it has made. It turned out unreliable and clunky cars for so long that people just quit buying them. Now, their only passenger car outside of the Pacifica, the 300C, lives most of its life being repossessed and resold through subprime dealerships. Chrysler just needs to die whether its a part of the FCA brand or not, and its honestly too bad that Sergio Marchionne isnt smart enough to make that call now. Its only a matter of time before the brand dies off and its going to come down to how long FCA will hemorrhage money so that the Chrysler brand can continue to live on. As far as Fiat goes, its fairly popular in Europe and will probably be okay without a North American presence, but the shift into EVs needs to be done carefully. If the technology isnt ready, it will be a bunch of money going right down the drain.

References

Read more Fiat news.

Read more Chrysler news.
Jaguars I-Pace Engineering Manager, Dave Shaw, Hints that a new electric hypercar could happen in the future, raising speculation that the C-X75 Concept from the 2010 Paris Motor Show could eventually go into production.

Will the C-X75 Shift Into Production After All?

Jags new EV platform is capable of delivering completely independent torque to each axle, a key ingredient among hypercars these days.

Speaking with Motoring, Shaw expressed the possibility that Jaguar is capable of building its own electric hypercar because it now has the technology to do it. Shaw was referring to Jags new EV platform, which is capable of delivering completely independent torque to each axle, a key ingredient among hypercars these days.

Capabilities aside, Shaw also alluded to the growing number of companies that have created electric hypercars in the last few years. I think, personally, moving forward, once people accept that actually there are more benefits that come with an EV rather than negatives, why would that not work in a hypercar? he said. Look around. Rimac is doing an EV hypercar, McLaren is a doing an EV hypercar.

If theres anything that these companies have shown, its that theres a market for highly emotional hypercars, one that Jaguar could try to tap into now that it has the resources to do it.

It may have taken the company longer to get to this point than most of us expected, but now that its here, we can now start to speculate

That said, if the British automaker decides to do it, dont expect it to happen anytime soon. The companys first order of business is to recoup the exorbitant amount of the money it spent in creating the new I-PACE platform. Its been said that the development of the platform cost a significant amount of Tatas $25 billion green R&D budget, so making that money back is Jaguars biggest priority at the moment. Fortunately, the platform itself is scalable, so theres plenty of room for its use on other Jag and Land Rover models. Its unclear if Jaguar Land Rover has set a timetable for how fast it plans to recoup its investment, but once that point comes, thats when the discussion of an electric hypercar is likely to start.

Whether that ends up being a revisited version of the C-X75 Concept or a completely new model altogether, the mere thought of Jaguar finally having the resources to develop an electric hypercar is beyond exciting. It may have taken the company longer to get to this point than most of us expected, but now that its here, we can now start to speculate  maybe even daydream  on the day when we finally see an EV hypercar with a cat on its hood hit the road.

Final Thoughts

The concept actually came close to being produced before plans were ultimately scrapped.

Eight years ago, Jaguar went to the 2010 Paris Motor Show to unveil the C-X75 hybrid-electric supercar concept. The concept actually came close to being produced before plans were ultimately scrapped. Fast forward to today and a bit of light is being shed on the near decade old concept. While there was no mention of whether or not this could lead to the resurrection of the C-X75 Concept, its hard not to imagine the concept being revisited if these plans come to fruition.

Further Reading

Read our full review on the 2010 Jaguar C-X75.

Read more Jaguar news.

Source: Motoring
TWO months after it is typically passed, the new budget for fiscal year 2018-2019 will be even further delayed.





This past week, the Governors Office informed in its post Cabinet statement that the Fiscal Strategy Policy Statement (FSPS) which outlines the PDM Governments four year plan has finally been approved for forwarding to the United Kingdom government.





The UKs approval of the statement, the Governors Office advises, is however subject to amendments being made.





In the meantime, since the beginning of the year, the Government has been passing supplementary appropriations bills to cover and ensure government spending can continue while the territory awaits the passage of a new budget, which is typically done by March 31.





Back in February, Premier Sharlene Cartwright Robinson had informed the territory that the budget will be late.





She had at the time been unable to say how late it will be.





The new budget, when approved and passed, is intended to be a true roadmap of the PDM Governments allocations and provisions since they won the election in 2016.




On May 24, 2018, the Wilson Center Africa Program hosted a discussion on Moving Forward with the Implementation of the Africa Continental Free Trade Area  Opportunities and Challenges.

The event, hosted in partnership with the African Ambassadors Group, was part of the Africa Day celebrations. H.E. Dr. Arikana Chihombori-Quao, the African Union Ambassador to the United States, offered welcome remarks. The discussion was moderated by Dr. Monde Muyangwa, Director of the Wilson Center Africa Program.

Speakers included Dr. Donald Kaberuka, the African Union High Representative for Financing of the Union and Peace Fund and former President of the African Development Bank; Ambassador Stephanie Sanders Sullivan, the Acting Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary at the Bureau of African Affairs at the U.S. Department of State; and, H.E. Dr. Kerfalla Yansane, the Ambassador of Guinea to the United States. The Ambassador of Cameroon to the United States, H.E. Etoundi Essomba, offered closing remarks.

H.E. Dr. Arikana Chihombori-Quao opened the discussion by framing the historical context for the importance of the African Union and the Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA). The African Union is the successor of the Organization of African Unity, which was founded in 1963.

Ambassador Chihombori-Quao highlighted recent achievements of the African Union  including the CFTA, the Single Africa Air Transport Market, and the African Passport  which have signaled progress towards the goal of minimizing obstacles that impede African unity, in context to the long history of colonialism and artificial borders. These recent achievements mark important milestones that should be celebrated.

As she noted: Finally, we, the children of Africa, the 55 African leaders, the 1.27 billion people are now getting it and realizing that our strength is in our unity that which has been dividing us over the years must be destroyed, and that boundaries which are not ours must be destroyed, and that Africa must speak with one voice, one heart, and one mind.

Dr. Donald Kaberuka added further detail to the importance of the AfCFTA and the benefits that could accrue from the agreement. He also highlighted potential concerns and obstacles to implementation and the ways forward for overcoming the obstacles and maximizing the benefits of the agreement. He noted that the AfCFTA was probably the most historic decision that Africa has made since independence.

Utilizing lessons from other continents, namely Europe and the founding of the European Union, Dr. Kaberuka argued that the significance of the AfCFTA does not only lie in promoting trade, but also in advancing security, safety, and prosperity.

While acknowledging concerns by some countries regarding dumping, rules origin, and potential loss of jobs, he noted that many of these concerns are addressed directly in the agreement. For example, the AfCFTA is 90 percent free trade and not total liberalization, which allows for protection for some infant and sensitive industries.

When implemented, the AfCFTA could help the continent move away from its dependence on commodity exports and towards developing human capital and industrialization.

While some sub-regions in Africa are still lagging behind in terms of trade, the Southern African Development Community and East African Community show higher levels of intra-regional trade; the AfCFTA will help build on and expand current successes of regional cooperation and integration. Notably, the agreement will not only benefit countries that rely on trade in physical goods; half of the benefits of the AfCFTA will accrue from trade in services.

Other key benefits of the agreement will come from reducing both tariff and non-tariff barriers to trade, including burdensome and inefficient customs processes, insufficient infrastructure, excessive paperwork, and security checks.

Dr. Kaberuka argued that the AfCFTA is a significant step in larger African efforts to create jobs, promote development, and capitalize on the demographic dividend by creating jobs and a larger economic space for youth.

Ambassador Stephanie Sanders Sullivan echoed many of the benefits of the AfCFTA from the perspective of the United States as a key international partner to Africa. She noted that this agreement, which lowers barriers to trade, would make Africa more competitive on the global market, and is, therefore, good for Africa and for the United States.

Ambassador Sullivan also stated that the United States is prepared to assist with promoting economic opportunity and trade capacity-building in Africa, as it has done with the Africa Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA). Between 2000 and 2017, non-oil exports from Africa to the United States have increased from USD 1.3 billion to USD 4.3 billion. Likewise, U.S. exports to Sub-Saharan Africa rose from USD 5 billion to USD 14.1 billion during the same period.

The AfCFTA offers significant promise for the continent and for her international partners. By some estimates, the AfCFTA can result in a 1 to 6 percent increase in GDP for Africa and increase Africas industrial exports by over half by 2022.

In addressing a question about the potential conflicts between Africas push for a regional and multilateral approach to trade and the United States preferred approach of bilateral trade deals, Ambassador Sullivan said the United States was not seeking to undermine Africa but was looking to find a foothold that would induce more interest among American investors and deepen the U.S.-Africa trade relationship, and also would continue its consultations to figure out how best to move forward in the most mutually beneficial way. Through it all, the United States would continue to stand as a ready partner in advancing economic opportunity, security, and peace in Africa.

H.E. Dr. Kerfalla Yansane re-emphasized the historical and future importance of the AfCFTA for African unity and prosperity. One key challenge ahead will be remedying the fragmentation of the African market and African infrastructure, which are legacies of colonial rule. However, the demographic dividend is a hopeful piece of the equation.

While the African market is already significant at over 1 billion people, it will continue to grow and act as a life insurance for the continent against the mounting forces of economic nationalism and protectionism, if Africa is able to unify economically. Free, fair, and equitable trade, and solidarity among the African countries is a key condition for the success of the AfCFTA.

Further areas for future attention include important improvements in communication, and technological and physical infrastructure, which are necessary if the continent hopes to realize the benefits of the agreement. The private sector must be included not only as a source of funding but also as a voice in the negotiation and planning stages. With the cooperation of governments, civil society actors, and the private sector, the challenges can be met and opportunities realized.

H.E. Etoundi Essomba offered closing remarks that drove home the potential benefits of the AfCFTA for the continent. The Ambassador shared his appreciation for the event, which provided a forum for discussing the potential challenges, benefits, and ways forward for the AfCFTA.

The AfCFTA will provide a stronger starting-point for Africas trade negotiations with partners and could set the stage for more intra-African trade as well as trade with other regions, which could subsequently open the doors for a more prosperous and unified Africa in the future.

There is a time for everything: The African Continental Free Trade Area

Remarks by Dr Donald Kaberuka

The context of why Africa must reinforce its unity, its organs and its purpose at this very challenging time:

A time when multilateralism is deficient: from trade, security, epidemics, migration, refugees, let alone economic cooperation;

A time when the geopolitical situation is ever more complex;

A time when populism is gathering force, appeals to narrow nationalism, and more dangerously, as during the Cold War, African countries are called upon to take sides in conflicts which are external to Africa.

Most importantly, all three developments are taking place when the Continent is set to have the largest working force in the world, which represents both an opportunity, but also a challenge.

So what is the AfCFTA?

It is an initiative to remove tariffs among and between African nations, to be complemented by efforts to lower non-tariff restrictions, promote free movement of persons and a single Africa aviation market.

When countries wish to expand trade among themselves, they may go through several stages:

Preferential Trade Agreements: lower tariffs compared to non-members, but not necessarily elimination;

Free-Trade Areas: eliminate tariffs among members, but keep them against non-members and free to treat external parties differently.

Customs Union: eliminate tariffs among members but also have one common tariff for non-members;

Along the way, Nations may then progress to Common Markets, Monetary unions or Total Economic Unions, and maybe even some degree of political union.

In the past 50 years, African Countries have undertaken these different arrangements with varying degrees of success.

The reality however is that trade levels have remained quite modest.

If successful, the AfCFTA would raise trade levels by 52% and create one of the largest and most ambitious economic space in the World.

What the AfCFTA is not

The AfCFTA is only 90% liberalisation.

It is a pragmatic, sequential arrangement with a view to proceed cautiously bearing in mind political realities and current regional arrangements.

Each country still has the option of pointing out products that are sensitive; Products that require time, infant industries that need a period of adjustment to full competition.

It also has provisions for a Negative List; products that will remain protected.

That said, the AfCFTA is not just about physical merchandise. It is also about services, logistics, finance, data, IT.

It is important to emphasise this point because some countries who are not signatories have not fully appreciated that there are not only enough safeguards against things like dumping, non-respect of rules of origin, etc.

They may also wish to take note of the fact that the services sector is probably as important as physical goods. Our calculations show that around 50% of all the welfare gains in the AfCFTA are generated by the services.

So, even countries without large manufacturing sectors have a lot to gain.

I want to suggest that as AU member states move through the tortuous stages of ratifications and implementation, this moment should not simply be seen as one about elimination tariffs - but of a potential to generate a change in mindsets.

Complementary measures

While, Agreement on a free trade area is a significant achievement. It is important to understand that the existence of a free-trade area does not on its own necessarily lead to free-trade.

Tariffs are only one part of the problem, often not even the most important one. Studies conclusively show that the welfare gains are probably four or five times higher if non-tariffs restrictions are also removed.

By non-tariff restrictions, I refer here to quotas, import bans, excessive documentation, roadblocks, health and sanitary measures which are not justified, etc.

Yet, we know that dealing with such non-tariff barriers (NTBs) is a much more complex process, politically.

Eliminating (NTBs) will require a higher level political threshold. It will require the mobilisation of the citizens, the businesses who provide the services, to the varying domestic constituency interests, to demonstrate that this is not a zero sum game.

Finally, and above all, the timing: the geopolitical context in particular and the weakening multilateral trade context.

You just have to look at the outcomes of the last 11th WTO Ministerial Conference in Buenos Aires (Argentina). Little progress or none at all: all around.

Gone are the days of the bullish sentiments of the Uruguay Round or even the modest hopes which were pinned on the Doha Round.

The AfCFTA should therefore be seen as much more than a tariffs elimination exercise.

It should be a quantum jump in how our continent repositions itself in the context of a weak multilateral system and on the eve of a potential demographic cliff for Africa, for lack of a better word.

That is why dealing with fears, convincing doubters or even cynics who think all this is a utopia, is so critical.

You just have to listen carefully to the debate on Brexit! Three additional issues in particular have been pointed out:

The implications for the RECs; will the Regional Economic Communities co-exist seamlessly with the AfCFTA? AUs implementation track record of its decisions; will member countries implement? The challenge of adequate supportive infrastructure, how will the Free Trade Area function, without adequate highways, etc.

Concerning the RECs, I believe Article 21 and two other Articles provide the necessary clarity: the AfCFTA will build on and strengthen rather than weaken the RECs.

In relation to infrastructure, it is well known that the AfCFTA will be accompanied by an African Trade Development Plan of action.

That is why the Single Air Market is so critical or is one of the ways of the intensifying commercial links and progressively lowering costs of doing business.

The Africa Trade Action Plan is quite comprehensive; it concerns:

Trade-related infrastructure;

Trade Finance;

Payment Systems;

Investment policy harmonisation;

Movement of Persons

As for whether member countries of the AU will see through the implementation, I would like to respond this way: that is the whole essence of the AU reforms.

The ordinary citizens of Africa want an AfCFTA within a stronger African Union which is focused, effective, relevant, and which funds itself rather than remaining dependent on the outside world, half a century of independence!

These are all the matters over which President Paul Kagame of Rwanda has made proposals.

These proposals have been adopted, at the highest level. The first of which is precisely to deal with the implementation crisis  decisions taken and not implemented.

It is an existential issue for the AU and the expectations is that it will be resolved this time.

Part of the problem is that we do not mobilise the African Citizenry enough.

Hence one of President Kagames proposals is to figure out a way to bring the AU closer to the people, such as the African Volunteer Corps.

In that spirit, the people of Africa need to be mobilised for the AfCFTA and the AU Reform.

At the end of the day, it is by promoting economic growth through trade and investment that a fiscal space will emerge to meet the upcoming demographic challenges, while moving up the global value chains.

That is the promise of the AfCFTA.

A necessary first step to an eventual Continental Economic and Monetary Union.

Through the AfCFTA, we will boost Intra-Africa trade, increase market size, depth and diversity, increase opportunities for business, consumers, producers, diversify our economies to complex products; thereby expanding fiscal possibilities.

It is only by doing so, that we can build resilience in the global system and avoid the demographic cliff.

The adoption of the AfCFTA is not a technical choice Africa is making. It is a fundamentally, historic political choice which will have far reaching impact if successful.

That is why, everything must be done to ensure safe arrival at destination.

It will not be easy, it will require astute political management and trade off at each juncture but there is no more choice.
The African Continental Trade Area (AfCFTA) should be shaped and implemented to enable Africa to create opportunities for its citizens; spur the continents industrialization agenda; and ensure inclusive growth, says Ethiopias Prime Minister, Abiy Ahmed.

Speaking at the recently-concluded 51st session of the Conference of African Ministers of Finance, Planning and Economic Development in Addis Ababa, Mr. Ahmed said with the AfCFTA, Africas economic integration was inevitable.

Together we will grow; together we will give our young people a stake in the future of our continent. We will harness their energy and creativity for collective wellbeing, the Prime Minister said, adding: We need to also increasingly engage the private sector in ensuring economic integration and introduce aggressive policies to broaden womens access to economic opportunities.

He said governments on the continent were looking up to their finance ministers and Central Bank Governors for leadership that will ensure that trade was not an end in itself but the means to advance the wellbeing of Africans.

Mr. Ahmed said Ethiopia was fully aware of the opportunities that the free trade agreement offered and was ready to follow Rwanda and Ghana for their pioneering role in the ratification of the AfCFTA.

He urged other African countries to sign-up to the AfCFTA and those that have already done so, to ratify quickly so the agreement can soon come into force. At least 44 countries signed up to the agreement that will bring together 1.2 billion people with a combined gross domestic product (GDP) of more than US$2 trillion.

By creating a single continental market for goods and services, the continent hopes to boost trade between African countries.

The meeting was held under the theme;  African Continental Free Trade Area: Creating Fiscal Space for Jobs and Economic Diversification  and was attended by Africas finance, economic and planning ministers as well as Central Bank Governors.

Ministerial Statement

We, African ministers of finance, planning and economic development,

Meeting in Addis Ababa on 14 and 15 May 2018 for the fifty-first session of the Economic Commission for Africa Conference of African Ministers of Finance, Planning and Economic Development,

Honoured by the video address of the Champion of the African Continental Free Trade Area, the President of the Niger, Mahamadou Issoufou, in which he called upon all African countries to expedite the ratification of the African Continental Free Trade Area,

Honoured by the presence of the Prime Minister of Ethiopia, Abiy Ahmed; the Deputy Chairperson of the African Union Commission, Thomas Kwesi Quartey; and other high-level dignitaries and special guests,

Inspired by the opening statements of Mr. Kwesi Quartey; the Minister of Economics, Finance, and Planning of the Republic of Senegal, Amadou Ba; the Executive Secretary of the Economic Commission for Africa, Vera Songwe; and the Governor of the Central Bank of Ireland, Phillip Lane,

Having deliberated on the theme African Continental Free Trade Area: fiscal space for jobs and economic diversification and cognizant that, with the signing of the Agreement Establishing the African Continental Free Trade Area by 44 member States of the African Union, the continent has laid the foundation for a new phase of African integration,

Do hereby state that:

We note that the gross domestic product of Africa grew at a rate of 3.1 per cent in 2017, up from 1.6 per cent in 2016, registering the second-fastest growth rate of any region in the world, after East and South Asia. This economic performance was due mainly to continued improvement in macroeconomic management, increased public and private investment, growth in private consumption and a rebound in trade. Africa is expected to continue its recovery, growing at 3.6 per cent in 2018 and 3.8 per cent in 2019. Potential risks to growth in Africa could, however, include a slow recovery in advanced and emerging economies, the tightening of financial markets in developed economies, weather-related shocks and security concerns in some countries; We recognize that Africa has made significant progress in achieving desired economic and social outcomes, with poverty rates declining in the various subregions, albeit at a slow pace. Notwithstanding these improvements, a number of challenges remain. Poverty and unemployment, in particular among young people, persist, together with increasing income and gender inequalities; We acknowledge that promoting peace and security as well as stability, along with combating violent extremism and terrorism, are critical undertakings for Africa in its endeavour to achieve inclusive and sustainable development. We therefore call upon member States to continue collaborative efforts to ensure that peace and security are upheld in Africa and throughout the world; We recognize that African countries have made progress on the various dimensions of regional integration, such as trade, regional infrastructure, financial and productive integration, including regional payment systems, the free movement of persons and the right of establishment. Numerous obstacles still need to be surmounted in this regard, however;

We reaffirm our commitment to regional integration as a major driving force behind inclusive economic development in Africa, and welcome the new milestone reached in African integration through the signing of the Agreement Establishing the African Continental Free Trade Area in Kigali on 21 March 2018 by 44 member States of the African Union; We welcome the launch of the single African air transport market in January 2018, which has the potential to improve the efficiency of continental air transport and to contribute to the growth of the continents global share of the aviation and tourism industry, and encourage all member States to join this initiative; We recognize the potential of the African Continental Free Trade Area to advance African industrialization, economic diversification and development that sustain the creation of decent jobs on the continent and foster prosperity for all Africans, consistent with Agenda 2063 of the African Union and the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. Accordingly, we note the importance of promptly ratifying and implementing the legal instruments of the African Continental Free Trade Area; We acknowledge the importance of national plans and strategies to seize the opportunities presented by the African Continental Free Trade Area. These national plans and strategies should be designed to complement the broader trade policy of each State and identify the key trade opportunities, current constraints and steps required to take full advantage of the African market, including the empowerment of women and young people; We note the need to pursue policies and investment to make the most of the opportunities presented by the African Continental Free Trade Area, as outlined in the Action Plan for Boosting Intra-African Trade. This will include supporting trade facilitation measures, including simplified trade regimes for informal cross-border traders, upgrading infrastructure and improving the business environment to attract the private sector, which will help African firms to take advantage of the opportunities presented by the African Continental Free Trade Area; We are mindful that the current infrastructure bottlenecks in Africa remain a serious impediment to the continents integration, and commit ourselves to pursuing efforts to modernize and expand our infrastructure assets, in particular the railways, which remain the most efficient and environmentally sustainable way of moving people and goods. In this regard, we note the importance of international instruments on matters specific to railway rolling stock; We note that the short-term impact of the African Continental Free Trade Area on tariff revenue is likely to be minimal and will be outweighed in the medium and long term by positive impacts of revenue from other sources of taxes as a result of expected increases in growth and economic diversification; In this regard, we recognize the importance of enhancing fiscal space and sustainability in our countries and maintaining investment in the social sector, in particular in health and in education. In particular, we will strengthen efforts to increase our tax revenue by boosting our tax-to-gross domestic product ratios to achieve a minimum level of 20 per cent over the next three years in each of our economies. Efforts will also include action to pursue new sources of tax revenue, including levies on financial transactions, royalties, income taxes, land taxes and leases, and by encouraging private sector growth and moving informal businesses into the formal sector;

We also acknowledge the importance of increasing the efficiency of tax administration in our countries by modernizing tax systems, further improving economic and corporate governance in the extractive sector and mobilizing additional revenue from natural resource rents; We note the significant losses of tax revenue that result from base erosion and profit shifting by multinational corporations and are cognizant of the need to take measures to tackle these problems. We encourage the investment chapter that will be negotiated under the second phase of the African Continental Free Trade Area to address loopholes that encourage treaty shopping and enable multinational corporations to reduce their tax liabilities using existing intra-African international investment agreements; We also underscore the need to take steps to tackle harmful competition among African countries, including by using the second phase of the African Continental Free Trade Area negotiations on competition policy; We note the need to improve the quality and efficiency of public spending. In this regard, we encourage African countries to implement integrated resource mobilization, budgeting and development planning processes and decentralized public financial management; to intensify efforts to combat corruption; and to simplify subsidy and procurement regimes and approval processes for investment; We note that private finance presents a large potential source of capital to fund public projects. Accordingly, we are cognizant of the need to develop and deepen domestic capital markets and leverage private capital for development projects, while ensuring that such projects provide balanced risk-sharing and accountability within a coherent overall development strategy; We recognize the need to make use of government borrowing as a source of financing for development, while ensuring that borrowing remains within sustainable limits. We also recognize that decisions to implement the African Continental Free Trade Area can assist us in gaining access to additional international financial resources; We acknowledge the continued efforts of the Economic Commission for Africa and other United Nations agencies, working closely with the African Union Commission, the African Development Bank, the Planning and Coordinating Agency of the New Partnership for Africas Development, the African Capacity- Building Foundation and the regional economic communities, to make African integration a reality. This effort will be enhanced by the African Union-United Nations framework for the implementation of Agenda 2063 and the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development; We also underscore the benefits of migration for economic and human development in Africa. We therefore stress the importance of cooperation at the national, regional and international levels to ensure safe, orderly and regular migration with respect for the human rights and dignity of migrants, regardless of their origins or status; We call upon the Economic Commission for Africa to continue its close collaboration with the African Union Commission and other regional, continental and international institutions such as the regional economic communities, the African Development Bank and the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development to provide technical support to facilitate the ratification process and implementation of the African Continental Free Trade Area; We also call upon the Economic Commission for Africa to support member States in enhancing their fiscal space and mobilizing additional domestic resources through strengthening tax administration, improving the efficiency and effectiveness of public spending, developing and strengthening capital markets and leveraging private financing, and improving debt sustainability;

We are cognizant of the significant and preeminent role of human and institutional capacity development in the achievement of the aspirations of Agenda 2063, the Sustainable Development Goals and the African Continental Free Trade Area. We appreciate the commendable work that the African Institute for Economic Development and Planning is undertaking in this respect. We call upon the United Nations to continue and to increase its support to the African Institute for Economic Development and Planning in support of the structural transformation of Africa; We welcome the offer by Morocco to host the fifty-second session of the Conference of African Ministers of Finance, Planning and Economic Development.

Vote of thanks
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We have been writing for some time on TreeHugger that Vision Zero in Toronto is a joke, but that is no longer the case; we have now learned that in fact, it is a tragedy.

Pedestrian and cycling activists have been complaining for years, as we watched the number of deaths and injuries continue to rise. Many of the victims were older, and the crashes disproportionately happened in Scarborough, a former borough to the east, which is full of wide, fast-moving arterial roads. Everyone was screaming for action, and the City politicians brought in a Vision Zero plan.

 New York Vision ZeroIn New York City, and most North American Vision Zero initiatives, enforcement gets high billing as part of the plan. So it was with some dismay that Torontonians learned that the Toronto Police pretty much stopped enforcement in 2013, during the Rob Ford "war on the car" years. They had other uses for the money. David Rider of the Star writes:

Funding for dedicated enforcement/ Toronto Police Services/Public Domain

Those advocates expressed shock and outrage when a report from Chief Mark Saunders revealed Toronto does not currently have a complement of officers that are solely dedicated to enforcement duties on a daily basis, with traffic services focused on crash investigations. How many of the innocent, loved human beings killed since 2012 would still be alive today? Jessica Spieker, a member of Friends and Families for Safe Streets who suffered a broken spine and brain injury when a driver hit her in 2015, asked board members, holding up photos and reading names of Torontonians killed on the streets.

Nobody has calculated how many people died because the Police were not enforcing the law. Rider writes:

Keagan Gartz of advocacy group Cycle Toronto said police failed Torontonians by not treating road safety as a priority with dozens of people, many of them senior citizens, dying while crossing mid-block, dying every year and many more suffering serious injuries.

Shawn Micallef nailed it in his article, Toronto police gaslighted us on traffic enforcement. Their neglect put lives at risk:

As little as two months ago, Saunders was on CBC Metro Morning downplaying the effects of less police enforcement. On Twitter, as deaths and grievous life-changing injuries continued to add up for months, individual police officers would routinely lecture pedestrians and cyclists about their behaviour when asked about lack of enforcement, as if drivers arent the ones operating a machine with deadly force. City data also shows pedestrians usually arent at fault when they get hit. Thats gaslighting, and its as enraging as it is scandalous because lives potentially could have been saved.

Toronto Police Services/Public Domain

It gets worse. They are putting the police back on the beat, but only after shaking the city down for more money to pay the Sergeants and Constables overtime, and they are grabbing the money from the Vision Zero fund. So money that was earmarked for making streets safer, for road design and education, is going to pay the police to do what surely is their job. The police justify their actions in the report, according to Chris Selley of the Post:

..the official media line is borderline bewildering: Toronto is a growing city with increasing police demand and high priority calls for service which include an immediate risk to life or the public, a spokesperson told the Toronto Star. Pardon? How many people have to be thumped, mangled and squashed to death by this citys spectacularly incompetent, sociopathic drivers before its considered an immediate risk to life or the public?

 Toronto Police Chief Mark Saunders/ USMAN KHAN/AFP via Getty Images

Chief Saunders' response?

It gets even worse. Chief Saunders then lists among the problems in Toronto, bike lanes and AirPods, demonstrating that (a) he has no understanding of what Vision Zero actually is, and (b) no knowledge of the data which show that headphones are almost never a factor, or (c) there are lots of people, particularly older ones, who have trouble hearing anytime, but that doesn't mean they deserve to die in the roads.

It then just gets absurd. Scarborough City Councillor Cynthia Lai, who just a few months ago rejected Vision Zero initiatives in her ward, suggesting that the "main problems are left turns, and mid-block crossings by people chasing the bus," invited the Police to meet older people in her ward to give them fluorescent yellow arm bands. She says "it was about being 'proactive'." According to Mary Warren in the Star,

Footage of bands being strapped on seniors drew harsh words from road safety advocates on social media. Advocate Jessica Spieker called it textbook victim blaming that contributes to misinformation that pedestrians somehow contribute to their own deaths, when the vast majority of the time drivers and infrastructure are at fault. To distribute arm bands to seniors flagrantly flies in the face of all of the evidence about road safety, added Spieker, a spokesperson for advocacy groups Friends and Families for Safe Streets.

Then James Pasternak, the City Councillor who is actually the chair of the Infrastructure and Environment Committee, who should have some vague idea of how Vision Zero actually works, tweeted his two cents in support of Councillor Lai.

So now it appears that citizens have to dress up like construction workers when they go outside  even though we know that even on construction sites these vests are safety theatre, and that, of the "fatal four" causes of death on construction sites, only 5.1 percent were due to the kind of "caught-in-between" events that a vest might help.

. Queen Anne Greenways

 Queen Anne Greenways

Or that even the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) suggests that in the Hierarchy of Controls, it is the last thing one should be worried about, and only after fixing everything else.

Police car in Gerrard Street Bike Lane/ Lloyd Alter/CC BY 2.0

So this is where we are today in Toronto. A police chief blaming AirPods, the man in charge of Vision Zero wanting everyone in yellow vests, the Police Department taking Vision Zero money to do what they should have been doing all along, the mayor is missing in action, Vision Zero in shambles, and who knows how many people are dead. Welcome to Toronto. Bring your own yellow vest and keep out of their bike lane.
ALL eyes will be focused on Justice Nadia Kangaloo today, as she is set to deliver her much-anticipated judgment on whether Gary Griffith was lawfully appointed to the position in August by the Police Service Commission (PolSC).
By Olivia Rose

NATURAL disasters provide renewed focus and momentum for Caribbean countries to address previously existing development gaps.





This is according to Professor Mark Pelling of Kings College London who delivered the Caribbean Development Bank (CDB)s 19th William G Demas Memorial Lecture on Tuesday (May 29) in Grenada.





Pelling, spoke on the topic, From social resilience to survivor-led reconstruction the day before the CDBs board of governors meeting.





The resilience expert argued that although generally unwelcome, natural disasters present an opportunity for countries to become more proactive in achieving sustainable development goals.





He said addressing disasters through risk reduction and post-disaster response surfaces unmet development failures that have lain, accumulating over time.





The speaker noted that across the spectrum of disaster management activities there remains a consistent failure to confront the root causes of risks that lie in the political, economic and social systems of development.





"I want to argue that wherever disaster management work is placed outside everyday development policy and practice there is a missed opportunity for sustainable development, he said.





"Perhaps more surprising is a continued failure to mobilise the motivating power of disaster risk and impact to strategically address these same roots that impact development.





The professor said that joining the disaster risk management agenda with sustainable development will require risk management, resilience and transformation.





He argued, however, that all disaster risk reduction initiatives must include local and national voices, and deliver "for the needs of the poorest or most vulnerable in society.





The speaker said that opportunities for addressing development challenges exist both in initial interventions that aim to reduce disaster risk, as well as in response and reconstruction after an event.





He cautioned however, that lessons from previous experiences should be heeded.





Pelling said: "Today, and in the Caribbean region in particular, there are many initiatives seeking to tackle the structural and local causes of human vulnerability to natural hazards.





"The Caribbean Catastrophe Risk Insurance Facility (CCRIF) is a global leader, created in 2007.





"Famous as a regionally financed tool supporting national risk management the CCRIF is a grand experiment in the use of parametric insurance mechanisms allowing disbursements to be triggered by weather events, not damage.





Pay outs are quicker and come during reconstruction when they are most needed, he said.





"Writing in the week hurricane Irma passed over the Caribbean, the Economist reported the CCRIF was able to offer Turks and Caicos $13.6 million, and Antigua and Barbuda, St Kitts and Nevis and Anguilla $15.6 million against hurricane Irma.





Sustainable development goals

The United Kingdom-based professor said that in order for the Caribbean region to achieve the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), response and reconstruction are vital elements.





He said: "Too many response and reconstruction efforts are constrained by the interests and pressures of development and fall short of meeting their potential.





"Too often reconstruction is incomplete with temporary shelter becoming permanent, inadequate, with relocation in particular seldom resulting in enhanced life chances.





He noted that the philosophy of leaving no one behind is an evolution from the Millennium Development Goals.





"The SDGs suggest that simply raising those closest to a threshold of resilience is not enough, interventions need to bring those most at risk into conditions of resilience.





He stressed that the focus should be on the most vulnerable first.





"This has significant implications for policy targeting, including for humanitarian actors.

Pelling concluded by offering three possibilities for development agencies to use disasters to support sustainable development.





He said: "Investments by CDB and other development partners should be reviewed for coherence and possible joint partnerships;





"Partnerships with local actors, including community councils, schools and natural resource management groups, as these groups will sustain societies post-disaster.





"And working with communities and governments to better allow them to lead in response and reconstruction after disasters.





A highly regarded researcher, Pelling has worked in Latin America and the Caribbean, sub-Saharan Africa and Europe, and served as a consultant for the United Kingdom Department for International Development, United Nations agencies, the World Bank, and non-governmental organisations such as Greenpeace and Oxfam.




Covid-19 has exposed the fragility of food systems in Trinidad and Tobago and the Caribbean. Pre-existing inequalities have been exacerbated by the socio-economic impacts of the crisis and the mitigation measures taken around the world.
I am just in the midst of planning a summer getaway and need help in deciding between two resorts in Jamaica. I have found a great deal for the 7 days at the Holiday Inn in Montego Bay starting July 30 @ just over $4000 for 2 adults and 2 children aged 10/13.

The resort get mostly positive reviews but looking at the pictures it appears relatively small. My worry is over the 7 days we will be running around doing the same things day after day. Our prior 2 vacations have been to the Bahia Principe in Riviera Maya where the grounds are massive and their is always something new to do everyday.

The other resort we are thinking about is the Bahia in Runaway Bay. We can get this resort for $4600 but just for 5 days. Although this resort gets slightly lower reviews it seems to be a much bigger upscale resort then the Holiday Inn with maybe more things to do?

Just looking for the forums advice on what to do. We are used to a more upscale experience so leaning toward Bahia but on the other hand maybe we stay at the Holiday Inn and use the extra money towards a few trips out. Maybe Dunns Falls or Para Sailing.

So extra days and activities or less days but in a more comfortable environment and maybe more to do on the resort. First time in Regional Indicator Symbol Letters Jm by the way.

Thanks in advance.
I also agree with others sentiments, it really isnt even a question.

That said, is SFO or IAH an option? Id rate SFO better than DFW, and IAH/DFW equally to connect through.

A bunch of factors would come into it for me. If one airport is considerably better than another, Id consider it only if the total travel time doesnt exceed 3-4hrs more than the alternate option. That takes into account any potential delays including weather (depending on what time of year), which could potentially end up costing you an extra day.

Ive only flown through these airports for business and so your priorities maybe completely different

Edited: 3 years ago
Hi all,

Quick question: has anyone left Vietnam on the Chau Doc-Phnom Penh by boat crossing at Song Tien (near Vinh Xuong) using an e-visa?

More context: We have e-visas to travel to Vietnam. We are entering by plane at SGN Airport (HCMC/Saigon). From there we will travel around until we get to Chau Doc. We plan on taking the speedboat from Chau Doc to Phnom Penh, where we hope to get our exit stamp at the Song Tien border crossing (near the village of Vinh Xuong). There is conflicting information from different travel agencies and forums about being able to do this. Some say that you cannot enter or exit Vietnam using an e-visa by boat at that crossing.

As for entering Cambodia, it seems that we can get visas on the boat with or without a passport photo.

Any personal experience would be much appreciated! Thank you!
I will be driving for the trip. I am looking for advice on the location to stay for 4 consecutive nights: Kure Shi or Hiroshima? My plan is:

Day 1: from Kurashiki to Hiroshima

Day 2: visit Okuno-jima Island (the Rabbit Island)

Day 3: visit Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park and Miyajima

Day 4: Kure Shi (Yamoto Museum)

Day 5: Fly home from Hiroshima airport

Checking the map it seems that it's not necessary to stay in Hiroshima shi. I guess it may be cheaper to stay outside Hiroshima city centre.

1. Would it be better option to stay in Kure shi? Though there are not many comments nor choices on the accommodation there.

2. If I leave Kurashiki early, can I go to the Rabbit Island on Day 1? From Kure shi/Hiroshima it is still a long drive to the port.

3. One member will leave Japan alone, is this the cheapest airport transport from Kure?

Thank you for any advice/comments.
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Mabei 0123,

Thanks for the very detailed explanation.

Since Nagoya is only worth 1 day visit. I think I will skip it this trip.We do not like to move hotels too much. With a 11 days trip, I'm only planning to stay put in 2 places, with the rest of the visits being day trips out of these 2 bases. Our first base will of course be in Tokyo (maybe 8 days).

The 2nd one, at the moment, I'm thinking perhaps in Takayama (3 days).

I'll like to visit those 3 places you had mentioned, ie. Kanazawa, Shirakawago & the Shin hotaga Ropeway (for sure !). I think from Takayama it will be more possible to make day trips to these 3 places - to Kanazawa abt 1hr 45 mins, Shirakawago and the Ropeway abt less than an hour. Am I right in assuming this ?

Is there anything to do in Takayama ? I know there a Morning Market by the river there but besides how's the place like ? Do you think it will make a good base to stay for 3 days while doing day trips out to those 3 places above ?

Thanks.
We tried Shuka for dinner one night during our last visit in April and we really enjoyed it. Very good and vibrant food (not trying to be ultra authentic but their spins were nicely executed and tasty). Nice decor and service as well and they take reservations.

We preferred the Shuka experience over our meal last year at Boquera Soho (for food quality, service, etc) but it's a bit difficult to do a direct comparison. We were just somewhat underwhelmed by Boquera's food but we only had a small sampling of items from their menu.

We have walked past Aquagrill about a zillion times and always peer in the window, but somehow we have yet to make it in for a meal. From everything I read, and what I have observed on the patio and through the windows, they are best loved for their raw bar. I know you can get raw oysters, etc in Sweden. Or at least, I ate raw seafood towers when I was in Stolckholm so I'm assuming they are available all over. If you want to do something different, Aquagrill may not be it.
- Maria and Consolata were fused at the heart

- They planned to become teachers upon completion of university education

- They were against being surgically separated and hoped to marry one husband one day

- President Magufuli led in mourning the inspirational sisters

The Tanzanian conjoined twins who were against being separated from each other have died.

The twin sisters, Maria and Consolata passed on at Iringa Provincial Hospital today Sunday, June 3, after a protracted battle with heart complications which saw them get admitted to the hospital in December 2017 until their untimely death.

Send 'NEWS' to 40227 to receive all the important breaking news as it happens

Maria and Consolata were fused at the heart and doctors advised they be referred to Jakaya Kikwete Heart Institute before being re-admitted back to Iringa where they were pronounced dead.

READ ALSO: See extraordinary life of CONJOINED twins, 16, who say no to separation (photos, video)

The two sisters passed on at Iringa Provincial Hospital today Sunday, June 3 after a protracted battle with heart complications. Photo: Bongo5.

READ ALSO: Tears as conjoined twins fused at spine and rectum are split in groundbreaking 9-hour operation

Born in Makete district in Njombe province in 1996, they went to Udzungwa Secondary School in the neighbouring Iringa province.

Despite their condition, the 22-year-old girls performed so well and booked a place at Ruaha Catholic University where they were undertaking education course.

In an interview with BBC in 2017, the two revealed their shared career dream was to become teachers one day.

READ ALSO: 4 super-lovely photos from first birthday of conjoined twins historically separated at Kenyatta Hospital

Born in Makete district in Njombe province in 1996, they performed so well in primary school and joined Udzungwa Secondary School in the neighbouring Iringa province. Photo: Bongo5.

READ ALSO: Mkewe Alfred Mutua amtambulisha dadake mrembo kwa umma

They were however against operation to separate them and had hoped to marry one husband.

The twins' mother passed away during childbirth and later their father went to be with the Lord leaving them under the care of a Catholic charity called Maria Consolata, which gave them their names.

President John Pombe Magufuli when he visited Maria and Consolata at the hospital. Magufuli has led Tanzanians in mourning. Photo: Chief Spokesperson of the Government of Tanzania/Twitter.

President John Pombe Magufuli led Tanzanians in mourning.

Do you have a hot story or scandal you would like us to publish, please reach us through news@tuko.co.ke or WhatsApp: 0732482690 and Telegram: Tuko news.

Kenyans React to Loss of Public Funds - On Tuko TV

Source: Tuko News
- Some 70,000 barrels of oil will be ferried from Lokichar in Turkana to the port of Mombasa

- The crude oil will be stored at Kenya Petroleum Refineries as the government looks for market

- Tullow expects to produce at least 2,000 barrels of oil per day under the Early Oil Pilot Scheme

- The daily production translates to about 60,000 barrels per month and 720,000 barrels in a year

- It is a tiny drop compared to what the top African oil exporters produce per day

On Sunday, June 3, 2018, President Uhuru Kenyatta flagged off the first consignment of crude oil from Ngamia eight oil fields in Lokichar, Turkana County.

Four brand new trucks carrying the crude oil left Lokichar for the Kenya Petroleum Refinery in Mombasa where the precious black gold will be stored.

Send 'NEWS' to 40227 to receive all the important breaking news as it happens

READ ALSO: Mvulana wa miaka 10 ashangaza Wakenya kwa kipaji chake cha utangazaji (video)

The government had indicated Turkana county government will receive 20% of the oil revenue while 5% will go to the local community. The national government will get 75%. Photo: Weru TV.

Source: UGC

READ ALSO: All eyes on Turkana as Uhuru moves to flag off first batch of crude oil

TUKO.co.ke can confirm the first batch of oil will be kept at the port of Mombasa until the government finds a viable market.

Some 70, 000 barrels of crude oil is said to be ready for transportation from Lokichar to Mombasa.

The four trucks that were flagged off from the oil fields on Sunday reportedly carried 156 barrels each.

READ ALSO: Revenue from Turkana oil to benefit all Kenyans - Uhuru

Tullow company is expected to produce 2,000 barrels of oil per day under the Early Oil Pilot Scheme (EOPS), an experimental programme.

In a month, Kenya will be producing an estimated 60,000 barrels and about 720,000 barrels in a year, which is still like a drop in the ocean compared to what the top African oil exporters produce.

READ ALSO: The battle for control of Geothermal power deposits and shading of blood in Kapedo, Turkana county

So who are the top players and how much crude oil do they produce?

According to Ycharts, a financial data research platform with up-to-date data on how the exporters are performing, Nigeria remains the biggest oil producer in Africa, followed by Angola, Algeria, Libya and Egypt respectively.

Below is how the countries performed in 2018 compared to 2017 going by the Ycharts latest data seen by TUKO.co.ke.

1. Nigeria

Nigeria's current crude oil production capacity stands at about 2.1 million barrels per day, an increase from 1.8 million in 2017.

2. Angola

Angola, which is considered the second biggest oil producer after Nigeria, produced about 1.62 million barrels per day in 2018, a slight drop from 1.68 millions in 2017.

3. Algeria

Algeria produced an estimated 1.2 million barrels of crude oil per day, a drop from 1.3 million barrels in 2017.

4. Libya

Libya's crude oil production capacity was 990,000 barrels per day, a significant increase from 690,000 in 2017.

5. Egypt

Egypt's crude oil production capacity as of June 2018 staggered at 560,000 barrels per day, a decrease from 583,000 in 2017.

READ ALSO: We will not negotiate with criminals - Ruto warns those behind Baringo, Kapedo killings

Although Kenya is destined to become the first East African country to export oil, it still has a long way to go before it can start reaping from the black gold.

The much anticipated oil production kicked off after the president reached an amicable agreement with the people of Turkana on how the oil revenue should be shared.

Under the revised revenue sharing formula, the county government of Turkana will receive 20% of the oil revenue while 5% will go to the local community.

The remaining 75 % will be shared by all Kenyans through the national government.

Initially, Turkana leaders wanted a 10% share of the total revenue, which was double what had been proposed by the national government.

In the old revenue sharing formula, Turkana County government was to get 15% of the revenue, whereas the national government was to get 80%.

Turkana people and their leaders refused to take the deal, leading to a deadly stand-off and delay in oil production.

Do you have a hot story or scandal you would like us to publish, please reach us through news@tuko.co.ke or WhatsApp: 0732482690 and Telegram: Tuko news.

Faces of Kenya: Meet Kenyan Student Who Makes Unique LED Hoodies - On Tuko TV

Source: Tuko News
- The two top Ugandan politicians shook hands twice in a single day

- This was reportedly the third time the two leaders shook hands since 2000

- The rare handshake was warmly welcomed by Ugandans who hope it will bring lasting peace

Uganda's President Yoweri Museveni and his long time political rival Kizza Besigye on Sunday, June 3, decided to do what their Kenyan counterparts President Uhuru Kenyatta and former prime minister Raila Odinga did on March 9, 2018.

The two Ugandan leaders decided to end their bitter political confrontation with a rare handshake.

Send 'NEWS' to 40227 to receive all the important breaking news as it happens

Museveni and Bisigye met at the Anglican Shrine in Namugongo, Central Uganda, on Sunday, June 3, during which they shook hands.Photo: Courtesy.

READ ALSO: Wakili anaswa akitazama video 'chafu' mahakamani, jionee

Reports seen by TUKO.co.ke on Monday, June 4, indicated the two Ugandan politicians met at the Anglican Shrine in Namugongo, Central Uganda, during which they shook hands, twice.

According to local dailies in Uganda, this was the third time Museveni and Besigye had met since they parted ways in 2000.

The first time the two leaders shook hands was in November 2016 when Pope Francis visited Uganda.

READ ALSO: Raila meets Uhuru, agree to end dissent

The latest Museveni-Besigye handshake came barely a week after Uhuru and Raila held another handshake session and hugged during the National Prayer Breakfast meeting at Safari Park hotel in Nairobi.

Deputy President William Ruto and Wiper party leader Kalonzo Musyoka also took the opportunity to shake hands and forgive each other for the wrongs they may have said or done against one onether during the heated political campaigns in 2017.

READ ALSO: Uhuru orders all procurement, accounting officers to step aside for fresh vetting

Meanwhile, Ugandans are looking forward to a more united and peaceful country after Museveni and Bisigye's latest handshake.

Do you have a hot story or scandal you would like us to publish, please reach us through news@tuko.co.ke or WhatsApp: 0732482690 and Telegram: Tuko news.

Faces of Kenya: Meet Kenyan Student Who Makes Unique LED Hoodies - On Tuko TV

Source: Tuko
Have you gotten a chance to hit the gym just yet? The Government gave leeway for more places
Militants launched 27 attacks on positions of the Armed Forces of Ukraine over the past day, June 3.

This is reported by the press center of the JFO Headquarters.

Russian-occupation troops violated ceasefire regime 27 times, using heavy weaponry (122mm artillery, 120mm and 82mm mortars) four times, the report reads.

The most active armed hostilities took place near Avdiivka (18km north of Donetsk), Novotroitske (32km south of Donetsk), Hnutove (19km north-west of Mariupol), Lebedynske (16km north-east of Mariupol).

The invaders continue to grossly violate the norms of international humanitarian law. Yesterday, at about 21:00, militants opened fire from 152mm guns at the village of Talakivka (20km north-west of Mariupol). No civilian casualties were reported.

The joint forces units sustained no losses over the past day.

Today, at 04:30, the enemy fired 82mm mortars outside Zaitseve (67km north-north-east of Donetsk) and was given an adequate response.

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Ukraine and Qatar are in talks on supplies of Qatari liquefied gas.

President of Ukraine Petro Poroshenko said this in an interview with Al Jazeera Qatari broadcaster, the press service of the Head of State reports.

The President stressed that the issue of diversification of gas supply sources was a matter of national security: "Therefore, we are now in talks with Qatar's leadership on supplies of Qatari liquefied natural gas. And I want to say that Qatar can start to export gas to Ukraine.

Gas can be supplied via the existing regasification terminal in Poland. And Ukraine can really get Qatari gas. However, it is only the first step."

According to Poroshenko, there is an agreement with the Qatari partners to invite "our friends from Turkey" for cooperation.

As the Head of State said, Ukraine annually exports goods worth $8 billion to the Arab countries, and, therefore, the cooperation with the Arab world holds a prominent place in Ukraines economic strategy and foreign policy. Ukraine seeks to get an observer status in the Organization of Islamic Cooperation, Poroshenko noted.

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The Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine has submitted for ratification to the Verkhovna Rada a draft agreement between the Governments of Ukraine and the French Republic regarding official support for the creation of a unified system of aviation security and protection in Ukraine.

The corresponding draft bill was registered on the parliament's website.

The purpose of the agreement between the Government of Ukraine and the Government of the French Republic on official support for the creation of a unified system of aviation security and protection in Ukraine is the creation of legal grounds for acquiring a loan (in the form of bank and treasury loans) by a Ukrainian buyer, which will be used to purchase goods and services needed for the creation of the unified system of aviation security and protection in Ukraine.

As reported, the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine approved the draft agreement between the Governments of Ukraine and the French Republic regarding official support for the creation of the unified system of aviation security and protection in Ukraine on May 23, 2018.

Ukraines Interior Minister Arsen Avakov was authorized to sign this agreement.

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By Olivia Rose

THE TCI has made significant progress in addressing deficiencies in its anti-money laundering and countering financial terrorism programmes.





According to a recent excerpt from the Caribbean Financial Action Task Force (CFATF)s website, the territory has drastically improved its money crime prevention regime.





The TCI has been subject to scrutiny under the CFATFs International Country Risk Guide (ICRG) review for years and has recently submitted a 13th follow up report on its efforts to combat money laundering.





The international money laundering watchdog lauded the territory for establishing the necessary legal and regulatory framework to meet its commitments in its agreed action plan regarding the strategic deficiencies that the force had identified.





Although the Turks and Caicos Islands is no longer subject to the ICRG monitoring process, its compliance with international standards on money laundering and financial crime will still be reviewed.





Attorney General Rhondalee Brathwaite Knowles informed Cabinet on Friday, May 25, that the CFATF will visit the TCI during the second and third weeks of September.





A team will ensure the territory is in compliance with international standards to prevent and control money laundering.





Former chairperson of the CFATF, Braithwaite Knowles, attended a meeting in Trinidad on May 28 to discuss the visit among other issues.





Last year the TCI undertook pre-assessment training in preparation for its mutual evaluation assessment by the CFATF in line with the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) procedures that requires each countrys money laundering and terrorist financing risks to be assessed.





The mutual evaluations process assessed the effectiveness of the legislative and regulatory infrastructure of the Turks and Caicos Islands.





The CFATF is the regional offshoot of the FATF, an inter-governmental body that sets standards and promotes effective implementation of legal, regulatory and operational measures for combating money laundering.





The FATF identifies countries with weak measures to combat money laundering and terrorist financing and places them on a blacklist or a grey list which has grave financial consequences for any jurisdiction.




Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of France to Ukraine Isabelle Dumont visited Luhansk region in eastern Ukraine on Sunday.

Deputy Chairman of Luhansk Regional State Administration Yuriy Klymenko informed this on his Facebook page.

"Today, together with Commander of the Joint Forces Serhiy Nayev, we met with Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of France to Ukraine Isabelle Dumont. During the meeting, we spoke about the progress of the Joint Forces Operation (JFO) in Luhansk region, major challenges and threats on the way towards the establishment of peace in our region," Klimenko wrote on June 3.

According to him, the French ambassador was interested in the state of industry and agriculture in Luhansk region.

Klymenko expressed hope that this visit would contribute to the establishment of fruitful and effective relations with the French colleagues.

ish
Serbia does not recognize the annexation of Crimea by Russia to avoid recognition of Kosovo's independence.

"We have not recognized Crimea as a part of Russia. If we did this, it would mean we support Kosovo's independence," President of Serbia Aleksandar Vucic said in an interview with Le Monde.

At the same time, he explained why Belgrade did not impose sanctions against Russia.

"Serbia cannot shoot itself in the foot by imposing sanctions on Russia. Put yourself in our place. Who else among the permanent members of the UN Security Council would support our territorial integrity? Everyone understands our stance," Vucic said.

According to him, Serbia will not join sanctions against Russia at the stage of talks on membership in the EU and hopes for improvement in relations between Russia and the European Union in future.

In 2008, Kosovo unilaterally declared independence from Serbia. A new country was recognized by 113 countries, including the United States. Serbia and Russia still do not recognize Kosovo's independence. Ukraine also has no diplomatic relations with the former autonomous region as part of Serbia.

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Ana Maria Pastor Julian, the President of the Congress of Deputies (the lower house of Spain's Cortes Generales), plans to visit Ukraine in the second half of 2018.

President of Ukraine Petro Poroshenko said this to journalists within the framework of his official visit to Spain, an Ukrinform correspondent reports.

"I am grateful to the President for the absolutely firm and consistent support for Ukraine. We agreed to initiate the inter-parliamentary groups activities. I invited the President to visit Ukraine, we agreed that this would happen in the second half of the year," Poroshenko said.

Poroshenko noted that the issue of recognizing the Holodomor of 1932-33 as genocide of the Ukrainian people and a number of other issues of bilateral and international cooperation had been discussed.

As reported, President Poroshenko makes a working visit to Spain on June 2-4. It is the first visit of the President of Ukraine to the Kingdom of Spain over past 22 years.

ol
Spain has a clear stance on supporting the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Ukraine and extending the EU sanctions against Russia.

"I have a very productive meeting with Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez. This was the first international meeting of the newly elected prime minister... We received a clear position in support of Ukraine's sovereignty, territorial integrity and independence, as well as support of the extension of sanctions, Ukraine's position in the European Union and Ukraine's Euro-Atlantic ambitions," Poroshenko said.

"Based on yesterday's meeting with the large Ukrainian community, we clearly raised the issue of accelerating the signing of the agreement on avoidance of double taxation," Poroshenko informed.

According to him, the Ukrainian side was assured that the agreement had been prepared and agreed and would be signed in a few weeks, after the appointment of the Spanish government.

As reported, Poroshenko is on a working visit to Spain from June 2 to 4. This is the first visit of the Ukrainian president to the Kingdom of Spain for 22 years.

ish
Ukraine and Spain will sign a new bilateral agreement on social security for better protection of the interests of Ukrainians and a Ukrainian community in Spain.

President of Ukraine Petro Poroshenko stated this while speaking at the Almudena Cathedral in Madrid on Sunday.

"We appreciate Spain's creation of favorable conditions for providing cultural and educational issues to Ukrainians. I want to tell you one more news. On my instructions, we are completing our joint work with the Spanish friends regarding the bilateral agreement on social security - to replace the previous agreement, which was signed 22 years ago, in 1996. Just like there was no visit of the Ukrainian president to Madrid for 22 years. The signing of this agreement in the near future will help remove some problematic issues in the social sector on the protection of Ukrainians and the Ukrainian community," the head of state noted.

He also thanked Spain for assisting Ukraine in upholding its state sovereignty, territorial integrity and independence, as well as for a firm position on non-recognition of the illegal annexation of Crimea.

As Ukrinform reported, President of Ukraine Petro Poroshenko was on an official visit to the Kingdom of Spain on June 2-4.

ish
A national dance record has been set up in Severodonetsk, Luhansk region.

This was reported by the press service of Luhansk Regional Military and Civil Administration.

"During the celebration of the 80th anniversary of the formation of Luhansk region held in Severodonetsk on June 2, a national dance record has been set up. More than 80 dance troupes simultaneously performed the Ukrainian dance. This fact was solemnly recorded by the representative of the Book of Records of Ukraine, the adviser to the culture minister, Ukraines honored artist Anzhelika Rudnytska," the report reads.
The fake murder of Russian journalist Arkady Babchenko caused sharp criticism. However, Deputy Head of Ukraine's Presidential Administration Kostiantyn Yeliseyev calls for understanding. This is stated in his interview with German daily newspaper Der Tagesspiegel.

Q: The Ukrainian security service imitated the murder of journalist Arkady Babchenko, because a real attempt on his life was staged and the plan had to be exposed. Was it really the only way to save the journalist's life?

A: Many of our friends are trying to understand why this was done. It was Russia that began the so-called hybrid war against Ukraine. Ukraine lives every day with such a threat. Our security agencies are trying to protect Ukraine and the lives of its citizens.

According to our special services, there was no other way to protect the life of Arkady Babchenko and his family. Such a secret operation was the only possibility. In this way, our security forces managed to save his life.

Secondly, it was possible to identify and detain a probable killer.

Thirdly, they managed to establish a clear link between the accused person and Russia. Following the results of a special operation, our security agencies received a list of more than 40 people to be killed on the orders of Russian special services.

Q: Are they Ukrainian citizens?

A: Ukrainians and Russian citizens who live in Ukraine. Believe me, this list includes well-known journalists and politicians. Law enforcement officers have currently provided them with personal protection. So if you ask me if such secrecy was justified, if such a special operation was worth it, then my answer is yes. So we hope for understanding from our partners.

Q: Did Ukrainian security forces find evidence of a connection to Russia? If so, will it be made public?

A: Of course, we expect that the Ukrainian security authorities will in the near future provide society and the international community with clear evidence of the connection to Russia, as well as give answers to open questions - the sooner the better. The SBU head and the prosecutor general have already met with the ambassadors of the G7 countries and the EU and answered their questions. But we have to wait for the completion of the investigation before we get the answers to all questions.

Q: Finally, it's a political decision whether evidence will be made public or not

A: In order to preserve the confidence of our foreign partners and journalists, the Ukrainian authorities are obliged to report on the outcome of the investigation and provide evidence of Russia's involvement. I hope this will happen in the near future.

Q: Does Ukraine risk losing its credibility on the international scene as a result of such an action?

A: I do not understand why everyone is talking about credibility now. We are doing what we have to do and what all governments are doing - we are protecting national interests and citizens' lives. In the case of Babchenko everything was done successfully. This operation should be praised.

Der Tagesspiegel is a daily newspaper founded in September 1945 in Berlin as a nationwide edition. A total of 109,444 copies were sold in 2018. The newspaper has about 220,000 readers.
The Moscow City Court pronounced the verdict in the case of illegally detained Ukrinform journalist Roman Sushchenko. He has been sentenced to 12 years in a high-security penal colony.

This was announced by journalist's public defender Mark Feygin.

On May 28, Sushchenko said in his final statement in the Moscow City Court that he did not recognize the guilt and asked for acquittal.

Russian prosecutors asked the court to imprison Sushchenko for 14 years.

As reported, Paris-based Ukrinform correspondent Roman Sushchenko was detained in violation of international rules on September 30, 2016 in Moscow, where he arrived on a private visit.

On October 7, he was charged with "espionage." Russia's FSB claimed that Sushchenko is a member of the Main Intelligence Directorate of the Ukrainian Defense Ministry. The latter denied this allegation.

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Savchenko discussed plans for the murder of top officials with her accomplices.

A forensic psychological test with the use of a polygraph device has confirmed that Ukrainian Member of Parliament Nadiia Savchenko was personally involved in plotting the forcible overthrow of the constitutional order in Ukraine: she was preparing to commit a terrorist attack in the government quarter and in the building of the Verkhovna Rada, Ukraine's parliament.

Read alsoNadiia Savchenko suspends hunger strike on day 69 for taking new polygraph test

The Main Investigation Department of the SBU Security Service of Ukraine on April 11 decided to conduct the forensic psychological test with the use of a polygraph under criminal proceedings on suspicion of former hostage swap negotiator Volodymyr Ruban and MP Savchenko of preparing for terrorist attacks and committing a coup. Kyiv's Scientific Research Institute of Forensic Expertise under Ukraine's Justice Ministry was hired to conduct the examination.

"According to the test results, the commission of experts has provided clear-cut conclusions about Savchenko's positive psycho-physiological reactions, which indicate that Savchenko discussed plans for the forcible overthrow of the constitutional system, participated in illegal actions to overthrow the constitutional system and was personally plotting the forcible overthrow of the constitutional system," the report says.

Read alsoSavchenko ready to serve 22 years in Russian jail in exchange for 60 Ukrainian prisoners

The test also revealed that Savchenko had discussed plans and participated in preparations for the armed seizure of power. She was also involved in supplies and transportation of arms that were to be used to forcibly overthrow the constitutional system and seize state power.

"Savchenko discussed the developed plans for the forcible overthrow of the constitutional order and the seizure of state power with Volodymyr Ruban, Alexander Zakharchenko ['DPR' leader] and Alexander Timofeev ['DPR Minister of Revenues and Fees']. Savchenko discussed plans for the murder of top officials with her accomplices, in particular, she personally distributed roles in assassinations," the SBU said.








Sky subscribers in New Zealand will be able to catch David Tennant's award-winning performance in the R D Laing biopic Mad To Be Normal from this week. David stars as the maverick 1960s psychiatrist who ruffled feathers among his medical contemporaries when he proposed radical medication-free methods in the treatment of psychosis. Mad To Be Normal focuses on the controversial community that Laing set up at Kingsley Hall in East London where patients and medics lived together as equals.





Written and directed by Robert Mullan, Mad To Be Normal also stars Elisabeth Moss, Gabriel Byrne and Michael Gambon.





You can watch the film on Wednesday 6th June from 10.30pm on Sky Movies Premiere with repeat airings on Thursday 7th at 7am and 3.10pm and Monday 11th June at 4.30pm.








The list of individuals and legal entities to whom sanctions are to be applied has not been made public.

The Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine has moved to approve and submit, within one month, to the consideration of the National Security and Defense Council a proposal for the introduction for a period of three years of personal special economic and other restrictive measures (sanctions) against individuals and legal entities involved in Russian aggression against Ukraine.

The corresponding order No. 363-r of May 23 was published on the Government portal.

"In connection with the ongoing armed aggression of the Russian Federation against Ukraine, its assistance and financing of terrorist activities in Ukraine, which resulted in violation of the territorial integrity of Ukraine, rights and freedoms of its citizens, temporary occupation of part of its territory, numerous human casualties, real and potential threats to national interests , national security and sovereignty... [it is ordered] to approve and submit, within a month's time, to the consideration of the National Security and Defense Council a proposal for applying for a period of three years personal special economic and other restrictive measures (sanctions) to individuals ... [and] legal persons," the document says.

The list of individuals and legal entities to whom sanctions are to be applied has not been made public.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs, after the entry into force of the NSDC decision on the application of sanctions, is instructed to inform the competent authorities of the European Union, United States, and other states with a view to considering the introduction of similar restrictive measures (sanctions).

Read alsoWhy appeasement never stops aggressors

The Cabinet also ordered to raise the issue of informing those targeted with sanctions on application of personal special economic and other restrictive measures (sanctions) against them, as well as regarding the publication of the list of such individuals for the NSDC consideration.

As UNIAN reported earlier, the National Security and Defense Council on May 2 imposed sanctions against legal entities and individuals involved in the Russian aggression against Ukraine. Sanctions are imposed on the initiative of the Government, Security Service and National Bank for three years or indefinitely with respect to individuals and legal entities involved in Russian aggression against Ukraine, in preparing and conducting illegal voting in the occupied Crimea within the framework of the Russian presidential elections; representatives of the Russian occupation administration in Crimea, militants of Russian armed formations in the occupied territory of Donetsk and Luhansk regions, etc.

Read alsoKlimkin urges UN to strengthen int'l pressure on Russia, introduce peacekeepers to Donbas

In addition, sanctions were imposed on individuals involved in information and cyber aggression against Ukraine, unlawful acts against its citizens who are illegally being held in Russia, against members of the State Duma and members of the Federation Council of the Federal Assembly, etc.

The NSDC decision of May 18 was put into force by a decree by Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko.
Council of Europe will share responsibility for grave human rights violations if it gives in to Russia now, the watchdog says.

European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker has demanded an end to what he called Russia-bashing and said that it is time to reconnect with Russia. While specifically stating that the EU would never accept what Russia did with Crimea and eastern Ukraine, he made it alarmingly clear that it is Russias size and importance that make him want to reconnect.

Those key points were, unsurprisingly, broadcast by the Kremlin-funded RT [Russia Today], Kharkiv Human Rights Protection Group wrote.

In particular, RT reported: He said the EU would never accept 'what Russia did' to Ukraine and Crimea, referring to the violent 2014 coup in Kyiv that brought the current Ukrainian government to power, and the subsequent referendum held in Crimea, which resulted in over 90% support for reunification with Russia.

Read alsoUkraine's Sushchenko sentenced to 12 years in Russia's high-security prison (Photos, video)

The explanation, as is so often the case on the lavishly funded Kremlin mouthpiece, contains provable lies and misrepresentation of the facts. It was largely Russias use of propaganda and disinformation from 2014 onwards that prompted the creation of a crucial, yet hopelessly underfunded, East Stratcom Taskforce and its EU vs Disinfo website.

Would Juncker consider criticism of Kremlin-funded propaganda channels and work on monitoring their manipulation of facts or preventing them deliberately misleading audiences abroad to be Russia-beating? Although Ukraine has probably suffered most from Russian warmongering propaganda, its claims of non-existent anti-Semitic pogroms and an invented Odesa massacre, there is plenty of evidence of the Kremlin trying to manipulate and use Europes refugee crisis.

Junckers proposal to put an end to Russia-beating came just months after Russias believed use of the Novichok nerve agent in the UK. Besides, the U.S. and other western intelligence agencies have all agreed that Russia directly interfered in the U.S. Presidential elections. There is also considerable evidence indicating its interference in the elections of several EU states, as well as in an attempt at a coup in Montenegro. This is not to mention the farcical presidential elections which gave the formal go-ahead to Putins two-decade "presidency" and which were illegally held including in the occupied Crimea.

Read alsoPresident Poroshenko holds phone conversation with Pompeo

A UN report in March 2018 stated that Russias use of unguided bombs in a densely populated area in Syria "may amount to the war crime of launching indiscriminate attacks resulting in death and injury to civilians." "Are protests over the above to also be classified as 'Russia-bashing'?" the NGO wonders.

If so, there is a lot more to come since Juncker, Merkel and Makron have all extended a hand to the Kremlin just days after publication of the Joint Investigation Teams conclusions regarding the MH17 downing, stating that the Buk missile which downed Malaysian airliner MH17 on 17 July 2014 came from the 53rd Anti-Aircraft Missile brigade which is a unit of the Russian army from Kursk in the Russian Federation. This is only one of the reasons for believing that Russia will evidentially be held to answer at the International Criminal Court at the Hague. It is currently also facing proceedings brought by Ukraine over its discrimination of Crimean Tatars and ethnic Ukrainians in occupied Crimea and its violation of the International Convention for the Suppression of the Financing of Terrorism through its active arming, manning and financing of militants in the occupied Donbas.

Saying the EU would never accept what Russia did with Crimea and eastern Ukraine and then passing on to re-establishing good relations makes a farce of all the values which the EU espouses. Russia did not just illegally annex Crimea four years ago. It has since totally eroded fundamental rights and liberties in occupied Crimea. The number of political prisoners is rising by the week, and Russia is noticeably targeting civic journalists and activists whose voices have been so vital given the total elimination of independent media on the peninsula. There are over 70 Ukrainians whom Russia has imprisoned on fabricated charges.

Read alsoWhy appeasement never stops aggressors

Russia is flouting the International Court of Justice by continuing its extraordinary ban on the Mejlis, or self-governing body, of the Crimean Tatar people, as well as the Geneva Convention by forcing young Crimeans to serve in the occupying regimes army.

Russia is not putting an end to its military aggression against Ukraine in Donbas, with ensuing military and civilian deaths and ongoing destruction.

The EU should be intensifying its pressure on Russia over such violations of fundamental human rights, not calling for an end to so-called Russia-bashing, KHPG insists.
One enemy troop was killed, intelligence reports said.

Russian-led forces mounted 27 attacks on Ukrainian troops in Donbas in the past day, using 122mm artillery systems and 120mm and 82mm mortars four times.

"Hostilities were most active near the town of Avdiyivka, and the villages of Novotroyitske, Hnutove and Lebedynske," the press center of Ukraine's Joint Forces Operation (JFO) said in an update on Facebook as of 07:00 Kyiv time on June 4, 2018.

Read alsoUkrainian Marine missing after May 27 skirmish near Pavlopil returns to military base  JFO HQ

"The invaders continue to violate international humanitarian law. At about 21:00 last night, they shelled the village of Talakivka from 152mm guns, having lobbed at least three shells into the settlement. Fortunately, there were no casualties. Information about destruction is being verified. No killed and wounded are reported among the Ukrainian military over the past day," reads the report.

According to intelligence reports, one invader was killed.

"The situation along the contact line remains unchanged today, June 4. At about 04:30 Kyiv time, the enemy opened fire from 82mm mortars near the village of Zaitseve. A response to their provocation was adequate," the press center said.
The man, who was sentenced by a Ukrainian court to three years in prison, remained behind bars in occupied Donbas after his imprisonment term expired two years ago.

Human rights activist, Director of NGO Eastern Human Rights Group Pavlo Lysianskiy has said a Ukrainian was released from captivity of the Russian-backed terrorist organization "Luhansk People's Republic" ("LPR") in Donbas.

Read alsoJFO: Russian-led forces mount 27 attacks on Ukraine army in Donbas in past day

"A citizen of Ukraine, who was sentenced before 2014 and who was illegally kept by 'LPR' illegal armed groups in custody, has been released thanks to joint actions of the international community... I do not disclose his identity and personal data," the human rights activist wrote on Facebook.

Lysianskiy said in January 2017 that the man had been sentenced by a Ukrainian court to three years in prison, his imprisonment term expired two years ago, but he was kept behind bars.
Nayev thanked the French ambassador for her support and solidarity with the people of Ukraine in the fight against the Russian aggressor.

Commander of Ukraine's Joint Forces Operation (JFO) Serhiy Nayev has called on world leaders to help Ukraine retake uncontrolled sections of the state border with Russia in Luhansk and Donetsk regions.

Read alsoJFO Commander says new operation in Donbas not aimed at escalation

Nayev announced such an appeal during a meeting with Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of France to Ukraine Isabelle Dumont during her trip to Donbas, the press center of Ukraine's Joint Forces Operation said on Facebook.

It is noted that during the conversation with the participation of Deputy Chairman of Luhansk Regional State Administration Yuriy Klymenko, the parties discussed a number of security issues in the east of Ukraine.

Nayev thanked the French ambassador for her support and solidarity with the people of Ukraine in the fight against the Russian aggressor. He noted that the main help of world leaders for Ukraine could be their assistance in the speedy transfer of the sections of the state border in Luhansk and Donetsk regions to the authorities of Ukraine.
The proposal triggered a response from Kremlin spokesman Dmitri Peskov.

The "Saber Strike" exercise, which involves Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland and 17 additional participating Allied and partner militaries, got underway on Sunday.

It is "a clear demonstration of the commitment and solidarity of the Alliance," according to the U.S. Army Europe. "Saber Strike 18 is not a provocation of Russia but an exercise with our Allies," Deutsche Welle reports.

The massive drills got underway just days after it emerged that Poland is willing to spend as much as 1.7 billion euros ($2 billion) to cover the costs of a U.S. base in the face of perceived Russian aggression.

Read alsoEstonia to spend almost EUR 190 mln to enhance border with Russia

"Yes, we are interested in the presence of American forces in our country and we have submitted  including to think tanks  some options that we could offer if such decisions were adopted," said Pawel Soloch, head of the office of national security at the Polish presidency.

The proposal triggered a response from Kremlin spokesman Dmitri Peskov. "In general, when we record gradual expansion of NATO military structure towards our borders, when NATO infrastructure directly approaches our borders, this certainly does not contribute to security and stability on the continent in any way," Peskov said.

The United States boosted its presence on the alliance's eastern flank after Russia annexed Crimea from Ukraine in 2014. The U.S. Army set up a new European headquarters in Poland in 2017 to command 6,000 U.S. troops in the region, one of the largest deployments of U.S. forces in Europe since the Cold War.

Israel, which a not a member of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), is taking part for the first time in the drills, which are scheduled to run until June 15.
The U.S. official did not identify the three ousted military officials.

North Korea's top three military officials have been removed from their posts, a senior U.S. official said, a move analysts said on Monday could support efforts by the North's young leader to jump-start economic development and engage with the world.

Kim Jong Un is preparing for a high-stakes summit with U.S. President Donald Trump in Singapore on June 12, the first such meeting between a North Korean leader and a sitting U.S. president, as reported by Reuters.

Read alsoKim Jong-un willing to meet with Putin - media

The U.S. official, who spoke on Sunday on condition of anonymity, was commenting on a report by South Korea's Yonhap news agency that all three of the North's top military officials were believed to have been replaced.

The U.S. official did not identify the three ousted military officials.

Citing an unidentified intelligence official, Yonhap earlier said No Kwang Chol, first vice minister of the Ministry of People's Armed Forces, had replaced Pak Yong Sik as defense chief, while Ri Myong Su was replaced by his deputy, Ri Yong Gil.

North Korean state media previously confirmed that Army General Kim Su Gil had replaced Kim Jong Gak as director of the KPA's General Political Bureau.

The United States is seeking a negotiated end to North Korea's nuclear weapons program and U.S. officials believe there was some dissension in the military about Kim's approaches to South Korea and the United States.
The report comes amid recent developments in the UK suggesting that the National Crime Agency's "dirty money" probe is targeting Russian oligarchs.

Last week Russia and UK representatives had secret talks on post-Skripal deconflicting, in an undisclosed South-Western EU city, that's according to Christo Grozev, one of Bellingcat's contributors and a senior researcher at Risk Management Lab, a think-tank with a focus on security threats at New Bulgarian University (Sofia).

"Talks fell through as main ask by RU was to 'leave oligarchs alone'," he tweeted citing a source familiar with the matter.

The report comes amid recent developments in the UK suggesting that the National Crime Agency's "dirty money" probe is targeting Russian oligarchs.

According to The Times, Russian oligarchs and multimillionaires are among 130 people who face having their assets frozen in a crackdown by British authorities on dirty money.

"Looks like the UK National Crime Agency is going to start targeting Putin cronies with Unexplained Wealth Orders to confiscate their UK assets. If true, this will be a powerful step," tweeted Bill Browder, an American financier, vocal Putin critic and, architect of the "Magnitsky Act" who detained (but then released shortly) in Spain on yet another warrant Russia initiated via Interpol.

NCA officials are understood to have scaled up investigations into businessmen linked to Vladimir Putins regime after the attempted murder of a Russian former spy in Salisbury.

Britains intelligence community blamed Russia for the nerve agent attack on Sergei Skripal, his daughter Yulia and a police officer in March.
DUBAI, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News / WAM - 04th Jun, 2018) Al Jalila Foundation, a global philanthropic organisation dedicated to transforming lives through medical education and research, celebrates Zayed Humanitarian Day by recognising the contributions from the community to support life-saving treatment to children in the UAE.

The Year of Zayed commemorates 100 years since the birth of the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, the Founding Father of the UAE, whose timeless legacy and values of compassion, giving and volunteerism are honoured and continuously celebrated. Al Jalila Foundation, through its Aawen programme, echoes the vision of Sheikh Zayed by providing support, medical treatment and care to patients in the UAE who are unable to afford quality treatment. Since its inception in 2013, Al Jalila Foundation has supported 467 patients from 36 nationalities, including 190 children, and invested AED34 million to provide relief to patients who have suffered a number of chronic illnesses and life-threatening conditions. The treatment costs for patients, newborn to 90 years of age, have ranged from to AED20,000 to AED250,000 per individual.

In its efforts to be a leader in medical innovation, Al Jalila Foundation works closely with healthcare partners to develop special treatment programmes that meet the needs of patients. Farah, happiness in Arabic, is the Foundations paediatric treatment programme which has helped many young patients: from life-saving heart surgeries to cochlear implant or prosthetic limbs, all have be given a fresh start in life after receiving special care by some of the best medical providers and physicians in the region.

Dr. Raja Easa Al Gurg, Chairperson of the board of Directors and Member of the Board of Trustees of Al Jalila Foundation, said, "In line with Sheikh Zayeds vision of prosperity for the nation, at Al Jalila Foundation we believe that every child should have the chance of a happy, healthy life.

Through our healthcare programmes we sponsor some of the best medical treatment in the world and invest in vital research to eliminate illnesses in the future. It is with great pride and gratitude to our nations leaders, donors and the community that we mark this Zayed Humanitarian Day, in the Year of Zayed, and pledge our continued commitment to transform lives in the UAE."

Al Jalila Foundation relies solely on the funding of donors and since inception has maintained strong partnerships who support Sheikh Zayeds legacy and vision. Dubai Islamic Bank (DIB) is one of the distinguished financial institutions and longstanding partners who has generously dedicated funds to the Aawen programme to offer hope and healing to patients in need.

Abdul Razzaq Al Abdullah, Head of Community Services Department, Dubai Islamic Bank, said, "Dubai Islamic Bank is a long term supporter of Al Jalila Foundation and we are honored to be able to support the Foundations mission to make a difference in peoples lives. Our contributions demonstrate the pioneering role of Dubai Islamic Bank to serve the UAE community to lead happier lives."

DIBs support echoes the values of the Year of Zayed as announced by President His Highness Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, to foster and strengthen a sense of social responsibility across the public and private sectors, in addition to developing the spirit of volunteering and service to the nation.

A number of philanthropists and corporates have supported Al Jalila Foundations Aawen programme namely Easa Al Gurg Charity Foundation; Khalifa Juma Al Nabooda; Dubai Islamic Bank; Sharjah Islamic Bank; Emirates Islamic Bank; Commercial Bank of Dubai; among others.
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ABU DHABI, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News / WAM - 04th Jun, 2018) Fahad Saeed Al Minhali, Yemeni Ambassador to the UAE, stated that the UAEs humanitarian and development giving in Yemen is continuing and started decades ago when the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan established its foundations.

In a statement to the Emirates news Agency, WAM, on Zayed Humanitarian Work Day, he praised the UAEs humanitarian role in Yemen and highlighted the fact that the value of humanitarian aid provided to his country between April 2015 and April 2018 totalled AED13.82 billion (US$3.76 billion) and included six key sectors, which include education, health, relief, infrastructure and housing, and was praised locally and globally. He added that the UAE also provided US$500 million to support the humanitarian response plan of the United Nations, UN, in Yemen for 2018.

He said that these statistics reflect the UAEs leadership and its desire to support the Yemeni people while confirming the strong and historic ties between the two countries, in light of the objectives of the Arab Coalition, led by Saudi Arabia and with the effective participation of the UAE.

Al Minhali said that Zayed Humanitarian Work Day is a crucial part of the UAEs history, as the people of the country, as well as the entire world, are proud on this day full of humanitarian achievements.

He further stated that the UAEs humanitarian work has acquired major importance, due to the desire of President His Highness Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, the Vice President, Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai, His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces, and Their Highnesses Supreme Council Members and Rulers of the Emirates, to launch international humanitarian initiatives and dispatch relief aid to needy people, through Emirati and international charity and humanitarian organisations.

Al Minhali pointed out that the external Emirati humanitarian aid provided by the Emirates Red Crescent, ERC, is not limited to the distribution of food aid, but also includes other types of support, such as the building of schools and hospitals and providing medication, ambulances and vaccines, which took place before in Afghanistan and Pakistan.

Between April 2015 and April 2018, the UAEs aid to Yemen helped 13.8 million Yemenis, including 5.3 million children.

The UAE is also supporting the long-term needs of Yemen by funding key sectors, supporting public programmes, generating power, and providing health and education services.

The UAE provided aid to 12 Yemeni governorates and restored basic infrastructure such as the airports in Aden, Al Rayyan and Socotra, as well as the maritime ports in Aden, Mukalla, Socotra and Mocha.

It also restored 218 schools, provided over 232,000 tonnes of food aid that benefited around 10,000 people on a daily basis, maintained 46 hospitals and health centres, provided over 300 tonnes of medical aid, restored 12 power plant that generate 635 megawatts of energy, reconstructed nine water stations with 80 pumps and four sewage treatment plants, built 250 dams, provided polio and measles vaccines to around 488,000 children, delivered 74 ambulances and around 500 police vehicles to support security institutions, as well as 70 buses to support the education sector, and relaunched 19 police centres.
India, Pakistan clash on Kashmir border ending brief truce

Two soldiers have died and seven civilians have been injured in the latest Kashmir violence.

AFP, Srinagar :

India and Pakistan exchanged fire across the Kashmir border on Sunday, officials said, killing two guards and ending a days-old agreement to honour a ceasefire in the disputed region.

Seven civilians were also injured at Aknoor, near the contested territory's border with Pakistan, in a barrage that claimed the lives of two Indian border officers.

India's Border Security Force said its troops returned fire after Pakistani border rangers in Sialkot fired into Kashmir without provocation in the early hours of Sunday.

"The injured soldiers were immediately evacuated to a military hospital where they later succumbed (to their injuries)," border force spokesman Manoj Yadav told AFP from Jammu, the winter capital of the restive Himalayan region.

Pakistan authorities did not immediately comment on India's allegations or whether any damage was sustained on their side of the border.

The salvo of gun and mortar fire came just four days after Pakistan and India promised to end ceasefire violations in Kashmir.

The two sides had pledged to respect the conditions laid out in a 2003 ceasefire "in letter and spirit" following some of the highest levels of violence in Kashmir since the pact was signed. Both sides blame each other for violating the 15-year ceasefire.

Dozens have been killed in border clashes in recent months along the border that divides the territory into zones of Indian and Pakistani control, leaving residents terrified.

The renewed commitment to the ceasefire had encouraged thousands of civilians to return to their homes after weeks of shelling.

Kashmir has been divided since the end of British colonial rule in 1947 and both New Delhi and Islamabad claim the former Himalayan kingdom in full.

India has about 500,000 soldiers in the part of Kashmir it controls, where armed groups are fighting for independence or a merger with Pakistan.

The flare-up along the border comes amid a rise in street riots and militant violence in the Kashmir valley, which witnesses near-daily demonstrations against Indian rule.

New Delhi accuses Pakistan of fuelling an insurgency that has left tens of thousands of civilians dead. Islamabad denies this, saying it only provides diplomatic support to Kashmiris' right to self-determination.
ABU DHABI, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News / WAM - 04th Jun, 2018) The Centre for Public Policy and Leadership at the United Arab Emirates University, UAEU, in collaboration with the United Nations Development Programme, UNDP, has issued the UAEs Human Development Report of 2018.

Professor Mohamed Albaili, UAEU Vice Chancellor, stressed that issuing this report in the Year of Zayed highlights the role of the founding father in laying the foundations of the UAEs renaissance in different walks of life. The report contributes to enhancing the developmental policies and promoting leadership of the UAE Human Development value. It also contributes to achieving the UAE vision of 2021 and Abu Dhabi Vision of 2030 through focusing on vital sectors like the economy, education, health, job market, and social policies.

The report reflects the active collaboration between the UAEU centre for Public Policy and Leadership and the United Nations Development Programme. It also shows how the centre actively seeks to enhance partnerships with international organisations to exchange expertise and support UAE decision-making process, contributing to achieving UAEs leadership vision.

Issuing the report by the UAEU centre for Public Policy and Leadership is a testament that the centre is keeping peace with the UAE Human Development and that it is keen on improving UAE Human Development value and sustainability to promote human life in the UAE, as aspired by the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan.

Frode Mauring, UN Resident Coordinator and UNDP Resident Representative to the UAE, said, "The first UAE's National Human Development Report in 21 years, shows considerable progress since the last report. The launch of the report reflects longstanding partnership covering more than four decades, between the United Nations and the United Arab Emirates.

The importance of this report lies in its contribution to place human development and people-centred policies at the forefront of the countrys policy agendas. As reported, the population has grown almost 16 times from 1975 to 2016. More people means more challenges and more opportunities. The UAE has made remarkable progress in multiple areas including education and health. This report will be used to lay the ground and provide a strong analytical basis on different components comprising and contributing to human development. The report results from a partnership between UAEU and UNDP."

Dr. Mohamed Bin Huwaidin, Chair of the Political Science Department at UAEU, and the reports technical advisor and main editor, stated that, "the UAE Human Development status has not been investigated since the issue of the first report in 1997, which was prepared by UAEU. The new report has investigated the UAE Human Development from three perspectives: education, health and the standard of living".

The report has shown a notable improvement in the UAE Human Development performance through achieving a higher score in the Human Development Index, promoting the country to be among those with the highest Human Development values. The report has also shown that the three dimensions of education, health and the income index are the most contributors to achieving this score in the HDI.

The UAE Human Development Report referred to the women empowerment development in the UAE, narrowing the gender gap and the clear advancement of Dubai and Abu Dhabi in the HDI compared to the other Emirates.
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ABU DHABI, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News / WAM - 04th Jun, 2018) H.H. Sheikha Fatima bint Mubarak, Chairwoman of the General Women's Union, President of the Supreme Council for Motherhood and Childhood, and Supreme Chairwoman of the Family Development Foundation, has said that the memory of the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan is a milestone in the history of the UAE, as he was an exceptional leader who fulfilled the hopes of the Emirati people for overall development.

In her speech marking the annual Zayed Humanitarian Work Day on 19th Ramadan, she asserted that the memory of Sheikh Zayed will always remain in the hearts of the Emirati and Arab people.

Sheikha Fatima affirmed that the nations partnership with women is among the priorities of the wise leadership since the era of Sheikh Zayed, as they realised, at an early stage, the fundamental role of women in the UAEs development. They also launched programmes that aim to reinforce the national character of women, she added. Sheikha Fatima went on to note the Founding Father's directives that created a shift towards supporting womens development and empowerment, while highlighting the nation's progress in global competitiveness indexes, particularly in women's development arenas.

"He encouraged and supported me to help empower women and motivate them to pursue their education. He also established the relevant organisations responsible for womens rights and issues.

Sheikh Zayed looked forward to the day when he could see female Emirati doctors, engineers and ambassadors, and his wishes came true, as Emirati women occupy positions such as ministers, the Speaker of the Federal National Council, FNC, members of the FNC, doctors, engineers, officers, and air defence pilots," Sheikha Fatima continued.

"As we celebrate Zayed Humanitarian Work Day, we renew our vows as the people of this giving country to pursue his generous journey and blessed approach in building a civilised nation, which now has an advanced position among developed countries and leads in international humanitarian work, under the leadership of President His Highness Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, the Vice President, Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai, His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces, as well as Their Highnesses, Supreme Council Members and Rulers of the Emirates," she added.

Sheikha Fatima concluded, "Zayed Humanitarian Work Day is an occasion to express our love and loyalty for our role model of humanitarian giving, and to prove to the world that the journey of our nations founder continues to be carried forward."
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ABU DHABI, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News / WAM - 04th Jun, 2018) In commemoration of Zayed Humanitarian Day which falls on the 19th day of Ramadan every year, Sheikha Lubna bint Khalid Al Qasimi, President of Zayed University, expressed admiration to such a noble ongoing initiative for the past seven years.

"The day honours the legacy of the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, the founder of the nation, with the date enhancing the spirit of the holy months compassion and philanthropy across the UAE," she said. "This year marks the 14th death anniversary of Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, who established the UAE path to a humanitarian journey of giving," Sheikha Lubna said.

The Zayed Humanitarian Work Day came to ease the living conditions of helpless people as directed by the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan whose actions are being spoken of worldwide.

The UAE and its citizens have gained unmatched admiration and respect around the world, and have positioned the country to lead the humanitarian activities at regional and international levels. "On the 19th of Ramadan each year, Zayed's generous legacy remains alive, crossing all barriers and borders to help the needy in almost everywhere."

"In 2017, and for the fifth consecutive year, UAE topped the world's No. 1 largest donor of official foreign aids, according to the Development Assistance Committee (DAC) of the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD), compared with its 1.31 percent global measure of donor efforts, double the global target of 0.

7 percent set by the United Nations.

She noted that the UAE aids, according to a report by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, had reached 147 countries across the world and contributed to bridging huge gaps in financing infrastructure projects in many developing countries through programmes targeted at urban development, transportation infrastructure, health, education and renewable energy.

"Sheikh Zayed, whose name continues to remain synonymous with kindness and generosity, embedded upon his people values of solidarity and contribution. He urged us to treat others with care and respect. Humanitarian and charitable matters were highly sought to by Late Sheikh Zayed whether inside or beyond the countrys borders."

Al Qasimi recalled a statement by Sheikh Zayed, when he said, "We believe that the grace of wealth bestowed upon us by the almighty must be unfolded to encircle our friends and brethren around the world."

Sheikha Lubna said that the UAE continues its humanitarian path under the wise leadership of President His Highness Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, the Vice President, Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai, His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces, and Their Highnesses the Supreme Council Members and Rulers of the Emirates.
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ABU DHABI, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News / WAM - 04th Jun, 2018) Major General Mohammed Khalfan Al Rumaithi, Commander-General of the Abu Dhabi Police, ADP, stated that 19th Ramadan is an exceptional day for the UAE, as the country celebrates the humanitarian values established by the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan.

The day is also crucial to the UAEs present and future, and is a source of pride for Emiratis, and promotes the values of giving, tolerance and compassion, he added.

In his speech marking the occasion, Al Rumaithi said that celebrating 19th Ramadan reinforces the humanitarian approach of the founding father, Sheikh Zayed.

He added that Sheikh Zayed promoted compassion, tolerance and giving among the Emirati community, which is proud of its values and traditions and expresses its gratitude to Sheikh Zayed through advancing his humanitarian work and giving beyond the UAEs borders.

Al Rumaithi also pointed out that the occasion reflects the desire of the Emirati people to reinforce Sheikh Zayeds approach and continue his journey of giving, through the many humanitarian initiatives launched by the UAE that benefited people around the world.

Al Rumaithi praised the UAEs efforts to assist the work of humanitarian and charity convoys, including those that carry humanitarian and medical aid, which has made the UAE the leader in supporting communities, in light of the approach of Sheikh Zayed that was followed by the wise leadership.
The 1223MW Combined Cycle Power Plant (CCPP) Balloki, Kasur has successfully completed the Combined Cycle Reliability Run Test (RRT).

LAHORE, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 4th Jun, 2018 ) :The 1223MW Combined Cycle Power Plant (CCPP) Balloki, Kasur has successfully completed the Combined Cycle Reliability Run Test (RRT).

National Power Parks Management Company (Pvt) Limited, Manager (Corporate Communications Hassan Ali said in a media statement issued here Monday that RRT was one of the most important tests before commissioning of a power plant.

He said that reliable operations and performance of entire power complex was tested under various conditions and on various loads and then approved for commercial operations.

Balloki power plant, he mentioned, completed its simple cycle RRT on August 16, 2017 and achieved simple cycle COD on August 30, 2017 to supply 760MW to the national grid. Since then, Balloki power plant had supplied 1.

8 billion units worth Rs 18 billion to the nation grid.

Hassan Ali mentioned that ground-breaking of Balloki power plant took place on November 10, 2015, asserting that implementation of such a massive project in only 31 months was an achievement for National Power Parks Management Company (NPPMCL).

He said that the Company was also responsible for the implementation of 1230MW Haveli Bahadur Shah (HBS) Power Plant in Jhang. HBS achieved its Combined Cycle COD on May 9, 2018.

Together, both plants exported 3.7 billion units into the national grid. Since the beginning of Ramadan, NPPMCL had successfully generated 880 million units of electricity which was enough to power 6 million households i.e. approximately 18 percent of total households in Pakistan.
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About 3000 police personnel will guard main Youm-e-Shahadat Hazrat Ali (RA) procession of the city to be taken out from Mohanpura on Tuesday night. Police have finalized security plan for Majalis and processions of three-day Youm-e-Shahadat Hazrat Ali (RA) to be observed on June 5 to 7th.

RAWALPINDI, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 4th Jun, 2018 ) :About 3000 police personnel will guard main Youm-e-Shahadat Hazrat Ali (RA) procession of the city to be taken out from Mohanpura on Tuesday night. Police have finalized security plan for Majalis and processions of three-day Youm-e-Shahadat Hazrat Ali (RA) to be observed on June 5 to 7th. CCTV cameras have been installed at route of the procession. No one will be allowed to stand on rooftops of the commercial and residential buildings situated along the route while armed police personnel will be deployed at the buildings. Bomb disposal squad will check the route before start of the procession. Walk-through gates will also be installed at the entry points of the procession.

Police and law enforcement agencies have intensified security in the city for Youm-e-Ali. Police personnel along with Elite police, women police, special branch personnel, PQR and volunteers will be deployed in Rawalpindi district to guard 98 majalis and 23 processions to be taken out from New Town, Waris Khan, City, Civil Line circles, Cantt, saddar, Kahuta, Gujar Khan, Murree and Taxila circles.

The main procession of the city will be taken out from Mohanpura at 9 PM on June 5 and after passing through Kashmiri Bazaar, Fawara Chowk, Iqbal Road, Nia Mohalla and other roads culminate at Col Maqbool Imambargah at Fajar. Other big processions will be taken out from Darbar Sakhi Shah, Imambargah Fatmia, Markazi Imambargah Kosar-e-Zainab and Shah Chan Chiragh Dhoke Rata on June 6 and 7. City Police Officer (CPO) has issued strict orders to make security arrangements foolproof. Under the plan, routine traffic on main and link roads will be diverted to other routes. Police and security agencies personnel will be accompanying the processions and cops will also be deputed both inside and outside the Imambargahs to ensure security. Police officers will also be patrolling different areas.Unidentified people will not be allowed to mix up with the participants of the processions. The district administration will establish acontrol room in order to closely monitor the movement of the processions toavoid any untoward incident.
Caretaker Sindh Chief Minister Fazul-ur-Rehman presiding over a meeting on law and order situation reviewed Youm-e-Ali security arrangements to be observed on Ramadan 21.

KARACHI, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 4th Jun, 2018 ) :Caretaker Sindh Chief Minister Fazul-ur-Rehman presiding over a meeting on law and order situation reviewed Youm-e-Ali security arrangements to be observed on Ramadan 21.

The meeting was attended by Chief Secretary Rizwan Memon, IG Sindh AD Khawaja, Principal Secretary to CM Aijaz Ali Khan, Secretary Home Qazi Shahid Pervez, Additional IG Karachi Mushtaq Maher and DIG South Azad Khan, said a statement on Monday.

Briefing the CM Sindh, Inspector General of Police, Sindh AD Khowaja said that a detailed security plan for Youm-e-Ali procession has been worked out.

As many as 4244 policemen would be deployed in the South Zone which includes 191 pilot escort, 3069 along the route, 185 on the security of the processions to be taken out from Lines Area Imambargahs, 317 on dispersal route of mourners, 250 at entry points, 64 at hospitals and 168 would be for post incident plan, he said.

The IG said that in the South Zone six Imambargahs have been declared as most sensitive.

They are three in Clifton, two in City area and one at Lyari while the number of sensitive Imambargahs is 40.

The processions to start from 18 to 21 Ramadan, the IGP said and added that 53 majalis have been declared as sensitive, therefore security plan has been made accordingly, he said.

Additional IG Karachi, Mushtaq Maher said that coordination meeting with ulemas, dignitaries, organisers have already been held.

Peace committees at district and sub-divisional level have been reorganized by SSPs and SPs. Volunteers teams for police assistance.

The CM Sindh directed the police department to remove all kind of wall chalking, banners, sign boards and other hate material.

At this the Additional IG Police said that work has been started and it would be completed by this evening.

DIG South Azad Khan said that obstruction/patharas from the route of procession have been removed.

Surveillance of terrorists released on bail and those put on 4rth schedule of ATA has been started.

The CM Sindh said that there should be zero tolerance on misuse of loudspeaker, wall chalking and hate material.

He also directed the police department to further develop close coordination with Rangers, intelligence agencies, including special branch for foolproof security arrangements.

The CM Sindh was told that there was close coordination with district administration and local bodies for cleanliness of periphery and routes of the majalis and processions.

It was decided that the code of conduct issued by Home Department would be strictly implemented.

Giving details of the procession, the IG Police said that it would start from Nishtar park and its route would be Purani Nomaish, Saddar- Empress Market, regal Chowk, M.A Jinnah Road to Hussainian Iranian Imambargah. The participants would be around 15,000.

AD Khawaja said that route of the procession has been divided into six sectors and 15 sub-sectors. Each sector would be commanded by SP and DSP respectively.

Under the plan some 40 ambulances would be deployed at the designated points.

The police deployment has also been planned under which entire route would be sealed by closing the side lanes.

A total 927 spots have identified which include 308 buildings, 157 rooftops of the buildings and 462 building gates would be guarded with by commandoes.

The entire route would be scanned by bomb disposal Squad and sniffer dogs.

A designated police party would carry out physical search of the entire routes. Surveillance cameras would be installed on the entire route.

The IG said that all the vehicles joining procession would beissued stickers by traffic police.
Hundreds of faithful will start observing Aitekaf across the country at mosques from Tuesday (Ramadan-ul- Mubarak 20) afternoon as almost all major mosques have already completed the registration process for Aitekaf.

ISLAMABAD, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 4th Jun, 2018 ) :Hundreds of faithful will start observing Aitekaf across the country at mosques from Tuesday (Ramadan-ul- Mubarak 20) afternoon as almost all major mosques have already completed the registration process for Aitekaf.

The practice of Aitekaf is optional for Muslims.

Large city mosques became the centre of special prayers where hundreds of worshippers were set to gather for this religious duty; an intensive worship observed during the last 10 days of Ramadan, which also involves confinement of women to a small place inside a mosque or in the house.

Scholars termed it a process for self-purification.

Mosques in the Federal Capital of Islamabad have already been decorated where places to the worshippers have been allocated on the first come first served basis because of an ever increasing number of those willing to observe Aitekaf.

This year, over 700 faithful from twin cities of Rawalpindi and Islamabad will observe Aitekaf at Faisal Mosque.

A large number of faithful will also observe Aitekaf at other major mosques of Rawalpinmdi. Collective Aitekaf will also be observed in the city, as it has been practiced across the globe, including Masjid Al-Haram in Makkah and al-Masjid an-Nabawi in Madina.

The Minhaj ul Quran movement led by Dr Tahirul Qadri will set up an Aitekaf City at Model Town Secretariat where thousands of people will sit Aitekaf.

Sehar and Iftar will be provided to Moatakafeen from Mosque management.

Special lectures have also been arranged for the Moatakafeen.

Special arrangements have been made for Motakafeen(Aitekaf observers) to impart them education about Fiqhai; problems besideslectures from religious scholars.

Religious scholars would deliver lectures on different issues ondaily basis and that programme would continue till the moon sighting ofShawal; an official of Mosque said.

Aitkaf sitting is a Sunnah of the Holy Prophet (Peace Be UponHim) and carries a multitude of blessings of the Allah Almighty. Menobserve Aitkaf in small cubicles, set up by hanging large clothsheets inside mosques, whereas women observe it at any corner orquite place in the house which is not frequently visited by others.
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Ministry of Information Technology and Telecommunication (MoITT) has provided consultancy to 12 companies to attain certification of CMMI and ISO 27,001/ 20,000 certifications through "Enhancing IT exports through industry support programme" during a year.

ISLAMABAD, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 4th Jun, 2018 ) :Ministry of Information Technology and Telecommunication (MoITT) has provided consultancy to 12 companies to attain certification of CMMI and ISO 27,001/ 20,000 certifications through "Enhancing IT exports through industry support programme" during a year.

Through the same project 70 more companies will be provided consultancy to attain certification of CMMI level-2, CMMI level-3, CMMI level-5 and ISO 27,001/ 20,000 international standards, ministry official told APP on Monday.

He said expanding ICT accessibility to remote and under-developed parts of the country will also help in achieving social inclusiveness, opening new vistas and source of employment in the country.

Through its many support programs, PSEB aims to help Pakistani companies and professionals in obtaining a greater share of the domestic as well as the global IT and ITeS market place.

He said to meet the need of comprehensive Information Security Management System within all major IT companies of Pakistan as in the modern day business; There was need to ensure the confidentiality, integrity, and availability of both vital corporate information and customer information, for that the project is initiated.
Putin says `fierce` US politics hindering summit with Trump

Russian President Vladimir Putin speaks during a joint news conference with German Chancellor Angela Merkel (not seen) following their meeting in the Black Sea resort of Sochi, Russia .

Reuters, Vienna :

Russian President Vladimir Putin blamed political ructions in the United States for difficulties in arranging a summit with President Donald Trump, in remarks broadcast on Monday.

Trump said in March the two leaders would meet soon. But since then already fragile ties between Washington and Moscow have been strained further by the conflict in Syria and the poisoning of a former Russian spy in Britain.

Putin said last month the proposed summit was beset by problems and was not working out for now.

Asked by Austrian broadcaster ORF why it was taking so long to arrange, he said: "You have to ask our colleagues in the USA. In my view it is the consequence of the fierce domestic political contest in the United States."

Putin, who gave ORF an interview ahead of a visit to Austria on Tuesday, did not elaborate.

Trump is under pressure from special counsel Robert Mueller's investigation into whether Russia meddled in the 2016 U.S. election and whether there was collusion with Trump's campaign - something both he and Moscow deny.

"In one of our last discussions, Donald said he is concerned about the danger of a new arms race. I agree with him entirely," Putin said in a short extract released ahead of the full interview, to be broadcast on Monday evening.

Apart from mentioning the U.S. withdrawal in 2002 from the Anti-Ballistic Missile Treaty, Putin did not elaborate.

Trump made a similarly vague reference to the issue in April, when he said "Stop the arms race?" in a tweet that also mentioned providing "help" for the Russian economy.

Meanwhile, Russian President Vladimir Putin could meet North Korean leader Kim Jong Un in the Russian Far Eastern city of Vladivostok in September, RIA news agency reported on Monday, citing diplomatic sources.

MOSCOW (Reuters) - Russian President Vladimir Putin invited North Korean leader Kim Jong Un to travel to Russia in September, RIA news agency reported on Monday, citing Ivan Melnikov, a deputy speaker of the lower house of parliament.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, who visited Pyongyang last week, passed the North Korean leader an invitation from Putin to visit Russia during its Eastern Economic Forum, which is held in Vladivostok every year, Melnikov said.

Other possible locations and dates are also being discussed, RIA said.
Pakistan Navy (PN) celebrates World Environment Day to underscore the significance of environment in Pakistan and to promote awareness on protecting the marine environment.

ISLAMABAD, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 4th Jun, 2018 ) :Pakistan Navy (PN) celebrates World Environment Day to underscore the significance of environment in Pakistan and to promote awareness on protecting the marine environment.

Being a major affectee of marine pollution in Karachi Harbour, PN has initiated numerous measures and actions to reduce pollution, said a press release.

These measures range from systematic collection of solid waste from harbour, large scale plantation of mangroves in coastal areas of Sindh and Balochistan, and sensitizing concerned government and non government organizations about the implications of marine pollution.

While awareness remains a vital factor, a number of activities have been planned at field level to promote awareness and inculcate a sense of responsibility among all to save and preserve the environment.

I expect PN to contribute in this national obligation with dedicated efforts to make the planned events worthwhile and successful.

Chief of Naval Staff, in his message said, on this day let us commit, that we owe it to ourselves and to posterity, to bethe saviour of environment that is a blessing of Allah SWT.

I urge all my countrymen to join hands with PN in providing clean and better environment to ourselves and our future generations.
(@ChaudhryMAli88)

Pakistan strongly condemns the suicide attack that targeted a congregation of religious scholars in Kabul on Monday.

ISLAMABAD, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 4th Jun, 2018 ) :Pakistan strongly condemns the suicide attack that targeted a congregation of religious scholars in Kabul on Monday.

According to foreign office statement, we are grieved at the loss of precious innocent lives in this barbaric act of terrorism.

We express our heartfelt sympathies and condolences to the bereaved families and pray for the early recovery of the injured.

Pakistan reiterates its unequivocal condemnation of terrorism in all its forms and manifestations and expresses solidarity with the people and Government of Afghanistan in this hour of grief and sorrow, statement said.
(@ChaudhryMAli88)

The Punjab Food Authority (PFA) has sealed different food points and imposed fine of Rs 88,000 on various others over poor quality material and unhygienic conditions.

MULTAN, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 4th Jun, 2018 ) :The Punjab Food Authority (PFA) has sealed different food points and imposed fine of Rs 88,000 on various others over poor quality material and unhygienic conditions.

In line with special directions of Director Operations South Punjab, different food safety teams conducted raids in various cities of South Punjab.

During the raids in Multan, Lodhran, Kehror Paka and Kabirwala, teams sealed Madni Soda Water, Hafiz soda water and drink corner and Jameel store over poor cleanliness arrangements , use of poor quality material and other violations.

The teams also imposed fine of Rs 88,000 on various other food points while wasted 1000 sub-standard bottles of drinks, 200 packets of gutka, oil, milk, ice blocks, fruits and vegetables during the raids.

On the other hand, warning notices have been issued on many food points to ensure cleanliness arrangements and sell best quality food items.
In a bid to facilitate Pakistani businesscommunity, the Uzbekistan embassy has simplified the visa procedureand not it will give visa to the entrepreneurs within one day aftersubmission of an online request, said a communication received hereMonday.

KARACHI, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 4th Jun, 2018 ) :In a bid to facilitate Pakistani businesscommunity, the Uzbekistan embassy has simplified the visa procedureand not it will give visa to the entrepreneurs within one day aftersubmission of an online request, said a communication received hereMonday.

Both Pakistan and Uzbekistan, located in close geographicalproximity were said to be well positioned in cooperating with eachother in pharmaceutical, agriculture and tourism sectors.

With particular reference to Uzbekistan, it was said that reformsand reduced energy price has particularly turned the country into agood investment destination.

Moreover, Uzbekistan was also said to be manufacturinghigh-quality home appliances, automotive, heavy-duty trucks,earthmoving machinery and agricultural equipment which can be exportedto Pakistan.

The gadgets claimed to compete with European made machineries, interms of quality and standard, was cited to be cost effective henceaffordable for most of the developing countries as Pakistan.

Reforms implemented in Uzbekistan was further reiterated to haveopened new opportunities for development of trade and economiccooperation between the countries and motivate them to increase tradewith Uzbekistan.

The country was said to have recently reduced the tariff rates onpower besides offering several other incentives to foreign investors.

Uzbekistan was said to be open to cooperate with Pakistan inestablishment of agriculture machinery assembling units besidescontemplating to develop transport corridors between the two countries.

The existent trade and investment potential in Pakistan was saidto be also taken into consideration so as to pave way for close tradeand investment linkages between the two.
Information and Technology department has primed a comprehensive strategic plan for boosting IT sector in Balochistan and has started working on various IT projects including IT Park, IT Board, Safety City Authorities, E-Filing, Virtual Education System, Data Center, Fiber Optic and Security Surveillance System.

QUETTA, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 4th Jun, 2018 ) :Information and Technology department has primed a comprehensive strategic plan for boosting IT sector in Balochistan and has started working on various IT projects including IT Park, IT board, Safety City Authorities, E-Filing, Virtual Education System, Data Center, Fiber Optic and Security Surveillance System.

Dr Aftab Ahmed Baloch, Secretary Information Technology, expressed these views while addressing the inauguration ceremony of three-week Advance Network training program for Divisional and District level Officer's at IT Institute.

He said that IT department has successfully installed Quetta Safe City Project and will also launch a project containing CCTV cameras to protect Khuzdar, Lasbela and other major cities.

Similarly, the department held tenders and initiated electronic file system in IT, P & D, Finance and other departments, which is a major step towards E-Governance.

IT department has also begun to bring changes to other departments. Initially 100 schools are being transferred to advanced technology under Virtual Education System, which will be further enhanced.

The work of executing all the rules and laws of the Law Department to the Digital System has also been started, he said.

He further said that IT department is also working to launch fiber optic cable project be in Gwadar and Quetta.

Secretary IT further said that IT department held fruitful dialogues with BUITEMS University and successfully inducted National Incubation Center, and also starting various projects in cooperation with other higher education institutes including University of Balochistan and Women's University.

In particular, the department is launching several important projects for further development of IT sector in Balochistan province, in which the remarkable modern IT Park software would be set up, about which department P & D has given the consent also.

Similarly, IT department has instigated project of Rs.200 million to only set up advance data center which would secure and shield the data of Balochistan government Under the Public Private Partnership, advanced IT training courses would be taught in the IT centers and IT centers are to be upgraded. These initiatives would help to produce technically well-found man power for the triumph of a giant project "China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC)".

Secretary Dr Aftab Baloch further said that the pro-pending promotional cases of department employees have been resolved.

Finally, Secretary IT, Director General IT Tariq Qamar Baloch, Additional Secretary Ghulam Mustafa and Director Training Jawad Ahmad distributed certificates in the participants.
(@FahadShabbir)

Two people were killed Sunday at an abandoned mine in a northeastern region of Moroccothat has been hit by social unrest sparked by similar accidents, authorities said.

Rabat, (APP - UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 4th Jun, 2018 ) :Two people were killed Sunday at an abandoned mine in a northeastern region of Moroccothat has been hit by social unrest sparked by similar accidents, authorities said.

The accident happened when a shaft collapsed on the pair in the Sidi Boubker commune of Jerada province as they tried to mine lead.

"Two people, aged around 33 and 42, died on Sunday following the partial collapse of a lead gallery in Sidi Boubker," the local authorities said, quoted by Moroccan news outlets.

"The victims were extracted from inside the gallery by a group of their companions," they were quoted as saying.

"One of the victims, who was still alive, was rushed to hospital at Oujda university... but later succumbed to their injuries."Moroccan authorities have vowed to close all abandoned mines in Jerada after months of social unrest in the former mining region.
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A Turkish state-run aid agency distributed food items to 840 low-income families in Algeria, the agency announced on Monday.

ANKARA, (APP - UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 4th Jun, 2018 ) :A Turkish state-run aid agency distributed food items to 840 low-income families in Algeria, the agency announced on Monday. The food aid were distributed in Algiers, Blida, Medea, Bejaia cities of the country, according to the statement by the Turkish Cooperation and Coordination Agency (TIKA).

According to a separate statement, TIKA also provided fast-breaking dinner late Sunday in a century-old mosque in Kyrgyzstan.Besides the Ramadan food item distribution and iftar programs, the statement said, health-related training was also provided in Macedonia.Operating with 60 offices in 58 countries, TIKA endeavors in various areas of humanitarian, developmental and social fields.
Turkish Red Crescent has distributed food aid to 7,000 families in several cities of Senegal during the holy month of Ramadan.

DAKAR, (APP - UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 4th Jun, 2018 ) :Turkish Red Crescent has distributed food aid to 7,000 families in several cities of Senegal during the holy month of Ramadan.

Teams delivered food materials to 7,000 families living in the cities of Matam and Podor, which is on the starvation line, according to the World Food Program Report in 2017, along with capital Dakar and the former capital of the country, Saint Louis.

Matam Municipality Mayor Mamadou Diaw and Turkish Red Crescent Senegal Delegation Head Suat Citlak were among those who attended the food distribution event in the city.

The Turkish aid body plans to provide support to 10 million needy people across the world during Ramadan.
All patients: 20/68 (29%)  pT0, n=16; pTis, n=4

PD-L1 positive patients: 10/25 (40%)

PD-L1 negative patients: 5/31 (16%)

cT2 patients: 17/48 (35%)

cT3-T4 patients: 3/20 (15%)

Two cycles of atezolizumab are safe and well tolerated prior to cystectomy in patients ineligible for cisplatin-based chemotherapy

Pathologic complete responses occurred in 29% of patients which enriched to 40% in PD-L1 expression patients

Significant progression of the disease appears infrequent with this approach (n=1)

Sequential biomarker analysis showed an increase in PD-L1 and CD8 expression with atezolizumab

These preliminary results are promising in this area of unmet need, although long-term follow-up is needed

Chicago, IL (UroToday.com) Thomas Powles from the UK presented the initial results of the ABACUS phase II trial assessing atezolizumab as neoadjuvant therapy for patients with MIBC and ineligible for cisplatin. Radical cystectomy is the standard of care for bladder cancer patients with cT2-4aN0M0 disease, and neoadjuvant cisplatin-based chemotherapy is routinely given prior to cystectomy based on level 1 data. Neoadjuvant cisplatin chemotherapy is associated with a pathologic complete response rate of 30-40% and 5% improvement in OS. However, a large proportion of patients are not eligible for cisplatin-based chemotherapy and are offered upfront radical cystectomy alone. In these patients, pathological complete response rates after TURBT and no neoadjuvant chemotherapy is 15% at the time of radical cystectomy.Atezolizumab is a humanized IgG1 monoclonal antibody targeting PD-L1 and is associated with long-term durable remissions in subsets of patients with metastatic urothelial carcinoma, as reported in the IMvigor210 and 211 studies [3-5]. The ABACUS study investigates the efficacy and safety of neoadjuvant atezolizumab given prior to cystectomy in operable urothelial MIBC.This single arm, phase II study investigated two cycles of atezolizumab (1200mg every three weeks) prior to radical cystectomy among patients with T2-4N0M0 urothelial carcinoma. Other key eligibility criteria included residual disease post-TURBT and not fit for/rejected cisplatin-based chemotherapy. The co-primary endpoints for the study were pathological complete response occurring in 20% of patients, and increase in CD8 count as a biomarker analysis. Secondary endpoints included safety and radiological response to treatment. Cross-sectional imaging was performed at baseline and prior to radical cystectomy which occurred 4 - 8 weeks after starting atezolizumab. Adverse events (AEs) and surgical complications were assessed using CTCAE v4.03 and the Clavien-Dindo classification.There were 74 patients that received atezolizumab (n=59 received two cycles; n=15 received one cycle). Among these patients, 67 underwent subsequent radical cystectomy. Among the seven patients not receiving surgery was one patient with disease progression (treated with chemotherapy) who were included in the analysis of the primary efficacy endpoint (n=68). The median age of the 68 patients was 71 years (range 53-85), and the baseline pT2 rate was 71%, pT3 was 22%, and pT4 was 7%. The pathologic complete response rates were as follows:Among 10 patients that were pT4 after radical cystectomy, two were cT2, five were cT3 and three were cT4. Among 47 patients assessing radiological response between baseline and pre-radical cystectomy, 28% had a radiographic response and 17% had radiographic progression. The changes to PD-L1 and CD8 expression with atezolizumab are as follows:The most common any grade treatment-related AE was fatigue (21%) and most common grade 3/4 AE was transaminitis (4%). Grade 3/4 Clavien-Dindo complications occurred in 10% of patients undergoing radical cystectomy, with no post-operative deaths. There was 1 potential treatment-related death during treatment/perioperative period (cardiovascular disease).Powles concluded with several important take home points:Clinical trial information: NCT02662309 References:1. Grossman HB, Natale RB, Tangen CM, et al. Neoadjuvant chemotherapy plus cystectomy compared with cystectomy alone for locally advanced bladder cancer. N Engl J Med 2003;349(9):859-866. 2. Griffiths G, Hall R, Sylvester R, et al. International phase III trial assessing neoadjuvant cisplatin, methotrexate, and vinblastine chemotherapy for muscle-invasive bladder cancer: long term results of the BA06 30894 trial. J Clin Oncol 2011;29(16):2171-2177. 3. Rosenberg JE, Hoffman-Censits J, Powles T, et al. Atezolizumab in patients with locally advanced and metastatic urothelial carcinoma who have progressed following treatment with platinum-based chemotherapy: A single-arm, multicentre, phase 2 trial.2016;387(10031):1909-1920.4. Balar AV, Galsky MD, Rosenberg JE, et al. Atezolizumab as first-line treatment in cisplatin-ineligible patients with locally advanced and metastatic urothelial carcinoma: A single-arm, multicentre, phase 2 trial. Lancet 2017;389(10064):67-76. 5. Powles T, Duran I, van der Heijden MS, et al. Atezolizumab versus chemotherapy in patients with platinum-treated locally advanced or metastatic urothelial carcinoma (IMvigor211): A multicentre, open-label, phase 3 randomized controlled trial.2018;391:748-757.Presented by: Thomas Powles, MD, Barts Cancer Institute, Queen Mary University of London, London, United KingdomCo-Authors: Alejo Rodriguez-Vida, Ignacio Duran, Simon J. Crabb, Michiel Simon Van Der Heijden, Albert Font Pous, Gwenaelle Gravis, Urbano Anido Herranz, Andrew Protheroe, Alain Ravaud, Denis Maillet, Maria Jose Mendez-Vidal, Cristina Suarez, Anja Lorch, Cora N. Sternberg, Mark David Linch, Shah-Jalal Sarker, Aaron Prendergast, Kelly Mousa, Daniel E. Castellano; Hospital Parc Salut del Mar, Barcelona, Spain; Hospital Universitario Marques de Valdecilla, Seville, Spain; Southampton Clinical Trials Unit, University of Southampton, Southampton, United Kingdom; Department of Medical Oncology, The Netherlands Cancer Institute, Antoni van Leeuwenhoek Hospital, Amsterdam, Netherlands; Institut Catala dOncologia, Hospital Universitari Germans Trias i Pujol, Badalona, Spain; Medical Oncology, Institut Paoli-Calmettes, Marseille, France; Hospital Clinico Universitario de Santiago, Santiago De Compostela, Spain; Churchill Hospital, Oxford, United Kingdom; Department of Medical Oncology, Hopital Saint-Andre, University of Bordeaux-CHU, Bordeaux, France; Hosp Lyon SUD, Lyon, France; Reina Sofia University Hospital, Cordoba, Spain; Vall dHebron Institute of Oncology, Vall dHebron University Hospital, Universitat Autonoma de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain; Heinrich Heine University, Duesseldorf, Germany; San Camillo-Forlanini Hospital, Rome, Italy; Royal Marsden Hospital, Kingston, United Kingdom; Queen Mary University of London, London, United Kingdom; Hospital 12 de Octubre, Madrid, SpainWritten by: Zachary Klaassen, MD, Urologic Oncology Fellow, University of Toronto, Princess Margaret Cancer Centre, Twitter: @zklaassen_md at the 2018 ASCO Annual Meeting - June 1-5, 2018  Chicago, IL USA
HPV16/18: accounts for 70% of cervical cancers, and 90% of non-cervical cancers

Pap screening has reduced cervical cancer incidence by ~80%

Incidence of HPV-positive oropharynx cancer between 1988-2004 has increased >3-fold

63% of penile cancers are HPV positive

Basic research led to the identification of HPV as the cause of several cancers and to the development of the HPV vaccine

The high immunogenicity and efficacy of the HPV vaccine may make it possible to induce long-term protection by a single vaccine dose

Control of HPV-associated cancer as a worldwide public health problem may soon be feasible

Chicago, IL (UroToday.com) Douglas Lowy, MD, received the prestigious Science of Oncology Award, followed by his accompanying lecture discussing the prevention of HPV-associated cancers by vaccination.Lowy started his presentation by discussing the epidemiology of HPV-associated cancers. He notes that cervical cancer mortality rates will continue to increase in less developed regions of the world, with 251,000 cervical deaths in 2015 expected to reach 363,000 in 2030. Indeed, less developed regions account for ~90% of the worldwide cervical cancer deaths. In these regions, cervical cancer accounts for 10% of all female cancer-related deaths and represents 90% of HPV-associated cancers. In the US, HPV infection induces several types of cancer and affects both sexes: the annual number of total HPV-positive cancer is 31,000, 65% occurring in women, 35% in men. Additional points relating to HPV infection among patients in the US:Lowy notes that the natural history of cervical cancer is universal and the same in high and low-resource settings: normal epithelium is infected with HPV, which progresses to a precancerous lesion and finally to invasive carcinoma. Certainly, normal and premalignant tissues are less complex than in cancer with fewer genetic and epigenetic changes, with resistance less likely to develop against early changes.According to Lowy, it is important to choose an appropriate molecular target for a preventative HPV vaccine. Induction of neutralizing antibodies is usually the main protective activity; HPVs contain viral oncogenes (E5, E6, and E7) and one needs a subunit vaccine lacking oncogenes. L1 and L2 are two HPV proteins that can induce neutralizing antibodies, where L1 contains the most immunogenic neutralization epitopes. Lowy and his research groups hypothesis when developing vaccines was: L1 self-assembles makes empty particles with correct conformation and induces high levels of neutralizing antibodies. Three different HPV L1 vaccines have been FDA approved:Each of these vaccines was initially approved for three doses in 9-26 year olds, however the new generation of Gardasil (Gardasil-9) was approved in 2016 for two doses for 9-14 year olds since younger adolescents make a stronger immune response. As Lowy notes, high efficacy of HPV L1 vaccines against new cervical precancer and genital warts by vaccine-targeted types has been reported in several randomized trials, with efficacy rates ranging from 96.3-100%.The goals of HPV vaccination are twofold: directly reduce the risk of infection and disease with vaccines, and indirectly reduce risk by reducing the prevalence of HPV vaccine types in the general population (herd immunity). The herd immunity concept has been demonstrated by decreased incidence of genital warts in heterosexual Australian men following female HPV vaccine implementation in 2007. These results have not necessarily been recapitulated in US men, although decreased infection rates are encouraging among women. According to Dr. Lowy, in the US, the reason for poorer outcomes is secondary to under-utilization of HPV vaccination and mismatch between cervical cancer mortality rates and vaccine uptake: the highest cervical cancer mortality rates are located in the Southeast and southern Midwest, whereas the highest vaccination rates are located on the West coast and Northeast.In addition to statements from the CDC, NCI-designated cancer centers are urging HPV vaccination for prevention of cancer. A statement from January 2016 notes HPV vaccination represents a rare opportunity to prevent many cases of cancer that is tragically underused. As national leaders in cancer research and clinical care, we are compelled to jointly issue this call to action. A similar statement was recently (May 23, 2018) issued by Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, the Director-General of the World Health Organization: We will eliminate cervical cancer, one of the greatest threats to womens health. We have the tools and now we have the political commitment. The goals of these global governing bodies are to avert 365,000 cases and 150,000 deaths worldwide through vaccination. However, as Lowy notes, the highest rates of non-vaccination occur in upper-middle and lower middle-income nations, where the risk of infection and mortality are the highest. Unfortunately, the predictions are that the cumulative cervical cancer cases over the next 65 years is 19 million cases and 10 million deaths worldwide.One of Lowys postulation is: Might a single HPV vaccine dose confer years of protection? Indeed, in post-hoc analyses of randomized controlled trials, 1, 2, or 3 doses of bivalent vaccine confer at least 7 years of protection against incident HPV 16/18/31/33/45 infections. Even one dose of HPV vaccine induces levels of high avidity antibodies comparable to those receiving three doses. To evaluate this prospectively, a recently designed randomized controlled trial will test the efficacy of 1 vs 2 doses of vaccine. This will be a four-arm trial comparing 1 vs 2 doses of Cervarix, and 1 vs 2 doses of Gardasil-9, requiring 5,000 females 12-15 years of age per arm, expecting to take four years to complete. The potential impact of demonstrating one dose of vaccine conferring strong protection is massive: the US could save >$300 million each year in vaccine costs, and it would be more feasible to control the worldwide public health problem of cervical cancer and other HPV-associated cancers.Lowy concluded this presentation with several take-home messages:Presented by: Douglas Lowy, MD, Laboratory of Cellular Oncology, Center for Cancer Research, NCI, Bethesda, MD, USAWritten by: Zachary Klaassen, MD, Urologic Oncology Fellow, University of Toronto, Princess Margaret Cancer Centre, Twitter: @zklaassen_md at the 2018 ASCO Annual Meeting - June 1-5, 2018  Chicago, IL USA
BCL demands immediate arrest of GQ Chy

BCL men brought out a procession demanding arrest of Gias Uddin Quader Chowdhury.

Chattogram Bureau :

City unit of Bangladesh Chatra League staged demonstrations followed by procession on Sunday in Halishahar Area in the city demanded immediate arrest of the BNP leaders and younger brother of executed war criminal Salahuddin Quader Chowdury for making offensive remarks on Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina recently. Chittagong chief judicial magistrate court issued warrant against him after case filed before the court.

The protest procession of BCL paraded the city roads in Halishahar area duly presided by Farukh Ahmed Pavel and Golam Samdani.

The leaders after termination of procession told the participants that the family of Salahuddin Quader chy from very beginning was conspiring against the liberation war which still continuing.

They said the threatening of Gias Quader at Fatikchari recently means the anti-state activities as well the threat to life of the Prime Minister.

We urge the concerned authorities to arrest for exemplary punishment for anti state statements.


Chicago, IL (UroToday.com) Alicia Morgans, MD gave an excellent talk on biochemical recurrence (BCR) in prostate cancer (PC) patients. The learning objectives of her talk included being able to recognize subsets of patients with BCR who may benefit the most from early treatment with androgen deprivation therapy (ADT), understanding the plethora of ADT complications, discovering the limitation of data available for considering the optimal timing of ADT in BCR, and lastly, recognizing that treatment of non-metastatic castrate resistant PC (M0CRPC) with novel androgen receptor (AR) directed therapy, is associated with prolonged metastasis free survival (MFS).Dr. Morgans began with some background on PC and BCR. A total of 164,690 patients will be diagnosed with PC in the US in 2018. Approximately 15-40% will develop BCR within 10 years of initial treatment. Median time to BCR is 2-3 years, and it is most commonly an asymptomatic disease state. The landmark paper by Charles R. Pound, published in JAMA almost 20 years ago [1] described the natural history of almost 2000 men after radical prostatectomy (RP). A total of 315 patients developed BCR, and 34% of men with BCR developed metastasis. This paper produced highly significant median times that have been used ever since in describing the progression of these patients: Median time of 2-3 years from definitive treatment to BCR Median time of 8 years from BCR to metastasis Median time of 5 years from metastasis to death Median time of 13 years from BCR to death Median time of 15-16 years from definitive therapy to deathMost men with BCR did not develop metastasis during follow-up (although the length of follow-up was relatively short  with a median of only 5.3 years). Patient selection for treatment in BCR is critical. The risk of metastasis increases as PSA doubling time falls (figure 1). [2]Dr. Morgans then continued to discuss the potential complication resulting from ADT. ADT causes low testosterone and estrogen levels, which cause all the associated adverse effects (Figure 2).The medical complications of ADT include sarcopenia, weight gain, decline in bone mineral density, increased fracture risk, increased risk of diabetes mellitus and cardiovascular disease, psychological effects, and cognitive changes. All these complications are almost identical to the features associated with frailty (Figure 3).The correct timing of systemic therapy (early vs. late) was next discussed by Dr. Morgans. The optimal time of ADT initiation remains undefined. Two retrospective studies found no benefit to immediate vs. late ADT for most patients. [3,4] One study found significant advantage to early ADT only when the PSA doubling time was less than 9 months. The TOAD trial is a randomized study comparing early vs. delayed ADT.[5] This study randomized 261 men to immediate and deferred ADT. The study was limited by failure to accrue, unadjusted analysis, and median PSA at ADT initiation in the delayed arm being higher than 30 ng/ml. This study failed to demonstrate any benefit to one of the treatment options.Lastly, Dr. Morgans discussed the specific disease state of M0CRPC. She reviewed the recently published studies of PROSPER [6] and SPARTAN [7]. PROSEPR was a randomized double-blind phase 3 trial of enzalutamide+ADT compared to placebo+ADT in M0CRPC patients. The primary endpoint was MFS, and the study demonstrated a clear benefit to patients treated with enzalutamide with a median MFS of 36.6 s. 14.7 months, with a HR pf 0.29, p<0.001. Furthermore, enzalutamide was associated with stable to improved quality of life compared to placebo. The SPARTAN trial randomized M0CRPC patients to either placebo+ADT or Apalutamide+ADT, with a primary endpoint of MFS. Again, a clear benefit was demonstrated in favour of Apalutamide with median MFS of 40.5 vs. 16.2 months, with a HR of 0.28, p<0.001. Similarly to PROSPER, quality of life was maintained with the addition of Apalutamide.Dr. Morgans concluded her excellent talk, stating that retrospective and prospective data are limited in guiding optimal timing of ADT in BCR. Patient selection for treatment of BCR is critical. Importantly, ADT is associated with reduced quality of life and medical complications that should be considered when making treatment decision together with patients. Lastly, treatment of M0CRPC with either enzalutamide or apalutamide is associated with prolonged MFS and maintenance of quality of life.Presented by: Alicia Morgans, Northwestern University, Chicago, USAWritten by: Hanan Goldberg, MD, Urologic Oncology Fellow (SUO), University of Toronto, Princess Margaret Cancer Centre, Twitter:@GoldbergHanan at the 2018 ASCO Annual Meeting - June 1-5, 2018  Chicago, IL USA References:1. Pound et al. Natural history of progression after PSA elevation following radical prostatectomy. JAMA, May 5, 1999-Vol 281, Number 172. Freedland SJ. et al. Risk of prostate cancer specific mortality following biochemical recurrence after radical prostatectomy. JAMA. 2005 Jul 27;294(4):433-9.3. Fu AZ et al. Mortality and Androgen Deprivation Therapy as Salvage Treatment for Biochemical Recurrence after Primary Therapy for Clinically Localized Prostate Cancer. J Urol. 2017 Jun;197(6):1448-1454. doi: 10.1016/j.juro.2016.12.086. Epub 2016 Dec 19. 4. X. Garcia-Albeniz et al. Immediate versus deferred initiation of androgen deprivation therapy in prostate cancer patients with PSA-only relapse. An observational follow-up study. Eur J Cancer. 2015 May;51(7):817-24. doi: 10.1016/j.ejca.2015.03.003. Epub 2015 Mar 17.5. Duchesne GM. Et al. Timing of androgen-deprivation therapy in patients with prostate cancer with a rising PSA (TROG 03.06 and VCOG PR 01-03 [TOAD]): a randomised, multicentre, non-blinded, phase 3 trial. Lancet Oncol. 2016 Jun;17(6):727-737. doi: 10.1016/S1470-2045(16)00107-8. Epub 2016 May 4. 6. http://ascopubs.org/doi/abs/10.1200/jco.2014.32.15_suppl.tps50947. Smith MR et al. Apalutamide Treatment and Metastasis-free Survival in Prostate Cancer. N Engl J Med. 2018 Apr 12;378(15):1408-1418. doi: 10.1056/NEJMoa1715546. Epub 2018 Feb 8.


Some of hip hops most legendary acts will visit the Downtown Las Vegas Events Center with an all-star lineup on Friday, September 7 at the Las Vegas House Party Tour. Headlined by Kid N Play, Vanilla Ice and Naughty by Nature, fans can enjoy a night of nostalgia and pay homage to the genre with additional performances by Biz Markie, Tone Loc, Rob Base, 2 Live Crew and Young MC (Pictured: Vanilla Ice  Photo credit: Scott Harrison).

In 1989, Vanilla Ice released his first album, Hooked, featuring his breakout hit Ice Ice Baby. The song eventually earned the spot as the first hip hop single to top the Billboard charts. His follow-up album, To the Extreme, reached the top of charts later that year and before long, Vanilla Ice became a household name. After spending 16 weeks at the top of the album charts, To the Extreme sold more than 13 million copies worldwide.

Naughty by Nature was formed in East Orange, NJ, in 1986, while all three members  MCs Treach (Anthony Criss) and Vinnie (Vincent Brown), and DJ Kay Gee (Keir Gist)  were attending the same high school. The groups self-titled debut was released in 1991 and produced a major hit in O.P.P. Naughty by Nature repeated their success with the 1993 follow-up album, 19 Naughty III, which included another smash single with Hip Hop Hooray; like its predecessor, the album went platinum and the group went on to win a Grammy for Best Rap Album of the Year before touring worldwide.

Among the first groups to tame raps hardcore mentality into a positive, message-oriented rhymes, Kid n Play debuted in 1988 with the platinum album 2 Hype. The duo later spun their hit record into a deal involving films and a Saturday-morning cartoon show, the first involving a rap act. Kid (Christopher Reid) and Play (Christopher Martin) first met while in high school and were to Select Records in 1987. In 1988, along with the release of their popular debut album, the duo introduced the infamous Funky Charleston dance  a street-style riff on the classic Charleston. The moves were first performed in one of their music videos and then in the duos film House Party. People everywhere fixated on the Kid n Play kickstep, and it quickly became one of the biggest dance crazes of the late 80s.


SiriusXM Presents Hair Nation  Tour 2018 featuring Jack Russells Great White, Bullet Boys, and Enuff Znuff, hosted by music industry veteran and author Eddie Trunk. The tour offers listeners and music fans across the country the chance to see the bands who have been giving us decades of larger-than-life rock music.

The 21 city U.S. tour will kick off September 12 and rocks its way through House of Blues Las Vegas on Thursday, Sept. 20, 2018.

Jack Russells Great White represents the next phase of his legacy. Rather than look backwards and merely attempt to relive the multi-platinum hard-rock glory of Great White, lead vocalist Jack Russell set his sights on the future. In December 2011, Jack Russells Great White first bared its teeth. Though guitarist Robby Lochner has been with Russell since the bands inception, they soon welcomed back longtime bassist and friend Tony Montana (now as a guitarist and keyboard player) and added drummer Dicki Fliszar along with bassist Dan McNay.

The groups sharp, soaring, eclectic, hook-laden new sound still harnesses the bluesy hard-rock stomp that made Russell and Montana metal icons in the first place. This past year the musicians hit the studio to cut their official full-length debut album He Saw it Coming, tapping into the bluesy, bombastic and heavy energy of Russells celebrated material, while producing a distinctly modern metallic record.
Cambodian election officials have been urged to remain neutral ahead of the July vote following criticism of the electoral process.

The U.N. special rapporteur on human rights to Cambodia has said that the election will not be fair without the participation of the Cambodia National Rescue Party, the main opposition party that was banned in the country last year.

Sik Bunhok, the ruling Cambodian Peoples Party-appointed chairman of the National Election Committee (NEC), said in a statement last week that elected officials should work together like bees.

Under a new coordination drive by the NEC, officials would be expected to work together to counter propaganda that questioned the legitimacy of the election.

Campaigning in the run-up to the July 29 general election will begin on July 7, the NEC added.

Political commentators have also expressed deep reservations over the direction of the democratic process in Cambodia since the CPP-aligned Supreme Court ordered the CNRP dissolved in November.

Lao Monghay, a veteran political analyst, told a forum on Friday that the forthcoming election would be useless and meaningless without the participation of the CNRP, which before its dissolution held about 45 percent of parliamentary seats.

In the constitution, power is in the hands of the people ... but the people are being oppressed, meaning there are no rights and freedoms to express opinions, he said.

Officials have dismissed such criticism, saying that the CNRP was banned because of evidence of an alleged plot to overthrow Prime Minister Hun Sen, although it has yet to produce any evidence to back up the claim.

Large numbers of CNRP voters are expected to boycott the election, a move the government has equated with treason.

Hang Puthea, NEC spokesman, said whether the election was considered meaningless or not, the body would carry out its duties.

The law requires the people to vote, he said.
German chemicals and pharmaceuticals giant Bayer will discard the name Monsanto when it takes over the controversial US seeds and pesticides producer this week, it said Monday.

But Bayer executives insisted Monsanto practices rejected by many environmentalists, including genetic modification of seeds and deployment of "crop protection" technologies like pesticides, were vital to help feed a growing world population.

"The company name is and will remain Bayer. Monsanto will no longer be a company name," chief executive Werner Baumann told journalists during a telephone conference.

Bayer's $63 billion (54 billion euro) buyout of Monsanto  one of the largest in German corporate history  is set to close Thursday, birthing a global giant with 115,000 employees and revenues of some 45 billion euros.

Bosses plan to name the merged agrichemical division Bayer Crop Science once the merger is complete, German business newspaper Handelsblatt reported, citing "industry sources".

The Monsanto brand "was an issue for some time for Monsanto management," noted Liam Condon, president of Bayer's crop science division, adding that the US firm's employees were "not fixated on the Monsanto brand" but "proud of what they've achieved."

Weedkiller arms race

Producing high-tech genetically modified seeds, many designed to grow crops resistant to its proprietary pesticides, Monsanto has been a target for environmentalist protests and lawsuits over harm to health and the environment for decades.

"It's understandable that Bayer wants to avoid having bought Monsanto's negative image with the billions it has spent on the firm," said Greenpeace campaigner Dirk Zimmermann.

"More important than giving up the Monsanto name would be a fundamental transformation in the new mega-company's policies," he added, accusing Bayer of having "no interest in developing future-proof, sustainable solutions for agriculture."

Activists fear the firm's addition to Bayer will further reduce competition in the hotly-contested agrichemical sector, limiting farmers' and consumers' choices if they want to avoid GM and chemically treated crops.

What's more, in recent years weeds have begun to emerge that are resistant to products like Monsanto staple glyphosate, marketed as Roundup alongside "Roundup-ready" seeds beginning in the 1990s.

As agrichemical firms scramble to respond with new pesticides and resistant seeds, there are fears of an arms race with ever-more-potent weedkillers.

Some scientists already suspect glyphosate could cause cancer, with a 2015 World Health Organization study determining it was "probably carcinogenic"  although Bayer and other defenders of the chemical have contested the research.

In 2017, attempts to block the European Union's five-year renewal of its approval for the weedkiller were unsuccessful.

But activists are lobbying governments and France has vowed to outlaw the substance within three years.

When launching the Monsanto takeover bid, Bayer also promised it would not introduce genetically modified crops in Europe.

"We will listen to our critics and work together where we find common ground," Baumann said, but added that "agriculture is too important to allow ideological differences to bring progress to a standstill".

With the world population set to reach almost 10 billion people by 2050, Bayer argues its products and methods are needed to meet demand for food.

'Number one in seeds'

Bayer has put massive resources behind the deal, raising $57 billion in financing including a new share issue worth six billion euros announced Sunday.

It will also sell large parts of its existing agrichemical and crop seeds business to BASF in concessions to competition authorities on both sides of the Atlantic.

Once the buyout and the sales to BASF are completed, Leverkusen-based Bayer's crop science business plus Monsanto will account for around half its turnover, with the remainder coming from pharmaceuticals and over-the-counter health products.

At around 19.7 billion euros in 2017, Monsanto and Bayer's combined agriculture sales outweighed those of competitors ChemChina, DowDuPont and BASF, according to figures provided by Bayer.

"We estimate that Bayer will become number one in seeds and number two in crop protection globally" following the merger, analysts at Standard and Poor's wrote Monday.

Nevertheless, the ratings agency downgraded its score for Bayer's debt from "A-" to "BBB," while upgrading the outlook to "stable".

"Bayer's stronger business position in agriculture products... does not fully offset the increased debt in its capital structure," the analysts wrote.
The United States has added its voice to international calls for China's communist-led government to give a full public accounting of those who were killed, detained or went missing during the violent suppression of peaceful demonstrations in and around Tiananmen Square on June 4, 1989.

In a bold statement from Washington to mark the 29th anniversary of a bloody crackdown that left hundreds  some say thousands  dead, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo called on Chinese authorities to release those who have been jailed for striving to keep the memory of Tiananmen Square alive; and to end the continued harassment of demonstration participants and their families.

To this day, open discussion of the topic remains forbidden in China and the families of those who lost loved ones continue to face oppression. Chinese authorities have labeled the protests a counter-revolutionary rebellion and repeatedly argued that a clear conclusion of the events was reached long ago.

In an annual statement on the tragedy, the group Tiananmen Mothers urged President Xi Jinping in an open letter to re-evaluate the June 4th massacre and called for an end to their harassment.

"Each year when we would commemorate our loved ones, we are all monitored, put under surveillance, or forced to travel to places outside of Chinas capital, the letter said. The advocacy group Human Rights in China released the open letter from the Tiananmen Mothers ahead of the anniversary.

"No one from the successive governments over the past 29 years has ever asked after us, and not one word of apology has been spoken from anyone, as if the massacre that shocked the world never happened," the letter said.

In his statement, Pompeo also said that on the anniversary we remember the tragic loss of innocent lives, adding that as Liu Xiaobo wrote in his 2010 Nobel Peace Prize speech, the ghosts of June 4th have not yet been laid to rest.

Liu was unable to receive his Nobel prize in person in 2010 and died in custody last year. The dissident writer played an influential role in the Tiananmen protests and was serving an 11-year sentence for inciting subversion of state power when he passed.

At a regular press briefing on Monday, Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying said China had lodged stern representations with the United States over the statement on Tiananmen.

The United States year in, year out issues statements making 'gratuitous criticism' of China and interfering in Chinas internal affairs, Hua said. "The U.S. Secretary of State has absolutely no qualifications to demand the Chinese government do anything," she added.

In a statement on Twitter, which is blocked in China like many websites, Hu Xijin, the editor of the party-backed Global Times, called the statement a "meaningless stunt."

In another post he said: what wasn't achieved through a movement that year will be even more impossible to be realized by holding whiny commemorations today.

Commemorations for Tiananmen are being held across the globe to mark the anniversary and tens of thousands are expected to gather in Hong Kong, the only place in China such large-scale public rallies to mark the incident can be held.

Exiled Tiananmen student protest leader WuEr Kaixi welcomed the statement from Pompeo.

However, he added that over the past 29 years western democracies appeasement of China has nurtured the regime into an imminent threat to freedom and democracy.

The world bears a responsibility to urge China, to press on the Chinese regime to admit their wrongdoing, to restore the facts and then to console the dead, he said. And ultimately to answer the demands of the protesters 29 years ago and put China on the right track to freedom and democracy.

Wuer Kaixi fled China after the crackdown and now resides in Taiwan where he is the founder of Friends of Liu Xiaobo. The group recently joined hands with several other non-profit organizations and plans to unveil a sculpture in July  on the anniversary of his death  to commemorate the late Nobel laureate. The sculpture will be located near Taiwan's iconic Taipei 101 skyscraper.

In Taiwan, the self-ruled democracy that China claims is a part of its territory, political leaders from both sides of the isle have also urged Chinas communist leaders to face the past.

On Facebook, Taiwans President Tsai Ing-wen noted that it was only by facing up to its history that Taiwan has been able to move beyond the tragedies of the past.

If authorities in Beijing can face up to the June 4th incident and acknowledge that at its roots it was a state atrocity, the unfortunate history of June 4th could become a cornerstone for China to move toward freedom and democracy," Tsai said.

Tsais predecessor, Ma Ying-jeou, a member of the opposition Nationalist Party or KMT, who saw close ties with China while in office, also urged Beijing to face up to history and help heal families wounds.

"Only by doing this can the Chinese communists bridge the psychological gap between the people on both sides of the [Taiwan] Strait and be seen by the world as a real great power," Ma said.
President Donald Trump once joked he could stand in the middle of Fifth Avenue and shoot somebody and not lose voter support. The quip was intended as hyperbole to make a point on the loyalty of his base.

Now, Trump says, he has the power to keep himself out of jail if he wanted, declaring an absolute right to PARDON myself. This time, though, it seems he isnt joking.

But there is a big limit in the world of presidential pardons: impeachment.

A look at whats true and whats not when it comes to presidential pardons:

So presidents get to do what exactly?

Under the Constitution, the president has the power to grant reprieves and pardons for federal (but not state) crimes, essentially wiping out a persons convictions. The power is, as Trump says, absolute in that pardons cant be overturned by Congress or the courts.

Almost every president has used his pardon powers, but somewhat narrowly, focusing on overturning cases when they believe a severe injustice has been done or is needed to heal partisan rifts.

President Andrew Johnson, for example, granted blanket pardons to soldiers who fought in the Confederate Army as a practical way of reuniting the nation following the Civil War. And President Gerald Ford in 1974 pardoned his predecessor, Richard Nixon, for all federal crimes Nixon has committed or may have committed or taken part in during his presidency, on the grounds that the nation had become too polarized and needed to move past the Watergate scandal.

The big exception

There is one notable exception to a presidents pardoning powers Trump doesnt mention: cases of impeachment. Under the U.S. system of checks and balances, Congress can hold presidents accountable by ousting them using impeachment trials.

Only two presidents have been impeached by the House, although both were acquitted by the Senate: Johnson in 1868 after he clashed with Congress over reconstruction of the South and Bill Clinton in 1998 on charges of lying under oath and obstructing justice concerning his sexual relationship with Monica Lewinsky.

(Nixon avoided impeachment by resigning before the House could vote.)

The bottom line is that Trump retains his pardoning powers up until a possible impeachment. And considering that impeachment trials tend to be wildly partisan affairs, it is unlikely Trump would be ousted so long as the GOP still controls the House and Senate.

Pardons as a political weapon

A person doesnt have to be convicted for a pardon to take place. That was the case in the Iran-Contra scandal, which involved the secret sales of weapons overseas by the Reagan administration.

By the time the chief prosecutor in the case was prepared to present evidence of a high-level cover-up in court, President George H.W. Bush blocked the prosecution of several central figures using his pardoning power. The pardons infuriated the prosecutor, Lawrence Walsh, and the $47 million investigation resulted in only one person sent to prison.

Bush defended his pardons by saying at the heart of this investigation was a political dispute between the executive and legislative branches over foreign policy. We must be careful not to criminalize constitutional disputes of this kind.

Likewise, Trump could try to undercut the Russia investigation by pardoning anyone charged by special counsel Robert Mueller. Overall, 19 people have been charged in the investigation, including Trumps former campaign chair and national security adviser.

But such pardons could also trigger impeachment trials in Congress on the claim that Trump was trying to obstruct justice. But again, the outcome would probably fall on party lines.

Could the president pardon himself?

So far, Trump has shown hes not afraid to pardon others he claims were unfair victims of partisanship. Among those include Joe Arpaio, the former Arizona sheriff who clashed with a judge on immigration, and I. Lewis Scooter Libby, the Bush administration official convicted of perjury and obstruction of justice in the Valerie Plame leak case.

But could Trump pardon himself? Not surprisingly, that particular scenario has never been tested in the courts.

Trumps lawyer, Rudy Giuliani, says it wouldnt happen anyway.

Pardoning himself would be unthinkable and probably lead to immediate impeachment, Giuliani told NBCs Meet the Press this weekend.

According to the website HuffPost, Giuliani said the president was completely immune from prosecution and at one point offered this odd hypothetical:

If he shot James Comey, hed be impeached the next day, he said. Impeach him, and then you can do whatever you want to do to him.

Comey is the former FBI director who was leading the Russia investigation when Trump fired him.
G7 rebukes US for metal tariffs

Reuters :

Finance leaders of the closest US allies vented anger over the Trump administration's metal import tariffs on Saturday, ending a three-day meeting with a stern rebuke of Washington and setting up a heated fight at a G7 summit next week in Quebec.

In a rare show of division among the normally harmonious club of wealthy nations, the six other G7 member countries issued a statement asking US Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin to convey their "unanimous concern and disappointment" about the tariffs to President Donald Trump.

The 25 percent steel and 10 percent aluminium tariffs were imposed this week on Mexico, Canada and the European Union after temporary exemptions expired.

"We're concerned that these actions are actually not conducive to helping our economy, they actually are destructive, and that is consistently held across the six countries that expressed their point of view to Secretary Mnuchin," Canadian Finance Minister Bill Morneau said at a news conference after the meeting ended in the Canadian mountain resort town of Whistler, British Columbia.

The statement, written by Canada, also called for "decisive action" to resolve the tariff dispute at a G7 leaders' summit starting on Friday in Charlevoix, Quebec.

Japanese Finance Minister Taro Aso said that direct discussions between Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and Trump may help resolve the issue, though Japan has refused to accept import quotas.

"I've been to these meetings for a long time. But this is a very rare case where opposition against the United States was unanimous," Aso told reporters.

Speaking separately after the meeting, frequently referred to as the "G6 plus one," Mnuchin told reporters that he was not part of the six-country consensus on trade and said Trump was focused on "rebalancing our trade relationships."

Mnuchin rejected comments from some G7 officials that the United States was circumventing international trade rules with the tariffs or ceding leadership of a global economic and trading system it largely built after World War Two.
The U.S. and South Korea remain united in pursing a diplomatic solution to end the North Korean nuclear threat, but their national security priorities may differ over what would be the role of the U.S. military in Korea after a denuclearization deal is reached.

That is going to be the moment of truth, so to speak, when the United States and South Korea will have to agree on what kind of security alliance we want to maintain moving forword, said Go Myong-Hyun, a North Korea analyst at the Asan Institute for Policy Studies in Seoul.

U.S. President Donald Trump on Friday revived the June 12 Singapore summit with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, eight days after canceling it. Trump said he was convinced of Kims commitment to denuclearization by the renewed diplomatic talks that included a visit to Washington by Kim Yong Chol, the Norths former intelligence chief, who carried a letter from the North Korean leader.

South Korean President Moon Jae-in has been influential in facilitating the U.S.-North Korea summit, in getting Kim to agree to the broad goal of denuclearization, and in urging Trump to stay committed to the diplomatic process to resolve differences with North Korea.

President Trump seems to be leaning now towards Moons approach versus the more confrontational stance advocated by some of his security team in demanding that North Korea unilaterally and completely disarm before any concessions are granted.

Friday Trump downplayed expectations for a major breakthrough at the summit, saying it will be the beginning of a process. He also backed away from his maximum pressure approach that stressed tough sanctions and the threat of military force, focusing instead on brokering an agreement to end the Norths nuclear program for economic aid and security guarantees that could include a peace treaty to replace the armistice that ended the Korean War in 1953.

South Korean officials said there is possibility that Moon may join Trump in Singapore to help negotiate a nuclear deal with Kim, as the South Korean leader shares both Trumps overall goals, and has developed a positive working relationship with his North Korean counterpart during their two previous summits.

U.S. alliance

However, an effective nuclear deal with Pyongyang could lead to divisions in Seoul and Washington over whether to reduce the U.S. military presence in Korea.

North Korea recently criticized the joint U.S.-South Korea military drills as obstacles to peace in the region and justification of its need for nuclear weapons. U.S. Secretary of Defense Jim Mattis Sunday told reporters that maintaining the current level of over 28,000 American troops in Korea is non-negotiable in the short term.

One thing that keeps coming up is about our troop strength on the Peninsula. I will say it again, I am not making news here, same thing. They are not going anywhere. It is not even a subject of the discussion, said Mattis.

The Defense secretary did not rule out reviewing the joint defense posture five to 10 years down the line, if the North Korean threat level decreases.

Trump may be open to withdrawing U.S. troops from the region, as he has criticized South Korea and other countries that host American bases for not paying enough in defense sharing costs. But the U.S. military presence in Korea is also seen as part of a strategic counterbalance to Chinas growing military power in the region, and as a way to protect American interests in Asia.

South Korea may not share that same level of support for a strong U.S. military presence in the region, if the Korean Peninsula becomes a nuclear free zone.

If North Korea completely gives up its nuclear program, a partial reduction in the size of U.S. military presence in South Korea is inevitable. I believe that the size of U.S.-R.O.K. (Republic of Korea) joint military drills should also be reduced, said Cheong Seong-chang, a North Korea analyst with the Sejong Institute in South Korea.

Moon Chung-in, an adviser to President Moon, said in a recent interview with the Atlantic, that he would like to see the end of the U.S. alliance at some point after the North Korean nuclear threat is resolved, so that South Korea no longer has to take sides between the U.S. and China.

Other security experts such as the Sejong Institutes Cheong expect the U.S.-South Korea alliance to remain intact, even in a reduced capacity, due to concerns over conflicts with China and Japan, even if the Norths nuclear arsenal is dismantled.

ICBM vs containment

North Korea also poses different types of security threats to Washington and Seoul.

The Trump administration has prioritized preventing North Korea from developing a reliable nuclear-armed intercontinental ballistic missile that could target the U.S. mainland. The U.S. maximum pressure policy cited the potential ICBM risk to justify its threat of military action, along with economic sanctions against Pyongyang.

South Korea is more concerned about containing the existing short-range missile, nuclear, and chemical threat, that includes thousands of North Korean artillery stationed along the border. President Moon has pursued increased cooperation projects like reunions for separated families, and military talks at the inter-Korean summits. These trust building measures are intended to create the conditions to negotiate a peace treaty that would likely include limits on conventional forces and weapons systems in the two Koreas.

Lee Yoon-jee in Seoul contributed to this report.
Pakistan last week signed legislation that integrates the semi-autonomous tribal region, previously known as the Federally Administrated Tribal Areas (FATA), into Pakistans governing structure.

The United States has said this region provides safe havens to the militants who launch attacks by crossing into Afghanistan, where close to 14,000 U.S. troops are stationed.

The seven tribal agencies, which have struggled with terrorism and lawlessness for decades, have now become part of the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province and will be governed under an interim law until the merger is finalized, according to the legislation.

Impact on war on terror

While Afghan-Pakistan regional experts have largely lauded the decision, some have questioned its impact on the war against terror.

Jahangir Khattak, a New York-based journalist and security expert, told VOA there should be no immediate, dramatic impact, because it will take time to place FATA under civilian control.

It all depends on how quickly people are given representation in Pakistans national and regional assemblies. There are a lot of layers of administrative changes that have to happen, Khattak told VOA. And all these changes will impact the war on terror in that area.

Dr. Muhammad Taqi, a U.S.-based defense analyst and expert on Pakistan, said the merger will help to repay to the tribesmen deprived of their fundamental rights and will also heal some wounds in the wake of the war on terror.

Pakistan owes a due apology to tribesmen who were not only backward in terms of life and civil liberty but also on the human level, Taqi said. In 1973 and 1974, the Afghan jihadis were brought to South Waziristan by the Pakistani establishment and we know what happened here after 9/11.

After U.S.-led forces dismantled the Taliban government in Kabul, several terror groups sought refuge in the tribal belt that shares a long and porous border with Afghanistan.

In the past decade, Pakistans military has launched multiple operations in the restive tribal belt, aiming to crush militant hideouts and Taliban strongholds.

Contrary to Pakistans claims, both the U.S. and Afghanistan allege that Pakistans tribal areas have served as a training facility for militants linked to the Haqqani network, which has been involved in waging deadly attacks in Afghanistan.

Pakistan denies sheltering any terrorist groups and points to the operations it has launched against militants.

Drone attacks

Since 2004, the U.S. has carried out numerous drone attacks inside Pakistani territory, targeting Haqqani network militants.

Pakistan has condemned these airstrikes, saying they violate the countrys sovereignty. Islambad also denies any organized presence of the Haqqani network in the territory.

The United States has used drone strikes to target al-Qaida militants, Pakistani Taliban and the Haqqani network over the past decade. In 2016, a U.S. drone strike carried out in Pakistans Baluchistan province killed Taliban key leader Mullah Mansoor.

According to estimates published by the Bureau of Investigative Journalism, the U.S. had launched 430 drone attacks in Pakistan from June 2004 through January 2018.

Retired Lt. Gen. Talat Masood, Pakistans leading defense and security expert, believes with mainstreaming of the tribal region, Pakistans reaction to drone strikes will be even stronger.

With this merger, hopefully, there will be a substantial decrease in drone strikes, Masood said. The reaction of local people will also count, which I assume, will be quite negative. The U.S. will also not want to deteriorate its relations with Pakistan any further.

The relationship between Pakistan and the United States has been strained. In August 2017, while announcing his South Asia strategy, U.S. President Donald Trump accused Pakistan of harboring militants and providing safe havens in the country.

Pakistan denied the U.S. allegations, maintaining it has paid a heavy price in the war against terror and destroyed militants indiscriminately.

Pashtun grievances

Regional experts also stressed that the emergence of Pashtun Tahaffuz Movement (PTM), a movement launched by ethnic Pashtuns of the tribal region in recent months, highlighted the atrocities faced by the tribesmen nationally and globally.

Lets not forget the voices raised by PTM. It has helped to raise awareness about the problems a common man is facing in the tribal region. With political, legal, administrative and development mainstreaming, the security and economic situation will definitely improve, Taqi said.
A group of Florida students who survived a mass shooting at their high school in February said they will spend their summer on a 75-stop bus tour rallying for stricter gun control laws.

About two dozen students from Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School said Monday the focus of the bus tour will be to register people to vote with the aim of bringing in more voters who support reforms to U.S. gun laws.

"Four million people turn 18 this year. And if every single one of those people votes, encourages their friends to vote, makes sure their family is getting to the polls, we can make real change in this country," said Cameron Kasky, a survivor of the Parkland shooting, during a news conference in Parkland, Florida.

'Road to Change'

The student organizers, who wore matching "Road to Change" T-shirts, said the bus tour will focus on districts where elected officials have received significant money from the National Rifle Association, a gun-rights lobbying group that has long organized get-out-the-vote efforts for gun-rights supporters.

The tour is the latest development in a youth-led campaign against gun violence sparked by the shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida, on Valentine's Day, which left 17 people dead.

In the months since the shooting, Parkland students have organized rallies in Florida's capital, Tallahassee, as well a march in Washington.

The summer bus tour will begin June 15 in Chicago and will make stops in more than 20 states before concluding in Florida. It will also stop in every congressional district in Florida, according to the organizers.

The students said their tour is being funded through donations.

Graduation

On Sunday, Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School held its graduation, paying tribute to those killed in February's mass shooting.

Senior class president Julia Cordover urged students to change the world by voting in this November's congressional elections.

The parents and siblings who came to the stage to pick up the diplomas in place of the murdered children received standing ovations.
Rescuers pulled survivors and bodies Monday from the charred aftermath of the powerful eruption of Guatemala's Volcano of Fire, as the death toll rose to 62 and was expected to go higher from a disaster that caught residents of remote mountain hamlets off guard, with little or no time to flee to safety.

Using shovels and backhoes, emergency workers dug through the debris and mud, perilous labor on smoldering terrain still hot enough to melt shoe soles a day after the volcano exploded in a hail of ash, smoke and molten rock.

Bodies were so thickly coated with ash that they looked like statues, and rescuers were forced to use sledgehammers to break through the roofs of houses buried in debris up to their rooflines to try to see if anyone was trapped inside.

Fanuel Garcia, director of the National Institute of Forensic Sciences, said 62 bodies had been recovered and 13 of those had been identified.

It is very difficult for us to identify them because some of the dead lost their features or their fingerprints from the red-hot flows, Garcia said. We are going to have to resort to other methods ... and if possible take DNA samples to identify them.

Hilda Lopez said her mother and sister were still missing after the slurry of hot gas, ash and rock roared into her village of San Miguel Los Lotes, just below the mountain's flanks.

We were at a party, celebrating the birth of a baby, when one of the neighbors shouted at us to come out and see the lava that was coming, the distraught woman said. We didn't believe it, and when we went out the hot mud was already coming down the street.

My mother was stuck there, she couldnt get out, said Lopez, weeping and holding her face in her hands.

Her husband, Joel Gonzalez, said his father had also been unable to escape and was believed to be buried back there, at the house.

Guatemalan authorities say they had been closely monitoring the Volcano of Fire, one of Central Americas most active, after activity picked up around 6 a.m. Sunday.

The volcano has registered a number of minor eruptions over the years, and no evacuations were ordered as scientific experts reported the activity was decreasing.

Guatemalas disaster agency, Conred, issued a number of standard precautions, advising people to wear protective face masks, clean their rooftops of ash once the eruption was over and cover any food and water intended for human consumption.

It also said to heed any recommendations from authorities. Guatemala Citys international airport was closed due to the danger to planes.

Conred spokesman David de Leon said that around 2 p.m. the volcano registered a new, more powerful explosion.

Soon, searing flows of lava, ash and rock mixed with water and debris were gushing down the volcanos flanks, blocking roads and burning homes.

It traveled much faster. It arrived in communities right when the evacuation alerts were being sent out, de Leon said.

Authorities scrambled to issue an evacuation order. Some communities emptied out safely. But in places like Los Lotes and the village of El Rodeo, about eight miles (12 kilometers) downslope from the crater, it was too late for many.

The fast-moving flows overtook people in homes and streets with temperatures reaching as high as 1,300 degrees Fahrenheit (700 Celsius), and hot ash and volcanic gases that can cause rapid asphyxiation.

Rafael Letran, a resident of El Rodeo, criticized Conred for not evacuating communities earlier.

When the lava was already here they passed by in their pickup trucks yelling at us to leave, but the cars did not stop to pick up the people,'' Letran said. The government is good at stealing, but when it comes to helping people they lack spark.

De Leon said the disaster agency followed protocol.

As soon as we received the information around 6 a.m. that the volcano was in an eruptive phase, the protocol was initiated to verify with different sectors and also talk to the communities, to community leaders. ... We had the information from our scientific service, and they told us the trend was that the activity was diminishing, he said.

In El Rodeo on Monday, heavily armed soldiers wearing blue masks to avoid breathing in ash stood guard behind yellow tape cordoning off the disaster scene. Helmeted workers carried bodies away on stretchers, and smoke was still rising from some parts of the ashen landscape strewn with boulders and other debris.

President Jimmy Morales traveled to survey the disaster area.

Emergency crews in helicopters managed to pull at least 10 people alive from areas cut off by the flows. Conred said 3,265 people had been evacuated.
Two Hong Kong pro-democracy activists have been sentenced to one month in jail for an 2016 incident in the legislative building.

Baggio Leung and Yau Wai-ching were elected that year to the Legislative Council, but were disqualified by Hong Kong's High Court for insulting China while taking their oaths of office. The pair were arrested for attempting to barge into a council meeting, and charged with unlawful assembly.

During Monday's sentencing hearing Magistrate Wong Sze-lai said Baggio and Yau's actions damaged the dignity of the legislature. The ex-lawmakers have been released on bail while they appeal the sentence.

Hong Kong's youth-led pro-democracy movement has been demanding greater autonomy from China, which regained control of the territory from Britain in 1997. Beijing established a "one country, two systems" formula that gave Hong Kong numerous freedoms, but China has been tightening its grip in recent years, prompting dozens of student-led protests, including the 2014 "Umbrella Movement" massive demonstration that shut down several major highways for more than two months, in a demand for fully free elections.
Institutional investors with $26 trillion in assets under management called on Group of Seven leaders on Monday to phase out the use of coal in power generation to help limit climate change, despite strong opposition from Washington.

Government plans to cut greenhouse gas emissions were too weak to limit warming as agreed by world leaders at a Paris summit in 2015, they wrote. U.S. President Donald Trump announced a year ago that he was pulling out of the pact.

"The global shift to clean energy is under way, but much more needs to be done by governments," the group of 288 investors wrote in a statement before the G7 summit in Canada on June 8-9.

Signatories included Allianz Global Investors, Aviva Investors, DWS, HSBC Global Asset Management, Nomura Asset Management, Australian Super, HESTA and some major U.S. pension funds including CalPERS, it said.

As part of action to slow climate change, the investors called on governments to "phase out thermal coal power worldwide by set deadlines," to phase out fossil fuel subsidies and to "put a meaningful price on carbon."

The investors also urged governments to strengthen national plans for cutting greenhouse gas emissions by 2020 and to ensure that companies improve climate-related financial reporting.

Stephanie Pfeifer, CEO of the Institutional Investors Group on Climate Change (IIGC), said it was the first time that such a broad group of investors had called for a phase-out of thermal coal, used in power generation.

"There is a lot more momentum in the investor community" to put pressure on governments, she told Reuters. The IIGC was among backers of the statement, delivered to G7 governments and to the United Nations.

G7 nations Canada, Britain, France and Italy are members of a "Powering Past Coal" alliance of almost 30 nations set up last year and which seeks to halt use of coal power by 2030. Japan, Germany and the United States are not members.

The investors wrote that countries and companies that implement the Paris climate agreement "will see significant economic benefits and attract increased investment." U.S. gross domestic product was $18.6 trillion in 2016, World Bank data show.

Trump doubts scientific findings that heatwaves, downpours and rising sea levels are linked to man-made greenhouse gas emissions and wants to bolster the U.S. fossil fuel industry.

Worldwide, coal is now used to generate almost 40 percent of electricity.
Jordan's prime minister has resigned, following four days of protests over a new income tax law.

Jordanian Prime Minister Hany al Mulki's resignation Monday followed four nights of protests in towns and cities across the country, including their focal point outside the prime minister's office in the capital Amman.

Arab media reports Education Minister Omar Razaz has been asked by King Abdallah to form a new government.

Al Mulki had insisted on presenting his new income tax bill to parliament, despite popular protests.

He said sending the income tax law to parliament [for debate] does not in any way mean that parliament has agreed to it or any part of it.

The government had been trying to push through a variety of tax increases, as part of a loan package agreement with the International Monetary Fund. Jordan currently has a public debt of nearly $40 billion. Tax increases on fuel, electricity and water, along with a new income tax plan have aroused public ire.

Jordanian Police Chief Fadel al Hamoud said Monday several arrests were made during the protests.

He said 60 people were arrested for breaking the law and rioting, including attacking public and private property. He added eight of those arrested were from other Arab countries and that police are trying to determine what they were up to.

Hamoud said 40 members of the country's security forces were injured during the protests.

He said that firearms have been used against the security forces, along with firecrackers and knives in the area of Amman's Fourth Circle (where the prime minister's offices are located).

Jordanian commentator Shehab Makahleh, head of the Geostrategic Media Center and Director of Political Studies at Jordan's Middle East Institute, told VOA the demonstrations have been "against corruption, not against the regime," and that protesters "hope to reform the economic system ... [by way of] a respectable civil movement."

Makahleh said he thinks the current crisis may be tied to U.S. efforts to impose a peace settlement between Israel and the Palestinians, referred to in Arab media as the "Deal of the Century." He claimed such a deal will call on Jordan to give up its custodianship over Jerusalem's holy sites and could cause political tremors in the Middle East.
After more than three weeks out of sight, Melania Trump at last has teed up an appearance at a White House event.

The first lady served as co-host with the president at a reception Monday to honor the families of those killed during military service.

But the event was closed to the news media out of respect for the families  meaning the first lady still was only seen in the flesh by those in attendance. Others will have to wait for photos and video to hit social media.

It's the second year the Trumps have opened the White House to Gold Star families. The first lady said in a written statement after last June's event that these families "are a unique and distinct category of individuals who should be cherished."

Melania Trump has not been seen in public since the overnight hours of May 10 when she and President Donald Trump traveled to a military base in Maryland to welcome home three Americans who had been released from captivity in North Korea. Four days later, the White House announced that she had been hospitalized to treat a benign kidney condition.

The closest first lady parallel to Trump's time out of the public spotlight is Bess Truman, who did few events as first lady because of discomfort around the media, said Anita McBride, a veteran of three Republican administrations who last served as chief of staff to first lady Laura Bush. Truman also spent a lot of time in Missouri with her mother.

Nancy Reagan spent several weeks out of public view after a mastectomy, but continued to meet with staff and do other work behind the scenes.

Public interest in and news media coverage of first ladies exploded during the Obama administration, the first White House to extensively use social media to spread its brand, McBride said. But first ladies are not elected and technically are still private citizens, and each one gets to tailor the job to suit her.

"She is going to do this job her way," McBride said of Trump. "It's her style and we just have to accept that."

Trump stayed in the hospital for five days and has kept out of public view since returning home May 19. She has been meeting with staff and working on upcoming projects, according to spokeswoman Stephanie Grisham.

Grisham said the Gold Star families' event is important to Trump and has been on her calendar for some time.

It's still unclear when the first lady will make an appearance in public. She's not scheduled to accompany her husband to an annual world leaders' summit in Canada this weekend, or when he meets with North Korea's leader in Singapore next week.

Her absence has sparked all kinds of wild speculation, but the first lady has shown no interest in making an appearance just to knock down rumors.

She sent early signals that she will not bow to speculation or public expectations about what she should be doing.

Her first clue that she would be a different first lady came when she decided to continue living at Trump Tower after her husband took office in January 2017, citing a desire to maintain stability for her son's schooling. She and son Barron officially moved to the White House last June.

"Mrs. Trump is very strong and independent," Grisham said.
Katherine Johnson, the NASA mathematician whose calculations helped astronauts return to Earth, is being honored at her alma mater with a bronze statue and a scholarship in her name.



West Virginia State University says a dedication ceremony is planned for August 25, the day before Johnson's 100th birthday.



Long before the digital era, Johnson worked as a human computer at the agency that became NASA, working in relative obscurity as an African-American woman. Her contributions were later recognized in the Hidden Figures movie, with actress Taraji P. Henson playing her role.

West Virginia State hopes to endow the scholarship at $100,000, awarding money to students majoring in science, technology, engineering and math, targeting people who are underrepresented in those fields.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu begins a three-nation European tour Monday as he seeks support for altering the international nuclear agreement with Iran.

Netanyahu begins his trip in Germany, where is holding talks with Chancellor Angela Merkel before traveling to meet with the leaders of France and Britain.

Britain, France and Germany agreed to the deal with Iran in 2015 along with Russia, China and the United States.

U.S. President Donald Trump announced last month the U.S. was pulling out of what he called a "horrible, one-sided deal," while saying he wants additional restrictions on Iran's ballistic missile program and what he called its "destabilizing activities in the Middle East."

The other signatories have expressed a desire to keep the nuclear deal in place, saying it is working. Britain, France and Germany have suggested addressing other concerns about Iran through a supplemental agreement.

Like Trump, Netanyahu has been a fierce critic of the deal, saying the agreement left Iran with the potential to quickly develop a nuclear weapon when the terms expire.

Iran, which won sanctions relief in exchange for limiting its nuclear program, has said repeatedly its nuclear activity was solely peaceful in nature.

Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif said Sunday the U.S. decision to withdraw from the agreement was illegal and he urged the other signatories not to follow suit.

State-run Iranian media said Zarif sent a letter to the foreign ministers of the remaining nations. He asked them to "make up" for the Iranian losses brought on by the U.S. withdrawal if they want to save the deal.

Zarif called the 2015 nuclear agreement the result of "accurate, sensitive and balanced multilateral talks."

"The illegal withdrawal of the U.S. government...especially bullying methods used by this government to bring other governments in line, has discredited the rule of law while challenging the principles of the U.N. Charter and efficiency of international bodies," Zarif wrote.
Safe baby sleeping position

Rishika Gupta :

Babies who died in their sleep while being watched by babysitters or relatives were often placed in unsafe positions such as on their stomach or on the couch or adult bed.

Through this study, the scientists are urging parents to educate anyone who takes care of their babies about safe sleep practices and the risk of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS).

SIDS is one of the leading cause of death among babies between one month and a year of age.

Babies who had died due to Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS), might have been placed in unsafe sleep positions, such as on their stomachs, or in unsafe locations, such as a couch, finds a new study. These dangerous mistakes are accidentally committed by babysitters and relatives when parents are not around.

Most of the babies who died during their sleep while being watched by someone other than parents often placed them in unsafe sleep positions.

'Babies were less likely to be placed on their back by babysitters and relatives when the parents are not around. Parents need to educate anyone who takes care of their children about safe sleeping practices and the risk of SIDS.'

Through the study, the researchers are trying to urge the parents to educate anyone who cares of their baby regarding the safe sleep practices and the huge risk of SIDS.

This syndrome is one of the leading causes of deaths among babies between 1 month and a year of age.

"If someone else - a babysitter, relative, or friend - is taking care of your baby, please make sure that they know to place your baby on the back in a crib and without any bedding," said Rachel Moon, an author of the study.

When the researchers reviewed more than 10,000 infant death reports, they had found that 1,375 of them occurred when the parents were not present.

Among these cases, they found that:

Babysitters were less likely to place the babies in the correct sleeping positions- on their backs when the parents are not present.

Babies under the care of the babysitters and relatives are more likely to be placed in hazardous sleep environments. Sleep spaces should be free of toys and soft bedding including blankets and sleep bumpers.

Only 72.5 percent of licensed childcare providers actually placed the babies in a crib or bassinet and among these babysitters, relatives, and friends, this number was really only 49.1 percent, 29.4 percent, 27.1 percent.

Infant deaths were most likely to occur when the babies were placed in an adult bed, even when they were under the supervision of friends and relatives.

"A lot of relatives and friends may not be aware that babies are safest on their backs," said researcher Jeffrey Colvin, MD, of Children's Mercy Kansas City. "They may have raised children before we knew that this was safest."

While previous studies have found that many licensed childcare providers placed infants on their stomachs to sleep, the scientists noted that that same group was now the most likely to place babies in the recommended sleep position and in cribs when not under parental supervision.

They believe that this could have been the result of the educational efforts of the Safe to Sleep national campaign and changes in state regulations.

"It's always best to discuss where and how your baby should sleep," Moon said. "You can't make assumptions that the person with whom your baby is staying will know what is safest."

Source: Medindia
The U.S. Defense Departments inspector general has opened an investigation into misconduct allegations against White House physician Ronny Jackson, the inspector general's office said in a statement on Monday.

President Donald Trump nominated Jackson to be veterans affairs secretary in March, but Jackson withdrew from consideration a month later amid allegations he had overseen a hostile work environment as White House physician, drank on the job and allowed the overprescribing of drugs.

Jackson, a U.S. Navy rear admiral, has denied the allegations.

The DoD Office of Inspector General has initiated an investigation into allegations related to Rear Admiral (Lower Half) Ronny L. Jackson, Bruce Anderson, spokesman for the inspector generals office, said in a statement.

Democrats on the Senate Veterans Affairs Committee have said more than 20 current and former colleagues had come forward to accuse Jackson of prescribing himself medications, getting drunk at a Secret Service party and wrecking a government vehicle.

Jackson has worked as a presidential physician since 2006. After withdrawing his nomination for the VA post, Jackson stopped serving as Trumps lead physician.
The United States and Turkey have agreed on a roadmap to resolve the future of the northern Syrian city of Manbij, an issue that has become a major source of tension between the NATO allies.

The agreement came during a meeting between U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu in Washington on Monday.

In a joint statement, Pompeo and Cavusoglu said their countries would take steps to ensure the security and stability in Manbij.

They endorsed a roadmap to this end and underlined their mutual commitment to its implementation, reflecting agreement to closely follow developments on the ground, the statement said, adding that the two sides agreed to hold further meetings to resolve outstanding issues.

'Clearing of Manbij'

The U.S. State Department did not provide further details about the agreement. However, Cavusoglu told Turkish journalists in Washington Monday that U.S.-backed Kurdish fighters will withdraw from Manbij under a plan that could be implemented within six months. He said U.S. and Turkish officials would temporarily ensure security in Manbij.

The aim of this roadmap is the clearing of Manbij of all terror organizations and the permanent instatement of safety and stability, Cavusoglu said.

Washingtons support of the Syrian Kurdish YPG militia in the war against the Islamic State group has angered Turkey. Ankara calls the YPG terrorists, accusing the militia of being linked to a Kurdish insurgency inside Turkey.

Ahead of Cavusoglus visit to Washington, the Turkish foreign minister said, [The United States] has preferred to collaborate with a terrorist organization in Syria. That was a grave mistake, and we are trying to change their position.

Center of US-Turkish tension

The Syrian town of Manbij, which was seized from Islamic State by mainly YPG forces, has become the epicenter of Turkish-U.S. tensions. Ankara claims Washington reneged on an agreement that the militia would withdraw after taking Manbij.

Former U.S. ambassador to Turkey James Jeffrey told VOAs Turkish service that although there are problems between the United States and Turkey, the ties between the countries would not break down.

Because the U.S. and Turkey share basic interests  we are status quo powers, we are both major beneficiaries of the global order, and we see in similar terms a threat to that order in the region around Turkey, from Russia, from Iran and from extremist elements  the relationship will remain extremely important and will not break down.

However, he acknowledged there will be difficulties between the countries going forward.

The relationship will also be fraught with problems because it is very complicated, he said.

Jeffrey said the most difficult problem between two countries is Turkeys agreement to buy the S-400 anti-aircraft missile system from Russia, a non-NATO country.

Turkeys move to buy the surface-to-air missile system, which is incompatible with NATO systems, has unnerved NATO member countries. In response, a U.S. Senate committee has threatened to prevent Turkey from purchasing U.S. Lockheed Martin F-35 fighter jets.

Dorian Jones, Nike Ching, Serhan Akyildiz and Erhan Polat contributed to this report.
Russian President Vladimir Putin is traveling to Austria on Tuesday on his first foreign trip since being sworn in for a fourth term in office last month. The visit, which marks the 50th anniversary of the start of Soviet gas deliveries to Austria, takes him to one of Europe's more Russia-friendly countries at a time when relations between the European Union and Russia are at a low ebb. It's his sixth official visit to Vienna.

East-West Bridge

Austria, unlike many other countries in the 28-nation EU, didn't expel Russian diplomats over the poisoning in Britain earlier this year of former Russian spy Sergei Skripal.

Chancellor Sebastian Kurz in March pointed to Vienna's "traditionally good contacts" with Russia and said his government would use them to press Moscow to help clarify the nerve agent attack. He said Vienna was "of the opinion that it is important to maintain channels of dialogue."

That reflects widespread thinking in Austria, going back well before Kurz's current center-right government  Putin's last visit, in mid-2014, was one of his first to the West after Russia's annexation of Crimea from Ukraine.

Traditionally neutral Austria, which hosts U.N. agencies including the International Atomic Energy Agency, is not a member of NATO. Russian Ambassador Dmitry Lyubinsky recently told the Austria Press Agency that Russia appreciates "Austria's responsible position on questions of the international agenda."



Political friends

Putin will meet liberal President Alexander Van der Bellen as well as Kurz, a 31-year-old conservative who became chancellor in December at the head of a coalition with the far-right Freedom Party. That party's leader, Vice Chancellor Heinz-Christian Strache, says he also will meet Putin.

The anti-migration and traditionally euroskeptic Freedom Party has long taken a positive view of the Russian leader, with Strache and other leaders traveling to Moscow in December 2016 to sign a cooperation agreement with the main Kremlin party, United Russia.



Business ties

Austria was the first western European country to sign a gas delivery agreement with the Soviet Union, on June 1, 1968, and Putin's visit this week coincides with that anniversary.

Today, gas and oil account for four-fifths of Russian exports to Austria, while Austrian exports to Russia include machinery and pharmaceuticals.Putin's last visit to Austria, in 2014, centered on the signing of an agreement between Austrian energy company OMV and Russia's Gazprom to build the Austrian section of the planned South Stream pipeline, a project that was later scrapped.

OMV is now among European companies involved in the planned Nord Stream 2 pipeline that would double the amount of gas Russia can send directly to Germany, skirting transit countries such as Ukraine  a project opposed by the U.S. and some other EU members.



Questioning sanctions

Austrian exports to Russia declined sharply after EU sanctions in 2014 were met by Russian sanctions.

In an interview with Sunday's edition of the Oesterreich newspaper, Strache said that "a rethink by the EU would be desirable, because the sanctions have above all damaged our Austrian economy." He added that it was time to end the "tiresome sanctions and normalize political and economic relations with Russia."



Austria will take over the EU's rotating presidency for six months in July, but there's little expectation of sanctions being lifted soon given that a peace plan for Ukraine is still far from completely implemented.
A U.S. pledge to keep sailing navy vessels through the disputed South China Sea, which Beijing calls its own, could spark a military escalation that may hurt the interests of Southeast Asian states, analysts say.

U.S. Defense Secretary James Mattis said on May 29 the United States will continue sending ships near the seas contested islands.

China, the dominant military force in the 3.5 million-square-kilometer sea, considers the U.S. maneuvers interference in Chinese waters. Scholars say China has landed a bomber and deployed missiles to islets under its control largely because of the U.S. ship movement.

Five other Asian governments claim all or parts of the sea and bristle at Chinas militarization. At the same time, most hope to build trade and investment links with Beijing.

Currently so far its a so-called new normal, Lin Chong-pin, retired strategic studies professor in Taiwan, said of the U.S. ship movement. For the other Asian governments, he said, its a silent concern but they are very careful what they say.

More freedom of navigation maneuvers

In the latest move, on May 27, U.S. Navy warships sailed near islands occupied by China in the seas Paracel Islands that sit east of Vietnam. China normally tracks U.S. ships until they leave. Washington calls those missions freedom of navigation operations, or FONOPs for short.

The U.S. Navy has launched seven such operations since President Donald Trump took office last year.

This will engender an environment of briskly escalating distrust between the militaries of both countries, and that is not good, said Eduardo Araral, associate professor at the National University of Singapores public policy school.

China is building up three reefs in the seas Spratly Islands to support missiles and military aircraft, according to an initiative under the American think tank Center for Strategic and International Studies.

The U.S. ship movement has made provocation against China's sovereignty, and it constitute(s) the source of militarization in the South China Sea, Chinas Xinhua News Agency said Saturday.

For the Chinese its a matter of national pride, said Collin Koh, maritime security research fellow at Nanyang Technological University in Singapore. Its not just for sovereignty, but if you back down and you allow FONOPs to take place without challenging them, then it will be an affront to the Communist Party. I think the likelihood of China further escalating is not to be further discounted.

The other South China Sea claimants are Brunei, Malaysia, the Philippines, Taiwan and Vietnam. Weaker than China militarily but keen on access to the seas natural resources such as oil deposits, they resent China for placing military infrastructure on the tiny islands.

Vietnam and the Philippines vigorously contest some of the islands that China has militarized and were once more outspoken against China.

Both talk to Beijing regularly now one-on-one and through the 10-member Association of Southeast Asian Nations bloc. China is promoting tourism to Vietnam. In the Philippines, it's rolling out $24 billion in investment and development aid. But anti-China public opinion flares up in both countries when China expands at sea.

The Philippines will be caught up in the middle of this great power rivalry, Araral said, referring to China and the United States.

Washington does not have a claim in the South China Sea but regards it as an international waterway. At least one-third of the worlds marine shipping traffic passes through the sea. Trump may be using the ship movement to pressure China over two-way trade and its support for North Korea, some analysts believe.

Competition for loyalty

The United States suggests its South China Sea activity can help the smaller Asian claimants.

At the Shangri-la Dialogue military leadership forum in Singapore June 2, Mattis and his Vietnamese counterpart agreed that a strong U.S.-Vietnam defense relationship promotes regional and global security, including in the South China Sea, the U.S. Department of Defense said on its website.

He and the Philippine defense secretary emphasized the need to keep the Indo-Pacific free and open, the website said.

Australia and Japan, which back the U.S. view of an open sea, are expected to send their own ships  though less aggressively than the United States does -- scholars say. Japan, which has its own issues with China, is keen on helping defend Vietnam and the Philippines.

I think what will happen is the U.S. will carry on with whatever scheduled FONOPs, said Oh Ei Sun, international studies instructor at Singapore Nanyang University. There are some other countries, while they wouldn't do like what the U.S. is doing like entering so-called Chinese territorial waters, they would increase their frequency in patrolling South China Sea. We are talking about Japan and lets say Australia.
A suicide bomber blew himself up near a big gathering of about 2,000 Afghan religious scholars in Kabul Monday, killing at least seven people and wounding many more.



A capital city police spokesman, Hasmatullah Satnikzai, told VOA the attack occurred when hundreds of participants of the meeting of Loya Jirga, or council of elders, were leaving the venue after issuing a joint Islamic decree, or fatwa, outlawing suicide bombings and the ongoing insurgency in Afghanistan.



Islamic State, through its Amaq News Agency, claimed responsibility for the bombing, according to SITE Intelligence group.



The U.S. State Department condemned the "attack on religious leaders and scholars in Kabul who gathered in the name of peace."



Monday's meeting of clerics was organized in support of Afghan government's efforts to try to find a negotiated end to the deadly war.



A top cleric, Ghogranullah Murad, read out the Islamic ruling at the end of the meeting that was broadcast live by Afghan television stations. He said the council of scholars unanimously called on all sides to cease fighting to prevent further destruction and killings of innocent Afghans.



The Taliban must focus on finding a peaceful settlement to the Afghan war, Murad added.



"We, the religious scholars, strongly urge the Taliban to respond positively to the Afghan government's peace talks offer to help end further bloodshed of Muslims," he said.



The council's edict was referring to Afghan President Ashraf Ghani's unconditional peace talks offer to the Taliban, which he announced in February.



While the Taliban has not so far directly responded to Ghani's peace overture, the insurgent group has since indirectly reiterated it would not engage in any intra-Afghan talks until all U.S. and NATO forces withdraw from the country.



"Talking to impotent parties during the presence of occupying forces is pointless," Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid said last week.



He issued the statement a day after U.S. General John Nicholson, commander of international forces in Afghanistan, stated that some Taliban officials were secretly in contact with the Kabul government to discuss peace options.



"We believe direct negotiations will enable both the sides [the Afghan government and the Taliban] to discuss their differences and demands on the negotiating table to try to find appropriate ways to address them," cleric Murad noted while reading Monday's edict.



But despite the appeal, Murad went on to say, if the Taliban is resolved to continue fighting, then the Afghan council of elders would call on all Islamic countries and religious scholars around the world to intervene and guide "their Afghan Muslim brothers" in the light of Islamic Sharia to end hostilities.



"Only peace can pave the way for withdrawal of foreign forces from the country and there will be no need for international support," he concluded.



The Taliban controls or contests nearly half of Afghanistan and has inflicted unusually high casualties on Afghan security forces in battlefield and other attacks during May. More 600 people were killed in the past month, at least 400 of them were government forces.
At least seven people are dead and nine others wounded in a suicide bomb attack in Kabul near a gathering of Afghanistan's leading religious clerics and scholars.

No one has claimed responsibility for the bombing.

The bombing happened just as 2,000 members of the Afghan Ulema Council had adjourned and were leaving the tent erected for the meeting. Just moments before, the council had issued a fatwa, or ruling, declaring that suicide attacks were forbidden under Islamic law.

The group also issued an appeal calling on the Afghan government and the hardline Taliban to agree to a cease-fire and enter into negotiations on a peace deal.

The Taliban has stepped up attacks across Afghanistan in recent weeks as it begins its spring offensive.
A time that is supposed to be one of the most joyful moments in a young person's life was overshadowed by tears at Sunday's graduation of the senior class of Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School.

Seventeen students and faculty - including four seniors who were supposed to have received diplomas - were killed during the February 14 shooting at the Parkland, Florida, high school.

The graduating class, parents and guests solemnly paid tribute to their slain friends in a number of ways.

Senior class president Julia Cordover urged students to change the world by voting in this November's congressional elections.

The parents and siblings who came to the stage to pick up the diplomas in place of the murdered children got standing ovations.

Some students wore pictures of shooting victims on top of their graduation caps while others had price tags reading "$1.05" dangling from their hats - that is the price per Florida school student that activists say the National Rifle Association donated to Republican Senator Marco Rubio.

Comedian Jimmy Fallon, host of TV's Tonight Show, was a surprise guest speaker at the ceremony.

"Choose to move forward and don't let anything stop you. Thank you for your courage and your bravery," he told the audience.

Another poignant high school graduation ceremony was held near Houston Saturday where 10 people were gunned down at Santa Fe High School two weeks ago.
U.S. President Donald Trump acclaimed his 500th day in office Monday, declaring that "many believe" he has accomplished more than any other American president.

Trump cited tax cuts enacted last year, advances for the U.S. military, lower crime and illegal immigration, stronger borders and a growing economy as among his successes.

Now in his 17th month in the White House, Trump remains a divisive figure in the U.S., with a composite of national polls showing voters disapprove of his performance by a 52.8 to 44.4 percent margin. He is facing the continuing year-long probe by special counsel Robert Mueller into links between his 2016 campaign and Russia and whether he obstructed justice to thwart the investigation, with Trump often and vocally rejecting accusations of collusion with Moscow and obstruction.

In one new Twitter comment, he said, "As has been stated by numerous legal scholars, I have the absolute right to PARDON myself, but why would I do that when I have done nothing wrong?"

The real-estate mogul turned Republican politician retains wide popularity among Republican voters who made him the country's 45th president. Independent voters, and especially Democrats, are continuing to voice opposition to his presidency, polling shows.

After a protracted legislative battle in the Republican-controlled Congress, Trump won tax cut legislation without a single Democratic vote. He narrowly failed, however, to upend national health care policies championed by his predecessor, former President Barack Obama, but has chiseled away at the health insurance law through administrative actions.

In his assessment of his first 500 days, Trump said he nearly repealed the health law "except for one person," an allusion to the vote against the overhaul by a frequent Trump critic, Republican Senator John McCain.

Trump noted the mandate to buy insurance has been repealed, claimed that "drug prices are coming down" and that he has signed legislation to give terminally ill patients the "right to try" experimental drugs that have yet to win regulatory approval.

Trump won Senate confirmation for his lifetime Supreme Court appointment of conservative jurist Neil Gorsuch and also approval of other conservative judges to sit on lower courts, nominations that could affect legal rulings for decades, long after Trump is out of office. He has already declared he intends to seek another four-year term in the 2020 election.

His administration has also adopted wide changes, or won congressional approval, to ease government regulation of banks, energy companies, for-profit schools, and other corporate interests.
President Donald Trump plans to nominate conservative filmmaker and documentarian Michael Pack as the next head of the Broadcasting Board of Governors, the White House says.

The BBG is the federal agency that oversees Voice of America, along with other congressionally-funded broadcast entities.

Pack is the president of Manifold Productions, an independent film and television production company.

Pack has an extensive background in media, including as senior vice president of the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, publisher of the Claremont Review of Books, and as director of Worldnet, the film and television service of the former U.S. Information Agency.

If confirmed by the U.S. Senate, Pack would succeed John Lansing as BBG chief executive officer. The term would be for three years.






The U.N. Children's Agency, UNICEF, said nearly half of all school-aged children in Afghanistan  nearly 4 million kids  are out of school due to conflict.



The findings in a new report represent a setback for the country, where such high rates of out-of-school children have not been seen since 2002, just after the Taliban was ousted.



"If girls and boys stay out of school, it becomes very difficult to get them back into school," UNICEF Executive Director Henrietta Fore told reporters on Monday. "Once you lose them, it's very hard to return."



Girls are especially affected, making up some 60 percent of the out-of-school population, and putting them at higher risk of discrimination, exploitation and child marriage. In provinces most affected by conflict, including Kandahar and Helmand, up to 85 percent of girls are not attending classes.



The study said child marriage is the second most reported reason for girls dropping out of school.



Although Afghanistan's constitution calls for free education, and the 2008 Education Law makes primary and lower secondary education mandatory, the main challenge appears to be getting young people to start school in the first place. Conflict, insecurity, displacement, migration, natural disasters, poverty and lack of access are among the obstacles.



On a positive note, the study found that once in school, dropout rates are low. About 85 percent of children who start primary school, and more than 90 percent who start lower secondary school, stay to complete it.



And national literacy rates are on the rise. According to an Afghan survey, 54 percent of 15-24 year olds were literate in 2017, compared to only 31 percent in 2005.



"We've got to get them back into school," Fore said. "We've got to teach them life skills and work skills."



The government of Afghanistan has designated 2018 as the year of education in an effort to reverse the trend.
Winning the war against drug

Dr. Forqan Uddin Ahmed :

Man lives in society. So he/she is a social being. Every social being has the right in society to live with a healthy and profound life. A healthy life is a pre-condition to be a good citizen of state. If a citizen is bodily and mentally sound, he/she can discharge the citizen duty to his state. From the pre-history of mankind there were the drugs, but its uncontrolled use has become a threat to the society, now-a-days. It is dangerous & it deteriorates a man and society in a very cruel way. So it is more than many many big dangers in and around the world. It is as alarming as diseases like cancer and HIV-Aids. A drug user person loses his all vitality of life forces. He can do anything and everything in his family, society and even for a nation also. He is a problem to the state. Whenever a man is addicted with drug his/her humanity and sensation is lost. He becomes a burden for family and society.

Gradually he turns to a permanently drug addicted person. For which his family suffers lot. It is almost like a non-curable disease like HIV-Aids and caner. Moreover a drug addicted person loses all his talents, intellectual capabilities. All the brightness and prospect of his life withers away from his life. We do not find any potentiality in a drug addicted man. If there are potents in him it will not last for a long time. A drug addicted man by taking frequent drugs try to bring a sudden miracle change for his life. But in the long run, it does not work as he desires. So a drug addicted man gets frustrated and out of frustration involves him in all nonsense and rubbish activities like kidnapping, snatching and even terrorism also.

Drug addicting is not treated as offence. But it is a psychological and behavioral problem of a human being for which a man indulges to the very abnormal life style. The whole world is now suffering from this problem. At present it is not a problem of any particular area or a particular country. For our geographical location. Bangladesh is being used as a transit of drug trafficking zone. It is already identified. From various survey and study, it is found that the drug addicted persons are many in numbers in our country and many youths are addicted to it who are in the age limit of 15 to 20.

There are other reasons of drug addiction, which have been identified from different surveys. The youths of the growing age are taking drugs out of curiosity. Initially they take it as a matter of fan. They take it in clubs with their friends and gradually, it spreads from one society to another society transmitted to their other friends. Moreover the drugs are easily affordable from different sources. So, the channel of easy availability of drugs should be stopped. Again there is a misconception of smartness of our youths i.e. our youths are not well aware of the disadvantages of drug addiction. So, people must have the better understanding about the affects of drug addiction.

It is told earlier that it is not a social crime like any other crime. So, it must be prevented and preventive measures should be taken from family side from society and every society should take it as a social campaign and under the umbrella of this campaigning program, necessary warnings must be given so that the initial step is stopped. Moreover every family guardians must be very alert & conscious so that it can not spread to their living campus. Govt. must take preventive measures like training, workshop, seminar, rally etc. Govt. must also take other measures like employment of youths to different sectors, so that the youths do not get derailed from life. Govt. also take steps for vocational education and to develop skill to be highly categorized to technical education.

Besides there should be a good provision of religious education by which norms, values and ethics are established. The trained Imams & religious teachers can motivate the youths & general people on family relationship also. With this end in view, different counselling centers must be set up in different areas and above all, the rule of law is a must for its improvement. In this regard, recently Govt. is in a hard-line for punitive action against the alleged drug channels.

It is reported from various newspapers that there are a good number of drug suppliers who are mainly from women community. Actually the women are manhandled or misguided by others. The women are guided by others. Now it is necessary to identify the other guides. The other guides may belong to members of civil society, elite class and even may belong to strong political party. He may be a godfather or blueprint maker of drug channeling and trafficking. All these blueprint makers must be brought to book. They must not be spared.

Despite all the connectivity any drug dealer who is spoiling a society and integrity of our nation, he/she should surrender to the rule of law and must give his undertaking for his indulgement into all such dirty activities. It is our honorable prime minister who never hesitates to punish anybody who ever he or she is. By blood, she is accustomed to it. She never compromises with any rock stars or with any big giants who wants to play with the life and death of common people. Our prime minister is always kind to mass people of the country. She has her feeling & love towards them. So anybody from any corner will try to malign the good job she will never be excused from penalty. Anything going against the interest of the country and hampering the democratic right of the people will be dealt severely. The recent drives taken by govt. against the drug hoarders and drug suppliers will immediately be called to came under the course punitive action. Meanwhile a good member of hoarders, dealers have been arrested and some others were hit by cross firing. It is done in consideration of nation's safety and security issues.

With this people are being warned so that there is a rectification from damaging activities. As a part of preventive measures the voluntary orgnations in country can also play a significant role to prevent it. In no way nation can not be immersed into the deep sea. The youths should be protected from drugs. With the awareness program political commitment is very essential. At this moment, the medias role should also be very transparent and significant. We are expecting that the whole world will be prudent to protect our future generation. We want to develop our confidence that we are able to build a good dwelling place where our offspring's and future generation will live a better hygienic life free from all darts and drugs. This is indeed a bold and valiant steps against the drug traffics and hoarders.

They may not be happy. Even there may be plot of descending her from power or killing her life, or conspirators did for our nation's father. Situation may be stormed, but the rudder must be strongly handled and passengers will be safe from boat capsize. Hon'ble Prime Minister as courageous leader and good administrator will sail the whole Bangladesh as a symbol of boat in a storm. The chief sailor is our Hon'ble Prime Minister and mother Bangladesh, Sheikh Hasina. Really she deserves to be the supreme mother of Bangladesh. It is believed that we will not be plunged into sea.


Top Senate Democrats on Monday told President Donald Trump not to make a deal that leaves North Korea with nuclear weapons, and threatened to maintain or toughen sanctions on Pyongyang if that condition is not met.

Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer and ranking Democrats from national security committees released a letter to Trump laying out demands for any pact, which they said must b permanent.

Trump plans a summit with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un on June 12, the latest twist in the high-stakes diplomacy over U.S. attempts to eliminate Pyongyang's nuclear arms program.

The Democrats also told Trump to lean hard on Kim's ally China, to ensure it will do all it can to help secure an agreement and then insist on strict North Korean compliance with such an agreement.

Easing sanctions under a deal would likely need approval from Congress which has passed sanctions on North Korea. Since most legislation needs 60 votes to pass the 100-member Senate and Trump's fellow Republicans hold only 51 seats, that would require Democratic support.

The Democrats demands include North Korea dismantling and removing every nuclear, chemical and biological weapon, ending production and enrichment of uranium for weapons purposes and permanently dismantling its nuclear weapons infrastructure.

They said North Korea must also agree to suspend ballistic missile tests and commit to robust inspections.

Now that the meeting will proceed as planned, we want to make sure that the president's desire for a deal with North Korea doesnt saddle the United States, Japan and Korea with a bad deal, Schumer told a conference call with reporters.

Democrats have been struggling to balance their support for peace with North Korea and frustration with what they see as Trumps refusal to work with them. On Monday, they said they want Trump to achieve a lasting and strong agreement, but he must respect allies and engage closely with lawmakers.

We just cant settle for something less than what will ultimately make the peninsula, the region and the world more secure, said Senator Bob Menendez, the top Foreign Relations Committee Democrat.

Schumer said talks with North Korea are far more perilous than negotiations over Iran's nuclear program because Tehran did not have nuclear weapons or intercontinental ballistic missiles, unlike Pyongyang.

Trump enraged Democrats and frustrated allies last month by announcing he was pulling out of the Iran deal. Many Republicans said Trump was right to withdraw from the pact reached by Democratic former President Barack Obama because it was not a treaty approved by Congress.
In a closely watched case pitting gay rights against religious freedom, the U.S. Supreme Court on Monday narrowly ruled in favor of a Colorado baker who refused on religious grounds to make a wedding cake for a same-sex couple six years ago.

The justices voted 7-2 that the Colorado Civil Rights Commission violated the rights of baker Jack Phillips under the First Amendments clause on the free exercise of religion when it ordered him to provide cakes for same sex couples, despite his religious objection to gay marriage.

2012 Colorado case

Though a victory for Phillips, the ruling was notably narrow, with justices leaving aside the larger constitutional question of whether private businesses can refuse service to gay people, as a number have in recent years.

The court wrote about the narrowest opinion it could write and still come up on the side of the baker, said Susan Bloch, a constitutional law professor at the Georgetown Law Center. Because it wrote a very narrow opinion and tried to decide the case as narrowly as possible, I dont think it sets as important a precedent as some people feared it might.

The case dates back to 2012, when Charlie Craig and David Mullins went to Masterpiece Cakeshop in Lakewood, Colorado, to order a custom cake for their wedding.

Phillips, a devout Christian, declined, saying doing so would amount to participating in a religious ceremony antithetical to his religious beliefs.

The couple complained to the Colorado Civil Rights Commission and later sued Phillips. The commission and state courts found that Phillips had violated Colorados anti-discrimination laws. Colorado is one of 22 states that prohibit discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation.

Phillips appealed the decision to the Supreme Court, arguing that the states anti-discrimination law violated his religious liberty and freedom of expression, both protected by the U.S. Constitutions First Amendment.

Kennedy wrote for the majority

Justice Anthony Kennedy, who has authored some of the courts key gay rights rulings in recent years, including a landmark 2015 decision legalizing gay marriage, delivered the majority opinion, writing that the Colorado commission showed elements of a clear and impermissible hostility toward the sincere religious beliefs motivating (Phillips) objection to designing a cake for the gay couple.

But Kennedy, a centrist justice who often casts the deciding vote in an ideologically split court, stated in his majority opinion that the ruling was limited to Masterpiece, leaving open the possibility that future similar cases could be decided differently.

The outcome of cases like this in other circumstances must await further elaboration in the courts, all in the context of recognizing that these disputes must be resolved with tolerance, without undue disrespect to sincere religious beliefs, and without subjecting gay persons to indignities when they seek goods and services in an open market, he wrote.

While the court did not weigh in on Phillips free speech argument, it ruled that anti-discrimination laws, while necessary to protect the rights of gay people, must be applied in a manner that is neutral toward religion.

Welcomed, condemned

Phillips applauded the decision.

The Supreme Court affirmed that the government must respect my religious beliefs about marriage, he wrote in an opinion piece published in USA Today newspaper.

Kristen Waggoner of Alliance Defending Freedom, a conservative Christian group that represented Phillips, said the court was right to condemn Colorados antagonism toward Jacks religious beliefs about marriage.

Tolerance and respect for good-faith differences of opinion are essential in a society like ours, she said.

Attorney General Jeff Sessions also welcomed the ruling.

In this case and others, the Department of Justice will continue to vigorously defend the free speech and religious freedom First Amendment rights of all Americans, Sessions said in a statement.

Last year, the Justice Department submitted an amicus brief in support of Phillips, drawing the ire of LGBTQ civil rights advocates.

While some civil rights advocates denounced the decision as an attack on equality, the American Civil Liberties Union, which argued the case on behalf of the couple, said the high courts narrow ruling meant LGBTQ rights would remain protected.

The court did not accept arguments that would have turned back the clock on equality by making our basic civil rights protections unenforceable, but reversed this case based on concerns specific to the facts here, the ACLU said in a statement.
Zimbabwean police say the opposition Movement for Democratic Alliance Nelson Chamisa is free to stage its protest against what the organization calls a march against lack of tangible electoral reforms ahead of the countrys harmonized elections set for July 30 this year.

Chief Superintendent Andrew Ncube, Officer Commanding Harare province, informed secretary general Douglas Mwonzora of the Chamisa-led MDC-T that police will arrest anyone who breaks the law during the march.

In a letter to Mwonzora, Ncube noted that The provisions of Section 29 of the Public Order and Security Act Chapter 11:17 will be invoked if any of the conditions are violated.

Police have clearly stipulated the route of the protest, time, meeting venue and handing over of a petition to the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission. Its not yet clear whether representatives of the protesters will meet with President Emmerson Mnangagwa.

The MDC Alliance wants ZEC to conduct credible elections and Mnangagwas government to allow opposition parties to have access to state media and other issues.

In a statement, the MDC Alliance stressed that as major stakeholders in the political affairs of Zimbabwe, we want to participate in the National Logistics Committee so that we run this election in a manner that will produce an uncontested outcome.

This is a crucial time. We must be vigilant as we demand an environment for credible elections in Zimbabwe. The ballot paper remains a serious threat to Zimbabwe's democracy. As long as the paper has not been scrutinized, and the printing of the ballot paper remains shrouded in secrecy, then there cannot be an election.

As long as the voters' roll has not been audited by credible and an independent external auditor, there cannot be an election. As long as the securocrats remain entrenched in the ZEC systems and interfere with our democratic right to choose a leader we want, and transfer power to the winning candidate then Zimbabwe cannot have elections.

The MDC claims that ZEC is staffed with army and operatives of the feared Central Intelligence Organization.

In a related development, the ruling Zanu PFs Youth League says police have turned down its request to stage a march Tuesday to show support for Mnangagwas call for free, fair and credible general elections this year.

In a statement, the partys chairperson for Harare province, Godwin Gomwe, said,  The Zimbabwe Republic Police has turned down our request for a police clearance citing that a certain political party had been granted permission prior to our application. As a leadership we automatically accepted and embraced this decision by the police.

All bonafide members of ZANU PF are hereby instructed not to engage in any actions that may resemble a solidarity march tomorrow as such actions are not only illegal but are unsanctioned by your leadership. Our planned solidarity march will be held on Wednesday 

I take this opportunity to encourage all Zimbabweans to engage in peaceful and law abiding politics as we play our part in this new dispensation of mature politics. We urge as well, the ZRP to arrest without fear or favour all persons who breach the peace in our country.

Zimbabwe holds crucial elections July 30 this year.
Reuters Staff

* Gukurahundi massacres brought alive in play

* Crackdown on minority Ndebele still divisive topic

By MacDonald Dzirutwe

HARARE (Reuters) - A play that was banned by Robert Mugabe about a 1980s government crackdown in which rights groups say 20,000 civilians were killed has been performed in Zimbabwe for the first time.

The play, 1983, The Dark Years, was stopped by the censors in 2012 but following Novembers de facto army coup against Mugabe, its director feels political freedoms are improving.

The now president, Emmerson Mnangagwa, was Mugabes security minister at the time and many say he played a big role during the Gukurahundi massacres - making the plays airing, just months after he took power, even more significant.

We, as a theatre group thought it is the right time to try and trigger this kind of debate whereby we need the nation to actually know what happened because as we speak the nation is divided by this term (Gukurahundi), director and actor Adrian Musa, told Reuters after the show.

The massacres began after Mugabe said his government had discovered weapons hidden by former liberation fighters belonging to PF-ZAPU led by his rival Joshua Nkomo, whom he accused of plotting an insurgency.

In the local Shona language, Gukurahundi means the early rain that washes away the chaff.

This is a very sensitive issue and where we come from in Matabeleland if you term the word Gukurahundi people will start raising their eyebrows to see who is talking, Musa said.

During Mugabes near 40-year rule, few families and victims, mostly minority Ndebeles, spoke openly about the Gukurahundi offensive carried out by a North Korean-trained brigade. Mugabe has called the period a moment of madness.

Mnangagwa has never publicly addressed in Zimbabwe any role he played, but when asked about it at the Davos meeting of world leaders in January, he said: The most important thing is that what has happened has happened, what can we do about the past?

We would like to say wherever wrong was committed, the government of the day must apologise. Wherever any community has suffered any injury, if it is that injury that has to be repaired, we do it.

The play is set in Gwanda, southwest Zimbabwe, which experienced some of the worst atrocities.

In the play, soldiers in red berets chase after an elderly woman and hang her on a tree and in other scene, soldiers high on dagga amputate a mans leg with a bayonet and chop off a high school boys genitals.

When a Reuters reporter in February visited Sawudeni, a village west of Harare where some of the killings took place, villagers said they wanted Mnangagwa and Mugabe to apologise publicly and compensate the families of victims.

In my opinion we have been parking the issue of Gukurahundi for a very long time, said Davis Guzha, executive director at the theatre company that brought the show to Harare.

If anything, because the president keeps talking about Zimbabwe is open for business, lets discuss everything. (Editing by James Macharia and Alison Williams)
In the turbulent aftermath of the assassinations of three national leaders and rising fears over race-related violence, the White House pushed for a national gun registry and licenses for all gun carriers. The NRA blocked those provisions. The law that did pass restricted mail-order sales, barred the mentally ill and drug-addicted from owning guns and required serial numbers on all weapons. In signing the new law, President Lyndon B. Johnson excoriated the NRA, saying: The voices that blocked these safeguards were not the voices of an aroused nation. They were the voices of a powerful lobby, a gun lobby.
Gabriel Rossetti, who was in the park during the first murder, disappears. His sister and friends fear for his safety, even as the police suspect he was the killer. Gabriel is fond of opiates and given to erratic behavior. When his wife died he impulsively had all his unpublished poems buried with her. Later, to the horror of many, he had them dug up.
Ex-Dy Manager of Power Grid gets 3 yrs jail term

Court Correspondent :

The Special Judge Court-1 of Dhaka yesterday (Monday) sentenced former Power Grid Deputy Manager Arshad Hossain to three years imprisonment in a graft case. The court also fined him Tk 50,000.

Judge Md Ataur Rahman of the Special Judge Court passed the order. But the accused was not present in the courtroom.

The court prosecutor said the court asked him to submit the fine within June 11. If, he failed to comply with, the court ordered to sell his entire property.


On Monday, Saudi Arabia issued the first 10 drivers licenses to women as the kingdom prepares to lift the worlds only ban on women driving. But the move comes as a number of women who had campaigned for the right to drive are under arrest and face charges related to their activism.
Dear Heloise: Unless youve had a migraine headache, there is no way to describe the pain, nausea and sensitivity to light and sound that people with a migraine experience. My co-workers and friends think all I need to do is take an over-the-counter drug and Ill be fine. Unfortunately, those drugs dont help. I need a prescription medication, and if a migraine starts and I dont have my medications with me, Im in serious pain.
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Supporters say that the measure would mean workers would no longer have to rely on the generosity of customers  and in some cases, put up with harassment  and that it would ensure a consistent income. It would also address wage theft, in which an employer fails to make up the difference as required by law when a workers tips do not add up to the minimum wage, supporters say.
His official reelection campaign kickoff is Saturday, but he said the Asian American community is so important to us, and you have been so supportive of us, that we decided to do this event with all of you one week before the official kickoff.
Ervin said it is not enough. We really do believe that voters are going to be confused, and we need to do everything we can to support their right to vote and to be clear about who it is that theyre voting for, she said.
Entrepreneur Alec Ross said he would also seek more stringent gun-control laws, such as requiring that firearms have a biometric lock that would make them inoperable unless the owners fingerprint is scanned. Like others, he points to his ties to Baltimore when touting his public safety credentials. He and his wife moved to the city 25 years ago to teach in West Baltimore. Once, they counted the number of students they personally had taught who had been killed. Its jarring, Ross said. We stopped at 10. Im sure there have been more.
In the trial in Knowless courtroom, prosecutors told jurors in their opening statements that the evidence against Webber was different from that against the other defendants: They said they would use social media messages to argue Webber took part in a conspiracy to plan and carry out the riots. They argued they had video and photographs that showed Cadman, Basillas and Felice breaking windows and destroying property.
Malaysian immigration officer suspended for ill treatment with Bangladeshi man

Staff Reporter :

Malaysian authorities have suspended an Immigration Department officer, who slapped a Bangladeshi man at its office, according to a report published Malaysia Post yesterday.

The victim, was applying for voluntary repatriation programme at one of the counters around 9:00am on May 30 when the officer reached over the counter and slapped him, report Malaysia Post.

The video of the incident went viral.

Johor Immigration Department director Datuk Rohaizi Bahari said the officer has been removed from the front desk duty after the incident, according to Malaysia Post. Several media outlets have picked up the news and many people have crticised the officer. Meanwhile, Datuk Seri Mustafa Ali, the director-general of Immigration Department also issued a statement, saying the action had tarnished the image of Malaysia Immigration, reports Malaysia Post.

"We would consider suspending or firing the officer. Disciplinary actions will be based on the Disciplinary Regulation for Public Servants 2002," he said.
Redella Del Pepper, 80, the longest-serving incumbent on the council, is seeking her 12th term. She began her political career as an aide to former mayor Charles Beatley before running for office in 1985. A West End resident, she has been a stalwart voice for residents there, and for the elderly, but she is most proud of her role in making the city more ecologically friendly, including monitoring the closing of the GenOn coal-fired power plant in North Old Town in 2012.
The three patients were treated by a team at the National Cancer Institute led by Steven Rosenberg, an immunotherapy pioneer who is chief of the surgery branch. For each patient, the team sequenced the genomes of their tumors to find mutations, then tested immune cells extracted from the cancers to identify which ones might recognize the defects. Those cells were expanded by the billions in the laboratory, then infused back into the patients, where they attacked the tumors.
The officers are to submit personal information, including their assets and previous record of service, by Friday, according to a statement signed by an Interior Ministry spokesman. Experts say more than 500 officials will have to step away from their jobs and submit to the new scrutiny.
Nor can Democrats look to their party leadership for guidance. So inept has it proven that in one race  a challenge to vulnerable GOP Rep. Dana Rohrabacher  the national Democratic campaign arm is backing one candidate, millionaire real-estate investor Harley Rouda, while the state party has endorsed another, stem-cell scientist Hans Keirstead. The result may be that neither Democrat makes it out of a primary in which the ballot lists 16 names  eight Democrats (of whom three weaker candidates have unofficially withdrawn from the race), six Republicans, a libertarian and a nonpartisan.
Interviewed by NBCs Lester Holt shortly after firing Comey, Trump said this: I was going to fire Comey knowing there was no good time to do it. And in fact, when I decided to just do it, I said to myself  I said, you know, this Russia thing with Trump and Russia is a made-up story. Around the same time, in a private meeting with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov and another Russian diplomat, Trump reportedly called Comey a nut job and said that great pressure because of Russia had been taken off by the firing.
HC rules on appointment of worshipper at Dhakeshwari

Staff Reporter :

The High Court (HC) on Monday issued a rule upon the respondents as to why they should not be directed to recruit Paltan Kumar Das in the post of worshiper at the Dhekeshwari Temple on priority basis.

The HC bench of Justice Md Nazrul Islam Talukder



and Justice Shahidul Karim passed the order after hearing a writ petition filed by Paltan Kumar Das.

Secretary of the Ministry of Religious Affairs, Deputy Commissioner of Dhaka and Secretary of Hindu Religion Welfare Trust have to comply with the rule within three weeks.

Sources said, the post of the chief worshiper of the temple had fallen vacant after former chief worshiper Pradip Kumar Chakrabarty died last year.

Advocate Khurshid Alam Khan took part in the hearing on behalf of the writ petitioner while Deputy Attorney General Amit Talukder stood for the state.

After the court order, Advocate Khurshid Alam Khan said, Pradip Kumar Chakrabarty was appointed as the chief worshiper in the Dhakeshwari Temple according to the direction of the High Court passed on in 1999. Later, the apex court continued the direction.

The High Court delivered the verdict on May 9 in 1999 in favour of Pradip Kumar in the line of an Indian court's verdict delivered in 1967. The verdict said, the land givers or the descendants of the land givers will get priority to be appointed as the worshiper of a temple.

Khurshid Alam Khan said, "Writ petitioner Paltan Kumar Das's grandfather Sudhir Kumar Das gave land for the Dhakeshwari Temple. As per CS record, Sudhir Das gave 5 decimal lands for the temple. So, Paltan Kumar will get priority to be recruited in the post."

Paltan Kumar said, "After chief worshiper Pradip Kumar's death, the temple is now guardian less. His (Pradip Kumar) two sons are the citizens of India. So, it is not possible for them to take the responsibility of the temple's chief worshiper."

He also said, "As a legal descendant, I can demand to be appointed for the post."
He had a reverence and a love for America that burned in his eyes when he looked at the flag, that bled into his words when he spoke to the country. Selfishly, I used to feel slighted by that love. I referred sometimes to my sibling rivalry with America. My strident protests against some of my fathers policies definitely got his attention, which was what I intended  but they also wounded him, which was not my intention. In his last years of life, when Alzheimers disease had stolen many things but not love, I was able to sit with him and tell him my regrets. I miss my father in deeply personal ways. I also miss the dignity that he brought to the task of leading this country, the deep respect he had for our democracy, and now, after so much time has passed, I miss how much he loved America.
In any event, Giuliani added, hed need all sorts of other assurances before making his client available. Theres got to be a high bar they have to reach in terms of convincing us that theyre fair, convincing us that were going to get the things we need, he said. I want to see the Spygate report, havent gotten it. I want to see the authorization that they have, which they gave to [U.S. District Judge T.S. Ellis III, who is overseeing one of the cases against former Trump campaign chairman Paul Manafort] . . . but Judge Ellis hasnt written an opinion yet, which convinces me theres a real problem with it.
Erstwhile regime allies in Nicaraguas private sector, fearing civil war and the destruction of what had been a growing economy, have called on Mr. Ortega and Rosario Murillo, Mr. Ortegas wife and vice president, to accept a dignified compromise, whereby there would be early elections, supervised by new and credible electoral authorities, rather than the Ortega loyalists who currently dominate the electoral machinery. Alas, the president and vice president have refused, and the examples of Cuba and Venezuela imply that the 72-year-old Mr. Ortega can survive in power long enough to rig the next scheduled election in 2021 so Ms. Murillo can become president as they have planned. Like those other two regimes, Mr. Ortegas retains the loyalty of the military, police and intelligence apparatus, and the president has demonstrated that he is willing to shed blood rather than yield.
My memory of the events 50 years ago this week is gauzy but powerful. There was great shock at my house, because someone had shot Robert F. Kennedy. My father had put his career on hold to work as one of the New York senators presidential campaign aides, traveling to far-flung locales such as Nebraska and California for the primaries. By June 5, he was back home in the D.C. suburbs, watching the news from Los Angeles on our black-and-white television and, according to my memory, crying.
But Delaney said his meetings in Iowa and New Hampshire over the past year have convinced him that many voters are no longer all that captivated by the old Bernie vs. Hillary dynamic. He is finding them receptive to the argument that an appeal to bipartisanship may be not only good for the country but, when the Republicans under President Trump have become so meanly partisan, a winning strategy to boot.
One nugget came from a building engineer with whom I spent time discussing the Capitols history. One evening we were sitting near the top of the escalator that connects it to the Senate office buildings  where the senators pass by on their way to a vote. He told me of the lone Democratic liberal who, in those days when the country was torn apart over Vietnam, regularly made a point of saying hello to the Capitol officers on duty. Unlike the others, their gaze in the middle distance, their minds on important matters, he took the occasion to address those officers as fellow human beings, or perhaps more to the point, as his colleagues.
On Monday, Craig and Mullins issued a statement on the ruling: Todays decision means our fight against discrimination and unfair treatment will continue, the couple said. We have always believed that in America, you should not be turned away from a business open to the public because of who you are. We brought this case because no one should have to face the shame, embarrassment, and humiliation of being told we dont serve your kind here that we faced, and we will continue fighting until no one does.
The court said Monday that it takes seriously allegations that lawyers tried to keep justices from hearing the case but also that lawyers have ethical obligations to serve their clients. In the end, it said, it did not need to determine who was at fault to decide to throw out the lower courts decision.
Trump said he is considering using his clemency powers in several other cases, including that of Martha Stewart, the television personality and lifestyle mogul who was convicted in 2004 of obstructing justice and lying to investigators about a well-timed stock sale.
It was the latest installment in McMorris Rodgerss roller-coaster relationship with Trump. She denounced him during his 2016 presidential campaign for mocking a reporter with disabilities  her oldest son, Cole, has Down syndrome  and again for his crude remarks on the Access Hollywood recording. But she ultimately voted for him over Hillary Clinton and became a leading candidate for interior secretary, only to be spurned after the president-elect confronted her in a Trump Tower meeting over her previous rebukes.
Schumer also warned that Democrats would be watching the progress of negotiations to see that their principles are met, adding that if we think that the president is veering off course, we would not hesitate to move to increase mandatory sanctions against North Korea or otherwise make it impossible for the president to use his waiver authority. Schumer suggested that Republicans would join Democrats in any effort to restrain the president if it appears he is moving too swiftly toward a bad deal.
Salvinis party, in earlier years, had cast this southern part of Italy  rather than migrants and the E.U.  as the force to fight against. The Northern League, as it was then known, criticized poorer southerners as moochers who bled resources from the rest of the country. But after becoming leader of the party in 2013, Salvini rebranded. Last year, Northern was dropped from the party name, though its stronghold remains in the north. In the March 4 elections, the League won just over 17 percent of votes  and about 5 percent in Sicily. Recent polls have shown its national support closer to 30 percent.
The U.S. official, who spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss private diplomatic talks, said the Emiratis reaffirmed last week that their forces are not planning at this time to participate in a Hodeida offensive but that the situation could change . . . if there is an attack on them or some sort of provocation from inside the city meant to draw them in.
The U.S. officials call for Venezuelas suspension from the premier political institution representing the Western Hemisphere is shaping up to be a rush to expel the country before it withdraws on its own. A year ago, Venezuela said it would withdraw from the organization because of its attacks on the countrys sovereignty, but the process will not take effect until next April.
Richwood, TX (77531)

Today

Considerable cloudiness. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. High 88F. Winds S at 10 to 20 mph..

Tonight

Mostly cloudy skies early will become partly cloudy late. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. Low 76F. Winds S at 5 to 10 mph.
Lopez Obrador has been a fixture on the Mexican left for decades, mostly as an agitator against the dominant parties and political elites, who fear his economic agenda and his tendency to rally the masses for his causes. Lopez Obrador burnished his reputation for austerity during a stint as Mexico City mayor more than a decade ago, living in a modest apartment and driving a Nissan sedan  a stark contrast to many top Mexican politicians who live in mansions. His strategy for fighting corruption now, as then, is essentially to lead by example.
Not that long ago, Elon Musk infuriated conservatives.

He was the man with (government subsidised) plans to usher in an era of mass market electric cars and plentiful clean energy. In a local context, he sensationally intervened in South Australia's energy crisis last year, resulting in the world's biggest battery being built in the state, to the delight of the (then) Labor government, and the chagrin of the Liberals.

Tesla CEO Elon Musk (centre) and SA Premier Jay Weatherill (right). Credit:AAP Image/Ben Macmahon

Yet over the past few weeks, in the US at least, there has been a stunning reversal. The world's most celebrated entrepreneur is being cheered on by alt-right trolls, Donald Trumps eldest son (and, weirdly, comic book writer Stan Lee) following a series of Trump-style attacks on the media, and Kanye-esque online meltdowns.

After a string of press reports questioned Tesla's safety record, its efforts to prevent workers from unionising, and coverage of a fatal accident involving a vehicle on autopilot mode, Musk took to Twitter to attack the media.
In popular culture right now superhero movies, comic books, and video games reign supreme, but the fandom they inspire isnt just about watching or reading or playing.

In the case of cosplay  a contraction of the words costume and play  its about wearing a costume and accessories to represent a favourite character.

Whether youre recreating Spider-Mans red and blue suit or Elsa from Frozens blue dress, cosplay is the ultimate act of public homage.

Next weekend Melbourne will draw cosplayers from around the country for Oz Comic-Con, where alongside the international stars on stage the floors will be thronged with cosplayers sharing their allegiances.
Even film buffs won't know this. There's two films, not one, in the making about Ned Kelly.

First The True History of the Kelly Gang. Stars - Russell Crowe at Harry Power and George Mackay (Captain Fantastic) as Ned Kelly. Budget - millions of dollars. Based on - Peter Carey's novel he described to the State Library of Victoria as 'the most invented, made up book I've ever written'. Director - Justin Kurzel.

Ben Head (right), a film and TV student, with cameraman Ben Thompson. Credit:Justin McManus

Then there's the other one. Stringybark (that's the name of the creek where Kelly shot dead in cold blood the three officers sent to arrest him). Stars - Greg Stone (Van Diemen's Land, Blue Heelers, Neighbours), who plays one of the police officers). Budget - pretty small, well, $15,000 to be precise. Based on - historical fact and seen from the police side of things. Director: Ben Head, a 19-year-old film and TV student at Victorian College of the Arts (that's where Justin Kurzel went).
There were power blackouts, some flooding and uprooted trees, but WA has escaped relatively unscathed after the first major cold front of winter swept the state.

The wild and woolly weather is not over yet with the back edge of the cold front to pass the Perth metropolitan area by about 2pm.

The storm was hardly noticable in the Perth CBD on Tuesday morning but more than 40,000 WA homes from Kalbarri to Albany had lost power by noon as the front passed.

By noon the storm had cut power to 40,000 homes across the state. Credit:Western Power

State Emergency Services said they had responded to more than 50 calls for help across WA since 6pm on Monday, and the South West experienced the full force of the cold front early on Monday night.
Dont be fooled by last week's China ZhejiangAustralia Trade and Investment Symposium in Sydney. For all the positive spin put on the event, Canberra is increasingly wary of the influence Beijing reaps from its investments.

But Chinas influence doesnt flow solely from this. It uses a combination of diplomatic and political pressure, manipulation of its diaspora, illicit financing of political parties, and propaganda. According to some, Beijing spends up to US$10 billion ($13 billion) a year on its overseas operations. If this sounds familiar, it is because these are tactics taken straight from the KGB playbook Russia has followed for well over a decade.

Chinese President Xi Jinping. Credit:AP

Russias aim has been to portray itself as a great power on the world stage. Its tactics are often crude and short-term. Chinas, by contrast, are slow-burning and systemic. Beijings ultimate ambition is to create a Sino-centric regional order, based around tianxia  an imperial concept that puts China at the centre of nations. This strategy is in full force in Australia.

The effects are striking. Former Labor foreign affairs minister and one-time NSW premier Bob Carr is facing demands that he be expelled from the party because of his deep links to China; he directs a think tank founded with a donation from a Chinese billionaire with close Communist Party links and is alleged to have enlisted Labor senator Kristina Keneally to use estimate hearings to ask pro-China questions. Last December, Sam Dastyari resigned from the party over his dealings with a Chinese billionaire.
Washington: US President Donald Trump, under pressure from Special Counsel Robert Mueller's investigation into Russia's role in the 2016 US election, probably has the power to pardon himself but does not plan to do so, his lawyer Rudy Giuliani says.

Asked whether Trump hads the power to give himself a pardon, Giuliani said, "He's not, but he probably does."

Giuliani added that Trump "has no intention of pardoning himself" but that the US Constitution, which gives a president the authority to issue pardons, "doesn't say he can't".

"It would be an open question. I think it would probably get answered by, gosh, that's what the constitution says," Giuliani told ABC's This Week program on Sunday.
Janie Dee is an Olivier Award-winning actress with a career spanning over 30 years. Her West End debut came in Gillian Lynne's 1986 revival of Cabaret, and since then her musical credits in town include Cats, Show Boat and Mack and Mabel, as well as productions of Carousel and Follies at the National Theatre. However her CV contains just as many credits in plays including work at Shakespeare's Globe, the Royal Court, the Old Vic and Broadway. She is currently starring in the UK tour of Torben Betts' Monogamy, which plays the Park Theatre from 6 June to 7 July. Below she tells us about her career spanning musicals and plays, what it's like to tour the country and how her latest role came about.





It's very interesting to travel with the work, audiences are so different. It was a lot tougher in York, as soon as you go north you get a slightly more discerning and trickier audience. It's a bit like when I went to Russia in A Midsummer Night's Dream with the Globe. We'd been in China and they treated us like rockstars and then we were suddenly in Russia and of course they really know their stuff, the first act we were coming off saying 'oh my god there's not a peep' and then after the interval we had fantastic reactions and a standing ovation at the end. It's very similar in York.

Monogamy really holds a mirror up to nature, in quite a cruel way sometimes, but that's important. I play a celebrity chef who works from home, the cameras come to her and you find us filming the show. When the recording stops it isn't quite what you thought it was. She's a mother of three, the second or third wife of her husband and as the play progresses it looks at both her celebrity status and her status as a woman in the house.

I thought Torben Betts was drunk when he told me he'd written a play for me. It was three years ago, we were having a drink after the opening night of The Seagull, which Torben had translated for Regent's Park Open Air Theatre. He said to me 'by the way I've written you a play,' but I didn't take it seriously. So it's quite momentous that we're actually doing it now.

Genevieve Gaunt and Janie Dee in Monogamy

 Simon Annand

Someone once told me that I must stop telling people I could sing and dance because I'd never be taken seriously as an actress. And I thought how dare anybody tell me to shut up my talent in an embarrassed cupboard. It was actually my agent at the time, and I said that if they didn't take me seriously it was their problem. To me, drama and musical theatre is the same beast.

Follies returning is very exciting because I didn't feel like I completely nailed it the first time. So it's very nice to be able to have a bit longer with it. I said to Dominic [Cooke, the director] that I think there's a bit more there to be mined and he agreed. There is the worry that the expectations are going to be even higher, and of course we don't have Imelda this time round, but I just feel lucky to be able to do it again.

I tend to just go with the flow, but I'd love to do some Tennessee Williams or Arthur Miller. I've also got a couple of stories of my own that I think I'm going to try and tell soon.
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The lure of the unknown is ever prevalent  but could there be hidden booty?

British caving has achieved so much over the past fifty years, it seemed time to celebrate both the science and exploration.

Marion Dowd presents us with a superb resume of Irelands archaeological remains and what they tell us of the islands past.

Seeking to restore access to one of Mendips renowned sites, the team discovered more than they expected.

The Riesending in Germany was the site of a major cave rescue in 2014. The media reported on it widely with many inaccurate descriptions  so what is the cave actually like both to descend and to push?

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Hey there, time traveller!

This article was published 4/6/2018 (1228 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

In the spring of 1964, Nelson Mandela delivered a speech.

The anti-apartheid leader was standing on trial for sabotage and, in a courtroom in South Africa, he uttered the words that would be quoted for decades to come.

"I have cherished the ideal of a democratic and free society in which all persons live together in harmony and with equal opportunities. It is an ideal which I hope to live for and achieve. But if needs be, it is an ideal for which I am prepared to die."

Mandela was convicted and imprisoned for 27 years, 18 of which were served on Robben Island, a fortress off the coast of Cape Town where South Africas political prisoners were exiled. But his fight against apartheid  a system of white supremacy and institutionalized racial segregation and discrimination that lasted in South Africa from 1948 until the 1990s  was not over. Mandela continued to resist and mobilize from his 8-by-7 foot concrete cell, and, he remained at the centre of an international human-rights movement despite only having contact with a handful of people.

After his release in February 1990, Mandela would go on become the first democratically elected president and black head of state in South Africa and receive the Nobel Peace Prize. He remains a revered figure around the world and especially in South Africa, where hes referred to by his Xhosa clan name, Madiba, as a sign of respect and affection. He died in 2013, at the age of 95.

MIKAELA MACKENZIE / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS The new Mandela: Struggle for Freedom exhibit at the Canadian Museum for Human Rights in Winnipeg.

Mandelas story is a stirring, inspirational tale of resistance, resilience and struggle. As 2018 is the centennial of Mandelas birth, the Canadian Museum for Human Rights is presenting Mandela: Struggle for Freedom, an innovative, interactive exhibition that puts visitors right inside Mandelas story. The exhibit officially opens on June 8. There is a free opening event on June 7, and tonight, the show will be feted with a gala at which former Canadian prime minister Brian Mulroney, who was a key anti-apartheid ally of Mandelas in the 1980s, will speak.

Mandela: Struggle for Freedom is about Mandela, its not only about Mandela. Many people around the world, including here in Canada, joined his struggle. Canadas role in the fight against apartheid in South Africa was one of the stories Isabelle Masson, the exhibitions curator, was interested in exploring within the context of this show.

"The idea was to talk to Canadians that had been involved in the struggle, that joined the struggle and called for the Canadians to impose formal sanctions on South Africa to bring about change," she says. "Whats the relation of this story to whats happening here in Canada, and how Canadians were involved?"

MIKAELA MACKENZIE / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS The new Mandela: Struggle for Freedom exhibit at the Canadian Museum for Human Rights in Winnipeg.

As part of her research, she interviewed a wide cross-section of Canadians, from student activists to former United Nations ambassador Stephen Lewis. There were two questions she asked of everyone: When did you become aware? and When did you become involved?

"I wanted to speak to Canadians from different backgrounds and different locations who felt that this story was their story," she says. "Those conversations were fascinating, and it was an interesting story about solidarity, social movement, and Canadians from different backgrounds calling for sanctions, calling for change and, and some point, finding that a distant struggle is something they care about."

Visitors will be able to hear the audio from six of those interviews in what is just one of the interactive installations to be found in Mandela: Struggle for Freedom.

MIKAELA MACKENZIE / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS Curator Isabelle Masson poses in the new Mandela: Struggle for Freedom exhibit at the Canadian Museum for Human Rights.

Masson remembers when she was personally galvanized by Mandelas story. "I was present for the first democratic election in South Africa in 1994, and that experience had a profound impact on what I cared about in life," she says. "It made me passionate about politics for my life since."

Mandela: Struggle for Freedom was developed in partnership with the Apartheid Museum in Johannesburg. Masson also worked closely with a range of other South African institutions, including the District 6 Museum in Cape Town, the Nelson Mandela Foundation, as well as the Mayibuye Archives at the Robben Island Museum. The exhibition includes more than 40 artifacts.

Travelling to South Africa and seeing how South Africans tell Mandelas story was crucial in building a richer, more representative exhibition, Masson says.

MIKAELA MACKENZIE / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS The new Mandela: Struggle for Freedom exhibit at the Canadian Museum for Human Rights in Winnipeg.

"In all instances, I think there was a trust relationship to be built over time," she says. "Theres always a question of how, in our case, people from Canada in our own context, how they will take stories and what they will do with them, how they will represent them  that concern is always present. You have to come to this as the building of a relationship. That is a very interesting part of curation that presents its challenges, but its the foundation of building something thats true and connected to the experience of South African people."

Another challenge? Drilling down a massive, complex story into a tidy, narrative arc. Here, Mandelas story is divided into five chapters: Apartheid, Defiance, Repression, Mobilization, and Freedom. Visitors will begin their journey in Apartheid and end in Freedom.

This is not an artifacts-behind-glass kind of show. "Ive said it before and Ive heard it before, but an exhibit is not a book on the wall," Masson says. "You want to be creating moments and experiences."

MIKAELA MACKENZIE / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS The new Mandela: Struggle for Freedom exhibit at the Canadian Museum for Human Rights in Winnipeg.

Rob Vincent led the exhibition design for Mandela: Struggle for Freedom. Everything from audio and video to colour is used to tell the story.

"Youre really able to create a really emotional experience with design, and thats something we really wanted to do within each of the five chapters," Vincent says.

A striking example is the first section, Apartheid. "Its very black and white, and really in your face," Vincent says. Visitors are met by a hulking wall, plastered with dozens of restrictive and discriminatory apartheid-era laws. The wall is intentionally designed to feel oppressive; it leans toward visitors. "You have a better understanding, emotionally, what apartheid means," Vincent says.

MIKAELA MACKENZIE / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS The new Mandela: Struggle for Freedom exhibit at the Canadian Museum for Human Rights in Winnipeg.

The word apartheid is Afrikaans, and is commonly translated as "separateness." Heid comes from Dutch, meaning hood. The literal translation, then, is "apart-hood." Vincent and the designers wanted to represent that idea visually. "We were taking some of the images Isabelle found and separating the individuals within the image to show that apartness," Vincent says.

There are many other moments of clever, interactive design  such as a set that looks like an average South African living room but, on closer investigation, is the site of resistance. "We had lots of fun," Masson says.

In addition to moments of discovery, there are also moments meant to inspire discussion, particularly around the move to armed resistance. "We dont shy away from what is entailed in the conversation about the struggle, so the question of being a freedom fighter versus being a terrorist," Masson says. "The turn to armed struggle is something people will debate and have conversations about. So we present how Mandela sees his own struggle, believing in the right for people to defend themselves against oppression and that, in fact, for them they see themselves as freedom fighters."

MIKAELA MACKENZIE / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS Curator Isabelle Masson poses in the new Mandela: Struggle for Freedom exhibit at the Canadian Museum for Human Rights.

Further on, a massive replica of a Casspir armoured vehicle stands in direct opposition to South African children, who are armed only with trash-can lids.

"You can really grasp the struggle," Masson says. "Once you have the music and the lighting, what will take over is the energy of resistance. Youll hear anti-apartheid music playing in the space, youll have the sound of people toyi-toying (toyi-toyi is a form of protest song and dance). Its that energy we want to convey." Visitors can also design their own protest posters using an interactive table that behaves like an tablet. The posters are then shown on screens alongside original posters from the Mayibuye Archives. The installation illustrates how critical grassroots activism was to the global anti-apartheid movement.

The exhibitions piece de resistance, however, is the recreation of Mandelas Robben Island prison cell. Being inside the close physical space is a visceral experience, but its also a hopeful one, thanks to its audio-visual storytelling element. "It shows how much he was still able to do while within this 6-10 by 7-10 space," Vincent says.

MIKAELA MACKENZIE / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS Volunteer models Jamil Zahoor, left, and Andree Forest try out the poster-making activity in the new Mandela: Struggle for Freedom exhibit at the Canadian Museum for Human Rights.

The final chapter, Freedom, includes compelling artifacts, including the page Mandela signed in the Canadian governments Golden Book just a few months after his release, thanking Canadians for their support.

The Freedom section presented its own curatorial challenges.

"There were a few things we needed to do in Freedom," Masson says. "People might remember where they were when Mandela walked out of jail, but from the moment of his release in 1990 to the democratic elections, theres quite a bit of a story to be told. The country almost falls into the most bloody civil war. Its really the story about this negotiated revolution, and its a difficult story. Violence is all around you and thousands of people are being killed.

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MIKAELA MACKENZIE / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS The new Mandela: Struggle for Freedom exhibit at the Canadian Museum for Human Rights in Winnipeg.

"The goal was not to tell a romantic story of this happy ending," she adds. "There was a lot to do here. What we decided we needed to cover was to focus on Mandelas role in two things: the democratic transformation of South Africa and reconciliation."

South Africa launched a post-apartheid Truth and Reconciliation Commission, which inspired Canadas own TRC that focused on abuse at Indian residential schools and documented Aboriginal survivors experiences. This section offers opportunities to reflect on Canadas own colonial past and present.

"In the process of developing the story of the exhibit, we had to consider this and how we would approach this," Masson says. "What became apparent is that we couldnt handle telling two similar but different historical stories of colonialism at the same time, within one show. What we did with Mandela was made reference to Canada in text, through interviews, wherever there was a connection. Not to say it was the same story of colonial oppression and racial oppression today, but there are parallel moments and issues that you can look at and think, and provide an opportunity for reflection on your own context."

The things Mandela spent his life fighting for  equality, freedom and justice for all  are still being fought for around the world. Perhaps Mandela: Struggle for Freedom will get people thinking about those struggles, close and distant, and ask themselves Massons questions: When did you become aware? And when did you become involved?

jen.zoratti@freepress.mb.ca

Twitter: @JenZoratti
OTTAWA  The Assembly of Manitoba Chiefs says persistent barriers to registering for Indian status may derail the federal Liberals reconciliation efforts in Manitoba.

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This article was published 4/6/2018 (1228 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

OTTAWA  The Assembly of Manitoba Chiefs says persistent barriers to registering for Indian status may derail the federal Liberals reconciliation efforts in Manitoba.

This month, Ottawa will launch a review of who should qualify for Indian status, a concession the Liberals offered during a standoff last year with Manitoba senators.

But Grand Chief Arlen Dumas said federal bureaucrats are making it "very difficult and cumbersome" for those who already qualify to register.

Two years ago, the Winnipeg office where registrations took place closed to the public.

First Nations People require Indian status to access their treaty rights as well as services such as dental care. In December, Parliament passed Bill S-3 to rectify parts of the Indian Act that stripped status from women who married non-Indigenous men, as well as their descendants.

The new law rectifies the lineage issue dating back to 1951. Sens. Marilou McPhedran and Murray Sinclair pushed the government to expand it to the 1867 start of the Indian Act.

After emotional outbursts in Parliament and a scathing court ruling, the Liberals ultimately agreed to the Senates demand, but only after conducting a one-year consultation with First Nations.

Ottawa expected from 28,000 to 35,000 people to register under the initial changes to the act, but the Free Press reported that only 2,983 had applied as of May 2. Ottawa is reviewing 4,000 older applications.

Dumas said those numbers are low because Ottawa keeps making it tougher for Manitobans to register, especially for those most in need of the services that come with Indian status, such as people who dont have a permanent home.

Winnipeggers used to be able to walk into the registration office at 365 Hargrave St. until protesters occupied that building in 2016 during a suicide crisis on reserves. After the six-week protest, staff restricted the office to appointments only.

Indigenous Services Canada wouldnt say whether it will reopen the Winnipeg office to walk-ins. "We understand the inconvenience this may cause and we encourage clients to call for assistance or to book an appointment," wrote spokeswoman Martine Stevens.

The AMC said people have to schedule appointments around child care and work, at times getting an automated response with an appointment time that might not work for them.

The phone line accepts calls 10 a.m. to noon and 1 to 4 p.m., Monday to Friday. The department says it received 2,900 calls from March 15 to May 25, 93 per cent of which were answered by employees; the rest went to voice mail, which has a three-day response target.

In May 2017, the AMC said it proposed that ISC house an Indian-status card counter at its Eagle Urban Transition Centre, which offers everything from job training and cultural activities to referrals to a food bank. The assembly said it reached out to ISC multiple times, but never heard back.

"We could actually work with the department, so that we could help facilitate and expedite how we register our people," Dumas said. ISC acknowledged "informal discussions" about the proposal. "We are open to exploring these options with our partners," Stevens wrote.

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Dumas said the bureaucracy responds much faster when it wants to. Recently, officials visited a First Nation that was part of a settlement in Manitobas 2011 floods, to register locals for status under the terms of that agreement.

"Magically, the department had a rolling office that was able to give people their status cards on the spot," Dumas said.

"When they want to, or when they need to, theyre able to do it fairly quickly. But there seems to be an obstructionist relationship there, in regards to registering our children."

Dumas said the issue is so central to First Nations leaders that it risks derailing the Liberals approach to reconciliation.

"They want us to tell them what it is we want, and weve been doing that," he said. "Its coming close to a time where were going to have to start questioning their words, because they dont seem to be honouring those sentiments."

dylan.robertson@freepress.mb.ca
It is an inescapable truth of politics that the legacy of any politician is more often defined by shortcomings than successes.

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This article was published 4/6/2018 (1228 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Opinion

It is an inescapable truth of politics that the legacy of any politician is more often defined by shortcomings than successes.

Take former prime minister Brian Mulroney. Bring up his name in conversation and youre likely to get people talking about the various free trade agreements Mulroney championed, or the introduction of the GST. Or, perhaps you might remember Mulroneys valiant but vain attempts to bring Quebec fully back into the federal fold in the failed Meech Lake and Charlottetown constitutional accords.

However, thats hardly a complete accounting of the accomplishments of Mulroney and his Progressive Conservative government. In addition to all of the controversy and conflict, there were shining moments of courage and progress, some of which will be celebrated tonight at the Canadian Museum for Human Rights.

To mark the opening of a new exhibit on former South African president Nelson Mandela  a collaboration with the South African Apartheid Museum in Johannesburg  Mulroney will be honoured at a gala dinner for his contributions to the global campaign against apartheid.

In the late 1980s and into the early 1990s, as university campuses across Canada were in the grips of sometimes violent protests against apartheid, the Mulroney government did play a key role in helping to mobilize international pressure against South Africa to free Mandela and end its official policy of segregation.

"Canada was very vocal and effective in specific moments with its stand against apartheid within the Commonwealth," said Isabelle Masson, the curator of the Mandela exhibit at the museum.

The origins of Mulroneys passionate interest in South Africa go back more than two decades before he became Canadas first minister.

Mulroney has frequently told a story about how he went to the Chateau Laurier hotel in the spring of 1961 with a bunch of other university students to welcome then-prime minister John Diefenbaker back from the seminal Commonwealth of Nations heads of state conference in London, where Canada had played a key role in the expulsion of South Africa.

South Africa was in the process of becoming a republic following a referendum on a new constitution in which black citizens were prevented from voting. As a result, South Africas continued membership in the Commonwealth was being challenged by many African nations and India. Diefenbaker was the only white Commonwealth leader to join in condemning South Africa and demanding that it publicly denounce official apartheid.

Mulroney has said that Diefenbakers courageous stand helped motivate him to take up the anti-apartheid cause when he became prime minister 23 years later. History confirms that just three months after he won a thunderous majority government in the fall of 1984, Mulroney met with South African Bishop Desmond Tutu in Ottawa, where he encouraged Canada to push other nations to exert pressure on South Africa.

In a 2015 article he wrote for the Globe and Mail, Mulroney said he told his new cabinet shortly after taking power that "it would be a priority of my government to press the case for Nelson Mandelas liberation, the destruction of the apartheid system, the unbanning of the African National Congress... and the building of a non-racial democratic society in South Africa."

Mulroney used Canadas unique global network at the time to encourage other nations to join the cause. Then-foreign affairs minister Joe Clark, and Stephen Lewis, Canadas ambassador to the United Nations, exerted quiet diplomatic pressure.

Mulroney also wrote of using Canadas profile as the only industrialized nation to be a member of the G-7, the United Nations, the Commonwealth, La Francophonie and the Organization of American States.

Mulroneys stand on South Africa was not without its risks. He has admitted over the years that British prime minister Margaret Thatcher and U.S. president Ronald Reagan, both of whom were close to Mulroney, did not appreciate Canadas anti-apartheid efforts.

However, Canadas middle-power influence did not go unnoticed by Mandela, who called Mulroney personally the day after he was released in February 1990. And in June, just four months after his release, he visited Ottawa and became the last dignitary who was not a head of state to address Parliament. "Canada is an important presence in much of what we have achieved, and what we are building," Mandela told Parliament that day.

Mulroneys relationship with Mandela, and with the people of South Africa, would continue to be celebrated. Mandela would make two additional trips to Canada, including 2001 when then-prime minister Jean Chretien made him the first-ever honorary Canadian. The Mulroney-Mandela relationship was again referenced in 2016, when 300 South African firefighters travelled to Fort McMurray, Alta., to help battle wildfires.

Longtime friend Stuart Murray, who worked as staff for Mulroney in the mid-1990s, said he remembers there was a pressing interest in seeking progress on South Africa shortly after the Tories won a majority in the 1984 election. Murray, who was instrumental in arranging for Mulroney to attend the opening of the museums Mandela exhibit, said Mulroney has always been "very passionate" about Mandela and considered him a friend for many years after his release.

"When Mandela came to Canada, it was his way of saying to Mulroney and the people of Canada, thank you for your support," said Murray, who also served as the CEO of the museum at its inception. "It was one of his greatest honours."

The Mandela exhibit and the Mulroney gala may not be celebrated by all Canadians. Throughout the 1980s and 1990s when Canada was doing what it could to help campaign against apartheid, many student protesters found the diplomatic approach espoused by western nations too tepid. And many of Canadas indigenous people found Mulroneys interest in South African apartheid maddeningly ironic given the severe poverty and dysfunction that was a part of life for those living on reserves.

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Many Manitobans will remember former Peguis chief Louis Stevensons controversial 1987 invitation to Glenn Babb, then South Africas ambassador to Canada. Babb toured the impoverished First Nation north of Winnipeg with a legion of national and international reporters in tow as part of a concerted effort to embarrass the Mulroney government into taking action to improve on-reserve living conditions.

Still, the exhibit and the gala serve as a good example of the good work that the museum itself can do to help Canadian understand complex issues and Canadas role in the world.

Often maligned for being too arcane or academic, the events of this week are an excellent reminder of how the museum can play an important role in reviving important debates over issues like racism, segregation and foreign relations.

And also to remind Canadians that despite our own shortcomings, the country and its leaders have at times played an important role in promoting human rights.

dan.lett@freepress.mb.ca
The Manitoba Metis Federation will face off in court June 25 against the provincial government over orders Premier Brian Pallister gave Manitoba Hydro to kill a land-entitlement deal.

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This article was published 4/6/2018 (1227 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

The Manitoba Metis Federation will face off in court June 25 against the provincial government over orders Premier Brian Pallister gave Manitoba Hydro to kill a land-entitlement deal.

Separately, the MMF plans to file a breach of contract lawsuit against the government over that same order Pallister imposed on Hydro March 21.

"The Metis nation will come at you with everything we've got," MMF president David Chartrand told a news conference Monday. "Pallister decided to make it a specific fight against Metis people."

The June 25 hearing in Court of Queen's Bench is an application by the MMF to seek a judicial review  it would heard at a later date if the Metis are successful  that the federation hopes would eventually quash Pallister's order to Hydro to cancel a $67.5-million deal with the MMF.

The MMF's application names Pallister, Crown Services Minister Cliff Cullen, cabinet, the provincial government and the Manitoba Hydro board.

"There is no trust," Chartrand declared Monday morning, adding the premier is going against everything this country is trying to do to achieve reconciliation with Indigenous people.

The application also seeks "declaratory relief" from the court, which MMF lawyer Jason Madden explained would mean that the court would repudiate statements made by Pallister and Cullen that the MMF is a special-interest group, and that the deal was hush money to buy off the MMF.

The MMF considers Pallister and Cullen to be aggressively taunting Indigenous people in an era of reconciliation, Madden told reporters.

"The comments towards the founders of the province, Riel's people, are deeply offensive," Madden said.

However, if the MMF achieves declaratory relief, the court would make a statement and the premier would not be compelled to apologize or retract anything he's said.

Pallister contends Hydro and the MMF were discussing a proposal; Chartrand believes they agreed on a deal.

Madden said a 2014 tripartite agreement signed by the province gave Hydro and the MMF bilateral authority to reach deals that Madden and fellow MMF lawyer Tom Isaac said are common across Canada.

"It breaches the honour of the Crown  it breaches a constitutional principle," Madden said.

The MMF is upholding its side of the agreement with Hydro by not opposing the proposed $453-million transmission line project to Minnesota in 2020, Madden said. The National Energy Board began hearings into the project Monday in Winnipeg.

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Chartrand vowed to do everything legally possible to force Pallister and Cullen to appear and be questioned as witnesses, but his lawyers cautioned that they can't be compelled to appear.

Madden said that each side will sign and file affidavits. If the court rules that it will hear a judicial review, then the government can question Chartrand on his affidavits. However, the government decides who will sign its affidavits.

"We don't get to pick in the judicial review, we don't know who the Crown will put forward. They shouldn't be putting up bureaucrats, but that's ultimately their choice," Madden said.

Pallister did not comment on the issue Monday, but Cullen issued a prepared statement saying the government is aware of the court filing.

"We have been clear in our position from the start that this is merely a proposal, a bad deal for Manitoba taxpayers, and would take away the constitutional rights of Metis children and grandchildren to be consulted on major projects for years to come. Our government looks forward to defending our position in court," the statement said.

nick.martin@freepress.mb.ca
The Free Press reported recently about an Indigenous man who served more than six months in jail after pleading guilty to a break and enter (Man serves six months after pleading guilty to crime he couldnt have committed, May 22). It later came to light that the man was innocent of the crime because he had been incarcerated at the time the incident occurred.

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This article was published 4/6/2018 (1228 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Opinion

The Free Press reported recently about an Indigenous man who served more than six months in jail after pleading guilty to a break and enter ("Man serves six months after pleading guilty to crime he couldnt have committed," May 22). It later came to light that the man was innocent of the crime because he had been incarcerated at the time the incident occurred.

This story should give us pause to consider factors leading people into the criminal justice system  and what happens to them when they get there.

Interviews I conducted at the Womens Correctional Centre with 42 women (most of whom were Indigenous) shed light on reasons why they become entangled in the criminal justice system. Most evident in their stories was the trauma and related pain they have experienced.

The womens early years were troubled by unsettled home lives, being taken into care, problems at school, pregnancy at an early age and initiation into the world of street gangs and the drug and sex trades. Exposure to sexual exploitation and violence became part of their "normal."

As adults, the women encountered more trauma: abuse in their intimate relationships, losing custody of their children and the untimely deaths of loved ones. Several had lost sisters and friends who are counted among the many missing and murdered Indigenous women and girls in Canada.

Turning to drugs and alcohol became a ready coping strategy for alleviating the pain generated by that trauma. This coping strategy often brought them into conflict with the law.

Some of the women were either so high on drugs or blacked out on alcohol that they had no memory of the events leading to their charges. When Margarets sister and father died, she turned to drugs to cope. She ended up being convicted on two robbery charges and a break and enter. Margaret told me: "Im trying to remember what the (police) report said. Cause I, honestly, I barely remember what happened. I just remember blacking out and being on the ground at gunpoint and then coming to in the police station."

Once accused of committing a criminal offence, the women were faced with onerous conditions  including abstaining from drugs and alcohol  if they were to be released on bail. In effect, they had to refrain from living the only life that they knew. This set them up to fail.

One review of Manitoba bail cases found that the requirement to abstain from alcohol was imposed in 46 per cent of cases and from drugs in 41 per cent of cases. As one Alberta judge has noted, "Ordering an alcoholic not to drink is tantamount to ordering the clinically depressed to just cheer up."

Breaching bail conditions leads to more charges. Administration of justice offences  such as failing to comply with conditions  was the most serious charge in 23 per cent of Canadian adult criminal court cases completed in 2013-14. Breaching also meant the women were likely to be taken into remand custody.

Despite declining crime rates, remand numbers across Canada are increasing. There are now more adults in provincial lockups on remand  i.e. not proven guilty of an offence  than have been sentenced. Manitoba has one of the highest remand rates. In 2014-15, 67 per cent of adults admitted to provincial custody in Manitoba were being held on remand; Indigenous people represented 70 per cent of that population.

Once taken into remand custody  sometimes for months and even years  the women were motivated to plead guilty "just to get it over with."

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Most criminal cases are concluded with a finding of guilt. But very few cases go to trial. Researchers have found that Indigenous people are more likely to plead guilty than are non-Indigenous people, and women plead guilty at a higher rate than men.

For some of the women I interviewed, given their limited knowledge of the law and legal process, pleading guilty seemed to be the most expedient thing to do. In some cases, women even "took the rap" for offences they didnt commit. Sometimes they made this decision due to loyalties to family or friends. Other times, pleading guilty seemed the only option when the alternative was to "rat" on the person who was really responsible for the offence, which could have prompted even more serious consequences.

Natalie was staying at her friends house. The police showed up one night and found a cache of drugs. Natalie was charged with drug possession and trafficking. She chose not to contest the charges, as doing so would have meant naming her friends boyfriend, who happened to be a member of a biker gang. Natalie got sentenced to 30 months of incarceration.

Clearly, drugs and drinking are implicated in the womens conflicts with the law. Gabor Mate, a doctor whose work in Vancouvers Downtown Eastside has placed him into "close encounters with addiction," notes, "All addictions always originate in pain, whether felt openly or hidden in the unconscious. They are emotional anesthetics." So the question we need to ask is not "Why the addiction?" but "Why the pain?"

The stories told by the women at the correctional centre reveal their lived experience of trauma and the pain it generates. What logically follows is that we need to do more to find solutions to the underlying problems causing that trauma and pain. Unless we address the social sources of the trauma, women will continue to be caught up in the criminal justice system.

Elizabeth Comack is a professor of sociology and criminology at the University of Manitoba. Her book, Coming Back to Jail: Women, Trauma, and Criminalization, will be launched at McNally Robinson Booksellers Grant Park on Thursday at 7 p.m.
It sometimes takes appreciation from afar to make us look with fresh eyes at a gem some of us take for granted. Such is the case with the former Carnegie Library.

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This article was published 4/6/2018 (1228 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Editorial

It sometimes takes appreciation from afar to make us look with fresh eyes at a gem some of us take for granted. Such is the case with the former Carnegie Library.

The building at 380 William Ave. was listed recently by the National Trust for Canada as one of 10 historic sites most "endangered" in 2018, due to neglect or lack of funding.

It was cited as "one of those iconic buildings in the city waiting for some kind of revival."

Its unsurprising Winnipeg has a warm historical attachment to the building.

Generations of readers enjoyed it as a hub of literary enlightenment and socialization between its opening in 1905  with the support of a donation from American philanthropist Andrew Carnegie  and its closure as a library in 1995, when it became the site of the official city archives.

Perhaps even more important than the fate of the building, however, is the fate of its contents.

Archived material was removed from the building after a downpour in 2013 caused roof damage. Some records were ruined by water, but most of the precious material was rescued and removed by archivists who feared further moisture damage.

Currently, the citys archives are distributed among two smaller locations: the Corporate Records Centre at 311 Ross Ave. and leased space in an industrial area at 50 Myrtle St., a site accurately denigrated as a "metal shed."

The initial understanding was that moving the archives was a temporary solution in an emergency. Unfortunately, five years later, the archives remain stranded at sites that are a national embarrassment by the professional standards of archivists trying to protect fragile material from as early as the 19th century.

The archives are officially valued at $4 million but are priceless to Winnipeg as an irreplaceable memory keeper.

The Association for Manitoba Archives has called on the City of Winnipeg to return to its original plan, which was to renovate Carnegie Library to be a suitable home for the archives.

The archivists note it would be a fitting time to restore the Carnegie Library as the province prepares for two upcoming historic landmarks, the 150th anniversary of Manitoba in 2020 and the 150th anniversary of Winnipeg in 2023.

That would be an ideal and overdue solution, except that no one seems to know how much it would cost. There hasnt been a clear public estimate of the price tag to restore the former Carnegie Library into a suitable archives.

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How badly was the interior damaged in the rain storms and has it been neglected in the five subsequent years? The City of Winnipeg has the keys to the building and has been accused of being less than forthcoming with details about the interior condition.

Cindy Tugwell, executive director of Heritage Winnipeg, said questions about the buildings interior, such as whether mould continues to grow, dont garner a "straight answer" from the city. Her questions are reasonable; the citys stonewalling is not.

The city should commission a report that gives a full account of the buildings condition and the work required to complete its transformation into a state-of-the art archives facility.

With a cost estimate in hand, the next step is a decision on whether the building remains a financially prudent choice to house the citys archives. If it isnt, the city should, with haste, find a more suitable site where the archives can be reunited. The place should meet the professional standards of archivists so the material is secure and it should be a pleasant spot for the public to visit for research purposes.

As beautiful as it is, as beloved as it is by many people, the former Carnegie Library is bricks and mortar.

The more important matter is avoiding civic dementia. The archives chronicle Winnipegs rich history and culture  and should be safeguarded for future generations.
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Bank of Montreal provides diversified financial services primarily in North America. The company's personal banking products and services include checking and savings accounts, credit cards, mortgages, and financial and investment advice services; and commercial banking products and services comprise business deposit accounts, commercial credit cards, business loans and commercial mortgages, cash management solutions, foreign exchange, specialized banking programs, treasury and payment solutions, and risk management products for small business and commercial banking customers. It also offers investment and wealth advisory services; digital investing services; financial services and solutions; and investment management, and trust and custody services to institutional, retail, and high net worth investors. In addition, the company provides life insurance, accident and sickness insurance, and annuity products; creditor and travel insurance to bank customers; and reinsurance solutions. Further, it offers client's debt and equity capital-raising services, as well as loan origination and syndication, balance sheet management, and treasury management; strategic advice on mergers and acquisitions, restructurings, and recapitalizations, as well as valuation and fairness opinions; and trade finance, risk mitigation, and other operating services. Additionally, the company provides research and access to markets for institutional, corporate, and retail clients; trading solutions that include debt, foreign exchange, interest rate, credit, equity, securitization and commodities; new product development and origination services, as well as risk management advice and services to hedge against fluctuations; and funding and liquidity management services to its clients. It operates through approximately 1,400 bank branches and 4,800 automated banking machines in Canada and the United States. The company was founded in 1817 and is headquartered in Montreal, Canada.

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The following companies are subsidiares of Dover: ALMATEC Maschinenbau GmbH, Accelerated Production Systems, Advansor A/S, Advansor Dover International (Poland) sp. z o.o, Alfred Fueling Systems Holdco Ltd., Alfred Fueling Systems Inc., Alfred Fueling Systems Intermediate Holdco Ltd., All-Flo Pump Company Limited business, Anman LLC, Anthony Equity Holdings Inc., Anthony Holdings Inc., Anthony Inc., Anthony International Foreign Sales Corp., Anthony International Holding Company, Anthony Mexico Holdings LLC, Anthony North Holdco Inc., Anthony Specialty Glass LLC, Anthony TemperBent GP LLC, Automatik Grundstucksverwaltung GmbH & Co. KG, Automatik Plastics Machinery (Taiwan) Ltd., Automatik Plastics Machinery Sdn. Bhd., BSC Filters Limited, Background2 Limited, Belanger Inc., Belvac Middle East FZE, Belvac Production Machinery Inc., BlitzRotary GmbH, Butler Engineering and Marketing S.P.A., CEP Liquidation LLC, CP Formation LLC, CPC, CPC Europe Inc., CPI Products Inc., Caldera, Caldera Inc., Canada Organization & Development LLC, Chief Automotive Technologies (Shanghai) Trading Company Ltd., Chippewa Square Captive Insurance Company, Colder Products Company GmbH, Colder Products Company LTD, Cook Compression BV, Cook Compression LLC, Cook Compression Limited, Cook-MFS Inc., DD1 Inc., DDI Properties Inc., DE-STA-CO Benelux B.V., DE-STA-CO FRANCE, DE-STA-CO Shanghai Co. Ltd., DFH Corporation, DSR BZ Holdings LLC, De Sta Co (Asia) Company Limited, De-Sta-Co Cylinders Inc., DeStaCo Europe GmbH, Delaware Capital Formation Inc., Delaware Capital Holdings Inc., Destaco Ema Industria e Comercio Ltda., Dover (China) Investment Co. Ltd. , Dover (Schweiz) Holding GmbH, Dover (Shanghai) Industrial Co. Ltd., Dover (Shenzhen) Industrial Equipment Manufacturing Co. Ltd., Dover (Suzhou) Industrial Equipment Manufacturing Co. Ltd., Dover Asia Trading Private Ltd., Dover Australia Holdings Pty Limited, Dover Business Services EMEA Limited, Dover Business Services LLC, Dover Business Services Philippines Corporation, Dover CLP Formation Limited Partnership, Dover CR spol s r.o., Dover Canada Finance LP, Dover Canada Holdings ULC, Dover Canada Operations ULC, Dover Corporation Regional Headquarters, Dover DEI Services Inc., Dover Denmark Holdings ApS, Dover EMEA FZCO, Dover Energy, Dover Energy UK Ltd, Dover Engineered Systems Inc., Dover Engineered Systems UK Ltd, Dover Europe Inc., Dover Europe Sarl, Dover Fluids Inc., Dover Fluids UK Ltd, Dover France Holdings S.A.S., Dover France Participations SAS, Dover France Technologies, Dover Fueling Solutions UK Limited, Dover Germany GmbH, Dover Global Holdings LLC, Dover Global Trading Pte. Ltd., Dover Holdings de Mexico S.A. de C.V., Dover India Pvt. Ltd., Dover Intercompany Services UK Limited, Dover International B.V., Dover International Operations Inc., Dover International Ventures Inc., Dover International Ventures Tunisia S.a.r.l., Dover International ithalat ihracat ve Pazarlama Limited Sirketi, Dover Italy Holdings S.r.l., Dover Luxembourg Finance Sarl, Dover Luxembourg Participations Sarl, Dover Luxembourg S.a.r.l., Dover Luxembourg Services Sarl, Dover Operations South Africa (Pty) Ltd, Dover Overseas Ventures Inc., Dover Refrigeration & Food Equipment Inc., Dover Refrigeration & Food Equipment UK Ltd, Dover Resources International de Mexico S. de R.L. C.V., Dover Solutions Colombia SAS, Dover Southeast Asia (Thailand) Ltd., Dover Spain Holdings S.L., Dover UK Pensions Limited, Dover WSCR Holding LLC, Dover WSCR LLC, Dover do Brasil Ltda., Dow-Key Microwave Corporation, Dressor Wayne Data Technology (Shanghai) Co. Ltd., Dressor Wayne Fuel Equipment (Shanghai) Co. Ltd, EOA Systems Inc., Ebs-Ray Holdings Pty Ltd, Ebs-Ray Industries Pty. Ltd., Ebs-Ray Pumps Pty. Ltd., Em-tec GmbH, Ettlinger Kunststoffmaschinen GmbH, Ettlinger Management Inc., Ettlinger North America LP, Ettlinger Vertrieb und Service GmbH & Co. KG, Ettlinger Verwaltungs-GmbH, Fairbanks Environmental Limited, Ferguson CO. S.A., Fibrelite Composites Limited, Fibresec Holdings Limited, Fibresec Limited, Finder, Finder Oriental (Beijing) Trading Co. Ltd, Finder Pompe S.R.L., Finder United Saudi Arabia Company, GAL LLC, GIIER LLC, Gala Industries Asia Limited, Gala Industries Incorporated, Gala Kunststoff-und Kautschukmaschinen GmbH, Guangdong Tokheim LIYUAN Oil Industry Technology Limited Company, Highland Park Insurance Company, Hill PHOENIX Inc., Hill PHOENIX WIC LLC, Hill Phoenix Costa Rica Sociedad De Responsabilidad Limitada, Hill Phoenix El Salvador Limitada de Capital Variable, Hill Phoenix Guatemala Sociedad Anonima, Hill Phoenix Honduras Sociedad Anonima, Hill Phoenix Nicaragua Sociedad Anonima, Hill Phoenix de Mexico S.A. de C.V., Hiltap Fittings Ltd., Hydro Systems, Hydro Systems Europe Ltd., Hydronova Australia-NZ Pty Ltd, Industrial Motion Control LLC, Inpro/Seal LLC, International Trade and Equipment B.V., JK Group SPA, JK Group USA Inc., K&L Microwave DR Inc., K&L Microwave Inc., K. S. Boca Inc., KPS (Beijing) Petroleum Equipment Trading Co Ltd., KPS Asia Sdn. Bhd., KPS Fueling Solutions Sdn. Bhd., KPS Hong Kong Holding Limited, KPS UK Limited, KS Formation Inc., KS Liquidation Inc., KSLP Liquidation L.P., Kiian Digital (Shanghai) Co. Ltd., Knappco LLC, Lianyngang Jump Petroleum and Chemical Machinery Co. Ltd., Liquip, Liquip International Pty Limited, MARKEM FZ SA, MARKEM Holdings Inc., MARKEM International Inc., MARKEM S.A. de C.V., MARKEM Tag Inc., MARKEM UK Holdings 1 Unlimited, MARKEM UK Holdings 2 Limited, MIP Holdings Inc., MS Printing Solutions S.R.L., Maag Automatik GmbH, Maag Automatik Inc., Maag Automatik Plastics Machinery (Shanghai) Co. Ltd., Maag Automatik Srl, Maag Pump Systems (US) Inc., Maag Pump Systems AG, Maag Pump Systems SAS, Marathon Equipment Company (Delaware), Markem Imaje Center of Competencies Spain S.L.U., Markem-Imaje, Markem-Imaje (China) Co. Limited, Markem-Imaje A/S, Markem-Imaje AB, Markem-Imaje AG, Markem-Imaje AS, Markem-Imaje Application Innovation Center Sarl, Markem-Imaje B.V., Markem-Imaje CSAT GmbH, Markem-Imaje Co. Ltd., Markem-Imaje GmbH, Markem-Imaje Holding, Markem-Imaje Identificacao de Produtos Ltda., Markem-Imaje Inc., Markem-Imaje India Private Limited, Markem-Imaje Industries, Markem-Imaje Industries Limited, Markem-Imaje KK, Markem-Imaje LLC, Markem-Imaje Limited, Markem-Imaje Ltd., Markem-Imaje N.V., Markem-Imaje Oy, Markem-Imaje Pty Ltd, Markem-Imaje S.A., Markem-Imaje S.A. de C.V., Markem-Imaje S.r.l. a socio unico, Markem-Imaje SAS, Markem-Imaje Sdn Bhd, Markem-Imaje Software Development Centre Pvt. Ltd., Markem-Imaje Spain S.A.U, Markem-Imaje Unipessoal Lda (Portugal), Markpoint Holding AB, Midland Manufacturing LLC, Mouvex, Neptune Chemical Pump Company, Northern Lights (Nevada) Inc., Northern Lights Funding LP, Northern Lights Investments LLC, Nova Controls Inc., OK International (UK) Ltd., OK International Holdings Inc., OK International Inc., OPW Engineered Systems Inc., OPW Fluid Transfer Group Europe B.V., OPW Fluids Group Inc., OPW France, OPW Fuel Management Systems Inc., OPW Fueling Components (SuZhou) Co. Ltd., OPW Fueling Components LLC, OPW Iberia Sociedad Limitada, OPW Malaysia Sdn. Bhd., OPW Slovakia s.r.o., OPW Sweden AB, Officine Meccaniche Sirio S.R.L., PDQ Manufacturing Inc., PISCES by OPW Inc., PSG (Shanghai) Co. Ltd, PSG (Tianjin) Co. Ltd., PSG Worldwide Inc., Petro Vend Sp. z o.o., Pike Machine Products Inc., Piston OPW Inc., Pole/Zero Acquisition Inc., Precision Brasil Equipamentos E Servicos Para Postos De Combustiveis Ltda., Precision Service - Servicos De Manutencao E Instalacao De Postos De Abastecimento De Combustivel Ltda., Pump Management Services Co. LLC, RAV Equipment U.S.A. Inc., RAV Equipos Espana S.L., RAV France, Rav Equipment UK Limited, Ravaglioli Deutschland GmbH, Ravaglioli S.P.A., Reduction Engineering GmbH, Revod Corporation, Revod Finance Ireland Limited, Revod Luxembourg S.a.r.l., Revod SAS, Revod Sweden AB, Robohand Inc., Rosario Handel B.V., Rotary Lift Consolidated (Haimen) Co. Ltd, SE Liquidation LLC, SWEP A.G., SWEP Germany GmbH, SWEP Malaysia Sdn. Bhd., SWEP North America Inc., SWEP Slovakia s.r.o., SWEP Technology (Suzhou) Co. Ltd., Scheer Pelletizing Systems & Machinery (Shanghai) Co. Ltd, Scheer Taiwan Machinery Co. Ltd., Seabiscuit Motorsports Inc., Simmons Sirvey Corporation, So. Cal. Soft-Pak Incorporated, Solaris Laser S.A., Space S.R.L., Start Italiana Petrol Cihazlari Sanayi Ticaret Anonim Sirketi, Start Italiana S.R.L., Swep Energy Oy, Swep International A.B., Swep Japan K.K., Sys-Tech Solutions Inc., TQC Quantium Quality S.A. de C.V., TTSI III Inc., TWG Canada Consolidated Inc., TXHI LLC, Tartan Textile Services Inc., The Curotto-Can LLC, The Heil Co., Tokheim Belgium, Tokheim China Company Limited, Tokheim GmbH, Tokheim Group, Tokheim Guardian Venture Sdn. Bhd, Tokheim Hengshan Technologies (Guangzhou) Co. Ltd., Tokheim Holding, Tokheim Holding B.V., Tokheim India Private Limited, Tokheim Netherlands B.V., Tokheim Sofitam Applications, Trans - Logistic Group S.R.L., Tulsa Winch Inc., Unified Brands Inc., Val TemperBent Glass L.P., Vectron Frequency Devices (Shanghai) Co. Ltd, Vehicle Service Group LLC, Vos Food Store Equipment Ltd., Warn Automotive LLC, Waukesha Bearings, Waukesha Bearings Limited, Waukesha Bearings Russia LLC, Wayne Fuel Management UK Ltd., Wayne Fueling Systems (Rus) Limited Liability Company, Wayne Fueling Systems Australia Pty Ltd, Wayne Fueling Systems Canada ULC, Wayne Fueling Systems Deutschland GmbH, Wayne Fueling Systems Italia S.R.L., Wayne Fueling Systems LLC, Wayne Fueling Systems Ltd., Wayne Fueling Systems Pte. Ltd., Wayne Fueling Systems Sweden AB, Wayne Fueling Systems UK Holdco Ltd., Wayne Industria e Comercio Ltda., Wei Li Pump Shanghai Co. LTD., WellMark, and Wilden Pump and Engineering LLC.
SunTrust Banks, Inc. operates as the holding company for SunTrust Bank that provides various financial services for consumers, businesses, corporations, institutions, and not-for-profit entities in the United States. It operates in two segments, Consumer and Wholesale. The Consumer segment provides deposits and payments; home equity and personal credit lines; auto, student, and other lending products; credit cards; discount/online and full-service brokerage products; professional investment advisory products and services; and trust services, as well as family office solutions. This segment also offers residential mortgage products in the secondary market. The Wholesale segment provides capital markets solutions, including advisory, capital raising, and financial risk management; asset-based financing solutions, such as securitizations, asset-based lending, equipment financing, and structured real estate arrangements; cash management services and auto dealer financing solutions; investment banking solutions; and credit and deposit, fee-based product offering, multi-family agency lending, advisory, commercial mortgage brokerage, and tailored financing and equity investment solutions. This segment also offers treasury and payment solutions, such as operating various electronic and paper payment types, which comprise card, wire transfer, automated clearing house, check, and cash; and provides services clients to manage their accounts online. The company offers its products and services through a network of traditional and in-store branches, automated teller machines, Internet, mobile, and telephone banking channels. As of December 31, 2018, it operated 1,218 full-service banking offices located in Florida, Georgia, Virginia, North Carolina, Tennessee, Maryland, South Carolina, and the District of Columbia. SunTrust Banks, Inc. was founded in 1891 and is headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia.

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Bunge Ltd. operates as a holding company, which engages in the supply and transportation of agricultural commodities. It operates through the following segments: Agribusiness, Edible Oil Products, Milling Products, Sugar and Bioenergy, and Fertilizer. The Agribusiness segment involves in the purchase, storage, transportation, processing, and sale of agricultural commodities and commodity products. The Edible Oil Products segment includes production and sale of vegetable oils, shortenings, margarines, and mayonnaise. The Milling Products segment consists of production and sale of wheat flours, bakery mixes, corn-based products, and rice. The Sugar and Bioenergy segment comprises manufacture and marketing of sugar and ethanol derived from sugarcane, as well as energy derived from the sugar and ethanol production process. The Fertilizer segment focuses on producing, blending, and distributing fertilizer products for the agricultural industry. The company was founded by Johann Peter Gottlieb Bunge in 1818 and is headquartered in Chesterfield, MO.

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Everest Re Group Ltd. is a holding company, which engages in the provision of reinsurance and insurance services. It operates through the following segments: U.S. Reinsurance, International, Bermuda, and Insurance. The U.S. Reinsurance segment writes property and casualty reinsurance and specialty lines of business, including marine, aviation, surety, and accident and health business, on both a treaty and facultative basis, through reinsurance brokers, as well as directly with ceding companies primarily within the U.S. The International segment offers foreign property and casualty reinsurance through Everest Re's branches in Canada and Singapore and through offices in Brazil, Miami, and New Jersey. The Bermuda segment comprises reinsurance and insurance to worldwide property and casualty markets through brokers and directly with ceding companies from its Bermuda office and reinsurance to the United Kingdom and European markets through its UK branch and Ireland Re. The Insurance segment writes property and casualty insurance directly and through brokers, surplus lines brokers, and general agents within the U.S., Canada, and Europe. The company was founded in 1999 and is headquartere

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Glimcher Realty Trust (GRT), is an integrated, self-administered and self-managed Maryland REIT which was formed on September 1, 1993 to continue the business of The Glimcher Company and its affiliates, of owning, leasing, acquiring, developing and operating a portfolio of retail properties consisting of regional and super regional malls, and community shopping centers. The Properties consist of open-air centers, enclosed regional malls, outlet centers and community shopping centers. In March 2014, Glimcher Realty Trust completed the acquisition of about 290,000 square feet of open-air, mixed-use properties in the Oklahoma City. The purchase includes three retail properties, Classen Curve, Nichols Hills Plaza and The Triangle at Classen Curve, as well as about 12 acres of additional land in the upscale northern Oklahoma City and Nichols Hills neighborhoods.

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Wall Street analysts have given Gramercy Property Trust a "N/A" rating, but there may be better buying opportunities in the stock market. Some of MarketBeat's past winning trading ideas have resulted in 5-15% weekly gains. MarketBeat just released five new stock ideas, but Gramercy Property Trust wasn't one of them. MarketBeat thinks these five companies may be even better buys.

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The following companies are subsidiares of Illinois Tool Works: A V Co 1 Limited, A V Co 2 Limited, A V Co 3 Limited, ACCU-LUBE Manufacturing GmbH - Schmiermittel und -gerate -, AIP/BI Holdings Inc., Accessories Marketing Holding Corp., Advanced Molding Company Inc., Allen Coding GmbH, Allen France SAS, Alpine Automation Limited, Alpine Engineered Products, Alpine Holdings Inc., Alpine Systems Corporation, Anaerobicos S.r.l., AppliChem GmbH, Arylux Hungary Elektromechanikus Alkatreszgyarto Kft, Avery Berkel France, Avery India Limited, Avery Malaysia Sdn Bhd, Avery Weigh Tronix, Avery Weigh-Tronix (Suzhou) Weighing Technology Co. Ltd., Avery Weigh-Tronix Finance Limited, Avery Weigh-Tronix Holdings Limited, Avery Weigh-Tronix International Limited, Avery Weigh-Tronix LLC, Avery Weigh-Tronix Limited, Avery Weigh-Tronix Properties Limited, Azon Limited, B.C. Immo, Beijing Miller Electric Manufacturing Co. Ltd., Berkel (Ireland) Limited, Berrington UK, Brapenta Eletronica Ltda., Brooks Instrument (Shanghai) Co. Ltd, Brooks Instrument B.V., Brooks Instrument GmbH, Brooks Instrument KFT, Brooks Instrument Korea Ltd., Brooks Instrument LLC, Buell Industries Inc., CAPMAX Logistica S.A. de C.V., CCI Realty Company, CFC Europe GmbH, CS (Australia) Pty Limited, CS (Finance) Europe S.a.r.l., CS Mexico Holding Company S DE RL DE CV, CSMTS LLC, Calvia Spolka z Ograniczona Odpowiedzialnosci, Capital Ventures (Australasia) S.a r.l, Capmax Logistica S.A. de C.V., Celeste Industries Corporation, Coeur, Coeur (Shanghai) Medical Appliance Trading Co. Ltd, Coeur Asia Limited, Coeur Holding Company, Coeur Inc., Compagnie Hobart, Compagnie de Materiel et d'Equipements Techniques-Comet, Constructions Isothermiques Bontami C.I.B., Crane Carrier Company, Despatch Industries, Diagraph Corporation Sdn. Bhd, Diagraph ITW Mexico S. de R.L. De C.V., Diagraph Mexico S.A. DE C.V., Dongguan Ark-Les Electric Components Co. Ltd., Dongguan CK Branding Co. Ltd., Dorbyl U.K. (Holdings) Limited, Duo Fast de Espana S.A.U., Duo-Fast Korea Co. Ltd., Duo-Fast LLC, E.C.S. d.o.o., ECS Cable Protection Sp. Zoo, ELRO (Holding) AG, ELRO Grosskuchen GmbH, ELRO-WERKE AG, Elga Skandinavian AS, Elro Group, Eltex-Elektrostatik-Gesellschaft mit beschrankter Haftung, Envases Multipac S.A. de C.V., Eurotec Srl, FEG Investments L.L.C., Fasver, Filtertek, Filtertek De Mexico Holding Inc., Filtertek De Mexico S.A. de C.V., GC Financement SA, Gamko B.V., Gun Hwa Platech (Taicang) Co. Ltd., HOBART Gesellschaft mit beschrankter Haftung, Hartness International, Hobart (Japan) K.K., Hobart Andina S.A.S., Hobart Brothers International Chile Limitada, Hobart Brothers LLC, Hobart Dayton Mexicana S. de R.L. de C.V., Hobart Food Equipment Co. Ltd., Hobart Foster Belgium, Hobart International (Singapore) Pte. Ltd., Hobart Korea LLC, Hobart LLC, Hobart Nederland B.V., Hobart Sales & Service Inc., Hobart Scandinavia ApS, Hobart Techniek B.V., Horis, ILC Investments Holdings Inc., ITW (China) Investment Company Limited, ITW (Deutschland) GmbH, ITW (EU) Holdings Ltd., ITW (European) Finance Co. Ltd., ITW (European) Finance II Co. Ltd., ITW (European) Finance III Co. Ltd., ITW (Ningbo) Components & Fastenings Systems Co. Ltd., ITW AEP LLC, ITW AOC LLC, ITW Aircraft Investments Inc., ITW Alpha Sarl, ITW Ampang Industries Philippines Inc., ITW Appliance Components EOOD, ITW Appliance Components S.A. de C.V., ITW Appliance Components S.r.l.a, ITW Appliance Components d.o.o., ITW Australia Holdings Pty Ltd, ITW Australia Property Holdings Pty Ltd., ITW Australia Pty Ltd, ITW Automotive Components (Chongqing) Co. Ltd., ITW Automotive Components (Langfang) Co. Ltd., ITW Automotive Japan K.K., ITW Automotive Korea LLC, ITW Automotive Parts (Shanghai) Co. Ltd, ITW Automotive Products GmbH, ITW Automotive Products Mexico S. de R.L. de C.V., ITW Bailly Comte, ITW Befestigungssysteme GmbH, ITW Belgium, ITW Brazilian Nominee L.L.C., ITW Building Components Group Inc., ITW CER, ITW CP Distribution Center Holland BV, ITW CS (UK) Ltd., ITW Canada Inc., ITW Celeste Inc., ITW Chemical Products Ltda, ITW Chemical Products Scandinavia ApS, ITW Colombia S.A.S., ITW Construction Products (Shanghai) Co. Ltd., ITW Construction Products (Singapore) Pte. Ltd., ITW Construction Products AB, ITW Construction Products AS, ITW Construction Products ApS, ITW Construction Products CZ s.r.o., ITW Construction Products Italy Srl, ITW Construction Products OU, ITW Construction Products OY, ITW Contamination Control (Wujiang) Co. Ltd., ITW Contamination Control B.V., ITW Covid Security Group Inc., ITW DS Investments Inc., ITW DelFast do Brasil Ltda., ITW Delta Sarl, ITW Denmark ApS, ITW Dynatec, ITW Dynatec Adhesive Equipment (Suzhou) Co. Ltd., ITW Dynatec GmbH, ITW Dynatec Kabushiki Kaisha, ITW EAE B.V., ITW EAE Mexico S de RL de CV, ITW EF&C France SAS, ITW EF&C Selb GmbH, ITW Electronic Business Asia Co. Limited, ITW Electronic Components/Products (Shanghai) Co. Ltd., ITW Electronics (Suzhou) Co. Ltd., ITW Epsilon Sarl, ITW Espana S.A., ITW FEG Hong Kong Limited, ITW FEG do Brasil Industria e Comercio Ltda., ITW Fastener Products GmbH, ITW Finance Designated Activity Company, ITW Finance Europe S.A., ITW Fluids and Hygiene Solutions Ltda., ITW Food Equipment Group LLC, ITW France Finance Alpha S.A.S., ITW GH LLC, ITW GSE ApS, ITW GSE Inc., ITW Gamma Sarl, ITW German Management LLC, ITW Global Investments Holdings LLC, ITW Global Investments Holdings Y Compania Sociedad en Comandita por Acciones, ITW Global Investments II Inc., ITW Global Investments Inc., ITW Global Tire Repair Europe GmbH, ITW Global Tire Repair Inc., ITW Global Tire Repair Japan K.K., ITW Graphics (Thailand) Ltd., ITW Graphics Asia Limited, ITW Graphics Italy S.R.L. in liquidazione, ITW Great Britain Investment & Licensing Holding Company, ITW Group France (Luxembourg) S.ar.l., ITW HLP Thailand Co. Ltd., ITW Holding Quimica B.C. S.L. Sole Shareholder Company, ITW Holdings Australia L.P., ITW Holdings I Limited, ITW Holdings II Limited, ITW Holdings III Limited, ITW Holdings IV Limited, ITW Holdings IX Limited, ITW Holdings Inc., ITW Holdings UK, ITW Holdings V Limited, ITW Holdings VI Limited, ITW Holdings VII Limited, ITW Holdings VIII Limited, ITW Holdings X Limited, ITW Holdings XI Limited, ITW Hungary Finance Beta Kft, ITW ILC Holdings I Inc., ITW IPG Investments LLC, ITW Imaden Industria e Comercio Ltda., ITW India Private Limited, ITW International Holdings LLC, ITW Invest Holding GmbH, ITW Ireland Holdings Unlimited Company, ITW Ireland Unlimited Company, ITW Italy Finance Srl, ITW Italy Holding Srl, ITW Japan Ltd., ITW Korea LLC, ITW LLC & Co. KG, ITW Limited, ITW Lombard Holdings Inc., ITW Lys Fusion S.r.l., ITW M FILMS II LLC, ITW MH LLC, ITW Meritex Sdn. Bhd., ITW Metal Fasteners S.L., ITW Mexico Holding Company S. De R.L. de C.V., ITW Mexico Holdings LLC, ITW Morlock GmbH, ITW Mortgage Investments II Inc., ITW Mortgage Investments III Inc., ITW Mortgage Investments IV Inc., ITW Netherlands Administration BV, ITW Netherlands Beta B.V., ITW Netherlands Finance Alpha BV, ITW New Universal LLC, ITW New Zealand, ITW Novadan Sp. Z.o.o., ITW PPF Brasil Adesivos Ltda., ITW Packaging Technology (China) Co. Ltd., ITW Participations S.a r.l., ITW Pension Funds Trustee Company, ITW Performance Plastic (Shanghai) Co. Ltd., ITW Performance Polymers & Fluids Japan Co. Ltd., ITW Performance Polymers & Fluids Korea Limited, ITW Performance Polymers & Fluids OOO, ITW Performance Polymers (Wujiang) Co. Ltd., ITW Performance Polymers ApS, ITW Performance Polymers and Fluids Group FZE, ITW Peru S.A.C., ITW Philippines Holdings LLC, ITW Poly Mex S. de R.L. de C.V., ITW Polymers Sealants North America Inc., ITW Pronovia s.r.o., ITW Pte. Ltd., ITW Qufu Automotive Cooling Systems Co. Ltd., ITW Real Estate Germany GmbH, ITW Residuals III L.L.C., ITW Residuals IV L.L.C., ITW Rivex, ITW SMPI, ITW SPG Mexico S. de R.L. de C.V., ITW Simco-Ion (Shenzhen) Co. Ltd., ITW Slovakia s.r.o., ITW Spain Holdings S.L., ITW Specialty Film LLC, ITW Specialty Films France, ITW Specialty Materials (Suzhou) Co. Ltd., ITW Spraytec, ITW Sverige AB, ITW Sweden Holding AB, ITW Test & Measurement Equipment (Shanghai) Co. Ltd, ITW Test & Measurement GmbH, ITW Test and Measurement Italia Srl, ITW Test and Measurement Services Industry and Trade Ltd., ITW Texwipe Philippines Inc., ITW Thermal Films (Shanghai) Co. Ltd., ITW UK, ITW UK Finance Beta Limited, ITW UK Finance Delta Limited, ITW UK Finance Gamma Limited, ITW UK Finance Limited, ITW UK Finance Zeta Ltd., ITW UK II Limited, ITW Universal II LLC, ITW Welding, ITW Welding AB, ITW Welding GmbH, ITW Welding Products B.V., ITW Welding Products Group FZE, ITW Welding Products Group S. DE R.L. De C.V., ITW Welding Products Italy Srl, ITW Welding Products Limited Liability Company, ITW Welding Produtos Para Solgdagem Ltda., ITW Welding Servicios Mexico S. de R.L. de C.V., ITW Welding Singapore Pte. Ltd., ITW de France, ITW do Brasil Industrial e Comercial Ltda., Ideal Molding Technologies LLC, Illinois Tool Works (Chile) Limitada, Illinois Tool Works (ITW) Nederland B.V., Illinois Tool Works Norway AS, Impar Comercio E Representacoes Ltda., Industrie Plastic Elsasser GmbH, Inmobiliaria Cit. S.A. de C.F., Innova Temperlite Servicios S.A. de C.V., Innovacion y Transformacion Automotriz S.A. de C.V., Instron (Shanghai) Ltd., Instron (Thailand) Limited, Instron Brasil Equipamentos Cientificos Ltda., Instron Foreign Sales Corp. Limited, Instron France S.A.S., Instron GmbH, Instron Holdings Limited, Instron International Limited, Instron Japan Company Ltd., Instron Korea LLC, International Leasing Company LLC, International Truss Systems Proprietary Limited, Isolenge - ITW Sistemas de Isolamento Termico Ltda., KCPL Mauritius Holdings, Kester, Kester Components (M) Sdn. Bhd., Kleinmann GmbH, Krafft S.L., Loma Systems, Loma Systems (Canada) Inc., Loma Systems BV, Loma Systems sro, Lombard Pressings Limited, Lumex Inc., Lys Fusion Poland Sp. z.o.o., M&C Specialties (Shenzhen) Co. Ltd., M&C Specialties Co., MAGNAFLUX GmbH, MEHB Holdings Limited, MGHG Property LLC, MOA Enterprises Inc, Manufacturing Avancee S.A., Meritex Technology (Suzhou) Co. Ltd., Meurer Verpackungssysteme GmbH, Miller Electric Mfg. LLC, Miller Insurance Ltd., NDT Holding LLC, NOVADAN APS, Norden Olje AB, North Star Imaging Europe, North Star Imaging Inc., Nova Chimica S.r.l., Orbitalum Tools GmbH, PENTA-91 OOO, PR. A. I. Srl, PT ITW Construction Products Indonesia, Pacific Concept Industries Limited (Enping), Panreac Quimica S.L., Paslode Fasteners (Shanghai) Co. Ltd., Peerless Machinery Corp., Penta Dnepr LLC, Penta Sever OOO, Penta Volga OOO, Polyrey, Premark FEG L.L.C., Premark HII Holdings LLC, Premark International, Premark International LLC, Prolex Sociedad Anonima, QSA Global Inc., Quimica Industrial Mediterranea S.L., Ramset Fasteners (Hong Kong) Ltd., Rapid Cook LLC, Refrigeration France, S.E.E. Sistemas Industria E Comercio Ltda., ST Mexico Holdings LLC, Sealant Systems International Inc., Sentinel Asia Yuhan Hoesa, Shanghai ITW Plastic & Metal Co. Ltd, Simco (Nederland) B.V., Simco Japan Inc., Societe de Prospection et dInventions Techniques  SPIT, Speedline Holdings I Inc., Speedline Holdings I LLC, Speedline Technologies GmbH, Speedline Technologies Mexico S. de R.L. de C.V., Speedline Technologies Mexico Services S. de R.L. de C.V., Stokvis Celix Portugal Unipessoal LDA, Stokvis Danmark ApS, Stokvis Holdings S.A.R.L., Stokvis Promi s.r.o, Stokvis Prostick Tapes Private Limited, Stokvis Tapes (Hong Kong) Co. Limited, Stokvis Tapes (Shanghai) Co. Ltd., Stokvis Tapes (Shenzhen) Co. Ltd., Stokvis Tapes (Taiwan) Co. Ltd., Stokvis Tapes (Tianjin) Co. Ltd., Stokvis Tapes BVBA, Stokvis Tapes Benelux B.V., Stokvis Tapes Deutschland GmbH, Stokvis Tapes France, Stokvis Tapes Italia s.r.l., Stokvis Tapes Limited, Stokvis Tapes Limited Liability Company, Stokvis Tapes Norge AS, Stokvis Tapes Oy, Stokvis Tapes Polska Sp Z.O.O., Stokvis Tapes Sverige AB, Stolvis Holdings II S.A.R.L., Technopack Industria Comercio Consultoria e Representacoes Ltda., Teknek (China) Limited, Teknek (Japan) Limited, Teksaleco Ltd., The Miller Group Ltd, Thirode Grandes Cuisines Poligny, Tien Tai Electrode (Kunshan) Co. Ltd., Tien Tai Electrode Co. Ltd., Unichemicals Industria e Comercio Ltda., VR-Leasing Sarita GmbH & Co. Immobilien KG, VS European Holdco BV, Valeron Strength Films B.V.B.A., Veneta Decalcogomme S.r.l., Versachem Chile S.A., Vesta, Vesta (Guangzhou) Catering Equipment Co. Ltd, Vesta Global Limited, Viltronics Soltec, Vitronics Soltec B.V., Wachs Canada Ltd., Wachs Subsea LLC, Weigh-Tronix Canada ULC, Weigh-Tronix UK Limited, Wilsonart International Holdings LLC, Wynn Oil (South Africa) (Pty) Ltd., Wynn's Automotive France, Wynn's Belgium BVBA, Wynn's Italia Srl, Wynn's Mekuba India Pvt Ltd, ZF TRW (Engineered Fasteners and Components), and Zip-Pak International B.V..
The following companies are subsidiares of InterContinental Hotels Group: 2250 Blake Street Hotel LLC, 24th Street Operator Sub LLC, 36th Street IHG Sub LLC, 426 Main Ave LLC, 46 Nevins Street Associates LLC, Allegro Management LLC, Alpha Kimball Hotel LLC, American Commonwealth Assurance Co. Ltd., Asia Pacific Holdings Limited, BHMC Canada Inc., BHR Holdings B.V., BHR Luxembourg SARL, BHR Pacific Holdings Inc., BHTC Canada Inc., BOC Barclay Sub LLC, Barclay Operating Corp., Bristol Oakbrook Tenant Company, Cafe Biarritz, Cambridge Lodging LLC, Capital Lodging LLC, Compania Inter-Continental De Hoteles El Salvador SA, Crowne Plaza Amsterdam (Management) B.V., Crowne Plaza LLC, Cumberland Akers Hotel LLC, Dunwoody Operations Inc., EVEN Real Estate Holding LLC, Edinburgh IC Limited, General Innkeeping Acceptance Corporation, Guangzhou SC Hotels Services Ltd., H.I. (Ireland) Limited, H.I. Soaltee Management Company Ltd, HC International Holdings Inc., HH France Holdings SAS, HH Hotels (EMEA) B.V., HH Hotels (Romania) SRL, HI Sugarloaf LLC, HIM (Aruba) NV, Hale International Ltd., Hoft Properties LLC, Holiday Hospitality Franchising LLC, Holiday Inn Mexicana S.A. de C.V., Holiday Inns (China) Ltd, Holiday Inns (Chongqing) Inc., Holiday Inns (Courtalin) Holdings SAS, Holiday Inns (Courtalin) SAS, Holiday Inns (England) Ltd., Holiday Inns (Germany) LLC, Holiday Inns (Guangzhou) Inc., Holiday Inns (Jamaica) Inc., Holiday Inns (Malaysia) Ltd., Holiday Inns (Middle East) Ltd., Holiday Inns (Philippines) Inc., Holiday Inns (Saudi Arabia) Inc., Holiday Inns (South East Asia) Inc., Holiday Inns (Thailand) Ltd., Holiday Inns (UK) Inc., Holiday Inns Crowne Plaza (Hong Kong) Inc., Holiday Inns Holdings (Australia) Pty Ltd, Holiday Inns Inc., Holiday Inns Investment (Nepal) Ltd., Holiday Inns of America (UK) Ltd., Holiday Inns of Belgium N.V., Holiday Pacific Equity Corporation, Holiday Pacific LLC, Holiday Pacific Partners LP, Hotel Inter-Continental London Limited, Hotel InterContinental London (Holdings) Limited, Hoteles Y Turismo HIH SRL, IC Hotelbetriebsfuhrungs GmbH, IC Hotels Management (Portugal) Unipessoal Lda, IC International Hotels Limited Liability Company, IHC (Thailand) Limited, IHC Buckhead LLC, IHC Edinburgh (Holdings), IHC Hopkins (Holdings) Corp., IHC Hotel Limited, IHC Inter-Continental (Holdings) Corp., IHC London (Holdings), IHC M-H (Holdings) Corp., IHC May Fair (Holdings) Limited, IHC May Fair Hotel Limited, IHC Overseas (U.K.) Limited, IHC UK (Holdings) Limited, IHC United States (Holdings) Corp., IHC Willard (Holdings) Corp., IHG (Australasia) Limited, IHG (Marseille) SAS, IHG (Thailand) Limited, IHG ANA Hotels Group Japan LLC, IHG ANA Hotels Holdings Co. Ltd., IHG Bangkok Ltd, IHG Brasil Administracao de Hoteis e Servicos Ltda, IHG Commission Services SRL, IHG Community Development LLC, IHG Cyprus Limited, IHG ECS (Barbados) SRL, IHG Franchising Brasil Ltda, IHG Franchising DR Corporation, IHG Franchising LLC, IHG Hotels (New Zealand) Limited, IHG Hotels Limited, IHG Hotels Management (Australia) Pty Limited, IHG Hotels Nigeria Limited, IHG Hotels South Africa (Pty) Ltd, IHG International Partnership, IHG Istanbul Otel Yonetim Limited Sirketi, IHG Japan (Management) LLC, IHG Japan (Osaka) LLC, IHG Management (Maryland) LLC, IHG Management (Netherlands) B.V., IHG Management MD Barclay Sub LLC, IHG Management SL d.o.o, IHG Management d.o.o. Beograd, IHG Orchard Street Member LLC, IHG PS Nominees Limited, IHG Systems Pty Ltd, IHG Szalloda Budapest Szolgaltato Kft., IHG de Argentina SA, IND East Village SD Holdings LLC, Inter-Continental D.C. Operating Corp., Inter-Continental Florida Investment Corp., Inter-Continental Florida Partner Corp., Inter-Continental Hospitality Corporation, Inter-Continental Hoteleira Limitada, Inter-Continental Hotels (Montreal) Operating Corp., Inter-Continental Hotels (Montreal) Owning Corp., Inter-Continental Hotels (Singapore) Pte. Ltd., Inter-Continental Hotels Corporation, Inter-Continental Hotels Corporation de Venezuela C.A., Inter-Continental Hotels of San Francisco Inc., Inter-Continental IOHC (Mauritius) Limited, Inter-Continental Management (Australia) Pty Limited, InterContinental (Branston) 1 Limited, InterContinental (PB) 1, InterContinental (PB) 2, InterContinental (PB) 3 Limited, InterContinental Berlin Service Company GmbH, InterContinental Brasil Administracao de Hoteis Ltda, InterContinental Gestion Hotelera S.L., InterContinental Hotel Berlin GmbH, InterContinental Hotel Dusseldorf GmbH (Germany), InterContinental Hotels (Puerto Rico) Inc., InterContinental Hotels Group (Asia Pacific) Pte Ltd, InterContinental Hotels Group (Australia) Pty Limited, InterContinental Hotels Group (Canada) Inc., InterContinental Hotels Group (Espana) SA, InterContinental Hotels Group (Greater China) Limited, InterContinental Hotels Group (India) Pvt. Ltd, InterContinental Hotels Group (Japan) Inc., InterContinental Hotels Group (New Zealand) Limited, InterContinental Hotels Group (Shanghai) Ltd., InterContinental Hotels Group Customer Services Ltd., InterContinental Hotels Group Healthcare Trustee Limited, InterContinental Hotels Group Operating Corp., InterContinental Hotels Group Resources Inc., InterContinental Hotels Group Services Company, InterContinental Hotels Group do Brasil Limitada, InterContinental Hotels Italia S.r.L., InterContinental Hotels Limited, InterContinental Hotels Management GmbH, InterContinental Hotels Nevada Corporation, InterContinental Management AM LLC, InterContinental Management Bulgaria EOOD, InterContinental Management France SAS, InterContinental Management Poland sp. z.o.o, InterContinental Overseas Holding Corporation, Intercontinental Hotels Corporation Limited, KG Benefits LLC, KG Gift Card Inc., KG Liability LLC, KG Technology LLC, KHP Washington Operator LLC, KHRG 11th Avenue Hotel LLC, KHRG 851 LLC, KHRG Aertson LLC, KHRG Alexandria LLC, KHRG Alexis LLC, KHRG Allegro LLC, KHRG Argyle LLC, KHRG Austin Beverage Company LLC, KHRG Baltimore LLC, KHRG Born LLC, KHRG Boston Hotel LLC, KHRG Canary LLC, KHRG Cayman Employer Ltd., KHRG Cayman LLC, KHRG DC 1731 LLC, KHRG DC 2505 LLC, KHRG Donovan LLC, KHRG Employer LLC, KHRG Goleta LLC, KHRG Gray LLC, KHRG Gray U2 LLC, KHRG Hillcrest LLC, KHRG Huntington Beach LLC, KHRG King Street LLC, KHRG La Peer LLC, KHRG Miami Beach LLC, KHRG Muse LLC, KHRG NPC LLC, KHRG Onyx LLC, KHRG Palladian LLC, KHRG Palomar Phoenix LLC, KHRG Philly Monaco LLC, KHRG Pittsburgh LLC, KHRG Reynolds LLC, KHRG Riverplace LLC, KHRG SFD LLC, KHRG Sacramento LLC, KHRG Savannah LLC, KHRG Schofield LLC, KHRG Sedona LLC, KHRG State Street LLC, KHRG Sutter LLC, KHRG Sutter Union LLC, KHRG Taconic LLC, KHRG Tariff LLC, KHRG Texas Hospitality LLC, KHRG Texas Operations LLC, KHRG Tryon LLC, KHRG VZ Austin LLC, KHRG Vero Beach LLC, KHRG Vintage Park LLC, KHRG WPB LLC, KHRG Wabash LLC, KHRG Westwood LLC, KHRG Wilshire LLC, KHRG Zamora LLC, Kimpton Hollywood Licenses LLC, Kimpton Hotel & Restaurant Group, Kimpton Hotel & Restaurant Group LLC, Kimpton Phoenix Licenses Holdings LLC, Kimpton Sedona Licenses LLC, Louisiana Acquisitions Corp., MH Lodging LLC, Mercer Fairview Holdings LLC, PML Services LLC, PT SC Hotels & Resorts Indonesia, Pollstrong Limited, Powell Pine Inc., Priscilla Holiday of Texas Inc., RM Lodging LLC, Regent Hotels and Resorts, Resort Services International (Cayo Largo) L.P., SBS Maryland Beverage Company LLC, SC Cellars Limited, SC Hotels International Services Inc., SC Leisure Group Limited, SC NAS 2 Limited, SC Quest Limited, SC Reservations (Philippines) Inc., SCH Insurance Company, SCIH Branston 3, SF MH Acquisition LLC, SPHC Group Pty Ltd., SPHC Management Ltd., Semiramis for training of Hotel Personnel and Hotel Management SAE, Six Continents Corporate Services, Six Continents Holdings Limited, Six Continents Hotels Inc., Six Continents Hotels International Limited, Six Continents Hotels de Colombia SA, Six Continents International Holdings B.V., Six Continents Investments Limited, Six Continents Limited, Six Continents Overseas Holdings Limited, Six Continents Restaurants Limited, SixCo North America Inc., Solamar Lodging LLC, Southern Pacific Hotel Corporation (BVI) Ltd., Southern Pacific Hotels Properties Limited, Universal de Hoteles SA, White Shield Insurance Company Limited, and World Trade Centre Montreal Hotel Corporation.
Magna International Inc. designs, engineers, and manufactures components, assemblies, systems, subsystems, and modules for original equipment manufacturers of vehicles and light trucks worldwide. The company operates through four segments: Body Exteriors & Structures, Power & Vision, Seating Systems, and Complete Vehicles. Its Body Exteriors & Structures segment provides body and chassis systems, as well as engineering and testing services; exterior systems, including fascia and trims, front end modules, front integration panels, liftgate modules, active aerodynamics, engineered glass, running boards, truck bed access products, and side doors; and roof systems, such as modular and textile folding roofs, and hard and soft tops. The company's Power & Vision segment offers dedicated hybrid, dual and e-clutch, and manual transmissions; engine drive plates and accessories; AWD/4WD products, rear drive modules, and hybrid and battery electric drive systems; transmission, engine, and driveline components; advanced driver assistance systems, camera systems, ultrasonic sensors, and electronic controllers; interior and exterior mirrors, actuators, door handles, overhead consoles, and camera monitoring systems; head, tail, and fog lamps; signal and other lighting products; and latching systems, door modules, window systems, power closure systems, hinges and wire forming, and handle assemblies. Its Seating Systems segment provides seat structures, mechanism and hardware solutions, and foam and trim products. The company's Complete Vehicles segment offers vehicle manufacturing and engineering services. It also designs, engineers, and manufactures tooling products. Magna International Inc. was founded in 1957 and is headquartered in Aurora, Canada.

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Meggitt PLC designs and manufactures components and sub-systems in the United Kingdom, rest of Europe, the United States, and internationally. The company operates in four segments: Airframe Systems, Engine Systems, Energy & Equipment, and Services & Support. It offers ice protection products, radomes, and structures; air data and flight display products; brake control and tyre pressure monitoring systems, and wheels and brakes; engine health and vibration monitors, H2/O2 analyzers, and turbine monitoring and protection products; and aircraft cameras and security systems, and wireless aircraft systems. The company also provides ammunition handling, thermal, weapon scoring, and weapon training systems; energy storage, power conversion and distribution, and power generation systems; ducting systems, engine composites, and flow control valves; and fire protection and controls comprising bleed air leak detection products, cables and clamps, electronic control units, fire and overheat detection products, and fire suppression products. In addition, it offers ground fuelling, and fuel systems and tanks; motion control actuators, electric motor drives, and electric motors; oxygen and specialty restraint safety systems; and accelerometers, ceramics, fluid sensors, magnetic and current sensors, position and inertial sensors, pressure sensors, speed sensors, and temperature sensors. Further, the company provides polymer seals; heat exchangers, printed circuit heat exchangers, thermal components, and thermal management systems; and live fire and virtual trainers, as well as aftermarket services. It serves aerospace, defense, and energy and equipment markets. The company was formerly known as Meggitt Holdings Public Limited Company and changed its name to Meggitt PLC in April 1989. Meggitt PLC was incorporated in 1947 and is headquartered in Coventry, the United Kingdom.

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NGL Energy Partners LP is an energy partnership that transports, treats, recycles, and disposes of produced water generated as part of the energy production process. It also transports, stores, markets, and provides other logistics services for crude oil and liquid hydrocarbons. The firm operates through the following segments: Water Solutions, Crude Oil Logistics, Liquids Logistics, and Corporate & Other. The Water Solutions segment transports, treats, recycles, and disposes of produced and flow back water generated from oil and natural gas production. The Crude Oil Logistics segment purchases crude oil from producers and marketers and transports it to refineries or for resale at pipeline injection stations, storage terminals, barge loading facilities, rail facilities, refineries, and other trade hubs. The Liquids Logistics segment conducts supply operations for natural gas liquids, refined petroleum products and biodiesel to a range of commercial, retail and industrial customers across the United States and Canada. The Corporate & Other segment include corporate expenses that are not allocated to the reportable segments. The company was founded in 1940 and is headquartered in Tul

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The Boeing Co. is an aerospace company, which engages in the manufacture of commercial jetliners and defense, space and security systems. It operates through the following segments: Commercial Airplanes; Defense, Space and Security; Global Services; and Boeing Capital. The Commercial Airplanes segment includes the development, production, and market of commercial jet aircraft and provides fleet support services, principally to the commercial airline industry worldwide. The Defense, Space and Security segment refers to the research, development, production and modification of manned and unmanned military aircraft and weapons systems for global strike, including fighter and combat rotorcraft aircraft and missile systems; global mobility, including tanker, rotorcraft and tilt-rotor aircraft; and airborne surveillance and reconnaissance, including command and control, battle management and airborne anti-submarine aircraft. The Global Services segment provides services to commercial and defense customers. The Boeing Capital segment seeks to ensure that Boeing customers have the financing they need to buy and take delivery of their Boeing product and manages overall financing exposure. T

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Precision Drilling Corporation, an oilfield services company, provides oil and natural gas drilling and related products and services in North America and the Middle East. The company operates in two segments, Contract Drilling Services, and Completion and Production Services. The Contract Drilling Services segment offers onshore well drilling services to exploration and production companies in the oil and natural gas industry. This segment's services include land drilling, directional drilling, and turnkey drilling; and procurement and distribution of oilfield supplies, as well as manufacture, sale, and repair of drilling equipment. As of December 31, 2020, it operated 227 land drilling rigs, including 109 in Canada; 105 in the United States; 6 in Kuwait; 4 in Saudi Arabia; 2 in the Kurdistan region of Iraq; and 1 in the country of Georgia. The Completion and Production Services segment provides service rigs for well completion, workover, abandonment, maintenance, and re-entry preparation services; wellsite accommodations; oilfield surface equipment rentals; and camp and catering services to oil and natural gas exploration and production companies. This segment operated 123 well completion and workover service rigs, including 113 in Canada and 10 in the United States. It also had approximately 1,400 oilfield rental items, including surface storage, small-flow wastewater treatment, power generation, and solids control equipment; 113 wellsite accommodation units; 966 drill camp beds; 822 base camp beds; and three kitchen diners in Canada. Precision Drilling Corporation was incorporated in 1951 and is headquartered in Calgary, Canada.

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WSP Global Inc. operates as a professional services consulting firm in the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, Sweden, Europe, the Middle East, India, Africa, Australia, Asia, New Zealand, and internationally. The company advises, plans, designs, and manages projects for rail transit, aviation, highways, bridges, tunnels, water, maritime, and urban infrastructure for public and private clients, construction contractors, and other partners. It also provides engineering and consultancy services, such as decarbonisation strategies, SMART building design, structural and mechanical, electrical, and plumbing engineering services. In addition, the company works with and advises businesses and governments in various areas of environmental consultancy including ESG matters. Further, it provides long-term operational management support services comprising first feasibility studies; advisory services, which comprise technical, financial, and environmental issues, as well as engineering design and energy simulations. Additionally, the company plans, designs, and supports the development of pipelines and gas networks; and offers services to maintain the integrity of critical assets, and obtain permits and consent for clients in the mining, and oil and gas industries. It also provides a range of consulting and engineering services, such as strategic studies, concept design, and productivity analysis, as well as engineering, procurement, and construction management contract services to the food and beverages, pharmaceutical and biotechnology, automotive, and chemicals industries. In addition, the company offers strategic advisory services comprising planning and advisory, management, and technology and sustainability services. The company was formerly known as GENIVAR Inc. and changed its name to WSP Global Inc. in January 2014. WSP Global Inc. was founded in 1885 and is headquartered in Montreal, Canada.

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Halma plc provides technology solutions in the safety, health, and environmental markets. It operates through four segments: Process Safety, Infrastructure Safety, Environmental & Analysis, and Medical. The Process Safety segment offers specialized interlocks that control critical processes safely; instruments that detect flammable and hazardous gases; and explosion protection and corrosion monitoring systems. This segment serves the gas detection, industrial access control, pressure management, and safe storage and transfer markets. The Infrastructure Safety segment provides fire detection systems, specialist fire suppression systems, elevator safety systems, people and vehicle flow technologies, and security sensors. It serves the fire detection and suppression, and elevator markets. The Environmental & Analysis segment offers opto-electronic technology and sensors, flow gap measurement instruments, and gas conditioning products, as well as solutions for environmental data recording, water quality testing, water distribution network monitoring, and UV water treatment. It serves the optical analysis, water analysis and treatment, and environmental monitoring markets. The Medical segment provides devices that assess eye health; assist with eye surgery and primary care applications; critical fluidic components used by medical diagnostics and original equipment manufacturers; and laboratory devices and sensor technologies used in hospitals to understand patient health. This segment serves the life sciences, health assessment, and therapeutic solutions market. The company was incorporated in 1894 and is headquartered in Amersham, the United Kingdom.

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Sirius is a property company listed on the main market and premium segment of the London Stock Exchange and the main board of the Johannesburg Stock Exchange. It is a leading operator of branded business parks providing conventional space and flexible workspace in Germany. The Company's core strategy is the acquisition of business parks at attractive yields, the integration of these business parks into its network of sites under the Company's own name as well as offering a range of branded products within those sites, and the reconfiguration and upgrade of existing and vacant space to appeal to the local market, through intensive asset management and investment. The Company's strategy aims to deliver attractive returns for shareholders by increasing rental income and improving cost recoveries and capital values, as well as by enhancing those returns through financing its assets on favourable terms. Once sites are mature and net income and values have been optimised, the Company may take the opportunity to refinance the sites to release capital for investment in new sites or consider the disposal of sites in order to recycle equity into assets which present greater opportunity for the asset management skills of the Company's team.

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Varian Medical Systems, Inc. designs, manufactures, sells, and services medical devices and software products for treating cancer and other medical conditions worldwide. It operates through Oncology Systems and Proton Solutions segments. The Oncology Systems segment offers hardware and software products for treating cancer with radiotherapy, fixed field intensity-modulated radiation therapy, image-guided radiation therapy, volumetric modulated arc therapy, stereotactic radiosurgery, stereotactic body radiotherapy, artificial intelligence based adaptive radiotherapy, and brachytherapy, as well as quality assurance equipment. Its products include linear accelerators, brachytherapy afterloaders, treatment accessories, and quality assurance software; and information management, treatment planning, image processing, clinical knowledge exchange, patient care management, decision-making support, and practice management software. This segment serves university research and community hospitals, private and governmental institutions, healthcare agencies, physicians' offices, medical oncology practices, radiotherapy centers, and cancer care clinics. The Proton Solutions segment designs, develops, manufactures, sells, and services products and systems for delivering proton therapy for the treatment of cancer. The company has a strategic agreement with McKesson Corp. to supply treatment delivery systems and planning, services, and radiotherapy information system solutions to its U.S. Oncology Network and Vantage Oncology affiliated sites of care; and a strategic partnership with Siemens AG to represent Siemens diagnostic imaging products to radiation oncology clinics in the United States and other select markets. Varian Medical Systems, Inc. was formerly known as Varian Associates, Inc. and changed its name to Varian Medical Systems, Inc. in April 1999. The company was founded in 1948 and is headquartered in Palo Alto, California.

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Six days after the Ukrainian Security Service (SBU) revealed that it had staged the supposed murder of the anti-Kremlin journalist Arkady Babchenko, the Ukrainian government continues to seek to exploit the case for the anti-Russia campaign even as contradictions and lies concerning the state operation pile up. (See: The New York Times and the murder that wasnt)

Last Tuesday, the Ukrainian and Western press was filled with media reports about the killing of Babchenko in Kiev. The journalist, who supported the US-backed far-right coup in Kiev in early 2014 and the war of the Kiev regime in eastern Ukraine against pro-Russian separatists, had fled Russia in early 2017 after receiving death threats.

Ukrainian officials and Western media outlets, including the New York Times, immediately rushed to blame the killing of Babchenko on Russia. Yet in a stunning turn of events on Wednesday, Babchenko and the head of the Ukrainian Secret Service held a press conference to announce that the murder had been staged in a special operation allegedly designed to disclose a murderous plot against Babchenko by the Russian secret service, the FSB.

At the press conference, Babchenko described how he had faked his fall, put on a T-shirt that had been shot through to show bullet wounds, and was then covered in pigs blood. His wife found him lying on the floor and called the ambulance. He was pronounced dead in the ambulance and brought to a morgue where he started to watch news coverage of his alleged murder.

The story since presented by the SBU to justify the faked murder and describe the alleged Russian plot to kill Babchenko resembles a poorly written spy novel, filled with glaring inconsistencies and blatant lies.

Only two suspects have been identified by the SBU. Boris German is allegedly the man tasked by the Russian FSB to kill Babchenko. He is the executive director of the Ukrainian-German weapon manufacturer Schmeisser. There have been reports, but no official confirmation, that he was in fact working for Ukrainian counterintelligence.

The hit man allegedly hired by German is Oleksiy Tsimbalyuk, who had previously fought in the civil war in eastern Ukraine for the fascist Right Sector on the side of the Kiev regime. No explanation has been offered for why Tsimbalyuk, by all appearance an ardent Ukrainian nationalist and opponent of Russia who has described the killing of Russian soldiers as an act of mercy, decided to change sides to kill Babchenko.

The Ukrainian general prosecutor, Yuriy Lutsenko, said that the staging of the murder led to the disclosure by the suspect of a list of 30 names of journalists whom Russia planned to kill in Ukraine. This number has since been revised upward, to 47. German was supposedly also tasked to stockpile secret weapons caches throughout Ukraine. How all of these plots were connected and how they were to be executed by a handful of people has not been explained.

The SBU also published as proof of Russian involvement the dossier the Russian FSB had allegedly compiled on Babchenko for his killer. Yet, as the journal meduza has pointed out, almost the entire biography of Babchenko in the dossier was copied from Babchenkos Wikipedia article, while all other information had been published by Babchenko himself on various social media platforms.

The dossier included no information about Babchenkos phone number or address in Kiev, both of which would have been important for the killer and easy for any secret service to obtain. The only private information in the dossier was Babchenkos registered Moscow address and his Russian identification and passport numbers, all of which could have been (and in all likelihood were) revealed by Babchenko to the SBU, but appear to be of no immediate use to a hired killer in Ukraine.

These contradictions are in addition to more minor lies in the Ukrainian governments account. For instance, Babchenko, in a very dramatic gesture, apologized to his wife at the press conference last Wednesday for having made her believe that he was dead. Yet on Thursday it was revealed that his wife had been in on the plot.

The Ukrainian government has not revealed whether it was aware that the killing had been faked when it declared that Russia was to blame for Babchenkos murder.

Babchenko and the Ukrainian government have staunchly defended the media hoax and continue to seek to use it to whip up the campaign against Russia.

Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko hailed the staged murder as a brilliant operation and said on Ukraine television, The whole world saw the real face of our enemy It is not Ukraine you should condemn, but Russia.

He promised that Babchenko and his family would receive around-the-clock protection, arguing that Moscow would hardly calm down and that the Ukrainian secret services were growing stronger in fighting Russian aggression.

The advisor to the Interior Ministry Anton Gerashchenko wrote on Facebook: Even Sherlock Holmes successfully used the method of faking his own death to effectively investigate difficult and complicated crimes, however painful that may have been for his relatives and for Dr. Watson.

Babchenko, who worked for the Russian army in both Chechen wars in the 1990s, posted a series of vulgar and aggressive comments on Facebook to denounce his critics. In one post, he pledged to die at 96 while dancing on Putins grave.

Responding to criticism in the British press, he wrote: Dear British press, will you please go fuck yourselves. If you want to do something useful, you can give me a British passport and British sanctuary. Then you will have earned the right to lecture me on how I should save myself and my family. Fucking smart arses!

He also wrote: I wish all these moralisers could be in the same situationlet them show their adherence to the principles of their high morals and die proudly holding their heads high without misleading the media.

Babchenkos boss at the Crimean Tatar television network ATR, Ayder Muzhdabayev, described the journalists critics to Al Jazeera as vermin. Muzhdabayev had been the first to report on Babchenkos alleged death last Tuesday.

Several pro-Western Russian journalists who are close to the liberal opposition have published op-eds defending Babchenko. However, a few voices also raised concerns.

An editorial by Pavel Kanygin in the pro-liberal Novaya Gazeta argued that Babchenko had died as a journalist by breaking professional ethics and engaging in an unprecedented collaboration with secret services. Another op-ed in the same newspaper ridiculed the operation as a parody on Soviet spy novels and films.

The Russian business daily Vedomosti, which is associated with the Financial Times and the Wall Street Journal, wrote in an editorial that the Babchenko operation had blurred the border between truth and fiction and would lead to more distrust in the media.

Similarly, numerous opinion pieces in Western outlets such as the Guardian and the German Spiegel, which have been heavily involved in the anti-Russia and anti-Putin campaign, raised concerns about the Babchenko operation and its consequences for the credibility of the media. The Guardian noted that by faking Babchenkos murder, Ukraine has smeared itself, and that it had handed Russia a massive propaganda victory.

The New York Times ran an article on Sunday as an exercise in damage control that was headlined Faked Killing of a Putin Critic Cant Get Much Murkier. And Yet It Does.

Numerous Western politicians, including German Foreign Minister Heiko Maas, have also criticized how the Ukrainian government handled the case.

Their criticism of Babchenko and the Ukrainian governments media hoax has nothing to do with concern for journalistic integrity or truth. Quite the contrary: it is motivated by a well justified fear that the crudity of this fraudulent propaganda operation will further discredit the anti-Russia campaign of the imperialist powers, in which the bulk of Western journalists and major bourgeois newspapers and media outlets are fully complicit.
In a decision that demonstrates the complete failure of the justice system in the United States, a Florida jury awarded total damages of $4 for the killing of a 30-year-old African-American man in 2014 by two sheriffs deputies.

Adding insult to injury, the jury ruled that Gregory Hill Jr. was 99 percent responsible for the actions of the two cops who took his life, meaning that only four cents was actually to be paid out: a penny to cover his funeral costs, and a penny to each of his three surviving children, ages 13, 10 and 7.

Hills mother filed suit against St. Lucie County Sheriff Ken Mascara and deputy Christopher Newman, who fired the fatal shots, for wrongful death. The civil trial lasted two weeks, and after 10 hours of deliberation, the jury sided with the police and found that Hill was to blame for his own death because he was intoxicated during the fatal confrontation.

On January 14, 2014, Hill was listening to music in the garage of his Fort Pierce home when two deputies, Newman and Edward Lopez, arrived in response to a noise complaint about the volume of Hills sound system.

The two cops claimed that Hill answered the door in response to their knock and pointed a gun at them, ignoring their commands to drop it, and forcing Newman to open fire. But the gun was found, not on the ground in front of Hill, or in his hands, but stuck in the back pocket of his shorts, indicating that he was not confronting the officers when he opened the door.

Moreover, there was no DNA or blood spatter on the gun, although Hill was riddled with bullets to the head, abdomen and groin, and collapsed face down in a pool of his own blood.

Adding to the nightmare character of these events, Hills oldest child, a daughter then nine years old, was just getting out of school across the street from the home and saw her father gunned down. She testified at the civil trial that her father was not holding a gun in his hand.

The civil suit was brought after St. Lucie County prosecutors cleared the two cops of any wrongdoing.
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8

This eight-part series first appeared on the World Socialist Web Site during MayJune 2008, on the 40th anniversary of the general strike in France. We are presenting it here unchanged, but with a new Introduction in light of intervening events. Part 1, posted May 29, deals with the development of the student revolt and the general strike up to its high point at the end of May. Part 2, posted May 30, examines how the Communist Party (PCF) and the union it controls, the CGT, enabled President Charles de Gaulle to regain control. Part 3, posted May 31, and Part 4, posted June 1, examine the role played by the Pabloites. The final four parts will examine the role of Pierre Lamberts Organisation Communiste Internationaliste (OCI), including Part 5, posted June 2, and Part 6, published below.

The slogan of the central strike committee

In 1935, Leon Trotsky proposed the slogan of committees of action to his French supporters. At that time, a rapid radicalisation of the working class was developing, which was, however, largely under the influence of the Popular Front, an anti-revolutionary alliance of Stalinists, Social Democrats and bourgeois Radicals. Under these circumstances, Trotsky regarded the committees of action as a means of weakening the influence of the Popular Front over the masses, encouraging their independent initiative.

The leadership of the Peoples Front must be the direct and immediate reflection of the will of the struggling masses. How? Very simply: through elections, he wrote. Each two hundred, five hundred or thousand citizens adhering in a given city, district, factory, barrack and village to the Peoples Front, in time of fighting actions, elect their representative to the local committee of action. All the participants in the struggle are bound by its discipline. [14]

The slogan of the central strike committee, which was at the centre of the intervention by the OCI in 1968, was derived from Trotskys proposal. OCI statements contain a number of formulations that are taken almost verbatim from Trotskys writings. But, as in the case of the united front tactic, the OCI robbed this slogan of any revolutionary content.

Many of its statements were limited to a bureaucratically precise enumeration of the different levels of the hierarchical structure on which the national strike committee should rest. A typical example is the statement headed Yes, Workers Can Win: Lets Forge the Weapon of VictoryTHE CENTRAL STRIKE COMMITTEE! It was published on May 23 and distributed widely in the midst of the general strike, as a special issue of Informations Ouvrieres.

The statement contains the passage: How can the general movement of workers and youth be united into a single, unbeatable and victorious force? There is only one answer to this question: Organisation of local strike committees into inter-professional strike committees; at the department level, delegates must create departmental and regional inter-professional strike committees. At a national level, the federation of strike committees and workers organisations must establish a central strike committee.

Every activist who takes part in a strike committee, every worker who belongs to a picket must take up the initiative in such a manner. The leadership and the decisions of the broad masses of the class movement must be drawn together in the inter-professional strike committees, which have emerged from the company strike committees. The meetings of strikers within companies, the meetings of all strikers from all companies in a specific location must constitute the collective deciding power.

Not only the language, but also the content of this statement has more in common with the bureaucratic mentality of an accountant than with the fighting spirit of a revolutionary worker. Its aim is to overcome the divisions between the mutually hostile bureaucratic apparatuses, and not the liberation of the workers from the stranglehold of all bureaucratic apparatuses. Where Trotsky had written that the committee of action is the only means of breaking the anti-revolutionary opposition of party and trade union apparatuses, for the OCI, the central strike committee was the highest expression of the united front of the trade unions and workers parties.

Trotsky regarded the committees of action as forums of debate and political struggle: In relation to parties, the committees of action may be called the revolutionary parliament: the parties are not excluded but, on the contrary, they are necessarily presupposed; at the same time they are tested in action and the masses learn to free themselves from the influence of rotten parties.

For the OCI, the central strike committee served to establish the unity of workers with the rotten trade unions and parties.

The OCI even abstained from linking the slogan of the strike committees with a programme of transitional demands. For the OCI, the strike committee was the programme, as the following paragraph from de Massots book makes clear: As one can see, linked to the question of the central strike committee is the fate of the general strike itself. This aim brings together organisationallyi.e., at the highest political levelall the aspects of an organisation which correspond to the needs of the movement: The aspect of the definition of the basic aims of the general strike and its political consequences, the aspects of the unification of the strike, the aspects of the realisation of the united workers front  [15]

This organisationallyi.e., at the highest political level clearly expresses the centrist outlook of the OCI. For Marxists, the highest political questions are questions of perspective. For centrists, they are organizational questions. But as the 1968 general strike and innumerable other experiences of the international workers movement have shown, the call for organizational unity cannot answer the complex questions that are connected with the socialist transformation of society. That requires a political perspective and a clear demarcation from the bourgeoisie and its reformist and centrist agencies.

The conceptions of the OCI are strongly reminiscent of those of Marceau Pivert, a notorious centrist whom Trotsky attacked explicitly in his article on the committees of action. No matter how much the centrists babble about the masses, Trotsky wrote, they always orient themselves upon the reformist apparatus. Repeating this or that revolutionary slogan, Marceau Pivert subordinates it to the abstract principle of organizational unity, which in action turns out to be unity with the patriots against the revolutionists. At the time when it is a life and death question for the masses to smash the opposition of the united social-patriotic apparatuses, the left centrists consider the unity of these apparatuses as an absolute good which stands above the interests of revolutionary struggle.

Trotsky concluded his analysis by once again clarifying his conception of the committees of action: Committees of Action will be built only by those who understand, to the end, the necessity of freeing the masses from the treacherous leadership of the social-patriots. The condition for the victory of the proletariat is the liquidation of the present leadership. The slogan of unity becomes under these conditions not only a stupidity, but a crime. No unity with the agents of French imperialism and of the League of Nations. To their perfidious leadership it is necessary to counterpose revolutionary Committees of Action. It is possible to build these committees only by mercilessly exposing the anti-revolutionary policies of the so-called revolutionary left with Marceau Pivert at the head (emphasis in the original).

The OCI during the general strike

While the forces of the OCI were relatively modest in 1968, they were still more powerful than those of the Pabloites. The OCI had its own student organization, the Federation des etudiants revolutionnaire (FER), and, unlike the Pabloites, the OCI also had supporters in a number of factories.

The FER rejected the conceptions of the Pabloites and the New Left, which attributed the role of revolutionary avant-garde to the students and uncritically supported the students adventures. The FER fought for an orientation to the working class and won numerous new members on this basis.

But this orientation was based on centrist foundations, remaining limited to organizational initiatives. It acted within the framework of the OCIs united front policies, i.e., it mainly consisted of appeals to the trade unions to call large-scale joint demonstrations of workers and young people, bound up with calls for a central strike committee. The FER did not conduct a systematic offensive against the policy of the Stalinists and social democrats and against the theories of the New Left, which would have been decisive in the universities, the breeding ground for bourgeois ideology.

In his book, de Massot describes the intervention of the FER at a meeting on May 8 held by the Pabloite Jeunesse communiste revolutionnaire (JCR) in the Mutualite in Paris during the street battles in the Latin Quarter. A JCR speaker was applauded by the anarchist Daniel Cohn-Bendit, and went on to speak against a clarification of the political line, claiming this would split the movement. Instead, he insisted, it was a matter of finding topics with which all could agree. In the absence of a revolutionary party, the real revolutionaries are those who fight the police, the JCR spokesman declared.

This position was opposed by representatives of the FER, who proposed concentrating all the students efforts on the implementation of the slogan for a central demonstration of workers and youth. The struggle had to be expanded further, coordinated and organised through the building of strike committees and a national strike committee supported by the UNEF [the central student organisation], the FER argued. Two days later, the FER held its own meeting under the slogan 500,000 workers to the Latin Quarter. Tens of thousands of flyers bearing this slogan were distributed in the factories. [16]

A few days later, on May 13, the unions were forced to call a one-day general strike and joint demonstrations of workers and students, who participated in the millions. The movement was spinning out of their control. In the following days, the general strike spread over the whole country, with a wave of factory occupations in which tens of thousands of workers took part, completely paralysing France.

But the OCI and FER maintained their syndicalist course. They now concentrated entirely on the demand for a national strike committee. On May 13, the OCI published a flyerexceptionally, in its own namewhich was distributed by the thousands at factories over the following days.

The flyer contained barely twenty lines of text and avoided making a single political statement. It consisted of a collection of hollow cliches (The struggle has begun, Long live unity, Victory, Forwards, Workers and students united, we can win) and general slogans (Down with de Gaulle, Down with the police state).

As if the tone was not strident enough, most of the text was placed in capital letters and bold print. The flyer culminated with the words: Workers at Renault, Panhard, S.N.E.C.M.A, workers in all factories, offices, workshopsvictory depends on us. We must stop work, demonstrate, elect our strike committees.

There was no attempt to analyse the new situation, to formulate political tasks or explain them to workers. Faced with a rapidly developing revolutionary situation, all the OCI had to offer were general calls for joint action. Not a word about the role of the Communist Party and Mitterrands FGDS; no warning about the treacherous role of the trade union bureaucracy; not a syllable on the question of a workers government.

Two weeks later, on May 27, striking workers rejected the Grenelle accord, negotiated by the government, the employers associations and the unions. The question of power was openly posed.

De Massot is clear about this. He writes, All at once, the millions of strikers have shaken the state apparatus. The carefully crafted plans agreed between government, business and the leaders of the workers movement have been swept aside  Now, the question of power arises directly  To meet the demands of the general strike, the government must be swept away. [17]

Meanwhile, the OCI was tail-ending events. In a flyer it issued under the auspices of the Comites dalliance ouvriere (Committees of the Workers Alliance), which was distributed in great quantities, nothing was said on the question of the government.

Do not sign! it repeated five times in capital letters and in bold text over half a page. Any talk of signing the Grenelle accord at this time was, in any case, futile. After the Renault workers hostile reception for CGT boss Georges Seguy, the union got cold feet and temporarily backed down.

The OCI flyer culminated with the demand: Leaders of the CGT, CGT-FO, FEN [major union federations]: You must establish a united class front with the UNEF against the government and the state.

On the same day, a mass meeting of the reformist PSU (United Socialist Party), UNEF and CFDT union took place in Charlety stadium, Paris, which was to smooth the way for an interim bourgeois government under Pierre Mendes-France. In hindsight, de Massot describes this meeting as a carnival of ambiguities which prepared a double-edged political operation.

First, he continues, the aim is to reclaim that combative part of the general strike, in particular the youth, over which Stalinism has lost control  Moreover, and in direct connection with the first goal, the ground must be prepared for a bourgeois solution to the cabinet crisis. Mendes-France  is presented as the man of the hour  [18]

But here as well, the OCI adapted itself, even though it had ample opportunity to make its point of view clear. Pierre Lambert appeared as a speaker at Charlety. He spoke to the 50,000 students and workers presentnot in his capacity as OCI leader, but as a trade unionist, in the name of the trade union board of the employees and cadres of the Force Ouvriere social insurance, for which he worked.

He declared that the crucial battle is approaching; that the general strike has placed the question of government in the foreground; that the government of de Gaulle and Pompidou cannot fulfil the strikers demands. From de Massots report, it appears that he failed either to warn of the dangers of an interim bourgeois government or address the question of a workers government. Instead, Lambert limited himself to calling for the setting up of local strike committees as well as a central strike committee, which he presented as the way to victory. [19]

Meanwhile, on the streets, the call resounded for a peoples government. The workers demands were clearly more advanced than those of Lambert.

De Massot writes: Demonstrations take place on May 27 throughout France, where the implications of Dont sign! are translated into political terms, referring to the government and the state  For a peoples government! chant the demonstrators, expressing the fact they want a government that will respond to the aims of the general strike. De Gaulle must resign, Down with de Gaulle is shouted everywhere by tens of thousands of people, who are clearly showing that what is at stake is the fate of the regime. [20]

The OCI made no attempt to fill this call for a peoples government with political content. Above all, it did not explain who should form such a government and what its political programme should be. This enabled the Stalinists of the PCF and CGT to raise the slogan of the peoples government themselves, although they never contemplated taking power and instead were negotiating behind the scenes with Mitterrand about participation in an interim bourgeois government.

As explained in part 4 of this series, the demand for a government of the PCF and CGT would have had great political effect at this time. It would have disrupted the manoeuvres of the Stalinist leaders and intensified the conflict between them and the working class.

Trotsky had suggested such a tactic in the Transitional Programme. Basing himself on the experiences made by the Bolsheviks in the course of the Russian Revolution, he wrote: The demand of the Bolsheviks, addressed to the Mensheviks and the SRs: Break with the bourgeoisie, take the power into your own hands! had for the masses tremendous educational significance. The obstinate unwillingness of the Mensheviks and SRs to take power, so dramatically exposed during the July Days, definitely doomed them before mass opinion and prepared the victory of the Bolsheviks. [21]

The OCI never raised such a demand, and instead supported, without criticizing the Stalinists duplicity, the big demonstration of the CGT on May 29, which took place under the slogan For a peoples government.

The OCI attacked the UNEF and the CFDT because they did not take part in the demonstration (on the grounds of the CGTs refusal to condemn the expulsion of Daniel Cohn-Bendit from France). Retrospectively, the OCI claimed that a joint demonstration of all trade unions, independently of the aims of the CGT, would automatically have opened the way for a workers government. Uniformly, organized by all trade union organisations, this would have opened the way for a government that rests on the general strike, on the workers organizations, de Massot writes. [22]

The flyer issued by the Comites dalliance ouvriere at the May 29 demonstration, equated the central and national strike committee, called for by the OCI, with a workers government: It is the only government, the workers government, that can fulfil all the demands of the workers, students, farmers and youth, the leaflet declared. [23]

Did this mean that the OCI regarded the strike committee as a kind of workers council or Soviet, on which a workers government could rest? The formulations used in the flyer suggest this. But this remains an isolated example. The OCI was obviously undecided on this question.

Moreover, strike committees and workers councils do not resolve the problem of revolutionary leadership. They are an arena in which a political struggle against Stalinism can take place, but are not a substitute for this struggle. The OCI flyer, however, contained not a critical word about the PCF and the CGT. They were not even mentioned.

On the day after the CGT demonstration, which, in Paris alone, saw over a half million people on the streets, President de Gaulle addressed the nation by radio and announced the dissolution of parliament. The PCF and the CGT welcomed the announcement of new elections and promised to ensure their orderly conduct, which equated to a call to abandon the general strike.

The OCI reacted with the demand to continue the strike and appeals to the unions: Everything depends on our immediate answer! Everything depends on the call from the union headquarters and the workers parties! The general strike will defeat the police state. [24]

This remained the political line of the OCI in the ensuing days: Appeals for unity, to carry on fighting and not back down were all addressed to the very trade unions and parties that were suffocating the general strike.

On June 12, the interior minister banned the OCI, together with a dozen other organizations, including the OCIs student and youth organisations.

To be continued

Notes:

14. This and the following quotes from Trotsky, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from: Leon Trotsky, Committees of ActionNot Peoples Front (November 26, 1935).

15. Francois de Massot, La greve generale (Mai-Juin 1968), p. 123

16. ibid., p. 48

17. ibid., p. 188

18. ibid., p. 195

19. ibid., pp. 196197

20. ibid., p. 197

21. Leon Trotsky, The Transitional Programme

22. Francois de Massot, op. cit., p. 203

23. ibid., p. 304

24. ibid., p. 248
Last Wednesday, in the early morning hours, hundreds of French riot police assaulted and tore down one of the biggest refugee camps in France, at the Saint Denis Canal in the 19th district of Paris.

Over 1,700 refugees, who came largely from Somalia, Sudan and Eritrea, had been living rough for months in squalid conditions in the camp. Most of the refugees in this camp had escaped from their war-torn countries and made the dangerous crossing of the Mediterranean Sea from Libya, where they had to evade continuing fighting as well as mass refugee prison camps set up after the 2011 NATO war in that country.

The CRS (Republican Security Companies) riot police forcibly expelled refugees including women, unaccompanied minors and children and escorted them to 20 temporary detention centers across the Paris area. Refugees were only allowed to bring their belongings in shopping bags or small suitcases. Several hundred refugees fled and escaped before the riot police entered into the camp.

After the initial police assault, bulldozers destroyed hundreds of tiny, two-person sleeping tents that volunteers had supplied to the refugees. When the police bulldozers demolished the camp, riot police patrolled the Saint Denis Canal and guarded the entire surrounding area, in order to suppress any resistance that emerged. It was the 35th time since mid-2015 that police forcefully removed refugees from makeshift camps in Paris; some 28,000 refugees have been expelled this way.

Refugees are reportedly to be detained in temporary prison centers while police check their documents and administrative situation. After a brief examination, refugees face the risk of deportation from France due to President Emmanuel Macrons draconian new asylum law, passed in April to slash the number of asylum applications and create conditions for mass summary expulsion proceedings.

According to certain press reports, last Thursday 2,132 migrants were deported from Charles de Gaulle Airport in Paris.

Last November, Interior Minister Gerard Collomb ordered the police prefects of Frances 96 mainland departments to deport failed asylum seekers and undocumented immigrants. The circular, which was leaked to the press, demanded prefects provide explicit details about the fight against irregular immigration in your department in 2017, and your plan for the implementation of these instructions in the coming months. The fight against irregular immigration is the responsibility of the prefect in each department. It is necessary to act quickly.

The Macron government, backed by the entire European Union (EU), is escalating its assault on refugees and their democratic rights, setting up and deploying a massive police corps that can also be turned against workers and students protesting wars and social conditions in France today.

These also expose those who argued, in line with the European Union (EU) bureaucracy, that workers had to vote for Macron as a lesser evil compared to neo-fascist candidate Marine Le Pen in order to help refugees. The Socialist Equality Party of France alone rejected these arguments, to which pseudo-left forces like Unsubmissive France or the New Anti-capitalist Party adapted themselves, and called for an active boycott of the run-off of the 2017 elections. This argument has been tragically vindicated, time and again, by Macrons rising attacks on refugees.

Today, Macron is largely taking over the anti-refugee agenda as formulated by Le Pens National Front (FN) party.

Collomb has demanded that French regional authorities build mobile teams to evict refugees and undocumented immigrants from makeshift camps. Last January, he announced plans to establish 400 detention centers, where economic migrants could be jailed and deported.

WSWS reporters who visited the Saint Denis Canal and Saint Martin Canal refugee camps last month found that most of the refugees in these camps had fled to France to escape imperialist wars and state repression. There are now 60 million refugees around the world, the greatest number since the end of World War II. That is the result of decades of US-led NATO wars of plunder in Afghanistan, Libya, Syria, Iraq, Somalia and beyond that have devastated entire societies and claimed millions of lives.

In one interview with the WSWS at the Saint Martin Canal, a young Afghan man from the Jalalabad area explained how he fled his country after US troops arrived in his village while he was away visiting relatives, and massacred his entire familyhis father, mother, two brothers and a sister.

Then there are the horrific conditions refugees suffer while on the way to France. Doctors Without Borders head of mission in France, Corinne Torre, told the media, The major issue was refugees and migrants mental health after trauma. Most of these people have come through Libya. Many have faced violence, torture, inhumane treatment, traffickers or sexual violence. We dont talk enough about that, and there should be better structures in place to deal with it.

Nonetheless, refugees in camps in France must not only endure the squalid and humiliating conditions in these makeshift camps, but also battle with the authorities to establish their refugee status. This is a virtually impossible task for masses of immigrants, who do not have the money or the official papers to submit to French immigration authorities. In order to hire legal staff to translate documents into French and argue before the state authorities, refugees typically need more than 2,000.

Macron government officials are well aware that the vast majority of refugees cannot pay such a sum, and that they are now at the mercy of police, who can easily reject their applications and deport them back to their war-torn countries.

At the same time, French police are handing out fines to non-profit organizations trying to help refugees and supply them with clothing and food, as part of a ruthless strategy to prevent anyone from helping refugees in Paris.

Every indication is that Macron is preparing even more repression against immigrants in Paris and across France. There are reports that, in the coming days, police will destroy the refugee camps at both the Saint Martin Canal and at the Porte de la Chapelle areas, where thousands of desperate refugees are staying.
Libyan militias killed at least 15 African migrants and wounded 25 others as dozens attempted to escape a migrant torture camp on May 23, according to the aid organisation Doctors Without Borders. The bloody massacre, one of the few to be made public, occurred in Bani Walid in the hinterland of Tripoli and Misrata. Smuggling gangs, Islamist militias and the Libyan Coast Guard collaborate in the region to profit from the lucrative refugee business.

On the evening in question, 100 people sought to flee from the internment camp. Most of them were teenagers from Eritrea, Ethiopia and Somalia, including many women. In their efforts to reach Europe, they ended up being transported to the Bani Walid camp, which is one of the so-called private camps to which neither the United Nations nor other aid organisations have access.

Following the attempted escape, 25 injured people managed to reach the Bani Walid hospital, where they met a team of medical personnel from Doctors Without Borders. The migrants told them about the 15 refugees who had been shot to death, as well as up to 40 more they had to leave behind injured. They also reported that some of them had been imprisoned for up to three years and that they had been sold on numerous occasions and then brought back to the camp. Their bodies revealed horrific wounds, including burns caused by electric shocks, and infections.

The smuggler militias sought to recapture the refugees with armed force but pulled back from an open attack on the hospital, with the oldest members of the community and the security forces standing in front of the refugees to protect them.

Doctors treated seven refugees, who had suffered gunshot wounds and broken bones, in the inpatient ward. The rest were brought by Libyan police to Tripoli, where they were once again imprisoned the next day. Doctors Without Borders subsequently issued an appeal for access to the refugees on its website stating: Arbitrary detention is no solution. They urgently require protection and aid.

In Libya, the business of kidnapping and ransom payments is booming. There are dozens of camps in which refugees from Ghana, Niger, Nigeria, Sudan, Syria and other countries are confined, tortured, sold or murdered. Around 700,000 immigrants, refugees and asylum seekers are currently in Libya, and many of them face a similar fate.

Even those who make it to the Mediterranean coast and into a boat with the hope of reaching Europe are far from being out of danger. On behalf of the European Union, the Libyan Coast Guard hunts them down at sea in order to keep them from reaching European shores.

The Libyan Coast Guard is being financed, trained and armed by the EU, Germany and Italy, according to a January 2018 report by Monitor. The measures taken by the European governments to keep immigrants fleeing violence in Africa and the Middle East out of Europe thus contributes directly to increasing the misery of refugees in Libya.

Germany, Italy, the EU and the UN jointly finance and cooperate closely with the unity government of Fayed al-Sarraj in Tripoli. In consultation with the EU, Sarraj has expanded Libyan territorial waters, which has resulted in the Coast Guard capturing many more refugees. At the same time, the EU is cracking down brutally against sea rescue services in the Mediterranean. The conflict is once again intensifying, with the warmer weather encouraging more people to risk crossing the Mediterranean.

The European countries are acting in contempt of international law. They pay the Libyan Coast Guard to forcibly return migrants to Libya, where the Coast Guard then transfers these unfortunate people, including many children, to official and illegal operators of torture camps.

Christophe Biteau, Doctors Without Borders country coordinator for Libya, explained in a statement on the organisations website that in practice the distinction between official and illegal refugee camps is entirely unclear. In principle, anything can happen. Somebody brought back to Libya from the sea can very rapidly fall into the clutches of people smugglers, and the torture begins all over again.

Whoever survives the illegal prisons is financially, physically, and psychologically destroyed, Biteau noted.

A report published by German broadcaster N-TV six months ago revealed that people were being sold at slave markets and made to perform forced labour.

Even Germanys Foreign Ministry describes the Libyan camps as concentration camp-like institutions, making a direct comparison with the Nazis horrific extermination camps.

A 2017 report produced by German diplomats, which only came to light recently when the Foreign Ministry was forced to publish it in redacted form described concentration camp-like conditions in Libyas refugee camps. The website FragDenStaat (AskTheState) had repeatedly demanded the release of the report, citing freedom of information laws, and was finally able to publish it in early May.

The report states: The eyewitness reports of returned refugees paint a horrifying picture of the worst kinds of systematic human rights abuses in Libya. Authentic mobile phone photos and videos provided evidence of the concentration camp-like conditions in the private camps.

The report was based on the eyewitness testimony of a migrant who returned voluntarily to [Niger]. The International Organization for Migrants maintains a reception centre in Agadez for returning refugees.

The migrants showed the authors pictures of severely abused people, the Foreign Ministry report stated, and they reported that regular rapes of both sexes were carried out. The authors were also shown the signs of torture on their bodies. According to the report, there are daily instances of executions of migrants unable to pay, torture, rape, blackmail, as well as disposal in the desert.

Anyone who cannot pay or obtain money from their family within a set period of time is shot, the report continued. Eyewitnesses spoke of exactly five executions per week in the prisonwhich were announced and took place every Friday to make room for new arrivals.

Thousands of Libyans are also being held in such camps. On April 10, the UN reported on a camp where government and state-aligned militias detain thousands of people permanently and in violation of the law, where torture and abuse are practiced. Men, women, and children throughout Libya are illegally detained or robbed of their freedom in violation of the law due to their tribal or family ties, or suspected political association, the UN Human Rights Office noted.

Despite such horrors, the European governments, led by Germany, have no desire or intention to change their policies. On the contrary, they are preparing to deport African refugees in large numbers to North Africa. Just last week, Germanys CDU-SPD grand coalition government agreed to designate Libya's neighbouring states, Morocco, Tunisia and Algeria, as safe countries of origin, paving the way for more such horrors.
The Papua New Guinea (PNG) government declared on May 29 it will ban Facebook use for a month to give authorities time to analyse the social network for fake profiles and illegal usage.

Communications Minister Sam Basil told the PNG Post-Courier: The time will allow information to be collected to identify users that hide behind fake accounts, users that upload pornographic images, users that post false and misleading information on Facebook to be filtered and removed.

A start date is yet to be announced. Basil later told parliament he disputed the newspapers report about an impending ban. He said the governments official position would be made known after studies into the advantages and disadvantages of Facebook. Nevertheless, Basil declared he was not afraid to put an indefinite ban on the networking site.

The Post-Courier defended its report. Meanwhile, the Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) reported on May 29 that the PNG government intends to use its investigation to work out how to apply a restrictive cyber-crime law to social media more widely.

The move coincides with a decision to disconnect mobile phone sim cards that are not registered to users with formal identification. Basil told the ABC the disconnection would stop people using telecommunications and social media anonymously, claiming false accounts are used to spread fake news and rumours.

Basil previously said US Senate hearings on Facebook and a class action lawsuit against Cambridge Analytica and other companies over misuse of data raised concerns for Papua New Guinea citizens. Last month he commissioned a study of Facebooks impact and the security of users personal information. He claimed a lot of people are receiving threats, fake news and defamatory statements from unknown accounts.

The purported concern for ordinary citizens is bogus. Over the past two years, the unpopular government led by Prime Minister Peter ONeill has turned to increasingly authoritarian measures to suppress discontent among the working class and rural poor over austerity measures. Military-police operations have suppressed student protests and strikes. Soldiers have been deployed to break blockades of major gas projects in the Highlands by local landowners over a range of grievances.

Speaking to the ABC, Basil flatly denied that the Facebook ban was an attempt to restrict freedom of speech. However, he insisted that while politicians are legitimately open to criticism, whenever there is criticism we must ensure that it is factual and opponents must have alternatives if they are criticising a government policy.

Basil suggested the creation of a government-sponsored alternative to Facebook. If there need be, then we can gather our local applications developers to create a site that is more conducive for Papua New Guineans to communicate within the country and abroad as well, he told the Post-Courier.

Just under 10 percent of PNGs eight million people have access to the Internet, one of the lowest rates in the world. Even so, Facebook has become a popular place to discuss politics, especially among young people. Many use the site to criticise the government and expose corruption. Tens of thousands have accessed World Socialist Web Site articles and hundreds follow the Socialist Equality Party (Australia) Facebook page.

Facebook, which has more than two billion users, is facing mounting pressure from governments globally. The Cambridge Analytica scandal has been used to intensify the push to censor the Internet and silence opposition to official politics.

In Indonesia, Communications and Information Minister Rudiantara last month issued Facebook with demands for information related to Cambridge Analytica and the security of users data. In Sri Lanka, authorities blocked access to 5.5 million Facebook accounts following incidents of communal violence in March, which the government claimed had been incited on social media. China and North Korea have enacted partial or total blocks of Facebook.

In response to Basils announcement, a Facebook spokesman said: We have reached out to the Papua New Guinea government to understand their concerns. This is a signal that the tech giant is ready to impose official demands and use the PNG ban to further its own program of Internet censorship.

The crackdown, which comes as PNG prepares to host the 2018 Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) leaders summit, has been met with a chorus of criticism. One person told the Post Courier it was a total violation of civil rights and an attempt to gag people during the APEC meetings. The PNG government intends to use the summit to promote more investment from multinational mining and other companies to exploit the countrys low-paid workforce.

Alarmed about the effects on business, Institute of National Affairs Director Paul Barker declared it a travesty to close down Facebook during APEC. He stated: It would be both an attack on embracing technology, undermining the information era and mechanisms for accountability, but also damaging business and welfare.

Activists and civil society groups spoke out. Transparency International chairman Lawrence Stephens said stopping Facebook for a month sounded pretty authoritarian and pretty worrying.

The most forceful criticism is coming from ordinary social media users. Jerry Kuri Mori wrote on May 29 in the PNG Development Forum Facebook group: This government violates the very founding principles of our democracy which allows for the freedom of speech and expression  This is an illegitimate government who claims to represent the voices of our people and yet constantly violates the very democratic ideals of our national constitution.

Abraham Ropa wrote on May 30 in the PNG Anti-Corruption Movement group: Is [the ban] of fake accounts/user names and pornography or because people are revealing and publicising every truth about the corrupt deals about PNG government?

In the group PNG Happenings Today, which has more than 136,000 members, Thomas Tom Kolye wrote on May 30: 1. What damage has Facebook made to PNG? 2. Is Facebook a threat to any human? PNG need improvement in Internet services and not [the] shutting down Facebook.

The author recommends:

After the Papua New Guinea election: The way forward for the working class and rural poor

[29 July 2017]
Eight immigrants die in wreck of Golden Venture on Rockaway Beach

Survivors from the wreck of the Golden Venture (credit US Coast Guard)

On June 6, 1993, the wreck of the freighter Golden Venture on the shores of Rockaway Beach, New York revealed a modern form of the slave trade, in which Chinese immigrant workers were packed into the holds of ships and smuggled into the United States to work as sweatshop labor.

Eight young immigrant workers died when the ship went aground in the early morning hours. Six drowned as they attempted to swim ashore and two died of heart attacks induced by exposure to the frigid waters. Another 276 were captured by New York City police, then turned over to the Immigration and Naturalization Service and placed in detention camps, pending their deportation to China.

The immigrants told a story of terrible hardship. They were locked below deck for up to four months in a journey that began off the coast of Fujian province and extended for 17,000 miles. They ate only one meal a day, of rice and vegetables. They had no running water and only a single toilet for nearly 300 people, including 27 women.

Under virtual slave labor conditions in the US, they were to work off the cost of their passage, laboring 100 hours a week or more for no pay in restaurants, laundries and garment factories. Many of the women workers were to be forced into prostitution. Immigrants who failed to pay off the gangsters in charge of the smuggling operation faced being beaten, kidnapped, and tortured, with some murdered as examples to terrorize the rest.

The Clinton administration also sought to make an example of these brutally exploited workers, announcing it would seek to deport all the survivors of the wreck. An INS spokesman told the International Workers Bulletin, We have to prevent others from trying the same route.

One Democratic congressman, Charles Schumer of Brooklyn, New Yorkthe future Senate Democratic Leaderwent even further, holding a press conference after the shipwreck to call for redrafting of American immigration laws to limit the number of Asian and Latin American workers entering the US.

Yugoslav students protest over jobs and inequality

Students protesting in Yugoslavia

Throughout the week of June 3-10, 1968, students at the University of Belgrade began a protest movement, marching against economic reforms that had created high unemployment and holding meetings to debate and discuss the political situation. The protests spread to other Yugoslav cities like Sarajevo and Zagreb.

In 1964 the League of Communists of Yugoslavia (LCY), the Stalinist ruling political party, introduced an economic policy to allow the resurgence of a market economy and build stronger relations with the west. After the Tito-Stalin split between Yugoslavia and the Soviet Union, the Yugoslav bureaucracy was in need of new allies to replace the loss of trade with Russia. The result of the economic reforms was a large growth in unemployment and growing income inequality.

The student movement began on the night of June 2 after police denied students entry into a free play being held in a Belgrade theater. Students refused to comply with the police and violent clashes broke out. The protesters erected barricades of overturned cars to defend themselves from the police. The next day, 4,000 students marched on Belgrade to begin negotiations with the LCY. Before any progress was made, the police fired on the march wounding 70 students.

The students then returned to the University to plan and organize a seven-day strike. The demands of the student protesters were:

The rapid solution of the employment problem facing new university graduates, most of whom have to go abroad if they want to find any sort of employment; The suppression of the great inequalities in Yugoslavia; The establishment of real democracy and self-management relations; The immediate release of all arrested students; The resignation of the chief of police; Convene the Parliament to discuss the demands of students; The resignation of the directors of all Belgrade newspapers, radio and TV for having deliberately falsified the events of the June 2.

After making their headquarters in the Department of Philosophy, the strikers put out a statement to clarify the purpose of the protest: We do not have our own program. Our program is the program of the most progressive forces of our societythe program of the LCY and the constitution. We demand that it should be put consequently into practice. The Belgrade students opposed the Yugoslav state not from the right but from the left, because it was carrying out policies that were not in the interests of the working class and did not represent an advance toward socialism. They instead called for political reform to meet the immediate needs of students and workers.

On the last day of the strike, President Tito announced his support for the students and promised he would see to it that their demands were met. This was a lie, for the purpose of bringing the protests to an end. Instead the regime banned films, newspapers, books and other media while unemployment continued. Some university professors who supported the students also found it difficult to continue their careers as punishment for their involvement in the affair.

75 years ago: Military coup in Argentina

General Pedro Pablo Ramirez

On June 4, 1943, military forces staged a coup detat, overthrowing the Argentine government of President Ramon Castillo and preventing the installation of his hand-picked successor Robustiano Patron Costas, an oligarch in the sugar industry.

The action was outcome of protracted machinations by senior figures in the military who had formed a secret United Officers Group to prepare the ouster of the government. The immediate trigger was Castillos demand on June 3 that his Minister of War, General Pedro Pablo Ramirez, resign because of a meeting he held with the Radical Civic Union, an oppositional party that had offered to endorse him as a candidate in upcoming presidential elections.

On the morning of June 4, a force of 8,000 soldiers was mobilized from the Campo de May by senior army generals. The only serious resistance they faced was at the Navy Petty Officers School of Mechanics, where forces loyal to the government opened fire. The clashes left 30 dead and over 100 wounded. Castillo fled to Uruguay and his government collapsed.

General Arturo Rawson, a right-wing Catholic and member of a prominent aristocratic family, declared himself president. Rawsons reign lasted just three days, however, ending with his ouster by Ramirez on June 7, following opposition to Rawsons attempts to stack his cabinet with personal friends.

The coup was an expression of deep-going social and political tensions. Over the infamous decade, initiated by the military overthrow of the democratically elected government of President Hipolito Yrigoyen, Argentina had been dominated by a series of authoritarian regimes. Popular discontent had grown amid a rapid industrialization and substantial growth of the urban working class. The Argentine ruling elite was also bitterly divided over demands from Britain and the United States that it dispense with its position of neutrality, adopted at the beginning of the Second World War in 1939, and support the Allied powers.

The Ramirez dictatorship immediately jailed workers leaders, banned oppositional groups, and moved to institute state control over the trade unions. At the same time, it made limited social concessions aimed at diffusing popular discontent, included a freeze on increases to rural rents and leases. The government was to be divided on a host of domestic and foreign policy issues, setting the stage for further upheavals and conflicts.

100 years ago: Czech Legion backs formation of first anti-Soviet government in Russia

Samara, on the upper Volga (map)

On June 8, 1918, the first anti-Soviet government was established on Russian territory under the protection of the Czech Legion, an armed force of some 60,000 former prisoners of war captured by Tsarist armies in World War I who revolted against the Bolshevik regime in mid-May. The anti-Bolshevik government was set up in Samara, a city on the Volga, by four former members of the Constituent Assembly, which the Soviet Government had dissolved in January.

The Committee of Members of the Constituent Assembly, known by its Russian acronym, Komuch, were members of the Social Revolutionary Party (SRs) and led by Vladimir Volsky. By September, Komuch had grown to 96 members, including the veteran SR leader Victor Chernov. Komuch formed a People's Army and extended its authority to the provinces of Kazan, Saratov, Simbirsk and Ufa.

While the new Soviet government offered the Czech Legion safe passage through Siberia to Vladivostok, where they could board ships to return home, or the option of settlement in Russia as Soviet citizens, nationalist Czech officers, after communication with Czech leaders, who in turn were in close contact with British and French imperialism, refused to disarm and staged a revolt instead. The Legion occupied the rail route into Siberia, the main supply for foodstuffs for areas of the country under Soviet control, which were experiencing widespread famine.

What followed was, as the Commissar of War for the Soviet government, Leon Trotsky, noted in July, a question, in the direct and immediate sense of the word, of life and death for the working class in Russia. And the Czechoslovaks had to seize a whole series of towns and provide a point of support for the White Guards and monarchists  either we vanquish the Czechoslovaks and all those around them, or they will destroy us. The Czechoslovak Legion provided critical military support for Komuchs Peoples Army.

Trotsky later released captured letters from Samara that showed the role of French officers in widespread corruption and influence over Komuch, as well as their general contempt for both Czechs and Russians. Samara was retaken by the Red Army on October 7. Komuch had liquidated itself into the Provisional Siberian Government in September which in turn was dissolved in November by a coup lead by Admiral Kolchak, one of the leaders of the White Armies.
The Socialist Equality Party calls on all its supporters to cast a class-conscious vote for David Moore for US Senate and Kevin Mitchell for US House (51st District) in the 2018 California midterm elections Tuesday, June 5.

Moore and Mitchell are the only candidates running on a socialist program against war, inequality, censorship and the attack on immigrants.

From the beginning, our campaign has sought to unify the struggles of workers, young people, and immigrants against the common enemycapitalism. The Trump administration is escalating its attack on immigrants while preparing war abroad, passing massive tax cuts for the wealthy, and plotting the destruction of public education.

David Moore

The Democrats do not oppose Trumps anti-working-class and warmongering policies. On the contrary, they continuously provide the necessary votes to carry through his right-wing agenda. Despite widespread popular opposition, the Democrats find common ground on these issues while attacking Trump for being too soft on Russia.

The Democrats and Republicans both speak for factions of the capitalist ruling elite, with the Democrats emerging as the favored party of the intelligence agencies. In these primary elections, the Democrats have run a record number of intelligence agents, military veterans and ex-State Department officials. They are campaigning as the responsible party of US imperialism and military aggression.

An altogether different conflict is emerging, between the working class and the entire ruling elite. This year has seen a rising tide of working class struggle in the United States and around the world. The strikes by teachers and UC hospital workers, and the walkouts by students against mass shootings, are an indication of what is to come, as the working class breaks free of the stranglehold of the trade unions, which have worked for so long to artificially suppress social opposition.

Terrified of the working class, the financial elite is trying to carry out its deeply unpopular program through attacks on democratic rights, including the drive toward dictatorship and the efforts by corporations like Google and Facebook to censor the Internet. While the established candidates can buy airtime and promote their ads online without interference, our campaigns have faced an uphill battle, with Facebook effectively blocking any advertisement.

Kevin Mitchell

Our campaign has received a significant response from workers, students and young people. Everywhere, particularly in the more working-class and impoverished areas of California, there is enormous anger toward the political establishment.

The SEP campaign gives voice to the widespread anti-war and anti-capitalist sentiment that is emerging in the United States and internationally.

We insist that every worker has the right to a decent home, nutritious food, clean water, well-paying and meaningful jobs, free education through university, high-quality health care, access to culture, a clean environment, and a world without dictatorship, walls and war.

The resources exist to secure these rights, but they cannot be won without a frontal assault on the wealth and power of the capitalist ruling elite, in the US and around the world. There is not a single significant social problem facing humanity that can be resolved except through a revolutionary movement of the working class to take control of the major corporations and banks, seize the massive fortunes of the capitalist ruling elite, and reorganize society along socialist lines.

A socialist leadership must be built. This has been the fundamental aim of our campaign.

We need your support. Tell your coworkers and friends to vote for David Moore for US Senate and Kevin Mitchell for US House (51st District). Donate to our campaign, follow and share our posts on social media, and make the decision to join the Socialist Equality Party.

Vote for David Moore for US Senate and Kevin Mitchell for US House (51st District)!

No to World War III! Not to dictatorship and censorship!

Defend immigrants! For a socialist policy of open borders!

Break with the Democrats and Republicans! Join the Socialist Equality Party!
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State of Decay 2 Comparison - Xbox One vs. Xbox One S vs. Xbox One X
You know when your friends keep telling youdump the guy, you cant trust him, his evil, hes a backstabberand you just cant stay away? So it is with the presidents on-again, off-again romance with North Korean dictator Kim Jong-Un. As of this writing, their hot date on June 12 in Singapore is emphatically on. In fact, on Friday, senior North Korean military heavy Kim Yong Chol, a guy who had to have special dispensation to enter the U.S., came to the White House and delivered a personal letter from Kim, a billet-doux that Trump described as interesting and very nice, but then, in his typically head-spinning fashion, admitted that he hadnt actually read. I havent seen the letter yet, he said. I purposely didnt open the letter. I havent opened it.

It was not the only missive making news this week. Yesterday, in a bombshell report in the New York Times, it was revealed that back in January, President Trumps lawyers had sent a confidential letter to special counsel Robert Muellerwho we assumed actually opened itclaiming that their clients executive power meant that he couldnt be subpoenaed, no matter what Mueller uncovered. Interesting for sure, if hardly very nice.

What is worse: comparing a high-level Obama administration aide to the spawn of the Muslim Brotherhood and Planet of the Apes, or calling the presidents daughter a feckless cunt? Before you answer, there are two additional entries in this weeks race-to-the-bottom sweepstakes: Eric Greitens, the Missouri governor who just resigned, indulging in revenge porn for allegedly taking a photo of his partially nude mistress and threatening to release it to shut her up. Or the audio of a 2015 call that NPR made public on Thursday, on which Michael Cohen had this to say to a Daily Beast reporter he was not happy with: . . . So Im warning you, tread very fucking lightly, because what Im going to do to you is going to be fucking disgusting. You understand me?

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Will Cohen flip? If he does not and is convicted, the president has signaled (loudly) that he will be happy to pardon him. On Friday, seemingly out of the blue, Trump issued a full pardon to conservative author and filmmaker Dinesh DSouza, who had been convicted of making illegal campaign contributions. (His un-indictable crimes include writing The Roots of Obamas Rage, a screed that the Columbia Journalism Review described as a fact-twisting, error-laden piece of paranoia . . . the worst kind of smear journalisma singularly disgusting work.) And we suspect that Trumps former campaign manager Paul Manafort, facing a roster of charges and currently sporting two ankle bracelets (one for a federal grand jury in Virginia; one for the federal court in Washington, D.C.), and whose former son-in-law has already flipped, is also taking comfort from Trumps penchant for pardoning.

In other news: On Thursday, the President infuriated allies by slapping tariffs on steel and aluminum imports from Canada, Mexico, and the European Union. On Friday morning, he blurted out optimistic info about the May jobs report before its official release, a no-no of gigantic proportions. And just when you thought that her stone face would never crack, Press Secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders actually teared up on Wednesdayalbeit brieflyin response to a question from a 13-year-old student reporter who ask her: . . . One thing that affects mine and others mental health is the worry that we or our friends could get shot at school. Specifically, can you tell me what the administration has done and will do to prevent these senseless tragedies?

That same day, Kim Kardashian West sailed into the White House, but if her appearance seemed faintly ridiculous, her cause was notshe was there to plead for clemency for Alice Marie Johnson, a 63-year-old great-grandmother serving a life sentence for a first-time, nonviolent drug offense. At least we got to observe Kim as she made her way to 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue. The First Lady, on the other hand, has not been seen anywhere since May 10. On Friday, it was announced that she would not be traveling with her husband to Camp David this weekend. (But really, can you blame her? Would you want to go with him?)

And lastly, what will it take to get Attorney General Jeff Sessionsa Southern man so right-wing that the late Senator Ted Kennedy once called him a throwback to a shameful erato skedaddle back to his sweet home Alabama? This week, Trump once again lamented on Twitter that he is stuck with Sessions, quoting Rep. Trey Gowdy,  There are lots of good lawyers in the country, he could have picked somebody else! And I wish I did! The president has never gotten over his rage that Sessions recused himself from the Mueller investigation, on account of a couple of meetings he had with Russkies back in the day.

How desperate are these times, that refusing to quit in the face of a barrage of insults from your unhinged boss suddenly looks like moral courage?
Good morning! Catch up on your pop culture news with our roundup of todays top stories  so far.

1. Benedict Cumberbatch plays real-life hero

All that crime-fighting on Sherlock and Doctor Strange appears to have paid off for Benedict Cumberbatch, who reportedly leaped from his Uber to rescue a food delivery man who was being accosted by would-be muggers. The best part: This all happened near 221B Baker St. in London. Read more >

Benedict Cumberbatch saved a delivery guy from an attack. (Photo: David Livingston/Getty Images)

2. Serena Williams addresses Maria Sharapova rumors

Serena Williams and Maria Sharapova will face off at the French Open on Monday. The hotly anticipated match comes just days after Williams criticized anecdotes about herself in Sharapovas 2017 autobiography, Unstoppable: My Life So Far, but dismissed any negative feelings toward the woman often billed as her rival. Read more >

3. Parkland hosts graduation

The four Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School seniors killed in the tragic Parkland, Fla., shooting in February  Nicholas Dworet, Joaquin Oliver, Meadow Pollack, and Carmen Schentrup  were honored by friends and family members at Sundays graduation. Jimmy Fallon also surprised the graduating class and gave the commencement speech, which praised students for their bravery. Read more >

4. Meghan Markle and Prince Harry get new digs

Never say that Queen Elizabeth II doesnt know how to give a good wedding gift. The royal has offered up a pretty swanky cottage to the just-married Duke and Duchess of Sussex. Read more >

5. Aint no party like a North West and Penelope Disick party

Another year, another joint birthday party for Kardashian cousins North West and Penelope Disick. The first family of reality TV hosted a unicorn-themed bash  complete with real unicorns and matching rainbow-print robes  to mark the girls upcoming birthdays. Read more >

The birthday girls in their sparkly robes. (Photo: Kim Kardashian via Instagram Stories)

Thanks for reading! Come back this evening for your p.m. pop culture roundup.
Arif Rafiq

Security, Asia

Reuters Photo

Pushing Afghanistans economy toward greater integration with Iran could increase Kabuls dependence on Tehran.

America's Iran Deal Exit Could Wreck the Afghanistan-Pakistan Relationship

Some South Asia observers have argued that the Trump administrations decision to exit the Iran nuclear deal will hurt U.S. efforts to stabilize Afghanistan. Their reasoning: it reduces the viability of the Iranian port of Chabahar, which India aims to use as an alternate gateway to Afghanistan, bypassing the land corridor through Pakistan. Chabahar, these observers believe, is crucial to decreasing Afghanistans reliance on Pakistan for trade and expanding the exports of the aid and narcotics-dependent country.

The reimposition of sanctions on Iran and the danger of secondary sanctions will indeed inhibit foreign investment in Chabahar. But the port project is already struggling. For over a year, New Delhi has struggled to secure a private sector partner for operating the port terminal, reissuing the tender several times.

But not only is the promise of Chabahar overblown, pushing Afghanistans economy toward greater integration with Iran could increase Kabuls dependence on Tehran.

Landlocked Afghanistan has historically relied on Pakistans two major ports, Karachi and Port Qasim, for access to sea, reaching them via the border crossings of Chaman and Torkham. The Obama administration invested considerable energy in expanding trade linkages between Afghanistan and Pakistan. It helped push forward the 2011 Afghanistan-Pakistan Transit Trade Agreement (APTTA), which broadened Afghanistans transit trade options through Pakistan.

APTTAwhich has since expiredprovided Afghanistan with access to an additional Pakistani port (Gwadar); another border crossing into Pakistan (Ghulam Khan in North Waziristan); and an international border crossing (Sost in Gilgit-Baltistan, connecting to China). The agreement also enabled Afghan trucks to carry goods through Pakistan and return home with Pakistani products. It continued to permit Afghan exports to India via Wagah, Pakistan, but fell short of allowing Indian exports to Afghanistan via Pakistan. APTTA also provided Pakistan with reciprocal access to Central Asia via Afghanistan.

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In addition to trade facilitation, the Obama administration disbursed through USAID roughly $200 million in funding for the upgrading of highways in Afghanistan and Pakistan connecting the two countries via the Ghulam Khan and Chaman border crossings. These projects have all been completed.

Since 2016, however, Afghanistan has shifted much of its transit trade to Iranmainly via its largest port, Bandar Abbas. There have also been some symbolic shipments from the Chabahar port, located around fifty miles from Pakistans Gwadar port.

The tilt toward Iran marked a detour from Ashraf Ghanis initial efforts to build ties with Pakistan, with a considerable focus on trade. Roughly a year after coming into office in 2014, Ghani gave up his outreach to Pakistan as conditions in his country worsened. He made clear publicly and privately that he would use trade as a lever vis-a-vis Pakistan. In 2016, bilateral trade between Afghanistan and Pakistan dropped by half and Iran emerged as Afghanistans largest trade partner.

Pakistan bears some responsibility for the decline in bilateral trade with Afghanistan. It has imposed heavy tariffs on some Afghan imports and has been inefficient in clearing Afghan shipments. Pakistan also shut down major border crossings with Afghanistan for a combined two months in 2017. But, it should be noted, these measures were taken in the wake of terrorist attacks in Pakistan originating in Afghanistan and after Afghan security forces fired on Pakistani census workers near the border.

Despite U.S. investments in Afghanistan-Pakistan connectivity, Ghanis embrace of Chabahar was mirrored by senior Trump administration officials, who spoke favorably of the project till last months exit from the nuclear deal. Its possible that the promotion of Afghan use of Chabahar was notionally part of the Trump administrations half-baked South Asia strategy.

Chabahar is of value to Afghanistan, but not as a replacement for Pakistans ports. Afghanistan is poor and landlocked. It has an import-based economy and runs trade deficits across the board. Chabahar makes sense for Afghanistan as part of a diversification strategy that is regionally-focused. It can be used to grow trade with India. And it can serve as an alternate port for western Afghanistan, which not only borders Iran, but is strongly integrated with its economy.

For the rest of Afghanistan, especially its eastern population centers, the best bet for maritime trade is Pakistan. Karachi, Port Qasim, and even Gwadar are physically closer to Afghanistan eastern and southern population centers, providing cost and time advantages over Chabahar. With the extension of the Peshawar-Islamabad-Lahore motorway to Karachi by 2020, Afghanistan will have access to a controlled access, high-speed road network connecting to Pakistans two major ports. The network could be extended to Kabul with the World Bank-funded Peshawar-Torkham expresswaythe construction of which will begin this yearand a proposed motorway from Torkham to Kabul via Jalalabad.

There is more reason why Afghanistan should not place its bets on a single logistics route. Its highway networks are in abysmal condition. And they will likely remain so for the foreseeable future. The sooner Afghan cargo is off the countrys road networks, the better. It makes little sense for goods destined to or from Kabul to loop around the countrys perimeter to reach the western border with Iran, when they can exit the country much quicker through Pakistan.

As a regional power and neighbor of Afghanistan, Iran is a necessary part of a political solution to the forty-year war in Afghanistan. But it is neither an altruistic actor nor is it simply a force that seeks stability, as some depict it.

While Pakistan enjoys a trade surplus with Afghanistan, Irans trade with Afghanistan is far more imbalanced in its own favor and it has shown little interest in opening its market to Afghan goods.

Afghan refugeesincluding many of the countrys present-day leadershave studied at leading Pakistani universities. Meanwhile, Iran has denied Afghan refugees the right to basic education and regularly deports Afghan migrants in large numberalready exceeding a hundred thousand this year. Tehran has exploited vulnerable Afghans, sending them as cannon fodder to fight in Syria in exchange for citizenship. And its influence in Afghanistan is pervasive, going beyond Persian speakers and Shias, extending into factions of the Taliban. Iran is alleged to use militant networks in western Afghanistan to obstruct infrastructure projects it opposes, including various dams and the Turkmenistan-Afghanistan-Pakistan-India gas pipeline. Elevating Iran as the main conduit for Afghanistans trade with the outside world would put Kabul on a fast-track toward becoming a vassal state of Tehran. One just has to look at Iraq and Syria for examples of how Iran has treated dependent countries.

The Trump administration has a range of conflicting strategic objectives in which Afghanistan plays at least a minor part. It seeks to stabilize Afghanistan, change Pakistans foreign policy, roll back Iranian influence in the region, contain China and its Belt and Road Initiative, and promote India as a net security provider.

But confronting Iran in the region has costs in Afghanistan, incentivizing Tehrans support for the Taliban. Supporting Chabahar increases Irans influence in Afghanistanfurther enabling it to work against U.S. interests. Containing China negates its role as perhaps the one true force interested in stability in Afghanistan. And discouraging Pakistan-Afghanistan trade closes a positive pathway for Pakistani influence in Afghanistan.

There are indications that Kabuland possibly Washingtonis revisiting the idea of cooperating with Islamabad. A bilateral dialogue track between Afghanistan and Pakistanthrough a framework known as the Afghanistan Pakistan Action Plan for Peace and Solidarity (APAPPS)has proven to be remarkably resilient over the past few months. High-level talks, which have included the elected leaders of both countries and top security officials, have expanded into renewed discussions on economic cooperation. Pakistan has indicated it is willing to import Afghan cotton and the two countries are discussing connectivity, including Afghan use of the Gwadar port. All this coincides with the reopening of the Ghulam Khan border crossing after four years.

There is a significant potential upside from an upsurge in Afghanistan-Pakistan trade. With all the talk of shipping Afghan fruit to India by air, Pakistan is being discounted as a market for Afghan goods. But its a large country with a population of two hundred million. The two countries are linked not just by roads, but also by informal banking networks, peoples and trade networks.

Like any regional power would, Pakistan seeks influence in Afghanistan. But it has demonstrated in recent years that its looking for legitimate ways of influence, such as business investments, a role in peace talks, and training Afghan army personnel.

In seeking to bypass Pakistan to secure Afghanistan, the Trump administration has been at war with geography. The progress of the APAPPS process might signal that Washington has come to its senses. Or it could mean that China is playing a more assertive role in bringing Afghanistan and Pakistan together. Whatever the reason, it is encouragingbecause meaningful economic and security cooperation between Kabul and Islamabad is far more essential to regional peace than a fledgling port in Iran.

Arif Rafiq (@arifcrafiq) is president of Vizier Consulting, LLC, a political risk advisory company focusing on the Middle East and South Asia. He is also editor of CPEC Wire, a digital platform dedicated to monitoring and analyzing the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor.

Image: Reuters Photo

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Angelina Jolie turns 43 this week and is known for her ageless beauty. As well as her award-winning career in Hollywood in front of and behind the camera. And her philanthropic work. (And yes, that high-profile relationship and split with Brad). But one of the things we love most about Angelina Jolie is that shes a mother like no other. Jolie and ex-husband Brad Pitt have been co-parenting their six kids since the super-famous couple called it quits in 2016. Jolie adopted her first child, Maddox, in 2002 from Cambodia. Three years later, she and Pitt adopted daughter Zahara from Ethiopia. In 2006, she gave birth to daughter Shiloh. A year later, they adopted a son, Pax, and in 2008 Jolie welcomed twins Knox and Vivienne. The celebrity mom has credited her mother, Marcheline Bertrand, now deceased, for influencing her parenting style: I talk to her often in my mind and try to think what she might say and how she might guide me. Bertrand died in 2007 from ovarian and breast cancer. Jolie has tried to keep her kids away from the media frenzy. Now that theyre older, theyre enjoying the spotlight. Were really such a unit. Nobody in my life has ever stood by me more, she said. In September 2017, the whole Jolie-Pitt bunch came out to support their mom at the Toronto International Film Festival. Maddox, 16; Pax, 14; Zahara, 13; Shiloh, 12; and 9-year-old twins Knox and Vivienne posed with Jolie at the red carpet event. Pax even got to go to the Golden Globes! In January, he looked dapper in his tux as he joined his mom for the star-studded affair. A month later, it was girls' night for Jolie and her daughters. Zahara and Shiloh were guests of honor at the Annie Awards  which celebrated the best animated films of the year  in Los Angeles. The Jolie-Pitt crew does their fair share of traveling too. They took a family trip to Paris, where they were all photographed at the Louvre. Theyre currently in London, where Jolie is shooting her latest film, Disneys Maleficent 2. Jolies return to the live-action Disney movie marks her first onscreen appearance since her 2015 role in By the Sea.
By Byron Kaye

SYDNEY (Reuters) - Australia's Qantas Airways Ltd said it plans to change its website to refer to Taiwan as a Chinese territory, not an independent nation, but that it needed extra time to comply with the request from Beijing.

China's aviation regulator in April gave three dozen airlines a May 25 deadline to remove references on their websites or in other material that suggest Taiwan, Hong Kong and Macau are part of countries independent from China, a move described by White House as "Orwellian nonsense".

Self-ruled Taiwan is claimed by Beijing as a Chinese territory, and has become one of China's most sensitive issues and a potential military flashpoint. Hong Kong and Macau are former European colonies that are now part of China but run largely autonomously.

Qantas and some other airlines had requested at the time for an extension to decide how they would respond to the request.

At the International Air Transport Association (IATA) annual meeting in Sydney on Monday, Qantas Chief Executive Officer Alan Joyce said his company planned to comply with the request, although the company needed extra time.

"Our intention is to meet the requirements. It is just taking time to get there," Joyce told journalists on the sidelines of the meeting.

The CEO of Qantas' international unit, Alison Webster, said the decision was not influenced by Qantas' partnership with China Eastern Airlines Corp.

"I don't think the relationship makes any difference to how we review our response," Webster said.

She said Qantas only needed extra time to make the change because "we have some complexity to work through".

"This is not just Qantas Airways, this is the Qantas group that has to be adjusted," she said. Due to the technology behind Qantas' websites, "it takes some time for us to get to grips with changes that need to be put into the program", she added.

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Air Canada, Lufthansa and British Airways are among the other carriers that have made changes on their websites after China's request. China said on May 25 that 18 carriers had changed their websites.

"As difficult and sensitive a decision as this is, our view is that we will comply with the Chinese government requirement," Air Canada CEO Calin Rovanescu said at the IATA meeting.

"We're not making any political statement. Airlines have enough issues to deal with," he added.

American Airlines has not made changes on its website, saying it was following the direction of the U.S. government.

"We received the notice but then the United States has replied and we're following the direction of the U.S. government," CEO Doug Parker said in Sydney. "Right now it's between our government and their government."

(Reporting by Byron Kaye; Additional reporting by Victoria Bryan; Editing by Michael Perry and Himani Sarkar)
Frankfurt am Main (AFP) - German chemicals and pharmaceuticals giant Bayer on Monday said it will discard the name Monsanto when it takes over the controversial US seeds and pesticides producer this week, as environmental groups kept up their criticism of the mega-merger.

The move comes after years of protests against Monsanto's activities by environmental groups that have badly damaged the company's brand.

But Bayer executives insisted that Monsanto practices rejected by environmentalists, including genetic modification of seeds and deployment of "crop protection" technologies like pesticides, were vital to help feed a growing world population.

"The company name is and will remain Bayer. Monsanto will no longer be a company name," chief executive Werner Baumann said.

Bayer's $63-billion (54-billion-euro) buyout of Monsanto -- one of the largest in German corporate history -- is set to close Thursday, birthing a global giant with 115,000 employees and revenues of some 45 billion euros.

The Monsanto brand "was an issue for some time for Monsanto management," noted Liam Condon, president of Bayer's crop science division, adding that the US firm's employees were "not fixated on the Monsanto brand" but "proud of what they've achieved".

Producing high-tech genetically modified seeds, many designed to grow crops resistant to its proprietary pesticides, Monsanto has been a target for environmentalist protests and lawsuits over harm to health and the environment for decades.

"It's understandable that Bayer wants to avoid having bought Monsanto's negative image with the billions it has spent on the firm," said Greenpeace campaigner Dirk Zimmermann, urging "a fundamental transformation in the new mega-company's policies."

He accused Bayer of having "no interest in developing future-proof, sustainable solutions for agriculture".

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- Weedkiller arms race -

Activists fear Monsanto's addition to Bayer will further reduce competition in the hotly-contested agrichemical sector, limiting farmers' and consumers' choices beyond GM and chemically treated crops.

What's more, in recent years weeds have begun to emerge that are resistant to products like Monsanto staple glyphosate, marketed as Roundup alongside "Roundup-ready" seeds beginning in the 1990s.

As agrichemical firms respond with new pesticides and resistant seeds, there are fears of an arms race with ever-more-potent weedkillers.

Some scientists already suspect glyphosate causes cancer, with a 2015 World Health Organization study determining it was "probably carcinogenic" -- although Bayer has contested the research.

In 2017, attempts to block the European Union's five-year renewal of its approval for the weedkiller were unsuccessful.

But activists are lobbying governments and France has vowed to outlaw the substance within three years.

When launching the Monsanto takeover bid, Bayer also promised it would not introduce genetically modified crops in Europe.

But with the world population set to reach almost 10 billion people by 2050, Baumann argues Bayer's products and methods are needed to meet food demand.

"If Bayer wants to be rid of Monsanto's bad reputation, it should demonstrate that it's different," Friends of the Earth Germany genetic modification expert Heike Moldenhauer said.

"For example, Bayer could stop selling products containing glyphosate and end its lobbying to deregulate new genetic modification technologies."

- 'Number one in seeds' -

Bayer has put massive resources behind the deal, raising $57 billion in financing including a new share issue worth six billion euros announced Sunday.

It will also sell large parts of its existing agrichemical and crop seeds business to BASF in concessions to competition authorities on both sides of the Atlantic.

Once the buyout and the sales to BASF are completed, Leverkusen-based Bayer's crop science business plus Monsanto will account for almost half its turnover, with most of the remainder coming from pharmaceuticals and over-the-counter health products.

At around 19.7 billion euros in 2017, Monsanto and Bayer's combined agriculture sales outweighed those of competitors ChemChina, DowDuPont and BASF, according to figures provided by Bayer.

"We estimate that Bayer will become number one in seeds and number two in crop protection globally" following the merger, analysts at Standard and Poor's wrote Monday.

Nevertheless, the ratings agency downgraded its score for Bayer's debt from "A-" to "BBB", while upgrading the outlook to "stable".
London (AFP) - British Prime Minister Theresa May outlined her deep disappointment at "unjustified" US steel and aluminium tariffs in a phone call with President Donald Trump on Monday, her office said.

In a 30-minute call that Downing Street described as "constructive", the two leaders agreed to discuss the issue further at the G7 summit in Canada later this week.

"The prime minister raised the US decision to apply tariffs to EU steel and aluminium imports, which she said was unjustified and deeply disappointing," her office said in a statement.

"The prime minister said the US, UK and EU are close national security allies and we recognise the importance of the values of open and fair trade across the world.

"The prime minister also underlined the need to safeguard jobs that would potentially be affected by the decision.

"They agreed to discuss this and wider issues of free and fair global trade further at the G7 summit later in the week."

The pair also discussed North Korea, the stability of the oil markets and the conflict in Yemen, including the role of Iran there.

Britain and Washington are also at odds over the Iranian nuclear deal, but both leaders agreed on working together "to counter Iran's destabilising regional activity, including its support for the Houthis in Yemen".

They ended the call by looking forward to Trump's trip to Britain next month, which is expected to be marked by major demonstrations.
PHNOM PENH (Reuters) - Cambodia will monitor and control online news content intended to cause "instability", an official notice said on Monday, the government's latest move to control information ahead of a general election in July. Prime Minister Hun Sen's ruling party and its allies have cracked down on perceived government critics, including independent media, human rights advocates and opposition lawmakers, in the run-up to the July 29 vote. Staff from three government ministeries would aim to "control news content, writing, audio, pictures, videos, and in other forms which have intention to cause instability," the government said in its notice. It also required Internet service providers to have software and equipment to filter or block websites, accounts or social media pages that "broadcast in violation of the law". Lao Mong Hay, a political analyst based in Cambodia, said the articles in the notice were "loosely termed" and capable of being interpreted liberally to charge authors. "This inter-ministerial order will further severely restrict our right to freedom of expression," he added. The government said it aimed to control content "which leads to the destruction of national defense, security and relationships with other countries, public order, discrimination and culture, and national tradition". Cambodia has long had one of Southeast Asia's most open media environments, but pressure on critical media has been growing ahead of the general election. The sale of the Phnom Penh Post newspaper last month was criticized by one international rights group as a "disaster" for media freedom in the country. (Reporting by Prak Chan Thul; Editing by Darren Schuettler)
By David Ljunggren OTTAWA (Reuters) - Canada's government vowed on Monday to do all it could to protect its steel and aluminum sectors from U.S. tariffs but sidestepped an industry call to strike back quickly, saying it needed time to study the issue. President Donald Trump's administration last week imposed U.S. tariffs of 25 percent on steel and 10 percent on aluminum from Canada - the No. 1 steel exporter to the United States - as well as on Mexico and the European Union. Canada retaliated against the latest punitive measures last week by proposing levies on C$16.6 billion worth of U.S. exports that would take effect on July 1. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau met with steel executives on Monday and said: "We are going to stand up for our workers." Canadian Steel Producers Association President Joseph Galimberti said producers had not asked the federal government for financial help at the Ottawa meeting but instead pressed for the countermeasures to be imposed as quickly as possible. "We are seeing customers in steel right now who are changing orders, putting orders on hold ... this is a dire situation for Canadian steel," he told reporters. Trudeau made clear later he was in no hurry, telling legislators in the House of Commons that Ottawa wanted to carry out public consultations on the proposed retaliatory tariffs to make sure they were appropriate. Trade Minister Francois-Philippe Champagne said Ottawa would study the impact of the U.S. tariffs before offering specific aid. Were going to work with the industry to really see the impact on the ground, he said on the sidelines of a global aluminum summit in Montreal. But the message weve been saying to everyone watching is that well always be there for the workers. In June 2017, Ottawa announced a C$867 million ($670.6 million) package for softwood lumber producers hit by U.S. tariffs, and officials said they were looking at similar measures. Dominique Anglade, economy minister of the Canadian province of Quebec, which generated C$8 billion ($6.19 billion) in aluminum exports last year, said there would be an industry meeting on June 11 to discuss the tariffs. Anglade called the delay "a wise decision," telling reporters it would give Canada time to discuss the impact of the counter-tariffs. Canada sent 84 percent of its steel exports, worth C$9 billion ($6.97 billion), south last year, according to Statistics Canada. Trade ties between Canada and the United States have soured since Trump took office in January 2017. The tension spilled over into talks to update the three-nation North American Free Trade Agreement, which have effectively stalled. (Reporting by David Ljunggren; Additional reporting by Allison Lampert in Montreal and Leah Schnurr in Ottawa; Editing by Susan Thomas and Peter Cooney)
Washington (AFP) - An AFP contributor investigating drug cartels shot to death in Mexico. An American freelance journalist fatally shot while embedded with South Sudan rebels. A blogger in Malta killed in a car bomb after reporting on corruption and cronyism.

These were among 18 fallen members of the media whose names were inscribed Monday on the journalists memorial at the Newseum, a Washington museum dedicated to the understanding of the importance of a free press.

The latest group, including eight women and two freelancers, represents a fraction of the dozens of journalists killed last year on the job but aims to draw public attention to the dangers faced those pursuing the news around the world.

The 18 who died "represent the much larger threat to all journalists, who face unprecedented dangers as they strive to provide information about our society, often in countries where press freedom is imperiled or nonexistent," said Jan Neuharth, chief executive of the Freedom Forum, the parent organization of the Newseum.

The memorial wall which was created two decades ago bears the name of more than 2,300 who died in newsgathering since 1835.

The latest group honored included Christopher Allen, a 26-year-old US freelancer shot in the head during a battle between the South Sudanese army and rebels. Government officials claimed he was not targeted.

Also included was Maltese investigative journalist Daphne Caruana Galizia, killed by a car bomb last October as she lifted the lid on widespread corruption in the Mediterranean country.

Added to the wall were two Mexican journalists slain following their investigations of drug cartels: Javier Valdez, the founder of weekly newspaper Riodoce and a longtime AFP contributor, shot outside his offices; and Miroslava Breach, a veteran crime and politics reporter found dead inside her car with gunshot wounds to the head.

Holly Williams, a CBS News correspondent who spoke at the ceremony, said those honored showed remarkable bravery in the face of adversity.

Williams said a number of the journalists killed "went about their work knowing that in doing so they were making themselves targets, and I'm humbled by that because it must take a kind of courage that I find frankly unimaginable."

Others listed on the memorial included Mohamed Abazied, Hawker Faisal Mohammed and Dilshan Ibash (killed in Syria); Shifa Gardi, Arkan Sharifi, Stephane Villeneuve and Veronique Robert (Iraq); Sudip Dutta Bhaumik and Gauri Lankesh (India); Nikolai Andrushchenko (Russia); Yameen Rasheed (Maldives); Maria Efigenia Vasquez Astudillo (Colombia); Kim Wall (Denmark); and Christopher Iban Lozada (Philippines).
Rep. Paul Cook

Security, Americas

Members of border security forces stand in front of a docking cargo ship at Qingdao port in Shandong province, China March 8, 2018. China Daily via REUTER

Beijing's investment encourages poor governance and perpetuates corruption in the region.

China Is Challenging America's Dominance in the Western Hemisphere

China is extending its economic, military and political influence in the Western Hemisphere, and while the short-term benefits are appealing, countries in the region should be wary of long-term consequences.

At the Summit of the Americas in Lima, Peru in April, it was clear to me in my conversations with regional leaders that many U.S. partners are looking for U.S. leadership, they see the United States as their partner of choice, and they prefer doing business with America over China.

However, Chinas offers are appealing precisely because it has a lot of money, it doesnt play by Western standards of transparency, rule of law, and democratic principles, and the United States has lacked enthusiasm in the Western Hemisphere due to other crises in the world demanding its attention.

That is no longer the case. With a new Secretary of State and a president focused on solving the Venezuela crisis, the United States is looking at the many opportunities for investment and stronger partnerships. The United States is also concerned about Chinas increasing reach into Latin America and the Caribbean.

Chinas engagement serves to benefit its own geostrategic agenda while hindering the regions sustainable economic growth. Its practices foster corruption and poor governance practices and undermine democratic principles in the region.

Although Chinas seemingly unlimited resources and no-strings-attached approach to its investment deals make it appear like an attractive partner, it ultimately does not deliver the economic prosperity that it promises. Instead, those deals serve Chinas goals to secure access to energy resources and new labor markets while providing limited economic benefits for host countries and making conditions worse in some instances.

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We see this most evident in Chinas ventures in the regions energy sector, which is where it has invested over $105 billion since 2005. More than half of that is concentrated in Venezuela. Financed through oil-for-loan deals to secure direct access to Venezuelas vast natural resources, Chinas investment has exploited Venezuelas natural resources and its peoples wealth.

Chinas less-stringent and less-transparent investment conditions and safeguards inclined Venezuela to spend without bounds, whichcoupled with the Maduro regimes gross mismanagement of the economy, corruption, and attacks on democracyfostered the conditions for the regions worst humanitarian crises.

Chinese loans for infrastructure projects throughout Latin America have also almost exclusively financed projects for Chinese companies, which often export Chinese workers to complete the projects. In some cases, these workers overstay their visas, displacing local populations and limiting their access to job opportunities.

Chinese investment also encourages poor governance and perpetuates corruption in the region. Chinese banks, including the China Development Bank and China Export-Import Bank, have provided financing for several Latin American countries that have struggled to combat corruption and uphold the rule of law.

China makes no effort to help these countries fight these problemsunlike the United States. Instead, its financing perpetuates the problems, robbing countries and their citizens of reaching their potential and achieving greater prosperity, and creating openings for organized crime.

In some cases, Chinese funding has helped to indirectly sustain anti-U.S. actors, such as Venezuela and Bolivia, which behave as Chinese satellite states on many issues. The lure of Chinese lending has further turned some countries away from more traditional lenders, such as the International Monetary Fund, World Bank and Inter-American Development Bank, which provide economic safeguards and transparent policy conditions to encourage reforms that stabilize economies and promote economic growth.

China is also wielding cultural and political influence in the region to achieve geostrategic outcomes. It has aggressively advanced its efforts to manipulate public perceptions in the region through state-sponsored propaganda entities disguised as educational and cultural exchanges, such as the Confucius Institutes, journalist trainings and study-abroad programs.

We see the fruit of Chinese efforts with the recent changes in diplomatic recognition of Panama and the Dominican Republic to China over previously long-standing ties with Taiwan. These developments have left only ten countries in the Western Hemisphere that recognize Taiwan.

Also, for the first time, China attended the Summit of the Americas in Lima and was selected to host the Inter-American Development Banks annual meeting in Beijing, even though China makes up 0.004 percent of the bank compared to the United States 30 percent share.

China has also advanced its military interests by selling arms to the region, participating in exercises and military exchanges, and sponsoring military education and training courses, securing a market for Chinese defense technologies and institutionalizing security relationships that may present a security risk in our hemisphere.

The Chinese reach into the Western Hemisphere is strong and multifaceted, and it is expanding in ways that threaten regional stability and undermine longstanding U.S. interests.

I believe the United States is up to the task of reminding its friends in the region of these concerns and to advancing a compelling U.S. hemispheric-wide agenda to strengthen partnerships and take advantage of the vast potential facing the region today.

Rep. Paul Cook represents the 8th District of California and is Chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committees Subcommittee on the Western Hemisphere. Cook served as an infantry officer and retired after twenty-six years as a colonel in the U.S. Marine Corps. During his time in combat, he was awarded the Bronze Star and two Purple Hearts.

Image: Members of border security forces stand in front of a docking cargo ship at Qingdao port in Shandong province, China March 8, 2018. China Daily via REUTER

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Beijing (AFP) - China voiced regret over the European Union's decision to lodge an intellectual property rights complaint at the World Trade Organization, just as Beijing is embroiled in a similar dispute with Washington.

The EU brought the challenge to the WTO on Friday, accusing Beijing of unfairly requiring foreign firms to hand over their technology to Chinese companies in order to do business in China.

"China expresses regret over the EU launching the complaint and will properly handle it according to the WTO dispute settlement procedures," China's Ministry of Commerce said in a statement published late Sunday.

"The Chinese government has always attached great importance to the protection of intellectual property rights and has adopted many powerful measures to protect the legitimate rights and interests of domestic and foreign intellectual property rights holders."

Foreign companies need to form joint ventures with local companies to do business in the massive Chinese market, which often involves sharing their technology and know-how.

US allegations that China steals company secrets are at the heart of the ongoing trade dispute between the world's two biggest economies.

Washington launched its own WTO challenge over alleged Chinese IP breaches on March 23.

The two countries have held a series of negotiations aimed at averting a trade war.

US Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross and Chinese Vice Premier Liu He held talks at the weekend, which ended with Beijing warning that any deals would be void if Washington follows through on threats to impose massive tariffs on Chinese goods.
Paris (AFP) - After Guatemala's Fuego volcano erupted on Sunday killing at least 69 people, here is a list of the most deadly volcanic eruptions over the last quarter century.

- 2014: Japan -

The sudden eruption of Mount Ontake kills more than 60 people in Japan's worst volcanic disaster in nearly 90 years. The 3,067 metre (10,121 feet) Ontake is packed with hikers when it erupts without warning in September.

Also in Japan, the Unzen volcano kills 43 people when it erupts in 1991.

- 2014: Indonesia -

At least 16 people are killed on the island of Sumatra in February by a spectacular eruption of Mount Sinabung, which had lain dormant for 400 years before roaring back to life five months earlier. In 2016 villages are scorched and farmland devastated after another eruption kills seven.

- 2010: Indonesia -

One of the world's most dangerous volcanoes, Mount Merapi, explodes on the densely populated central Java island, killing more than 300 people in its most powerful eruption since 1872. Some 280,000 people are evacuated. Another eruption in 1930 killed 1,300 people, while yet another killed more than 60 in 1994.

- 2002: DR Congo -

The eruption of Mount Nyiragongo in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo destroys the centre of Goma town, along with several residential areas, and kills more than 100 people.

- 1999: Peru -

At least 34 people go missing after a sudden volcanic eruption causes mudslides that bury five Andean villages northeast of Lima.

- 1997: Montserrat -

The capital of the small British colony, Plymouth, is wiped off the map and 20 are killed or left missing in avalanches of hot rock and ash clouds when its volcano erupts.

- 1996: The Philippines -

At least 70 are killed and another 30 missing after the crater of the Parker volcano in the south of the island of Mindanao collapses. Five years earlier the eruption of Mount Pinatubo, 80 kilometres (50 miles) north of the capital Manila, kills more than 800.

- Worst ever -

The explosion of Indonesia's Krakatoa volcano in 1883 is considered the worst ever seen. The eruption sent a jet of ash, stones and smoke shooting more than 20 kilometres (12 miles) into the sky, plunging the region into darkness, and sparking a huge tsunami that was felt around the world. The disaster killed more than 36,000 people.

The most famous eruption in history is that of Mount Vesuvius in modern-day Italy in 79 AD, which destroyed the towns of Herculaneum, Stabiae, and Pompeii, wiping out an estimated 10 percent of the population of the three cities.
Democrats have long viewed California's 49th Congressional District, held by retiring GOP Rep. Darrell Issa, as a major pickup opportunity in this year's election. (Photo: Mike Blake / Reuters)

National operatives are increasingly worried no Democrat will advance to the general election in a key U.S. House district in Southern California, blaming a self-funding candidates attacks on other Democrats for a potential disaster that could harm the partys chances of winning the U.S. House.

Democratic operatives are pointing fingers at Paul Kerr, a Navy veteran and businessman, ahead of the primary vote on Tuesday. Kerr has spent over $5 million of his own money on the race to replace retiring GOP Rep. Darrell Issa in San Diego County. Despite the heavy spending, he was running fourth among Democrats in two polls of the district released this week, one from the San Diego Union-Tribune and the other from the Democratic firm Tulchin Research.

The problem comes from Californias top-two primary system, where the two leading vote getters in the primary advance to the general election regardless of which party they belong to. While Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton won the 49th District by 7 percentage points in 2016, national operatives now fear a four-way split of Democratic votes could lead to two Republicans advancing to the general election.

There are two additional districts where Democrats fear they could be blocked from the November ballot  the adjacent 48th District, represented by pro-Russia Republican Dana Rohrabacher, and the nearby 39th District, where GOP Rep. Ed Royce is retiring. All three districts are considered toss-ups in November.

The preemptive finger pointing shows how afraid Democrats are of blowing a competitive race in a year where the battle for control of the House is expected to be razor-thin, and how intense the resulting infighting will be if Democrats are locked out in November.

Democrats are blaming Kerr because hes paying for direct mail and television ads attacking another Democratic candidate, environmental lawyer Mike Levin, as a stooge for ExxonMobil and Countrywide Financial  two companies that are widely loathed by the partys base.

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Mike Levin profits, the narrator says in the TV spot released Friday. We pay the price.

Democrats fear the attacks on Levin  and on Sara Jacobs, a former Clinton campaign aide backed by EMILYs List  will divide the Democratic vote and allow two Republicans, state tax board member Diane Harkey and Assemblyman Rocky Chavez, to qualify for the ballot in November. Kerr is the only Democrat to air ads attacking another Democrat.

The top-two system is extremely complicated and calls for creative tactics, but for the lowest-performing Democrat to not only refuse to drop out of the race, but actually attack one of the top-performing Democrats on television is really disturbing and destructive, said one national Democratic operative working on House races. Paul Kerrs actions could lead to Democrats being boxed out of the 49th.

Democratic Rep. Ted Lieu, who represents a different Southern California district, called for Kerr to take down the negative ads.

Dear @KerrForCongress: You can certainly promote yourself. But in a top two primary where Dems can get boxed out, you should not be spending money going negative against the other Dem candidates in #CA49. Stand down your negative ads.

cc: @MikeLevinCA @ApplegateCA49 @SaraJacobsCA  Ted Lieu (@tedlieu) June 2, 2018

Kerrs campaign didnt respond to a request for comment. But he sent out a Twitter missive on Friday alleging Levin was the favored candidate of Democratic insiders.

Kerr has pitched himself as the candidate who can best relate to families in the district  while hes now wealthy, he grew up in a working-class family and worked his way through college in his late 20s and early 30s. Jacobs, meanwhile, has benefited from more than $1 million in donations from her grandfather  Qualcomm co-founder Irwin Jacobs  to a super PAC backing her.

Mike Levin has spent his career helping big oil and big banks. Now, DC insiders and outside special interests are spending hundreds of thousands of dollars to help his

campaign.



We deserve a member of Congress who is working for us, not whoever can write them the biggest check.  Paul Kerr (@KerrForCongress) June 1, 2018

His campaign has also sent mailers attacking Jacobs for inflating her resume and alleging she disrespected veterans.

Levin was actually the first candidate to go negative, with mailers attacking retired Marine Col. Doug Applegate, who narrowly lost to Issa in 2016. While Levin has the endorsement of the Congressional Progressive Caucus, a collection of progressive groups in California have questioned his credentials.

The San Diego Union-Tribune poll, conducted by SurveyUSA, found Harkey polling at 24 percent, followed by Applegate and Jacobs at 11 percent apiece, Levin at 10 percent, and Kerr and Chavez at 8 percent.

The Tulchin Research poll found Levin in the lead at 17 percent, followed by Harkey at 15 percent, Applegate at 12 percent, and Chavez and Jacobs tied at 11 percent. Kerr was polling at 7 percent.

The 49th District was one of Democrats earliest targets this cycle, with local activists hosting regular protests outside Issas office and eventually driving him into retirement.

Ellen Montanari, one of the activists who led the protests, said she and others were disappointed Kerr hadnt dropped out.

Most of us in the district are really upset hes stayed in the race, said Montanari, who recently endorsed Levin. Hes spending millions and hes still in single digits. He just wont let go.

He wouldve been a hero if he dropped out, she added.

The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee and House Majority PAC, which is run by allies of House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi, have spent heavily attacking Chavez in an effort to avoid a lockout. Their goal is to consolidate Republicans around Harkey, who is considered a lock to make the runoff, and make it easier for Jacobs or Levin to advance to the general election.

This story has been updated with additional information about Levin and the latest polls.

CORRECTION: A previous version of this story stated incorrectly that Kerr was in the U.S. Marines and Applegate was in the Army. Kerr was in the Navy and Applegate was in the Marines.

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This article originally appeared on HuffPost.
Democrats in Congress are calling for an investigation into the death toll in Puerto Rico from Hurricane Maria following a report released last week that dramatically revised the tally upward.

Fourteen Democratic members of the House Committee on Natural Resources sent a letter to the committees chair, Rep. Rob Bishop, R-Utah, asking for a timely hearing into the central claim of a new Harvard study that 4,645 people died last year in Puerto Rico as a direct or indirect result of the hurricane.

This staggering loss of American life and the significant variance from officially reported figures points to the need for further oversight, read the letter, which included ranking member Raul M. Grijalva, D-Ariz., as one of its signees. With hurricane season now upon us, time is of the essence. It is imperative that our country learn from this trying experience and gather any lessons for future planning. Further, it is our responsibility to be honest about the shortcomings of the Trump Administrations response to this disaster, provide answers to the Puerto Rican people, and take immediate steps to correct any outstanding inadequacies.

Due to Puerto Ricos status as a territory, federal oversight of the island falls to the House National Resources Committee. A spokesperson for the committee told Yahoo News that the hearing was tentatively scheduled for July.

The death toll laid out in the Harvard study is 73 times the official government count of 64 and is in line with reports from the island, including interviews with funeral home directors who said last fall that the government numbers were too low. If the number proves accurate, Maria would be the second biggest natural disaster in U.S. history, trailing only a 1900 hurricane that hit Galveston, Texas.

Hundreds of shoes are displayed on June 1 at Puerto Ricos Capitol in memory of those killed by Hurricane Maria. (Photo: Ricardo Arduengo/AFP/Getty Images)

The figure contrasts with President Trumps comments in the aftermath of the damage when he said the storm wasnt a real catastrophe. The federal response to the storm has been criticized, particularly in contrast to the relief effort in Texas following Hurricane Harvey.

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In December, Rep. Nydia Velazquez, D-N.Y., and Rep. Bennie Thompson, D-Miss., sent a letter to the Government Accountability Office asking it to assess the death toll to make sure it hadnt been artificially suppressed. Velazquezs office told Yahoo News that it is continuing to have conversations with the GAO about the timetable for the report. The government of Puerto Rico has also commissioned a report from George Washington University that will provide another estimate of the death toll, and draft results are expected this summer.

Puerto Ricans are honoring the dead with an impromptu memorial in front of the Capitol building in San Juan, leaving thousands of pairs of shoes. Puerto Rico Gov. Ricardo Rossello told CNN last week that there would be hell to pay if the countrys officials were withholding data from those attempting to reach an accurate death toll.

In this aerial photo, a demonstrator holds a Puerto Rican flag near empty pairs of shoes at the Puerto Rican Capitol during the protest June 1. (Photo: Xavier Garcia/Bloomberg)

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It feels almost surreal to recognize a strangers voice solely from her social media content. Deepica Mutyalas voice carries the same ratio of light-footed levity and appropriately placed seriousness that she displays on her YouTube channel or Instagram account. I want to encourage people to think more about the anthropology of beauty instead of creating content without a deeper meaning, Mutyala tells Yahoo Lifestyle. Her character blends effortlessly into her natural celebrity  a persona that has propelled her to open the door to a more inclusive beauty industry through her startup, Tinted.

Deepica Mutyala is the founder of Tinted, a digital community created by and for women of color. (Photo courtesy of Deepica Mutyala)

Tinted is a social media campaign turned digital community that Mutyala started to highlight the different needs of brown and black women in the antiquated traditional beauty realm. The Instagram account, with over 29,000 followers, combines Tintimonials from brown beauty bloggers sharing the products they use, Hue to Know video interviews with beauty changemakers discussing culture and identity, and motivational quotes in artsy formats.

The 28-year-old describes the platform as a way to unite these women, who I dont think have a home for themselves, to feel like they are represented. Since its launch in February, Mutyala has built a virtual space for up-and-coming influencers in shades often overlooked by the beauty industry and viewers searching for cosmetics that are compatible for people who look like them.

Season 1 of Tinted had dope people, Mutyala says, but Season 2 is all about powerful women. As Tinted continues to grow, Mutyalas vision for it moves the discussion about the anthropology of beauty beyond the beauty blogger sphere and toward a universal conversation among women discussing their emotional and physical relationship with beauty. This sort of language around intersectional beauty is so unprecedented that the Instagram page is often inundated with long-form comments from followers sharing intimate stories about their own struggles with identity, culture, skin color, and beauty. Mutyalas Tinted team responds to every single message, making people feel heard at the most basic and personal level.

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Mutyala wrote herself into the landscape of the beauty community after only her second vlog; however, her path to getting there was as planned as it was serendipitous. When she talks about her journey, she recalls her familys pressure to focus on a more stable career, but as Mutyala took numerous leaps of faith on her way to internet celebrity, her family was nothing short of supportive.

As she made her way through the beauty side of business, Mutyala personally felt the lack of representation in beauty products, tutorials, and advertising. She couldnt picture herself on YouTube because she hadnt seen anyone else do what she wanted to do on the platform. However, the strength of a budding New Years resolution to pursue a new hobby pushed her to start creating videos for her friends and family. Her second video on how to cover dark under-eye circles with lipstick got picked up by BuzzFeed, and her following grew from hundreds to millions overnight. This brought a Today show appearance and beauty brand ambassadorships.

Stunned by the support she received for filling a neglected niche, Mutyala built an online presence to cater to girls who look like her. Brands reached out to her because she was one of few relatable brown-girl beauty experts. Growing up, being a token anything wasnt even a thing, because no one cared for a token Indian girl, Mutyala says in her introductory video for Tinted. Yet her rise into commercial beauty is as nonchalant as the way she sees herself in the field.

She tells Yahoo Lifestyle, Ive never claimed to be a makeup artist. Im just a makeup junkie. In Mutyalas beauty tutorials, she relishes her personal growth toward loving her identity and ethnicity. She has shown her own talent for messaging through campaigns such as #BeYourOwnPrincess and #BeYourOwnHero. In the former, Mutyala responds to a friend who suggested that she be Jasmine, from Aladdin, for Halloween by dressing up as various princesses and princes to prove that her skin color doesnt define who she chooses to be. In the latter, Mutyala dons a Wonder Woman costume adorned with traditional Indian jewelry to show that embracing her identity only makes her look and feel stronger.

When Mutyala expresses her goals for Tinted, she removes herself from the center of its story to the background of its production. Im very proud to have built a brand, Mutyala explains, but this is so much bigger than me.

Her business acumen and her knowledge of the beauty industry give her the toolkit she needs to shift the beauty paradigm by rewriting it with different players and a whole new language. She has showcased people like Fatimah Asghar of the Emmy-nominated web series, Brown Girls, Babbu the Painter, and pro-wrestler Mustafa Ali.

She doesnt want Tinted to represent just the unseen and unknown South Asian beauty market. Racial and multiracial bias affect women and men across cultural boundaries and produce similar stories of struggles with self-acceptance that deserve to be a part of the beauty narrative. In one Hue to Know episode, actress Nazinin Mandi discusses her difficulties in getting cast in nonbrown roles with mixed Persian, Mexican, Spanish, and Native American heritage. Through a more holistic understanding of beauty, Mutyala wants to delve further into how and why people perceive themselves in a certain way instead of focusing on the products they use.

As she builds Tinted, Mutyala is shifting further away from growing her own fan base through beauty tutorials to unveiling a side of herself that she considers more authentic than the persona shes portrayed in the past. I feel the most like myself when Im doing videos with my family, says Mutyala. Theres a bona fide nature to her videos that comes out forcefully yet authentically alongside her family. This goes hand-in-hand with her mission to discuss beauty in a way that includes her ethnicity and culture, which is just as meaningful to the brown viewer as a video about which sunscreens dont leave a gray film over your face.

Vlogs with her mom speaking Telugu, a South Indian language, while teaching Mutyala to cook or reacting to her LOreal commercial showcase a normalized portrayal of a Desi family. While Western media often cling to misunderstood facets of Desi culture  arranged marriages, curry as a food group, religion  to form a crude, one-sided, and often vilified take on a brown family on the big screen, Mutyala glorifies and dotes on her very real family on the small screen.

She understands the need for a continuing discussion about intersectionality in order to push the industry to do better for women in the margins.

Ive wanted to have my own product line since I was 16 and, eventually, I can see Tinted getting there, Mutyala says. But I want to spark a conversation first.

Read more from Yahoo Lifestyle:
Richard GrenellPresident Donald Trumps ambassador to Germanyhas made yet another diplomatic gaffe to offend his hosts, having been in the job for less than a month.

The latest row centers on Grenell's interview with American right-wing media platform Breitbart News, in which he said he wants to empower European conservatives, prompting accusations that Grenell is inappropriately politicizing his new role.

I absolutely want to empower other conservatives throughout Europe, other leaders. I think there is a groundswell of conservative policies that are taking hold because of the failed policies of the left, Grenell said in the interview.

Trending: Video: Lava, Ash From Guatemalas Fuego Volcano Buried Womans Family, She Says

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ODD ANDERSEN/AFP/Getty Images

Grenell said a lot of conservatives in Europe had told him they feel a resurgence of right-wing ideas across the continent, and credited Trumps victory with empowering people to say that they cant just allow the political class to determine before an election takes place, whos going to win and who should run.

The ambassador has already offended his new hosts twice. Hours after his official welcome in Berlin on May 8, Grenell threatened German businesses with U.S. sanctions if they maintained business ties with Iran after Trump pulled out of the Obama-era nuclear deal with Tehran, to which Germany was a signatory.

After Grenell said German companies should wind down Iranian operations immediately, a host of politicians criticized his conduct. Andrea Nahles, the leader of Germanys Social Democratic party and part of the ruling coalition, said Grenell does appear to need some tutoring on diplomatic norms.

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Following U.S.-led strikes on suspected Syrian chemical weapons facilities in April, Grenell also chastized Germany for not taking part. He was also criticized in Germany for spreading false rumors on Twitter after a van drove into a crowd of people in Munster on April 7.

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Chris Murphy, a Democratic U.S. Senator for Connecticut, took to Twitter to share his disappointment with Grenells awful interview. Murphy said Grenell personally assured me that once he became Ambassador he would stay out of politics. The senator said ambassadors aren't supposed to empower any political party overseas.

Following the backlash, Grenell tweeted, I stand by my comments that we are experiencing an awakening from the silent majority.

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There is a fear among European leftists and liberals that the right-wing, and especially nationalist and fascist movements, are gathering momentum. Following seismic votes in favor of Brexit and Trump, Europeans are nervously watching their own political spheres. Just this week, Steve Bannonco-founder of Breitbart News and former top aide to Trumpwas celebrating the formation of Italys new government, which put the populist Five Star Movement and far-right Northern League parties into power.

In Slovenia, the right-wing opposition leader will be offered the chance to form a government after his party won most votes at weekend parliamentary elections. Janez Jansa heads the anti-immigration Slovenian Democratic Party, which came away with around 25 percent of the total vote. Several other parties have ruled out working with Jansa because of his extremist positions, meaning there is no guarantee he will be able to govern. Nonetheless, the result is significant.

During his interview with Breitbart, Grenell had particular praise for 31-year-old Austrian Chancellor Sebastian Kurz, leader of the conservative Peoples Party and coalition partner with the far-right Freedom Party (FPO). Grenell said Kurz is a rock star. Im a big fan.

This article was first written by Newsweek

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Variable clouds with showers and scattered thunderstorms. High 79F. Winds S at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 70%. Locally heavy rainfall possible..

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Partly cloudy skies early followed by mostly cloudy skies and a few showers later at night. Low 68F. Winds SSE at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 30%.
President Donald Trump is facing growing criticism after a letter his legal team sent to Special Counsel Robert Mueller said the president cannot obstruct justice and that he shouldnt be forced to testify.

Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer said the Trump legal teams stance in their letter to Mueller is something you would see in a dictatorship.

This would be a valid legal argument  if our government were a dictatorship, Schumer said Saturday. Fortunately, we are a government of laws, not men. And in America, no one is above the law, including the president.

Trending: Can Trump Pardon Himself?

Trumps lawyers said, in the letter published by The New York Times, that he also has the power to pardon himself.

It remains our position that the Presidents actions here, by virtue of his position as the chief law enforcement officer, could neither constitutionally nor legally constitute obstruction because that would amount to him obstructing himself, and that he could, if he wished, terminate the inquiry, or even exercise his power to pardon if he so desired, Jay Sekulow and John Dowd wrote, according to The Times .

Before The Times published its story, Trump was already tweeting about it.

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There was No Collusion with Russia (except by the Democrats). When will this very expensive Witch Hunt Hoax ever end? So bad for our Country, Trump said. Is the Special Counsel/Justice Department leaking my lawyers letters to the Fake News Media? Should be looking at Dems corruption instead?

An assistant prosecutor during the Watergate scandal also had strong words for Trump, comparing him to a king in an interview with MSNBC.

First of all, the whole idea that he cant be charged with obstruction of justicethe last time that ever happened in this country is when we were ruled by King George, Nick Akerman said. Thats what the whole rule of law is about. The president has to faithfully execute the laws. If it he winds up having the corrupt intent to put the kibosh to an investigation, thats obstruction of justice.

Story continues

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In an interview with CNN Sunday, former U.S. attorney Preet Bharara said Trump would be wise to cooperate and let the investigation play out. If the president were to pardon himself, Trump would be impeached, he said. I think if the president decided he was going to pardon himself, I think it is almost self-executing impeachment, Bharara said. Whether or not there is an argument that is not what the framers could have intended.

03 Preet Bharara

Brendan Mcdermid/Reuters

This article was first written by Newsweek

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Families of Chinese democracy protesters killed in the 1989 Tiananmen Square crackdown have urged President Xi Jinping to acknowledge their suffering and "re-evaluate the June Fourth massacre" as its 29th anniversary approaches.

Open discussion of the crackdown is forbidden in China, where hundreds -- by some estimates more than a thousand -- died when the Communist Party sent tanks to crush demonstrations in the square in Beijing on June 4 1989, after student-led protesters had staged a peaceful seven-week sit-in to demand democratic reforms.

In an open letter to Xi dated "the eve of 2018 June 4th", the Tiananmen Mothers, an association of parents who lost children in the violence, said: "each year when we would commemorate our loved ones, we are all monitored, put under surveillance, or forced to travel".

"No one from the successive governments over the past 29 years has ever asked after us, and not one word of apology has been spoken from anyone, as if the massacre that shocked the world never happened," said the letter, which was released on Thursday by the non-profit Human Rights in China.

"The 1989 June Fourth bloody massacre is a crime the state committed against the people. Therefore, it is necessary to re-evaluate the June Fourth massacre," the letter said, calling for "truth, compensation, and accountability" from the government.

The protests are branded a "counter-revolutionary rebellion" by Chinese authorities and many on the mainland remain unaware of the crackdown, with discussion banned from books, textbooks, movies and censored on social networks.

The semi-autonomous territory of Hong Kong is the only place on Chinese soil where the anniversary is openly marked with a famous vigil in Victoria Park on June 4 each year.
An FBI officer who was showing off acrobatic dance moves in front of a crowd in a Denver nightclub accidentally shot a man in the leg after his gun fell from his pocket during a backflip.

Footage of the off-duty agent dancing enthusiastically was captured by a bystander, in a video which has been shared thousands of times.

Dressed in casual trousers and a shirt, he springs backwards onto his hands.

As he lands, a gun falls out from his waistband onto the floor and goes off as he scrambles to quickly pick it up. He then tucks it into his waistband and raises his hands in the air as he walks away.

One of the other people in the club was hit in the leg by the bullet and taken to hospital. He was not badly hurt, according to Denver police.

In a statement, the Denver Police Department said the agent was dancing at a nightclub when his firearm became dislodged from its waistband holster and fell onto the floor.

"When the agent retrieved his handgun an unintended discharge occurred.

The incident is being investigated. The off-duty agent was interviewed by police before being released to a Federal Bureau of Investigation supervisor.

The Denver District Attorneys office will decide whether to press any charges.

Denver district attorney spokesman Ken Lane declined to comment as the incident remains under investigation by police.

FBI spokeswoman Amy Sanders also said police were leading the investigation, and that it was a personnel matter for the FBI.

Reuters contributed to this report.
By Nate Raymond

(Reuters) - A disbarred Kentucky lawyer who called himself "Mr. Social Security" faces 27 years in prison after he pleaded guilty on Monday to charges stemming from his role in a $550 million disability fraud scheme and decision to flee to Honduras.

Eric Conn, who ran one of the largest disability practices in the United States, entered his plea in federal court in Lexington, Kentucky to three counts, including conspiracy to defraud the United States and conspiracy to escape.

He had pleaded guilty in March 2017 to charges stemming from the fraud scheme, but he fled in June before his sentencing. U.S. District Judge Danny Reeves subsequently sentenced him in absentia to 12 years in prison.

Conn was arrested in December at a Pizza Hut restaurant in the coastal city of La Ceiba, Honduras, according to the Federal Bureau of Investigation.

Under a plea deal, Conn agreed to recommend a 15-year prison sentence that would follow the earlier one, for total of 27 years behind bars. His sentencing is scheduled for Sept. 7.

A lawyer for Conn did not respond to a request for comment.

Prosecutors said that from 2004 to 2016, Conn, of Pikeville, Kentucky, participated in a scheme that involved submitting thousands of falsified medical documents to the U.S. Social Security Administration (SSA).

He was charged alongside a now-retired SSA administrative law judge, David Daugherty, and a former clinical psychologist, Alfred Adkins.

Prosecutors said that from 2004 through 2011, Conn paid a now-retired SSA administrative law judge about $10,000 a month to award benefits to his clients for whom Conn submitted falsified medical documents.

As a result, Daugherty issued decisions granting benefit, in well over 1,700 of Conn's clients' cases, prosecutors said.

Conn also paid medical professionals including Adkins to sign fabricated medical forms before evaluations of his clients took place, prosecutors said.

Daugherty was sentenced in August to four years in prison after pleading guilty to receiving illegal gratuities. Adkins was sentenced in September to 25 years in prison after a federal jury found him guilty of charges including conspiracy, mail fraud and wire fraud.

Curtis Lee Wyatt, a former employee of Conn's who prosecutors say helped him escape, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to escape in March. He is scheduled to be sentenced later this month.

(Reporting by Nate Raymond in Boston; Editing by Richard Chang)
US Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross said Sunday trade talks have been "friendly and frank" as the US and China continued with a second day of negotiations in Beijing aimed at deescalating tensions between the two sides.

The world's two largest economies have been at loggerheads over trade and industrial practices for months with the talks under way in the Chinese capital the third formal round of negotiations.

The discussions are intended to ease tensions after Washington said it would follow through with tariffs on Chinese imports despite a truce reached between the two sides in the US last month.

"Our meetings so far have been friendly and frank, and covered some useful topics about specific export items," Ross told the Chinese trade team led by Vice Premier Liu He, President Xi Jinping's right hand-man on economic issues.

Liu offered the US team a "special welcome" to Beijing for the talks.

The visit comes as fears of an all-out global trade war intensified after the European Union, Canada and Mexico drew up retaliatory measures to Washington's stinging steel and aluminium tariffs that came into effect on Friday.

On Saturday, Washington's main allies delivered a unified message of shock and dismay at a Group of Seven ministerial meeting, urging President Donald Trump to rescind the punishing metal tariffs.

The planned US sanctions on Beijing include restrictions on Chinese investment, export controls and 25 percent tariffs on $50 billion in Chinese tech goods.

China has threatened to hit back with tit-for-tat tariffs on tens of billions of dollars in US goods.

But it has also taken conciliatory measures to address some of the Trump administration's concerns and insisted that it hopes to avoid a damaging trade war.

Ross and the large American delegation had dinner Saturday evening with their Chinese hosts.

"It has been a great pleasure to spend yesterday with you and we are especially grateful for last night's dinner," Ross said as he met with Liu at the Diaoyutai state guesthouse.

Story continues

Washington's positions in the trade talks with Beijing have shifted as Trump's team of hardliners and more mainstream advisors compete to push their views.

Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin, who announced the tariff truce with China, said at the G7 summit in Canada that the US was pushing for "structural changes" to the Chinese economy.

"If there are structural changes that allow our companies to compete fairly, by definition that will deal with the trade deficit alone," Mnuchin said Saturday, according to Bloomberg News.
Paris (AFP) - French automaker PSA said Monday that it would pull out of two joint ventures to sell its cars in Iran to avoid the risk of US sanctions after Washington withdrew from a key nuclear deal with Tehran.

"The group has begun to suspend its joint venture activities, in order to comply with US law by August 6, 2018," the maker of Peugeot and Citroen cars said in a statement.

European officials have vowed to try to shield their companies working in Iran from the reach of punishing US sanctions that are set to come into effect by November.

But with US President Donald Trump showing little inclination to spare EU companies, they must decide whether to continue to work in Iran if doing so puts their US operations at risk of huge fines.

PSA, Europe's second-biggest carmaker, signed deals with two Iranian automakers, Iran Khodro and Saipa, in 2016 after sanctions were lifted following the landmark 2015 accord aimed at prevent Tehran from developing nuclear weapons.

It was among several companies which rushed into Iran, hoping to meet pent-up demand in a country that had been squeezed by sanctions for years.

Last year PSA sold nearly 445,000 vehicles in Iran, making the country one of its biggest markets outside France.

Although it has been absent from the US market since 1991, the company said in January that it was hoping to launch a car-sharing service in one or two American cities.

But PSA, which also owns the Opel and Vauxhall brands, also noted that Iran sales still make up less than one percent of its total sales, and so exiting the country would not alter its financial guidance.

"With the support of the French government, the Groupe PSA is engaging with the US authorities to consider a waiver," it said.

Yet the CEO of French oil giant Total, who was hoping to launch a major natural gas project in Iran, said last week that the chances of winning exemptions to the US sanctions were "very slim".
President Donald Trump has broad powers that include the ability to terminate the Russia probe and pardon himself, his lawyer Rudy Giuliani said Sunday on NBCs Meet the Press.

Constitutionally it sure looks that way, Giuliani said when NBC News Chuck Todd asked him whether Trump could end Special Counsel Robert Muellers investigation into possible collusion with Russia by Trump associates during the 2016 election

But Giuliani added that Trump would likely not exercise those powers, specifically pardoning himself if he did face any charges connected to Muellers investigation, due to the unthinkable political ramifications.

WATCH: @RudyGiuliani says, "It could lead to impeachment, if he terminated an investigation of himself," on Trump. #MTP pic.twitter.com/ZaZBdpuYgR  Meet the Press (@MeetThePress) June 3, 2018

It could lead to impeachment, Giuliani said, referring to the idea of Trump pardoning himself. If he terminated an investigation of himself it could lead to all kinds of things.

The former New York City mayor also said only Congress can hold the president accountable, but Giuliani reiterated that Trump has done nothing wrong and did not obstruct justice. Todd asked him to clarify whether he was making the case that [Trump] didnt obstruct or that a president cannot obstruct justice.

You might want to say he has very broad powers and somebody who wants to question that under Article Two has a big, big burden of showing that there is no innocent explanation for what he did, Giuliani responded. They just cant do that. So I would like to convince them to exercise some, you know, constitutional restraint here.

Giuliani also confirmed that Trump still wants to testify to Mueller, but his legal team has advised him not to do so.
(Get this roundup directly in your inbox each weekday  sign up for The Morning Email here.)

TOP STORIES

Monday, June 4

KILLING COMEY? Rudy Giuliani made the absurd claim that Donald Trump cannot be indicted while president, even if he shot former FBI director James Comey. I dont know how you can indict while hes in office. No matter what it is, Trumps lawyer told us. Norm Eisen, the White House ethics lawyer under President Barack Obama, rebutted Giulianis claim: A president could not be prosecuted for murder? Really? he said. It is one of many absurd positions that follow from their argument. It is self-evidently wrong. [HuffPost]



THE ROAD TO SINGAPORE North Koreas top three military officials have been removed from their posts, a senior U.S. official said  a move analysts say could suggest Kim Jong Un is trying to remove dissenters ahead of the countrys forthcoming meeting with the U.S. in Singapore. [Reuters]



THE LADY VANISHES Its been a month since first lady Melania Trump was last spotted in public, her only recent contact with the outside world a series of tweets likely penned by her husband. And the mystery looks set to continue, with the first ladys communications director telling ABC News that Melania will not accompany the president to the G7 meeting in Quebec nor the North Korea summit. [HuffPost]



FUEGO ERUPTS At least 25 people, including three children, were killed and nearly 300 injured Sunday in a violent eruption of Guatemalas Fuego volcano. [Reuters]



ITS POLICE BRUTALITY A Georgia cop was fired after dashcam footage captured him plowing into a suspect with his car during a chase. In his defense, officer Taylor Saulters claimed the suspect ran into his car and bounced off. [HuffPost]



U.S. AMBASSADOR WANTS TO EMPOWER EUROPES CONSERVATIVES Richard Grenell, the U.S. envoy to Germany and a Trump ally, has said he wants to empower Europes conservatives, despite holding a post that requires him not to interfere in other nations internal affairs. [HuffPost]

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WHATS BREWING

YOURE LUCKY PAUL WORKED FOR YOU Trump ripped the FBI and DOJ Sunday for not notifying him during the campaign that Paul Manafort was under investigation, insisting he would not have hired him had he known. Former Trump campaign aide Sam Nunberg responded on Twitter, reminding the president that he hired Manafort because he was losing the delegate fight during the primary. If you stuck with Lewandowski, you wouldnt have been the nominee. Youre lucky Paul worked for you. [CNN]



OBAMA TO BLAME Former GOP presidential candidate Rick Santorum has blamed Barack Obama for the increasing racial tensions that led to the election of Donald Trump. [HuffPost]



MCCARTHY DUCKS LIES QUESTIONS House Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) twice refused to answer questions from CNNs Dana Bash about the White Houses lying over the infamous Trump Tower meeting. [HuffPost]



DOES RUSH MATTER ANY MORE? Shock jock Rush Limbaugh still commands a huge audience, but hes not standing out in the era of Trump. [HuffPost]



CALI CATASTROPHE Democrats are facing a potential disaster in California in the midterms  and are blaming this big-spending candidate. [HuffPost]



DOUBLE STANDARD Bill Clinton said Trump would already face impeachment if he were a Democrat. [HuffPost]

BEFORE YOU GO

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Joseph James DeAngelo, the man suspected of being the Golden State Killer, was shopping at a Hobby Lobby near his California home when police swabbed his car door handle for DNA that linked him to a decadelong crime spree in the 1970s and 80s.

Police followed their suspect to the craft store on April 18 and waited until he parked before collecting their sample from the drivers side door, according to a partially redacted arrest warrant unsealed Friday by a Sacramento County judge.

Two days later, a Sacramento County crime lab returned a match. DeAngelos DNA coincided with DNA left at Golden State Killer crime scenes.

Genetic material on a piece of tissue taken the following day from a trash can left outside his suburban home in Citrus Heights, California, also returned a match.

According to the arrest warrant, DeAngelo is 47.5 septillion times more likely to be the Golden State Killer than any other, unrelated person.

DeAngelo was arrested April 24.

He has yet to enter a plea, although he has appeared in court twice. DeAngelo has been charged with 12 killings.

Joseph James DeAngelo, 72, appears in a booking photo provided by the Sacramento County Sheriff's Department. (Photo: Handout . / Reuters)

His identification was a crucial turning point in the cold case. The Golden State Killer, also known as the East Area Rapist and the Original Night Stalker, is believed to be responsible for more than 50 rapes and a dozen murders all over California.

According to the warrant, police believe DeAngelo is also the Visalia Ransacker, a man who burglarized around 120 homes in the Visalia, California, area in the mid-1970s, generally taking only personal trinkets of little value.

If police are correct, it would mean DeAngelos alleged crimes escalated in severity over the course of about a decade. The Golden State Killers last known victim was murdered in 1986.

In addition to DNA evidence, DeAngelo fits the killers profile: After serving in the Navy, he worked as a police officer in Exeter and Auburn, California, in the 1970s, near many of his alleged crimes. (He was fired from the Exeter department in 1979 for attempting to shoplift dog repellant and a hammer.) DeAngelo was also once engaged to a woman named Bonnie; one rape victim heard the Golden State Killer repeatedly saying, I hate you, Bonnie! during her assault.

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The Golden State Killer was known for carefully plotting his attacks. He prowled mostly single-story homes and neighborhoods ahead of time to observe residents schedules. Sometimes, in preparation for his later return, he unlocked doors or windows, emptied guns and rearranged furniture for a quick exit.

Interest in the case was renewed shortly before DeAngelos arrest due to the release of a book on the crimes by the late writer Michelle McNamara.

Related Coverage

Patton Oswalt Celebrates Michelle McNamara's Legacy After Arrest In 'Golden State Killer' Case

It Matters That The Alleged Golden State Killer Was A Cop

Accused Golden State Killer Faces Four Additional Murder Counts

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The widespread damage Hundreds of people have been affected by the volcano. (Getty)

At least 25 people have been killed, including three children, after a Guatemala volcano erupted on Saturday.

Volcan de Fuego (volcano of fire), one of Central Americas most active volcanos, sent lava flowing into rural communities where homes and roads were charred and blanketed with ash.

Hundreds more have been injured and authorities are expecting the death toll to rise.

Its a river of lava that overflowed its banks and affected the Rodeo village. There are injured, burned and dead people, Sergio Cabanas, the general secretary of Guatemalas Conred disaster agency, said on radio.

Firefighters explained that many of those trapped were unable to be freed due to pyroclastic flow (fast-moving volcanic matter).

Eddy Sanchez, director of the countrys seismology and volcanology institute, said the flows reached temperatures of about 700C (1,300F).

Guatemalas disaster agency said 3,100 people had evacuated nearby communities, and ash fall from the eruption was affecting an area with about 1.7 million of countrys 15 million or so people.

Shelters were opened for those forced to flee.

A man looks at the Fuego Volcano in eruption, from Alotenango municipality, Sacatepequez department. (Getty)

A man cleans ashes from the Fuego Volcano off his car in Antigua Guatemala, Sacatepequez department, 45 km southwest of Guatemala City. (Getty)
At least 25 people have been killed after Guatemala's Fuego volcano erupted Sunday, leaving the small Central American state facing its most deadly volcanic event in decades.

The death toll is expected to rise as rescuers try to reach villages smothered by ash and cut off by lava flows. An undetermined number of people are still missing, the BBC reports.

The Volcan de Fuego, volcano of fire, exploded Sunday morning around 27 miles from Guatemala City, the capital. The eruption sent a column of smoke and ash 15,000 feet into the sky, with lava starting to flow down the volcanos slopes later that afternoon. It is Fuego's second eruption this year.

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ORLANDO ESTRADA/AFP/Getty Images

Several children were among those confirmed dead as emergency services raced to help those buried by falling ash and cut off by lava. President Jimmy Morales said he was considering declaring a state of emergency, as there could be a state of devastation in at least three areas.

Eddy Sanchez, director of the countrys seismology and volcanology institute, said the lava flows were as hot as 1,300 degrees Fahrenheit as they swept through villages, destroying houses and killing those sheltering within. He also warned of the potential for deadly mudslides.

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Hundreds of people had been injured and more than 3,000 evacuated from surrounding areas. Local officials estimated around 1.7 million people had so far been affected by the event. Guatemala City's international airport was closed due to volcanic ash falling on its runway.

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ORLANDO ESTRADA/AFP/Getty Images

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Officials told Guatemalan newspaper El Periodico that the lava initially was not moving toward houses, meaning no evacuation order was given. But the deadly flows quickly changed direction, hitting the village of El Rodeo first.

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All the people could not leave, I say they were buried, local resident Consuelo Hernandez said. She explained that those who could leave ran to a nearby hillside to escape but that they may have been caught by the lava.

Deaths have also been confirmed in the villages of Alotenango and San Miguel los Lotes, and officials suspect more bodies will be found in nearby La Libertad. Rescue crews have so far been unable to reach the village due to the lava.

Guatemala Fuego Volcano: Pictures Show the Eruption's Devastating Impact

Officials have advised people in four of Guatemalas regions to use face masks to protect them from falling ash, and the countrys military is spearheading search and rescue operations and assisting relief efforts for those fleeing the destruction. Rescue missions were suspended overnight as rain swept through the affected area and rumours of a second eruption spread.

This article was first written by Newsweek

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A woman who survived the Guatemala volcano eruption said she believes her family was buried in the disaster.

Volcan de Fuego, whose name means "Volcano of Fire", devastated three towns over the weekend in the Central American country, killing at least 25 people.

Consuelo Hernandez was filmed covered in ash as she walked down a road, fearful that her entire family had been buried by the eruption.

"Not everyone escaped. I think they were buried," she told the camera man.

When asked how she survived, she said: "Because we saw the lava pouring through the corn fields and we ran towards the hill."

The volcano suffered a vulcanian eruption - a violent and sudden volcanic blast which often throws large amounts of debris into the air and is accompanied by fast-moving lava flows.

Rescue agencies estimate that at least 300 people have been injured, with the blast raining ash down on the country's nearby capital of Guatemala City, forcing the international airport to close.

One video taken near the disaster showed dead bodies lying on top of the pyroclastic flow. Rescue workers have been searching for survivors and have evacuated more than 3,000 people from their homes.

The Fuego Volcano in eruption, seen from Alotenango municipality (AFP/Getty Images)

Sergio Cabanas, head of the country's National Disaster Management Agency (Conred), said his agency has been unable to reach one affected village due to the lava flow.

He told a local radio station: "Unfortunately El Rodeo was buried and we haven't been able to reach the La Libertad village because of the lava and maybe there are people that died there too."

Several children and workers from the Conred agency are among the dead, Mr Cabanas added.

Guatemala's president Jimmy Morales said he is considering declaring a state of emergency due to the disaster, with rescue agencies warning that heavy rains could cause mudslides in the coming days due to the eruption.

Eddy Sanchez, director of the National Institute for Seismology, Vulcanology, Meteorology and Hydrology of Guatemala, has warned the volcano is still in an active state, and has advised local people to stay off the roads.

Volcan de Fuego is one of the most active volcanos in Central America, with the recent eruption being the largest it has experienced since 1974.
Starbucks (SBUX) founder Howard Schultz will step down from the board and his role as executive chairman on June 26, according to a memo sent to employees.

He will become the chairman emeritus.

Ill be thinking about a range of options for myself, from philanthropy to public service, but Im a long way from knowing what the future holds, Schultz wrote.

Schultz, 64, joined Starbucks in 1981 when it was a small Seattle-based roastery. While traveling in Milan in 1983, he encountered Italian coffee bars, where he experienced the theater and romance of espresso.

FILE PHOTO: Starbucks Chairman and CEO Howard Schultz delivers remarks at the Starbucks 2016 Investor Day in Manhattan, New York, U.S., December 7, 2016. REUTERS/Andrew Kelly/File Photo

He purchased Starbucks in 1987. He grew Starbucks from 11 stores to more than 28,000 stores in 77 countries.

Starbucks, even before its initial public offering in 1992, was one of the first companies to offer healthcare benefits to both full-time and part-time employees, known internally as partners. The company also offered equity in the form of stock options.

More recently, the company committed to hiring veterans, refugees, and opportunity youth, kids ages 16 to 24 who come from lower-income backgrounds. Starbucks also offers college tuition for its employees.

Heres the full memo:

Dear Starbucks partnerspast and present,

I write to you today enjoying a French Press of my favorite coffee, aged Sumatra, and feeling so many emotions. Pride. Nostalgia. A heavy heart. But mostly, I sit here feeling a tremendous sense of gratitude. For years Ive had a dream to build a different kind of company, one that has the potential to enhance lives and endure long after I was gone. Thanks to you, my dream has come true.

On June 26, 2018, I will officially leave Starbucks and become chairman emeritus.

It seems like yesterday that I first walked into the Pike Place store, stepped across the threshold, and was swept into a world of coffee and community. That moment began the journey of a lifetime. Not just for me, but for so many of us.

Who could have imagined how far we would travel together, from 11 stores in 1987 to more than 28,000 stores in 77 countries. But these numbers are not the true measures of our success. Starbucks changed the way millions of people drink coffee, this is true, but we also changed peoples lives in communities around the world for the better.

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When I think about what Starbucks stands for, I think about how Our Mission, values, and guiding principles have come to life: access to healthcare benefits for full- and part-time employees, more than 20 years before the Affordable Care Act. Bean Stock starting in 1991, which turned employees into partners who could share in the companys success. Our ethical sourcing (C.A.F.E.) practices that have helped support farmers and nurture the land. Our years of community service and the C.U.P. Fund for partners in need. Our volunteer efforts in New Orleans and our annual Global Month of Service. Free college tuition through the College Achievement Plan. Our commitments to hire veterans, Opportunity Youth, and refugees. Policies like parental leave and pay equity. And our partners countless acts of kindness that occur in our stores, offices, roasting plants, and distribution centers every single day.

Many of you also know that I set out to build a company that my father, a blue-collar worker and World War II veteran, never had a chance to work for. Together weve done that, and so much more, by balancing profitability and social conscience, compassion and rigor, and love and responsibility. Because of your creativity, your hard work, and the love that you have poured into the company, Starbucks today is widely embraced and respected.

As I prepare to step away, Id like to humbly remind you not to lose sight of what matters most: your fellow partners and our customers. During all my years at Starbucks, in every weekly leadership meeting and quarterly board meeting, I always imagined two empty chairs in the room. One was for a partner and one for a customer. When I had to make a decision, I asked myself if the choice would make both proud. Today, I ask that you continue this tradition, and let the answer guide you. I promise the two chairs will serve you and the company well.

A few more thoughts Id like to share

Please remember, Starbucks is at its best when our stores and offices are welcoming places for everyone. So stay true to our reason for being: inspiring and nurturing the human spirit through a sense of community and human connection. As you adhere to our core purpose, do not forget to innovate around it. Never embrace the status quo. Instead, have the curiosity to look around corners and the courage to push for reinvention. Change is inevitable, and the world has become a more fragile place since we first opened our doors. Amid the chaos, try to listen with empathy, respond with kindness, and do your best to perform through the lens of humanity. Do not be a bystander. Instead, choose to be responsible for what you see and hear. No person or company is ever perfect, so learn from mistakes and be forgiving of yourself and others. And when goals are achieved, remember: success is always best when shared. And yet success is not an entitlement; it must be earned every day through hard work and teamwork. If you strive to be the best version of yourself and bring out the best in others, your dreams will come true again and again, and Starbucks Mission, values, and guiding principles will endure.

These values are as important as our coffee. Sourcing and roasting the highest quality arabica coffee will always be our heritage. Never stop reaffirming Starbucks leadership position in all things coffee. I can think of no better expression of this than our Reserve stores, and the magnificent Roasteries that we have built in Seattle and Shanghai, as well as the ones we will open in Tokyo, Chicago, New York City, and Milan. Bringing Roasteries to life with an incredible design team has been among the great joys of my career, and Ill proudly host the openings of the Milan and New York Roasteries in a few months. In those cities, the course of my life changed years ago. So it seems fitting that they are where my time with the company I love so deeply will come to a close.

Kevin Johnson is a true servant leader, and he will lead Starbucks as this great company enters its next journey. Its our duty as leaders to constantly reimagine Starbucks. I am honored to call Kevin my friend and partner. And Starbucks is fortunate to have him. This leadership team is extraordinarily capable. They, too, believe that Starbucks has a responsibility to use our scale for good.

I still feel like a kid from Brooklyn who grew up in public housing. I am living the American Dream. And I still have dreams for the company, and for you. Its been my honor to be in service to our partners. I hope Ive made you proud to work at Starbucks, and proud to wear the cloth of the companythe green apron.

All this is why Ill never say goodbye to you. Just thank you

Thank you to all the partners Ive never met, and to those Ive had the pleasure of knowing during my travels. Not a day goes by that I have not appreciated your heroic work. Thank you to Starbucks international and JV-licensed partners, who live our values in so many countries. Thank you to the thousands of partners I have collaborated with over the years, and to past and present members of the leadership team and members of the board. You have all been my teachers and helped me to become a better version of myself.

Most of all, thank you to my family. Sheri, my amazing wife, has been by my side throughout this incredible journey. My children, too, have supported and sacrificed throughout the years. Starbucks would not be the company it is today without their influence and love.

This will be an emotional transition, but Im looking forward to spending time with my family this summer. Im also writing a book about Starbucks social impact work and our efforts to redefine the role and responsibility of a public company in an ever-changing society. Its a journey that has prompted me to consider the many ways that each of us, as citizens, can give back to our communities. Ill be thinking about a range of options for myself, from philanthropy to public service, but Im a long way from knowing what the future holds.

As I transition and my e-mail address changes, I still want to stay in touch. Please visit howardschultz.com to stay connected with me.

I believe in my heart that Starbucks partners will continue what was started decades ago. Great coffee and our stores will always be catalysts for community. Now more than ever the world needs places to come together with compassion and with love. Providing the world with a warm and welcoming third place may just be our most important role and responsibility, today and always.

Onward with love,

Howard

Julia La Roche is a finance reporter at Yahoo Finance. Follow her on Twitter.
Nairobi (AFP) - This year, plastic pollution is the main theme of International Environment Day, celebrated on June 5.

In Africa, 4.4 million tonnes of plastic are found in oceans and seas every year, according to United Nations figures from 2010.

"Plastic, and waste management in general, is a very big problem in Africa," said Mohamed Atani, regional information officer for the UN environmental agency UNEP.

He described the problem of plastic pollution, which is gaining attention globally as it kills sea life and blankets swathes of the ocean surface, as "a danger for human health".

"Most of the plastic disposed in the ocean comes from the daily use of single-use plastics," said Atani.

The European Union this month proposed a ban on items such as plastic straws and cutlery.

While many western nations still dole out plastic bags in supermarkets, several African countries have taken the lead and banned them entirely, such as Morocco, Rwanda and Kenya.
Irans top leader has said the country will attack ten times over if is targeted by its enemies, a threat directed at the US and Israel after Donald Trump pulled out of the Iran nuclear deal.

In a televised speech, Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei urged the nations youth to stand up to pressure from the US in the aftermath of Mr Trumps decision last month to exit from the landmark seven-party accord. The decision resulted in the reimposition of sanctions that had been lifted as part of the deal.

Tehran will attack 10 times more if attacked by enemies.The enemies dont want an independent Iran in the region, said Mr Khamenei, according to Reuters. We will continue our support to oppressed nationsour enemies have staged economic and psychological warfare against us and new American sanctions are part of it.

Since the US announced it was withdrawing from the 2015 agreement, the EU, along with Russia, China and Iran, have been discussing whether the deal is still workable without the involvement of the US, which has great leverage over global financial transactions.

One of the endeavours being pursued by the EU is the revival of legislation that would allow European companies to continue doing business with Iran, despite US sanctions. The so-called blocking statute was introduced in 1996 to circumvent US sanctions on Cuba but was never used.

Reports suggest an updated version of the measure should be in force before 6 August, when the first sanctions take effect.

We have the duty, the Commission and the European Union, to do what we can to protect our European businesses, especially SMEs, European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker said in a statement, referring to small and medium-sized companies.

The comments from Mr Khamenei came as Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu travelled to Europe for meetings in Germany, France and the UK. Mr Netanyahu, who was among the loudest voices calling on the US to pull out of the Iran deal and praising Mr Trump for doing so, met on Monday with German Chancellor Angela Merkel.

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Before he left for Europe, Mr Netanyahu met with his cabinet and tweeted about his determination to stop Iran obtaining a nuclear weapon. Iran has always insisted it has no nuclear ambitions, beyond developing the technology for providing energy.

This week I will meet with three European leaders Emmanuel Macron, Angela Merkel and Theresa May, Netanyahu said. Israel will not let Iran obtain nuclear arms,

After meeting the meeting between the German and Israeli leaders, Ms Merkel said she agreed with Mr Netanyahu that Irans activities in the Middle East were a concern, particularly for Israel.

While it has never admitted possessing them, Israel is the only country in the region that is armed with nuclear weapons.

We agree that the question of Irans regional influence is worrying, especially for Israels security, Mr Merkel told a joint news conference with Mr Netanyahu after their meeting in Berlin.
By Parisa Hafezi ANKARA (Reuters) - Iran will inform the U.N. nuclear watchdog in Vienna on Tuesday over its start of a process to increase the country's uranium enrichment capacity, Iran's Atomic Energy Organization spokesman Behrouz Kamalvandi told ISNA news agency. "In a letter that will be handed over to the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) ... Iran will announce that the process of increasing the capacity to produce ... UF6 (uranium hexafluoride) ... will start on Tuesday," Kamalvandi said. He said Iran had the capacity to accelerate production of centrifuges, which are used to enrich uranium. The UF6 is a feedstock for centrifuges. Iran's ultimate authority Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei said on Monday he had ordered preparations to increase uranium enrichment capacity if a 2015 nuclear deal with world powers falls apart after the U.S. withdrawal from it last month. "The leader (Khamenei) meant that we should accelerate some process ... linked to our nuclear work capacity to move forward faster in case needed," Kamalvandi said. European signatories of the accord back the deal but have concerns over Iran's ballistic missile program and its influence in the Middle East. Iran says the two issues are non-negotiable. Under the agreement with the United States, France, Germany, Britain, Russia and China, Iran strictly limited uranium enrichment capacity to satisfy the powers that it could not be used to develop atomic bombs. In exchange, Iran received relief from sanctions, most of which were rescinded in January 2016. The deal allows Iran to continue 3.67 percent uranium enrichment, far below the roughly 90 percent threshold of weapons-grade. Before the deal was reached, Tehran enriched uranium to up to 20 percent purity. Since President Donald Trump's announcement of the U.S. exit on May 8, EU leaders have pledged to try to keep Iran's oil trade and investment flowing but admitted that will not be easy to do. Iranian authorities have said that if the European countries failed to keep the pact alive, Tehran had several options, including resuming its 20 percent uranium enrichment. (Writing by Parisa Hafezi; Editing by James Dalgleish and Chris Reese)
Tehran (AFP) - Iran's supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei on Monday warned European leaders against their "dream" of Tehran continuing to curb its nuclear programme while finding itself under new economic sanctions.

"From some European countries we get the message that they expect the Iranian people to both tolerate the sanctions, deal with the sanctions, and go along with them and give up our nuclear energy activities and continue with the restrictions," he told an audience in a Tehran suburb.

"I would tell these countries that they should be aware that this is a dream that will never come true."

Khamenei was speaking nearly a month after President Donald Trump announced the United States was pulling out of the landmark Iran nuclear deal.

The remaining partners -- Britain, China, France, Germany and Russia -- have scrambled to save the 2015 accord as the US readies to reimpose sanctions on Tehran.

"The people of Iran and the government of Iran will never tolerate both suffering from sanctions and nuclear restrictions," said Khamenei.

"This will never happen," he said during a ceremony to mark the 29th anniversary of the death of revolutionary leader Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini.

The Iran deal paved the way for the partial lifting of international sanctions against the country, in exchange for Tehran curbing its nuclear programme for a number of years.

Khamenei and various Iranian political figures have already warned that Iran could leave the agreement if it no longer receives the economic benefits it signed up for.

Late last month the supreme leader outlined Iran's demands for it to stay in the nuclear deal.

But the remaining backers of the accord have limited power to protect Iran's economic interests in the face of US sanctions, with Trump showing little inclination to spare EU companies.

Shortly after Khamenei's speech, French automaker PSA announced it was pulling out of two joint ventures to sell its cars in Iran owing to the US sanctions.

Last week the chief executive of French oil giant Total -- a symbol of foreign companies' return to Iran after 2015 -- said the chances of winning sanctions exemptions were "very slim".
Kirkuk (Iraq) (AFP) - Iraqi judicial authorities have issued an arrest warrant for a Kurdish politician at the centre of last year's failed independence bid, a source from within the provincial administration said Sunday.

Rebwar Talabani, head of the Kirkuk Provincial Council, was one of the architects of the September referendum in which an overwhelming majority backed independence for Iraqi Kurdistan.

The plebiscite was branded illegal by Baghdad, which in the wake of the vote sent troops into the disputed city of Kirkuk and retook territory in the oil-rich region.

A source from within the provincial administration, speaking on the condition of anonymity, said the arrest warrant was issued for Talabani "hoisting the Kurdish flag on official buildings of Kirkuk and organising the referendum" in the disputed city.

Talabani is currently in Arbil, the capital of Iraqi Kurdistan, where he fled to last October as Iraqi troops arrived in Kirkuk.

There continue to be tensions between the majority Kurdish population, Arabs and Turkmens in Kirkuk province, north of Baghdad.

Authorities imposed a curfew last month after skirmishes broke out following the results of the May 12 national elections being announced.
Israels military on Saturday, June 2, blamed Hamas incitement for border violence in Gaza the day before, reported to have injured more than 100 Palestinians with no casualties on the Israeli side.

The IDF also announced an investigation into the death of Razan al-Najjar, a 21-year-old female Palestinian paramedic who was reported to have run toward the border fence to treat the injured on Friday, drawing the fire of an Israeli sniper.

Najjars funeral was held on Saturday. Protests resumed afterwards, according to reports. As many as 110 Palestinians died in violence at the border since the end of March, with protests continuing for 10 consecutive weeks.

Additional Storyful coverage of Najjars death and Fridays confrontations can be seen here, here and here. Credit: Israel Defense Forces via Storyful
Italy's new hardline interior minister Matteo Salvini arrives at the reception centre (CPSA) in Pozzallo, sicily - AFP

Declaring that Italy can no longer serve as Europes refugee camp, newly installed interior minister Matteo Salvini pledged on Sunday to press EU officials for asylum law reform that allows stricter controls on illegal immigration.

During a visit to one of Europes most grim migrant reception centres in the southern Sicilian port of Pozzallo, Mr Salvini said tragic shipwrecks off the coasts of Tunisia and Turkey that left dozens dead over the weekend could have been prevented.

Every life is sacred  to save lives you have to stop the departures of these death boats, which is a lucrative business for some and a disgrace for the rest of the world," said Mr Salvini, who was sworn in as interior minister Friday as part of the new populist government formed by his far-Right League and the anti-establishment Five Star Movement.

The attempt to shape the migration issue around saving lives was a shift in rhetoric for the young firebrand who rose to power on an anti-immigration platform promising to boot out more than 500,000 people with a kick in the a***.

On Saturday he told a rally in the north: "The good times for illegals is over - get ready to pack your bags".

But while softening his delivery for a broader European audience, his message in advance of an EU meeting on asylum policy on Tuesday remained unchanged.

Matteo Salvini at the end of the Republic Day ceremony on June 2 Credit: Stefano Montesi - Corbis/Getty Images Europe

Fewer landings and more expatriations. It is not a hard line, just common sense," Mr Salvini , who joins a long list of Italian leaders to call for changes in the EUs Dublin Treaty, which mandates that asylum seekers are processed in the country of their arrival.

The visit came as Tunisia's defence ministry said more than 35 migrants were killed when their boat sank off the country's coast on Sunday. Earlier in the day, nine migrants, including six children, drowned when a boat capsized off Turkey.

After nearly three months of political chaos, leaders of Italys new populist governing coalition were eager to show theyre ready to go to work.

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Five Star Movement leader Luigi Di Maio posted video of himself settling into his new office, while Prime Minister-designate Giuseppe Conte took calls from fellow European leaders, including German chancellor Angela Merkel, who invited him to Berlin for open and constructive talks.

I will openly approach and work with the new Italian government rather than speculating on its intentions, she told Frankfurter Allgemeine Sonntagszeitung newspaper. Germany has an elementary interest in an effective Europe.

The German chancellor refused to be drawn on fears the new government may pull Italy out of the Euro.

It is my basic belief that every election result and every democratically elected government deserves respect, she said.

Mrs Merkel also said she wanted to talk with Italian leaders about helping young people find work and restated her belief that a common asylum system is the answer to Europes migration concerns.

We need uniform procedures at the European external borders, and the Frontex European border management agency has to become a real European border police. At the final stage, we need a common European refugee agency, which carries out all asylum procedures at the external borders on the basis of a single European asylum law.

About | Lega

Mr Salvini was quick to capitalize on Germanys support, telling reporters outside the fenced Pozzallo hotspot even Merkel says Italy has been left too long on its own.

A small group of protesters held up welcome refugees banners outside the centre during Mr Salvinis visit, expressing concerns that the leaders rhetoric could incite violence against the already vulnerable population.

Police are investigating two separate attacks against migrants over the weekend in southern Italy, including the death of a 29-year-old old migrant from Mali, who was shot in the head by an unidentified gunman from several hundred metres away as he entered an abandoned factory Saturday night to search for scrap metal to sell on the black market.

Two other men present were also wounded. All were registered residents of the San Ferdinando tent city near Vibo Valentia, one of Italys worst migrant ghettos.

In Naples, a Pakistani kebab shop owner was hospitalised after a group of men burst into his eatery and beat him with motorcycle helmets.
Luxembourg (AFP) - EU interior ministers meet Tuesday to try to break a two-year deadlock over reforming asylum rules with a deadline looming and pressure from Italy's new populist leaders.

The ministers will hear Bulgaria's new compromise proposals on how to close an east-west rift over the reforms before a June 28-29 summit in Brussels.

The summit marks the end of Sofia's six months holding the European Union's rotating presidency and also coincides with the expected start of increased migrant sea crossings as the weather improves.

Coming to power amid popular discontent over the migration and unemployment crises, Italy's populist coalition government has denounced the draft reforms.

"Italy and Sicily cannot be Europe's refugee camp," new hardline interior minister Matteo Salvini said Sunday in Sicily's port of Pozzallo, a migrant landing point.

The reforms, he said, condemn Italy and other Mediterranean countries to continue bearing the burden of an unprecedented migration crisis for the 28-nation bloc, which peaked in 2015.

EU leaders in December set an end-of-June deadline for an overhaul of the so-called Dublin rules to create a permanent mechanism to deal with migrants in the event of a new emergency.

In a weekend interview, German Chancellor Angela Merkel thought it likely that it "will take several more weeks" to seal a deal, without excluding one at the summit.

Addressing the new Italian government, French President Emmanuel Macron said that the EU "will only manage to settle the issue by working together," on protecting borders and agreeing on asylum rules.

Under existing rules, countries where migrants first arrive are required to process asylum requests. Italy, Greece and Spain are the main entry points to Europe.

EU cooperation deals with Turkey and Libya, the main transit countries, have helped to slow, at least for now, the flow of migrants to Europe since 2015.

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But the European Commission, the EU's executive arm, warns asylum reform is all the more pressing because the crisis could flare anew.

Hungary, Poland, the Czech Republic and Slovakia have either refused outright or resisted taking in refugees since the Commission first pushed through temporary quotas in 2015 as a way to ease the burden on frontline states Italy and Greece.

- 'Alleviating burden' -

The summer of that year saw a surge in mass drownings in the Mediterranean as Europe's worst migration crisis since World War II peaked with hundreds of thousands of people fleeing war and poverty in the Middle East and elsewhere.

Under an emergency plan, EU member countries agreed to relocate to other parts of the bloc 160,000 Syrians and other refugees from Italy and Greece within two years.

Only 34,690 people have been relocated as most people made their own way to Germany and other wealthy northern countries amid the chaotic EU response to the crisis.

According to documents seen by AFP, Bulgaria calls for "alleviating (the) burden from the front-line" states like Italy and "curbing secondary movements" of asylum seekers who land in one EU country and travel to another.

Eastern countries place a priority on stopping secondary movements, which caused so much chaos in recent years that countries in Europe's passport-free Schengen zone re-established border checks.

In a nod to Rome and Athens, the Bulgarian proposals call for the compulsory relocation of asylum seekers, but only as a last resort.

At the outset of a crisis, financial and other support are supposed to kick in automatically under the plan.

EU capitals like Budapest, which has spearheaded opposition to Muslim and other migrants, have stood firm against mandatory relocation.

As a further sop to the eastern countries, people will be relocated only in exceptional cases and member states will have the "flexibility" to reduce some of the numbers alloted to them.

Under the proposal, front-line states face increased "responsibility" to register arrivals.

It would also speed up procedures to determine which countries must process genuine asylum seekers or expel those who are not.

The Bulgarian proposals amount to a "good starting point for a compromise" among member states, a diplomatic source said.

"But it will probably not budge the lines" dividing the member states for the last few months, according to the source.
Abidjan (AFP) - An opposition coalition in Ivory Coast has rejected any prospect of a third term for President Alassane Ouattara, lashing it as "anti-constitutional, unacceptable and unattainable."

Ouattara came to power after a bloody five-month crisis in 2010-11 and is now in his second term, which ends in 2020.

"The new constitution authorises me to do two terms from 2020. I will only make my final decision at that point, on the basis of the situation in Ivory Coast. The overwhelming priorities are stability and peace," Ouattara said last week in an interview with magazine Jeune Afrique.

In a communique, a large opposition coalition, Together for Democracy and Sovereignty (EDS), blasted his statement as "pure provocation of the Ivorian people."

"The idea of a third term, as the current head of state knows, is anti-constitutional, unacceptable and unattainable," EDS chairman Georges Armand Ouegnin said in the statement.

Ouattara and his supporters say that under changes to the constitution in 2016, of which he himself was the architect, the starting point for presidential terms is now zero -- that his two election victories in 2010 and 2015 do not count.

This interpretation is contested not only by the opposition but also internationally, although some commentators see it as a tactic by Ouattara to tamp down quarrels within his party over his succession.

EDS is a coalition that gathers civil society groups as well as the Ivorian People's Party (FPI), the party of former president Laurent Gbagbo.

Gbagbo refused to step down in 2010 after losing the election to Ouattara. He was forced out after violence between supporters of the two rivals that claimed several thousand lives, and is now on trial in The Hague for war crimes.

Constitutional changes that critics say are designed to let presidential incumbents retain power have been unfolding or are under discussion in a range of African countries, including Burundi, Chad, the Comoros and Togo.
Amman (AFP) - Jordan's King Abdullah has summoned the prime minister for a meeting that could pave the way for his resignation, a government source said Monday, after another night of protests against austerity measures.

Demonstrations have rocked the Jordanian capital and several other cities since Wednesday against a draft income tax law and price hikes based on recommendations by the International Monetary Fund.

Protesters have called on Prime Minister Hani Mulki to step down, vowing they will not "kneel" and earning support from trade unions as well as a majority of MPs opposed to the new taxation.

"King Abdullah has summoned the prime minister to a meeting before noon today Monday that could pave the way for his resignation," said the government source who declined to be identified.

It came hours after around 5,000 people rallied outside Mulki's office in Amman, on the fifth consecutive day of protests in the Jordanian capital and other cities.

"Oh Mulki listen well, the people of Jordan will not kneel," they chanted as they faced down a heavy security presence.

Some demonstrators held up signs that read: "We will continue (to protest) until the government quits".

Jordan, a mostly desert kingdom with few resources, has seen prices of several basic goods and services like bread, fuel and electricity steadily rise over the past year.

At dawn Monday, Crown Prince Hussein bin Abdullah visited the protest site outside the prime minister's office and spoke to security forces who had deployed en masse to keep protesters at bay.

"They must be able to express themselves and voice their opinions and our duty is to protect them," the crown prince told security forces in reference to the protesters.

"We and they support the King. We want to protect this country," he added.

Last month, the government proposed a new income tax law, yet to be approved by parliament, aimed at raising taxes on employees by at least five percent and on companies by between 20 and 40 percent.

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The measures are the latest in a series of economic reforms since Amman secured a $723-million three-year credit line from the International Monetary Fund in 2016.

The protest campaign started on Wednesday when hundreds responded to a call by Jordan's trade unions by flooding the streets outside the headquarters of the federation of unions.

Since then nighttime protests have gripped Amman and other major cities in the cash-strapped country of 9.5 million.

According to official estimates, 18.5 percent of Jordan's population are unemployed, while 20 percent are on the brink of poverty.

The Economist Intelligence Unit earlier this year ranked Jordan's capital as one of the most expensive in the Arab world.
Kansas Secretary of State and candidate for governor, Kris W. Kobach, waved to families at a parade outside Kansas City while riding in a red, white and blue Jeep Wrangler fitted with a mounted machine gun Saturday.

The city of Shawnee, which hosted the Old Shawnee Days Parade this weekend, issued an apology to the community for Kobach's seemingly weaponized vehicle. The former chairman of the Kansas Republican Party issued a statement through his gubernatorial campaign spokesperson saying the large mounted machine gun was only a replica. But Kobach doubled down on his staunch support for gun rights and refused to apologize.

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Kris W. Kobach Twitter

Trending: New 'Luke Cage' Clip Is the Daughters of the Dragon Tease Weve Been Waiting For

"We want to apologize for the concern and frustration involved with Mr. Kris Kobach's parade entry at the Old Shawnee Days Parade on Saturday, June 2, 2018," the city of Shawnee wrote on Twitter. "In no way does this or any parade entry or float directly reflect the views and values of the City, the Old Shawnee Days Board or the Old Shawnee Days Society. Please know that the safety of our residents is always our highest priority and we apologize if this made anyone feel unsafe or unsettled. We will be taking steps in the future to try to ensure something similar does not happen again."

The self-described "full-throttled Conservative" touted the 2nd Amendment right to bear arms, taking to Twitter to bash critics of his fake firearm Jeep setup. "Had a blast riding in the Old Shawnee Days Parade in this souped up jeep with a replica gun. Those who want to restrict the right to keep and bear arms are deeply misguided. The only thing that stops a bad guy with a gun is a good guy with a gun," Kobach tweeted Saturday.

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Had a blast riding in the Old Shawnee Days Parade in this souped up jeep with a replica gun. Those who want to restrict the right to keep and bear arms are deeply misguided. The only thing that stops a bad guy with a gun is a good guy with a gun. #ksleg #ksgov #TeamKobach pic.twitter.com/ZULBEYTqUW Don't miss: Masterpiece Cakeshop Wins Gay Wedding Supreme Court Case  Kris W. Kobach (@KrisKobach1787) June 2, 2018

In April, Kobach held a pro-gun rights rally on the steps of Capitol Hill on the same day students nationwide had walkouts for gun control in the wake of the Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School shooting that left 17 people dead in Parkland, Florida, the Kansas City Star reported. Kobach heckled the students saying "I have an idea. Instead of walking out of class, why don't you stay in class and spend that half hour studying the history of the Second Amendment?" Kobach told the students they were being exploited by national gun control advocates.

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Kris Kobach Facebook

Kobach will face off against at least four main Republican candidates for the Kansas governorship ahead of the August primary election. One of those candidates is Jim Barnett, who announced Friday his selection of his wife as his lieutenant governor, the Wichita Eagle reported. Kobach holds degrees from Harvard, Yale and Oxford universities and has raised more than $350,000 for his campaign.

This article was first written by Newsweek

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Managua (AFP) - At least five more people have died in the flashpoint city of Masaya during a night of clashes between police and anti-government protestors, a human rights group said Monday.

The preliminary toll included deaths between Sunday night and Monday morning, according to Alvaro Leiva, head of the Nicaraguan Association for the Protection of Human Rights (ANPDH).

The agency has identified just one of the victims so far, a 23-year-old teacher named Carlos Lopez, who was killed by a bullet in the thorax -- indicating "he was executed, no doubt, by snipers," Leiva said.

"There is a profound violation of human rights," in Masaya, said Leiva, of the city about 30 kilometers south of the capital.

Masaya's police chief Ramon Avellan, meanwhile, reported the death of a 22-year-old police officer in Masaya, who allegedly was killed when demonstrators attacked the city's police station.

It was unclear whether that death was included in the toll given by the ANPDH.

Residents in Masaya armed with homemade mortars have fought back against riot police and pro-government gangs in the city of just over 100,000 people.

They have constructed barricades against security forces with cobblestones, furniture, sheet metal and anything else available on nearly every street.

According to Leiva, protestors have captured an unspecified number of officers during the clashes, while police have arrested several demonstrators.

The wave of protests against President Daniel Ortega and his ruling party -- the Sandinista National Liberation Front -- erupted on April 18 and quickly turned violent.

The unrest has claimed at least 110 lives, according to the Nicaraguan Center for Human Rights, fueling demands for Ortega to step down.
Guatemala City (AFP) - At least six people were killed when Guatemala's Fuego volcano erupted Sunday, belching ash and rock and forcing the airport to close.

The strong eruption was the second major one this year. The dead were from farming communities just south of the volcano who were trapped by hot lava flow, National Disaster Relief Agency spokesman David de Leon told reporters.

Another 20 people have been injured, and more than 2,000 evacuated near the volcano and several cities, including Antigua. The Spanish colonial-era city is Guatemala's top tourist attraction.

Farmers covered in ash fled for their lives as civil defense staffers tried to relocate them to shelters during the event.

Dense ash blasted out by the volcano -- which rises to 3,763 meters (12,346 feet) -- also shut down Guatemala City's international airport, civil aviation said.

Workers were cleaning ash off the runways to get the airport operating again.

Guatemala has two other active volcanoes, Santiaguito (west) and Pacaya (just south of the capital).
Paris (AFP) - French anti-corruption prosecutors said Monday that they have opened an investigation into President Emmanuel Macron's chief of staff Alexis Kohler over his links to Italian shipping giant MSC.

The probe will look into Kohler's career as a senior civil servant in France's economy ministry, where he served as cabinet director to Macron during Macron's time as minister from 2014 to 2016.

The financial crimes' prosecutor office said it would check whether Kohler respected conflict of interest rules for civil servants since he "could have dealt with issues of interest" to MSC.

Kohler's mother is a cousin of billionaire Rafaela Aponte, who founded the Mediterranean Shipping Company (MSC) with her husband Gianlugi in 1970.

The group is now a global leader in container shipping and cruise holidays, and by far the biggest client of a major French shipyard on the Atlantic coast.

Macron's office on Monday dismissed the allegations of wrongdoing, first revealed by investigative website Mediapart, as "completely unfounded".

"Alexis Kohler will willingly send to prosecutors all of the documents that prove his respect of the law during his professional life," the presidency said in a statement.

The case is an unwelcome development for the 40-year-old French leader who has been labelled the "president of the rich" by leftist opponents accusing him of being too close to company owners and entrepreneurs.

It also adds to a list of legal investigations targeting political allies which have the potential to cause problems if any of the allegations are proven in court.

Labour Minister Muriel Penicaud, who also worked with Macron while he was economy minister, is being investigated over an evening she organised in Las Vegas to promote French technology companies in 2016.

The contract to organise the event, which initially cost nearly 400,000 euros (468,000 dollars) and featured Macron as guest of honour, was not put out to tender, leading to accusations of favouritism.

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She also denies wrongdoing.

Soon after his election last May, Macron's close ally Richard Ferrand stepped down from his job as minister for social cohesion after being probed over a property deal involving a public heath fund he headed.

And several other ministers from the centrist MoDem party, which backed Macron as president, also withdrew from the government over an investigation into alleged misuse of EU funds for political parties.

- Right-hand man -

The media-shy Kohler, 45, is known for his close personal relationship with the president and was once described as "the last person Macron talks to at night and the first one in the morning" by an aide who knows both men.

He left the economy ministry in 2016 to join Swiss-based MSC as finance director but continued to work on Macron's bid for the presidency in his spare time, providing advice on policy and strategy.

A graduate of Sciences Po university and the elite ENA school for civil servants, like Macron, Kohler was rewarded with the chief of staff position in May 2017.

His links to the Aponte family were unknown publicly until they were revealed by investigative website Mediapart whose reports formed the basis of a legal complaint by transparency campaign group Anticor last Friday.

The allegations against Kohler relate to his time in the economy ministry when he was involved in decisions affecting the French shipyard in Saint-Nazaire, the last gem in the country's once-thriving shipbuilding industry.

MSC is one of the most important clients of the strategically important industrial site, which was part-owned by the Korean group STX until 2017 when it sold its shares to Italian group Fincantieri.

Le Monde newspaper reported that Kohler sat on the board of STX France as a representative of the state from 2010 to 2012 and later dealt with the company while serving as a deputy cabinet director and then cabinet director from 2012 to 2016.

In its filing, seen by AFP, Anticor said Kohler "could not have been unaware of a conflict of interest" given his ties to MSC.

In a statement to Le Monde, the president's office said he always declared his family links and recused himself from decisions directly linked to MSC and STX.

In 2014, Kohler attempted to leave the ministry for MSC but was prevented from doing so by an ethics watchdog.

He finally left for the company two years later in 2016 as Macron was launching his bid for the presidency.

Anticor has lodged a series of complaints against high-ranking officials in recent years, though not all have led to inquiries or convictions.

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Antananarivo (AFP) - Madagascar's president named a senior UN official on Monday to head a government of national unity in a bid to end a crisis sparked by electoral reforms.

The Indian Ocean nation has been rocked by protests initially called against new laws the opposition said were aimed at barring their candidates from taking part in elections scheduled for later this year. But the demonstrations have turned into demands for the president to resign.

"I have named Christian Ntsay, an experienced man with the skills necessary for reconciliation, as prime minister," said President Hery Rajaonarimampianina at a press conference, announcing the appointment of a career civil servant who currently works at the UN's International Labour Organisation (ILO).

The Constitutional Court had ordered Rajaonarimampianina to form a government of national unity with a "consensus prime minister" to avert a full-blown crisis.

"The year 2018 is a year to reinforce the principle of the democratic transfer of power through the ballot box," added Rajaonarimampianina.

"I call on political leaders to respect this political settlement."

Ntsay, 57, is not a member of any political party. He has a reputation as an international expert in labour management and leadership, previously serving as Madagascar's tourism minister between 2002 and 2003.

"For now I don't think this nomination is constitutional... it's a PM who is on the side of the government, I don't think he's a consensus prime minister," said opposition Mapar party lawmaker Christine Razanamahasoa.

But ruling HVM party chief Rivo Rakotovao insisted the nomination was non-partisan.

"This isn't 'our' prime minister -- we never recommended anyone to the president. But we do accept it. He should now start thinking about forming a government," said Rakotovao, who is also the senate leader.

Former prime minister Olivier Mahafaly Solonandrasana announced his resignation to the media earlier on Monday to avoid becoming "an obstacle to the life of the nation".

Story continues

"I will leave this magnificent palace, (but) I tell you this is not 'goodbye'," he added without giving details of his plans.

"I thank them for the work they have done in the past two years," said the president following the former prime minister's exit.

- 'We have compromised' -

Madagascar has a history of chronic instability since the final years of former Marxist military leader Didier Ratsiraka's rule, who was voted out in 2001.

Since April 21, hundreds of opposition supporters have occupied the capital Antananarivo's May 13 square, initially to protest the president's proposed electoral reform package.

But after those proposals were overturned by the courts, the protests became a full-blown movement to oust Rajaonarimampianina. Violence has claimed two lives and left more than a dozen injured.

The Constitutional Court ruled that the composition of the new unity government should proportionately reflect the outcome of the last legislative elections in 2013.

However, the ruling triggered fierce debate between the government and the opposition over its interpretation.

Both sides say they hold the majority in parliament, where many legislators have switched allegiances since 2013.

There has been no announcement of who will join Ntsay's government as ministers.

"The people calling for change don't want the return of the old gaffe-prone ministers, so we are waiting to see the composition of the new government," said opposition lawmaker Jean Brunelle Razafitsiandraofa.

Over the weekend, Rajaonarimampianina rejected three opposition nominations for the job of "unity" prime minister. All three are members of the Mapar party led by former president Andry Rajoelina.

"We have compromised," added Rakotovao.

Defence Minister Beni Xavier Rasolofonirina threatened on Thursday to deploy security forces if political efforts to resolve the crisis fail.
ANTANANARIVO (Reuters) - Madagascar's president said on Monday he had appointed local International Labour Organisation representative Christian Ntsay as prime minister. Olivier Mahafaly resigned the premiership earlier on Monday to comply with a court ruling that ordered the formation of a consensus government to end a political crisis. In an address to the Indian Ocean island nation, broadcast on radio and television, President Hery Rajaonarimampianina said he had held discussions with "all political movements" before making the appointment. He praised the new prime minister as an experienced man who "has the qualities and knowledge to lead the country to ... the presidential election". Earlier this month, Rajaonarimampianina approved a new election law removing a provision that would have prevented the main opposition candidate, Marc Ravalomanana, from standing for office. The previous law had provoked a political crisis and triggered street demonstrations that resulted in two deaths. The High Constitutional Court ordered Rajaonarimampianina to dissolve his government and appoint a new prime minister with the support of all political parties. The next presidential election is due this year. "The discussions resulted in the establishment of a government open to other political forces to ensure the neutrality of the organisation of the presidential election," the president said in the broadcast. Madagascar is one of the world's poorest countries, despite reserves of nickel, cobalt, gold, uranium and other minerals. A coup in 2009 scared off foreign investors. Rajaonarimampianina's party has no lawmakers in parliament and he had until June 5 to pick the consensus prime minister as ordered by the court. (Reporting by Lova Rabary; Writing by Duncan Miriri and Elias Biryabarema; Editing by Kevin Liffey)
Douglas Parkhurst died saving children from a motorist who drove onto a baseball field, but he was hiding a dark past. (Getty)

Douglas Parkhurst is being hailed as a hero for pushing children out of the way of a vehicle that had driven onto a baseball field in Sanford, Maine, on Friday. Parkhurst was struck by the driver, and later died from his injuries.

Parkhursts selfless act cost him his life and saved the lives of others, but local news outlets later revealed the 68-year-old had a dark past. Fifty years ago, Parkhurst was on the other side of the situation: he killed a young girl in a hit-and-run, and didnt confess until 2013 when the statute of limitations ran out and he could no longer be prosecuted.

Parkhurst had a dark past

In 1968, when he was 18, Parkhurst was involved in a hit-and-run, but as the driver. The Portland Press Herald reported on the tragic story on Sunday. In Fulton, New York, Parkhurst struck and killed 4-year-old Carolee Ashby, who was walking to the store with her 15-year-old sister Darlene Ashby (now Darlene McCann) to pick up birthday candles for Darlenes birthday.

The only reason we know Parkhurst was responsible for this crime is because he confessed  44 years later. Once he obtained a written statement from prosecutors confirming that the statute of limitations had run out and he wouldnt be prosecuted, he admitted to committing the crime. The confession reportedly included an admission that Parkhurst and his brother had been drinking.

Parkhursts 2013 confession came after a year of questioning and investigation by the police, but that was preceded by over 40 years of missed opportunities. Parkhurst was originally a suspect back in 1968, but its unknown why the investigation stopped there.

There were no clearcut answers to why police did not charge Parkhurst, who claimed at the time that a dent in his Buick Special resulted from a crash into a guardrail. The documents showed police were skeptical of that explanation, but it was unclear why police did not continue to investigate Parkhurst.

In 1972, just a few years later, the police received a tip that Parkhurst had been bragging at a party about hitting Carolee with his car and getting away with it. Its also unclear why no one followed up on that tip. Even when the case was reopened in 2000, nothing happened. Finally, in 2012, a Facebook comment led to a tip that broke open the case, and resulted in Parkhursts confession.

Story continues

Parkhursts heroic act

Parkhurst died on Friday night after a car drove onto a Little League field, where his grandson was playing. The stands were full at the time, but the playing field was empty. After doing a loop around home plate, the car exited the field and drove onto the roadway that surrounds it. Thats where Parkhurst was, along with several children. Witnesses say Parkhurst pushed the children out of the way before being struck, and that he also tried to close the gate before the car could enter.

Sanford Police identified the driver as Carol Sharrow, 52. She was arrested and charged with manslaughter. The police also confirmed that Parkhurst had died of his injuries.

The tragedy comes full circle

The irony of Parkhursts death, that he would die in the same way that he killed Carolee, and by a woman with a similar name, isnt lost on Darlene Ashby McCann.

It feels it has made a full circle. Now I am relieved. I truly am. The same thing that happened to my sister happened to him. It made a complete circle. Now it is time to move on, McCann said.

Parkhurst left New York and moved to Maine after he confessed to the hit-and-run, and reportedly never apologized to McCann or her family for what he did. McCanns mother died last year still waiting for Parkhurst to apologize for killing her daughter, and her father died years before Parkhurst confessed.

Even though there was no apology, McCann hopes that one day she can forgive Parkhurst for what he did.

I know my mom would have been grateful that children were saved. Sometime I may be able to forgive him, but not right now, McCann said.

     

Liz Roscher is a writer for Yahoo Sports. Have a tip? Email her at lizroscher@yahoo.com or follow her on Twitter! Follow @lizroscher

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Just two weeks after Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, married Prince Harry, the former actress ex is also preparing to walk down the aisle again.

Trevor Engelson, a 41-year-old producer, proposed to his girlfriend, dietician Tracey Kurland, on Friday in Napa Valley, according to a Facebook post seen by HuffPost. The Daily Mail first confirmed the news.

Love of my entire life. I love you beyond words, Kurland wrote on social media, accompanied by two pictures of the proposal. One shows Engelson getting down on one knee and the other shows the couple smiling at the camera as Kurland displays her elongated cushion-cut diamond engagement ring.

Engelson wrote his own post about proposing, saying Luckiest guy I know! Get ready to party.

Tracy Kurland and Trevor Engelson at the Anti-Defamation League Entertainment Industry dinner on April 17 in Beverly Hills. (Photo: Michael Kovac via Getty Images)

Prior to getting engaged to Kurland, Engelson was married to Meghan from 2011 to 2013, before officially divorcing a year later. The two began dating in 2004 and got married at a small ceremony in Jamaica.

Trevor Engleson and Meghan Markle at the Anti-Defamation League Entertainment Industry Awards dinner on Oct. 11, 2011, in Beverly Hills. (Photo: Michael Kovac via Getty Images)

Markle and Engelson at the Coach Legacy Photo Exhibit on Aug. 26, 2006, in East Hampton, NY. (Photo: Patrick McMullan via Getty Images)

Meghan began dating Prince Harry in 2016 after friends set them up on a blind date. The two later wed on May 19 of this year.

Engelson is currently producing a TV series loosely based on his relationship with Meghan. According to Deadline, the show is based on the fictional premise where the characters based on Meghan and Engelson had children together, and the ex-husband has to share custody with his ex-wife and her new royal spouse.

Divorce is hard. Sharing custody is harder. Sharing custody with the British Royal family when your wife marries a prince, in the unforgiving spotlight of Londons tabloid media, is next level, the description says.

Something tells us a lot of people are going to be tuning in to this.

Royal news doesnt stop at the wedding. Subscribe to HuffPosts Watching the Royals newsletter for all things Windsor (and beyond).

Related Coverage

Prince Harry And Meghan Markle Are Officially Married

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Here's Why Amal Clooney's Royal Wedding Outfit Cost Over Half A Million Dollars

Story continues

Also on HuffPost

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George and Amal Clooney

Here are some of the famous folks who attended the wedding of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle on May 19, 2018.

Serena Williams and Alexis Ohanian

Oprah Winfrey

Idris Elba and Sabrina Dhowre

James Blunt and Sofia Wellesley

David and Victoria Beckham

Charlotte Riley and Tom Hardy

Marcus Mumford and Carey Mulligan

James Corden and Julia Carey

Joss Stone

Elton John and David Furnish

Patrick J. Adams and Troian Bellisario

Rick Hoffman

Norma and John Major

Gina Torres

Sarah Rafferty

Abigail Spencer and Priyanka Chopra

This article originally appeared on HuffPost.
Its been almost a month since Melania Trump has been seen in public and weeks since she reportedly underwent surgery for what was described as a benign kidney condition. But with speculation about her whereabouts at a fever pitch, the first lady is poised to return to the spotlight  sort of.

Melania Trump with the president on May 9, the day before her last public sighting. (Photo: Mark Wilson/Getty Images)

As CNN reports, Stephanie Grisham, spokeswoman for the first lady, has confirmed that Trump will attend a White House event Monday honoring Gold Star families  those who have a lost a relative in battle. It will be the first official event she has attended  and her first sighting  since May 10, when she was seen greeting the three American detainees newly freed by North Korea.

The day before that, she joined President Trump and his daughter Ivanka as he signed an executive order to support the hiring of military spouses in the federal government.

But dont hold out hope for a glossy photo op. Grisham noted to CNN that the Gold Star event is closed to the media, though its possible that she may issue a statement afterward. Grisham added that Trump and her staff have been keeping busy with meetings and planning White House events.

Those events wont include this weeks G7 meeting in Quebec or Trumps June 12 trip to Singapore, both of which Grisham confirmed FLOTUS would skip. She was also absent from a Trump family trip to Camp David over the June 2 weekend.

The first lady downplayed rumors about her disappearance last week, admonishing the media for working overtime to explain her absence.

I see the media is working overtime speculating where I am & what I'm doing. Rest assured, I'm here at the @WhiteHouse w my family, feeling great, & working hard on behalf of children & the American people!  Melania Trump (@FLOTUS) May 30, 2018

If Mondays Gold Star event comes and goes without satisfying curious minds, there may be a resolution by months end. Grisham has said that Trump is planning the Congressional Picnic, which in 2017 took place in late June  and is thus, presumably, just weeks away. Shes also hammering out the details for the White Houses Independence Day celebrations.

Story continues

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Melania Trump has not made a public appearance since her recent hospital stay: Reuters

Melania Trump is to miss the G7 summit this week and will also not attend the highly anticipated meeting with North Korea the week after.

The White House issued a statement saying The First Lady would not be joining her husband at the international meeting of world leaders in Quebec over the weekend.

It comes after Ms Trumps five-day stay in hospital in mid-May, when she was treated for a benign kidney condition.

She has not been seen in public since 10 May when she and the president welcomed home three Americans who had been held prisoner in North Korea.

It is usual for the spouses of world leaders to attend G7 summits, where they gather at events of their own.

Ms Trump made her international summit debut last year at the G7 meeting in Italy, following it up with a visit to the G20 forum in Germany later in the year.

She also missed out on a weekend retreat to Camp David, where Donald Trump, his daughters, eldest son and son-in-law all visited.

Spokeswoman for Ms Trump, Stephanie Grisham, said: She will not attend the G7 and there are no plans for her to travel to Singapore at this time.

The meeting in Singapore between Mr Trump and Kim Jong-Un is scheduled for 12 June, but for some time it was unclear whether it would actually go ahead.

The White House initially scrapped the plans after claiming Pyongyang had shown hostility, but after some negotiations, it was announced that the talks were back on.

Ms Grisham earlier said the first lady had been meeting with staff and working on projects.

She is expected to join her husband in hosting a reception for Gold Star families  relatives of service members killed in the line of duty  on Monday evening, which is closed to the press.

Responding to media speculation about her absence from the public eye, Melania Trump posted on Twitter last Wednesday: I see the media is working overtime speculating where I am & what Im doing.

Rest assured, Im here at the @WhiteHouse w my family, feeling great, & working hard on behalf of children & the American people!

Agencies contributed to this report.
By Joseph Nasr and Michel Rose

BERLIN/PARIS (Reuters) - German Chancellor Angela Merkel has ruled out debt relief for Italy, saying in a newspaper interview published on Sunday that the principle of solidarity among euro zone member states should not turn the single currency bloc into a debt-sharing union.

In the interview with the Frankfurter Allgemeine Sonntagszeitung Merkel also embraced some of French President Emmanuel Macron's ideas for more solidarity in the euro zone and the broader European Union.

She said while cohesion among members of the single currency bloc was important, "solidarity among euro partners should never lead to a debt union, rather it must be about helping others to help themselves."

Merkel made the remarks when asked about a media report that Italy's anti-establishment 5-Star Movement and far-right League had planned to ask the European Central Bank to forgive 250 billion euros ($296 billion) of Italian debt.

An Italian governing coalition of two parties generally seen as hostile to the euro took power on Friday, calming markets that had been spooked by the possibility of a new election that might have effectively become a referendum on whether to leave the single currency.

"I will approach the new Italian government openly and work with it instead of speculating about its intentions," Merkel told the paper in an interview published on Sunday.

EUROPEAN MONETARY FUND

Merkel has offered her most detailed response to French President Emmanuel Macron's ideas for reforming Europe, seeking to avert a damaging rift with Paris at a time of high anxiety over Italy and growing transatlantic tensions.

The French president's office welcomed Merkel's comments, saying it was a positive move testifying to the European commitment of the German chancellor.

Merkel supported the idea of turning the euro zone's ESM rescue fund into a European Monetary Fund (EMF) with powers to give members hit by sovereign debt troubles short-term credit lines.

Story continues

Macron wants a future EMF to act as a buffer in any future financial crises in the bloc, which was nearly torn apart in a debt crisis in 2009.

Merkel, who has faced criticism for not responding quickly and clearly to Macron's proposals made in September, said the bailout fund, know as the European Stability Mechanism (ESM), was not sufficient to shield the euro zone from crisis.

The EMF would complement other measures to strengthen the euro, including a banking and capital markets union, she said.

Germany has been demanding clarity on parameters for reducing risks in the banking sector before progress can be made toward completing a banking union through a deposit insurance scheme. Merkel did not say if her concerns had been addressed.

"If the whole euro zone is in danger, the EMF must be able to grant long-term credit in order to help countries," Merkel told the paper. "Such loans would be spread over 30 years and be conditioned on sweeping structural reforms."

She added: "In addition I can imagine the possibility of a credit line that is short-term, five years for example. As such, we would be able to take under our wing countries that get into difficulties because of extraordinary circumstances."

A French government source said, however, that more work still needed to be done for an "ambitious agreement on the monetary union".

'PLEASING'

Merkel's comments were welcomed by the Social Democrats (SPD), junior coalition partners of her conservative bloc in a right-left coalition that took power earlier this year after an election in September.

"This is very pleasing," SPD leader Andrea Nahles told the ARD public broadcaster. "Those are totally new notes from Mrs. Merkel."

The SPD have been critical of the conservatives' focus on austerity in the euro zone and had pressed Merkel to engage more actively with Macron on his reform proposals.

Merkel also said a future EMF would be organised on an intergovernmental basis and national parliaments of member countries would have oversight.

Lawmakers from Merkel's conservative bloc have been cold to Macron's proposal, saying they are wary that his call for more solidarity could see German taxpayers' money used to fund profligate member states.

The chancellor also said she backed an investment budget for the euro zone, which would be in the low two-digit billions of euros that would be introduced step by step and evaluated over time to address structural weaknesses of member states.

In another nod to Macron, Merkel said she had a "positive view" of his joint European military intervention force. "In the future we will have to react to the challenges that we are faced with," she said.

Merkel on Saturday congratulated Italian Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte in a phone call on Saturday and invited him for talks in Berlin, her office said.

Conte, a little-known 53-year-old law professor, was sworn in on Friday, ending three months of political deadlock in the wake of inconclusive March 4 elections.

Merkel said she was willing to discuss with the new Italian government ways to boost employment rates among young people in Italy.

(Writing by Joseph Nasr, additional reporting by Holger Hansen and Noah Barkin; Editing by Hugh Lawson/Rosalba O'Brien/David Evans)
Lets check out the Yahoo Finance charts of the day.

Microsoft (MSFT): Shares are up in early trade, at around .57%. The tech giant announced an agreement to acquire software developer platform GitHub for $7.5 billion in stock.

Whirlpool (WHR): Shares rising here, at 3.4%. Credit Suisse upgrades Whirlpool Corporation to Outperform amid positive U.S. tailwinds.

MGM Resorts (MGM): Shares down here, around .13%. A tentative agreement has been reached between casino-hotel workers and MGM Resorts, covering nearly half of the 50,000 employees threatening to strike in Las Vegas.

For more on todays big stock movers, check out the Final Round, live at 3:55 p.m. ET, right here on Yahoo Finance.
China has reacted angrily to Washingtons demand that it reveal how many people were killed in the Tiananmen Square massacre.

Ahead of the 29th anniversary of the protests in central Beijing, U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said on Sunday how he remembered the tragic loss of innocent lives, and that the ghosts of June 4 have not yet been laid to rest.

He was referring to the day in 1989 when the Chinese government sent in tanks to quell student-led pro-democracy protests in central Beijing. Human rights groups estimated a death toll ranging from several hundred to several thousand.

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REUTERS/Arthur Tsang

We join others in the international community in urging the Chinese government to make a full public accounting of those killed, detained or missing, Pompeo said, according to Reuters.

The Tiananmen crackdown is a taboo subject in China, and nearly three decades on it is a major point of dispute between Beijing and the West.

In response, Chinas foreign spokeswoman Hua Chunying said it had lodged stern representations with the United States, which it accused of gratuitous criticism.

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The U.S. Secretary of State has absolutely no qualifications to demand the Chinese government do anything, Hua said, according to Reuters.

Pompeos comments came at a time of simmering tension between Washington and Beijing, the latter of which was smarting over U.S. President Donald Trump's plans to slap tariffs on its steel and aluminum.

Tens of thousands of people are expected to gather later in Hong Kong, the only place in China where public commemorations take place, to mark the anniversary.

Story continues

The Tiananmen Mothers, representing the families of those who died, said in its annual letter addressed to Chinese President Xi Jinping: Such a powerful proletarian dictatorship apparatus is afraid of us: The old, the sick, and the weakest and most vulnerable of our society.

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China director at Human Rights Watch, Sophie Richardson, said Chinese authorities were trying to stop commemorations of the Tiananmen crackdown by arresting a number of activists.

The only way to remove this stain on China is to own up to it, she said.

Meanwhile, the hashtag #Tankman2018 backs up a campaign started by the Chinese artist and cartoonist Badiucao, and refers to the protester who famously faced off against the tanks in 1989.

Badiucao said "Tank Man" represented something lost in Chinas young generation nowthe idealism, passion, sense of responsibility and confidence that an individual can make a change, he said, according to The Guardian, which also reported that Chinese state media and officials made no mention of the anniversary.

This article was first written by Newsweek

More from Newsweek
Monday, June 4, 2018

What to watch today

In the week ahead, the earnings calendar will be fairly quiet with no major companies set to report results, though investors will get quarterly updates from Conns (CONN), Palo Alto Networks (PANW), HD Supply Holdings (HDS), Okta (OKTA), Verifone (PAY), J M Smucker (SJM), Vail Resorts (MTN), and Stitch Fix (SFIX).

And on the economics side the biggest reports expected in the week ahead will be the latest report on job openings due out Tuesday and the April report on the trade balance expected for release on Wednesday morning. Amid President Donald Trumps continued moves on trade policy and insistence that the U.S. close the trade deficit with many major trading partners, expect Wednesdays report to get a bit more attention that usual.

Read More

Top news

REUTERS/Ben Nelms

Trade tensions intensify with Trump and allies set for showdown: President Donald Trump is headed for a showdown with Americas allies at a Group of Seven summit this week in Quebec, with the European Union and Canada threatening retaliatory measures unless he reverses course on new steel and aluminum levies. China, meanwhile, is warning it will withdraw commitments it made on trade if the president carries out a separate threat to impose tariffs on the Asian country.[Bloomberg]

Microsoft agreed to acquire GitHub: Microsoft Corp. (MSFT) has agreed to acquire GitHub Inc., the code repository company popular with many software developers, and could announce the deal as soon as Monday, according to people familiar with the matter. Terms of the agreement werent known. GitHub was last valued at $2 billion in 2015. [Bloomberg]

GMs rebuilt finance arm may be a profit driver: General Motors Co. (GM) is counting on a profit boost from an unlikely source: its in-house lending arm. The nations largest auto maker by sales used to run one of the nations largest banks, General Motors Acceptance Corp. GM was forced to give up control of GMAC over the past decade, as both car company and lender careened toward federal bailouts in 2008 and 2009. But now, the rebuilt vehicle-finance unit, called GM Financial, has emerged as a budding profit driver. [The Wall Street Journal]

Story continues

Facebook defends report about it sharing user data: Facebook Inc. (FB) is disputing a New York Times report about how it shares data with device makers from Apple AAPL)and Amazon (AMZN) to Samsung. Theyre privy to Facebook users information but its nothing like the access that led to the Cambridge Analytica controversy, the social network said. The New York Times reported Facebook had struck deals with device manufacturers that allowed them full access to information on users and their friends. [Bloomberg]

What to expect from Apples huge developers conference: Apples (AAPL) Worldwide Developers Conference kicks off June 4, and well be covering all of the news live on the ground. Apple is notoriously secretive, but leaks are inevitable. So weve scoured the internet for the biggest rumors and speculation surrounding the developers conference to give you the clearest picture of what Apple is likely to show off. [Yahoo Finance]

For more of the latest news, go to Yahoo Finance

A theropod, a carnivorous dinosaur skeleton is displayed during his installation on the first floor of the Eiffel Tower prior to be sold on auction by Aguttes. This skeleton, 8.7 meters long and 2.6 meters high, discovered in the state of Wyoming, in the western United States, by a team of British paleontologists will be sold on June 4 by the auction house Aguttes, it is estimated between 1.2 and 1.8 million euros. (Photo by Chesnot/Getty Images)

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Berlin (AFP) - Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu embarks Monday on a three-day European tour in Germany set to be dominated by strategic differences on Iran, as leaders attempt to rescue the nuclear deal after US withdrawal.

With partners in Berlin, Paris and London still reeling from President Donald Trump's decision last month to exit the hard-fought 2015 accord, Netanyahu is expected to seek European cooperation on a still-to-be-determined Plan B.

"The aim to prevent Iran from developing any kind of nuclear capacity was always the foundation of international policy on Iran," Israel's ambassador to Germany, Jeremy Issacharoff, told AFP ahead of the visit.

Issacharoff said that despite "differences of opinion" on how to achieve the aim of hemming in Iran on nuclear matters, "we share the same goal".

Germany, France and Britain are three of the signatories of the 2015 Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) between world powers and Iran, aimed at keeping Tehran from acquiring nuclear weapons.

Netanyahu, who has railed against the deal which offers sanctions relief in exchange for strict limits on Iran's nuclear activities, will hold talks with Chancellor Angela Merkel in Berlin in the late afternoon, followed by a joint news conference.

He will continue on to Paris for meetings with French President Emmanuel Macron on Tuesday and British Prime Minister Theresa May on Wednesday.

- 'Not perfect' -

In the face of the US retreat, all three leaders strongly defend the agreement as the best way to head off a regional arms race and have vowed with Russia and China, the two other signatory countries, to keep it alive.

German Foreign Minister Heiko Maas huddled with his Chinese counterpart Wang Yi on Thursday and insisted that Berlin "wants to maintain the nuclear agreement and make sure Iran maintains it too".

At the same news conference, Wang launched an unvarnished attack on US reliability in global affairs under Trump.

Story continues

"It is a truism of international law that international accords must be respected... (and) major countries must set an example, not do the opposite," he said.

Supporters also fear the reimposition of US sanctions could hit European firms that have done business with Iran since the accord was signed.

Merkel has acknowledged that while European powers see the JCPOA as the best guarantee against an Iran with nuclear weapons, it is "not perfect".

The Europeans have proposed hammering out a supplementary deal with Tehran covering its ballistic missile programme as well as its interventions in countries such as Lebanon, Syria, Iraq and Yemen.

Western powers view Iran's meddling as destabilising for the region while Israel sees it as a direct threat to its existence.

"I will discuss with them ways to block Iran's nuclear aspirations and Iran's expansion in the Middle East," Netanyahu said last week of his European meetings, noting the issues were "crucial to Israel's security".

Israel is considered the leading military power in the Middle East and believed to be the only country in the region to possess nuclear weapons.

- Far-right 'minimising Holocaust' -

The visit to Germany, traditionally Israel's closest European ally due to the enduring responsibility Berlin accepts for the Holocaust, comes at a time of further diplomatic tensions.

Merkel has repeatedly criticised expanding Israeli settlements in occupied Palestinian territory as destructive to long-thwarted hopes for a two-state solution.

However Berlin has defended Israel's right to retaliate against rocket attacks from Gaza amid the worst military flare-up in the beleaguered Palestinian enclave since a 2014 war.

Meanwhile Merkel has vowed in recent months to fight a resurgence of anti-Semitism in Germany stemming from homegrown extremists and the massive influx of Muslim asylum seekers since the refugee crisis of 2015.

Alexander Gauland, a leader of the far-right Alternative for Germany, the biggest opposition party in parliament, unleashed a storm of protest at the weekend when he described the Nazi period and the Holocaust as little more than a "speck of bird shit in over 1,000 years of successful German history".
Berlin (AFP) - Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu warned German Chancellor Angela Merkel Monday that Iranian meddling in the Middle East could touch off massive new refugee flows to Europe, as they clashed about the future of the nuclear deal with Tehran.

At the start of a three-day European tour dominated by strategic differences on Iran, Netanyahu charged that Tehran has been able to bankroll a growing military presence in countries such as Syria and Yemen because sanctions had been lifted in exchange for its halt in nuclear enrichment activities.

Iran wants to "basically conduct a religious campaign in largely Sunni Syria but try to convert Sunnis," he said at a joint press conference with Merkel.

"This will inflame another religious war -- this time a religious war inside Syria and the consequences will be many, many more refugees and you know where exactly they will come," he said.

More than one million asylum seekers, with Syrians making up the biggest group, arrived in Germany since 2015, creating deep new political divisions in the country and shrinking Merkel's ruling majority in her fourth term.

Germany, France and Britain are three of the signatories of the 2015 Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) between world powers and Iran, aimed at keeping Tehran from acquiring nuclear weapons.

Netanyahu, who has long railed against the deal, will continue on to Paris for meetings with French President Emmanuel Macron on Tuesday and British Prime Minister Theresa May on Wednesday.

All three countries have vowed to try to salvage the hard-fought accord since President Donald Trump announced the US withdrawal from it last month.

The European powers argue it is the best way to head off a regional arms race and have vowed with Russia and China, the two other signatory countries, to keep it alive.

- 'Malignant cancerous tumour' -

Merkel insisted that the Europeans and Israel were "united by the goal that Iran must never get a nuclear weapon" but acknowledged deep differences with Netanyahu on "how we can best achieve this".

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She defended the nuclear accord as ensuring "at least for a certain time, that Iran's activities are under control" noting that Tehran had been "on the brink of having a nuclear weapon" before the deal was signed.

But she acknowledged that a supplementary deal with Tehran covering its ballistic missile programme as well as its interventions in countries such as Lebanon, Syria, Iraq and Yemen was needed.

"But we believe that this can be achieved with tough negotiations," she said.

Asked about Iranian supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei's comments on Twitter Sunday calling Israel a "malignant cancerous tumour", Merkel said Germany and its partners had "repeatedly and with great clarity told Iran that we will stand up for Israel's right to security".

Western powers view Iran's involvement in its neighbours' affairs as destabilising for the region while Israel sees it as a direct threat to its existence.

Foes Iran and Israel have been kept at bay for decades. However, an unprecedented May 10 escalation in Syria that saw Israel bomb alleged Iranian targets after blaming Tehran for a rocket barrage has sparked fears of open war.

Israel is considered the leading military power in the Middle East and believed to be the only country in the region to possess nuclear weapons.

- Far-right 'minimising Holocaust' -

The visit to Germany, traditionally Israel's closest European ally due to the enduring responsibility Berlin accepts for the Holocaust, comes at a time of further diplomatic tensions.

Merkel has repeatedly criticised expanding Israeli settlements in occupied Palestinian territory as destructive to long-thwarted hopes for a two-state solution.

She nevertheless defended Israel's right to retaliate against rocket attacks from Gaza amid the worst military flare-up in the beleaguered Palestinian enclave since a 2014 war.

Netanyahu thanked Merkel for her efforts to fight a resurgence of anti-Semitism in Germany stemming from homegrown extremists and the massive influx of Muslim asylum seekers since 2015.

Alexander Gauland, a leader of the far-right Alternative for Germany, the biggest opposition party in parliament, unleashed a storm of protest at the weekend when he described the Nazi period and the Holocaust as little more than a "speck of bird shit in over 1,000 years of successful German history".
Paris (AFP) - The president of Niger accused foreign NGOs of making an "unjustified fuss" over 26 civil society activists who have been held since March after a banned demonstration in Niamey.

"I would like to reassure you, Madam; Niger is a democratic country" which upholds "the rule of law," President Mahamadou Issoufou told a Radio France International journalist after meeting his French counterpart Emmanuel Macron.

"RFI, please don't apply double standards: be objective," he continued. "We're not asking you to support us, and we're not asking you to drag us down."

The majority of the 26 detainees were arrested on March 25 after protesting new taxes they consider antisocial, which led to clashes with police.

Amnesty International and Oxfam were among 10 NGOs calling for their release and "an end to their prosecutions" last month.

But Issoufou said the activists had flouted a ban against protesting at midnight when authorities were unable to ensure security "in the current situation".

"We applied the law," he said, claiming "the same thing would have been done in Paris, Washington, Rome, Berlin or London."

He also declared himself "a convinced democrat", assuring that he would not seek a new term in 2021 after being re-elected to a second and final term in 2016.

Regarding his country's participation in the G5 Sahel force to combat Islamic militants across the region, Issoufou called for increased funding for the 5,000-member force.

France has helped garner pledges totalling 420 million euros ($490 million) to pay for the soldiers from Niger alongside Burkina Faso, Chad, Mali and Mauritania.

"The 420 million euros will finance the force for a year," he said.

"We need to be thinking about looking for sources of financing for the other years."

Issoufou also said two aid workers taken hostage were still alive, saying they were probably being held in Mali.

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Jorg Lange, a German, was seized in April in western Niger, before being taken north toward Mali.

An American, Jeffery Woodke, was kidnapped in October 2016 in the Tahoua region, about 350 kilometres (215 miles) northwest of Niamey.

"We've had news, we know they are alive," Issoufou told France 24 television later Monday. "We continue to work at creating the conditions for their release."
South Koreas Defence Minister Song Young-moo, Japan's Defence Minister Itsunori Onodera and US Secretary of Defence James Mattis shake hands - AFP

General James Mattis, the US defence secretary, warned on Sunday of a "bumpy road" to the negotiating table with Kim Jong-un as nuclear talks with North Korea, tentatively scheduled later this month, still appear to hang in the balance.

He cautioned against high expectations ahead of the highly anticipated June 12th meeting, days after President Donald Trump announced the cancelled meeting in Singapore was once again going ahead, calling it a "getting to know you meeting".

Gen Mattis has spent the last few days in Singapore shoring up support from allies before of the historic meeting, seen by the US as the first step towards denuclearising the Korean Peninsula.

"We can anticipate, at best, a bumpy road to the negotiations," he said speaking at the beginning of a meeting with his South Korean and Japanese counterparts on Sunday, the final day of the Shangri-La Dialogue security conference.

"In this moment, we are steadfastly committed to strengthening even further our defense cooperation as the best means for preserving the peace.

"As defence ministers we must maintain a strong collaborative defensive stance so we enable our diplomats to negotiate from a calm position of strength in this critical time."

His remarks came as Bashar al-Assad, the Syrian president, said he plans to visit Kim in North Korea.

"I am going to visit the DPRK and meet... Kim Jong-un," Assad said, the North's state-run KCNA news agency reported, using the abbreviated version of the country's official name.

"The world welcomes the remarkable events in the Korean peninsula brought about recently by the outstanding political calibre and wise leadership of... Kim Jong-un," KCNA cited Assad as saying during a meeting with North Korean Ambassador Mun Jong Nam on Wednesday.

United Nations monitors have accused North Korea of cooperating with Syria on chemical weapons, a charge the North denies.

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Sanctions have been levied against North Korea by bodies and countries including the European Union, Japan, South Korea, the UN and the US since 2006.

Gen Mattis reiterated that North Korea would only receive relief from crippling US sanctions when there is irrefutable evidence that the country's nuclear programme is being dismantled.

"We will continue to implement all UN Security Council resolutions on North Korea. North Korea will receive relief only when it demonstrates verifiable and irreversible steps to denuclearisation."

North Koreas fiery relationship with the US

Ahead of the summit, the key task remains agreement on the agenda with the main stumbling block likely to be the understanding of the term "denuclearisation".

Both sides say they are in favour of it, but there is a gap between their definitions.

Washington wants North Korea to quickly give up all its nuclear weapons in a verifiable way in return for lifting years of crippling economic sanctions imposed after it conducted its first nuclear test in 2006.

But analysts say North Korea will be unwilling to cede its nuclear deterrent unless it is given guarantees that the US will not try to topple the regime.

The retired army general's tough talk came after the usually bombastic Mr Trump remained uncharacteristically cautious in his ambitions for the talks.

"I think itll be a process... I never said it goes in one meeting. I think its going to be a process. But the relationships are building, and thats a very positive thing," Mr Trump said on Friday.
By Idrees Ali SINGAPORE (Reuters) - U.S. Defense Secretary Jim Mattis said on Sunday North Korea will receive relief only after it takes clear and irreversible steps to end its nuclear program, adding it would be a bumpy road to a summit between U.S. and North Korean leaders. The comments sought to address concern the United States may be rushing to strike a breakthrough in the unprecedented summit between the two leaders after U.S. President Donald Trump put the meeting back on track for June 12 in Singapore. "We can anticipate, at best, a bumpy road to the (negotiations)," Mattis said at the start of a meeting with his South Korean and Japanese counterparts on the sidelines of Shangri-la dialogue in Singapore. "We will continue to implement all U.N Security Council resolutions on North Korea. North Korea will receive relief only when it demonstrates verifiable and irreversible steps to denuclearization," Mattis added. Trump said on Friday he would hold the meeting with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un on June 12 in a dramatic turn of course in the high stakes diplomacy aimed at ending Pyongyang's nuclear weapons program. Eight days after cancelling the summit citing Pyongyang's "hostility", Trump announced the decision to go ahead with the meeting after hosting Kim's envoy in the White House, saying he expected "very positive result" with North Korea. North Korea's nuclear weapons program has been a source of major security tensions that persisted despite a series of U.N. and U.S. sanctions and it has also demonstrated advances in ballistic missile technology that experts believe now threatens the U.S. mainland. Japanese Defense Minister Itsunori Onodera said that while the solution to the North Korean nuclear crisis must be diplomatic, the defense cooperation among the United States and its Asian allies was key to bringing it about. "Japan, Korea and the U.S. continue to agree that pressure is needed to be applied on North Korea," Onodera told reporters after his meeting with Mattis and South Korean Defense Minister Song Young-moo on the sidelines of the Shangri-la Dialogue. Despite a long-standing security alliance between the United States and Japan, some people in Japan worry that the United States may cut a deal to protect its cities from nuclear attack by the North, while leaving Japan vulnerable. North Korea has conducted six nuclear tests starting in 2006 but has declared it would no longer need such tests. In May, it invited foreign journalists to witness what it said was the demolition of its nuclear test site. The Trump administration wants the North to "denuclearize", meaning to get rid of its nuclear arsenal, in return for relief from economic sanctions. But North Korea's leadership is believed to regard nuclear weapons as crucial to its survival and has rejected unilaterally disarming. Trump said one thing that could come out of the summit is an agreement formally ending the 1950-53 Korean War, which was concluded only with a truce, not a peace treaty. (Reporting by Idrees Ali; Writing by Jack Kim; Editing by Robert Birsel)
North Korea has replaced its top three military officials ahead of a planned summit with President Donald Trump in Singapore, South Koreas Yonhap news agency reports.

Citing an intelligence source, Yonhap named the outgoing officials as defense minister Pak Yong Sik, Ri Myong Su, the Korean Peoples Armys (KPA) chief of the general staff, and Kim Jong Gak, director of the KPAs General Political Bureau and former defense minister. The latters replacement was announced in North Korean state media last month.

The North appears to have brought in new figures amid the changes in inter-Korean relations and the situation on the Korean Peninsula as the previous officials lacked flexibility in thinking, the intelligence official told Yonhap, in particular identifying No Kwang-chol, the new defense minister, as a moderate.

The shuffle was confirmed by an anonymous U.S. official, who did not identify the outgoing figures, Reuters reports.

The shakeup could also represent a generational transition  all of the newly appointed officials are younger than their predecessors  or an effort by North Korean leader Kim Jong Un to consolidate his command of the military ahead of the summit, according to Reuters.

The historic meeting has been on shaky ground in recent weeks, with Trump canceling late last month and alleging tremendous anger and open hostility from his North Korean counterparts. North Korea had threatened to withdraw over concerns that planned negotiations would reflect a one-sided agenda focusing only on North Korean denuclearization.

In a dramatic turnaround last week, Trump announced that the summit would go ahead on June 12, and hosted high-ranking North Korean official Kim Yong Chol in Washington.
By Josh Smith and John Walcott SEOUL/WASHINGTON (Reuters) - North Korea's top three military officials have been removed from their posts, a senior U.S. official said, a move analysts said on Monday could support efforts by the North's young leader to jump-start economic development and engage with the world. Kim Jong Un is preparing for a high-stakes summit with U.S. President Donald Trump in Singapore on June 12, the first such meeting between a North Korean leader and a sitting U.S. president. The U.S. official, who spoke on Sunday on condition of anonymity, was commenting on a report by South Korea's Yonhap news agency that all three of the North's top military officials were believed to have been replaced. Kim's motivation remains unclear but analysts said the shake-up allows him and the ruling party to tighten control over the Korean People's Army (KPA) at a critical time of international engagement and domestic development. "If Kim Jong Un is set on making peace with the U.S. and South Korea and dealing away at least part of the nuclear program, he will have to put the KPAs influence in a box and keep it there," said Ken Gause, director of the International Affairs Group at CNA, a non-profit research and analysis organization. "This reshuffle has brought to the fore the officers who can do just that. They are loyal to Kim Jong Un and no one else." Trump revived the Singapore summit on Friday after cancelling it a week earlier. SOME DISSENT The United States is seeking a negotiated end to North Korea's nuclear weapons program and U.S. officials believe there was some dissension in the military about Kim's approaches to South Korea and the United States. Trump wants North Korea to "denuclearize", or get rid of its nuclear arsenal, in return for relief from economic sanctions. North Korea's leadership is believed to regard nuclear weapons as crucial to its survival, while Kim has said he plans to focus on economic development. The U.S. official did not identify the three ousted military officials. Citing an unidentified intelligence official, Yonhap said No Kwang Chol, first vice minister of the Ministry of People's Armed Forces, had replaced Pak Yong Sik as defense chief, while Ri Myong Su was replaced by his deputy, Ri Yong Gil. North Korean state media previously confirmed that Army General Kim Su Gil had replaced Kim Jong Gak as director of the KPA's General Political Bureau. The White House, State Department, CIA and Office of the Director of National Intelligence did not respond immediately to requests for official comment. South Korea's unification and defense ministries declined to confirm the report, while an official at the Unification Ministry said the government was watching the North's leadership very closely. South Korean foreign minister Kang Kyung-hwa had a 15-minute phone call with U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo on Monday to discuss the upcoming summit between Kim and Trump, the foreign ministry in Seoul said. ECONOMIC FACTORS, PARTY CONTROL Given the military's secondary role in the North's nuclear and missile programs, the moves are likely more about installing a younger, even more trusted cohort of officials who Kim Jong Un can rely on as he confronts a variety of domestic and international issues, said Michael Madden, a North Korea expert at Johns Hopkins Universitys 38 North website. "The nuclear weapons are a side issue," he said. The moves are likely linked in part to Kim Jong Un's drive to have the military take a bigger role in critical infrastructure projects. That could explain why newly appointed director of the KPA's General Political Bureau, Army General Kim Su Gil, accompanied Kim Jong Un on a field guidance trip to a beach tourist zone with other officials, Madden said. Kim Jong Un is also likely expecting to receive more international economic aid and investment soon as part of the ongoing talks and he wants to prevent corruption that plagued some past projects, Madden said. All of the newly promoted officials are younger than their predecessors, including 63-year-old Ri Yong Gil, who is 21 years younger than Ri Myong Su. "This points to two things: the consolidation of Kim Jong Un's power as the sole leader of North Korea and strengthened cooperation between the North's party and military as the country works towards further economic development," said Yang Moo-jin, professor at the University of North Korean Studies in Seoul. "They're all young but capable people," Yang said. Lower-level U.S.-North Korean talks to prepare for the summit are continuing but have made only "halting progress", according to a second U.S. official briefed on the discussions. That official said U.S. negotiators' efforts to press for definitions of immediate, comprehensive, verifiable and irreversible denuclearization by North Korea had run into opposition from the White House. In a remarkable shift in tone eight days after cancelling the summit, citing Pyongyang's "open hostility", Trump welcomed North Korea's former intelligence chief, Kim Yong Chol, to the White House on Friday, exchanging smiles and handshakes. Yonhap reported that Kim Yong Chol had transited Beijing on Monday on his way back to Pyongyang from the United States. All three of the new military officials have at least some experience interacting with foreign delegations, a factor that is critical as Kim seeks to line up meetings with leaders from the United States, China, Russia, and Syria. "They are shaping these guys up because there is going to be a lot of foreign interaction," Madden said. "They know to sit there and not get too drunk at the parties ... they know how to behave themselves." (Additional reporting by Christine Kim, Haejin Choi, and Joyce Lee in Seoul; Writing by Arshad Mohammed; Editing by Peter Cooney and Paul Tait)
As the off-again, on-again talks between President Donald Trump and North Koreas Kim Jong-Un finally seem to be approaching, another brutal American adversary with a penchant for banned weaponsBashar Assad of Syriahas all but vanished from the headlines and the cable news chyrons. It was less than two months ago that chlorine bombs possibly mixed with a nerve agent rained down on the Damascus suburb of Douma, killing more than 40 people and injuring hundreds, and triggering missile strikes on Syrian military targets. And then the world moved on. With tweets and leaks setting the frenetic pace of the daily news agenda, Syria is ancient history.

The Douma chemical attack on April 7 was a part of a depressingly predictable cycle in a conflict in which no horror has been spared. Assad has used chemical weapons dozens of timespossibly as many as 200in a war that has killed hundreds of thousands of civilians with conventional weapons. Time and again, outrage, condemnation and threats follow. Trumps furious reaction stood out for his blunt criticism of Assads allies and his allies, Russia and Iran. President Putin, Russia and Iran are responsible for backing Animal Assad. Big price he wrote on Twitter. Yet only twicelast year and again in Mayhas rhetoric translated into a military response.

To be sure, there are few good options in the brutal conflict that began during the Arab Spring in 2011. Assads flagrant disregard of his obligations under the Chemical Weapons Convention, the 192-nation treaty he joined in 2013 that bans chemical weapons, is just one of many humanitarian failures in the war.

But Trump fortunately has a potential source of leverage over Syrias chemical weapons: the talks with Kim Jong Un, which appear to be back on track. North Korea, which is not a signatory to the Chemical Weapons Convention, has long supported Syrias weapons program with expertise, technology and equipment. Although North Korea denies that is the case, at least one Syrian defector had described North Koreas support, and details of transactions between the two countries were included in a recent U.N. report. And on Monday, North Korean state media reported that Assad plans to visit Kim Jong Unpotentially making him the first head of state to meet Kim inside North Korea.

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Syrian President Bashar Assad meets with North Korea's second leader, Kim Yong-Nam, in Damascus at the end of the latter's three-day visit to Syria 18 July 2002.

North Korea isnt just a proliferator; the regime considers chemical weapons a crucial part of its arsenal. Artillery regiments deployed along the Demilitarized Zone dividing the Korean Peninsula have chemical weapons aimed at South Korea that could unleash staggering casualties in Seoul. Last year, the regime advertised its ability to export chemical warfare and flout international norms when the regime was accused of using the nerve agent VX to assassinate Kims estranged half brother in Kuala Lumpur.

A little over a week ago, it seemed the nuclear summit was off. Trump canceled the talks after a North Korean official called Vice President Mike Pence ignorant and stupid for suggesting a Libya solution for North Koreas programgiving up nuclear arms in exchange for dropping sanctionsand another official threatened to pull out over similar comments from National Security Advisory John Bolton.

But after days of rapid-fire negotiation, it appears the talks are likely to proceed. North Koreas nuclear program will rightfully dominate the summit, but the meeting represents a rare opportunity to address chemical arms as well. Rather than relying on military strikes against Syria and potentially igniting a calamitous conflict involving Russia and Iran, Trump could use the summit to address all of North Koreas weapons of mass destruction, including its chemical proliferation and support for Assads program.

I think its fair to say that if it doesnt, in the end the negotiation will not be a success, Middle East expert Dennis Ross, distinguished fellow at the Washington Institute for Near East Policy who has served presidents from both parties, told me. A phone call between Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and Trump suggests that indeed, other weapons of mass destruction will be on the table as well. A White House summary of the call both specified that the U.S. and Japan had a shared imperative of achieving the complete and permanent dismantlement of North Koreas nuclear, chemical, and biological weapons and ballistic missile programs.

Syria and North Korea are not the only threats to the Chemical Weapons Convention. In an incident with chilling symmetry to the VX killing, Russia, which is a convention signatory, is almost certainly behind the attempted assassination of Sergei V. Skripal in Salisbury, England, with the nerve agent novichok. (A vigorous online effort to disprove the attack as a false flag sham notwithstanding.) Tit-for-tat diplomatic expulsions followed, but there have been no new sanctions against Russia.

That attack represents the first use of a chemical weapon in Europe since the Nazis used Zyklon B to murder Jews in World War II, and the first offensive deployment on the continent since World War I. Russia has denied that the attack in Douma even took place, an absurdly Orwellian argument that has taken root in the fecund spaces of the internet. Many arms experts see the April 14 airstrikes as a stern rebuke to Russia as well as Syria.

It is a perilous moment. Beyond the immediate crises in Syria and Salisbury, the Chemical Weapons Convention (CWC) is dangerously fragile. The Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW), the treatys compliance and oversight body, is admirably carrying out its difficult mission, but the OPCW is underfunded and understaffed, and increasingly riven by discord among state parties, according to arms experts. Moreover, Trumps withdrawal from the Iran nuclear deal, known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action, could well undermine other treaties like the CWC if the U.S. is seen as an unreliable treaty partner, and make it harder to strike a deal with Kim in North Korea.

If the dangerous situation today isnt persuasive, look to history. Todays fragile ban is a direct descendent of failed treaties intended to prevent gas warfare dating to before World War I. After Germany broke the taboo around chemical weapons in 1915, as well as the treaties forbidding them, all of the major combatants tumbled into a chemical arms race, including the United States, as I documented in my book Hellfire Boys. It took almost 80 years to stuff the furies of chemical warfare back into their bottle. Now, the taboo that has been in place since the end of World War I is fraying once more, disarmament experts warn.

While the April 15 airstrikes led by the U.S. carried the ring of decisiveness and strength and could deter future attacks, they will likely have little influence on Syrias ongoing violations of the Chemical Weapons Convention. In addition, some critics of the retaliatory airstrikes have rightfully questioned the logic in responding to an individual attack when Assad has used chemical weapons so frequently without triggering a sustained U.S. military response. Sadly, Assads well-documented brutality is not the only factor in the calculus for action, and comparing conventional and chemical warfareapplying a hierarchy of cruelty, if you willprovides little clarity. Rather, the impetus for action hinges on the application of international law and a broader threat of proliferation beyond Syria.

That pressure could come from Pyongyang, Syrias chemical weapons patron. In April, Kim said North Korea would halt nuclear tests and missile launches, and after meeting with South Korea, agreed to complete denuclearization. That could open the door to stopping chemical warfare proliferation, too. With so much pressure upon the Chemical Weapons Convention, President Trump has a window to try to clamp off the chemical pipeline between North Korea and Syria. It would not be easy, and nor would it stop Syrias bloody war or hold Assad accountable for his crimes. But it might slow or stop the spread of noxious weapons beyond North Koreas borders.

I think that if Trump would miss an opportunity if he didnt try to expand on that to cover WDMs more broadly, Kelsey Davenport, director for non-proliferation policy at the DC-based Arms Control Association, told me. I absolutely think the United States should press that opportunity.
Heres a look at some of the companies the Yahoo Finance team will be watching for you today.

Nvidia (NVDA) is making a big dive into artificial intelligence with two new products designed to power autonomous robots. The company says its Isaac software will make it easier to develop and train robots. And it says the Jetson Xavier computer system is more powerful than a $10,000 workstation, at a fraction of the price.

Amazon (AMZN) is getting a new prime target for its stock  $2,000. Analyst Youssef Squali from Suntrust Robinson Humphrey says the best is yet to come for Amazon, and he predicts strong growth in the companys private label sales. Amazons stock is up more than 40% year-to-date.

One of the biggest names in agriculture will soon be no more. Bayer says it will retire the Monsanto (MON) name later this week, when it closes on a $63 billion takeover deal. Monsantos former operations will be rebranded as Bayer, though product names will remain. Monsanto has long been a focus of criticism by environmentalists over its use of genetically modified seeds.

And labor peace is coming to Las Vegas. MGM Resorts (MGM) has reached a deal with a union representing nearly 24,000 hotel workers. The 5-year contract will cover members of the culinary union at 10 resorts, including the Bellagio, MGM Grand and the Mirage. Details of the contract have not been made public. The union on Friday also reached a deal to hold off a strike at Caesars.
Army Sgt. Nicholas Casey died during an Afghanistan mission in October 2008, a victim of a suicide bomber. Caseys brother Scott has shared a letter Ohio State defensive end wrote to Caseys family this year:

If this isn't the coolest thing ever pic.twitter.com/3BhDUUSh8p  Sam Casey (@SamEC37) June 2, 2018

The fact that I am able to get up without questioning my security makes me unbelievably proud to be an American and thankful to have brave heroic people like Nicholas watching over me, Bosa wrote.

Bosa, the younger brother of the Los Angeles Chargers Joey Bosa, is expected to be one of the more notable college players in the 2018 season.

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Jay Busbee is a writer for Yahoo Sports. Contact him at jay.busbee@yahoo.com or find him on Twitter or on Facebook.

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Dubai has become the first city in the Middle East region and 24th in the world to be declared as the Creative City of Design by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (Unesco).



The announcement regarding the selection of Dubai as the first Creative City of Design in the Middle East within the Unesco Creative Cities Network (UCCN) came from Unesco during a press conference held yesterday (June 3) at the Youth Hub in the Emirates Towers.



The UCCN, founded in 2004, has currently 180 members from 72 countries covering creative fields such as arts and crafts, design, film, literature, and media arts. It was created to promote co-operation with and among cities that have identified creativity as a strategic factor for sustainable urban development.



The 180 cities work together towards a common objective: placing creativity and cultural industries at the heart of their development plans at the local level and cooperating actively at the international level.



Lauding the achievement, Dawood Abdulrahman Al Hajiri, the director-general of Dubai Municipality, said: "Yet another feather has been added to the cap of achievements of Dubai and we are grateful to HH Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, the Vice President, Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai, who instilled the can-do spirit in us and inspired us to attain higher purposes for our city."



"Thanks to His Highnesss UAE Vision 2021, Dubai accelerates development for a bright and successful future," he added.



Al Hajiri said the design was the process of finding creative solutions to problems in order to improve lives.



"Design is beyond the product; rather it is the framework by which problems are solved. It puts people and their needs first to convert trash into energy, improve quality of life, increase sustainability and promote happiness," he noted.



He pointed out that Dubai Municipality has had a long history with Unesco starting from the period when Dubai Creek was recognised as a Unesco World Heritage Site.



"Our Dubai citys history with Unesco reflects its deep-rooted concern and commitment to culture and heritage. Dubai Municipality continues to reinforce the vision of its pioneering leadership and community who together have proven time and time again that they are up to spreading the greatness of Dubai across the globe," stated the top official.



"Our support of Dubais bid to be the first Creative City of Design in the Middle East highlights our commitment to positioning it in the forefront of success and innovation, just like we supported Dubais bid to host the first World Expo in the Middle East and North Africa and South Asia in 2020," explained Al Hajiri.



On the global recognition, Mattar Al Tayer, the director-general and chairman of the board of directors of RTA, said that it marks the culmination of the vision of Sheikh Mohammed who has taken a proactive approach to innovation and creativity in Dubai's public and private sectors.-TradeArabia News Service
Today marks the anniversary of the landmark Olmstead v. United States wiretapping case decided by the Supreme Court, one of the first key cases in which the Court attempted to interpret the scope of the Fourth Amendment.

The decision centered on the ability of federal investigators to wiretap private conversations without a warrant, and the ability to use evidence from the wiretaps in court.

Roy Olmstead was a lieutenant on the Seattle police force who, like other officers, had a side job. In his case, Olmsteads part-time job was as the most successful bootlegger in the Pacific Northwest during Prohibition.

And it wasnt a small-scale operation. Olmstead brought in millions of dollars each year using a combination of modern business methods and his connections within the police force.

Olmsteads empire was ferreted out by a federal investigation that became a landmark in the annals of American law. A team spent months listening and noting his business calls, using a wiretapping system outside of his offices.

After his conviction, Olmsteads appeal made it to the Supreme Court on the grounds that the wiretapping act was a violation of his Fourth Amendment rights to be free from unreasonable search and seizure.

In a 5-4 verdict, the Supreme Court decided on June 4, 1928, that the warrantless wiretapping was permissible. Speaking for the majority, Chief Justice William Howard Taft said private telephone communications were no different from casual conversations overheard in a public place.

That decision was overturned in 1967 in Katz v. United States, which held that wiretapping a public pay phone was subject to warrant requirements and created the reasonable expectation of privacy test to determine what areas were constitutionally protected.

The more influential part of the opinion was Justice Louis D. Brandeiss dissent in Olmstead. Brandeis said there was no difference between wiretapping a pay phone and opening a sealed letter, and that the Founders had conferred against the government, the right to be let alone  the most comprehensive of rights and the right most favored by civilized men. Moreover, since the government acted unethically (it had violated the laws of the state of Washington which made wiretapping illegal) they should not be given assistance by the Court.

Brandeiss words articulating a constitutional right to be let alone would later be invoked by a majority of the Court nearly half a century later in Roe v. Wade.

After losing his appeal, Olmstead did a few years in prison, was later pardoned, and spent part of his remaining years as a Christian Science practitioner, working on programs about alcohol abstinence.
United Nations (United States) (AFP) - A UN peacekeeper from Tanzania was killed and seven others wounded when their patrol was ambushed by gunmen in the Central African Republic, UN officials said Monday.

UN spokesman Stephane Dujarric said gunmen believed to be from the Siriri militia attacked the UN patrol on Sunday in the village of Dilapoko in southwest Mambere-Kadei prefecture.

One of the wounded peacekeepers is in critical condition at a Bangui hospital while three others were seriously wounded, he added.

Three other peacekeepers from the MINUSCA mission are being treated in the local town of Berberati.

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres strongly condemned the attack, which brings to four the number of peacekeepers killed in the Central African Republic this year.

MINUSCA has 12,000 troops and police deployed in the impoverished country, which has been struggling since it exploded into bloodshed after the 2013 overthrow of longtime leader Francois Bozize.

CAR President Faustin-Archange Touadera governs with the support of the large UN peacekeeping operation, yet can only claim to control a fraction of the country.
Oregon Sen. Jeff Merkley (D) was barred from entering an immigration detention center in Texas and had the police called on him during his visit, according to a live video of the encounter posted to Facebook on Sunday evening.

Merkley traveled to the facility in Brownsville, called Casa Padre, to criticize a recent Trump administration policy that will likely result in more undocumented immigrant children being separated from their parents. Attorney General Jeff Sessions announced last month that the Justice Department would dramatically increase prosecutions of families who cross the U.S. border illegally, even if children would be removed from their parents during the process.

In the video, Merkley said he was going to try to tour the facility after his staff attempted to set up a meeting to do so last week. He can be seen walking up to the building, which he says is a former Walmart with blacked-out windows and locked doors, where he is told that he cant come in, but that her supervisor would come meet the senator outside.

Before the manager ventured out, however, police arrived. The supervisor later tells Merkley he cant give the lawmaker a statement and refers him to an outside phone number.

I was barred entry. Asked repeatedly to speak to a supervisorhe finally came out and said he cant tell us anything. Police were called on us.



Children should never be ripped from their families & held in secretive detention centers. RT if you agree this is WRONG. pic.twitter.com/GVCuXNjR8d  Senator Jeff Merkley (@SenJeffMerkley) June 4, 2018

The reason why I came is this new policy that the attorney general has in place of families that are waiting for the adjudication of their application for asylum in the U.S., and the children are being separated, Merkley tells police officers.

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We usually told ahead of time if anybody is going to come and visit us, the facilitys supervisor replied, before repeating that he wont tell the lawmaker anything.

Merkley said during the livestream that the center may currently be housing hundreds of refugee children who have been separated from their parents. No member of Congress has visited the facility, Merkley noted, which is being run by a nonprofit group called Southwest Key Programs.

Sessions has roundly defended his agencys new policy, saying it would deter illegal border crossings into the United States. Democrats, on the other hand, have roundly slammed the changes, although President Donald Trump blamed the party for the family separations last week even though it was his own administration that instituted the move.

If you are smuggling a child then we will prosecute you, and that child will be separated from you as required by law, Sessions said at a conference in Arizona last month regarding the enforcement. If you dont like that, then dont smuggle children over our border.

House Democrats have called on the Justice Department to end the new prosecutions. They sent a letter to Sessions and Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kirstjen Nielsen earlier this month urging the pair to end a practice antithetical not only to American values but to basic decency and humanity.

Mr. President, the only horrible law is YOUR policy. YOU have the power to change it. If you saw what I saw today, you would.



Never before has America deliberately inflicted cruelty on children to deter asylum seekers from finding refuge here. Never. And we never should. https://t.co/WRTUyNOesr  Senator Jeff Merkley (@SenJeffMerkley) June 4, 2018

We appreciate the Senators interest in the subject, and are happy to provide him with an understanding of the immigration process: DHS follows the laws passed by Congress and processes alien children safely and humanely. ... I encourage Senator Merkley to work with the administration to fix the underlying loopholes that act as a pull factor for illegal immigration and place these children at risk from smugglers and human traffickers, DHS press secretary Tyler Q. Houlton said Monday in a statement.

Watch the full video below:

This story has been updated with comment from DHS.

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Islamabad (AFP) - Pakistan's military hit back at mounting criticism of its long campaign against militancy and stressed its support for upcoming elections in a major public relations offensive on Monday.

The push comes one day after a rights group clashed with Taliban-linked militants in the country's northwest, sparking fresh claims the military was backing proxy forces based in Pakistan that are fighting in Afghanistan.

Sunday's fight between activists from the Pashtun Protection Movement (PTM) and miliants during a rally Sunday left at least two dead and dozens injured on the Afghan border, according to a local official.

PTM has been calling for investigations into disappearances and extrajudicial killings by Pakistan's security establishment, while also echoing accusations that the military allowed extremists a safe haven from which to launch attacks in Afghanistan.

But in a wide-ranging press conference, chief military spokesman Major General Asif Ghafoor slammed accusations that the country was harbouring militants and accused PTM of being manipulated by "enemies of Pakistan".

He went on to defend the conduct of Pakistan's fight against insurgents, noting that thousands had lost their lives in the country's battle against extremism.

"War is a cruel action and not a fair game, more than 70,000 Pakistanis and 16,000 soldiers have been killed and wounded in this war," said Ghafoor during a press conference in the garrison city of Rawalpindi.

Ghafoor was also at pains to emphasise the military's support for elections set in July, as tensions mount following the ousting of former prime minister Nawaz Sharif by the Supreme Court on corruption charges last year.

Since being removed from power Sharif has become increasingly confrontational with the military, repeatedly accusing them of unfairly targeting him and his Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz party.

Ghafoor said the military stood by Pakistan's political development ahead of what is likely to be only the second democratic transfer of power in the nation's 70-year history.

"There is nobody else happier than the army over the completion of parliament and government's tenure," Ghafoor said.

Pakistan has been under direct military rule for almost half of its existence, with at least 15 heads of states deposed before completing their term, often at the behest of the country's powerful armed forces.
Jerusalem (AFP) - A Palestinian armed with an axe was shot dead trying to breach the Gaza-Israel border on Monday, the Israeli army said.

An army statement said troops thwarted an "infiltration attempt" by "two terrorists who damaged the security fence and were armed with an axe."

Soldiers "fired towards the terrorists, killing one of them," it added, without saying what happened to the second suspect.

There was no immediate confirmation from the health ministry in Gaza.

Al-Aqsa TV, affiliated with Gaza's Islamist rulers Hamas, published a video of a group of young men at the border, some of them using wire cutters to breach the fence.

They then approach a military post and hurl what appears to be a petrol bomb at it, before running back into Gaza.

The video did not show anyone getting shot, but an eyewitness said one of the men was hit as he tried to flee, with the body taken by Israeli forces.

The video said the operation was revenge for the death of Razan al-Najjar, a 21-year-old female medic shot dead in southern Gaza on Friday.

The death brings to 125 the number of Palestinians killed by Israeli fire in Gaza since March 30.

The vast majority have been killed during weeks of protests along the border, while a few were killed while carrying out attacks or in air strikes.

Protests peaked on May 14 when at least 61 people were killed as tens of thousands approached the heavily fortified border in a demonstration coinciding with the controversial opening of the US embassy in Jerusalem.

No Israelis have been killed.

The Jewish state accuses Hamas of organising the protests and using them as an excuse to carry out attacks.
Paris (AFP) - Paris police on Monday began evacuating around 1,000 migrants from two makeshift camps in the city, five days after another 1,000 were taken to temporary lodgings.

The operation began at dawn at a camp along the Canal St Martin northeast of the city centre where an estimated 550 mainly Afghan migrants were staying, an AFP reporter said.

Another 450 people were being evacuated from a camp to the north at Porte de la Chapelle, police and city authorities said in a joint statement.

The St Martin Canal is near the site of a sprawling former camp by the Stalingrad Metro stop, which was cleared only to spring up again several times last year.

Claims for refugee status will be given a "complete and in-depth examination", the statement said.

Monday's operation comes less than a week after the dismantling of a camp along the Canal St Denis, north of the St Martin canal, where around 1,000 migrants mainly from Eritrea and Sudan had sheltered.

Concerns had grown in recent weeks over the conditions at the makeshift camps. One migrant drowned in the St Martin canal last month, while a brawl left a migrant seriously injured at the St Denis camp.

"They say we can stay in shelters for not very long, that we'll have three meals a day. That's good," said a migrant who gave his name only as Souleimane, wearing a rasta cap over his dreadlocks. "Life here was very, very difficult."

Many migrants hope for refugee status but may be facing expulsion under centrist President Emmanuel Macron's tougher approach to immigration.

Some have arrived in Paris from the northern port of Calais, where migrants have flocked for years hoping to stow away on trucks to Britain.

France received a record 100,000 asylum applications last year and offered refugee status to around 30,000 people, official figures show. Forced expulsions numbered 14,900.
The school resource officer forced to resign after he failed to engage the shooter during the Feb. 14 massacre at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida, has broken his silence.

Scot Peterson, 55, told The Washington Post that coping with the mass shooting, which left 17 people dead and 17 others injured, and his failure to mitigate the attack has been haunting him.

Ive cut that day up a thousand ways with a million different what-if scenarios, but the bottom line is I was there to protect, and I lost 17, Peterson told The Post.

Peterson, a former Broward County sheriffs deputy, has faced an intense backlash in the wake of the massacre. He resigned as Stoneman Douglas high schools armed resource officer in late February after videos showed he did not enter the school during the shooting.

In April, the father of one of the shooting victims filed a wrongful death lawsuit against Peterson, a 33-year law enforcement veteran.

I just want to expose what a coward [Peterson] was and that he couldve saved everybody on the third floor, Andrew Pollack, whose 18-year-old daughter Meadow was killed, told the Sun Sentinel. I dont want him to go anywhere in the country and not have people recognize what a coward he is.

Peterson has defended his conduct during the shooting, steadfastly denying that he did nothing as gunshots rang out in the school and noting that he hadnt been sure at the time whether the attack was happening inside or outside of the building.

Im getting on the radio to call in the shooting, Peterson told The Post, reliving his actions on that tragic day. Im locking down the school. Im clearing kids out of the courtyard. They have the video and the call logs. The evidence is sitting right there.

There wasnt even time to think, he added. It just happened, and I started reacting.

Petersons first TV interview since the attack is set to air Tuesday on NBCs Today show.

Knowing what I know today, I would have been in that building in a heartbeat, Peterson can be heard saying in a preview of the interview. It was my kids. Its just  I didnt know.

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Tomorrow on TODAY: Scot Peterson, the armed officer who never entered the school during the Parkland shooting, breaks his silence in an exclusive interview with @savannahguthrie pic.twitter.com/oNilEWiMJE  TODAY (@TODAYshow) June 4, 2018

Related...

Video Shows Parkland Deputy Never Entered School As Mass Shooting Happened Inside

Parkland Deputy Who Failed To Protect School Gets $100,000 Annual Pension

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President Rodrigo Duterte on Sunday told a United Nations rights expert to "go to hell" over criticism of the Philippine leader for threatening the country's top judge.

Duterte's latest profanity-laced diatribe came after Diego Garcia-Sayan, the UN special rapporteur on the independence of judges and lawyers, said the president's statements against former chief justice Maria Lourdes Sereno were a "vicious attack" on the judiciary.

Sereno's colleagues voted to remove her from office last month, shortly after Duterte openly called her his "enemy" and demanded her swift ouster.

"Tell him (Garcia-Sayan) not to interfere with the affairs of my country. He can go to hell," Duterte told reporters in Manila, insisting he had nothing to do with Sereno's dismissal.

"He is not a special person and I do not recognise his rapporteur title."

Duterte, 73, has lashed out in the past -- often using less-than-parliamentary language -- at critics of the deadly drug war he launched soon after coming to power in 2016.

Several of his opponents have since been ousted, punished or threatened.

Police say they have killed 4,279 drug suspects in the anti-narcotics campaign but rights groups believe the actual number is three times higher.

Sereno was one of the few remaining high-profile critics of the crackdown at the time of her ouster.

The UN's Garcia-Sayan said Friday that Duterte's public threats against Sereno appeared to have had a "chilling effect" on her colleagues in the judiciary.

"The use of such derogatory language... sends a clear message to all judges of the Philippines: in the so-called 'war on drugs', you're either with me or against me," Garcia-Sayan said.
Tunis (AFP) - Human Rights Watch on Monday accused Morocco's police of carrying out a weeks-long campaign of "repression" against protests in the northeastern city of Jerada, including mass arrests and alleged abuse in custody.

Security forces "used excessive force against protesters... arrested protest leaders and reportedly mistreated them in detention", New York-based HRW said in a statement.

Jerada has seen waves of peaceful protests since the deaths in December of two brothers trapped in an abandoned mine shaft as they tried to mine coal.

While mines were formally closed in the late 1990s, many have continued to eke out a living in shafts informally, while demonstrators have demanded a more viable way to make a living.

In mid-March, the peaceful protests turned into clashes with police, causing injuries on both sides.

"While some protesters threw stones on March 14 and authorities claim they also committed acts of arson, this would not justify the use of indiscriminate and excessive force, or the arrests that began before that date," HRW said.

"It would also not justify the suppression of peaceful protests or the alleged mistreatment of detainees," it said.

The NGO said 69 protesters, including three minors, were in prison or pre-trial detention, as of May 31.

The authorities also "recklessly drove a police van into a 16-year-old boy, who was severely injured", HRW said.

"Police agents broke into houses in Jerada without showing warrants, beat several men upon arrest, and broke doors and windows," it said.

A Moroccan government official in late April told AFP that allegations of violence and arbitrary arrests in Jerada were "unfounded".

"The arrests have been carried out in a framework of strict respect for the law under the supervision of the competent prosecutor," the official said.

There was no immediate response to Monday's statement.

But in reaction to the protests, the government has vowed to bar access to all abandoned mines in Jerada province and provide an alternative.

Another two miners died Sunday in an abandoned lead mine in Jerada province after the partial collapse of a shaft.
Aegila Capital Management, a new investment and advisory group backed by top Bahraini financial institutions - Osool and BBK - has acquired the global headquarters of Unilever, a landmark office property in Rotterdams business district for 86.5 million ($100.8 million).

The property is considered one of the most prestigious corporate offices in the Netherlands and comprises two separate buildings with a combined net lettable area of 24,500 sq m: the main building facing Weena Boulevard is 11 storeys high and is occupied by Unilever, while the adjacent building (about 10 per cent of total area) is occupied by a leading Dutch educational group.



The transaction marks the debut investment for Aegila in a pipeline of real estate deals across Europe and the UK characterized by attractive locations, stable income from high-quality tenants and long-term value-creation potential.



Aegila is a new investment and advisory platform that originates, executes and manages investments on behalf of global institutional investors targeting the Continental European and UK real estate markets. Launched in 2017, Aegila is headquartered in London and is led by Giovanni Gregoratti, the former co-head of Real Estate Investment Banking in Europe Middle-East and Africa at Citigroup.



Acquiring the Unilever building in Rotterdam is an extraordinary inaugural deal for Aegila. The combination of attractive market conditions in the Netherlands, Rotterdams vibrant economy, the quality of the location and the fact that one of the largest and most respected companies in the world is the main tenant made this opportunity a compelling investment case for our investors, Gregoratti said.



In addition to this investment, we have identified a superb pipeline of opportunities across Europe and are looking forward to building our portfolio over the months to come.



Over the next three years Aegila plans to acquire assets worth in excess of $1 billion on behalf its investors.



Aegila is backed by two of the most respected financial institutions in the GCC, Osool Asset Management BSC and BBK BSC, who are both joint-shareholders and seed investors.



Gregoratti added: The current real estate market environment demands world-class investment and asset management skills and the expert team at Aegila is committed to delivering an innovative, tailor-made and transparent approach catering to a sophisticated investor base.



Savills, GT Law, BCLP, SGS Search, Arup and PwC acted as advisers of the investor in the transaction.  TradeArabia News Service
Rafael dos Anjos (L) and Colby Covington face off inside Barclays Center on April 6, 2018 in Brooklyn, New York. (Getty Images)

Its indisputable that Colby Covingtons tactic to be hugely outspoken, crude and obnoxious has worked. Hes fighting for the interim welterweight title on Saturday in the co-main event of UFC 225 against Rafael dos Anjos at the United Center in Chicago.

At one stage, Covington was best known as ex-UFC light heavyweight champion Jon Jones college roommate. That is, until he decided to follow the path first set in 2009 by Chael Sonnen, and later by Conor McGregor. Speak louder than anyone, hurl insults at everyone and be crazier than the most obnoxious shock jock.

In the last month alone, Covington posted an image of UFC welterweight Darren Till as the Pillsbury Doughboy, referred to ex-heavyweight champion Fabricio Werdum as a slime bag and a filthy animal and called Mackenize Dern a slob and posted an image of her as Miss Piggy.

Hes 7-1 in the UFC with only two victories over ranked opponents, yet he finds himself in a title fight nonetheless. That should send a message to many of his peers, that being an over-the-top trash-talker can be as good a route to the top in the UFC as beating the best in a division.

Dos Anjos is the antithesis of Covington, a soft-spoken man who never gets too worked up and who prefers to let the results in the cage speak for him.

Its OK and Im not bothered by that talking, dos Anjos said. Whenever I meet a Brazilian, theyre always upset because of the way hes talked about our country. They tell me, Kill this guy, and Beat him worse than youve ever beaten anyone. Theyre taking it personally because of what he said. But I dont take it personally. I know its an act.

Dos Anjos held the UFCs lightweight title for 15 months before getting stopped by Eddie Alvarez on July 7, 2016. Hed outgrown the division and now looks like a different fighter at welterweight.

His career arc at welterweight is showing a lot of similarities to what he did at lightweight. He made his UFC debut as a lightweight at UFC 91 on Nov. 15, 2008. He lost his first two UFC bouts and was 4-4 in his first eight before turning things around.

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He won five in a row, dropped a decision to Khabib Nurmagomedov  now the lightweight champion  and then won another five in a row including a dominating win over Anthony Pettis at UFC 185 to win the lightweight belt and a 66-second TKO of Donald Cerrone in his first title defense.

He was 10-1 in 11 bouts after that .500 start and looking like a superstar-in-the-making.

But he lost to Alvarez and then to Tony Ferguson, before abandoning lightweight in favor of welterweight. And since then, hes scored impressive wins over Robbie Lawler, Neil Magny and Tarec Saffiedine that have led him to the interim title bout with Covington.

Rafael Dos Anjos (R) celebrates his victory over Robbie Lawler in their welterweight bout during the UFC Fight Night event at Bell MTS Place on December 16, 2017 in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada. (Getty Images)

Though Covington has turned up the heat on him trash-talk wise, dos Anjos laughs it off.

You know, I dont have to get mad and I have too much experience to fall for that stuff, he said. But you know what? I get to punch him in the face and so when its just the two of us in there, then well see what he has to say.

Its not fair to characterize Covington as just a talker, because hes 7-1 in the UFC and 13-1 overall. He simply hasnt faced the kind of opposition that dos Anjos has.

That makes a difference, dos Anjos said, in the dark moments every fighter inevitably faces in a fight.

This is a sport where doubt is your enemy, dos Anjos said. You have to believe in yourself and have confidence in yourself and your game plan. I have the experience of having been in the UFC a long time and Ive fought a lot of the best fighters in the world. I fought all types of fighters and I know what to expect.

That isnt something you can get in the gym. You can only get that by fighting and its something I know I have I can draw upon.

The winner of the bout almost certainly will wind up meeting regular champion Tyron Woodley, who has recovered from a shoulder injury and is ready to return to competition.

For dos Anjos, there wont be any sort of vindication of shutting Covington up or winning an interim belt.

It is great to be recognized [with an interim title], but you want to beat the guy who won it and that is [Woodley], dos Anjos said. But its a great accomplishment no matter what. He talks and does all these things, but Colby is a great fighter. He went in there and beat Demian Maia, so that says a lot about him and the kind of fighter he is. Ill be happy when I win because of that, not because of what he said. Hes just trying to promote himself and to sell tickets, and thats OK. But anytime you beat a fighter who has done what he has, you are proud of that and consider it an accomplishment.

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Russia has been accused of playing up its bond with Pyongyang by airbrushing a smile on Kim Jong Uns face as he shook hands with Moscows top diplomat.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov and other delegates met with North Koreas leader on Thursday, shaking hands and trading pleasantries. Although neither side announced any major policy shift, the symbolism of the public trip, less than two weeks from Kims planned first meeting with a U.S. president, was evident.

Kim thanked Moscow for opposing U.S. dominance and politely asked about Russian President Vladimir Putins well-being, but his scowling at the camera when shaking hands with Lavrov was a touch too severe for the Kremlin. By the time Russian state channel Russia-1 broadcast its weekly news review Vesti Nedely (The Weekly News) on Sunday, Kims stern look had changed to a smile as the programs anchor declared that the trip showed the U.S. the now common Russian-North Korean position.

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In Russia, social media users were quick to mock the program, contrasting it with the official images and footage that both countries governments had published. There, Kims face remains serious in the posed photographs with Lavrov and with the rest of the Russian delegation.

Vesti Nedely photoshopped a smile on Kim Jong Uns face, a parody Twitter account of the Russian foreign ministry wrote. Everyone needs this. If there is something that somebody does not like, a smile gets photoshopped.

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Rossiya-1 showed a still from Lavrovs meeting with Kim Jong Un, Russias popular meme source Lentach announced on the VKontakte social media platform. But at the last moment they photoshopped a smile on so as not to darken the mood of Kiselyovs jolly content, the site mused.

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06_04_Kim_Lavrov

Valery Sharifulin/AFP/Getty Images

Dmitry Kiselyovs Vesti Nedely frequently discusses the possibility of conflict with the U.S. and gives weekly analysis of world affairs promoting Putins image of strength, while stoking conspiracies abroad and casting Western nations as unstable or anti-Russian.

When propaganda needs your smile, one Twitter user wrote in Russian, in response to the images. They could have shown Kim kissing the hand of Putins envoy but they felt a little modest so they chose not to, another tweeted. But can they photoshop a smile on me too? a third Twitter user quipped.

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As reports about the pictures pread across non-state media on Monday, Kiselyov chose not to ignore the jokes at his expense and claimed the awkward image, whose colors were clearly edited, was genuine.

The photographs are always taken with high-shutter-speed lenses, he told Moscow radio station Govorit Moskva (Moscow Speaks). So all sorts of phases of expression turn out.

Despite Kiselyovs comments, the Russian foreign ministry also released footage of the handshake, where Kims face is virtually entirely still when facing the cameras. The North Korean leader appears to grin widely when walking with the Russian diplomats and when facing them, but away from the lens.

The TV broadcaster did not immediately respond to Newsweeks request for comment on the alleged alteration of the images.

This article was first written by Newsweek

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Moscow (AFP) - A Russian court on Monday sentenced a Ukrainian journalist to 12 years in a strict regime penal colony after he was found guilty of espionage, in a case Kiev has condemned as "politically motivated".

Journalist Roman Sushchenko, who worked for Ukrainian state news agency Ukrinform for more than a decade, was detained in Moscow in 2016. Russia's FSB security agency accused him of serving in Ukrainian military intelligence and gathering state secrets.

Sushchenko, who had pleaded innocent, told AFP he would appeal the "unjust" verdict delivered by Judge Oleg Muzychenko of Moscow City Court.

The 49-year-old reporter's lawyer, Mark Feigin, earlier told AFP that prosecutors had asked for a 14-year sentence, out of a maximum of 20 years.

Kiev last week slammed the trial, with the Ukrainian foreign ministry spokeswoman Mariana Betsa calling the case "politically motivated".

The case comes amid a recent uptick in violence in the conflict between Ukrainian troops and Russia-backed separatists in eastern Ukraine that broke out following Russia's annexation of Crimea from Ukraine in 2014 and has killed more than 10,000 people.

Sushchenko was working as Ukrinform's Paris correspondent at the time of his arrest and the news agency said that he was detained while visiting Moscow on holiday.

In his final speech in court he said he was framed by the Russian security service, his lawyer told Interfax news agency.

Feigin earlier suggested Moscow and Kiev could be planning a prisoner exchange since a journalist working for Russian state news agency RIA Novosti is now in detention in Ukraine awaiting trial on treason charges.

The journalist, Kyrylo Vyshynsky, has dual Russian and Ukrainian citizenship.
Four months after 17 lives were taken in a shooting at a Parkland, Florida, high school, the graduating class took the stage to celebrate their academic accomplishments and mourn those who should still be with them.

On Sunday, diplomas were presented to the families of seniors Nicholas Dworet, Joaquin Oliver, Meadow Pollack and Carmen Schentrup during Marjory Stoneman Douglas High Schools graduation ceremony at the BB&T Center in Sunrise, Florida.

Dworet, 17, was the captain of the high schools swim team and dreamed of one day competing in the Olympics. He planned on attending the University of Indianapolis and joining its swim team after graduating this month.

A graduate walks as seniors from Marjory Stoneman Douglas High school attend their graduation ceremony on Sunday. (Photo: Joe Raedle via Getty Images)

Oliver, 17, had talked about pursuing a career in marketing after graduating, the Sun-Sentinel reported.

His mother, Patricia Oliver, accepted his diploma on Sunday while wearing a yellow shirt that read, This should be my son. His father, Manuel Oliver, was seen wearing a black shirt that read, We demand a change.

The parents of Joaquin Oliver, one of the students slain in the deadly shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas in February, walk on stage during graduation to accept his diploma.



Four posthumous diplomas were handed out at the ceremony. https://t.co/TW6fykfwrg pic.twitter.com/gd86yEKPtN  ABC News (@ABC) June 3, 2018

Pollack, 18, had spoken of becoming a lawyer and was planning to attend Lynn University in Boca Raton.

Her father, Andrew Pollack, told the Sun-Sentinel that he was too heartbroken to attend her graduation. He tweeted out a photo of him and his daughter on Sunday morning along with a link to a nonprofit he founded that aims to increase school safety measures.

Today my baby should be walking across the stage to receive her high school diploma. Instead her brother @PollackHunter is receiving it on her behalf because she was killed.



Please visit https://t.co/bwNJd0WPNw to help prevent more families from feeling the pain I feel. #FixIt pic.twitter.com/IvWuLu6fdZ  Andrew Pollack (@AndrewPollackFL) June 3, 2018

Today my baby should be walking across the stage to receive her high school diploma. Instead her brother [Hunter Pollack] is receiving it on her behalf because she was killed, he tweeted.

Story continues

Meadow Pollacks brother, in his own tweet, described the graduation as the day my sister has been waiting for.

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Today, Is the day my sister has been waiting for. Graduation where she wouldve been getting her diploma and be on her way to attend college. This is a sad day, as I will be walking stage to get her diploma for her.  Hunter Pollack (@PollackHunter) June 3, 2018

Schentrup, who at 16 was the youngest of the four seniors killed, had hoped to pursue a career as a biomedical researcher after graduating. Her mother, April Schentrup, declined to attend the ceremony, tweeting that it is too painful to celebrate [without] Carmen.

I am proud of Carmens friends & classmates on their accomplishments, she added on Twitter. Theyve overcome so much. I know they will [continue] to make positive changes.

My  is with the MSD C/O 2018 today. 



For me, it is too painful to celebrate w/o Carmen. But I am proud of Carmens friends & classmates on their accomplishments. Theyve overcome so much. I know they will cont to make positive changes.



Carmens senior photo w/ cap & gown. pic.twitter.com/L808KwGNc0  April Schentrup (@AprilSchentrup) June 3, 2018

Two other students in the graduating class who died before this year, one of illness and the other by suicide, were also remembered during the ceremony, NBC News reported.

Seniors attending the big event wore mementos in their graduation attire that reflected their ongoing campaign to end gun violence and memorialize the victims. MSD Strong was also emblazoned down their graduation stoles.

Prominent anti-gun activist David Hogg, who was among those graduating on Sunday, shared a photo of an orange $1.05 price tag being used as a tassel.

During the March for Our Lives rally in Washington, D.C., in March, Hogg said the price tag represented the amount that each Florida students life is worth to Sen. Marco Rubio (R-Fla.). That amount was calculated from the $3.3 million that the National Rifle Association has donated to Rubios campaign, divided by the 3.1 million public and private students across the state.

The color orange has been used to symbolize the protests against gun violence. Later in the day, Hogg retweeted a message from the anti-gun-violence group Moms Demand Action that encouraged others to wear orange for the communities that are disproportionately affected by gun violence in America.

Adding a healthy dose of laughter to the ceremonys mix, Tonight Show host Jimmy Fallon gave a surprise commencement speech to the graduating class.

Congratulations Marjory Stoneman Douglas Class of 2018! You are not just the future - you are the present. Keep changing the world. Keep making us proud. #MSDStrong #YouAreThePresent pic.twitter.com/czvZwezKSt  jimmy fallon (@jimmyfallon) June 3, 2018

When something feels hard, remember that it gets better. Choose to move forward. Dont let anything stop you, he told them during a more sobering moment, thanking the students who attended the March for Our Lives rally and turned it into a global conversation.

This article originally appeared on HuffPost.
Washington (AFP) - Howard Schultz, who built a small Seattle coffee shop into the global powerhouse Starbucks, announced Monday he was retiring from the company, fueling speculation he may run for president as a Democrat in 2020.

Schultz, 64, has been serving as executive chairman of Starbucks since stepping down as chief executive in April.

Schultz will leave the company at the end of the month and will take on the title of chairman emeritus, Starbucks said in a statement.

Schultz's announcement triggered immediate speculation that he may consider entering politics -- including running for president in 2020.

He told The New York Times that he hadn't decided on his next move yet, but "for some time now, I have been deeply concerned about our country  the growing division at home and our standing in the world."

Schultz, who has been openly critical of President Donald Trump, said "one of the things I want to do in my next chapter is to figure out if there is a role I can play in giving back."

"I intend to think about a range of options, and that could include public service," he added, when asked if he was weighing a presidential run.

"But I'm a long way from making any decisions about the future."
For all the fancy trappings and buildup, most peoples prom experiences never quite live up to the as-seen-on-TV expectations. But heres a real-life story that just might have you believing in fairy tales  about a Chicago boy who was ditched by his so-called friends on prom night but walked away a winner.

Jackson Loop, top left, and his friends. (Photo: Twitter/John Richards)

John Richards, a DJ for Seattle radio station KEXP, read a letter on May 31 about the high school senior, Jackson Loop, that had been sent by his mother, Sheila Loop; he also played the moms request  LCD Soundsystems All My Friends. Jackson had been excited to go to prom with a group of band friends, the letter explained, but on Saturday, May 26, the day of the prom, he got a group text saying they werent doing pre-prom pictures, so he waited until 6 p.m. to get dressed up in his brand-new, custom-tailored suit.

Take a second to get to know some amazing kids who, on a Monday, changed one life. This is MUST LISTEN/READ. I'm not crying, you're crying. #DustyInHere @kexp https://t.co/jugG4KIGfR pic.twitter.com/0Gqs6DjPtm  John Richards (@loserboy) May 31, 2018

And then he waited, and he waited, and he waited, Sheila wrote. No one responded to his texts or picked up his calls. His younger brother and sister and I watched him as he started to realize that he was being ditched and I have to tell you that in my 18 yrs of parenting I have never felt so much pain. It was mixed with an indescribable amount of rage. This was painful. Then, after he changed out of his suit, he saw all of their pre-prom pictures on Facebook, and he all but collapsed in the kitchen.

The saddest thing is that Jackson ultimately wasnt too surprised that hed been treated this way. He had often told his mother that he felt like an invisible, throwaway loser. His whole life shes witnessed his struggle to fit in.

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Photo: Twitter/John Richards

Hes always been on the fringe and really wanted to be part of a group, Sheila tells Yahoo Lifestyle. It wasnt until high school band where we thought, Oh, great! Theres going to be band kids!

But the band kids who Jackson thought were his friends actually werent all that kind to him; hed told his mother that theyd left him out of their group on a recent trip to Disney World, as well as on other occasions.

Ive been kind of blind about it, Jackson says, partly blaming himself for allowing them to hurt him like this. I kind of showed them how to treat me. Like, They can do whatever they want, Im all right. I can be in the back. But I never really liked it.  It really hurts me when its almost every time that Im just in the back, tagging along, and barely anyone is talking to me.

John Richards, who shared Jacksons story on KEXP. (Photo: Twitter loserboy)

But there was a happy ending to Jacksons story  thanks to another, more authentic group of friends, made up of juniors in the band. They saw what happened and sought to right the wrong. One of those friends, Sophie, texted Jacksons mom that Saturday night, asking her to sneak his suit into the trunk of his car on Monday, which was Memorial Day.

So that Monday, after doing some CrossFit to blow off steam, Jackson headed over to Sophies house for what he thought was a regular hangout. His friends, all dressed in formalwear, greeted him at the door, shouting, Happy fake prom!

Recalling that moment for Yahoo Lifestyle, he says, I was flabbergasted. I didnt know how to respond. Im in the bathroom changing [into my suit] and I kind of shed a tear a little bit, because no one has ever done this for me, really ever.  This is what it means to receive a gift from friends who are doing something, particularly for me.

The group spent the afternoon posing for pictures and eating fake prom cake, and the contrast between what real friends would do for him and what the other kids did was enlightening for Jackson. While the kids who had ditched him gave him a lame excuse about being disorganized, he can now see through their behavior and doesnt think hell speak to them again.

He adds that he feels a little wiser about friendship, and he has words of advice for anyone else who may be similarly misled.

You may feel like you belong in a place and youre in a great group of friends, but make sure that theyre taking care of you as well, he says. Listen to your gut. If you feel pissed off about something and feel like theyre not treating you well, then youre probably right. It took me a long time to figure that out.

Jackson has also realized just how many potential friends there will be in the world once he leaves high school and goes off to college.

Youre going to find plenty of people that will find you interesting and will actually care about you in the end, he says. There are 7 or 8 billion people; at the same time, we feel like were isolated with these few groups of people, and if theyre gone or you decide not to be friends, then youre alone. But there are plenty of people out there. Even outside of our country.

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After the U.S. Supreme Court ruled in favor of a Colorado baker who refused to bake a wedding cake for a gay couple, reactions from both sides were swift.

The evangelical community declared the 7-2 decision a win for religious freedom, while the LGBTQ community said the decision allows for future discrimination.

Though freedom of religion is an American value, discrimination is not, said GLAAD president and CEO Sarah Kate Ellis in a statement. While this decision does not change existing civil rights protections, it leaves the door wide open for religious exemptions to be used against LGBTQ people.

Christian evangelist Franklin Graham celebrated the decision on Twitter, calling it a huge win for religious freedom!

The American Civil Liberties Union said in a statement that the ruling is unique to the case but reaffirmed [the Supreme Courts] longstanding rule that states can prevent the harms of discrimination in the marketplace.

Jack Phillips, owner of Masterpiece Cakeshop, right, gets a hug after the U.S. Supreme Court ruled on June 4, 2018, that he could refuse to make a wedding cake for a same-sex couple. Background photos: Demonstrators outside the Supreme Court in December 2017. (Photos: Jacquelyn Martin/AP, David Zalubowski/AP, Jacquelyn Martin/AP)

The opinion, by Justice Anthony Kennedy, said that the Colorado Civil Rights Commission showed hostility toward religion in finding that the baker, Jack Phillips, violated the states anti-discrimination laws. Justices Sonia Sotomayor and Ruth Bader Ginsburg dissented.

The case did not resolve whether exceptions for religious views are permissible in state anti-discrimination laws.

The success of Americas society and economy depend on us upholding the social contract of mutual accountability and respect, yet the Supreme Court has now given a path toward state-sanctioned license to discriminate in this country, National LGBT Chamber of Commerce president Justin Nelson said in a statement.

Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission president Russell Moore tweeted his support of the Supreme Courts decision.

The Supreme Court is right: the state should not compel people to use their artistic gifts for speech that goes against their deepest-held convictions.  Russell Moore (@drmoore) June 4, 2018

Texas Sen. Ted Cruz also applauded the verdict on Twitter, saying the court upheld the bakers right to live according to his faith.

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Attorney General Jeff Sessions released a statement agreeing with the Supreme Courts decision.

In this case and others, the Department of Justice will continue to vigorously defend the free speech and religious freedom First Amendment rights of all Americans, he said.

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Snapping turtle: Getty Images

A US science teacher accused of feeding a sick puppy to a snapping turtle in front of his students has been charged with animal cruelty.

Robert Crosland faces up to six months in jail and a $5,000 (3,740) fine if convicted of the misdemeanour over the incident at Preston Junior High School in Idaho.

The turtle was seized by the Idaho State Department of Agriculture after the incident on 7 March and has since been humanely euthanised because it is considered an invasive species.

When the initial story was first reported, Mr Crosland was described as a bully who should not be allowed near impressionable young people by the UK charity People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (Peta).

A petition calling for the teacher to be sacked for his sick and disturbing actions has now attracted nearly 190,000 signatures.

Fewer than 3,800 people have signed a rival petition to show our support for the man that taught us science in a new way and truly loves his job.

Mr Crosland fed the puppy to the snapping turtle in front of a small number of students after classes finished and not during regular school activities, according to superintendent Marc Gee.

We hope that any errors in judgement made by a teacher in this instance will not cause us to forget the years of care, effort, and passion the teacher has given to students in Preston School District, Mr Gee added.

The mother of two boys who were present told the Preston Citizen their children were more upset about the criticism of their teacher than the incident itself.

The puppy was dying, said Farahlyn Hansen. I felt like it was the more humane thing for Robert to do than to just leave it.

My kids are very upset about the way Robert is being portrayed in the news.

Hes spent his whole life showing kids how to care for and feed animals.

Former students told East Idaho News Mr Crosland had previously fed guinea pigs to snakes and turtles during class demonstrations.

He is a cool teacher who really brought science to life, one said. I loved his class because he had turtles and snakes and other cool things.

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A picture appearing to show the teacher feeding a rat to a turtle features on another petition.

Robert Crosland dangles a rat in the turtle tank at Preston Junior High

Mr Crosland was charged on Friday following an investigation by the Idaho attorney generals office.

The Preston School District is said to be awaiting the result in the case before deciding the teachers future.

It is not known whether Mr Crosland is still teaching, although an anonymous employee was placed on administrative leave by the local board of education at a meeting on 21 March.

The issue of animals in the classroom was also raised at the meeting, according to the minutes.
Actor Tom Arnold is mincing no words when it comes to his ex-wife Roseanne Barr and the inflammatory tweet that resulted in the cancellation last week of her eponymous ABC sitcom.

Barr is obviously a racist, Arnold said in an interview with Good Morning Britain on Monday, adding the actress really needs to get off Twitter.

Youve got to get her phone away from her, he said.

EXCLUSIVE: Tom Arnold, Roseanne Barrs ex-husband, says the US star is a racist and needs to get off Twitter' pic.twitter.com/GrcO6caSsn  Good Morning Britain (@GMB) June 4, 2018

ABC pulled the plug on the hit Roseanne revival last Tuesday, hours after Barr published a racist tweet about Valerie Jarrett, a former aide to President Barack Obama. Barr has since apologized several times for the derogatory comment, while also blaming the sleep drug Ambien and retweeting conspiracy theories and new attacks on Jarrett.

Barr, 65, has also claimed she did not know Jarrett was black.

Arnold told Good Morning Britain that he was not surprised by Barrs offensive tweet.

I have to say, I saw it coming. I warned everybody, said the 59-year-old actor, who was married to Barr for four rocky years. Arnold was also a writer and actor on the original Roseanne show before Barr fired him in 1994, the same year the couple got divorced.

When asked on Monday whether he thought Barr was a racist, Arnold responded: Er, yeah, obviously.

I base that on the last six months of her tweeting and social media, he continued, pointing out her support of President Donald Trump, whom Arnold described as also a racist, and her touting of conspiracy theories about Democrats.

Roseanne Barr and Tom Arnold were married from 1990 to 1994. (Photo: Ron Galella via Getty Images)

Arnold told CNN last week that he believes mental health issues had played a part in the recent controversy involving Barr, who has spoken publicly in the past about her struggles with dissociative identity disorder, formerly known as multiple personality disorder. Arnold discussed this topic again with the British talk show.

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She had the multiple personality disorder, she was honest and courageous about that, he said of Barr. I dont know exactly whats going on. I know there is mental illness issues.

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(WASHINGTON)  President Donald Trumps lawyers composed a secret 20-page letter to special counsel Robert Mueller to assert that he cannot be forced to testify while arguing that he could not have committed obstruction because he has absolute authority over all federal investigations.

The existence of the letter, which was first reported and posted by The New York Times on Saturday, was a bold assertion of presidential power and another front on which Trumps lawyers have argued that the president cant be subpoenaed in the special counsels ongoing investigation into Russian meddling in the 2016 election.

The letter is dated January 29 and addressed to Mueller from John Dowd, one of Trumps lawyers at the time who has since resigned from the legal team. In the letter, the Trumps lawyers argue that a charge of illegal obstruction is moot because the Constitution empowers the president to, if he wished, terminate the inquiry, or even exercise his power to pardon.

Trump weighed in on Saturday on Twitter, asking Is the Special Counsel/Justice Department leaking my lawyers letters to the Fake News Media? He added: When will this very expensive Witch Hunt Hoax ever end? So bad for our Country.

Mueller has requested an interview with the president to determine whether he had criminal intent to obstruct the investigation into his associates possible links to Russias election interference. Trump had previously signaled that he would be willing to sit for an interview, but his legal team, including head lawyer Rudy Giuliani, have privately and publicly expressed concern that the president could risk charges of perjury.

If Trump does not consent to an interview, Mueller will have to decide whether to forge forward with a historic grand jury subpoena. His team raised the possibility in March of subpoenaing the president but it is not clear if it is still under active consideration. Giuliani has told The Associated Press that the presidents legal team believes the special counsel does not have the authority to do so.

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A court battle is likely if Trumps team argues that the president cant be forced to answer questions or be charged with obstruction of justice. President Bill Clinton was charged with obstruction in 1998 by the House of Representatives as part of his impeachment trial. And one of the articles of impeachment prepared against Richard Nixon in 1974 was for obstruction.

Topics of Muellers obstruction investigation include the firings of both Comey and former National Security Adviser Michael Flynn, as well Trumps reaction to Attorney General Jeff Sessions recusal from the Russia investigation.

In addition to the legal battles, Trumps team and allies have waged a public relations campaign against Mueller to discredit the investigation and soften the impact of the special counsels potential findings. Giuliani said last week that the special counsel probe may be an entirely illegitimate investigation and need to be curtailed because, in his estimation, it was based on inappropriately obtained information from an informant and former FBI director James Comeys memos.

In reality, the FBI began a counterintelligence investigation in July 2016 to determine if Trump campaign associates were coordinating with Russia to tip the election. The investigation was opened after the hacking of Democratic emails that intelligence officials later formally attributed to Russia.

Giuliani has said a decision will not be made about a possible presidential interview with the special counsel until after Trumps summit with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un on June 12 in Singapore.
At least 550,000 people are homeless in America: FREDERIC J. BROWN/AFP/Getty Images

Poverty in the US is extensive and is deepening under the Trump administration whose policies seem aimed at removing the safety net from millions of poor, while rewarding the rich, a United Nations human rights investigator has found.

Philip Alston, UN special rapporteur on extreme poverty, called on US authorities to provide solid social protection and address underlying problems, rather than punishing and imprisoning the poor.

While welfare benefits and access to health insurance are being slashed, Donald Trumps tax reform has awarded financial windfalls to the mega-rich and large companies, further increasing inequality, he said in a report.

US policies since president Lyndon Johnsons war on poverty in the 1960s have been neglectful at best, he said.

But the policies pursued over the past year seem deliberately designed to remove basic protections from the poorest, punish those who are not in employment and make even basic health care into a privilege to be earned rather than a right of citizenship, Mr Alston said.

Almost 41 million people live in poverty, 18.5 million of them in extreme poverty, and children account for one in three poor, he said. The US has the highest youth poverty rate among industrialised countries, he added.

Its citizens live shorter and sicker lives compared to those living in all other rich democracies, eradicable tropical diseases are increasingly prevalent and it has the worlds highest incarceration rate... and the highest obesity levels in the developed world, Mr Alston said.

However, the data from the US Census Bureau he cited covers only the period through 2016, and he gave no comparative figures on the extent of poverty before and after Mr Trump came into office in January 2017.

The Australian, a veteran UN rights expert and New York University law professor, will present his report to the UN Human Rights Council later this month.

It is based on his mission in December to several US states, including rural Alabama, a slum in downtown Los Angeles, California, and the US territory of Puerto Rico.

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US officials in Geneva were not immediately available for comment.

Citing shameful statistics linked to entrenched racial discrimination, Mr Alston said African-Americans are 2.5 times more likely than whites to live in poverty and their unemployment rate is more than double. Women, Hispanics, immigrants, and indigenous people also suffer high rates.

At least 550,000 people are homeless in America, he said.

The tax reform will worsen this situation and ensure that the United States remains the most unequal society in the developed world, Mr Alston said. The planned dramatic cuts in welfare will essentially shred crucial dimensions of a safety net that is already full of holes.

The tax overhaul, which sailed through the Republican-controlled US Congress in December, permanently cut the top corporate rate to 21 per cent from 35 per cent. Tax cuts for individuals, however, are temporary and expire after 2025.

Mr Trump has said they will lead to more take-home pay for workers and have touted bonuses some workers received from their employers as evidence the law is working.

Mr Alston dismissed allegations of widespread fraud in the welfare system and criticised the US criminal justice system. It sets large bail bonds for a defendant seeking to go free pending trial, meaning wealthy suspects can afford bail while the poor remain in custody, often losing their jobs, he said.

There is no magic recipe for eliminating extreme poverty and each level of government must make its own good-faith decisions. At the end of the day, however, particularly in a rich country like the United States, the persistence of extreme poverty is a political choice made by those in power, he said.
President Donald Trump boasted about his absolute right to pardon himself in the Russia probe on Monday one day after Rudy Giuliani, one of his lawyers, raised the prospect.

Numerous legal scholars have pointed out that Trump holds the constitutional authority to a self-pardon, he tweeted. But why would I do that when I have done nothing wrong? He also lambasted the appointment of special counsel Robert Mueller as unconstitutional.

His comments echoed Giulianis, who said Sunday that a self-pardon was out of the cards and could lead to impeachment  but Trump could do it if he wanted to.

He has no intention of pardoning himself, but he probably  not to say he cant, Giuliani told ABCs This Week.

As has been stated by numerous legal scholars, I have the absolute right to PARDON myself, but why would I do that when I have done nothing wrong? In the meantime, the never ending Witch Hunt, led by 13 very Angry and Conflicted Democrats (& others) continues into the mid-terms!  Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) June 4, 2018

Its the first time Trump has suggested pardoning himself, though he did tweet last year that all agree the U.S. President has the complete power to pardon.

His legal team first pushed the notion of a self-pardon in a 20-page letter that they sent to Mueller in January, stating that Trump could if he wished, terminate the inquiry, or even exercise his power to pardon if he so desired.

Trump and his legal advisers continue to advocate for an end to the investigation into whether his campaign colluded with Russia in the 2016 election. Asked if Trump has decided whether he will voluntarily be interviewed by Mueller, Giuliani said the answer is most likely no.

But look, if they can convince us that it will be brief, it would be to the point, there were five or six points they have to clarify, and with that, we can get this  this long nightmare for the  for the American public over, Giuliani told ABC.

Story continues

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By Noah Barkin BERLIN (Reuters) - Germany's Angela Merkel has offered her most detailed response to French President Emmanuel Macron's ideas for reforming Europe, seeking to avert a damaging rift with Paris at a time of high anxiety over Italy and growing transatlantic tensions. With the clock ticking down to a European Union summit this month at which Merkel and Macron have promised to present a joint plan for overhauling Europe, the German chancellor gave an extensive newspaper interview on Sunday that touched on reform of the euro zone as well as defense and asylum policy. She has faced mounting criticism in recent weeks for failing to engage with Macron, who campaigned on a pledge to reform Europe and has sketched out his ambitious vision in a series of speeches over the past year. Pressure on the EU to show a united front has grown following U.S. President Donald Trump's decision to pull Washington out of the Iran nuclear deal and to impose tariffs on European steel and aluminum exports. Top exporter Germany is especially vulnerable to a trade conflict with the United States and several analysts said the threats from Washington had given the notoriously cautious Merkel added incentive to reach out to Macron. "This is a typical Merkel move," said Henrik Enderlein, director of the Jacques Delors Institut in Berlin. "She's on the defensive, people say she's not going to do anything, and then she pulls something out of her hat." CLARITY In the interview with the Frankfurter Allgemeine Sonntagszeitung (FAS), Merkel offered clarity about Germany's stance on a number of key issues: - She backed the idea of turning the euro zone's ESM bailout mechanism into a European Monetary Fund (EMF) that could offer short-term loans for countries suffering economic stress. She said the EMF should be able to assess the debt sustainability of member states and "the instruments needed to restore this if necessary" - a nod to debt restructuring, which France opposes. - She backed the step-by-step introduction of a euro zone investment budget in the low double-digit billions of euros, saying this could be housed within the EU budget or outside. - She called for common asylum standards, a European border police force and a pan-European migration agency that could evaluate asylum applications. Crucially, she backed a "flexible system" in which countries that refuse to take on refugees could compensate by making contributions in other areas. - She backed Macron's idea for a European intervention force with a "common strategic military culture", opening the door to a more active German defense role. ITALY Merkel has been torn for months between compromising with Macron and satisfying conservative hardliners at home who accuse the French leader of seeking a "transfer union" in which countries that refuse to reform are rewarded with German money. The creation of a populist, euroskeptic government in heavily indebted Italy last week has only reinforced this scepticism. Macron and his allies argue that Europe will continue to be vulnerable to external shocks unless its rules and structures are fundamentally overhauled. He has called for a far bigger euro zone budget than Merkel spelled out in her FAS interview and urged Europe to become a bolder, more autonomous actor in defense, a shift that unsettles conflict-wary Germans. "What is good is that for the first time Merkel has said something precise about what she has in mind," Philippe Martin, a former Macron adviser who heads France's Council of Economic Analysis (CAE), told Reuters. However Martin called Merkel's ideas for the euro zone, which reject federalist solutions in favor of an intergovernmental approach, minimalist. "It is the minimum so that there is no big rift between France and Germany at a time when it would be extremely damaging." Merkel and Macron are due to present their ideas at an EU summit on June 28-29. They will meet, together with their top ministers, at the Meseberg palace outside Berlin on June 19 to finalize their joint position. Ahead of those meetings, a number of prominent voices had criticized Merkel for failing to respond to Macron. Former German foreign minister Joschka Fischer called her silence a "scandal" and Timothy Garton Ash, the author and Oxford historian, labeled it "pathetic". "We should be happy that Merkel has finally replied," said Laurence Boone, chief economist at Axa and a former adviser to French President Francois Hollande. "My sense is that she needs Macron now. Germany, with its trade surplus and car industry, is the country that is most vulnerable to Trump. Merkel has something to gain from European solidarity." (Reporting by Noah Barkin; Editing by Giles Elgood)
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. President Donald Trump's lead attorney said that if the special counsel investigating Russia's alleged meddling in the 2016 U.S. election were to subpoena the president, it would set off a legal battle, according to an ABC News report on Saturday. Rudy Giuliani, the former New York City mayor who became Trump's lead lawyer in April, said the two sides would go to court if U.S. Special Counsel Robert Mueller attempts to subpoena the president. "If Mueller tries to subpoena us, we're going to court," Giuliani told ABC News. In addition to fighting a subpoena, Giuliani told ABC that Trump's legal strategy as detailed in a January letter to Mueller and published by the New York Times on Saturday still stands. Trump's lawyers had argued in the January letter that the president could not have obstructed the probe given the powers granted to him by the U.S. Constitution, the Times report said. In the letter penned by Trump lawyers John Dowd and Jay Sekulow, it was argued that president has the power to "order the termination of an investigation by the Justice Department or FBI at any time and for any reason." In the letter to Mueller, Trump's lawyers had contended that the Constitution gives the president the power to "terminate the inquiry, or even exercise his power to pardon," and that meant he could not illegally obstruct the investigation, the Times reported. The 20-page letter was a response to repeated requests by Mueller's office asking to interview Trump. Negotiations between Trump's lawyers and the special counsel on a possible interview have continued ever since. As part of his investigation, Mueller is looking into the possibility the Trump campaign colluded with Moscow and that Trump subsequently tried to obstruct the probe. Russia has denied any interference and Trump has repeatedly said there was no collusion or obstruction of justice. Giuliani did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Mueller's office declined to comment, while the White House and the two attorneys who wrote the letter - Sekulow and Dowd - did not reply to requests for comment. Dowd left the president's legal team in March. Giuliani said last month that he wanted any interview of Trump to be limited in scope and length, suggesting it to be only 2-1/2 hours and not under oath. If the president does not consent to an interview with the special counsel and Mueller does subpoena him, the interpretation by Trump's lawyers of broad executive powers would likely be tested in court if they decided to fight the subpoena. In arguing that Trump has the power to end an investigation or pardon people, his lawyers left open the possibility that they were referring only to a probe into his former national security adviser, Michael Flynn, and not necessarily an investigation of the president, the Times said. In an earlier tweet, Trump took what appeared to be a pre-emptive swipe at the Times report shortly before it ran that questioned whether Mueller's office or the Justice Department leaked letters from his lawyers. "When will this very expensive Witch Hunt Hoax ever end?" Trump tweeted earlier on Saturday. (Reporting by Timothy Gardner, Mike Stone and Karen Frefield; editing by Tim Ahmann, Daniel Wallis and G Crosse)
Istanbul (AFP) - Turkish troops are advancing on the mountainous Qandil region of northern Iraq where the leadership of the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) is based, a senior minister said Monday, as military operations are stepped up.

Several Turkish troops have been killed in the region in recent months during clashes with the PKK, although the authorities remain vague over where the fighting is taking place.

Interior Minister Suleyman Soylu told the state-run Anadolu news agency the target was the Qandil mountains, the PKK's key military base.

"Qandil is not a distant target for us," Soylu said.

"Right now several areas were taken under control, especially in the northern Iraqi region," he added.

Outlawed by Ankara and its Western allies, the PKK has waged a bloody insurgency against the Turkish state since 1984, and the army is battling the group's militants both inside Turkey and in northern Iraq.

"We are now 26-27 kilometres (16-17 miles) away. There are naturally clashes breaking out because it is a terrain we don't know. There are homemade explosive devices," Soylu said.

Turkish warplanes often bomb PKK hideouts in northern Iraq while the security forces sporadically launch cross-border incursions in pursuit of rebel fighters.

Last week four Turkish soldiers were killed in clashes with PKK fighters in northern Iraq, the army said in a statement.

President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has repeatedly threatened a major cross-border operation to dislodge the group from its strongholds.

"To us, it is a question of timing now. It is not a question of operation," Soylu said. "Qandil will become a safe area for Turkey. Nobody should doubt it."

It is in this area that the PKK's military leadership such as Murat Karayilan and Cemil Bayik are believed to be based.

Top PKK leader Abdullah Ocalan is serving a life sentence on a prison island off Istanbul following his capture in 1999.

The operations inside northern Iraq come as Turkey prepares for June 24 parliamentary and presidential elections.

Ankara earlier this year successfully carried out a major incursion into Syria along with allied Syrian rebels, taking the Afrin region from a Kurdish militia.
Former President Bill Clinton got the internet talking this week when an interview with Today took a nasty turn.

Given the current climate of movements such as #MeToo and #TimesUp, the conversation led to his infamous affair with Monica Lewinsky. When asked if he had personally apologized to Lewinsky, Clinton stumbled through his answer, revealing he has not spoken with her.

Twitter users quickly lit up with comments about the awkward exchange. Some defended the former president, while others were disappointed with his response.

Donald Trump Jr. also chimed in with a critical examination of Clintons response.

The businessman, and son to President Trump, was quickly called out for his statement. Many Twitter users found irony in Trump Jr.s tweet given his fathers many examples of victim-hood pertaining to women.

They cited the multiple women who have accused his father of sexual misconduct. They mentioned the senior Trumps alleged affair with adult film star Stormy Daniels. They recalled many of the now president's comments about women over the years.

The internet largely agreed: Trump Jr. had no business commenting on the #MeToo movement or Clintons remarks.
The Womens Entrepreneurship Day (WED) organization has named Moza Saeed Bin Ahmed Al Otaiba, the founder and chief executive of Al OtaibaInmaa Group, as its new ambassador for the UAE.



Al Otaiba will work in co-ordination with Sara Al Ayed, The Wed Mena Regional Ambassador, as part of the We Do global strategy set by Womens Entrepreneurship Day Founder, Wendy Diamond.



In her new role as UAE Wed ambassador, Al Otaiba will host a range of multiple training and qualification sessions in co-ordination with the board of International Womens Day Entrepreneurship and the authorised parties in UAE.



In addition, meetings with high-profile personnel in the community and officials will be held to stress on the goals of this initiative, along with the important role Wed is playing in celebrating, supporting and empowering womens entrepreneurship.



Al Otaiba said as the UAE Ambassador, she will effortlessly and efficiently work towards celebrating the Womens Entrepreneurship Day, which falls on November 19 every year.



She stressed upon the importance of educating, empowering women, and encouraging them to pursue their dreams and enhance their abilities in both economic and educational sectors, to fulfill Wed organizations goals of empowering women economically and alleviating poverty.



The UAE, she stated, had made great strides in the field of supporting female and male entrepreneurs through establishing Khalifa Fund for Enterprise Development, along with Dubai SME.

A series of events will be held to mark the occasion and also to highlight the support and empowerment of women entrepreneurs of all ages using the media and social media channels.-TradeArabia News Service
(Photo: ODD ANDERSEN via Getty Images)

Richard Grenell, appointed by President Donald Trump as the U.S. ambassador to Germany, says he wants to empower anti-establishment conservative movements and leaders across the European continent  a highly unusual statement for a diplomat.

There are a lot of conservatives throughout Europe who have contacted me to say they are feeling there is a resurgence going on, Grenell told the right-wing outlet Breitbart News in an interview published Sunday.

I absolutely want to empower other conservatives throughout Europe, other leaders. I think there is a groundswell of conservative policies that are taking hold because of the failed policies of the left, he added.

Grenell praised Austrian Chancellor Sebastian Kurz, who has been called the new face of European right-wing populism for his stance against immigration and refugee migration, as a rockstar.

Its unclear if Grenells statements were approved by the State Department. Diplomats are traditionally expected to maintain their political neutrality and not interfere in the internal affairs of other nations.

Grenells comments caused a stir in Germany, where several current and former officials from the Social Democratic Party, one of the parties that make up the governments ruling coalition, criticized him for meddling in European politics.

Grenell does not behave like a diplomat but like a far-right colonial officer, said former SPD leader Martin Schulz, according to HuffPost Germany. Ambassadors are representatives of their countries and not of political movements.

SPD Vice President Thorsten Schafer-Gumbel tweeted that Europes citizens do not let a Trump vassal tell them how to vote.

A US ambassador who meddles in democratic conflict is simply out of place, he added.

And Johannes Kahrs, another SPD official, said that if Grenells comments were aimed at ousting German Chancellor Angela Merkel  a favorite target of Trumps  then this gentleman has to leave the country.

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Back in the United States, Sen. Chris Murphy (D-Conn.), a member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, called Grenells comments awful and criticized him for overstepping the boundaries ambassadors are supposed to set for themselves.

When I raised concerns to Grenell about politicizing this post, he personally assured me that once he became Ambassador he would stay out of politics. This interview is awful - Ambassadors aren't supposed to "empower" any political party overseas. https://t.co/i8oOhqEk5k  Chris Murphy (@ChrisMurphyCT) June 3, 2018

Tom Wright, a senior fellow at the Brookings Institution, tweeted that Grenell had created a huge headache for top State Department officials. Wright also speculated that the envoys comments would heighten tensions within the Trump administration between Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and national security adviser John Bolton.

Grenell, a Republican and outspoken Trump ally, worked with Bolton when the latter served as the ambassador to the United Nations under President George W. Bush.

He won Senate confirmation to his ambassadors post in April by a 56-42 vote, despite criticism from Democrats about his misogynistic and other incendiary statements online  particularly toward women in the media.

The story has been updated with comment from officials in Germanys Social Democratic Party.

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This article originally appeared on HuffPost.
By Mohamed Mokhashef ADEN (Reuters) - The U.N. Yemen mediator is in talks with the Houthi movement to hand over control of Hodeidah port to the United Nations in an attempt to avert a possible assault on the city by a Saudi-led coalition, Yemeni political sources said. Martin Griffiths arrived in the Houthi-held capital Sanaa on Saturday as coalition-backed troops moved to within 10 km (6.21 miles) of the Red Sea port, long a key target in the war, according to local military officials, who said the advance had paused in the last few days. "He (Griffiths) comes with a proposal for the Houthis to place Hodeidah port under U.N. supervision," said a senior Yemeni politician close to the internationally recognized government of President Abd-Rabbu Mansour Hadi, who is in exile. A source close to the Iran-aligned Houthi movement confirmed that the proposal was being discussed as did a second source close to Hadi's government. A spokesperson for the Saudi-led coalition did not immediately respond to a Reuters request for comment. The renewed thrust towards Hodeidah coincides with increased tensions between Saudi Arabia and Iran, which are locked in a three-year-old proxy war in Yemen that has killed more than 10,000 people, displaced three million and pushed the impoverished country to the verge of starvation. International aid agencies have warned that a major battle for Hodeidah, with a 400,000 population, could lead to a bloodbath and shut down a port that handles most of Yemen's commercial imports and critically-needed aid supplies. Mark Lowcock, U.N. emergency relief coordinator, said on Monday that the United Nations was in touch with several U.N. member states about Hodeidah. He said Griffiths was due to brief the Security Council on June 18. "And obviously the situation in Hodeidah is one of the things that he's looking at," he added. The Yemeni sources said Griffiths met several Houthi officials, including the group's foreign minister, but had yet to meet Mahdi al-Mashat, who holds the post of president in the Houthi-backed political body which runs most of north Yemen. The Western-back alliance of mostly Gulf Arab states, which intervened in Yemen's war in 2015 to restore Hadi's government, last year announced plans to move on Hodeidah, but backed off amid international pressure. It was unclear if Saudi Arabia's Western allies, which have come under increasing scrutiny for arms sales to coalition member states, have approved an attack on Hodeidah. Troops backed by the United Arab Emirates (UAE), a part of the coalition, have made gains along the southwestern coast of Yemen as part of a strategy to box the Houthis in around Sanaa. Gulf government officials familiar with UAE and Saudi thinking have said capturing the coast would block Houthi supply lines and push the group to the negotiating table. Riyadh says the Houthis use Hodeidah to smuggle Iranian-made arms into Yemen, accusations denied by the group and Tehran. The United Nations has beefed up its inspections of ships bringing humanitarian aid to ensure that no military items are being smuggled and to speed delivery of desperately-needed relief supplies. (Reporting by Mohamed Mokhashef and Mohammed Ghobari; Additional reporting by Stephanie Nebehay in Geneva; writing by Ghaida Ghantous; editing by Mark Heinrich)
By Christian Shepherd and Ben Blanchard BEIJING/HONG KONG (Reuters) - The United States urged China to make a full public account of a crackdown on student-led pro-democracy protests in and around Beijing's Tiananmen Square in 1989 as tens of thousands in Hong Kong held a candlelight vigil for the victims. The Chinese government sent tanks to quell the June 4, 1989 protests, and has never released a death toll. Estimates from human rights groups and witnesses range from several hundred to several thousand. The Tiananmen crackdown is a taboo subject in China and 29 years later it remains a point of contention between China and many Western countries. In a statement on Sunday, U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said he remembered "the tragic loss of innocent lives". "As Liu Xiaobo wrote in his 2010 Nobel Peace Prize speech, delivered in absentia, 'the ghosts of June 4th have not yet been laid to rest'," Pompeo said referring to the Chinese dissident who died last year while still in custody. "We join others in the international community in urging the Chinese government to make a full public accounting of those killed, detained or missing," Pompeo added. In response to Pompeo's comments, China had lodged "stern representations" with the United States, foreign ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying said on Monday. China long ago reached a clear conclusion about the events of that era, but the United States every year issues statements of "gratuitous criticism" and interferes in its internal affairs, Hua said. "The U.S. Secretary of State has absolutely no qualifications to demand the Chinese government do anything," she added. Hu Xijin, editor of nationalistic tabloid the Global Times, called Pompeo's statement a "meaningless stunt" that "represents a wish of the Western world to meddle in China's political process". The Chinese Communist Party no longer mentions the Tiananmen incident in order to help Chinese society move on, which it has successfully done, Hu added, writing in English on Twitter, which is blocked in China. Tens of thousands of people gathered in a downtown park in Hong Kong for an annual public commemoration of the crackdown on a rainy evening. Filling six football pitches, many held flickering candles, sang songs and chanted for democracy and an "end to one-party dictatorship" in China. Amongst those in the crowds were those from mainland China who would otherwise be barred from publicly marking June 4. "I think this gathering is very meaningful and I am very touched to see so many people from all across Hong Kong and other areas to remember people who died back in 1989," said a tourist from China surnamed Luo. "I just hope one day the government should open up and speak about it." Hong Kong is the only place in China where such large-scale public commemorations happen, though neighboring Macau also holds smaller annual gatherings. On Tiananmen Square, security was tight as is usual for the anniversary, with no signs of any protests or other memorial events. Foreigners' passports were checked by Chinese police at a checkpoint nearly a kilometer from the square. A Reuters reporter was turned away and told that unapproved "interview activities" were forbidden in the square on Monday. In their annual open letter, the Tiananmen Mothers, who represent the families of those who died, said the government was guilty of serious disrespect by ignoring their requests for redress. "Such a powerful proletarian dictatorship apparatus is afraid of us: the old, the sick, and the weakest and most vulnerable of our society," they wrote in a letter addressed to Chinese President Xi Jinping. In Taiwan, the democratic and self-ruled island China claims as its own, President Tsai Ing-wen said that if China could face up to what had happened it could become the bedrock for China's own democratic transformation. "I hope that both sides of the Taiwan Strait can enjoy the universal values of freedom and democracy," she said in a statement on her Facebook page written in the simplified Chinese script used in China. Facebook is also blocked in China. (Reporting by Ben Blanchard and Christian Shepherd in Beijing; Venus Wu, Maggie Liu, Holly Chik and James Pomfret in Hong Kong; Jess Macy Yu in Taipei; Editing by Angus MacSwan)
(BEIJING)  U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo has urged China to disclose the details of people killed, detained or missing during the Chinese militarys crackdown on pro-democracy protesters centered on Beijings Tiananmen Square 29 years ago.

Pompeo marked Mondays anniversary of the suppression of demonstrations on June 4, 1989, saying: We remember the tragic loss of innocent lives.

We join others in the international community in urging the Chinese government to make a full public accounting of those killed, detained or missing, Pompeos statement said.

He cited the Chinese dissident Liu Xiaobo, who wrote in his 2010 Nobel Peace Prize speech, delivered in absentia: the ghosts of June 4th have not yet been laid to rest. Liu last year became only the second Nobel Peace Prize winner to die in police custody.

Pompeos statement also called on Chinese authorities to release those who have been jailed for their efforts to keep alive the memory of the crackdown and to stop harassing the protests participants and their families.

Hundreds, if not thousands, of unarmed protesters and onlookers were killed late on June 3 and the early hours of June 4, 1989, after Chinas Communist leaders ordered the military to retake Tiananmen Square from the student-led demonstrators.

Read more: 6 Things You Should Know About the Tiananmen Square Massacre

The topic remains taboo in mainland China and any form of commemoration, whether public or private, is banned. In Hong Kong, tens of thousands of people gather every year in Victoria Park on the evening of June 4 to remember the victims in the only large-scale public commemoration held on Chinese soil.
London (AFP) - British MPs will hold a string of key votes on Brexit during a single day next week, the government revealed Monday, warning rebels not to use the opportunity to challenge its EU strategy.

In what promises to be a day of drama lasting well into the evening, the House of Commons will decide on June 12 whether to retain or reject 15 amendments made by the House of Lords to a landmark Brexit bill.

Among the changes the government will be seeking to overturn include one giving parliament the right to decide what happens if Britain fails to agree terms of its withdrawal with the European Union.

Other amendments to the EU (Withdrawal) Bill would keep Britain's economy closely aligned to the bloc, contrary to Prime Minister Theresa May's policy to leave both the EU's single market and customs union.

Chief whip Julian Smith, who is in charge of enforcing parliamentary discipline in May's Conservative party, wrote to MPs setting out the date for the votes -- and warning would-be rebels.

He said he looked forward to working with them to deliver a bill "that reflects both the referendum result (to leave the EU) and the Conservative party manifesto we all stood on last year".

May had been accused of delaying debate of the Lords amendments for fear of defeat by a handful of Conservative rebels and opposition MPs, who together may be able to overturn her slim Commons majority.

She drew condemnation on Monday for squeezing more than a dozen amendments passed over weeks in the Lords into one frenzied day in the lower chamber.

"This government is really taking the piss -- and treating the British people with contempt," said Green MP Caroline Lucas on Twitter.

"We wait weeks and weeks, and then they force the whole bill through in one session. And they call themselves democrats."

The main opposition Labour party has said it will back 14 of the 15 Lords amendments to the EU (Withdrawal) Bill, which sets the legal framework for Brexit.

It will only oppose the amendment demanding Britain stay a member of the European Economic Area (EEA), which offers the benefits of the single market without having a say in its rules.

However, on this point it could face its own rebellion by Labour MPs who fear the impact on the economy and jobs of cutting ties with the EU.
Gavin Williamson, UK defence secretary, on board the HMS Sutherland in Singapore - AP

Gavin Williamson, the Defence Secretary, said on Sunday that the UK has deployed three ships to the Asia-Pacific this year to send the strongest of signals on the importance of freedom of navigation and to keep up maximum pressure on North Korea.

His comments on board the Royal Navys HMS Sutherland docked in Singapore, come a day after General James Mattis, the US Secretary of Defence, accused China of intimidation and coercion in the South China Sea and warned there would be consequences if it continued.

The surge of British warships, which include the Sutherland - an anti-submarine frigate - the HMS Albion and HMS Argyll, is the first deployment of three vessels to the region in a generation.

Gavin Williamson, UK defence secretary, on board the HMS Sutherland in Singapore Credit: YongTeck Lim/AP

Part of their mission is to conduct freedom of navigation operations in the South China Sea, where Beijing is continuing to alarm the international community with a build up of military fortifications in disputed waters.

The reason that they are here and the reason that we are visiting is to send the strongest of signals. We believe that countries should play by the rules, said Mr Williamson.

This is even more important at a time when storm clouds are gathering and regional fears are rising, when more nations have nuclear and chemical weapons, not to mention the infringement of regional access, freedoms and security.

But he declined to answer whether British ships would sail within 12 nautical miles of a disputed territory or artificial island built by the Chinese, as US ships have done.

At the end of May Chinas military said it had dispatched warships to challenge two US Navy vessels that had passed within 12 nautical miles of the Paracel Islands, an archipelago in disputed waters off the coast of Vietnam.

Gavin Williamson, UK defence secretary, tours the HMS Sutherland in Singapore Credit: Yong Teck Lim /AP

China, whose claim to the Paracel Islands is not recognised, argued that passage within 12 nautical miles constitutes a violation of the countrys territory under the United Nations Convention of the Law of the Sea.

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Mr Williamson stressed that the UK, France and Australia had also been asserting their rights of passage in the region. Weve been sending a clear message to all that the freedom of navigation is absolutely critical, he said.

Since it left UK shores in January, the Sutherland and its 220-strong crew have also engaged in surveillance operations to counter efforts by North Korea to bypass UN sanctions on banned commodities through illicit ship-to-ship transfers.

Mr Williamson said the UK was very realistic about the challenges that lay ahead with North Korea, but welcomed the prospect of the upcoming Singapore summit between Donald Trump, the US President and Kim Jong-un.

The most important thing that we have is the fact that people are talking, people are trying to work to find a solution and the diplomatic lead that has been shown is one that I think we all welcome and we know is the right approach.
United Nations (United States) (AFP) - A UN envoy was in Yemen on Monday for talks with Huthi rebels about de-escalating the fighting around the key port of Hodeida, a major entry point for humanitarian aid, a spokesman said.

Martin Griffiths was in the rebel-held capital Sanaa also to discuss a resumption of talks on ending the three-year war with the Saudi-led coalition, said UN spokesman Stephane Dujarric.

"The special envoy is discussing with the parties the steps they could take to de-escalate tension, including on Hodeida," said Dujarric, who did not provide details.

Yemeni forces, backed by Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, are closing in on Hodeida, a Red Sea port that the coalition maintains has been used by the Huthis to smuggle weapons.

More than 100 soldiers and insurgents have been killed in the battle for Hodeida in less than a week, according to medics and military sources.

Griffiths is due to report to the UN Security Council on June 18 on his peace efforts.

More than 22 million people in Yemen are in need of aid -- 8.4 million of whom are on the brink of starvation, according to the United Nations which considers Yemen to be the world's worst humanitarian crisis.

Since 2015, Saudi Arabia has been leading a military campaign to push back the Huthis and restore the internationally recognized government to power.

The conflict has left nearly 10,000 people dead in Yemen, already the Arab world's poorest country.
Vilnius (AFP) - Some 18,000 troops from 19 mostly NATO countries began annual US-led military exercises in Poland and the Baltic states on Sunday to boost combat readiness on the alliance's eastern flank as it faces an increasingly assertive Russia.

The eighth Saber Strike manoeuvres, which run until June 15, come after it was revealed Poland is considering a proposal to welcome a permanent deployment of US troops to the country.

A Polish defence ministry "information document" emerged this week showing that Warsaw could spend between $1.5 to $2 billion (1.3 to 1.7 billion euros) to help cover the cost of stationing a US tank unit in Poland.

The proposal triggered immediate criticism from Moscow, with the Kremlin insisting that any such deployment "will not benefit in any way the security and stability on the continent".

The US has ramped up its presence on NATO's eastern flank and notably Poland since Russia's 2014 annexation of Crimea from Ukraine.

The united States leads a multi-national NATO battle group in Poland. Germany, Britain and Canada command three others in nearby Baltic states Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, where Saber Strike manoeuvres are planned.

"They (NATO battalions) will be specifically tested during Saber Strike, it demonstrates the alliance commitment to one another," US Brigadier General Richard Coffman told officials at Sunday ceremonies in the Lithuanian capital Vilnius launching the exercises.

The exercises demonstrate "the enhanced flexibility of ground and air forces to rapidly respond to a crisis. This allows for the right presence where we need it," he said, adding that "we are fully capable to conduct combined and joined operations."

- Cementing ties -

Speaking in Warsaw on Monday, NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said he expected leaders at a July NATO summit in Brussels to "make decisions on reinforcement, readiness and military mobility" of forces in Europe, particularly with regard to the four battle groups deployed since 2016.

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The US army also set up a new European headquarters in Poland in May 2017 to command some 6,000 of its troops deployed in NATO and Pentagon operations in the region.

The move was one of the largest deployments of US forces in Europe since the Cold War and was meant to reassure NATO's easternmost allies spooked by Russia's frequent military exercises near their borders and the Crimea annexation.

Further cementing strong defence ties with Washington, Poland signed a $4.75-billion (3.8-billion-euro) contract in March to purchase a US-made Patriot anti-missile system, in its largest-ever weapons deal.

Moscow complained about the prospect of the deployment of Patriot systems in Poland and Romania, which it says violates a 1987 arms treaty and could be tailored to shoot missiles at Russia.

In February, Lithuania accused Russia of permanently deploying nuclear-capable Iskander ballistic missiles to its Kaliningrad exclave.

This year's Saber Strike manoeuvres will be partly held in this sensitive region.
Is Victoria Beckham working overtime to shoot down those complaints that shes miserable because she didnt flash her pearly whites at the royal wedding? Or is she a secretly fun but misunderstood mom?

Victoria Beckham spices up her school run. (Photo: Carlos Alvarez/Getty Images)

Just weeks after the former Spice Girl mocked her moody royal wedding appearance by wearing an Its A Dark But Happy Place sweatshirt, Beckham is back on social media with some playful documentation of her morning with daughter Harper.

Like countless other parents, the 44-year-old fashion designer was tasked with taking her 6-year-old  the youngest of her four children, and her only daughter  to school. And rather than hop in a minivan, Beckham opted to make it a little adventure.

There was skipping.

And there was a shoutout to Daddy, aka David Beckham.

Looks like Mummy has a sense of humor after all  no cheesy grin necessary.

Read more from Yahoo Lifestyle:

Meghan Markle recycles her Victoria Beckham engagement-shoot sweater for Northern Ireland trip

Victoria Beckham slammed for using sick-looking model in fashion ad

Victoria Beckham on whether or not shed ever dress Melania Trump

Follow us on Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter for nonstop inspiration delivered fresh to your feed, every day.




Guatemala's Volcan de Fuego  literally translated to the Volcano of Fire  can be a terrifying mountain.

On June 3, the volcano sent scorching avalanches of swiftly flowing volcanic debris, known as pyroclastic flows, down its flanks, which the Guatemalan government said has so far killed 25 people.

But this is nothing new for Volcan de Fuego.

SEE ALSO: Deep beneath the Pacific, another active Hawaiian volcano waits to emerge

In recorded history alone, the volcano has erupted more than 60 times, and when it does, it often produces these hot avalanches which  when large enough  can completely bury people and homes.

I can't stress this enough. This is a deadly eruption. Pyroclastic flows kill. This is an awful place to be, if you are ever around an erupting volcano like this and you see a cloud moving along the ground towards you, RUN. GET OUT OF THERE! https://t.co/Y5nDTaXKKf  Dr Janine Krippner (@janinekrippner) June 4, 2018

"If you're in the path of a pyroclastic flow, youre dead," volcanologist Jess Phoenix said in an interview. These flows can reach temperatures of 1,000 degrees Celsius (1,800 degrees Fahrenheit) and travel hundreds of miles per hour.

Pyroclastic flows, it should be noted, are completely different than lava flows. Lava flows are molten rock, often oozing like syrup, whereas pyroclastic flows are a hot mess of exploded magma that has rapidly hardened into a range of particles, from ashy volcanic dirt to large rocks.

They're also suffocating.

"Most people are asphyxiated  the dust clogs the throat," Stanley Mertzman, a volcanologist at Franklin and Marshall College, said in an interview.

"They simply cant breath anymore."

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Meanwhile, thousands of miles away, in Hawaii, the Big Island's Kilauea volcano has been spewing lava through neighborhoods for over a month now  but no one has died.

So, what's the difference?

Hawaii vs. Guatemala

Except for rare instances, Hawaiian volcanoes don't explode. And they simply aren't capable of producing such extremely fast, powerful pyroclastic flows, said Phoenix.

The reason why is Hawaii's magma  underground molten rock  is not as thick and gooey as that beneath explosive volcanoes like Volcan de Fuego, Mt. Saint Helens, or Mount Vesuvius, which are more formally known as stratovolcanoes.

#Guatemala  Esta es la aldea El Rodeo, #Escuintla y asi quedo tras la caida de flujos piroclasticos que expulso el volcan de Fuego. Fotos Julio Arriola. #DesastreVolcanDeFuego pic.twitter.com/Rnp8GGPkFF  RBCNoticiasGT (@RBCNoticiasGT) June 3, 2018

Specifically, the magma feeding explosive volcanoes is richer in the ingredient silica, which makes it thicker.

"The higher the silica content, the greater the explosivity of the material," said Mertzman.

This magma brews deep underground, and becomes saturated with a variety of Earth's gases. In Hawaii, where lava oozes like syrup, the gases can easily escape.

But Fuego's molten rock rarely oozes. It's too thick. Instead, it traps gases for years or decades at a time. And when enough pressure builds, an explosion can occur  which is exactly what happened on June 3.

Sometimes, these explosions send plumes of ash miles into the sky.

But when the fragments are too heavy, like freshly exploded rocks and sand-like volcanic grains, "the gases and rocks start tumbling downhill," said Mertzman.

Volcan de Fuego emitting some volcanic material in February 2018.

Image: ESTEBAN BIBA/EPA-EFE/REX/Shutterstock

"Fuego has pretty steep sides," said Phoenix. "It can build decent speed."

"There is no way a person could outrun a pyroclastic flow," she added.

The aftermath of these volcanic avalanches are extremely messy. The blasted material doesn't harden into masses of heavy, black rock, like on Hawaii. It's grainy and unconsolidated.

"Its like digging into sand," said Mertzman.

So, what happens next?

It's never known exactly what will happen after a pyroclastic flow, but scientists will be measuring tremors in the area and other activity on the mountain to determine if the volcano might continue to erupt, or settle down.

"Is this the first part of a longer phase of eruptions, and will they get increasingly vigorous, or will it be quiet for a year or two?" asked Mertzman.

"We dont know what the storyline is, but we know what the first chapter is."

The eruption of #FuegoVolcano in Guatemala via satellite imagery; image credit Scott Bachmeier https://t.co/qXaPZIxcJF pic.twitter.com/ASdfJ7KWi2  Michael Ventrice (@MJVentrice) June 4, 2018

This first chapter was an explosive eruption, but nothing approximating the Roman eruption that destroyed Pompeii, or the Mount Saint Helens eruption in 1980.

This is because Fuego didn't erupt nearly enough volcanic material, said Janine Krippner, a volcanologist at Concord University's Department of Physical Sciences.

But based on historical president, the U.S. Geological Survey thinks future Fuego eruptions will result in pyroclastic flows that travel no more than 20 kilometers (12.4 miles) from the volcano.

But the situation isn't that simple. The avalanches can combine with water and rain to become muddy debris flows, called lahars, which historically inundate communities.

Unlike Hawaiian volcanoes, whose oozing lava flows shouldn't cause any deaths, the explosive nature of volcanoes like Fuego means that once an eruption begins, no one should be around.

"You never know how quickly it can turn bad," said Phoenix. "You got to get the hell out of there."
Latvian airline airBaltic has launched a new route from Riga International Airport, with twice weekly flights to Bordeaux Airport in France.



The new route offers convenient travel options from the Baltics to the sunny Bordeaux, as well as new connections for travellers from Southwestern France to Riga and beyond to destinations in Scandinavia, the Baltics, and the CIS.



Wolfgang Reuss, senior vice preisdent of Network Management of airBaltic, said: We are delighted to add the third French destination to our summer route map. Bordeaux is the eighth new summer destination for airBaltic from Riga this year. With its Unesco World Heritage protected city centre, a vibrant cultural life, world famous vineyards and, of course, a wide array of culinary delights, Bordeaux is the perfect getaway for holidaymakers.



AirBaltic will operate a Boeing 737 aircraft on the new route. One-way ticket price to Bordeaux starts at 79 ($92), including airport fees and transaction costs.



AirBaltic serves over 70 destinations from Riga, Tallinn and Vilnius, offering the largest variety of destinations and convenient connections via Riga to its network spanning Europe, Scandinavia, the CIS and the Middle East. For summer 2018, airBaltic has introduced eight new destinations from Riga to Malaga, Lisbon, Split, Bordeaux, Gdansk, Almaty as well as Sochi and Kaliningrad. In addition, airBaltic launched a new direct route connecting Tallinn and London. - TradeArabia News Service
(LJUBLJANA, Slovenia)  A right-wing opposition party led by a former Slovenian prime minister won the most votes in Slovenias parliamentary election on Sunday, but not enough to form a government on its own, an exit poll from Sundays vote suggested.

The poll carried by public broadcaster TV Slovenia and commercial channel POP TV said that Janez Jansas Slovenian Democratic Party received 24.4 percent of the vote. The second-place party, the List of Marjan Sarec, trailed with 12.6 percent.

The Modern Center Party of outgoing Prime Minister Miro Cerar was third with 9.8 percent. The Left party had 9.5 percent and the Social Democrats won 9.3 percent, the poll conducted by the Mediana Institute said.

If confirmed in official returns, the results mean no party secured a majority in Slovenias 90-member parliament and the likely next step is negotiations to form a coalition government.

Slovenia was once part of the former Yugoslavia and is the native home of U.S. first lady Melania Trump. Bordering Austria, Croatia, Hungary, Italy and a slice of the Adriatic Sea, the country joined the European Union in 2004 and has used the euro as its official currency since 2007.

Jansa, who served as prime minister during 2004-2008 and 2012-2013, tweeted after the exit poll was published that we do not fear tomorrow; we are looking forward to it.

The trust of everyone who cast votes for us today makes us strong, Jansa added. If SDS forms the government, we will lead it on a fair way, to the benefit of all citizens.

But postelection negotiations could keep Jansa from another term in office since other groups have suggested they were unwilling to form an alliance with him.

Second-placed Sarec reiterated Sunday that a coalition with Jansa was not an option and said he hoped his party would lead a future coalition government.

If everybody respects our pre-election agreements, I expect that we will get the opportunity to form the government, he said.

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Jansa is an ally of Hungarys anti-immigration prime minister, Viktor Orban. His election prowess with Slovenias 1.7 million voters mirrors the growth of right-wing populism in central and eastern Europe following a large influx of migrants from the Mideast and Africa.

A government led by Jansa would shift Slovenia to the right and add an anti-immigrant voice to the European Union. Some 500,000 migrants passed through Slovenia, a country with a population of 2 million, during 2015.

Slovenias outgoing PM Cerar has been credited with boosting the countrys economy after a downturn. Sundays election was being held a few weeks earlier than scheduled due to Cerars sudden resignation in March over a failed railway project.
Woody Allen should be the face of the #MeToo movement  according to Woody Allen.

In a new interview, the controversial director applauds the crusade sparked by estranged son Ronan Farrow, saying he should be the poster boy for #MeToo, given his perfect track record working with actresses.

As I say, Im a big advocate of the #MeToo movement. I feel when they find people who harass innocent women and men, its a good thing that theyre exposing them, Allen said on Argentinian news program Periodismo Para Todos (Journalism for All) on Sunday night.

But you know, I should be the poster boy for the #MeToo movement, he added, according to the Hollywood Reporter, because I have worked in movies for 50 years, Ive worked with hundreds of actresses, and not a single one  big ones, famous ones, ones starting out  has ever, ever suggested any kind of impropriety at all. Ive always had a wonderful record with them.

Woody Allen in February 2018 in New York City. (Photo: Gonzalo Marroquin/Patrick McMullan via Getty Images)

Its a bold statement, given daughter Dylan Farrows claims that Allen sexually abused her as a child. She has responded to Allens interview.

My statement on Woody Allens latest remarks: pic.twitter.com/U0E5SK4TyG  Dylan Farrow (@RealDylanFarrow) June 5, 2018

The Blue Jasmine director has denied the allegations and did so once again, pointing to the fact that he was never charged with a crime.

This is something that has been thoroughly looked at 25 years ago by all the authorities, and everybody came to the conclusion that it was untrue. And that was the end, and Ive gone on with my life, Allen, 82, exclaimed. For it to come back now  its a terrible thing to accuse a person of. Im a man with a family and my own children, so of course its upsetting.

Allen has two teenage girls with current wife Soon-Yi Previn  who is the adopted daughter of his ex-wife Mia Farrow. Despite their 35-year age difference, Allen and Previn have been married for over 20 years.

Story continues

Ever since the October 2017 exposes of Harvey Weinstein, Hollywood has been rocked by widespread allegations of sexual harassment, misconduct, and assault by some of the industrys most powerful men.

What bothers me is that I get linked with them, Allen said. People who have been accused by 20 women, 50 women, 100 women of abuse and abuse and abuse  and I, who was only accused by one woman in a child custody case which was looked at and proven to be untrue, I get lumped in with these people.

Dylans allegation against Allen was resurrected after the Weinstein scandal broke, with Greta Gerwig and Ellen Page publicly apologizing to Dylan for working with the director.

I think in any situation where anyone is accused of something unjustly, this is a sad thing, Allen stated. I think everybody would agree with that. Everyone wants justice to be done. If there is something like the #MeToo movement now, you root for them, you want them to bring to justice to these terrible harassers, these people who do all these terrible things. And I think thats a good thing.

Dylan has never wavered from her claim that Allen sexually assaulted her at age 7, something that has divided the Farrow family.

Last week, Moses Farrow  the adopted son of Woody Allen and Mia Farrow  defended his father in a lengthy post, claiming Mia was physically and emotionally abusive. Bechet, Allen and Soon-Yi Previns daughter, also came to Allens defense on Facebook writing, He has been nothing but supportive and loving, and now it is my turn to support him.

Ronan Farrow, who was honored with a Pulitzer Prize this year for the New Yorker story on Weinstein, has long defended his sister Dylan. He did so again after Mosess essay.

All Im going to say about efforts to deflect from my sisters allegations: pic.twitter.com/IRrj5fzMqV  Ronan Farrow (@RonanFarrow) May 24, 2018

He has yet to weigh in on Allens latest headline-making interview.

[Editors note: This post was originally published June 4, 2018 at 2:30 p.m. ET.]

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Riyadh (AFP) - Yemeni government forces are only around nine kilometres (six miles) from Hodeida, the Saudi-led military coalition said Monday, announcing fresh gains in their advance on the strategic rebel-held port city.

The coalition-backed forces are closing in on the Red Sea port, the main conduit for humanitarian supplies into a country where millions of people are in dire need of food aid.

"The Yemeni army backed by coalition forces are nine kilometres from Hodeida," coalition spokesman Turki al-Maliki told reporters in Riyadh.

Last Monday, Maliki said the forces were around 20 kilometres from Hodeida.

The battle for the port, controlled by Iran-allied Huthi rebels, has left more than 100 soldiers and insurgents dead in less than a week, medics and military sources said at the weekend.

"We are getting reinforcements... removing mines... in preparation for subsequent operations," Maliki said, adding that the coalition was focused on protecting civilian lives.

"Once the measures are in place, the forces will advance to liberate Hodeida."

UN envoy Martin Griffiths was in the rebel-held capital Sanaa on Monday for talks with Huthi rebels about de-escalating the fighting around Hodeida.

The United Nations has warned that any operation aimed at seizing Hodeida itself would disrupt the entry of aid shipments to Yemen, 70 percent of which flow through the rebel-held port.

The port has been a point of contention in Yemen's war since Saudi Arabia and its allies intervened on behalf of the government in 2015 against the rebels.

Hodeida is crucial for aid deliveries as Yemen teeters on the brink of famine, but for Saudi Arabia it is an entry point for rebel weaponry -- which it accuses regional rival Tehran of supplying.

The United Arab Emirates -- a key member of the Saudi-led alliance -- has taken the initiative to ramp up the coastal offensive, with the stated goal of taking Hodeida.

Nearly 10,000 people have been killed since the alliance launched its intervention in Yemen in March 2015, contributing to what the UN has called the world's worst humanitarian crisis.
British universities oppose an academic boycott of Israel, according to a statement made last week by the head of the international arm of the University Association of Britain and the President of Exeter University, Sir Steve Smith.

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During a meeting between representatives of British universities and the heads of universities in Israel, Smith emphasized to the heads of the latter the commitment of the British Universities Union against any academic boycott with an emphasis on Israel and the importance of not allowing political or other issues to harm the cooperation between the institutions.

BDS (Archive photo) (Photo: citizenside.com)

The explicit resistance by Britain comes in the wake of several attempts to implement an academic boycott of Israel. Such calls were made by university heads and senior officials in the higher education system in Norway Ireland and the United States , among others.

In addition to what he told the Israeli academic leaders personally, Smith also sent a written statement on the subject to the British Universities Union, which was approved in 2015, and which also strongly opposes an academic boycott of Israel.

"The British University Committee is committed to the free sharing of ideas between universities and in academia, the statement said, regardless of nationality and place. Therefore the committee strongly opposes an academic boycott on the grounds that it is hostile to academic freedom, including academic freedom to cooperate with one another."

It further stated that the committee wishes to ratify its previous position regarding the boycott of Israeli universities."

Tel Aviv University President Prof. Joseph Klafter and the British Minister of Universities, Science, Research and Innovation Sam Gyimah published a joint statement emphasizing the importance of cooperation between the two countries.

"We welcome any statement condemning the phenomenon of an academic boycott of Israel," said Prof. Klafter, "and call upon the European university unions to adopt similar statements."

Last week, the Council for Higher Education approved the university's code of ethics , granting independence to Israeli academic institutions to apply it in accordance with their worldview. In this context, the most relevant section of the code is a ban on support by Israeli scholars and lecturers of academic boycotts of Israel.
Israel says it has delivered food, blankets and medicine to Guatemala after a volcano erupted there, killing at least 25 people.

Israel's Foreign Ministry says Monday it extended the assistance through its embassy in Guatemala and that a further assessment will be held with local authorities later.

Israel and Guatemala have grown increasingly close in recent years. Last month, Guatemala followed the US by moving its embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem, becoming the second country to do so. Israel considers Jerusalem its capital.

The Volcan de Fuego, or "volcano of fire," exploded in a hail of ash and molten rock Sunday, blanketing nearby villages in heavy ash and sending lava flows down the mountain's flank.
The mayor who was arrested on Monday morning after police raided municipality offices in the Sharon region as part of a corruption investigation has been identified as Hadera Mayor Zvi "Zvika" Gendelman. Three other senior public officials on suspicion of bribery, fraud and breach of trust.

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After a period in which police carried out covert activities to uncover illicit conduct, the National Fraud Investigation Unit launched the investigation at the Lahav 433 anti-corruption unit in Lod in light of evidence that aroused suspicion of a string of corruption offences.

Hadera Mayor Zvi 'Zvika' Gendelman (Photo: Hadera Municipality)

Police began questioning Gendelman at the Lahav offices on Monday morning, whose identification was originally subject to a gag order.

The mayors chief of staff was also arrested, along with his driver and a contractor who in the past served as public officials.

During the morning hours of Monday, other suspects were questioned under caution, while another two suspects were remanded on suspicion of bribery, fraud, breach of trust, tax offenses and other misdemeanors.

According to the suspicions, Gendelman and the senior officials arrested used their positions to promote interests and benefits of others in violation of the law. In addition to searching their offices, police also raided their homes.

The investigation is being conducted by the police the and the Tax Authority in a fresh bid to flush out the phenomenon of corruption among public officials in Israel.

Yesh Atid's Chairman Yair Lapid later announced that he was suspending Gendelman from the party.

Lahav 433 unit (:  )

"Yesh Atid's protocol is clear: A public servant with a criminal investigation against him must immediately suspend himself from all his positions and his party's membership will be revoked until further inquiry," Lapid said.

"We hope the suspicions will prove to be false," he added.

Police asked the Rishon LeZion Magistrates Court to extend Gendelmans arrest by eight days. The police noted that failure to extend his remand could result in an obstruction of the investigation.

In addition, the court extended the remand by six days of the contractor who was one of the four suspects arrested in the case. The arrest of the chief of staff was also extended by six days.
Jordan's King Abdullah was expected on Monday to ask Prime Minister Hani Mulki to resign in a bid to soothe widespread anger over economic policies that has sparked the largest protests in several years, political sources said.

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The dismissal of Mulki was demanded in a series of protests against IMF-backed tax increases that have shaken the kingdom. The sources said King Abdullah had ordered Mulki for an audience in his palace later on Monday.

Mass protests against Jordan's Prime Minister Hani Mulki

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Mulki, a business-friendly politician, was appointed in May 2016 and given the responsibility of reviving a sluggish economy and business sentiment hit by regional turmoil.

Public anger over IMF-driven government policies has grown since a steep general sales tax hike earlier this year and the abolition of bread subsidies, a staple item for the poor. The increases have caused Mulki's popularity to plummet.

Jordan's Prime Minister Hani Mulki (Photo: Reuters)

Thousands of Jordanians took to the streets of the capital, Amman, and in main provincial towns on Sunday in an extension of protests that began last Wednesday.

The protests widened on Saturday after Mulki refused to scrap a bill increasing personal and corporate taxes, saying it was up to parliament to decide.

Witnesses said demonstrators who converged near the Cabinet office said they would disband only if the government rescinded the tax bill it sent to parliament last month, which critics say would worsen living standards.

"The government has made us penniless ... they have left us with no more money in our pockets," chanted protesters.

Unions representing tens of thousands of employees in both the public and private sectors have also called for a general strike on Wednesday after their demands for the bill to be scrapped were rejected by the government.

Mass demonstrations against Jordan's PM

The government says it needs more funds for public services and argues that tax changes reduce social disparities by placing a heavier burden on high earners and leaving lower-paid state workers relatively unscathed

Jordan's economy has struggled to grow in the past few years in the face of chronic deficits as private foreign capital and aid flows have declined.

Politicians and economists say the tough IMF-imposed fiscal consolidation plan has worsened the plight of poorer Jordanian and squeezed the middle class.

Protesters have also slammed politicians for squandering public funds and corruption.

"Our demands are legitimate. No, no to corruption," chanted the demonstrators urging King Abdullah, who is seen as a unifying force, to intervene and crack down on official graft.
Israel says it plans to deduct from tax funds it collects for the Palestinians the amount needed to compensate Israelis living near the Gaza Strip who have come under a wave of arson attacks.

Israel has been battling fires caused by kites rigged with incendiary devices launched by Palestinians in Gaza that have damaged forests and torched agricultural fields. The fires have disrupted daily life in communities near the Gaza Strip.

The statement from Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office on Sunday didn't disclose how much would be deducted. Israeli Army Radio put the cost of damages at 5 million shekels ($1.4 million).
The police detained overnight Sunday 13 foreign nationals suspected of violent disturbances in Tel Aviv.

The suspects were involved in a fight in Tel Aviv's Neve Sha'anan Street that was likely caused by a differences of opinion between supporters of the Eritrean regime and its opposers.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu told former US President Barack Obama that his decision to seek congressional support for any American strike on the Assad regime in the wake of the use of chemical weapons was the correct decision, according to a new memoir by former Deputy National Security Advisor for Strategic Communications Ben Rhodes.

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In an excerpt in The Atlantic of the book, which will be published on Tuesday, Rhodes describe the events which almost brought the Obama administration to the brink of a military confrontation with Syrian President Bashar Assads regime.

According to Rhodes, the administration had all but decided to launch a cruise missile attack on Syria after chemical weapons were launched in August 2013. However, fearing a public backlash against a presidential decision to strike and risk dragging the war-wary country into yet another conflict, Obama sought to marshal Congress behind him before taking action, a decision which Rhodes says was praised by Netanyahu.

PM Netanyahu and Barack Obama (Photo: AP)

Obama called a couple of foreign leaders, including Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Your decision was right, Netanyahu said, and history will be kinder than public opinion, Rhodes wrote.

As Obama attempted to rally congressmen behind the strike on Syria, he received support from pro-Israeli lobbyists headed by the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC).

Despite frosty relations between the two, Netanyahu also supported Obama in his bid to gain overall support from Congress.

Ben Rhodes standing next to Obama (Photo: Gettyimages)

Senior Israeli officials who were close to Netanyahu told Ynet that the Israeli premier held discussions with congressmen, administration officials and AIPAC representatives in an effort to explain the importance of conducting a military strike against the Assad regime following its use of Sarin gas, which killed over 1,000 people.

Ron Dermer, who was set to take up the post of Israels ambassador to Washington, was also enlisted to explain Jerusalems position.

Israel has officially maintained its silence on the matter, insisting that any US strike was a matter of domestic consideration only. However, the intimate involvement of AIPAC, which receives dozens of briefings and pieces of information from Israeli diplomats on sensitive matters regarding Israel, such as the Iranian nuclear program and the war in Syria, points to the fact that Israel did not play a passive role in the issue, as it advocated an attack in Syria in retaliation for the use of chemical weapons.

In addition, 250 people from AIPAC were expected to flood Capitol Hill ahead of the historic vote, in order to put pressure on members of Congress to support the attack.

Children treated after alleged chemical attack in Douma in 2018

After Obama announced his decision to garner support from Congress, Israel stated on the record that the president had to be given a chance.

His obligation to act is extremely important and we need to wait to see what he does, some Israeli officials said. However, others in Jerusalem expressed concern over what appeared to be Obamas excessive hesitation in conveying a message to Assad. Fears also increased in Israel that Obama had inhibited his ability to act by approaching Congress, and therefore risked losing confidence in the US in the Middle East.
After the 19-year-old Imad Agbar from Nablus had stabbed three people at a hotel on Hayarkon Street in Tel Aviv last year, Tel Aviv's District Court convicted him Monday of two murder and terrorism attempts and of two offenses of assault and aggravated battery.
The Kremlin said on Monday it had no received no communication from Washington aimed at setting up a summit between US President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin since the two spoke by phone in March.

The Wall Street Journal on Friday cited sources saying the White House is in the early stages of planning for a potential summit between the two leaders.

"We feel a deficit of initiative (from the US side)," Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters on a conference call.
IDF soldiers killed one of two armed terrorists Monday as they attempted to cross the border from the Gaza Strip into Israel.

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The terrorists, who were carrying an ax, damaged the security fence in what was the latest in a wave attempt by Palestinians in Gaza to infiltrate into Israeli territory.

Ax found on the terrorists (Photo: IDF Spokesperson's Unit)

Soldiers from the 51st Battalion of the Golani Brigade arrived at the scene and opened fire, killing one and wounding the other, who retreated back into Gaza.

The IDF is currently scouring the area to determine whether the two planted an explosive device on the border.

In addition, Palestinians published a video showing damage being caused to the border fence and the setting alight of an IDF post.

Video published by Palestinians of border crossing

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In the short clip, which is accompanied by dramatic music, three Palestinians can been seen cutting through the barbed wire using wire cutters and then the fence itself before reaching an IDF post in Khan Younis in southern Gaza and setting it ablaze. Plumes of smoke can be seen rising from the post used by IDF snipers as the three Palestinians run back to the strip.

According to the Palestinians, the footage was filmed in retaliation for the of killing of a Palestinian nurse, 21-year-old Razan Ashraf Najjar , on Friday during protests along the Gaza border.

The IDF said on Saturday it was investigating the apparent killing which was attributed to its troops.

On Sunday evening, Palestinian terrorists from Gaza Strip cut through the border fence and infiltrated southern Israel, before setting ablaze a container containing equipment used for the construction of an anti-tunnel barrier along the border.

The group returned to the strip after lighting the fire. Nobody was injured but damage was caused to security infrastructure.

A week and a half ago, a similar incident took place as terrorists infiltrated from Gaza into Israel and set fire to an unmanned IDF post. No injuries were caused and in response the IDF fired tank shells at Hamas military posts in the area.
Israel says it has delivered food, blankets and medicine to Guatemala after a volcano erupted there, killing at least 25 people.

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Israel's Foreign Ministry said Monday it extended the assistance through its embassy in Guatemala and that a further assessment will be held with local authorities later.

Israel and Guatemala have grown increasingly close in recent years. Last month, Guatemala followed the US by moving its embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem, becoming the second country to do so.

The Volcan de Fuego, or "volcano of fire," exploded in a hail of ash and molten rock Sunday, blanketing nearby villages in heavy ash and sending lava flows down the mountain's flank.

Volcano erupts in Guatamala

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The death toll rose late Sunday with 18 bodies found in the community of San Miguel Los Lotes, disaster agency spokesman David de Leon said, adding to the seven victims previously confirmed elsewhere earlier in the day.

Volcano erupting (Photo: AP)

At least 20 people were injured, and authorities have said they feared the death toll could rise with an undetermined number of people unaccounted for.

The Volcan de Fuego, or "Volcano of Fire," exploded in a hail of ash and molten rock shortly before noon, blanketing nearby villages in heavy ash. Lava began flowing down the mountain's flank and across homes and roads around 4pm.

Eddy Sanchez, director of the country's seismology and volcanology institute, said the flows reached temperatures of about 1,300 degrees Fahrenheit (700 Celsius).

Dramatic video showed a fast-moving lahar, or flow of pyroclastic material and slurry, slamming into and partly destroying a bridge on a highway between Sacatepequez and Escuintla.

Sacatepequez television published images of a charred landscape where the lava came into contact with homes. Three bodies lay partially buried in ash-colored debris from the volcano, which lies about 27 miles (44 kilometers) west of Guatemala City.

Other videos from local media showed residents walking barefoot and covered in muddy residue.

"Not everyone was able to get out. I think they ended up buried," Consuelo Hernandez, a resident of the village of El Rodeo, told the newspaper Diario de Centroamerica.

"Where we saw the lava fall, we ran to a hillside" to escape, she added.

Homes were still burning in El Rodeo late Sunday, and a charred stench hung over the town.

Hundreds of rescue workers, including firefighters, police and soldiers, worked to help any survivors and recover any more bodies amid the still-smoking lava.

Firefighters said they had seen some people who were trapped, but roads were cut by pyroclastic flows and they had been unable to reach them.

Amid darkness and rain, the rescue effort was suspended until early Monday morning, municipal firefighters' spokesman Cecilio Chacaj said.

Among the fatalities were four people, including a disaster agency official, killed when lava set a house on fire in El Rodeo village, National Disaster Coordinator Sergio Cabanas said. Two children were burned to death as they watched the volcano's second eruption this year from a bridge, he added.

Another victim was found in the streets of El Rodeo by volunteer firefighters and died in an ambulance.

At an ad-hoc morgue in the town of Alotenango, at least three bodies lay covered with blue sheets.

Guatemala's disaster agency said 3,100 people had evacuated nearby communities, and ash fall from the eruption was affecting an area with about 1.7 million of the country's 15 million or so people. Shelters were opened for those forced to flee.

"Currently the volcano continues to erupt and there exists a high potential for (pyroclastic) avalanches of debris," the disaster agency said late Sunday via Twitter, quoting Sanchez, the director of the seismology and volcanology institute.

Guatemalan President Jimmy Morales said he would issue a declaration of a state of emergency to be approved by Congress and urged people to heed warnings from emergency officials.

Ash fell on the Guatemala City area as well as the departments of Sacatepequez, Chimaltenango and Escuintla. Streets and houses were covered in the colonial town of Antigua, a popular tourist destination.

Aviation authorities closed the capital's international airport because of the danger posed to planes by the ash.

One of Central America's most active volcanos, the conical Volcan de Fuego reaches an altitude of 12,346 feet (3,763 meters) above sea level at its peak.
Disabled protesters blocked on Monday the Ibn Gabirol-Arlozorov junction in Tel Aviv.

The Protesters blocked the junction for 15 minutes, and after bursting into the road, the junction was blocked again.

The police said the disabled protesters had not filed a request to hold the protest as the law obligates and recommended drivers to avoid arriving to the area.
Defense Minister Avigdor Lieberman said Monday that Israel is not prepared to accept a reality in which incendiary kites are flown over into the country from the Gaza Strip on a daily basis.

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We should be clear that we are not prepared to accept the kites becoming normality. The same applies for riots on the border fence and attempts to breach it and cause damage to the sovereign territory of Israel, Lieberman said during his remarks at the Yisrael Beytenu faction meeting.

His comments were made as southern Israel residents have been forced in recent weeks to endure an upsurge in the number of flaming kites being flown across the border, causing huge fires that have incinerated agricultural areas and destroyed wildlife.

(Photo: Danny Ben Daiv/KKL and Yoav Dudkevitch)

Thats why we will act in accordance with Israeli interests in time and at a timing that suits us, whenever we decide, he warned. In any event, I am not in the custom of leaving scores unsettled and we will settle all scores with Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad.

According to the defense minister, 600 such kites have been sent from the strip so far, while 400 have been intercepted by Israeli security forces using technological means.

Two-hundred succeeded in reaching our territory and they burned 9,000 dunams of crops and forests, Lieberman said.

Regarding the northern border, Lieberman echoed Israels policy which has repeatedly been articulated by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

My position is totally clear. We want a clear arrangement whereby Iran is not present on Syrian soil, Lieberman stated.

Asked whether southern Israeli residents feel that their plight has been subordinated to the Iranian issue, Lieberman demurred.

I dont think there is that kind of feeling. I spoke with the heads of the councils bordering Gaza and I think they understand our moves, Lieberman opined. We speak to them every day, as does the IDF chief of staff and the GOC of Southern Command. They know exactly what were doing and like I said, we wont be abandoning anyone.

The last fire to have erupted as a result of the incendiary kites swept through the Shokeda Forest in southern Israel on Sunday evening after one was flown over the Gaza border by Palestinian terrorists.
Syria has told Lebanon it wants refugees to return to help rebuild the country, its envoy to Lebanon said on Monday, after Beirut expressed concern that a new land redevelopment law could discourage them from going home.

Lebanon, which is hosting some 1 million registered Syrian refugees, wrote to the Syrian government last month over "Law 10", which aid and rights groups fear could result in Syrian refugees losing their property in the country.

"Law 10" came into effect in April as the army was on the brink of crushing the last insurgent enclaves near Damascus, consolidating President Bashar al-Assad's grip over nearly all of western Syria. The law has yet to be applied.

One of big concerns with the law is that it gave people just 30 days to stake ownership claims once an area is designated for redevelopment, according to rights activists and aid groups. Syrian Foreign Minister Walid al-Mualem said on Saturday this time period had been extended to one year.

Gebran Bassil, the foreign minister in Lebanon's caretaker government, had expressed concern over the limited time frame in a letter to the Syrian government last month.
The German government condemned on Monday an apparent attempt by the co-leader of the anti-immigrant AfD party to play down the significance of the Nazis in Germany's history, and it stressed the unique nature of the Holocaust.

On Sunday politicians rebuked Alexander Gauland, one of the leaders of the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD), after he told a party gathering: "Hitler and the National Socialists are just bird shit in 1,000 years of successful German history."

Gauland denied on Monday that he had intended to trivialize the Nazis and their crimes, but Steffen Seibert, spokesman for Chancellor Angela Merkel, said it was shameful that a member of the German national parliament had made such comments.

"The Nazi regime and the crime of the Holocaust conceived by the Nazi regime are unique, a real crime against humanity, and immeasurable suffering was the result in many countries, including here in Germany," Seibert said.
President Reuven Rivlin urged Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas on Monday to speak out against the incendiary kites coming from Gaza and attempts to infiltrate Israel from the strip.

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"The terrorism coming out of Gaza is a problem of both sides, and we should hear your voice on this issue. We have to see how we can stop the arsons and the infiltrations," Rivlin told Abbas in a phone call.

Rivlin also wished Abbas "Ramadan kareem," which means "blessed Ramadan."

Fire rages in Nir Am (:  ,  )

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Several fires broke out on Monday afternoon in communities near the Gaza border as a result of incendiary kites being flown from Gaza.

Firefighters are battling a large blaze in the Be'eri Forest and trying to gain control of it.

Another conflagration was raging near the Sapir College in Sderot, while a third fire broke out near the Sderot train station. Firefighting teams were on the scene, and so far there have been no reports of injuries.

Fire in Be'eri Forest

Earlier, Finance Minister Moshe Kahlon said Israeli communities on the Gaza border that suffer damages from incendiary kites will be fully compensated.

"To alleviate the farmers' situation, we've decided to give them an initial compensation covering 50 percent of the damage, and the rest will be given to them as soon as possible," Kahlon said, adding that incendiary kites are considered an act of terrorism to all intents and purposes.

"So far, 25 claims have been filed covering some 5,000 dunams of wheat, plantations and irrigation systems. All of the claims are in advanced stages of handling," the finance minister explained.

"Our farmers are strong people who've been through tough times and will not be broken by the kites terrorism. We consider agriculture and protecting Israel's lands as a supreme value and an important economic sector," Kahlon went on to say.

Fire near the Sderot train station

Defense Minister Avigdor Lieberman said that Israel is not prepared to accept a reality in which incendiary kites are flown over into the country from the Gaza Strip on a daily basis.

We should be clear that we are not prepared to accept the kites becoming normality. The same applies for riots on the border fence and attempts to breach it and cause damage to the sovereign territory of Israel, Lieberman said during his remarks at the Yisrael Beytenu faction meeting.

Thats why we will act in accordance with Israeli interests in time and at a timing that suits us, whenever we decide, he warned. In any event, I am not in the custom of leaving scores unsettled and we will settle all scores with Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad.

According to the defense minister, 600 such kites have been sent from the strip so far, while 400 have been intercepted by Israeli security forces using technological means.

Two-hundred succeeded in reaching our territory and they burned 9,000 dunams of crops and forests, Lieberman said.
WASHINGTON - Top US Senate Democrats said on Monday that they would seek to impose tougher sanctions on North Korea if President Donald Trump reaches an agreement with Pyongyang that does not mandate complete denuclearization and other tough conditions.

Senator Chuck Schumer, the top Senate Democrat, and other party leaders, said in a letter to Trump released on Monday that any deal with North Korea must be permanent and a "robust" compliance inspection regime.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu told German Chancellor Angela Merkel on Monday that Israel is developing ties with Arab states against a common enemyIran.

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"We have changes in the region that are taking place, and I think they're very promising. We have contacts with Arab states that are developing. They developed, obviously, because of our common concern with Iran and its aggressive designs. But I think they go well beyond that," Netanyahu said at a press conference with Merkel in Berlin.

"We have to band together to combat this Iranian aggressionthe world's foremost sponsor of terror," he added.

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The Israeli premier said the promising ties Israel is developing with Arab nations could help the peace process with the Palestinians as well.

"Many Arab states recognize that Israel can contribute technologically to the development of their societies, a better life for their peoples. I think ultimately this is the most promising route to have a peaceful development with the Palestinians as well. It may not be possible today, but I believe it would be possible tomorrow. And that's what we're all working for, a better tomorrow," he said.

Netanyahu and Merkel meet in Berlin (hoto: Reuters)

Netanyahu is on a three-day trip to Europe to discuss "Iran and Iran" and attempt to convince the leaders of France, the UK and Germany of the need to intensify pressure on Tehran to thwart its nuclear ambitions.

After his meeting with Merkel, the prime minister will head to Paris to meet with French President Emmanuel Macron on Tuesday and then to London to meet with British Prime Minister Theresa May on Wednesday.

All three countries have vowed to try to salvage the hard-fought accord since President Donald Trump announced the US withdrawal from it last month.

The European powers argue it is the best way to head off a regional arms race and have vowed with Russia and China, the two other signatory countries, to keep it alive.

Netanyahu and Merkel meet in Berlin (: ")

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During her meeting with Netanyahu, Merkel was asked about Iranian supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei comments on Twitter Sunday, in which he said his countrys stance against Israel is the same stance we have always taken. #Israel is a malignant cancerous tumor in the West Asian region that has to be removed and eradicated: it is possible and it will happen.

Merkel said we sharply condemn what the Iranian leadership said, adding that Germany and its partners had "repeatedly and with great clarity told Iran that we will stand up for Israel's right to security."

Netanyahu noted it was "amazing that in the 21st century, somebody talks about destroying Israel. It means destroying another six million plus Jews. This is what we face."

"Iran calls for our destruction, but its also seeking nuclear weapons to carry out its genocidal design. We know this for a fact," he added.

Netanyahu asserted that "the greatest challenge the civilized world is facing is the danger from radical Islamic states that pursue the ways of terror and aspire to obtain nuclear weapons. The greatest danger is Iran."

Chancellor Merkel said she agreed with Netanyahu that Iran's activities in the Middle East are a concern, particularly for Israel's security.

"We agree that the question of Iran's regional influence is worrying, especially for Israel's security," Merkel said.

"We support Israel's right to security and have said this to Iran at all times," she went on to say.

Merkel defended the nuclear accord as ensuring "at least for a certain time, that Iran's activities are under control," noting that Tehran had been "on the brink of having a nuclear weapon" before the deal was signed.

But she acknowledged that a supplementary deal with Tehran covering its ballistic missile program as well as its interventions in countries such as Lebanon, Syria, Iraq and Yemen was needed.

"But we believe that this can be achieved with tough negotiations," she said.





Merkel insisted that the Europeans and Israel were "united by the goal that Iran must never get a nuclear weapon" but acknowledged deep differences with Netanyahu on "how we can best achieve this."

We are not in agreement on all questions, but we are friends, we are partners, Merkel said of the visiting Israeli leader.

Netanyahu echoed Merkel's comments, saying, "We respect the policies of Chancellor Merkel. We have some disagreements, as you can see, on occasion, but they're not really on goal, they're more on the question of the method," he said.

"Basically the problem with this deal, as I saw it, was that it says to Iran: in exchange for not enriching uranium for a single bomb today, you can enrich unlimited amounts of uranium for a 100-200 bombs within 7-10 years. Today it's about 7 years," Netanyahu explained.

"I thought this was a very bad deal because it gave Iran the capacity to develop advanced centrifuges 40 times more effective in the intervening years. So they could have an unlimited enrichment capacity in a few years. That's not a good deal."

Netanyahu noted the agreement also doesn't address the question of ballistic missiles or Iranian aggression in the region.

PM warns of new refugee crisis sparked by Iran

The prime minister warned that Iran's activities across the Middle East threaten to drive another wave of refugees to Europe, charging that Tehran is using proceeds from eased sanctions to finance conflict.

Iran wants to "basically conduct a religious campaign in largely Sunni Syria but try to convert Sunnis," he said. "This will inflame another religious war -- this time a religious war inside Syria and the consequences will be many, many more refugees and you know where exactly they will come," he said. "This will inflame another religious war -- this time a religious war inside Syria and the consequences will be many, many more refugees and you know where exactly they will come," he said. More than one million asylum seekers, with Syrians making up the biggest group, arrived in Germany since 2015, creating deep new political divisions in the country and shrinking Merkel's ruling majority in her fourth term. More than one million asylum seekers, with Syrians making up the biggest group, arrived in Germany since 2015, creating deep new political divisions in the country and shrinking Merkel's ruling majority in her fourth term.

(Photo: Haim Tzah/GPO)

The Israeli leader also discussed his speech to the US Congress before the signing of the deal.

"I suggested in my speech to the American Congressif you boil it down to one thing, don't make the restrictions on Iran's nuclear program depend on a calendar. Make them depend in a change of Iranian behavior," he said.

"Since the deal was signed a few years ago, we've seen a change in Iranian behavior," Netanyahu continued. "We see that Iran is devouring one country after another: Yemen, Syria... I'm talking about military presence and enhanced shipments of lethal weapons, and they continue to espouse our (Israel's) destruction and the conquest of the Middle East. The deal also released a lot of cash for Iran, which helps them achieve these goals."

Netanyahu argued that now that the United States has withdrawn from the nuclear agreement, "the real question we have to confront today is what do we do about Iran's aggression, what do we do about Iran's remaining goals in its pursuit of nuclear weapons."

The prime minister said Israel had shared with the German government information it obtained from the secret Iranian nuclear archive. "It's important for the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) investigates Iran based on this new information, a great amount of information Israel provided also to the IAEA," he said.

'We evacuated Gaza, Hamas burned our fields' Netanyahu bemoaned the fact that "The Palestinians have consistently refused the idea of coexistence and even the idea of two states. Hamas certainly refuses to recognize two states. They openly say they want to destroy the Jewish state." Netanyahu bemoaned the fact that "The Palestinians have consistently refused the idea of coexistence and even the idea of two states. Hamas certainly refuses to recognize two states. They openly say they want to destroy the Jewish state." "The reason there is no peace, is because the Palestinians refuse to recognize a Jewish state in any borders. Once that hurdle is overcome, we shall have peace, he asserted. "We left all of Gaza and they promptly turned it into an armed camp in which they fire thousands of rockets against us, they burn our fields and they try to storm into Israel and murder members of the Kibbutzim and Moshavim who are in there or kidnap our soldiers," the prime minister charged. "We left all of Gaza and they promptly turned it into an armed camp in which they fire thousands of rockets against us, they burn our fields and they try to storm into Israel and murder members of the Kibbutzim and Moshavim who are in there or kidnap our soldiers," the prime minister charged. Merkel welcomes Netanyahu (Photo: Haim Tzah/GPO) "The two million people of Gaza are governed by people who are openly committed to our destruction. The other 2 million in the West Bank have had ample opportunity, and they still have the opportunity, to negotiate a peace," he continued. "The two million people of Gaza are governed by people who are openly committed to our destruction. The other 2 million in the West Bank have had ample opportunity, and they still have the opportunity, to negotiate a peace," he continued. "They have walked away from such proposals time and time again  They rejected successive offers by Israeli governments and American governments," Netanyahu explained, listing such offers. "They have walked away from such proposals time and time again  They rejected successive offers by Israeli governments and American governments," Netanyahu explained, listing such offers. Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas has "walked away" from offers to negotiate and "he still hasnt come back. Today he says he will not consider an American proposal because the Trump administration is pro-Israeli. Well, I didnt use the counter argument against an Obama proposal." Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas has "walked away" from offers to negotiate and "he still hasnt come back. Today he says he will not consider an American proposal because the Trump administration is pro-Israeli. Well, I didnt use the counter argument against an Obama proposal."




ANKARA - Iran's top leader said on Monday it would respond harshly to any attack and that Western demands for limits on its ballistic missile program are a "dream that will never come true."

"Some Europeans are talking about limiting our defensive missile program. I am telling the Europeans, 'Limiting our missile work is a dream that will never come true," Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei said in a televised speech.

"Our enemies have staged economic and psychological ... warfare against us and new American sanctions are part of it," Khamenei told a gathering to mark the 29th anniversary of the death of Iranian revolutionary leader Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini.

"Tehran will attack 10 times more if attacked by enemies ... The enemies don't want an independent Iran in the region ... We will continue our support for oppressed nations," he said.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Monday evening that Israel was examining different options to prevent a humanitarian collapse in the Gaza Strip.

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"Israel is the country that works the most to prevent a collapse in Gaza," Netanyahu said during a briefing with journalists in Berlin after his meeting with German Chancellor Angela Merkel.

During their meeting, Netanyahu told Merkel the crisis in the Gaza the result of Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas's poor handling of the situation and terror organization Hamas's decision to invest all of the aid money it receives in terrorism.

Prime Minister Netanyahu (Photo: Reuters)

"Hamas made a conscious decision to blow up on the (border) fence," Netanyahu accused.

The prime minister said Israeli farmers whose fields were damaged in fires caused by incendiary kites flown from Gaza will be compensated and that Israel is examining the possibility of deducting those funds from tax money its collects on behalf of the Palestinian Authority.

Netanyahu also noted the IDF is working to develop tactical measures to combat the incendiary kites. "I don't ever settle for just defense," he added.

Kites affixed with incendiary devices (Photo: AP)

The prime minister's meeting with the German chancellor lasted over an hour and a half and included a broader forum with Israel's National Security Adviser Meir Ben-Shabbat, the Prime Minister's Military Secretary Brig. Gen. Eliezer Toledano, and Israel's Ambassador to Berlin Jeremy Issacharoff.

Later, Netanyahu and Merkel held a private meeting, which dealt mostly with Iran.

"Israel is decisive in its objection to the development of nuclear weapons in Iranwith the deal and without it," Netanyahu said. "If we identify such an attempt, we are obligated to prevent Iran from obtaining nuclear weapons."

He said Israel was working to thwart Iran's expansion and aggression in the Middle East, reiterating that Tehran must leave Syria completely.

"They're trying to form an army against Israel on Syrian territory, and we are against that. They're not hiding their intention to destroy Israel, and we prefer to act while the threat is small and not wait."

"Iran's military presence in Syria includes some 18,000 Shiite militiamen under the command of Iranian commanders. The militias come from Afghanistan, Pakistan and other places, and they have once specific goal - to wage a religious campaign in Syria, which is mostly Sunni, and convert the citizens," Netanyahu charged. "Iran is seeking to increase the number of militia fighters to 80,000 and spark another religious war, this time inside Syria."
Justice Minister Ayelet Shaked said Monday that incendiary kites being flown from Gaza into Israel was as grave as "launching a rocket to Sderot."

Speaking to high schoolers in Mevaseret Zion, Shaked said, "Be sure that Israel, with all of its abilities, will rather quickly develop capabilities to stop these kites."

"The response to reach such kite should be harsh," she added.
News

Washington, DC - On May 23, 2018, the United States District Court in the District of South Carolina entered judgment for the United States in the amounts of $111,109,655.30 against defendants LaTonya Mallory, Floyd Calhoun Dent III and Robert Bradford Johnson, and for an additional $3,039,006.56 against Johnson and Dent, the Department of Justice announced.

The judgment follows the January 31, 2018, jury verdict finding the three individuals liable for violating the False Claims Act (FCA) by paying remuneration to physicians in exchange for patient referrals, in violation of the Anti-Kickback Statute, and causing two laboratories to bill federal health care programs for medically unnecessary testing.

Improper financial relationships between physicians and laboratories can distort a physicians best judgment for their patients, in addition to undermining patient health and trust, said Acting Assistant Attorney General for the Justice Departments Civil Division Chad Readler. Executives and other individuals who break the law will be held personally accountable for their actions."

During a two-week jury trial held in Charleston, South Carolina, the government introduced evidence that the defendants paid physicians remuneration disguised as processing and handling fees of between $10 and $17 for each patient they referred to two blood testing laboratories: Health Diagnostics Laboratory Inc. (HDL), of Richmond, Virginia; and Singulex Inc., of Alameda, California. The government also introduced evidence that the kickback scheme resulted in physicians referring patients to HDL and Singulex for medically unnecessary tests, which were then billed to federal health care programs.

The jury found Mallory, HDLs former CEO, and Johnson and Dent, who marketed and sold HDLs and Singulexs tests, jointly and severally liable for causing the submission of 35,074 false claims, worth $16,601,591, submitted to Medicare and TRICARE by HDL. The jury also found defendants Dent and Johnson jointly and severally liable for an additional 3,813 false claims, worth $467,935, submitted by Singulex. As provided by the FCA, the Court trebled those damage amounts, offset settlement payments received from HDL and Singulex for the same claims, and awarded $63.8 million in penalties requested by the United States, for a total judgment of $114,148,661.86.

The Anti-Kickback Statute prohibits offering, paying, soliciting or receiving remuneration to induce referrals of items or services covered by federally funded programs. The Anti-Kickback Statute is intended to ensure that a physicians medical judgment is not compromised by improper financial incentives and is instead based on the best interests of the patient.

The Courts damages award in this case recognizes the seriousness of what these defendants did, said Sherri A. Lydon, U.S. Attorney for the District of South Carolina. Paying kickbacks to cause unnecessary tests injures patients, the Medicare Program, and American taxpayers and the District of South Carolina will continue to pursue those who participate in such conduct.

This judgment affirms that individuals who cheat Medicare and TRICARE will not be allowed to enjoy their ill-gotten gains, said U.S. Attorney for the District of Columbia Jessie K. Liu. This office joins with its Department of Justice colleagues in our mutual commitment to investigate misconduct and recover funds unlawfully obtained from federal healthcare programs.

Laboratories that pay kickbacks to physicians in exchange for referrals of business exploit patients and taxpayer-funded health care programs, said Special Agent in Charge Derrick L. Jackson, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Inspector General. Our agency is dedicated to investigating such corrosive kickback schemes, as they undermine the publics trust in medical professionals, and the integrity of government health care programs.

The FBI will continue to aggressively investigate allegations of criminal misconduct between companies and individuals who engage in kickback schemes at the expense of the U.S. government, said Acting Assistant Director of the Criminal Investigative Division Chris Hacker. We recognize the importance of those who came forward and brought allegations to light and realize that we cannot do our work without the publics help.

The claims resolved by the courts order were originally brought in three lawsuits filed by Dr. Michael Mayes, Scarlett Lutz, Kayla Webster, and Chris Reidel under the qui tam, or whistleblower, provisions of the False Claims Act. Under the Act, private citizens can bring suit on behalf of the government for false claims and share in any recovery. The Act permits the United States to intervene in and take over the whistleblower suit, as the United States did, in part, in the three consolidated actions against Mallory, Dent, Johnson and others in August 2015. The whistleblowers share of any recovery has yet to be determined.

The cases were litigated by the Civil Divisions Commercial Litigation Branch, and the U.S. Attorneys Offices for the District of South Carolina and the District of Columbia. The U.S. Attorneys Office for the Middle District of North Carolina, HHS-OIG, the FBIs Columbia Field Office and FBIHQs Major Provider Response Team, the U.S. Office of Personnel Managements Office of Inspector General, and the Department of Defenses Office of Inspector General Defense Criminal Investigative Service assisted with the investigation.
News

Washington, DC - Maalik Alim Jones, 33, of Baltimore, Maryland, was sentenced Tuesday to 35 years in prison, to be followed by five years of supervised release, for conspiring to provide material support to al-Shabaab, a designated foreign terrorist organization based in Somalia, conspiring to receive military training from al-Shabaab, and carrying and using an AK-47 machinegun, rocket-propelled grenades, and other destructive devices in furtherance of his support for al-Shabaab. Jones pleaded guilty on September 8, 2017, to a three-count Superseding Information.

Assistant Attorney General for National Security John C. Demers and U.S. Attorney Geoffrey S. Berman for the Southern District of New York made the announcement. U.S. District Judge Paul G. Gardephe imposed Joness sentence.

U.S. citizens who travel overseas to fight with a terrorist organization  which is what Jones did  betray our country and pose a serious threat to our national security, said Assistant Attorney General Demers. The National Security Division remains committed to committed to identifying and stopping terrorists like Jones, and we will hold them accountable. Credit goes to all those who worked so tirelessly to bring Jones to justice.

We may never know what drove Maalik Jones to travel to Somalia and pledge allegiance to al Shabaab, a terrorist organization that has vowed to destroy America, said U.S. Attorney Berman. But we do know that with todays sentence, Jones is no longer a threat to Americas ideals.

According to the Complaint, the Indictment, the Superseding Information, and statements made in court proceedings, including at sentencing:

In July 2011, Jones left Baltimore to join al-Shabaab in Somalia. Jones traveled to New York City, then flew via commercial aircraft to Kenya, with stopovers in Morocco and the United Arab Emirates. After arriving in Kenya, Jones traveled by land from Kenya to Somalia, which is a common travel route for foreign fighters traveling to Somalia to join al-Shabaab.

In Somalia, Jones joined al-Shabaab and was a member of the terrorist organization for approximately four years. During this time, Jones trained, worked and fought with al-Shabaab in Somalia. Among other things, Jones received three months of military training at an al-Shabaab training camp, where he learned, among other things, how to operate an AK-47 assault rifle and rocket-propelled grenades. Upon completion of this training, Jones also was assigned to al-Shabaabs specialized fighting force, Jaysh Ayman, and participated in combat against soldiers of the Kenyan government on behalf of al-Shabaab.

In particular, after joining Jaysh Ayman, Jones and his Jaysh Ayman unit participated in a battle in Afmadow, Somalia, against Kenyan government soldiers. Jones, armed with an AK-47 rifle, engaged in the fighting until he was injured by a missile and then hospitalized. After his release from the hospital, Jones continued to operate with al-Shabaab and, in particular, Jaysh Ayman.

Jones has appeared with other al-Shabaab fighters in videos that were recovered from an al-Shabaab fighter who participated in and was killed during the aforementioned Lamu Attack. In one of the videos, Jones can be seen holding a firearm, and in the company of several al-Shabaab fighters. The al-Shabaab fighters are depicted greeting each other, hugging each other and carrying firearms.

On Dec. 7, 2015, Jones was taken into custody by Somali authorities while he was attempting to procure a boat to depart Somalia for Yemen.
News

New Orleans, Louisiana - Five men have been charged in New Orleans with crimes related to illegally exporting birds protected under the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES) from the United States to Taiwan. William McGinness, 59, of Buena Park, California; Paul Tallman, 55, of Destreham, Louisiana; Rene Rizal, 62, of La Mirada, California; Wayne Andrews, 46, of Royal Oaks, California and Alex Madriaga, 76, of Buena Park, California; were each indicted in federal court in the eastern District of Louisiana Thursday.

On May 31, 2018, a five-count indictment was returned charging McGinness, Tallman, Rizal, Andrews and Madriaga with conspiracy to smuggle CITES-protected birds from the United States to Taiwan. McGuinness was also charged with smuggling birds to Taiwan and three counts of making and submitting false records under the Lacey Act, and Tallman was charged with smuggling and one count of making and submitting false records under the Lacey Act.

The indictment alleges, among other things, that McGinness, a resident of California, and his co-conspirators created false statements and submitted them to the United States Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) in order to illegally export CITES-protected birds from the Port of New Orleans to Taiwan. The shipment included 90 CITES-protected birds, including parrots, macaws, cockatoos and corellas. Several of the birds were in crates that were falsely labeled. The USFWS seized 14 of the birds at the airport in Houston, Texas before they were exported.

The indictments were announced today by Acting Assistant Attorney General Jeffrey H. Wood for the Justice Departments Environment and Natural Resources Division, and Acting Assistant Director Edward Grace of the Office of Law Enforcement for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.

These indictments demonstrate our commitment, shared with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, to investigate and prosecute those engaged in illegal trade of protected animals, said Acting Assistant Attorney General Wood. We will continue to collaborate with our partners at the federal, state and local levels to prosecute wildlife smuggling.

"Todays indictments were the result of a complex investigation into the wildlife trafficking of protected birds, said Acting Assistant Director Grace. Wildlife trafficking is a serious crime that is detrimental to species around the world. I am very proud of our special agents and wildlife inspectors who helped bring these defendants to justice."

The United States and approximately 182 other countries are signatories to CITES, which provides a mechanism for regulating international trade in species whose continued survival is threatened by such trade. Species are listed on appendices, based on the level of protection necessary to protect the species.

The case was investigated by the USFWS and the Justice Departments Environmental Crimes Section. The government is represented by Environmental Crimes Section Trial Attorney Mary Dee Carraway.
Arizona News

Phoenix, Arizona - Attorney General Mark Brnovich announced a State Grand Jury indicted Howard M. Price III, a former investment adviser, for allegedly stealing $475,000 from his clients retirement accounts. Price, 44, is charged with one count of Fraudulent Schemes & Artifices and three counts of Theft.

The Arizona Corporation Commission investigated this case. Price has not been registered to sell securities or licensed to provide investment advice in Arizona since 2012. From 2013 to 2017, Price allegedly convinced three clients to roll over their IRA retirement money to his firm, Howard Price Wealth Management, with the promise of guaranteed returns. The State alleges that once Price gained control of the victims' money, he misused his clients' retirement funds to make purchases at clubs, bars, and restaurants in Scottsdale and Arcadia.

Assistant Attorney General Adam J Schwartz is prosecuting this case.

All defendants are presumed innocent unless convicted in a court of law.
Arizona News

Tucson, Arizona - Attorney General Mark Brnovich announced Carlos David Nogales Sr. was sentenced to 18.5 years in prison followed by 7 years of probation for his involvement in a $2.8 million drug and money laundering scheme. Between 2011 and 2015, Nogales Sr. operated a nationwide money laundering organization that employed more than a dozen people to launder the proceeds from marijuana that had been shipped from Arizona to various east-coast cities.

In April 2018, a Pima County jury found Nogales Sr. guilty of 35 felony counts including Fraud, Forgery, Money Laundering, Controlling a Criminal Enterprise, and Possession of Marijuana for Sale.

The case was investigated by the Arizona Attorney General's Office Southern Arizona White Collar and Criminal Enterprise Section and Special Investigations Section along with the Pima County Sheriffs Department. The investigation began after a Department of Economic Security audit revealed that Nogales fraudulently received $30,000 in state benefits by not disclosing income and assets on his applications.

Nogales Sr. was also ordered to pay $3,790 in restitution to DES, $15,009 to AHCCCS, and $12,409 to Social Security.

Assistant Attorney General Jared Kreamer-Hope prosecuted this case.
Arizona News

Phoenix, Arizona - Attorney General Mark Brnovich announced a State Grand Jury indicted Mohamed Abdelrahman, 41, for allegedly setting a warehouse on fire to collect a property insurance payout of $120,050. The Phoenix Fire Investigations Unit and the Arizona Department of Insurance investigated this case.

On November 1, 2017, Abdelrahman called 911 at 3:31 am to report a fire at his furniture business inside of a leased commercial warehouse at 6845 N. 21st Avenue in Phoenix. Abdelrahman is accused of using gasoline to start the fire and tampering with surveillance equipment in the area to conceal his involvement. It is also alleged he increased his existing property insurance policy and took out an additional policy within days of the fire. Abdelrahman is facing four felony charges, including one count of Arson of a Structure, two counts of Filing a False Insurance Claim, and one count of Forgery.

Assistant Attorney General Tarah White is prosecuting this case.

All defendants are presumed innocent until convicted in a court of law.
Latest News

Washington, DC - A man who solicited sexually explicit photos and videos from a minor and distributed them on the Internet was sentenced to 200 months in prison followed by 10 years of supervised release after pleading guilty to coercion and enticement of a minor to engage in sexual activity.

Acting Assistant Attorney General John P. Cronan of the Justice Departments Criminal Division and U.S. Attorney David C. Weiss of the District of Delaware made the announcement after sentencing by U.S. District Judge Leonard P. Stark of the District of Delaware.

Justin R. Gulisano aka Emma Alexander Gulisano, 26, of Newark, New York, was charged on March 10, 2016, and pleaded guilty on Sept. 28, 2017.

According to admissions made in connection with the plea agreement, Gulisano met the victim online when the victim was 15 years old. Gulisano began requesting and received sexually explicit images and videos from the victim. Gulisano posted the sexually explicit videos of the victim on a pornography website where they were downloaded, posted, and reposted by other viewers to additional pornographic websites. Eventually, the victim refused to make and send additional images and videos. Mr. Gulisano responded by threatening the victim on more than one occasion. He threatened to post the victims images and videos on the Internet again, he threatened to share the images and videos with the victims brother, and he threatened the victims life.

U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcements Homeland Security Investigations and the Delaware Child Predator Task Force investigated the case.

Trial Attorney Lauren Britsch of the Criminal Divisions Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS) and Assistant U.S. Attorney Graham L. Robinson of the District of Delaware prosecuted the case.

This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys Offices and CEOS, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims.
Latest News

Detroit, Michigan - The former chief executive officer of FutureNet Group Inc., an information technology company, pleaded guilty today for his role in orchestrating a scheme to bribe an official from the City of Detroit to obtain benefits for FutureNet, announced Acting Assistant Attorney General John P. Cronan of the Justice Departments Criminal Division.

Parimal D. Mehta, 54, of Northville, Michigan, pleaded guilty to one count of federal program bribery before U.S. District Judge Robert H. Cleland of the Eastern District of Michigan. Sentencing is scheduled for Sept. 27.

According to admissions made in connection with his plea, from 2009 through August 2016, Mehta hand-delivered more than $6,500 to Charles L. Dodd, the former Director of Detroits Office of Departmental Technology Services, including two cash bribes paid in the restroom of a Detroit-area restaurant in 2016. Dodd previously pleaded guilty to bribery on Sept. 27, 2016.

According to the plea agreement, Mehta sought preferential treatment for FutureNet in exchange for the bribes he paid to Dodd. Among other things, Mehta asked Dodd to cause FutureNet to be selected to fill open positions for contract personnel and to implement particular technological projects in various city departments. Mehta also asked Dodd to supply him with confidential information regarding Detroits internal operations, including information regarding Detroits internal budgets for particular technology projects and personnel, which would benefit FutureNet in its dealings with Detroit.

The FBIs Detroit Division investigated the case. Trial Attorneys Robert J. Heberle and James I. Pearce of the Criminal Divisions Public Integrity Section are prosecuting the case.
From fancy schools to international degrees; from living like a princess to becoming their own success story, these daughters of the some of the wealthiest families in Ghana live life on the high street.

As daughters of Ghanas media moguls, businessmen and real estate supremos, they started out as daddys little girls but they have certainly broken out on their own to be sought-after brands like their parents.

In a report by Pulse.com.gh, these women from some of Ghanas most influential families are making a name for themselves too:

1. Boatemaa Kakra Duffour-Nyarko. The daughter of Dr. Kwabena Duffour, Boatemaa is currently the Chief Actuary and Executive Director of StarLife Assurance Company. Her father, Dr. Duffour is the founder of HODA Holdings, a business empire with subsidiaries covering real estate, insurance, banking and the media group EIB network.

Boatemaa Duffour-Nyarko

2. Agata Taricone. Agata is the daughter of Italian-born Ernesto Taricone, who came to Ghana in 1968 with his brothers. Ernesto is probably widely known for his real estate business, especially the Trasacco estate developments, Casa Trasaco and the luxurious Villagio apartments enterprise.

Agata Taricone

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3. Dr. Zanetor Rawlings. Zanetor is the daughter of the former president of Ghana, who has also followed her father down the political road, and is now the Member of Parliament for Korle Klottey constituency. Former President Rawlings is said to be the richest former president of Ghana.

Zanetor Rawlings

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4. Tamara Jonah-Goka. Tamara is the founder of Lionheart events, a full-service event planning agency that caters to mostly the high society. She is the daughter of businessman and former president of AngloGold Ashanti, Sir Samuel Esson Jonah.

Tamara Jonah-Goka

5. Henrietta Adwoa Osei. Henrietta is the daughter of media mogul, Osei Kwame Despite, the owner of Despite Group of Companies with its subsidiaries including UTV and Peace FM. In 2017, Henrietta obtained her Master's Degree from the University of Warwick.

Henrietta Adwoa Osei

READ ALSO: Here are 10 famous lies Ghanaian men tell when they like a lady

YEN is building a platform where Ghanaians can share local news and own experiences with each other. Witnessing an incident? Want to tell about a local problem? Know someone who is extremely talented and needs recognition? Your stories and photos are always welcome. Send us a message via YENs official Facebook page

Source: Yen.com.gh
-About a dozen people have died on th Oti river in the volta region

-The victims were fleeing from an unrest in the area.

A report on Graphic Online indicates that that an unknown number of persons have drowned on the Oti River near Chereponi in the Northern Region.

According to the report, the victims are said to be residents of nearby Kokomba and Chokosi communities who were fleeing to neighbouring Togo over the fear of reprisal attacks, following the communal violent clashes that broke between the Kokombas and Chokosis in Naaduni near Chereponi last Friday.

The violent communal clash broke between the Konkombas and Chekosis ethnic groups in Chereponi on Friday, June 1, this year, leading to the death of two persons. Several others have also sustained severe gunshot wounds.

Dozens feared dead on Oti River

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The report also said that the boat on which the victims were travelling capsized on the Oti River Saturday afternoon, June 3.

The Chereponi District Director of the National Disaster Management Organization (NADMO) Officer, Mr Fambali Muntala in an interview confirmed the incident and said officials of NADMO and some residents of the area are currently on a rescue mission.

He said NADMO could not respond swiftly to the disaster due to the heighten tension in the area following the violent clashes between the two ethnic groups.

Thirteen people have so far been arrested by the police in connection with the violent clashes in the area.

READ ALSO: Anas is a wife snatcher and so what - Afia Schwar fumes

Ghana Trends: Rawlings Official Apologizes to Mahama and Kufuor:

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Source: Yen
-John Dumelo has just opened up about his relationship with God

-He says he needs to do more than talking to him everyday to have a stable relationship with him.

After few weeks of getting married, actor John Dumelo has realized the importance of having a very good and personal relationship with his maker.

The handsome actor has disclosed in a new Twitter post that he has his relationship with God is not in a good standing.

According to the actor, he needs to work at making his relationship with his maker stable.

John Dumelo and wife

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He indicated that although he talks to his maker daily, he needs to move beyond that for that relationship to be stabilized.

I need to go back to having a stable relationship with God. I need to get closer to Him. I speak to Him every day though but I need Him more. His tweet read.

John Dumelo got married some weeks ago to Mawunya Gifty. The ceremony was well-attended by family, friends and colleague celebrities. The announcement of the wedding was announced to the public three days to the ceremony through

READ ALSO: What Anas is doing is very relevant  Dr. Bawumia

Ghana Trends: How Anas Aremeyaw Anas Caused a Stir With Latest Investigation | Yen.com.gh

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Source: Yen
Their breakup took Ghana by surprise but the two ex-lovers, Shatta Wale and Shatta Michy are not yet done surprising Ghanaians as they keep on beefing each other.

After their break up, the two have on numerous occasions sent subtle messages to each other on their various social media platforms.

Shatta Mitchy had even posted a picture of herself with a message stating that her 'ex-boyfriend' is ungrateful, a hypocrite and many other things.

She has also indicated in a latest post that she was single and free from oppression.

Shatta Michy

READ ALSO: I need to get closer to God more - John Dumelo

There have also been several media reports that Shatta Wale has moved on after pictures of a lady alleged to be dating the dancehall popped up on social media some time ago last month. None of them have actually openly confirmed to the media whether they have truly broken up.

But a recent video posted on Shatta Michys Instagram stories clearly shows how serious their breakup is.

In the video, Michy implied that Shatta Wales music is meaningless and does not teach the youth any moral lesson.

READ ALSO: Nana Aba Anamoah turns Police Officer?

The 'former' SM diva has changed everything affiliating her to the Shatta Movement empire on her social media handles.

Shatta Mich recently presented the midday news of Pan African TV. After she shared pictures of that, social media users began to shower 'accolades' on her on how beautiful she has become after her break up.

READ ALSO: John Mahama speaks about Number 12 in a new video

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- Former President Rawlings is accusing some top NDC members of sabotaging June 4 celebration

- The former Ghanaian leader believes some NDC persons schemed against him during the Mahama administration

Former Ghanaian leader, Jerry John Rawlings, has disclosed that some shameless elements within the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC), with deeply malicious motives, for over a decade, spewed falsehood about the partys history to downplay the story of the June 4 uprising.

According to Chairman Rawlings, these wicked people within the NDC under the erstwhile Mahama administration almost succeeded in downplaying the importance of the June 4 celebration.

Mr Rawlings addressing some NDC loyalists earlier today in commemoration of June 4 revolution stated that some of these personalities have quickly distanced themselves from the NDC after Mahama lost power in 2016 election.

Former President Rawlings

READ ALSO: I once pulled a gun on corrupt Anas  NPP Chairman tells his story in latest video

Indeed, many of these personalities have shamelessly disassociated themselves from our history in a bit to create the impression that it is a blot on the image of the party, he stated.

Jerry Rawlings in his address stressed that, it was suicidal tendency, which led to the partys humiliating defeat in 2016 elections with Former President John Maham as presidential candidate.

JJ Rawlings in his address insisted that the social democratic credentials that gave birth to the NDC, are lost on many NDC members, therefore the party has almost become a clone of what the other side used to be [referring to the NPP].

Elitism and gross display of affluence has almost engrossed us and as I stated in 2017, we are still at the cross roads, Mr Rawlings lamented.

READ ALSO: Kennedy Agyapong breaks silence on the release of Patrick Marcelino's photos

The NDC founder further warned that those determined to disassociate the NDC from the June 4 uprising will woefully fail.

June 4 represents a force that cannot be erased. June 4 is about the semantics of probity, accountability, freedom, justice, truth and integrity. It is about a unified force and power that can move mountains," Rawlings maintained.

Mr Rawlings also added that, June 4 is a force that defies negativity and revolves on a fulcrum of ordinary peoples power. It was the energy that led to the eruption of 1979. That energy was like the force of Gas explosion ignited by the gross disrespect and abuse of people to the point where the bottled-up anger exploded in full force.

The June 4th revolution sparked when the then military government of the Supreme military Council (SMC II) of General F K. Akuffo put the then flight Lieutenant Jerry John Rawlings on public trial for attempting to overthrow the government on May 15th 1979.

This happened because Rawlings was a junior soldier in the Ghanaian Army who with other soldiers were refused their salaries.

However, Rawlings turned the trial against the government by accusing it of massive corruption and requesting that his fellow accused be set free as he was solely responsible for the mutiny.

He was then incarcerated.

READ ALSO: Another NPP MP challenges Anas' undercover investigations to legal test

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By Grace Banu for TwoCircles.net

The people of Thoothukudi, who were asking for relief from cancers were given bullets as medicines. Common struggling people were portrayed as extremists and troublemakers and shot and killed.

After hearing about the events that occurred and feeling nervous for my family and my people, I visited Thoothukudi, my birthplace on May 26. Thoothukudi is a coastal city, painted white from the vast salt harvesting pans with cool salty air wafting through. On this day, however, I was only greeted by empty ghostly streets hiding the chaos of conflict and suffering. The only people I could see were (police) barbarians carrying guns and lathis.

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The people of Thoothukudi were still shut in hospitals and their homes. The media was announcing that normalcy had returned to Thoothukudi, but what I saw were terrified people crouched in their homes, afraid to step out even to get medicines for the ill or milk for babies. Mothers with adolescent and young boys were anxious fearing their children would be plucked from their homes by the police.

The first person I went to meet was Infanta. She was the friend of Snowlin, a girl who had been killed in the firing. Infanta was also beaten brutally by the police and she had been admitted to the government hospital. I met her around 3 pm on May 26. The 23-year-old had deep lathi marks on her back and neck but even so, it seemed as if those were less painful than the pain I saw in her eyes she had for her friend Snowlin. In many ways, she had not recovered from the shock of that violence.

Initially, I thought I should not talk to her and disturb her. However, the world needs to know these truths. Therefore, I went to talk to her with as much empathy and delicateness as I could muster.

After a little bit of conversation. I asked how Snowlin died. Immediately tears came from her eyes. But through the tears, she talked. We saw so many people that day at the protests that almost everyone of us thought that for sure the government will be obliged to heed our request and close this Sterlite organisation. Snowlin had the same hope. Me, Snowlin and one more friend were together the whole time during the protest. We were holding each others hands and walking forward with enthusiasm. When the procession reached VVT signal, someone was throwing the stones and one stone came and hit my head and immediately after that police lathi-charged us. After a small interval, tear gas was thrown at us. And in the tear gas haze, people were being beaten. To escape from this tear gas, we wrapped our dupattas around our nose and eyes and kept moving forward. In the front of the protests were 20 trans-women, and behind them cis-women, and behind them were men. People managed to cross over the stone throwing, the tear gas, the barricades, and take shelter in the Collectors office. At first cis-women and trans-women entered the collectors office; only a few men were entering the collectors office. When we entered the Collectors office, it was peaceful. We were also sitting there peacefully. Suddenly, a lot of police came from inside the office and lathi-charged us. We started running. Our friend who was with us tripped over the speed breaker and fell. She has asthma and she started wheezing. Snowlin and I went to pick her up . At that time, bullets were flying past us. We dodged the first two bullets . The next bullet I saw hit Snowlins mouth. And she fell with a thud. For some minutes I forgot myself. I became numb. And then even the lathi beating they gave me I was numb to . After that, we picked up Snowlins body and took her to the hospital on the way we saw about 20 bodies lying in blood. Infanta said all this describing the scenery while shivering nervously.

Bearing Infantas blood filled words in my mind, bearing the scenery in my mind, I went around 4 pm to visit the family of Terespuram Jansi, another victim of the shooting. All around the house they were a heavy air of misery. Jansis youngest daughter, a 10th or 11th standard student, was so sad that I could not express in words. In this young age, they had lost their mother. I could not even stand by them for a minute stably I wondered how these young children would bear this burden for a lifetime.

I talked to Jansis older sister and her husband. Through her tears, her sister explained to me. She went to buy fish for her eldest daughter living nearby. She went near the bridge and she saw the procession and the people and she stood there watching as a bystander. But watching the crowd was a crime to the police and they rained bullets on her. Her one side of the face was torn off. When she fell, they wrapped her body in a banner and put her in the police van and took her away. When we went to the hospital, they first told is there is no such woman here. We continued to ask and push them angrily. After that they showed us her blood-stained bangle. We screamed and wept when we saw that the bangle was our sisters. The police are saying the protesters had weapons. But the weapon my sister had was the packet of fish she had in her hand for her daughter. If we catch fish they are shooting us (fishing in border waters between Tamilnadu and Sri Lanka is dangerous), if we carry the fish we caught, they are shooting us so how are we expected to live?? Jansis sisters question rung in my mind. Her question was a question for the whole state whose forces and actions have been oppressive.

Laying grief after grief down in my heart, I went to visit the next persons house where another man called Clauston, was eaten by bullets. His wife was there. She didnt want to talk to anybody. She sat in a corner hoping that everything that had happened would turn out to be a bad dream. Hoping she would wake up any moment from this nightmare. She felt if she spoke that the nightmare would become real. She stayed alone. Claustons 11th standard daughter spoke to me. Mother has not been talking to anybody, since father was shot by the police. Hearing the child say that I was sure no one could hold back their sadness and tears. I was in dilemma as to whether to talk to that child or not. But she started speaking herself. Can they give me back my father? We cannot leave this as it is, we have to take action. I could only give her my tears as a reply.

Then, I went to Peruni Jai where 61 men who were remanded illegally were being released. The swift action taken by Thoothukudi lawyers collectives had resulted in their release. But it wasnt before they were first tortured. They had been taken to an ammunition hold in Wallanad. There they faced intense violence. Some peoples ankle was swollen and broken. Many peoples backs were bruised after they had been beaten with lathis. Some people sustained head injuries. They recounted their painful experiences. One of them said that Wallanad ammunition hold was no less than a concentration camp of sorts.

That night I couldnt sleep. I thought about how the government and the corporations are birthing novel ways to repress people. Our people too had to find new ways to resist. I thought about everything I had heard that day. I thought about Thoothukudi, a place I was born and raised in. I recalled the places where I would play as a child and the beauty of the town. But now Thoothukudi had become a literal hell.

The next day at 12 pm I went to see their Snowlins mother. The mother who lost her beautiful girl, her beautiful warrior. Seeing her, I didnt have it in me to ask this mother who is such deep pain any questions.

iI just told her, Amma all the daughters here are your daughters. Please take care. In truth, such mothers are the mothers who birth this nation.

Finally, I went to meet my brave people, the first row protestors, the thirunangai (trans-women) community. Transwomen are generally not given front row spaces at state-level issues but in Thoothukudi, it was the first time that the people demolished these Brahminical ideologies of gender that prevent us from joining protests or being a full part of larger society. I spoke to Reena. We have seen a lot of suffering including untouchability and exclusion, but we have never witnessed such a cruel oppressive government. Many of us have lathi bruises. It was in front of us that Snowlin was killed. Even the lathi wounds will heal but watching Snowlin die.and the scenes of death and destruction. that wound will never heal. said Reena. I understood how much pain she was in. Offering her words of consolation I had to move on.

On 28th morning, I visited Pandarapatti, a village where around 30 women were still fighting against Sterlite unfazed by bullets. I talked to an elderly woman in that group. She spoke with wrinkles on her face but not in her voice or content. When people are fighting for their rights against the state, it is not without precedent that the state retaliates violently with shooting. It is not at all new. In the Manjolai tea labourers protests in Sivagangai district, the police put them on the banks of the Thambarabarani river and lathi-charged them brutally. I was there. I saw many people jump in the river in front of me and I saw them drown and die. I too should have died in that struggle. The life I have now is a sort of bonus life. Unless I see that Sterlite out of here, chased away, I will not be able to exit this life in peace!

How ordinary and every day are great revolutionaries I thought to myself.

The next stop was Kumararettiyapuram village  a great big Neem tree sits at the centre. It is there that people come and meet, and is usually bustling. That day it was almost vacant. But about 5-6 woman was protesting there. They were also the elderly. There are no youths here, daughter. They are all afraid of police and have disappeared to keep safe. But we are not leaving just yet, we are still here to fight. Like old and rooted neem trees, these ladies also remain.

That evening we went to the house of Tamilarasaan. His house welcomed us with posters of Marx, Ambedkar, and EVR Periyar on the walls. Tamilarasan was not married but his brother, his brothers wife and their kids spoke to me.  He was a kind of a root for our town. He held it down for everybody. He has always been there for everyone. Whoever needs help. He sacrificed his life in his same act of rootedness.

When revolutionaries are killed, the relatives and other people get threatened by the government. Even after the death of Tamilarasan, o his relatives are still getting threats and his sister-in-law was beaten at the hospital. They kidnapped Tamilarasan s mother compelling her to take the body from the hospital. (People were refusing to take the bodies of their loved ones for final rites until Sterlite is shut down)

Finally, at around 4.30 pm, I went to the hospital to meet more people who were injured by bullets but survived. I was speaking with them when the Tamil Nadu government order to close Sterlite was announced. I informed everyone. They showed little happiness and more anger. They could have done this much before instead of taking our lives and maiming us in this way. Is this government for us or is it for Vedanta?

People suffering the outcomes neo-liberalisation, globalisation, privatisation all over the world are asking the same questions.

The author is a Dalit trans-rights activist, the first trans-woman engineer in India, technologist at Project Mukti, and the founder of Trans Rights Now Collective.

Translation by A. Karuna.
According to the Armenian media, according to the decision of the Armenian prime minister Nikol Pashinyan, Sargis Khandanyan was appointed the head of the prime minister's office. But who is Pashinyan's newly appointed chief of staff?

It is known that Khandanyan, who studied anthropology at the University College of London, is closely connected with the Civilitas Foundation and its media project - CivilNet, where Khandanyan worked as a journalist for five years. To understand what the Civilitas Foundation is all about, it's enough to look at the list of its partners: USAID, the European Union, the Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the UK Embassy in Armenia, as well as NGOs close to the Soros foundation, including Media Initiatives Center (former Internews) and Eurasia Partnership Foundation, supported by USAID. The CivilNet media project, which is quite expected, is a uniquely pro-Western agency as well.

Sargis Khandanyan's photo from his Facebook page

Khandanyan also cooperates with Armenian diaspora organizations in the West, in particular, he worked for a year as public relations officer in the Armenian General Benevolent Union (AGBU), headquartered in New York. From 2016 until his appointment as prime minister, Khandanyan was an employee of Armenia's Aurora Prize, a humanitarian initiative closely associated with the Armenian diaspora and serving as an important tool for lobbying in the West.

Khandanyan was one of the active supporters of opening the Armenian-Turkish border, and also one of those who sharply opposed transferring 20% of Armenia's stock in Armrosgazprom in 2013. In the issue of Nagorno-Karabakh, he adheres to nationalist views, like Nikol Pashinyan, believing that the Karabakh separatists should become a full-fledged party to the talks.
Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu has said the implementation of a roadmap for the withdrawal of the Syrian Kurdish Peoples Protection Units (YPG) from the northern Syrian city of Manbij is expected to begin after his meeting with his U.S. counterpart Mike Pompeo.

As Hurriyet Daliy News writes in an article "Manbij roadmap to be turning point in US-Turkey ties", Turkey considers the YPG as the Syrian branch of the outlawed Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK), which is listed as a terrorist organization by Turkey, the EU and the U.S. After giving approval to the Manbij [issue] in the east of the Euphrates [river] tomorrow [June 4] as two ministers, we will begin to implement it, which may be a turning point for bilateral relations, Cavusoglu said at an iftar (fast-breaking) program in Washington on June 3.

The Turkish-American National Steering Committee (TASC) had arranged the iftar at the Diyanet Center of America. The roadmap on Manbij is expected to be announced following the meeting with Pompeo, which would focus on the withdrawal of the YPG from the northern Syrian city and regional stability in the region. The foreign minister said the U.S. support for the YPG in Syria is one of the most important issues creating dispute between Ankara and Washington. We strive for a political solution in Syria. We reject all efforts towards dividing Syria. We have been working as a main actor for the political solution in Syria with Astana, Sochi and Geneva [peace] processes, he said.

F-35 and S-400 issues

Cavusoglu also mentioned that a negative atmosphere against Turkey had been created at the U.S. Congress over the delivery of the F-35 fifth generation fighter jets to Ankara. Turkeys deal to buy missile defense systems from Russia had also caused tensions between Turkey and the U.S., he said. But before we get these systems [from Russia] we wanted to buy them from our allies and the United States. But they did not sell us. We had to buy them from Russia. If the U.S. is ready to sell us, we want to get it from our allies too, Cavusoglu added.

The Jerusalem issue

The foreign minister also spoke about Turkeys continued support to Palestinians over the status of Jerusalem while underlining that some Muslim countries were not being active enough on the issue. Turkey will never abandon Jerusalem, he said, adding that the time had come to bring a new bill on Jerusalem in the U.N. General Assembly. Turkey will continue to fight to preserve the rights of [Muslim] Ummah, he added.

Gulen's extradition

Turkeys top diplomat also criticized the U.S. administration for not taking any action for the extradition of Fethullah Gulen, the Pennsylvania-based leader of what Ankara named as the Fethullahist Terrorist Organization (FETO), which is widely believed to have been behind the 2016 coup attempt in Turkey. The FETO issue would also be discussed during the meeting with Pompeo, Cavusoglu added.
Uzbekistan will be the first country in Central Asia to have a nuclear power plant. The agreement for construction can be signed already this autumn during the official visit of Russian President Vladimir Putin to Tashkent. Construction works will begin no later than 2019. Geographically, the nuclear power plant will provide energy to the west and the center of the country, which makes it more oriented towards industrial needs, especially given the powerful cluster in Navoiy, where the station is planned to be built.

Details of the NPP construction project were discussed in Tashkent during the talks between Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoyev and Director General of the State Atomic Energy Corporation Rosatom Alexei Likhachev. Likhachev told the reporters that the Uzbek side offered the Navoiy region as a site for a future nuclear power plant. "Only these days we leave and start gathering information. We agreed on the approaches to the project organization. In this case, there will be no clear role for the customer and the contractor. This is the approach when we build together when we build ourselves for ourselves. We apply this approach only in Russia and Belarus, when together with the government of the country we determine all aspects, including the cost of the project, we are jointly responsible for its implementation. It reduces the time frame, provides mechanisms that insure us from higher costs," Likhachev said. According to him, a modern nuclear infrastructure will be created in the republic. In particular, there will be a regulator, conventionally called Atomnadzor, which will monitor all work together with the Russian corporation, according to the four eyes principle.

Rosatom proposes to build a station consisting of two modern VVER-1200 units of 3+ generation. A similar project is being implemented by Rosatom in Bangladesh. It is estimated at about $13 billion, of which $11.3 billion provided by Russia as a state export credit. The cost of the Belarus NPP was $10 billion. The cost of the Uzbek nuclear power plant is unknown yet. Expert Kubat Rakhimov believes that the Uzbek nuclear power plant will be more expensive, since it will be difficult to solve the issue of a cooling system in Navoiy without sufficient quantity of running water and / or large water bodies.

Russia is ready to offer Uzbekistan several options for financing the project, including on the terms of a state loan, a scheme of borrowed money from the market, investing its own funds, as well as the BOO scheme (build-own-operate). In addition, the possibility of allocating borrowed funds for the construction of the station from the Russian Export Center is being discussed.

In addition to the station, research reactors will be built, exploration and development of uranium deposits, production of isotopes and their use in industry will be carried out, as well as training of personnel for Uzbekistan's nuclear industry.

The NPP construction project in Uzbekistan wasn't born yesterday. Director of the Ma'no Center for Research Initiatives (Uzbekistan) Bakhtiyir Ergashev told Vestnik Kavkaza: "Those things that we discussed in the Center for Economic Research eight years ago become a reality. I am sure that the contract will be signed this year. Maybe during Putin's state visit to Uzbekistan. And the construction will begin in 2019. It should not be delayed. I hope that the construction of the nuclear power plant (new generating capacities) will be the impetus for a radical reform of the country's energy supply system, which is completely rotten, corrupted, with savage losses of up to 38%. We should recall the successful experience in implementing the projects of the early 2000 on private companies entering the market of electric power sales and demonopolization of this sphere."

"The tasks and construction of the nuclear power plant in Central Asian countries are relevant, because there is no alternative to such a reliable, cheap and environmentally friendly source of energy.Coal is source of air pollution, water is linked to relations with neighbors and irrigated lands. There are no other large-scale sources of electricity. Green energy is propaganda and politics around the world. Alternative sources exist all over the world only until ordinary generation is subject to additional taxes.The atomic generation is the sole way for large industrial projects," director for cultural, scientific and educational projects of the Center for Traditional Cultures (Moscow) Alexander Sobyanin told Vestnik Kavkaza. According to him, nuclear power engineers have been discussing the construction of nuclear power plants in Central Asia over the last decade. It was about one or two nuclear power plants in Tajikistan, one nuclear power plant in Kyrgyzstan, two in Uzbekistan and one in Turkmenistan. "Of course, all of them are at very different stage of considering the issue. Among the Central Asian projects, except for Kazakhstan, the issue of building nuclear power plant has been most thoroughly worked out in Sughd region of Tajikistan and in Uzbekistan. Navoiy, where they proposed to build a nuclear power plant, has the largest mountain -metallurgical combine, and, accordingly, a cluster of mining and metallurgical industries: gold, silver, uranium. This project has a number of advantages: it allows to look differently at Tajikistan's hydroelectric stations (the height of dams) and Kazakhstan's nuclear power plant. Uzbekistan will be the first country in the region to built the nuclear power plant in conjunction with Rosatom. This allows to return to the task of creating a unified energy system of Central Asia and Russia. This task was set as early as in the 1960s, and has not yet been carried out," the expert said.

It's about reliability in providing the region with electricity and its cheapness. Sobyanin explained that a unified power system dramatically increases the reliability of its operation, the impossibility or low probability of blackouts, as well as dramatically reduces the price of electricity. The expert also noted the fact that Uzbekistan, through the development of cheap electric power, will ensure the growth of industrial production and the quality of life of the population. Any this task requires electricity. I do not see serious shortcomings here," Alexander Sobyanin said.

Answering the question of Vestnik Kavkaza about the impact of the construction of the nuclear power plant in Uzbekistan on the Rogun HPP, which is being built in Tajikistan, the expert said that Moscow and Tashkent will be able to influence Dushanbe more reasonably. Today the construction of the Rogun HPP is highly politicized and looks like Uzbekistan's pressure on small Tajikistan. After the creation of a unified energy system in Central Asia, there will be no need to build a large hydroelectric power station. The issue of the Rogun HPP will cease to be political within the two countries - Uzbekistan and Tajikistan - and will reach another level, i.e. will become a work-related Russian-Tajik issue. Russia will be responsible for the uniform supply of electricity. Tajikistan will have large volumes of electricity. The only downside is the West exerting pressure in all directions. In particular, it happened with Kazakhstan. "Astana was influenced in all directions. The project for the construction of the NPP in Western Kazakhstan passed all the approvals and public hearings, but then the West joined in. Political pressure was put on President Nursultan Nazarbayev, he received an offer from the French AREVA to build a nuclear power plant in Kazakhstan, which did not involve its implementation. Their only task was preventing Rosatom from building the station. In the case of Uzbekistan, the pressure may not be so strong. The Uzbek economy does not depend on the global situation to such an extent as Kazakhstan. That is why the political pressure on Tashkent is not possible. French AREVA's offer is unlikely to be accepted," Sobyanin believes.

"Kazakhstan lost to Uzbekistan - having chic chances for the construction of a nuclear power plant, being the world's largest uranium supplier, having full-fledged Kazatomprom with its operating reactor in the Caspian, simultaneously having coal-fired power plants as the basis of energy is not serious," Kubat Rakhimov told Vestnik Kavkaza.
Azerbaijani Defense Minister, Colonel General Zakir Hasanov will take part in the meeting of the Council of Defense Ministers of the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) inRussia, the Azerbaijani Defense Ministry said.

The CIS countries defense ministers will discuss various aspects of military cooperation during the meeting to be held in the Russian city of Kyzyl, Tuva Republic on June 5-7.
Berlin police shot and wounded a 53-year-old Austrian man who allegedly waved a knife inside the cathedral in the center of the German capital yesterday, Berlin police spokesman Winfrid Wenzel said.

According to the spokesman, there was no immediate indication the man's reported actions were linked to terrorism.

Wenzel said the incident began when the man entered the Berliner Dom and waved a knife in the area of the altar. Cathedral employees called police, and dozens of people were evacuated from the holy site.

"One of the two officers responding to the call opened fire, wounding the man," DPA news agency cited Wenzel as saying. The second officer also was inadvertently wounded by the shot or shots fired by his colleague.

Both the suspect and the police officer were taken to a hospital, the officer is in serious condition.
The issue on a possible meeting between Russian and US Presidents Vladimir Putin and Donald Trump lacks particular details and initiative of Washington, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said.

"So far, there is still the lack of particular details after the last phone conversation between Putin and Trump, which discussed the two presidents understanding on the need of a contact. There is still the lack of initiative of our US partners," TASS cited Peskov as saying.

On March 20, Putin and Trump held a telephone conversation and agreed to hand down instructions to start preparations for a Russia-US summit. Moreover, later news broke that Trump had not only mentioned the possibility of a meeting but also invited Putin to Washington.
Moscow hopes that the settlement process on the Korean Peninsula wont be disrupted, although there are no 100% chances of success, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said today after a meeting of BRICS Foreign Ministers Council.

"Together with China we welcome any steps aimed at overcoming mistrust, confrontational trends and building conditions for normalizing relations and moving forward to the full denuclearization of the entire Korean Peninsula," he noted.

"And in broader terms, to agree on general principles and guarantees of peace, stability and security in Northeast Asia at the final stage of this process. I hope it wont be disrupted, although there are no 100% chances," TASS cited Lavrov as saying.
German Chancellor Angela Merkel laid out her ideas for more European integration, including the creation of a joint refugee agency that would determine asylum requests on the continent's borders.

In a changing global order, Europe "must be able to act, internally and externally, to be taken seriously by the world," Merkel said in a wide-ranging interview with the Frankfurter Allegemeine newspaper published Sunday.

Merkel said that she supports creating a European Monetary Fund  similar to the International Monetary Fund  that could help stabilize the eurozone by offering long- or short-term loans to member nations.

"We aim to make ourselves a little more independent of the International Monetary Fund," she said.

She also backed the idea of an investment fund, "in the low double-digit billions" of euros, to help EU members close development gaps.

The chancellor called for the establishment of a European refugee agency that would handle requests for asylum, based on unified asylum law, on Europe's borders, ABC news reported.

Her comments were portrayed by the newspaper as a long-awaited response to French President Emmanuel Macron's ambitious plans for Europe.
Russian President Vladimir Putin blamed political ructions in the United States for difficulties in arranging a summit with President Donald Trump.



Putin said last month the proposed summit was beset by problems and was not working out for now.



Asked by Austrian broadcaster ORF why it was taking so long to arrange, he said: "You have to ask our colleagues in the USA. In my view it is the consequence of the fierce domestic political contest in the United States."



"In one of our last discussions, Donald said he is concerned about the danger of a new arms race. I agree with him entirely," Putin said in a short extract released ahead of the full interview, to be broadcast on Monday evening.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said today that the issue on a possible meeting between Russian and US Presidents lacks particular details and initiative of Washington. "There is still the lack of initiative of our US partners," Peskov noted.

On March 20, Putin and Trump held a telephone conversation and agreed to hand down instructions to start preparations for a Russia-US summit.

According to the Wall Street Journal, the White House is planning for a potential summit between Trump and Putin, but Trump is currently focusing on the summit with Kim Jong Un, the North Korean leader, according to an administration official. "If negotiations there continue, [work on the Russia summit] will be delayed," the official said.

The WSJ writes that the meeting between the two presidents would be expected to include discussions on Syria, Ukraine and nuclear-arms control. And the summits purpose would be to resolve longstanding differences, people familiar with the matter said.

A member of the Federation Council Committee on Science, Education, Culture, a representative of the executive body of state power of the Ryazan Region, Igor Morozov, speaking with Vestnik Kavkaza, noted that Russophobe politicians have the upper hand in Washington now, due to which the prospect of a meeting of presidents is becoming more remote. Judging by the weak activity of the presidential administration, Trump is having a very difficult time, which explains the constant postponement of the meeting. And in the foreseeable future it is difficult to imagine that it can be constructive from the US side," the senator predicts.

"We see that there is an escalation of the military grouping on the contact line in Ukraine, the US has supplied the anti-tank missile systems Javelin to Kiev, as well as sent their instructors to train the units of the ground forces of the land forces of Ukraine. In Syria, the situation is very complicated, the US military manages the militants, the camp of the U.S.-led coalition in Al Tanf is becoming a new hotbed of tension. Jerusalem has become a stumbling block to the international situation, the aggravation of the situation in the Gaza Strip was due to Trump's decision to transfer the Israeli embassy. As a result, we currently have no points of contact with Washington, which could be discussed with the US in a constructive manner," Igor Morozov stressed.

"Undoubtedly, the presidents will be able to meet without a separate summit - for example at international venues like the G20. Now a lot will depend on the November elections to Congress. If Trump is able to strengthen Congress with his supporters, chances that Russian-US relations will enter in a more active phase will increase. If not, then it is unlikely that Trump will be able to change the overall domestic political situation in the US," the member of the Federation Council Committee on Science, Education and Culture pointed out.

The senior research fellow at the European Research Centre of the International Relations Institute of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Vladimir Olenchenko, recalled that it was Trump who proposed in March to hold personal talks with Putin. "Normally, such a proposal is followed by instructions from the presidential administration about the preparation of the visit. Judging by the media reports, there is simply no active Washington actions on this issue, and indeed, there is a very strong factor of the domestic political struggle in the United States. This struggle is constantly stimulated both by internal and external events. We can only wait for Trump to find the strength to activate the work on preparing a meeting with Putin, since the initiative came from him," the expert said.

Vladimir Olenchenko expressed his confidence that, sooner or later, this meeting will be repeated. "As for the idea itself, sensible politicians in the United States are interested in talks between Trump and Putin. The meeting will be important for the entire world community, and it would be better if it was held as soon as possible, since Russian-US relations affect the vast majority of global events," the senior research fellow at the European Research Centre of the International Relations Institute of the Russian Academy of Sciences concluded.
US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo will hold talks with Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu in Washington today.

The main issue of talks will be the coordination of the road map for cooperation in Syrian Manbiju. Bilateral relations, other regional and international issues of mutual interest will be also discussed.

On Sunday, Cavusoglu said that after giving approval to Manbij today as two ministers, they will begin to implement it, which may be a turning point for bilateral relations.

Cavushoglu will also meet in Washington with representatives of Turkish and Muslim communities in the US, American business circles, think tanks and press, RIA Novosti reported.
Russia is not seeking to divide the European Union, it is interested in a united EU, Russian President Vladimir Putin said in an interview with Austrias ORF radio and television company in the run-up to his upcoming visit to Austria.

The full interview with Putin will be broadcast on ORF-2 TV channel at 8.15 p.m. local time (9:15 p.m. Moscow Time).

"For us there is no goal of driving a wedge between someone in the European Union," he stressed. "On the contrary, we are interested in a united and prosperous EU, as the EU is our most important economic and trade partner," TASS cited Putin as saying.

The Kremlin press service said Russian President Vladimir Putin would pay a working visit to Austria on June 5. The program includes talks with Austrian President Alexander Van der Bellen and Federal Chancellor Sebastian Kurz.
Hundreds of people gathered again in the Georgian capital for a fourth night of antigovernment rallies yesterday.

On June 3, the leader of the protest movement, Zaza Saralidze, appeared and vowed to stand by the protesters' side, as he said they have stood by his.

In a short speech, he said that his demands remain the same, RFE/RL reported.

Rustaveli Avenue, the city's main thoroughfare, remained closed and thronged with people late on June 3.

The demonstrations began on May 31 as a protest against the verdict in the trial of two young men suspected of killing Saralidzes teenage son.

Protesters originally called on chief prosecutor Irakli Shotadze to step down, but after Shotadze resigned, demonstrators increased their demands for the entire government to quit.

Earlier on June 3, the crowd had turned in unison to face a line of some 100 police officers and began to push out onto Rustaveli Avenue. The crowd eventually blocked the street.

Small scuffles broke out between police and some protesters, our correspondent reported from the Georgian capital. No arrests were reported.
Three Turkish soldiers were killed in the clashes with the PKK militants in the Hakkari province neighboring Iraq, the country's General Staff said.

One soldier was also wounded in the attack in the Hakkari province where the terrorists launched a rocket from a mountainous area on the Iraqi side of the border, said the sources who spoke on condition of anonymity due to restrictions on speaking to the media.

A special operation to eliminate terrorists was launched in the province, Anadolu Agency reported.
HCM CITY  Viet Nam needs to focus on increasing businesses awareness of registering for and protecting geographical indication (GI) for their products and the advantages GI brings, according to experts.

Speaking at a seminar on connecting businesses in ASEAN member countries organised by the High Quality Vietnamese Goods Business Association on the sidelines of the Thaifex expo in Bangkok last week, Pascal Billaud, CEO of Thailands Central Food Retail Group and Asian GI ambassador to the UN, said Thailand has educated people about the impacts and benefits of GI.

They are regularly updated on GI, ways to protect GI products and preserving and sustaining local eco-systems so that GI products can continue to be produced in that particular area or region, he said.

He said GI is very important to farmers and they need to register their produce for GI protection with relevant agencies.

Origin-linked registration also substantially increases the price of the final product, he said.

A kilogramme of Cambodias Kampot black pepper fetches US$15 against $6 for Thai pepper and only $5.04 for Vietnamese pepper, he said.

This means Viet Nam has not done well in exploiting GI and other benefits, he said.

According to experts, GI provides consumers with information about the origin of a product and its unique characteristics such as taste, colour, texture, and quality, and so they are willing to pay higher prices.

B2B Matching

Thirty leading Vietnamese food and beverage companies, who are members of the High Quality Vietnamese Goods Business Association, showcased organic and other food meeting global standards and GI-protected products at the expo in Bangkok from May 29 to June 2.

At a business matching event, Huynh Nguyen Khang Duy, import-export director at Pham Nghia Food JSC of Can Tho, said: This is the first time we showcase our products (clown knife-fish-based products) abroad.

Viet Nam mainly exports tra and basa and clown-knife fish costs more than them.

Many customers from Australia, Japan, Thailand and Malaysia were interested in his companys products, Duy said.

We hope to take our boneless clown-knife fish and clown-knife fish paste products to Hong Kong and Japan.

We are also working to obtain Halal certification for export to the Middle East."

CP (Thailand) wants to distribute his products in the Thai market, he said.

"I think if we want to take our products to the world or region, we also need to have capable and prestigious partners."

Le Thanh Diem, head of Tan Sang Food Powder Companys sales division, said: "Before the business matching event, I surveyed the prices of products and found that our prices are appropriate.

Thai companies sought assurances her company could supply large volumes, she said.

Norachai Ratanabanchuen, assistant to the deputy general director of CP Foods, said he had held discussions with four Vietnamese firms.

While Vietnamese goods are of rather good quality, to be able to enter the CP distribution system, products must meet many quality standards, including HACCP and ISO.

Viet Nam and Thailand have many similar products, but Vietnamese suppliers can still compete, he said, citing the example of basa fish, which his company imports from Viet Nam.

If Vietnamese firms continue to maintain good quality, comply with standards, and have reasonable prices, they can compete with their Thai counterparts, he said.  VNS
HA NOI  Farmers should not increase herds of pigs at present, though the market has seen a strong recovery in pig prices, according to the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (MARD).

At present, the price in the Cuu Long (Mekong) Delta region has increased by VN16,000 per kilo of live pigs to VN43,000-46,000 against the end of 2017.

The price has surged by VN11,000-12,000 per kilo of live pigs to VN43,000-47,000 per kilo in the northern provinces and by VN12,000-16,000 per kilo to VN42,000-45,000 per kilo in the central provinces, including Nghe An, Ha Tinh, Thua Thien-Hue and Quang Nam.

Now, the price has exceeded VN50,000 per kilo in many localities, and there is no sign of a slowdown in the price of pigs.

That price was much higher than the lowest level of VN17,000-20,000 per kilo last year.

The ministry said the increase in the price of pigs was partly due to the reduced supply of pigs after farmers stopped pig farming following a strong drop in pig prices last year. At present, the number of pigs in the country has decreased by about 5.4 per cent against the same period in 2017.

Many owners of pig farms said the crisis in pig prices last year caused 50-60 per cent of farms raising pig to suffer from losses and debts.

The ministry said the reduction in pig prices continued on the domestic market during the first quarter of this year, though the price began recovering in April.

However, the export market has not yet improved, as the market needs more time to stabilise the price of pigs.

Meanwhile, farmers hope to increase the size of pig herds, leading to a surge in the price of pig varieties.

Therefore, the ministry has recommended that farmers should not increase herds beyond current sizes, and they need to closely follow the markets before deciding to expand production.

Nguyen Xuan Duong, deputy head of the Animal Husbandry Department under the MARD, said farmers should remain calm. The department will find solutions to stabilise the price of pigs, because if prices continue to increase, there will be risks that pigs from neighbouring countries will be smuggled into Viet Nam, especially from Thailand, where pig prices remain at VN 42,000 per kilo, and China, with prices of VN43,000 per kilo. Besides that, cheap frozen pork from the US and Brazil might then enter the domestic market.

He said reasonable pig prices should hover at VN40,000-45,000 per kilo to ensure sustainable development of the local livestock industry. If the price is higher, it could lead to a risk of market failure and have a negative impact on consumers.

The Tien Phong (Vanguard) newspaper quoted Duong as saying that if the farmers massively increase the size of pig herds while the price of pig varieties is increasing due to high demand, they need five months of breeding pigs prior to pigs being ready for sale. After five months, however, there are no assurances that pig prices will still be at their highs of VN50,000 per kilo, as at present.

Currently, farmers have not seen profits from todays higher pig prices because they had ceased herd expansion after pig prices fell strongly beginning last year, Duong said.

Meanwhile, the price increase has created profits for large enterprises, because those large enterprises with long term capital reserves could maintain their production of pigs during the difficult period from last year until today, when pig prices dropped sharply resulting in large losses for many farmers.

However, he noted, foreign companies must not manipulate prices and the MARD has asked large companies, such as Dabaco, Masan, and CP, to not increase pig prices to take advantage of market prices. The price of live pigs from CP is VN46,000 per kilo, always lower than the market price, so traders have bought pigs from CP and sold them on the market, where the price is VN49,000 kilo.  VNS
The Ministry of Finance (MoF) has urged some State-owned enterprises (SOEs) to hasten their equitisation and divestment plans, as progress remains slow and might fail to meet their deadlines this year.  :Photo vneconomy.vn

HA NOI  The Ministry of Finance (MoF) has urged some State-owned enterprises (SOEs) to hasten their equitisation and divestment plans, as progress remains slow and might fail to meet their deadlines this year.

The MoF reported that authorities approved equitisation plans for only five SOEs in the first five months of this year, while the Government set to equitise at least 85 SOEs this year.

The Government also approved moves to divest State capital from up to 181 SOEs this year, however, only one has so far completed the work, the ministry reported.

As the equitisations might fail to meet their targets, the MoF has directed the SOEs to speed up their equitisations and divestments, to complete the work in 2018. SOEs which fail to meet their deadlines must promptly report difficulties and hindrances to the Prime Minister for consideration and settlement.

The SOEs have also been directed to urgently finalise their land use plans in accordance with legal regulations, and submit them to competent State bodies for approval.

Representatives of the State capital at joint stock companies also have to request that companies rapidly register and become listed on the stock markets, as regulations call for.

The Government considers 2018 a key year in the countrys restructuring plan of SOEs, targeting to equitise at least 85 SOEs in the year, 64 of which being large-size companies.

According to ang Quyet Tien, director general of the Ministry of Finances Corporate Finance Department, the number of SOEs earmarked for equitisation and divestment in 2018 account for over 50 per cent and 46 per cent of the total number planned for 2017-2020, respectively.

Although the process has been determined as a key policy towards SOEs and for the whole economy in general, it has encountered many obstacles, notably the influence of interest groups on the equitisation process, and difficulties in the search for consultants and enterprise evaluations, especially large ones with complex structures and operations in various industries.

One of the largest obstacles to the equitisation is SOE evaluation. According to the State Audit Office of Vietnam, legal regulations concerning enterprise evaluation have many flaws, in terms of land use rights, brand values, the selection of evaluation firms and determining the market value of SOEs assets.

Therefore, it is necessary to use auditing tools to accurately appraise the value of SOEs and deal with financial problems before announcing their values, especially large SOEs operating in special sectors.  VNS
HCM CITY  Mat Bao Corporation, one of the leading domain registrars in Viet Nam, will offer more than 5,000 incentive packages worth more than VN7 billion (US$307,000) to the online business community at the Vietnam Mobile Day to be held in HCM City and Ha Noi this month.

As a gold sponsor of the event, Mat Bao will not only exhibit its products and services and offer consultancy, but also offer attractive discounts to those who buy tickets to participate in the event: 35 per cent on its hosting and email packages, 10 per cent on its cloud server services, VN200,000 on the .com domain name and others.

According to the organisers, the 2018 Vietnam Mobile Day is expected to attract more than 10,000 visitors and more than 400 tech start-up entrepreneurs.

More than 100 Vietnamese and foreign speakers will speak on dozens of specialised topics on fintech, blockchain, cryptocurrencies, AI, IoT, big data, mobile games, apps and digital marketing.

They will include experts from large corporations such as Google Play, Microsoft, Nielsen, and Facebook.

The expo will be held on June 8 at the Grand Palace in HCM City and on June 15 at the Forevermark Convention Centre in Ha Noi. VNS
HA NOI  After losing more than VN125 billion (US$5.5 million) in Vinasun, Singaporean investment fund Government of Singapore (GIC) announced a full divestment from Vietnam Sun Corporation (VNS).

Accordingly, the fund no longer holds any shares of Vinasun, reported Tien Phong (Vanguard) newspaper.

Specifically, GIC sold 5.4 million VNS shares, representing 7.96 per cent of Vinasuns capital on May 25 and currently owns no shares.

The investment fund of the Government of Singapore invested in Vinasun in August, 2014, when car-hailing applications had not been popular in Viet Nam.

The value for the acquisition at that time was estimated at VN200 billion.

The development of Uber and Grab has since put pressure on traditional Vietnamese taxi companies, including Vinasun.

Although one of the brands with the highest number of cars in HCM City, the companys business results have declined significantly.

Vinasuns after-tax profit last year dropped 40 per cent compared to that of 2014, to VN191 billion.

The taxi company also set a revenue target of VN1.75 trillion for this year, down nearly VN1 trillion compared to last years target.

The goal for before-tax and after-tax profit also decreased by 50 per cent to VN119 billion and VN95 billion, respectively.

This is the lowest profit level of the company since 2010.  VNS